SENATE OKS BILL MANDATING GOOD MANNERS AND RIGHT CONDUCT SUBJECT IN SCHOOLSMANILA - The Senate on Monday approved on third reading a bill mandating allpublic and private elementary and high schools to include a Good Manners andRight Conduct (GMRC) subject in their curriculum.Under the Comprehensive Values Education Act, primary school students willbe required to attend a 30-minute daily class on GMRC, while high school andsenior high school students must take an hour-long lecture on valueseducation twice a week."This will allow students to gain real-life experiences in applying theirvalues to difficult situations, but in a controlled environment whereexperienced educators will help them process the lessons they learn in aconstructive, nurturing way," Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, who sponsored thebill, said in a statement.The Senate version mandated educators to teach the subject in English andFilipino to make it "more accessible and user-friendly to students."The Department of Education is also expected to review teachers'certifications after the chamber found that "70 to 90 percent of those whoteach values education are not certified values education teachers."GMRC was removed as a regular subject from the K to 12 curriculum in 2013,when values education was integrated with other subjects like Edukasyon saPagpapakatao and Araling Panlipunan.PALACE: NO NEED FOR SENATE NOD TO JUNK VFAMANILA, Philippines — President Duterte’s decision to scrap the VisitingForces Agreement (VFA) does not require the concurrence of the Senate,Malacanang insisted yesterday.“As far as we are concerned in the executive, there is no need for aconcurrence in the Senate because the Constitution, if it’s clear to them,it’s also clear to us,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said at apress briefing.“So we will let the Supreme Court decide if they file the appropriate actionin court,” he added.Panelo said senators have the right to bring the matter before the SC, whichissues the final decision on legal questions.“If they have any constitutional issue to be raised and they are uncertainof what the Constitution really means, that is the job of the Supreme Courtto tell us if they are right or wrong,” the Palace spokesman said.“I understand what they are saying... They feel that the Constitution isclear to them, that not only concurrence, when it comes to treaties, butalso abrogation. So, if they bring that issue to the Supreme Court, that’sOK,” he added.SENATE HEARING ON ABS-CBN FRANCHISE TO PROCEED WITHOUT HOUSE ACTION: POEMANILA - The Senate will proceed with its own hearing on ABS-CBN Corp'sfranchise without waiting for action from the House of Representatives, Sen.Grace Poe said Monday.While a franchise bill should emanate from the House, there have beeninstances when both chambers of Congress would hold simultaneous hearings,said Poe, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Services.At least 11 bills seeking to renew the broadcast franchise of ABS-CBN havebeen filed since July 2019, but the House has yet to tackle any of themeasures. The company's current franchise expires on March 30, whileCongress will adjourn mid-March."Kung hindi naman mapasa 'yan sa mababang kapulungan, at least dito saSenado, naisiwalat namin ang pag-unawa namin sa isyu na ito," Poe said.The move does not intend to disrespect the House of Representatives, Poesaid, noting that she has been in talks with some of her counterparts there."We respect Congress... That's why I respectfully delayed hearings here inthe Senate, hoping they would calendar it," she said."My intention is not to pressure them (House) to do anything that is againsttheir will because that is their right. But on the other hand, we expect ourrepresentatives to act on a timely manner," she said.Poe said her team is already working on scheduling the committee hearingsince the panel is also mandated to take up Senate Minority Leader FranklinDrilon's resolution seeking to extend ABS-CBN's franchise until 2022."I think that it will bring it to a better level of discussion. We will alsosee the track record of service for them to merit the privilege of having afranchise," she said.If the House fails to resolve ABS-CBN's franchise issue, Poe's committeecannot proceed to file its recommendations even after tackling relatedmeasure in the Senate."Ang pakay dito ay ito: Higit sa prangkisa ng ABS-CBN, ang atingpinaglalaban din dito ay ang awtoridad at mandato ng lehislatura," she said.EO ON DRUG PRICE CAPS SIGNED; PHARMA TO COMPLYMANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has signed an executive orderimposing price caps on medicines for hypertension, cancer, diabetes andother diseases as part of the effort to improve the public’s access tohealth care.In signing EO 104 yesterday, Duterte noted that expensive healthcare,including costly medicines, “pushes a significant number of Filipinos topoverty” and “discourages them from seeking appropriate medical treatment.”This condition, he added, leads to drug and medicine resistance, whichincreases mortality rates across different socio-economic classes.The new EO regulates the prices of more than 130 drug formulas.DUTERTE SUPPORTS USE OF CANNABIDIOL FOR EPILEPSY: SPOKESMANMANILA - Malacañang said Monday it does not see President Rodrigo Dutertehaving a problem with the recent landmark decision of the Dangerous DrugsBoard to approve the use of cannabidiol (CBD), a pain reliever containingcannabis to treat epilepsy.Speaking to reporters, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said thatthough he has to ask for the Chief Executive’s thoughts on the matter,Duterte has expressed his support for the use of marijuana for medicalpurposes.“Ever since 'yon naman ang sinasabi ni Presidente. Kung medical, okay langsa kaniya,” Panelo said.The spokesman made the statement even as the President made a contraryremark in March 2019 when he said that the use of medical marijuana wouldnot be approved "during his time."“Pero sinabi niya rin 'pag kailangan na kailangan sa ikabubuhay ng isang taoat merong scientific findings o medical findings na puwede 'yon, hindi siyakokontra. Siguro case to case,” Panelo said.PNP KEEPING TABS ON TRILLANES; BIKOY POSTS BAILMANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) is keeping tabson former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who is facing a sedition case inconnection with an alleged plot to oust President Duterte.Trillanes is among 11 individuals ordered arrested by a Quezon City court oncharges of conspiracy to commit sedition.Six of the respondents have posted bail, including Peter Joemel Advincula,who claimed to be Bikoy in the “Ang totoong narco list” videos, which linkedPresident Duterte’s family to the illegal drug trade.Advincula posted P10,000 bail for his provisional liberty.PNP chief Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa said they are keeping a close watchon Trillanes to ensure that he will face the charges against him.DILG SETS NEW ROUND OF ROAD CLEARING OPSMANILA, Philippines — A new round of road clearing operations, this timetargeting barangay roads, has been ordered.The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has launched a newround of road clearing operations.Interior Secretary Eduardo Año yesterday issued Memorandum Circular 2020-27ordering the reclamation of inner and tertiary roads for public use within75 days.Año said teams from the Department of the Interior and Local Government(DILG) would monitor, assess and evaluate the performance of localgovernment units (LGUs) on April 30.MATTEO GUIDICELLI ‘SUPER PROUD’ OF FIANCEE SARAH GERONIMO AFTER CONCERTPERFORMANCEMatteo Guidicelli couldn’t help but feel proud of his fiancee, SarahGeronimo after her solid perfromance during her two-night concert withRegine Velasquez.Guidicelli was all smiles when Geronimo acknowledged him for the supporthe’s given her leading up to the show.“Thank you sa love ko,”Geronimo said and acknowledging the presence of herfiance in the audience.Geronimo then thanked her family for their support and love.“At siyempre po, nagpapasalamat ako sa aking pamilya – ang aking daddyDelfin, mommy Divine, sa aking mga kapatid. Nandoon sila sa backstage,” shesaid.Geronimo also made a sweet gesture and looked at Guidicelli when she wassinging the song ‘Kilometro’.The actor then went on stage and gave his girlfriend a bouquet that made theaudience react with so much ‘kilig’ feels for the couple.NBA SCORES FEB 16NOTE: Next game will resume on 21st FebFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logoTeam LeBron 1-0    53    30    41    33    157team logoTeam Giannis 0-1    41    51    41    22    155SCORING LEADERS    K. Leonard LEB30 PTS, 7 REB, 4 AST    G. Antetokounmpo GIA25 PTS, 11 REB, 4 AST