Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Monday, November 1, 2021.
READ: Marcos tops street surveys in Mindanao
FORMER senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. continues to solidify his foothold in Mindanao as shown by street surveys where he remained the top choice of those polled, his camp claimed on Sunday. It said that the series of Kalye (street) Surveys conducted recently by vloggers in different areas in Mindanao showed Marcos edging out other presidential candidates. Marcos is running under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas banner. He has yet to pick his running mate. In the Kalye Surveys conducted by vloggers of Bugwak TV in Butuan City, Gingoog, Misamis Oriental, and Surigao City, Marcos was the "preferred candidate of the working class." Bugwak vloggers roamed busy streets, bus terminals, marketplaces, and randomly approached individuals or groups of people and asked them to choose from a list of presidential candidates.
READ: It's time for Alert Level 2 – Concepcion
WITH the country's vaccination efforts ramped up and the average daily cases of Covid-19 at a steady decline, it is time the government's pandemic task force consider further easing quarantine restrictions in the National Capital Region (NCR) by the second half of November, according to Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Maria "Joey" Concepcion 3rd. Under Alert Level 2, outdoor activities of businesses with a safety seal will be allowed at 80 percent capacity. Concepcion said that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) should place Metro Manila under Alert Level 2 by November 15 to further help businesses recoup their losses from the pandemic. He cited the National Economic and Development Authority's projections that if the government loosens restrictions further, the country's gross domestic product would grow by P3.6 billion and generate some 16,000 jobs.
READ: Robredo unfazed by trolls
VICE President Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo said that trolls do not affect her. In an interview in Camarines Norte over the weekend Robredo said trolls are wasting their time on her. Robredo was asked for her reaction to the black propaganda she faced after she declared her presidential bid. She said has been ignoring fake news stories about her for the last five and half years. Robredo said she just focuses on her work since reacting to fake news was a waste of time and emotion. Robredo and her running mate, Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, vowed good governance that prioritizes the people's welfare.
READ: Lacson backs joint ventures with China
SEN. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson said he is open to Manila entering a joint venture agreement with Beijing in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) so long as China follows the 60-40 provision in the Philippine Constitution. During "Meet the Presidentiables: Economic Reforms in the New Frontier" business forum organized by the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines in cooperation with the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc., The Manila Times and other partner media organizations, Lacson, who is running for president in the 2022 elections, said this would show that the Philippines "owns and has sovereign rights" in the disputed waters.
READ: Lacson bares economic roadmap
Meanwhile, in that same forum, Lacson pledged an economic roadmap that can withstand shocks and challenges if he wins in the presidential race. He lamented that the pandemic reversed the country's gains in the past years "and magnified the already intrinsic problems that we face as a country". Economic recovery, he stressed, is closely tied to the people's health.
READ: Why Carl Balita is running for the Senate
The Manila Times has interviewed entrepreneur and radio personality Carl Balita on his ventures into the senatorial race in 2022. Balita will run for the Senate under the platforms of health, livelihood, and knowledge.
READ: DoH sees happier Christmas
AS more Filipinos are getting vaccinated against Covid-19 and with adolescents also getting protective jabs, an official of the Department of Health (DoH) said that Filipinos will likely have a happy Christmas. Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje reported that 60 percent of the target 77 million population have received their first jab, while around 50 percent have been fully vaccinated. She added that the country has ample supply of vaccines to fully vaccinate at least 60 percent of the target population. The official said that it "swapped" 300,000 doses of Moderna vaccines from the private sector that will expire on November 30.
BUSINESS: Inflation likely still elevated in October
Over to business, inflation likely continued to be elevated in October due to the increase in the prices of some food items, fuel and electricity, economists polled by The Manila Times said. Projections for the month ranged from 4.7 to 5.0 percent with a 4.8-percent average, matching the figure recorded in September. Inflation in October last year settled at 2.5 percent. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas earlier said inflation will likely settle at 4.5 to 5.3 percent.
SPORTS: Avaricio resumes drive for elusive win at Aoki
In sports, twice foiled in her breakthrough bid, Chanelle Avaricio hopes to finally nail it this time — sans her two-time tormentor — as she top-bills the ICTSI Aoki Classic at Eagle Ridge, which unwraps on Wednesday, November 3 in General Trias, Cavite. The Alabama State U alumna barely missed scoring her first win at Sherwood Hills, falling short by one to Princess Superal, then losing by three to her again at Eagle Ridge-Norman, both last July, before play on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour was suspended due to the spike of coronavirus cases in NCR Plus.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Rigoberto Tiglao and Fr. Ranhilio Aquino are today's front page columnists. Tiglao discusses the Aztec origins behind All Soul's Day, while Fr. Aquino talks about the dream of immortality.
Today's editorial believes health care underspending is slowing down the country's anti-Covid-19 vaccine drive. Read a full version on the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
For more news and information, get a copy of The Manila Times on print, subscribe to its digital edition or log on to www.manilatimes.net. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and Keep Up With The Times.
On behalf of The Manila Times, this is Aric John Sy Cua reporting. Have a safe All Saint's Day holiday.