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Du30 bares PACC graft list

Names solons but says no hard evidence vs. them, sacks district engineers

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night revealed the names of lawmakers who have been linked to alleged corruption related to infrastructure projects.

In a televised briefing, Duterte also relieved from their posts district engineers of the Department of Public Works and Highways who are involved in the alleged corruption. Among the members of the House of Representatives whose names the President mentioned were Angelina

Helen Tan, Josephine Ramirez Sato, Teddy Baguilat Jr., Alfredo Vargas, Henry Ramil Juminal, Alicia Sienna Tan, Paul Daza, Eric Yap, and Geraldine Roman. Duterte made clear the graft allegations against the lawmakers had yet to be proven.

The list he read was provided by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), whch started the investigation in November. "The public should be aware that there is no hard evidence, that's one. That it can be translated by just reading the names that they are already guilty because presumption of innocence would lie all throughout until conviction or acquittal," Duterte said during his weekly public address.

MONDAY TALK. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks to the people after

signing the 2021 national budget (photo below) and holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases at Malacañang on Monday night. Presidential Photo

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 296 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

NCR, 9 other areas remain under GCQ 'til January 31 PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has extended the general community quarantine in Metro Manila to January 31, 2021. In a public address aired Monday night, Duterte said the following areas are under GCQ: • National Capital Region • Isabela • Santiago City Next page

Duterte signs P4.5T budget for 2021; No items vetoed By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

which seeks to revive the economy ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic and improve the country’s response to PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on the crisis. Duterte said the General AppropriMonday signed the country’s P4.506trillion national budget for 2021, ations Act "attests to the importance

of an active and fruitful collaboration between the Executive and Legislative branches of the government, especially this time when the health and welfare of our people are at stake." Next page

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM DEC. 28)

438,780 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

766

22,746

9,124

438,780

104

NEW

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

Rody’s security detail gets jab, but ‘without his okay’ DID they or did they not? This has become a disturbing question in official circles after President Rodrigo Duterte’s disclosure that some soldiers had been inoculated with China’s Sinopharm vaccine against COVID-19, sending officials wanting to know who got vaccinated and how

despite the lack of regulatory approval. Interior Secretary Eduardo Año himself said some Cabinet members had also received jabs of a vaccine that had allegedly been granted emergency use authorization (EUA), but stopped short of identifying them. Next page

New variant to extend travel ban

By Willie Casas

variant, Health Undersecretary and spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire THE Department of Health (DOH) said Monday. The inter-agency task force on COwill recommend extending travel reVID-19 will be meeting to discuss strictions to all countries with a reNext page ported case of the new COVID-19

ACTIVE

NEW

DOH probes unauthorized vaccine use on PSG men By Willie Casas, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Vito Barcelo HEALTH officials and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said they would investigate Presi President Rodrigo Duterte’s claim that many people, including soldiers, have been inoculated with unau unauthorized vaccines from China. On Saturday, Duterte said many Filipinos, including some from the military, have al already received a COVID-19 vac vaccine from Chinese manufacturer Sinopharm, which has no approv approval yet from the FDA. "I tell you, many people have already been inoculated with Sinopharm... Almost all sol soldiers have been injected," Duterte

told FDA Director-General Eric Domingo during a meeting with Cabinet officials. “I have to be frank and I have to tell the truth. I will not foist a lie. Many people have already been injected,” he said in Filipino. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday confirmed that members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) were the ones who were given the COVID-19 vaccine. "Per our inquiry, members of the PSG were the first ones from the AFP who were vaccinated owing to the nature of their mission and function," AFP spokesman Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said in a statement forwarded to Next page reporters.

Gov't contractual, job order workers to get gratuity pay NEW RIFLES. Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Debold Sinas hands over an Israelmade Galil automatic rifle to Central Luzon police director BGen. Valeriano De Leon at the Camp Olivas grounds in San Fernando, Pampanga on Monday. The firearms will boost the PNP’s firepower against crime groups and terrorists, Sinas said. Jess Malabanan

DOJ moves to outlaw CPP-NPA By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

New People's Army (NPA) after the AntiTerrorism Council (ATC) designated the organizations as terrorist organizations. "Proscription petition will proTHE Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday said it will push through with ceed," Justice Undersecretary Adrian its petition to outlaw the Communist Sugay said in a message to reporters. Next page Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the

FAKE MONEY. Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso shows to media fake 1,000-peso bills confiscated after a police raid of a two-story apartment along SH Loyola Street in Sampaloc, Manila (above) on Monday. Norman Cruz

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has approved up to P3,000 in gratuity pay for contract of service (COS) and job order workers in the government, according to a document released on Monday. These workers are required to report for work "regardless of the varying forms of community quarantine" to stop the spread of COVID-19 and a year-end gratuity pay "is a welldeserved recognition of their hard work," Duterte said in Administrative Order 38. The President said all COS and job order workers who have rendered at least four months of "actual satisfactory performance of services" as of Dec. 15 "may be granted a one-time Next page

News

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Sinas assures Nuezca sacking "Tinitiyak ko sa inyo na madidismiss si [PSMS Jonel] Nuezca sa loob lamang ng aming tinatawag na 30 days deadline," Sinas told reporters during a press conferencce held at the Police Regional

office gymnasium. Sinas, who led the inauguration of isolation facility exclusive for uniformed and non-uniformed personnel here, said he directed the National Cap-

ital Region Police Office and the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) to fast track the summary dismissal proceedings of Nuezca's case. "NCRPO and IAS are collaborating on Nuezca case to speed up the administrative proceedings within the 30 days timeframe," said Sinas adding that stringent measures would be formulated to prevent dismissed policemen from being reinstated in the service. Sinas said he ordered the PNP-IAS to conduct a review of cases committed by policemen to determine their offenses and strictly implement the disciplin-

Du30...

decide what allegations to investigate and to work with other agencies. Previously, Quezon Rep. Helen Tan defended her husband, a regional director of the DPWH, from allegations of graft and corruption and partisanship, saying these had no basis. “The filing of ostentatious displays of wealth charges along with allegations of partisan political activities against my husband… smacks of pure political harassment,” Tan said in a statement last October. “It is not only without basis but one which we have been forewarned about, especially because it is beginning to look a lot like 2022 elections,” she added. An incumbent councilor in Lopez, Quezon had filed a complaint against DPWH Region I Director Ronnel Tan

before the Office of the Ombudsman for grave misconduct, corrupt practices, conduct unbecoming a public officer, and involvement in partisan political activities. In his complaint, Councilor Arkie Manuel Yulde mentioned a recent incident where Ronnel Tan threw a party at his residence in Quezon and “threw cash in the air” for his guests. “I decry this move by certain political sectors who are out to besmirch the good name and reputation of our family who have done nothing but to be deeply involved in the lives of our people through the delivery of meaningful public service,” Rep. Tan said. The congresswoman said she welcomed the opportunity to prove the charges wrong in the appropriate forum.

“The trumped-up charges being hurled against Engr. Tan merely shows how desperate our political enemies have become during the past weeks and months, particularly because I have been perceived to be gearing for a gubernatorial run next elections,” she said. Tan said she believed the charges were “orchestrated efforts” of a political dynasty in Quezon, adding that she had been “unceremoniously” removed as chairperson of the Committee on Health. “I cannot help but think that these charges are not isolated but part of the orchestrated efforts of a political dynasty in the province to weaken my resolve to bring the brand of our public service throughout the entire Province of Quezon,” Tan said.

"Kung mayroon kang inano na anak na babae na niloko mo, ‘wag ka rin lumabas talaga so it’s a stay home if it’s really possible, kung kaya mo lang. It’s for your own good and the washing of hands,” Duterte added. Earlier, an expert from the OCTA Research group said the holiday surge in infections would become more evident in the first two weeks of January due to the incubation period of the virus, which could take up to 14 days. Researchers previously sounded the alarm on the start of a fresh surge of COVID-19 cases in the capital region amid the holiday season. Meanwhile, Philippine Council for Health Research Development executive director Jaime Montoya said the PfizerBioNTech and Moderna vaccines may be the first to be rolled out in the country if negotiations prove fruitful. The Philippines had already allocated P73.2 billion for the procurement of the vaccines, with P40 billion coming from multilateral agencies, P20 billion from domestic sources, and P13.2 billion from bilateral agreements.

DOH...

the military. The Palace also confirmed that many military men and government officials received COVID-19 vaccine shots, bugt said these were on a voluntary basis as the unregistered vaccine has yet to be approved by the FDA. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque issued the statement after President Duterte claimed that many Filipinos, including some from the military, have already received a COVID-19 vaccine from Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinopharm. “This must have been made by the soldiers and probably by the commanders because it would not reach the soldiers if there is no go-signal from its commanders and I understand this is voluntary,” Roque said. Sinopharm’s vaccine has yet to receive emergency use authorizationfrom the Philippines’ FDA but Roque said the law does not prohibit vaccinations using an unregistered product. “Don't deprive our soldiers of protection from the disease. Let us just accept that it is important that our soldiers, those who are guarding our security are safe from COVID so they can do their jobs,” Roque added. “It is not illegal for soldiers to receive the unregistered vaccines against COVID-19. What is banned is its distribution and sale,” the Palace spokesman said. Roque said the public should not worry because if the country fails to secure COVID-19 vaccines from Western countries, because China is offering its own vaccines, which have been given to over 1 million of its own people since July.

By Jess Malabanan

AMP OLIVAS, Pampanga—National police chief General Debold Sinas assured the public that the policeman who shot dead a mother and his son in Paniqui, Tarlac will be separated from the s service within the 30 days of the proceedings.

From A1

"This is not evidence that they are corrupt. But their names came up, and I have to tell the people otherwise I'd look stupid," he said. Duterte earlier said he will not be reading the list in public, adding he had no authority to investigate lawmakers accused of corruption because they belonged to the legislature. He has directed PACC to submit the list to the Ombudsman. In late October, Duterte issued a memorandum directing the Department of Justice to look into anomalies in state agencies until the end of his term in 2022. The memo gave the DOJ the power to

NCR,... From A1

• • • • • • •

Batangas Iloilo City Tacloban City Lanao del Sur Iligan City Davao City Davao del Norte

The President placed the rest of the country under a modified GCQ. "The above mentioned risk-level classifications will take effect starting Friday, January 1 until January 31, 2020, subject to local government units’ appeals," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement. During the briefing, Duterte urged Filipinos to stay home if they do not need to go out. “The rule is kung maaaring hindi ka lumabas ng bahay, ‘wag ka na lumabas. Kung marami kang utang, ‘wag kang lumabas talaga mas lalo na," he said.

Rody’s... From A1

The Food and Drug Administration maintained it had not yet issued EUA to any COVID-19 vaccine. The Department of Health vowed to look into the unauthorized vaccination of certain individuals, including members of the military. The Armed Forces of the Philippines confirmed members of the Presidential Security Group were the first to be vaccinated against COVID-19 “owing to the nature of their mission and function.” But Malacañang denied that Duterte approved the vaccinations although Army chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said the order was “from the chain of command of the Armed Forces” headed by the Commander in Chief. – which would be Duterte himself. The reports Monday followed a weekend televised meeting where Duterte asked Food and Drug Administration Director General Eric Domingo about the possible side effect of receiving COVID-19 vaccines from 2 different makers. At a news conference, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte had asked if he could get multiple COVID-19 vaccines. Duterte had said “I have a problem now. For example, can I be vaccinated again when Pfizer's vaccine arrives?” – prompting the question “Has President Duterte been inoculated against COVID-19, even though local regulators have not yet approved a vaccine for this?”

GOv't... From A1

gratuity pay not exceeding P3,000 each." Those who rendered less than four months of service may be granted the gratuity pay, on the following prorata basis, Duterte said. 3 months or more but less than 4 months - Not exceeding P2,000 2 months or more but less than 3 months - Not exceeding P1,500 Less than 2 months - Not exceeding P1,000

Asked on Monday if the President had gotten a vaccine jab, Roque said, "I don't think so. Perhaps I've heard that from the President for four times. He always asks, 'If I'm vaccinated now, can I be vaccinated again later on?'” "I think that's just another instance wherein he raised what he has repeatedly asked.” But Roque said, "I have no personal information, personal knowledge if he has been vaccinated or not." Interior Secretary Eduardo Año himself said the President had not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19. In a radio interview, Año said Duterte, 75, wanted to be inoculated against COVID-19 but his doctors thumbed down the thought as there were no vaccines yet approved by the FDA. Duterte, in the same televised meeting, said some soldiers had been vaccinated against COVID-19. He also threatened to scrap a defense deal – the Visiting Forces Agreement or VFA– with the US if it fails to share its COVID-19 vaccine supply with the Philippines. The VFA is an agreement between the two countries in support of their Mutual Defense Treaty which was established in 1951 between Manila and Washington to provide mutual support in case of foreign attack. The two countries signed the VFA which in 1998 provides simplified access procedures to the Philippines for U.S. service members on official business (for example, U.S.-Philippines bilateral training or military exercises), and it provides a series of procedures for how to resolve issues that may come up as a result of U.S. forces being present in the Philippines.

DOJ... From A1

The petition to outlaw the groups has been pending with a Manila court since 2018. The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) on Monday said it has not seen any account under the name of the Communist Party of the Philippines or its armed wing, New People’s Army, but it is leaning on the persons and banks which are covered by the freeze order it issued earlier against the CPP-NPA in identifying the leftist groups’ related

From A1

"As the unit primarily tasked to protect and secure the highest official of the land, the PSG will have to ensure that the President is safe from all threats -- including COVID-19," Arevalo said. Arevalo said the AFP was not privy to the arrangements as to how the vaccines were obtained for the PSG. "But we have taken cognizance of the fact that the members of the PSG under Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante have taken a bold step to try the vaccine to protect the President." The Filipino Nurses United (FNU) on Monday expressed disappointment over the reports. "It’s like they’re maltreating health workers. They showed that we are not a priority. Aside from that, we haven't received some benefits yet,” FNU Treasurer Jaymmee de Guzman told ABS-CBN News during a video call. De Guzman said while she does not know what the reason was behind the PSG’s prioritization, she said the government should remember that “we are still under attack and those facing the enemy are health workers." "I hope they prioritize health workers. It is disappointing and enraging," she said. In a Laging Handa briefing on Monday, Arevalo said there is no AFP-sanctioned inoculation or vaccination for military personnel. He added that they are still validating this report which claims that COVID-19 vaccines manufactured by Sinopharm were used to vaccinate some members of

ary mechanism for those applying for reinstatement. The CPNP issued the directive in the wake of reports that some dismissed cops are easily reinstated in the service. "Kailangan higpitan ang reinstatement process lalo na kapag ang pulis ay nahaharap sa kasong murder at illegal drugs," said Sinas while empahsizing the need of every policeman to undergo anger management. Nuezca shot dead Sonia Gregorio and son Frank Anthony following a heated altercation over an improvised noise-making device on Dec 20.

measures the country will take against the new variant, which is supposedly more contagious. "This is urgent. We all know that the decisions will be critical and should be immediate," Vergeire told ANC's Headstart when asked about the travel ban. "We are going to recommend that we expand the restrictions in our borders to include the other countries which also have this variant identified already," she said. Scientists from the United Kingdom identified the new variant of COVID-19, which appears to be more contagious and genetically distinct. The Philippines has so far suspended flights from the UK starting December 24 until December 31. All passengers who have been in transit to or from the said country within 14 days are also barred from the country, according to Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque. Travelers from UK who arrived before

Christmas Eve were also required to observe quarantine. Stricter lockdown Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said there was no need to impose a stricter lockdown as long as there would be no proof that the new strain of the coronavirus disease 2019 from the United Kingdom had entered the country. “From all indicators of what is happening in other countries, we may just retain the old (quarantine) classification particularly in NCR (National Capital Region). We do not know yet, we will still have a discussion with the President (Rodrigo Duterte) but our proposition is to come up with measures on how to prevent the entry of the new COVID-19 variant here. For me, no need to have stricter lockdown because there is still no evidence that it [the new Covid-19 variant] has entered the country," he said in Filipino in a radio interview. Aside from Metro Manila, the provinces of Davao del Norte, Batangas, and Lanao del Sur, and cities of Iloilo, Tacloban, Iligan, and Davao will remain under general community quarantine (GCQ) until Dec. 31.

bank accounts. AMLC Executive Director Mel Racela said the council is banking on the role of the persons and banks covered by the freeze order it issued last Dec. 23, 2020 in identifying related accounts being used or maintained directly or indirectly by the CPP-NPA, which have been labelled by the Anti-Terrorism Council as terrorist groups. "The FO (freeze order) makes general reference to the "CPP/NPA and related accounts (RA)" only. The covered persons including banks will play a very important role in identifying these RAs because they will have the information

to determine whether or not an account or accounts are being used or maintained directly or indirectly by said designated CPP/NPA," Racela said in a text message to reporters. "Based on available data, we have not seen any account under the name of CPP/ NPA for obvious reasons. So we are still at zero at this time," the AMLC executive director added. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the immediate effect of the designation of CPP-NPA as terrorist group is “to subject the assets of the designated groups to the authority of the AMLC to freeze.”

New... From A1

Win: Challenging year ahead for education sector By Willie Casas SENATOR Win Gatchalian said on Monday that the coming year would be challenging for the stakeholders of the education sector after the supposed dry run for physical classes has been hampered by the emergence of a new coronavirus variant. Gatchalian, chair of the Senate committee on basic education, said in a statement that he understands President Rodrigo Duterte's reason for the "sudden cancellation" but he emphasized that the state should ensure that the prolonged absence of physical classes would not compromise the learners' access to education. "Government has to use every arsenal it has to make sure that our learners will not regress, or worse, drop out of school completely," he said. "We have equipped DepEd with COVID-mitigating items in the 2021 budget. They should implement those items as soon as possible," he added. The President earlier this month approved the recommendation of the Department of Education to hold a dry run of face-to-face classes in January for lowrisk areas in the country, several weeks after the school year opened on October 5 without physical classes. But the new threat of a COVID-19 virus variant from the United Kingdom forced the President to recall the order.

50k RT-PCR kits ‘expired,’ says Baguio mayor By Willie Casas BAGUIO City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said Monday at least 50,000 expired RT-PCR testing kits for COVID-19 had been distributed by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) to his city, the country's summer capital. His allegation was immediately denied by the Department of Health although it explained that testing kits had a short shelf life. In a statement, DOH said unlike medicines which had a shelf life of three to five years, the testing kits had a significantly shorter shelf life of six months from the date of manufacturing. “Based on delivery records and documents, no expired testing kits were released to any laboratory,” the DOH said in a statement. The RITM is under the jurisdiction of DOH. In a Balitanghali report on Monday, Magalong said the expired RT-PCR test kits were distributed to a private testing laboratory in Bagiuo City.

Duterte... From A1

The social services sector accounts for the largest bulk of the spending plan, with P1.668 trillion or 37 percent of the national funds, said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). "The economic services sector, which includes the Administration’s flagship Build, Build, Build program, will receive the second highest allocation with P1,323.1 billion or 29.4 percent of the budget," the DBM said in a statement. The infrastructure push "is expected to generate 1.1 million direct and indirect jobs and catalyze business activities all over the country," said the DBM. "Meanwhile, the General Public Services sector will be allocated with P747.8 billion (16.6 percent), Debt Burden with P560.2 billion (12.4 percent), and Defense with P206.8 billion (4.6 percent)," it added. House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco hailed what he described as President Rodrigo Duterte's historic signing of national spending package for next year, or the General Appropriations Act of 2021. In a statement, Velasco said the money measure is an "all-important measure that will enable the government respond to and address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has severely damaged our economy and disrupted the lives of millions of Filipinos across the country." "The P4.506-trillion national budget approved by Congress is the biggest by far and will better position the Philippines to beat the public health crisis and rise from its devastating effects. This is also a reflection of our government’s serious commitment and strong resolve to defeat the virus and bring the economy back on track," Velasco added. Among the important features of this pandemic-responsive budget is the allocation of P72.5 billion for the purchase, storage, transportation,

News

Manila

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Standard

TODAY

Skyway opens Phase 3 partially with free toll By Darwin G. Amojelar

AN Miguel Corporation (SMC) on Monday said it is set to partially open on December 29 the Skyway 3 project, the country’s longest elevated expressway with free toll to motorists for one month. “We are glad to finally welcome motorists, even in a limited capacity, starting December 29. While this is only a partial opening, given the scale and importance of this project, this is a very significant development,” Ramon S. Ang, president and chief operating officer of San Miguel said. “We have the government of President Rodrigo Duterte to thank, for paving the way for the continuous construction of Skyway 3 over the past few years. We believe it will be key to

our economic recovery after the pandemic,” he added. And also credited Duterte’s entire economic team for pursuing massive infrastructure development under its “Build Build Build” program, and helping accelerate the completion of Skyway 3. In particular, Ang said it was under the Duterte administration when major right-of-way issues that hampered the project were settled. It was also Public Works Secretary

Mark Villar that made it possible for the end point of Skyway 3 to be extended and connected directly to the North Luzon Expressway. For the partial opening, Ang said motorists will be able to use up to four lanes of Skyway 3. By January 14, he said San Miguel will formally open all seven lanes of the entire 18-kilometer stretch from Buendia, Makati to NLEX. Ang said that the company would have soft opened the expressway sooner, but disruptions caused by recent typhoons meant more time needed to allow for the sufficient curing of concrete, and proper preparation for asphalting. “We cannot rush the curing of concrete and preparation for asphalt, because these have to be given enough time and have to be done according to the highest specifications to ensure quality and safety,” he said.

NOISEMAKERS. Plastic horns or noisemakers for sale are displayed by vendors in Divisoria, Manila, on Monday. Filipinos have adopted Chinese beliefs that creating noise using firecrackers and horns during the New Year's celebration will drive away bad luck for the coming year. Norman Cruz

IN BRIEF DOLE: Workers gained P4.5b

Kerosene, diesel prices rolled back, gas stays put

THE oil distributors cut pump prices by as much as P0.25 per liter effective at 6 a.m. today, Tuesday, to reflect the movement of world oil prices. They cut the price of kerosene by P0.25 per liter and diesel by P0.05 per liter but did not touch gasoline prices. “Petron will implement the following price rollbacks effective 6 a.m. on Dec. 29: P0.05 per liter of diesel and P0.25 per liter of kerosene. These reflect movements in the international oil market,” Petron Corp., the biggest oil firm, said. World oil prices declined after several consecutive weeks of price increases amid the reports of a more contagious COVID-19 virus strain and concerns over fresh lockdowns in Europe that could dampen oil demand. Alena Mae S. Flores

Dengvaxia prober says nephew died from jab PUBLIC Attorney’s Office chief Persida Acosta has lost a nephew whose death has been linked to the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine. Acosta posted on her Facebook page that her nephew was the 161th Dengvaxia victim. “Rest in peace my nephew. Justice will be done. Dengvaxia 161,” her message said, but she did not identify who the victim was. Netizens stormed social media to sympathize with Acosta. On Dec. 14, the PAO forensic division team led by Erwin Erfe conducted an autopsy on the body of the 15-year-old Crisa Mae Porcia of Barangay Mambugan in Antipolo City. She died at the East Avenue Medical Center on Dec. 8 due to pneumonia as stated in her death certificate. Rio N. Araja

GSIS to pensioners: APIR to go online GOVERNMENT Service Insurance System president and general manager Rolando Ledesma Macasaet is encouraging GSIS pensioners to report to the state pension fund online as it resumes the Annual Pensioners Information Revalidation or APIR in 2021. “Pensioners must report to GSIS on their birth month in 2021 and it may be done online through Viber, FB Messenger, Skype or Zoom after texting (through SMS messaging) or emailing the GSIS to request the online interview schedule,” Macasaet said. “This contactless method will protect them from possible COVID-19 transmission as well as ensure the continuous receipt of their pension.” Online APIR, according to Macasaet, is in addition to the other options given to pensioners to comply with the annual reporting to the GSIS. The other methods are APIR via the GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System or GWAPS kiosk, personal appearance and home or hospital visit.

via Tupad cash-for-work tack

By Vito Barcelo THE government has distributed more than P4.5 billion in emergency cash to at least a million workers affected by the pandemic under the Department of Labor and Employment’s flagship cash-for-work program, an official said Monday. As of Dec. 28, the department said, 939,209 informal- sector workers hard hit by the COVID 19 pandemic and those affected by the successive typhoons last month were served under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers or TUPAD program. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the record implementation of TUPAD was pursuant to the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to speed up the grant of assistance to the most vulnerable members of society. “And this was precisely the instruction we issued to our regional offices: Expedite the release of assistance to our workers,” Bello said. In a report to Bello, the Bureau of Workers with Special Concern said

of the beneficiaries, some 797,222 had been paid while 141,989 had ongoing work. The BWSC manages the TUPAD program. BWSC Director Karen Trayvilla said with the expeditious program implementation, TUPAD beneficiaries might reach more than one million with more funds still available from the P6-billion appropriation under the Bayanihan Act 2. “We expect more informal sector workers to benefit from TUPAD under Bayanihan 2. That may exceed one million,” Trayvilla said, noting that her office had originally targeted less than a million beneficiaries. Trayvilla said the Labor department had relaxed the program depending on the needs of the region. She said beneficiaries were paid for work done for a minimum of 10 days to a maximum of 16 days based on the threshold requirements in the area. The National Capital Region had the biggest TUPAD allocation under Bayanihan 2, which stood at P923.9 million followed by Region 4A at P593.2 million and Region 3 with P587.1 million.

Church poll: Pinoys confident 2021 will be a better year A CHURCH-RUN survey conducted from Nov. 20 to Dec. 20 showed that those polled were confident that 2021 would be a better year. Based on the results of the Veritas Truth Survey initiated by Radio Veritas, roughly five out of every 10 of the Filipinos surveyed or 48 percent felt confident and were looking forward for a better 2021. The 1,200 respondents nationwide were asked “How confident are you that the new year (2021) will be a much better year than 2020?” The survey also revealed that only 31 percent (three out of every 10 of those surveyed) felt “very confident” 14 percent felt “somewhat confident” and 7 percent felt “not confident”. “Though still a majority of around 79 percent (very confident and confident) remain positive towards the prospects of the new year, those who feel confident only outweighs those who feel very confident, which is in-

dicative of a fairly cautious optimism towards 2021,” said VTS president Clifford Sorita. “The remaining 21 percent (somewhat confident and not confident) brings to light a somewhat negative outlook towards the new year.” Sorita believed that the natural calamities and the COVID-19 pandemic this year made the respondents think less confident for the coming year. “The experiences brought about by 2020—our Taal Volcano eruption, Typhoons Ambo, Rolly, Siony and Ulysses plus this COVID-19 pandemic—had prompted our respondents to choose a somewhat cautious optimism towards 2021,” Sorita said. “Hopeful yet guarded and tempered. As this idiom would suggest, it is a feeling of general confidence regarding the New Year and its possible outcome coupled with a sense of readiness for possible difficulties or disappointment.”

(MS-DEC. 29, 2020)

LGUs

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

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2020

Makati surpasses 2020 revenue goal By Joel E. Zurbano

HE City of Makati on Monday announced it had surpassed its P17.8 billion revenue goal this year, collecting more than P18.1 billion as of November.

Mayor Abigail Binay said she was heartened to learn that the city government has managed to meet the target for the year despite the pandemic. “It is such a relief to know that even with the restrictions imposed on businesses to curb the pandemic, our city has been able to achieve its overall revenue goal for 2020 before yearend. This encouraging development gives us good reason to be optimistic about brighter prospects for business and the local economy in 2021,” she said. Based on the report from City Treasurer Jesusa Cuneta, Makati has achieved 102 percent of its full-year revenue target and exceeded by three percent its actual collections during the same period in 2019. The bulk of collections came from business taxes amounting to P9.5 billion, and real property taxes worth almost P6 billion. The city government also derived income from local revenue sources and other sources, including fees and charges (P609.2 million), and economic enterprises (P135.1 million). Other sources of revenue included interest income (P233.4 million), internal revenue allotment (P1.2 billion), share from Philippine Economic Zone Authority (P314.6 million), share from Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, (P4.1 million), and grants and donations (P110.8 million).

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION Pacific Center Building San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR CONFIRMATION AND APPROVAL OF FORCE MAJEURE EVENT CAPITAL EXPENDITURE PROJECT FOR THE YEAR 2020, RE: REPAIR, RESTORATION, REPLACEMENT AND/ OR REHABILITATION OF DISTRIBUTION LINES, FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT DAMAGE BY TYPHOON TISOY, AND FOR PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY ERC CASE NO. __________________RC MARINDUQUE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (MARELCO) X-----------------------------------------------X

APPLICATION Applicant, MARINDUQUE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (MARELCO) through counsel, unto this honorable commission, most respectfully alleges that. Applicant is an electric cooperative duly organized and existing under and by the virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office at Brgy. Ihatub, Boac, Marinduque. 1.

It is the holder of an exclusive franchise issued by the National Electrification Administration (NEA), to operate an electric light and power distribution services in the six (6) municipalities, namely the municipalities of Boac, Mogpog, Sta. Cruz, Torrijos, Buenavista and Gasan in the province of Marinduque, for a period of 50 years from December 1, 1979 and will expire on December 1, 2029 That this application is being filed pursuant to section 3.3 of ERC Resolution no.26, series of 2009, which provides that if a force majeure or fortuitous event, as the case may be, occurs, the regulated entity shall seek the ERC’s confirmation of the implementation of the capital expenditure projects arising from such event.

RELIEF ARRIVAL. Filminera and PhilGold crew members unload relief goods for thousands of residents in Baracay, Albay, as residents from a nearby island fill the boat that brought them to Filiminera’s gift-giving operations. See story below.

Forecasted Energy Sales, Kwh Add: Balance, beg. CASH INFLOWS: Current Year Collection @ 0.4265/kwh Loan from Nea Force Majeu re Loan TOTAL CASH INFLOWS Total CASH OUTFLOW Cash for Capital Expenditures Line Repair and Rehabilitation (FM) Safety Projects Capacity Projects Non-Network Projects FM Capex Approval Fee ERC Capex Approval Fees Subtotal CASH FOR DEBT SERVICE Existing Loans Regular CAPEX Loan FM Loan (New) Subtotal TOTAL OUTFLOWS Balance, End Excess (Shortfall) on RFSC Rate

32,933,845.92

34,519,14429 36,102,638.14

32,933,845.92 19,467,692.52

34,519,144.29 36,102,638.14 27,385,120.64 36,982,080.60

243,693,485.13 204,745,562.09 21,943,199.76 470,382,246.98 445,112,952.93

21,943,199.76 54,079,702.30 102,670,540.76 90,198,654.58 164,574.00 1,852,116.73 270,908,788.13 411,952.00 22,156,651.29 4,033,112.89 26,601,716.18 26,601,716.18 (7,134,023.65) (0.09239)

308,96400 22,163,601.29 4,033,112.89 26,505,678.18 26,505,678.18 879,442.46 0.01087

22,171,012.29 2,016,556.44 24,187,568.73 24,187,568.73 12,794,511.87 0.15115

11,748,534.00 148,273,835.62 28,231,790.22 188,254,159.84 459,162,947.97 (14,049,995.04) (0.02459)

12.

Finally, in compliance with the pre- filing and other documentary requirements under the ERC Rules of Practice and as well as ERC Resolution 26, Series of 2009, MARELCO is submitting herewith the following documents which are being made integral parts hereof, to wit:

Annex No.

December 3, 2019 Tuesday 8:30 AM Typhoon Tisoy, made its third landfall at Torrijos, Marinduque area bringing heavy rains and fierce wind and generates a gustiness of 200kM/hr, that results to ripping of rooftops from houses and knocking down trees and power lines.

Executive Summary of the Force Majeure Event Capital Expenditure Project

Request for Extension of Filling of Application

MARELCO Board Resolution approving the application and authorizing its General Manager to sign and execute the required documents.

Proof of furnishing copies of the application to the Sanguiang Bayan of Boac, Mogpog, Sta. Cruz, Torrijos, Buenavista & Gasan and Sanguniang Panlalawigan of Marinduque

Publication of the Application in a newspaper of general circulation within MARELCO franchise area.

The storm left extensive damage to MARELCO’s distribution lines, distribution transformers, hardware and accessories, service drop wires, kilowatt-hour meters and other equipment. Due to immediate restoration of line most of the materials and line hardware are temporarily repaired for us to immediately provide power in the whole province. This project is consist of repair, restoration, replacement of MARELCO’s damaged distribution poles and lines, distribution transformers, hardware and accessories, service drop wires, kilowatt-hour meters, and other line equipment necessary to restore power. ESTIMATED PROJECT COST

The funding requirement for the repair, restoration, replacement and/or rehabilitation of the damaged properties was estimated at Twenty-One Million Nine Hundred Forty-Three Thousand One Hundred Ninety-Nine and 76/100 (Php21,943,199.76).

At around 1:00 PM of December 3, 2019, shortly after the storm subsided, MARELCO’s work force started the restoration of damage distribution lines striving to immediately restore back the power. With the shortage of local linemen manpower and considering the large damage, we seek the help of Task Force Kapatid thru NEA and PHILRECA to supply additional manpower and help fast track rehabilitation activities. Working before sun rise until nightfall, MARELCO was able to completely energize all its distribution lines in all municipalities on January 10, 2020.

PROJECT SCHEDULE

JUSTIFICATION OR BENEFITS TO BE DELIVERED 9.

Total 571,379,801 1,575,212.86

According to PAG-ASA, Typhoon Tisoy made its first landfall near Gubat, Sorsogon with reported winds of 135kM/hr with a total accumulated rainfall of 605.5mm within the course of 24 hours on December 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT 6.

2027 84,648,624 879,442.46

COMPLIANCE WITH PRE-FILING AND OTHER DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

FORCE MAJEURE EVENT (TYPHOON TISOY) 3.

2025 2026 77,218,865 80,935,860 (13,466,153.40) (7,134,023.65)

The project will ensure the delivery of more reliable and efficient service to its member consumers. It is also intended to restore the safety and protection of the cooperative’s entire distribution system. PROJECT FINANCING PLAN

10. The total cost of restoration and rehabilitation of MARELCO’S damaged properties is being sourced through a calamity loan from the National Electrification Administration (NEA), It will be converted into a subsidy in the event that the National Government would grant subsidy to the typhoon-ravaged electric cooperatives. On the last week of December 2019, MARELCO submitted to NEA its initial report of damage cost in the amount of Php16,715,564.53 for the purpose of requesting financial assistance in the form of calamity loan amounting to Sixteen Million Pesos (Php 16,000,000.00). The initial amount of Php2,248,581.18 was released by NEA on January 30, 2020 payable in 9 years in thirty six (36) equal quarter installment starting March 20, 2021 to December 2029 with an interest rate of 3.25% per annum.

Nature of Document Notice of Force Majeure Event

PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is respectfully prayed to the Honorable Commission to render a decision approving the following: •

Proposed Force Majeure Capital Project in the total amount of Php. 21,943,199.76;

In view of the need to immediately implement the project which are necessary to replace, restore and rehabilitate materials and equipment damage by the typhoon. Other relief/s just and equitable in the premises are likewise prayed for. Caloocan City for Pasig City this 25th day of August, 2020.

ZENON S. SUAREZ Counsel for Petitioner No. 19 Bulacan Street, 10th Avenue, West Grace Park, Caloocan City PTR No. 1118707 1/28/20 Cal. City IBP LRN 01592 6/24/99 Pasig City Attorney’s Roll No. 25041 MCLE Compliance No. VI-0020252 3/22/19 Cellphone No. (0961)-2820935 Email add:suarezzenon_412@yahoo.com

INDICATIVE RATE IMPACT 11.

In the event that the funding for the restoration and rehabilitation works is not converted into a subsidy from the government, the loan shall have an indicative rate impact to MARELCO’s consumers, derived from the total project cost against the forecasted KWHr sales for Seven (7) years of implementation, as follows:

Forecasted Energy Sales, Kwh Add: Balance, beg. CASH INFLOWS: Current Year Collection @ 0.4265/kwh Loan from Nea Force Majeure Loan TOTAL CASH INFLOWS Total CASH OUTFLOW Cash for Capital Expenditures Line Repair and Rehabilitation (FM) Safety Projects Capacity Projects Non-Network Projects FM Capex Approval Fee ERC Capex Approval Fees Subtotal CASH FOR DEBT SERVICE Existing Loans Regular CAPEX Loan FM Loan (New) Subtotal TOTAL OUTFLOWS Balance, End Excess (Shortfall) on RFSC Rate

2020 56,817,140 1,575,212.86

2021 62,385,876 7,285,361.82

2022 66,082,703 841,125.44

2023 2024 69,788,814 73,501,919 (4,440,900.98) (10,809,358.59)

24,232,510.21 26,607,576.11 28,184,272.83

29,764,929.17

31,348,568.45

60,041,249.23 84,283,023.12

36,158,882.18

24,262,407.56

21,943,199.76 46,175,709.97 86,648,825.34 112,467,295.95 65,923,811.35

55,610,976.01

47,750,922.83 93,934,187.16 113,308,421.39 61,482,910.37

44,801,617.42

21,943,199.76 8,227,150.00 3,543,417.55 164,574.00 88,279.26 33,966,620.56 4,482,384.00 2,016,556.44 6,498,940.44 40,465,561.01 7,285,361.82 0.12822

20,674,423.79 29,682,867.50 26,339,837.69 22,861,057.69 23,769,647.75 39,631,077.93

2,460,669.34 22,521,317.69 18,113,529.15

1,261,741.67 22,721,177.69 5,140,982.20

530,879.32 691,312.52 71,314,788.55 92,866,315.64

323,216.37 43,418,732.55

218,429.26 29,342,330.82

3,769,102.00 13,976,058.28 4,033,112.89 21,778,273.17 93,093,061.72 841,125.44 0.01348

411,952.00 24,428,471.52 4,033,112.89 28,873,536.41 72,292,268.97 (10,809,358.59) (0.15489)

411,952.00 24,480,375.11 4,033,112.89 28,925,440.00 58,267,770.82 (13,466,153.40) (0.18321)

1,952,228.00 18,897,665.84 4,033,112.89 24,883,006.73 117,749,322.37 (4,440,900.98) (0.06720)

Olivarez asks Paranaque villagers to be ‘zealous’ PARAÑAQUE City Mayor Edwin Olivarez ordered all barangay chairmen to intensify the enforcement of health protocols and implement a “bio-syndromic surveillance” for new coronavirus variant. The move is in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s appeal to all mayors to push hard all community leaders to ensure that precautionary measures against COVID-19 are observed. “For barangay captains who do not perform their duties... the surveillance in Manila would just notice that there is a spike in your barangay, then we will investigate why there is a spike,” the president said. Duterte said local government officials should be “zealous” with their job, noting that they have influence over their constituents. Mayors, the president added, should be “pushed hard” because it is their obligation to protect public health. In a memorandum, Olivarez also urged barangay officials to be vigilant by closely and strictly monitoring of “all balikbayans in your area of jurisdiction, specifically those coming from South Africa, Europe and United Kingdom, where the new variant originates.” For the past 10 months since the onset of COVID-19 virus, Olivarez said that his administration has been implementing pandemic guidelines issued by the national government as they exerted effort and resources in the prevention and containment of the virus. As of Sunday, the total number of active cases in the city is 98 or 1.2 percent including no address/unknown barangay. The City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) reported a total of 8,030 confirmed cases while recovered patients are 7,727 (96.2%) and deaths have a total number of 205 (2.6%). Joel E. Zurbano

Mining, gold processing firm assist 2,000 Albay islanders WORKING in tandem, a mining and a gold processing firm recently capped their P21.8 million Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) activities for the year with a special treat for families affected by Typhoons “Rolly” and “Ulysses.” Filiminera Resources Corp. (Filminera) and PhilGold Processing and Refining Corp. (PhilGold) came to the aid of close to 2,000 residents (or around 400 families) in San Pablo Baracay, Albay, especially for 47 families whose homes were completely damaged by the storms. More than one fourth of these families belong to the indigenous people in the island. Just before the close of year 2020, Filminera and PhilGold workers distributed food packs for a media noche meal, relief goods, and one bag of high-quality rice and kitchen ware worth close to a million pesos as its first phase of donations. The second phase of donations are set to be released to schools in San Pablo and another community, in partnership with Global Medic. Since the start of this year, Filminera and PhilGold have donated financial assistance to communities, frontliners, and government agencies, drawn from their CSR and SDMP funds. This is aside from their P5.2 million donation that helped rebuild damaged houses and distribute relief goods following the 6.6-magnitude earthquake in Masbate.

C. Luzon police to provide own virus isolation facility By Jess Malabanan

M. Standard – Dec. 29, 2020

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga—The Police Regional Office 3 is providing its own isolation facility exclusive for uniformed and non-uniformed personnel who will show symptoms of coronavirus illness. BGen. Valeriano De Leon, Central Luzon police director, said 45 pieces of forty-footer container vans would be modified and converted into a quarantine area in the event PRO3 personnel needed it. “Hindi na mag aalala ang ating kapulisan sa Central Luzon na kung saan -saan sila dinadala para quarantine. Dito sa loob ng kampo they feel secured and safe,” said De Leon on the sideline of isolation facility blessings and inauguration Monday. Initially, De Leon said four container vans have been readied and can accommodate two persons for each container. He said the container vans is fully air conditioned and has separator in between.

World

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF RATE ADJUSTMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF R.A. 9136, WITH PRAYER FOR ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

return is expected since the actual survey show an initial connection of purely small residential consumers per sitios; 4.f

That for purposes of implementing its system loss reduction program, the cooperative requires considerable investment in order to attain an acceptable level of system loss. Thus, the Provision of Reinvestment cost was PhP0.4509 or PhP22,264,545 of the Proposed Gross Revenue Requirement as the table shows:

Table 6: Computation of 5% Reinvestment ERC CASE NO. 2020 -_____

MARINDUQUE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (MARELCO) Petitioner/Applicant. x-------------------------------------------------------------x

APPLICATION

COMES NOW, applicant MARINDUQUE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (MARELCO) through the undersigned counsel, and unto this Honorable Commission, most respectfully states: 1.

That applicant, MARELCO, is an electric cooperative duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Philippines, with principal office address located at Ihatub, Boac, Marinduque whereat it may be served with summons and other legal processes, represented in this instance by its General Manager, Engr. Gaudencio M. Sol Jr., of legal age, Filipino, married. Herein applicant is the exclusive franchise holder issued by the National Electrification Administration to operate an electric light and power services in the Municipalities of Boac, Mogpog, Sta. Cruz, Torrijos, Buenavista and Gasan, all in the Province of Marinduque.

That applicant has prepared its proposed rate adjustment in accordance with the specific provision of Republic Act No. 9136 and the implementing guidelines issued by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and in conformity with the Implementing Rules and Guidelines on pre-filing requirements. The application submitted to the Commission made use of the model computation prescribed by the Commission using the 2018 data as the test year. And as such, MARELCO requests from this Commission the approval of its proposed unbundled rate per customer class relative to distribution, supply and metering charges as presented herein-below:

That based on the annualized kwh sales and number of customer class from the audited financial statement and statistical information for the test year 2018, billing determinants and allocation factors used, MARELCO arrived at the functionalized and allocated cost to the different customer classes, the resulting summary of revenue are as follow:

Table 6: Revenue Summary Per Customer Class and Function

Table 1: Proposed Unbundled Rate

That, MARELCO adopts ERC Guidelines for the calculation of over or under recovery in the implementation of lifeline rates. After ten (10) years from the date of last rate application the lifeline recipient reduced to 34% since many residential consumers had increased their average consumption. It is proposed that the lifeline discount be 50% for Residential consumers with 0-10.99 kwh and 35% for 11-20 kwh consumptions respectively. An end-user with a level of consumption exceeding 20 kwh in a particular billing period shall not be entitled to any discounted lifeline rate for said period. The cost of lifeline subsidy to lifeline end-users shall be passed on to all non-lifeline at PhP 0.0923/kwh.

Table : Lifeline Kwh Consumption Level and Discount

That on September 28, 2009, MARELCO filed with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for the approval of its over-all tariff adjustment (OATA) of PhP1.4442/kwh, with prayer for issuance of provisional authority, and was docketed as ERC Case No.2009074 RC. The said application was approved on March 29, 2010 and was made effective in the next billing.

Chinese journalist jailed over reporting of ‘Wuhan virus’

Application duly submitted to the various Local Government Units (LGU) within its coverage area;

Certification from the Local Government Units (LGU), principally the LGU where the main office of MARELCO is located;

Affidavit of Publication from the local newspaper and;

Issues of the local newspaper.

That the applicant, MARELCO, in support of this application for the approval of the new rate adjustments, has attached the following required documents as provide for in the guidelines: Schedule A

Historical Cost by Function

Schedule D

Functionalization Factors

Schedule E

Class Allocation Factors/Ratios-Distribution, Supply and Metering

Schedule F

Rate Design, Revenue Summary and Proof of Revenue Statement

Schedule H

Inter Class Cross Subsidies and Removal Cross Subsidy

10. For the applicant, MARELCO’s needs in order to be continuously viable in its electricity distribution operation, the proposed charges per customer class is presented below:

3.a That based on the financial data and billing determinants for the test year 2018, MARELCO arrived at the revenue requirement for the different customer classes based on the distribution system cost component of MARELCO that resulted in the Over-all Tariff Adjustment of Php 0.6818/ kwh, as shown in Table 2 hereof:

CHINESE citizen journalist was jailed for four years Monday for her reporting from Wuhan as the Covid-19 outbreak unfurled, her lawyer said, almost a year after details of an “unknown viral pneumonia” surfaced in the central China city.

Zhang Zhan, a former lawyer, was sentenced at a brief hearing in a Shanghai court for allegedly “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” during her reporting in the chaotic initial stages of the outbreak. Her live reports and essays were shared on social media platforms in February, grabbing the attention of authorities, who have punished eight virus whistleblowers so far as they defang criticism of the government’s response to the outbreak. Beijing has congratulated itself for “extraordinary” success in controlling the virus inside its borders, with an economy on the rebound while much of the rest of the world stutters through painful lockdowns and surging caseloads a year on from the start of the pandemic in Wuhan. Controlling the information flow during an unprecedented global health crisis has been pivotal in allowing China’s communist authorities to reframe the narrative in their favour, with President Xi Jinping being garlanded for his leadership by the country’s ruling party. But that has come at a serious cost to anyone who has picked holes in the official storyline. The court said Zhang Zhan had spread “false remarks” online, according to one of her lawyers Zhang Keke, but the prosecution did not fully divulge its evidence

in court. “We had no way of understanding what exactly Zhang Zhan was accused of doing,” he added, describing it as “a speedy, rushed hearing.” In return the defendant “didn’t respond [to questions]... She refused to answer when the judge asked her to confirm her identity.” The defendant’s mother sobbed loudly as the verdict was read out, Ren Quanniu, another member of Zhang’s defence team, told reporters who were barred from entering the court. Concerns are mounting over the health of 37-year-old Zhang, who began a hunger strike in June and has been force-fed via a nasal tube. Her legal team said her health was in decline and she suffered from headaches, dizziness and stomach pain, and that she had appeared in court in a wheelchair. “She said when I visited her (last week): ‘If they give me a heavy sentence then I will refuse food until the very end.’... She thinks she will die in prison,” Ren said before the trial. “It’s an extreme method of protesting against this society and this environment.” China’s communist authorities have a history of putting dissidents on trial in opaque courts between Christmas and New Year in an effort to minimize Western scrutiny. AFP

Table 2: Over-all Tariff

11.

That herein applicant most respectfully request for immediate relief and/or approval of this application in order to avoid irreparable losses which will ultimately result in the deterioration of its services, to the damage and prejudice of the public in general and its members/ consumers in particular. PRAYER

Wherefore, premises considered, it is respectfully prayed of this Honorable Commission that pending hearing, the herein submitted rate adjustment be provisionally approved exparte based on the submitted documents, Marinduque Electric Cooperative, Inc (MARELCO) is recommending for the approval of its revised unbundled rates based on the following:

That based on the above mentioned proposed revenue of rates, MARELCO is seeking the immediate approval of the proposed revenue requirement for its unbundling of rates as shown below:

Table 3: Proposed Revenue Requirement per Cost Component

The approval of costs for reinvestment to attain MARELCO’s mandate of providing quality electric service to its consumers.

Full consideration on the adjustments in payroll, operation and maintenance expenses for the cooperative to sustain its operations/

Loans received from NEA and REFC a)

Single Digit System Loss

Calamity Loan

REFC CAPEX – Line Reconductoring

REFC CAPEX – Building and Lot Acquisition

And that applicant, MARELCO, be authorized to adopt and implement the same effective upon such approval. And after due notice and hearing and consideration, the application be approved permanently. Other equitable reliefs under the premises are likewise prayed for. Caloocan City, for Pasig City Philippines, this October 30, 2020.

4.a That the proposed payroll includes the implemented increase in 2019 and the adoption of the 2018 salary scale for employees in four (4) tranches, NEA Memo 2018-002 dated January 12, 2018 to reflect the category of the EC as Extra Large in 2019. The adjustment in this application was based on the first tranche of the said NEA Memorandum 4.b That the adjustment for the Operation and Maintenance Expenses were made to include provisions for the retirement benefits based on the 2019 actuarial study. 4.c That the Debt Service provided for this application includes loans acquired for capital expenditures except for the two (2) SDSL loans from NEA that will be fully paid in June, 2020 as shown below:

Table 4: Breakdown of Debt Service

Pfizer postpones delivery of vaccines to 8 EU nations PFIZER has postponed the delivery of new batches of its coronavirus vaccine to eight European nations including Spain, the Spanish health ministry said Monday, a day after the EU began its immunization campaign. The Spanish branch of Pfizer informed Madrid on Sunday night of the delay in shipments to the eight nations due to a “problem in the loading and shipment process” at its plant in Belgium, the health ministry said in a statement. It did not specify which European nations aside from Spain were affected. Pfizer has informed the ministry that the problem “was already resolved” but the next delivery of vaccines “will be a few hours late” and arrive in Spain on Tuesday, a day later than expected, the statement said. Asked about the delay during an interview with radio Ser, Health Minister Salvador Illa said

it was due to a problem “linked to the control of the temperature” of the shipments which was “apparently fixed”. The vaccine must be stored at ultra-low temperatures of about -70 degrees Celsius (-112 Fahrenheit) before being shipped to distribution centres in specially designed cool boxes filled with dry ice. Once out of ultra-low temperature storage, the vaccine must be kept at 2 Celsius to 8 Celsius to remain effective for up to five days. Spain is scheduled to receive 350,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine per week over the next three months. Most European Union nations began their immunisation campaigns against the virus this weekend with the Pfizer-BioNTech jab, beginning with the elderly, health care workers and politicians. AFP

South Korea discovers new strain of virus from Britain

4.d That based on the provision of the unbundling of rates, 50% of the revenue earned from the use of asset-related properties of the electric cooperative shall be shared between the utility and its consumers. The substantial increase of other electric revenues in 2018 was the implementation of the 5% surcharge in the payment of overdue bills as approved by the general assembly last 2018 annual general membership assembly (AGMA). The imposition is meant to discipline the consumers to pay on or before its due date. The Cooperative have been lenient in implementing the disconnection activity. Once the consumers shall have realized the implication of the delayed payment of bills, the said other electric revenue shall likewise decrease. It was also observed that the Cooperative had engaged into construction of lines and installation of special equipment for private companies and individuals using the existing manpower. The influx of investors pushed the Cooperative to promptly respond to the request for the immediate connection of their buildings and structures and it likewise includes Government agencies who constructed or upgraded their buildings. The increase is quite temporary and so the average ORI was used in the application. Table 5: Other Revenue Items

4.e That by the continuous efforts of MARELCO to attain fully the 100% electrified franchise area and upgrade its distribution lines to the remaining un-energized sitios located in far-flung area, the coop will have to carry out the installation of 2.357 kms of single-phase distribution lines 7.282 kms of open secondary and 1.327 kms of underbuilt lines. This undertaking requires huge investment but no fair M. Standard – Dec. 29, 2020

THREE cases of a particularly infectious coronavirus variant that recently emerged in Britain have been confirmed in South Korea, health authorities said Monday. The three individuals are members of a London-based family who arrived in the country on December 22, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. They have been placed in isolation since testing positive for Covid-19 on arrival, the KDCA statement said. The new strain of the virus emerged earlier this month in Britain and has already reached several European countries, as well as Canada, Jordan and Japan. Last week London said another new variant of the virus was found in the country in cases linked to South Africa, which is the first African nation to record one million coronavirus cases. The new strain, which experts fear is more contagious, prompt-

ed more than 50 countries to impose travel restrictions on Britain. South Korea was among them and has barred flights from Britain until January 7. In addition, the country will make it mandatory for passengers travelling from Britain or South Africa to submit negative Covid-19 test results before departure, KDCA chief Jung Eun-kyeong said. Authorities are also looking into the case of an elderly South Korean man who tested positive for Covid-19 after his body was returned from Britain earlier this month. The announcement came as a third wave of the virus grips the country, with a resurgence centered on the greater Seoul area seeing daily cases climb to over 1,000 several times this month despite stricter distancing measures. South Korea reported 808 new cases Monday, raising its national total to 57,680 with 819 deaths. AFP

Business

PSEi December 28, 2020

TOP GAINERS 1 2

APL MAB

LAST PRICE 0.125 0.012

% CHANGE CHANGE 0.023 22.55% 0.002 20.00%

3 4 5

AR JOH DITO

0.0035 5.9 9.81

0.0005 0.7 1.11

16.67% 13.46% 12.76%

6 7 8 9

BCOR ACEN IMI V

5.78 8.02 9.5 1.1

0.51 0.65 0.72 0.06

9.68% 8.82% 8.20% 5.77%

54.95

2.75

5.27%

TOP LOSERS 1 2

MG FEU

LAST PRICE 0.228 576

% CHANGE CHANGE -0.032 -12.31% -73.5 -11.32%

3 4 5

PHR TECB2 SBS

2.67 0.67 5.5

-0.33 -0.08 -0.61

-11.00% -10.67% -9.98%

6 7 8 9

APC CIP LRW OPM

0.42 126.3 1.02 0.012

-0.045 -11.2 -0.09 -0.001

-9.68% -8.15% -8.11% -7.69%

OPMB

0.012

-0.001

-7.69%

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2020 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stock market drops; Dito, AC Energy lead advances T HE stock market fell Monday as investors took profits ahead of Tuesday, the last trading of the year, in a shortened trading week.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index tumbled 82.13 points, or 1.1 percent, to 7,122.25 on a value turnover of P8.1 billion. Losers overwhelmed gainers, 175 to 62, with 34 issues unchanged. Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the second-biggest lender in terms of assets, dropped 2.8 percent to P49.40, while parent GT Capital Holdings Inc. of the Ty Group declined 2.7 percent to P581. Dito CME Holdings Corp., the third major mobile phone firm, however, surged 12.8 percent to P9.81, while AC

Energy Philippines Inc., a unit of conglomerate Ayala Corp. advanced 8.8 percent to P8.02. The rest of Asian markets, meanwhile, were mixed on Monday as US President Donald Trump signed a massive coronavirus relief bill, with a boost in positive sentiment dampened by concern over a new strain of Covid-19. Under pressure from all sides, Trump approved the stimulus package worth $900 billion late Sunday in the United States, having delayed doing so for nearly a week. “An otherwise quiet day in Asia has sparked to life,” Jeffrey Halley, Senior Market Analyst at OANDA, said after the signing. “The headline should provide a welcome boost to sentiment in Asia, which was likely to waver today as Chinese

authorities over the weekend told Ant Manila Financial to go back to its core payStandard ments business,” he added. TODAY Before signing the bill, Trump tweeted that he had “good news” to come— sending markets swinging higher even before the measures were approved. Equities and oil prices have taken a hit recently as virus cases surged across the planet and a new more transmissible strain was reported in Britain, forcing governments to impose tight restrictions and lockdowns to contain the disease over the festive period. Tokyo closed 0.7 percent higher on Monday, with Jakarta, Mumbai and Bangkok also in positive territory. Shanghai, Seoul and Singapore were flat, while Hong Kong slid downwards. Sydney and Wellington were closed for a holiday. With AFP

VACCINE SHIPMENT.

MOST ACTIVE 1

DITO

VOLUME 148,160,900

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

ACEN APL BDO SM SMPH URC ALI MBT MM

68,296,000 4,080,690,000 3,537,820 217,125 5,404,000 1,390,040 4,895,800 3,792,420 30,688,400

VALUE (PHP) 1,377,708,564.00 535,381,693.00 498,453,320.00 370,118,087.00 228,900,590.00 208,088,745.00 206,930,644.00 203,481,695.00 187,838,442.00 181,770,528.00

Workers unload a container carrying the second shipment of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for Mexico, from the plane of an international courier company upon its arrival at Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City on December 26, 2020. Mexico received the second shipment with 42,900 doses. AFP Manila

Trump under pressure, OKs $900-b COVID relief package WEST PALM BEACH, Florida—After delaying for nearly a week and under pressure from all sides, US President Donald Trump finally signed a massive $900-billion stimulus bill Sunday, in a long-sought boost for millions of Americans and businesses battered by the coronavirus pandemic. The package “providing coronavirus emergency response and relief” is part of a larger spending bill that, with Trump’s signature, will avoid a government shutdown on Tuesday. “I am signing this bill to restore unemployment benefits, stop evictions, provide rental assistance, add money for PPP (Paycheck Protection Programs), return our airline workers back to work, add substantially more money for vaccine distribution, and much more,” the president said in a statement from his Christmas vacation at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. The turnaround came after a day marked by calls from all sides of the political spectrum for action to avert an economic and social disaster, especially for America’s vulnerable populations. Two federal unemployment benefit programs approved in March as part of an initial COVID-19 relief plan expired at midnight on Saturday, cutting off an estimated 12 million Americans, according to The Century Foundation think tank. The relief package, which was first passed by Congress on December 21, extends those benefits as well as others set to expire in the days ahead. AFP

Standard IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE OVER/UNDER RECOVERIES BASED ON THE FORMULA FOR THE VARIOUS AUTOMATIC COST ADJUSTMENTS AND TRUE-UP MECHANISMS AND CORRESPONDING CONFIRMATION PROCESS PURSUANT TO ERC RESOLUTION NO. 16, SERIES OF 2009 AND RESOLUTION NO. 21, SERIES OF 2010 AND ERC RESOLUTION NO. 23, SERIES OF 2010, COVERING YEARS 2017-2019

PARTICULARS

ERC CASE NO. 2020-009 CF

NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING

30,338,227.85

0.0318

Transmission Residential Low Voltage Higher Voltage

(34,626,004.31) (3,131,530.24) (1,042,918.88) (30,451,555.19)

(0.0066) (0.0052)

System Loss

(8,956,048.24)

(0.0084)

Lifeline

(256,736.41)

(0.0490)

Senior Citizen

4,685.96

0.0091

(13,495,875.15)

(0.0284)

Net Results

That applicant is an electric cooperative duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Philippines, with the principal office at Brgy. San Nicolas, Concepcion, Tarlac where it may be served with summons and other legal processes, represented in this instance by its General Manager, Engr. Jose F. Bognot, Jr., of legal age, Filipino, married and with office address also located at Brgy. San Nicolas, Concepcion, Tarlac;

Herein applicant is the exclusive franchise holder issued by the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to operate an electric light and power services in the (5) municipalities, namely the municipalities of Bamban, Capas, Concepcion, La Paz in the province of Tarlac and Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija;

That pursuant to ERC Resolution N0.16 Series of 2009, as amended by Resolution No. 21, Series of 2010, and ERC Resolution N0.23, Series of 2010, Luzon Distribution Utilities (DUs) and Electric Cooperative (ECs) are required to file their respective consolidated application for the approval of their confirmation filing on the Calculation of the Over and Under recovery in the implementation of various adjustment calculations covering the period from January 2017 to December 2019, as follows: Folder 1. a.

Summary of O/U recoveries computation per charges for the entire period in yearly presentation;

Proposed scheme of refund/collect using the latest kwh sales;

Folder 2. Supplier and Transmission Data c.

Fully accomplished supplier and transmission data sheet;

Power bills from suppliers (Power bill - Proof of Payment Debit or Credit Memo);

NGCP bills; Fully accomplished Statistical Data Sheet for the year;

MFSR - Sections B and E/Pilferage Cost Recoveries;

Report of implemented other adjustments;

Folder 4. Actual Implemented Rates Data i.

Fully accomplished Actual Implemented Rates sheet for the year;

Fully accomplished Lifeline Discount sheet for the year;

Fully accomplished Senior Citizen Discount sheet for the year;

Consumer bills per customer class (non-lifeliner);

Consumer bill per Lifeline Bracket Qifeliner);

Senior citizen consumer bill;

Folder 5. Other Docs o.

Computation on how the pass through charges were derived; and

Submitted monthly URR (January 2017 to December 2019).

That in applying the various formulae in the determination of the adjustments and the recovery or refund of Over or Under Recoveries herein applicant hereby adopts the respective formula as provided for in ERC Resolution No. 16 Series of 2009 as amended by Resolution No. 21 Series of 2010 and ERC Resolution No. 23, Series of 2010, together with the specific definitions and sub-formula for each item thereof;

That in applying the above formulae, ERC Resolution No. 10 Series of 2018, the Distribution Utility shall submit Monthly Distribution System Loss (DSL); otherwise, non-submission shall be mean that it will be set to 0.00;

That TARELCO II was not able to submit Monthly DSL due to difficulty and timely gathering of data needed to come up with said report; instead, continuous submission on a quarterly basis is being made;

That in support of this application, applicant has hereby submitted and attached to this application the other requirements, as follows: Result of Over-All (Over)/Under Recovery CY 2017, 2018, and 2019

Generation (GR) Transmission Rate (TR) System Loss Rate (SLR) Lifeline Rates (LR) Senior Citizen Rates (SR)

ALLOWABLE REVENUE (PhP) (OVER)/UNDER (Php) 4,498,631,966.65 4,468,293,738.80 30,338,227.85 740,154,178.90 774,780,183.21 (34,626,004.31) 499,043,114.69 507,999,162.93 (8,956,048.24) 13,053,584.46 13,310,320.87 (256,736.41) 215,857.94 211,171.98 4,685.96

Net Results

5,751,098,702.64

5,764,594,577.79

(13,495,875.15)

(27.7019)

WHEREFORE,, premises considered, it is respectfully prayed of this Honorable Commission that the submitted calculations and computations prepared by applicant be approved; That upon receipt of the Order of Approval, herein applicant be allowed to propose the scheme of refund/ recovery as the case may be. Other relief/s just and equitable in the premises is likewise prayed for. The Commission has set the instant Application for the determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, pre-trial conference, and presentation of evidence on 12 January 2021 (Tuesday) at nine o’clock in the morning (9:00 A.M.), through a virtual hearing using the MS Teams Application as the online platform for the conduct thereof, pursuant to Resolution No. 07, Series of 20201 dated 23 July 2020.

Notice is hereby given to the public that Cadbury Marketing Services Pty Ltd under the business name Cadbury Confectionery– Philippine Branch has ceased all its business operations on 13 November 2019 per the Board Resolution of its Head Office and has officially begun its winding up procedures. This notice is in compliance with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission. (MS-DEC 16, 17, 18,21, 23, 25,28, 29 & 31, 2020)

ACCORDINGLY, TARELCO II is hereby directed to host the virtual hearing at TARELCO II’s Main Office in Brgy. San Nicolas, Concepcion, Tarlac, as the designated venue for the conduct thereof, and ensure that the same is open to the public and the community quarantine guidelines are observed at all times. Moreover, TARELCO II shall guarantee that, during the conduct of the expository presentation, the participation of the public shall not be impaired. 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. 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:

Folder 3. Statistical Data f.

Php/Kw

PRAYER

Notice is hereby given that on 27 August 2020, Tarlac II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (TARELCO II) filed an Application dated 19 February 2020, seeking the Commission’s confirmation and approval of calculations of the over or under recoveries in the implementation of automatic cost adjustments and true-up mechanisms for the years 2017 to 2019, pursuant to the Commission’s Resolution No. 16, Series of 2009, as amended by Resolution No. 21, Series of 2010 and Resolution No. 23, Series of 2010. The pertinent provisions of the said Application are hereunder quoted as follows:

Php/Kwhr

Generation

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

Particulars

(OVER)/UNDER RECOVERY In Php

TARLAC II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (TARELCO II), x----------------------------------------------------------------x

Number of Months

LEGAL NOTICE

TODAY

Proposed Scheme of Refund/Collect CY 2017, 2018, and 2019

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

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 subject 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: 1)

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 Applicant that they be furnished with the same prior to the date of the initial hearing. Applicant is 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 addresses of the Applicant by sending an e-mail to records@erc,gov.ph and records.erc.gov.ph@gmail.com, copy furnish the Legal Service through Iegal.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 22nd day of October 2020 in Pasig City.

NOTICE OF SPECIAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Special Meeting of the Stockholders of PHILTOWN PROPERTIES, INC. (Philtown) will be conducted virtually on 27 January 2021 at 10:30 A.M. with the following AGENDA: I. II. III.

Call to Order Certification of Notice and Quorum Approval and/or ratification of the Memorandum of Agreement between Philtown and Metropolitan Club, Inc. (Metroclub) dated 18 December 2019 and the transactions contemplated therein, such as the non-pursuance of the Metropolitan project, the termination of the joint venture with Metroclub for such Metropolitan project and the assignment of Philtown’s rights and interests over the subject property, as well as the transfer of the subject property to Metro Estrella Holdings, Inc. (MEHI) or its designated assignee. IV. Approval and/or ratification of the assignment of Philtown’s rights and interests over the subject property and the transfer of the subject property to MEHI’s designated assignee, Metro Estrella Property Holdings, Inc. (MEPHI). V. Approval and/or ratification of Philtown’s continuing obligation and liability for all claims, costs, suits, expenses, and liabilities arising from, relating to, or connected with the abovestated joint venture, the Metroclub agreements and the Metropolitan project. VI. Approval and/or ratification of the appointments of Mr. Alfredo B. Parungao, Chairman, and/or Mr. Ernest Fritz Server, Vice Chairman, as Philtown’s authorized representatives/signatories with respect to the agreements/deeds with Metroclub, MEHI and MEPHI. VII. Adjournment The conduct of this Special Stockholders’ Meeting will be done by remote conferencing, hence all stockholders of record as of 31 December 2020 may attend, participate and vote accordingly either through proxy, remote communication or in absentia. To confirm participation, please send email addressed to the Secretariat at philtown.asm2021@gmail.com. All stockholders are requested to state their full name, address, contact number/s and email address. The requirements and procedures on how to participate in this meeting and for voting in absentia will also be sent via email after the Corporation receives an email from a respective stockholder. Stockholders who opt to vote by proxy must submit and address their proxy to the attention of the Secretariat at the 3F, BJS Building, 1869 P. Domingo Street, Makati City or via email at the email address indicated above not later than 5:00 P.M. on or before 20 January 2021. 29 December 2020, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

AGNES VST DEVANADERA Chairperson ana CEO

ATTY. ROBINSON C. VIÑAS Corporate Secretary

A Resolution for the Transitory Implementation of Legal e-Processes Pending the Adoption of the Interim Guidelines Governing Electronic Application, Filings, and Virtual Hearings Before the Energy Regulatory Commission;

MST – Dec. 29, 2020

(MS-DECEMBER 29, 2020)

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

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2020

IN BRIEF

SEC revokes license of Super Cash Lending

THE Securities and Exchange Commission stripped Super Cash Lending Corp. of its certificate of authority to operate as a lending company for unfair debt collection practices. The SEC said Super Cash, based on the investigation conducted by the Corporate Governance and Finance Department, is liable for nine violations of SEC Memorandum Circular No. 18, Series of 2019 (SEC MC 18). The directive spells out the provisions of unfair debt collection practices of financing companies and lending companies. The CGFD said Super Cash, through online lending platforms Super Cash, Cash Porter and Loan Bee, threatened borrowers with shaming on social media through the publication of their loan and personal details, as well as with estafa and theft charges. The CGFD said Super Cash also threatened borrowers they would be blacklisted with the National Bureau of Investigation, and used profane and abusive language to collect debts. “The revocation of respondent’s CA is not merely appropriate, but rather necessitated by the gravity and number of its offenses,” the CGFD said. Jenniffer B. Austria

Business Balance of payments posted $11.8-b surplus in 11 months By Julito G. Rada

HE Philippines’ balance of payments posted a surplus of $1.47 billion in November, up from a $541-million excess in the same month last year, on sustained inflows from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ foreign exchange operations and income from investments abroad.

The BSP said in a statement Monday the November figure brought the BOP surplus in the first 11 months to $11.79 billion, up from the $6.3-billion surplus registered a year ago. It said the inflows were partly offset by the foreign currency withdrawals the national government made to pay foreign currency debt obligations. “Based on preliminary data, the current BOP surplus was supported mainly by higher net foreign borrowings by

the government and lower merchandise trade deficit along with sustained net inflows from personal remittances, foreign direct investments and trade in services,” the BSP said. The BOP position reflects an increase in the final gross international reserves level to $104.82 billion as of endNovember 2020. The GIR represents an adequate external liquidity buffer, which can help cushion the domestic economy against external shocks. This

is equivalent to 11.2 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income. It is also about 9.2 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 5.3 times based on residual maturity. The BSP earlier revised the 2020 BOP surplus projection to $12.8 billion from the previous estimate of $8.1-billion surplus, taking into consideration the gradual recovery in global trade. The updated BOP surplus target is equivalent to around 3.4 percent of gross domestic product for the year. BSP Deputy Governor Francisco Dakila said in an online briefing on the Third-Quarter 2020 Balance of Payments Developments Report that the upward revision was supported by the “higher foreign borrowings of the government [amid the pandemic] and lower merchandise trade deficit.”

Phoenix Petroleum upbeat despite virus PHOENIX Petroleum Philippines said Monday it is on track to a positive fullyear 2020 earnings due to financial initiatives, such as cost saving measures implemented in the past several months. Phoenix Petroleum disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange it implemented major steps in strengthening its balance sheet in December through a comprehensive financial management program amid the challenges of the pandemic. “It has been a turbulent year, but we have been making headways in our engagements with creditors, and are ending the year with renewed strength and positivity,” said Phoenix Petroleum president Henry Albert Fadullon. Phoenix Petroleum posted an operating income of ₱4.50 billion in 2019, up 12 percent from 2019. The company posted a net loss of P95 million in the first nine months of the year. Phoenix Petroleum announced the redemption of P1.25 billion in preferred shares on December 18 following the settlement of P3 billion in short term commercial papers on December 5. Alena Mae S. Flores

PayMaya ends 2020 with 28m customers PAYMAYA Philippines Inc. on Monday said it is ending the year with over 28 million customer base across its platforms. “No other fintech company has built this inclusive ecosystem of products, services, and touchpoints that reach a vast majority of Filipinos nationwide. We have made it so easy for ordinary consumers to get a financial account and for merchants to accept a wide range of cashless payments, including PayMaya,” PayMaya president Shailesh Baidwan said. “This radical shift to cashless for the Philippines will only continue accelerating in 2021 as we offer more services and forge more enterprise partnerships that are relevant for many consumers,” he added. PayMaya has more than 200,000 touchpoints nationwide. On top of its popular PayMaya app and wallet, it also powers all kinds of enterprises for eCommerce and everyday transactions. Darwin G. Amojelar

SFEX OPENING. The new and expanded section of the 8.2-kilometer Subic Freeport Expressway temporarily opens until Jan. 15 to serve motorists coming in and out of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone during the holiday season. Public Works Secretary Mark Villar (fifth from left) along with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman and administrator Wilma Eisma and NLEX Corp. president and general manager J. Luigi Bautista lead the inspection of the new expressway lanes built to improve traffic flow and road safety.

ERC expands coverage of retail competition and open access THE Energy Regulatory Commission said Monday it issued a resolution expanding the coverage of the Retail Competition and Open Access to promote competition and ensure the successful restructuring and modernization of the electric power industry. “The expansion of the RCOA coverage is the embodiment of the EPIRA’s end-goal of achieving competition at the retail or end-user level. Promoting robust and fair competition among the market participants is definitely one of the significant considerations that the ERC is eyeing which can help boost further the country’s economy especially in the power industry during this trying times,” ERC Chairperson Agnes Devanadera said in a statement.

RCOA allows large power users to choose their own suppliers under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001. The new resolution expands the coverage of RCOA to cover end-users with an average monthly peak demand of at least 500 kilowatts for the preceding 12 months, which is Phase III, on a voluntary basis. Based on the said threshold, all qualified end-users can be considered as contestable customers under the Phase III threshold level (500kW to 749kW) and will be allowed to switch to the Competitive Retail Electricity Market starting Feb. 26, 2021. The ERC said the expansion of the threshold was a result of a thorough

RESORTS WORLD DONATION.Members

of the Resorts World Manila’s League of Volunteer Employees, or LOVE, band together to provide relief to those severely affected by Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses. The corporate social responsibility team of RWM deployed donation boxes to internal departments, while employees pooled resources and filled up over 220 boxes of relief supplies and other essentials, along with light construction materials for immediate deployment to the most vulnerable areas in Tuguegarao City.

Fruitas Holdings weighs fundraising options to support acquisitions FRUITAS Holdings Inc., a leading food and beverage kiosk operator, said Monday it is evaluating fundraising options to support planned acquisitions and expansion. Fruitas said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its board allowed the company to review capital raising plans, including notes, bonds and preferred shares to seek longer-term growth capital. “The foodservice and retail sectors are evolving quickly, and we need to also adapt our acquisition criteria. However, we continue to focus on our customers and seek ways to further

facilitate customers’ access to Fruitas and deepen our relationship with them,” Fruitas president and chief executive Lester Yu said. “We will build on our strengths of operating a nationwide network of small footprint stores, and providing healthy and minimally processed products which provide happiness,” he said. The company said its board approved the plan to widen the scope for potential acquisitions. Fruitas said future acquisitions would no longer be limited to foodservice, but could include targets that would allow Fruitas to broaden its network and reach more Filipinos.

“We were able to build our community stores even during the quarantine and achieve our target within four months. We were also able to quickly adapt and widen our product range for such format. This is a testament to the nimbleness and depth of our organization,” Yu said. “We believe that we are in stronger footing now with our community stores and delivery service which is accessible through phone, dedicated website and social media. We also continue to seek ways to add new revenue and profit streams,” he said. Jenniffer B. Austria

evaluation and study of the readiness of the market, the necessary infrastructure, customer awareness and the economic impact of the migration of contestable customers towards CREM, in support of the national government’s thrust towards economic recovery. Devanadera cited ERC data as of November showing that the weighted average price in the CREM or the CREM for Phase 1 (those consuming 1 MW and up) and Phase 2 (those consuming 750 kW) was P3.63 per kilowatt-hour, lower than the generation charge billed by distribution utilities for the captive market, for the same period, in Luzon and Visayas which ranged from P3.9513 per kWh to PhP5.0985 per kWh. Alena Mae S. Flores

PSE INDEX

Monday, December 28, 2020

-82.13 PTS. 7,122.25

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

60,549,373,511 152,826 8,141,930,224.93 62 175 34

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2020

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.0620

Japan

Yen

0.009660

0.4643

Pound

1.355400

65.1432

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128976

6.1988

Switzerland

Franc

1.125113

54.0752

Canada

Dollar

0.777605

37.3733

Singapore

Dollar

0.753182

36.1994

Australia

Dollar

0.760000

36.5271

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652520

127.4854

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266454

12.8063

Brunei

Dollar

0.750356

36.0636

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000071

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.033245

1.5978

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.0859

Euro

1.219300

58.6020

Korea

Won

0.000910

0.0437

China

Yuan

0.152877

7.3476

India

Rupee

0.013595

0.6534

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.246366

11.8408

New Zealand

Dollar

0.709600

34.1048

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035571

1.7096 Source: BSP

Meralco says sale price of GBPC is fair, reasonable By Alena Mae S. Flores MANILA Electric Co. said Monday the acquisition price of P34.466 billion that wholly-owned unit Meralco PowerGen Corp. paid for the 86-percent stake in Global Business Power Corp. is “fair and reasonable.” Meralco said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Meralco PowerGen engaged the services of an independent third party to provide a fairness opinion on the terms of the transaction. “Based on such independent review, the fairness opinion concluded that the price for the transaction is fair and reasonable from a financial standpoint,” Meralco said. Meralco PowerGen signed agreements with Beacon Powergen Holding Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., and JG Summit Holdings Inc. last week to sell their respective shareholdings in GBP to Meralco PowerGen for P22.443 billion and P12.023 billion, respectively. The purchase price would be paid in installments: 60 percent at closing, 20 percent six months after and 20 percent after 18 months. “The amount was the result of the negotiations between the sellers and the buyer,” Meralco said. It said the valuation of GBP considered the business activities of GBP and its subsidiaries, including long-term power supply agreements and retail electricity supply contracts, with the balance of the group’s capacity sold to the wholesale electricity spot market. It also took note of GBP’s expansion plans, including the development of a robust pipeline of thermal and renewable energy projects. Meralco said the valuation was based on an extensive due diligence review of GBP and its subsidiaries businesses conducted by third-party consultants and advisors. “With GBP’s operational experience of successfully running its own portfolio of generation assets, coupled with MGen’s own record of managing the first supercritical generation plant in the country, MGen will be better placed to focus on its plan to build its own generation portfolio, including an ambition to own at least 1 gigawatts in renewable energy capacity in five years,” Meralco president Ray Espinosa said earlier.

DTI set to review bilateral and regional agreements with major trading partners By Othel V. Campos THE Department of Trade and Industry said Monday it will review bilateral and regional trade agreements with major trading partners starting in the first quarter of 2021. It said for review are the Philippine-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, ASEAN+1 Free Trade Agreements like ASEAN+China and ASEAN+Korea and ASEAN+Australia+New Zealand. “For the first quarter of 2021, we will be working out the general review of PJEPA. We have to meet the working trade group on trade-in goods since there are still some market access that we are pushing in the PJEPA,” said DTI Assistant Secretary Alan Gepty. He said the department was preparing for a series of meetings on the ASEAN-1 FTAs. It will also continue the discussions on the ASEAN- Australia-New Zealand FTA in the first quarter. “There are also other regional FTAs that we are working on and other possible FTAs on the pipeline, but they will depend on the outcome of our talks, particularly on issues and on reference papers with our trading partners,” Gepty said. He said the conclusion of the Re-

gional Comprehensive Economic Partnership freed some resources to pursue other trade and economic discussions. Gepty said the conclusion of RCEP might open up opportunities to restart the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership that includes Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam plus Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and Peru. The proposed global trade bloc seeks stricter common standards on labor issues, environmental protection and dispute resolution than those proposed in the RCEP. Gepty said on top of the FTAs and trade agreements, the Philippines was able to address the issues raised on the country’s compliance with the requirement for the continuity of the EU Generalized Systems Program Plus. The EU GSP+ is an important program especially for micro, small and medium enterprises that export to the EU. More 6,000 tariff lines enter the vast EU market tariff-free under the program. The EU will launch by the first quarter of 2021 a monitoring mission to the Philippines which may be done virtually. The Philippines submitted in September its position to the compliance issues raised by the EU.

Sports

Former no. 1 Murray gets Aussie Open wild card PARIS—Former world number one Andy Murray has been handed a wild card for February’s delayed Australian Open, pushed back three weeks as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Murray, 33, is a five-time runnerup in Melbourne but feared his last match at the tournament in 2019 would mark the end of his career due to chronic hip pain. The injury pushed him to the brink of retirement but the three-time Grand Slam champion is battling to extend his career having undergone two hip surgeries. The Scot’s ranking of 122 is too low to qualify directly for the Australian Open main draw, which starts on February 8, and he has also accepted a wild card to the Delray Beach event early next month. Murray played just seven tour-level matches this year as he returned to action in August following a lingering pelvic injury and the suspension of the tennis season. “We welcome Andy back to Melbourne with open arms,” said Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley. “His retirement was an emotional moment and seeing him come back, having undergone major surgery and build himself back up to get onto the tour again, will be a highlight of AO 2021.” Meanwhile, US superstar Williams, who turns 40 next year, is also committed as she once again attempts to pull level with Margaret Court as a 24-time Grand Slam champion. Her last triumph at the majors came in Australia in 2017 when she was pregnant. “There are so many great storylines for AO 2021,” said Tiley. “Serena is gunning for her eighth title while Novak, who often seems invincible at Melbourne Park, is going for a record ninth title. “Our own world No.1 Ash Barty will return to Grand Slam competition, as will Roger Federer as he comes back from injury.” The opening Grand Slam of the year, which will be played in front of at least 50 percent of normal crowds, has been pushed back three weeks until February 8. All players must undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine on arrival, during which they will constantly be tested for Covid-19 but allowed to train for five hours a day in a biosecure bubble. AFP

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2020

Serge Ibaka (9) of the Los Angeles Clippers shoots over Maxi Kleber (42) of the Dallas Mavericks in the second half at Staples Center. AFP

Mavs crush Clippers; st Nets absorb 1 loss L

OS ANGELES —The Dallas Mavericks powered to an NBA-record 50-point halftime lead on the way to a 124-73 demolition of the short-handed Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.

The Mavs, taking full advantage of the absence of injured Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, set the tone early. Point guard Luka Doncic scored 18 of his 24 points in the first half and the halftime score of 77-27 gave Dallas the largest margin at the break ever in the NBA, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Josh Richardson added 21 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. chipped in 18 for the Mavs, who had opened the season with two defeats. “Everything was clicking on all cylinders,” Hardaway said, adding that the Mavericks did not realize how big their halftime lead was until they were in the locker room. Coach Rick Carlisle said the key for the Mavericks going forward would be to main-

tain the intensity they showed in the first half. “Our guys established a standard for collective toughness and will that we need to find a way to maintain,” he said. In Charlotte, Gordon Hayward scored 28 points as the Hornets cooled off redhot Brooklyn, handing the Nets their first defeat of the season 106-104. Terry Rozier—Hayward’s former teammate in Boston—added 19 points and P.J. Washington chipped in 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Hornets, who held the Nets to 42.7 percent shooting. “Unbelievable win for us,” said Hayward, who joined the Hornets from the Celtics in November. “Just proud of our effort, man, proud of our defense. We finally got it together it seemed like on that end.” Kevin Durant led the Nets with 29 points

and Kyrie Irving had 25 for Brooklyn, which had become the first club since the 2008-09 Lakers to win their first two games by 20 or more points. It looked like the Nets might pull out a close one when they erased a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit, twice trimming the gap to two points with less than three minutes to play. Durant missed a fadeaway jumper with 7.4 seconds left and Rozier made two free throws that sealed the win. The Hornets were playing without center Cody Zeller, who broke his left hand in their season opener. Brooklyn guard Spencer Dinwiddie departed in the third quarter with a right knee strain and did not return. The reigning champion Los Angeles Lakers seemed not to feel the absence of Anthony Davis, nursing a calf contusion, in a 127-91 romp past the Minnesota Timberwolves—who were without star KarlAnthony Towns a day after he dislocated his left wrist in a win over Utah. AFP

Iniong vows to return to circle stronger, wiser TOP ONE women’s atomweight contender Gina “Conviction” Iniong of the famed Team Lakay of Baguio City, Philippines has been out of action since her January 2020 victory over India’s Asha Roka. She has since spent months in isolation, dealing with the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic, just like everyone else. However, things have been quite eventful outside of the cage for the Filipina mixed martial arts veteran. Iniong announced she was pregnant with her first child with husband Richard Araos shortly after the bout, and decided to step away from the limelight to focus on her family. “I won gold (kickboxing) at the SEA Games. I was able to represent my country and bring glory and honor back to the Philippines. Most important of all, I was able to get married and have my precious baby girl,” said Iniong. Iniong welcomed daughter Gianna Rose into the world just last November. She says the birth of her child has helped put a lot of her life into focus, and she in turn discovered a newfound appreciation for the simplest of things.

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

Gina Iniong: More dangerous

“This year, everything just fell into place for me, and I learned a lot of valuable lessons. The biggest lesson I learned this year is that time is so precious. You can’t put a price on it. It’s the only thing you can never make more of. It’s life’s most expensive

commodity,” said Iniong. While Iniong’s focus over the next few months will be to take care of and raise her child, and spend time with family, “Conviction” says she will also be trying her best to stay fit and healthy. At one point during her pregnancy,

Iniong considered retiring altogether, before Team Lakay coach Mark Sangiao convinced her to make a firm decision only after giving birth. Iniong ultimately decided to continue on with her career, stating that she is more motivated now than ever. “Everything is the same. I want to be the best Gina Iniong in the Circle possible. Nothing has changed for me,” said Iniong. “I can’t wait to get back in the Circle. I’ve missed it. Once I’m cleared to go back to training, and when my body feels right, you can expect to see me alongside your favorite Team Lakay superheroes again.” Before she took a break from competition, Iniong was ranked the #5 women’s atomweight in ONE Championship. Due to her inactivity, that spot has since been relinquished to Thailand’s Stamp Fairtex. Iniong, however, isn’t the least bit fazed by the recent turn of events. In fact, the Filipina fighting veteran is even more determined now to reaffirm herself as one of ONE Championship’s most talented females.

Another injury blow for Dubs as Chriss breaks leg LOS ANGELES—Golden State Warriors center Marquese Chriss broke his right leg in practice in Chicago and will require surgery, the NBA team said Sunday, yet another injury blow to a team trying to return to title contender status. The Warriors said Chriss suffered a right ankle injury and fibular fracture in practice on Saturday as the team prepared for their game on Sunday against the Bulls. “He will undergo surgery in the coming days and a timeline for his return will be determined after that,” the Warriors said in a statement. Chriss, the number eight selection in the 2016 NBA Draft, played for three teams in his first three seasons before signing with the Warriors in training camp last year. By the end of the season, he was the Warriors starting center, averaging 9.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 59 games. So far this season, he was establishing himself as backup behind rookie James Wiseman, the second overall pick in the draft in November. His absence will put more responsibility on the shoulders of the 19-year-old Wiseman. The Warriors lost five-time AllStar Klay Thompson for the entire season when he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in a workout in November. Thompson was a key part of the Warriors team that dominated the league with five straight runs to the NBA Finals and titles in 2015, 2017 and 2018. The Warriors had hoped Thompson would play a key role in a resurgence after he missed all of the 2019-2020 with a knee injury suffered in the 2019 NBA Finals. With Thompson sidelined and teammate Stephen Curry missing four months with a broken hand, the Warriors finished last in the Western Conference in 2020. AFP

Momota wins Japan title to cap comeback after car crash TOKYO—Badminton world number one Kento Momota won the All-Japan championships on Sunday to complete the first step of his comeback, nearly a year after suffering serious injuries in a car crash. Momota came from behind to beat world number 11 Kanta Tsuneyama 18-21, 21-12, 2117 in Tokyo, marking a successful return from the accident that left him fearing his career might be over after fracturing an eye socket. The win gave Momota his third straight national title, and he immediately turned his thoughts towards making his international comeback at the Thailand Open in January. “I had the initiative in the first game but then I started to lose my cool once I had the lead,” said Momota. “I think that’s because I’m still not used to playing matches. In the second and third games, I wanted to put all my feeling into it

regardless of technique or tactics, and I think I willed myself to the win. “The Thailand Open starts in the new year and I’ll be able to play against players from overseas. I want to go there and show what I can do as the top Japanese player.” Momota was badly hurt in January when the vehicle taking him to the airport after he won the Malaysia Masters crashed, killing the driver. He admitted to feeling nervous as he returned to competition this week in Tokyo, and he was pushed to the limit by Tsuneyama, who took him to 16-16 in the final game only to crumble with victory in sight. “I was too cautious,” said Momota, who also had to come from a game down in the quarter-finals. “Before, my game was about using everything I’d built up over time, and my results gave me the confidence to do that. “This week, I hadn’t played for a long time

so I was very anxious going into each match. But I think my game will start to return now that I’ve won this title.” Momota is one of Japan’s brightest hopes for a gold medal on home soil at the coronavirus-postponed Tokyo Games next year. The 26-year-old left-hander won a recordbreaking 11 titles last year, and he is confident of adding more after tasting success this week in Tokyo. “I’m 70 percent relieved and 30 percent happy,” said Momota. “I’m known as world number one Momota, so I feel that I’m not allowed to lose. “It wasn’t easy for me to get the number one ranking. It’s because of my experience and ability, and I really hate to lose. “That pride helps me but there is also pressure, and I want to keep doing more. If I can, I want to get back to training tomorrow.” AFP

Japan’s badminton world number one Kento Momota plays a shot during his men’s singles final match against Kanta Tsuneyama of Japan at the All-Japan National Championships badminton tournament in Tokyo. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

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TODAY TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2020

Chiefs grab NFL playoff bye W

NFL one-season tight end record of 1,416 reception yards this year. Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger completed 34-of-49 passes for 342 yards and three touchdowns as the Steelers snapped a three-game losing skid. Indianapolis led 24-7 before “Big Ben” hit scoring throws of 39 yards to Diontae has the 2021 NFL Draft top pick. Johnson, 5 yards to Eric Ebron and 25 Seattle defeated the Rams 20-9 to yards to JuJu Smith-Schuster. secure the NFC West title while host The Colts fell level with Cleveland, Washington lost 20-13 to Carolina, Baltimore, Tennessee and Miami at 10-5 failing to claim the NFC East crown. in a fight for the last three AFC playoff Half the NFL’s 14 playoff spots will be spots, but would need help in the final CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK settled next Sunday. week to advance. Chiefs coach Andy Reid says his team At cold and snowy Green Bay, Aaron must improve to repeat as champions. Rodgers threw four touchdown passes and “We just weren’t as sharp as we need to the Packers (12-3) beat Tennessee 40-14 be,” Reid said. to stay atop the fight for the NFC top seed Mahomes said he needs to play better. while keeping the Titans from clinching the “The defense played their tail off to keep AFC South title and a playoff berth. us in the game and give us a chance,” he Cleveland, out of the playoffs since said. “The offense found a way to score a 2002, had four receivers and two linetouchdown when we needed to.” backers out due to Covid-19 tests and A 39-yard field goal attempt by South contact tracing and fell behind 20-3. A Korean kicker Koo Young-hoe was wide fightback died when the Browns lost the right for Atlanta in the dying seconds to ball on downs in the final seconds. seal Chiefs’ bye as AFC top seed. Ravens, Cowboys win “When you look at the history of the Lamar Jackson threw for 183 yards and bye week, usually it’s a good thing for two touchdowns and ran 13 times for 80 a team trying to make a championship yards to spark the Baltimore Ravens over run,” Mahomes said. the visiting New York Giants 27-13. Super Bowl 54 Most Valuable Player The Giants (5-10) stayed in playoff Mahomes also threw a 4-yard touch- contention when Washington (6-9) lost to down pass to Travis Kelce, whose Carolina, missing a chance to clinch the seven catches for 98 yards gave him an NFC East title. AFP

ASHINGTON—Patrick Mahomes rallied the Kansas City Chiefs over Atlanta 17-14 on Sunday to give the reigning Super Bowl champions a ﬁrst-round bye and home-ﬁeld edge in the NFL playoffs.

Manila

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MARKETS AND SECURITIES REGULATION DEPARTMENT IN THE MATTER OF THE : SEC-MSRD Order No. 22 : Series of 2020 CITYLAND, INC. : : Registration of : Commercial Papers Registrant : x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x ORDER Upon consideration of the Registration Statement and other papers and documents attached thereto (“Registration Statement”) which were filed on behalf of CITYLAND, INC. , the Commission resolved in its meeting of December 22, 2020 to favorably consider the same for the registration of its Eight Hundred Fifteen Million Pesos (P 815,000,000.00) worth of Commercial Papers, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 8 and 12 of the Securities Regulation Code. In this regard, the subject Registration Statement is now rendered effective. Let a Certificate of Permit to Offer Securities for Sale be issued in favor of CITYLAND, INC. authorizing the sale and distribution of the above-mentioned securities. Let this Order be published at the expense of the Issuer in a newspaper of general circulation and uploaded in its website within (2) business days from its issuance. The corporation is hereby directed to furnish the Commission with a copy of the affidavit of publication of this Order. SO ORDERED. PICC Complex, Pasay City, Philippines, December 23, 2020. Running back James Conner (30) signed of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs with the ball VICENTE GRACIANO(53) P. FELIZMENIO, JR. Indianapolis Colts in the fourth against linebacker Darius Leonard of the Director (MS-DEC. 29, 2020)

quarter of their game at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. AFP SCN FORM NO. 1 (R.A. NO. 9139)

violence, personal assault or assassination for the success and predominance of one's ideas. I am not a polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy. I have not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude. I am not suffering from mental alienation or from any incurable contagious disease. The country of which I am a citizen or subject is not at war with the Philippines and grants to Filipinos the right to be naturalized citizens or subjects thereof.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON NATURALIZATION IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF SHERYL CHUA SO to be naturalized as Filipino citizen pursuant to Republic Act No. 9139. SCN CASE NO. x------------------ ------- x

PETITION Pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 9139, petitioner hereby submits a petition for naturalization to become a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines and respectfully declares: 1. My full name is SHERYL CHUA SO, but I have also been known since childhood as SHERYL or I have been judicially N/A . authorized to use the alias name(s) 2. My present place of residence is Unit 2135 Cityland Pasong Tamo Tower Inc., 2210 Don Chino Roces Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City/Municipality of Makati Province of Metro Manila , and all my former places of residence are (please indicate periods of residence) __2007-2017 Dian Street, Makati City___________ __childhood-2007 Tondo, Manila______________ 3. I was born on May 2, 1981 in Lucena, Quezon Philippines. I have been a resident of the Philippines since birth. At present, I am a citizen or subject of Taiwan. 4. My father's name is Yuen Chek Ang So and he was born on March 21, 1950, in China. He is a citizen or subject of China. My mother's name is Rosita Yu Chua and she was born on Sept. 5, 1954 in Philippines. She is a citizen or subject of Taiwan. 5. My trade, business, profession or lawful occupation is Analyst / MIS Officer and from which I derive an average annual income of P760,000.00, inclusive of bonuses, commissions and allowances. My wife's/husband's trade, business, profession or lawful occupation is N/A and from which she derives an average annual income of N/A (Where the above does not apply): I am exempt from the requirement of lucrative trade or occupation and from submitting income tax returns for the past three (3) years because I am a college degree holder [please state (1) degree obtained: BS Commerce in Computer Data Management, (2) name of school: Chiang Kai Shek College and (3) years graduated: 2003 who cannot practice my profession (the practice of which requires a government licensure examination) by reason of my citizenship. 6. My civil status is Single, I was married on N/A My wife's/ husband's name is N/A and she/he was born on N/A. She/ he is a citizen or subject of N/A and presently resides N/A 7. I am legally separated from my spouse; my marriage was annulled, per decree of legal separation/annulment dated N/A granted by N/A. (please indicate the particular court which granted the same). I am a widower/widow and my spouse died on N/A in N/A. 8. I have no child/children, whose names, dates and places of birth and residences are as follows:

Name N/A

Date of Birth N/A

Place of Birth N/A

Residence

Chiang Kai Shek College

Place of School Tondo, Manila

Dates of Study 1999-2003

Highest Grade Completed College Graduate

Chiang Kai Shek College

Tondo, Manila

1994-1999

Chiang Kai Shek College

Tondo, Manila

1988-1994

Chiang Kai Shek College

Tondo, Manila

1986-1988

High School Graduate Elementary Graduate Kindergarden

10. I am able to read, write and speak Filipino and/or any of the following dialects of the Philippines:English. 11. I have enrolled my minor children of school age in the following public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), where Philipine History, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality:

Name of Child N/A

Name and Place of School N/A

Date of Enrollment N/A

12. I shall never be a public charge. I am of good moral character. I believe in the principles underlying the Philippine Constitution. I have conducted myself in a proper and irreproachable manner during the entire period of my residence in the Philippines in my relations with the constituted government as well as with the community in which I am living. I mingled socially with Filipinos and have evinced a sincere desire to learn and embrace the customs, traditions and ideals of the Filipino people. I have all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications under Republic Act No. 9139. I am not opposed to organized government or affiliated with any association or group of persons who uphold and teach doctrines opposing all organized governments. I am not defending or teaching the necessity or propriety of

Barcelona star Messi tight-lipped on future

13. It is my true and honest intention to become a citizen of the Philippines and to renounce absolutely and forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, and, particularly, to Taiwan of which at this time I am a citizen or subject. I will reside continuously in the Philippines from the date of the filing of this petition up to the time of my admission to Philippine citizenship. 14. My character witnesses are Hershey Go Lim and Gina Louisse Lastimosa both Filipino citizens, of legal age, and residing at 724 Bulacan St., Tondo, Manila and 1586 Benitez St., Malate, Manila respectively, who have executed sworn statements attached hereto in support of my instant petition, together with: (a) brief biographical data about themselves; (b) detailed statements on the dates they first came to know me, the circumstances of our initial acquaintance and the reasons and extent of our continuing familiarity; and (c) the number of times they have acted as character witnesses in other petitions for naturalization. 15. Attached hereto as annexes and made part of this petition are the duplicate originals or certified photocopies of the following documents (please check the appropriate box): [ ] a. Petitioner's birth certificate [ ] b. Petitioner's alien certificate of registration (ACR) [ ] c. Petitioner's native-born certificate of residence (NBCR) [ ] d. Petitioner's marriage certificate, if married [ ] e. Death certificate of his/her spouse, if widowed [ ] f. Court decree annulling his/her marriage or granting legal separation, if such was the fact [ ] g. Birth certificates of petitioner's minor children [ ] h. ACRs of petitioner's minor children [ ] i. NBCRs of petitioner's minor children [ ] j. Affidavits of financial capacity by the petitioner, duly supported by bank certifications, passbooks, stock certificates, or proof of ownership of other properties [ ] k. Affidavits of at least two (2) credible witnesses who must be Filipino citizens of good reputation in petitioner's place of residence [ ] l. Medical certificate from a government hospital stating that petitioner is not suffering from mental alienation or a user of prohibited drugs or otherwise a drug dependent and that he/she is not afflicted with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), or any incurable contagious disease. [ ] m. School diploma and transcript of records of the petitioner from the school/s he or she attended in the Philippines [ ] n. Certifications stating that petitioner's minor children are enrolled in public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the DECS, where Philippine history, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality [ ] o. Petitioner's income tax returns for the past three years [ ] p. Petitioner's receipts of payment of income tax for the past three years 16. Other documents submitted by the petitioner in support of his/her petition: ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ PRAYER WHEREFORE, it is respectfully prayed that petitioner be conferred Philippine citizenship pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No, 9139. Dated at Makati City, Metro Manila, this 29 th day of September, 2020.

N/A

9. I received my primary and secondary education from the following public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), where Philippine history, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality:

Name of School

Mahomes completed 24of-44 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns, his second scoring toss a 25-yarder to Demarcus Robinson with 1:55 remaining to lift the Chiefs ahead to stay. “It’s that championship swagger of knowing how to win the game even when you’re not playing well,” Mahomes said. There was also plenty of heartache in the season’s penultimate weekend as losses jeopardized the playoff hopes of Indianapolis, Washington, the Los Angeles Rams and a Cleveland squad missing key players due to COVID-19. Host Pittsburgh rallied late to edge Indianapolis 28-24 and secure the AFC North division crown while the host New York Jets (2-13) beat Cleveland 23-16, ensuring league-worst Jacksonville (1-14)

SHERYL SO Name and Signature of Petitioner Address: Unit 2135 Cityland Pasong Tamo Tower Inc., 2210 Don Chino Roces Ave., Pio Del Pilar, Makati City Telephone Number: +639497751937

Petitioner's signature and right thumbmark

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) CITY/MUNICIPALITY OF MAKATI) S.S.

Switzerland’s Roger Federer will miss the Australian Open for the first time in his career as he continues his recovery from two rounds of knee surgery, organizers said. AFP

Federer out of Australian Open after knee surgery M E L B OU R N E —Twe n t y- t i m e Grand Slam champion Roger Federer will miss the Australian Open for the first time in his career as he continues his recovery from two rounds of knee surgery, organisers said Monday. The 39-year-old Swiss has been out of action since February but recently resumed training and was on the entry list for year’s opening Grand Slam, which will make a delayed start on February 8. Manila Federer, a huge favourite with the Standard Melbourne crowds, hasn’t missed the TODAY Australian Open since his debut in 2000, winning the trophy six times. “In the end Roger ran out of time to get himself ready for the rigours of a Grand Slam and he’s very disappointed he won’t be coming to Melbourne in 2021,” said tournament chief Craig Tiley. “We wish him all the best as he prepares for his comeback later in the year and look forward to seeing him in Melbourne in 2022.” Federer sat out most of the Coviddisrupted 2020 season after losing to Novak Djokovic in the Melbourne semis in January, his last competitive match. He underwent keyhole surgery on his right knee in February, before needing a follow-up operation and calling off his season to recover. The Swiss could only watch as

Rafael Nadal matched his all-time men’s record of 20 Grand Slam singles titles with a 13th victory at the French Open. Federer will now concentrate on getting himself ready for the rest of the 2021 season, which includes the Tokyo Olympics and the chance of his first singles gold medal. “He has made strong progress in the last couple of months with his knee and his fitness,” his agent Tony Godsick said in a statement. “I will start discussions this coming week for tournaments that begin in late February and then start to build a schedule for the rest of the year,” Godsick added. Murray wildcard Federer’s absence will be felt at the Australian Open, despite a topquality field led by world number ones Djokovic and Ashleigh Barty. US superstar Serena Williams, Federer’s contemporary at 39, is also on the entry list as she again attempts to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24time Grand Slam singles titles. Federer’s withdrawal comes as former world number one Andy Murray, a five-time Australian Open finalist, was given a wildcard entry. Tiley welcomed the 33-year-old back to the tournament, two years after his first-round exit prompted fears his career was at an end. AFP

Aussie golf great Norman returns to hospital for virus treatment Manila

I, SHERYL CHUA SO of legal age and a resident of Unit 2135 Cityland Pasong Tamo Tower Inc., 2210 Don Chino Roces Ave., Pio Del Pilar, Makati City after being duly sworn, depose and say that I am the petitioner herein, that I have read the foregoing petition and know the foregoing petition and known the contents thereof, and that the same is true of my own knowledge.

SHERYL CHUA SO Name and Signature of Petitioner SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me at MAKATI CITY CITY, this 29 SEPT 2020.

(MS-DEC. 29, 2020/ JAN. 5 & 12,2021 2020)

MADRID—Lionel Messi remained coy on his future at Barcelona in a long interview broadcast on Sunday in which he called the Catalan giants “my life”. Speaking to Spanish TV channel La Sexta, Messi insisted that he was “excited” to play under coach Ronald Koeman this season despite trying to leave the club where he has played his entire senior career last summer. He said that at the time he felt like he “needed a change”, but his attempted exit was blocked amid a spat with former Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu. Messi’s contract expires at the end of the season and from next month he will be free to negotiate a move away from Catalonia. “Barca is my life, I’m in love with the club. And the city, my children were born here,” Messi said in an interview conducted earlier this month. “It’s true I had a bad time in the summer. It came from everything that happened before the summer, how the season ended, the burofax (how Messi comMessi municated his desire to leave), all of that. “I carried that into the start of the season a little bit.” Bartomeu stepped down in October and a new Barcelona president will be elected on January 24, after which 33-year-old Messi is expected to begin talks over whether to extend his career-long stay. “I feel good right now, ready to fight for everything. I feel excited,” he said. Barca situation ‘really bad’ Messi said he is under no illusions over the position Barca find themselves in, with the financial problems exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic likely to hamper player recruitment. “I know the club is going through a difficult period and that makes everything surrounding Barcelona difficult, but I am motivated,” he said. AFP

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MARKETS AND SECURITIES REGULATION DEPARTMENT IN THE MATTER OF THE : SEC-MSRD Order No. 22 : Series of 2020 CITYLAND, INC. : : Registration of : Commercial Papers Registrant : x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x ORDER Upon consideration of the Registration Statement and other papers and documents attached thereto (“Registration Statement”) which were filed on behalf of CITYLAND, INC. , the Commission resolved in its meeting of December 22, 2020 to favorably consider the same for the registration of its Eight Hundred Fifteen Million Pesos (P 815,000,000.00) worth of Commercial Papers, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 8 and 12 of the Securities Regulation Code. In this regard, the subject Registration Statement is now rendered effective. Let a Certificate of Permit to Offer Securities for Sale be issued in favor of CITYLAND, INC. authorizing the sale and distribution of the above-mentioned securities. Let this Order be published at the expense of the Issuer in a newspaper of general circulation and uploaded in its website within (2) business days from its issuance. The corporation is hereby directed to furnish the Commission with a copy of the affidavit of publication of this Order. SO ORDERED. PICC Complex, Pasay City, Philippines, December 23, 2020. signed VICENTE GRACIANO P. FELIZMENIO, JR. Director (MS-DEC. 29, 2020)

SCN FORM NO. 1 (R.A. NO. 9139)

MIAMI—Australian golf legend Greg Norman returned to hospital for further treatment after testing positive for Covid-19, saying on Instagram he hoped it was his “final update on this Covid saga.” Norman had spent Friday in hospital after experiencing coronavirus symptoms, but the 65-year-old Aussie, a former world number one who won the 1986 and 1983 British Opens, said on Instagram on Saturday he had returned home and was quarantining in his guest house in Jupiter, Florida. Once his positive test was confirmed, Norman said Sunday, he returned to the hospital to receive antibody infusion treatment but hoped to be back home later in the day. Norman urged his social media followers to take the virus seriously. “I am fit and strong and have a high tolerance for pain but this virus kicked the crap out of me like nothing I have ever experienced before,” he wrote. “Muscle and joint pain on another level. Headaches that feel like a chisel going through your head ... Then my taste failed where beer tastes bad and wine the same. And finally at times struggling with memory of names and things. So please take care.” Norman competed in last week’s PNC Championship in Orlando with his son Greg Jr., testing negative for the virus both before and after the event. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK violence, personal assault or assassination for the success and predominance of one's ideas. I am not a polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy. I have not been

Entertainment M

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2020

OBILE services provider Smart

Communications, Inc. is welcoming the new year in an explosive fashion with Reset 2021, a star-studded online concert featuring OPM rock artists Bamboo, The Itchyworms, Unique Salonga, and more to be streamed via Smart’s YouTube channel and simulcast on TV5 and Cignal on Dec. 31, Thursday starting 10:40 p.m..

Also joining the virtual show are R&B artist Kiana Valenciano, alternative rock band She’s Only Sixteen, as well as beatmakers Ace Ramos and MC Pao Avila who are all raring to count down the last minutes of this challenging year with unforgettable performances. Reset 2021 caps off Smart GigaFest, a whole season of celebration featuring world-class entertainment, e-sports tournaments, digital innovations, and exciting promos and freebies to give back to all loyal and new Smart subscribers all over the country. Just recently, Smart brought to subscribers exclusive shows including Dua Lipa’s Studio 2054 virtual concert on Nov. 28; the 2020 Mnet ASIAN MUSIC AWARDS (2020 MAMA), Asia’s biggest music awards show, on Dec.6; the 2020 iHeartRadio Jingle Ball headlined by top artists Billie

Rock out with OPM top acts like Bamboo (left) and Unique with ‘Reset 2021,’ Smart’s starstudded New Year countdown concert.

Rock out with top OPM

acts in ‘Reset 2021’

Eilish, Harry Styles, Shawn Mendez and more on Dec. 11; and the Gorillaz’ Song Machine Live virtual concert on Dec. 12. #Own2021 with Smart “After a most challenging year, we are one with our nation in hoping for a brighter and better 2021. This is the time to find our footing once again, rise together, and #Own2021 with a sense of renewed purpose,” said Jane J. Basas, SVP and Head of Consumer Wireless Business at Smart. To help subscribers face the year ahead, Smart is also launching a series of inspiring short stories starting with, “Into the Light,” about a man in search of his purpose and passion. The story features

‘Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels’ benefits thousands of families nationwide Amid the pandemic and several typhoons, GMA Regional TV’s (RTV) Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels has been steadfast on its mission to help our countrymen in the regions. To date, the campaign has been able to reach 6,830 families since it was rolled out last May, with GMA RTV teams providing beneficiaries affected by the pandemic and calamities with food packs and other essential items. For its first and second legs, the Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels through GMA RTV North Central Luzon, was able to provide food packs to 1,280 families in various barangays in Dagupan, Pangasinan. In Iloilo, 1,780 families were able to receive their breakfast meals delivered to them by GMA RTV Western Visayas. The Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels also gave out locally produced vegetables to 1,610 families in Cebu via GMA RTV Central and Eastern Visayas. GMA RTV North, Central, and Southern Mindanao was able to reach 1,320 families in Davao and 840 families in Cagayan de Oro with grocery items. “Helping our Kapuso in the regions is one of GMA Regional TV’s priorities. Aside from providing them with relevant local news and information, now that it’s Christmas season, we can’t think of a better way to keep the Christmas spirit alive than by helping each other,” said GMA Regional TV and Synergy Vice President and Head Oliver Victor Amoroso.

To help bring merrimenT during The ChrisTmas season, Kapuso barangayan on Wheels Will launCh iTs Third Wave and Will bring relief paCKs To various parTs of The CounTry.

“We are also grateful to all our regional partners for helping us with this initiative. The success of the first and second waves will not be possible without them and all the GMA RTV teams across the Philippines working hand in hand. We hope that we will be able to reach more families as we roll out the third wave of Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels,” Amoroso added. This month, to help bring merriment during the Christmas season, Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels will launch its third wave and will bring relief packs to various parts of the country but most especially to those greatly affected by the previous typhoons in Southern Luzon, specifical-

ly Naga City and other key areas in Bicol. ABS-CBN president and CEO CLK, COO of broadcast CVV, Integrated News head RER, chairman MLL, and Digital head Jamie Lopez pose with the company’s two YouTube Diamond Creator Awards.

Kapamilya network solidifies digital leadership ABS-CBN further sets its stature as the Philippines’ leading content producer for both news and entertainment on digital after receiving its second Diamond Creator Award from YouTube. ABS-CBN News received last November a diamond play button, which is given to creators that reached 10 million subscribers. It hit the mark last August and now has 11 million subscribers and over 6.7 billion lifetime views on the video-sharing platform. ABS-CBN first became a YouTube diamond creator in 2018 for its ABS-CBN Entertainment channel, which now has 31.6 million subscribers with over 38.8 billion lifetime views. It is the first YouTube channel in the Philippines to hit 30 million subscribers, the second most subscribed YouTube channel in Southeast Asia, and the tenth most-watched channel in the world as of October this year. ABS-CBN officials led by chairman Mark Lopez, chief executive officer, and president Carlo Katigbak, chief operating officer of broadcast Cory Vidanes, Integrated News head Ging Reyes, and Digital head Jamie Lopez presented the two awards from YouTube. ABS-CBN News’ YouTube channel houses a variety of news and current affairs content from its different news programs and platforms including the live streaming of flagship newscast TV Patrol and important

coverages of TeleRadyo and ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel. Currently, ABSCBN News now reaches an even wider audience after making its content accessible worldwide. With the same goal of serving more Filipinos around the world, ABS-CBN Entertainment offers fresh new episodes of ABS-CBN shows, exclusive interviews, and original digital shows on the channel. After the shutdown of its broadcast operations due to the nonrenewal of its legislative franchise, ABS-CBN has begun to offer more content online to reach viewers all over the world through Kapamilya Online Live on Facebook and YouTube, its streaming service iWantTFC, and through partnerships with other digital companies. Its digital transformation, however, began many years ago, enabling it to establish the biggest online presence among Filipino media companies and a growing list of digital properties. Here are other ABS-CBN YouTube channels with millions of subscribers and billions of views as of October 2020: Star Music (5.6 million subscribers and 2.3 billion views), Pinoy Big Brother (3.6 million subscribers and two billion views), Star Cinema (3.3 million subscribers and 1.1 billion views), The Voice Kids Philippines (2.5 million subscribers and 1.4 billion views), and The Gold Squad (2.4 million subscribers and 204.7 million views).

music by alternative rock band Over October and viral singer Carl Malone Montecido. 21 millionaires to usher in 2021 Smart is also ushering in 2021 by turning 21 lucky subscribers into millionaires through GIGAMANIA, which offers over P30 million worth of exciting prizes and weekly freebies for lucky Smart and TNT customers nationwide via the GigaLife App. GIGAMANIA is open to all Smart Prepaid, Smart Postpaid, Smart Bro, and TNT subscribers from December 2020 to April 2021. To join, simply download the GigaLife App, register to Giga Mania, and subscribe to GIGA offers or pay your

postpaid bill through the app to earn and accumulate GigaPoints. Each GigaPoint you earn during the promo period corresponds to a GIGAMANIA raffle entry, so the more GigaPoints you earn, the greater chances of winning special prizes such as smartphones, free data, and P1 million cash during the weekly draws. One lucky subscriber will also take home P10 million cash during the grand draw. On top of all these giga prizes, 72 million prepaid subscribers of Smart, Smart Bro, and TNT can also enjoy instant weekly freebies and treats in the form of SMS, calls, and data just by having the GigaLife App.

Why Richard Yap chose Kapuso network

AFTER nine years of being with ABSCBN, Richard Yap is now a certified Kapuso as he recently inked a contract with GMA Artist Center. Days before his signing, the GMAAC released a teaser which read: “aRe You ready to meet our newest Kapuso?” If you noticed, the letters R and Y were prominently accompanied by a blurred picture. It was in early 2019 when rumors about his network transfer came out but his camp remained quiet about it. In July of this year, he made a guest appearance in the toprating GMA noontime variety show Eat Bulaga in its “Bawal Judgmental” segment which ignited the rumor once again. The chinky-eyed actor admits why he chose GMA and at the same time expresses his elation now that he’s part of the Kapuso family. “It wasn’t an easy decision. I chose GMA because it’s a stable network,” he starts. “I’m just very thankful for GMA’s warm welcome to me. To be honest, I never thought this would come about. I’m overwhelmed. Now that it’s finally here, I

am so happy and proud to become part of

Former Kapamilya star, now Kapuso talent Richard Yap the Kapuso list of artists.” What could the public expect now that he’s with GMA? “Well, expect the unexpected. I guess you can expect me to try and experiment into other genres other than the ones that I’ve done before. For a starter, please catch my guesting in Eugene Domingo’s Dear Uge and in the Boobay and Tekla Show. I also have an upcoming prime time series. I’m simply excited.” Who among the Kapuso artists does he like to work with if ever? “Of course, there’s Marian Rivera, Heart Evangelista, Solenn Heussaff,

and Andrea Torres. It would also be great to collaborate with my good friend Jean Garcia. And yes…Michael V.,” says Richard. *** In a recent interview, Pops Fernandez gave a piece of her mind regarding the rumor linking her romantically with Derek Ramsay after his break-up with Andrea Torres. “Of course, it’s not true! People these days believe in what they hear or read right away,” she stated. It all started when Derek posted his birthday greetings for his mother on his Instagram account on Nov. 19. In the comments section, Pops dropped her greetings that read: ‘Happy bday mommy (with smiling face and eyes emoji)!” Some netizens instantly put malice into it to which Derek explained that his mother and the Concert Queen are best friends. This time, Pops clarified the issue. “Actually, I opted to keep quiet because Derek and Andrea didn’t talk about their parting ways. It’s weird if I will be the one to talk, right? Besides, there’s no truth to it all. I didn’t know how the rumor started. “I was really shocked when it came out. I didn’t realize that there were already talks circulating. Even my friends in other countries like the States and in Europe sent me text messages confirming if the rumor is true. Actually, I’m the one who’s embarrassed because my name was dragged into the picture while there’s no truth to it at all. Once and for all, I would like to reiterate that it’s not true!” she ended.

Reigning Miss U Singapore can’t wait to work with Rabiya Mateo

Making a mark as a pageant powerhouse, the Philippines has been the center of training for several contestants of Miss Universe from other countries including Singapore, Myanmar, Japan, Vietnam, and Ecuador. Following last year’s Mohana Prabha, Miss Universe Singapore 2020 Bernadette Belle Ong will also take similar lessons from Miss Universe Philippines creative director Jonas Antonio Gaffud who also served as Miss Universe Singapore creative director in 2019. “I can’t wait to be going back in the Philippines,” said Belle during a virtual press conference. The 26-year-old model, actress, and events host was born in the Philippines and had live lived in the country until she was ten. With some resemblance to Miss Earth 2015 Angelia Ong, she’s not related, Belle was preparing for Miss Charm International 2020 when she was handpicked by Miss Universe Singapore national director Valerie Lim. Belle moved to Singapore with her parents in 2004. She lived overseas, worked hard, taking four jobs in Australia to put herself through school in Melbourne. She completed a degree in accounting and finance, and finished a culinary arts training. “The training in the Philippines is testament to the fact that I’m a 100 percent game for it and I’m just willing to learn as much as possible and I can’t wait to collaborate with Rabiya (Mateo),” said Belle who is fluent in English, Mandarin Chinese, and Filipino. “I think I will be a strong contender in terms of being able to ‘walk the walk’ and ‘talk the talk.’ Being approachable is also one quality that I would want to shine

Miss Universe Singapore 2020 Bernadette Belle Ong would make her stand out in the pageant. “A lot of my friends, most of them Filipinos, were pushing for me to engage in this platform, and I want to explore how we could make this platform stronger in my country, the attitude towards it has its own challenges that Miss Universe Philippines would be facing. It gives the woman a voice, but that voice is not necessarily as impactful in Singapore as it is in other countries. I want to help make this platform as approachable for the future Miss Universe Singapore,” Belle articulated. “I’m working in collaboration with local charities in Singapore for fund-raising, primarily, to help victims of calamities and migrant workers who were affected by the pandemic,” Belle added. Belle is aiming to become only the third Singaporean to make the Miss Universe cut after Katie Lee Lee Beng’s Top 12 in 1983 and Marion Nicole Teo’s Top 10 in 1987. *** Former Binibini queen launches beauty line Jewel Colmenares Lobaton, Miss through in the Miss Universe pageant,” said Universe Philippines 1998, recently Belle when asked for the qualities she thinks introduced to the public her beauty products

line. Dubbed “Jewel Beauty Strong” or JBS, the beauty line is an all-Filipino social enterprise that aims to optimize the beauty and wellness within every individual for self and social acceptance. With her are Miss Philippines Earth-Water 2020 Gianna Llanes, and Shane Quintana Tormes, Miss Philippines Earth-Fire 2020. JBS was established when it collaborated with the recent Miss Earth 2020 and Carousel Productions with Miss Earth-Fire 2020 Roxanne Baeyens being appointed as JBS ambassador. “It was a big leap of faith. I thought that because they have a big platform, we could go further. In just two months with Miss Earth, we came up with plant-based beauty and wellness products for everyone,” Jewel said. “I made sure that all the ingredients that I want are there, that these beauty bars are coconut-based, copra products,” said the former beauty queen who grew up in the province working with farmers with her grandparents who were also farmers. The JBS beauty line is made up of a concoction of unique formulations where the raw materials are found mostly in the Philippines, thus helping local farmers and growers. JBS tries to find balance in doing profit with impact. For every product they buy will give them a chance to be a part of the transformation of communities as JBS will directly give support to its main advocacies: Education, Environment, Entrepreneurship opportunities. Former Binibining Pilipinas Universe Jewel Colmenares Lobaton

Life

Bernadette Lunas, Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

@MStandardLIFE

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29 2020

Overcoming ‘pandemic fatigue’ among employees

EXHAUSTED. Experts say ‘pandemic fatigue,’ whose symptoms include being demotivated and feeling complacent and hopeless, may impact the mental health of many employees worldwide.

ITH a new COVID-19 variant surprising us like an unwelcomed guest that barges in on our holiday festivities, the foreseeable stricter protocols that will follow suit, and the still unclear schedule when vaccine will be available to the Filipino public, it seems like the pandemic’s “franchise” will be renewed next year.

the situation. The Philippine National Center for Mental Health revealed a significant increase in monthly hotline calls regarding depression. Numbers rose from 80 calls pre-lockdown to nearly 400 calls according to the WHO. Many Filipino workers have become more anxious about losing their jobs due to layoffs, pay cuts, and closure of businesses, while employers have had to step up efforts in an unprecedented manner to support the workforce.

And “pandemic fatigue” will continue to plague many. The World Health Organization defines “pandemic fatigue” as a natural, expected reaction to sustained and unresolved adversity in people’s lives. Its symptoms include being demotivated to follow protective measures and behaviors, as well as feeling complacent, alienated, or hopeless. Although pandemic fatigue gradually evolves over time, it may also be affected or triggered by a person’s cultural, social, structural, and legislative environment. According to Dr. Carrianne Ewe, medical director of International SOS Philippines, an international health, security, management, and well-being solutions provider of companies and organizations, pandemic fatigue can affect one’s mental health, decreasing an individual’s motivation to practice precautionary health measures which may lead to increased risky behaviors. Dr. Ewe highlighted the impact of

Dr. Ewe stressed that organizations need to build a holistic workforce resilience program where an employee’s health, safety, and wellbeing are prioritized. “International SOS has been working closely with clients throughout the year, from the Taal Volcano eruption to the current COVID-19 pandemic. We have provided holistic workforce resilience solutions with tailored advice for the safe return to operations, navigation of the complex COVID-19 testing environment, and mental health and wellness programs,” said Dr. Ewe. International SOS has developed a range of tools like its COVID-19 website, the International SOS Assistance App that provides clients round-theclock health and security situational updates in each country, and webinars on practical measures and organizational best practices to tackle the everevolving challenges in this pandemic. Steph Llarena

Building workforce resilience

In the Philippines, workers had to adapt quickly to a new environment, shifting to work from home where communications and logistic infrastructure are not always conducive to productivity and may further add to the stress of the situation.

pandemic fatigue on mental health of many employees worldwide. “Supporting the workforce’s mental health and well-being has been a key concern for many employers in addition to the response to this public health crisis. It is widely acknowledged that an employee’s job performance and productivity can be severely affected by health issues and impact an organizations’ business resilience,” said Dr. Ewe.

chael Lewis from Birkbeck University in London observed that while many countries have passed the peak of the pandemic, people have not recovered from the pain and hardship of the whole experience. In the Philippines, employees had to adapt quickly to a new environment, shifting to work from home where communications and logistics infrastructure are not always conducive to productivity. Those who reported to work had to navigate a very limited Addressing the issue transportation network at exorbitant Occupational psychologist Dr. Ra- prices, further adding to the stress of

Simple steps to address ‘pandemic fatigue’ 1. Accept negative emotions Being honest about pent-up emotions like anxiety and uncertainty opens one up to find ways to address these reactions effectively. 2. Create new goals - Setting achievable and enjoyable personal goals such as exercise or learning a new skill can give a positive sense of accomplishment. 3. Conserve emotional resources - Employees should take time out from work to prioritize self-care. Small breaks, even if just to relax at home or spend time with loved ones is beneficial. Managers need to lead by example and encourage a delineation of on- and off-duty schedules. 4. Be kind to yourself - Employees should recognize that it is okay to have both good and bad days. Instead of focusing on the negatives, acknowledge and celebrate achievements. 5. Ask for help - Almost everyone has experienced some level of stress during this period. Seek support from mental health professionals via the Employee Assistance Program or clinic, and recognize the benefits of reaching out early before burn out.

Gifts that give back to nature NATURAL, plant-based brand Sekaya offers three gift ideas that let givers make someone happy while helping the reforestation efforts in the Cordillera region. The Sekaya Raw Actives gift pack includes two single-serve sachets each of Sekaya Raw Actives Vegan Protein, Maca Factor, and Barley Green, and one single-serve sachet each of Daily Greens and Powerbeet. It also has a 500ml stainless steel shaker bottle with a metal ball. Price starts at P900. Meanwhile, the Cleanse and Detox Pack consists of Sekaya Botanic Infusions Skin Cleanse blend and Gentle Detox blend. The gift pack, priced at P1,750, also includes a three-piece 600ml teapot with infuser and wooden cover and four teacups. Finally, the Immune Travel Pack contains the Sekaya Botanic Infusion Immune Brew in convenient and compostable teabags stored in a can. The 1,000-peso gift comes with a four-piece borosilicate glass travel tea infuser for two with a case. For every purchase of any of the Sekaya Prescribing Nature Gift Packs, one Philippine endemic tree seedling (Benguet Pine, Dipterocarp, or Mangrove) will be planted to contribute to For every purchase of any Sekaya Nature Cordillera Conservation Trust’s refor- gift pack, one Philippine endemic tree will be planted to contribute to Cordillera estation campaign. Conservation Trust’s reforestation efforts. The gift packs can be ordered through Sekaya’s Facebook or Insta- KAYA (735292), or at the S Sentials gram pages, or via Viber at 0917-5SE- store on Lazada.

Clorox donates its Disinfecting Wipes to (clockwise from left) Cardinal Santos Medical Center, Lung Center of the Philippines, and The Medical City.

Clorox donates wipes to Metro Manila hospitals IN A bid to help wipe down the worries, so to speak, of virus lingering on surfaces, consumer and professional goods brand Clorox recently donated 1,000 of its new Disinfecting Wipes to five hospitals in Metro Manila. The Medical City, St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City, Lung Center of the Philippines, National Children’s

Hospital, and Cardinal Santos Medical Center received the new Clorox Disinfecting Wipes. According to the brand, its new product can kill 99.9 percent bacteria and viruses including SARSCoV2 that causes COVID-19 within 60 seconds. “Protecting our medical frontlin-

ers is at the top of our priorities. We want to keep them safe and sanitized all day long,” said Paulo Lao, Clorox International sales and marketing director for Southeast Asia. “We want to start from five hospitals, but we’re already securing resources to be able to extend this initiative to more hospitals nationwide.”