Ilocos Sur suspends S-PaSS requirement for travelers
December 6, 2021 12:25 pm

The provincial government of Ilocos Sur has suspended the rule requiring the use of the Safe, Swift, and Smart Passage (S-PaSS), a travel management system for easier contact tracing purposes, for travelers. Dr. Trina Tabboga-Talaga, medical chief of the Ilocos Sur Provincial Hospital-Gabriela Silang, confirmed this on Monday as part of simplifying and easing travel protocols for fully vaccinated individuals. “Effective today, wala po munang S-PaSS and Ilocos Sur. Kailangan lang po vax card and ID. Dapat po fully vaxxed tayo. Salamat (Effective today, there shall be no S-PaSS in Ilocos Sur. Vaccination and identification cards are the only things needed for the fully vaccinated,” Tabboga-Talaga said in an advisory. With a steady decline in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in the province, the provincial government has started to relax its travel protocols while encouraging the eligible population to get their full shot of vaccine against Covid-19. Effective December 1, Governor Ryan Singson has also ordered the scrapping of Covid-19 testing as well as the 14-day mandatory quarantine for fully vaccinated returning residents. “This is our way to encourage individuals to get vaccinated,” he said. As of Sunday, Ilocos Sur has recorded only one new Covid-19 case, one recovered case, and no new death. The province so far has 17,566 confirmed infections, with 17,344 recoveries, 51 active cases, and 171 recorded deaths. Source: Philippines News Agency
Personal visits remain suspended in BuCor facilities
December 6, 2021 12:24 pm

A prison official on Monday said they will wait for the findings of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) before deciding on whether to allow face-to-face visits to persons deprived of liberty (PDLs). Speaking at the Laging Handa press briefing, Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Gabriel Chaclag said of particular concern is the impact of Omicron, the latest variant of the coronavirus. “Sa ngayon po, sa guidance siguro ng IATF, doon tayo mag-base ng ating informed decision. Kung ano po ang sasabihin nila dahil may umuusbong na bago na namang variant ay tatalima po tayo (For now, we will base our informed decision on the guidance from the IATF. Since there is a new variant, we will act accordingly),” Chaclag said in an interview with host, Communications Operations Office Undersecretary Rocky Ignacio. “Noong bago pa iyong news about this new [variant], umaasa tayo na payagan sana ang face-to-face visits. Pero sa ngayon, we will wait and see muna dahil alam ninyo po, Usec. Rocky, zero cases tayo ngayon dito sa (Before the news about the new variant came out, we were hoping to allow face-to-face visits, But right now, we have to wait and see because we have zero cases here at the) NBP and the entire Bucor,” Chaclag added. Reasonable policy Meanwhile, Chaclag said officials are acting “humanely” in enforcing its mandate to secure prison camps following residents’ complaints about the BuCor decision to close a road in Barangay Poblacion, Muntinlupa City. BuCor closed the road to restrict the access of Katarungan Village residents and to “exercise its mandate of ensuring the safety and security of the prison facility”. Once completed, the control gates will have a “reasonable policy” on who will be given access, including students, teachers, and school officials. Source: Philippines News Agency
Bill on fixed terms for AFP execs gets final House nod
December 6, 2021 12:24 pm

The House of Representatives on Monday approved on final reading a measure strengthening professionalism and promoting the continuity of policies and modernization initiatives within the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). With 184 affirmative votes, six negative votes, and no abstention, the chamber passed on third reading House Bill 10521, which will provide fixed terms for officials holding senior positions and ranks in the AFP. It aims to professionalize the AFP by strengthening the merit system and to eliminate the “revolving door” accommodation promotions and create a new culture of excellence in leadership and accountability in the military. The bill proposes a fixed tour of duty of three years for the chief of staff, vice chief of staff, the deputy chief of staff, as well as the commanding generals of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, and the Philippine Air Force, united command commanders, and the inspector general. The bill states that the fixed tour of duty can be terminated by the President. It also proposes to adjust the compulsory retirement age for military personnel in the grades of brigadier general/commodore to lieutenant general/vice admiral, upon reaching the age of 59 or the maximum tenure-in-grade, whichever comes earlier. The bill provides that retirement benefits shall be based on the permanent grade last held, which would apply only to new entrants. The Senate has already approved a similar measure in September. Source: Philippines News Agency
Ex-NPA leader urges public not to vote for Makabayan bloc bets
December 6, 2021 12:23 pm

A former high-ranking leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) once deceived by its left-leaning group urged the public on Monday not to vote for party-list groups under the Makabayan bloc. In the virtual program Laban Kasama ang Bayan” of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), Ariane Jane Ramos, alias Marikit, former secretary of the NPA Guerrilla Front (GF) 55, Sub-Regional Committee 5 (SRC)-Southern Mindanao Regional Command (SMRC), said she believed that party-list groups under the Makabayan bloc cannot win in Southern Mindanao in the upcoming 2022 polls. “One process in order not to allow the presence of NPA is not voting the Makabayan bloc. By that, it would weaken their group,” she said. Marikit also pointed out that the intensified program of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) with the participation of the former rebels (FRs) to the programs of the government is also a big factor in the Makabayan bloc having a hard time securing seats in next year’s elections. “I highly commend NTF-ELCAC for their efforts. In reality, who gave the services [to the people]? It’s the government. As of now, the NTF-ELCAC leads the services to the insurgency-affected areas. I hope the [Commission on Elections, Senators] would recognize these efforts,” she added. Should any party-list group under the Makabayan bloc succeed in the 2022 polls, Marikit said she would continue to campaign against these groups. “Groups like Bayan-Muna, Gabriela, Kabataan Party-list will not win in the Southern Mindanao Region area. As to the whole country, I am not that certain, but I guess the effort to expose them [NPA] is already enough to see their wrongdoings,” she added. Marikit also reiterated the need to expose the legal fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and to create a party-list groups that would counter such fronts of the group. “I hope there is a party- list that would contradict the Makabayan bloc,” she added. The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. The Anti-Terrorism Council also formally designated the National Democratic Front as a terrorist organization on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and separate part” of the CPP-NPA that was created in April 1973. Source: Philippines News Agency

Teachers, staff of 2 QC schools in F2F classes fully vaxxed
December 6, 2021 12:25 pm

All teachers and non-teaching personnel participating in the pilot implementation of limited face-to-face classes in Quezon City are fully vaccinated. Safety protocols must be strictly followed by Payatas B Annex Elementary School and Bagong Silangan Elementary School, two of 28 schools in the National Capital Region that joined the pilot implementation of physical classes on Monday, according to the city government. Payatas B Annex has 36 teachers and 224 students from Kinder to Grade 3 while 388 students and 55 teaching and non-teaching personnel are allowed in Bagong Silangan. “Ang bawat guro ay fully vaccinated na habang ang mga estudyante naman ay mula sa tirahan kung saan fully vaccinated na ang mga kasama (All teachers have been fully vaccinated while the students come from households where all family members are also fully vaccinated),” the city government’s social media post read. Before the start of classes, teachers and students underwent antigen testing to assure that they are virus-free. Each class lasts a maximum of four hours, with staggered time arrival, breaks, and dismissal to avoid convergence and crowding. Bagong Silangan Elementary School, Quezon City (Photo courtesy of QC-PIO) Strict health check and monitoring will be implemented daily, safety officers will be on guard and will roam around, and classrooms will be disinfected after every use. The QC Police District and village enforcers manage crowding near the schools. Parents and guardians are prohibited from entering school premises. Source: Philippines News Agency
DOH still locating 8 travelers from South Africa
December 6, 2021 12:23 pm

A health official on Monday said the Department of Health (DOH) continues with its contact tracing efforts to locate eight more travelers from South Africa. During an online media forum, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the eight unlocated travelers are among the 253 individuals who arrived in the country between Nov. 15 and 29. “Of the 253 [travelers], 80 have been verified and located. Seventy-seven of these are returning overseas Filipinos and three are foreign nationals from Region 6, verified but have not been located yet,” she added. Vergeire also reported four travelers — three foreign nationals and one returning overseas Filipino from Western Visayas — were retested for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) on Dec. 1 and they were all negative for the disease. “About 71 are in quarantine facility including the three verified foreign nationals, four returning overseas Filipinos are in home quarantine while five were already discharged after completing the 14-day quarantine,” she said. Citing the latest genome sequencing run, Vergeire told reporters that no Omicron variant cases have been detected in the samples collected and most of the findings were Delta variant cases. She added the genome sequencing result of a traveler from South Africa who tested positive for Covid-19 might be released on Dec. 8. The traveler and two others from Burkina Faso and Egypt who had tested positive for Covid-19 arrived between Nov. 15 and 29 as well. “Itong mga tine-test natin, meron tayong 12 samples ng returning overseas Filipinos na nira-run natin ngayon sa (What we’re testing, we have 12 samples of returning overseas Filipinos) smaller machine of Philippine Genome Center for a faster processing time,” Vergeire said. “Hopefully, by tomorrow afternoon o kaya Wednesday morning, makuha natin agad ang mga resultang ito, kasama nito ang South African na nag-positibo (or Wednesday morning, we can get their results, including that of the South African who tested positive for Covid-19),” she added. To prevent the spread of coronavirus and its variants, Vergeire reminded the public to practice the minimum public health standards — wearing of face mask, physical distancing, regular handwashing, proper air ventilation inside enclosed spaces — all the time. Source: Philippines News Agency
Population protection vs. Covid in sight for Bacolod City
December 6, 2021 12:23 pm

The Emergency Operations Center-Task Force (EOC-TF) here is looking at achieving population protection against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) by the end of the year. As of December 5, some 84 percent of Bacolod residents have already received at least a single dose of the vaccine while 66 percent is already fully-vaccinated, data of the Department of Health (DOH) showed. Dr. Chris Sorongon, EOC-TF medical and data analysis deputy, said in a statement on Monday that considering the data, the city would be able to reach herd immunity before Christmas or before the year ends. During the National Covid-19 Vaccination Days on November 30 to December 2, vaccination teams were able to administer initial jabs to 18 percent of the target population, he added. “Most of them are actually scheduled for their second dose within the month. That is why we are confident of achieving herd immunity,” Sorongon said. During the three-day campaign, Bacolod vaccinated 70,752 individuals, much higher than the 66,171 target set by the DOH. “It was amazing. It was an impressive feat of cooperation and showed that public-private partnership is alive and well in the city, especially in this time of pandemic,” Sorongon said. Still, he echoed Mayor Evelio Leonardia’s earlier call on Bacolodnons not to let their guard down despite the declining number of cases and encouraged the unvaccinated to get jabbed to protect their families and communities against Covid-19. “Bacolod wants to go back to the new normal,” he said. Data of the DOH-Western Visayas showed that Bacolod has 392 remaining active Covid-19 cases as of December 5. Source: Philippines News Agency

STP, Seaoil partner for enhanced engine protection, efficiency
December 8, 2021 12:00 am

Through an expanded partnership with world-renowned fuel and oil treatment brand STP, Seaoil Philippines has announced the release of its lubricants supercharged with STP additives. With rising costs of fuel and maintenance, this partnership brings longer engine life and fewer costs for repairs. The entire Seaoil lubricant product line now carries double protection against friction and corrosion. This includes the fully synthetic Extreme Mako engine oil, Seaoil Gasoline Engine Oil, GEO Supreme, Seaoil Diesel Engine Oil, and DEOMAX diesel engine oil. As the first fuel company in Asia to partner with STP, Seaoil had brought the benefits of the Racer’s Edge to the pump at no extra cost to consumers. Every grade of Seaoil fuels, namely Extreme 97, Extreme U, Extreme 95 and Exceed Diesel, have been powered with world-leading STP additives since 2013. “With STP additives charging up our lubricants as well, motorists can experience double engine protection friction and corrosion. Our customers have already experienced STP-powered fuels and will now appreciate the improved protection and maintenance from Seaoil Lubricants,” said Seaoil CEO Francis Glenn Yu. As the leading brand in oil and fuel treatment, STP has been in the business of keeping engine parts clean, cool and protected against corrosion, wear, and rust for more than 50 years. STP also has a long history in the NASCAR racing circuit, not only with title sponsorships but with supporting NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty. “As a long time partner, SEAOIL has always delivered on our STP brand promise on science, technology, and performance. STP’s racing heritage helps us fuel the way for future growth. We’re excited to be at the starting line with SEAOIL Lubricants and looking forward to winning the race with customers,” said Scott Meczkowski, Senior Manager of STP marketer, Energizer Holdings. Seaoil lubricants powered with STP additives are available in all 600 stations nationwide, as well as for ordering online via Seoil’s official store on Lazada and Shopee. The lubricants line is also carried by the Seaoil LubeServ vehicle service centers and its new service, LubeServ on Wheels. LubeServ on Wheels brings expert mechanics straight to the customer’s location. The service is currently available in the areas of Taguig, Makati, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Pasig, Marikina, Quezon City, and Cainta. Aside from light repairs, LubeServ on Wheels offers package costs for the customer’s preferred lubricant products, plus consumables and labor. Source: Philippines News Agency
DPWH lays down infra dev’t projects for Eastern Visayas
December 8, 2021 12:00 am

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is preparing some crucial plans and targets for the next two to five years to develop a new road network in Eastern Visayas region. Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Acting Secretary Roger G. Mercado said in a statement on Wednesday he has tapped the Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations headed by Undersecretary and “Build Build Build” Chief Implementer Emil K. Sadain to assist Regional Office 8 in preparing the construction of a stronger regional road network. Mercado, who hails from Southern Leyte, identified the insufficient infrastructure as a major constraint to the economic growth and poverty reduction particularly in Southern Leyte and Northern Samar. Sadain had presented to Mercado a road map of short and long-term projects which will help spur the improvement of infrastructure services in Eastern Visayas and move the Region into a virtuous circle of growth and development. One of the projects identified for long-term program is the 15-kilometer (km) Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project (SPCR) Phase 2 including two long-span bridges with a total length of 1.4 km. A feasibility study has been completed for it and the project proposal is set for submission to the National Economic and Development Authority. Also in the pipeline are the construction of the 700-meter Iconic Liloan Bridge with ongoing preparation of project concept paper; construction of 1.1-km Iconic Maasin Coastal Bypass Bridge for discussion with Export-Import Bank of Korea; and 23-km Bohol-Leyte Link Bridge with completed pre-feasibility study funded by Asian Development Bank. Sadain said the SPCR Project Phase 2 from Catarman-Laoang Road Junction to Laoang-Palapag Road Junction will lessen the travel time and establish sustainable economic development foundation in Northern Samar. The proposed project will also involve the construction of Laoang Il Bridge with its main bridge made of pre-stressed concrete box girder. On the other hand, the planned Calomotan Bridge will have an extradosed superstructure in consideration of passing vessels as well as to provide a new local landmark structure in the area. Meanwhile, Sadain said the projects identified under short term priorities using local funds include, among others, the widening from two to four lanes of the Liloan-San Ricardo Road Section; construction of missing links/new roads for the San Ricardo-Bilatan Section of the Liloan-San Ricardo Circumferential Road; construction of missing links/new roads at Liloan-San Ricardo Circumferential Road; and improvement of the newly converted national road, all in Southern Leyte. Source: Philippines News Agency
Global markets get boost as Omicron worries fade
December 8, 2021 12:00 am

With fears fading that the Omicron variant will disrupt the global economic recovery, equity markets followed a buying-heavy course. While Asian markets started the midweek in positive territory, US’ S&P and Nasdaq indices registered their strongest daily rises in nine months. Technology stocks led the increase in the New York market. Analysts said Pfizer’s announcement that vaccines in use provide partial protection against the Omicron variant supported the rally in equity markets, adding the news flow of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak would determine the direction of the markets. Developments in China’s real estate sector remain unclear and Chinese real estate giant Evergrande has yet to make some bond payments. Analysts said Evergrande’s default was expected, and questions were being raised about how it would affect other companies. On Tuesday, US President Joe Biden threatened to respond with “strong” economic measures if Russia escalates military aggression against Ukraine. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Biden told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that if Russia invaded Ukraine, the US would increase its military support to Ukraine and its NATO allies in the region. On the Europe side, the 27-member bloc surpassed expectations and reached a gross domestic product growth rate of 3.9 percent in the third quarter on an annual basis. On Wednesday, Japan’s economy narrowed 3.6 percent in the third quarter. At the midweek, investors will follow statements from the European Central Bank’s governor and JOLTS (job openings and labor turnover survey) job figures in the US. Source: Philippines News Agency
Gov’t to repay P540-B BSP debt in advance
December 8, 2021 12:00 am

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has informed the Monetary Board (MB) that the national government (NG) will repay the full amount of its outstanding PHP540-billion provisional advances to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) this week, ahead of the January 12, 2022 maturity date, aside from downsizing its request for liquidity support to PHP300 billion next year amid an improved economic outlook. Dominguez, in a letter addressed to BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno, said the lower amount of PHP300 billion to be requested by the government as provisional advance in the second week of January 2022 signals to the market “that we are on track with the unwinding of liquidity support on firmer evidence of return to economic strength.” As head of President Rodrigo Duterte’s economic team, Dominguez revealed this NG plan as he lauded the “strong monetary and fiscal coordination between the BSP and the Department of Finance in ensuring that the Philippines remain resilient in this crisis”. The extension of provisional advances is a temporary arrangement between the BSP and the NG to provide the government access to ample cash resources while revenue generation is weakened and fulfillment of the borrowing program is challenged by the scale of the borrowing need and the unpredictability of financial markets amid the pandemic. Under Section 89 of The New Central Bank Act (Republic Act No. 7653), the BSP may make direct provisional advances with or without interest to the NG to finance expenditures authorized in its annual appropriation, on condition that said advances shall be repaid before the end of three months, extendible by another three months, as the MB may allow following the date the NG received such provisional advances. Initially, the advances were in the form of a zero-interest repurchase agreement (repo) transaction in the amount of PHP300 billion, granted in March 2020 and fully repaid in September 2020. The provisional advances were then converted to a zero-interest three-month loan in the amount of PHP540 billion, granted in October 2020 and fully repaid in December 2020. These were again accessed in January 2021, extended in April 2021, and fully repaid in July 2021. The latest access of provisional advances was in July 2021, which was due in October 2021 and extended to January 2022, but will be fully repaid this December 2021. National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon had recommended the early repayment of the PHP540-billion provisional advances, which will be settled on December 10, on the basis of favorable cash position brought about by promising revenue collections and overwhelming support in the recent Retail Treasury Bond (RTB) offering. “We have seen economic recovery already begin to take root as more businesses embark on a safe reopening with the successful rollout of the government’s mass vaccination program,” Dominguez said in his letter to Diokno dated December 1. “The extension of a new PHP300-billion provisional advances will ensure sufficient resources for the government to safeguard this promising but still fragile recovery,” he added. The new provisional advances to be requested in January will have similar terms as the earlier loan –zero interest and three-month maturity with another three-month extension, as recommended by de Leon. De Leon also recommended that the PHP300-billion advances be fully repaid before the end of June 2022 to fully unwind the liquidity support before the start of the next administration. Funds granted under this short-term lending arrangement are not used for direct financing of government operations but serve as a liquidity gap measure that ensures the government will be able to undertake large spending in advance of anticipated revenue collections or regular borrowing proceeds. Provisional advances shall not, in their aggregate, exceed 20 percent of the average annual income of the borrower for the last three preceding fiscal years, the law states. De Leon said the NG has accessed the facility in four cycles already at volumes that are consistently below the maximum loanable amount of PHP564 billion in 2020 and PHP589 billion in 2021. Source: Philippines News Agency