INFLATION ACCELERATES TO 4.9 PERCENT IN AUGUST

MANILA - Inflation accelerated in August to 4.9 percent, the state statistics bureau said on Tuesday.

This was within the Bangko Sentral’s forecast of 4.1 to 4.9 percent inflation for the month.

It was higher than the 4 percent inflation seen in July, and was the highest level seen since January this year, the Philippine Statistics Authority said.

Earlier this month the BSP said inflation may remain elevated in the short term before settling within the government target of 2 to 4 percent.

Inflation in 2021 could average 4.1 percent, higher than the previous forecast of 4 percent, the BSP has said in a virtual briefing.

FOR 'GRANULAR' LOCKDOWN TO WORK NEEDS ACCURATE COVID-19 DATA — WHO

MANILA — Shifting from hard to "granular" COVID-19 lockdowns could work but only if supported by accurate data, the World Health Organization stressed on Tuesday.

Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, the WHO's representative to the country, welcomed the government's move starting with the National Capital Region as pilot area on September 8.

It would see industries reopening and some curbs relaxed in Metro Manila, despite the Philippines continuing to tally record-high new coronavirus cases per day.

He said they support granular lockdowns than stringent quarantines, but a "critically important" element is for it to be paired with updated information.

"Because otherwise, we could end up in a situation that the granular lockdowns don't give us the results we need," the WHO's representative to the country told CNN Philippines' "The Source."

Abeyasinghe said this would mean having up to date details on patient number, testing positivity rates, as well as severity of disease among COVID-19 patients and clustering of cases.

He added contact tracing efforts need to be ramped up, too, as he remarked it remains "the weakest link in the Philippine response" to the health crisis.

"It's important to have focus on where the transmission is happening," Abeyasinghe continued. "For us to do effective granular lockdowns, it needs to be based on very good epidemiological data so we can maximize its impact."

Monday's coronavirus bulletin by the Department of Health showed COVID-19 screening laboratories ran 73,264 tests.

That number in the last month has never gone up beyond 74,000 amid the country facing a new uptick in infections.

But despite the country now having 275 testing facilities, Abeyasinghe said its actual utilization is different.

"We're not even using them at 50%," he said. "We can do much more than the 70,000...testing needs to be used as part of the overall strategy."

The Duterte administration, despite announcing the downgrading of quarantine status in Metro Manila, has yet to announce official guidelines.

POPULATION GROWTH, MIGRATION, RED TAPE: PHILIPPINES FACES HOUSING CRISIS

MANILA – What is causing the housing crisis in the Philippines?

For Negros Occidental Representative Francis Benitez, the lack of houses for Filipinos is due to decades of neglect by government aggravated by red tape even as the Philippine population continues to rise.

"Housing production under the Duterte administration has actually been the highest historically, from the 1970s when we started counting government support of production of housing units. And they average around 190,000 to 200,000 units constructed annually," Benitez said in an interview on ANC's Rundown.

"But the annual target for the poorest of the poor to get direct housing assistance is around 312,000 units. So ang 200,000 max nila on average is still kulang to the 312,000 that we need to catch up to the backlog and cope with population growth,” he said.

“The total housing unit requirement is over 800,000, almost 900,000 units a year, so we’re short of a gap of around 750,000 units every year. And the longer obviously we wait to address it, the larger that gap becomes.”

The lawmaker said population growth and rural-to-urban migration are among the key causes of the housing crisis in the Philippines.

“The primary problem really is land access. As more and more people also move to the cities, as land values increase, mas mahal at mas mahal na magpatayo ng pabahay. Which again complicates matters,” he said.

But he stressed that government bureaucracy is also to blame for the housing backlog.

“For example, the permitting process by which housing can be done lasts a very long time so it takes almost two to four years for any housing projects to actually get off the ground. And these get interrupted by elections, and so on and so forth.”

“The red tape really, really delays the process and maraming hindi natutuloy,” he said.

BILL BANNING CHILD MARRIAGE GETS HOUSE NOD

MANILA — The House of Representatives approved yesterday on third and final reading a bill that seeks to ban child marriage amid the rising cases of teenage pregnancies as reported by the Population Commission.

Through online voting via Zoom, lawmakers approved House Bill 9943 or An Act Prohibiting the Practice of Child Marriage.

“It’s time to end child marriage, which is a form of violence against children,” House Deputy Speaker Bernadette Herrera, one of the authors and sponsors of the measure, said.

Herrera lauded what she branded as “a landmark bill banning such disturbing practice.”

The measure seeks to prohibit and declare child marriage as illegal. Under the bill, the solemnization of child marriage and cohabitation of an adult with a child outside of wedlock are considered unlawful acts.

The bill proposed a fine of P40,000 and penalty of up to 12 years in prison against solemnizing officers, parents, guardians or adults who facilitate or arrange child marriages.

In 2019, the United Nations World Population Prospects ranked the Philippines as the 10th country with the highest number of child marriages at 808,000.

SENATE MOVES BARMM POLLS TO 2025

MANILA — The Senate yesterday approved on third and final reading a measure seeking to reset the holding of the parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to 2025.

Fifteen senators voted to approve Senate Bill 2214, or the Act Resetting the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections to 2025.

Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto and Senators Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao voted against the measure while Sen. Imee Marcos abstained.

Under Republic Act 11054, or the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), the BARMM vote is supposed to coincide with the general elections in May next year.

SENATE BLUE RIBBON MOVES TO ISSUES ARREST WARRANT VS MICHAEL YANG

MANILA - The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Tuesday moved to issue a warrant of arrest against former Presidential Economic Adviser Michael Yang, after the Chinese businessman snubbed two subpoenas from the chamber.

The panel will produce the warrant and have Senate President Vicente Sotto III sign it before serving it to Yang, Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chair Richard Gordon said during a congressional hearing.

"If a subpoena is served and they refuse [to receive it], and we have reason to believe that he stays in the area, we can serve a warrant of arrest," he said.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee agreed to issue an arrest warrant against Yang after his alleged driver refused to receive the subpoena the Senate served at his leased residence in Narra Avenue, Forbes Park.

"The driver refused to receive the subpoena and said there is no Michael Yang residing in said address," said Rodolfo Quimbo, Director General of the Blue Ribbon Oversight Office Management.

"An insurance company courier arrived for a certain Nancy Yang. The driver said there was no Nancy Yang in the house," he said.

DOCTORS FALL ILL DUE TO COVID OVERWORK

MANILA—Some doctors in private hospitals have called in sick as they are overworked from high number of COVID-19 patients, the Philippine College of Physicians said Tuesday.

"Talagang napapagod na po 'yung mga doktor natin... Napakadami ng kaso na nakikita namin. Punong-puno po 'yung ER, puno rin po 'yung ICU, puno din lahat ng wards," PCP president Dr. Maricar Limpin told Teleradyo.

She stressed doctors were also catering to non-COVID-19 cases.

Limpin disclosed some doctors had contracted the coronavirus, which led to staffing shortage.

"Marami sa mga doktor ay talagang nalagay sa quarantine at marami ho ay nagkasakit ng COVID-19," she said.

She said doctors were serving long hours at the hospitals due to soaring infections. This is aside from experiencing emotional burden for not being able to accept new patients, she added.

Limpin said they were weighing a proposal for another timeout, similar to what the medical community asked for last year.

"Hindi pa ba tayo magta-timeout? So, I hope sana ang ating Pangulo i-consider ang sitwasyon po naming mga health-care worker na talagang medyo sukdulan na ang aming nakikita," she said.

If the government cannot provide a timeout, Limpin called for a stricter curb on movement.

"At the very least, i-maintain ang MECQ pero 'yung medyo tunay na MECQ sana (maintain the MECQ but I hope a real MECQ)," she said.

The entire National Capital Region, except for the city of Manila, is under the highest alert level for coronavirus due to increase in new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

PH OFFERS HOME CARE PACKAGES FOR COVID PATIENTS DUE TO LACK OF BEDS

MANILA—The Philippine government is offering home care packages to patients suffering mild symptoms of COVID-19 due to a shortage in hospital beds amid a surge in infections.

Dr. Bernadette Velasco, operations manager of One Hospital Command Center, said they were receiving between 480 to 560 calls for help daily.

"Sa ngayon po, dahil po sa spike ng cases natin, medyo nahihirapan pa rin tayo na maghanap ng mga hospital," she told Teleradyo.

As many hospitals are operating at full capacity, patients were instead endorsed to barangay health emergency response teams or local government units for monitoring, Velasco said.

The government is also offering home care package to patients who have mild cases of the illness, she added.

"Meron naman po tayong mga ino-offer sa government, may mga home care package doon po natin sila nire-refer kung kakayanin po talaga sa bahay lang po mag-stay ang pasyente."

"Pero 'pag emergency cases po talaga, 'yun po talaga 'yung pina-prioritize natin na madala sa hospital. At least man lang ma-stabilize po para gumanda 'yung kondisyon ng pasyente," Velasco said.

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OXYGEN, COVID-19 DRUGS IN SHORT SUPPLY IN LANAO DEL SUR HOSPITALS

MANILA - Hospitals in Lanao del Sur are full and in short supply of oxygen and drugs used to treat COVID-19 patients following a surge in cases, an official said Tuesday.

The province has 311 active cases, an increase from less than 100 just a few months ago, according to Dr Alinader Minalang, deputy chairman of Lanao del Sur-Inter Agency Task Force.

Its main COVID-19 referral hospital, Amai Pakpak Medical Center, will increase its bed capacity after tallying a 112 percent occupancy rate in its coronavirus ward, and 133 percent in its intensive care unit, said Minalang.

The hospital will expand its beds to accommodate its patients, some of which come from other provinces, he added.

"Even yung ating mechanical ventilators ay nasa 60 percent na (the use of our mechanical ventilators is at 60 percent)," he told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.

The province's supplier of oxygen in Iligan City and Cagayan de Oro are also "overwhelmed," Minalang said.

"Wala silang maibigay sa'min kaagad agad dahil (They can't supply to us because) they are also catering to other hospitals in Region 10," he said.

"Ang gamot adequate naman po except itong mag para sa COVID, talagang pahirapan like tocilizumab kulang din ang supply."

ISKO MORENO UNVEILS LOW-COST HOUSING PROJECT IN QUIAPO

MANILA — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno yesterday led the groundbreaking for the 20-story San Sebastian Residences in Quiapo, the sixth housing project of the city government.

“This is part of our effort to address the housing problem of informal settlers. Many families here in Quiapo are only renting houses. We are giving them the opportunity to have their own homes,” Moreno said.

The San Sebastian Residences, located along Plaza Del Carmen street, will have 243 residential units, 58 parking slots, a health center, a police sub-station, four elevators, a swimming pool, a function room, a fitness center and commercial spaces for rent.

Moreno said the city government would fast-track the construction of other housing projects for the poor while battling the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Tondominium 1 and 2 as well as the Binondominium are nearing completion, he said.

The other in-city housing projects are the BaseCommunity, San Lazaro Residences and Pedro Gil Residences.

“We include the city hall’s employees who do not own a house. They are spending a lot of money in renting houses and when they are no longer in government service, they end up with little savings,” Moreno said.

SIGNAL NO 1 IN METRO MANILA; JOLINA TO DUMP RAINS OVER PARTS OF PH UNTIL THURSDAY: PAGASA

MANILA - Typhoon Jolina is expected to bring rains over parts of the country until Thursday as more areas, including Metro Manila, were placed under storm warning signals Tuesday, the state weather bureau said.

The country's 10th storm this year made its first landfall Monday night in the vicinity of Hernani town in Eastern Samar. It again hit land in Almagro, Samar at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, PAGASA said.

In the next 24 hours, Jolina is expected to bring heavy to intense with at times torrential rains over Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Biliran, Sorsogon, Albay, Romblon, and Masbate.

Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains are expected over the southern portion of Quezon, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, and the rest of Bicol Region and Visayas.

The storm was last estimated over the coastal waters of Almagro, Samar as of 7 a.m., moving west northwest at 15 kilometers per hour while packing maximum winds of 120 kph with gusts of up to 150 kph, according to the weather bureau's 8 a.m. bulletin.

What to expect

Heavy rainfall

Jolina is expected to bring heavy to intense with at times torrential rains over Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Biliran, Sorsogon, Albay, Romblon and Masbate in the next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, moderate to heavy with at times intense rains are also likely over the southern portion of Quezon, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque and the rest of Bicol region and Visayas.

PAGASA said scattered to widespread flooding (including flash floods) and rain-induced landslides are possible under these conditions.

Severe winds

Destructive typhoon-force winds are likely to occur within any of the areas where Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 is in effect. PAGASA said this may bring generally moderate to heavy damage to structures and vegetation.

Meanwhile, damaging gale-force to storm-force winds are likely to occur within any of the areas where TCWS No. 2 is hoisted. This may bring generally light to moderate damage to structures and vegetation.

Residents of areas under TCWS No. 1 will experience strong winds (strong breeze to near gale conditions). This may lead to very light damage to structures and vegetation.

Coastal inundation

PAGASA warned the threat of coastal inundation due to storm surge of up to 0.5 to 1 meter will continue in several coastal localities of Biliran, Sorsogon, Samar and Masbate in the next 24 hours.

Coastal areas of localities under TCWS may experience coastal flooding due to hazardous surf conditions.

Jolina is forecast to make landfall in the vicinity of Masbate within the next 12 hours.

Then, it will head northwest toward Burias Island and the vicinity of Ragay Gulf before making another landfall in the vicinity of southeastern Quezon tonight or early Wednesday morning. Prolonged interaction with land may result in its weakening into a severe tropical storm.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

'STOP TELLING ME TO GET PREGNANT': HEART EVANGELISTA ADDRESSES BASHERS OF HER CHILDLESSNESS

MANILA — Heart Evangelista is furious with the thought that one needs to have a child to be happy in life.

The actress/artist reacted yesterday via her Twitter after bashers hounding the comments section of a TikTok video featuring her in a bikini.

Some netizens left messages about her being childless after six years of marriage with Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero. There were also lewd comments about her.

She retweeted the screenshot of a netizen who came to her defense. The netizen said that a woman's body does not exist to create children and it is also not to be owned by her husband. The netizen named @irisvicencio also said that a woman is not worth less just because she is unable to bear a child.

"Ok na sana lahat. Stop telling me to get pregnant unless you really want to hurt me. Nobody knows the real struggle. Also may I add life is good. (The) people I love are fine and everything else in between is ok so bonus nalang if I do conceive again. it’s my body [folded hands emoji]," Heart wrote.

Heart lost her twins to miscarriage in 2018.

Her next tweet said she is already happy and urged people to inspire each other. She also asked people to stop pressing her to conceive.

"I’m not mad just furious how people think na need mo magkaanak para maging masaya  I am already a happy person and grateful. [Folded hands emoji] tama na ang pressure. Inspire each other na lang tayo," she tweeted.

Her succeeding tweets were light-hearted posts that included a clip of her husband doing exercise and a photo of her beloved aspin Panda.

"Si Panda lang ang perfect ang life," Heart wrote. This came after she tweeted that nobody's life is perfect, adding that hers is "far from that."

The actress recently came from fashion stints, including an attendance at an exclusive event hosted by Vogue magazine. She also went to the United States to do a series of promotions for her collaborative art exhibit with Incubus lead singer and composer Brandon Boyd.

SPORTS

NO RUSH FOR PBA RETURN TO NCR

MANILA — The PBA won’t hurry jumping back to Metro Manila despite the capital easing to the more relaxed general community quarantine (GCQ) classification from Sept. 8-30.

The pro league, which can only play in areas under GCQ, relocated to Bacolor, Pampanga for the Philippine Cup restart while the NCR was under stricter enhanced community quarantine and modified ECQ levels.

“Pag-aaralan nating mabuti,” commissioner Willie Marcial told The STAR. “But as of now, hindi natin basta-basta ililipat ang PBA sa NCR. Kailangan ng pag-aaral. Kailangan din nating malaman paano na after Sept. 30.”

The PBA reopened at the Honorio Ventura State U Gym last Wednesday under a semi-bubble setup, and Marcial is pleased with how the first week went.

“Maganda ang tinatakbo natin,” he said.

There were some bumps as NorthPort was placed under health protocols the entire week while two matches (Alaska vs San Miguel and Meralco vs Ginebra) were later postponed in accordance with the safety guidelines.

“Kausap ko yung team managers and si (PBA medical consultant) Doc (Raul) Canlas, nothing alarming,” he said. “Okay naman tayo. Hopefully by next week, dahan-dahan nang mag-settle-down.”

According to Marcial, NorthPort is expected to be back in practice and resume its campaign this week. Same with the squads affected by the postponements.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The urge to save humanity is almost always only a false face for the urge to rule it. - H.L. Mencken