Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Monday, February 7, 2022, brought to you by Wilcon Depot, the country's leading home improvement and construction supplies retailer. Shop conveniently 24/7 with the Wilcon online store, just go to shop.wilcon.com.ph.
READ: Bets ready for race
Election candidates will hit the hustings Tuesday for the official start of campaigning, with the son and namesake of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos leading the presidential race. Political scions, celebrities and ex-convicts are among the contenders vying for more than 18,000 posts in the May 9 polls, with most interest on the contest to succeed President Rodrigo Duterte. More than 35 years after the Philippines emerged from his father's dictatorship, voter surveys show Ferdinand Marcos Jr. heading towards a landslide victory as a massive social media campaign cranks up support and, critics say, whitewashes the clan's history. Boosted by a formidable alliance with first daughter and vice presidential candidate Sara Duterte, Marcos has vowed "to unify the country and give our fellowmen the future that they deserve." Efforts to disqualify Marcos over a decades-old tax conviction sparked a public spat between election officials, while allegations of cocaine snorting and corruption among presidential candidates have fueled a political atmosphere of chaos and skullduggery. As usual, personality will trump politics for many of the roughly 65 million voters deciding who to support.
READ: Pediatric vaccines' safety assured as rollout begins
THE Department of Health (DoH) repeated its assurance that vaccines against Covid-19 to be administered to children between five and 11 years old are safe and effective. The pilot rollout for the pediatric shots is set for today, February 7, with the nationwide rollout scheduled a week later. The Food and Drug Administration has granted emergency use authorization for Pfizer's reformulated vaccine. Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said in a radio interview Sunday the Pfizer vaccine will only contain 10 micrograms in a 0.2 milliliter (mL) dose, compared to the 30 micrograms for a 0.3 mL dose given to minors ages 12 to 17. Five to 11-year-olds will still receive two doses, 21 days apart, Cabotaje said.
READ: Brothers vow family-centered public service in Novaliches
BROTHERS Alfred and Patrick Michael "PM" Vargas promise a family-centered brand of public service in Novaliches, Quezon City if they win in the May elections. Alfred, who is on his third term as representative of Novaliches, the city's fifth district, will be running for councilor, while incumbent councilor PM will run as the district representative. The brothers, who guested at The Manila Times' "Lights, Camera, Boto!" interview show on Sunday, assured their constituents that they will continue with the "Alagang Vargas," their unique way of serving. Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, they aim to continue providing programs related to health, job creation and employment, education, and housing. Alfred, who had initially declared to take a break from politics after his third term in the House of Representatives, said public clamor pushed him to continue serving the people of Novaliches as a councilor. He said he was planning a life away from politics with his wife, but he could not resist the call to serve.
READ: Quiboloy sect links wanted poster to elections
THE lawyer of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KoJC) has linked the release of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) wanted poster of KoJC executive pastor Apollo Quiboloy to the national elections in May. A United States federal grand jury indicted Quiboloy on sex trafficking and other charges on Nov. 10, 2021 and a warrant for his arrest was issued on the same day. Quiboloy is widely acknowledged to be the longtime spiritual adviser of President Rodrigo Duterte. In a press conference Sunday, Ferdinand Topacio questioned the delay in publishing the FBI poster.
BUSINESS: Listed firms disbursed P402-B cash dividends
Over to business, the cash dividends paid out by publicly listed companies (PLCs) ended higher last year, data from the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) showed. PSE said the cash dividends of PLCs stood at P402.18 billion in 2021, 17.3-percent more than the P342.88 billion disbursed in 2020. The amount translates to 2.58 percent and 2.5 percent of dividend yields, respectively. PSE President and Chief Executive Officer Ramon Monzon, in a statement, said the gradual reopening of the economy allowed companies to achieve better income levels, resulting in higher dividends.
SPORTS: PBA Rookie Draft pushed back to May
In sports, after being idle for more than a month following the surge of Covid-19 cases in the early part of the year, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) has decided to push back not only the ongoing Governors' Cup but also its annual Rookie Draft. Originally set this April, the league will hold the Rookie Draft in May instead, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said. League chairman Ricky Vargas was happy to learn that this early, there had been numerous inquiries on the coming draft, particularly Fil-foreign applicants.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Rigoberto Tiglao and Fr. Ranhilio Aquino are today's front page columnists. Tiglao asks if Washington is funding the so-called "turncoatism" of presidential aspirant Manila mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso, while Fr. Aquino discusses retirement.
Today's editorial believes that the government's vaccination policies need to be grounded in science. Read a full version on the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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On behalf of The Manila Times, this is Aric John Sy Cua reporting. Have a safe week ahead.