Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 57 | Wednesday, June 17, 2020

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VOL.13 ISSUE 57 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2020

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P 15.00 • 12 PAGES Aboard a stylised ‘trisikad’, an elderly man and his physically challenged wife traverses MacArthur Highway in Matina, Davao City on Tuesday. Edge Davao

Davao City remains under GCQ until June 30 STORY ON PAGE 2

WORLDWIDE COVID-19 NUMBERS BOARD

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

PHILIPPINES

WORLDWIDE

CONFIRMED: 8,128,488 • DEATH: 439,421 • RECOVERED: 4,242,134

CONFIRMED: 26,420 • DEATH: 1,098 • RECOVERED: 6,252

As of June 16, 2020, here’s the Top 5 list of countries with most number of COVID-19 cases 1. U.S.A CONFIRMED: 2,182,950 DEATH: 118,283 RECOVERED: 889,866

2. BRAZIL CONFIRMED: 891,556 DEATH: 44,118 RECOVERED: 464,774

3. RUSSIA CONFIRMED: 545,458 DEATH: 7,284 RECOVERED: 294,306

4. INDIA CONFIRMED: 343,091 DEATH: 9,915 RECOVERED: 180,320

5. GREAT BRITAIN CONFIRMED: 296,857 DEATH: 41,736 RECOVERED: --

SOURCE: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 57 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2020

DavOr provides palay seeds to farmers

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A bus conductor approaches passengers in the highway of Panabo City, Davao del Norte for its travel going Davao City. Armando Fenequito

round 1,300 rice farmers in the municipality of Lupon have recently received palay seeds, fertilizers, and chemicals from the provincial government.

The said assistance is part of the province’s efforts to boost the supply of rice amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

Governor Nelson Dayanghirang said that the role of the farmers cannot be overemphasized, especially in this time of the pandemic.

Recognizing the huge contribution of farmers to food security and the local economy, the Governor assured the provincial government will continue providing support to the farmers.

Speaking to the farmer-beneficiaries in the municipality Lupon on June 11, 2020, Dayanghirang thanked the farmers for their untiring efforts in planting and producing food for the people.

“We can never imagine life without the farmers.

We will never get tired considering and calling them one of our heroes,” he said.

Last month, the provincial government also facilitated the distribution of 10,872 bags of palay seeds and fertilizers to 10,625 farmers around the province.

To emphasize the province's desire to help and uplift the lives of the farmers, the Governor revealed

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Davao City remains under GCQ until June 30

By MAYA M. PADILLO avao City remains under general community quarantine (GCQ) until June 30, 2020, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday night in his Talk to the People Address.

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After learning the President’s declaration, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio reminded Dabawenyos on Monday the provisions provided by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) in areas under GCQ. Among them is on the resumption of religious gatherings, which were

frequently asked by the public.

“Ang rule sa IATF sa GCQ, karon [Monday] naa pa man ta sa GCQ, not more than 10 kabuok ka tao. Ang version ana June 3 version sa IATF. Puwede ang religious gatherings basta not more than 10.”

Mayor Sara also an-

PH faces another COVID-19 epicenter: task force adviser

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ealth Secretary Francisco Duque should regroup and reflect on the agency's programs, and invite more health experts from the private sector as the Philippines faces another COVID-19 epicenter, a medical adviser to government's task force on the pandemic said Monday.

Duque must "reflect" and "work at the pleasure of the people," Dr. Tony Leachon said as he admitted that the health secretary's job was "herculean."

"I think he needs to step up. He needs also to hear the voices of the people and reflect on some other plans and measures and perhaps a very brief 3-day team building and come up with a business

plan for the next 3 months given that you have a new epicenter right now," he said.

"Now you have 2 epicenters. We cannot fight too many battles considering we have finite resources and manpower."

President Rodrigo Duterte extended Metro Manila's general community quarantine to June 30 while he put Cebu City under strict lockdown due to its increasing number of virus cases.

Leachon made the remark after what he called an "episodic emotional outburst" on social media due to frustrations on the Department of Health's data, which he said should

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nounced the resumption of piso-net and internet cafe operations provided that two meters social distancing, regular disinfection the areas, and wearing of mask will be observed.

“Ang piso-net ug internet cafe can open for administrative services (photocopying, scanning, printing, and other research services nga naa dinha sa internet. Pero dili sila pwede mag-open og gaming,” she said.

Restaurants in Davao City can now open their in-dining services but lim-

ited to 30 percent seating of their in-dining area capacity only based on the latest provision of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) of the Management of Emerging and Infectious Diseases.

Apart from Davao City, other areas placed under GCQ is Zamboanga City in Mindanao and Metro Manila in Luzon.

Meanwhile, Cebu City was reverted to enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) starting June 16, 2020 due to the increasing number of new cases and

widespread community transmission in majority of barangays in the city, as well as consistent case doubling time of less than seven days and significant increase in critical care utilization against critical care capacity.

The President also placed Talisay City, a component city under the province of Cebu, under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) until June 30, 2020, for the same reasons.

Duterte likewise placed under GCQ until month’s

end Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Santiago City in Region II; Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Tarlac, Olongapo City in Region III; Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon in Region IVA, and Occidental Mindoro for Luzon.

For the Visayas, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City in Region VII are placed under GCQ. The rest of the country remains under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) until June 30, 2020.

he Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) launched on Monday its “Balik Eskwela” program and Learning Continuity Plan (LCP) for the school year 2020-2021.

MBHTE Minister Mohagher Iqbal said his office will be using the multi-platform communication system in implementing its LCP to ensure that no Bangsamoro child will be left behind in transitioning to the 'new normal'.

"All of us must personify resourcefulness, tenacity,

accountability, and determination to ensure that this crisis and the shift to the new normal will not hamper our young people’s learning and overall development," Iqbal said.

He said that until the situation improves, homebased or distance learning shall be the preferred modality.

"Face-to-face learning in school and other training centers may be employed if and when the local situation and public health measures allow," he said.

The LCP has four annexes that correspond to specific guidelines for basic education, madaris edu-

cation and Islamic studies, technical education and skills envelopment, and higher education.

It includes personnel development and work arrangements for educators and MBHTE employees, alternative learning systems, and training delivery modalities per sector, among others.

A technical working group earlier conducted a series of meetings and consultations with education officials and partners with Iqbal approving the LCP on May 29.

With the help of a multi-platform communication system with support

from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Iqbal said his office will be utilizing several platforms for the implementation of the LCP to ensure two-way communications and engagement with division, districts, and communities are possible.

“We need a robust and functional comprehensive communication system to support the LCP and provide us instructional delivery options to reach all learners in the Bangsamoro,” Iqbal said.

MBHTE’s Multi-Platform Communication System components include a

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VOL.13 ISSUE 57 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 3

President Rodrigo Duterte reviews a document during a meeting with members of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on Monday evening. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

30 schools interested in ‘study now, pay later’ program: PRRD

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hirty private schools are interested in a “study now, pay later” program by the Land Bank of the Philippines, which aims to ensure the continued education of students during the coronavirus pandemic, President Rodrigo Duterte said in a report released Monday.

In his report to Congress, Duterte said most of the 30 educational institutions that were willing to avail of the Access to Academic Development to Empower the Masses towards Endless Opportunities (Academe) program were located in Metro Manila.

The chief executive added that 4 schools have already submitted partial requirements for the loan.

The Landbank has approved a loan application worth P250 million under the program, he said.

“To further promote the program, the [Landbank] has been arranging teleconference meetings with school administrators and sending information materials to potential borrowers via traditional and electronic mail, as well as traditional and social media,” Duterte said in his

resident Rodrigo Duterte found it “heartening” to see the rise in recoveries among the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patients in the country.

In a televised public briefing late Monday night, Duterte said the 6,252 recoveries as of Monday (June 15) was “a good record compared to other countries”.

Despite this development, he reminded the public that the threat

against Covid-19 remains until a vaccine is developed.

“The battle sa (against) Covid is not over. Sabi ko nandiyan pa 'yung germ na ‘yan at hindi nawawala (I said the germ is still here, it has not disappeared),” he said.

He said he could not yet tell when the country could determine whether it is already experiencing a second wave in Covid-19 infection.

“I cannot say it’s [the]

report.

For the program, the Landbank has allotted P3 billion in credit support for private schools, technical-vocational education training institutions, and colleges and universities.

Duterte earlier asked private schools to allow staggered payment of tuition after families and individuals suffered income losses due to the pandemic.

The Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations has estimated that around 2 million private school students are expected to either transfer to public schools or drop out from studying this year after their parents’ incomes were affected by the pan-

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PRRD: It’s ‘heartening’ to see more Covid-19 recoveries

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second wave because it is still increasing,” he said.

Duterte explained that the easing of quarantine restrictions in some parts of the country does not mean that the public should forget to observe minimum health standards.

He acknowledged that he could not prevent everyone from leaving their homes, especially if they had jobs.

However, he also appealed to the public not to

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 57 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2020

Consul General Li Lin of the Chinese Consulate General in Davao gestures during an interview in this undated photo. The Chinese Consulate General in Davao has organized an online meeting with the public and private sectors in Davao City and discussed measures of economic recovery and to facilitate bilateral economic cooperation between China and Mindanao under the “new normal”. Edge Davao

Anti-Terrorism Bill to prevent China, Davao officials discuss PH re-inclusion in ‘gray list’ measures for economic recovery A

By MAYA M. PADILLO he Chinese Consulate General in Davao recently organized an online meeting with representatives from the public and private sectors in Davao City and discussed measures for economic recovery and facilitate bilateral economic cooperation between China and Mindanao.

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The meeting also aims to provide policy on connectivity to ease import and export of locally produced products, conduct regular online conferences, and organized virtual trade fairs with Mindanao’s Chinese counterparts.

Driven by lessons from the pandemic experience, those present in the meeting agreed it is time to ex-

plore the possibilities in the digital space.

Chinese Consul General Li Lin of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Davao said in a text message that the business sector in Davao City is encouraged to perk up the import and export by engaging in business matching through online trading platforms as ex-

ports and imports are expected to decline due to the pandemic.

Lin cited the first online 127th Canton Trade Fair, which opened last June 15, 2020, as an ideal activity for Davao and Chinese businessmen to match. Organized by China Foreign Trade Centre (Group), it is the biggest complex trade show in China showcasing over 150,000 kinds of quality Chinese products and overseas commodities.

The meeting also aims to establish cooperative partnership between Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) and the China Foreign Trade Center, promote bilateral cooperation and seek policy support

from the port authorities and customs offices, find financial support for the small medium entrepreneurs (SMEs), start infrastructure projects and create jobs.

Present during the said meeting were Deputy Consul General Tang Duokun, Davao City Investment and Promotion Center (DCIPC) head April Marie Dayap, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro, DCCCII Honorary Life chair Sebastian Angliongto, and Davao Filipino-Chinese Multi-sectoral Association vice president Nelson Chua.

Meanwhile, the People’s Republic of China and

Prosecution Group of the Office of the General Counsel and Legal Services “is now conducting an investigation”.

“Rest be assured that the legal processes (will) be observed in handling this complaint. However, considering that this is already under investigation, as well as the confidentiality of matters involving banks as provided for under its charter, the BSP cannot comment further,” he added.

The said newspaper column talked about an al-

leged violation of officials of an unidentified bank regarding an “over PHP4 billion worth of unreported and illegal DOSRI loan”.

DOSRI stands for directors, officers, stockholders, and their related interests.

The BSP allows banks to extend DOSRI loans provided that these dealings are “premised on the overarching principle that the transactions shall at all time be kept above board and conducted on an arm’s length basis, and that BSFIs (BSP supervised financial institutions) have

adopted robust internal policies and procedures in handling related party transactions that are compliant with the minimum requirements of law and regulations”.

Diokno said the BSP’s policy-making Monetary Board (MB) received the complaint against the officers of the bank, which the column said is also involved in property and the retail sector, last June 3 for violation of the New Central Bank Act and the General Banking Law of 2000.

(PNA)

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Diokno says BSP investigating DOSRI violation of a big bank

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onetary authorities are now investigating allegations of illegally approved multi-billion loans by officials of a universal bank, said Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno on Monday.

In a Viber message to journalists, Diokno did not identify the financial institution but cited this is the one referred to in “About Town” column published in the Manila Standard, a major daily, last June 12.

He said the central bank’s Investigation and

mendments on the Philippines Human Security Act (HSA), which have been incorporated in the Anti-Terrorism Bill (ATB), are necessary to address gaps in the country’s anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing (AML/CTF) system.

These gaps were determined by a team from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) that conducted the third mutual evaluation (ME) last year to check the county’s level of technical compliance on international AML/CTF standards and effectiveness of existing mechanisms on these, the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) said over the weekend.

AMLC earlier said the Mutual Evaluation Report (MER), which the FATF published in October 2019, raised the need to enact and implement amendments on HSA within 12 months to prevent the country from being included in the “gray list”, which the country was able to exit from in 2017 following the enactment of Republic Act (RA) 10927, which included casinos as among the covered institutions of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

Being in the “gray list” means a country has a deficient financial system that makes it prone to risks of money laundering and terrorist financing, among others.

AMLC said the push for this proposed law is needed despite the current

coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic because “time is ticking”.

It added that even as the observation period for the review process on the country’s AML/CTF system has been extended from October 2020 to February 2021 because of the pandemic, authorities must still ensure the institution of the ATB. AMLC said “this observation period is the last opportunity for the Philippine competent authorities to address identified deficiencies in the MER to avoid gray-listing”.

“Consequently, the Philippines’ inclusion in the gray list will result to an additional layer of scrutiny from regulators and financial institutions, thereby increasing the cost of doing business; delaying the processing of transactions; and blocking the country’s road to an “A” credit rating. The pandemic is already adversely affecting our economy. It would be prudent to mitigate other risks and avoid problems gray-listing would further bring to our economy,” it said.

Lawmakers have approved the proposed ATB and the final copy of which has been transmitted to Malacanang last June 9 for the President’s signature.

Once signed into law, the ATB will replace RA 9372, otherwise known as the Human Security Act of 2007.

Under the proposed law, any person may be jailed for 12 years if they

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 57 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2020

ECONOMY 5

Taxes being paid, business not a health risk: PAGCOR services

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group of online gaming service providers on Monday reiterated that its members "dutifully" paid their required taxes to continue operating in the Philippines.

In a statement, the Accredited Service Providers Association of PAGCOR (ASPAP) said its members paid the required regulatory fees and the corporate and withholding taxes of their workers.

"We reiterate our unequivocal commitment to pay the appropriate tax dues imposed by the government prior to the limited reopening of the online gaming operators," said ASPAP spokesperson Atty.

Margarita Gutierrez.

ASPAP issued their statement after Senator Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel called on the government to collect the unpaid taxes of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) before taxing online retailers.

In July 2019, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III called on the department's line agencies to impose stricter measures to collect taxes from foreign workers who previously

failed to pay their obligations.

The DOF has since cracked down on the industry and closed down POGOs found to have violated local tax laws.

Meanwhile, Gutierrez insisted that POGO service providers had been complying with tax laws even before the outbreak of the coronavirus disease.

"ASPAP members opted not to seek incentives or any tax breaks from government from the start," she claimed.

ASPAP also said the resumption of their business operations did not pose a health risk to the public.

"We wish to reassure our legislators and the public that resumption of PSP operations would not undermine quarantine protocols or pose unnecessary health risk to the community," Gutierrez said.

The government allowed POGOs to resume operations earlier than other businesses, even amid the strict quarantine protocols implemented due to the pandemic, provided that only 30 percent of the total workforce reported for work.

SM Prime to spend P100-M to boost e-commerce platform

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y-led SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SMPH) is spending some P100 million to boost its online presence through the upgrade of its e-commerce platform.

According to SMPH President Jeffrey Lim, the company is banking on the growth of the online market given the lockdown restrictions due to the coronavirus disease pandemic.

"We acknowledge the growing popularity of e-commerce especially during this pandemic, and SM Prime is allocating up to P100 million to accelerate our online presence with our e-commerce platform," he said during the company's virtual annual stockholders' meeting on Monday.

Lim said the company will start with its "Click and Collect" platform where tenants may be able to sell their products to customers online.

"Moving forward, we see e-commerce as a strategy to complement our malls business and connect our retail tenants to our customers," he said.

In the same meeting, SMPH Chairman Henry Sy Jr. said the company will maintain its earlier announced P80-billion capital expenditure for 2020.

"Today we are more prepared, responsive, and resilient because we have people who continuously strategize for business growth," he said.

"As we face the new norm as we will provide facilities such as stronger wifi and safer malling areas, this will be suitable for the safety of our shareholders and this will improve our business for the years to come," added Sy. SMPH currently has four business segments -malls, residential, commercial, and hotels and conven-

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Remittances poised for drop due to virus: Diokno

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angko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said Tuesday dollar remittances this year could shrink due to the coronavirus pandemic, adding he would do "whatever it takes" to support the economy.

Cash remittances could contract by 5 percent, Diokno said, from the previous assumption of a 3 percent growth. It will be the first drop in remittances in 2 decades, according to Bloomberg data.

Business process outsourcing receipts -- expected to grow 2 percent

this year from the previous forecast of 5 percent -- will partly make up for the decline in remittances, Diokno said.

The projected decline in remittances is "not a major blow to our external position," Diokno said. "We still expect a positive balance of payment position," he said.

The economy is in a "position of strength" to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, as affirmed by a recent credit rating upgrade, Diokno said.

The Japan Credit Ratings Agency's "A-" rating for

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Street hawkers ignore the risk of being hit by vehicles as they peddle their merchandise along E. Qurino Avenue in Davao City on Tuesday. Edge Davao

Taxing online sellers not a new policy: Malacañang

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he policy of requiring online sellers to register with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and pay taxes started during the Aquino administration, Malacañang said Monday.

In a televised briefing, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Duterte administration is only implementing the policy that was crafted during the term of BIR Commissioner Kim Henares.

“Ipinatutupad lang po

natin ang instruction at isang batas na pinasimulan ni Presidente Noynoy Aquino,” Roque said.

BIR records show that Henares issued Revenue Memorandum Circular 55-2013 in August 2013, which reminded parties

in online business transactions of their tax obligations. The 2013 circular also stated that any person engaged in internet commerce who fails to comply with applicable tax laws, rules and regulations will be penalized.

Some senators have slammed the latest move of the BIR, claiming it was illtimed and insensitive amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri on Sunday proposed instead to im-

pose heavy taxes on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

Last Friday, the Department of finance clarified that the current BIR memorandum requiring those into digital transactions to register and declare past transactions was not meant to squeeze money out of online sellers’ incomes.

Roque reiterated that online sellers earning P250,000 and below annually are exempted from paying taxes.

mercial vehicle sales went up to 3,399 units from 107 units.

In a statement, Campi president Rommel Gutierrez said the industry anticipated the surge in vehicle sales as soon as the lockdown measures eased.

Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon), Pangasinan, Benguet, Iloilo, and Cebu were under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) for two months until May 15, while the rest of the country was placed in general community quarantine (GCQ) starting May 1.

“While May figures are still way below the industry’s monthly average sales performance, we welcome any positive signs of recovery amid the pandemic and this season of new normal where dealerships have resumed operations at a reduced level and stringent safety protocols are being implemented at all times,” Gutierrez said.

Before the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in the country surged, vehicle sales in the local market reached 23,723 units in January this year.

This figure was still 12 percent lower from January

2019 sales of 26,888 units due to the Taal Volcano eruption.

Last year, the industry reported its highest monthly sales for 2019 at 34,465 units.

“At this point, the industry anticipates a dampened consumer demand for new cars for the coming months because understandably, cars are considered as big-ticket investments. But we hope to see some gradual recovery perhaps by (the) fourth quarter of the year,” Gutierrez added.

Vehicle sales from January to May this year

seen as the main channels for spreading so called "fake news".

The broader picture is that the outbreak is accelerating the trends wrought by the technological revolution, including the rise of smartphones as an interface of news consumption, The Reuters Institute said in its annual Digital News Report.

"The headline is that we see an accelerated move to digital media and mobile media and various kinds

of platforms," Rasmus Kleis Nielsen, director of the Reuters Institute, said by telephone.

"This is accompanied by a continued decline in trust in news and growing concerns over misinformation, in particular on social media and from some politicians."

The biggest increase in concern over media misinformation was in Hong Kong - where anti-government protesters have opposed attempts by China

to tighten its control of the former British colony.

The business of news remains bleak. Media across the world are cutting staff to cope with a dramatic fall in advertising revenue.

But a ray of hope may be that increasing numbers of people are willing to pay for news online, though that may also increase informational inequality as many cannot afford top quality journalism.

May auto sales recover as quarantine measures eased

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he Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (Campi) and Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) reported Monday that vehicle sales in May 2020 recovered as the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) was lifted in some parts of the country.

In the joint report of Campi and TMA, vehicle sales last month surged a whopping 3,500 percent to 4,788 units from 133 units sold in April this year.

Sales of passenger cars increased to 1,389 units in May from only 26 units sold in April, while com-

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The future of media: more digital and more economic pain: study

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he coronavirus outbreak has prompted a significant increase in news consumption but the economic turmoil is forcing news businesses to accelerate their move to digital, The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism said.

The coronavirus lockdowns prompted a global rise in viewing of television and online news though concerns about misinformation remain high, with Facebook and WhatsApp

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6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 57 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2020

Why is LIBEL punishable?

The enjoyment of a private reputation is as much a constitutional right as the possession of life, liberty or property. It is one of those rights necessary to human society that underlie the whole scheme of civilization. The law recognizes the value of such reputation and imposes upon him who attacks it, by slanderous words or libelous publication, the liability to make full compensation for the damages done.”

(Worcester vs. Ocampo, 22 Phil. 42)

EDITORIAL

Legal standpoint

Even in defeat, convicted journalist Maria Ressa is hogging the headlines.

The celebrated cyberlibel case slapped on the Rappler executive editor and chief executive officer Maria Angelita Ressa and writer Reynaldo Santos Jr. ended with a guilty verdict on Monday after Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 46 Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa sentenced the two to imprisonment ranging from six months and one day to six years.

After the promulgation, Ressa went straight to a press conferenceand vowed to continue fighting. “Freedom of the press is the foundation of every single right you have as a Filipino citizen. If we can’t hold power to account, we can’t do anything,” she said.

“Are we going to lose freedom of the press? Will it be death by a thousand cuts, or are we going to hold the line so that we protect the rights that are enshrined in our constitution?”

Ressa and his co-accused technically can still take the case to the Court of Appeals.

The case is entirely one that involves a private citizen as plaintiff and Ressa and Santos Jr. as respondents. By its very nature and given the circumstances and personalities, the case does not involve the government at all for which Ressa and her supporters are blaming for the decision, being an affront to press freedom.

While Ressa is entitled to her opinion, it is also imperative that the realm of the case being a private suit be overemphasized and not made as a vehicle for harping messages not related to the very case itself.

The suit was filed by businessman William Keng after he was named by Rappler as the owner of a sports utility vehicle (SUV) used by the late Chief Justice Renato Corona, who had been subjected to impeachment proceedings in 2012. In an earlier statement, Keng said he filed the case to vindicate his name in court and allow Rappler to “show the truth of basis of their defamatory report”.

Ressa and Santos did not even attend to testify in the hearings while Keng personally testified in the hearings because he said he believes he is telling the truth. Keng also slammed Ressa’s claim that the case is a suppression of press freedom saying “That is only a convenient excuse she peddles to escape accountability. I am fighting for my rights

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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

OLIVIA D. VELASCO SOLANI D. MARATAS RICHARD C. EBONA JASPER V. BACSAL OLIVIA D. VELASCO General ManagerPresident Advertising Specialist General Manager/Finance VP-Operations JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales

and for accountability. No one should be above the law.”

In the words of the presiding judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa: “The exercise of freedom should and must be used with due regard to the freedom of others. As Nelson Mandela said ‘for to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others’.”

The case attracted the attention of foreign media and became headlines in their online editions on Monday. Likewise, there are ‘outsiders’ who insist on taking the case to a political conversation.

Amal Clooney, a Lebanese-British barrister who is leading a team of international lawyers representing Ressa, made a comment that the court had become “complicit in a sinister action to silence a journalist for exposing corruption and abuse”. Clooney said: “This conviction is an affront to the rule of law, a stark warning to the press, and a blow to democracy in the Philippines. I hope that the appeals court will set the record straight in this case.”

Ressa is not the only journalist in the country slapped with libel. Several others have faced, some still into it, libel suits. These journalists not named Maria Ressa faced their battles like ordinary court litigants.

Libel, as part of our laws, is everyone’s run-to law when defamed. It is not meant to be a weapon against press freedom, otherwise, it would not have made it to laws in the Philippines and in most jurisdictions.

Why is it punishable?

Jurisprudence explained in Worcester vs. Ocampo, 22 Phil. 42: “The enjoyment of a private reputation is as much a constitutional right as the possession of life, liberty or property. It is one of those rights necessary to human society that underlie the whole scheme of civilization. The law recognizes the value of such reputation and imposes upon him who attacks it, by slanderous words or libelous publication, the liability to make full compensation for the damages done.”

Ressa’s case must be discussed on legal standpoint, not on political undertones.

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OFFICE MANILA MARKETING OFFICE RICHARD C. EBONA LEIZEL A. DELOSO | Marketing Manager Unit 6, Southbank Plaza Velez-YacapinProduct Sts. Development officer Cagayan de Oro City Address: No. 18 Purok 4B, Madelo Street, Lower Bicutan, Taguig City Tel: (088) 852-4894 Mobile number: +63 947 265 2969(smart); +63 916 955 8559(globe)

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COMPETITIVE EDGE

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ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

BAROK AND THE TUBA STORY Rural folks, especially readers of comic strips, associate Barok, a stone-age caveman created by Filipino cartoonist Bert Sarile, with the American caricature Flintstones. The character was adopted in movies and popularized in music

by Visayan singer Yoyoy Villame of Butsikik fame.

Barok or tangal, a colorant and preservative, is alternately known in Cebuano as tungog, in reference to the tungog tree or bakhaw (Ceriops tagal) which produces tannin-rich extracts from its dried bark that when mixed with coconut juice or tuba turns the sap into deepbrown orange and adds bitterness to the taste. After days of fermentation, the tuba turns into bahal or bahalina.

Dr. Jurgenne H. Primavera, a Filipino marine scientist known for her marine conservation efforts, in ‘The tungog (Ceriops tagal) industry and prospects for mangrove rehabilitation’ (1998), pinpoints the distribution of the Ceriops tagal: “An Indo-Pacific species,

Ceriops tagal is widely distributed from East Africa and Madagascar, throughout tropical Asia and northern Australia to North Caledonia and Micronesia in the south Pacific and to Hong Kong. It is called the yellow mangrove because of its bright yellow-green leaves which may be dark in shaded areas. It is a typical constituent of the inner (middle and landward) mangroves zone and forms pure stands of small trees (2 to 7 meters high) in well-drained clay soil but grows as a short shrub (1 meter tall) in poorly drained soils frequently by tides.”

The dried mangrove bark, also called cutch, is classified according to how it is prepared.

When pounded into bits and pieces, it is called pinulpog; when powdered it is called binokbok.

Dr. Primavera traces the origin of the tungog industry to the 1930s in Bohol. Prevalent in the Visayas and Mindanao regions, harvesting of tanbark, done by boatloads, has been blamed in part to the slow de-

struction of the country’s ecosystem: “[The tungog gatherers] started their trade at the age of 14-15 years during the peak of the industry in the 1930s to the 1950s. At this time, around 100 sailboats for tongog gathering were based in the four villages of Pangangan Island, Bohol.

“Each sailboat had a keel 60-90 feet long, two masts each measuring 70 feet, a buwang (opening) of 12 feet, and dagpak of 8 feet. The largest sailboat could load 60,000 kilos of dried tungog.

“Among the crew, it was the maestro who directed the trip (e.g., the route to take, where to sell and at what price) while the segunda maestro supervised the crew and tungog gatherers. The manunong guarded the boat and kept watch for bahura (coral reefs) which could ground the boat…”

When the demand for tanbark as fermenting agent grew, the bulk buyers were forced to look for other sources. In later years, collection of tungog went as far as Dumatan (Pala-

wan), Ulutanga (Zamboanga), Surigao, Cotabato, Tungkil Island near Jolo, Mindoro, Camotes, Polillo Iland in Luzon, Kudat and Banggi in North Borneo. Harvesting bakhaw, meanwhile, has direct impact on mangrove population. Dr. Primavera explains: “Unlike other mangroves such as pagatpat [Sonneratia caeseolaris Linn.], tungog easily dies when stripped of its bark. There are two ways of removing the bark: by kuyo for short mangroves (e.g., parang-parang) and by padyag for tall mangroves (e.g., tabyog). In the kuyo system, most of the bark is removed but the tree is left standing. In the padyag, the tree is first cut and then stripped of its bark.”

In the 1950s, the tungog in powder form was popularized

by Alfonso Uy, a Boholano of Chinese descent who also pioneered in the consolidation of rural banks in Bohol under the flagship firm First Consolidated Bank, then the country’s biggest rural bank. He called his company UTC Business

An immersive opportunity:

Enterprises, which, during its heyday, was the most popular brand in Mindanao.

Using a simple business approach and cultivating links with sari-sari stores in the countryside where tuba is sold, he introduced the use of tanbark which, in the sixties and seventies, changed the way coconut juice was marketed.

The popularity of tuba mixed with the bitter tanbark eventually drew competition from other enterprising individuals outside Bohol. In the early 1970s, Leopoldo Tiu, a Davao resident, also of Chinese descent, launched his Union Special Tongog, which, with proper publicity and expansive marketing strategy, became an overnight success.

Demand for tungog was drastically reduced in recent decades, in part due to the widespread cutting of coconut trees as source of lumber, and the stringent regulations the government has imposed in the harvest of bakhaw bark due to its impact on the environment.

MCM launches Digital Learning Bootcamp 2020 HENRYLITO D. TACIO

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THINK ON THESE!

matics, Business, may proceed to alayan Colleges Mind- MCM’s online ed by MCM. In KNOWS order for Humanities anao, a Mapúa School learning tools FATHER BEST and this link: https:// announced its first Dig- such as Black- participants to Social Sciences, bit.ly/MCMDIGIboard Learn, maximize the and Basic Ed- TALBOOTCAMP italLastLearning Bootcamp 2020, month, the world cel- out to get the prescription filled.

C. Neil Strait, one of Ameri- goals. “It’s fine to have a dream,” from Ford in 1967 and moved Blackboard online ucation for inandto California. follow Atthe ebrates Mother’s Day. This He took lots of pictures but he ca’s mostColadmired and influen-learning he told him, “but you’d better his family that inviting allof fathers.

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When anyone was sick, he went derstand the dilemma.” his son from achieving his ert explained why he’d retired Frank A. Clark once said.

8

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BIGGER PICTURE

Mati City's famous Dahican Beach.

Photos by Eden Jhan Licayan

DavOr reopens tourism

A

s the movement restriction loosens and the provincial borders now open in all days, the province of Davao Oriental, known as Davao Region’s “weekend getaway”, sets the stage for the reopening of its tourism destinations.

Around 300 tourism establishments, mostly beach resorts, hotels and restaurants have started to reopen its doors to tourists on Friday, June 12, says Provincial Tourism Officer Mr. Miguel Trocio.

However, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, local trippers and visitors will expect a lot of changes as the province embraces the “new normal”, especially in terms of strict health protocols.

On Tuesday, the Provincial Task Force on COVID-19 met with tourism operators including owners and managers of resorts, hotels, and restaurants to cascade the guidelines set by the Department of Tourism in the reopening of tourism establishments. These guidelines are anticipated to be enforced amidst the expected influx of tourists.

Under these guidelines, establishments are only allowed to resume activities under certain conditions.

For instance, accommodation establishments can open only at a maximum operational capacity of 50 percent to ensure physical distancing. Visitors and guests are required to wear face masks and fill out a health declaration form which extracts information about the guests’ travel history and the presence of symptoms.

Meanwhile, establishments are also required to implement temperature screening and disinfection, as well as put up sanitizing mats or foot baths, floor markers, and hand sanitizers, among many others.

Aside from that, hotels and inns are only allowed to open single up to dou-

ble room occupancy while couples or family members who share the same household may be allowed in double or twin occupancy rooms.

Furthermore, as a contingency measure, Action Officer of the Provincial Task Force on COVID-19 Dr. Reden Bersaldo requested tourism operators to provide a dedicated space purposely for isolation. “In case there are guests who develop symptoms, it will serve as a containment area while the authorities are being coordinated for appropriate action,” said Dr. Bersaldo.

“But more than anything else, the tourism establishments have the crucial responsibility to police themselves to ensure that these protocols are being followed,” he said.

He emphasized that while the province eases up its restrictions in order to make way for tourism and businesses to resume activities, it will continue to enforce strict health protocols to ensure that the province remains to have no local transmission of the coronavirus disease.

Economic Activity

Tourism, as one of the province’s major economic drivers and a huge job generator is a vital sector that the province simply cannot live without. The province is highly dependent on tourism as many locals, whether directly or indirectly, thrive on it for their livelihood.

The quarantine restrictions imposed in the past few months has taken a heavy toll on the tourism sector. Based on the data provided by the Provincial

Tourism Office, tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2020 have sharply plummeted. From a total of 234,702 in the first quarter of 2019, tourist arrival has decreased to 80,098 in the first quarter of 2020.

Mr. Trocio said that quarantine restrictions left a big impact on the local economy as it has resulted in more than 100 tourism establishments being closed down and more than 1,000 employees losing their jobs. Some of these employees, however, have benefited from various government assistance programs such as the Department of Labor and Employment’s CAMP and TUPAD programs wherein more than 142 establishments and 700 employees were given assistance.

However, amidst the cautious easing of the lockdown and the reopening of the borders, tourism operators are optimistic to recover their businesses.

Resort owner Mr. Gab-

by Sibala said that the resumption of tourism activities is a welcome development.

“We will start slow but responsibly and carefully,” he said, adding that he expects that people might still be a little apprehensive to go to the beaches at first but is hopeful that things will make progress in the coming weeks.

While tourism establishments and businesses bank on the province’s exquisite and breathtaking sites as a major come-on for tourists, Mr. Sibala said that the safety and health of everyone remain to be the priority. “In the new normal, we always bear in mind to protect our employees and our guests,” he said, citing the measures and guidelines prescribed by the DOT. “We need to think long term because if incidents happen because some resorts did not follow the guidelines, the whole industry gets affected as well,” he

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the plan of the province to avail of loan assistance to fund the different projects and programs of the provincial government, included those intended for the agriculture sector.

“We do not have to wait for our annual IRA (Internal Revenue Allotment) for these undertakings if we can find other ways to help our farmers,” said Governor Dayanghirang as he asked farmers to only do their share as he assured the provincial government commitment to invest on the right technology to help farmers increase their yield.

Gov. Dayanghirang said that the municipality of Lupon will be one of the recipients of the two mechanized combine rice

harvesters costing approximately P6.5 million.

He said that this will be included in the provincial budget next year.

The farm tool is expected to boost the production of rice farmers, with its capacity to harvest crops in one hectare in just a matter of one hour.

The beneficiaries said they are grateful because of the big opportunity for a bigger harvest since their production cost will expectedly decrease because of the increased subsidy of the government.

Facilitating the distribution of palay seeds was Provincial Agriculturist Rotchie Ravelo, Lupon Mayor Erlinda Lim, and the local and barangay officials. By Neela G. Duallo

blame the government for the continuous increase of Covid-19 cases.

“Ngayon kung lumabas talaga kayo (Now, if you go out), you run the risk of getting infected, ‘wag ninyo kaming sisihin (don’t blame us),” he said. “Do not forget that we warned you of the grave consequences.”

He urged the public to continue observing minimum health standards such as practicing physical distancing, wearing face masks, and frequent hand washing.

Meanwhile, he also vowed to “personally supervise” the distribution of a possible cure against Covid-19.

“There’s a pill, I hope it’s true na parang lalaban (that it can fight) and it can maybe sabi (they say) kill the…’yun ang maganda, pag 'yun ang dumating,

'pag available na, mag-order na ako, (that's good if it becomes available, I will order) and I will distribute it… I will personally supervise the distribution, ako mismo (me myself), I will supervise the distribution of whatever there is...to guarantee that everybody gets a fair share of the medicines and medical care,” he said.

On Monday (June 15), the country recorded its highest number of Covid-19 recoveries on a single day at 298, topping last June 12 record of 289 recoveries.

Meanwhile, there are a total of 26,420 Covid-19 cases in the country, of which 348 are fresh cases and 142 are late cases.

Ten more people died due to the disease bringing the total number of deaths to 1,098. (PNA)

the Republic of the Philippines recently celebrated the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The celebration was highlighted with an online musical concert hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Manila and Department of Foreign Affairs Philippines (DFA) at on June 9, 2020.

The online concert was co-organized by Bureau of Culture and Tourism of Xiamen, Federation of Fil-Chinese Association of the Philippines Foundation, Inc., and the Cultural Cen-

ter of the Philippines (CCP).

“Regarding China’s ties with Mindanao in the past three years, the Chinese Consulate General was established, direct airlines connecting HongKong, Jinjiang with Davao, more sister cities, sister universities relations as well as the first Confucius Institute were set up, more bilateral trade and economic cooperation such as export of young coconut and tuna, infrastructure projects are under way. Both sides support each other to battle against the covid-19 pandemic,” Lin said.

threaten to commit terrorism or propose terroristic acts.

Persons suspected of any terrorist act may be detained for 14 days without a warrant of arrest, and this period may be extended for 10 days.

Also, suspected terrorists may be placed under a 60-day police or military surveillance, with a 30-day allowable extension.

AMLC said ATB is needed because HSA “lacks provisions” that would make the Philippines compliant to UN Security Council

Resolutions aimed at preventing the rise of foreign terrorist fighters.

It added ATB does not prevent people from exercising free of expression since Section 4 of the proposed law “does not include advocacy, protest, dissent, stoppage of work, industrial or mass action, and other similar exercises of civil and political rights, which are not intended to cause death, or serious physical harm to a person, to endanger a person’s life, or to create a serious risk to public safety”. (PNA)

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be "corrected, enhanced and improved."

"It’s something you want to express without of course assaulting the health agency. I know there are unrecognized men and women who are working day and night but sometimes looking at the big picture, there are more than 1,000 lives lost, many healthcare workers who have perished, there are many people who are jobless," he said.

"And all of these things will be solved if you could

come up with timely, real-time, credible and trustworthy and granular data."

The DOH over the weekend issued a clarification on the recent spike of reported COVID-19 deaths 2 days before government's inter-agency task force was set to decide on the fate of community quarantine in several areas.

As of Monday, the Philippines has recorded 26,420 COVID-19 cases with 6,252 recoveries and 1,098 deaths.

mechanism for virtual meetings and remote work collaboration; short messaging service (SMS) gateway service, or commonly known as “text blasts"; the revival of the MBHTE radio station, including possible relay transmission to the divisions as well as select partnerships with community and private radio stations throughout the BARMM. Also included in the plan is the use of two-way radio communication for transmitting information, guidance, and instructions to communities not covered by SMS and the Internet; and mobilizing the MBHTE School Network and community-based volunteers to crucial areas in the Bangsamoro.

MBHTE will also provide technical, administra-

tive, and financial support to schools, madaris, division offices, district offices, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority training centers, provincial offices, and higher education institutions in the Bangsamoro region for the effective implementation of the LCP. Meanwhile, BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, who has been watchful on the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 to the education sector, said the regional government “is not standing still as such event continues to unfold”.

“We are doing everything that is best for our children as we cannot wait out the storm, so to speak, as this will hamper the growth of our future generation in all aspects," Ebrahim said. (PNA)

demic.

As of Monday, 329,656 learners have enrolled in private schools nationwide, according to data

from the Department of Education.

Last year, 4.3 million students were registered in private schools.

tion centers.

Among its subsidiaries are SM Development Corp., Costa del Hamilo Inc., Highlands Prime Inc., Tagaytay

Resort Development Corp., SM Arena Complex Corp., SM Hotels and Conventions Corp., and SM Land (China) Limited.

reached 69,463 units, plunging by 51.1 percent from 142,185 units sold in the same period in 2019.

Five-month passenger cars’ sales dropped by 55.2 percent to 19,201 units this year from 42,886 units last year.

Commercial vehicle sales also declined by 49.4 percent to 50,262 units from January to May 2020 from 99,299 units in the same period in 2019.

Toyota Motors Philippines (TMP) remains

the top vehicle seller in the market in the past five months with total sales of 28,163 units.

But TMP’s sales this year declined by 52.2 percent from 58,886 vehicles it sold last year.

TMP is followed by Mitsubishi with sales of 12,865 units, down by 49 percent; Nissan with 8,696 vehicles sold, also down by 49 percent; Honda with 4,435 units, down by 49 percent; and Ford with 4,406 units, down by 54 percent. (PNA)

And a "winner takes all" process can be seen: Around half of those that subscribe to any online or combined package in the United States use the New York Times or the Washington Post, the Reuters Institute found.

A similar trend can be seen in the United Kingdom with The Times or the Telegraph.

And for those predicting the dominance of video news, the Reuters Institute

found that in a number of countries including the United Kingdom, Australia, France, and South Korea, people under 35 preferred to read rather than watch news online.

The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism is a research center at the University of Oxford that tracks media trends. The Thomson Reuters Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Thomson Reuters, funds the Reuters Institute.

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the is a "significant achievement in a sea of downgrades," he said.

"We're not out of the woods yet. We continue to be careful, we continue to be watchful of the developments. We plan to do whatever it takes to make sure there is no permanent scar on the Philippine economy and society," he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte maintained the general community quarantine in Metro Manila until June 30, allowing limited resumption of work, businesses and public transportation. The GCQ is 2 steps above the "new normal" or the lifting of quarantines restrictions.

The Monetary Board will meet again on June 25.

Diokno has so far cut the overnight borrowing rate

used by banks to price their loans by 125 basis points this year, 100 of which was delivered during the 11-week lockdown or enhanced community quarantine.

Diokno also has authority from the Monetary Board to match the 200-basis point cut in the RRR or reserve requirement ratio for banks that he delivered this year.

The Philippines is expecting the economy to shrink by 2 to 3.4 percent this year after the virus lockdown caused the first quarterly contraction in 22 years, recorded in the January to March period.

Unemployment in April soared to a record 17.7 percent, causing the total number of jobless Filipinos to swell to 7.3 million.

said.

“We also remind our guests to travel responsibly, to relax and chill responsibly. Because it’s our social responsibility as

individuals to take care of ourselves as well as others especially during this time there’s no vaccine available yet,” he said. By Karen Lou Deloso

Degorio said that the enactment of RA 11203 has caused the influx of cheap imports that plunged rice prices to levels detrimental to farmers.

The RFFA is the government’s response to mitigate the effect of the RA 11203 among the rice farmers.

He said the program is intended for the rice farmers who are tilling 0.5 hectares to two hectares of land and registered in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).

The cash assistance was given in a simple program last June 12, 2020 at the Municipal Covered Court which was attended

by Governor Edwin Jubahib, DA 11 Regional Director Ricardo M. Oñate Jr., Engr. Elmer Degorio, Municipal Administrator Atty.

Elisa Evangelista-Lapina, Vice-Mayor Gabriel Eric Estela, Councilor Eduardo Llorente who heads the Committee on Agriculture and other municipal and provincial officials.

Vergeire said there should also be more laboratories licensed to operate in the country. From the

current 59 labs, the DOH plans to increase number to 60 to 65 labs by end of July. (PNA)

Pacquiao has once again become a popular dream-fight target following his 2019 performances, especially against the erstwhile-undefeated Keith Thurman.

Pacquiao, who was older than Thurman by a full decade during their July encounter, showed that he could still compete with the division’s best as he outboxed and outpointed the American for 12 rounds to capture the WBA (Super) Welterweight Championship.

Arum believes however, that the Thurman win can’t be considered a barome-

ter for Pacquiao’s performance.

“I know he fought Keith Thurman, who had lost his desire to fight and had been out so long, but he would have a real test against Terence Crawford or Errol Spence, guys like that,” Arum stated.

“Maybe he could beat them, I don’t know. He thinks he can, but to go up any higher would be silly,” he added.

Arum previously discussed a possible welterweight superfight between Pacquiao and Crawford and hopes to be able to bring that to the Middle East.

“I am happy for Eumir. Now there is no more hindrance for his desire to turn professional. We wish him the best, and if Eumir is willing and able when the Olympics come around, we will gladly welcome him to the lineup,” Vargas said in a separate statement.

ABAP secretary general Ed Picson said “this is the happy compromise we were looking for and

now that PSC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez and Deputy Executive Director Guillermo Iroy Jr. have reportedly come out with the assurance, we are relieved.

We thank Comm. Mon and Atty. Iroy for stepping up to the plate for Eumir.”

Marcial has yet to decide if he will fully turn pro, but remains keen on giving the Philippines its first Olympic gold next year in Tokyo. (PNA)

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NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 57 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2020

DOH aims to test 1.5% of population by end of July

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he Department of Health (DOH) is aiming to test 1.5 percent of the Philippine population for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) by the end of July.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the agency plans to maximize the country’s testing capacity which is currently at 50,000 per day. Currently, laboratories are only able to conduct 10,000 to 11,000 tests per day.

“Mayroon na ho tayong strategies na ini-employ

(We are employing strategies) for these things para po magkaroon tayo nang stable na outputs (so that we can have stable outputs) per day and hopefully we can reach this goal of having 1.5 percent of the population tested by the end of July,” she said in a virtual presser in Malacañang.

To be able to maximize the testing capacity, Vergeire said there should be an increase in samples submitted to laboratories.

FDOH, P9

1, 280 Tomasino rice farmers get P6.4 aid amid COVID-19 pandemic

Sky offers safe customer service

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KY subscribers can continue to expect to get safe customer service, as most of the country eases into a new normal.

As a top priority, SKY is strictly implementing safety measures during inhome services. Before any visit is done, SKY service technicians will call the subscriber first to make sure no one in the household is ill. Only a two-man team is assigned to every home so that one can work inside the subscriber’s home while one can simul-

taneously work outside to ensure proper physical distancing and less social interaction. Both of them will be wearing PPEs and other protective gear.

In SKY business centers, on the other hand, only a limited number of people will be allowed inside at any given time.

Upon entry, customers will be required to go through

thermal scanning and answer a symptoms questionnaire. Inside, physical distancing will be observed while plastic barriers are installed at the service desk. Sanitation and disinfection procedures will be conducted before and after every transaction.

Meanwhile, SKY subscribers are encouraged to continue managing their accounts digitally through SKY’s official website (mysky.com.ph/myaccounts) and the mySKY app (mysky.com.ph/app),

pay via digital payment partners (mysky.com. ph/digitalpayment), seek troubleshooting guides on its website (mysky.com. ph/help), and contact SKY through its webform (mysky.com.ph/contact-us).

These protocols are put in place to safeguard the health and safety of SKY subscribers, employees and business partners.

Subscribers can learn more about these safety measures as they visit www.mysky.com.ph/safetyprocedures and bit.ly/ skybranchreopen.

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ANTO TOMAS, Davao del Norte (June 16, 202)— A total of 1, 280 rice farmers here have received the cash assistance under the Department of Agriculture's - Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) Program, an official said Tuesday.

Mayor Ernesto Evangelista said the cash assistance amounting to P6.4 million was intended to provide the necessary assistance to the rice farmers affected by the implementation of the rice tariffication law.

“This is timely because our rice farmers have been affected by RA 11203. I made this request as timely as possible because of our COVID-19 pandemic situation. I hope the amount

that will be given to them would improve their economic conditions amid the current situation we are in,”Evangelista said.

Evangelista said his administration will be closely coordinating with DA through its local counterpart —the Municipal Agriculturist’s Office (MAGRO)—to speedily deliver the cash assistance program to the affected farmers.

He also said that there will be another batch of cash assistance beneficiaries that will receive P5,000. Each farmer received ₱5,000 financial support for their farm inputs, food, or anything they need for their families.

Meanwhile, Engr. Elmer

F1, 280, P9

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 57 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2020

11

Gensan pug arrives in Las Vegas for June 16 fight

“M

agic” Mike Plania of General Santos City arrived in Las Vegas, Nevada for his very important fight against American Joshua Greer Jr. at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on June 16 in a closed-door fight.

Plania (23-1, 12 KOs) will be the first Filipino to participate in a sporting event since the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) lockdown. He arrived together with trainer Moro Fernandez of Miami.

They are accompanied by assistants Ramon Falgui and Franco Chocano.

The 23-year-old Plania comes in from an eightfight winning streak. In his last fight, Plania outpointed Giovanni Gutierrez of Nicaragua last December in Miami.

His manager JC Manangquil, however, was not able to join them in Las Vegas due to the unavailability of flight.

Manangquil will only be watching the fight on TV on Wednesday at 10 a.m.

Greer (22-1-1, 12 KOs) is currently the WBO no.

1 and the WBC no. 7 contender. (PNA)

Mike Plania

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial in file photo.

Baldwin clears air with PBA

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teneode Manila University coach Tab Baldwin sought a meeting with PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial in the wake of his commentary against the league in a podcast last Thursday.

The New Zealander-American, who coaches the Ateneo University in the UAAP and listed as an

assistant coach for the TNT KaTropa, drew the ire of PBA coaches and officials as well as the Basketball

Arum on Pacquiao vs GGG: Too dangerous

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dd Top Rank Boxing boss Bob Arum to the list of people who aren’t too keen on seeing Manny Pacquiao go up to 160-pounds.

The former longtime Pacquiao promoter shared his thoughts on the rumours of the Filipino eight-division boxing world champion wanting to possibly rule over a ninth weight class and challenge reigning IBF and IBO Middleweight World Champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin.

“It’s a stupid fight,” Arum told Daily Mail UK's sports arm Sportsmail. 'I know Golovkin appears to be over the hill, but it’s a fight that could be very dangerous for Pacquiao.”

At 38-years of age, Kazakhstan’s Golovkin (401-1, 35 KO) isn’t much younger than the 41-year old Pacquiao, but what

makes ‘GGG’ a very dangerous matchup for the smaller Pinoy is his size and his power.

While Pacquiao may possess a speed advantage, Golovkin has a tremendous chin and his knockout power is likely unlike anything that Pacquiao has seen in his career.

Arum adds that even at welterweight, Pacquiao is already on the smaller side.

“He isn't even a welterweight really let alone a middleweight. His best fighting weight is 140, at 147 I think he’s pretty much outsized by all the good welterweights,” said Arum.

Pacquiao’s long-time coach and trainer Freddie Roach also expressed his concerns about the Filipino boxing icon going up to 160-pounds.

FARUM, P9

Coaches Association of the Philippines for his comments that dwell on the league’s format, its coaches and officiating.

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial deemed his comments detrimental to the league.

“I feel bad that has happened and that is not my intention,” said Baldwin, who was apologetic to the league chieftain.

Marcial gave Baldwin the opportunity to explain his side in a virtual meeting on Monday. Also present in the conference were PBA deputy commissioner Eric Castro and league legal counsel Atty. Melvin Mendoza.

In the podcast ‘Coaches Unfiltered’ the Samahang Baskebol ng Pilipinas program director categorically said the PBA’s single-im-

port conference is a ‘big mistake’.

He also said PBA coaches are tactically immature and accused the PBA referees of giving all of the rules latitude to imports.

Baldwin said he gave his commentary when asked ‘what surprised me when I first came to the Philippines’.

He told the commissioner his comments were

taken out of context.

The 62-year-old Baldwin also serves as the program director for the Philippine national team program. Before taking on the Ateneo head coaching post, he led Gilas Pilipinas to a silver medal in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship.

A veteran of international basketball, Baldwin steered New Zealand to the 2004 Olympic Games.

Bob Arum thinks it is dangerous for Manny Pacquiao to fight reigning IBF and IBO Middleweight World Champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin.

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 57 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2020

FULL SUPPORT Olympic-bound Eumir Felix Marcial (File photo)

PSC backs Olympic-bound Marcial despite plans to go pro

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he Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) reassured its commitment to support Olympic-bound Eumir Felix Marcial even if he is now considering turning professional.

Rumors became rife that the PSC may not anymore keep on supporting Marcial after his plans to follow the footsteps of fellow national team pugilist Charly Suarez became known.

But on Monday, Deputy Executive Director Guillermo Iroy and Commissioner Mon Fernandez debunked the rumors as they told Marcial that the PSC remains fully supportive of him.

“Agad naman ang naging tugon nina PSC deputy executive director Atty. Guillermo Iroy at commissioner Ramon Fernandez na nagbigay ng katiyakan ng kanilang 100 percent support hindi lang ng aking kampanya kundi ng lahat ng ating Olympians (The response of PSC deputy executive director Guillermo Iroy and commissioner Ramon Fernandez was quick, and they gave assurance not just to me but also to the other Olympians of their 100 percent support),” Marcial said in a statement on Monday.

Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) president Ricky Vargas, meanwhile, expressed gladness that Marcial will still get some backing from the PSC.

FFULL, P9