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VOL. XXXVI • NO. 208 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 MONDAY, MONDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2022 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Negros Occ. eases mask use outdoors Third province to make it optional after Cebu, Iloilo By Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta
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EGROS Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has made the wearing of face masks optional in outdoor spaces, following in the footsteps of Cebu province, which defied a national mask mandate to guard against the spread of COVID-19, Cebu City, and neighboring Iloilo province. “The wearing of face masks in outdoor and open spaces shall be optional for all persons within the territory of Negros Occidental,” Executive Order 2245, signed by Lacson, said. The EO said the wearing of face
masks in indoor spaces as well as in hospitals and other medical facilities remains mandatory. As of Sept. 10, Negros Occidental still had 168 active COVID-19 cases.
ALEX THE ACE. Alexandra 'Alex' Eala celebrates with the championship trophy after defeating Lucie Havlickova of the Czech Republic for the US Open Girls' Singles title at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 10 in Queens, New York City. The Filipina prodigy has been winning titles with her brother Michael Francis since she picked up a racket at age 8 (inset photos). AFP
HISTORIC JOURNEY TO GRAND SLAM
Alex Eala wins US Open girls’ singles crown By Peter Atencio, Vince Lopez and Rio N. Araja
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SC to keep virtual hearing of court cases permanent By Rey E. Requejo WITH or without a pandemic, litigants can expect faster and cheaper litigation going forward as the Supreme Court is now crafting its rules on how to implement videoconferencing for hearings of cases in courts.
ALEXANDRA "Alex" Maniego Eala made history for Philippine tennis as she won the 2022 US Open Girls’ singles title on Saturday (early Sunday in Manila) following a 6-2, 6-4 upset win over no. 2 seed Lucie Havlickova. The feat, which no other Filipino before her has achieved, was fashioned before a packed, emotional, and loud Filipino audience that cheered her for 68 minutes at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. Next page
In his speech during the 130th Foundation Day and Law Day celebration of the Philippine Bar Association -- the oldest voluntary national organization of lawyers in the country -- Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo said the SC Committee on Virtual Hearings and Electronic Testimony is now working on the rules. Next page
PRC suspends ‘loan-tagging’ PBBM cites nation’s ‘rebirth’ with poll victory policy for job license renewal ON FATHER'S 105TH BIRTHDAY
By Vince Lopez
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the celebration of his late father's 105th birth anniversary yesterday—saying with his victory in the May elections,
there is now a “rebirth” of his father’s dreams. “I think it’s a very meaningful celebration of my father’s birthday because it is very clear that there has been very much a rebirth in the country,” the
President said in a speech delivered in Batac City—Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s birthplace—in Ilocos Norte. “And why do I say that? I say that because those of us who have kept his Next page
THE Professional Regulation Commission has suspended its policy which tags teachers and professionals with pending administrative cases–including those stemming from complaints from loan firms – and prevents them from renewing their PRC licenses. Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma announced on Sunday the suspension after he learned of the policy during a budget hearing at the House of Representatives last week. ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. France
Castro raised the issue of the so-called “utang-tagging” where a teacher can get tagged if a summons is issued owing to a complaint for non-payment of loans. “This is illegal. You are tying the teacher to a complaint that has yet to be decided on. A teacher’s license doesn’t have anything to do with the case or the loan,” Castro said. Laguesma told lawmakers he was unaware of the PRC policy but agreed that it “does not sound right” and immediately ordered its review. Next page
TWIN TRIBUTES.
FM SR.'S 105TH. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. thanks his family and supporters who joined in remembering the 105th birthday of his father, former President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Sr., on Sept. 11 in Batac, Ilocos Norte. Presidential Photo
Congress sets budget OK for signing into law by Dec. By Macon Ramos-Araneta LAWMAKERS expect President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will be able to sign the 2023 budget into law by mid-December, Senator Juan Edgardo Angara said over the weekend. Angara, head of the Senate commit-
tee on finance, said the budget bill is set to be passed by late November, following plenary debates in November. Angara said they hope to strengthen the health sector and the health system, particularly the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), which has been affected by the budget cuts to the Uni-
versity of the Philippines system to which it belongs. He also said lawmakers would focus on marginalized sectors that suffered most from the COVID-19 pandemic and would also push to support entrepreneurs through credit programs. Next page
An electronic billboard displays photos of the late Queen Elizabeth II on a building in Mandaluyong on Sunday. Britain's longest-reigning monarch died Sept. 8 after 70 years on the throne. She was 96 (see related story in World). Danny Pata
QUEEN ELIZABETH II BEGINS FINAL JOURNEY HOME WORLD / B2