PHILIPPINE ECONOMY GROWS 7.1 PERCENT IN THIRD QUARTER AS RECOVERY CONTINUES

 

 

 

MANILA - The Philippine economy continued to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as gross domestic product expanded 7.1 percent in the third quarter, the state statistics bureau said Tuesday.

 

However, the third quarter's GDP growth is slower compared to the revised 12 percent GDP growth in the second quarter.

 

In 2020, the economy contracted 9.6 percent, its worst performance since the end of World War 2, largely due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the mobility restrictions that followed.

 

This year, the government has imposed less restrictive quarantine measures to give more room for select economic activities.

 

The economy is seen to lose some P41 trillion due to the pandemic in the long term, based on estimates from the National Economic and Development Authority.

 

But the economy could gain at least P3.6 billion per week with Metro Manila under Alert Level 2, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Chua earlier said.

 

Businesses are also betting on holiday spending to recoup losses this year as consumer spending rises in the fourth quarter.

 

The government estimates that the country's GDP could grow by 4 to 5 percent this year.

 

 

 

 

 

PHILIPPINES READY FOR EVENTUAL REOPENING OF BORDERS TO FOREIGN TOURISTS

 

 

 

MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration on Monday said they are ready should the national government lift its restrictions on foreign travelers amid the continuing decline in new COVID-19 cases in the country.

 

“Our frontline officers at the airports are ready and prepared, and we assure the traveling public of uninterrupted service should they decide to travel to the Philippines,” Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said in a statement.

 

The bureau issued this statement after presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that the Philippines will reopen its borders to international tourists in “due time.”

 

Morente noted that the bureau will need to increase its manpower when international travel resumes to normal, but BI already has laid down plans to address this.

 

BI acting port operations chief Carlos Capulong said they adopted a response mechanism calls to mobilize personnel assigned to other operating units in his division to perform primary inspection and supervisory duties during times of increase in travel volume.

 

Capulong also said they are waiting the appointments of 195 new Immigration officers from the Department of Justice, BI’s mother agency. This new batch of officers will be deployed to different ports across the country.

 

Morente meanwhile stressed: “Should the IATF and the Office of the President see that the country is ready, we will be happy to welcome again foreign tourists to our shores.”

 

 

 

 

 

MILITANTS HOLD DUTERTE RESPONSIBLE FOR MARCOS’ RETURN TO POWER

 

 

 

MANILA — Militants said they are holding President Duterte complicit in historical revisionism by allowing the return of the Marcoses to power.

 

“On this day, Nov. 8, five years ago, the Supreme Court (SC) voted 9-5 to allow the burial of the dictator Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani,” the group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) recalled.

 

Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes said, “Martial law victims petitioned the SC to stop Duterte’s plan to allow Marcos a hero’s burial. The burial was a Duterte campaign promise.”

 

He added, “Ten days later, Marcos would then be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.”

 

The group said Marcos’ burial was the first official act of Duterte that paved the way for a Marcos restoration.

 

Former president and dictator Ferdinand Marcos was buried at the heroes’ cemetery in Taguig with full military honors on Nov. 18, 2016, which anti-Marcos groups denounced as “unexpected.”

 

Marcos’ son and presidential aspirant Ferdinand Marcos Jr. revealed yesterday how he wanted Duterte to be his running mate in the 2022 national elections.

 

“Our original plan was (getting) President Duterte, and that’s why I don’t have a vice presidential candidate,” he said in Filipino at a press conference in Tacloban City yesterday, eighth anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda that hit hard his mother’s hometown.

 

“The President surprised us because he did not file as vice president,” Marcos told reporters, noting that his partymates will now have to talk about it since the Nov. 15 deadline for the substitution of candidates is fast approaching.

 

For now, he said he does not have a vice presidential candidate yet because of his original intention of adopting Duterte.

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE STARTS DELIBERATIONS ON P5.024 TRILLION BUDGET

 

 

 

MANILA — The Senate will start today its marathon plenary deliberations on the proposed P5.024-trillion national budget that senators vowed to recast to make it more responsive to the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of reducing infections and reviving the economy.

 

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said starting Thursday, sessions will be held in the morning and in the afternoon to ensure the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) is passed before Congress adjourns session on Dec. 17.

 

He said ideally, the Senate approves its version of the GAB early next month to allow more time for the expected meeting of the bicameral conference committee – a smaller body composed of representatives of both chambers of Congress – to reconcile conflicting provisions of their versions of the money measure.

 

Sen. Sonny Angara, who chairs the Senate finance committee, is expected to sponsor on the floor today the proposed budget that already includes many amendments that were mostly on pandemic response.

 

 

 

 

 

VESSEL RUNS AGROUND; 113 RESCUED

 

 

 

MANILA — More than 110 people were rescued from a landing craft tank (LCT) that ran aground in Cebu on Sunday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported yesterday.

 

The LCT Lite Ferry 30 was carrying 42 passengers, 49 truck drivers and cargo helpers, and 22 crewmembers as well as 34 rolling cargoes when it figured in the accident, the PCG said.

 

The vessel left the Matnog Port in Sorsogon with 113 people on board.

 

It was maneuvering out of the channel toward Barangay Polambato in Bogo town when it hit a shallow spot.

 

The PCG sent vessels to rescue the passengers. The drivers, cargo helpers and crewmembers remained on board until the ship was extracted from the area.

 

An underwater inspection conducted by the PCG Sub-Station Bogo, PCG Special Operations Unit-Central Visayas and Marine Environmental Protection Force-Central Visayas confirmed that no oil spill or leakage occurred at the scene of the accident.

 

 

 

 

 

POE TO COA: RELEASE REPORT ON PHILHEALTH’S FINANCES

 

 

 

MANILA — The Commission on Audit (COA) should immediately release its 2020 report on Philippine Health Insurance Corp. to give legislators a clear picture of PhilHealth’s finances while discussion on the 2022 national budget is ongoing, Sen. Grace Poe said yesterday.

 

“We need to know exactly how much PhilHealth owes hospitals and health care workers. They must be paid soon and government must figure out where to get the funds,” Poe said.

 

“The operations of hospitals are at risk. We are still in a pandemic and people are still dying. PhilHealth must not hide or sugarcoat its numbers,” she added.

 

The Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPi) said they are still awaiting PhilHealth’s action to pay the COVID-19 claims from 2020, even as some hospitals said they are thinking of not renewing their accreditation.

 

Poe said if that happens, PhilHealth members would find it difficult to tap the full benefits of their membership as they will have to pay for their medical expenses from their own pockets and can only hope that the state health insurer will reimburse them.

 

“PhilHealth cannot resort to delaying and scare tactics to discourage hospitals from pursuing what’s due them,” she said after PHAPi reported that some hospitals have received summons from the National Bureau of Investigation concerning their claims.

 

 

 

 

 

LACSON-SOTTO TANDEM BARES PLANS TO AVERT HARVEST LOSSES

 

 

 

MANILA — Filipino farmers and fisherfolk will no longer have to suffer income losses if the government guarantees to buy at least half of their produce or catch, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said.

 

Sotto, who is running for vice president under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), said such a program would be implemented under the possible administration of Sen. Panfilo Lacson, his running mate and standard bearer of Partido Reporma.

 

“One of our programs for the farmers and fisherfolk is that 50 percent of their output will be bought by the government directly at their own price without the middleman,” Sotto said in Filipino during a public forum held over the weekend with Lacson in Cabuyao City, Laguna.

 

He said the original idea for this kind of government intervention came from Partido Reporma secretary-general and Davao del Norte Gov. Edwin Jubahib, who has been implementing a similar program in his province.

 

By cutting out the middlemen in the process, it would help keep food prices competitive in the local markets without affecting the potential earnings of farmers and fishermen, he said.

 

Sotto explained this plan has already been incorporated into their Budget Reform Advocacy for Village Empowerment (BRAVE) agenda, which will be their flagship program should he and Lacson both get elected.

 

 

 

 

 

NO CLOSURE, CHALLENGES REMAIN FOR SOME SURVIVORS 8 YEARS SINCE YOLANDA: OFFICIAL

 

 

 

MANILA - Some families of those who died during the onslaught of super typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) eight years ago on Monday have yet to find closure, while many survivors continue to deal with challenges as they try to move on with their lives despite help from various sources, a local official said.

 

Tacloban City vice mayor Jerry Yaokasin told ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo that some bereaved families remain hopeful that their departed or missing loved ones can either be identified or located.

 

"Until today, the DNA testing supposedly for those (bodies) in the mass grave, (through the) saliva of families, 'di pa rin natatapos (has yet to be concluded)," he said.

 

"That's the call of the bereaved families, kasi walang closure eh until and unless you are able to locate finally (or) get kahit bones na lang nila, to be able to find a resting place for the families they've lost during super typhoon Yolanda."

 

Romualdez, the city's mayor, reiterated his message on the eve of the 8th anniversary of Yolanda, in which he declared that Tacloban has moved on: "We all move as one. A community that stands together will live forever."

 

 

 

 

 

CLEANUP SA 'GARBAGE ISLAND' SA PARAÑAQUE RIVER, AABUTIN NG 4 BUWAN: MMDA

 

 

 

Sinimulan na ng Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) ang desilting at paghuhukay ng tambak-tambak na basura sa bungad sa Parañaque River malapit sa Manila Bay.

 

Tinagurian na itong garbage island dahil sa pinagsamang lupa at basura na natayuan na rin ng ilang barong barong na tinitigilan ng mga mangingisda.

 

Kapag high tide, lubog sa tubig ang lahat ng basura pero ngayong low tide kitang-kita ang ilang daang metro ng basura.

 

Pinupuntahan na rin ito ng mga ibon lalo’t kalapit na ito ng Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area na isang wildlife sanctuary.

 

Ayon sa MMDA, ang tambak ng basurang ito ay isa sa mga nagdudulot ng pagbaha sa mga komunidad malapit sa Manila Bay kaya kailangan itong tanggalin.

 

Bukod sa nakakaharang sa daloy ng tubig papuntang dagat nakalalason din ang basura sa tubig.

 

Tantiya ng MMDA na aabot ng tatlo hanggang apat na buwan bago tuluyang maialis ang lahat ng basura.

 

Ginagamitan ngayon ng backhoe ang pag-alis ng basura at kinokolekta ng mga dump truck.

 

Sabi ng MMDA na nagkabit na rin sila ng 30 trash net para saluhin ang mga naiipong basura sa mga kanal at estero naman sa Metro Manila.

 

Nananawagan din sila sa publiko na mag report sa kanila sa ganitong pagtambak ng basura sa iba pang waterways sa National Capital Region.

 

 

 

 

 

THE REST

 

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ISKO SAYS PALACE SHOULD 'GO TO COURT' FOR MANILA TO REVOKE NO FACE SHIELD POLICY

 

 

 

MANILA - Manila Mayor and presidential candidate Isko Moreno Domagoso on Tuesday said the national government "can go to court and ask for declaratory relief" if they want to force the local government of Manila to reimpose the mandatory wearing of face shields in the capital city.

 

Domagoso gave the statement a day after Malacañang said all local chief executives need to follow the chain of command in the executive branch.

 

"If they are not happy, they can go to court and ask for declaratory relief... Our decision will stay," he told ANC's Headstart.

 

"Maliwanag namang kapakanan ng tao. 'Yung hiling lang naman ng tao ang aming dinidinig," he said.

 

Malacañang spokesperson Harry Roque earlier called Manila's policy against face shields as "null and void," saying it is "in violation of an existing executive policy decreed by the President himself, in the exercise of police powers."

 

"Until hindi nababago ang desisyon ng IATF, the order of the President, through the IATF, is ipatupad pa rin ang pagsusuot ng ating mga face shields," he said.

 

Domagoso said while he respects the opinion of Roque, who is a lawyer by profession, Manila's no face shield policy would not be revoked.

 

"When we speak of chain of command, it speaks of military. We are not uniformed personnel," the mayor said.

 

"Control is the power to reverse, supervise is the power to oversee... He (The President) has no control over the mayor. He has the power of supervision," he said.

 

The local government of Manila will only reconsider its policy on face shields if the Department of Health (DOH) can present scientific evidence that face shields significantly reduce the transmission of COVID-19, Domagoso said.

 

"What they want us to do is something that is not science-based," the mayor said.

 

"They have not done their assignment. It's been so many months... We are the only country in the world using face shields," he said.

 

Domagoso noted that several senior citizens and asthmatic people have been complaining of discomfort when using face shields, adding that the acetate of acrylic gear only adds to the public's expenses and trash.

 

The Department of the Interior and Local Government earlier said it was also in favor of scrapping the mandatory use of face shields, except in high-risk areas such as hospitals.

 

 

 

 

 

SAN JUAN WON'T LIFT FACE SHIELD MANDATE WITHOUT GOV'T ORDER: MAYOR

 

 

 

MANILA - San Juan will continue to implement the mandatory use of face shields unless ordered to stop by the national government, Mayor Francis Zamora said Tuesday.

 

Metro Manila mayors have agreed to recommend the lifting of the face shield mandate. This, despite a Department of Health statement that face shields provide an additional layer of protection against COVID-19 infection.

 

"Once the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force Against COVID-19) gives the go-signal to lift this, I will issue the necessary executive order and amend current ordinances which penalize people not using face shields," Zamora told ANC's Headstart.

 

"If and when i-lift ng IATF we will amend the ordinance ang penalty para na lang sa non-wearing of face masks, di na face shield. I call on everyone to just wait 2 more days."

 

 

 

 

 

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

 

 

 

 

 

SHARON CUNETA MAKES KAPAMILYA TELESERYE DEBUT VIA 'ANG PROBINSYANO'

 

 

 

MANILA -- Sharon Cuneta’s Kapamilya teleserye debut is finally happening as she joins the star-studded cast of “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano,” the country’s’ longest-running action-drama series that recently marked its historic sixth anniversary.

 

To formally welcome Cuneta into the show, ABS-CBN rolled out the red carpet for her on Tuesday with ABS-CBN COO of broadcast Cory Vidanes, TV production head Laurenti Dyogi, Dreamscape Entertainment head Deo Endrinal, and “Ang Probinsyano” star, director, and creative director Coco Martin in attendance.

 

It was followed by a story conference where Cuneta discussed her upcoming role with Martin and directors Albert Langitan, Kevin de Vela, John Prats and Malu Sevilla.

 

News about Cuneta’s addition to the cast has been one of the most talked about and anticipated by Kapamilya fans, especially since the show has featured hundreds of stars in the last six years.

 

It is also one of the biggest highlights in the show’s anniversary celebration as it continues to deliver quality entertainment and important values and lessons, such as love for family and community, to every Filipino home around the world.

 

It remains to be seen whether Cuneta’s role will be Cardo’s (Martin) friend or foe.

 

It was only last week when “Ang Probinsyano” began to tease a “Mega” addition to their nightly viewing. Cuneta, whose acting and singing careers span over 40 years, is dubbed the “Megastar” of local showbiz.

 

Cuneta first stirred rumors of her involvement in “Ang Probinsyano” in August, when she re-posted a photo of lead star Martin with Julia Montes, who, at the time, had just been announced as Martin’s new leading lady in the primetime drama.

 

Cuneta has long wanted to collaborate with Martin. In June 2016, she expressed hopes of co-starring with the actor, saying she personally requested ABS-CBN executives to conceptualize a movie that would bring them together.

 

Meanwhile, “Ang Probinsyano” continues to achieve milestones in its sixth year as it became the first Filipino teleserye to livestream on YouTube, where it repeatedly smashed its own live viewership record, peaking at 162,831 concurrent viewers.

 

Through the years, “Ang Probinsyano” and its stars have also received over 100 awards from various award-giving bodies.

 

 

 

 

 

SPORTS

 

 

 

 

 

NBA SCORES NOV 7

 

 

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Nets7-3 29        24        35        28        116

 

Raptors6-5        26        34        17        26        103

 

SCOTIABANK ARENA, TORONTO, ON

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            K. Durant BKN

 

31 PTS 7 REB 7 AST

 

            F. VanVleet TOR

 

21 PTS 3 REB 8 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Cavaliers7-4      29        27        33        37        126

 

Knicks6-4          30        27        18        34        109

 

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, NEW YORK, NY

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

R. Rubio CLE

 

37 PTS 3 REB 10 AST

 

J. Randle NY

 

19 PTS 7 REB 7 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Pacers4-7         27        21        26        20        94

 

Kings5-5           19        24        24        24        91

 

GOLDEN 1 CENTER, SACRAMENTO, CA

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            C. LeVert IND

 

22 PTS 6 REB 1 AST

 

            H. Barnes SAC

 

22 PTS 4 REB 5 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Bucks4-6          24        28        19        23        94

 

Wizards7-3       26        23        33        19        101

 

CAPITAL ONE ARENA, WASHINGTON, DC

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            G. Antetokounmpo MIL

 

29 PTS 18 REB 5 AST

 

            B. Beal WAS

 

30 PTS 5 REB 8 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Jazz7-3 15        37        33        15        100

 

Magic3-8          28        22        25        32        107

 

AMWAY CENTER, ORLANDO, FL

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            D. Mitchell UTA

 

21 PTS 7 REB 7 AST

 

            C. Anthony ORL

 

33 PTS 3 REB 2 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Spurs3-7           28        27        14        25        94

 

Thunder3-6       14        31        34        20        99

 

PAYCOM CENTER, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            K. Johnson SA

 

22 PTS 6 REB 1 AST

 

            M. Muscala OKC

 

20 PTS 4 REB

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Rockets1-9       32        29        22        24        107

 

Warriors8-1       37        32        34        17        120

 

CHASE CENTER, SAN FRANCISCO, CA

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            J. Tate HOU

 

21 PTS 10 REB

 

            J. Poole GS

 

25 PTS 4 REB 5 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Hornets5-6        39        19        29        19        106

 

Clippers5-4       31        30        28        31        120

 

STAPLES CENTER, LOS ANGELES, CA

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            L. Ball CHA

 

21 PTS 7 REB 3 AST

 

            P. George LAC

 

20 PTS 9 REB 8 AST

 

 

 

 

 

INDICATORS

 

 

 

FOREX $1 = P 50.16

 

 

 

 

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

 

 

 

This communicating of a man's self to his friend works two contrary effects; for it redoubleth joy, and cutteth griefs in half. - Francis Bacon