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Oil prices kept inflation above target in October — BSP

Oil prices have soared as the economic recovery from the pandemic has pushed energy usage higher. -- Photo by Michael Varcas, The Philippine Star

By Jenina P. Ibañez, Reporter 

Inflation in October likely exceeded the central bank’s annual target largely due to domestic oil price pressures, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said on Friday. 

Inflation will likely settle within the 4.5%-5.3% range, breaching the 2-4% BSP target for the year, he said in a Viber message to reporters. Inflation went up 2.5% in October last year. 

Headline inflation was at 4.8% in September 2021, slowing from the year-on-year rate of 4.9% in August. 

Mr. Diokno said higher Meralco electricity rates, increased prices of fish and fruits, and the depreciation of the peso added to the upward inflationary pressure. 

“These could be partially offset by the continued decline in rice and meat prices, reflecting continued arrival of pork imports,” he said. 

Earlier this week, pump prices of gasoline rose by P1.15, diesel by P0.45, and kerosene by P0.55 per liter, reflecting the continued surge in global oil prices.  

As of Thursday’s market close, Brent crude was steady at $82.36 a barrel. Reuters reported that crude oil was on track for its “first weekly fall in eight weeks after US oil stocks rose more than expected and Iran flagged it was resuming talks with Western powers which could lead to an end to sanctions.” 

Meralco power rates went up by P0.0283 to P9.1374 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in October. 

The Department of Agriculture on Tuesday said imported pork will be distributed to areas where prices are high, expanding beyond the capital region and its neighboring provinces. 

The minimum access volume quota for pork imports has been expanded while tariff rates were temporarily lowered to address low pork supplies and rising prices due to the African Swine Fever outbreak. 

Mr. Diokno earlier this month said that recent elevated inflation is still “transitory,” and that tightening monetary policy too early may cause more harm to the economy’s recovery. 

“Moving forward, the BSP will continue to closely monitor emerging price developments to help ensure that its primary mandate of price stability conducive to balanced and sustainable economic growth is achieved,” Mr. Diokno said on Friday. 

The central bank in its September policy review kept rates steady, citing the need to support recovery even as it raised its inflation forecast for the year to 4.4%. 

NG debt hits P11.9 trillion as of end-September

REUTERS

By Jenina P. Ibañez, Reporter  

The national government’s outstanding debt rose to P11.9 trillion as of the end of September as the peso depreciated against the US dollar, preliminary data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed. 

The end-September debt level was 27.2% higher than last year’s figure, and was 2.41% higher than a month earlier. 

This was “due to net issuance of both domestic and external debt and peso depreciation against the US Dollar,” BTr said in its report on Friday. 

Government debt rose by 21.7% since the start of the year, or P2.12 trillion over nine months. 

Broken down, 70.4% of the debt came from domestic borrowing, while the rest were sourced overseas. 

Domestic debt at the end of September increased by 2% to P8.39 trillion from August. Domestic debt stock grew 30.3% year on year. 

Outstanding government securities was up 2.2% to P7.85 trillion. The government also has P540 billion from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) borrowed last year to continue funding the country’s pandemic response. 

External debt rose 3.10% to P3.529 trillion at the end of September from the end of August. 

“For September, the increment in external debt was due to the net availment of foreign loans amounting to P43.99 billion and the effect of local currency depreciation against the US Dollar amounting to P76.82 billion,” BTr said. 

“This more than offset the impact of third-currency fluctuations against the US Dollar amounting to P13.73 billion.” 

Foreign debt at the end of September went up 20.4% from a year earlier, and increased 13.8% since the start of the year. 

Foreign debt consisted of P1.54 trillion in loans and P2.0 trillion in government securities. 

Government securities included P1.6 trillion in dollar notes, P239 billion in euro bonds, P89 billion in yen paper, P20 billion in yuan notes and P86 billion in peso global bonds. 

The government’s total guaranteed debt went up 0.10% to P432.9 billion in September from a month earlier. 

“Net repayments on both domestic and external guarantees amounted to P2.56 billion for the month,” BTr said. 

“However, local-currency depreciation against the US dollar increased the value of external guarantees by P4.47 billion, offsetting repayments and third-currency depreciation which trimmed P1.27 billion.” 

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort in an email said increased government spending, especially on infrastructure, also led to wider budget deficits and some corresponding pick up in outstanding government debt. 

Increased government spending on infrastructure and in preparation for the elections could help stimulate the economy and “would lead to wider budget deficits and, in turn, would require more government borrowings/debt to finance the said budget deficits,” he said. 

Bank lending growth fastest in 11 months

BW FILE PHOTO

By Jenina P. Ibañez, Reporter  

Bank lending rose 2.7% in September to mark the second straight month of growth, preliminary data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed. 

Outstanding loans issued by big banks increased 2.7% to P9.25 trillion in September, after growing 1.3% year on year in August. It had previously declined for eight straight months. 

The growth in September is the fastest in 11 months, or since the 1.8% expansion in October 2020. 

Including reverse repurchase agreements, outstanding loans went up 2.7% to P9.54 billion year on year in September.   

Outstanding loans went up 0.6% month on month on a seasonally adjusted basis. 

“The observed increase in outstanding loans of U/KBs reflects the modest recovery in banks’ overall lending attitudes along with improved economic prospects owing to the gradual lifting of pandemic containment measures,” BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said in the report released Friday. 

The government gradually loosened mobility curbs in Metro Manila in September, although the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 infections remained elevated.  

Loans for production activities rose by 4.4% in September from the 3.1% a month before. 

This was supported by expansions in credit disbursed for professional, scientific and technical services (92.7%), information and communications (26.6%), transportation and storage (9.5%), and human health and social work activities (9.2%). 

But loans for production activities was tempered by the decline other sectors, including those for administrative and support services (-23.1%), mining and quarrying (-19.8%), education (-17%), and agriculture, forestry and fishing (-11.9%). 

Consumer loans declined by 7.8% year on year in September compared to the 8.4% contraction in July. Credit to all retail segments fell, led by motor vehicle loans (-15.6%). 

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said the quicker pace of COVID-19 vaccinations somewhat improved business sentiment, which led to some uptick in loan or credit demand. 

“For the coming months, bank loans growth could continue to pick up as the country shifts towards smaller scale/granular lockdowns,” he said in an email, referring to the government’s move to implement targeted lockdowns in areas showing a spike in COVID-19 cases.  

Meanwhile, domestic liquidity continued to go up, according to BSP data released on Friday. M3, or the broadest measure of cash in an economy, expanded by 8.2% in September after a 6.9% increase in August. 

On a seasonally adjusted basis, M3 went up 1.1% month on month. 

Domestic claims increased 7.6% in September, faster than the 6.7% seen the previous month. 

Net claims on the central government expanded by 35.4% in September from the 23.5% in August. 

Claims on the private sector, driven by lending to nonfinancial private firms, went up 3.1% from 2.3% in the previous month. 

Net foreign assets (NFA) in peso terms grew 11.3% in September from 9.7% in August. 

“The expansion in the BSP’s NFA position reflected the increase in the country’s gross international reserves relative to the same period a year ago. Meanwhile, the NFA of banks grew as banks’ foreign assets rose on account of higher loans and deposits with nonresident banks,” Mr. Diokno said. 

According to Mr. Ricafort, M3 growth could improve further in the coming months due to increased investment banking transactions in the pipeline in November. 

“All of which could entail some foreign investment inflows and some local banks to invest/deploy some of their excess peso funds/liquidity from the central bank’s deposit facilities as they mature,” he said. 

PHL consumer spending to pick up in 2022 – Fitch Solutions

Household spending grew 7.2% year on year in the second quarter, as lockdowns eased. -- Photo by Michael Varcas, The Philippine Star

The improving employment rate and consumer sentiment in the Philippines could back a projected 5.1% household spending growth next year, Fitch Solutions Country Risk and Industry Research said. 

In a report released on Friday, Fitch Solutions said consumer spending could grow by a total of P11.1 trillion in 2022, accelerating from the estimated 3.5% growth this year. 

It noted third quarter consumer confidence index rose to -19.3 in the third quarter of 2021 from -30.9 in the preceding three months. The unemployment rate improved to 6.9% in July from 8.7% in April. 

Both indicators suggest “an improving economic and employment environment, which will bolster consumer confidence and spending,” Fitch Solutions said. 

Household consumption, which typically accounts for 70% of the country’s economy, declined by 8.3% in 2020. 

In the second quarter, household spending grew 7.2% year on year as lockdowns eased.  

“Over 2022, consumer spending growth will begin to moderate, as the Filipino consumer continues its recovery from the contraction in 2020,” Fitch Solutions said. 

The forecast for consumer spending is based on the Fitch Solutions’ unemployment rate estimate that it would average 8% over 2022, an improvement from 11% seen this year. 

“While this is still higher than the pre-pandemic environment (the unemployment rate averaged 5.1% over 2019), it indicates an improving economic and employment environment, which will bolster consumer confidence and spending,” the report said. 

“This better outlook stems from expectations that there will be more jobs, higher income, looser restrictions, and more businesses reopening.” 

Latest jobs data showed that unemployment went up to 8.1% after stricter lockdowns were reintroduced in August. 

Meanwhile, Fitch Solutions said it does not expect consumer outlook to be derailed by potentially higher inflation next year. 

It estimates 6.8% year on year real gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2022 following its lowered 4.2% growth estimate for 2021. 

“Our Country Risk team expects household savings rates to remain elevated given the pandemic uncertainty and loss of income over past quarters, while the domestic employment situation is unlikely to improve markedly in the near term. As a result, the Philippines’ economy is expected to fully recover only in 2022, with more conventional growth patterns returning in 2023.” 

Consumer spending recovery hinges on the country’s vaccination drive, which still lags in Asia, Fitch Solutions said. It expects mobility restrictions to ease as more Filipinos receive the jab. 

Less than 25% of the Philippine population has been fully vaccinated against COVID-18, the Johns Hopkins University tracker showed. — Jenina P. Ibañez  

Metro Manila to remain under Alert Level 3 until Nov. 14

PHILSTAR

Public transport capacity increasing starting Nov. 4

Metro Manila will remain under Alert Level 3 until Nov. 14, the Palace said on Friday, even as coronavirus infections in the country continue to drop.

“This is to ensure that the opening of the economy is done gradually,” Palace spokesman Herminio L. Roque, Jr. Said at a televised news briefing.

The decision was made amid expectations in the private sector and the Interior and Local Government department that Metro Manila would be downgraded to Alert Level 2.

In a related development, Mr. Roque said the pandemic task force also approved the recommendation of the Transportation department to allow the gradual increase of passenger capacity in public transportation for road-based and rail transportation plying Metro Manila and its adjacent provinces from 70% to full capacity starting Nov. 4.

The government started enforcing granular lockdowns with five alert levels in the NCR after the country struggled to contain a fresh spike in infections triggered by the highly contagious Delta variant.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO INCREASE

In a related development, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said it will gradually increase the passenger capacity of public transportation in Metro Manila starting next week.

“The [DOTr] will implement a gradual increase in passenger capacities for public road-based and rail transportation plying the National Capital Region (NCR) and Metro Manila Urban Transportation Integration Study Update and Capacity Enhancement Project area from 70% to full capacity beginning on [Nov. 4],” the department said in a statement on Friday.

Transportation Assistant Secretary Mark Steven C. Pastor said this development, along with the P1-billion cash aid from the government, would help public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers.

The government’s pandemic task force supported the department’s proposed plans to increase the capacity for public transportation in the areas covered by its NCR MUCEP study through a month-long pilot implementation.

Now under Alert Level 3, Metro Manila now has more businesses open. The department said this “resulted in greater demand for public transport.”

The increased vaccination rate in the NCR of 81.4% also prompted the increase in capacity for public utility vehicles (PUV), the department said.

“The DOTr, through its relevant attached agencies, will issue the necessary memoranda to execute the IATF approval on the gradual increase in passenger capacity in road and rail transportation, while implementing strictly health and safety protocols to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019),” the department said.

4,043 NEW CASES

Philippine health authorities reported 4,043 new coronavirus cases on Friday, bringing the total since the pandemic started to nearly 2.8 million.

The death toll rose to 42,621 after 44 more patients died, while recoveries increased by 3,224 million to nearly 2.7 million, the Department of Health (DoH) said in a bulletin.

The agency said there were 50,630 active cases, 74.1% of which were mild, 10.71% were moderate, 6.5% were asymptomatic, 6.1% were severe, and 2.6% were critical.

The health agency said the intensive care unit occupancy rate in the entire Philippines and in Metro Manila was 50% and 41%, respectively.

The DoH said 30 duplicates were removed from the tally, 28 of which were reclassified as recoveries.

INVESTIGATIONAL DRUGS

Also Friday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire said the government will soon allow hospitals to purchase COVID-19 investigational drugs that are already approved for urgent use in the country.

“We will release an administrative order for investigational drugs that we are using for COVID-19 because usually, it is the Department of Health that has an emergency use authorization for these drugs,” she said at a virtual news briefing.

“We are now delegating this authority to procure to hospitals so they can immediately use these investigational drugs,” she added. “We are just waiting for the order to be signed.”

Tocilizumab, Remdesivir, and Baricitinib are among the investigational drugs already being used in the country for coronavirus patients.

An additional supply of Tocilizumab might arrive in the country by the second week of November, Ms. Vergeire said.

Philippine drug regulators have already approved the “compassionate use” of Molnupiravir, the first oral antiviral drug for the treatment of coronavirus patients, for 31 hospitals. Earlier this week, local importer MedEthix, Inc. said the drug will be available in the country next month.

ALERT LEVEL 3 IN SELECT PROVINCES, CITIES

The alert level system, first tested in the capital region, will be expanded to more areas starting Nov. 1.

Other areas in Luzon, such as Bataan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal, will also be placed under Alert Level 3.

Iloilo City and Siquijor in central Philippines, and Lanao del Norte, Davao City, and Davao del Norte in Mindanao will also be placed under the same alert level.

Baguio City was included as an area for special monitoring and shall also be placed under Alert Level 3, the Palace said.

Angeles City, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Olongapo City, Pampanga, and Tarlac in Central Luzon will be placed under Alert Level 2, as will Batangas, Quezon Province, and Lucena City in Southern Tagalog.

Also under Alert Level 2 are Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, and Cebu Province in central Philippines.

Meanwhile, Aurora, Bacolod City, Negros Oriental, and Davao Occidental will be placed under Alert Level 4, the strictest level.

Mr. Roque said the country’s pandemic taskforce also approved the risk-level classifications for provinces, highly urbanized cities, and independent component cities that are not yet included in the expanded implementation of the Alert Level System.

Mountain Province, Catanduanes, and Zamboanga City will be placed under a modified enhanced community quarantine (the second strictest quarantine level) from Nov. 1 to Nov. 15.

Abra, Cagayan, Isabela, City of Santiago, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino under a general community quarantine (GCQ, second to the most lenient) with heightened restrictions from Nov.1 to Nov. 30.

Placed under GCQ for the whole month of November are Ifugao, Benguet, Apayao, Kalinga, Ilocos Sur, Dagupan City, Batanes, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Albay, Naga City, Camarines Norte, Tacloban City, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, General Santos City, Sarangani, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Butuan City, Dinagat Islands, Cotabato City, and Lanao del Sur.

All other areas not mentioned would be placed under a modified GCQ for the whole month of November. — Kyle Aristophere Atienza and Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte

Workers won’t get special pay on 3 holidays next year

President Rodrigo R. Duterte has signed a proclamation declaring fewer nonworking days in 2022 in an effort to minimize work disruption amid the pandemic.

Under the order, Nov. 2 (All Souls’ Day), Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve), and Dec. 31 (New Year’s Eve), which had been special nonworking days, will now be special working days.

“For the country to recover from the adverse economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a need to encourage economic productivity by, among others, minimizing work disruption and commemorating some special holidays as special (working) days instead,” the proclamation said.

If an employee goes to work on a special nonworking holiday, the “no work, no pay” principle applies unless there is a company policy or collective bargaining agreement granting payment on a special day, according to a labor advisory released on Oct. 28.

For work done during the special nonworking holiday, a worker shall be paid an additional 30% of his/her basic wage on the first eight hours of work, it said.

But should a worker report for duty on a special working day, the employee is “entitled to receive only his/her daily wage and no premium is required since it is considered an ordinary working day,” the advisory said. — Kyle Aristophere Atienza

Duterte signs law postponing BARMM elections

@BANGSAMOROGOVT

Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte has officially postponed the first regular elections in the Bangsamoro region, according to the presidential palace.

He signed Republic Act (RA) No. 11593 which moves the date of the parliamentary and regional elections of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to May 2025, synchronized with the next mid-term elections.

With the transition period thus extended, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) will continue to serve as the interim government of BARMM, according to the law.

The law authorizes the President to appoint 80 new members of the BTA once the term of its current members expires on June 30, 2022.

New members of the BTA will serve until June 30, 2025, the law said.

RA No. 15593 will take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.

The law would ensure the fulfillment of all agreements under the Comprehensive Agreement of the Bangsamoro (CAB) between the National Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Senator Francis Tolentino said in a statement.

“The approval is most welcome since a postponement is needed to achieve long and lasting peace in the region,” said Mr. Tolentino, who chairs the Senate committee on Local Government. — Kyle Aristophere Atienza

Comelec releases tentative list of candidates for 2022 May elections, sets absentee voting rules

THE COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) on Friday released its tentative list for the 2022 national and local elections.

The list for national positions posted on the poll body’s official website included 97 presidential candidates, 28 vice-presidential candidates, and 174 senatorial candidates.

It also released the list for local aspirants.

“Aspirants whose names appear on the tentative list of candidates released by the Comelec have until Nov. 8 to submit their requests for correction of typographical errors in their listed names,” said Comelec Spokesperson James B. Jimenez via Twitter on Friday.

The final list of candidates will be released by December, Mr. Jimenez said last Sunday, after aspirants deemed as nuisance candidates are removed.

The current list is based on the initial evaluation of the Certificates of Nomination, Certificates of Candidacy, and the Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance, as written on the Comelec’s website.

“The contents of the list, particularly the names of the aspirants or candidates, political parties, as well as the name to appear on the ballot are subject to change as a result of any further evaluation and or resolution of the Commission En Banc in relation thereto,” it added.

RESOLUTION ON LOCAL ABSENTEE VOTING

Meanwhile, the poll body issued a resolution on local absentee voting (LAV), setting March 7, 2022 as the deadline for applications.

The LAV application is open to government officials and employees, members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, and media practitioners.

Under Resolution No. 10695, applicants for LAV must prove that they will be working on the actual election day, May 9.

If approved, the local absentee voters will be the first to cast ballots for the May 2022 elections, as absentee voting is scheduled on April 27 to 29 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

They will use manual ballots and can only vote for national candidates, including President, Vice-President, Senators, and Party-list.

The Commission on Elections also specified guidelines on the strict implementation of health protocols amid the coronavirus pandemic. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

Political Round-up: Mandanas ruling should push participatory governance, says Leni; Bato courted Sara; Bello twits Isko on contractualization

OVP/Charlie Villega

Vice-President Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo on Friday said the Mandanas ruling should pave the way for the direct participation of ordinary people in the budget process and local governance.  

The Supreme Court ruling, named after Batangas Governor Hermilando I. Mandanas, clarified that the share from the International Revenue Allotment (IRA) of local governments does not exclude other national taxes.    

The World Bank in June said the IRA are programmed to increase by 55% in the 2022 budget.   

“Napakalaking opportunity ito kasi talagang lolobo yung kanilang IRA. Pero, having said that, lalaki ’yung opportunity, pero kailangan kasing maayos ’yung roll out para ma-harness ’yung lahat ng opportunities available,” Ms. Robredo told reporters in a forum held in Sorsogon City. (It is such a great opportunity because their IRA will really balloon. But, having said that, their opportunity will increase but the roll-out has to be done well so they can harness all the opportunities available.)  

The ruling must push local leaders to promote inclusive governance, which will allow ordinary people to participate in government processes at the local level, said Ms. Robredo, who is running for president in next year’s national elections.  

“Solutions to problems on the ground should come from affected people,” she said, noting that local leaders must create mechanisms that would allow marginalized sectors to take part in the crafting of local programs meant for them.   

Participatory leadership will encourage government officials to do better because they will work together with ordinary citizens, Ms. Robredo said.  

During her stint as Camarines Sur representative, Ms. Robredo filed a bill seeking to encourage civic groups and the private sector to take part in local governance. She also filed a measure that would allow the active participation of civic groups in the identification and planning of programs and projects that would be funded by the National Government. 

BELLO HITS AT ISKO 

Meanwhile, vice-presidential candidate and socialist writer Walden Bello took Manila Mayor Francisco M. Domagoso to task for his recent remark saying that ending labor contractualization would not be among his immediate priorities if elected President.  

Mr. Domagoso, who is running under Aksyon Demokratiko, made “clear his pro-billionaire, anti-worker position… when he spoke on the issue of contractualization,” said Mr. Bello. 

“Mayor Isko is at least honest: contractualization is the ‘least of his problem’ — just as it has been the least of the problems of every single politician who has run this country in the service of billionaire backers,” said Mr. Bello, who is running in tandem with labor leader Leodegario “Ka Leody” De Guzman. 

Mr. Bello said contractualization is the “single most important problem” of Filipino workers “who have suffered for so long from job insecurity, low wages, insufficient benefits, and bad working conditions.”  

“These workers have waited long enough and have sacrificed so much producing so much wealth in the country — and yet they have been deprived of even just a fair share of the wealth they have produced over the past decades,” Mr. Bello said. 

“…Isko wants to make workers wait until the situation ‘gets better’ before he even addresses contractualization,” he added. “Ka Leody and I believe they have waited long enough and refuse to let them wait a minute longer.”  

In 2019, President Rodrigo R. Duterte vetoed a Security of Tenure Bill, this despite his campaign promise of ending labor contractualization. He made no mention of the campaign promise in his last address to Congress.  

Think tank IBON Foundation has called the administration’s job creation record “the worst in the six administrations and 35 years after the Marcos dictatorship.” 

The average number of annual jobs created under Mr. Duterte’s term decreased to 313,000 from 827,000 under his predecessor, IBON Executive Director Sonny A. Africa told BusinessWorld in July.  

BATO OFFERED HIS SLOT TO SARA  

Meanwhile, Senator Ronald “Bato” M. dela Rosa, the standard-bearer of one faction of the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), on Friday confirmed that he had offered his presidential candidacy slot to Davao Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio, whom he believes is the best candidate to continue the president’s legacy.  

“My personal interest can take a backseat in favor of the most winnable candidate who can surely provide continuity to the Duterte legacy,” he told BusinessWorld via Viber.  

“Six years of Duterte presidency is not enough to reform this country,” he added. “We need another six years of another iron-fisted Duterte brand of leadership to hopefully transform this country closer to the Singaporian model.”  

Mr. Dela Rosa earlier said that if he is elected, he will continue the flagship programs of the current administration, including the controversial war on drugs. 

The party’s presidential candidate, who had a talk with the Davao mayor during his visit to her office last Monday, noted that she gave no definite answer to his proposal, but he “saw hope in her eyes.” 

“I am not losing hope until Nov 15.,” Mr. Dela Rosa said. “I saw the burning patriotism in her eyes while we were talking.” 

The Commission on Elections allows political parties to replace a member who filed a certificate of candidacy with another member. Filing ended on Oct. 8 but substitution is allowed until mid-November. 

Ms. Carpio previously said that she would not run for national office next year, as she had filed for a third term as mayor. 

NO PERSONALITY POLITICS 

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi, who leads the faction of PDP-Laban that De La Rosa is running under, clarified on Friday that his group is not pushing personality politics in endorsing candidates.  

“Hindi po (It’s not) personality politics. What we are pushing [for] is real party politics based on programs. We are just saying that the President will be very good endorser… He will [show] real leadership [because he] is willing to take on the risk to make things happen,” he said in a television interview with CNN Philippines’ The Source on Friday. 

He was referring to President Rodrigo R. Duterte who had previously said that he would retire from politics. However, after originally suggesting that he run for vice-president, the ruling party is now pushing him to run for senator next year.  

Mr. Cusi has confirmed that there were efforts to convince Mr. Duterte to run for senator in the upcoming elections.  

“The six years he has been President is not enough… for [the] foundations that he has laid down. I believe that the perspective and the wisdom that he has earned as mayor and as chief executive will bring a lot of changes at the senate at the legislative body,” he said.  

“It’s a way also for us, PDP party, to advance the program of government that has been started by him in 2016,” he added.  

Mr. Cusi also said that Mr. Duterte was firm about his decision to not run for vice-president.  

“What we are offering the people, the country, is the tandem of Sen. Bato and Sen. Bong Go [who are running for president and vice-president, respectively], because we believe this combination will help further PDP’s programs,” he said in a mix of Tagalog and English. 

The national elections are set to be held on May 9, 2022. — Kyle Aristophere Atienza, Angelica Y. Yang and Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

Philippines remains 7th deadliest country for journalists in global index

https://cpj.org/

THE PHILIPPINE remains the seventh deadliest country in the world for journalists in terms of unsolved killings, according to a press freedom organization.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said in its 2021 Global Impunity Index report released on Thursday evening that the country retained its spot from last year, with 13 unsolved murders from Sept. 1, 2011 to Aug. 31, 2021.

Among unresolved murders recorded by the CPJ were those of broadcasters Virgilio Maganes and Jobert Bercasio who were killed on Sept. 14, 2020 and Nov. 10, 2020 respectively.

Both often covered local political issues and were shot multiple times with their attackers immediately leaving the scene.

The report comes weeks after Rappler chief executive officer Maria A. Ressa won the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize along with Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov “for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition of democracy and lasting peace.”

Somalia remained the world’s worst country when it comes to unresolved killings of journalists, followed by Syria, Iraq, South Sudan, and Afghanistan in this year’s index.

A total of 278 journalists around the world were killed from Sept. 1, 2011 to Aug. 31, 2021, with 81% of these cases or 226 murders having no convictions for the crime.

However, the CPJ said that the latest data doesn’t reflect the increased danger to journalists in Afghanistan following the country’s takeover by the Taliban in August. — Russell Louis C. Ku

USAID launches P750-M climate resilience project in PHL

NDRRMC.GOV.PH

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on Thursday launched a project to promote climate resilience in the Philippines by increasing the country’s access to climate financing and tools with P750 million in funding.

In a news release posted on the US Embassy in the Philippines’ website on Friday, the American agency said it will help local government units and other stakeholders “better understand, use, and disseminate climate information to local communities” through the Climate Resilient Cities project.

It added that the new project will give local cities and non-governmental organizations access to climate financing which can be used to develop communities economically and socially, and to support natural climate solutions which will help cities be more resilient against the impacts of climate change.

“Addressing the climate crisis, and particularly the vulnerability of cities, is crucial to helping build a more prosperous, resilient Philippines for current and future generations,” USAID Philippines Acting Mission Director Sean E. Callahan said in the news release.

The new project is in line with the Philippines’ plans to fight climate change and mitigate its effects, and also contributes to the US government’s goal to track the extent of the climate change crisis worldwide.

Cities that will be part of the project will also receive support from the Republic of Korea through the Korea International Cooperation Agency as the part of the partnership between the US and Korean governments.

The new project is a worldwide effort of the USAID to help the most natural disaster-prone countries.

The Philippines ranked 9th in the 2020 World Risk Report out of 181 countries worldwide.

The top five most disaster-prone countries according to the report are Vanuatu, Tonga, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, and Solomon Islands in that order.

On the other hand, Qatar, Malta, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and Saudi Arabia are the least disaster-prone countries in the world in that order. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago

Consular offices to close on All Saints Day

https://dfa.gov.ph/

The Office of Consular Affairs in Aseana in Parañaque City and all Consular Offices (COs) nationwide will be closed on Nov. 1, in observance of All Saints Day, the foreign affairs department said late Thursday.

Consular services, including passport and authentication, will resume the next day, but “schedules may be subject to sudden changes due to unforeseen circumstances or implemented policies of local government units and establishments hosting the specific foreign affairs consular office,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The department reiterated that the number of people allowed inside COs is limited, in accordance with the prescribed physical distancing measures imposed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The temperature of applicants will be taken before entering the CO and they will be required to wear a face mask and face shield. — ANOT

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