JOBLESS RATE FALLS IN OCTOBER, UNDEREMPLOYMENT UP

MANILA - The Philippines recorded a decline in its unemployment rate in October, reaching 4.2%, down from September's 4.5%, marking the lowest rate since April 2005, as reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority. The number of jobless Filipino workers decreased to 2.09 million, down from 2.26 million in September, and the current rate is an improvement from both October 2022 (4.5%) and July 2023 (4.8%).

However, the underemployment rate increased to 11.7% in October, up from 10.7% in September but lower than July's 15.9% and October 2022's 14.2%. Sectors such as accommodation and food service activities, administrative and support service activities, transportation and storage, public administration and defense, and human health and social work activities contributed the most to job growth.

Conversely, job losses were observed in wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles, mining and quarrying, manufacturing, arts, entertainment, recreation, fishing, and aquaculture. National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan highlighted the generation of middle and high-skill occupations, attributing it to the expansion in tourism-related and IT-BPO sectors.

Balisacan anticipates further improvements in labor market conditions due to the government's focus on encouraging trade, investment, and job generation. He emphasized the importance of inclusive growth, learning opportunities, and the impact of the recently signed Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Code, creating a stable environment for high-impact infrastructure projects and attracting foreign investments. Balisacan believes these reforms make the Philippines more attractive to investors, leading to increased employment opportunities in critical growth areas such as infrastructure.

The PSA’s definition of unemployment differs from that used by some independent research organizations like the Social Wearther Stations.

'WALKING PNEUMONIA' CASES IN PH ALREADY RECOVERED: DOH

The Department of Health has clarified that the four patients diagnosed with Mycoplasma pneumoniae or "walking pneumonia" have already recovered.

"Only 4 (0.08%) of the confirmed influenza-like illnesses cases from January up to November 25, 2023 were due to M. pneumoniae or 'Walking Pneumonia'. All these cases have recovered. More than half of confirmed ILI cases were due to other well-known and commonly detected pathogens. We have medicines that can treat M. pneumoniae; and we can easily prevent its transmission," DOH said in a statement.

It reiterated that the detected cases are "not new".

The agency also gave more details on the symptoms of walking pneumonia.

"Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a known and common pathogen. It causes different infections, including colds and pneumonia. It is one of the influenza-like illnesses (ILIs), which presents as fever, sore throat, and cough. Younger children may have cold-like symptoms. While all age groups can be affected, those with weak immune system and living in closed settings are at higher risk for more severe disease. Filipino doctors and medical personnel in our hospitals can treat M. pneumoniae and have the medicines for it," it said.

"Here in the Philippines, the DOH has previously detected M. pneumoniae using various methods. DOH surveillance systems are able to detect ILIs, and can confirm through laboratories what may be causing them," it added.

DOH said transmission of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and other respiratory pathogens can be prevented "through regular handwashing, masking, ensuring adequate ventilation, and updating our vaccinations."

SMNI’S BADOY, CELIZ GO ON HUNGER STRIKE TO PROTEST DETENTION

MANILA - SMNI hosts Lorraine Badoy and Jeffrey “Ka Eric” Celiz went on hunger strike on Wednesday to protest their detention at the House of Representatives, their legal counsel Atty. Mark Tolentino confirmed to ABS-CBN News.

“I am joining Ka Eric in a hunger strike to protest yesterday’s travesty that was a direct offshoot of the infiltration of the CPP NPA NDF inside Congress and to also hold those in power accountable to the Filipino people,” Badoy said in a statement.

“Our democratic right to free expression- the right above all rights- is being trampled on by government and our freedom of the press where government is being held accountable to the people, is being demolished right before our very eyes,” she added.

House Secretary General Reginald Velasco gave assurance the two SMNI hosts are under medical supervision as they hold their hunger strike.

“Ongoing hunger strike, but under our medical supervision to ensure their good health condition,” he said in a text message.

Badoy and Celiz were cited in contempt by the House Committee on Legislative Franchises Tuesday for “refusal to answer question in a relevant inquiry” and “acting in a disrespectful manner”.

The panel was investigating allegations of fake news peddling and red-tagging against the two SMNI hosts. Celiz previously insinuated on air that House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez allegedly spent P1.8 billion on his travels for 2023.

He later admitted that he failed to vet the information relayed to him supposedly by a Senate employee.

HOW DEPED PLANS TO FIX PH EDUCATION WOES

The Department of Education (DepEd) faces the challenge of addressing the Philippines' education shortcomings, evident in the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results. The study revealed that 15-year-old Filipino students lag behind in math, reading, and science compared to their international counterparts, with mean scores of 356 in science, 347 in reading, and 355 in math.

Despite initiatives, the 2022 PISA results indicated stagnation, prompting DepEd Undersecretary Michael Wesley Poa to emphasize the need for improvement. Factors contributing to the unsatisfactory outcomes include curriculum congestion, teaching quality, learner well-being, and socioeconomic challenges, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

DepEd's national recovery program aims to address these issues through targeted reading, math, and science programs, a national learning camp, and catch-up Fridays. The Matatag curriculum, part of the initiative, seeks to streamline the current curriculum by focusing on foundational subjects like math, science, and English. The goal is to witness significant improvement by 2025, acknowledging that educational reforms require time to yield meaningful results.

SAFETY SIGNS ON ANTIQUE HIGHWAY MISSING BEFORE BUS CRASH: SPOKESMAN

Construction safety signs on a highway in Hamtic, Antique were missing before a Ceres bus plunged into a ravine in the area, a bus spokesman said Thursday.

"Actually, may construction sa portion na 'yun, dun sa area. Sa mga reports na nanggagaling sa media ay tila nawalan 'yung mga safety signages doon sa lugar habang nagkakaroon ng construction," Dindo Danao, Ceres Bus spokesperson, said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.

He noted that the governor had already requested for a detour because of the ongoing construction.

"Alam ng mga tao at officials natin na 'yung lugar na 'yun ay talagang mapanganib. Pasulong 'yung area na 'yun kung saan bumagsak 'yung bus," he added.

Governor Rhodora Cadiao earlier said they have asked the national government's help for ensuring safety in the area, as many accidents have occurred there before.

"I call that place 'killer curve'... it was already the second Ceres bus that fell off there," she said in a separate interview.

"With the many number of deaths that road must be abandoned... and make another road to make that area safe."

At least 17 people were killed after the Ceres bus careered off a road on a "killer curve" and plunged down a mountain Tuesday afternoon.

A survivor earlier said the bus driver had stopped the vehicle and appeared to fix something under the bus before continuing. She said the bus seemed to accelerate before it plunged down the mountain.

Vallacar Transit, which owns Ceres bus, has placed all 12 bus units under voluntary suspension while investigation is ongoing.

Vallacar is footing the medical bills of all the injured and will be providing burial assistance for the deceased, Danao said.

‘GOVERNMENT NOT GIVING BLANKET AMNESTY TO FORMER REBELS’ 

Presidential peace adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. clarified at a congressional hearing that the Marcos administration isn't providing blanket amnesty to former rebels. Galvez emphasized that those seeking amnesty must face civil liabilities for crimes against civilians. The amnesty doesn't grant blanket forgiveness and specifies covered crimes. Former rebels must demonstrate remorse and disassociation from violence. Amnesty extinguishes criminal liability but doesn't absolve civil responsibility. The National Amnesty Commission plays a crucial role in this process, aligning with peacebuilding efforts.

NDFP SHRUGS OFF SARA DUTERTE’S ‘AGREEMENT WITH THE DEVIL’ BARB VS PEACE TALKS

MANILA — The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) on Wednesday shrugged off Vice President Sara Duterte’s comment that restarting peace talks with their group is like forging an “agreement with the devil.”

While the Vice President has a negative opinion, there are also other government officials who are optimistic about the expected peace negotiations next year, said Coni Ledesma, a member of the NDFP’s peace negotiating panel.

“That’s her opinion. The fact is the Government of the Philippines (GRP) and the NDFP have begun to talk,” said Ledesma, who is staying in the Netherlands, along with other NDFP leaders.

“Ang importante sa amin, this was initiated by General [Emmanuel] Bautista and supported by Secretary [Carlito] Galvez, with the approval of President [Ferdinand] Marcos [Jr.],” she told ABS-CBN News in a virtual interview.

Earlier this week, Duterte urged Marcos Jr. to reconsider the government’s planned peace negotiations with communist rebels, citing the New People’s Army’s (NPA) previous violations of ceasefire agreements.

SECURITY OFFICIALS TELL SENATORS: PHILIPPINES IN SAFE HANDS 

MANILA — Officials of the country’s security agencies have given assurance that the Philippines is in safe hands in the aftermath of the bombing at Mindanao State University (MSU) that left four people dead and scores injured last Sunday, according to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Emerging after almost two hours of an executive session yesterday, Zubiri echoed the pronouncement of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) that persons of interest in connection with the bomb attack are now the subject of a massive manhunt.

“After the security briefing, it was shown the Philippines is in safe hands, according to the AFP and PNP,” he said.

“We got a good briefing with friends from intel service: Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. and PNP chief Benjamin Acorda Jr.,” he added.

Zubiri called for an executive briefing from the agencies after an improvised explosive device ripped through the MSU gymnasium while a holy mass was being celebrated. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the blast.

Also present in the executive session were National Intelligence Coordinating Agency Director General Ricardo de Leon, NICA Assistant Director General Theodore Libardo and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año.

Zubiri said the authorities have already persons of interest, but refused to elaborate pending further investigation.

The Senate president hinted that the persons of interest are not foreigners.

Despite having persons of interest, Zubiri admitted that the case is about to be considered solved.

Sen. Imee Marcos said the investigation is ongoing and authorities should be allowed to do their job.

“It’s a live investigation. It appears there’s a lot of info. Let’s allow them to investigate,” Marcos added.

PHILIPPINES NAMES PRO-ISLAMIC STATE MILITANTS IN CATHOLIC MASS BOMBING

Philippine police have identified two Filipino members of the Dawlah Islamiyah-Maute group as suspects in the recent bombing of a Catholic mass in Marawi. The attack, claimed by the Islamic State, occurred inside a university gym, leaving four dead and 50 wounded. President Ferdinand Marcos attributed the incident to "foreign terrorists." The suspects, Kadapi Mimbesa and Arsani Membisa, were already wanted for illegal possession of explosives and murder. Witnesses reported the men wearing face masks and behaving suspiciously during the service. Authorities are intensifying efforts to apprehend the perpetrators, emphasizing their commitment to justice. The Philippines has grappled with insurgency-related violence, despite signing a peace pact with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in 2014.

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DENR: METRO MANILA AIR QUALITY ‘ACCEPTABLE’

MANILA — The air quality in Metro Manila remains within the standard despite the increase in the volume of vehicles amid the holiday rush, a Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) official said yesterday.

In a chance interview during the launch of the Philippine Healthcare and Mercury Wastes Management Project in Quezon City, DENR Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) officer-in-charge Gilbert Gonzales said the smog that enveloped the National Capital Region (NCR) on Sept. 22 was an isolated case.

“So far, based on our monitoring, it’s within the standard, it’s acceptable. The incident was an isolated case,” Gonzales said.

The DENR blamed the volume of vehicles in the streets for the NCR smog.

The DENR set normal air quality at 35 micrograms of particulates per normal cubic meter, but it reached 128 to 141 µg/Ncm in some areas on Sept. 22.

The DENR classifies air quality of 101 to 150 µg/Ncm as unhealthy, advising that people with respiratory conditions such as asthma should limit outdoor exposure.

An air quality of 151 to 200 µg/Ncm is considered very unhealthy, with the DENR telling pedestrians to avoid heavy traffic areas.

The DENR said an air quality of 201 to 300 µg/Ncm is acutely unhealthy, with pedestrians advised to limit outdoor exposure.

Gonzales said that the DENR continues to operate functional air monitoring stations, of which he said at least five need repair.

He said the DENR-EMB has been pushing for an additional budget of P300 million for the upgrade of 118 air monitoring stations in the country.

QUEZON CITY CITED AS TOP-PERFORMING HIGHLY URBANIZED CITY 

MANILA — Quezon City was recognized as the top-performing highly urbanized city during the 2023 Local Legislative Awards (LLA).

Santiago City in Isabela and the city of Bogo in Cebu also won in the independent component cities and component cities categories during the LLA held in Pasay City on Tuesday.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos lauded the 15 top-performing city and municipal local legislative councils for passing ordinances that helped shape the social, economic and environmental landscape of their jurisdictions.

Quezon City also won this year’s local legislative best practices for its free bus rides, alongside measures against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Mandaluyong and Manila.

The LLA is a joint initiative of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Vice Mayors League of the Philippines and the Philippine Councilors League.

National winners get a plaque of recognition and a P100,000 cash prize, while first and second runners-up will get P75,000 and P50,000, respectively.

MALLS TO EXTEND OPERATING HOURS UNTIL MIDNIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

MANILA -- Several shopping malls in Metro Manila are extending their operating hours as Christmas approaches.

According to Miguel Gaspi, mall manager of SM North Edsa, they will be open until midnight from December 15 to December 23, providing more time for the public to shop and spend time with family and friends.

"Ngayon kasing week na ito, as it is, hanggang 11 tayo, but approaching next week na, starting December 15 hanggang December 23, extended na po tayo until 12 midnight," said Gaspi.

"We have a lot in store for our customers. We have our Christmas centerpiece, this has a unique train ride experience, it is like travelling to Japan, Italy, UAE," Gaspi added.

Robinsons Malls, including Robinsons Manila and Robinsons Galleria, will also extend their hours, with some operating until 12 midnight on specific dates.

"Robinsons Manila and Galleria, December 2 to 3, 8PM to 10PM. Dec 25 to 30, we operate from 10AM to 11PM. Dec 15, 18 to 22, we operate until 12MN," said Myron Lawrence Yao, Operations Director of Robinsons Malls.

Meanwhile, Ayala Malls will stay open until 10 p.m., except on December 24 and 31 when they will close at 7 pm.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) anticipates increased traffic congestion as Christmas approaches, especially on weekdays and weekends.

"May kaunti pang pagbigat habang lumalapit ang kapaskuhan, lalong lalo na itong weekdays, weekends na darating. Itong pa-long weekend, madami ang magbabakasyon, yung mga palabas ng Metro Manila, lalong lalo na yung December 7," said MMDA Chairman Atty. Romando Artes.

Artes also reminded motorists to expect heavier traffic on December 15 and 22, the last two weekends before Christmas, due to last-minute shopping and holiday preparations.

"Payday weekend po iyan, marami po magla-last minute shopping at 'yung 22 naman po, iyon na po yung weekend going to Christmas," said Artes.

FEWER STORMS IN PH THIS YEAR DUE TO EL NINO: PAGASA

The El Nino phenomenon has already brought changes to Philippine weather patterns this year, with only 10 storms entering the country so far, a weather forecaster said Thursday.

PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said the easterlies - warm winds blowing from the Pacific - will bring hot weather in a large portion of the country while the Amihan will cool down Northern Luzon, bringing cloudy skies with light rains over Batanes, Cagayan, and Apayao.

He noted there have been 10 storms in the Philippines this year so far -- just half of the annual average of 19 to 20.

"Weird po, epekto 'yan ng El Nino...Sa area natin na kaunti lang ang moisture, hindi nabubuo kahit low pressure area kasi ang moisture sa atin napupunta sa kabilang side, sa bandang Amerika naiipon. Dulot yan ng El Nino," he said.

SPORTS

PBA COMMISSIONER'S CUP DEC 6

NorthPort def. Converge, 111-95 (27-27, 58-48, 83-75, 111-95)

Magnolia def. Blackwater, 105-84 (27-23, 52-47, 70-65, 105-84)

NBA SCORES OF GAMES PLAYED ON DEC 5, 2023

Final

1          2          3          4          T

Knicks

12-8

35        37        24        26        122

Bucks

15-6

37        38        37        34        146

Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

J. Randle NY PF

41 PTS , 6 REB , 5 AST

G. Antetokounmpo MIL PF

35 PTS , 8 REB , 10 AST

Final

1          2          3          4          T

Suns

12-9

23        24        35        21        103

Lakers

13-9

33        26        24        23        106

Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

K. Durant PHO PF

31 PTS , 7 REB , 4 AST

L. James LAL SF

31 PTS , 8 REB , 11 AST

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 55.30

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not; a sense of humour to console him for what he is. - Francis Bacon