PHILIPPINES WILL NEVER ABANDON SABAH, SPRATLYS CLAIM: LOCSIN

MANILA - Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. stood pat on his

statement about the Philippines' claim to Sabah after the Malaysian

government summoned the Philippine Ambassador in Kuala Lumpur to explain

LocsinÂ’s tweet that "Sabah is not in Malaysia."

The country's top diplomat said the Philippines will continue to assert its

rights in Sabah as well as in the West Philippine Sea and that the

Philippines will never abandon its claim.

"We have and continue to assert our rights in the Spratlys/WPS. I am doing

that with regard to Sabah. There have been repeated attempts to sell that

claim but no Philippine president has succumbed. You're really stupid,”

Locsin said on Twitter, addressing a netizen.

"He was already summoned. It was about to happen. They are always trying to

sneak in an attempt to implicitly abandon our claim. But I warned our

diplomats. Never," he added in another tweet.

Addressing Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hishammuddin Hussein,

Locsin revealed that Malaysia tried to derail the arbitral award that the

Philippines won in the Hague which ruled in favor of the PhilippinesÂ’

maritime entitlements and invalidated ChinaÂ’s sweeping claim over the South

China Sea.

In a tweet Wednesday night, Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs

Hishammuddin Hussein dubbed Locsin’s statement on Sabah as “irresponsible”

and that it “affects bilateral ties.”

The current Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia is former DFA spokesperson

Charles Jose.

Last Monday, Locsin called out the United States Embassy in the Philippines

for calling Sabah as part of Malaysia.

"Sabah is not in Malaysia if you want to have anything to do with the

Philippines,” Locsin said in a tweet.

Locsin was reacting to a tweet of the Embassy on USAIDÂ’s donation of hygiene

kits for Filipino repatriates who returned from Sabah and who arrived in

Zamboanga City and Bongao, Tawi Tawi.

Locsin urged the Embassy to edit the announcement if it knows “what's good

for you.“

"You better edit that announcement if you know what's good for you," he

said.

The US Embassy has not responded to a request for comment nor has it edited

its tweet.

In 1968, Republic Act 5446 or the law on Philippine baselines included "the

territory of Sabah, situated in North Borneo, over which the Republic of the

Philippines has acquired dominion and sovereignty." It was amended in 2009,

but a Supreme Court decision said Republic 9522 or Baselines Law still did

not relinquish the Philippine claim to Sabah, a claim Malaysia has rejected.

VICE PRESIDENTÂ’S ROADMAP: PINOYS NOT INUTIL, PASAWAY

MANILA — Vice President Leni Robredo presented yesterday her own roadmap to

address the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic even as she kept faith in the

FilipinosÂ’ ability to overcome the crisis.

“It’s clear to me that Filipinos are not stubborn, but are ready to help

others. The Filipinos are not inutile but have the courage and intelligence

to face any trials. The Filipinos are not losers. And IÂ’m sure we will win

the fight against this pandemic,” she said.

The Duterte administation has been criticized for pinning the blame on the

“pasaways” for the rapid spread of the virus in the country to justify its

lapses as well as the deployment of security forces to impose quarantine

protocols.

Robredo said the peopleÂ’s suffering due to the pandemic would not be

addressed by just waiting for a vaccine for COVID-19 to be discovered.

“The pandemic would not end by simply waiting for a vaccine. We need to stop

the spread of this (virus) as soon as possible,” the Vice President said in

a taped video posted on her official Facebook page yesterday afternoon.

Robredo stressed the fight against COVID-19 must start with correct data,

which will become the basis of the governmentÂ’s right decisions.

“From here, we can determine the areas that we need to prioritize in the

mass testing, contact tracing and support for community hospitals,” Robredo

said.

She also backed the proposed pooled testing for COVID-19 and called for the

participation of universities and academic institutions in the validation

process of the Department of Health (DOH).

Robredo cited the discrepancy in the number of people who tested positive

and the number of confirmed cases reported by the DOH daily.

ROBREDO BACKS HOUSE-APPROVED P1.3 TRILLION STIMULUS BILL

MANILA - Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday called for the passage of

a P1.3-trillion spending bill meant to stimulate the economy following

disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a public address posted online 2 days after President Rodrigo DuterteÂ’s

State of the Nation Address, Robredo outlined several measures which she

said the government needs to do to check the spread of the novel coronavirus

as well as minimize the impact of quarantine measures on the economy.

Robredo specifically mentioned the Accelerated Recovery and Investments

Stimulus for the Economy of the Philippines (ARISE) bill, which had already

been approved by the House of Representatives on final reading last June.

“Malinaw na mas nakatuon sa pinakanangangailangan ang ARISE; mas inclusive

ito, at mas pro-poor. Gamitin sana ang puwersa ng mayorya upang ipasa ang

batas sa lalong madaling panahon,” Robredo said.

The ARISE bill provides for wage subsidies, cash aid and training for

displaced workers, educational subsidy for students, as well as aid for

small and medium enterprises, among others.

Robredo said the proposed corporate tax reform package, which Duterte called

on lawmakers to pass during his 5th SONA, was not enough.

The Vice President also called for tax incentives for companies that provide

aid to those affected by the pandemic.

“Mabisang paraan ito para mailahok ang pribadong sektor sa pambansang

pagbabayanihan.”

She also called on all government agencies to patronize local businesses and

locally made products, expecially micro, small and medium enterprises.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, however, has thumbed down ARISE, saying

the government does not have the funds for it and that it could only spare

P140 billion.

Lawmakers instead passed the Bayanihan to Recover as One bill (Bayanihan 2)

which lets the President realign funds for the COVID-19 crisis.

The Philippines has incurred over P9 trillion in debt as it grappled with

the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused the economy to contract and left at

least 7.3 million jobless with lockdowns shuttering businesses and

suspending public transport.

BSP RELEASES NEW BANKNOTES

MANILA — The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has launched enhanced new

generation currency (NGC) banknotes with tactile marks to help the elderly

and visually impaired as well as featuring the latest anti-counterfeiting

technology.

“These banknotes are equipped with the latest anti-counterfeiting technology

and embedded with tactile marks that will make it easier for the elderly and

persons with disabilities to differentiate each denomination,” BSP Governor

Benjamin Diokno said.

The countryÂ’s NGC banknote series now in circulation was first issued in

December 2010.

“As a matter of practice, central banks regularly change the design and

security features of the currency to protect its integrity every 10 years,

on average,” Diokno said.

The new banknotes have a distinct security feature through tactile marks

that may be touched and felt on the right side, which helps the central bank

achieve its mission of bringing BSP closer to Filipinos.

DOH STUDYING WHERE TO PLACE DISEASE PREVENTION CENTER AFTER DUTERTE COMMENT

MANILA — The Department of Health on Thursday said it was consulting experts

on where to place the proposed National Disease Prevention and Management

Agency after President Rodrigo Duterte said in his State of the Nation

Address that it should be under the department.

“On the matter of whether this is a separate agency or an attached agency of

the DOH, this is still for discussion as we iron out its mandate and

functions in line with the DOH,” the DOH said in a statement.

It said it is also consulting with relevant stakeholders.

On Monday, Duterte read his speech mentioning the creation of a “National

Disease Prevention and Management Authority to better respond to future

outbreaks.”

But after calling on Congress to support its creation, Duterte quipped, “I

donÂ’t know but IÂ’ll leave it to Congress to reallyÂ… ItÂ’s another department.

There seems that it could be a multilayer redundant thing between the health

[department] and the proposed department.”

The DOH said that it originally suggested the creation of the Philippine

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PH CDC) and that there are

several bills in Congress proposing its establishment.

“Establishing a PH CDC will help ensure that the Philippine health system is

well-prepared to forecast, prevent, monitor, and control emerging and

re-emerging communicable diseases and threats both of national and

international concern,” the DOH said.

MWSS TO WATER FIRMS: EXPLAIN CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS

MANILA — Concessionaires Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Co.

Inc. have been told to explain customersÂ’ complaints on water bills.

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System-Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO)

served both firms show cause orders in connection with the rising number of

complaints.

MWSS chief regulator Patrick Ty said the agency received over 400 billing

complaints in the last two months.

As evidenced by the surge of billing complaints monitored and investigated

by the MWSS, Ty said both concessionaires must explain their non-compliance

with some agreed directives.

These include verification of the consumption patterns of customers,

checking for irregularities and automatically withholding any statement of

account with observed significant deviation from these patterns for further

investigation and necessary adjustment.

GAPAY NAMED AFP CHIEF

MANILA — Army commander Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay will be the next chief of the

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, sharing a copy of President DuterteÂ’s

letter to him dated July 28, yesterday announced that Gapay would assume his

new post on Aug. 3.

In a statement, Gapay thanked the President for the trust and confidence in

giving him the opportunity to lead the AFP in this trying time in the

nationÂ’s history.

“As your incoming chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, we

will build on the gains of our predecessors whose labors made the AFP an

able agent for the betterment of our people and country,” he said.

He also vowed to continue to push for the modernization of the military to

uphold sovereignty and the integrity of the national territory.

THE REST

========

CAVITE'S COVID-19 PLANS: BIGGEST TESTING LAB, FREE WIFI, VACCINE ID SYSTEM

MANILA — Cavite will open the country’s biggest coronavirus testing center,

offer free internet access to students and roll out an ID system for the

distribution of a vaccine against COVID-19, the provinceÂ’s governor said

Thursday.

The testing lab that will open at the De La Salle University – Dasmariñas

can run 3,000 tests a day, the most in the country, Cavite Governor Jonvic

Remulla said on Facebook.

The local government is building 2 more laboratories to serve Cavite, the

most populous province in the Calabarzon region, he said.

The governor also hinted that the local government would offer free WiFi to

students while face-to-face classes remain prohibited.

“We are launching an EDUCATIONAL plan in 10 days. Clue: #FreeWiFiForCavite,"

Remulla said.

In preparation for the availability of a vaccine against the novel

coronavirus, Cavite will implement a provincial ID system “for effective

administration purposes,” he said.

Coronavirus infections in the Philippines breached the 85,000-mark on

Wednesday, as projected by researchers from the University of the

Philippines and surpassing mainland ChinaÂ’s cumulative tally of the disease.

The Philippines has confirmed 85,486 cases of COVID-19, of which 56,528 are

active.

“Maraming magulo at walang kabuluhan na patakaran (backride parachute ).

Parami ng parami ang napipikon habang ang iba naman ay patuloy na umaasa at

naghihintay sa susunod na ayuda,” said the governor.

“In Cavite, we are doing our best,” he said.

The province south of the capital is home to some 3.7 million people,

according to 2015 data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.

RIZAL MEMORIAL CLOSED FOR DECONTAMINATION; 48 LSIS POSITIVE IN COVID-19

RAPID TESTS

After sheltering over 6,500 stranded passengers waiting for

government-sponsored trips to the regions, the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex

in Manila will be closed for a day for decontamination, the head of the

'Hatid Tulong" initiative said Thursday.

Asec. Joseph Encabo told ABS-CBN News the entire complex, which includes the

baseball and track stadiums, will be placed on lockdown for sanitation

beginning 9 am Thursday.

Other people working in and around the sports complex such as employees of

the Philippine Sports Commission and personnel of the Manila Department of

Public Services were also vacated.

Encabo said there are no more locally stranded individuals at the stadiums

after the last batch of 1,017 stranded passengers boarded a ship bound for

the Zamboanga Peninsula early Thursday.

Since Saturday, 6,583 people availed of travel assistance to the provinces

as part of the second batch of the Hatid Tulong initiative.

However, 48 were marked positive in rapid tests conducted as part of the

processing of passengers before their trip, less than half coming from the

last batch.

They are waiting for the results of their swab tests at quarantine

facilities in Manila.

Meanwhile, a number of stranded persons whose municipalities in the

provinces were not yet ready to receive them were transferred to temporary

shelters in Bulacan.

Originally slated to be finished over the weekend, the sending home of

stranded passengers lasted for nearly a week due to the volume of people who

arrived at the sports complex and rains delaying the processing work.

DONÂ’T USE FACE MASKS WITH VALVES!

MANILA — Health officials warned against using valve-type masks to protect

from COVID-19.

These are masks with exhaust valves designed for industrial use and not for

medical or surgical purposes.

Worn by carpenters and other workers to prevent inhaling dust and other

particles, masks with exhaust valves don't offer "two-way" protection, said

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director General Eric Domingo.

“They do not have infection control (mechanism). The valves are not designed

to, for instance, protect a person from inhaling the air being exhaled by an

infected person wearing it,” Domingo said in a radio interview.

“The protection that we want from a mask is two-way. If you are sick, you

will not infect others and at the same time, if you are well, you will not

get the infection from other infected individuals.”

PALACE DECLARES JULY 31 A REGULAR HOLIDAY FOR EID AL-ADHA

MANILA-- President Rodrigo Duterte has declared Friday, July 31, a regular

holiday in observance of Eid al-Adha or the Muslim Feast of Sacrifice.

Duterte, through Proclamation No. 985, said the date was chosen based on the

recommendation of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF).

Considered as "one of the two great feasts of Islam," the other being Eid

al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha commemorates the sacrifice made by Abraham in obedience

to AllahÂ’s command.

The Muslim festival is traditionally celebrated by having a feast with

family and friends.

This year's celebration, however, is expected to be more somber due to the

coronavirus pandemic.

The NCMF estimates that Muslims make up around 10 percent of the

Philippines' 100-million population.

TINGNAN: 3D STREET ART TAMPOK SA BARANGAY SA DAGUPAN CITY

Dagdag-atraksyon sa Clavaria Road sa Barangay Malued, Dagupan City ang isang

makulay na three-dimensional (3D) ocean-themed painting na may habang 30

metro.

Dalawang araw itong ginawa ng local artist na si Joel Pangan.

Tampok dito ang malaking sea turtle, ibaÂ’t ibang klase ng isda, pating, at

ang sikat na isdang si Nemo.

Para sa barangay, malaking tulong ito para maibsan ang stress sa gitna ng

pandemya.

"Puwedeng makatulong para hindi nai-stress ang mga tao dahil ang iniisip

nila palagi 'yung COVID. ‘Yung COVID andiyan 'yung takot nila. Para maalis

'yung takot lang kahit pakaunti-kaunti makapagbigay ng good vibes sa

kanila,” ani Filipina Delos Santos, chairman ng barangay.

Tiniyak naman ng barangay na nasusunod ang health protocols gaya ng physical

distancing at pagsusuot ng mask sa mga pumapasyal at nagpapa-picture.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

LOOK: FIRST PH DRIVE-IN THEATER IN PAMPANGA SET TO OPEN AMID PANDEMIC

MANILA -- Four months after the nationwide closure of theaters, Philippine

cinema operators are gearing for the new normal in movie viewing via

drive-in cinemas.

The SM Cinema chain on Tuesday showed the first images of The Cinema

Drive-In at the Amphitheater of SM City Pampanga, which will open on Friday,

July 31, with the showing of the long-awaited horror movie from South Korea,

"Train 2 Busan: Peninsula."

The movie industry is elated that the drive-in cinema project was finally

given the go-signal by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), which initially

rejected it last May.

The first of several drive-in cinemas to open in the Philippines, the San

Fernando, Pampanqa venue covers 8,000 sq.m. According to SM Cinema official

Chad Caluyo, it can accommodate a total of 87 cars per screening.

To enforce social distancing, a minimum of 2 persons and maximum of 4 will

be allowed for each vehicle. Tickets which should be reserved online through

www.smtickets.com are pegged at P400 per head, inclusive of popcorn, beef

franks and water.

More than the physical transformation of cinema from its traditional

enclosed form, the switch to drive-in cinemas is part of efforts of the

movie industry to stay relevant in mass entertainment threatened to

extinction by quarantine restrictions due to the pandemic. Other drive-in

cinema sites are being planned in Pasay and Makati with the conversion of

empty lots and parking spaces.

Officials of the the Cinema Exhibitors of the Philippines (CEAP) also hope

to screen local movies at drive-in cinemas to restart the industry.

"We know that this will not bring in a lot of money -- yet -- but we have to

reboot the movie-viewing experience," a CEAP insider told ABS-CBN News.

The CEAP, which comprises the theater chains of Ayala, Robinsons, SM,

Megaworld, and Villar among others, has yet to finalize the reopening of

over 1,000 theaters nationwide, hopefully by October, depending on the

flattening of the pandemic curve.

The SM Cinema Drive-in will be open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays with

two screenings per night at 5:30 p.m. and 8:30

p.m. Other films to be screened are "Sea Monsters" on July 31 and "My Spy"

on August 1.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 49.19

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Strength doesn't come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the

things you once thought you couldn't. – Anonymous