EU PRESIDENT VON DER LEYEN IN MALACAÑANG FOR BILATERAL TALK WITH MARCOS

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived at the Malacañan Palace on Monday to have a bilateral meeting with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

To recall, Marcos met the EU leader during the EU-ASEAN Commemorative Summit in December 2022 in Brussels, Belgium.

Von Der Leyen's visit is expected to "give a new impetus to the EU-Philippines bilateral relations and engage in discussions on matters of mutual interest, in particular in the ears of trade, the green and digital transition and security.”

The two leaders will discuss trade, investment, and Global Gateway cooperation and the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy.

PBBM OKS PLAN ON PASIG RIVER REHAB AND DEV’T

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has approved an inter-agency council for the Pasig River urban development plan.

Malacanang said this is part of the administration’s response to the urgent need to rehabilitate and enhance the quality of life along the banks of the river.

A four-page Executive Order (EO) No. 35, issued on July 25 and signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, stated that the inter-agency council will be responsible for facilitating and ensuring the full rehabilitation of the banks along the Pasig River water system and nearby water systems.

The inter-agency council will be chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), vice-chaired by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman with 13 member agencies such as the DPWH, DENR, DILG, DOT, DOTr, DOF, DBM, NHCP, NCCA, PPA, PCG, LLDA and TIEZA.

Aside from facilitating and ensuring the full rehabilitation of the Pasig River, the council is also tasked to formulate a Pasig River Urban Development Plan and implement a coordinated and integrated rehabilitation of the Pasig Riverbanks system and nearby water systems.It is also tasked to ensure that easements provided under RA 386 (Civil Code of the Philippines) and other relevant laws are followed; study, prepare and implement a comprehensive shelter plan for relocation of informal settlers; and, accept grants or any assistance from local and foreign sources subject to existing laws, rules and regulations.

The council is also directed to work closely with the national government agencies and local government units to review the existing presidential issuances related to the rehabilitation and development of the Pasig River, and recommend to the Office of the President the repeal or amendment of the same.

The council is also directed to submit a quarterly report on the implementation of the EO.

22 AREAS IN BULACAN PROVINCE FLOODED; THOUSANDS FLEE

A total of 22 municipalities and cities in Bulacan province are now flooded Monday due to heavy rains brought by Typhoon Egay and the southwest monsoon strengthened by Typhoon Falcon.

Bulacan Vice Governor Alex Castro said the following areas are flooded as of Monday morning:

Angat, Norzagaray, San Ildefonso, San Rafael, Meycauayan, Marilao, Sta Maria, Balagtas, Bustos, Plaridel, Baliuag, Bocaue, Guiguinto, Pandi, Hagonoy, Paombong, Pulilan, Malolos, Calumpit, Bulacan, Bulacan, San Jose Del Monte, Obando

Excess water from dams, high tide trigger flooding in Malolos

Castro said a total of 21,585 or 5.601 families are now staying in evacuation centers.

Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando earlier announced a work and class suspension in the entire province for Monday, July 31.

DOH: COVID PATIENTS SHOULD CONTINUE TO ISOLATE

MANILA — COVID patients should continue to isolate despite the country's lifting of the public health emergency for the coronavirus pandemic, the Department of Health has said.

In a Department Circular dated July 23, the DOH detailed its updated isolation and mask rules for confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Home isolation for 5 days is required for COVID-positive people, with or without symptoms. But they can end the isolation if they're "fever-free for at least 24 hours" without using medicine such as paracetamol.

For moderate to severe COVID infections, isolation is needed for at least 10 days from the start of symptoms.

According to the updated protocol, all COVID-19 positive cases should wear a well-fitted mask for 10 days.

There's no need to quarantine people who are not showing symptoms and had exposure to a COVID-positive individual. However, they should still wear a mask for 10 days.

In public transportation, the DOH said, "Wearing masks is no longer mandatory but not prohibited, especially for those who wish to protect themselves and others from COVID-19 or other respiratory infections."

Wearing of anti-COVID masks is still recommended by the DOH in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces, especially for the elderly, the immunocompromised, people with underlying conditions, pregnant women, the unvaccinated, and symptomatic individuals.

"It’s good public health practice to keep that mask on especially if you have someone behind you, in front of you coughing," DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa told ANC on Monday.

While no longer mandatory, the DOH still recommended the continued use of face masks in health facilities to protect vulnerable patients and reduce chances of infection.

SENATE RESOLUTION TO LIST WPS ROW OPTIONS

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri plans to file a draft resolution condemning China's incursion into Philippine territory and harassment of Philippine Coast Guard personnel and fishermen. The resolution will not solely call for bringing the issue to the UN General Assembly, as some senators expressed concerns about the potential impact on the country's position. Instead, the resolution aims to condemn Chinese intrusion into the West Philippine Sea and urges the government to take action, including diplomatic protests and bilateral discussions with China. Bringing the matter to the UNGA remains an option to highlight China's non-compliance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The resolution also calls for providing modern equipment to the Navy and the Coast Guard. Ultimately, the President will decide how to handle the issue, and the resolution's wording may still be subject to change after discussions with relevant authorities.

SENATORS SET PROBE ON RIZAL BOAT TRAGEDY

MANILA — The Senate is preparing to investigate the deaths of 27 passengers who drowned on July 27 after their boat capsized in Laguna de Bay in Binangonan, Rizal at the tail end of Typhoon Egay.

Egay battered Central and Northern Luzon last week before exiting toward Taiwan.

The motor banca Aya Express, with a seating capacity of 42 but which had 70 passengers at the time, was en route to Talim Island when it started to tilt to one side and its outrigger broke.

“It’s sad and infuriating that this happened. The loss of so many lives is not a joke just because of negligence or maybe corruption, so we must find out in the investigation,” Sen. Grace Poe, concurrently chairperson of the Senate committee on public services, said in Filipino yesterday.

The investigation must shed light on why the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) allowed the motorboat to sail despite the inclement weather, according to Poe.

The PCG has relieved its personnel assigned in Binangonan and will determine if they can be held liable for the incident, according to PCG spokesman Rear Admiral Armand Balilo in a July 29 news forum.

Poe said the investigation may include victims of past sea tragedies to determine the outcome of their cases and whether families have been properly compensated.

LAWMAKER OPPOSES GRANTING OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS TO 18 ALLEGED RANKING ‘NARCO’ COPS

ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro on Sunday strongly opposed the grant of retirement benefits and pensions to the 18 high-ranking police officers who resigned amid allegations of involvement in illegal drug activities.

“If the reasons for the acceptance of their resignations are indeed strong, then these drug cops should be punished and not be coddled,” she said.

“If ordinary employees of the governments are charged, all of their benefits are being suspended,” she added.

She raised concern about the fiscal crisis that the country is facing, particularly the burden of providing large pensions to police officers and military personnel.

“What kind of justice system would remove drug cops from their posts and still give them pensions, especially when we are already grappling with a fiscal crisis caused by the hefty pensions of police and military personnel?” she asked.

Granting retirement benefits and pensions to these high-ranking drug cops, according to Castro, could send a wrong message to the public.

“If they were given their pensions, then it simply sends the wrong message, which is crime pays in the Philippines,” she noted.

BSP EYES 70%OF PINOYS HAVING BANK ACCOUNT

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Gov. Eli Remolona Jr. is confident that the target of having 70 percent of adult Filipinos own a bank account by the end of the year remained achievable.

In his speech during the BSP 30th anniversary reception for the Banking community Friday night, Remolona said the payment system is one of the challenges the country is facing, aside from the elevated inflation rate.

The BSP’s financial inclusion survey in 2021 showed that 56 percent of adults in the country have a bank account, a significant increase from only 23 percent in 2017.

“We’re confident we will reach our target of 70 percent by this year,” Remolona told the bankers.

“We’re not stopping here. These accounts should provide the opportunity for people to build savings buffers, invest in their future and more actively participate in the digital economy. Programs like Paleng-QR help digitalize crucial value chains of merchants and SMEs,” he said.

The BSP also aims to have half of the retail payments in the country digitalized by the end of the year.

“At last count, 42 percent of retail payments were in digital form. This is up from just one percent ten years ago. That proportion should hit our target of 50 percent this year,” he said.

He said the BSP has given licenses to 258 digital payment providers.

Over time, he expects competition and network effects to result in a system where the most innovative, efficient and responsible providers truly respond to the needs of customers.

“This digitalization has been a pathway to financial inclusion. More Filipinos are now part of the formal financial system,” he said.

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BIG OIL PRICE HIKE SET ON AUGUST 1

MANILA — Oil companies on Monday announced a massive oil price hike on its diesel, fuel, and kerosene products.

Shell said petroleum prices will increase by the following amounts from 6 a.m. on Aug. 1, Tuesday:

-Gasoline: P2.10/L

-Kerosene: P3.25/L

-Diesel: P3.50/L

Caltex also announced an oil price hike on the following products starting 12:01 a.m.:

-Platinum and Silver: P2.10/L

-Kerosene: P3.25/L

-Diesel: P3.50/L

CleanFuel is also raising gasoline prices by P2.10 per liter, and diesel by P3.50 per liter starting 4:01 p.m.

Experts continue to attribute the increase to production cuts by Saudi Arabia and Russia.

OVER 212,000 SERVED AT DAVAO HOSPITAL MALASAKIT CENTER

MANILA — Sen. Bong Go has cited the successful implementation of the medical assistance program being extended by the Malasakit Center located at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao City, where more than 212,000 patients have been served from 2019 to middle of this year.

After aiding fire victims in Davao City on Friday, Go, chair of the Senate committee on health, shared the extent of the impact of the Malasakit Centers nationwide.

“As of now, the Malasakit Center has helped over 500,000 patients in the entire Davao region,” Go said, noting a strong reach beyond the recorded 212,000 patients assisted in the SPMC in Davao City alone.

He said the Malasakit Center at the SPMC serves not only residents of Davao City, but all residents of Mindanao.

“Basta Pilipino ka, qualified ka sa Malasakit Center,” Go said.

His sentiments echoed his vision, being the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019.

The law provides for the creation of a healthcare support system that caters to every Filipino’s needs, particularly the poor and indigent.

Data from the Department of Health (DOH) shows that the SPMC’s Malasakit Center has consistently increased its reach over the past few years.

FALCON INTENSIFIES INTO TYPHOON AS IT REMAINS OVER PHILIPPINE SEA

MANILA - Weather disturbance Falcon (international name: Khanun) intensified further and is now in the typhoon category, the state weather bureau said late Sunday.

In its 11 p.m. weather bulletin, PAGASA said Falcon was last located 1,090 kilometers east of extreme northern Luzon, packing maximum sustained winds of up to 140 kilometers per hour near the center, with gusts of up to 170 kph.

It is currently moving north northwestward at 15 kph, and is expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility between Monday night to Tuesday morning.

No tropical cyclone wind signals have been raised, but PAGASA said Falcon continues to enhance the southwest monsoon or habagat, which will bring occasional to monsoon rains over the western portions of Luzon and Visayas in the next three days.

PAGASA also warned of flooding and rain-induced landslides in flood and landslide prone areas.

The Falcon-enhanced habagat is also expected to bring gusty conditions over Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Lubang Island, Kalayaan Islands, Cuyo Islands, Romblon, the northwestern portion of Antique, Camarines Sur, and Albay.

A gale warning remained hoisted over several coastal waters in the western seaboard of Luzon, due to the enhanced habagat.

Falcon is expected to continue moving north northwestward, before turning north westward on Monday. It is also expected to steadily intensify within the next three days, and may reach peak intensity on Wednesday while over the East China Sea.

PAGASA earlier said Luzon, including Metro Manila, will still be rainy for most of the week, with conditions improving towards the weekend.

Visayas and MIndanao, on the other hand, will be mostly sunny and warm with chances of localized thunderstorm in the afternoon of evening.

The western Ilocos region, Tarlac, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, western Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, and northern Palawan may also experience monsoon rains until Thursday.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

CELEBS FLY TO BALI, INDONESIA AHEAD OF MAJA SALVADOR’S WEDDING

Maja Salvador and Rambo Nunez's friends from the entertainment industry traveled to Bali, Indonesia to join the couple's wedding celebrations.

On the day before their actual wedding, Salvador and Nunez hosted a welcome dinner at the Apurva Kempinski Bali resort for their guests.

Among those spotted in attendance were Richard Gutierrez, Sarah Lahbati, John Lloyd Cruz, Miles Ocampo, MJ Lastimosa, Kakai Bautista, Thou Reyes, and Moi Marcampo.

Salvador and Nunez are set to tie the knot at the chapel of the luxury resort on Monday afternoon, more than a year since they announced their engagement in April 2022.

In a June 2020 interview, Salvador said she felt she was finally home when she reunited with Nunez, who first became her boyfriend when she was just 21. Salvador also believes they made the right choice by giving their relationship a second chance.

It was in March 2019 when the actress confirmed that she got back together with her former boyfriend.

NATHALIE HART MARRIES AUSTRALIAN FIANCE

Actress Nathalie Hart is now married to her Australian fiancée Brad Robert, the actress announced in a social post on Monday.

Hart shared the newest milestone in her life as she uploaded snaps taken from her wedding held in Australia.

"Still can’t believe it," she captioned her Instagram post.

Hart earlier revealed in her "Magandang Buhay" guesting that she met her husband on Facebook.

She said they got to know each other online in October, and they finally met two months later in December.

After being in a relationship for six months, the couple got engaged in August last year.

Hart described her fiancé as responsible and kind, especially to her daughter, Penelope.

SPORTS

FILIPINAS' WORLD CUP CAMPAIGN ENDS WITH LOSS TO NORWAY

AUCKLAND – For now, let history remember the Filipinas as the gritty underdogs who punched a sought-after goal and an even harder-to-get win in their first appearance in the grand stage.

Reaching the second round of the FIFA Women’s World Cup is another milestone to shoot for in four years’ time.

Their greenness in high-stakes matches exposed by an opponent brimming with quality, pride and strong sense of urgency, the Filipinas surrendered a numbing 0-6 loss to Norway to bow out of the football showpiece yesterday.

As disappointing as the setback was, coach Alen Stajcic’s chargers made their final bow in front of a mammoth Pinoy crowd among the 34,697 souls in attendance at the iconic Eden Park, proud of their achievement.

For sure, they will be going home carrying the distinction of scoring the country’s first WC win via their 1-0 upset of New Zealand the previous game – no easy feat for a late-starter in women’s football.

“I’m proud of the heart, the spirit of our team. They fought to the end, they fought to the death and from that perspective, it’s been an amazing World Cup,” said Stajcic.

“The players have punched so far above their weight. They’ve delivered an amazing history in Philippine football, one that will go down in the annals of Philippine sporting history.”

Usually rock-solid on defense, the Pinay booters’ wall was cracked by the Norwegians’ relentless assault and they conceded three goals in each half to fall way short of their historic target.

At the tip of that bombardment was Sophie Roman Haug, who ably filled in for the injured Ada Hegerberg and opened the floodgates with a sublime left-footer six minutes in and a sneaky header 11 minutes later.

With another header deep in second-half stoppage time, Haug would complete a hat trick against a Philippine side forced to play one woman less from the 67th minute on. Sub Sofia Harrison received a straight red card for contact with excessive force after VAR, adding to their woes.

The comprehensive loss meant the Philippines wound up fourth and last in Group A with three points on a 1-0-2 win-draw-loss record, joining No. 3 New Zealand (four points on 1-1-1 and zero goal difference) in the exits. World No. 12 Norway, with four points on 1-1-1 and 5 GD, took the No. 2 spot and joined group winner Switzerland (five points on 1-2-0) in the Last-16.

After a shock 0-1 defeat to the hosts in the same venue and a 0-0 draw with Switzerland, Norway switched to full beast mode against the Philippines.

The 1995 world and 2000 Olympic champs had 30 attempts with 13 on target and also found the back of the net via Caroline Graham Hansen’s volley from 29.8 meters (31st) and Guro Reiten’s spot kick (53rd).  Filipina Alicia Barker accounted for the fourth goal on the board when she accidentally sent the ball to her owh net at the 50th.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Work and acquire, and thou hast chained the wheel of Chance. - Ralph Waldo Emerson