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VOL. XXXV • NO. 227 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Xmas upbeat: 5k cases daily OCTA optimistic NCR alert status down to Level 1 or 2 by December

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Willie Casas

It’s official: Voter listing extended

HE independent OCTA Research Group said Wednesday it expects COVID-19 cases to decline to about 5,000 to 6,000 a day by December, and the Alert Level 4 in Metro Manila to drop down to Alert Level 2 or 1.

By Vito Barcelo, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta VOTER registration for the 2022:national elections was extended for another three weeks starting October 11 to 30, 2021, Next page

OCTA Research fellow Guido David said this was likely because surges are already ending in the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus, Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Cebu, and other major metropolitan areas. Next page

DOJ: No law, no forced jab; Gov’t left with moral suasion

Residents —some queuing as early as 10 p.m. Tuesday – wait in line for the opening of the Commission on Elections registration site inside the Lucky Chinatown Mall in Binondo, Manila on Wednesday. (Inset) Members of the Akbayan party-list group and the First Time Voters Network celebrate the decision of Comelec to extend the voter’s registration period to October 30, 2021. Norman Cruz and Manny Palmero

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

Palace downplays PH ranked last in COVID resilience

JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday said a policy of mandatory vaccination would require Congress to pass a law that compels every person to be inoculated against COVID-19. “There must be a law making antiCOVID vaccinations mandatory. In the absence of such a law, the executive Next page

By Vito Barcelo MALACAÑANG said it is not surprising that the Philippines fell to last place in a ranking of best and worst places to be in a pandemic, saying rich countries were hoarding vaccines to the detriment of poorer countries. In a press briefing, Palace spokesman Harry Roque said the Philippines is a

“classic case in point, where inoculation is highly dependent on the availability and stability of vaccine supplies”. According to a Bloomberg report, Southeast Asian economies continued to populate the ranking’s bottom rungs in September, with Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines in the last five, while countries which topped the list are developed countries

such as Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Finland and Denmark. Roque repeated President Duterte’s assertion during a speech to the UN General Assembly that rich nations were hoarding life-saving vaccines, while poor nations waited for trickles. He said vaccines are key towards defeating COVID-19. The ranking also included vaccination

coverage, severity of lockdowns and restrictions, progress on restarting travel and easing border curbs, case fatality rate, and the overall mortality throughout the pandemic. Roque said that the Philippines in “numerous occasions has advanced its position on the universal access to COVID-19 vaccines” because the

Sara still leads pres’l survey; Marcos, Isko, Pacman close By Maricel V. Cruz, Macon Ramos-Araneta, and Vito Barcelo

Survey for the preferred presidential candidates for the May 2022 national elections, causing jubilation from her supporters. Deputy Speaker and Bagong DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio Henerasyon Rep. Bernadette Herrera said continues to lead the latest Pulse Asia Next page

A health worker gives a first jab of the AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID-19 at the Manila drive-thru inoculation site in Quirino Grandstand on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. As of Monday, about 44,361,285 vaccine doses have been administered across the country, with 20,583,580 Filipinos already fully vaccinated. Danny Pata

SARA DUTERTE-CARPIO

FERDINAND MACOS JR.

ISKO MORENO

MANNY PACQUIAO

Consensus against Pharmally building up

2,535,732 12,805

132,339

38,164

190

2,365,229 12,236 (As of 4 PM, SEPTEMBER 29)

By Rey E. Requejo, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

Pharmally executives may be criminally liable over their alleged tampering with expiry dates on face shields the government bought as part of measures to control the spread of COVID-19. MALACAÑANG and the Department If proven that there was tampering, of Justice are united in their opinion that Next page

Rody asked to defer SSS premium hike By Alena Mae S. Flores TOP business, trade and labor leaders jointly appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to immediately release the Executive Order deferring the increase in the Social Security System monthly contributions of both employees and

workers. In a joint letter dated September 27, some 10 private sector and workers’ groups said the issuance of the EO was necessary to allow embattled micro, small and medium enterprises to continue to operate their businesses and provide Next page

PACQUIAO RETIRES FROM BOXING SPORTS / A8

News

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

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Heart patients face higher virus risk

Palace... From A1

“pandemic will not end unless the coronavirus is defeated everywhere through vaccination.” At present, the Philippines’ case fatality rate is at 1.51 percent after recording 37,686 deaths out of the 2.5 million confirmed COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began. Bloomberg’s COVID Resilience Ranking put the Philippines at the bottom of 53 countries. “The Philippines faces a perfect storm in that it’s grappling with the more ferocious Delta variant at the same time as it works with an inadequate testing regime and sees disruptions to its economy and people’s livelihoods as the pandemic continues to rage,” Bloomberg said. Bloomberg said the Philippines scored low on all four of its metrics related to reopening, had a vaccine coverage of 20 percent which was among the lowest, and had implemented one of the most stringent lockdowns. Flight capacity is down 74 percent below 2019 levels and the Philippines’ borders remain sealed to visitors, Bloomberg noted. The Philippines also underperformed in terms of COVID containment, posting the second-worst positive test rate at 27 percent. “The metric indicates the government is only testing the sickest patients for COVID and that there’s likely high levels of undetected infection in the community,” Bloomberg said. The country is also “unlikely to meet” its goal of inoculating all adults, or 70 percent of the population this year, it added.

During a webinar to mark World said cardiovascular diseases, parHeart Day 2021, Philippine Heart As- ticularly ischemia, is the no. 1 killer sociation secretary Dr. Ronald Cuyco disease in the Philippines, with CO-

VID-19 ranking fifth. Dr. Maria Encarnita Limpin, Philippine College of Physicians president, said their profiling of COVID-19 cases at the Philippine Heart Center showed that there was a high risk of virus infection among heart patients. “Once they get the virus, most likely they suffer from severe or critical COVID, and sometimes they die,” she said. She advised those with heart ail-

ments to get vaccinated. “Even if you have a co-morbidity illness, you may only suffer from moderate infection if you are vaccinated,” she said. Another PHA doctor, Don Robespierre Reyes, said smokers are also at higher risk of getting infected. “You have to remove your mask to smoke or vape so the chance of getting COVID is high,” he said.

cases in the Philippines averaged 17,293 from Sept. 22 to 28, with a growth rate of -11 percent. "The downward trend is more defined now," David said, but added that "hospitals remain at high capacity in many of the affected areas." On Monday, the Department of Health (DOH) said the Philippines has returned to a moderate-risk classification due to the declining number of COVID-19 cases. The country had been under high-risk classification for more than a month previously. Nine regions remained high-risk areas for COVID-19, namely Cordillera Administrative Region, Regions 1, 2, 4B, 5, 6, 9, 12, and Caraga. Meanwhile, Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro called on the Department of Health (DOH) to be consistent in its data regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. “They're saying there's a downward trend that's happening but they're also saying that those tested and contract traced are decreasing,” he said in Filipino. “Second, what's surprising is our cases in Metro Manila are falling but our bed utilization and ICU utilization are increasing,” he said. Data from DOH as of Sept. 26 showed that 6,645 out of 10,706 beds in Metro

Manila were occupied. Of the 159 facilities in the capital, some 79 were considered at safe level (less than 60 percent occupied), 16 at moderate (60 to 70 percent occupied), 25 at high risk (70 to 85 percent occupied) and 36 were tagged as critical (more than 85 percent occupied.) The Philippines logged 12,805 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, bringing the total number of infections to 2,535,732. “The relatively low cases today is due to lower laboratory output last Monday, Sept. 27. Testing output last Sept. 27 was only 51,377 compared to the 70,134 average daily testing output for the last seven days,” the DOH reported in its Case Bulletin No. 564. There were 190 new fatalities, bringing the COVID-19 death toll to 38,164. The DOH also reported 12,236 new recoveries, bringing the total recoveries to 2,365,229. There were 132,339 active cases, of which 76.7 percent were mild, 16.4 percent were asymptomatic, 0.9 percent were critical, 2.1 percent were severe, and 3.91 percent were moderate. Nationwide, 74 percent of the ICU beds, 63 percent of the isolation beds, 67 percent of the ward beds, and 53 percent

of the ventilators, were in use. In Metro Manila, 75 percent of the ICU beds, 53 percent of the isolation beds, 64 percent of the ward beds, and 56 percent of the ventilators, were in use. The department has been revising its figures after it failed to release data on deaths for three days because of a system problem. An additional 339 cases of the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus were detected, making the nationwide tally 3,366, the DOH said on Wednesday. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, during an online briefing, said the new Delta cases were detected from 748 sequenced samples, which included those taken from April to June. The Delta variant is now the most common lineage among sequenced samples of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, according to the DOH. Also on Wednesday, data released by the Philippine National Police showed that the number of areas in the NCR under granular lockdown dropped to 235 on Tuesday, down from 281. The PNP said these areas were reported in 129 barangays in Metro Manila. These areas include 143 houses, 77 residential buildings, nine streets, and five subdivisions.

bill for such a law,” Roque said. Senator Panfilo Lacson said instead of forcing vaccines on people, thegovernment could enforce policies that favor the vaccinated. The policy of allowing only fully vaccinated customers to dine indoors at restaurants is one example of this, he said. “But first, make vaccines available to all," Lacson said. Lacson said the government will need to do a much better job in rolling out vaccines especially in far-flung areas, with the rollout there being as low as 16 percent. The Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday that COVID-19 vaccinations for children aged 12 to 17 will begin on Oct. 15, starting with those with comorbidities. “We are targeting Oct. 15, and we will start with the National Capital Region because they have a significant vaccine coverage so far (at around 70 percent),” Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said during an online briefing. "We will be prioritizing those with comorbidities like respiratory and kidney disease," Cabotaje said. “For the initial run, we recommend that children with comorbidities will be vaccinated in selected sites with clearance from their pediatricians or trained doctors, or for far-flung or geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA), with

clearance from on-site trained physicians guided by a checklist from the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines (PIDSP),” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said. “We have to ensure that children have equitable access to vaccines. Eventually, as we get more local experience, we will be able to retool our current vaccinators on the additional precautionary steps on screening and vaccine administration,” Vergeire said. Cabotaje said that two weeks after being rolled out in Metro Manila, COVID-19 vaccination for minors will gradually transition to different regions. The children would be included under priority group A3, the DOH said in a statement, adding an expansion beyond this group will follow once adequate coverage of senior citizens has been achieved nationwide and vaccine supply is sufficient. Malacañang announced on Tuesday that President Rodrigo Duterte had approved the vaccination of the general population, including minors, against COVID-19, starting this October. The DOH said the informed consent by the parent or guardian and the child must be obtained before vaccination. There should also be an available supply of Pfizer and Moderna shots as these are the only vaccines so far approved for use on individuals aged 12 to 17, the

DOH said. Almost 34,000 minors aged 12 to 17 years old in the city of Manila have already registered online for the coronavirus disease vaccine. According to data provided by the Manila Public Information Office on Wednesday, the number of registrants as of 11 a.m. Tuesday was at 33,923 since the city opened the registration for them on September 5. Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. GuillermoEleazar, on Wednesday ordered all police offices and units to prepare to ensure the vaccination of the general population, including minors, will be done in an orderly manner. Eleazar said they are also looking for more PNP personnel who have medical backgrounds and training who can assist in the government's vaccination campaign. On Wednesday, the government received another shipment of COVID-19 vaccines from the United States, bringing to 70 million the total number of doses that the country has received since February. The 391,950 doses of Pfizer arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International AirportTerminal 3 around 9:20 p.m. on board Air Hong Kong flight LD-456. The country is also scheduled to get some 2.5 million of Sinovac doses from China on Friday as part of the 5 million to 7 million doses expected to arrive this week.

opposition. Go has repeatedly declined the endorsement of his partymates in a faction of the ruling PDP-Laban, saying he was not interested in the presidency. For the vice presidency, Senate President Vicente Sotto III emerged as the most preferred candidate with 25 percent. Next to Sotto were President Rodrigo Duterfe, 14; Domagoso and Marcos, both 12, and Pacquiao, 7 percent. Sought for comment, Sotto said: "With utmost humility, I thank God and our ‘kababayans’ for the trust and confidence that many are placing on me and my dream of further serving the Filipino family beyond the halls of the Senate." “I will use this confidence booster to work harder as the top official of the Senate, as I present myself to our people as a worthy and reliable candidate for VP," he said. Meanwhile, the Palace insisted Duterte remained the vice presidential bet “to beat" despite placing second in the Pulse Asia survey. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque described the surveys as “snapshots of public opinion at a particular point in time.” “Be that as it may, the President remains the candidate to beat in the 2022 elections,” Roque said. Broadcaster Raffy Tulfo, on the other hand, topped Pulse Asia's latest survey on Filipinos' preferred senatorial candidates.

Consensus... Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Pharmally could face charges of estafa and falsification of public documents. “Let us wait for the results of the investigation. But offhand, I’m thinking that if they signed a public document on the date of manufacture, it can be falsification, it can also be estafa,” he added. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said tampering with the expiry date of a product was a violation of Article 40(a) of the Consumer Act. “A device (or a product) is deemed mislabeled if the labeling is false or misleading,” he said in a text message to reporters. According to the Justice Secretary, if there is enough evidence, “the complainant may file directly with the prosecutor’s office, and if there is need for a case build-up, further investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation may be called for, and the NBI itself may eventually be the complainant.” Pharmally executive Krizle Grace Mago earlier disclosed before the Senate blue ribbon committee that she has been ordered by the Pharmally corporate treasurer and secretary Mohit Dargani to tamper with the expiry dates of the face shields. After her testimony, Sen. Richard

Gordon, chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee, said that Mago could no longer be contacted and had sought the help of the NBI to locate her. “The NBI has directed its intelligence and regional service personnel to help in locating Krizle Mago of Pharmally,” Guevarra said. Senator Francis Pangilinan said if it could be proven that the tampered medical-grade face shields delivered by Pharmally to the DOH, the firm could face charges for violation of the AntiGraft Law. “If in connivance with, and there is negligence on the part of the government, it’s also anti graft,” said Pangilinan. In admitting the alteration, Mago said she was instructed to tell warehouse staff to change expiry dates on medical-grade face shields. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said there must be restitution for the tampered face shields. Pharmally edged out other suppliers, including those with track record of dealing with the government, and bagged a total of P8.7 billion worth of contracts funded by Bayanihan 1 and 2 laws. The deal with Pharmally was so far the biggest amount awarded for COVIDpandemic medical supplies. In related developments, the House of Representatives will likely issue an arrest warrant against Mago if the subpoena does not work to compel her presence to testify in the congressional inquiry.

jobs amid the prolonged challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Postponing the implementation of the higher SSS premium will be a critical recovery measure by helping sustain the cash flow especially of the very vulnerable MSMEs. It will also serve as a very concrete government contribution to the National Employment Recovery Strategy program that is implemented with the private sector,” the letter read. On May 26, Duterte approved Republic Act 11548, which gives him the authority to defer the scheduled increase in SSS premium contributions for the duration of the declaration of state of calamity. The business and labor groups lauded the signing of RA 11548 as it sends a positive signal to employers and employees that “government empathizes with business in its efforts to keep jobs and livelihoods to prevent further economic losses and the resulting social problems.” “However, four months after the enactment of the law, the Executive Order implementing the Act has yet to be issued, even as the higher SSS premium already took effect last January 2021,” the statement said. SSS members’ monthly contributions were increased to 13 percent of their incomes at the start of the year, higher than the current 12 percent contribution drawn from their salaries. “It is in this light that we are constrained to write to the President for urgent action on this pending request for the deferment. We have yet to fully reopen and many have already lost their income sources either permanently or temporarily,” the joint letter said. The letter was signed by the heads of trade and business groups, namely, Benedicto Yujuico, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Edgardo G. Lacson, chairman of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines; Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr., president of the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc.; Henry Lim Bon Liong, president of the Federation of FilipinoChinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Edgar O. Chua, chairman of the Makati Business Club; and Aurelio Montinola III, president of the Management Association of the Philippines. It was co-signed by labor leaders Raymond Democrito Mendoza, president of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines; Jose Matula, president of the Federation of Free Workers; Daniel Edralin, chairman of the Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa; and Rene Magtubo, national chairman of the Partido Manggagawa.

unanimously approved the extension of voter registration after the filing of certificate of candidacy on October 1 to 8. Registration would resume on October 11, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, there will be no registrations on Saturdays except for October 30, the last day of voter registration. Jimenez said that all registration

services would be offered, including transfer of voter registration and reactivation. Overseas voter registration is also extended for two weeks, from October 1 to 14. Most of the registration will still be conducted in Comelec offices, but there are still mall registration sites,

adding online reactivation still an option, he said. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the poll’s decision was a positive development amid the pandemic. “There is ample time given, we call on all eligible voters, especially the youth, to register early, and not re-

sort to last-minute registration, while adhering to minimum public health standards. Let us all exercise our right of suffrage,” Roque said. More than 61 million new and returning voters had registered, as of August, compared to over 61.8 million who cast their votes in the 2019 national and local elections.

By Rio N. Araja

OVID-19 could easily infect people with an unhealthy heart, doctors on Wednesday said.

Xmas... From A1

He also said that the granular lockdowns and alert level system being implemented in the NCR are effective, but vaccination is also a major factor why cases will decline by December. Metro Manila is under Alert Level 4, which includes targeted lockdowns in areas with a cluster of infections. The 5-tier alert system is being piloted in Metro Manila until Sept. 30. "We are not saying this is sudden but we saw that the number of cases was declining. Actually, we peaked last Sept.11 and after that, the number of cases in Metro Manila was decreasing," David said. Though some provinces may still see an increase in cases, the overall numbers should be lower by December, he said. Another good sign, he said, was that the COVID-19 reproduction number, which refers to the number of people that a carrier can infect, has dropped from 0.98 to 0.96 nationwide. In Metro Manila, it was 0.94. A reproduction number that is below 1 indicates that the transmission of the virus is slowing down. In a post on Twitter, David said new

DOJ... From A1

branch may only use moral suasion, including the grant of incentives, to encourage widespread voluntary vaccinations,” Guevarra said, in a text message to reporters. However, Guevarra emphasized that President Duterte was correct in his statement that the state may also invoke police power to compel people to have vaccinations as “such power rests upon the inherent right of the state and the people to self-protection.” “This power, especially if accompanied by penalties or sanctions to enforce obedience or compliance, must be exercised through the legislature,” he said. In his recent public address, the President reiterated his appeal to the public to get vaccinated against COVID-19. “Because if everybody does not comply with the vaccines and we can have a widespread wildfire spread, then the police must go in and intervene in your private life so that you cannot be a danger to society,” the President warned. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte may certify it as urgent once lawmakers file the measure. “That is the jurisdiction of Congress but the President can always certify an administration

Sara... From A1

the latest PulseAsia Survey result indicated what she called the overwhelming desire of those surveyed for Sara Duterte to join the 2022 presidential race. The survey, conducted among 1,200 respondents from Sept. 6-11 2021, showed 20 percent of them prefer DuterteCarpio as their first choice for presidential candidate, followed by former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with 15 percent, Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso with 13 percent and Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao with 12 percent. Of the four presidential aspirants, Domagoso and Pacquiao had publicly announced that they were running for president. Others included in the survey were Sen. Grace Poe and Vice President Leni Robredo who came in 5th and 6th. Lacson, who has declared he is running for president, occupied the 7th spot. Also mentioned in the survey were former House Speaker Alan Cayetano, Sen. Christopher Go, former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, Walden Bello and former Defense Sec. Gilbert Teodoro. Cayetano, who also served as senator, said he might be inclined to seek the presidency. Trillanes is also training his gun on the presidency if Robredo would not offer herself as the standard bearer of the

It’s... From A1

Commission on Elections spokesperson James Jimenez said, an announcement welcomed by Malacañang and both chambers of Congress. Jimenez said the Comelec en banc

From A1

Rody... From A1

News House approves Bulacan mental health facility By Maricel Cruz THE House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill establishing a mental health clinic in San Jose Del Monte City in Bulacan, the first of its kind in the country. Voting 196 in the affirmative with zero negative and no abstention, the lower chamber approved House Bill 9980, authored by Rep. Florida Robes of San Jose del Monte City, that establishes a mental health clinic in the city to be funded and managed by the local government in conjunction with the Department of Health. Robes said the passage of the bill is very timely in the middle of the many mental health problems and issues brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Health Organization has noted increased levels of negative impact of the pandemic on the mental health of individuals all over the world. In the Philippines, there is a growing number of Filipinos suffering from mental health issues, according to Frances Prescila Cuevas, head of the National Health Program of the Department of Health, with at least 3.6 million suffering from mental disorders. “Mental health has been widely ignored and less prioritized by the government as our country has been considered one of the poorest in terms of mental health resources. The problem of mental health has even been more pronounced as we encounter the many ill-effects of COVID-19 with the lockdowns and social distancing which have prevented us from being with our friends and engaging in personal interactions and connection with other people,” Robes said. She said her bill will establish the San Jose Del Monte Mental Wellness Center which will provide services that include counseling and therapy, crisis counseling and intervention, medication,

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SC clears ex-UN envoy of graft T Rey E. Requejo

HE Supreme Court has upheld the Sandiganbayan’s decision acquitting the country’s former representative to the United Nations of graft charges filed against him by the Office of the Ombudsman for alleged questionable representation expenses for three years starting in 2003.

In its decision, the SC dismissed the petition by the anti-graft body through the Office of the Special Prosecutor seeking to overturn the ruling of the Sandiganbayan which granted the demurrer to evidence filed by former Philippine Representative to the UN Lauro Baja.

In the demurrer, Baja cited insufficiency of evidence to prove that he was liable for violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. “Once a demurrer to evidence has been granted in a criminal case, the

grant amounts to an acquittal. Any further prosecution for the same offense would violate the accused’s constitutional right against double jeopardy,” the High Court said. The anti-graft body had accused Baja of incurring questionable representation expenses in 2003, 2004, and 2005 totaling to $28,934.96 when he was the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. The high tribunal, however, found the Sandiganbayan’s grant of demurrer to evidence was proper. The SC noted that the information specifically charged Baja with claiming and receiving reimbursement for non-existent or fictitious representation expenses, and not for merely

submitting incomplete documents to support his claims. As the Sandiganbayan noted, the irregularities in the supporting documents were insufficient positive proof of the alleged non-payment. According to the SC, if evidence was insufficient to establish the elements of the offense charged, respondent Baja’s guilt could not have been proven beyond reasonable doubt. “As the Sandiganbayan pointed out, while the prosecution proved that respondent Baja’s expenses were improperly documented, it failed to present enough evidence that would lead to a conclusion that these expenses were completely fictitious or non-existent,” the tribunal ruled.

Villar seeks establishment of 3 marine multi-species hatcheries By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SPRUCING IT UP. Workers apply fresh paint on the walls of Lucky Chinatown Mall in Manila. Norman Cruz

TO GUARANTEE the sustainability of the country’s marine products supply, Sen. Cynthia Villar yesterday sought the Senate approval of bills proposing to establish three marine multi-species hatcheries. In her sponsorship speech, Villar, chairperson of the Senate committee on agriculture and food, said the hatcheries will be built in Libon, Albay; in the City Environmental Estate of Barangay Santa Lucia, in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan; and in Batad, Iloilo. Within two years after the construction of the Albay hatchery, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources shall transfer the management of the Central Multi-Species Hatchery to the Libon local government. The management of the Palawan hatchery will also be transferred to the LGU and to the Western Philippine University within five years from its construction. The satellite multi-species hatchery

in Batad, on the other hand, will eventually be managed by the Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College. In pushing for the approval of the hatcheries, Villar cited the significant contribution of fisheries to the national economy in terms of income and employment. In 2018, she related that the total fish production was estimated at 4.61 million metric tons, and the fisheries sector contributed $4.9 billion to the country’s economy. “However, compared to our South East Asian neighbors, we are only number four in marine capture after Indonesia, Vietnam and Myanmar. We are also number five in our inland (municipal waters) fisheries output compared to Myanmar, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam and number three with regards to aquaculture production, after Indonesia and Vietnam,” said Villar. Villar said the country’s estimated requirement for fish fry is about 3.5 billion annually. “We can only supply from local production 2.5 billion a year.”

Opinion

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Philippines likely unable to cope with next pandemic

A GROWING number of renowned epidemiologists are expressing the belief that another pandemic of COVID-19 proportions is going to hit the world before very long. In support of their belief, the epidemiologists are pointing to the fact that whereas a century divided the occurrence of the 1918 Spanish f lu pandemic and the outbreak of the current pandemic, major epidemics have occurred with increasing frequency since the start of the 21st century. They cite the Ebola, SARS and MERS epidemics of the last 30 years.

We’re barely coping today.

Given the public health experts’ foreboding, the question that by now should be uppermost in the minds of all Filipinos should be this: Is the Philippines likely to be able to cope with the next pandemic that will assault the world? Looking back to the things that have taken place in this country since the March 2020 lockdown, I am inclined to believe that the overwhelming answer to that question would be No. It is very easy to understand the Filipino people’s sentiment after a review of the government’s handling — mishandling would probably be a more accurate word — of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent/ current revelations in Congress regarding the government’s misuse of the meager funds available for financing the anti-pandemic effort

and for providing support for the millions of families suddenly deprived of incomes. Name the sin and IATF (InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases), the government’s central policymaking entity, has committed it, failed to do a good job of contact tracing and treating, failed to implement the lockdown system effectively, failed to ensure a smooth and speedy distribution SAP (Social Amelioration Program) benefits, failed to place early orders for sufficient vaccines and failed to give priority to the payment of the frontline workers’ benefits. These and related sins IATF has committed during the 18 months since the March 2020 lockdown. Filipinos have seen how the Russians - IATF’s top officials are called czars, aren’t they? - have botched their mission. And then there is the can of worms that is Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation’s dealings with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). What the Senate has uncovered in the course of its hearings on the billions of pesos of business done by little Pharmally with the government stinks to high heaven. To be able to cope with a pandemic - the current one and the one that the health scientists say is coming - a government not only must budget funds sufficient for all needs but also, and more important, must ensure that every anti-pandemic peso is efficiently spent. One question that no one asked during the Pharmally hearings was how IATF, a body that includes the Department of Health, did not keep track of how DOH was using the national-budget funds allocated to it for the purchase of COVID-19 equipment and supplies. IATF failed to keep its eye on DOH and DBM. The Philippines is barely able to cope with the current pandemic. Will it be able to cope with the pandemic that will follow this one? Not likely.

VCO and COVID-19

THIS September, we have been recording more than 100,000 COVID-19 cases per week, which translates to almost half a million newly infected individuals in just a month. With this, the government again implemented stricter quarantine measures in COVID-19 hotspots which have been eventually downgraded as the month ends. So far, the government’s COVID-19 response revolves around administration of vaccines, use of personal protective equipment, treatment of antiviral medicines such as tocilizumab and remdesivir, and observance of minimum public health protocols. We all know by now that COVID-19 treatments are costly. Antiviral medicines are priced in thousands of pesos, while hospital expenses cost more. Amidst these, I would like to put under the spotlight one of our own, the coconut. In a study conducted by DOSTFNRI in COVID-19 facilities in Laguna last year, it was found that daily intake of virgin coconut oil (VCO) as mixed in meals helped in speeding up recovery of individuals who were considered suspect and probable COVID-19 cases. The team of FNRI Director Agdeppa and Dr. Fabian Dayrit found that there was a faster reduction of signs and symptoms among patients served with meals containing VCO. Last year, Dr. Dayrit also headed a study which found that patients with low viral load who took VCO exhibited a decrease in COVID-19 count. Another clinical trial is

currently being conducted by DOST-PCHRD, with UP-PGH as venue, in order to study the safety and efficacy of VCO as adjunct therapy to COVID-19 hospitalized patients. The use of virgin coconut oil as a health supplement is not new. VCO is scientifically found to have antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. Several studies have been conducted

Coconut trees have long since given us life—medically and economically. in the past regarding the use of virgin coconut oil as supplements for minor illnesses. It was also found that virgin coconut oil has potential against viral infections. Moreover, VCO has reportedly been generally considered safe by the US FDA. With this, I urge the government to focus on the potential of VCO and officially consider it as adjunct therapy for COVID-19. The studies are available. While vaccines are known to reduce or prevent symptoms of COVID-19 infection, VCO can significantly help individuals with COVID-19 to recover swiftly. In a way, this will also help cut back treatment costs especially among the hospitalized. I, therefore, strongly urge the Department of Health to recognize these studies and incorporate VCO in meals of COVID-19 patients. I also call on the DOST to finance and initiate more studies on the potential of VCO in order to fully establish the extent of its benefits against COVID-19. Sri Lanka has reportedly expressed its intent to conduct its own study

EDITORIAL

Heeding the clamor

HE President and those egging him to stay in office beyond his term insist that they are doing this to heed “the public clamor” for him to once again seek a national post after his presidency ends in 2022.

In a virtual conference in June, his mouthpiece at the Palace said the unsolved drug problem and corruption in government were among the reasons that might convince Mr. Duterte to “heed the public clamor” and to take care of “unfinished business.” Let us forget for the moment that these were problems Mr. Duterte promised he would eradicate during the first six months of his term back in 2016. We can even gloss over, for the moment, the fact that this President and his spokesman have ignored compelling evidence of wrongdoing in the procurement of emergency medical supplies and have chosen instead to attack the lawmakers who are exposing government corruption. Mr. Duterte’s ticket back to the Palace—or so he hopes—is to run for the vice presidency, a cynical sidestep to the constitutional bar on a second presidential term. Once he is back in the Palace, he can assert his influence on the new president,

or simply replace that president if he or she steps down for any reason.

Perhaps this is coming from a small but noisy group of enablers. In August, a faction of the ruling PDP-Laban that supports Duterte said the President would make “the sacrifice and heed the clamor of the people” and run for vice president. He later said he would accept his party’s nomination to “continue the crusade” against drugs, the insurgency and criminality. Oddly enough, this time around, he did not mention government corruption. But if Mr. Duterte and his enablers are so keen on heeding the public clamor, they surely cannot ignore the recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showing that six out of 10 Fil-

ipinos believe that a vice presidential run by the President is unconstitutional. The survey, conducted from June 23 to 26 through face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adult Filipinos nationwide, has a margin of error of ±3 percent for national percentages, and ±6 percent for regional percentages. The survey found that 60 percent of the respondents agreed with the sentence, “The proposal that President Rodrigo Duterte should run for Vice-President in the 2022 election violates the intention of the Constitution, which should first be amended before he may run for office again.” Only 39 percent of respondents agreed with the sentence, “President Rodrigo Duterte should run for Vice-President in the 2022 election, because I would like his management of the government to continue.” In fact, across all regions and levels of educational attainment, a majority think Duterte running for vice president violates the Constitution. Those are sobering numbers that suggest that perhaps “the clamor” for Mr. Duterte to run for vice president next year is really coming from a small but noisy group of enablers who have tied their fortunes to an aging president who failed to deliver on his promises in six years, and whose time in office is coming to an end.

Ceasefire PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte and the Senate — particularly Senator Richard Gordon who chairs the Blue Ribbon Committee — are still at it. Senator Gordon, during his Senate committee hearings, and the President, during his weekly address to the nation. The temperature is getting hotter that it’s about time both gentlemen cooled down and declared a ceasefire. This is before the rhetoric gets out of hand and something untoward happens. Unfortunately, no one wants to be the first one to initiate the ceasefire. The Senate can certainly go about its business of investigating alleged corruption but tone down the commentaries until the investigation is over and a committee report is published. Perhaps, the daily press interviews can wait until all the invited resource persons have given their statements. The senators can also try to avoid being baited by journalists with their leading and sometimes provocative questions so as not to inflame further the situation. That way, accusations of politicking can be avoided. The President, on the other hand, can also consider not using his weekly address to defend his friends and attack Senator Gordon and the Senate. Maybe, he can call a separate press conference for that purpose. This way this tussle would be issuebased, nothing personal. We know that the elections are now upon us and with that, the usual verbal fireworks are expected. But hopefully, everyone can keep to the issues and avoid insulting and offensive personal remarks. Corruption in government is certainly a very important issue but this can be debated without all the accusations f lying all over the place. After all, only our judicial courts can decide who is guilty and

who is not. Right now, since no one has been charged, everyone is innocent until proven guilty by a court of law. What is happening instead is that both sides are competing in the court of public opinion trying to convince the public that one side is right. But this is not the best way to determine who is right and who is wrong. Navigating a delicate issue like corruption is difficult enough and if not handled properly might just backfire on both sides. If public approval is what both sides are fighting for, why don’t the pollsters just conduct a survey and ask the public who is right? That way, we do not have to wait for nine months until the election to find out.

If this drama does not end, all of us would lose. The debate, if it is that, is one of the strangest that I have witnessed. The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee is investigating Pharmally Pharmaceuticals accusing it of being a flyby-night corporation bilking the government of billions of pesos. The President however, is saying that the purchases had to be made because of the exigency of the situation. People were dying and the government had to act regardless of regulations because the country is in an emergency situation. One side is obviously not getting the whole point of the exercise. All the more reason that there should be a ceasefire to cool things down. It is hard to say what the public is thinking right now. Because of the heat being generated, this might be the right time for another survey to ask which side the people believe. What seems inexplicable is the way the President has defended Michael Yang, his Chinese friend. We of course know that about him — a friend is a friend. He goes to great lengths to defend friends even if it

hurts him politically. This is certainly true by the way he defended Health Secretary Francisco Duque which may have caused his approval rating to go down last June. With this ongoing drama, we still do not know the effect until the next survey is done. Senate committee hearings have a tendency of becoming a circus. For this reason, perhaps the President should have pulled his punches but as we can all see, that is not his style. He is an unconventional politician. With the array of political forces almost complete, this tussle will surely continue into the campaign especially if Senator Gordon will be a candidate for President. At a time when social media reigns supreme, silence can be golden. But this is apparently one commodity lacking these days. Everyone wants to be heard. No one wants to follow the prescient advice of the late Senator Manuel Manahan when he said that “more talk, more mistakes; less talk, less mistakes.” Let us all hope that this drama ends on a positive note. Because if it does not, no one wins. Not the President or Senator Gordon. Only the country loses. Our country whose reputation is currently already not impressive will almost certainly deteriorate further.

MORE OPINION ONLINE

(www.manilastandard.net)

Barking up the wrong tree Digital equity for all ages

on the use of VCO as treatment for COVID-19. We should be proud that we have found a potential treatment for COVID-19 in our very own backyard. Coconut trees have long since given us life—medically and

economically. In turn, I urge the government to support the coconut industry, especially in coconutproducing provinces such as Quezon. As it continues to give life, let us bring to life its industry.

By Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana United Nations Under-Secretary-General Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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News

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

SHABU BAGS.

An officer of the Bureau of Customs Port of NAIA holds up two bags of food chips that also contained shabu in two parcels from Malaysia that held a total of P7.5 million worth of the illegal drug on Wednesday. The items were turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group. (See story below)

Grenade lobbed at home of CdO solon Rodriguez By Rio N. Araja TWO motorcycle-riding men lobbed a grenade at the ancestral home of Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez past midnight Wednesday in Barangay Nazareth in the city. A World War II-era Mk grenade landed on the garage of the Rodriguez’s house but did not go off, police investigators said. “We condemn in the strongest terms this act of violence perpetrated by unknown men,” the lawmaker’s family said in a statement Rodriguez posted to his Twitter account. According to the family’s security guard, the suspects sped off after throwing the grenade. Only the guards and the helpers were at the Rodriguez residence when the incident took place. “Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez and Councilor Bebot Rodriguez will ensure that the services offered by their respective offices are unhampered even during these trying times,” the family statement added. The Commission on Human Rights expressed alarm over the threat “against the personal safety and security of an elected official and his family in the most despicable manner.” “Apart from endangering the lives of residents, such a violent incident desecrates the sense of peace and security that every individual has the right to enjoy within the safety of his/ her/their own home,” spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said. “The CHR supports the plea of the family that justice must be served to hold perpetrators accountable from this act of cowardice and intimidation,” she said in a statement. Cagayan de Oro police chief Colonel Aaron Mandia said he was personally taking the lead in investigating the incident. He said it was too early to say if the attack was election-related. Rep. Rodriguez earlier said he was consulting his family, political allies, and supporters about running for city mayor of Cagayan de Oro again. The leader of the federalism advocate Centrist Democratic Party failed in his first attempt in 2016 when he challenged the reelection bid of Mayor Oscar Moreno.

Comelec eyes November decision on PDP-Laban

HE Commission on Elections will hear both factions of the ruling PDP-Laban party before declaring which side is legitimate by November, its chairman Sheriff Abas said Wednesday. Abas said they are expecting both camps of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and Senator Manny Pacquiao to file the certificates of candidacies of their respective nominees. “For as long we don’t have a decision, we don’t know which faction is legitimate. Surely, the two factions will field their candidacy, that’s for sure,” he said in a television interview. Abas said the Comelec will still hear the petitions of both camps, after which

the commission’s board will decide. “We will conduct clarificatory hearing and after that, we will submit to the en banc. We will vote on that, maybe sometime November,” Abas said. Earlier this month, the Cusi-led PDPLaban faction filed a petition before the Comelec to declare Pacquiao and Senator Aquilino Pimentel III as illegal representatives of the party. The poll body has already ordered Pacquiao and Pimentel to respond to the

petition filed by the Cusi wing. Pacquiao’s group has maintained they are the legitimate PDP-Laban group. Pimentel, meanwhile, emphasized he is a member of PDP-Laban since the 1980s. The senator’s father, the late former Senate President Nene Pimentel, is the founder of the party. Pacquiao was recently named the presidential candidate of his PDP-Laban faction. Cusi’s group nominated Senator Bong Go as its presidential candidate and President Rodrigo Duterte as the running mate for next year’s elections. Go has not accepted his nomination until now, but Duterte already signed his Certificate of Nomination Acceptance.

Involve youth in programs, says Bongbong FORMER Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos has challenged public officials to involve the youth sector in their plans and programs, particularly about issues that will have a significant impact on their lives and communities. “We have to listen to that voice because we are not here forever. Before you know it, we are gone. They have to take over and be prepared and they have to be ready and know what it is they need to do to make the Philippines a successful country,” Marcos added. Marcos said he was disheartened with the fact that the youth sector is not well-represented in the discussion, planning, organizing and policy-making which was clearly a direct contrast in the vision of the Philippine Youth Commission (PYC) which he authored during his first term in Congress. “I always consider myself as part of the youth movement because that’s where I started. It was my sister Imee then leading the well-organized Kabataang Barangay who involved me in community program and that was really the start of everything that I did now as public servant,” Marcos said in an interview with Zamboanga Citybased GBPI TV 11. “So, it has stayed with me. It stayed with me so much that the Philippine Youth Commission is a law that was authored by me in my first term in Congress. That was something I saw right now, na parang hindi well-represented ang kabataan,” Marcos added.

NAIA Customs seizes shabu worth P7.5m By Joel E. Zurbano

GOVERNMENT agents detailed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport seized two smuggled shipments of shabu from Malaysia worth more than P7.5 million. Personnel from the Port of NAIA, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group found the 1.1 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride concealed in two air parcels in the Federal Express warehouse in Pasay City. The shipments were formally turned over to PDEA on Wednesday for proper disposition. Authorities refused to identify the owners of the shipments. They said the consignees will also be held liable for technical smuggling for misdeclaring the shipments as clothes, slippers and food chips.

HONORED GUEST. House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep Martin Romualdez (right) warmly welcomes Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana to his office during a courtesy call before the 2022 Budget Deliberation of the DND at the plenary of the House of Representatives on Wednesday. Ver Noveno

Angeles City Hall workers to get P34,000 each in yearend incentives By Jess Malabanan ANGELES CITY – City Hall employees, whether permanent, casual or contractual workers, will receive a total of P34,000 as year-end incentives, including a P17,000 Christmas bonus, Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. said Wednesday. Apart from the Christmas bonus,

the incentive includes a Collective Negotiation Agreement bonus of P6,000, service recognition incentives worth P6,000, and productivity enhancement incentives worth P5,000. These will be released in separate dates before the start of holiday season, Lazatin said. Over 1,300 City Hall employees are qualified to receive the incentives, the

mayor said, citing Memorandum 1380 he issued on Sept. 28. Job Order employees, on the other hand, will receive a P3,000 yearend gratuity on Dec. 7 this year. This is apart from all city workers’ tax-free year-end bonus, equivalent to one month basic salary, amounting to a total of P32,542,594, which is set to be released on November 15.

Lazatin earlier directed the City Budget Office, Accounting and the Treasurer Department to compute and prepare the cash incentives for City Hall employees ahead of the Yuletide season. “Ito po ay bilang kapasalamatan sa dedikasyon at serbisyo ng mga manggagagawang Angeleños sa gitna ng pandemya,” Lazatin said.

Bureau hiring 195 Immigration officers for 2022

By Vito Barcelo

THE Bureau of Immigration said it will hire another 195 immigration officers by yearend to deploy them by the first quarter of 2022. BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said the bureau’s personnel selection board is currently fast-tracking the process of selecting new immigration inspectors so they could be deployed to the country’s major airports in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, as well as border crossing stations in the south by January next year. Earlier this month, the bureau conducted online interviews to

aspiring immigration officers. Hundreds of applicants were interviewed by the BI heads after hurdling their online examination. “The list of qualified applicants will be submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ), who will then select those who will be hired,” said Morente. “Upon hiring, these new immigration officers could be trained right away and deployed to serve the traveling public,” he said. Morente stressed that the new batch of recruits will have to undergo a three-month training on immigration laws, rules, and procedures prior to getting their field assignments as border control officers.

DAR ConNECT gives out 144 land titles in Quezon THE Department of Agrarian Reform in Quezon province has launched the DAR ConNECT through a simultaneous and synchronized provincewide distribution of certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) and “Kumustahan” with the agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations.

Assistant Secretary Rene Colocar, former DAR Calabarzon regional director, said through the use of modern technology, the DAR Quezon II has distributed 144 land titles covering 243.5667 hectares of agricultural lands to 155 agrarian reform beneficiaries in 15 municipal agrarian re-

form offices. DAR ConNECT or Continuous Networking and Enhanced Coordination through Technology is an initiative and innovative idea of DAR Quezon II to speed up CLOA distribution and interaction with the ARBs through virtual connectivity. Rio N. Araja

FROZEN ASSET. Officials of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Anti-Money

Laundering Council and the Bureau of Customs serve a freeze order by the Court of Appeals on the real properties of two suspected drug personalities this week. PDEA Director General Wilkins M. Villanueva, AMLC Executive Director Mel Georgie B. Racela, BOC Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Raniel Ramiro, and CIIS Director Jeoffrey Tacio posted notices of the order on two of the suspects’ properties with a conservative market value of P70 million in Quezon City.

Manila

Standard

CONTRACT CAPACITY, MINIMUM CONTRACT QUANTITY AND NOMINATION PROTOCOL

Republic of the Philippines

TODAY ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION Pasig City

1. The Contract Capacity for the duration of the Contract shall be as follows:

IN THE MATTER OF THE JOINT APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE ELECTRIC SUPPLY CONTRACT (ESC) ENTERED INTO BY AND BETWEEN MACTAN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INC. (MECO) AND SMC CONSOLIDATED POWER CORPORATION (SCPC), WITH MOTION FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY OR INTERIM RELEIF AND CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF INFROMATION

D-9

Board Resolution dated January 7, 2019 re: Conduct of CSP through Comparative Proposals

D-10

Notice of Award and/or Notice to Proceed

D-11

Certification of MECO’s General Manager re: Conduct of CSP

Executive Summary of the ESC

E-1

List of Power Supply Agreements

b. At any point up to 25 March 2026, the Contract Capacity may be increased up to 50,000 kW subject to Article [5].

E-2

Transmission Service Agreement

E-3

Metering Service Agreement

c. Starting 26 March 2026 until the end of the Contract Term, the Contract Capacity shall be 50,000 kW.

E-4

Details of the ESC

a. Starting 26 July 2021 or SED as provided in Article 2.2, whichever comes later, the initial Contract Capacity shall be 30,000 kW

Sample Computation of Power Rates and Rate Impact Computation

Articles of Incorporation and By Laws of SCPC

Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Certificate of SCPC

General Information Sheet (“GIS”) of SCPC

xxx

Certificate of SCPC from the Board of Investments (“BOI”)

ANNEX II-A SMC CONSOLIDATED POWER CORPORATION (SCPC) GENERATION CHARGE, ENERGY FEES AND ADJUSTMENT FORMULA

Environmental Compliance Certificate (“ECC”) issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (“DENR”) to the Limay Power Plant

Notice is hereby given that on 27 August 2021, Mactan Electric Company, Inc. (MECO) and SMC Consolidated Power Corporation (SCPC) filed a Joint Application dated 12 July 2021, seeking the approval of their Electric Supply Contract (ESC), with motion for the provisional authority or interim relief and confidential treatment of information.

Write up on the Shareholders’ Agreement of SCPC

The BUYER shall pay the SELLER for the Delivered Energy at the following Energy Fees and as adjusted on a monthly basis pursuant to the following formula:

Corporate Structure of SMC Global Power Holdings Inc. and its Subsidiaries

Certificate of Compliance (“COC”) issued by the Energy Regulatory Commission (“ERC”) to SCPC

Certificate of Endorsement (“COE”) issued by the Department of Energy (“DOE”) to SCPC

The pertinent allegations of the Joint Application are hereunder quoted as follows:

Where:

Affidavit of the Fuel Procurement Process of SCPC

2. The Minimum Contract Quantity per Billing Period for the duration of the Contract shall be based on the eighty percent (80%) Load Factor of the prevailing Contract Capacity as stated above. The Buyer shall maintain a minimum hourly energy nomination of eighty percent (80%) of the prevailing Contract Capacity.

ERC Case No. 2021-070 RC MACTAN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INC. (MECO) AND SMC CONSOLIDATED POWER CORPORATION (SCPC),

September 17, 2021

Applicants. x-----------------------------------------------------------x NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

GCBP = DEBP * ( CRFAdj + FOM + VOM + FF )

GCBP - Generation Charge in PhP for the Billing Period

MECO is a private corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Philippines, with principal address at

DEBP - Delivered Energy in kWh, for the Billing Period

MECO Building, Sangi Road, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. It has a legislative franchise and Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to operate the electric light and power distribution system and service in the City of Lapu-Lapu and in the Municipality of Cordova. MECO is represented by its General Manager and Senior Vice President, Engr. Gilbert A. Pagobo, as shown in the attached Secretary’s Certificate dated July 6, 2021. It may be served with notices and processes at the address of its undersigned counsel. 2.

7. 8.

P-1

CRFAdj - Applicable Capital Recovery Fee for the Billing Period calculated as follows:

LF actual = Buyer’s actual load factor for the Billing Period

SCPC is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Philippines, with principal address at Roman Highway, Barangay Lamao, Limay, Bataan, Philippines. It is the owner of a Circulating Fluidized Bed Boiler Coal-fired Power Plant located in Limay, Bataan, and has committed to build the “Mactan Greenfield Plant” in Mactan Island.

FOM - Fixed Operation and Maintenance Fee set at zero (PhP0.0000/ kWh) VOM - Variable Operation and Maintenance Fee set at zero (PhP0.0000/ kWh) FF - Fuel Fee set at PhP2.0000/kWh (fixed/non-adjusting)

In view of the anticipated expiration of the Power Sales Contract1 between MECO and KEPCO SPC Power Corporation (“KSPC”), on December 4, 2017, the former received an unsolicited proposal from the latter for the continuation of the 28MW power supply and for the additional supply 22MW, or a total of 50MW contract capacity for a period of ten (10) years.

ANNEX II-B MACTAN GREENFILED PLANT GENERATION CHARGE, ENERGY FEES AND ADJUSTMENT FORMULA

In compliance with the rules on competitive selection process (“CSP”) of the Energy Regulatory Commission (“ERC”) as per ERC Resolution No. 13, Series of 2015 and ERC Resolution No. 01, Series of 2016, KSPC’s unsolicited proposal was subjected to a swiss challenge, where KSPC was given the status of the Original Proponent (“OP”) with the right-to- match the offer of any leading challenger.

The BUYER shall pay the SELLER for the Delivered Energy at the following Energy Fees and as adjusted on a monthly basis pursuant to the following formula; GCBP = DEBP * ( CRFAdj + FOM + VOM + FFAdj )

GCBP - Generation Charge in PhP for the Billing Period DEBP - Delivered Energy in kWh, for the Billing Period CRFAdj - Current Capital Recovery Fee applicable for the Billing Period calculated as follows:

The Original Proponent failed to match SCPC’s proposal; hence, SCPC was declared as the winning Challenger.

CRF base = Base Capital Recovery Fee set at PhP1.3333/kWh

CRF Adj = CRF base / LF actual

LF actual = Buyer’s actual load factor for the Billing Period

In the meantime, Covid-19 caused a global economic impasse. After an assessment of the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the industrial and commercial activities within MECO’s franchise area, MECO expects a significant reduction in its projected power demand insofar as the 50MW contracted capacity is concerned. To resolve this issue, MECO and SCPC have mutually agreed to allow MECO to procure a minimum of 30MW beginning 26 July 2021, and if at any time thereafter, the demand has normalized and recovered, the additional capacity on top of the minimum of 30MW up to 50MW contract capacity, shall be procured by MECO from SCPC.

FOM - Fixed Operation and Maintenance Fee set at PhP 0.3000/kWh (fixed/non-adjusting) VOM - Variable Operation and Maintenance Fee set at PhP 0.1000/kWh (fixed/non-adjusting) FF Adj - Current Fuel Fee applicable for the Billing Period calculated as follows: FF Adj = FF base * ( FO current / FO base )

In June 2021, MECO and SCPC executed their Energy Supply Contract (“ESC”), which is the subject of this Application. A copy of the ESC is attached as Annex “A” and its salient features are shown below:

FF base = Base Fuel Fee set at PhP2.4000/kWhBtu FO current = Current landed and processed cost of fuel, including regas and storage in USD/mm

Article 2 Term

Contract Capacity and Delivered Energy

5.1.1 Beginning SED, the SELLER shall make available to the BUYER, and the BUYER shall take or pay on a monthly basis the Delivered Energy up to Contract Capacity and subject to the Minimum Contract Quantity for each Billing Period as specified in Energy Fees stated in Annex II – A and Annex II – B. The Minimum Contract Quantity for each Billing Period as specified in Annex I shall not be changed by either Party except in cases provided for this Contract. 5.1.2 The Contract Capacity and Minimum Contract Quantity shall be delivered by the SELLER at the SELLER’s high voltage side of the transformer of the Plant as provided in Annex III. This will be used for purposes of billing and settlement. Title and risk of loss for the Contract Capacity and Delivered Energy shall be transferred to the BUYER at the high voltage side of the Plant’s transformer. 5.2

Supply

5.2.1 The SELLER shall have no obligation to supply more than the Contract Capacity as provided for in Annex I. The BUYER acknowledges that it is obligated to take no less than the Contract Capacity at eighty percent (80%) Load Factor (LF) for each Billing Period and shall maintain a minimum hourly energy nomination of eighty percent (80%) of the Contract Capacity for the duration of the Contract Term subject to the Nomination Protocol as contained in Annex I below. 5.2.2 For Delivered Energy, the BUYER shall submit to the SELLER, a month-ahead nomination translated into hourly and daily schedule referred as the BCQ in seven (7) calendar days prior to the start of the next Billing Period, in accordance with the “Nomination Protocol” to be agreed upon by the Parties or prescribed by the Market Operator. 5.2.3 In the event that the capability of the SELLER to deliver capacity or the capability of the BUYER to take the capacity are each affected by the occurrence of an Event of Force Majeure, the provisions of Article 10 (Force Majeure) shall apply. 5.3 Meter registrations at the BUYER’s receiving point over and above the BCQ or the nominated quantity shall be deemed purchased by the BUYER from the WESM or other supplier(s). 5.4 Further, the SELLER and/or through its affiliate(s) commits to build “Mactan Greenfield Plant” and endeavors to connect directly to the distribution system of the BUYER by 2024-2025 to supply the BUYER’s power requirements. Supply from this power plant will result in savings in transmission and other energy market charges in favor of the BUYER from the commercial operations of the same until the end of the Contract Term. This power plant will utilize High Efficiency Low Emission technology and will not use coal as fuel but should adequately and reliably provide the energy requirements of the BUYER. xxx Article 8 Contract Charges and Adjustments 8.1

FO base = Base landed cost of fuel set at USD5.00/mmBtu xxx 10. Based on the rate computation and analysis, the ESC will have a rate impact of (Php1.3428)/kwh reduction in electricity cost as shown below – Recalculation of May and June 2021 Rates

May

Prompt Payment Discount on the Capital Recovery Fee shall be based on the table contained in Annex II – C and subject to Article 9.2.2. xxx ANNEX I

June

May

June

SCPC Demand in KW

if at 30,000 KW

Energy in KWH

22,320,000.00

Capacity Recovery Fee

1.3333

O&M Fee

0.0000

Fuel Fee (Nonadjusting/Fixed)

if at 50,000 KW 21,600,000.00

36,000,000.00

37,200,000.00

Decision of the Point-to-Point Case of SCPC docketed as 2016-015 MC

Connection Agreement of SCPC

Transmission Service Agreement of SCPC

Relevant Technical Details of the SCPC Plant

Net Heat Rate of SCPC

Latest Audited Financial Statement of SCPC

Write up on the Ancillary Service of SCPC

Write up on the Minimum Energy Off Take of SCPC

Secretary’s Certificate of SCPC

3.3333

Energy

22,320,000.00

21,600,000.00

22,320,000.00

21,600,000.00

Amount

74,399,256.00

71,999,280.00

74,399,256.00

71,999,280.00

Energy

5,233.71

5,697.11

5,233.71

5,697.11

Amount

20,012.50

22,294.05

20,012.50

22,294.05

50% of NET PPD

532,376.35

556,704.71

598,103.57

568,597.00

PCR

491,922.60

420,914.86

491,922.60

420,914.86

Blended Gen Rate

3.9984

5.0355

3.5039

4.0888

Implemented Blended Gen Rate

5.4231

6.3784

5.4231

6.3784

Rate Impact (Increase / -Decrease)

-1.4247

-1.3428

-1.9192

-2.2895

11. In support of this Application, MECO and SCPC respectfully submit the following documentary requirements: Annex B

Documents/Information Amended Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of MECO

B-1

General Information Sheet (GIS) for the Year 2020 of MECO

B-2

Copy of Republic Act No. 10890 or “An Act Granting the Mactan Electric Company, Inc. (MECO) a Franchise to Construct, Install, Establish, Operate and Maintain a Distribution System for the Conveyance of Electric Power to the End Users in the City of Lapu-Lapu and the Municipality of Cordova, Province of Cebu

B-3

Copy of the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity of MECO

Explanation re: Non-Applicability of the Transition Supply Contract with National Power Corporation (“NPC”) of MECO

C-1

Distribution Development Plan of MECO

C-2

Graphical Representation of the Supply and Demand Scenario of MECO

CCand series

Proof of Service to the Sanggunians within the franchise area of MECO and Sangguniang Pangbayan of Limay, of copies of the Joint Application (including annexes)

DD and series

Affidavit of Publication and complete issue of the newspapers where the Joint Application was published

Motion for Provisional Authority and

12. Applicants respectfully move for provisional authority and interim relief to implement the ESC pending the resolution of this Application on account of the exposure to the volatile prices of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) especially these recent times where such prices are at record high.

13.1 MECO sources its power supply from KSPC at 28MW and CEDC at 15MW, respectively. MECO’s current power demand is 68MW at a load factor of 74%. Thus, MECO’s market exposure is 25MW at 40% load factor. 13.2 Last May 21, 2021, MECO’s contract with KSPC expired. This raised the exposure to WESM prices from 33% to 75% and the average prices for May and June are Php 8.63/kwh and PhP 7.07/ kwh, respectively. 13.3 As shown in this Application and its supporting documents, the price offered in the ESC is fixed at PhP 3.3333/kwh as compared to the current cost of electricity at PhP 7.07/kwh.

15. Moreover, considering that Section 3 of Rule 14 provides that the Commission shall hold in abeyance the resolution on the said motion until after the lapse of thirty (30) days from the receipt of the copy of the application by the concerned local legislative offices within the franchise area or from the publication of the application, whichever comes later, applicants respectfully move for authority to draw power from SCPC at the rate of PhP3.3333/kwh to commence on 26 July 2021 pending the resolution of the motion for the provisional authority. 16. The applicants understand that the provisional authority and interim relief granted by the Commission are subject to adjustments and other conditions if upon final evaluation of the case, the Commission determines that the applicants are not entitled to the full amount of the provisional and interim rate allowed. Motion for Confidential Treatment of Information Rule 4 of Resolution No. 1, Series of 2021 17. MECO respectfully moves for confidential treatment of the information contained in Annexes D-4, D-5, and D-6. These documents contain valuable proprietary interest and information relating to the business operations, commercial transactions, and financial standing of other juridical entities. The information sought to be protected does not belong to MECO and any disclosure thereof to a third person may expose MECO to liability. 18. Likewise, SCPC would like to plead for the judicious wisdom of the Honorable Commission to afford Annexes P-1 and Q confidential treatment in the handling and custody thereof.

2.0000

Total Rate

Details of the CSP Process for MECO

D-1

Invitation to Submit Comparative Proposals to Challenge KSPC’s Proposal

D-2

Affidavit of Publication of the newspaper of general circulation where the Verified Joint Application was published.

D-3

Copy of the Published Invitation dated October 15, 2018 in Malaya Business Insight

D-4

Proposals Received from SCPC and CEDC (confidential)

19. The subject annexes of SCPC is a product of mathematical procedures and information that were used in its dealings with coal/fuel suppliers. The sensitive information and processes therein are the results of the extensive, meticulous and arduous analysis and discussion amongst the responsible personnel of SCPC and which are not publicly available. Given the foregoing, the same must not be disclosed to the public before, during and even after the conclusion of this case. 20. Under the circumstances, these are trade secrets that exclusively belong to SCPC which were afforded by the prevailing jurisprudence2 a mantle of protection against unauthorized disclosure to third persons or other participants in the industry which will definitely compromise SCPC’s competitiveness. 21. The interests of the consumers of MECO will be sufficiently protected by the review and evaluation of the rates under the ESC by the Honorable Commission, without the need to disclose the contents of Annexes P-1 and Q. The reasonableness and transparency of the prices of electricity is to be assured by the Honorable Commission through its own review and verification of the foregoing documents sought to be afforded confidential treatment in the evaluation and handling thereof. One copy each of the mentioned annexes will be placed in a sealed envelope which will be tagged as “Confidential” coupled with a narrative for that purpose will be submitted as integral parts hereof. 22. Finally and in relation to the foregoing, MECO and SCPC would like to implore the discerning wisdom of the Honorable Commission to include in its issuance relative to this incident the “xxx xxx procedures for handling or returning the confidential information, as may be appropriate, upon the close of the proceedings or at the end of the period provided xxx xxx”3- - - in the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure. 23. This is guided by the fact that the applicants herein will seek for the return of these sought to be declared confidential annexes after its utilization as evidence in this case and/or at the close of the proceedings hereof, so as to relieve the Honorable Commission of the burden of safekeeping the trade secrets enclosed/embraced in the subject annexes. RELIEF APPLICANTS respectfully pray that the Honorable Commission – 1. Before and during the pendency of the proceedings/scheduled hearing(s) and the final resolution/approval of this case, that an Order be issued for the GRANT of: (i) an Authority to Draw power from SCPC on 26 July 2021 at the rate of PhP3.3333/kwh as indicated in the ESC pending the issuance of the Provisional Authority or Interim Relief; (ii) a Provisional Authority or Interim Relief allowing the Joint Applicants to immediately implement the ESC subject of this case in its entirety;

D-5

Evaluation Report of the PSPP-BAC dated November 19, 2018 (confidential)

D-6

Evaluation

D-7

Rules for the Evaluation of Challenge Bids In Re: Invitation to Submit Comparative Proposals to Challenge KSPC’s Proposal

(iii) an Order affording Annexes D-4, D-5, and D-6, P-1 and Q, and all the information contained therein confidential treatment in perpetuity, directing their non-disclosure to persons other than the officers and staff of the Honorable Commission, continually protecting the said information from public disclosure by maintaining the same as separate and apart from the records of this case, ensuring that these are not divulged to unauthorized persons, from the time these annexes are received by the Honorable Commission up to the termination of the instant case; and,

D-8

Letter dated March 8,2019 re: Notice for Leading Challenger Status on the Invitation to Submit Comparative Proposals to Challenge KSPC’s Proposal

(iv) an Issuance concerning the procedures for handling the confidential information upon the close of the proceedings and its return/delivery to MECO and SCPC.

Generation Charge.

Energy Fees comprising of Capital Recovery Fee, Fixed Operation and Maintenance Fee, Variable Operation and Maintenance Fee and Fuel Fee. The monthly Generation Charge shall be computed based on the formula contained in Annex II – A and Annex II – B;

Certification on the Non-Applicability of a Renewable Energy Service/Operating Contract and Certification of Registration or Certificate of Commerciality by an RE Developer from the Department of Energy (DOE)

14. Therefore, it is to the utmost benefit of the consumers of MECO if it can draw power from SCPC by 26 July 2021.

Where:

Salient Features of the ESC

5.1

13. The necessity to draw power on 26 July 2021 is not only on account of MECO’s mandate to provide the least cost of electricity to its consumers, but is also based on the following factual considerations:

Based on the evaluation of the proposals by the PSPP-BAC, SCPC’s proposal will have the most beneficial impact to the consumers. Resultantly, SCPC was declared as the leading Challenger.

2.2 Supply Effective Date (“SED”). The Supply Effective Date shall be 26 July 2021 at interval 0001 hour subject to the submission of BUYER of all the following requirements at least thirty (30) calendar days prior to SED or such other date as may be agreed upon by the Parties in writing. xxx Article 5 Sale and Purchase of Contract Capacity and Delivered Energy

Cost Analysis of SCPC

Interim Relief Rule 14 of Resolution No. 1, Series of 2021

Where:

On October 8 and October 15, 2018, MECO, through its Power Supply Procurement Plan – Bids and Awards Committee (“PSPPBAC”), published an “Invitation to Submit a Comparative Proposal to Challenge KSPC’s Proposal” in Malaya Business Insight prompting SCPC and Cebu Energy Development Corporation (“CEDC”) to submit their respective proposals.

2.1 Term. This Contract shall be binding between the Parties on the date of signing (“Execution Date”) and shall remain effective for a period of ten (10) years (“Contract Term”) from Supply Effective Date, extendible for another two (2) years, upon mutual agreement, on the same terms and conditions, subject to the applicable laws and issuances. Supply of electric power by the SELLER shall commence on Supply Effective Date, extendible as defined below and shall continue until the end of the Contract Term.

Power Rate Calculations and Financial Model (confidential)

CRFAdj = CRF base / LF actual CRF base = Base Capital Recovery Fee set at PhP1.3333/kWh

Write up on the Fuel Procurement Process of SCPC (confidential)

Summary of the Challengers’ Offer (confidential)

World

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 ||

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Canary Island volcano lava hits sea, raising fears of toxic gases MADRID—Lava from an erupting volcano in the Canary Islands has reached the ocean, volcanologists said, raising fears of toxic gases being released as the magma hits the seawater. The Spanish archipelago had earlier declared an exclusion zone of two nautical miles around the location the lava was expected to enter the Atlantic and asked residents to stay at home. “The lava flow has reached the sea at Playa Nueva,” the Canary Islands Volcanic Institute (Involcan) said on Twitter Tuesday night. The Cumbre Vieja volcano, which straddles a southern ridge in La Palma, an island with 85,000 inhabitants, erupted on September 19, spewing out rivers of lava that have slowly crept towards the sea. Dramatic television images showed a stream of glowing lava cascading off a cliff into the water, creating a large cloud of smoke. The lava flow had already generated

ERUPTION. Lava from a volcano eruption flows on the island of La Palma in the Canaries on September 23. The eruption on the small Spanish island in the Atlantic Ocean forced the evacuation of thousands of people. AFP

an impressive deposit more than 50 metres (164 feet) high, researchers from the Spanish Institute of Oceanography tweeted, posting pictures from the research vessel Ramon Margalef. Residents of several areas of Tazacorte, a village near the coast, were told Monday to stay at home to avoid harm from the release of toxic gases that can take place due to a reaction between the 1,000 degrees Celsius (1,800 degrees Fahrenheit) lava and water. On Tuesday afternoon, the slow-moving lava flow, which has varied in speed over the past few days, was still around 800 metres (half a mile) from the coast. Residents were warned to stay home due to “the possibility that there will be a small shock when the magma enters the seawater, and that this small shock causes vapours which can be toxic,” stressed Miguel Angel Morcuende, technical director of the Canary Islands Volcanic Emergency Plan (Pevolca). AFP

N. Korea says it tested hypersonic missile Vaccine chief, S former foreign EOUL—North Korea has successfully tested a new hypersonic gliding missile, state media reported Wednesday, in what would be the nuclear-armed nation’s latest advance in weapons technology.

Hypersonic missiles move far faster and are more agile than standard ones, making them much harder for missile defence systems—on which the US is spending billions—to intercept. The launch from Jagang province “confirmed the navigational control and stability of the missile”, along with its “guiding manoeuvrability and the gliding flight characteristics of the detached hypersonic gliding warhead” and the engine, according to KCNA, which called it the HwaTuesday’s launch was of “great strategic song-8. significance”, the official Korean Central The launch was watched by top official News Agency said, as the North seeks to Pak Jong Chon, it said, making no menincrease its defence capabilities a “thou- tion of leader Kim Jong Un. sand-fold”. The official Rodong Sinmun newspaper CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

carried a picture of the weapon—with a set of guidance fins at the base of its nose cone—ascending into the morning sky. The South Korean military had announced the launch shortly after it happened on Tuesday, but it did not reveal the missile’s maximum altitude and flight distance afterwards, information it normally makes available within around an hour. On Wednesday, Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the South Korean and US militaries were “capable of detecting and intercepting it”. “Based on an assessment of its characteristics such as speed, it is at an initial phase of development and will take a con-

siderable time to be deployed,” they said in a statement. Both Koreas are building up their weapons capabilities in what could become an arms race on the divided peninsula, with ramifications for neighbouring Japan, China and the wider region. The nuclear-armed North, which invaded the South in 1950, is under multiple sets of international sanctions over its banned nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programmes, and earlier this month said it had tested a long-range cruise missile. Developing the hypersonic missile was one of five “top priority” tasks in the fiveyear plan for strategic weapons, KCNA said. AFP

2. After due notice and hearing, ISSUE a DECISION approving the instant Joint Application in toto which will thereby allow/authorize MECO to charge and collect the fees from its customers reckoned from the commencement of the supply to the latter by SCPC. 3. Other reliefs just and equitable under the circumstances are likewise prayed for. The Commission has set the instant Joint Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on the following dates and online platform for the conduct thereof pursuant to Resolution No. 09, Series of 20204 dated 24 September 2020 and Resolution No. 01, Series of 2021, dated 17 December 2020 (ERC Revised Rules of Practice and Procedure)5: Date

Platform

Activity

15 October 2021 (Friday) at two o’clock the afternoon (2:00 P.M.)

Microsoft Teams

Determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements and Expository Presentation

22 October 2021 (Friday) at two o’clock the afternoon (2:00 P.M.)

Microsoft Teams

Pre-trial Conference and Presentation of Evidence

Accordingly, MECO and SCPC are hereby directed to host the virtual hearings at MECO’s Principal Office located at MECO Building, Sangi Road, LapuLapu City, Cebu, 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, MECO and SCPC 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 e-mail at docket@erc.ph, copy furnish the Legal Service through legal@erc.ph. 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 electronic mail (e-mail) at docket@erc.ph, copy furnish the Legal Service through legal@erc.ph, 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 ERC Revised Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following: 1) The petitioner’s name, mailing address, and e-mail address; 2) 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 3) 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 likewise file through e-mail at docket@erc.ph, copy furnish the Legal Service through legal@erc.ph, 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 ERC Revised 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; 2. A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and 3. The grounds relied upon. Any of the persons mentioned in the preceding paragraphs may access the copy of the Joint Application on the Commission’s 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.ph, with their respective e-mail addresses and indicating therein the case number of the instant Joint Application. The access link/s to the aforementioned hearing platform shall be sent 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 8th day of September 2021 in Pasig City.

1 2 3 4 5

AGNES VST DEVANADERA Chairperson and CEO Chairperson and CEO

Approved in ERC Case No. 2011-084 RC and which expired last May 21, 2021. Air Philippines Corporation vs. Penswell, Inc. G.R. No. 172835, 13 December 2007. Second letter (d) found on the third set of the alphabetical enumerations under Section 2, Rule 4 (Confidential Information) of the ERC Rules and Practices and Procedure. A Resolution Adopting the Guidelines Governing Electronic Applications, Filing and Virtual Hearings Before the Energy Regulatory Commission. A Resolution Adopting the Revised Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Energy Regulatory Commission. (MS-SEPT. 23/30, 2021)

TEST ROCKET. This picture taken on September 28 and released from North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency on September 29 shows the Academy of Defence Science of the DPRK test-firing the hypersonic missile Hwasong-8 newly it developed in Toyang-ri, Ryongrim County of Jagang Province, North Korea. AFP

Ex-premier says Aussie PM ‘deceitful’ on subs SYDNEY—Former Australian leader Malcolm Turnbull said Wednesday his successor “deliberately deceived” France when he scrapped a multi-billion-euro submarine deal with Paris in favour of nuclear-powered US or British alternatives. Turnbull, whose government approved the submarine deal with France in 2016, was scathing about the way Prime Minister Scott Morrison handled the switch, which was part of a new strategic alliance with the United States and Britain. “Morrison has not acted in good faith. He deliberately deceived France. He makes no defence of his conduct other than to say it was in Australia’s national interest,” Turnbull told the National Press Club in Canberra. “France believes it has been deceived and humiliated, and she was. This betrayal of trust will dog our relations with Europe for years,” he added. “The Australian government has treated the

French Republic with contempt.” Turnbull said that despite the new US-Britain-Australia defence partnership, there was no contract signed for Australia to buy nuclear-powered submarines, expected to be either Britain’s Astute or the larger US Virginia class. “Australia now has no new submarine programme at all,” he said. “The only certainty is that we won’t have new submarines for 20 years and their cost will be a lot more than the French-designed subs.” Morrison has said the decision to switch to nuclear-powered submarines was driven by changing dynamics in the Asia-Pacific region, where rising military power China is increasingly asserting its claims to almost the entire South China Sea. But Paris reacted with fury to the switch, saying it was kept in the dark until the last moment as Australia withdrew from a contract originally worth Aus$50 billion ($36.5 billion, 31 billion euros). AFP

minister fight for Japan PM

TOKYO—Japan’s ruling party was picking its new leader Wednesday, with a mild-mannered former foreign minister and a Twitter-savvy vaccine chief battling to the finalManila round in the race to become theStandard country’s next TODAY prime minister. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is going to the polls with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga opting not to stand, ending his tenure as premier after just a year in the role. Whoever wins will be approved as prime minister by parliament within days, and will then contest general elections in which the LDP is expected to retain power. The race to become the next leader of the world’s third-largest economy is unusually tight this time around, in part because most of the party’s powerful factions are not backing a candidate and their members will vote freely. Four politicians threw their hats into the ring, two men and two women, another unusual turn of events in a country that has never had a woman prime minister and has few prominent female political figures. But after a first-round vote, just two were left standing: former foreign minister Fumio Kishida, who lost out to Suga last year, and vaccine rollout chief Taro Kono, one of Japan’s most recognisable politicians. Their rivals, hawkish right-winger Sanae Takaichi and feminist former gender equality minister Seiko Noda did not advance beyond the firstround vote. In the first round, Kishida secured just one vote more than Kono and was short of a majority, forcing a second round. Kono vs Kishida Administrative reform minister Kono is the public’s favourite, reflecting in part his strong name recognition. A former defence and foreign minister, he has been considered a likely candidate for the top job for years. He favours a direct communication style that breaks from the cautious approach often preferred by Japanese politicians, and engages freely with the more than two million people who follow his Japanese Twitter account. AFP

29 dead in Ecuador’s latest prison violence, say officials QUITO—Nearly 30 prisoners were killed in a battle between inmates equipped with firearms and grenades at a prison in Ecuador’s largest city Tuesday, officials said. It was the latest in a series of deadly prison clashes between rival drug gangs that have killed over 100 inmates this year. Ecuador’s attorney general’s office said on Twitter it was investigating the deaths of 29 convicts at the Litoral Penitentiary in the city of Guayaquil, including six who were beheaded. Officials gave conflicting statements on how many inmates were wounded, with the attorney general’s office saying 42 while the national prison bureau earlier put that number at 48. President Guillermo Lasso retweeted an announcement from the prison bureau saying order “has been restored at the Littoral Penitentiary after the Tuesday incidents.” Ecuador’s prison system has become a battleground between prisoners linked to Mexican drug gangs—mainly the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels. AFP

TALIBAN RIDE. In this photograph taken on September 28, Taliban fighters ride on a paddle boat at Qargha Lake on the outskirts of Kabul. “This is Afghanistan!” a Taliban fighter shouts on the pirate ship ride at a fairground in western Kabul, as his armed comrades cackle and whoop on board the rickety attraction. AFP

Sports

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

Additional P650M PSC budget OK’d THE House of Representatives on Tuesday approved the request of the Philippine Olympic Committee for an additional P650 million for the Philippine Sports Commission’s 2022 budget from general appropriations. POC President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, also a representative from Cavite’s Eighth District, sought for the additional budget to fund the training and participation of national athletes to at least five major international competitions. The Department of Budget and Management, through the National Expenditure Program, appropriated only P175 million for the PSC, figures that cover only bare essentials for the government sports agency’s operations for the coming year. Tolentino informed the committee of the importance of four major international competitions that are held every four years as necessary to build on the momentum of the PH’s multiple medals in the Tokyo Olympics, highlighted by Hidilyn Diaz’s weightlifting title that gave the country its first Olympic gold after close to a century of participation. These are the Beijing Winter Olympics (February 4 to 20), Thailand Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (March 10 to 20), The World Games or TWG (Birmingham, Alabama, USA, July 7 to 22), Hangzhou Asian Games (September 10 to 25) and Shantou Asian Youth Games (December 20 to 28). In his manifestation during the House Committee on Finance hearing presided over by Deputy Speaker Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy, Tolentino also included the postponed 31st Southeast Asian Games, which Vietnam is bound to host also in 2022. “With due respect to the DBM, we in the POC were not consulted—and again with due respect to the PSC—we were not also asked, as part of planning, on how much is needed to fund our athletes for these major international competitions,” Tolentino said in his manifestation.

Sen. Manny Pacquiao posing on arrival for the Los Angeles Premiere of the film about his life ‘Manny’ in Hollywood. The 2022 presidential hopeful said that he is hanging up his gloves after a glittering decades-long career in the ring. AFP

Pacman: My time as a boxer is over

HILIPPINE boxing legend and 2022 presidential hopeful Manny Pacquiao said on Wednesday that he is hanging up his gloves after a glittering decades-long career in the ring.

The eight-division world champion and senator, who has his sights set on a high-stakes rumble to replace President Rodrigo Duterte, said quitting the sport that had lifted him out of poverty was the “hardest decision” of his life. “It is difficult for me to accept that my time for me as a boxer is over,” Pacquiao, 42, said in a video message on Twitter that quickly went viral.

“Today I am announcing my retirement.” It comes weeks after Pacquiao, considered one of the best boxers of all time, lost what turned out to be his last professional fight, against Cuban Yordenis Ugas in Las Vegas. Pacquiao, who entered politics in 2010 as a congressman before being elected to the Senate, said last week that he will make a tilt for the country’s highest office. Pacquiao, a married father of five, thanked his millions of fans around the world, and paid special tribute to his long-time trainer Freddie Roach who he described as “my family, a brother and a friend”. The decision ends weeks of speculation that Pacquiao was planning to retire after 26 years as a profes-

sional boxer. He ended with a 62-8 win-loss record and two draws. “He’s gonna go down as a legend of not just boxing but of the sporting world,” Ted Lerner, a US-born sports journalist in the Philippines, told AFP. “In the future... his name will be sort of synonymous with greatness, in the level of Michael Jordan or people who have transcended their sport and become like mythical legends.” In the video message, Pacquiao said boxing had given him “the chance to fight my way out of poverty” and “the courage to change more lives”. “I will never forget what I have done and accomplished in my life. I can’t imagine I just heard the final bell,” said Pacquiao, who retired briefly in 2016 before reversing the decision. AFP

Manny’s ‘Kuya’ not convinced world has seen last of Pacquiao By Randy Caluag MANNY Pacquiao said he heard the final bell when he announced his formal retirement through a short video posted on his official social media page. But there’s one person who is still unconvinced. And it’s hard not to believe him. Silvestre Abainza knows Pacquiao’s boxing mind so well that he could hear his pulse begging to disagree. The 68-year-old boxing referee believes that boxing fans have not seen the last of Pacquiao on the ring. “Kilala ko si Manny. Hindi pa ako kumbinsido (that Paquiao will retire for good),” said the 68-year-old veteran international referee. What made him think that Pacquiao may still set his foot on the ring? “Ibang mag-isip ‘yan. ‘Pag may laban ‘yan, mag-eensayo ‘yan. Displinado ‘yan,” added Abainza, who had refereed countless bouts of Pacquiao in his more than 20 years as a professional boxing official. Abainza was already a well-known boxing referee when he first saw Pacquiao, who made his professional debut against Edmund Ignacio on January 22, 1995. The then 16-year-old Pacquiao weighed just 106 pounds which were even below the minimumweight division, but still won the four-round bout with a unanimous decision victory and became an instant favorite of the crowd that watched the program in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro. “Doon ko nakita ang batang ito, sabi ko balang araw, mag-champion ito,” said Abainza, who was the referee of the main event. Abainza refereed Pacquiao’s fourth professional bout in his first foray into the flyweight division. It was against the more experienced Renato Mendones whom he stopped via TKO on October 21, 1995. “Mendones was a tough guy, but the young Manny was a fighter, too. Dito nasabi ko na mismo harapan na ‘Manny, magiging world champion ka,’” said Abainza, to which Pacquiao replied, “Salamat po Kuya.” From then on, he would always address Abainza as “Kuya (elder brother).”

Brands that Care

Special Feature

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

Corporations step up amid trying times This is set up at the triage, where the first patient encounter happens,” Dr. Marieta Julia Germar of the UP-PGH Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology explained. Last September 14, PLDT extended its helping hand to Cebuano frontliners, with smartphones being donated to LGUs and their vaccination operations center. PPEs were also given including surgical masks, medical gowns and vitamins. Jimmy Chua, the Head and Vice President of PLDT’S Customer Relationship Management, explained their help to the city of Cebu the day after donations were made. “As we all know, this COVID crisis is far from over. In fact, we are experiencing another surge in cases. We at

By Rommel Bong R. Fuertes Jr.

ITH millions of Filipinos needing help at such a difficult time, private sectors and corporations have ramped up their roles as companies that take pride in their Corporate Social Responsibilities.

CSR efforts aren’t focused on one certain problem, though, as corporations lend help on various fronts. San Miguel Corporation, for instance, is more than just a manufacturer of liquor, coffee and food as its initiatives are laid out on its “World We Want” website that shows their efforts in helping citizens in need. One of the most recent CSR works SMC did was when lockdowns resurfaced in the Metro in the face of the Delta variant surge. SMC launched “Project Pearls”, which provided the poor with much needed food. In cooperation with the NGO One Tondo, it sent out food for the poorest of the poor. “We will operate our food facilities 24/7. This isn’t about making profits. We have a responsibility to make sure that food is made available to as many people as possible,” SMC president Ramon S. Ang said. Meanwhile, SM Foundation has helped health care workers tremendously over the past year, as well. With over P400 million in donations, SM provided workers with Personal Protective Equipment but the most notable one was its purchase of 25 ICU-grade ventilators to hospitals treating more COVID-19 patients. Other than these equipment, SM has also established Emergency Quarantine Facilities to ease the burden of overflowing patients in Metro hospitals. These EQFs are located at cities with high numbers of COVID-19 cases, particularly in Camp Crame, Quezon, Villamor Air Base, Pasay

At the opening of Better World EDSA, our COVID-19 testing facility, SMC President and COO Ramon S. Ang explained why San Miguel continues to go all-out in helping the country beat the pandemic. (San Miguel Facebook Page)

PLDT Group, PLDT-Smart Foundation respond to call for help of Cebu’s frontliners St. Anthony Mother & Child Hospital

URC donates products to several hospitals.

and at the AFP Health Service Command in V. Luna. Universal Robina, a leading food production corporation, has also helped HCWs since April of last year.

Cherry spearheads donation of medical supplies Frontliners from Las Piñas General Hospital headed by Chief of Hospital Rodrigo H. Hao, MD, FICS, MPA Medical Center Chief II, gracefully receive the medical donation IN these trying times, who else deserves gratitude more than the heroic frontliners? From delivery riders and public utility vehicle drivers to medical practitioners, they selflessly devote their time and service to curb the spread of COVID-19. As a way of paying forward, CHERRY— through its corporate foundation MSN Foundation—took the lead in donating medical supplies to 38 hospitals across NCR. The distributed supplies including HazMats, KN95 face masks, and thermal guns, are vital at this time and would help the health sector in combating the COVID-19 virus. Some of the recipients were Ospital ng Maynila; Tondo Medical Center; Santa Ana Hospital; Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center; San Lazaro Hospital; Ospital ng Tondo; Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital; Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital; National Center for Mental Health; San Lorenzo Ruiz General Hospital; Ospital ng Malabon; Valenzuela Medical Center; Pasig City General Hospital; Quirino Memorial Medical Center; Pasay City General Hospital; Southern Tagalog

RTNMC spends P5.2M for COVID-19 relief operation

Medical Regional Hospital; National Kidney and Transplant Institute; and Navotas City Hospital among many others. Since its beginning, MSN Foundation has been the vanguard of quality programs that are of service to various communities. Thus, it continues to provide assistance, chiefly to the medical sector and frontliners, especially in these trying times. CHERRY caRES is the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) principle of Cherry Mobile that stands for Customers, Natural Resources, Employees, and Society. It embodies the deep desire of the company to give back, share, care, and create a positive impact not just for its own people but more for the greater whole. Since 2011, CHERRY caREs laid the groundwork for the establishment of MSN Foundation, now the corporate foundation of CHERRY. It has spun various education, health, environment, livelihood, and community development programs in the hope of improving lives and igniting change in the nation one community at a time.

Other than food donations with the help of the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation, URC also helped hospitals in need of vital medical tools by donating to several hospitals a number of BOPP films. “The BOPP films serve as a barrier between the healthcare worker and the PUI/COVID-19 positive patient.

PLDT and Smart are helping all the agencies tasked to roll out the vaccinations as much as we can.” Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation (RTNMC), on the other hand, has also helped several COVID-19 response efforts. Their assistance, made in collaboration with Coral Bay Nickel Corporation, donated over six million pesos in relief assistance to families struck by the pandemic. The deal was made in July of last year. It may still be a long way to go before we reach herd immunity, or for the global pandemic to be put to rest, but these private sectors and their CSR efforts are of big help in getting our sense of normalcy back in the country.

Business

B2 || THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 extrastory2000@gmail.com

IN BRIEF

PSE INDEX CLOSING

Wednesday, September 29, 2021 48.75 PTS. 6,934.11

TOTAL VOLUME

1,989,242,975

TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE

130,272 9,878,590,856.88

ADVANCES

AllDay Marts gets PSE nod for IPO

DECLINES UNCHANGED

109 49

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.9470

Japan

Yen

0.008969

0.4569

Pound

1.354000

68.9822

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128490

6.5462

Switzerland

Franc

1.076542

54.8466

Canada

Dollar

0.788395

40.1664

Singapore

Dollar

0.736485

37.5217

Australia

Dollar

0.724000

36.8856

Bahrain

Dinar

2.653012

135.1630

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266596

13.5823

Brunei

Dollar

0.733783

37.3840

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.029621

1.5091

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.8714

Euro

1.168600

59.5367

Korea

Won

0.000842

0.0429

China

Yuan

0.154811

7.8872

India

Rupee

0.013479

0.6867

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.239234

12.1883

New Zealand

Dollar

0.695600

35.4387

Taiwan

Dollar

0.036052

1.8367

SITELLIFE WEEK. Sitel Group, one of the largest global providers of customer experience products and solutions, launches its annual #SitelLife week with an exciting kickoff party that brought together Sitel Groupassociates, leaders and celebrities for an exciting online digital showcase. Joining Sitel Group associates for the kickoff are hosts (from top left, clockwise ) DJ Chacha and Sean Kyle, Sitel Philippines director for leadership development Francis Biagan and Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach.

Source: BSP

DOE clears Malampaya deal

BSP warns car buyers against industry scam

By Alena Mae S. Flores

By Julito G. Rada THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on Wednesday warned the public against the increasing cases of “pasalo-benta” scheme perpetrated by carnapping syndicates targeting vulnerable buyers who are hoping to save money on their purchase and sellers who need to transfer their liabilities. Under this scheme, a syndicate member would buy a vehicle from a seller with an agreement to assume payments for the auto loan. However, the syndicate member has no intention of paying the remaining amortizations and will sell/dispose of the vehicle to an end-buyer to gain profit using falsified documents, giving the end-buyer no rights over the vehicle. As a result, the original seller defaults on his/her auto loan and the car gets repossessed leaving the end-buyer with nothing. The BSP on Aug. 26 issued a memorandum for its supervised financial institutions on organized crimes through auto loans. The directive called on financial institutions to prevent these crimes by reinforcing the conduct of customer identification and verification procedures as part of the customer due diligence. It also identified other types of carrelated illegal activities, including the rent-tangay, rent-sangla, loan accommodator scheme and labas-casa scheme. The Philippine National Police also warned against syndicates that acquire high-end motor vehicles through auto loans under fictitious circumstances. These crimes are done through fabricated conduction stickers, plate numbers, identities, and falsified documents, such as identification cards and employment certificates, to successfully avail of auto loans. Manila

he Department of Energy said it found the $565-million sale transaction between UC Malampaya Philippines Pte. Ltd. and Chevron Philippines Ltd. above board.

Energy officials during a Senate energy committee hearing Tuesday affirmed the financial soundness and legality of the deal despite doubts raised by the Senate committee on energy chairman Senator Sherwin Gatchalian. Chevron Philippines last year sold a 45-percent stake in the Malampaya gas project to UC Malampaya led by businessman Dennis Uy. “When the DOE stretched the application of DC (Department Circular) 2007, it affected, among others, the evaluation of our financial services. Based on the memorandum we submitted, you will

DOE director Araceli Soluta, head of the financial services, said they did not evaluate the financial standing of UC MPPL as the buyer or transferee-firm because it is not a member of the consortium operating the Malampaya gas field under Service Contract No. 38. “That’s why we just focused our evaluation on UC38 LLC,” she said. Dela Fuente said as the deal was already consummated, the financial evaluation focused on the capability of UC 38 to honor its 45-percent commitment under the work program and budget of the Malampaya operation for the succeeding year. Dela Fuente also said the ChevronUC Malampaya deal also passed DOE’s technical evaluation. “The basis of our evaluation recommending the approval of transfer based on our technical evaluation is because from top management there is no substantial change in the setup of UC38 or Chevron Malampaya since it’s the same entity from the officers down,” Dela Fuente said.

By Jenniffer B. Austria AYALA Corp. chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala is seeking more investments and collaboration between Philippine and Japanese companies, especially in areas of healthcare, financial inclusion and green energy. Zobel, in a speech during the 38th Joint Meeting of the Philippines-Japan Economic Cooperation Committees, said there is room for further cooperation and investment between the two countries to accelerate a strong and sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our shared history of cooperation gives me confidence about what Japan and the Philippines can continue to do

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Office of the President NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Quezon City

TODAY

THE Philippine unit of Southeast Asia’s largest budget airline said Wednesday it expects domestic operations to return to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels in the first half of 2022 and international operations to recover by early 2023. “In April 2022, we are fully recovered as par as domestic [operations] is concerned. International will follow, hopefully first quarter of 2023 we will be able to build more confidence and international travel will be safe and back to normal by first half of 2023,” AirAsia Inc. chief executive RIcky Isla told reporters in a virtual briefing. Air Asia is operating at 10 percent to 15 percent of pre-COVID capacity for domestic flights and plans to increase its capacity to 20 percent by December this year. AirAisa Philippines is increasing flights to Cebu, Boracay, Tagbilaran and other major domestic routes by December. Isla said AirAsia would launch its Manila to Dumagute and Manila to Roxas City flights by first quarter of 2022. “We will be going back this December starting with Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore,” he said. Darwin G. Amojelar

Cebu Landmasters starts P3.1-b project

PROPERTY developer Cebu Landmasters Inc. said Wednesday it started the construction of the P3.1-billion three-tower residential development in Mandaue City. CLI said in a disclosure to the stock collaboration is financial inclusion exchange it broke ground on Mandtra through digitalization and innovation, Residences after pre-selling of units in he said. the first tower reached 90 percent, five Zobel said both BPI mobile banking months after it was launched. and mobile wallet company GCash genThe strong sales take-up for the first tower and the continued strong demand erated record-high transactions during for condo units from young professionals the pandemic, which are positive signs also prompted the company to launch its for this financial technology space. second tower in October. “We anticipate continued growth in Mandtra Residence is managed by CLI this space, and hope for even more sucin partnership with Ixidor Holdings Inc. cess stories around innovative, digital headed by former Aboitiz Equity Ventures chairman Erramon Aboitiz, through solutions to emerge. After all, our colthe joint venture Cebu Homegrown Delective journey toward a more accessivelopers Inc. ble and frictionless financial ecosystem “We are pleased to be jointly applying is still very much in its early days. With our insights and understanding of the Celofty financial inclusion goals put forth buano market through this project. The by our government, this is a task that no high sales velocity of Mandtra Residences serves as an affirmation that we are on single institution can achieve alone,” the right track,” CLI said. Zobel said. Jenniffer B. Austria CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

BMC CASE NO. 2021-114

together. Indeed, the Philippines is a large, young and growing market that offers attractive potential for strategic investments, particularly in unlocking outsized opportunities in healthcare, financial inclusion and green energy,” Zobel said. He said the healthcare sector is a traditionally underserved market in the Philippines because of lack of coverage, inaccessibility and low supply of doctors. He said while the Philippines produces the best healthcare workers in the world, the country’s physical and digital healthcare infrastructure requires substantial stimulus, which could be provided by a collaborative effort between the private and public sectors. Another opportunity for bilateral

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Office of the President NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Quezon City PHILIPPINE COLLECTIVEMEDIA CORPORATION (PCMC) Applicant. x------------------------------------------ x

BMC CASE NO. 2021-199

NOTICE OF HEARING

Applicant, PHILIPPINE COLLECTIVEMEDIA CORPORATION (PCMC) , a 100% Filipino domestic corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of Philippine Laws, registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (S.E.C.). and a grantee of a congressional Franchise under R.A . No. 11508. requests for the issuance of a Certificate or Public Convenience (CPC) to install, operate and maintain FM Radio Broadcast Station in MONTEVISTA, DAVAO DE ORO.

Applicant, PHILIPPINE COLLECTIVEMEDIA CORPORATION (PCMC), domestic corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of Philippine Laws, registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (S.E.C.). and a grantee of a congressional Franchise under R.A . No. 11508. requests for the issuance of a Certificate or Public Convenience (CPC) to install, operate and maintain FM Radio Broadcast Station in PENABLANCA, CAGAYAN.

Applicant, further requests for the issuance of a Provisional Authority (PA) pending final determination of the application.

In view thereofs this will be heard by this Commission on OCTOBER 21. 2021 . (Thursday) at two o'clock in the afternoon (2:00 P.M.) at the Legal Branch, 3rd Floor, NTC Building, National Telecommunications Commission, BIR Road, East Triangle, Diliman, Quezon City. via Zoom Hearing, wherein applicant shall present its compliance with the Commission's jurisdictional requirements, as well as its evidences, if warranted.

In lieu of face to face hearing, a virtual hearing shall be conducted. A link to join the virtual hearing will be sent to your e-mail address on the same day of hearing at least 15 minutes before the scheduled time. In connection to this, you are hereby ordered to send your e-mail address through legal@ntc.gov.ph and secretariat@ ntc.gov.ph.

However, should the hearing date be declared a holiday or non-working day due to force majeure, the said hearing shall be held on the NEXT regular working day.

At least fifteen (15) days before the date of hearing, applicant shall have published the Notice of Hearing once in one (1) newspaper of general circulation and served copies of the Notice of Hearing and the application including all annexes attached therewith to all affected parties by registered mail or through personal delivery, as furnished by the Commission.

Any party opposed to the granting of the application is hereby directed to appear at the scheduled hearing and must file its verified opposition, on or before the date of hearing, furnishing the applicant with a copy of the same. Failure on the part of any affected party to file its opposition on time and to appear at the scheduled hearing shall be construed as a waiver or its right to be heard and the Commission shall proceed to hear and decide the application on its merit.

Please see the " Interim Guidelines of the Proceedings before the NTC Legal Branch during the Public Health Emergency" available in our website: www.ntc.gov. ph. For more information please contact the Legal Branch (89243746) (legal@ntc. gov.ph) and Commission Secretariat (89243738) (secretariat@ntc.gov.ph)

WITNESS, the HON. GAMALIEL A. CORDOBA, Commissioner, National Telecommunications Commission, this 20th day of SEPTEMBER 2021.

ADRIANO B. CONSUNJI Chief, Commission Secretariat

(MS-SEPT. 30, 2021)

AirAsia PH expects recovery in 2022

Ayala chairman promotes increased PH-Japan collaboration

Standard

PHILIPPINE COLLECTIVEMEDIA CORPORATION (PCMC) Applicant. x------------------------------------------ x

find that there were two entities evaluated: UC 38 which is the new name of Chevron, and of course UC Malampaya,” DOE Energy Resource Development Bureau director Cesar de la Fuente told the Senate panel. Dela Fuente said while the parties to the deal took the position that DC 2007 was not applicable, the DOE insisted on its power to review and approve it. He admitted that DC 2007 as well as PD 87, which govern the country’s indigenous petroleum resources, “do not contemplate a situation that there will be a transfer of 100-percent shares of interest of the same entity.” Based on documents DOE submitted to the Senate, the agency’s financial services found “UC 38 LLC financially capable as transferee of the 45 percent participating interest under SC No. 38.” Dela Fuente said UC 38 submitted audited financial statements, required under the evaluation mandated by 2007 DC, for 2018, 2018, and 2019. As for 2020, UC 38 said their financial statement for that year remained to be audited.

THE board of Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. approved the initial public offering application of AllDay Marts Inc. (ALLDY). The company, which will list on the main board of PSE, will offer the shares from Oct. 18 to 25. It will offer up to 6.86 billion primary shares, with an over-allotment option for another 685.71 million shares at a price of up to P0.80 apiece. The final offering price will be determined on Oct. 12 after the company conducts a book-building process. “We are pleased that we will be welcoming AllDay Marts as an addition to our roster of listed firms and we are glad that it chose the equities market to raise capital for its financial requirements and expansion plans,” said PSE president and chief executive Ramon Monzon. ALLDY will use proceeds from the IPO for debt repayment, capital expenditures and initial working capital for store network expansion. Ten percent of AllDay Marts’ firm offered shares will be reserved for local small investors who may subscribe to the IPO through the PSE EASy website (http://easy.pse.com.ph) or mobile application.

ADRIANO B. CONSUNJI Chief, Commission Secretariat

(MS-SEPT. 30, 2021)

BSP’S AWARD. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ initiative that ensures continuous servicing of the public’s cash requirements is recognized as the ‘Best Currency Initiative Implemented in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic (Central Banks Category)’ by the International Association of Currency Affairs. Announcing the winner during the ‘2021 Excellence in Currency Award’ is IACA executive vice president Brian Lang.

Feed millers seek review of corn tariff THE country’s feed millers asked the government to review the tariff structure on yellow corn to prevent a steeper rise in the cost of producing meat and poultry products and help ease the elevated food inflation. Philippine Association of Feed Millers Inc. made the call as prices of both local and imported feed corn were hitting record highs, triggering an escalation in the price of animal feeds and the cost of producing meat, poultry products and fish, all of which would eventually have to be passed on to the end-consumers. Tariffs are supposed to protect local corn growers, but with the significant supply gap, feed millers need to import more corn to supply the requirements of live-

stock growers. The country’s yellow corn importation is now more than what is locally available and has a more significant impact on consumer foods. With the current tariff structure, imported corn from non-ASEAN countries is bloating the Philippines’ import costs to unrealistic levels. This situation is aggravated by the tight demand for corn in the world market that has caused prices to escalate. The country has a three-tiered tariff structure on corn: 5 percent for those from ASEAN-member countries, 35 percent for supply falling under the country’s minimum access volume commitment under the World Trade Organization and 50 percent for imports over MAV.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

LEGAL NOTICE Standard

Business

TODAY

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 || B3 Standard Manila

Manila

Standard

Notice is hereby given to the public that a deed of Extra-Judicial Settlement of Estate with Waiver and Renunciation of Rights has been executed by the heirs of the late spouses Salud Amayao Fajardo and Alfredo M. Fajardo Sr., namely, Raul A. Fajardo, Levita F. Raposas, Alfredo A. Fajardo Jr., Benedicto A. Fajardo, Carlos A. Fajardo, Aurora A. Fajardo, Minerva V. Fajardo, Bong-Bong Fajardo, Antonette Fajardo Abias, Bernadette B. Fajardo and Margarette B. Fajardo,all of legal age, over personal and real properties per deed executed on March 6, 2021, before Notary Public Atty. Federico Macabangun per Doc. No. 56, Page 13, Book No. LXXVV, Series of 2021

TODAY extrastory2000@gmail.com

TODAY

Stocks bounce back; ICTSI, GMA Network lead gainers T HE stock market bounced back Wednesday on declining COVID-91 infections in the country that could prompt looser lockdown restrictions in the capital region.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose 48.75 points, or 0.7 percent, to 6,934.11 on a value turnover of P9.9 billion. Losers, however, beat gainers, 109 to 85, with 49 issues unchanged. GMA Network Inc., the biggest

broadcasting company, climbed 3.6 percent to P15.96, while International Container Terminal Services Inc. of tycoon Enrique Razon Jr., the biggest port operator, advanced 2.5 percent to P200. Noodles maker Mondi Nissin Corp., however, fell 4.3 percent to P17.82, while Aboitiz Power Corp. shed3.6 percent to P29.80. Meanwhile, Asian markets mostly fell Wednesday following a rout on Wall Street as investors fret over surging inflation, the end of the Federal Reserve’s financial support and a standoff in Washington that could end with a catastrophic US debt default. Ongoing worries about the

potential collapse of Chinese were also losses in Wellington, property giant Evergrande, an Mumbai and Bangkok. energy crunch in China and the However, Hong Kong, Singaever-present specterof the Delta pore and Jakarta rose. coronavirus variant also dragged After a year and a half of ultrathe mood down on trading floors. loose monetary policy from the Tokyo tanked more than two Fed and other central banks— percent, having enjoyed a strong helping fire a global economic run in recent weeks on hopes for recovery and send equities to more stimulus from a new Japa- record or multi-year highs—officials have signaled they are ready nese prime minister. The ruling party elected former to take away the punch bowl. While broadly expected, the foreign minister Fumio Kishida its new leader Wednesday, put- decision comes as inflation conting him on course to take the tinues to surge owing to supply chain problems as well as a spike mantle of Yoshihide Suga. Shanghai, Sydney and Seoul in energy costs—Brent crude EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT of ESTATE for the first time in lost more than one percent with broke $80 threegiven years With AFP Taipei down 1.9 percent.Notice There is hereby thaton theTuesday. estate of the spouses VENANCIO E. ANTONIO and MARCELINA BAUTISTA ANTONIO has been extra-judicially settled among their heirs WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS consisting of: • • •

PORT BOTTLENECK.

TCT No. T-143325 – Bo. of Caloong, Valenzuela; Containers TCT No. T-143323 – stacked Bo. of high Coloong, Valenzuela; are seen at the Port of Los TCT No. V-78958 – Brgy. Rinco, Valenzuela Angeles on September City.

28, 2021 in Los Angeles,

As per Doc. No. 425; Page No. 86; Book No. A record X; Series of 2020California. before Notary Public ATTY. RAYMOND C. REYES. number of cargo ships

(MS-SEPT. 23/30, OCT. 7, 2021)

are stuck floating and waiting off the southern EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT of ESTATE California coast amid a Notice is hereby given that the estate of thecrisis spouses JACINTO supply chain which RAÑADA and MARCELA B. RAÑADA has been extracould mean fewer gifts judicially settled among their heirs consisting of: and toys for Christmas • TCT No. B-39021 – Barrio of Isla Mm. of thisOfyear as a combination Valenzuela, Prov. Bulacan; • TCT No. B-27077 – Barrio of Isla, Municipality of of growing volumes of Polo, Prov. of Bulacan; cargo, COVID-19 • TCT No. T-157170 – Barrio of Isla, related of Valenzuela, Prov. of Bulacan; safety measures and a • TCT No. T-143331 – Bo. of Coloong, Valenzuela; labor– shortage slow the • TCT No. T-143329 Bo. of Coloong, Valenzuela; • TCT No. V-2591 – Bo. of Coloong, Valenzuela; handling and processing • (Untitled) Tax Declaration No. C-008-00595 – Brgy. Tagalag,of Valenzuela City; each ship. cargo from As per Doc. No. 426; AFP Page No. 86; Book No. X; Series of 2020 before Notary Public ATTY. RAYMOND C. REYES.

(MS-SEPT. 23/30, OCT. 7, 2021)

United Airlines to dismiss 593 workers who refused vaccines NEW YORK—United Airlines will dismiss nearly 600 employees who refused to comply with a requirement to be vaccinated for COVID-19, company officials said Tuesday. Besides the 593 workers who refused to get vaccinated, another 2,000 employees have also requested a medical or religious exemption to the vaccine requirement, company officials said. That is about three percent of United’s 67,000-person workforce. The big US carrier said it was pleased with the overall impact of the policy. In early August, United announced that all US employees would be required to receive the vaccine and upload their vaccine card into the company’s system.

More than 99 percent of the remaining US staff complied with the requirement, according to a memo to employees from United Chief Executive Scott Kirby and President Brett Hart. The airline is working on its policies for employees who have requested exemptions, citing a pending court case on the matter. “This is a historic achievement for our airline and our employees as well as for the customers and communities we serve,” said the memo. “Our rationale for requiring the vaccine for all United’s US-based employees was simple–-to keep our people safe–-and the truth is this: everyone is safer when everyone is vaccinated, and vaccine requirements work.” AFP

Bad news piles up for UK economy before Christmas

Vietnam’s economy posted record drop in third quarter HANOI, Vietnam—Vietnam’s economy suffered its heaviest contraction on record in the third quarter, officials said Wednesday, after a devastating wave of COVID-19 forced the widespread suspension of manufacturing in the export-reliant country. Gross domestic product shrunk 6.17 percent on-year in the July-September period, with the general statistics office (GSO) saying it was the sharpest since the Southeast Asian nation began recording quarterly figures—reportedly in 1986. Vietnam was last year among the best performing economies in Asia and one of the few in the AUCTION SALE ACME PAWNSHOPS INC. Auction sale on October 05, 2021, 10:00 a.m.- MJ Holding Bldg., Almanza, Las Piñas; 12:00 noon Alabang Town Center Stall 2074 U/L, 2:00 p.m. G/F Majalco Bldg., Benavidez St., Legaspi Village, Makati and L&R Bldg., 1018 Pasay Road, Makati and 4:00 p.m. Circle C G14, # 17 Congressional Ave., Bahay Toro D1, Quezon City. All items pawned May 01-30, 2021. (MS-SEPT. 23, 2021)

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT of ESTATE Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late ABELARDO CONCEPCION ATIENZA has been extra-judicially settled among his heirs consisting of: • TCT No. 013RO2016000005 (P2650). As per Doc. No. 427; Page No. 86; Book No. X; Series of 2020 before Notary Public ATTY. RAYMOND C. REYES. (MS-SEPT. 23/30, OCT. 7, 2021)

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT of ESTATE Notice is hereby given that the estate of the spouses VENANCIO E. ANTONIO and MARCELINA BAUTISTA ANTONIO has been extra-judicially settled among their heirs WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS consisting of: • • •

TCT No. T-143325 – Bo. of Caloong, Valenzuela; TCT No. T-143323 – Bo. of Coloong, Valenzuela; TCT No. V-78958 – Brgy. Rinco, Valenzuela City.

As per Doc. No. 425; Page No. 86; Book No. X; Series of 2020 before Notary Public ATTY. RAYMOND C. REYES.

(MS-SEPT. 23/30, OCT. 7, 2021)

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT of ESTATE Notice is hereby given that the estate of the spouses JACINTO RAÑADA and MARCELA B. RAÑADA has been extrajudicially settled among their heirs consisting of: • • • • • • •

TCT No. B-39021 – Barrio of Isla Mm. of Valenzuela, Prov. Of Bulacan; TCT No. B-27077 – Barrio of Isla, Municipality of Polo, Prov. of Bulacan; TCT No. T-157170 – Barrio of Isla, of Valenzuela, Prov. of Bulacan; TCT No. T-143331 – Bo. of Coloong, Valenzuela; TCT No. T-143329 – Bo. of Coloong, Valenzuela; TCT No. V-2591 – Bo. of Coloong, Valenzuela; (Untitled) Tax Declaration No. C-008-00595 – Brgy. Tagalag, Valenzuela City;

As per Doc. No. 426; Page No. 86; Book No. X; Series of 2020 before Notary Public ATTY. RAYMOND C. REYES. (MS-SEPT. 23/30, OCT. 7, 2021)

Republic of the Philippines COMMISSION ON AUDIT Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines RESOLUTION

No. :__2021-024___ Date: _September 28,2021

SUBJECT : Suspending the Creation of Fraud/Special Audit Teams, Issuance of Fraud/Special Audit Reports and Rendition of Decisions on all cases or matters involving Candidates in the 2022 National and Local Elections, including Nominees of Party-List Groups, from October 1, 2021 to May 9, 2022 WHEREAS, Section 2(2) of Article IX-D of the 1987 Constitution vests upon the Commission on Audit (COA) the “exclusive authority, subject to the limitations in this Article, to define the scope of its audit and examination, establish the techniques and methods required therefor, and promulgate accounting and auditing rules and regulations, xxx”; WHEREAS, Section 6(2) of Presidential Decree No. 1445 states that the Commission Proper has the authority “to determine policies, promulgate rules and regulations, and prescribe standards governing the performance by the Commission of its powers and functions”; WHEREAS, Section 2(4), Article IX-B of the 1987 Constitution prohibits all officers and employees in the civil service from engaging, directly or indirectly, in any electioneering or partisan political campaign; WHEREAS, the 2022 national and local elections will be held on May 9, 2022; WHEREAS, on August 18, 2021, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) promulgated Resolution No. 10717,1 prescribing the period from October 1 to 8, 2021 for the filing of the Certificate of Nomination and Certificate of Acceptance of Nomination (CNCAN) of party-list groups,2 and of the Certificate of Candidacy (COC)3 by the local and national candidates for the 2022 national and local elections; WHEREAS, when election period approaches, a number of complaints and/ requests for special/fraud audit against election candidates, including nominees of party-list groups, are normally received by this Commission. Likewise,follow-ups on appeals or petitions involving election candidates, including nominees of party-list groups, are filed before this Commission at the time of filing their COC and CNCANs, respectively; WHEREAS, immediate but untimely action on these complaints/requests and appeals/petitions would create a dangerous impression that this Commission is favoring or disfavoring any election candidate; WHEREAS, it is necessary for the COA, as an independent constitutional body,4 to uphold its political neutrality or remove a slightest semblance of partiality by implementing measures aimed at preventing opportunities and circumstances that may impair the independence, neutrality and professionalism of the Commission, its officers and employees;

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES TARIFF COMMISSION IN THE MATTER OF THE FORMAL INVESTIGATION ON THE IMPOSITION OF SAFEGUARD MEASURE AGAINST IMPORTATIONS OF HIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (HOPE) PELLETS AND GRANULES FROM VARIOUS COUNTRIES (AHTN 2017 Heading 3901.20.00)

Desist from the creation of teams for the conduct of fraud/special audit based on complaints and/or requests against all candidates in the 2022 national and local elections, from the day they filed their COCs until May 9, 2022, including those nominees whose names were submitted to COMELEC by their party-list group; Provided, however, that the conduct of initial assessment or evaluation of requests for fraud/special audits and such other preliminary procedures prior to the creation of fraud/special audit teams shall not be suspended;

Withhold the issuance of reports for those fraud/special audits directed against a particular person/s, who later on filed their respective COCs or whose name/s was/were submitted to the COMELEC by their party-list group, and were already started prior to such filing,from the day the COCs or the CNCANs were filed until May 9, 2022; and

Suspend the rendition of decisions in all appealed cases or matters brought before the Cluster Director/Regional Director involving candidates in the 2022 national and local elections, including nominees for the party-list groups,from the day they filed their COCs or CNCANs, respectively, until May 9, 2022.

RESOLVED, FURTHER, that in special cases wherein the scheduled elections will be postponed to a future date/s, or a special election is otherwise set, the period indicated under items 1, 2, and 3 of the immediately preceding paragraph shall be automatically extended until the actual day of election. RESOLVED, FINALLY, that this Resolution shall in no way curtail or impair the regular functions of the offices, auditing units and audit teams of the Commission, not otherwise affected by it, which they shall continue to perform in accordance with duly approved work programs. Accordingly, the Commission Secretary shall disseminate immediately this Resolution to all concerned officials and employees of the Commission, and initiate its publication in the COA Website. This Resolution shall take effect immediately. Quezon City, Philippines.

NOTICE OF FORMAL INVESTIGATION AND PRELIMINARY CONFERENCE Pursuant to Section 9 of Republic Act (RA) No. 8800 (Safeguard Measures Act), notice is hereby given that the Tariff Commission (TC) commenced on 30 September 2021 its Formal Investigation on the merits of imposing a definitive safeguard duty against importations of High-Density Polyethylene (HOPE) Pellets and Granules from various countries, following receipt of a request from the Secretary of Trade and industry and the complete case records. All interested parties, including those on record in the preliminary investigation by the Department of Trade and Industry, are required to appear at a Preliminary Conference which will be held on 07 October 2021 at 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (via Videoconferencing through Microsoft Teams). Matters for discussion include the timelines, nature of investigation, appearance of counsel and parties, number of witnesses, notification, accessibility of documents and public file, confidentiality of documents, submission of position paper/s and memoranda, adjustment plan, conduct of inspection and verification of data, schedules of public hearings and other activities, and other topics that may aid in the prompt disposition of the case. Interested parties are required to register their participation to the preliminary conference from 01 October 2021 using the registration link posted on the Commission’s website http://tariffcommission.govph/. For inquiries, please contact Acting Director Elvira C. Ignacio, Head of the TC Task Force for this case, at email address TC.Assist@mail.tariffcommission.gov.ph. Issued this 30th day of September 2021 , at Quezon City, Metro Manila.

MARILOU P. MENDOZA Chairperson

ROLAND C. PONDOC Commissioner Attested by:

BRESILO R. SABALDAN Director IV Commission Secretary

2 3 4

(MS-SEPT. 30, 2021)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES TARIFF COMMISSION IN THE MATTER OF THE FORMAL INVESTIGATION ON THE IMPOSITION OF SAFEGUARD MEASURE AGAINST IMPORTATIONS OF LINEAR LOWDENSITY POLYETHYLENE (LLDPE) PELLETS AND GRANULES FROM VARIOUS COUNTRIES (AHTN 2017 Heading 3901.10.12; 3901.10.92;3901.40.00;3901.90.90)

FOR: SAFEGUARD MEASURE TCI (SG) No. SG-2021-OC-LLDPE

________________________________ NOTICE OF FORMAL INVESTIGATION AND PRELIMINARY CONFERENCE Pursuant to Section 9 of Republic Act (RA) No. 8800 (Safeguard Measures Act), notice is hereby given that the Tariff Commission (TC) commenced on 30 September 2021 its Formal Investigation on the merits of imposing a definitive safeguard duty against importations of Linear Low-Density Pellets and Granules from various countries, following receipt of a request from the Secretary of Trade and industry and the complete case records. All interested parties, including those on record in the preliminary investigation by the Department of Trade and Industry, are required to appear at a Preliminary Conference which will be held on 07 October 2021 at 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (via Videoconferencing through Microsoft Teams). Matters for discussion include the timelines, nature of investigation, appearance of counsel and parties, number of witnesses, notification, accessibility of documents and public file, confidentiality of documents, submission of position paper/s and memoranda, adjustment plan, conduct of inspection and verification of data, schedules of public hearings and other activities, and other topics that may aid in the prompt disposition of the case.

MICHAEL G. AGUINALDO Chairperson

FOR: SAFEGUARD MEASURE TCI (SG) No. SG-2021-OC-HDPE

________________________________

NOW, THEREFORE, the Commission Proper RESOLVES, as it does hereby RESOLVE, that during the election period, the Commission shall:

A fuel tanker arrives to replenish stocks at a petrol station in Coventry, central England on September 28, 2021. The UK government faced calls for nurses, police, teachers and other key workers to be given priority at petrol pumps, as the army was put on standby to ease a fuel supply crisis. AFP US burger giant McDonald’s By Veronique Dupont recently ran out of milkshakes, LONDON, United Kingdom— restaurant chain Nando’s shut some Britain is suffering from a wave outlets owing to a lack of chicken, of Brexit- and COVID-induced while pubs were forced to stop crises, from runaway energy prices serving certain beers. Reports meanwhile suggest to shortages of goods, drivers and motor fuel while unemployment is retailers may struggle to source predicted to jump before Christmas. enough Christmas trees, toys and Last year, a huge surge in COVID turkeys for the upcoming festive cases and hospital admissions forced period in December. There has been a drop in the the government to slap restrictions number of EU nationals working on social mixing indoors, ruining in logistics and lorry driving festive season plans. Since then, a rapid vaccination throughout Britain after the program has helped to lift restrictions country’s exit from the European but the economy is flatlining faced Union and due to COVID. Such jobs have tended to be with a fierce global supply crunch, the shunned by Britons because of low surging cost of raw materials and other pay and antisocial working hours. simmering inflationary pressures. Britain has a shortage of about Logistics A shortage of lorry drivers has 100,000 lorry drivers, which has translated into partially empty shelves ironically pushed up wages for in supermarkets and shops, with many British drivers, which the many companies unable to transport government is keen to see following Brexit. AFP sufficient amounts of goods.

world to expand after it kept virus numbers low and businesses largely open. But the latest coronavirus wave, which began in April in its northern industrial parks and rapidly spread south to business hub Ho Chi Minh City, “caused serious impact” to the economy, the GSO said. State-run news outlet VNExpress said it was the first time Vietnam had recorded negative quarterly growth since 2000. A third of the country’s 100 million population faced stayat-home order for months this summer, with factories closed and supply chains seriously disrupted. AFP

Rules and Regulations Governing: 1) Political Conventions; 2) Submission of Nominees of Groups or Organizations Participating under the Party-List System of Representation; and 3) Filing of Certificates of Candidacy and Nomination of and Acceptance by Official Candidates of Registered Political Parties or Coalitions of Political Parties in Connection with the May 9, 2022 National and Local Elections. Section 7, COMELEC Resolution No. 10717 dated August 18, 2021. Section 24, COMELEC Resolution No. 10717 dated August 18, 2021. Section 1, Article IX-D, 1987 Constitution. (MS-SEPT. 30, 2021)

Interested parties are required to register their participation to the preliminary conference from 01 October 2021 using the registration link posted on the Commission’s website http://tariffcommission.govph/. For inquiries, please contact Acting Director Elvira C. Ignacio, Head of the TC Task Force for this case, at email address TC.Assist@mail.tariffcommission.gov.ph. Issued this 30th day of September 2021 , at Quezon City, Metro Manila.

MARILOU P. MENDOZA Chairperson (MS-SEPT. 30, 2021)

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Special Feature

BDO Foundation is Enterprise Asia awardee for 5th straight year

DO Foundation’s corporate citizenship initiatives were recognized once again as among the most outstanding in Asia. For its efforts to help control the spread of the coronavirus, support frontliners and aid underserved sectors of society vulnerable to the effects of the pandemic, the corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank was recently awarded by international nongovernmental organization Enterprise Asia.

For the fifth consecutive year, BDO Foundation was recognized by Enterprise Asia at the prestigious Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards.

The award was officially conferred witnessed by audiences across the con- five consecutive years now. tries this year, BDO Foundation’s entry at the Asia Responsible Enterprise tinent. BDO Foundation has received Out of the more than 200 nominees was among 69 honored at AREA. The Awards (AREA) 2021, a virtual event recognition from Enterprise Asia for Enterprise Asia received from 16 coun- foundation was one of only five Philippine organizations awarded as other winners were based in Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The award-giving body acknowledged the foundation for its pooled testing program, relief assistance for families affected by the health crisis, and COVID-19 initiatives designed to support health workers. As part of its COVID-19 response, BDO Foundation funded the pilot implementation of pooled testing in the Philippines. The mass testing intervention—considered a game-changer in efforts to curb the transmission of the virus—was carried out in Makati, Cebu, and Mandaluyong for 18,000 market vendors, public utility drivers, and medical frontliners. The foundation also embarked on a donation drive, donated 10,000 test kits to 10 hospitals, distributed 8,000 food packs in disadvantaged communities on lockdown, and supported the donation of 1,900 hygiene kits to repatriated overseas Filipino workers. It supported the government’s efforts to facilitate the movement of frontliners during quarantine and to accelerate the distribution of financial assistance to beneficiaries of the Social Amelioration Program. Further, the Foundation facilitated the donation of 200,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines to the government. “Guided by BDO Unibank’s ‘We find ways’ philosophy, BDO Foundation has made significant strides to promote the health and well-being of Filipinos,” BDO Foundation president Mario A. Deriquito said as he accepted the prestigious award. “Moving forward, we will continue to help underserved sectors of a society grappling with the pandemic. We will find ways to help communities recover from COVID-19, mindful of our commitment to sustainable development and nation-building.” Now in its tenth year, AREA honors corporations in Asia that promote sustainable and socially responsible business practices. The awards program is organized by Enterprise Asia, an NGO that recognizes responsible entrepreneurship in the areas of green leadership, investment in people, health promotion, social empowerment, corporate governance, circular economy leadership, and responsible business leadership.

Easy Shopping Special Feature

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

SM goes online!

ITH the community quarantine due to COVID-19, many of us stayed at home and downloaded various apps on our phone to have convenient access to essential products and services. However, having so many mobile apps—from food delivery, shopping, to restaurants can sometimes be very confusing, especially when you need keep track of all the pop-up notifications, payment transactions, and not to mention, the expensive delivery fees. Here’s one app you need to download because it has just about everything you need: the SM Malls Online app. With this app, you can safely and conveniently buy from various trusted essential and retail stores and restaurants from select SM malls and have them delivered straight to your doorstep —all in one app. By downloading the SM Malls Online app, you can enjoy all these— and more, without stepping out of your home:

Safe virtual shopping experience. For your safety, leading brands and trained riders follow #SafeMallingAtSM protocols in fulfilling your orders on the app. Shopping bags are sanitized and the riders are required to wear face mask and face shield, have their temperature monitored, and maintain a 6-ft. distance when handing your order.

ONE-STOP-SHOP. When you shop on the SM Malls Online app, you don’t need to worry about the hassle of multiple online checkouts or multiple costly delivery fees that add up. You can buy all the products you need from your favorite brands all in one online checkout and pay only one delivery fee—and just like that—it’s sent right to your home. That includes the leading international and local retail and dining establishments from SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, SM City North EDSA, and SM City Fairview—with more SM malls available soon. IN-STORE PICKUP. During check-out, you may also select ‘in-store pickup’ to get your order when you’re already at your chosen mall. Proceed to the specific mall at your own convenience within 72 hours to claim your order, show the seller representative the order ID and other details on SM Malls Online app then you’re good to go.

GREAT DEALS AND PROMOS. As a special treat for first-time app users, SM is offering up to P200 off of shoppers’ fave brands when they use the code, SMGOESONLINE, upon checkout with a minimum

purchase of P500. Shoppers can also buy from two or more brands and enjoy free shipping when they use the code, 2orMORE, for at least two non-food brands with a minimum of spend P750 or 2orMOREFOOD for at least two restaurants with a

minimum spend of P300. This promo is currently available from August 1—September 30, 2021. Be sure that you have the latest version of the app from Google Play or the App Store so you can enjoy these great deals from SM.

AWESOME RETAIL AND DINING BRANDS. Just like other SM malls nationwide, SM Malls Online Mobile app guarantees Filipinos easy access to a wide array of trusted brands for everything from essentials and restaurants to gadgets and more. Foodies can savor appetizing dishes from places like Manam, Panda Express, Wendy’s, Frankie’s Buffalo Wings, and Auntie Anne’s. Shoppers can also look forward to top brands on the app ranging from clothes to gadgets to beauty like Adidas, Office Warehouse, PC Express, Samsung, The Body Shop, and Watsons. Cyberzone also offers the lowest price guaranteed on gadgets and laptops from Villman, Silicon Valley, PC Express and more, just in time for online classes and perfect for work-from-home set-ups. Download the SM Malls Online App for free on Google Play or the App Store. For the latest news and deals, follow @smmallsonline on Facebook and Instagram or visit www. smmallsonline.com.

Entertainment Piolo Pascual joins Maja Salvador in TV5’s hit comedy drama COMEDY-DRAMA series Niña Niño, which stars Maja Salvador and Noel Comia Jr., has become a household favorite and is reaching a wider national audience since it premiered in April. The show’s growing following has hit a record-breaking 5.0 percent in TV ratings despite strong competition from other programs in the same time slot. Marking this showbiz milestone, TV5 introduces Piolo Pascual as the latest addition in the Niña Niño cast playing the role as the indefatigable Mayor of Sitio Sta. Ynez starting Oct. 25. Pascual comes in as a newly elected official whose domain includes Sitio Sta Ynez, where this quick-witted and down-to-earth drama is being played out. He is playing the role of Mayor Christopher Charles Juarez, a young and ambitious mayor who has his heart set on serving the people of Sitio Sta Ynez in his first term in office. Cignal TV and TV5 President & CEO, Robert P. Galang underscored the wide public acceptance of Niño and Niña as a measure of how TV5 has hit the right tune in its prime-time programming. “We are grateful for those viewers who continually anticipate our shows. We wouldn’t be able to achieve such high ratings without their support for Niña Niño and we hope that they will enjoy

Arjo Atayde reprises Aga Muhlach’1996 movie role in new international series titled ‘The Rebirth of the Cattleya Killer.’

Piolo Pascual as the indefatigable mayor of Sitio Sta. Ynez in ‘Niña Niño.’

this great treat we have in store for them,” Galang shared. With Piolo on board, the show’s writers, John Bedia and Lawrence Nicodemus, are cooking up more ingenious plot lines for a compelling portrayal of Mayor Charles in Niña Niño. As Mayor Charles, Pascual will have to wrestle with his political clan’s long tradition in local politics and face challenges both as a leader and as a man of conflicting personalities. Co-produced by Cignal Entertainment and CS Studios and directed by awardwinning director Thop Nazareno, Niña Niño airs every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 7:15 p.m., after Sing Galing and before FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano on TV5.

beyond the school halls. “We live in a society of eat or be eaten – of extreme tolerance towards abusive figures in hopes that they would leave us off but that's not the case. These abusers will always have a target and when there are no more, they will come for us.” Si Jet at ang Dark Lord ng Dol Gurskul was produced by Lakan Media Creatives, a collective of young filmmakers cofounded by Gonzalves in 2017. It is the artist-educator’s fifth film with the group, some of which premiered and were screened both in local and international festivals. The short film was shown for free and on-demand as part of the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 5: Sine Kabataan Short Film Competition.

‘Missing Piece’ is the glowing next installment of Vance Joy’s story and the first taste of much more music to come.

VERY WANG NICKIE WANG Much-loved Melbourne singer-songwriter Vance Joy returns with his rousing new single, ‘Missing Piece.’

REAKING out as an artist, sharing the stage with stars like Taylor Swift and P!NK, and eventually headlining his own shows were some of his realized visions, but winning the hearts of music fans across the globe and making them appreciate his songs took Vance Joy’s career and dreams as music artist to a whole new level. Talking to Manila Standard Entertainment, Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy—who has over 3.1 billion streams to his name—tackled the unexpected reward he gets out of writing songs that many people resonate with. “It’s very special, it means a lot to me. I feel very fortunate to be in the position wherein I write songs and there are people who are excited to hear them. A lot of people out there who write songs but don’t always

have an audience. That’s the most important part of the process,” the singer said of the impressive feat of making millions of people listen to his songs. “It’s nice to have that kind of connection with people. To be writing songs that I’m really passionate about and get goosebumps and feel this adrenaline rush when I play a new song, and to feel that same feeling kind of coming back to me from the people I play the song to, is just surreal,” he added. It’s no surprise that listeners all over the world connect to Vance Joy's intimate yet anthemic songwriting. His lyrics take you on a journey that will reach out and hold you for a delicate moment. Bringing together a unique, charming mix of folk music with pop influences, these songs capture the familiar pulse of everyday experiences in a unique and celebratory manner. Case in point, his newest release “Missing Piece,” inspired by separation from a loved one, is gaining traction online. It is the first taste of new music from the Melbourne singersongwriter in three years, and follows on from his recent collaboration with fellow superstars Benny Blanco and Marshmello on “You.” Written virtually during a COVID lockdown with Joel Little (Taylor Swift, Khalid, Lorde), “Missing Piece” was inspired by people all over the

globe being separated from their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic and is a song for our times. “Missing Piece is a song about being separated from someone you love. It can be tough but when what you have is good you know that these separations are just small stuff; you’re both holding the line. It’s about the stillness you find when you are together,” Vance Joy (born James Keogh) stated. “I wrote it with Joel Little on a zoom call. I’m a big fan of his great songwriting and production. I think we tapped into something that’s relatable given so many people around the world have been separated recently due to restricted travel,” he carried on. One of Australia’s finest contemporary singer-songwriters, Vance Joy has two #1 Australian albums to his name, 2014’s dream your life away and 2018’s Nation of Two. He has been the recipient of two ARIA awards (Best Male and Best Adult Contemporary Album) and nine of his songs are now ARIA-certified platinum or multiplatinum, including his breakout single “Riptide,” which is currently 12x platinum. The Melbourne star joined other music acts including HONNE, BEKA, and SB19, no name a few, in this year’s G Music Fest from Sept. 25 to 26.

Alden Richards, fellow GMA artists win big at Star Awards A scene from the short film ‘Si Jet at ang Dark Lord ng Dol Gurskul’

From ‘Bagman’ to serial killer, Arjo Atayde topbills new international drama THE world-class talent of Filipinos is in focus in the newest international project of ABS-CBN that stars 2020 Asian Academy Creative Awards Best Actor Arjo Atayde. On Sept. 28, director Ruel S. Bayani, head of ABS-CBN International Production and Co-Production division, announced on TV Patrol that Atayde will lead the all-star cast of the upcoming series titled The Rebirth of the Cattleya Killer. The series is based on the 1996 Star Cinema movie Sa Aking Mga Kamay, which is about a serial killer preying on unfaithful wives previously portrayed by Aga Muhlach.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

Finding joy in Vance Joy’s music

Social fantasy short film tackles systematic bullying THE short film Si Jet at ang Dark Lord ng Dol Gurskul delves into school bullying as it highlighted the role of adults to address the long-existing issue. Themed “Pelikulang Pambata, Para sa Matatanda,” the shorts utilized the elements of the fantastic to analyze how children coped with their trauma and discussed the participation of adults in this systematic form. Written and directed by filmmaker and documentary cinematographer Gio Gonzalves, the five-minute production followed Jet, a grade 5 student who cut class, along with his imaginary friends Wizard Olorin and Warrior-King Eleazar to avoid Marcoth, the Evil Dark Lord of Dol Gurskul. Gonzalves and Si Jet at ang Dark Lord ng Dol Gurskul were selected from a pool of 200 outstanding artists and entries at the 4th Edition of the Sine Kabataan Short Film Competition, organized by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP). The FDCP awarded a P100,000 production grant to the ten selected Sine Kabataan filmmakers. A Multimedia Arts instructor at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Design and Arts, Gonzalves stressed that a bullied child is seldomly heard despite the prevalence of the problem in the country. Gonzalves believes that there is an unconscious participation in this rooted and perpetrated system that even goes

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

Bayani said Atayde is the best choice to lead the series, which will start filming this year. “He has a proven track record of giving justice to the diverse roles he has portrayed through the years. His depth and range as an actor will definitely give a fresh take on this 1996 classic,” he said. “First of all, ABS-CBN never fails to surprise me all the time with all these characters. It's one hell of a story. It's one hell of a character, and it's not normally done here. This is one of the most powerful stories that they're going to remake. I am proud to be part of it. Hopefully, the Cattleya Killer could be one if not the possible door to ABS-CBN stepping into the foreign industry,” shared Atayde, who last brought pride to the country with his performance in the critically-acclaimed iWantTFC original series Bagman. The Rebirth of the Cattleya Killer will be directed by award-winning filmmaker Dan Villegas, and helmed by the same local producers of Almost Paradise, the first U.S. TV series entirely shot in the Philippines co-produced by ABS-CBN and Hollywood’s Electric Entertainment. The Rebirth of the Cattleya Killer is also one of the chosen participants in the 2021 Full Circle Series Lab, a talent development program led by Matthieu Darras and Izabela Igel with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP). It was selected alongside concepts from other countries in Southeast Asia.

ALDEN Richards adds another feat in his career milestones as he won Movie Actor of the Year at the recently held 36th Star Awards for Movies by the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC). The multimedia actor bagged the award for his role in the blockbuster film Hello, Love, Goodbye in 2019. He also won the Movie Loveteam of the Year alongside his onscreen partner Kathryn Bernardo. In a recorded speech, Richards expressed his gratitude to the awardgiving body and to those who were part of their movie, “Our film made history because of your support, thank you to our director, Cathy Garcia Molina, to all the cast, especially to Kathryn. Sa lahat po ng mga nagtiwalang press sa PMPC, maraming maraming salamat po and patuloy po kayong mag-iingat.” Aside from Richards, Kapuso artists David Licauco and Michelle Dee took

home the New Movie Actor and Actress of the Year titles for the movie Because I Love You. Licauco was thankful and humbled to accept the award, “I never expected to be in showbiz, I never expected to see myself on TV, and what more now that I actually have an award from PMPC. It’s just so surreal. I just want to thank PMPC for this award, this will make me improve on my craft and do well. I want to say thank you to my manager, GMA Artist Center, GMA Network, for trusting and believing in me. I promise to do better and stick to our vision which is to entertain people.” Meanwhile, actor and Nagbabagang Luha director Ricky Davao was recognized as the Movie Supporting Actor of the Year for the independent film Fuccbois. The virtual awarding ceremony was hosted by Kapuso stars Sanya Lopez and Alfred Vargas.

Alden Richards (left) is the Movie Actor of the Year in the 36th edition of Star Awards for Movies.

Who’s getting the coveted crown tonight? AS THE official broadband partner of Miss Universe Philippines (MUP) 2021, PLDT Home reignites its commitment to powering young Filipina queens on their quest to become an inspiration to the world. The country’s leading telecommunications and digital services provider joins millions of Filipinos online tonight, as 28 Miss Universe Philippines candidates get together at the Henann Resort Alona Beach, Bohol for the Grand Coronation Night. PLDT Home is coming off last year’s successful partnership with the muchanticipated local pageant, which then crowned Iloilo’s Rabiya Mateo as both Miss Universe Philippines and Miss PLDT Home. Mateo, a top 21 finisher at the 69th Miss Universe Pageant in Hollywood, Florida last May, will also be present at the Miss Universe Philippines 2021 event to crown her Miss PLDT Home successor. The Miss Universe Philippines 2021 coronation night will be streamed live via KTX at 7:00 tonight and will be telecast

via GMA 7 on Oct. 3. “We’re proud and delighted to have PLDT Home again as Miss Universe Philippines partner. We’re thankful for the brand joining and supporting our cause,” said MUP national director Shamcey Supsup-Lee. “Together, we believe we can pave

Miss Universe Philippine national director Shamcey Supsup

the way for queens to serve others and be an inspiration. Specifically, during this pandemic, it is through their strong and meaningful online connections that they become better, stronger, and more empowered women with a heart.” The newly crowned Miss Universe Philippines will represent the Philippines in the international pageant, to be held in Eilat, Israel in December. As MUP’s official broadcast partner, PLDT Home seeks to power our young queens through their life in the new normal. By building powerful digital connections that bridge them to the rest of the world, the brand is able to help these beautifully confident Filipinas in their different advocacies and causes. Follow the journey of Miss Universe Philippines 2021 and join the conversation online using the hashtags #StrongerQueenWithin and #InspireYou. Get the latest updates about PLDT Home through its social media pages on Facebook (www.facebook.com/pldthome), Instagram, and Twitter (@pldthome).

Life

HOUSEHOLD

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 Bernadette Lunas, Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Because ‘bawal pa lumabas’, Kim Chiu shops online

Kim Chiu is always on the lookout for promo deals and waits for sale events before she checks out the items in her cart.

By Bernadette Lunas

ELEBRITIES are just like us.

You can see them “mine-ing” items on Facebook (“mine” is the commonly used word to say you will buy the product), participating in bidding wars for those vintage handbags on Instagram, and adding to cart on e-commerce platforms. “Bago matulog, pampaantok ko magadd to cart sa Shopee,” television host and actress Kim Chiu shared at a virtual press conference for Shopee’s 10.10 sale. She’s no impulse buyer. Chiu is always on the lookout for promos and waits for sale events before she taps the checkout button. Whenever she’s looking for a specific item, “nagse-search ako, comparing [products and stores] kung saan ang mas mura”. She added, “Iniipon ko yung items sa cart, kapag may [promo] deals tsaka lang ako nag-che-checkout.” Currently in her cart are Christmas items, which she plans to check out on

Chiu brings her bubbly personality to e-commerce platform Shopee as its new brand ambassador.

Oct. 10 (10.10). Chiu said she was a regular Shopee user even before she was announced as the e-commerce platform’s newest ambassador for its 10.10 Brands Festival. “Kim’s bubbly, charming personality and love for online shopping both resonate with millions of Filipinos who find joy and excitement on Shopee,” Martin Yu, director at Shopee Philippines, said in a statement. Chiu stars in the new Shopee TV commercial where she gives the viral “Proof of Delivery” trend (online shoppers striking a pose with their de-

livered packages) her own spin – with so much energy. She will also be featured on in-app games Spin and Win and Guess It Right, as well as at the #10BrandFaves contest. Shopee’s October sale highlights brands on-boarded on the platform. There are over 28,000 brands available on Shopee Mall across the region, according to Yu. “Shopee works with brands to help them reach more customers in more engaging ways and unlock more opportunities online,” said Yu. Leading up to 10.10, shoppers can

10.10 Brands Festival ambassador Kim Chiu and Shopee Philippines director Martin Yu.

look forward to Nestle, Deerma, GoMO!, Lactum, Colgate-Palmolive, Shigetsu, P&G Beauty, Garnier, and Belo Brand Days on Shopee Mall where discounts can go up to 80 percent and prices can go as low as P179. Themed sales are scheduled everyday, starting Oct. 1 – Groceries Fair on Oct. 1, Fashion Fair on Oct. 2-3, Mom and Baby Fair on Oct. 4, Work From Home Fair on Oct. 5, Gadgets and Gizmo Fair on Oct. 6-7, and Beauty and Wellness Fair on Oct. 8-9. On Oct. 10, free shipping with no minimum spend and up to P1,000 off

brand vouchers will be released along with brand giveaways. Lucky shoppers can win P430,000 worth of prizes, such as vouchers, bundles, newly launched items, and a lifetime supply of products from over 30 participating brands. On top of these promos and games where players earn coins they can use for purchase, Chiu revealed the number one reason she became hooked on Shopee. “I’m really a Shopee user since bawal tayong lumabas. Sobrang bilis ng delivery, minimum of two days nandiyan na sa ‘yo. ‘Di mo na kailangang pumunta sa malls at i-risk ang sarili mo.”

Direct selling company rolls out household products in biodegradable packaging

Holiday trimmings and festive ornaments for cozy woodland (left) and Christmas village (right) themes available at Rustan’s.

Holly jolly holiday merchandise at a Christmas Village YOU know it is the start of the holiday season in the Philippines when malls begin to sell and deck their halls with boughs of holly and other trimmings all bright and shiny. Amid a challenging year, the holiday continues and remains bright. The Christmas Village at Rustan’s offers theme ideas for those planning or getting ready to deck their own halls with jolly decorations.

Classic, cozy, contemporary décor

The one-stop shop has laid out a variety of festive themes featuring available products. There are deep-red decorations with luxurious gold accents for the classic red and gold theme, swirl and candy cane ornaments and polka dot and stripes stockings in distinct red and white theme, and white Christmas tree with frosted shades of dusty blue and silver trimmings for that sophisticated blue and silver theme. Bring the cozy vibe of cabin homes using pine cones, rattan balls, beige-toned ribbons and stockings; or go for The Nutcracker theme, the decorations for which are available at Rustan’s Christmas Village. Want to get in Santa’s good graces? Try a Santa Claus theme with mugs, trains, and others. Go all out with figurines of busy towns for a Christmas Village theme. The department store also carries an assortment of décor in millennial pink shades like rose gold and cream for a modern pink holiday theme. Complete it with a frilly pink tree with pearls, fabric flowers, and Christmas balls.

Sophisticated blue and silver tree Lively red and white tree

lighting pieces made of all-natural materials from Tadeco Home. Light up the doors and windows with Pampanga parols. Rustan’s Flower Shop also carries various arrangements including traditional design with cypress, palay, and pine cones, as well as modern selections like wreaths with misty pink accents.

When to shop

The short answer is today, if possible, especially since Frequent Shoppers Program members can earn x5 points when Locally made accents they purchase regular-tagged items at World of Rustan’s Find table napkins and placemats from local brands and enter- Home until Sept. 30. prises like Amber & Anne. Check out handcrafted ornaments, Rustan’s Christmas Village will have ongoing promos and capiz shell decors, and accent pieces from Shell Arts. Discover displays until Dec. 31.

iPHOTO Merry and bright Megamall SM Megamall welcomes shoppers entering through the Building A entrance (left) with garlands of looped teal blue and warm white gel lights and ping pong bulbs spreading holiday cheer. Over at the Mega Fashion Hall entrance, a 21-foot heart shaped hand installation (right) highlights the love and harmony the season brings.

FILIPINO-OWNED company Personal Another component of the compaCollection Direct Selling, Inc. (PCDSI) ny’s awareness drive is PC Appre-seahas made good on its promise to help tion Day to support the well-being and conserve the environment with the initial preservation of marine life in Philiproll-out of its biodegradable packaging. pine waters. It spearheads a nationwide The switch is anchored on its A campaign to minimize, if not rid, our Green Life is a Great Life advocacy to oceans of disposable plastic products. sustainable living announced in June. Personal Collection’s sof & The biodegradable packaging used mmmmm….., available in four variants, for PCDSI’s flagship products Tuff TBC (toilet bowl cleanser) and sof & mmmmm….. fabric conditioner is expected to decompose in landfills within approximately five to 10 years, 100 times faster than the standard plastic bottle that could take up to 1,000 years to disintegrate. According to PCDSI, the packaging can be reused and repurposed several times and does not alter the shelflife properties of the products. “Moreover, it contributes to the creation of biogas, a potential source of sustainable energy that can be used to power vePersonal Collection’s flagship products, fabric conditioner hicles, homes, and sof & mmmmm…. . and toilet bowl cleaner Tuff, are now in businesses.” biodegradable packaging. Despite the sizable increase in product cost because of the “massive invest- is a concentrated fabric conditioner forments in research and development mulated with Perfumed Micro Crystals and recalibration of existing packag- that remain in the fabric and gradually ing”, PCDSI Board of Directors chair- release the infused fragrance throughman Willie “Jun” Evangelista, Jr. says out the day, eliminating odors. It conthe company has allotted a long-term tains Fibersoft that prevents fabrics from major commitment to the cause. stretching, fading, and wrinkling.

Easy Shopping Special Feature

C4 || THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

Shopping made easier through technology By P.Y. Deligero

FOUR TIPS WHEN SHOPPING ONLINE While online shopping bears similarities to its physical counterpart, buyers should continue to exercise a level of caution when buying essentials and other items. Here are some tips to make the online shopping experience more enjoyable.

1. Always read the product description Many online buyers often make mistakes with the items they buy, leading to visible disappointment and frustration. To avoid this from happening, make sure that the item has the right specifications to fit your needs. This means checking its material, dimensions, and even finding out if it has a warranty should there be any complications with the item upon receiving or over time. If needed, reach out to the seller to clarify any questions about an item. This applies when buying from both new and established online selling platforms. A consumer has the right to know everything about a product and the sellers should provide full disclosure.

Many shopping malls around the country cater to this familial bond among their customers. But this dynamic was greatly disturbed when the COVID-19 pandemic struck the Philippines in March 2020. People were mandated to stay indoors as a precaution meant to keep the virus from spreading rapidly. With almost everyone stuck at home, the once lively malls where people used to roam descended to silence and stillness. People have also become reminiscent of a time when they could enjoy the outdoors without having to worry about their safety. Luckily, modern technology has given a solution to this problem. Thanks to the internet and its various platforms, people can now use the online space to engage in the activities they enjoyed before the pandemic and its restrictions like shopping and spending time with the people they love.

2. Check the product’s rating When using online platforms, one striking difference it has from the physical activity is that there will be no one there to assist. Sellers are only available for some time before they can get back to any concerns so the process of selection falls onto the buyers. To see if an item is worth it, check for ratings that other buyers left in reaction to their purchase. The feedback can provide a better perspective and even set a level of expectation from the item.

OR many Filipinos, shopping goes beyond the mere act of purchasing their needs and wants as it is also seen as an activity where people can connect with their family, friends, and loved ones.

PUTTING A SPOTLIGHT ON ONLINE SHOPPING Even before the pandemic, online shopping has already been available to users everywhere. But people weren’t

as quick to respond to it as they are now. This is because people didn’t see the need to turn their attention and efforts online if they can experience it firsthand. But with the new normal, the public had to reconsider the potential of online shopping until they eventually recognized the opportunities it presented. Several e-commerce platforms, both local and international, have been gaining praise and recognition from users everywhere. In the Philippines, the malls and outlets that the people know and love also realized the advantages of leveraging online space. This allows them to continue their operations of providing for the people as they have for years. Consumers, in turn, can enjoy a better shopping expe-

rience because they know that they’re dealing with a trusted brand. Without having to leave the safety of their homes, people can browse through a variety of products and tap a few items on their screens before their orders will be delivered to their homes in just a few days. Aside from skipping long checkout lines while maintaining safety, another benefit

of online shopping is that buyers have access to more products without having to check different branches and leaving disappointed if it’s not there. Pre-ordering is common in online stores so that consumers don’t have to feel frustrated about not finding the item/s they need. Plus it makes the wait of receiving the item more worthwhile. Transactions are also made easier at online shopping platforms. When

people go shopping physically, they have limited options such as cash or cards. But in a digital space, they have access to other payment options that don’t require cash. These are only some of the benefits that come with online shopping. As the world continues to shift to a modern setting, new demands will arise thus prompting brands to adapt and meet these needs.

3. Double-check the item before checking out Just like with physical shopping, double-checking an item before paying for it is important. This lessens the chances of a buyer making mistakes that could sometimes cost some money. Aside from securing the item’s quality, another way to mitigate losses is by choosing a payment option that uses cash on delivery or allows refunds. This is advisable when buying things that are worth a significant amount such as gadgets, novelty items, and more. 4. Learn how to budget While online shopping has made the experience easier, it also features sales events where consumers can buy quality items for a lower price. And at a time when people need something to pass the time or distract them from the current health pandemic, some find satisfaction in retail therapy. Practicality should still be exercised, especially in online shopping. There will always be new items that can pique buyers’ interests, but they should also maintain a level of self-control to avoid spending their money on things that will hardly be used. Investing in the right items can go a long way. Since last year, online shopping has made Filipinos’ lives easier by providing them with an option to continue one of their favorite activities from the safety of their homes. Many have found solace and enjoyment in being able to browse and buy items right at their fingertips. Because of this development, online space may see more shopping platforms that will continue to delight consumers for years to come.

SM brings shopping to your mobile phones By Rommel Bong R. Fuertes Jr. IS your payday coming up? How will you treat yourself after a month’s worth of work? Usually, workers will relax and reward themselves by simply strolling or shopping at their nearest SM mall. This is especially true during these ‘ber months’ that are usually the best time to head over to your nearest SM Department Store and scout what you can get for your relatives, family members, or even your special someone months before Christmas. Due to the surge in COVID-19 cases, some are skeptical going outside. Fortunately, there’s a very

plausible shopping solution at your fingertips. SM Stores now has an accessible alternative to the physical mode of shopping --the SM Malls Online -an app developed by SM, allowing netizens and workers to order items straight from the SM Shop right to their doorsteps. From kids’ toys to men’s and women’s apparel to your favorite food, SM stays true to its motto that they “have it all for you”. Every purchase made in the app will initially depend on where you are as the items will come from the nearest SM store to your home. Participating stores are SM Mall of Asia, SM Southmall, SM Megamall,

SM North Edsa, and SM City Fairview. Restaurants from said malls also offer pickup or delivery purchases for app users. This makes for the overall flexibility of the SM Malls Online app, as it caters to more than e-commerce. While the app functions like the usual e-commerce platform, what makes SM Malls Online different is it administers the same sales happening on physical branches to the app. If you are indeed keen on

visiting your nearest SM store, the application offers an on-site delivery pick-up feature. This means that you can purchase or reserve the item you want and purchase it beforehand. Once you have your desired item or food purchased via the app, you can head to the store near you and claim your item without lining up

and staying long to avoid further physical contact. One of the best things about SM’s app? Online shoppers’ two favorite words: free shipping! The app offers free shipping (for door-to-door deliveries) for orders amounting to 500 pesos or more. So what are you waiting for? Browse now, and then click!