MARCOS, ALBANESE VOW STRONGER PHILIPPINE-AUSTRALIA TIES

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos expressed readiness to boost the Philippines’ trade and defense ties with Australia during a phone conversation with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Malacañang said yesterday.

In a Facebook post, the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) said the phone conversation between the two leaders took place on Monday.

“During the phone patch, the President expressed his desire to further strengthen the relationship between the Philippines and Australia on the issues of trade and national security,” the OPS said.

The two leaders are expected to meet during the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit.

In a column published in The STAR, Australian Ambassador HK Yu described Australia’s cooperation with the Philippines as “broad and deep,” noting that it spans defense and security, development cooperation, trade and investment and people-to-people links.

She said Australia’s development program in the Philippines totals about P3 billion every year.

The trade and investment relationship between Australia and the Philippines is significant and growing, with two-way trade between the two countries reaching P183 billion in 2021, up by 40 percent on 2019 levels.

Yu said that Filipinos are the fifth largest migrant community in Australia, with over 400,000 residing in her country.

HOUSE APPROVES 11 BILLS ON FRUITFUL DAY ONE SESSION

The House of Representatives led by Speaker Martin Romualdez on Monday night approved on third and final reading 11 national and local bills that seek to promote the safety of private and public buildings and infrastructure, protect the environment, and boost tourism in the country.

“We immediately buckled down to work on the first day of our resumption of session. It was a productive day,” Romualdez said.

He said Mondays are usually devoted to House members’ privilege speeches on their concerns, aside from referral of numerous bills, resolutions, and communications to the various committees and tackling unfinished business.

“But yesterday (Monday), we managed to pass bills of national and local importance, thanks to the cooperation of every House member,” Romualdez said.

The House also approved on second reading several tax bills that were principally authored and sponsored by Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda.

These bills were House Bill 4102, or the Single-use Plastic Bags Tax Act, HB 4122, or the VAT on Nonresident Digital Service Providers, and HB 4339, or Package 4 of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program.

“With this, the House wraps up with all the priority tax measures of the Duterte-era Comprehensive Tax Reform Program, and is ready to move on to tax collection reforms, as prioritized by the Marcos administration,” Salceda said.

MARCOS JR. CONSIDERS PLACING NDRRMC UNDER OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Tuesday he wants the government’s national disaster response to operate under his office.

Mr. Marcos made this remark during his visit to Tacloban City for the 9th anniversary of Super Typhoon “Yolanda,” where he stressed the need to bolster disaster response initiatives and rehabilitation projects.

“We will put the national disaster response team under the Office of the President. And I think that we are headed in that direction because of the weather that we are suffering from now from the effects of climate change,” Mr. Marcos said.

“I think that overall, we can say that the disaster response has been a good one. However, I believe that there are ways that we can make it even more streamlined,” the President said.

“As typhoons become much stronger and calamities more destructive, pursuing much-needed reforms to make the country more proactive and responsive to disasters becomes more imperative,” he said.

The chief executive assured the people of Tacloban that the government would continue to prioritize its recovery, especially the resettlement of the displaced families and the provision of support to affected businesses.

PH ACQUIRES NEW AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday expressed optimism that the newly acquired ground-based air defense system (GBADS) and a C-295 medium lift aircraft will help the Philippine Air Force (PAF) boost\ its capabilities in protecting Philippine territories.

During the formal acceptance, turnover, and blessing ceremony at the Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga, Mr. Marcos said the acquisition of the military hardware will make a “very big difference” in promoting the country’s security from “aerial threats.”

“This is a day that is a momentous event for all of us, especially of course the Philippine Air Force, as our reason for gathering is a significant stride to our ability to shield our territories from aerial threats of different kinds, whether from inside or outside thecountry,” Mr. Marcos said in a keynote speech.

“As we accept and bless the new Ground Based Air Defense Systems and the C-295 Aircraft, I call upon our Philippine Air Force personnel to continue performing their duties. May you remain as the bastions of freedom that our ancestors have fought for and of the peace that we unceasingly have worked hard for generations to gain,” he added.

Mr. Marcos also thanked Israel and Spain for helping his administration bolster the Philippine troops’ defense capabilities to protect the country’s sovereignty.

“We must of course extend our deepest gratitude to Israel and to Spain for helping us bolster our defense systems to safeguard our sovereignty. I believe that this is a clear testament of our strong defense relations—one that we can develop in — as their Excellencies mentioned, in other areas besides defense,” he said.

Mr. Marcos said it is vital to modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines to make it “ready for all eventualities.”

SUSPECTED ROCKET DEBRIS WITH CHINESE FLAG FOUND IN OCCIDENTAL MINDORO WATERS

Local fishermen have discovered suspected rocket debris, painted with the Chinese flag, in waters off Calintaan, Occidental Mindoro this week.

Calintaan MDRRMO head Joven Gequinana said fishermen found 2 pieces of debris in waters off Calintaan last Monday, Nov. 7, and Tuesday, Nov. 8. The two pieces of debris have been towed to the shore of Barangay Poblacion.

Pictures provided by Analyn Flores Victoriano showed the debris bore a painting of the Chinese flag.

Local officials, police, and the Philippine Coast Guard are set to meet Wednesday to discuss plans on what to do with the debris.

In July, debris from a rocket that was launched in China landed in Philippine waters in an uncontrolled re-entry, the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) said.

Last month, PhilSA advised the public to be on the lookout for falling rocket debris following the October 31 launch of China's Long March 5B from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan Island.

The rocket was carrying the Mengtian laboratory module for the Tiangong space station, a research facility being built by China in orbit.

Chinese authorities said "expected unburned debris" may fall 72 kilometers from Bajo de Masinloc (Drop Zone 1) or 39 kilometers from Busuanga, Palawan (Drop Zone 2).

PhilSA has urged the public, particularly fishermen, to refrain from touching the rocket debris they might find floating in the sea.

FRASCO: 1.9M TOURIST ARRIVALS SA PILIPINAS, NAHIGITAN NA ANG PROJECTION PARA SA 2022

LONDON - Magandang balita ang dala ni Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco sa kanyang pagbisita sa London, England.

Ayon sa kalihim, base sa kanilang pinakahuling datos, umabot na sa 1.9 milyon ang tourist arrivals sa bansa ngayong taon.

Nahigitan na raw ito ang kanilang projection na 1.7 milyong turista hanggang sa katapusan ng 2022. Aniya patuloy ding kinikilala ang mga tourist destinations ng bansa.

“The Philippines recently made it to the Conde Nast’s 40 most beautiful countries in the world. Travel and Leisure Magazine also awarded the Philippines with three of the 25 best islands in the world, namely Boracay, Palawan and Cebu,” pahayag ni Sec. Christina Garcia-Frasco.

Ibinahagi rin ni Frasco sa mga kinatawan ng filipino community, na nasa Philippine Embassy noong Sabado, ang mga programa ng Philippine Department of Tourism para isulong pa ang industriya.

Plano rin ng DOT na gawing tourism powerhouse ng Asya ang Pilipinas. Ilan sa mga kailangang gawin sabi ni Sec. Frasco ang pagdadagdag ng international direct flights papunta sa Pilipinas, pagsasa-ayos ng mga kalsada, airport at seaport.

Kabilang din sa dapat matutukan ay ang pagtatayo ng mga bagong pasilidad, pagsisiguro sa kaligtasan ng mga turista, pagpapalakas ng internet connectivity at pangangalaga sa mga likas na yaman ng bansa.

“As a mayor, my experience has been that the only way to translate theories on sustainability to actual implementation is to engage the grassroots community, to introduce the lifestyle and concept of sustainability into an economic, social and developmental framework,” sabi ni Frasco.

Nakikipag-ugnayan naman ang Philippine Department of Tourism London sa Filipino community sa UK para itaguyod pa ang tourism sector.

“We are organizing January 26 to Feb 20, a plane load of FilCom here. Please bring all your kamag-anak, and your friends, that’s the time to engage the lowest rate and we’ll give you perks when you arrive in the Philippines,” paanyaya ni Gerard Panga, Tourism Attache, PDOT London.

NEW DOH USEC URGES CRITICS: GIVE ME A CHANCE

MANILA – Former Philippine National Police chief Camilo Cascolan on Wednesday asked his critics to give him a chance as he takes on the job of undersecretary at the Department of Health.

The former top cop took his oath before officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire on Tuesday, despite criticism that he should not be appointed health undersecretary due to lack of a medical degree.

“Sana po ay mapagbigyan nila ako at kung anumang maitulong ko po sa Department of Health,” Cascolan told TeleRadyo.

“Ako po ay nagdarasal na sana ay ang aking nalalaman ay maibigay ko bilang isang malaking tulong, tulad nga po ng sabi ni, ng ating presidente, si Presidente Bongbong Marcos, sa managerial and administrative responsibilities po tayo makakatulong,” he added.

“At yan po ay pipilitin ko ang aking makakaya para ako ay makatulong o para sa ating bansa. Iisa lang po ang ating adhikain: yan po ay mapaganda at mapaayos ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino.”

Cascolan served as top honcho of the police force from September to November 2020 under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

He was among those who crafted "Oplan Double Barrel," which became the PNP’s flagship program in the war against illegal drugs.

The controversial “Oplan Tokhang," which is linked to thousands of deaths of drug suspects, was implemented under this program.

Vergeire previously said that Cascolan is “very qualified” to be Health Undersecretary.

NGCP FINED P5M FOR BREACH OF DOE BID POLICY

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has slapped a P5.1-million fine against the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) for violating a Department of Energy circular on transparency.

In a statement posted on its website on Tuesday, the ERC said the NGCP violated DOE’s Department Circular No. DC2021-10-0031, entitled “Prescribing the Policy for the Transparent and Efficient Procurement of Ancillary Services by the System Operator” or AS-CSP Policy.

Under Section 7.4 of the policy, the NGCP, as System Operator (SO), is required to submit the Terms of Reference (TOR) prior to its publication of the Invitation to Bid (ITB) for the DOE’s approval.

In its own statement, the NGCP expressed disappointment over the decision for its alleged failure to contract ancillary services.

“We were sorely disappointed at the recent turn of events. It seems that duplicity is still the name of the game, and we are still dealing with the same economically motivated political maneuvers,” the transmission operator said.

The ERC also threatened to push for revoking the grid operator’s congressional franchise should it continue to violate the DOE’s rules on procuring power reserves.

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PHILIPPINES' ACTIVE COVID-19 CASES LOWEST SINCE JULY 13

MANILA — The number of active coronavirus cases in the Philippines on Tuesday is at its lowest since July 13, Department of Health data showed.

According to the DOH, there are currently 16,034 active COVID-19 infections in the country, a little higher compared to 14,862 on July 13. That was the last time active cases counted fewer than 15,000, said Edson Guido, ABS-CBN Data Analytics head.

The country's total confirmed COVID-19 cases climbed to 4,011,625 during the day after the DOH recorded 694 new infections, the DOH said.

Of the new cases, 164 were detected in Metro Manila.

The DOH also recorded seven new deaths, raising the total to 64,298.

Guido noted that Tuesday's reported number of coronavirus deaths was lower compared to previous days.

Total recoveries now stood at 3,931,293.

Guido said that the coronavirus positivity rate from Nov. 6 to 7 was 9.3 percent.

As of Nov. 2, over 73.5 million people in the country have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the DOH said.

Of the figure, over 20.6 million have received their first booster dose.

DOJ RULES OUT OTHER SUSPECTS

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday said they saw no evidence that anyone higher than suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag was responsible for the Oct. 3 murder of radio commentator Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa.

“We don’t see anything else as of this time,” Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla said Tuesday after he was asked about a statement from the Mabasa family that they were unconvinced that Bantag was the mastermind.

The Philippine National Police (PNP), which filed murder charges against Bantag and BuCor Deputy Security Officer Ricardo Zulueta and several inmates Monday, offered to provide security for the two suspects who are still at large.

Remulla said they are waiting for the report from the Anti-Money Laundering Council to trace the money trail in the case.

The AMLC earlier confirmed that the bank account of self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial received P550,000, the same amount he was allegedly offered to kill the hard-hitting commentator.

“We are waiting for the AMLC report that’s why we are at 95 percent of the case,” Remulla said. “We always follow

the money when there is a criminal enterprise. . . We have suspects there already.”

PRESIDENT: YOLANDA FATALITIES MUST ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED

The uncounted fatalities from Super Typhoon Yolanda should never be forgotten, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday, as he marked the ninth yearly commemoration of the killer storm that left more than 6,000 people dead.

“I come here because I must commemorate those uncounted dead that up to now we do not know how many that number is,” Mr. Marcos said in Tacloban City, Leyte, which suffered the worst effects of the super typhoon.

“If you remember, during the count of the casualties, the count was stopped and we knew that there were still thousands out there and for those thousands… those countless thousands… we come here, we commemorate. Because if we no longer commemorate, their memory dies and it is only up to us to keep that memory alive,” he added.

Mr. Marcos said the commemoration was also a demonstration and a manifestation of the strength and courage of Filipinos.

“To remind ourselves that Filipinos are brave, that Filipinos are kind, and that Filipinos will conquer all especially if it is for their community, and for their families, and for the land that they love,” he said.

Mr. Marcos questioned the official number of fatalities as tallied by the government after the catastrophe.

He said that it is unbelievable that only over 6,000 people died when the typhoon struck Eastern Visayas in 2013.

“I have questioned it from day one, 6,000 plus is what they said. It’s not 6,000 plus… It’s too late to determine the actual number,” Mr. Marcos told reporters.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

'PROBINSYANO' STAR YASSI PRESSMAN IS GINEBRA'S 2023 CALENDAR GIRL

MANILA – After a remarkable stint on television, actress Yassi Pressman has reached another milestone in her career when Ginebra launched her as its 2023 calendar girl.

The long-time “Ang Probinsyano” leading lady was officially introduced as endorser on Tuesday at the Makati Diamond Residences, succeeding Kapamilya actress Chie Filomeno.

Pressman acknowledged she was surprised to be considered.

“When I was called to be a part of this I was really surprised and shocked and honored. At the end of the day, being a part of such a great legacy is something that’s gonna be a milestone in my life. So I think it’s really something special na kailangan paghandaan,” she said.

“And another thing, being a part of a company that serves world class quality and for them to choose you to be part of the brand really means a lot to me.”

Pressman, actively shares her fitness journey on her social media pages, also shared that accepting the project comes with a pressure.

“First, I was honored that I was even thought of about it. Second, syempre comes the pressure — the pressure to be the best version of yourself right away. I’m trying my best. And I think, I’m happy because its goes with my fitness journey right now,” she continued.

Pressman joins the elite group of Filipina personalities who have graced the calendars of Ginebra through the years such as Anne Curtis, Pia Wurtzbach and Marian Rivera.

Meanwhile, San Miguel was also happy to finally host a face-to-face event in launching their newest calendar girl.

“For us, this launch also signals the atmosphere for next year. The pandemic has affected many Filipinos, but now is the time to recover—armed with Bagong Tapang, to dream and hope again, and to spread that positivity to others,” said Marketing Manager Ron Molina.

During the presentation, Pressman showcased the different mixes of alcoholic beverages featuring the various offerings of the brand – each purposely presented in six different layouts of the 2023 calendar.

According to the actress, it was a challenge to prove self-discipline when she did the shoot for Ginebra, revealing that she had to undergo a nutritional diet.

Committed to Ginebra’s branding, Pressman is hoping to offer a more natural take on being a Filipina model.

“I try to show my most natural self online. For little girls, or anybody who starts following me, I want them to see the non-perfect side of celebrities they see on TV. I showed my struggles. I show myself in my not so glamorous form,” she explained.

“Whenever I get messages from little girls or any netizen saying that I inspire them to dance, act, and to keep moving forward, it gives me the ‘ganado’ feeling and hope and aspiration to empower more women.”

INDICATORS

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

No man is wise enough, nor good enough, to be trusted with unlimited power. - Charles Colton