'WASTE PAPER': CHINA STILL REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE 5-YEAR-OLD ARBITRATION AWARD
MANILA — Beijing remains firm on its position that award of the South China Sea arbitration issued five years ago was "illegal, null and void."
The landmark ruling of the United Nations-backed tribunal sided with the Philippines, invalidating its expansive claims in the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian insisted that the July 2016 arbitral award violate the principle of state consent and is just a "piece of paper."
"The arbitration has major fallacies in fact-finding and application of law and violates UNCLOS and international law. The award of the arbitration is illegal, null and void. It is nothing more than a piece of waste paper," Zhao said in a press briefing on Monday.
Beijing reiterated that it does not accept nor participate in the arbitration and does not recognize the award.
"Anyone with a discerning eye can easily see that the arbitration is a political farce which is initiated and manipulated by the US to smear and suppress China," Zhao said.
Zhao also accused the United States of taking advantage of the fifth anniversary of the arbitral award by hyping up the South China Sea issue.
This statement came after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused China of continuing to "coerce and intimidate Southeast Asian coastal states."
"The US statement disregards the historical merits and objective facts of the South China Sea issue, violates and distorts international law, and breaks the US government's long-held public commitment of not taking a position on the South China Sea sovereignty issue," the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said.
He added that Beijing is strongly dissatisfied with the "irresponsible" remarks from Washington.
‘PANAKOT LANG SA KANILA IYAN’: DUTERTE SAYS FLOATING IDEA OF VP RUN JUST A TACTIC
MANILA—President Rodrigo Duterte said floating the idea of running for vice president in the upcoming national elections is merely a tactic, even as he acknowledged being open to the idea.
According to Duterte, he is just using the issue to scare his critics.
"Ako naman, 'yung vice president ko, pantakot lang sa kanila 'yan, pero sabi ko let us see," he said during Monday's recorded public speech.
"If it is good for the country, I will do it. If it does not contribute to our republic, 'wag na lang. Magsasayang lang tayo ng oras (We will just waste time), pati you contribute to the conundrum of the moment," Duterte added.
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, during the same briefing, reiterated that there is nothing illegal with the possibility of Duterte running for vice president.
He said that, the prohibition is for the incumbent president to run in the elections. In short, once the term ends, he is not allowed to run for president again. That's what's prohibited and that is clear. There is nothing in the Constitution that says the incumbent president cannot run for other positions.
Panelo also reiterated that there is no truth that Duterte is eyeing the vice-presidency to remain in power and avoid his alleged crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court, as his possible vice presidential bid is just to support the incoming administration.
Duterte, who is not eligible to run again for the country's top post, is being urged by some of his party mates at PDP-Laban to seek the vice presidency in next year's polls and choose his running mate.
STABLE DEBT RATIO WITH REVENUE RISE MAY LEAD TO POSITIVE RATING ACTION: FITCH RATINGS
MANILA - A stable debt ratio with an increase in revenue as well as public finances could lead to the country's credit outlook upgrade from negative to positive, Fitch Ratings said Tuesday.
Fitch Ratings on Monday affirmed its BBB rating but it revised the outlook to negative from stable, which means the credit rating could be downgraded in the medium term.
However, the outlook can also improve given the right conditions, Fitch Ratings Director of Sovereigns for Asia Pacific Sagarika Chandra told ANC.
"That’s going to come from the public finances, that’s important. If we find that there’s going to be a stabilization of debt ratios, which is matched by increase in revenue base, that’s a factor that could lead to a positive rating action," Chandra said.
Chandra said the revised outlook was due to "eroding" buffers and the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic including the new variants.
"Last year, we downgraded some countries without the pandemic and that didn’t happen to the Philippines because, as I was saying, there were certain buffers they had going into the crisis and now we think those buffers have eroded," she said.
Economic managers have said the country's strong fiscal position helped the country weather the COVID-19 pandemic, which had shuttered businesses, leading to job loss for millions.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said the effect of the pandemic on the economy is transitory. Diokno on Monday said the country's debt ratio was still in a sustainable level.
Debt watcher S&P Global Ratings in May also affirmed the Philippines' investment-grade credit rating of BBB+ with a stable outlook.
Investment-grade ratings give countries access to lower-interest loans and other benefits.
'WAG MO SUNUGIN ANG BAHAY': CUSI TELLS PACQUIAO TO PROVE CORRUPTION OR SHUT UP
MANILA - Expelled PDP-Laban Vice Chairman Alfonso Cusi on Tuesday challenged Sen. Manny Pacquiao to prove his allegation of corruption in several government agencies, or "shut up."
The boxer-lawmaker's accusations are "really regrettable because as a senator he should be responsible with his actions," said Cusi, also the secretary of the Department of Energy.
"He should prove it. We are ready. You cannot just accuse the President and say, ‘Where’s the P10 billion?’ You prove it. If you cannot prove it, you better shut up," Cusi told ANC's Headstart.
The energy chief noted PDP-Laban is pushing a certain program of governance. "Kung hindi siya naniniwala dun, wag mo naman sunugin ang bahay (If he does not believe in that, he should not burn the whole house)," he added.
Pacquiao is currently the president of PDP-Laban after Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III stepped down last year. However, at least one official of the party pointed out that he is only on a holdover position and was not duly elected by the party members.
DUTERTE IS FIRST ELECTED OFFICIAL TO COMPLETE AUTHORIZED SINOPHARM VACCINATION
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night became the first elected government official to publicly complete vaccination with the Sinopharm vaccine, a jab authorized in the Philippines only in very specific circumstances.
The Food and Drug Administration in June issued an Emergency Use Authorization for the batch of vaccines made by the Chinese state-owned pharma firm and later donated for use by the Presidential Security Group, members of which had already received doses in September.
The FDA, which regulates the use of vaccines, had not authorized the PSG's vaccination of its own personnel and efforts to investigate the illicit inoculation were blocked by an order from the president for his security unit to keep quiet about it.
Experts, when Duterte disclosed the PSG vaccination last December, warned that it would set a dangerous precedent for "other drug distributors, manufacturers and those who plan to bring any drug into the Philippines."
Dr. Benjamin Co, an infectious diseases expert, said then that "[we] need to divulge who slipped the vaccines inside the country, how many doses and how it was done."
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in March that there was no record of the smuggled vaccines passing through customs. Citing findings by the National Bureau of Investigation, he said then that the doses may have been brought into the Philippines "in a luggage, carry-on bag, etc. Maybe through a private flight too."
The World Health Organization in May approved the Sinopharm vaccine for Emergency Use Listing, a move that would pave the way for global use.
Rep. Ronaldo Zamora (San Juan) on Monday disclosed that he had also received what he called "bootleg" Sinopharm vaccines last December.
"Sino nakakuha ng Sinopharm sa Pilipinas? Isa roon si Presidente. Pareho pinagkunan namin, pareho kaming bootleg, (Who received Sinopharm in the Philippines? One of them is the president. We got ours from the same source, we both got 'bootleg' vaccines)" GMA News quotes him as saying at a vaccination event in San Juan City.
He said he has since received "booster shots", a practice that the Department of Health said Monday is not authorized and could mean sanctions for medical workers who administer them.
The Palace said in December that there is no penalty for people who receive unauthorized vaccines, only for those who sell, distribute or administer them.
SENATE PROBE SOUGHT ON 'STATE-FUNDED TROLL FARMS'
MANILA - Twelve senators have called for an investigation into reports that public funds were allegedly being spent troll farms to spread misinformation and "fake news" online.
"Filipinos should know why government spends public funds on troll farm operators disguised as 'public relations practitioners' and 'social media consultants' who sow fake news rather than on COVID-19 assistance, health care, food security, jobs protection, education, among others,” according to Senate Resolution 768 filed Monday.
This comes following Sen. Panfilo Lacson's revelation in June that a government undersecretary had been reportedly organizing internet troll farms "to target political rivals or those not aligned with President Rodrigo Duterte's administration." The Palace has denied the allegation.
The resolution also cited the awarding of a P900,000-worth of contract by the Department of Finance to a public relations practitioner who was tagged by Facebook as the "operator behind a pro-Duterte fake account network."
"The above instances illustrate that troll farms and the misinformation and fake news that they propagate may be state-backed and state-funded. In this connection, Congress should look into government funds that are used to fund misinformation and fake news that affect millions of Filipinos," the resolution read.
The resolution was signed by Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, and Senators Nancy Binay, Leila de Lima, Richard Gordon, Risa Hontiveros, Panfilo Lacson, Emmanuel Pacquiao, Francis Pangilinan, Grace Poe, and Joel Villanueva.
HONG KONG WANTS TO EASE COVID-19 FLIGHT BANS: ENVOY
Fully vaccinated Hong Kong residents and those with work visas arriving from all countries subject to Covid-19 flight bans will be allowed into the city under the initial stage of an official plan to ease travel restrictions, according to the Philippines' top diplomat locally.
Consul general Raly Tejada revealed on Monday that discussions were held last week between the Philippine consulate and city authorities on lifting the direct flight bans in place to guard against the coronavirus threat from overseas.
Hong Kong banned flights arriving from the Philippines and Indonesia in April and June, respectively. Both countries were classified as "extremely high risk" for the coronavirus, a category that also includes Britain and India.
Employment agencies estimate that more than 5,000 domestic helpers are stuck in the Philippines and Indonesia because of the measure. Desperate local employers, they added, were currently willing to offer salaries as high as HK$8,000 (US$1,030) a month - 73 per cent more than the minimum - to helpers already in the city.
Tejada told the Post that the consulate had asked Hong Kong officials to re-examine the Philippines' classification to allow city residents and those with the right to work in the Asian finance hub to be allowed to return.
City authorities "recognized the need" for those people to return, Tejada said.
"Hong Kong initially plans to facilitate the return of vaccinated residents and workers from all countries currently under the ban," he said.
"They were also careful to add that the plan is not final and details of the scheme still need to be thrashed out."
THE REST
========
DSWD WARNS PUBLIC VS GROUPS TAKING FEES FOR PWD, SENIOR IDS
MANILA — The Department of Social Welfare and Development on Tuesday urged the public to be extra vigilant in engaging with any group or organization, following a recent incident during a payout activity for the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation.
In a statement sent to reporters Monday night, the DSWD said the incident involved a group posing as department personnel for senior citizens and persons’ with disability.
According to the DSWD Crisis Intervention Division, which conducted the payout, the group recruited members and required them to pay for identification cards worth P350 pesos as an assurance to receive financial assistance from the Department through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation fund.
The department reminded the public that senior citizens or persons with disability cards are not for sale and do not immediately guarantee the disbursement of financial assistance.
It added that it is implementing screening and verification procedures, based on the DSWD Memorandum Circular No. 11 series of 2019 as amended by Memorandum Circular No. 24, series of 2020, during payouts to ensure the eligibility of possible beneficiaries of the program.
"Through this protocol, the DSWD will be able to verify the legitimacy of the documents presented by clients while social workers will be able to conduct assessments in order to recommend appropriate amounts of assistance to be given to them, depending on their needs," the department added.
‘NO INITIATIVES YET ON BOOSTER SHOTS’
MANILA — The government is not yet looking into the possibility of giving booster shots to health workers vaccinated with Sinovac, Malacañang said yesterday, as questions linger about the China-made jabs’ efficacy against more infectious COVID-19 variants.
“No such initiative so far,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said, quoting infectious disease expert Edsel Salvaña who criticized a report saying hundreds of Thai medical workers (618 out of 677,348 individuals) were infected despite the Sinovac vaccination.
“As Dr. Salvaña told a newspaper outfit, ‘Do a better job of objective reporting. You guys are killing vaccine confidence. This will cause lives. What’s the vaccine effectiveness for those numbers? What’s the infectious rate and death rate among unvaccinated, you guys can do better than that. We expect better. The vaccines are working very well,” Roque said.
The Department of Health (DOH) is not expecting the delays in the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to hamper the country’s goal of achieving herd immunity by yearend.
“If it’s going to be affecting our herd immunity goal, I don’t think so because the delay is just one or two weeks, like the Sinovac and other vaccines,” DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said yesterday.
The government aims to inoculate at least 58 million Filipinos by yearend.
As of July 11, some 13.2 million individuals have already received the first dose of their COVID-19 jabs, while only 3.52 million have completed their two-dose vaccination.
Vergeire also appealed to those seeking COVID-19 vaccine booster shots to think of others who have not been inoculated.
ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE
NETFLIX DROPS TRAILER OF JASON MOMOA'S UPCOMING FILM 'SWEET GIRL'
MANILA – Netflix on Monday dropped the trailer of Jason Momoa and Isabela Merced’s upcoming movie “Sweet Girl.”
Based on the official synopsis provided by the streaming giant, the film follows Ray Cooper (Momoa), a devoted family man who vows justice against the pharmaceutical company responsible for pulling a potentially life-saving drug from the market just before his wife (Adria Arjona) dies from cancer.
However, when his search for the truth leads to a deadly encounter that puts Ray and his daughter Rachel (Merced) in harm’s way, Ray’s mission turns into a quest for vengeance in order to protect the only family he has left.
“Sweet Girl” is directed by Brian Andrew Mendoza and also stars Justin Bartha, Amy Brenneman, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Raza Jaffrey, Lex Scott Davis and Michael Raymond-James.
It will exclusively premiere on Netflix on August 20.
SPORTS
TEAM PACQUIAO SLAMS WBA AFTER REFUSAL TO REINSTATE 'PACMAN'
LOS ANGELES -- The WBA "super" welterweight title will not be on the line when Manny Pacquiao faces off against unbeaten American Errol Spence Jr. in Las Vegas on August 21.
This, as Pacquiao was designated as a "champion in recess" by the World Boxing Association (WBA) earlier this year, after failing to defend his title due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After the WBA declined to reinstate the "Pacman" as a full champion, his camp fired back at the sanctioning body and insisted that he had been denied due process and respect.
They still brought up the WBA at their recent press conference with Spence, and plan on bringing it with them to the ring during the August 21 pay-per-view.
"Belt's on the line, baby," assured MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons.
As the WBA super title is being disputed, The RING Magazine has announced that the winner will get their welterweight belt, which was last held by Floyd Maywather Jr. in 2015.
Pacquiao has held The RING Magazine belt in three weight classes during his career.
"Pangarap ko siyempre, at this age, pangarap ko kumuha ng mga ilang belt katulad nito," said Pacquiao. "Ilang belt ang paglalabanan natin, magandang karangalan para sa ating bansa."
The 42-year-old Pacquiao added that he might not be done collecting belts. While he's taking his career one fight at a time, he also wouldn't mind a shot at Terrence Crawford, who holds the WBO welterweight title.
"Possible din 'yan. Undefeated din si Crawford, so possible din 'yan," he said.
Another possibility is that the WBA may order a match between the Pacquiao-Spence winner and its recently elevated welterweight champion, Yordenis Ugas.
While Pacquiao has yet to fight in the 2020s, he did enter this decade as the only fighter to ever hold a world title in four different decades. A win over Spence will solidify that record.
NBA SCORES JULY 11
NOTE: NEXT GAME WILL RESUME ON JULY 15
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
2 Suns2-1 28 17 31 24 100
3 Bucks1-2 25 35 38 22 120
GAME 3: PHO LEADS 2-1, FISERV FORUM, MILWAUKEE, WI
SCORING LEADERS
C. Paul PHO
19 PTS 9 AST
G. Antetokounmpo MIL
41 PTS 13 REB 6 AST
INDICATORS
FOREX $1 = P 50.02
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, or a hell of heaven. - John Milton
and void."
The landmark ruling of the United Nations-backed tribunal sided with the Philippines, invalidating its expansive claims in the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian insisted that the July 2016 arbitral award violate the principle of state consent and is just a "piece of paper."
"The arbitration has major fallacies in fact-finding and application of law and violates UNCLOS and international law. The award of the arbitration is illegal, null and void. It is nothing more than a piece of waste paper," Zhao said in a press briefing on Monday.
Beijing reiterated that it does not accept nor participate in the arbitration and does not recognize the award.
"Anyone with a discerning eye can easily see that the arbitration is a political farce which is initiated and manipulated by the US to smear and suppress China," Zhao said.
Zhao also accused the United States of taking advantage of the fifth anniversary of the arbitral award by hyping up the South China Sea issue.
This statement came after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused China of continuing to "coerce and intimidate Southeast Asian coastal states."
"The US statement disregards the historical merits and objective facts of the South China Sea issue, violates and distorts international law, and breaks the US government's long-held public commitment of not taking a position on the South China Sea sovereignty issue," the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said.
He added that Beijing is strongly dissatisfied with the "irresponsible" remarks from Washington.
‘PANAKOT LANG SA KANILA IYAN’: DUTERTE SAYS FLOATING IDEA OF VP RUN JUST A TACTIC
MANILA—President Rodrigo Duterte said floating the idea of running for vice president in the upcoming national elections is merely a tactic, even as he acknowledged being open to the idea.
According to Duterte, he is just using the issue to scare his critics.
"Ako naman, 'yung vice president ko, pantakot lang sa kanila 'yan, pero sabi ko let us see," he said during Monday's recorded public speech.
"If it is good for the country, I will do it. If it does not contribute to our republic, 'wag na lang. Magsasayang lang tayo ng oras (We will just waste time), pati you contribute to the conundrum of the moment," Duterte added.
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, during the same briefing, reiterated that there is nothing illegal with the possibility of Duterte running for vice president.
He said that, the prohibition is for the incumbent president to run in the elections. In short, once the term ends, he is not allowed to run for president again. That's what's prohibited and that is clear. There is nothing in the Constitution that says the incumbent president cannot run for other positions.
Panelo also reiterated that there is no truth that Duterte is eyeing the vice-presidency to remain in power and avoid his alleged crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court, as his possible vice presidential bid is just to support the incoming administration.
Duterte, who is not eligible to run again for the country's top post, is being urged by some of his party mates at PDP-Laban to seek the vice presidency in next year's polls and choose his running mate.
STABLE DEBT RATIO WITH REVENUE RISE MAY LEAD TO POSITIVE RATING ACTION: FITCH RATINGS
MANILA - A stable debt ratio with an increase in revenue as well as public finances could lead to the country's credit outlook upgrade from negative to positive, Fitch Ratings said Tuesday.
Fitch Ratings on Monday affirmed its BBB rating but it revised the outlook to negative from stable, which means the credit rating could be downgraded in the medium term.
However, the outlook can also improve given the right conditions, Fitch Ratings Director of Sovereigns for Asia Pacific Sagarika Chandra told ANC.
"That’s going to come from the public finances, that’s important. If we find that there’s going to be a stabilization of debt ratios, which is matched by increase in revenue base, that’s a factor that could lead to a positive rating action," Chandra said.
Chandra said the revised outlook was due to "eroding" buffers and the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic including the new variants.
"Last year, we downgraded some countries without the pandemic and that didn’t happen to the Philippines because, as I was saying, there were certain buffers they had going into the crisis and now we think those buffers have eroded," she said.
Economic managers have said the country's strong fiscal position helped the country weather the COVID-19 pandemic, which had shuttered businesses, leading to job loss for millions.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said the effect of the pandemic on the economy is transitory. Diokno on Monday said the country's debt ratio was still in a sustainable level.
Debt watcher S&P Global Ratings in May also affirmed the Philippines' investment-grade credit rating of BBB+ with a stable outlook.
Investment-grade ratings give countries access to lower-interest loans and other benefits.
'WAG MO SUNUGIN ANG BAHAY': CUSI TELLS PACQUIAO TO PROVE CORRUPTION OR SHUT UP
MANILA - Expelled PDP-Laban Vice Chairman Alfonso Cusi on Tuesday challenged Sen. Manny Pacquiao to prove his allegation of corruption in several government agencies, or "shut up."
The boxer-lawmaker's accusations are "really regrettable because as a senator he should be responsible with his actions," said Cusi, also the secretary of the Department of Energy.
"He should prove it. We are ready. You cannot just accuse the President and say, ‘Where’s the P10 billion?’ You prove it. If you cannot prove it, you better shut up," Cusi told ANC's Headstart.
The energy chief noted PDP-Laban is pushing a certain program of governance. "Kung hindi siya naniniwala dun, wag mo naman sunugin ang bahay (If he does not believe in that, he should not burn the whole house)," he added.
Pacquiao is currently the president of PDP-Laban after Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III stepped down last year. However, at least one official of the party pointed out that he is only on a holdover position and was not duly elected by the party members.
DUTERTE IS FIRST ELECTED OFFICIAL TO COMPLETE AUTHORIZED SINOPHARM VACCINATION
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night became the first elected government official to publicly complete vaccination with the Sinopharm vaccine, a jab authorized in the Philippines only in very specific circumstances.
The Food and Drug Administration in June issued an Emergency Use Authorization for the batch of vaccines made by the Chinese state-owned pharma firm and later donated for use by the Presidential Security Group, members of which had already received doses in September.
The FDA, which regulates the use of vaccines, had not authorized the PSG's vaccination of its own personnel and efforts to investigate the illicit inoculation were blocked by an order from the president for his security unit to keep quiet about it.
Experts, when Duterte disclosed the PSG vaccination last December, warned that it would set a dangerous precedent for "other drug distributors, manufacturers and those who plan to bring any drug into the Philippines."
Dr. Benjamin Co, an infectious diseases expert, said then that "[we] need to divulge who slipped the vaccines inside the country, how many doses and how it was done."
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in March that there was no record of the smuggled vaccines passing through customs. Citing findings by the National Bureau of Investigation, he said then that the doses may have been brought into the Philippines "in a luggage, carry-on bag, etc. Maybe through a private flight too."
The World Health Organization in May approved the Sinopharm vaccine for Emergency Use Listing, a move that would pave the way for global use.
Rep. Ronaldo Zamora (San Juan) on Monday disclosed that he had also received what he called "bootleg" Sinopharm vaccines last December.
"Sino nakakuha ng Sinopharm sa Pilipinas? Isa roon si Presidente. Pareho pinagkunan namin, pareho kaming bootleg, (Who received Sinopharm in the Philippines? One of them is the president. We got ours from the same source, we both got 'bootleg' vaccines)" GMA News quotes him as saying at a vaccination event in San Juan City.
He said he has since received "booster shots", a practice that the Department of Health said Monday is not authorized and could mean sanctions for medical workers who administer them.
The Palace said in December that there is no penalty for people who receive unauthorized vaccines, only for those who sell, distribute or administer them.
SENATE PROBE SOUGHT ON 'STATE-FUNDED TROLL FARMS'
MANILA - Twelve senators have called for an investigation into reports that public funds were allegedly being spent troll farms to spread misinformation and "fake news" online.
"Filipinos should know why government spends public funds on troll farm operators disguised as 'public relations practitioners' and 'social media consultants' who sow fake news rather than on COVID-19 assistance, health care, food security, jobs protection, education, among others,” according to Senate Resolution 768 filed Monday.
This comes following Sen. Panfilo Lacson's revelation in June that a government undersecretary had been reportedly organizing internet troll farms "to target political rivals or those not aligned with President Rodrigo Duterte's administration." The Palace has denied the allegation.
The resolution also cited the awarding of a P900,000-worth of contract by the Department of Finance to a public relations practitioner who was tagged by Facebook as the "operator behind a pro-Duterte fake account network."
"The above instances illustrate that troll farms and the misinformation and fake news that they propagate may be state-backed and state-funded. In this connection, Congress should look into government funds that are used to fund misinformation and fake news that affect millions of Filipinos," the resolution read.
The resolution was signed by Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, and Senators Nancy Binay, Leila de Lima, Richard Gordon, Risa Hontiveros, Panfilo Lacson, Emmanuel Pacquiao, Francis Pangilinan, Grace Poe, and Joel Villanueva.
HONG KONG WANTS TO EASE COVID-19 FLIGHT BANS: ENVOY
Fully vaccinated Hong Kong residents and those with work visas arriving from all countries subject to Covid-19 flight bans will be allowed into the city under the initial stage of an official plan to ease travel restrictions, according to the Philippines' top diplomat locally.
Consul general Raly Tejada revealed on Monday that discussions were held last week between the Philippine consulate and city authorities on lifting the direct flight bans in place to guard against the coronavirus threat from overseas.
Hong Kong banned flights arriving from the Philippines and Indonesia in April and June, respectively. Both countries were classified as "extremely high risk" for the coronavirus, a category that also includes Britain and India.
Employment agencies estimate that more than 5,000 domestic helpers are stuck in the Philippines and Indonesia because of the measure. Desperate local employers, they added, were currently willing to offer salaries as high as HK$8,000 (US$1,030) a month - 73 per cent more than the minimum - to helpers already in the city.
Tejada told the Post that the consulate had asked Hong Kong officials to re-examine the Philippines' classification to allow city residents and those with the right to work in the Asian finance hub to be allowed to return.
City authorities "recognized the need" for those people to return, Tejada said.
"Hong Kong initially plans to facilitate the return of vaccinated residents and workers from all countries currently under the ban," he said.
"They were also careful to add that the plan is not final and details of the scheme still need to be thrashed out."
THE REST
========
DSWD WARNS PUBLIC VS GROUPS TAKING FEES FOR PWD, SENIOR IDS
MANILA — The Department of Social Welfare and Development on Tuesday urged the public to be extra vigilant in engaging with any group or organization, following a recent incident during a payout activity for the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation.
In a statement sent to reporters Monday night, the DSWD said the incident involved a group posing as department personnel for senior citizens and persons’ with disability.
According to the DSWD Crisis Intervention Division, which conducted the payout, the group recruited members and required them to pay for identification cards worth P350 pesos as an assurance to receive financial assistance from the Department through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation fund.
The department reminded the public that senior citizens or persons with disability cards are not for sale and do not immediately guarantee the disbursement of financial assistance.
It added that it is implementing screening and verification procedures, based on the DSWD Memorandum Circular No. 11 series of 2019 as amended by Memorandum Circular No. 24, series of 2020, during payouts to ensure the eligibility of possible beneficiaries of the program.
"Through this protocol, the DSWD will be able to verify the legitimacy of the documents presented by clients while social workers will be able to conduct assessments in order to recommend appropriate amounts of assistance to be given to them, depending on their needs," the department added.
‘NO INITIATIVES YET ON BOOSTER SHOTS’
MANILA — The government is not yet looking into the possibility of giving booster shots to health workers vaccinated with Sinovac, Malacañang said yesterday, as questions linger about the China-made jabs’ efficacy against more infectious COVID-19 variants.
“No such initiative so far,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said, quoting infectious disease expert Edsel Salvaña who criticized a report saying hundreds of Thai medical workers (618 out of 677,348 individuals) were infected despite the Sinovac vaccination.
“As Dr. Salvaña told a newspaper outfit, ‘Do a better job of objective reporting. You guys are killing vaccine confidence. This will cause lives. What’s the vaccine effectiveness for those numbers? What’s the infectious rate and death rate among unvaccinated, you guys can do better than that. We expect better. The vaccines are working very well,” Roque said.
The Department of Health (DOH) is not expecting the delays in the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to hamper the country’s goal of achieving herd immunity by yearend.
“If it’s going to be affecting our herd immunity goal, I don’t think so because the delay is just one or two weeks, like the Sinovac and other vaccines,” DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said yesterday.
The government aims to inoculate at least 58 million Filipinos by yearend.
As of July 11, some 13.2 million individuals have already received the first dose of their COVID-19 jabs, while only 3.52 million have completed their two-dose vaccination.
Vergeire also appealed to those seeking COVID-19 vaccine booster shots to think of others who have not been inoculated.
ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE
NETFLIX DROPS TRAILER OF JASON MOMOA'S UPCOMING FILM 'SWEET GIRL'
MANILA – Netflix on Monday dropped the trailer of Jason Momoa and Isabela Merced’s upcoming movie “Sweet Girl.”
Based on the official synopsis provided by the streaming giant, the film follows Ray Cooper (Momoa), a devoted family man who vows justice against the pharmaceutical company responsible for pulling a potentially life-saving drug from the market just before his wife (Adria Arjona) dies from cancer.
However, when his search for the truth leads to a deadly encounter that puts Ray and his daughter Rachel (Merced) in harm’s way, Ray’s mission turns into a quest for vengeance in order to protect the only family he has left.
“Sweet Girl” is directed by Brian Andrew Mendoza and also stars Justin Bartha, Amy Brenneman, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Raza Jaffrey, Lex Scott Davis and Michael Raymond-James.
It will exclusively premiere on Netflix on August 20.
SPORTS
TEAM PACQUIAO SLAMS WBA AFTER REFUSAL TO REINSTATE 'PACMAN'
LOS ANGELES -- The WBA "super" welterweight title will not be on the line when Manny Pacquiao faces off against unbeaten American Errol Spence Jr. in Las Vegas on August 21.
This, as Pacquiao was designated as a "champion in recess" by the World Boxing Association (WBA) earlier this year, after failing to defend his title due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After the WBA declined to reinstate the "Pacman" as a full champion, his camp fired back at the sanctioning body and insisted that he had been denied due process and respect.
They still brought up the WBA at their recent press conference with Spence, and plan on bringing it with them to the ring during the August 21 pay-per-view.
"Belt's on the line, baby," assured MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons.
As the WBA super title is being disputed, The RING Magazine has announced that the winner will get their welterweight belt, which was last held by Floyd Maywather Jr. in 2015.
Pacquiao has held The RING Magazine belt in three weight classes during his career.
"Pangarap ko siyempre, at this age, pangarap ko kumuha ng mga ilang belt katulad nito," said Pacquiao. "Ilang belt ang paglalabanan natin, magandang karangalan para sa ating bansa."
The 42-year-old Pacquiao added that he might not be done collecting belts. While he's taking his career one fight at a time, he also wouldn't mind a shot at Terrence Crawford, who holds the WBO welterweight title.
"Possible din 'yan. Undefeated din si Crawford, so possible din 'yan," he said.
Another possibility is that the WBA may order a match between the Pacquiao-Spence winner and its recently elevated welterweight champion, Yordenis Ugas.
While Pacquiao has yet to fight in the 2020s, he did enter this decade as the only fighter to ever hold a world title in four different decades. A win over Spence will solidify that record.
NBA SCORES JULY 11
NOTE: NEXT GAME WILL RESUME ON JULY 15
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
2 Suns2-1 28 17 31 24 100
3 Bucks1-2 25 35 38 22 120
GAME 3: PHO LEADS 2-1, FISERV FORUM, MILWAUKEE, WI
SCORING LEADERS
C. Paul PHO
19 PTS 9 AST
G. Antetokounmpo MIL
41 PTS 13 REB 6 AST
INDICATORS
FOREX $1 = P 50.02
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, or a hell of heaven. - John Milton
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