MORE THAN 21,000 FOREIGN TRAVELERS VISIT PHILIPPINES: DOT

MANILA – More than 21,000 fully vaccinated foreign travelers have arrived in the Philippines since the country opened its doors to them earlier this month, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said Monday.

“As of Feb. 19, the 10th day since we opened the Philippines, we’ve had about 21, 974 tourist arrivals,” Puyat said on TeleRadyo’s “Sakto.”

“Number 1 galing sa US, pangalawa Canada, no. 3 from the United Kingdom, at pang-apat, South Korea. Meron din tayo from Australia, Vietnam, and Japan.”

“The list is long pero yun yung mga top natin,” she said.

The official said she was pleasantly surprised to see so many travelers coming to the Philippines as soon as the country’s borders were opened.

DFA CALLS EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESO ON RIGHTS ISSUES AN ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE ELECTIONS

MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs condemned the European Parliament for adopting another resolution on human rights abuses in the Philippines, calling it an attempt to interfere in the country’s electoral process.

In a statement Sunday, DFA said the allegations raised in the text are "unfair, largely baseless" as it dismissed the resolution as another intrusion in the country’s internal affairs.

"We condemn the misguided attempt of the European Parliament to interfere in the Philippine electoral process through its resolution raising already discredited allegations of human rights violations in the thin hope of heavily influencing the outcome in favor of its choice," it said.

Last week, the European Parliament issued a resolution calling on the Philippines to immediately end violence against suspected drug offenders and to stop labeling activists and journalists as supporters of communist rebels. It also warned of the temporary withdrawal of trade benefits if calls remain unheeded.

The parliament adopted the text with 627 votes in favor, 26 against and 31 abstenstions.

DFA claimed without basis the calls of European lawmakers were prompted by "supporters of libelous journalists and bitter critics of the current administration because they miserably lost the previous election."

Nevertheless, the department said it is looking forward to the European Union’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences monitoring mission from Feb. 28 to March 4, noting the views of European lawmakers do not reflect those of the EU as a whole or of its individual member states.

HOUSE PANEL OKS BILL REGULATING TRANS FATTY ACIDS

MANILA — A panel of the House of Representatives has approved a measure that will eliminate the use of industrially produced trans fatty acids (TFA) from the country’s food chains, as lawmakers help promote health, clean living and prevent serious illnesses.

House Bill 9083 and four other related pieces of legislation have been consolidated and incorporated into one substitute bill given the green light by the House ways and means committee led by Albay Rep. Joey Salceda.

High trans fat intake has been found to cause cholesterol build-up in arteries – and increase in coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality risk by 21 percent and 28 percent, respectively – among individuals.

A salient feature of the anti-TFA measure was Section 25 of HB 9083 authored by Rep. LRay Villafuerte, which provides that the “importation of laboratory equipment for testing TFA would be exempt from the payment of customs duties and taxes.”

The Salceda panel specifically approved the tax provisions of the Villafuerte bill, and similar other measures that also aim to “strictly regulate” food products with TFAs.

The panel also approved Section 30, which provides that within two years from its effectivity, food manufacturers would comply with the additional requirements for certificate of product registration as determined by the Food and Drug Administration.

To reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and other non-communicable diseases, WHO has set a goal of a trans fat-free world by 2023 and urges countries to adopt measures to eliminate trans fats from their food supply.

Villafuerte’s bill is in response to the WHO’s call to protect people from TFA’s harmful effects.

4 FORMER SENATORS, 12 GOV'T OFFICIALS ENDORSE ROBREDO FOR PRESIDENT

MANILA—Vice President Leni Robredo secures another pledge of support for the May 2022 elections, his time from 4 former senators and 12 government officials, the latest in a series of endorsements for her bid for the presidency.

The 16 signatories urged Filipinos to rally behind Robredo's candidacy as they believe she is the "most qualified and trustworthy presidential candidate".

“We strongly believe that VP Leni is the most qualified and trustworthy presidential candidate who has the political will to rebuild our sordid past, engender hope and inspiration among our people regardless of social standing, and bring about change that has long eluded us,” the group said in a statement issued Monday.

The signatories include former Sen. Rodolfo "Pong" Biazon, Ramon Magsaysay Jr., Sergio Osmeña III and Wigberto "Bobby" Tañada.

"We deserve a president who is fearless, action-oriented, inclusive and decisive—leadership qualities that VP Leni has successfully demonstrated in the last six years despite the limited resources of her public office and undeserved open hostility from the present administration,” they said.

TUCP ENDORSES MARCOS-DUTERTE TANDEM

MANILA — The country’s largest group is endorsing the UniTeam tandem of presidential aspirant Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and vice presidential candidate Sara Duterte-Carpio.

Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) president Raymond Mendoza said the trade group chose to endorse Marcos and Duterte following a nationwide consultation with their members.

TUCP spokesman Alan Tanjusay said the choice was a majority decision from workers in major industries such as service, agriculture and manufacturing sectors located in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

Tanjusay said they conducted a series of online and hybrid face-to-face and combined caucuses which began late last year until last week.

“The vote advantage of Mr. Marcos and Ms. Duterte-Carpio and with those four other pairs of presidential and vice presidential aspirants was very wide. It was an overwhelming majority decision in all caucuses,” he added.

Labor leader and Partido ng Lakas ng Masa (PLM) presidential bet Leody de Guzman admitted that labor groups are divided and endorsing different candidates in the coming May 9 elections.

OVER 100 ARTISTS BACK ROBREDO THROUGH VIRTUAL EXHIBIT

MANILA — Over 100 artists, including National Artist Benedicto Cabrera, better known as “BenCab,” have joined a virtual group exhibition to support the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo.

The show, “Mas Radikal ang Magmahal,” online at www.radikal.ph, is a “strong collective statement of support from the creative community,” said organizer Gigo Alampay.

Months before Robredo announced her decision to join the presidential race, Alampay had already reached out to her office to say that should she decide to run for president, he would make sure “the artists were standing beside her.”

“Hers is a brand of leadership that stands in stark contrast to what we have now. It is one defined by example, competence and incorruptibility,” Alampay said. “It is the only one today that is genuinely worthy of our children, our country and our future.”

PACQUIAO BACKS FLOATING NUCLEAR PLANTS FOR CHEAPER POWER

MANILA — Presidential candidate Sen. Manny Pacquiao intends to push for floating nuclear power plants as part of his commitment to ensuring sufficient power supply and cheaper electricity in the country.

At a recent press conference, Pacquiao said he had no intention to revive the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP), but he wants to use nuclear energy to improve power generation capacity.

He added that he prefers the use of floating nuclear power plants also known as nuclear barges to increase energy supply and decrease the cost of electricity.

The senator also revealed that he is also advocating the use of renewable energy such as solar, wind, mini-hydro and wave energy.

“We will bring attention to all possible sources of energy, but we need to study it carefully so that this time, we won’t be facing power shortages,” he said.

Pacquiao added that there is a need to review the country’s energy policies, hitting previous administrations’ move to privatize utilities, including the power sector.

VACCINE HESITANCY DOWN TO 10%

MANILA — Vaccine hesitancy among Filipinos is now down to just 10 percent, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

“At the start, since last year, there was (vaccine) hesitancy with about 30 percent (of Filipinos). But that has now gone down to 10 percent,” Health Undersecretary Leopoldo de Vega said in Filipino in a radio interview yesterday.

Vega gave assurance that the government is still looking for ways to convince vaccine-hesitant Filipinos to get inoculated against COVID-19.

The vaccination drive, Vega said, is still continuing as part of the government’s effort to inoculate at least 77 million people nationwide by the end of March.

As false information about vaccination continues to circulate, Malacañang reminded the public that the fight should be directed against the pandemic, not the COVID-19 jabs.

VOTERS CONCERNED OF ECONOMIC FALLOUT FROM PANDEMIC: ANALYST

MANILA - Aspirants vying for top government posts in the upcoming May 2022 polls have enough time to sway voters whose key concerns include economic fallout from the pandemic, an analyst said Monday.

Majority of Filipino voters come from low, regular and even seasonal income bases and are worried about unemployment, hunger and poverty, Stratbase ADR Institute president Dindo Manhit told ANC.

"The challenge is are our voters understand who can best address these issues for them?...Are they looking for options or are they being carried by strong slogans, strong engagement? We just hope that really, issues be discussed, the details the programs," Manhit said.

"When the Filipinos say they’re having a hard time with income, jobs because of the pandemic - that should be the concern of the candidates more than the sloganing. What will you do?," he added.

Aside from economic issues, the candidates should also discuss in forums their programs to address corruption and the arbitral ruling on the West Philippine Sea, he said.

"Why have we lost our rights in our traditional fishing ground… it’s an emotional issue," Manhit said.

After campaigning, presidential bets should focus on governance and in establishing a "substantive and responsive" approach, Manhit said.

The next administration should ensure the country is "ripe" for further investment to help the private sector keep their recovery pace, he said.

ARRESTED COMMUNITY DOCTOR REUNITED WITH FAMILY, CASE DETAILS UNCLEAR — FLAG

MANILA — Two sisters of Maria Natividad Castro were finally able to meet the arrested community doctor in person, though details surrounding her case remain unclear, a lawyers' group said Sunday.

In a statement, the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) said Castro was reunited with her sisters on Saturday at the police headquarters in Bayugan, Agusan del Sur.

"They were able to speak with her and spend some time together," the FLAG said.

"As the records of the case are still not available to FLAG because the courts are closed until Monday, FLAG and Doc Naty are still unaware of the exact circumstances of the case that has allegedly been filed against her and the reason for her arrest," the group added.

In a statement, Caraga police chief Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr. said Castro was arrested based on a warrant issued by a trial court in Bayugan City under Criminal Case No. 6527.

Caramat said Castro was allegedly involved in the kidnapping of a member of the Philippine Army's Civilian Active Auxiliary last Dec. 29, 2018.

He added that authorities followed standard protocol in arresting Castro, thus protecting her rights.

Caramat belied Castro was denied access to her family and legal counsel.

FLAG reiterated that Castro "is not a communist nor is she a terrorist," contrary to police statements.

The group said it would "pursue all available legal remedies to secure Doc Naty's freedom or the immediate dismissal of the case against her."

ILOCOS NORTE ELECTRIC CO-OP ORDERED TO REFUND P480 MILLION TO CUSTOMERS

MANILA — The Supreme Court upheld the decision of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) ordering the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc. (INEC) to refund P480 million of over-recoveries from electric billings to its customers.

ERC earlier told INEC to return to the customers the amount which covers over-collections between 2004 to 2010, based on the regulator's computations.

The electric cooperative sought to appeal the decision, with the matter reaching the Court of Appeals and High Court.

“The Supreme Court’s Decision is not only a victory for ERC, but more importantly a victory for the consumers. This shows that our regulatory policies have the consumers’ welfare in mind - that is to protect their interests by ensuring that what was charged and collected from them are but reasonable and accurate rates,” ERC Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer Agnes Devanadera said in an emailed statement shared with reporters on Sunday.

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PHILIPPINES CONFIRMS 1,712 NEW COVID CASES; LOWEST DAILY TALLY THIS YEAR

MANILA - The Philippines confirmed 1,712 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the country’s total to 3,652,203.

This was the lowest daily tally so far this year, and the lowest since Dec. 30 last year.

The positivity rate was also at 8.8 percent, the fifth straight day that this was below 10 percent.

The Department of Health meanwhile also reported 3,686 new recoveries, pushing the total number of Filipinos who recovered from the disease to 3,535,987.

This means that the country has a total of 60,532 active cases as of 4 p.m. Sunday.

NEWLY LISTED MEDILINES BOOKS P1 BILLION EQUIPMENT ORDER FOR 2022

MANILA - Healthcare firm Medilines Distributors Inc, which listed on the stock exchange in December, on Monday said it has closed contracts to install P1 billion worth of cancer therapy equipment in 2022.

The machines will be delivered to Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital in Legazpi City, Northern Mindanao Medical Center in Cagayan de Oro CIty, and the Philippine Children's Medical Center in Quezon City, Medilines said in a disclosure to the stock exchange.

Deliveries are expected to be done in the second quarter once the respective hospitals are ready, it said.

"We are committed to bring advanced cancer treatment into the country's public and private hospitals through these machines, Medilines' chairman Virigilio Villar said. .

GROUP HITS DA OVER VEGETABLE SMUGGLING

MANILA — Peasant group Anakpawis has slammed the Department of Agriculture (DA) over the supposed continuous smuggling of vegetables and other agricultural products.

“Whatever happened to the anti-smuggling measures of the government? It appears that almost a year after the creation of the anti-smuggling task force, the government’s efforts to prevent smuggled agricultural products from entering the country are still weak and insubstantial,” Anakpawis party-list national chairperson Rafael Mariano said.

Mariano was referring to the Sub-Task Group on Economic Intelligence created in May last year purportedly to curb rampant entry of agricultural contraband in the country.

The task group is co-chaired by the DA and the Department of Trade and Industry.

Last week, farmers from Benguet held a protest caravan to denounce the flooding of major local markets of supposedly smuggled vegetables from China.

“The surge of smuggled agricultural products has been going on for many years now, so is the demand of our farmers to address this threat to their livelihood substantially and comprehensively,” Mariano, former secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform said.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

NADINE, BOYFRIEND TAKE PART IN FEEDING PROGRAM IN SIARGAO

MANILA - Nadine Lustre and her boyfriend Christophe Bariou are continuously extending help to victims of typhoon Odette in Siargao.

Around two months since the disaster hit, the actress and Bariou were spotted taking part in a feeding program at the municipality of Pilar in Siargao last week.

Photos and videos of the two participating in the activity were shared by several netizens on social media.

Lustre confirmed her romance with Bariou in January, when she posted for the first time a photo of them sharing a sweet moment.

The two were first rumored to be an item in mid-2021, when they were photographed together.

Bariou is a resort owner in Siargao, where Lustre resided for months at a time in the past year.

Bariou made the first public indication of his relationship with Lustre in December, when he shared on his Facebook page photos chronicling a relief drive they led for victims of Odette in Siargao.

SPORTS

MERALCO DEF. RAIN OR SHINE, 93-88 (PBA) FEBRUARY 20

Meralco Bolts (5-1) defeated Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (3-5), 93-88 to claim their fifth win in the 2021 PBA Governors' Cup on Sunday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

Meralco import Tony Bishop led the Bolts in scoring with 26 points on 10-of-23 shooting including two 3-pointers along with 14 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and a block. Allein Maliksi with a solid game of 19 points (7/14 FG, 4/5 FT), 6 rebounds and 1 assists in 27 minutes of play while Raymond Almazan added 17 points (7/8 FG, 3/4 FT), 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block.

The Scores:

MERALCO 93 – Bishop 26, Maliksi 19, Almazan 17, Newsome 8, Banchero 6, Belo 6, Black 5, Caram 4, Quinto 2, Hodge 0.

RAIN OR SHINE 88 – Walker 24, Nambatac 12, Belga 12, Borboran 10, Nieto 10, Caracut 8, Mocon 7, Asistio 3, Ponferada 2, Jackson 0, Norwood 0, Santillan 0.

Quarters: 20-23, 45-51, 64-65, 93-88.

SAN MIGUEL DEF. GINEBRA, 110-102 (PBA) FEBRUARY 20

San Miguel Beermen (4-3) defeated Barangay Ginebra (3-4), 110-102 to claim their fourth win in the 2021 PBA Governors' Cup on Sunday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

Orlando Johnson led the Beermen with a double-double game of 31 points on 12-of-19 shooting including three 3-pointers along with 10 rebounds, 8 assists and a steal. CJ Perez with a solid game of 23 points (9/18 FG, 3/9 3PT), 5 steals, 2 rebounds and 2 assists while JuneMar Fajardo added 13 points, 10 rebounds, 1 steal and a block.

The Scores:

SAN MIGUEL 110 – Johnson 31 (10 reb, 8 ast), Perez 23 (5 stl), Fajardo 13 (10 reb), Lassiter 13 (3/4 3PT), Romeo 9 (5 ast), Manuel 8 (6 reb), Tautuaa 7, Ross 6, Brondial 0.

GINEBRA 102 – Brownlee 40 (9 reb), J. Aguilar 14, Tolentino 14 (4/11 3PT), Tenorio 13 (6 ast), Standhardinger 8 (17 reb, 8 ast), Thompson 7 (11 reb, 6 ast), Pinto 6, Caperal 0.

Quarters: 20-24, 48-46, 86-73, 110-102.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

There's harmony and inner peace to be found in following a moral compass that points in the same direction regardless of fashion or trend. - Ted Koppel