Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 15 | Wednesday, March 31, 2021

KIDNEY DISEASES ON THE RISE HEALTH P9

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Sara prohibits gov’t personnel, barangay officials from “Run Sara Run” activities STORY ON PAGE 2

Parents inquire regarding the schedule of the early registration for upcoming Grade 7 at Sta. Ana National High School along Guerrero Street in Davao City on Tuesday. Edge Davao

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VOL.14 ISSUE 15 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio prohibits officials and personnel of the city government of Davao from joining “Run, Sara, Run” activities, including those that will be conducted outside Davao City. The mayor has issued an executive order prohibiting LGU workers from joining political activities after around 60 individuals, including former and in-

cumbent barangay officials, conducted a national caravan in Metro Manila despite her incessant reminder to call it off due to the alarming surge in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases there. Edge Davao

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Sara prohibits gov’t personnel, barangay officials from “Run Sara Run” activities

By MAYA M. PADILLO ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is prohibiting personnel of the city government of Davao and barangay officials from joining any political activities intended for her outside Davao City to contain transmission of Covid-19.

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Through Executive Orders (EOs) No. 17 and 18, the mayor ordered all city government per-

sonnel including barangay officials to refrain from joining any political activities that include

caravan, meeting, rally, parade, program and all other forms of gathering for any pro-Sara campaign.

Section 1 of EO states there is a need to prohibit the said officials because travelling for non-essential purposes poses a danger to the health of the travelers because of the pandemic.

“Ang kanang mga trav-

elers nga gikan sa lugar nga daghan ug Covid-19 cases sila na ang dako ug possibility na magdala ug virus sulod diri sa atoa and then non-essential travels ang political activities because it gather usually ug mga tao. Pag nag-tapok ang mga tao, mass gathering, dako ang risk sa transmission,” she explained.

France, Germany, Poland, and Italy also had to reimpose lockdowns to curb the spread of Covid-19 and prevent the healthcare systems from collapsing.

“Ang gobyerno ba natin nagkulang? Ang gobyerno ba natin walang ginawa? Alam mo sa totoo lang ang naka-lockdown ngayon naka-lockdown ang the countries of Ukraine,

France, Germany, Poland, Italy (Did the government have any lapses? Did the government do anything? The truth is, the countries of Ukraine, France, Germany, Poland, Italy are also under lockdowns),” he said.

The new Covid-19 strains, he said, were to blame for the spike in infections worldwide.

Duterte said he

would be the last person in the country who wanted to inflict suffering on Filipinos by limiting their mobility.

“I would be the last person – ako ang pinakahuling tao dito sa Pilipinas na magpapahirap sa Pilipino (I would be the last person who would inflict suffering on Filipinos),” he said.

He said he wished he had powers to make

FSTAY AWAY, P10

Charge falsifiers of RT-PCR results: Sara

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ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio warned that travelers who will present fake negative RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) result at the Davao International Airport (DIA) will be apprehended and face raps.

The mayor said those who are caught presenting fake negative result will undergo another test at own expense and undergo inquest proceedings.

“Unsay mahitabo karon kung masakpan ka sa airport nga peke ang imong RT-PCR result or invalid ang RT-PCR result? Mag-testing ug usab ug ikaw na mugasto sa imohang testing,” she said.

Invalid RT-PCR results are those tests that use rapid test kit, antigen test kit, and an expired 72-hour test result.

“Meaning dili naka puwede musakay ug eroplano padulong Davao City kung wala 24 to 72-hour negative RT-PCR result.

Dili ta ga-determine kung gituyo ba na nila o dili, ang korte ang mu-determine ana. Automatic pagfake ang gi-present, dili nami maminaw sa explanation, test naka-derecho ug bayran nimo ang imohang testing and derecho naka sa inquest dinha sa police station. Hulaton ang test result, kung negative ka derecho na sa inquest, kung positive ka derecho naka kuhaon ug

FCHARGE, P10

PH not only country under lockdown, says Duterte

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mid criticisms over his decision to place Metro Manila and four nearby provinces under the strictest quarantine status anew, President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said the Philippines is not the only country under a lockdown.

Speaking in a pre-recorded public address, Duterte said many countries including Ukraine,

Covid-19 go away so life would return to normal.

“If only I had the power – kung nandiyan lang sa akin ‘yong poder na like a magic wand na maalis kaagad itong problema natin, mawala, gagawin ko (like a magic wand to make this problem vanish, I’ll do it),” he added.

He admitted that he was grappling with the issue of Covid-19, stress-

ing that it is a problem that continues to take up most of his time.

“I’m having a hard time. I’m grappling with the issue of Covid. It takes most of my time actually. More than any other papers, it’s the Covid that is taking my time or most of my time looking for ways and kung ano na ang nangyayari doon sa labas kung

FPH, P10

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 15 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021

President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian discuss beside the boxes of “Resbakuna”, Covid-19 Vaccination Program of the government, following the ceremonial turnover of the Coro-

PDEA 11 destroys P32.5-M illegal drugs

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ersonnel of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 11 burned about P32.5 million worth of illegal drugs seized in Davao Region by the different law enforcement units Monday (March 29) at Davao del Sur Provincial Capitol Ground, Matti, Digos City, Davao del Sur. PDEA 11 director Antonio Rivera led the burning of the 1,718 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride locally known as “shabu”

worth P11.6 million and 174,000 grams of cannabis sativa or “marijuana” with a total estimated street value of over P20.8 million.

Rivera said the torching of illegal drugs was also done to erase the skepticism of the public that there is a recycling of seized illegal drugs by certain law enforcement agencies.

He praised the untiring support of the local government unit,

NEWS 3

naVac vaccine doses at the Bulwagang Kalayaan in Villamor Air Base, Pasay City on Monday. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

7,200 doses of Coronavac arrive

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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t least 12 boxes containing 7,200 doses of Coronavac Covid-19 vaccines arrived at the Davao International Airport (DIA) on Tuesday allocated for the remaining health care workers in FPDEA, P10 the Davao Region.

The said vaccines are currently stored at the cold storage facility at the Department of Health 11 (DOH 11).

According to Dr. Annabelle Yumang, regional director of DOH 11, based

on the masterlist, there are 77,570 eligible health care workers in Davao Region who will undergo Covid-19 vaccination and out of this number 36,800 were already in-

city government employees must never possess and/or use dangerous drugs and must not directly or indirectly sell, give, provide or administer any dangerous drugs to himself/herself and to unlawful acts penalized under Republic Act (RA) 9165 and other pertinent laws, rules, and regulations.

According to Ronaldo Rivera, Operations head of the City Anti- Drug Abuse Council (CADAC),

the city is aiming to randomly test 10 percent of around 18,000 city workers. Rivera bared that the order covers all permanent or regular, whether in the career or non-career service, temporary casual, part-time, and contractual and consultancy basis workers, whether or not they receive compensation, regardless of amount.

“Ten percent of the total number of employees

F7,200 DOSES, P10

PRRD gives stern warning vs. 1,800 city gov’t. workers, elected sellers of fake Covid-19 vax officials to undergo drug-testing

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resident Rodrigo Duterte on Monday vowed to go after sellers of fake Covid-19 vaccines in the country.

In a pre-recorded public address, Duterte issued a stern warning against unscrupulous individuals selling fake vaccines or suffer the consequences of their actions.

“Itong nagi-import ng walang ano, walang source tapos peke tapos ang mga tao magpaba-

kuna, magbayad ng hala dahil nga may bakuna available, I’m just warning you, huwag na huwag kayo magkakamali dito na hirap na ang Pilipino tapos dagdagan mo ng ganitong pamamaraan ng hanapbuhay. Pupulutin ka talaga kung saan (These importing without a source and selling fake vaccines, I’m warning you don’t make the mistake of doing something that will cause more suffering to Filipi-

nos),” he said.

He said selling fake Covid-19 vaccines and medicines would pose serious health risks.

“Magpeke na kayo ng candy diyan, huwag itong medesina. I’m warning you, huwag kayo magkamali dito (You can sell fake candy, but not medicine. I’m warning you, don’t make this mistake),” he added.

Duterte added that he will make sure that

FPRRD, P10

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ome 1,800 Davao City government workers including elected officials will be subjected to drug-testing starting April 2021 as part of the city’s drugfree workplace program.

Under Executive Order (EO) Number 24 issued

by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio in 2010, the city government adopts a strict anti- drug policy in the workplace. In order to help maintain a drug- free workplace, all

F1,800, P10

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

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he Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Board of Investments (BOI) have hailed the signing of the landmark Republic Act. No. 11534, or the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act, by President Rodrigo Duterte after it passed both Houses of Congress recently.

“We thank President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the Congress for enacting the CREATE Act. This is one the most important policy reforms initiated about two decades ago, but has only been successfully legislated under our current administration,” DTI Secretary and BOI Chairperson Ramon Lopez said in a statement Monday.

Lopez considered the CREATE law a “game-changer” as it significantly brought down corporate income taxes that benefit the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) the most and even the large firms.

He said it has also modernized and improved the investment incentive regime to one that is performance-based, focused and innovation-oriented.

“First, for business in general, we cannot overemphasize the impact of the reduction in corporate income tax (CIT)

from 30 percent to 25 percent for big firms and for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to 20 percent. The drop is very significant as it will open up cash flows to support efforts of businesses to REBUILD during this pandemic," he added.

Lopez also cited the granting of a clearer set of incentives with four to seven years of income tax holidays (ITH) and followed by 10 years of special corporate income tax (SCIT)/ enhanced deductions (ED) for exporters, or five years ED for domestic market enterprises.

“Equally important, the removal of restriction for providing incentives to foreign companies, will attract more foreign direct investments (FDIs) as multinationals are not only going to target the domestic market but also boost the country’s export market,” he said.

NorCot farmers get P9.4-M worth of projects from DA

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he Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in North Cotabato turned over some PHP9.4-million worth of projects to Makilala farmers on Monday.

The projects consisted of the Rodero Rural Water System Level II; corn production, processing, and marketing sub-project; and banana production, processing, and marketing assistance.

Over the weekend, DAR-North Cotabato also turned over some PHP1.4-million worth of agro-support interventions to the Tibao Farmers Association (TFA) in M’lang, North Cotabato.

The projects are under the agency's Mindanao Sustainable Agrarian

and Agriculture Development (MinSAAD initiative.

Engr. Reynaldo Anfone, provincial agrarian reform program officer, said TFA received a fourwheel-drive diesel tractor with rotavator and trailer; 60 bags of fertilizers; 20 bags of rice seeds; 30 heads of high-breed goats; 10 kg monggo seeds; and eight tin cans of watermelon seeds.

TFA president Cenon Tamboon assured the DAR they "will manage the project well to sustain it."

The Tibao farmers’ association is the only recipient of the major cropbased block farm productivity support program out of five targets in North Cotabato. (PNA)

A hog industry group says other hog raisers will stop their operation because of the effects of importation at lower tariff and continuous spreading of ASF (African swine fever) in the country. Edge Davao

VOL.14 ISSUE 15 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021

DTI-BOI hails Duterte signing of CREATE Act

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary and Bureau of Investment (BOI) Chairperson Ramon Lopez says CREATE Act is one the most

important policy reforms initiated about two decades ago, but has only been successfully legislated under the Duterte administration. Edge Davao

DOF chief cites prompt multilateral financing for vaccination program

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inance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said Monday the "prompt and substantial" financing extended by the Philippines’ multilateral partners for its coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination program will help accomplish the government’s target of inoculating 70 million Filipinos or 100 percent of the adult population.

Dominguez said the government is fully committed to accelerating the rollout of its national vaccination program in order to safely reopen the economy and restore the jobs lost since Covid-19 sparked a pandemic last year.

“On behalf of the Philippine Government, I ex-

press my deepest gratitude to the World Bank (WB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) for extending a total of USD1.2 billion in financing for the procurement of safe and effective Covid-19 vaccines for the Filipino people,” Dominguez said at the virtual launching of these loans via Zoom.

Under the terms of these loans, Dominguez said the multilateral institutions will help the Philippine government purchase the vaccines through their stringent procurement rules and guidelines and then pay the vaccine suppliers directly.

The financing packages

will also follow global best practices on safeguard measures, he added.

Dominguez said the swift response of the WB, ADB and AIIB to the Philippines’ call for support reflects their confidence in the government’s capability to effectively implement its Covid-19 response measures, including the national vaccination program.

The government, through the Department of Finance (DOF), has secured the following loans totalling USD1.2 billion (around PHP58.4 billion) for Covid-19 vaccine procurement: USD500 million for the Philippines’ Covid-19 Emergency Re-

sponse Project-Additional Financing (PCERP-AF) from the WB; USD400 million Second Health System Enhancement to Address and Limit Covid-19 (HEAL 2) under the Asia Pacific Vaccine Facility of the ADB; and USD300 million HEAL 2 loan from the AIIB. “We appreciate our multilateral partners’ responsiveness and flexibility in providing appropriate and timely financing support to cater to our specific needs during this pandemic . They stood side by side with us throughout this battle by giving us the ample ammunition we need to quickly recover from this health crisis,” Dominguez said.

Meat products remain at buying capacity: DA As Executive Order 124, which mandates a price ceiling on meat products, nears its expiration, the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday said the retail price, although did not meet the government-set price, remains at the average.

As of today, the DA said that per kilogram of pork kasim retails from PHP310

to PHP360; pork liempo is selling between PHP340 to PHP380; while whole chicken retails from PHP150 to PHP200.

The 60-day law, which will end on April 8, imposed the price ceiling for a kilogram of kasim and pigue at PHPP270, PHP300 per kilogram for liempo, and PHP160 per kilogram for dressed

chicken.

On the other hand, the agriculture office said that 2,989 live hogs were transported to Metro Manila public markets on March 28. So far, the DA has transported 232,763 live hogs since February 8, the start of the implementation of the price ceiling. (PNA)

VOL.14 ISSUE 15 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021

EDGEDAVAO

AEON TOWERS HANDS OVER KEYS TO UNIT OWNERS. ALPI Executives hand over the turnover kit and key to new homeowners of Aeon Towers during the consecutive turnover ceremonies on March 24-26, 2021 commenced at 6F, Club Aeon, Aeon Towers, Bajada, Davao City. (L-R) ALPI Executive Sales Admin Manager Luis Dollesin together

FIST to let banks offload billions in bad debts in next 2 years: BSP

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hilippine banks which were badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic will get a much-needed boost from the implementation of the Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer (FIST) Act, which will let them offload billions of pesos of bad debts.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, along with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Department of Finance (DOF), the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and Land Registration Authority (LRA), today issued the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 11523, or the FIST Act. The IRR, which takes effect after its publication on March 29, allows

for the establishment of corporations that will invest in or acquire bad debts or non-performing assets (NPAs) of covered financial institutions within a period of two years. Banks that avail will get tax exemptions and fee privileges.

"We expect the reduction in NPL (non-performing loans) ratio to happen during the first two years of the effectivity of the FIST Act, when the tax exemptions and FIST privileges may be availed by financial institutions," said BSP governor Benjamin Diokno in a virtual briefing.

"So this two-year deadline dictates a great sense of urgency and so the parties concerned should be decisive," he added.

ECONOMY

5

with bank partner Consumer Loan Sales Officer from Phil. Business Bank (PBB) Sam Montecalvo, ALPI VP for Sales & Marketing Almira Mariano, VP for Operations Engr. Daniel Manalo, PBB Regional Head Raymond Nonato and Consumer Loans Sales Officer Ma. Francisca Yu.

4.2M Pinoys jobless in February 2021: PSA T he number of jobless or unemployed Filipinos rose to 4.2 million in February this year, results of the latest Labor Force Survey by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed Tuesday.

At a virtual press conference, National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa said the unemployment rate in the second month of 2021 clocked in at 8.8% equivalent to 4.2 million jobless adults — ages 15 and above — from 8.7% or four million unemployed individuals in January.

The February round

of the PSA’s Labor Force Survey (LFS) is the first of the monthly rounds to be conducted by the Statistics agency.

“Simula Pebrero 2021, ang buwanang LFS ay isasagawa sa pagitan ng regular na LFS upang magkaroon ng high frequency data on labor and employment bilang isa sa

mga basehan sa paggawa ng polisiya at plano, lalo na iyong may kinalaman sa COVID-19,” Mapa said.

(Starting February 2021, the monthly LFS will be conducted in between the regular LFS in order to come up with high frequency data on labor and employment as basis for policy-making and planning, especially those related to COVID-19.)

Meanwhile, the number of employed persons or those with jobs or businesses stood at 43.2 million, higher by 1.9 million compared to 41.2 million recorded in January.

he Philippines is not experiencing reflation as the recent uptick in inflation is transitory and driven by supply-side pressures, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) maintained on Monday.

"Reflation is the act of bringing inflation from very low levels back up to its long-term trend after a period of disinflation and economic downturn. This is not the case," BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said in a virtual briefing.

Inflation accelerated for the fifth straight month to 4.7% in February, the fastest reading since January 2019

when it was recorded at 4.4%.

Diokno said the observed inflation uptick is expected to be temporary and is driven primarily due to supply issues on a range of agricultural products, coupled with increases in world oil prices.

Diokno noted, however, that the central bank continues to watch out for possible second-round effects from the ongoing supply shocks which are said to have a low probability on the back of the present capacity underutilization and underemployment in the economy.

"BSP and nation-

al government policy responses continue to focus on closing the output gap, given the substantial excess capacity in the economy and the underemployment rate in the labor market," he said.

Just last week, Diokno said inflation is expected to grow at 4.2% this year, faster than the government's target band of 2% to 4%.

As part of its mandate, the BSP maintains price stability conducive to a balanced and sustainable growth of the economy and employment. It also promotes and maintains the stability and convertibility of the peso.

Despite the increase in the number of employed persons, the employment rate declined slightly to 91.2% in February from 91.3% in January.

Mapa attributed the discrepancy between the rise in employed persons despite the increase in unemployed persons to the surge in labor force participation rate — the number of adults who are actively looking for work either employed or unemployed — to 63.5% last month, equivalent to 47.3 million from 60.5% or 45.2 million in January.

The Monetary Board last week decided to keep policy rates at record lows -- the overnight reverse repurchase facility at 2.00%, overnight deposit at 1.5%, and overnight lending facility at 2.5%.

Policy rates were slashed by 200 basis points in 2020 -- 25 basis points in February; 50 basis points each in March, April, and June; and another 25 basis points in November.

Diokno also last week said it is still too early for the central bank to start its COVID-19 exit strategy, as the timing will largely depend on economic data.

PH debt hits P10.4T PH not experiencing reflation: BSP at end of February T

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he Philippine government’s total outstanding debt rose to over P10.4 trillion at the end of February, the Bureau of Treasury said on Monday.

Treasury said P78.37 billion was added to the debt portfolio due to net financing from local and external sources and currency fluctuations.

"Of the total debt stock, 29 percent were sourced externally while 71 domestic are domestic borrowings," the bureau added.

Domestic debt amounted to P7.36 trillion, or P37.51 billion higher compared to the end-January level as the government borrowed more from do-

mestic sources. Since the start of the year, domestic debt has increased by P668.38 billion or 10 percent.

The country's foreign debt meanwhile hit P3.042 trillion at the end of last month.

Since the start of 2021, the country's external debt has declined by P57.55 billion or 1.9 percent as the government paid maturing obligations.

The Philippines has been borrowing heavily to finance its COVID-19 response. Despite this, the country has seen a spike in new infections, and continues to lag behind its neighbors in vaccine rollout.

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 15 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021

On the forced quarantine of around 60 individuals, including former and incumbent barangay officials mostly barangay captains who conducted a national caravan in Metro Manila despite her incessant reminder to call it off due to the alarming surge of Covid-19 cases:

Duna ta’y mga kaigsoonan Dabaweyos na nag-caravan bag-o lang sa Luzon and they are under quarantine sa pagka-karon sa atoang facilities and they are already scheduled for testing. Hopefully, wala’y magpositive sa ilaha.”

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio

EDITORIALS

Line jumpers

There ought to be a crackdown against people who violate the priority line established by the authorities in the country’s vaccination program against Covid-19.

In Davao City, no less that Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has reported having received complaints about nonhealth workers jumping the vaccination line in some vaccination centers now concentrating in inoculating frontliners.

Although not as rampant as in other places where elected officials like mayors have been tagged as among the violators, Davao City should lead the way of

running after the line jumpers. The practice is grossly unfair to those in the Group A-1 which includes frontline health workers both in government and private sectors, medical practitioners, nurses and other health professionals, including students in health and allied medical courses with clinical duties, nursing aides, even janitors and barangay health workers.

These people in the priority line of inoculation risk dear life in the fight against the pandemic.

Non-health workers who jump the vaccination line ought to be ashamed of themselves.

As of yesterday, the number of new Covid 19 cases reported by the Department of Health has breached the 10,000 mark, a real scary scenario. This is so far the highest number since the pandemic hit the country in 2020.

There is a loud clamor among the health experts for government to impose a longer lockdown in the

National Capital Region-Plus, not just few days of the Holy Week.

We say government should listen to the medical experts and ignore the usual hecklers and veritable government critics and impose a longer lockdown in NCR-P which is now indubitably the epicenter of the pandemic.

Longer lockdown

EDGEDAVAO

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OLIVIA D. VELASCO SOLANI D. MARATAS RICHARD C. EBONAJASPER OLIVIA D. VELASCO V. BACSAL General Manager PresidentAdvertising Specialist Finance General Manager / VP Operations JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 15 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021

COMPETITIVE EDGE

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Representatives from Smart and LMPC posed together during their 30th Annual and 10th Representative Assembly.

Smart teams up with Lamac coop, enabling Cebu farmers

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LDT’s wireless unit Smart teams up with one of the country’s largest cooperatives, the Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperative (LMPC). The partnership, which makes Smart the newest telco partner for Lamac, enables farmers’ livelihood through digital solutions at a time of a disruptive pandemic.

Lamac, a remote town situated 50 kilometers from Cebu City, enjoyed its first cellular signal and connectivity in 2018. Three years after Smart fired up its first cellsite, the availability of reliable signal and connectivity have enabled economic activity in the community and connected its residents with the rest of the world. “For the first time,” says Maria Elena Limocon, LMPC General Manager, “all our members may now have the chance to own a smartphone that would aid them in their farming knowledge and techniques. We are espe-

cially thankful for this partnership with Smart.”

A midwife by profession, Limocon was assigned in barangay Lamac in 1986. Back then, Lamac was an underdeveloped part of Pinamungajan with no available drinking water, electricity, concrete roads, and other basic commodities. Limocon recalls having to travel seven kilometers by foot from her hometown to Lamac, which made it unimaginably difficult for her to keep working there. However, she knew that she had to do more to help the rest of the community. “We have come a long

Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperative General Manager, Maria Elena Limocon, featuring the coop’s trophies from various wins and recognitions over the years. way because we have no room for fear,” says Limoncon. “For us, every problem has a solution. At first, we only wished for clean drinking water, but now we have been given so much, including digital solutions

Personnel in full PPE while manning the Smart booth which was set up for LMPC’s Representative Assembly.

from partners like Smart.

To all beginners, never lose sight of your goals. Success starts in your willingness to achieve it.”

Humble roots Limocon traces LMPC's success from humble beginnings. From an organization of only 70 farmers, LMPC now currently has 103,000 regular members, 42 branches, 7 satellite offices, and 88 institutional buyers. Reliable connectivity provided by Smart has also enabled the cooperative and its members to safely mobilize and continue their operations despite challenges posed by COVID-19.

Under the partnership, Smart is providing LMPC discounted smartphones and a Smart Infocast facility, which would help facilitate seamless communication with their members amid the pandemic. LMPC is also a certified Smart Load Ka-Partner which would help serve their load

Smart Community Solutions and Business Development Manager, Carmencita Nancy Nacua expressed her gratitude for the partnership with LMPC. and data needs, and also tions for an empowered help provide their mem- LMPC bers with extra income.

To support digitalizaFarmer-members will tion efforts of grassroots be trained under Smart's organizations like LMPC, Digital Farmers Program, PLDT and Smart have furwhich will equip them with ther accelerated their netbasic knowledge on mo- work rollout across the bile technology. Smart is country. As of December putting the spotlight on its 2020, PLDT's fiber infralong-running community structure, the most extenpartnership and corporate sive in the country, comsocial responsibility pro- prised more than 429,000 grams to inspire Filipinos kilometers. This fiber infrato commit to "personal structure supports Smart's revolutions" to generate mobile networks, which lasting positive impact to now cover 96% of the popsociety. ulation from Batanes to “On behalf of Smart, Sulu. we would like to express "Our customers are inour sincerest gratitude for creasingly turning to the naming us one of LMPC’s internet to conduct their most valued partners. I can daily business. We continsee how the cooperative ue to expand and upgrade sets itself as an honorable our network to cover areas example for other coop- like Lamac, Pinamungajan, eratives and institutions so our customers can have through their dedication better mobile internet exand collective effort. We at perience as they go online Smart are in full support to safely keep in touch with to Lamac’s digitalization their loved ones, run their programs,” says Carmenci- online businesses, work ta Nancy Nacua, Smart from home, and participate Community Solutions and on online learning platBusiness Development forms," says Mario G. TaManager. mayo, Head of Technology Smart’s digital solu- at PLDT and Smart.

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GRETCHEN HO:

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CONNECTING WOMEN IN ACTION

WHEN a woman speaks, she can lead a generation into action.

And that’s exactly what TV host, reporter, and all-around woman-inaction Gretchen Ho does. This Women’s Month, the athleteturned-reporter shares her journey on how having strong women connections helped her become a voice and beacon of her generation.

“When I envision something, I get into action to achieve it,” says Gretchen Ho. Dubbed as the ‘Woman-in-Action’, she has evolved from being a university athlete, to an events host, a news anchor, and now as a Beacon for other women. She talks about how she believes that success comes from a daily and constant effort, “Work hard.

Never forget work ethic, take action day-by-day and keep improving daily. Move forward with consistency”.

Before becoming a news anchor, Gretchen was a volleyball star player having been key to the successes of her former teams’ championship wins at the prestigious UAAP and 2014 PSL Grand Prix Conference Games. She then moved to become a TV reporter, working on the sidelines to find and tell empowering stories of people from different walks of life. All these led her to the “Woman in Action” that she is now.

In 2017, Gretchen became

an Ambassador for Health and Nutrition of the Philippine branch of World Vision, a humanitarian aid, development

and advocacy organization. Her advocacies and achievements have been recognized by various organizations. She has been

named Best News Personality at the 2020 Paragala Media Awards, Most Outstanding Female Correspondent at the

2020 3rd Gawad Lasallianeta, Best New Female Segment Host for the Year at the 2019 Gawad Pilipino, consistent awardee for Best Lifestyle Show and Best Morning Show Hosts at the PMPC Star Awards for TV, and Student’s Choice of Personality for Social Media Development at the 2016 USTv XII Awards.

Making the most of her connections to help others, Gretchen continues to use her influence in empowering others for the better. “It’s not just about the hard work, it’s also about doors and opportunities.

I strive to use these connections to help other people. I make use of my platform and network so that I can help more people in need,” she adds.

With this, Gretchen Ho is named as “Beacon” for PLDT Home’s #SheConnects campaign. She joins stellar women in a masterclass video series that showcases inspiring journeys of distinguished women and how they connect with others to inspire, elevate, and empower.

Asked about her vision for women in the future, Gretchen had this hope in mind: “My hope is that more women will rise up to lead and use their platforms to empower and connect more women for a better future.”

Learn more from the Woman-in-Action, Gretchen Ho, as she shares more lessons through a masterclass video on PLDT Home’s Youtube page.

GMA NETWORK WINS PLATINUM AWARD IN READER’S DIGEST TRUSTED BRANDS 2020

MEDIA GIANT GMA Network recently received the Platinum Award for the TV Network Category at the 22nd Annual Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands Awards.

The Platinum Award is the highest recognition among the trusted brands in the Philippines that are shortlisted in the Reader’s Digest annual event.

Earning another accolade in their roster of awards as well were GMA News pillars Jessica Soho and Mike Enriquez. Soho was conferred the “Most Trusted TV Host/Presenter” for News and Current Affairs category while Enriquez won as “Most Trusted Radio Presenter.”

“Once more thank you to Reader’s Digest for this award and the trust. This couldn’t have come at a better time because things are really hard right now and we all could do with the extra push and

inspiration. Thank you for going out of your way to give this out once more, despite all the restrictions and the pandemic. Congratulations to all the winners. God bless all of us,” Soho said during

the virtual awarding ceremony.

In 2018, Soho received her eighth “Most Trusted News Presenter” award—earning her the distinction of being the first ever Hall of Fame awardee for the said category. She currently hosts the country’s number one program, “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho.”

Enriquez likewise expressed his gratitude upon winning his award. “Thank you very much Reader’s Digest Trusted Brand for this award as the “Most Trusted Radio Presenter” for 2020—a most cherished award. Thank you for the encouragement and inspiration to do even better, and thank you for recognizing our profession,” he

said in his acceptance speech.

The GMA News pillar anchors “Saksi sa Dobol B” on the Network’s flagship AM radio station Super Radyo DZBB 594khz. Enriquez is currently the president of RGMA. On TV, he co-anchors the Network’s flagship newscast “24 Oras” and hosts the public affairs program “Imbestigador.”

Reader’s Digest, through its Trusted Brand Survey, recognizes which brands and services, as well as the personalities, consumers trust the most. Due to the pandemic, the awarding ceremonies were held via the inaugural virtual awards made available on its website.

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VOL.14 ISSUE 15 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021

Kidney diseases on the rise

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

B

ea Rose Santiago made the Philippines proud when she won the Miss International title in 2013.

Five years later, she revealed in an Instagram post that she is suffering from kidney failure.

“I was diagnosed months ago,” she wrote, “I was in denial and that’s why I left the Philippines to get a second opinion in Tokyo and when it turned out to be a confirmation. Flew right away to be with my family and my potential live donors. Yes, I will be needing a life-saving transplant.”

The doctors diagnosed her with chronic kidney disease, a type of kidney disease in which there is gradual loss of kidney function over a period of months to years. She surmised she developed the condition as a result of her “gym life.”

“I damaged my kidneys when I was younger,” the Filipina beauty queen admitted.

“My kidneys are more sensitive than a normal late 20s healthy woman. I can't overdo things, and I just found out. (I) came to the hospital for my severe migraines and we found something potentially more dangerous.”

After learning of her condition, Santiago advised, “Guys, if you take pre-workout (drinks) … plus heavy workout, be careful. Apparently, there are many more like me! We damaged our kidneys because of our gym life!”

She’s not alone, indeed.

“Kidney diseases, especially end stage renal disease (ESRD), are already the seventh leading cause of death among the Filipinos,” says the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), a government-owned center attached to the Department of Health whose mandate is to specialize in the preven-

tion, diagnosis, rehabilitation and treatment of kidney and allied diseases through dialysis and transplantation.

Dr. Aileen Riego-Javier, NKTI executive director, said that for every one million Filipinos, 120 of them are most likely to develop kidney failure. Each year, approximately 10,000 people need to replace their kidney function.

Kidneys are important parts of the urinary system.

They are found at each side of the spine, below the rib cage of the human body. Each kidney is as big as a fist and looks like a kidney bean.

“The kidneys perform vital life-maintaining functions as monitors and regulators of body fluid,” NKTI states. “They excrete fluids when the body has an excess of them and retain the substances necessary for the body’s continuing function.

They produce and release a variety of chemicals to keep the body healthy and filter the entire blood supply every two minutes, excreting waste materials through the urine.”

The kidneys also produce erythropoietin, a hormone that controls the production of red blood cells by the bone marrow. They also are involved in the regulation of blood pressure. This probably happens through the regulation of blood volume and the amount of sodium in the body as well as the production of substances such as the angiotensin.

How will you know you have a kidney disorder? The main symptom of kidney disorder is fluid retention or what doctors call edema.

“Patients may have puffiness around the eyes, swelling in the feet and legs and water in the lungs leading to difficulty of breathing,” NKTI says.

Any change in urination may also indicate kidney problems. “This may consist of pain or unusual sensation during voiding, increased or decreased frequency of urination, difficulty in initiating urination, frequent urination at night, change in color of urine, blood in the urine or bubbly appearance of the urine,” NKTI explains.

In some instances, kidney disease may exhibit some warning signs like puffiness of the eye area, progressive swelling of parts of the body usually at the ankles, back pain on the lower part just below the ribcage, changes in urination, and new onset of high blood pressure.

In the past, chronic glomerulonephritis was the

most common cause of chronic renal failure. “Glomerulonephritis is inflammation of the glomeruli, the small vessels in the nephron,” NKTI explains. “If not treated, patients may suffer slow progressive damage to the kidneys and develop renal failure.”

Today, diabetes and hypertension have taken center stage in the causation of ESRD which together account for almost 60% of dialysis patients.

“Hypertension occurs with many cases of kidney diseases,” NKTI says. “Prolonged hypertension damages the small arteries in the kidneys. This may start a vicious cycle: damaged kidneys cause more serious hypertension which in turn brings more damage to the kidneys.”

Diabetes may also damage the kidneys. In fact, it is the leading cause of chronic

renal failure in many countries.

In the Philippines alone, over 7 million people are expected to have diabetes by 2030. Unfortunately, most of those having the disease don't know they have it.

Abnormalities in the urinary tract that are congenital or inborn may consequently lead to poor function, obstruction or infection of the kidneys. Some drugs, herbal medicine, solvents and insecticides can also harm the kidneys.

According to NKTI, treatment of kidney diseases may involve the following: medical therapy such as medicines and dietary changes, dialysis, and transplantation.

“Because kidney failure is already irreversible at later stages, treatment focuses on controlling the symptoms, minimizing complications and slowing the progression of the disease,” NKTI states.

“Associated diseases that cause or result from chronic renal failure must be controlled. Hypertension, diabetes, congestive heart failure, urinary tract infections, kidney stones, obstructions of the urinary tract, glomerulonephritis, and other disorders should be treated appropriately,” the institute adds.

“Fluid intake may be restricted, often to an amount equal to the volume of urine produced. Dietary protein restriction may slow the build-up of wastes in the bloodstream and control associated symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. Salt, potassium, phosphorus and other electrolytes may be restricted.”

“If your kidneys fail, you need treatment to replace the work they normally do,” says the National Institute of Health in the United States. “Before dialysis was available, total kidney failure meant death,” notes the US National Kidney Foundation (NKF). “Today, people

with kidney failure can live because of treatments such as dialysis and kidney transplant.”

According to medical experts, dialysis is a way of cleaning our blood when our kidneys can no longer do the job. It gets rid of our body’s wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control our blood pressure.

Actually, there are two kinds of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

“In hemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine, and returned to your body by tubes that connect you to the machine,” NKF explains.

“In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid called dialysate, which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.”

Among these patients with kidney failure in the Philippines, “only around 86% could undergo dialysis and only 14% could undergo transplantation because of the high cost of treatment,” wrote Francis James B. Gatdula in an article which appeared in Health and Lifestyle.

Dialysis does help lengthen the life of the patient but it is expensive. It costs around P60,000 to P70,000 a month – that’s P720,000 to P840,000 a year. This does not yet include the fees for required laboratory tests and medicines.

“In the long-term, kidney transplantation is cheaper than dialysis,” said Dr. Enrique Ona, former NKTI director. “Moreover, survival rates and quality of life in transplants are much better.”

A transplant costs half a million pesos to one million pesos for a one-time surgery, as long as the donated organ is not rejected by the recipient’s system. – (Photos sourced from Instagram and bostonkidney.com)

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There were around 60 individuals, including former and incumbent barangay officials mostly barangay captains who conducted a national caravan in Metro Manila despite her incessant reminder to call it off due to the alarming surge of Covid-19 cases there.

“Duna ta’y mga kaigsoonan Dabaweyos na nag-caravan bag-o lang sa Luzon and they are under quarantine sa

pagka-karon sa atoang facilities and they are already scheduled for testing. Hopefully, wala’y mag-positive sa ilaha,” she said.

It can be recalled that there are groups in Davao City with majority of the members are barangay captains who organized a caravan “Run Sara Run” urging the mayor to run for president in the 2022 national elections.

dalhon sa isolation facility, and then unya na ang imohang filing of cases para sa inquest nimo,” the mayor said.

It can be recalled that the city government of Davao reinstated the “no RT-PCR negative result, no entry” in Davao City for airline passengers upon entry at the Davao International Airport (DIA) on March 23, 2021.

For inbound passengers, a negative RTPCR (nasopharyngeal) negative test result (by DOH accredited lab facility) or a saliva based RT-PCR negative test result (by Philippine Red Cross only)valid within 72 hours from administering the test and upon arrival at Davao City are required.

This is also in line with the implementation of Ordinance 04-77-21 Series of 2021 by the City Council which is an order providing mandatory testing prior entry to Davao City via DIA that

covers all air travelers.

The mayor said presentation of fake negative RT-PCR result is one of the challenges at DIA. “Especially nga ang ilahang RT-PCR ila pud nang gibayran, kung nigasto na lang man mo ug money para magpabuhat ug fake na RT-PCR, gamiton na lang inyong kuwarta nga magpa test ug tinuod kay mao lang man gihapon magka-problema mo pag-abot ninyo diri, but upon check in masakpan mo nga fake inyong RT-PCR, makasuhan mo and then mugato mo usab sainyuhang testing. Doble na,” she said.

She added that based on interviews, some of the travelers claimed they were told no one will check RT PCR result at DIA. “Pero pag- abot dinhi sa DIA, trained na ang mga tao to verify and check RT-PCR result,” she said. Maya Padillo

saan tayo makakuha (what happens outside),” he said.

Duterte has placed Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) until April 4 to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 in the country as daily infections have soared to over 10,000.

Santiago City in Isabela will be placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from April 1 to 30 while Quirino Province will be under MECQ from April 1 to April 15.

The entire Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR); Cagayan, Isabela,

and Nueva Vizcaya in Region II; and Batangas will be placed under general community quarantine (GCQ) until April 30.

Tacloban City and Iligan City, Davao City, and Lanao del Sur will also be under GCQ for the whole month of April.

All other areas will be placed under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), the most relaxed quarantine classification, for the month of April.

As of Monday, the country has recorded 731,894 confirmed Covid-19 cases, 13,186 of which are deaths, and 603,213 are recoveries.

(PNA)

Southern Luzon Leg of the National Age Group Championship over the weekend.

Also set this year are the Southeast Asian Games qualifying tournament, World Chess

Olympiad selection tournament, National Seniors and National Championships that would be capped by the Battle of Grandmasters late this year. (PR)

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oculated as of March 24, 2021.

Yumang said there are still 40,770 health care workers scheduled to be vaccinated.

“Sa Priority A-1 group of frontliners and health care workers pa ni. Duna pa ta’y umaabot na bakuna para mapadayon ag atoang first dose for this remaining 40,770 frontliners and health care workers,” she said.

Yumang also reported that there are 930 health care workers who deferred to be inoculated and among the reasons are pregnancy, breastfeeding, and some due to comorbidity.

“Majority gi-defer because they have post-infection of Covid-19 ug dili pa sila puwede mapabakunahan until 90 days gikan sa ilang pag positive. Naa ta’y substitution list para dili masayang ang atoang bakuna,” she said.

Yumang also said there are 85 frontliners who refused to be inocu-

lated.

“Pero wala gi-mention sa atong data ang ilang mga rason,” she said.

Last March 5, 2021, about 150 to 200 doctors, nurses, and aides at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) were vaccinated with the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine during the launching of the vaccination campaign, dubbed “Resbakuna Kasangga ng Bida” while vaccination for private tertiary hospital healthcare workers commenced on March 8, 2021, at the Apolinario Mabini Elementary School.

Meanwhile, a total of 12,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines developed by Sinovac of China arrived at the Davao International Airport (DIA) on March 2, 2021, while the second batch of 36 boxes of the same vaccines arrived on Mar. 4.

Davao Region also received 20,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine this month.

distributors of fake Covid-19 vaccines will be punished for their crimes.

“Talagang nasa iyo kung gusto mo na, panahon mo ‘di sige. Hahanapin kita at ibigay ko sayo ano ang dapat para sa iyo (It’s up to you if you want to suffer the consequences. I’ll find you and see to it that you get what you deserve),” he said.

Under Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9711 or the Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009, the importation, sale and administering of unregistered vaccines has a penalty of a fine or imprisonment.

‘Stretch your patience’ Duterte appealed for more “patience” from the public amid criticism over the government’s limited supply of Covid-19 vaccines and its slow rollout.

“We are really doing the best of our best talent getting the vaccine from anywhere para menus menus yung hawaan (to curb the spread of Covid-19),” he said.

He said the public has to understand that procuring Covid-19 vaccine was not easy amid limited global supply.

“Stretch your patience and understanding. We are doing our best. We are not a vaccine producing country.

Wala tayong expertise, wala tayong knowledge.

So naghihintay tayo (We don’t have expertise, we don’t have knowledge. So we’re just waiting),” he

added.

He admitted that being unable to immediately procure Covid-19 vaccines felt like being in purgatory.

“Gusto ko nga umiyak sa harap ninyo pero naubos na ang luha ko. Kung alam lang ninyo ang…

Para akong dumadaan ng purgatoryo ngayon hangga’t hindi ko matulungan lahat ng Pilipino (I want to cry in front of you but my tears have run out. If you only knew...it feels like passing through purgatory that I can’t help all Filipinos),” he said.

On Monday afternoon, Duterte welcomed the arrival of 1 million doses of the “CoronaVac” Covid-19 vaccine purchased by the government from Chinese drugmaker Sinovac Biotech.

A total of PHP700-million was spent by the government for the purchase of the 1 million doses of CoronaVac. In total, the government intends to buy 25 million doses of CoronaVac. The previous two shipments of CoronaVac, totaling to one million doses, were donations from the Chinese government.

The bulk of vaccine doses from various brands are expected to arrive by the second quarter of the year.

The government aims to inoculate 50 million to 70 million Filipinos nationwide, but it is not making inoculation against Covid-19 mandatory. (PNA)

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BARMM lawmakers urge PRC to put up reg’l office

M

embers of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) have adopted a resolution urging the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to create a regional office in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

“The BARMM does not have a PRC regional office despite being a home to a large number of registered professionals,” BTA Majority Floor Lanang Ali, Jr. told reporters here in an interview Monday.

He said proposed BTA Resolution No. 426 was a product of recent consol-

idated committee reports from the BTA’s Committee on Rules, and the Committee on Labor and Employment, regarding two initial proposed resolutions No. 339 and 415, authored by BTA colleagues Haron Abas and Safrullah Dipatuan, respectively, which both seeks the establishment of a PRC regional office.

“The establishment of a PRC - BARMM office provides Bangsamoro registered professionals convenient PRC transactions through reduction of effort, cost, and travel time to other areas outside the region, “ Ali said. (PNA)

will be randomly selected by the committee every week until December this year,” Rivera said.

The Davao Drug- Free Workplace Assessment Committee is composed of the City Mayor, City Administrator, Committee Chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Health, City Legal Officer, City Health Officer, Human Resource Management Office (HRMO) head, Davao City Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for Drug Dependents head, and two representatives of the existing employees union.

The committee shall undertake duties and responsibilities such as to formulate guidelines for the curtailment and prevention of drug abuse in the workplace, conduct random drug testing, evaluate positive cases and refer to the proper health facilities for action, and to submit reports and recommendations to the heads of concerned departments for action.

He said the HRMO will be tasked to conduct a scientific random selection for employees to undergo drug testing to be made without prior notice or information of the latter.

He said under the EO there must be a compulsory submission of an employee for drug testing as required by RA 9165 and by herein EO. However, those refusing to submit themselves for

random drug tests, shall be administratively dealt with in accordance with the pertinent provisions of Civil Service Law and other applicable laws.

Under the EO, regular employees found to be positive for dangerous drugs use after the confirmatory test, shall be formally charged by the committee with an administrative disciplinary action in accordance with the Civil Service Law and other applicable law, rules and regulations.

However, for those workers under contracts and job orders shall automatically be fired after a positive confirmatory test result and an appropriate committee resolution is issued for the purpose.

“The committee will decide for the permanent employees but they can be terminated, but since the city is into bringing in treatment for people with addiction, so it will now be the decision of the committee,”Rivera said.

“All costs for the implementation of the herein EO shall be provided from the existing available funds of the city government and thereafter shall form part of the regular budget under the Office of the City Mayor,” the order stated.

Rivera said that the order has not been immediately implemented due to some amendments made by the assessment committee. (AMA)

Philippine National Police, other law enforcement agencies, media and the community in the fight against illegal drugs.

“This collaborative effort of the 5 pillars of the criminal justice system serves as a warning to all violators that we are working hand in hand to

suppress the supply of illegal drugs in our country,” he said.

The burning was witnessed by the judges of the Regional Trial Court as well as representatives of the Department of Justice, the Public Attorney’s Office, local officials, civil society groups, and the media.

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Montrezl Harrell had 18 for Los Angeles including this monstrous slam.

Undermanned Lakers make it back-to-back

L

OS ANGELES — Dennis Schröder scored 24 points, Kyle Kuzma added 21 and the Los Angeles Lakers rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat the Orlando Magic, 96-93, Sunday night (Monday, Manila time).

Montrezl Harrell added 18 for Los Angeles, which has won two in a row without LeBron James and Anthony Davis. However, the Lakers had a tough time trying to shake the Eastern Conference's second-worst team.

Orlando's Otto Porter Jr. had a clean look at a 3-pointer to send it to overtime, but the shot hit

the rim.

Orlando had a 82-77 lead with 7:19 remaining after R.J. Hampton drilled a 3-pointer. The Lakers trailed 84-80 midway through the fourth quarter before going on a 12-1 run to seize control as Schröder and Kuzma each had five points.

Los Angeles had a seven-point lead with under three minutes remaining,

but the Magic got within three going to the final possession.

Dwayne Bacon led the Magic with 26 points and Chuma Okeke scored 14.

Orlando has dropped 13 of 15.

There were nine lead changes and three ties during the first 13 minutes before the Lakers went on a 17-3 run to go up 39-26 with under three minutes remaining in the second quarter.

The Magic rallied to get it down to a five-point deficit at halftime (44-39) as Bacon had seven points down the stretch.

Markieff Morris' 3-pointer gave the Lak-

ers a 61-53 lead before Orlando scored eight straight to tie it at 61 with 2:12 remaining in the third quarter. There were three more ties in the quarter as it was 69all going into the final 12 minutes.

MAGIC DEBUTS Wendell Carter Jr., Hampton, and Porter played their first games for Orlando after being acquired in trades Thursday after the Magic traded five players — including their top three scorers — in three separate deals.

All three ended up coming off the bench.

Hampton had 10 points

PSC-NCFP selection tourney begins

W

ith the recent spike of Covid-19 cases, government has imposed strict quarantine measures that put Philippine sports in the backseat again.

Not chess.

The National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) has launched several online competitions including the Luzon Leg of the Philippine Sports Commission-NCFP selection tournament unfolding Tuesday until Thursday.

The event, bankrolled

by NCFP president and senior Deputy Speaker Butch Pichay, will serve as the first of a series of events culminating in the Grand Finals where the top men and women winners will earn spots to the national team where they will receive a monthly stipend.

Westbrook triple double lifts Wizards

R

ussell Westbrook collected 35 points, a season-high 21 assists and 14 rebounds to fuel the host Washington Wizards to a 132-124 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Monday.

Westbrook made 14 of 26 shots from the field, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range. The triple-double was Westbrook's NBA-leading 16th of the season and second in as many games.

Rui Hachimura had 26 points and eight rebounds and Chandler Hutchison added 18 points off the bench for the Wizards, who played without NBA leading scorer Bradley Beal (right hip contusion).

Raul Neto scored 15 points off the bench to help Washington win its second in a row after losing eight of its previous nine.

All was not rosy for the Wizards, however. Recent acquisition Daniel Gafford rolled

his ankle and left the court in a wheelchair.

Domantas Sabonis recorded 35 points and 11 rebounds and Malcolm Brogdon added 26 points for the Pacers, who were foiled in their bid to win three in a row for the first time since capturing the first three games of the season.

Indiana scored nine straight points to secure a 116-110 lead with 5:47 remaining in the fourth quarter before Washington countered with a 22-8 run to end the game.

Westbrook drained a stepback jumper, a layup and two 3-pointers during the pivotal surge.

Hutchison made three baskets to help Washington bridge the third and fourth quarter with a 9-0 run and claim a 97-92 lead. Indiana quickly forged a tie after Myles Turner sank a 3-pointer and Edmond Sumner added a pair of free throws.

Registration is free.

“This is an opportunity for a Filipino chess player to become member of the national team,” said tournament director Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales in a news release on Monday.

After the Luzon Leg, the event will proceed to the Visayas staging slated April 13-15 and the Mindanao edition from April 20-22 with the winners qualifying to the quarterfinals (April 27-29), the semis (May 11-13) and the grand finals (July 2-4) where it will be done using a hybrid format of online and face-to-face games.

For inquiries, interested parties may contact Michelle Yaon at 0910372-6152 or Susan Neri at 0933-550-5019.

The NCFP has also started the Marinduque

FPSC, P10

Washington Wizards guard Russell Westbrook (4) reacts after a three point basket against the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter at Capital One Arena.

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VOL.14 ISSUE 15 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021

TRAINING STOPPED

No group training activities for athletes in ‘NCR Plus’

The ECQ status has affected the training of the Gilas Pilipinas squad.

G

roup practices of athletes in the professional and national team levels have been suspended in the so-called “NCR Plus” areas placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) issued an advisory asking all the national sports associations (NSAs) to postpone their athletes' training within Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal.

"The NSA's are encouraged to practice online individual training and no group activities shall be conducted," the advisory, signed by PSC Acting Deputy Executive Director Reina Evangelista, read.

Evangelista called on the national athletes to "ensure proper compliance with relevant precautionary measures of the Department of Health and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease issued health and safety protocol at all times."

This heavily affects those who are at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, the combat sport fighters who are hoping to crack the national team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Gilas Pilipinas pool for the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers third window and the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Al Panlilio on Monday quickly called off the Gilas practice following the PSC advisory.

“The timing is unfortunate because our Gilas Pilipinas pool has been putting a lot of work to prepare for FIBA competitions in the coming months.

It’s been a difficult stretch for the SBP and the team as Covid-19 has affected

so many of our plans but we have no other choice but to adjust and move forward,” Panlilio said.

He assured that the SBP would continue to support the PSC as they exert their effort to care for the national athletes amid the pandemic.

“As always, we will remain supportive of the decisions coming from the PSC and will also strictly follow the relevant precautionary measure from the Department of Health and the IATF,” Panlilio added.

On the other hand, the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) followed suit and told the professional athletes to have their own training "limited to solo or individual activities conducted indoors or anywhere within the individual's private property."

The postponement of group training is in line with Section 4.1.a of the PSC-GAB-DOH Joint Administrative Order, which caters to the resumption of sports practices amid the pandemic.

A waiting game ensues as to when the athletes can train together again as President Rodrigo Duterte Monday night kept the ECQ status in NCR Plus until April 4, but subject to further review.

However, some doctor members of the IATF proposed to extend the lockdown in NCR Plus, citing that having ECQ only for the Holy Week would not be enough to curb the upward trend in Covid-19 cases. (PNA)