MARCOS CERTIFIES 2023 P5.268 TRILLION NATIONAL BUDGET AS URGENT

MANILA — President Marcos last night certified as urgent the executive department’s proposed P5.268-trillion national budget for 2023 even as the House of Representatives intends to approve the government spending plan this week.

“The certification from Malacañang will enable the House to approve the General Appropriations Bill on second and third reading on the same day, which we set on Wednesday (Sept. 28),” Speaker Martin Romualdez said in a statement.

“We are right on track with our schedule,” he said, referring to House Bill 4488, as the lower legislative chamber deliberates on the budget proposals of only less than 10 agencies this week.

House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe said they are 76 percent done last week.

In a single-page document, Marcos invoked his power under Article 6, Section 26, and Subsection 2 of the 1987 Constitution, which authorizes him to “certify to the necessity of the immediate enactment of HB 4488.”

“In order to address the need to maintain continuous government operations following the end of the current fiscal year, we strengthen efforts to respond more effectively to the pandemic and support initiatives towards national economic recovery,” Marcos stated.

CHINA URGES PHILIPPINES TO REMOVE ‘INTERFERENCE’ FROM THEIR RELATIONS

MANILA — China yesterday urged the Philippines to preserve the friendship between the two countries but remove “interference” from their relations.

In his speech at the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian said the Philippines and China should put their differences in a proper place and seek peaceful solutions through friendly consultations “so that our overall relations will not be affected.”

The two countries should properly handle differences to remove interference from China-Philippines relations, Huang said.

China ignored a 2016 decision by The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration that declared its historical claim in the South China Sea to be without basis. Beijing insists on bilateral talks with the Philippines.

“China-Philippines relations are now at a new starting point,” he said.

He stressed that China is ready to work with the Philippines to implement the consensus reached by President Xi Jingping and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to follow through on the blueprint for cooperation to jointly usher in a new “golden era” in bilateral relations.

“We should preserve the friendship between China and the Philippines,” he added.

The ambassador highlighted Xi’s leadership of the Communist Party of China and China’s development.

“It was a decade of opening up at a higher level and sharing development opportunities with the world,” Huang said. “It was a decade where China shouldered the responsibilities of a major country.”

China, he said, has opened wider and deeper with its contribution to world economic growth at more than 30 percent.

Huang noted that the Belt and Road cooperation has yielded fruitful results with a large number of projects completed and actively participated in global governance and promoted “world peace and development.”

HOUSE APPROVES EASE OF PAYING TAXES BILL ON FINAL READING

MANILA = There were no negative votes or abstentions when 250 House of Representatives lawmakers voted to approve House Bill 4125 or the proposed Ease of Paying Taxes Act on third and final reading.

According to the congressional fact sheet prepared by the House Ways and Means Committee, the bill would institutionalize simplified tax returns and processes for smaller taxpayers for ease of compliance to tax rules and regulations.

It also introduces a medium taxpayer classification and a corresponding Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) special unit for better service and tax administration.

It also enhances the portability of tax transactions by removing restrictions on venue in the filing of returns and payment of taxes.

It removes the distinction between sales invoices and official receipts and makes the former the document to be used by taxpayers to substantiate value-added tax (VAT) transactions whether for sale of goods or services.

It mandates the Commissioner of Internal Revenue to ensure the creation of registration facilities for non-resident taxpayers.

It removes the required annual taxpayer registration fee payment worth Five Hundred Pesos and legislates a Taxpayer's Bill of Rights and designates a Taxpayers' Advocate Office.

TYPHOON KARDING EXITS PAR AFTER DESTRUCTIVE TRAIL IN PH

MANILA—Typhoon Karding (international name: Noru) has left the Philippine area of responsibility, PAGASA said Monday night.

According to PAGASA, the typhoon's center left the country's monitoring area at 8 p.m.

The strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year left at least six people dead. Karding barreled through central and southern Luzon areas with heavy rain and fierce winds.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported six people were also missing after the typhoon's onslaught.

It estimated Karding's agricultural damage to cost P141.38 million, with 740 farmers and 16,229 hectares of farmland affected.

Close to 79,000 people, or 20,380 families were evacuated from their homes before the storm hit, as the meteorology agency warned heavy rain could cause "serious flooding" in vulnerable areas, trigger landslides and destroy crops.

The Polillo Group of Islands in Quezon province sustained massive damage due to Karding, a local official said, after the typhoon blitzed into the country on Sunday night.

In total, the estimated cost of damage in Quezon is at least P200 million for now, he said.

GOVT TO AIRLIFT FOOD, GENERATORS TO TYPHOON-HIT AREAS

The government has mobilized to send food and generators to areas hammered by Super Typhoon Karding, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said on Monday.

"Presently what we are organizing is the airlift for food materials, food packs, water into Polillo because they said it's really down. It was the first hit," the President said.

Marcos, who attended a situation briefing at the Office of Civil Defense in Camp Aguinaldo, ordered the deployment of generators to the provinces of Aurora and Nueva Ecija.

"Since we've already identified that the whole of Nueva Ecija and the whole of Aurora have no power, then we need to send them power," he said.

After the briefing, the President conducted an aerial survey of areas hit by "Karding." The fly-by included Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and Tarlac. He, however, decided not to land so as not to disrupt operations on the ground.

Earlier, the President placed "on the highest alert level" the monitoring of all energy-related facilities in areas badly affected by the typhoon.

Marcos reminded all concerned government agencies that there will be no let-up in relief and rescue efforts until all displaced residents are safely back in their homes.

"It's not yet over. We won't stand down yet. The point where we can stand down is when the majority of our evacuees are already back home," he said.

VP DUTERTE ARRIVES IN JAPAN, MEETS PM KISHIDA AHEAD OF ABE’S FUNERAL

Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio arrived in Japan Monday to attend the state funeral of assassinated former prime minister Shinzo Abe today (Tuesday) at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo.

Duterte-Carpio paid a courtesy call on Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at Akasaka Palace State Guest House in Tokyo on Monday.

Kishida expressed his gratitude to Duterte-Carpio for attending the state funeral and said he was impressed with the fact that both houses of Congress of the Philippines have respectively adopted resolutions expressing sympathy on the passing of the former Prime Minister Abe.

“Prime Minister Kishida, acknowledging Vice President Duterte as the first Cabinet-level dignitary of the Marcos administration to visit Japan, conveyed his commitment to further strengthening the Japan-Philippines relations under the Marcos presidency,” read a statement posted on the Office of the Prime Minister’s website.

Abe, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, was shot dead on July 8 by a gunman while campaigning for his ruling Liberal Democratic Party in the Nara region.

Other world leaders expected to attend Abe’s funeral include US Vice President Kamala Harris, South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-Soo, and Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Abe visited the Philippines at least four times between 2013 and 2017.

DOJ SAYS SHUTDOWN ORDERED OF 175 POGOS LINKED TO CRIMES

MAINLA - At least 175 Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) have been ordered to shut down, the Department of Justice said Monday.

DOJ spokesperson Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano revealed at a televised briefing that these are POGOs whose licenses had been canceled due to their alleged involvement in certain crimes.

“Si Secretary Remulla, in-order na niya, inutusan na niya ang NBI at PNP with the assistance of PAGCOR to ensure na isarado iyong mga office ng mga ito,” Asec Clavano said.

“At ang mas nakakaabala dito po ay iyong mga umiikot sa social media na mga videos at saka pictures ng mga POGOs na may mga murder, may mga kidnapping, prostitution. Iyon po ang umaabot dito sa amin sa DOJ. Kaya, sir, nagpatawag si Secretary Remulla ng meeting para ipatigil na iyong ganitong behavior,” he added.

Some 280 Chinese nationals who worked for these questionable POGOs are now under the custody of the authorities, Clavano said.

The DOJ estimated that there are over 40,000 Chinese nationals working in this industry that would be deported per batch. The department is in close coordination with the Chinese embassy as it sets to begin the process on October until December.

The DOJ refused to say if it would back a proposed policy of banning POGOs completely in the Philippines.

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FALLEN HEROES: BULACAN MOURNS 5 RESCUERS WHO DIED DURING THE HEIGHT OF TYPHOON KARDING

MANILA – The provincial government of Bulacan dubbed as heroes the five members of the province’s disaster risk reduction management office who died in the line of duty during the height of the onslaught of Typhoon Karding.

In a Facebook post, Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando named the rescue workers. They were: George E. Agustin, Troy Justin P. Agustin, Marby B. Bartolome, Jerson L. Resurrecion, and Narciso Calayag Jr.

Bulacan Vice Governor Alex Castro, in another Facebook post, said the rescue workers died during rescue operations in San Miguel town.

Bulacan, Quezon Province, and Nueva Ecija were among the areas hardest hit by the typhoon – which brought fierce winds and caused floods.

“Nasawi po ang limang PDRRMO rescuers sa gitna ng rescue operations sa kasagsagan ng Bagyong #KardingPh sa Bayan ng San Miguel (The five PDRRMO rescuers died in the middle of rescue operations due to Typhoon Karding),” Castro shared.

Castro added that a flash flood caused the rescue workers’ death: “Sa kanilang paghahanda ng life boats ay rumagasa ang flash flood sa kanilang lokasyon na nagpaguho ng isang pader at siyang dahilan ng pagdaloy ng tubig baha na umanod sa ating mga rescuers.”

DOH: COVID CASES ON THE RISE AGAIN

The number of COVID-19 cases in the country has increased anew after a period of decline, with 17,891 infections recorded from September 19 to 25, 2022 – at least 22 percent higher than the tally logged in the previous week.

According to the Department of Health (DOH) weekly case bulletin, the cases recorded in the past week climbed up from the 14,707 new infections logged the week prior from September 12 to 18.

Last week’s daily case average also increased to 2,556 from the previous week’s 2,101.

DOH data also showed that 790 severe and critical cases were admitted to hospitals as of September 25, accounting for 11 percent of the total COVID-19 admissions.

Of the 2,514 intensive care unit (ICU) beds, 576 or 22.9 percent were occupied. Meanwhile, 5,851 or 27.8 percent of the 21,078 non-ICU COVID-19 beds were in use.

For its part, OCTA Research Group said Monday the new COVID-19 infections in the National Capital Region recorded on Sunday surpassed the peak of new cases in August, as most indicators were seen increasing.

THIRD ALARM: RISING MARIKINA RIVER WATERS PROMPT FORCED EVACUATIONS

MANILA — Typhoon Karding dumped rains over parts of Luzon on Sunday, including Metro Manila, causing the water level of the Marikina River to rise to 18 meters above sea level past midnight on Monday, September 26.

Local authorities in Marikina City raised a third—and highest—alarm as a response to the increased risk of serious flash floods, indicating forced evacuations of at-risk residents.

The city's information office said the city government has opened 50 evacuation camps as the river's water level continued to rise since the first alarm was raised past 9 p.m. on Sunday.

Eight gates of the Manggahan floodway remained open. The waterway is an infrastructure that diverts the Marikina River's water to the Laguna de Bay thereby preventing flooding in Manila.

Marikina City, along with other parts of the National Capital Region, has been under Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 throughout Sunday before it was adjusted to Signal No. 3 a few hours before midnight on Monday.

STATE OF CALAMITY IN NUEVA ECIJA AS 'KARDING' LEAVES BEHIND RUINED CROPS, DAMAGED STRUCTURES

MANILA — The provincial government of Nueva Ecija has declared a state of calamity due to damage to crops and livelihood caused by Typhoon Karding.

A declaration allows the use of calamity funds and imposes a price freeze on basic goods.

"Prayoridad ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ang mga nasalanta sa sektor ng agrikultura, mga nawasak na tahanan, at ang agarang pagbabalik ng supply ng kuryente," Gov. Aurelio Umali said in a Facebook post announcing the declaration by the provincial government.

In its resolution declaring the state of calamity, the provincial board noted that Nueva Ecija — which has five cities and 27 towns — is among the provinces "severely hit" by the typhoon.

It also said, citing data from local government offices, that typhoon caused "huge damages on the crops and livelihoods of Novo Ecijanos" as weall as to infrastructure in the province.

Initial Department of Agriculture estimates put damage to agriculture at P141.38 million, with rice, corn and other high-value crops across 16,200 hectares of farmland left unusable in the wake of the typhoon. The DA based the estimate on reports from the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon and Calabarzon.

"Patuloy po tayong magdasal para sa mabilis na pagbangon ng Nueva Ecija (Let us continue to pray for the quick recovery of Nueva Ecija)," Umali said.

CEBU CITY: TOO MANY PRIVATE VEHICLES, TOO FEW PUBLIC TRANSPORT

CEBU CITY – During the first mobility summit here, the top officer of the city’s transport office reported that Cebu City has too many private vehicles and lacks public transport.

Paul Gotiong, Executive Director of the Cebu City Transport Office (CCTO) said, “we have the highest trips per day [in Metro Cebu] with around 80% of private vehicles occupying our roads and (only) 10% of that are coming from our public transport.”

For example, the CCTO data showed that on General Maxilom Avenue, one of the city’s major streets, more than 50% of the vehicles that pass through here are private automobiles. The next group of big of users on this road are motorcycles.

The transport director also cited a report from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) which said that the average monthly vehicle sales in the country for the year 2022 was around 25,000.

In the same report, CAMPI-TMA recorded sales of 105,553 units for January to July 2020. Compared to this, vehicle sales nationwide skyrocketed to 182,687 from January to July 2022.

Gotiong said that the increase in commuters had a staggering effect on the volume of vehicles in the city. Currently, Cebu City attracts at least 3.5 million commuters in Metro Cebu, with 1.5 million coming from the city.

“These [commuters] are mostly passing from the neighboring cities like Mandaue and Talisay,” Gotiong said.

Gotiong told reporters on Friday that the city hoped to find more solutions for its traffic problems from the public and private sectors during the course of the summit.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

AFTER 'ANG PROBINSYANO', JULIA MONTES TO STAR IN ACTION FILM

MANILA -- After her successful stint at the recently concluded series "FPJ's Ang Probinsyano," Julia Montes is set to star in the new action film "TOPAKK."

Photos of Montes attending an immersion training for an upcoming action project were uploaded on social media by Cornerstone Entertainment Inc.

"TOPAKK" will be directed by Richard Somes.

"Nagsimula na si Julia Montes mag-immersion training para sa 'TOPAKK', ang inaabangang action thriller film ni Direk Richard Somes," the caption read.

Montes, 27, has long been rumored to be Martin’s girlfriend, but neither has ever gone on record to confirm their relationship.

They were first paired onscreen in 2012, in the phenomenal series “Walang Hanggan,” and went on to co-star in “A Moment In Time” in 2013, “Ikaw Lamang” in 2014, “Wanasapanataym” in 2015.

Montes’ became Martin’s last leading lady in “Ang Probinsyano,” which ended last month.

SPORTS

PH DROPS 8 SPOTS IN FIBA WORLD RANKINGS

MANILA -- The Philippines dropped to No. 41 in the latest edition of the FIBA World Rankings, released by the world governing body for basketball Monday.

The country dropped eight places from its previous rank of 34. It's the third-biggest drop among Asian countries, after Qatar (14 spots to No. 90) and Hong Kong (11 spots to No. 123).

The national men's basketball team, Gilas Pilipinas, is coming off a tough stretch that saw them miss out on the quarterfinals of the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup. They currently have a 3-3 record in the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers.

Olympic champion United States is still ranked at No. 1, closely followed by Spain. Australia is at No. 3 worldwide and No. 1 in Asia.

Argentina and France wrap up the top five in the world rankings.

In Asia, Australia is followed by Iran, New Zealand, China, and South Korea in the rankings. The Philippines ranks eighth in the continent, with Lebanon giving chase at No. 9.

Team USA's ranking points is less than two above Spain, and according to FIBA, the No. 1 spot in the rankings will be at stake during the last two windows of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers. The United States has never fallen out of the top spot since the rankings were introduced.

FIBA considered the FIBA AmeriCup, the FIBA Asia Cup, the EuroBasket, as well as the last two windows of the World Cup qualifiers in the latest rankings.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you. - Kahlil Gibran