Free vax for senior citizens sought

November 14, 2024 | 9:03 pm

A BILL seeking to provide free vaccines for infectious diseases for senior citizens was filed at the House of Representatives on Monday.

House Bill (HB) No. 11055 proposes that the Department of Health and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) administer free vaccines against flu, whooping cough and herpes, while also including cervical cancer and tetanus vaccines under the suggested health program.

“Many diseases can have severe or even fatal effects on older adults, whose immune systems often become weaker as they age,” Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee, who authored the bill, said in a statement.

“That’s why vaccines are so important to prevent these illnesses, especially if they are made free and more accessible for all our senior citizens,” he added.

The measure’s goal aligns with the 2019 Universal Health Care Law, he said, noting the need to expand healthcare services for the elderly amid their increasing population. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

SMC’s PAREX told to harmonize project alignment with Pasig Esplanade

November 14, 2024 | 9:03 pm

THE Pasig River Expressway (PAREX) project faced new delays as the San Miguel Corp. (SMC) was told to harmonize the project with the government’s Pasig River Esplanade project, according to the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB).

This follows the expected submission of the final engineering drawings of the project by October which SMC has yet to submit, TRB Executive Director Alvin A. Carullo said.

“They have not submitted (the final design). Because it conflicts with the Pasig Esplanade of the DHSUD (Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development), the interagency for the Pasig Development. They have to harmonize the project,” Mr. Carullo told reporters on the sidelines of the Transport Conference 2024 on Thursday.

TRB has also requested the DHSUD to submit the detailed engineering design for the esplanade project to “harmonize” it with PAREX, Mr. Carullo said, noting that the DHSUD has requested the detailed engineering design by end of November.

DHSUD is one of the government agencies in the Inter-Agency Council for the Pasig River Urban Development, which the multi-agency tasked for the Pasig Bigyang Buhay Muli project.

“They need to adjust as per PAREX STOA (Supplemental Toll Operation Agreement). It’s indicated that the proponent is mandated to harmonize. If the government has new or other projects, they are mandated to harmonize,” he said.

To recall, the government inaugurated Phase 1C of the Pasig River Urban Development in June this year.

Earlier this year, TRB said that the construction of the P95-billion PAREX project is expected in 2025 or once the company secures an environmental compliance certificate.

“One of the predicaments right now is the issuance of the ECC (Environmental Compliance Certificate). It is now pending with the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources). Once it’s issued, (the project will move). As to us, what they need to submit is the project’s engineering design coupled with other government permits,” he added.

In March, SMC said it would abandon the 19.37-kilometer, six-lane, all-elevated expressway that traverses Pasig River amid public opposition given its impact on the environment.

However, merely two months after the announcement, the company said it was not abandoning the project and was trying to address concerns for PAREX to move forward. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

BIR seizes illicit cigarettes with P8.5-B tax liability

November 14, 2024 | 9:02 pm

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has confiscated illicit cigarettes with an estimated total tax liability reaching P8.5 billion in factory and warehouse raids in Bulacan and Valenzuela.

“A large criminal enterprise with a factory in Bulacan and three warehouses in Valenzuela City was simultaneously raided last week, uncovering 8.5 B(illion) in tax liabilities,” Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. said in a statement on Thursday.

This was the largest operation of the BIR against illicit cigarettes for 2024, he said.

The Bureau said a total of 11.51 million packs of illicit cigarettes were seized during the raid.

“BIR also seized raw materials, cigarette-making machines, and cigarette-packing machines,” it said.

Six Chinese nationals were also apprehended. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

‘Mindful parking practices’ bill filed

November 14, 2024 | 9:01 pm

A CONGRESSMAN on Thursday filed a bill seeking to outlaw the “unwholesome” practice of reserving parking spaces by standing at the House of Representatives.

House Bill (HB) No. 11076 seeks to penalize individuals who would stand and loiter in public parking spaces, levying a maximum fine of P10,000 and revocation of driver’s license for repeat offenders.

“This measure seeks to put an end to this practice by prohibiting the reservation of parking spaces through physical occupation by an individual,” Party-list Rep. Percival V. Cendaña said in the bill’s explanatory measure, which he filed on Nov. 14.

The scarcity of parking spaces in the Philippines have led motorists to resort to letting individuals stand on open parking lots to reserve the space, obstructing other cars from parking in it.

The measure mandates that private establishments implement parking policies and list penalties for individuals who would reserve the parking lot. Failure to install a parking policy could lead to a maximum fine of up to P50,000. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Peso slips vs dollar on concerns over Trump administration’s policies

November 14, 2024 | 9:00 pm

THE PESO slipped against the dollar on Thursday due to market worries over the Trump administration’s potential policies.

The local unit closed at P58.777 per dollar on Thursday, weakening by 4.2 centavos from its P58.735 finish on Wednesday, Bankers Association of the Philippines data showed.

The peso opened Thursday’s session weaker at P58.80 against the dollar. Its intraday best was at P58.75, while its worst showing was at P58.85 versus the greenback.

Dollars exchanged increased to $1.53 billion on Thursday from $1.43 billion on Wednesday.

The peso weakened as the market continued to reel from Donald J. Trump’s 2024 US presidential election win amid risks of higher US inflation, a trader said by phone.

Worries over the Trump administration’s policies also resulted in higher US Treasury yields, which supported the dollar, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in a Viber message.

For Friday, the trader sees the peso moving between P58.55 and P58.85 per dollar, while Mr. Ricafort sees it ranging from P58.65 to P58.85 against the greenback.

The US dollar stood at a one-year high against major peers on Thursday and headed for a fifth straight daily gain fueled by higher yields and Mr. Trump’s election victory in the United States, Reuters reported.

The greenback climbed above 156 yen for the first time since July and was last at 155.85 yen.

Higher trade tariffs and tighter immigration under the incoming Trump administration are projected to fuel inflation, potentially slowing the Federal Reserve’s rate cutting cycle longer term.

These, alongside expectations for deeper deficit spending and higher short term economic growth are lifting Treasury yields, providing the dollar with additional support.

The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield hit 4.483% on Thursday, its highest since July.

The President-elect’s Republican Party will control both houses of Congress when he takes office in January, Edison Research projected on Wednesday, giving him wide powers to push his agenda.

The US dollar index, which measures the currency against six top counterparts including the euro and yen, added 0.2% to 106.69, its highest since early November 2023.

The dollar had dipped briefly on Wednesday after a measure of US consumer inflation met economists’ forecasts, keeping the Fed on track to reduce rates at their meeting in December, though traders saw this as a buying opportunity. — A.M.C. Sy with Reuters

PSE index plunges to 6,500 level on Trump risks

November 14, 2024 | 9:00 pm

THE BELLWETHER INDEX plunged to the 6,500 level on Thursday due to increased net foreign selling amid worries over Donald J. Trump’s second term as US president.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) fell by 2.34% or 157.24 points to close at 6,557.09 on Thursday, while the broader all shares index declined by 2.94% or 111.84 points to end at 3,680.62.

The PSEi’s close on Thursday was an over three-month low as it was its worst finish since it ended at 6,549.27 on Aug. 8.

Thursday’s session was volatile, with the index opening at 6,730.38, up from Wednesday’s close of 6,714.33 and also its best showing for the day. The PSEi failed to hold on to its early gains as it closed at its intraday low.

“The local market extended its decline to a seventh straight day. Investors continued to exit the market amid the rise in both local and US long-term Treasury yields, as well as the weakness of the local currency against the dollar,” Philstocks Financial, Inc. Senior Research Analyst Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco said in a Viber message. “Ultimately, investors are still worried over the prospects of protectionist policies in the US and its impact on the global economy, especially on the Philippines.”

Net foreign selling increased to P2.05 billion on Thursday from P1.2 billion on Wednesday.

Asian stocks fell broadly on Thursday, while longer-dated US bond yields rose alongside the dollar as investors assessed the monetary policy and inflation outlook in the world’s largest economy, Reuters reported.

In the broader market, traders responded to a US inflation print that was in line with expectations by ramping up bets on a Federal Reserve rate cut next month, though the monetary policy outlook for 2025 and beyond was clouded by Mr. Trump’s return to office.

Mr. Trump’s plan for lower taxes and higher tariffs are expected to stoke inflation and reduce the Fed’s scope to ease interest rates, buoying the dollar.

Uncertainty over potentially larger US deficits and stickier inflation was reflected in longer-dated US bond yields, which pushed higher in Asia trade on Thursday.

“The PSEi extended its losses for a seventh straight session, impacted by the pullback in US equities,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan said in a Viber message. “Traders now await Thursday’s US producer price index and Friday’s retail sales data.”

All sectoral indices closed lower on Thursday. Mining and oil declined by 3.68% or 295.05 points to 7,707.13; property plunged by 3.42% or 88.08 points to 2,485.58; holding firms went down by 2.8% or 161.27 points to 5,598.40; industrials retreated by 2.46% or 229.20 points to 9,066.16; financials decreased by 1.76% or 38.66 points to 2,154.48; and services sank by 0.85% or 17.69 points to 2,053.97.

Value turnover rose to P7.53 billion on Thursday with 674.13 million issues traded from P6.94 billion with 592.15 million shares dealt on Wednesday.

Decliners overwhelmed advancers, 181 versus 35, while 38 names were unchanged. — R.M.D. Ochave with Reuters

Allowances for 4,000 frontliners in BARMM released

November 14, 2024 | 8:59 pm

COTABATO CITY — The Bangsamoro government has started releasing allowances for 4,000 frontliners involved in the mitigation efforts against the coronavirus pandemic in the autonomous region from 2020 to 2023.

Radio reports in Cotabato City on Thursday stated that among the recipients of the Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) are barangay volunteer emergency responders, personnel of different Army battalions and brigades, and members of units under the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PRO-BARMM).

The Ministry of Health-BARMM) started releasing on Monday the HEA from the national government, ranging from P3,000 to 9,000 per health worker, depending on the extent of services of each to the local communities during the pandemic.

Employees of the municipal and provincial health offices and hospitals are also covered by the HEA distribution, according to BARMM’s health minister, Kadil M. Sinolinding, Jr. — John Felix M. Unson

RSF: China marks ‘National Journalists Day’ to mask extreme crackdown on press freedom

November 14, 2024 | 8:59 pm

BAGUIO CITY — China marked its National Journalists Day on Nov. 8 “to mask its extreme crackdown on press freedom,” Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said, believing such “threatens the existence of independent journalism.”

From the torture of detained reporters to arbitrary detentions and systematic censorship and harassment, RSF cited five tactics used by the Chinese government against journalists in China.

Journalists are killed, mistreated and tortured, Cédric Alviani RSF’s Asia-Pacific Bureau Director said, further citing that violence committed by the Chinese government against journalists is widespread.

“The Chinese regime’s celebration of a ‘Journalists’ Day’ is fooling no one. Given this display of propaganda, it is essential to highlight that Beijing’s ruthless crackdown on press freedom is endangering journalism’s very existence in the country,” Mr. Alviani stressed.

“We call on the international community to increase pressure on the Chinese regime to stop violating the principles of press freedom enshrined in its constitution.”

RSF also noted that China is “(the) world’s largest jail for journalists,” placing at least 122 journalists and press freedom advocates in detention, including Chinese journalist Zhang Zhan, who spent four years in prison for her coverage of the coronavirus outbreak, and was recently criminally detained again for “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.”

RSF also cited harassment and surveillance of journalists covering sensitive topics. It cited the 2024 annual report by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China (FCCC) noting that “the vast majority (81%) of surveyed journalists believe that authorities have ‘possibly or definitely’ compromised their messaging app WeChat, while four out of five journalists said they had experienced interference, harassment, or violence.”

The Chinese government also was hard against foreign journalist, the RSF further noted, citing how the Chinese regime “is increasingly using a visa weaponization policy to limit access for foreign journalists.”

In the same FCCC’s 2024 survey, RSF said, “nearly one-third of journalists reported their newsrooms suffered staffing shortages due to an inability to recruit the necessary reporters.” — Artemio A. Dumlao

Baguio power rates down in November

November 14, 2024 | 8:58 pm

BAGUIO CITY — Member consumers of the Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) will have a little extra to spend as power rates for November decreased for all types of consumers.

From October’s P11.1373 per kilowatt hour (kWh), this month’s rates went down to P10.7362 per kWh for residential consumers, or a reduction of P0.4011 per kWh.

This is equivalent to a P1,079.23 worth of electric bill for households consuming 100 kWh, Laarni S. Ilagan, BENECO Consumer Relations Associate explained.

“The decrease is mainly due to the reduction in the generation charge component of the bill as a result of the electric cooperative’s participation in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM),” Fraiser P. Angayen, Non-Network Services Department manager at BENECO, said.

Mr. Angayen said that there was a P0.2803 per kWh decrease in generation charge. Additionally, the transmission charge also went down by P0.0018 per kWh and system loss charge by P0.0357 per kWh.

The generation and transmission charges are components of the power bill which are pass through charges. BENECO collects them from consumers, but they are remitted to the power supplier and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, respectively.

BENECO resumed its participation in the WESM last month. — Artemio A. Dumlao

DLSU Archers’ Quiambao joins Gilas training camp in Laguna

November 14, 2024 | 7:28 pm

UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao (KQ) of De La Salle University (DLSU) will shift from green to blue in the meantime to don the national colors for Gilas Pilipinas in the second window of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers next week.

Mr. Quiambao is prioritizing his national duties for now as he momentarily leaves the Green Archers to join the Gilas training camp in Laguna after being called up to the 15-man pool once again.

Mr. Quiambao will have his full availability for Gilas, which will face New Zealand and Hong Kong on Nov. 21 and 24 at the Mall of Asia Arena, as apart from the long break of the UAAP to give way to the FIBA window, La Salle has also wrapped up its campaign in the elimination rounds.

The Green Archers finished at No. 1 with a 12-2 slate with Mr. Quiambao, set for his second straight MVP plum, leading the way along with steady anchor Mike Phillips.

It’s the newest tour of duty for country’s top collegiate player right now after also playing for head coach Tim Cone in the first window and the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, where Gilas defied the odds by making it to the semifinals marked by a stunning win over world No. 6 Latvia.

Mr. Quiambao’s Gilas rerun will only make him a better player once he returns to the UAAP in a bid to guide La Salle to a title repeat.

La Salle mentor Topex Robinson echoes the same sentiment as the Green Archers stand to benefit from the national experience of their players come the UAAP playoffs.

“It’s going to be a win-win. KQ’s not going to be with us but try to also imagine the sacrifice that he has to make. There’s so much to gain. That’s one of our contributions to our national program,” said Mr. Robinson, once a player for Mr. Cone in the PBA with Alaska.

“Its a once in a lifetime opportunity. It’s just a testament of what this program is all about. You produce these players that get called up and their experience will benefit them and us. So, it’s really an honor for Kevin (Quiambao).” — John Bryan Ulanday

Kouame among 15 players called up for Gilas training

November 14, 2024 | 7:28 pm

WHILE Justin Brownlee is the main naturalized player, coach Tim Cone would prefer to have backup Ange Kouame in every Gilas Pilipinas training camp and hopefully, naturalization prospect Bennie Boatwright soon.

The Ivorian-born Kouame, who is currently playing for Meralco in the East Asia Super League, was among the 15 players called up for the sessions at Inspire Academy in Laguna that starts today ahead of next week’s FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.

“Ange (Kouame) is very important to us and we need him there so he can be ready to step in immediately (in the naturalized player slot), if necessary,” said Mr. Cone.

“Plus he is one of a few guys who can throw a body at June Mar (Fajardo) and get June Mar ready playing against bigger players. He has a very important role for us but he will most likely not be in the lineup because we expect Justin (Brownlee) to play both games (against New Zealand on the 21^stand Hong Kong on the 24^th).”

The 6-foot-11 Mr. Kouame, he shared, would have been a part of Gilas’ previous camp in the runup to the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Latvia last July if he was not tied up with his club in France then.

“We hope he’ll always be available,” said Mr. Cone.

“If, God forbid, something happens to Justin, we would be able to bring in Ange and he would know the system and what we ask of him. It’s important to have him as part of the program as much as possible as that backup as we wait for Bennie Boatwright to go through the process of his naturalization.”

While waiting for the wheels of the Philippine naturalization process to move, Mr. Boatwright is also recuperating from an Achilles injury.

“His papers got delayed because of issues that were going on in the government. And so he got put on the back burner. And so he’s not eligible yet,” said Mr. Cone.

“But we’re still waiting for him. And in the meantime, Ange (Kouame) is our backup. Bennie still can’t play until December anyway as he’s coming off an injury. But he is definitely a candidate for the February window. And we’ll take a look at that and see what happens then.” — Olmin Leyba

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