Good day. Here are the stories of The Manila Times for Wednesday, October 5, 2022.
TWO members of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s Cabinet have resigned from their posts, Malacañang said on Tuesday. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin confirmed that Press Secretary Rose Beatrix "Trixie" Cruz-Angeles and Commission on Audit (CoA) Chairman Jose Calida had filed their letter of resignation. In a statement, Cruz-Angeles said she tendered her resignation for "health reasons." Cruz-Angeles is the second Cabinet official who stepped down after Victor Rodriguez announced on Sept. 17, 2022, that he has resigned as executive secretary but will continue serving Marcos as his chief of staff. Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Hubert Guevara said the President is yet to appoint Cruz-Angeles' replacement. According to Guevarra, Marcos gave Cruz-Angeles a "thank you note" after her resignation. When asked if there are already names being considered to replace Cruz-Angeles, Guevarra said there was none. Earlier in the day, the President reappointed some of his Cabinet members who were bypassed by the Commission on Appointments. Cruz-Angeles was among the officials who were not on the list and not present during the ceremony. Rumors about Cruz-Angeles' quitting from her post circulated after Marcos' working visit to the United States. Meanwhile, Bersamin also confirmed that Calida has stepped down as CoA chairman, but he declined to answer when prodded about the reason for the latter's resignation.
READ: Marcos reappoints 11 Cabinet secretaries
PRESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has renewed the ad interim appointment of 11 Cabinet secretaries who have yet to get the nod of the Commission on Appointments (CA), Malacañang said on Tuesday. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin led the list of Cabinet officials who took their oath of office before Marcos on Tuesday. Bersamin replaced former executive secretary Victor Rodriguez who stepped down in September but stayed on as presidential chief of staff. The President also reappointed Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo, Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr., Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople, and Human Settlements Secretary Jose Acuzar. The CA was unable to tackle the ad interim appointments of more than 10 Cabinet officials due to lack of time. Congress will resume its session on November 7.
READ: P1M offered for arrest of Lapid killers
THE son of former Manila mayor Gemiliano "Mel" Lopez has offered P1 million reward to anyone who can provide vital information that will lead to the arrest of those behind the killing of veteran journalist Percival "Percy Lapid" Mabasa. Businessman and lawyer Alexander Lopez on Tuesday said Lapid's "relentless passion for truth and justice has become an equilibrium for preserving good governance and real public service in the national and local government." Lopez condemned the killing of the 63-year-old Lapid and called on law enforcers for the speedy administration of justice.
READ: Gov't releases P1B for health workers' incentives
MORE than 50,000 health workers will benefit from the release of more than P1 billion earmarked for their special risk allowance (SRA), according to the Department of Health (DoH). Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on Tuesday said the DBM has released the special allotment release order or SARO of P1.04 billion to the DoH on Monday. The DBM said qualified health workers will receive a grant of P5,000 per month for services they rendered during the national emergency. Qualified health workers refer to medical, allied medical and other personnel assigned to hospitals and health care facilities who are directly catering to or in contact with Covid-19 patients, persons under investigation or persons under monitoring. The DBM said the release of the funding for the Covid-19 is in accordance with Republic Act (RA) 11494 or the "Bayanihan to Recover As One Act." RA 11494 mandates provision of allowances and benefits to all public and private health workers catering to or are in contact with Covid-19 patients.
READ: Boosters key to 'merry Christmas' – expert
AN infectious disease expert urged Filipinos to get their booster shots and follow the minimum health protocols, especially the vulnerable, so that the country will enjoy the holiday season with decreased Covid-19 cases. The country reported more than 16,017 cases of Covid-19 during the week of September 26 to October 2 or an average of 2,288 cases per day, 10 percent lower than the week of September 19 to 25, according to the Department of Health (DoH). In a briefing on Tuesday, DoH Technical Advisory Group member Dr. Edsel Maurice Salvaña said that he is hopeful that the country will have a low number of transmissions just like what happened in December 2021, which reported cases of lower than 200 cases per day before the Omicron surge.
READ: Sta. Lucia vows to defend Vista Real homeowners
STA. LUCIA Realty and Development Inc. promised homeowners of Vista Real Classica, a subdivision in Quezon City, that they will not be evicted despite the grant of a writ of execution in favor of another real estate developer by a regional trial court. In a letter to the 19 affected homeowners, Sta. Lucia Realty, the developer of Vista Real Classica and a division of the publicly traded Sta. Lucia Land Inc. of billionaire Exequiel Robles, said that it is making every effort within the law to address the case and safeguard the homeowners' interests.
BUSINESS: APAC optimistic on e-commerce growth
Over to business, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and consumers in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) are optimistic about future growth in e-commerce in the region and the future innovations in digital technology, according to a research commissioned by FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. The "What's Next in E-Commerce" survey polled SMEs and consumers in 11 markets in the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa region (AMEA) in July 2022 on the continuing evolution of e-commerce in the regions and identified trends that could fuel future growth. The results were released on Sept. 26, 2022. The survey revealed that consumers are looking for innovations in personalization, "shoppertainment" and payment options that enhance their experience while making it easier for them to discover new brands and make purchasing convenient.
SPORTS: Beermen begin quest for back-to-back titles
Topping sports, newly-crowned PBA Philippine Cup champion San Miguel Beer makes its much-awaited debut in the Commissioner's Cup when it collides with unpredictable Blackwater today, October 5, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Fresh from their 4-3 Finals conquest of the TNT Tropang Giga in their all-Filipino title series several weeks ago, the Beermen begin their quest for back-to-back championships against the Bossing today at 3 p.m. SMB though had to make a last-minute change of import as original choice, NBA veteran Thomas Robinson has complained of having back spasms. In order not to risk the health of Robinson, the fifth overall pick of the Sacramento Kings in the 2012 NBA Draft, he will be replaced by Diamond Stone. Listed at 6-10, Stone comes in also with plenty of NBA experience, having been drafted in the second round of the 2016 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Pelicans and later, seeing action for the LA Clippers. As it is, San Miguel is already a force to be reckoned with owing to the presence of six-time league MVP June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Chris Ross, Vic Manuel, Marcio Lassiter and Simon Enciso. Blackwater coach Ariel Vanguardia is well aware of the Beermen's immense firepower, a reason why they have made their own adjustments and preparations in an effort to counter SMB.
Rigoberto Tiglao and Fr. Ranhilio Aquino are today's front page columnists. Tiglao continues his criticism of a judge's decision favoring Communist rebels, while Fr. Aquino ponders when poverty is holy.
Today's editorial tackles the Department of Energy's rational approach to nuclear energy. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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For The Manila Times, this is Kim Isabelle Dignadice.