CHINA TELLS PH IT’S READY TO RESTART TALKS ON ENERGY EXPLORATION DEALS

China is ready to restart talks on oil and gas exploration with the Philippines as soon as the latter gives the go signal, Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian said Wednesday.

“In the field of energy, we hope that we will continue to work on oil and gas cooperation. We hope we start that negotiation and find some solution for the benefits of our two peoples to meet the need or the demand of energy of this country and China,” Huang told reporters in Pasay City.

“I think with the new administration in place, we are ready to restart our negotiation anytime.”

Two weeks ago, China said it was negotiating with the Philippines over the funding of some infrastructure projects after a transport official said Beijing had pulled its funding commitment to three big-ticket railway projects.

The Chinese Embassy clarified this after Transport Undersecretary for Railways Cesar Chavez revealed that Beijing had failed to act on a government request for funding for the Philippine National Railways Bicol project, Subic-Clark Railway Project, and the first phase of the Mindanao Railway Project.

HUNDREDS OF AFTERSHOCKS SHAKE EARTHQUAKE-HIT NORTHERN PHILIPPINES

MANILA — Anxious residents slept outside after hundreds of aftershocks rattled the earthquake-hit northern Philippines, locals said Thursday, as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr flew to the region to inspect the damage.

Five people were killed and more than 150 injured when a 7.0-magnitude quake struck the lightly populated province of Abra on Wednesday morning, authorities said.

The powerful quake rippled across the mountainous region, toppling buildings, triggering landslides and shaking high-rise towers hundreds of kilometers away in the capital Manila.

"Aftershocks happen almost every 20 minutes, 15 minutes since yesterday," said Reggi Tolentino, a restaurant owner in Abra's provincial capital Bangued.

"Many slept outside last night, almost every family."

Hundreds of buildings were damaged or destroyed, roads were blocked by landslides and power was knocked out in affected provinces.

But in Abra, which felt the full force of the quake, overall damage had been "very minimal", police chief Colonel Maly Cula told AFP.

"We don't have a lot of people in evacuation sites although many people are staying in the streets because of the aftershocks," Cula said.

"Abra is back to normal."

More than 800 aftershocks have been recorded since the quake hit, including 24 that were strong enough to feel, the local seismological agency said.

AFTERSHOCKS MAY CAUSE FURTHER DAMAGE IN QUAKE-HIT AREAS: PHIVOLCS

MANILA — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology on Wednesday night warned of further damage in Abra and other parts of Luzon that were jolted by the magnitude 7 earthquake earlier in the day.

Phivolcs director Usec. Renato Solidum told ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo that aftershocks may cause additional damage in areas badly hit by the 8:43 a.m. tremor, the epicenter of which was traced northeast of Tayum, Abra.

"As of 7 p.m., meron na tayong naitalang 343 aftershocks. At ang pinakamataas na na-record natin ay magnitude 5.4 na nangyari kaninang 3:38 (p.m.). So, mga Intensity V ang na-record ng ating instrumento doon sa pinakamalapit sa episentro," he said.

"Malakas ito at nangangahulugan na kapag ang mga bahay ay may sira (at) hindi pa masyadong tumumba, pwede pang masira ng mga aftershock," he added.

People whose houses and offices incurred damage after the quake are advised not to occupy those until engineers have conducted their inspection.

"Kailangan ma-inspeksyon muna ng mga engineers kung structural ba, mga poste at biga ba ang damage or wall lang. Delikado kasi, kasi may aftershock pa," said Solidum.

"Kailangan maayos yung mga bahay na nasira, kung pwede pang ayusin. At kung talagang hindi at ma-condemn ay magpatayo na lang ng bago," he added.

Areas hit by landslides and cracks are also still at risk due to the destabilization of the soil, the official warned.

MARCOS VISITS QUAKE-HIT ABRA

MANILA - President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos flew to earthquake-hit Abra on Thursday morning, Malacanang said.

Marcos will be briefed on rescue and relief efforts upon his arrival in the province, according to the Palace.

A magnitude 7 temblor hit the town of Langilang town in Abra around 8 a.m. on Wednesday. The tremor was felt all the way to Metro Manila.

At least 5 persons were reported dead due to the earthquake, according to the national disaster council.

GOV'T EYES 4 PCT INCREASE FOR 2023 BUDGET: ANGARA

MANILA - The Marcos administration will likely enforce "more focused spending" as it eyes only a 4-percent increase in next year's budget, a senator said Thursday.

Sen. Sonny Angara, head of the Senate Committee on Finance, said the agriculture department's wish to triple its budget would be "very hard."

"It’s very hard to triple a budget because the proposed 2023 budget, from what I’m hearing from the economic managers, is only 4 percent higher than the 2022 budget, that's a very small increase compared to previous years," he told ANC's Headstart.

"But perhaps you'll see more focused spending because the President wants to do so many things so the departments have to take their cue and focus on what the President mentioned in his SONA (State of the Nation Address)."

He added, "That's probably why the President started his SONA with a budget responsibility call... precisely so we can focus on all these issues."

Asked where government can get the budget for the additional hospitals and rural health units that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr mentioned in his first SONA, Angara said there are some P10 billion to P20 billion "health facility enhancement fund" every year.

Some local governments are capable of funding the improvement of their local hospitals, he added.

Meanwhile, some Filipino residents of Surrey were surprised to see the SONA rally.

"Dapat pagbigyan nila yung bago. Try nila, diba? At saka sila magprotesta kung hindi maganda," resident Edith Ontal said.

Surrey, a city outside Vancouver, is considered by the activist groups as a stronghold for Marcos supporters.

MARCOS GREETS IGLESIA NI CRISTO ON ITS 108TH ANNIVERSARY

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Wednesday greeted Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) on its 108th anniversary and noted the church's efforts in peace and reconciliation in the country and in different parts of the world.

In his message, Marcos hoped that with their help, the goals for the betterment of the country would be attained.

"Gamitin natin ang pagkakataong ito upang tayo ay ganap na magkasundo sa kabila ng ating mga pagkakaiba at hindi pagkakaunawaan," his message read.

"Nawa, sa ating pagbubuklod ay makamit natin nang sama-sama ang ating mga minimithi para sa Inang Bayan."

He also wished INC Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo good health and strength for his leadership.

Marcos secured the backing of the influential religious group in May.

The group has over 2.6 million members in the Philippines, based on the last national census in 2015, and adheres to bloc voting.

SENATE, HOUSE ELECT COMMITTEE LEADERS

MANILA — Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives have elected the chairpersons of some of the committees that monitor ongoing government operations, identify issues suitable for legislative review, gather and evaluate information, recommend courses of action and start public hearings on priority bills.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri presided over the session last night with Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva nominating the senators to lead their respective committees for the 19th Congress.

As the majority leader, Villanueva also chairs the Senate committee on rules.

First to be elected was Sen. Sonny Angara, who now heads the Senate committee on finance, which he also chaired during the 18th Congress, while Sen. Nancy Binay is now the head of the Senate committee on accounts.

The finance committee has jurisdiction over matters relating to funds for the expenditures of the national government and for the payment of public indebtedness, auditing of accounts, claims against the government, inter-governmental revenue sharing and, in general, all matters relating to public expenditures.

The accounts committee has jurisdiction over all matters relating to the auditing and adjustment of all accounts chargeable against the funds for the expenses and activities of the Senate.

Sen. Ronald dela Rosa also kept the chairmanship of the public order and dangerous drugs committee, while Sen. JV Ejercito is now chairman of the local government committee and his brother Sen. Jinggoy Estrada the head of the national defense and security, peace, unification and reconciliation committee.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian chairs the ways and means committee while Sen. Bong Go retains chairmanship of the health and demography committee.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros is still chair of the women, children, family relations and gender equality committee.

BILL CREATING EDCOM II LAPSES INTO LAW

MANILA — A bill creating a congressional body that would conduct a three-year review and assessment of the country's education system lapsed into law on July 23.

Republic Act No. 11899 creates the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), which is tasked to conduct a national review of the country’s education sector after the COVID-19 pandemic exacted a heavy toll on learning.

“Batas na po ang EDCOM II! Para iangat ang kalidad ng edukasyon, hindi na natin maaaring ipagpaliban ang pagpapatupad ng mga kinakailangang reporma,” Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, the bill’s sponsor and co-author, said in a tweet on July 26.

EDCOM II’s assessment will include studying the mandates being fulfilled by the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) according to what’s prescribed in the law.

The review also aims to identify the factors that lead to students’ poor performance and recommend ways that agencies can address hiccups in education delivery in terms of access, inclusivity and quality.

State think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) will serve as the congressional body’s research arm.

The country was confronted with its laggard status in education last year after a World Bank report synthesizing international assessment results showed students in the Philippines ranking lowest and second to the lowest in reading, science and math.

“Sa pamamagitan ng panukalang EDCOM II, mabibigyan natin ng kaukulang pansin ang krisis sa sektor ng edukasyon, lalo na't pinalala ito ng pandemya ng COVID-19," said Gatchalian after the bill’s ratification in May.

SPEAKER ASSURES QUICK OK OF 8 PRIORITY BILLS

Eight of the 19 legislative priority measures enumerated by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday are eligible for swift approval under Rule 10, Section 48 of the House of Representatives, Speaker Martin G. Romualdez said Wednesday.

Romualdez said the House would “also work on the immediate approval of other SONA measures the soonest time possible in order to make President Marcos’ vision of a better nation a reality.”

In a related move, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said nearly seven out of 10 Filipinos surveyed are in favor of the return of the mandatory Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program in schools, which the President underscored in his SONA.

Gatchalian cited the results of the latest Pulse Asia survey that 69% of Filipinos agree with the proposal to reinstate the ROTC program in senior high school.

Romualdez said House Rule 10, Section 48 authorizes the committees to dispose of priority measures already filed and approved on third reading in the immediately preceding Congress.

“We have the internal mechanism for an expeditious approval process that is enshrined in Rule 10, Section 48 of the House rules of procedure,” Romualdez said.

The eight Marcos-endorsed measures whose passage could be hastened through the rule are the Valuation Reform Bill, PIFITA, E-Governance Act, Internet Transaction Act, GUIDE, Medical Reserve Corps, National Disease Prevention Management Authority, and Virology Institute of the Philippines.

‘HOUSE TO PASS BILL DEFERRING BARANGAY, SK POLLS’

MANILA — The House of Representatives is likely to approve the postponement of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections scheduled on Dec. 5, according to Albay first district Rep. Joey Salceda.

“Most likely, that will be the first legislation that we will approve, the postponement,” Salceda said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay media forum yesterday.

He said many lawmakers are eyeing May 5, 2023 as the new schedule of the elections.

Salceda said the government would save P8 billion, which he said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is “eager to spend” for the polls.

Opponents, however, say the spending would simply be deferred, and are questioning lawmakers’ motives for yet another extension of the terms of barangay and SK officials.

Salceda said he supports proposals to extend the term of barangay officials from three to five years.

Despite calls for the postponement of the barangay and SK elections, the Comelec said it is busy with its “three-pronged” preparations.

Comelec acting spokesman Rex Laudiangco said that after the voter registration, concerned committees and departments drafted the implementing resolutions for the holding of the polls, which were submitted for approval and promulgation of the commission en banc. Procurement of election paraphernalia also started this month.

Laudiangco said the voter registration was “record-breaking” as the poll body received 2,936,979 voter applicants.

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ALARM AS EARTH HITS 'OVERSHOOT DAY' THURSDAY — NGOS

PARIS, France — Mankind marks a dubious milestone Thursday, the day by which humanity has consumed all earth can sustainably produce for this year, with NGOS warning the rest of 2022 will be lived in resource deficit.

The date -- dubbed "Earth Overshoot Day" -- marks a tipping point when people have used up "all that ecosystems can regenerate in one year", according to the Global Footprint Network and WWF.

"From January 1 to July 28, humanity has used as much from nature as the planet can renew in the entire year. That's why July 28 is Earth Overshoot Day," said Mathis Wackernagel, president of the Global Footprint Network.

He added: "The Earth has a lot of stock, so we can deplete Earth for some time but we cannot overuse it for ever. It's like with money; we can spend more than we earn for some time until we're broke."

It would take 1.75 Earths to provide for the world's population in a sustainable way, according to the measure, which was created by researchers in the early 1990s.

Global Footprint Network said Earth Overshoot Day has fallen ever sooner over the last 50 years.

FILIPINO CANADIAN ACTIVISTS FIND MARCOS' SONA LACKING

Bayan Canada, Migrante B.C., and Sulong UBC delivered their own State of the Nation address in the city of Surrey.

In their 'SONA ng Bayan,' martial law victim Chris Sorio called on the Philippine government to ensure that overseas Filipino workers are given better protection especially since they help prop up the country’s economy. Last year alone, overseas Filipinos sent home more than $31 billion in cash remittances.

With the amount of money that they send back to the Philippines, Sorio said OFWs should not have to pay for services that they need from embassies and consulates abroad. He added that the government should stop making overseas Pinoys pay for the compulsory insurance that they will not use.

"Tinawag nga itong 'fighting  demands' dahil kailangan natin itong ipaglaban para maibigay sa atin. Kasama na rito ang pagtigil ng singilin sa sa Philippine, yung Philhealth premiums, kasi, kahit ikaw ay nakatira na sa Canada pero ikaw ay permanent resident at dual citizen, obligado ka magbayad ng Philhealth premium na hindi naman natin gagamitin," Sorio pointed out.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered his first SONA on July 25th.

The groups wanted it to address the lack of employment opportunities in the Philippines that has forced many Filipinos to look for jobs in other countries. But in his speech, Marcos instead ordered the faster deployment of overseas workers abroad.

"Why do we have to come to Canada for a better life? It’s because conditions in the Philippines are unlivable," Anakbayan Canada Secretary General Izza Carlin noted.

Migrante BC founding chair Erie Maestro also expressed concern that Marcos' SONA did not address human rights issues and the resumption of the peace process in Mindanao.

SPORTS

TNT ELIMINATES CONVERGE, 116-95 (JULY 27) PBA QUARTERFINALS

2nd-seed TNT Tropang GIGA uses strong first half to beat the 7th-seed Converge FiberXers in the quarterfinals of the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup on Wednesday, July 27 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

The Chot Reyes-mentored Tropang GIGA advances to the best-of-7 semifinals and now awaits the winner of Magnolia-NLEX quarterfinal series.

Mikey Williams, fresh off signing a three-year extension with TNT, led the team with a huge 26 points on 7-of-13 shooting including four 3-pointers along with 4 assists and 1 rebounds in 29 minutes of play. Troy Rosario with a solid game of 18 points (8/10 FG, 2/3 3pts), to go with 7 rebounds and 1 steal while RR Pogoy and Jayson Castro added 16 and 15 points, respectively.

The Scores:

TNT 116 – M. Williams 26, Rosario 18, Pogoy 16, Castro 15, K. Williams 10, Montalbo 9, Erram 7, Tungcab 5, Banal 5, Khobuntin 3, Ganuelas-Rosser 2, Cruz 0, Alejandro 0, Marcelo 0.

CONVERGE 95 – Hill 18, Digregorio 14, Murrell 11, Tratter 10, Ahanmisi 10, Arana 8, Racal 5, Tolomia 5, Adamos 4, Stockton 3, Ambohot 3, Bulanadi 2, Ilagan 2, Browne 0.

Quarters: 30-20, 70-42, 97-67, 116-95.

SAN MIGUEL ELIMINATES BLACKWATER, 123-93 (JULY 27) PBA QUARTERFINALS

The Scores:

SAN MIGUEL 123 – Perez 18 (7ast 5reb), Lassiter 18 (6/11 3pts), Cruz 17, Tautuaa 12 (9reb), Manuel 12, Enciso 11, Fajardo 11 (10reb 6ast), Herndon 9 (6reb), Brondial 6 (15reb), Pessumal 5, Zamar 4, Canete 0, Ross 0 (12ast), Faundo 0.

BLACKWATER 93 – Ular 15 (11reb), Amer 13 (5ast), Ebona 12 (9reb), Sena 11 (3/4 3pts), Ayonayon 11, Suerte 8, Go 8, Casio 5, Publico 5, McCarthy 3, Dyke 2, Melton 0, Escoto 0, Ganuelas-Rosser 0.

Quarters: 55-26, 63-39, 94-63, 123-93.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 55.68

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

It is one of the severest tests of friendship to tell your friend his faults. So to love a man that you cannot bear to see a stain upon him, and to speak painful truth through loving words, that is friendship. - Henry Ward Beecher