DUTERTE: 'REVOLUTIONARY GOVERNMENT' TALKS SHOULD BE IN PUBLIC

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday that discussions about the

revolutionary government being proposed by a group of his supporters should

be in public, and not in secret.

"Sabi ko nga, 'yung revolutionary government should not be discussed in sub

rosa (in secrecy). It should be discussed publicly. Including the military,

they should be able to say what (they want to say)," he said in a recorded

public briefing aired late evening.

"If they do not want it...o kung may gusto silang pagbabago, let's hear them

out."

Duterte earlier rejected talks of a revolutionary government, saying he does

not know its advocates, who are members of the so-called Mayor Rodrigo Roa

Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Committee.

"Madami ngayon ang naglalabas na revolutionary government tapos ako ang

sinasabi na... Wala akong pakialam niyan, wala akong kilala na mga tao na

yan at hindi ko yan trabaho," he earlier said in a speech.

Duterte however has previously met with its members.

On March 21, 2018, Duterte graced and delivered a speech at the group's

national convention. Malacañang even published photos of the said event.

Advocates of the revolutionary government initiative have drawn flak for

pushing it as the country fights the COVID-19 pandemic.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, the Armed Forces, and the Philippine

National Police have rejected the initiative in separate statements.

METRO MANILA, 4 OTHER AREAS REMAIN UNDER GCQ

MANILA - Metro Manila and four other areas will remain under general

community quarantine until Sept. 30, President Rodrigo Duterte announced

Monday night.

Aside from the National Capital Region, the provinces of Bulacan and

Batangas, and the cities of Tacloban and Bacolod will also remain under GCQ

as the country continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic.

Iligan City in Lanao del Norte, on the other hand, will be placed under

modified enhanced community quarantine, also until Sept. 30.

Duterte said the rest of the country will remain under modified general

community quarantine for a month.

This is the first time that quarantine classifications lasted for a month.

Since the start of pandemic lockdowns in mid-March, the government has

routinely revised community quarantine classifications of parts of the

country every 15 days.

The Philippines employs a 4-level community quarantine scheme ranging from

the strictest enhanced community quarantine to the most relaxed modified

GCQ.

The quarantine level dictates the type of business activities allowed in a

certain area, as well as travel restrictions.

From Aug. 16 to 31, all parts of the Philippines were placed under two

quarantine levels - GCQ and MGCQ.

Starting Sept. 1, gyms and personal care centers will be allowed to resume

limited operations.

Review, testing, and tutorial centers will also be allowed to reopen in

Metro Manila and other GCQ areas up to 30 percent of their capacity, Trade

Secretary Ramon Lopez earlier said.

DUTERTE SAYS GOV'T WILL PROVIDE FOOD, SHELTER FOR EVICTED HEALTH WORKERS

MANILA — Healthcare workers who have been evicted from their leased or

rented residence will be provided food and accommodation by the government,

President Rodrigo Duterte said.

In a briefing aired late Monday, Duterte said medical frontliners are kicked

out from their places of dwelling because of the “unfounded” fear of

landlords and other tenants that they will be infected with the new

coronavirus.

“If this happens, you can call directly the office of Secretary [Carlito]

Galvez and we will provide you with the necessary billeting and even food

and we will choose a place nearest to where you are working,” Duterte said.

“We will treat you decently. The long and short of it is parang tao ka,” he

added.

The chief executive also said he will publicly call the attention of

landlords and landowners who ejected frontliners from their places of

residence.

“So that kung sila magkasakit, huwag tanggapin sa ospital rin,” he said. The

president then said he was only joking.

Medical workers in the country, who are fighting on the forefront of the

coronavirus battle, are facing discrimination over virus fears. Aside from

being evicted from their homes, some health workers were also refused access

to public transport and laundry services.

The House of Representatives passed on third reading a bill, which seeks to

prohibit discrimination against essential and frontline workers and their

families. The Senate version of the House bill remains pending in the

committee level.

FORMER NBI HEAD DANTE GIERRAN IS NEW PHILHEALTH CHIEF

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday named former National Bureau of

Investigation (NBI) chief Dante Gierran as the new head of the Philippine

Health Insurance Corp (PhilHealth).

Duterte announced Gierran's appointment during his meeting with the members

of the Inter-Agency Task Force, which was aired late Monday.

"Pakilala ko lang sa inyo 'yung bagong kuwan ko na PhilHealth, si Gierran.

He was the retired director of the NBI. He is a lawyer and an accountant, so

palagay ko, sabi ko sa kaniya, the next two years will be devoted to fight

against corruption," Duterte said.

"Maghanap kayo ng mapakulong natin para may maiwan tayo sa kulungan," he

added.

Duterte also instructed Gierran to reshuffle regional directors of

PhilHealth.

"I want a reshuffle of the different regional offices within the next two or

three days. That goes for the NBI, and the Philhealth," he said.

"'Yung lahat ng ano, regional vice president, tanggalin ninyo, whether

performing at par or in parity with the other good ones. You know, if they

are there for so long a time, the element of familiarity always enters the

picture. 'Yan ang mahirap diyan," Duterte added.

Gierran replaced retired Brig. Gen. Ricardo Morales who resigned last week

as PhilHealth president and chief executive officer amid allegations of

corruption in the state-led insurer even as the country goes through health

and economic crises due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Prior to his appointment as new PhilHealth chief, Gierran served as NBI

director. He retired earlier this year.

GIERRAN VOWS TO RESTORE PUBLIC TRUST, CONFIDENCE IN PHILHEALTH

MANILA - The new chief of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth)

has vowed to restore public trust and confidence on the embattled state

health insurer.

Dante Gierran, who was named new PhilHealth president and chief executive

officer Monday, said he is aware of the difficulty of the task at hand.

"As a matter of fact, I did not apply for the position because I know it's a

very tough job but you know, just like a good soldier...I'm also a good

soldier. I'm one who would not back out from a mission, and this is a

mission," he said during a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte and the

members of the Inter-Agency Task Force.

"All I have to do is to restore the trust and confidence of our people to

PhilHealth. Restoring the trust and confidence of our people to PhilHealth

is equivalent to restoring the trust and confidence to our government, to

the governance," Gierran said.

He thanked Duterte for appointing him as PhilHealth chief.

"Thank you very much for giving me the privilege to serve our people. This a

privilege that is not offered to anybody, and this is an honor for me," he

said.

Gierran replaced retired Brig. Gen. Ricardo Morales who resigned last week

amid allegations of corruption in the state-led insurer even as the country

goes through health and economic crises due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Prior to his appointment as new PhilHealth chief, Gierran served as NBI

director. He retired from the post earlier this year.

REFUSAL TO PARTICIPATE IN CENSUS PUNISHABLE BY LAW – PSA

MANILA — As the conduct of the 2020 Census of Population and Housing kicks

off today, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reminded the public

that refusal to participate in the census and provision of false information

are punishable under the law.

Florante Varona, National Censuses Services officer-in-charge, said

Filipinos are required by law to participate in the census.

“The law states that citizens of the Philippines have the obligation to

answer to statistical inquiry,” he said in Filipino during an interview over

dzBB. “Refusal to do so bears the punishment of one year imprisonment and

fine of P100,000.”

For the entire month of September, enumerators hired by the PSA will engage

households in a survey lasting between 15 to 30 minutes. Household heads

will be asked about the number and names of persons residing in their homes.

Other demographic-related questions like gender, age and educational

attainment will also be asked as well as information on the house the

respondents currently live, such as the type of house and if it is owned or

rented.

The census was originally scheduled for conduct in May but was postponed

because of the lockdowns imposed to control the spread of the coronavirus

disease 2019.

Its results, targeted for release in the second quarter of 2021, will update

the population count of the country and provide information on housing stock

and characteristics.

As of the 2015 Census of Population, the number of Filipinos was placed at

100.98 million.

JOLO BOMBERS NASA SULU PA, HEIGHTENED ALERT ITINAAS SA NCR: BANAC

MAYNILA - Malaki ang paniwala ng Philippine National Police na hindi pa

nakakalabas ng bansa ang mga teroristang responsable sa kambal na pagsabog

sa Jolo, Sulu.

“Naniniwala tayo na nariyan lamang sa Sulu nagtatago ang mga suspek pero

kailangan pa rin natin magtaas ng level of awareness ang public para

makatulong sila dito sa pagtugis sa mga suspek at sa paglaban sa banta ng

terorismo,” ayon kay Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, tagapagsalita ng PNP.

Nauna nang nakatanggap ng impormasyon ang lokal na pulisya sa Zamboanga City

na nasa Central Mindanao ang 3 teroristang nasa likod ng pambobomba sa Jolo

noong Agosto 24.

Nakilala ang mga ito na sina Abu Sayyaf Commander Mundi Sawadjaan at

dalawang banyagang di umanoÂ’y mula Indonesia na sina Andi Baso at asawa

nitong si Reski Fantasya.

Ayon kay Banac, itinaas na ng National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO)

ang alert level nito sa kalakhang Maynila sa heightened alert kasunod ng mga

pagsabog.

“Ito ay bahagi lang ng pagbibigay ng assurance sa publiko na tayo po ay

maayos naman ang kalagayan dito sa Metro Manila,” sabi ni Banac.

Naka full alert status naman ang western Mindanao, dagdag niya.

“Patuloy nating minomotor ang mga information na nakakalap natin. Hindi

natin makakaila na ang bahagi ng Western Mindanao ay nasa ilalim ng banta ng

terorismo kaugnay ito sa pagsabog sa pinakahuli sa Jolo, Sulu,” saad niya.

Nasa 15 ang nasawi sa pagsabog kabilang na ang siyam na security forces at 6

na sibilyan. Kabilang naman sa sugatan ay 48 na sibilyan, 21 mga sundalo at

6 na pulis.

THE REST

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COVID-19 CASES IN PHILIPPINES SURPASS 220,000

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the Philippines surpassed

220,000 Monday, with 3,446 more infections tallied by the Department of

Health.

To date, the novel coronavirus has sickened 220,819 people in the

country—the highest in Southeast Asia. Of the figure, 59,699 were active

cases or those still infected.

MONTH-LONG QUARANTINE PERIOD EYED

Cabinet members are considering recommending month-long quarantine periods,

instead of 15-day controls, to President Rodrigo Duterte, a possibility

welcomed by businesses prevented from making long-term plans by

ever-changing restrictions.

“There is an ongoing IATF (meeting) now. Definitely, we’re looking for a

longer term period of quarantine. In other words, it may no longer be just

14 days, it may be one month duration,” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said on

the Laging Handa briefing early in the morning.

ISKO LAUNCHES INCENTIVE STRATEGY VS COVID-19

MANILA — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno is taking an incentive-based approach to

curb the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the

community.

In a Facebook Live address yesterday, Moreno said the city government would

award P100,000 as incentive to barangays with zero cases of COVID-19 for two

months.

“For September and October, kapag walang nairehistro na COVID infection,

walang new cases sa barangay ninyo, magkakamit ang inyong barangay ng

P100,000,” he said. “Our goal is zero infection for two months and I believe

that you can do it.”

Under the program, COVID-19 data will be verified by the Manila health

department to determine if the barangay recorded zero infection for two

months.

Moreno said he asked Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna and the city council to

allocate P89.6 million for the program.

Officials of barangays with zero COVID-19 cases will be given certification

in recognition of their efforts in battling the disease, the mayor said.

Manila has 897 barangays and 16 districts, which are grouped into 100 zones.

Meanwhile, the city government launched yesterday an e-learning hub in

Barangay 585, Sampaloc to help students, teachers and parents cope with the

blended distance learning ahead of the opening of classes in public schools

on Oct. 5

Moreno said they partnered with Frontrow Philippines for the E-skwela

learning hub, which aims to promote quality and accessible education to

learners while face-to-face classes remain prohibited.

He said computers, printers and internet connection would be made available

at the e-learning hub.

“We appreciate the benefits that this educational hub will bring to students

and teachers. This will help them cope with the new normal of learning,”

Moreno said.

BABY BOOM SEEN DUE TO PANDEMIC

MANILA — A baby boom is expected by 2021 with 751,000 babies to be born due

to unplanned and teenage pregnancies during lockdown brought about by the

novel coronavirus pandemic, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said yesterday, citing a

university study.

The Population Commission and Development (PopCom) supported HontiveroÂ’s

assertion as the country could record the highest number of births in

Philippine history by next year.

Hontiveros said she has been pushing for the passage of a national policy in

preventing adolescent pregnancies, institutionalizing social protection for

adolescent parents.

“UP Population Institute has predicted a baby boom by 2021; the baby boom is

OK, what is not OK is the 751,000 unplanned pregnancies, including teenage

pregnancies and as a result of today’s pandemic condition,” Hontiveros said

in a radio interview.

Hontiveros said the National Economic and Development Authority claimed

rising teenage pregnancy is a social emergency. NEDA is an independent

Cabinet-level agency of the government responsible for economic development

and planning.

She noted the lockdown since March has further increased the possibilities

of unplanned pregnancies, including teenage pregnancies.

“Our hospital and our dying healthcare system are also struggling. There is

a huge possibility of not being properly cared for by the mother as well as

the child,” she added in Filipino.

PRIEST ASKS IATF TO ALLOW MORE PEOPLE INSIDE CHURCHES

MANILA - The parochial vicar of Quiapo Church is asking the Inter-Agency

Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases to reconsider its policy that

limits the number of parishioners to a church to only 10 people amid the

coronavirus lockdown.

Speaking to ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo, Fr. Douglas Badong said the government

should look at the size of the sanctuaries in reconsidering its policy of

allowing only 10 people inside churches during the general community

quarantine.

He noted the Department of Trade and Industry is already allowing gyms and

personal care centers to resume limited operations on Sept. 1. Review,

testing, and tutorial centers will also be allowed to resume operations in

Metro Manila and other general community quarantine (GCQ) areas up to 30

percent capacity.

He added all parishioners observe all pandemic protocols before entering the

church.

"Talagang sumusunod ang tao dahil ganun katindi ang pangangailangan

spiritwal ng tao," he said.

REOPENING OF INTERNET CAFES IN METRO MANILA UP TO MAYORS: DTI

MANILA - The reopening of internet cafes will be up to local chief

executives, the Department of Trade and Industry said Tuesday as new

community quarantine classifications took effect.

"Pagdating sa internet café ipapaubaya na natin sa ating Metro Manila mayors

as to yung timing, kung kailan sila pwedeng magbukas nito at kung saan pwede

mabuksan o ma-i-allow itong mga internet café," Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez

told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.

Metro Manila mayors will also recommend operating capacity and additional

health protocols for gyms which are also set to reopen under general

community quarantine, Lopez said.

"Ang Metro Manila mayors tutulong din sa pag-specify ng health protocol

standards para mas maging safe ang pagbubukas natin ng mga gym at internet

shops," he said.

Lopez, meantime, welcomed the mayors' adjustment of curfew hours to 10 p.m.

to 5 a.m.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

‘INDEED A BIG SURPRISE’: NADINE LUSTRE, JAMES REID IN INTIMATE BIRTHDAY

GATHERING FOR ACTORÂ’S MOTHER

MANILA — Following their controversial breakup, it appears James Reid and

Nadine Lustre remain a part of each otherÂ’s personal life, going by a photo

of the former couple that went viral over the weekend.

On Facebook, ReidÂ’s mother, Ella MacDonald, shared photos of her birthday

celebration last Friday.

One selfie showed MacDonald with Reid, Lustre, and the actorÂ’s sister,

Chanty, all wearing face masks as they posed together.

“Thank you Nadz for the cake and James also for the flower,” MacDonald

wrote. “It was indeed a big surprise for me.”

To fans of “JaDine,” the update from MacDonald was the latest indication of

the continuing close ties of Reid and Lustre, after they announced their

breakup in January.

After their separation, Reid and Lustre remained co-workers, with the latter

putting together an album under her former boyfriendÂ’s record label.

Speculation surrounding their relationship have been swirling for months.

Notably, in May, an Instagram post from Lustre showing a throwback photo of

her with Reid prompted fresh rumors. Its caption, a sapling emoji, even had

some fans convinced it was a sign of new start

SPORTS

NBA SCORES AUG 31

FINAL

    1    2    3    4    T

team logo 5 Heat 1-0    29    31    32    23    115

team logo 1 Bucks 0-1    40    23    23    18    104

GAME 1: MIA LEADS 1-0

SCORING LEADERS

J. Butler MIA

40 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST

K. Middleton MIL

28 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST

FINAL

    1    2    3    4    T

team logo 4 Rockets 3-3    25    26    24    25    100

team logo 5 Thunder 3-3    24    24    29    27    104

GAME 6: SERIES TIED 3-3

SCORING LEADERS

    J. Harden HOU

32 PTS, 8 REB, 7 AST

    C. Paul OKC

28 PTS, 7 REB, 3 AST

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 48.48

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Small minds are concerned with the extraordinary, great minds with the

ordinary. - Blaise Pascal