BusinessMirror April 20, 2020

Experts weigh Pernia’s Cabinet exit T

HE changing of the guard at the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) while the Philippines is battling a pandemic will have minimal impact on government operations and the economy, but some economists said this could discourage investors.

Most economists expressed confidence that the replacement of former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia by Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua is an assurance that the economy would remain intact.

University of the Philippines economist Toby Melissa C. Monsod told the BusinessMirror that the resignation of Pernia still leaves the Neda, as well as the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), intact.

“No worries. Neda bureaucracy is still intact, IATF is still intact. Karl Chua did his job well in DOF (Department of Finance). [There’s] no reason to

ARWIN PABILONIA of Barangay Fortune in Marikina City shows his Social Amelioration Program cash aid, which he received when DSWD Secretary Joselito Rolando Bautista and Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro personally handed out the financial aid to around 3,300 beneficiaries in Marikina City. NONIE REYES

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By Cai U. Ordinario

think he won’t rise to the challenge,” Monsod said.

Dr. Monsod is the daughter of former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and first post-Edsa Neda director general Solita C. Monsod.

Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) Research Fellow Jose Ramon G. Albert added that prior to Pernia’s resignation, the Neda has already been preparing for the new normal.

Albert said efforts were already under way in devising strategies that can be used to run the economy after April 30. He said Chua, as acting Secretary of Neda, will provide some continuity to these strategies with a few “tweaks.”

“One of the strengths of Neda and many government institutions is that the bureaucracy is relatively insulated from big policy shifts that could arise from a changing of the guard,” Albert said.

Ateneo de Manila University John Gokongwei School of Management Dean Luis F. Dumlao said he believes Chua’s appointment is not a cause of concern. He said Chua was even an apprentice of Pernia at the UP School of Economics when Chua

was taking his PhD.

Dumlao said Chua and Pernia also worked on a paper on population. “Hence, I expect minimum philosophical difference.”

‘Over-reading’ resignation

ACTION for Economic Reforms (AER) Coordinator Filomeno Sta. Ana III lamented that “pundits and analysts are over-reading” Pernia’s resignation.

He said disagreements in the Cabinet are normal, regardless of the administration.

Sta. Ana said what is important is that the administration was able to take a “unified position” when it came to key economic reforms, particularly on taxes, rice tariffication, universal health care, anti-red tape measures, and liberalizing investments, among others.

He said Chua, who is a “general” of Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III, played a major role in the tax reform measures and has earned the

Continued on A2

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BIR, BOC POST REVENUE GAP OF P156B IN 1ST QTR www.businessmirror.com.ph

n

Monday, April 20, 2020 Vol. 15 No. 193

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

T

ECOZONE FIRMS ASK GOVT: HALT FURTHER ECQ EXTENSIONS

HE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC)—the main collection agencies of the government— missed their respective collection targets for the first quarter, posting a combined revenue shortfall of P156.26 billion mainly due to the Luzon-wide lockdown.

A DELIVERY rider is seen with his cargo bearing DTI clearance. The enhanced community quarantine and the public transport ban are being blamed for the unavailability of workers and the disruption of the flow of goods in Luzon. BERNARD TESTA

The Department of Finance (DOF) said in a statement on Sunday that BIR and BOC’s actual collections for the first quarter settled at P600.86 billion, falling short of the P757.12billion revenue target for the period.

Revenues collected from January to March this year were also P10.17 billion less than the revenues collected in the same period last year.

Citing preliminary data submitted to it, the DOF said collections for March took the biggest hit as most economic activities were halted due to the Luzon-wide lockdown which started in March 16 and has since been extended to April 30.

In March, the two bureaus collected a combined total of P163.15 billion, which is P85.36 billion short of the P248.5-billion target for the month. Collections for March this year were also P34.5 billion lower than the P197.64billion take for the same month last year.

M

‘Financially able’

EVEN with the significant decline in both bureaus’ revenue collections, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III assured the public that the country is “financially able” to meet the unexpected challenges of the pandemic as he reiterated the country’s strong macroeconomic fundamentals.

“Our tax collections are definitely going to be a bit lower than our original target, but as I said, these are things that we can finance,” Dominguez said in a statement.

Continued on A2

P25.00 nationwide | 2 sections 16 pages | 7 DAYS A WEEK

MOTORCYCLE riders line up along the Zapote-Alabang Road in Las Piñas City, as the PNP has tightened security at checkpoints to prevent people from going to other places on unauthorized trips or those not covered by the exemptions to quarantine movement. NONIE REYES

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 50.7130

By Elijah Felice Rosales

ORE than 175,000 workers in economic zones are out of jobs for many weeks now, with some of them receiving zero pay under the ongoing lockdown, prompting industry groups to ask that the quarantine be lifted as scheduled on April 30.

A survey obtained by the BusinessMirror showed that over 40 percent of locators in economic zones shut down their plants for the duration of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon. On the other hand, those operating under the ECQ are subsisting on arrangements like work from home, skeleton force or a modification of the two.

The poll, conducted by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) between March 26 and April 13, gathered the responses of 1,749 firms nationwide.

Together, they employ about 1.14 million workers, nearly a fifth of the 6-million total labor force in all economic zones. Locators operating under the lockdown maintain roughly 85 percent, or 966,333, of the workers; as such, pay was never an issue for their staff.

However, the remaining 15 percent are working for firms that called off operations for the whole of the quarantine, leaving 175,249 individuals jobless for more than a month now.

The Peza survey reported that majority of the nonoperational firms are paying their workers in full in spite of the suspension. Even so, at least 223 locators that stopped production implemented a no-work, no-pay policy.

Further, the poll indicated that a lot of economic zone firms are suffering from logistical issues under the ECQ, ranging from the unavailability of workers—blamed on the public transport ban—to the flow of goods disrupted by the checkpoints in place.

Fearing that extending the lockdown will also prolong the agony of the jobless, industry groups recommended that the ECQ be lifted as scheduled on April 30 to allow regular work to resume. They argued that the ECQ’s termination should be coupled with the rollout of mass testing and enforcement of health measures to sustain efforts against the coronavirus pandemic.

Continued on A2

n JAPAN 0.4694 n UK 63.3101 n HK 6.5431 n CHINA 7.1608 n SINGAPORE 35.5706 n AUSTRALIA 32.2383 n EU 55.0794 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.4965

Source: BSP (April 17, 2020)

News BusinessMirror

A2 Monday, April 20, 2020

BIR, BOC POST REVENUE GAP OF P156B IN 1ST QTR Continued from A1

The original revenue collection goal set by the Development Budget Coordination Committee for the two main collection agencies was a combined P3.307 trillion for 2020. The BIR was tasked to collect P2.576 trillion of that target, while the BOC was to collect P731 billion.

From January to March this year, the BIR’s tax take amounted to P455.45 billion, which is 22.86 percent less or P134.98 billion short of its P590.43-billion target for the period. BIR’s first-quarter collection is also 2.86 percent or P13.41 billion below the actual amount of P468.86 billion collected for that period last year.

The BIR’s Large Taxpayers Service (LTS) collected P284.39 billion from January to March this year, significantly missing its P386.19-billion target for the

period by 26.36 percent or P101.81 billion.

Its first-quarter collection is also 6.14 percent or P18.59 billion lower than last year’s P302.98 billion.

For March alone, BIR posted a revenue shortfall of 38 percent or P72.14 billion as its collection amounted to only P118.35 billion compared to its target of P190.48 billion.

The collections for the month are also 20.06 percent or P29.71 billion lower from last year’s P148.05 billion.

For the same month, LTS only collected P80.19 billion, missing its P124.47billion target by 35.58 percent or P44.28 billion. The actual LTS collection for the month is also 17.42 percent or P16.91 billion below the P97.1 billion collected in the same month in 2019.

On the other hand, BOC’s collections for the first quarter settled at P145.41 billion, failing to hit its P166.69-billion target

by 12.76 percent or P21.28 billion.

Despite this, the BOC still managed to improve its collections for the first quarter this year by 2.28 percent or P3.24 billion over last year’s P142.17 billion.

BOC’s collections for March amounted to only P44.8 billion, which is 22.78 percent or P13.22 billion short of its P58.02-billion target for the month.

Collections by the BOC for March this year were also P4.79 billion lower than the P49.59 billion posted in the same month last year.

If the economy posts zero growth this year due to the pandemic, Dominguez earlier said revenues are going to drop by around P286.4 billion.

Should the economy contract by 1 percent, the government expects revenues to decline by about P318 billion.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Inequality to worsen in 3-mo ECQ–study

T

By Cai U. Ordinario

HE full weight of poverty would be felt, and felt hard, by millions of Filipinos if the lockdown in Luzon and Metro Manila would remain in place for three months, a policy brief released by the De La Salle University Angelo King Institute (AKI) revealed.

Ecozone firms ask govt: Halt further ECQ extensions Continued from A1

Semiconductor firms, producers of the country’s largest export item, expect their labor force to return to half the normal level if the lockdown is lifted or its protocols modified.

Skeleton force

DANILO C. LACHICA, president of the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation Inc., explained that most of his group’s members are operating on skeleton force of around 30 percent of normal level. At such a low capacity, they have been accumulating order backlogs that can be resolved only if the quarantine is lifted or modified.

“About 80 percent of electronics companies are operating with [skeleton] work force averaging 30 percent of normal level,” Lachica told the BusinessMirror.

“We hope to see an increase to 50 percent, then higher if ECQ is modified,”

he said. “There are order backlogs which can be addressed when we can increase staffing and [with] uninterrupted supply of materials.”

Last year, exports of electronic parts improved by over 4 percent to $40.02 billion, from $38.32 billion in 2018, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Riding high from the growth they achieved in 2019, semiconductor makers initially targeted to raise their export receipts by 5 percent this year. However, the pandemic and its consequential lockdown virtually ended any chances of growth, forcing Lachica and his group to downgrade their forecast to flat or, worse, negative.

The sentiment to lift the ECQ as scheduled is shared even by foreign investors, as they said “it is becoming increasingly difficult” to wade through the restricted movement of people and the

disrupted transport of goods—repercussions of protocols in place.

American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Executive Director Ebb Hinchliffe said that his group is in support of lifting the lockdown to allow manufacturing and construction work to resume. However, the public and private sectors should not let their guard down, he warned, and precautionary measures must therefore be imposed in the ECQ aftermath.

“We support a partial lifting of the lockdown in May to allow all manufacturers and construction [to] reopen under very strict test results and health precautions,” Hinchliffe said.

As of Sunday, there are 6,259 confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease in the Philippines. The government recorded 572 recoveries and 409 deaths from the respiratory illness that was first detected in Wuhan, China.

A COUPLE in an improvised delivery tricycle drives past a row of gantries at the Northport container yard at the Manila Harbour Center in Tondo, Manila. BERNARD TESTA

In a policy brief, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University’s Cesar B. Cororaton and DLSU School of Economics’ Marites Tiongco and Arlene Inocencio estimated a Luzon lockdown for three straight months will cause poverty incidence and poverty gap to increase by 1.4 percent. The severity of poverty, likewise, is seen to increase by 1.8 percent.

Gini coefficient, a measure of inequality where perfect inequality is 1 and perfect equality is zero, will also increase by 0.10 percent.

“Under the Luzon lockdown for straight three months, real GDP [gross domestic product] contracts

by P551 billion relative to the 2020 base,” the economists said.

“Instead of a 6-percent projected growth, the country will only grow by 0.4 percent in 2020 over 2019.”

“Note that Luzon contributes 70 percent of total GDP. The sectors with the largest negative impact are computer and related activities, textile and related activities (spinning, weaving, texturing and finishing), construction, agriculture crops and motor vehicle,” they added.

Continued on A4

MAZE, THE PHL’S FIRST SOCIAL-DISTANCING APP, OUT SOON

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

S

OON you can check if a certain essential area you are going to is crowded or not.

This will be made possible through the Philippines’ first social-distancing app that helps users plan their errands based on the density of an area. It is being developed by iAcademy, in partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT).

The Maze, set to go live on or before April 28, 2020, aims to reduce the number of people going out at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and to encourage people to avoid crowded areas in observance of continued social distancing even after the Covid outbreak.

The app called Maze targets to address the congestion of people in essential places by providing updated information on the crowd status of a specific area through reports of users who have been in the same location.

Maze, which will be available on web and mobile app, lets users see their current location or choose a location and view the density of an area based on other users’ reports.

The users may send their report on the status of an area’s density by sending a

picture as well.

Maze developers, meanwhile, gave assurances that information sent out by users will remain confidential and no personal data will be collected from them.

At present, the app will prioritize the showing of the density of essential areas like groceries, banks, public markets and drug stores—the places where people usually go for common errands. Other features will be added that will include public areas for people who will use the app as a social-distancing measure even after the Covid-19 crisis eases.

“The Maze app helps everyone in making an informed decision whenever they plan to go out for errands. Not only does it encourage people to observe social distancing during the enhanced community quarantine but also instills a mindset to maintain social distancing even after we have successfully flattened the curve. This can still be useful even post-Covid where people might be more cautious in going to crowded areas where they can be susceptible to viruses and other diseases,” said Vanessa Tanco, president and CEO of iAcademy, a Makati-based school that specializes in computing, business and design.

The DOT, which will serve as iAcademy’s

partner in the rollout of the Maze app, said that once the app is ready for use, it will be a big help in managing social distancing and reducing the number of people in essential establishments. Aside from DOT, iAcademy also reached out to the Department of Health to explore areas for collaboration on the project.

Through crowdsourcing—an integral strategy in DOT’s marketing and promotional efforts—Tourism Secretary Bernadette RomuloPuyat explained that the more the people use the app and share timely information on the density of the areas near them, the more it will be helpful to a lot of our kababayan who need to go to essential areas like groceries, public markets, banks, and drug stores.

“We gladly extend our partnership with iACADEMY in developing this app to promote social distancing and avoid crowded areas during and even after the pandemic is over. We have previously partnered with iACADEMY in developing the Experience Philippines augmented reality app and we know they are more than capable of producing another game-changing app to help people during the community quarantine period,” the DOT chief said.

Experts weigh Pernia’s Cabinet exit Continued from A1 respect of the civil society, academe, and the country’s development partners.

“Surely, disagreements happen in the same manner that husband and wife disagree. But these are points that neither impede nor reverse the goals and direction where they agree,” Sta. Ana said. “[On Chua] It’s high time we had young blood in leadership.”

Former Socioeconomic Planning Secretaries Romulo L. Neri and Cielito F. Habito both expressed confidence that the economy will weather this storm and agreed that Chua is a good fit.

Neri served as Neda chief under former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo; and Habito, under President Fidel V. Ramos.

Neri, who is a first cousin of Pernia, said the resignation of Pernia from Neda may be due to exhaustion “with all the pressures.” This break from government, Neri said, may improve Pernia’s health.

Habito, meanwhile, said he respected Pernia’s decision to step down as well as his reasons for resigning as Neda Secretary. This will not significantly affect the economy as Chua will “have a short learning curve.”

He added that Chua’s age (41) will not be a hindrance in running Neda.

Habito was the youngest appointed Neda Director General in the country’s history, at 39 years old.

“I was 39 when appointed to lead Neda and I didn’t think that to be an issue.

What’s important is the right chemistry and teamwork among the economic team,” Habito told the BusinessMirror.

“Besides, I’ve always argued that it’s good to have a young person to be the chief planner, because he/she will still be around to suffer the consequences of bad planning, hence has a direct stake in doing the job well,” he added.

De La Salle University economist Maria Ella C. Oplas said Chua was a “promising technocrat” who was “young, brilliant, and knows what he is saying and proposing.” Oplas said Chua represented a new breed of leaders needed at this time as the country faces a pandemic.

Oplas noted, however, there are fears that his association with Dominguez would make him less independent with his views. Nonetheless, she considers Chua capable of being “his own man.”

She said Chua can easily draw from his experience at the World Bank and at the DOF. Oplas said Chua was able to make the public understand the tax reform program and this is very valuable.

“There are fears that he will be just a puppet of Secretary Dominguez. I hope not. I think he can be his own man if given a chance and his brilliance partnered with how he articulates his points. We will go a long way,” Oplas said. “His background in World Bank and DOF should give him a good background and experience. I’m giving him a chance.”

Reservations and resignations

UNIVERSITY of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) School of Economics Dean Cid Terosa said Pernia’s resignation sends a negative signal to the international community that all is not well in the President’s economic team.

The impression that there are clashing perspectives and irreconcilable differences at this time when the country is battling a pandemic is a concern, he added.

“Nonetheless, I believe that there won’t be major changes in economic policy since the economic team appears to be a closely knit group,” Terosa said.

Former UP School of Economics Dean Ramon L. Clarete told this newspaper that any breakup of the economic

team at this time is a cause for concern.

On Chua’s appointment, Clarete said this is only in an acting capacity and the President may still appoint another person as Neda Secretary.

For his part, Ateneo de Manila University School of Government (ASOG) Dean Ronald U. Mendoza told the BusinessMirror that the resignation of the country’s chief economist at a time when the Philippines is entering a “very severe global economic slowdown” is a cause for concern.

Mendoza said Pernia was a “voice of reason” and provided stability to the President’s economic team by sharing his deep economic development perspectives.

“It is troubling to lose that independent voice at this crucial time when we need to give our people and our economic partners a signal of stability,” Mendoza said.

Navarro returns to PIDS

MEANWHILE, with the resignation of Pernia, Neda Undersecretary for Regional Development Adoracion M. Navarro is also resigning and returning to the PIDS.

Prior to joining Neda, Navarro was Vice President of the PIDS and a research fellow for the state-owned think tank.

She said after only her first year in Neda, she already asked Pernia if she could return to PIDS. But Pernia requested her to extend her stay in Neda.

“I think now is a good time to go back to PIDS. I also want to give due courtesy to Secretary Chua and provide additional space for the team that he might be bringing in,” Navarro said.

As Neda Undersecretary for Regional Development, Navarro was tasked to lead the Regional Development Councils and play an active role in the formulation of the Boracay Action Plan and the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Marawi.

News BusinessMirror

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Most Filipinos altruistic, Church survey reveals

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VEN if faced with dwindling supplies and government aid, most Filipinos, who were affected by the monthlong enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon, still continue to think of the welfare of others.

In the latest Veritas Truth Survey (VTS) done by Church-run Radyo Veritas to get the emotional disposition of the ECQ-affected residents, 27.10 percent of the 1,200 respondents said they were concerned on how their relatives and other people are faring during the lockdown.

It said the “altruistic” predisposition is not limited to family members or loved ones of the respondents, who may not be physically with them or serving as frontliners during the ECQ. The government has forced all residents in Luzon to stay home during the ECQ in an attempt to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

Only frontliners like medical workers and those involved in the delivery of basic good and services were allowed to continue their daily employment during the ECQ, which started last month.

Other top “positive” emotions from the survey were the feeling of

“being safe” (20.9 percent) and “being hopeful” (15.30 percent).

Completing the 68.6 percent of the positive emotions were those who were “thankful” (4.10 percent) and “relaxed” (1.20 percent) The remaining third of the VTS respondents, however, showed “negative emotions” in their outlook of the ECQ. Radyo Veritas said 19.40 percent of the respondents were worried about their economic matter as well as their health.

Only a small portion of the respondents indicated other negatives emotions such as “being bored” (5 percent); “stressed” (3.5 percent); “sad” (2.90 percent); and, “helpless” (0.6 percent).

VTS Sociologist Clifford T. Sorita said the survey, which they conducted from March 15 to April 15, 2020, aims to give a snapshot of the general sentiments of the people affected by the ECQ. Sorita said they hope the result of their study will be able to serve as guide for government to improve its messaging Covid-related to the public.

The survey, which has a margin of error of a +/- 3 percent, was gathered through a text-based and online data gathering process. Samuel P. Medenilla

DENR staff monitoring chromite loading in Homonhon abandoned posts–Evardone

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

A

S a Chinese mining firm secured the green light from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to resume loading operation from Homonhon Island, Eastern Samar Governor Ben P. Evardone said quarantine protocols to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) was grossly violated.

Worse, Evardone said, the DENR personnel tasked to monitor the loading operation to ensure that health protocols are observed to prevent the spread of Covid-19 have abandoned their posts. He said the DENR left the Chinese crew and their local counterparts on their own.

According to Evardone a “lockdown” is currently in effect in the Eastern Samar.

He said as a policy, all foreign nationals coming from a Covid-infected country, such as China, should undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine.

This, Evardone said, did not happen, even if the Chinese vessel docked at a mining port in Homonhon Island in the town of Guiuan, which came all the way from China, even passed

by Davao region, which is also under lockdown.

He expressed dismay that the welfare of the people was set aside by the DENR in allowing the Chinese vessel to resume operation.

Worse, Evardone said as the DENR Region 8 and DENR Central Office gave Techiron Resources Inc. the green light to resume operations, preconditions set by the DENR itself was not observed. He alleged that the personnel tasked to monitor the loading operation reportedly abandoned their posts two days after the company resumed the loading operation.

“I’ve received reports that one day or two days after the DENR allowed the loading operation to resume, the field personnel of the DENR tasked to monitor the crew abandoned the area,” Evardone lamented.

According to the governor, the DENR staff left early dawn on April 15 via a small boat docked at the pier.

“How can we be sure that the necessary health protocols, which the DENR itself has put in place, are observed when the personnel abandoned their posts?” he asked.

Evardone said he fears that with the quarantine and health protocols violated, the loading operation to the vessel, with 13 Chinese crew and four

Myanmar nationals who did not undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine, pose serious threat to the people on the island.

Regular

ON Saturday, the DENR Central Office had affirmed the decision of the DENR Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Region 8 allowing Techiron to resume its operation.

A statement by the DENR said Techiron is running “a regular mining operation.”

“The mine has been operating for more than three years, so there’s nothing unusual in this particular transaction,” a statement by the DENR said.

The DENR said that the continued operation of Techiron was based on the instruction from Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases that export-oriented businesses should not be hampered.

The DENR issued the statement to dismiss insinuations that the mine loading activities were made “secret” and timed to coincide with the enhanced community quarantine imposed in Luzon and other parts of the country to stop the spread of Covid-19.

The DENR said the loading operations were initially suspended just to make sure that “everything is in order.”

“After thorough investigation and the mining company secured all the necessary quarantine certificates, the DENR had no choice but to lift the suspension,” the statement read.

Opposition

HOWEVER, the Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc. (PMPI), a network of nongovernment organizations, expressed opposition to the loading of Techiron’s mine ore vessel.

“It is but an evidence of the longstanding inclination of DENR and MGB to favor mining corporations’ interests over the people’s welfare,” a statement by the PMPI said. “The community, the local government and local church in the region have strongly appealed to the agency against mining operation in Homonhon Island, but it fell on deaf ears. As it stands now, the agency [DENR] chooses profit and revenue from mining over the possibility of the island people be subjected to risks of contracting Covid-19 by allowing the ship to dock and operate in Homonhon.”

PMPI’s statement quoted Barangay Captain Winefredo Gapate of Pagbabangnan as expressing disappointment.

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Monday, April 20, 2020 A3

Govt urged to shell out more funds for workers than big biz after ECQ

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

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ABOR groups on Sunday said the government will have to shell out more funds to support workers, rather than big businesses, if it intends to allow limited resumption of the latter’s operations after the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

This as the government is already struggling to get more funding for its existing aid for workers, who were affected by the lockdown that halted activities mainly in the service sector.

A statement by the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), however, made it clear the government-backed labor organization is behind the labor department’s proposal to allow some businesses to resume operations.

But according to TUCP Spokesman Alan Tanjusay, employees who will still be barred going to work should receive government aid.

During the weekend, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said it recommends 30 percent of the work force of a company be allowed to return to work once the ECQ is lifted May 1. The DOLE proposes an additional 20 percent of the total work force return to work

by June and, by July, total employees that have returned to work should be 75 percent.

“With the regards to the remaining 70 percent who may be unable to work [in May], government will have to provide them another round of sub-

sidy for the duration,” Tanjusay said.

Nearly spent

LAST week, the labor department stopped accepting applications for its Covid-19 adjustment measures program, which is a one-time P5,000 cash aid program the government gives to workers during the lockdown. The DOLE said only 20 percent of the P1.6-billion budget for the program it calls “CAMP” remains.

The labor department said prior to stopping the acceptance of application, 80 percent of the money, or about P1,320,770,000, has been given to an estimated 264,154 individuals. The DOLE said it is still awaiting approval of an additional P2.5 billion it requested from the Department of Budget and Management.

The labor department, however, said even with the additional funds, it couldn’t provide the cash-subsidy to more than a million workers who applied for CAMP. Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III said they already endorsed the applications they could no longer accommodate to the Department of Finance (DOF) to be covered by its planned wage subsidy program for an estimated 3 million workers.

Bello said they will be pushing for a post-recovery plan that aims to stop the mass displacement of workers from establishments affected by the 45-day lockdown expected to be lifted before midnight of April 30.

Worker protection

TANJUSAY said government must

ensure the necessary occupational safety and health standards should be in place to ensure workers will be protected from coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). He said workers should be given personal protective equipment (PPE) for free.

He added that Filipinos who will be required to go to work after the lockdown but placed under quarantine, get infected by the virus or die should get compensation from the government and their company.

Partido Mang gagawa (PM) Chairman Renato Magtubo said this and other policies for ensuring worker protection should be contained in a new order from the labor department.

Without such stipulated safeguards, Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (Sentro) Secretary General Joshua Mata said workers will be putting their lives at risk when they go to work after the ECQ. “Before DOLE talks about lifting the lockdown, they should first clarify how would workers be protected when they go back to work,” Mata said.

He added they intend to raise these issues during the meeting of labor groups with labor officials this week.

Business focused

RFM Corp. President and Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Maria A. Concepcion III has been pushing for a selective quar-

Pandemic or not, breastfeed and hug babies, groups urge

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco Correspondent

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UG and breastfeed your newborn and protect them from diseases, maybe even from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), several groups including the World Health Organization (WHO), said.

While the world is facing Covid-19 crisis, Essential Intrapartum and Newborn Care (EINC) is being encouraged to prevent the exposure of newborn babies to diseases as an estimated number of 142,000 babies will be born in the Philippines this month.

This call issued by the WHO, the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and World Food Programme (WFP) encourages everyone involved in the Covid-19 response to emphasize that the most effective way to save newborn lives is still through EINC, which it calls “Unang Yakap,” or first embrace.

These groups are also promoting breastfeeding while strictly following precautions for infection prevention and control.

These groups are urging the Department of Health, public health and clinical experts, professional societies and all involved in guidelines and policy development, funding, planning and implementing the emergency response in the Philippines to avoid “unnecessary illness and death by ensuring that EINC and breastfeeding are not sacrificed while preventing the spread of infection.”

The UN agencies reiterated that placing babies in immediate skinto-skin contact with their mothers keeps babies warm and prevents exposure to diseases. These agencies also emphasized breastfeeding as a life-saving measure for babies ever y where, especially

during emergencies, including the Covid-19 outbreak.

“Babies who drink only their mother’s breastmilk receive antibodies from their mothers, protecting them from potentially deadly infections like pneumonia, diarrhea and sepsis,” the UN agencies’ statement said.

In fact, Unang Yakap and exclusive breastfeeding are vital to infection prevention and control measures, they said.

“With proper infection prevention and control, protection from infection becomes stronger, especially in challenging circumstances and in emergencies,” the UN agencies’ statement read.

Meanwhile, as with all confirmed or suspected Covid-19 cases, symptomatic mothers who are breastfeeding or practicing skin-to-skin contact or “kangaroo” mother care should observe hand hygiene and basic infection prevention and control measures, the statement said.

“When performing skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding, and any activities involving touching or being close to the baby, infected mothers must use a medical mask, wash their hands properly before and after contact with the child, and routinely clean and disinfect surfaces which the mother has touched,” the statement added.

Likewise, they said that mothers should also receive the right support and guidance on proper infection and prevention control measures.

Death among babies

DURING emergency situations, the rates of disease and death among babies and children are higher than for any other age group.

The younger the child, the higher the risk; babies under six months are the most vulnerable.

Babies who drink formula from an unsterile bottle or teat, or made with unclean water, can become very ill with diarrhea and die within a few hours.

The UN agencies noted that mortality is particularly high when there is a prevalence of communicable diseases and diarrhea combined with high rates of under-nutrition.

Appropriate infant and young child feeding—both breastfeeding and complementary feeding—and care are fundamental in preventing malnutrition and mortality among infants and young children.

“The practice of infection and prevention control does not have to conflict with EINC and breastfeeding. In fact, EINC and breastfeeding protect against infection as long as mothers observe the basic steps to prevent the spread of coronavirus and other pathogens.”

Meanwhile, maternal counseling, infant and young child feeding counseling, basic psychosocial support and practical feeding support should be provided to all pregnant women and mothers with infants and young children, whether they or their infants and young children have suspected or confirmed Covid-19.

“In addition, all pregnant mothers should have access to a safe birth, antenatal and postnatal care including postpartum family planning, and screening tests according to national guidelines, especially in areas with high numbers of Covid-19 confirmed cases where access to services for pregnant women, women in labor and delivery, and lactating women is negatively impacted,” the UN agencies said.

They also called on community leaders to practice infection and prevention control in all settings and recognize the benefits of “Unang Yakap” and breastfeeding.

antine in in Luzon to allow some businesses in Luzon to resume after the expected lifting of the ECQ next month.

However, members of the labor coalition Nagkaisa, which includes TUCP, PM, and Sentro, criticized the pronouncement saying the government still lacks the capacity to conduct Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the hundreds of citizens who are expected to return to work.

Nagkaisa members said workers should be made to undergo the labbased test rather than the rapid-test kits, which they deemed a less reliable way of testing if a person is infected

by Covid-19.

“Without this method of mass testing, the ‘Concepcion proposal’ can only be considered as safe for business but not for the workers,” Nagkaisa said.

It also slammed Albay Representative Jose Sarte Salceda’s proposal to allocate P350 billion to serve as “bailout package for big corporations.”

“Why bail out big business when they forever have access to local and international capital markets?” Nagkaisa said.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases is expected to finalize this week the policies on the “new normal” in the aftermath of the ECQ. This may include which businesses will be allowed to resume after the lifting of lockdown measures.

DENR to DILG: Ensure garbage collectors protected from virus

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ITH the first reported case of a garbage collector having been tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is reiterating the need to protect them from the dreaded disease.

The DENR expressed alarm on the case, underscoring the importance of having a clean environment as the country struggles with the pandemic.

Local government units (LGUs) and their garbage contractors, hence, should ensure waste segregation at source, and that the garbage collectors who are vulnerable to the disease are wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) during their operation, the DENR said.

Despite the threat of Covid-19, however, it has been observed that garbage collectors are still unprotected, as they go about their work with not even a face mask, gloves, or even an overall suit or coverall for their protection.

Env ironment Secreta r y Roy A. Cimatu had already asked the help of Interior Secretary Eduardo M. Año.

In his letter-recommendation to Año, Cimatu endorsed seven important measures. These measures are: requiring garbage collectors to wear personal protective equipment; proper segregation of solid waste at source; regular collection of garbage; and, disinfection of garbage bags prior to collection and loading at the garbage truck and upon disposal at the sanitary landfill.

Lastly, Cimatu said no scavenger or unauthorized personnel should be allowed to loiter at the disposal area.

To ensure proper segregation, Cimatu recommended that a colorcoding scheme for garbage bags be implemented.

Medical and other health-care wastes including used PPEs, he said, should be placed in the proper storage area prior to collection by the authorized transporter for treatment, he said. Jonathan L. Mayuga

Agriculture/Commodities

A4 Monday, April 20, 2020 • Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PSA: Farm-gate price of rice continues to rise

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

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HE average farm-gate price of unhusked rice went up for the sixth consecutive week and reached P16.69 per kilogram in the fourth week of March, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed.

In its latest price monitoring report, the PSA said the average farmgate price of rice during the period

was 1.71 percent higher than the previous week’s P16.41 per kg.

However, the latest quotation was still 11.22 percent lower than the average price of P18.80 per kg recorded in the same period of last year, PSA data showed.

Nonetheless, the current average quotation for dry palay is the highest in seven months, or since August 2019, when it reached P16.68 per kg, according to historical data from the PSA.

The highest buying price for dry palay was recorded in Davao del Sur at P20.50 per kg while the lowest was observed in Surigao del Sur at P9 per kg, PSA data showed.

However, a farmers group warned that the increase in farm-gate prices may be short-lived and that it could fall again during the main harvest season due to higher rice imports.

The Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) decried the ”pro-import stance” of the Department of Agri-

culture (DA) and the National Food Authority (NFA) and ”warned that excessive imports will again end up discouraging farmers from planting and make the country even more dependent on foreign suppliers for its food requirements.”

In particular, FFF questioned the need for the 300,000 metric tons (MT) of rice that the Philippines will import via the government-togovernment given that the country’s projected stockpile by end-June

would reach a ”comfortable” level of 84 days.

FFF argued that private-sector importation and the government’s purchases would lead to a ”supply glut that will again lead to a fall in palay farm-gate prices during the main harvest season in September to November.” ”On the one hand, it is encouraging farmers to expand their production and enticing them with loans, subsidies and other incentives. On

the other hand, it is leaving the room open for private importers to bring in unlimited volumes of rice from abroad,” FFF National Manager Raul Montemayor said in a recent statement. ”The DA was even the one who proposed that government import another 300,000 MT. It appears that the DA just wants to flood the market with rice and is not really concerned about what happens to farmers in the process,” Montemayor added.

SMC, KSK partners extend assistance to PHL farmers DA forms group to conduct meat supply, demand analysis C

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HE Department of Agriculture (DA) has formed an inter-agency group that would analyze and make projections about the country’s livestock supply and demand, which is expected to help the government ensure there is enough food for Filipinos.

Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar issued Special Order (SO) 393 series of 2020 that authorized the creation of the DA’s inter-agency Livestock Data Analytics Group (LDAG).

“For the purpose of automating the data gathering and analysis to produce and organize body of information for faster and more effective planning and decision making, there is hereby an urgent need to establish a Livestock Data Analytics Group,” Dar said in the order dated April 14.

“Furthermore, in view of the enhanced community quarantine brought about by the coronavirus disease-19, the Department of Agriculture is in dire need of a supply and demand analysis as bases in taking appropriate action to ensure food availability, accessibility and affordability,” he added.

The LDAG is comprised of representatives from the National Livestock Program, National Meat Inspection Service, Philippine Carabao Center, Bureau of Animal Industry, and the National Dairy Authority.

Under the SO, the LDAG is mandated to regularly collect and consolidate, and interpret and analyze raw data of broiler, egg, beef, pork and milk supply and demand.

The LDAG is required to come up with its own forecast and trend analysis under various scenarios in the livestock supply and demand situation of the country. It is also mandated to conduct

price and volume monitoring in coordination with relevant agencies nationwide.

Livestock industry stakeholders have been urging the government for a long time to establish a sound data system to provide growers and raisers with proper production guidance on the country’s supply and demand situation.

Industry groups like the United Broiler Raisers Association (Ubra) have been complaining about the lack of such “vital mechanism” in the country’s sector, arguing that producers are blindsided by this.

Last week, the DA announced that the country has more than enough supply of chicken meat and pork, contradicting foreign forecasts that the Philippines will see a supply deficit.

“Contrary to recent projections painting a deficit scenario of the country’s meat sector, we are pleased to report that on the contrary we have a favorable outlook despite difficulties encountered last year, especially for pork, due to the African swine fever [ASF] outbreak,” said Dar. “For instance, we are projecting an ending stock in June 2020 good for 62 days for chicken and 10 days for pork, based on the data from the Philippine Statistics Authority and consultations with industry stakeholders themselves,” he added.

The devastation caused by the fatal ASF on the local hog sector may pull down the country’s pork output this year to a six-year low of 1.45 million metric tons (MMT), according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

In its latest report, the USDA estimated that the country’s pork output in 2020 could decline 8.5 percent from last year’s 1.585 MMT.

Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

ONGLOMER ATE San Miguel Corp. (SMC) and partners of SM Foundation Inc.’s (SMFI) Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan (KSK) program are assisting farmers to sustain their income and encourage them to continue cultivating food crops.

In particular, SMC said it is tapping more farmers nationwide to supply raw materials for its food products amid the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) crisis.

“We are looking for ways to be able to tap more farmers for rice production, corn, cassava, coconut oil, pork, chicken, among others,” said SMC President and COO Ramon S. Ang. “Through this, we hope to be able to support the livelihood of our farmers and secure our future supply of food.”

This, he said, will also generate economic activity across the food value chain involving not only farmers, but a web of players from suppliers of agricultural inputs, processing facilities, shipping to retailers, among others.

In recent weeks, the company has intensified buying of cassava from over 17,000 farmers nationwide through 130 assemblers.

SMC, whose food unit San Miguel Foods Inc. is among the country’s leading producers of fresh meats, poultry, processed meats, flour, dairy products, spreads, and coffee, said it will buy products at guaranteed prices,

to ensure farmers will benefit.

“We want to make sure that farmers will directly benefit. It’s not only people in Metro Manila who are in need of help but also, our kababayans in the provinces, including our farmers,” Ang said.

“Our local farmers have long been a major part of San Miguel’s supply chain. We source many of the raw materials for a lot of our products from them. They are even more important and critical now, especially given the tight competition for products in the global market,” he added.

With the initiative, Ang said the company wanted to encourage more farmers to plant, and assure them that they have a ready market for their products.

“Right now, we have more than enough inventory for our present needs, up to over six months. But we will still buy their produce, so we can further ensure supply. This will also allow us to start preparing for the succeeding months,” Ang said.

He added, however, that all players would need to strictly enforce safety practices to protect the supply chain work force, as the country continues to battle the Covid-19 pandemic.

Collaboration

DESPITE the challenge posed by the lockdown, SMFI’s Assistant Vice President for Outreach Programs Cristie Angeles said the bayanihan

Cruise ship workers out of jobs till end of 2020. . .

On the other hand, Holland America Line plans to use eight of their cruise ships to bring back the crew scattered across the globe. This includes four Princess cruise ships [Caribbean Princess, Regal Princess, Crown Princess and Island Princess], and three HAL ships (Veendam, Volendam and Nieuw Amsterdam) and Seabourn Quest. Crown and Island Princess will be departing for Asia to repatriate Filipino, Indonesian, Indian, and South African crew mem-

bers from Princess ships. Veendam, Volendam and Nieuw Amsterdam will sail to Asia to repatriate all Holland America Line team members to Philipines, Indonesia, India and South Africa. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is expected to give P10,000 financial assistance to each crew member out of work until the last quarter of 2020.

Stranded in Luzon In a radio interview on Sunday, Overseas workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)

chief Hans J. Cacdac said of the repatriated seafarers, 12,000 were billeted in hotels to complete their mandatory 14-day quarantine. He, however, said a considerable number of those who completed their quarantine were still unable to return to their homes. Cacdac explained, “60 to 70 percent of those stranded are from Visayas and Mindanao since they are still waiting for their LGU [local government unit] to open,” Cacdac said. Several LGUs in Visa-

yas and Mindanao implemented their own lockdowns to prevent the spread of Covid-19 within their jurisdiction. The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) earlier tasked OWWA to lead the Sub-Task group Quarantine Facilities, which will secure facilities of all repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFW).

DOLE aid

DURING the weekend, Labor Secre-

continued from a8

tary Silvestre H. Bello III said they will provide aid for all of the repatriate Filipino sailors He said this includes the $200 cash aid from OWWA’s Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP) and scholarship for their children.

“More than 30,000 requests for assistance have already been received under the program, on top of the 25,800 stranded OFWs assisted by DOLE and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration,” Bello said in a statement. The government has

‘Don’t forget immunization vs other diseases’. . .

He noted that the Department of Health’s (DOH) Department Circular 2020-0167 states that the Covid-19 pandemic does not remove the daily requirement for essential health services such as routine immunization for chil-

dren zero to 12 months. Gatchalian emphasized that the proximity of barangay health centers allows them to deliver vaccination services in communities. Republic Act 10152 or the “Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immuniza-

tion Act of 2011” also provides that basic immunization shall be given for free at government hospitals and health centers to infants and children up to five years old, Gatchalian noted. The Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI)

also requires health centers to have at least one staff trained on the Reaching Every Barangay (REB) strategy, which aims to improve access to routine immunization.

The senator noted that the law also provides that in the absence

If the entire Philippine archipelago would be placed under lockdown for three months, the economists said the numbers would be more grim for the economy and poverty will be even worse.

A three-month shutdown of the Philippines would cost the economy P817 billion and force the country’s GDP to contract 2.4 percent this year.

Poverty and inequality are also expected to worsen to a poverty incidence of 21.911 percent; poverty gap, 5.697 percent; poverty severity,

2.135 percent; and Gini coefficient to widen to 0.4537.

The economists said a two-month lockdown of the Philippines would lead the economy to lose P522 billion and GDP to post a growth of only 0.6 percent in 2020.

This would lead poverty incidence to increase to 21.778 percent; poverty gap, 5.652 percent; poverty severity, 2.114 percent; and Gini coefficient, 0.4534.

Meanwhile if the entire country is placed on lockdown for a month,

the economists estimated this would lead to P251 billion in losses and slow GDP to a growth of 3.4 percent this year.

Poverty incidence would increase to 21.614 percent; poverty gap, 5.612 percent; poverty severity, 2.096 percent; and Gini coefficient to widen to 0.4532.

“If rather lockdown covers the entire Philippines and would last for three months, additional P70 billion is required to reverse the change in all poverty indicators,”

allocated P1.5 billion for AKAP, which is expected to benefit 150,000 OFWs. Bello said they do not expect any mass permanent displacement among the Covid-affected seafarers since their manning agencies have already committed to rehire them once cruise ship operations resume. However, he said they are ready to provide alternative employment and livelihood opportunities for those who will no longer be rehired or to permanently stay in the country.

continued from a8

of mass immunization activities, alternative strategies such as mobile service and outreach activities can also be explored. Besides infants, children and adolescents, Gatchalian cited the need for continued vaccination for senior

Inequality to worsen in 3-mo ECQ–study. . .

Data showed that using 2015 data from of the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES), poverty incidence was at 21.5 percent; poverty gap, 5.578 percent; poverty severity, 2.08 percent; and Gini coefficient was at 0.453.

With a three-month lockdown, the economists projected poverty incidence to increase to 21.799 percent; poverty gap, 5.657 percent; poverty severity, 2.117 percent; and Gini coefficient, 0.4534.

spirit lives on through KSK’s project partner, Maricon Mills, which helped farmers process their unsold products, such as chili, mangoes, tomatoes, and cucumber.

“To help the local farmers, the said social enterprise [Maricon Mills] processed the products of our KSK farmers such as chili, made pickled mangoes and cucumber, and turned the tomatoes into candies while the leafy vegetables were sold locally,” said Angeles.

Aside from Maricon Mills, SMFI said RiceUp, a social enterprise project that aims to empower Filipino farmers and allows them to directly connect with consumers, is also working closely with the latter and KSK farmer trainees to facilitate the purchase of KSK’s produce in Pampanga.

According to RiseUp founder Elvin Laceda, “We are all in this together.

To date, we have sold more than 500 kilos of vegetables from KSK farmers at fair prices.”

Angeles said the KSK farmers encouraged one another to keep on planting to ensure that they will have enough food for their community during the enhanced community quarantine.

She also hopes that local government units (LGUs) will consider buying vegetables from small farmers and make their produce part of their food allocations for their constituents.

citizens. Republic Act 9994 or the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010” provides that indigent senior citizens are entitled to free vaccination against influenza, a disease which has similar symptoms with Covid-19. Butch Fernandez

continued from a2

the economists said.

The economists issued the policy brief 12 days before the end of a 45day enhanced community quarantine of Luzon that began on March 17.

Poverty incidence is defined by the PSA as the proportion of families or individuals with per-capita income or expenditure less than the per-capita poverty threshold to the total number of families or individuals.

Poverty gap, meanwhile, is computed as the total income or ex-

penditure shortfall of families or individuals with income/expenditure below the poverty threshold, divided by the total number of families/individuals.

The severity of poverty is measured as the total of the squared income or expenditure shortfall (expressed in proportion to the poverty threshold) of families or individuals with income or expenditure below the poverty threshold, divided by the total number of families or individuals.

The World BusinessMirror

Editor: Angel R. Calso

Virus update: Fewer deaths in NY, Italy; France fatalities reach 19,323

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ew York reported 540 deaths in the past 24 hours, down from 630 the previous day, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. The state’s death toll is now 13,362. It’s the first time the daily toll dropped below 600 in 12 days. The state reached a peak of 799 deaths on April 9.

Fewest deaths in Italy

Italy reported the fewest deaths in six days as new cases remained stable. The country registered 482 fatalities down from 525 a day earlier, the lowest since April 12. Total deaths are 23,227. There were 3,491 new cases compared with 3,493 a day earlier, with the total now at 175,925. Patients in intensive care fell for a 15th day.

French death rate slows

Deaths in France rose by 642 to 19,323 fatalities, the Health Ministry said in an e-mailed statement, the smallest increase in five days.

The number of infections rose by 5,715 to 173,956. Only the US, Spain and Italy have more fatalities.

The number of people hospitalized fell for a fourth day to 30,639, the biggest decline yet. Patients in ICU beds, an indicator of the outbreak’s intensity and its impact on the hospital system, fell for a 10th day to 5,833, the lowest since March 31, according to health ministry data.

US cases up 3.4 percent

US confirmed cases rose 3.4 percent from Friday, below the average daily increase of the past week, according

to data collected by Johns Hopkins University and Bloomberg News.

The national daily increase has been 4.9 percent in the past week.

New York’s cases jumped 5.2 percent from the previous day, data showed. Delaware had a 12-percent increase in cases. Fatalities almost doubled to 37,079 from 18,769 a week ago, according to the data.

Deaths rose by more than 20 percent in West Virginia and Montana, and by more than 10 percent in New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island, Delaware and New Mexico, according to data as of 9:30 a.m. on Saturday.

California not yet reopening

California reported 87 deaths, one of the highest daily counts so far, as Governor Gavin Newsom said the state may not be close to loosening measures imposed to curb the spread.

Total deaths rose to 1,072, Newsom said in his daily briefing. The number of cases climbed 5.3 percent, while patients in intensive care fell by a “modest” 0.1 percent, he said.

“For those that think we’re out of the woods, those who think we’ve turned the page, those who think

we can go back to the way things used to be, I caution you on the basis of that 87 number,” Newsom said.

told reporters one person is testing positive for every 38 checked.

Deaths climbed by two to 52.

UK deaths over 800 for 3rd day

Brazil cases, deaths rise

The UK reported more than 800 deaths for the third day in a row.

Fatalities rose by 888 to 15,464.

The number of cases reached more than 114,000, the health ministry said on Saturday.

Spain deaths reach 20,043

Virus cases in Spain rose by 4,499 in the last 24 hours, pushing the total to 191,726 as the government reviews the way it reports its figures.

Authorities reported a total of 20,043 deaths from the illness since the outbreak started, with 565 people dying in the last 24 hours. That’s roughly in line with this week’s data, although the ministry hasn’t clarified discrepancies in the number of deaths reported.

Spain is now the third country after Italy and the US to suffer more than 20,000 deaths.

Spain plans to extend a nationwide lockdown through May 9. The government will submit the proposal to Congress before the current state of emergency expires on April 25, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said. While the government will not relax confinement, it will seek to allow children to leave their homes under strict rules, he said.

South Africa cases rise

South Africa reported 251 new infections on Saturday, its biggest daily increase, bringing the total to 3,034. That’s as community screening is rolled out, increasing the number of tests. About 7,194 tests were conducted in the past 24 hours.

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize

Brazil reported 2,917 new cases and 211 deaths in 24 hours, according to the nation’s Health Ministry.

Total deaths rose to 2,352 from 2,141 on Friday. Sao Paulo state, epicenter of the nation’s outbreak, had 13,894 cases and 991 deaths, the government said.

Israel eases restrictions

Israel will ease the lockdown imposed on the economy as the virus outbreak showed signs of slowing. Starting on Sunday, offices can double the number of workers they use to 30 percent of staff, and stores selling goods like home furnishings and electronics can reopen, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised address on Saturday night. Malls will remain closed.

Israel has 13,265 confirmed cases and 164 people have died.

Turkey’s quarantine measures

Turkey extended quarantine measures in major cities for another 15 days as the spread of the coronavirus shows signs of slowing.

The rules announced earlier this month apply to Istanbul, which has the bulk of reported cases, and 30 other cities.

New cases increased by 4.8 percent on Saturday, compared with a 12-percent increase 10 days earlier, according to Bloomberg calculations based on Health Ministry data. Another 121 deaths were reported on Saturday, raising the total to 1,890.

Denmark aid programs

Denmark extended aid programs

US, UK condemn Hong Kong arrests of democracy advocates H

ONG KONG—The United States condemned the arrests of at least 14 veteran pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong on charges of joining massive anti-government protests last year, saying the police action jeopardizes a high degree of autonomy guaranteed the southern Chinese city.

Among those arrested on Saturday were 81-year-old activist and former lawmaker Martin Lee and democracy advocates Albert Ho, Lee Cheuk-yan and Au Nok-hin.

Police also arrested media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who founded the local newspaper Apple Daily.

The sweeping crackdown amid a coronavirus pandemic is based on charges of unlawful assembly stemming from huge rallies against proposed China extradition legislation that exposed deep divisions between democracy-minded Hong Kongers and the Communist Party-ruled central government in Beijing.

The bill—which would have allowed the residents of the semiautonomous Chinese territory to be sent to mainland to stand trial—has been withdrawn, but the protests continued for more than seven months, centered around demands for voting rights and an independent inquiry into police conduct.

While the protests began peacefully, they increasingly descended into violence after demonstrators became frustrated with the government's response. They feel that

Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai (center) who founded local newspaper Apple Daily, is arrested by police officers at his home in Hong Kong on Saturday, April 18, 2020. Hong Kong police arrested at least 14 pro-democracy lawmakers and activists on Saturday on charges of joining unlawful protests last year calling for reforms. AP Photo/Vincent Yu

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has ignored their demands and used the police to suppress them.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement condemned the arrests.

“Beijing and its representatives in Hong Kong continue to take actions inconsistent with commitments made under the Sino-British Joint Declaration that include transparency, the rule of law, and guarantees that Hong Kong will continue to ‘enjoy a high degree of autonomy,’” Pompeo said. He was referring to the 1997 handover of the former British colony to China, which promised the city would en-

joy political freedoms not afforded mainland China.

Atty. General William Barr also weighed in with a statement saying these events show how "antithetical the values of the Chinese Communist Party are to those we share in Western liberal democracies. These actions—along with its malign influence activity and industrial espionage here in the United States — demonstrate once again that the Chinese Communist Party cannot be trusted.”

Britain’s Foreign Office also criticized the arrests, saying “the right to peaceful protest is fundamental to Hong Kong's way of life and as

such is protected in both the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law.” Beijing has accused the US and other Western countries of instigating the protests and insists they're China's internal affairs.

The Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong said police were enforcing the law against those suspected of organizing and participating in unauthorized assemblies, and foreign countries have no right to interfere, China’s official Xinhua News Agency reported.

“It is completely wrong that the UK Foreign Office spokesperson has distorted the truth by painting unauthorized assemblies as “peaceful protests,” in a bid to whitewash, condone and exonerate the anti-China troublemakers in Hong Kong,” the statement said.

Lai, Lee Cheuk-yan and Yeung Sum—a former lawmaker from the Democratic Party who was also arrested—were charged in February over their involvement in a rally on August 31 last year. The Hong Kong authorities had denied permission for most of the rallies and police increasingly used tear gas and pepper spray against demonstrators, arresting hundreds.

The League of Social Democrats wrote in a Facebook post on Saturday that its leaders were among those arrested, including chairman Raphael Wong. They were accused of participating in two unauthorized protests on August 18 and October 1 last year. AP

to businesses and workers by a month, to July 8, and added new measures to increase spending by about 100 billion kroner ($15 billion), according to a statement.

The government said companies that pay dividends, buy back shares or are registered in tax havens won’t be eligible for the programs, which now amount to 400 billion kroner with loans and guarantees.

Iran deaths pass 5,000

Fatalities in Iran rose to 5,031 as the country’s daily death toll from the virus fell to the lowest in over a month with 73 deaths in the past 24 hours. Total known cases reached 80,868 with 1,374 new infections since Friday.

Iran is seeking $50 million from the World Bank to help it fight the pandemic, marking the first time since 2005 that the country has applied for such a loan from the Washington-based institution, a deputy health minister said on state TV. Iran has also requested a loan of 130 million euros ($141 million) from the Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank, of which it is the largest stakeholder after Saudi Arabia and Libya.

Russia’s biggest increase

Russia recorded its largest daily increase in coronavirus infections, with new cases rising by almost 5,000 in a single day.

New infections jumped by 4,785 to 36,793, the official Russian coronavirus information center reported on its website. Forty people died in the past day, including 21 in Moscow, bringing the number of fatalities to 313. The pace of new cases increased 17.6 percent after slowing to less than 15 percent in the previous two days.

Bloomberg News

Monday, April 20, 2020

A5

Japan’s domestic cases of Covid-19 exceed 10,000

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OKY—Japanese health ministry said on Sunday that 568 new cases of the coronavirus were reported the day before, bringing a domestic total to 10,361.

A combined total including 712 others from a cruise ship quarantined near Tokyo earlier this year came to 11,073, with 174 deaths.

The number of cases is still relatively small compared to the US and Europe, but that’s only as many as Japan’s limited testing has detected and actual infections are believed to be far more widespread.

Japan has finally started setting up additional testing centers in Tokyo and elsewhere, allowing primary care doctors to send suspected patients directly to testing stations rather than having them go through public health centers to screen eligibility, an earlier requirement that had prevented and delayed testing and treatment of many people.

Experts have noted that their strategy of going after clusters to trace infections is no longer effective to keep up with the surging cases and more tests are needed.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday expanded a state of emergency, which was limited to Tokyo and six other urban areas, to all of Japan, in a bid to prevent further spread of the virus nationwide amid concerns that hospitals are already overburdened with influx of patients.

It took two months for the cases to reach 1,000 since the first case was detected in midJanuary, but the spread of the infections has accelerated in recent weeks and the number doubled from around 5,000 in just 10 days.AP

Besieged airbase shows Turkey turning the tide in Libya’s war

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full-throttled military intervention by Turkey could have turned the tide in Libya’s civil war, in a striking development that’s gone largely unnoticed by a world marshaling resources to fight the coronavirus.

With Ankara providing the firepower, the United Nations-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli is poised to gain the upper hand against an eastern military commander backed by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Russian mercenaries.

The reversal can be seen playing out at AlWatiya airbase in the desert southwest of the contested capital.

In March 2019, Khalifa Haftar telegraphed his long-anticipated assault on Tripoli when cargo planes began flying in ammunition and weapons to Al-Watiya from his eastern stronghold. Battered Soviet-era fighter aircraft were soon taking off from the base to bomb the capital, home to the United Nations-backed government.

More than a year on, Al-Watiya has become the besieged refuge for Haftar’s fleeing loyalists after government forces backed by Turkish weaponry struck back, capturing a string of western towns last week.

Biggest loss

Osama al-Juwaili, the general who heads the Tripoli administration’s joint operations, said in an interview the standoff would end with the departure of Haftar’s forces.

If that happens, Libyan analyst Mohamed Eljarh said, it “would represent the biggest strategic loss for Haftar since the start of the Tripoli offensive. Losing Al-Watiya would direct the GNA’s attention to Tarhouna.” On Saturday, a day after the Turkish airforce and navy carried out a drill off Libya’s coast, government forces launched an offensive on Tarhouna, closing in on Haftar’s last remaining bastion near the capital.

Turkey’s intervention to prop up Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj has, at least for now, changed the direction of a war that’s drawn in international rivals keen to secure influence over the troubled Opec oil producer that straddles key migration routes across the Mediterranean from Europe.

Nations supporting Haftar are unlikely to stand down, with too much at stake for them to allow the defeat of the field marshal who controls the country’s main oil facilities. The country that’s been in turmoil since a 2011 Nato-backed revolt ousted Muammar Qaddafi is likely to see yet more conflict.

Drone battle

For now, Chinese-made Wing Loong drones that Western diplomats say are operated by the UAE no longer have free reign over Tripoli and neighboring Misrata, where they’d conducted airstrikes until late last year; Turkish armed Bayraktar unmanned aircraft increasingly dominate the skies.

Turkey is “actively backing” the counteroffensive by Sarraj’s forces to defeat Haftar, said a senior Turkish official who’s familiar with the country’s Libya policy, asking not to be named discussing sensitive information. Turkey’s government declined to comment. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has conceded Turkish casualties in attacks by Haftar’s Libyan National Army, and vowed to teach the commander a lesson.

“The balance of power has changed in the past two months due to Turkish support and what Turkey has brought in, in terms of material and fighters,” said Wolfram Lacher, a Libya expert with the German SWP research center. “This really raises the question for Haftar’s backers: what are they going to do?” he said. “It raises the prospect for further escalation if they decide to double down, as I would expect them to do.”

Arab and Western diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity, agreed that Haftar’s backers in Cairo and Abu Dhabi were likely to boost their own support, further complicating the turmoil.

For days, the Turkish drones have targeted fuel trucks and supply convoys for Haftar’s forces in the west. A drone strike last month killed one of his senior commanders near the city of Sirte.

Haftar’s forces continue to operate Russian-made Pantsir air defense systems that shoot down Turkish drones, but they can’t cover the widening battleground. Bloomberg News

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Monday, April 20, 2020 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

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editorial

Lock down all boomers and the sick!

T

he personal tragedy of a single death cannot be diminished or discounted in any way. However, governments do not function just to meet the needs of a single individual. Public policy decisions must be based on statistical reality.

Luzon has a population of about 50 million. On March 16, 2020, President Duterte declared Luzon under “enhanced community quarantine,” (ECQ) effectively a lockdown. The population of Metro Manila is approximately 13 million.

The Philippine economy is also locked down with tens of millions out of work. Neither the public nor the private sector has the ability to keep the entire population fed, sheltered, and supplied with all basic necessities. That is a fact. That the suffering increases daily is also a fact, and prolonged physical and psychological suffering is not acceptable.

The decision to quarantine was absolutely correct. However, two things are apparent. The longer the ECQ goes on, the greater the destruction of the economy, and the suffering will extend exponentially into the future based on the length of the ECQ period.

The second situation is that testing for the virus is inaccurate, missing both positive and negative cases. If the testing accuracy is 99 percent—which it is not—and 1,000,000 are tested, that means 10,000 people will have either a false positive or a false negative result. For those insisting that “mass testing” is the answer, what is the solution for these 10,000 inaccurate test results?

We keep hearing the phrase, “What is more important, life or money?” Actually the more accurate phrase is, “health or wealth”? But let’s take that “life or money” remark at face value. The opposite of “life” is obviously “death” and “money.” when you have none, is called insolvency—in a sense, the opposite of money is poverty. We are being told that we must make the choice between having money and “dying” or living without money. Is that truly the choice?

No one wants to die of Covid-19. But here are the harsh facts of Covid-19 mortality.

The total cases in the United States have reached over 700,000 with 40,000 deaths. New York state, particularly New York City, is an epicenter with 230,000 cases and over 13,000 deaths. However, Covid-19 is not an equal opportunity disease.

Note this. As of Friday, April 17, 2020, 84 percent of all deaths in New York state are people 60 years of age and older. That means that less than two in 10 of those hospitalized who die are under 60 years of age.

Assuming there are 13 million people in Metro Manila, the entire at-risk group—or the “over 60” age group—is less than 1 million or about 9 percent.

Prior health condition is a huge factor in mortality. From New York State: Of the 13,000 deaths, over half—6,944—had hypertension.

Diabetes was present in 4,571 with 2,447 having too much bad blood cholesterol. But 90 percent of those who died with a previous condition of high blood pressure, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia were in the 60 and over age group.

This is the reality: If you are over 60 with one or more previous bad health condition and you contract Covid-19, your chances of dying are very high.

The ECQ, to some extent, is necessary as no nation’s health-care system can take on a huge number of the sick. But when it comes to “life or money,” how tight and how long can we lock down the 90 percent to protect the 10 percent?

Since 2005

The post-pandemic world Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II

RISING SUN

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or sure, things are not going to be the same when the pandemic is over, whenever that may be. This period has been likened to the time of the Black Plague and the Great Depression, which means that the world will undergo many important social and economic changes, and life as we know it will never be the same again.

Some economic experts and commentators have predicted that e-commerce and digital service companies, including food delivery services and logistics companies, are going to thrive in a post-pandemic world. As different parts of the world slowly lift their quarantines and lockdowns, people are expected to remain wary—and many behaviors during lockdown, like social distancing and working from home, may remain for a long time.

Thomas M. Orbos

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affecting organizations and individuals in production, creatives, media, communication, etc.

In the labor sector, more and more organizations and individuals are going to work from their homes.

Aside from the necessity of social distancing, this work setup also helps people avoid loss of productivity due to road traffic. It promotes work-life balance as it gives people more time for their hobbies, self and loved ones. Companies are going to find this setup more cost-efficient and, therefore, will find more ways to conduct business and operations remotely. New technologies that support this, and, therefore, the

companies that offer these technologies, will be in greater demand.

The travel industry, real estate and the hotel business may be negatively affected if they are not able to catch up with the changes.

Even health and medical consultations are being done remotely, something that is seen remaining in the post-Covid-19 reality. Companies in the field of medical innovation and medical technologies are in a good position to introduce new systems, products and technologies. The health-care sector, including insurance and the field of research, is seen to undergo a period of adjustments and changes.

To some extent, the Covid-19 pandemic focused the spotlight on the things that needed to be examined and changed, and forced the whole world to make the appropriate adjustments to be able to survive. The lessons are extra difficult but they create, I suppose, the silver lining: If we are able to learn the lessons well, then life may bloom into a beautiful renaissance when this pandemic is gone.

Pushing low carbon transport in the new normal

BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business Publisher

People, therefore, are going to count on business’ flexibility and ability to transact (process purchases and deliveries) online.

As more people conduct many aspects of their lives online, companies in the fields of Internet connectivity and information technology will most likely find themselves at an advantage. It is seen, however, that advertising is likely to suffer (for example, Coke pulled out their social-media advertisements), largely

Even health and medical consultations are being done remotely, something that is seen remaining in the post-Covid-19 reality.

Companies in the field of medical innovation and medical technologies are in a good position to introduce new systems, products and technologies.

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E are all talking about the new normal, referring to the life we will face once the pandemic subsides. And judging from all the discussions, it seems everyone is prepared to embrace it. But are we? The new normal is not just about adjustments to a new world. It is about leaving the pre-Covid practices, actions or policies of our society that either contributed to the causes, as well as the spread, of this virus and future pandemics.

Take the case of transportation.

Given the porous world we live in, the transport sector, maybe on a par with the medical and the food sector, is crucial to the new world we will be entering. Global policies on transport will have to be reviewed as they can spell the difference between spreading the virus and containment. Even social distancing, at its very core, is not just about human interaction— but physical human to human contact that can only be possible through a transport and travel experience.

It is good that even our local transport policy-makers are looking at policies that will discourage the spread of the virus. At the onset of the pandemic, the Department of Transportation issued a directive aimed at pushing for mandatory social distancing and ensuring the sanitation of passengers and cargo in all modes of transport—rails,

roads, air and maritime. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board issued a timely directive of requiring public transport drivers to wear facemasks and provide alcohol or similar disinfectants to their passengers, aside from the mandatory social distancing.

Our airport managers, following IATA guidelines—maintained their passenger and cargo disinfection processes despite the confusing recommendations of the World Health Organization. Both the maritime and the rail sectors conducted massive disinfection regularly to bring that much-needed safety confidence to the public.

These are all definitely good, but as we are learning more about the virus, we also know that these will not be enough. Post-Covid transport policies will have to put primary importance on safety of passengers

Overlooked, especially among us who live in urban centers, is the fact that our respiratory resistance is weakened due to our daily exposure to carbon emissions. There are scientific studies proving such a correlation. But that is not even necessary. Logic dictates that moving forward in the new era, we need to instill practices to give us a better chance of defending ourselves.

and cargo, even sacrificing economic considerations. On a higher plane, transport will play a bigger role— not just in the containment of the spread of coronavirus and other future pathogens, but more important in long-term prevention. How can this be?

We know that Covid-19 attacks our respiratory system, which then leads to other complications. We also know that transport is one of the leading causes of carbon emissions leading to a third of respiratory deaths globally. Overlooked, especially among us who live in urban centers, is the fact that our respiratory resistance is weakened due to our daily exposure to carbon emissions. There are scientific studies proving such a correlation. But that is not even necessary. Logic dictates that moving forward in the new era, we need to instill practices to give us a better chance of defending ourselves.

In this regard, there is a pressing

need to overhaul our dependency on fossil fuels. The move to save our environment by moving into alternative fuel and low carbon emission is now being given a more heartfelt meaning. Timelines to drastically implement this need to be hastened. Transport and urban planners must be given the needed support in changing our city landscape to deliberately allow more greenways and bikeways. Private car ownership must be discouraged, and low carbon public transport be encouraged. Incentives must now be given to such low carbon vehicles, while penalties must be effectively imposed on those that insist on fuel fed transport despite the presence of whatever political considerations that prevented such implementation before.

It is not just about the clearer skies and the cleaner air we breathe now that we want to carry on to the new normal. It is about ensuring that our future generations will have a greater fighting chance against this virus and other future, and possibly more deadly viruses. It is time to really take care of our environment with the needed changes in transport policies. Moving forward to the new normal is not just the end to our old harmful practices but the assured rebirth of our species.

Thomas Tim Orbos was former DOTr undersecretary for roads and general manager of the MMDA. He is currently undertaking further studies at the McCourt School of Public Policy of Georgetown University. He can be reached via e-mail at thomas_orbos@sloan.mit.edu

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Managing business risks 2020: Ctrl+Alt+Delete in times of high volatility Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.

THE PATRIOT

Filbert Tsai

DEBIT CREDIT Conclusion

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ost start-ups and micro, small and medium enterprises are generally not ready to shift into a prolonged ad hoc emergency measures to address the challenges brought about by the Covid-19 crisis. These businesses will have to immediately simulate and stress-test their business models and operations and prepare for a potential need to shift to these ad-hoc operational arrangement under a contamination situation.

While developing business continuity plans at this stage and contagion rate is not realistic—the following immediate actions will need to be taken by founders and business owners: 1. Stress-test and simulate a contamination event within five calendar days to determine the optimal next course of action, this would normally require the involvement of key persons within the company across the ranks to ensure that plans in place are realistic and can be executed.

2. Stress-test and simulate the company’s profitability and cash flows using pessimistic assumptions relevant to the company, such as a total stoppage of the supply chain, a 90-perent drop in walk-in customers, a shutdown of local banks limiting monetary access to ATMs, and other relevant assumptions.

3. Stress-test and simulate an infection event of key persons and founders within the company to determine how the business can continue to operate in the absence of these key persons on a prolonged period of time.

4. Develop short written policies that will be deployed to all employees in a contamination event and how telecommuting arrangements will be followed. This should likely be developed together with key persons

of the company as well as human resource specialists.

5. Check the company’s medical insurance (or health maintenance organization) policy and employment contracts to ensure that affected employees are provided with the right medical attention and monetary compensation as legally required.

Some insurance companies have begun to introduce additional benefits to policyholders in light of Covid-19.

In times of contagion crisis, business continuity is more important than growing the market base of the business (exception to those in the business of crisis management, medical research or other relevant industries). Businesses are expected to cutdown operating costs during these periods to avoid spiraling down into bankruptcy in these volatile times.

After all, we can never be fully prepared to face all the risks that are yet to come in the coming days—we can simply hope and pray that all will be well.

Filbert Tsai is a Certified Public Accountant and is the chief strategist at UpSmart Strategy Consulting Inc. This column accepts contributions from accountants, especially articles that are of interest to the accountancy profession, in particular, and to the business community, in general. These can be e-mailed to boa.secretariat.@gmail.com.

Second of three parts

Alternate

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S a modifier key, ALT is most often used with another key to perform other actions. On its own, ALT does not prompt any action in the computer’s operating system. It has to be accompanied with another keyboard command. By analogy, since the coronavirus crisis, many leaders worldwide have, figuratively speaking, pressed ALT and, subsequently, made life-changing decisions. The health and economic challenges brought about by this pandemic have presented various leaders a wide array of options. For instance, to do mass testing or not; to end or extend the quarantine; and to give or deprive the local government units the power to manage their own localities.

W henever we press CTRL+ ALT+DEL, in sequential order, computer users would see options, very critical to the further use of the computer. Most would simply choose Restart to reboot the operating system. But the more prudent users would assess the situation first and take a peek at the Task Manager to figure out what program is causing the system to crash or hang. If the technical problem seems to be complicated, users can press Switch User and operate the system under a New User Account. By analogy, the InterAgency Task Force has presumably studied all options and looked at the Task Manager before choosing what to press subsequent to the ALT key.

Since its creation, the IATF has been balancing the health and economic considerations brought about by the crisis, foremost of which is the extent and duration of the enhanced community quarantine that it recommends to the President.

President Duterte has to decide soon whether to extend the ECQ or to open the country for business.

Extending the ECQ can presumably save more lives from the virus but millions will continue to lose livelihood in the process and this

could cripple the economy in the long run. On the other hand, opening the country for business by the end of the month, needless to say, under a regime of strict social distancing, can still be a dangerous proposition amid the uncertainty of the true state of public health in the country.

Applying the CTRL+ALT+DEL analogy, Neda Director General Ernesto Pernia has literally pressed “Switch User” or “Sign Out,” citing differences with other members of the Cabinet regarding the management of the crisis. Known for his integrity, humility and competence, Secretary Pernia chose to resign knowing that he has done enough to help the President since joining the Cabinet in 2016. I have so much praise and admiration in a public servant who can decisively act on his options. On the other hand, despite the Senate resolution demanding his resignation, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has opted not to press “Switch User,” at least for the time being, perhaps under the assumption that he can still fulfill his major role in this seemingly uncoordinated government response to the crisis.

Monday, April 20, 2020

Fast-forward to post-pandemic Philippines and applying the 20/20 hindsight provided by this Great Interruption, the ECQ has proved that media and technology, while already ubiquitous, have become even more powerful. My 23-yearold daughter Regina Elena shared, “People are capable to act and make decisions, as if not quarantined, by simply pushing a few buttons.

We can do our grocery shopping in online marketplaces. We can easily “meet-up” with our friends and loved ones via video calls. We can learn by participating in online classes. We can band together with people from different walks of life to raise funds for our frontliners and other sectors in need. The list goes on, and the possibilities of what we can do through and with media and technology seem endless as we continue to use them each day. Our increasing dependence on media and technology is primarily due to the fact that they have surpassed mere convenience and have transformed as everyday essentials. The New Norm in post-pandemic Philippines would entail businesses, across all industries, strengthening and innovating their social media presence.

Those without social media presence would find ways to incorporate online services into their business models, pronto. Spatial reorganization will commence, as more attention will be given to working from home. Urban farming will soon be an in-thing! Schools and universities will entertain alternative modes of learning, not only for the sake of emergency preparedness, but also for the expansion of their curricula.

And while media and technology has helped to transcend religious gatherings and rituals from holy sites to our own homes at this time, one can expect that these very practices will be conducted with great prudence even after the coast is clear.”

Accepting a new way of doing things post-Covid-19 appears to be a must. Changes in individual habits and values are inevitable. But as my friend Kay Abella shared, “the only thing that should remain constant, now and in our future, is the

The effects of Covid-19 pandemic on children

By António Guterres

Secretary-General of the United Nations

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S the Covid-19 pandemic spreads across the globe, we are seeing an alarming pattern. The poorest and most vulnerable members of society are being hardest hit, both by the pandemic and the response.

I am especially concerned about the well-being of the world’s children.

Thankfully, children have so far been largely spared from the most severe symptoms of the disease. But their lives are being totally upended.

I appeal to families everywhere, and leaders at all levels: protect our children.

Today we are launching a report that highlights the risks they face.

First, education.

Almost all students are now out of school. Some schools are offering distance learning, but this is not available to all.

Children in countries with slow and expensive Internet services are severely disadvantaged.

Second, food.

A staggering 310 million school-

children—nearly half of the world’s total—rely on school for a regular source of daily nutrition.

Even before Covid-19 the world faced unacceptable rates of childhood malnutrition and stunting.

Third, safety.

With children out of school, their communities in lockdown and a global recession biting deeper, family stress levels are rising.

Children are both victims and witnesses of domestic violence and abuse.

With schools closed, an important early warning mechanism is missing.

There is also a danger that girls will drop out of school, leading to an increase in teenage pregnancies.

And we must not ignore the growing risks children are facing as they spend more time online.

This can leave children vulnerable to online sexual exploitation and grooming.

A lack of face-to-face contact with friends and partners may lead to heightened risk-taking such as sending sexualized images.

And increased and unstructured

time online may expose children to potentially harmful and violent content as well as greater risk of cyberbullying.

Governments and parents all have a role in keeping children safe.

Social-media companies have a special responsibility to protect the vulnerable.

Fourth, health.

Reduced household income will force poor families to cut back on essential health and food expenditures, particularly affecting children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers.

Polio vaccination campaigns have been suspended.

Measles immunization campaigns have stopped in at least 23 countries.

And as health services become overwhelmed, sick children are less able to access care.

With the global recession gathering pace, there could be hundreds of thousands additional child deaths in 2020.

These are just some of the findings of the report we are issuing today.

Its conclusion is clear.

We must act now on each of these threats to our children. Leaders must

do everything in their power to cushion the impact of the pandemic.

What started as a public health emergency has snowballed into a formidable test for the global promise to leave no one behind.

The report urges governments and donors to prioritize education for all children. It recommends they provide economic assistance, including cash transfers, to low-income families and minimize disruptions to social and healthcare services for children.

We must also prioritize the most vulnerable—children in conf lict situations; child refugees and displaced persons; children living with disabilities.

Finally, we must commit to building back better by using the recovery from Covid-19 to pursue a more sustainable and inclusive economy and society in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. With the pandemic placing so many of the world’s children in jeopardy, I reiterate my urgent appeal: let us protect our children and safeguard their well-being.

Gilead’s remdesivir can hardly live up to the hype

By Max Nisen | Bloomberg Opinion

T

he latest round of hype on Covid-19 drugs began on Thursday afternoon when Stat News reported on a leaked video discussion about Gilead Sciences Inc.’s remdesivir.

A Chicago doctor who had tested it on severely ill patients suggested it was working — that most of those who were given the medicine recovered and were discharged. The market is reacting as if the drug were already a commercial hit: Gilead shares have been up as much as 12 percent in early trading.

Investors should be clear about what

this report is and isn’t, however. It is a promising anecdote that suggests the drug might be useful. It is also extremely limited information from a small portion of a trial taken out of context. In other words, it’s miles from providing proof that remdesivir cures Covid-19.

The story is even further from being a reasonable basis for a multibillion-dollar stock move.

Anecdotal data gets people excited, especially when it sends a message they want to hear. But it’s not especially good at predicting whether a drug will work.

Just a few weeks ago, similar anecdotal reports suggested that hydroxychlo-

roquine, an older malaria drug, could be a Covid-19 miracle medicine. More robust trials show side effects and limited efficacy.

Before this video emerged, the data on remdesivir was mixed. A New England Journal of Medicine report on compassionate use of the medicine also suggested promise, but it was likewise anecdotal. On the other hand, Chinese researchers running extensive controlled studies on it recently stopped them. A slowing outbreak hurt enrollment. However, RW Baird & Co. analyst Brian Skorney argues that if the drug looked as

effective as the Stat report suggests, those researchers would “certainly” have reported data.

The Stat report has sparked particular exuberance because it highlights significant effects in very sick patients — evoking images of people being brought back from death’s door. But in selecting severely ill patients, this trial screened out those requiring mechanical ventilation and those with multi-organ failure or kidney or liver impairment, according to Skorney. That leaves a group of patients who probably had a better chance of recovery from the start, with or without remdesivir.

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hope that we each carry; a hope that we will all be better individuals to ourselves and to one another so that our New Normal actually becomes a Better Normal.” No matter how chaotic things are turning out and over the pessimistic attitude of a few friends, I choose to hold on to hope. In the Bible, Hebrews 6:19 tells us, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”

Rewind to today. I will choose to embrace this New Normal than expect business as usual at the end of the ECQ. I will stay compassionate in my criticisms of government action, when warranted. But better yet, rather than being fixated on the inefficiencies going around this ECQ, I choose to focus on the things I can control.

The ALT key in the keyboard is one of the least used keys in a computer, but unknown to many, there are 620 options available after pressing ALT. We all have a choice, similar to President Duterte, Secretaries Pernia and Duque. Knowing that my Better Normal is mine for the taking, I choose ALT+PRAY, as often as I can. In this country, I noticed, across political affiliations, some are doing the same thing—praying and perhaps asking “Restore us, God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.” (Psalms 80:7).

Crediting the power of media and technology, as my daughter Regina Elena pointed out, the rest of the world, across denominational, national, and ethnic lines, are praying persistently, twice a day, through unite714.com (@Unite714 on FB and IG). Prayers can still change things.

A former infantry and intelligence officer in the Army, Siegfred Mison showcased his servant leadership philosophy in organizations such as the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Malcolm Law Offices, Infogix Inc., University of the East, Bureau of Immigration, and Philippine Airlines. He is a graduate of West Point in New York, Ateneo Law School, and University of Southern California. A corporate lawyer by profession, he is an inspirational teacher and a Spirit-filled writer with a mission.

For questions and comments, please e-mail me at sbmison@gmail.com.

We thank Dr. Pernia for his service to the Filipino people

F

MAIL

or those who embody the true meaning of being a civil servant or government employee, joining public service is a decision for the brave and the principled. To offer majority of one’s time; to be constantly thinking of how to ensure that the public’s interest is prioritized, takes its toll on even the strongest of Filipinos.

Dr. Ernesto Pernia, secretary of the National Economic and Development Authority, is one such public servant and leader.

For nearly four years, he has helped in keeping the country’s good economic performance. The World Bank has said that the “Philippines is one of the most dynamic economies in the East Asia Pacific region.”

Dr. Pernia bore the brunt of many criticisms due to hard decisions he has to make, and the advice that he has to give to this administration. Decisions that were not easily felt in micro-level terms, but results are seen in how the country fares with the rest of the world’s economies. The World Bank also showed in their November 2019 report that the Philippines “is poised to make the leap from a lower-middle income country with a gross national income per capita of $3,660 in 2017 to an upper-middle income country (per capita income range of $3,896-$12,055) in the near term.”

That is why, we at the Forum for Family Planning and Development Inc., together with other members of civil society organizations, are saddened by the decision of Dr. Pernia to step down as Neda secretary. But it’s a decision we admire and respect. Having known Dr. Pernia as a member of academe and civil service organizations, whose life’s work had been focused on alleviating poverty and the plight of marginalized families not just in the Philippines but in the Asian region, we know that this decision was not an easy one to make.

We thank Dr. Pernia for his service to the Filipino people and it is our hope that the next Neda secretary will meet the high standards he has set for the organization.

Mabuhay po kayo, Secretary Ernesto Pernia!

Benjamin De Leon President, Forum for Family Planning and Development

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Cruise ship workers out of jobs till end of 2020

By Recto Mercene @rectomercene

& Samuel P. Medenilla

H

@sam_medenilla

A LF of the estimated 100,000 Filipino seafarers rendered jobless by the complete grounding of about 250 cruise ships will not be able to resume work until the end of 2020, after major cruise operators, among the hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, canceled schedules “until the last quarter.”

The assessment, by travel consultant Manny Geslani, said an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 Filipino crew members out of 130,000 overseas Filipinos (OF) employed by more than 250 cruise ships all over the world will not be working from March till the end of the year.

Geslani sees work resuming only in 2021 as the pandemic has shown to be difficult to manage in some Western countries, a prime market for cruise ships. So far, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has repatriated more than 14,000 Filipinos, mostly from the various cruise ships plying the seven seas.

The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), composed of 18 Member Lines, operates nearly 200 vessels in Floridian, Caribbean and Latin American waters, while Cruise Lines International Association has 60 ships plying the Mediterranean and European waters.

G eslani said another 12,000 seafarers are expected to arrive in Manila on April 22 all the way until May from major cruise lines Royal Caribbean, P & O Australia, Carnival, Celebrity, Costa, Holland and Princess. All these ships have Filipino and Indonesian crews sailing to Manila from Asia, Australia, Europe and the US. The DFA said these ships have been given permission to dock at the Port of Manila, Piers 13 or 15.

Asked whether the returning seamen, who have been quarantined in their respective ships prior to their arrival, would still have to undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine or home quarantine, DFA Undersecretary Ed Meneses said the Bureau of Quarantine (BoQ) would have to decide the issue.

“BOQ best source of information on this, they have issued guidelines.

Part of which is reporting prior to arrival on what steps have been taken to ensure health of crew.”

Geslani said the remaining 14,000 Filipinos crews are still on board their cruise ships, “still at sea or anchored off some distant ports on self-quarantine waiting for ship management to bring them to friendly ports.”

Geslani said since most of the major cruise lines like Royal Caribbean—with 61 ships affiliated with Carnival Corp.—have decided that the earliest cruise can start in the end of June or July, “Filipino crew members still on board will be sent home while the cruise ships will be disinfected and cleaned thoroughly.”

The total number of Filipinos sent home and those in the country “would be out of work until the last quarter of 2020 but they will receive their last pay check this month.”

Some cruise lines operators, however, are giving partial payment to their crew who are now in Manila, including those who signed contracts to join but were caught by the lockdown and are unable to join their ships.

Carnival Cruise Line plans to use five of their cruise ships to bring as many crew members back to their respective homes in Indonesia and the Philippines.

Continued on A4

PAF on military enforcing tighter quarantine: just scenario preps

T

By Rene Acosta

@reneacostaBM

HE Philippine Air Force (PAF) admitted on Sunday that it has ordered its personnel to prepare for an “extensive community quarantine” where the military is expected to take the lead role in its implementation, a scenario earlier raised by President Duterte.

The directive to Air Force personnel was contained in an internal memorandum order, a copy of which, it appeared, had been leaked to the public.

“It is an internal Memo for the PAF personnel. The PAF is just anticipating any scenarios in case the President as Commander in Chief of the AFP would decide to

implement his statements lately to the public as earlier stated and prepare our troops in advance,” said Air Force spokesman Major Aristides Galang in explaining the matter.

“We are just preparing our personnel to be ready,” he added.

Duterte warned earlier that he would not hesitate to impose a martial rule-like lockdown with soldiers in the front if people keep on violating the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

The implementation of the ECQ in Luzon is being supervised by a joint task force headed by Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar. It mandates residents to stay inside their homes in order to cut the virus’s transmission, with only one person per household allowed to go out at a time to buy food, medicine and other essential supplies. That person must at all times carry a quarantine pass.

120,000 violators

However, as the Philippine

National Police reported, at least 120, 000 people have been arrested for violating the quarantine, which was adopted to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic that as of Sunday had infected 6,259 Filipinos, with 409 deaths and 572 recoveries.

The violations piqued Duterte, warning he will not hesitate to impose a total lockdown with the help of the military.

Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said that while there had been no order yet for the martial-rule like quarantinte, “it is incumbent and customary on the part of the leadership of the Philippine Air Force, and the AFP under General Felimon Santos Jr., for that matter, to exercise its initiative of alerting and preparing” the soldiers for the task.

“Again, the context is: the President has already told that the AFP should prepare for deployment with the PNP in case people will continue to defy the protocols and disobey

DFA mourns Covid-related death of 2nd diplomat as cases among Filipinos abroad continue rising

T

HE Department of Foreign Afairs (DFA) on Sunday confirmed the untimely demise of Philippine Honorary Consul General in Stockholm, Erik Belfrage.

The DFA said “the country mourns with deep sadness Belfrage death at the age of 74, from complications arising from Covid-19.”

Belfrage was the second DFA diplomat to succumb to the deadly respiratory disease. The first was Ambassador to Lebanon Bernardita Catalla, who died of Covid-19 on April 1.

“We mourn yet another fallen diplomat,” the DFA said in a statement on Sunday, saying it

remains committed “to ensuring the welfare of our people, monitoring their status and assisting their needs through our continuous repatriation efforts.”

At the same time, the DFA announced a record 116 new Covid-19 cases among Filipinos abroad, “giving a total of almost 1,000 confirmed cases [334 DOH IHR verified] across the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, and Middle Easts/Africa.”

With 25 new deaths from t he A mer ic a s a nd Eu rope, DFA said, “this is the highest reported number of deaths in two weeks. Figures today also breach the 500-mark for patients under treatment, with

recoveries at 259.”

The department has in the past weeks been busy as well

with the repatriation of tens of thousands of Filipino migrant workers who lost their jobs as the pandemic affected their host companies and countries.

Among them were nearly 13,000 mostly seafarers working on dozens of cruise ships stranded at sea, unable to get berthing rights from countries worried of infection.

While the efforts of our Filipino frontliners abroad have been praised and lauded in this time of pandemic, the DFA said it acknowledges “that our personnel in our foreign service posts likewise face the risks and challenges besetting our people abroad.”

Recto L. Mercene

‘More virus risks in reopened malls, restos’

By Cai U. Ordinario

T

@caiordinario

HE risk of spreading coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19) may be too high if the government decides to open malls at this time, according to local economists.

Former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cielito F. Habito told BusinessMirror that apart from malls, allowing tourism establishments and restaurants would also be a risk at this time.

Earlier, former National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia recommended the opening of businesses to allow them to “defray costs” especially at this time.

“Industries where social distancing is possible like construction, logistics [and] many services can resume ahead of others where risks are higher like malls, tourism, restaurants,” Habito said.

De La Salle University economist Maria Ella C. Oplas told BusinessMirror that restaurants may be allowed to open but without their

dine-in services.

Businesses like hardware and other establishments that can deliver their products or perform online transactions should also be allowed to open.

She said bookstores should think of delivering books and educational institutions should be able to conduct hybrid classes.

“It’s difficult if people flock to the malls. We are not even sure that we have flattened [the curve] already,” Oplas said. “Businesses allowed to operate should be limited.

The government should assess the demand aside from the essentials.”

Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development (Acerd) Director Alvin P. Ang told BusinessMirror that a gradual opening of essential businesses can be allowed.

These include businesses that can manage physical distancing such as food, logistics, agriculture and manufacturers of personal protective equipment (PPE). These should be allowed to operate, Ang said.

Health system first

Howe ve r, Un ive r s it y of t he

Philippines economist Toby Melissa C. Monsod said it is important to remember that allowing businesses to operate should be based on whether the health system at the national and local level is ready for it.

“It is myopic to justify it on basis of ‘defraying costs’,” Monsod said.

“If [the health system is] not ready, then people and the economy could very well be worse off.”

Monsod added that businesses may also be concerned for the health of their staff and the survival of their business at this time.

She said allowing businesses to operate in order to defray costs would not be sufficient reason to allow them to open immediately.

Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) Research Fellow Jose Ramon G. Albert agreed with Monsod and said that the opening of businesses and operation of mass transport facilities will happen, but life will be altered after Covid-19.

“Even if some businesses and some public transport are allowed immediately after April 30 or weeks

later, clearly how we work and relate with each other will have to change from the ways we did things prior to the onset of Covid-19,” Albert said.

Earlier, Pernia said the government should help businesses cope with the pandemic by allowing a temporary reprieve of demurrage and customs fees or waiving of navigational charges for the airline industry, which has been among the hardest hit with the restrictions on mobility.

“While the government has eased the burden to businesses by allowing rent, bills and utilities payment extension, efforts should also be given to help them restart their operations and defray the cost of lost revenues,” he had said.

This, after the Philippine Statistics Authority reported that the country’s total merchandise trade contracted by 5.9 percent, reaching $12.5 billion in February 2020.

February’s trade performance was caused mainly by the 11.6-percent decline in imports, even as exports managed to post a positive growth of 2.8 percent.

the rules,” Arevalo said.

“Even before the announcement, local chief executives of the cities of Quezon, Pasay, Parañaque, and Mandaluyong, and the municipality of Pateros have sought the assistance of the AFP in the enforcement of regulations. Almost all barangays in the NCR were actually seeking the assistance of the military and the police which shows the magnitude of the problem,” he added.

Arevalo said that Filipinos should not be alarmed with the “natural reaction” of the military to prepare and deploy when it becomes necessary.

“What we should all be alarmed about instead is the fact that a lot of people are blatantly violating the law and disobeying the rules and health protocols which must be strictly enforced—otherwise people die,” he said.

“Law-abiding citizens and those who follow the rules should not worry. There is no reason to be alarmed,” he added.

‘Don’t forget immunization vs other diseases’

I

N the desperate race against time to “flatten the curve” as the Covid-19 pandemic rages, local authorities should not neglect the immunization campaigns against other deadly diseases like measles and polio.

That reminder comes from Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who goaded local government units (LGUs) at the weekend to complete immunization services for their constituents against the other diseases, which consistently rank among the top 10 list of killers of Filipinos.

Citing the lead up to this year’s global observance of World Immunization Week (April 24-30), the senator reminded LGUs to ensure the barangay-level immunization services “are not compromised despite the Covid pandemic.”

In a statement, Gatchalian suggested that the LGUs, in carefully planning Covid-19 measures and responses, can minimize “the risk of mortality if immunization services continue” even as he stressed that in providing immunization services, social distancing and infection control procedures should be properly maintained.”

He recalled that last year, the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) had estimated there were 2.9 million unvaccinated Filipino children who remain vulnerable to life-threatening diseases.

Moreover, he noted that the previous year also saw an outbreak of measles and polio in the countr y. Immunization rate in the past years declined from 88 percent in 2013 to 73 percent in 2017 and among the causes of this drop were public hesitancy, vaccine stock-outs, shortage of trained workers, and accessibility of far-f lung areas.

“Administering vaccines to infants is among the first and most important steps to ensure the health of the young. We cannot neglect immunization, but we must also ensure it’s done in a safe and effective manner, especially given the risks of Covid-19 in our country,” Gatchalian said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Continued on A4

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Companies BusinessMirror

Monday, April 20, 2020

B1

JTI expands PHL operations

D

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

espite the havoc wreaked by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic on the global economy, Japan Tobacco International (JTI) said it has started hiring people for its business service center in Manila.

After recently opening two similar centers in Warsaw, Poland, and in St. Petersburg, Russia, JTI said its Global Business Service (GBS) Center in Manila is its third global hub, which will serve all the JTI markets in Asia Pacific.

The global tobacco company based in Geneva, Switzerland, said the Manila GBS Center will employ up to 350 people within the next three years,

bringing the total number of JTI employees in the country to 5,000 including those in its manufacturing plant in Batangas.

JTI said it hopes that the facility can help soften the impact of the pandemic on the economy, which is expected to result in thousands of job losses in the coming months.

Due to the pandemic, the coun-

try’s unemployment rate is expected to rise to 8 percent, from 5.3 percent, as the economy is projected to grow below 1 percent this year.

“We thank the government for allowing us to make significant strategic investments in the Philippines over the recent years,” said John Freda, general manager of JTI Philippines in a statement.

“We are pleased to add the GBS Center to our employment offerings in the Philippines further underpinning our commitment to helping the government in creating job opportunities in the country,” Freda added.

The GBS Center will provide sophisticated solutions, consulting and analytics to satisfy complex operational challenges in the areas of finance, marketing and sales, people and culture, procurement, global supply chain and information technology.

It is also expected to increase the operational efficiency of all JTI markets in the Asia Pacific region by

streamlining activities, harmonizing business processes and sharing bestpractices not only in the region but across all 130 countries the company operates in.

“With its hardworking, talented and English-proficient work force coupled with a robust business processing industry, Manila is perfectly suited to take on this very important role,” said Akhtar Hannan, general manager of the GBS in Manila.

In 2017, JTI built a state-of-theart manufacturing plant in Batangas, which generated new employment, and subsequently spent P50 billion to acquire the tobacco-related assets of Mighty Corp.

The Batangas factory, recognized by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority as a Top Employer, is currently undergoing further expansion of its facilities.

JTI Philippines manufactures and distributes the brands Winston, Camel, Mevius, Mighty and Marvels.

SEC warns against groups using its logo on social media

T

he Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has advised the public to exercise caution in dealing with individuals or groups using its logo on social media, as some individuals or groups have appropriating its logo on social media without its permission.

Except for its official web site and social-

media accounts, the SEC said it has not recognized or authorized any affiliates or endorsed any other social-medial accounts to use its official logo.

The agency warned that individuals or entities using or appropriating its logo for business or personal exploitation sans written permis-

sion, endorsement or approval by the SEC may be sanctioned, penalized or incur criminal liability.

“Thus, the Commission warns the public that the SEC official logo is a property of the Commission and all rights pertaining thereto belongs to the Commission,” the SEC said in its advisory.

“Any unauthorized use or appropriation for business or personal exploitation thereof by individuals or entities without written permission, endorsement or approval by the Commission shall be severely dealt with by law and may incur criminal liability or otherwise sanctioned or penalized accordingly,” it added. VG Cabuag

Smart beefs up LTE network capacity

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

S

mart Communications Inc. has decided to reallocate some of its 2G frequencies to 4G to accommodate increasing demand for Internet connectivity in the country, as more and more Filipinos use their smart devices for productivity, social interaction, and entertainment.

Smart SVP Mario G. Tamayo said his group has started to convert its 1800 MHz frequencies to 4G, a move that will “increase the volume of data traffic” that its facilities can handle. Visayas was the first to have this implemented, and will be continued across the country over the next two weeks.

“We are making this transition at this time because the usage patterns of our customers have been shifting decisively in favor of data and the Internet. The majority of our customers have already moved from using 2G handsets to smartphones and, increasingly, to LTE devices,” he said.

Tamayo explained that the decision to convert the use of the 1800 MHz makes business and network sense, as the frequency band is “the most commonly used frequency” among 4G smartphones in the market today.

“This migration to data and digital services has stepped up since the Covid-19 outbreak. People are

increasingly relying on their smartphones to keep them connected to their loved ones, to work or study from home, or to stream video and mobile games,” he said.

“Data connectivity is also essential to the frontline agencies and their people who are at the forefront of the fight against Covid-19,” he added.

He added that despite the migration, customers using 2G handsets will continue to be well-served because Smart’s network retains sufficient capacity to handle voice calls and SMS on 2G. “We are optimizing our network resources and using our frequencies in the most efficient way possible. We also welcome the use of additional frequencies that can be temporarily loaned to us during this enhanced community quarantine,” said Tamayo.

Mobile data traffic on Smart’s network hit a record-high of 1.6 Exabytes in 2019, double the 824 petabytes posted in 2018, and more than four times compared to 2017 levels. The exponential growth in data traffic has been mainly from video streaming, social networking and gaming—activities which need the support of robust networks to ensure quality customer experience.

As of end-December, Smart has about 24,000 4G base stations and 13,800 3G base stations, covering roughly 94 percent of the population.

B2

Companies BusinessMirror

Monday, April 20, 2020

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

April 17, 2020

Net Foreign Stocks Bid Ask Open High Low Close Volume Value Trade (Peso) Buy (Sell) FINANCIALs

ASIA UNITED BDO UNIBANK BANK PH ISLANDS CHINABANK EAST WEST BANK METROBANK PHIL NATL BANK PHILTRUST RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK BRIGHT KINDLE COL FINANCIAL FERRONOUX HLDG MEDCO HLDG PHIL STOCK EXCH SUN LIFE

48.7 105 60.85 19.94 7.86 41.65 24.75 80.95 17.22 104.5 53.9 0.7 15.3 2.61 0.29 163 1580

48.9 105.7 60.9 19.96 7.93 41.7 24.8 115 17.98 105 54 0.78 15.5 3.15 0.3 168.9 1600

48.8 106.9 59.4 19.86 7.84 41 23.8 118 17.5 106 54 0.55 15.26 2.52 0.29 162.2 1600

48.9 108.3 61.85 20 7.97 42.1 24.8 118 17.78 108 54 0.78 15.8 3.2 0.305 163 1600

48.5 103.8 59.4 19.86 7.84 40.75 23.8 118 17.5 104.4 53.6 0.55 15.2 2.52 0.28 162.2 1600

48.9 105 60.9 19.94 7.86 41.65 24.75 118 17.78 104.5 54 0.78 15.5 3.15 0.285 163 1600

12000 3892070 3407130 127300 360600 4889400 1136100 110 3400 677260 1400 299000 1242700 68000 200000 100 50

583900 411909575 207434114.5 2537038 2835520 202248700 27657605 12980 60340 71224310 75450 208690 19004100 196570 58300 16292 80000

511000 -88730806 -113662576 -663506 -2347460 -62898410 -14139050 -39507171 -18919180 -

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 2.13 2.14 2.04 2.13 2.04 2.13 9877000 20538260 -317850 ALSONS CONS 0.95 0.97 0.97 0.97 0.95 0.95 137000 131350 ABOITIZ POWER 26.75 26.8 26.2 27.25 26.15 26.8 2980600 79719305 -35229535 0.175 0.185 0.181 0.185 0.181 0.185 70000 12720 BASIC ENERGY FIRST GEN 17.78 18.02 18 18.18 17.54 17.78 2765100 49,167,770( 16,906,948.0004) FIRST PHIL HLDG 55.1 56 54.95 56 54.1 55.1 23870 1315587 74982 MERALCO 265.4 269 263 270.2 262 269 399140 105975384 -25739560 11.06 11.08 11.2 11.48 11.06 11.08 5832200 65111250 -36208264 MANILA WATER 3.2 3.21 3.1 3.25 3.1 3.21 7049000 22462530 -7133860 PETRON PETROENERGY 2.3 2.35 2.4 2.4 2.28 2.35 116000 268190 PHX PETROLEUM 10.54 10.86 10.5 10.86 10.5 10.86 1177600 12426780 -286322 19.1 19.2 19.36 19.7 18.9 19.1 1086600 20803118 -5149948 PILIPINAS SHELL 8 8.05 8 8.05 7.97 8 28800 230607 SPC POWER AGRINURTURE 7.51 7.6 7.27 7.72 7.2 7.6 1151700 8682495 -956808 AXELUM 2.52 2.53 2.46 2.52 2.45 2.52 1695000 4214710 -1093300 BOGO MEDELLIN 75.05 84 84 84 84 84 10 840 12.64 13.94 13.6 13.6 13.6 13.6 2000 27200 CNTRL AZUCARERA CENTURY FOOD 14.38 14.48 14.44 14.66 14.38 14.38 363900 5302640 -3640632 DEL MONTE 3.75 3.94 3.99 3.99 3.8 3.8 12000 45930 -41940 DNL INDUS 5.91 5.99 5.7 6.1 5.7 5.91 1534000 8961578 -3737691 7.97 7.98 7.96 8 7.92 7.98 4553700 36246186 -33318543 EMPERADOR 58 58.45 59 59.5 57.5 58 666540 38687311.5 20379031.5 SMC FOODANDBEV ALLIANCE SELECT 0.51 0.52 0.52 0.53 0.5 0.51 5905000 3032500 -5300 FRUITAS HLDG 1.41 1.42 1.39 1.44 1.39 1.42 8735000 12309960 31600 32.55 32.6 33.8 33.8 32.5 32.6 119200 3888280 3375 GINEBRA 145 145.1 142 147 141.4 145 4896160 705905471 163550703 JOLLIBEE MACAY HLDG 5.3 6 5.6 6 5.3 6 7700 41565 MAXS GROUP 6.55 6.56 6.6 6.67 6.42 6.56 1212600 7956561 -574061 PEPSI COLA 1.77 1.78 1.8 1.8 1.77 1.78 816000 1460040 449570 6 6.05 6.12 6.2 6 6 2592400 15803758 4735995 SHAKEYS PIZZA 1.42 1.44 1.4 1.46 1.4 1.44 1649000 2353020 8640 ROXAS AND CO RFM CORP 4.4 4.51 4.51 4.51 4.51 4.51 9000 40590 -9020 UNIV ROBINA 126.8 126.9 124.8 126.8 123.2 126.8 1883270 235914015 -29876644 0.81 0.82 0.81 0.83 0.8 0.82 16329000 13465600 8910 VITARICH 53 69.8 53 53 53 53 150 7950 CONCRETE A CONCRETE B 50 58 57 58 57 58 600 34700 CEMEX HLDG 1.06 1.07 1.07 1.1 1.06 1.07 3291000 3540780 -956590 8 8.19 7.91 8.3 7.91 8 1150000 9207637 -142518 EAGLE CEMENT 5.49 5.5 5.58 5.68 5.5 5.5 1834800 10152640 223900 EEI CORP HOLCIM 11.5 11.98 11.58 11.98 11.5 11.98 414900 4916050 -2888228 MEGAWIDE 7.98 8 7.66 8.25 7.66 8 1279600 10222495 -2282510 0.73 0.77 0.73 0.76 0.73 0.76 26000 19370 TKC METALS VULCAN INDL 0.71 0.72 0.68 0.74 0.68 0.71 988000 708380 -6800 106.1 139.5 104 104 104 104 120 12480 CHEMPHIL CROWN ASIA 1.85 1.89 1.89 1.89 1.85 1.85 15000 28150 EUROMED 2.5 2.51 2.26 2.6 2.22 2.5 11092000 27077110 -148300 4.7 4.94 4.7 4.7 4.7 4.7 1000 4700 LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL 3.22 3.31 3.31 3.32 3.31 3.32 12000 39780 PRYCE CORP 4.28 4.69 4.23 4.23 4.23 4.23 10000 42300 CONCEPCION 25.05 26.95 28.3 28.3 27.75 27.8 4300 120650 -53400 1 1.01 0.9 1 0.88 1 5775000 5574180 -28630 GREENERGY 6.5 6.53 5.82 7.2 5.82 6.5 5056000 33412179 304500 INTEGRATED MICR IONICS 1.07 1.08 1.11 1.16 1.05 1.07 1914000 2124790 PANASONIC 4.01 4.94 4.01 4.01 4 4 5000 20020 1.09 1.11 1.13 1.2 1.04 1.11 5298000 5929660 5060 SFA SEMICON 8.71 8.72 9.5 9.99 8.45 8.72 18277800 169555708 4598938 CIRTEK HLDG

HOLDING & FRIMS ABACORE CAPITAL 0.57 0.58 0.56 0.58 0.56 0.57 2679000 1527390 ASIABEST GROUP 7.6 7.8 7.6 8 7.23 7.6 9500 73670 AYALA CORP 597 597.5 580 612 577.5 597 688170 408146525 44.05 44.75 43 44.95 42 44.05 2777300 122061810 ABOITIZ EQUITY 7.1 7.13 7.16 7.21 7.08 7.1 7270700 51671886 ALLIANCE GLOBAL AYALA LAND LOG 1.65 1.66 1.51 1.65 1.51 1.65 5115000 8290080 ANGLO PHIL HLDG 0.54 0.55 0.53 0.55 0.53 0.55 81000 42950 0.46 0.465 0.45 0.465 0.445 0.46 1140000 521500 ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B 0.47 0.495 0.46 0.495 0.42 0.495 140000 64450 COSCO CAPITAL 4.88 4.95 4.85 4.95 4.81 4.95 1986000 9622200 DMCI HLDG 4.37 4.43 4.44 4.44 4.31 4.37 6933000 30503010 8.5 9.35 8.6 9.35 8.01 9.35 22300 191018 FILINVEST DEV GT CAPITAL 490 493.4 475 490 470 490 228550 109330804 HOUSE OF INV 3.7 3.89 3.9 3.9 3.89 3.89 11000 42870 JG SUMMIT 53.8 53.9 53.2 54.55 53.2 53.8 3509380 189307750.5 LODESTAR 0.45 0.455 0.45 0.45 0.435 0.45 40000 17850 2.78 2.79 2.81 2.87 2.78 2.79 2729000 7646360 LOPEZ HLDG 7.75 7.8 7.8 7.85 7.7 7.8 2051900 15957319 LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG 0.45 0.475 0.45 0.475 0.45 0.475 50000 22750 METRO PAC INV 2.7 2.72 2.72 2.74 2.69 2.7 49596000 134323180 0.75 0.76 0.73 0.76 0.73 0.75 98000 72180 PRIME MEDIA SOLID GROUP 0.95 0.98 0.95 0.95 0.95 0.95 2000 1900 SYNERGY GRID 161.1 170 170 170 161.1 161.1 1900 314753 SM INVESTMENTS 855 860 849 860 830 860 380280 322972815 99.95 100 101 101 99 100 602390 60278858.5 SAN MIGUEL CORP 1.78 1.99 1.99 1.99 1.99 1.99 1000 1990 SEAFRONT RES TOP FRONTIER 145.3 151 152 152 144.2 144.2 60 9032 ZEUS HLDG 0.131 0.135 0.135 0.135 0.13 0.135 130000 17350

133749.9998 15200 86872120 -65458955 5693048 2486810 -1658520 -18659610 -30452882 -15570 -105184541.5 -4437600 -3707323 21057570 -60415535 -24059046 4560 -

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.54 0.56 0.56 0.56 0.55 0.55 1630000 897370 ANCHOR LAND 8.21 8.98 8.21 8.21 8.21 8.21 100 821 AYALA LAND 31.5 31.55 31.45 31.85 31 31.55 22989200 725452610 1.03 1.06 1.03 1.04 1.03 1.04 38000 39390 ARANETA PROP BELLE CORP 1.37 1.38 1.39 1.4 1.38 1.38 71000 98300 A BROWN 0.55 0.56 0.55 0.57 0.54 0.55 1534000 851580 CITYLAND DEVT 0.73 0.75 0.71 0.75 0.71 0.75 4000 2880 0.122 0.131 0.125 0.125 0.122 0.122 30000 3690 CROWN EQUITIES CEBU HLDG 5.9 6.04 6.04 6.04 6.04 6.04 300 1812 CEB LANDMASTERS 4.01 4.03 4.04 4.2 4.01 4.03 803000 3262200 CENTURY PROP 0.36 0.365 0.355 0.365 0.355 0.365 3060000 1107100 16 16.16 16.1 16.26 15.98 16 342600 5501366 DOUBLEDRAGON 6.97 7 7.02 7.02 6.97 6.97 161800 1130831 DM WENCESLAO FILINVEST LAND 0.95 0.96 0.95 0.97 0.94 0.96 11968000 11365340 GLOBAL ESTATE 0.81 0.82 0.81 0.81 0.8 0.8 550000 441600 8990 HLDG 11.7 11.8 11.98 11.98 11.54 11.8 280300 3286704 0.8 0.81 0.75 0.82 0.75 0.8 257000 206940 PHIL INFRADEV 3.99 4.69 3.99 3.99 3.99 3.99 2000 7980 KEPPEL PROP CITY AND LAND 0.65 0.72 0.7 0.72 0.7 0.72 20000 14380 MEGAWORLD 2.8 2.81 2.81 2.85 2.74 2.8 37531000 104575030 0.141 0.143 0.141 0.143 0.14 0.143 7190000 1015940 MRC ALLIED 0.33 0.345 0.33 0.33 0.33 0.33 20000 6600 PHIL ESTATES PRIMEX CORP 1.63 1.73 1.72 1.73 1.72 1.73 41000 70880 ROBINSONS LAND 15.26 15.28 15.24 15.26 14.9 15.26 3017600 45552448 0.239 0.248 0.27 0.27 0.235 0.248 920000 223070 PHIL REALTY ROCKWELL 1.47 1.53 1.5 1.54 1.4 1.47 1289000 1863300 SHANG PROP 2.66 2.7 2.63 2.66 2.62 2.66 59000 155210 STA LUCIA LAND 1.88 1.95 1.92 1.96 1.92 1.95 95000 183250 SM PRIME HLDG 31.5 31.95 30.65 31.95 30.3 31.95 13820200 430081130 3.6 3.68 3.55 3.69 3.55 3.61 87000 314830 VISTAMALLS SUNTRUST HOME 1.23 1.25 1.33 1.36 1.2 1.23 4857000 6147710 VISTA LAND 4.07 4.1 3.99 4.09 3.99 4.07 1423000 5738620

-5600 -120590895 1380 2130 -991290 -11050 -1056306 -902714 -6903760 86634 -39200 -18131800 -1409.9999 -12457892 -1074740 2563730 -3651470

SERVICES ABS CBN 17.38 17.4 16.98 17.5 16.98 17.4 162100 2797906 GMA NETWORK 4.97 4.98 5.05 5.05 4.97 4.97 115000 573100 MANILA BULLETIN 0.37 0.39 0.365 0.4 0.36 0.39 750000 284750 2228 2230 2150 2230 2100 2230 51470 110447000 GLOBE TELECOM 1138 1140 1130 1149 1118 1138 259310 292584705 PLDT APOLLO GLOBAL 0.039 0.041 0.04 0.04 0.039 0.039 4500000 179000 DFNN INC 2.82 3.03 3.03 3.03 2.81 3.03 62000 176910 2.09 2.1 1.92 2.1 1.92 2.09 64512000 130287990 DITO CME HLDG 0.083 0.084 0.084 0.084 0.083 0.083 230000 19300 ISLAND INFO NOW CORP 1.7 1.71 1.65 1.72 1.64 1.7 1204000 2042270 TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.173 0.178 0.17 0.175 0.17 0.173 920000 159380 2.38 2.4 2.34 2.55 2.34 2.38 1925000 4648200 PHILWEB 6.1 6.2 6.2 6.25 6.09 6.2 84700 522176 2GO GROUP ASIAN TERMINALS 15.94 16.98 15.88 16 15.88 15.92 4600 73254 CHELSEA 2.92 2.93 2.94 2.95 2.85 2.92 947000 2753640 CEBU AIR 51.75 51.8 53.05 54 51.45 51.75 251040 13229653.5 80.5 80.55 78.2 81 78.2 80.5 3133730 251585533.5 INTL CONTAINER 12.5 12.8 12.5 12.5 11.9 12.5 30000 363440 LBC EXPRESS LORENZO SHIPPNG 0.68 0.88 0.71 0.71 0.68 0.68 20000 14050 MACROASIA 4.9 4.93 5 5.2 4.9 4.9 6257000 31090340 1.77 1.78 1.75 1.82 1.65 1.77 3098000 5422610 METROALLIANCE A METROALLIANCE B 1.67 1.72 1.67 1.81 1.67 1.77 24000 42090 PAL HLDG 7.1 7.19 7.1 7.2 7 7.19 4100 29043 HARBOR STAR 0.92 0.93 0.82 0.94 0.82 0.92 3217000 2869180 0.032 0.033 0.03 0.033 0.029 0.032 9400000 295400 BOULEVARD HLDG WATERFRONT 0.43 0.45 0.43 0.48 0.425 0.45 1300000 574300 CENTRO ESCOLAR 6.01 6.54 6.55 6.55 6.5 6.5 1100 7155 FAR EASTERN U 601 830 830 830 830 830 20 16600 STI HLDG 0.38 0.385 0.375 0.395 0.37 0.385 28290000 10831050 2.22 2.37 2.21 2.37 2.21 2.37 7000 16210 BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY 5.9 5.92 5.92 6.02 5.8 5.92 4199500 24872816 PACIFIC ONLINE 1.68 1.69 1.7 1.7 1.69 1.69 12000 20290 LEISURE AND RES 1.4 1.41 1.45 1.45 1.41 1.41 106000 150740 2 2.2 2 2 2 2 201000 402000 MANILA JOCKEY 3.25 3.3 3.49 3.49 3.3 3.3 28000 92590 PH RESORTS GRP PREMIUM LEISURE 0.315 0.32 0.325 0.33 0.315 0.315 3390000 1083450 ALLHOME 5.79 5.8 5.5 5.9 5.48 5.8 2147400 12298297 1.52 1.55 1.5 1.58 1.5 1.52 3882000 5944540 METRO RETAIL 45.5 45.75 45 47 44.35 45.75 10069300 461951805 PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL 60.95 61 59.5 62 59.5 61 546200 33286988 PHIL SEVEN CORP 130.1 134.9 134 135 130.1 130.1 440 58693 1.29 1.3 1.28 1.32 1.27 1.3 2234000 2893890 SSI GROUP 14.62 14.98 14.34 15.06 14.34 14.98 3044400 45073736 WILCON DEPOT 0.305 0.32 0.31 0.31 0.305 0.305 310000 94900 APC GROUP EASYCALL 5.19 5.2 5.27 5.27 5.02 5.05 35300 180645 GOLDEN BRIA 326 330 323 340 323 330 320 106610 0.21 0.213 0.215 0.215 0.204 0.21 2810000 586870 PRMIERE HORIZON

-11732330 -17508600 30299.9999 3127440 -81200 -19250 -71260 -91774 27030 -348920 -2849648 -52209618.5 -14485810 -7679950 -7092000 9870 -400000 -260150 2313173.0003 -1673170 114563335 -19802492.5 14311 -1593710 5411524 -

MINING & OIL ATOK 10.2 10.5 10.94 10.94 10.5 10.94 83900 890666 APEX MINING 0.91 0.93 0.93 0.94 0.91 0.93 574000 535220 0.001 0.0011 0.001 0.0011 0.001 0.001 89000000 91100 ABRA MINING ATLAS MINING 1.86 1.99 1.99 2.01 1.99 1.99 183000 364910 BENGUET A 0.96 1.13 1.15 1.15 1.15 1.15 1000 1150 COAL ASIA HLDG 0.203 0.204 0.205 0.207 0.203 0.204 830000 169290 2.7 2.74 2.65 2.75 2.65 2.74 332000 907500 188700 CENTURY PEAK 6.85 7.07 7.06 7.1 6.85 7.07 8200 57306 DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL 0.74 0.75 0.73 0.74 0.71 0.74 3591000 2620560 -615180 GEOGRACE 0.192 0.195 0.193 0.199 0.193 0.195 80000 15620 0.079 0.086 0.078 0.086 0.078 0.086 1040000 83200 LEPANTO B MANILA MINING A 0.0065 0.0069 0.0065 0.0066 0.0065 0.0066 43000000 279700 MANILA MINING B 0.0071 0.008 0.0071 0.0071 0.0071 0.0071 6000000 42600 MARCVENTURES 0.55 0.58 0.59 0.59 0.55 0.57 464000 261000 NIHAO 0.95 0.99 0.95 0.99 0.95 0.95 5000 4790 1.68 1.69 1.75 1.76 1.68 1.69 9601000 16382830 -11008730 NICKEL ASIA 0.355 0.4 0.35 0.35 0.35 0.35 60000 21000 OMICO CORP ORNTL PENINSULA 0.48 0.5 0.48 0.51 0.48 0.5 130000 64300 PX MINING 2.25 2.26 2.3 2.3 2.22 2.25 702000 1579610 -933880 12.6 12.7 12.54 13 12.52 12.6 1801100 22791130 -1651806 SEMIRARA MINING 0.004 0.0042 0.0041 0.0041 0.004 0.004 17000000 68200 UNITED PARAGON ACE ENEXOR 6.4 6.48 6.38 6.4 6.15 6.4 319200 2004822 618 ORNTL PETROL A 0.0085 0.0086 0.0086 0.0087 0.0086 0.0087 4000000 34600 0.0083 0.0087 0.0086 0.0086 0.0083 0.0083 14000000 117300 PHILODRILL PXP ENERGY 4.18 4.2 4.15 4.24 4.09 4.18 1380000 5758320 -187350

PREFFERED HOUSE PREF A 95.05 98.7 98.7 98.7 98.7 98.7 10 987 ALCO PREF C 95.1 106.8 99.8 99.8 99.8 99.8 100 9980 485 490 490 490 490 490 390 191100 AC PREF B2R DD PREF 97.4 97.5 97.5 97.5 97.2 97.5 39110 3811054 FGEN PREF G 102.5 107.5 105.5 105.5 102.3 102.5 15150 1558175 GLO PREF P 499.8 500 500 500 500 500 890 445000 952 998 951 951 950 950 70 66550 GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B 977 997 977 997 977 997 3730 3700440 392000 MWIDE PREF 99.6 99.9 99.5 99.5 99.5 99.5 500 49750 PNX PREF 3B 101 104 104 104 104 104 200 20800 995.5 998 995.5 998 995.5 995.5 3030 3017145 PNX PREF 4 PCOR PREF 3A 1010 1014 1010 1010 1010 1010 100 101000 80800 SMC PREF 2C 76 76.1 75.9 76.1 75.55 76.1 38740 2943661 SMC PREF 2D 74.15 74.45 74.45 74.45 74.45 74.45 240 17868 SMC PREF 2E 74.05 74.9 74.9 74.9 74.9 74.9 210 15729 75 75.45 75 75 75 75 4000 300000 SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G 74.25 75 75 75 75 75 100 7500 SMC PREF 2H 74.1 75.35 75.45 75.45 73.8 74 17230 1280230.5 SMC PREF 2I 74 74.75 74.75 74.75 74 74 42020 3139490

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR 15.7 16.18 17.88 17.88 15.7 15.7 39900 636400

WARRANTS LR WARRANT 0.77 0.8 0.81 0.81 0.74 0.8 153000 118390

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ITALPINAS 1.63 1.64 1.57 1.66 1.57 1.64 5883000 9571790 161000 KEPWEALTH 6.19 6.37 6.1 6.39 6.1 6.35 49700 309219 -1220 0.58 0.59 0.6 0.6 0.57 0.59 2602000 1513560 XURPAS

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS

FIRST METRO ETF 87.1 87.5 87.45 88.5 87 87.5 25290 2213127 74378.5

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Lazada extends ₧100M worth of perks to sellers

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By Elijah Felice E. Rosales

@alyasjah

-commerce giant Lazada said it has extended P100 million worth of incentives to its sellers to help them recover from the ill effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Last week Lazada announced it is rolling out the Lazada Bounce Back Together, a support and recovery program for sellers on its platform in the Philippines. The program amounting to P100 million seeks to provide retailers with tools that could improve their businesses online.

Lazada is planning to assist more than 10,000 sellers, especially those engaged in the sale of high-demand items, such as fresh and frozen foods and ready to eat snacks.

In particular, Lazada is offering

peso equivalent incentives of up to P20,000 that can be utilized to expand online presence, add new products, provide customer service and obtain training on live video selling. Sellers can also expect lower shipping fees in the future to attact consumers.

Existing sellers on the e-commerce site who are able to operate and complete deliveries under the Luzon-wide lockdown will be entitled to waived payment fees and reward vouchers, while new sellers can

STOCK-MARKET OUTLOOK Last week

Share prices rose for the fourth consecutive week as markets calmed down despite the lockdown, but there was a scare during the midweek when prices plunged on gloomy economic data from the United States.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) managed to gain 279.14 points to close at 5,789.97 points.

The main index was up almost all week long, except on Thursday when prices plunged 420.45 points, or 7 percent, with the benchmark index returning to 5,525.60 points after the US released some economic data. Its weak retail sales and the plunge in manufacturing output added to the concerns about the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) on the world's biggest economy.

Year-to-date, the PSEi is still down more than 2,000 points.

Average value of trade for the week was higher at P6.92 billion, but foreign investors were still net sellers at P6.19 billion.

Other subindices ended on the green, led by the broader All Shares index which gained 159.99 points to 3,492.43 points, the Financials index rose 78.35 to 1,235.72, the Industrial index surged 493.66 to 7,566.82, the Holding Firms index added 220.93 to 5,731.72, the Property index increased 125.29 to 2,63.69, the Services index was up 72.60 to 1,294.84 and the Mining and Oil index climbed 367.26 to 4,688.22.

For the week, there were 162 gainers as against 67 losers, and 17 shares were unchanged.

Top gainers for the week were Philippine Trust Co., Benguet Corp. A, Imperial Resources Inc., Cirtek Holdings Philippines Corp., Integrated Micro-Electronics Inc. and Max's Group Inc. Top losers, meanwhile, were Chemical Industries of the Philippines Inc., Ever-Gotesco Resources and Holdings Inc., Panasonic Manufacturing Philippines Corp., PH Resorts Group Holdings Inc., Coal Asia Holdings Inc. and Manulife Financial Corp.

This week

Share prices may continue its ascent this week, but many are still cautious on the behavior of the market as volatility may always creep into trading.

Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco, senior research analyst at Philstocks Financial Inc., said with the PSEi returning to the 5,700-point level, questions remain if this will be sustained and that it all depends on the developments related to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The main index may trade between 5,700 to 6,100 points this week, but it could fall back 5,300 to 5,700 trading range if negative sentiments creep in, he said.

“We’ve already seen the evidence of the economic damages that the virus can deliver through China’s 6.8-percent contraction in its in first quarter GDP. Currently, the global economy is still suffering from the said damages and this in turn is weighing on our local bourse.

We’ll need to see developments like the ones we saw this past Friday to boost market sentiment primarily potential treatments that would give us a fighting chance against the virus,” said Tantiangco.

“The pace of the rise in the number of recoveries here in the Philippines, if sustained, could also provide support to the market. Without these, the local bourse is expected to succumb to selling pressures [this] week,” he added.

Stock picks

Broker Regina Capital Development Corp. said listed retailers have so far been benefitting from the enhanced community quarantine as consumers started panic buying a few days prior to the lockdown’s effectivity. It compared the performance of Lucio Co’s Puregold Price Club Inc., the Gaisano’s Metro Retail Stores Group Inc. and the Gokongwei's Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc., which all operate their own grocery chain in Luzon.

“The worst-case scenario assumes that the lockdown will be extended until first half, resulting in a slowdown in topline growth during the period. Nevertheless, our estimates of Puregold’s earnings remained relatively stable,” it said.

However, the broker added that if the lockdown drags on, sales will likely slow down as operating hours have been shortened and consumers now have limited ability to leave their houses.

“Some consumers have also lost their sources of income. Therefore, while our current projections are still relatively stable, retailers are not completely insulated from the possible downside risks of the pandemic,” it said.

Among the the retailers, Puregold has the highest forecasted 2020 equity returns, followed by Metro Retail, the broker said. Meanwhile, Robinsons Retail's projected income is subpar compared to its competitors and the historical averages of both the PSEi and the Services index.

Shares of Puregold ended Friday at P45.75, Metro Retail at P1.52 per share and Robinsons Retail at P61 apiece. VG Cabuag

benefit from Lazada’s zero percent commission on marketplace sales.

Moreover, Lazada is making available to sellers its livestream feature, LazLive, to create real-time interactions with customers. This way, they can showcase their products to interested buyers and build a healthy relationship with patrons.

Sellers who register with the ecommerce site will also receive exclusive access to the Lazada University, a digital resource center that provides mentorship through training modules on how to grow an online store.

Curated education and learning sessions, themed “Resilience Amid the Pandemic,” will also be handed out to sellers to tutor them on how to bring business back on track in trying times like this. The pilot session, scheduled on April 22, will be hosted by Nielsen Philippines Managing Director Patrick S. Cua. In responding to the health crisis, Lazada initiated partnerships with advocate groups for micro, small and medium enterprises, such as

Bounce Back PH, to get linked with entrepreneurs and enlist them in its initiatives.

On top of this, sellers from Lazada are carrying out projects to support health workers, who are at the forefront of the country’s fight against Covid-19. They have been running donation drives for personal protective equipment that are distributed in partner hospitals.

Lazada Philippines CEO Ray Alimurung is hoping the firm’s programs, particularly the Lazada Bounce Back Together, help business owners recover from the negative impact of the ongoing crisis that is beating the economy.

Established in 2012, Lazada is one of the largest e-commerce platforms in Southeast Asia, with presence in at least six countries in the region: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. It eyes to serve 300 million customers by 2030, as it grows its selection of products and expands its network of sellers.

SSS to disburse cash aid via PayMaya

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TATE pension fund Social Security System (SSS) partnered with financial technology player PayMaya to facilitate the disbursements of the government’s Small Business Wage Subsidy (SBWS) program and its loan offers to roughly 3 million member-employees affected by the Covid-19 outbreak.

PayMaya Founder Orlando B. Vea said with the partnership, eligible employees under the program will be able to receive their cash assistance via their PayMaya accounts. To avail of

mutual funds

this service, eligible employees and employers only has to link their PayMaya accounts in the SSS online portal.

Employers have until April 30 to submit their applications at the SSS web site. The government has set aside P51 billion in wage subsidies for small businesses whose employees were affected by the enhanced community quarantine and were unable to work due to the suspension of business operations in some industries. Lorenz S. Marasigan April 17, 2020

NAV One Year Three Year Five Year Y-T-D per share Return* Return Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a 182.77 -29.95% -11.68% -8.49% -27.44% ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 0.9339 -41.35% -13.85% -9.13% -32.42% ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 2.4542 -39.82% -16.48% -10.95% -33.28% Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.6338 -32.07% n.a. n.a.

-29.35% First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.6491 -24.76% n.a. n.a.

-23.57% First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a 3.966 -27.16% -9.2% -7.51% -25.57% First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a,6 0.6178 -28.8% -13.07% n.a.

-27.62% MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a 73.16 -42.44% n.a. n.a.

-29.2% PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a 36.5092 -29.18% -10.29% n.a.

-28.81% Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 392.2 -27.17% -9.68% -7.64% -26.39% Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a,d,8 0.816 n.a. n.a. n.a.

-20.78% Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a 0.9365 -28.17% -9.69% -6.73% -27.23% Philequity Fund, Inc. -a 27.4926 -28.4% -8.99% -6.67% -27.45% Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a,1 0.722 -29.81% n.a. n.a.

-29.08% Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a 3.7172 -28.78% -9.83% -6.7% -28.84% Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a 621.24 -28.68% -9.78% -6.9% -28.76% Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 0.5678 -38.42% -13.68% -10.76% -33.31% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 2.9067 -31.99% -10.75% -7.92% -30.94% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.7132 -28.81% -9.94% n.a.

-28.74% United Fund, Inc. -a 2.6521 -28.38% -7.61% -5.6% -27.41% Exchange Traded Fund First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c 83.3191 -28.51% -9.29% -6.07% -28.76% ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b

$0.8684 -16.49% -2.1% -4.14% -15.56% Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.1932 -7.66% 2.83% n.a.

-13.45% Balanced Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ATRAM Dynamic Allocation Fund, Inc. -a 1.4755 -13.67% -5.59% -5.4% -5.59% ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 1.9216 -16.55% -6.19% -4.01% -11.9% First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.2842 -12.9% -3.63% -4.78% -13.2% First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a,5 0.1799 n.a. n.a. n.a.

-21.27% NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a 1.7642 -7.55% -2% -2.09% -10.13% PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a 3.2442 -11.16% -4.08% -3.82% -14.38% Philam Fund, Inc. -a 14.53 -11.89% -4.22% -3.88% -14.33% Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a -14.72% -4.98% -3.33% -14.47% 1.8181 Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.0855 -19.2% -5.84% -4.8% -20.14% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d,2 0.8739 -11.64% n.a. n.a.

-13.96% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d,2 0.7728 -21.79% n.a. n.a. -22.44% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d,2 0.7513 -23.81% n.a. n.a. -24.36% Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.7514 -21.84% -7.33% -6.65% -22.92% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a $0.03787 5.19% 2.26% 1.42% -0.94% PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -a $0.9097 -9.25% -2.35% -12.35% -0.98% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $3.4896 -6.14% 2.15% 0.95% -10.77% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,7 $1.0437 -3.95% 0.79% n.a.

-7.54% Bond Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 361.44 3.96% 2.92% 2.36% 1.02% ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.9227 2.16% 0.85% -0.34% 1.09% Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a 3.1581 4.75% 5.16% 5.09% 1.34% Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a 2.257 4.6% 2.57% 2.01% 1.44% First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.3934 6.21% 2.73% 1.48% 1.45% Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a 4.4416 3.08% 1.84% 1.57% 10.48% Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.8312 6.53% 3.26% 1.67% 1.14% Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a 0.9983 8.84% 2.52% 0.91% 3.53% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.0911 7.45% 4.33% 2.55% 0.49% Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a 1.7112 7.27% 3.89% 2.16% 0.59% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $467.05 2.9% 2.27% 2.35% -0.25% ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a Є213.92 -0.91% 0.48% 0.52% -2.64% ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.1679 0.15% 1.5% 1.53% -3.26% 1.19% 1.04% 0% First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0258 2.38% PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -a $1.0489 -1% -0.67% -0.73% -4.23% Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $2.3733 5.36% 2.55% 2.05% -1.27% Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a $0.0593943 2.23% 1.42% 1.34% -1.53% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.1498 6.23% 2.22% 2.07% -0.8% Money Market Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 127.15 3.91% 3.07% 2.31% 1.09% First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a,3 1.0356 2.75% n.a. n.a.

0.91% Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a 1.2665 5.93% 3.34% 1.8% 0.78% 3.4% 3% 2.51% 0.89% Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.2759 Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0405 1.68% n.a. n.a.

0.32% Feeder Fund Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -b,d,4 $0.9 n.a. n.a. n.a.

-9.09% a - NAVPS as of the previous banking day. b - NAVPS as of two banking days ago. c - Listed in the PSE. d - in Net Asset Value per Unit (NAVPU).

1 - Launch date is January 3, 2019. 2 - Launch date is January 28, 2019. 3 - Launch date is February 1, 2019. 4 - Launch date is November 15, 2019.

5 - Launch date is September 28, 2019. 6 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last October 12, 2018 (formerly, One Wealthy Nation Fund, Inc.).

7 - Adjusted due to stock dividend issuance last October 9, 2019.

8 - Launch date is December 09, 2019.

"While we endeavor to keep the information accurate, the Philippine Investment Funds Association (PIFA) and its members make no warranties as to the correctness of the newspaper’s publication and assume no liability or responsibility for any error or omissions. You may visit http://www. pifa. com.ph to see the latest NAVPS/NAVPU."

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Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

RCBC aids govt relief fund distribution amid pandemic

R

izal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) was given the authority by the Monetary Board to accept government funds and assist in cash distribution under the social amelioration program amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

In a recent statement, the listed bank said that it was the first private universal bank allowed to take part in the efforts of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to extend Covid-19 relief.

The Yuchengco-led bank can now accept deposits from the DSWD and disburse emergency cash aid via digital platforms.

“RCBC will be lending the use of its platform free of charge to the national government. We believe that this is our duty to offer the bank’s capability and knowhow to improve the disbursement process of muchneeded social aid,” RCBC Executive Vice President Angelito M. Villanueva said. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas earlier also approved the use of RCBC’s digital platforms— DiskarTech Lite app and ATM Go— to facilitate quick cash payouts to 18 million families.

DiskarTech Lite app, a digital bank, allows basing transactions

like cash receipt and withdrawal. It ibenefits “beneficiaries regardless whether they have mobile phone device making it inclusive, comprehensive, secure, fast, and transparent.”

ATM Go, meanwhile, is used for cash-out, balance inquiry, funds transfer, bills payment and e-loading transactions. The platform disbursed over P1 billion in 72 provinces across the country through 1,300 terminals during the first quarter.

More than half of the withdrawals were accounted by DSWD’s “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino” program beneficiaries.

Villanueva said that additional 2,000 ATM Go terminals will be deployed in the next weeks.

“RCBC’s digital banking technology promises to be a quick and inclusive solution to subsidy disbursements that is also transparent for all stakeholders,” said Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, representative of the 2nd district of Albay and chairman of the House Ways and Means committee.

While RCBC’s digital services boost financial inclusion, Salceda noted that these also limits face-toface interaction, simplify disbursement process and optimize disburse efficiency per cash-out point.

Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

Perspectives

Develop a robust cash management strategy

I

N the current market, cash is key to the survival and growth of any business. As the global economy continues to face challenges, effective cash management to maintain a steady stream of working capital is an increasingly vital practice.

Regardless of the industry they operate in, businesses can demystify cash management by taking proactive steps to gain control over the situation. These include gaining visibility over cash flows, managing working capital needs, conducting thorough reviews to release illiquid cash, and ensuring the business model fully considers cash requirements.

Inefficiencies with regards to policies, processes and systems, as well as with an organization’s culture and its people, can hinder cash management performance. A thorough understanding of an organization’s cash position is also crucial in terms of allowing management visibility and control in times of crisis.

Things to do now

1. Gain visibility and control over cash flows To achieve working capital performance goals and understand how cash flows around a business, cash flow forecasting needs to be accurate.

Improving forecasts will require the business to establish clear reporting through a 13-week rolling cash flow forecast, which is prepared on an expected receipts and payment basis, by business line and jurisdiction.

It means reviewing and challenging assumptions on a regular basis, with participation by all function heads and having aligned key performance indicators (KPIs). Cash flow management is not just the responsibility of the finance function. It is important to engage with financiers earlier to address any forecast deficiencies and take appropriate steps to regain control of the situation.

2. Proactively manage working capital Having a clear understanding of the working capital cycle is a key factor.

It is important that you consider your working capital strategy holistically. For instance, changing your payment terms with your suppliers may have a consequential impact on the quality of service, impacting inventory levels and thus the quality of service that you can provide to your customers. For trade receivables, ensure appropriate processes are in place to ensure clients are invoiced in a timely manner, in accordance with contract terms, and that there are

robust credit controls in place.

There are also best practices that companies can adopt from an inventory perspective. For example, addressing slow moving, obsolete stock and periodically analyzing SKU profitability can help avoid tying up cash in unproductive inventory.

In times of economic disruption, cash management can be even more important, so every dollar counts.

Avoid daily or ad-hoc payment runs and consolidate these on a weekly or fortnightly basis. Make use of supplier finance programs to release cash earlier to suppliers and ensure continuity of supply and service levels.

3. Think beyond working capital Past expenditure programs that assumed continued market growth may need to be re-evaluated in light of the changing economic conditions and heightened associated risks.

Reassess your trapped and illiquid cash within the group structure, your capex strategy and consider leasehold/ rental as alternative. These actions may help to defer significant capex outlays or to release cash through sale and leaseback. Effective tax planning and making use of any opportunities to defer or reduce payment of tax through pursuing any potential refunds can also help alleviate some of the burden.

4. Think strategically For leading global businesses, cash management should consistently be a boardroom priority.

To ensure that your business model fully meets cash requirements, it is important to review the markets you operate in, the products and services you sell, as well as the channels these products are services are distributed through. Furthermore, businesses should consider developing a cash management strategy with clear metrics for cash and working capital.

In tough economic times, it is critical that companies have sustainable cash and working capital practices —a discipline they can draw upon to improve their competitive position when there is tremendous amount of turmoil in the market. The excerpt was taken from KPMG article, “Leading successfully in turbulent times: A guide to robust business continuity planning.”

© 2020 R.G. Manabat & Co., a Philippine

partnership and a member-firm of the KPMG network of independent member-firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative, a Swiss entity. All rights reserved. Printed in the Philippines For more information on KPMG in the Philippines, you may visit www.kpmg.com.ph.

Monday, April 20, 2020 B3

Treasury remits excess dividends from GOCC for worker subsidies

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

T

@BNicolasBM

he Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) remitted excess dividends from government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) to fund the P51-billion wage subsidy for 3.4 million workers of small businesses.

Budget Undersecretary Laura B. Pascua told the BusinessMirror the Treasury made the remittance on Wednesday to fund the Small Business Wage Subsidy (SBWS) program.

As of press time, the government has yet to release the details which GOCCs the excess dividends came from.

The Department of Finance earlier announced it will be handing out cash aid ranging from P5,000 to P8,000 per month for two months depending on the regions where the workers are employed.

In a related development, staterun Social Security System (SSS)

addressed complaints that employers could not submit their application to the SBWS program as the SSS web site is “under maintenance.”

SSS earlier said the application period to avail of the wage subsidy is from April 16 to April 30.

In an advisory over the weekend, the SSS said its web site has been on downtime since April 18 and it is “urgently updating their site capacity to accommodate the surge in online traffic following the announcement of the start of the application to SBWS program.

“While we expected higher online traffic due to the launch of the

SBWS, the overwhelming response to the program surpassed the computing capacity of the system,” the SSS said.

It said they will inform the public as soon as the web site is operational.

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said an SSS board member assured him that the problem will be addressed soon.

“I was assured by a Board member of the SSS that the solution to this problem [is] their [top] priority and that the system should be up and running by Monday [April 20],” Dominguez told reporters on Sunday.

For the meantime, the SSS said they will be sending out e-mails for alternative application arrangement to SBWS-eligible employers whose e-mail addresses are on file and have been deemed compliant with both the regulations of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the SSS. The government earlier announced that the distribution of the first tranche of subsidies will be from May 1 to May 15. The second tranche will be given from May 16 to May 31 depending on whether the enhanced community quaran-

tine is lifted at an earlier date or is extended by the President.

To avoid duplication, beneficiaries of the labor department’s Covid-19 adjustment measures program who already received their P5,000 benefit will only be eligible for a 1-month wage subsidy under the SBWS program.

Under the SBWS program, the eligible employee will be able to receive the subsidies via the following methods of his or her choice: withdrawal via employee’s SSS ID cards enrolled as automated teller machine (ATM) cards; withdrawal from employee’s bank account for PESOnet-participating banks; employee’s union bank card; employee’s e-wallet; and, cash pick-up arrangement through remittance-transfer companies.

As the wage subsidy will primarily be given out through the employees’ bank accounts, SSS members are encouraged to update their bank account or e-wallet details on their my.SSS account, as these will be the primary mode of distribution.

Both the employer and employees will be notified if they have qualified under the wage subsidy program.

Tax breaks for donors eyed during Covid-19 pandemic

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

S

enator Imee Marcos is moving to repeal the donors’ tax and make donations deductible from income tax in a bid to generate additional funds to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic and other calamities.

In filing Senate Bill 1429 amid the lockdown, Marcos sought to “cut out the red tape of applying with the Department of Finance for certificates of tax exemption on donations, by

institutionalizing full tax benefits for donors.”

Marcos maintains that scrapping the donors’ tax and making the value of donations deductible from income tax will “boost efforts to save frontliners and more lives during calamities.”

Marcos, chairman of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs, stressed that “taxes are not the only way to generate much needed government resources,” pointing out that “a new world is emerging from this Covid-19 crisis and new ways of look-

ing at things are the key to survival.”

She explained in a statement last Sunday that donations from “good Samaritans,” be they individuals or companies, actually fill the gaps in supply chains of food, medical supplies, and other crucial resources needed by the government to aid calamity-stricken communities.

“This bill means to encourage the bayanihan [solidarity] spirit inherent in us Filipinos and not burden our generosity with taxes,” the Senator said.

Once enacted into law, Marcos

added that the legal benefits proposed in Senate Billl 1429 will apply to donations made during a government-declared state of calamity, adding it will be retroactive to January 2020 when the Covid-19 crisis broke out.

“Our country has faced a cluster of calamities in the early months just this year, like the Taal volcano eruption, the Asian Swine Fever, earthquakes nationwide,” she said, warning that “these calamities may recur all at the same time; so the spirit of giving must be encouraged.”

Debt relief for poor nations not an easy sell to bondholders

A

pause in debt payments for the world’s poorest countries to help them battle the coronavirus will be a hard sell for private creditors.

The Group of 20 leading economies last week heeded calls from African finance ministers to grant a debt waiver of about $20 billion until the end of the year, and asked private creditors to step up.

Groups representing commercial creditors, who snapped up bonds from low-income countries in recent years amid record-low yields in developed markets, said they would be willing to participate.

But a deferral of sovereign bond payments will be far from easy.

Debtor countries would have to convince a majority of investors, from hedge and pension funds to sovereign wealth funds, to use collective-action clauses to change the date of payments on each bond series.

Sweetener needed

“TO get this majority saying yes, you have to offer a sweetener or have very friendly bondholders,” said Lutz Roehmeyer, the chief investment officer of Capitulum, which manages €1 billion in assets.

It’s “very unlikely that this will succeed,” he said.

The Institute of International Finance estimates that the world’s poorest nations—most of whom are in Africa—have some $140 billion in general government debt-service obligations due through the end of the year, including $10 billion in foreign currency. That calculation includes all kinds of debt: to private and public creditors, domestic and foreign, short term and long term.

Even before the pandemic halved public revenues and forced governments to close borders in Africa, many countries on the continent were already struggling with high debt levels after issuing close to $60 billion in Eurobonds in the past two years.

Depending on the contract, even a deal with the majority of bond holders runs the risk of being challenged in courts by minority creditors, as happened in the case of Argentina, said Mark Mobius, founding partner of Mobius Capital Partners.

In 2016, Argentina ended 15 years of litigation by paying $9.3 billion to “holdout” creditors.

‘Vulture funds’

“Vulture funds can see an opportunity to buy at a very good discount now,” Mobius said.

Poor countries battling a pandemic are getting some debt relief; but a lot of convincing must take place to get creditors to agree.

Bloomberg News

A revision of payment terms, even in agreement with investors, will be considered a debt default, leading to negative credit and rating implications for both creditors and issuers, according to Moody’s Investors Service.

Still, giving countries some financial room to recover from the pandemic and resume payments in the future is a much better deal for investors than outright default, said Hans Humes, the chief executive of distressed-debt investor Greylock Capital Management.

“Why sue for a 100 percent and take ten years to collect and put yourself out there as being the jerk internationally in the middle of a health crisis,” said Humes, who has participated in dozens of sovereign debt restructurings. He said countries could offer bond holders options on future commodity revenues to accelerate standstill agreements.

The last time private creditors were asked to join a debt-relief initiative in the late 1990s it resulted in protracted negotiations with drawn-out litigation by disgruntled investors. An IMF-backed Sovereign Debt Restructuring Mechanism had little traction with creditors and failed to take off in the early 2000s.

Legislative changes

“There seems to be willingness from the private sector, but there needs to be express legislative changes as well as a new conflict resolution body for this to work out,” said Jaime Atienza, who leads Oxfam’s international debt policy.

He said law amendments in the UK and New York, where most of the bond deals are inked, should prevent lenders from suing a country during the pandemic.

Immediate funding to help poor countries should take precedence over lengthy negotiations for a debt waiver that should be tied to more debt transparency and anti-poverty reforms, said Andrew Roche, managing director at Paris-based financial consultancy Finexem.

“This idea of debt relief opens up a Pandora’s box because there is no framework in order to have an organized debt restructuring with all creditor groups,” said Roche, who has advised countries in several debt restructuring operations. “We should look at this in a second phase when we are not in the middle of a crisis.” Bloomberg News

B4

Show BusinessMirror

Monday, April 20, 2020

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Max Eigenmann, Will Fredo turn to yoga MAX EIGENMANN and Will Fredo

ALL ACCESS RICKY GALLARDO

By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Chloe Grace Moretz, 23; Emma Roberts, 29; Elizabeth Banks, 46; Laura Dern, 53.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Get ready to think and act responsibly. Make this a busy year filled with ideas and plans that will help you get closer to your goal. Don’t waste time debating or spending impulsively. Calculate every step you take to maximize your chance to achieve what you set out to do. Don’t make promises you cannot honor. Your lucky numbers are 7, 15, 23, 26, 32, 37, 43.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take stock of how you go about maintaining mental, physical and emotional wellness. Improve your health and well-being. Avoid discussions that could lead to discord. Participate in something you feel passionate about achieving. A personal situation will confuse you. ★★★

rickygallardoTFI@gmail.com

N

OT only an effective method to reduce stress and anxiety, yoga is also a good way to get fit and stay healthy. That is why some of our friends in the entertainment industry are turning into yoga during this extended community quarantine period.

International best actress awardee Max Eigenmann shared that she used to be someone who could not handle many emotions simultaneously, and yoga has helped her address this. “This medical and health crisis that we are all dealing with can be stressful. We come face to face with a lot of thoughts and emotions, and, sad to say, mostly negative. We are anxious because there is still no medical solution or prevention. We are sad hearing about those who have become victims of this invincible enemy. We are worried about ourselves and those dear to us. We are scared of the economic repercussions. We are clueless about how long this will last. Yoga is helping me calm my mind, body and senses, and temper and filter my thoughts as well,� she intoned.

Eigenmann discovered yoga right after her first son Alessandro was born. “I was initially into it with the personal goal of losing weight. Since then, it has been on and off through the years. It wasn’t until a few years ago when I started doing yoga seriously at Bliss Yoga Manila and it became part of my lifestyle.�

Now a mother of two boys, Eigenmann starts her home quarantine morning with breathing exercises before she gets into her movements. She does this three to four times a week. “I combine yoga with a little circuit workout, too. It’s like my ‘me time’ before I take on my role as a mom—cleaning, cooking, spending quality time with my family.�

She added that Bliss Yoga Manila just launched the Bliss yoga online program, and she takes this chance to follow the online classes with her favorite

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Discuss sensitive issues. Deal with people you work with, and pick up information and skills that will help you advance. The more you improve your image, qualifications and relationship with your contemporaries, the better. Make positive changes. ★★★★★

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Do what’s best for yourself, not what someone is pushing you to do.

The best way to get what you want is to do the work yourself. A love relationship will improve if you are attentive. ★★

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You have more options than you realize. Don’t settle; look for something better. You may not like change, but a different approach to life will stimulate your mind, imagination and desire to make personal improvements.

Take better care of your health. ★★★★

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Be realistic about what you can. Leading someone on who is counting on you will end up being costly.

Personal gains are within reach if you are aggressively active in pursuing your goals. ★★★★★

yoga teachers. “Yoga is amazing for the mind and the physical benefits are just a bonus. Try it.�

Another yoga practitioner is director Will Fredo, who used to be connected with the Film Development Council of the Philippines. “I turned to yoga when I started experiencing elevated anxiety and stress because of what is happening to us at this time. I started worrying for my loved ones, my coworkers, friends and myself. Watching the news and updates can get you sucked into the whole thing. The depression starts to creep in and that is scary.�

He added, “I’ve tried yoga for a few times in the gym but it’s completely different this time given that I have a bigger purpose for it. I saw a video for beginners on YouTube and started following it in my small space. And slowly I got comfortable and my

body started adjusting. Somehow doing the physical challenges of yoga, combined with meditation, does wonderful things for my body, mind and soul.�

Living alone at the moment since his longtime partner is based in Washington State, Fredo also believes that the proper breathing exercises in yoga strengthens his lungs. “The virus targets the lungs so breathing correctly really helps to keep them healthy.

Combining it with vitamins, proper diet, enough sleep hours, I truly feel that yoga helps boost my immune system tremendously. “ This long break allows us to find out what suits us best in terms of keeping fit and staying healthy. Yoga brings together physical and mental disciplines that may help us find our center, so we can achieve peace of mind and body. â–

‘GMA Regional TV Live!’ brings fresh start to mornings beginning April 20 GMA Regional TV (RTV) is giving viewers in the regions more reasons to “wake up to a new morning (and get) ready for a fresh start� with GMA Regional TV Live!

Airing weekdays at 8 am beginning today, April 20, via GMA Regional TV’s Central and Eastern Visayas channels, GMA Regional TV Live! will be hosted by GMA Regional TV Cebu’s pool of anchors and correspondents.

The latest morning show boasts of segments that highlight positive features and stories of people, specifically that of “Kapusong Bisdak� or Cebuanos.  For its pilot season, Balitang Bisdak Senior Correspondent Nikko Sereno takes the helm as host of GMA Regional TV Live! Broadcasting from

Today’s Horoscope

GMA Cebu’s studio, Nikko brings with him years of experience in field reporting as he dishes out news and information to fuel the day of viewers.

In light of the enhanced community quarantine and in compliance to the strict observance of social distancing, Nikko will conduct the interviews on the hottest issues with featured movers and shakers in Cebu via video conference.  Meanwhile, veteran news presenter Cecille Quibod-Castro handles one of the show’s major segments, BizTalk.

Here, Cecille candidly interviews celebrities and personalities to discuss the latest trends and advocacies.

On its pilot week, GMA Regional TV Live! gets to talk with various GMA

stars led by Dingdong Dantes, Alden Richards, Barbie Forteza, Bianca Umali and Sanya Lopez.  GMA Regional TV Live! will also give viewers the day’s weather with “Panahon Karon� to keep them updated. At the same time, viewers are sure to enjoy special features produced by RTV’s correspondents and video journalists all over the country. The morning program is produced by the same teams behind the top-rating and award-winning newscast, GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak.  Even when the key areas in the Philippines are under ECQ, GMA Regional TV has reaffirmed its commitment to deliver news and other relevant updates, continuing to air all

its regional newscasts—GMA Regional TV Balitang Amianan, GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak, GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas, and GMA Regional TV One Mindanao—weekdays at 5 pm.  “Amid the health crisis we are facing today, we remain optimistic and continue to instill hope and inspiration among our viewers,� says GMA Regional TV Vice President and Head Oliver Amoroso. “While GMA Regional TV Live! had been in the pipelines as early as last year, we see this launch at this point as another opportunity to further serve our Kapuso in the regions by giving them more reasons to wake up each morning and start fresh.

More information is available at www.gmanetwork.com/regionaltv.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Look for the less obvious, and you will understand what’s possible. Leave nothing to the imagination.

Add as much detail to everything you do, including updating your appearance and your attitude. Build greater confidence in yourself and what you have to offer. ★★★

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Strive to reach your goal and to help those who have something to offer in return, but don’t take on the impossible.

Someone will take advantage of you and your generosity if you are too accommodating. ★★★

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Explore lifestyles and pastimes. A tweak here and there to the way you’ve been living will help you appreciate what you have already accomplished.

An offer is heading your way. ★★★★

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): A change may summon you, but before you take off or sign up for something, tie up loose ends. Redtape issues can hold you hostage if not handled quickly. ★★

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Avoid getting duped by a fast-talking individual trying to part you with your hard-earned cash. Being generous doesn’t mean you have to pay for others; you can be generous with your time, affection and services. ★★★★★

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Plan every move you take, and pay close attention to detail. Leave nothing to chance, and you will get what you want. Helping others is honorable, but don’t let anyone take advantage of you emotionally or financially. ★★★

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Someone will have a hidden agenda. Whether dealing with a colleague, friend or family, look for ulterior motives. Make changes based on what will benefit you.

People-pleasing will not help you get ahead. ★★★ BIRTHDAY BABY: You are diligent, a humanitarian and resourceful.

You are practical and intense.

‘not your game’ BY SEAN GRIFFITH The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Glitzy rock genre 5 “___-ching!�

8 Small squabble 13 Greek I 14 “My bad!�

16 Trimmed down 17 Worst defeat in chess 19 Sherlock’s female adversary 20 Worker who processes ore 21 Bald babies?

23 Littered with toys, say 25 As well 26 “Balderdash!�

29 It’s immediately knocked off the table in the worst pool game 34 Perfect society 36 Fair hiring initials 37 Only Great Lake bordering Pennsylvania 38 Soda container 39 Red Cross’s red cross and others 42 Double-helix molecule 43 Is just joking 45 ___ Faithful (Yellowstone geyser)

46 48 51 52 53 55 59 63 64

Said the same thing as Worst roll in many dice games Works hard for Thumb drive letters Mends, as socks 38-Across feature, often “Stop procrastinating!�

Japan’s third most populous city Only thing filled in on the worst Bingo card 66 Get a new tenant for 67 “Good for what ___ ya�

68 Opposite of odd 69 Line of business 70 Turn platinum blond, say 71 Makes after taxes DOWN 1 Some online pics 2 Appear ominously 3 Stick ___ in the water 4 Place to find outlets?

5 Shows up 6 Raspy 7 Prone (to) 8 Faucet

9 10 11 12 15 18 22 24 26 27 28 30 31 32 33 35 40 41 44 47 49 50 54 55

Place for a ring or stud Ash, for one Campsite shelter Tribute poems Watch, as a movie Brian Griffin’s best bud In for the night Allowed another car to go Hockey essentials Tough spot?

Accord automaker “Isn’t that something!�

Zeal Tablecloth material Is ahead One-celled swimmer Pioneering journalist Nellie What dogs pick up but don’t bring to their owners Lurked Can switch to, as a browser tab Manor and grounds With wisdom Oscar winner Witherspoon Dessert wine

56 57 58 60 61

One who logs in ___ Land Graphic design deg.

Church area with pews Rapper whose name sounds refreshing 62 Bills stored next to twenties 65 Free (of) Solution to Friday’s puzzle:

Style

BusinessMirror

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Monday, April 20, 2020

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Luxury retailers reluctantly slash prices amid demand plunge

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BY JORDYN HOLMAN Bloomberg News

TUCK-AT-HOME Americans are nowadays way more interested in buying toilet paper and hand soap than handbags and evening gowns. That’s forcing luxury retailers, like Neiman Marcus Group Inc. and Nordstrom Inc., to resort to a tactic they rarely use: discounts. Neiman Marcus has Tom Ford glasses, which usually sell for about $400, at 50-percent off on its web site. Customers can snag a Derek Lam stripe shirtdress from Saks Fifth Avenue for $237—40-percent off the usual price. Nordstrom is offering a Salvatore Ferragamo slide sandal for $225, down from $375.

Normally this time of year, luxury customers would be looking to freshen their closets for spring, and retailers would be selling their merchandise at full price. But the virus has upended this, rattling consumer confidence and driving customers indoors. Nonessential brick-and-mortar stores are closed.

In the meantime, spring assortments sit idle, causing inventories to rise with products that may very well be out of season once customers start shopping again. For now, retailers’ only tool to combat this is offering discounts—a move that’s distasteful in the luxury industry.

‘HIGHLY UNCHARACTERISTIC’ FOR a company like Nordstrom, deals like those are “highly uncharacteristic,” according to Ed Yruma, an equity research analyst at Keybanc Capital Markets.

However, the unusually low prices could end up giving consumers the extra nudge they need to make a purchase.

Last March, more than 60 percent of retailers were offering discounts on a wider selection of products versus the same month in 2019, according to digitalcoupon provider RetailMeNot. Among these companies, which included nonluxury chains as well, 40 percent were giving deeper discounts as well.

The promotions can drive incremental sales, but won’t be anywhere near the level of ordinary operations, Yruma said. Retailers are seeing this pattern play out: Nearly two-thirds of executives surveyed by CommerceNext said online sales haven’t made up for the loss of their stores to mandatory closures.

CROCS CLASSIC CLOGS ARE THE ULTIMATE EVERYDAY SHOES FOR ALL AGES

CROCS Philippines recently opened its first Crocs Modular Concept store at the Estancia Mall in Pasig City. The new 85.5-square-meter store features a sleek and clean design, giving more emphasis on the colorful and fun footwear that Crocs is known for.

There is the Classic Collection—clogs, flips and slides—for both men and women which one can dress up and personalize with Jibbitz charms.

The best-selling Literide Collection is available in the store in the latest Spring Summer 2020 colors: Electric Pink and Neo Mint.

In the Philippines, Crocs operates under its new distributor Walk EZ Retail Corp., in partnership with the SM Retail Inc., and now has 63 concept stores in the Philippines.

THE Crocs store opening: Mark Christian Chan (from left), president of Walk EZ Retail Corp.; celebrity/influencer Mika dela Cruz; Catherine See-Duenas, head of Mall Leasing, Ortigas Land; Chan Kok Bin, chairman of Walk EZ Retail Corp.; and Chito Manalo Jr., president of SM Retail Inc.

While the outbreak has hurt almost all corners of the retail sector, aside from grocery stores and pharmacies, it’s “particularly bad for luxury,” according to a report from Bain & Co. This year, the personal luxury goods market could contract 15 percent to 35 percent worldwide, Bain & Co. estimates.

“Like many in our industry, we are working to tailor our marketing strategy in a way that makes sense for the current climate while continuing to support our business,” Saks Fifth Avenue said in an e-mailed statement. The company said it’s experiencing “increased email open rates and higher engagement on social media, both of which indicate that our customers still desire fashion-related content during this time.”

‘COMMUTE-FREE LIFE’ WITH a majority of Americans under stay-at-home orders, traditional brick-and-mortar stores are promoting comfy items like loungewear and yoga pants at the top of their web sites.

Nordstrom’s homepage shows new business casual attire, which they describe as “laid-back looks for the commute-free life.” Neiman bills its loungewear collection—which is discounted, of course—as clothes for the “comfiest days at home.” Those items are also discounted. Lululemon describes its yoga pants as “perfect to practice in the living room, the bedroom, and even on the patio.”

Of course, it’s not just luxury brands that are turning to discounts—chains across the spectrum

are facing similar challenges. But luxury retailers try to avoid cutting costs by any means, since it’s a sign of waning cachet for items that are supposed to be highly sought-after. But the allure of luxury is a tough message to sell to shoppers that may or may not be spending extended periods of time in their pajamas.

That might change, however, as people fall into a regular routine at home. This week, consumers who searched for and secured digital deals at clothing stores increased 17 percent, compared to last week, RetailMeNot found.

“The consumer starts to get used to the current environment and the decision process will start to change,” Yruma said. ■

‘Luxury for a Cause’ benefits hospitals and many others AND THEN SOME DINNA CHAN VASQUEZ @dinnachanvasquez luckydinna@gmail.com

I HAVE known Rhea Anicoche Tan for almost two years now and over that time, she has demonstrated many acts of generosity right before my eyes. She is the most giving person, and not just in the material sense. She always has a kind word for every person she meets. She is always ready to help others, whether it’s one of her celebrity ambassadors at Beautederm Corp., a member of the press, or even just someone she meets at random.

She always reminds us to share what we have, whether it’s not much or a lot.

Rei, as she is known, always uses honorifics like po and opo no matter who she’s talking to. She has a grateful heart and always says that without the help of other people, her company would not be where it is now. In the spirit of full disclosure, I interviewed Rei for this article after I saw some of her Instagram stories about the auction. I don’t have a Facebook account so I didn’t have any details.

Thus, when she organized “Luxury for a Cause,” an online auction of items from her personal collection of designer bags, shoes and clothes, and even her jewelry, I was not really surprised. When the enhanced community quarantine was enforced, Rei donated liters of disinfecting alcohol, manufactured by Beautederm, to frontliners like medical personnel and members of the police and the military manning checkpoints.

“After that, I realized there were so many things needed. I thought that if I sold my stuff, I could raise more money for frontliners and those in need,” she said.

Rei decided to sell some of the jewelry she bought 10 years ago and her first boutique-purchased

Hermes Birkin purse. Also included in the auction on Facebook were shoes, belts, dresses, eyewear and pouches. So far, she has auctioned off 10 designer bags.

Luxury for a Cause raised a substantial amount and the proceeds went to the manufacturing and purchase of disinfecting alcohol, personal protective equipment, face masks, face shields and groceries.

Rei also made donations of cash to buy food for medical staff, the homeless and inmates at the New Bilibid Prison.

Beautederm also purchased relief goods for Angeles City and Ilocos Sur, and made donations to selected churches and the Rotary Club of Balibago.

The beneficiaries also included Angeles City RHU; Angeles City Mayor’s Office; hospitals in Angeles, San Fernando and Clark; City of San Fernando, Pampanga; Ilocos Sur RHU (through Vigan Mayor Carlo Medina); Bulacan (through provincial board member Alex Castro, a Beautederm ambassador), San Manuel, Tarlac (care of Mayor Donya Tesoro, another Beautederm ambassador); Capas, Tarlac; Batangas (through Vice Gov. Mark Leviste); Pangasinan (care of Mayor Arth Celeste); breast cancer patients of Kasuso Foundation; Duyan ni Maria Orphanage; San Juan, Metro Manila; Pamisaupan Kapampangan; Apag ning Pag-asa and Camp Olivas and police stations in Angeles.

On the home front, Rei stopped work for all her employees even before the enhance community quarantine. She has paid their salaries until April 30 and gave them groceries and an allowance for food.

Rei is still looking through her collection for more stuff that she can auction off.

“It warms my heart to give. My desire to give and help others has motivated me and continues to motivate me to work harder each day so that I could extend kindness and love to other people.

Material things are absolutely nothing compared to the life of a human being. What this crisis has reminded me of is the great value of life. This is just my little way of doing a very small part toward the day we have all been praying for: the day when the curve is flattened and we can go back to our normal lives as we prepare ourselves to laugh more, forgive more and love more—and to value life more than ever before.”

RHEA ANICOCHE TAN

On to my quarantine beauty diaries, one beauty product that has become indispensable to me is the Cetaphil Rich Night Cream with Hyaluronic Acid.

The truth is, I’ve been lazy about skin care since we’ve been quarantined. I just apply this after I shower at night and I’m good. It moisturizes my skin and doesn’t cause breakouts. If I’m feeling a bit extra, I will layer it over The Ordinary Argireline Solution. There’s no doubt that I will return to my high-maintenance routine soon. But for now, this is good. ■

B6 Monday, April 20, 2020

Secret Pandemic: Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC)

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HILDREN and youths are spending significantly more time online now that school and all other activities have been suspended due to the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ). Since the ECQ started last 15 March, the majority of Filipinos have been confined to their homes, leaving children, youths, and adults alike with very limited things to do. The SKPH Consortium, composed of Save the Children Philippines, The Asia Foundation, led by UNICEF, and supported by the Australian Government, recognizes that while online platforms provide critical socializing, learning, and playing environments for our children, it also increases their exposure to online harm such as cyberbullying, risky online behavior, and online sexual abuse and exploitation. Another direct effect of the ECQ is the heightened economic vulnerability of many Filipino families whose heads of households have limited access to resources. Taken together: loss of income, movement restrictions for children, isolation, heightened exposure to online platforms, and high levels of stress and anxiety will increase the likelihood of children to experience online violence.

Examples of OSAEC that can be experienced by children during the ECQ includes online sexual grooming; live streaming; and creation, production, and distribution of child sexual abuse and exploitation materials by pedophiles and predators. This is the secret pandemic affecting children in their very homes.

“Even in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, the Philippine National Police-Women and Children Protection Center (PNPWCPC) continues to be aggressive in its fight against online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC),” PNP-WCPC Chief, Brigadier General Alessandro C. Abella, said. He added that during the ongoing ECQ, they continue to receive and monitor online sexual abuse and

exploitation of children-related reports.

In celebration of Safer Internet Month this year, SKPH initiated a consultation workshop with children and youths from February 21 to 23, 2020 in Manila that provided a foundation to the ASEAN Regional Conference on Child Online Protection last February 25 to 27 in Thailand. During the workshop, childrenparticipants called on ‘barangay’ officials or community leaders to conduct seminars, workshops, and/or trainings on how to responsibly use the internet; internet service providers to filter inappropriate content and limit children’s social media access; and the Philippine Government to implement more strictly existing policies and legislation and to allot more resources on child online protection.

Given the heightened risks of online harms, SKPH continues to work with Government, civil society, and private sector partners to ensure all children are safe online. Child protection services and workers are continuously being sensitized on the nuances of online violence, and we call on the Government to adequately resource and equip these systems so they can better and more timely respond to the most vulnerable of children. These services should include mental health and psychosocial support, case management, and emergency alternative care arrangements, noting that children in OSAEC cases are more often victimized by people known to and trusted by them in their homes.

National helplines, school counsellors, and other child-friendly reporting mechanisms must be made available to enable children in distress to reach out for help. Online resources, such as that of www.saferkidsph. com, must be available to children, parents, and caregivers to help guide and advise them to adapt to the challenges of COVID-19, and how to protect their children online. It is only in the coming together of all these actors and institutions, from both the public and private

sector, that we can succeed in keeping children safe during these troubling times.

Starting April 15, through the support of the Department of Information and Communications Technology, National Telecommunications Commission, Smart Communications and Globe Telecom will be sending out a public service advisory SMS blast to all their consumers subscribers inviting children, parents and community members of the communities to visit online platforms of unicef.ph and S saferkidsph.org Ph and UNICEF for more information on how to protect children and adolescents from violence, both online and offline.

The following hotlines are also available to report OSAEC: 1) PNP Aleng Pulis – +63 919 777 7377, 2) Action Against Human Trafficking – 1343 within Metro Manila; (02) 1343 outside Metro Manila, 3) Bantay Bata – 163, 4.) UP-PGH COVID-19 Bayanihan Operations Center – 155 200 or https://publicservice.up.edu. ph/uppgh-bayanihan-na.

For more information on how to stay safe online and how you can help stop OSAEC, please visit www.saferkidsph. org. You may also follow SaferKidsPH on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Ready. Set. To-go! Panda express now available for delivery

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TARTING April 16, Panda Express is bringing your favorite Orange Chicken right to your doorstep via food delivery apps Foodpanda and GrabFood.

Enjoy your favorite Panda Express food again by ordering the bestsellers like Kung Pao Chicken, Broccoli Beef, and the crowd favorite, Orange Chicken.

You can pair these American-Chinese classics with Chow Mein.

“We got a lot of craving requests and quite honestly, we also miss our fans. So while we’ve temporarily closed our store for dine-in, we still want to make our food more accessible, especially during this time of enhanced community quarantine,” said Panda Express Brand

Manager Julius Marlon Dela Cruz.

Delivery locations are within Metro Manila only. To know more about Panda Express, you may visit http:// www.facebook.com/PandaExpressPH/ (Facebook) and @PandaExpressPH (Instagram) Please use the photos on this link: https://we.tl/t-kQxLixHCFH

Hyundai rolls out BIYAHEnihan in Southern Luzon to support frontliners

HYUNDAI SUPPORTS OUR FRONT LINERS. HYUNDAI BIYAHEnihan offers free transport for our heroic medical workers and delivers the much needed medical supplies to hospitals in Southern Luzon.

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NDER its flagship disaster relief program #HyundaiSAGIP, Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) through H.A.R.I. Foundation, Inc. (HFI) rolls out its BIYAHEnihan program in Southern Luzon to support front liners.

BIYAHEnihan will provide transport for health workers and medical supplies to St. Francis Cabrini Medical Center (SFCMC) in Sto. Tomas, Batangas and Dr. JP Rizal Memorial District Hospital in Calamba, Laguna.

Both hospitals have been strong partners of the Hyundai Logistics Center

(HLC) in Laguna. SFCMC provides HLC monthly medical health bulletins while Dr. JP Rizal Hospital provides the logistic center employees triage for medical emergencies and conducts health and safety training with the Philippine National Red Cross.

Initial deployments include a Hyundai Country Bus, a Hyundai Starex, and a Hyundai HD65.

“We hope that this contribution will sustain and inspire our heroic front liners in Southern Luzon. HARI will continue to fill in the gaps as we continue our

collective battle to flatten the curve.”

HARI President and CEO Ma. Fe PerezAgudo said.

HARI through HFI is also reinforcing ongoing COVID containment efforts with a fresh supply of 2,500 PPEs for front liners at the UP Philippine General Hospital (UP PGH). The country's premier state-run University Hospital and the largest government health facility and referral center is HFI's staunch partner in the flagship ALAGANG BREASTFRIEND free breast cancer screening and information dissemination campaign.

Foodpanda gives back to frontline healthcare workers

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OODPANDA acknowledges our nation’s real heroes in these trying times. To ease the burden of frontline healthcare workers as they fight against COVID-19, foodpanda has been helping out the best way they know how – through delivering good food right to their workstations.

As a showing of their appreciation and gratitude in keeping the community safe and healthy, foodpanda partnered with local government units and restaurant partners such as Happy Tea in Paranaque, RDA Mango/Milktea and Simplicup in Cavite, Redbucks Café and Anetskie FilJap Grill and Resto in Tagaytay to bring warm meals to hundreds of healthcare frontliners in hospitals and checkpoints across thirteen cities – from Baguio to General Santos City. The people who have

been working tirelessly to fight COVID-19 received hearty meals and refreshments.

"During this difficult time, we would like to show our frontline healthcare workers how much we value their perseverance and hardwork. We at foodpanda, along with our partners, delivered love and some food for our brave heroes fighting the coronavirus disease 2019 in the country right now,” said Camille Hadjeri, foodpanda’s Managing Director. foodpanda, together with its restaurant partners and riders, maintains its mission to make good food more accessible to everyone, and support the hardworking healthcare workers by delivering them food they love. foodpanda aims to visit and send out food and refreshments to more hospitals and checkpoints in the coming days.

Five little ways to help others during the quarantine

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HE little acts of kindness go a long way to show how we are #OneAgainstCOVID19 As the entire country deals with the current public health situation, it can be tough to find spots of hope and happiness in the confines of our home. While we may be healthy physically, it is also important to keep our mental health in check. In a time of difficulty, it isn’t too hard for all of us to be someone else’s source of light with small acts of kindness even when we cannot be physically there.

You might be thinking how to do anything when you’re practicing social distancing and staying at home. With the help of apps like PayMaya, it’s easier than ever to send some love and share your blessings with others. Here are little ways to spread love in the time of COVID-19.

1. Send money to anyone who needs it Whether you want to help out a relative, a friend, or the family of your kasambahay, you can transfer funds quickly and easily to any PayMaya account, Smart Padala agents, Palawan Express, or any bank accounts under Instapay using the PayMaya app.

In these trying times, helping them with funds for food and other supplies can really mean a lot.

Just make sure your account is upgraded so you can easily send funds to your peers.

PayMaya’s upgrade is pretty easy and can be done within 24 hours, provided that you have sufficient documents. Learn how to upgrade your account by visiting https:// www.paymaya.com/upgrade.

2. Help pay the bills Now that work is a little harder to come by, there may be people you know who need help paying bills, such as your parents or your kasambahay. If you’re able to, chipping in for bills can go a long way in this time of need. Fortunately, it’s also incredibly easy to pay a wide variety of billers on the PayMaya app, like Meralco, Smart, Manila Water, and a lot more.

You can do this with a few taps on your PayMaya app’s Pay Bills function in just a few minutes – and in the comfort and safety of your home to boot.

3. Buy a hearty snack for a friend Some of us may be having a hard time

emotionally during this crisis, so a favorite snack could do a lot to cheer our friends up. Why not have milk tea delivered to a friend who’s craving for it? You can pay for food delivery services with your PayMaya card, and restaurants like Domino’s Pizza, Goldilocks, Burger King, and Army Navy with your PayMaya number. So it’s definitely easy to do!

4. Treat a delivery person to a meal You might have some food delivered every now and then during the quarantine, so why not take the time to treat your hardworking riders to an extra meal or snack to keep their energy up? When you pay for food delivery using PayMaya, consider ordering another item for your rider to show them how much you appreciate what they do. Angkas, for example, has launched a PayMaya QR code where you can donate directly for the benefit of their drivers.

5. Donate to organizations providing response and relief If you’ve got some money to spare, especially some Balik Bayad from PayMaya, why not consider donating it to organizations that need your help? There are a lot of organizations raising funds to provide protective equipment, food, and other essentials to both frontliners and Filipinos affected by COVID-19, and you can immediately donate to any of them through the PayMaya app or donate.paymaya.com as part of the #OneAgainstCOVID19 initiative. These organizations have collectively raised P11 million in a week through this platform, proving that all it takes is extra left over to be pledged for a good cause.

With all these little acts of kindness, we can help each other out in this crisis and stand as #OneAgainstCOVID19. If you don’t have a PayMaya account yet and would like a faster and more convenient way to help, you can easily make one by downloading PayMaya for iOS or Android from the App Store or Google Play.

For more information and updates on PayMaya’s donation drives, follow @ PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. To help you maximize your PayMaya account, just visit https://www. paymaya.com/quick-guide.

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Monday, April 20, 2020 B7

Coronavirus updates: Books to read during the ECQ extension W PR Matters

By Millie F. Dizon

ITH the recent extension of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), most PR pros would probably have had their fill of Netflix series binges, news updates, and other on-line activities.

With more time on our hands, maybe it’s time to switch to something different and try good oldfashioned reading for a change.

Reading, after all, has its way of stirring one’s imagination by opening our minds to new worlds, perspectives and ideas to reflect on. And of course, giving us great food for the soul.

That’s why “5 Books to Read If You’re Stuck at Home Thanks to Coronavirus” by Jessica Stillman in Inc.com is a fascinating selection of plagues past and future, and how they impact on people from different generations. Selected by Columbia University English professor Jenny Davidson, her picks are a feast of outbreakrelated titles that will remind you of our shared humanity, distract you for days, and get you thinking about how the diseases impact society.

all too familiar with fear and disruption.”

Just like what we are experiencing, The Plague “is very vivid in conveying what it feels like to be in a city hit by an epidemic and what it feels like to be in quarantine.”

With this, “it also conveys how important it is to retain our humanity and our sense of connection to others in times when so much is at stake,” Davidson explains.

‘Feed’ by Mira Grant

This page turner is part of a scifi series about a near-term future when a man-made virus causes a zombie apocalypse.

Davidson is quick to point out that the book isn’t just a more literary version of The Walking Dead. It is about “two main characters, a brother and sister, part of a news team in a world in which people are very hesitant to come into contact. They’re reporting on a presidential campaign in which there is corruption and manipulation at the highest level, not least concerning the virus.”

‘Severance’ by Ling Ma

The Decameron which is subtitled Prencipe Galeotto is a collection of novellas by Italian author Giovanni Boccaccio, probably begun in 1350 and finished in 1353. It is a medieval allegorical work set during the time of the Black Death, which hit Europe in the 14th century and killed something like half the population. There are parallels nonetheless with what is happening today, as we have a glimpse of lockdowns past.

Just like now, people then went into isolation and got bored. “The premise of the book is that a group of young noblemen and—women, people of great privilege who have been able to flee the plagueridden city, are telling each other stories to while away their time together in the luxurious villa to which they’ve retreated,” explains Davidson.

By imaginatively connecting you with these shut-ins of the past, The Decameron might ease your isolation as well as your boredom. Davidson warns that “the description of the plague in the

n Campaign Spotlight: Ghibli Fans Will Sure Giggle at This Short Made

by Bear Meets Eagle On Fire and Sun Creature Studio for Optus’ Data Donation Drive

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA—A timely initiative especially now that people need more access to the Internet due to social distancing and quarantine measures, Australian telco Optus‘ data donation drive helps students who actually do need to be connected to the Web to keep up with their academics. How it works is Optus subscribers can give back some of their unused data allocations so that students may use those to access the Web in their place.

Helping them promote the donation drive was Bear Meets Eagle on Fire who created a short film in collaboration with Danish animation firm Sun Creature Studio. The result was an adorable cartoon with a Ghibli-esque vibe that is sure to get the kid in you all giggling.

Leonid Yastremskiy | Dreamstime.com

‘The Decameron’

by Giovanni Boccaccio

frame narrative is very vivid and quite horrifying, but the stories and characters are quite humorous.” The book captures the feeling of suspended animation and disrupted normality that happens in an outbreak.

‘A Journal of the Plague Year’

by Daniel Defoe

This historical novel by the author of Robinson Crusoe was first published in March 1722. It is the imagined diary of one man’s experiences in the year 1665, in which the bubonic plague struck the city of London, in what has become known as the Great Plague of London.

The spot, called Jumpstart, shows a group of kids running through a meadow and start-up their jetpacks as they hit the clearing. Cuddly blue creatures in curiosity follow them, and sees one kid unable to fly because his jetpack has no fuel left.

The blue creatures then take a device out and somehow transfers some fuel to his pack, and he looks back at them in surprise, happy that he can now fly off and catch up with his friends.

Folks at the Sun Creature Studio shared on their social media that this is the first time they’ve collaborated with Bear Meets Eagle On Fire.

n Comics: A Social Distancing Story Told Through 5-Page Strips by COVID Comics PH, a Project

by SEVEN A.D.’s Russ Molina and Argem Vinuya

MANILA, PHILIPPINES—We’re a month into community quarantine now in the Philippines, and as Filipinos are starting to get used to the hustle of things at home.

With the various work from home situations and the slackening grip we have on our old routines, there’s one main thing that’s just a little bit harder to swallow than the rest: the

lack of physical interaction with our friends, families and neighbors.

This social phenomenon is not just a peripheral consequence of the pandemic, it’s a vital activity that the whole world has been urged to follow. As social beings, however, it’s understandable that this situation can drive us a bit on edge — especially with everything happening around the world. So to soothe this social itch a bit, Covid Comics PH was created, established primarily to entertain and connect with Filipinos feeling trapped all over the country.

A creative passion project by Seven A.D’s Executive Creative Director Russell Molina and Creative Director Argem Vinuya, Covid Comics is an embodiment of “CREATIVITY + HUMANITY.” We were able to catch up with Russell Molina on the story behind this project, and its foreseeable future in light of the extension of enhanced community quarantine in Luzon: Can you share with us the story behind the comics “Social Distancing”? The first strip is about two people meeting during the time of Covid, why did you choose to tell this story in particular?

We chose “social distancing” as the first theme for this comic short series because we felt that this was the biggest change we’ve

What Davidson finds striking is that the book’s “story-telling mechanism incorporates early versions of epidemiological data that we’re paying attention to during the coronavirus outbreak.”

Just as we have news anchors updating us with the latest casualty figures, “Bills of Mortality were the 17th-century reporting method by which individual neighborhoods in London tallied up each week’s deaths and assigned them causes. Defoe incorporates those data to convey the arc of a disease on the rise.”

‘The Plague’ by Albert Camus

The Plague written in 1947 is a

encountered—Having to distance ourselves from one another was quite challenging but it’s the most important thing we could do. We wanted to bring to the surface our struggle as “social” creatures surviving in this new reality. Of course, there’s a bit of a twist at the end that sort of pushes WHY we should practice distancing. But at the heart of every story, we want to feature strong Pinoy insights.

OUR stories during this pandemic.

Our kind of humor, our resilience our retrospection.

How did the quarantine affect the process of conceptualizing and executing the comics? Did you find it more troublesome to exchange ideas virtually, or more creatively freeing to work entirely from your homes?

At Seven A.D., we’ve been doing virtual days for quite some time now. So we sort of already have a system in place in terms of how to work virtually and how to manage our time more efficiently. Covid Comics PH is of course a passion project so we also need to find time for it. It’s a project that forces us also to keep our ears to the ground so we can cull as many insights as possible and listen to so many stories that we can mirror for the series.

As the quarantine was extended

fictional story written about the very real town of Oran in Northern Algeria. Many consider this novel to be a war allegory of the French resistance to the Nazis in World War II, pointing out the futility of human aspirations and the inevitability of suffering.

In the novel, the plague is a symbol of many things—the harsh, meaningless universe, the human condition or war—but all of them mean suffering and death.

The people of Oran deal with this meaningless suffering in many ways.

The book was written just after World War II, “when the world was

until the end of April 2020, can we expect to see more of this story?

Or maybe other Covid-19 stories in comic form?

Yes! We intend to do more web comic shorts for Covid Comics PH (Maybe 19 shorts?) and we hope to inspire others to also tell their own quarantine stories through their art, through their music, through their posts because all of these stories connect us. Even though we’re separated physically, stories bind us still.

At this time, we need to laugh more, feel more, empathize more, connect more. If our five-pager stories can help make us more human at this time, then we’ve accomplished what we’ve set out to do.

n Campaign Spotlight: Savanna Cider Offers a Shot of Humor with a Virtual Comedy Club by Grey South Africa

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA— South Africa quickly implemented extreme lockdown measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

With the sale of alcohol banned, bars closed and gigs canceled, lockdown, although absolutely necessary, is having a dramatic effect on the country’s comedy scene.

It’s always been Savanna’s

Davidson calls this brilliant book one which she “most strongly recommends to people trying to take their mind off the news.”

The book follows a pair of millennial office workers who just keep on going to work after an apocalyptic attack sweeps New York City. “It is about the intersection of immigration and global capitalism in modern cities and the breakdown of human communication and meaningful human contacts that occur as a consequence,” she says.

PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (Ipra), the world’s premier association for senior professionals around the world. Millie F. Dizon, the senior vice president for Marketing and Communications of SM, is the former local chairman.

We are devoting a special column each month to answer the reader’s questions about public relations.

Please send your comments and questions to askipraphil@gmail.com.

mission to support and nurture comedic talent, but they are ramping up their efforts in response to the times. The Savanna Virtual Comedy Club from Grey South Africa offers a virtual stage from which the country’s comedians can reach out to people at a time when they are craving connection, entertainment and yes, a shot of humor.

The #SavannaVirtualComedyBar consists of two elements—the weekly Bar Nights and Comedy Specials. The weekly Bar Night events, which will be hosted on Zoom, will allow people to connect with their friends and have a drink, while interacting with two comedian hosts or “barmen.” Comedy Specials will be run every two weeks and will star nine different comics. These will be shown on Savanna’s YouTube channel and will be streamed on Savanna’s social channels, @savannacider.

The first Weekly Bar Night held last week featured some of SA’s biggest names in comedy as well as a bevy of newcomers.

“Covid-19 has forced us to think on our feet. We’ve all had to learn and adapt to this a new reality and all the constraints that come with it. We applaud our clients for taking the plunge and investing in this initiative,” says Fran Luckin, CCO at Grey.

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B8 Monday, April 20, 2020

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132-BED “We Heal as One” center was put up in three days by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Pasig City as additional health facility to isolate and treat Covid-19 patients.

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said that the DPWH expeditiously worked at the empty Philippine Sports Arena or popularly known as ULTRA and repurposed into isolation and treatment facility by setting up cubicles as makeshift hospital rooms.

“Built in super quick time from April 15 to 17, I am truly proud of the demonstrated teamwork and responsiveness of DPWH,” Villar said.

Construction at ULTRA formally started 8 a.m. of April 15 and originally intended to be finished on Sunday.

The DPWH Task Force to Facilitate Augmentation of Local and National Health Facilities formed by Villar helped and coordinated the repurposing of ULTRA with hastened construction process by dividing the area into three clusters for simultaneous activities.

DPWH worked round-the-clock to step up its completion.

Carpenters, electricians, laborers and other workers from National Capital Region District Engineering Offices (DEO) were divided into three groups with each group assigned to fabricate and install 44 cubicles per cluster area.

Group 1 was composed of North Manila DEO, MalabonNavotas DEO and Metro Manila 3 DEO, Group 2 was made up of Quezon City 1 DEO, Quezon City 2 DEO and Metro Manila 1 DEO, and Group 3 included Las Piñas-Muntinlupa DEO, South Manila DEO and Metro Manila 2 DEO. Two nurse stations were also completed in record time.

The “We Heal as One” center at ULTRA is part of the government’s effort to repurpose any available government or private structures into health facilities, Villar added.

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph / Editor: Jun Lomibao

PHILSPORTS ‘WE HEAL AS ONE’ CENTER

DONE IN THREE DAYS!

Bleachers’ Brew Rick Olivares

bleachersbrew@gmail.com

HOSPITAL beds donated by the Villar Group of Cos. are installed in the newly converted “We Heal as One” center at the PhilSports in Pasig City which is completed in record time.

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PROFESSOR of Global Public Health based in the United Kingdom has said it is “unrealistic” for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games to go ahead in the summer of 2021 unless a coronavirus vaccine has been found by then.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games were postponed for next year as a result of the global coronavirus pandemic which has infected more than 2.23 million people around the world.

Devi Sridhar, a professor of Global Public Health at the University of Edinburgh, said she believed the Games could only go ahead on the new dates if a vaccine for the disease was found in time.

“I had thought a vaccine would be a year or a year-and-a-half away but we’re hearing possibly this could come sooner,” Sridhar told BBC Sport.

“If we do get a vaccine within the next year then actually I think that the Olympics is realistic.

“The vaccine will be the game-changer— provided it is effective, affordable and available.

If we don’t get a scientific breakthrough then I think that [Tokyo 2020] looks very unrealistic,” Sridhar said.

“I think they’ve made the right decision in saying ‘we are going to put it back a year and reevaluate.’I think that is the only way you can deal with this situation—to take stock, to be hopeful, to support our scientific community and our NHS community to do what they can, because science in the long term is going to be the way we get out of this,” she added.

Sridhar, who was born in the United States, is a professor at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland where she holds a Personal Chair in Global Public Health in recognition of her high levels of achievement in the field.

Sridhar is a founding director of the Global Health Governance Programme and cochairs an independent panel on the global response to ebola.

Her comments come after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Tokyo 2020 announced the formation of a joint steering committee to work on delivering the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2021.

The Tokyo Olympics are set from July 23 to August 8, 2021, with the Tokyo Paralympics scheduled from August 24 to September 5, 2021.

A state of emergency is currently declared in Japan due to the coronavirus pandemic, and this was extended nationwide through to May 6.

HOMELESS SEEK ATHLETES’ VILLAGE AS SHELTER

A GROUP representing the homeless is asking to use the Athletes’Village for next year’s Tokyo Olympics as a shelter during the coronavirus pandemic.

VACCINE NEEDED FOR ‘REALISTIC’ TOKYO GAMES

A GUARD stands in front of apartment buildings at the Athletes’ Village for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. AP

An online petition addressed to Tokyo Olympic organizers and the city government has drawn tens of thousands of signatures for permission to occupy the massive housing complex going up alongside Tokyo Bay. The village was to be home to 11,000 Olympic athletes and 4,400 Paralympic athletes. It is largely complete and empty with the Olympic opening postponed by the virus outbreak until July 23, 2021.

“We don’t know how long this downturn will last, and so we have to change how we think,” Ren Ohnishi, chairman of the Moyai Support Center for Independent Living, told The Associated Press. “That

includes how we work, how we deal with housing, how we give aid to those who need it.”

Tokyo Olympics organizers declined comment, and the Tokyo metropolitan government also had no immediate comment on the petition. Organizers said it’s unclear when the petition will be submitted.

The petition reads in part: “If the outbreak continues for some time, many people may fall into poverty or lose their homes.”

The homeless in Tokyo living on the streets total about 1,000 people. Another 4,000 are estimated to be staying at so-called net cafes,— numbering about 500—that offer net access

Spain to finish soccer season without fans in stadiums

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ADRID—Soccer matches and other sports events in Spain will take place in empty venues at least until the end of the summer, the mayor of Madrid said Saturday.

José Luis Martínez-Almeida told the Onda Cero radio station that the coronavirus pandemic likely “won’t be under control” by then for events with big crowds to resume normally.

“In the spring and summer there won’t be any events with crowds in Spain, and possibly not in the fall either,”Martínez-Almeida said. “Because obviously the situation will not be fully under control. We will have to change our habits and

behaviors even after being allowed to go back on to the streets.”

Spain has been one of the hardest-hit countries with more than 190,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19, only behind the United States. More than 20,000 have died in the European nation.

The Spanish league is not expecting to resume at least until the end of May. It is working on several scenarios, including playing without fans through the fall. “Soccer matches without fans in the summer is a possibility, as long as health and safety conditions are observed,” Martínez-Almeida said.

and cubicles to spend the night, according to a Tokyo city government study.

Many net cafés were shut after the government asked businesses where the coronavirus might spread to voluntarily close.

The city government has prepared about 500 rooms at hotels for those who are no longer able to stay at the net cafés, and more are being readied if needs grow, city official Kazuo Hatananaka said.

Experts say homeless communities may worsen the pandemic’s spread because of the inability to practice social distancing.

“Society needs to grow more inclusive or

else the outbreak will spread,” Ohnishi said. “Our society is being tested. In Japan, many people still blame the poor as causing their own plight.”

Although Tokyo appears orderly and prosperous, the city has an underclass of homeless. They can be seen alongside rivers, under railway tracks and tucked into parks.

Communities of the homeless have sprung up, many living out of cardboard boxes.

Nearly 16 percent of Japanese people fall below the poverty rate with annual income below the cutoff of ¥1.2 million ($11,000), according to 2017 Japanese government data.

The poverty rate for single-adult households with children is higher at 51 percent.

The unraveling of extended family support networks and job insecurity have left many in Japan vulnerable to setbacks that can lead to homelessness. Japan’s culture of conformity also leaves many ashamed to seek help.

The Athletes’ Village complex is a joint real-estate venture involving major developers and the city of Tokyo. It will eventually have 24 buildings, including upscale condominiums that are priced at more than $1 million. Some units have been on sale with occupancy planned after the Olympics close.

Japan has more than 9,000 reported cases of the coronavirus with about 200 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. Tokyo’s daily reports of cases have climbed to more than 100 in recent weeks, and worries are growing hospitals will run out of beds.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike has mentioned using the village complex to house those under quarantine or patients that don’t require intensive care in hospitals. But the city has bought hotel space and secured other housing, such as prefabricated homes built for security during the Olympics, for such use.

Insidethegames

....but 300 to 500 personnel necessary for fanless games The soccer federation said this week that if the league can’t resume it will use the current standings to decide the four clubs to play in the Champions League, which would mean giving the spots to Barcelona, Real Madrid, Sevilla and Real Sociedad.

The league has said the total losses for not finishing the season because of the pandemic could reach nearly €1 billion ($1.1 billion). The losses if the league resumes with matches in empty stadiums would be about €300 million ($325 million), and if it restarts with fans it would be nearly €150 million ($163 million). AP

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ONDON—At least 300 people will be required in English Premier League (EPL) stadiums even if games are played without fans when the coronavirus-halted season can resume, according to a West Ham executive.

The 20 EPL clubs held a conference call on Friday when the league said they agreed the objective remains to complete the season, with teams having up to 10 games each remaining.

The earliest the league can restart is June, with Britain in lockdown until at least the first week of May. “Police officers will need to be at games even if they are behind closed doors, as some supporters will

travel to the stadium, even if they cannot come in to watch,” West Ham Vice Chairman Karren Brady wrote in her column in Saturday’s editions of The Sun newspaper.

“But the police will want to ensure attending matches does not drain resources away from other matters.

“Everyone at the stadium—and even behind closed doors this is about 300 to 500 people—including security, staff, medical officers, players, referees and media, will have to have temperature checks, fill out health questionnaires and observe social distancing.

All this is manageable but what if a player gets injured, where do we send him? It can’t be to an NHS hospital that is already under pressure...so then what?” AP

My all-time Bulls team With The Last Dance upon us—and I know the entire world will be riveted to this 10-part documentary—I thought that as a longtime Chicago Bulls fan, I’ll list my all-time team from the Windy City.

Just to be very clear, I am not going via stats here or who won championships or not. What I am trying to say is, this is the team of 12 I’d put on the court against any NBA team’s best five out there. I placed a premium on adaptability, athleticism, and their contributions to the team as a whole.

Like in any list, there will be some who will be cut.

If we go by stats, then Rodman averaged less than five points per game with the Bulls although he pulled down 15-plus boards a game for them. Cannot the same be said about As for the coach...no secret. Hands down it is Phil Jackson with his crew of Tex Winter, Johnny Bach, Frank Hamblen, and Jim Cleamons.

Let’s get to the list.

For the starting five, I’ll go with the following: n Point guard—Derrick Rose n Shooting guard—Michael Jordan n Small forward—Scottie Pippen n Power forward—Dennis Rodman n Center—Joakim Noah As for the bench, I’ll go with Toni Kukoc, Horace Grant, Jimmy Butler, Andres Nocioni, Luol Deng, Steve Nash and Pau Gasol.

Any list is tough. I had to leave out Ron Harper, John Paxson, Jamal Crawford, Ben Gordon, Elton Brand, Ron Artest, Jerry Sloan, Artis Gilmore, Bob Love, Kirk Hinrich, and others.

I think of my choices, Butler, Nocioni, Kerr, and Deng are contentious. I chose Butler because he can approximate Jordan’s output. And he knows how to play with a top player having ran alongside Derrick Rose.

As for Argentinean-Italian Nocioni, I have been a fan of his game since he was with the Argentine national squad.

His game is a combo of Ho Grant’s and Rodman’s. He can play really pesky and physical defense like Dennis and has Grant’s style of offense, except he can shoot threepointers and dribble the ball.

When I posted my choice of Kerr on social media, others were quick to point out John Paxson as a better choice. Sure he is, but in this lineup, Kerr, in my opinion would be better. When Pax was playing, he finished the game with his fellow starters (since they didn’t have much of a bench).

Kerr wasn’t on the floor much as Toni Kukoc was usually in the game.

Kerr hit the huge triple to win the fivepeat for the Bulls in 1997 against the Utah Jazz. In this lineup, Kerr will be coming off the bench; a role that he is better suited for than Paxson. So there.

Luol Deng will spell Pippen. Remember how he was praised for his defense against LeBron James? Plus, he was in the AllRookie team, an All-Star and named to the All-Defense Second Team during his time with the Bulls. He also averaged in double figures during his entire 10-year career with Chicago.

Tough choices, but for me, these 12 will be a tough match up against any Boston Celtics or Los Angeles Lakers five.