DFA says 58 migrant workers arrived from Bahrain last week

November 2, 2021 | 9:00 pm

OFW-airline-passenger — PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

THE PHILIPPINE Embassy in Bahrain sent home 58 migrant Filipino workers last week, including detainees, overstaying and sick Filipinos overseas, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement on Tuesday.

Due to travel restrictions, many distressed Filipinos in Bahrain sought the help of the embassy there in booking tickets at a special rate given by Gulf Air, the agency said.

The embassy also worked with DFA and other agencies in exempting the returning Filipinos from quarantine restrictions.

The embassy has helped 287 stranded Filipinos in Bahrain to come home via Gulf Air’s direct flight to Manila since August. The government paid for the airfare of 175 workers, it said.

Meanwhile, DFA has lowered the alert level for Iraq to Alert Level 3 (voluntary repatriation) from Alert Level 4 (mandatory repatriation) due to improved security and upon the request of overseas Filipino workers.

Filipino workers returning to Iraq would be exempted from the deployment ban, subject to conditions, the agency said.

DFA said Filipinos in Iraq should be cautious, restrict movements and keep communication lines with the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad open.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), said it supports a plan to further ease the lockdown in Metro Manila in two weeks, which it said would let more businesses to reopen.

Metro Manila is now under Alert Level 3, which allows 50% capacity for outdoor services and 30% capacity for indoor activities.

“The easing of restriction to Alert level 2, which will allow most businesses to operate and restaurants to increase the capacity of allowed diners is a good move, especially now as we enter the Christmas season,” PCCI President Benedicto V. Yujuico said in a statement.

He urged the government to boot the capacity of public transport vehicles to help revive businesses and the economy.

Under Alert Level 2, businesses may operate indoors at 50% capacity. They will get an additional 10% capacity if they have a so-called safety seal from the government. For outdoor operations, they may operate at 70% capacity.

At least 80% of Metro Manila residents have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.

An inter-agency task force last week approved a plan to increase passenger capacity in road- and rail-based public transportation in Metro Manila and nearby provinces from 70% to full capacity starting Nov. 4.

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

Mr. Yujuico said some countries in Southeast Asia including Thailand and Singapore have reopened their hotel, travel and tourism industries.

He also cited the need to fast-track the government’s vaccine rollout amid a decline in infection rates to help micro, small and medium enterprises in the countryside.

The OCTA Research Group from the University of the Philippines earlier said coronavirus infections nationwide would probably fall to 2,000 by the end of the month.

Daily virus cases in Metro Manila could go down to 500 by mid-November, OCTA fellow Fredegusto P. David said on Sunday. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan and Angelica Y. Yang

Shares go up on bargain hunting, lower cases

November 2, 2021 | 9:00 pm

PHILIPPINE SHARES snapped their three-day decline on Tuesday on bargain hunting and as market sentiment got a boost from the improving pandemic situation in Metro Manila.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) went up by 51.31 points or 0.72% to close at 7,106.01 on Tuesday, while the broader all shares index gained 15.25 points or 0.34% to 4,402.04.

“Investors took opportunities out of its preceding three-day decline,” Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco, senior research and engagement supervisor at Philstocks Financial, Inc., said in a Viber message, adding that “positive cues from Wall Street’s record high performance also gave the market a boost.”

Back home, the country’s improved coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation in the National Capital Region (NCR) also gave market sentiment a boost.

“The continuous improvement in our COVID-19 situation helped spur optimism since it raises the chances of social restrictions being eased in the government’s next deciding period,” Mr. Tantiangco said.

“Investors continued to count on lower restrictions by the middle of the month after OCTA Research expressed its support for the further easing in NCR amid low risk of coronavirus resurgence,” Papa Securities Corp. Equities Strategist Manny P. Cruz said in a text message.

“Market rebound was spearheaded by [Globe Telecom, Inc.] after news that its fintech arm Mynt [Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc.] secured $300 million in funding from different foreign investors led by Warburg Pincus,” Mr. Cruz added.

Globe gained 4.61% or P138 on Tuesday to close at P3,134 per share. Mynt is the operator of e-wallet platform GCash. The additional $300-million funding from the global investment firm brought Mynt’s value to over $2 billion.

“In contrast, [Semirara Mining and Power Corp.] and [DMCI Holdings, Inc.] weakened after coal futures plunged 30%. China’s government stepped up its intervention by boosting coal output in the local market in an effort to calm the economy sparked by an energy crisis,” Mr. Cruz said.

The majority of sectoral indices closed in the green on Tuesday except for mining and oil, which dropped 228.33 points or 2.26% to 9,867.53, and industrials, which lost 180.91 points or 1.67% to finish at 10,650.32.

Meanwhile, holding firms gained 106.84 points or 1.54% to 7,044.24; financials rose 17.10 points or 1.11% to 1,550.19; property went up by 17.43 points or 0.55% to finish at 3,136.32; and services inched up by 6.65 points or 0.35% to 1,895.79.

Value turnover decreased to P7.49 billion with 930.47 million issues traded on Tuesday from the P7.70 billion with 1.12 billion shares that switched hands on Friday.

Decliners beat advancers, 104 against 81, while 46 names closed unchanged.

Net foreign selling declined to P177.79 million on Tuesday, dropping from the P1.24 billion seen on Friday. — Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte

Peso up on manufacturing PMI

November 2, 2021 | 9:00 pm

THE PESO climbed as the Philippine factory activity improved. — BW FILE PHOTO

THE PESO strengthened versus the greenback on Tuesday on the back of strong local manufacturing data.

The local unit closed at P50.39 per dollar on Tuesday, appreciating by 2.5 centavos from its P50.415 finish on Friday, based on data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines.

Financial markets were closed on Monday in view of All Saints’ Day.

The peso opened Tuesday’s session weaker from its previous close at P50.46 per dollar. Its weakest showing was at P50.52, while its intraday best was at P50.36 against the greenback.

Dollars exchanged increased to $1.149 billion on Tuesday from $983.38 million on Friday.

The peso gained versus the greenback on Tuesday as market sentiment improved following the release of strong manufacturing data, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in a Viber message.

Factory activity in October was the strongest in seven months, with the Philippines Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) reading at 51, IHS Markit reported on Tuesday. This is higher than the 50.9 in September and above the 50 mark that separates growth from contraction.

IHS Markit noted that growth in factory activity last month was due to the easing of restriction measures and the stabilizing of new orders.

In contrast, the US posted weaker manufacturing data last month, which a trader said also boosted the peso versus the dollar.

The Institute for Supply Management said the index of national factory activity slipped to 60.8 in October from 61.1 in September, Reuters reported Monday.

Based on the report, supply chains in the US were constrained as all industries saw record-long lead times for raw materials.

For Wednesday, Mr. Ricafort gave a forecast range of P50.30 to P50.50 per dollar, while the trader expects the local unit to move within P50.20 to P50.45. — L.W.T. Noble with Reuters

Duterte to join APEC leaders’ meet with pandemic recovery, global outlook up for discussion

November 2, 2021 | 8:59 pm

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte will join fellow heads of states in a virtual meeting on Nov. 12 for the annual leaders’ meeting of the 21-member Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, his spokesman said on Tuesday.

“The President is expected to attend the APEC on Nov. 12 via video conferencing,” Palace Spokesman Herminio “Harry” L. Roque, Jr. said in mixed English and Filipino.

This year’s APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting will be hosted by New Zealand, whose exports to the country were valued at NZ$729 million in 2020.

Mr. Duterte will participate in the International Monetary Fund’s presentation of its global economic outlook, the Palace official said. The President will also join discussions related to the pandemic recovery of various countries and witness the handover of the region’s chairmanship to Thailand. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Comelec: No grounds for cancellation of contract with F2 Logistics

November 2, 2021 | 8:59 pm

voters-reg-boy-santos-banner — PHILIPPINE STAR/ BOY SANTOS

THE COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) asserted Wednesday that there are no grounds yet to cancel their deal with a logistics provider with ties to a businessmen close to President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

Comelec Spokesperson James B. Jimenez said the poll body did not find any conflict of interest in the contract with F2 Logistics, which is linked to Dennis A. Uy, adding that the company had the lowest bid for the delivery deal.

“There would have to be a violation of terms of conditions of the contract. There would have to be some sort of violation by F2, or a change in circumstances all of a sudden that there is no need in the Comelec for the contract, I suppose a case can be made for rescission then,” he said in an ANC interview.

Poll watchdogs and critics have urged the Comelec to cancel their delivery contract with F2 Logistics to ensure that there is no conflict of interest with the ruling administration.

“Do we really entrust the ballots, vote counting machines, and other election paraphernalia to Duterte’s top billionaire crony? The Filipino people must stop this deal and protect our votes,” said vice presidential candidate Walden F. Bello.

Mr. Uy, who is from the President’s hometown, was one of Mr. Duterte’s top campaign contributors in the 2016 presidential election, donating P30 million.

Mr. Jimenez also said in a tweet that the deal with the logistics provider will not affect election results as procedures are in place to ensure that vote counting machines (VCMs) are checked after delivery.

“After delivery, VCMs undergo final testing and sealing up to three days before election day, so… we know if the VCMs are working properly,” he said.

The poll body and F2 Logistics signed a contract on Oct. 29 for a delivery deal worth P536 million. The company will transport and store election supplies such as ballots and vote-counting machines for the May 2022 polls.

The logistics firm was also contracted for the 2018 Sangguniang Kabataan and barangay polls and the 2019 midterm elections.

“I think the logistics company has experience which is the reason why it qualified. There are standards that they met, which at least gives us an indication that there is a good chance that we have (confidence) that the contract is in very good hands,” Mr. Jimenez said.

DIOKNO
Meanwhile, senatorial aspirant Jose Manuel “Chel” I. Diokno expressed confidence that an “overwhelming” number of votes for the opposition should thwart any attempt to rig the outcome of the May elections as concerns over Duterte-appointed commissioners arise.

Before the elections next year, Mr. Duterte will be appointing the replacement of the Comelec chairman and two commissioners who are due to retire and another who was not confirmed by the Commission on Appointments. The three other remaining commissioners are all Duterte appointees.

Mr. Diokno, however, said, the Comelec leadership could not possibly manipulate the poll outcome. “The more overwhelming the vote is, the harder it will be to cheat,” he said during a recent online town hall meeting with Negros-based multi-sectoral leaders.

“I don’t think they will be able to tinker with the outcome of an election,” he said. — Russell Louis C. Ku and Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

Senators tell PhilHealth to pursue an ‘aggressive catch-up plan’ as private hospitals threaten to sever ties

November 2, 2021 | 8:59 pm

SENATORS on Tuesday called on the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to pursue an “aggressive catch-up plan” after private hospitals expressed intent to make good on their earlier threat to cut off ties after failing to collect billions-worth of claims by end-October.

“PhilHealth must pick up the slack in settling its mounting obligations to hospitals that compromise our healthcare system,” said Senator Mary Grace S. Poe-Llamanzares in a statement Tuesday.

“The complaints of hospitals on these slow reimbursements on spendings of hospitals and patients have long been present,” Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara, who chairs the Senate Finance committee, said in a mix of English and Filipino in a statement late Monday.

“PhilHealth needs to hurry the processing of hospital claims, otherwise we will have systems failure here in our healthcare system,” he said.

Several private hospitals in Metro Manila, Iloilo, Cagayan Valley, and General Santos City are planning to disengage from the state-owned insurer, according to Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc. President Jose Rene de Grano.

He noted the company’s failure to come up with concrete solutions for unpaid claims by Oct. 31.

“They (hospitals) already signified that they will no longer renew their accreditation with PhilHealth,” he said, adding that in the next few weeks, more private health facilities may announce the same.

Senator Maria Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos, who chairs the Senate committee on Economic Affairs, said the withdrawal of private hospitals would compromise the country’s Universal Health Care Act.

“At this time when people have neither jobs nor money, who will pay for their medical expenses if hospitals are no longer registered with PhilHealth?” Ms. Marcos said.

In the Philippines, there are more private-owned hospitals than those operated by government.

“ARTA or the Anti-Red Tape Authority should look into the processes of PhilHealth to figure the reason for the slow payment of the hospitals’ health insurance claims,” Mr. Angara said. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

Bill seeks to scrap additional requirements for driver’s license renewal

November 2, 2021 | 8:59 pm

A HOUSE leader filed a bill seeking to scrap additional requirements for driver’s license renewal that the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has started to impose.

House Deputy Speaker Rufus B. Rodriguez filed House Bill 10430 that would repeal a provision in Republic Act 10930 that mandates the LTO to establish guidelines and prerequisites for a driving license.

“The LTO has come up with new, unnecessary, and burdensome requirement for all new drivers in order to get their student permits, get their new driver’s license, or in renewing their driver’s license,” according to the bill.

Mr. Rodriguez said that although driver’s education classes are free of charge through the LTO website, it could provide an additional expense to Filipinos as it could “unduly enrich” driving schools as these classes are offered from P1,000 to P3,000.

The LTO issued a memo on Oct. 25, citing RA 10930, that would allow drivers to get a renewed license valid for 10 years under the condition that there are no prior traffic violations on record and undergo the comprehensive driver’s education (CDE) classes.

The classes are available for free on the LTO site, but accredited driving schools are also allowed to offer these for a fee.

The new policy started on Oct. 28 at LTO’s Central Office and Quezon City Licensing Center. It will take effect in other Metro Manila offices on Nov. 3, while implementation outside the capital has yet to be set.

Mr. Rodriguez said these additional requirements could be a “source of red tape, harassment and corruption.”

The lawmaker also filed House Resolution 2325 urging the LTO to immediately remove the CDE requirement.

“There is no provision in the law which explicitly states that a certification for a CDE is required for renewing a driver’s license,” Mr. Rodriguez said in a statement.

He also urged his fellow congressmen to investigate the matter and called on the LTO to “properly explain the basis for its impositions and to prove that the correct legal processes were complied with.” — Russell Louis C. Ku

FamilyMart enters Mindanao market with first shops in Davao

November 2, 2021 | 8:58 pm

CONVENIENCE STORE chain FamilyMart Philippines, a subsidiary of listed oil firm Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc., has opened its first two stores in Mindanao, both located in the Davao Region.

“This is the first time our brand entered the Mindanao market ever since it came to the Philippines, so we are very proud to have reached this important milestone. We take pride in our premium-quality Japanese food and exemplary customer experience at our stores in Luzon, and we are bringing them all with us to Davaoeños,” FamilyMart General Manager and Phoenix Vice President for Integrated Marketing and Strategies Maria Celina I. Matias said in an emailed statement on Tuesday.

The two shops are located in Davao City’s Matina area, and in Tagum City, capital of Davao del Norte province.

The store in Matina is a traditional set-up with a walk-in space, while the outlet in Tagum has an al fresco take-out counter for grab-and-go transactions.

“We’re glad to be able to offer the FamilyMart experience to more communities in the Philippines. We’ve finally entered Mindanao, and we cannot wait to bring the brand to even more Filipinos across the country,” Phoenix President Henry Albert R. Fadullon said.

The Philippine unit of the Japanese convenience store brand was acquired by Phoenix in 2017.

FamilyMart, according to its website, first opened in the Philippines in 2013 and has since expanded to over 60 stores across Manila, Pampanga and Cebu. — Angelica Y. Yang

CHR starts probe on slain Davao del Sur journalist

November 2, 2021 | 8:57 pm

THE COMMISSION on Human Rights (CHR) has started its own probe into the killing of a journalist in Davao del Sur as the world marks International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.

CHR Spokesperson Jacqueline Ann C. De Guia said on Tuesday that the agency deployed a quick response team over the weekend to investigate the murder of broadcast journalist Orlando “Dondon” Dinoy on Oct. 30.

Mr. Dinoy was shot six times in Bansalan, Davao del Sur by an unidentified gunman. He was a reporter for Newsline Philippines and a news anchor for Energy FM.

“Currently, no motive for his killing has been established, but due to the nature of the crime and profession of the victim, CHR will be looking closely into his line of work and his previous contacts,” Ms. De Guia said in a statement.

Undersecretary Joel S. Egco, executive director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security, said they are also investigating the incident.

The Philippines is the 7^th deadliest country for journalists with 13 unsolved murders from Sept. 1, 2011 to Aug. 31, 2021, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists’ 2021 Global Impunity Index. — Russell Louis C. Ku

PPA bars unaccredited truckers from all ports

November 2, 2021 | 7:57 pm

THE Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said Tuesday that it started enforcing a “No Permit, No Service” policy on Nov. 1 on all truckers using its terminals nationwide.

“Apart from being barred to transact at the port terminals, they will be meted with an appropriate sanction,” PPA General Manager Jay Daniel R. Santiago said in a statement.

Truck operators, according to Mr. Santiago, should comply with the requirement to obtain a certificate of accreditation and a permit to operate.

“We are warning ‘colorum’ truck operators to comply,” he said.

The policy was authorized by PPA Memorandum Circular 19-2021, which requires truckers to obtain a certificate of accreditation and a permit to operate.

“The agency imposed the first deadline to secure (the certificate and permit) on 15 October 2021, and it was extended on 31 October 2021, requiring the truckers to merely file an accomplished application form and submit all pertinent documents by 31 December 2021,” the PPA said.

A trucker applying for a three-year operating permit gets a 50% fee reduction.

“However, it was learned that several truckers still refuse to comply or get operating permits from PPA,” the agency said.

It also said that as of the Oct. 31 deadline, 75% of the truckers operating at the Port of Manila had complied. — Arjay L. Balinbin

NGOs banking on denial of ECC for expressway to be built on Pasig River

November 2, 2021 | 7:56 pm

By Russell Louis C. Ku

THE environmental compliance certificate (ECC) is shaping up to be the next hurdle for the Pasig River Expressway (PAREX) project, according to a transport group, which said the proponents of the toll road have not adequately accounted for its impact on the river and its stakeholders.

The Move as One Coalition also called on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Environmental Management Bureau, which issues the ECC, to be more receptive to criticism of PAREX, on which ground has been broken.

“It becomes problematic when there are costs that are not taken into consideration and where there is no transparency in decision making, both of which have been the case here,” Move as One member and former Finance Undersecretary John P. Sevilla said in an interview.

PAREX is a six-lane elevated expressway that will run from Radial Road 10 in the city of Manila to Circumferential Road 6, also known as the future South East Metro Manila Expressway in Taguig. It will run along the banks of the Pasig River.

The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) signed the supplemental toll operations agreement with San Miguel Corp. (SMC) for the 19.37-kilometer expressway on Sept. 21. The project broke ground on Sept. 24.

SMC said that the project will also have dedicated lanes for bus rapid transit, bikes, and pedestrian use.

The company also said that the expressway “will be built only on the banks of Pasig River, its posts occupying only 1 meter… of the Pasig River.”

Nongovernment organizations (NGOs) such as Move as One have questioned how the project managed to gain approval from the TRB after 72 days, despite reservations about the project.

They also projected P164 billion in projected economic costs from the proposed expressway.

“We started writing (to) the TRB early this year. We were asking for information on the project; we were asking when we will be given a chance to ask questions and to give our views of the project… There (was) no opportunity for us to engage the TRB and raise our objections,” Mr. Sevilla said by telephone.

He also noted that the project appears to have jumped the queue on other planned priority infrastructure projects.

“When the government sets priorities, projects which are not in the priority list all of a sudden become a priority when a private company proposes them and that’s not good,” Mr. Sevilla said.

He said there are more cost-efficient ways to improve road congestion in Metro Manila, such as more bus rapid transit lines like the EDSA Carousel and bicycle lanes in existing roads.

“Let’s just look at what has happened to public transport in the last few years. It hasn’t gotten any better. There have been some improvements on EDSA… but it still takes forever to get a ride and this is in pandemic conditions,” Mr. Sevilla said.

RCEP impact on PHL GDP seen at 0.84 percentage points

November 2, 2021 | 7:55 pm

THE Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade agreement will improve gross domestic product (GDP) growth by 0.84 percentage points and the balance of trade by $51.7 million by the end of the decade, a US economist said.

“RCEP is initially estimated to improve the country’s trade balance by as much as $51.7-M, increasing overall welfare by $573.7-M, contributing to 0.84% real GDP growth, and lowering poverty incidence by 4.97% in 2030,” Caesar B. Cororaton, a senior research fellow with the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), was quoted as saying in a statement from the Trade department Tuesday.

Mr. Cororaton models the impact of regional trade agreements on global economies.

The Philippines, along with all the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other countries, signed the RCEP on Nov. 15, 2020.

RCEP is a free trade agreement (FTA) which combines active regional FTAs with those agreed with Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand into a single economic partnership.

“The agreement… represents 51% of the Philippines’ exports, 68% of the country’s imports, and 58% of FDI (foreign direct investments) in 2020,” the Department of Trade and Industry said.

According to Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, the benefits of participating in the RCEP outweigh the costs of not joining.

“The RCEP provides for a framework aimed at further lowering trade barriers, and securing improved market access for goods and services for businesses in the region characterized by a $2.3 billion potential consumer base, and a collective GDP that makes up almost 1/3 of the world’s GDP, global trade, and global inward foreign direct investments,” he said.

International trade law expert Anthony A. Abad considers participation in RCEP to be imperative and not optional. “For any self-respecting, internationalizing nation, you need to be part of these international trade agreements,” he said.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed the RCEP agreement on Sept. 2, and is now in the Senate for its concurrence. — Angelica Y. Yang