Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 21 | Wednesday, May 6, 2020

EDGEDAVAO DAVAO

RAFA, RAFA, SOON, RICE FEDERER FEDERER THAT’S GOOD MOVE ONON TO TO MOVE FOR DIABETICS THIRD ROUND THIRD ROUND

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SIGNS OF BOOM BOOM NEW NORMAL VOL.13 21••FRIDAY-SATURDAY, •FRIDAY-SATURDAY, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 31-JUNE 2020 VOL.12 ISSUE MAY VOL.12ISSUE ISSUE59 59 MAY 31-JUNE1,1,2019 2019

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Applications for building, Applications for building, SPMC defines measures for zoning zoningpermits permitsincrease increase

General Community Quarantine T he Office of the Davao City Planning he Office of the Davao City Planning and Development Coordinator is and Development Coordinator swarmed by applicants for locationalis swarmed by building applicants forother locational clearance, zoning, and perclearance, zoning, building and other permits with at least 500 applications submitted a weekly basis. mitsonwith at least 500 applications submitted on a weekly basis.

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The increase in apis an inindiplications The increase apcation of Davao plications is an City’s indibooming cation of construction Davao City’s industry and infrastrucSans the usual traffic congesbooming construction tion and the ongoing constructure development, the industry and infrastruction works, this is how Davao city noted. ture development, the City landscape during the City quarPlancityAssistant noted. enhanced community ningAssistant andlike Development antine looks onCity Tuesday.

PlanCoordinator Roy Ryan Edge Davao photo ning and Development Rigor said theRoy influx of Coordinator Ryan permit applicants Rigor said the influxon of apermit weeklyapplicants basis is very on high, causing delays in a weekly basis is very the issuances of perhigh, causing delays in mits. theRigor issuances of issupersaid the mits. ance of some permits, Rigor saidlocational the issusuch as for ance of some applications, permits, needed such as for locational actual surveys by their applications, needed personnel and this conactual surveys by tributed to the delay.their personnel andreally this con“There are too tributed to the delay.

“There are really too

STORY ON P2

many applications that we receive and it is not many applications that only limited and to the zonwe receive it is not ing there onlypermits, limited but to the zonare a lot more,” he ingalso permits, but there said. are also a lot more,” he He also underscored said. submission of incomHe also underscored plete sets of submission ofrequireincomments thatof further plete sets requireslows the process mentsdown that further ofslows issuing the the permits. down process cliof “There issuing are the some permits. ents“There whoseare documents some clihave discrepancies, and ents whose documents that causes the delay in have discrepancies, and the issuance of the perthat causes the delay mit. Another example isin the issuance the perwhen the areaofneeds to mit.

Another example be reclassified and thatis when the needsofto needs the area approval be reclassified that the city counciland first,” needs the approval of Rigor said. the city council FSIGNS,first,” P10 Rigor said.

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MINDANAO MINDANAO HERITAGE THROUGH HERITAGEFASHION THROUGH MODERN MODERN ► INDULGE A1FASHION ►INDULGE A1

RAISING A MILLENNIAL FAMILY IN RAISINGFOREMOST A MILLENNIAL ESDEVCO’S MIND IN FAMILY FOREMOST ► PROPERTY P9MIND ESDEVCO’S ►PROPERTY P9

TOURISM. President Rodrigo Duterte responds to the discussions during the meeting with the President Japanese tourism TOURISM. Rodrigopart-Duterte ners at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, Japan responds to the discussions during the on Wednesday night.the PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO partmeeting with Japanese tourism ners at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday night. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 21 • WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020

NEW NORMAL SPMC defines measures for

General Community Quarantine A

By MAYA M. PADILLO

s the city government of Davao gears up for the possibility of easing up the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) status to general community quarantine (GCQ), the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) recommended measures in preparing residents for what is now referred to as the “new normal.”

Dr. Maria Elinore Concha, chief training officer SPMC, said in a virtual presser on Tuesday, that the most important thing to be considered in lifting lock-

A registered nurse from Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) rides her bicycle after picking up grocery items from a supermarket along J.P. Laurel Avenue in Davao City on her way home after working a night shift on Tuesday. Edge Davao

downs is whether or not the transmission of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) is already under control.

In the “new normal”, SPMC recommended tele-appointments, virtual consultations, restricted entry zones, disinfection prior to reopening, health declaration and symptom monitoring, temperature check, and handwashing zones in schools, work places and other essential places.

“The latest statistics is the region has zero cases and we want to say that the cooperation of the general public and the decision to implement ECQ really help in terms of flattening the curve,” Concha said.

The next important consideration is how to detect, test, and isolate every COVID-19 case.

Other points to consider in lifting lockdowns, Concha said, are minimizing hotspot risks in vulnerable places such as nursing homes; managing risk of importing new

cases and ensuring communities are fully educated, engaged and empowered to live under the post-coronavirus regime.

“Dapat hindi lang Department of Health, SPMC, City health ang nagpre-prepare, if we are thinking of lifting lockdowns dapat lahat tayo may preventive measures. At SPMC, even among our staff and patients may health declaration para lahat tayo protected,” Concha said.

Dr. Lenny Joy Rivera, DOH 11 assistant regional director, said in this “new normal” everybody must be prepared when ECQ and GCQ is lifted such as putting in place the system of early detection, isolation, treatment, and re-integration of the COVID-19 patients.

“Kailangan in place na lahat. For example the early detection kailangan as soon as possible nade-detect natin at dapat in place ang lahat ng centers natin at the same time isolation facilities, at paano sila (patients) ima-manage,” she said.

VOL.13 ISSUE 21 • WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020

Cluster Wars winners get P350T, rice supply

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he office of 1st District Rep. Paolo “Pulong’ Duterte awarded on Monday PHP350,000 cash and sacks of rice to the grand winner of the “Davao City Cluster Wars” music video contest.

Following the declaration of enhanced community quarantine in March, the city government implemented a "clustering" of barangays where residents can only perform essential tasks such as buying goods and other supplies.

The "cluster wars" — a brainchild of the presidential son — became an online sensation where each of the six clusters would post their own memes and other media content on Facebook to highlight how their members spend their

CLUSTER WARS WINNER. Cluster 3's Arvyn Grace Into (third from left) receives the top cash prize of P350,000 and 70 sacks of rice from Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo 'Pulong' Duterte. A con-

NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

time at home.

Duterte said his office conceived of the “Pagpuyo sa Balay” (stay home) music video contest to emphasize the importance of containing the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) by remaining staying home, practicing social distancing and other health measures.

Pulong said he hopes that through the contest, Dabawenyos could have more productive activities together with neighbors and cluster mates’ neighbors —

albeit online.

Arvyn Grace Into, a member of the winning team from Cluster 3, received the cash prize and the 18 sacks of rice for her group members from Duterte’s staff together with City Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, who personally visited the residence of the winners.

Seventy sacks of rice were also given to the winning cluster as part of the prize.

Into, a vocalist of a local band here, said she will use the cash ?CLUSTER, P10

gressional staff and City Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang (extreme left) turned over the prize. (Pulong Pulong ni Pulong photo)

3

PH still has enough Covid-19 funds: Palace

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he government still has sufficient funds to address the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak, Malacañang assured the public on Tuesday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque gave the assurance, saying the government is not in a hurry to ask Congress for a supplemental budget to augment the money spent for Covid-19 response efforts.

“Sa ngayon, hindi pa tayo humihingi ng supplemental budget sa Kongreso. Sapat pa po ang pondo natin as is (We are currently not asking the Congress to approve a supplemental budget [to combat Covid-19]. We still have enough funds),” Roque said in a virtual presser aired on state-run PTV-4.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III bared on April 23 that the government has so far spent PHP352.7 billion amid the country’s fight against Covid-19.

In his April 27 press briefing, Roque said the government has only PHP77 billion available funds to stop the further transmission of the new coronavirus.

Roque said there is nothing to worry about because the government is on top of the situation despite the threat posed by Covid-19.

“Hindi lang po natin alam kung hanggang kailan kasi itong problema sa Covid, hanggang walang bakuna at walang gamot. (We just do not know how long the problem about Covid-19 would last so long as there is no vac-

cine and no cure).

But for now, we’re okay,” he said.

Under Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, Duterte has the special power to realign funds in the 2020 national budget to stop the contagion.

In a televised public address on April 23, the President said he might ask Congress to approve a supplemental budget to boost the funding for Covid-19 response.

Roque said Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado has yet to give the exact amount of supplemental budget the government would need to address the health crisis in the country.

“The deadline was April 30 and I inquired from Secretary Wendel Avisado kung meron nang sumatotal (if they already have a sum total of the [proposed supplemental budget]),” he said. “For now, wala pa po silang hinahandang (they have yet to prepare the proposed) supplemental budget.

Okay pa po (The situation is still okay), as is where is.”

Duterte has extended until May 15 the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in areas considered high risk for Covid-19.

Meanwhile, other areas across the country are under a general community quarantine.

Covid-19 infections in the Philippines has so far jumped to 9,485 with 623 deaths.

Some 1,315 patients have already recovered from the disease. (PNA)

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 21 • WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020

A delivery rider drives pass a popular food chain along Quimpo Blvd., Davao City on Tuesday. Mobile food delivery business is one of the few thriving industries in Davao City during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to Covid-19 pandemic. Edge Davao

Firm employs proactive measures I to mitigate effects of pandemic

PH inflation slows further to 2.2%

By MAYA M. PADILLO

A

local joint venture firm turns to proactive measures to cushion the effects of the coronavirus pandemic to the Davao City bulk water supply project.

Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc., a joint venture company between Aboitiz Equity Ventures and J.V. Angeles Construction Corporation (JVACC), divulged that it has been collaborating with project partner Davao City Water District (DCWD) in dealing with the challenging times.

Apo Agua general manager Cirilo Almario III said the company

is also working for the project to recover as quickly as possible.

In a statement, Apo Agua said it has suspended the construction activities for the project for the duration of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in compliance with Davao City’s Executive Order (EO) No. 23 and the subsequent extension of ECQ up to May 15.

Almario said this

is also the company’s way to support the government’s efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19.

He said the company and its Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor and JVACC are also continuing with non-construction-related activities through a work-fromhome setup, and also evaluating the full impact of the pandemic on its critical value chains from labor to subcontractors and suppliers.

The P12.6-billion bulk water supply project will have Tamugan River as its main source and is expected to be oper-

ational by 2021. The project will also deliver 300 million liters per day (MLD) to Davao City Water District (DCWD) as provided under their supply agreement.

The bulk water project aims to shift the dependence of Davao City’s main water supply from groundwater wells to the more sustainably-sourced surface water from the Tamugan River.

Meanwhile, the company through its social development arm, the Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. also extended help to the city government of Davao by donating food items.

nflation slowed for the third consecutive month last April to 2.2 percent, in line with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) forecast of a benign inflation environment due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Rate of price increases in the fourth month of 2020 decelerated from the previous month’s 2.5 percent, bringing the average inflation to date to 2.6 percent, at the lower half of the government’s 2 to 4-percent target band until 2022.

In a Viber message to reporters Tuesday, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said April’s inflation rate is within monetary authorities’ 1.9 to 2.7-percent projection for that month.

He said it is “consistent with the BSP’s

prevailing assessment that inflation is expected to be benign over the policy horizon due to the adverse impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the domestic and global economy.”

Diokno said latest baseline forecasts indicate a 2-percent average inflation this year and 2.5 percent average next year.

Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and oil items also decelerated to 2.5 percent from 2.7 percent last March, resulting in a 2.8 percent average to date.

Diokno reiterated his projection for a U-shape recovery path for the Philippine economy from the pandemic.

“Growth is expected to bounce back to its potential output growth in 2021 sup?PH, P10

VOL.13 ISSUE 21 • WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

ECONOMY 5

Buses wait for passengers at the terminal in San Francisco, Agusan del Agusan del Sur up to the interior town of Loreto, also in Agusan del Sur. Sur in this photo taken at 1 p.m. Monday in time of COVID-19 pandemic. Other routes include Bislig City and Tandag City, also both in Surigao del These buses ply the routes from Ampayon in Butuan City until Trento, Sur. MindaNews photo by CHRIS V. PANGANIBAN

GOCCs remit P129-B to T boost Covid-19 response

DOF extends deadlines for tax amnesty, ITR anew

G

overnment-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) have remitted PHP129.45 billion to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) as of April 27, to augment funds for stateled efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) and provide economic relief to poor families and other vulnerable groups most affected by the economic fallout from the global health crisis.

Of the total, some PHP91.62 billion was remitted after the effectivity of Republic Act (RA) 11469 or the "Bayanihan to Heal as One Act" on March 24 and up to April 29, the largest sum ever collected from GOCCs in only five weeks, the Corporate Affairs Group (CAG) of the Department of Finance (DOF), led by Undersecretary An-

tonette Tionko, said in a news release issued Tuesday.

Before the effectivity of the Bayanihan law, GOCCs were able to remit a total of PHP37.83 billion to the BTr from January 1 to March 23.

On top of the cash dividends remitted by the GOCCs, the remittances also included the unutilized subsidies and payment of

guarantee fees and national government advances.

Cash dividends remitted amounted to PHP121.75 billion.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, which remitted PHP37.48 billion, topped the list of GOCCS with the highest dividend contributions, followed by the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp., with PHP17.9 billion, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

(Pagcor) and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) with PHP12 billion each.

The GOCCs under the Department of Transportation – the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) – followed with their respective remittances

of PHP6 billion each from the MIAA and CAAP and PHP5.05 billion from PPA. The Philippine National Oil Corp.

(PNOC) remitted PHP5 billion; National Power Corp., PHP4 billion; Philippine Reclamation Authority, PHP3.8 billion; Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), PHP2.69 billion; Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, PHP2.27 billion; PNOC Exploration Corp., PHP2 billion; and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, PHP2 billion.

Other GOCCs that remitted to the BTr include the National Electrification Administration, PHP1.55 billion; Metropolitan Waterworks & Sewerage System, PHP1.43 billion; Clark Development Corp., PHP1.13 billion; Light ?GOCCS, P10

he Department of Finance (DOF) has issued Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 11-2020 further extending to June or July the deadlines on the filing or submission of necessary documents and/or payment of taxes required under the Tax Code of 1997, as amended.

Such deadlines were extended following President Rodrigo Duterte’s extension of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) period in Metro Manila and other major provinces until May 15.

RR No. 10-2020 amended RR No. 7-2020 on the extension of deadlines for the filing of various tax returns as provided for by Republic Act 11469, or the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act. The RR applies throughout the Philippines and shall generally apply during the “quarantine” period, whether community quarantine, enhanced community quaran-

tine (ECQ), modified community quarantine or general community quarantine (GCQ).

The extended deadlines include the filing and payment of annual income tax returns (ITRs) for individuals and corporations -- June 14; submission of required hard copies of audited financial statements and other attachments to the annual ITRs -- June 30; quarterly ITRs for individuals and corporations for the quarter ending March -- June 14 and June 29, respectively; monthly VAT returns for March and April -- June 4 and June 19, respectively; quarterly VAT returns for the quarter ending March -- June 9; and quarterly percentage tax return for the quarter ending March -- June 9.

Tax returns and payments for onetime transactions (ONETT) whose deadlines fall within the quarantine period are ?DOF, P10

6 VIEWS VANTAGE EDGE DAVAO EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13VOL.13 ISSUEISSUE 21 • WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 6, 2020 10 • FRIDAY, MARCH 2020

Thoughts on returning to work safely and the limits of testing

By EDCEL MAURICE SALVANA

(Editor's Note: Dr. Salvana is the Director of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the National Institutes of Health at the University of the Philippines Manila, and is Clinical Associate Professor and Research Coordinator at the Section of Infectious Diseases of the Department of Medicine at the Philippine General Hospital. He is also Adjunct Professor for Global Health at the University of Pittsburgh. He is currently the head of the subcommittee for HIV of the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases and led the formulation of local clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of opportunistic infections in HIV. He also sits as an institutional representative on the Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism.

Dr. Salvana graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Medicine and received internal medicine training at the Medical College of Wisconsin. He trained in infectious diseases and tropical medicine at the University Hospitals Case Medical Center and the Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Dr. Salvana has co-authored over 60 papers in international conferences and peer-reviewed journals and written 12 book chapters and review articles.)

While testing is an important component of our response, we should recognize its limitations and design return to work strategies with these limits in mind:

EDITORIAL

place.

3. The BEST intervention for PREVENTING WORKPLACE INFECTION is to ENSURE a SAFE WORK ENVIRONMENT. This INCLUDES: a. universal wearing of masks (and other PPE as appropriate) b. physical distance of at least 3-6 feet c. meticulous hand hygiene d. good ventilation e. daily checks for symptoms f. daily disinfection routines

4. A SAMPLE of returning workers CAN be tested for RTPCR at BASELINE to look for any evidence of asymptomatic transmitters. This can be as small as 10 people per building AS LONG as you HAVE PREVENTION MEASURES IN PLACE. Any who test positive should be isolated along with their close contacts.

5. Antibody testing in workplaces is BEST used in a SAMPLE of workers every 14 days to determine if there is any asymptomatic infection going on. It is not practical or cost-effective to check everyone as long as infection rates are below 5% because of the problem of false positives. The 1. For returning to work, the most IMPORTANT SCREEN- size of the sample can be calculated with trained epidemiING STEP is checking all returning workers for symptoms ologists and statisticians depending on local transmission Withthe thelast situation is facing amidst the rates despite order. within 14 daysthe andPhilippines excluding anyone who is sympinthe a community. coronavirus threat, it takes everyone’s utmost patience, The 10 firms reported by the Department of Labor to have made tomatic from working. This will remove up to about 80% of the compensation understanding and compassion to get the country through the hill. package are Aboitiz, Asian Terminal/Solaire COVID-19 transmission potential.

Returning to work safely is POSSIBLE if we ACCEPT that Hence, businesses must first take consideration of their workers Resort Hotel, Ayala Group of Companies, JG Summit, Jollibee, Lucio is a POTENTIAL ASYMPTOMATIC CARRIER rather than their profits or losses. The reason why the community EVERYONE Tan Group, Manny V. Pangilinan Group, San Miguel Corporation, quarantine is not working 100 percent is that the lowly workers SM and Udenna Group.These firms answered the call of President 2. Testing with antibody tests PLUS RT-PCR in asymp- and ACT ACCORDINGLY. are forced to report to work under fear of losing their jobs and Rodrigo Duterte to take care of their workers and employees tomatic workers will AT BEST pick up 2/3 of asymptomatnot earning their keep. The spectre of having no mey to feed their during this time of national emergency. ic transmitters.

You threat WILL than NOTdying be able to pick upvirus.

ALL ASTesting will giveSilvestre us an idea of the risk. Itthe DOES NOT mean families is a far bigger because of the DOLE Secretary Bello III lauded companies and YMPTOMATIC CARRIERS. EVEN you test with that is NO RISK and if people test negative, testIn the minds of the ordinary folks: if“We will dieeveryone just the same.” said there their compassion good example shouldbecause inspire other Only those who havetests enough food in their thoseMISS who ing enterprises whose source of wealth is the labor ofprocedures their workforce.

RT-PCR and antibody at baseline, youpantry, will STILL is IMPERFECT. Proper infection control are can afford to panic shop, and those who can afford to order online While big companies can take some hit, it is a different story INFECTIOUS ASYMPTOMATIC WORKERS. Therefore, you ESSENTIAL to control workplace transmission, and testing for deliveries will survive. But for the bigger chunk of the society, for smaller firms and this is where the government should come MAY NOT need to test (super expensive and will CAN besure, used as aare TOOL to make even BETTER. the equation remains “no everyone work, no food.” in. For there already some it formulation to thisPrevention effect being useThus, up limited resources), andthere a PROPERLY infection should not just be at the workplace, but should it is a welcome relief that are initiallyCALCULATED 10 companies of done. made themay supreme sacrifice of to compensate their workers during carry Forover now,tothe thing do for everyone is to try to be sample suffice to keep track of the presence or absence thebest home, thetocommute and everywhere else. the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine period.

This will significantly helpful instead of adding up to the problem and it all of infection as long as you have PREVENTIVE measures in This is the new normal. greatly help those in Metro Manila where people still go to work starts with following orders.

Be significant

EDGEDAVAO

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VOL.13 ISSUE 21 • WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE POINTS

7

WARTIME LIFE INSIDE DAPECOL Davao Penal Colony, now Davao Prison and Penal Farm, was founded on January 21, 1932 under Act No. 3732. Three months earlier, American Governor-general Dwight F. Davis issued Presidential Proclamation 411 on October 7, 1931, reserving a site for a penal colony in the region.

Over the next nine years (1932-41), the sprawling 28,000-hectare colony, slowly decimated by new proclamations that allotted lands to migrant setters, became home to convicts who tilled the land and produced rice and vegetables to partly sustain their daily needs.

When war broke, the Japanese Imperial forces appropriated it and turned the place into a concentration camp, which was originally the home of thousands of civilian inmates who had escaped prior to the arrival of the Japanese in the colony. Later, the prison occupancy expanded with the arrival of a thousand prisoners of war (POW) from Cabanatuan City and other Japanese-controlled territories. Hugh Ambrose, in The Pacific: Hell was an Ocean Away (2011), described the structures in the penal compound as narrated by war prisoners and survivors: “The barracks were large, tin-roofed buildings with solid wood floors. Each held 250 men.

At night the sleeping men crowded the floor space. No decks for sleeping had been built above them… [It] also had a mess hall that seated almost half the prisoners at one time. Having a place to sit for meals and, on Sundays, worship, seemed like luxuries to the men from Cabanatuan. At the noon meal and at the evening

meal the rice included cassava or camotes. There was resh water for drinking, washing and bathing.”

bao and cows had to be tended, and the eggs from ten thousand chickens harvested.”

Working the fields was backbreaking, depending on the

months of their stay at the colony.

“Along with pieces of a varied selection of fruit,” Ambrose added, “excluding exotic ones like jackfruit, the POWs also enjoyed a meat stew once or twice a week.

lands, mangroves, nipa palms, and streams, also had a railway system around three kilometers in length that delivered the POWs from their quarters to the rice fields where they were on forced labor.

Ambrose wrote: “The Davao Penal Colony ran a plantation of several hundred acres. There were about seventy-five acres of bananas, large portion of papaya, citrus fruit, avocados, jackfruit, coconuts, and other tropical fruits. Several hundred acres grew grains. Herds of cara-

assignments given. Work in the fields, for instance, started at 8:00 in the morning, then a two-hour break was given for lunch. After that, the POWs labored until 5:00 in the afternoon and were hauled in wagons to the camp. Others were detailed to fix the railroad bed.

In terms of food, the POWs had the luxury of rice from the fields they tilled. Compared to Cabanatuan, the food menu there was better; they were also treated reasonably, at least in the early

Beyond the meals served in the mess hall, many men working in the fields supplemented their diet with whatever came to hand.

The prisoners still ate a lot of rice, though” Compared to newly rounded-up POWs sent to the colony, the old timers in the concentration camp looked like scarecrows.

But the greatest challenge the inmates had to endure was the diseases that affected them. Among the illnesses were dengue fever, beri-beri, dysentery, tropical ul-

Beyond the buildings, the colony, surrounded by swamp-

cers, malnutrition, and malaria.

To feed the sickly, some prisoners had to squirrel away canned goals without being caught by the sentries who were under instruction to punish those caught “with fist, boot, and club immediately” in consonance with the orders of the Japanese emperor. (Beri-beri is “a disease-causing inflammation of the nerves and heart failure, caused by a deficiency of vitamin B1.” It is also known as thiamine deficiency.)

Some of the stolen goods, however, were hidden for use in a planned getaway that would become the greatest escape in the Pacific theatre. Hiding the goods was not easy. When the camp commander reduced the vegetable supply, some of the items had to be taken out to ensure the sick and those working hard in the fields had enough food to keep them going.

But the camp, with its own commissary, kitchen, living quarter, and infirmary, had its share of dark episodes. The inmates who were too weak to join the transfer of POWs or too sickly to even survive the next ocean trip aboard hell ships were left behind. The picture was grim, but the enemy did not allow those gravely ill to join the relocation.

When the Americans defeated the enemy and took over the colony in 1945, the sight of skeletons scattered on hospital beds and still covered with linens emotionally affected the liberators.

There was no other recourse but to provide a Christian burial in a temporary graveyard for those who did not survive the rigors of war.

NEVER WAIT FOR TOMORROW “The habit of always putting off an experience until you can afford it, or until the time is right, or until you know how to do it is one of the greatest burglars of joy. Be deliberate, but once you’ve made up your mind – jump in!” – Charles R. Swindoll *** Who says age – that number which most women fear (sorry, ladies if most of you are singled out) – matters? Look at Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao who, at 41, still manages to win his boxing match against a younger opponent.

If you’re like the world-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, age also doesn’t matter at all. He was already 68 when he created his most famous structure – in about two hours. But hold your breath first. It actually took him long to do it.

Brandon Spector, in an article published in the widely-circulated Reader’s Digest, shares the story: “In 1934, Pittsburgh department store magnate Edgar Kaufmann Sr. hired Wright to design a retreat around the waterfalls of his forested Pennsylvania property.

Wright visited the site and assured Kaufmann he had big plans.

In truth, he hadn’t drawn a thing.

That’s how trouble started brewing. “Weeks became months, and on a Sunday morning, September 22, 1935, Kaufmann spontaneously decided to visit Wright’s studio and check his progress.

He would arrive before lunch, Kaufmann explained over the phone, and was very excited to see the designs.”

If you were in Wright’s shoes, what would be your response. I know what you are thinking. Read the rest of the story: “With nervous apprentices watching and Kaufmann hours from his door, Wright finished breakfast, then drew up the plans for what became Fallingwater – an icon of modern design and a US National Historic Landmark.”

What Wright did – the delay-

ing tactic – is procrastination. Its synonyms include dawdle, dally, defer, drag, linger, loiter, postpone, protract, retard, stall, suspend, tarry, temporize, and wait. Dictionary defines it as “delay or postpone action.” It also means “put off doing something.”

Many famous men have shared their thoughts on the subject. “Never put off till tomorrow

There are so many people – famous at that – who procrastinate for various reasons. Bestselling author Paulo Coelho admitted, “It was my failure that first kept me from attempting the master work.

Now, I’m beginning what I could have started ten years ago. But I’m happy at least that I didn’t wait twenty years.”

Miranda July, the woman be-

folded down to my knees and fell to the ground face-first, with my eyes open. Motionless, I watched ants hurry in and out of a hole and I knew that standing up again would be a thousand times harder than the dragon or the swamp and so I did not even try. I just clicked on one thing after another after another.”

More often than not, writers

what may be done day after tomorrow just as well,” said American humorist and novelist Mark Twain. US President Abraham Lincoln also said, “Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.”

Two other American presidents did say on the subject.

Thomas Jefferson, stated, “Never put off for tomorrow, what you can do today.” Dwight David Eisenhower also said, “Neither a wise nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him.”

Wright, however, is not alone.

hind It Chooses You, shared her own experience: “The funny thing about my procrastination was that I was almost done with the screenplay. I was like a person who had fought dragons and most limbs and crawled through swamps and now, finally, the castle was visible.

I could see tiny children waving flags on the balcony; all I had to do was walk across a field to get to them.

Then, something unusual happened. The American film director, screenwriter, singer, actress, author and artist went on: “But all of a sudden, I was very, very sleepy. And the children couldn’t believe their eyes as I

have this habit of doing things “later on.” American playwright and essayist Paul Rudnick wrote: “As a writer, I need an enormous amount of time alone. Writing is 90% procrastination: reading magazines, eating cereal out of the box, watching infomercials.

It’s a matter of doing everything you can to avoid writing, until it is about four in the morning and you reach the point where you have to write.”

To procrastinate once is a while is alright. But doing it for several times that it becomes a habit, well, that’s another story.

“Habitual procrastination will readily testify to all the lost oppor-

tunities, missed deadlines, failed relationships and even monetary losses incurred just because of one nasty habit of putting things off until it is often too late,” wrote Stephen Richards, author of The Secret of Getting Started: Strategies to Triumph over Procrastination.

Do what you do today and don’t wait for tomorrow. Remember, we have given today and that’s why it is called present. Yesterday is gone and you cannot relive the past. Tomorrow is still out there and what if, as the line of a song goes, “tomorrow never comes”?

Now, let me tell you a story shared by William Barclay: It came to pass that Satan was testing all his little devils on the methods they would use to get people into the burning hell.

“What trick or like would you use?” he asked them.

A little devil pupil raised his hand and answered: “I’d tell them there is no heaven. Heaven is just a mere imagination.”

“You’re crazy,” Satan shouted. “Deep down inside everyone believes that they are one day going to be rewarded in heaven for all the good work they do. Saying there is no heaven does not work.”

Another volunteered, “I’d tell them there is no hell.” Satan again fired back: “That’s no good either.

Instinctively, everyone knows that someday – in a hell – evil and evildoers are going to get what they deserve. It is going to catch up.

Forget about that argument.”

A third pupil stood and said, “I’d tell people: have you fling now and convert later. No hurry. Take your time.”

Satan smiled and declared, “Hurrah! There’s a man who will win. Get up to earth and get to work.”

Now, get to work. Do the things you have to accomplish today. Never wait for tomorrow.

For as Scarlett O’Hara (portrayed

by Oscar-winning actress Vivien Leigh) in 1939’s Gone With The Wind, “Tomorrow is another day.”

8 HEALTH EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 21 • WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020

Soon, rice that’s good for diabetics

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

A

lmost always, diabetics are advised to eat less rice.

The reason: the starchrich staple can potentially release high amounts of sugar into the blood when digested.

A 2007 study of Chinese women in Shanghai found that middle-aged women who ate large amounts of rice and other refined carbohydrates were at increased risk for diabetes compared to their peers who ate less.

In the United States, Americans who eat white rice on a regular basis — five or more times a week — are almost 20 percent more likely to develop diabetes than those who eat it less than once a month.

But diabetics may now worry less. Researchers at the Laguna-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) have already identified the key gene that determines the glycemic index (GI) of rice.

The findings of the research, which analyzed 235 types of

rice from around the world, is good news because it not only means rice can be part of a healthy diet for the average consumer. It also means people with diabetes, or at risk of diabetes, can select the right rice to help maintain a healthy, low-GI diet.

“It is an important achievement that offers rice breeders the opportunity to develop varieties with different GI levels to meet consumer needs,” IRRI said in a statement. “Future development of lowGI rice would also enable food manufacturers to develop new, low-GI food products based on rice.”

GI is a measure of the rate at which carbohydrates as glucose enter the blood stream. “The GI also indicates the rate at which carbohydrates break down during

digestion in the small intestine into the simple sugars glucose, fructose and, sometimes, galactose,” explains Dr. Virgilio M. Ofiana in his weekly column for a national daily.

“The glucose is the sugar that is rapidly absorbed and has a reference GI of 100 or greater,” Dr. Ofiana writes. “Both fructose and galactose en-

ter the circulation at a slower rate and need to go to the liver for conversion into glucose: both, therefore, have lower GIs.” Dr. Melissa Fitzgerald, who led the research team at the IRRI, found the GI of rice varies a lot from one type of rice to another, ranging from a low of 48 to a high of 92, with an average of 64. “Low-GI foods are

those measured 55 and less, medium-GI foods are those measured between 56 and 69, while highGI foods measure 70 and above,” IRRI explained.

The rice with low GI is, indeed, good news for Filipinos, who are rice-eating people. As the late food epicure Doreen Fernandez wrote: “If we did not have rice,

our deepest comfort food, we would probably feel less Filipino.”

In the Philippines, an estimated 7.3 million people have diabetes, with 3.5 million of them diagnosed and the remaining ones undiagnosed. It is no wonder why the Philippines is now touted as a “diabetes hotspot.”

The prevalence of diabetes in adults

VOL.13 ISSUE 21 • WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020

in 6.2%. Every 6 seconds, studies show, one person dies of diabetes complications. “Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death among Filipinos,” says the Department of Health (DOH), the country’s leading public health government agency.

The Medical News Today (MNT) considers diabetes as “a metabolism disorder.”

Metabolism refers to the way your bodies use digested food for energy and growth.

Most of what you eat is broken down into glucose. Glucose is a form of sugar in the blood - it is the principal source of fuel for our bodies.

“When our food is digested, the glucose makes its way into our bloodstream,” the MNT explains.

“Our cells use the glucose for energy and growth. However, glucose cannot enter our cells without insulin being present - insulin makes it possible for our cells to take in the glucose.”

The Department of Health listed diabetes as the ninth leading cause of death among Filipinos today. In twenty years,

the Philippines is expected to be among the top 10 countries in the world with the highest numbers of people with diabetes.

Some 500 Filipinos are being diagnosed with the condition every day.

“Understanding that different types of rice have different GI values allows rice consumers to make informed choices about the sort of rice they want to eat,” said Fitzgerald. “Rice varieties such as India’s most widely grown rice variety, Swarna, have a low GI and varieties such as Doongara from Australia and Basmati have a medium GI.” Low-GI diets offer a range of health benefits, said Dr. Tony Bird, a researcher of Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Food Futures Flagship. “Low-GI diets can reduce the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes, and are also useful for helping diabetics better manage their condition,” he pointed out.

There are two types of diabetes.

EDGEDAVAO

Type 1 diabetes – sometimes called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or juvenile-onset diabetes – results from a shortage of insulin.

The onset is usually rapid, but one-third of those who have this type have a remission within three months.

Type 2 diabetes – also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus or adult-onset di-

abetes – results from the body’s inability to process the hormone effectively. About 90 percent of all diabetics have this form.

The development of a rice variety with low GI is a breakthrough waiting to happen. “This is good news for diabetics and people at risk of diabetes who are trying to control their condition through diet, as it means they

HEALTH

can select the right rice to help maintain a healthy, low-GI diet,” Dr. Bird said.

IRRI agreed. “Eating rice with other foods can help reduce the overall GI of a meal and, when combined with regular exercise, can reduce the chances of getting diabetes,” it said.

“In addition, people who exercise need more carbohydrates in their diet and can

9

take advantage of low-GI foods for sustained activity.”

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Francisco Duque urged Filipinos to help beat diabetes. “Diabetes keeps on increasing in prevalence, but we shouldn’t give up the fight against the disease,” he said. “It may be chronic and incurable, but diabetes can be managed.”

10

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 21 • WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020

GOCCS from 5

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

CLUSTER from 3

prize to help her fellow musicians who were left jobless after the city declared a quarantine in March.

“Our theme revolves around the concept of staying home and following the ECQ guidelines. We see to it that our song will bring the message to the people to stay

in their respective homes and avoid the spread of the disease,” she said.

With 18 collaborators of the song, Into said it took four hours for Huly Asidor — the group's composer — to come up with the music for their entry.

Into thanked Dute-

rte for the initiative as it helped not only her group-mates but also their cluster as a whole.

Meanwhile, James Michael Vergara, a representative of the lawmaker's office, said the contest "has brought some positive vibes to the Dabawenyos.

"We are thinking of another cluster game where they can participate again," Vergara said, adding that Pulong is also grateful to the contest participants even as he urged all clusters to stay home as their contribution to the city's front-liners.

(PNA)

ported by the measures under the government’s recovery plan,” he said.

Diokno said the central bank continues to “support for urgent and carefully coordinated measures with other government authorities to ease the spillover effects of the pandemic on people and firms, with a view towards preventing any long lasting economic and

social damage.”

“In addition to the monetary policy actions that have been announced, the BSP stands ready to deploy any available measures in its toolkit as we continue to assess the impact of coronavirus pandemic on the domestic economy,” he added.

Among the measures that the BSP has implemented to address the econom-

ic impact of the pandemic are the total of 125-basis-point reduction in the central bank’s key policy rates, and the 200-basis-point cut in universal and commercial banks (U/KBs) and non-bank financial institutions with quasi-banking functions’ (NBQBs) reserve requirement ratio (RRR) to boost domestic liquidity.

It has also permit-

ted financial institutions’ loans to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as alternative compliance to RRR to lessen banks’ financial burden on loans to the sector, and has reduced the credit risk weights on current loans extended to MSMEs from 75 percent to 50 percent for qualified MSMEs and 100 percent for non-qualified MSMEs. (PNA)

extended for 30 days from the date of the lifting of the quarantine.

Likewise, the RR provides that the deadline for the filing of position papers, protest letters and other correspondences with due dates falling during the quarantine period shall be 30 days from the lifting of the quarantine.

The running of the statute of limitations shall also be suspended during the said period.

Also, taxpayers wishing to avail of the Tax Amnesty on Delin-

quencies (TAD) under RA 11213 and implemented by RR 4-2019, as amended, can do so until June 22, 2020.

The deadline was previously set to June 8.

This extension intends to give taxpayers ample time to settle their tax delinquencies while allowing the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to increase its collection from the tax amnesty program.

All other reportorial requirements not specifically mentioned in the RR whose date of submission falls within the quarantine

period from March 16, 2020 has an extended deadline of 30 days from the date of the lifting of the quarantine.

In case of any further quarantine extension, the extended deadlines shall be further extended for 15 calendar days.

Finally, the DOF and the BIR reminded the taxpaying public that they may still opt to file and pay their taxes before the extended deadline.

Taxpayers who file their tax returns within the original deadline or before the ex-

tended deadline may still amend their tax returns at any time on or before the extended due date.

If the amendment results in additional tax payments, such will not be subject to surcharge, interest and compromise penalties.

If the amendment results in an overpayment of taxes paid, the taxpayer may opt to either file for a refund or carry over the overpaid tax as credit against the tax due for the same tax type in the succeeding periods’ tax returns. (PR)

PH from 4

DOF from 5

Rail Transit Authority, PHP1 billion; and the National Irrigation Administration, PHP1 billion.

The Philippine Sugar Corp. remitted PHP875 million; Sugar Regulatory Administration, PHP659.55 million; National Housing Authority, PHP513.24 million; Cebu Port Authority, PHP500 million; and the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority, PHP500 million.

The Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan, APO Production Unit, Inc., Philippine International Trading Corp., Philippine Crop Insurance Corp., National Development Co., North Luzon Tollways Corp. (NorthRail), Social Housing Finance Corp., Food Terminal Inc., Laguna Lake Development Authority, Clark International Airport Corp., Philippine Postal Corp., Batangas Land Company, Inc., DBP Data Center Inc., DBP Leasing Corp., LBP Insurance Brokerage, Inc., LBP Resources and Development Corp., LBP Leasing and Finance Corp., Philippine Mining Development Corp., Philippine Retirement Authority, and the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority, along with various other GOCCs also remitted their dividends to the BTr. Under the Bayanihan Act, the President is authorized “to allocate cash, funds, investments, including unutilized or unreleased subsidies and transfers, held by any GOCC or any national government agency to the address the Covid-19 emergency.”

The expanded

budgetary powers granted by the Congress to the President under the Bayanihan Act just a week after the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) has enabled the government to formulate a four-pillar socioeconomic strategy to blunt the impact of Covid-19 on the Filipino people and the economy.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III told the House of Representatives during a recent online meeting of the economic stimulus cluster of its Defeat Covid-19 Committee (DCC) that the President's four-pillar strategy has a combined value of USD29.3 billion (PHP1.49 trillion) or about 8 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

This anti-Covid-19 strategy covers providing poor and low-income households, small-business employees and other vulnerable groups emergency and wage subsidies; marshaling the country’s medical resources and ensuring the safety of its health care front-liners; fiscal and monetary actions to finance emergency initiatives and keep the economy afloat; and an economic recovery plan to create jobs and sustain growth under a post-quarantine scenario.

The PHP205-billion Social Amelioration Program (SAP) for 18 million poor and low-income households under this four-pronged strategy to defeat the virus marks the single biggest social protection program ever of the government.

(PR)

1,000 national athletes while providing them with housing and food, especially those who got stranded in Metro Manila.

Go lauded the PSC for taking care of the athletes in this time of pandemic.

“I am calling on the government to continue supporting our athletes in this trying time. I also

want to thank the PSC and the GAB for their initiatives that benefit the athletes,” said Go, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, adding that the PSC is doing a good job in monitoring the health status of the athletes through online medical consultations and psychological sessions.

ATHLETES’ from 12

VOL.13 ISSUE 21 • WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020

11 SPORTS EDGEDAVAO

How Adidas, Converse screwed up with Jordan

“T

he Last Dance” has delivered on insight into the Chicago Bulls’ locker room and front office during their rise with Michael Jordan.

signed to deals when Jordan was shopping.

And they weren’t ready to make him the priority.

“Converse had big players,” Jordan said.

“They told me, ‘We cannot envision you being put ahead of On Sunday, it have looked entirely them.’ OK, fine.”

Even Nike repdished details about different. how Jordan trans“Do you have a resentative Howard formed the sneaker shoe company that you White knew Jordan game. It must have wanted to go with?” didn’t want to be at Nike. been a painful watch Jordan was asked.

“In the early 80s, for Adidas executives.

“That was Adidas,” Nike was, for the most The folks at Converse Jordan responded. probably won’t be re"Did you have a part, a track shoe comwatching this one ei- shoe company that pany,” White told “The ther. you wanted to go Last Dance.” “Michael didn’t even want to be During Episode 5, with?"

Jordan revealed that Michael Jordan: at Nike.”

Of course, Jornot only did he not "That was Adidas." intend to sign with Welp, that's one dan Brand went on to Nike, but he didn’t hell of a missed op- become the biggest even want to visit the portunity for Adidas. in the history of the campus for a pitch. Worked out pretty well shoe business, while His agent, David Falk, for Nike. #TheLast- Converse and Adidas became relative afterhad to call his parents Dance to talk him into to visFalk then went on thoughts in basketball.

While sneaker iting with the apparel to talk about exactly company. why Adidas wasn’t the heads have long believed that Jordan “I couldn’t even right fit. get him to get on the “Adidas was really originally wanted to Michael Jordan in his Rookie season (Getty Images) damn plane and visit dysfunctional by that join Adidas, the blunt the campus,” Falk said. time,” Falk said. “They terms of its mistake in Jordan said that had just told me, ‘We’d 1984 revealed on Sun- either Converse or adi- table was set for Nike he relented when his love to have Jordan. We day must be painful to das both of which he simply by self-eliminawore during his col- tion of its main commom talked him into just can’t make a shoe digest. lege days in North Car- petitors. … Still MJ was taking the visit. When work at this point in Nike offered Jordan time.’ I wanted Michael HOW DID JORDAN olina. At first he was not convinced.

Only when Nike $250,000 for his first to go with Nike. They AND NIKE COME TO- really not interested in signing with Nike at offered to give MJ his GETHER? endorsement con- were the upstart.” all.

But Converse deown shoeand clothtract, shoe history was Converse screwed clined and according ing line did he change Back when the Air made. up, too to a Wall Street Jourhis mind.

After all Jordan’s first Converse didn’t Jordan 1 came out in nal article published in having your own line choice exactly play its cards 1985 Nike was still 2015 so did Adidas. of signature shoes Had Jordan had right either, according known primarily as a “Adidas distribuwas unheard of in the it his way and Adidas to Jordan. It had Larry running shoe compators wanted to sign Mr. NBA. Basketball playbeen better prepared, Bird, Magic Johnson ny. Michael originally the shoe game would and Julius Erving all wanted to sign with Jordan”, says someone ers simply did not get who was an Adidas “signature” products. distributor then. But Kareem was getting executives in Germa- $100,000 from Adidas, ny decided shoppers and James Worthy got would favor taller an 8-year, $1.2 million players and wanted to deal with New Balsponsor centers, the ance, but nobody had person says, adding: an entire product line “We kept saying, ‘no— named after them. Up no one can relate to to that point this privthose guys. Who can ilege was reserved for associate with a seven- tennis players alone. foot-tall guy?’” – Wall (Ever heard of “Stan Street Journal Smith”?) As the first In what would basketball player with turn out to be one of his own signature the biggest errors of shoes Jordan would judgment ever (Port- immediately become land picking Sam Bow- the king of basketball ie instead of Michael in sneaker advertising. the ’84 NBA Draft beNike designer PeThe iconic Air Jordan 1 Chicago is the world's most sought after sneaker. ing one of them), the ter Moore, designer of

the Air Jordan Is and Air Jordan IIs, hastily sketched out the Wings-Logo, worked it into a presentation and the decision was made: Michael joined Nike for $2.5 million over 5 years. Just to be on the safe side Nike worked an out-clause into the contract: if Air Jordans didn’t earn Nike $3 million in the first 3 years, or if Jordan didn’t make the NBA All-Star Game in his first three years, Nike could dump him.

Of course Jordan was voted into the All-Star Game as a Rookie starter and the shoe made Nike $130 million in 1985 alone.

The rest is history.

Nike’s history.

Because Nike’s success ever since is of course directly linked to the Jordan signing in 1984. In fact there are a lot of people who think there would be no Nike today at all, if it wasn’t for one Michael Jeffrey Jordan.

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO VOL.13 ISSUE 21 • WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020

Senator Bong Go wants the Philippine Sports Commission and the Games and Amusements Board to look after the welfare of athletes. Edge Davao photo

ATHLETES' WELFARE T

Sen. Bong Go calls on PSC, GAB to look after athletes

he sportsman that he is, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go won't let a day pass not thinking of the athletes' welfare.

And now amidst the coronavirus pandemic, the Dabawenyo lawmaker is reminding the shepherds of Philippine sports to take care of the flock.

On Tuesday, Senator Go called on the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) to continue looking after the welfare of the athletes amid the crisis brought by the nov-

el coronavirus outbreak in the country in a report by the Tribune.

The report said that Go believes the PSC should continue funding the athletes despite its looming financial shortage following the issuance of a Department of Budget and Management circular instructing government agencies to realign their budget to help in the country’s fight against

coronavirus.

The PSC's budget was slashed from P900 million to P200 million forcing it to drop some of its priority programs like the Philippine National Games, Batang Pinoy and the country’s hosting of the 10th ASEAN Para Games. Aside from the reduced budget, PSC also reportedly lost P4.7 percent from the monthly remittance of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation after the government suspended the operation of casino and other gaming activities nationwide.

Following the

consecutive directives of the Department of Budget Management (DBM) on projects that will be discontinued (National Budget Circular 580) and the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases on prohibited activities even beyond the Enhanced Community Quarantine, the PSC instituted several belt-tightening measures to ensure that it can keep its commitment to continue to support the members of the national team.

Led by Chairman William Ramirez, the agency’s top of-

ficials held a virtual board meeting last week and discussed ways and means they could meet outstanding commitments of the agency. The PSC then announced that all sports activities are canceled until December of this year, in compliance with the IATF directives.

Consequently, the board also decided to finally withdraw further financial support to the twice-postponed 10th ASEAN Paragames. The PSC shall, however, honor its previous commitments with the APG organizing committee to cover initial

operations expenses.

“We heed the call of the national government to cut expenses as we reroute majority of our resources to fighting the pandemic, but we also stand by our commitment to keep supporting members of the national team,” explained Ramirez.

Ramirez announced that there is a status quo on allowance releases for national athletes and coaches, and thanked the PAGCOR for its steady remittances to the agency.

PSC nevertheless found a way to cover the salaries and allowance of close to ?ATHLETES’, P10