XI JINPING EXTENDS SYMPATHY TO BBM OVER QUAKE LOSSES

Chinese President Xi Jinping conveyed his country’s sympathy to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. following the devastation brought about by the magnitude 7 earthquake that rocked Luzon on July 27.

“On behalf of the Chinese government and people, and in his own name, Xi expressed deep condolences over the deaths, and extended sincere sympathies to the bereaved families and the wounded,” the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines said.

The Chinese leader also expressed his belief that under the leadership of Marcos and the Philippine government, people in the earthquake-stricken areas “will surely overcome the disaster and rebuild their homes.”

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said a total of 82,336 families, which is equivalent to 314,161 persons, were affected by the strong earthquake.

The council confirmed 357 injuries because of the quake, 355 were from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and the remaining were from Cagayan Valley.

PHILIPPINES MOURNS DEATH OF FORMER PRESIDENT FIDEL RAMOS

MANILA — Former President Fidel V. Ramos has passed away, his family confirmed Sunday. He was 94 years old.

"The Ramos family is profoundly saddened to announce the passing of former President Fidel Valdez Ramos," the family said in a statement.

"We thank you all for respecting our privacy, as the family takes some time to grieve together. "

"We will announce wake and funeral arrangements in the near future," the statement added.

Malacañang also issued a statement mourning the passing of the country's 12th President.

"He leaves behind a colorful legacy and a secure place in history for his participation in the great changes of our country, both as military officer and chief executive," said Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles in a statement.

Ramos served as the country's Chief Executive from 1992 to 1998, succeeding Corazon Aquino as the country's second president after the People Power Revolution.

His administration was best known for its "Philippines 2000" program, which aimed to make the country industrialized by the year 2000 onwards. This program is often credited with revitalizing the country's economy.

Under his watch, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) signed a historic peace treaty with the Philippine government which ended 4 years of peace talks between the 2 parties.

Ramos was a former chief of the Philippine Constabulary under his second cousin, former President Ferdinand Marcos.

He later served as Armed Forces vice chief of staff. In 1986, he and then-Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile led disgruntled soldiers in joining the EDSA Revolution that ousted Marcos and led to the presidency of Corazon Aquino.

During Aquino's presidency, Ramos thwarted several coup attempts as Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff and Secretary of National Defense.

Ramos was also instrumental in convincing President Rodrigo Duterte to run in the 2016 elections.

He was appointed the same year as the Philippines' special envoy to China but resigned months later.

Ramos criticized Duterte's performance in his first 100 days, including his stance on the Paris climate pact, and his move to allow Marcos to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Ramos was born on March 18, 1928 in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

BBM VETOES TAX, TRANSPORT BILLS

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has vetoed two more bills, including a measure that seeks to grant tax exemptions for honoraria, allowances and other benefits of workers rendering service during the election period, Malacañang said Saturday.

Press Secretary Rose Beatrix "Trixie" Cruz-Angeles said the President made his decision known through two separate letters addressed to the Senate and House of Representatives.

In his letter, the President told Congress that House Bill 9652 or Senate Bill 2520, known as "An act exempting from income taxation the honoraria, allowances and other financial benefits of persons rendering service during an election period," runs counter to the objective of the government's Comprehensive Tax Reform Program to correct the inequity in the country's tax system and negate the progressivity of the reforms introduced under Republic Act 10963 or the "Train Law."

Moreover, Marcos noted that the studies of pertinent government agencies on the revenue loss is too substantial an impact to be foregone."

"While I recognize the laudable intent of Congress to provide income tax exemption for persons rendering service during an election period, the same will be inequitable to other persons performing similar activities and/or services," Marcos said.

"Moreover, providing additional support to any sector is best addressed through targeted budgetary spending rather than through the tax system," he added.

PHILIPPINE HOSPITALS PREPARED TO HANDLE MONKEYPOX CASES: DOH

MANILA — A number of Philippine hospitals can handle monkeypox cases, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire made the statement when asked if the government needed to put up referral hospitals for monkeypox, similar to the creation of COVID-10 referral centers.

“Meron na ho tayong mga infectious disease hospitals na specialized, specialty po nila ito, katulad po ng Research Institute for Tropical Medicine. We also have our San Lazaro Hospital, at yung mga Level 3 facilities natin sa buong bansa are all capable of doing and managing this kind of cases,” she told TeleRadyo.

“So hindi naman ho kailangan na special referral hospital center for this,” she added.

The Philippines announced its first case of monkeypox on Friday, nearly a week after the World Health Organization declared the infectious disease a global health emergency.

The case was detected in a 31-year-old Filipino who arrived from abroad last July 19.

The DOH said that the country was prepared to handle a global health emergency like monkeypox, with protocols that included symptom checks and quarantine.

Meanwhile, Dr. Joseph Adrian Buensalido of the Asian Hospital and Medical Center said steps taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 may also be done to prevent monkeypox infections.

ECONOMIC EXPERTS UPBEAT ON GROWTH

THE Philippines can weather the challenges brought about by external developments, the economic managers of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said Friday.

The President's economic experts expressed their optimism during an online business forum hosted by The Manila Times.

In a pre-recorded message to the forum participants, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno warned of the difficulties ahead, citing the inflation rate, the lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic and the volatility of global politics.

"But these are not insurmountable. The Philippines is fully prepared to address ongoing risks and challenges," Diokno said.

He said the Marcos administration will be guided by an eight-point socioeconomic agenda in steering the economy back to its high-growth trajectory before the pandemic.

Under the agenda, the government will address the economic effects of the pandemic, ensure sound macroeconomic fundamentals, create more jobs of higher quality and green ones, invest 5 to 6 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) to infrastructure, reduce the unemployment rate to 4 to 5 percent by 2028, and take advantage of the game-changing reforms to attract more foreign investors and create more job opportunities.

"With the implementation of the eight-point socioeconomic agenda, the Philippines will be elevated to upper-middle income status by 2024, and we will achieve a single-digit poverty rate of 9 percent by 2028," Diokno said.

FIRE HITS COMELEC BUILDING

MANILA — The Commission on Elections on Monday morning said investigation is ongoing into the fire incident that hit its main office in Manila, as it assured that all election date are safe and secure.

In a statement, acting spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said the fire hit the reception area of Comelec Main Office, Palacio del Gobernador Building at the 7th floor at around 6:48 p.m.

Comelec Organic Secuirty Force on duty were immediately alerted while duty guards used fire extinguishers. The emergency fire sprinkler system was also activated.

The second alarm was raised at 7:02 p.m., while it was declared fire out at 8:16 p.m.

“Arson investigation is being conducted accordingly,” Laudiangco also said.

The Comelec also assured the public it will be fully cooperating with the Bureau of Fire and Protection as it conducts its investigation.

Election data

Laudiangco said other departments and offices at the 7th floor and other areas of the building are safe from fire damage.

Personnel were also safely evacuated.

“All Comelec servers and vaults, located at the [Information Technology Department], including all equipment and documents in all offices and departments at the main building are safe, intact, undamaged and secure,” he said.

“As to the Election Results and Data, please note that the same are safe, secure, intact and unaffected, and remains to be on live posting, both at the Comelec official website and the election results website,” Laudiangco added.

Back up data, including voter’s registration data are also safe.

6,000 OFW FAMILIES IN ABRA TO RECEIVE AID FROM OWWA

MANILA – Around 6,000 overseas Filipino worker (OFW) families in quake-hit Abra will receive assistance from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), its administrator said Monday.

At least 10 people have been found dead after a magnitude 7 quake struck Abra on Wednesday.

“Sa unang bilang namin, meron at least mga 6,000 na OFW families dito sa lalawigan ng Abra,” Atty. Hans Leo Cacdac told TeleRadyo.

Cacdac said the cash assistance given to the families will range from P3,000-P5,000.

Families who need the cash assistance may register online or by visiting the OWWA’s regional welfare office in the Cordillera Administrative Region.

“Pero bababa po sa area yung OWWA para maging mas madali po sa ating mga kababayan, si Deputy Administrator Arnell Ignacio ay magkakaroon, meron na po siyang team na nakahanda at sa ngayon, meron na nga tayong mga technical teams na bumaba na.”

THE REST

========

PHILIPPINES REPORTS 4,159 NEW COVID-19 CASES, HIGHEST SINCE FEB 10

MANILA — The Philippines recorded 4,159 new COVID-19 cases, data from the Department of Health (DOH) showed on Sunday.

This is the highest daily tally in more than five months, or since Feb. 10, ABS-CBN Data Analytics Team head Edson Guido said.

The DOH data showed that the total number of COVID-related deaths in the country has reached 60,727, after 8 new deaths were reported on Sunday.

The number of people currently positive for the coronavirus stood at 33,622.

The country's total confirmed COVID-19 cases climbed to 3,776,627. The first infection was recorded on Jan. 30, 2020 in a Chinese woman who arrived from Wuhan City, China where the disease is believed to have first emerged.

NCR, 14 AREAS LOG HIGH COVID POSITIVITY RATES

Some 14 areas in Luzon have recorded “very high” or above 20 percent COVID-19 positivity rates in the past week, while that of Metro Manila increased to 15 percent, the independent monitoring group OCTA Research said.

This developed as the Department of Health on Sunday logged 4,159 new COVID-19 cases—the highest single-day tally since February 10.

OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said Albay, Cagayan, Camarines Sur, Cavite, Isabela, La Union, Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quezon, Rizal, Tarlac, and Zambales all posted more than 20 percent one-week positivity rate as of July 29.

Positivity rate refers to the percentage of people who were found positive for COVID-19 among the total number of individuals tested.

The positivity rate was seen highest in Isabela at 36.3 percent on Friday, compared to its 25.7 percent on July 23.

It was followed by Tarlac with 31.6 percent, Laguna with 30.9 percent, Camarines Sur with 28.4 percent, Quezon with 27.5 percent, Zambales with 27.2 percent, Cavite with 27.1 percent, Nueva Ecija with 25.8 percent, Albay with 25.4 percent, Pampanga with 23.2 percent, Cagayan with 22.7 percent, Rizal with 21.7 percent, Pangasinan with 21 percent, and La Union with 20.9 percent.

Meanwhile, David said Metro Manila’s one-week positivity rate slightly went up from 14.2 percent on July 23 to 15 percent on July 29.

“Our healthcare utilization remains low. This means the cases are not fatal (otherwise) we would see an increase in the number of people in hospitals,” he said in a dzBB interview.

PAGASA: 2-3 TROPICAL CYCLONES MAY ENTER PAR IN AUGUST

MANILA — The Philippines can expect two to three tropical cyclones to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility in the month of August.

This was reported by state weather bureau Pagasa meteorologist Aldczar Aurelio on Monday morning. The Philippine Area of Responsibility is "the smallest and innermost monitoring domain, whose boundary is closest to the Philippine Islands," according to Pagasa, which issues Severe Weather Bulletins for tropical cyclones in PAR.

Tropical Depression Ester exited PAR on early Sunday morning after dumping rains in parts of Luzon that affected 896 families or 2,979 individuals in 21 barangays in the Bicol and Western Visayas regions.

GMA resident meteorologist Nathaniel Cruz, in a separate report on GMA’s "Unang Balita", said the average track of the expected tropical cyclones will be over northern Luzon. Expected landfall may be on extreme northern Luzon, although these may still change track.

But Cruz said in Filipino that even if the storm will not directly hit Metro Manila, "the whole of Luzon and parts of Visayas mat be affected by the cyclone because of the southwest monsoon."

He said there have been no weather disturbances detected heading in the direction of the Philippines.

For Monday, Aurelio said, Luzon will continue to experience rainy weather due to Habagat or the southwest monsoon that is affecting the entire country. Clear skies are expected when Habagat weakens.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

CEBU'S NICOLE BORROMEO CROWNED BINIBINING PILIPINAS INTERNATIONAL 2022

MANILA – Nicole Borromeo from Cebu was named the winner of the Binibining Pilipinas International crown during the pageant’s coronation night held at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.

Borromeo bested 39 other candidates representing cities and provinces nationwide.

During the question and answer portion of the competition, she was asked how she would rate herself, on a scale of one to 10, as a responsible Filipino citizen.

"As a responsible Filipino citizen, I’d like to give myself a good 8 because I know that there’s always room to improve. There’s so much I don’t know and there’s so much I am willing to learn and I hope to do that with you," she answered.

The other queens who also won during the finals night were:

Roberta Tamondong from San Pablo, Laguna as Binibining Pilipinas Grand International;

Chelsea Fernandez from Tacloban City as Binibining Pilipinas Globe;

Gabrielle Basiano from Borongan, Eastern Samar as Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental.

All four queens will represent the Philippines as they compete in their respective international pageants.

Meanwhile, Herlene Nicole Budol from Angono, Rizal and Stacey Daniella Gabriel from Cainta, Rizal were named first and second runners-up, respectively.

Special recognitions were also handed out during the pageant, with comedienne and social media influencer Herlene Nicole Budol, who represented Angono, Rizal, taking home a total of seven awards.

This year’s edition of the beauty pageant was hosted by Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray and Miss Grand International 2016 first runner-up Nicole Cordoves.

Miss Grand International 2020 first runner-up Samantha Bernardo and fellow “Pinoy Big Brother” alum Edward Barber served as the live chat hosts during the event.

The competition also featured performances from Maymay Entrata and SB19, one of the country's top P-Pop idols.

SPORTS

PBA QUARTERFINALS GAME 3

MAGNOLIA ELIMINATES NLEX, 112-106 IN OT JULY 31

Magnolia Hotshots escapes past NLEX Road Warriors, 112-106 in thriller overtime in game 3 of their best-of-three quarterfinal series of the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday, July 31 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Magnolia advances to the best-of-seven semifinals against TNT Tropang GIGA.

Six Hotshots players finished in double figures with Ian Sangalang leading the way with a huge double-double game of 24 points (11/21 fg, 2/5 ft) along with 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and a block in 43 minutes of play. Paul Lee with a solid game of 21 points (5/14 fg, 5/8 3pts) including the clutch 3-pointer to send the game into overtime. Jio Jalalon with another all-around game of 16 points (7 points in OT ), 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals.

Calvin Oftana paced the Road Warriors with 32 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals while Don Trollano added 22 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and a block.

The Scores:

MAGNOLIA 112 - Sangalang 24 (11reb 3ast), Lee 21 (5ast 5/8 3pts), Jalalon 16 (7reb 6ast), Barroca 14 (4stl), Abueva 13 (6reb 6ast), Dela Rosa 12 (2/4 3pts), Corpuz 6 (3reb), Dionisio 4 (2reb), Wong 2 (2reb).

NLEX 106 – Oftana 32 (9reb 3ast 4/10 3pts), Trollano 22 (6reb 5ast 6/11 3pts), Alas 17 (11reb 5ast), Chua 10 (4reb), Semerad 8 (4reb), Quinahan 8 (4reb), Rosales 5 (4reb), Varilla 2 (6reb), Nieto 2 (1ast), Soyud 0 (2reb).

Quarters: 26-30, 51-54, 79-78, 97-97, 112-106.

MERALCO ELIMINATES GINEBRA, 106-104 JULY 31

Meralco Bolts escapes past Barangay Ginebra, 106-104 in game 3 of their best-of-3 quarterfinal series of the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday, July 31 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Meralco beats Ginebra in a PBA Playoffs series for the first time.

Meralco advances to the best-of-seven semifinals against San Miguel Beermen.

Seven Bolts players finished in double figures with Chris Newsome leading the way with a huge triple-double of 21 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists and 2 steals in 40 minutes of play. Cliff Hodge with a solid double-double game of 13 points, game-high 18 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal while Aaron Black finished with 17 points including three 3-pointers along with 4 assists, 3 rebounds and 1 steal.

Scottie Thompson paced Ginebra with game-high 26 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals while Christian Standhardinger had a double-double performance of 23 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.

The Scores:

MERALCO 106 - Newsome 21 (10reb 12ast), Black 17 (3/6 3pts 4ast 3reb), Hodge 13 (18reb), Maliksi 12 (3ast), Quinto 11 (2reb), Almazan 11 (9reb), Pasaol 11 (2/4 3pts), Banchero 4, Jose 4 (3reb), Pascual 2.

GINEBRA 104 – Thompson 26 (6reb 3ast), Standhardinger 23 (10reb 4ast), J. Aguilar 21 (7reb 7/12 fg), Tenorio 12 (6ast 4/6 3pts 3/7 3pts), Pringle 12 (6ast), Pinto 6 (7reb 4ast), Chan 4 (4reb), Caperal 0, Onwubere 0, Mariano 0.

Quarters: 24-18, 55-42, 85-76, 106-104.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Accomplishment and success are often the result of commitment and perseverance rather than skill or talent. - George Van Valkenburg