Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 225 | Friday, January 8, 2021

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Rodriguez legal team to file raps vs PAMB clearance, ECC issuers STORY ON PAGE 2

A vendor’s young daughter playfully gives to other beneficiaries the canned goods that her mother received from an aid distribution program initiated by Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go in Kitaotao, Bukidnon. Hundreds of vendors whose livelihood were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic received assistance from various government agencies during the event. Edge Davao

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A woman undergoes swab during a massive swab testing at a community in Matina Aplaya, Davao City. The National Policy Against Covid-19 has disclosed that the government is eyeing to vaccinate 50 to 70 million Filipinos this year.

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50-70M Pinoys targeted to be vaccinated in 2021

Rodriguez legal team to file raps vs PAMB clearance, ECC issuers

By MAYA M. PADILLO he legal team of the Rodriguez Family plans to file an administrative and criminal cases before the Office of the Ombudsman against those involved in the issuance of Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) clearance and the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the construction of the Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC) project.

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DPWH Undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations Emil Sadain said in a text message the ECC was issued by the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) on

January 4, 2021, while the PAMB clearance was issued late in November last year.

“We are preparing a complaint against all those involved in the irregularity in the issuance of the PAMB clearance and the ECC.

These people have violated the very procedure which they themselves crafted, in order to railroad the issuance of the ECC,” said Lawyer Ramon Edison Batacan in a text message.

Batacan also said that the ECC reeks of legal and procedural flaws which the courts cannot ignore.

“In the end, they have to answer for all these irregularities,” he said.

In the previous reports of Edge Davao, Batacan was cited the processing of the ECC undertaken by the DPWH according to him bypass the mandate of Presidential Proclamation No. 2152 Series of 1981 declaring Samal Island as Mangrove Swamp Forest

akati City prosecutors ordered the preliminary investigation on the case of 23-year-old flight attendant Christine Angelica Dacera and the release of three arrested suspects in the case.

"After a thorough evaluation of the facts and evidence presented during inquest proceedings, the Office of the City Prosecutor, Makati City, resolved to

refer the case for further investigation, and to release the arrested persons, namely: John Pascual Dela Serna III, Rommel Galido y Daluro, and John Paul Halili y Reyes, from detention, considering that there is a need to conduct regular preliminary investigation of the case," Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento said in a press statement.

The hearing for the pre-

liminary investigation of the case was set for Jan. 13.

Malcontento said among the things to be determined are whether Dacera had been raped and the actual cause of her death.

He added that the same complaint against the other respondents who remain at large --Gregorio Angelo Rafael de Guzman, Clark Rapinan, Valentine Rosales, Mark Anthony Rosales, Rey

Reserve and the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS).

He said given that the entire Samal Island was declared a protected area under the law, the implementation of the SIDC project without clearance from PAMB is a serious criminal offense punishable by imprisonment and fine. He also said that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) prepared by Arup and presented during the public hearing in September last year, wrongly premised that the entire Samal Island is not under NIPAS. He said the EIA cannot be the basis for the issuance by the Environmental Man-

Ingles, Louie De Lima, Jammyr Cunanan, and a certain Ed Madrid -- shall also undergo the same preliminary investigation.

In a three-page resolution, the investigating prosecutor also directed the police officers to submit additional evidence, such as the DNA analysis report, toxicology/chemical analysis, and the histopath exam-

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3 suspects in Dacera case ordered release; probe slated on Jan. 13

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he government targets to inoculate about 50 to 70 million individuals this year, National Policy Against Covid-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said on Wednesday.

“The massive nationwide vaccination program is anchored on the Philippine national vaccine roadmap. Its goal is to achieve the full recovery of our economy and the lives of our Filipino people,” Galvez said during a Laging Handa public briefing.

Galvez said the government will carry out a strategic framework of the national vaccine roadmap.

He said safety and efficacy are some of the key considerations of the government in buying Covid-19 vaccines.

Galvez said the World Health Organization (WHO) solidarity vaccine trial is set to begin in the country this month.

“This month, the Philippines and Colombia would take part in WHO solidarity vaccine trial,” Galvez said, noting that about 15,000 volunteers will be participating in the trial.

Meanwhile, Galvez said the government is strictly conducting a full evaluation of the vaccine candidates to ensure the procurement of safe and efficient Covid-19 vaccines.

“Ang gobyerno po ay may mga portfolio ng mga vaccines, ibig sabihin po nito marami tayong pagkukunan ng bakuna sa iba-ibang manufacturer. Ito

po ay para matiyak na magkakaroon tayo ng sapat na bakuna para sa lahat(The government has the portfolios of the [candidate] vaccines, which means we have many sources from various manufacturers to make sure that we can acquire enough vaccines for all), particularly this year 2021,” he said.

Vaccination program He said the government will strategically prioritize the inoculation of healthcare workers as well as members of vulnerable sectors such as senior citizens.

It will also initially vaccinate essential workers that are vulnerable and those belong to the co-morbid groups, the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and the remaining workforce in the country.

Galvez noted that the implementation of the nationwide vaccination program “is not the sole responsibility of the government.

“Batid ng pamahalaan na hindi niya ito makakayang mag-isa. (Knowing that the government cannot do it alone). This is the reason why the whole-of-government and the whole-ofnation approach shall be adopted,” he said.

There is a need to maximize manpower, expertise, and processes to ensure coordinated and integrated implementation of the vaccination campaign, he added.

LGUs, private sector’s role On the other hand, Gal-

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City urges Dabawenyos to help poor the right way

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he Davao City government has urged the public to refrain from giving alms to street mendicants.

Lawyer Marissa Gallo, the head of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), it is not safe to give alms to street beggars in time of the pandemic.

“Almsgiving may require physical contact and we know that we can get the virus that way. With the current situation, we do not know if one is a carrier of the virus or not. So it is better not to have close contact with anyone,” she said.

She added that entertaining street beggars also affects flow of traffic.

“Their presence on the streets may lead to road accidents. The more we give to them, the more they stay on the streets. So let us avoid these accidents from happening.”

Instead, Gallo said Dabawenyos can extend their help to street mendicants by contacting CSWDO to organize the distribution of donations.

“Mao gyuy na pinaka maayo nga pamaagi para mapaundang sila sa kadalanan, kita mismo kung mangayo sila dili unta ta mohatag para dili na sila magbalik-balik sa kadalanan (That is the best thing that we can do to stop this practice, we must not give them alms so they don’t keep coming back to the streets),” said Gallo.

Gallo said people can contact CSWDO for their in-kind donations through (082) 227-1617, (082)

295-3500, and (082) 225-0417(Telefax).

“Hangyo ko sa mga tao kanang hangyo ko sa mga good samaritan nga kaigsuonan nga kung gusto mo motabang, pwede mo coordinate diri sa atong opisina sa CSWDO (I am appealing to the public, all the good samaritans, our brothers and sisters who want to help, they can coordinate here in the CSWDO).

The CSWDO is doubling its efforts to rescue children and adults roaming around the city streets, especially those who are asking for alms. Rescued children are endorsed to the Quick Response Team for Children’s Concern (QRTCC) while those of age can be filed with cases in violation of Presidential Decree No. 1563 or the Anti-Mendicancy Law. Section 4 of PD 1563, mendicants shall be provided the integrated package of services by the Department of Social Services and Development, the Welfare units of local governments, and other cooperating agencies.

Gallo noted that mendicants can also be, upon their conviction, punished by a fine not exceeding P500.00 or by imprisonment for a period not exceeding 2 years or both at the discretion of the court.

Section 5 of the law also states that any person who abets mendicancy by giving alms directly to mendicants, exploited infants, and minors on public roads, sidewalks, parks, and bridges shall be punished by a fine not exceeding P20.00. CIO

New Covid variant may increase PH's cases 15-fold: gov’t adviser

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public health research group on Wednesday warned that if the new COVID-19 variant enters the Philippines, it may result in much higher number of cases and deaths.

“If the variant takes over, the 20,000 cases can become almost 300,000 cases by the end of the month.

This is what we want to avoid,” said Dr. John Wong, an epidemiologist and founder of EpiMetrics.

EpiMetrics is a public health research firm that is part of the sub-technical working group on data analytics of the Philippines’ Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19.

Wong showed a presentation indicating that cases can increase by 15 times after a month if the new variant becomes the “dominant species.”

He said it is fortunate that the new variant has not yet been detected in the Philippines.

Using the R naught or reproduction number of the COVID-19 outbreak, which indicates the rate of spread of the disease, Wong also computed projections on COVID-related deaths if the new variant spreads in the country.

“Although, the variant does not cause more severe disease. Just having more

cases means you’ll also have more absolute number of deaths,” he said. An example he gave is that deaths can increase from just 74 to about 700 with the new variant.

The only way to stop this is to reduce the transmission of the virus, he said, stressing that wearing masks, and cough and hand hygiene should be observed.

Dr. Issa Alejandria of the Philippine Society of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases agreed that the infection rate must be kept low. “'Pag mas mababa ang infection, ang chances ng mutation ay mababa rin,” she said.

(If the infection rate is lower, the chances of mutation is also low.)

While the Philippine Genome Center has not detected the new variant from the 305 samples it received from passengers and hospital patients, the government is now investigating the case of a Hong Kong resident.

The patient arrived in Hong Kong from Manila and tested positive for the new variant.

The Philippines imposed late last year travel restrictions on foreign nationals coming from the United Kingdom where a

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Beneficiaries from Barangay 5-A receive cash assistance amounting P11,880 each under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Wednesday in Davao City. CIO

DOLE 11 eyes sustainable projects to help region’s displaced workers

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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he regional office of the Department of Labor (DOLE 11) wants to roll out sustainable projects to help the displaced workers in Davao Region.

“We are coming up with a project where all of our existing programs will be harmonized and come up with projects that will have more impact and at the same time will be more sustainable for the region,” said Ofelia Domingo, regional director of DOLE 11.

Domingo said the projects can be a year-round programs to make them more sustainable.

She cited example the Caring for the Retrenched Employees of Samal (CARES) program in the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS) in Davao del Norte wherein DOLE 11 released P1,540,000 cheque to the Local Government of IGaCoS last August 28, 2020 to kick start the said program.

“We are trying to create

a livelihood project like the CARES for the retrenched employees in IGaCoS. Alam natin na Island Garden City of Samal but there is no garden, pagbalik ng tourism, we want to have a place where tourists, locals or foreign can go to after this pandemic para makatulong tayo sa mga retrenched workers ngayon so binigyan natin sila ng livelihood project in terms of having a nursery and then we are going to have a flower garden,” Domingo said.

CARES aims to help the locals of the island to recover from job loss due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This aims to provide quality training for their income-generating business or craft and, eventually, long term employment

and sustainable source of income.

Domingo and Mayor Al David Uy signed the Deed of Usufruct as LGU IGaCoS granted DOLE 11 a 1,000 square meters land in Peñaplata, Samal. This is intended for the Workers Development Training Center, a show room for all products and crafts of local workers under project “CARES”, a plant nursery and an area for the permanent DOLE 11 IGaCoS Satellite Office to closely the project’s implementation.

Under the CARES program, workers will be receiving salary through Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged / Displaced Workers (TUPAD).

“These people will be working at yung kanilang salary na gagamitin will be coming from TUPAD, They will take care the nursery and the flower garden,” she said.

DOLE 11 also offers training for masonry and

oronavirus vaccine candidates undergo strict screening to ensure that they are safe, effective, and affordable, National Policy Against Covid-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. assured on Wednesday.

“Kaya po dapat mapanatag po ang ating mga mamamayan na talagang ang ating bibilhing mga vaccine ay safe, effective at saka affordable po (That’s why our people must be assured that we will buy Covid-19 vaccines that are really safe, effective and also affordable),” Galvez said during a Laging Handa public briefing.

He said all vaccine candidates in the coun-

try will undergo stringent regulation screening and should be accredited by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Galvez said tight regulations are also being imposed in the United States and the United Kingdom where they have regulatory bodies accredited by the WHO. In closing deals with vaccine developers from such countries, Galvez said a clause on graft and corruption should be specified in the contract of agreement.

“Aside from our stringent regulatory sa ating FDA at saka (with our Food and Drug Administration and) panel of experts, mayroon din po silang mga ex-

pert na titingnan po talaga iyong tinatawag na global assessment ng mga vaccines na mga available (they also have their own experts to look after the global assessment of the available vaccines),” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Socorro Escalante, WHO national professional officer, cited the key criteria to know whether a country is ready for vaccine deployment.

Soccoro said the country must have a vaccine deployment plan.

“It’s very important to note that in the Philippines, the President has signed the Executive Order authorizing the FDA to grant Emergency Use Authorization for vaccines and also to rely on or to recognize as-

hollow blocks making.

“Related pa rin yun kasi it is all about landscaping so pag bumalik na yung mga hotels, at resorts meron po tayong workers to help in the landscaping in the different hotels and resorts,” Domingo said.

She also cited a livelihood program created for the workers in the sugarcane production in Davao del Sur wherein DOLE 11 established a nursery center in the municipality of Hagonoy.

“Ito po yung mga workers natin sa sugarcane production. We came up with a nursery provided to the different sugar workers na affected by the seasonality of the industry. We will be using TUPAD to pay for them habang wala silang trabaho,” she said.

Domingo said these are some of the projects that DOLE 11 wants to implement to make it more sustainable for the displaced workers. sessment of these vaccines from other stringent regulatory authorities,” she said.

“So that is a very important step that makes the country ready because the first filter for vaccines to be deployed in the country is about the regulatory process to ensure that all vaccines coming into the country are of safe, efficacious and of good quality,” she added.

Soccoro said the country should prepare for cold chain logistics for the distribution of vaccines in the country.

“But we note that the country has already existing cold chain equipment even in RITM and the government is ready to deploy

Gov’t assures stringent screening of Covid-19 vaccine candidates

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

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A passerby chooses soft brooms on display at a roadside stall in Marilog District, Davao City on Thursday. Edge Davao

Economist forecasts PH GDP growth at 5.5-6% this year T

Safeguard on imported cars to save local jobs, says DTI

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uala Lumpur-based Juwai IQI global chief economist Shan Saeed forecasts the gross domestic product (GDP) growth for the Philippines to bounce back between 5.5 percent and 6 percent this year.

Saeed told the Philippine News Agency in an e-mail Wednesday that local demand and investments in the country will recover this year from the impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic last year.

“Philippine economy is set to bounce back strongly

as policy levers are making (a) sound impact. Obviously, this heralds good news for the local investors and consumers in general,” he said.

Saeed said the country will come back into global investors’ radar focus this year.

“In my opinion, the gov-

ernment is trying to bring back macroeconomic stability to drive economic confidence in the landscape. Curbing Covid-19 efforts are proving good results. Right now, many economies and markets are interplaying between epidemiology and economics. Whoever takes lead in controlling the virus, gets more investment in the country,” he added.

With inflation increasing in the latter part of 2020, Saeed believes that policy makers have sufficient room to maneuver fiscal and monetary policy

citing its requirement to provide subsidies to affected individuals and sectors, ensure medical facilities are put in place, and there is funding to procure coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines.

Diokno said there is also a need to boost the government’s fiscal health since revenues are also affected by the pandemic.

“In the meantime that they do not have the access and the cash to pay for Covid-related programs, then we lent them PHP540 billion. That is allowed under the law,” he

said, citing the fund boost is non-interest bearing.

This is the second time the central bank extended a PHP540-billion provisional advance to the national government.

The first one was approved by the MB in October last year.

Under the BSP’s Charter, the central bank is authorized to extend cash advances to the national government but this should be equivalent to the latter’s average revenues in the last three years, which currently amounts to PHP540 billion.

levers.

“With structural levers shaping up well, infrastructure investment is picking up, consumer demand remains intact, inflation-driven GDP growth is good for the economy.

Inflation is better than deflation as momentum picks up due to aggregate demand since growth trajectory gets into the limelight,” he said.

He added the GDP forecast for the Philippines this year also considers optimism once Covid-19 vaccination program is rolled out in the country. (PNA)

BSP extends P540-B cash advance to gov’t anew

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he Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) extended another PHP540-billion cash advance to the national government last December to help boost its cash flows.

In an online briefing Wednesday, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said the central bank’s policy-making Monetary Board (MB) approved December 28 the fresh cash boost, which he termed as bridge financing, to help fund the government’s pandemic-related expenses.

“The national government needs it,” he said,

In terms of liquidity boost, the latest cash advance is the third for 2020 after the PHP300-billion repurchase deal between the BSP and the national government last March.

Under the deal, the BSP will purchase PHP300 billion worth of government securities, which the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) can redeem within three months.

The repayment period was allowed for extension for another three months.

The BTr fully redeemed the debt paper last September. (PNA)

rade Secretary Ramon Lopez rebutted on Wednesday the claims of car industry groups that the safeguard duties imposed on imported vehicles will result in job losses in the country.

“Safeguard duty is definitely meant to help and boost local manufacturing revival efforts and meant to protect local jobs in the manufacturing of cars and light commercial vehicles,” Lopez said in a Viber message to trade reporters.

Both the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors (AVID) expressed their concern over the provisional safeguard duties on imported passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.

CAMPI president Rommel Gutierrez earlier said sales volume of vehicles are expected to be lower due to the safeguard measure on imported vehicles, which will pose “risk of employment downsizing”.

“The CAMPI’s concern on sales shows that they are selling more imported cars. Again, the imported vehicles are not banned,” Lopez said.

On Monday, Lopez announced that a provisional safeguard duty of PHP70,000 per unit for imported passenger cars and PHP110,000 per unit for imported light commercial vehicles will be

imposed for 200 days.

The decision for the Department of Trade and Industry to slap safeguard duty on imported passenger cars and light commercial vehicles is a result from its preliminary determination, which found out that imported cars have caused serious injury to the domestic market.

Lopez said the safeguard measure does not ban imported vehicles and does not stop the businesses of car dealers.

“Consumers have the option, and the dealers can now sell more of the locally made vehicles such as Toyota Vios and Innova and Mitsubishi Mirage and L300. The prices of which are not changing and therefore will be more attractive,” he added.

Lopez said jobs in local vehicle manufacturing, including makers of auto parts, metal works, plastic, and wiring harness, went down to 86,000 from close to 100,000 jobs.

“These jobs have been affected adversely by the increasing vehicle imports,” he said.

The alliance of labor groups Sentro said more than 1,000 automotive workers have been laid off by car manufacturers and their supply chains in 2019 alone.

“This provisional measure will protect the local industry which has been reeling from the surge in imported vehicles in

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Oil prices soar after OPEC+ output cut

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il prices jumped significantly on Wednesday after a more than expected cut in OPEC+ production when Saudi Arabia issued a surprise, major unilateral cut of 1 million barrels per day (bpd).

International benchmark Brent crude was trading at USD53.87 per barrel at 0647 GMT for a 0.50-percent rise after closing Tuesday at USD53.60 a barrel.

American benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was at USD50.02 per barrel at the same time for a 0.18-percent increase after it ended the previous session at USD49.93 a barrel.

The world’s major oil producers, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and its allies, known as OPEC+, met on Tuesday amid weak oil demand from ongoing lockdowns and strict restrictions in many countries.

However, talks on balancing oil markets struggling with a supply glut and weak demand reached a stalemate as oil-producing countries Russia and Kazakhstan favored higher output levels.

The meeting ended with a surprise announcement from self-proclaimed

“guardian of the industry” Saudi Arabia, which said it would voluntarily reduce its production in February and March by 1 million bpd.

The group announced that Russia and Kazakhstan will collectively increase their output by 75,000 bpd while the rest of the group will hold output steady.

In line with the decision taken at the December meeting, OPEC+ is currently cutting its output by 7.2 million bpd in January.

After Saudi Arabia’s voluntary reduction, the group’s production cut will be 8.125 million bpd in February and 8.05 million bpd in March, which also means OPEC+ will reduce its output in February by 925,000 bpd and 850,000 bpd in March relative to output rates in January.

Late Tuesday, the American Petroleum Institute (API) announced its estimate of a fall of 1.66 million barrels in US crude oil inventories compared to the market expectation of a 1.5 million-barrel draw.

If crude stocks fall in line with the API’s expectations, this would signal that crude demand is rebounding in the US, the world’s largest oil consumer, to positively support prices.

(Anadolu)

Gov’t debt hits P10.13T in end-November 2020

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he national government’s total debt hit P10.13 trillion at the end of November last year, the Bureau of Treasury said on Wednesday.

This was a P106.37 billion or 1.1 percent increase from October, most of which was due to domestic borrowing, Treasury said.

Since January 2020, the country’s debt has grown by P2.4 trillion or 31.1 percent as the government borrowed heavily to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and other socio-economic measures, the agency added.

“Of the total outstanding debt stock, 29 percent were sourced externally while 71 percent are domestic debt,” Treasury said.

Since January last year, domestic debt has increased by P2.06 trillion or 40.3 percent, while foreign debt increased by P338.44 billion or 13 percent.

Foreign debt however decreased 0.3 percent in November from the previous month as the peso appreciated against the US dollar.

The government has been borrowing heavily from both private and multilateral lenders since early last year as it tries to cushion the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the country.

Despite this, some economists and business leaders say the adminsitration of President Rodrigo Duterte has not been spending enough to mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic.

The government meanwhile has said that this year’s spending package will be enough to stimulate the economy.

Last year, a lawmaker warned that the country’s debt may balloon to over P13 trillion.

Teleperformance upskills people for the workplace of the future

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eleperformance Philippines recently launched a new learning platform to hone the talent and knowledge of its professional teams who are helping to drive the digital transformation journeys for both domestic and global clients.

The Teleperformance Automation Academy is an expert-facilitated mentorship program for learning,

incubating, developing, and deploying Robotic Process Automation (RPA) solutions.

These RPA solutions are software bots that automate repetitive, high-volume tasks by using a combination of automation, computer vision, and machine learning.

The academy’s participants are people recog-

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ECONOMY 5

Champion barista John Rey “Biboy” Plaza brews with a Hario V60 dripper. Photographed Tuesday morning (5 January 2021) by MANMAN DEJETO / MindaNews

ABAC reiterates need for collaboration to thrive

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ith the global economy reeling from the severe impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid)-19, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Advisory Council (ABAC) reiterated in its yearend report the need for collaboration and connectivity to respond to the crisis while rebuilding and revitalizing the economy -- a vision supported by the Aboitiz Group.

With the four focus areas of integration, innovation, inclusion, and sustainability as the foundation of all its initiatives, ABAC will finalize a “Post-2020 Vision” for the region that would introduce a new set of goals for “building back better” amid the health crisis.

“The pandemic has underscored the value of having a collective ‘vision’ for the coming years and has also given us some valuable lessons on the importance of including the concepts of resilience and cooperation in setting these goals,” according to the ABAC report, which was recently signed

by 59 ABAC members from various parts of the world.

The goal is to make APEC a resilient, sustainable, and seamless region where it is easy to work, live, and do business in as any other region, it noted.

“The responsibility to be decisive, to take immediate steps to recover and rebuild our region, also offers enormous opportunity -- to act with forward-thinking purpose, to create a better version of our region and ensure we are prepared for the future shocks which we know will inevitably come,” the report stated.

ABAC member and Aboitiz Group President

and Chief Executive Officer Sabin M. Aboitiz on Tuesday expressed his full support to the vision and said that ABAC Philippines will continue to work on programs addressing key issues in the country such as services sector competitiveness, infrastructure, and finance infrastructure, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) development, and digital innovation.

“The Aboitiz Group believes in the importance of collaboration, especially in this time of uncertainty. We are a key player in Asia-Pacific and our regional footprint will help push the council’s initiatives to achieve greater goals,” Aboitiz, who was officially announced as a member last June, commented.

Focus areas As part of its recommendation, ABAC believes there is a need to develop and realize a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) which would pave the way for open, secure, and stable supply chains. It also highlighted its support to the World Trade Organi-

obile telecommunications provider Globe (Globe) on Wednesday touted recent changes aimed at improving its services under new normal by reducing customer wait time through outbound calls.

In a statement, Globe said it accelerated its shift to digital platforms with applications (apps) such as the GlobeOne, Globe At Home, and TM that help customers save time and money.

Aside from providing answers to frequently asked questions without the need for calls through these apps, it said digital assistants are also avail-

able for its customers on Facebook Messenger to respond to basic inquiries.

With concerns that require person-to-person engagement such as bill explanation, connection issues, and SIM delivery requests, Globe said customers may report their concern through the GlobeOne or Globe At Home apps, or through the Globe hotline’s interactive menu, and a Globe representative will call them personally.

Rebecca Eclipse, Globe chief customer experience officer, said the transformation eases customer experience by eliminating the need to wait in the

Globe hotline or a store.

“We understand that fast and reliable service matters to our customers especially at a time when they heavily depend on our services. We want to assure them that our frontline support continues in the form of outbound calls which make it more convenient for them to get the assistance they need,” Eclipse said.

On average, Globe said the company fulfills an average of 4,000 calls to consumer mobile and broadband customers per day.

Aside from receiving positive feedback from its customers through an internal survey, it said out-

zation’s multilateral rulesbased trading system.

While the digital economy grew exponentially, ABAC called on APEC leaders to help bridge the digital divide along geographic and socioeconomic lines by making digital infrastructure, including broadband internet, accessible to underdeveloped areas and regulatory and technical environments open and non-discriminatory across APEC. To rebuild economies after the pandemic, ABAC said promoting the welfare of MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises), women, indigenous communities, and youth should be part of the priorities as well as this will enhance APEC’s collective resilience.

In the area of sustainability, ABAC pushed to strengthen international cooperation for climate change mitigation and adaptation with a sense of urgency and transition to a low-carbon economy through the use of innovative technologies and renewable energy. (PR) bound calling allows the company’s support team to be more “prepared and confident” when interacting with customers.

“Serving customers’ needs remains to be a top priority of Globe. The company consistently delivers solutions that make it more convenient and safer for customers to raise their inquiries and concerns especially during the pandemic when the demand for connectivity has increased,” Globe said.

It added that the company is doing its best to handle each concern endto-end and ensure resolu-

Globe cuts customer wait time with outbound support calls

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On its plan to file charges against those responsible for the issuance of PAMB clearance and ECC to DPWH for the construction of the Davao-Samal Island Connector project:

We are preparing a complaint against all those involved in the irregularity in the issuance of the PAMB clearance and the ECC. These people have violated the very procedure which they themselves crafted, in order to railroad the issuance of the ECC.”

Lawyer Ramon Edison Batacan

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MAYA M. PADILLO Senior Reporter

KENNETH IRVING K. ONG ATHENA JILLIAN BRAVO NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN MEGHANN STA. INES FERINA SANTOS Lifestyle

CHRISTIAN JAY H. RAFAL Layout/Cartoons

ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. DR. MAURO L. PUYOD CHA MONFORTE Cartoonist Correspondent Consultant Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. BORBON • MARY ANN C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO DAVAL SR.,TRIA • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY Columnists: ANTONIO V.“ADI” FIGUEROA • HENRYLITO D. TACIO •B.JOHN CARLO • MUJAHID NAVARRA ••FRED C. LUMBA • DENNIS R. GORECHO ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO •“GICO” G. S. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER GREGORIO G. DELIGERO VIDA MIA VALVERDE • HAROLD CAVITE M. PEREZ

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 225 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021

VANTAGE POINTS

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HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

GET READY FOR THE NEXT PANDEMIC “In any outbreak or emergency, some factors will always be beyond human control and unique to the event,” said the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) in a statement. “What is certain, however, is that careful preparedness and rapid response can limit loss of life, societal disruption and economic losses.”

In his book Connections, James Burke wrote: “Why should we look to the past in order to prepare for the future?

Because there is nowhere else to look.” To which American statesman Benjamin Franklin added, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

It’s not only for natural disasters that the world should be prepared – even for epidemics. For the first time in history, the world is observing the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness last December 27. It was called for by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate the importance of the prevention of, preparedness for and partner-

ship against epidemics.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of investing in systems to prevent, detect and respond to infectious disease outbreaks,” the WHO said of the coronavirus disease 2019 that is wreaking havoc around the globe.

“With COVID-19 having now killed more than 1.7 million people, devastated economies, upended societies and exposed the world’s vulnerabilities in the starkest ways, the value of health emergency preparedness has hit home like never before,” said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

“As we strive to control and recover from the current pandemic, we must think about the next,” he continued.

“Unfortunately, it is easy to imagine a virus just as infectious but even more lethal.”

In a press statement, Guterres said the world can already draw many lessons from the experiences of the past.

“Preparedness is a sound

investment, costing far less than emergency expenditures,” he pointed out. “Societies need stronger health systems, including universal health coverage. People and families need more social protection. Communities on the frontlines need timely support.”

The UN official suggested that “more effective technical cooperation” among countries is needed. “And we need to pay greater attention to the encroachment of people and livestock into animal habitats; 75% of new and emerging human infectious diseases are zoonotic.”

All these must be done in a scientific manner, he pointed out. “Across this work, science must be our guide,” Guterres stressed. “Solidarity and coordination are crucial, within and among countries; no one is safe unless all of us are safe.”

It is but fitting to raise awareness on epidemics on a certain day of every year.

“In the event of the absence of international atten-

tion, future epidemics could surpass previous outbreaks in terms of intensity and gravity,” the WHO said in a statement.

“There is great need of raising awareness, the exchange of information, scientific knowledge and best practices, quality education, and advocacy programs on epidemics at the local, national, regional and global levels as effective measures to prevent and respond to epidemics.”

The International Day of Epidemic Preparedness falls on the birthdate of Louis Pasteur, the French biologist for ground-breaking work on vaccinations.

“In honoring his work, I salute today’s medical professionals, front-line personnel and essential workers who have carried the world through this emergency with such remarkable commitment,” Guterres said. “As we recover from the pandemic, let us resolve to build up our prevention capacities so that we are ready when the world faces the next outbreak.”

Meanwhile, a new strain of COVID-19 – which is potentially 70% more contagious than earlier ones – has been reported. On December 14, British authorities told the WHO that a new variant had been identified.

The WHO, regarding the United Kingdom strain, issued this statement: “There is not enough information at present at present to determine if this variant is associated with any change in (the) severity of clinical disease, antibody response or vaccine efficacy.”

Among the countries where the mutated virus has been reported include Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia.

Another COVID-19 variant, different from the one unearthed in the UK, was reported in South Africa.

Because of this new development, President Rodrigo R. Duterte approved the extension of the travel ban for flights from the UK for another two weeks; the ban is originally set to expire on December 31.

DENNIS R. GORECHO PINOY MARINO RIGHTS

STARTING 2021 WITH A COLLISION The year 2021 for me started with a bang, literally, due to a car accident.

On my way home from the grocery evening of January 1, my car was hit along C5 extension in Las Pinas City by a speeding Lalamove motorcycle driver.

After my car safely turned left in an intersection, the motorcycle directly rammed on the right side of my car causing heavy dents on the front door and shattering the window.

Fortunately, I did not suffer the common injuries from side-impact crashes that include head concussion or traumatic brain injury, neck or back injuries, herniated discs, whiplash, nerve damage, spinal cord damage, and paralysis.

I only had minor cuts due to the splintered glasses.

It is classified as a T-bone accident wherein the front of one vehicle strikes the side of another at an intersection, forming the shape of a “T” at the point of impact .

I have nothing against motorcycle drivers but they should bear in mind that they are not the kings of the road as their carelessness may lead to damages, injuries and worse, fatalities.

In 2019, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority documented 31,279 motorcycle accidents in Metro Manila—or an average of 86 incidents a day, with 394 deaths making them the main killer on the road.

If the road rules are to motorists, the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972 (COLREGs) are to mariners.

COLREGs are published by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and set out, among other things, the “rules of the road” or navigation rules to be followed by ships and other vessels at sea to prevent collisions between two or more vessels.

Causes of any ship collision may include blatant human error as well as any technical malfunction.

The COLREGs were adopted as a convention on October 20, 1972 and entered into force on July 15, 1977 with 160 ratifying parties as of August 1, 2020.

Under the convention, every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper lookout by sight and hearing as well as by all available means so as to make a full appraisal of the

situation and of the risk of collision.

It added that every vessel shall at all times proceed at a safe speed so that it can take proper and effective action to avoid collision and be stopped within a distance.

Any action taken to avoid collision shall be made in ample time and with due regard to the observance of good seamanship.

Under the “give way” rule, when two power driven vessels are crossing so as to involve risk of collision the vessel which has the other on her starboard side shall keep out of the way and shall if the circumstances of the case permit avoid crossing ahead of the other vessel.

If necessary to avoid collision or allow more time to assess the situation, a vessel shall slacken its speed or take all way off by stopping or reversing her means of propulsion.

Adverse effects of a collision include injury or death of life to passengers or crew, the environmental impact moreso if one of the vessels is carrying any harmful material dangerous for marine life, and financial losses to the owners of the vessels.

The sinking of the passenger vessel MV Dona Paz on December 20, 1987 was considered as one of the worst peacetime disaster and the worst in the 20th century.

At around 10:30 p.m., MV Dona Paz collided with a motor tanker, MT Vector, near Dumali Point between the provinces of Marinduque and Oriental Mindoro.

With only 25 survivors, MV Dona Paz was even named the Asia’s Titanic as the collision resulted to the death of 4,341 passengers.

The vessel was overcrowded, with at least 2,000 passengers not listed on the manifest.

The maritime profession has always been identified as a perilous job on board vessels that cross ocean boundaries and replete with health and safety hazards, in relation to the risks of accidents, illnesses and mortality.

The job of a seafarer is, indeed, not exactly a walk in the park.

The European Maritime Safety Agency declared in a report that there were 745 work-related fatalities among maritime workers and nearly 9,000 persons injured be-

tween 2011 and 2020, among other tragic statistics of this sector.

For centuries, the “Good Samaritan” maritime rescue doctrine encourages seafarers to go to the aid of life and property in distress, including those involved in collisions.

Regardless of who is at fault in a collision incident at the high seas, vessels that sustained minimal or no damage are obliged to rescue mariners distressed or shipwrecked by the mishap.

The United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea says that every signatory to the convention must require the master of a ship flying its flag to render assistance to any person found at sea in danger of being lost and to proceed to the rescue of persons in distress.

The exemption is when the assisting vessel, the crew or the passengers on board would be seriously endangered as a result of rendering assistance to those in distress.

Atty. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, email info@sapalovelez. com, or call 09175025808 or 09088665786)

8 COMPETITIVE EDGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 225 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021

HOLY CHILD Community Market: Helping Community Financially Survive the Pandemic D uring the COVID-19 pandemic, the personal and companies’ finances across the Philippines and beyond have been affected. With so many business establishments and companies shuttered during the stay-at-home orders, the chances are high that businesses or employers have made cuts in working hours, income, or both.

Because of this, the HOLY CHILD Commu-

nity Market project was launched with the ob-

jective of helping our community, such as our teachers, employees, parents, students, and alumni cope with the financial stress brought by the pandemic.

Through a social media platform (Facebook), the HOLY CHILD Community Market provided an online space for the community to market their food products. Anybody within the HOLY

CHILD Community is allowed to sell his or her food products online while others are the ones who buy the food posted.

With the increasing number of FB Group members, the community continues to grow. We saw the need to go out of it and extend the help to our external community.

During the quarantine, the farmers all over the country were also af-

fected by the lockdowns.

Thus, one of the main reasons why Community Market was launched was to help our community farmers.

To support sustainable agriculture, improve and increase local access to quality farm products, and respond to the call of farmers in helping augment their income, a partnership with AGRIBIZ of City Agriculture and

AGILA Farmers Association has been made.

Through this, we were able to link farmers from Marilog and Bukidnon to Holy Child communities.

By buying the 'Bag of Veggies', HOLY CHILD Family takes part in the farmers' journey to success. This way, we help them sell their fresh vegetable products to the community." by Jona Jane Jumawan

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AGRITRENDS

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Sorghum: Climate change-resilient crop

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

T

he Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) is encouraging the production of sorghum as part of its advocacy to reduce poverty among Filipino farmers and increase farm production in the country’s second largest island.

“With an investment of only about P6,000 per hectare for seeds and 4 bags of fertilizer, a farmer could earn P48,000 gross per harvest,” said MinDA head Emmanuel F. Piñol.

“Since sorghum could be ratooned, the farmer could harvest three times with just one planting for a prospective gross income of P144,000 a year.”

In addition, the farmer could have a sufficient supply of silage as the stalks can be used to feed his carabao, cattle, sheep, or goats.

Even if the farmer won’t be able to provide all the recommended requirements to grow sorghum properly, he can still earn half of the projected income. “Still his gross income of P72,000 per year is enough to lift him up the poverty threshold,” Piñol wrote in a social media post.

When he was still the Agriculture Secretary, Piñol reintroduced the growing of sorghum to complement the country’s corn production. Since sorghum produces protein-rich grains, it is ideal for livestock and poultry feeds. In fact, studies show sorghum has a higher protein content than corn.

“If 500,000 hectares of

Mindanao are planted to sorghum every year with an average production of 4-metric tons with three harvests every year, that would mean 6-million metric tons of grains,” he said.

“That’s a lot of high-protein feeds to boost the livestock and poultry industry of Mindanao,” he pointed out.

Market is not a problem either.

Two initial off-takers – Pilmico Foods Corporation and CP Foods Philippines – have agreed to buy sorghum at farm gate price of P12 per kilogram. “That would mean an additional P72-billion a year generated by Mindanao agriculture,” Piñol said.

According to Piñol, sorghum was introduced in the country some 40 years ago but it had not taken off. “(Sorghum) never really gained popularity as a source of protein for animals because of the absence of support from government,” he lamented.

Even before Piñol re-introduced sorghum, the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) was already promoting it as “the next crop that will bring income to farmers.”

A focus group discussion was convened by NAST, an advisory body of

the Department of Science and Technology, in 2013 in Ilocos Norte as tobacco farmers were trying to find an alternative crop for tobacco.

“Tobacco farmers will lose their jobs if taxes will increase, and demand for tobacco products will slow down,” Dr. Heraldo L. Layaoen of Mariano Marcos State University was quoted as saying. “We have a ready substitute for this – sorghum.”

According to Dr. Layaoen, the crop’s profitability can turn the tide in favour of tobacco farmers who use too much pesticides to protect the leaves.

But that is just one of the many issues of tobacco growing.

Ilocos Norte, he pointed out, is ideal for growing sorghum because of its long dry season. Sweet sorghum, the recommended variety, requires less water. Studies show it needs only 35% of the water needed by corn.

When he re-introduced sorghum production, Piñol was targeting areas that are planted to coconut, where it can be integrated as a secondary crop, as well in ancestral domain areas, and land currently planted to upland rice.

“Because of its versatility and adaptation, sorghum is one of the really indispensable crops required for the survival of mankind,” wrote Jack Harlan, an American campaigner for crop plant biodiversity conservation, in 1971. Unfortunately, many

of those who are not in agriculture industry have either never heard of the sorghum or are unsure as to what it is.

In the 19th century Ethiopia, Richard Pankhurst reported that durra – as sorghum is known in the said country – was “often the first crop sown on newly cultivated land,” explaining that the African grass did not require the thorough ploughing just like other crops, and its roots not only decomposed into a good fertilizer, but they also helped to break up the soil while not exhausting the subsoil.

There are several species of sorghum, which are grown in various parts of the world. After rice, wheat, corn and barley, sorghum is the world’s fifth-most important cereal crop. The most widely cultivated is sweet sorghum (scientific name: Sorghum bicolor).

The Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), a line agency of the Department of Agriculture, described sweet sorghum as “the great climate crop.”

BAR’s Rita T. dela Cruz wrote: “Sweet sorghum is a resilient crop. It is easy to grow, and is resistant to pests and weed. It tolerates soil salinity, acidity and toxicity, and can withstand extremes of tropical weather, tolerating both heat and water logging.”

And that’s not all.

“Given its resiliency and adaptability to changing climates, sweet sorghum thrives even in marginal,

arid lands which cannot be planted to rice, corn or sugarcane. Hence, sweet sorghum is great solution to soil problems,” Dela Cruz wrote.

In the past, sorghum was promoted as major source of bioethanol for addressing the energy problem in the country.

Bioethanol – a form of renewable energy produced mostly from biomass – is ethyl alcohol used as a fuel, particularly as an additive for gasoline in motor fuel.

“The main source of ethanol is the stalks which when crushed yields sweet juice that can be fermented and distilled to obtain bioethanol – a clean burning fuel with a high-octane rating,” Dela Cruz wrote.

“With this technology at hand, the Philippines can go all out for the 10% bioethanol-blended gasoline to save an estimated 565 million liters of gasoline per year.”

But aside from that, sorghum can also provide three other F’s: food, feed/ forage, and fertilizer. “We consider sweet sorghum an ideal ‘smart crop’ because it produces food as well as fuel,” said Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar, who was previously the director-general of the India-based International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics.

“Sweet sorghum can help meet the country’s fuel needs without compromising our food supply.”

Food comes from the grains. “(Sweet sorghum) is a promising cereal crop

that could help address problems on malnutrition, dwindling food supply, and the increasing cost of wheat flour,” Dela Cruz assumed. “It can be milled into flour as the main ingredient for soups and porridge, native delicacies, meals, and appetizers. The grains can be processed and used as an alternative to rice.”

In the United States, sorghum finds its way n the gluten-free market. In the southern part, it is popular as “staple sweetener.”

Chef and cookbook author Edward Lee describes the sweetener as having unique flavor. “It adds a lot of depth to what you’re cooking, more so than honey.”

Sorghum packs healthy benefits in every grain.

Britannica gives this bit of information: “Sorghum is high in carbohydrates, with 10% protein and 3.4% fat, and contains calcium and small amounts of iron, vitamin B1 and niacin.”

As feed, sorghum is commendable. “Although it is lower in vitamin A, sorghum grain is similar to corn,” Dela Cruz wrote.

“When compared with corn on a per pound basis, sorghum’s feeding value ranges from 90% to nearly equal that for corn. The grain is highly palatable to livestock and its intake seldom limits livestock productivity. The grains have also been found to be an essential ingredient in the production of pre-conditioner feeds for fighting

FSORGHUM, P10

10 EDGEDAVAO House to resume cha-cha hearings

T

he House of Representatives is set to resume its hearings to tackle the proposed charter change, Ako Bicol partylist Rep. Alfredo Garbin said Wednesday.

Garbin, who heads the Committee on Constitutional Amendments, said House leaders met during the day to discuss the resumption of the hearings.

“The directive of the Speaker is to tackle proposed amendments to restrictive economic provisions,” Garbin said, refer-

ring to Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, who, on July 18, 2019, filed Resolution of Both Houses No. 2 proposing amendments to certain economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

“Will hold hearing next week, Wednesday,” Garbin added.

The measure seeks to amend Articles II, XIV and XVI, which are provisions in the Constitution that prevent foreign ownership of land and businesses in the country.

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agement Bureau (EMB) of any valid ECC. “At any rate, the DPWH still needs the endorsement of the LGUs concerned. It cannot proceed before getting the nod of the Sangguniang Panlungsod. You know, the endorsement comes after the issuance of the ECC and not before. If DPWH proceeds with the implementation of the project sans the SP endorsement, it is another violation of the law,” Batacan said.

Batacan said the legal team is preparing the said complaint perhaps in a week’s time.

Rodriguez Family owns Para-

dise Island and Beach Resort and the Costa Marina Beach Resort in Samal has requested DPWH for the re-alignment of the landing platform of the bridge in view of its adverse environmental impacts.

Meanwhile, Sadain said following the issuance of the ECC and PAMB clearance, the Contract for Design and Build is currently being reviewed and perfected by DPWH and this will be submitted to the Department of Finance (DOF) as a prerequisite to loan negotiation with Chinese government and the subsequent approval of the loan.

ination report.

Based on initial reports, Dacera and the suspects celebrated New Year's Eve at the City Garden Grand Hotel in Makati City.

The victim was found unconscious inside her hotel room on New Year's Day and was rushed to the hospital, where she was declared dead on arrival. (PNA)

the ultracold chain and in addition strengthen the cold chain of the country,” she said.

The other key criteria are the safe monitoring of the vaccines, she said.

“So, all vaccines have the potential or the risk of having an adverse event or unexpected event after po na ma-deploy natin iyong (we deploy the) vaccine and it’s very important to have that monitoring process and the FDA and ating (our) EPI program is already working on the protocol to monitor the vaccine,” she added.

Soccoro said 232 candidate vaccines are being developed worldwide.

Of the number, 172 are now in their pre-clinical phase of trials, while 60 are currently in the clinical phase.

There are 20 vaccines that are in Phase 1 of clinical trial, while the other 10 vaccines are in Phase 3.

“And out of all these vaccines in the clinical trial phase, sampu na po ang nabigyan ng (some 10 vaccines were already given with) conditional approval or emergency use authorizations around the world at isa na po ang nabigyan ng emergency use listing ng WHO (and one of these was provided with WHO’s emergency use listing),” Soccoro said. (PNA)

the past couple of years, which has caused the loss of jobs for thousands of Filipino workers

and threatens the employment of many more workers,” Sentro said in a statement. (PNA)

tion “so that customers will not have to go to different channels

and repeatedly explain themselves.” (PNA)

nized and nominated by their line leaders for their experience in project management and client-program relations. These can include account team leaders, project managers, and members of client-facing teams.

Scholars of the Automation Academy are enrolled in a threemonth program that enables them to conceptualize, develop, and implement bots with the help of TP’s global in-house experts, tools, and technologies.

As part of the TAP digital transformation framework, the Automation Academy aims to make digital transformation and integration for people and businesses simpler, faster, and safer for organizations so they can better adapt to the on-demand needs of disruptive situations, as well as

fast-changing market conditions.

“Having experienced and professional teams capable of ideation for improved efficiencies, as well as boosting performance and results would further deepen our conversations with clients as we guide them through a seamless digital transformation journey,” says Teleperformance Philippines Chief Operating Officer Mike Lytle.

“We are proud of this innovative Automation Academy program led by Vice President of Automation Ravi Bhatia. This is an important part of our Technology, Analytics, Process Excellence (TAP) transformation framework we are rolling out to across the organization, and we look forward to the meaningful impact that its scholars will have for our clients,” Lytle said.

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DOH recommends travel ban on 6 more countries with new COVID-19 variant

T

he Department of Health on Wednesday said that it has recommended the inclusion of 6 more countries in the Philippines' travel ban on places that have detected the new and more transmissible COVID-19 variant.

“Until January 15, 2021 we are restricting travel from countries with confirmed UK variant.

Apart from the 21 countries that have already been announced, the Department of Health and the Department of Foreign Affairs have recommended the addition of 6 countries with official reports confirming the detection of this UK variant,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said during a virtual briefing, referring to the new variant first detected in the United Kingdom.

The DOH has not yet named the 6 countries.

On Tuesday, the DOH said that it would make its recommendations on expanding the travel ban based on official confirmation of

foreign governments on the detection of the new variant in their respective countries.

Vergeire also previously shared how the country had difficulty getting official confirmation from other nations.

Of the dozen more countries that detected the new variant after the Philippines added the United States to its travel ban list, only six had official statements from their governments, Vergeire said Monday.

GENE SEQUENCING Vergeire said that to “heighten” the country’s “biosurveillance activities,” all passengers from the affected countries who test positive for COVID-19 would have their samples undergo whole genomic sequencing.

This would allow the Philippines to detect if it already has the new variant.

As of Wednesday, the Philippine Genome Center has not found the new variant in the 305 samples it had processed for

gene sequencing. However, the DOH is still awaiting information on a Hong Kong resident who tested positive for the new variant upon returning from Manila.

Before Christmas, the government imposed travel restrictions on the United Kingdom to prevent the spread of the new variant in the Philippines.

The travel ban list was expanded to include other countries as more announced detecting the new variant.

Foreign travelers coming from the following are temporarily prohibited from entering the Philippines: United Kingdom, United States, Denmark, Ireland, Japan, Australia, Israel, The Netherlands, Hong Kong, Switzerland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Lebanon, Singapore, Sweden, South Korea, South Africa, Canada, and Spain.

Meanwhile, returning Filipinos from these areas would have to undergo a strict 14-day quarantine even with a negative test.

vez cited the significant role of local government units (LGUs) and the private sector in the Covid-19 vaccination program.

He re-echoed President Rodrigo Duterte’s remarks that LGUs will be in charge of identifying and profiling the priority sectors who will initially get Covid-19 jabs.

Galvez said LGUs are tasked to

support the national government in the mass rollout of the nationwide vaccination program.

Meanwhile, the private sector, he added, will provide invaluable, technical, and financial support in the procurement of the vaccines as well as the deployment of possible Covid-19 vaccines, particularly in setting up of cold chain logistics.

“In recognition of this, the President recently approved the tripartite agreement between the national government, the LGUs, and the vaccine companies,” Galvez said.

Galvez reiterated that the government is serious about providing a safe and efficient Covid-19 vaccine which will be given free to all Filipinos. (PNA)

more infectious coronavirus variant was detected.

The policy, which takes effect until Jan. 15, was expanded to cover 19 other countries, including the United States, as well as Hong Kong.

Filipino nationals coming from these areas are mandated to

undergo 14-day quarantine upon arrival in the country, even if they tested negative for COVID-19.

On Wednesday, the Department of Health said it has recommended the inclusion of 6 more countries in the list.

The Philippines has recorded 480,737 total COVID-19 cases, as

of Wednesday, including 22,690 active infections, 9,347 fatalities, and 448,700 recoveries.

The country's first confirmed case was recorded on Jan. 30 last year in a Chinese woman who arrived from Wuhan City, China where the disease is believed to have first emerged.

cocks.”

The stalks and leaves are also excellent forage. “The stripped leaves and crushed stalks of sweet sorghum are also good for large and small ruminants,” Dela Cruz wrote. “The leaves and fibrous residue contain large

quantities of protein, making it a valuable livestock feed.”

The pulp or dry refuse left after the juice is extracted from sweet sorghum can be converted into bio-organic fertilizer. Introducing Trichoderma harzianum, a microbial inoculant, compost-

ing time can be shortened from three months to just 3-4 weeks.

A 25,000 kilograms of sweet sorghum bagasse can produce 125 bags of bio-organic fertilizer, Dela Cruz said. (Photos taken from Facebook account of Emmanuel Pinol)

Golden State lost despite outshooting Los Angeles 45.3 percent to 44.4. The Clippers outscored the Warriors 25-15 at the free throw line, making all 25 of their attempts.

The Clippers held the upper hand for most of the first three

quarters before the Warriors rallied into the lead early in the fourth.

Wiggins' 3-pointer in the second minute of the period put Golden State up 84-83. When Paschall became the fourth Warrior to contribute a hoop to a 12-0

run, all of a sudden the home team was up 89-83 with 8:56 to go.

But Los Angeles responded quickly to get even at 91-all at the 6:40 mark on a Leonard hoop, setting the stage for the Clippers to finish strongest.

sugar-coating the closing of gyms and the lack of work for referees, judges, trainers, cornermen, and commentators. The negative trickle effect has not spared boxing. Even attending state Halls of Fame events has become virtually impossible (pun intended). In fact, as elite referee Ron Lipton notes, boxing has been shut down in New York since March. (Interestingly, Ron refereed the CoMain Event at the last pro boxing show in New York State on March 7, 2020 at Barclay Center.)

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo recently announced, “… based on new data, that gyms and salons were not identified as superspreaders and could therefore reopen…”

It has become an on-again, off-again situation that makes

planning extremely difficult. Indeed, as stated on the web site of the legendary Gleason’s Gym: “All Gym Events Scheduled From The Date Of Closing Through The End Of The Year Are Currently Being Reviewed For Re-Scheduling Under The Governmental Guidelines.”

“Now that we’re open again, it’s like, when are we going to close?” — Amy Bueme, owner of Catalyst Fitness in Buffalo There are ways to address this issue but without a live gate, the solutions are daunting. “We generate probably 30 to 40% from gate revenue so it’s how we compensate for that. Fingers crossed it doesn’t get to that.” — Frank Warren Eric Gomez, the president of Golden Boy Promotions summed

it up this way in a June conversation with Los Angeles Times sports columnist Dylan Hernandez: “As soon as you accept that it’s a new world and you have to take precautions, you have to be safe, you have to wear your face mask, social distance, all that stuff, the better off you’re going to be…The people that don’t want to accept it, the people that want to go back to the way it was, are going to have a hard time with it. It goes for boxing, too. The fighters that accept it, that there’s a new normal, the better off they’re going to be.”

In the final analysis, the new vaccines that are on the way represent the best solution for all. In the meantime, there is a new normal and most of boxing is caught in the crosshairs.

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 225 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021

11

Clippers get by Warriors on the road

Stanley Pringle of Ginebra and Ray Parks of TNT are seen to be the frontrunners for the Best Player of the Conference (BPC) for the recently concluded PBA Philippine Cup.

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atrick Beverley and Nicolas Batum combined for three consecutive 3-pointers in a late flurry Wednesday night that propelled the visiting Los Angeles Clippers to a 108-101 victory over the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco.

The Pacific Division rivals will meet in a rematch Friday night, also on the Warriors' home floor.

Kawhi Leonard and Paul George scored 21 points apiece for the Clippers, who were playing the second night of a back-to-back after a 116113 home loss to San Antonio on Tuesday.

Andrew Wiggins and Eric Paschall paced Golden State with 19 points apiece.

After a flagrant foul on Draymond Green created a four-point possession for the Clippers in a tied game, Beverley hit one 3-pointer and Batum nailed a pair, opening a 106-97 advantage with just 2:58 to go.

Beverley had been 0-for-3 on 3-pointers before his big hoop, while Batum had missed three

of his first four.

Beverley also served as the primary defender on Stephen Curry, who had scored 62 and 30 points in his previous two games. But he was held to a season-low 13 in this one, shooting just 5-for17 overall and 1-for-6 on 3-pointers before limping off the floor at the end of the game.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr indicated afterward that it wasn't serious.

Batum finished with 13 points, while Serge Ibaka and Marcus Morris Sr. added 12 apiece for the Clippers, who beat Golden State for the fourth straight time.

Morris was playing for the first time this season after experiencing knee pain in training camp. He played 18 minutes.

George, who had sat out Tuesday's loss with an ankle injury, managed to put in 39 minutes. He completed a double-double with 12 rebounds, two fewer than teammate Ibaka's game-high total.

James Wiseman was a fourth Warrior scoring in double figures with 10.

FCLIPPERS, P10

Thirdy to miss B. League All Star Game

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an-En’s Filipino rookie Thirdy Ravena has been ruled out of the B.League All-Star Game as announced by the league on Wednesday night.

He has been replaced by Mikawa’s Takuya Kawamura, who will make his fourth All-Star appearance in the B.League.

Ravena hurt his right hand midway through the

third quarter of San-En’s loss at Shibuya in Japan on Saturday night.

The NeoPhoenix revealed on Sunday that he fractured his ring finger in that sequence, even-

tually ruling him out of their rematch with the Sun Rockers, which earlier prevailed in a 41-point blowout.

Recovery time for a broken finger often takes up to two months.

“It is still not possible [for him] to return to the competition from [his] right fourth finger metacarpal oblique fracture that was announced by the

Pritchard finished with six points.

Jayson Tatum led Boston with a game-high 27 points. Jaylen Brown added 21 points for the Celtics, who were eliminated by the Heat in last season's Eastern Conference finals.

Jimmy Butler scored a season-high 26 points to lead the Heat, who have alternated a loss with a win in each of their seven games this season.

Robinson had 16 points, and Bam Adebayo was brilliant with 15 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds.

Smart, who returned after missing one game due to a thumb injury, scored nine points and dished out a team-high six assists.

The Celtics, however,

were still without guards Kemba Walker (knee) and Jeff Teague (ankle).

Boston, which shot 53.8 percent in the first quarter, led by as many as 12 points before heading into the second period with a 3426 advantage.

Both teams scored 19 points in the second quarter, and Boston -- which led by as many as 17 points -went into halftime with a 53-45 lead.

The third quarter, thanks in part to eight points by Miami's Kelly Olynyk, ended at 80-80.

Miami led 95-92 with 4:35 left in the fourth, but then Boston went on its 13-0 run.

Boston's victory was fueled by its 56-40 advantage in paint points.

club on Jan. 3 until the day of the All-Star [Game],” the B.League said in a statement.

The league also ruled Ravena out of the Slam Dunk Contest, with no replacement named.

The B.League All-Star Weekend is scheduled on Jan. 15-16 in Mito, Japan.

(PNA)

Celtics stun Heat on last-second putback

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ookie guard Payton Pritchard scored on a put-back with twotenths of a second left to give the Boston Celtics a 107-105 win over the host Miami Heat on Wednesday night.

The 6-foot-2 Pritchard followed up on a missed drive by Marcus Smart.

Boston went on a 13-0 run late in the fourth quarter to turn a three-point deficit into a 10-point lead.

But Miami recovered with a 3-pointer by Duncan Robinson with 1:09 left and then his four-point play 30 seconds later, cutting the Heat deficit to 105-102.

Miami's Goran Dragic then tied the score with a 3-pointer with 13 seconds left, setting up Pritchard for his dramatic play.

Boston Celtics guard Jayson Tatum (0) stuffs one against Miami Heat defender Tyler Herro at American Airlines Arena. Jasen Vinlove, USA TODAY Sports/Reuters

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 225 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021

Davao's John Vincent Moralde (left) was stricken with Covid-19 virus and saw his fight in Las Vegas cancelled.

He recovered and came back later but lost to a Mexican foe.

PANDEMIC ERA

Boxing in the Age of the New Normal: 2020 in Review

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ot everything in 2020 revolved around Teofimo Lopez’s surprise win over Vasyl Lomachenko or Tyson Fury’s destruction of Deontay Wilder. And yes, fighting in a Bubble enabled boxing to feature some other fabulous stuff like Gervonta Davis’s scary KO of Leo Santa Cruz. But as elite judge Joe Pasquale notes, “boxing needs that energy of the live gate.”

The incredible war between Jose Zepeda and Ivan Baranchyk in the Bubble at the MGM in Las Vegas (eight knockdowns in five rounds!) occurred this year and now joins Norkus-Nardico, Moore Durelle, Foreman-Lyle, Cooper-Moorer, and Ahmad-Muriqi as an all-time Pier Six brawl.

“Canelo” came back as a stalking, ring-closing, body punching phenom to dominate another member of the UK’s Smith family.

Spence came back from the Crash, ‘Bud’ remained undefeated, and Porter looms. A Ryan Garcia vs. Devin Haney fight – now very possible – would be a turbo-charger for boxing.

Super Middleweight Edgar Berlanga (16-0 with 16 first round KO’s) has sparked much interest but he is no Valero and likely will be exposed when he steps up. However, Super Welterweight Tim Tszyu appears to be the real McCoy. In August, Alexander Povetkin snatched victory from certain defeat when he sent Dillian Whyte to dreamland with a sneaky and well-leveraged uppercut at Eddie Hearn’s “Fight Camp” at the Matchroom headquarters in suburban London. Again, it was in the safety net of bubble-like conditions. (Ironically, the Russian tested positive weeks later for Covid, preventing a planned rematch.)

One name that warrants attention is

that of Clay Collard (9-3-3) who fought six times in 2020 despite Covid concerns, winning five and beating several prospects in the process. He is a throwback type and will only get better.

There was much, much more that occurred in boxing during the year and fans did not lack for solid headline events, but these all occurred at the deceptive tip or top of an iceberg.

On The Female Front Katie Taylor continued to shine, Jessica McCaskill exposed Cecilia Braekus, and Terri Harper and Natasha Jonas put on a true classic when they warred in August at the aforementioned Matchroom Fight Camp. But coronavirus-related measures derailed popular Brooklyn-born boxer Heather “The Heat” Hardy (22-1) who hasn’t fought since September of 2019. “New York boxing is the forgotten sport,” said Hardy in a July interview with BBC News. Brooklyn’s great Amanda Serrano (39-1-1) fought just last month, but that was in Santo Domingo.

Bottom of Iceberg “Why can they train in California but [we] can’t do it in New York? Do they know something we don’t know?” — Martin Snow, Owner of Trinity Boxing As the onion gets peeled, it’s clear that the infrastructure and underbody of boxing has taken a brutal hit—there is no

FPANDEMIC, P10