Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 95 | Friday, July 31, 2020

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

‘INFECT ME’

VOL.13 ISSUE 95 • FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2020

f

@EdgeDavao

www.edgedavao.net

INDULGE P8

edgedavao@gmail.com

P 15.00 • 12 PAGES

Report: Individuals voluntarily want Covid-19 for money but SPMC frowns on blood plasma as treatment

By MAYA M. PADILLO

Land Transportation Office 11 (LTO-11) personnel check the documents of vehicle owners at the registration inspection area of the first ever LTO motor vehicle drive thru facility at LTO 11 regional office along Quimpo Boulevard in Davao City on Thursday. The facility is a brainchild of the management of LTO 11 which aims to

STORY ON PAGE 2

prevent the spread of Covid-19 at the same time a compliance for the implementation of Anti-Red Tape Act and Ease of Doing Business Act. Edge Davao

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 95 • FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2020

Ex-congressman, cult leader Ecleo nabbed in Pampanga

A

A young Muslim boy stands at the center of praying Muslim men during last year’s gathering at Tionko Football Field along Quimpo Boulevard in Davao City. President Rodrigo Duterte has declared July 31 as a regular

holiday nationwide for the observance of Eid’l Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice. Edge Davao

‘INFECT ME’

uthorities have arrested former lawmaker and cult leader Ruben Ecleo Jr. in Pampanga, according to a report.

In April 2012, Ecleo was convicted for the January 2002 murder of his wife, Alona Bacolod-Ecleo, whose body was found decomposing in a ravine.

The former lawmaker was meted a life sentence or reclusion perpetua by a Cebu court and ordered to pay P25 million in damages to the family of his late wife.

Before his murder conviction, the Sandiganbayan in October 2006 sentenced Ecleo to 31 and a half years in

DFA logs 15 new Covid-19 cases among overseas Filipinos

T Report: Individuals voluntarily want Covid-19 for money but SPMC frowns on blood plasma as treatment

By MAYA M. PADILLO

F

or the right price, some individuals are reportedly willing to get infected with Covid-19.

Reports have circulated that for a price of P80,000, some individuals are purposely infecting themselves with Covid-19 in order to sell their blood plasma once recovered.

According to the reports, some rich individuals described as “Chinese” are approaching survivors of Covid-19 to ask for their blood plasma, which is believed potential to treat Covid-19. The blood plasma trade was reportedly at P80,000 per bag in Cebu City.

Selling blood plasma is discouraged as it taints the culture of blood donation.

The Department of Health

(DOH) 7 condemned the sale of blood plasma to patients in Cebu where the illegal trade was first reported.

But is blood plasma from a recovered Covid-19 patient a cure for the dreaded disease?

Dr. Marie Yvette Barez, infectious diseases specialist of Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), said the hospital is not recommending giving blood plasma to patients admitted due to Covid-19.

Barez said there is no existing guidelines that endorse the use of the convalescent plasma against the virus.

“I am not aware of this if

they are purposely infecting themselves because we do not get plasma from the patients that are being admitted because there is no existing guidelines that endorses the use of the convalescent plasma. We still need systematic documentation about this and analysis of anecdotal experiences. I haven’t heard one here in Davao as we have no program giving plasma to the patients,” she said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Lenny Rivera, assistant director of the Department of Health 11 (DOH 11), said there are more active cases in Davao City compared to other provinces in Davao Region. As of July 29, 2020: Davao City has 246 active cases, 73 cases in Davao del Norte, 189 cases in Davao del Sur, 49 cases in Davao de Oro, 57 in Davao Oriental, and

26 in Davao Occidental.

According to her, 78 percent of these active cases are asymptomatic.

She said there are a total of 33,606 specimens processed in the three accredited laboratories SPMC, Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC) and One World.

“We are processing also other specimens coming from other regions,” she said.

The total persons tested is around 26,180 and the total number of person who tested positive is 1,229.

She also said there are a total of 19,982 returning OFWs and locally stranded individuals who arrived in Davao Region starting May 2020 where there are a total of 397 of ROFs and LSIs who tested positive and most of them are asymptomatic.

to maximize productivity in the fisheries sector of the region, reduce poverty in the fisheries sector, and propel Mindanao’s economic recovery post-coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

He said the program is one of the priority projects submitted by MinDA to the European Union Delegation for inclusion in the PHP2.1 billion Mindanao Peace and Development (MINPAD) Rise Mindanao Grant Fund.

The MAFDEV aims to organize and empower aqua and fisheries stakeholders and establish fish processing facilities in the selected fish production areas in Mindanao.

Piñol said the projects include ice flakes and blocks-making equipment, blast freezing machinery, cold storage and processing facilities such as fish drying equipment.

To ensure profitability for the stakeholders, Piñol said the project also aims to estab-

lish a digital platform to determine the supply and demand situation for aqua and fisheries products in Mindanao, and establish domestic and foreign market linkages.

Beneficiaries of the program will also include a fish pond and fish cage operators in the different coastal areas and coves of Mindanao. With the recent approval of the EU Delegation Grant Fund for Mindanao by the Department of Finance, MAFDEV is expected to be implemented before the end of the year.

“Public and private academic institutions will also be asked to support the program, especially in the social preparation and financial capability training of the organized aqua and fisheries stakeholders,” the MinDA chief said.

In Mati City, Piñol said a five-hectare modern fish port worth PHP150 million would soon rise in Purok Calagundian Madang, Barangay Central.

Mati City Information Officer Ben Jason Tesiorna said

the PFDA is “seriously considering” to fund the project, to be divided into two PHP75 million multi-year implementation.

Top officials of the PFDA paid a courtesy call to Mayor Michelle Rabat Tuesday to discuss the proposed project, he said.

Tesiorna said that PFDA is considering to fund the proposed fish port on 2021-2022 to strengthen the fish supply in Mindanao along with General Santos City and this city as mother ports in Davao Region, together with Malalag, Panabo, Mati and Tagum.

“PFDA strongly encouraged Mayor Rabat to allow the participation of the private sector in the development of the fish port such as food processing, packing, and canning to ensure food security,” he said.

Rabat said the proposed fish port would be a big help to the local fisherfolk as Mati City has no proper storage for marine products. (PNA)

DavOr to host 1st Aqua-fisheries Summit in August

T

he Mindanao “Aqua and Fisheries Modernization Program” is set to take off next month with the staging of the first stakeholder’s summit in Mati City, Davao Oriental.

Organized by the Davao Oriental provincial government, which has been identified as a major fish production area in Mindanao, the August 27 event is supported by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).

Other government agencies like the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Philippine Fishports Development Authority (PFDA), both under the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Southeast Asia Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) will also participate, said MinDA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol.

In a statement on Wednesday, Piñol said MinDA has earlier crafted the Mindanao Aqua-Fisheries Development Program (MAFDEV)

prison over an anomalous construction deals he entered into when he was town mayor of San Jose, Surigao del Norte between 199194.

Ecleo is the leader of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association, a group based in Dinagat Islands.

The report, citing National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Police Major General Debold Sinas, said Ecleo has been under police surveillance for months before he was nabbed.

Prior to Ecleo’s arrest, the government had offered a P2-million reward for his capture.

he Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday said 15 more Filipinos were afflicted with coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in the Asia Pacific and Europe, jacking up the total number of infected Filipinos abroad to 9,407.

The DFA also reported one new recovery in Europe, bringing the overall tally to 5,462. Meanwhile, the death toll remains at 666 with no new fatality registered by the agency.

“The total number of countries and regions with confirmed cases among Filipinos is now 71,” the DFA said.

There are 3,279 active cases among overseas Filipinos, 252 are under treatment in the Asia Pacific, 504 in Europe, 2,400 in Middle East/Africa, and 123 in the Americas.

“As we celebrate International Friendship Day and commemorate World Day Against Trafficking in Persons today, the DFA, together with its Foreign Service Posts, call for unity and partnership as we fight persisting global problems and concerns that confront our society, sparing no one, regardless of nationality or race.

Together, let’s heal and recover as one,” the agency said in a statement. (PNA)

1st phase of Davao City’s bike lane 95% complete

T

he markings for the first phase of the 72.2-kilometer bike lane here is already 95 percent complete, the Davao City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) said in a statement Thursday.

CTTMO chief Dionisio Abude said they have already covered 68 kilometers of the 72.2 kilometers target for markings since June 10.

The first phase covers the Mc Arthur Highway, Quirino Avenue, the corner from Sta. Ana Avenue to Alcantara, Quimpo Boulevard, Dacudao Avenue, Cabaguio Avenue, or Leon Garcia, the corner Magsaysay to corner San Pedro Trading; corner from Quezon Boulevard to corner CM Recto Avenue, corner JP Laurel to Fr. Selga Street, Maa Road, and Pichon Street.

After the first phase, Abude said CTTMO will

immediately start the second phase covering a total of 19.4 kilometers.

He said CTTMO is still waiting for the purchase of the colored thermoplastic paints before they can start with the pavement markings such as the bike symbols.

Abude added that he will look into the request of Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang if it is feasible to put bike lanes from Carlos P. Garcia Highway diversion road to Panacan and Lasang.

“We are assessing the area if it is safe for bikers because the speed limit here is 60kph,” Abude said.

The Davao City government implemented the bicycle development plan following the national government’s order for local government units to establish bicycle lanes under the “new normal”.

(PNA)

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 95 • FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2020

NEWS 3

DCWD collection centers remain open on July 31

D

avao City Water District’s SM Lanang Premier and Felcris Centrale collection centers are open on July 31, 2020 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM despite that this day was declared as a regular holiday in observance of the Eid’l Adha (Feast of Sacrifice).

However, DCWD’s Matina office and Bajada and Toril sub-offices are closed and their regular operations will resume on August 3. Meanwhile, DCWD’s NCCC-VP Mall collection center remains closed until further notice.

Further, the due date for water bill payment in Zone 5 falling on July 31 will remain as scheduled.

All transacting customers are reminded to follow the GCQ guidelines, to wear face masks at all times, and to go through the mandatory temperature check,

disinfection, and foot bath.

Paying customers are also advised to bring a copy of any old water bill for faster transactions and prepare the exact amount to limit contact with tellers.

In addition, the DCWD management assures the general public that the operations of its technical departments and Call Center/Central Information Unit will not be disrupted to ensure continuous water service and offsite customer service support.

For any queries and updates related to DCWD’s services, customers may contact DCWD through the 235-3293 (DCWD), 09277988966, 0925-5113293, and 0908-4410653 hotlines or DCWD’s website (www.davao-water.gov.ph) and official Facebook page (www.facebook.com/davaowater) chat support. (Alexan Lynette L. Cabeguin)

10 BIFF rebels slain in Maguindanao clashes

T

en combatants of the Daesh-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were killed in ongoing clashes with military troops in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao, the Army here said Thursday.

“Military pursuit operations are ongoing but locals confirmed that the retreating BIFF radicals have carted away their dead comrades,” Lt. Col. Anhouvic Atilano, the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (6ID) spokesperson, told reporters here.

Atilano said the clashes also left two soldiers killed and 13 other troopers of the Army’s 57th Infantry Battalion (57IB) wounded.

Several locals have offered information to pinpoint where some of the BIFF extremists were hur-

riedly buried near the encounter area, he added.

“We suffered two fatalities, and the BIFF also has 10 dead fighters,” Atilano said in a separate radio interview. He identified the fatalities as Privates 1st Class Jovit Sarno and Raymond Canlog, both of the Army’s 57IB. Soldiers under the 57IB were conducting law enforcement operations in Barangay Penditen, Datu Salibo, Maguindanao at 5:50 a.m. Wednesday when the skirmishes erupted.

“Our troops were verifying reports from villagers about the presence of gunmen in their community when an armed confrontation ensued that lasted for more than five hours,” Atilano said.

Sporadic clashes went

F10, P10

Duterte declares July 31 as regular holiday for Eid’l Adha

P

resident Rodrigo Duterte has declared July 31 as a regular holiday nationwide for the observance of Eid’l Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice.

Duterte signed Proclamation 985, which states that Eid’l Adha should be observed as a regular holiday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea confirmed Thursday in separate statements.

Eid’l Fitr has been usually declared regular holiday following the recommendation of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, according to the presidential proclamation signed on Wednesday but was made public on Thursday.

Republic Act 9849 states that Eid’l Adha, one of the two major Islamic feasts along with Eid’l Fitr, shall be celebrated as a regular holiday.

RA 9849 says the declaration of Eid’l Adha as regular holiday allows Muslims to “pay homage to Abraham’s supreme act of sacrifice and signifies mankind’s obedience

to God.” The celebration of Eid’l Adha comes amid the prevailing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic in the country.

Proclamation 985 reminds the Muslim community to observe quarantine rules and strict physical distancing.

“The observance of Eid’l Adha shall be subject to existing community quarantine and social distancing measures,” the proclamation read.

In the Philippines, Muslim Filipinos comprise about 6 percent of the population.

Eid’l Adha is the second of two Muslim holidays celebrated by Muslims around the world and is considered holier than Eid’l Fitr.

The Islamic festival commemorates the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God’s command.

Eid’l Adha is celebrated on the 10th day of the last month of the Islamic calendar.

It also marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, the fifth Pillar of Islam. (PNA)

As the rest of the world goes into panic with the COVID-19 pandemic, children play skipping rope in Barangay San Mateo in Burgos

town, Siargao Island on Tuesday (28 July 2020). MindaNews photo

by ROEL N. CATOTO

Davao biz leaders optimistic of PH’s economic rebound

By MAYA M. PADILLO

E

conomists and government thinktanks have described the Philippines as an ‘economic star’ with growth that’s seen to outperform longtime leaders such as China, Indonesia and India.

Bloomberg reported that during the past five years, Philippine’s growth averaged to more than 6 percent and was projected to exceed 7 percent this year, outperforming China, Indonesia and India.

Then came Covid-19 pandemic, which may change the title.

However, business leaders in Davao are optimistic the country will bounce back with focus more on agriculture and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector as growth drivers.

Antonio Peralta, chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines-Southern Mindanao Business Council (ECCP-SMBC), said the growth of the country will come from within and this will be driv-

en by strong domestic demand such as food products.

He said there are also good growth prospects from the BPO sectors.

‘The growth will be agri-driven and companies abroad will continue to depend on the BPOs here as they need to keep low costs to be competitive,” he said.

Businessman and New Zealand’s honorary consul to Mindanao Vicente Lao said the Duterte administration was doing well up to the end of 2019, yet, when the pandemic occurred and every country was affected, it is difficult now to predict how the world will recover from this crisis.

Acccording to Lao, since the Philippines is basically an agricultural economy, it might be at an advantage

since people will always need to eat.

Lao added that the country’s nearness to the market will also be an advantage because China very soon will be a huge consumer market and Philippines can supply them with all kinds of agricultural products.

“All agri products because China does not have enough land to plant their agricultural needs,” he said.

Peralta believes the business sector is seeing also the increased demand for internet services as businesses are migrating to online transactions. However, the consistency of providing online services is a concern given the dismal state of the internet services in the country.

He said there should be strong monitoring from the stakeholders that include the business community, academe and the government on the services rendered by these telecommunication companies with service ratings on them published regularly.

Business leaders also agreed that the first four

years of the Duterte Administration saw a nation with strong growth prospects as per mid-year report 2020 of the Duterte administration.

Based on the report, the Philippines was among the fastest growing economies with an average of 6.5 percent from 2016 to 2019. Inflation was low and stable averaging 3.0 percent from 2016 to 2019. The country registered the lowest rates of unemployment (5.3 percent), underemployment (14.8 percent), and poverty (16.6 percent).

Peralta said before the pandemic, the country was fiscally sound.

“We paid off a substantial portion of our foreign debts. As a result our credit standing improved and we are now able to borrow at much lower rates than before,” he said.

He also said the aggressive tax collection efforts during the last four years resulted to better economic standing with the creditors and the country had enough resources to pay for the ini-

at home would study through self-learning modules.

Some 3.9 million parents chose blended learning, which is a combination of learning through modules, online classes, television and radio, according to the survey results.

Online learning was the third most preferred modality, picked by 3.8 million parents, followed by educational TV, chosen by 1.4 million.

The survey also showed some 900,000 parents chose radio-based instruction, while half a million picked “other modalities,” which was unspecified.

Parents and guardians of those who enrolled in private schools also participated in the survey, Education Undersecretary Jesus Mateo told reporters.

The DepEd said the results of the LESF would be used to help schools decide which distance learning mode to implement.

“These data and information were used by every region, school division and school in designing their respective learning continuity plan (LCP), particularly in making decision on what learning modalities will be implemented,” the DepEd said in a statement.

“These data were also used in determining the budget requirements for the LCP,” it added.

Education Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio earlier said the DepEd has started printing self-learning modules for students who will be unable to participate in online

classes in the coming school year.

Classes in public schools are scheduled to start on August 24 while private schools are allowed to start earlier upon seeking the approval of DepEd field officials.

Government prohibited the conduct of in-person classes for the rest of the year due to the ongoing threat of the coronavirus pandemic.

President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the DepEd’s proposal to hold in-person classes next year in areas with low risk of COVID-19 transmission, assuming that a vaccine against the virus would be available by then.

Around 22.3 million learners have registered for the coming school year, DepEd data showed early Thursday.

FDAVAO, P10

DepEd: Modular learning most preferred by parents

L

earning through printed and digital modules emerged as the most preferred distance learning method of parents who enrolled their children in the coming school year, based on a survey conducted by the Department of Education (DepEd).

During the 45-day enrollment period in public schools that ended July 15, parents and guardians were made to answer the DepEd’s Learner Enrollment and Survey Form.

It asked them about their preferred alternative learning mode, and sought to profile the enrollee’s readiness for distance education.

Survey results released Thursday by the DepEd showed that 8.8 million parents preferred modular distance learning, where students

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 95 • FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2020

Dominguez asks DOJ’s help vs. fake cryptocurrency traders

D

European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines-Southern Mindanao Business Council (ECCP-SMBC) chair Antonio Peralta believes the growth of the country will come from within and will be driven by strong domestic demand such as food products. Edge Davao

epartment of Finance (DOF) Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to run after the people behind the fake cryptocurrency trading that are using names of government officials and celebrities.

In a letter sent to Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, which was received at the DOJ on July 28, 2020 based on the copy of the letter shared

by Dominguez to journalists, the DOF chief said there have been several Facebook posts that illegally use his name “to promote a fake cryptocurrency auto-trading platform called ‘bitcoin revolution’.”

“Similar investment ploys using the names of

some Finance and Treasury officials in other countries as well as Filipino celebrities is likewise used in an attempt to dupe the public into falling for the scam,” he said.

Dominguez said they have reported these posts to Facebook “to prevent the spread of these hoaxes.”

He, however, said the “perpetrator of such acts may still continue to find other avenues to pursue their malicious activities.”

“Thus, we request the assistance of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Cybercrime Office to track, identify and prosecute those responsible for these posts,” he said.

Dominguez said he has yet to receive any feedback from DOJ on his request. (PNA)

reat news, Japanese food lovers! Due to popular demand, FamilyMart is adding five new variants to its best-selling onigiri line.

Starting today (July 30, 2020), foodies can say ‘konnichiwa’ to the Grilled Salmon, Beef Yakiniku, Umami Spicy Pork, Pork Sisig, and Bagoong variants of their favorite onigiri.

These new additions are on top of the original and wellloved Salmon, Tuna Mayo, Tori Mix, Spam, and Tinapa delectable variations introduced late last year during the launch of FamilyMart’s flagship and biggest store in the Philippines—FamilyMart Udenna Tower in BGC, Taguig City.

“Since we launched our freshly made onigiri in our stores, it has quickly become a crowd favorite, with customers lining up just to get one. It even consistently

contributed considerably to the total sales of each store. As a response to the clamor of FamilyMart onigiri fans, we are introducing a set of new variants that celebrates our brand’s Japanese heritage, while also catering to the Filipino palate,” FamilyMart Philippines General Manager Bernard Suiza said. “These new onigiris are specially created for the taste and preference of the local market, as we endeavor to offer more delight and convenience to Filipinos during such limiting times.”

For an affordable price of Php 55, these nori-wrapped rice triangles, perfect as a convenient snack or as a complete meal, can now be availed of across all FamilyMart stores either via in-store purchase or through its online delivery service, which

BSP sustains push for enhanced FamilyMart introduces security features of banknotes new onigiri variants G T he Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) continues to enhance the security features of new generation currency (NGC) banknotes even as it pushes for digital payments.

“We are promoting digital payments as it is essential to financial inclusion. While we’re doing this, we also want to look after the broader segment of the population that uses cash,” BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said during the virtual launch of the NGCs with enhanced security features Wednesday.

Diokno said the enhanced security features also make the paper bills less prone to counterfeiting.

Among the added security features for the PHP100, PHP200, PHP500, and PHP1,000

notes are windowed security threats (WST) that run vertically across the notes and will show the movement of designs and color when the paper bills are viewed at different angles.

The PHP500 note also has a stylized Philippine flag design on the left corner of the obverse side that changes color when viewed at different angles.

The PHP1,000 note has an embossed 1000 denominational value at the lower right corner of the obverse side, and the said characters will change color from green to magenta when viewed at different angles.

Tactile marks are also printed at the extreme left and right sides of the notes to help the elderly and visually-impaired identify the denomina-

tion of the notes.

Monetary authorities said the BSP-issued paper bills are printed on security paper, have embossed prints, and have tactile marks.

Watermarks, security fiber, asymmetrical serial number, and seethrough marks can be easily seen and security thread, concealed numerical value, optically variable ink for the PHP500 and PHP1,000 notes, optically variable device patch for the PHP1,000, and enhanced value panel for the PHP500 and PHP1,000 notes can be checked if the notes are tilted.

Diokno said “there is no siagnificant difference in the cost of producing the enhanced banknotes” since the increase is only about 1 percent.

Earlier, monetary officials said the cost of producing the PHP20 bill alone is about PHP2 a piece.

Meanwhile, Diokno said a technical working group (TWG) is now studying the feasibility and policy implications of issuing digital currency.

“We will first look into the findings of the group before making any decision on this regard,” he said, adding the TWG is expected to submit its report by August.

Diokno said cryptocurrency is not expected to significantly affect demand for physical currency.

“Digital currency, for us, has always been beyond the asset itself but more on the blockchain technology,” he added.

(PNA)

he Department of Energy (DOE) has lauded the signing of Executive Order 116 that will kick off study on the viability of including nuclear power in the country’s energy mix.

In a statement Wednesday, DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi said its signing by President Rodrigo Duterte last July 24 is a “major step towards the realization of a Philippine nuclear energy program”.

“The Department of Energy welcomes EO 116 as a major step towards the realization of a Philippine nuclear energy program -- one which would benefit our

people by enhancing our energy supply levels and help shield our consumers from traditional power price volatilities,” Cusi said.

The EO orders the creation of the Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC) that will be chaired by DOE and the Department of Science and Technology as its vice chair.

Under the new EO, the NEP-IAC shall conduct a pre-feasibility study evaluating and assessing the need for introducing nuclear power in the country’s energy mix.

The NEP-IAC is also

ordered to review the existing legal framework, study the viability of nuclear energy, and recommend necessary steps in the use of nuclear energy including, but not limited to, Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

“I believe that once we have successfully addressed infrastructure gaps as identified by the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), and we have fulfilled all other necessary national requirements, our people and future generations will reap the economic benefits a nuclear energy program brings,” the DOE chief added.

The NEP-IAC is ex-

pected to submit its initial report of the study

by January 2021.

During the 5th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency of Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA), Cusi said it is high time for the Philippines to be open to the idea of utilizing nuclear power.

“Nuclear power is a reliable alternative to attain energy sufficiency and meet future power demands,” he earlier said.

Cusi said public perception of nuclear energy has been changing, adding Filipinos are now aware that nuclear energy possesses both benefits and risks. (PNA)

FFAMILYMART, P10

DOE chief lauds signing of EO on possible use of nuclear power in PH

T

FamilyMart adds five new flavors to its crowd-favorite Onigiri, now available at all FamilyMart stores and through online delivery.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 95 • FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2020

ECONOMY

5

Telcos urged to take advantage of common tower initiative: DICT

T

he Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) urged telecommunications companies (telcos) to take advantage of the perks of the Common Tower project to bolster their plans to construct new cell sites and improve internet service in the country.

DICT at the same time vowed support for President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s call for telcos to accelerate the improvement of their services throughout the country.

In his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Duterte called on telcos Globe and Smart to improve their services by December or risk having their assets expropriated by the government.

In a statement, DICT Secretary Gregorio Honasan II encouraged telcos to support and avail of the benefits of the DICT’s Common Tower Initiative, which the department expects to stimulate the growth of the Independent Tower Company (ITC) sector, and widen the base of common towers in the country towards better internet quality and more extensive telecommunications service coverage.

Honasan said that the DICT maintains its position that the telcos’ collocation in the common towers that are being rolled out across the country will enable them to service the wider population, as well as deepen and enhance wire-

less network coverage and quality of ICT services that will contribute to a healthy, competitive ICT environment that will benefit the Filipino people.

“Collocating with common towers will also help telcos cut back on their expenses allocated in building up and maintaining their own towers, expenses which can be used to further upgrade their services,” the DICT chief said.

“In addition, the Common Tower initiative is further bolstered by the provisions of the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) between DICT, Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Department of Health (DOH), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA),” he added.

The JMC significantly removes red tape by streamlining the procedures and requirements for permits, licenses, clearances, certificates, and other requirements in the construction of Shared Passive Telecommunications Tower Infrastructures (PTTI) or common towers—reducing processing time from 200 days to just 16 days.

FTELCOS, P10

PEZA launches online job fair

T

he Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has officially launched Wednesday its online job fair under the Development Outreach for Labor, Livelihood, and Advancement of Resources, or the DOLLAR program.

One of the objectives of the DOLLAR program is linking Filipinos, especially displaced overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) due to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), to PEZA-registered companies located in over 400 economic zones nationwide.

In his fifth State of the Nation Address Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte assured OFWs of government’s support to help them and their families during the pandemic.

“PEZA is strongly committed and unrelenting to its efforts to promote investment and employment that will benefit the Filipino people amidst the pandemic. With the support of our 4,584 registered companies, PEZA initiates this job expo, which informs Filipinos that there are thousands of jobs awaiting in our different types of ecozones,” PEZA Director General Charito Plaza said.

The online job fair can be accessed through www. workbank.com/dc/pezaonline-job-fair.

According to PEZA, a total of 69,081 job open-

ings across the country will be available under the virtual job fair -- 23,644 jobs vacancies are in Region 4-A, Pampanga and Metro Manila; 14,126 jobs in Visayas and Mindanao; and 2,500 jobs in Baguio and other locators in north Luzon.

PEZA said there will be 28,811 jobs that will be added in the online job fair, which came from newly approved investments between May 21 and July 10.

Currently, there are 15,175 job openings posted in the DOLLAR program online job fair website.

Jobs for new graduates and work-from-home arrangements are also offered.

At the launching of the online job fair, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go expressed his support to the DOLLAR program as it complements the Balik-Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa program that he initiated.

Go underscored that the Balik-Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa program will deliver growth in other parts of the country by creating job opportunities and will help in lowering poverty.

“We are calling on for support from our stakeholders to help in the implementation of the DOLLAR program,” he said.

(PNA)

Colorful ready-to-wear merchandise adorn the entrance of a clothing store along R. Magsaysay Avenue in Davao City on Thursday. Edge Davao

Diokno: BSP implements measures to support PH economic recovery

B

angko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno said the worst is over for the Philippine economy vis-à-vis the impact of the pandemic, however, the BSP remains committed to implementing measures to support recovery.

“The worst is over.

But while we’re not out of the woods yet, we have to look beyond this crisis. What else can we do to make the Philippines more robust and resilient? How do we prepare for the next crisis?” he said in his speech during The Manila Times virtual forum Tuesday.

Growth, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), contracted by 0.2 percent in the first quarter of this year and it is projected to register a deeper decline in the second quarter after Luzon, which accounts for about 70 percent of the

country’s annual output, was placed under an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from March 17 to May 15, 2020. This quarantine level was extended for Metro Manila until the end of May 2020 to counter the rise of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases.

Economic managers have revised their growth forecast for the domestic economy this year from 6.5 to 7.5 percent to a 2 to 3.4-percent contraction.

The economy is expected to recover next year, with the growth figures set between 8-9 percent.

Diokno reiterated the Philippines entered the pandemic in a position of strength because of the reforms in the past years.

“The result of this process provided (a) steady anchor for the country’s economic resilience. Our economy has weathered

different economic crises, political changes, and natural calamities,” he said.

Diokno said the pandemic caused by Covid-19 “is a crisis like no other” because it “has morphed into a full-blown global economic crisis.”

“Yet, the Philippines has had strong economic fundamentals such as robust growth, good fiscal performance, and strong external and financial sector positions –which provided relative stability in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic,” he added.

To counter the effect of the pandemic, the central bank has implemented several measures that include the total of 175 basis points reduction in the BSP’s key rates; 200 basis points cut in universal and commercial banks (U/KBs) reserve requirements; implemented relief measures

for banks to support lending to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs); and slashed reserve requirements of thrift banks (TBs), rural banks and cooperative banks (RCBs) by 100 basis points.

Diokno said the country is well-situated to restart its economic growth and development process, adding “the decision to unwind Covid-19 policy response will be gradual, prudent, and evidence-based.”

“A well-thought-out disengagement strategy is necessary,” he said.

Diokno said the central bank remains committed to implementing additional policy measures and reforms “to help the Philippine economy recover from the Covid-19 crisis and to build its resilience against future crises.” (PNA)

COVID 19.

The program is one of the priority projects submitted by MinDA to the European Union Delegation for inclusion in the P2.1-B Mindanao Peace and Development (MINPAD) Rise Mindanao Grant Fund.

The MAFDEV aims to implement the following activities in the selected fish production provinces of Mindanao: 1. Organize and empower aqua and fisheries stakeholders; 2. Establish Fish Processing Complexes, including ice flakes and blocks-making equipment, blast freezing machinery, cold storage and processing facilities such as fish drying equipment.

3. Establish a digital platform to determine the

supply and demand situation for aqua and fisheries products in Mindanao; 4. Establish domestic and foreign market linkages to ensure profitability for the stakeholders.

Davao Oriental is one of the aqua and fish producing provinces of Mindanao identified for inclusion in the MAFDEV. Other areas identified are provinces facing the Davao Gulf, Pacific Ocean, Visayan Sea, Panguil Bay, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, Moro Gulf/Illana Bay and Saranggani Bay. Also included are the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawitawi, Camiguin and Dinagat.

Beneficiaries of the program will also include fish pond and fish cage operators in the different coastal areas and coves of

Mindanao.

Other government agencies like the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Philippine Fishports Development Authority, both under the Department of Agriculture and the SouthEast Asia Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) will be engaged.

Public and private academic institutions will also be asked to support the program, especially in the social preparation and financial capability training of the organized aqua and fisheries stakeholders.

With the recent approval of the EU Delegation Grant Fund for Mindanao by the Department of Finance, MAFDEV is expected to be implemented before the end of the year.

First aqua-fisheries summit set August 27 in Mati, DavOr

M

indanao’s Aqua and Fisheries Modernization Program takes off next month with the staging of the first stakeholders summit in Mati City, Davao Oriental on Aug. 27.

The Summit, organized by the Davao Oriental Provincial Government and supported by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), will be the first to be staged by a province identified as a major fish production area in Mindanao.

MinDa has earlier crafted the Mindanao Aqua-Fisheries Development Program (MAFDEV) to maximize productivity in the fisheries sector of the region, reduce poverty in the fisheries sector and propel Mindanao’s economic recovery post-

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 95 • FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2020

On reports that for a price of P80,000, some individuals are purposely infecting themselves with Covid-19 in order to sell their blood plasma once recovered:

I am not aware of this if they are purposely infecting themselves because we do not get plasma from the patients that are being admitted because there is no existing guidelines that endorses the use of the convalescent plasma. We still need systematic documentation about this and analysis of anecdotal experiences.

I haven’t heard one here in Davao as we have no program giving plasma to the patients.”

Dr. Marie Yvette Barez

Infectious Diseases Specialist, Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC)

EDGEDAVAO

Providing solutions to a seamless global village.

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

the national association of newspapers

Printed by Zion Accuprint Publishing Inc. Door 14 ALCREJ Building, Quirino Avenue, 8000, Davao City, Philippines Tel: (082) 224-1413 301-6235 Telefax: (082) 221-3601 www.edgedavao.net editorial@edgedavao.net marketing@edgedavao.net edgedavao@gmail.com

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

MAYA M. PADILLO Senior Reporter

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

CHRISTIAN JAY H. RAFAL Layout/Cartoons

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

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

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

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

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 95 • FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2020

VANTAGE POINTS

7

FRED C. LUMBA SPECKS OF LIFE

ADVERSITY UNITES A NATION The groundswell of sympathetic gestures from all people of all walks of life re the Taal volcano eruption indicated, without any iota of doubt, that the proverbial declaration that adversity unites a nation was truthfully proven.

Although in the latest dispatch there was just a single mortality during the hysterical and frenzied mass evacuation of residents in the affected areas around the island, the ‘bayanihan’ spirit and compassion the Filipino is famous for resurfaced to somewhat ease the pain, difficulties and trying times.

Pres. Duterte’s visit, along with some government officials, helped assuaged the helplessness of hundreds of thousands of victims of the volcanic eruption; his physical presence as well as his comforting remarks were like a calming balm that soothed a burning pain.

I wonder if it is politically correct for some legislators to even insinuate or express dissatisfaction with the work of Phivolcs in the wake of the volcanic explosion. A lawmaker has suggested to have the government agency investigated for its slowness and sluggishness in promptly relaying warnings of the impending disaster.

At this point, as I myself fully monitored the situation and Phivolcs pronouncements on the matter, I would strongly suggest that this agency be provided with more funds, state of the art equipment and qualified personnel in the light of this sad experience.

Instead of the usually boring rhetoric that permeates every congressional probes and hearings, both houses of Congress should intelligently look at the mess with a positive eye with the end in view of putting to an end the reactionary mindset of govern-

ment institutions.

Untold misery is now gripping four areas due to the Taal emergency – regions 4, 4A and 3 and parts of Metro Manila where children and senior citizens are trying to cope with the dire situation.

Dep-Ed Sec. Leonor Briones has expressed fears that the schooling of elementary and secondary students in these areas could be hampered and their educational development.

She said Dep-Ed funds for the rehab of more than a hundred school buildings and classrooms heavily damaged by the ashfall will have to be utilized as soon as effectively possible.

School buildings and classrooms, in the absence of evacuation centers, are now being used to accommodate thousands of evacuees.

I wonder why LGUs need to be prompted by the national government to erect evac-

uation centers on their own volition? Even barangay councils themselves can pass resolutions for the construction of barangay evacuation centers which will make them readily prepared to meet exigencies of this kind.

This is the weakness I see in the leadership of many LGUs who depend too much assistance from the national government and line agencies.

They become helpless, inutile and lazy to a point.

Simply defined, governance is the application of practical wisdom to benefit the constituency. Even an elementary school graduate who becomes head of an LGU will agree to this.

Today, because of the frequency of calamities hitting our country, practical wisdom dictates that everybody, every citizen, every resident must be well-advised and informed of things happening around

him.

I wonder how applicable this Plato quote is to our situation today. He said: “This city is what it is because our citizens are what they are.”

Of course, the resiliency of the Filipinos has proven its good merits.

We have survived four hundred years of cruel Spanish colonization, more than forty years of American exploitation, nearly five years of brutal Japanese occupation and decades of tyrannical Filipino administrations.

What else?

I guess Filipinos are predisposed already to this type of life and living.

One man has emerged to tell us in our face that change has come. ### (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) Prov. 12:19. “Truthful lips will be established forever but a lying tongue is only for a moment.” GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

OSCAR DERBY 2020 Every year, the Hollywood – the film capital of the world – gives out the prestigious Oscar to those people who are involved in filmmaking.

It is given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as a way of recognizing those who excel “in cinematic achievements as assessed by the Academy’s voting membership.”

Here are some of records you need to know in this year’s Oscar derby: Of the nominees for Best Actor Oscar, only Leonardo DiCaprio has won – for The Revenant in 2016. He was also nominated for the same category in 2005’s The Aviator, 2007’s Blood Diamond, 2014’s The Wolf of Wall Street, and this year’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

DiCaprio’s first Oscar nomination was for Best Supporting Actor for his role in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. He also has a nomination Best Picture for The Wolf of Wall Street as he was the film’s producer.

Before Joker, Joaquin Phoenix has three Oscar nominations to his credit. He was nominated for his supporting role in Gladiator. He received two Oscar nominations for Best Actor for Walk the Line (2006) and The Master (2013).

The three remaining Best Actor nominees are newcomer

to the Oscar history: Antonio Banderas for Pain and Glory, Adam Driver for Marriage Story, and Jonathan Pryce for The Two Popes.

In the Best Actress category, only Charlize Theron and Renee Zellweger have won before. Theron won for Monster (2004). Her other Oscar nomination, aside from this year for Bombshell, was for 2006’s North Country.

Zellweger’s Oscar for her supporting role in 2004’s Cold Mountain. She is nominated this year for her leading role as Judy Garland in Judy; before that, she received the same nomination for 2002’s Bridget Jones’s Diary and 2003’s Chicago.

The three other nominees – Cynthia Erivo for Harriet, Scarlett Johansson for Marriage Story, and Saoise Ronan for Little Women – are all newcomers.

Johansson, however, made a record as the twelfth performer to receive two Oscar nominations in the same year.

She is also nominated for her supporting role in Jojo Rabbit.

The first to do so was Fay Bainter when she nominated in 1938 for Best Actress for White Banners (she lost) and Best Supporting Actress for Jezebel (for which she won).

The same story happened to Teresa Wright: winning the supporting role in Mrs. Mini-

ver and losing the leading role in The Pride of the Yankees in 1942.

Barry Fitzgerald made a sort of record in 1944 when he received two nominations for the same role in Going My Way. He won again for the supporting role. His co-star, Bing Crosby, won the Best Actor Oscar.

Others who went home with one Oscar of their two nominations: Jessica Lange (for Tootsie, 1982), Al Pacino (for Scent of a Woman), Holly Hunter (The Piano, 1993), and Jamie Foxx (Ray, 2004).

The following failed to win any: Sigourney Weaver (Gorillas in the Mist and Working Girl) in 1988, Emma Thompson (The Remains of the Day and In the Name of the Father) in 1993, Julianne Moore (Far from Heaven and The Hours) in 2002, and Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth: The Golden Age and I’m Not There) in 2007.

Al Pacino’s performance in The Irishman earned him his ninth nomination from the Academy. Actually, it is his fourth nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Previously, he was nominated for The Godfather (1973), Dick Tracy (1991), and Glengarry Glen Ross (1993).

Nineteen ninety-three, however, was his year as he also got a nomination for Best Actor for his performance in

Scent of a Woman. Although he lost the supporting role award (it went to Gene Hackman for his performance in Clint Eastwood’s The Unforgiven), he settled for the Best Actor Oscar.

Pacino was also nominated for Best Actor for his leading roles in Serpico (1974), The Godfather II (1975), Dog Day Afternoon (1976), … And Justice for All (1980). It was in the 1975 flick that he delivered one of the most memorable lines in cinema: “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.”

His co-star in The Irishman, Joe Pesci, also got a nomination in the same category. He earned his first Oscar nomination in 1980’s Raging Bull but he won the award for 1991’s Goodfellas. In all these, he co-starred with Robert De Niro.

Another A-lister nominated in the supporting role is Tom Hanks for A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. He has won two Oscars: 1994’s Philadelphia and 1995’s Forrest Gump. He has three more nominations: 1989’s Big, 1999’s Saving Private Ryan, and 2001’s Cast Away.

Also an A-lister is Anthony Hopkins, who received a nomination for The Two Popes. He won a Best Actor Oscar for The Silence of the Lambs (1992) and was nominated for the

same in 1994 for The Remains of the Day and in 1996 for Nixon. He was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor for 1998’s Amistad.

Only Brad Pitt has not won an Oscar; he is nominated for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. He was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor for 12 Monkeys (1996) and Best Actor for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2009) and Moneyball (2012).

Kathy Bates leads the nominees in the Best Supporting Oscar for women. She already won an Oscar for Best Actress for her performance in Misery (1990). She is nominated this year for Richard Jewell. Her other supporting nominations were for 1998’s Primary Colors and 2002’s About Schmidt.

Laura Dern, who was previously nominated for Best Supporting Actress in 2015’s Wild, is running for Marriage Story. She got a Best Actress nomination for Rambling Rose (1992).

Margot Robbie is nominated for Bombshell; her previous nomination was for Best Actress for 2018’s I, Tonya.

The last remaining nominee is Florence Pugh for her role as Amy March in Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Little Women.

Now, the envelope, please…

8

VOL.11 ISSUE 95• FRIDAY, JUNE 31, 2020 VOL.13 ISSUE 95 • FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

TOYOTA LAUNCHES NEW LEVELLED-UP LEADING CAR MANUFACTURER Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) recently unveiled the 2020 update of its best-selling, locally made passenger car – the Toyota Vios in an online launch program witnessed by thousands of viewers nationwide.

The Philippines top-selling car for over a decade, the New Vios – with its improved modern design debuted by the global mobility company in the Philippines – comes at the forefront of TMP’s drive to lead the resurgence of the local auto industry by responding to the Filipinos’ need for quality, efficient, and safe mode of transportation.

“You can count on TMP to stay true to our promise of making the world’s best Vios, and in the process, helping the economy, and providing livelihood to thousands of Filipino families” said TMP President Atsuhiro Okamoto during his remarks, pertaining to the local production of the Vios in TMP’s Santa Rosa, Laguna manufacturing plant.

“With the New Vios, we have once again reinvented the Filipino’s most preferred car. With its upgraded design and new features, we can truly expect the New Vios to LEVEL UP YOUR DRIVE!” he added.

The Vios has been the quintessential road companion of Filipinos, moving families and enabling businesses for 17 years now. Now made even better to adapt to the new mobility landscape, the New Vios moves forward, providing reliability, durability, and affordability it is known for since its debut in the Philippine market in 2003.

The New Vios lineup boasts improvements on its looks and features across 9 available variants – G CVT and M/T, E CVT and M/T, XLE CVT and M/T, XE CVT, and J and J Base in M/T. But even with the improvements, the SRPs of the New Vios remains relatively unchanged and are covered by TMP’s nationwide One Price Policy.

Levelled-Up Look and Features The New Vios gets an eye-

VIOS combination lamps with line guide for a sleek and sporty look from the front, to the side, and the back.

From getting in the car and to the destination, the New Vios makes the drive experience fun and convenient. Access is quick and easy with the smart entry feature and push start button for G variants. Paddle shifters and drive modes (Eco Mode and Sport Mode) for the G CVT variant give you more control as you drive.

catching upgrade on its exterior with the glossy black front grille, further accentuated by the 3-tier LED headlights and daytime running lights for G variants. G, E and XLE variants also get LED foglamps. G variants have 16” alloy wheels and LED rear

at The New Vios also levels-up safety and peace of mind as all variants come with SRS airbags, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution + Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Control and Hill-Start Assist Control.

Back camera is available from G variants, and customers may choose from 3 or 7 SRS airbags for certain variants.

The 2020 model features a low and wide stance, sporting a refreshed look while maintaining its reasonable price point.

The New Vios is now available

Toyota dealerships nationwide.

Customers may also inquire and request quotation online through the virtual showroom accessible anytime anywhere via https://toyota. com.ph/vios.

For more information on the New Vios, visit TMP’s official website at www.toyota.com.ph and follow the official social media accounts and online communities at ToyotaMotorPhilippines (Facebook and Instagram), @ToyotaMotorPH (Twitter), and Toyota PH (Viber).

9 HEALTH EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 95 • FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2020

COVID-19 hampers progress in hepatitis B elimination

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

T

he current pandemic of coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) threatens to hamper progress in eliminating the virus that causes hepatitis B, according to the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO).

In a new modelling study conducted by the Imperial College London in collaboration with WHO, it was concluded that “disruptions to the hepatitis B vaccination program due to the pandemic could have a serious impact on efforts to reach the targets of the global strategy.”

The study was highlighted during the World Hepatitis Day 2020 last July 28, the birthday of Nobel-prize winning scientist, Dr. Baruch Blumberg, who discovered hepatitis B virus (HPV) and developed a diagnostic test and vaccine for the virus.

“Under a worst-case scenario, with high levels of disruptions of both the birth dose and childhood HBV immunization (by 60% and 20% for one year respectively), as well as a delay and slow recovery in the expansion of the vaccination program towards the planned 2030 WHO-targets in the post COVID-19 period, there would be a projected 5.3 million additional chronic HBV infections among children born between 2020 and 2030 and 1 million additional HBV-related deaths among those children later on,” the WHO said in a statement.

This simply means that missed opportunities now to prevent new HBV infections will have a long-lasting and life-impacting effect.

World Hepatitis Day is observed throughout the world as an opportunity to step up national and international efforts on hepatitis. It also encourages actions and engagements by individuals, partners and the public and highlights the need for a greater global response.

This year’s theme is fast-tracking the elimination of hepatitis B among mothers and children.

New estimates from the United Nations health agency showed the proportion of children under five years of age chronically infected with HBV dropped to just under 1% in 2019 down from around 5% in the pre-vaccine era (the period between the 1980s and the early 2000s).

“No infant should grow up only to die of hepatitis B because they were not vaccinated – today’s milestone means that we have dramatically reduced the number of cases of liver damage and liver cancer in future generations,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

“Preventing motherto-child transmission of hepatitis B is the most important strategy for controlling the disease and saving lives,” he added. “Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we must ensure that mothers and newborns have access to life-saving services including hepatitis B vaccinations.”

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease. It’s a potentially life-threatening liver infection and puts people at high risk of death from cirrhosis and liver cancer.

The HBV is most commonly transmitted from mother to child during birth and delivery, as well as through contact with blood or other body fluids, including sex with an infected partner, injection-drug use that involves sharing needles, syringes, or drug-preparation equipment and needle sticks or exposure to sharp instruments.

“Hepatitis B is also spread by needlestick injury, tattooing, piercing and exposure to infected blood and body fluids, such as saliva and, menstrual, vaginal, and seminal fluids,” the WHO explained. “Sexual transmission of hepatitis B may occur, particularly in unvaccinated men who have sex with men and heterosexual partners with multiple sex partners of contact with sex workers.”

The hepatitis B virus can survive outside the body for at least 7 days.

“During this time,” the WHO says, “the virus can still cause infection if it enters the body of a person who is not protected by the vaccine. The incubation period of the hepatitis B virus is 75 days on average, but can vary from 30 to 180 days. The virus may be detected within 30 to 60 days af-

ter infection and can persist and developed into chronic hepatitis B.” Most people do not experience any symptoms when newly infected. However, some people have acute illness with symptoms that last several weeks, including yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

Right now, there are more than 250 million people are living with chronic HBV infection globally. Infants are especially vulnerable: about 90% of children infected with HBV in their first year of life become chronic HBV carriers.

Each year, nearly 900,000 people die from complications associated with chronic HBV infection, making it the 10th leading cause of death worldwide. Worse yet, patients with HBV in some places may face social and economic impacts due to the stigma associated with infection.

Currently, there is no specific treatment for acute hepatitis B. Care is aimed at maintaining comfort and adequate nutritional balance, including replacement of fluids lost from vomiting and diarrhea. Most im-

portant is the avoidance of unnecessary medications.

Chronic hepatitis B infection – of which one in every 10 Filipinos have this kind of hepatitis – can be treated with medicines, including oral antiviral agents. Treatment can slow the progression of cirrhosis, reduce incidence of liver cancer and improve long term survival. Only a proportion of people (estimates vary from 10% to 40%) with chronic hepatitis B infection will require treatment.

The hepatitis B vaccine is the mainstay of hepatitis B prevention.

“Infants can be protected from HBV through a safe and effective vaccine that provides over 95% protection against infection,” the WHO says.

The UN health agency recommends that all infants receive a first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine as soon as possible after birth – preferably within 24 hours – followed by at least 2 additional doses.

The scale-up of hepatitis B vaccine worldwide over the last two decades has been a great public health success story and contributed to the decrease in HBV infections among children.

In 2019, coverage of 3 doses of the hepatitis B vaccine during childhood reached 85% worldwide, up from around 30% in 2000.

However, access to the first critical dose within 24 hours of birth remains uneven. Global coverage of this birth dose is 43%, but this drops to 34% in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region and only 6% in the WHO African Region.

“Expanding access to a timely birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine is the cornerstone of efforts to prevent mother-to-children transmission of HBV. For countries where the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine has not yet been introduced, it is a priority to assure that protection as ear-

ly as possible,” said Dr. Meg Doherty, Director of Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI Programs.

An additional way to protect children is to provide pregnant women with antiviral treatment to reduce motherto-child transmission of HBV. The WHO already recommends routine testing of all pregnant women for HBV, as well as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis as early as possible in their pregnancy.

In view of new evidence on the safety and efficacy of antiviral prophylaxis in pregnant women and their children, WHO is issuing two new recommendations during the World Hepatitis Day celebration: · Pregnant women who test positive for hepatitis B infection and have a high level of HBV in the blood (known as HBV viral load) should receive preventive antiviral therapy with tenofovir (an oral treatment whose patent is no longer protected anywhere in the world) from the 28th week of pregnancy until birth. · In settings where HBV viral load testing is not available, WHO recommends the use of an alternative low cost test (HBeAg) to determine whether a woman is eligible for preventive antiviral therapy.

“Stopping vertical transmission of HBV is a key pillar of the global ‘triple elimination’ initiative, which seeks to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of three infections that are prevalent in low- and middle-income countries: HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B virus,” added Dr. Doherty.

Eliminating motherto-child transmission of HBV is also an important stepping stone for reaching the targets of WHO’s global hepatitis strategy, which aims to reduce new hepatitis infections by 90% and deaths by 65%, compared to 2015 levels.

10 EDGEDAVAO DAVAO... FROM3

tial impact of the pandemic.

“If this wasn’t the case, we would be knocking on the doors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank or Asian Development Bank (ADB). We definitely will bounce back.

The only variable here is the availability of the vaccine here at affordable prices,” he said.

“The challenges still remain in containing the spread of the virus. The adherence to the norms of the “new normal” is key to recovery,” he added.

Dr. Malou Monteverde, former president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCCII), said pre-Covid-19, the Philippines was on its way up and very positive investments growth with the Philippines experiencing unprecedented growth in in-

vestments.

Monteverde, who is also the former president of Davao Medical Society and former governor of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA)-Southern Mindanao, added that with this Covid-19 pandemic the government’s thrust on public health and its delicate balance on the economy will affect the growth as a nation.

“However, as a country we are not isolated from the global recessions, thus the government’s thrust to spur local economy and its plans to continue our Build Build Build programs are the ones, which will spur our economy. We hope and pray that the Duterte admininstration will be able to surpass this pandemic with a positive growth before the President ends his terms,” she said.

FAMILYMART... FROM4

can be accessed through Facebook Messenger or its online store, among other channels.

To celebrate these new variants, FamilyMart is offering a Buy 5, Get 1 promo for its onigiri from July 31 to August 2. Customers just need to choose a minimum of five onigiris in any variant to get one FamilyMart-recommended onigiri variant for free.

Aside from its famous onigiri, FamilyMart also introduced ramen and Coffee

Creations in 2019 as part of its campaign to position itself as a convenience food retailer in a quick-service restaurant (QSR) setting.

FamilyMart online ordering and delivery can be availed of via Facebook Messenger at, m.me/ familymartph, email at delivery@familymart . com.ph, call, SMS, Viber, Whatsapp, and Telegram at 09176216758, or by visiting the online store at https://familymartph. company.site/.

rise in COVID-19 cases in hotspot Florida and Major League Baseball having to cancel games less than a week into its return with a travel-based system.

It didn’t help that Lou Williams of the Los Angeles Clippers left on an excused absence for the death of a family friend and was photographed in a strip club, for which he was given a maximum 10-day in-room quarantine upon his return to the bubble.

“We’re hopeful and optimistic that if everyone complies with the protocols that we’ll be able to crown a champion at the end of the season,” Tatum said.

Tatum says the NBA has plans depending on multiple outbreak situations.

“If something were to happen, we would have to dive into the specifics of that case or cases to see what our actions would be,” Tatum said. “We have an extensive group of protocols.”

Creating medical protocols was the toughest part of forming the bubble, Tatum said.

“We were not going to go forward if we didn’t come up with a plan we felt very comfortable in that would keep everybody safe,” Tatum said.

“We’re doing something here we’ve never done be-

fore and that few people have ever attempted.”

‘TREMENDOUS SACRIFICES’ Asked what might happen if a player violated the NBA rule requiring them to stand during national anthems, Tatum said, “We’ll deal with that situation.”

Asked about sex in the bubble, Tatum said, “everyone is making tremendous sacrifices” and noted family members can enter after the first round of the playoffs, once only eight teams remain.

The NBA has had strong ratings in China for scrimmages despite strained relations after a team executive supported Hong Kong protesters on social media last year.

“The numbers in terms of viewership have been very positive,” he said. “Fans in China are looking forward to having the NBA restart.”

As the NBA learns from the restart, talks are starting with the players union on when, and how, a 2020-21 season might launch.

December is a targeted time, but nothing is settled.

“We’re now starting in the very early stages with the players association on how we do next season with safety and health as the number one priority,” Tatum said.

NBA... FROM11

VOL.13 ISSUE 95 • FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2020

10... FROM3

on throughout the night, the Army official said, adding the soldiers clashed with the group of BIFF sub-commander Hassan Imbal under the BIFF Abu Toraife faction.

Citing village officials, Atilano said more than a dozen other BIFF guerrillas were also injured in the clashes.

Atilano said Imbal’s group was behind the series of bombings in Maguindanao, North Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat, including attacks against soldiers

and police manning quarantine checkpoints.

The 13 soldiers wounded in the skirmishes were admitted at the 6ID’s station hospital, he added.

All Army units in Maguindanao have been placed on heightened alert, especially inside and around the adjoining towns of Shariff Aguak, Pagatin (Datu Saudi Ampatuan), Mamasapano and Salibo or known in the military jargon as “SPMS Box” -- the areas frequented by BIFF terrorists. (PNA)

One glaring observation from the inaugural staging of Chooks 3x3 is that most of the players also suit up in the 5-on-5 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).

Some MPBL teams, like reigning champions San Juan Knights, Bataan Risers, and Mindoro Tamaraws, even sent representatives to Chooks 3x3.

Even national team member Alvin Pasaol also sees action in the MPBL for Zamboanga.

Now that Chooks 3x3 is officially pro, this could create a dilemma on whether MPBL players can still join the 3x3 cagefest considering that the MPBL is not yet GAB-sanctioned.

Mitra clarified that the Chooks 3x3 players can still join the MPBL provided that they get a clearance from their mother clubs.

“Before they play for any amateur league, they need to seek permission from the league commissioner and also from us,” Mitra said. “We’re here to assist them so pasabi lang sa amin (please inform us).”

Altamirano added, “I already consulted Baham about this that we only apply to become a professional league only in terms of the 3x3... We only applied to professionalize our 3x3 league, not 5-on-5.”

Mitra further added that the pro licenses the Chooks 3x3 players will get are different from the ones given to Philippine Basketball Association players and Filipino players competing in the Asean Basketball League (ABL).

This means Gilas 3x3 member Joshua Munzon, who played in the ABL before, essentially got a brand new license.

However, Mitra reiterated the possible repercussions of professional athletes competing in tournaments not sanctioned by GAB like injuries or even getting involved in commotions.

“Nakakatakot eh. May mga kontrata sila sa mga managers nila, sa mga teams nila. Paano na lang yung professional career nila (This could be frightening. They have contracts with their managers and their teams. What could happen to their professional careers)?” Mitra quipped.

Calamba bubble According to Altamirano, the second season of the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3, which will have three conferences, will tentatively begin in the third week of September and will run until February,

just in time before Gilas 3x3 goes full throttle in their buildup for the FIBA 3x3 OQT. He added that there will be 12 teams per conference.

However, unlike last season, where the legs are staged inside SM malls, the league will hold its games in a “bubble” similar to the one being imposed by the National Basketball Association due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

“We’re gonna enter the first day afternoon. Right before we enter, there’s going to be a series of testings so this probably five to seven days prior to the entry to the bubble. Magkakaroon ng PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing and mga players and then on the day itself, we’re gonna have a rapid test so that will ensure us that whoever goes in to the bubble will be safe,” Altamirano bared the protocols Chooks 3x3 set amid the pandemic.

He added that an “emergency contingency plan” has been put in place for players tested positive for Covid-19.

Altamirano then bared, “We have plans of getting a doctor that is recommended to me by UP (University of the Philippines). We will be using him as our lead doctor to be able to supervise and oversee all the protocols we need to implement in the league.”

The first leg, according to Altamirano, will be played on a Friday, and the players will undergo another rapid testing on Saturday to determine who will be cleared for the second leg the day after. “[On] Sunday night right after the second leg, everybody will get out of the bubble. After that, every two weeks, we go inside the bubble. We will continue to apply the safety protocol in terms of testing before going inside the bubble,” he further said.

The games will be played inside the Inspire Sports Academy within National University’s Calamba campus.

“We have to find an isolated area where we can do the bubble, and what a better place to hold it than Inspire Sports Academy,” Altamirano continued.

“It’s a world-class campus.

Kompleto na. May hotel sa loob. (It has complete amenities. There is a hotel inside). [It’s a] really nice facility.”

He then said that players inside the bubble are restricted from going outside until the second leg is done. (PNA)

GAB... FROM11

TELCOS... FROM5

“We recognize that telcos have existing commitments with some independent tower companies to collocate on the latter’s common towers for shared cell sites—we commend them for that. We encourage telcos to take full advantage of the benefits of our common tower initiative, and engage with the ITC sector more actively, especially when it comes to providing connectivity to the unserved and underserved areas in the country,” Honasan said.

“We should work together towards a better, more robust, and future-proofed ICT environment. This is in line with the spirit of bayanihan, which President Duterte clearly articulated in his

SONA,” he said.

Duterte, in his SONA, also called on concerned agencies, including the DICT, to implement appropriate measures to boost connectivity, promote electronic governance, utilize ICT for education, and toughen up the country’s cybersecurity.

“Rest assured that the DICT is continuously implementing programs and initiatives as well as coordinating with relevant agencies and the ICT sectors in ensuring that the country is able to better utilize ICT for education and governance. In addition, we are reinforcing our cybersecurity efforts for the safety and resiliency of Filipinos during this crisis,” Honasan said.

Gael Monfils.

It also includes defending Western and Southern champion Daniil Medvedev, the world number five from Russia.

Federer owns a record 20 Grand Slam men’s singles crowns while Nadal has captured 19 and Djokovic won his 17th earlier this year in Melbourne.

Williams, who turns 39 in September, has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, one shy of Margaret Court’s all-time record. She gave birth to a daughter in 2017 and has gone 0-4 in Slam finals since, losing in the 2018 and 2019 US Open and Wimbledon finals.

Ninth-ranked Williams said she was playing in the US Open on the day the US Tennis Association announced it would stage the event.

She has also entered a WTA tuneup tournament in early August at Lexington, Kentucky.

Williams last won a

Grand Slam singles title at the 2017 Australian Open.

The only women among the WTA’s top six on the list are Czech Karolina Pliskova, who ranks third, and world number four Sofia Kenin, the reigning Australian Open champion from the United States.

Absent are Australia’s top-ranked Ashleigh Barty, the reigning French Open champion, and world number two Simona Halep of Romania, the current Wimbledon champion, plus fifth-rated Elina Svitolina of Ukraine and last year’s US Open champion, Canada’s sixth-ranked Bianca Andreescu.

The women’s field also includes 16-year-old Coco Gauff and defending Western and Southern champion Madison Keys, both Americans.

In all, 40 of the 43 top-ranked men are entered while only 39 of the top 53 plan to play on the women’s side.

he will be ready for that matchup. Davis said that his eye is “getting better” and the plan is for him to play against the Clippers on Thursday.

While that’s not a definitive answer on if he will play, the Lakers are likely just being cautious with their star forward as they obviously want him to be at full strength for their postseason push. If he misses a regular season game, that’s something they can live with as long as he bounces back in time for the playoffs. Heading into Orlando, Davis said that the hiatus from the game while the league was suspended due to the outbreak of the coronavirus really benefited him as he was able to rest and recover from some other lingering injury issues.

[The time away] gave me a chance to let my

body recover,” Davis said earlier this month. “Kind of take a midseason break and let everything heal, get back to like how I was at the beginning of the year. It’s been good for me to let some of the lingering injuries I had towards the time when the NBA stopped to let those recover and heal and get back into the best version of myself. I feel 100 percent healthy. Well, I don’t feel, I am. I’m ready to go.”

The fact that Davis entered the bubble in Orlando feeling 100 percent is great news for the Lakers, as they will need him to be fully healthy and at his best if they hope to leave Orlando with an NBA title.

From the sounds of it, the injury that Davis suffered to his eye appears to be a minor one and that he will be back to game action in short order.

DJOKOVIC... FROM11

LET... FROM112

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 95 • FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2020

NBA: No player tested positive as restart is on

N

one of the National Basketball Association (NBA) players have tested positive for the novel coronavirus as the paused US basketball league will return on Thursday.

“Sources: Zero NBA players have tested positive for coronavirus out of 344 tested at Orlando campus since last results were announced July 20,” NBA insider Shams Charania said on social media.

“Consecutive testing rounds where no new player has tested positive,” Charania tweeted.

The NBA season will restart on July 30 with a 22-

11

team format at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando.

The games at the “Orlando bubble” will be held behind closed doors over health concerns.

As part of the coronavirus measures, all players and coaching staff were planned to be tested everyday and if a player contracts virus, he will be put in quarantine.

The 2020 NBA playoffs will have 16 teams in total as there will be four rounds to be played by best-of-seven series in each phase.

The season will end before Oct. 13. (Anadolu)

Djokovic, Nadal in US Open tuneup tournament

T

op-ranked Novak Djokovic and world number two Rafael Nadal have entered the US Open tuneup tournament to be played in New York while Serena Williams is in the women’s field.

Organizers of the ATP and WTA Western and Southern Open, typically played in Cincinnati but moved to New York this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, announced initial singles entry lists Wednesday.

The event will be staged August 20-28 in a quarantine environment without spectators at the National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, where the Grand Slam hardcourt showdown would begin August 31 in similar conditions.

READ: NBA finally set to see games that count

again Djokovic, the reigning Wimbledon and Australian Open champion, and Nadal, the defending US and French Open champion, had been concerned about the wisdom of staging the US Open during a widespread COVID-19 outbreak across the United States.

The New York area has been able to keep cases at a relatively low level since spiking in March and April while areas such as Florida, Texas and California have become hotspots.

The only top-10 men’s players not on the entry list were injured Swiss star Roger Federer, the world number four behind Austrian Dominic Thiem, and France’s ninth-ranked

FDJOKOVIC, P9

Dabawenyo cager Alvin Pasaol (6), a member of the 3x3 National Team, plays in both the Chooks 3x3 league and MPBL.

GAB declares Chooks 3x3 as pro league

C

hooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 commissioner Eric Altamirano thanked the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) for giving his league the professional status it deserves.

In a virtual press conference on Wednesday night, the Chooks 3x3 league announced that it has just turned pro.

“I’d like to thank the Games and Amusements Board headed by Chairman Baham Mitra for allowing our sports organization, Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 to become a professional league. You know, this will provide our local players

the opportunity to explore possibilities as a professional career in the 3x3,” Altamirano said.

The multi-titled coach added that the latest development to the league is a testament to how this basketball variation has evolved locally and even internationally over the years.

“We all know that 3x3 is fast becoming a popular sport, not only here in the Philippines but all over the world as well,” Altamirano said.

The Chooks 3x3 cagefest was founded last year for the sole purpose of compiling needed FIBA 3x3

points for the Philippines to qualify at least for the FIBA 3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT).

After a full season consisting of four conferences, the Philippine hosting of the first-ever FIBA 3x3 Super Quest and the FIBA 3x3 Manila Challenger, and numerous appearances of local clubs in the international 3x3 circuit, Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 booked a spot in the OQT slated next year in Austria.

“It only shows that Filipinos can excel in this league, considering na maliliit tayo (that we are short),” Altamirano further said.

ed safety protocols for all gym users. Likewise, it has offered discounted comeback membership rates to encourage more Dabawenyos to be active during this time of the pandemic.

FGAB, P9

NBA confident of virus safety

N

A woman fitness enthusiast doing weights workout in this file photo at the Arcadia Fitness Gym inside the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Quimpo Boulevard, Ecoland. Arcadia, which re-opened last July 8, has institut-

With his league now a pro, Altamirano hopes that this development will pave the way for more hardcourt heroes to carve a career in basketball.

“Just like in 5-on-5, I believe that 3x3 will be another platform for our players to showcase their talent in this sport of basketball.

Yung pagiging professional league ng Chooks-to-Go 3x3 Pilipinas (Chooks-toGo Pilipinas 3x3 now being pro) will help strengthen our drive in becoming a dominant force in the 3x3 sport all over the world,” he quipped.

How about MPBL?

BA officials are confident their safety protocols and players’ desire to stay healthy will make the 2019-20 season’s bubble restart a success, league deputy commissioner Mark Tatum said Wednesday.

On the eve of the coronavirus-halted campaign resuming, Tatum said there have been no positive COVID-19 tests inside the bubble among about 350 players conducting pre-season scrimmages.

“Based on the results, our protocols are working,” Tatum said on a conference call. “We’re pleased we’ve had zero cases of COVID-19 positives during that time.

“We understand we have a long way to go. The people on campus are cognizant of adhering to the rules to keeping everybody safe and healthy.”

The season was halted March 11 after Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz tested positive for COVID-19.

More than four months of planning and consultation with safety experts followed.

“We’ve developed an extensive list of protocols to keep everyone on our campus healthy and safe, which is our first priority,” Tatum said. “So far they seem to be working.”

In all, 22 NBA teams -including 89 international players from 34 nations -- will resume games in a bubble quarantine setting without spectators at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, starting with 88 “seeding” games to complete the regular season.

That will determine brackets for next month’s start of the NBA playoffs with a champion scheduled to be crowned in October, about a year after the season tipped off.

“Whoever wins the championship this year will be very deserving,” Tatum said.

“They will have to overcome so much adversity to get to that finish line, it will be satisfying for whoever gets that championship.”

There has been growing concern about US sports restarting given the

FNBA, P9

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

LET THE GAMES BEGIN

VOL.13 ISSUE 95 • FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2020

Milo Sports Executive Lester Castillo will spearhead the launching of Milo Home Court on August 13.

NBA roars back to life after 5-month hiatus

A

fter an almost fivemonth hiatus, the 2019-20 NBA season is set to resume from the Disney World bubble on Thursday (Friday PH Time).

The first game back will be the Pelicans vs. the Jazz at 6:30 p.m. ET, followed by the Lakers and Clippers at 9 p.m. ET. There will be six more games on Friday, and with that, we’ll (hopefully) be off and running.

This continues to be a fingers-crossed situation, but so far the NBA’s bubble plan appears to be working as well as anyone could’ve hoped.

A reminder: Each of the 22 teams in Orlando will play eight “seeding” games that will constitute

the close of the regular season, at which point the top seven playoff seeds in each conference will be locked. As for the No. 8 seeds, if the No. 9 seed is within four games in the standings at the conclusion of the eight seeding games, there will be a playoff for the final spot, with the No. 9 seed having to beat the No. 8 seed twice.

Once the playoffs start, it will be business as usual: four rounds, seven-game series. If all goes well, the NBA Finals will conclude within the first two weeks of October. As for storylines to watch for, there are plenty. Hundreds, if you really want to go that deep. But we won’t do that. We’ll focus

on the big ones, a n d

there are indeed plenty of those as the playoff, and the ultimate championship chase feels more wide open than at any point I can recall, particularly in this unique environment. It genuinely feels like anything could happen.

Lakers’ Davis plans to play in NBA restart opener vs. Clippers NBA basketball is back, which means injury issues are back, too.

The Los Angeles Lakers will face Western rival Los Angeles Clippers in today’s NBA restart.

During Saturday’s exhibition game against the Orlando Magic, the Los Angeles Lakers had their first injury since scrimmages began. Lakers star big man Anthony Davis left the matchup in the second quarter after getting poked in the eye, and

he did not return. Davis immediately went back to Los Angeles’ locker room after sustaining the injury and he was subsequently ruled out for the rest of the game. Davis finished the contest with nine points and 10 rebounds in nine minutes

of action.

There was initial concern that Davis’ status for the Lakers’ restart opener against the Los Angeles Clippers was in jeopardy, but after being evaluated Wednesday morning, it appears

FLET, P10