A 2 News THURSDAY October 22, 2015 150,000 kids in Luzon displaced by‘Lando’ M BY MICHAEL JOE DELIZO REPORTER ORE than 150,000 kids were affected by Typhoon Lando, which recently steamrolled Central Luzon and Northern Luzon, according to Save The Children, a Makati City-based humanitarian organization. The group on Wednesday said the children are staying in cramped evacuation centers, having been displaced by massive flooding in their respective communities. It has mounted an emergency response that gives priority to relief support, education, health and child protection in the affected areas with a commitment to stay there for three to six months. “The typhoon continues to put more children at risk, and we are now very concerned about their safety with severe flooding being reported. We expect that the worst affected families will face prolonged stay in evacuation centers, and this raises our concern considering such spaces are usually unsuitable for vulnerable children to live in for an extended period of time, because of limited hygiene and sanitation facilities,” Ned Olney, country director for the Philippines of Save The Children, said. The group aims to come to the aid of 8,000 households in the worst affected areas. It said it is preparing an initial 1,000 relief kits for dispatch to Aurora, Bulacan and Pampanga, three of the provinces hit the hardest by Lando. The Save The Children will also be sending emergency supplies to the most vulnerable families affected by the typhoon such as tarpaulins to serve as emergency shelters; basic household kits containing kitchen utensils, mosquito nets and sleeping mats; water items, including water purification tablets; and household kits with soaps, towels and toothbrushes. The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) has also expressed concern about the plight of children especially in remote areas of the country. “Unicef’s first priority is to ensure children are safe and protected. Following a typhoon, children face risks from contaminated water sources, lack of food, and epidemics such as cholera, hypothermia, diarrhea and pneumonia. Second, we must ensure that the rhythms of children’s lives,” Philippine Representative Lotta Sylwander said. The typhoon’s “slow-moving path includes mountainous and hard-to-reach areas [and] we are concerned about the well-being of all affected children there. Unicef is ready to move with response as soon as asked by the government.” Save The Children said it has to raise $2.8 million to replenish its supplies. OFW advocate is Binay party’s guest candidate AN overseas Filipino worker (OFW) advocate has accepted an offer of the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) to be the latter’s guest candidate for the 2016 elections. Susan “Toots” Ople, also the lone senatorial bet of the Nacionalista Party (NP), on Wednesday said she is also open to other endorsements, as long as these are based on a keen interest in and appreciation of her cause to promote the rights and welfare of OFWs. Ople is running on a platform that is focused on OFW and labor rights. “I am in this race because I have ideas to share and concerns to raise. My father had always waged his political campaigns based on issues, not personalities. I shall endeavor to do the same, no matter how difficult that may be given the weird political environment that we are in,” she said. Susan is the youngest daughter of the late former senator and Labor and Foreign Affairs secretary Blas F. Ople. The decision to accept UNA’s offer came after Ople met with Sen. Gregorio Honasan, the vicepresidential candidate of UNA standard-bearer Jejomar Binay, last Monday in Quezon City. Honasan, Vicente Sotto and Tessie Aquino-Oreta were together in the Senate with then-fellow senator Ople. Honasan “gave me advice and I felt his sincerity all throughout our conversation. He also understands and appreciates my predicament because the NP has not just one, but three members vying for the vice presidency. He emphasized that the offer came without any conditions from UNA. We agreed to collaborate on certain issues, particularly on global security concerns that now have an impact on the lives of our OFWs,” Ople said. In particular, the labor advocate expressed concern over the plight of more than a thousand Filipinos, mostly women domestic workers, still in war-torn Syria. The Russian government has been reported to be aggressively using its air power to back embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against various rebel groups including those influenced by the ISIS. “Lives of Filipinos overseas hang in the balance in conflictaffected countries such as Libya, Syria and Iraq. Let’s keep tabs on them, and beef up resources for our embassies to be able to protect them,” Ople said. The senatorial aspirant from Bulacan also urged the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA) to offer calamity assistance to OFW families affected by Typhoon Lando. Her hometown of Hagonoy, Bulacan, is among those affected by floodwaters from Pampanga. “With billions in membership funds, OWWA has the capability to assist its members and their families direly affected by this recent calamity. Certainly, it can mobilize its regional offices to spearhead relief operations, and as a clearing house of information for OFWs who are unable to contact their families in calamity-stricken areas,” Ople said. She received the Hero Acting to End Modern-Day Slavery Award from the US State Department in 2013. Ople was also conferred with the Alumni Achievement Award from the Kennedy School of Government-Harvard University in 2010. She is the only national candidate running on a platform against human trafficking, and for the protection of OFW rights and welfare. “This is a 24/7 concern of mine,” Ople said. 2 Chinese diplomats UNDER INVESTIGATION Two Chinese nationals, a consular officer (left) and her husband (right, with handcuffs), suspects in the shooting of Chinese consul general Song Ronghua at a restaurant, talk to an interpreter at a police station in Cebu City. AFP PHOTO gunman casually walked into the restaurant and fired at the victims. Santander said Gou was also arrested after witnesses said she took the pistol that Li allegedly left on the table before he fled. A local police official, meanwhile, said they were prohibited by higher headquarters (Camp Crame I Quezon City) from making further statements as the incident involves “national security.” Another police source said they are yet to determine the motive behind the attack but apparently the suspects and the victims knew each other. Stephen John Patero, the restaurant manager, said the shooting happened in a private room of the upmarket restaurant, a favorite of local politicians. “We did not really see the actual shooting. They were inside a private function room. There was a series of gunshots,” Patero told Agence France-Presse by phone. But, according to him, waiters who served them beforehand had heard the guests shouting at each other. “They are all friends who appar- ently figured in an argument,” he said, citing the waiters. A spokesman at the Chinese Embassy in Manila, Li Lingxiao, said she could not comment immediately. “Our embassy is still verifying the facts. We’ll update you as soon as I have anything new,” Li said in a text message. Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said he also had no comment, as authorities were still determining what happened. WITH BERNICE CAMILLE V. BAUZON AND AFP n GIVING UP FROM A1 Cayetano: I’m not giving up on Duterte According to the Commission on Elections’ 2016 elections schedule, the last day for the substitution of candidates is on December 10. Cayetano said Duterte had told him in a telephone conversation that “it’s only God who knows if I will become President, and then there is still December.” Duterte did not show up at the Comelec main offices in Intramu- EDUCATION Secretary Armin Luistro has warned public school teachers nationwide against involving themselves in partisan politics as the 2016 election nears. He noted that public school teachers, including school heads, should remain non-partisan and continue to uphold neutrality during elections. “We [at DepEd] have always reminded our teachers not to participate in partisan politics and to be models of professionalism at all times but most especially in these months as we near the election period,” Luistro told this reporter in a text interview on Wednesday. The DepEd chief also asked candidates not to use the teachers to advance their political interests. “At the same time we appeal to our candidates for local and national positions to keep our teachers free from pressure and partisan interference. Our teachers have election duties that we need to keep beyond reproach,” Luistro said. For the past years, public school teachers had been deputized as poll workers as mandated by the law. The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) in an earlier statement called on the government to make election duties optional, not mandatory. The group said the teachers, who are the frontliners during elections, should be freed from compulsory poll duties as most of them experience sleepless nights, hunger, fatigue and sometimes harassment from candidates. Worse, it added, some of the teachers have become victims of violence in election “hot spots.” Luistro, in an earlier interview, said he is open to suggestions that teachers should not be forced to render election duties next year. Rep. Antonio Tinio of Alliance of Concerned Teachers partylist has filed House Bill 5412, which seeks to make election service non-compulsory for public school teachers. “With the proposed legislation on optional service for teachers, that would be an additional support and help so they will not be harassed,” he said. The DepEd chief noted that the Education department and the Commission on Elections are also discussing raising the payment of teachers who render poll duties. “Last May 2013 elections, teachers were given P3,000 and an additional P500 for testing and sealing and P500 for transportation if they are Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) members,” he said. Meanwhile, Rep. Joselito Atienza of Buhay Hayaang Yumabong party-list wanted to increase the honorarium of teachers serving during elections to P8,000 from the proposed P4,000. NEIL A. ALCOBER Aquino awaits Congress OK of lower tax rate bills PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino 3rd has not closed his doors to pending proposals seeking to lower income tax rates in the country. Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. on Wednesday said Aquino will wait for lawmakers’ final push for their proposed income tax cuts. “We recognize the mandate of Congress to initiate revision of laws involving revenue generation for the government,” Coloma told reporters. “We will await specific proposals from Speaker [Feliciano] Bel- monte [Jr.] and other leaders of Congress,” he said when asked if Aquino is still willing to consider arguments of lawmakers. Last month, President Aquino rejected legislative measures aimed at lowering the prevailing income tax rates, saying these will not help the economy and the people. Aquino said income tax cuts will decrease government revenues and expand tax collection deficit. He added that these scenarios will affect the country’s credit ratings. CATHERINE S. VALENTE Bettor from Batangas bags P69-M lotto pot n DIPLOMATS FROM A1 Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor said in a text message. Song was appointed consulgeneral in charge of the Chinese mission in Cebu only last September. Two were arrested after the attack--Li Qing Liang, reportedly the husband of a diplomat at the consulate, and Gou Jing, a member of the consular staff, according to Mayor. He said police retrieved a semiautomatic .45 Colt Defender pistol, three spent shells, two deformed slugs and a live round from the scene. The attack took place at 1:30 p.m. at the Lighthouse Restaurant on Gen. Maxilom Avenue. A report from Cebu radio station dySS said the diplomats together with a group of Chinese were attending a birthday celebration inside the restaurant’s function room. Supt. Romeo Santander, chief of the Cebu City Police Office Criminal Investigation Branch, told The Manila Times that he DepEd chief to teachers: Avoid partisan politics ros, Manila, last Friday, the last day for the filing of COC, where about a hundred of his supporters gathered, expecting that he would file his COC for President. Cayetano, who is eyeing to team up with the Davao mayor, and his supporters also awaited Duterte’s arrival after he filed his COC last Friday. Instead, former Quezon City barangay (village) captain Martin Diño filed his COC for President shortly before the final hour struck as a candidate of PDP-Laban. PDP-Laban president, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel 3rd earlier announced that they will make Duterte as their official candidate. Diño filing his COC was seen as an “insurance move” to enable Duterte to come in as a substitute candidate. Cayetano said Duterte sym- bolizes hope as he could shake things up. He added that he is certain that more people will be thankful than those who will get angry if the mayor changes his mind. “I am excited on what he can do for the country. I’m not saying that he is perfect, but I think he is the only candidate who will exactly tell you what to do directly,” Cayetano said. A BETTOR from Batangas has claimed the more than P69-million jackpot prize in the Mega Lotto 6/45 draw of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). The PCSO assistant general manager for Gaming Sector, Conrado Zabella, said the winner is a 55-yearold businessman from the province. The winner got the winning combination 07-09-12-20-21-25 through Lucky Pick. Zabella said the winner has been betting in lotto for 10 years. The winner, he added, plans to put additional capital to his existing business, help his poor relatives and finance the education of out-of-school children. “The PCSO always wishes lotto winners to spend their winnings wisely, invest in good businesses, save some in the banks, for their children’s education and future,” Zabella said. He added that the PCSO wishes the winners to also give a part of the jackpot to charity. The winner received his prize check at the charity agency main office in Mandaluyong City (Metro Manila) on Tuesday. RITCHIE A. HORARIO n PETITION FROM A1 Habeas corpus petition Lowell was later released after complainants signed affidavits of desistance. He later went public and denied that he had been abducted. In a nine-page complaint, the petitioners asked the SC to order the respondents to bring with them before the court the living bodies of Lowell, his wife Jinky, daughter Yurie and househelp Abbegail. They also alleged that their family members and househelp were in the custody of the respondents. The petitioners moreover alleged that Lowell was abducted by unidentified armed men while he was walking to his pastoral house in Bulan, Sorsogon, last July and his wife was compelled to be placed under the custody of the INC after she was threatened on the phone by Esguerra that she would no longer see Lowell if she would not appear at the INC Central Office on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. They also claimed that the INC was behind the abduction of Menorca as well as his family’s allegedly illegal detention. The petitioners said the INC leadership believed that Lowell was also Antonio Ebangelista, the blogger who wrote about an alleged controversy in the INC. They expressed fears that for as long as Lowell and his family remain in the custody of the INC, their safety is in danger. If ever the respondents deny that the Menorca family is in their custody, the petitioners asked the SC to order the inspection of the INC Central Compound where the victims were believed to have been brought. They asked the tribunal to order the submission before it of relevant documents, including the electronic surveillance reports of ACTIV, the Internet technology department of INC, and direct the respondents neither to get near nor contact the Menorca family. PNA The Manila Times News Vatican denies report Pope has brain tumor THE spokesman for the Vatican has called a newspaper report that Pope Francis has “a small dark spot on the brain” as unfounded. According to the Vatican Radio, Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Holy See Press Office, issued the denial after an Italian newspaper reported that Pope Francis had sought treatment for a tumor. Lombardi said Pope Francis was carrying out his activities as usual and the spread of unfounded rumors was “extremely irresponsible and not worthy of attention.” The report came from the Quotidiano Nazionale newspaper. “Also, as all can see, the Pope continues to exercise his intense activity without interruption and in an absolutely normal way,” Lombardi’s statement said. In the report on its front page on Wednesday, the newspaper said the 78-year-old pontiff was taken to a clinic near Pisa in Tuscany in Italy to see a Japanese doctor named Takanori Fukushima “some time ago,” who determined a small dark spot on the Pope’s brain could be cured without surgery. The Vatican on Wednesday dismissed an Italian media report that Pope Francis has a treatable brain tumour as “unfounded and seriously irresponsible.” Quotidiano Nazionale (QN), the newspaper which made the claim, said it stood by its story that a “small dark spot” had been detected on the 78-year-old pontiff’s brain earlier this year. The paper said it was discovered by Japanese physician Takanori Fukushima during an examination at the San Rossore di Barbaricina clinic near Pisa in central Italy. The professor reportedly concluded that the tumor was treatable and that no surgery was required. Andrea Cangini, the director of Quotidiano, said he had expected the Vatican’s statement. “This denial is understandable and expected,” he said. “We waited a long time before publishing the report in order to carry out every possible check. We don’t have the slightest doubt that it is founded.” Pope Francis has maintained an intense work schedule throughout his two and a half years in the Vatican, eschewing the long summer breaks enjoyed by many of his predecessors. He has looked extremely weary at times and in several interviews he has made reference, sometimes lightheartedly, to an apparent belief that he only has a few years to live. The Argentinian nearly died as a young man after contracting an infection which resulted in the removal of part of his right lung. AFP thursday October 22, 2015 a 3 Comelec powerless vs premature campaigning By WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL Reporter T HE Commission on Elections (Comelec) calls the shots in all poll-related matters but it is helpless when it comes to illegal campaigning. Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista admitted that the Supreme Court ruling on the Penera vs. Comelec virtually abolished illegal campaigning as an offense when the campaign period has not officially started. The commission has earlier directed its legal department to come out with a memorandum on what a candidate can and cannot do before the campaign period. However, the draft report submitted to him only touched on actions that a candidate can do. This prompted the Comelec chief to call on Congress to come up with a measure that will clearly set the guidelines on what a candidate can and cannot do starting from the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) up to the start of the campaign period. “The call is really on Congress in order to come up with a law that would spell out with clarity which actions are allowed from this period until the campaign period, from the filing of COCs to the election period and which activities should not be allowed,” Bautista said. “The problem is this decision on the Penera case which appears to prohibit nothing. We’ve been saying that there should be a law that would regulate from now and the election period,” he told reporters. In its 2010 ruling, the High Court reversed its earlier decision in the Penera vs. Comelec case where it disqualified Sta Monica, Surigao del Norte Mayor Rosalinda Penera as a candidate in the 2007 local elections for violation of Section 80 of the Omnibus Election Code which prohibits premature campaigning. With the reversal, the SC effectively nullified Section 80 of the Omnibus Election Code. Section 80 states that “it shall be unlawful for any person, whether or not a voter or candidate…to engage in an election campaign or partisan political activity, except during the campaign period.” The Comelec chief lamented that the SC ruling tied the hands of the poll body. “If you look at the decision of the SC in Penera, technically you can only engage in prohibitive campaign activities during the campaign period. Essentially before that you’re free to do [anything],” he explained. Bautista said the Comelec legal department continues to study and find ways how the poll body can regulate activities with corresponding penalty for violators to level the playing field between rich and poor candidates. He said the Comelec is also in the dark when it comes to handing down penalties for poll violators. “The law is very clear, particularly penal law, that if you’re not given authority by Congress to provide the punishment you just can’t do it,” he explained. Palace bows to SC ruling stopping Arroyo trial Marcos defends Santiago MALACANANG on Wednesday said it is bound to respect the Supreme Court (SC) order stopping for 30 days the plunder trial of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the Sandiganbayan. “Well, that is a resolution of the Supreme Court. As always, we will respect and respond to (it)… I think there is a resolution asking government to respond. So we will just act on what the Supreme Court has directed the government to do,” Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda said. In a press briefing, Lacierda also subscribed to the possibility that Arroyo may not even be convicted of the charges against her during the administration of President Benigno Aquino 3rd. “There’s an expectation but there is also the reality that the judiciary operates separately, independently from the Executive branch,” the official told reporters. He maintained that the tribunal has the sole power to act on such cases. “When it comes to the judicial process, we always defer and respect the process and how a particular case proceeds,” Lacierda pointed out. The SC issued a status quo ante order in relation to the case involving the allegedly anomalous disbursement of the intelligence fund of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) amounting to P365 million during Arroyo’s term as president. The High Court also ordered the Sandiganbayan’s 1st Division to comment on Arroyo’s petition for certiorari, which was filed by her legal counsel, former Solicitor-General Estelito Mendoza. JOEL M. SY EGCO SENATOR Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday defended Senator Miriam Santiago from calls for her to release her medical records to prove that she is physically fit for the presidency, noting that her right to privacy should be respected. “Ako, pagka sinabi niya na kaya niya ang mangampanya, na magaling na siya, e di sino pa ba paniniwalaan ko kung hindi si Senator Miriam, (if she said that she can join the campaign and that she is well, then there is no reason to doubt Senator Miriam),” Marcos said in a television interview. Dr. Sylvia Estrada Claudio, in an open letter to Santiago, asked 5 TRC execs dismissed HOSPITAL VISIT Former president Gloria Arroyo arrives at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City for a medical checkup. She will stay at the hospital until Thursday. Photo by Mike de Juan Employees entitled to 1-hour meal period Dear PAO, Is there any specific law regarding the lunch period for employees? I am about to start my own retail store where I have four personnel. I want to know the exact legal rule on the length of lunch breaks that I should give to my employees to comply with labor laws. Thank you in advance for your advice. Oscar Dear Oscar, The answer to your concern is found in the Implementing Rules of the Labor Code of the Philippines which specifically provides for the mandatory duration for meal periods. According to this rule: Section 7. Meal and Rest Periods. — Every employer shall give his employees, regardless of sex, not less than one hour time-off for regular meals, except in the following cases when a meal period of not less than 20 minutes may be that the senator’s medical records be released. But Santiago rejected the request. “If she (Claudio) wants to she can go to St. Lukes Medical Center and she can formally ask there in writing then St. Lukes will follow their protocol and abide by it,” the feisty senator said. Before she filed her certificate of candidacy for president, Santiago said she has been cured of lung cancer. She chose Marcos as her running mate. Marcos said that talks are still ongoing between his camp and Santiago to discuss the details of their alliance. JEFFERSON ANTIPORDA dear pao persida acosta given by the employer provided that such shorter meal period is credited as compensable hours worked of the employee: (a) Where the work is nonmanual work in nature or does not involve strenuous physical exertion; (b) Where the establishment regularly operates not less than sixteen (16) hours a day; (c) In case of actual or impending emergencies or there is urgent work to be performed on machineries, equipment or installations to avoid serious loss which the employer would otherwise suffer; and (d) Where the work is necessary to prevent serious loss of perishable goods. Rest periods or coffee breaks running from five (5) to twenty (20) minutes shall be considered as compensable working time. (Book III, Rule I) As mentioned above, employees are entitled to a regular meal period of not less than one (1) hour. Should you provide your employees a meal period that is less than one (1) hour, you will be required to provide compensation for the employees during the said shortened meal period as part of their working hours. In addition to this, the law also recognizes situations wherein the duration of a meal period can be less than one (1) hour but not shorter than twenty (20) minutes. This arrangement is applicable only if the nature of the work and the working conditions are among those described in the abovecited law. And even during this shortened meal period, the employees must be compensated since this will still be part of their working hours. In summation, an employee is legally entitled to be given a non-compensable meal period of not less than one (1) hour. Any meal period less than one (1) hour, subject to the aforementioned conditions, will entitle the employee compensation since it will be considered as a part of an employee’s working hours. Again, we find it necessary to mention that this opinion is solely based on the facts you have narrated and our appreciation of the same. The opinion may vary when the facts are changed or elaborated. We hope that we were able to enlighten you on the matter. Editor ’s note: Dear PAO is a daily column of the Public Attorney’s Office. Questions for Chief Acosta may be sent to dearpao@ manilatimes.net OMBUDSMAN Conchita Carpio Morales ordered the dismissal of five officials of the Technology Resource Center (TRC) for their alleged involvement in the misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel allocations of three former lawmakers totaling P101 million. Dismissed were former Deputy Director General Dennis Cunanan, Chief Accountant Marivic Jover, Budget Officer IV Consuelo Lilian Espiritu, Sales and Promotion Officer V Belina Concepcion, and Internal Auditor V Maurine Dimaranan. They were found guilty of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. The TRC officials were accused of facilitating and approving the illegal disbursement of the pork barrel of former Representatives Alvin Sandoval, Anthony Miranda and Constantino Jaraula. The TRC was the implementing agency of projects identified by the lawmakers. The Office of the Ombudsman said that its investigation “uncovered irregularities such as lack of public bidding in the procurement of projects, lack of due diligence and audit in checking the track record and financial capability of the selected NGOs, acceptance of fabricated liquidation reports, list of recipients/beneficiaries, inspec- tion reports, progress reports and other PDAF-related documents.” Jaraula is facing graft, malversation, and direct bribery charges in connection with the allegedly anomalous use of his PDAF totaling P50.5 million from 2004 to 2007. Pork scam witness Benhur Luy has alleged that Jaraula received kickbacks of P20.8 million. Cunanan, Jover, Concepcion, and Dimaranan were among indicted along with Jaraula. In July, graft and malversation charges were filed against Sandoval for the alleged misuse of his P30 million PDAF allocation from 2007 to 2009 which was released to TRC. The Ombudsman said the TRC channeled the funds to the Dr. Rodolfo A. Ignacio Sr. Foundation Inc. (DRAISFI), Pangkabuhayan Foundation Inc. (PFI), and Jacinto Castel Borja Foundation, Inc. (JCBFI). Graft and malversation charges were also filed against Miranda last month in connection with the release of P20 million of his PDAF in 2007 to his own NGO Aksyon Makamasa Foundation Inc. (AMFI) for livelihood projects which were allegedly non-existent. Miranda’s co respondents include Ortiz, Cunanan, Jover, Group Managers Maria Rosalinda Lacsamana and Francisco Figura, and Concepcion as well as AMFI representatives Domingo Mamauag and Edison REINA TOLENTINO Sabio. Metro cities adopt typhoon-lashed areas THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Metro Manila mayors agreed to adopt some local government units (LGUs) hit by Typhoon Lando. During the meeting of the Metro Manila Council (MMC), MMDA Officer in Charge Emerson Carlos approved the resolution to adopt some LGUs to speed up their recovery. Carlos said a Metro Manila mayor will select one or several LGUs that it will assist for a year. The MMC, composed of 17 mayors of the National Capital Region, is the policymaking body of the MMDA. The money to be utilized for the adopt-an-LGU scheme will come from the disaster risk reduction management fund of Metro mayors. The council initially listed 18 municipalities in Luzon affected by Lando that will be adopted. Muntinlupa City will adopt Jaen and Lupao, both in Nueva Ecija; Valenzuela City will adopt San Antonio, Nueva Ecija; Las Piñas City will help Calumpit, Bulacan while Quezon City will adopt San Miguel, Bulacan; Bambang, Nueva Ecija; and Baler, Quezon. San Juan City meanwhile chose Caba, La Union and Manila, Cabanatuan City. RITCHIE A. HORARIO