SENATORS COMMIT TO INCREASE PCG BUDGET TO ADDRESS WEST PH SEA 'HARASSMENT'

MANILA — Several senators have called for strengthening the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), especially in light of recent incidents in the West Philippine Sea. During a Senate Committee investigation chaired by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, the focus was on ending foreign intimidation and harassment to maintain regional peace and stability.

Sen. Robin Padilla emphasized the need to increase the PCG's budget in 2024 to reduce dependence on U.S. assistance. He expressed concern about U.S. involvement in the resupply mission for the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal, fearing it could escalate tensions in the region.

In the 2024 National Expenditure Program, the PCG was allocated P24 billion, which Padilla considered insufficient.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros advocated for providing the PCG with more intelligence and confidential funds, given its role in securing Philippine waters. She questioned why civilian agencies not mandated for national security receive such funds while the PCG does not, suggesting it makes more sense to allocate greater resources to them.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri pledged to increase PCG funds in upcoming budget hearings, emphasizing the unity in supporting the PCG's needs for equipment and protection in the West Philippine Sea and across the country.

PHILIPPINES, INDIA HOLD SECOND ROUND OF TALKS FOR MARITIME PARTNERSHIP

MANILA — An Indian delegation is in Manila for a second round of dialogues to boost maritime partnerships and cooperation with the Philippines in the face of rising security tensions.

The Indo-Pacific region "is an arena which is becoming increasingly contested," noted Commodore Debesh Lahiri, Executive Director of India’s National Maritime Foundation.

"Rather than collaboration, contestation seems to be taking place because of some very aggressive designs of a particular nation,” Lahiri said.

 Quoting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said the Indo Pacific "needs to be...free, open and inclusive."

India is the world’s 5th biggest economy and around 50 percent of its trade passes through the South China Sea.

New Delhi in late August rejected a new map that showed Beijing's extended claims in the waterway and land that India says is theirs.

Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Shambhu Kumaran previously discussed developing areas of engagements between New Delhi and Manila, with defense and maritime cooperation as top priorities.

Last year, the Philippines signed an agreement with India for the procurement of shore-based anti-ship missile system.

The two countries also have committees for joint defense cooperation and logistics.

In August, the Philippine Coast Guard and the Indian Navy signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for enhancing maritime cooperation.

5 INJURED, NO DEATHS AFTER CAGAYAN QUAKE: GOV'T

Five people were injured while two houses were destroyed after a magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit Cagayan early Tuesday night.

An Office of Civil Defense report said there were no reported deaths as a result of the Cagayan earthquake as of 11 p.m. Tuesday.

The OCD said 5 people were injured due to a collapsed wall in Calayan, Cagayan; three sustained minor injuries while the other 2 sustained brain trauma. The OCD said the report is still up for validation.

Rueli Rapsing, Cagayan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chief, earlier said the quake struck Dalupiri at around 7 p.m., with coastal municipalities experiencing the quake at Intensity 4.

"No untoward incidents reported sa mainland. Doon sa island municipality ng Calayan, sa isang barangay may dalawang bahay ang nasira. Sa sentro ng Calayan, may isang pamilya na nadisgrasya, hindi naman malala, pasa-pasa lang. Dalawang bata at 'yung mag-asawa. Walang namatay," he said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo.

Some Calayan residents also spent the night outdoors or in evacuation centers after the earthquake.

Classes have been suspended in Calayan to check the integrity of structures in the municipality.

PRESIDENT SPENDING 66TH BIRTHDAY IN SINGAPORE, SPEAKS IN ASIAN GAB

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will spend his 66th birthday today in Singapore, kicking off a five-day official trip  to attend the 10th Asian Conference that will gather economic managers and business leaders in the region as well as the finals of the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix 2023.

According to the Presidential Communications Office, Mr. Marcos will headline a 30-minute conversation at 3:30 p.m. today during the Asia Summit hosted by the Milken Institute.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is also scheduled to face the annual gathering from 12:30 to 2 p.m. today.

It will be the first time a sitting Philippine President will address the Asia Summit that focuses on public health, environmentalism, economic policy, and globalization.

The PCO said Mr. Marcos will stay in Singapore until Sept. 17, in time for the F1 finals which he will attend “upon the invitation of Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.”

In October last year, Mr. Marcos also flew to Singapore to watch the Grand Prix.

The Palace described his trip to the city-state then as “productive” while Singaporean Manpower Minister Tan See Leng, in a Facebook post, wrote about the officials from different countries who were at the race.

“Happy to meet various Heads of States, Ministers, and foreign dignitaries to affirm our bilateral economic relationships and strengthen collaborations in energy cooperation as well as exchange views on manpower policies on the sidelines of the race,” Tan wrote.

MARCOS ORDERS STRENGTHENED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SYSTEM

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) to work closely with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to boost the country’s IP system.

The President said the Philippines was eyeing to usher in a renaissance of innovation or “FILIPINOVATION” that explores science and technology to find solutions to its modern-day problems.

Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual represented President Marcos at the World Intellectual Property Organization Asian Regional Conference in Support of Accelerated Life Sciences Innovation – Skills Development and Capacity Building.

“I therefore encourage the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines to collaborate closely with the World Intellectual Property Organization and all our partners present on this occasion to craft programs that will strengthen the country’s IP regime and contribute to our efforts in building the new Philippines that we aspire for,” Mr. Marcos said in a speech delivered by Pascual.

“I also urge everyone here to work together and harness the power of science, technology, and innovation as a catalyst for our post-pandemic transformation and our inclusive and sustainable development moving forward,” he added.

The President assured the country’s global partners of its commitment to contribute to various fields such as health and life sciences research, development, and innovation.

MARCOS SAYS PRICE CAP ON RICE 'GOING AS WELL AS WE CAN EXPECT'

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Tuesday said the price ceiling he imposed on rice was "going as well as we can expect."

Marcos noted retailers have slowly adjusted to the price cap, even if some of them temporarily stopped selling the staple grain to avoid potential losses.

"We just had a meeting about that this morning, so far the implementation and enforcement is going as well as we can expect," Marcos said in a chance interview.

"Syempre nag-aalangan din yung ibang retailer at hindi natin pwedeng sisihin dahil nga hindi sila nakakatiyak nga doon sa ating ibibigay na kapalit... Titingnan na lang natin kung papaano ang takbo," he added.

Malacañang said prices of rice are "expected to stabilize" as its harvest season begins this September.

The Philippines is expected to harvest 2 million metric tons (MMT) of palay by the end of the month and 3 million MMT in October, Press Secretary Cheloy Garafil said, citing data from the Philippine Rice Information System.

MARTIAL LAW SAVED PH FROM BECOMING COMMUNIST: PADILLA

Sen. Robin Padilla believes the declaration of martial law on September 21, 1972 saved the country from turning communist.

In a Senate hearing, Padilla said people have only heard one narrative about the events of martial law.

He noted communism was very powerful in southeast Asia during the 1970s.

"'Yung isang narrative ay ang martial law ay nagdulot ng pagliligtas sa ating bansa na tayo po ay maging communist country at marami din po tayong kasundaluhan ang nagbigay ng buhay para maligtas po ang ating bayan na tayo po ay makubkob ng mga komunista," he said.

"Kung kinikilala niyo 'yung bayani niyo diyan, meron ding bayani dito. Dapat din natin silang kilalanin."

Padilla has filed a bil declaring September 21 a nonworking holiday to celebrate the unsung heroes of martial law. However, the senator said he is willing to change his bill and make September 21 a working holiday if the labor department objects.

According to reports from global human rights watchdog Amnesty International, there were 100,000 victims of martial law, with 3,000 killed, 34,000 tortured and 70,000 arrested.

The Marcoses also amassed an estimated $5 to 10 billion, or some P500 billion, in ill-gotten wealth, based on the World Bank-United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s Stolen Asset Recovery report.

INCHCAPE SAYS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT PH CAR MARKET

MANILA — Global automotive manufacturer Inchape said it is optimistic about the market for cars in the Philippines.

Inchcape is on an ambitious growth journey in the country, said its chief executive officer Duncan Tait.

"At Inchcape, we’ve been in business since 1799, nearly 225 years, and we don’t enter markets for [how] we’re gonna perform next month or next quarter or the next 6 months. We enter them for the medium and long term," he said.

"And we are very positive about the market here, [with its] good GDP (gross domestic product) growth, 110 million population inside the Philippines, a young vibrant population. And that bodes well for the future growth of automotive."

Inchcape in January signed a deal to form a joint venture with luxury car distributor CATS Group of Companies.

PH TO OFFER TAX-FREE RETAIL DOLLAR BONDS TO OFWS: BTR

MANILA -- The Bureau of Treasury is looking to offer retail dollar bonds to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) by the end of September, an official said on Tuesday.

National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon said the offering is an opportunity for OFWs to invest.

“Part of our financing for this year is to reach out and make our government securities available to our overseas Filipinos. So we are now going to issue our second leg of our retail dollar bonds. We’ve been issuing the fixed income Peso bonds, so this time around, to cater to our overseas Filipinos,” de Leon said during the Philippine Economic Briefing in Dubai.

To encourage investments, retail dollar bonds availed by OFWs will be exempted from the 20 percent withholding tax.

The RDB will have a tenor of five years.

For Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, investing in retail dollar bonds will be beneficial for its investors and the government.

“If you have young kids who you will send to school at some point in the future, five years from now, that’s a good investment. So we are going to float this kind of money so that our overseas Filipino workers can invest and the money we can use for infrastructure," he said.

"And so they will be helping themselves. And they will be helping the country buildings infrastructure,” he explained.

The Philippine economic team is set to hold financial literacy campaigns to OFWs in Dubai to promote the retail dollar bonds.

THE REST

========

MAGNITUDE 6.3 QUAKE HITS CAGAYAN, AFTERSHOCKS EXPECTED - PHIVOLCS

MANILA -- A magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit Cagayan early Tuesday night, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

The tremor, which was tectonic in origin, struck at 7:03 p.m. and had a depth of 41 kilometers. Its epicenter was located 22 kilometers northeast of Dalupiri Island.

The quake may cause aftershocks and damage, Phivolcs said in an updated bulletin.

INTENSITIES

Intensity V was felt in Bacarra, Bangui, Burgos, Laoag City, Pagudpud, Paoay, Pasuquin, and San Nicolas in Ilocos Norte.

Intensity IV was felt in Luna, Apayao; Batac City, Batac, Currimao, and Pinili in Ilocos Norte; and Claveria, Enrile, Pamplona, Sanchez-Mira, and Santa Praxedes in Cagayan.

The following areas felt the quake at Intensity III:

- Bucay, Lacub, Lagayan, and San Juan in Abra

- Banayoyo, Bantay, Burgos, Caoayan, San Emilio, San Esteban, San Ildefonso, San Vicente, Santa Catalina, Santa Cruz, Santiago, Sigay, and Vigan City in Ilocos Sur

- Solana, Cagayan

- Santo Domingo in Nueva Ecija

Intensity II was felt in Dolores, La Paz, Luba, Pidigan, and Tubo in Abra; Narvacan, Santa, and Santa Maria in Ilocos Sur; and Aparri, Cagayan.

Intensity I was felt in San Isidro, Abra; Candon City and Tagudin in Ilocos Sur; and Camalaniugan, Lal-Lo, and Santa Ana in Cagayan.

Phivolcs also said that the following Instrumental Intensities were recorded in a number of areas:

Intensity IV - Laoag City and Pasuquin in Ilocos Norte; and Aparri and Gonzaga in Cagayan

Intensity III - Sinait and Vigan City in Ilocos Sur; and Peñablanca in Cagayan

Intensity II - Ilagan City in Isabela

Intensity I - Candon City, Narvacan, and Tagudin in Ilocos Sur; Camalaniugan in Cagayan; and Baler and Casiguran in Aurora.

Phivolcs initially reported that the quake measured magnitude 6.4 and that no damage was expected.

PNP RECORDS 22 INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE AS LOCAL ELECTIONS LOOM

MANILA — The national police has so far recorded 22 incidents of violence ahead of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) on Oct. 30, an official said on Tuesday.

Acting Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson PCol. Jean Fajardo said based on their monitoring as of Monday, 2 of those were validated as election-related incidents, while 11 were not related to the elections.

The two validated violent incidents due to the upcoming polls were recorded in Bicol and Bangsamoro, prompting the Regional Peace Security and Coordinating Center to suggest for these areas be placed under Comelec control.

"Nirirekomenda nila itong mga lugar na pong ito na mapasailalim po sa red category kung saan motu proprio ay pupuwede pong mag-declare ang Comelec na under Comelec control po itong mga nasabing areas," she said in a televised briefing.

The areas of grave concern, she noted, were still at 27. PNP is still waiting Comelec's final determination if more areas will be added or removed, the police official added.

Comelec checkpoints and police visibility will be intensified in areas that have security concerns, Fajardo said.

PAGCOR WARNS PUBLIC AGAINST FICTITIOUS ONLINE GAMBLING WEBSITES

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) has issued a warning about unauthorized websites using its logo to falsely suggest a connection with licensed offshore gaming in the Philippines. PAGCOR's CEO Alejandro Tengco urged caution when accessing such websites due to potential personal and financial risks. PAGCOR has reported these sites to law enforcement agencies and is exploring measures like blocking payments to and from illegal gambling websites. They are also considering creating a landing site to redirect users to a warning about illegal sites. PAGCOR encourages the public to report unauthorized logo use and suspicious activities through their provided channels.

GROUP ROLLS OUT ANTI-TB DRIVE AT GRASSROOTS LEVEL

Last month, the TBpeople Philippines Team, with support from the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and Stop TB Partnership CFCS Round 10, journeyed from Manila to Zamboanga City to engage potential leaders for TBpeoplePH Discipleship.

During this mission, the TBpeoplePH Discipleship recruited and provided basic training to new advocates dedicated to combating tuberculosis. They conducted seminars in Zamboanga, covering essential information and more advanced topics, which these advocates would later share with their respective communities.

The group emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing health challenges like tuberculosis through education and empowerment. They believe that by investing in initiatives like TBpeoplePH Discipleship, they can nurture a generation of leaders capable of driving positive change within their communities and working towards the ultimate eradication of tuberculosis.

At the conclusion of their training, the new recruits had the chance to apply their knowledge as certified TB Survivor Advocates, which culminated in a meeting with Zamboanga City Mayor John Dalipe. They discussed concerns about diseases affecting the city's residents and highlighted the importance of supporting the Patient Support Group established through TBpeoplePH.

The group expressed confidence that the TBpeoplePH Discipleship initiative has the potential to address many tuberculosis-related challenges by empowering survivors and individuals with firsthand experience, thereby improving awareness, treatment, and support systems. They aim to make a positive impact on the lives of those affected by TB and create a brighter future for the community through collective efforts.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

MISS UNIVERSE ANNOUNCES END OF AGE RESTRICTIONS FOR PAGEANTS

The Miss Universe Organization has eliminated age limitations for participants in both the Miss Universe pageant and its affiliated contests.

R'Bonney Gabriel, the current Miss Universe titleholder, delivered this announcement at Tanner Fletcher's Spring 2024 New York Fashion Week presentation.

“What I love about Miss Universe is that they are always out first in line, looking for ways they can be more inclusive and better live up to the platform that they’ve designed for us,” Gabriel said in an article published on Women’s Wear Daily.

“It’s a bold group of women in charge over here, and you know what, a lot of people tend to follow what we do — it’s nice to be a standard-bearer, and I’m proud that we get to do this,” she added.

The Miss Universe Organization said “this change will apply for all 2024 pageants globally.”

“Starting then, every adult woman in the world will be eligible to compete to be Miss Universe,” the organization said through an Instagram Story.

The 72nd Miss Universe competition will be held on November 18 in El Salvador.

Details such as the time and venue for the coronation night, and the platform where it will be broadcast, have yet to be revealed.

Michelle Dee will represent the Philippines in the upcoming Miss Universe, with half-Filipina R'Bonney Gabriel of the United States as the reigning titleholder.

The country currently has four Miss Universe winners: Catriona Gray (2018), Pia Wurtzbach (2015), Margie Moran (1973), and Gloria Diaz (1969).

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 56.65

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Pride is an established conviction of one's own paramount worth in some particular respect; while vanity is the desire to rouse such a conviction in others. - Arthur Schopenhauer