Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 60 | Saturday, June 20, 2020

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Extraction kits for COVID-19 in SPMC near exhaustion STORY ON PAGE 2

A passenger from Cebu undergoes health screening upon arrival at the Port of Cagayan de Oro, the main gateway from the Visayas of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) of Davao Region and other southern provinces of Mindanao.

Passenger vessels plying the Cebu-Cagayan de Oro sea route have ceased operations after Cebu City reverted from General Community Quarantine (ECQ) to Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) as advised by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases. Edge Davao

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VOL.13 ISSUE 60 • SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2020

RUNNING LOW Extraction kits for COVID-19 in SPMC near exhaustion

By MAYA M. PADILLO outhern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) said it has enough supply of the COVID-19 real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT -PCR) test kits. The problem is, it is running low on extraction kits.

S Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año clarifies that only Cebu City, and not the whole Central Visayas region, has

to get two negative swab tests for us we can say that the patient has fully recovered. For short admission the factors because the patient is young and no co-existing diseases compared to those elderly and vulnerable na medyo matagal ang recoveries nila,” he said.

Meantime, SPMC as part of the solidarity trial of four off-label drugs to help cure COVID-19 has six patients enrolled for the said trial wherein SPMC is using the Hydroxychloroquine and Lopinavir drugs.

Former SPMC chief of hospital and now Health Department Undersecretary for Special Concerns Dr. Leopoldo Vega, said he has yet to receive the results of the trial.

Last March 13, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched an international randomized and adaptive clinical trial “Solidarity” to test the safety and effectiveness of the said four off-label drugs in

For RT-PCR test for COVID-19, the extraction kits are needed for getting swab samples on genetic material from individuals to test for infection of the virus.

Dr. Ricardo Audan, chief of medical professional staff of SPMC, said the state-run hospital still has 37,000 RT-PCR. However, its extraction kits might only last up to two weeks.

“Ang aming problema ay sa extractors as this has something to do with consumables. As of June 18 it can cater up to two weeks.

As of this time, we can process the swab test for two weeks with the remaining extraction kits,” he said.

Audan said DOH is con-

sistently providing SPMC with extraction kits.

As of June 17, 2020, there are 92 COVID-19 patients admitted at SPMC of which 28 are confirmed positive. For SPMC employees particularly the frontliners, SPMC has tested 2, 442 employees with 2,247 results and 195 with results still pending.

There are 76 patients admitted in the different COVID-19 facilities of which 73 are COVID-19 positive cases.

“The shortest admission is two to three days and the longest admission is month. Before we discharged the patients there must be two negative swab test results. SPMC still need

rector in Davao Region Alex Roldan announced in the One Davao on COVID19 Virtual Presser that the Anti-Terrorism Bill which is now pending the approval of President Rodrigo Roa-Duterte has received full support from all the local chief executives in the region. “ Dakung kalipay namo sa DILG nga ang mga LCEs diri sa region nakakuha ug draft sa bill ug mihatag sa ilahang full support. ( We are glad in the DILG that our LCEs in the region

pressed full support to the bill.),” said Roldan.

The DILG official urged the public to read the bill and not just listen to the opinion thrown by progressive groups especially questioning its constitutionality.

Roldan said that people should give the bill a chance as provisions are actually balanced and the public need not fear as even government authorities are given heavier sanctions once they are proven to have wrongly ap-

Roldan also stressed that this bill once enacted into law will spur and strengthen the campaign of the government against local insurgency. “ Kini muengganyo sa atong mga igsoon nga naa sa bukid, ang mga rebelde, nga munaog kay duna na silay pagsalig sa istrikto nga balaod. ( This bill will encourage our leftist brothers and sisters to surrender and cooperate with the government since they now trust the strict laws of the country.)

support to the ATB is Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte who highlighted that with the passing of the bill, “we can better protect the lives of the Filipino people from an enemy that does not have any regard for life, that only has death and destruction on their minds.”

She further called on everyone to continue to be vigilant and do their part in establishing and nurturing a Culture of Security in the city and in the country.

(PIA XI/FGM)

tion on Health Secretary Francisco Duque II and other health officials has taken a toll on the morale of the Department of Health staff, a DOH spokesperson said.

“Yung morale talaga ay bumaba dahil syempre nakikita natin na talaga namang nagtatrabaho ang ating mga kawani tapos ito nga merong ganito,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told reporters Friday morning.

(We really have low morale because as you can see, our people are really working and then this happened.)

The Ombudsman on Wednesday announced that it will be investigating Duque and other DOH officials for their lapses in handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

such as accusations of overpriced test kits and equipment. However, the Ombudsman also complained that their investigators were given the “runaround by some DOH officials and personnel by referring us from one department or office to another.”

Vergeire pointed out that in the last 2 years, the DOH has been handling various health crises, from the measles, dengue and polio outbreaks last year to the Taal eruption and the COVID-19 pandemic this year.

“Napakalaking kalungkutan ang inabot ng ating mga tauhan ng DOH nung narinig natin na bigla tayong iniimbestigahan ng Ombudsman at nagkakaroon pa ng allegations na ito,” she said.

(Our people at DOH

ing investigated by the Ombudsman.)

She said they are hoping that the government would work as a collective whole and that it won’t be “divisive,” especially when it is handling a pandemic.

NO LEAVE OF ABSENCE Asked if Duque will take a leave of absence during the investigation, as suggested by a senator, Vergeire said there was no need for that.

“Hindi pa natin nakikita 'yung pangangailangan para mag leave si Secretary Duque para doon sa imbestigasyon na isinasagawa ng Ombudsman,” she said.

(We have not yet seen the need for Secretary Duque to take a leave of absence for the investigation being done by the Ombudsman.)

Vergeire revealed that

cation from the Ombudsman about the investigation although they are already preparing for it and are ready to cooperate.

She said those saying that the undersecretaries can just do the work of Duque should understand that they need his leadership.

“We have our full support to the Secretary and we still think he should be retained,” she said.

She also dismissed rumors that some employees have left the DOH over the controversy.

REQUESTS COMPLIED WITH Vergeire insisted that they were able to give the Ombudsman the information they requested back in March.

She added they have no

reverted to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). Edge Davao

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Pinoys urged to be ‘agents Anti-terror bill gets support of all LCEs: DILG 11 chief and Local Gov- got and read the draft of prehended individuals and One of the Davao Reof genuine transformation’ nterior ernment Regional Di- the bill and they later ex- violated laws. gion LCEs who expressed

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alacañang on Friday enjoined all Filipinos to emulate the country’s national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, and become “agents of genuine transformation” to make the Philippines a “better” nation.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made the call as the entire country commemorates the 159th birth anniversary of Rizal.

“The Palace joins the entire Filipino nation in celebrating Jose Rizal's 159th birth anniversary,” Roque said in a press statement.

“We ask our people, the youth in particular, whom our beloved hero referred to as the ‘hope for our future,’ to take inspiration from his life and emulate his principles to be agents of genuine transformation for a better Philippines.”

Rizal was born in Calamba, Laguna on June 19, 1861.

Rizal remains a nationalist icon in the Philippines for helping the country make a move to achieve independence from Spanish

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Ombudsman probe vs Duque takes toll on the morale of DOH: Vergeire Davao Region to get Php 103.8n Office of the OmDuque has long been were really saddened when they have not yet even remillion for Rice Resiliency Project budsman investiga- under fire for various issues we heard that we were be- ceived a formal communi-

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he Department of Agriculture is allocating P103.8 million to Davao Region for the Rice Resiliency Project.

Around 100.9- million pesos will be for fertilizers and 2.8 million pesos will be for rice seeds under the project. The RRP is one of the projects under the DA’s Plant, Plant, Plant Program which is being allocated with a P34-billion supplemental budget.

Davao Region’s P103.8 million is part of the P8.5 billion earmarked for the RRP, whose aim is to increase the country’s rice self-sufficiency from the current 87% to 93%.

According to Agriculture Sec. William Dar, the RRP will encourage farmers to plant more rice right after the current dry season.

The DA will provide quality

seeds, fertilizers and appropriate technical assistance.

Noel Provido, information officer of DA-XI said the RRP in the Davao region will cover around 42,100 rice farmers. Of this number of rice farmers, around 25, 263 are Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund beneficiaries while 16, 837 are not included in the RCEF but are beneficiaries of hybrid and inbred seeds under the High Yielding Technology Adoption (HYTA), model farms, and seed reserve projects.

For RCEF beneficiaries, farmers will buy two bags of fertilizers and will get two bags of urea fertilizers for free. For HYTA beneficiaries, the farmers will buy two bags of fertilizers, they will get three bags of urea fertilizers for free.

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VOL.13 ISSUE 60 • SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2020

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

Barangay leaders of Labo-labo-1 in the municipality of Datu Hoffer Amptuan in Maguindanao meet with humanitarian workers of Islamic Relief Philippines on Tuesday to discuss how community development work, which had been stalled for three months, can proceed amid the COVID-19 scare. Many of the NGOs in Mindanao

suspended their operations due to the pandemic and are just slowly returning to the grind under the Modified General Community Quarantine. MindaNew sphoto by JULES L. BENITEZ

DOH 11 says COVID-19 A patients recovering faster

53K repatriated OFWs reunite with families: DOLE

By MAYA M. PADILLO he regional office of the Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said it has seen faster recoveries among COVID-19 patients with majority of them asymptomatic or without noticeable symptoms of the illness.

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“Karamihan sa cases ngayon ay asymptomatic.

Mas mabilis din ang recoveries ngayon kasi asymptomatic sila. Kung may symptoms man two to three days lang ang admission. It means we can actually manage the patients at ang load ng viral infection nila is less probably be-

cause of the precautionary and preventive measures implemented are successful,” said Dr. Lenny Joy Rivera, assistant regional director of DOH 11, in a virtual presser.

As of June 17, 2020, there were cumulatively 439 total COVID-19 cases since the start of the pan-

demic until the present in Davao Region including 118 active cases further segregated as 96 asymptomatic, 15 mild, five severe, and two critical. DOH 11 also reported 290 recoveries and 31 deaths.

The distribution of cases per province showed Davao del Norte with 27 cases, 16 recoveries and four deaths; Davao City has 364 cases, 243 recoveries and 26 deaths; Davao de Sur has 18 cases, 12 recoveries and zero deaths; Davao Oriental has 20 cases, three recoveries and zero death; and Davao Occidental has four cas-

es, one recovery and one death.

Meanwhile, there are a total of 12,869 specimens processed in different laboratories in the region with 792 tested positive with COVID-19. This includes the specimens that were taken from the patients twice.

“We are doing activities like active case findings and also test individuals who have history of exposure particularly that of the health workers who are directly and indirectly giving treatment to COVID-19 patients. Even close contacts were tested,” Rivera said.

Stranded Individuals (LSIs) in Lanao del Sur, and three Returning Overseas Filipino Workers (ROFWs) and one LSI from Maguindanao,” said BIATF spokesperson Mohammad Asnin Pendatun.

Pendatun said the surge in Covid-19 cases was particularly brought about by the influx of homecoming LSIs and ROFWs during the past two weeks under the government’s “Hatid Tulong” program.

With the sudden increase of Covid-19 cases in the region, Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan, BARMM health

minister, reminded local government units (LGUs) to be more vigilant in monitoring and addressing the rising number of Covid-19 positive cases in their respective areas.

“While the BARMM supports the government's Hatid Tulong program, proper coordination among the LGUs is necessary,” Dipatuan said.

Dipatuan also lamented that some residents still violate community quarantines and do not abide by the travel restrictions imposed by their local governments.

"We appeal to everyone, especially those who travel by land to pass through the protocol, you cannot just go back to your communities without coordination with the LGUs," he said.

So far, he said MOHBARMM was only able to document 150 LSIs who were brought back to their communities through a sweeper flight earlier this month.

"We have to ask for the law enforcers' assistance to protect our health workers because we have reports of harassments towards our

BIATF urges tighter measures after surge in Covid-19 cases

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fficials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) have called for tighter health protocol measures after a sudden increase in the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) positive cases in the region.

The region currently has 72 total confirmed cases, the BIATF reported during a press briefing here Thursday. Of the total cases, 56 are active cases, 12 have recovered and four died.

"Seven new cases included three Locally

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round 53,000 repatriated overseas Filipino workers are now with their families in their respective provinces.

During the send-off ceremony for some 200 migrant workers at the Paranaque Integrated Exchange (PITX) on Thursday, Labor Silvestre Bello III also vowed to bring repatriated OFWs to their respective homes within five days upon their arrival in the country.

“In compliance with President Duterte’s order to facilitate the swift return of our displaced workers from abroad to their families, we are now sending them home in just five days

maximum after they reach our ports,” Bello said in a statement.

The 200 OFWs at the PITX are among around 12,000 migrant workers who went through the faster and more convenient registration, testing, and transport process adopted by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to provide them timely and appropriate service.

He added that an average of 200 to 300 OFWs daily are sent home to their provinces via the fasttracked system.

Bello said they will continue to upgrade government service to migrant

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PCOO chief hopes Pinoys use intelligence in fight vs. Covid-19

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residential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar on Friday expressed hope that Filipinos would use their intelligence and strength to help the country succeed in its battle against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

In a press statement, Andanar said Filipinos should follow in the footsteps of Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippines’ national hero, by showing love for the country.

“Today, as we face the threat of an unseen enemy in this pandemic, like Dr. Jose Rizal, may we utilize our intelligence in our fight against Covid-19 and may we find the strength

of heart to continue on our path to recovery from challenges,” he said.

As of Thursday, the Philippines has recorded 27,779 confirmed Covid-19 cases.

Andanar made the remark as he joined the entire nation in celebrating the 159th birth anniversary of Rizal.

Rizal, who was born on June 19, 1861, is considered a nationalist icon in the Philippines because of his initiatives for peaceful reforms that eventually helped the country gain independence from Spain.

His advocacy, however, cost him his life after being executed in Bagumbayan,

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 60 • SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2020

Container vessels are docked at Sasa Port in Brgy. Sasa, Davao City. The Chinese Consulate General in Davao has recently organized an online meeting with the public and private sectors in Davao City and discussed measures of economic recovery such as to provide policy on connectivity to ease import and export of locally produced products. Edge Davao

DOF chief to Pinoys: Continue investing in gov’t securities T

BSP: Drop in remittances to pull down GDP by 0.4%

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inance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has urged Filipinos to continue investing in government securities not only to benefit from the yields, but also help in the country’s program to lift the economy.

In his speech during the consolidated draw for the first and second quarter of the first-ever Premyo Bonds Thursday, Dominguez said this particular debt security has several results, namely allowing the government to increase domestic borrowing over external fund sources, protecting retail investors from illicit investment

schemes, and supporting the government’s financial inclusion bid.

He said proceeds of this issuance boost the government’s funds and address budget gaps, especially now that there is a big need to spend on the programs towards addressing the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

“Investment in govern-

ment bonds such as this one will help us cover our deficits brought about by the emergency and prepare our economy for recovery.

Because of the fiscal discipline we have exercised over the past few years, the Philippine government found financial strength in the midst of a global health, and now economic, crisis,” he added.

Drawn during the event were 200 winners of PHP20,000 cash, 30 winners of PHP100,000 cash, and two winners of a house and lot and PHP1 million cash each.

Dominguez urged the winners to use their prizes

to start small businesses and reinvest in government securities.

“Doing so will help us fund our Covid-19 response measures and create new jobs to replace those temporarily lost as the health emergency set back our economic growth.

Investments that will lead to employment opportunities will be the key drivers in our economic recovery,” he said.

He added the government “is doing its best and its utmost to protect our people’s health while at the same time preparing our economy for a strong rebound.” (PNA)

lion as of last year.

The bulk or 66.3 percent of which were sourced from domestic fund sources while the balance of 33.7 percent came from foreign fund sources.

Lambino said the government continues to post improvement on its debt-to-GDP ratio, a plus on the country’s credit rating which recently was upgraded to A-level by the Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCRA).

He said while the government continues to borrow to fund its program to

fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, the borrowings will not be done irresponsibly.

Lambino said economic managers are firm on keeping the debt-to-GDP levels to within the 50-percent range.

“Iyan po ay naglalagay sa atin sa kalagitnaan ng ating mga peer countries so we want to stay in that area. (This brings us in the middle among peer countries so we want to stay in that area),” he added.

The government has formulated a four-pillar

Covid-19 response program, amounting to PHP1.7 trillion.

This will be funded by government savings, funds gathered from lesser priority programs of the various government agencies, and borrowings.

From the Asian Development Bank (ADB) alone, the government recently secured a USD500-million loan for the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), and Covid-19 program and a USD200-million loan

Gov’t keeps debt-to-GDP ratio within 50%

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he Philippine government will ensure the share of government debt-to-total output will not exceed 50 percent, Department of Finance (DOF) Assistant Secretary Jose Antonio Lambino II said Thursday.

During a Palace briefing, Lambino said the debtto-gross domestic product (GPD) ratio of the country declined to 39.6 percent as of end-2019.

The data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed that government debt reached PHP7.73 tril-

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he Philippine economy is expected to weaken by 0.4 percent this 2020 amid the expected 5-percent contraction in remittances due to the pandemic, but a 4-percent rebound is expected in 2021.

In a virtual briefing Thursday, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno said the projected drop of inflows from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) this year is based on the projected job losses and repatriation of workers.

He explained the 0.4-projected slowdown of the economy is a rough computation since their forecasts “are subject to review again because we really don’t know the extent of the pandemic and what’s the outcome in the host countries.”

Diokno said the contraction forecast on remittances was based on the assumption that about 200,000 to 300,000 OFWs, mostly working on tourism-related services, will lose their jobs.

To date, less than 50,000 OFWs have been repatriated, he said.

“But as you know there are many Filipinos who are in the medical sector like nurses and doctors and looking forward, I think, we should continue to train medical workers here in the Philippines so that maybe in the next pandemic we’ll have a lot of Filipino

workers abroad and also working here in the Philippines,” he added.

The original remittances growth projection for this year is an expansion of 3 percent but monetary officials changed this to 2 percent on expectations that there will be lesser inflows from Europe and the US on account of the pandemic.

Diokno said they later changed the already revised projection to -5 percent after citing the job losses of sea-based workers or those working in the cruise ships and cargo ships.

Meanwhile, he is confident that the country will not be included in the “gray list” of the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which, in turn, will affect remittance inflows.

Diokno said the pandemic has resulted in the extension of the period for the country to comply with the deadline to address the gaps discovered in the country’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing system.

FATF, on its Mutual Evaluation Report (MER) published in October 2019, gave the government 12 months to implement amendments on the Human Security Act (HSA) to prevent the country’s inclusion in the gray list, which indicates a deficiency in a financial system that makes it prone to money laundering and terrorist financing.

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ECONOMY 5

ADB revises this year’s PH economic forecast to -3.8%

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apan-led lender Asian Development Bank (ADB) expects the Philippine economy to post a wider contraction this year, a reversal from the 2% growth it projected in April, as the slowdown in consumption and investment was wider than initially expected.

In its Asian Development Outlook Supplement released Thursday, the ADB said it now expects the local economy to post a -3.8% growth this year.

ADB in April said the Philippines could still register a growth of 2.0% in 2020, which was already slower than the 6.0% recorded in 2019.

“The forecast for 2020 is revised down to 3.8% contraction because household consumption and investment have slowed more than expected,” the ADB said.

“The contraction in the global economy will continue to drag external

trade, tourism, and remittances,” it added.

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) indicates that the gross domestic product (GDP) posted a -0.2% growth in the first quarter, the first contraction since 1998.

Meanwhile, economic managers said the GDP is likely to shrink further to 2.0% to 3.4% this year.

Despite this, ADB sees a strong economic recovery next year, driven mainly by the resumption of stalled projects under the Build, Build, Build.

“The forecast for 2021 is maintained at 6.5%, supported by public infrastructure spending and anticipated recovery in consumer and business confidence,” it said.

In the same report, ADB said it expects inflation to clock in 2.2% this year and 2.4% in 2021, both within the government’s target range of 2.0-4.0%.

BPI eyes issuing local bonds to help Covid-19-hit MSMEs

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yala-led Bank of the Philippines Islands (BPI) is aiming to raise funds for COVID-19hit micro, small, and medium businesses through local bonds issuance.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Thursday, BPI said the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has confirmed that its planned issuance of the “country’s first” COVID Action Response (CARE) Bonds qualifies as social bonds under the ASEAN Social Bonds Standards in the Philippines.

“In recognition of the significant contribution of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to the Philippine economy, and as a direct response to their needs as one of the sectors hardest hit by the global pandemic, proceeds from the issuance will be used to finance or refinance eligible MSMEs under the Bank’s recently established Sustainable Funding Framework,” BPI

said.

The bank said it will soon release further announcements on the planned BPI CARE Bonds.

MSMEs account for a relatively small percentage of total bank borrowings but a very large percentage of total nationwide employment. Loans to MSMEs go a long way to keeping Filipinos working. To support MSMEs is to embrace the Bayanihan spirit,” BPI president and CEO Cezar Consing said.

The planned offering supplements BPI’s efforts to support the recovery of MSMEs, according to the bank.

BPI said it also conducted initiatives such as the loan payment deferral program that allowed businesses to delay payments without interest charges, waiver of fees for online funds transfer transactions, and discussions with state-owned Philippine Guarantee Corporation to refine its loan products for qualified clients.

Bank bad loans remain low despite pandemic

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he level of soured loans continues to remain manageable despite the economic disruption as a result of the community quarantine put in place to fight the rise of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections.

In a virtual press briefing Thursday, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno said the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio as of last April stood at 2.3 percent, a tad higher than the previous quarter’s 2.1 percent to 2.2 percent.

“This is not as bad, as I mentioned earlier, during the Asian financial crisis,” he said, adding the figures are based on preliminary

data.

Preliminary central bank data show that as of end-April this year, outstanding loans of universal and commercial banks (U/KBs), excluding placements in the BSP’s reverse repurchase (RRP) facility, rose 12.7 percent, slower than the previous month’s 13.6 percent.

NPL ratio stood at 2.3 percent while NPL coverage ratio stood at 94.3 percent.

Gross NPLs reached PHP191.96 billion from PHP187.98 billion in the previous month.

Diokno said total loan portfolio (TLP) rose by 7.8 percent year-on-year

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A hauler truck carrying electric tricycles traverses along the national highway in Bukidnon on Thursday night. Electric tricycles are popular means of transportation in various municipalities of the province. Edge Davao

Anti-terror law may keep PH off money laundering grey list: Diokno

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he Philippines is not likely to return to the global money laundering watchlist if the controversial anti-terror bill is passed into law, a top official of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) claimed Thursday.

In a virtual briefing on Thursday, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno expressed confidence the country will not be included in the latest “grey list” of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

“I think because one of the requirements is the approval of the Anti-Terror Act, I’m confident that that will be signed into law by the President,” he said.

“I don’t think we’ll be on the grey list. I’m very positive that we will not be put on the grey list. As I said, I think we have complied with one of the most important requirements for the review of the anti-money laundering com-

pliance,” added Diokno.

The grey list consists of jurisdictions under increased monitoring by the FATF. Countries under such qualifications have committed to swiftly to resolve the identified strategic deficiencies within an agreed time frame.

To recall, the Philippines was removed from the grey list in in 2013, and averted the black list in 2012 after passing two key measures sought by the FATF. The measures passed include waiving the requirement for the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to inform suspected money launderers that their bank

deposits are being monitored; and the criminalization of giving money to known terrorists.

For the Philippines to remain out of the grey list, Diokno said, one of the requirements is the controversial anti-terror bill.

The measure is now awaiting only the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte, after the House of Representatives approved the measure on third and final reading last week.

However, several human rights groups have expressed alarm over certain provisions of the measure, which they said could be abused and effectively “dilute human rights safeguards.”

Members of the academe have also voiced their opposition to the measure, which they said would only bring additional burden to the people amid the COVID pandemic.

he ground handling firm that serving Cebu Pacific's flights is letting go of another batch of employees as the air transportation industry struggles to bounce back from the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

“With a heavy heart, we are left with no other recourse but to let go of 25% of our total workforce,” 1Aviation Groundhandling Services Corp. said in a statement.

“Their last day as employees will be on July 20, 2020,” the company said.

Sought for further details, 1Aviation head of Human Resources Gilbert Enriquez told GMA News Online that the 25% of the company’s close

to 5,000-strong workforce translates to over 1,000 employees to be retrenched.

Earlier, 1Aviation laid off over 400 probationary employees due to the impact of COVID-19.

In 2018, Cebu Pacific created 1Aviation after the Manila International Airport Authority refused to renew the contract of MIASCOR Groundhandling Corp. due to incidents of baggage theft.

CebuPac later sold the majority or 60% of 1Aviation to Jefferson Chengled Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions (PAGSS).

The service firm noted that the decline in demand for air travel and the resulting drop in the number

of routes and frequencies have directly impacted 1Aviation “since our core business is ground service support for the aviation industry.”

“To cope with the situation, we implemented cost-mitigation measures which include a freeze on hiring, key projects and capital expenditure; restricting overtime and deferment of salary increases. However, less demand for travel and fewer flights mean reduced need for ground support services,” it said.

“This unprecedented and uncertain situation with COVID-19 will continue to impact the aviation industry for many months ahead,” it added.

Citing forecasts, 1Avi-

Business groups have also spoken out against the bill, saying that the bill poses “a clear and present danger” to human rights.

Retired Supreme Court justice Antonio Carpio warned that enacting the bill into law would “permanently” put the Philippines a situation “worse than martial law.”

Carpio, National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines are among those who plan to file a petition at the high court against the bill once it becomes a law.

According to Diokno, the deadline for the measure to be passed has been pushed back to the next year.

“The development here is that as a result of the pandemic, the schedule for the deadline for us to comply has been moved from fourth quarter of 2020 to second quarter of 2021,” he said. ation said that it will take about two years before the aviation industry recovers from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Given this situation, it is clear that the company still needs to take more drastic measures to ensure its survival,” it said.

Moreover, 1Aviation said that since January this year, the COVID-19 pandemic has posed a challenge for the global aviation industry—with Philippine carriers being no exception.

“Over the past several months, COVID-19 has caused a decline in demand for travel, and the spread of the disease has prompted the imposition of quarantine and travel

CebPac's ground-handling company to lay off more than 1K employees

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FCEBPAC’S, P10

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 60 • SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2020

On criticisms due to his recent remarks that Vice President Leni Robredo should offer solutions to stop the Covid-19 pandemic: Be that as it may, this does not diminish the fact we acknowledge the contributions of the Vice President in the fight against Covid-19. We find it really unfortunate that Mr. Antonio Trillanes IV is sowing intrigue and division during this challenging time of Covid-19.

Let us not make an issue when there is none.

Presidential Spokesperson

Harry Roque

EDGEDAVAO

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 60 • SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2020

VANTAGE POINTS

7

JOHN CARLO B. TRIA MY TWO CENTS’

WHY INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING MATTERS Does infrastructure spending matter? The short answer? Yes, because we need to resuscitate the economy that has obviously been hit in recent months. Hopes of a V or U shaped recovery, where growth will pick up to the levels predicted by multilateral institutions will depend in great part on how much government will spend to pump prime the economy and get things going.

Why is this?

Infrastructure in particular, hires a lot of workers and local suppliers during the construction stage. Imagine the suppliers of sand, gravel, the

demand for cement and reinforcing bars (kabilya) equipment rental and of course, salaries and wages of engineers and laborers.

Imagine the local incomes that will rise as these supplies are met.

The infrastructure will also hire a lot of returning overseas Filipino engineers with experience in similar projects in the middle east, and other parts of Asia that also had their build build build years ago and are now reaping the benefits of infrastructure. Industry estimates reveal that the construction industry alone hires about 3.9 million workers as of 2019, expected to grow to 7.1

million over the next ten years. (https://www.pna. gov.ph/articles/1090371) Likewise, medium and long term economic goals of spreading opportunity to the regions will depend on infrastructure.

The short term benefit of this is why many multilateral institutions prescribe an infrastructure budget of 5% of Gross Domestic product per year. You can do the math.

In recent years, we have ramped up infrastructure spending to help meet this goal, and have engaged various lenders under better terms to help finance the projects. The recent A rating of the Japan Ratings

agency will help us lower interest rates on the loans we incur. It will make it easier and faster to borrow under better terms.

Apart from the nominal, or face value of the loans and budgets for infrastructure, the longer term multiplier effect of infrastructure cannot be denied. Better infrastructure ensure better movement of people and goods, lowering costs that are often incurred due to double handling of goods and other expenses such as demurrage, or waiting costs.

Better public infrastructure also encourages private developments to take place, such as new

developments, amplifying the opportunity even further for the hiring of local workers. The cities of Cebu, Iloilo, davao and Cagayan de Oro are places where you feel the development that takes root when better public infrastructure is built.

With the COVID 19 pandemic, the need to ensure better logistics is magnified further, as food from regions need to get to the urban centers in a quicker way than before.

This keeps prices stable for a public needing affordable food. Better infrastructure makes this happen.

For reactions: facebook.com/johntriapage

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

TO ERR IS HUMAN American inventor and businessman Thomas Alva Edison held a world record of 1093 patents for inventions.

Perhaps, greatest challenge was the development of a practical incandescent, electric light. Contrary to popular belief, he didn’t “invent” the lightbulb but rather he improved upon a 50-year-old idea.

In 1879, using lower current electricity, a small carbonized filament, and an improved vacuum inside the globe, he was able to produce a reliable, long-lasting source of light. The idea of electric lighting was not new, and a number of people had worked on, and even developed forms of electric lighting. But up to that time, nothing had been developed that was remotely practical for home use.

After experimenting more than 200 different substances, a colleague told him: “You have failed more than 200 times; why don’t you give up?” Edison replied, “Not at all. I have discovered more than 200 things that will not work. I will soon find one that will.”

After one and a half years of work, success was achieved when an incandescent lamp with a filament of carbonized sewing thread burned for thirteen and a

half hours. “All men make mistakes, but only wise men learn from their mistakes,” commented British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

“We gain wisdom from failure much more than from success. We often discover what will do, by finding out what will not do; and probably he who never made a mistake never made a discovery,” said Scottish author Samuel Smiles.

We must never overlook the untold benefits that can be derived from mistakes. A person should never hesitate to own he has been in the wrong, which is but saying in other words that he is wiser today than he was yesterday, because of his mistake.

You probably have heard the story of Acres of Diamonds told by Reverend Russell Conwell. If you haven’t yet, here’s the story: Although a farmer, Hafid was probably one of the richest men in Africa. He owned a large farm with fertile soil, herds of camels and goats, orchards of dates and figs.

Then, one day, a wandering holy man visited his farm and mentioned that huge fortunes were being made discovering and mining diamonds – fortunes greater than even Hafid’s.

This news captured Hafid’s attention. He inquired

of the holy man what diamonds were and where they could be found. The holy man said he wasn’t sure of all the details but he had heard that diamonds were usually found in the white sands of rivers that flowed out from valleys formed by V-shaped mountains.

Hafid, eager to increase his fortune, sold his farm, herds, and orchards. He placed his family in the care of someone else and set out to find his fortune. Hafid’s travels took him all over Africa. Finally, in deep despair he threw himself off a mountain and died a frustrated, broken, poor man.

End of the story? No, for Hafid never learned his lesson well. He made a mistake of selling his land to another farmer who was not so ambitious. One time, the farmer who bought Hafid’s farm noticed a pretty rock in the river while having his camels quenched their thirst. He took it home and put it on a shelf where the sun would strike it and splash rainbows of color across the room.

The same holy man came back to the farm. He was immediately startled by the rainbow of light from the rock. “That’s a diamond!” he said. He asked where it came from and the farmer told him he got it from the

river.

The two went to the river, which flowed out from a valley formed by a V-shaped mountain. And they found larger diamonds one after another. There were so many of them, large and small. The land, which Hafid sold in search for diamonds, was actually the land he was looking for.

I think from the said story, we can learn so many lessons from Hafid’s mistakes.

We should learn from his mistakes or else history will repeat itself. “Mistakes are a fact of life. It is the response to error that counts,” said Nikki Giovanni, one of the famous African-American poets. Don’t worry making mistakes. They are, to quote the words of John Bradshaw, “are our teachers; they help us to learn.”

Former American President Bill Clinton said, “If you live long enough, you’ll make mistakes. But if you learn from them, you’ll be a better person.” African-American author Haki Madhubuti agrees. “To maintain the ability to admit and grow from our mistakes rather than let them defeat us represents best the inner strength of a people,” he says.

Don’t worry about what other people will say about you and what you have done.

“Take chances, make mistakes,” urges American film actress Mary Tyler Moore.

“That’s how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave.”

Here’s an advice from another Hollywood actress, Cybill Shepherd: “We have to keep trying things we’re not sure we can pull off. If we just do the things we know we can do, you don’t grow as much. You gotta take those chances on making those big mistakes.”

“No matter what mistakes you may have made – no matter how you’ve messed things up – you still can make a new beginning,” said inspirational author Normal Vincent Peale. “The person who fully realizes this suffers less from the shock and pain of failure and sooner gets off to a new beginning.”

A doctor’s mistake is buried. A lawyer’s mistake is imprisoned. An accountant’s mistake is jailed. A dentist’s mistake is pulled.

A pharmacist’s mistake is dead. A plumber’s mistake is stopped. An electrician’s mistake is shocking. A carpenter’s mistake is sawdust.

A teacher’s mistake is failed.

A printer’s mistake is redone.

What about yours?

8 HEALTH EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 60 • SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2020

Alzheimer’s Disease: Invasion of Mind Snatchers

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO E never knew it was coming.

Four months after she turned 66, my grandmother, Modesta Tacio, started acting strange. She kept forgetting simple things like where she placed her keys, if she had eaten her breakfast or lunch, or if she already had paid the electric and water bills. “Don’t worry,” my aunt Lydia assured her. “Forgetfulness happens every now and then.”

W

However, such incidents kept on happening.

But we dismissed those peculiar events as part of getting old. As months went on, her forgetfulness became more apparent.

At one time, we were astonished when she could remember details from her childhood but not the present activities. In fact, she had a hard time remembering the names of her grandchildren. “What is your name again?” she often inquired.

The 1998 Christmas was unforgettable. Our family went to my grandmother’s house before midnight. This was a family tradition, which we observed since I was still a kid. Our house was only one block away from my grandmother’s. As usual, we sang Christmas carols and carried out some games. Five minutes before the clock struck midnight, we went to the table to eat the Noche Buena (food eaten during Christmas). I was completely astounded when my grandmother looked at me squarely and asked, “Who are you?”

When we returned home, I still wasn’t able to get the incident out of my mind. Being a medical journalist, I knew there was something wrong with my grandma. A day after Christmas, I talked with my father, Generoso Tacio, who is the eldest among the five siblings. After hearing my observation, he readily agreed.

That very week, we went to a hospital in Digos City, some 25 kilometers

away from our home. We stayed at the hospital for two days and then went home very frustrated. The doctor told us there was nothing wrong with my grandmother. But we knew there was.

A month later, I was reading an American magazine when I came across the story of an old man who kept forgetting things.

According to the article, written by his daughter, the old experienced depression and paranoia. Oftentimes, he was disoriented, confused and inattentive.

Sounds like my grandmother, I thought.

Thinking my grandmother may have the same problem, I suggested bringing her again to a hospital in Davao City. This time, I talked with the doctor – a neurologist – and told him about my observation. The doctor just nodded and he called in two other doctors to join him.

For the next five days, the three doctors conducted several tests. They conducted physical and psychological tests to eliminate other possible causes of my grandmother’s mental impairment. Blood tests and X-ray tests were likewise done. In between these tests, the doctors also interviewed some family members.

The finding of the doctors: Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately, my grandmother is not alone.

Marked by a devastating mental decline, Alzheimer’s strikes people over 60 and is now becoming an important illness among

adults in Asia. In the Philippines alone, 90,000 Filipinos have the disease that was named after Dr Alois Alzheimer who described it in 1907.

Alzheimer’s disease, we learned, has a gradual onset. Usually, it starts with subtle changes in memory function. “What comes first gets out last with the most recent memory getting lost first,” explains Dr. Simeon Marasigan, associate professor at the department of neurology and psychiatry of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila.

In some instances, the sufferer may exhibit abnormal behavior. “People suffering from Alzheimer’s may be unreasonable,” explains Dr. Victor Chong, a neurologist with special interest in dementia from the University Malaya Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

“For example, a husband with Alzheimer’s disease may often accuse the wife of infidelity.”

Although many people develop Alzheimer’s as they grow older, the disease is not a natural result of aging; it is an abnormal condition whose causes continue to be investigated. In fact, the definitive diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is only through autopsy.

As my grandmother’s disease progressed, so was her forgetfulness. She could no longer remember names, dates, and events.

In fact, when my aunt Aida Day – who lived in the United States for almost twenty years – came to visit us three years ago, their reunion was heart-wrenching. My aunt Aida had been away for almost twenty years and terribly missed her mother, so she hugged her so tightly when she saw her.

As expected, my grandmother failed to recognize her own daughter. “Why are you crying?” my bewildered grandmother asked my aunt who was already sobbing. “You know, one of these days, my daughter Aida will visit me. She has

never written to me for a long time now.”

After knowing that his mother was suffering from Alzheimer’s, my father decided to do something about it. First, he asked all the siblings to come to our house for dinner. Then, while eating, he presented the idea of finding someone from among themselves who would take care of their mother. “Our mother may be healthy but she is very sick,” he reminded them. And she’s alone since their father died a decade earlier.

“Alzheimer’s is a disease with no cure so we need someone to watch her,” my father told them as they went to the living room. I handed over each family member some leaflets and documents about the disease. Silence ensued as they read the information.

Thirty minutes thereafter, they discussed and argued.

After a thorough deliberation and brainstorming, they came up with a description of someone taking care of their mother: healthy, determined, tolerant, unmarried (as much as possible), and not so old.

My aunt Lydia fitted the criteria well. “That’s fine with me,” my aunt Lydia agreed.

Alzheimer’s disease is “a cataclysm” that “tests the human spirit” of caregivers like no other, wrote Sherwin B Nuland, a physician and author of the best-selling 1994 book How We Die. “During the first few months, I was in the state of shock watching my mother’s strange behavior,” my aunt Lydia admits. “I did not know what to do. It was a reversal of role. I am now taking care of my mother who used to take care of me.”

People with Alzheimer’s, we learned, get disoriented in time and no longer recognize the difference between night and day. So, during the night, when my grandmother is sound sleeping, my aunt

Lydia turns off the light slowly and moves without a sound. If my grandmother moves, my aunt would use a small flashlight enough for her to see if my grandmother is still in her bed. If my aunt happens to turn on the light accidentally, my grandmother would rise from her bed, stand up and start walking (thinking it is already morning).

Wandering is one of the most petrifying aspects of Alzheimer’s. At one time, having deprived of sleep the previous night, she took a quick nap. As she was sleeping, my grandmother came out of the house and went to the public market like she used to do before she was diagnosed with the disease. The public market was about one kilometer away from the house and on her way back, she became disoriented. Before she knew it, she was already lost.

We were panic-stricken when my aunt Lydia told us that my grandmother never came home that day. My father wanted to blame my aunt but I told him it won’t do any good. Instead, we should start searching for her now, I said.

Showing the picture of my grandmother to people we met, we inquired, “Have you seen this woman?” All of them replied negatively.

Exhausted, we went home without finding my grandmother. My aunt Lydia cried. “It’s my fault,” she decried. But we assured her that it wasn’t hers.

The following day, a friend of our neighbor told us that he had seen an old woman who bore a resemblance to my grandmother in New Clarin, a village some eight kilometers away from our town. “She might be the one you’re looking for,” he said.

After hearing the news, we immediately went to the aforementioned place.

Sure enough, we found my grandmother sleeping under a mango tree. She

wrapped herself with a blanket given by the owner of the farm. They invited her to spend the night with them at their house but she never said a word. Seeing his mother in such a manner, my father shed a tear as he embraced her. Haggard and very hungry, she managed to say: “I could no longer remember the road.”

As the disease advanced, it also started to take its toll in my aunt Lydia’s life. My grandmother was almost completely dependent on her in terms of eating (what kind of food to eat and what time to eat them) and hygiene (taking a bath, dressing, and going to the bathroom, among others). Enough is enough, my aunt told herself.

The task was very frustrating for her. After all, she used to go out with her friends before she accepted the task of watching my grandmother. Now, it was a different story. At one time, my aunt Lydia was very depressed but she denied it. She said there was nothing wrong with her. There were times she won’t talk to anyone. In some instances, she was irritable and infuriated. “What is happening to you,” asked my father.

She won’t say anything; instead she would just look at him.

We consulted a doctor and told him about our dilemma. He suggested that my aunt Lydia should be given a respite break.

And that was what we did.

If there were parties, especially a birthday party which my aunt Lydia used to attend, we let her go.

Two of my sisters would take turns in taking care of my grandmother.

“Caring someone with Alzheimer’s is indeed a big sacrifice,” my aunt Lydia admits now. “But people should see caregiving as a challenge. My mother may be suffering from Alzheimer’s but the disease cannot stop me from loving her.”

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 60 • SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

COMPETITIVE EDGE

9

An immersive opportunity:

MCM launches Digital Learning Bootcamp 2020

M

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10 EDGEDAVAO

RUNNING... FROM2

treating COVID-19, compared to standard of care.

The trial will be using four off-label drugs to patients with their consent.

These drugs are investigational antiviral Remdesivir,

antimalarial drug Chloroquine or Hydroxychloroquine, antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV Lopinavir with Ritonavir, and Lopinavir with Ritonavir plus Interferon beta-1a.

idea who will be investigated besides Duque.

She said the Ombudsman might have felt they were being given the runaround when they requested information which the DOH had to relay to the Research Institute for Tropical

Medicine.

The health official pointed out that it is part of their process.

She did not say what documents were requested by the Ombudsman but that they will release more information during the probe.

“Farmers will just present the receipts of the fertilizers they bought to claim their free fertilizers,” Provido said.

Farmers who are not covered by RCEF can avail up to two bags of inbred rice seeds. While farmers who chose hybrid seeds can avail up to two bags of hybrid rice seeds.

Provido reminded that the farmers must first regis-

ter under the RSBSA (Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture) to avail of these services. They can visit the Municipal Agriculture Office for registration.

Provido said the goal of the RRP and the whole DA Plant, Plant Plant Program is for food to be accessible, available and affordable to the public amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. (PIA/ RG Alama)

front-liners," Dipatuan said.

Meanwhile, the BIATF said that the prevailing implementation of the modified general community quarantine in BARMM will continue up to the end of this month.

Pendatun advised LGUs to continue following the minimum health standards such as safe physical dis-

tancing, wearing of face masks, regular handwashing, and use alcohol and hand sanitizers during the period.

He also reiterated the regional Darul Ifta’s reminder to the community to observe the 50 percent capacity rule in conducting prayers in the mosques.

(PNA)

workers as more of them are seen to be repatriated in the immediate future.

Top government officials led by Senator Richard Gordon, who is also the head of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), attended the event.

The PRC is in charge of the swab testing program for OFWs who lost their jobs because of the pandemic.

The lawmaker lauded

the DOLE for its relentless campaign to assist the migrant workers affected by the lockdowns abroad to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019.

‘I know Secretary Bebot (Bello). He has a big heart for our migrant workers,” Gordon said.

The repatriated OFWs are transported to their provinces via air, land, and sea. (PNA)

now known as Luneta, in Manila on Dec. 30, 1896.

Andanar said Rizal’s strong display of nationalism and patriotism “greatly contributed to our forefathers’ pursuit of justice, freedom, and independence against our colonizers.”

“Let us all continue to be inspired by the legacy left

by Dr. Jose Rizal. His brilliance, compassion, bravery, peaceful resistance, and above all, his selfless and wholehearted service to

our country,” he said.

Andanar also said he hopes that Rizal’s words would serve as an example to others to encourage others who may be hesitating to take the first step to pursue their goals.

“We can do this by having the initiative to take action. One can only realize the great deeds one is capable of if he or she responds to the call to do good and to serve, despite the odds,” he said. (PNA)

signed between the parties last April for Covid-19 program.

The government has signed a pact with the lender that allows the former to access up to USD1.5 billion in budgetary support for its Covid-19 response.

Other Covid-19-related borrowings include the

USD750-million from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the USD100-million loan from the World Bank (WB).

The government has a borrowing mix program of about 70-30 for this year, bulk of which will be sourced domestically.

(PNA)

Tour takes place in a safe environment will be para-

mount.” (Anadolu with reports from Xinhua)

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colonizers.

His influential works, including his novels “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo,” sparked the Filipino revolution against the Spaniards.

Rizal’s advocacy for reforms in the Philippines during Spain’s colonial rule led to his early death. He was convicted of sedition

and executed in Bagumbayan, now called Luneta, in Manila on Dec. 30, 1896.

Roque said Rizal’s life is a testament of “how a single person’s deep love for his country could spark the re-awakening of our forefathers' desire for freedom and change.”

“This occasion reminds us of Dr. Rizal's young life,

dedicated to service, which rings a bell in these challenging times,” he said.

Roque was elated that there are now modern-day heroes who are helping the country that is currently struggling due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

He was referring to the front-liners who have made

the ultimate sacrifice to stop the further spread of Covid-19 in the country.

“We are proud to see today modern-day heroes — our courageous front-liners — who rise up to the challenge and serve as beacons of hope to a people weary and fearful of the present global health scare,” Roque said. (PNA)

The deadline was pushed to February 2021 because of the pandemic.

Diokno is confident that the country’s compliance with international anti-money laundering policies will not be downscaled anew since the proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill has been submitted to Malacanang for the President’s signature.

“I don’t think we’ll be on

the gray list. I’m very positive that we will not be put on the gray list because, as I’ve said, we have, I think, complied with one of the most important requirements for the review of the anti-money laundering compliance,” he added.

FATF blacklisted the country in 2002 after noting that the Philippines lacked measures to prevent money laundering activi-

ties.

In September 2001, Republic Act 9160, otherwise known as the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001, was enacted into law and took effect the following month. This improved the country’s level of compliance.

In June 2012, FATF elevated the country to the gray list due to the enactment of the Anti-Money

Laundering Act (AMLA), otherwise known as the Republic Act 10168, that criminalizes terrorist financing as a stand-alone offense.

In 2017, the task force removed the Philippines from its watch list after the enactment of Republic Act 10927, which included casinos as among the covered institutions of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC). (PNA)

to PHP11 trillion as of end-April, and the growth is seen to be better in the coming months as the economy continues to open up.

He said banks’ capital adequacy ratio (CAR), a gauge of financial institutions’ financial health,

remains healthy as these remain compliant to the 10 percent level set by the BSP. Similarly, Lyn Javier, managing director of the BSP’s Policy and Specialized Supervision Sub-Sector, said they compared the results of the stress test

they conducted recently with the figures during the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

“During the Asian financial crisis, NPL reached around 18 percent and we’ve not reached that figure even with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said during the same

briefing.

Javier said they did not compare the results of the stress test with the situation during the global financial crisis in the previous decade because the Philippine economy was not strongly hit by the said financial crunch. (PNA)

restrictions in the Philippines and many other countries worldwide. The travel restrictions in the Philippines caused a virtual halt to all commercial passenger flights for over two months,” 1Aviation said.

“But even as passenger air travel has resumed with the easing of quaran-

tine and travel restrictions in the country, current operations [level] of Philippine carriers is a far cry from where it was as of end-2019,” it added.

Nevertheless, 1Aviation assured the affected employees that they “will be treated fairly and respectfully.”

“The welfare of affect-

ed employees will be taken cared of as we always do, with packages that are above what the law requires,” it said.

“We also assured them that they will be prioritized for hiring once the situation stabilizes and business picks up again,” it added.

The Air Carriers Asso-

ciation of the Philippines (ACAP) —comprised of Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, and Philippines AirAsia —has sought financial intervention from the government as the local aviation sector’s survival is in peril due to the disruption of air travel brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

tions staff, select members of the news media, player guests (once they are allowed on campus) and even some barbers and manicurists who are preapproved by the league.

Personnel in the rest of the tiers — everyone ranging from housekeepers and catering staff to team owners to members of the “broadcast compound” — will not be permitted to have close contact with anyone from the first two tiers, as the league seeks to minimize risk.

Failure to adhere to the protocols, according to the guide, can result in a warning, fine, suspension or dismissal from the campus.

Guests of players are also liable to be kicked out for violating the protocols.

MORE FROM THE NBA’S PROTOCOLS — Commissioner Adam Silver had floated the idea of restricting which coaches could sit on the bench, particularly referring to coaches who are older and at higher risk of the symptoms from the coronavirus. He backed off that statement soon after.

There appear to be no restrictions on who can travel to Orlando, unless the player or coach tests positive in the phases preceding the arrival or lives with someone who “recently had

COVID-19 or symptoms associated with COVID-19.”

— All players and team staff must wear face masks at all times on campus.

Well, sort of. If players are doing something that is not within 6 feet of someone else, masks are not required. The league lists examples like walking, swimming, “relaxing outside” and “watching a movie on an iPad.” — Players will not be allowed to shower at any of the ESPN arenas or facilities. That means no postgame showers — until players are back at their hotels.

— Disney staff members who are not staying on campus will not undergo the league’s testing regimen. Instead, they will be required by Disney to wear face coverings, as well as to maintain physical distancing. The league will aim to prevent Disney employees from being in contact with those involved with the NBA restart, unless required.

— The guide says “No one will be stopped from leaving the campus” but that players and staff should not do so unless there are “extenuating circumstances.” Among the places that players will be allowed to go: “Auxiliary sites — either on or off Dis-

ney property — that are secured by the NBA for approved use by NBA players or staff (e.g., a golf course).”

— If a player does leave the campus without permission and tries to reenter, he will be quarantined for at least 10 days.

— Players will not be allowed to spend time with one another in their hotel rooms.

— No sharing towels, clothing or deodorant. And players will also be advised to stop fiddling so much with their mouth guards.

— More from the hygiene department: The league wants players to cut down on all the high-fives, fist bumps and hugs. And to maintain at least 6 feet of distance from one another, at least when they’re not on the court.

— The league says it will make socially distant recreational activities available for players. Per the handbook: “Such activities are expected to include the provision of a game room or player lounge at each hotel (e.g., Ping-Pong, “NBA2K,” pool, dominoes, etc.), golf, swimming, fishing, the potential for other water sports, movie screenings, concerts, running trails, bike rides and other excursions.”

— Since physical distancing is difficult while

playing cards, the NBA specifically says players must wear face masks if they choose to play, say, poker.

They must throw away the deck of cards after the game has concluded.

— No caddies on the golf course.

— No sharing goggles or snorkels in the swimming pool.

— There will be a bonus of sorts for teams that survive the first round of the playoffs: guests. Each team that advances into the conference semifinals will have the option of reserving up to 17 additional hotel rooms for invited guests, and those guests can be anyone — spouses, children, friends, massage therapists — provided they fulfill a litany of “participation requirements” that range from signing waivers to undergoing rigid testing protocols. They must also quarantine both before and after arriving on campus.

— And then there is the tip line: The league says it will encourage anyone on campus to report violations of any of the protocols via an anonymous hotline.

Players will also be allowed to report potential violations through their teams or the players’ association.

Violations, of course, are a big no-no, which could lead to disciplinary action.

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11

Simmons is ready to go

Cage godfather Danding Cojuangco (extreme right) was a fixture at the De La Salle bence in the UAAP. (LaSallian photo)

A

ustralian NBA star Ben Simmons hasn’t played a basketball game in around four months, but a new workout video shows he’s lost little of his acrobatic ability and ridiculous skills.

Simmons missed the Philadelphia 76ers’ last eight matches before the league was shutdown due to coronavirus as he suffered from a nerve impingement in his lower back.

But showing off his dunking skills in the workout clip, Simmons appears to be in rude health.

His fitness will be a major factor in Philadelphia’s prospects when the NBA returns in late July.

The competition will be hosted in Walt Disney

World in Orlando, Florida, with league bosses releasing a 113-page document outlining extremely strict coronavirus health protocols.

The 76ers sit sixth in the Eastern Conference with a 39-26 win-loss record, but have struggled without Simmons this season, winning five and losing six of the eleven games the Australian has missed.

Simmons was averaging 16.7 points, 8.2 assists, 7.8 rebounds and an NBA-high 2.1 steals per game before

suspended in March, is set to restart July 30 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex — part of Walt Disney World — near Orlando, Florida, where players and team personnel will be subject to stringent testing and remain largely isolated from the rest of the world through the playoffs.

Still, the NBA’s comeback attempt is both ambitious and fraught with potential hazards. Florida, which was among the first states to loosen its social distancing guidelines, has reemerged as a coronavirus hot spot. On Wednesday, the state reported 2,783 new cases, a record, as the seven-day average continued to rise, according to The New York Times’

coronavirus tracking database. Orange County, the home of Walt Disney World, has also had a recent increase in cases.

The NBA’s handbook, a copy of which was obtained by The Times, is exhaustive, itemizing the six phases of its restart, the first of which is underway: voluntary workouts as players make their way back to team training facilities.

Beginning July 7, teams are scheduled to begin arriving on the Disney campus “on a staggered basis,” according to the handbook. Once on-site, players and team personnel must quarantine until they test negative for the coronavirus twice, at least 24 hours

his injury.

Coach Brett Brown was optimistic that Simmons will be available to take to the court when play resumes.

“My opinion, and this is not confirmed yet, is that we are going to be able to inch him back into this,” Brown said, according to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated. “Is he going to be 100 per cent, I don’t expect that. But I think he is going to be available.”

The video had commentators and fans excited, with one saying it proved he was ‘ready to go’ for the restart.

Simmons has also been working out with NBA icon Dwayne Wade in recent days as he targets his return to the court.

French Open to NBA bares ‘new normal’ rulebook begin Sept. 21 T T he 2020 French Open has been rescheduled to run for three weeks in the fall, Roland-Garros said Wednesday.

The tournament was supposed to begin in May but was suspended due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak. ‘’Following discussions with the international tennis authorities – the ATP, WTA and ITF – the French Tennis Federation is delighted to announce that this year’s Roland-Garros tournament will be played over three weeks, from 21st September to 11th October 2020, providing the conditions relating to the COVID-19 health crisis allow it to go ahead,’’ the organization said on its website. ‘’The Parisian Grand Slam has been granted an extra week of competition, which means the qualifying tournament can be played from 21st September,” it added.

US Open The US Open will be held behind closed doors with safety protocols in August, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Twitter.

“The USTA will take extraordinary precautions to protect players and staff, including robust testing, additional cleaning, extra locker room space, and dedicated housing & transportation,” Cuomo said.

The governor added

that the tournament will be played without fans from Aug. 31 to Sept. 13.

ATP, WTA tours Meanwhile, the ATP and WTA tours have both issued revised calendars.

The ATP Tour will resume on August 14 with the Citi Open, ATP 500 event in Washington, DC, while the first WTA event will be staged in Palermo, Italy starting August 3.

“Having assessed the global outlook for travel in the latter half of the year, working with our medical experts on providing the safest environment possible, and working through the diverse operational challenges for running events safely in the context of Covid-19, the WTA is pleased to release a calendar for the remainder of the 2020 season,” WTA chairman and CEO Steve Simon said.

“Our objective has been to reschedule as many tournaments as possible and salvage as much of the season as we can,” said Andrea Gaudenzi, ATP chairman.

“It has been a truly (a) collaborative effort and we hope to add more events to the calendar as the situation evolves.

I would like to recognize our tournaments’ efforts to operate during these challenging times, as well as our players who will be competing under different conditions. At every turn, ensuring that the resumption of the

FFRENCH, P10

he NBA is coming back with 113 pages of new rules.

An anonymous tip line to report rules violations.

Preapproved golf outings.

Protocols for how to properly disinfect basketballs.

Table tennis is allowed — but singles, no doubles.

The NBA on Tuesday night detailed its elaborate plan for resuming play this summer by sending a 113-page handbook to team personnel, with a heavy emphasis on health and safety protocols as the league seeks to salvage its season amid the coronavirus pandemic.

NBA players, staff to have COVID-19 tests every other day The season, which was

When the NBA returns, it may use the NBA 2K noise as background

apart. Players, staff and anyone else inside the socalled bubble will continue to be tested daily.

After that, teams will begin group activities — a training camp of sorts.

The NBA’s elaborate ecosystem at Disney will also feature six tiers of personnel, starting with Tier 1: players, coaches, health and performance staff, equipment managers and referees. Those people will have access to the most restricted areas on campus, including locker rooms, practice and game courts, weight rooms and player lounges.

Tier 2 will include team security, front office personnel, team communica-

FNBA, P10

12 SPORTS

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PRO-TOCOLS Gen. Santos City fighter Mike Plania celebrates after the decision was announced giving him a majority decision win over Joshua Greer in a bantaweight fight in Las Vegas on Tuesday. (Top Rank photo)

Pro sports must have safety protocols, GAB to coordinate with DOH

T

he IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases) has tasked the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) to coordinate with the Department of Health in drafting a Joint Administrative Order for the purpose of promulgating health and safety protocols for professional sports.

The IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases) made the directive following an online video teleconferencing with GAB chairman

Abraham Mitra, according to a report on Friday by online sports news network Spin.ph.

Mitra appealed for the resumption of pro sports events in the

country following its forced stoppage due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report said the IATF tasked the GAB and the Technical Working Group of the DoH to outline existing minimum health and safety guidelines published by the health department.

The DoH initially recommended to the IATF about limiting the contact sports tournaments, games, and matches in the absence of an established effective

medicine against the coronavirus.

“Whatever decision the IATF will make, we will surely support and follow them,” Mitra said in the teleconference.

He sought an audience with the IATF in an effort to get its approval to allow again the holding of pro sports – 18 of them in all – since earnings of most athletes and GAB licensees are largely based on its operations.

Joining Mitra in the online meeting were GAB com-

missioners Mar Masanguid and Ed Trinidad. The GAB officials were one in stressing that the return of pro events are still subject to whatever health protocols that may be recommended by both the IATF and the DoH. GAB used four different virtual simulators to demonstrate the proposed health and safety procedures for the conduct of PBA individual workouts and football games.

Earlier, the regulatory body for

professional sports submitted a 59page document to the IATF which contains suggested medical and safety protocols from the GAB medical section, boxing and other combat sports division.

Likewise included in the document were suggestions made by professional basketball and other pro games division, horse betting division, Philippine Football Federation (PFF), PBA, boxing promoters and managers, among others.