Manila Standard - 2020 June 12 - Friday

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COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM JUNE 11)

24,175 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

443 NEW

253 FRESh

1,036

9

DEATHS

NEW

5,165

270

RECOVERIES

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 108 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

NEW

By Vito Barcelo

T

HE total number of COVID-19 cases could hit 40,000 by June 30, a University of the Philippines mathematics professor consulting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) said Thursday.

The total number of cases stood at 24,175 yesterday, with 253 “fresh” cases and 190 late cases.

In a forum on Thursday, Institute of Mathematics Assistant Professor Guido David and Department of Political Science Assistant Professor Ranjit Singh Rye presented data on the transmission of the virus.

“The projection is 40,000 cases by Next page

RUSH HOUR? A female guard stands

next to passengers on a train usually packed during rush hour, with plastic sheets spacing out seats to ensure social distancing in Manila on June 10, 2020.

Hordes of cars and workers poured into the Philippine capital after its strict coronavirus protocol was eased despite a spike in new cases. Officials said the nation must revive its bruised economy. AFP

Virus infections to hit 40,000 by June 30—UP ‘Projection based on current transmission trends’

Justice warns against mass gatherings: Sanctions remain in force

By Rey E. Requejo and Maricel V. Cruz

even if these are called mañanita— during the celebration of the country’s 122nd year of independence today or JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra hold protest actions against the impendon Thursday reminded the public not ing signing into law of the controversial to hold assemblies nor mass actions— Anti-Terorism Bill by the President.

Guevarra warned that sanctions under existing public health laws remain in effect.

According to him, mass gatherings are still banned while social distancing remains mandatory to prevent the

further spread of the coronavirus or COVID-19.

The Justice Secretary made the warning after members of the Movement Against Tyranny announced they Next page

Balik on hold; Hatid Tulong now in motion

LOCAL roundup

•2m pupils enrol in new learning • Senators: Taxes to fund programs

By Macon Ramos-Araneta, Joel E. Zurbano, Rio N. Araja and Vito Barcelo.

By Joel E. Zurbano and Vito Barcelo THE government has suspended the Balik Probinsiya, Bagong Pag-asa Program (BP2) so that it can focus on transporting stranded individuals in Metro Manila to the provinces, National Housing Authority General Manager Marcelino Escalada Jr. said Thursday.

In a televised briefing, Escalada said President Rodrigo Duterte gave clear orders to help overseas Filipino workers, tourists, students and construction workers who have been stranded due to COVID-19 restrictions.

STRANDED. Around 300 individuals spend nights and days at the Naia terminal 3 taking their chances to catch a flight back home.

“These are all people in Metro Ma- Most of the stranded men and women are overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) while the rest hail from Mindanao provinces such as Davao Next page and Sulu, unable to leave after the Luzon-wide lockdown took effect. JR Josue

AROUND two million students have enrolled under multiple learning modalities laid down by the Department of Education due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said Thursday.

She told the Senate Committee on Basic Education hearing that DepEd officials were able to register 36.26 percent of students in public and private schools nationwide during the past eight days.

Briones gave assurances there would be no face-to-face teaching but they would use the new technology so the students would not stop going to school.

During the launch of the Brigada Eskwela, officials asked for gadgets like desktop and cellphones as donations instead of school chairs, ballpens and bond papers.

Next page

BAI draws flak over import bias Freedom Day: AKO Bicol party list representative Elizaldy Co urged on Thursday Agriculture Secretary William Dar to fire officials of the Bureau of Animal Industry for alleged bias for chicken importation to the detriment of Filipino farmers.

The recent BAI pronouncement urging local poultry producers to limit production and “give way” to imports is anti-Filipino, Co said in a statement.

“It’s like rubbing salt to the wounds of local poultry raisers facing the grim specter of bankruptcy and business clo-

sures amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” he stressed.

The solon said unabated chicken importation was flooding the local market with chicken meat from unknown foreign sources which could pose severe health hazards to consumers.

BAI officials, he said, failed to show evidence of overpricing or even lack of local supply to justify more imports.

“Even at the start of the Luzonwide lockdown, chicken prices have fallen to Next page

Hug me tender: Calming effect IN THIS era of social distancing and depressing news, we could all do with a good hug. Now scientists have analyzed what makes the perfect cuddle – just don’t squeeze too tight.

A team from Japan’s Next page

As many as 10 may join rites PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will skip the 122nd Independence Day celebration at the Rizal Park in Manila today, Friday, Malacañang said.

Duterte would be unable to lead the Independence Day rites because the number of participants would be limited to 10 people, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a virtual presser aired on the state-run PTV-4.

He raised the possibility that people might flock to Manila in case Duterte graced the event.

Next page

LOCAL SUPPORT. The iconic SM Mall of Asia Globe lights the Philippine flag ahead of the celebration for the Independence Day today. SM malls encourage everyone to support local fashion and food products through its advocacy #MOASupportsLocal.

Solon presses for ABS-CBN franchise renewal

By Maricel V. Cruz and Rey E. Requejo

the shuttered ABS-CBN defended the Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman says the network’s issuance of Philippine De- issuance of PDRs by media networks positary Receipts by media networks, like ABS-CBN Corp. does not violate ONE of the authors of the bill seeking which he said was also being done by the constitutional requirement of a hunthe renewal of the franchise to operate local media entities.

Next page

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News

JUNE 12, 2020

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QC, mobile app team up: Lalajeep

By Rio N. Araja

T

HE Quezon City government and the mobile-app Lalamove have partnered to launch LalaJeep, the latest addition to the latter’s fleet, to cater to the delivery needs of city residents and help jeepney drivers who have been displaced by the lockdown.

With thousands of jeepney drivers in the city, Mayor Joy Belmonte said, the income from LalaJeep would be a big help to those who would sign up.

“Since our jeepney drivers are directly affected by the continuing community quarantine, this LalaJeep program is

a welcome initiative that will provide an alternative livelihood for them. We are grateful to Lalamove for piloting this program in Quezon City,” she said.

The program would also provide a more affordable option for business owners who are heavily reliant on the

Balik...

From A1

Virus...

From A1

nila who are temporarily here, because there is an absence of transportation.

There are no flights, sea travel or bus, therefore they were stranded here,” Escalada said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Rather than let them go hungry here, the government launched an initiative called Hatid Tulong to help them get home, Escalada said.

He added that these needs were more urgent compared to those of people wanting to join the BP2 program.

Excalada said the BP2 could resume once transportation is available and those stranded by the quarantine restrictions have returned home, possibly by July.

Escalada said measures being done both under the Hatid Tulong and Balik Probinsya programs are in compliance with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) guidelines and adhere to required health protocols such as medical certificates, travel authorities and rapid tests for COVID-19.

He assured local executives that before departure, these individuals have duly complied with the tests and clearance requirements.

Escalada added that for BP2, they are now requiring an official communication coming from the provincial governors and mayors where the beneficiaries are returning, stating that the province is ready to receive and accept their own constituents.

Meanwhile, the Manila International Airport Authority has prohibited passengers from entering the airport without confirmed domestic flights.

Private cars and public utility vehicles carrying air travelers from Nueva Ecija, and Silang in Cavite as well as Quezon City, were not allowed to enter the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on Thursday as security personnel put up a barricade a few meters away from the checkpoints leading to Terminal 3.

MIAA earlier reminded domestic air travelers not to go to NAIA unless they have confirmed flights in a bid to decongest the NAIA terminal that was earlier crowded with people hoping to go back to their home provinces.

Airport general manager Eddie Monreal said in a statement that most of these passengers are locally stranded individuals who stayed at the NAIA hoping to secure walk-in flight bookings.

Airport security personnel said there are hundreds of locally stranded individuals that were temporarily staying under the flyover bridge or overpass leading to the NAIA Terminal 3.

June,” David said, noting that the estimate was based on the current trend of transmission.

If the R0, pronounced R-naught, or the average number of secondary infections from a single case is less than 1, the epidemic curve is flattening, but a number higher than 1 means the virus is spreading, David said.

With an R0 of 1.2, the country would have 40,000 cases by June 30, he said, but this could be lower if the trend is decreasing.

David presented data that shows the country’s R0 in early April was above 2 but eventually dropped to about 1, then rose to 2 again by the end of May before slowing down to 1.2 in the entire Philippines.

Ranjit Singh Rye, associate professor at the UP Department of Political Science, warned that the threat of Covid-19 is still present.

“It’s still a significant number that the government must take seriously and (must consider to) design appropriate and timely measures to respond to,” he said.

He said it was significant for the government to look at this number and “scale up” its strategies for testing, tracing and treatment.

He noted that contact tracing remains the Philippines’ “weakest link” as far as the strategy against the dis-

Solon...

From A1

preme Court scheduled next month its deliberation on the network’s petition.

Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta said ABS-CBN’s petition against the NTC would be deliberated on July 13.

“It is scheduled for another discussion on July 13,” Chief Justice Peralta said in his first virtual “CJ Meets the Press” on Thursday.

Peralta said they needed time to read through the comments submitted by the

dred percent Filipino ownership and management of mass media.

He made his statement even as no immediate relief appeared for ABS-CBN in its petition to invalidate the National Telecommunications Commission ordering it to close. This was after the Su-

Hug...

From A1 Toho University measured the calming effect on infants of hugs of different pressures, and when given by strangers compared to from parents.

By monitoring heart rates for the infant and using pressure sensors on the adult’s hand, the researchers assessed the baby’s reaction to just being held, a hug with medium pressure, and what they called a “tight hug.”

According to the results, published in the journal Cell, babies were soothed more by a medium-pressure hug than just being held but the calming effect

Local...

From A1 No funds

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said their proposal for a stand-by authority should be welcomed by the Executive Department, adding “It gives them the authority to spend for better health infrastructure, protect jobs, provide relief to workers who lost their jobs and credit to businesses...”

The Senate leader said it could be funded by an increase in duties, which they have done for oil, new revenue sources, borrowings, realignment and repurchase agreements with the central bank, among others.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson said “we cannot squeeze blood from a turnip,” adding “No matter what amount Congress wants to push to stimulate the economy, without an accompanying revenue measure or a certification from the national treasurer that the money actually exists, a supplemental budget cannot be passed into law.”

Having said that, Lacson noted that the funds may be sourced from loans, both domestic and foreign.

delivery app to deliver their products.

The Small Business and Cooperatives Development and Promotions Office, led

by Mona Yap, said LalaJeep would also help businesses in their logistics.

“As many businesses are transitioning to online which demands delivery services, this LalaJeep will be a great support not just for jeepney drivers but also for small businesses,” Yap said.

“This project is aligned with Lalamove’s goal to empower communities and uplift the livelihood of those who are heavily affected by the pandemic.

This will allow our services better to

suit every business owner and day-today user’s delivery needs. This project is a testament that with governmental support, we can deliver possibilities faster,” said Dannah Majarocon, managing director of Lalamove Philippines.

The Task Force on Transportation and Traffic Management will screen and assist in the registration of the jeepney drivers.

The SBCDPO, meanwhile, will facilitate group training sessions for their jeepney driver constituents to enable them to understand and navigate the delivery app.

ease is concerned.

“I think the government is responding by hiring more and more personnel.

(Meanwhile) on an individual level, we need to improve our strategies for social distancing,” he said.

Malacanang on Thursday said that the fresh confirmed cases of COVID-19 was not a result of the relaxation of quarantine protocols in many parts of the country, including Metro Manila, but mainly due to the delayed release of tests conducted by the Department of Health (DOH).

Palace spokesman Harry Roque said President Duterte will meet with the members of the IATF on Monday and will decide whether the National Capital Region, Cebu and Mandaue would be shifted to modified general community quarantine, (MGCQ) or stay in a general community quarantine.

Roque said that roughly 500 new COVID-19 cases per day were being reported as the current quarantine classification in the country near its end-date on June 15.

Roque said while the rise of the cases was not inspiring, the decision was still up to Duterte.

“It doesn’t really inspire a relaxation of quarantine rules at this point,” he said.

“The announcement is subject to appeal and will be announced by the President,” he added.

The Palace official also appealed to the public to wait for the President’s announcement on Monday, June 14, and

not easily believe any document that would surface on social media in the next few days.

“To those who are leaking documents, please let the President make the announcement. Let’s not preempt him,” he said.

Roque also said the IATF’s recommendations are not yet final.

The President was supposed to meet with the IATF in Davao City on Thursday but this was moved to June 15.

As of Wednesday, the Philippines recorded 23,732 cases, with 1,027 deaths and 4,895 recoveries.

In related developments: • The IATF has approved a recommendation to allow restaurants in GCQ areas to partially resume dine-in services starting June 15, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said. “We are doing this essentially in the interest of workers so they can get back to work. We shall be doing this on a gradual basis starting at a 30 percent operating capacity,” Lopez told CNN Philippines. He said social distancing by spacing tables 1.5 meters apart and installing acrylic or clear barriers in between customers should be done. Other health protocols, such as wearing of masks and disinfection, must also be observed.

• Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said Boracay and the Bohol islands are expected to be the first tourist destinations to reopen. Boracay remains free of COVID-19 while Bohol has only one recorded case, Puyat said.

national Airport collection district continued to work 24/7 to man the port against the illegal entry of contraband, and facilitate the release of COVID-19 related shipments despite the threat of the deadly disease.

The port was commended for its vigilance in drug seizures. To date, it busted 82 smuggled shipments of prohibited drugs and other contraband.

Just recently, a contraband from Fujian, China was intercepted at a warehouse near the airport. The shipment was misdeclared as “vitamin pills” and consigned to a male individual from Muntinlupa City.

Another shipment of smuggled Chinese medicines was also intercepted by Customs agents at a warehouse near NAIA on May 8. The shipment of four kilos of Chinese medicines from Taiwan was sent through air cargo in one of the warehouses in Pasay City and was also misdeclared as $15 worth of “plastic boxes.”

ventory the skills sets of OFWs who have returned from abroad, to find out where they can best be used by the government.

“We help ourselves by helping our OFWs. They have value-added knowledge and skills plus a solid work ethic that can improve government efficiency and boost development in the countryside where many of them have returned,” Marcos said.

“We have seamen with leadership experience in handling different nationals, construction workers abreast of the latest building techniques, health workers familiar with advances in medical research and technology, master electricians with new knowledge on fire prevention, urban planners who have learned to combine function with greater environmental awareness,” she added.

Economic recovery

The government must seize the opportunity to boost its economic recovery projects with highly skilled workers by recruiting overseas Filipino workers displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Imee Marcos said.

Marcos called on the Department of LaIllegal entry The Customs-Ninoy Aquino Inter- bor and Employment to immediately in-

decreased during a “tight” hug.

The researchers kept the length of the hug to 20 seconds as “it was almost impossible to avoid the infant’s bad mood during a one-minute or longer hold or hug,” they admitted in their paper.

Unsurprisingly perhaps, for infants older than 125 days, the calming effect was greater when receiving a hug from a parent than from a female stranger.

So, the perfect hug is considered to be medium pressure from a parent, the scientists believe.

The infants are not the only ones who feel the benefits of a comforting hug, the research showed.

Parents also exhibited significant signs of calmness while hugging their child. AFP

Senate and the House of Representatives on the network’s petition before deliberating on it.

Lagman made his statement as the House committees on legislative franchises and good government and public accountability, led by Reps. Franz Alvarez of Palawan and Jonathan SyAlvarado, respectively, resumed their hearings on the pending bills on the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise.

Justice...

From A1 planned to hold a “mañanita” protest today to celebrate the country’s Independence Day through protest actions against some policies of the government, including the implementation of the controversial ATB. Opposition lawmakers renewed their appeal to President Rodrigo Duterte to veto the ATB. Guevarra said violations of the existing public health laws “may give rise to penal sanctions” under existing public health laws, not under criminal laws.

Guevarra agreed with Interior and

BAI...

From A1 precariously low levels of P60 to P70 per kilo which is unsustainable. Thus, allowing more imports at a time of local oversupply is both shady and unpatriotic,” Co said.

He asked Dar to review BAI’s decision making and whether its officials are working for Filipino or foreign interests.

“Whoever is making these questionable anti-local and pro-imported guidelines have no business being in public service. It endangers the Philippine economy and could harm a long list of taxpayers. This should never be allowed to happen,” he added.

Co echoed the position of the United Broilers Association questioning BAI’s claim that poultry imports were too “minimal” to hurt local producers.

“I agree with Atty. Bong Inciong that unbridled importation has caused so much damage to the poultry industry in the last 25 years. It’s true that the volume of imports need not be overwhelming to cause damage.

We’ve seen how it depressed prices to unsustainable levels,” he said.

Co stressed that apart from causing damage to local producers, the policy of favoring imports over local production is a grave threat to the country’s food security.

Earlier on, ;pca; broiler raisers refuted the BAI’s claim that chicken meat imports did not threaten domestic poultry industry, and criticized the agency for its “incongruent” policy recommendations amid a supply glut that caused producers to lose millions in profit.

In an open letter addressed to Dar, the United Broiler Raisers Association narrated its disappointments and criticisms of the BAI, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture.

UBRA explained they were invited to attend a virtual meeting by the Philippine Council on Agriculture and Fisheries regarding the current situation of the local broiler industry.

However, UBRA said their proposal to suspend chicken meat importation amid the local supply glut was thumbed down immediately.

Worse, UBRA said BAI’s presentation was “designed to dismiss the threat of imports” on the local poultry industry.

“The BAI initially argued that the volume of imports was small in proportion to local production and therefore could not be a threat. We replied that it was not a mere threat but that it has caused actual damage in the last 25 years,” the group said in the letter dated June 5.

Freedom Day:...

From A1

The issuance of PDRs is one of the issues raised against the bills by those against the renewal of the network’s franchise.

“PDRs are not vested with voting rights and full beneficial ownership to which shares of stock are entitled,” Lagman said.

He says since PDRs do not enjoy voting rights and full beneficial ownership, they do not dilute the hundred-percent ownership and management of mass media.

“The problem really is when the President goes there, people who want to see him will also go there. That cannot be avoided,” Roque said.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has allowed the celebration of Independence Day today despite the COVID-19 pandemic, but only 10 people may join the event.

Roque said Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea would lead the flagraising and wreath-laying ceremonies on behalf of Duterte.

“He designated the Executive Secretary as his representative in the wreath-laying and flag-raising ceremonies,” Roque said.

He said Duterte’s taped video message would instead be played during the ceremony on Friday, and that Duterte would be in his hometown of Davao City on that day.

It was on June 12, 1898, when the Philippines’ independence from Spain was declared at the ancestral house of the first Philippine President, Emilio Aguinaldo, in Kawit, Cavite.

Duterte led the celebration of the 121st Independence Day at the Sixth Infantry Battalion’s headquarters in Malabang, Lanao del Sur, in 2019.

And in 2018 he delivered his first keynote speech for the Independence Day rites at the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite.

Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año’s position that there were safer ways to express one’s protest during this period of public health emergency.

Rep Lawrence Fortun of Agusan del Norte said: “We appeal to the President to take into consideration the opinions of experts and the sentiments of the public.

“We all support the campaign against terrorism and we all recognize the urgent need to strengthen the capacity of our defense and law enforcement agencies to combat terrorism.”

But, he added, “in our fight against terrorism, it is essential that the Constitution is at all times respected and the civil and political rights and fundamental freedoms of our people are pre-

served and protected.”

According to Fortun, several of his colleagues would welcome a veto of the ATB by the President with the several yes votes with reservations, several abstentions, several withdrawal of authorships and several withdrawal of yes votes, not to mention the negative votes.

“Also most welcome is a veto message from the President pointing out the overly broad, ambiguous and unconstitutional provisions that have been the reason for the wide and growing clamor against the bill,” Fortun said.

Fortun said Congress can enact a new terrorism bill that is not divisive. “Let’s come up with one that every Filipino will embrace and support.”

Operations suspended

The Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia will temporarily suspend its operations effective Sunday, June 14, after six of its officers and staff tested positive for COVID-19.

Labor Attache Nasser Mustafa reported that effective Sunday, all POLO officers and staff would be on a workfrom-home arrangement but would still respond to calls, offer consulting services to clients and provide counseling to OFWs in distress on a 24/7 basis.

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SC admits delay in release of sick, elderly detainees

By Rey E. Requejo

HELP FROM ISRAEL. Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Rafael Harpaz turned over Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to PNP Chief General Archie Gamboa to be used by police frontliners on June 10, 2020 at Camp Crame, Quezon City. The donation also includes surgical masks, N95 filtered face masks, gowns, shields, gloves and non-contact thermometer. Gamboa extended his gratitude to Israel for the donation which he said will enhance PNP’s capability in protecting its personnel while battling COVID-19.

IN BRIEF

Win bats for Internet Transactions Act bill WITH more Filipinos turning to the internet to conduct daily businesses under the new economy, Senator Win Gatchalian is pushing for the Internet Transactions Act to make transactions easier and faster and strengthen the country’s digital economy.

Gatchalian, who is vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs has filed Senate Bill No. (SBN) 1591 or the proposed Internet Transactions Act, to make buying, selling and other transactions faster with just a tap of a finger.

Gatchalian said e-Commerce provides consumers with time-saving options and access to swift delivery of goods and services. It also presents value for money because from the seller’s perspective, set-up costs are lower and operating costs are kept at a minimum. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Establish ‘Google-like’ app, government urged GOVERNMENT should rush the establishment of “its own Google search-like app for arrest warrants” to spare namesakes of fugitives from being denied security clearances, held at ports or harassed by unscrupulous public officers, said Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto.

He noted that operational “online database” of persons with arrest warrants would have led to the instantaneous verification of the pending warrants against the two arrested protesting drivers in Caloocan City.

“If it was not a high profile case, baka mas lalong natagalan ang verification. By today’s standards, it was something that proceeded at warp speed,” Recto said.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

DOLE extends help to jobless Qatar OFWs THE Department of Lano and Employment has provided assistance to 59 overseas Filipino workers in Qatar who were terminated last year but did not receive their separation pay and other benefits.

The Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Doha worked closely with the Qatar Ministry of Administrative Development Labor and Social Affairs for the payment of the benefits after the workers were terminated late last year by their employer.

“We are grateful for the assistance given by the Qatar government that compelled their previous employer to give the affected OFWs all the salaries and benefits due them,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said. Vito Barcelo

House bill upgrades Las Piñas hospital THE House of Representatives has approved a bill that upgrades the Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center in what was described as “an important health initiative in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The chamber passed on third and final reading Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar’s House Bill 3314 that increases the bed capacity of the LPGHSTC to 500 beds from the current 200 or by 150 percent.

“In this time of a health crisis, we need to fully equip public hospitals with adequate resources and manpower and increase their bed capacity to accommodate more patients,” Villar, assistant majority floor leader, said.

Villar said she is committed to making the LPGHSTC as equipped as possible to help her constituents “because the health of our people is one of my top priorities.”

Maricel V. Cruz

FDA quizzed on sale of unvalidated test kits

By Maricel V. Cruz

A

PARTY-LIST lawmaker on Thursday questioned the action of the Food and Drug Administration to allow the sale of more than a dozen brands of rapid test kits without validating first their effectivity or requiring that these be approved by regulators from their respective countries of origin.

Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor disclosed this, citing mounting complaints reaching his office about the unreliability and inaccuracy of a number of RTK brands which has added more fuel to the Department of Health’s opposition to the use of these antibody tests.

Defensor, vice chair of the House committee on health, also urged DOH Undersecretary and FDA DirectorGeneral Rolando Enrique Domingo and FDA Director Bayani C. San Juan to explain their alleged indiscriminate approval of RTK brands that gave these alternative COVID tests a bad name among the public.

“FDA has no capacity to test the reli-

ability of RTK so it has to depend on its counterparts from overseas. The problem is it approved the sale of RTK brands even though these were not approved by FDA from their respective home countries,” said Defensor.

Defensor, chair of the House committee on public accounts, said nearly half of the 39 RTKs approved by FDA for use and distributions in the Philippines have dubious potency.

“Mass testing is crucial in determining how many people among the population have antibodies. RTKs are meant to augment the PCR test (polymerase chain reaction test) through sampling of population with or without illness to

determine how many in the community have been exposed,” he said.

“It is important that the FDA regulate the RTK brands sold in the market to ensure equality and protect corporations and individuals using these products,” the lawmaker added.

Under FDA rules, RTKs can be sold in the country if these brands get “emergency use” approval from their respective regulatory agencies in their home countries such as an American brand from the United States FDA and a Chinese brand from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), China’s FDA. FDA also allows provisional authorities and emergency use approval from South Korea, Singapore and Australia.

Defensor, however, noted that 16 RTKs approved by FDA were not endorsed by regulators in their home countries. He claimed the regulatory body also relaxed its rules for eight Chinese-made RTKs that were not endorsed by NMPA but were still allowed to sell by virtue of a Therapeutic Good Administration letter of inclusion from Australia.

Village officials warned on illegal SAP distribution

By Rio N. Araja GOVERNMENT officials have warned officials of Barangay Teachers Village West, a gated subdivision in Quezon City, for deliberately allowing their immediate kin to receive the first P8,000 tranche from the DSWD’s SAP. City legal officer Niño Casimiro warned Teachers Village West punong barangay Ana Liza Rosero and her four village councilors—Leah Barug, Eva Laforga, Juliet Baloro and Ma. Ximena Ednacot -- that they could face criminal and administrative culpability for violation of the guidelines provided for under the amelioration program.

“Sa batas, pag nagkamali ka hindi ibig sabihin na pag umamin ka, wala ng parusa. Pag napatunayan, hindi magdadalawang salita ang aming Mayor (Joy Belmonte) na parusahan ang dapat parusahan,” he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte, under the Bayanihan to Heal as One law, ordered the release of P200 billion in SAP for the distribution of emergency subsidies to indigent families affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Barug earlier told the ABS-CBN interview that her husband, Nilo Barug, was able to receive the P8,000 SAP cash aid.

“We were stubborn enough. Sorry, if my husband signed (the special amelioration card) on the basis that we considered ourselves low in-

come (earners).”

The other relatives of Barug who got the SAP cas were Leticia Corpuz, mother; Merly Corpuz; Heidebel Corpuz; Leonardo Corpuz; Jayson Miguel; Rolando Miguel; Rosie Miguel; Jenny Pom; Lolita Pom; Nancy Barug; Wilma Corpuz; Eufemia Galingana; Febe Galingana; Joy Galingana; Raquel Galingana, and Teresita Galingana.

The husband of Laforga—Henry, a village gatekeeper—also received the P8,000 said.

According to Laforga, Henry lost his job since the start of the enhanced community quarantine.

“I know I have committed some mistake. But I just told myself to let it be that way since I will just explain. Perhaps, we can be forgiven for what we have done which we really do not want to happen. We really erred and ignored the guidelines but we regret doing that. That is why we are asking for patients for the wrong we have done as in,” she said.

The other relatives of Laforga who got the P8,000 cash assistance from the DSWD were Mirasol Laforga, daughter; Anthony Cruz; Melody Cruz; Winston Cruz, and Elsa Cruz.

Baloro said her husband—Ricardo—was earlier disqualified because he was a (registered) person with disability (PWD) and an owner of a variety store, but was still able to get the aid.

Her son Rhene Baloro and daughter Regina Baloro also received the cash assistance since they were living away from their mother, Baloro said.

Foundation expands nutrition, relief efforts NUTRITION and relief efforts topped the social activities of Odyssey Foundation Inc. (OFI), the corporate social responsibility arm of Foodsphere Inc., in the fiscal year 2019-2020.

Jerome D. Ong, President of OFI, said the foundation continues to expand the reach of the NEELS program which stands for the five pillars of Nutrition, Education, Environment, Livelihood and Service to Humanity.

“Continuing passion for service has been the theme for Odyssey Foundation’s fiscal year 20192020 covering April 1, 2019 until March 30, 2020,” said Ong who is also the President of CDO-Food-

sphere Inc. “This has been the shared vision of Odyssey Foundation and its parent firm. Giving back to the marginalized sector is in support of the company’s core values and Project NEELS is one of our advocacy campaigns,” Ong said.

OFI Executive director Dindo A. Danao said the foundation will continue to sustain the goals under NEELS as a part of its social responsibility.

“In the face of the challenges this fiscal year, Odyssey Foundation continues to provide relevant and significant services to communities and families in need,” said Danao.

THE Supreme Court failed to promptly resolve the petition seeking the immediate release from prison facilities of the sick and elderly prisoners to decongest jails and prevent the spread of coronavirus disease because the justice-in-charge of the case remains stranded in Visayas due to the travel ban imposed by the government during the public health emergency.

During his first online “CJ Meets the Press” on Thursday, Peralta said that the member-in-charge of the petition has been stranded at his place in Visayas due to the travel restrictions being implemented by the government as part of the measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the SC internal rules, the member-in-charge is given the responsibility of overseeing the progress and disposition of a case raffled to him or her. The identity of the justice-in-charge is supposed to be confidential pending its resolution.

“Unfortunately the member in charge cannot come now to Manila, there is no flight yet from his place in Visayas coming to Manila,” Peralta told reporters.

“But that is already submitted for deliberations and you know, what we do in the Supreme Court is that we cannot tackle something if it’s not deliberated upon and the one who will present to the en banc is the member-in-charge. So, I hope that he can come this Tuesday and I can assure you that once he’s here, I believe that case will finally be now resolved,” the chief magistrate added.

According to Peralta, it would be difficult to hold the deliberations on the petition through videoconferencing because all questions are directed to the memberin-charge.

“If we have to vote only and the deliberations have already been terminated, that might work. But, you cannot vote on something when there is no deliberation, and the one who will lead the deliberation is the ponente, that is the problem,” the top magistrate pointed out.

However, Peralta expressed optimism that the assigned ponente of the case would be able to travel back to Manila in time for next Tuesday’s en banc session since domestic flights have already resumed.

“I believe we can finish it this Tuesday,” Peralta said.

The petition was filed by 22 sick and mostly senior citizens PDLS through the Public Interest Law Center and the National Union of People’s Lawyers.

The two lawyers’ groups told the SC the petition also covers prisoners who are similarly situated “but cannot be included in this petition due to the difficult circumstances.”

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor lgu@manilastandard.net editor.lgustandard@gmail.com

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FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2020

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Hope for endangered PH Eagle (Conclusion, continued from yesterday)

T

HINGS took an unfortunate turn when the team returned in January 2020 and saw the Philippine Eagle’s nest inside Pasonanca Natural Park in Zamboanga City was empty.

When the team climbed onto the nest, they found a few feathers, small bones, and skin patches of the eaglet, with no sign of its parents. The team collected the scant remains of the young eagle and sent these to the University of the Philippines for DNA and genetic tests.

While the cause of the eaglet’s death is still uncertain, such a tragedy is not uncommon among eagle parents in the wild.

Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) data shows that three out of ten nesting attempts of Mindanao eagle pairs can fail even in optimal environments due to natural causes, such as sickness or accidents.

Inexperienced eagle parents breeding for the first time are also more likely to lose their young.

Not all hope is lost, though, as the team spotted the eagle parents numerous times in February and March 2020. Both eagles showed courtship behaviors, such as exchanging vocals, soaring together, and displaying their talons, with the male even attempting to mate with the female on a few occasions. These are hopeful signs that the eagle pair can still re-nest and lay a new egg.

In the meantime, the team continues to monitor the eagle pair while also preparing the site for trapping and tagging, in hopes of catching at least one of the adult eagles and using a GPS tracker to follow its range and movements in the forest.

This information can help experts pinpoint areas of Pasonanca that are hunting and breeding grounds for eagles, which can then be prioritized for stronger protection and conservation measures.

“We hope to see a new nest and track

NESTING PLACE. An active Philippine eagle nest—situated on a fern thicket growing on a branch of a lauan tree—IS documented for the first time in Pasonanca Natural Park.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) expedition team retrieved the remains of the deceased eaglet for further study (inset).

PEF and USAID

the nesting pair and their new eaglet in future expeditions. We also think that there could be three more eagle pairs in Pasonanca,” Dr. Jayson Ibañez, PEF Director for Research and Conservation, said.

“Finding these pairs, and studying and monitoring them, will be very important to eagle research and conservation in the region.”

Protecting Zamboanga’s eagles The expedition team’s discoveries in Pasonanca underscores the urgency to protect Philippine eagles in the region and avoid a catastrophic loss of these iconic birds in the wild, especially as escalating diseases and epidemics threaten not only humans but endangered raptors, as well.

“We think these eagles may have adaptations and behaviors that are unique to their bloodlines as a result of adjusting to unique environmental conditions in

the Zamboanga region,” Dr. Ibañez explained.

“The key to preventing species extinction is saving as many unique bloodlines as possible and maintaining their genetic diversity to allow eagle populations to adjust to an ever-changing world.”

Initial findings of the ongoing field study are already a clear validation of Zamboanga City’s commitment to safeguarding Pasonanca Natural Park as a protected area and a vital watershed.

Conservation measures put in place by the city government and DENR and regular patrolling and enforcement by forest guards of Zamboanga City Water District have translated to pristine forest habitats in Pasonanca that are highly favorable for nesting eagles.

For its part, USAID, through its Protect Wildlife project, supported partners in the city to enhance their plans and strategies

AGROFORESTRY, ECO-TOURISM SITES: Secretary Raul L. Lambino

(left), Presidential Adviser for Northern Luzon and Administrator and CEO of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, points to undeveloped land that can be converted into agroforestry or eco-tourism site. Joining him is Engr. Raymundo Gayo, OIC of the Pangasinan Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), and Marciano Gonzales, chief, Monitoring and Law Enforcement Division. During their meeting at the Ulopan Farm in Mangaladan, Pangasinan on June 8, Lambino pushed for the establishment of AgroForestry and Eco-Tourism sites in the province. He identified the towns of San Nicolas, Mangatarem, Aguilar, and Mabini as the primary areas for these projects.

for effectively managing Pasonanca as a protected area. The project also trained the water district’s forest guards in improved skills and practices in enforcing forestry and wildlife laws.

“Gracias a Dios y con orgullo that the Pasonanca watershed is also a habitat of the Philippine eagle.

With evidence of the presence of Philippine eagles in Zamboanga City, there is indeed hope for future generations to continue conservation and protection of our precious watershed and its vital ecosystems,” said Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco.

“Our researchers, in partnership with DENR and USAID, collaborated efforts in preparing our forest land use plan and identifying indigenous flora and fauna.

We commit to harness efforts to make our natural habitats safe for God’s precious creations.”

Kid rights group sounds alarm for LGUs, barangays THE group Save the Children Philippines is calling on barangays and local government units (LGUs) to strengthen vigilance on cases of domestic abuse and violence.

It noted that the number of crimes committed against children and women almost tripled during the imposition of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the last three months.

The child rights group expressed concern over the latest recorded 3,600 crimes committed against women and children that were reported to the Philippine National Police as of June 4. Of this number, 1,745 were cases against children and 1,945 were against women.

Save the Children noted the figures reflected a drastic increase from the 1,284 cases recorded by the PNP last April 30, where 521 of the cases were crimes committed against children and 763 against women.

Atty. Alberto Muyot, Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children Philippines, said the number may just be the tip of the iceberg, as people were forced to stay home during the ECQ, thus facing difficulties to report violations to authorities, even to barangays.

“The rising number of crimes committed against children and women is alarming and unacceptable especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when children are already facing psychosocial distress due to school closure and limited mobility, and worse, hunger and malnutrition as parents and guardians face income losses,” said Muyot.

He called on LGUs to adhere to the Joint Memorandum Circular 2020-001 issued last April 6 by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC)-issued Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2020-001.

These reiterate the need for all LGU workers, service providers and law enforcers to comply with existing protocols on reaching out to children, including those on the streets, in need of special protection, children at risk, and children in conflict with the law during the ECQ.

Bataan farmer follows passion DINALUPIHAN, Bataan—Fueled by her passion for farming, Ivy de Guzman joined the Batch 219 of the SM Foundation’s Kabalikat Sa Kabuhayan (KSK) program in this town.

Ivy stated that knowledge gained from the program proved to be useful during the COVID-19 pandemic.

When the lockdown was enforced, she and her batchmates were confident that they could produce their own food.

"Napakalaking bagay po ng mga natutunan namin sa KSK lalo na ngayon sa panahon ng COVID-19 pandemic. Gina-

mit namin ang mga natutunan naming sa KSK upang magkaroon ng pagkukunan ng aming makakain sa gitna ng pandemya. Bukod dito, naging mas maganda at maayos ang aming mga ani,” Ivy said.

They were able to sell their produce at farm gate prices to the local government, which in turn distributed it as relief goods to their constituents. Not only was her KSK batch able to provide food security for themselves and their families, they were also able to contribute to the food security of their community. Butch Gunio

Push organic, conventional farming— group

By Brenda Jocson LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—A published report by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture dealt on organic and inorganic farming which have been on the opposite ends of a polarizing issue in agriculture.

Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, Searca director, said the report bares the science and practice of organic and conventional agriculture and ways the two farming approaches might be integrated to achieve food security.

These were discussed by scientists and practitioners during a forum convened by the Coalition for Agriculture Modernization in the Philippines, Inc. in partnership with Searca, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development, and

FOR THE WORKERS.

ARC Refreshments Corp. employees band together after heaving sighs of relief, as the company earmarked P10 million in assistance funds for all its workers across the country.

the University of the Philippines Los Baños-Institute of Plant Breeding.

Dr. Emil Javier, a national scientist, said during the forum that with enlightened moderation on both sides, "we can enjoy the best of both worlds and make organic and inorganic farming work in the Philippine context."

The report comprises the full presentations and discussions on the science and practice of organic farming by Dr. Rodel Maghirang, UPLB-IPB director; experiences and advocacies of organic farming

by Pablito Villegas who owns Villegas OrganiKs and Hobby Farm; science and practices of inorganic farming by Dr. Pearl Sanchez, UPLB Agricultural Systems Institute director; Scientific bases of integrated organic and inorganic farming in the Philippines by Dr. Eufemio Rasco Jr., Camp member and National Academy of Science and Technology acad-

emician; and enjoying the best of both worlds: mainstreaming organic practices in conventional agriculture by Javier who is also the Camp chair.

Dr. Gregorio said Camp advises a winwin strategy that integrates both organic and inorganic practices, depending on farmers’ ability and situation.

"This integration will assure complementarity while benefiting from the two systems, with soil organic matter enhancing the efficiency of nutrient use from chemical fertilizers," he said.

With the integration of good farming practices, Camp believes that there is a greater chance to improve and sustain soil productivity and high yields to meet the needs of the ever-growing population and provide for a cleaner environment.

The full report may be downloaded for free from the Searca website at www. searca.org.

FOR NEW LEARNING. The local government of Biñan, Laguna, led by City Mayor Arman Dimaguila (left) and Vice Mayor Gel Alonte (right), on Wednesday distributed 151 laptops and 200 75-inch televisions to public school officials in preparation for a two-tiered approach to learning amid the coronavirus pandemic. Roy Tomandao

ARC sets P10m fund for workers across country ARC Refreshments Corp. has committed to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 through the release of P10 million in assistance funds for the benefit of all its employees across the country.

This is part of the company’s pandemic response program called #RCColaborate that also provides aid to frontliners and ARC distributors and resellers, in addition to communicating with social media audiences to keep them engaged with relief efforts.

ARC is the licensed bottler, manufacturer, and distributor of RC Cola and

other beverages in the Philippines and in other Asian countries.

While every person and sector are affected by the coronavirus situation, it is important to take a nuanced approach because as is the case with employees, their circumstances and struggles vary.

At ARC, financial assistance was given to employees who continue to report for work, as well as for those who volunteered for stay-in work arrangement during this period of nationwide community quarantine.

Such is the plight of Allan Beltran, a

Regional Sales Manager for Mindanao.

He has opted to stay for work and lodging within the production plant’s premises because flights going to and from Metro Manila were canceled while under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

As businesses around the world endeavor to save jobs, ARC continues to search for ways to help employees deal with the impact of the crisis. Another program is allowing flexible work arrangement for select employees to lessen pay deduction, while minimizing exposure outside their homes.

Opinion Ten things I learned while on lockdown

What’s your takeaway?

Sixth, art saves us. We are grateful to artists who make performances and movies free for streaming. Some museums have allowed a free virtual tour of their premises. We have the time to read the books either on the shelf or stored in our tablets. And thank God for the deluge of movies, shows and music. What would we do without them?

Seventh, have a healthy dose of doubt. It is easy to be affected negatively by what is happening around us. But not all news items are even true in the first place. Now, more than ever, we need to tell ourselves we should not believe everything we see on the Internet. We should be more discerning of the information that we receive.

Eighth, go off the grid every now and then. We can be online all the time, sure, but it does not mean we have to be. There is just too much noise and distraction that fuel our worries, and for the sake of our own mental well-being, we need our own digital quiet.

Ninth, be counted. Even if you are cooped up at home, you can stay connected to your community and country. You can participate. You may “only” be online, but your presence and your sentiments matter.

Last we looked, we were still a democracy, and so we should make our voice heard. We should applaud worthy initiatives and criticize deplorable acts and omissions. This is our right and our duty as citizens, and we should not let anything cow us.

Finally, be guided by gratitude and empathy. Let us be mindful of the privileges we enjoy and the blessings we reap. Recognize that many others do not enjoy the same. Be aware of suffering and injustice, and strive to do what we can. What makes all the difference between us and those who have to struggle?

Nothing but mere accident of birth.

There is much talk about the new normal.

May we carry all our learnings to that new phase. adellechua@gmail.com

Poor Pinoys’ lives matter POINT OF IMPACT

ERWIN TULFO NOT quite a few would dismiss as a stale news the reported death of a stranded probinsyana at a footbridge at EDSA in Pasay City recently. Ordinaryo na yan.

With growing joblessness and hunger, it looks like things may get worse before they get any better.

But the tragedy of Michelle Silvertino dramatizes the plight of impoverished Filipinos, as aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 33-year old mother of four, may have succumbed to coronavirus complications after waiting for a bus ride to Camarines Sur for five days.

It turned out Silvertino was an applicant overseas Filipino worker (OFW) waiting to be deployed when the pandemic hit the country, and she ended up working as a house help in Antipolo City.

After two and half months of lockdown, she decided to rejoin her kids back in the province.

Along with other stranded travelers, Silvertino was reportedly driven away twice by the Pasay City street clearing team but kept coming back to the area, hoping to catch a bus ride to Bicol.

Pasay City policemen once took her to the local barangay hall for assistance but was reportedly refused, being a non-resident there.

Seeing that she looked sick, the policemen then offered to take her to the hospital but she instead chose to go back to the bus stop.

Indifference, ignorance and inefficiency on the part of public servants as much inaccessibility of essential social services are what exacerbate the difficulties that poor Filipinos.

The least that the Pasay City Environment

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Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Are you making “now” count?

Fifth, education is not limited to the four walls of the classroom. Online learning is one way to compensate, assuming your family is blessed with the means to afford tools. Then again, just reading the news and becoming aware of what is happening, or what is not happening, can also be a source of learning for impressionable minds. Stories of justice and injustice, current or historical, are instructive. Teach children not what to think, but how to think for themselves.

WE’RE slowly emerging out of a threemonth long lockdown, and back into a world that is hardly any safer. In all likelihood, this will be our World War II, or martial law—the same way our elders are inclined to say, “During the war..” or “During martial law...” as a prelude to their stories, we would be beginning our tales with “During the pandemic of 2020...”

I started writing this column with the title “Three things I learned while on lockdown.”

I wanted to share some of my reflections and wondered whether others would be able to relate to them. But then my list grew to five, to, seven, to eight—and finally ten. It’s good practice to take stock of what you learn even from the bleakest of events.

Here are mine.

One, we don’t need a lot of stuff. Because I hardly went out (aside from trips to the supermarket, the fruit/ veggie stand or the pharmacy), I found I could survive without the present number of clothes, shoes and bags I now own. One only needs a few basic items.

Having more does not necessarily make one a better, or bigger, person. This quarantine period made me rethink my consumption habits.

Second, we can prepare our own food. It used to be so convenient especially when you had neither energy nor time. In fact, a homecooked meal, especially one communally prepared, could be so good for all the effort that comes with it. I understand not everybody is similarly inclined, and perhaps I am fortunate that at least two of my children take so much interest in food preparation. We still order out, of course, but we now stick to a budget and frequency cap.

Third, we can stay healthy without going to the gym. Never underestimate how fruits and vegetables can help you stay in your best form (bonus: Your increased consumption is helping local farmers and sellers). Expensive gym memberships are a thing of the past: The Internet is a rich source of workout and dance videos, which you can do in your living room or bedroom. Working out in front of the TV just before dinner has become a nice bonding moment for our family—even if some of us are obviously more serious than the others.

Fourth, quality time is still possible even if quantity has been enforced. This is your time with your loved ones, and they will remember this for years and years to come. Are you together together, or just nominally together?

Your kids will grow up and you will grow old.

FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2020

and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) and the Barangay 159 officials could have done was to report or coordinate the situation of the stranded people to the local social services department for appropriate action.

Instead, the CENRO street clearing team chose to just drive away the distressed travelers.

When taken by policemen to the Barangay 159 office, Silvertino was allegedly refused assistance of any kind because she was not a local resident.

Correct me if I’m wrong but such inaction of barangay officials is in violation of the Local Governments Code guidelines and comprises “dereliction of duty.”

It may also be a violation of RA 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Law, having failed to extend or facilitate medical assistance to a person in need.

As I’ve said earlier, we all understand the rationale behind community quarantine which is to contain the widespread of the COVID-19 contagion.

But the government at all levels, from national down to the barangays, must ensure that essential public services are available and accessible when direly needed.

Competent and efficient public servants must be deployed to implement such social services program.

Not only that, they must show that they value the lives of fellow Filipinos, particularly poorest of the poor.

Amid the chaos and the continued threat of the pandemic, the eyes of a nation in agony are on elected and appointed officials in the corridors of power, in the local government units (LGUs) and down to the barangay officials.

Some officials clearly have shamelessly not been doing their jobs well, prompting President Duterte to act on problems they failed to solve.

It is said that they serve at the pleasure of the President, but at times I really wonder what Manong Digong finds pleasing in them—enough to keep them in the posts.

With growing joblessness and hunger, it looks like things may get worse before they get any better.

These officials are obviously comfortable with their high salaries, plush homes and government-issued vehicles. But they must at all times bear in mind the conviction that poor Filipinos’ lives matter, too.

The unemployed T

percent from 94.7 percent in January and from 94.9 percent in April last year.

The imposition of a Luzon-wide lockdown forced hundreds of thousands of establishments to temporarily close or adopt flexible work arrangements, affecting millions of workers both at home and overseas.

HE pandemic has produced one of its most telling effects on the economy.

The unemployment rate jumped to a record high of 17.7 percent in April, translating into 7.3 million jobless Filipinos in the labor force and surpassing the 10.3 percent rate during the 1998 recession.

We need a slow but sure economic recovery.

The COVID-19 pandemic has quickly reversed the country's employment figures in just a matter of two months. The data is not surprising. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has conceded that the lockdown from March to May, the period for job hunting by fresh graduates, put the labor force in a standstill as twothirds of the economy is shut down.

In a different perspective, the Philippine Statistics Authority said the employment rate in April this year fell to 82.3

The grim unemployment data clearly suggests that the economy is contracting after decades of uninterrupted growth. The economy is not poised to rebound until the last quarter of the year, or after more business establishments reopen.

Stimulus programs are critical to

help the economy recover and generate jobs that were lost during the lockdown period. Infrastructure will remain key in the expansion of the gross domestic product. The Duterte administration must resume major infrastructure projects like rail, roads and airports to ensure the sustainability of the country's economic growth and lower the ranks of the unemployed.

The full reopening of the economy, especially the services sector, will be the key to recovery. The Philippine economy can rebound by as much as 9 percent in 2021, depending on a stimulus package from the state. Private economists agree that economic activity may pick up in July, when the government dismantles the lockdown in most of the country.

But there should be no rush in reopening the economy. Health protocols must be observed at all times to ensure a slow but sure economic recovery.

Trying to grasp the Anti-Terrorism Bill without the requirement of proscription (Section 26, Anti-Terrorism Bill). The assets of the “designated persons” shall be subject to the authority of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), and can be frozen pursuant to Section 11, R.A. 10168 (Section 25, Anti-Terrorism Bill).

The ATC is composed of the Executive Secretary, National Security Adviser, and various cabinet secretaries including the Executive Director of the AMLC all of whom are presidential appointees.

FOOTNOTES

TRANQUIL G.S SALVADOR III

(Part 1) MUCH has been spoken and written about the Anti-Terrorism Bill but one thing is certain—there are those who disapprove of its passage into law. The free exchange of views and ideas at a time when the bill is yet to be signed by the President into law is welcome since this will avert the filing of numerous petitions in court questioning its constitutionality, legality and validity.

It is always best to read the law in its original text to fully understand the policies it wants to promote and the legal meaning of the provisions. Some will say that these are matters only for lawyers and law students to understand since they are more equipped to comprehend legal terms and phraseologies. However, the law applies to all regardless of their standing in life, educational attainment, political or religious belief; whether he knows the law’s existence or not is no reason for the law not to be applicable to him.

With this in mind, it is therefore imperative for us to read and understand House Bill No. 6875 which adopted Senate Bill No. 1083 otherwise known as the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. Undoubtedly, there is a need for a new Anti-Terrorism Law, but is it complete and accurate enough to allay the fears of those who oppose it?

The definition of “Designated Person” includes individuals, persons, organizations, or associations designated as a terrorist, terrorist organization or group, by the United Nations Security Council, or another jurisdiction, supranational or not. The same definition also includes those which the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) may designate upon a finding of probable cause as individuals, persons, organizations, or associations which commit, attempt to commit, or conspire in the commission of the acts of terrorism (Sections 3(b) and Sections 25, paragraph 3, Anti-Terrorism Bill).

To some, this gives the ATC discretion to identify and include as “Designated Persons” individuals or organizations not expressly enumerated in the proposed bill

Undoubtedly, there is a need for a new Anti-Terrorism Law, but is it complete and accurate enough to allay the fears of those who oppose it?

A careful reading of the definition of a “Terrorist Individual” will reveal that it may be too broad, since it refers to any natural person who commits any of the acts defined and penalized under Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,11 and 12 of the Act (Section 3 (l), Anti-Terrorism Bill).

However, Section 4 is not clear on its description of acts of terrorism committed by a person within or outside of the Philippines. It makes a general description of the acts of terrorism which include activities that result in death, bodily harm, extensive damage or destruction to government facility or critical infrastructure; developing, possessing, transporting, supplying, and releasing biological, nuclear, radiological or chemical weapons; and causing fire.

The only phrase that appears to qualify these acts as acts of terrorism is the proviso that states that these activities be done “to intimidate the general public or create an atmosphere or spread a message of fear, to provoke or influence by intimidation of the government or any of its international organization, or seriously destabilize or destroy the fundamental political, economic, or social structures of the country, or create a public emergency or seriously undermine public safety.” However, similar words may appear as modes of commission of other crimes like sedition and rebellion. Sedition is committed by persons who rise

publicly and tumultuously in order to attain, by force or intimidation, acts of hate or revenge upon the person or property of a public officer, private person, or social class; and to despoil (or pillage), for any political or social end, the municipality or province or National Government (Article 139 of the Revised Penal Code). On the other hand, rebellion is committed by rising publicly and taking arms against the government for the purpose of removing allegiance to the government (Article 134 of the Revised Penal Code).

Are these not destabilizing or destroying our political and social structures?

However, the draft bill is quick to exclude advocacy, protest, dissent, stoppage of work, industrial or mass action, and other similar exercises of civil and political rights, which are not intended to cause death or serious physical harm to a person, to endanger a person’s life, or to create a serious risk to public safety.

In the event that mass action or protest results in death, physical harm or damage to properties that puts the public safety at risk, can the ATC determine that the protesters are committing acts of terrorism?

Since the definition of terrorism is expansive, it likewise affects the other modes of its commission like threat to commit terrorism, conspiracy to commit terrorism, proposal to commit terrorism, and inciting to commit terrorism, among others.

As for surveillance of suspects and interception of communications, the provision has the following safety nets: (a) [surveillance and interception] may be conducted only on a suspected terrorist upon the order of the Court of Appeals; (b) the application to and the order of the Court of Appeals shall be served to the National Telecommunications Commission; (c) the communications obtained shall be deposited to the Court of Appeals in a sealed envelope and deemed and declared classified information; and (d) it may only be opened, replayed and disclosed upon application of the Department of Justice stating the purposes and with notice to the party concerned (Sections 16, 17, 20 and 22, Anti-Terrorism Bill).

The next issue will discuss proscription of terrorist organizations, associations, or group of persons; detention without judicial warrant; rights of persons under custodial investigation; precautionary hold departure order; authority to freeze; and granting of monetary rewards to informers.

MORE OPINION ONLINE (www.manilastandard.net) CROSSROADS

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J.A. DELA CRUZ

EMIL JURADO

VIRTUAL REALITY

TONY LOPEZ

Constitutional law

The choices we make

What terrorism is

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Free speech crackdown feared S

EVERAL Zoom meetings involving Chinese users were “disrupted,” the video messaging app acknowledged Thursday, after activists in the United States and Hong Kong revealed discussions on the platform of Beijing’s deadly Tiananmen crackdown had been closed down.

The disclosure has sparked concerns that the American app, which has soared in popularity during the coronavirus pandemic, is bowing to the demands of authoritarian China at the expense of users in places where free speech is protected.

Unlike competitors such as Google and Facebook, Zoom is not banned in communist China, which uses its “Great

Firewall” to scrub its internet and censor negative information.

But activists in the United States and Hong Kong complain they have been kicked out of their Zoom accounts after hosting online anniversary events marking Beijing’s crushing of the pro-democracy uprising on June 4, 1989.

Zhou Fengsuo, a Tiananmen survivor

now living in the US, said Wednesday his account was suspended after his organization Humanitarian China tried to connect more than 250 people, including users in the mainland, to commemorate the crackdown.

His account was reinstated after media reporting.

On Thursday, Lee Cheuk-yan, the organizer of Hong Kong’s annual vigil for the victims of the crackdown, said he had been locked out of his account since 22 May after his group tried to host an online discussion on China’s influence around the world.

“The account was suspended before the talk started. I’ve asked Zoom many times whether this is political censorship but it has never replied to me,” Lee, chairman of the Hong Kong Alliance, told AFP.

His group is based in Hong Kong, a semiautonomous city that has free speech liberties unseen on the mainland, but which has been upended by a year of pro-democracy protests that have infuriated China.

After Zhou’s suspension became public, Zoom said it had to obey any laws in the jurisdictions it operates in.

In an updated statement to AFP on Thursday, Zoom said it was hosting “complex, cross-border conversations, for which the compliance with the laws of multiple countries is very difficult.”

“We regret that a few recent meetings with participants both inside and outside of China were negatively impacted and important conversations were disrupted,” it added. AFP

Australia PM: ‘We will never be intimidated’ AUSTRALIA warned Thursday it would not be intimidated by attempts at economic “coercion” after China threatened to undermine the multi-billion dollar flow of Chinese tourists and students to the country.

Beijing has issued warnings in recent days that Chinese should avoid Australia due to concerns about racist incidents targeting ethnic Asians during the coronavirus pandemic.

The comments were the latest salvo in a long-brewing diplomatic dispute between Australia and its largest trading partner.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison dismissed on Thursday allegations of racist treatment of Chinese as “rubbish.”

“It’s a ridiculous assertion and it’s rejected,” he said during a radio interview.

“We have an important trading relationship with China and I’d like to see that continue,” Morrison said.

But he warned his government would “never be intimidated by threats” or “trade our values in response to coercion from wherever it comes.”

During the pandemic racism toward Asians has reportedly increased, according to the New South Wales antidiscrimination commission.

Beijing defended its travel advisory at a briefing on Thursday, saying it was “based on a large volume of facts.”

“I don’t know where the Australian leader’s so-called ‘coercion’ comes from,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters.

“We advise Australia to face up to the problem, reflect on itself, and take concrete measures to protect the safety and rights of Chinese nationals in Australia,” she said.

Tensions have grown steadily in recent years between the two governments as Australia has moved to counter Chinese efforts to build its influence both domestically and across the Pacific region.

More recently Canberra angered Beijing by leading calls for an international probe into the origin and handling of the coronavirus pandemic in central China. AFP

Scientists grow human embryos SCIENTISTS have developed a human embryo “blueprint” using human stem cells, in a breakthrough that could provide vital insight into the early stages of infant development, new research showed Thursday.

Teams from the University of Cambridge and the Netherlands-based Hubrecht Institute said their model will allow them to observe never-before-seen processes underlying the formation of the human body.

The layout of humans – known as the body plan – happens through a process known as gastrulation, where three distinct layers of cells are formed in the embryo that will later give rise to the body’s three main systems: nervous, musculoskeletal and digestive.

Gastrulation is known as the “black box” period of human development as legal restrictions prevent scientists from developing embryos in the lab beyond 14 days.

The team behind the study, published in Nature, said their model resembles an embryo between 18 and 21 days old, around the same time as gastrulation occurs.

Many birth defects happen during this period, and a better understanding of gastrulation could aid our understanding of issues such as infertility, miscarriage and genetic disorders, the researchers said.AFP

Quantum ‘fifth state matter’ seen

The White House is seen through the hole of a “Black Lives Matter” banner displaying crosses with the names of black victims who died of police brutality. On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man suspected of passing a counterfeit $20 bill, died in Minneapolis after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, pressed his knee to Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes. AFP

‘Stop the pain,’ Floyd’s brother tells Congress THE brother of George Floyd, whose killing by police sparked worldwide protests against racism, made an emotional plea on Wednesday to the US Congress to “stop the pain” and pass reforms that make officers accountable for brutality.

One day after burying his brother in Houston, Philonise Floyd appeared in person before a House hearing, where he described the anguish of watching a viral video of George’s death and demanded lawmakers act to fix law enforcement problems including systemic racism.

“I’m here to ask you to make it stop.

Stop the pain,” the younger Floyd said.

“I can’t tell you the kind of pain you feel when you watch... your big brother, who you looked up to your whole entire life, die – die begging for his mom,” he said.

“He didn’t deserve to die over $20,” he said, referring to his brother’s alleged effort to use a counterfeit bill before his arrest.

“I’m asking you: is that what a black man is worth, $20?” Floyd asked. “This is 2020. Enough is enough.”

Floyd, who wore an anti-virus mask bearing an image of his brother, wiped his forehead and fought back tears as he implored lawmakers to “listen to the call” he and protesters were making for justice.

“Maybe by speaking with you today, I can make sure that his death will not be in vain.”

After the hearing, fist raised, he joined demonstrators on the streets outside the White House demanding justice and police reforms.

“There is systemic racism not just in our law enforcement but also in housing, education, and everything we do,” Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden tweeted after the hearing.

“We have to do the hard work to end it.”

George Floyd, 46, died in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25, when a

PLAGUE.

Locusts rest on a tree in the residential areas of Allahabad on June 11, 2020.

Locust swarms currently plague large zones in India. AFP

Norway mosque shooter jailed for minimum 21 years A NORWEGIAN court on Thursday sentenced a right-wing extremist to a minimum of 21 years in prison for a 2019 mosque attack near Oslo and murdering his step-sister in a racially-motivated act.

He was found guilty of trying to “kill as many Muslims as possible”, though no one was seriously injured in the mosque attack.

“Philip Manshaus... is sentenced to 21 years of ‘forvaring’,” a court west of Oslo ruled, using the Norwegian term for a custodial sentence that can be extended

IN BRIEF

indefinitely.

A self-proclaimed neo-Nazi, 22-yearold Manshaus was arrested on August 10, 2019 after opening fire in the AlNoor mosque in the affluent Oslo suburb of Baerum while wearing a bullet-proof vest and a helmet with a camera strapped to it.

Just three worshippers were in the mosque at the time. One of them, a 65-year-old man, overpowered Manshaus.

“Manshaus has said that his plan was not only to kill as many Muslims as possible but that wanted to destabilise society and accelerate the race war,” the court said in its verdict.

The body of his 17-year-old step-sister, Johanne Zhangjia Ihle-Hansen, was later found in their home.

Adopted from China by his father’s girlfriend, Ihle-Hansen was killed by four bullets in what prosecutors termed a “racist act.” AFP

white officer, who has since been charged with murder, pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes.

Protests – some violent, most peaceful – erupted nationwide in some of the most serious US civil unrest in generations.

Lawmakers united in expressions of sorrow and support for Floyd, with longtime House Republican Jim Sensenbrenner telling him: “The pain of your brother I think has become the pain of America.”

The five-hour-plus hearing came after congressional Democrats unveiled a package of reforms this week aimed at ending police brutality.

The legislation would ban chokeholds, make it easier to prosecute officers for abuse, require anti-racism training and bar fired personnel from working in police forces in other districts.

It would also restrict police departments’ use of qualified immunity, which shields officers from being held personally responsible for wrongdoing. AFP

SCIENTISTS have observed the fifth state of matter in space for the first time, offering unprecedented insight that could help solve some of the quantum universe’s most intractable conundrums, research showed Thursday.

Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) – the existence of which was predicted by Albert Einstein and Indian mathematician Satyendra Nath Bose almost a century ago – are formed when atoms of certain elements are cooled to near absolute zero (0 Kelvin, minus 273.15 Celsius).

At this point, the atoms become a single entity with quantum properties, wherein each particle also functions as a wave of matter.

BECs straddle the line between the macroscopic world governed by forces such as gravity and the microscopic plane, ruled by quantum mechanics.

Scientists believe BECs contain vital clues to mysterious phenomena such as dark energy – the unknown energy thought to be behind the Universe’s accelerating expansion.

But BECs are extremely fragile. The slightest interaction with the external world is enough to warm them past their condensation threshold. AFP

Mammal ‘snooze button’ studied COULD humans eventually be induced to hibernate to protect them after an injury or preserve them during deep space travel?

The idea is a staple of science fiction, but studies published on Thursday build on a growing field of research that experts say is “revolutionizing” our understanding of how the brain regulates body heat.

Mammals hibernate by lowering their body temperature to dramatically slow their metabolisms and conserve energy often in winter months when there is a scarcity of food.

Previous research has indicated that the central nervous system is involved in thermoregulation – also increasing temperature in the form of infection-fighting fevers.

But the precise mechanisms involved have been unclear.

In one study published in Nature, researchers from the University of Tsukuba in Japan identified neurons in the brains of rodents that can be artificially activated to send the animals into a hibernation-like state. AFP

Christopher Columbus statues beheaded, vandalized across US A STATUE of Christopher Columbus in Boston has been beheaded, police said Wednesday, as calls to remove sculptures commemorating colonizers and slavers sweep America on the back of anti-racism protests.

A Columbus statue was also vandalized in downtown Miami, and another was dragged into a lake earlier in the week in Richmond, Virginia, according to local reports.

The incidents come as pressure builds in the United States to rid the country of monuments associated with racism following massive demonstrations over the killing of George Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis last month.

Italian explorer Columbus, long hailed by school textbooks as the so-called discoverer of “The New World,” is considered by many to have spurred years of genocide against indigenous groups in the Americas.

He is regularly denounced in a similar way to Civil War generals of the proslavery South.

The Boston statue – which stands on a plinth in the heart of town – has been controversial for years, like other Columbus statues across the US, and has been vandalized in the past.

Boston police were alerted to the damage shortly after midnight on Tuesday, a spokes-

man told AFP. An investigation is under way but no one has been arrested, he added.

A jogger running past the statue Wednesday said she approved of the decapitation.

“Coming out of the Black Lives Matter protests, I think it’s a good thing to capitalize on this momentum,” she told AFP, without giving her name.

“Just like black people in this country, indigenous people have also been wronged. I think this movement is pretty powerful and this is very symbolic,” she added.

Dozens of American cities have over the years replaced “Columbus Day” in October – which became a federal holiday in 1937 – with a day of tribute to indigenous peoples.

But not Boston or New York, which have large Italian-origin communities.

Boston’s mayor Marty Walsh condemned the beheading but added that the statue would be removed on Wednesday pending a decision about its future, local media reported.

Protesters also defaced a Miami statue of Columbus at a waterfront park with red paint and messages that read “Our streets,” “Black Lives Matter” and “George Floyd,” before police made several arrests, according to the Miami Herald newspaper. AFP

Business

B3

FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2020 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks gain; Megaworld advances T HE stock market rose Thursday on bargain hunting after a steep decline in the previous day, with select blue chips leading the rally.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 36.87 points, or 0.6 percent, to 6,476.24 on value turnover of P7 billion. Losers, however, beat gainers 117 to 72, with 51 issues unchanged.

Megaworld Corp. of tycoon Andrew Tan, the biggest lessor of office spaces, advanced 5 percent to P3.39, while major property developer Ayala Land Inc. climbed 2.8 percent to P37.40.

Globe Telecom Inc., the second-biggest telecommunications firm, rose 2.7 percent to P2,218, while SM Investments Corp. of the Sy Group, added 1.7

percent to P951.

Global equities, meanwhile, sank Thursday after the Federal Reserve offered a dose of reality on the US economy, while traders have also been spooked by fears of a second wave of virus infections in the US following fresh spikes in some states.

With ultra-low rates expected for the foreseeable future, the dollar fell against the yen on Wednesday and dropped further in Asia and has now lost more than two percent this week.

The strength in the Japanese unit sent

Tokyo stocks down 2.8 percent, while Hong Kong fell more than two percent.

Syndey and Singapore each fell around three percent, Shanghai shed 0.8 percent and Seoul was 0.9 percent lower.

There were also big losses in Wellington, Taipei, Mumbai, Jakarta and Bangkok.

Markets worldwide have been rallying for several weeks as lockdown measures are eased in key regions, and after governments and central banks pledged trillions of dollars in support to kickstart growth.

But after a much-anticipated meeting, the Fed laid out its view that the world’s top economy would take time to fully recover from the worst global emergency in generations, which is expected to tip

the planet into recession.

In a statement it warned the crisis “poses considerable risk to the economic outlook over the medium term,” warning of a 6.5-percent contraction this year and unemployment of 9.3 percent.

It said it will keep borrowing costs at zero until the recovery from virus shutdowns is underway, with the median forecast of policy board members showing they expect the rate to stay the same through 2022 at least.

Bank boss Jerome Powell said “the path of the economy is highly uncertain” and while last month’s surprisingly good jobs report was “probably the biggest data surprise that anybody can remember”, he noted that tens of millions of people remain out of work. AFP

PSEi June 11, 2020 TOP GAINERS

TOP LOSERS

HSBC under fire in UK for backing HK security law LONDON―Asia-focused banking giant HSBC’s vocal support for China’s controversial Hong Kong security law has not been well received in Britain, the former ruler of the city.

The London-headquartered lender last week backed Beijing’s contentious legal proposal for Hong Kong, which critics fear will be used to stamp out dissent in the city.

HSBC’s announcement angered business and political circles in Britain, which returned the former colony to Chinese rule in 1997.

The bank’s decision flew in the face of convention because most multinationals attempt to steer clear of political intervention.

However, HSBC’s top Asia executive, Peter Wong, has signed a petition in support of the law.

In addition, London-listed bank Standard Chartered―which also focuses primarily on Asia―sided with Beijing over the law.

“The UK-listed banks have taken China’s side as it is clear they want to cozy up to the second largest economy in the world,” said CMC Markets analyst David Madden.

HSBC insisted the Chinese measures would help “stabilize” Hong Kong and “revitalize” its economy.

HSBC’s move came after Hong Kong’s pro-Beijing former leader Leung Chun-ying criticized the bank for not publicly supporting the law― while profiting from its Chinese business interests.

Asia remains critical for HSBC because the bank generates the majority of its profits in the region.

The lender’s chief executive Noel Quinn announced plans this year to ax 35,000 jobs as HSBC strengthens its focus on Asia and trims fat from less profitable activities in Europe and the United States.

HSBC―or the Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation―is closely linked to the history of the former British colony.

The bank was founded in Hong Kong and Shanghai in 1865―but has been based in Britain since 1993. AFP

MOST ACTIVE

RENOVATED NY TERMINAL. Members of the press get a tour of LaGuardia Airport’s newly renovated Terminal B on June 10, 2020, in New York. The terminal opens to the public on June 13. AFP

Fed warns of uncertain path for post-pandemic US economy WASHINGTON―The Federal Reserve on Wednesday projected a solid rebound for the US economy next year amid optimism that the worst of the coronavirus pandemic’s disruptions has passed.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell, however, cautioned that the outlook remains highly uncertain, and both the central bank and Congress may have to do more to boost the recovery.

At the conclusion of its two-day meeting, the Fed’s policy-setting Federal Open Markets Committee (FOMC) confirmed it will keep the benchmark interest rate at zero until the recovery is underway.

The Fed also released economic projections of FOMC members for the first time since December. Their median forecast is for the economy to contract by 6.5 percent this year, with unemployment falling to 9.3 percent by the end of the year from its current 13.3 percent.

“The coronavirus outbreak is causing tremendous human and economic hardship across the United States and around the world,” the FOMC statement said.

“The ongoing public health crisis will weigh heavily on economic activity, employment and inflation in the near term, and poses considerable risks to the economic outlook over the medium term,” the central bank warned.

Despite nearly two million cases and 112,000 deaths from COVID-19 in the US, there is evidence the economy may be rebounding from its bottom.

The employment report last week showed that 2.5 million jobs were added in May, but more than 20 million people were still out of work.

As a result, the FOMC will keep the key rate at zero “until it is confident that the economy has weathered recent events and is on track to achieve its maximum employment and price stability goals.”

The median forecast of FOMC members shows they expect the key rate to stay the same through 2022 at least, before edging back up near 2.5 percent over the longer term. Only two central bankers projected the rate would rise off zero in 2022.

However, they expect a solid eco-

nomic rebound in 2021, with growth of five percent that would then slow to 3.5 percent in 2022.

Powell cautioned that “the path of the economy is highly uncertain.”

While the May jobs report was “probably the biggest data surprise that anybody can remember,” he noted that tens of millions of people remain out of work.

“Somehow, we’ve got to all, as a country, get those people back to work.

They didn’t do anything wrong. This was a natural disaster,” Powell told reporters, pledging that the Fed would “use all our tools” to get back to full employment.

He declined to comment on what steps Congress should take, but said, “It’s possible that we will need to do more, and it’s possible that Congress will need to do more.”

The Fed also said it will continue to work to ensure households and businesses have access to credit by continuing to purchase Treasury bonds and mortgage-backed securities at its current rate. AFP

Coronavirus outbreak to slice at least 6% off world economy—OECD

By Mariëtte Le Roux PARIS―The global economy will contract at least six percent this year, with an unprecedented loss of income and “extraordinary uncertainty” caused by measures to contain the coronavirus outbreak taking a heavy toll, the OECD said Wednesday.

In the event of a second wave of contagion later in the year, economic output could even shrink by as much as 7.6 percent, it warned.

In both scenarios, recovery will be “slow and uncertain.”

GDP growth should resume in 2021, by 5.2 percent if the virus is contained, and 2.8 percent if there is another infection wave, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development said in its latest outlook, entitled “World Economy on a Tightrope.”

It warned that by the end of next year, “the loss of income exceeds that of any previous recession over the last 100 years outside wartime, with dire and long-lasting consequences for people, firms and governments.”

As unemployment rises, private debt

General view of a commercial street after it reopened, in downtown Sao Paulo, Brazil on June 10, 2020. Sao Paulo’s municipality authorized the reopening of commercial streets under safety measures such as the use of alcohol gel and face masks. AFP

levels in some countries are “uncomfortably high,” said the report, “and business failure and bankruptcy risks loom large.”

Back in March―when the outbreak had hit China but not yet the world’s other large economies―the OECD had slashed its global growth forecast by half a percentage point to 2.4 per-

cent, which would have already been the worst performance since the 2008 financial crisis.

Things have since gotten much worse, with commerce and travel shut down as governments scrambled to rein in the pandemic by keeping people at home.

Economic activity in the OECD’s 37 developed member countries has col-

lapsed, the report said, by as much as 20 or 30 percent in some cases in what it called “an extraordinary shock.”

In the latest example of trouble, France estimates that 800,000 jobs will be lost in the coming months, or 2.8 per cent of the country’s total employment, finance minister Bruno Le Maire told a parliamentary finance committee on Wednesday.

As long as there is no vaccine or treatment against the coronavirus, physical distancing to prevent contagion, testing people for the virus, and tracing and isolating those infected will remain key to fighting the pandemic.

But sectors affected by border closures and those requiring close personal contact, such as tourism, travel, entertainment, restaurants and accommodation, “will not resume as before,” said the OECD. “Global cooperation to tackle the virus with a treatment and vaccine and a broader resumption of multilateral dialogue will be key for reducing doubt and unlocking economic momentum,” the OECD said.AFP

British Gas owner terminates 5,000 on virus problems LONDON―British domestic energy provider Centrica said Thursday it will ax 5,000 jobs, or almost one fifth of its workforce, as it responds to both the coronavirus pandemic fallout and intense competition.

The owner of British Gas said that the drastic restructuring―centered on leadership, management and corporate staff―was partly prompted by the COVID-19 outbreak that sparked “difficult” trading conditions.

Most of the affected roles are expected to be shed in the second half of this year, in the first overhaul unveiled by newly-installed Chief Executive Chris O’Shea.

Centrica has struggled in recent years, shedding half of its revenues as smaller and more competitive energy suppliers have won valuable customers from British Gas. The need to restructure the company was accelerated by the impact of coronavirus, it added Thursday.

“Since becoming chief executive almost three months ago, I’ve focused on navigating the company through the COVID-19 crisis and identifying what needs to change in Centrica,” O’Shea said in the statement.

“We’ve learnt through the crisis that we can be agile and responsive in the most difficult conditions and put our customers at the heart of our decision making.

“We have great people, strong brands that are trusted by millions and leading market positions, but the harsh reality is that we have lost over half of our earnings in recent years.

Now we must bring focus by modernising and simplifying the way we do business.”

O’Shea added that the proposed job losses are “designed to arrest our decline, allow us to focus on our customers and create a sustainable company”.

Centrica currently employs more than 26,000 people worldwide. AFP

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

B4 FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2020

Business

BOI approves perks for tourism modernization

By Othel V. Campos THE Board of Investments said Thursday it approved the provision of incentives for tourism and tourism-related industries seeking to upgrade and modernize facilities to raise the safety and wellness standards in the time of the coronavirus pandemic.

“We recognize that the tourism sector has been one of the worst affected of all the major sectors of the economy due to the current health crisis. By way of providing investment incentives, we hope the sector, which was a major driver of the economy’s growth pre-Covid-19, will stay afloat, continue their business operations, and recover the soonest they can,” said Trade Secretary and BOI Chairman Ramon Lopez.

The agency agreed to provide income tax holiday for a period of three years and duty-free importation of capital equipment to tourism projects with plans to upgrade facilities in relation to COVID health protocol.

“Tourist accommodation facilities who would like to undertake improvements to make their facilities COVIDproof may consider registration of such with the BOI as modernization projects subject to qualification requirements,” Lopez said.

Tourism enterprises that are eligible to apply for investment incentives include hotels and resorts, meetings, international conventions, and events facilities and tourist transport companies nationwide, including those in Boracay.

For tourist transport, these should be locally-assembled vehicles with sanitation features. The motor vehicles to be acquired or to be upgraded/modernized will have such sanitation and hygiene features including but not limited to barriers, payment portals, deionizers, seat organizers for sanitation kits, and other features that would promote physical distancing.

Examples of renovations/upgrade that can qualify for such tax incentives include renovation of guestrooms, food and beverage outlets, function/meeting rooms, recreation areas and/or other common areas; investment in new or upgrade of laundry, kitchen, housekeeping, employee facilities and other back of house facilities; building of full, partial or movable partitions; and installation of built-in thermal scanners, hygiene gates, and/or booths.

Chinese-owned Dito also assists in fight against virus CHINA’S Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian recently identified Dito Telecommunity and National Grid Corporation of the Philippines as Chinese businesses in the Philippines that have ‘stood firmly behind the country in the fight against COVID-19.’

Huang included Dito and NGCP in a list of Chinese companies that took part in China’s relief efforts for the Philippines, explaining that China Telecom-owned Dito provided 375,000 kilograms of rice to local government units. He said NGCP, coowned by the State Grid Corporation of China, also donated P1 billion to the national government.

Dito chief administrative officer Adel Tamano earlier stressed that Dito is a Filipino company in an effort to allay fears of unhampered spying by allowing a China-owned and controlled company to penetrate the Philippines’ communications infrastructure.

“We want to make it very clear that as a Filipino company, in terms of cybersecurity, in terms of national security, we will always make these paramount, and we will never allow any country to violate our national and cybersecurity,” Tamano said.

Bayan Muna leader and lawyer Neri Colmenares warned that China’s penetration into the country’s critical infrastructure makes the Philippines highly vulnerable to Chinese espionage and infiltration. “China poses a threat to the Philippines not only through its control of the energy grid but even in the telecommunications sector,” said Colmenares.

Dito co-owner China Telecom describes itself on its website as “a main force for building a cyber power, digital China and smart society, a forerunner in supply-side reform in the fields of cloud computing, big data and artificial intelligence, and a provider of network infrastructure.”

PSE INDEX

Thursday, June 11, 2020

36.87 PTS. 6,476.24

TOTAL VOLUME 1,865,817,402 TOTAL TRADES 115,337 TOTAL VALUE 7,041,507,087.17 ADVANCES 72 DECLINES 117 UNCHANGED 51

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2020

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

49.9540

Japan

Yen

0.009338

0.4665

UK

Pound

1.274900

63.6864

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129034

6.4458

Switzerland

Franc

1.059434

52.9230

Canada

Dollar

0.746269

37.2791

Singapore

Dollar

0.723223

36.1279

Australia

Dollar

0.699400

34.9378

Bahrain

Dinar

2.651113

132.433

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266560

13.3157

Brunei

Dollar

0.720617

35.9977

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000072

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.032103

1.6037

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.6011

Euro

Euro

1.137800

56.8377

Korea

Won

0.000840

0.0420

China

Yuan

0.141597

7.0733

India

Rupee

0.013215

0.6601

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.235349

11.7566

New Zealand

Dollar

0.653000

32.6200

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033817

1.6893 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF

ICTSI set to issue $400-m debt paper

SAFE IN BPI. Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, chairman of Bank of the Philippine Islands, and Fernando Zobel de Ayala, vice chairman, visit one of the bank’s branches in Metro Manila to connect with employees as they prepare for operations to pick up with the implementation of the general community quarantine in Metro Manila and other areas. To help keep the employees and clients safe, masks are required and social distancing is observed. Regular sanitation and disinfection help keep the premises free from diseasecausing agents. Rapid anti-body testing for employees also aid in health monitoring and ensuring excellent delivery of services.

Japan debt watcher gives PH its first ‘A-‘ credit rating

By Julito G. Rada

J

APAN Credit Rating Agency on Thursday upgraded the Philippines’ credit rating by a notch from BBB+ to A- , citing the country’s resilience amid a pandemic that has slowed down growth, impaired fiscal positions and hurt credit ratings of economies across the globe.

JCR assigned a “stable” outlook on the new rating, which indicates that the “A-” would be maintained over the near term.

JCR said its decision to raise the Philippines’ credit rating came on the back of its assessment that the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the domestic economy and the government’s fiscal standing would be temporary, given the country’s strong fundamentals going into the crisis, the massive relief measures and the pursuit of important legislation such as the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act under the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program.

“JCR holds that a downturn will be limited given the country’s strength-

ened economic base, resilient external position, and the government’s economic stimulus package totaling more than 9 percent of GDP. JCR also considers that the fiscal soundness will not be impaired because while the fiscal deficit may widen, the package at this time is justifiable and the government debt will remain comparatively subdued,” JCR said.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said JCR’s assignment of an A- rating to the Philippines is encouraging news at this challenging time. “The agency’s decision reflects its confidence that the Philippines is pursuing appropriate policies that will help Filipino individuals, businesses, and the

economy at large to recover from this unprecedented crisis. On the part of the BSP, we have already implemented a long list of extraordinary relief measures, and we stand ready to do more if needed,” he said.

“While we have temporarily veered our attention away from the ‘Road to A’ agenda because our focus at the moment is on saving lives, jobs, and livelihoods, we welcome positive assessments from international observers like JCR. We hope this helps to uplift the Filipino spirit at this trying time and to inspire us to work harder together to emerge stronger after the pandemic,” Diokno said.

JCR said the Philippine economy was expected to bounce back with a growth anywhere between 6 percent and 7 percent in the medium term following an anticipated contraction this year due to the effects of COVID-19.

The debt watcher also recognized the stability of the banking sector, noting that the average capital adequacy ratio of banks in the country stand at a comfortable 15 percent.

Jolliville confirms temporary closure of KTV clients

By Jenniffer B. Austria JOLLIVILLE Holdings Inc., the holding company of businessman Jolly Ting, on Thursday confirmed the temporary suspension of operations of its KTV clients amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“JOH [has] been informed of the temporary suspension of our clients’ business in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. It may be expected that lease payments and service contracts with these clients may be reviewed and renegotiated, while clients’ operations remain suspended,” the company said in a disclosure to the stock exchange.

It issued the statement following a report at Manila Standard that several high-end entertainment clubs, including Pegasus and Heartbeat, shut down their operations because of the huge impact of the health crisis on their businesses.

Jolliville denied that Air Force One, a

high-end entertainment club in Parañaque City was among its clients. “JOH and its subsidiaries do not have any business relationship with Air Force One,” it said.

The company also clarified that its unit Servwell BPO International Inc., which provides technical services and back office support, does not employ thousands of employees, nor does it provide talents and staffing needs to owners of KTV entertainment/recreation clubs.

On June 9, Manila Standard, quoting a well-informed source, reported that Jolly Ting, chairman and chief executive of JOH, has sent out separation pay to employees of several high-end entertainment clubs and KTV bars in Metro Manila’s pleasure districts, including Pegasus Ultimate Men’s Club and Heartbeat Mega KTV. Jolliville said it is a lessor to the independent businesses in the KTV entertainment/recreation business, while Servwell BPO, a JOH subsidiary, provides tech-

nical services and back office support.

“Servwell does not employ thousands of employees, nor does the company provide talents and staffing needs to said clients,” it said.

Jolliville said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission at the beginning of the enhanced community quarantine period that it was anticipating the effects of the pandemic on its leasing business.

“While it is uncertain how long the pandemic will last and how affected the country will be, a prolonged pandemic may affect our group’s business, especially our leasing operations,” it said in the filing.

“Some lessees’ businesses are affected by the COVID-19 situation and some have decided to reduce operating hours or close temporarily. While the lessees pay rent on a monthly basis under a yearly contract, it is possible that their capacity to pay in full or on time may be compromised by the current situation,” Jolliville said.

PORT operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. said Thursday it will issue $400 million worth of debt paper to refinance and extend maturing obligations.

The new senior unsecured notes would be priced at 99.607 percent and carry a yield of 4.75-percent per annum payable semi-annually.

ICTSI tapped Citigroup Global Markets Limited, Credit Suisse (Hong Kong) Limited and J.P. Morgan Securities plc as joint lead managers.

The port operator said the proceeds of the debt notes will be used to o refinance and extend the maturity of the liabilities of the company and its subsidiaries and for general corporate purposes.

ICTSI earlier reported a net income of $59.6 million in the first quarter of the year, an 18-percent drop from $72.4 million in the same period last year due to the lower operating income, increase in interest on concession rights payable and COVID-19 related expenses.

Darwin G. Amojelar

PLDT building 9,400-km cable

PLDT Inc., along with other members of Asia Direct Cable Consortium, is building a high-performance submarine cable connecting the Philippines, China, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

“The ADC will further improve PLDT’s network resiliency by strengthening its data links to Asia and the rest of the world. This will help PLDT to address the expanding demand for more digital services for both enterprises and our individual customers,” said PLDT chief revenue officer and Smart president Al Panlilio, The consortium selected NEC Corp. to construct the 9,400-kilometer ADC cable which is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2022. The ADC cable system will strengthen the resiliency of PLDT’s international network by providing additional capacity for internet and digital services via a new route through the East and Southeast regions. Darwin G. Amojelar

INAEC helps avert Malampaya closure

INAEC Aviation Corp. helped avert a disruption in the operations of the $4.5-billion Malampaya gasto-power project by mounting charter flights to and from Palawan for frontliners of Malampaya project operator Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. INAEC started its charter flights between Manila and Puerto Princesa for SPEX using its Beechcraft Super KingAir 350 aircraft on March 18, two days after regular flights were cancelled following government implementation of the enhanced community quarantine due to the pandemic.

INAEC provides helicopter services to SPEX between Puerto Princesa and the Malampaya platform off Palawan. The Department of Energy allowed energy personnel, including third-party contractors, to travel and perform their work in areas covered by the ECQ. “With INAEC’s support, the Malampaya Crew was able to mobilize and demobilize safely to and from the platform, allowing the continuous supply of gas to power plants,” Don Paulino, SPEX managing director, said in a statement.

Alena Mae S. Flores

Villar highlights role of SB Corp.

LAS Piñas Rep. Camille Villar asked the government to simplify loan procedures to help enterprises continue their operations as they struggle to shift to the new normal amid the pandemic.

Villar said Small Business Corp. has a crucial role to help cash-strapped entrepreneurs during the virtual meeting of the House committee on micro, small and medium enterprise development.

“The role of SB Corp. is very important in jumpstarting our economy because more than 95 percent of businesses in the Philippines are MSMEs so we really need to help them. I believe they are the most affected,” said Villar, vice-chair of the House panel.

Villar asked SB Corp. to disseminate information to the local level and lessen documentary requirements to potential borrowers to help the respective constituents of lawmakers avail of the loan facility.

“Baka pwede bigyan ng point person ng SB Corp. na pwede makipag-coordinate sa aming mga opisina at para matulungan ang aming ka distrito na makahabol sa loans,” said Villar.

CAPHRA, experts slam ‘youth epidemic’ report

CARGILL IN OPERATION. Cargill Philippines, the local subsidiary of the global food and agriculture company, remains in operation to help ensure food production and supply in the country. Cargill Philippines operates five business units across the country, including poultry meat production, animal nutrition and grains and oils. Across its operations, Cargill Philippines has applied strict precautionary measures, including work from home arrangements, quarantine measures, rotating skeletal workforces, providing disinfection and sanitary kits for all locations, as well as equipping employees with appropriate personal protective equipment.

THE Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates and global health experts dismissed as “naïve” and “harmful” a report published by a regional lobby group about the so-called youth epidemic in a bid to undermine scientific evidence in favor of reduced-risk products.

Nancy Loucas, executive director of CAPHRA, described the report entitled “Today’’s Teens, Tomorrow’’s Customers” as a product of perception by a group that is funded by industry, including pharmaceutical interests that “justifies its existence by creating a youth ‘epidemic’ in order to remain relevant.”

Loucas said the report published by Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance for World No Tobacco Day could no longer deny the truth about the effectiveness of tobacco harm reduction and reduced-risk products such as e-cigarettes, heat-not-burn tobacco products and snus in making smokers switch. The report argued that “banning the manufacture, importation, promotion, distribution, sale and use of these products

is still the most comprehensive approach” to regulating e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn tobacco products.

Loucas said SEATCA’s argument that “e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are being used to entice youth to take up vaping and potentially smoking” is the opposite of what happens in different countries when smoking rates are on the decline.

She said that even the World Health Organization, after months of demonizing tobacco harm reduction and reducedrisk products, has recently come out with a theme report on World Vape Day stating that, “while it is expected that use of EN & NNDS [electronic nicotine and non-nicotine delivery systems] in these groups might increase their health risks, non-pregnant adult smokers who completely and promptly switch from combustible tobacco cigarettes to use of unadulterated and appropriately regulated EN & NNDS alone might reduce their health risks.”

Sports

Ancient martial gains adherents in Vietnam HANOI, Vietnam—In a sunny temple courtyard in Vietnam, Le Van Thang pushes an iron rod hard against his eye socket and tries to make it bend—his dizzying strength honed through years of practicing centuries-old martial art Thien Mon Dao. Thang, 28, is one of an increasing number of Vietnamese to find refuge in a sport that grew out of a need to protect the country from invaders, but now offers a route to mental wellbeing in the rapidly changing Communist nation.

Practitioners of Thien Mon Dao have long taken pride in the incredible shows of strength that form part of their routines.

The eye-popping feats include bending metal against their bodies, carrying heavy objects using their throats and lying under the path of motorbikes.

Now many say they also take pleasure from how the sport—which includes elements of self-defense, kung fu and weapons training—has steered them on a new course.

Thang, a furniture seller who first began practicing eight years ago, said he used to get into fights in high school and was also a gambler.

“Once I stole money from my family but after that, I was brought to Thien Mon Dao by my family and I changed,” he told AFP. “There are so many benefits: I learned how to express my ideas, how to walk properly and behave.”

Thien Mon Dao was first developed in the 10th century, according to master Nguyen Khac Phan, whose school trains in the complex of an ornate temple on the outskirts of Hanoi.

In recent years it’s seen a surge in popularity, he says, with up to three new clubs set up in the capital each year.

Vietnam currently has around 30,000 Thien Mon Dao practitioners across the country, with occasional public performances helping boost the sport’s appeal.

“People come for different purposes but mostly they want to improve their health and mental health,” added Phan, who has been teaching the sport since the early 1990s.

“Learning martial arts can help people see life in a better way, improve their strength... give up their mistakes to aim for better things,” he said.

From tiny children who have barely started school to people in their eighties, Thien Mon Dao embraces anyone who wants to kick their way up through 18 different levels and seven belts.

Sixteen-year-old Vu Thi Ngoc Diep, one of around 10 women training at the temple compound, said the sport had also given her a way to fight gender stereotypes. AFP

FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2020

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Students take part in a training class for the centuries-old martial art of Thien Mon Dao inside the Bach Linh temple compound at Du Xa Thuong village in Hanoi. An increasing number of Vietnamese are finding refuge in the centuries-old martial art Thien Mon Dao, which grew out of a need to protect the country from invaders but now offers a route to mental wellbeing in the rapidly changing Communist nation. AFP

So battles Caruana in 2020 Clutch Chess

By Peter Atencio

F

ILIPINO grandmaster Wesley So will battle GM Fabiano Caruana in the semifinals of the 2020 Clutch Chess International tournament.

After So reached the semifinals last Wednesday world no. 1 Magnus Carlsen, Caruana and Levon Aronian followed suit after they repulsed Jeffrey Xiong, Leinier Dominguez and Alexander Grischuk respectively.

The 2773 ELO rated Caruana finished with a 10.5-7.5 score over Dominguez.

Caruana made it after earning three points following a draw in their last two

matches of their 12-game encounter.

The 37-year-old Aronian, married to Fil-Australian woodpusher Arianne Caoili who died recently, claimed a decisive win over Grischuk in their final game, 10-8.

In reaching the semis, Caruana and Aronian earned $15,000 each.

The 27-year-old Caruana moved ahead on points after he went for a

check with his black queen.

In facing So, Caruana will have a rematch of their previous showdown in the Clutch Chess USA finals On Wednesday, Carlsen turned back Xiong, 11.5 – 6.5, to arrange the semifinals meeting with Aronian.

So fought off Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, 13-5.

In beating Vachier-Lagrave in 15 moves in their final game of the quarterfinals, So earned all the clutch bonus money, totaling $10,000.

So, playing black blundered with a pawn at endgame, but he still managed to find the winning line after pushing his rook to the queenside.

EPL testing LeBron looks to promote African-American rights results in one positive test LONDON, United Kingdom—Just one positive case was recorded from the Premier League’s latest round of coronavirus testing of players and staff with a week to go before the season restarts.

“The Premier League can today confirm that on Monday June 8 and Tuesday June 9, 1,213 players and club staff were tested for Covid-19.

Of these, one has tested positive,” the league said in a statement.

The identity of the individual and club was not revealed.

Testing will continue on a twiceweekly basis to ensure the season, which was suspended in March because of the pandemic, can be completed.

The English top-flight will resume on June 17 as Sheffield United travel to Aston Villa and Manchester City host Arsenal.

Meanwhile, Manchester City will learn whether their appeal against a two-season ban from European competition has been successful “during the first half of July”, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announced on Wednesday (Thursday Philippine time).

City were banned by UEFA and handed a 30 million euro ($34 million, £27 million) fine for allegedly overstating sponsorship revenue to hide that they had not complied with financial fair play (FFP) rules between 2012 and 2016.

The reigning English champions have steadfastly refuted UEFA’s allegations.

A three-day hearing on the case was held via videoconference due to coronavirus restrictions.

“The decision is expected to be issued during the first half of July 2020.

The exact date will be communicated in advance,” CAS said in a statement.

“At the end of the hearing, both parties expressed their satisfaction with respect to the conduct of the procedure.”

The verdict should be known before the end of the delayed Premier League season, which is due to restart on June 17. AFP

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor

WASHINGTON, United States—Basketball star LeBron James announced Wednesday (Thursday Philippine time) that he and several other professional athletes plan to found a charitable organization to protect black Americans’ voting rights, five months ahead of the country’s presidential election, The New York Times reported.

The move also comes as mammoth protests have swept the United States and the world calling for an end to hundreds of years of racial discrimination against black people.

“We feel like we’re getting some ears and some attention, and this is the time for us to finally make a difference,” James told The New York Times.

The organization, called More Than A Vote, aims to encourage African Americans to register to vote and to show up to the polls for the November 3 elections.

The group will also fight against any factors that could contribute to African Americans’ disenfranchisement.

“Yes, we want you to go out and vote, but we’re also going to give you the tutorial,” James told the Times. “We’re going to give you the background of how to vote and what they’re trying to do, the other side, to stop you from voting.”

James, who has more than 135 million follows across Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, said he plans to use social me-

dia to denounce attempts to limit voting from racial minorities.

“King James” himself will finance the project, joined by basketball players Trae Young and Jalen Rose, football player Alvin Kamara and comedian Kevin Hart.

The group plans to collaborate with other get-out-the-vote organizations, the

newspaper reported, including When We All Vote and Fair Fight.

The initiative comes as the US grapples with renewed anger over racism and police violence after the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African-American man who was killed last month when a police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. AFP

LeBron James (left) of the Los Angeles Lakers looks to pass under pressure from CJ McCollum of the Portland Trailblazers in this file photo of their NBA game in Los Angeles last January. AFP

Bach wants ‘dignified’ protests LAUSANNE, Switzerland—Olympic chief Thomas Bach on Wednesday (Thursday Philippine time) refused to be drawn on athletes taking a knee in protest against racism, insisting the body representing them must explore ways they can express themselves “in a dignified way”.

Many sportspeople across the globe have made a kneeling protest to pay homage to George Floyd, a black American killed by a white US policeman in May, in an act described as anti-racist solidarity.

International Olympic Committee rules bar any “demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda” at the Olympic Games, but the kneeling protest is sure to be a hot issue at the Tokyo Olympics, postponed by 12 months to 2021.

Bach, speaking after a videoconference meeting of the IOC’s executive board, argued that non-discrimination was one of the founding pillars of the Olympic movement.

The German said it was now the turn of the Olympic Athletes’ Commission to draw up a suitable way for athletes to act.

“We have fully supported the initiative of the Olympic Athletes’ Commission to have dialogue with their counterparts, athletes from around the world, to explore different ways on how Olympic athletes can express their support for the principles enshrined in the Olympic charter in a dignified way,” Bach said.

“We also agree at the same time with the Athletes’ Commission that we must always respect the Olympic spirit, and this means we must make a difference between such support for the principles enshrined in the Olympic charter and potentially divisive demonstrations.”

The placing of one knee on the ground was the pose made famous by former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who began kneeling during pre-game renditions of the national anthem in 2016 to protest police brutality against blacks and other minorities.

Kaepernick was ostracized by the NFL over his kneeling protest, which earned him and likeminded athletes condemnation and insults from conservatives including US President Donald Trump. AFP

KO win started Pacio on path to ONE world title ONE of the most devastating knockout victories in the promotion’s history started Joshua “The Passion” Pacio’s march to the ONE Strawweight world title.

The Team Lakay fighter knocked out Roy “The Dominator” Doliguez with a spectacular spinning back fist in the opening minute of the second round at ONE: Legends of the World in November 2017.

Pacio remembers the career-defining move, which came early in the second round, vividly. He feinted with a right leg kick, spun around counter clockwise and then connected with his left hand to finish the fight.

“I was backing up and then threw a leg kick. I throw a leg kick,

planted (my right leg) on the outside of his standing leg, (and) then rotated. That’s when I caught him with the spinning back fist,” said Pacio The Filipino star finished his next two opponents and then he defeated then-reigning titleholder Yoshitaka “Nobita” Naito in September 2018 to start his reign as the ONE Strawweight World Champion.

He said the strategy came only after studying his opponent’s weaknesses by picking apart tape and then deciding on the best techniques for your match-up.

“We all know that Roy Doliguez is a southpaw, left-handed. So, he’s vulnerable to the strikes of my right hand (and) my right kick,” said Pacio.

Pacio’s right hand and leg attacks came at the vulnerable left side of Doliguez. After the opening round Pacio included a back kick and a spinning back fist with his left hand.

The rest is history. Early in the second round Pacio feinted with a right leg kick, spun around and knocked out Doliguez with a spinning backfist using his left hand.

Pacio’s latest victory was his successful title defense against Brazilian challenger Alex Silva via split decision at ONE: Fire and Fury at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. While Pacio is known for his striking he proved he can beat the Brazilian jiu-jitsu blackbelter at his own grappling game.

ONE Championship Strawweight title holder Joshua Pacio (right) connects with a right hand to the torso of challenger Alex Silva during their title bout at the Mall of Asia Arena.

ONE Championship

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FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2020

Joshua, Fury agree to fight in mega-bouts

NCAA Season 96 to start early months of 2021

By Peter Atencio SEASON 96 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association will be held in the early months of 2021.

Officials of incoming host Colegio de San Juan de Letran made their decision known yesterday with the government still not allowing many sports activities to take place in the next three months as part of measures to control the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The time and date on the beginning of the new season, remains unknown, as league officials will still wait for the greenlight coming from the government and authorities at the Interagency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

“This is subject to the decision of the government and the IATF for the favorable conduct of the games,” said host school in a letter signed by NCAA policy board chairman Fr. Rev. Fr. Clarence Marquez, OP, and Rector-President of Letran, and Mancom chief Fr. Victor Calvo.

Marquez added that the league will strictly observe safety and health protocols when the season commences.

This will be the first time since World War II that the league will start after having been disrupted for a long period of time.

“It remained the NCAA’s top priority to ensure the safety and health of athletes, coaches and trainers, and the general viewing public,” said Marquez.

Season 96 could not be started this July, since the IATF recommended that no sports activities take place for the rest of 2020 while the country deals with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

No venue for games are available at the moment, with the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila being used as quarantine facilities for the sick, along with the Arena in San Juan, and the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Because of this, only four mandatory sports events will be held, and these are basketball, volleyball, swimming and athletics.

Anthony Joshua (left) battles Andy Ruiz Jr. for the IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO titles in Diriya, near the Saudi capital in this file photo taken December 7, 2019. World champions Joshua and Tyson Fury have agreed in principle to meet according to both camps on June 10, 2020. AFP

PH horse-racing back by third weekend of July P

HILIPPINE horse-racing could be back by the third weekend of July, without the usual crowd and fans at the racing clubs, provided that the National Capital Region is already under a Modified General Community Quarantine.

This was the reply of the Kenneth Ronquillo, Head of Secretariat of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases to the letter of Philippine Racing Commission Chairman Andrew A. Sanchez, requesting the agency for the resumption of horse-racing following the shutting down of all forms of sports and gaming in the country last March by the national government in an effort to stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The plan is to resume races, but only during the weekend for six straight weeks starting on July 19 or possibly 18 at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite, before the two other racing clubs take their equal turns to host the weekend

races,” said Sanchez.

The San Lazaro Leisure Park of the Manila Jockey Club hosts the races again on August 8 and 9, while the Saddle and Clubs Leisure Park of the Philippine Racing Club in Naic Cavite, holds the weekly races on July 24 and 25 and August 15 and 16. The Metro Manila Turf Club Inc. in Malvar, Batangas, takes its turn on August 1 and 2 and 22 and 23.

Horse-racing in the Philippines is a billion-peso industry. For the last decade, horse-racing has contributed an average of P1.3 billion to the national coffers, including P1,352,930,422 last year.

A maximum of 10 races from the usual 12, with priority on the Rating-Based

races, are being planned by the Philracom for the Sunday schedule, which it calls Priority Day. If entries exceed the maximum number of 10, the excess entries will be bunched for another schedule of races a day before—a Saturday (Reserve Day), which will have a maximum of seven races.

The Philracom will guarantee a gross prize of P200,000, distributed from 1st to 4th places, subject to government taxes for Sunday races only. Owners of horses, which fail to land in the Top 4 of all races, including the Saturday schedule, will get an incentive prize of P1,000.

“We will start the races by 1 p.m. from the usual 3 p.m. on Sunday so that aficionados and those involved in the conduct of the races will be home early,” said Sanchez.

While horse-racing slowly returns to normalcy, some aspects of it will, however, have drastic changes.

NBA, NFL, baseball stars demand end to police immunity WASHINGTON, United States—NFL stars Tom Brady, Dak Prescott and Drew Brees and NBA coaches Steve Kerr and Gregg Popovich were among more than 1,400 people from America’s largest sports leagues who on Wednesday (Thursday Philippine time) supported an end to qualified police immunity.

The Players Coalition submitted the letter to US lawmakers supporting passage of the Amash-Pressley bill,

which seeks to make it easier to sue police officers for brutaility, among other things.

The bill would close what has been seen as a loophole allowing police and government officials to avoid civil suits in federal court.

Major League Baseball stars Giancarlo Stanton and Matt Kemp, retired star pitcher C.C. Sabathia, NFL receiver Odell Beckham Jr., NFL safety Justin Simmons and NBA

Former NBA player Stephen Jackson (right), a friend of George Floyd, joins a memorial for Floyd on June 3, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The former NBA Player has joined other friends and family of Floyd in calling for the prosecution of all four officers involved in the killing. AFP

guard J.J. Redick were also among the players, coaches and executives who signed the letter to the US Congress.

The athlete support comes in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd and the global protests that followed.

“We are tired of conversations around police accountability that go nowhere and we have engaged in too many ‘listening sessions’ where we discuss whether there is a problem of police violence in this country,” the letter from athletes said.

“There is a problem. The world witnessed it when Officer Chauvin murdered George Floyd and the world is watching it now, as officers deploy enormous force on peaceful protestors like those who were standing outside of the White House last week.

“The time for debate about the unchecked authority of the police is over—it is now time for change.”

The Coalition traces its origins to 2016 when five NFL players spoke to US lawmakers about racial inequality and criminal justice reform.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell last week said the league had been wrong to silence player protests such as the anthem kneeling started by former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

The league condemned racism and oppression of black people and admitted “we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest.”

‘We’ve had enough’ Kaepernick protested police brutality and racial inequality by kneeling in 2016 but has not been signed by a team since that season.

“You see firsthand how somehow sticking up for something they believe in, what it can do to you in the sports realm,” Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison said in a post on the NFL’s website. AFP

LONDON, United Kingdom—British heavyweight world champions Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury have agreed in principle to meet in two blockbuster fights, according to both camps on Wednesday (Thursday Philippine time).

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has been negotiating with Fury’s management for several weeks and he said the terms were in place for the fighters to go head to head.

No contracts have been signed yet, but Hearn expects WBA, IBF and WBO belt holder Joshua to face WBC champion Fury to determine the undisputed king of the heavyweight scene in 2021.

“We’re making great progress. There is still a lot to overcome. We are looking at venues and dates,” Hearn told Sky Sports.

“We’re in a good place,” he added. “It’s fair to say that, in principle, both guys have agreed to that fight. Two fights. “(There’s) a lot to overcome in the meantime. We’re moving in the right direction. I’m confident that both guys have given their blessings for the fight to go ahead.”

Hearn said the first bout could happen in the summer of 2021.

Joshua is due to fight Bulgaria’s Kubrat Pulev next, while Fury, 31, has a rematch due with American Deontay Wilder.

‘Smash Wilder’s face’ “The biggest fight in British boxing history has just been agreed. Two-fight deal. Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua next year,” Fury said on Instagram.

“I’ve got to smash Deontay Wilder’s face right in in my next fight and then we go into the Joshua fight next year.”

Joshua, 30, is still on course to face Pulev despite injuring his knee during a recent training run.

He was seen with a knee brace and crutches during a Black Lives Matter protest at the weekend.

But even if both Fury and Joshua win their next bouts there may yet be a further delay before they meet in the ring as the WBC have said Dillian Whyte must fight for their version of the heavyweight title before the end of February 2021.

Hearn though said both the Joshua and Fury camps had “approved the structure” of the proposed deal. AFP

Online chess tourney set EVERYTHING is set for the much awaited 1st Philippine Arbiter’s Standard and 960 (Fischer random) Online Chess Championships on Friday, June 12, 2020 at the lichess.org.

National Arbiter Ely Acas said NCFP rating on March 2020 will be used.

“The time control format is two minutes plus two seconds increment.

9 rounds standard and 960 (Fischer random) to combine total score for the coveted Grand Champion,” said tournament manager Capt. Ronaldo Banaag, the Founder/ CEO of the famous Brotherhood of the Knights Square Table.

International Arbiter/National Master Wilfredo Neri, International Arbiter James Infiesto and National Master Rudy Ibanez head the list of participants.

Meanwhile, the Philippine E-9 Chess Tournament in cooperation with Jeonbuk Bank will be held on June 28, 2020 in South Korea.

According to Philippine E-9 chess club co-founder Junjun Jabay and Norwin Altez Marasigan, the over the board tournament is open to all chess players in South Korea.

Chief arbiter is Junil Choi, a licensed Fide arbiter and assisted by Norwin Altez Marasigan. Tournament will be limited to the first 40 participants. Among the early entries are Joel Carcueva, Ruel Gomez, Jomar Vigo, Wilson Valenton, Ariel Ceneta, Jeferson Marabe, Richard Doronio, Jayward Alaska, Rogen J. Luna and Jun Jun Jabay.

PBA won’t be fielding imports in the meantime THE Philippine Basketball Association has seen its share of spectacular imports perform. But the league will not be bringing in imports to spice of their games any time soon..

With the Covid-19 pandemic sweeping the world it may take a while before the PBA returns import to reinforce local teams.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said they are focusing on starting the stalled the Philippine Cup of PBA Season 45.

If the league is allowed to start this year or anytime beyond 2020, the PBA chief said

they would likely hold just the All-Filipino.

“Posibleng no imports.

Ang problema kasi may papayag bang imports na pumunta dito sa atin ngayon?

At syempre, may takot din tayong tanggapin sila sa atin ngayon. Makikipaglaro ba ang players natin sa kanila?” said Marcial.

Bringing in imports is simply not a practical endeavor at this point especially with the strict protocols meant to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

“At kung may pumunta man, kailangan pa ng 14-day

quarantine period. At pag nagpalit ka ng import, another 14-day quarantine period. So malamang na magsisimula tayo sa pagbalik sa all-Filipino,” Marcial said.

If ever the PBA resumes operations soon we will not be seeing the early return of imports likely 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup Best Import Allen Durham of the Meralco Bolts or Barangay Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee who led his club to the title.

The PBA honcho is confident of the league’s return especially with the project-

ed restart of other contact leagues overseas, including the NBA with activities set to start July 31.

“Nakikita nila (Task Force) hindi lang NBA, pati EuroLeague, football, yung baseball yata magsisimula na rin.

At ibang basketball leagues sa China, Korea. So malaking bagay sa amin yun,” said Marcial.

“Makakatulong yun para ma-convince ang Task Force.

Malaking tulong yung mga liga na yun. Maliit man o malaking liga, makakatulong sa PBA.”

Meralco Bolts import Allen Durham (5) drives strong to the hoop against Alaska Aces defenders Franco House (15) and Maverick Ahanmisi. Imports like Durham and House may not be returning to the PBA this year. PBA Media

Entertainment

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UDY Ann Santos was stoked for the fact that ABSCBN has flexed its muscles so she could return on the small screen. But when the project Paaano Kita Mapasasalamatan was offered to the actress and TV host, her initial question was, “where are we going to air?”

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FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2020 nickie.standard@gmail.com

Kapamilya Channel’s opening salvo ‘Paano Kita Mapapasalamatan,’ hosted by Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo, is a docu-drama that offers heartwarming stories.

the live show, and one family gets to move on to the jackpot round with a chance to win P1 million.

The vocal showdowns at noontime will also resume in “Tawag ng Tanghalan: Tapatan ng Barangay.” In this new edition, two amateur singers representing two barangays will battle it out in two rounds to become the daily champion and compete in the weekly finals.

With the return of “It’s Showtime’s” live shows, the show has issued internal guidelines to protect the health and safety of its artists, crew, staff, and studio contestants at all points in show’s production.

Dreams continue to soar in ‘The Voice Teens’

‘It’s Showtime’ hosts are back to offer well-loved portions including new segments to entertain its avid viewers.

The superstar of her generation had an online presser on Wednesday. It was attended by some members of the entertainment press and the blogging community.

She was all smiles when her face appeared on the screen and her eyes widened when she saw some familiar faces.

“So, this is how we do it. This is the new normal,” the 42-year-old star started. "I'm glad to do this and share with you that we are going to air on Kapamilya Channel."

Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo is going to share powerful stories of generosity and compassion in the new docu-drama that premieres tomorrow (June 13), 6:45 p.m. on Kapamilya Channel, a pay television network owned and operated

by ABS-CBN Corporation that begins broadcast tomorrow as well.

“Our main goal is to make people smile. This has been a rough year for all of us, but we have a lot of reasons to smile.

For myself, for instance, my family, the fact that we are together, that’s enough reason for me to smile all the time,” she told Manila Standard during the online press conference.

According to Judy Ann, Paano Kita Mapapasalamatan highlights how acts of kindness—no matter how big or small—

can impact people for life and inspire them to offer a helping hand to others.

Through interviews of the featured individuals and dramatization of their experiences, the show hopes to give inspiration to viewers and show them the power of kindness to change other people’s lives for the better.

In the first episode, Juday brings out Iza Calzado, who will tribute to Donna, her househelp who chose to stay with her during the quarantine and refused to leave her side while she was battling COVID-19.

Donna, in turn, offers her sincere gratitude to Rod and Lin, a couple who helped her pick up the pieces after a fatal accident. The couple also thanks Lando, a dear assistant who is like family to them.

Lando also shows his appreciation for a special person who sacrificed everything for him and his siblings.

“It’s a heartwarming story that’s very relevant today,” Judy Ann said.

It’s Showtime once again!

Noontime variety show It’s Showtime is making a big comeback to give Filipinos good vibes and relief and help them recover from the impact of the pandemic

through livelihood opportunities as it returns to TV on Kapamilya Channel and Jeepney TV starting this Saturday.

Through It’s Showtime’s new segments, hosts Vhong Navarro, Jhong Hilario, Karylle, Amy Perez, Jugs Jugueta, Teddy Corpuz, Ryan Bang, and Vice Ganda will reach out to different families and barangays to foster unity and help them improve their lives.

The highly anticipated segments include “Super Fiestars,” which will rally the superstars of different local barangays to showcase their talents, provide entertainment to viewers, and contribute to their community’s recovery efforts.

Filipinos will also be given a chance to apply for a job live on the show via “1Ted: Now Hiring,” where two ‘applicandidates’ will go face-to-face each day for a job opportunity. After three rounds, the employer decides which one of them is the winner and will go home with the cash prize.

In the game segment called “Pamilyanaryo,” the show will pay tribute and offer rewards to families nominated by different barangays to have done great contributions to the community. In each episode, two members per family will join

After three months of waiting, fans of the phenomenal reality-singing competition can continue rooting for their favorite artists in The Voice Teens as its second season returns on the Kapamilya Channel.

This weekend (June 13 and 14), the show picks up where it left off, with the coaches Apl.de.ap, Sarah Geronimo, Bamboo, and Lea Salonga having already enlisted 13, 11, 12, and 11 teen artists respectively. Before going on to the next round, each coach needs to have a

total of 16 teen artists on their team.

In the coming episodes of The Voice Teens, the coaches will continue fighting for their coveted artists in the Blind Auditions, where they have the power to ‘block’ other coaches from going after an artist.

After the coaches fill up their 16-member teams, they will move on to the fiery Battle Rounds, where two artists from each team will battle with each other. The stakes will get high for the coaches because they can also ‘steal’ a losing artist from another team who will advance to the Knockout Rounds.

Meanwhile, nine teen artists from each team will compete in three-way showdowns in the Knockouts. With only one teen artist per group to win, the three teen artists per team or the top 12 contestants of the season will advance to the Live Shows.

The Voice Teens, along with Paano Kita Mapapasalamatan and It’s Showtime will air on Kapamilya Channel (SKYcable channel 8 on SD and channel 167 on HD, Cablelink channel 8, G Sat channel 2, and most cable operators under the Philippine Cable and Telecommunications Association (PCTA) nationwide.

THE COACHES ARE BACK. Apl.de.ap, Lea Salonga, Sarah Geronimo, and Bamboo of the phenomenal reality-singing competition ‘The Voice Teens’ will continue fighting for their coveted artists in the Blind Auditions.

More informative, inspiring content from GMA Public Affairs’ online shows ALREADY a digital powerhouse, GMA Public Affairs continues to produce various original, innovative programs that not only inform but also bring hope and "Serbisyong Totoo" to netizens throughout these challenging times.

Available on various online platforms, these online shows include Quarantined with Howie Severino, Stand for Truth, Fact or Fake with Joseph Morong, Sumbungan Ng Bayan Libreng Payo Online, Frontliners: A Brigada Special Online Series, RTx, Survivors, and ECQusina: Pinoy Kusina Stories Ngayong Quarantine. Some of these original shows feature stories that highlight Filipinos’ strength and ingenuity, as well as offer public service that is a trademark of GMA News and Public Affairs.

GMA News pillar and a COVID-19 survivor himself Howie Severino hosts the online talk show Quarantined with Howie Severino. Here, Howie interviews newsmakers, experts, and celebrities using video call applications. Fresh episodes of Quarantined with Howie Severino are premiered every Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. on GMA News’ Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Meanwhile, keeping netizens abreast of the latest news is GMA News and Public Affairs’ pioneering mobile journalism newscast Stand for Truth. Anchored by award-winning broadcast journalist Atom Araullo with GMA resident political analyst Richard Heydarian, Stand for Truth focuses on data-driven reports for the millennial audience.

Stand for Truth continues to gain traction since it premiered last April 2019 with its pool of millennial reporters Nico Waje, Manal Sugadol, Shai Lagarde, Izzy Lee, Eduard Faraon, Mj Geronimo, Bhea Docyogen, Jm Encinas, and Anthony Esguerra.

The digital newscast livestreams from Monday to Friday, 9:00 p.m., via its Facebook page and GMA News and Public Affairs’ YouTube channel.

Promoting discernment among netizens is Fact or Fake with Joseph Morong. Originally launched in 2018 as part of GMA ONE Online Exclusives, the program aims to demystify fact-checking and help the public understand the importance of being discerning in the information age. Videos are premiered on GMA Public Affairs Facebook page and YouTube channel once or twice a week.

Relaunched last January, Sumbungan ng Bayan Libreng Payo Online offers free legal advice and consultation through an online platform. Last month, it began its Facebook Live session with host

Digital newscast ‘Stand for Truth’ is hosted by broadcast journalist Atom Araullo (left) with GMA resident political analyst Richard Heydarian.

In ‘Quarantined with Howie Severino’, the host interviews newsmakers, experts, and celebrities using video call applications.

Kara David shares a recipe through Facebook Live while celebrities demonstrate their kitchen expertise in ‘ECQusina.’

Oscar Oida addressing complaints with the help of a guest lawyer or government official. The online show is now available on GMA Public Affairs’ Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Frontliners: A Brigada Special Online Series features inspiring stories of the country’s frontliners here and abroad. It mirrors the challenging fight against COVID-19 and the resilience of the Filipino people, their sacrifices, and heroism in the face of the pandemic. Its first episode was made available last April 6 on GMA Public Affairs’ Facebook and YouTube channel.

Award-winning documentary brand Reel Time, on the other hand, produced RTx that shows the resilience and heroism of our OFWs despite the economic and social challenges brought about by the COVID-19 virus. RTx looks into the most pressing issues affecting our kababayans worldwide such as repatriation, unemployment, financial aids, rescue, and homecoming among others. Through RTx, OFWs also share their stories of hope and bayanihan. First aired last May 10, fresh episodes of RTx are uploaded weekly on GMA Public Affairs’ Facebook page and YouTube channel.

From the team behind TV program Tunay na Buhay comes Survivors, an online show that celebrates the inspiring stories of COVID-19 survivors. Each story paints a picture of hope, of faith, and of rising again. Each story tells netizens the experience of a fighter whose battle with the virus made him a stronger person.

Available every Thursday at 5:00 p.m. on GMA Public Affairs’ Facebook page and YouTube channel, as well as Tunay na Buhay’s Facebook page, Survivors first aired online on May 12.

Last but not the least, ECQusina: Pinoy Kusina Stories Ngayong Quarantine is an online campaign of GMA News TV’s Pinas Sarap that began last May 14 via the show’s Facebook page. It underscores Pinoy creativity in showcasing dishes made from the most common food items during the ECQ. Every Thursday at 4:00 pm, host Kara David shares a recipe through Facebook Live while celebrities demonstrate their kitchen expertise every Friday. Netizens are also encouraged to send their ECQusina dishes to be featured on Pinas Sarap’s Facebook page and IGTV. With more than 44 million followers across all its online platforms, GMA Public Affairs has been a primary innovator in social media promotions for TV programs in the Philippines. It continues to cement its digital presence as it produces more original online shows that inform and inspire Filipinos all over the world.

Life

Bernadette Lunas, Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE

C4

TRAVEL AND LEISURE

FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2020

WELCOME BACK. Guests staying in hotels

post-pandemic will be greeted with the same warm hospitality and additional safety procedures. (Room and swimming pool photos courtesy of dusitD2 Davao)

By Steph Llarena

T

HE tourism industry is not dead, far from it.

It’s only sleeping. And as the industry begins to wake and nations gradually open their locked down doors, the hospitality sector, led by those fortunate enough to still be able to operate, has launched initiatives to ensure safety of guests.

Facility sanitation and luggage disinfection Homegrown Megaworld properties Belmont Hotel Manila and Savoy Hotel Manila team up with longtime sanitation partner Diversey Philippines to assure guests of a safe stay with its stringent health measures.

“Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 health crisis in these uncertain times, the team, through careful planning and coordination, have commenced a series of initiatives to ensure that we shall be ready for the ‘new norm’ and other government-mandated protocols once we have resumed normal operations,” said Savoy and Belmont area general manager Avinash Menon.

On top of the common thermal scanning, physical distancing and wearing of face mask, key protocols at the airport hotels now include luggage sanitation; regular disinfection of guest rooms and high-frequency touch points, public areas, and facilities; and thorough disinfection of bed linens and towels during laundry; among others.

Meanwhile, dusitD2 Davao and Dusit Thani Residence Davao enhance their stringent health and safety practices, which include frequent sanitization of all rooms and public areas, availability of social distancing floor markers and hand sanitizers in key areas, and disinfection of guest transport after every use.

Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria also follows enhanced measures in sanitation and disinfection of guestrooms, including beddings and linens.

Hand sanitizers are installed at entrances and other areas in the Ortigas-based hotel. Floor markers have been placed within the hotel including the lobby and elevators to enforce and guide guests to observe social distancing. A patrolling safety officer is present to ensure hygiene and safety standards including frequent cleaning and sanitizing of high touch areas and regular misting. Escalators have also been equipped with UV Handrail sanitizer.

Safe stay: Hotels prepare for life post-pandemic The Go is being offered in the meantime. In relation to this, the property’s culinary team follows strict food handling standards, including proper washing of all ingredients; wearing of masks, mouth guards, gloves, and caps; frequent hand washing every 30 minutes; and regular cleaning of workstations every 20 minutes.

PPE and training for staff Much like other staff in the service industry, hotel team members at Savoy and Belmont will be wearing personal protective equipment including masks and hand gloves.

Dusit Davao hotels’ “new normal” initiatives also include requiring staff to wear PPEs, including face masks, face shields, and gloves at all times. Further, Dusit said key employees and management are trained on virus protection and control procedures based on the World Health Organization guidelines.

Likewise, all associates of Crowne will be wearing PPEs and are expected to follow social distancing and hygiene protocols. The Ortigas-based hotel said all employees were asked to visit the clinic for proper screening and accomplish a self-declaration health checklist before returning to work.

New cleaning procedures, check-in measures, and dining protocols are implemented to ensure guests’ safety from arrival to departure.

Mandatory travel history checks In addition to temperature checks and stepping on foot baths before entering, guests will now be required to accomplish mandatory travel history checks upon check-in at Dusit Davao properties.

Crowne Plaza will also request guests to accomplish a health declaration form prior to their arrival.

The hotel also encourages pre-settlement of payment for seamless check-in.

Together but apart As these establishments prepare to welcome guests coming from different places, distancing measures shall be expected.

Dusit Davao prepares provision of appropriate space in restaurants. It has also launched a new program, Flexible Stays, which offers flexible check-in times and breakfast available at any time of the day to limit long lines as well as provide added convenience for guests.

For meetings and events, capacity for function

AT THE start of this year, we were too preoccupied trying to figure out which side of the surgical mask had to be worn outside, to protect ourselves from the ashfall of the reawakened Taal Volcano. Little did we know that it didn’t really matter, as in the succeeding weeks, we would have to safeguard ourselves from a more devastating, lethal menace.

Early February, we were still going along our merry ways, although keeping in mind that the deadly virus from Wuhan had already downed hundreds of innocent residents of that area. When the epidemic reached global proportions, and the country had to be locked down, that was when everything changed.

We were directed to stay home and ensure that we always keep ourselves six feet away from each other. This and many other protocols were set in place, and frankly, I felt like a prisoner in my own country, in my own city, and in my own home.

Many people were quick to describe the situation as “the new normal,” while some were a little bit cautious and called it “the next normal.” The way people used these phrases, I could almost feel a tinge of excitement in their voices every time they mentioned it. I must admit though, that I also thought it was chic or even avant-garde every time I had the chance to use it in daily conversation. Eventually, however, I realized I was not ready and didn’t want to be ready for such phase in my existence.

God created Man out of Love, and for Love. The Bible says: “It is not good for Man to be alone,” but this new medical protocol insists that we should keep distance all the time from each other. How can we express Love, if we are far from one another? Whereas before, we kept on saying “No man is an island,” but now, every man is an island!

A former high school classmate based in Cebu shared with me his sob story.

rooms and ballrooms will follow Davao City’s government guidelines which is now set to a maximum of 25 persons.

Meanwhile, buffet will be replaced with live cooking stations or individual plated portions with dedicated food handlers.

“The past few months have been challenging but we are looking forward to welcoming back guests as soon as we are allowed. The health and safety of guests remain our top priority which is why we have been very busy preparing the properties,” said Christopher Kuch, resident manager of dusitD2 Davao, Dusit Thani Residence Davao, and Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort.

Kuch said Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort will remain temporarily closed, but open to exclusive and private events and weddings of up to 50 percent of the resort capacity.

While Crowne Plaza’s restaurants are unable to accommodate dining reservations, Comfort Food on

The new… normal?

His granddaughter graduated Summa Cum Laude from Columbia University recently. While she was still in college, and already showing signs of academic excellence, they—grandparents, parents, and siblings—promised her that if she reaps Latin honors upon graduation, they will all travel to be with her. The much-awaited graduation ceremony took place, but all of the family members were in Cebu and Manila, connected to the graduate only via Zoom. Of course, when her name was called, it was met with thunderous applause from all of them, the sound of which the poor, sobbing graduate couldn’t hear. She later told them she felt like all her hard work to make them proud was for naught.

On a lighter note, I have a friend, a longtime single mom now based in Vancouver, who continues her search for somebody to set her heart on fire. Then, luck played tricks on her, and she found somebody whose job is to put out fires! This university graduate, poster boy fireman and my friend go dating and take walks in the park two meters away from each other with their masks on.

Try figuring out how romantic that is. Fun? Not even.

Talking of things in our industry, if you decide to go on a muchneeded vacation with your family, on the flight to your destination, you can’t even be seated together. While going on a sight-seeing tour, you can’t be seated next to each other in the bus. If you try the local cuisine in a restaurant, you can’t share the culinary delights because you’re far from each other.

Worse, when you arrive at the country’s primary tourist attraction, you look for the most “Instagrammable” angle to take the shot, but nobody can tell who’s in the picture, because everybody’s wearing a mask.

These are but a few of the strange set-ups we now have to contend with. That’s why, I ask myself, what’s so “normal” about these?

Bringing outdoors in Immersing in locals’ way of life is part of many travelers’ itineraries, which unfortunately is challenging to do at the moment, if restricted. Hence, Dusit Davao brings local experience inside as it partners with local culinary specialists and craftspeople so guests can enjoy food and purchase souvenirs without having to leave the comfort of the hotels.

Contactless service To enable contactless and efficient service, Dusit is also implementing new technology to allow for online check-in and check-out, online payments, and installing digital menus in its various outlets.

Guests who are checked-in are also able to access the StayPlease app through their mobile phones via a QR code on their in-room IPTVs to request various services such as laundry, room service, and housekeeping while minimizing contact.

Care kits In addition to hygiene kits, some hotels now provide care kits that aim to protect guests. For instance, a Dusit Care Kit consists of hand sanitizer, a face mask, and antibacterial wipes.

Although I am a pragmatist, I am also an optimist, and I continue to cling on to the shreds of hope that a vaccine for this virus will soon be made available, so that we can enjoy life as it should be. God gifted us with this wonderful world to relish, and the best way to show our appreciation and embrace such gift is to live our lives the way we used to.

Refusing to move on, I prefer to stay where I am, in the old normal, which keeps me in my happy place, because as King Arthur puts it, this is “the most congenial spot for happily ever aftering” my Camelot, my home, the Philippines.

----------O---------YOUR WEEKEND CHUCKLE FIGURE THIS OUT : Who knew what time it was when the first clock was made?

----------O---------For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com.

Are we going to be happy having this accessory as part of our daily lives?

The ‘new normal’ many are calling entails isolation and keeping our distance from one another—seatmates are not allowed in public transportation; a Dutch restaurant introducing glass booths for dining; strict protocols are implemented when traveling, if allowed; and drive-in theaters are becoming a thing again. (Glass booth and drive-in theater photos from AFP)