DUTERTE PLACES PHILIPPINES UNDER STATE OF CALAMITY UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2021

MANILA — The Philippines will remain under a state of calamity for one more

year as it continues to grapple with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Rodrigo Duterte extended the period of the state of calamity until

Sept. 12, 2021 through Proclamation No. 1021.

"This extension will, among others, effectively afford the National

Government, as well as local government units ample latitude to continue

utilizing appropriate funds, including the Quick Response Fund, in their

disaster preparedness and response efforts to contain the spread of

COVID-19, monitor and control prices of basic necessities and prime

commodities, and provide basic services to the affected populations,"

Duterte said in the proclamation signed on Sept. 16.

Duterte initially declared a 6-month state of calamity last March 16 just as

he placed the Philippines' most populous island Luzon under lockdown to

control the spread of the coronavirus.

The declaration of a state of calamity in March provided the government with

leeway to respond better to the pandemic ahead of the enactment of virus

response policies namely the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, and the Bayanihan

to Recover as One Act.

DUTERTE DECISION: 1-METER DISTANCING IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT STAYS

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to retain the policy of

requiring a 1-meter distance between passengers on public transport as the

COVID-19 threat remains, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said

Saturday.

In an interview on state television, Roque said the President made the

decision Friday after weighing recommendations. The decision came earlier

than expected, as the Palace had said Duterte may give his word Monday.

"Matapos pong pag-aralan ni Presidente ang rekomendasyon ng parehong panig

na nagsasabi na dapat manatili sa 1 meter ang physical distancing sa

pampublikong transportasyon at 'yung mga nagsasabi na pupuwede naman itong

pababain basta may face shield, face mask, walang salita... nagdesisyon na

po ang Presidente kahapon. Ang desisyon, mananatili po ang 1-meter social

distancing sa pampublikong transportasyon," said Roque.

EU PARLIAMENT'S THREAT TO REVOKE MANILA'S TARIFF INCENTIVES ALARMING, MAY

WORSEN POVERTY

MANILA - The threat of the European Union to revoke tariff incentives on

ManilaÂ’s exports over human rights concerns is alarming particularly in this

time of a pandemic, the head of a think tank said Saturday.

Dindo Manhit, president of Stratbase ADR Institute, said losing a market

would lead to unemployment, thus aggravating poverty. This, while the

Philippine economy has been dragged into recession by the lingering COVID-19

pandemic.

“Sa panahon ngayon wala tayong dapat mawalang market. 'Pag nawala ang

binebentahan mo ng produkto, kahit hindi sila malaki, tatamaan ang kita ng

bansa. Ang mawawala ay trabaho at ang mawawala 'pag nawalan ng trabaho

dadagdag ang kahirapan ng taongbayan,” Manhit said.

The European Parliament called for a review of the tariff incentives

extended to Manila citing human rights abuses and the deteriorating level of

press freedom in the Philippines.

“'Pag tinanggal ito dahil sa isyu ng violation of human rights, dahil sa

atake sa media at journalists nakakalungkot na pangyayari,” Manhit said in

an interview on TeleRadyo on Saturday.

The loss of an export market would mean less opportunity to sell Philippine

products and could also impact jobs and push medium enterprises in the

country to closure.

“Sana 'wag mangyari, sana pakinggan din ng gobyerno ang mga ganitong

resolusyon,” he said.

He said it would be better if the government responds and not simply dismiss

it as there are already fears that some export firms might lose their

business.

Malacañang on Friday dared EUÂ’s lawmaking body to push through with the

threat.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the Philippines cannot be

threatened even as the country continues to grapple with the impact of the

pandemic.

“Dapat sana wag lang awayin, magandang mapag-usapan, meron naman tayong

ambassador doon, ano ba talagang dapat gawin kung talagang misinformation

ito, ipaliwanag ng gobyerno,” he said.

PALACE WELCOMES FRANCE, GERMANY, UK SUPPORT FOR PHILIPPINE SEA CLAIMS

MANILA— Malacañang welcomed yesterday the support of France, Germany and the

United Kingdom in asserting the PhilippinesÂ’ historic rights and rejecting

ChinaÂ’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said the move was an affirmation of

the PhilippinesÂ’ stand on the South China Sea.

Roque maintained that the arbitral ruling has not removed the countryÂ’s

historic rights based on international law and the provisions of the 1982

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

“We thank them for the support… The ruling is binding for parties thereto,”

he said, reiterating the arbitral ruling “itself is a victory for the

Filipinos.”

“Under the international law, unfortunately, we cannot go to any police to

enforce the ruling, and we have limited options on the assumption that

countries will voluntarily follow their international obligations,” he said.

Roque decried what he described as black propaganda that the Philippines

would push for it in the UN General Assembly.

“That can be done, but let’s be realistic. We cannot sway the 197 members of

the UN if China is our enemy because we know our capacity is limited. And in

politics, money talks. That really happens even in international relations,”

he said in Filipino.

DEBATE ON INFRA ALLOCATIONS SPARKS WORD WAR OVER HOUSE SPEAKERSHIP

MANILA — The chairman of the House committee on appropriations defended

Friday the bigger infrastructure budget allocated for Taguig City, where

separate districts are represented by House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and

his solon spouse, after a lawmaker questioned it in a previous hearing.

ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Eric Go Yap, the House budget panel chair, said he

saw nothing anomalous if Taguig, home to the country's several military

camps, would get over P11 billion worth of projects from the Department of

Public Works and Highways (DPWH), as alleged by a lawmaker.

"Iyung Taguig kasi karamihan doon FLR (for later release) eh kaya hindi mo

siya masasabing new projects. Iyun 'yung mga last year na project na imbes

na mapunta this year na 2020, nangyari may mga FLR nilagay sa 2021. Kung

titignan mo ang new projects ng Taguig di po siya ganun kalaki especially

mga kampo, mga bases po nakakarga po lahat 'yun [doon]," Yap told ABS-CBN

News in a phone interview.

Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. in an earlier budget

hearing confronted officials of the DPWH about rumors he heard that Taguig

and Camarines Sur (CamSur) were getting the largest slice of their budget

pie for next year.

The two districts of Taguig are run by Speaker Cayatano and his wife Lani.

Meanwhile, one of CamSur's districts is represented at the House by close

Cayetano ally Rep. LRay Villafuerte. Villafurte's son, Migz, is also the

province's governor.

HEARSAY

Teves' accusation did not sit well with Villafuerte.

Villafuerte, in a statement Thursday, called Teves a "rumormonger" for

raising concerns based on "hearsay."

"In the first place, it does not befit an honorable gentleman like

Congressman Teves to act like a blab or gossipmonger in spreading what he

himself had admitted to be plain hearsay... Why peddle something malicious

that he himself knew wasn't factual?" said Villafuerte.

Villafuerte then linked Teves' accusation with an alleged plot concerning

the House Speakership.

He described Teves as the "protege" of Benitez, the former solon "who has

delusions of being a kingmaker to Velasco and titular head of the Visayas

bloc of legislators even if he was no longer an incumbent representative

from Negros."

Under a "gentleman's agreement," Cayetano is set to hand the reigns of the

lower chamber's top post to Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco in October.

Villafuerte also saw nothing wrong if his and Cayetano's districts get a

larger infrastructure budget.

Benitez, the former lawmaker, challenged Villafuerte to be "transparent."

"My challenge to LRay Villafuerte. Put your money where your mouth is. You

accuse Cong. Teves of making accusations based on hearsay but what you are

doing is worse. Totally baseless and a figment of your overactive and

defensive imagination. If you have nothing to hide, explain to the Filipino

people why the national government has to shoulder the construction of your

Provincial Capitol that costs more than P420 million," he said in a

statement.

"If the good Congressman is morally certain that his budget will pass the

publicÂ’s scrutiny, then prove us all wrong. Be transparent with your own

districtÂ’s budget. Account for every peso and centavo," he added.

Villafuerte has yet to respond to Benitez's comments.

Meanwhile, Yap said his committee will resume deliberations on the DPWH

budget on Monday.

CHINA LAB LEAK INFECTS THOUSANDS WITH BACTERIAL DISEASE

BEIJING - Thousands of people in northwest China have tested positive for a

bacterial disease after a leak from a state-owned biopharmaceutical plant

making animal vaccines last year.

Health officials in Lanzhou city said 3,245 people had contracted

brucellosis, a disease often caused by close contact with infected animals

or animal products that can bring about fevers, joint pain and headaches.

Another 1,401 people tested as an early positive for the disease, and health

authorities said there was no evidence of person-to-person transmission so

far.

Chinese authorities found a biopharmaceutical plant had used expired

disinfectant in its production of Brucella vaccines for animals between July

and August last year -- meaning the bacteria was not eradicated in its

factory exhaust.

Contaminated gas from the China Animal Husbandry Lanzhou Biopharmaceutical

Factory in Lanzhou formed aerosols containing the bacteria, and this was

then carried by wind to the Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, infecting

nearly 200 people there as of December last year.

More than 20 students and faculty members of Lanzhou University, some of

whom had been to the institute, subsequently tested positive as well,

according to Xinhua news agency.

Lanzhou's health commission said Friday that sheep, cattle and pigs were

most commonly involved in the spread of the bacteria.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

person-to-person transmission of brucellosis is "extremely rare" but some

symptoms may reoccur or never go away.

These include recurrent fevers, chronic fatigue, swelling of the heart or

arthritis.

The factory -- which apologized earlier this year -- has had its brucellosis

vaccine production license revoked, Lanzhou authorities said.

Compensation for patients would start in batches from October, according to

local authorities.

DOCTORSÂ’ GROUP SEEKS END TO ALL LOCKDOWNS

MANILA— A group of doctors and concerned citizens yesterday pressed for the

immediate lifting of lockdowns imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19

nationwide.

The 5,000 members of the Concerned Doctors and Citizens of the Philippines

(CDCph) led by former health secretary Jaime Galvez-Tan called on President

Duterte to adopt a national protocol for the prophylaxis and early treatment

of COVID-19 as an alternative to community quarantines.

“We proposed to the President for the Philippines to adopt a national

protocol for the prophylaxis and early treatment of COVID-19 that aims to

reduce hospitalization and prevent loss of lives,” the CDCph said in a unity

statement read by Galvez-Tan during the launching of the “#Flatten the Fear”

campaign.

Galvez-Tan said the implementation of a national protocol for early

treatment of COVID is an effective, safe, inexpensive and science-based

solution to address the pandemic in the country.

“With this solution in mind, we appeal to the President to lift all

lockdowns,” he added.

Galvez-Tan said the government should focus its efforts on early treatment

and home quarantine for most patients and prophylaxis for high risk

individuals such as frontliners under the proposed plan.

Dr. Edwin Bien said anti-viral drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) could be given

as prophylaxis to prevent COVID infection.

He said hydroxychloroquine is safe if given in correct dosage upon

consultation with doctors.

CEMETERIES NATIONWIDE TO BE CLOSED FOR ‘UNDAS’

From Oct. 29 to Nov. 4

MANILA— Even the dead will be quarantined from the living on All Souls’ and

All SaintsÂ’ Days after the government ordered the mandatory closure of all

cemeteries and columbariums nationwide from Oct. 29 to Nov. 4, to prevent

the influx of massive crowds visiting the tombs of departed loved ones

during the traditional holiday.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious

Diseases (IATF) has issued Resolution No. 71, which prevents the public from

observing All SoulsÂ’ and All SaintsÂ’ Days on the traditional dates this year

due to the COVID pandemic.

“All private and public cemeteries and memorial parks, including

columbariums and the like, throughout the country shall be closed to

visitors from Oct. 29 to Nov. 4,” the IATF said in its order signed by

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles,

co-chairpersons of the task force.

“Provided, that, the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community

Quarantine shall continue to govern burial and cremation activities during

the said period,” the resolution read.

THE REST

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PH LOGS 3,257 ADDTÂ’L CASES AS 20 LABS FAIL TO SUBMIT ON TIME

MANILA— COVID-19 cases in the Philippines reached 279,526 on Friday after

the Department of Health reported 3,257 newly-confirmed cases.

This is the 11th straight day that the daily tally was more than 3,000.

The DOH said a total of 20 laboratories failed to submit their data in time

for the report.

Among the areas with the most number of newly-announced cases are the

National Capital Region with 997, Bulacan with 282, Cavite with 179, Negros

Occidental with 152 and Cebu with 127.

Of the newly-announced cases, 81% were from the last 2 weeks.

With 733 additional recovered patients and 47 additional coronavirus-related

deaths, there are now 65,906 active cases in the country. Active cases refer

to patients who are still infected with COVID-19 and are staying either in

the hospital or under home quarantine.

Of the 47 additional deaths, 18 were from September while 13 were from

August. Almost half were from NCR.

The total number of recoveries is at 208,790 while the total number of

fatalities is at 4,830.

COVID-19 FORCES POSTPONEMENT OF 15 LICENSURE EXAMS

MANILA— The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) yesterday announced the

postponement of 15 remaining licensure examinations scheduled for 2020 due

to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an advisory, the PRC said the remaining examinations will no longer be

held in October, November and December.

“Due to government imposed restrictions and other unforeseeable

circumstances because of extended community quarantines and to ensure the

health and safety of PRC examinees, professional regulatory boards and

examination personnel, the conduct of the scheduled October to December 2020

licensure examinations is hereby postponed,” the PRC noted.

These examinations will be rescheduled to 2021, the PRC said.

LUGAR SA BAYWALK NA TINAMBAKAN NG WHITE SAND, 2 ARAW NA BUBUKSAN SA PUBLIKO

MAYNILA— Bubuksan sa publiko nang dalawang araw ang lugar sa Baywalk sa

Maynila na tinambakan ng artificial white sand.

Ito ang kontrobersyal na proyekto kung saan nilagyan ng dinurog na dolomite

rock ang pampang ng Baywalk para magmukhang white sand beach ang lugar.

Ngayong araw ng International Coastal Clean Up Day, bukas sa mga bisita ang

"white sand" na bahagi ng Manila Bay coast at puwedeng magpa-picture o

maglakad-lakad. Bawal naman ang maligo dahil marumi pa rin ang bay.

Paalala rin sa publiko na sundin pa rin ang pinaiiral na health protocol

laban sa pagkalat ng COVID-19.

Ayon kay Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda, bukas ang lugar

hanggang alas-6 ng gabi ng Sabado.

Isasara ulit ito at bubuksan muli mula alas-5 ng umaga sa Linggo hanggang

alas-6 ng gabi.

Dalawang araw lang ito bukas sa publiko at isasara muli para tuluyang

tapusin ang proyekto.

Sa ngayon nasa higit 100 metro na ang haba nito at plano ng DENR na pahabain

pa ito sa 500 metro

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

'GRABE!' CELEBS REACT AS PIA WURTZBACH'S SWIMSUIT PHOTO SETS SOCIAL MEDIA ON

FIRE

MANILA -- Longing to be near the water again, Pia Wurtzbach shared a

throwback travel photo on Instagram page.

Little did she know that her swimsuit snap would set social media on fire,

leaving even her fellow celebrities gushing and in awe.

The said photo showed Wurtzbach showing her hard-earned figure in a bright

orange bikini, striking a pose as she looked away from the camera.

The former Miss Universe tagged her boyfriend, entrepreneur Jeremy Jauncey,

in the photo, which he presumably took during their recent trip to Greece.

"Kinda wish I was here right now," she wrote, adding the sun emoji and the

hashtag #tbt.

In just one day, Wurtzbach's post gained over 300,000 "likes" on Instagram,

with more than 1,600 comments as of writing.

Fellow beauty queens as well as actresses and well-known local personalities

from different industries could not help but comment as they were blown away

by the now-viral photo.

"Grabe siya oh!" commented Gazini Ganados, who was mentored by Wurtzbach

during her Miss Universe campaign last year.

"Wow," added Katarina Rodriguez, who represented the Philippines in Miss

World in 2018.

Actresses Chie Filomeno and Ruffa Gutierrez could only say "grabe" as they

expressed their admiration for Wurtzbach.

Former beauty queen Charlene Gonzalez and designer Mark Bumgarner,

meanwhile, left fire emojis as they acknowledged the "sizzling" shot.

BONDING WITH JEREMY

Wurtzbach recently traveled to Greece with Jauncey in celebration of the

latter's 36th birthday.

The former Miss Universe has since been staying with her family in London.

Just recently, her mother posted a vlog of Wurtzbach and Jauncey in their

home.

In the YouTube video, they are seen enjoying Filipino dishes such as chicken

adobo, as well as some healthy eats.

Wurtzbach and Jauncey officially confirmed their relationship last June by

appearing on the cover of Tatler Philippines.

Aside from their passion for travel, the two also have a shared advocacy as

ambassadors of World Wide Fund for Nature.

SPORTS

NBA Scores Sep 18

FINAL

    1    2    3    4    T

3 Nuggets 0-1    38    21    20    35    114

1 Lakers 1-0    36    34    33    23    126

GAME 1: LAL LEADS 1-0

SCORING LEADERS

    N. Jokic DEN

21 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST

    A. Davis LAL

37 PTS, 10 REB, 4 AST

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 48.39

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not;

nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will

not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is

full of educated derelicts. - Calvin Coolidge