PHILIPPINES EXITS RECESSION IN Q2, BUT RECOVERY SHALLOW

MANILA — The Philippines is finally out of recession in the second quarter, posting its best annual growth rate in 32 years, but the rebound was shallow and new lockdowns triggered by the fast-spreading Delta variant is threatening to reverse gains.

Gross domestic product — or the sum of all goods and services created in an economy — grew 11.8% year-on-year during the April-June period, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported Tuesday. The latest reading was a turnaround from revised 3.9% contraction in the first quarter, and the highest since 12% growth in the fourth quarter of 1988.

The second quarter reading marked the end of recession for pandemic-stricken Philippines following five consecutive quarters of contraction. But what economists call “base effects” were mostly responsible for the headline-grabbing figure: because the pandemic sank the economy to historic-lows last year, small gains from easing lockdowns would translate to stronger GDP reading this year.

If anything, the rebound is purely mathematical rather than a reflection of a convincing recovery, making the Philippines’ economic comeback a fragile one. In fact, GDP contracted 1.3% quarter-on-quarter.

That said, Nicholas Mapa, senior economist at ING Bank in Manila, believes new lockdowns imposed in the capital region and nearby provinces this month to arrest a sudden flare-up of infections could derail the delicate recovery.

“The Philippines exited from recession in the second quarter after posting positive growth but with quarterly GDP turning negative we can expect the economy to revert to the recession by the third quarter as momentum slows further due to the ongoing enhanced community quarantine due to Delta variant,” Mapa said.

DUTERTE SLAMS METRO MANILA MAYOR FOR ‘DISORGANIZED MIND’, PAST LEWD PHOTOS

MANILA—President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday went off on a Metro Manila mayor whom he did not name, saying the mayor was blaming everyone but himself for a disorderly vaccination system.

Duterte made the comment after Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos presented the vaccination status in the National Capital Region, showing photos of systematic immunization in some cities.

"Pinakita ninyo it's well organized. May isang siyudad lang dito na ang tao naghintay lang ng direction kung paano, but I think it's the mayor who has a disorganized mind kaya ganoon," Duterte said reacting to Abalos' presentation.

Duterte also said he will not grant that certain city's local government the right to distribute the "ayuda" because of its lack of an orderly distribution system.

"May isa akong siyudad diyan na hindi ko bibigyan ng power to distribute ayuda. Simply because in so many instances, they cannot organize," he said.

"It has happened several times, and several times he has blamed other people other than himself."

Earlier in his speech, Duterte said he is putting the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in charge of the distribution of aid in some local governments in Metro Manila.

"Alam mo may isang siyudad ako dito na, I order your department (DILG) and DSWD na kayo na ang magbigay ng ayuda pati 'yung mga anong maitulong sa national government sa local government units na walang alam, na hindi marunong mag-organize ng mga distribution and it only results in disorder. So tinanggal ko muna 'yan sa kanila at ibinigay ko doon sa Department of Interior and Local Government pati ang DSWD. Kayo na muna hanggang matuto sila. Nakita naman ninyo, it's on TV and all, na wala talagang kaalam alam itong mga mayor na ito so tanggalan muna natin ng itong pamimigay, pag-distribute ng pera pati tulong ng gobyerno," he said after listening to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año's report.

Without naming him, Duterte said one mayor whose lewd photos are circulating online does not deserve to aspire for the presidency..

"'Yan ang training ng presidente, maghubad at magpa-picture, at magsilip, magyabang sa kanilang ari?" Duterte added.

Prior to entering politics, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno was an actor who has appeared in several movies.

Just last week, the local government of Manila said it will not be accepting anymore walk-in individuals in three of its mall-designated vaccination sites on Thursday after reaching the limit for the available slots.

The LGU also cancelled Thursday's vaccination at the SM San Lazaro for the public's safety and security after thousands turned up hoping to get inoculated, a day before the capital region is placed under the toughest lockdown level.

Prior to the chaos in the vaccination sites in Manila, Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso was supposed to will take his oath as Aksyon Demokratiko member on August 5 at 5 p.m.

The event fueled speculation that the Manila Mayor is poised to launch his presidential bid.

Moreno had to postpone his oath-taking to address the issue.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque earlier defended Duterte from those saying it was his remarks that caused people to flock to vaccination sites even without a schedule.

ROBREDO IN TALKS WITH PACQUIAO FOR 2022 ELECTIONS

MANILA — Vice President Leni Robredo revealed Tuesday that she has also engaged in “exploratory talks” with Sen. Manny Pacquiao on the 2022 elections as part of her efforts to unite people from different sides of the political fence.

“Pinaguusapan pa lang namin yung mga pakiramdam namin about the elections at ano ba ‘yung stand namin about this. Mga ganoon lang naman ‘yung tinatanong ko, wala pang pinaguusapan kung sino susuportahan,” Robredo told CNN Philippines’ The Source.

Robredo said she has spoken to Pacquiao twice before he left for the United States to train for his match with American boxer Errol Spence Jr. and would want to speak to the senator again once he returns to the country.

Pacquiao is strongly rumored to run for president despite having been ousted as president of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino—Lakas ng Bayan by the faction led by Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi.

A legal battle is expected to ensue between the Pacquiao and Cusi wings of PDP-Laban as both sides claim to be the legitimate ruling party.

ROBREDO REACHING OUT TO EVERYONE FOR A "UNIFICATION PLAN"

Robredo has so far admitted to speaking with Pacquiao, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, and Sens. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and Richard “Dick” Gordon. Lacson and Sotto are running together as president and vice president, respectively, while Gordon said he is eyeing the presidency.

The vice president said she has “exerted every effort to reach out to almost everyone already,” but opted not to talk about it as the other parties may not be comfortable about it being publicized.

Robredo, the de facto leader of the opposition, has been banking on unifying various political forces to mount a formidable campaign against the bets of President Rodrigo Duterte, stressing that the country could not afford another six years of the Duterte brand of governance.

“It’s a very important elections. We should really give unity a chance because too much is at stake. Kailangan maging bukas tayo, makipagkaisa sa mga taong maaring iba ang pinanggalingan, pero ang gusto rin ay pagbabago sa bayan,” Robredo said.

Talks between Robredo and the Lacson-Sotto tandem, however, have reached a stalemate, as the vice president rejected the two senators’ proposal for them to file their candidacies in October and then withdraw depending on who emerges as a stronger candidate in survey results.

But Robredo said that their talks will continue regardless of her rejection of the duo’s “unification formula.”

TEACHERS TO GET P1,000 ON WORLD TEACHERS' DAY

MANILA — Some 900,000 public school teachers will each receive a P1,000 incentive on World Teachers' Day in October, the Department of Education announced Tuesday.

In a statement, the DepEd said President Rodrigo Duterte approved the release of the benefit, which costs a total of P910 million.

"The grant of [World Teachers’ Day Incentive Benefit] recognizes the vital role of our educators in addressing the challenges of the pandemic, especially in ensuring the continuity of learning," the DepEd said.

"With the ongoing preparations for School Year 2021-2022, we are grateful to our 900,000-strong teachers who have displayed their unwavering passion to serve and educate the Filipino youth," the agency said.

The DepEd added that it would soon issue guidelines on the incentive.

World Teachers' Day is celebrated every October 5.

Meanwhile, classes in public schools for School Year 2021 to 2022, which will still be delivered through distance learning, are scheduled to start on September 13.

PH PRIVATE SCHOOLS WANT LOWER TAX RATES AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC

MANILA – A group of private schools in the Philippines urged the Senate to pass a counterpart law that would make them qualify for a preferential 10% preferential income tax rate under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act.

On August 2, the House Ways & Means Committee passed a bill that would allow proprietary educational institutions to avail of a 10% tax rate under the CREATE law.

It is expected to be discussed in the plenary once the lower House returns to session after the ECQ.

RUSSIA'S GAMALEYA APPLIES FOR EMERGENCY USE OF ONE-SHOT COVID-19 VACCINE

MANILA — Russia’s Gamaleya Research Institute has applied for emergency use authorization of the single-dose version of its Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, the country’s Food and Drug Administration said.

“Sputnik Light, the single-dose Sputnik vaccine, already applied for EUA here in the country, and our vaccine experts are studying it,” FDA Director General Eric Domingo said in a televised briefing.

In May, Russia authorized the one-shot Sputnik Light for emergency use. The Russian Direct Investment Fund said the vaccine is 79.4% effective against COVID-19.

Sputnik Light is the first component of the two-dose Sputnik V. Sputnik V has over 91% efficacy against COVID-19.

Both vaccines are based on human adenoviral vectors, which cause the common cold, and have a storage requirement of 2ºC to 8ºC.

In the Philippines, the only approved one-shot COVID-19 vaccine is Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen jab.

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BIR EXTENDS FILING DEADLINE UNDER ECQ

MANILA — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has extended the deadline for the filing of tax papers on audit investigations, and stopped the clock for the issuance of court assessments in line with the revert to lockdown in multiple areas.

The BIR yesterday released a memorandum circular prolonging the cutoff for the submission of documents related to ongoing audits and value-added tax (VAT) refund in areas placed under enhanced community quarantine and modified ECQ.

The BIR said it decided to extend the deadline for filing tax papers to provide relief to taxpayers whose movement may be restricted due to the tightening of quarantine restrictions, especially in Metro Manila.

Taxpayers who need to lodge a position paper against a notice of discrepancy; protest letter in response to a final assessment notice; transmittal letter for a request for a reinvestigation and request for reconsideration on a final decision on disputed assessment are given 30 days from the lifting of ECQ or MECQ to do so.

Also, filing for similar letters and correspondences, as well as VAT refund, are granted the same extension. On the other hand, taxpayers who asked to file a reply to a preliminary assessment notice and documents in response to a subpoena duces tecum are provided with 15 days from the easing of lockdown to comply.

On the other hand, submission of documents in relation to first, second and final notice must be done 10 days from the downgrade from ECQ or MECQ.

CURFEW VIOLATOR SHOT DEAD

MANILA — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) yesterday ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to look into the killing of a curfew violator, said to be mentally ill, in Manila over the weekend.

Eduardo Geñoga, 59, a scavenger, was reportedly shot dead by Cesar Panlaqui, a barangay peace and security officer in Tondo.

Geñoga was found dead with a gunshot to the chest along Tayuman street by two policemen who heard a gunshot.

The victim was found sprawled on the pavement with toy guns in his possession, police said.

Geñoga’s brother told investigators that the victim was suffering from a mental illness.

Panlaqui was arrested by police on Sunday.

Closed-circuit television footage caught Panlaqui firing his gun at the victim, who was already walking away.

The suspect claimed that Geñoga had lunged at him.

Panlaqui said he shot the victim for creating a ruckus during curfew hours.

“Pinapalo niya ‘yung mga pinto, ‘yung mga gate. Natutulog na ang mga residente eh. Sinigawan ko siya, ‘Hoy, mali ang ginagawa mo,’ sabi ko sa kanya. Ayon hinabol niya ako,” Panlaqui told GMA News.

He said he only intended to scare the curfew violator with the gunshot.

The Manila Police District (MPD) will investigate why the barangay tanod was in possession of an unlicensed gun with no serial number.

NO DEADLINE EXTENSION FOR VOTER REGISTRATION

MANILA — Voter registration will not be extended beyond Sept. 30 despite the suspension of voter registration activities due to the imposition of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), an official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday.

According to Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, the deadline for voter registration remains to be Sept. 30 and there will be no extension.

She maintained that the decision of the commission is final.

OUTDOOR EXERCISES NOW PROHIBITED IN NCR — MMDA

MANILA — Mayors in Metro Manila have voted to prohibit outdoor exercises for the duration of the two-week enhanced community quarantine in the National Capital Region.

This was confirmed by Metro Manila Development Authority chair Benhur Abalos at President Rodrigo Duterte's taped meeting with the coronavirus task force late Monday night.

"[The Metro Manila Council] also passed a resolution this afternoon that it is the last time to leave the house even though exercise is forbidden. Because it is important for the next two weeks to take care of our residents in Metro Manila," Abalos said in Filipino.

The signed resolution is expected later Tuesday, Abalos also said.

PEOPLE TRAVELING FOR MEDICAL REASONS ALLOWED TO CROSS BORDERS

MANILA — Persons who need to travel for medical reasons will be allowed to cross borders amid the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) imposed in different parts of the country, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.

PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said people with health and family emergencies would be considered authorized persons outside residence (APOR), adding to the list of the PNP’s allowable residents outdoors such as workers and customers of businesses or industries allowed to operate during ECQ.

“Included in other APORs are our citizens who have appointments with doctors and those who need to go home due to the death of immediate family members, or those whose spouses are about to give birth and other reasons that are part of our culture as Filipinos,” Eleazar said in a statement.

“Police will also not block those who have medical check-ups in other cities and those driving them across borders,” he added.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

JANINE GUTIERREZ GETS RISING STAR AWARD FROM NEW YORK ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL

MANILA – Janine Gutierrez feels extremely honored after receiving the Rising Star Award from the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF).

Gutierrez was recognized for her performance in the JP Habac romance movie “Dito at Doon,” which she co-stars with JC Santos.

In a post on Twitter on Saturday, Gutierrez wrote: “So honored!!!! Thank you @NYAFF!! Second year to have a film part of your festival and I was so sad that for the second time, we're still unable to attend -- but now I'm just filled with gratitude.”

“Thank you for supporting Filipino films and creatives,” she added.

Based on the NYAFF announcement, “Dito at Doon” will have its North American premiere at the SVA Theatre in New York on August 21, and it will also be virtually available from August 22 to 27 via the film festivals website.

“Dito At Doon” follows the blooming romance between Len (Gutierrez), a frontliner, and Cabs (Santos), a delivery man, who meet at an “e-numan” through a mutual friend.

It marks Gutierrez and Santos’ first film together, and also stars Yesh Burce and Victor Anastacio.

SPORTS

LAWMAKER BLASTS PALACE CLAIM OF INVESTMENT IN FILIPINO OLYMPIANS

MANILA - A lawmaker on Monday blasted Malacañang's claim that the Philippines had its best participation in the Olympics at the Tokyo Games because the Duterte administration supposedly invested in Filipino athletes.

“We are deeply disgusted by Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque's claim that the historic feat of Filipino Olympians in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics is brought about by the Duterte government's alleged investment in our athletes," Gabriela Women’s Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas said in a statement.

Roque said earlier in the day that the Philippines' 4-medal haul at the recent Olympic Games, including the country's first Olympic gold, was supposedly a "fruit" of the administration's support for Filipino athletes.

His remarks came 13 days after he acknowledged that government aid for athletes is insufficient, an issue that Hidilyn Diaz, the Philippines' first ever Olympic gold medalist, previously raised.

“Alam ko po talaga, kulang. Para ba hong, para nga pong minimum wage nga lang ang nabibigay nating allowance doon sa mga atleta natin. Titingnan po natin kung paano po natin mababago ito,” Roque said on July 27, a day after Diaz won the women's 55-kilogram category for weightlifting at Tokyo 2020.

Just over two months away from the Tokyo Olympics, Filipino Olympian Eumir Marcial and the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) were also still having issues regarding his training expenses.

In an interview on Noli Eala's Power & Play, Marcial claimed then he has not been receiving much support from concerned agencies while he continues his preparations for the Games.

"Since nung umalis po ako, wala po akong natanggap na tulong galing po sa ating mga tumutulong sa sports," said the heavy-handed middleweight, who would later get a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

Gabriela's Brosas pointed out that the funding for the Philippine Sports Commission for 2021 amounted to just P1.3 billion, which she said was a far cry from the P19.1 billion for the country's anti-insurgency task force, or NTF-ELCAC, which the administration is supposedly using to red-tag its critics.

Brosas was referring to the fiasco wherein Malacanang, under President Rodrigo Duterte's orders, falsely tagged celebrities and public figures through a "matrix" for being part of an alleged plot to overthrow the Chief Executive.

Diaz was in the "matrix" but was later cleared by the Palace.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. – Aristotle