Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Monday, October 11, 2021.

READ: Ease restrictions in NCR – Concepcion

THE slow but steady drop in Covid-19 infections in the National Capital Region (NCR) should lead to the further easing of quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila in time for the Christmas season, Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship Jose Maria "Joey" Concepcion 3rd said. He added the downtrend in new Covid-19 cases and the reopening of more businesses should be reason enough for the alert level to be reduced to Level 3 or 2. The NCR is under Alert Level 4 until October 15.

READ: OCTA sees drop of Covid cases

DAILY Covid-19 cases in the country might average less than 10,000 this week, as the virus continues its downturn, according to a member of the independent OCTA Research. Dr. Guido David said in a television interview Sunday the average has been hovering at 11,000 cases, but it could drop to less than 10,000 soon. David also said the Covid-19 reproduction rate in the National Capital Region (NCR) or Metro Manila was now 0.6, with a seven-day average at 2,000. As the reproduction rate drops, the hospital bed utilization could ease up, he said.

READ: Robredo: People's support convinced me to run

VICE President Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo said the support from the people assured her that she made the right decision to run for president in the 2022 elections. Robredo, who filed her certificate of candidacy for president last Thursday, October 7, said during her weekly radio show Sunday all her doubts about seeking the presidency were erased by the overwhelming show of support from the people. She requested the volunteers backing her to go beyond their usual circles in spreading her message. She said that before she made her mind up to run for president, she tried her best to form a united opposition ticket. Her group was already assessing who among the candidates have the same stand as she does on key issues. But that did not happen, Robredo said. She also acknowledged that 1Sambayan nominating her as its presidential candidate had influenced her decision in a big way.

READ: Irresponsible use of technology can undermine polls — Lacson

SEN. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson has voiced concern on the irresponsible use of technology and social media, warning that it can pose a threat to the elections next year and lead to the breakdown of society. The senator, Partido Reporma chairman and standard-bearer, said the people who rely too much on different social media networks for their daily news and information needs "must learn how to use them responsibly to avoid a possible collapse of civil society." Lacson was alarmed by speculations on tech-induced electoral fraud, which is why Partido Reporma has been actively working and cooperating with other political parties to ensure the integrity of the upcoming 2022 elections. Representatives of political parties had a briefing with former Information and Communications Technology secretary Eliseo Rio and other cybersecurity experts to establish ways on how to protect the source code of electronic voting machines.

READ: Actor faces raps for ramming police car

ACTOR Jake Cuenca will be charged after crashing his car into a police vehicle in Mandaluyong City, triggering a car chase, the city's police said on Sunday. Eastern Police District director BGen. Matthew Bacay said police were on an anti-drug mission on Silangan Street in Barangay Barangka Ibaba Saturday night when a black Wrangler Jeep smashed into one of their vehicles before hitting a safety barrier. The Jeep did not stop, prompting police to give chase. The pursuing officers started shooting at the vehicle to disable it, Bacay said. One of the shots fired hit a passing motorcycle delivery rider. The chase ended on Shaw Boulevard in Pasig City. When the officers approached the vehicle they found that the driver was Cuenca, Bacay said in a radio interview.

BUSINESS: Govt debt payments plunge in August

Over to business, lower amortization expenses reduced the national government's debt servicing in August compared to payments made a year earlier, according to figures released by the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr). In August, debt payments totaled P75.08 billion, down 50.72 percent from P152.39 billion a year ago.

SPORTS: Saso at joint 2nd in Founders Cup

Topping sports, Filipino golfer Yuka Saso boosted her chances of winning her second professional title, as she moved to joint second after the third round of the Cognizant Founders Cup on Sunday, October 10 (Philippine time) at the Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell, New Jersey. After finishing the fog-halted second round with a 1-under 70, Saso fired 4-under 67 in the third for a total of 9-under 204 in the tournament. Saso, who also carded 4-under 67 in the opener, hit birdies on the fifth, sixth, eighth, 14th, and 15th holes against just one bogey on the 17th. The reigning US Women's Open champion is four strokes behind South Korean leader Ko Jin Young, who shot 2-under 69 in the third round to total 13-under 200.

READ: Opinion and editorial

Rigoberto Tiglao and Fr. Ranhilio Aquino are today's front page columnists. Tiglao claims the United States used the Nobel Prize to demonize President Rodrigo Duterte, while Fr. Aquino shares a note from the Philippine College of Jurisconsults.

Today's editorial celebrates The Manila Times' 123rd anniversary. Read a full version on the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.

READ: Anniversary issue Today's issue commemorates the Times' 123rd anniversary. In line with that, a special supplement comes with this issue. Read a version of our supplement on the Times' print, digital and online editions.

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On behalf of The Manila Times, this is Aric John Sy Cua reporting. Have a safe week ahead.