Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 115 | Sunday-Monday, August 23-24, 2020

REPORT: MELATONIN MAY HELP SAVE LIVES OF COVID-19 PATIENTS HEALTH P8

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BRIDGE TOO FAR YET?

VOL.13 ISSUE 115 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, AUGUST 23-24, 2020

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An aerial view of Sasa Ferry Wharf in Brgy. Sasa, one of the main gateways of Davao City to Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS), and Davao Gulf. An official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has bared that the conceptual design and documents for the construction of the multi-billion Davao-Samal connector project is expected to be completed next month. Edge Davao

Design,docs for Davao-Samal connector expected next month STORY ON PAGE 2

WORLDWIDE COVID-19 NUMBERS BOARD

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

PHILIPPINES

WORLDWIDE

CONFIRMED: 23,120,802 • DEATHS: 803,213 • RECOVERED: 15,714,993

CONFIRMED: 182,365 • DEATHS: 2,940 • RECOVERED: 114,519

As of August 22, 2020, here’s the Top 5 list of countries with most number of COVID-19 cases 1. U.S.A CONFIRMED: 5,796,727 DEATHS: 179,200 RECOVERED: 3,127,418

2. BRAZIL CONFIRMED: 3,536,488 DEATHS: 113,454 RECOVERED: 2,670,755

3. INDIA CONFIRMED: 2,975,701 DEATHS: 55,928 RECOVERED: 2,222,577

4. RUSSIA CONFIRMED: 946,976 DEATHS: 16,189 RECOVERED: 761,330

5. SOUTH AFRICA CONFIRMED: 603,338 DEATHS: 12,843 RECOVERED: 500,102

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

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 115 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, AUGUST 23-24, 2020

Palace hits ‘fake news’ about Duterte’s health

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President Rodrigo Roa Duterte reviews a document during the latest meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Matina Enclaves in Davao City. Malacañang

has slammed members of the opposition who continue to spread “fake news” about the health condition of President Duterte. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

BRIDGE TOO FAR YET?

Design,docs for Davao-Samal connector expected next month

By MAYA M. PADILLO ndersecretary Emil Sadain of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) disclosed that the conceptual design and documents for the construction of the much-anticipated Davao-Samal connector project is expected to be completed in September this year.

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“Procurement will follow there after,” Sadain told Edge Davao in a text message.

The multi-million project will be financed thru China Eximbank Official Development Assistance (ODA).

Sadain said the

Davao-Samal Bridge is “one of the flagship projects of the national government.”

The DPWH official added that on the right of way (ROW) acquisition, negotiation with the Rodriguez family, is continuously being done by DPWH and

the local government unit (LGU) of Samal.

The Rodriguez family is a prominent family whose property will reportedly be adversely affected with the construction of the bridge on the Samal side.

The contract negotiation for the detailed engineering design (DED) has recently been concluded.

The DED will be funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through the Infrastructure Preparation and Innovation Facility.

The construction of the almost three-kilometer bridge linking Samal to

Davao City is estimated to cost P23 billion, based on a National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) brief.

The NEDA indicated that the project is targeted for funding under an official development assistance package.

The groundbreaking for the bridge connecting to the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) supposedly set in July this year, however, was moved to the last quarter of the year according to Mayor Al David Uy in an interview with Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) 87.5 in June this year.

The Philippines is considered an outlier in the region with the most number of COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia at 182,365 as of Friday.

Duque admitted that the pandemic has exposed "weaknesses" in the country's health care system, which the government is addressing as COVID-19 cases continued to increase.

"This can also be some kind of parang blessing in disguise. Serendipitous kasi parang na-accelerate itong UHC because of the COVID-19," he told an online forum with medical front liners.

"It's a catalyst, although

COVID-19 did expose the fissures, the cracks, the weakness of our Philippine health system."

The law, which was enacted in 2019, sought sweeping reforms while also ensuring that "all Filipinos are guaranteed equitable access to quality and affordable health care goods and services, and protected against financial risk."

Card Under the law, all Filipinos will be enrolled in the National Health Insurance Program, while primary care providers will extend outpatient services, including referrals to specialists if

needed.

The health crisis has sent 27.3 million people, or nearly half of the adult workforce, out of jobs in July, according to a Social Weather Stations survey.

The Philippine economy also contracted by 16.5 percent in the second quarter as the country plunged into a recession.

"Para sa akin, no regrets. Nandyan na yan," said Duque, referring to the raging pandemic.

"Let's do our best. Let's broaden the context by which we are responding to the pandemic and that context is the universal health care."

Pandemic should push UHC implementation, says Duque

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he coronavirus pandemic, which has infected more than 180,000 people in the Philippines, rendered millions jobless and with no signs of slowing down, can be considered a "blessing in disguise" for highlighting the need to speed up the implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) law, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Friday.

Duque admitted that the pandemic has exposed "weaknesses" in the country's health care system, which the government is addressing as COVID-19 cases continued to increase.

alacañang on Friday slammed members of the opposition who continue to spread “fake news” about the health condition of President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a press statement, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque lamented that Duterte’s critics are persistent in propagating false information about the 75-year-old Chief Executive’s health.

“It is preposterous that certain quarters have continued to peddle the false narrative of the Singapore trip in relation to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s health,” Roque said.

Roque issued the statement when asked to react to claims that Senator Leila de Lima was behind the rumor that Duterte went to Singapore for medical treatment.

Speculations that Duterte is sick floated anew when a certain Josef Leroi Garcia, who claimed to be de Lima’s consultant, posted on Facebook about a medical jet from Singapore landing in Davao City, the hometown of the President, over the weekend.

Netizens began speculating that Duterte was aboard the medical jet.

To dispel rumors, Senator Christopher Lawrence Go on Monday released a photo and went live on Facebook to assure

the public that Duterte was just at his residence in Davao City.

Duterte also addressed the public on Monday night to prove that he is fine and to deny that he traveled to Singapore in secret.

Roque said Duterte’s recent public appearance “clearly demolished the circulating bogus information.”

He said it was not surprising if Duterte’s critics “consult with witches to cast a spell” on the President next time.

He then said they should focus on helping the people affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic rather than peddle lies about Duterte’s health. “‘An idle mind is the devil’s workshop,’ as they say, and with plenty of free time during the lockdown, the President’s political enemies and haters, who became instant photo and video analysts, thought of nothing but to spread ghoulish fake news probably using millions of pesos which could have been better utilized in helping our people during this time of pandemic,” Roque said.

On Thursday, Roque said Duterte has been working “nonstop” in Davao City because of a “mountain” of paperwork, particularly appointment papers. (PNA)

DOH to do away with phase 4 trials for Covid-19 drugs

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he Department of Health (DOH) announced Friday it was letting go of the final phase of clinical trials for COVID-19 drugs and vaccines to "accelerate our national response to the pandemic."

The decision was made after deliberations by the DOH, Health Technology Assessment Council, Food and Drug Administration, and Philippine Medical Association, the health department said in written responses to media.

According to the World Health Organization, phase 4 studies take place after country approval and there is a need for further testing in a wide population over a longer timeframe.

The DOH added that the move had "historical precedent" in other countries.

"Accelerated clinical trials and regulatory approvals in response to threats such as Ebola and Meningitis contributed to mitigating the spread of Ebola and decline in the incidence of Meningitis in the sub-Saharan belt," DOH said.

The DOH bared this after being sought for comment regarding a provision in the Bayanihan to Recover as One bill (Bayanihan 2), which sets aside the phase 4

trial requirement for any drug under the Universal Health Care Act. Bayanihan 2, which this week got the nod of the bicameral conference committee, is designed to authorize President Rodrigo Duterte to swiftly extend assistance to sectors affected by the pandemic, acquire vaccine against COVID-19, and assist government financial institutions.

While it was doing away with the phase 4 trials, the DOH said that as safeguards, it would conduct safety and effectiveness surveillance and keep a database of recipients of the drugs and vaccines.

The Department of Science and Technology said clinical trials in the Philippines for various COVID-19 vaccines would most likely start in the 4th quarter of 2020, while the distribution of approved vaccines to the public won’t start until the 2nd quarter of next year.

Meanwhile, clinical trials for Japanese drug Avigan, which showed promising results for COVID-19 patients, started in the Philippines on Monday.

Besides Avigan, the Philippines also has ongoing clinical trials for anti-viral drug remdesivir through the WHO's Solidarity Trial.

VOL.13 ISSUE 115 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, AUGUST 23-24, 2020

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

15 TREs in Mati City closed temporarily

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A Task Force Davao personnel stands guard at the entrance of San Pedro Cathedral along San Pedro Street in Davao City while an afternoon mass is ongoing on Saturday. Edge Davao

total of 15 tourism-related establishments in the City of Mati were ordered close by City of Mati Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat upon the recommendation of the City Tourism and Promotions Office headed by Dashiel Indelible Jr. In a closure order dated August 19 and signed

by Mayor Michelle, it stated that the closure is only temporary until such time the closed resorts could show their certificate of authority to operate (CAO) from the Department of Tourism.

Served with the closure order starting afternoon of August 20 are Amihan sa Dahican, Bahay Kubo, Cala, Casa

Blanca, Darrport Campsite, Langkaya, Mountain Top Spring, Park Hub Beach Resort (Resureccion), Polong Bar and Campsite, Primm Beach House, Sakura Inland Resort, Sand Beach Resort, Secluded, Sheepy's Surf Resort, and Surf's Up Resort.

Incidentally, two of the resorts are owned by the family of Mayor Michelle Rabat. It was learned though that many of the temporarily closed resorts have already submitted their application for CAO to the DOT and that they are now just waiting for approval of their application so they could already resume operation.

F15 TRES, P9

Majority of Covid-19 transmission now ‘local’

By MAYA M. PADILLO ost Covid-19 transmissions in the Davao Region are locally-acquired.

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Dr. Cleo Fe Tabada, head of Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU 11) of the Department of Health 11 (DOH 11), said in a virtual presser that local community transmission has replaced the previous causes from

contacts with returning locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Davao City.

As this developed, the regional office of the health department is looking at influencers to bring the mes-

sage of the importance of the health protocols to the people in the community.

“Nakita na gyud nato na ang labanan (Covid-19 transmission) karon naa na sa community ug tungod niini nag-engage ta sa community ug nangita ta ug champions in the community. Although naka-engage nata ug influencers kay nangita ta ug tao ug magpatabang ta ug deliver

sa message para masabtan sa mga tao ug sundon sa mga tao ang health protocols. Kay usahay bisan unsa kanindot ang atong message kung dili ta influential dili ta ang gina-paminaw regularly,” Tabada said.

She added that they go inside the community to see what the situation is and are studying how to make messages applicable to the community.

Tabada also said that despite implementing barangay lockdowns, if the people would not follow the health protocols the increase of Covid-19 cases is expected.

“Naay mga areas nga naay nahitabo na kaso unya nag-spread then nag-lockdown. Naa pud mga areas nga naay nakit-an nga kaso unya nag-lockdown and then naay nakita na

additional cases. Ang pinaka-common na nakita nato sa pag-spread tungod kay these occurred within congested places and people cannot help but be in contact with each other maskin pa ug atoa silang bawalan. If they go to the alleys mag-tagbo gyud sila,” she said.

Tabada said some people, especially those resid-

FMAJORITY, P9

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

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Mati City Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat orders the temporary closure of 15 tourism-related establishments in the city failing to secure certificate of authority to operate (CAO) from the Department of Tourism. CIO Mati

oil prices up as OPEC+ ADB approves $300-million loan Crude vows for strict compliance to support PH financial reforms B

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he Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD300-million policy-based loan to support the Philippine government’s efforts to boost inclusive growth by implementing reforms to expand Filipinos’ access to financial services, especially in unserved and underserved areas across the country.

ADB’s Inclusive Finance Development Program, Subprogram 2, is supporting reforms to help the government reach targets linked to the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion.

These measures will strengthen the institutional and policy environment for financial inclusion, improve financial infrastructure, and increase the capacity and reach of service providers, especially rural banks and non-bank financial institutions.

“The Philippine government’s anti-poverty strategy aims to equip Filipinos in the bottom 40 percent of the income strata with education, skills, and livelihood assistance so they can break away from a vicious cycle of intergen-

erational poverty. Ensuring all Filipinos are part of the financial system is important to this approach,” ADB Vice-President Ahmed Saeed said.

ADB Senior Financial Sector Specialist for Southeast Asia Kelly Hattel said “through this loan, ADB is partnering with the Philippines to implement innovative initiatives around digital finance to significantly improve poor Filipinos’ access to financial services and products as a way to lift their incomes and wellbeing”.

According to the 2017 Global Findex Survey, the Philippines ranked among the lowest in Southeast Asia on almost all financial inclusion indicators.

Only 34 percent of Filipino adults have an account at a

he Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) on Friday urged government to disburse funds under the second coronavirus response package based on certain “objective criteria,” as it hailed Congress in enacting the measure.

“We commend Congress for enacting the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act... since the funds appropriated are extremely limited, we urge that disbursement be based on objective criteria, such as the sector’s contribution to the GDP, employment share, value added contraction, and their multi-

plier effect on the economy,” said Francis Lim, MAP president.

The Bayanihan to Recover as One (Bayanihan 2) bill that seeks to allow President Duterte to realign funds for the coronavirus crisis moved closer to becoming a law after a bicameral conference of senators and House of Representatives members approved it on Thursday.

formal financial institution, compared with 49 percent in Indonesia, 82 percent in Thailand, and 85 percent in Malaysia.

The Philippines can expand financial access to poor Filipinos through credit, savings, insurance, pensions, and remittances.

Reforms supported by the loan are being implemented by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Philippine Guarantee Corporation (Philguarantee), the Philippine Statistics Authority, the Department of Justice, and the Insurance Commission.

These reforms, which focus on the poorest 40 percent of the population and rural residents, aim to more than double the number of Filipinos holding an account at a formal financial institution by 2023.

Key reforms include the rollout of the country’s National Identification System, which will benefit all Filipinos and help speed up the delivery of social assistance programs, the launch of pilots on agriculture val-

ue chain finance, and public-private partnerships for crop insurance.

The loan also supports government reforms to incorporate financial literacy programs in the country’s K-12 basic education curriculum and increase the use of digital payments in the country.

It will help reorganize and strengthen Philguarantee’s operations, expand coverage of the credit reporting system, promote the use of cloud-based core banking technology among rural banks, and support the development of Islamic finance in the country.

These reforms will complement other programs ADB is supporting in the Philippines. For example, the USD400-million Competitive and Inclusive Agriculture Development Program approved by ADB in August 2020 to help the government increase agricultural productivity; and the USD500-million Expanded Social Assistance Project approved in June 2020 to support education and health conditional cash transfers to poor households. (PR)

an additional P25-billion in standby appropriations.

It is the second law for COVID-19 crisis response, following the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act, which lapsed in June.

“We are happy that health is the focus, which is key to opening the economy. Big funding is set aside for credit and we urge the government to ensure that it can be accessed easily, especially by small businesses,” Lim said.

MAP, whose members represent CEOs, COOs and other top management practitioners from the country’s largest local and

multinational companies also said, the abolition of tax on initial public offerings is a “welcome development” as it will “incentivize” companies to offer its shares to the public.

The removal of bureaucratic red tape on telco towers construction will also pave the way for improved telecommunications services, it added.

The Bayanihan 2 bill seeks to cut the number of permits required for building cellular sites and towers. It also provides a 60-day moratorium on the payment of credit card, salary, housing loans and others.

Disburse Bayanihan 2 funds based on certain ‘objective criteria’: MAP

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The bill sets aside P140 billion for the pandemic response and includes allotments for various government programs to help affected individuals and sectors. There’s also

rent crude oil prices climbed on Friday after OPEC+ reassured the markets that it will strictly cut its total oil production by the determined level of 7.7 million barrels per day.

International benchmark Brent crude was trading at USD45.01 per barrel at 0605GMT for a 0.2 percent increase after closing Thursday at USD44.90 a barrel.

American benchmark West Texas Intermediate was at USD42.84 per barrel at the same time, up 0.05 percent after ending the previous session at USD42.82 a barrel.

The prices increased as OPEC+ vows to comply with determined levels oil cuts for decreasing the available global supply to support the prices in the global oil market.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and nonOPEC oil-producing nations on Wednesday called for vigilance by all participating countries underscoring the fragility of the market and significant uncertainties, particularly associated with oil demand.

OPEC oil producers and allies, like Russia, a grouping dubbed OPEC+, met on Wednesday to review compliance with oil cuts meant to support oil prices during the coronavirus pandemic.

Pointing to signs of gradually improving market conditions and the lessening of the gap between global oil demand and supply, the group warned against a slower pace of recovery than expected with growing risks of a prolonged wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

OPEC and its allies forced oil nations pumping over production targets to cut further in August-September amid concerns of a sluggish recovery in oil demand, saying full conformity was vital for the ongo-

ing rebalancing efforts and to help deliver long-term oil market stability.

OPEC+ agreed on June 15 to lower their current crude oil production cut level to 7.7 million barrels per day (bpd) starting from August from the existing 9.7 million bpd.

The Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC), which closely watches how much crude oil each OPEC+ member produces, will hold its next meeting on Sept. 17.

Increasing tension between US and Iran The upward trend in prices was supported by the escalating tension between the US and Iran after US President Donald Trump said he intends to “snap back” international sanctions on Iran lifted as part of a 2015 nuclear deal.

The US president decided in 2018 to unilaterally exit Washington from the multilateral nuclear accord, which was largely led by his predecessor, Barack Obama.

In doing so, Trump ignored the objections from all of the pact’s other participants who questioned the US’ standing in invoking a snapback, as it is no longer a party to the accord.

To further add to concerns over diminishing demand, US crude oil stocks fell less than market forecasts for the week ending Aug. 14.

According to data released by the country’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Thursday, US commercial crude oil inventories fell by 1.6 million barrels, or 0.3 percent to 512.5 million barrels for the week ending Aug. 14, relative to the market expectation of a decrease of 2.7 million barrels.

However, the number of Americans who filed for unemployment benefit last week increased and topped 1 million after re-

FCRUDE OIL, P9

ECONOMY 5

VOL.13 ISSUE 115 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, AUGUST 23-24, 2020

Sugar regulatory body eyes exporting supply surplus to stabilize prices

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An oil refinery in Brgy. Sasa, Davao City. Oil prices is expected to increase after OPEC+ reassured the markets that it will strictly cut its total oil production by the determined level of 7.7 million barrels per day. Edge Davao

Local PPE makers to add $36-M investments, 4K jobs

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ember companies of the Confederation of Philippine Manufacturers of PPE (CPMP) are adding USD36 million investments to ramp up their production of medical-grade personal protective equipment (PPE) to serve the local demand.

In a virtual press conference Friday, CPMP executive director Rosette Carillo said this is on top of the USD35-million investments when the manufacturing companies repurposed their factories to make PPE. CPMP is composed of Medtecs International Corp.

Ltd., EMS Components Assembly Inc., Reliance Producers Cooperative, Luen Thai International Group Philippines, Inc., and Tacca Industries Pty Ltd. EMS chairman and chief executive officer Perry Ferrer said the company has started to pour in additional investments, while Australian firm Tacca is bringing in manufacturing of non-woven fabric used in surgical masks and Luen Thai is also investing to localize the production of PPE components.

“With the expansion of the program, we can increase it to another USD36 million and 4,000 workers,” Carillo said.

At the onset of the pan-

demic, the domestic market had a shortage of medical-grade PPE to protect the healthcare workers while they were attending to Covid-19 patients.

There are no PPE manufacturers in the Philippines except for Medtecs, which is engaged in manufacturing and exporting surgical masks.

This is when the four other member firms of CPMP, as well as the Confederation of Wearable Exporters of the Philippines, heeded the call of the government to locally produce much needed PPE such as medical-grade N88 face masks, N95 masks, coveralls, isolation gowns, gloves, head and shoe covers amid the pandemic.

For instance, Reliance and EMS converted 12 percent and 18 percent, respectively, of their factories into PPE making.

In the past three months, CPMP has invested USD35 million and retained 7,450

jobs despite the challenging business environment.

Gap in procurement However, there has been a gap between the local supply and the largest source of demand –the government.

“Key challenge is the demand. The biggest customer for PPE is the Philippine government at this point,” CPMP president Lawrence delos Santos said. “And the problem we are facing, the way (the) government secures and procures is not necessarily in sync with our production.”

Delos Santos cited that for instance, the procurement will involve demand for 200 million surgical masks that shall be delivered immediately, but the local production can only supply 57 million pieces a month.

Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said this does not mean the local industry cannot meet the demand of the government, as companies can double or triple their shifts which can generate more jobs to meet the required volume.

Coordination between the government and industry should be strengthened so the manufacturers can serve the demand from the Department of Health, added Rodolfo.

“Right now, government

urozone economic activity slowed in August as a new rise in cases of the coronavirus in parts of Europe blunted a recovery, IHS Markit said Friday.

The firm's closely-watched PMI index fell to 51.6 points from 54.9 points in July but was still above the key 50 points level which indicates growth.

"The eurozone’s rebound lost momentum

in August, highlighting the inherent demand weakness caused by the COVID-19 pandemic," said Andrew Harker, economics director at IHS Markit.

"The recovery was undermined by signs of rising virus cases in various parts of the euro area, with renewed restrictions impacting the service sector in particular," he added.

The data provider said that Germany, the eurozone's biggest economy,

was largely unaffected by the slowdown with business confidence its strongest in two years.

France, however, failed to replicate the strong rebound of the previous month with only a modest rise in new orders for companies.

The rest of the eurozone -- which includes Spain and Italy -- were marginally in contraction territory, IHS Markit said, noting that staff were be-

procurement is heavily 99 percent or 98 percent of what they purchased are actually mainly imported because it’s just easy to find an importer,” delos Santos said.

Imported PPE products are cheaper It was noted that prices of imported PPE, mainly coming from China, are cheaper than locally manufactured PPE. Rodolfo said the government procurement tends to favor the lowest price. China-made surgical masks can be bought at PHP3 to PHP7 per piece compared to Philippine-made medical-grade masks at around PHP10.

But CPMP members cautioned the government of the quality of the imported sets of PPE that are being provided to medical workers.

Rodolfo said the country has no testing laboratory to assess the quality of the imported PPE that is shipped here.

Checking of the quality for imported PPE basically relies on the “presentation of a certification from the equivalent of FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in their countries”.

CPMP assured the public of the quality of Philippine-made PPE as companies’ facilities are physically

ing cut across the continent.

Harker said the eurozone was at a "crossroads".

Growth will either "pick back up in coming months or continue to falter following the initial post-lockdown rebound."

This would depend on how successfully a second wave of the virus can be suppressed and whether Europeans will have the confidence to recharge the economy, he said.

FLOCAL, P9

Eurozone biz growth slows as virus rise crimps demand

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he Department of Agriculture's Sugar Regulatory Administration is considering exporting surplus sugar for crop year 2020-2021, preferably to the United States, in a bid to stabilize prices and supply.

In a statement, SRA administrator Hermenegildo Serafica said the agency is studying the possibility of exporting surplus sugar to the US to take advantage of Washington’s preferential rate.

“We forecast that we will have excess sugar this crop year 2020-2011, which will need to be exported,” Serafica said.

"We expect to produce 2,190,190 million metric tons (MMT) of sugar for the crop year 2020-2011, higher than the previous year's output of 2,145,693 MMT," the SRA chief added.

A sugar crop year in the Philippines starts in September and ends in August of the following year.

Earlier, local sugar producers urged the SRA to scrap sugar exports to the world market to ensure that the country will have enough sugar during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Serafica, however, said that maintaining high stock inventory would only result in depressed prices, especially now that sugar consumption and withdraw-

als from warehouses have slowed down.

He said demand for sugar is greatly reduced as there has been limited operations of manufacturers of sugar-containing products, such as beverage companies as well as industrial and institutional consumers like restaurants, mostly of which are not fully operational.

"Export of domestic sugar will ease and help stabilize prices -- at levels that are reasonably profitable to producers and fair to consumers," he added.

The Philippines has not allocated sugar for non-US markets for several years now, while the US remains as the top destination of local sugar because of better prices compared to the world market, Serafica said.

Being a consistent and reliable sugar exporter, the Philippines is one of the select countries given an annual allocation of sugar export to the US market at a premium under a tariff-rate quota.

In the previous crop year 2016-2017, the Philippines had a US quota of 136,827 MT. The volume may increase depending on Washington’s requirement during a particular season.

Tariff-rate quotas allow countries to export specified quantities of a product, like sugar, to the United States at a relatively low tariff.

ANZ Research eyes add’l RRR cuts in H2

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NZ Research projects that the 400 basis points reduction in banks’ reserve requirement ratio that the Monetary Board (MB) authorized Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno to implement this year, will be maximized.

This, even as monetary officials on Thursday discounted the need to cut banks’ RRR to date, given the ample domestic liquidity environment, as well as the need to reduce the BSP’s key policy rates after a total of 175 basis points reduction since the start of the year.

In a report dated August 20, 2020, ANZ Research said Philippine monetary officials’ decision to keep the central bank’s key rates steady is as expected, but it noted BSP’s commitment to further support the domestic economy.

“In our view, the current pace of recovery warrants further monetary policy support although it could come in the form of a cut in the reserve requirement ratio (RRR),” it said.

The BSP has so far reduced universal and commercial banks (U/KBs) RRR by 200 basis points and thrift banks (TBs) and rural and cooperative banks’ (RCBs) RRR by 100 basis points, both of which are targeted to flush additional liquidity into the system to support economic activities.

The BSP’s overnight reverse repurchase (RRP) rate is currently at 2.25 percent, the overnight lending rate is at 2.75 percent, and the overnight deposit rate is at 1.75 percent.

On Thursday, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said the MB’s decision to hold the central bank’s key policy rates steady was

made after noting that inflation rate remains within target despite the hike in the average inflation forecast for this year until 2022 and that growth, both domestic and global, remains weak due to the pandemic.

BSP’s inflation forecasts have been revised upwards to 2.6 percent, 3 percent, and 3.1 percent for 20202022 from 2.3 percent, 2.6 percent, and 3 percent previously, respectively.

This decision was made after the June and July 2020 inflation rates rose, a change from the deceleration since the start of the year.

Diokno, however, said the balance of risks on the inflation outlook is tilted on the downside due to the pandemic’s economic impact on both the global and domestic activities.

He also said early signs of recovery are slowly showing up after movement restrictions have been eased.

Growth, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), contracted by 0.7 percent in the first quarter this year and by 16.5 percent in the second quarter, which authorities traced to the strict quarantine measures implemented from the middle of March to end of April in mainland Luzon and until end-May for the National Capital Region (NCR), to arrest the rise of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) infections.

To help buoy the economy, the BSP reduced key policy rates and banks’ RRR to encourage banks to lend more and fund economic activities.

Diokno said the MB’s latest decision was made to allow the impact of the earlier monetary policy decisions to fully make its way into the economy. (PNA)

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

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On the recent pronouncement of the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU 11) of the Department of Health 11 (DOH 11) that most Covid-19 transmissions in the Davao Region are community-acquired:

Naay mga areas nga naay nahitabo na kaso unya nag-spread then naglockdown. Naa pud mga areas nga naay nakit-an nga kaso unya nag-lockdown and then naay nakita na additional cases. Ang pinaka-common na nakita nato sa pag-spread tungod kay these occurred within congested places and people cannot help but be in contact with each other maskin pa ug atoa silang bawalan. If they go to the alleys mag-tagbo gyud sila.”

Dr. Cleo Fe Tabada

Head of Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU 11) of the Department of Health 11 (DOH 11)

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 115 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, AUGUST 23-24, 2020

VANTAGE POINTS

7

FRED C. LUMBA SPECKS OF LIFE

CITIZEN COOPERATION, NOT LOCKDOWNS Even amateur economists will tell you lockdowns will bring down a nation’s economy.

Initially, the US heeded WHO warnings by locking down its entry points from all incoming foreign visitors as alarming news reports cited hundreds of thousands of infections worldwide.

However, the economic repercussions did not sit well with government authorities as Americans indignantly marched to express their freedoms while millions lost their jobs.

American intelligence gathering also decried the doubtful pronouncements of WHO that came too late in declaring the CoVid19 was a pandemic.

Trump eventually withdrew US funding support of $425M from WHO whom he suspected was playing footsy with rival China where, not incidentally, the virus originated.

The audacious counter-play US Pres. Donald Trump did to prevent America’s total economic collapse arising from the

CoVid19 outbreak saved the nation from the edge of a civil war.

He re-opened the US economy guided by a firm posture that the CoVid19 did not pose real threats to the citizens if Americans were to strictly observe health protocols and lived normally as they did before.

Initially, chaotic riots and looting, causing death and injury and destruction of property, occurred in several Democrat-controlled cities which were trumpeted extensively by the mainstream media to portray the US was in apparent disarray.

Trump, much like PRRD, does not have the mainstream media on his side.

America is now surely recovering, though rather slowly.

(Just a side bar, in California, despite stern warnings from the governor, Pastor John MacArthur defiantly conducted a worship service in his Grace Community Church in LA where an overflow crowd of 3,000 worshipers – wearing no face

masks and observing no social distancing – attended. He was to be fined $1,000 for every infraction but a court eventually acquitted Pastor MacArthur.)

The fact remains that if Trump completely surrendered America’s fate to the WHO and pursued a lockdown policy as the Philippines is doing for almost six months now, the USA either would have been plunged into a civil war that it did not desire or the POTUS would have declared martial law to prevent the former from happening.

Truth to tell, the infectious level of CoVid19 is not as deathly threatening as dengue. Parents will tell you that they fear the latter disease more than CoVid19 which is nothing more than a common flu.

Simple traditional cures like gargling with salt and hot water, ample taking of Vit C and regularly observing correct hygiene prevent the virus from infecting a person.

Hospitals inclination to diagnose a patient with flu as

Covid infected because of the PHILHEALTH guaranteed payment plan of P750K per patient has been exposed in the Congressional hearings.

But as you noticed, even without the vaccine, thousands of Filipinos reported to be CoVid positive have recovered.

In fact, many do not go anymore to the hospital for confinement when they feel their temperatures rise.

(I, for one and my family, will not go to the hospital for treatment of the flu. I fear more to be contaminated in the hospital rather than getting a sure cure at home.)

As a result of our continued blind obedience to the WHO directives, millions of Filipinos have lost their jobs, OFWs are repatriated home and are idle and grumbling, economic activities careened to a halt, children stopped going to school, families of office workers, laborers and transport daily wage earners have gone hungry and unfed.

WHO successfully intim-

idated Third World countries like us, those in Africa and South America, and we cowered in fear like street dogs scampering with their tails between their legs.

I agree with DTI Sec. Ramon Lopez who remarked that lockdowns have already served their purpose. It is time to fight back and open the economy.

The back-to-normal strategy should be the focus as public consumption will stimulate confidence and help restore the vigorous financial posture the country enjoyed before CoVid 19.

Besides, the resiliency of the Filipinos is a natural virtue imbedded in his character. He will survive the challenges of time and men.

Someone said: “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo. com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

DISCIPLINE IS THE KEY When the President Ferdinand E. Marcos launched Bagong Lipunan (New Society), he initiated several programs and initiatives. Perhaps one of the most popular slogans during that time was: “Sa ikakaunlad ng bayan, disiplina ang kailangan.” It can be literally translated as: in order for a country to progress, discipline is needed.

“Why is discipline important?” asked John F. MacArthur Jr. “Discipline teaches us to operate by principle rather than desire. Saying no to our impulses (even the ones that are not inherently sinful) puts us in control of our appetites rather than vice versa. It deposes our lust and permits truth, virtue, and integrity to rule our minds instead.”

If you love football, then you probably know Jerry Lee Rice. To the uninformed, he was an American football wide receiver who played 20 seasons in the National Football League. He is widely considered to be the greatest wide receiver in NFL history and among the greatest NFL players overall.

There is an interesting anecdote on how he became such. In Leadership 101: What Every Leader Needs to Know, author John C. Maxwell relates this story: “People who knew him

well say he is natural. Physically his God-given gifts are incredible, yet those alone have not made him great. The real key to his success has been his self-discipline. He works and prepares -- day in and day out -- unlike anyone else in professional football.

“During practice in high school, Rice’s coach, Charles Davis, made his players sprint twenty times up and down a forty-yard hill. On a particularly hot and hungry Mississippi day, Rice was ready to give up after eleven trips. As he sneaked toward the locker room, he realized what he was doing. “’Don’t quit,’ he told himself. ‘Because once you get into that mode of quitting, then you feel like it’s okay.’

He went back and finished his sprints, and he has never been a quitter since.”

And so, Rice became a professional football player -- and was so famous, too.

“Even in the off-season, while other players are fishing or lying around enjoying downtime, Rice is working, his normal exercise routine lasting from 7:00 am to noon,” Maxwell wrote.

Discipline -- that’s what separates Rice from good to great. Leonardo da Vinci puts it this way: “You will never have a greater or lesser do-

minion than that over yourself...the height of a man’s success is gauged by his self-mastery; the depth of his failure by his self-abandonment. ...And this law is the expression of eternal justice. He who cannot establish dominion over himself will have no dominion over others.”

According to Maxwell, in order for us to develop a lifestyle of discipline, we have to accept challenge and eliminate any tendency that makes us to come up with some excuses. “Almost all our faults are more pardonable than the methods we think up to hide them,” French classical writer Francois La Rochefoucauld wrote.

In creative writing, discipline is a prerequisite. Michael Chabon said, “You need three things to become a successful novelist: talent, luck and discipline. Discipline is the one element of those three things that you can control, and so that is the one that you have to focus on controlling, and you just have to hope and trust in the other two.”

This is what author H. Jackson Brown said, “Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates.

There’s plenty of movement, but you never know if it’s going to be forward, backwards, or sideways.”

“No success was won without self- determination and self-discipline,” wrote Lailah Gifty Akita in Pearls of Wisdom: Great Mind. William Cullen Bryant rewrote Thanatopsis a hundred times.

Edward Gibbon rewrote his Autobiography nine times.

Plato wrote the first sentence of his Republic nine times.

Virgil spent 12 years writing his Aeneid.

Practice makes perfect, so goes a popular saying. That is what discipline is all about.

“I believe that we learn by practice,” Martha Graham, American modern dancer and choreographer, believes.

“Whether it means to learn to dance by practicing dancing or to learn to live by practicing living, the principles are the same.

“In each, it is the performance of a dedicated precise set of acts, physical or intellectual, from which comes shape of achievement, a sense of one’s being, a satisfaction of spirit,” Graham further said. “One becomes, in some area, an athlete of God. Practice means to perform, over and over again in the face of all obstacles, some act of vision, of faith, of desire. Practice is a means of inviting the perfection desired.”

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart also said: “It is a mistake

to think that the practice of my art has become easy to me. I assure you, dear friend, no one has given so much care to the study of composition as I. There is scarcely a famous master in music whose works I have not frequently and diligently studied.”

When asked by a fellow pianist if he could be ready to play a recital on short notice, Jan Paderewski replied, “I am always ready. I have practiced eight hours daily for 40 years.”

“I wish I had been born with such determination,” the other said. Paderewski answered back: “We are all born with it. I just used mine.”

Even if in the beginning you fail, just go on. Discipline yourself no matter what happens, you will be able to attain what you want. An assistant of American inventor Thomas Alva Edison was bewildered when he found out that he did 50,000 experiments before he succeeded with a new storage battery.

“Results?” Edison told him. “Why man, I have gotten lots of results. I now know 50,000 things that won’t work.” “... A disciplined pursuit of less will keep us focused and make the greatest impact,” wrote Tim Hiller in Strive: Life is Short, Pursue What Matters.

8 HEALTH EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 115 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, AUGUST 23-24, 2020

Report: Melatonin may help save lives of Covid-19 patients

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

S

ome countries like Russia may have already developed a vaccine against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) but these are still undergoing further clinical trials (Phase 3) in their respective territories to establish its safety on humans.

While a vaccine is still not available in the Philippines, the search for treatment against the virus that causes Covid-19 (SARSCoV-2) – a distant cousin of the original Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus – continues.

According to reports, there have been several studies conducted in the country. One good news is that initial clinical observations on the use of melatonin as a supplementary treatment for COVID-19 has been reportedly proven to be beneficial. When given at the right dose and early enough, it may save the lives of those infected with the dreaded virus.

“High-dose melatonin is being considered as a potential treatment for COVID-19,” wrote Dr. Rafael Castillo in Health and Lifestyle, a monthly publication where he serves as editor-in-chief.

“While the hormone does not kill the novel coronavirus, it is said to neutralize its damaging effects on the body.”

Dr. Castillo and an international panel of 21 other experts are involved in the MAC19 PRO (Melatonin as Adjuvant treatment in Covid-19 pneumonia Patients Requiring hospitalization) – an initiative to avert healthcare exhaustion in the Philippines.

The other local experts who compose the panel are Dr. Agnes del Rosario, Dr. Maria Graciela Grayblas-Gonzaga, Dr. Eugenio Jose Ramos, Dr. Enrique Ona, Dr. Jaime Galvez-Tan, Dr. Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial, Dr. Saturnino Javier, Dr. Abdias Aquino, Dr. Leilani Mercado-Asis, Dr. Gilbert Vilela, Dr. Jose Santiago, Dr. Jessore Isidro, and Rafaella Giana Javier.

Six renowned scientists and clinicians from other countries were also involved in the initiative— Dr. Russell Reiter and Dr. Dun-Xian Tan from the University of Texas in San Antonio, United States; Dr. Gregory Brown from University of Toronto, Dr.

David Streiner from MacMaster University, and Dr. Harold Pupko from North York, Ontario, Canada.

Separate members of the MAC19 PRO study group headed by renowned pulmonologist Dr. Camilo Roa, Jr., are involved in a randomized double-blind clinical trial in 350 patients over a fourmonth period, evaluating the effect of high-dose melatonin in symptomatic COVID-19 patients with pneumonia and varying degrees of low oxygen levels. This is approved by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and funded

through its Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD).

“When given at the right dose and early enough, high-dose melatonin may help prevent worsening of mild COVID-19, especially in patients with high-risk features, and help reverse moderate to severe COVID-19 cases,” said the rationale of the study and the group’s advocacy initiative.

EDGE Davao obtained a copy of the statement which the team recently released.

“The MAC19 PRO Group felt compelled to make public this recommendation in the light of the daily record number of new COVID-19 cases reported by the Department of Health and the overflow of severe cases in hospi-

tals, with many symptomatic patients regrettably being turned away without adequate treatment due to lack of rooms and beds to accommodate them,” the statement read.

That’s just one of the reasons. The group also released the findings in order to help the medical community who has already sounded a “distress call” to pause a n d recalibrate s t ra t e gies.

“Our healthcare frontliners also have one of the highest infection rates in the region – nearly five times the region average – aggravating the burden on the healthcare system, which may be nearing exhaustion already,” the statement added.

The group’s recommendation is based on melatonin’s well-established antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immune-system modulating mechanisms with multisystemic benefits and varied indications.

“Based on published literatures on the benefits of high-dose melatonin is severe viral infections and sepsis and our own clinical experience in actual COVID-19 patients including those with moderate to borderline severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), (we believe) that if patients with typical COVID-19 symptoms could be started immediately on treatment with high-dose melatonin

– without waiting for the results of COVID tests which may take four to five days – many cases would no longer progress or worsen and require critical care in the hospital intensive care unit,” the group statement explained.

Preliminary clinical experience on high-dose melatonin has shown that it can help accelerate clinical improvement, significantly reduce the need for intubation and mechanical ventilation, shorten hospital stay and possibly reduce mortality.

“The administration of high-dose melatonin may buy precious time to protect COVID-19 patients from the dreaded ‘cytokine storm,’ which is the major cause of multi-organ failure and substantially inexpensive compared to other medicines used in COVID-19; thus, its use will not impose a huge financial burden to patients or the government.”

According to Prof. Tan, early intake of high-dose melatonin even before test results are available is a safe measure and is not expected to result in any serious or significant side effect. “Its high safety margin is well-established with doses of 1,000 milligrams to 3,500 milligrams,” he assured.

However, the group clarifies: “The use of high-dose melatonin for COVID-19 is currently off-label, just as many current treatments now being administered to COVID-19 patients, and NOT approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for other indications other than its sleep-enhancing indication.”

The group hopes that the sub-group headed by Dr. Roa could soon initiate its randomized clinical trial, pending final approval of the FDA, and have the

results available by the end of the year.

“Countless lives hang on the balance,” the statement said. “(We hope) this recommendation could help guide physicians and healthcare workers on proactively managing with high-dose melatonin the imminent life-threatening consequences of COVID-19, to prevent the serious and potentially fatal complications in the latter stages of the disease.”

The study recommended to use only pure melatonin preparations which are FDA-approved.

Usual side effects with high-dose melatonin are sleepiness (but easily arousable) with tendency to oversleep, headache, and nausea. But all side effects are relatively mild and tolerable with pure melatonin preparations.

High-dose melatonin is to be taken by mouth.

“Doses for confined patients with symptomatic COVID-19 are to be compounded by hospital pharmacist with usual available dosage form of 3 mg/capsule,” Dr. Castillo wrote.

“The melatonin powder may be mixed with a patient's favorite juice or drink if taken orally, or it may be given by naso-gastric tube or mixed with feeding if the patient is intubated.”

So far, success with high-dose melatonin has been observed mainly in unintubated patients.

“Survival in unintubated patients with moderate to severe ARDS is 100% so far, based on preliminary experience, but it also didn’t save one intubated patient wherein melatonin was given four days after intubation,” Dr. Castillo explained. “The key is to give it as soon as possible and not to wait for the patient to deteriorate further. A common pitfall is to wait

for results of COVID swab which may cause a 4- to 5-day delay in treatment, during which time the patient may rapidly deteriorate.”

Aside from melatonin, the COVID-19 patients are also given vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, and virgin coconut oil.

Melatonin is a natural hormone made by the body’s pineal gland. This is a pea-sized gland located just above the middle of the brain, which helps the body know when it’s time to sleep and wake up.

“Normally, your body makes more melatonin at night,” the website, wedMD.com, states. “Levels usually start to go up in the evening once the sun sets.

They drop in the morning when the sun goes up. The amount of light you get each day – plus your own body clock – set how much your body makes.”

Melatonin is called the “Dracula of hormones” as it only comes out in the dark.

“Even if the pineal gland is switched ‘on’ by the clock,” the US-based Sleep Foundation explains, “it will not produce melatonin unless the person is in a dimly lit environment.”

Melatonin production declines with age. But it is now available as a supplement, typically as an oral tablet. Most melatonin supplements are made in a laboratory.

“People commonly use melatonin for sleep disorders such as insomnia and jet lag,” says the Mayo Clinic. “Unlike with many sleep medications, you are unlikely to become dependent on melatonin, have a diminished response after repeated use (habituation) or experience a hangover effect.” – (Editor's Note: All photos used in this article are sourced by the author and taken from online websites)

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 115 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, AUGUST 23-24, 2020

MAJORITY.. FROM3

ing in a congested areas, do not follow instructions even the proper wearing of face mask and face shield.

“Apparently pag-suroy namo sa mga areas, kung commercial ang area magmask mag shield pero kung within the residential area kung sa akoa pang inistoryahan “mag-ilis lang ug sinina saka na musuot ug mask ug face shield.” Maka-guol siya ug ingon ana ang amoang nakit an,” she said.

She said given this scenario it is expected that

cases will increase despite implementing lockdowns.

“Lockdowns are supposed to keep them from spreading and allow the persons to stay in the house para dili na makaspread ang virus. With the lockdowns, dili gihapon sila mupatuo sa instructions expected na mag-karoon ug cases within the lockdown area. But again whether nag-lockdown o dili kung medyo congested ang area ug dili gina-follow ang health protocols naa jud transmission,” she said.

Mayor Michelle said that it is unfortunate that two of their family's resorts were included in the closure order but added that the law must be implemented fairly and evenly to all regardless of who is at the helm of power.

Mayor Michelle said they expect their resorts' CAO to be released by next

week.

It was learned that the resorts of the Rabats are not personally managed by the siblings.

Majority of the resorts are compliant with the requirements mandated by the local government. The CAO is a new requirement required by the DOT in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. (CIO MATI)

cording the lowest figure the previous week since the coronavirus pandemic began, according to the US Labor Department.

A total of 1,106,000, jobless claims were filed, representing a week-onweek increase of 135,000.

(Anadolu)

inspected by FDA and they send their products for testing abroad to get a certification.

CPMP said locally made PPE passed the

highest standard requirements performed by third-party international laboratories testing facilities for PPE like Intertek, UL, and SGS.

15 TRES.. FROM3

CRUDE OIL.. FROM4 LOCAL.. FROM5

9

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late RODOLFO MONTEMAYOR CABAÑOG has been the subject of EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE executed among his HeirsVendor, per Doc. No 473; PageNo.96; Book No.LXXXVII Series of 2020, of the NOTARY PUBLIC ANTOINETTE G. PRINCIPE

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late JOSE T. GULFIN has been the subject of EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS executed among his Heirs per Doc. No 522; PageNo.106; Book No.06 Series of 2020, of the NOTARY PUBLIC JORLITO O. PINGAL

8/10, 17,24/20

8/10, 17,24/20

British gov't debt exceeds £2 trillion on virus support

B

ritish government debt has exceeded £2 trillion for the first time following massive state borrowing as the coronavirus pandemic pushed the UK economy into a record recession, official data showed Friday.

At the end of July, total accumulated debt hit £2.004 trillion ($2.61 trillion, 2.2 trillion euros), the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said in a statement.

That was equivalent to more than 100 percent of the country's annual gross domestic product, or total economic output, for the first time since 1961.

By comparison, Ap-

ple this week became the first US company to have a market valuation totaling $2 trillion (£1.5 trillion), boosted as it is seen as a key winner in the new post-coronavirus economy.

Compared with July 2019, UK debt increased by £227.6 billion, reflecting the huge increase in borrowing needed to tackle the pandemic.

'SIGNIFICANT STRAIN' "This crisis has put the public finances under significant strain as we have seen a hit to our economy and taken action to support millions of jobs, businesses and livelihoods," finance minister Rishi Sunak said.

"Without that support things would have been far worse."

Net borrowing between April and the end of July is estimated to have hit £150.5 billion, the ONS said.

Last month's figure alone came in at £26.7 billion, as the UK emerged from a strict lockdown imposed at the end of March to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

"Today's figures are a stark reminder that we must return our public finances to a sustainable footing over time, which will require taking difficult decisions," said Sunak,

whose official title is Chancellor of the Exchequer.

"It is also why we are taking action now to support the growth and jobs which pay for our public service, by helping businesses to reopen safely."

POUND PUMMEL The pound fell by more than 1.0 percent against the dollar on Friday as the EU and Britain traded blame for the lack of progress after the latest round of post-Brexit trade talks, with Brussels warning that a deal looked unlikely.

Sterling was changing hands at $1.3074 in afternoon trade, compared with $1.3214 late Thursday.

10 EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 115 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, AUGUST 23-24, 2020 VOL.13 ISSUE 115 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, AUGUST 23-24, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

LIVING

A CELEBRATION OF THE HARVEST SEASON AT SM SUPERMALLS AUGUST is Mindanao’s official harvest season and in celebration of the month’s bounty, SM Supermalls in Mindanao gathers together the freshest produce, seasonal fruits, and lush greens from local producers and communities in a series of events.

Transforming the parking lots of SM City Davao, SM City General Santos and SM Lanang Premier into lush gardens, plantitos and plantitas can search for the latest trendy plants at The Greenery Plant Center. Stocking everything from succulents to fruit trees, shrubs to exotic orchids The Greenery Plant Center promises to have a plant for every striving green thumb.

Catch The Greenery from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30 at SM City Davao, Aug. 10 to Nov. 10 at SM Lanang Premier, and Aug. 21 to Sept. 20 at SM City General Santos.

This event is in collaboration with Unabia’s Garden, Mindanao Garden Club Inc., City Gardener’s Association (General Santos), and Happy Greens Cactus & Succulents And what is a harvest festival without fruits right?

Featuring the best of the season’s bounty, SM’s Fruit Market is a one-stop shop of Mindanao’s freshest fruits.

From the exotic durian to the familiar pomelo, the fruit market is sure to delight the tastebuds.

Catch The Fruit Market on Aug. 1 to Sept. 30 at SM City Davao, Aug. 24 to Sept. 28 at SM Lanang Premier, and Aug. 21 - Sept. 20 at SM City General Santos.

From August 20 to 23, SM Lanang Premier partners with

farmers from the Department of Agriculture and the agriculture offices of the LGUs to hold Farmer’s Produce, an outdoor market at SM Lanang Premier’s Northwing Level 2 featuring fresh and affordable farm products as well as local herbs, dairy, coffee, tea, wine, and more.

Farmer’s Produce is supported by the Davao City Agri-

culturist’s Office, Department of Agriculture XI, Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita, Restaurant Owners of the Philippines; with the Association of Davao Organic

Advocates, Malabog Agricultural Cooperative, Durian Industry Association of Davao, Hijo Harvest, Green Bounty Kitchen, Cacao de Davao,

Eden Fresh Produce, Inc. & Emerita Pintor, Out of Nowhere, Union Market, Marina Tuna, Mandarin Tea Garden, and Juice Co. The Juice Bar.

DISCOVER TRUE BEAUTY ON ‘TELESINE PRESENTS: CARA MYSTICA’ THIS SUNDAY BEGINNING SUNDAY, witness one of a kind movies made for television via Telesine Presents.

Every week, Telesine Presents offers a variety of stories – drama, comedy, suspense, thriller – all with engaging narratives and cinematic quality.

For its first offering, follow the story of “Cara Mystica”

starring Judy Ann Santos who plays Cara, a young woman who is experiencing cruelty and discrimination from the townsfolk because of her physical appearance. Despite Cara’s situation, she suffers in silence but she takes comfort that her close friend, Gomer (Romnick Sarmenta) is always there to defend her.

One day, she discovers an

antique mirror possessed by a spirit named Misty who offers her a chance to become beautiful but there are consequences to her choices.

With her newfound beauty, will Cara also find the happiness she’s been longing for?

Catch “Telesine Presents: Cara Mystica” this Sunday after The Boobay and Tekla Show on GMA Network.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 115 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, AUGUST 23-24, 2020

11

Cansino moves on, chooses to join Fighting Maroons

A Luka Doncic (left) had a triple-double but also limped off the court after spraining his left ankle in the third quarter. He returned to play a little of the fourth before checking out for good and going back to the locker room area. Kawhi Leonard (right) had 36 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

Clippers regain control, Doncic suffers ankle injury

L

AKE BUENA VISTA, Florida — Kawhi Leonard had 36 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, leading the Los Angeles Clippers to a 130-122 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night (Saturday, Manila time) for a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference first-round series.

Luka Doncic had a triple-double but also limped off the court after spraining his left ankle in the third quarter. He returned to play a little of the fourth before checking out for good and going back to the locker room area.

The Clippers had been in control for a while by then, using a team-record, 45-point second quarter to build a big lead. And when Dallas cut it to eight midway through the fourth quarter, Leonard respond-

ed with a 3-pointer and left-handed dunk on consecutive Clippers possessions to restore a comfortable lead.

Landry Shamet had 18 points for the Clippers, who bounced back from their loss in Game Two even though Paul George shot poorly again. Ivica Zubac added 15.

Kristaps Porzingis had 34 points and 13 rebounds for the Mavericks. Seth Curry and Tim Hardaway Jr. each added 22 points.

Doncic finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists but had a rough night, shooting just 4 for 14 from the field and 4 for 10 from the foul line.

George shot 3 for 16.

He was just 4 for 17 in Game 2.

But Shamet picked up the slack while starting for the injured Patrick Beverley, who missed his second straight game. Shamet totaled just two points in the first two games.

Game Four is on Sunday.

Doncic was defending Leonard on a drive with about 4 minutes remaining in the third when his left ankle rolled and he fell to the court. He got up and tried to go toward the nearby Dallas bench but quickly went back down to the court again. He was then able to get back up

and limp directly toward the locker room area.

He came back to the bench area a few minutes later and started the fourth quarter but he wasn’t moving well and soon departed again, sitting on the bench with his head in his hand.

Clippers coach Doc Rivers said the seventh-seeded Mavs had outplayed the No. 2 Clippers through two games. But after an even first quarter in which Doncic and Montrezl Harrell got double-technical fouls after getting tangled up and exchanging words, Los Angeles asserted itself in the second.

It was tied at 35 before the Clippers held the Mavs to three baskets over nearly five minutes, outscoring them 17-6 to open a 52-41 lead. Los Angeles scored 45 points in the period and lead 68-54 at halftime.

FRED C. LUMBA

fter his sudden departure from the University of Santo Tomas (UST), UAAP Season 80 Juniors MVP CJ Cansino quickly moved on and chose the University of the Philippines (UP) to be his new home.

The 6-foot-2 guard known for his speed, strength and sweet shooting met with UP Men’s Basketball Team (UPMBT) manager Atty. Agaton Uvero and head coach Bo Perasol on Friday, August 21 and expressed his interest to join the Diliman-based squad.

“Unang-una sa lahat, UST is my dream school kaya nalulungkot talaga ako sa nangyari. Hinding-hindi ko makakalimutan ang UST and thankful ako sa kanila na binigyan nila ako ng opportunity, pero I need to move on,” Cansino said.

“Noong natanggap ko na, na hindi na ako pwede sa UST, marami po akong kinausap and kinonsulta.

Ang naging pakiramdam ko po ay mas bagay talaga ako

sa UP, mas comfortable ako sa UP,” he added.

Perasol welcomed Cansino’s decision to join the Fighting Maroons and assured the incoming thirdyear guard that he will help him adjust to the new environment.

“CJ will be a great addition to ensuring the sustainability of the program, especially with possibly just one player left from last season playing for Season 84.

I will personally help him make the transition to being a Fighting Maroon. CJ will definitely enjoy his stay in UP,” Perasol said.

Team manager Atty.

Uvero said the UPMBT is happy to have the multi-talented former juniors star join the squad.

“We wanted him to play for UP when he graduated from UST high school two years ago, but his heart has always been with UST. We are happy and lucky that he chose to be part of the Fighting Maroons this time,” Uvero said.

New home-and-away cagefest set next year

A

new league is set to usher in next year.

The East Asia Super League (EASL) and FIBA forged an agreement on Thursday for the formation of a home-andaway league that will pit teams from China, Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines.

FIBA will be supporting the new league for the next 10 years.

“EASL is thrilled to receive FIBA’s support for the launch of our league," said EASL chief executive officer Matt Beyer. "With top teams from the Greater China region, Japan, Korea, and the Philippines, we are confident it will become one of the top professional basketball competitions in the world by 2025."

The EASL will start

with eight teams playing in the group stages that will begin in October or right after the FIBA Asia Champions Cup. The top four teams will move on to the semifinals with the winners facing off in the finals.

Both rounds will take place in February in the following year.

FIBA secretary general Andreas Zagklis sees the EASL as beneficial for the growth of basketball in East Asia.

“The recognition of the East Asia Super League is based on a shown commitment to developing basketball in the region, and is in line with FIBA’s club competition strategy that is to shape international club competitions,” Zagklis said. (PNA)

SPORTS KEN

A-ONE CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP ON LINE Reigning FIDE world champion Magnus Carlsen came from behind to edge Hikaru Nakamura 4-3, in a thrilling best of seven sets to claim the Magnus Carlsen Chess Final on line Thursday night.

I followed the series live which normally ended 2am Philippine time.

Watching the match live is exhausting because of the different time zones and so much more with the contestants themselves.

Much as chess lovers like you and I prefer face-to-face battle, due to CoVid constraints, the games had to be played online using computerized touch screens.

The usual human drama was absent but the commentators – GMs Yasser Seirawan and Peter Leko – provided so much interesting insights and analyses that made the matches very exciting.

Carlsen came home $140,000

richer while defeated finalist Hikaru got $80,000. Joint co-third placers Anish Giri and Daniel Dubob each settled for $40,000. Not bad for a two-week effort.

The semi-finals were likewise exciting. Nakamura, 5-time US winner, shellacked Dubob, 3-0 in a best of 5 while Carlsen licked Giri, 3-5 to 1.5.

Nakamura was leading, 3-2 and needed just to win set 6 to clinch the title and the prize money, but Carlsen amazingly recovered and put on a dazzling show of determination to lasso the last two sets for the final score of 4-3.

Both pawn pushers opted the e-4 opening with White (Ruy Lopez) in many of the rapid and blitz games, following book lines.

The middle game slowly changed the complexion of the game leading to the end game.

Personally, I thought the American was superior as he holds the title of blitz king. Na-

kamura was bolder in his choices of sharper lines, oftentimes avoiding book lines and even checkmated the Norwegian at least twice during the finals.

Lovely.

Carlsen was reported to be suffering from some backaches but it did not show. His defensive gems caught Nakamura scratching his head. In one of the rapid matches, while on the run ably defending the fort, the world champion’s surprise Queen move in the middle game forced the American to resign.

The Sicilian which I love to use was rarely used by either competitor. As far as I recall, only the late Bobby Fischer defended frequently with the Sicilian which he used successfully in his championship challenge versus world titleholder Boris Spassky in 1972 Nakamura consistently opened with e4 with White, leading to the sharp lines of the Giuo-

co Piano and Italian variations as White is easily able to develop his major pieces for a kingside attack.

I saw Carlsen used the Queen’s Gambit accepted once.

The Nimzo-Indian he also frequently applied and the Alekhine once or twice in the series that often resulted in a draw.

Overall, there was a lot of lessons learned from the very thrilling encounter which I thought the honor belonged to Nakamura.

He was more aggressive whether with the white or Black pieces.

I think today’s GMs know when to draw early after the second and third moves with their choices of drawing lines. Repetition of moves was resorted to both by Carlsen and Nakamura in the title face off when the situation did not favor anyone.

My regret is that our own Philippine pride, GM Wesley So was not invited to take part in the

competition named after Magnus and organized by him.

Perhaps, Wesley’s complete domination of Carlsen in the first Fischer Random Chess World Championship September last year “scared” the popular reigning FIDE world king from inviting his erstwhile conqueror.

Among the many world title contenders in the horizon, GM WS is regarded by his peers and chess observers and experts as the most likely feared to turn back Carlsen in the FIDE world championship cycle.

As the only native-born Filipino to have risen this far (with due respect to my friend GM Eugene Torre whose sterling career I also covered) whose chances to become a world champion are great, I am hoping God blesses him with the rare opportunity in the near future. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.)

GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

BOXING AID

VOL.13 ISSUE 115 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, AUGUST 23-24, 2020

Sen. Bong Go distributes cash aid, food packs to boxers, trainers

By NEILWIN JOSEPH BRAVO enator Christopher “Bong” Go personally handed out grocery packs and cash aid of P5,000 each to Davao City boxers and boxing officials at the Buhangin Gym on Friday (August 21,2020).

S

The aid to boxers and officials coincided with the distribution of Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).

Senator Go, himself a dyed-in-the-wool sportsman, was with Games and Amusement Board (GAB) chairman Baham Mitra in giving tout the aid to 120 boxers and trainers.

Go assured the boxing community of the support of President Rodrigo Duterte and himself especially in this time of the pandemic.

“Kung naa mo’y gibati, kailangan ninyo magpatambal, naa tay Malasakit Center, naa tay SPMC, duol lang mo,” the neophyte lawmaker and trusted aide of President Duterte said.

He asked the boxers and trainers to stay patient as the government awaits a vaccine for the coronavirus to be developed and approved before things can go back to normal.

“Pag naa nay vaccine, basi pwede na ta mubalik sa normal. Maka-boxing namo,” said Go. Meantime, the Philippine Boxing Promoters and Managers Association (PBPMA) is set to distribute rice to boxers and trainers next week in Manila and the National Capital Region (NCR).

PBPMA president Dante Almario said they are planning to give at least 10 kilos of rice per boxer and trainer.

Senator Bong Go with Davao City boxers and trainers last Friday at the Buhangin Gym. “Unfortunately, they have no income for too long, so we are raising funds,” Almario said. “It is also difficult to solicit money.”

He said at least 300 people will receive from the fund of at least P100,000.

Among those who are participating in the initia-

tive, he said, are Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde, Brico Santig, Jun Sarreal, Orlando Barcelongo, and Yolly Alfante.

The boxers and trainers

already received SAP from the government through the Games and Amusement Board. (With reports from Maya Padillo and PNA)