All forms of voter registration allowed – Comelec
All forms of voter registration allowed – ComelecPeople camp out along the walkway surrounding the Ali Mall in Quezon City as they wait for the opening of Comelec's satellite voter registration booth on Monday midnight, Sept. 27, 2021. MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday that “all forms” of registration are allowed for the extension of voter registration for the May 2022 polls. The Partido Lakas ng Masa candidate noted that voter registration is automatic in Israel, Chile, Argentina, and Hungary, among other countries. De Guzman made the call as he welcomed the extension of voter registration. “Although the extension of voter registration will help to include more voters in the 2022 elections, voter registration should not be required,” he said.
Source:Philippine Star
October 11, 2021 15:56 UTC
Comelec: 47,853 vying for 18,000 posts in 2022 polls
Comelec: 47,853 vying for 18,000 posts in 2022 pollsFirst-time voters sit on the curb outside a mall in Manila yesterday as the Commission on Elections resumed voter registration following the weeklong filing of candidacies. MANILA, Philippines — Almost 48,000 individuals and organizations are vying for some 18,000 positions up for grabs in the May 2022 polls, data from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) showed yesterday. The Comelec, however, said that only 18,100 national and local posts are at stake in the general elections. At the city/municipal level,486 COCs were filed for 1,634 mayoralty; 3,968 COCs for 1,634 vice mayoralty seats and 35,636 COCs for 13,558 councilor seats. A counterpart measure in the House of Representatives proposing heavier fines against nuisance candidates had been already approved on final reading last August.
Source:Philippine Star
October 11, 2021 15:56 UTC
Storm signals raised as Maring intensifies
Storm signals raised as Maring intensifiesResidents take shelter as rain and strong winds spawned by Tropical Storm Maring pounded Baguio City yesterday. MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm Maring intensified into a severe tropical storm yesterday, prompting the state weather agency to place several areas in Luzon under storm signals due to heavy rain and strong winds. In Zamboanga City, two-year-old Athena Francin Alfonso was pinned under a tree uprooted by strong winds spawned by Maring in Barangay Tugbungan on Sunday. Tornadoes believed spawned by Maring destroyed 27 houses in two barangays in Zamboanga City on Sunday afternoon. He said the Zamboanga peninsula has been experiencing strong winds and scattered rain since Sunday due to the storm.
Source:Philippine Star
October 11, 2021 15:56 UTC
Duterte not exposed to COVID-19 positive Sara
Duterte not exposed to COVID-19 positive SaraMANILA, Philippines — President Duterte did not have close contact with his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who has tested positive for COVID, Presidential Security Group (PSG) chief Col. Randolph Cabangbang told journalists in a text message yesterday. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said he could only surmise that there was no contact between Duterte and Carpio. “Otherwise, Mayor Sara would probably (be) a candidate by now,” Roque said, referring to the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) that ended last Friday. Duterte had to skip his usual weekend bonding with Carpio and other members of the family, especially now that the mayor is in isolation. His son Davao City first district Rep. Paolo Duterte is also recovering from COVID, while youngest son Sebastian recovered from the disease weeks ago.
Source:Philippine Star
October 11, 2021 15:56 UTC
Chavit drops poll bid for son’s sake
Chavit drops poll bid for son’s sakeBAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Luis “Chavit” Singson yesterday backed out of the vice gubernatorial race in Ilocos Sur to give way to his son, incumbent Gov. With the withdrawal, Ryan is running uncontested for the vice gubernatorial post. Chavit went to the Commission on Elections office in Vigan yesterday morning to signify his withdrawal, which was witnessed by Ryan and his wife Patricia. According to Jerimias, Chavit decided to give way to his son for the sake of their family, and to unite the people of Ilocos Sur. During the last day of the filing of certificates of candidacy on Oct. 8, 10 and 13 mayoral and vice mayoral posts, respectively, in Ilocos Sur had uncontested candidates.
Source:Philippine Star
October 11, 2021 15:56 UTC
Chances high for Alert Level 3 in NCR – Palace
Chances high for Alert Level 3 in NCR – PalaceResidents receive their first dose of Moderna vaccine at the "Vaccine Express" of Vice President Leni Robredo's team in San Pedro Laguna on Aug. 28, 2021. “I would say, (there’s) a high chance of a lowering of alert level. The data do indicate that we are ready for a lower alert level. Metro Manila will be under Alert Level 4 until Oct. 15. If the region downgrades to Alert Level 3, more businesses would be able to serve more clients because of an increase in the allowed operational capacity.
Source:Philippine Star
October 11, 2021 15:56 UTC
3 kids die in vehicular mishap
3 kids die in vehicular mishapMANILA, Philippines — Three children died after they were hit by a 10-wheeler truck in Placer, Masbate on Sunday. In Pangasinan, two men also died in separate vehicular accidents involving motorcycles in the towns of Mangaldan and Sual yesterday. Jonathan Togle, 27, was declared dead on arrival at the Sual Primary Care Facility. He was traveling in Barangay Cagayan when his motorcycle hit a van. Meanwhile, Jesus Balolong, 34, was declared dead on arrival at the Region 1 Medical Center following a collision of motorcycles in Barangay Guiguilonen.
Source:Philippine Star
October 11, 2021 15:56 UTC
EDITORIAL - Mental health care for all
EDITORIAL - Mental health care for allRepublic Act 11038 or the Mental Health Act was passed in 2018. Even before the pandemic forced millions including school children to remain indoors, public health care was already inadequate especially for the poor, and mental health care even more so. The WHO’s latest Mental Health Atlas covering 171 countries showed that despite greater awareness of mental health issues, there has been no corresponding scale-up in the quality of mental health services worldwide. As with other aspects of health care, dealing with mental health problems is hardest for the poor. This year, Mental Health Day was marked on Oct. 10 with the theme “mental health in an unequal world.” The call is to make mental health care for all a reality.
Source:Philippine Star
October 11, 2021 15:56 UTC
UK minister for Asia meets with Philippines officials
UK minister for Asia meets with Philippines officialsMANILA, Philippines — The United Kingdom’s Minister for Asia Amanda Milling has renewed the British government’s commitment to work with the region on maritime security and the battle against COVID-19. Milling, who visited the Philippines from Oct. 7 to 9, met with senior government officials to further explore ways of strengthening bilateral relationship. During her three-day trip, Milling discussed trade and investment, climate change, regional security, COVID-19 pandemic and human rights with government officials. Milling’s arrival coincided with 75 years of diplomatic relations between the UK and the Philippines. It also marked the first stop on her tour of the Indo-Pacific which includes visits to Singapore and Japan.
Source:Philippine Star
October 11, 2021 15:56 UTC
‘Philippines least attractive to FDIs in AsPac’
‘Philippines least attractive to FDIs in AsPac’MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines could be one of the laggards in attracting foreign direct investments (FDIs) over the medium term, as the impact of economic scarring on the country remains among the worst in Asia-Pacific. In the latest FDI attractiveness scorecard of London-based Oxford Economics, the Philippines ranked 13th among 14 other major economies in Asia-Pacific. “We see the Philippines as being one of the least attractive among the Asia-Pacific economies. Despite improvements over the past five years, the Philippines is ranked 92nd out of 140 countries in terms of quality of infrastructure. Indonesia came in sixth, followed by South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Taiwan.
Source:Philippine Star
October 11, 2021 15:56 UTC
Petron raises P18 billion from bonds
Petron raises P18 billion from bondsIn a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange yesterday, Petron said the offer, consisting of Series E bonds due 2025 and Series F Bonds due 2027 were fully subscribed. MANILA, Philippines — Petron Corp., the country’s only oil refiner, has raised P18 billion from the issuance of the first tranche of its peso fixed rate bonds. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange yesterday, Petron said the offer, consisting of Series E bonds due 2025 and Series F Bonds due 2027 were fully subscribed. Meanwhile, Petron sold P8.44 billion to retail investors and P560.6 billion to institutional investors under the Series F Bonds. Of the P12 billion, P3.3 billion will be funded from the proceeds of the bond offer, while the remaining P7.7 billion to P8.7 billion will be financed by internally generated funds.
Source:Philippine Star
October 11, 2021 15:56 UTC
Palace urges US to prosecute suspect in Pinay slay
Palace urges US to prosecute suspect in Pinay slayFilipina nurse Maria Ambrocio died after being knocked down in New YorkMANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday urged American authorities to prosecute the person who killed a Filipina health frontliner in New York. The President and First Lady Jill Biden said they are proud to recognize Filipino-American History Month. Filipino American History Month is celebrated in October each year to commemorate the first recorded presence of Filipinos in the US. The US Congress first recognized October as Filipino-American History Month in 2009. “To the Filipino American community: thank you for all you do and for all you endure to make our union more perfect,” he added.
Source:Philippine Star
October 11, 2021 15:56 UTC
Banks continue to snub BSP rediscount facility
Banks continue to snub BSP rediscount facilityDespite the extension of the zero spread on rediscount loans, latest data released by the central bank showed that banks borrowed a meager P6.12 million under the BSP’s rediscounting facility from January to September. MANILA, Philippines — Philippine banks continued to snub the central bank’s peso rediscount facility amid the massive liquidity in the financial system and tepid demand from corporate and individual borrowers due to uncertainties brought about by the pandemic, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). Despite the extension of the zero spread on rediscount loans, latest data released by the central bank showed that banks borrowed a meager P6.12 million under the BSP’s rediscounting facility from January to September. Rediscounting is a BSP credit facility extended to qualified banks with active rediscounting lines to meet their temporary liquidity needs by refinancing the loans they extend to their clients using the eligible papers of end-user borrowers. For October alone, the BSP said the applicable rediscount rate under the peso rediscount facility remains at 2.50 percent, regardless of maturity.
Source:Philippine Star
October 11, 2021 15:56 UTC
Brady's Buccaneers sink Dolphins
Miami Dolphins outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (No. 15) team up to sack Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady during the first half of an NFL football game on Oct. 10, 2021 (October 11 in Manila) in Tampa, Florida. AP PHOTOLOS ANGELES: Tampa Bay receiver Antonio Brown's record-setting day helped Tom Brady and the Buccaneers to a 45-17 NFL victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday (Monday in Manila). Mike Evans also caught two touchdown passes for the Bucs, who trailed the Dolphins 10-7 in the first quarter before Brown and Brady heated up. In the second quarter Tampa Bay capped a 77-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown pass from Brady to Brown in the end zone.
Source:Manila Times
October 11, 2021 15:56 UTC
Senators grill DSWD execs on Starpay
Senators grill DSWD execs on StarpayAt a hearing on the DWSD budget, Sen. Manny Pacquiao raised concerns over the awarding of contract to Starpay for the distribution of funds under the social amelioration program (SAP) to 1,890,263 beneficiaries. In a video presentation, Pacquiao said that while Starpay got the contract to serve six to seven million beneficiaries, only 800,000 downloaded its app. In the presentation, Starpay even claimed to have served five million individuals via the e-wallet platform – through two other money transfer companies. “DSWD had nothing to do with and had never engaged with Pharmally,” Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista said in response. Bautista, I was asking a question, I was not suggesting that DSWD had a tie-up with Pharmally, I was asking about Starpay if there was.
Source:Philippine Star
October 11, 2021 15:56 UTC