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Manila mayor may run for President 

ISKO MORENO DOMAGOSO FB PAGE

MANILA Mayor Francisco “Isko” M. Domagoso will run for President next year, competing with boxing champion Senator Emmanuel “Manny” D. Pacquiao. 

The former matinee idol will run in tandem with Willie Ong, a doctor who lost in the senatorial race in 2019, Manila City spokesman Julius Leonen said in a Viber message on Tuesday. 

President Rodrigo R. Duterte has said Mr. Domagaso — also known as Isko Moreno — does not deserve to be President given his past as a sexy actor. 

The actor used to be a scavenger and pedicab driver in one of the most populated districts of the Philippine capital before he was discovered by a talent scout. 

Aside from the boxing legend, Senator Panfilo M. Lacson has also announced his presidential ambition. Former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. has said he would seek a national position. 

There is also said to be a clamor for presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to run for President in the 2022 elections. 

Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo has said she might support a tandem between Mr. Domagoso and Mr. Pacquiao if only to end the ruling party’s dominance. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza 

Gov’t to build science high school in Tarlac province 

THE GOVERNMENT will build a 4.6-hectare Philippine Science High School campus in New Clark City in Tarlac province, according to the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA). 

The campus will serve senior high school students, while a resource center will be built for teachers and professionals, the state company said in a statement on Tuesday. 

The BCDA approved the master plan for the state campus, which will help train both teachers and science professionals, last month. 

The site will also house the growing number of students and employees at the existing Clark Freeport Zone Philippine Science High School campus. 

“The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic has highlighted the valuable contribution of science and technology in our society,” BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Vivencio B. Dizon said in the statement. “We will also be able to build our pool of researchers and professionals who will help us prevent other pandemics in the future.” 

BCDA and Philippine Science High School signed an agreement to build the campus and learning resource center in 2016. The contract for the architectural and engineering design of the campus is yet to be decided. 

Based on the master plan, 80% of the campus area will be open spaces. Occupied spaces will have laboratories, training venues and living quarters. 

“The new campus will have facilities for traditional and alternative learning, as well as indoor and outdoor setups showcasing the latest technological innovations,” BCDA said. 

The campus will feature training, research and innovation centers, a technology hub, multipurpose academic and administration buildings, a summer camp area and dormitories, which will be built in phases. 

The Philippine Science High School system, an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology, prepares students for science and technology careers. — Jenina P. Ibañez 

More than 16,000 more infected 

A HEALTH WORKER at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute pushes a patient in a wheelchair in this Aug. 15, 2021 photo. — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

THE DEPARTMENT of Health (DoH) reported 16,361 coronavirus infections on Tuesday, bringing the total to 2.4 million. 

The death toll rose to 37,074 after 140 more patients died, while recoveries increased by 21,974 to 2.19 million, it said in a bulletin. 

There were 171,142 active cases, 92.4% of which were mild, 2.8% did not show symptoms, 1.4% were severe, 2.69% were moderate and 0.6% were critical. 

DoH said 61 duplicates had been removed from the tally, 46 of which were tagged as recoveries, while 60 recoveries were reclassified as deaths. Four laboratories failed to submit data on Sept. 19. 

Meanwhile, President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Monday night said there had been “false positive” results in coronavirus tests done by the Philippine Red Cross, which is headed by Senator Richard J. Gordon who has since turned into his political foe. 

He said 44 of 49 health workers who had tested positive turned out to be negative in a test at another laboratory. 

The tough-talking leader also said at a taped Cabinet meeting more than 200 members of the Presidential Security Guard who had tested positive for the coronavirus turned out to be negative. 

In a statement on Tuesday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire said “it is possible for test results from the same case collectorate at two different time points to vary.” 

“The outcome of a laboratory test result is influenced by multiple factors, affecting all the phases of testing from pre-analytic, analytic to post-analytic (from specimen collection, specimen transport, specimen evaluation, nucleic acid extraction, testing, results analysis, verification and releasing),” she added. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza 

Gov’t urged to improve response 

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

THE MAKATI Business Club (MBC) on Tuesday urged the government to improve its coronavirus pandemic response as the economy reopens. 

In a discussion paper, the business group cited the need to improve the country’s healthcare system and boost isolation and quarantine efforts. 

“We cannot just vaccinate our way to reopening and recovery,” group Chairman Edgar O. Chua said. “We need physical facilities, tech enabled systems, financially viable hospitals and healthcare workers who are properly paid and provided for.” 

“We can’t fight COVID without the hospitals, we can’t run the hospitals without healthcare workers,” he added. 

The group also asked the government to boost vaccine supply and vaccinate all Filipinos. The government must also set aside funds for booster shots, it added. It also said companies should be allowed to buy their own vaccines. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza 

Gordon calls Duterte a bully 

SENATOR Richard J. Gordon on Tuesday said he was not afraid of President Rodrigo R. Duterte, whom he called a bully for lambasting him and the Senate probe of alleged government misuse of anti-pandemic funds. 

“Quite frankly Mr. President, you are boring,” the lawmaker, who heads the Senate blue ribbon committee, said at a hearing. “I am not afraid of you. Do your worst as you did with ABS-CBN, as you did to an elected senator.” 

“You are a bully. The Filipino people can fight back against bullies. The Filipinos can have a revolution against bullies,” he added. 

Mr. Gordon said Mr. Duterte had taken the Senate investigation as a personal attack. 

“We have deprived the Filipino people proper access to hospitalization, so many people are getting sick,” he said in mixed English and Filipino. “People are having a hard time finding hospitals, that’s what deserves our attention.” 

“Why are you fighting me? I am only doing my duty,” he added. 

During the hearing, Mr. Gordon scolded former Budget Procurement Service chief Lloyd C. Lao for his alleged arrogance, which he traced to presidential backing. 

“Shame on you,” Mr. Gordon said. “This guy thinks he’s the king of the highway.” 

Mr. Lao defended Pharmally Pharmaceuticals Corp., which received P8 billion worth of contracts for medical supplies. He said the company had the capacity to deliver and had no negative record. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan 

Comelec won’t extend registration 

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

THE COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday said it would not extend the voter registration period for another month until Oct. 31 despite a congressional threat to cut its 2022 budget. 

“The Commission has thus far not amended its position not to extend the deadline for voter registration,” Comelec spokesman James B. Jimenez told reporters on Viber. 

He said “Congress unquestionably holds the power of the purse” but that the Comelec is only doing “its utmost to ensure that it fulfills its mandate to hold secure, accurate and free and fair elections.” 

Senator Franklin M. Drilon on Monday said Congress should cut the election body’s budget if it refuses to give more voters a chance to register amid a coronavirus pandemic. 

Senators adopted a concurrent resolution urging Comelec to extend voter registration for another month until Oct. 31. 

Many Filipino voters have yet to register for the elections next year because of the coronavirus pandemic, said Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri, who co-sponsored Senate Concurrent Resolution 17. 

A House of Representatives committee this month adopted two similar resolutions urging the election body to extend the voter registration period. 

Senators also agreed to pass a bill that will extend the voter registration in case Comelec ignores their plea. Unlike a bill, a resolution does not have the force of law once approved. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago

More Filipino workers sent overseas 

PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

THE NUMBER of Filipinos sent to work overseas has increased by 13% from a year earlier to 475,981 as of Sept. 1, according to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). 

“If there was a 74% decrease in deployment last year, now it is gradually rising,” POEA Undersecretary Bernard Olalia told a televised news briefing in Filipino on Tuesday. 

He traced the increase to more relaxed travel restrictions. 

Overseas Filipino worker deployment fell by 75% 549,841 last year from a year earlier amid a coronavirus pandemic. 

Mr. Olalia said Filipino health workers were the most in demand in Europe and the Middle East, followed by technology workers and seamen. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago 

P1.25B worth of test kits expiring soon 

PHILSTAR

THE GOVERNMENT could lose as much as P1.25 billion after it paid in full coronavirus test kits that would soon expire, a senator said on Tuesday. 

The state already lost P550 million from test kits that have expired, Senator Francis “Kiko” N. Pangilinan said in a statement. 

During a blue ribbon committee hearing, the senator noted that the Health department had sought a delivery rescheduling from Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. after it failed to use the first batch of kits. 

“They paid in full for testing kits that were due to expire in six months,” he said. “We were burning money while many are dying,” he added in Filipino. 

In two inspection reports by the Budget department’s Procurement Service, Pharmally delivered 4,800 kits on May 2, 2020 and 3,200 kits on May 4, 2020. 

The inspection reports showed that the kits were made on April 5, 2020 and were expiring on Oct. 5 that year, Mr. Pangilinan said. 

Test kits must be fresh stock and have a shelf-life of at least 24 to 36 months from the date of delivery, he said, citing the Procurement Service’s own rules. — ANOT 

Bill to improve teacher training 

A TEACHER holds an online class in this August 2021 photo. — THE PHILIPPINE STAR/MICHAEL VARCAS

THE SENATE on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill that seeks to improve the quality of teacher education and training in the country. 

Senate Bill 2152 or the proposed Teacher Education Excellence Act will amend Republic Act 7784 by strengthening the Teacher Education Council (TEC) created in 1993. 

The measure seeks to turn the council into a responsive coordinating body for the Commission on Higher Education, Professional Regulation Commission and Department of Education, the main entities involved in teacher education. 

It will realign pre-service and in-service education to improve the quality of teachers. 

“We cannot raise the quality of education of our children if our teachers hold no experience or quality education,” Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian said in a statement on Tuesday. “Our teachers are our frontliners in our suppression of the educational crisis, so it must be assured that from college to teaching, they are ready and have sufficient capabilities.” 

The revamped council will establish a roadmap for teacher education by mandating, monitoring and assuring quality compliance with minimum requirements for teacher education programs. 

TESDA restarts face-to-face training 

THE TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) on Tuesday said face-to-face training and assessment in Metro Manila have restarted after the change in the lockdown level. 

Face-to-face training and assessment will be allowed up to 50% capacity for Alert Levels 2 to 4, while full capacity will be allowed for areas under Alert Level 1, TESDA said. 

Areas under Alert Level 5 or a granular lockdown should suspend face-to-face training and assessment until the status is eased, it added. 

It also said training involving human contact such as massage therapy and other beauty care-related skills was not allowed regardless of the alert level. 

Face-to-face training in areas under an enhanced community quarantine and modified enhanced community quarantine were still suspended. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave 

Bolts make assault on no. 2 seed

THE MERALCO Bolts finish their PBA Philippine Cup elimination round assignments this week with an eye on completing their assault on the number two seed in the playoffs and the twice-to-beat incentive that goes with it. — PBA IMAGES

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

THE Meralco Bolts finish their Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup elimination round assignments this week with an eye on completing their assault on the number two seed in the playoffs and the twice-to-beat incentive that goes with it.

Meralco (7-2) will play back-to-back matches on Wednesday and Thursday, looking to at least win one, if not complete a sweep, to officially claim the second seed in the ongoing Philippine Basketball Association tournament.

It will first play the NLEX Road Warriors (5-5) in a match scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU) Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga, then it takes on defending champions Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings (4-6) on Thursday at 2 p.m.

Both matches are expected to be not a walk in the park for the Bolts as both the Road Warriors and the Kings are looking for an all-important victory to give their own playoff push a huge boost.

Meralco has been on a tear of late after missing two weeks of play after it entered the league’s health and safety protocols.

It won back-to-back matches last week to put it in a solid position to contend for a top-two finish in the eliminations.

The last of its victories came at the expense of also-rans Blackwater Bossing, 104-97, on Sept. 18 where they continued to play sans key cogs Chris Newsome and Cliff Hodge, who were yet to get clearance to return as per the safety guidelines set by the league.

Allein Maliksi led the steady attack of the Bolts in the win, finishing with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Raymond Almazan had a huge double-double of 15 points and 17 rebounds while Reynel Hugnatan and Trevis Jackson each had 14 points.

If the Bolts succeed in securing the second seed, they will take the number seventh team after the eliminations in the quarterfinals with a twice-to-beat advantage.

Apart from Meralco, also playing two games in the final week of elimination play are the Alaska Aces (3-6), who need to sweep all of it to put themselves in a firmer position to catch the playoff bus.

The Aces play the San Miguel Beermen (6-4) on Wednesday at 6 p.m. and the Northport Batang Pier (5-5) the following day at 4:35 p.m.

Only three spots in the quarterfinals are left to be filled, with TnT Tropang Giga (10-1), Meralco, Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok (8-3), San Miguel and Rain or Shine Elastopainters (6-5) already in.

LEE IS BEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Meanwhile, Magnolia’s Paul Lee nabbed PBA player of the week honors for the period of Sept. 15 to 19.

The veteran guard torched San Miguel for 32 points in a 100-90 win on Sunday, 18 of which coming in the fourth quarter.

The win thrusted Magnolia to an 8-3 record at the end of their elimination assignments, good for solo third place, but still has a chance of notching the second seed if Meralco loses all of its games this week.

Mr. Lee edged TnT rookie Mikey Williams in a close vote for the weekly award handed out by media covering the PBA beat.

Others in the running for the award were Meralco’s Maliksi, Almazan and Bong Quinto, Magnoli’s Ian Sangalang, and veteran NLEX big man JR Quinahan.

Team Lakay’s Lito ‘Thunder Kid’ Adiwang ready to swing back into action after battle with COVID-19

TEAM Lakay’s Lito Adiwang returns to ONE Championship action on Sept. 24 after recovering from COVID-19. — ONE CHAMPIONSHIP

AFTER being sidelined by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) early this year, Team Lakay fighter Lito “Thunder Kid” Adiwang is ready and excited to get back into action in ONE Championship.

Mr. Adiwang (12-3) is to battle Hexigetu of China in a strawweight clash in the lead card for “ONE: Revolution” on Sept. 24 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

It will be the first fight for the Filipino warrior after recovering from COVID-19, which forced his scheduled bout in April to be canceled.

“It (COVID-19) really took a toll on me physically. My cardio and strength were down and it was tough at the start,” shared Mr. Adiwang in an online media roundtable for ONE Revolution on Sept. 17.

“We really needed to come up with a plan to recover the lost strength and get back to the form where I was before getting the virus,” he added.

He was also happy to share that he has fully recovered and has prepared well for his upcoming fight where he hopes to win his second straight match.

Mr. Adiwang last fought in January this year, winning over Japanese Namiki Kawahara by knockout (punch) in the second round.

It was a bounce-back win for him after losing in his prior fight in October 2020, his first defeat in ONE in three fights in the main roster of the promotion.

He said the victory did a lot in getting him back on track mentally and motivated to shore up standing in the game.

“I can say that I have regained my confidence. Since that win over Namiki, my focus has just been on an uphill climb that I’m so excited to get back and fight inside the ONE Circle,” he said. “I’m definitely happy with my performance against Namiki.”

Against noted grappler Hexigetu (8-3), the Team Lakay stalwart is expecting no less than a solid challenge, but vowed to come out fighting and do well.

“Of course, I want to keep our game plan a secret, but all I can tell everyone is that they can expect that everything we planned for is very solid. Coach Mark [Sangiao] has diligently worked with me in preparing me for this, and like in my past wins, I can say that this will be another highlight win for us,” he said.

ONE: Revolution will be headlined by three world title fights led by reigning ONE Lightweight World Champion Christian Lee of Singapore/United States against no. 3 contender Ok Rae Yoon of South Korea. Also on tap are the bantamweight kickboxing world championship clash between Capitan of Thailand and Mehdi Zatout of Algeria and the world strawweight title collision between Joshua Pacio of the Philippines and Japanese Yosuke Saruta.

Revolution will be broadcast live over One Sports on Friday, beginning at 6:30 p.m. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

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