billion after it was initially cut down to

 METRO NEWS QC is top local gov’t, back as PHL’s most competitive

By Claire Morales True

QUEZON CITY - The Quezon City government has emerged as the country’s best local government unit with the highest nominal locally sourced revenues of P21.57 billion, eclipsing Makati City and Manila.

Mayor Josefi na Belmonte received four awards from the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) of the Department of Interior and Local Government during a recognition program held in Mabalacat City, Pampanga.

In another development, Quezon City was adjudged as the country’s most competitive city in this year’s Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI), an annual ranking of cities and municipalities across the country that builds, maps out and tracks local competitiveness.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said during the 9th Regional Competitiveness Summit that Quezon City landed in the top three in four pillars of the CMCI, which include economic dynamism, government effi ciency, infrastructure, and resiliency.

Quezon City placed second for economic dynamism, government effi ciency, and infrastructure pillars, and third for resiliency pillars.

Following Quezon City as the country’s most competitive city is Manila, which slipped by a notch in the ranking. The Philippine capital was CMCI 2020’s most competitive city.

In this year’s index, Manila also led Philippine cities in the pillars of government effi ciency and infrastructure.

Pasay City has maintained its ranking at third place for two consecutive years.

Pasay City landed the top position in terms of economic dynamism. Davao City was displaced in the top three most competitive cities during this year’s CMCI after data from Quezon City local government unit (LGU) were captured for CMCI 2021.

Metro Manila, 16 other regions now ‘minimal risk’ for Covid-19

MANILA – All 17 regions in the country are now classifi ed “minimal risk” for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) while all island groups showed plateauing in the case trend.

This was reported by Director Alethea de Guzman, offi cer in charge of the Department of Health (DOH) Epidemiology Bureau, adding the country logged an average of 380 cases per day for the period of December 8 to 14.

The number is 26 percent lower than the average of 516 cases per day during the previous week.

“This is among our lowest cases since we had the peak around August 2020 last year, 1,130 cases for the period of December 27 to January 2, and after the April 2021 peak at 4,982 cases for the period of July 12 to 18,” De Guzman said.

As for Metro Manila or the National Capital Region (NCR), the average daily cases reported is lower than the lowest cases after the peak months of August 2020 and April 2021.

For the period December 8 to 14, NCR’s average daily cases was 83, or 20

December 16-22, 2021 4 Senate, House ratify P5-trillion 2022 nat’l budget

MANILA – The Senate and the House of Representatives have ratifi ed the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed P5.024-trillion national budget for 2022.

During the plenary session, the chamber ratifi ed the fi nal version of the spending measure after the bicameral committee reconciled the disagreeing provisions earlier in the day.

Following its ratifi cation, the 2022 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) will be transmitted to Malacañang for President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature.

Among the amendments introduced in the fi nal version of the proposed 2022 budget is the increase in the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Confl ict (NTF-ELCAC)’s budget to P17.1 billion after it was initially cut down to P4 billion.

House committee on appropriations chair Eric Yap said the proposed 2022 budget would be “crucial for our full recovery from the pandemic as a nation.”

“Rest assured that the government’s battle strategy on health and nutrition, social protection, governance, and development, are carried out in this budget,” Yap said.

The proposed 2022 General Appropriations Act is 11.5 percent higher than this year’s P4.506 trillion.

5December 16-22, 2021

 PROVINCIAL NEWS Lapu-Lapu City dads nix P25-B skyway project

LAPU LAPU CITY - The proposed P24.8 billion Lapu-Lapu expressway project that will connect Cebu to Mactan island has suff ered a setback as the opposition bloc of the Lapu-Lapu City Council thumbed down the project.

In rejecting the project, the councilors led by Councilor Flaviano Hiyas Jr. said the project cannot solve the traffi c problem in the city since only 44 percent of the LLEX will be elevated as a skyway and 56 percent will go alongside the existing road.

The project is proposed to be undertaken under a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) at no cost on the part of the government by Premium Megastructures Inc., Ulticon Builders Inc. and MTD Philippines.

The opposition city aldermen rejected the project during their special session despite the willingness of the proponents of the project to revise some provisions in the agreement that were raised by the council, including the 50-year exemption from business, community and real property taxes.

Zamboanga Archbishop dela Cruz dies at 74

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Zamboanga Archbishop Romulo dela Cruz has died after a lingering illness. He was 74.

The Archdiocese of Zamboanga, dela Cruz died at about 11:05 p.m. on Friday, December 10, at the Zamboanga Doctors’ Hospital where he was brought due to an “erratic heartbeat.” He suff ered a stroke in July.

Fr. Armand Aquino, chancellor of the archdiocese, said dela Cruz also had “very low blood pressure and slight fever.”

“He has long suff ered from his illness and is now given relief to enjoy eternal peace in heaven,” read a statement released on Saturday. “We off er our prayers to God for the soul of Abp. Rommy, for his family and we pray for our Archdiocese of Zamboanga.”

Dela Cruz, who was born in Balasan, Iloilo on June 24, 1947, served the Archdiocese of Zamboanga for seven years.

He was ordained at the Archdiocese of Cotabato on Dec. 8, 1972. In 1987, he was named coadjutor bishop of Isabela and became the bishop in 1989.

Dela Cruz is well-loved by the Catholic faithful in Basilan as he stood his ground despite threats from the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).

He was the province’s archbishop when a kidnapped priest, Rev. Ruel Gallardo, died during a rescue attempt in May 2000.

Gallardo, who was reportedly tortured while in captivity, was shot on the back of the head by escaping ASG terrorists.

Dela Cruz also served as bishop of Kidapawan from 2008 until 2014 when he was appointed to Zamboanga.

The archdiocese is under the care of Auxiliary Bishop Moises Cuevas, who was appointed apostolic administrator by Pope Francis on August 11.

“Deepest condolences to the relatives, friends, the Catholic community, and the Archdiocese of Zamboanga family of the late Archbishop de la Cruz,” Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar posted on her Facebook account.

Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan, who attended the session, expressed his dismay over the decision of the council.

 NATIONAL NEWS NATIONAL NEWS Bongbong, Sara top Q4 survey

MANILA - The tandem of former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte are the leading candidates for president and vice president if a survey of PUBLiCUS Asia is to be believed.

In the PUBLICUS fourth quarter survey, the presidential daughter was the preferred choice for vice president in the 2022 polls with 54.8 percent of the 1,500 respondents randomly sampled.

Sara is followed by Dr. Willie Ong (11.2 percent) , Senate President Vicente Sotto III (11 percent), Senator Francis Pangilinan (9.7 percent); Deputy Speaker and Buhay party-list Representative Jose “Lito” Atienza (1.5 percent); and Professor Walden Bello (0.7 percent).

The mayor got the highest rating in Mindanao with 78.6 percent.

“Her entry into the vice-presidential race broke the three-way tie for fi rst place in the third-quarter survey,” Publicus noted.

Marcos Jr. topped the preferred choice for president. His choice share was up by 2.6 percentage points from the 49.3 percent in the third-quarter poll.

Marcos was also the frontrunner in the third-quarter survey, as well as in Publicus’ Final List Survey where he was the choice of 56.7 percent of the respondents.

Trailing Marcos in the latest survey were Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo with 20.2 percent; Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso (7.9 percent); Senators Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go (3.9 percent); Panfi lo “Ping” Lacson (3.4 percent); Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao (2.3 percent); and the former spokesman of President Rodrigo Duterte, Ernesto “Ernie” Abella (0.5 percent).

Go had still been included in the list despite already announcing his withdrawal from the race. Publicus did the fourth-quarter survey from December 6 to 10, polling 1,500 respondents.

The Marcos-Duterte-Carpio tandem is running the Uniteam Alliance, a coalition of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), and Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).

Marcos, the son of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., is running under PFP, while the mayor, the daughter of incumbent President Rodrigo Duterte, is both the chairperson of Lakas-CMD and HNP. HNP Secretary-General Anthony del Rosario said the survey results “are humbling, and at the same time, encouraging.”

“It shows that the BBM-Sara UniTeam continues to capture the hearts of the Filipino people,” Del Rosario said.

“But most importantly, it leads the party and all the organizations supporting the UniTeam to focus more on the pressing challenges that we are facing today -- such as recovery from the impact of the pandemic,” the HNP offi cial added. The BBM-Sara UniTeam has recently been holding caravans around the country, meeting local offi cials and organizations supporting their bid in the 2022 elections. The PUBLiCUS Asia’s Pahayag Quarter 4 survey is a nationwide purposive sampling survey comprised of 1,500 respondents that were randomly drawn from a market research panel by the Singapore offi ce of PureSpectrum, a US-based fi rm.

The sampling was guided by statistics generated from offi cial data from the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

The survey also showed that President Duterte was the second preferred senatorial aspirant in the 2022 national elections with 56 percent. He, however, withdrew his certifi cate of candidacy on December 14.

Sorsogon Governor Francis “Chiz” Escudero kept his post as the top preferred senatorial aspirant with 57 percent.

Also in the top fi ve spots were TaguigPateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano with 45 percent, television personality Raff y Tulfo with 42 percent, and Senator Sherwin Gatchalian with 42 percent.

Deputy Speaker and Antique Representative Loren Legarda (38 percent), Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri (37 percent), former Public Works Secretary Mark Villar (35 percent), Senator Joel Villanueva (33 percent), and Senator Risa Hontiveros (33 percent) made the top 10.

Secret plot to invade Sabah? Isko to assert Philippine claim

JOLO/MANILA — Offi cials of Sulu have reportedly held a secret meeting and agreed to recruit at least 60 men to “invade” Sabah which historically is part of Philippine territory having been bequeathed by the Sultan of Brunei to the Sultan of Sulu.

The meeting was reported by the South China Morning Post but denied by both Philippine and Malaysian authorities.

Sulu offi cials actually met for their Bantay Dagat project, which aims to strengthen maritime security in the province.

In a statement, the Joint Task Force Sulu said Governor Abdusakur Tan and the 19 mayors of the province met on Dec. 1 to develop the project that will involve offi cials from the municipal and barangay levels.

This developed as 299 privates, who are mostly Tausugs, recently joined the 11th Infantry Alakdan Division. They either have special skills or have served in the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary.

Meanwhile, presidential aspirant and Manila Mayor Francisco Isko Moreno Domagoso hinted he would “fi ght for the country’s claim over Sabah” if chosen by voters.

“We must pursue it the way we do with the West Philippine Sea. If it is ours historically and we have a valid claim about it, then we must pursue it,” he said.

The JTF Sulu and 11th Infantry Division Commander Major General William Gonzales said 300 civilian volunteers are currently undergoing training to reservist.

“All in all, we have 820 men and women ready to serve the nation wearing the military uniform... We are at the forefront of ensuring security and we will tirelessly collaborate with the LGU when it comes to humanitarian development and economic initiatives,” Gonzales said.

“The local chief executives will be in charge of recruitment of fi shermen or seafarer volunteers that would conduct maritime patrols in collaboration with the military in Sulu to help improve border control against terrorists and any other lawless elements. Further, it will also be utilized for disaster risk reduction and management during calamities in the maritime and coastal areas,” JTF Sulu said.

The project was created in line with the goal of continuing to improve the province’s stability in terms of security and economic aspect, they added.

December 16-22, 2021 6 Convicted magnate allowed by SC to travel to Europe

PHL to remain under Alert Level 2 until Dec. 31

MANILA – The Supreme Court (SC) has allowed a construction magnate convicted by the Sandiganbayan for graft to travel to Europe, saying “he does not appear to be a fl ight risk.”

Jesusito Legaspi and 12 former executives of the Public Estates Authority were sentenced to up to eight years in prison in 2015 for padding the cost of a 2.3-kilometer (km) section of the 5.1-km asphalt road project, the President Diosdado Macapagal Highway that traverses Pasay and Parañaque cities.

The case is on appeal.

In a recent resolution, the SC First Division authorized Legaspi’s motion to travel from December 12 to January 16 next year.

A similar request fi led by Legaspi in August was also granted for travel to the United States from August 18 to September 22 but the trip did not push through as the visa of one of Legaspi’s children was not renewed.

Like in the previous grant of authority, the SC said Legaspi “does not appear to be a fl ight risk, considering that he continues to actively participate in the defense of his case and that there was no reason for him not to return to the country where his family and his substantial business interests are located”.

MANILA – The entire Philippines will remain under Alert Level 2 status from December 16 to 31.

Acting Presidential Spokesperson, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) decided to retain the alert level status as the Department of Health (DOH) reported the fi rst two cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in the Philippines.

“We are being very cautious because eto nga yung banta ng Omicron na nakikita natin sa ibang mga lugar, mga bansa, territories, and jurisdictions na may positive na Omicron lalo na local transmission ng Omicron, pataas ng pataas ang bilang ng Covid cases doon at marami pa tayong hindi nalalaman tungkol sa Omicron (because of the threat of Omicron that we see in other countries, territories, and jurisdictions positive for Omicron especially local transmission where cases are increasing. We also don’t know a lot about Omicron yet),” he said in a Palace press briefi ng.

Nograles said the IATF-EID has also yet to fi nalize the parameters to shift to the least restrictive Alert Level 1 status.

He also said the government is still in the process of boosting the country’s Covid-19 vaccination rate. The Philippines aims to fully vaccinate more than 54 million Filipinos by yearend.

7December 16-22, 2021

 NATIONAL NEWS NATIONAL NEWS PHL fi rm on rights in South China Sea, Locsin tells G-7/ASEAN meeting in UK

LIVERPOOL/PASAY CITY – The Philippines will continue to uphold its rights in the South China Sea, Foreign Aff airs Teodoro Locsin Jr. stressed at inaugural Group of 7-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (G-7-ASEAN) Foreign and Development Ministers’ Meeting in Liverpool, United Kingdom.

“UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award are the twin anchors of Philippine positions and activities in the South China Sea. We will not raise anchor and drift or sail away from them. We value your support,” Locsin said during the meeting.

Tensions between the Philippines and China over the hotly contested waters have risen late November after Chinese Coast Guard ships water-cannoned Filipino boats trying to deliver supplies to Philippine Navy personnel at the BRP Sierra Madre anchored on Ayungin Shoal, a part of Philippine territory.

The 2016 ruling by The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidated China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea, but Beijing continues to disregard it.

Locsin said the heightened tension in the South China Sea remains a “serious concern” and underscores the urgency of the Code of Conduct (COC) in the region.

“We will not raise anchor and drift or sail away from them. We value your support,” he said during the December 12 meeting. “China can claim what it wants and say what it wants but it cannot do anything it pleases without blowback from the Philippines.”

On November 16, the Chinese Coast Guard blocked and fi red water cannons at two Philippine boats transporting supplies to military personnel of the BRP Sierra Madre at the Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.

Philippine Navy resupply boats Unaizzah May 1 and Unaizzah May 3 eventually completed the mission one week later without any untoward incident.

Defense Secretary Delfi n Lorenzana called it “an aff ront to the Filipino people”.

“I have told the Chinese Ambassador (Huang Xilian) that no one can prevent us from doing what we have to lawfully do within the West Philippine Sea, an area where we have sovereign rights by international laws,” Lorenzana said in a statement.

The COC is expected to be a regional framework that establishes the rules and

standards for peace and stability amid the maritime row in South China Sea. The G7 is an inter-governmental political forum consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States As the previous country coordinator for the Asean-China Dialogue Relations, Locsin said the Philippines have “helped lead the process and build consensus”. However, the negotiations for the COC went nowhere, Locsin said. Locsin did not share further details on the negotiations but said he opposed the exclusion of outside power in the crafting of the document as it “would create a semi-legal sphere of infl uence repugnant to the comity of all nations.” In a separate statement, Locsin recognized the G7’s concern amid latest develDuterte’s trust, approval ratings climb in survey

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte’s trust and approval ratings rose in December 2021, if the fourth quarter survey results of a political consultancy fi rm is to be believed.

In PUBLiCUS Asia’s Pahayag Quarter 4 survey conducted from Dec. 6 to 10, Duterte had an approval rating of 65 percent, up by 5 percentage points from its 60 percent approval rating in the third quarter.

Duterte’s trust rating also rose to 55 percent, 2 percentage points higher than his 53 percent trust rating in the last quarter.

Duterte was tagged by at least 50 percent of respondents in all but one of the traits namely “religiosity.”

He notched the highest share for “bravery” with 80 percent, “love for the Philippines” with 72 percent, “decisiveness” with 72 percent, and “concern for Filipinos” with 71 percent.

On the other hand, the approval rating of Vice President Leni Robredo dipped by 1 percentage point to 30 percent from 31 percent in the third quarter. However, her trust rating rose to 23 percent from 22 percent.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III’s approval rating rose 2 percentage points to 36 percent from 34 percent in the third quarter.

Sotto’s trust rating also jumped by 1 percentage point to 21 percent from 20 percent in the last quarter.

The approval ratings of House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo remained at 24 percent.

Velasco’s trust rating rose to 13 percent from 12 percent in the last quarter while Gesmundo’s trust rating dipped by 1 percentage point to 14 percent from 15 percent.

As for institutions, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) had the highest total approval with 70 percent and the highest total trust with 53 percent.

The AFP is followed by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) with a 68 percent approval rating and a 46 percent trust rating and the Philippine Air Force (PAF) with a 65 percent approval rating and 46 percent trust rating.

Senate approves bill creating OFW department

PASAY CITY- The Senate has unanimously approved on fi nal reading a bill that would create a department specifi cally addressing the needs and concerns of overseas Filipino workers.

Voting 20-0-0, the upper chamber approved on December 14 Senate Bill No. 2234, or the proposed Department of Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act.

One of its proponents, Senator Joel Villanueva, said the department will

serve as the go-to agency for all OFWs’ concerns, including on recruitment, red tape, regulation, emergency response, repatriation, and reintegration. He added the proposed law will fasttrack not just the applications of migrant workers, but also cases fi led against illegal recruiters. Previously, lawmakers have raised questions on the necessity of creating a separate agency and pointed out the huge amount needed to set it up. The Metro Manila, 16 other regions now ‘minimal risk’ for Covid-19

MANILA – All 17 regions in the country are now classifi ed “minimal risk” for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) while all island groups showed plateauing in the case trend.

This was reported by Director Alethea de Guzman, offi cer in charge of the Department of Health (DOH) Epidemiology Bureau, adding the country logged an average of 380 cases per day for the period of December 8 to 14.

The number is 26 percent lower than the average of 516 cases per day during the previous week.

“This is among our lowest cases since we had the peak around August 2020 last year, 1,130 cases for the period of December 27 to January 2, and after the April 2021 peak at 4,982 cases for the period of July 12 to 18,” De Guzman said. minimum amount required is estimated at over ₱1.1 billion, and this only covers the personal services, maintenance and operating expenses, as well as capital outlay, according to the Budget department.he measure had been certifi ed as urgent by President Rodrigo Duterte.

The House of Representatives also passed a similar bill on fi nal reading in March last year.

Duterte... (From page 1) Campaign materials had started to appear over social media showing the president as head of the six-man line-up of Lakas-CMD headed by Ms. Duterte.

There had been talk that the president and his daughter had not been in good terms of late, and the exit of Mr. Duterte was seen as proof of a lack of communication between the two.

Davao City mayor Sara said her father had made a personal decision which should be respected.

“The fi ling of candidacy and withdrawal is a personal decision,” she said in a statement, adding, “We can only respect that decision.”

A few hours earlier, the president’s long-time personal assistant and now Senator Bong Go also offi cially ended his presidential dreams by heading to the Commission on Elections headquarters in Manila to recall his certifi cate of candidacy (COC). Comelec... (From page 1) sion junked the motions for intervention separately fi led by Rommel Bautista and others; Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. and others; and by the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) in connection with the petition fi led by Fr. Christian Buenafe and others.

According to the Comelec 2nd division, helmed by commissioners Antonio Kho and Socorro Inting, admitting both the pro and anti-Marcos intervenors would “necessarily result to unduly delaying the resolution of the main Petition” fi led by civic leaders Christian Buenafe, et al.

“It shall unduly delay or prejudice the adjudication of the rights of the original parties in the case. If the instant Motion for Intervention is granted, this will necessarily result to unduly delaying the resolution of the main petition,” stated in the resolution promulgated on Dec. 13.

Unlike Mr. Duterte, however, Go had earlier announced that he would end his quest to succeed the president, but took his own time before cancelling his COC.

Mr. Duterte had long said that he was tired and wanted nothing more than to retire to his home in Davao City, but then surprised his followers earlier this year by saying that he would run for vice president because he still had “unfi nished business” that he wanted to settle.

Had Mr. Duterte pushed through with his VP bid, the country would have witnessed the odd spectacle of a father running against his own daughter for the second highest post in the land.

Mr. Duterte, however, dropped his bid in favor of Go, who then fi led a COC as the vice presidential bet of the Cusi wing of PDP-Laban. At that time, Senator Ronald dela Rosa was the party’s presidential bet.

But Dela Rosa dropped his presidential bid, paving the way for Go to take over as the offi cial candidate for president of the party which had propelled then candidate Rodrigo Duterte to the presidency in 2016.

The Comelec also said the Motion for Intervention fi led by Bautista’s group, Motions to Intervene and Admit Attached Answers-in-Intervention fi led by Tamayo and others, and the Motion for Leave to Intervene with Motion to Admit Attached Answer-in-Intervention fi led by PFP, were not admitted and therefore, “treated as mere scraps of paper.”

The poll body said Bautista and others fi led the Petition-in-Intervention, 33 days after Marcos fi led his COC, which is beyond the mandatory 25-day period prescribed in Section 78 of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC).

“If the Commission (Second Division) shall admit the Tamayo and PFP Motions are considered the same in the resolution of the main case, we would be in eff ect be according undue advantage to respondent. Allowing the intervention of Tamayo, et al. and PFP necessarily places respondent on unfairly advantageous position,” it added.

December 16-22, 2021 8

Age was seen as a factor in the president’s decision to end his political life at the end of his six-year term in 2022. Mr. Duterte is already 76 and has a number of health issues.

He has had frequent disappearances from the public eye, with Malacanang saying that he was working from home.

Early in his presidency, however, Mr. Duterte admitted taking the powerful painkiller fentanyl on a regular basis on his doctor’s orders. In his younger days, the president was an avid biker and he patrolled the streets of Davao regularly on his motorcycle.

With the exit of Mr. Duterte and Go, the administration party has been thrown into disarray having no presidential, vice presidential, and senate bets.

The other wing of PDP-Laban headed by Senator Koko Pimentel is fi elding Senator Manny Pacquiao as its presidential bet with former Manila mayor and current party-list Rep. Lito Atienza as his running mate.

It said allowing the petitioners to intervene could also trigger other intervenors to fi le their own motions for interventions that would require the Comelec to fi rst resolve these motions before resolving the main case.

After deciding on the three petitions, the Second Division said it would no longer entertain future motions for interventions and/or petitions-in-intervention or answers-in-intervention on the case.

On the other hand, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the First and Second Divisions have yet to decide if they will consolidate the cases to avoid confl ict in their decisions on the petitions fi led against the former senator.

“While there is a possibility that the cases might be consolidated, but so far there is no decision yet, so I guess they have not seen grounds for possible confl ict,” he added.

Other petitions fi led against Marcos were petitions to disqualify and declare him as a nuisance candidate.

showed negative growth rates for the past week, said Dr. Althea de Guzman, director of the DOH Epidemiology Bureau. The two regions are being monitored if their cases will continue to increase for 2 weeks, she added.

In another development, the Philippines has fully vaccinated some 41.5 million people out of its 54 million yearend target for COVID-19 inoculation.

Authorities have administered about 97.2 million COVID-19 shots, of which 54.9 million are fi rst jabs, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said.

At least 37,895,271 people have completed two doses, while 3,617,800 others received the single-dose Janssen vaccine, said Nograles.

In a statement, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque said the two cases — both international travelers — are currently isolated in a facility under the Bureau of Quarantine.

The report came following the latest genome sequencing of 48 samples on November 15.

The fi rst Omicron case is a returning overseas Filipino who arrived from Japan on Dec. 1 via a Philippine Airlines fl ight.

The patient had coughs and colds upon arrival but is now asymptomatic, the health department said.

The second case is a Nigerian national who arrived on Nov. 30 via an Oman Air fl ight, and is also currently asymptomatic.

The government is conducting active case fi nding and tracing for possible close contacts of the cases during their fl ights.

Government offi cials, meanwhile, encouraged Filipinos to get their COVID-19 shots as soon as they can.

“We assure our people that we will closely monitor developments of the two cases in light of existing protocols, as we continue to remind the public not to let their guard down, to religiously observe minimum public health standards, and call upon all those unvaccinated to get their jabs as soon as possible,” acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said in a statement.

Secretary Duque also called on the public to sign up for boosters.

“Of course, we should all be alarmed. That is why, kinakailangang magpabakuna na po tayo,” Duque told

PHL... (From page 1) reporters. “Magpa-booster shot tayo doon sa mga nakatapos na.”

As of December 15, the Department of Health (DOH) recorded 235 new Covid-19 cases -- the lowest the country has recorded since May 23, 2020.

The DOH tallied 780 new recoveries, bringing active cases down to 10,526 and marking the third week the country recorded less than 1,000 cases per day.

The country’s positivity rate is also at its lowest at 0.9 percent out of 24,120 tests conducted. However, the DOH said the test rate is considerably lower than the past days after 12 labs were not able to submit their data.

With this, the total confi rmed cases are now at 2,836,868, while recoveries are at 2,775,991.

POSTPONE...

(From page 1)

The move was immediately opposed by Constitutional experts and the aspirants themselves, pointing out that the election date is set by the Constitution and enabling laws, adding that only Constitutional change can make the re-scheduling of the elections possible.

The law provides that national elections are held every six years on the fi rst Monday of May. For next year, the date falls on May 9. Election campaign, however, will offi cially start only in February.

The presidential aspirants going around with the vice presidential bets are Senators Emmanuel Pacquiao and Panfi lo Lacson, Manila Mayor Francisco Isko Moreno Domagoso, former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Vice President Leni Robredo and labor leader Leody de Guzman, following the withdrawal of candidacy of Sen. Christopher Lawrence Go. One of those who voiced opposition to the petition was former Commission on Elections chairman Christian Monsod who said a constitutional crisis may ensue if elections are not held as scheduled.

Several senators said the proposed postponement of elections is “unconstitutional.”

Senate President Vicente Sotto III warned that postponing the elections will create a “vacuum in the government.”

“Unconstitutional. There will be a vacuum in the [government],” said Sotto, a vice presidential aspirant.

“There is no provision in the Constitution that will allow a holdover for national offi cials except for 12 members of the Senate,” he added.

James Jimenez, spokesman of the Commission on Elections, also shot down the proposed postponement of elections, saying it is unlikely.

“It doesn’t look like it’s going to have much of a chance. You’re basically saying ignore the Constitution,” Jimenez said. “The implication is of course you’re going to need to amend the Constitution and to do that… you’re going to have a ratifi cation plebiscite and the plebiscite is an election. Medyo absurd siya [It’s quite absurd].”

He said the country will be without a president and other positions left vacant if the elections are pushed back, given that there are no provisions for holdover that will allow incumbents to remain in power.

Jimenez said pushing back the scheduled May 9 polls is disregarding the Constitution.

“When you call for suspension of elections of this magnitude, nationwide and for at least a year, you’re basically saying ignore the Constitution, not hold elections the way the Constitution says it should. The implications of that is the need to amend Constitution. You cannot ignore the Constitution,” he said in a virtual press briefi ng.

“You want to suspend elections but you need to hold an elections/plebiscite to suspend the elections. To amend the Constitution, you need to have a plebiscite,” Jimenez added.

Should the elections get suspended, Jimenez said there would be no offi cials elected.

“There is no holdover provision. Which means, that if you suspend elections for 2023, then that means you have entire year with no elected offi cials. What are we going to do? Nominate, appoint, by whose authority, for what purpose? This doom mongering doesn’t help. The petition itself is probably based on a mistaken notion, that the Comelec has the power to suspend elections,” Jimenez added.

Jimenez explained that the commission has no power to postpone the polls because it is mandated by the Constitution but has the authority, under the Omnibus Election Code, to postpone it if there is a valid reason.

He said the Comelec can suspend electoral exercises but on certain conditions, such as when free and fair elections do not exist.

“Example: there is fi re, ballots have been damaged by fl ood, all the teachers were infected with Covid-19 for those reasons, we can suspend elections. But only while that reason exists. For example, there have been replacement, then you can hold elections right away. Not supposed to suspend on a great length of time,” the poll body offi cial said.

The petitioner, called Coalition for Life and Democracy (NCLD), invoked the Constitution which states that the right to life “takes precedence” and is “the highest and most sacred” in the hierarchy of human rights.

In its petition, the NCLD, which is said to be composed of lawyers, cited the continuing threat of COVID-19, noting that the Omicron variant poses a “clear, present, and imminent danger” even if its detection has yet to be confi rmed by health authorities.

The NCLD said the State can use its police power and adopt extraordinary measures to protect health and prevent more deaths from COVID-19.

At the same time, the NCLD slammed the “meet and greet” engagements of aspirants for the 2022 polls as these place the life, health, and safety of the “poor and innocent in grave jeopardy.”

“These politicians do not really care about the lives of the poor voters. If they truly are concerned of the plight of the poor, there are many other ways of helping them and not thru assemblies in violation of IATF protocols and end either laws and ordinances making them appear as mendicants for money or relief goods,” the NCLD said.

The group made a similar request to President Rodrigo Duterte in August, and it now cite the Omicron variant as another reason to postpone the voting, fearing that campaign activities will cause another outbreak.

“NCLD, true to its advocacy, is extremely worried of the clear, present and imminent danger posed by this new variant. Transmission and infection could hardly be prevented specially with the rampant violation of health and safety protocols being committed by vote-buying politicians who in the pretext of helping the poor, engage in early vote-buying - in blatant violation of the Omnibus Election Code,” the group said.

“Television and social media show large crowds gathering in various parts of the country hoping to receive amounts from presidential, gubernatorial and mayoral candidates who in the guise of ‘meet and greet’ engage in open vote-buying, and in the process placing the life, health and safety of the poor and innocent in grave jeopardy.

These politicians do not really care about the lives of the poor voters,” it added.

However, the petition itself may have inconsistencies. In one page, the group wants the polls held in 2023 and in another, by May 2025. It was eventually clarifi ed by NCLD that it wants only a one-year postponement.

“We can seek the postponement of a scheduled national elections through the fi ling of a bill in congress, to be decided by both Houses, and to be signed by the President; along this line ang mga local offi cials naman, the elections for the local offi cials… the [Comelec], voting on a majority of the members of the en banc, can postpone a local election,” said Francisco Buan, one of the petitioners.

Buan said they wrote Congress, but no bill has been fi led as of yet.

Noticeably, the petition cited diff erent years for the resetting of polls: in the body, the plea was for the polls to be held in May 2023, while the prayer states it should be in May 2025.

The petition states the coalition was formed in June 2021 at the St. Clare College in Caloocan City, “anchored on a noble mission to underscore and uphold the importance and primacy of life, its protection and preservation, while adhering to democratic systems, principles and ideology.”

Buan said their group is “apolitical.”

December 16-22, 2021 10 US warns China to halt aggressive actions in South China Sea

$250-M ADB loan to help boost Covid-19 vaccine supply in PHL

JAKARTA/MANILA – The United States government would continue to “push back” on Beijing’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea (SCS) as it outlined its priorities in the Indo-Pacifi c region.

US State Secretary Antony Blinken, during a speech in Jakarta on December 14, said Washington, DC is determined to ensure the freedom of navigation in the strategic water where more than US$3 trillion worth of goods pass through every year.

“It’s worth remembering that, tied up in that colossal number, USD3 trillion, are the actual livelihoods and well-being of millions of people across the world. When commerce can’t traverse open seas, that means that farmers are blocked from shipping their produce; factories can’t ship their microchips; hospitals are blocked from getting life-saving medicines,” he said.

Blinken also reaffi rmed the 2016 arbitral ruling that rejected China’s nine-dash line in the region.

“Five years ago, an international tribunal delivered a unanimous and legally binding decision fi rmly rejecting unlawful, expansive South China Sea maritime claims as being inconsistent with international law. We and other countries, including South China Sea claimants, will continue to push back on such behavior,” he said.

The US, he said, would forge “stronger connections” within and beyond the region and deepen its treaty alliances with Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, Thailand, including the Philippines.

China, the Philippines, and several littoral states are locked in a territorial dispute over the South China Sea.

At the recent ASEAN-G7 ministers meeting, Foreign Aff airs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said “recent incidents and the heightened tension” in the area remain a serious concern.

He noted that Manila has fi red diplomatic protests for every incursion and opposed the application of China’s Coast Guard Law beyond the limits of its maritime entitlements under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

MANDALUYONG CITY – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $250-million loan to help the Philippine government secure additional coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine supply to boost the health security of Filipinos and ensure a safe and steady economic recovery. The assistance will allow the government to purchase 40 million additional doses of Covid-19 vaccines for eligible children and booster shots for adults. “The Philippines has continuously enhanced its capacities for testing, tracing, isolating, and treating Covid-19 cases and vigorously pursued Covid-19 inoculation for its population,” ADB Principal Social Sector Specialist for Southeast Asia Sakiko Tanaka said.

“ADB is supporting the government’s drive to provide vaccines to protect its citizens and save lives, especially with the emergence of new Covid-19 variants. Vaccination will allow the health system to better manage the eff ects of the virus and will help sustain economic recovery. It is key to the country’s full recovery from the pandemic,” she said. The project, the Second Health System Enhancement to Address and Limit Covid-19 under the Asia Pacifi c Vaccine Access Facility (HEAL2) Additional Financing, will be co-fi nanced by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. The new assistance builds on ADB’s active support for the country’s overall Covid-19 health response and its universal health care program.

Under the amended Health System Enhancement to Address and Limit Covid-19 under the Asia-Pacifi c Vaccine Access Facility, or HEAL, approved in January 2021, ADB provided advance payments for vaccines and purchases of microsyringes and other vaccine-related items. It also fi nanced investments in health infrastructure to complement vaccine fi nancing, such as the upgrading of laboratories and construction of isolation facilities. Through HEAL2, approved in March 2021, ADB helped purchase 85.6 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines through bilateral agreements, with 81 percent of the supply delivered as of 2 December 2021. This made up about half of the country’s vaccine supply as of Dec. 2, 2021.

More than 98 percent of the funds from HEAL2 have been committed for vaccine supply contracts as of Dec. 6, 2021.

These supply contracts have helped the government expand its national Covid-19 vaccination program.

As of Dec. 8, 2021, more than 57 million Filipinos, or nearly 65 percent of the Philippines’ target population, had been vaccinated with at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose.

On Nov. 19, 2021, ADB approved the $600-million Build Universal Health Care Program to ensure equitable access to quality health services and fi nancial protection for all Filipinos.