MOVE OVER BBB, IT’S NOW BBM FOR ‘BUILD, BETTER, MORE’ INFRA TICKETS

The Marcos administration is expanding the flagship infrastructure program of its predecessor, but it will now be called BBM or Build, Better, More from its previous iteration of BBB or Build, Build, Build.

“We shall confidently build on this firm foundation established by my predecessor. As it is in building an edifice, we must keep the momentum and aspire to Build Better More,” the President said in a recent Cabinet meeting.

Under the proposed 2023 budget, the government is seeking P1.196 trillion for the priority infrastructure programs of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who goes by the initials BBM.

The amount is equivalent to 5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Under the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, the BBB flagship infrastructure program covered a total of 112 big-ticket projects.

Some 94 projects worth P4.5 trillion, however, were passed on to the Marcos administration.

Mr. Marcos vowed to “not suspend” any ongoing projects that have already “been shown to be of benefit to the public that they serve.”

The President said he intends to implement several railway projects during his administration, including the North-South Commuter Railway System, the Metro Manila Subway Project, the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 Cavite Extension, the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 7, and the Common Station.

He also intends to build railway systems beyond the National Capital Region, including the Mindanao Railway Project, the Panay Railway Project, and the Cebu Railway System.

The Department of Public Works and Highways is poised to get P718.4 billion next year, the second biggest allocation in the budget.

SC ISSUES WRIT OF AMPARO FOR MISSING ACTIVISTS

MANILA — The Supreme Court (SC) has given the Department of National Defense (DND), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) 72 hours to give their comment on the alleged disappearance of two activists last May 3.

In a statement, the SC said that in its full court session yesterday, it granted the petition for a writ of amparo or an order of protection filed by the families of activists Elizabeth Magbanua and Alipio Juat, who were reportedly taken by the military in Valenzuela.

Magbanua and Juat are members of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU).

Respondents in the petition were AFP Chief of Staff Lt. General Bartolome Vicente Bacarro, DND officer-in-charge Jose Faustino Jr., NICA director general Ricardo de Leon, Army commanding general Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.; Army acting chief of staff Maj. Gen. Roy Galido, Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence of the AFP Maj. Gen. Romulo Manuel and Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations Brig. Gen. Nolasco Mempin.

The SC had referred the petition to the Court of Appeals (CA) for a hearing on Aug. 30.

The High Court also instructed the CA to decide on the case within 10 days after receiving it.

The petition was filed by Magbanua’s partner Ruth Manglalan and her niece Alyssa Marie, and Juat’s daughter Maureen.

The SC also granted their petition for a temporary protection order prohibiting the respondents from getting within a radius of one kilometer of the petitioners and their immediate families.

GOV’T WORK, CLASSES SUSPENDED

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. suspended classes in public schools and government work in Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, Zambales and Bataan until Wednesday as Severe Tropical Storm Florita strengthens the southwest monsoon or habagat.

This stemmed from the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to halt classes in public schools and government work “due to the continuous heavy rainfall brought about by [the] southwest monsoon enhanced” by Florita.

"The same course of action for private schools and offices is left to the discretion of their respective heads," the Office of the Press Secretary said in a statement.

Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and Dagupan City in Pangasinan suspended work in public offices and classes in private and public schools earlier Tuesday.

Florita — the sixth tropical cyclone in the country’s jurisdiction this year — hit land in the area of Maconacon, Isabela at 10:30 a.m. Weather forecasters said it was last spotted over the town’s coastal waters.

It now has peak winds of 110 kilometers per hour near the center from 95 kph, and gusts of up to 150 kph from 115 kph. Florita is expected to “weaken slightly” due to the frictional effects of Northern Luzon’s rugged terrain.

SENATE GRILLS OFFICIALS LINKED TO SUGAR IMPORTATION MESS, ES EXPLAINS SIDE

Senators on Tuesday grilled resigned Agriculture undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian about the unauthorized order to import 300,000 metric tons of sugar, but Senator Risa Hontiveros raised questions about the involvement of the Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez.

At the Blue Ribbon committee hearing on Sugar Order No. 4, Hontiveros said there seemed to be a disconnect between Malacanang’s claim that Rodriguez had no prior knowledge of the order, when a memo dated July 15 suggested his office was in the loop.

The memo authorized Sebastian to sit as ex-officio member of all duly constituted committees and bodies where the Department of Agriculture secretary is a member.

At a hearing at the House of Representatives Monday, Sebastian said he signed SO 4 based on the authority given to him by Rodriguez through the July 15 memo.

Although Hontiveros noted Sebastian’s statement that he may have misread the intent of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who sits as DA secretary and chairman of the Sugar Regulatory Administration, she asked why SO4 was still approved and why did Rodriguez not immediately bring this to the attention of the President.

Hontiveros then reiterated her call to immediately appoint a competent Agriculture secretary who would focus on preventing a looming sugar supply crisis.

Rodriguez attended and made an opening statement at the Blue Ribbon committee hearing but immediately excused himself afterwards. This prompted Hontiveros to file a motion to recall him in the next hearing as many questions remained unanswered.

Rodriquez confirmed to the committee that President Marcos did not give the authority to release the sugar order.

The Palace official described as “unfair and dishonorable” the signing of SO No. 4 without the authority from President Marcos.

FLORITA LEAVES PHILIPPINE AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY, STORM SIGNALS STILL UP

MANILA—Severe tropical storm Florita has left the Philippine area of responsibility after inundating different parts of Luzon on Tuesday, the state weather bureau said.

In its 5 a.m. weather bulletin, PAGASA said that Florita was sighted approximately 335 km west of Calayan, Cagayan at 4 a.m., packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kph near the center with 115 kph gusts, while moving west northwestward at 30 kph.

On Wednesday, light to heavy rains will fall in Ilocos Region, Abra, and Benguet, while light to moderate with at times heavy rains will be experienced in the rest of Cordillera Administrative Region.

"Rainfall caused by Florita is forecast to gradually weaken throughout the day. However, scattered flooding (including flash floods) and rain-induced landslides are still expected especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazard as identified in hazard maps, and in localities with significant antecedent rainfall," PAGASA said.

The weather agency noted that the southwest monsoon or "habagat" may still bring rains to the western sections of central and southern Luzon.

"Strong winds (strong breeze to near gale strength) will be experienced within any of the areas where Wind Signal no. 1 is currently in effect," it said.

PAGASA projected Florita will make landfall in southern China on Thursday.

DSWD: P1.7 BILLION WORTH OF AID ON STANDBY AS FLORITA HAMMERS PH

MANILA — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has P1.7 billion in standby funds to aid victims of calamities, it said Tuesday as Severe Tropical Storm Florita (international name: Ma-on) barrels the Philippines.

"Sa ngayon ay nasa 1.7 billion [pesos] po 'yung mga naka-standby namin na worth ng ayuda," DSWD spokesperson Asec. Romel Lopez told ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo.

Included in the said allotment is the agency's quick response funds (QRF), Lopez said.

Some 480,000 family food packs — which cost P283 million — have been readied for distribution, he also said.

"So ito pong DSWD Central Office, kasama po iyong aming field offices, tsaka siyempre po 'yung National Resource Operations Center, nandito po 'yung repacking natin ng relief goods, ay pinaghanda na po. On red alert na po kami."

Lopez added that following the July 27 Luzon earthquake, the DSWD was able to "preposition" its assets there.

"'Yung atin namang prepositioned food packs diyan at QRF ay augmented na rin po. So mas madali po natin itong mau-utilize at madi-distribute sa ating mga kababayan."

Florita made landfall in Maconacon, Isabela at 10:30 a.m., PAGASA said. It will move northwestward and is forecast to cross the northern portion of Isabela and mainland Cagayan.

Storm signals 1 up to 3 have already been raised over many areas in Luzon.

So far, more than 500 people in Northern Luzon have been evacuated due to Florita, the state disaster response agency said.

PHILIPPINES DECLARES WAR ON ONLINE CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

MANILA — The Philippines on Tuesday declared "war" against online child sexual exploitation, which authorities said surged during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Citing the findings of various international agencies, Justice Secretary Boying Remulla said the Philippines has become a "favorite place" of abusers, with incidents of online exploitation reported "across all regions."

"We are declaring a war on this... We will not hesitate to prosecute anybody who [contributes] directly or indirectly in this nature," Remulla said in a Palace press briefing.

"This administration is keen and very serious in stopping this... We are declaring war in this and this is the time now," added Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo.

The Philippines has become the world's largest known source of online child sexual exploitation, with endemic poverty helping drive a surge in abuse, based on a 7-year study by the UK-based International Justice Mission (IJM).

It said parents and relatives were responsible for facilitating the abuse in nearly all cases.

Access to technology and the pandemic lockdowns fueled the rise of sexual exploitation involving children, said United Nations (UN) envoy member Nikki Teodoro.

"Marketing their children online for profit: the fact that [is] it is easy to put up a site. It is technology that made it easier for these perpetrators to market their children, our children, and it has gotten easier and it has gotten more lucrative," she said.

"It is so lucrative, it is a billion-dollar industry. Bilyon-bilyon ang makukuha nila. But once you get caught and charged, you get charged internationally," she added.

From 2017 to July this year, authorities conducted 227 operations against the online sexual abuse of children, which led to the filing of 198 cases, data shared by Interior Secretary Benhur Abalo showed.

Sixty-seven people have been convicted of the crime, while 41 cases are still under investigation.

The cases involved "a lot of European participation," said Remulla, declining to provide additional details.

SEVERE, CRITICAL COVID CASES INCREASING; MORE THAN HALF NOT FULLY VACCINATED - DOH

PASIG CITY - Department of Health Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said Tuesday that the percentage of severe and critical COVID-19 cases admitted to hospitals has been increasing in recent weeks.

"We confirm that the percentage of severe and critical infections have been noted to increase for these past weeks," Vergeire said at the launch of the DOH PinasLakas campaign in Rizal High School in this city.

She made the announcement days after disclosing that the country is experiencing a rise in the number of COVID-19-related deaths in the past weeks.

There were 811 or 9.7 percent of COVID-19 patients admitted in hospitals in severe and critical condition as of Sunday, the DOH reported.

This is the highest percentage of severe and critical COVID-19 patients recorded in 8 weeks, or since the week of June 20-26 which had a proportion of 10.7 percent severe and critical COVID-19 cases.

According to the ABS-CBN Investigative and Research Group, this is the fourth straight week that the severe and critical cases have accounted for more than 9 percent of the total COVID-19 admissions.

Vergeire noted though that the percentage has not breached the threshold of 10 percent or 1,000 patients.

"'Pag tinignan natin sa kabuuan, hindi naman lumalagpas sa 10 percent na threshold o 1,000. Although, hindi natin gustong maliitin ang numero na yun, dahil nakikita nga natin na may angking pagtaas sa sever and critical," she said.

The DOH underscored that 60 percent of the severe and critical cases reported were unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated.

"That’s what we are hoping to address with PinasLakas - mabawasan ang severe and critical, mababakunahan natin sila, at hopefully eventually bababa ang severe and critical," Vergeire said.

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CENTRAL VISAYAS POLICE DENY VIRAL 'KIDNAPPING' SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS

CEBU — Several Central Visayas police chiefs have denied reports of alleged kidnapping incidents circulating on social media.

In Cordova town in Cebu, Maj. Michael Gingoyon belied messages spreading online that a student from Cordova National High School had been abducted. “For me, we urge the public not to believe right away and should not spread reports if they are not validated by us,” he said.

Over in Bohol, Provincial Director Col. Osmundo Salibo also issued a statement denying allegations of kidnapping in the town of Ubay after the spread of social media posts.

“Based on our investigation, there is no truth and basis to this,” Salibo said in Cebuano.

The regional police's Anti-Kidnapping Group also downplayed the allegations, urging supposed victims to file a complaint or report of such incidents to their respective offices.

“Officially, we have not received an official report or complaint that they were even attempted to be kidnapped. If you are one, please surface so we can take proper action,” the group's leader Lt. Zozimo Ravanes Jr. said.

Ravanes also noted that those who spread false, alarming information may be held responsible.

Similar posts of alleged kidnapping have also been spreading online in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, prompting local authorities there to look into and verify the claims.

In a press conference Tuesday, Dumaguete PNP chief Lt. Col. Joeson Parallag said he has tasked a special unit under his command to investigate the alleged kidnapping incidents further.

PANDEMIC SLASHED NUMBER OF FILIPINO SAVERS BY 25%

MANILA — The number of Filipino adults with savings dropped by 25 percent from 38.6 million in 2019 to 28.9 million in 2021 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Based on the 2021 Financial Inclusion Survey, the incidence of savings declined to 37 percent of the 77.2 million Filipino adults from 53 percent in 2019, partly due to the global health crisis that may have reduced household income or increased medical expenses.

This was consistent with the lower percentage of account holders at 56 percent who utilized their accounts to save in 2021, from 76 percent in 2019.

For the savers in 2021, majority or 81 percent cited that they allocated savings for emergencies while other considerations include the achievement of financial or life goals at 43 percent, cover daily expenses at 41 percent and to prepare for retirement at 12 percent.

For 2021, the BSP said the number of Filipino adults without savings increased to 63 percent from 47 percent in 2019. A total of 48.3 million Filipino adults had no savings as of last year.

The number of Filipino savers dropped despite the increase in the number of adults with formal accounts to 42.9 million or 56 percent in 2021 from 20.9 million or 29 percent in 2019. This resulted in a decline in the number of unbanked Filipino adults to 34.3 million or 44 percent from 51.2 million or 71 percent.

According to the survey, saving was more prevalent among those belonging to socio-economic class ABC, college graduates, Mindanao residents, accountholders, business owners and workers.

The BSP added that the percentage of savers significantly declined, particularly among adults in the National Capital Region, South Luzon, the Visayas, socio-economic class E, those who are working and residing in urban areas.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

'SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME' SWINGS BACK TO PH THEATERS WITH NEW FOOTAGE

Heads up, Spidey-fans! 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' is swinging its way back to Philippine cinemas, this time with extended scenes and 11 minutes of new footage.

Arriving in cinemas across the Philippines on September 7, the updated version of Spider-Man: No Way Home will feature extended scenes and 11 minutes of never-before-seen footage.

The return engagement comes in celebration of 60 years of the Spider-Man comic book character, in addition to the last two decades of Spider-Man films gracing the big screen.

The return of Spider-Man: No Way Home to cinemas is a welcome development for Filipino fans as theater seating capacity was limited when it opened back in January, plus children weren’t still allowed outside their homes.

With the re-release, fans who were deprived of the opportunity to experience the movie in the big screen will now be able to, along with those who want to see it again.

SPORTS

TNT DEF. SAN MIGUEL, 86-84 (VIDEO) AUGUST 21 | PBA FINALS GAME 1

Jayson Castro scored the winning basket at the buzzer as the TNT Tropang GIGA escapes past San Miguel Beermen, 86-84 in Game 1 of their best-of-7 finals of the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday, August 21 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

RR Pogoy led the Tropang Giga with 26 points (10/17fg, 4/6 3pts, 2/3ft) to go with 3 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal. Mikey Williams with a solid game of 21 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal.

The Scores:

TNT 86 - Pogoy 26, M Williams 21, Castro 15, Erram 9, Khobuntin 8, Reyes 6, Rosario 1, Montalbo 0, K Williams 0, Marcelo 0, Ganuelas-Rosser 0.

SAN MIGUEL 84 – Fajardo 24, Perez 21, Cruz 10, Manuel 9, Tautuaa 6, Lassiter 5, Brondial 4, Enciso 3, Ross 2.

Quarters: 16-21, 37-49, 70-64, 86-84.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 56.07

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

What man actually needs is not a tensionless state but rather the striving and struggling for some goal worthy of him. What he needs is not the discharge of tension at any cost, but the call of a potential meaning waiting to be fulfilled by him. - Victor Frankl