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Peso weakens on PHL posts BoP deficit in September 

THE PESO retreated versus the greenback on Tuesday after the country recorded a balance of payments (BoP) deficit in September. 

The local unit ended trading at P50.761 per dollar, shedding 8.1 centavos from its P50.68 close on Monday, based on data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines. 

The peso opened Tuesday’s session slightly weaker at P50.70 versus the dollar. Its weakest showing was at P50.795, while its intraday best was at P50.63 against the greenback. 

Dollars exchanged inched up to $956.38 million on Tuesday from $923.4 million on Monday. 

The peso weakened from its previous close as the market factored in the BoP data released by the central bank on Monday evening, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in a Viber message. 

The country’s BoP stood at a deficit of $412 million in September, a reversal from the surplus worth $2.104 billion a year earlier and the $1.044-billion surfeit in August, as the government paid its foreign obligations. 

For the first nine months of the year, the country’s BoP position was at a deficit of $665 million, reversing the $6.878-billion surplus in the same period of 2020. 

Meanwhile, a trader said the peso weakened as Democrat lawmakers are expected to reach agreement on a US social spending bill. 

Bloomberg reported that President Joseph Biden and Democrat legislators are fast-tracking an agreement on a scaled-back version of his economic agenda. 

For Wednesday, Mr. Ricafort gave a forecast range of P50.65 to P50.85 per dollar, while the trader expects the local unit to move within P50.65 to P50.90. — L.W.T. Noble with Bloomberg 

Stocks rebound on Q3 earnings, bargain hunting

BW FILE PHOTO

PHILIPPINE shares rebounded on Tuesday as investors went bargain hunting and following the release of earnings reports of index-member firms.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) went up by 40.56 points or 0.56% to close at 7,252.10 on Tuesday, while the all shares index gained 19.68 points or 0.44% to end the session at 4,456.52.

“Corporate earnings [reports are] coming out strong and giving market a lift,” First Metro Investment Corp. Head of Research Cristina S. Ulang said in a Viber message.

“Philippine shares rebounded on bargain hunting as investors digested new earnings from index names, with [BDO Unibank, Inc. (BDO) and Manila Electric Co. (Meralco)] being the latest to report, while awaiting the next batch companies reporting,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan said in a separate Viber message.

BDO’s net income declined by 10.6% in the third quarter to P11.033 billion. Still, its nine-month profit surged by 95.7% to P32.484 billion from P16.598 billion the year prior.

Meanwhile, Meralco reported a 29.7% growth in its core net income to P6.66 billion driven by higher energy sales as the country eased quarantine restrictions.

“On the other hand, the Philippine budget deficit rose 29.61% [year on year] to P1.14 trillion in [the nine-month period ending September], reflecting the accelerated borrowings to finance the [national government’s] COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) response program,” Mr. Limlingan added.

The government’s budget deficit widened in September as spending outpaced a smaller increase in revenue collection, the Bureau of the Treasury reported on Monday.

The fiscal gap expanded by 30% to P180.9 billion in September from P138.5 billion a year earlier. The figure was also 49.6% higher than the P120.9-billion deficit in August.

The government runs on a budget deficit when it spends more than it makes to fund programs that support economic growth. It borrows from foreign and local sources to plug the gap.

Majority of sectoral indices posted gains on Tuesday except for property, which lost 40.12 points or 1.22% to end at 3,232.04.

Meanwhile, services rose by 35.60 points or 1.89% to 1,914.04; industrials climbed 106.79 points or 1% to 10,751.40; financials gained 8.14 points or 0.52% to 1,563.89; mining and oil improved by 50.38 points or 0.48% to close at 10,506.47; and holding firms went up by 25.17 points or 0.34% to 7,238.85.

Value turnover rose to P6.43 billion with 834.55 million shares switching hands on Tuesday, up from the P5.57 billion with 913.57 million issues traded the previous day.

Decliners outperformed advancers, 110 against 89, as 52 names closed unchanged.

Net foreign purchases surged to P127.74 million on Tuesday, higher than the P79.74 million seen on Monday. — Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte

Transport workers say return of 100% capacity long overdue

PHILSTAR

By Arjay L. Balinbin, Senior Reporter

A TRANSPORT association said Tuesday that the Department of Transportation’s (DoTr) proposal to restore passenger capacity of public utility vehicles (PUVs) to 100% is long overdue, noting that some transport workers have been flouting the 50% limit for some time.

“Sobrang matagal na dapat na ginawa ng DoTr ’yan (The DoTr should have done this a long time ago),” Manibela National President Mar S. Valbuena told BusinessWorld in a phone interview. He was being asked to comment on the DoTr’s capacity proposal to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

Mr. Valbuena said that “some” PUV drivers have not been following the 50% capacity limit set by the IATF.

“May mga iba na hindi talaga nakakasunod dahil nga sa hirap talaga ng byahe. Pangalawa ’yung kakulangan ng PUVs na masasakyan, naawa tayo doon sa ating mga pasahero na wala nang masakyan (Some transport workers have not been able to comply because of the difficulties they have encountered. They also take pity on passengers who cannot get rides because of the shortage of PUVs),” he said.

LTFRB Chairman Martin B. Delgra III said at a virtual briefing: “We are looking at having to address the viability of our public transport in light of the easing of the quarantine level, because we have to understand that we are still in the midst of a pandemic; therefore, any calibration or recalibration of the rules, in so far as capacity is concerned, will have to pass through and be discussed by the IATF.”

The DoTr is ready to pitch its 100% capacity proposal to the IATF Thursday, Transportation Assistant Secretary Mark Steven C. Pastor said in a statement.

“Pwedeng maging 100% (Capacity can rise to 100%) based on the medical literature that is available,” he said.

Mr. Valbuena said restoring capacity to 100% will help PUVs deal with rising fuel prices, because the government has not allowed fare increases.

“Metro Manila is the ideal place to test the proposal considering that 81.4% of its population is now fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). In addition, public utility jeepneys and buses operating in Metro Manila are well-ventilated,” the DoTr said in a statement.

But Mr. Valbuena said more PUVs should operate to address demand.

“Ang total lang na nakakabyahe ngayon nasa 43,000 na (traditional) jeepneys, nasa 4,000 na modern jeepneys, and then ’yung UV Express nasa 6,000 pa lang (only 43,000 traditional jeepneys are operating, as well as 4,000 modern jeepneys and 6,000 UV Express units),” he said.

In a phone message to BusinessWorld, Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope O. Libiran said, citing data from the LTFRB, that 85% of PUVs are operating.

“’Yung mga hindi nakakabyahe, ‘yan ’yung may mga overlapping routes na (The ones not on the road may have not been counted due to overlapping routes),” she said.

“To be clear, hindi tayo nagbawas ng supply sa public transport. Lahat ng tumatakbo under General Community Quarantine (GCQ), tumatakbo ngayon (Public transport supply has not been reduced. Every vehicle eligible to operate under GCQ is now operating). Trains, buses, jeepneys, taxis, UV Express, tricycles, TNVS (transport network vehicle services), and even motorcycle taxis,” she said.

Ms. Libiran pointed out that the only challenge is the number of buses operating along the EDSA busway.

Last week, the LTFRB issued show-cause orders against two consortiums operating along the EDSA busway “for failing to deploy sufficient numbers of buses and amid ‘persistent reports’ of non-payment of drivers’ and conductors’ salaries despite having received payments for the Libreng Sakay Program,” the DoTr said in a recent statement.

“Nakikita natin sa EDSA, naghihintay ang mga pasahero at pagkahaba haba ng pila. Gusto natin makauwi ng maaga ang ating mga pasahero para maiwasan ang transmission. Kung mas maraming masasakyan mas maaga silang makakauwi (The lines of waiting passengers are very long on EDSA. What we also want is to bring people home early so transmission is avoided. The more people who can rise, the earlier they can get home),” Mr. Valbuena said.

Ms. Libiran said more than 550 buses are authorized to run along the EDSA busway; but at certain times last week, less than 200 were deployed.

After the agency’s warning to bus companies, Ms. Libiran said there are now 350 buses operating along EDSA.

FUEL SUBSIDY
The LTFRB’s Mr. Delgra also clarified Tuesday that only the drivers of public utility jeepneys or PUJs will benefit from the P1-billion cash aid to be released by the government in support of the transportation sector to offset the increasing prices of fuel products.

“Para sa PUJ sector lang po ito… Ibig sabihin mas malaki pa ang maibibigay sa kanilang hanay (We are limiting distribution to PUJs so they get bigger amounts),” he said.

“Pinakamalaking porsyento ng PUVs ay nasa PUJs… Mas malaki po ang ridership nila kasi predictable ang demand at malalaki ang kapasidad nila (PUJs make up the biggest share of PUVs, which have high ridership because demand is predictable and the units are high capacity),” Mr. Delgra said.

In a statement Monday, the DoTr said: “We assure the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) that the released amount pursuant to Section 82 of the TRAIN Law, will be distributed as cash grants to qualified and bona fide PUV drivers for the remaining months of this year.”

Global oil prices rose Monday due to strong fuel demand in the US and other economies rebounding from the pandemic, Reuters reported. Brent crude futures rose 56 cents or 0.7% to $86.09 a barrel.

Philippine pump prices rose for a ninth straight week as oil companies raised gasoline prices on Monday by P1.15 per liter (/L), with diesel prices rising P0.45/L.

DepEd seeking extra P2.58B to hire 10,000 teachers in 2022

PHILSTAR

THE EDUCATION department is seeking an additional P2.58 billion in its proposed 2022 budget to hire 10,000 new teachers, which would fill close to a third of its current vacancies.

More than 30,000 teaching positions have yet to be filled as of September this year, leading to the hiring push, according to a statement issued by the chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.

“The positions left unfilled could equate to P13 billion in funds that are not being disbursed,” Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian said Tuesday.

He said that according to Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department (CPBRD) data, 71% or 33,260 of the department’s 46,901 vacancies are for teaching positions.

“This has been a recurring issue,” he added. “We have to, once for all, find ways to reduce the six-month turn-around time (for hiring) somehow.”

Education officials said the hiring process usually takes six months. Due to the pandemic restrictions and alternative work arrangements, the department has also had to work with limited staff.

The department is considering accepting applicants with no prior experience, similar to other entry-level positions, to help ease the hiring backlog, Education Undersecretary Wilfredo E. Cabral said at an earlier finance hearing.

In its current budget, P1.82 billion was allocated to create 10,000 teaching positions.

While the Education department aiming for the same number of hires for the upcoming year, the higher P2.58-billion budget will account for the increase in basic salaries as called for by the Salary Standardization Law, Mr. Gatchalian said. “The increase in funds should push the department to accelerate its hiring process and fill the remaining vacancies.” — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

Imported pork allowed for distribution in areas where prices are high

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

IMPORTED PORK will be distributed to areas where prices are high, expanding their current market of the capital region and nearby provinces, while industrial users have also been cleared to use the imports, the Department of Agriculture said.

Memorandum Circular No. 23, issued on Oct. 25, will allow the distribution of imports “outside of the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus (Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, and Cavite) to areas with relatively high prices of pork meat,” Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said.  

Mr. Dar said the expanded pork import quota, known as the Minimum Access Volume (MAV), has not been fully utilized as a result on the limits on their area of distribution.

“This defeats the objectives of Executive Order (EO) No. 133, series of 2021 which are to address the supply gap in pork meat, provide consumers with adequate and affordable meat, and to lower inflation,” Mr. Dar said.

He said the circular now allows the selling of pork imports within the MAV plus to processors and institutional buyers.

“The global problems of transport and movement of imported goods due to the pandemic has affected the arrival of the 70% or 140,000 metric tons (MT) for July to October. From the usual 30-40 days after-shipment transit time, it has extended to 120 days. Hence, the arrival of the remaining 30% or 60,000 MT on January 2022 or the end of MAV year 2021 has to be fast-tracked,” he added.

On May 10, President Rodrigo R. Duterte issued EO 133 which increased the MAV allocation for pork imports in 2021 to 254,210 MT from the previous 54,210 MT in a bid to address thin pork inventories and rising prices due to the African Swine Fever outbreak.

Mr. Duterte also signed EO 134, which lowered the tariff rates on pork imports for one year period to help resolve supply and price issues.

Previously, the MAV Management Committee issued a resolution that divided the additional volume of MAV pork imports into two tranches.

The resolution directs that the first tranche, consisting of 140,000 MT or 70% of the total, arrive between July and October, with the remaining 60,000 MT or 30% landing between November and January. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

ARTA simplifies permit process for laying cable, wiring poles for internet

THE Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) said it has simplified the permit process for laying cable and wiring poles for internet projects in order to expand broadband coverage.

In a statement Tuesday, ARTA said Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 1, signed by various partner agencies on Oct. 25, simplifies the requirements for underground fiber ducts, above-ground cables, and other facilities.  

“This is seen further expediting the rollout of telecommunication infrastructure and service projects, leading to faster internet connectivity,” ARTA said.

Jeremiah B. Belgica, ARTA director general, said the JMC will help the government improve internet speeds.

He noted that the Philippines was 72nd out of 128 countries in terms of mobile download speed in September, according to network testing and analysis company Ookla.

“This is a notch higher from the country’s ranking in August and a huge leap from its initial rankings in August 2017, when Ookla first began, where the country was in the 100th spot for mobile download speed,” Mr. Belgica said.

The Ookla report also found the Philippines to be 64th out of 181 countries in terms of fixed broadband speeds that same month.  

According to ARTA, the JMC requires a single excavation clearance for the installation of poles or construction of underground fiber ducts.

It added that all applicants should ensure that poles be tagged to indicate their owners, and that local government units (LGUs) must create a one-stop shop to process applications for permits to excavate, use the sidewalk, and manage traffic during digs.  

“Applicants for cable laying works shall only be required to submit to the one-stop shop established by the LGU, an Affidavit of Undertaking and a copy of the authority from the owner of the physical infrastructure, undertaking to be liable for damages that may be caused by the cable laying works,” ARTA said.

“The issuance also enumerated the documents that must not be required from applicants in securing appropriate notices and authorities for laying of cables on existing poles, underground fiber ducts, and other physical infrastructure such as the building permit, business or mayor’s permit,” it added.

Other agencies that signed the JMC were the Departments of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Interior and Local Government (DILG), Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), Public Works and Highways (DPWH), as well as the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, the National Telecommunications Commission, the National Electrification Commission, the Energy Regulatory Commission, and the Philippine Competition Commission. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Lacson to consider alternatives to lockdown if elected President

PHILSTAR

SENATOR Panfilo M. Lacson, a candidate for President, said Tuesday that he and his running mate, Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, are consulting health experts to find alternatives to lockdowns, which he said have done major damage to the economy.

He said in a radio interview that lockdowns have “crippled the economy but failed to stop or even slow down the spread of COVID (coronavirus).”

“Vaccination is the number one solution,” he added, “because in other countries, economies will reopen if the vaccination rate is high, so that is what we need to focus on.”

Mr. Lacson, who was discussing his plans for restoring the economy’s growth path in the interview on DZRH radio, said one of his priorities is to further digitize the economy in order to enhance competitiveness.

“We have been left behind. Other countries have digitized their economies (to the point where) their national and local government units have interoperability,” Mr. Lacson said. He noted that the high cost of power and labor are also factors in the lack of progress on the digital front.

Mr. Lacson highlighted the importance of devoting resources to research and development, and added that he plans to attract more foreign investment to upgrade the state of Philippine technology via incentives.

Also on Tuesday, Mr. Lacson consulted with the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP) Calabarzon in Lipa City, amid allegations by transport organizations that the government has neglected to provide temporary livelihood to transport workers at the height of the lockdowns.

Jeepney drivers said movement restrictions have affected their income, which comes on top of the burdens imposed by the requirement to modernize the jeepney fleet.

FEJODAP President Solano Roxas said the association was prepared to hear solutions to their current predicament, noting that cash aid being provided was not ultimately what transport workers need.

“We are not looking for financial assistance,” Mr. Roxas said in Filipino during the consultation. “What we need is for our jobs to continue.”

Mr. Lacson, whose father was a jeepney driver, said a government under his leadership will do a better job preparing the industry before imposing modernization. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

Funding seen insufficient to meet climate commitments

REUTERS

THE government’s spending program for next year does not reflect the Philippines’ climate commitments, Deputy Speaker Lorna Regina B. Legarda said.

She said the national budget being discussed in Congress is a “business as usual budget” that does not reflect the goals of the Philippine nationally determined contributions (NDCs), or the country’s post-2020 climate actions under the Paris Agreement.

The Philippines will be sending a 19-member delegation to the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP26, in Glasgow, Scotland next week.

“I would like to see a pandemic-recovery budget that is aligned and attuned to the climate pathway that mainstreams ecological integrity,” Ms. Legarda said at a pre-COP26 virtual briefing Tuesday.

Developed countries will discuss plans to improve climate financing after they failed to make good on a pledge to roll out $100 billion to help developing nations tackle climate change each year by 2020.

“If we cannot even secure what rich countries owe vulnerable nations, then we are only deluding ourselves,” Ms. Legarda said.

The Philippines, under the NDC, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030. Of the 75% target, around 72.29% will be contingent on support for climate financing and technology by developed countries.

The national budget should be used to mainstream climate change adaptation and mitigation, along with disaster risk resilience, Ms. Legarda added.

“It must not be just one government agency or a commission or a few agencies,” she said. “Every aspect in the budgetary process and all programs of government must be aligned with all the environmental laws.” — Jenina P. Ibañez

DoE urges Congress to amend Marcos-era decree on developing petroleum resources

THE DEPARTMENT of Energy (DoE) said Congress needs to review Presidential Decree (PD) 87, which governs the development of the petroleum industry, noting that its restrictions are hindering investment in the industry.

“It is high time that Congress introduce remedial legislation through amendments, or even revise the entire charter governing the upstream industry, PD 87, which has… remained untouched in almost 50 years,” the DoE said in a statement Tuesday.

It added that the Senate energy committee’s inquiry on Udenna Corp.’s purchase of Chevron Malampaya LLC shares is “causing undue delay to the timeline of the consortium corporations,” which “may eventually take its toll and put our energy security at risk.” 

At a hearing on the DoE budget Thursday, Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian, who chairs the chamber’s energy committee, said the approval of the deal between Udenna and Chevron is “defective… therefore the approval is invalid because clearly, there are a lot of inconsistencies and any major transaction like this should not lead to confusion.” 

Mr. Gatchalian said under PD 87 and Department Circular (DC) 2007-04-0003, sale transactions involving petroleum service contracts require prior approval from the government, in this case, the DoE.  

The department, however, said in its statement that PD 87 and DC 2007-04-0003 “are square pegs in a round hole when applied to the sale of shares of stock,” and that no rule directs it to review the sale of shares between private corporations.

It said it still reviewed the sale of Chevron shares to Udenna “to ensure that national interest is protected and energy security is not put at risk.”

Chevron had a 45% stake in the Malampaya gas field and Udenna owns the 45% stake of Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. With the Chevron sale, Udenna owns 90% of Malampaya.

The Malampaya gas field accounts for up to 20% of the Philippines’ energy requirements mainly via gas piped from Palawan to power plants in Batangas.

The DoE said in its statement, however, that Chevron will remain the operator of the Malampaya project after the sale. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago

DoH adds 4,393 infections as deaths top 42,000

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

PHILIPPINE health authorities reported 4,393 coronavirus infections on Tuesday — bringing the total to nearly 2.8 million — as total deaths exceeded 42,000.

The Department of Health (DoH) said 135 more patients died, while recoveries increased by 8,470 to 2.7 million.

There were 53,642 active cases, 74.8% of which were mild, 6.7% did not show symptoms, 5.8% were severe, 10.37% were moderate and 2.4% were critical, it said in a bulletin.

The agency said 53% of intensive care units in Metro Manila were occupied, while the national rate was 47%.

Twenty-eight duplicates were removed from the tally, 22 of which were reclassified as recoveries, while 97 recoveries were relisted as deaths. Five laboratories failed to submit data on Oct. 24.

The Philippines targets to inoculate at least 50% of its adult population by yearend.

Presidential spokesman Herminio L. Roque, Jr. on Monday said the country had given out 56.3 million coronavirus vaccines as of Oct. 25.

He said 25.96 million people or 33.65% of adult Filipinos have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.

In Metro Manila, more than 17.69 million doses have been given out, Mr. Roque said. Nearly 8.4 million residents have been fully vaccinated against the virus.

DoH earlier approved a plan to give health workers and other priority groups booster shots against the coronavirus to prevent a resurgence in infections.

The government is seeking to give out the third dose by November or December, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire told an online news briefing on Monday.

The booster shots would be given out as soon as the Food and Drug Administration issues an emergency use authorization to existing vaccines, she said. The authorization for most vaccines does not cover booster shots.

Some countries have ditched their COVID-zero strategy and are now aiming to live with the virus through higher vaccinations.

The Health Technology Assessment Council recommended the booster shots to DoH.

People who have been injected with AstraZeneca, CoronaVac and Moderna vaccines were advised to use Pfizer shots as their booster shots. AztraZeneca can be used for people injected with CoronaVac, the council said.

Those who were given Pfizer and Janssen vaccines should receive the same brand for their booster, it added.

People with an impaired immune system should get a third dose of the same brand at least 28 days after being fully vaccinated.

These include people being treated for leukemia, human immunodeficiency virus or HIV, those getting an organ transplant and patients with a rare disease and on dialysis.

The council said it had “considered the best available evidence” in endorsing booster shots, including their effectiveness against COVID-19 variants such as Delta; delivery and logistics, including supply; and cost per dose.

The primary goal of vaccination against the coronavirus is to protect against hospitalization, severe disease and death according to the World Health Organization. “Booster doses may only be needed if there is evidence of insufficient protection against these disease outcomes over time,” it said on its website.

The degree of waning immunity and the need for booster doses may differ between vaccine products, target populations, circulating SARS CoV-2 virus, in particular variants of concern, and intensity of exposure, it said.

“For some vaccines, restricted booster indications have been included into the product label of some jurisdictions,” it added.

The WHO also noted that during a period of continued global vaccine supply shortage, equity considerations at country, regional and global levels remained an essential consideration to ensure the vaccination of high priority groups in every country. “Improving coverage of the primary vaccination series should be prioritized over booster vaccination.”

“To date, the evidence remains limited and still inconclusive on any widespread need for booster doses following a primary vaccination series,” the WHO said. — K.A.T. Atienza

ASEAN to talk about pandemic response, recovery strategy

ASEAN.ORG

SOUTHEAST Asian leaders will discuss their pandemic recovery plans during their annual summit that started on Oct. 26 via videoconference, according to the presidential palace.

State leaders are expected to adopt more than 20 outcome documents on key issues during the three-day event, Philippine presidential palace said in a statement on Monday night.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte will “exchange views with his counterparts on the regions’ COVID-19 response and recovery efforts, ASEAN community building initiatives and regional and international developments,” his spokesman Herminio L. Roque, Jr. told a televised news briefing on Tuesday.

He will be joined by Cabinet members including his Foreign Affairs, Trade and Social Welfare secretaries.

Brunei Darussalam hosted this year’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit. Leaders from the East Asia Summit and heads of the World Health Organization and World Trade Organization will also attend the meetings.

The United States is expected to participate in the summits to reaffirm its commitment to work with the region to end the coronavirus pandemic, address the climate crisis and promote economic growth, Reuters reported, citing the White House.

Mr. Duterte led a foreign policy pivot to China away from the US when he took office in 2016. Less than a year before he steps down, the tough-talking leader has changed his tone toward the US.

He recently thanked US President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. for donating coronavirus vaccines to the Philippines. He also restored a visiting forces agreement with the US after suspending it for months. The two nations are set to hold more than 300 joint defense activities next year.

Southeast Asian leaders started their annual summit without Myanmar after its military refused to send a representative to the three-day meeting in protest over the exclusion of its top general.

Neither Brunei, the ASEAN head, nor the bloc’s secretary-general mentioned the no-show in opening remarks at Tuesday’s virtual summit.

ASEAN on Oct. 15 agreed to bar Myanmar’s military chief Min Aung Hlaing, who toppled a civilian government on Feb. 1, after he failed to enforce a peace plan he agreed with ASEAN in April toward ending the crisis spurred by the coup.

ASEAN is made up of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

More than half of Filipinos say they’re worse off this year 

BW FILE PHOTO

MAJORITY of adult Filipinos said their quality of life worsened this year, according to a poll by the Social Weather Stations (SWS). 

In a report posted on its website on Tuesday, the SWS said 57% of Filipinos were “losers,” 13% said their life got better, while 29% said nothing changed. 

The net gainer score for September was -44 (percent of gainers minus percent of losers), which SWS considers extremely low. It was 13 points worse than the “very low” -31 in June, halting the recovery from the “catastrophic” -76 in Sept. 2020 to “extremely low” -48 in Nov. 2020 and very low -38 in May. 

Net gainer scores in all areas were worse than the June results, SWS said. 

Metro Manila’s score decreased by 21 points to -51, while the rest of Luzon fell by 14 points to -41. Mindanao’s score decreased by 16 points to -41, while the score dropped by six points to -46 in the Visayas. 

Results also showed net gainer scores were worse for all “education groups except college graduates.” 

SWS interviewed 1,200 people on Sept. 12 to 16 for the poll, which had an error margin of ±3 points. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza 

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