New PCL Officers take oath before Gov. Gonzaga

On Monday (August 15, 2022), the new set of officers of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) Davao de Oro Chapter formally took their oath of office before Governor Dorothy Montejo Gonzaga, indicating the start of their official term in office.

"Our heartfelt congratulations to our newly minted officers of PCL, I know how difficult the task ahead is for you ... carrying the burden of providing the best legislation para sa atong katawhan. Sa inyung grupo karun makita gyud nako nga puhon ang PCL DdO chapter will be recognized as one of the best PCL chapters in the Philippines," Gov Gonzaga said. 

It can be recalled that on August 10–12, 2022, the PCL Davao de Oro Chapter, in coordination with DILG Davao de Oro, conducted the PCL Provincial Federation Election at the Grand Menseng Hotel in Davao City where Hon. Jammaila Villena Budac of the Municipality of Mabini was elected as the new PCL President after casting a total of 111 votes.

New PCL President Budac led her officers during the swearing-in ceremony right after the convocation and flag-raising rites held in front of the Executive building, Capitol grounds.

In her statement, she underscored that the governing body solemnly swears to perform the assigned duties, obligations, and responsibilities associated with holding public office to deliver genuine public service to the constituents they serve. She also reiterated that the league would do its best to formulate and implement legislation that would contribute to the continuing development of the province.

Meanwhile, other PCL officers who took the oath were Maco Councilor Madie Carl Richie C. Sahid as Vice-President, Pantukan Councilor Hannie Jean T. Elisan as Secretary-General, Montevista Councilor Maria Teresa D. Zamora as Treasurer, Nabunturan Councilor Francis P. Secuya as Auditor, Mabini Councilor Isabelo D. Perez Jr. as P.R.O. and Maragusan Councilor Keith B. Yanong as Business manager.

Moreover, the Provincial Federation Directors composed of Monkayo Councilor Joy Cabag, Maragusan Councilor Ariel Seno, Mawab Councilor Bob Mirasol, New Bataan Councilor Merymarlith Balbin, Nabunturan Councilor Mila Cezarina Sotto, Laak Councilor Emeterio Abellanida Jr., Montevista Councilor Roberto Requillo and Maco Councilor Jonathan Calzada.

As a strong team of local legislators, the PCL DdO chapter remains at the forefront of current and emerging trends and developments in local governance in order to improve constituents' quality of life through executing efficient legislation. (PAO-IPRD DdO)

Remittances total $15.3 B in H1

by Lee C. Chipongian, Manila Bulletin

Cash remittances via banks increased by 2.9 percent to $15.35 billion in the first six months from $14.92 billion same period last year, based on Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data.

Remittances also transferred through the formal banking system for the month of June only rose 4.4 percent to $2.75 billion versus $2.64 billion in 2021.

The BSP said on Monday, Aug. 15, that the growth in cash remittances came from the higher receipts from land-based and sea-based overseas Filipinos.

Land-based workers remitted $2.2 billion in June, up by 4.9 percent from $2.1 billion same time last year. Sea-based workers, meanwhile, reported unchanged remittances of $500 million for both periods. The data includes land-based workers who have work contracts of one year or more, and sea- and land-based workers with work contracts of less than one year.

“In terms of country source, the growth in cash remittances from the United States (US), Saudi Arabia, Japan, Qatar, and Singapore contributed largely to the increase in remittances in the first half of 2022,” according to the BSP.

Overseas Filipinos in the US accounted for 41.1 percent of total cash remittances. Other country sources are Saudi Arabia, Japan, Qatar, and Singapore.

The BSP said personal remittances of overseas Filipinos as of end-June increased by 2.8 percent to $17.09 billion compared to $16.62 billion in 2021.

For June only, personal remittances grew by 4.4 percent to $3.1 billion from $2.9 billion.

Personal remittances are the sum of the net compensation of overseas Filipinos, personal transfers and capital transfers between households.

The increase in personal remittances was due to remittances sent by land-based workers with work contracts of one year or more, and sea- and land-based workers with work contracts of less than one year, noted the BSP.

How households with overseas Filipino remittances as source of income make use of these funds is monitored by the BSP through its Consumer Expectations Survey.

The quarterly survey said that for the second quarter, 97.5 percent of surveyed households with overseas Filipinos indicated that remittance proceeds were used for food and other household needs, while 58.4 percent and 53.4 percent apportioned their remittances for education and medical expenses, respectively.

In 2021, cash remittances increased by 5.1 percent year-on-year to a record high of $31.42 billion but was off the expected six percent growth for the year.

The central bank expects cash remittances to increase by four percent this year.

BLACKPINK to make debut performance at 2022 MTV VMAs with ‘Pink Venom’

by Jonathan Hicap, Manila Bulletin

K-pop girl group BLACKPINK will be rocking the stage at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), which will be held on Aug. 28 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

The VMAs and BLACKPINK made the announcement on Aug. 15.

“We are SO excited to announce @BLACKPINK will be making their debut on the #VMAs stage!!! Catch their performance of ‘Pink Venom’ LIVE on Sunday 8/28 at 8p on @MTV!” VMAs posted on Twitter.

BLACKPINK also tweeted, “We’re performing at the 2022 #VMAs.”

“Pink Venom” is BLACKPINK’s pre-release single that will be released on Aug. 19.

“Their new song ‘Pink Venom’ which will be pre-released on the 19th is a song that portrays BLACKPINK’s charms in an intense way,” said YG Entertainment, according to the YG blog.

BLACKPINK’s comeback studio album “Born Pink” will be released on Sept. 16 and they will embark on their world tour with a scale of 1.5 million people.

BLACKPINK the Virtual is nominated for Best Metaverse Performance while Lisa’s “Lalisa” is nominated for Best K-pop at the VMAs.

Positivity rates in 8 provinces down

By Franco Jose C. Baroña

(UPDATE) THE weekly positivity rates have decreased in at least eight provinces in Luzon where Covid-19 cases might have already peaked, the independent monitoring group OCTA Research said on Monday.

Pampanga recorded the biggest decrease in weekly positivity rate from 35 percent on August 6 down to 26 percent on August 13.

Positivity rates also went down in Benguet (from 22 percent to 21.6 percent), Cavite (21.1 percent to 18.2 percent), Isabela (47.6 percent to 46.5 percent), Laguna (33.2 percent to 29.5 percent), Pangasinan (25 percent to 21.6 percent), Quezon (25.1 percent to 22.1 percent), and Zambales (28.6 percent to 24 percent).

Positivity rate refers to the percentage of people who were found positive for Covid-19 among the total number of individuals tested.

However, aside from Cavite which has been reduced to a "moderate" positivity rate, these provinces, together with six others (Albay, Cagayan, Camarines Sur, La Union, Nueva Ecija and Tarlac), continue to have "very high" Covid-19 positivity rates.

Meanwhile, OCTA fellow Dr. Guido David reported that the one-week growth rate of Covid-19 cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) decreased to -1 percent on Sunday.

David said that NCR's growth rate was at 9 percent as of August 7.

He pointed out that this development may mean that the Covid-19 infections in the NCR are beginning to dip.

"This could be the start of a downward trend, although the one-week growth rate will have to decrease even further (e.g., -50 percent) to see significant decreases in daily new cases in the NCR," David said.

Covid positivity up in Visayas, Mindanao

He said the NCR's Covid-19 cases may have already peaked with its weekly positivity rate dropping to 16.4 percent on August 12, from 17.5 percent on August 6.

As of Saturday, August 13, the NCR's positivity rate was at 16.2 percent from the 17.4 percent recorded on August 6.

David also said on Monday that the NCR's reproduction number — or the number of people infected by one case — also went down to 1.15 on August 11 from 1.21 on August 4.

The average daily attack rate (ADAR) in NCR also decreased slightly to 8.70 per 100,000 population on Saturday from 8.77 on August 7.

Covid positivity rate in NCR dips

ADAR refers to the incidence showing the average number of new cases in a period per 100,000 people.

NCR's health care utilization, however, had an uptick on August 13 at 37 percent from 36 percent on August 8. Its intensive care unit occupancy, on the other hand, remained at 31 percent over the same period.

David said the NCR is still at moderate risk for Covid-19.

Davao Light to build digital substation in Panabo

INVESTING IN TECHNOLOGY  Davao Light president and COO Rodger Velasco (fourth from right) and Panabo City Mayor Jose Relampagos (third from right) lead the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Panabo City Substation on Tuesday, July 26, 2022. They are joined by other Davao Light executives and Panabo City officials. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

By Leander C. Domingo, Manila Times

A NEW digital substation in Panabo City, Davao del Norte, will be built by the AboitizPower subsidiary Davao Light and Power Co. Inc. (Davao Light).

According to Janelle Jacinto, AboitizPower Corporate Branding and Communication unit head, Davao Light is setting up the substation in Panabo City, their fourth facility. The Panabo substation will have a capacity of 33 megavolt-amperes.

"Davao Light is set to build this new digital substation in Panabo City due to the growing population and economic activity in the area," she said.

Jacinto said this new facility is more than three times that of the existing substation in Cagangohan in Panabo City. It can also be remotely monitored and controlled, leading to faster and safer troubleshooting.

Davao Light president and chief operating officer Rodger Velasco said they are determined to supply reliable electricity and remain a partner in the progress of the communities they serve.

Oil companies to lower pump prices

By Ed Paolo Salting, Manila Times

On Tuesday, August 16, 2022, Pilipinas Shell, Seaoil, Cleanfuel and PetroGazz will cut their diesel prices by P1.05 per liter and gasoline by 10 centavos per liter.

Pilipinas Shell and Seaoil said they will lower the cost of kerosene by 45 centavos per liter.

This will be the seventh consecutive week of price rollback for diesel .

Based on the Department of Energy's oil monitoring, as of August 9, 2022, oil companies have reduced the prices of gasoline by P2.10 per liter, diesel by P2.20 per liter and kerosene by P2.55 per liter.