MARCOS BACK IN MANILA AFTER 'VERY SUCCESSFUL' ASEAN SUMMIT

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. arrived in the Philippines past midnight of Monday from Cambodia where he attended the 40th and 41st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits.

Marcos, along with several Cabinet members and other delegates, landed in Pasay City at around 12:14 a.m.

He was welcomed by Vice President Sara Duterte before proceeding to Bulwagang Kalayaan for the arrival ceremony.

Prior to flying back to the country the President shared he met with the Filipino community In Cambodia— the last event of his four-day trip.

“I was honored to meet them, and I thanked them for their efforts and contribution to our nation’s progress and development— as well as that of Cambodia’s because they have been lauded as part of the reconstruction of Cambodia. They play a very large part,” he said during his arrival speech.

"And of course, I was able to update them on what’s happening in our country right now, and the programs and policies of my administration."

Marcos said his first participation in an ASEAN summit as president was “very successful", adding that he articulated the Philippines' interests "and our commitment to working with ASEAN and our Dialogue Partners to find common ground to address the issues affecting our region and to strengthen cooperation."

“We also got the opportunity to put forward our position, our plans and find ways where we can help each other and coordinate,” he added.

Marcos said among those he had bilateral discussions with were Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, the Sultan of Brunei, the President of the Republic of Korea, the Prime Minister of Vietnam, and the Prime Minister of Canada.

“In these meetings, we discussed how we can deepen cooperation in key areas and exchanged views on important regional and global issues,” he explained.

NO PROGRESS ON SOUTH CHINA SEA CODE OF CONDUCT: MARCOS

PHNOM PENH—No progress has been made on the conclusion of the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea, even as ASEAN leaders have raised the need to finalize one during the ASEAN Summits in Cambodia, Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr said in a media interview on Sunday.

“Well, nothing new actually has happened in terms of the code of conduct. We all just restated over and over again. Kailangan na magkaroon ng code of conduct. Because to be very, very clear about what it is that we are agreeing upon, eh kailangan may code of conduct na tayo. So ‘yun lang. That’s as far as you can go especially pagka ganyan,” Marcos explained.

Marcos was among the ASEAN leaders who had pressed on the matter during his interventions in the ASEAN-China Summit and ASEAN-East Asia Summit.

“Paulit-ulit na sa sinabi ko, it is urgent. It is becoming more and more urgent and we really should, the negotiations and the finalization of the code of conduct. There’s been some progress in the past year but we really need to have the actual code of conduct, already finalized and already in place as soon as possible,” Marcos said.

Aside from China and the Philippines, the following also have claims in the South China Sea: Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan.

"Pretty much everybody" raised the importance of maintaining peace, stability and prosperity in the South China Sea, Marcos said.

What was common also among the ASEAN leaders, Marcos noted, was the need to follow the international laws when dealing with the South China Sea issue.

“Everybody, including the Chinese, says we follow UNCLOS and the international law. So at least that position of ASEAN is clear,” he said.

G20 ROLLS OUT $1.4B FUND VS. PANDEMIC

Group of 20 (G20) health and finance ministers launched a $1.4-billion fund Sunday to tackle the next global pandemic ahead of the bloc’s leaders gathering for a summit on the Indonesian resort island of Bali, but the host’s president said it was not enough.

The 24-nation fund is viewed as one of the early global outcomes of the summit next week where little progress is expected on the Ukraine crisis with Russian President Vladimir Putin not in attendance.

It was launched at a news conference Sunday opened by Indonesian President Joko Widodo and addressed by World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and World Bank President David Malpass.

Ahead of the G20 meeting, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. rallied leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the need to create sustainable growth and a human-centered future post-COVID-19.

Mr. Marcos said nations cannot achieve economic progress alone.

“We, as ASEAN, must promote a people-oriented and people-centered recovery and development pathway beyond the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said in his intervention during the 2nd ASEAN Global Dialogue in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

MARCOS OKS DOE’S OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY EXPLORATION

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has approved the Department of Energy (DOE)’s proposal to explore and develop the Philippines’ offshore wind potential as part of efforts to ensure energy security.

Marcos directed energy officials to proceed with their offshore wind energy production initiatives during a meeting yesterday in Malacañang, a statement issued by the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) said.

It said the President had given the DOE “the greenlight for its plan,” which includes energy officials’ suggestion to create an Offshore Wind Development and Investment Council to be composed of relevant state agencies.

This council will serve as a one-stop shop for offshore wind developers.

The OPS said Marcos is in favor of the proposal but wants the DOE to handle its regulatory functions to streamline coordination and simplify the approval process.

“It should be the Department of Energy who should be talking with the OSW (offshore wind) developers, in consultation with the council, of course. It has to be led by the DOE,” a Palace statement quoted the President as saying.

HOUSE URGED TO BREAK IMPASSE ON DBM-NPC BUDGET

MANILA, Philippines — A senior opposition lawmaker is calling on his colleagues in the House of Representatives to step into the budget standoff between the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the National Power Corp. (NPC) over the latter’s 2023 budget allocation.

Northern Samar Rep. Paul Daza warned that the continued stalemate between the two may result in the disadvantage of power consumers or end users, most particularly big businesses, should there be power interruptions again.

“Let us be reminded of who and what gets sidelined when power supply comes up short: students, employees, economic opportunities, and the modern quality of living of our fellow Filipinos,” the senior deputy minority leader pointed out.

NPC originally proposed a P45-billion budget for 2023 but was “allegedly slashed down to P32 billion,” prompting the state-owned power firm to warn that this would further aggravate NPC’s unpaid debt situation with fuel suppliers and lead to power plant closures.

The DBM, however, stood pat on its huge budget cut, insisting that NPC’s corporate operating budget was not reduced and that the subsidy portion in their 2023 budget was actually raised from P3.8 billion to P5.07 billion.

Moreover, the budget department approved the release of a P2.9-billion special allotment release order (SARO) to the NPC, on top of an existing P1.02 billion issued for small power utility group (SPUG) generator companies (gencos).

Daza warned that SPUG gencos are currently in a race against time, waiting for the NPC to settle its accounts with suppliers before power outages ensue in the so-called “missionary electrification areas.”

“These missionary areas can be found in 34 provinces. If the power plants servicing these areas are not provided with a steady, reliable supply of diesel fuel, then approximately 900,000 Filipino households may be plunged into total darkness by July,” he predicted.

UNCLAIMED BILIBID INMATE CADAVERS LIKE A 'MASS DISASTER' - FORENSIC EXPERT

MANILA — The pileup of unclaimed cadavers of New Bilibid Prison inmates at a funeral parlor in Muntinlupa City is like a "mass disaster," a forensic pathologist said Monday.

Dr. Raquel Fortun said she is set to conduct an autopsy on the deceased NBP inmates this week.

"The biggest challenge here is how do you manage [the] dead, and you can liken this to a mass disaster," she told ANC's "Rundown".

Fortun visited Eastern Funeral Services on Saturday to inspect the corpses, which were stored at the morgue since December 2021.

During her initial inspection, she found that some 120 cadavers were already "mummified," which meant the bodies had dried up.

Meanwhile, about 50 cadavers, which included recent deaths, are still suitable for examination.

"The internal examination of the mummified remains could be very, very difficult," Fortun said.

"A full autopsy, I believe, would still be possible, especially in the recent deaths. Some of them can still be examined," she added.

Fortun said she is still in the process of reviewing the cause of death of the NBP inmates.

BRUNEI TO CONTINUE SUPPORT FOR MINDANAO PEACE PROCESS

PHNOM PENH – Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah has vowed continued support for the Philippine government’s peace efforts in Mindanao.

Bolkiah made the commitment during a bilateral meeting Saturday with President Marcos on the sidelines of the 2022 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit at the Sokha Hotel here.

“We will continue to support your government’s efforts in ensuring peace and stability through various initiatives in the southern Philippines, including our participation in the unification and modification assistance,” Bolkiah told Marcos.

Marcos, for his part, recognized the role played by the Brunei Sultanate in the Mindanao peace process, which he said has been proceeding despite the roadblocks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brunei is part of the International Monitoring Team and the independent decommissioning body in the peace process in southern Philippines.

“I’m happy to be able to inform, Your Majesty, that the peace process is proceeding along. Although we have extended the Transition Authority for another three years simply because they were unable to do their job during the pandemic,” Marcos told Bolkiah.

“This process – the negotiations between the Bangsamoro and our Muslim brothers and sisters began in 1976 – I believe, is the fruition of that. And we are very happy,” he said.

The President informed the sultan that there would be a parliamentary election in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in 2025, adding he looks forward to have a functioning autonomous government in the south, the result of many years of hard work.

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24 REBELS SURRENDER IN NEGROS ORIENTAL

BACOLOD CITY , Philippines — Twenty-four suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas surrenderd to the military in Ayungon, Negros Oriental over the weekend.

The surrenderees, who belonged to the Sentro de Grabidad Platoon of the NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros Central Negros 2, turned over eight firearms and ammunition to the Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion based in Barangay Tambo, according to Lt. Col. Van Donald Almonte, commander of the 94IB.

The surrender was facilitated by officials of the 94IB and 2nd Negros Occidental Provincial Force Company.

Almonte confirmed that the surrenderees were active NPA guerrillas. He said they would be enrolled in the  government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program after undergoing debriefing.

Meanwhile, the 25 former rebels who recently surrendered to the military in Himamaylan, Negros Occidental have received P250,000 in financial assistance through the social welfare and development office of the city government.

Each surrenderee received P10,000 in livelihood aid aside from educational assistance during a ceremony held last Friday.

HOUSE BILL TO PENALIZE ‘RUNAWAY PARENTS,’ ESPECIALLY IRRESPONSIBLE DADS

MANILA, Philippines — Runaway parents – particularly irresponsible fathers – who intentionally and repeatedly refuse to provide financial support to their children, either out of wedlock or not, can now be penalized and jailed once this bill becomes law.

House Bill 4807 proposes that deserter-parents, either the mother or father, found to be qualified for “recurrent offenses,” should be punished with imprisonment of two to four years, depending on the discretion of the courts.

They should also be made to pay a fine ranging from P100,000 to P300,000. First-time offenders, on the other hand, may be granted probation under the measure for humanitarian reasons.

Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte is the principal author of the measure, whose co-authors include Reps. Eric Go Yap (Benguet), and Edvic Yap and Jeffrey Soriano of party-list ACT-CIS.

Duterte also acknowledged that most negligent parents withholding child support are men, prompting him to warn that “deadbeat fathers should be made to own up to their responsibilities by imposing stringent penalties.”

The authors at the same time pointed out that under the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act (Republic Act 9262), withholding child support is classified as “economic abuse” and considered a crime.

As per HB 4807’s financial threshold or ceiling, the amount of child support should not be lower than P6,000 a month, which is equivalent to P200 a day.

The combined monthly net incomes of both parents shall be used in determining the amount of child support, which shall be divided proportionately between the two, based on their respective net incomes.

The NCSP adheres to the implementation of the Expanded Solo Parents Act (RA 11861) and will help in reducing the clogged court dockets of cases related to child support claims, the authors said.

Citing a recent study by the World Health Organization, Duterte said about 15 million Filipinos, mostly women, are solo parents.

PASIG SETS ONE-WAY TRAFFIC SCHEME ON F. MANALO BRIDGE

MANILA, Philippines — The Pasig City government will start implementing today a one-way traffic scheme along F. Manalo Bridge to give way to the rehabilitation of the structure.

The one-way scheme will cover the eastbound lane from C-5 Road to A. Rodriguez Avenue.

The local government said motorists should look for alternate routes as the repairs will last until February.

For vehicles going to C-5 Eastwood, the city government advised motorists to take Ortigas Avenue or Marcos Highway.

The local government apologized to the public for the inconvenience the traffic scheme would cause in the coming months.

2 TYPHOONS TO HIT PHILIPPINES BEFORE NOVEMBER ENDS

MANILA, Philippines — At least two more typhoons are expected to hit the country before this month ends, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

PAGASA said the expected weather disturbances have higher chances of making landfall.

It said state weather forecasters would continue to monitor these typhoons, which were expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) in the next two weeks.

Meanwhile, no low-pressure area or brewing storm has been monitored in and outside PAR, which means the country will experience generally fair weather in the coming days, state weather forecasters said.

The intertropical convergence zone, or meeting of winds from northern and southern hemispheres, is affecting Mindanao and will bring rain in some areas of the island.

The easterlies or the warm and humid air from the Pacific Ocean will affect Luzon and the Visayas and will bring scattered rain due to localized thunderstorms.

Metro Manila is forecast to experience generally fair weather in the next three days. Temperatures will range from 23 to 32 degrees Celsius, with higher chances of rain tomorrow.

The northeast monsoon or amihan will make Baguio City colder with temperatures ranging from 16 to 25 degrees. Partly cloudy skies with isolated light rain in the afternoon will prevail over the city.

Bicol and Eastern Visayas as well as Quezon province will be cloudy with some rain due to the shear line, or the meeting of the amihan and easterlies.

Most parts of the Visayas and Mindanao will be partly cloudy to cloudy with some rain, PAGASA said.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

PIA WURTZBACH APPRECIATES JEREMY JAUNCEY FOR ALWAYS STICKING BY HER

MANILA – Pia Wurtzbach took to social media to make an appreciation post for her fiancé, travel entrepreneur Jeremy Jauncey, for being there for her at all times.

Through an Instagram Story, the former Miss Universe titleholder said that even if she has been posting about Jauncey a lot on her social media lately, she still feels the need to recognize him for all his efforts.

“I need to thank this man for being the mooost patient guy ever. He’s seen me through all sorts of emotions these past few weeks,” she said.

Wurtzbach admitted that she can really be a lot to deal with.

“My moods go up and down and I go from being confident I'm gonna take over the world superwoman to vulnerable little kid who will cry about anything.”

Despite this, Jauncey “sticks by me through it all. And loves me the same way.”

To end her post, Wurtzbach said: “Thank you, my love. Please don’t stop meditating.”

Wurtzbach first confirmed her relationship with Jauncey, the travel entrepreneur behind the popular Beautiful Destinations, in June 2020. They celebrated their second anniversary in January 2022.

The couple announced their engagement last May.

SPORTS

CONVERGE DEF. RAIN OR SHINE, 102-101 (PBA) NOVEMBER 13

Converge FiberXers (8-2) uses strong 4th quarter, 33-17, to escape past Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (4-6), 102-101 to grab their 8th victory and extend their win streak to seven in the 2022-23 PBA Commissioner's Cup on Sunday, November 13 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

Seven Converge players finished in double figures with Jeron Teng leading the way with 20 points (6/10fg, 2/4 3pts, 6/8ft) along with four rebounds and three assists. Quincy Miller finished with a double-double of 19 points (9/17fg, 0/6 3pts, 1/1ft) to go with game-high 20 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks while Justine Arana added 16 points, 7 rebounds and game-high 3 blocks.

The Scores:

CONVERGE 102 - Teng 20, Miller 19, Arana 16, Tratter 11, Melecio 11, Ilagan 11, Ahanmisi 11, Stockton 3, Digregorio 0, Tolomia 0, Racal 0, Ambohot 0.

RAIN OR SHINE 101 – Pearson 25, Mamuyac 24, Asistio 16, Caracut 11, Nambatac 10, Santillan 6, Belga 4, Norwood 3, Demusis 2, Borboran 0.

Quarters: 25-27, 55-57, 69-84, 102-101.

POWELL TORCHES NLEX, AS BAY AREA CLINCHES PLAYOFF SPOT

The Bay Area Dragons have secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the 2022 PBA Commissioners' Cup after crushing the NLEX Road Warriors, 118-98, on Sunday evening at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Scores:

BAY AREA 118 – Powell 36, Yang 15, Blankley 13, Lam 12, Ju 11, Liu 11, Zhu 9, Song 6, Reid 4, Zheng 1, Ewing 0, Si 0, Liang 0

NLEX 98 – Clark 17, Trollano 15, Chua 15, Ganuelas-Rosser 12, Rosales 12, Alas 10, Paniamogan 6, Celda 5, Varilla 4, Miranda 2, Fonacier 0, Ighalo 0

QUARTERS: 26-21, 64-45, 91-71, 118-98

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

You cannot be anything you want to be, but you can be a whole lot more of who you already are. - Tom Rath