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Govt may reopen more biz Massage parlors, spas, cinemas, arcades under consideration By Othel V. Campos and Willie Casas

T VOL. XXXV • NO. 235 • 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 •FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

HE government is considering allowing personal care services such as massage parlors and spas to reopen as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to decline.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Thursday this would allow more workers to be rehired and expedite the economy’s recovery. He said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) was considering

By Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta VICE President Leni Robredo on Thursday filed her certificate of candidacy to run for president as an independent candidate in the 2022 elections as she accepted the endorsement of the opposition coalition 1Sambayan to be its standard bearer. “I will fight, we will fight. I am offering myself as the presidential candidate in the 2022 elections,” she said. “We will defeat the old and rotten system of politics.” Robredo slammed the Duterte administration in her speech, saying a lack of leadership has exacerbated the country’s problems. “We need to liberate ourselves from the present situation,” Robredo said. “If we really want to free ourselves in this kind of situation, we do not only need to change

By Willie Casas HEALTH Secretary Francisco Duque III has admitted nearly 500,000 healthcare workers have yet to receive their three months’ worth of meals, accommodation and transport or MAT allowance under a presidential proclamation signed during the pandemic. During the weekly “Talk to the People” Wednesday, Duque sought out President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval of an administrative order that would provide the long-overdue allowances of about 423,000 healthcare workers. Duque reported to the President the proposal to provide MAT allowance under Proclamation 18 for 423,000 health workers who did not receive these benefits from September 15, 2020 to December 19, 2020. Duque said they have funds for MAT from the Department of Health’s savings worth P1.23 billion and P1.1 billion contingency funds from the Office of the President. “This is enough to cover about P2.51 billion, where each healthcare worker would receive P2,000 per month),” said Duque.

Vice President Leni Robredo signs the Integrity Pledge after filing her candidacy to join the 2022 presidential race at the Sofitel Harbor Garden Tent in Pasay City on October 7, 2021. AFP

UN RIGHTS CHIEF: PUBLISH PH DRUG WAR FINDINGS NEWS / A2

Romualdez for reelection, thanks Rody for VP push

Teachers in ECQ areas to receive extra hazard pay

Robredo runs for president, files COC as independent

Duque seeks OK of P2.5b outlay for allowance of 500k frontliners

TEACHERS assigned in areas covered by the government’s Enhanced Community Quarantine – some good news for you. Education Secretary Leonor Briones promised Thursday that added-on hazard pay would be given to educators teaching in ECQ areas. This hazard pay is separate from the other benefits the mentors receive, Briones said at a Palace briefing where she also reported on the pilot testing of limited face-to-face classes in the country in mid-November. Briones said: “Teachers should be informed that there is extra hazard pay if they are in areas under enhanced community quarantine, and if they are teaching there, they are entitled to additional COVID-19 hazard pay.” For teachers in ECQ areas, Briones said they may receive a P550 allowance daily.

whether to require massage parlors and spas to secure a Safety Seal or if they should be limited to serving only fully vaccinated people. “These activities are now being considered [for Alert level 4].... This is the only

By Maricel V. Cruz

Former Vice Presidents Jejomar Binay and Noli De Castro will run for senator in next year’s synchronized national and local elections. Binay has already filed his certificate of candidacy while De Castro took his oath as member of the Aksyon Demokratiko party as part of the senatorial slate of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno. Joey Razon and Norman Cruz

Binay sets Senate bid, De Castro joins Isko By Joel E. Zurbano TWO former vice presidents are running for the Senate in 2022. Former vice president Jejomar Binay on Thursday filed his certificate of candidacy for senator, saying he would give priority to helping the 4 million Filipinos who lost their jobs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We learned during this pandemic how the people have been deeply neglected. We need to fix this,” said

the 78-year-old Binay after he filed his COC. He also spoke of 3 million families who are experiencing hunger and the thousands of small businesses that have had no choice but to close down. “We need to help them recover. Looking forward, we should work to rebuild our economy in a way that puts priority on creating stable jobs. We should reform our health care system. And the safety, welfare, and well-being of the people should always be our foremost concern,” he said.

HOUSE Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez filed Thursday his certificate of candidacy for reelection and thanked President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for considering him as a viable vicepresidential candidate. “Today, I filed my certificate of candidacy for Representative of the First District of Leyte. I decided to seek reelection in response to my constituents’ clamor for me to continue serving them as Next page

House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez formalizes his reelection bid as representative of the first district of Leyte. Ver Noveno

Lacson insists only court can order arrest, Roque rebuts IBP on memo By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rey E. Requejo

EXPENSIVE CARGO. Workers move liquified petroleum gas (LPG) tanks at the Port of Manila on Thursday, October 7, 2021. The tanks will be delivered to Palawan. Oil firms implemented a hefty increase in LPG prices by as much as P7.40 per kilo or an P81 hike per 11-kilo tank. Danny Pata

SENATOR Panfilo Lacson said Thursday only a court of law could issue an arrest warrant against anybody and in accordance with the rule of law. He was reacting to the threat of President Rodrigo Duterte that he would send to jail senators who would file contempt charges against Cabinet Officials who refuse to attend the Senate probe into the overpriced procurement of medical pandemic supplies. Sen. Francis Pangilinan, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, and Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee spearheading the investigation, also reacted negatively to Duterte’s threat. Next page

2,632,881 10,019

115,328

39,937

109

2,477,616

7,425

(As of 4 PM, October 7)

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021

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‘Publish drug war report’—UNHRC T

HE head of the United Nations human rights office urged the Duterte administration to publish the findings of its drug war review panel as International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan said his probe would uncover the truth and ensure accountability among those involved in human rights abuses.

“I encourage publication of the panel’s findings so its work can be evaluated,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet during the 48th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Bachelet noted that in February, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra announced at the Human Rights

Council some preliminary findings of the inter-agency review panel on anti-illegal drugs operations where deaths occurred. “The panel has now referred its findings on 52 cases involving 154 police officers for investigation for criminal liability,” she said. Khan, for his part, said his office

Teachers... From A1

Govt... From A1

They may receive additional assistance -- if they got infected with COVID-19 -- on top of their “special hardship allowance” that is offered only to teachers, Briones added. On Wednesday, the Department of Education announced that the pilot implementation of limited face-toface classes is November 15, which will initially cover 100 public schools and 20 private schools, and will involve Kindergarten to Grade 3 pupils. From the 638 nominated schools, only 59 public schools have been selected for the pilot test after they passed the granular risk assessment of the Department of Health. At a Senate hearing earlier on, Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said the pilot test of face-toface classes amid the COVID-19 pandemic was timed with the start of the second quarter of the school year, and would last until Dec. 22. The in-person classes would then be assessed and the pilot study would end on Jan. 31, 2022. The department would then evaluate, identify more schools for the expansion of the pilot run, inspect sites and conduct dry runs and present their expansion plans to President Rodrigo Duterte in February 2022. If the proposal is approved, the expanded pilot run of face-to-face classes would begin on March 7, 2022. With the Philippines one of the last countries to keep schools closed during the pandemic, the President approved limited face-to-face classes in September in areas with a low risk of COVID-19 infection. DepEd said it would provide “a rolling assessment” every Monday to increase the number of participating schools to 120. In a statement, the DepEd and the Department of Health said they would work with local government units, school officials, community stakeholders and participating teachers and students in ensuring the safe operation of the pilot test of faceto-face classes. “Our responsibility for DepEd is to secure areas, the local government units who have given their consent and are prepared to cooperate, the permission of parents, and also the readiness of our own facilities in DepEd for limited face-to-face learning. On the other hand, the Department of Health will assess the health side readiness of the school,” Secretary Briones said. The departments said the pilot would focus on four areas: 1) safe operations, 2) teaching and learning, 3) including the most marginalized, and 4) wellbeing and protection. Under Safe Operations, a maximum of 120 schools (95 elementary schools, five senior high schools, and 20 private schools) will be chosen for the pilot. These schools must be located at minimal risk areas and passed the School Safety Assessment Tool. LGUs must also express their support with a resolution or letter allowing the conduct of the pilot run in the community.

way to sustain the reopening momentum,” he said. Cinemas and arcades, he added, will be reconsidered as soon as Alert level 3 is declared. Lopez said there was growing interest from the provinces and areas outside Metro Manila in adopting the alert level system with granular lockdowns as soon as the pilot test in the National Capital Region is over. He also reminded gyms and fitness centers that have resumed operations to maintain a strict policy on the use of face masks and to maintain an excellent ventilation system. Among the suggested practices are the use of air purifiers, keeping windows open and the use of UV sticks to sanitize equipment. There are about 3,000 gyms and fitness centers across the country. Lopez also said that restaurants can seat as much as 30 percent of their capacity for dine-in customers if they have a Safety Seal. “The essence of our moves is to allow more continuity in business. Businesses can survive even on oscillating operational capacities depending on the alert level system, since they will not be required to (temporarily) close again,” Lopez said. He noted that statistics have shown that

Binay... From A1 In Manila, Binay’s predecessor in the position, former vice president Noli de Castro, took his oath as a member of the Aksyon Demokratiko party, which will field him as a senatorial candidate. De Castro took his oath before Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, the party’s president and standard bearer, at the Bulwagan in Manila City Hall. A post on Moreno’s Facebook page said De Castro, 72, will run for senator under the Aksyon Demokratiko party. “The 72-year-old broadcaster, who announced his departure from ABS-CBN this morning, is set to run in next year’s senatorial race,” the post said. A veteran broadcaster, De Castro

Robredo... From A1 the names of those in power, but also the corruption and incompetence, the lack of concern. We need competent and good governance,” she said. Robredo’s filing of her COC was quickly followed by unconfirmed reports that Senator Francis Pangilinan, president of the opposition Liberal Party, would be her running mate. Robredo has been under pressure from supporters and opposition groups to join the 2022 presidential race, but she has been well behind the front runners in opinion polls. Her decision comes after former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. filed his COC for the presidency. Robredo narrowly defeated Marcos for the nation’s second-highest office in 2016. Marcos was in second place behind Duterte’s daughter, Sara, in a recent Pulse Asia Research poll, though she has denied plans to run.

Lacson... From A1 Meanwhile, President Duterte’s memorandum barring officials and employees of the Executive Branch from attending the ongoing Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings into government’s spending for the COVID-19 pandemic does not upset the principle of checks and balances, Malacañang said. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made this remark after the Integrated Bar of the Philippines urged Duterte to recall his memo, saying it “upsets the system of checks and balserved three years as senator from 2001 to 2004, before winning election and serving as vice president under the Arroyo administration. De Castro was initially a front runner in the 2010 presidential election but lost his lead when Senator Benigno Aquino III declared his intent to run for president after his mother, democracy icon Cory Aquino, died. De Castro did not file to be included in the ballot, and later told an interview he would retire from politics at the end of his term and would go back to his career in broadcast journalism. Binay, a human rights lawyer during martial law, is running under the ticket of presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson and his running mate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III. He was the longest serving mayor of Makati and served as the country’s vice president during the Aquino administration.

Duque... From A1

would depend on the cooperation of states, civil societies and their other partners in the probe. “My investigation will seek to uncover the truth and aim to ensure accountability. We will focus our efforts on ensuring a successful, independent and impartial investigation,” he said. Khan’s predecessor Fatou Bensouda had requested the ICC to conduct a probe into the crimes committed in the Philippines from Nov. 1, 2011 in the context of the anti-drug campaign under the Duterte administration. On Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte said he is ready to face the charges

brought against him at the ICC for his deadly drug war even when he retires to his hometown of Davao City, as long as the evidence is not fabricated against him. “I will prepare for my defense. That ICC – just don’t invent anything. I am not scared, just don’t cheat on the evidence,” the President said. More than 6,000 mostly poor drug suspects have been killed during the campaign, according to the government. But human rights groups say the death toll is considerably higher and should include many unsolved killings by motorcycle-riding gunmen who may have been deployed by police.

the economy is nowhere near pre-pandemic levels and the numbers of unemployed workers hit 3.88 million in August 2021. The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday reported that the number of daily COVID-19 cases was declining. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a Palace briefing that they had “identified and analyzed” all factors such as lower laboratory output, a decrease in test outputs resulting in lower positivity rate and fewer hospital admissions, Vergeire said. Vergeire reported that new cases in the National Capital Region Plus areas and Luzon were decreasing. She also said that the DOH must assess if this reflected a true decline or if it was affected by other factors, such as the decline in the number of RT-PCR tests conducted across the country. Vergeire said the decrease in laboratory output was largely affected by the use of antigen tests. “Second, we saw that the decrease in test outputs also showed a decrease in the positivity rate,” she said in Filipino Moreover, she said the DOH observed a decrease in hospital admissions. Still, she said, hospitalization utilization rates remain high. “Although the ICU utilization rate is at 68 percent, we need to be careful so we can further decongest hospitals, [and] move on and open up some sectors in our economy,” Vergeire said.

“With all of these factors validated and studied, we are confirming cases are declining but it’s not a sign to be complacent.” “Let’s be reminded that although cases have declined, our hospitals remain somewhat full,” she said. In the last two days, the Philippines reported fewer than 10,000 new COVID-19 cases daily. Earlier, the OCTA Research Group announced that cases per day in NCR could go below 1,000 by the end of October as the reproduction number—which is the number of people that can be infected by a carrier--further decreased to 0.67. It was at 0.88 the week before. A reproduction number that is below 1 indicates that the transmission of the virus is slowing down. “Based on current trends, the NCR could have 1,500 to below 1,000 new cases per day by the end of October,” OCTA fellow Guido David said in a tweet. David said the seven-day average in NCR had a 32 percent decline to 2,642. The positivity rate also decreased to 14 percent. NCR will remain under Alert Level 4 from Oct.1 to 15 as the government extended the pilot implementation of the new five-level alert system. The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday reported some 9,868 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the nationwide tally to 2,622,917. This marks the second straight day with fewer than 10,000 cases recorded.

Robredo was a distant sixth, trailing boxing champion Senator Manny Pacquiao and Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso, who have confirmed they will seek the presidency; and Senator Grace Poe, who has not. Robredo, who has three daughters, served a single term in the House of Representatives before her successful bid for the vice presidency. “My promise is to give all my strength, not only until the election but until the very end to fight for the Philippines that we dream of,” Robredo said Thursday. “It is going to be an uphill climb but her running sends a strong statement in itself that there is a genuine opposition to Duterte and the return of another Marcos to the presidency,” said University of the Philippines political science professor Jean Franco. Pangilinan said the party was fully behind Robredo. “Leni said we should join together in this fight. Let us all stand because the fight of Leni is my fight, and our fight,” Pangilinan said. Presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lac-

son and his running mate Senate President Vicente Sotto III, said they agreed they would rise on their own merits and would not comment on their political rivals for 2022. “We will focus only on presenting ourselves and our competencies to the electorate in an effort to get elected based on our own strengths, and not on the deficiencies of the others,” said Lacson, who had been in unsuccessful unity talks with Robredo. “We will raise the level of discourse of the campaign and deal with issues rather than personalities,” Lacson said. “We intend to keep it that way, even as we encourage our supporters to follow our lead.” Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who earlier said he would run for President if Robredo did not, welcomed her decision to lead “the real opposition.” He guaranteed her his Magdalo party’s full support. Senator Leila de Lima said Robredo’s decision to run put an end to speculation that the opposition could not field a strong candidate for the country’s highest elective position. With AFP

However, since Bayanihan 2 already expired last June 2021, Duque said they would need authority from Duterte to use these funds. Duque said they had transmitted a copy of the Administrative Order to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea that covers these assistance for health workers who did not receive the MAT benefits. Health workers from various hospitals have protested due to the unreleased benefits over the past few months. They said they had been risking their health on the frontlines to care for the sick, but were being deprived of some allowances due them such as the MAT, special risk allowance and active hazard duty pay. Last month, Duterte appealed to the medical frontliners to be more understanding over the delayed release of their benefits, saying the government had to deal with equally-pressing matters as part of its COVID-19 response. “Give us time to adjust to the finances because ang fluctuation of events hindi natin malaman kagaya nito bigla na lang. Sino ba nag-akala na mayroong pandemiya? We have to spend in a short notice, we had to collate whatever was left or whatever was available for Bayanihan 1 and 2,” Duterte said. More than a week ago, health workers expressed deep frustration and anger after the DOH presented its “singular allowance” proposal on the COVID-19 benefits for them during a public hearing of the joint Senate Committees on Finance and Ways and Means. Association of Health Workers National President Robert Mendoza said: “We oppose the DOH’s ‘singular allowance’ proposal for the health workers’ COVID-19 benefits because it would mean the removal of our special risk allowance , active hazard duty pay and meal, accommodation and transportation benefits. “This scheme is indeed divisive and discriminating.” Mendoza added the DOH’s proposal provided only one type of benefit would be provided to health workers. “And it will be given in different categories, different amounts and worse not all health workers will be given the said benefits.” AHW also criticized the DOH for its proposal to categorize the provision of COVID-19 related benefits for health workers into low risk, medium risk and high risk categories of exposure. Health workers who are classified as having low risk COVID-19 exposure will receive P3K; medium risk P6K; and P9K for those who have a highrisk exposure. “The DOH’s proposal to categorize the risk exposure of the health workers in hospitals and health facilities is completely unacceptable because the virulent virus can infect anyone. Our data showed many health workers assigned in non-COVID areas are getting infected due to lack of protection. So everyone in the vicinity of the hospital and health facility are all considered high risk to COVID-19. Thus, all health workers must receive equal COVID-19 benefits.” Mendoza explained. Apart from that, the DOH targets only P526,727 health workers out of the 1.8 million health workers nationwide to receive the said allowance.

ances and transgresses the doctrine of separation of powers” among the three co-equal branches of the government. Roque disagreed with the IBP, noting that Duterte does not have the power to stop the Senate from conducting investigations. “Checks and balances are not affected. Why? Because the President has no power to order a co-equal branch of government to stop their hearings,” Roque said in a Palace press briefing. Roque said the Senate has the power to conduct inquiries but noted that the lawmakers should not cite Cabinet officials in contempt for failing to appear. “The Supreme Court said that secretaries are under the direct control and

supervision of the President, if they were barred, they should follow and not cite them in contempt for failing to attend Senate hearings. That is the actual decision of the Supreme Court so there is no violation of the Constitution),” he said, citing the high court in its 2008 ruling on the case Romulo Neri vs. Senate. He reiterated that the President would have no problem should the Senate panel continue to conduct a series of investigations into the government’s spending of COVID-19 response funds, provided the hearings do not disrupt the work of the government officials. Duterte has repeatedly said the Senate

panel has been wasting his Cabinet officials’ time by summoning them in lengthy hearings amid the pandemic. In his Talk to the People on Wednesday, Duterte said there was “no way” he would withdraw the memo and dared the Senate to challenge the document before the Supreme Court. He said only the SC could decide on whether the memo “is unconstitutional.” “Eventually, I think this will reach the Supreme Court. I am not saying that I am all correct. I may be wrong, but I have to protect the Executive Department from the incessant and steady dose of insults coming from the senators,” he added.

to continue his unfinished work as a legislator and representative of his district. “Much as I would have loved serving the Filipino people in higher office,” Romualdez said. “I chose to pursue another term in Congress to continue the work left unfinished in my district.” Romualdez finished his Bachelor of Arts in Government from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York in 1985. In 1988, he obtained a Certificate of Special Studies in Administration and Management from Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts. He then proceeded to law school, earning his Bachelor of Laws from the UP College of Law in Diliman, Quezon City in 1992. Before his stint in government, Romualdez served as concurrent trustee and president of Doña Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Medical Founda-

tion and Dr. Vicente Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation. In 1995, he started working as director and legal counsel for the CARPA Realty Development Corporation, and as trustee for Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Medical Foundation. Romualdez was the former chairman of the Board for Equitable PCI Bank, as well as Director for a host of stellar companies, among them Philippine Commercial International Bank, Equitable Card Network, EBC Investments, Inc., Equitable Savings Bank, PCI Leasing Corporation, and PCI Capital Corporation, among others. One of the laws principally authored by Romualdez was Republic Act 10754, which exempts more than 1.5 million persons with disabilities from the payment of 12-percent value added tax on certain goods and services.

Romualdez... From A1 their congressman,” Romualdez, president of the growing Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) political party, said after filing his COC at the Commission on Elections Provincial Office in Tacloban City. “I thank President Rodrigo Duterte for considering me as a viable and worthy candidate for the vice-presidential post. His repeated endorsement and words of encouragement truly serve as an inspiration. For believing that I have what it takes to occupy the second highest post of the land, I will be eternally grateful to the President,” added Romualdez, chairman of the House Committee on Rules. Romualdez, president of Philippine Constitution Association, said he chose

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Nikkei performance report done during Delta surge—DOH By Willie Casas

VYING FOR POSITIONS. Former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, joined by his wife Taguig 2nd District Rep. Lani Cayetano, files his certificate of candidacy for senator at the Sofitel Harbor Garden Tent in Pasay City on Thursday. Members of Kabataan Partylist perform a tik-tok dance at Raha Sulayman Park in Manila before proceeding to Hotel Sofitel in Pasay City to file their certificate of nomination and acceptance. (Norman Cruz) Mayoralty candidate Egay Erice with running mate PJ Malonzo show a copy of their certificate of candidacy at the Comelec office in North Caloocan. (Manny Palmero)

‘Lacson, Domagoso decry smear campaigns in election season’ By Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENTIAL candidates Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso decried what they claim are “smear campaigns” hurled against them at the start of the 2022 election season. Columnist and TV talk show host Cito Beltran, who interviewed Lacson Thursday morning, said he was “approached by a PR operator to conduct black propaganda” against Lacson. Beltran said he refused the offer and demanded to see the evidence. In the interview with Beltran, Lacson “confirmed” the black propaganda against him. Earlier, Partido Reporma spokesperson Ashley Acedillo claimed that “dirty tricks” are being used against Lacson’s 2022 presidential bid, including fake news circulating on social media that Lacson had withdrawn or is withdrawing from the race, as well as “a rigged mobile presidentiable ‘text’ survey” that excluded Lacson’s name from the list of choices. Lacson recalled that since 2001, he had been at the receiving end of black propaganda from the Arroyo administration. He said he was forced to file libel charges against the parties involved to protect his dignity.

SC tells DAR: Pangasinan land conversion can no longer be questioned By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court has admonished the Department of Agrarian Reform for flipflopping orders involving the conversion of 386.7 hectares of landholdings in Pangasinan outside the coverage of the government’s agrarian reform program. In a decision penned by Associate Justice Rodil Zalameda, the SC ruled that once a conversion order in the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program had been issued and had attained finality, it can no longer be questioned. The SC granted the petition filed by CAT Realty Corporation, which challenged the 2012 and 2013 rulings of the Court of Appeals (CA). “Once final and executory, the conversion order can no longer be questioned. It can no longer be modified or reversed. Parties cannot assail said order without running afoul of the doctrine of estoppel,” the SC said, in resolving the petition that assailed DAR’s orders issued between 2006 and 2007 on a land conversion ruling handed down by DAR in 1975. Court records showed that Central Azucarera de Tarlac, CAT’s predecessor-ininterest, filed with DAR a petition for the conversion of 23 parcels of agricultural land with an aggregate area of 386.7 hectares, located in Bayambang, Pangasinan. On Sept 4, 1975, DAR issued the conversion order and declared the landholdings suitable for residential, commercial, industrial, and other urban purposes. It said the conversion was recommended, after investigation, by the Agrarian Reform Team, the Agrarian Reform District Office, and the Department of Local Government and Community Development. It also said the tenant-farmers, the occupant-tillers, and/or squatters in the subject land were amenable to the conversion.

Vaccination for children to be ‘phased, sequential’ T HE government’s “phased and sequential” approach in the COVID-19 vaccinations for; children is aimed at preventing Dengvaxia-like events, the National Task Force against COVID-19 said on Wednesday.

Several former and current officials of the Department of Health are facing criminal charges filed by parents of children who allegedly died from complications that arose from inoculation of the dengue vaccine Dengvaxia. “So sa ngayon po talagang takot ang mga ibang mga doktor at takot din‘yung mga ibang mga magulang dahil kasi nga po ‘yung children vaccination is a very sensitive issue sa Pilipinas po talaga (So now, there are fears among doctors and parents because vaccination of children is a very sensitive issue in the Philippines),” Secretary Carlito Galvez, also the vaccine czar, told President Rodrigo Duterte during a televised Cabinet meeting. Galvez reiterated that the pediatric age group vaccination against Covid-19 will be done “in phases and incremental.” “Dahan-dahan po ang gagawin po natin para at least may kumpiyansa po ‘yung mga ating mga magulang at saka mga guardian, ang gagawin po natin is ‘yung tinatawag nating phased ap-

proach (It will be done slowly so at least the parents and guardians will have the confidence in our phased vaccination approach),” he said. The vaccination of minors with comorbidities will be prioritized, Galvez added. Galvez said the inoculation of minors will be piloted in eight identified hospitals in the National Capital Region (NCR). Included in the list are the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, National Children’s Hospital, Philippine Heart Center, Pasig City Children’s Hospital, Fe Del Mundo Medical Center, and Philippine General Hospital, the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, National Children’s Hospital, Philippine Heart Center, Pasig City Children’s Hospital, Fe Del Mundo Medical Center Philippine General Hospital, St. Luke’s Hospital-BGC, and the Makati Medical Center. As many areas nationwide have vol-

unteered to join the pilot run of the pediatric vaccination, Galvez said this only implies that vaccine acceptance, even for the young population, is now increasing. He said the vaccination of minors will benefit the gradual opening of face-to-face classes, slowly reviving the economy, and even addresses issues on the psychological aspects of youth affected by the stay-at-home protocols during the pandemic. He said Phase 1 involves the inoculation of 15 to 17 years old, which will be done first, followed by the 12 to 14 years group, starting October 15. Phase 2 involves a mini rollout of pediatric vaccination in all local government units in the NCR, which will be done right after the 14-day test run in the eight hospitals listed. “After we have observed at least--one week of our pilot, then we will execute the second phase on October 22,” Galvez said. “In NCR, they are already prepared to have that pilot project in every city.” Galvez added the third phase will begin on October 29 in the entire NCR and in its nearby areas that have vaccinated at least 50 percent of their elderly (A2) population.

THE Department of Health (DOH) said on Thursday that the data used by Nikkei Asia for its COVID-19 Recovery Index, where the Philippines ranked last among 121 countries, was taken when COVID-19 cases were peaking in the country due to the more contagious Delta variant. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, during a Palace press briefing, said that the Tokyo-based news magazine used a 7-day period in September to analyze and compare the metrics of the countries. Vergeire said, by that time, other countries were already months from experiencing their respective surges while the Philippines was in the middle of one. “Ang Indonesia po nung nangyari sa kanila ‘yung pagtaas ng mga kaso, I think, that was at some time in July. Sa ibang bansa naman po nag umpisa nung Hunyo pa lang (The surge cases in Indonesia occurred, I think, at some time in July. The surge in other countries took place in June),” Vergeire said. “Dito po sa ating bansa, September pa tayo ng umpisa talagang nag peak ang ating mga kaso at dito po ‘yung time period ng analysis po nitong dalawang survey (In our country, our peak began in September and this was the time period taken for both surveys.),” she said. Vergeire said this led to the country’s last spot in the index. “Dito po ‘yung panahon na mataas ‘yung kaso sa ating bansa kumpara sa ibang bansa na nakalipas na po ‘yung peak of cases nila. Kaya nandoon po talaga sa tugatod o doon sa peak ng mga kaso nung nakuha po ‘yung metric (This was the time when our cases were higher compared to other countries whose peak of cases has passed. The metric was taken during that time),” said Vergeire. Vergeire said the government’s vaccination program was also affected by the dramatic increase in infections due to the Delta variant. The Philippines dipped to last place in Nikkei Asia’s latest COVID-19 Recovery Index, which evaluates more than 120 countries worldwide on infection management, vaccine rollouts, and social mobility. In a report on Wednesday, Nikkei said that as of September 30, the Philippines was at the bottom of its index — in 121st place with a score of 30.5. The country’s previous rankings were 108th in July and 106th in August.

Opinion Is 60 the new 40? WHEN someone reaches the age of 40 we often hear it being said that “life begins at forty,” welcoming him or her to the youth of old age. The phrase was the title of the book written by Walter B. Pitkin in 1932. It was published at a time when there was a rapid increase in life expectancy, from being 40 years before to around 60. The phrase “life begins at 40” was also the title of a 1935 movie by Will Rogers, a song by Sophie Tucker in 1937, and a John Lennon song not commercially released. It also features in a number of international and local movies, including the comedy movie starred in by the legendary Eddie Garcia and Eddie Rodriguez in 1984.

Though they say life begins at 40, for senior citizens, life’s adventure begins at 60. Due to scientific and medical advances, life expectancy at birth in the 21st century has considerably increased. In the Philippines, the life expectancy at birth in 2019 is 75.51 for female and 67.26 for male (Statista, Aaron O’Neil, July 15, 2021). There is also a growing number of healthy Filipino octogenarians who look forward to receiving their centenarian gift of P100,000 when they reach the age of 100 (Republic Act 10868). Those who are in their late fifties are excited to get their senior citizen identification card when they reach sixty. With this, they can avail themselves of the benefits and privileges of being a senior citizen. Some of them continue to actively pursue their businesses and professions; and engage in endurance exercises such as brisk walking and jogging, dancing, swimming, biking, playing tennis or basketball. This was definitely not the case two decades ago, when reaching 60 meant leading a sedentary life. The desire to give senior citizens a good quality of life was made clearer in Republic Act 9994, otherwise known as the “Expanded Senior Citizen Act of 2010.” Under the said law, the benefits and privileges of senior citizens were enhanced to support “the improvement of the total well-being of the elderly and their full participation in the society” and “to motivate and encourage senior citizens to contribute to nation building.” Senior citizens are entitled to a 20-percent dis-

count and to an exemption from paying the value-added tax (VAT) when purchasing generic or branded medicines and drugs. It also covers the purchase of vitamins and mineral supplements which are medically prescribed by an attending physician for prevention and treatment of diseases or injury (Article 7, Section 1 [a], Implementing Rules and Regulations, R.A 9994). The discount and VAT exemption privileges shall also apply to the purchase of eyeglasses, hearing aids, dentures, prosthetics, artificial bone replacements made of steel, walkers, crutches, wheelchairs, whether manual or electric-powered, canes/ quad canes, geriatric diapers, and other essential medical supplies, accessories and equipment by or for senior citizens (Article 7, Section 1[b]). Medical and dental services and diagnostic tests subject to the 20-percent discount and VAT exemption include X-rays, computerized tomography scans, and blood tests requested by a physician for the diagnosis and/or treatment of an illness or injury, among others. The professional fees of attending physicians in all private hospitals, medical facilities, outpatient clinics and home health care facilities are covered by this benefit (Article 7, Section 1 [c]). When done in government hospitals, medical facilities, outpatient clinics, and home health care services, all of the aforementioned services shall be provided free of charge to senior citizens (Article 11, Section 3). Republic Act 10645 has ordained the mandatory coverage of all senior citizens by the national health insurance program, or PhilHealth. The Joint DTI-DA-DOE Administrative Order No. 17-02 provides a 5-percent discount to senior citizens for the purchase of basic necessities and prime commodities separate and distinct from the 20-percent discount provided under Republic Act No. 9994 and its implementing guidelines. Basic necessities include rice, corn, bread, eggs, fresh pork, beef and poultry, milk, vegetables, fruits, noodles, coffee, salt, soap, LPG, and kerosene, among others. On the other hand, prime commodities include flour, processed and canned meat, dairy products, onions, garlic, vinegar, fish sauce, soy sauce, fertilizer, pesticides, poultry and livestock feeds, school supplies, cement, GI sheet, and hollow blocks, among others. These are goods not considered basic necessities but are essential to consumers. Fare for domestic air and sea travel shall be subject to the senior citizen discount and VAT exemption. The same discount and exemption will apply to senior citizens availing of public railways including the LRT, MRT, and PNR, buses (PUB), jeepneys (PUJ), and taxi and shuttle services (AUV) (Article 7, Section 2). The same applies to hotels and similar room or lodging accommodations, including other amenities offered by the hotel. Full version on www.manilastandard.net

Another alarming figure is that nearly two thirds of children of minor mothers – 64 percent – are sired by older fathers, or those 20 years old and above. Only 36 percent of these births are with minor fathers. POPCOM also estimates that by the end of 2020, there were 102,000 unintended pregnancies among adolescents – up 21 percent from original pre-pandemic projections – because of reduced access to reproductive health services as a result of the lockdowns. In a recent presentation, POPCOM executive

Can the Executive Order seeking to lower the rate of teenage pregnancy really make a difference? director Undersecretary Juan Antonio Perez III, said a mix of factors is responsible for young people engaging in unprotected sex and eventually having an unplanned pregnancy. There are institutional and behavioral factors (exposure and access to media, access to goods and services, socio-economic conditions, environmental conditions, and cultural norms and practices), influence of family and peers (attitudes, values and behaviors on sexual and reproductive health, and socio-economic conditions), self-efficacy/ intention (biological and sexual maturation, knowledge, attitude, values, skills and abilities) and even coercion (lack of choice, free will, skill and agency and bodily autonomy). Being pregnant at a tender age has very real economic consequences, too, aside from the physical and psychological effects on the mother. Wages are generally higher for those who at least finished high school. When a young woman becomes pregnant, however, she has to stop studying — so goes the prospect of earning higher wages. Experts put a number on this: Discounted lifetime wage earnings foregone by a cohort of women 18-19 years old resulting from early childbearing is estimated at P33 billion, according to POPCOM. What, then, can be done about this problem that threatens the growth and self-actualization of young women, fuels a cycle of poverty, and also deprives their children of a decent life?

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EDITORIAL

Children with children

JOELLA Baloloy is waiting out this pandemic by dreaming of a good life for her family. At 25, she has three children, aged six, three and one. She makes do with making and selling desserts – mango graham, coffee jelly, graham balls, leche flan – to anyone who would buy. Her partner, the father of her children, is a janitor at a call center; sometimes employees there order from her as well. Joella was 18 when she became pregnant. At that time, she had stopped studying for lack of funds and was working at a fastfood chain. The plan was to help her mother and save money so that she could continue studying. But she met her partner at work, and when she discovered she was pregnant, all plans were put on hold. Pregnancy at a young age made Joella’s situation delicate. She had to be confined to the hospital for dehydration due to excessive vomiting. Mostly she clung to her mother for support, even as her partner’s family also chipped in to help. The problems have been many, she says, and the pandemic has cast a lingering fear for her and her family’s safety. Joella has been on survival mode for a long time – she has to, for her kids. She still dreams of going back to school and then finishing a tech-voc course with TESDA, even as she has set aside her dreams of obtaining a full college degree for now. Joella is also active with the family planning drive of the Commission on Population and Development, acting as a resource person and speaking about the need to limit the number of one’s children if parents wanted to assure them of a good life. ••• Teenage pregnancy is not new, but the numbers from 2016 to 2019 show some cause for alarm, according to Popcom. First, it’s the younger children having children. While the number of live births to mothers between the ages of 15 and 19 has been going down (201,182 in 2016, 194,401 in 2017, 181,217 in 2018 and 178,505 in 2019), live births to mothers in the younger age group of 10 to 14 years old have been rising: 1,903 in 2016, 2,077 in 2017, 2,250 in 2018 and 2,411 in 2019.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021

Rising oil prices

ITH economic reopening comes high oil prices. Both advanced and developing economies in the world are now feeling the pinch of high global oil prices after pent-up demand from consumers and the decision of major energy producers to limit their output.

UK gas prices have already surged to record levels, fueled by concerns of soaring demand during the colder winter season.

Both advanced and developing countries are now feeling the pinch. The same high gas prices are being experienced in Asia, especially China. Many power plants in Asia, the Philippines included, rely on natural gas to generate electricity. A disruption in the supply or shortage of natural gas will prompt power generators to switch to or re-start their more expensive coaland oil-based thermal plants. The resulting high electricity charges will add burden to the monthly bills of commercial and residential customers. Increased crude prices directly affect the cost of transportation

Global oil prices are racing to $80 a barrel today from just over $47 at the start of the year. Increased oil prices simply mean higher gasoline and diesel prices at the pump and increased shipping and transportation costs on goods and commodities. For Western nations and those dependent on natural gas to warm their homes during the winter season, higher oil prices and the limited supply will translate into increased electricity charges. European and

and the production of goods. They exert pressure on the prices and will eat into the budget of the ordinary household. The Philippine inflation rate in September has not fully reflected yet the impact of global oil prices. Relatively lower meat, rice and other food prices have offset the rising cost of transportation. But surging oil prices in the global market will soon raise the cost of goods and services as well. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, which closely watches inflation because of its direct impact on the peso and the purchasing power of consumers, has conceded prices are not about to go down in the months ahead. Increased consumer spending toward the Christmas season will certainly push up prices. The further reopening of the economy, as more vaccines are distributed to the population, will also fuel inflation. Filipinos, thus, might find the new normal no different from the recent normal when the cost of living was high.

The NGCP controversy should be an election issue

TO ALL intents and purposes, the election season has begun. Sadly, the campaigning has been relegated to personality politics. My intention in this column is to remind the electorate about the the alarming problem of the country involving the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), its ties to the Communist Party of China, and the need for the electorate to ask what candidates for president, senator and congressional representatives intend to do about the NGCP mess. Last June 18, I wrote an essay under this column entitled “Communist China controls the nation’s electricity supply.” In that essay, I pointed out that back in 2008, Congress enacted Republic Act No. 9511, the franchise of the NGCP, a private consortium composed of three corporations -- the Monte Oro Grid Resources Corporation, the Calaca High Power Corporation, and the State Grid Corporation of China. The latter is completely owned by the Communist Party of China and is reported to be the largest utility company in the world. That legislative franchise gives the NGCP a monopoly in the management of the national electricity grid of the Philippines, but its operations must be in accord with implementing directives issued by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). The national electricity grid is a computerized system of inter-connected power plants and power distribution outlets all over the Philippines. It is supposed to be closely monitored by the NGCP to determine and predict where and when electricity is most needed. To assure an uninterrupted supply of electricity at any given area where the demand for it is very high, the NGCP adjusts the grid so that its affiliated power plants, which are mandated by law to be ready at all times, can supply the increased demand for electricity in that particular area. The grid also rechannels electricity from areas where the demand is less to places where the demand is great. In June this year, Malacanang issued Executive Order 141. The order mobilizes the existing coordinating and legal mechanisms of the government’s human development and poverty clusters. The POPCOM is tasked to consolidate these into a comprehensive action plan to prevent adolescent pregnancies. The order envisions well-informed, empowered, healthy and responsible adolescents. The aim is to reduce the incidence of unprotected sexual activities and incidence of sexual abuse, improve health-seeking behavior and a healthy lifestyle, reduced non-sexual risky behavior and improved life skills for our young people. Undersecretary Perez says his agency has put together the comprehensive plan with the other key agencies like the National Youth Commission and the National Anti-Poverty Commission. As always, however, implementation will be crucial. “It will rely to a great degree on funding by local government units and their bodies like the Sangguniang Kabataan, local Councils for the

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Anita F. Grefal Baldwin R. Felipe Edgar M. Valmorida

Under that arrangement, unplanned power failures anywhere are not supposed to take place. In sum, the NGCP controls the supply of electricity throughout the Philippines, and the DOE and the ERC monitor its operations in accordance with applicable Philippine laws and administrative regulations. The applicable law is Republic Act No. 9136, or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), enacted by Congress in 2001 to ensure a continuous supply of electricity in the country at reasonable cost to residential and industrial consumers.

The agency held both the Philippine government and the Filipino people hostage. As to the pertinent administrative regulations, they are the Philippine Grid Code promulgated by the ERC, and a circular on ancillary services issued by the DOE. The Code and the circular implement the EPIRA. In June 2021, the NGCP announced on social media that it is not bound by the Code and the circular. Because the NGCP refuses to obey the Code and the circular, unannounced power outages plagued the entire Philippines during this year’s hot and dry summer months. Worse, those “brownouts” will continue intermittently next year if the NGCP continues to ignore the Code and the circular. In manifest violation of its legislative franchise, the NGCP also allowed several of the power plants affiliated with the national electricity grid to stop operating, supposedly because it is expensive to keep them running continuously. To keep the supply of electricity continuous, the NGCP told the government that the NGCP will have to buy electricity from power plants that are not affiliated with the national electricity grid. Because those power plants are free to quote spot prices, the purchase price of the electricity they sell is very expensive. This translates to higher electricity bills for all of the country’s consumers. Protection of Children, and local health, social welfare, and population services.” He says they are also working with Congress to increase funding for the EO as well as for a Social Protection Program for Adolescent Mothers. This will, again, be implemented by LGUs nationwide. In the end, the most crucial, immediate, and daunting task lies on the shoulders of the parents of adolescent children. “Reconnect. Any dialogue is worth it, even if it is not about sexuality and relationships,” Perez says. “Open channels during a pandemic for parents, though, will require them learning more about the technologies and platforms that young people use, not to intrude but for parents to be ready to have a dialogue with the next generation.” Meanwhile, Joella draws strength from her children amid the difficulties. “We should learn from our mistakes and correct them. The present cannot erase the past, but we can do something about its consequences. We should focus on the present to prepare for our future.” adellechua@gmail.com

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Adding insult to injury, the NGCP threatened to increase the cost of electricity to be paid by consumers if the NGCP is required to comply with the Philippine Grid Code and the DOE circular. Simply stated, the NGCP made hostages of both the Philippine government and the Filipino people by declaring that there will be no hikes in electricity bills if the NGCP is allowed to violate its franchise and to ignore the EPIRA. Obviously, the Communist Party of China, which controls the NGCP, is using our nation’s demand for electricity as a weapon against the Filipino people. It was also discovered that the NGCP has been hiring Chinese nationals for its management posts. This is a violation of the constitutional provisions on alien involvement in public utilities, as well as the Anti-Dummy Law. In short, Congress has valid reasons to cancel the NGCP franchise. Accordingly, I urged Congress to cancel the NGCP franchise. Unfortunately, any congressional action in that direction may not be forthcoming in view of the coming elections. What is important now is that voters are informed about the NGCP controversy. I will see to it that this controversy will be a hot issue in the coming elections.

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UN gives PH P380m for DRRM initiative REPAIR. Workers fix a wooden

hut by the foot of Mayon volcano, as seen from Camalig town in Albay province on Oct. 6, 2021. AFP

DFA assessing AUKUS deal security impact By Rey E. Requejo OFFICIALS are currently assessing the impact of the trilateral security agreement of Australia, United Kingdom, and United States (AUKUS) on the Philippines. “We continuously assess this agreement and welcome efforts made by the countries concerned to explain it further,” Foreign Affairs Acting Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said, in a recent meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Lazaro, who is also the country’s senior officials’ meeting leader to ASEAN, shared the statement made by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro

Locsin on the enhanced trilateral security partnership, saying Manila sees value in the enhancement of a neighbor’s capability to project power. “The Philippines believes it will restore and keep the balance in the region, rather than destabilize it,” the official said. The first initiative under the AUKUS agreement is to support Australia in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines. Lazaro stressed that the Philippines continues to uphold the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Treaty as

Villar seeks wider waste producer responsibility By Macon Ramos-Araneta ducers to take charge of the life SENATOR Cynthia Villar has sponsored a bill pushing for extended producer responsibility on wastes. Villar, who chairs the Senate Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, said the “globe is in the middle of a climate emergency” and that there is a “need to find the strategic interventions to drastically redeem what would have been valuable materials from the waste stream.” Senate Bill No. 2425, under Committee Report No. 328 refers to “An Act Institutionalizing the Practice of Extended Producer Responsibility on Plastic Packaging Waste. This would amend Republic Act No. 9003, otherwise known as the “Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.” “This measure seeks to incentivize innovation, motivate pro-

cycle of their products, clearly defines responsibilities and mandates, and allows for better citizen participation in reaching objectives and goals,” Villar said. If done properly, she said that Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is also an opportunity, and “an open door to a thriving industry that pushes us into a circular economy where materials cycle through lives and less land is lost to dumping and waste storage.” Without an EPR system, Villar said back trips of trucks and ferries will not care to carry discards for reuse, recycling, or processing. Although those that make the products that become discarded in very short periods have always had the ethical responsibility, Villar said they do not have the legal responsibility to ensure the recyclability and upscalability of their products and packaging.

Govt to incur P198b debt if PSALM life not extended By Maricel V. Cruz THE government may have to shoulder as much as P198 billion in debt from the liabilities of the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) Corporation unless its corporate life is renewed. “Based on my assessment of PSALM’s debt management capabilities, I expect some P198 billion of its debts will remain in 2026, following delays in the privatization of key assets due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” House Ways and Means chairman and Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said on Wednesday. PSALM’s corporate life is due to expire on June 26, 2026. A bill has been filed to extend the “life” of the government corporation. “I wouldn’t wait until the next administration to extend its cor-

porate life,” Salceda said after a hearing today on a proposal to extend the government corporation’s charter for another 50 years,” added Salceda, author of House Bill 10346 that extends PSALM’s corporate life. “The fiscal consequences are serious, especially since that period will still involve fiscal recovery,” Salceda added. Republic Act 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), was enacted to ensure the solvency of the National Power Corporation. The EPIRA created the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) Corporation in 2001, a governmentowned and -controlled corporation, with a corporate life of 25 years which is due to expire in 2026.

an important instrument to maintain peace and stability in the region. “We welcome assurances made by one of our partners that its actions will

support the SEANWFZ Treaty and that it will abide by its commitments under the Non-Proliferation Treaty,” Lazaro said.

HE United Nations has announced on Thursday a contribution of over P380 million to fund a pilot test for anticipatory action against typhoons in the Philippines. The announcement was made by UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Philippines Gustavo Gonzalez during a high-level meeting co-chaired by the Defense Secretary and chair of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Delfin Lorenzana. The pilot’s framework is designed to support 270,500 most vulnerable people in 44 municipalities across Bicol Region and the Eastern Visayas three days before landfall of a category 4 or category 5 typhoon. With the two-year funding from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund mechanism, the pilot’s anticipatory interventions will be executed by different UN agencies, while the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs will provide overall coordination. “The United Kingdom, Germany, European Union, and Canada are key contributors to the CERF, and these resource partners, together with the World Bank, are also pioneering supporters of anticipatory action,” Gonzalez said. Lorenzana said the Philippine government is “inspired to embark on this joint anticipatory action program” and is eager to further explore how to contextualize the pilot and ensure it empowers the local government units. The UN is launching a series of anticipatory pilots this year, including in Burkina Faso and Niger for drought; Nepal and South Sudan for floods; and Madagascar for the plague. According to the UN, there is a “compelling amount of evidence” that acting before the disaster hits “cuts the costs of humanitarian response, preserves people’s dignity and allows for faster recovery by protecting hard-won development gains that were already achieved.”

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Sokor court backs transgender soldier who killed herself

A SOUTH Korean court on Thursday ruled it was unfair for the military to forcibly discharge a soldier over her gender-reassignment surgery, months after she took her own life over the decision. South Korea remains deeply conservative about matters of sexual identity and is less tolerant of LGBT rights than some other parts of Asia, with many gay and

transgender Koreans living largely under the radar. Byun Hee-soo, formerly a staff sergeant and in her 20s, enlisted voluntarily in 2017. She went on to have gender-reassignment surgery in 2019 in Thailand. The defense ministry classified the removal of her male genitals as a mental or physical handicap, and a panel ruled in January last year that she would be compulsorily

discharged. Her case was the first of its kind in South Korea, and she filed an administrative suit against the decision in August last year. But she was found dead at her home about seven months later. The Daejeon District Court ruled in her favour, saying the military should have officially accepted her as a woman post-surgery. “Immediately after her reas-

signment surgery, the court had accepted” her request to be legally recognized as a woman, the court said, according to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency. Had she been officially recognised as female, the court added, it would have been impossible for military authorities to conclude that she had “a mental or physical handicap” and discharge her. AFP

recognition, measurement and presentation of the right-of-use assets and lease liability to either short-term leases or leases for which the underlying asset is of low value when new. Henceforth, the lessee should strictly comply with the requirements provided under paragraphs 6-8 of PFRS 16. 6.2

Separating Lease Component and Non-Lease Component of a Contract Paragraph 12 of PFRS 16 requires that an entity shall account for each lease component within the contract as a lease separate from non-lease components of the contract, unless the entity applies the practical expedient in paragraph 15 of PFRS 16.

CIRCULAR

No. :

Paragraph 13 of PFRS 16 provides that for a contract that contains a lease component and one or more additional lease or non-lease components, a lessee shall allocate the consideration in the contract to each lease component on the basis of the relative stand-alone price of the lease component and the aggregate stand-alone price of the non-lease components.

2021-009

Date: October 1,2021 TO

SUBJECT

All Heads of Government Corporations Classified as Government Business Enterprises, now Commercial Public Sector Entities, Heads of Finance/Comptrollership/ Financial Management Services, Chief Accountants/Heads of Accounting Units, Budget Officers/Heads of Budget Units; Commission on Audit Assistant Commissioners, Directors and Auditors; and all others concerned Implementation of Philippine Financial Reporting Standard 16–Leases, by all Government Corporations classified as Commercial Public Sector Entities

Paragraph 15 of PFRS 16 provides for a practical expedient that a lessee may elect, by class of underlying asset, not to separate non-lease components from lease components, and instead account for each lease component and any associated nonlease components as a single lease component. PAG2 –- For consistency and uniformity, a lessee shall apply the practical expedient provided in paragraph 15 of PFRS 16–Leases. Therefore, a lessee shall not separate, by class of underlying asset, non-lease components from lease components, and account for each lease component and any associated non-lease components as a single lease component. However, a lessee shall not apply this practical expedient to embedded derivatives that meet the criteria in paragraph 4.3.3 of PFRS 9–Financial Instruments. 6.3

RATIONALE/PURPOSE 1.1

Paragraph 31 of PFRS 16 provides that a lessee shall apply the depreciation requirements in PAS 16 in depreciating the right-of-use asset, subject to the requirements in paragraph 32 of PFRS 16.

Commission on Audit (COA) Circular No. 2015-003 dated April 16, 2015 prescribed the classification of all Government Corporations (GCs) and other entities/instrumentalities with corporate powers as Government Business Enterprises (GBEs) or Non-GBEs for the purpose of determining the applicable financial reporting framework in the preparation of their financial statements (FS), and the mandatory adoption of the Philippine Financial Reporting Standards (PFRS) by all GCs classified as GBEs and Philippine Public Sector Accounting Standards (PPSAS), by all GCs classified as NonGBEs. PPSAS was renamed as the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) with corresponding Philippine Application Guidance (PAG) under COA Resolution No. 2020-001 dated January 9, 2020..

PAG 3 of IPSAS 17 provides that depreciation shall be for one month if the Property, Plant and Equipment (PPE) is available for use on or before the 15th of the month. However, if the PPE is available for use after the 15th of the month, depreciation shall be for the succeeding month.

1.2

The PFRSs are the series of pronouncements adopted by the Financial Reporting Standards Council (FRSC) of the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy (BOA) of the Philippines based on the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). The FRSC adopts the PFRS for application in the private sector, while in the public sector, COA prescribes the adoption of the same after determining the applicability of the new PFRS in the public sector setting, particularly the GCs classified as GBEs.

1.3

Since then, COA prescribed the adoption of new PFRS by all GCs classified as GBEs, specifically PFRS 9–Financial Instruments and PFRS 15–Revenue from Contracts with Customers through COA Resolution No. 2019-006 dated March 27, 2019, effective on January 1, 2019.

PAG3 –- For uniform accounting treatment on the depreciation of the right-of-use assets and considering PAGs 3 and 4 of IPSAS 17–Property, Plant and Equipment, if the GC classified as CPSE uses the cost model as its accounting policy, depreciation shall be for one month if the underlying asset is available for use on or before the 15th of the month. However, if the underlying asset is available for use after the 15th of the month, depreciation shall be for the succeeding month. The depreciation method to be used shall be the straight line method unless another method is more appropriate for GC’s operation.

1.4

Moreover, in the adoption of the 2018 Edition of the Handbook of International Public Sector Accounting Pronouncements (HIPSAP), the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB) replaced the term “GBE” with the term “Commercial Public Sector Entities (CPSE)” and acknowledged that regulators can interpret the term taking into account of the jurisdictional factors. Accordingly, GCs classified as GBEs and GCs classified as Non-GBEs are now termed GCs classified as CPSEs and GCs classified as Non-CPSEs, respectively, in accordance with COA Resolution No. 2020-013 dated January 31, 2020.

1.5

In January 2016, the IASB issued IFRS 16–Leases to supersede the prevailing accounting standard and various interpretations on leases, which was subsequently adopted by the FRSC and made effective starting on January 1, 2019.

1.6

COA Resolution No. 2020-033 dated December 2, 2020 was issued by COA prescribing the adoption of PFRS 16–Leases by all GCs classified as CPSEs effective on January 1, 2020.

1.7

In the light of the foregoing developments, there is now a need to issue this Circular to prescribe the implementation of PFRS 16–Leases by all GCs classified as CPSEs and provide guidelines therefor.

2.1 COVERAGE This Circular shall be implemented by all GCs classified as CPSEs.

PAG 4 of IPSAS 17 provides that the depreciation method to be used shall be the straight line method unless another method is more appropriate for agency’s operation.

6.4

Residual Value PAG 6 of IPSAS 17 provides that a residual value equivalent to at least five percent (5%) of the cost of PPE shall be adopted unless a more appropriate percentage is determined by the agency based on their operation. PAG4 –- For uniform accounting treatment, the residual value of at least five percent (5%) of the cost of right-of-use assets as provided in PAG 6 of IPSAS 17–Property, Plant and Equipment shall be adopted, unless a more appropriate percentage is determined by the GCs classified as CPSE based on their operation. However, for leases classified as operating lease but did not meet the exemption recognition as stated in paragraph 6.1, no residual value shall be provided.

6.5

Presentation

6.6

In April 2001, the IASB adopted Standing Interpretations Committee (SIC)-15 Operating Leases—Incentives, which had been originally issued by the SIC of the IASC in December 1998.

not to apply this Standard to contracts that were not previously identified as containing a lease applying PAS 17 and PI IFRIC 4.

In December 2001, the IASB issued SIC-27 Evaluating the Substance of Transactions Involving the Legal Form of a Lease. SIC-27 had been originally developed by the SIC of the IASC to provide guidance on determining, amongst other things, whether an arrangement that involves the legal form of a lease meets the definition of a lease under IAS 17–Leases.

Paragraph C4 of Appendix C of PFRS 16 provides that if an entity chooses the practical expedient in paragraph C3, it shall disclose that fact and apply the practical expedient to all of its contracts. As a result, the entity shall apply the requirements in paragraphs 9-11 only to contracts entered into (or changed) on or after the date of initial application.

In December 2003, the IASB issued the revised IAS 17–Leases as part of its initial agenda of technical projects.

PAG6 –- For consistency in the application of this Standard, the GC classified as CPSE shall apply the practical expedient in paragraph C3 of PFRS 16–Leases to all of its contracts at the date of initial application and disclose that fact in the FS. As a result, the entity shall apply the succeeding transitional provisions provided under this Circular. 6.7

In May 2020, the IASB issued the Amendment to IFRS 16 to provide guidance to COVIDovid-19 related rent concessions for lessees.

6.8

The standard provides a single lessee accounting model, requiring lessees to recognize assets and liabilities for all leases unless the lease term is 12 months or less or the underlying asset has a low value when new. Lessors continue to classify leases as operating or finance lease, in accordance with the approach under PFRS 16–Leases that lessor accounting has substantially unchanged from its predecessor, Philippine Accounting Standard (PAS) 17– Leases. 5.0 DEFINITION OF TERMS

5.2

Entity – refers to a government corporation, regional/branch office or operating/field unit.

5.3

Government Corporations (GCs) – refer to government-owned and/or controlled corporations, government financial institutions, and government instrumentalities with corporate powers/government corporate entities, including their subsidiaries, and water districts. The regional, branch and field offices are component units of the corporation.

5.4

Finance lease – a lease that transfers substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership of an underlying asset.

5.5

Intermediate Lessor – a lessee that enters to a sublease of which underlying asset is subject from a previously entered lease contract.

5.6

Lease – a contract or part of a contract that conveys the right to use an asset (the underlying asset) for a period of time in exchange for consideration.

5.7

Lessor – an entity that provides the right to use an underlying asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. It is also referred to as head lessor in a sublease transaction.

5.8

Lessee – an entity that obtains the right to use an underlying asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration.

5.9

Non-Commercial Public Sector Entity – is an entity that have all the following characteristics as enumerated under the pertinent provisions of the IPSAS: a. b. c.

Are responsible for the delivery of services to benefit the public and/or redistribute income and wealth; Mainly finance their activities, directly or indirectly, by means of taxes and/or transfers from other levels of government, social contributions, debts or fees; and Do not have a primary objective to make profits.

5.10 Operating Lease – a lease that does not substantially transfer all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership of an underlying asset.

Transitional provisions on accounting for lessee

retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented applying PAS 8–Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors; or

retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying PFRS 16 recognized as an adjustment to the opening balance of Retained Earnings (or other component of equity, as appropriate) at January 1, 2021, the date of initial application (Modified Retrospective Approach).

PAG7 –- For uniform application of the Standard, a GC classified as CPSE shall apply the option described in 6.7.b in the accounting of its leases. The lessee shall not restate comparative information. Instead, the lessee shall recognize the cumulative effect of initially applying this Standard as an adjustment to the opening balance of Retained Earnings (or other component of equity, as appropriate) at the date of initial application or at January 1, 2021.

4.0 OBJECTIVES OF PFRS 16–LEASES

Commercial Public Sector Entity (CPSE) – refers to an entity which does not meet all of the characteristics of a Non-CPSE as enumerated in paragraph 5.9 below.

6.9

PAG8 – The following transitional provisions on accounting for lease using the Modified Retrospective Approach shall be adopted: a.

For leases previously classified as operating leases under PAS 17, apply paragraphs C8 to C9 and the practical expedient in paragraph C10 of Appendix C of PFRS 16 upon transition.

For leases previously classified as finance leases under PAS 17, apply paragraph C11 of Appendix C of PFRS 16 upon transition.

Lessee shall disclose information upon transition in accordance with paragraph C12 of Appendix C of PFRS 16.

PAG9 – The following transitional provisions on accounting for lessor shall be adopted: a

Paragraph C14 of Appendix C of PFRS 16 provides that a lessor is not required to make any adjustments on transition for leases in which it is a lessor and shall account for those leases applying PFRS 16 from the date of initial application except for intermediate lessor as provided in paragraph C15.

Paragraph C16 to C21 of Appendix C of PFRS 16, Sale and leaseback transactions before the date of initial application shall likewise be applied upon transition.

7.0 NEW/MODIFIED ACCOUNTS TO BE USED The new/modified accounts provided in Annex A of this Circular shall be used in the implementation of PFRS 16. 8.0 ILLUSTRATIVE ACCOUNTING ENTRIES The illustrative accounting entries upon initial and subsequent measurement and derecognition of right-of-use assets and lease payable, and illustrative accounting entries to recognize the transition from PAS 17 to PFRS 16 using the Modified Retrospective Approach (6.7.b) under the lessee and lessor books of accounts are provided in Annex B. 9.0 PRO-FORMA CONDENSED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION The Pro-forma Condensed Statement of Financial Position presenting the right-of-use assets and lease liabilities in the statement of financial position separately from other assets and other liabilities is presented in Annex C. 10.0 CONVERSION OF ACCOUNTS The conversion of accounts used under PAS 17–Leases as provided under the Updated Revised Chart of Accounts for GCs (2019) prescribed under COA Circular No. 2020-002 dated January 28, 2020 to the new accounts as prescribed under Annex A of this Circular is presented in Annex D. 11.0 SAVING CLAUSE Any clarification or request for assistance on the implementation of this Circular or cases not covered by this Circular shall be referred to COA, through the Government Accountancy Sector, for resolution.

5.11 Right-of-use asset – an asset that represents a lessee’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term.

12.0 REPEALING CLAUSE

5.12 Sublease – a transaction for which an underlying asset is re-leased by a lessee (intermediate lessor) to a third party, and the lease (head lease) between the head lessor and lessee remains in effect.

13.0 EFFECTIVITY DATE

5.13 Underlying asset – an asset that is the subject of a lease, for which the right to use that asset has been provided by a lessor to a lessee.

All issuances inconsistent herewith are deemed repealed or amended accordingly.

This PFRS and the provisions of this Circular shall apply for annual FS beginning January 1, 2021.

PHILIPPINE APPLICATION GUIDANCE TO PFRS 16–LEASES All provisions of PFRS 16 and its amendment shall be adopted by the GC classified as CPSE and in accordance with the following PAG. 6.1

MICHAEL G. AGUINALDO Chairperson

Recognition Exemption for Lessee Accounting Paragraph 5 of PFRS 16 provides that a lessee may elect not to apply the requirements for recognition, measurement and presentation of the right-of-use assets and lease liability provided under paragraphs 22-49 of PFRS 16 in the case of: a. b.

Short term leases (leases with lease term of 12 months or less at the commencement date and do not contain a purchase option); and Leases for which the underlying asset is of low value (as described in paragraph B3-B8 of PFRS 16).

PAG1 –- For consistency and uniformity, a lessee shall not apply the requirements for

undated handout photo taken and released by Christie’s auction house shows a painting by Pablo Picasso entitled ‘Seated Woman in Turkish Clothes.’ Christie’s will auction the painting, owned by a family for three generations, from November 8 to 12, 2021. The price is estimated between 20 and 30 million US dollars. AFP

Paragraph C5 of Appendix C of PFRS 16 deals with the options that the lessee can choose in accounting of its leases. It can either choose to apply PFRS 16:

In January 2016, the IASB issued IFRS 16–Leases, which replaced IAS 17–Leases, IFRIC 4–Determining whether an Arrangement contains a Lease, SIC-15 Operating Leases—Incentives and SIC-27 Evaluating the Substance of Transactions Involving the Legal Form of a Lease. IFRS 16–Leases sets out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases.

5.1

GOING UNDER THE HAMMER. An

Paragraph C3 of Appendix C of PFRS 16 provides that as a practical expedient, an entity is not required to reassess whether a contract is, or contains, a lease at the date of initial application. Instead, the entity is permitted: to apply this Standard to contracts that were previously identified as leases applying PAS 17–Leases and PI IFRIC 4–Determining whether an Arrangement contains a Lease. The entity shall apply the transition requirements in paragraphs C5–C18 of PFRS 16 to those leases.

For the purpose of this Circular, the following terms shall be construed to mean as follows:

ficial in Harnai district told AFP, putting the number of injured at around 200. “There are reports that some 15 coal miners are trapped in a mine on the outskirts of the town due to the quake,” he added, saying a rescue team had been dispatched. It is common in Pakistan for miners to work at night when temperatures are cooler. Army helicopters were helping to evacuate the injured from remote areas to Quetta, the nearest major city. Naseer Nasar, the head of Balochistan’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority, warned the death toll could rise. “Our rescue teams have cleared 50 percent of the roads leading to the Harnai while remaining roads will be cleared in the next two to three hours,” Balochistan’s home minister Langau added, highlighting the strain rescue teams were under. AFP

Transitional provisions on identification of lease contracts

PFRS 16–Leases establishes principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases, with the objective of ensuring that lessees and lessors provide relevant information that faithfully represents those transactions. This information gives a basis for users of the FS to assess the effect that leases have on the financial position, financial performance and cash flows of an entity. It also prescribes specific identifications of transactions which are considered as lease agreements and those which are not.

Many of the victims died when the roofs and walls of their mud brick houses collapsed after the 5.9 magnitude quake struck Balochistan province in darkness at around three in the morning. It was felt across at least six cities and towns, but the worst-affected area was the remote mountainous district of Harnai, where landslides triggered by the jolt blocked some roads, hampering rescue efforts. Authorities are also contending with phone and electricity outages after pylons were damaged. “We are receiving information that 20 people have been killed due to the earthquake,” said Balochistan’s home minister Mir Zia ullah Langau, adding that 100 people were injured. “It is safe to say that hundreds of mud houses were damaged.” A woman and six children were among 20 dead, Suhail Anwar Hashmi, the top government of-

PAG5 –- For uniformity in presentation, the lessee shall present the right-of-use assets and lease liabilities in the statement of financial position separately from other assets and other liabilities, except for right-of-use asset that meet the definition of Investment Property, which shall be presented as investment property in accordance with paragraph 48 of PFRS 16.

In April 2001, the IASB adopted International Accounting Standard (IAS) 17–Leases, which had been originally issued by the International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC) in December 1997. IAS 17–Leases replaced IAS 17–Accounting for Leases that was issued in September 1982.

In December 2004, the IASB issued Philippine Interpretations (PI) International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) 4–Determining whether an Arrangement contains a Lease. The PI was developed by the Interpretations Committee to provide guidance in determining whether transactions that do not take the legal form of a lease but convey the right to use an asset in return for a payment or series of payments are, or contain leases that should be accounted for in accordance with IAS 17–Leases.

T LEAST 20 people were killed and dozens injured when a shallow earthquake hit southwestern Pakistan in the early hours of Thursday, with rescuers trying to reach coal miners reportedly trapped underground.

Paragraph 47 of PFRS 16 provides that a lessee shall either present in the statement of financial position, right-of-use assets and lease liabilities separately from other assets and other liabilities, respectively, or provide the necessary disclosures if not presented separately.

3.0 BACKGROUND

6.0

Depreciation under the Cost Model

20 killed, hundreds hurt as quake hits Balochistan

ROLAND C. PONDOC Commissioner

Note: Annexes A to D of the Circular may be accessed in the COA website @

www.coa.gov.ph (MS-OCT. 8, 2021)

IN BRIEF ‘Kids may be red line in FB issue’

FACEBOOK’S previous major scandals barely dented its global dominance, but experts said the tech giant may have hit a red line this time: evidence that it knew children using its apps were at risk of being harmed. A day after damning testimony to US lawmakers from Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen, the long-established barriers to regulation – stalled legislation, free speech protections and tech’s rapid advances – were still in place. But an insider with the company’s own documents, showing that Facebook knew its tools risked worsening young people’s eating disorders or suicidal thoughts, may have been a turning point. “The topic of kids being affected negatively by using Instagram or other social media apps is something Republicans and Democrats can agree upon,” said Paul Barrett, deputy director of New York University’s Stern Center for Business and Human Rights. AFP

100-year-old on trial for Nazi crimes

A 100-YEAR-OLD former concentration camp guard will on Thursday become the oldest person yet to be tried for Nazi-era crimes in Germany when he goes before court charged with complicity in mass murder. The suspect, identified only as Josef S., stands accused of “knowingly and willingly” assisting in the murder of 3,518 prisoners at the Sachsenhausen camp in Oranienburg, north of BerNOTICE OF ADDENDUM TO THE EXTRAJUDICIAL lin, between 1942 and SETTLEMENT 1945. Notice is hereby given to the Allegations against public that the Addendum to the Extrajudical Settlement him include aiding and of Estate of the Late Lucresia abetting the “execution P. Deocampo has been executed by and among by firing squad of Sohis heirs namely: Hernany viet prisoners of war in C. Deocampo, Jonathan P. Deocampo, Herlyn P. 1942” and the murder Deocampo, as per Doc. No. of prisoners “using the 266, Page No. 55, Book No. 68, Series of 2021 of the poisonous gas Zyklon Notarial Register of Atty. Cesar B.” P. Santos, Notary Public for and in the City of Navotas. German prosecu(MS-OCT. 1, 8 & 15, 2021) (MS-OCT. 8,15 & 22, 2021) tors are racing to bring the last surviving Nazi Manila LEGAL NOTICE perpetrators to justice, Standard TODAY and have in recent years Notice is hereby given to the public that a deed increasingly focused atof Extra-Judicial Settlement of Estate with Waiver tention on lower-rankand Renunciation of Rights has been executed by the heirs of the late spouses Salud Amayao ing Nazi staff. Fajardo and Alfredo M. Fajardo Sr., namely, Raul A. The case comes a Fajardo, Levita F. Raposas, Alfredo A. Fajardo Jr., week after a 96-yearBenedicto A. Fajardo, Carlos A. Fajardo, Aurora A. old German woman, Fajardo, Minerva V. Fajardo, Bong-Bong Fajardo, Antonette Fajardo Abias, Bernadette B. Fajardo who was a secretary and Margarette B. Fajardo,all of legal age, over in a Nazi death camp, personal and real properties per deed executed on dramatically fled beMarch 6, 2021, before Notary Public Atty. Federico Macabangun per Doc. No. 56, Page 13, Book No. fore the start of her trial LXXVV, Series of 2021 but was caught several (MS-OCT. 1, 8 & 15, 2021) hours later. AFP

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POLL ROUNDUP Gibo Teodoro seeks Senate seat in 2022 FORMER Defense Secretary Gilbert

“Gibo” Teodoro Jr. has ﬁled his certiﬁcate of candidacy (COC) for senator in the 2022 elections through his representative on Thursday. He will run under the People’s Reform Party, a political group founded by the late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. PRP earlier said it will support Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio if she runs for president in the coming elections. Teodoro had offered himself as a potential running mate of President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter. Last June, Teodoro said Duterte had no decision yet whether she would run for the country’s highest elective post, even as he praised her leadership skills. “My impression of Mayor Sara talking about issues was that she will make a very good president of this country. She would have the ability to unite a lot of people. She has an independent mind, she has managerial skills running a very complex city like Davao. She’s familiar with national issues,” he said. “She would be a good president if she decides to run. And to show that I’m willing to back her up, I’ll gladly be her vice president if she so decides.” Teodoro unsuccessfully ran for president under the Lakas-Kampi-CMD party in 2010.

Nograles reelection bid for Montalban

QUEZON City District 1 Rep. Peter Anthony “Onyx” Crisologo remains unfazed by the candidacy of actor Arjo Atayde against him in the 2022 local elections. In an interview, Crisologo said he is not at all threatened by Atayde’s plan to unseat him. When asked about Atayde’s donation of service vehicles to different barangays in District 1, Crisologo told the Manila Standard: “Why should I? My track record will speak for myself.” He said he and even his father, former congressman Vincent “Bingbong” Crisologo, have done so much to assist within the community level and legislate measures that helped improve public service and uplift the lives of the people. Crisologo was a three-term councilor before winning the congressional race in 2019. The older Crisologo also served the city council from 1998 to 2004 and at the House of Representatives from 2004 to 2013 and from 2016 to 2019. He ran and lost to Mayor Joy Belmonte in the 2019 elections. Rio N. Araja

Lacuna-Servo unveils city councilors lineup MANILA mayoral candidate Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna and her running mate, 3rd District Rep. Yul Servo, on Thursday released a complete line-up of their council slate for the capital city. Vying for councilor are Nino dela Cruz, the late Mayor Alfredo Lim’s grandson who is running in the first district, and former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza’s daughter Maile, who is seeking a second term in the third district. A grandson of Atienza, Nico is also a candidate for ﬁfth district councilor. Councilor DJ Bagatsing, who is seeking reelection in the fourth district, is a nephew of the late Manila Mayor Ramon Bagatsing, while ﬁfth district Councilor Mon Yupangco, also eyeing another term, is a nephew of the late Mayor Mel Lopez. Reelectionist Edward Maceda in the fourth district is a son of the late Senator Ernesto Maceda, who was among the closest allies of former Manila mayor and President Joseph Estrada. Lacuna and Servo are running under the local party Asenso Manileno, founded by the former’s father, ex-Vice Mayor Danny Lacuna. They are so far the only team that has a complete lineup, composed of candidates for the city’s six congressional districts and 36 candidates for Councilor. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Comelec sees last-minute COC rush T By Vito Barcelo

HE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is expecting a surge of political aspirants on the last day of ﬁling of certiﬁcates of candidacy (COCs) today, October 8, for the May 2022 national elections.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said more politicians are expected to rush to the different poll offices to beat the deadline of filing COCs, which ends at 5 p.m. on Friday. However, Jimenez said it will accommodate COC filers beyond the 5 p.m. deadline if they are still inside designated areas for the filing of certificates. “If at 4:45 p.m. of the last day of filing

of the COC, there are still aspirants inside the designated queuing area intending to ﬁle their respective COCs, the Receiving Ofﬁcer shall: List the names of the aspirants inside the designated queuing area; List the names of the aspirants consecutively, indicating the time of listing. Only those with complete COCs shall be listed,” Jimenez said in a statement. Based on Comelec’s past experiences,

the last day traditionally sees the greatest number of filers, he said. The Comelec likewise reminded aspirants that the filing of COC is not a guarantee of their becoming official candidates. The poll body will deliberate whether an individual has the capacity to run a campaign. Any election protest will also be taken into consideration before the individual will be approved as an official candidate of the 2022 elections. Jimenez said the names of the aspirants will be announced in the order in which they are listed. “Once the name is called, the aspirant shall proceed with the filing of COC. Failure to appear when the name is called may result in non-acceptance of

the COC,” he added. The Comelec said COCs deemed as incomplete are those that have no documentary stamp attached; no signature of the aspirant; not notarized; incomplete address; no photograph and not filled out. “The same procedure shall be observed if, at 5 p.m. on the last day of filing of the COC, there are still aspirants inside and within 30 meters from the designated queuing area. A COC filed in accordance with this procedure shall be stamped “received” at the time it is actually filed and shall be deemed filed on time,” Jimenez added. Pursuant to Sections 28 and 29 of Resolution No. 10717, Jimenez said candidates have until November 8 to correct the spelling of their names that will appear on the official ballot.

Defensor launches bid for QC mayor with Castelo as running mate By Maricel V. Cruz ANAKALUSUGAN party-list Rep. Mike Defensor on Thursday filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for mayor of Quezon City in the 2022 elections. Defensor filed his COC with his vice-mayoralty running mate, incumbent Councilor and former Quezon City Rep. Winnie Castelo, at around 8 a.m. “We feel extremely honored and humbled that the people of Quezon City are showing us so much support,” Defensor, a nephew of the late Sen. Miriam Defensor-

Santiago, said in a statement. “We are very excited by the opportunity to serve and help improve the quality of life of our people,” he said, as he seeks to unseat incumbent Mayor Joy Belmonte. Defensor vowed to transform the Quezon City General Hospital (QCGH), a referral facility for COVID-19 cases, into “a true center of excellence in delivering the best and most efﬁcient healthcare services.” “We envision the QCGH becoming a model in best practices for all local government hospitals. We will also double to 500 the hospital’s bed capacity,” he said.

Defensor said he intends to grant new local tax incentives to help businesses recover from the COVID-19 crisis so that they can start hiring workers again. “We will also build up Quezon City’s life-saving emergency rescue capabilities, considering that the city has the highest number of road crashes in Metro Manila,” he said. “Quezon City had a total of 22,494 road crashes in 2020. In contrast, Manila had only 6,655 cases, while Makati City had only 4,508 incidents,” Defensor said, citing statistics from the Metro Manila Accident Reporting System.

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

RIZAL 2nd District Rep. Fidel Nograles on Thursday ﬁled his certiﬁcate of candidacy for reelection and vowed to further extend service and assistance to the residents of Montalban. “What we have started is good. We aim to be even better and now we can focus more on the town of Montalban. Tuluy-tuloy lang po tayo sa serbisyo, Forward Now tayo hanggang dulo,” said Nograles. Nograles introduced and sponsored the redistricting measure for the second district of Rizal that eventually became Republic Act 11533. He acknowledged that through the help of Rizal Governor Nini Ynares, and his colleagues in Congress, he will be able to concentrate his projects and services in Montalban, while two more congressmen will represent the town of San Mateo and the other southeastern rural towns of Rizal. “Even with limited resources for such a big and populous district, we are able to implement several projects for the people. Imagine what more we can do now that we have more representation and budget allocation,” he added. Two of the biggest infrastructure projects of Nograles are the Northern Tagalog Regional Hospital and the Rizal-Bulacan Inter-Provincial Road. Maricel V. Cruz

QC’s Crisologo unfazed by Atayde’s House bid

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PROMO MECHANICS: 1. Promo period is from October 8-11, 2021 2. Purchase load or promo worth at least 199 pesos in the following channels: DITO App, MyDITO, Lazada, Shopee, Gcash, Alipay, Wechat, Grab, Coins.ph, LANDBANK Pay, Moneygement, Sendah Direct, Tambunting, Panalo Express, Brigada, and GoVIP Center during the promo period will entitle subscribers to receive FREE 2GB open data valid for 15 days counted from receipt of the free 2GB. The free 2GB shall be received within the next day from the purchase of load. 3. Prerequisites: Load purchase must be from the following channels: DITO App, MyDITO, Lazada, Shopee, Gcash, Alipay, Wechat, Grab, Coins. ph, LANDBANK Pay, Moneygement, Sendah Direct, Tambunting, Panalo Express, Brigada, and GoVIP Center. Minimum load or promo purchase must be at least 199 pesos. Load or promo purchase below the minimum requirement during this period shall not receive the free 2GB data 4. Promo shall only be offered in the following new areas:

MAYORAL BETS. Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor and Councilor Winnie Castelo show their certificates of candidacy for mayor and vice mayor of Quezon City on Thursday. (Inset) In Malabon, former two-term Vice Mayor Jeannie Sandoval is also gunning for mayor, while husband Ricky Sandoval is also bidding for the city’s Congress seat. Manny Palmero and Andrew Rabulan

Sen. Go says as VP, he can work with anyone By Macon Ramos-Araneta SEN. Christopher “Bong” Go on Thursday stressed he “can work with anyone” when asked if the ruling PDP-Laban party tips their hat to the presidential bid of former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Earlier, Marcos was sought for his comment on a Marcos-Go tandem if he would get the former presidential aide as his running mate in the 2022 elections. In jest, Marcos quipped: “Paano iyon, BongbongBong? Bong to the third power? Baka puwede rin, we’ll see.” Marcos said he had planned to get President Rodrigo Duterte as his vice president, as he had declared his intention to vie for the country’s second highest elective position. However, the President did not file his Certificate of Candidacy (COC). Instead, Go filed his COC for vice president. Go had repeatedly rejected the endorsement of the Cusi faction of PDP-Laban to be the party’s standard bearer. He emphasized that his priority is to pursue the continuity of programs of the current administration and expand it to sustain the positive change that President Duterte has started. “I can work with anyone... I will respect whoever will be elected by the public for the presidency,” he said. Go has pledged to be a “working vice president” if the Filipino people elect him, stressing that he will not merely be a “spare tire” but rather a public servant who ordinary Filipinos can rely on.

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that BRIA HOMES, INC., with office address at LGF Bldg., B. Evia Lifestyle Center, Daang Hari, Almanza Dos, Las Piñas City is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a new developer of economic and low-cost housing project (Bria Homes San Jose del Monte) with a capacity of 772 economic and low-cost housing units under R.A. 11534 (CREATE Act) and the Preferred List-Mass Housing of the 2020 IPP with project site located at Brgy. Dulong Bayan, San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan. Any person with valid objection/s on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication. (SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Director Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-OCT. 8, 2021)

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that BRIA HOMES, INC., with office address at LGF Bldg., B. Evia Lifestyle Center, Daang Hari, Almanza Dos, Las Piñas City is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a new developer of economic and low-cost housing project (Bria Homes Magalang Phase 2) with a capacity of 780 economic and low-cost housing units under R.A. 11534 (CREATE Act) and the Preferred List-Mass Housing of the 2020 IPP with project site located at Brgy. Rosario, Magalang, Pampanga. Any person with valid objection/s on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication. (SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Director Infrastructure and Services Industries Service

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that BRIA HOMES, INC., with office address at LGF Bldg., B. Evia Lifestyle Center, Daang Hari, Almanza Dos, Las Piñas City is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a new developer of economic and low-cost housing project (Bria Homes Baras) with a capacity of 724 economic and low-cost housing units under R.A. 11534 (CREATE Act) and the Preferred List-Mass Housing of the 2020 IPP with project site located at Brgy. Pinugay, Baras, Rizal. Any person with valid objection/s on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

ing the opening of her solo exhibit held inside the Manila Hotel on Thursday. Former Public Works Secretary Mark Villar (second from left) led the ribbon-cutting ceremony together with Lim’s family. Norman Cruz

(SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Director Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-OCT. 8, 2021)

VISAYAS: Aklan : NabasIbajay; Cebu: Toledo City, Balamban, Barili, Carcar, Cebu City, Compostela, Consolacion, Cordova, Danao, Liloan, Mandaue, Minglanilla, Naga, San Fernando, LapuLapu, Dumanjug, Talisay, Moalboal, Bogo City, San Remigio, Sogod, Alcantara, Santander, Ginatilan, Daanbantayan; Negros Occidental: Bacolod City, Kabankalan, Pulupandan, Silay City, Valladolid, Binalbagan, Murcia, Enrique B. Magalona (Saravia), Bago City; Iloilo: Iloilo City, Oton; Negros Oriental: Dumaguete, Valencia, Sibulan, City of Tanjay MINDANAO:Agusan Del Norte: City of Butuan; Agusan del Sur: Rosario, San Francisco, Trento, Bayugan, Santa Josefa; Compostela Valley:Monkayo; Davao del Norte: Santo Tomas, Braulio E. Dujali, Panabo, Tagum, Carmen, Island City of Samal; Davao del Sur: Santa Cruz, Bansalan, Davao City, Digos, Hagonoy; Davao de Oro:Montevista, Compostela, Nabunturan, Maco; Cotabato: Kidapawan, Makilala; South Cotabato: General Santos City, Polomolok; Bukidnon: Malaybalay, City of Valencia, Quezon, Don Carlos, Manolo Fortich, Baungon, Libona, Impasug-ong, Maramag; Lanao Del Norte: Linamon, Baloi, City of Iligan; Misamis Oriental: Balingasag, Cagayan de Oro, Claveria, Talisayan, Manticao, Sugbongcogon, Medina, Kinoguitan, Binuangan, Balingoan, Naawan, Villanueva, City of El Salvador, Jasaan, Opol, Tagoloan, City of Gingoog, Lugait; Gitagum, Laguindingan, Libertad, Initao; Saranggani: Alabel 5. Load or promo repurchase is allowed even if the current load or promo is active. The remaining load credits or promo inclusions from the previous purchase will be carried over to the latest load or promo purchase. Subscriber shall receive FREE 2GB Data for every minimum load or promo purchase within the promo period.

(MS-OCT. 8, 2021)

EAGLE ART. Kristine Lim views her artworks dur-

LUZON: NCR: Manila, Quezon City, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Pasay, Taguig, Pateros, Makati, Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Marikina, Las Pinas; Pangasinan: Basista, Bayambang, Binmaley,Dagupan, Manaoag, Mangatarem, San Manuel, San Carlos City, Lingayen (Capital), San Nicolas, Alaminos, Bolinao, Urdaneta, Urbiztondo, Bani, Bugallon, Mangaldan, Laoac, Dasol, Aguilar, Bautista, Binalonan, San Jacinto, Tayug, Santa Barbara, Malasiqui; Bulacan: Pandi, San Jose del Monte, Malolos, Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Hagonoy, Bulacan, Plaridel, Baliuag, Guiguinto, Bustos, San Ildefonso, San Miguel, Santa Maria, San Rafael, Pulilan, Norzagaray, Balagtas (Bigaa); Nueva Ecija: Cabiao, Llanera, Palayan City, Santa Rosa, Santo Domingo Science City of Munoz, Talavera, Cabanatuan, Gapan City, San Leonardo, San Jose, General Mamerto Natividad, Rizal, Zaragoza, General Tinio (Papaya), Licab, Jaen, Quezon, Lupao; Nueva Vizcaya: Dupax del Norte Pampanga: Angeles, Bacolor; Candaba, Guagua, Lubao, Mabalacat, Magalang Mexico, San Fernando, , San Simon, Santa Rita, Tarlac: Capas, Tarlac City, Concepcion, Gerona, La Paz, Mayantoc, Moncada ,Pura, Ramos, San Clemente, San Manuel, Victoria; Zambales: Olongapo, Subic; Bataan: Balanga, Dinalupihan, Orani, Samal, Abucay; Albay: Camalig, City Of Ligao, Daraga (Locsin),Legazpi City (Capital), Malilipot,Oas, PolanguiBatangas: Alitagtag, Bauan, Cuenca, San Jose,Ibaan, Batangas City, Malvar, Mataas na Kahoy, San Pascual, Santo Tomas, Lipa City, Talisay, Tanauan City, Taysan, Balete, Padre Garcia, San Juan, Balayan, Calaca, San Luis, Taal, Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Lian, Calatagan, Tuy, Laurel; Camarines Norte: Basud, Daet (Capital); Talisay, Vinzons; Camarines Sur: Baao, Bato, Bombon, Bula, Canaman, Iriga City, Libmanan, Naga City, Ocampo, Pamplona, Pili (Capital), Sagnay, San Jose; Sipocot; Cavite: Kawit, Bacoor, Imus, Tagaytay City, Silang, Dasmarinas, Carmona, Amadeo, Rosario, Mendez, Indang, Alfonso, General Trias, TreceMartirez, Tanza, Magallanes. Naic, Maragondon, Noveleta; Laguna: Bay, San Pedro, Sta Rosa, Binan, Cabuyao, Los Banos, Calamba City, Victoria, Calauan, Alaminos, San Pablo, Majayjay, Luisiana, Rizal, Nagcarlan; Quezon: Candelaria, City of Tayabas, Pagbilao, San Antonio, Sariaya, Valencia, Lucban Rizal: Antipolo, Cainta, Taytay; Sorsogon: City of Sorsogon (Capital); Irosin

6. Once availed, the load and promo are non-refundable / non-replaceable / non-exchangeable. This promo is only valid for the subscriber’s DITO compatible mobile phone where the purchased DITO SIM and Promo are installed. 7. Promo cannot be used in conjunction with any unlimited promo offer. 8. Promo cannot be converted to cash, credit, or other goods and services. 9. By availing of the promo, the subscriber confirms that he/she has read, understood, and agreed to the promo mechanics, its terms, and conditions. Subscriber also agrees not to use the SIM and/or promo for illicit or illegal means. 10. For any concerns and/or inquiries regarding the promo, information may be sent to customerservice@dito.ph. All matters and disputes will be subject to the final decision of DITO Telecommunity.

(MS-OCT. 8, 2021)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021

Meralco’s Chris Newsome soars for a basket against the defense of Magnolia’s Rome dela Rosa in a PBA Philippine Basketball Association semifinal game won by the Hotshots, 92-78.

De Guzman ready for Asian men’s club volleyball tilt A PERENNIAL national team fixture, John Vic De Guzman is more than ready to help Rebisco in the Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship which opens Friday in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. The Philippines debuts in Pool B against Iran’s Sirjan Foulad at 11 a.m. (Manila time), with De Guzman promising modest expectations. “We came here for exposure and experience. Of course we want to win, but the our opponents are no pushovers,” De Guzman said. “But we need to compete against them to get better.” Rebisco will miss outside hitters Marck Espejo and Bryan Bagunas, who are both playing for Tokyo and Oita Miyoshi, respectively, in Japan’s V.League. Playing for the first time since the historic silver medal run in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in Manila, De Guzman is feeling good to represent the country anew in this extraordinary time. “We’re happy to be playing again, but of course, we cannot say if we can go 100 percent because the pandemic stopped sports back home,” he said. “And of course, the risk of getting the virus is there.” The team, whose participation in Thailand is supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Rebisco, Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano and Asics, trained for two months in a bubble facility in Lipa City. Rex Intal, Mark Alfafara, Ricky Marcos, Ish Polvorosa, Jessie Lopez, Kim Malabunga, Francis Saura, Josh Retamar and Jao Umandal are returning to the national team. Ysay Marasigan, who played in the 2015 SEA Games, is back, while Nico Almendras, Manuel Sumanguid and JP Bugaoan are making their senior debut. Ranged against the likes of Sirjan Foulad, who won the Iranian Super League championship last April, is something that De Guzman is looking forward to.

Magnolia tries to sink Meralco deeper at 0-3 By Peter Atencio

ONTROLLING the boards is just one aspect of the game that can bring the Magnolia Hotshots closer to the finals.

But according to Hotshots coach Chito Victolero, it will be a combination of many factors if they want to beat the undermanned Meralco Bolts in Game 3 of their PBA Philippine Cup best-ofseven semifinal series at 3 p.m. at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga. “That’s (rebounding) one key factor. Pero hindi ‘yan ang magbibigay ng W. It’s all about team effort, the discipline, the execution, and the defense, including the rebounds,” said Victolero. Later in the day at 6 p.m., the San Miguel Beermen clash with the TNT Tropang Giga in their tied series. The Beermen turned back the Tro-

pang Giga, 98-96, in Game 2, to equalize their best-of-seven affair at 1-all. The Hotshots are now on a roll after their 92-78 triumph last Wednesday handed Magnolia a 2-0 lead. During the game, Magnolia won a rebounding battle for a second straight game, 53-39. In Game 1 which Magnolia also won, 88-79, the Hotshots were also in control of the boards, 47-39. “This (rebounding) is extra possession. It’s an extra possession that we can get to score. So, if you have this, you have a big chance of winning the game,” added Victolero. The Bolts will seek to get back on

ROSE Jean Ramos, who usually trains in Olympian Hidilyn Diaz’s gym in Mampang, Zamboanga City, will now have a chance to make it to the Paris Olympics. The 15-year-old Ramos improved her chances of going to France for the quadrennial meet when she bagged two gold medals and a silver for the Philippines on Day 2 of the 2021 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Youth World Championships late Wednesday evening (Manila time). Ramos took first place in the girls’ 45-kg category during competitions held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. She claimed the overall honors with her lifts of 67 kgs in the snatch for the gold, 80 kgs in the clean and jerk for the silver and a 147-kg total for another gold. “Another star for the Paris Olympics is born. We’re on a roll,” said Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella. Polish lifter Oliwia Drzarga settled for the silver with a total of 143 (58-85), while Naja Khoirunnisa took the bronze with a 142 aggregate (62-80). Eleven months ago, Rose Jean and her sister Rosegie Ramos won medals together by joining a virtual event. The two won a gold, three silvers and one bronze in the IWF Online Youth World Cup, a tournament organized in Peru. Back then, the 15-year-old Rose Jean claimed the gold in the 65-kilogram division snatch (63 kgs) and took the silver in total (138 kgs) in the meet attended by 402 athletes from 62 countries. Jeaneth Hipolito, also considered as one of the country’s future bets in international meets, claimed a medal for the Philippines in the opener late Tuesday evening (Manila time). The 14-year-old Hipolito settled for a bronze with a 52-kg heave in the snatch event of the girls’ division when Day 1 ended. Another Filipino lifter, Albert de los Santos settled for fifth place with his tally of 208 in Group A of the boys’ 61-kg class on Day 2. Hampton Morris of the USA took the top honors with his total of 206. Peter Atencio

Pacquiao’s doppelgangers popular, too By Randy Caluag

Aloysius Taidin

MANNY Pacquiao has been the talk of the town since he announced his retirement from boxing. This means lots of work and opportunities for his doppelgangers. In Sabah, Malaysia for instance, Pacquiao look-alike Aloysius Taidin is making the rounds and attracting large crowds. The 43-year-old Taidin from the local village of Kampung Kabatang Baru has become some sort of a celebrity because of his likeness to the Filipino boxing icon. In the Philippines, Pacquiao dead-ringers like Johnny Dagami, a Filipino stage performer, has also benefitted from his facial similarity with the only eight-division world boxing champion.

Romero fulfills lifelong Golden Wheel dream REGHIS “RG” Romero V finally fulfilled a lifelong dream that escaped him 11 years ago as he bagged the Rookie of the Year title in the 17th Golden Wheel Awards at the Trade Hall 2 of the Clark International Speedway recently. On the strength of his strong showing in the 2019 Philippine Super Bikes Championship, the 2019 Pirelli Cup and the 2019 Ducati Cup, the 27-year-old Romero was the hands down choice as the Rookie Rider of the Year for Super Bikes Racing of the Golden Wheel Foundation, which is finally feting its motorsports awardees after a two-year layoff due to the coronavirus pandemic. “My Rookie of the Year award is very special to me because when I started racing in 2008 for karting, the rookie award was my main target. Unfortunately, I was not able to get it. Eleven years later, I am very proud of myself to be able to achieve it especially in motorcycle racing as it is not just my passion, but my entire family’s considering that my dad, Red Romero, was one of the founding members of Club 200. He was the one who pushed me to join and be into motorcycles,” said Romero.

their feet without two key men, Raymond Almazan and Cliff Hodge. Almazan won’t be around due to an ankle sprain, while Hodge will be suspended for a game after he was ejected from Game Two for a Flagrant Foul Penalty One. Hodge was slapped with a technical foul earlier in the match. The Bolts will also miss Aaron Black, who was absent in the playoffs due to an injury in his right hand. During the game, Paul Lee banged in 17 of his 28 points in the first half and shot 9-for-18 from the field, while Ian Sangalang tallied 16 markers, 10 rebounds, and two assists to power the Hotshots. On the other hand, Calvin Abueva knocked in seven of his 11 in the fourth quarter, grabbed 11 boards and added three assists, a steal, and a block for the Hotshots in the win. Bong Quinto unloaded 14 points for the Bolts.

Teen Ramos bags 2 golds in world lift youth tourney

Reghis “RG” Romero V in action during the PSBK.

On top of his rookie plum, Romero also received his awards as the 2019 PSBK Rookie overall champion, 2019 Pirelli Cup Heavyweight A Class overall titlist and 2019 Ducati Cup Expert Class 2nd Runner Up.

Romero last stepped into the Golden Wheel Awards stage in 2009 for being the 2008 overall champion of the Asian Karting Open Championships Formula SL Junior Class.

lar TV once to attend Also known as the Pacquiao-Ricky Manny Paksiw, DaHatton closed-circuit gami said he began to viewing at the Araimitate Pacquiao in his neta Coliseum. performances during These days, Dagami events and gatherings, continues to accept where his talent fee went bookings as a Pacup five times. quiao impersonator. “Dumami ang The fighting senanag-mamarket and tor also has a Filipino nag-iinvite sa akin look-alike, who can acat tumaas ang TF,” tually fight in Mars Sissaid Dagami, who mundo, a professional met Pacquiao person- Manny Paksiw ally and learned he approved of his Mixed Martial Arts fighter, who has a record of 5 wins and 8 losses. work as his impersonator. His moniker? Pac-Man. The most memorable work for Just like Pacquiao, he is feared for Dagami came when he played as Pacquiao’s double in the movie his explosive fists, so his opponents would always go for takedowns to “Anak Ng Kumander.” Dagami was even invited by So- avoid trading punches with him.

“Due to the pandemic, there are very few places to train so the best training I have is through riding my bicycle. Doing at least 30 minutes a day to an hour is enough to keep my stamina strong for the upcoming races,” Romero said. “I am also thankful that despite the pandemic, our organizers of the PSBK still managed to have races during these trying times,” added Romero, who thanked Club 200, MotoGarage Performance, Ducati Philippines, R-II Bu i ld ers, Inc. P r i m e Homes, G a b b y and Santi

Clothing, Lenvoisa Construction and riding coach Joey Storm Rivero of Zero2Podium for his achievements. A day later after receiving his numerous accolades in the Golden Wheel, Romero, riding a Panigale V4 Base with full Ohlins Suspension, was back at the Clark International Speedway on Oct. 1 to 3 to reaffirm his status as one of the country’s top riders as he came through with a 1st-place finish in the PSBK Novice Class legs 3 and 4, a 2nd-place feat in the PSBK Intermediate Class legs 3 and 4 and a 1st-place achievement in the Ducati Cup Expert Class legs 3 and 4. “It was a tougher race than the first two rounds as there was a long break of three months due to the rise of COVID-19 cases in our country. But thank God, it still gave me even more time to be even more prepared,” said Romero, whose last triumph in the racing circuit came last June in Legs 1 and 2 of the PSBK, not to mention a title romp in the Ducati Cup Expert Class Leg 1. But Romero isn’t finished stringing the wins yet. “My plans for this season is to prove Romero holding that I am not just the top rookie of 2019 but his Golden the future of Philippine superbike racing,” Wheel Award. Romero said.

Business

PSE INDEX CLOSING Thursday, October 6, 2021

-106.15 PTS. Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021

Cebu firm gets nod on P20-b reclamation job By Jenniffer B. Austria PROPERTY developer Cebu Landmasters Inc. said Thursday it plans to start the development of a P20-billion reclamation project in Cebu in the first half of 2022. CLI said it received a notice from the Philippine Reclamation Authority to proceed with the 100-hectare reclamation project being proposed by the municipality of Minglanilla, Cebu in partnership with Ming-Mori Development Corp., a subsidiary of CLI. The proposed of project will pave the way for a techno-business hub in Minglanilla with a fully-integrated port facility. The township development will feature commercial, industrial, civic and recreational components to create a thriving and self-sustaining environment. It is estimated to generate over 75,000 jobs in light manufacturing industries. CLI said the bidding and awarding of contracts to contractors and suppliers would be held before the end of the year while actual reclamation is targeted by the first or second quarter of 2022. It plans to complete the reclamation project in three years. CLI in August increased its stake in MMDC to 80 percent to strengthen its position as developer and project manager of the township development. CLI said that with its proximity to Cebu City, Ming-Mori is a highly viable location for light manufacturing industries especially as the province’s main industrial parks are fully occupied. CLI engaged Singapore-based Surbana Jurong Consultants to master plan the whole development. CLI secured P3 billion from issuance of debt papers to fund early works on the project. Ming-Mori Techno Business Park is CLI’s third large-scale township after those in Davao City and Cagayan de Oro City. The share price of CLI dropped 1.35 percent Thursday to P2.93.

FedEx opens new modern gateway in Clark Freeport A 17,000-SQUARE meter state-ofthe-art gateway facility of logistics company Federal Express recently opened in Clark Freeport Zone. Equipped with the most modern package handling capabilities, FedEx Express is seen to bring 800 job opportunities in Clark alone. The $30-million cargo terminal supports 36 weekly flights and is considered as one of the largest facilities in the region. It could also increase the company’s sorting capabilities to 9,000 documents and parcels per hour. FedEx said the facility would reduce delivery time to Northern Luzon by an average of two hours, and would extend the cut-off time for Northern Luzon and Cebu customers. FedEx vice president for Southeast Asia operations Audrey Cheong expressed gratitude to Clark Development Corp. president and chief executive Manuel Gaerlan for the support in making the milestone happen. She recognized the efforts of other CDC officers who played a crucial role in making the project a reality through a letter addressed to Gaerlan. Among those mentioned in the letter are CDC vice president for business development and business enhancement group Rynah Ventura, assistant vice president for business enhancement department Atty. Noelle Mina Meneses and assistant vice president for investment promotions divisions II Rodem Perez. CDC building and facilities permits division manager Engr. Erwin Bognot, public safety division assistant manager Robin Cenzon and Andrea Gayle Co were also recognized by Cheong. FedEx’s expansion in the Philippines is part of its long-term development in the Asia-Pacific region which aims to connect people and possibilities in and from the Philippines to the rest of the world.

6,951.30

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

1,401,317,108 153,840 13,169,966,328.68 62 137 46

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.7600

Japan

Yen

0.008977

0.4557

Pound

1.358600

68.9625

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128429

6.5191

Switzerland

Franc

1.078283

54.7336

Canada

Dollar

0.794218

40.3145

Singapore

Dollar

0.736052

37.3620

Australia

Dollar

0.726900

36.8974

Bahrain

Dinar

2.653294

134.6812

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266652

13.5353

Brunei

Dollar

0.733353

37.2250

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.029490

1.4969

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.8205

Euro

1.155600

58.6583

Korea

Won

0.000840

0.0426

China

Yuan

0.154524

7.8436

India

Rupee

0.013378

0.6791

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.239063

12.1348

New Zealand

Dollar

0.691200

35.0853

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035777

1.8160 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF MerryMart rolls out smart locker business

PASIG RIVER CLEANUP. A 45-ton excavator mounted on a specially-designed barge moves silt and solid waste onto an 840-cubic meter hopper barge at the section of Pasig River near the Nagtahan Bridge in Manila. San Miguel Corp.’s P2-billion Pasig River rehabilitation initiative aims to remove 3 million metric tons of silt and solid waste from the tributary to help mitigate flooding in Metro Manila cities and nearby provinces. It is part of SMC’s bigger goal of cleaning up the waterways in and around Metro Manila that flow into the Manila Bay.

PH manufacturing sustained over 500% growth in August By Julito G. Rada

ANUFACTURING output grew by more than 500 percent for the second straight month in August, as the government allowed factories to continue production despite community quarantine restrictions. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed the volume of production index jumped 534.6 percent in August, following a 539.7-percent rise in July. The VoPI in August last year plunged 82.2 percent at the height of lockdown. “Sixteen industry divisions contributed to the positive growth of VoPI in August 2021, of which the fastest growth was reported in manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products at 3,800.9 percent,” the PSA said. Six industry divisions recorded decrements with manufacture of tobacco products registering the fastest annual decline of 53.8 percent. The value of production index for

manufacturing showed an annual increment of 523.3 percent in August. “This was the second highest annual growth rate in the 2018-based data series of VaPI after hitting its highest annual increase in the previous month at 528.7 percent,” the PSA said. The VaPI slid 83.1 percent in August 2020. “The significant expansion in VaPI for manufacturing sector in August 2021 was due to the increases in 14 out of 22 industry divisions. The fastest growth rate was reported in manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products at 4,388.7 percent. The remaining eight industry divisions recorded decreases, with manufacture of tobacco products

registering the fastest annual decline of -53.8 percent,” the PSA said. The value of net sales index recorded a year-on-year increase of 6.5 percent in August, from a lower annual growth rate of 1.5 percent in the previous month. In August 2020, VaNSI dropped 18.8 percent. The PSA said the average capacity utilization rate for the manufacturing sector eased to 66.1 percent in August from 66.8 percent in July. Nineteen of the 22 industry divisions registered more than 50-percent average capacity utilization rate, led by manufacture of furniture (83.1 percent), manufacture of tobacco products (81.6 percent) and manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products (79.3 percent). The proportion of establishments that operated at full capacity (90 percent to 100 percent) was 22.2 percent of the total number of responding establishments. Meanwhile, 36.6 percent operated at 70 to 89 percent capacity, while 41.2 percent operated below 70 percent capacity.

Globe denies intent to violate mobile number portability By Darwin G. Amojelar GLOBE Telecom Inc. said Thursday its GOMO’s mobile number portability service will be available by Oct. 12 as it strongly denied any malice or intent to violate the law. “Being transparent to our GOMO customers, we have sent out SMS advisories on the delay of MNP service readiness to keep our customers fully informed,” Globe said in a statement. Globe said that during the MNP launch, TCI, the joint venture company composed of Globe, Smart and Dito, did mention that birth pains were to be expected with the new service. “This is especially true in our case because of our multiple brands that have multiple functionalities which are differentiated from our core brands,” said Globe. Globe’s core brands, including Globe Prepaid, Postpaid, Platinum and TM, are providing MNP service.

Globe took exception to Smart’s complaint, saying that, “all issues and wins of the MNP service are being discussed at length at the management committee of TCI”. “All service providers are aware of the challenges currently being experienced. It does seem this complaint is being done in bad faith on the part of Smart,” it said. Globe said “GOMO would be able to provide its MNP service by Oct. 12”. “We want to make sure that the service will be offered without posing additional problems or complications to our customer. So far, the company has not received a request from a GOMO customer wanting to avail of the MNP service,” it said. “We are sincere in our intent to give our mobile customers the ability to choose their favorite provider and we are doing our best to comply. We are also grateful to our customers for choosing Globe over other providers,” Globe said.

Meanwhile, Smart asked Globe to remedy and resolve the serious and persistent concerns affecting Globe customers wanting to port in or transfer to Smart but were unable to do so seamlessly and without fault or difficulty, because of Globe’s system-readiness issues and general unpreparedness to implement the MNP Law. “Globe’s constructive denial of its customers’ choice to switch to Smart seamlessly without the hassle of changing their mobile number, which seemingly stem from system errors and the apparent general unpreparedness of Globe sales force to implement the MNP Law, ultimately compromise, if not maim the spirit of the law, which is to honor and protect the customers’ choice of their preferred network,” said Atty. Kenneth Regañon, Smart regulatory affairs’ manager in a letter to the National Telecommunication Commssion.

GROCERY chain operator MerryMart Consumer Corp. said Thursday it rolled out its smart locker business under consumer technology unit MBOX. MerryMart said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the first MBOX smart lockers were installed in MerryMart grocery branch at DoubleDragon Plaza in Pasay City. MBOX lockers are self-service lockers similar to post office boxes that are accessible 24/7, where customers can collect and drop off packages at their convenience at minimal or no additional cost. As soon as a package arrives, the locker sends a pickup code via test message/app notification to alert the receiver. This eliminates the need for face-to-face contact with couriers. “This pandemic has seen a record rise in deliveries and has highlighted the need for a contactless, efficient and green delivery alternative. But beyond this, we believe that MBOX will improve Filipinos’ online purchase experience and give buyers, couriers, and sellers a more convenient, efficient, and secure alternative for delivering and receiving packages,” said MerryMart and MBOX chairman Edgar Sia II. Jenniffer B. Austria

Banks may apply SBL for project financing

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said Thursday banks may apply the separate Single Borrower’s Limit for project finance exposures, including those to water concessionaires, subject to compliance with certain conditions. The BSP said that as part of relief measures amid the pandemic, it temporarily raised the SBL to 30 percent from 25 percent until Dec. 31, 2021. The increase covers the SBL for project finance. “The adoption by the BSP of a separate SBL for project finance aims to mobilize private sector funding toward projects that support the country’s economic recovery efforts and nation building,” Diokno said in an online briefing. Project finance is a method of funding in which the lender looks primarily to the revenues generated by a single project, both as a source of repayment and as security for the exposure. Project finance entails two sets of contractual arrangements. First is the creation of a legally and economically selfcontained entity against which all legal contracts are written. The second is the establishment of a set of contracts which dictate the distribution of risks and returns. Julito G. Rada

PNOC keen on energy supply port in Batangas

STATE-RUN Philippine National Oil Co. asked the provincial board of Batangas to issue a certificate of no objection to its energy supply base port development project. PNOC said the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Batangas committee on housing and land utilization conducted a hearing on Sept. 21, 2021 on the company’s request for the ESB project, which would include the reclamation of 37,270 square meters along Batangas Bay. ESB Manager Carlito Pena presented the project to the committee chaired by board member Jonas Patrick Gozos. The provincial board’s certificate of no objection is the last requirement of the Philippine Reclamation Authority. A certificate of no objection from Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas was already presented to PRA. Aside from the continuous rehabilitation and repair of facilities of the ESB in Mabini, Batangas, PNOC said it programmed the development of the port to allow extension of the piers to reach the 12 to 15 meters depth of Batangas Bay. Alena Mae S. Flores

Meralco seeks more time to implement RPS rates By Alena Mae S. Flores

FREE ICE CREAM. Foodpanda, in partnership with Unilever RFM, distributes free Selecta ice creams to active Foodpanda riders in Metro Manila to celebrate them as frontline heroes. Foodpanda provided 10,000 ice cream products to partner riders throughout the campaign. Riders claimed their free Selecta Cornetto or Boom Boom ice cream at pandamart stores near them.

MANILA Electric Co., the biggest electricity retailer, is seeking for more time to implement the adjusted 2.52 percent annual incremental renewable energy percentage under the Renewable Portfolio Standards on-grid rules. The Department of Energy earlier issued a draft circular adopting the 2.52 percent annual incremental renewable energy percentage under the RPS ongrid rules starting 2023. RPS is a policy mechanism that requires electric power industry participants such as generators, distribution utilities like Meralco and suppliers to secure or produce a specified fraction of their electricity from eligible RE resources. “Any changes in the RPS percentage imposed on the mandated participants will require careful planning on their sourcing strategy and program. We, therefore, hope that the mandated participants will be given enough time to

comply with the proposed adjustment,” said Lawrence Fernandez, Meralco vice president and head of utility economics in a letter to Mylene Capongcol, director of the DOE Renewable Energy Management Bureau. Meralco said in its comments to the draft circular that DOE should consider the time frame, specifically as it is now in the third quarter and competitive selection process could take up to six months to conclude. It said the resulting power supply agreements of the CSP would need to undergo proceedings with the Energy Regulatory Commission and it would take two or more years to construct a power plant. Meralco said DOE highlighted from the public consultation that that the circular should be read in concomitance with the other initiatives of the agency such as the Net Metering Program, Green Energy Option Program and Green Energy Auction Program.

Business

B2 || FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Hitches in mobile portability law emerge THE Mobile Number Portability Act has finally come of age to the benefit of millions of mobile phone users in the Philippines. Over two years after President Rodrigo Duterte signed the law, customers can now switch to other telecommunications carriers without having to change their mobile phone numbers. The law is a relief for every mobile phone user, who can now keep his old cellphone number even if he changes and upgrades his unit and switches to a different carrier. Retaining the old cellphone number is key to preserving one’s business and personal contacts in this digital age. The Philippines is quite late in implementing the MNP law, which has been the practice for some time in other countries like Singapore, Japan and the United States. Mobile number portability primarily benefits the consumer who is now free to transfer to another carrier without losing his or her number in order to avail of better service. The MNP law is forcing telecom companies to improve their services in order to keep their subscribers, and offer attractive packages to lure customers of their competitors to switch. The three major telecom companies― Globe Telecom, Smart Communications and Dito Telecommunity―earlier sought more time to implement the MNP law. They had cited the need to conduct interoperability tests and hire an independent contractor to manage the porting services. The three eventually formed a c o n s o r t i u m ― Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Connectivity Inc. (TCI)―and tapped the services of a global company, Syniverse, to implement the porting platform. Mobile phone subscribers should have no problems porting their numbers from one carrier to another. A subscriber, per the guidelines of the National Telecommunications Commission, can leave his carrier in favor of another as long as he has no outstanding financial obligations or a contract under a lock-in period. A company that offers better services obviously will enjoy an advantage over its competitor with the commercial of the MNP. Subscribers will flock and switch to the telco that offers wider network coverage and better services. The cutthroat competition in the industry, however, may lead an overeager sales or marketing rep to employ deception. A consumer recalled one such experience. Eric Caraan, in a statement issued through consumer group Pilipino Society and Development Advocates Commuter-Consumer, said he had wanted to migrate from Globe to Smart but was thwarted from doing so by a Globe customer relations officer. Caraan, who is the deputy secretarygeneral of PASADA-CC, claimed the Globe customer relations officer he spoke to “prescribed a non-functional online method and [I] was instead advised to upgrade to an existing, more expensive subscription plan.” Caraan claimed further he received a similar complaint from a Batangas-based

Globe subscriber and member of PASADACC, who had sought to transfer a cellular service subscription from Globe to Dito. Such deceptive electronic and customerrelations/marketing ploys to dissuade and frustrate subscribers from transferring to other mobile service providers should be discouraged because these, in Caraan’s words, violate the spirit of the MNP law. Vicente Froilan Castelo, the chairman of TCI, the company in charge of the porting services, should look into the glitches of the law. Mr. Castelo, who happens to be Globe’s general counsel and senior vice president, and also the president of the Philippine Chamber of Telecommunication Operators Inc., is in a position to iron out the MNP snags emanating from his company. Globe, meanwhile, is denying any malice or intent to violate the law, saying its GOMO mobile number portability service will be available by October 12. “Being transparent to our GOMO customers, we have sent out SMS advisories on the delay of MNP service readiness to keep our customers fully informed,” Globe said in a statement. Smart earlier asked Globe to remedy persistent concerns affecting Globe customers wanting to transfer to Smart but have been unable to do so seamlessly due to Globe’s system-readiness issues and general unpreparedness to implement the MNP Law. Veterans Bank sues for estafa Two Chinese owners of a medical supply company who are facing estafa raps from Philippine Veterans Bank have eluded arrest since the filing of charges for violating Presidential Decree No. 115, or the Trust Receipts Law. The bank in 2019 filed the estafa charges against Jimmy M. Hao and Jamie Sheila S. Hao, president and vice president, respectively, of Biñan, Laguna-based Meihao Corp., a supplier of medical equipment to various hospitals and medical institutions. Meihao obtained a P110-million credit facility from Veterans after executing a trust receipts agreement in favor of the bank. But beginning March 22, 2019, Meihao started to default on its obligation to turn over the proceeds of the sale of the goods to the bank. The default prompted Veterans to call on the obligations of Meihao and demand the payment of the outstanding debt under the subject trust receipts amounting to P122.9 million, inclusive of interests and penalties as of July 20, 2019. Despite the bank’s demands, the accused failed to pay the outstanding obligations. A court issued a warrant of arrest against the two accused who have remained at large. E-mail:rayenano@yahoo.com or extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks fall on profit taking; Converge and Globe down

TOCKS slumped Thursday on profit taking, with some investors worried over galloping oil prices that could dent the economic recovery.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index sank 106.15 points, or 1.5 percent, to 6,951.30 on a value turnover of P13.2 billion a day after smashing the 7,000-point mark. Fiber broadband services provide Converge ICT Solutions Inc. tumbled 14.8 percent to P37.50, while First Gen Corp. of the Lopez Group fell 8 percent to P27.60. Globe Telecom Inc. of the Ayala Group dropped 5 percent to P3,240, but construction supplies retailer

Wilcon Depot Inc. rose 8.4 percent to P34. The rest of Asian markets rallied Thursday as investors breathed a sigh of relief that the United States looked set to avert a catastrophic debt default after Republicans offered a deal to raise the country’s borrowing limit. Joe Biden and Xi Jinping’s decision to hold a virtual meeting also provided a much-needed boost to trading floors that have been starved of good news in recent weeks as they battle a string of problems including surging inflation, an expected taper of monetary policy and a growing energy crisis. With just days to go before the United States runs out of cash, top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell proposed a truce, meaning Dem-

DEBT LIMIT. US President Joe Biden (center) speaks during a meeting with business leaders and CEOs on the need to address the debt limit, on October 6, 2021, in the South Auditorium of the White House in Washington, DC. The US looked set to avert a catastrophic debt default after Republicans offered a deal to raise the country’s borrowing limit. AFP

Asia’s richest man to launch 7-Eleven in India

MUMBAI, India—Asia’s richest man Mukesh Ambani is set to open India’s first 7-Eleven convenience store, as his Reliance conglomerate boosts its retail presence in the vast market of 1.3 billion people. Thursday’s announcement of a franchise agreement comes two days after India’s second-largest supermarket chain Future Retail terminated its 2019 deal with 7-Eleven to open 1,000 stores. India’s retail sector is dominated by family-owned “mom and pop” outlets but oil-to-telecoms conglomerate Reliance Industries added 1,500 new stores

last year to make a total of nearly 13,000. “7-Eleven is among the most iconic global brands in the convenience retail landscape...(and) will offer Indian customers greater convenience and choices within their own neighborhoods,” said Isha Ambani, director of Reliance Retail Ventures and Mukesh’s daughter. The first store will open on Saturday in a Mumbai suburb, followed by a “rapid rollout in key neighborhoods and commercial areas, across the Greater Mumbai cluster to start with,” Reliance said. Debt-ridden Future Retail, which

Natural gas market climbs to record heights INVITATION TO BID Bid No. 2021-06

The office of the General Manager through duly constituted Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), hereby invites all interested contractors, manufacturers, suppliers, dealers, and authorized dealers to submit bids for NEA subsidy 2020 Sitio Electrification Program (SEP) intended for Isabela II Electric Cooperative (ISELCO II). LOT 1 2

PARTICULARS 2020 SEP GAA - EXTENSION OF DISTRIBUTION LINES 2020 SEP GAA - INSTALLATION OF KWHR METERS, SERVICE DROP WIRES AND HOUSEWIRING MATERIALS

Approved Budget Cost (ABC)

NON-REFUNDABLE FEE (Bid Documents)

PHP 14,986,712.05

PHP 25,000.00

PHP 3,347,666.01

PHP 5,000.00

ocrats can vote to hike the debt ceiling allowing the government to pay its bills until December. Democrats indicated their support for the move, which would mean avoiding missing US repayment obligations that many experts and top officials including Biden and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen had warned would tip the economy into recession and cause another financial crisis. “We’re going to pay our debts, we have two months to figure out where we go from here,” Democratic Senate budget chairman Bernie Sanders said. The offer removed an increasingly dark cloud from over markets and sent Wall Street’s three main indexes jumping out of a slumber to close Wednesday in positive territory. With AFP

owns popular brands such as Big Bazaar, said it was unable to “meet the target of opening stores and payment of franchisee fees” amid the coronavirus pandemic. India’s Supreme Court in August blocked a $3.4-billion deal struck by Reliance to buy Future Group’s retail assets after Amazon objected to it, claiming the deal amounted to breach of contract. Based in Irving, Texas, 7-Eleven operates or licenses more than 77,000 stores in 18 countries and regions, but has faced a delayed entry to the Indian market. AFP This file photo taken on August 3, 2018 shows a view of the facility of the LozenetsNedyalsko natural gas transit pipeline to Turkey near the village of Lozenets. European and UK gas prices surged on October 6, 2021 by more than 25 percent, energized by soaring demand before the northern hemisphere winter. AFP

Bidding documents are available in electronic data format for purchase. Interested bidders shall submit a letter of intent and comply with the following requirements: a.) Company Profile e.) Latest Income Tax Return (ITR) b.) DTI Business Name Registration or f.) List of Clients for 3 years SEC Registration Certificate g.) Latest Audited Annual Financial c.) Business Permit (Valid and Current Mayor’s Permit) Statement d.) BIR/VAT Certificate which consist the TIN h.) Location Map of the Office The foregoing amounts are non-refundable and must be paid to the cashier at ISELCO II, Main Office, Government Center, City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel Nos. (078) 323-0013 and (078) 323-0715 official receipt of payments must be presented during the Pre-Bid Conference. ACTIVITIES Release of Invitation to Bid (Publication) Selling and Issuance of Bid Documents Pre-Bid Conference Deadline of Submission and Receipt of Bids/Bid Opening Bid Evaluation Post Qualification

SCHEDULE October 8, 2021 October 9, 2021 – October 18, 2021 October 19, 2021 (9:00 AM) VIA VIRTUAL MEETING November 3, 2021 (9:00 AM) VIA VIRTUAL MEETING November 4, 2021

ISELCO II hereby reserves the right to reject any bids, waive any formality therein, accepts proposal most advantageous to the Cooperative and assumes no obligation to compensate or indemnify any bidder for expenses or losses that may be incurred in the preparation of bid nor does it guarantee that an award will be made.

JOSEPH S. PALATTAO BAC Chairman

M. Standard – Oct. 8, 2021

DAVID SOLOMON M. SIQUIAN General Manager

By Roland Jackson LONDON—European and UK gas prices surged Wednesday to record peaks, energized by fears of runaway demand in the upcoming northern hemisphere winter. Europe’s reference Dutch TTF gas price hit 162.12 euros per megawatt hour and UK prices leapt to 407.82 pence per therm in morning deals. However, prices later reversed as supply concerns eased somewhat. “It’s panic and fear with winter just around the corner,” Commerzbank analyst Carsten Fritsch told AFP. Soaring gas prices—coupled with oil which has struck multi-year highs— have fueled fears over spiking inflation and rocketing domestic energy bills. Gas demand is also heightened in Asia, particularly from China, while key Russian exports are falling. Europe to blame: Putin However, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared Wednesday that Europe was to blame for the current energy crisis, after the soaring gas prices spurred accusations that Moscow is withholding supplies to pressure the West.

“They’ve made mistakes,” Putin said in a televised meeting with Russian energy officials. He said that one of the factors influencing the prices was the termination of “longterm contracts” in favor of the spot market. Some critics have accused Moscow of intentionally limiting gas supplies to Europe in an effort to hasten the launch of Nord Stream 2, a controversial pipeline connecting Russia with Germany. At the same time, global gas stockpiles remain worryingly low. “Natural gas prices have climbed to new peaks ... as insufficient levels of inventories ahead of the winter season drive concerns for a spike in inflation and energy prices for consumers,” XTB analyst Walid Koudmani told AFP. “These supply constraints could translate into higher costs of fuel moving into the winter months, a prospect which could further slow down economic recovery and worsen moods across markets.” Europe’s energy crisis has also been exacerbated by a lack of wind for turbine sites, coupled with ongoing nuclear outages—and the winding down of coal mines by climate-conscious governments.

Gas demand has also galloped higher in recent months as economies reopened worldwide from their COVIDinduced slumber. “The rebound in industrial activity across the world following months of COVID-related restrictions and widespread remote working ... boosted demand for natural gas,” noted UniCredit economist Edoardo Campanella. European gas futures have now multiplied by eight since April. And the market is set to shoot even higher, according to French bank Societe Generale. “Never before have power prices risen so far, so fast,” wrote Societe Generale analysts in a client note. “And we are only a few days into autumn—temperatures are still mild. “A cold winter could cause severe problems for Europe’s energy markets, where politicians are already trying to contain the fallout.” However gas prices eased later Wednesday as Putin, despite blaming Europe for the current situation, ordered state-controlled gas company Gazprom to maintain shipments through Ukraine. AFP

Entertainment C

For Pokwang, family always comes first

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021

Pokwang is reunited with Tonton Gutierrez in this month's episodes of 'Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko.'

OMEDIENNE Pokwang is the featured star in this month’s episodes of GMA Network’s award-winning weekly magical anthology Daig Kayo Ng Lola Ko. Entitled “It’s Not You, It’s Me,” the episode that premiered on Oct. 3 introduces the fresh team-up of award-winning actress, comedian, and television host as Sunshine, a doting mother to her kids who is on the brink of separation from her husband; and seasoned actor Tonton Gutierrez as Homer, Sunshine’s husband who is often at odds with his wife. Completing the cast of this exciting episode are Paul Salas as Martin, Shanelle Agustin as Carla, Frances Makil as Grandma Merlie, and Maey Bautista as Chuchay. As a mother herself, Pokwang shares what is the most important takeaway from their story. “Our episode would like to remind the audience that in any situation, family always comes first,” the comedienne told Manila Standard Entertainment in a virtual interview. The actress also expressed her enthusiasm having to work with her co-stars Tonton and Paul once again. “Matagal na rin kaming hindi nagkatrabaho ni Tonton. Para kaming may mini reunion dito. Sobrang sarap katrabaho ni Tonton at nagulat ako na binatang-binata na rin si Paul,” she added.

Grandma Merlie is set to visit her daughter Sunshine and her family. Her secret dwarf friend, Chuchay, wishes to tag along but Grandma Merlie refuses. She believes that Sunshine’s family is still the loving family she knows. Unbeknownst to Grandma Merlie, Sunshine and Homer are on the brink of separation and their twins, Carla and Martin, are shocked to see their dad leaving. With Grandma Merlie’s unanticipated visit, Sunshine and Homer are forced to pretend that the family is doing fine. On the other hand, Grandma Merlie discovers that Chuchay has sneaked in her luggage and the two make a deal that no one else should know about her existence. Chuchay secretly observes the family and finds out about Sunshine and Homer’s impending divorce. Chuchay conjures some magic and the married couple switches bodies. How will Sunshine and Homer handle this bizarre situation when their relationship is already in shambles? Find out in Daig Kayo Ng Lola Ko’s It’s Not You, It’s Me — under the helm of esteemed director Rico Gutierrez — Sundays, 7:00 p.m. on GMA.

Manila

Standard

TODAY

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC In accordance with the NTC guidelines, here’s the mechanics for the DITO 199 Offline Promo:

Promo Mechanics:

life, and he spoke into my life, and that man wasyourfather(Bro.EddieVillanueva),” he shared. Gary V humbly believes he isn’t worthy of all the blessings he has received. “I’m not a perfect Christian. Ika ‘nga we are all Christians under construction. There’s still a lot of things I need to fix up in myself. And yet He has chosen me. Why? I don’t know why He has chosen me. It’s only because God has been good. And He will be that way yesterday, today, and forever.” During this pandemic, Gary V revealed that he, too, has experienced many challenges, and the closure of ABS-CBN compounded his apprehensions. “Medyo grabe din yung effect sa akin dahil isinara pa yungABS-CBN last year. We’re happy that with A2Z (Channel 11) now we’re all in this together, first time in the history,” he stated. Despite all this, Gary reminds everyone tokeepthefaithsteadybecause “evenifthe situation does not get better tomorrow, the next months or even the next year the Lord that we have goes over that.” AksyonTime marks the return of Villanueva on television, after years of hiatus in hosting a public affairs show. The senator previously produced and hosted the multiawarded public affairs program Adyenda, which tackled current issues and concerns. AksyonTime airs every Saturday night at 10:15 GaryV (right) with 'AksyonTime' host Sen. JoelVillanueva. p.m. on A2Z Channel 11.

Promo will be available starting from October 8, 2021 – January 31,2022 in the following additional areas as approved by DTI-FTEB:

Nueva Ecija: Cabiao Pampanga: Candaba Pampanga: Santa Rita Pangasinan: Bayambang Tarlac: Mayantoc Tarlac: San Clemente

Albay: Malilipot Albay: Legazpi City (Capital) Albay: City Of Ligao Albay: Daraga (Locsin) Albay: Camalig Albay: Oas Albay: Polangui Camarines Norte: Daet (Capital) Camarines Norte: Basud Camarines Sur: Baao Camarines Sur: Bato Camarines Sur: Bombon Camarines Sur: Bula Camarines Sur: Iriga City Camarines Sur: Naga City Camarines Sur: Ocampo Camarines Sur: Pili (Capital) Camarines Sur: Sagnay Camarines Sur: San Jose Laguna: Bay Sorsogon: City of Sorsogon (Capital) Sorsogon: Irosin

The promo must be activated within the promo period. Promos activated after the promo period shall not take effect.

The promo is priced at Php 99.00 and is inclusive of the following:

Prerequisites:

How to download and install DITO App:

b. c. 4)

How to avail the promo:

Promo shall only be offered in the following areas:

Must have a valid and working DITO prepaid SIM card installed in one DITO compatible phone. The list of outlets selling the SIM card can be found in DITO’s website (https://www.dito.ph). Must have an existing DITO load of at least Php 199.00. The list of outlets selling the DITO load can be found in DITO’s website (https://www.dito.ph). Installed and working DITO App in device.

How to download and install DITO App: Download and install the DITO App via the link included in the activation SMS. The activation SMS will be sent to the SUBSCRIBER after activation of the SIM card. (note – use of the DITO App will not use or require any data allocation from the subscriber, free WiFi access shall be available in the DITO’s partner stores for application downloading and promo activation purposes, subscribers may also use the 1 GB data allocation included with the SIM card to download and activate the promo) Create and Log-in on the DITO App – initial password will be given via SMS.

How to avail the promo: a. Log-in on the DITO App. b. Go to the App Home Page then select the 25GB Data Promo. c. Subscriber must click on the confirmation button to proceed with the purchase of the offer. d. Subscriber will receive confirmation via APP and SMS.

a. Log-in on the DITO App. b. Go to the App Home Page then select the 10GB Data Promo. c. Subscriber must click on the confirmation button to proceed with the purchase of the offer. d. Subscriber will receive confirmation via APP and SMS. 6)

25GB Data for 30 days upon activation of the promo. Unlimited DITO-to-DITO calls for 30 days upon activation of the promo. Unlimited DITO-to-DITO SMS for 30 days upon activation of the promo. 300 minutes of calls to other mobile networks Unlimited texts to other mobile networks

Prerequisites: a.

Download and install the DITO App via the link included in the activation SMS. The activation SMS will be sent to the SUBSCRIBER after activation of the SIM card. (note – use of the DITO App will not use or require any data allocation from the subscriber, free WiFi access shall be available in the DITO’s partner stores for application downloading and promo activation purposes, subscribers may also use the 1 GB data allocation included with the SIM card to download and activate the promo) Create and Log-in on the DITO App – initial password will be given via SMS. 5)

The promo is priced at Php 199.00 and is inclusive of the following: a. b. c. d. e.

10GB Data for 30 days upon activation of the promo. Unlimited DITO-to-DITO calls for 30 days upon activation of the promo. Unlimited DITO-to-DITO SMS for 30 days upon activation of the promo. 300 minutes of calls to other mobile networks Unlimited texts to other mobile networks

a. Must have a valid and working DITO prepaid SIM card installed in one DITO compatible phone. The list of outlets selling the SIM card can be found in DITO’s website (https://www.dito.ph). b. Must have an existing DITO load of at least Php 99.00. The list of outlets selling the DITO load can be found in DITO’s website (https://www.dito.ph). c. Installed and working DITO App in device. 4)

Promo will be available starting from October 8 – December 31,2021 in the following additional areas as approved by DTI-FTEB:

Nueva Ecija: Cabiao Pampanga: Candaba Pampanga: Santa Rita Pangasinan: Bayambang Tarlac: Mayantoc Tarlac: San Clemente

a. b. c. d. e.

Inspiring the public through faith and music IN AN online interview of Senator Joel “Tesdaman” Villanueva with Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano in the 10th episode of AksyonTime, which aired on A2Z Channel 11 over the weekend, the multi-awarded singer-actor said that he hopes to inspire others, as he himself was blessed and inspired. Gary V’s inspiring music and words have touched many, including Villanueva who looks up to him for advice. He expressed gratitude to Gary V for being there for his family during their “darkest moments.” In March last year, Villanueva lost his mother Adoracion “Sister Dory” Jose Villanueva. His sister, former Bocaue Mayor Joni Villanueva-Tugna died two months after. Gary V’s journey of faith began when one man who was seated beside him on a plane spoke to him about theWord of God. “I was in tears because I was going through a dark moment in my life, and I was on my way to some province because I was going to stand together with other people who believed in this man.And that one man that people believed in was the man that sat beside me and talked to me. I opened up to him about the struggles in my

TODAY

In accordance with the NTC guidelines, here’s the mechanics for the DITO 99 Offline Promo:

Bea Alonzo, ‘Nasa Lazada ‘yan’ SCREEN star Bea Alonzo has recently been named as the newest addition to Lazada’s growing number of celebrity ambassadors. In a virtual event held early this week, the leading eCommerce platform in the Philippines named Alonzo as the face of its mega campaign LazMall 10.10 Big Brands Sale. “WeareproudtowelcomeBeaAlonzoasthenewestadditiontotheLazadafamily.LazMall is our home for authentic international and local brands, and beyond being a well-loved style icon, Bea’s dedication to her work and genuine personality resonate perfectly with LazMall’s brand promise of authenticity and quality,” shared Lazada Chief Marketing OfficerNeilTrinidadduringthevirtuallaunch. “By connecting millions of shoppers to their favorite brands, Lazada stands out in a class of its own as the Philippines’premier online shopping platform,” said Alonzo. “I am honored to be part of this family and excited to work with Lazada to bring more excitement to consumers in the Philippines,” she added. Alonzo now joins Kathryn Bernardo, Alden Richards, Maine Mendoza, and Mimiyuuuh as local ambassadors of the eCommerce platform. “It would be fun if we’d work with them for another campaign. Joining Hallyu superstar and LazMall’s first-ever regional brand ambassador Hyun Bin, Alonzo unveils exciting 10.10 deals and exclusive offers, such as new 10 percent cashback, 100 percent legit or get two times money-back guarantee, free shipping vouchers, 30-day returns, Lazada Bonus Discount Vouchers where shoppers can get P50 off for every P500 spend, up to 90 percent off on the best authentic brands, and special premium offers from LazMall Prestige Flagship Stores like Jo Malone, NARS, Lanvin, Narciso Rodriguez, and more. “We have already onboarded over 2,000 small Bea Alonzo is businesses on our platform since the start of the the newest brand pandemic and will continue to make onboarding ambassador of the more MSMEs nationwide a key priority, to showcase the inspiring stories of local brands and businesses,” leading e-commerce platform in the country. Trinidad concluded.

Manila

Standard

Promo shall only be offered in the following new areas:

LUZON: NCR: Manila, Quezon City, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Pasay, Taguig, Pateros, Makati, Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Marikina, Las Pinas; Pangasinan: Basista, Bayambang, Binmaley, Dagupan, Manaoag, Mangatarem, San Manuel, San Carlos City, Lingayen (Capital), San Nicolas, Alaminos, Bolinao, Urdaneta, Urbiztondo, Bani, Bugallon, Mangaldan, Laoac, Dasol, Aguilar, Bautista, Binalonan, San Jacinto, Tayug, Santa Barbara, Malasiqui ; Bulacan: Pandi, San Jose del Monte, Malolos, Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Hagonoy, Bulacan, Plaridel, Baliuag, Guiguinto, Bustos, San Ildefonso, San Miguel, Santa Maria, San Rafael, Pulilan, Norzagaray, Balagtas (Bigaa); Nueva Ecija: Cabiao, Llanera, Palayan City, Santa Rosa, Santo Domingo Science City of Munoz, Talavera, Cabanatuan, Gapan City, San Leonardo, San Jose, General Mamerto Natividad, Rizal, Zaragoza, General Tinio (Papaya), Licab, Jaen, Quezon, Lupao; Nueva Vizcaya: Dupax del Norte Pampanga: Angeles, Bacolor; Candaba, Guagua, Lubao, Mabalacat, Magalang Mexico, San Fernando, , San Simon, Santa Rita, Tarlac: Capas, Tarlac City, Concepcion, Gerona, La Paz, Mayantoc, Moncada ,Pura, Ramos, San Clemente, San Manuel, Victoria; Zambales: Olongapo, Subic; Bataan: Balanga, Dinalupihan, Orani, Samal, Abucay; Albay: Camalig, City Of Ligao, Daraga (Locsin), Legazpi City (Capital), Malilipot,Oas, Polangui Batangas: Alitagtag, Bauan, Cuenca, San Jose, Ibaan, Batangas City, Malvar, Mataas na Kahoy, San Pascual, Santo Tomas, Lipa City, Talisay, Tanauan City, Taysan, Balete, Padre Garcia, San Juan, Balayan, Calaca, San Luis, Taal, Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Lian, Calatagan, Tuy, Laurel; Camarines Norte: Basud, Daet (Capital); Talisay, Vinzons; Camarines Sur: Baao, Bato, Bombon, Bula, Canaman, Iriga City, Libmanan, Naga City, Ocampo, Pamplona, Pili (Capital), Sagnay, San Jose; Sipocot; Cavite: Kawit, Bacoor, Imus, Tagaytay City, Silang, Dasmarinas, Carmona, Amadeo, Rosario, Mendez, Indang, Alfonso, General Trias, Trece Martirez, Tanza, Magallanes. Naic, Maragondon, Noveleta; Laguna: Bay, San Pedro, Sta Rosa, Binan, Cabuyao, Los Banos, Calamba City, Victoria, Calauan, Alaminos, San Pablo, Majayjay, Luisiana, Rizal, Nagcarlan; Quezon: Candelaria, City of Tayabas, Pagbilao, San Antonio, Sariaya, Valencia, Lucban Rizal: Antipolo, Cainta, Taytay; Sorsogon: City of Sorsogon (Capital); Irosin

MINDANAO: Agusan Del Norte: City of Butuan; Agusan del Sur: Rosario, San Francisco, Trento, Bayugan, Santa Josefa; Compostela Valley: Monkayo; Davao del Norte: Santo Tomas, Braulio E. Dujali, Panabo, Tagum, Carmen, Island City of Samal; Davao del Sur: Santa Cruz, Bansalan, Davao City, Digos, Hagonoy; Davao de Oro: Montevista, Compostela, Nabunturan, Maco; Cotabato: Kidapawan, Makilala; South Cotabato: General Santos City, Polomolok; Bukidnon: Malaybalay, City of Valencia, Quezon, Don Carlos, Manolo Fortich, Baungon, Libona, Impasug-ong, Maramag; Lanao Del Norte: Linamon, Baloi, City of Iligan; Misamis Oriental: Balingasag, Cagayan de Oro, Claveria, Talisayan, Manticao, Sugbongcogon, Medina, Kinoguitan, Binuangan, Balingoan, Naawan, Villanueva, City of El Salvador, Jasaan, Opol, Tagoloan, City of Gingoog, Lugait; Gitagum, Laguindingan, Libertad, Initao; Saranggani: Alabel

Promo resubscription is allowed even if the current subscription is active. The remaining data and off-net minutes allocation from the previous subscription will be carried over to the latest subscription.

Once availed, the promo is non-refundable / non-replaceable / non-exchangeable. Promo is only valid for the subscriber’s DITO compatible mobile phone where the purchased DITO SIM and Promo are installed.

Promo cannot be used in conjunction with any unlimited promo offers, discount available and exclusive promo offers.

10)

Promo cannot be converted to cash, credit, or other goods and services.

10)

Promo cannot be converted to cash, credit, or other goods and services.

11)

By availing of the promo, the subscriber confirms that he/she has read, understood, and agreed to the promo mechanics, its terms, and conditions. Subscriber also agrees not to use the SIM and/or promo for illicit or illegal means.

11)

12)

For any concerns and/or inquiries regarding the promo, information may be sent to customerservice@dito.ph. All matters and disputes will be subject to the final decision of DITO Telecommunity. All decisions made by DITO Telecommunity pertaining to the promo will be deemed final and irrevocable, with the prior concurrence of DTI.

12)

Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-123441 Series of 2021 (MS-OCT. 8, 2021)

(MS-OCT. 8, 2021)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

TODAY

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

Manila

Standard

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

TODAY

In accordance with the NTC guidelines, here’s the mechanics for the DITO 199 Online Promo:

In accordance with the NTC guidelines, here’s the mechanics for DITO 99 Online Promo:

Promo Mechanics:

Promo will be available starting from October 8, 2021 – January 31,2022 in the following additional areas as approved by DTI-FTEB:

1) Nueva Ecija: Cabiao Pampanga: Candaba Pampanga: Santa Rita Pangasinan: Bayambang Tarlac: Mayantoc Tarlac: San Clemente

Nueva Ecija: Cabiao Pampanga: Candaba Pampanga: Santa Rita Pangasinan: Bayambang Tarlac: Mayantoc Tarlac: San Clemente

The promo package must be purchased within this period. SIM and promo must be activated within 30 days from delivery. Promo will not activate beyond the 30-day delivery period. 2)

The Php 199 promo + Php 40 SIM bundle is priced at Php 239.00 and is inclusive of the following: a. b. c. d. e. f.

The promo package must be purchased within this period. SIM and promo must be activated within 30 days from delivery. Promo will not activate beyond the 30-day delivery period. 2)

SIM card 25GB Data for 30 days upon activation of the SIM card. Unlimited DITO-to-DITO calls for 30 days upon activation of the SIM Card. Unlimited DITO-to-DITO SMS for 30 days upon activation of the SIM Card 300 minutes of calls to other networks Unlimited texts to other networks

Prerequisites:

How to buy the “25GB Data” package Via the DITO Website and DITO Facebook account:

b. 4)

Promo shall only be offered in the following cities and municipalities in the following:

a. b. c. d. e.

Once availed, the promo is non-refundable / non-replaceable / nonexchangeable. The promo must be availed and activated within 30 days from the date the DITO SIM was successfully delivered. The SIM card shall expire if not activated within “1” year from purchase. The promo cannot be used in conjunction with any unlimited promo offers, discount available and other exclusive promo offers.

10) The promo cannot be converted to cash, credit, or other goods and services of DITO. 11) By availing of the promo, the subscriber confirms that he/she has read, understood, and agrees to the promo mechanics, its terms and conditions, the terms and conditions of the SIM card. Subscriber also agrees not to use the SIM card and/or promo for illicit or illegal means. 12) For any concerns and/or inquiries regarding the promo, information may be sent to customerservice@dito.ph. All matters and disputes will be subject to the final decision of DITO Telecommunity. All decisions made by DITO Telecommunity pertaining to the promo will be deemed final and irrevocable, with the prior concurrence of DTI. Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-122325 Series of 2021

Open Lazada and search for DITO in the Lazada Mall (DITO Telecommunity) account or DITO SIM. Click on DITO SIM product in DITO’s shop in Lazada Mall. Go thru handset validation using the link displayed in the Product Description Section. Select the SIM type compatible exactly to your handset and click Buy Now. The promo package shall be delivered to the customer via Lazada partner courier and may be subject to a delivery fee. Delivery is subject to the terms and conditions of Lazada and their partner couriers. If you are unable to receive your order or received a damaged SIM card, you may reach out send an email to customerservice@dito.ph or send your concerns via DITO’s Facebook messenger or using the DITO App. You may also reach out to Lazada or its partner couriers pursuant to their terms and conditions.

Via Shopee: a. b. c. d.

7) How to Activate the Promo a. Insert the DITO SIM in the prescreened DITO compatible device or other DITO compatible devices. The 25GB high-speed data, on-net call, and onnet text promo shall be automatically enabled upon activation of the SIM Card. To activate the SIM card, subscribers may turn on their data, attempt a call or send an SMS. b. Subscribers will receive confirmation via SMS for the activation of the SIM card and the promo.

Open Shopee and search for DITO in the Shopee Mall (DITO Telecommunity) account or DITO SIM. Click on DITO SIM product in DITO’s shop in Shopee. Select the SIM type compatible exactly to your handset and click Buy Now. The promo package shall be delivered to the customer via Shopee partner courier and may be subject to a delivery fee. Delivery is subject to the terms and conditions of Shopee and their partner couriers. If you are unable to receive your order or received a damaged SIM card, you may send an email to customerservice@dito.ph or send your concerns via DITO’s Facebook messenger or using the DITO App. You may also reach out to Shopee or its partner couriers pursuant to their terms and conditions.

7) How to Activate the Promo a.

Insert the DITO SIM in the prescreened DITO compatible device or other DITO compatible devices. The 10GB high-speed data, on-net call, and onnet text promo shall be automatically enabled upon activation of the SIM Card. To activate the SIM card, subscribers may turn on their data, attempt a call or send an SMS. b. Subscribers will receive confirmation via SMS for the activation of the SIM card and the promo. 8)

The promo cannot be used in conjunction with any unlimited promo offers, discount available and other exclusive promo offers.

10)

The promo cannot be converted to cash, credit, or other goods and services of DITO.

Suroy Cebu offers a 360-degree view of tourist destinations in the province, including the Magellan’s Cross in Cebu City (top) and Virgin Island in Bantayan Island (bottom).

TRAVEL AND LEISURE

CEBU

VISITING THROUGH VIRTUAL REALITY

ANT to travel to Cebu? A local startup provides a 360-degree view of the tourist attractions in the province through Virtual Reality (VR) technology.

Mataverse, a startup corporation that specializes in the application of VR and 360° Media in business, optimized its VR kit to “bring” Filipinos to Cebu via Suroy Cebu Virtual Tour. It includes 48 cities and municipalities of the province, including, among others, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Oslob, Moalboal, Bantayan Island, and Camotes Island. As of this writing, majority of the destinations are available, a few are still in development. The VR kit includes a web-based Virtual Tour Builder and Mobile Virtual Tour Application. Mataverse is endorsed by the Department of Science and Technology Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) for funding by the Technology Applications and Promotions Institute – Technology Innovation for Commercialization (TECHNICOM) project. The optimization, according to DOST-PCIEERD, aims to jumpstart the enterprise VR ecosystem in the Philippines and bring Filipino innovation to the global technology landscape. “May Mataverse serve as an inspiration for us to pursue more collaborations with startups who will lead the future of innovation in the country. Solutions and opportunities await for innovative startups who would like to thrive in the new normal, and DOST-PCIEERD is here to guide them,” executive director Dr. Enrico C. Paringit said in a statement.

Screengrab of the Mataverse homepage on Cebu destinations.

Hotel group announces 98% of personnel vaccinated

The vaccinated staff members of Patio Pacific Boracay are ready to serve guests.

NEARLY all staff of the 125 member-properties of Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA) Philippines have been inoculated according to the group’s officials. To achieve the 98 percent record or over 15,000 vaccinated hospitality workers, HSMA vice president Loleth So says, “I was very persistent about getting all of our member-properties access to the vaccine.” “I made it a point to reach out to the human resources departments of the member-properties through a dedicated chat group so I would have the buy-in of the entire hotel.”

11) By availing of the promo, the subscriber confirms that he/she has read, understood, and agrees to the promo mechanics, its terms and conditions, the terms and conditions of the SIM card. Subscriber also agrees not to use the SIM card and/or promo for illicit or illegal means. 12)

(MS-OCT. 8, 2021)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021

Via Lazada Mall:

Via Shopee: a. Open Shopee and search for DITO in the Shopee Mall (DITO Telecommunity) account or DITO SIM. b. Click on DITO SIM product in DITO’s shop in Shopee. c. Select the SIM type compatible exactly to your handset and click Buy Now. d. The promo package shall be delivered to the customer via Shopee partner courier and may be subject to a delivery fee. Delivery is subject to the terms and conditions of Shopee and their partner couriers. If you are unable to receive your order or received a damaged SIM card, you may send an email to customerservice@dito.ph or send your concerns via DITO’s Facebook messenger or using the DITO App. You may also reach out to Shopee or its partner couriers pursuant to their terms and conditions.

Life

Via Lazada Mall: a. Open Lazada and search for DITO in the Lazada Mall (DITO Telecommunity) account or DITO SIM. b. Click on DITO SIM product in DITO’s shop in Lazada Mall. c. Go thru handset validation using the link displayed in the Product Description Section. d. Select the SIM type compatible exactly to your handset and click Buy Now. e. The promo package shall be delivered to the customer via Lazada partner courier and may be subject to a delivery fee. Delivery is subject to the terms and conditions of Lazada and their partner couriers. If you are unable to receive your order or received a damaged SIM card, you may reach out send an email to customerservice@dito.ph or send your concerns via DITO’s Facebook messenger or using the DITO App. You may also reach out to Lazada or its partner couriers pursuant to their terms and conditions.

Go to DITO’s Promo Page at (https://dito.ph/promo-page.html) or DITO’s Facebook page at (https://www.facebook.com/DITO.ph/) or Go to “Purchase your DITO SIM” in the DITO App login page. Scan the promo QR code or access the promo link to access the DITO Online Store. In the DITO Online Store or DITO App, check if your handset is compatible and location covered by the promo. Read, understand, and accept the terms and condition of the SIM card, Welcome Offer Promo, and privacy policy. Purchase the “10GB Data” package. Customers can pay using credit/debit cards and various e-wallet as indicated in the online store. Customers will be asked to input their name, email address, contact number and delivery address where the DITO packaged will be delivered, delivery is valid within the promo areas only. The promo package shall be delivered to the customer via third-party courier and may be subject to a delivery fee. Delivery schedule may be subject to change by the third-party couriers depending on its terms and conditions or force majeure. If you are unable to receive your order or received a damaged SIM card, you may reach out send an email to customerservice@dito.ph or send your concerns via DITO’s Facebook messenger or using the DITO App.

LUZON: NCR: Manila, Quezon City, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Pasay, Taguig, Pateros, Makati, Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Marikina, Las Pinas; Pangasinan: Basista, Bayambang, Binmaley, Dagupan, Manaoag, Mangatarem, San Manuel, San Carlos City, Lingayen (Capital), San Nicolas, Alaminos, Bolinao, Urdaneta, Urbiztondo, Bani, Bugallon, Mangaldan, Laoac, Dasol, Aguilar, Bautista, Binalonan, San Jacinto, Tayug, Santa Barbara, Malasiqui ; Bulacan: Pandi, San Jose del Monte, Malolos, Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Hagonoy, Bulacan, Plaridel, Baliuag, Guiguinto, Bustos, San Ildefonso, San Miguel, Santa Maria, San Rafael, Pulilan, Norzagaray, Balagtas (Bigaa); Nueva Ecija: Cabiao, Llanera, Palayan City, Santa Rosa, Santo Domingo Science City of Munoz, Talavera, Cabanatuan, Gapan City, San Leonardo, San Jose, General Mamerto Natividad, Rizal, Zaragoza, General Tinio (Papaya), Licab, Jaen, Quezon, Lupao; Nueva Vizcaya: Dupax del Norte Pampanga: Angeles, Bacolor; Candaba, Guagua, Lubao, Mabalacat, Magalang Mexico, San Fernando, , San Simon, Santa Rita, Tarlac: Capas, Tarlac City, Concepcion, Gerona, La Paz, Mayantoc, Moncada ,Pura, Ramos, San Clemente, San Manuel, Victoria; Zambales: Olongapo, Subic; Bataan: Balanga, Dinalupihan, Orani, Samal, Abucay; Albay: Camalig, City Of Ligao, Daraga (Locsin), Legazpi City (Capital), Malilipot,Oas, Polangui Batangas: Alitagtag, Bauan, Cuenca, San Jose, Ibaan, Batangas City, Malvar, Mataas na Kahoy, San Pascual, Santo Tomas, Lipa City, Talisay, Tanauan City, Taysan, Balete, Padre Garcia, San Juan, Balayan, Calaca, San Luis, Taal, Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Lian, Calatagan, Tuy, Laurel; Camarines Norte: Basud, Daet (Capital); Talisay, Vinzons; Camarines Sur: Baao, Bato, Bombon, Bula, Canaman, Iriga City, Libmanan, Naga City, Ocampo, Pamplona, Pili (Capital), Sagnay, San Jose; Sipocot; Cavite: Kawit, Bacoor, Imus, Tagaytay City, Silang, Dasmarinas, Carmona, Amadeo, Rosario, Mendez, Indang, Alfonso, General Trias, Trece Martirez, Tanza, Magallanes. Naic, Maragondon, Noveleta; Laguna: Bay, San Pedro, Sta Rosa, Binan, Cabuyao, Los Banos, Calamba City, Victoria, Calauan, Alaminos, San Pablo, Majayjay, Luisiana, Rizal, Nagcarlan; Quezon: Candelaria, City of Tayabas, Pagbilao, San Antonio, Sariaya, Valencia, Lucban Rizal: Antipolo, Cainta, Taytay; Sorsogon: City of Sorsogon (Capital); Irosin

Only those with device compatible with the DITO SIM card and has passed the location validation may avail the promo. Device and location compatibility shall be assessed during the online ordering process. The list of available devices shall be available at DITO’s website (https://www. dito.ph/). Network locked phones, aside from DITO’s, and phones blocked by government agencies shall be considered as non-compatible devices. DITO shall have the sole discretion on whether a particular device is compatible with DITO SIM cards. In case of dispute on device compatibility, the list, and records of DITO shall prevail. Promo is only valid for the subscriber’s DITO compatible mobile phone where the purchased DITO SIM and Promo are installed.

How to buy the “10GB Data” package Via the DITO Website, DITO App and DITO Facebook account:

Promo shall only be offered in the following new cities and municipalities in the following: LUZON: NCR: Manila, Quezon City, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Pasay, Taguig, Pateros, Makati, Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Marikina, Las Pinas; Pangasinan: Basista, Bayambang, Binmaley, Dagupan, Manaoag, Mangatarem, San Manuel, San Carlos City, Lingayen (Capital), San Nicolas, Alaminos, Bolinao, Urdaneta, Urbiztondo, Bani, Bugallon, Mangaldan, Laoac, Dasol, Aguilar, Bautista, Binalonan, San Jacinto, Tayug, Santa Barbara, Malasiqui ; Bulacan: Pandi, San Jose del Monte, Malolos, Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Hagonoy, Bulacan, Plaridel, Baliuag, Guiguinto, Bustos, San Ildefonso, San Miguel, Santa Maria, San Rafael, Pulilan, Norzagaray, Balagtas (Bigaa); Nueva Ecija: Cabiao, Llanera, Palayan City, Santa Rosa, Santo Domingo Science City of Munoz, Talavera, Cabanatuan, Gapan City, San Leonardo, San Jose, General Mamerto Natividad, Rizal, Zaragoza, General Tinio (Papaya), Licab, Jaen, Quezon, Lupao; Nueva Vizcaya: Dupax del Norte Pampanga: Angeles, Bacolor; Candaba, Guagua, Lubao, Mabalacat, Magalang Mexico, San Fernando, , San Simon, Santa Rita, Tarlac: Capas, Tarlac City, Concepcion, Gerona, La Paz, Mayantoc, Moncada ,Pura, Ramos, San Clemente, San Manuel, Victoria; Zambales: Olongapo, Subic; Bataan: Balanga, Dinalupihan, Orani, Samal, Abucay; Albay: Camalig, City Of Ligao, Daraga (Locsin), Legazpi City (Capital), Malilipot,Oas, Polangui Batangas: Alitagtag, Bauan, Cuenca, San Jose, Ibaan, Batangas City, Malvar, Mataas na Kahoy, San Pascual, Santo Tomas, Lipa City, Talisay, Tanauan City, Taysan, Balete, Padre Garcia, San Juan, Balayan, Calaca, San Luis, Taal, Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Lian, Calatagan, Tuy, Laurel; Camarines Norte: Basud, Daet (Capital); Talisay, Vinzons; Camarines Sur: Baao, Bato, Bombon, Bula, Canaman, Iriga City, Libmanan, Naga City, Ocampo, Pamplona, Pili (Capital), Sagnay, San Jose; Sipocot; Cavite: Kawit, Bacoor, Imus, Tagaytay City, Silang, Dasmarinas, Carmona, Amadeo, Rosario, Mendez, Indang, Alfonso, General Trias, Trece Martirez, Tanza, Magallanes. Naic, Maragondon, Noveleta; Laguna: Bay, San Pedro, Sta Rosa, Binan, Cabuyao, Los Banos, Calamba City, Victoria, Calauan, Alaminos, San Pablo, Majayjay, Luisiana, Rizal, Nagcarlan; Quezon: Candelaria, City of Tayabas, Pagbilao, San Antonio, Sariaya, Valencia, Lucban Rizal: Antipolo, Cainta, Taytay; Sorsogon: City of Sorsogon (Capital); Irosin

SIM card with 1GB data valid for 7 days 10GB Data for 30 days upon activation of the SIM card. Unlimited DITO-to-DITO calls for 30 days upon activation of the SIM Card. Unlimited DITO-to-DITO SMS for 30 days upon activation of the SIM Card 300 minutes of calls to other networks Unlimited texts to other networks

Prerequisites: a.

a. Go to DITO’s Promo Page at (https://dito.ph/promo-page.html) or DITO’s Facebook page at (https://www.facebook.com/DITO.ph/). Scan the promo QR code or access the promo link to access the DITO Online Store. In the DITO Online Store, check if your handset is compatible and location covered by the promo. Read, understand, and accept the terms and condition of the SIM card, Welcome Offer Promo, and privacy policy. b. Purchase the “25GB Data” package. Customers can pay using credit/debit cards and various e-wallet as indicated in the online store. Customers will be asked to input their name, email address, contact number and delivery address where the DITO packaged will be delivered, delivery is valid within the promo areas only. c. The promo package shall be delivered to the customer via third-party courier and may be subject to a delivery fee. Delivery schedule may be subject to change by the third-party couriers depending on its terms and conditions or force majeure. If you are unable to receive your order or received a damaged SIM card, you may reach out send an email to customerservice@dito.ph or send your concerns via DITO’s Facebook messenger or using the DITO App. 5)

The Php 99 promo + Php 40 SIM bundle is priced at Php 139.00 and is inclusive of the following: a. b. c. d. e. f.

a. Only those with device compatible with the DITO SIM card and has passed the location validation may avail the promo. Device and location compatibility shall be assessed during the online ordering process. The list of available devices shall be available at DITO’s website (https://www.dito.ph/). Network locked phones, aside from DITO’s, and phones blocked by government agencies shall be considered as non-compatible devices. DITO shall have the sole discretion on whether a particular device is compatible with DITO SIM cards. In case of dispute on device compatibility, the list, and records of DITO shall prevail. b. Promo is only valid for the subscriber’s DITO compatible mobile phone where the purchased DITO SIM and Promo are installed. 4)

Promo will be available starting from October 8, 2021 – January 31,2022 in the following additional areas as approved by DTI-FTEB:

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

Acacia Hotel offers discounted packages during HSMA’s September Online Sale.

Thankfully, the hotel group says, getting their members onboard has been a relatively easy task since they started the vaccination drive in March, as almost everyone was willing to get the jab so they could continue serving their customers safely. Through their collaborative partnerships with local government leaders, the Department of Tourism, and the Metro Manila Council, the HSMA memberproperties are expecting to reach 100 percent vaccination rate in the coming months, So says. The announcement comes on the heels of the second run of HSMA’s September Online Sale (SOS), which, like last year, offers discounted packages sold in the form of e-vouchers that can be used in a span of a year from the date of purchase and may be extended upon request. A total of 80 hotels and resorts across the country are offering deals and discounts as much as 70 percent off. From a 15-day event, the sale has been extended to one month, and is ongoing until Oct. 15 at www.hsma.org.ph/sos.

(MS-OCT. 8, 2021)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK