CABINET TO TACKLE REOPENING OF ECONOMY

MANILA — The proposal of economic managers to further reopen the economy to

address the effects of the COVID-19 crisis, including higher hunger

incidence and malnutrition among children, would be discussed by President

Duterte during the Cabinet meeting on Monday, presidential spokesman Harry

Roque Jr. said yesterday.

“Their solution is to further reopen the economy because we need to continue

with our livelihood even if COVID-19 is still around. We just need to wear

masks, wash our hands and avoid (crowded areas),” Roque told PTV-4.

“What will we do? Many are suffering because of the prolonged lockdown. Can

we provide relief to the sick, the severe or critically ill while opening

the economy? These are questions we will answer,” Roque said.

Roque, however, said Vice President Leni Robredo, a vocal critic of the

administration’s pandemic response, would not be invited to the Cabinet

meeting.

“She (Robredo) is not a member of the Cabinet so she won’t be invited to the

Cabinet meeting. I have also said that we would listen to her suggestions

but we have not heard anything new,” the Palace spokesman said.

“If she suggests something new, I’m sure it would be considered,” he added.

The Philippine economy has plunged into a recession or two consecutive

quarters of contraction mainly due to the lockdown restrictions that limited

business activity.

OPENING OF COMPUTER SHOPS EYED

Government officials are studying a proposal to allow students who do not

have computers at home to stay at computer and internet shops to cope with

the distance-learning program.

Philippine National Police (PNP) deputy chief for administration Lt. Gen.

Guillermo Eleazar said Interior Secretary Eduardo Año would raise the issue

in the next meeting of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of the

Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

People who are 21 years old and below as well as senior citizens are

prohibited from going outside their homes because of the COVID-19 outbreak

except during emergencies and other essential travels.

However, Eleazar said there could be revisions on the guidelines given that

some students, especially those from public schools, do not have access to

the internet except through computer shops.

“We feel and understand the concerns of both the students and the parents,

especially the poor, in this new kind of learning method. That is why the

national government, through the NTF on COVID-19 and the IATF, are really

finding ways to extend all the necessary assistance to them,” he said in a

statement.

BATTLE FOR SPEAKER’S POST RAGES

MANILA — Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco might still pursue the

speakership post on Oct. 14 despite the move by Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano

and his allies last Tuesday to suspend session until Nov. 16.

Cayetano dared Velasco to show his numbers in the House.

Velasco’s allies claimed yesterday that more congressmen have started to

express support for a change in the House leadership under the term-sharing

agreement brokered by President Duterte himself.

Cayetano’s allies reiterated that they were not bound by the term-sharing

arrangement.

Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza and AAMBIS-OWA party-list Rep. Sharon

Garin hinted that the speakership battle is not over yet despite the

Cayetano camp’s move to prevent a session on Oct. 14, the date agreed upon

for Velasco’s takeover.“Velasco can still go for the speakership.

The majority of House members can still choose to meet and assert the power

of the majority,” Atienza said in an interview with ANC.“Cayetano no longer

has the support of his peers; it’s time to go,” he stressed.

Otherwise, just help in the budget),” Cayetano said in a Facebook Live post

yesterday evening.“Here in the House of Representatives, you need majority.

We’re in the middle of crisis, so you better report for work. You’re welcome

here,” Cayetano told Velasco. Cayetano also dismissed the warning of Sen.

Panfilo Lacson that the 2021 budget would not be passed this year due to the

one-month suspension of session in the House.

“There will be just a one-day delay in submission of budget to the Senate,

instead of Nov. 16 it will be submitted on Nov. 17,” he explained, arguing

that the Senate still has enough time to pass the budget. Atienza said that

the House plenary only suspended session and did not adjourn, which means it

could resume anytime upon the initiative of a good majority of members.

He believed that the suspension was “illegal” and many of their colleagues

were dismayed by Cayetano’s action.“The nation will have to take a very

serious look at Cayetano’s character.

He is a man who quotes the Bible and tells lies. Unless Cayetano changes his

attitude, he has nowhere to go in politics,” Atienza said, adding that the

chamber is “better off with a gentleman like Velasco and not a hooligan like

Cayetano.”Garin said Cayetano’s recent action of “abandoning word of honor

and tradition” only led to more support for Velasco. “I’ve been disappointed

by the Speaker’s actions lately. Cayetano’s recent speeches have been

unparliamentary,” she admitted.

'THE NERVE!' SOTTO BLASTS CAYETANO FOR PASSING BLAME OVER 2021 BUDGET ROW

MANILA - Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Thursday warned the public

not to be misled after House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano blamed the Senate

if the P4.5-trillion 2021 budget fails to be passed before the end of the

year.

The House was supposed to transmit an approved version of the spending bill

to the Senate next week, but Cayetano abruptly suspended session amid a row

over the Speakership.

“Do not be misled. The House of Representatives has delayed the budget for a

whole month,” Sotto said in a tweet.

“No one can ever blame the Senate for this delay. NEVER!” he said.

Cayetano, in a Facebook live video, earlier claimed that the month-long

suspension of the House’s session would only delay budget proceedings by one

day, even if his chamber has yet to pass the spending bill on final reading.

Several senators have rejected Cayetano's claim, saying the printing and the

transmission of the House’s version of the budget to the Senate alone would

take at least 3 days.

Sotto said he would deliver a privilege speech to address the budget issue

next week.

“The nerve! Passing the blame, it’s unacceptable!” the Senate President

said.

SHELVED PARTIES BRING NO GOOD TIDINGS FOR FILIPINOS' CHRISTMAS

MANILA — Karl Benson Molina from Rizal would typically look forward to the

start of “ber” months as this also means work. A full-time talent

development manager that earns on the sidelines as events host, Molina said

this year is different, no thanks to the pandemic.

“Usually as soon as September arrives, I would get inquiries on my services

for weddings, corporate events and Christmas parties,” Molina, 31, said in

an interview. “No one has reached out yet and I am sensing that it would be

the case for the rest of the quarter.”

Coronavirus is proving to be the Grinch of this year’s Christmas, and the

impact can never be more obvious in the Philippines where large family and

corporate gatherings typically mark the world’s longest holiday season.

A ban on mass gatherings of more than 10 people are killing plans for

Christmas parties and leaving an entire industry employing around 402,000

people with no reason to celebrate. “Live events pre-COVID-19 would usually

rake in an estimate of P1.5 billion into the country’s GDP (gross domestic

product) during holiday season,” said Shakira Villa Symes, lead convenor of

the National Live Events Coalition.

“The highest grossing events are corporate year-ender events from telecom

firms and call center companies, she said in an e-mailed response to

queries.

So far, the industry group, formed at the height of lockdowns in March to

assist members, have seen 97 local firms close shop because of a

consequential drop in bookings for weddings, concerts, and even fashion

shows. Revenue losses this year have reached a staggering P133.1 billion and

a bleak Christmas is not making things look merry.

Virtual celebrations may become the norm, but the moderated scale of such

occasions is unlikely to make up for traditional live gatherings. “At the

moment, 35% of live events industry has been staying afloat via virtual and

multiplatform events…,” Symes said.

SOON, PINOYS MAY VISIT ANY PART OF RUSSIA WITH E-VISAS

MANILA - Filipinos may apply for e-visa to visit any part of Russia

"starting from 2021", the Russian Embassy in the Philippines announced.?

In a Facebook post, the Embassy said the Philippines is part of the approved

list of countries whose citizens can apply for e-visas as announced by

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

The E-visas will be issued online "for tourism, business, humanitarian and

guest trips."

"Applicants do not need an invitation, hotel booking or any other documents

to confirm their reasons for travel,” the Embassy said.?

The consular fee is $40 and free for children aged under six.

A pilot e-visa project launched in 2017 included a number of restrictions.

Foreigners with an e-visa could only enter Russia through checkpoints in the

Far Eastern Federal District, St. Petersburg and the Leningrad and

Kaliningrad regions and were not allowed to travel outside these regions.

The new e-visa will now “be applicable throughout Russia.”

"Foreigners can enter via the specially equipped checkpoints anywhere in the

country and travel throughout Russia. In addition to this, the duration of a

stay for foreigners has been extended from eight to 16 days," the Embassy

said.?

No specific date has been mentioned by the Embassy on when the new project

will begin, only saying that “starting from 2021 Filipinos will have an easy

way to visit Russia” and the details will follow.?

BI: TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS STILL IN EFFECT

MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reiterated yesterday that travel

restrictions are still in effect in the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said foreigners with no valid reason

to travel to the Philippines are barred from entry.

“Generally speaking, only Filipinos, their spouses and minor children are

allowed to enter the country using tourist visas,” Morente said in a

statement.

While some foreigners are exempted from entry restrictions, they are

required to secure an entry visa from Philippine embassies or consulates in

their points of origin before traveling, Morente said.

He issued the clarification after instances in which foreign spouses of

Filipinos, who previously enjoyed visa-free privileges, attempted to enter

the country.

Morente reminded the public that the departure travel restrictions set by

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

Diseases are also in effect, except for foreigners and overseas Filipino

workers.

Permanent visa holders, students enrolled abroad, participants accepted in

exchange visitor programs and those traveling for essential reasons are also

allowed to leave the country.

Morente said non-essential trips abroad are still not allowed.

SUPREME COURT ALLOWS COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR MINOR OFFENSES

MANILA — Starting Nov. 2, courts can impose the punishment of community

service for those found guilty of minor offenses and whose punishments fall

under the classification of arresto menor and arresto mayor.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Supreme Court (SC) announced it

approved the guidelines that would give trial court judges the discretion to

hand down the punishment of community service to promote the restorative

justice and aid in prison decongestion.

The guidelines were in line with Republic Act 11362 or the Community Service

Act passed by Congress and signed into law by President Duterte on Aug. 8,

2019.

By virtue of RA 11362, the court has the discretion to require community

service in lieu of imprisonment for minor offenses.

Those who can benefit from the penalty of community service are those who

were imposed with the penalty of arresto mayor or when the duration of

imprisonment is from one month and one day to six months and arresto menor

or when the duration of penalty is from one day to 30 days.

Among the offenses with a corresponding penalty of arresto mayor are less

serious physical injuries, attempted robbery in an uninhabited place and

serious slander.

Offenses whose punishment fall under arresto menor are slight physical

injuries, simple slander and unjust vexation.

THE REST

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CEBU, VISAYAS NAMED TOP ISLANDS IN ASIA

MANILA — Readers of travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler have chosen Cebu

and Visayas islands as the best in Asia.

“Located in the center of the Philippines, Cebu draws millions of travelers

annually for its pristine beaches and diving off the island’s northern

coast. Spanish and Roman Catholic influences permeate Cebu City; Basilica

Minore del Santo Niño houses a small statue of Christ that was presented by

Ferdinand Magellan,” the magazine said in its entry on Cebu in The Best

Islands in the World: 2020 Readers’ Choice Awards.

It cited Kawasan Falls, a swimming hole with three waterfalls near Cebu’s

southwest coast, as among the popular destinations.

Cebu and Visayas islands were logged as one entry.

Palawan and Siargao ranked fourth and fifth, respectively. Boracay, which is

also on Visayas islands, was sixth.

The magazine invited 600,000 travelers to vote online for the top islands in

Asia, Australia and the South Pacific, the Caribbean and Atlantic, Africa

and the Indian Ocean, Europe and North America.

LTFRB: BEEP CARDS NOW FREE

MANILA — Starting tomorrow, Beep cards will be given free of charge to

commuters, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)

announced yesterday.

The LTFRB issued Memorandum Circular 2020-057 for the free use of stored

value cards for cashless transactions in public transportation, which means

commuters will only have to pay for fares.

The transport regulatory body ordered operators of public utility vehicles

(PUV) and automatic fare collection systems (AFCS) to scrap any fees for the

purchase and loading of Beep cards.

“To alleviate the burden of the riding public, the board directs PUV

operators and AFCS to remove fees for the purchase or use of Beep cards on

top of the fare load,” the memorandum read.

Non-compliance among PUV operators would result in the cancelation of their

cashless transaction schemes and other penalties in accordance with

transport regulations, the LTFRB said.

The order does not cover rail lines due to an ongoing concession agreement

with AFCS provider AF Payments, according to Transportation Assistant

Secretary Goddes Libiran.

MASS TESTING OF PANGASINAN TOWN WORKERS SOUGHT

STA. BARBARA, Pangasinan – The management of big companies operating in this

town have been asked to conduct mass testing of their workers for

coronavirus disease 2019.

Mayor Joel delos Santos said they are coordinating with concerned companies.

At least 113 workers of a company were found infected over the weekend. The

company has been placed on lockdown for 14 days starting Oct. 3.

Delos Santos said workers would be allowed to report for work only if they

tested negative in their second swab test.

“This should serve as a wake-up call to other companies,” Delos Santos said.

LABOR GROUPS BACK PROBE INTO FOREIGN WORKERS, STRESS PROTECTION OF THEIR

RIGHTS

BAGUIO CITY — The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, the country's

biggest labor group, is raising the alarm on an alleged influx of more

Chinese workers into the country's critical infrastructure and across

several industries, saying this "[brings] more serious implications to local

employment and to national security."

This, while labor groups welcome a possible Senate probe into the growing

number of undocumented foreign workers in construction and in Philippine

Overseas Gaming Operators as well as in other industries.

Although Senate leaders have indicated support for a potential probe, no

resolution — which would direct Senate committees to schedule hearings —

have been filed yet.

"The Chinese workers are present or are coming in to the National Grid

Corporation of the Philippines," TUCP spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said. He

added that Chinese workers will be coming in through "tied-aid" projects

like the Kaliwa Dam and railways projects.

"The Chinese are in strategic sectors — power, water, communications,

transport, and construction where they not only take away jobs from

Filipinos, but also embed themselves into our economy. There are not only

negative employment implications but also national security implications,"

Tanjusay warned.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF LIZA SOBERANO

MANILA – Liza Soberano gave her followers a glimpse of what her normal day

is like during the quarantine in her most recent vlog update.

Soberano said her “a day in the life” content has been the most highly

requested video that she has been getting not only on her YouTube channel

but also on Twitter and Instagram.

“So many people have been DMing me or tweeting me asking me to do a day in

the life. I actually attempted to shoot this three times because every time

I would shoot it, I would have to cancel my class because my internet would

be wonky,” she said.

“I really, really wanted to show you guys how I manage juggling through

school and work at the same time. So today is the day,” she said.

As seen in the 15-minute clip, Soberano started her day at past 10 a.m. with

a breakfast and a shower.

The actress then attended her online classes where she learned about linear

correlation and regression analysis.

After that, Soberano’s day was jampacked with five work meetings, three of

which were with her boyfriend, actor Enrique Gil, who paid her a visit at

her house that day.

She also managed to squeeze in some time to unbox the gifts sent to her.

Following all her work meetings, Soberano and Gil had dinner together before

the actor headed home.

Soberano ended her day with a shower and some playtime with her little

sister Rianne.

“I hope you guys enjoyed. I am sorry it isn’t as super personal because you

guys saw a lot of work. I wish I could have shown you guys how I walk my

dog, how I cook, how I work out and stuff, or how I play or interact with my

family but I was pretty busy today. Now I just want to get some sleep

because my eyes are so tired. I hope you enjoyed the video,” she said.

Soberano launched her own YouTube channel called “Life with Liza” last July.

While her own channel is relatively new, Soberano is no stranger to

vlogging. She has appeared numerous times in Gil's own YouTube channel with

his sister.

Soberano is just one of the celebrities who have turned to vlogging during

the quarantine, following Kathryn Bernardo's "Everyday Kath" and Julia

Barretto's "Just Julia."

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 48.39

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Friends are the family we choose ourselves. - Edna Buchman