HOUSE APPROVES 2021 NATIONAL BUDGET ON FINAL READING

MANILA - The House of Representatives on Friday approved on third and final

reading the proposed P4.506 trillion national budget for 2021.

The passage of the proposed national budget by the lower chamber was

consistent with the commitment of the newly installed House Speaker to pass

the 2021 national budget in time to prevent a reenacted one.

Capping 4 days of marathon deliberations, a total of 267 legislators voted

in favor of House Bill No. 7727. Only 6 voted against the measure and no one

abstained.

The lower chamber created a small committee to receive and resolve all

individual amendments to the budget.

Lawmakers have until Monday, October 19th to submit their respective

proposed amendments.

A soft copy of the budget bill will be submitted to the Senate by October

28.

In his closing remarks, House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco thanked House

members for responding to the call of President Rodrigo Duterte to hold a

special session to ensure the timely passage of the government's spending

plan for next year.

"We have provided every representative the opportunity to raise issues,

clarify any misconceptions, and recommend how we can make the budget truly

responsive to our current and pressing needs and conditions," he said.

He said the 2021 national budget is "truly reflective and responsive to the

needs of our people."

The third reading approval came minutes after the House passed the national

budget on the second reading, marking the second consecutive year that the

budget bill breezed through its second and third readings on the same day.

The agencies which received the biggest allocations were: Department of

Education, P754.4 billion; Department of Public Works and Highways, P667.3

billion; Department of the Interior and Local Government, P246.1 billion;

Department of National Defense, P209.1 billion; Department of Health (DOH),

P203.1 billion; Department of Social Welfare and Development, P171.2

billion; Department of Transportation, P143.6 billion; Department of

Agriculture, P66.4 billion; the Judiciary, P43.5 billion; and Department of

Labor and Employment, P27.5 billion.

The DOH budget includes an initial P2.5 billion for the procurement of

COVID-19 vaccines next year.

VELASCO ALLAYS CONCERNS OVER POSSIBLE PORK INSERTIONS IN 2021 NATIONAL

BUDGET

MANILA - House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco allayed concerns over possible

pork insertions in the proposed P4.5-trillion national budget for 2021.

The House of Representatives allowed its members to submit individual

amendments to the General Appropriations Bill until October 19th, even after

passing it on third and final reading Friday.

"We made sure it is a constitutional budget based on the decision of the

Supreme Court," Velasco told reporters Friday.

"We are making sure there is no pork in the said budget," he added.

Velsco said they are studying how to address the "inequitable"

infrastructure budget allocations for districts.

"Kung hindi namin magawa 'yan ngayon, meron pa naman next year. Pero as much

as possible, we will do everything we can so that we can equitably, fairly

distribute," he said.

Some lawmakers complained of supposedly higher infra funds in districts of

congressmen who were known allies of former House Speaker Alan Peter

Cayetano.

Cayetano has denied this.

Will the proposed 2021 infra allocation for Cayetano's district in Taguig

and his close ally Rep. LRay Villafuerte's district in Camarines Sur be

affected?

"I'm still looking at it," Velasco said.

He denied Villafuerte's claim that former Rep. Rolando Andaya had a hand in

the proposed 2021 national budget.

"I haven't seen congressman Andaya actively participating behind the

scenes," Velasco said.

DUTERTE OKs RESUMPTION OF ENERGY PROJECTS IN WEST PHILIPPINE SEA

MANILA - President Duterte has lifted the moratorium on oil and gas

explorations in the West Philippine Sea to allow service contractors Forum

Energy Ltd. and PXP Energy Corp. to resume their activities in the area,

presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said yesterday.

According to Roque, the Chief Executive has approved the Department of

Energy's recommendation to allow the explorations to proceed after these

were suspended during the previous administration.

"First, the President has approved the recommendation of the Department of

Energy to allow petroleum activities once again and to allow the exploration

of natural gas and oil in the West Philippine Sea," Roque said in Filipino

over state-run PTV-4.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi had announced the development on Thursday

night, which allows the contractors conducting petroleum-related activities

in service contracts 59, 72 and 75 in the West Philippine Sea to proceed.

HOUSE PASSES ANTI-RED TAPE BILL

MANILA - The House of Representatives passed yesterday the measure granting

President Duterte special powers to be able to speed up issuance of

government licenses and permits as the nation continues to face the COVID-19

pandemic.

The plenary convened as committee of the whole and approved House Bill No.

7884, or the proposed "Act Authorizing the President to Expedite the

Processing and Issuance of National and Local Permits, Licenses and

Certifications," on second and third reading on the same day.

Duterte certified the measure as urgent, allowing both chambers of Congress

to expedite the approval of the bill and do away with the rule requiring

three-day interval between the second and third readings.

HB 7884 is the same version of the bill passed on final reading by the

Senate earlier this week, which means there is no need for a bicameral

conference committee before the measure is submitted to the President for

signature.

The bill was authored by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and Majority Leader

Martin Romualdez.

The measure seeks to speed up issuance of government licenses and permits,

which is seen to also help fast-track the country's socioeconomic recovery

and ensure effective government response to the ongoing health crisis.

PACC: OVER P153 BILLION LOST TO PHILHEALTH 'DYSFUNCTION' IN 5 YEARS

MANILA - "Dysfunction" in state medical insurer PhilHealth led to losses

worth over P153 billion in 5 years, the Presidential Anti-Corruption

Commission (PACC) said Friday, as the coronavirus pandemic raged.

The PACC in March 2019 first received reports on the "dysfunction of

PhilHealth due to failed policies, fraud and other anomalies which led to

losses estimated at P153.7 billion in a period of 5 years, from 2013 to

2019," said PACC chairperson Dante Jimenez.

Allegations of corruption against PhilHealth include overpayment, ghost

patients, unnecessary procedures, fake receipts and laxity in premium

collection, he said in a virtual presser.

"It appears that corruption has been systematic-from top to bottom of

PhilHealth management," Jimenez said.

The PACC came out with the report just as PhilHealth owed over P1 billion in

debt to the Philippine Red Cross for COVID-19 tests, prompting the latter to

halt testing.

The PACC also found that corruption in PhilHealth is rooted in its "highly

fragmented" information technology system and "prehistoric" accounting

system, which make the monitoring of funds difficult, said Commissioner

Greco Belgica.

"The problem was more than against the people, or the corrupt people, but

was really about the system, iyong kanilang (their) IT system, accounting

system," he said in the briefing.

"That's why hindi masolve-solve kahit palitan nang palitan ang mga tao,

hindi mo naman pinalitan ang sistema, wala ring nabago o paulit-ulit lang

po."

The PACC will continue investigating PhilHealth and its overseer, the

Department of Health, with the help of the Anti-Money Laundering Council,

Jimenez said.

"Even iyong mga DOH officials na maaaring nagmanipula ng PhilHealth, puwede

po silang tamaan dito. Hindi pa po tapos ang laban," he said.

DEPUTY SPEAKERSHIP OFFER TO CAYETANO STILL STANDS: VELASCO

MANILA - Following his ouster as House Speaker, Taguig Rep. Alan Peter

Cayetano can still be appointed deputy speaker as offered earlier,

Marinduque Rep. and new House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said Friday.

"He's the former Speaker and I truly believe that he deserves the position,"

he told reporters.

"He can choose either a committee chairmanship or a deputy speaker

position," he added.

Velasco said he still has to offer it to the Taguig lawmaker personally.

Velasco clarified he's not yet making major changes on committee

chairmanships or deputy speakerships in the House as he wants "unity and

harmony within the members."

"So during the recess, we will still check the committee memberships kasi

sometimes we see na mayroong parang mas maraming nakukuhang positions na

medyo hindi naman fair sa iba. So we will just see kung mayroon namang

unfair na mga appointments doon sa mga ibang committees, pero pag wala

naman, then they will just remain the same," he said.

But just within the first week of Velasco's speakership, he replaced

Cayetano's allies in key positions at the House of Representatives with his

own.

'ONLINE-FIRST' HABIT BOOSTS E-PAYMENTS, CROSS-BORDER TRADE: PAYPAL

MANILA - Consumers worldwide have adopted an "online-first" shopping habit

out of safety and necessity, boosting e-commerce businesses, e-payment

systems and cross-border trades, global financial firm PayPal said.

Shoppers in Southeast Asia are likely to remain cautious even after the

pandemic is contained and are also inclined to lean on contactless means for

their needs, PayPal Senior Director and Head of Sales in Southeast Asia

Rajkishore Agrawal told ABS-CBN News.

"Online sales were booming well before COVID-19 and will likely increase now

due to new online-first shopping habits formed during this time," Agrawal

said.

"With the stay-at-home culture brought by COVID-19, reports have shown that

consumers in SEA countries will remain cautious when national lockdowns are

lifted and will lean to contactless payment options like e-payments and

digital wallet apps," he added.

As shoppers move online, businesses have no choice but to also intensify

their digital presence to remain relevant. With the pivot to digital, many

of them need e-payment platforms to do business.

Payment system is crucial in e-commerce businesses, PayPal said, as those

without a preferred payment method could lose 21 percent of their sales.

PayPal said it posted its "strongest user growth on record" in the second

quarter with 21.3 million new net active accounts.

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CORONAVIRUS INFECTIONS IN PHILIPPINES SURPASS 351,000

The Philippines reported 3,139 new coronavirus infections, raising the

nationwide caseload to more than 351,000, the Department of Health said

Friday.

To date, 351,750 people have had COVID-19 in the Philippines, of which 14%

are active cases. Of the active infections, 84.7% are exhibiting mild

symptoms.

RESTRICTIONS EASED ON FOREIGN, LOCAL TRAVEL

MANILA - With the country now recording slower transmission of COVID-19, the

government is allowing non-essential foreign trips beginning Oct. 21,

subject to health protocols and certain restrictions set by the Inter-Agency

Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

Under IATF Resolution No. 79, those allowed to leave for abroad are overseas

Filipino workers (OFWs), students enrolled abroad or those accepted in

exchange visitor programs, permanent residents of foreign jurisdictions and

foreign nationals.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. yesterday said the IATF approved the

lifting of restrictions for non-essential travel of Filipinos after

discussions among members of the task force.

"In the same 79th meeting, the IATF lifted the restriction of non-essential

outbound travel of Filipinos effective Oct. 21, 2020," Roque said.

PHILIPPINES NOW ALLOWS TRAVEL 'FOR ANY PURPOSE' BETWEEN GCQ, MGCQ AREAS

MANILA - The Philippines further loosened movement restrictions in the

country after the government's inter-agency task force on coronavirus

response has allowed travel between general community quarantine and

modified GCQ areas.

This means travel "for any purpose" between GCQ and MGCQ areas is now

permitted subject to "reasonable" regulations by local government units.

"Our IATF allowed interzonal travel even for persons not authorized outside

of residences (APORs) between GCQ and MGCQ areas," presidential spokesperson

Harry Roque said Friday.

"Travel between MGCQ areas and places that will be declared under 'new

normal' is also allowed," he added.

Previously, only APORs could cross provincial borders.

The IATF also approved the adjustment of age-based stay-at-home

restrictions. Individuals who are 15 to 65 years old are now allowed to

leave their homes.

IATF ALLOWS MALL SALES, PROMO EVENTS TO REVIVE ECONOMY

MANILA - To further spur economic activity, the Inter-Agency Task Force for

the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has directed the

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to allow business establishments to

increase their activities and operational capacities.

Under IATF Resolution No. 79, the task force said the move is aimed at

gradually restoring economic activity in the country.

This will cover all business establishments or activities in areas

classified under general community quarantine (GCQ) or lower.

"The establishments and malls may hold activities so that there will be

economic or business activity such as sales, but still subject to the DTI

guidelines in the operation of shopping malls," presidential spokesman Harry

Roque Jr. told state-run PTV-4.

PAL ALL-FEMALE PILOT CREW FLIES WIDEBODY AIRCRAFT FOR 1ST TIME

MANILA - Philippine Airlines (PAL) recorded an achievement after an

all-female flight crew flew for the first time on one of the carrier's

widebody aircraft.

PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said in a statement Thursday that flight

PR8655 Riyadh-Manila on Oct. 14-15 was flown by Capt. Yvonne Sunga, a former

flight attendant, assisted by First Officer May Marie Segovia, a former

military pilot, and Second Officer Marie Rose Ison Maximo, also a former

flight attendant.

"This flight brightened up my day and made me forget about my worries. A

flight of female pilots, former flight attendants and a former military

female pilot. Wow, thank you ladies for sharing this beautiful sky with me,"

Maximo said.

"A milestone moment to be proud of!" Villaluna added.

KTV RESTOBAR SINALAKAY NG MGA AWTORIDAD SA QC

MAYNILA - Nagbabala ng ang mga awtoridad sa lahat ng mga establisimyento sa

Quezon City na sumunod sa mga health protocol matapos salakayin ng QC Task

Force Disiplina ang isang KTV restobar sa Roosevelt Avenue sa lungsod

Biyernes.

Ayon kay Rannie Ludovica, hepe ng QC Task Force Disiplina, may natanggap

silang mga reklamo laban sa restobar na umaabot na umano ng madaling araw

ang operasyon at hindi na nasusunod ang mga health protocol gaya ng physical

distancing at pagkakaroon ng limitasyon sa bilang ng bote ng beer o alak.

Pagsalakay nila sa tatlong palapag ng establisimyento, nakita ng mga

operatiba na bukas pa ang KTV restobar kahit pasado na sa curfew na alas 10

ng gabi.

Ayon naman sa ilang customer, di nila namalayan na lagpas na ng curfew. Wala

rin anilang abiso mula sa management ng bar. Sana raw yung bar na mismo

magsabi ng lagpas na sa oras at kailangan na umuwi.

Nasa 16 na mga customer ang natikitan dahil sa paglabag sa curfew.

Posible namang ipasara ang KTV restobar dahil umano sa mga paglabag sa

health at safety protocol.

Tuluy-tuloy aniya ang pag-raid nila para matiyak na sumusunod ang lahat na

commercial establishment sa mga patakaran ngayong may pandemya.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

JEROME PONCE AND MIKA REYES WIPE TRACES OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP ON INSTAGRAM

MANILA - Have Jerome Ponce and Mika Reyes separated?

This was the question among fans of the couple early this week, after

hawk-eyed followers noticed that the actor and the volleyball star no longer

follow each other on Instagram.

Ponce, 25, and Reyes, 26, also appear to have wiped traces of their

relationship on their personal social media accounts, prompting speculation

that they have broken up.

Neither of the two has issued a statement on their relationship.

Ponce and Reyes first went public with their relationship in February 2017,

a year after they first rumored to be dating each other.

SPORTS

PBA: TNT ROUTS SMB FOR TOP SPOT; ROMEO, POGOY EXIT BECAUSE OF INJURIES

JP Erram tallied a career-high 27 points and 15 rebounds, and Ray Parks Jr.

added 22 points and 4 3-pointers, and TNT raced to an early lead to blow out

San Miguel Beer 107-88 in the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup on Friday at AUF

Sports Arena in Angeles City, Pampanga.

The Tropang Giga led by as many as 22 points, with Parks and RR Pogoy

leading the way.

Making things worse for the defending champion San Miguel was the early exit

of Terrence Romeo, who went out with a shoulder injury after colliding with

Ryan Reyes in the second quarter.

Erram later took advantage of Mo Tautuaa's foul trouble, joining TNT's

scoring spree.

Erram eventually finished a perfect 9 of 9 from the field.

Pogoy, who went out with a sprained ankle in the 4th, added 15 points.

"We just want to be ready kahit sino pang kalaban namin . . . Alam namin

kung anong nakasalalay dito," Erram said after TNT assumed the solo lead

with a 3-0 record.

TNT coach Bong Ravena said his squad was only fortunate to catch the Beermen

on their off night.

"Sinasamantala lang namin 'yung opponent because I think hindi pa sila

fine-tuned," he said.

"I know how they play, we know they're going to come out, we're just lucky

we pulled through."

San Miguel, led by Alex Cabagnot's 15 points, fell to 1-2.

PBA: RAIN OR SHINE DOMINATES GLASS IN WIN VS TERRAFIRMA; NOW 2-0

Rey Nambatac scored 19 points, and Javee Mocon chipped in 14 points and 10

rebounds, as Rain Or Shine beat TerraFirma Dyip 91-82 in the 2020 PBA

Philippine Cup on Friday at AUF Sports Arena in Angeles City, Pampanga.

Rain Or Shine rose to 2-0 in the standings, as TerraFirma, led by CJ Perez's

26 points, fell to 0-2.

The Elasto Painters were up by as many as 16 points, but the Dyip went as

close as 82-66 after Aldrech Ramos' layup with 3:28 left in the game.

Nambatac drilled a 3-pointer and Gabe Norwood made a basket to extend Rain

Or Shine's lead, as the Painters never looked back.

Another big scoring night by Perez -- to go with 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 5

steals and 2 blocks -- went to waste as TerraFirma couldn't complete the

comeback.

"We came in better shape as expected. As of now, most of teams are still

trying to get back into that game shape," said Rain Or Shine coach Caloy

Garcia.

Beau Belga added 14 points and 8 rebounds, and Gabe Norwood contributed 14

points and 3 blocks for Rain Or Shine.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 48.62

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

There are two ways to slide easily through life; to believe everything or to

doubt everything. Both ways save us from thinking. - Alfred Korzybski