21 CHINA SHIPS SWARM PAG-ASA

At least 21 Chinese maritime militia ships have been spotted heading toward Pag-asa Island while some 19 Chinese militia ships remained at Ayungin Shoal, a US maritime security expert said over the weekend.

Former US Air Force official Ray Powell said the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Cabra found itself in the middle of a redeployment of the Chinese vessels traveling to Pag-asa Island on Friday.

“These 21 ships were among those swarming at Mischief Reef (Ayungin Shoal) during the Philippines’ blockaded August 5 resupply,” Powell said on Twitter.

Powell was referring to the Aug. 5 incident where Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels fired water cannons against Philippine vessels on a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre.

“Any CCG ships still in the area have remained [automatic identification system]-dark, as have any PLA [Peoples’ Liberation Army] Navy ships (always dark),” he said in a series of tweets.

Powell said three CCG vessels that took part in the blockade have returned to Hainan Island, while “three others remained AIS-dark and are unaccounted for.”

The blockade and illegal use of water cannons prompted the Philippines to file a diplomatic protest against China.

As this developed, the PCG’s “hotline” to its Chinese counterpart is now defunct after the Philippines decided not to renew the mechanism.

“We’re no longer using the PCG-CCG hotline…It no longer exists. It hasn’t provided so much benefits for us. We didn’t gain anything from this,” said PCG West Philippine Sea spokesperson Jay Tarriela.

BAKA MAY INFORMANT? CHINA HAS ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE OF RESUPPLY MISSIONS - PCG

"Baka may informant."

China's Coast Guard has advanced knowledge of the Philippines' resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal, the Philippine Coast Guard spokesman said Monday, following the recent water cannon incident at the disputed shoal.

Speaking to TeleRadyo Serbisyo, Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela disputed claims by pro-China apologists that the Chinese were "humanitarians" who allowed the Philippine side to resupply the dilapidated, World War II-era warship BRP Sierra Madre last week.

He castigated claims that Philippine resupply boats at Ayungin Shoal were not affected by the water cannon incident.

"'Yung video natin na binobomba tayo ng tubig ay edited daw kasi nagpalabas ng video ang China na hindi tinatamaan 'yung resuppply ships. Di ba? Kung ikaw ay Pilipino bakit mo naman paniniwalaan 'yung video na linabas ng China? 'Yan pa 'yung ipapakalat mo sa mga tao," he said.

The Philippines and China have engaged in a new word war after the Philippine Coast Guard accused the Chinese Coast Guard of blocking and blasting water cannon at its boats attempting to resupply Filipino troops garrisoned in the hotly contested area.

‘HUNDREDS OF FILIPINOS MISSING IN HAWAII WILDFIRES’

An official of the Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce in Hawaii said hundreds of Filipinos are among the more than 1,000 missing in the wildfires in Lahaina on Maui Island in Hawaii.

“Just not to exaggerate, hundreds of Filipinos are missing,” Kit Zulueta Furukaw, director of the Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce, said in an interview with GMA news.

Furukaw said Filipinos comprise the second largest population on the island of Maui.

“The majority of the workforce are Filipino, and many of our hotels are there, so there’s a lot of hospitality, a lot of small businesses, and a lot of new generation families in Lahaina are Filipinos. Homes are gone, our friends just left there. It’s pretty bad over here,” Furukaw said.

Authorities said the death toll has so far reached 93 but said the number could still go up as search teams with cadaver dogs look for bodies.

The Maui wildfires fanned by winds of a distant hurricane erupted Tuesday and have torched 1,000 buildings and left thousands homeless.

“The number of casualties is still going up; we don’t know who they are yet, so search and rescue is still ongoing. We have many, many names in shelters. We have papers upon papers with names of people missing, so search and rescue is still ongoing.

People are still looking for friends and family, so it’s pretty raw. I can give you the situation on the ground like that, but it’s very bad and very depressing here,” Furukaw said.

Hawaii Filipino-American Senator Gilbert Keith Agaran said many Filipino houses were among those burned in the massive wildfire in Lahaina.

Agaran said the Filipino population in Lahaina is significant, and many of them lost their homes.

“Filipinos are a significant number of Lahaina’s population. We lost quite a few people, and a lot of our fellow Filipinos lost everything or a considerable amount of their housing and possessions,” Agaran said.

Hawaii Consul General Emilio Fernandez said authorities are currently focused on search and recovery efforts, which is why the consulate hasn’t received official information about the burned houses of Filipino nationals.

HIGH-LEVEL UNREST, ERUPTION IN MAYON LIKELY—PHIVOLCS

Mayon Volcano in Albay is currently in a relatively high level of unrest and hazardous eruption within weeks or even days could still be possible, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

In the past 24-hour period, a slow effusion of lava from the summit crater of Mayon Volcano continued to feed the established lava flows on the Bonga (southeastern), Mi-isi (south), and Basud (eastern) gullies, Phivolcs also said.

The lava flows maintained advances to approximately 3.4 kilometers, 2.8 kilometers, and 1.1 kilometers from the crater.

Rockfall and pyroclastic density currents or PDCs generated by collapses of the lava flow margins as well as of the summit dome deposited debris still within four kilometers of the crater.

The Mayon Volcano Network recorded a total of 221 volcanic earthquakes, including 111 tremor events lasting one to 28 minutes. Some of these tremors were accompanied by rumbling sounds audible within the seven-km radius from the crater of Mayon.

It detected 152 rockfall events, three PDCs and three lava front-collapses. Volcanic sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission averaged 799 tons/day on 12 August 2023. Mayon Volcano is still generally inflated relative to baseline levels.

The Phivolcs meanwhile reported that a magnitude 5.4 earthquake was recorded on Sunday morning in the waters off Sabtang in Batanes.

MAYNILAD WATER INTERRUPTIONS RESUME

Several barangays in Metro Manila will experience 16- to 23-hour water service interruptions from Aug. 16 to Aug. 17 due to Maynilad Water Services Inc.’s maintenance activities.

Maynilad announced on its website and its social media pages that it would schedule maintenance activities from Aug. 14 to 22, 2023.

“These activities are being done as part of the company’s continuous effort to improve water services in the West Zone,” the concessionaire said in an advisory.

Maynilad said residents of Barangays 462 to 471 in Sampaloc and Barangays 315 to 325; 336 to 343; and 349 to 352 in Sta. Cruz would have no water service from 8 p.m. of Aug. 16 to 7 p.m. of Aug. 17 because of network maintenance.

Maynilad also announced five to eight hours of service interruption in several barangays of Bacoor City and Imus City Cavite from Aug. 14 to 15; four hours in several barangays of Binondo, Manila from Aug. 14 to 15; five to 16 hours in some barangays of Caloocan City from Aug. 15 to 16, Aug. 17 to 18, Aug. 18 to 19 and Aug. 21 to 22; seven to nine hours in several barangays of Las Pinas from Aug. 16 to 17; and eight hours in Alabang, Muntinlupa City from Aug. 14 to 15.

Several barangays in Quezon City will experience eight to 16 hours of service interruption from Aug. 14 to 15, Aug. 15 to 16, Aug. 17 to 18, Aug. 18 to 19, Aug. 19 to 20, and Aug. 20 to 21.

Maynilad advised affected customers to store enough water for the duration of the water service interruption.

Maynilad said it would have water tankers on standby and would be ready to deliver water to affected areas as needed.

NO FEE FOR CLAIMING CAR PLATES, LTO WARNS

MANILA — Motorists should beware of people charging fees for the hassle-free claiming of vehicle license plates, Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Vigor Mendoza II warned yesterday.

He issued the warning after receiving reports that certain people are offering to claim license plates in exchange for P200.

“I am telling the public that this is not true. We are readying systems for the fast distribution of license plates,” Mendoza said, adding that the distribution of license plates is free.

He urged the public to “immediately report to us those who are asking for money. We will make sure to file the necessary charges against these people.”

Mendoza said the distribution process has started in some areas in the country, particularly in the Bicol Region.

He said the LTO offices in Sorsogon and Naga City in Camarines Sur conducted a partial distribution of replacement plates on Aug. 11.

“This is the kind of public service that the Filipino people expect,” Mendoza said.

The LTO will come up with an appointment system for a systematic and orderly distribution of unclaimed license plates, including in malls that are being eyed as distribution sites, he said.

Mendoza added that the LTO will deploy “mystery persons who will get their plates to validate reports that certain individuals are asking for money.”

He also urged LTO regional directors and heads of district offices to come up with the best ways to distribute the unclaimed license plates after he imposed a 60-day deadline for their release.

STUDENTS FACE UNCERTAINTIES DUE TO MAKATI, TAGUIG TERRITORIAL DISPUTE

MANILA -- The local government of Makati on Saturday accused the city of Taguig of "forcibly taking over" the public schools affected by a Supreme Court decision on their long-standing territorial dispute.

Makati City Administrator Claro Certeza said the public schools in question are properties that belong to their local government.

Among those supposedly affected were some schools in the "EMBO" barangays.

Fourteen schools affected by the transfer are in the EMBO area, namely:

Makati Science High School

Comembo Elementary School

Rizal Elementary School

Pembo Elementary School

Benigno “Ninoy” S. Aquino High School

Tibagan High School

Fort Bonifacio Elementary School

Fort Bonifacio High School

Pitogo Elementary School

Pitogo High School

Cembo Elementary School

East Rembo Elementary School

West Rembo Elementary School

South Cembo Elementary School

The parents and students of the affected schools are facing plenty of uncertainties because of the territorial dispute.

“Bilang kinatawan ng mga magulang at guro sa Makati, ang totoong nararamdaman namin ay nangangamba kami pagka't 'di namin alam kung ano mangyayari sa kinabukasan. Kami po ay nalulungkot kasi kami mga magulang ay talagang naiipit sa pangyayari pong ito,” said Mark Christian Galang, chairperson of the Federation of Makati Parents and Teachers Association.

One parent said she hopes that they will still receive the same benefits they had under the Makati supervision.

“Lahat halos ultimo sa sapatos, medyas, papel, [at] uniform — lahat po provided ng Makati," said Jasmine, who has a child enrolled in one of the schools mentioned.

Meanwhile, the local government of Taguig fired back at the recent statement made by Certeza, branding it as a lie and another desperate attempt to mislead the public.

They said the Department of Education (DepEd) issued Memorandum Order 2023-735, transferring the management and supervision of affected schools within these barangays from the DepEd Division of Makati to the Division of Taguig and Pateros.

In the said memorandum, pending full transition it stated that the Regional Payroll System Unit of DepEd will handle the salary of the teachers and personnel affected by the transfer.

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AFTERSHOCKS EXPECTED AS MAGNITUDE 5.7 QUAKE HITS BATANES

MANILA — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Sunday advised residents in extreme northern Luzon to prepare for possible aftershocks after a magnitude 5.7 earthquake shook off Batanes.

The quake, which was tectonic in origin, struck at 9:43 a.m. Sunday. Its epicenter was located about 38 kilometers west of Sabtang, Batanes.

It had a depth of 10 kilometers, Phivolcs said in its advisory.

The earthquake was reportedly felt in some parts of northern Luzon, with Intensity I termors recorded in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte.

While no damage was expected, Phivolcs noted that aftershocks were possible.

Earthquakes are a normal occurrence across the Philippines as the country sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, an region where quakes and volcanic eruptions take place.

ECC TO PENALIZE ERRING EMPLOYERS

Employers in the Philippines are now subject to penalties if they fail to report employee sickness, injury, or death on time, according to the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC). The ECC has introduced a new logbook template to enforce penalties for non-compliance. The template mandates that employers record sickness, injury, or death of employees within five days of occurrence, with dates of notification and logbook entry included. Failure to accurately record or provide false information will result in a penalty equal to 50% of the employee's entitled income benefit. The Social Security System will also penalize employers for submitting logbook entries without dates upon request. However, missing dates won't suspend the evaluation of employee compensation claims. If a disability or death claim is deemed work-related, the full benefit will be awarded.

FRESH OIL PRICE HIKE SET ON AUG. 15

MANILA — Petroleum firms on Monday announced price adjustments for kerosene, diesel and gasoline which would take effect on August 15.

The following price hikes will take effect on Tuesday.

PILIPINAS SHELL

Gasoline P1.90 per liter increase

Kerosene P2.50 per liter increase

Diesel - P1.50 per liter increase

SEAOIL

Gasoline P1.90 per liter increase

Kerosene P2.50 per liter increase

Diesel - P1.50 per liter increase

CLEANFUEL

Gasoline P1.90 per liter increase

Diesel - P1.50 per liter increase

This is the sixth straight week that pump prices are set to increase, as major players continue their plans to curb production.

Government has readied fuel subsidies for over a million public utility vehicle drivers and operators hit by the latest wave of price hikes.

DEPED REMOVES CONTESTS FOR BRIGADA ESKWELA

The Department of Education is doing away with contests for its annual Brigada Eskwela (BE) classroom preparation campaign to prevent schools and teachers from soliciting contributions for the cleanup activity.

DepEd Spokesman Undersecretary Michael Poa said that while the agency will continue to give recognition to its partners, there will no longer be awards for schools and teachers.

"Bawal na po ang solicitation, purely voluntary ang ating bayanihan at Brigada Eskwela," he said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.

"'Yung mismong paaralan ay hindi na natin bibigyan ng Hall of Fame Award or Best Implementer Award kasi nakikita natin na ito ang nagiging sanhi kung bakit may pressure na mag solicit dun sa parte ng ating mga guro," he added.

DepEd earlier said it has received about 44 million donations from partners for public schools nationwide and about 1.6 million donations for Tarlac National High School.

Running from August 14 to 19, Brigada Eskwela aims to prepare all 47,678 public schools nationwide for school opening on August 29.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

NADINE LUSTRE, 'FAMILY MATTERS' AMONG FAMAS 2023 MAJOR WINNERS

MANILA — Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2022 entry "Family Matters" was the big winner at the 2023 Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Awards with four wins including Best Picture.

The film's other wins were Best Actor for Noel Trinidad, Best Supporting Actress for Nikki Valdez, and Best Editing for Beng Bandong.

At MMFF 2022, "Family Matters" only won the Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award as the ceremony was dominated by "Deleter" with seven wins; "Deleter" was up for eight nominations at FAMAS 2023 but went home empty-handed.

Nadine Lustre won her second FAMAS Best Actress award with her role in "Greed," adding to the 2019 award she got for "Never Not Love You."

"Blue Room" followed "Family Matters" with three awards: Best Director for Ma-an Asuncion-Dagñalan, Best Cinematography for Neil Daza and Best Score for Mikey Amistoso and Jazz Nicolas. Asuncion-Dagñalan and Daza won the same awards at the 2022 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.

"Reroute" was the other film with mutiple awards as Sid Lucero won Best Supporting Actor and a win for Best Sound Design.

The remaining awards were Best Production Design for 2022 Sundance Film Festival darling "Leonor Will Never Die" and Best Screenplay for "La Traidora."

FAMAS previously announced winners for several special awards:

Susan Roces Celebrity Award for Liza Lorena

Dr. Jose R Perez Memorial Award for Jun Urbano

German Moreno Youth Achievement Award for Jillian Ward

Lifetime Achievement Award for Marita Zobel

Fernando Poe, Jr. Memorial Award for Sen. Lito Lapid

Exemplary Award on Public Service for House Speaker Martin Romualdez

Ward and Lucero also won Star of the Night at the awarding ceremony held at the Manila Hotel on Sunday, August 13, while Lustre won Face of the Night along with MMFF 2022 Best Supporting Actor winner Mon Confiado, who was up for the same award again with "Nanahimik Ang Gabi."

SPORTS

NEYMAR 'IN NEGOTIATIONS' OVER SAUDI MOVE AS MBAPPE RETURNS TO PSG GOOD BOOKS

PARIS – Brazilian football superstar Neymar is reportedly in negotiations to leave Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal, as he no longer seems to be part of PSG's plans. Direct negotiations are ongoing between Neymar's agents and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia. If an agreement is reached, negotiations between Al-Hilal and PSG would commence. Neymar joined PSG in 2017 for a record €220 million and has been plagued by injuries during his time there.

Al-Hilal, a prestigious Saudi Arabian club, previously made a €300 million bid for Kylian Mbappe, another PSG player, but he reportedly declined to engage with the team's officials. Al-Hilal's squad includes internationally acclaimed players like Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Neymar's fellow Brazilian compatriot Malcom.

Neymar's potential move follows other high-profile players' shifts to Saudi Arabia, including Cristiano Ronaldo. His departure from PSG would coincide with Lionel Messi's move to Inter Miami in the United States.

Meanwhile, PSG faced a rocky start to the new Ligue 1 season, leaving both Mbappe and Neymar out of their first game, which ended in a goalless draw. Mbappe's future with PSG has been uncertain, as he has refused to extend his contract, leading to speculation about a possible move to Real Madrid. PSG's president, Nasser al-Khelaifi, stated that if Mbappe wants to stay, he must sign a new contract to avoid leaving for free next year.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Business opportunities are like buses: there’s always another one coming. - Richard Branson