'NAKAHANAP NA AKO NG PERA': DUTERTE SAYS FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR COVID-19

VACCINE

MANILA — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday his

government has the money to procure coronavirus vaccines but he would need

more as he wants to inoculate the country’s entire population.

The government aims to get vaccines to all Filipinos, which Duterte said now

number around 113 million, but priority will be given to the poor, the

police and military personnel.

“All should have the vaccine without exception,” Duterte said in a

late-night televised address.

The firebrand leader repeated that he prefers COVID-19 vaccine supplies to

come from either Russia or China. Both have submitted applications to

conduct clinical trials for their inoculations in the Philippines.

“For me, either China or Russia, I am ok,” Duterte said.

Apart from China’s Sinovac Biotech and Russia’s Gamaleya Research Institute,

the Philippines is also evaluating Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen unit’s

application to conduct Phase 3 trials of its COVID-19 vaccine.

The Philippines recorded 1,910 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday, and

78 more fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 346,536 cases, the

highest in Southeast Asia, and 6,449 deaths.

SHAKEUP, REALIGNMENTS BEGIN

MANILA — Speaker Lord Allan Velasco now has the full support of the

“supermajority” in the House of Representatives after three power blocs

loyal to his predecessor, Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, shifted

their allegiance yesterday.

Dasmariñas City Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr., president of the 47-member

National Unity Party (NUP), said they have already discussed with Velasco

their support for his leadership all the way to June 2022.

Breaking down the numbers, Velasco has the support of the Lakas-CMD with 37

members; NP with 44 members; NPC with around 30; PDP-Laban with at least 57

members; PCFI with 54 and the LP with about 17.

VIETNAMESE SET TO GET RICHER THAN FILIPINOS THIS YEAR — IMF

MANILA — Vietnamese are poised to become richer than Filipinos starting this

year, in another direct consequence of the pandemic and how the two

governments have addressed the health crisis differently.

Backed by sustained economic growth, Vietnam’s per capita gross domestic

product would hit $3,497.51 to overtake the Philippines’ $3,372.53 under

current prices, latest projections from the International Monetary Fund

(IMF) showed.

GDP per capita divides the value of economic output with the population. It

is typically used to measure how economic wealth is distributed among

people.

That Vietnam is overtaking the Philippines in GDP per capita this year hits

the economy like a double whammy. The Duterte administration targeted to

elevate the economy to middle-income status this year, only to get derailed

by the still lingering coronavirus that sapped both consumer and business

confidence.

Worse, if IMF estimates are to be believed, Filipinos’ income is unlikely to

catch up with that of the Vietnamese in the next 5 years. By 2025, Manila’s

$4,805.84 per head is seen lagging behind Hanoi’s $5,211.90. This, in turn,

may reflect serious consequences on poverty levels, which government had

said may rise because of the crisis.

For analysts, it all boils down to how effective the pandemic response is.

“Vietnam responded very well to the pandemic and was able to keep growing

even if at a slower rate. In contrast, the Duterte administration’s poor and

still tepid response has caused the worst economic collapse in the country's

history,” Sonny Africa, executive director at IBON Foundation, a think tank.

SENATE OKS BILL ON SPEEDY LICENSES, PERMITS

MANILA — The Senate yesterday approved on third and final reading the bill

granting President Duterte the power to expedite the processing and issuance

of permits and licenses during national emergencies, which would cut red

tape and corruption in the bureaucracy.

With 23 affirmative votes, no negative vote and no abstention, Senate

President Vicente Sotto III said Senate Bill 1844 or “An Act Authorizing the

President to Expedite the Processing and Issuance of National and Local

Permits, Licenses and Certifications” has been passed.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri informed Sotto that the Senate

received SB 1844’s certification as urgent from President Duterte.

“Pursuant to the provisions of Article 6, Section 26 sub-paragraph 2 of the

1987 Constitution, I hereby certify to the necessity of the immediate

enactment of Senate Bill 1844,” Duterte said in a one-page letter dated Oct.

14.

COAST GUARD GETS NEW MULTIPURPOSE HELICOPTER

MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard on Wednesday commissioned a second

Airbus H145 helicopter that it can use for search and rescue missions and to

deliver supplies during the pandemic.

The helicopter, with tail number CGH-1451, follows the commissioning of

another H145 earlier in the year, which makes PCG "the first coast guard

organization in the world to operate the multi-purpose H145," Airbus said in

a separate press statement.

The PCG said the new helicopter is equipped with "high frequency radios,

emergency flotation gear, fast-roping, cargo sling, search light and

electro-optical systems" that will help the Coast Guard in its search and

rescue and maritime security and law enforcement operations.

The first H145 has already become "one of the most utilized PCG asset in

transporting personal protective equipment (PPE) sets, medical supplies and

medicines to far-flung communities amid the COVID-19 pandemic," PCG also

said.

The new helicopter will be part of the Coast Guard Aviation Force.

HOUSE SET TO APPROVE 2021 BUDGET TOMORROW

The House of Representatives has committed to immediately pass the proposed

P4.506-trillion national budget for next year following the conclusion of

the speakership squabble earlier this week.

Newly elected Speaker Lord Allan Velasco vowed to lead the chamber into the

“timely, legal and constitutional” approval of the 2021 General

Appropriations Bill (GAB) tomorrow.

When he assumed the speakership post last Tuesday, Velasco moved to undo the

second reading approval of the GAB or House Bill 7727 and revert to the

period of sponsorship and debate.

ANTI-TERROR LAW’S IRR OK’D

MANILA — The implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Anti-Terrorism

Law of 2020 (ATL) have been completed and approved by the Anti-Terrorism

Council (ATC) technical group and will soon be distributed to government

security forces, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said yesterday.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, who led the technical group tasked to

craft the IRR, was pleased they were able to meet the deadline for the ATC’s

approval.

“The ATC has approved today (Oct. 14) the IRR of the ATL crafted by a

technical group led by the DOJ. We will disseminate copies to Congress and

to law enforcement agencies as required under the law, and will publish the

IRR online and in a newspaper of general circulation in the next few days,”

said Guevarra.

The ATL’s IRR would be published online within the week and in two

newspapers of general circulation this weekend.

The IRR will be effective once it has been published and registered with the

Office of the National Administrative Register (ONAR) at the University of

the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City by Friday.

Guevarra also mentioned that the IRR did not include social media

regulation. “No specific provision pertaining to social media regulation,”

he said.

THE REST

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NO BAD BLOOD: DENR'S ANTIPORDA APOLOGIZES OVER 'BAYARAN' REMARK VS UP

SCIENTISTS

MANILA - There is "no bad blood" between the UP Marine Science Institute

and environment department, a UP MSI official said Thursday, after

Undersecretary Benny Antiporda apologized for calling the university's

scientists "bayaran" or paid hacks.

Antiporda earlier said he would not apologize to the UP MSI for criticizing

the agency publicly instead of directly approaching it for using crushed

dolomite in Manila Bay.

However, he took back his statement and gave his apology in an interview

with ANC's Headstart.

"I would like to start my statement with an apology to the UP as a whole. It

is not intended to destroy the good name of the university itself but this

is just to send the message to UP MSI that we’re partners here," he told

ANC's Headstart.

"Again I apologize because talagang natangay po ako ng emotions ko kahapon

dahil medyo masakit po, hindi po ako pulitikong tao kaya ganun."

UP MSI director Laura David said she accepts Antiporda's apology as it was

only a "misunderstanding and miscommunication."

"Definitely, wala naman pong (there's no) bad blood between DENR and UP.

From the very start I knew this was just a misunderstanding and

miscommunication," she said in the same ANC interview.

David said she was not angry with Antiporda's statement calling UP

"bayaran."

"I’m a teacher at heart and a scientist to the core and it’s part of science

to actually be criticized so it’s okay with us to be criticized. The

important thing is for communication to continue and we’ve had decades of

work with DENR and we’d love to continue the same for years to come," she

said.

NO EXEMPTIONS: DOLE SAYS FIRMS MUST GIVE WORKERS 13TH MONTH PAY

MANILA— The Department of Labor and Employment said Thursday it would not

defer or exempt any firm from giving employees their 13th month pay, even as

the coronavirus pandemic left businesses struggling.

Speaking at the Laging Handa public briefing, Labor Secretary Silvestre

Bello III said his agency on Friday would issue an order on the 13th month

pay.

He had earlier said implementing rules and regulations of the law exempt

"distressed" companies from giving the mandatory benefit. Presidential

Decree No. 851 mandates the payment of this incentive every year.

Pressed on what the order would state, Bello said: "We will not postpone, we

will not defer and we will not give any exemption to the payment of the 13th

month pay."

"The law says pay the workers their 13th month pay on or before Dec. 24.

Iyan ang ipapatupad ng Department of Labor," he added.

‘STAYCATIONS’ OK’D IN 10 NCR HOTELS

MANILA — More Metro Manila hotels are showing interest to operate for

staycation purposes as the number of authorized hotels continues to grow,

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said yesterday.

“There are already 10 existing (authorized hotels). Still a lot applying,”

Puyat said.

Under Department of Tourism (DOT) Administrative Order 2020-006-A or the

“Amended Guidelines on the Operations of Accommodation Establishments for

Staycation Purposes under a General Community Quarantine,” all accommodation

establishments in areas declared to be under GCQ (general community

quarantine) must secure a certificate of authority to operate for

staycations (CAOS) from the DOT prior to accommodating any guests for

staycation.

The 10 hotels issued a CAOS are DOT star-rated hotels: Grand Hyatt, Makati

Shangri-La, Okada, Shangri-La at the Fort, Nobu Hotel City of Dreams (COD),

Joy Nostalg Hotel and Suites, EDSA Shangri-La, Solaire, Hyatt Regency COD

and Nuwa COD.

'OFEL' LEAVES LUZON, SIGNAL NO. 1 STILL UP IN SEVERAL AREAS: PAGASA

MANILA - Tropical depression Ofel left the Luzon landmass early Thursday and

may weaken into a low pressure area over the West Philippine Sea within 12

to 24 hours, the state weather bureau said.

The country's 15th storm this year was last estimated over the coastal

waters of Lubang, Occidental Mindoro as of 4 a.m., moving west northwestward

at 20 kilometers per hour and packing maximum winds of 45 kph with gusts of

up to 55 kph, PAGASA said.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains will prevail over mainland

Cagayan Valley, Cordilleras, and Central Luzon due to "Ofel," while monsoon

rains will prevail over Occidental Mindoro and Palawan including Calamian,

Tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) No. 1 remains hoisted in the following

areas, where 30-60 kph winds may rip roofs off nipa and cogon huts, damage

rice crops and down banana plants:

Metro Manila

Batangas

Laguna

Cavite

Rizal

northern and central portions of Quezon (Real, Mauban, Sampaloc, Tayabas

City, Pagbilao, Lucban, Lucena City, Sariaya, Candelaria, Tiaong, Dolores,

San Antonio, General Nakar, Infanta),

Bataan

northern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Mamburao, Abra de Ilog, Paluan,

Santa Cruz)

northern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Baco,

Naujan, Naujan Lake, Victoria, Calapan City)

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

JUDY ANN ASKS SHARON: 'PAANO NA PELIKULA NATING TATLO NI REGINE?'

MAYNILA -- Actress Judy Ann Santos expressed her concern over Sharon

Cuneta's post about retiring from show business.

In an Instagram post on Monday, October 12, Cuneta cleared speculations that

she will be retiring from show business soon.

Cuneta said her plans of leaving the entertainment industry will not happen

anytime soon because of her contracts and other commitments.

In the comment section of her post, Santos asked Cuneta of what will happen

to their planned movie project with Regine Velasquez.

"Ate!! Paano na pelikula nting tatlo ni regine!!!??!," Velasquez wrote.

Cuneta then responded to Santos and tagged Velasquez.

"Tara! Kulitin na natin! Hahaha! Miss you so much sis ko. I love you,"

Cuneta wrote.

"Pano yan sa bahay mo na lang?! Ngek! Hahaha!," she added.

In her Instagram post, Cuneta told her fans to be ready if her plan to

retire finally comes.

"I’m not just gonna instantly disappear! I owe you that much. But please

ready yourselves, okay? I love you. God bless you all," Cuneta wrote.

Over the weekend, Cuneta, who has been in showbiz for over 40 years, shocked

her fans when she declared she is now on her way to retirement.

In an Instagram post on Saturday, Cuneta shared a seemingly tired photo of

her where she expressed her exhaustion.

“Kids, it’s almost time. Mama’s tired. I love you,” she wrote across the

picture.

Cuneta also edited her Instagram profile and wrote in her bio that she is

“retiring soon.”

Cuneta, who started her singing career with the hit song "Mr. DJ", was seen

on television as one of the jury members of "Your Face Sounds Familiar" and

as a coach in "The Voice Teens" and "The Voice Kids."

SPORTS

PBA: CLUTCH PAUL LEE SAVES DAY FOR MAGNOLIA, AS NLEX FALTERS LATE

Paul Lee completed a 4-point play with 32 seconds left in the game to key

Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok's 103-100 victory over NLEX in the 2020

PBA Philippine Cup on Wednesday at AUF Sports Arena in Angeles City,

Pampanga.

NLEX saw a 22-point lead it built in the 3rd quarter evaporate, but

recovered late in the 4th for a 100-97 lead.

Lee then buried a 3-pointer and sank a bonus free throw after he was clipped

by Anthony Semerad.

Magnolia coach Chito Victolero acknowledged his squad had to shake off some

rust against NLEX.

"I know malaki ang adjustment sa amin this is our first game in 7 months,"

Victolero said.

"Nu'ng first half wala kaming rhythm, 'yung condition namin hindi ganun. I

told them we need an uptempo game lucky naman nakinig sila at nakabalik

kami."

Chris Banchero led the way in scoring for the Hotshots, coming off the bench

with 19 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists.

Lee had 18 points, and Jio Jalalon added 19, but defense won it for

Magnolia.

The Hotsots forced the Road Warriors to commit 25 turnovers, which

translated to 31 points for Magnolia.

"This is our strength our defense, kundi namin gagawin magiging delikado

talaga," said Victolero.

Magnolia, which lost to San Miguel Beer in the actual season opener in March

before action was called off because of the pandemic, upped its record to

1-1.

NLEX, meanwhile, fell to 0-2.

The loss spoiled Kiefer Ravena's 27-point effort for NLEX, which saw key

players Kiefer Alas (fouled out), JR Quiñahan (fouled out), and Jericho Cruz

(hurt ankle) exit in the fourth quarter.

PBA: MALIKSI, MERALCO NOTCH FIRST WIN; ALASKA DROPS TO 0-2

MANILA -- The Meralco Bolts rebounded from a subpar first game and took down

the Alaska Aces, 93-81, for their first victory in the 2020 PBA Philippine

Cup at the Angeles University Foundation Gym in Angeles City, Pampanga on

Wednesday night.

Meralco weathered a third-quarter charge by the Aces and got big shots from

Baser Amer in the fourth period to put their record at 1-1.

Alaska, meanwhile, dropped to 0-2 in the conference.

Allein Maliksi came off the bench to pour in a team-high 17 points, while

Amer scored eight of his 15 points in the final quarter. The Bolts also

welcomed back center Raymond Almazan, who had five points in 10 minutes of

playing time.

"It's like night and day," Meralco coach Norman Black said of their effort

against Alaska compared to how they played in their first game of the

conference against Phoenix Super LPG.

"Tonight, we played with a lot more fluidity, we played with a lot more

intensity," he explained. "Our team work was very good and we had 14 assists

in the first half."

Meralco appeared headed for a comfortable win after building a 49-35

advantage at the half. They forced Alaska stalwart Vic Manuel and top gunner

Mike DiGregorio into poor shooting performances, while getting huge buckets

from Reynel Hugnatan.

But Jeron Teng sparked Alaska's third-quarter comeback. They scored 12

unanswered points to open the second half to make it a two-point game, with

Teng drilling the three that made it 49-47 with under eight minutes left.

A three-point play by DiGregorio knotted the count at 52 with 4:28 to go, in

what was his only made basket in 13 tries in the game.

Big buckets by Maliksi to open the fourth quarter allowed Meralco to pull

away again, however. The veteran guard converted a floater that pushed the

lead back to double digits, 71-58, with over ten minutes left.

The Bolts went on to lead by as much as 19 points, 77-58, off a Hugnatan

free throw in the fourth.

Teng tried his best to will the Aces back in the contest, but the deficit

proved too big and a flurry of baskets by Amer slammed the door on their

comeback hopes.

"Winning this basketball game helps our confidence a lot," said Black, as

Meralco is scheduled to play Barangay Ginebra and Magnolia next.

Teng finished with 25 points on 9-of-11 shooting along with seven rebounds.

Manuel had 18 points, but he shot only 8-of-21 from the field, and

DiGregorio managed just six points after struggling all game. Alaska, as a

team, shot only 38.2%, while Meralco converted 50% of their own attempts.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 48.65

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Who makes the past, a patterne for next yeare, Turnes no new leafe, but

still the same thing reads, Seene things, he sees againe, heard things doth

heare, And makes his life, but like a paire of beads. - John Donne