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Duterte given list of corrupt solons

TALKING POINTS.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte discusses matters with his Cabinet – especially on corruption, drugs, and the COVID-19 vaccine -- in a televised meeting Monday night in Davao City. Presidential Photo

But won't probe, name names due to 'lack of jurisdiction' over members of the House

By Vito Barcelo

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night said he would refer to the Office of the Ombudsman information he received about some members of the House of Representatives who allegedly received kickbacks from project contractors.

In a taped speech, Duterte said he received a list of lawmakers who were allegedly involved in corruption in projects undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). He said the list was given to him by Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) Commissioner Greco Belgica. However, he refused to investigate or name the lawmakers, saying he had no jurisdiction over members of a co-equal branch of government. "I have no business investigating congressmen. They belong to a separate organ of government which is co-equal to the President," Duterte said. In the same address, Duterte read aloud a list of Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) personnel who had been dismissed on allegations of corruption. The officials face administrative complaints for grave misconduct, dishonesty, Next page

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

Gov’t targets Military tapped in anti-illegal drugs drive 60m Filipinos for vaccine VOL. XXXIV • NO. 263• 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

By Vito Barcelo

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the military to form their own antidrug squad to help the police in the fight against illegal drugs, saying illegal drugs are flooding the country. “To the military, Armed Forces, help us because we are being flooded with

drugs. Our enemy is the [Sinaloa] and the Bamboo Triad,” Duterte said during his weekly televised cabinet meeting Monday night. The President also took a swipe at the human rights groups for criticizing his anti-drug drive, saying the drug syndicates were not their only enemies, but included human rights.

“And of course, our enemy also includes human rights. Although they do not.. not really an enemy that kills... but they are out to discredit, they are out to put in a — send to prison somebody who is doing his work,” Duterte said. Duterte said he wanted the military to join the anti-drug drive because it was a

(AS OF 4 PM NOV. 24)

421,722 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

ACTIVE

8,185

386,792

196

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

THE government will borrow P73.2 billion to buy COVID-19 vaccines for 60 million Filipinos, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said Tuesday. Dominguez said he told President Rodrigo Duterte in their weekly meeting Monday night that the fund can come from several sources — P40 billion from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank, P20 billion from local

1,119 26,745 NEW

By Vito Barcelo, Julito G. Rada and Willie Casas

PCA LENDS TRUCKS TO FLOOD CLEANUP

NEW

THE Philippine Constructors Association (PCA) has mobilized its member construction firms, chapters, and affiliates to provide trucks and equipment that are being used to clear streets blocked by debris following heavy flooding in various parts of the country. Next page

NEW

Bello stirs nurses in 5-star private hospitals to strike By Vito Barcelo LABOR Secretary Silvestre Bello III, apparently sympathizing with nurses in the private sector, especially those working in 5-star hospitals amid reports of exploitation, encouraged them Tuesday to go on strike. Bello, who strongly recommended pay increase for private medical workers, in Next page

CONSTRUCTORS’ AID. The Philippine Constructors Association (PCA) has lent around 50 units of equipment, including this back hoe pictured, to help clear the streets blocked by huge piles of debris in Marikina, which suffered roof-high floods due to the heavy rains brought about by Typhoon ‘Ulysses’. Marikina Mayor Marcy Teodoro and Chief Administrator Manny Sarmiento of Barangay Malanday later walk the streets to inspect the damage to the community (inset). PCA, Marikina PIO

‘Nature, man’s greed Senate asked for quick OK of DDR bill caused flood, not dam’ By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

By Maricel V. Cruz and Rio N. Araja

FLOOD PROBE. Speaker Lord Allan Velasco is shown on the big screen as he addresses the House Committee on Agriculture on Tuesday, as it began its probe into the cause of unprecedented flooding in the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela during the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses. Velasco authored House Resolution 1348, which the committee also tackled, together with Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Minority Leader Joseph Stephen “Caraps” Paduano. HOR Photo

China blasts US for ‘sowing discord’ sor Robert O’Brien on the South China By Rey E. Requejo and Sea, Hong Kong and Taiwan issues durVito Barcelo ing his visit to the Philippines. In a statement, the Chinese Embassy CHINA on Tuesday deplored what it de- in the Philippines accused O’Brien of scribed as “unreasonable remarks” made sowing discord between Manila and Next page by United States National Security Advi-

THE head of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) said Tuesday the release of water from Magat Dam was not a major cause of the recent severe flooding in Cagayan and Isabela provinces. Legislators should investigate instead other causes, including illegal logging, mining, and quarrying on the slopes of Next page

GARIN FACES 100 NEW DENGVAXIA CASES IN QC NEWS / A2

ADB SAYS: MASS-PRODUCE COVID VACCINE IN ASEAN NEWS / A2

A LEADER of the House of Representatives on Tuesday appealed to the Senate to prioritize its approval of the proposed Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR), warning that Philippines might lose more lives if

it rejected the bill, a priority legislation of the Duterte administration. Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, one of the principal authors of DDR and chair of the House committee on ways and means, recalled that Duterte asked Congress to pass the bill creating the DDR in his four State-of-the-Nation Addresses (SONA)—2016, 2018, 2019, Next page and 2020.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

News

‘Asean can mass-produce vaccine’ "Rather than compete for a limited supply, let us increase the vaccine supply. Asean has the manufacturing expertise. It is time for Asean to make such a call," said ADB's Dr. Eduardo Banzon during yesterday's Asean Media Forum held online.

Asean member-states are part of COVAX, a global initiative of 172 countries aimed at working with vaccine manufacturers to ensure equitable access to safe and effective vaccines through advance purchase arrangements.

Among those that will be subsidized by COVAX are the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Thailand, Brunei, Malaysia, and Singapore, on the other hand, are helping finance the initiative that aims to procure an initial 2 billion doses amid reports that rich countries have already snapped up over half of the total potential COVID-19 vaccine supply. "The European Union has also organized a pooled fund for advance purchase of the vaccines. Asean can do this on top of what it will receive from COVAX," Banzon said. Under the COVAX initiative, countries eligible for subsidies can get doses

Duterte... and malversation of public funds, in connection with alleged unremitted cash collections, extortion and other offenses, the President said. “We’ve reached the BIR. I’ve told you there’s an ongoing purge in the government,” Duterte said. Duterte’s spokesman said the President wasn’t trying to protect corrupt lawmakers who were allied with the admin-

istration, but simply did not have enough evidence against them. “Because this is an issue of evidence, it is better for the Ombudsman to investigate because it has jurisdiction over all government workers,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said. Duterte said he decided not to name the congressmen, but denied he was covering up for them. He said that even if he asked the Department of Justice to review the list of lawmakers, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra would also end up passing the

cases on to the Ombudsman. Since the start of his term in 2016, Duterte has been releasing "narco-lists" containing incumbent and former officials, lawmakers, judges, and uniformed personnel suspected of being involved in the illegal drug trade. In his taped address, Duterte again offered a P10,000 reward for any information regarding corrupt practices in the processing of permits. He added that permits should be done on the day of the application. “If your permit took a month, two

weeks, that’s really corruption,” he said in Filipino. Duterte also said he would give P20,000 every month to any person who could monitor corrupt activities within departments, agencies, or offices. On Nov. 10, Duterte offered a reward of P50,000 or P100,000 to anyone who could give him information on government officials engaged in corruption. Duterte said he will continue to go after corrupt government officials and workers, saying about 800 people have already been dismissed due to illegal activities.

Military...

Gov’t...

From A1

national security issue, saying “the welfare of the state (is) at stake. That is why it is no longer just the task of the police.” He said the military should not be afraid of the threats of human rights groups , as he vowed to support the military. Duterte appealed to human rights groups to better look for another fight. “These genocides are real… do not tinker with the drug problem in the Philippines. This is mine and mine alone. You can do it if I am no longer the president of the Philippines,” Duterte added.

banks and government corporations, and P13.2 billion from bilateral sources. “The government could tap P40 billion in low-cost, long-term loans from multilateral agencies like the World Bank and the ADB, while [domestically]...the government can get P20 billion from the Land Bank of the Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines, and other government-owned and -controlled corporations,” Dominguez said. The government can also negotiate with bilateral sources such as the United States and United Kingdom for funding to buy the vaccines, he added. “The total amount is around P73.2 billion in financing. It’s pretty much almost fixed. Most of it is already fixed. The P13.2 billion is not yet completely negotiated,” he said in a report to the President. Dominguez said the estimated cost of a vaccine dose is $25, or P1,200, per person. The loans mentioned, he said, would be enough to finance the vaccination of 60 million people. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said a country may reach “herd immunity” when 60 to 70 percent of the population is vaccinated, citing World Health Organization guidance. “If we are able to reach that we’re going to pretty much arrest the spread of this. COVID-19 will be controlled. We will have herd immunity, that’s our goal around 60

percent to 70 percent,” he added. Dominguez said the government has the funds for the vaccine purchase. Duterte said the government will give priority to poor families, who received social amelioration program benefits from the government during the community quarantine. He said middle income, Cabinet officials, as well as the army and the police, and even communist rebels will be among those to also be given the vaccine if they will stop attacking government forces during the COVID-19 crisis. The rich who can afford the vaccine and drug pushers “who destroy the country” would not qualify for free vaccination, the President said. Duterte said he will task the military to distribute the government-acquired COVID-19 vaccines. Meanwhile, the private sector will buy as many as 2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, which will be given to government employees, frontline health workers and other essential services workers as designated by Department of Health,” said Christian Razon Gonzalez, executive vice president of the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI). Gonzalez said, “50 percent of this vaccine will be purely for the use of DOH under what is called equitable distribution to be determined by the government. The other 50 percent will be for the private entity to determine.” “Naturally, one of the targets that we will have, of course, will be our own

employees. But in the case of ICTSI, we strongly believe that some of the key essential services’ members that really made the biggest impact especially at the beginning of the pandemic were the employees of the Philippine Ports Authority, Bureau of Customs and other essential frontline port and logistics workers,” he said. He said the vaccine procurement initiative involved the UK and Philippine governments and the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. Under this arrangement, the private sector would cover the costs, he said. He added that AstraZeneca was offering 3 million to 5 million doses initially to the Philippines. In other developments: • An infectious disease expert, Dr. Edsel Salvana, said frontline workers would be first in line to receive COVID-19 vaccines once they are available. Speaking on ANC, Salvana said the government must also include law enforcers, grocery store workers and public utility drivers, among others who provide critical services and help preserve the economy, in the vaccine rollout. • The DOH on Monday said that they are unable to come up with a list of COVID-19 vaccine recipients because of a lack of the final list of vaccines for procurement. “Until we can have a final list of the vaccines that we are going to, we cannot give a list of the people who will be vaccinated,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said during a virtual briefing.

reservations to pass the DDR. He stressed the need for the Philippines to have an integrated and comprehensive approach in addressing the calamities and disasters. Several bills on DDR are still pending before the Senate committees on national defense and security and peace, unification and reconciliation. He said the current system in disaster preparedness should be corrected through the approval of DDR, which will require an initial P2 billion. He said Sens. Richard Gordon, Panfilo Lacson, and Sherwin Gatchalian should reconsider their opposition in light of the continued deaths of Filipinos due to calamities. Salceda lamented the skewed priorities of the Senate and its apparent reluctance

to pass the DDR bill- an important legislation -- when it can initially allocate some P8.5 billion for the construction of its own building at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City. The construction of the new Senate building project will initially cost about P8.5 billion, consisting of four 11-story towers. The project is at the 1.8-hectare Navy Village administered by the Bases Conversion Development Authority. The Senate has been paying rent to the Government Service Insurance System since 1996 for its office and to the Social Security System for the use of its parking lot in Pasay City, amounting to an annual fee of P171 million as of 2019.

the Sierra Madre, NIA Administrator Ricardo Visaya told the House committees on agriculture and food, and the North Luzon Quadrangle. The joint committee hearing was called to look into the cause of the massive flooding in many areas in the Cagayan Valley region as Typhoon "Ulysses" rampaged through the area almost two weeks ago. Meanwhile, the Palace on Tuesday told mayors to stop being involved in illegal logging and mining operations in their towns, warning that they will have blood on their hands if they pursue activities that have dire environmental consequences. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made this statement after Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said there were cases in

which mayors either directly or indirectly benefited from illegal mining and logging that made nearby communities more vulnerable to floods. Also, floods brought about by Ulysses dumped debris equivalent to one-and-ahalf years’ worth of garbage, Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said Tuesday. In an interview on the ANC news channel, Teodoro said the city has cleared nearly half of the debris and hoped to finish the clean-up by the end of November. “The debris that we are collecting is equivalent to that of one and a half years of garbage we collected in the city. That's 980,000 cubic meters of debris,” he said. “After 11 days, we have accomplished 45 percent of the clearing operations, but still there’s still a lot. We are still clearing it,” he said. From the effects of the recent flooding, the mayor said it would take 5 to 10 years

for the city to recover. Teodoro again called for the rehabilitation of the Marikina Watershed, which can reduce the risk of flooding. Visaya presented a chart which showed that from Nov. 9 to 14 amid the typhoon, the peak water inflow at Magat Dam was 7,128 cubic meters per second but the dam released only 6,706 cubic meters per second. The water level at Buntun Bridge, which measures the water level of Cagayan River, was 13.2 meters, he added. The matrix alone would prove that the opening of the water gates of Magat Dam was not the major cause of the flooding in Cagayan and Isabela. Visaya said the massive flooding in Cagayan and Isabela could have been prevented had there been better implementation of anti-illegal logging, mining, and quarrying activities.

cord between China and the Philippines,” the Chinese Embassy said. “We firmly oppose these remarks which are full of Cold War mentality and wantonly incite confrontation,” the embassy said. Meanwhile, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the Philippines would remain neutral and would "not want to take part" in a power struggle between the United States and China.

China warned other nations of the US interference in the South China Sea and other issues intended to stir up confrontation among countries in the region. “In recent years, in order to safeguard its regional and global hegemony, the US has regarded itself as “patron” and “judge” of regional countries and directly intervened in the SCS and other issues, fanned the flames everywhere, stirred up confrontation among the

countries in the region, interfered in the efforts of China and relevant ASEAN countries to peacefully negotiate and manage disputes, and seriously undermined regional peace and stability,” it said. "It shows that his visit to this region is not to promote regional peace and stability, but to create chaos in the region in order to seek selfish interests of the US," the embassy lamented.

By Joyce Pangco Pañares

HE Association of Southeast Asian Nations is best positioned to facilitate the mass production of COVID-19 vaccines once these become available, the principal health specialist of the Asian Development Bank said Tuesday.

From A1

Bello... From A1

an interview with TeleRadyo, condemned the widely-known practice of nurses paying hospitals to be able to work and gain experience, a vital requisite for those wanting to work overseas and earn decent pay. "That's why I encourage nurses to go on strike so that these 5-star hospitals won't be able to operate. The hospitals are big, they earn big then their nurses have to pay P6,000, P10,000 a month... I tell the nurses to go on strike. Raise the value of your profession," he said. "Nurses in the private sector are not just underpaid, they are also exploited.” Bello said they were formulating a proposal to raise the private medical workers' pay and make it comparable with the amount received by their counterparts in government-affiliated facilities. "I agree 100 percent with our nurses that they are underpaid and that is the reason why we came up with a proposal recommending the raising of the salaries of nurses and medical workers in the private sector to the level of nurses and medical workers in the public sector," he said. This year, a Department of Budget and Management circular set the rules for the upgrading of the entry-level Nurse I position to Salary Grade 15 as stated in Republic Act No. 9173 or the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002. The provision of the law setting the minimum salary for entry-level nurses has not been implemented over the last 18 years and is only being funded for this year after the Supreme Court upheld its validity through an en banc decision. Meanwhile, Bello said the 5,000 limit per year on the deployment of Filipino nurses abroad would only cover new hires and would not be a permanent policy, clarifying earlier reports that the deployment cap included returning workers. “The cap does not cover the balikmanggagawa (returning workers), it only covers the new hires. The limit is only for the new applicants,” Bello said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel. The deployment of health workers was approved by President Duterte last week due to the clamor of thousands of medical workers wanting to work abroad, citing the low salary they receive here in the country compared to other countries.

China... From A1

Beijing, projecting an exaggerated chaos in the region, while at the same time maliciously blaming China for it. “He blatantly accused China on no ground, grossly interfered in China's internal affairs, deliberately exaggerated regional tensions and attempted to sow dis-

Senate... From A1

Last month, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco supported the call of Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez for the Senate’s swift passage of House Bill 5989 creating the DDR. Salceda, vice chair of the House committee on appropriations and cochair of the House economic stimulus response package, said the deaths of people and destruction from the onslaught of recent typhoons, including “Ulysses,” must be a reason enough for the Senate leadership to abandon their

’Nature... From A1

equivalent to up to 20 percent of their population. Banzon said the regional bloc should also consider setting up an Asean center for emerging infectious diseases as well as a medical reserve fund. "This will hasten sharing of surveillance data and best practices from the member-countries. Having something similar to a CDC (Center for Disease Control) will ensure we can rapidly bring in a regional response," he said. Vietnam Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dzung, for his part, said member-states must help each other for the region to bounce back from the economic slump caused by the pandemic.

Garin faces 100 new Dengvaxia cases filed in QC By Rio N. Araja PARENTS of 100 school children whose deaths are linked to the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine on Tuesday testified under oath before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office prior to the filing of the new cases of torture, and reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and serious physical injuries with the Department of Justice against ex-health secretary Janette Garin and other former and active government officials. The victims’ kin from Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon and the Visayas flocked to the prosecutor’s office at the Department of Justice building inside the Quezon City hall premises to swear under oath to “tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth” stated in their complaint-affidavits. Sumachen Dominguez, Samahan ng mga Magulang Anak at Biktima ng Dengvaxia president, testified that she is voluntarily filing a case of reckless imprudence resulting in serious physical injuries against Garin; former and incumbent officials of the Department of Health, Food and Drug Administration, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and Philippine Children’s Medical Center, and executives of Sanofi Pasteur Inc., the manufacturer of the Dengvaxia vaccine, and its distributor Zuellig Pharma Corp. The 99 complainants also testified that they were not forced by anyone to execute their complaint-affidavits against Garin, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, PCMC executive director Julius Lecciones and the other 36 respondents. Duque would also face a case of obstruction of justice for not making available the complete lists of the names of the school children who were inoculated with the Dengvaxia vaccine, the Public Attorney’s Office said. At a media briefing at the new Quezon City Hall of Justice, Dominguez welcomed the October order of the Supreme Court directing the designation of a family court to handle and litigate all Dengvaxia cases, and the Nov. 18 omnibus orders of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 107 setting the arraignment of Garin and her co-accused in the reckless imprudence resulting in homicide charges filed by the parents of Marc-Axl Eboña and Zandro Colite. PAO chief Persida Acosta said Garin posted a P30,000 bail for the charges before an Iloilo court. “We have already received a copy of her bail bond. Why post a bail if you don’t have an arrest warrant?” she asked.

PCA... From A1

This is apart from the relief goods the PCA has donated to the families affected by the recent typhoons “Rolly” and “Ulysses.” The group has created a task force to immediately respond to the needs of the different provinces affected by the successive deadly typhoons. The PCA Task Force Rolly + Ulysses completed over the weekend the clearing operations in Marikina, where over 40,000 households were submerged in roof-high floods after the Marikina River swelled to unprecedented levels at the height of Typhoon Ulysses’ fury. Established in 1945, PCA was formed by a group of Filipino industrialists to help rebuild the country from the ravages of war. At present, it counts among its members the country’s highest-rated construction firms and property developers. Today, it continues its mission as it helps rebuild cities and towns from the devastation of one natural disaster after the next. The PCA readily lent around 50 units of equipment, including dump trucks, back hoes, skid hoes, and payloaders, and manpower to operate the machines for the Marikina clearing operations. This allowed the completion of the clean-up of the main roads in the city within seven days. “We saw the people rejoicing when we arrived at the areas for clearing. They were really happy to see the back hoe and other equipment coming in,” said PCA Task Force Chairman Jerry Pancho, noting that many streets had been impassable due to the amount of debris and thus, relief operations in the hardest hit areas had also been limited. The PCA Task Force is now mobilizing the delivery of much-needed construction materials such as roofing, plywood, and nails to rebuild damaged houses in the Cagayan Valley region, which also suffered from severe flooding due to the heavy rains brought by Typhoon Ulysses. The group through its member firm DDT Konstract Inc. has also sent an initial batch of relief goods to Cagayan, mostly rice, as the immediate need of the residents there is food, since the typhoon damaged their crops that were ready for harvest.

News

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Face-to-face classes’ return studied By Macon Ramos-Araneta

HE Department of Education is studying the possibility of a gradual return to face-to-face classes in 2021, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said Tuesday.

TOO LATE. Firemen try to douse a blaze that hit a residential area along Road 4 Diamante Street in San Andres Bukid, Manila, on Tuesday, but a 12-year-old boy died – his remains carried out by rescuers (inset) -- after he was trapped on the second floor, according to reports. Norman Cruz

Maynilad to continue service interruptions until Nov. 29 By Rio N. Araja MAYNILAD Water Company Inc., which serves Metro Manila’s west zone, said Tuesday it will be forced to continue its rotational water service interruptions in several areas until Nov. 29 while addressing the problems caused by typhoon “Ulysses.”

Two of its water basins were now free of sludge, but the third had not been cleared, the company said. “Per our latest estimate, it will take another five days to get the last basin working fully, ramp up production, refill all the major reservoirs and build up pressure in the pipelines,” Maynilad said in a state-

ment “The actual service interruption schedules that our customers will experience will gradually shorten with the continued build-up of pressure in the pipelines. “In most areas, the water service will be fully restored prior to that date, leaving only the farthest and

IN BRIEF ‘PITC being used

GSIS retains its ISO grade following audit

STATE pension fund Government Service Insurance System maintained the International Organization for Standardization 9001:2015 certification of its major processes after the remote surveillance audit on Nov. 4. TÜV Rheinland Philippines Inc., one of the leading third-party ISO certifying bodies in the country, recommended the ISO recertification of the following major GSIS processes immediately following the whole-day remote audit: loans, membership administration, maturity claims, funeral benefit claims, motor vehicle claim, data center facilities management and marketing of non-life insurance. It was the first-ever virtual ISO audit conducted in GSIS since the pension fund’s bid for ISO certification in 2015. “Managing to sustain an ISO certification in the face of a life-changing pandemic is a remarkable achievement. And doing it consistently for six years is no longer a mere act but a way of life. This means that through the years, the men and women of GSIS have maintained world-class service and professionalism despite the difficulties and uncertainties of the times. I am truly proud of the GSIS Team’s unwavering commitment and dedication,” GSIS president and general manager Rolando Ledesma Macasaet said.

Agency says its health caravan will continue THE Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor vows to continue the operation of its health caravan throughout Metro Manila and to go to other parts of the country until the end of December. Chairman and Chief Executive Alvin Feliciano said the caravan started on Oct. 15 in connection with this year’s celebration of the Urban Poor Solidarity Week in which the field operations divisions in the National Capital Region, Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao would share various orientations. “Apart from training and seminars, the Commission also distributes health kits containing face masks, face shields and gallons of alcohol. The purpose of this campaign is to spread the right information about COVID-19 to the poor communities,” Feliciano said. The program aims to make the poor sector more aware and knowledgeable about what to do to avoid getting sick or contracting COVID-19. “The PCUP is aware that our urban poor sector community is the most affected by the spread of the COVID-19 virus. That is why it is important to disseminate information to prevent or mitigate the impact of the virus on their community,” Feliciano said. “The commission is also ready to liaise with other sectors and organizations so that not only health kits will be distributed to every caravan especially now that many are affected by the typhoon.” Rio N. Araja

GROUNDBREAKING. Gathering for the groundbreaking ceremony of Mega

Global’s new manufacturing plant in Luzon, located in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, are Chief Growth and Development Officer Marvin Tiu Lim; Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez; President & CEO of Mega Global Corp. William Tiu Lim; Finance chief Marylou Tiu Lim; DTI Undersecretary Ruth Castelo; Chief Operations Officer Michelle Tiu Lim Chan; Batangas Vice Governor Mark Leviste; Batangas Assistant Provincial Administrator Colin Garcia; Jansen Chan; and program host James Deakin. Norman Cruz

to hide funding’

THE state trading firm Philippine International Trading Center, now at the center of a controversy involving a P33.4 billion in “parked” funds, is being used as a “pawn” by agencies to skirt their obligations to return unused funds to the national coffers and avoid procurement-related liabilities, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Tuesday. “It appears like government agencies are using PITC to skirt the end-of-theyear validity of appropriations. They are releasing the funds before the lapse or expiration of the appropriation,” Drilon said in a privilege speech and called on the Senate to investigate the issue. “Is this a scheme? PITC is being used as a pawn. PITC effectively provides a mechanism to hide inefficiencies in government. “Instead of returning to the General Fund the money that they cannot utilize, it seems that government agencies deposit the funds in PITC. Billions of pesos in public funds are parked in the bank accounts of PITC.” Drilon said once agencies were unable to obligate and disburse the funds allotted to them by the end of the year, the appropriation would lapse and the funds would revert to the National Treasury. That would negatively affect their absorptive capacity and could be used by the Department of Budget and Management to reduce their appropriation in the next budget cycle. He said that to park unused funds with PITC in the guise of the procurement of goods and services only to skirt the endof-the-year validity of appropriations was a violation of Section 10 of the general provisions of the General Appropriations Act. Macon Ramos-Araneta

highest points of our concession area to experience the scheduled interruptions right up to Nov. 29, 2020.” Maynilad said it had been working nonstop to fully restore the water supply. The company implemented an emergency supply interruption in some of its concession areas on Nov. 18.

She made her statement since at least three vaccines by manufacturers in the United States and the United Kingdom— Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca—announced that their vaccines were at least 90-percent effective in preventing COVID-19 after human trials. “Definitely not this year. Definitely not until the President makes the announcement, but we are preparing a report to the President based on the current experience,” Briones said. Proposal repeated While the learners affected by the recent storms await the printing and distribution of new sets of learning materials, Senator Win Gatchalian has again proposed to resume classes through “purok workshops” if they are in COVID19-free or ‘low-risk’ areas. The chairman of the Senate committee on basic Education, arts and culture says it is crucial that recovery efforts work towards the resumption of classes as it will give learners a sense of normalcy after the disasters. During his rounds in Bicol and Cagayan Valley, two of the regions hit hardest by a string of typhoons, Gatchalian pitched again his proposal for schools or teachers to conduct classes through “purok workshops.” Higher budget for learners Senator Grace Poe urged the Senate to reconsider increasing the budget for the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s “Digital Learners Project” that was slashed from P3.44 billion to P100 million. The program aims to equip 500,000 students and 25,000 teachers with laptops, pocket WiFi devices and other gadgets needed for distance learning.

Prosecutor Navera, ‘one of the best,’ dies at 49

By Rey E. Requejo

SENIOR Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera, one of the best prosecutors of the Department of Justice who handled many controversial and prominent criminal cases, has died. He was 49. “We are saddened by SASP Navera’s demise. He was one of our best,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said, confirming Navera’s death without giving details. Navera had prosecuted many drug

cases that led to the conviction of many alleged drug personalities, including Reynaldo Parojinog Jr. and alleged Chinese drug lord Shi Jian Jia. He also handled the criminal case over the Virac, Catanduanes, shabu laboratory. Navera also successfully handled the prosecution of retired Army Major General Jovito Palparan over the abduction of student activists Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño. Palparan was convicted in 2018.

He was the lead prosecutor in the case of the Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo, who was abducted and killed allegedly by police officers in 2016. He was also in the first panel of prosecutors in the Maguindanao massacre case. He was also part of the team of prosecutors who handled the revived coup d’etat charges against former senator Antonio Trillanes IV after President Rodrigo Duterte revoked Trillanes’ amnesty in 2018.

Sofia 2 antigen test gets validated

PENGUINS FOR PESOS. A man displays his inflatable penguins for sale on the roadside

along Molino Boulevard in Bacoor, Cavite on Tuesday. Even with the dangers of the COVID-19 pandemic, he patiently sells his wares as a source of income for his family. JR Josue

QUIDEL Corporation’s Sofia 2 SARS Antigen Fluorescent Immunoassay, the first COVID-19 antigen test to be granted by the US and Philippines’ Food and Drug Administrations, has been validated by the Department of Health and available for use in the country. According to Department of Health Memorandum 0468, the antigen tests that are already authorized by the Philippine FDA and validated by an independent or a reputable government or private institution such as the RITM, US Food and Drug Administration, World Health Organization-Foundation of Innovative New Diagnostics, may be used by the public. “In any setting, only COVID-19 antigen test kits authorized by the Philippine FDA, validated by the RITM, WHO-FIND, and other DOH-designated institutions for test kit validation or those included by the WHO-EUL and have met the minimum

regulatory, technical and operational specifications set by the HTAC can be used,” the DOH on supplemental guidance on the use of rapid antigen test kits read. The Sofia 2 SARS Antigen FIA is the first rapid point-of-care test to be granted Emergency Use Authorization by the US FDA last May. The game changer antigen test has a sensitivity of 96.7 percent, which is higher than WHO’s 80-percent sensitivity standard. “We are glad that the Department of Health included the US FDA in the list of validation. It’s a good step because we all know that the US FDA is one of the strictest, most reliable and recognized institutions around the world. Aside from that, out of the five antigen tests that were approved, Sofia has the highest sensitivity,” LabX Corp. Chief Medical Officer and former BFAD director Jose Miguel Vergara said.

LGUs

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor lgu@manilastandard.net editor.lgustandard@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

SMC river dredging keeps floods away MALABON and Navotas, two of the most flood-prone areas in Metro Manila, reported no major flooding incidents despite the recent onslaught of two typhoons, primarily due to the government’s installation of pumping stations, complemented by the continuous dredging of the Tullahan-Tinajeros River system by San Miguel Corporation (SMC). “Based on the feedback we received from representatives of the local governments of Malabon and Navotas, no major floods were reported. This is largely due to the pumping stations installed by the government, particularly the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) that easily channels flood waters out to the Tullahan River,” Ang explained. “At the Tullahan River, even with increased volume of water, there was also no river overflow. This is because we’ve already dredged and deepened the mouth of the river going to Manila Bay, to up to five meters,” Ang added. Ang noted that the positive development shows the importance of implementing multiple and complementing flood mitigation measures, and further strengthens the company’s resolve to continue its efforts to clean up rivers. “These recent calamities underscore the urgency and importance of all stakeholders coming together to work on multiple, long-term solutions to flooding, such as dredging rivers and taking care of, or re-planting forests,” Ang said.

TABLETS FOR STUDENTS. The City Government of Santa Rosa led by Mayor Arlene B. Arcillas personally hands over tablets for use by public-school students to officials of the Schools Division of Santa Rosa City and officers of the Parent-Teacher Associations. A total of 36,830 tablets will be distributed, of which 15,900 are for elementary pupils; 16,516 are for junior high school students and the remaining 4,414 are for senior high school learners (inset). Roy Tomandao

Isko: No to drinking in public

MMDA clears Baclaran roads for night market

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Manila

Standard

TODAY ORIENTAL MINDORO ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (ORMECO, Inc.)

INVITATION TO BID 1.

ORIENTAL MINDORO ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (ORMECO, INC.), through its BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE (BAC), hereby intends to apply the sum of Seven Million Seven Hundred Twenty-Nine Thousand Pesos (₱ 7,729,000.00), inclusive of all applicable taxes and fees, being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC), for the procurement, supply, and delivery of materials/supplies/equipment for the Technical Services Department;

ORMECO, INC. now calls for the submission of Letter of Intent by interested bidders thru email at ormeco.bac.official@gmail.com. The list of the ORMECO, INC. Eligibility Requirements may be viewed at www.ormecoinc.com, https://web.facebook.com/OrmecoOGMOfficial, and may be requested through email ormeco_coop@yahoo.com, including the numbers listed above. An amount of two hundred fifty pesos (₱ 250.00) is required as Accreditation Fee;

ORMECO, INC. now invites suppliers for the following:

LOT

ITEM DESCRIPTION

ABC (INCLUSIVE OF VAT)

COST OF BID DOCUMENTS (NONREFUNDABLE)

Supply of Boom Truck with Basket

₱ 4,000,000.00

₱ 5,000.00

Supply of Boom Truck without Basket

₱ 3,729,000.00

₱ 5,000.00

FUNDING SOURCE

5% Reinvestment Fund

Due to COVID-19, in compliance with the Community Quarantine (CQ), Online/Virtual Bidding Conferences will be conducted. Stable internet connection is required to all prospective bidders during the conferences. BAC shall not be liable in any unexpected disruption due to poor/unstable signal which may cause loss of connection and inability of Bidders to engross with the conferences.

By Willie Casas

ANILA City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso has warned the owners of funeral homes and other establishments in the city about drinking in public places.

He said he will order the cancellation of the permits of these establishments if they violate the city ordinance amid the COVID-19 pandemic and asked the police to enforce the law strictly. The mayor ordered Bureau of Permits Director Levi Facundo and Manila Police District Deputy District Director Col. Narciso Domingo to go around to catch establishments that do not comply with Ordinance No. 5555. ′′All those who are drinking alcohol, we will revoke their permits, that is a blatant violation of Ordinance No. 5555. There is no exception that when there is a dead person, you can drink, there is no exception that when there is a birthday, you can drink,” Domagoso said. He also warned Manilans not to hold drinking sessions, even during the Christmas holidays, as the coronavirus pandemic persists. “Wag kayong excited sa Pasko dahil sigurado ako, ang Pasko darating. Di lang ako sigurado kung makikita mo pa ang Pasko. ‘Wag atat… ‘wag n’yo bibiruin si COVID dahil di

siya nagbibiro. Totodasin kayo nyan at lahat ng pagsisisi nasa huli,” Domagoso said. He noted that lately, a lot of Manilans are already showing signs of being lax, like engaging in drinking sessions, crowding indoors and outdoors, and holding parties “as if COVID-19 is already gone.” The ordinance provides that it is strictly prohibited in Manila City to drink in establishments that do not belong to restaurants, hotels, or bars. It is also prohibited to drink alcohol in the streets or alleyways. At the same time, he warned the leaders of the city’s 13 police stations that if anyone violates the Ordinance no. 5555, their constituents will be immediately fired from their office. “If I go around at dawn and I catch someone committing a violation -- one-strike policy, we remove Precinct Commander, PCP or Outpost Commander. You will be out of Manila, you have no business in Manila,” Domagoso warned.

For Additional info please be guided in the following: (please refer to Online Bidding procedures) a. Payment of bidding documents shall be deposited to BAC bank account (to be email by BAC secretariat). b. Prospective bidders must submit to the BAC via email the scanned copy of validated bank deposit slip / screenshot of successful electronic fund transfer as proof of payment. c. Scanned copy of Bidding Documents will be sent by the BAC secretariat upon validation that the payments are credited to the coop’s bank account. d. ID number or link of the Online/Virtual conference will be provided by BAC secretariat 2.

Tight watch on prices of goods in Pampanga

The schedule of bidding activities is as follows: SCHEDULE

Release of Invitation to Bid

25 November 2020 (Wednesday) Available for viewing

Submission of Letter of Intent thru email / Availability of Bidding Documents

26 November to 03 December 2020 Office Hours, at ORMECO, INC. Office (ormeco.bac.official@gmail. com)

Online/Virtual Pre-Bid Conference

04 December 2020 (Friday) at ORMECO, INC. Board Room

9:00 am for Lot I & Lot II

Deadline of Bid Submission (ormeco. bac.official@gmail. com), Opening and Evaluation of Bids (Online/Virtual)

18 December 2020 (Friday) at ORMECO, INC. Board Room

9:00 am for Lot I

18 December 2020 (Friday) at ORMECO, INC. Board Room

2:00 pm for Lot II

Post-Qualification

21- 22 December 2020 (Monday and Tuesday)

Approval through Board Resolution and Issuance of Notice of Award

Board Meeting for the Month of January 2021

Delivery Schedule

To be announced during the Pre-Bid Conference

Only those who have bought the Bidding Documents shall be allowed to attend or participate during the Online/Virtual Pre-Bidding Conference, where their presence is MANDATORY;

All bids shall be opened and read in the presence of Bidders or their duly authorized representatives. All bids shall be accompanied by a scanned copy of validated bank deposit slip or screenshot of successful electronic fund transfer representing payment of bid bond equivalent to 2% of ABC.

The winning bidder shall issue Performance Security in the form of Cash, Cashier’s Check, Manager’s Check, issued by a Universal or Commercial Bank, equivalent to five percent (5%) of the ABC; and

ORMECO, INC. reserves the right to accept or reject any bids, declare failure of bidding and not to award the contract without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. ORMECO, INC. also has no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids. Certified by: (Signed) VICENTE V. FERRERA Chairperson Bids and Awards Committee (BAC)

(MS-NOV. 25, 2020)

Noted by: (Signed) ATTY. NORBERTO M. MENDOZA Head Of Procuring Entity (HOPE)

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority resumed its road clearing operations in Baclaran to give way for the night market project initiated by the Pasay City government. Mayor Imelda Rubiano said the night market would be the first of its kind that would be allowed by the MMDA while Metro Manila is under the general community quarantine status. “The night market that will begin on Nov. 27 will strictly observe stringent health protocols that include social distancing, body temperature checks, hand sanitization as well as designated entry and exit points,” she said. The city chief executive said displaced vendors would be allowed to sell their wares starting at 5 p.m. along the service road of Roxas Boulevard and will close before 12 midnight. At least 130 tents would be set up in the area.

IN BRIEF

Online Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the NEA Memorandum NO. 2017-019: Revised Procurement Guidelines and Simplified Bidding Procedures for Electric Cooperatives, IRR-RA 10531 (2017); All video conferences shall be recorded in CD/DVD for reference and other purposes.

ACTIVITIES

By Joel E. Zurbano

E-GOVERNMENT SERVICE. Mayor Orlan Calayag and the local council of Dolores, Quezon have

launched the very first automated business registration machine in the province. The SmartJuan-OneStop-Shop eGovernment Service was initiated by Calayag in partnership with Centralized Cloud Computing International, Inc. (CCCI), which provided the automated technology that allows people to apply and pay for clearances and permits electronically, using cellphones and other devices with internet access.

Taguig scholars get semestral stipend AROUND 5,000 Taguig City University scholar students have received their financial assistance from the city government this semester. The students received their allowance ranging from P5,000 to P10,000 depending on their semestral weighted average. The scholars practiced precautionary measures set by the city government such as wearing of face mask and face shield, observing one meter physical distancing, bringing of alcohol and hand-sanitizer for personal sanitation, and avoid unnecessary conversation during the distribution of allowance. Scholars were divided into five- or six-time clusters and were advised to arrive 15 min-

utes prior to their time slot, so they may be accommodated promptly as well as to avoid congestion and mass gathering. Ordinance No. 08, Series of 2019 provides that all TCU students would receive at least P5,000 in educational assistance every semester. An interested TCU student can qualify for the scholarship program if he/she is a bonafide resident of Taguig for at least three years immediately preceding the application; of good moral character; a duly registered voter of the city if the applicant is already 18 years of age and, if not, at least one of his/her parents is a duly registered voter. Joel E. Zurbano

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—Groceries, supermarkets and other retail stores in Pampanga have been placed on tight watch by the local government units following the issuance of a price freeze directive on basic goods. The regional office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI3) here is regularly monitoring the prices of these goods to be able to document the prevailing prices, which are the basis for determining whether there is illegal price manipulation. DTI3 director Judith Angeles urged citizens to report any violation of the Price Act through Consumer Hotline of DTI - 1-384. Jess Malabanan

Polangui gains P2m in aid from Angeles POLANGUI, Albay—The Angeles City government has turned over 4,000 packs of relief goods worth P2 million to this town over the weekend. Polangui Mayor Andy Mariscotes and Board Member Pem Imperial received the goods from the Angeles City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and City Social Welfare and Development Office. Despite heavy rains and mechanical problems, the team pushed through to deliver the city’s food assistance to the residents of heavily typhoon-hit Barangays Alomon, Balangibang, and Kinale. Butch Gunio

Through a mix of been so-called synchronous rsary much more as president and tivecratic and aggressive cyber operations of given allly—to these countries have from their work. Sure, they may be Martires teaching from about a COVID-19 infection. EALITY eplain aRussia’s trove ofthe accounts, written orgetting otherwise, could betwo If the official orand his or challenger process.. as this hacking group has been challenger Biden’s side the After all, activities seek to comprotheiric respective peoples. and found wanting. is not the the only Inreleased: real world, however, espeWe were hoping thatwill Ombudsman the same ic process.. as this hacking group been cratic Joe Biden’s side given all, activities that seek tothat comproment. Students learn their lessons, not a fanciful term but a statement of fact work in the same manner forhas many years, t,ter given and asynchronous methods—where the stu- ItJoe

EMIL JURADO

isortrying his answer or her besttoto th the comfort of their homes, but there Everybody is defissia’s time.” the Trump administration. hs lu- her and asynchronous methods—where the stuisEverybody trying his herinbest to ers, and journalists.” thethe comfort ofreflect their homes, but there is defifailed toopen the pandemic. Thus, the corruption. each changing every narrative. representative requests it, ifcontain asystems, court “...One such example ofsome this is the responsible for of the most sanctions imposed andthe high profile bashing digital devices, even entire story toattell. As some noted writers and cially as thewith public schools in a few hasanprovocahad time to on decision andand that says one’s expenses exceed one’s rdigital tasksmise ondevices, responsible for ofthen the most provocasanctions imposed and high profile bashing even entire systems, educators will learn tohis teach better, even decades, and having to shift to In real world, however, andsome espedents and teacher are present all the same If these latest hacking attempts on othIn the case of the Russian operations for oped still be able to learn in this In the real world, however, and espenitely nothing comfortable about doing your dents and teacher are present all at the same still be able to learn in this new environnitely nothing comfortable about doing your Such is the nature of the beast, as we orders its release instate todays a starkly pending marked difference incyber the of retelling of the academics have been saying lately, the Duterte hasinand vowed to continue his “war tive aggressive cyber operations of all itwill thesesecure two countries have been getting from for financial orsituation gains or just plain weeks, the could be difTen before Duterte imposed the lockwhether or not new the environappointm how blatantly goes against avowed fight together. s are trytive and aggressive operations of all these two countries have been getting inancial or state gains orrelation just plain parents learn howthe best they can sup- come and all other revenue taken new way teaching. ist, senior execuerwise organizations infrom USopen soil asschools the public schools open a few Trump’s re-election, the reports coming outtasks Hacktime, and where they perform other tasks on xecument. Students will learn their lessons, cially asadministration. the cially public in a altogether few work inmanner thehesame manner for many years, time, and where they perform other on ment. Students will learn their lessons, work in the same for many years, used to say, that accounts of events or incicase, or of a request is made through the story of Ferdinand Magellan’s death. Anmartial law years were not as dark and uttime.” ferent. Children may not have adequate the Trump “gotcha” moments have become such lufor transparency. Unfortunately, has used his Specifically, if a government official is able nology to time.” the Trump administration. cha” moments have become such luport their children. Nothing prepared us They could have trouble with their tools on drugs” which will be “as relentless and is legal depends on whethe down on March 15, 2020, there were only irm FireEye, has involve the most hotly contested electornot just of the security establishment but of and weeks, the situation coulddifbe starkly diftheir own, respectively—educators are try,lehas educators learn to teach theofguys situation could be starkly hve, even and having to shift to an will their own, respectively—educators are try-useless dents, personal or historical rests Ombudsman’s field investigation office come from prosperous families to the begin educators towill teach better, and better, and tonio Pigafetta, the Italian scholar who even decades, anddecades, thenagainst having toholdshift totoandrive asRussian these are saying they or whether functioning equipment. home time to perfect hiscomplaining argument thethen a BMW on alearn low monthly amorIf connectivity, these latest hacking attempts on othIn case the Russian operations for them to crative, even highly sought and The developed for this, so will not help. If not these latest hacking attempts oncould othIn theterly case ofweeks, the operations for even highly sought and developed and with or they also al race in the planet, using as they do Microsoft itself is that Russian military n no Russian hackers in that shortlist for the Boa chilling on the day it began.” He wants Watch referent. Children may have adequate ckers TWO confirmed cases. At this writing, the ing to make do with available technology to h will learn how ferent. Children may not adequate heavily on the story teller. Inorganizations the case of the purpose of a ideal fact-finding probe. with, or may other business interests altogether new way of to teaching. ing tohave make do with available technology to afind detailed journal of be the effective events thetheir want everybody to believe. Like in parentswonder will parents learn how best they canbest sup-they can supmay not be an toyears. focus and towould altogether new waygovernment of teaching. ing lifestyle checks for officials. where that exists—or challenges secure organizations US soil Trump’s re-election, the reports coming undertakings in the past few HackIn finding our stride, it is best re- tization—we iterwise difficult to at jobsof secure organizations in ofUS soil in Trump’s re-election, thehave reports coming outhave rtakings in the past few years. Hackmost sophisticated methods available, it erwise iskeptout hackers targeted 200place US part for cyber-espionage nage or functioning equipment. The home I HAVE been requested to repeat my reareach out to their students and enable them to It’s pretty basic. the Magellan expedition and subsequent or sources of income. If all these are indiSomeone who requests a copy of an death penalty, banned under the Constitues govport on their children. Nothing voyage, wrote of how Magellan was electorbeor functioning equipment. The all distress conflict situations as Philippines is just the pandemic epicenter in the could have trouble with their toolshouses reach out to things. their students and enable them to learn new Parents could be anx“Wealth does not They translate toaffects corruption,” buys multiple aNothing limited salary port their children. prepared us prepared us talked about PresiThey could havecrisis trouble withfamilies their tools involve the most hotly contested electornot justand of the security establishment buthome of ers are lurking just around the corner and member that one using the only available medium of instrucnot farfetched to think that thebut same (political parties, think tanks,and consultants involve the most hotly contested not of the security establishment ofthe can re and lurking just around the corner nizations associsocil aofficial’s may not be an place to focus and tothe while events thereafter ancan article written by learn, notwithstanding the great challenges SALN must present afundraising notarized cated in the SALN—assuming we can still sieged by natives inin Cebu attemptcountry was atnot that there were missons belief that the appointment ious about where the next meal may come may betime, an ideal place toideal focus and tomost forof this, so complaining *** that has not significantly increased over the will not help. he said before lawmakers atmy aconnectivity, budget hearing ving diflearn, notwithstanding the great challenges and for with or they could also for this, so complaining will not help. al race planet, using as they do the Microsoft itself is that Russian military hacking operations be activated in no and communities differently. This should be done anywhere at any time and against and with connectivity, or they could also and even the main Democratic erous tion for crimes, to be reimposed for continue to tion. 11-nation ASEAN with a total of 265,888 casal race in the planet, using as they do the Microsoft itself is that Russian military ing operations can be activated in no chievements. Now, election, the excluded in the shortlist. Otherwise, the Preseemands ex- letter -azen Raisa Mabayo, our Third Secretary and of authority from the owner of the have access to them—then we can very learn new things. Parents could be anxing to help Rajah Humabon, a recently takes and low points but there were high posed by these untested methods. from, even if they did not have to worry Tuesday. In fact, he said that the law govyears, then that serves as a red flag, a pointof learn new things. Parents could be anxIn finding our stride, it is best to reany perceived adversary. Given such an platform) for cyber attacks. Microsoft vice posed by these untested methods. find it difficult to be effective at their jobs improve our empathy and correct our most sophisticated methods available, it is hackers have targeted 200 US organizations time at all. Indeed, they have become part former National Bureau of Investigation In finding our stride, it is best to reMeanwhile, students are also adjusting to find it difficult to be effective at their jobs In an earlier column, I sug most crimes. sophisticated methods available, it is hackers targeted 200 USPhilippines organizations drug all.and Indeed, they have become part ingranting that of the es. It quoted is No. 21 inhave the world. The nest, fatwith the Vice-Consul inBurt charge of Cultural DiploSALN the request. Noare requests well appreciate some context. ident cannot legally appoint you asothers aschoolwork. memCatholicized local ruler demands convert and celebratory ones as well. ious about where the next meal may come about a COVID-19 infection. erning lifestyle checks isDante illogical and heas er, onof where to look more closely. The teachers themselves are having aabout difhing environment, the tanks, security and stability of president Tom has been as say- points ed to from short-sightedness. In only doing ourthat best to president ious where the next meal may come member that one crisis affects families the much-changed of The teachers themselves having a difusing the available medium instrucnot farfetched to think that the same can (political parties, think tanks, consultants of everyday life. member that one crisis affects families using the only available medium of instrucnot farfetched to think that the same can (political parties, think consultants eryday life. chief Gierran and chief President should create a “ unit..which dence which But the people love the President for political acmacy inthetheinitial Philippine Embassy in MaLifestyle checks, are there forCatholicism for inspecting or taking of the dislodged Germany yesterday and is barely to and loyalty toof Spain. MaBut that would another story. Everybody is trying his her best test depression nations and societies ashowever, well as integrity to ask to also amend difficult is this to grasp? ing that failed attempt on Biden’s sysre ismakes defieven ifBack they did not have to worry ber of the Board of Trustees PhilHealth, ficult time adjusting to theto new demands ofbe cope, butCongress wetion. should pickit.out the les- Howand They may have grown up with technology, from, even iffrom, they didthe not have to worry andconcept communities differently. This should be done at any time intends and against and even the main Democratic fundraising What makes these activities dangerous ficult time adjusting tophotos theor new demands of communities differently. This should be done anywhere atanywhere any time and against and even the main Democratic fundraising hat these activities dangerous tion. Adelle Chua, Editor o the democratexecutive officer of PhilHealth is illegal. the wake of so many jobless drid provides an interesting insight and a crata reason. “Living beyond one’s means” is SALN shall be allowed. gellan believed that his display of force to Mabayo’s notes on the quincentennial and standing of companies and institutions campaign was “...specifically targeted by ntial still be able to learn in this new environWe are aghast to hear that these words He takes issue with the phrase “living beoing your the “drugs war.” In May two top munity leadabout ainfection. COVID-19 infection. sons that will come handy when this cri23,000 cases below No. 20, Italy, 288,761. butpresident mostly for recreation and2019, socialization. their work. Sure, they may from befor teaching from any perceived adversary. Given such an platform) for cyber attacks. Microsoft vice is when these are done in such a brazen f 2020, the Philipabout a COVID-19 much more as and CEO. improve our empathy and correct our their work. Sure, they may be teaching any perceived adversary. Given such an Meanwhile, students are also adjusting to platform) cyber attacks. Microsoft vice hen these are done in such a brazen improve our empathy and correct our Meanwhile,Under studentsSection are also adjusting to gbeen group has been fresh perspective on will how we should view We were hoping that Ombudsman Martires notnote a fanciful term but statement ofbyfact would be enough totoaccomplish those to yond celebrations posted Thea Diplomat: mst.daydesk@gmail.com of canisas indeed bein easily undermined the Russian hackers via learn phishing attacks food 1 of Republic Act 11223 ment. Students their lessons, sult of the COVID-19 pande are being uttered by the very official one’s means” and insists that a person any years, sis is finally over. That wisdom would be Today they have to use technology subEverybody is trying his or her best the comfort of their homes, but there defienvironment, the security and stability of president Tom Burt has been quoted as sayand wayward manner as what happened to Everybody is trying his or her best to allies made it handily into the Senate elecenvironment, the security and stability of president Tom Burt has been quoted as saywayward manner as what happened to short-sightedness. In doing our best to the comfort of their homes, but there is defiFinance Secretary Carlos Dominguez says the much-changed demands of schoolwork. short-sightedness. In doing our best to Thus, the answer to the question of the much-changed demands of schoolwork. ovocaits lowest ever in eshift e most provocaand even teach history in our schools and hasan hadeducators thethe time to reflect onto his decision andand athat one’stasks. institute clicksays ofMarch a one’s finger Grabe. against campaign’s communications lities That fateful decision and his mis“...On 16,expenses 2021, weexceed will comwill learn teach better, may only have (Universal “distorted values and priori- Act), whoseupon job it is to champion transparency to priceless. Healthcare the rectheenvironinteractions and experiences theyintegrity The Department of Labo still be able to learn in this new nitely nothing comfortable doing your nations and societies asintegrity well as the ing thatfailed the initial failed attempt on Biden’s UCPB which can unhinge the banking sys-about nations and societies as well as Duterte’s the ing that the initial attempt on Biden’s which can unhinge the banking sysstill be able to learn in this new environcope, but we should also pick out the lesnitely nothing comfortable about doing your They may have grown up with technology, cope, but we should also pick out the lesThey may have grown up with technology, eB tions which solidified power ue his “war operations of all “the decisive (lockdown) helped us avert an the younger generations. In this Mabayo whether or not the appointment of Gierran how blatantly it goes against the avowed fight come and all other revenue taken together. calculation of enemy forces, led by Lapu memorate the 500th anniversary of the of all 16.5-percent parentsconwill learn how best they can supties.” This, he says, is none of our business. andTrustees accountability in government. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25,We 2020 ment. Students will learn their ommendation of socialization. the Board ofwill Philand standing of and companies institutions campaign was “...specifically by resulted tem. Or, to companies providing essential work thehesame manner for many years, ment will deny this,thisforcri-sur standing oflessons, companies institutions campaign was “...specifically targeted bytargeted Or, to companies providing essential will learn their lessons, work in the sameinmanner for many years, sons thathandy will Martires’ come handy when but mostly forand recreation -entless sons that come when this cribut mostly recreation piece, oft-repeated note—history is for transparency. Unfortunately, has used his 3.5 Specifically, ifStudents a government official isand able Lapu, inaide, Magellan’s death. and arrival ofment. Europeans in the Philippines. portthe their children. Nothing prepared us We agree thatfor wealth does not neces- and aresocialization. much alarmed over Mr. heir tools base. Longtime Christopher Go, and and is legal depends on whether his name was estimated 1.3 to million infections accordduction. On top of of note can indeed be easily undermined by the Russian hackers via phishing attacks goods and services such as those in food educators will learn to teach better, and of note can indeed be easily undermined by the Russian hackers via phishing attacks sothandtime services such as those in food even decades, and then having to shift to an educators will learn to teach better, and Health, the President shall appoint the agenoattempts even decades, and then having to shift to an sis is finally over. That wisdom would be o showed that almost half Today they have to use technology to subsis is finally over. That wisdom would be written by the victors—which has been to perfect his argument against the holdto drive a BMW on a low monthly amoron othToday they have to use technology to subHe was struck in the face by a Mactan It is a day that means different things to for this, so complaining will not help. sarily equate to corruption. Mr. Martires distorted thinking. Because it’s our taxes ould also in that for the Board of Trustees. Davao’s police chief, Ronaldo dela He wants ing togets researchers from ourthe universities. The a click of ascimitar. finger Grabe. against campaign’s communications manufacturing orour inpeople, power and utilities inin the first quarashortlist click of using aformer finger Grabe. against the campaign’s communications ufacturing orsoil power and parents will learn how they can supArmy commanders. altogether new way of to teaching. en parents will learn how best they canbest suprigueur fornew most aofficials. better altogether way ofutilities teaching. priceless. ing of lifestyle checks for government tization—we wonder where that exists—or stitute thefor interactions and experiences warrior a local After, the ons US priceless. countries and their peoples. president and CEO from thethey Board’s stitute interactions andsimpletons. experiences they Ininfinding stride, it is best re-different should not the takecy’s Filipinos and our well-being that are atadult stake labor here, it force of 60 mill their jobsde soil Inot HAVE been requested toInto repeat reaIt’s pretty basic. 2019, themy Human Rights Watch re-Spanish Rosa, who initially spearheaded theWe “drug e-ctorConstituport their children. Nothing prepared usfrom lockdown enabled us reinforce our health They could have trouble with their tools than even counterpoint astrouble far historical “Wealth does translate toas corruption,” buys multiple houses on aNothing limited salary port their children. prepared us ships retreated Cebu. tontested GDP growth drop “...To the Philippines, that first conThey could have with their tools electormember that one crisis affects families know that non-ex-officio many government members. officials is very much our business. Santa Banana, they are the n of instrucported that “State security forces and over govsons for my belief that the appointment of for this, so complaining will not help. * * * that has not significantly increased the he said before lawmakers at a budget hearing and with connectivity, or they could also for this, so complaining will not help. g as they do the and communities differently. This should war,” were elected to the Senate. Dela Rosa and with connectivity, or they could also mposed for system and build up our capacity to do wideo the wy in recession with This means that the President cannot apThe newest of the “new ernment-backed paramilitaries continue to fact, he empathy said that the to law govyears, astride, red flag, a was pointInas finding stride, best to refind itspread difficult be effective at then their jobsserves improve our and correct ourour ds it In former National of Investigation In that finding our itour is best to itre-is justing to find itis difficult to be effective atBureau their jobs In an earlier column, I suggested thatcommittee the cluded in the shortlist. Otherwise, the Presit available, is Tuesday. named to head the Senate testing in communities. From just TO THE harass, threaten, arbitrarily arrest, and in nomic output of 9 Duterte imposed one of the earliest lockArmy commanders. point Gierran unless he is a member of the Army commanders. shoolwork. ident cannot legally appoint you as a mem119,000 to 140,000 retren lifestyle checks isDante illogical and er, onof where to look more closely. Now, the lockdowns will policy” make half in of short-sightedness. In only doing ourthat best to president member that oneaccrisis affects families using the available medium instrucatcan theerning same can member that one crisis affects families using only available medium ofhe instrucchief Gierran as and chief President should create a “jobs some instances attack and kill political downs inthe the world. Still, even if it was the charged with investigating police matters esident for ber of the Board of Trustees of PhilHealth, around 1,282 actual PCR tests per day conIn 2019, the Human Rights Watch re-time In 2019, the Human Rights Watch rePOINT cession in our hisintends to ask Congress to amend it. How difficult is this concept to grasp? the people poor. cope, but we should also pick out the lesand staff, out of the more th chnology, and communities differently. This should andworld’s against tion. communities differently. This should ainst tion. longest tivists,and environmentalists, community leadandthe strictest, the lockdown executive officer of PhilHealth isaghast illegal. thethese wake ofthe sothat many jobless people asof aforces ree9, ported that “State security andmuch gov-more as president and CEO. ported “State security forces and govWe are to hear that words He takes issue with phrase “living beand “drug war.” two top Remittances—a mainstay the sons that will come handy when this criducted in the last week of March, our capacity ialization. Given such an improve our empathy and correct our schools which will remain h an failedMeanwhile, Meanwhile, are also toour empathy and correct our improve ers, and journalists.” studentsSection arestudents also adjusting to adjusting to contain Under the Thus, EMIL e to yond 1 lockof Act 11223 ernment-backed paramilitaries to the answer to the question of ernment-backed paramilitaries to continue of“war the COVID-19 pandemic. areDuterte being has uttered by the sult very official one’s andpandemic. insists that a person economy because iscontinue the one that • The Judicial Fund, the basis sis is finally over. That imposed wisdom would beRepublic gy subcluded in the shortlist. Otherwise, the Pres-be cluded in theDevelopment shortlist. Otherwise, the Presand stability ofmeans” Failure to contain communist inenate electy ofeconomy vowed to continue histoday. short-sightedness. In4.best doing best to thatthe the much-changed demands of schoolwork. Ten days before Duterte the whether or not the appointment of Gierran short-sightedness. In doing our to our the much-changed demands of schoolwork. the is exnent journalists in the country He schools have lost income in the first quarter of 2020, by 16.5 perTO THE TO THE harass, threaten, arbitrarily arrest, and in may only have “distorted values and prioriwhose job it is to champion transparency harass, threaten, arbitrarily arrest, and in Duterte imposed one of the earliest lockDuterte imposed one of the earliest lockJURADO fuels consumption—fell by 4.2 perof the financial benefits of the judiciary; priceless. (Universal Healthcare Act), upon the recences they The Department of Labor and Employident cannot legally appoint you as a memident cannot legally appoint you as a memll as the integrity onhas drugs” which will be “as relentless and is legal depends on whether his name was down on March 15, 2020, there were only grity cope, but we should also pick out the lesThey may have grown up with technology, cope, but we should also pick out the les50 years of journalism experience here They may have grown up with technology, surgency and the Muslim separatist movee’s power ucent.ties.” enrollees. BizNewsAsia cent in on theinthe second quarter, and 9 perVIRTUAL This,confirmed heVIRTUAL says, iscases. none of this our business. accountability inbegan.” government. We instances attack kill ac- shortlist for the Board instances and kill political ac- political cent insome theattack first half. That 4.2 percent downs the world. even if itsome was the this, downs inand the world. Still, even ifStill, it ment was the • The andof Gaming berAmusement ofofthe Board of Trustees of PhilHealth, ofPhilippine the Board Trustees PhilHealth, in that of Trustees. chilling itcome Heby wants TWO At writing, theand POINT ber POINT ommendation of the Board Trustees ofday Philstions and institutions will deny for sure, but aand survey sons thathandy will come handy when this criand abroad covering business, the econobut mostly forand recreation socialization. sons will when this cribut mostly for recreation socialization. .er cent in thethat first half. We are having the We agree that wealth does not necesare much alarmed over Mr. Martires’ ment Go, and tivists, environmentalists, community leadtivists, environmentalists, community leadis equivalent to losing $1.4 billion of Corporation, which provides an additional The group representing world’s longest and strictest, the lockdown world’s longest and strictest, the lockdown I HAVE been requested to repeat my reaIt’s pretty basic. ction for the whole much more as president and CEO. much more as president and CEO. death penalty, banned under the ConstituREALITY REALITY Philippines is the pandemic epicenter in the Presiy undermined by ed by my, politics, and world affairs. Health, the President shall appoint the agensis is finally over. That wisdom would be showed that almost half of the country's Today they have to use technology to subsis is finally over. That wisdom would be Today have to use technology to subn worst recession in our history. equatethey to corruption. Martires thinking. Because it’s our for taxes sons for myand belief that the appointment of alyour dollar income. ers, and journalists.” ers, journalists.” source of revenue to fund the miscellaneous * * * EMIL failed contain the pandemic. failed to contain the pandemic. Thus, the answer to the question of tion for most crimes, to be reimposed Thus, the answer to the question 11-nation ASEAN with a totalMr. of 265,888 cas-todistorted The killings of political activists and onaldo dela and staff claim that the of P50 Now,sarily EMIL rcent -assuming a He has worked forare largest, oldest priceless. stitute thefor interactions and days experiences they e priceless. cy’s president and CEO from the Board’s the interactions and experiences they About 75 percent of thethe economy was adult ofNational 60 are jobless. former Bureau of Investigation should take Filipinos simpletons. and our well-being that at stake here, it force In an earlier column, I suggested that the Is there hopemillion in that bleak scenario? activities of or thenot government; Duterte has vowed to continue his “war his “war Duterte has vowed to continue drug crimes. Ten before Duterte imposed the lock-labor Ten days before Duterte imposed the lockwhether the appointment of Gierran whether orcated not thetoappointment of enough. Gierran es.stitute Itnot is No. 21 in the world. The Philippines them is not leged NPA leaders have failed to dent the d the “drug and premium news organizations here and JURADO ach month lockTONY LOPEZ TONY LOPEZ chief Dante Gierran as president chief President a “jobs policy” in down. Household consumption, knowof that many government officials very much our business. Well, Lift the which • The Export Processing Authority at- washis name was But the people love President for non-ex-officio members. on drugs” which will be “aslockdowns relentless and onyes. drugs” which will be and “as relentless and should createJURADO Germany yesterday and is down barely onisshut is legal depends on whether his name Santa they are the new poor! is legal depends on to whether March 15, 2020, there were onlyBanana, down on March 15,the2020, there were only on We dislodged abroad, including Asiaweek of Time Warner, officer of PhilHealth is illegal. the wake their of so many people a re- produced the family, forBoard instance, or an hoursfinaljobless stages, are asmass The jobs policy that Pre providing three-fourths of GDP, fell by executive 52-year old communist insurgency. Muslim Rosa HE celebration of have proved senseless and produced the the “drugscases. war.” In this May 2019, two top tract foreign investments; 23,000 below No.means 20, Italy, that 288,761. e. Dela longest andcases severin that shortlist for the of Trustees. chilling on the day it began.” He wants in that shortlist for the Board of Trustees. chilling on the day it began.” He wants PhilipTWO confirmed At writing, the TWO confirmed cases. At this writing, the This the President cannot apTheelecnewest of the “new areActsome Mainichi Shimbun of Japan, ARD and ZRDopposite Under Section 1The ofpoor” Republic 11223 sult ofMARCOS thebeen COVID-19 pandemic. cluded inSecretary the shortlist. Otherwise, the says Pres- allies 15.5 percent in Q2 for a 7.8-percent long conversation at some cafe—just and distributed to all the countries of made it handily into the Senate effect. lockdowns were Finance Carlos Dominguez has to adopt right away sh • The Movie and Television review and I HAVE requested to repeat my reaAS haters remembered “the I HAVE been requested to repeat my reaIt’s pretty basic. It’s pretty basic. ver in death penalty, banned under theupon Constituterrorists on the warpath marked by aThe Department of Labor and Employcommittee death penalty, banned under the Philippines ismember the pandemic epicenter inepicenter the isofthe pandemic the are previous Iispoint talked about PresiThanksgiving INTHE Acolumn previous column Ithe talked about Presifor seven months. (Universal Healthcare Act), the Day rec- ConstituGierran unless he aPhilippines the TV stations of Germany, and the Roces’ worst over for Philippine ident cannot legally appoint you asavert a econmem119,000 toinfor 140,000 retrenched teachers decline inwith H1 2020, according to265,888 MaPRESIDENT Duterte has extended tions which solidified Duterte’s power “the decisive (lockdown) helped us an is supposed to save 4,000 people from sons for my belief that the appointment of Classification Board; dark days of Martial Law,” on September sons for my belief that the appointment of * * * thalf con-ofdent have no substitutes. the world. * * * tion most crimes, to be reimposed for Board of Trustees of PhilHealth, and unless tion for most crimes, to be reimposed for 11-nation ASEAN a total of 265,888 casemergency employment sch 11-nation ASEAN with a total of casRodrigo Duterte’s achievements. Now, Rodrigo Duterte’s achievements. Now, base. ommendation ofis the Board Trustees of Phil- The ment will deny this, for sure, but a survey newout phenomenon—suicide bombers. ice matters ber of the Board of Trustees PhilHealth, Manila Times, Lopez’s Manila Chronicle, Rights Watch reomy, says Bangko Sentral Governor Benjahonomic production Western nila-based Asian Development Bank. the state of calamity for oneofyear aide, Christopher and andGo, staff, of the more than 700 estimated 1.3 to 3.5 million infections accorddying, people wholargely would dieaprivate anyway, opreof • The Authority toI suggested 21, theyNational went on Bureau theNational usual spree, In anPhilippine earlier column, I suggested that the renformer Bureau of his Investigation anthankful earlier column, that the drug crimes. We In are for those who drug crimes. es.until It is No. 21Longtime world. The Health, the President shall appoint the agen- former es. Itinisthe No. 21 in the Philippines world. The Philippines showed that almost half ofofbashing theInvestigation country's are his failures: much more as Please president andhe CEO. here are his failures: the Board recommended appointment toCoconut the ranks of the unemployed and Romualdez’s Times Journal and Manila min S. Diokno. Last Friday, highlighted y forces and govgovPNP has tripled its anti-insurgency budget, Davao’s former police chief, Ronaldo dela of the Unemployment more than tripled, Sept, 21, 2021. note: That is up to ing to researchers from our universities. The quarchief Dante Gierran as president and chief lockdown or no lockdown, because not be recovered in develop and enhance coconut production President should create a “jobs policy” in chief Dante Gierran as president and chief portraying Marcos as the devil-incarnate. President should create a “jobs policy” in schools which will remain closed. These tradition. Still, people cy’s president and CEO from the Board’s But the people love the President for adult labor force of 60 million are jobless. But the people love the President for dislodged Germany yesterday and is barely Thus, the answer to the question of dislodged Germany yesterday and is barely der tireless service despite the difficulThe greatest 1. The Philippines’ Standard. In heApril put his own magathe recent balance ofgreatest dollar re- Rosa, aries continue to toPhilippines’ the President. initially spearheaded the “drug ensothe poverty problem of lockdown enabled usbefore topayments, reinforce our health ne that from 5.1 average percent indaily 2019 tothe 17.7 eight months justdepression thedepression May 2022 •who The Judicial Development Fund, basis hue drop executive ofare PhilHealth isPhilHealth illegal. most of them already had fatal distheefforts; wake of so people as a recluded in up the shortlist. Otherwise, the Presexecutive officer of illegal. cluded in 2001, the shortlist. Otherwise, the PresBut didofficer not Shakespeare say: “The evil isand themany wakejobless of many jobless people as a rea worrying sign. mmunist innon-ex-officio members. Santa Banana, they the new poor! has grown to about 32,000 tests whether or not the appointment of Gierran the “drugs war.” In May 2019, two top 23,000 cases below No. 20, Italy, 288,761. the “drugs war.” In May 2019, two top schools have lost income because of lack of 23,000 cases below No. 20, Italy, 288,761. the second quarter of 2020, the PhilipIn the second quarter of 2020, the Philipties and the prolonged risk posed by the world over, Filipinos zine, BizNewsAsia. and foreign direct investment TO THE war,” were elected to the Senate. Dela Rosa TO THE lywith arrest,mittances, and in in system and build up our capacity to do wideOnd perpercent in April 2020 “when lockdowns presidential elections when we choose We are thankful of the financial benefits of the judiciary; n.2 Under Section 1 of Republic Act 11223 Thus, before Gierran can be appointed as eases other than COVID. But several sult ofPhilippine the COVID-19 ident cannot legally appoint you allies aof memUnder Section 1 good of Republic 11223 ident cannot legally appoint you as memmany years to come. • The Authority as one do lives after“new them.poor” The is oft Act This means that the President cannot apsultTourism of thepandemic. COVID-19 pandemic. Themen newest of the are some iseconomy legal depends onthis whether his name was allies made itas handily into the Senate elecFinance Secretary Carlos Dominguez says made it handily into themilitary Senatethat elec5.a in Coddling the police and the moveSecretary Carlos Dominguez says economy slumped to itsour lowest in impending (August).” pine slumped toever its ever in was Tony his business journalism numbers toshortlist back his claim of lowest an Dominguez named to the Senate committee their jobs. areof and grateful forand those spread testing in just kill acalatist ac-9political percent tarlos of were widespread and atenrollees. their most Duterte’s successor. •Finance The Philippine Amusement andof Gaming Healthcare Act), uponteachers the recpoint Gierran unless he isare a member ofwill the (Universal The Department of Labor Employ119,000 toPresident 140,000 retrenched thousands more people dying or ber ofof the Board of Trustees ofincluded, PhilHealth, ber ofbegan thehead Board Trustees PhilHealth, could do with (Universal Healthcare Act), upon the recof the engines to must serve aWe source revenue; interred with their bones.” in that forcommunities. the Board ofFrom Trustees. Theas Department ofthe Labor EmployPOINT POINT and CEO of PhilHealth, he While President may h tions which solidified Duterte’s power for good sense. “the decisive (lockdown) helped us avert an tions which solidified Duterte’s power “the decisive (lockdown) helped us avert an ountry’s history -a 16.5-percent concountry’s history --state a an 16.5-percent con- charged with investigating police matters 1970, becoming senior business reporter rebound in growth, from 8-to-10 percent around 1,282 actualof PCR tests day conDuterte has ofemployed more generals, ur hisleadcommunity leadAdds Dominguez: “Without the lockdown, lion ofthe strict,” says ADB. Exports declined by Another year ofper calamity Corporation, which provides an additional The group representing these teachers who show genuine compassion and andThis staff,brings outommendation of the than 700 private my reaommendation ofme the more Board Trustees of PhilIt’s pretty basic. how much money ment will deny this, for sure, but a survey much more as president and CEO. much more as president and CEO. die because hunger, malnutrition, and of the Board Trustees of Phil• Laws on socialized housing through a to ask, my gulay—Is ment will deny this, for sure, but a survey base. Longtime aide, Christopher Go, and an attitude of gratefulness be first appointed as a member of the Board estimated 1.3 to 3.5 million infections accordbase. Longtime aide, Christopher Go, and law Bayanihan 2, the billions estimated 1.3 to 3.5 million infections accordon in oftraction economic production. On top of and the “drug war.” ducted in the last week of March, our capacity of the Manila Chronicle, acting business economic production. On top of drop in economic output (GDP) this year in schools which will remain closed. These ment 21.4 percent inthethecould first continuing restrictions andinfections regusource of revenue to fundhalf. the * * *rate Health, President shall appointshall the agenshowed thatissuances almost half ofvictims the half country's Thus, answer tomiscellaneous the question Thus, the answer to the theofformer question of Health, the President appoint the agendiseases spawned by the lockdowns. series of legal the funding, showed that the country's Marcosthe a heel or a hero? empathy tofrom the almost ofofdisasters from military and the police, than any andmeans aland staff claim that the P500 million allothe of and deaths have EMIL EMIL rists their Davao’s police chief, Ronaldo dela ing to from our universities. The Davao’s former police chief, Ronaldo dela 4. Failure contain the communist ining to(the researchers from universities. The .7-percent contraction inof theprime firstI30 quareditor youngest) ofappointment the Manila Times, 2021, worst the last years. is economies, ex- the contraction in the first ofcy’s Trustees. schools have lost income because of lack of the stigation project are only stop-gap Inthe anPrices earlier column, suggested thatquartheresearchers nario? despite the particularly lations. commodities, activities ofto the government; “war cy’s president and CEO from the Board’s ontinue his0.7-percent “war adult labor force of 60 million are jobless. whether or not the of Gierran whether orour not theto appointment of Gierran president and CEO from Board’s Said acting Economic Planning Secadult labor force of 60 million are jobless.m mortgage and collection of loans; It depends. If you look at his remarkaand recognize that there is a difference cated them is not enough. other president before him. More than 45 to dent the The reasons are been worse. latest data suggest that Rosa, who initially spearheaded the “drug thenon-ex-officio surgency and the Muslim separatist movelockdown enabled us to reinforce our health Rosa, who initially spearheaded “drug JURADO massively, anyway. JURADO enrollees. lockdown enabled us to reinforce our health nd chief wsAsia theterespecially 16.5 -percent GDP growth drop President should create a much “jobs policy” and editor (the youngest) of The For next ADB projects GDP growth 2020, the year, 16.5 -percent GDP growth drop which rice, corn, and fish, will bein The • business The Export Processing Authority to atmembers. s020, and Santa Banana, they are the new poor! “as relentless and is legal depends on whether his name was What is/are the legal requirements before is legal depends on whether his name was non-ex-officio members. retary Karl Kendrick Chua: viate the people’s needs. Santa Banana, they are the new poor! • All the specialty hospitals—the Philipble achievements and good performance, challenging 2020. Or between true public service and feedWithout alittle vaccine Werepresenting arethe thankful toocannot for technology, ment war,” were elected tooccupy the Senate. Rosa The means group these teachers legal. system build upand our capacity to do widethe wake of many jobless people aspercent awith rewhole war,” were elected toDela the Senate. Rosa The policy that President Duterte system build up capacity tojobs do widens the country is now in recession officers cabinet and Dela civilTimes Journal. of awants hefty 6.5 percent from -7.3 percent in and cy. Muslim over 1laws, of all COVID-19 cases means the country is anow inwith recession clearly spelled out in ced the controlled. Inso fact, under current This that President ap- pine tract foreign investments; e 11223 stimulus package The newest thenewest “new poor” some inkillings that shortlist forour the Board of Trustees. wants in that shortlist forstar-rank the Board of Trustees. This means that the President cannot apegan.” He “No one anticipated that the COVID The of the are “new poor” areand someur Heart Center,of Lunch Center, National he would be a hero. For those, however, Gierran can be appointed as a member of What is essential The of political activists and aland staff claim that the P500 million alloct of the COVID-19 pandemic. ing one’s ego. We hope for the courage which has us is toa the continue was named toaway head the Senate committee ming a first Mr. President, lift spread communities. just was named to headnot the perhaps because ofSenate it.ancommittee As aour business writer ofFrom nearly 50 years, 2020, while the IMF sees growth at 7.4 persemester drop in economic output of 9output spread testing in our communities. From just for general use, the semester drop inhaters economic of 9testing sder were point Gierran unless heallowed isvision a member of the price of anything, and its supply, can has to adopt right should be •in The Movie and Television review and Iitsult HAVE been requested to repeat my reaAS MARCOS remembered “the 119,000 to 140,000 retrenched teachers I HAVE been requested to repeat my reaIt’s pretty basic. It’s pretty basic. point Gierran unless he member of the stitupandemic will [strike] the global ian positions in the government. 119,000 to 140,000 retrenched teachers arked by a the ConstituKidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine who envy his ingenuity, and forein the country are severe or critical. Our morwhether is actualthe law. cated to them not enough. leged NPA leaders have per failed to dentper the the recThe Department of our Labor and EmploytheisBoard lockterm jobs policy to prevent charged with investigating police matters around 1,282 actual PCR tests contoout dish out when needed andprivate charged investigating working andoftoTrustees? keep inhetouch withstaff,Medical and editor of BizNewsAsia weekly, cent from -8.3 percent. ent. It is the worst recession in hisaround 1,282 actual PCR tests conebe from be controlled by the government during sons for my belief that the appointment of Classification Board; percent. Itwill is the worst recession inSeptember our his-appointment and ofCenter; the criticism more than 700 private dark days of Martial Law,” on sons for my belief that the of * *day *emergency *he *day *has the lockdowns. They and staff, out of the more than 700 economy. In thewith first three months ofpolice the matters dseversight, who revenge, Board of Trustees of PhilHealth, and unless reimposed for employment scheme. For sure, recession could rage The and jobsthose policy thatdesire President Duterteis Children’s offor Phil52-year old communist insurgency. Muslim ment deny this, for sure, but aducted survey Despite the overwhelming dominance of mbers. The tality ratio, on the other hand, is at 2.5 people arts oftory. the economy. and the “drug war.” in the last week of March, our capacity Section 13 of RA 10149 (GOCC Governinteracted with and interviewed many of the and the “drug war.” lem of poverty. ducted in the last week of March, our capacity nyway, former National Bureau of Investigation a state of calamity. In a major election, recognition when deserved. schools which will remain closed. These friends and family even as we stay • The Philippine Coconut Authority to 21, they went on the usual bashing spree, In an earlier column, I suggested that the former National of terrorists Investigation Intoan earlier column, I suggested that Foremost we are thankful atto adopta heel. schools which remain closed. These quarantine, wetheprioritized saving lives thathas • The first nuclear power plantwill in Southdefinitely right away should not be an he agenshowed that almost halfrecommended of theBureau country's are on thesense. warpath marked by a of the Board his appointment the ranks the unemployed can only worsonths. make noshould generals, Duterte administration has not ncy budget, 4. to the communist inwell into per apresident hundred thousand.” Philippines’ tycoons and taipans. He 4.contain Failure to contain the communist in- atance chief Dante Gierran and chief recause the whole ofsystemic 2020, economy isGierran ex- are goods schools have lost income of lack m isPresident not aportraying the price andthe supply of bellwether develop andleading enhance coconut production President create a “jobs policy” inthe chief as president and chief Marcos as the devil-incarnate. President should create a Failure “jobs inof Acttoofscheme. 2011) mandates an appointing For the whole of2021. 2020, the economy is exschools have lost income because of lack of el against COVID. We used thisand time to Board ofpolicy” Trustees PhilHealth, unless My gulay, if one We cite the because good sense toofthere’s forego home protect ourselves from east Asia; emergency employment For sure, that Board’s the for adult labor force ofDante 60as million jobless. least three pharmaceutical compafor new phenomenon—suicide bombers. The uction the President. The reasons are enso the poverty problem of the country for surgency and the Muslim separatist moveThe reasons are thus can write about them and their enterprisexecutive officer ofare PhilHealth isPhilHealth illegal. surgency and the Muslim separatist moveenrollees. dislike rice, corn, fish, fuel, even school the wake of so many jobless people as a red to decline by 10 percent. BizNewsAsia and efforts; executive officer of is illegal. But did not Shakespeare say: “The evil the Board recommended his appointment to the wake of many jobless people as a reproven itself any more competent nor any the ranks of the unemployed can only worsenrollees. pected to decline by 10 percent. BizNewsAsia improve our health system capacity.” Santa Banana, they the new poor! He notes that per 100,000, the EU member • A geothermal power plant, one of the oyal top PNP has tripled its anti-insurgency budget, ust. Simply, necespresent gratifications—like refraining the virus. We have realized we could 2019, two top director shall be appointed by the President it’s an urgent and lasting jo nies have shown great promise in red in Without vaccine esAct with urgency, immediacy and authority, asto Under 1 and of Republic Actcru11223 Thus, before can be appointed as apandemic. vaccine The representing these teachers the“By President. several sult ofWithout theaCOVID-19 supplies, medicines, PPEs, are Under Section 1daily of Republic 11223 en the poverty problem ofout the country for in many years come. • The Philippine Tourism Authority asment one ment that men do lives after them. The good is oft nnot apmates the GDP contraction for the whole sult of the COVID-19 pandemic. The newest of the “new poor” are some The group representing these teachers the models of UP and Ateneo, first in thegroup world,old as an alternative source estimates the GDP contraction forGierran the whole a worrying sign. clearly spelled in has grown toSection about 32,000 average tests elecothe themilitary Senate elecless corrupt than past administrations. clearly spelled out states average 31 deaths, UK 70, Spain 61, from habits and fighting the tempstill do so much even when without developing a vaccine against this from a short-list prepared by the Governance hamper aggregate ta Banana, I foresee a bleak Thus, before Gierran canpolitical beto appointed well asThe with balance, fairness and Thewe killings of may political activists and al- as and many to come. (Universal Healthcare Act), upon the ofwill the staff claim P500that million allo- million alloDepartment of Labor and Employ119,000 toPresident 140,000 retrenched teachers or (Universal Healthcare Act), upon the reccial, especially in-battleground regions, ofCoddling the engines to serve as Department a source ofsympathy. revenue; interred with their bones.” The ofthe Labor and EmployThe killings of activists al-yearsIs der be as large as 30 percent assuming andthat staffthe claim the P500 averted some 59,000 171,000 energy; and of recPhilHealth, he 5. of themust police and the military could be as large as 30 percent --aCEO assuming ageneral While President have signed into this (August).” ower for use, the nguez he ainteraction. heel orsigned a into of and Duterte’s power for general use, the tation tonot hold large reunions as is cusphysical When the chief ofleaders the national capital’s e generals, dreaded virus. President and CEO ofrates PhilHealth, hethe must Sweden 57, and the US 52. While the President may have the law. Commission for Government-owned or-Conand staff, outommendation of the more than 700 private ommendation of the Board Trustees of PhilPhilippines without any assu Lopez is the first honorary member of cated to them is enough. leged NPA leaders have failed to dent ment will deny this, for sure, but a survey on, and of the Board Trustees of Philthe law. Hardest hit was Luzon island which and most especially, when the highest • Laws on socialized housing through a This brings me to ask, my gulay—Is ment will deny this, for sure, but a survey cated to them is not enough. leged NPA have failed to dent the of P1.5 trillion for each month of lockdeaths. Our death reduced from Duterte has employed more generals, • Exploration and drilling in Malampaya; Adds Dominguez: “Without the lockdown, loss of P1.5 trillion for each month of lockmoney ,istopher and be first appointed as aagenmember of the Board Go, and the law Bayanihan 2, the billions allotted for his be first appointed asinsurgency. a however, member ofMuslim the Board law Bayanihan 2, the billions allotted for his schools which will remain closed. These tomary during the holidays. Finally, The tech-driven activities, we hero? Health, President shall appoint the We know, that such prorecession could rage The jobs policy that President Duterte CREBA, the largest and most prestigious showed that almost half of the country's 52-year old communist Health, the President shall appoint the agenwns. produces 70 percent of total economic post of the land is at stake. series of legal issuances from the funding, showed that almost half of the country's Marcos a heel or a hero? police force was caught on social media e, than any recession could rage The jobs policy that President Duterte 3. Unprecedented human rights violations from the military and the police, than any trolled Corporations (GCG). 52-year old communist insurgency. Muslim n. This lockdown – the longest and severa high of 17 percent to just 1.6 percent ple can get employed when the rate of infections and deaths could have • Laws on culture in the life of the nation; s earlier projected NAKED their down. This lockdown – the longest and severdela ief, Ronaldo dela of Trustees. project are only stop-gap measures tomore alle- producoffor Trustees. schools have lost income because of lack of other project are only stop-gap measures toaverted allecy’s president and CEO from the Board’s has to adopt right away should not be an adult labor force of 60 million are jobless. association of developers, builders, property cy’s president and CEO from the Board’s we are thankful for the ability to rise hope, have made us ng Secproduction and is home to 50 percent of What is not controlled during a state terrorists are on the warpath marked by a adult labor force of 60 million are jobless. mortgage and collection of loans; It depends. If you look at his remarkapresident before him. More than 45 gress should not embolden us to drop has to adopt right away should not be an been much worse. The latest data suggest that or around 4,000 deaths. We • The Cultural Center of the Philippines terrorists are on the warpath marked by a n the world – has run seven months. yway. having a breakfast birthday party with more than 45 est inenrollees. the world – has run for seven months. this law, Gierran can only be apUnder finally ends! What has made Duterte a strong president, drug well into 2021. What is/are the legal requirements before viate the people’s needs. headed the “drug oore 8 percent in GDP well into 2021. THOUGHT Board Trustees PhilHealth, and unless and members. emergency employment scheme. For scheme. sure, Santa Banana, they are viate theand new poor! What is/are the legal before owners and real estate professionals. He is For his part, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda seesrequirements non-ex-officio members. the population. of calamity how the disthe people’s needs. Santa Banana, they are theaphenomenon—suicide new all poor! Board ofmore Trustees of PhilHealth, and unless • Allofficers the specialty hospitals—the Philipstar-rank occupy cabinet civilble achievements and good performance, new bombers. The emergency employment For sure, a non-ex-officio little over 1 is percent of allgovernment COVID-19 cases above politics and pettiness, and imandof discerning. some 1.3 to phenomenon—suicide 3.5appointed millionwe cases, of been which ckage the Philippine International Convenmeans half of the economic production precautions new bombers. Theof istive Gierran can be ashave alockdown member ofpracticThis means half of the economic production essential and urgent is a long- But Rosa The group representing these teachers Senate. Dela Rosa pointed byrecommended the President as tion a they member the * *wors* than 50 guests (despite strict protctualand civilthe vicious illegal drugs campaign, has also theWhat Board recommended his appointment to This means that the President cannot apthe ranks ofof the unemployed can only worsis now overly optiThe of thenewest “new poor” are some This means that the President cannot apgovernor ofnewest PHILCONSA and current chairapenses strong recovery next year for two reasons: ian positions inCenter, thecontracted government. COVID The of the “new poor” are some the Board his appointment to Investments by 53.5 permoney. The incumbent President pine Heart Lunch Center, National he would be a hero. For those, however, in the country are severe or critical. Our morthe ranks of the unemployed can only PNP has tripled its anti-insurgency budget, 68,000 would be severe and critical Center. Gierran can be appointed as a member of Let me quote Justice Manuel “Lolong” What is essential and urgent is a longne by now. That cannot be recovered in PNP has tripled its anti-insurgency budget, agine where our country could be long have also revealed that some things the Board of Trustees? term jobs policy to prevent a bigger probWeeks andV. months and by staff claim thatcannot the P500 million allois gone now. That be recovered inthe 119,000 to 140,000 retrenched teachers ing since March.CHARLIE mittee Senate committee the President. point Gierran unless he is a member of en the poverty problem of the country for Board of Trustees of PhilHealth if he was I don’t know whoever Despite the overwhelming dominance of point Gierran unless he is a member of the man of Manila Overseas Press Club. He is a one, there is a new President the White hibiting gatherings of ten or more people in tality ratio, on the other hand, is at 2.5 people global 119,000 to 140,000 retrenched teachers the President. cent in the second quarter and by 36.6 can get all the money he wants to have Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine who envy his ingenuity, vision and foreen the poverty problem of the country for h given him one of his major failures—massive nomy. a worrying sign. cases on the peak day, over- enter has grown tohas about 32,000 average daily tests Insofar asafter Martial law is concerned, it is for general use, the Lazaro, who was the Government CorpoSection 13 of RAbefore 10149 (GOCC Governlem of poverty. months. atoworrying sign. cated to them isBoard not enough. grown to about 32,000 average dailypolicy tests the ofit Trustees? this crisis. —a hug for the be elderly members of years four months. term jobs prevent a which bigger probwill pass the will vaccines atters gofpolice matters Thus, before Gierran can appointed asappointed many to come. and the staff, out of the “Private more than 700 private generals, Duterte administration has not per ahands hundred thousand.” member of the Management Association of and staff, out of the more than 700 private House andand two, the AstraZeneca vaccine will Thus, before Gierran can be as sminance the Secretary percent in the first half. investhis on and deploy to whoever Children’s Medical Center; sight, those who desire revenge, he is many years to come. stemic MANALO ance Act of 2011) mandates that an appointing included in the list prepared and submitted whelm our healthcare sector.” easing the one-meter social 5. Coddling of the police and the military My gulay, if there’s one element missing, needless to say that without its proclamarate Counsel during the Marcos era. “The this (August).” The jobs policy that President Duterte one place at the same time), Duterte refused of nance Carlos Dominguez 5. Coddling of the police and the military human rights violations. Critics saywill he killed this (August).” into 2021. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez Section 13 10149 (GOCC Governlem of poverty. President and CEO ofand PhilHealth, he must tion,heWhile the President may have proven itselffirst any nor any schools which remain closed. These He notes that per 100,000, theof EU member schools which will remain closed. These CEO ofaccidenPhilHealth, must the g lives necescome to by March 2021. President ment slumped inmore Q2 competent with outlays for in-Duterte and wherever wants tomoney send it.RA •Philippines. The nuclear power plant in Southdirector shall be appointed by six the President While the President may into havetransport. signed into T definitely a he heel. it’s an urgent and jobs policy. Sanhas to Manila adopt right away should not be an Dominguez: “What we find in last months, the Philippines could now beinsigned under has employed more generals, beneficiaries of thelasting February 1986 Adds “Without the lockdown, ains that “no matter how much byPresident the to the President. But the PresiDuterte hasthe employed more generals, tocol public Adds Dominguez: “Without the lockdown, explains that “no matter how much money to fire the erring general. tion has not st inmore than 27,000 in the guise of eliminating be appointed asGCG ofathe Board he communist inless corrupt than past administrations. law Bayanihan 2, thecommunists billions allotted for his ame to power in schools have lost income because of lack of states average 31 deaths, UK 70, Spain 61, from a short-list prepared by themissing, Governance ance Act of 2011) mandates that an appointing regate schools have lost income because of lack of first appointed as member the Board tatalfirst Banana, Ibe foresee aa member bleak future for the ofcommunist ime to d unless His BizNewsAsia is remarkable for its inDuterte, he notes, has raised P73 billion My gulay, if there’s one element dustrial machinery and transport equipCombine those powers—control of the law Bayanihan 2, the billions allotted for his east Asia; emergency employment scheme. For sure, is that the lower quarantine restriction rule. The were event of time, place and personalities, from the military and the police, than any the rate of infections and deaths could have tries pump into 57, their economies, their from for theGovernment-owned military and the or-Conpolice, than any dent theenrollees. rate of infections and deaths could have The reasons are countries pump into their economies, theirare cannot legally Gierran a memthetoproblem. moveThe reasons When the chief of lower the national capital’s of Trustees. project stop-gap measures alleSweden and the US 52. separatist movePhilippines without assurance thatappoint peotment to ent nor any the ranks of the unemployed can only worsenrollees. of Trustees. city.” the pervasive illegal drugs curse. cisive and in-depth reporting onfor business andCommission project areworsen only stop-gap measures to allement percent and private price and supply of any commodity or conto procure vaccines good for 60 million • 62.1 Athe geothermal power plant, one ofother the to the greatest and has actually opened more sectors of45 the than allare overonly the country—in the parliadirector shall be appointed by President have fashioned andany sustained a litany and already it’s an urgent and lasting jobs policy. Sanpresident before him. More than been much worse. The latest data suggest that would have shrunk massively, anyway. other president before him. More 45 been much worse. The latest data suggest that GDP would have shrunk massively, anyway. force caught ongroup social media What is/are the requirements before viate 3.clearly Unprecedented human rights violations trolled Corporations (GCG). the more people’s needs. ple can get employed when this pandemic The group representing these teachers en the poverty problem of thecreate country for police jected of legal the Board of Trustees, much asthe Mark my The representing these teachers What is/are the requirements before Ateneo, viate people’s needs. construction 46.8 percent says sumer goods, redirecting taxpayers money the economy and for the achievefirst in thewas world, aschronicling an alternative source Filipinos, enough numbers to herd spelled out in economy and helped bring backfor jobs.” media, academe, labor and even the words, there wi barrage ofber adverse publicity to legal efface Pres- ment, biznewsasia@gmail.com tions. clearly spelled out in star-rank officers cabinet civilHuman Rights Watch says many of the apackage little over percent of all COVID-19 cases from aofshort-list prepared by Governance inasItsheer the country’s not the size ofsheer the package talower,” Banana, Icases foresee bleak future star-rank officers occupy cabinet civil- ends! a1the little over 1construction percent of all COVID-19 having aPublic breakfast birthday party with more thisaoccupy law, Gierran canand only bethe ap-and Under finally isand not the size the What made Duterte a stimulus strong president, ointed Gierran can be appointed asappointed a memberasofa member dGDP almany years tostimulus come. What is essential and urgent is a longand staff claim that the P500 million allolon activists al-has and staff claim that the P500 million alloGierran can be of What is essential and urgent in is athe long71,000 ADB. slipped by a to anyone orHerd anywhere, and the restrictions of energy; ments of the country’s leading enterprises immunity. immunity is when a COVa PhilHealth president/CEO, my gulay! COVID-19 cases cou Mr. President, lift the lockdowns. clergy. The Supreme Court recognized this ident Marcos from* *the* tapestry of history. IsPresident he aitlaw. oritsigned a positions inany the President government. inactualthe country are severe orare critical. Our mor-pro-ian matters now but also whether isheel actualcapital’s pointedian by the as agovernment. member of the the positions in the than 50 guests (despite strict lockdown he must 27,000 are “vigilante-style killings perpetratin the country severe or critical. Our morthe vicious illegal drugs campaign, has also While the may have into the law. Commission for Government-owned or-ConBoard of Trustees? that matters now but also whether is term jobs policy to prevent a bigger probPhilippines without assurance that peoydal optiquarters of growth. cated to them is not enough. tailed the the cated to them is not enough. the Board of Trustees? to dent the term jobs policy to prevent a bigger probfrom marginal 0.9 percent in Q2. on flow of goods andnopeople atality lock• Exploration and drilling in Malampaya; and entrepreneurs. ID-19 patient infects more under than one other They make no sense. I think even when it ruled in favor of Marcos insofar as They pursued what notable poet Sir RichTake note that before the GCG can inDespite the overwhelming dominance of of this nonsense. ratio, on the other hand, is at that 2.5 people Board of Despite Trustees the of PhilHealth if he dominance was I don’t know whoever had theto10149 idea of(GOCC he Board ving parts economy. hibiting gatherings of ten or more people in lawhim Bayanihan 2, the billions allotted for his given one of of his major overwhelming of 13 hero? tality ratio, on the other hand, is atnation; 2.5 people Section ofSection RA 10149 Governse, thethe lem of poverty. The jobs policy President lyproductive saving the productive parts of thetrack economy. uslim cial media I amazed that with all the lawyers in Cayetano’s decision hostage our budThe jobs policy that President Duterte 13 of(GOCC RA Governed by police officers themselves or by killers trolled Corporations (GCG). lem of poverty. surgency. Muslim percent ple get employed when this you pandemic Duterte may it can but heDuterte down whatever form orfailures—massive acronym—and •thousand.” Laws on culture in know the life of the Lopez writes anot column, Virtual Reality, person. This the virus in its (bequarters of of growth without the can win easing ardnot Maitland sharply observed: ‘The essenMartial Law was concerned. included in thelockdowns, list prepared and submitted the one-meter social distancing pro-shortlist generals, thegenerals, Duterte administration has not project arestops only stop-gap measures to alleper a hundred oneper place at the same time), Duterte refused human rights violations. Critics sayahesystemic killed is because the problem is not a systemic clude your name in the for appointsay the idea was to the Duterte administration has ance Act of 2011) mandates that an appointing My gulay, if My there’s oneThey element missing, a hundred thousand.” has to adopt right away should not be an This is because the problem is not by a government, including the President, noget is more devious than what appears has to adopt right away should not be an ance Act of 2011) mandates that an appointing TO THE gulay, there’s one element missing, averted achieved almost full employment durDuterte can pick his successor—without • The Cultural Center of the Philippines ath marked by1x1 a equals every Wednesday and Friday for Manila cause one). an election. y with more tial matter of history is not what happened I sincerely believe that in time,ifMarcos will this law, Gierran can only be apUnder finally ends! linked to the authorities.” by the GCG to the President. But the Presitocol in public transport. To me it would s before viate the people’s needs. the first quarter of itselfproven any sure, more any to fire the erring general. He notes that per 100,000, the100,000, EU member more thanofor 27,000 in the guise of eliminating wer in contraction action orregard aBoard cyclical bust. Simply, necesdirector be surface. appointed byappointed the President Trustees of PhilHealth, and unless itselfcompetent any morenor competent nor any shall it’s an urgent and lasting jobs policy. Sanemergency employment scheme. For sure, He notes that per theConvenEUproven member Board of Trustees of PhilHealth, and unless ment as a member of the Board of Trustees a cyclical bust. Simply, necesThe emergency employment scheme. For body saw this. This exposes public offiand drivers of public utility director shall be by the President on the This is a time of crisis it’s an urgent and lasting jobs policy. Sanwhich ing his presidency, an unprecedented as to whether that guy is a geniand the Philippine International Standard and has hosted for seven years the de bombers. The I share the BSP chief’s optimism. Ben dent cannot legally appoint Gierran a membut what people wrote or said about it.’” be vindicated. He was a visionary, born ahead worsen the problem. mber What isrecommended essential and urgent is states a longPOINT from a short-list pointed by the President as atothe member of the the pervasive illegal drugs curse. less worscorrupt than past * *corrupt * administrations. kdown proaverage 31 deaths, UK 70,during Spain 61, st and of Authorities admit 7,000 deaths prepared by the Governance mobility restrictions hamper aggregate the his appointment to ta Banana, Ita foresee a bleak future forthe thefuture ranks the unemployed can only less than pastmuch administrations. states average 31 deaths, UK 70,when Spain 61, the recommended his appointment to of the ranks of thethat unemployed can only worsfrom a there short-list prepared by the cers who are transacting under expiredfor the sary mobility restrictions hamper aggregate and emergency, hence the budget isGovernance more dget, Banana, I foresee a bleak critical achievement. Economists say us, a Board technocrat, aBoard nincompoop, or even tion Center. Let me quote Justice Manuel “Lolong” award-winning business-oriented weekly Diokno knows his marbles. He is good. He ber of the Board of Trustees, more as surgency budget, of Philhealth, the GCG first needs to deterMark my words, will be a surge of rior and Local Government biznewsasia@gmail.com term jobs policy to prevent a bigger probLazaro also said that succeeding adof his time. Generations free from the blemish biznewsasia@gmail.com Human Rights Watch says many of the When chief offor thehad national capital’s ntry’s Sweden 57, and the US 52. Commission for Government-owned or-Conthe President. Philippines without anyBayanihan assurance that peo- others and.” en theshow problem ofIpracticalthe country Board of Government Trustees of PhilHealth ifpoverty he don’t whoever the idea of capital’s When the chief ofmythe national eGovernpeople in thewas President. Sweden 57, and the US enwas the poverty problem ofa for thethecountry the campaign. Any numbers that are Commission for Government-owned or-Conprovisions 2. Many important than ever. Itasisaare the lifeblood ofto Philippines without any assurance thatthis peo-is demand.” l overPhilHealth president/CEO, gulay! unemployment hits 5law percent, ameant dog. So today, the people mustperpetratalready Insofar as above Martial is52. concerned, it isknow ansion apoverty. 4.2COVID-19 cases in the country result Lazaro, who the CorpoPTV talk BizNewsTV. is pro-people, pro-inclusive growth. To reslem of ministrations have used laws even as they of ple hate andhold revenge will of look more kindly on mine whether you qualified this 27,000 are “vigilante-style killings ardo Año said that if EMIL P. owth. police force wassocial caught on the social media 3. Unprecedented human rights violations trolled Corporations (GCG). Thus, before Gierran can be appointed aslyappointed can get employed when this pandemic many years to come. overnment economists earlier projected Thus, before Gierran can be as police force was caught on social media many years to come. 3. Unprecedented human rights violations trolled Corporations (GCG). Take note that before GCG can inple can get employed when this pandemic can take advantage of this situation. government projects intended to jumpstart of this nonsense. ppointing included in the list prepared and submitted easing the one-meter distancing proitary My gulay, if there’s one element missing, Government economists earlier projected everyone needing a job has a job. It’s decide—do they want more of Duterte, or needless to say that without its proclamarate Counsel during the Marcos era. “The Tony finished journalism, magna cum aeconobattered economy, he or has injected erte refused erowth and theurrect military classified as “homicides under investigation.” him, and acknowledge his achievements and sought to destroy or consign Marcos to ed by police officers themselves by killers fPresident Philippine having a breakfast birthday party with more this law, Gierran can only be can ap- only Under and CEO of PhilHealth, he must office. finally ends!finally ends! add* more jeepneys, buses, a What has made Duterte a strong president, While the President may have signed into JURADO overy aofnearly 7President percent to percent GDP your name in the shortlist appointand CEO ofaccidenhe must They say the idea was tolaw, help operators While the mayclude have signed into having a breakfast birthday party with oblivion, more this“new Gierran be apUnder it’s urgent and policy. SanWhat has made Duterte aPresident strong president, ** our lives in the normal.” months, like having athe factory running at 95inTomas, perless, oran none all? tion, the Philippines could now be under erals, beneficiaries of February 1986 recovery of 7at8President percent toin 8jobs percent inPresident. GDP laude, from University ofthe Santo P2 trillion inthelasting stimulus money toPhilHealth, the by the GCG to the But the Presicontribution to the nation. solid unprecmore generals, tocol public transport. Tothelockdown me itfor would linked to the authorities.” rter of to from the drugs war killings, pointed bynotwithstanding the President ashis avehicles. member ofathe be first appointed as aAside member ofathe the Board * * * than 50 guests (despite strict prolaw Bayanihan 2, the billions allotted for his 1998 $304.9 bilvicious illegal drugs campaign, has also ment as a member of Board of Trustees and drivers of public utility Intethany rate in 2021. That is now overly optibe first appointed as member of the Board ta Banana, I foresee a bleak future for the law Bayanihan 2, the billions allotted for his My gulay, it’s a long process! The Prespointed by the President as member of the of transportation—not * * * than 50 guests (despite strict lockdown proThe Department of Budget and Man- ease Santa Banana, it was at this time when the vicious illegal drugs campaign, has also triction cent capacity. Duterte has imposed the longest and communist rule. The communists were tal event of time, place and personalities, nvernance rate indent 2021. That is now overly opti- onGierran a four-yeara full scholarship. He also finsystem, enough to infuse life into at least half the * *whoever * edented achievements for the good of Authorities admit to 7,000 deaths during police,growth than any cannot legally appoint memthe Board ofthe Trustees of PhilHealth ifPhilHealth he was sealed. of Trustees. I don’t know hadwhoever the idea of the idea of of Philhealth, the GCG needs toI more deterproject are only stop-gap measures toproblem. allerior and Local Government Secretary Eduhibiting gatherings ofgatherings ten or first more people in Philippines without any assurance that peogiven him one ofin his major failures—massive of Trustees. Human Rights Watch has also noted the c. Without ahave vaccine for general use, the project areworsen only stop-gap measures to alleBoard of Trustees of if he was I don’t know had hibiting of ten or people in agement claims that the P4.5-trillion fate of Bayanihan Law 2 was eduction in poverty, AFTER Bayanihan Law expired—it sm. of the But April 2020, more than 7.3 milmost strict lockdown in the world—for given him one of his major failures—massive already all over the country—in the parliafashioned and sustained a litany and naor-Con45 ident cannot just pick anybody to be Philished global journalism from the University mistic. Without a vaccine for general use, the of the economy. Also, the economy has untancing protocol. the campaign. Any numbers above that are Santa Banana, I cannot believe that this is nation and its people. 4.2More than 45 get mineatwhether youtime), are qualified to hold of this included ardo AñoTransactions said that this is true, we should in the listifprepared and submitted What is/are the legal requirements before easing the one-meter social distancing proviate the people’s needs. ple can employed when this pandemic one place the same Duterte refused ber of the Board of Trustees, much more as Mark my words, there will be a surge human rights violations. Critics say he killed What is/are the legal requirements before viate the people’s needs. included in the list prepared and submitted sion could rage well into 2021. easing the one-meter social distancing pronational budget for next year is porkpursuant to the expired was an emergency law, after all—Conone place at the same time), Duterte refused obs.” lion people lost their jobs—“largely in more than six months now from March ment, media, academe, labor and even the barrage of adverse publicity to efface Preshuman rights violations. Critics say he killed Stockholm, Sweden three semestersoffice. classified aswith “homicides under civilderlying strengths that insulate ita from any of of detention politically motivated of hisand most recession rage well into investigation.” 2021. Imore could well repeat what Lazaro saidPresiso coming from the Philippine National Police conofor Filipinos, Health president and CEO. The three percabinet and civil-could Health experts say this addthe jeepneys, buses, and means yhen be apfinally ends! by GCG to the But the Gierran can be appointed asinappointed member tocol in public transport. Totransport. me it has would What is guise essential and urgent is afire longto the erring general. Gierran can be as aof member of more than 27,000 in the of eliminating What istransport, essential and urgent is fire athe longby the President. GCG to theother President. Butchief. the Presitocol in public To me it would thefurther President came to power a PhilHealth president/CEO, my gulay! free. The Supreme Court outlawed provisions of the law, without the public gress enacted Republic Act 11494, also COVID-19 cases in country as a result downs. services—mainly trade, ac15, 2020. And what do we get after clergy. The Supreme Court recognized this to the erring general. ident Marcos from the tapestry of history. Aside from the drugs war killings, the more than 27,000 in the guise of eliminating MBA at Ateneo de Manila. devastation by COVID. .9 bilWhen the President came to power in He said that National Capital Region eloquently that “good deeds, especially those My gulay, it’s a long process! The Presof transportation—not ease the social diser of the the nment. * * * prominent critic, Senator Leila de Lima, the dent cannot legally appoint Gierran a memBoard of Trustees? worsen the problem. term jobs policy to prevent a bigger probceeding $3,000. manent Commissions of GCG and the two What can happen here is tha the Board ofbasic Trustees? term policy to prevent a bigger probthe pervasive illegal drugs curse. cannot appoint Gierran arememworsen the problem. 2016, he stumbled the and pork barrel, sure. But Debold it has actually just bidding requirements, without the known as Bayanihan will grant king commodation, restaurants, and entergiving most ofwhoever liberties? when it ruled in favor ofsenior Marcos insofar as ident They pursued what poet Sir RichHuman Rights Watch has also noted the the pervasive illegal drugs curse. overty, He was forcan 25 years correspond*greatest *our *notable Take note that before the GCG in-jobs ce of Police Office chief, Major General beneficial todent the nation andlegally the people, cannot of this nonsense. cannot just pick anybody2.toThis be PhilJuly 2016, heinto stumbled into the greatest and tancing protocol. heeven was I don’t know had the idea of(GOCC dominance ofup ber of the Board of Trustees, much more as Section 13 of RA 10149 (GOCC GovernMark my words, there will be a surge of lem of poverty. Section 13 of RA 10149 Governremoval in May 2018 of Chief Justice Mabiznewsasia@gmail.com lem of poverty. ber of the Board of Trustees, much more as ex-officio members (Secretary of Finance Mark my words, there will be a surge of Human Rights Watch says many of the everything we have gained. over the worst ecoest economic in the country’s politically motivated detention ofpoverty. his most takena promotion another name—“lump sum allocaan winlongest quired permits and clearances, or with-deserves emergency powers to the President and tainment—but also in Hong industry, espeWell, nothing—but misery and ardexpansion Maitland sharply observed: ‘The essenMartial Law was concerned. ,nistration biznewsasia@gmail.com president and CEO. The three per- a be ent ofMy Time Warner’s Kong-based Finally, itof is my birthday today, Nov. 25.shortlist Health experts say this ismy dangerous. Human Rights Watch says many of Health the idea he has ubmitted effaced orpresident/CEO, expunged, Good survives easing the one-meter social distancing pros with not economic expansion in the country’s clude your name in the for appointThey say the waspublic to help operators has not PhilHealth gulay!andmySinas, ance Act 2011) mandates that an appointing COVID-19 cases the because country result as a result gulay, ifkillings there’s one element missing, ance of 2011) mandates an appointing My if there’s one element missing, athe PhilHealth president/CEO, gulay! COVID-19 cases in as thea country are “vigilante-style prominent critic, Senator Leila deme Lima, thethat ry—70 consecutive quarters growth. out the proper payment oflose taxes,experience were tions.” allocate fundsandtothegovernment cially manufacturing. Lowerincome The Philippines today is the epicenter tial matter of history is not what happened I sincerely believe thatgulay, inperpetrattime, Marcos will 00. manent Commissions of GCG two What (www.manilastandard.net) ria Lourdes Sereno, the revocation of amcan happen here is that weGCG could Carlos Dominguez and Department ofinnew he Presi*** tocol in public transport. To it27,000 would weekly Asiaweek. He made Asiaweek theSan(www.manilastandard.net) And the milestone isAct aofgood-enough excuse in training recruits. triumphs in end. Marcos’ place in history Philippines ever. 27,000 are “vigilante-style killings perpetratre any history—70 consecutive quarters of growth. Take note that before the can indirector shall be appointed by the President of this nonsense. ompetent nor any it’s an urgent and lasting jobs policy. ment asgood a or member of Board of themselves Trustees and drivers of utility vehicles. Intedirector shall be Justice appointed by and the President it’s urgent and lasting jobspublic policy. SanTakegained. note thatofbefore thecriminally GCGWhat, can inof this openly nonsense. removal inthe of Chief Maedgrowth by police officers or by killers ex-officio members (Secretary everything we Marcos have strte Senator Panfilo Lacson that to cem semi-skilled workers, most ofor them of COVID pandemic the whole ofthe obviously at risk being aecomemagencies for the purposeofofFinance assistingclude and but what people wrote said about it.’” himself added 14May quarters growth be vindicated. He wasan aAntonio visionary, born ahead worsen problem. largest international news magazine in to be optimistic. I 2018 feel atby being 72. Aside when Sinas violated thatrevealed is secure. The laws abound and beneed(now byBanana, police officers themselves by the killers Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado) will also Duterte himself added 14in quarters of The ban of going nesty given Senator retired) your name in the shortlist for appointfrom a short-list prepared the Governance They say the idea was to help operators ta I foresee a bleak future for the rst in ASEAN. The inistrations. from a short-list prepared by the Governance ta Banana, I foresee a bleak future for thesectors clude your name inlegal the shortlist for appointThey saycongressional the idea was districts to help operators rianegative Lourdes Sereno, the revocation amCarlos Dominguez and Department of * * *violation as from Philhealth, the GCG needs to authorities.” deterever. Mark my words, there will be a of surge oftofirst linked the authorities.” rior and Local Government Secretary Edu-adversely employed informally, were hitblemish hard Asia, outside of India, Pakistan, and 220 of the Quarantine 242 refor of the against rebuilding of society also said that succeeding adof his (www.manilastandard.net) time. Generations free from the emore it went inof the first quarter of Philippines. bouts the past of (maybe due Enhanced Community protocols fit us.asThey are embedded inBoard our system linked toonly the ital’s before itLazaro went negative invertigo the quarter of led acharged member ofthe Trustees Commission for Government-owned or-Condrivers public utility vehicles. InteSO Philippines without anyand assurance that peo- Secretary have to whether tolawinclude you orof not national capital’s “Undas” or the All Saints’ Day Trillanes IV who mutinies in 2002 Commission forfirst Government-owned or-ConPhilippines without any assurance thatthis peoBudget Wendel Avisado) will also ment ment asof avote member of Board ofand Trustees Thecontinue ban of going tothe cemeteries during nesty given Senator (now retired) and drivers ofP2 public utility vehicles. Intelay! akes the worst COVID-19 cases in the3,000 country asAntonio aare result N. The him Authorities admit to 7,000 deaths during because few had the option to work from Bangladesh. With over cases daily, ceived more than billion; rest will graft and corruption. ministrations have used laws even as they affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. of hate and revenge will look more kindly on . His Asiaweek work helped put the Philmine whether you qualified to hold this to frequent lack of sleep to meet deadlines) when he had a mañanita birthday party? and to govern and guide the nation. ardo Año said that if is true, we should Authorities admit to 7,000 deaths during media of Philhealth, the GCG first needs detertrolled Corporations (GCG). in 2002 rior and Local Government Secretary Edu2020. ple can get employed when this pandemic SOget I SEE on social media have to pandemic vote whether to include you an or not “Undas” orinAll Saints’ Day and All to Souls’ trolled Corporations (GCG). can inTrillanes IVtowho ledmeant mutinies and ple can employed when this of this nonsense. of Philhealth, the GCG first needs to deterrior and Local Government Secretary Eduthe shortlist. worst Day is no problem for me an home,” notes ADB. we are reaching 300,000 cases and will 2007, and the passage of a new Anti-Terror the campaign. Any numbers above that are get smaller amounts. But, take note of him, and acknowledge his achievements and sought destroy or consign Marcos to But, Santa Banana, being emergency gun in 1999, the expansion a 4.2fymore economic perforon ends! the world writing on events For PNP Chief Camilo Coscolan say and gout, haven’t had any serious illnesses. Marcos’ andfor foresight in lawmaking thefinally campaign. Anymap, above that I numbers SEE mine you are qualified to hold this to ardo this law, Gierran can only ap- ippines Under office. Año said that if this isthat true,iftowe add more jeepneys, buses, and other means Begun inI say 1999, the expansion meant a be 4.2inare the shortlist. Day iswhether no vision problem me and my wife. appointThey the idea was tototal help operators party with more 2007, and the passage of a new Anti-Terror this law, Gierran can only be apUnder finally ends! mine whether you are qualified hold this ardo Año said thisshould isyears, true, wewe should erforIronically, Duterte had rescued six be No. 20 in number of COVID LITO contribution to the nation. oblivion, notwithstanding his solid unprecthis: some will get less than P620 million, law, it has a limited time as all emergency classified as “homicides under investigation.” The GCG is akin to the Judicial and Bar For many have increase in the size of Philippine econothis is a big insult to us all. Even President that shaped one of Asia’s largest economies for governance are richly illustrated by the I did meet with a serious accident two years Act (ATA). pointed byinthe President as President avehicles. member ofathe add more jeepneys, buses, and other means LITO classified as “homicides investigation.” * *under * transportation—not proThe GCG is ease akin tothe the Judicial Bar office. For many office. years, we have not gone to the fold increase the size of Philippine econoTrustees and drivers of public utility InteAct (ATA). My gulay, it’s aDiscovlong process! The Prespointed by the as member offrom the socialand dis*an* ct lockdown proadd district more jeepneys, buses, and other BANAYO poverty—defined as*the cases in the world 220 countries. the *BANAYO *whoever * of edented achievements for the good of willSinas. be given P15.351 bil-means d are. you can Aside from the drugs war killings, the Duterte didbut notone even reprimand varied andCouncil. numerous legal issuances.” from $72.2 billion in 1998 toamong $304.9 bilin population and economic size, both during ago when supposedly high end Before you can be as My gulay, aCongress long process! The Prescemeteries on those Council. Before be appointed as cemeteries Board ofmy Trustees of PhilHealth ifPhilHealth he wasmillion of appointed transportation—not ease the social disonit’s those two days. We goprocess! on I don’t know had idea of laws to deterAside from the drugs war killings, the rior and Local Government Secretary Eduple insecond my (from $72.2 billion in 1998 to $304.9 bilRecently, there have been sensational Recently, there have been sensational Board of Trustees of if he was iggest I don’t know whoever had the idea of My gulay, it’s a long The Presof transportation—not ease the socialtwo disor more people in the biggest must ident cannot just pick anybody to be Philtancing protocol. income of $2 a day. He was going to In fact, we will be inifin Top 15, dislodging Santa Banana, I cannot believe that this is nation and its people. lion. All these are under the Department A reading of Aricle VI, Section 23 (2) Human Rights Watch has also noted the If only to show an example of the vision I won’t be surprised if one day Sinas its moment of great peril during the martial ery SUV lost its brakes and slammed onto nused 2016), a dramatic reduction poverty, member of the Board to any GOCC, Philother days. What matters is that we rememhold this ident cannot just pick anybody to be Philardo Año said that this is true, we should included in the list prepared and submitted tancing protocol. easing Rights the one-meter distancing Human Watch has also noted the killings of known political activists, human and member of the Board to any GOCC, Phil-Works lion in 2016), a well dramatic reduction inprepared poverty, other days. What matters is included inwhat the list submitted easing thesocial one-meter socialprodistancing pro-and ident cannot justarepick anybody to be Philtancing protocol. ), Duterte refused killings of known political activists, human Opportunities bring down poverty to an unheard of 12 even Bangladesh. Lungs bubbles I could repeat Lazaro said so coming from the Philippine National Police of Public and Highways national of the 1987 Constitution will show that the politically motivated detention of his most Health president and CEO. The three perHealth included, you must pass through the and foresight of Marcos, here his legal isbecomes PNP chief himself. A promotion, Health say this is dangerous. Health ber andpresident pray for our loved who have law years its re-emergence as me aofbastion two electric posts. The SUV was declared a But middle-income status for Filipinos, with add more jeepneys, buses, and other means now realize its and CEO.ones The three perby the GCG to and the President. But the PresiHealth experts say experts this is say tocol inand public transport. To it experts would rights defenders, alleged New People’s politically motivated detention his most and middle-income status forby Filipinos, with by the GCG to the President. the Presitocol in public transport. To me it the would Health president and CEO. Thepass three perHealth thisfor is our dangerous. Health included, you must through the ber anddangerous. pray loved percent by 2022, from 30s in thethe 2000s. The economy collapsed 0.7social percent chief. He said that National Capital Region that “good deeds, especially those budget. primary law explicitly provides “In ahead wringer of GCG, and you must be in-that gone of us.apply he ofeloquently transportation—not ease the dishuh? What’s next, I wonder. prominent critic, Senator Leila de Lima, suances that still and still and being used: of democracy, economic revival and good wreck but Iexceeding was unharmed without any rights defenders, and alleged New People’s perPrescapita income $3,000. manent Commissions of are GCG the two and dent cannot legally appoint Gierran afracmemWhat can happen here is that we could losewe could lose worsen the problem. ement manent Commissions ofGierran GCG and the two What can happen here is that we could lose prominent critic, Senator Leila de Lima, the dent cannot legally appoint a memworsen the problem. their per capita income exceeding $3,000. manent Commissions of GCG the two What can happen here is that predicament and Police Office chief, Major General Debold beneficial to the nation and the people, cannot be Philwringer of the GCG, and you must be inSecretary Mark Villar may not necestancing protocol. times of war and other national emergengone ahead of us. removal May 2018 of Chief Justice Ma-be ture I have survived the worst ex-officio members Finance ofeverything beror ofbruises. the Board ofthus Trustees, much more asingovernance we have gained. day, Duterte presides over the worst ecoMark my words, there will a surge of removal intoday. May 2018 ofeverything Chief Justice Maber of the Board of Trustees, more as ex-officio members (Secretary ofwon Finance Mark my words, there will be a surge of ex-officio(Secretary membersof(Secretary Finance we have gained. everything we have gained. Today, Duterte presides over the worst ecoper- health Health experts say this ismy dangerous. Sinas, deserves a promotion because he has effaced or expunged, Good survives and much sarily be involved in this anomaly, but cies, the Congress may, by law, authorize Lopez TOYM inof 1985 interand crisis of the past. ria Lourdes Sereno, thethe revocation am-for Carlos Dominguez and Department of a be PhilHealth president/CEO, gulay! *** fi nd a solution to it. COVID-19 cases inthe the country as a country result (www.manilastandard.net) creeperformance of economic the Philippines ever. Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher a PhilHealth president/CEO, my gulay! COVID-19 cases in the as a result ria Lourdes Sereno, revocation of amCarlos Dominguez and Department of *** Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher (www.manilastandard.net) nomic performance of the Philippines ever. the two My net) What can happen here is that we could lose Carlos Dominguez and Department of * * * d.net) experience in training new recruits. triumphs in the end. Marcos’ place in history it could point to his incompetence and the President for a limited period and subnational journalism, the Outstanding MaBudget Secretary Wendel Avisado) will also magazine, BizNewsAsia, the largest Take note that before the GCG can inThe ban of going to cemeteries nesty given Senator (now retired) Antonio of this nonsense. slump is also the worst in ASEAN. The Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Take note that before the GCG can inof this openly nonsense. Budget Secretary Wendel Editor Avisado) will also The ban ofEditor going to during cemeteries nesty given Senator (now violated retired) that AntonioRamonchito ManilaStandard Finance everything we have gained. The slump also the in ASEAN. The ManilaStandard canisbeThe accessed at:worst Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor L. Tomeldan Managing Editor have can1989 be accessed at: What, when Sinas is secure. Marcos laws abound and beneHonor Blanco Cabie Night Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing negligence. I would like to know, asduring ject to restrictions as it may prescribe, to Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado) will also SO The ban of going to cemeteries during to vote whether to include you or not nilan in for international journalism, clude your name in the shortlist for appointof its kind in the country, has also breezed “Undas” or All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ They say the idea was to help operators Trillanes IV who led mutinies in 2002 and omicONLINE collapse also makes him the worst manilastandard.net Rolando G.City Estabillo Publisher SO Editors clude your inlegal the shortlist for appointmanilastandard.net Anita F. Grefal Manager say the idea was to help operators haveGulle toS. vote whether to Editors include you Jimbo or not ment of “Undas” or Allhow Saints’ Day and hapAll Souls’ * *makes * name Trillanes IVTreasury whoThey led mutinies in 2002 and Anita F.Wong/Ray Grefal powers Treasury Manager ONLINE economic collapse also him the worst Jimbo Owen City Editor Chin S. Eñano Associate Owen Gulle Editor Chin Wong/Ray Eñano Associate Enhanced Community Quarantine protocols fit us. They are embedded in our system I SEE many others do, these could exercise necessary and proper to in the shortlist. ment asthis atoof member Board of2007, Trustees Day is no problem me and my and the Gold Medal as Hero of public EDSA from through once in years crisis. Inand and drivers public utility vehicles. IntePublished Monday Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard the passage of apassage new Anti-Terror have to whether to include youthe orof not or Baldwin All Saints’ Day and All IEditor SEE Legal Adviser dent ever in The terms economic perforwill also ment asof100 avote member of the Board of Trustees ban of going tothe cemeteries during and drivers utility Intein the shortlist. Day is for no problem forwife. me and wife. Former Chief Justice Reynato S.vehicles. Puno Board Member &Souls’ Chief Baldwin R. he Felipe Solutions 2007, and of“Undas” aofnew Anti-Terror M.Even Santos Chief Photographer Joyce Pangco Pañares News R. Felipe Head—Ad president ever in terms of economic Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de theperforLino Santos Chief Photographer MEMBER Joyce Pangco Pañares News Editor when hadLocal aHead—Ad mañanita party? and continue to govern and guide nation. ManilaStandard MEMBERthe pen under his nose. Insiders saymythere public officers who continue to M. carry out a declared national policy. UnLITO Solutions TheLino GCG isRamonchito akin to the Judicial and Bar of Philhealth, the GCG first needs to deterFor many years, we have not gone to the rior and Government Secretary EduPhilippine Star in birthday 1987. The Pilipino first three months of the pandemic that can be accessed at: Honor Blanco Cabie L. Tomeldan Managing Editor Act (ATA). u or not the “Undas” All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ ce. LITO Roxas, corner Perea or St., Legaspi Village, Makati City.the Telephone of Philhealth, GCG first needs to deterrior and Local Government Secretary EduThe GCG is akin to the Judicial and Bar in the shortlist. For many years, we have not gone to theNig Day is no problem for me and my wife. Philippine Press Institute Adelle Chua Opinion Editor Act (ATA). Philippine Press Institute Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager BANAYO Adelle Chua Opinion Editor mance. For PNP Chief Camilo Coscolan to say Marcos’ vision and foresight in lawmaking Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager were insertions by members of Congress manilastandard.net disburse public funds previously granted less sooner withdrawn by resolution of Council. Before you can be appointed as mine whether you are qualified to hold this cemeteries on those two days. We go on numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all ardo Año said that if this is true, we should Magazine made him “Journalist ofis F.true, the longest and lockdown in Reporter The National Association Anita Grefal Treasury Manager BANAYO Day is no problem forstrictest me and myare wife. Recently, there have been sensational The National Association nd that isforced all due to the second biggest mine whether you qualified to hold this ardo Año said that if this we should Council. Before you can be appointed as Jimbo Owen Gulle City cemeteries on those two days. We go on Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors Recently, there been sensational departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, 832-5550. P.O. biggest The GCG is akin to the Judicial and Bar of that Philippine Newspapers For many years, have such not powers gone to the CEASE And is all due to the aillustrated second this is amore bigThe insult to ushave all. Even President for governance are(Advertising) richly by the of Philippine Newspapers eand Manila themselves. by Bayanihan 2GOCC, are at risk of being the we Congress, should member of the Board toLaw anyBoard Phil-GOCC, office. otherPhildays. What matters is that we rememadd jeepneys, buses, and other means BarStandard Year.” Rotary Club of Manila has the world, BizNewsAsia lost couple ofto regFor many years, we have not gone the killings ofthe known political activists, human Box 2933, Manila Centraloffice. Post Office, Manila. Website: www. re. Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board add more jeepneys, buses, and other means member of the to any other days. What matters is that we rememEmil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board Baldwin R. Felipe Head—Ad Solutions killings of not known political activists, human Opportunities g,inted 106 Paseo decemeteries Lino M. Santos Chi Joyce Pañares News Duterte did even reprimand Sinas. varied andCouncil. numerous legal issuances.” failure. Butfor now, the bicameral conferBefore you can be as criminally charged forthrough processing orber re-and Editor UPON THEdays. NEXT you mustPangco pass the through MEMBER manilastandard.net My gulay, it’s aby long process! The Prescemeteries ondisthose WeADJOURNMENT go on Health included, ourduring lovedforones have as of appointed transportation—not ease the social on those two days. We goprocess! on given him six awards—for distinguished ular advertisers. But the third quarter, as Opportunities rights defenders, and alleged Newalleged People’s My gulay, it’s aof long The Presof transportation—not ease the socialtwo disHealth included, you must pass thepray Pandemic mismanagement ber and pray ourwho loved ones who have kati City. Telephone rights defenders, and New People’s If cannot only member to show an example the vision I GOCC, won’t be surprised if1987, one day Sinas 2.ident Pandemic mismanagement C, Philother days. What matters is that we rememwringer of the GCG, and you must be inence, this could be corrected. Will the Senleasing public funds based on an already THEREOF (caps mine).” just pick anybody to be Philgone ahead of us. tancing protocol. Philippine Press Institute Adelle Chua Opinion Editor foreign correspondence in for lifetime the pandemic razed to the ground major busiof the Board to any Philother days. What matters is that we rememEdgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager ident cannot just pick anybody becomes to be Philtancing protocol. wringer of the GCG, and you must be ingone ahead of us. (connecting allber s the nesses, ough PNPexperts chief himself. A2015, promotion, andand foresight of Marcos, hereones his legal pray for our loved who have The National Association Health president and CEO. The three perate allow this to happen? Is is thus clear, my gulay, that upon the non-existent law. Health say experts this is say dangerous. achievements journalism in and for BizNewsAsia gained aare number ofisHealth president and CEO. The three per- in Health thisfor is our dangerous. rtising) 832-5550. P.O.ahead Health included, you must pass through the ber and pray loved ones who have of Philippine Newspapers st be ingone of us. huh? What’s next, I wonder. suances that still apply and are still being used: manent Commissions of GCG and the two What can happen here is that we could lose *** Given this, Congress must now realize its next adjournment, such emergency powers BizNewsAsia as the “Business Magazine of new advertisers. Many of them pre-paid their nila. Website: www. manent Commissions of GCG and themust two be What happen here is that we could lose Emil JuradoPublisher Emeritus, Editorial Board Rolando wringer of the GCG, and the you in-can gone ahead of us. ex-officio members of(Secretary Finance we have gained. IsChairman the government predicament and find a solution for it.G.P.Estabillo shall cease to exist! Year” in 2015 and 2016, “Journalist of ads to take advantage ofmembers a well-designed Rolando G. Estabillo Publisherrunning out of funds? ex-officio(Secretary ofeverything Finance everything we have gained. Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser ManilaStandard of Carlos Dominguez and Department ** some government do I say thatManaging Bayanihan Law 2 is HonorWhy Since Congress originally toAdviserWhyL. Tomeldan can be accessed at: 2019, and *“Centennial Blanconot Cabieabolish Night Editor Former S. Puno Board Memberintended & Chief Legal Ramonchito Editor Year”Publisher for Journalenabling theDepartment Rolando multiple-placement G. Estabillo Publisher Carlospackage, Dominguez and of * *Chief * Justice Reynato Rolando G.the Estabillo andard.net) ManilaStandard can be accessed at: Honor Cabie Commission Night Editor Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor manilastandard.net Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado) willAvisado) also Thealso ban of The going to of cemeteries during ONLINE agencies like theBlanco Presidential non-existent? adjourn on December 19, and because Jimbo Owen Gulle City Editor ist of the Year” when the Rotary Club of MaChin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors magazine to raise enough cash for operations manilastandard.net f Legal Adviser Budget Secretary Wendel will ban going to cemeteries during Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager ONLINE ed Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Honor Blanco Cabieto Night Editor ging Editor haveRamonchito Jimbo Owen Gulle City Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor L. Tomeldan Managing Editor to vote whether include you or not “Undas” or All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard retire which hasEditor served Bayanihan LawSolutions was set to be effective JoyceWhen Baldwin Felipe Head—Ad ng Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo Rolando Estabillo Publisher oldest RotaryG.Club, its R.and SantosGovernment, Chief Photographer (the weekly never stopped printing), PangcoCayetano Pañares suspended News Editorsuddenly on LinoonM.Good SO have todeS. vote whether to Editors includenila, youAsia’s or not “Undas” or Allcelebrated Saints’ Day All Souls’ MEMBER Jimbo Owen Gulle City Editor ate Editors Baldwin R. Felipe Head—Ad2020, Solutions Jimbo Owen Gulle forCity Editor Chin Wong/Ray Eñano Associate Inc. at 6/FMakati Universal Building, 106 Paseo de LinoNow M. Santos Chief Photographer Joyce Pangcoadjourned. Pañares There News Editor MEMBERDay in the shortlist. orner PereaPublishing St., Legaspi Village, City.Re Telephone is no problem me and my wife. its purpose. its commissioners are October 12, Congress was sometime in September Congress SEE Philippine Press Institute centennial last year. or prepay debts, and build enough cushion Adelle Chua Opinion Editor in the shortlist. Day is no problem for me and my wife. Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone Chief Legal Adviser Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer Editor rs 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting allPañares Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer Joyce Pangco News Editor Philippine Press Institute Chua Opinion Editorgetting double compensation by acting TheBar National Association The GCG isRamonchito akin toP.O. theisJudicial and Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager law a special sessionAdelle For many years, we have not gone to the Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor L. Managing Editor called by the President (Ocfigured that it was giving Bayanihan numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all Tomeldan The UST College of Arts and Letters made to cart itself into 2021 which if you believe ITO The GCG akin to the Judicial and Bar ments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. For many years, we have not gone to the The National Association n Editordepartments), (Editorial) Adelle of Philippine Newspapers Chuacan 832-5550. Opinion 832-5554, P.O. Editor as Council. Before you be appointed on those twoondays. We go on 2Gulle rNAYO of Philippine Newspapers 33, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www. directors of sequestered corporations. butP.aJurado reading Chairman of ArticleEmeritus, VI asEditorial threegomonths to remain enforceable and tober 13 to 16),Emil Board himcemeteries one ofasits Most Outstanding Alumni indays. Diokno and Salceda is(Advertising) aWong/Ray boom year. Council. Before you can be appointed Jimbo City Editor cemeteries those twoOwen We on Eñano Associate Editors Box 2933, Manila Central PostChin Office, Manila. Website: www.S. standard.net Emil Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Board member of the Board to any GOCC, Phil-GOCC, other days. What matters is years. that weUST rememThe Office ofEditorial the Government Corporate allP.emergency effective. During that time, Congress was Section 23 (2) will show that manilastandard.net Arts and Letters in the last 100 o Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board The year 2021 will be BizNewsAsia’s member of the Board to any Philother days. What matters is that we rememEmil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board ons Linowho M. Santos Chief Photographer Joyce Pangco Pañares News Editor Health included, you must pass through the ber and pray for our loved ones have nities 20th Counsel can be placed under the Office of powers of the President shall cease to exist unaware that it would be forced to admade of itspray Mostfor Outstanding year. It also marksincluded, my 50 years pro-passitself Health you of must through thehim one ber and our loved ones who have wringer of the GCG,ofand you must in- Thomasians gone of us. Adelle Chua Opinion journ, both the regular and special ses- upon the next adjournment. Nothing could the Solicitor General. The Climate Change ger the field of arts wringer the GCG, andbeyou must beahead in-inEditor fessional journalism. gone ahead ofand us. letters. Commission has a whopping budget of P1 be clearer than that. sions, sooner that expected. Why? Tony is a founding member of the Foreign Here is what my BizNewsAsia house ad, billion. Its officials attend conferences Because of Cayetano’s sudden adjournOn October 12, 2020, in his bid to Correspondents Association of the Philip“Tough and sharp,” says about me: Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher keep his power as Speaker of the House ment, both the Senate and the House no lon- abroad—will that stop climate change? gal Adviser Lopez is the founder, president, chairman pines, long-time member of the National Honor Cabie Night Editor mber & Chief Adviser Ramonchito L. Tomeldanthe Philippines’ Managing EditorPress Club, Furthermore, we should privatize the 47 of Representatives, Alan Peter Cayetano ger had a session. andBlanco the only six-time andLegal CEO of BizNewsAsia, Honor Blanco president Cabie Night Editor Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor Jimbo Owen Gulle City EditorOverWong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors The reason of the law’s non-existence is Pagcor casinos. decided to suspend the House’s regular Manager largestChin and six-time of the Manila and most influential weeklyS.business Jimbo Owen Gulle City Editor Chin Wong/Ray Eñano Associate Editorschairman Lino M. Santos Chief Pangco Pañares News Editor The country is facing several crises. We session without passing or finalizing the clear and simple. The fact is that Congress seasEditor Press Club, Asia’sLino oldest pressPhotographer club. Chief Photographer magazine. ItsJoyce pass-on circulation Solutionsand newsJoyce M. Santos Pangco Pañaresis News Adelle Chua Opinion Editor need all the funds we can save. adjourned. Nothing could be clearer. 2021 budget. as high as 350,000 readers. Adelle Chua Opinion Editor Manager biznewsasia@gmail.com He is one of the most senior and promi-

Y LOPEZ

Gierran’s appointment is illegal

Opinion TO THE POINT

EMIL JURADO

Gierran’s appointment is illegal Marcos’ place in history Gierran’s appointment is illegal EDITORIAL Gierran’s appointment is illegal

e’s failures The worst is over Duterte’s failures Calamity elections Duterte’s failures Without a vaccine for general use, the recession could rage well into 2021.

pointment is illegal Marcos’ place in history Gierran’s appointment is illegal Gierran’s appointment is illegal

Despite this year The reasons are clearly spelled out in the law.

The reasons are clearly spelled out in the law.

I share the BSP chief’s optimism.

The non-existent Bayanihan Law 2

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PPI PPI

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Scapegoating EVERYMAN

By Joey Salgado

IN A moment of epiphany, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) announced a crackdown on illegal mining and quarrying. These illegal activities have been with us since the 1970s. A succession of governments had vowed to stop them, but the problem seems to get worse with every change in regime, and with deadlier consequences. Some sectors have proposed imposing a logging and quarrying ban altogether. This is a rather peculiar proposal, like telling a bald man he cannot have a haircut. As they say in Tagalog, “bawal magpagupit ang kalbo.” All these would appeal to the cynical as examples of post-disaster scapegoating. We have also been told that the causes of the widespread devastation are partly

beyond the control of government, climate change being a global affliction. It is also partly our fault, the result of our supposed lack of discipline. Exhibit A are the tons of plastics and wastes clogging the canals and waterways. Then there is poverty. People too poor to buy construction materials for their houses end up cutting trees. What we should have had is a sustained effort to protect our environment. Every administration in recent history had rolled out programs to address the pillage of our forests and watersheds and the perennial flooding. Yet most of these programs never survived beyond the term of the administration that proposed them. Other programs were good for a few photo ops and nothing else. Instead of sustained undertakings, we have programs held hostage by politics and political patronage. It is rather disconcerting that specialized agencies that should be headed by experts and scientists are often turned over to political appointees who

bring to the job their sterling qualification of being the seat mate, party mate, or province mate of the appointing power.

We must learn to call out—in stronger voices—the neglect, ineptitude and indifference of whoever pulls the levers of government. As a result, the government is thrown into a frenzy every time a natural disaster strikes. While disaster frontliners risk their lives, clueless officials try to look busy. Quick-fix solutions are implemented. A committee is formed. A new crackdown is ordered. We manage disasters through adhocracy. This is infuriating. Action plans to curb climate change and to mitigate the impact of natural disasters should be based on science. They should transcend the six-year election cycle. Yet leave it to us to downgrade science in favor of politics.

In times of calamities, we can only turn to our time-tested resiliency. But even this once celebrated virtue has fallen into disrepute, described disparagingly by the woke as a convenient cover to hide government accountability. They have a point. But resiliency is not the problem. It is the indifference to the failings of government. It is the collective amnesia, the acceptance of things as being the will of the Almighty when they are the results of ineptitude and corruption of ordinary mortals. The problem is in being content with the short-term, being satisfied with the quickfix rather than the long-term. It’s about time we replace “Pwede na yan” with “Bakit ganyan lang.” We should push for excellence, and not settle for mediocrity. This might also explain why we prefer the opaque rather than the transparent, since transparency could reveal ugly truths about ourselves that we are not ready to acknowledge. We should stay resilient. It has served us well given the cruel spot we occupy on the planet. It has helped us bounce back from every disaster, natural or man-made. But we must also crawl out of the hole of learned helplessness. We must learn to

call out—in stronger voices—he neglect, ineptitude and indifference of whoever pulls the levers of government. That would be a challenge given the poisoned air of partisanship. But unless we get our act together, we might as well accept that we are all living on borrowed time. The author is a former journalist and a political and government communications practitioner.

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

New vaccines offer hope to travellers

RANCE is expected to loosen its coronavirus restrictions on Tuesday as the boss of a major airline said proof of vaccination will likely become the only way people can fly in a post-pandemic world.

Hopes over Covid-19 vaccines have across the globe, but the disease remains given a boost to virus-weary citizens rampant and world leaders are urging Manila

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through, “the escape route is in sight” from million people and left nearly 1.4 million the coronavirus crisis. dead. Johnson said that although the “sciAstraZeneca and Oxford University on entific cavalry” was arriving, he warned Monday said their drug had proved on av“Christmas cannot be normal and there’s erage 70 percent effective at stopping the a long road to spring”. virus after trying it on 23,000 people, days The world is still engulfed in the un- after tests of two other drugs suggested precedented health crisis which has shat- they were more than 90 percent effective. tered economies, infected almost 58.9 AFP CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

provide the procured Ancillary Services.

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION Pasig City

TODAY

15. The rates under ASPA was subjected to a simulation by NGCP, the results of which are as follows:

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE ANCILLARY SERVICES PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE PAGBlLAO ENERGY CORPORATION (FOR REACTIVE POWER SUPPORT), WITH PRAYER FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

RPS

PhP /kW-month

PhP /kWh equiv.

PEC (no IE)

1.1807

0.0023

A copy of the Rate Impact Simulation and Details of Rate Impact Simulation for Pagbilao Energy Corp. (PEC) are attached as Annexes “C” and “C-1”, respectively. 16. Consistent with the AS-CRM, all the related and incidental expenses which NGCP will incur as a result of the procurement and operation of the ancillary services shall be recovered from all the load customers in the Luzon Grid.

ERC CASE NO. 2020-037 RC NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (NGCP) AND PAGBILAO ENERGY CORPORATION (PEC), Applicants. x ----------------------------------------------------------- x

17. The ASPA shall be effective for a period of five (5) years, to commence upon receipt of a provisional approval (“PA”), or in the absence thereof, a final approval (“FA”) issued by the ERC, subject to Clause 12 (Termination) of the ASPA. In the event that the PA or FA, as the case may be, does not state a particular date of effectivity, the Agreement shall be effective on the date agreed upon by the Parties.

NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

18. PEC respectfully submits copies of the following documents:

Notice is hereby given that on 19 October 2020, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and the Pagbilao Energy Corporation (PEC) filed an Application dated 18 September 2020, seeking the Commission’s approval of their Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement (ASPA) for Reactive Power Support, with prayer for the issuance of provisional authority. The pertinent portions of the said Application are hereunder quoted as follows: NATURE OF THE CASE 1.

people to be patient. French President Emmanuel Macron will address the country -- currently under lockdown -- to announce a reworking of the rules following a drop in nationwide infections. Macron’s televised speech comes a day after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said thanks to a major vaccine break-

This Application is for the approval of the Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement (“ASPA”) for Reactive Power Support dated 14 July 2020 between NGCP and PEC, pursuant to the Decision dated 3 October 2007 in ERC Case No. 2006-049RC entitled: ‘’In the Matter of the Application for the Approval of Ancillary Services - Cost Recovery Mechanism (AS-CRM) of the Ancillary Services Procurement Plan, with Prayer for Provisional Authority. “

Document

Annex

Summary of Existing Power Supply Agreements of Pagbilao Energy Corporation (PEC)

“D”

Certificate of Filing of Amended Articles on Incorporation (Company Reg. NO. CS201208121)

“E”

2019 General Information Sheet

“F”

2018 Audited Financial Statements

“G”

Certificate of Compliance (COC No. 18-02-M- “H” 00145L) dated 20 February 2018

“H”

WESM Registration Approval Form of PEC

“I”

THE PARTIES 2.

Applicant NGCP is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Philippines, with office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It holds a franchise under Republic Act No. 95111 to engage in the business of conveying or transmitting electricity through high-voltage back-bone systems of interconnected transmission lines, substations and related facilities, and for other purposes. The franchise also includes the conduct of activities necessary to support the safe and reliable operation of the transmission system.

Applicant PEC is a corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines with principal office at 25th Floor W 5th Avenue Building corner 32nd Street Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. It may be served with orders, notices, and other legal processes through its undersigned counsel.

It is the owner and operator of the 420MW Pagbilao Unit 3 Coal Fired Power Plant (“Generation Facility”) located in Pagbilao, Quezon Province. The Generation Facility was certified and accredited by NGCP to be capable of providing Ancillary Services (also commonly referred to as “AS”) in the form of Reactive Power Support (“RPS”) Lagging Power Factor Operation.

ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF ‘THE PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAl. AUTHORITY

19. It is a declared policy of the State to ensure the quality, reliability, security and affordability of the supply of electric power (Section 2(b), EPlRA). To this end, there is a need to comply with the system requirements for Ancillary Services to ensure grid system security and reliability. As mentioned above, NGCP has the mandate to procure the required Ancillary Services. 20. RPS is one of the Ancillary Services provided in the PGC that is essential in maintaining power quality and the reliability of the grid.7 TLI having offered to provide its RPS, will significantly help maintain the required power quality and voltage level in Luzon. The Generation Facility is strategically located in Luzon, thus, its provision for RPS will definitely enable NGCP to comply with its mandate. A copy of the List of Ancillary Services Providers in Luzon Certified with Reactive Power Support is attached as Annex “J”. 21. NGCP must be guaranteed of available Ancillary Services on a daily basis to ensure reliability of the grid. Thus, it is necessary for the Honorable Commission to approve the ASPA. As the demand for power in the Luzon increases, the requirements of the system to ensure stability, reliability and security likewise increase. Ensuring the integrity of the system is essential to protect the interests of the public. The absence of system reliability and stability will certainly discourage investments and growth .

ANTECEDENT FACTS 5.

Republic Act No. 9136 provides that it is the responsibility of NGCP to ensure and maintain the reliability, adequacy, security, stability and integrity of the nationwide electrical grid in accordance with the performance standards for its operations and maintenance2 , as set forth in the Philippine Grid Code (“PGC”), adopted and promulgated by the Honorable Commission, and to adequately serve generation companies, distribution utilities and suppliers requiring transmission service and! or ancillary services through the transmission system.3

22. Applicants respectfully submit that the immediate approval of the ASPA by this Honorable Commission is a necessity to ensure the reliability and security of the Grid. In support of these allegations, NGCP submits a copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Engr. Lisaflor Bacani -Kater of the Revenue and Regulatory Affairs Department of NGCP, which is attached as Annex “K.”

Similarly, the PGC provides that NGCP, as System Operator, is responsible for determining, acquiring, and dispatching the capacity needed to supply the required Grid Ancillary Services and for developing and proposing Wheeling Charges and Ancillary Services tariffs to the ERC.4

PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, Applicants respectfully pray that the Honorable Commission:

Ancillary Services (also commonly referred to as “AS”) as defined in Section 4 (b) of the EPlRA “refer to those services that are necessary to support the transmission of capacity and energy from resources to loads while maintaining reliable operation of the transmission system in accordance with good utility practice and the Grid Code to be adopted in accordance with this Act.” These services are essential in ensuring reliability in the operation of the transmission system and consequently, in the reliability of the electricity supply in the Luzon,. Visayas and Mindanao grids.

Immediately ISSUE a provisional authority to implement the subject ASPA dated 14 July 2020 granting authority for the procurement and supply, under a per-occurrence basis, of RPS outside the range of 85% lagging and 90% leading power factors, the latter subject to the submission of the accreditation certificate; and

APPROVE, after notice and hearing, the subject ASPA granting final authority. Applicants pray for other just and equitable relief.

In order to implement and regulate the procurement of Ancillary Services, the Honorable Commission approved the Ancillary Services Procurement Plan (“ASPP”) through its Order dated 9 March 2006 in ERC Case No. 2002-253 and the Ancillary Services-Cost Recovery Mechanism (“AS-CRM”) through its Decision dated 3 October 2007 in ERC Case No. 2006-049RC.

The Commission hereby sets the instant Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference and presentation of evidence on 11 December 2020 (Friday) at two o’clock in the afternoon (2:00 P.M.), through virtual hearing using the Microsoft Teams Application as the online platform for the conduct thereof pursuant to Resolution No. 07, Series of 2020 dated 23 July 2020.

Pursuant to its mandate, NGCP on 7, 14, 21 and 28 October 2019 in Philippine Daily Inquirer and on 21 and 28 October 2019 and 4 and 11 November 2019 in the Manila Times5, published a Notice of Invitation for Prospective Ancillary Services Providers, inviting all grid -connected merchant plants and independent power producers to participate in the provision of ancillary services. Upon receipt of the intention from PEC to provide RPS, NGCP commenced negotiation for the execution of an ASPA.

Any interested stakeholder may submit its comments and/or clarifications at least one (1) calendar day prior to the scheduled virtual hearing, via electronic mail (e-mail) at records@erc.gov.ph and records.erc.gov.ph@gmail.com, copy furnish the Legal Service through legal.erc.gov.ph@gmail.com. The Commission shall give priority to the stakeholders who have duly submitted their respective comments and/ or clarifications, to discuss the same and propound questions during the course of the expository presentation.

10. NGCP agreed to procure and PEC agreed to supply RPS outside the range of 85% lagging and 90% leading power factors under a per-occurrence basis. A copy of the Ancillary Services Procurement Agreement for Pagbilao Energy Corporation dated 14 July 20206 is attached as Annex “A”. 11. During the period of negotiation, NGCP conducted several tests on the generation facility, and certified that the generating units have met and complied with the Standard Ancillary Services Technical Requirements of the ASPP as capable of providing RPS. The copy of the Accreditation Certificate No. 2019-Lo18, for RPS - Lagging Power Factor Operation, issued on 1 December 2019 is attached as Annex “B”. The Generation Facility is also scheduled for testing of RPS - Leading Power Factor Operation capacity. Accordingly, the maximum kVAR capability subject to nomination and schedule under this ASP A shall be based on the most recent test results and the corresponding AS Accreditation Certificate. CONTRACTED CAPACITY RATE AND IMPACT SIMULATION 12. Under Clause 3 of the ASPA, PEC shall provide NGCP with the following Ancillary Services as specified in Schedule 1 of the ASPA:

Moreover, all persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission via e-mail at records@erc.gov.ph and records.erc.gov.ph@gmail.com. copy furnish the Legal Service through legal.erc. gov.ph@gmail.com, a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) calendar days prior to the date of the initial virtual hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following:

Note that the nomination and schedule shall be based on the latest AS Accreditation Certificate. 13. The Applicable Rates under the ASPA as provided in Schedule 3 are as follows: Per-occurance payments to the AS provider shall have the following components, depending on the way the RPS was scheduled and utilized by the System Operator: Total Payment = kVAR Payment kVAR Payment = Incidental kVARh Rate x Compensable kVARh Real Time Incidental kVARh Utilization while providing energy. This shall be paid based on the total recorded kVARh delivered/absorbed beyond 0.85 power factor lagging or 0.9 power factor leading from the time when the dispatch of RPS was instructed. The compensable k VARh shall be paid at: Incidental kVARh Rate: Php 4.00/ kVARh

The petitioner’s name, mailing address and e-mail address;

The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and

A statement of the relief desired.

Likewise, all other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subj ect matter of the case may file through e-mail at records@erc.gov.ph and records.erc.gov.ph@gmail.com, their Opposition or Comment thereon at least five (5) calendar days prior to the initial virtual hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document “ letter or writing should contain the following:

Reactive Power Support (RPS) Available capacity of Reactive Power outside the range of 85% lagging and 90% leading power factor, as provided in Schedule 6. Provision of RPS shall be on a per-occurance basis, following the scheduling and dispatch process in Schedule 2.

The name, mailing address and e-mail address of such person;

A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and

The grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from the Applicants that they be furnished with the same prior to the date of the initial hearing. The Applicants are hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, through any of the available modes of service, upon their agreement, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs.. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours. In the alternative, those persons who wish to have an electronic copy of the Application may request the Commission for the e-mail address of the Applicants by sending an email to records@erc.gov.ph and records.erc.gov.ph@gmail.com, copy furnish the Legal Service through legal.erc.gov. ph@gmail.com. Nonetheless, any person may also access the Application as posted by the Commission in its official website at www.erc.gov.ph. Finally, all interested persons may be allowed to join the scheduled initial virtual hearing by providing the Commission, thru legal.virtualhearings.erc.gov.ph@gmail.com, with their respective e-mail addresses and indicating therein the case number of the instant Application. The Commission will send the access link/ s to the aforementioned hearing platform within five (5) working days prior to the scheduled hearing. WITNESS, the Honorable Commissioners ALEXIS M. LUMBATAN, CATHERINE P. MACEDA, FLORESINDA G. BALDO-DIGAL and MARKO ROMEO L. FUENTES, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 30th day of October 2020 in Pasig City.

Compensable kVARh = Actual kVARh - Base kVARh

AGNES VST DEVANADERA Chairperson and CEO

Where: Actual kVARh = actual reactive power provided within each interval Base kVARh = corresponding kVARh at 0.85 power factor lagging or 0.9 power factor leading, for the unit’s MW loading. For clarity, the MW loading is the unit’s Pmin, or RTD schedule, whichever is greater.

2 3 4 5 6

14. Applicants submit that the rates represent a reasonable recovery to

An Act Granting the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines a Franchise To Engage in the Business of Conveying or Transmitting Electricity Through High Voltage Back-Bone System of Interconnected Transmission Lines, Substations and Related Facilities, and for other Purposes. Section 9 (c) and in relation to RA No. 9511. Section 9 (d). Section 6.3 .. 2; The copies of the newspaper clippings are attached as Attachment “B” to Annex “K”; With attached draft Implementing Guidelines (Annex A-1); GC 1.7 (Definitions), Chapter 1, PGC. (MS-NOV. 25/DEC. 1, 2020)

Trump finally agrees to Biden transition, still not conceding PRESIDENT Donald Trump came his closest yet to admitting election defeat Monday after the government agency meant to ease Joe Biden’s transition into the White House said it was finally lifting its unprecedented block on assistance. Trump acknowledged it was time for the General Services Administration to “do what needs to be done.” In the same tweet he insisted that he was still refusing to concede, saying: “Our case STRONGLY continues, we will keep up the good fight, and I believe we will prevail!” But for the Republican to sign off on the GSA’s decision to work with the Biden transition team signaled that even he sees the writing on the wall after three weeks of evidence-free claims that the November 3 election was stolen from him. This means that Biden’s team will now have access to funds, office space and the ability to meet with federal officials. Biden’s office, which hours earlier announced a highly experienced group to be nominated for top US foreign policy and security posts, said the GSA would now allow “support necessary to carry out a smooth and peaceful transfer of power. “In the days ahead, transition officials will begin meeting with federal officials to discuss the pandemic response, have a full accounting of our national security interests, and gain complete understanding of the Trump administration’s efforts to hollow out government agencies,” Biden’s transition director Yohannes Abraham said in a statement. The sudden break in Trump’s dogged attempt to deny Biden’s win came after Michigan became the latest state to certify its results and more powerful Trump supporters came out demanding that the impasse end. Biden to shift diplomacy Earlier, Biden announced a foreign policy and national security team crammed with veterans from the Barack Obama years, teeing up an end to the upheaval under Trump and a return to traditional US diplomacy. Top of the list was former State Department number two Antony Blinken, tapped for secretary of state. AFP

Brazilian police used tear gas to disperse protesters BRAZILIAN police used tear gas and rubber bullets Monday to disperse protesters marching against the death of a black man beaten to death by white guards at a Carrefour supermarket. Several days of protest have erupted in Porto Alegre, southern Brazil, after video footage last week showed 40-year-old welder Joao Alberto Silveira Freitas being punched in the face and head by a security guard while another guard held him. Monday’s march occupied a street and interrupted traffic in front of a Carrefour branch in the city. A small number of protesters threw stones and fireworks at the police, who dispersed the group using tear gas and rubber bullets, AFP reporters witnessed. Carrefour promised to earmark $5 million to fight against racism, saying that “we know that we cannot repair the loss of the life of Mr. Joao Alberto.” “This action is the first step by our company to combat prejudice and structural racism, which is urgent in Brazil, so that it gains even more strength and support from society,” it said in a statement. Carrefour has faced a wave of boycott calls and sometimes violent protests outside its stores across Brazil, drawing comparisons with the killing of George Floyd in the United States in May and the ensuing protests. Carrefour chief executive Alexandre Bompard was swift to condemn the killing as a “horrible act,” and sent his condolences to the victim’s family and cut ties with the private security company that supplied the two guards. AFP

Another HK man arrested for violating security law A HONG KONG man was dragged from a court shouting democracy slogans and remanded into custody on Tuesday after becoming the third person to be charged under a sweeping new national security law. The man’s detention is a stark illustration of how the new legislation, imposed by Beijing this summer, has created a host of speech crimes with stiff consequences for those accused of breaching the rules. Ma Chun-man, 30, was bundled away by police as he shouted “Spread the word, democracy is cultivated with blood and sweat” after being charged with “inciting secession” -- one of the new national security crimes -- according to an AFP reporter in court. Prosecutors said Ma was arrested seven times by police between 15 August and 22 November and that he had chanted slogans calling for Hong Kong’s independence from China. Defense lawyers said Ma was a food delivery driver who lost his job last month and lived at home with his parents and brother. Their request for bail was denied and Ma was remanded into custody until his next court appearance in February next year. Beijing imposed its new security law in late June, bypassing Hong Kong’s legislature and keeping the precise contents secret until it was enacted. It targets four new crimes: secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces. The law also granted China jurisdiction over especially serious crimes and empowered the mainland’s security agents to operate openly in Hong Kong for the first time. Beijing says it was needed to return stability after huge and often violent democracy protests last year. Critics counter that it shredded what remained of Hong Kong’s political freedoms and ramped up Beijing’s direct control over the restless semi-autonomous city. AFP

Business

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

PSE INDEX CLOSING

IN BRIEF

Tuesday, November 24, 2020 -69.95 PTS. 7,108.67

TOTAL VOLUME

8,273,841,342

TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE

216,648 12,947,218,479.94

ADVANCES

101

DECLINES UNCHANGED

134 40

Alsons issuing P6-b worth of debt notes ALSONS Consolidated Resources Inc. will issue debt notes worth P6 billion to refinance old debt. Alsons disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Tuesday the notes would have five-year and seven-year tranches, and appointed Development Bank of the Philippines as lead arranger of the transaction. “The proceeds from the issuance of such notes will be used to refinance the outstanding principal balance of the company’s existing peso denominated fixed rate notes and to partially finance ACR’s investments in renewable energy projects,” Alsons said. Alsons executive vice president Tirso Santillan Jr. said the refinancing aimed to bring down interest rate and prolong the maturity of the notes. Alsons will use proceeds from the new note issuance to partially refinance the balance of the company’s fixed rate notes of P7.5 billion from 2015 and fund renewable energy expansion projects. Alena Mae S. Flores

Foreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • TUESDAY, November 24, 2020

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.1920

Japan

Yen

0.009566

0.4610

Pound

1.332500

64.2158

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129002

6.2169

Switzerland

Franc

1.095890

52.8131

Canada

Dollar

0.764701

36.8525

Singapore

Dollar

0.744380

35.8732

Australia

Dollar

0.728500

35.1079

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655337

127.9660

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266667

12.8512

Brunei

Dollar

0.741620

35.7402

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000071

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.033036

1.5921

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.1213

Euro

1.184200

57.0690

Korea

Won

0.000898

0.0433

China

Yuan

0.151860

7.3184

India

Rupee

0.013468

0.6490

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.244618

11.7886

New Zealand

Dollar

0.692100

33.3537

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035057

1.6895 Source: BSP

Angkas obtains permit to resume MM motorcycle taxi operations By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Transportation Department said Tuesday it allowed Angkas to resume operations in Metro Manila after months of suspension following the expiration of the pilot study on motorcycle taxis. “The Motorcycle Taxi Technical Working Group has decided [on November 24] to issue Angkas with a provisional authority to operate under the extended motorcycle taxi pilot program, pending confirmation of compliance to pending operational requirements set forth by the National Task Force and the MC Taxi TWG,” the agency said. It said the pending operational requirements include the provision of insurance for both rider and passenger in case of accidents and the mandatory use of thermal scanners to accurately detect if the passenger has fever. The department said the provisional authority would be valid from Nov. 24 to Dec. 9, 2020. “Once the Angkas is able to fully comply with the requirements, a certificate of compliance shall be issued to them by the MC Taxi TWG,” DOTR said. Move It and JoyRide have yet to complete the requirements set by the government. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board earlier allowed Angkas, Joyride and Move It to participate in the pilot test for motorcycle taxis in Metro Manila, Cebu and Cagayan de Oro. The pilot study lapsed on March 23. The government imposed a cap of 63,000 bikers for the three players—45,000 bikers in Metro Manila, 9,000 in Cebu and 9,000 in Cagayan de Oro. Angkas has 23,164 bikers in Metro Manila, 4,500 in Metro Cebu and 925 in Cagayan De Oro, while Joyride has 15,000 in Metro Manila, 4,488 in Metro Cebu and 198 in Cagayan de Oro. Move It has 6,836 bikers in Metro Manila. The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases issued Memorandum Circular No. 03,s.2020 to provide guidelines on minimum health and safety protocols to be observed by tricycles that will be accepting back-riders and motorcycle taxis following a systematic and coordinated approach in augmenting the public transport options for the commuting public while ensuring continue mitigation of COVID-19.

CAGAYAN VALLEY RELIEF. The Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation and its private sector partners deliver food and non-food relief items to the Office of Civil Defense Region II as part of ongoing relief efforts for the affected communities of Typhoon Ulysses (International name: Vamco) in the Cagayan Valley Region. About two tons of hygiene and dignity kits from PWC PhilippinesIsla Lipana & Co. and PLDT Inc. vice president and deputy head for public affairs Carlo Ople, and food packs from Aboitiz Foundation are turned over to OCD Region II for repacking and distribution to the affected families.

BOI confident of recording P1-t investments this year By Othel V. Campos

HE Board of Investments said Tuesday it is optimistic about achieving its target of P1 trillion in approved investments this year as pledges already reached P826 billion in the first 10 months despite the threat of the pandemic. “Though this will be slightly lower than the project approvals for 2019, we are still on course for the second highest level in our agency’s history despite the pandemic,” Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary and BOI Managing Director Ceferino Rodolfo said during the virtual launch of Make It Happen in the Philippines campaign. Rodolfo stressed the Philippines’ superior investment and business facilitation services, with BOI coordinating

closely with other investment promotion industries. “We are dedicating focal teams that will help make your business goals happen when you invest and operate in the Philippines,” he told global participants. He said with a labor force of 49 million and about 750,000 fresh graduates annually, the Philippine would continue to be a haven for companies with extensive need for manpower. Rodolfo said the wage rate in the Philippines is among the most stable in the region, making investing in the country a better deal compared with the other countries in the region. “Hence, the Philippines offers itself as a strategic partner in services and other sectors with its large, young, educated and tech-savvy population. This will be critical in responding to the challenges and opportunities of the digital and inter-connected new economy,” he said. The BOI also encouraged multinational companies pursuing expansion strategies to seriously consider the Philippines, given the country’s excellent

track record in supporting and complementing global firms. Rodolfo said the strong customer service orientation along with the creative, adaptive skill sets of Philippine workforce would also make the Philippines an ideal location for services and manufacturing, getting not only in touch with customers from around the globe, but also creating world-class products to serve supply and demand internationally. “With these in mind, we are definitely pushing for a more proactive, targeted investment promotion strategy in asking foreign investors to relocate or expand their services and products with a set of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives tailor-fit to them in line with government efforts for an economic bounce back by creating more jobs under a post-quarantine scenario,” he said. The Make It Happen in the Philippines campaign highlights some of the best performing sectors in the country such as electronics, aerospace, automotive, IT-BPM and copper.

Diokno: Bangko Sentral readies policy on digital banks By Julito G. Rada BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno on Tuesday said the regulator will soon come up with a policy on the establishment of digital banks in the country. Diokno, in a speech during the ING Bank Pay Account virtual launch, said digitalization was the way to go, especially during the current health crisis where more people preferred to do online rather than personal transactions to avoid COVID-19 infection. “Recognizing that digital payment services are increasingly becoming indispensable in our daily lives, the Bangko Sentral embraces a governance approach where innovation is encouraged while the accompanying risks are effectively managed,” Diokno said. “Our recent proactive policy initiative involves the establishment of a digital bank as a bank classification that is distinct from the existing universal, commercial, thrift, rural, cooperative and Is-

lamic bank categories. This policy which is now on its final review stage is set to be issued soon,” Diokno said. Earlier, Diokno said digital banks would be instrumental in boosting financial inclusion and electronic transactions in the country. He said digital banks were expected to play a key role in promoting market efficiencies and expanding the access of Filipinos to a broad range of financial services. Under its BSP’s three-year digital payments transformation roadmap, the central bank will be introducing digital banks as a distinct bank classification. Diokno said digital banks could help address the frequently cited constraints to delivering financial services to the unbanked and underserved sectors. He said licensing digital banks would bring the BSP closer to its goal of shifting at least 50 percent of retail payment transactions to digital channels and ensuring 70 percent of Filipino adults have transactional accounts

by year 2023. But Diokno said since digital banks were exposed to the same risks as other types of banks, they would be required to adhere to similar corporate governance and risk management standards commensurate to their business model and risk profile. Digital banking applicants are also expected to have robust, secure and resilient technology infrastructure, effective data management strategy and practices and sound digital governance. Diokno said ING’s Pay Account was a welcome product in this age where people need to cope with a fast-paced environment. ING Pay Account offers multi services that suit people’s need for quick and convenient means of settling bills, transferring funds and paying purchases. He said ING’s latest initiative was perfectly aligned with the BSP’s Digital Payments Transformation Roadmap for the period 2020 to 2023 that aims to achieve an efficient, safe, and inclusive payments ecosystem.

Fruitas Holdings expands to ice cream business By Jenniffer B. Austria

COTABATO LIGHT UPGRADE, Aboitiz Power Corp.’s distribution utility Cotabato Light and Power Co. is upgrading its Malagapas substation. The upgrade provides the company with an increased energy capacity, ensuring better reliability of power across its franchise area. The project involves the installation of new electrical equipment, including the addition of a 15-MVA transformer—a new device used to control and protect the equipment at the site.

FOOD and beverage kiosk operator Fruitas Holdings Inc. expanded its portfolio by venturing into premium ice cream business. Fruitas said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Tuesday it would soon add premium dairy-based and premium soybased ice cream lines to its product offering. “Ice cream has long been the go-to dessert of Filipinos. Ice cream gives them comfort and reminds them of their childhood, family, and home. Recognizing this customer need, Fruitas came up with two new premium ice cream lines which will certainly make Filipinos happy, yet keep them healthy at the same time,” said Fruitas president and chief executive Lester Yu. The dairy-based and soy-based ice cream lines will be carried under the group’s flagship brand Fruitas and will be available to the market starting this week. Both ice cream lines will be all-natural

without preservatives and artificial flavoring, handcrafted and locally made in the Philippines, the company said. The two ice cream lines will also be available in the shelves of Babot’s Farm and Soy & Bean stores in Metro Manila. Fruitas would also include the ice cream line among the products available in its delivery service CocoDelivery. The ice cream lines will also be launched in certain kiosks. Fruitas dairy-based ice cream will come in eight flavors, including six fruitbased flavors with real fruit bits. Soy and bean ice cream will be lactosefree with classic soy, chocolate soy and coffee soy as the introductory flavors. The company already reopened close to 800 outlets in its kiosk network out of more than 1,000 stores prior to the pandemic. It also opened close to 20 community stores under the Babot’s Farm and Soy & Bean brands and is poised to reach 30 stores by the end of 2020 and 100 by the end of 2021.

AirAsia’s Teleport now in 70 cities in SE Asia TELEPORT, the logistics venture of AirAsia Digital, has rolled out delivery services in 70 cities across Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. In the Philippines, Teleport is now present in Manila, Bacolod, Cebu, Davao, General Santos, Iloilo, Kalibo, Puerto Princesa, Tacloban, Tagbilaran, Clark, Cagayan de Oro,and Zamboanga. Teleport can deliver almost anything, from food, groceries, documents, flowers and even laundry. “Our mission is to make delivery simple, fast and affordable for everyone. With a onehour delivery promise, we hope that all local merchants and businesses will benefit. Soon, businesses can experience 24 hour express deliveries between cities as well as cross-border delivered to you by Teleport,” Pete Chareonwongsak, chief executive of Teleport, said. “The goal is by next year, with a click of a button, you can send almost anything instantly to anywhere AirAsia flies to,” he added. AirAsia also providing local businesses, especially micro, small and medium enterprises, with opportunities for growth and employment through its fast growing digital platforms. Darwin G. Amojelar

PLDT boosts fiber link to Catanduanes PLDT Inc. on Tuesday said it has built up its fiber optic link to Catanduanes island to ensure service resiliency in one of the country’s most typhoon-stricken provinces. “We fired up our submarine fiber optic cable which was recently installed in Catanduanes. As you know, Catanduanes was hardly hit by the typhoons and most of our network facilities are down. We were the first to restore our service but it’s not enough,” Arvin Siena, PLDT vice president and head of Technology Strategy and Transformation Office, said. “Our ongoing rollout of submarine fiber optic cable was very timely as it was completed during this time and we were able to fire up its capacity to restore more areas in Catanduanes. In other island provinces we want to make sure fiber optic infrastructure is put in place. We want to make it more resilient so when opportunities such as cloud infrastructure, data centers and BPOs come in, this will stand the calamities frequently visiting us,” he added. Darwin G. Amojelar

Solar PH names new CEO ahead of public offering By Alena Mae S. Flores RENEWABLE energy developer Solar Philippines Inc. on Tuesday announced the appointment of a new chief executive as part of preparations for public listing. Solar Philippines appointed industry veteran Marty Crotty as the new president and chief executive after signaling a strategic direction to bring onboard partners and professionals to prepare for a public listing. Leandro Leviste, who established the company seven years ago, will remain as Solar Philippines chairman and sole shareholder. “I will remain as the company’s shareholder and help select the right partners for our projects in preparation for the IPO. We will make further disclosures on the IPO plans at the appropriate time,” Leviste said. “These steps are in line with the start of our new company focused on investments in provincial real estate that are symbiotic with our solar projects,” he said. Leviste earlier said the company was preparing for the IPO. “Before that, we are completing the development of our projects now with a focus of doing so with our partners,” Leviste said. Crotty, an American with family ties in the Philippines, served as president of AES Asia, where he managed power plants in Vietnam, India, Sri Lanka and the Philippines, including the Masinloc coal plant which was acquired by San Miguel Corp. Crotty also served as CEO of Upwind Solutions, a wind asset management company backed by Silicon Valley investor Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. Since then, he has managed the operations of over 10 gigawatts (10 megawatts) of solar and wind plants in North America at EDF Renewables, one of the world’s largest renewable energy companies.

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020

Sports

Phoenix Super LPG forward Calvin Abueva (with ball) dribbles past TNT Tropang Giga defender Ray Parks (1). Phoenix goes for a berth in the Finals of the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup when it battles TNT today. PBA

4 Gilas PH veterans to provide leadership FOUR players who have seen action in the f irst window are expected to provide leadership to the young Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball. They are cagers who national coach Jong Uichico will turn to when action in the November window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers begins this Friday in Manama. “We hope to get chemistry from the team with this. Hopefully, we can get this in our first game,” said Uichico on Zoom before they left for Bahrain. Big man Isaac Go leads the returnees, who also include Juan Gomez De Liaño, Matt Nieto, and Dwight Ramos. During their February game, Gilas prevailed over Indonesia in Jakarta, 100-70. At that time, De Liaño scored 10 points in 11.3 minutes played. “It has been an adjustment for me because they need more teaching. But the guys are hard workers and are willing lear ners,” added Uichico. Among the new members of Gilas are Dave Ildefonso, Kobe Paras and Kenmark Carino, who are expected to bring more energy to the squad. For Ildefonso, he was able to see action for the Philippines in the under-18 Asian Championship 2018, up to the U19 World Cup 2019. Gilas is bunched in Group A of the Qualifiers with Korea, Thailand and Indonesia. Peter Atencio

Ginebra, Phoenix shoot for championship seats By Reuel Vidal

ARANGAY Ginebra and Phoenix Super LPG try to advance to the Finals of the 2020 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup when they face their respective rivals today, Wednesday, November 25, 2020. The Gin Kings battle the Meralco Bolts 3:45 p.m., while the Super LPG take on TNT Tropang Giga 6:30 p.m. at the Angeles University Foundation Sports Arena & Cultural Center Powered by Smart 5G. Both Ginebra and Phoenix hold a 2-1 advantage in their best-of-five Semifinal playoffs and a victory today propels them to the best-of-seven Finals. Ginebra will be looking to follow up its Game 3 victory over Phoenix which gave the Gin Kings their 2-1 edge. Stanley Pringle had 24 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists to power Ginebra to victory. But the game was made memorable by an unidentified person in the game venue who shouted “Ref, lutong luto ‘to ah,” at

the 10:04 mark of the 4th quarter. The comment was heard loud and clear by the live TV audience. That person may have been unhappy with the numerous fouls called on Meralco, which was whistled for 26 fouls compared to only 17 for Ginebra. Worse, Meralco’s key players Reynel Hugnatan and Chris Newsome both fouled out. It was the first time Hugnatan and Newsome fouled out of a game this PBA season. Meanwhile, Phoenix—powered by its Big 3 of Matthew Wright, Calvin Abueva and Jason Perkins—will have momentum on its side. Phoenix beat TNT in backto-back games after losing the opening match of their playoff.

Wright was clutch as he scored 7 of the final 9 points by Phoenix when they beat TNT, 92-89, in Game 3 of their series. Wright also had 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal to win Player of the Game honors. Abueva—who played nearly 45 of the 48-minute game—had a double-double of 24 points and 14 rebounds. He added 6 assists, 4 steals and 1 block. Perkins finished with 11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. The three will have plenty of help from Phoenix teammates Justin Chua, RJ Jazul, Alex Mallari and RR Garcia. TNT will be led by equally hardworking Ray Parks who also played 45 minutes in Game 3. Parks, like Abueva, also had a double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds to go with 6 assists and 1 steal. Jayson Castro, Troy Rosario, Roger Pogoy and Simon Enciso will support Parks. Additionally, TNT big man Poy Erram will have to assert himself more if he wants TNT to win.

Tolentino seeks unity in local sports IN THE short span of time that he has served as president of the Philippine Olympic Committee, Cavite solon Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino hopes that he has made an impact with in his accomplishments. Since becoming president of the POC last year, Tolentino said he was able to work with other sports leaders in making the 30th Southeast Asian Games a resounding success and sought the needed assistance for national athletes and coaches in their time of need during the pandemic. He also vowed to unify all national sports associations if he is reelected. “These are small matters, but they helped a lot,” said Tolentino during yesterday’s weekly online session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association on Zoom. “If I win, my first move is to reach out to the NSAs (national sports associations) and unite sports and forget the

THE LINK REY JOBLE WHEN Norman Black burst into the PBA scene in 1981 as an import, he had a chance to showcase his wares, averaging 51 points in 14 games for Tefilin, but the team was booted out early in the tournament. He returned the following season to play for San Miguel Beer and led the squad to a 2-1 win over the powerhouse Crispa Redmanizers as the Beermen clinched the 1982 Invitational Conference best-of-three championship series. Black would play until 1988 before he would concentrate to full-time coaching, where he became even more successful. He would collect 11 championships, including the grand slam in 1989. He is the only other active coach in the PBA to

win at least a grand slam. Tim Cone, now coach of Barangay Ginebra, won two grand slams and emerged as the winningest coach in league history with 22 championships. Nearly four decades after, Norman’s son, Aaron Black, has a chance to put his name in the PBA history book as the lefty rookie guard is in strong contention for this season’s Rookie of the Year honors. Prior to entering the playoffs, the younger Black, who plays for his dad’s Meralco team, was second in the running for the most prestigious award for newcomers with an average of 18.7 statistical points, which were a few points behind the 20.3 SPs of Terrafirma Dyip’s Roosevelt Adams. Adams’ team has already been eliminated and carried the worse record in the tournament with 1-10 slate. Black, on the other hand, has become an integral part of Meralco’s first-ever semifinals entry in the Philippine Cup.

Rep. Abraham Tolentino

politics,” said Tolentino. “Hindi naman natin pinabayaan ang mga national athletes at coaches, lalo na ang ating bansa, doon sa pagtulong-tulong natin sa SEA Games, nu’ng naging overall champion tayo.

Kahit mahigit one year lang tayo nagserve,” added Tolentino, who is running for a full term as POC president in the coming polls this Friday. “Nakita naman nila ang performance natin in that short stint (that I served),” said Tolentino, who finally heaved a sigh of relief after protests against his candidacy and five others under his ticket were turned down by the election committee of the weekend. The POC chief hopes that when he is given a chance, he and members of his “Performance Team” will be able to execute their plans and programs that are aimed at making the POC a better organization. Among the things that Tolentino and his group is working on is their plans to do sustainable activities, wherein programs would be developed so that the national sports associations can to reach out to potential corporate sponsors. Peter Atencio

The son also rises

By the end of the elimination round, he averaged 7.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. In the playoffs, Black averaged 7.2 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. The younger Black has a legitimate chance of winning an individual award as a rookie and, if the Bolts can beat Ginebra twice in a row in the semis, he’ll have his chance of winning his first PBA title right on his first season. Aaron’s early rise is something that makes his old man proud. “I know last game he didn’t play very well,” the elder Black told The Link Podcast. “I didn’t announce it to anybody, but he was sick last game. I had a couple of players under the weather. Both he and Trevis Jackson were both sick. But Aaron has played well this conference. He’s one of the better rookies in the league. I think he has been a surprise to most, because he has performed very well against some of the top teams in the

league. Of course, he’s a rookie and he has a lot of room for improvement and you never compare a rookie’s performance to Paul Lee because they don’t have that type of experience yet. Unless you’re CJ Perez, who was able to do it in his first year.” “But Aaron has played well. I’m really proud of him. I’m happy for him. He seems to be a better player as a pro than he was when he was in college.” Unlike his dad, who plays up front, Aaron, plays the guard spot, standing between 6-foot-1, 6-foot-2, but the latter’s versatility allowed him to play both the No.1 and No. 2 positions, making him more utilized on the court. Prior to the PBA restart and even before the league embarked on a Bubble set up, the father and son were already plotting some of the things to be done. They may be playing different positions as a player, but they have a similar mentality when it comes to game approach.

Raptors to start season in Florida

LOS ANGELES—The Toronto Raptors will start the upcoming NBA season based in Florida after the franchise failed to agree a deal with Canadian authorities over COVID-19 protocols, team officials said Friday. A statement from Raptors president Masai Ujiri said the 2019 NBA champions would start the new campaign at a temporary home in Tampa to sidestep the thorny issue of quarantine controls between Canada and the United States. The Raptors had been scrambling to broker a solution to the issue of where they will play in the 2020-2021 season, with the December 1 start of pre-season training camp less than two weeks away. The new season tips off on December 22. Although the Raptors would have been free to travel in the US, the team would have been subjected to a 14-day quarantine whenever they returned to Canada. US teams visiting Toronto for games would also have been subject to the measure. “The Raptors worked diligently with public health officials at the local, provincial and federal level to secure a plan that would permit us to play our 2020-21 season on home soil and on our home court at Scotiabank Arena,” Ujiri said in a statement. “These conversations were productive, and we found strong support for the protocols we put forward. Ultimately, the current public health situation facing Canadians, combined with the urgent need to determine where we will play means that we will begin our 2020-21 season in Tampa, Florida. “We want to thank all levels of government and their public health officials for their dedication to this process, and for looking after the health of Canadians. We commit to continuing our work together, planning for a safe return to play in Toronto.” The Raptors’ logistical headache mirrored the problems other Canadian sports teams in North American leagues have faced since competitions resumed after a Covid-19 shutdown earlier this year. In baseball, the Toronto Blue Jays were forced to play their regular season games in Buffalo, New York, while Canada’s Major League Soccer teams were required to play regular season fixtures in the United States.

Abueva Cignal TV Best Player SMART CLARK GIGA CITY—As if he never left the league for more than a year, Calvin Abueva stepped up big time when Phoenix Super LPG was in search for a hero following the ankle injury that fell top gunner Matthew Wright in the opener of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals. The pride of Angeles City, Pampanga heeded the call and delivered doubledouble performances in guiding the Fuel Masters on the cusp of a long-coveted finals as Phoenix took a 2-1 series lead in its best-of-five duel with TNT Tropang Giga. Abueva was everywhere for the Fuel Masters in their back-to-back wins in Games 2 and 3, respectively, averaging 22.0 points on 55 percent clip including an impressive 63 percent shooting from three-point range to go with 14.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 3.0 steals. His all-around numbers earned him the unanimous choice as Cignal TV– PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period Nov. 16-22. Meanwhile, as a starter for Barangay Ginebra which also holds a similar 2-1 lead in its own semis seriesl with Meralco, Arvin Tolentino rose to the occasion by submitting numbers of 8.7 points per game on 43-percent shooting from beyond the arc, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists to claim the Rookie of the Week honor handed out by members of the media covering the PBA beat.

This early, the younger Black was able to develop the winner’s mentality. You can ask the reigning five-peat Philippine Cup champions San Miguel Beermen, whose guards were outplayed by the rookie sentinel in the quarterfinals. Now, Black is trying to hold his own against more seasoned veterans from Ginebra. Norman, “That Old Black Magic” as what the late Pinggoy Pengson calls him, was known for his all-out performance every game, which was the reason why he was one of only two imports to be named “Mr. 100-Percent” by the PBA. But his son is also rising and making his own mark this early. Daddy knows best and for Norman, he thinks he can utilize Aaron more with the Bolts and it has paid him good dividends. It wouldn’t be a surprise if we see the younger Black winning this season’s Rookie of the Year honors.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL ISSUE

Gift-giving in the time of pandemic C By P. Y. Deligero

HRISTMAS is just about a month away, but people are still trying to cope with the new normal brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, this predicament shouldn’t dampen the holiday spirit.

Depending on the budget and the recipient, try to be Even if Christmas parties aren’t highly particular in the kind of plant you’re giving. For tight recommended given the health risk, one can still share the joy of the season through some thoughtful gifts! Here budgets or amateur gardeners, buy sturdy house plants such as cacti, succulents, and snake plants. But for a are some gift ideas that you can try out: larger budget and seasoned gardeners, go for exotic plants such as orchids, or aroids. Remember to buy from trusted sources for best results.

2. Customized face masks to promote safety but still look cute

Home Credit: The approachable one-stop shop for your financial needs 1. Something green for the plantito/plantita Other than COVID-19, something else has spread over the year and that’s the growing interest in gardening! Known as the ‘plantdemic’, individuals have started caring for ornamental plants or edibles in their own homes to pass the time and care for their well-being during the quarantine.

Throughout the year, the public has been required to wear face masks to minimize the risk of acquiring COVID-19. However, buying medical face masks repeatedly can affect one’s budget and even the environment if not disposed properly. Next page

It’s a Holly Jolly Christmas at SM City North EDSA!

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte was the guest of honor during SM City North Edsa’s Holly Jolly Christmas Launch.

Feel the holiday spirit with SM City North Edsa’s Holly Jolly centerpiece that features its 40ft grand Christmas tree surrounded by adorable Christmas reindeer and sparkling and magical decorations.

A 40- FOOT SPARKLING Christmas tree surrounded Jolly Christmas at SM City North EDSA! by reindeer . . . selfie spots with Santa . . . a Holiday The mall’s tree lighting tradition recently brought Feast Market . . . a special edition of medical frontliner holiday cheers to shoppers at The Block Atrium. Bears of Joy to collect and to share with less fortunate Quezon City officials led by Mayor Joy Belmonte Next page children. These are some reasons why it’s a Holly

IN THESE trying times, people need someone they can rely on and easily approach for their new financial needs. With the goal of providing fast, convenient and affordable financing to Filipinos—along with its innovations and extensive network of partner stores and merchants—Home Credit has easily made its mark to Filipinos as a wellloved financial partner that’s reliable and approachable, especially during the new normal. The country’s leading consumer finance company with nationwide store presence and rapidly growing mobile presence has grown to become a “madaling lapitan” or easy to approach one-stop shop for all financial needs— regardless of the type of customer. For the online learners and work from home warriors Need to upgrade your gadgets—maybe a new laptop, tablet, or smartphone— without having to break the bank? Home Credit provides more affordable and lighter monthly payment options for remote workers and students through its 0% interest installments plans, especially during these trying times. This is offered for a wide range of gadgets essential for studying or working effectively from home as well as for appliances and other commodities. To apply, all you need to

do is present 2 valid IDs to any partner store or start an application via the My Home Credit app. For those who need financial support for big necessities and emergencies Managing finances during uncertain times can be very challenging. On top of the daily expenses, there are also tuition fees, house renovations, and funds for emergency expenses that usually takes months or years to prepare for. But don’t be disheartened—Home Credit’s cash loan will help ease your financial burden. Existing Home Credit customers with good financial records can be eligible Next page

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020

Plus, to avoid any allergic reactions, choose skin care items that are dermatologicallytested and hypoallergenic.

Gift-Giving... From C1

Fortunately, there are some businesses and individuals that developed cloth face masks that have filters in them for protection against the virus. Some of these businesses even accept customization or offer designs that customers can choose from. A customized face mask that you feel is the perfect match for your recipient is both a thoughtful and practical gift this Christmas. Not only will you be making them feel special with the thought of giving a gift, but they’ll also know how much you care with a simple gesture of reminding them to stay safe.

5. Kitchen items for the budding cook/ baker Aside from planting, another hobby that was developed during the pandemic was cooking and baking. Some have even managed to start a small business with the free time on their hands. This Christmas, encourage your loved ones who started cooking or baking even more by giving them cute, and colorful kitchen items. A pastel pink or baby blue mixing spatula and other similar items will make any kitchen brighter, and will look good in pictures for marketing or flexing purposes. 6. 2021 Year planner The year 2020 may have been full of unfortunate events, but it’s still not a reason to fear 2021 since we have yet to know what’s to come. To help someone stay organized or be reminded about any events that are set to happen next year, a year planner for 2021 is an ideal Christmas gift. There are tons of choices with all kinds of designs available in the market so it’s up to you to find the perfect match for your recipient.

3. South Korean inspired items South Korean culture has greatly influenced people all over the world. The latest K-POP songs have us memorizing the lyrics and steps, while K-Drama has us on the edge of our seats, waiting for what’s to come. With more K-Drama series available on streaming services, the public has developed an inclination with these stories just like how Filipinos gravitate towards the traditional telenovela. It helps that the leading characters are good-looking! To cater to the growing demand of South Korean items, specialty shops have begun creating or selling items that are part of the culture or inspired by K-Drama series. If you know someone who loves South Korea and its culture, it’s a good idea to give items such as packets of Korean food such as ramyun, jjampong, or jajangmyeon, a photo of their favorite K-Pop group, or for a more personal touch, jewelry inspired from their favorite K-Drama series. So even if they can’t visit or go to South Korea just yet, they’ll still get to experience a part of the country’s rich culture. 4. Skin care products Over the years, skin care has gained popularity as it promotes both pleasant appearances and good hygiene. Besides, the whole process of applying skin care is a routine that can relax anyone especially after a long day. For this Christmas, some good gift ideas that involve skin care include a face mask (the kind that you apply and wash off), a face roller, a facial wash, and a moisturizer. It’s best that these come in a set but giving the items individually is also a good idea especially if you want to make sure that the product works well with your recipient’s skin.

7. Books For some, reading is a great way to gain knowledge about some things. For others, it can also be a hobby. Make a bookworm happy during the holidays by giving them a book on their favorite genre. You can also try giving them something new and different so they can explore other types of literature and eventually learn from it as well.

8. A gift card for games Since most people have stayed home over the year, they had to find ways to pass the time. One way of doing this is to play video games. There are some games, however, that require money to either unlock the full content or buy new skins and items to use throughout the game. This Christmas, treat your gamer friends to a gift card of any amount to their favorite game store. You can even go ahead and give them some credit in their favorite online game which they can use to buy upgrades and similar items. Whether it’s store-bought, handmade, expensive, or practical, the only thing that matters when giving gifts this holiday season is that it comes from the heart. And remember to continue practicing health and safety measures for a safe and enjoyable Christmas celebration.

It’s a... From C1

graced the event together with District Officer Jaime Espina, who represented Vice Mayor Gian Sotto, Barangay Sto Cristo Chairman Reymark John Navarro and Barangay Secretary Joe Lim. They were joined by television actress Janeena Chan, who hosted the event as well as social media influencers Peevee Dela Rosa, Marianne Lim, JP De Leon, and Mom Haidee and daughter Hazel Quing. At SM City North EDSA, Santa is still coming to town with a digital twist. Here, you can take a virtual selfie with Santa Claus and his friends via augmented reality. Just scan the Selfie with Santa posters inside the mall and watch SM Santa virtually come to life. As Christmas is all about sharing, and spreading some joy and love, 12 lucky shoppers can get a chance to meet & greet Santa at Home and win a special mystery gift in the mall’s Santa Express promotion. To join, you simply have to nominate a person who deserves the gift by tweeting with the hashtag, #SantaExpressAtSMNorth until December 20. Gift giving is also easy and convenient at SM City North EDSA’s Holiday Feast Market where you can find all your Christmas needs and support MSMEs at the same time. The market will showcase a wide variety of gift options from local and small businesses. SM is bringing back the spirit of sharing through its annual Bears of Joy campaign. This time around, shoppers can collect a pair of special medical frontliner Bears of Joy. for P200.00 – one bear for you to keep and the other for charity. SM North EDSA’s beneficiaries areChildhaus and Project Pearls. Spread the joy! The Holly Jolly Christmas is one of the many exciting events at SM City North EDSA. For more information about holiday suprises, visit www.smsupermalls. com, follow SM City North EDSA @smnedsa on Facebook and @smnorthedsa on Instagram and Twitter, and join SM North Community on Viber!

Quezon City Brgy Chairman Reymark John Navarro (Brgy Sto Cristo) and Brgy Secretary Joe Lim with the SM City North EDSA team - Mall Manager Don Edward Vijandre, SM AVP for Operations Jocelyn Lapid-Clarino, and AMM Miguel Gaspi Host Janeena Chan shares the spirit of giving with the SM Cares Bears of Joy. Share the joy of Christmas with a less fortunate child by buying a pair of bears for only P200.

Bring your friends and family and take your holiday photos in SM City North Edsa’s Holly Jolly Centerpiece!

Take your Christmas selfie in SM North Edsa! Just scan the “Selfie with Santa” posters on your phone and see Santa virtually come to life!

SM City North EDSA’s “Selfie with Santa”, an interactive Christmas display where you can take a selfie with Santa with Santa and friends via augmented reality. Just scan the “Selfie with Santa” posters around the mall and watch Santa virtually come to life!

Wonderful Christmas Carols were performed by Theatre Teens!

It’s a Holly & Jolly Christmas with Santa’s favorite giant Christmas Reindeer in holly red, stripes, and polka dots!

Home Credit:... From C1 to apply for a cash loan and get approved for as much as Php 150,000. Upon receiving a cash loan offer, you can choose whether to apply via the My Home Credit App, our telesales operator, or any Home Credit partner store. Just present your 2 valid IDs and wait for your loan decision in as fast as 1 minute. Disbursement or release of your cash only takes 1 minute, too. Now, budgeting for big necessities and emergencies doesn’t seem so impossible anymore! For customers who want daily expenses to be rewarding Loyal customers deserve only the best financialpartner they can count on in times of need. Whether it’s for groceries, household needs, and other necessities, your Home Credit Card diskarte partner has got you covered. Apply for a new gadget or appliance loan to get the Home Credit Card offer—now with a low monthly interest rate of 2%. Once approved, you can enjoy shopping at your favorite stores, earn 1% rebate for every purchase, and get a 5% discount with no convenience fee when buying load and paying bills. It is also QRenabled—meaning you don’t need to bring your cards or wallets when making purchases at select stores! For those who are navigating the new normal While the My Home Credit App is a very convenient and safe way to apply for Home Credit loans, the app offers so much more. With the My Home Credit App, customers now have access to a variety of financial products and services at their fingertips. Among these is Home Credit Pay, which allows Home Credit Card users to make purchases and transactions via QR code, settle their bills payments, and pay for their Home Credit loans online anytime, anywhere. Endless shopping deals and rewarding discounts can also be discovered in the My Home Credit App. With Smile Rewards, anyone with the app—even those with no prior or current loan with Home Credit—can enjoy up to 50% discounts at over 15,000 Home Credit partner merchants. On the other hand, there is also the Home Credit Marketplace where you can conveniently shop for big-ticket items at participating partner stores nationwide—all while staying at the safety and comfort of your homes. So, whether you’re a first-time borrower who wants to apply for a Home Credit loan or an existing customer who wants easier and safer payment and shopping options, Home Credit has the perfect product or service for you. “More than just providing loans, we also want to be a meaningful partner to customers by being there for them in every step of their journey,” says Home Credit Philippines’ Chief Marketing Officer Sheila Paul. Exciting promos for the holidays This holiday season, Home Credit continues to provide its customers with a meaningful gift shopping experience through its ongoing deals and promos. Starting November 28 until December 31, 2020, 500 lucky winners every week will win a P500 discount off their loan (onetime) thanks to Home Credit’s The Amazing 500 Raffle Promo.To qualify, just apply and get approved of a Home Credit loan with a minimum amount of P15,000 and above. Customers can also get the best and latest gadgets and appliances with 0% interest installment from top mobile brands and retail partners nationwide, while cardholders can earn a raffle entry for every Home Credit Card transaction and be one of the potential 63 winners of rebate worth P100,000. Stay updated on the exciting activities Home Credit has in store this holiday season by following the Home Credit Philippines official Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages. For more information about Home Credit’s products and services, visit https://homecredit. ph/.

Life

Bernadette Lunas, Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE

FASHION AND BEAUTY

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020

Heart Evangelista joins Forbes’ top influencers list

INFLUENTIAL.

Heart Evangelista lands on Forbes France’s top 10 luxury influencers list, joining Chiara and Valentina Ferragni and Aquaria, among others.

By Monica Sanchez

CTRESS, model, artist. Heart Evangelista adds another feather in her cap as she has been named one of the top 10 luxury influencers in the world by Forbes France.

“Thank you @Forbes France,” Evangelista wrote in a post on her Twitter account after she discovered the list which was published in July 2019. Landing on the 10th spot, Evangelista joins the likes of Italian influencer and The Blonde Salad online magazine founder Chiara Ferragni and her sister Valentina Ferragni, American drag queen Aquaria, and German model Caroline Daur. She’s the only Filipino to be included in the list. According to Forbes, the results were based on analysis tool Machine Learning,

which identifies and evaluates influencer marketing efforts and compare them with those of competitors. Evangelista, whose real name is Love Marie Ongpauco Escudero, currently has more than 11 million followers across her social media platforms (7.1 million on Instagram, 2.4 million on Twitter, and 2.06 million on YouTube) where she shares with fans her love of luxury goods as well as her favorite local brands, among a few snippets of her life. Photos from @iamhearte/Instagram

Hearts shares her love of designer labels with her over 7 million followers on Instagram.

GIFT GUIDE

SALE ALERT

Lovin’ local

Black Friday/Cyber Monday steals and deals

GET your loved ones something uniquely Filipino this holiday season. Homegrown retailer Kultura now ships its curated and artisanal pieces worldwide.

SCORE apparel, beauty products, and more from leading and designer brands at up to 70 percent off during the fourday Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale at Rustans.com. Starting Nov. 27 until Nov. 30, shoppers can get up to 40 percent discount on full-price fashion and accessories brands Adolfo Dominguez, ASTR, Dooney & Bourke, Allen Edmonds, Pedro del Hierro, Sergio Rossi, Levi’s Footwear, Strathberry, Aerosoles, and Kurt Geiger. Private brands like Criselda Lontok, Lady Rustan, Lotus Resortwear,

and Jill by Jojie Lloren are offering 20 percent off on regular items during the four-day sale. Get select gadgets from Lexon, Philips Audio, JAM Audio, Lexon, and Audio Technica at half the price. Or shop from John Hardy, Tamara Comolli, Damiani, and Montblanc which are offering up to 70 percent discount. Also offering up to 50 percent discount are MAC Cosmetics, Perricone MD, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Mario Badescu, Koh Gen Do, and L’Occitane. While, La Mer, Jo Malone London,

Tom Ford Beauty, Clarins, Estée Lauder, Heathcote & Ivory, jane iredale, and Cath Kidston are giving gifts with every purchase exclusively available this sale weekend. Rounding off the brands slashing their prices off are Tefal, Aladdin, Bugatti, Reed and Barton, Kate Spade New York Home, Luigi Bormiolli, Cuisinart, Gorenje, Breville, and Russell Hobbs for home; and kids brands Banz, Bebe Chic, Chicco, Dr. Brown’s, Matchstick Monkey, Zubels, MyFirst, Roobotter, Kiddimoto, Supercute, and Nuvita.

Bring home Baguio: Cordillera-inspired tapestry, acacia wood cups and plates, colorful souvenir pouch

Select women’s apparel and accessories, men’s, and cosmetics and skincare brands at Rustans.com are offered at discounted prices during the four-day sale beginning Nov. 27.

Beauty app offers virtual skin analysis Gifts from the sea: lustrous pearls, elegant minaudiere with gold spun floral clasp, wooden watch box

From Cebu with love: dried mangoes, woven bags with whimsical designs, mother of pearl and capiz décor

Piña silk clutch bag and scarf, South Sea pearls, decorative etched wood carvings from Palawan

Southern treasures: T’boli brass home accents, ikat pieces, chocolates made from Davao cacao

Philippine Eagle tote and pouch from Davao

Go to www.kulturafilipino.com to browse and order.

IN A bid to empower beauty industry’s digital channels, global brand Mary Kay launches the updated version of its Beauty 2.0 app. Through its new feature called Photo Analysis, users can easily connect with Mary Kay independent beauty consultants (IBCs) who can guide them in the selection and purchase of beauty and skincare essentials that are targeted to address their skin concerns. Users simply need to take a photo and upload it to the app to get a virtual skin analysis. “We’re launching this updated feature to maintain our link to our customers. This re-launched Beauty 2.0 app is designed to support our IBCs as they take their business to digital, and we are now happy to share how it is also set to revitalize the Mary Kay customer experience,” shares Criscy Camacho, mar marketing and customer service director of Mary Kay Philippines. The virtual skin analysis works through a link from the Beauty 2.0 app, which is generated by Mary Kay’s

IBCs. The link is sent to customers who are then asked to shoot a clear photo of themselves under natural light and through their mobile device’s main camera. Once the photo is taken, customers will upload the shot using the same link. Afterwards, they can connect virtually with their Mary Kay IBC for a detailed discussion of their skin analysis via the app. AnalyAccording to Camacho, the virtual Photo Analy sis feature can currently assess the following skin dimensions: skin type, pigmentation, sensitivity, pores, eye areas, acne, blackheads, and fine lines. in-perOn the other hand, those who still prefer in-per son consultations, IBCs can use the app together with a Mary Kay skin analyzer device. This Device Analysis option provides an expanded skin reading as it goes through 12 skin dimensions, as opposed to the virtual option which generates eight. The Photo Analysis feature in the new Beauty 2.0 app of Mary Kay can assess skin type, pigmentation, sensitivity, pores, eye areas, acne, blackheads, and fine lines.

Pagmamalasakit in the Season of Giving MVP Group mobilizes support to areas hit by Typhoon Ulysses

The PLDT-Smart Foundation, One Meralco Foundation and Metro Pacific Investments Foundation turned over rescue boats and floatation devices to the Philippine Air Force to aid in their emergency and rescue operations.

HE MVP Group, which is composed of the companies under the leadership of Manuel V Pangilinan, pours in support to families affected by Typhoon Ulysses (international name: Vamco).

“We salute you, our brave men and women across the MVP Group, for tirelessly helping our fellow kababayans. In a pandemic, that is heroism. Salamat sa inyong pagmamalasakit,” Pangilinan said. “Tuluy-tuloy po tayo sa paghahatid ng tulong at pag-asa sa ating mga kababayan (We will continue to provide help and hope to our fellow countrymen),” Pangilinan added. PROVIDING COMMUNICATION AS AID PLDT and Smart provided communication support to affected residents in areas hit by Typhoon Ulysses by setting up libreng tawag, libreng charging, libreng wifi and libreng load stations in Metro Manila, South Luzon, North and Central Luzon, which have also received communication and connectivity assistance from the telco companies. Smart also sent free call and SMS load to over 13 million Smart and TNT customers in areas affected by Typhoon Ulysses. It also extended the same assistance to other customers in that have been impacted by Typhoon Rolly. MOBILIZING IMMEDIATE RELIEF PLDT and Smart, through the Alagang Kapatid Foundation, distributed relief snack packs to around 500 families in Barangay Banaba, San Mateo, Rizal. PLDT also provided 500 relief packs to affected communities in Apalit, Pampanga. Facemasks and faceshields will also be given to residents in some areas in Cagayan, also through AKFI. PLDT, through the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), will distribute relief packs to its partner communities in Calawis, Antipolo City which is located along the Marikina Watershed. PLDT also distributed relief packs, blankets, face masks, and face shields to 100 families in Brgy. Bago Latao in Minalabac, Camarines Sur. PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF), together with PLDT and Smart, is currently providing additional relief packs to affected communities in Luzon. Over 8,500 relief packs have been distributed to affected families and communities in typhoon-hit areas. “With the several typhoons we have experienced in our country, PLDT-Smart and our Foundation were better prepared to respond to the needs of our people. We counted on our network of personnel and sales teams all over Luzon to immediately provide relief to affected communities. The bayanihan spirit is alive in the PLDT Group, with MVP providing the needed leadership during moments of crisis,” said PLDTSmart Foundation President Esther Santos. PSF and Smart have been actively serving typhoon victims in the Bicol Region since Typhoon Rolly. With the onset of Typhoon Ulysses, relief operations have extended as well to families in Metro Manila that experienced floods, including Marikina. With the devastation caused by massive flooding, PSF and PLDT-Smart Sales teams are also conducting relief operations in Rizal, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Cavite, Batangas and Laguna. Relief goods have also reached the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela. PSF also works with Alagang Kapatid Foundation, Inc. (AKFI) to reach far-flung communities as part of Tulong Kapatid relief operations. “Despite the ongoing crisis, Filipinos remain hopeful because of the unwavering spirit of bayanihan. AKFI has been a witness to the change brought about by even a small act of kindness. It honestly inspires us to serve more communities and families in need. And we will do that as long as our Kapatids continues to trust and support the foundation’s efforts,” said Alagang Kapatid Foundation, Inc. Executive Director Menchie Silvestre. AKFI and Smart provided snack packs and bottled water to 1,000 individuals from Barangay Tañong, Marikina City, which is a few meters away from Provident and close to the evacuation center of Barangka. AKFI distributed relief packs, vegetables, and face masks, Domex Ultra Thich Bleach, and Neozep Forte Tablets to 100 families in Barangay Mabca, Sagnay, Camarines Sur. AKFI also provided libreng charging services through One Meralco Foundation’s generator set. AKFI also served residents affected by Typhoon Rolly and Ulysses in Oas, Libon, and Tabaco, Albay as well as Vizon, Camarines Norte. One Meralco Foundation (OMF) handed out 1,300 relief packs to affected families in Marikina beginning with those from Barangay Tumana who were seeking shelter at Marikina High School last Thursday afternoon. This was followed by

The PLDT-Smart Foundation, together with Smart Consumer Sales, provided relief packs to families in Barangay Binanuaanan, Pili, Camarines Sur.

PLDT-Smart Foundation, in partnership with PLDT and Smart, provides relief packs to families in Polangui, Albay.

PLDT distributed relief packs, blankets, face masks, and face shields to 100 families in Brgy. BagoLatao in Minalabac, Camarines Sur.

The Metro Pacific Investments Foundation, along with AKFI, turned over 155 10kilo vegetable packs in communities in Riverside, Sitio Sto. Nino in Barangay Wawa, Rodriguez Rizal.

Meralco and One Meralco Foundation set up a solar mobile charging station in Catanduanes.

One Meralco Foundation distributes relief packs to families affected by Typhoon Ulysses in Tuguegarao City. a distribution of 600 food bags in the heavily affected areas of Rodriguez and San Mateo, Rizal. Earlier, the Meralco Rescue Team also deployed their boats and safety personnel in Commonwealth, Quezon City and Marikina to help in efforts of the local government for search and rescue. Over the weekend, the OMF also sent out over 2,000 food packs to affected communities in the province of Isabela, Ilagan City and Cagayan. Through OMF’s partnership with the Philippine Air Force and the Philippine

National Police, the food packs were distributed in evacuation centers in Tuguegarao City, Amulung and Solana, Cagayan. Meralco also continues to support the power restoration efforts in Albay, Camarines Sur and Catanduanes where it deployed 206 linemen and support personnel who are working with various electric cooperatives in the area. Gensets were also lent by the company to support the operations of government offices and hospitals. The OMF also deployed its solar mobile charging stations in the provinces severely hit by Typhoon Ulysses. It also distributed 1,000 food packs in the heavily devastated communities in Catanduanes and Tinambac and Tigaon, Camarines Sur. The Metro Pacific Investments Foundation (MPIF), along with AKFI, organized a relief effort initiative where it turned over 155 10-kilo vegetable packs in communities in Riverside, Sitio Sto. Nino in Barangay Wawa, Rodriguez Rizal. In addition, the PSF, OMF and MPIF turned over rescue boats and floatation devices to the Philippine Air Force to aid in their emergency and rescue operations. Maynilad also turned over about 4,000 snacks and bottled water bundles to families affected by Typhoon Ulysses in Muntinlupa, Malabon and Quezon City. Around 1,500 bottled water was also distributed to communities in Tanay and Manila, while 200 blue jugs of drinking water were turned over to Cagayan and Tuguegarao. Meanwhile, PayMaya Philippines quickly enabled 20 donation partners to provide additional channels for their typhoon relief efforts. It likewise provided financial assistance to its active Smart Padala agents affected by the typhoon in Bicol. PayMaya

Maynilad provisioned water tanks to provide residents with clean water and distributed bottled water.

also collaborated with PLDT-Smart Foundation and Smart for the “Building #SafeAndSmart Communities through Relief and Livelihood Assistance” program. PayMaya is also set to distribute cleaning materials to residents of affected areas. MVP CUSTOMERS CAN DO THEIR PART Through its November 21 fund-raising concert in partnership with PSF, TNT and its customers were able to raise over P300,000.00. The proceeds will be turned over to PSF to help the foundation reach

out to more families and communities affected by Typhoon Ulysses. Customers of PLDT, Smart, Makati Medical Center and EasyTrip also have the opportunity to contribute to the ongoing relief efforts of Tulong Kapatid. Current MVP Rewards members can help typhoon-hit communities by converting their rewards to donations to PLDT-Smart Foundation. Donations can help mobilize resources to help rebuild the lives and livelihood of affected Filipinos.