Manila Standard - 2020 June 15 - Monday

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 111 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PH death rate declining but new cases up

LOCKDOWN LOOSENS. Pope Francis

DOH urges public vigilance to ensure downtrend continues

arrives to celebrate Holy Mass on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ on June 14, 2020 at St. Peter's Basilica in The Vatican as the citystate eases its lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 infections. AFP

By Willie Casas, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rey E. Requejo

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM JUNE 14)

T

HE country's mortality rate from COVID-19 is falling despite the reported figures in the last two days, the Department of Health (DOH) said Sunday, noting that the apparent increase in deaths was the result of reporting delays.

In a virtual press conference Sunday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said on June 12, the department reported 16 deaths, and on June 13, 22 deaths, causing concerns that the number of deaths was rising again.

But Vergeire said that of the 22 deaths reported on June 13, only four died in the month of June, one each on June 3, 4, 6 and 9.

The remaining 18 deaths occurred in the previous months but were only recently submitted to the DOH Epidemiology Bureau.

Dr. John Wong of Epimetrics, Inc., Ateneo professor and part of the data analytics group of the InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), said the good news is that the Philippines case fatality rate (CFR) is 4.7, which is below the global CFR of over 5.

“The pandemic we are experiencing right now is a first in many ways.

And, as such, the reporting and validating of cases is an evolving science, which is why we encounter several challenges along the way,” Vergeire said. “Our cases are not rising as they were in March and April.”

She also said big improvements were being made in the reporting of cases. Before, delays could go as high Next page

WORLD ROUNDUP

• China airs concerns on virus resurgence CHINA reported 57 new cases of the coronavirus on Sunday, the highest daily figure since April, as concerns grew about a resurgence of the disease.

The domestic outbreak in China had been brought largely under control through strict lockdowns that were imposed early this year—but a new cluster has been linked to a wholesale food market in south Beijing.

The National Health Commission said 36 of the new cases were local transmissions in the capital, and Beijing health officials said later that all three dozen were linked to the Xinfadi market.

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25,930

366

1,088

14

5,954

248

RECOVERIES

LOCAL ROUNDUP

THE US government is very much willing to share with the Philippines any COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics once these become available.

This was one of the topics discussed

by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and his US counterpart Mark Esper during their telephone conversation on June 12.

"Secretary Esper mentioned that the

development of vaccines and therapeutics in the US is making very good progress and expressed their willingness to share them with US allies and partners once available," Lorenzana said in a statement on Sunday.

China’S President Xi Jinping has also promised to give the Philippines priority access to a vaccine against

NEW

NEW

Anti-terror bill veto feared to work vs. PH

By Julito G. Rada and Macon Ramos-Araneta

AN INFECTIOUS disease expert on Sunday warned the public against the diseases common during the rainy season, and even as the country continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

The diseases influenza, leptospirosis and dengue all have flu-like symptoms, according to Eric Tayag, the former chief of the National Epidemiology Center.

"Magiging mahirap nga yan sa Next page

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By Willie Casas, Maricel Cruz, Macon Ramos-Araneta

’US to share vaccine with PH’

FRESH

FAILURE to pass the anti-terror bill into law will result in the “gray-listing” of the Philippines and put at risk the government’s ambitious goal of attaining an “A” credit rating, the AntiMoney Laundering Council (AMLC) warned over the weekend.

The so-called “gray list” includes those countries with deficiencies in terms of compliance with international anti-money laundering framework.

The Philippines was placed under a 12-month observation period by the Financial Action Task Force (FAF) in October 2019, following the adoption of the country’s mutual evaluation report (MER). In view of the general pause in the International Cooperation Review Group review process due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippines observation period will now end in February 2021, instead of October 2020.

“The observation period is the last opportunity for the Philippine competent authorities to address identified deficiencies in the MER to

• Health experts warn against WILD diseases

DINE-IN READY. A restaurant manager shows how social distancing will be enforced in preparation for dine-in services after months of government-set restrictions under community quarantine. NORMAN CRUZ

NEW

TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

DEATHS

IN DEMAND. On a sunny Sunday morning, people using gas-powered scooters leisurely traverse a stretch of Macapacal Avenue near malls and hotels. Scooters, like bicycles, have become popular among commuters due to an artificial lack of public transportation brought on by stateimposed restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19 . NORMAN CRUZ

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Oil price upsurge: P1.10/liter

By Alena Mae S. Flores

OIL prices are expected to rise this week, with the cost of gasoline going up by as much as P1.10 per liter to reflect changes in the world market.

“Expect fuel prices to go up next week (June 16 - June 22). Diesel should increase by P1 per liter. Gasoline should increase by P1 to P1.10 per liter,” Unioil

Philippines said in its weekly price forecast.

On June 9, the oil companies raised the price of gasoline by P1.75 per liter, diesel by P1.10 per liter and kerosene by P1 per liter.

The total year-to-date adjustments reflect a net decrease of P7.97 per liter for gasoline, P11.09 per liter for diesel Next page

HOME AT LAST. Land-based and sea-based overseas Filipino workers, numbering 390, finally arrived home by air Saturday. They were welcomed by the Department of Foreign Affaifs at the NAIA terminal and would have to go through quarantine protocols before reuniting with their families. DFA

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Food vouchers for bikers eyed Rep. Ronnie Ong says the coronavirus pandemic, which is forcing many people to use bicycles to move around, has presented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the government to solve two of the country’s biggest problems: pollution and traffic.

He says by providing incentives to those using bikes, the government may be able persuade people to continue

using bicycles in their daily commute even after the COVID-19 pandemic is over.

The Caloocan City government, meanwhile, has started putting up bicycle lanes on its major roads following the transportation lockdown as a result of the pandemic.

“We got orders from Mayor Oscar Malapitan to focus on setting

up bike lanes on the major thoroughfares in order to protect the people, especially its residents who are now depending on bicycles for their mobility,” traffic management chief Jay Bernardo said.

Ong, vice chairman of the House committee on rural development, says the proposed food vouchers as incentives for bicycle riders is apart from the provision of protected bicycle lanes for cyclists under the proposed Bicycle Law. On June 11, Ong launched a #LibrengBisikleta program as reported on his official Facebook page. He has now turned over more than a dozen bicycles to security guards, utility workers, and manual laborers who used to walk to work because of the lack of

PH...

ID-19 to 5,954.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he believes Metro Manila should remain in a general community quarantine (GCQ) until June 30 because he saw no decline in the number of new cases and deaths.

Senator Juan Edgardo Angara agreed and said some areas with a high concentration of cases could return to the stricter enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Sunday said that 116 more overseas Filipinos have recovered from the coronavirus disease, bringing the total recoveries to 2,485.

The DFA also said 29 new confirmed COVID-19 infections, bringing the total to 5,519 cases with 2,634 patients still undergoing treatment.

The total number of recoveries was almost 2,500, or about 45 percent of

the total confirmed cases, the DFA said.

Five more fatalities brought the death toll to 400.

The DFA said the total infections in the Asia Pacific region rose to 560, 455 of which have recovered. Two died and 103 are still undergoing treatment.

COVID-19 cases in the Middle East and Africa also rose to 3,406. Among them, 1,379 have recovered, 147 died and 1,880 are undergoing treatment.

In Europe, total infections rose to 877 with 299 recoveries, 91 fatalities, and 487 patients still undergoing treatment.

Total infections also climbed in the Americas to 676, of which 352 have recovered, 160 have died, and 164 are still undergoing treatment.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Sunday revealed that a total

of 68 employees of the Department of Justice and four of its outsourced personnel tested positive for the novel coronavirus during the twoday rapid antibody test conducted last week.

Guevarra said that from 59 cases last Wednesday, the number of personnel who were tested positive for COVID-19 rose to 68 after 536 employees were subjected to the rapid antibody test. The DOJ has more than 700 employees.

Besides the 68, there were also four outsourced, non-DOJ employees, consisting of security guards and maintenance personnel, who tested positive.

However, Guevarra said at this stage it is still not yet certain that all the 72 employees and non-employees were infected by the virus, since they still have to undergo confirmatory swab tests.

Investors Service, Fitch Ratings and S&P Global Rating.”

Last year, S&P raised the Philippines' rating for long-term sovereign credit to “BBB+” from “BBB” with a stable outlook, citing the country’s above-average economic growth, a healthy external position, and sustainable public finances.

The upgrade put the Philippines at par with Mexico, Peru, Thailand, and Trinidad and Tobago. Also, it is higher than the “BBB” ratings of Italy, Portugal, Hungary, Panama and Uruguay. The rating was a notch away from the mostcoveted “A” rating category.

On June 11, 2020, the Tokyo-based Japan Credit Rating Agency upgraded the Philippines credit rating by a notch from “BBB+” to “A-”, citing the country’s resilience amid the pandemic.

AMLC said the COVID-19 pandemic has already adversely affected the economy and it would be prudent to mitigate other risks and avoid problems gray-listing would bring to the economy.

But the council said it would not be enough to just pass these amendments into law, since the Philippines was being assessed both on technical and effectiveness compliance.

“The country must also demon-

strate effective implementation of these amendments before the observation period ends in February 2021…,” it said.

Former police chief and now Senator Ronald dela Rosa, meanwhile, warned critics of the anti-terrorism bill about the consequences of not passing it into law.

“You want the bill junked? Then have it junked. But don’t blame the government for not acting to curb terrorism once you become a victim of terrorism or if a loved one is killed due to to terorism," he said.

"You want another Marawi siege?

You want another Zamboanga siege? Go ahead. You want to have bombings left and right? Go ahead junk this bill, just don’t blame the government if terrorism worsens in the country," he said.

The Commission on Human Rights previously criticized the vague definition of terrorism in the bill, which could allow authorities to tag criticism as inciting to terrorist acts.

Another advocate of the bill, Senator Panfilo Lacson, said he would be “eagle eyed and vigilant” about any abuses to the law.

Lacson also countered criticism that the Anti-Terrorism Council that the law would create has the power to order sus-

pected terrorists, since it will have no judicial or quasi-judicial authority.

"Those who have doubts on the extent of the ATC authority, please find time to read Section 45 of the bill, particularly the last paragraph, 'Nowhere herein shall be interpreted to empower the ATC to exercise any judicial or quasi-judicial power or authority,'" he said.

Also on Sunday, Deputy Speaker and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman condemned the warrantless arrests of two Muslim traders in San Andres, Manila, and the allegedly illegal search on their residence without a court order validating the police operation.

Hataman called on the leadership of the Philippine National Police to probe this incident, as there seems to be mounting evidence to suggest that law enforcers in this case went beyond their authority and abused their powers.

Hataman, who voted no to the antiterrorism bill, said it would give law enforcers too much power that could be abused. He said if police could not follow the right process in a simple drug bust, what more would they do if the anti-terror bill were passed and allowed them to make warrantless arrests and to detain suspects for 24 days without charges.

latest victim of the pandemic sweeping through the Indian capital and exposing a deadly shortage of hospital beds.

"They don't care whether we live or die," said his 20-year-old daughter Kashish, whose uncle, Abhishek, sat with Ashwani in the back of the vehicle on its desperate journey across Delhi.

"It won't matter to them but I have lost my father, he was the world to me," she said, tears welling up as she showed a photo of him.

With surging infections highlighting the precarious state of the Indian healthcare system, the death of Jain and others like him have heightened anxiety in Delhi over the growing threat.

The city government has estimated that it could need 80,000 beds by the end of July, and warned hotels and wedding venues that they are likely to be turned into hospitals.

Currently government hospitals have 8,505 designated pandemic beds while private hospitals have 1,441.

Mortuaries are overflowing with bodies and cemeteries and crematorium staff say they cannot keep up with the backlog of victims. Some local Delhi councils say the real death toll is twice the number given by the regional gov-

ernment.

Technicians freed over virus 5G scare Villagers in rural Peru have freed eight technicians from broadband provider Gilat Peru who were held over fears they were installing 5G technology, which locals claim is responsible for the coronavirus, police said Saturday.

The eight-member maintenance crew had been held since Wednesday by villagers in Acobamba province, more than 500 kilometers southeast of the capital Lima.

"All of them have been released," Leni Palacios of Huancavelica police told AFP, adding that the workers said they were in good shape.

Palacios said the workers' release came after a meeting between locals and a commission made up of officials from the Ministry of Transport, the regional government and Gilat Peru.

Transport Ministry spokesman Jose Aguilar told RPP Radio that Peru has no 5G antennas, and that regardless, they are not linked to COVID-19.

With 33 million people, Peru is the second-worst affected country in Latin America after Brazil, with more than 214,000 confirmed cases and over 6,000 deaths. AFP

ance during a 38-minute phone conversation with President Rodrigo Duterte last Thursday.

On Saturday, Food and Drug Administration Director General Eric Domingo said it was a good move for the Philippines to participate in the global clinical trials for a COVID-19 cure as this will increase the country's chance of securing a vaccine.

"Ang isa rin po kasing magandang strategy ay sumali tayo sa clinical trial pa lamang, unang una masusubukan na natin siya sa mga Pilipino kung magan-

da ang epekto niya," Domingo told Dobol B sa News TV. He said President Rodrigo Duterte had been in talks with other countries regarding the Philippines' access to vaccines once they were available.

Malacañang had previously welcomed news of clinical trials for a possible vaccine against the coronavirus disease.

Lorenzana also took the opportunity to share the Philippines’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic and expressed his appreciation for the medical assistance

By Maricel V. Cruz and Rio N. Araja

T

HE proposed Bicycle Law should include incentives like tax perks, extra-pay credits or food vouchers for the people who use bicycles in their daily commute to their workplaces, a legislator said Sunday.

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as 20 days. Now, they are down to seven or eight days, she said.

She also said the decline in deaths was made possible by the people's sacrifices, particularly to protect the elderly and the vulnerable.

However, Vergeire reminded the public to remain vigilant to ensure the downward trend continues.

On Sunday, the DOH reported an increase of 539 new cases, 366 of them fresh and 173 of them late, bringing the total to 25,930 COVID-19 cases in the Philippines.

The DOH also reported 14 new fatalities, bringing the death toll in the country to 1,088, and 248 cases of recovery, bringing the total number of people who recovered from COV-

Anti-terror...

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avoid gray-listing,” AMLC said in a report.

Among these deficiencies are the gaps in the Human Security Act and the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001, as amended. “So passing amendments to both the HSA and AMLA, as amended, is among the conditions to avoid the country’s inclusion in the gray list,” AMLC said.

“If any or all of the proposed amendments are not passed and not implemented within the observation period, the country will be included in the FATF gray list, which will publicly identify the Philippines as a risk to the international financial system for having strategic deficiencies in its AML/CTF [counterterrorism financing] framework,” it said.

This will result in an additional layer of scrutiny from regulators and financial institutions, thereby increasing the cost of doing business and delaying the processing of transactions.

AMLC further said inclusion in the gray list will block “the country’s road to an ‘A’ credit rating from major global credit rating agencies such as Moody’s

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The other two domestic infections reported Sunday were in northeastern Liaoning province and were close contacts of the Beijing cases.

The new cluster has prompted fresh lockdowns with people ordered to stay home in 11 residential estates near the market which supplies most of the city's fresh produce.

City official Xu Hejian told reporters on Sunday that Beijing had entered an "extraordinary period."

The alert was sounded in the capital after the NHC confirmed the first cases for two months on Friday and city officials delayed the return of primary school students that had not already resumed classes.

One of Sunday's new cases was a 56-year-old man who works as an airport bus driver and had visited the Xinfadi market before falling ill, the state-run People's Daily reported.

Hospital beds running out in Delhi Ashwani Jain succumbed to the coronavirus in an ambulance as his family pleaded with several hospitals to take him in, the

’US...

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COVID-19 once it develops one, the Palace said Friday.

“President Xi reiterated China’s commitment to the international community to make any vaccine it develops a global public good and that as a friendly neighbor, China certainly considers the Philippines as a priority,” the Palace said in a statement.

The Palace said Xi made the assur-

jeeps and buses.

Many of them come to Ortigas and Makati to work all the way from Antipolo, Katipunan or Manila. Previously, they said, they either had to walk for hours or to borrow a bike from a neighbor or relative to go to work.

Ong says more Filipinos will definitely prefer a bike instead of using public transport if the government could provide them the infrastructure to do it.

He says creating a cycling culture in the Philippines can provide a long-term solution to the traffic gridlock in Metro Manila and other highly urbanized areas, which costs the government P3.5 billion in economic losses a day. It will also help reduce pollution.

Oil...

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and P14.44 per liter for kerosene.

World oil prices have been going up in recent weeks after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies agreed to cut production starting July amid a slowdown in demand due to the coronavirus pandemic.

According to reports gathered by the Energy Department, OPEC and its oil-producing allies agreed on June 6 to extend its production cut of 9.6 million barrels per day until the end of July to stem the downward spiral of oil prices.

Anticipation of continuing production cuts has been sending oil prices higher but uncertainty remains for the second half of the year.

Meanwhile, as countries ease their lockdowns resulting in a recovery in demand, refineries in Asia are gradually raising their operating levels, although margins are still far from preCOVID-19 levels. and donations of medical supplies by the US government.

Esper, on the other hand, expressed his appreciation for the DND’s support for the Philippine government’s decision to suspend the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement.

Both defense officials also discussed the security situation in the South China Sea, counter-terrorism and logistics cooperation, particularly on the capability upgrades of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

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mga health providers to distinguish between these diseases common during the rainy season. Ngayong tagulan, inaasahan natin ang pagtaas ng mga kaso sa binansagan nating WILD (Water-borne infectious diseases, Influenza, Leptospirosis and Dengue) diseases," Tayag told ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo.

He says around 50,000 cases of dengue have been reported from January to the end of May, and mostly in Central Luzon and in Central Visayas.

Call for review Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Michael Defensor has called for a review of the accuracy of all brands of COVID-19 tests being used by the Department of Health and licensed laboratories across the country.

“The DOH should discourage if not stop altogether the use of unreliable COVID-19 tests that produce high rates of false-negative results,” said Defensor, head of the House’s public accounts committee.

“We are investing P1.9 billion in COVID-19 screening, and the DOH should see to it that the money is spent only on the most dependable tests.”

He warned that the Health department and the authorized laboratories “could be wasting precious time and resources” redoing thousands of COVID-19 tests due to the large volume of false-negative results obtained from defective tests.

Push for social protection A House leader on Sunday pushed for the enactment of a bill that aims to guarantee access to social protection for an estimated 16 million workers in the so-called informal economy.

Deputy Speaker and Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte says workers in the informal sector have been hit the hardest by the work stoppages as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Villafuerte, author of House Bill 3465, or the proposed Magna Carta for Workers in the Informal Economy, says workers in this sector should also be assured of job security, health care services and other benefits that employees in the formal sector enjoy.

Call for a hearing An official said Sunday he would call a congressional hearing on the proposed imposition of a tax on on-line sellers.

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, head of the committee on ways and means chairman, said he will ask the Bureau of Internal Revenue to prepare the mechanics on the imposition of a new tax that the agency wants to impose on online sellers.

Salceda said his panel wants to know if the BIR wants a “shotgun” imposition or if only the big sellers will be covered.

“The committee will look into the clear intention of the proposal: Is it meant for the big companies engaged in digital transactions and not for the small entrepreneurs?” Salceda said.

He said he prefers to have the matter discussed in a House hearing where the affected parties will be given a chance to be heard.

Accreditation welcomed Amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases, Senator Richard Gordon, chairman and CEO of the Philippine Red Cross, welcomed the accreditation of the PRC’s bio-molecular laboratories in Subic and Clark, saying the additional facilities would boost the PRC’s testing capacity.

Gordon said the two laboratories will be opened this week since these are ready to operate after passing the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine’s proficiency test last Friday and after being accredited as certified COVID-19 testing centers.

The Subic laboratory is at the PRC Logistics and Training Center inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, and the swabbing will be done at the SBF’s Main Gate. The facility can run up to 2,000 tests a day.

Meanwhile, the Clark laboratory at the Clark Freeport Zone is also capable of running the same number of tests.

Call for reskilling With businesses struggling to stay afloat due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and with more people losing their jobs as a result, Senator Sonny Angara on Sunday said the reskilling and upskilling of workers is now more important than ever.

“Unemployment hit a high of 17.7 percent in April this year. That’s over 7.3 million Filipinos who need jobs," Angara said.

He says many businesses have to cut costs or start exploring new ways of making money.

"We cannot operate on a businessas-usual basis anymore,” Angara said.

“This is why we have been pushing for the upskilling of our workforce towards competencies that are required by employers and a lot of these are digital. These are the two terms that many of us will hear a lot these days.”

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We pay correct taxes to government—ASPAP T

HERE is nothing to worry about payment of correct taxes to government as Accredited Service Providers Association of PAGCOR (ASPAP) members put this on top of its list prior to resuming operations.

PORT AREA LINK. Constructed within a span of 20 months, the Segment 10 R10 Spur Link started construction in September 2018 and will be completed today, June 15, 2020. The project will connect the Port Area in Manila to NLEX within a span of only 15 to 20 minutes.

IN BRIEF

Villar pushes for ‘buy local initiative’

PNP chief orders probe of Lucban police exec By Macon Ramos-Araneta PHILIPPINE National Police chief Gen. Archie Francisco Gachmboa has ordered Directorate for Police Community Relations director, Maj. Gen. Dionardo Carlos to investigate Lucban Municipal Police Station’s victim-blaming post on social media.

Gamboa made the directive after the Lucban Municipal Police Station’s (MPS) social media post drew flak from netizens for allegedly being sexist when it allowed posting of statements which said girls should not wear short clothing and then report sexual harassment to them.

“The police chief of Lucban Municipal Police Station and all personnel who may be involved will be made to explain why they allowed posting of such statements in their social media account that elicited negative reactions from the public for implied victim blaming,” according to the PNP release on Saturday.

“They will be made to justify also why no administrative sanctions shall be imposed upon them for their actions despite earlier instructions to take down posts with similar content.”

Gamboa said the PNP strongly advocates the protection of women and children and maintains a strict set of guidelines for its personnel on the use of social media. PNA

SENATOR Cynthia Villar has exhorted Filipinos to support local products amid the economic losses and dislocation brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Villar said that “buying local initiative” has become more urgent in the face of economic losses stemming from the global health crisis.

The senator also issued a statement supporting initiatives such as ‘Buy Local’ and ‘Buyanihan’ which promote products and services offered by local entrepreneurs.

“Our micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) suffered because of the pandemic. It is high time we give premium to the mantra “Tangkilin ang sariling atin,” and really make it a point to buy Filipino products,” Villar said.

“There is a need to inculcate in each Filipino the wisdom of supporting our very own Filipino made products, and in the process,

reach consumers at a time when quarantine measures are in place.

She pointed out that MSMEs are a vital component to the development of our nation’s economy. In 2017, the University of the Philippines Institute for Small-Scale Industries said MSMEs account for 99.52% of registered businesses in the Philippines and employ over 62.9% of the Filipino labor force.

“Therefore, it is imperative that we support our resourceful Filipino entrepreneurs in order to help them quickly recover and also to promote their development and competitiveness in the long run,” Villar said.

Villar authored Senate Bill 145 designating the month of November as “Buy Pinoy, Build Pinoy Month” to encourage the public and private sectors to prioritize the purchase and utilization of Filipino products, labor and services. The month of November is strategically chosen given the increased consumer spending that occurs during the Christmas season.

Intensify integration program for OFWs, says Villanueva

BOC-NAIA destroys seized beauty products By Macon R. Araneta THE Customs—Ninoy Aquino International Airport has destroyed 1.5 tons of imported beauty products and other seized smuggled items in Trece Martires in Cavite.

The shipments of 400 kilograms of Goree beauty products and several packages of medicines and cosmetics were brought into the country without the necessary permits and clearances from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Under FDA Advisory No. 2017-289, the use and distribution of Goree products which were found to contain toxic mercury levels beyond the limit set by the agency are strictly prohibited.

The harmful beauty products were burned and disposed of using the Thermal Decomposer (Pyrolysis) of Integrated Waste Management Inc. In support of Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero’s unwavering border protection efforts against dangerous goods and substances, the Customs - NAIA district under Collector Carmelita Talusan conducted its fourth consecutive condemnation activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Joel E. Zurbano

give due recognition to Filipino producers whose creativity and ingenuity brought us products and services which can be considered world-class,” she added.

Villar, chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, Food, Agrarian Reform, Environment and Natural Resources, noted that there is now a growing demand for local products especially on social media and online selling sites.

“We have been pushing for a concerted effort on the part of the government and stakeholders to bring the benefit of this practice to the consciousness of the consuming public,” she said.

She said that one of the positive things this pandemic brought us is the opportunity to put our very own Filipino products on centerstage.

Villar also commended MSMEs which have learned to cope with the operational stress brought about by the pandemic. She said online selling enabled local sellers to

SENATOR Joel Villanueva said that the government must intensify and expand the implementation of reintegration programs for the smooth transition of OFWS back to the country.

He said training provided by TESDA, among other interventions, must be readily provided for OFWs who look to update and retool their skills to become more employable or to seek a new venture through entrepreneurship.

Aside from TESDA, he also called the attention of the Department of Labor and Employment to strengthen its coordination with different industries to determine the prevailing labor demand, so our government can help match their demand for employment.

“Matching the needs of the labor market is an effective way to reduce the unemployment in the country,” said Villanueva, who chairs the Senate labor committee.

He noted that the way that

the government have been treating our workers, especially the returning OFWs, falls short of how it heralds them as our “bagong bayani.”

“We don’t leave our heroes begging on the streets and making them wait until they drop dead of hunger or depression.,” he said These deaths, he said, are avoidable if only the government extended more compassion on the plight of our OFWs and acted with dispatch and a

sense of urgency.

“We implore our agencies to empathize with our OFWs. Let us not dismiss those taking their chance by camping out at bus stations and airport terminals because they long to be with their families, especially in these troubled times. “ Villanueva said the plight of OFWs and the government’s response are among the topics that will be discussed in the upcoming Senate labor Committee hearing.

P’que City gives away gadgets for school kids THE Paranaque City government is providing P300 million worth of gadgets for public school pupils and teachers to cope with the ‘new normal education’ this school year.

Mayor Edwin Olivarez said his administration also approved the allocation of P200 million for the P6,000 annual allowance of 16,000 junior and senior high school students this coming August, the start of classes this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Around 7,000 tablets will be distributed to the city’s kinder and Grade 1 pupils while 300 units of laptop computers will be given to public school teachers worth P300 million, sourced from the local government’s special education fund (SEF).

“Instead of allocating the tablets to the high school students, the members of our local school board decided to issue the gadget to kinder and Grade 1 pupils. Today, computer will be a formative experience for a kid to learn the best in the world,” said Olivarez.

Officials of the city’s Department of Education will be using distance learning trough modular instruction this 202021 school year. Public school teachers are now prepared after attending several online learning trainings. Joel E. Zurbano

PESO UPDATE. The Public Employment Service Office (PESO) on Sunday held a “practical test” in Manila for tailors and sewers who will be tasked to manufacture face masks.

‘Private school teachers need gov’t assistance’

By Maricel V. Cruz A CONGRESSIONAL leader on Sunday urged the government to look into the plight of an estimated 300,000 private school teachers whose work and livelihood had been affected by the enforcement of restriction measures against COVID-19.

House Deputy Majority Leader and Bagong Henerasyon Rep. Bernadette Herrera made the call,

lamenting that while teachers in public schools are guaranteed their salaries during the pandemic, the same cannot be said of teachers in private schools whose incomes are drawn from student tuition.

“Considering that there is much uncertainty on the enrollment of students which would consequently affect the ability of many private schools to sustain themselves, teachers and non-teaching personnel in private educational

institutions should also be given assistance to help them cope with the effects of the pandemic,” Herrera said.

Herrera issued the statement as she voiced concern over reports that small private schools were not qualified to get assistance from the government’s Small Business Wage Subsidy program, which provides wage subsidies of P5,000 or P8,000 per month to eligible employees in the private sector.

ASPAP spokesperson Margarita Gutierrez reiterated this commitment amid calls from Senator Risa Hontiveros for the Pogo Service Providers (PSP) to settle their tax dues instead of the government imposing taxes on online retailers.

Gutierrez said that their members dutifully pay the required regulatory fees and corporate and withholding taxes of its workers.

“We reiterate our unequivocal commitment to pay the appropriate tax dues imposed by the government prior to the limited reopening of the online gaming operations,” Gutierrez said.

She added that PSPs are consistent with their assurances to fully support the country’s road to economic recovery as it reels from the devastating effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

She also said that the PSPs have been complying with tax laws even before the outbreak of the pandemic.

“ASPAP members opted not to seek incentives or any tax breaks from government from the start,” said Gutierrez, adding that the PSPs are contributing around P94.7 billion to the local economy that could reach as high as P104 billion this year The ASPAP spokesperson also maintained that PSPs shall observe all health and safety protocols set by regulators once their limited operations start.

“We wish to reassure our legislators and the public that resumption of PSP operations would not undermine quarantine protocols or pose unnecessary health risk to the community,” said Gutierrez.

Meanwhile, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque also clarified that the government is collecting the unpaid taxes of PSPs contrary to Hontiveros’ claims.

“We collect their taxes, Senator Risa Hontiveros. They will not be allowed to open unless they pay their taxes,” said Roque in a briefing on Thursday.

Malacanang also clarified that sellers earning P250,000 below annually are exempted from paying taxes under the tax reform law.

LGUs

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

A4

MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Set guidelines, Iloilo cockpit operators told

READY FOR WORSHIP. Altar server Joel Dayoc disinfects the pews of the historic St. Francis of Assisi in General Trias City on Sunday in compliance with government protocols once Cavite province is downgraded to a modified general community quarantine on June 15. Only 154 persons are allowed inside the church during Masses in compliance with the 50-percent capacity protocol of the quarantine. Dennis Abrina

P300m for P’que pupils set

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE Paranaque City government is providing P300 million worth of gadgets for public school pupils and teachers to cope with the “new normal education” this school year.

Mayor Edwin Olivarez said his administration also approved the allocation of P200 million for the P6,000 annual allowance of 16,000 junior and senior high school students this coming August, the start of classes this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Around 7,000 tablets will be distributed to the city’s kinder and Grade 1 pupils while 300 units of laptop computers will be given to public school teachers worth

P300 million, sourced from the local government’s special education fund (SEF).

“Instead of allocating the tablets to the high school students, the members of our local school board decided to issue the gadget to kinder and Grade 1 pupils. Today, computer will be a formative experience for a kid to learn the best in the world,” said Olivarez.

Officials of the city’s Department

of Education will be using distance learning trough modular instruction this 2020-21 school year. Public school teachers are now prepared after attending several online learning trainings.

Olivarez expressed support to the DepEd’s plan to shift from the traditional face-to-face classes to blended learning due to the threat of the coronavirus disease pandemic.

He also appealed to the parents to guide their child’s education especially during the COVID-19 period even they are both employed.

City Treasurer Anthony Pulmano said the tablets with sim cards will be allocated to pupil early weeks of next

month including the laptop computer for kinder and elementary teachers.

Pulmano assured the public-school students and teachers in the city government is ready for the blended learning program as they have more funds left in the SEF amounting another P500 million.

He said the city government is scouting a location where to build cell sites in the city’s two district if ever the national government proposes virtual classes on August 24.

A portion of the budget would also fund the internet allowance for public school teachers to address their concerns regarding connectivity under the planned blended system of learning, according to the city treasurer.

ILOILO CITY—Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. has advised cockpit operators in the province to prepare guidelines and recommendations for their operation despite the continued ban on cockfighting.

In an interview, Defensor said he met with cockpit operators on Friday after he received an advisory from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) dated June 11 that bans cockfighting until it is allowed by the President, the department, or the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Cockfighting is a huge business in Iloilo province, with at least one cockpit in almost all 43 local government units.

“Our direction of the discussion is we have no option but to wait for the guidance from the national government, but we better prepare guidelines,” he said.

Defensor said he advised the cockpit operators to meet and draft the guidelines, which “we can use when we appeal in the future.”

“It is good that we provide solutions to the problem,” he said.

The advisory signed by Interior Secretary Eduardo Año states that “only gatherings that are essential for the provision of essential government services or authorized humanitarian activities shall be allowed for areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), and general community quarantine (GCQ).”

On the other hand, areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) may allow gatherings of no more than 50 percent of the capacity of the venue or seating arrangement to maintain stringent social distancing measures and other health and safety protocols.

Aside from the ban on cockfighting, the DILG advised local government units to “ensure that all gatherings follow the protocols as stated, depending on the level of community quarantine in the area where such gathering is conducted.” PNA

Aboitiz-assisted co-ops boost earnings despite ‘new normal’ TWO multi-purpose cooperatives (MPCs) have been addressing and overcoming the economic impact of the current health crisis, even boosting their earnings, thanks to continuous training, financial, and business start-up support from the Aboitiz Foundation.

“We, in the Aboitiz Foundation, are revisiting our social development programs to adjust to the needs of the times. Together with business units of Aboitiz Group and

our partners, we commit to provide muchneeded and long-term support to help cooperatives, especially those gravely affected economically by COVID-19, quickly recover, rehabilitate and eventually grow,” said Maribeth L. Marasigan, Aboitiz Foundation President and Chief Operating Officer.

The coronavirus pandemic forced cooperatives nationwide to adjust, innovate, and scale up to keep up with the changing consumer behavior.

ABOITIZ AID. A member of the Thanksgiving Multi-Purpose Cooperative bakes bread

early in the morning amid increased order volumes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tabla Multi-Purpose Cooperative members earlier completed the National Certification II Course on Bread and Pastry Production conducted by TESDA.

NEW AMBULANCES. The San Pedro District Hospital (SPDH) in Laguna receives an ambulance with flat screen television from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office through Laguna 1st District Rep. Dan Fernandez in conjunction with the Department of Health (DOH).

Governor Ramil Hernandez expressed his gratitude to the PCSO and DOH on behalf of San Pedro District Hospital, led by Dr. Marigina S. Pural. Benjamin Chavez

Manila Civil Registry reopens registration

EMB 3 denies request to blacklist firm

By Willie Casas

THE Manila Civil Registry Office (MCRO) announced that it has reopened applications for marriage licenses amid the implementation of a general community quarantine (GCQ) in Manila.

The reopening of applications was made in partnership with the Manila Health Department (MHD).

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, pre-marriage orientations were temporarily suspended as Metro Manila was placed under an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), which prohibits residents from leaving their homes for non-essential travel.

Dr. Criselda Coroza, chief of Family Planning, and Imelda De Vera, administrative aide, will handle the registration at Room 139, Family Planning Section of the MHD, Manila City Hall.

BACKYARD GARDEN. Fueled by her passion for farming, Ivy de Guzman tilts the soil and plants in her backyard as she joined Batch 219 of the SM Foundation’s Kabalikat Sa Kabuhayan (KSK) program in Dinalupihan, Bataan.

Inset shows some of Ivy’s plants growing healthily amid the pandemic.

HERMOSA, Bataan—The Environmental Management Bureau in Region 3 (EMB-3) has denied the request of Hermosa Mayor Jopet Inton to blacklist Econest Waste Management Corp. from undertaking any waste management facility in the future.

Inton wrote EMB 3 on March 2, 2020 but was disappointed with the bureau’s reply, release to media over the weekend.

“With regard in the blacklisting of Econest Waste Management Corporation and its officers from undertaking any waste management facility in the future, this Office has no mandate on the concern,” EMB 3 Regional Director Wilson L. Trajeco wrote to Inton dated May 6, 2020.

In February, the Hermosa local government padlocked the town’s sanitary landfill facility being operated by Econest for purported violations of environmental laws.

Econest was operating the landfill under a public-private partnership with the Hermosa LGU. EMB 3 also denied the request of Inton to revoke the environment compliance certificate (ECC) of Econest over the Hermosa landfill and have the landfill rehabilitation at the expense of the company.

“The request for relief of ECC cannot be granted. Based on the Revised Procedural Manual for DAO 2003-30, ECC may only be suspended for violations of Proponent to comply with any of the ECC conditions,” said Trajeco. Butch Gunio

O EE O AYO

ROADS

A. CRUZ

Opinion NAKED THOUGHT

CHARLIE V. MANALO

THE FIFTH GOSPEL JUDE ACIDRE

Bureaucratic barriers to digital infrastructure development OPEN THOUGHTS ORLANDO OXALES THE lockdowns have triggered a sudden shift to cloud-based technologies and a surge in demand for internet and telecommunications services. Accessing the internet through smartphones and computers has now become the indispensable link to safely communicate and do business. Even as the government slowly starts easing lockdown restrictions, we must all continue to comply with social distancing measures. This is the new reality until a vaccine is available to eradicate this virus from Wuhan.

As we now rush into a society-wide digital transition, there will obviously be an exponential rise in demand for wireless broadband services which the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) says will need some 50,000 new cell towers. Hence, building these towers should be a top priority.

Our leaders must solve this serious disconnect between the mandate of local governments and national policy.

DICT Secretary Gregorio Honasan recently signed Circular No. 8 on new guidelines to encourage the fast construction of these towers to address a looming overload of cloud users and to expand access to underserved communities. This allows independent tower companies with construction and financial capabilities with “category A” rating to build towers that telco companies can lease on a non-exclusive arrangement.

What I found most critical in the guidelines is the maximum processing time which sets a seven working-day time limit for national, local government and barangays permits and clearances. A source from one of the telcos said that he is praying that this will actually happen on the ground as despite the Ease of Doing Business Law, it still takes up to eight months to complete all permits before tower construction can start.

To get some firsthand insights, I called an old friend who is an “A” grade contractor with over 20 years track record building cell site towers. He agreed to share some interesting stories which, for understandable reasons, I will now share in a digested and anonymous manner.

Let’s call my friend “John.” His story is a test in patience, perseverance, human rela-

tions, and transactional creativity.

The first permit that John works on is the Barangay Resolution “interposing no objection in construction installation and operation of the cell site.” This is a difficult chase to confirm the earliest available schedule of a barangay session which may be once or twice a month. When a meeting is set, he is expected to provide refreshments and allot some “S.O.P” resources.

It’s sort of like a determined suitor pursuing an elusive and expensive love interest.

A sad anecdote of constituents who stand to benefit greatly by John’s project being stymied by their local leaders.

After the barangay session, a public consultation is called where John will now provide snacks and refreshments for around 30 people. To facilitate, he has learned to recruit the barangay secretary to secure the signatures of kagawads. He also must deal with the barangay captain and the owner of the property by being “creative and dynamic.” This phase takes 30 to 60 days.

Simultaneously, John’s associates are already working in securing the Neighbors Consent, a requirement of the municipal/city engineer and a requisite for the approval of the Barangay Resolution. This requires the signed consent of residents within 40 meters of the site or the radius equivalent to the height of the tower to be constructed.

With a Barangay Resolution in hand, John then applies for a Locational Clearance with the City/Municipal Planning Division Office which needs a Certificate of No Coverage (CNC) from the Department SO of Natural Resources, a Radio Frequency Radiation (RFR) I SEE Safety Evaluation Report from the Department of Health in San Lazaro, LITOManila which needs a domestic plane trip from his home BANAYO base. Plus, a Height Clearance from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. This group of permits done concurrently will take another month to complete.

The last hurdle before construction finally starts is the Building Permit which usually CROSSROADS takes three weeks can be shortened to about a week with some “facilitation tactics.”

J.A. All in all, John has learned to live with a DELA CRUZ conservative timeline of four to six months for all the permits before he mobilizes for construction which he would complete in 40 to 60 days. Before we ended our longdistance interview, he lamented an ongoing project that had been stalled since December because of what he considers the most fantastic demand from an influential person in the community.

John’s little story is a simple illustration of the real problem that shall test the administration’s political will and influence.

We don’t just want to survive in the new normal, we want to perform and excel, at least, to the same economic velocity before the pandemic. The leadership must solve this serious disconnect between the mandate of local governments and national policy.

These bureaucratic barriers to the country’s development must be destroyed.

COCO Martin, a.k.a. Cardo Dalisay, visits “Ang Pinuno” Sen. Lito Lapid, in the Senate, mismo! That was the biggest news the other day, as far as Taiwan OFW’s huddled yesterday at Won-Won CROSSROADS or our version of “Little Manila” in Taipei’s Zhongshan District.J.A. Why his “pinuno”?

WhyCRUZ not Ping LacDELA son or Bato de la Rosa, who were both his “kabaro” having been Chief PNP before becoming senators? If it was to gain tips on how best to perform in the re-launch of Ang Probinsyano, these two would have been better resource persons.

But no, a little birdie close to the superhero of telenovelas and nemesis of Solgen Joe Calida told me that Martin (Nacianceno in real life), had already discussed his noncinematic future, that is, politics, with his “pinuno” at the time his socmed defense of his “kapamilya” network was raging.

You see, friends were egging him to make a run for a coveted mayoralty post come 2022. But conferring with his “pinuno,” he was advised to seek a Senate seat instead.

“Mas madali ang trabaho ng senador,” tukayo Lito reportedly told Coco.

So was Coco’s visit to the Senate premises a case of surveying the lay of the land after the fourth Sunday of July 2022? *** One problem moist-eyed presidential wannabes will soon encounter is filling

Coco and Lloydie, anyone?

OPEN THOUGHTS She was former Senadora Miriam Defensor Santiago’sORLANDO chief of staff during the equally feisty senator’s first years in the Senate, after OXALES losing narrowly to FVR in the 1992 presidential elections. And she has acquitted herself as an activist elections commissioner, at one time the lone female member of the sevenman commission but the one with the real balls, or so say some Palacio del Gobernador upon Intramuros residents say.

She bawled out a pseudo-youth party list representative and sent him packing out of the HoR for misrepresenting the youth. At one time, she stood for the validity of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s last-minute substitution as candidate for president in 2016, over and above the objections of her Chairman, Andy Bautista, who is now somewhere in the US of A licking his wounds after a

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Enabling the beast

T

HE Facebook post was from a police station in a town in Southern Luzon, but what it says rings true for the entire country and, in fact, anywhere that a culture conducive to rape prevails.

“Kayo naman mga ghErlsz, wag suhin ang kanilang kabaitan (Let’s kayo magsuot ng pagkaikli-ikling love women and not abuse their kinddamit at pag naman nabastos ay mag- ness),” the message went. susumbong din sa amin (As for you, girls, refrain from wearing skimpy clothing such that when you get disreRape has nothing spected, you call our attention),” said to do with the choice the Lucban Municipal Police Station of clothing. in Quezon province.

The post has since been deleted, after thousands shared it and reacted angrily to it. Eventually, the town’s police chief, The admonition is pitifully misMaj. Rizaldi Merene, admitted they guided and inadequate. Rape is so were wrong and apologized. much more than abusing anybody’s The message was roundly criticized kindness. It is, instead, feeling ention social media, as people pointed out tled to have your way with another how the police station’s post validated human being. a propensity for blaming victims of Some comments on social merape for their predicament. dia provide a window into how inBut rape has nothing to do with the grained victim-blaming is in our choice of clothing. Rape is a crime culture. A man said there were few that asserts the aggressor’s power rape cases during martial law beover the victim. cause women did not wear short The police station did haveNAKED some shorts or thin blouses then. A broadwords for men: “Mahalin natin ang caster chimed in: “Sexy ladies, careTHOUGHT mga kababaihan at huwag nyo abu- ful with the way you dress up! You CHARLIE V. MANALO

are inviting the beast,” addressing a critic as “hija” in an unmistakeable gesture of condescension.

A beast will be a beast in any circumstance. Instead of focusing on what may be deemed inviting to potential rapists, we should change the thinking that rape is a result of what a woman does or does not do.

Women should not be taught what or what not to wear. Rapists have no excuse for raping, and they must not be encouraged further by a culture that places the burden on a woman’s shoulders alone.

We are all a product of our time.

Our opinions are shaped by our background and education, and the examples we saw while growing up.

But now that we are in a position to observe how the world is, and how it should evolve, and how dated beliefs cause disadvantage and injustice to many, then we should take an active role in overhauling our mindset. It is our duty to help make the world more just and less oppressive—even as we are surrounded by “strongmen” who are stuck in the past and who expose themselves for the bigots, misogynists, and beast-enablers that they are.

Freedom isn’t free

THE FIFTH GOSPEL JUDE ACIDRE

FOR 16 years, Independence Day was observed every July 4 to recall the end of American sovereignty in the Philippines.

This changed on May 12, 1962 when President Diosdado Macapagal issued Proclamation No. 28, series of 1962, which moved the OPENfrom July 4 to June 12, annual observance this timeTHOUGHTS marking the anniversary of the establishment of the First Philippine ReORLANDO public. Congress later on confirmed MacaOXALES pagal’s executive issuance with the passage of Republic Act 4166, formally designating June 12 as Philippine Independence Day. President Macapagal’s decision was not without controversy. Historical purists pointed out that the Philippines gained status as an independent state only in 1946 —when in addition to the people, territory, government, it achieved the fourth element required of independent statehood—sovereignty.

On the other hand, when President Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed Philippine independence on June 12, 1898, it lacked the sovereignty and the legitimacy that comes with the recognition by other foreign states. up their 12-man senatorial slate. ANAKED major In fact, the Spanish and later on, the United problem is Region 7, where thereTHOUGHT seems to States colonial government continued to be little interest for any local politician to control over the greater part of the get to the select club of the “august.”

CHARLIE V.exercise of the country, effectively stifling any litFriends are goading the feisty MANALO Comelec tle hope for international recognition and Commissioner Rowena Guanzon to go contributing to the premature demise of for it, since she is due to retire from her Aguinaldo’s revolutionary republic. post come February 2022. Commissioner There may have been more pragmatic Guanzon, after all, comes with hefty credentials: a brilliant lawyer, a former mayor THE FIFTH of Cadiz upon the Cebuano-speaking NeGOSPEL gros Occidental who fought the fearsome Mayor Gustilo of martial law notoriety JUDE (remember the EscalanteACIDRE massacre!) and a pistol sharpshooter to boot.

B1

EDITORIAL

Our next-gen pols?

SO I SEE LITO BANAYO

MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020

hugely controversial marital spat laced with alleged larceny.

Bing Guanzon speaks both Ilonggo and Cebuano dialects flawlessly, apart from Tagalog and impeccable English.

But then again, some Cebuano friends are saying another celluloid superstar, John Lloyd Cruz is thinking of a Senate run. He has a love-child with Cebuana Ellen Adarna after all, and can yet register as a Cebu resident one year before the elections.

Are Coco and Loydie our next-gen politicos? Oh well. *** But then again, come 2022, we may have Senator Manny Pacquiao gunning for the presidency no less. Make that “will” instead of “may,” or so declared Bob Arum, the Pacman’s boxing promoter.

Wow! An announcement to run for the Philippine presidency from the US of A, mismo!

Sounds like Marcos declaring a “snap” election from Washington DC in November of 1985. This time, from LA or is it Las Vegas where Bob Arum cools his heels?

A friend sent me a text message upon getting the Bob Arum declaration. “Imbitado ka ba sa inauguration?” he asked. My response: “Oh my God!”

reasons behind President Macapagal’s decision to move the date of the Philippine Independence Day. July 4, of course, is the same date of the United States Independence Day. As a result, foreign diplomats would usually skip the Philippine Independence Day reception in favor of attending the US embassy celebration. Celebrating its Independence Day on the same date as the US national holiday appeared to reinforce the historical circumstance that our country’s independence was simply bestowed by an act of the US Congress, who was only too eager to absolve itself of the herculean task of post-war reconstruction.

The tragedy of our times is that our freedom has been reduced to a set of legal and moral entitlements that we have begun to selfishly demand A country’s true independence day rightly marks its birth as an independent nation. For Macapagal, this means recognizing June 12 as the proper date when Filipinos proclaimed their independence from colonial rule—and not when it actually gained sovereignty. Similarly, July 4, 1776 is the date of the American Declaration of Independence, but it would take seven more years before the British Crown would formally recognize

*** Once more, Taiwan shows how it can help, and how it is helping. Last April 15, they sent a planeload of face masks to help alleviate our shortage of the COVIDpreventive instrument. These were handed out to MECO Vice-Chairman Gilbert Lauengco by TECO resident representative Michael Pei-yung Hsu at the NAIA cargo terminal, with a bashful DOH SOundersecretary refusing to be photographed I SEE because her Secretary Duque might protest LITO “kuno.”

Last Thursday, the BANAYO Taiwanese government, through TECO, again donated 500,000 surgical masks, 50,000 N95 masks, 20,000 isolation suits and 5,000 protective gowns to the Philippines. These governCROSSROADS ment donations are separate from previous donations, in cash and in kind, J.A. by private DELA CRUZsuch as Taiwanese investors in our country, the Taiwan Association of the Philippines.

Representing MECO in the turn-over of the donation were our directors, Cesar M. Drilon and Raymond Robert Burgos, as I am here in Taiwan. Incidentally, we have had to cancel the usual diplomatic reception for Philippine Independence Day this year. Also cancelled was the Araw ng OFW held each year on the Sunday preceding our national day, where fun games would violate social distancing rules.

the independence of Thirteen Colonies.

June 12 rightfully marks our country’s independence day, because on that day, the Filipino people did not only break free from the shackles of colonialism, but as one nation, fully exercised their right to determine its own national destiny, choose a political system based on the principles of democracy and pursue its own path of social and economic development.

If there is one important lesson to remember from Macapagal’s decision to recognize June 12 as our country’s independence day—it is that freedom cannot be simply bestowed upon by another foreign state or consequent upon an act of another country. A nation has to claim its freedom for itself. The people have to decide to take action in order to achieve it.

Freedom is not something that is freely given. It has to be earned—and there is a price to pay. All throughout history, that price has been paid through the selfless sacrifice of countless men and women who heroically gave up their life—or those who selflessly lived their lives—so that our generation today can “secure to ourselves and our posterity, the blessings of independence and democracy under the rule of law and a regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality.”

But what does that mean to Filipinos today? (full version at www.manilastandard.net)

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India beckons NAKED NAKED THOUGHT THOUGHT CHARLIEV.V. CHARLIE MANALO MANALO

A gift unfit for a centennial celebration THE FIFTH GOSPEL TO THE JUDE POINT ACIDRE EMIL P. JURADO

Piercing the corporate veil OPEN THOUGHTS ORLANDO OXALES

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New Zealand protesters take knee at US consulate THOUSANDS of people took the knee outside the US consulate in Auckland Sunday as New Zealanders demonstrated for a second week to support the Black Lives Matter movement and highlight local discrimination issues.

As Michael Jackson’s “They Don’t Care About Us” played in the background, the protesters chanted “No justice, no peace” and “Ain’t no power like the power of the people, because the power of the people don’t stop.”

In Wellington, more than 2,000 people marched on parliament after gathering in the city center to hear speeches on racial bias within the police, New Zealand’s high Maori imprisonment rates and the push to remove statues of colonisers.

The city of Hamilton has already torn down a statue of the colonial military commander it was named after following threats from anti-racism protesters to topple the bronze sculpture of Captain John Fane Charles Hamilton, who they accused of murAn aerial view of Hollywood Boulevard painted with the words ‘All Black Lives Matter near the famous TCL Chinese Theater as protests continue in the wake of George Floyd’s death on June 13, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. George Floyd died on May 25th when he was in Minneapolis police custody. On Friday, Rayshard Brooks, a 27-year-old black man, was shot dead by Atlanta police, sparking a new wave of protests. AFP

Atlanta police chief resigns after officer kills black man T

HE police chief in the US city of Atlanta resigned after an officer fatally shot a black man during an arrest, the mayor said Saturday, with the new killing injecting fresh anger into protests against racism and police brutality.

Demonstrators blocked an interstate highway and set alight the Wendy’s restaurant where 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks was killed late Saturday, local media reported.

This came hours after Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms – who has been touted as a potential running mate for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden – announced the resignation of Chief Erika Shields.

Brooks had been asleep in his car at the Wendy’s drive-through late Friday, and employees called police to complain he was blocking other customers, an official report said.

He failed a sobriety test and resisted when police tried to arrest him, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said.

Surveillance video showed “that during a physical struggle with officers, Brooks obtained one of the officer’s Tasers and began to flee from the scene,” the report continued.

“Officers pursued Brooks on foot and during the chase, Brooks turned and pointed the Taser at the officer. The officer fired his weapon, striking Brooks,” it stated.

Brooks was taken to a hospital but died after surgery, it said, adding that one officer was injured.

An Atlanta police spokesman identified the policeman who carried out the shooting as Garrett Rolfe. He was dismissed from the force on Saturday, while the second officer was placed on administrative duty, according to ABC News.

The unrest comes as the US faces a historic reckoning on systemic racism, with mass civil unrest ignited by the May 25 killing of another AfricanAmerican man, George Floyd, while in

police custody.

Floyd died after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

Protests which spread first around the country then the globe in the weeks since, have forced a conversation on the legacies of slavery, colonialism and white violence against people of color, as well as the militarization of police in America.

Shields had worked for Atlanta’s police department for more than two decades.

“Because of her desire that Atlanta be a model of what meaningful reform should look like across this country, Chief Shields has offered to immediately step aside as police chief,” the mayor said in televised comments. AFP

Virus survivor Ancient Petra a ghost town, life in limbo faces $1.1M hospital bill A 70-YEAR-OLD American man who nearly died of COVID-19 has been billed a heart-stopping $1.1 million for his hospital expenses, the Seattle Times reported over the weekend.

Michael Flor was admitted to a hospital in the northwestern city on March 4, and stayed for 62 days – at one point coming so close to death that nurses held up the phone so his wife and children could say goodbye.

But he recovered and was discharged on May 5 to the cheers of nursing staff – only to receive a 181page bill totalling $1,122,501.04, he told the newspaper.

That includes: $9,736 per day for the intensive care room, nearly $409,000 for its transformation into a sterile room for 42 days, $82,000 for the use of a ventilator for 29 days, and nearly $100,000 for two days when his prognosis was life-threatening.

Flor is covered by Medicare, a government insurance program for the elderly, and should not have to take out his wallet, according to the Times.

But in a country where health care is among the most expensive in the world—and the idea of socializing it remains hugely controversial—he said he feels “guilty” knowing that taxpayers will bear much of the cost.

“It was a million bucks to save my life, and of course I’d say that’s money well-spent ... But I also know I might be the only one saying that,” the Times quoted him as saying.

A gigantic plan adopted by Congress to keep the American economy afloat through the coronavirus shutdowns includes a $100 million budget to compensate hospitals and private insurance companies that treated COVID-19 patients. AFP

FOR over two millennia the ancient city of Petra has towered majestically over the Jordanian desert. Today its famed rose-red temples hewn into the rockface lie empty and silent.

As the novel coronavirus spread around the world, Jordanian authorities imposed a lockdown, and the last tourists left on March 16, a day before the Hashemite kingdom closed its borders.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen this place so empty. Usually there are thousands of tourists,” said Nayef Hilalat, 42, who has worked as a guardian at the ancient archaeological site for a decade.

“Every year at this time the place would be buzzing with people,” he lamented, wearing a khaki cap bearing the Jordanian flag. “Today all we can hear is the birds singing.”

FESTIVAL. A man wearing a face mask with a religious image takes part in a procession as part of the Santo Antonio Festival in Mateus Leme in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais, Brazil on June 13, 2020. The reenactment of the dispute between Moors and Christians is a tradition in the city, but because of the new coronovirus pandemic, it was canceled and only the celebration of a mass and the procession was allowed. AFP

One of the seven wonders of the world, and classified as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1985, Petra was once the capital of the nomadic Nabataean Arab peoples and dates back to at least 200 years BC. With the passage of time, it has become a beacon for tourism in the country and the region.

Its spectacular Al-Khazneh, or Treasury, with its stunning sandstone facade, is one of Petra’s most famous attractions, and was a location for Steven Spielberg’s 1989 movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.”

But now, the steep winding Siq path – a gorge over a kilometer long that leads into Al-Khazneh – is deserted. Gone are the tourists normally thronging the pathway on foot, or riding on donkeys or in horse-drawn

carriages.

Life is in limbo. Tables at the site’s cafes forlornly gather dust or are littered with forgotten plastic cups, while items like T-shirts in the souvenir shops fade in the desert sun.

The vast site, lying in a deep valley between the Red Sea, in the south, and the Dead Sea, to the north, is a ghost town.

Around 200 tour guides, along with 1,500 horse and donkey owners, are out of work.

It’s “a catastrophe,” said 55-year-old Naim Nawafleh, who has been a guide here for about 30 years.

Jordan welcomes some five million visitors a year, and tourism accounts for 14 percent of the country’s GDP, employing about 100,000 people. AFP

der.

The protests are part of a worldwide movement following the killing in the United States of African-American man George Floyd who died after a white policeman knelt on his neck for several minutes.

“George Floyd doesn’t have any more breaths left, it’s our job to ensure that wasn’t in vain,” social justice activist Julia Whaipooti told the crowd in Auckland.

Auckland University social sciences professor Camille Nakhid said there was a “knee on the neck” of indigenous people and people of colour throughout New Zealand.

“We have longer waiting lines out of the hospital. We are less likely to get medicines that we need... when they gentrify our neighbourhoods and we have to move to suburbs that have poor transportation, less access to employment, less access to healthcare, that is a knee on our necks,” she added.AFP

IN BRIEF 18 dead in China tanker truck blast THE number of people killed in a tanker truck explosion on a highway in eastern China has climbed to 18, with nearly 200 more injured, local authorities said Sunday.

The force of the blast on Saturday afternoon caused nearby homes and factories to collapse, and sent huge clouds of black smoke billowing into the air as flames engulfed several cars.

China’s emergency management department said Sunday morning there were 189 injured people still being treated in hospital, after the accident near Wenling city in the eastern province of Zhejiang.

Local authorities said the truck was loaded with liquefied gas.

Dramatic video footage of the accident published by state media showed a huge ball of fire shooting into the air as people screamed.

In one clip, a large piece of debris is seen flying into the air before crashing on some nearby buildings.

Another video showed the remains of the tanker and several truck tyres smashed into a building, which had been reduced to rubble.

State news agency Xinhua reported Sunday that there was a second blast when the truck fell onto a workshop near the expressway after the first explosion.

Emergency responders were still conducting search and rescue operations, it added.

Deadly road accidents are common in China, where traffic regulations are often flouted or not enforced.

Last year, at least 36 people died and 36 others were hurt in eastern China when a packed coach with a flat tyre collided with a truck. AFP

Colombian nabbed for laundering A COLOMBIAN businessman facing US money laundering charges and accused of malfeasance in Venezuela dealings has been arrested in the African island archipelago of Cape Verde, his lawyer in Miami said Saturday.

Cape Verde has no extradition treaty with the United States and Alex Saab’s lawyer Maria Dominguez, who confirmed his arrest to AFP, did not offer any further details about the case.

Saab and his business partner Alvaro Pulido have been charged in the US with money laundering, moving some $350 million out of Venezuela either to the United States or through the US to foreign accounts.

If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison.

The US Treasury Department says since 2016, Saab has tried to profit off importing emergency food into Venezuela as it struggled with rising shortages and malnutrition, in a scheme which also includes President Nicolas Maduro’s stepchildren as well as 13 companies in various countries.

A senior US official, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said that in the face of a foreign currency shortage in early 2018, Maduro also granted Saab a monopoly on the sale of gold illegally extracted from vast mining areas in southern Venezuela.

Venezuelan foreign minister Jorge Arreaza called the arrest “arbitrary” and tweeted that he had “taken all the necessary steps through diplomatic and legal channels to guarantee the rights” of Saab.AFP

Strong quake hits Japan coast A STRONG but deep 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of southwest Japan early Sunday, the US Geological Survey said, but no tsunami warning was issued.

There were no immediate reports of injury or damage caused by the earthquake; its epicentre was 135 kilometres northwest of Naze, Japan.

The quake, which USGS originally recorded as a 6.7-magnitude temblor, was relatively deep at 160 kilometres.

Japan’s Kyodo News agency reported that the earthquake was felt in Okinawa as well as the island of Kyushu.

It struck at 12:51 am local time, according to USGS and was followed by a shallow 4.4-magnitude quake two hours later off Japan’s southeast coast.

Another shallow quake, registering 5.3 in magnitude, occurred at 2018 GMT Saturday in the waters between southwest Japan and Taiwan. No tsunami warnings were issued.

Japan sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of intense seismic activity that stretches through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.

In 2011, a devastating 9.0-magnitude earthquake struck roughly 130 kilometers east of Miyagi prefecture, unleashing an enormous tsunami, triggering the Fukushima nuclear reactor meltdown and killing nearly 16,000 people. AFP

Business Greece ready to welcome tourists

FIRA, Greece―From the emblematic island of Santorini, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Saturday that Greece is “ready to welcome tourists” in complete safety after the coronavirus lockdown, whose impact on tourism will be “significant.”

“Greek tourism is back,” said Mitsotakis, two days before the reopening of the tourist season.

The return of tourists to Greece from around 30 countries by air, sea and land, begins on Monday.

“Everything is ready in terms of making sure that we ensure the proper social distancing guidelines, said Mitsotakis, adding that safety and health is “our number 1 priority.”

“We want visitors to feel safe. I am not interested in making Greece the number one destination in Europe.

“I am interested in making Greece the safest destination in Europe.”

Greece has been relatively unscathed by the virus with just 183 deaths.

After stopping at Fira hospital, where he again spoke of the “success” of his government “in overcoming the first wave of the pandemic”, the prime minister visited the archaeological site of Akrotiri by greeting “the incredibly diverse cultural heritage” of Greece.

But in a country where tourism is crucial to the economy, accounting for almost 25 percent of GDP, Mitsotakis admitted that the impact of confinement on the tourism sector would be “significant.”

Only “a fraction” of the 33 million tourists who visited Greece last year would turn up this summer, he cautioned “The honest answer is I don’t know what the real impact on the GDP will be,” Mitsotakis told a press conference.

“We’ll try to save whatever we can to make sure our sector stays alive... and can survive what will obviously be a very difficult summer “A lot will depend on how comfortable people feel.”

Only the airports of Athens and Thessaloniki will be reopened to flights from around 30 countries on Monday, while regional airports, including that of Santorini, are due to reopen on July 1.

Before this date, any passenger who tests positive for COVID-19 must submit to a 14-day isolation period in a hotel at the expense of the Greek state.

The government hopes to lift “all restrictions” in July and wants to “extend the tourist season” when the Greek weather permits “living outside” which is less conducive to the transmission of the virus.AFP

B3

MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market set to test 6,500-point level

By Jenniffer B. Austria

S

HARE prices are expected to test the 6,500-point level on optimism that more businesses will reopen after the government eased the lockdown over Metro Manila and neighboring areas.

Analysts said the investors will closely monitor President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to extend or ease the community quarantine imposed in the Philippines.

The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases is set to meet with President Duterte and make recommendations on how the government will proceed in stopping the spread

of COVID-19 in the country. President Duterte will announce the meeting after the meeting, in expected to make his decision.

Meanwhile, the dismal outlook on the US economy is expected to weigh on hopes of a local economic recovery.

The US Federal Reserve Board last week decided to keep the policy rates unchanged and its forecast of of 6.5 percent-contraction in the US economy.

“The week’s close at 6,476.24 highlights the market still has some gas to try the 6,500/6,800 levels in the nearterm. However, a break below 6,230 levels will signal the retest of the 6,000 levels,” BDO Unibank Inc. chief investment strategist Jonathan Ravelas said.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index last week surged 10.7 percent to 6,465.13, while the broader All Shares Index climbed 9.1 percent to 3,773.28.

All major counters ended in green led by financial, which advanced 15.7 per-

cent, property which rose 13.5 percent, and mining and oil which advanced 13.4 percent.

Holding firms companies soared 11.2 percent, while industrial and services increased 6.8 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively.

US and European stocks, meanwhile, were higher Friday, recovering from a rout the previous day caused by rising coronavirus cases in the United States and data denting hopes for a strong recovery from the pandemic’s devastation.

The scale of the damage was highlighted by news that the British economy shrank 20.4 percent month-onmonth in April, a sharp reality check after markets rallied significantly from their March lows.

Analysts said the figures were awful but unsurprising and will hopefully represent the bottom as far as economic activity. With AFP

PSEi June 11, 2020 TOP GAINERS

TOP LOSERS Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis gives a press conference on the island of Santorini on June 13, 2020.

AFP

French trader who bet the house on oil shock and won

By Benoit Pelegrin LONDON, United Kingdom―French trader and specialist oil hedge fund manager Pierre Andurand saw it coming from early February.

His call―and a lucrative one at that―was that there would be a massive slump in oil prices, to the point of unprecedented negative prices for ‘black gold.’

“There is no limit to the drop in prices... negative prices are possible,” the founder of Andurand Capital posted to Twitter on April 20.

Hours later the price of a WTI barrel slid into negative territory for the first time, having stood at $60 in New York a few short weeks earlier, dragging Brent crude down in its wake.

Simultaneously, the Andurand Capital fund was reaping returns of more

than 150 percent for having correctly second-guessed the market as early as February―before the coronavirus-induced global panic saw air traffic grind to a virtual halt along with much economic activity.

It was a spectacular coup for the former Goldman Sachs trader Andurand, after he made a market bet diametrically opposed to the one most traders had at the start of the year, when conventional wisdom said the oil price would take off.

Detailed analysis Bloomberg recently named his firm as one of the top dozen to emerge strongest from the coronavirus crisis, in a study that found three quarters of 1,500 funds assessed had lost money on markets hit by the pandemic.

“When I feel there is a big change in terms of supply and demand I analyze

PH Covid-19: A Nation Locked down MARCH 12, 2020 was the day when our President announced the lockdown that changed our lives. The lockdown was due to the increasing number of people who were being infected by the coronavirus. The virus has flu-like treatable symptoms; however, not everyone’s immune system reacts the same.

The people who were most susceptible to this virus were the elderly. Even then, we know that the threat of this virus should not be taken lightly. I was not afraid of it, but the Bible does mention, “the prudent see danger and find refuge.” Staying indoors was also mandated by law to prevent further spreading.

When the virus started early this year, it was not a cause for alarm. It began in China when someone ate a bat (uggghhh disgusting, right?). At first, we thought that it would not be that contagious. Because, here in the Philippines, we DO NOT eat bats or any other super exotic things the Chinese consume. We take a bath every day, and we try our best to eat healthily. Although, when the virus spread throughout the world, and the death toll reached more than a thousand, it did become a cause for alarm. It even became more alarming when we had our first case here.

I believe it was very prudent of our President to declare a national emergency and a lockdown. The cases rose every day at a breakneck pace. The number of cases grew exponentially over the next few weeks. The report of many deaths was also alarming. We all prayed that both the new cases and deaths would slow down due to the lockdown. As good and responsible citizens, my family and I remained quarantined in our homes. I firmly believed that this was for our safety.

The first few days of the Enhanced Community Quarantine were very stressful and frustrating. People were panic buying everywhere. I could not buy my prescribed medicine in the drug store. The sad part was most of the people hoarded for their economic advantage and not to help their loved ones. As stocks in supermarkets and drugstores dwindled, those hoarders tried to sell sanitizers, alcohol, tissue papers and other medical sup-

MATTHEW ELI BALURAN

Green Light

plies online at a very high price. I seriously do not understand why people are so obsessed with money at a time like this. Have they ever thought that when the situation worsens, and civilization collapses, their money would not be worth anything? That is why it is always best to be the helping hand instead of being the money-making hindrance.

Despite all the uncertainty, my family and I prepared. The supplies that we bought was good for 2-3 months. I also started a workfrom-home setup. It took some time to adjust and figure how to do so, but so far, I am doing just fine.

Amid all these fears and trials, I believe this lockdown was also a gift. It gave me time to reflect and pray more. I have not been spending much time with my family lately. The busy schedule that I had because of work, school, and church prevented me from prioritizing family time. I am the type of person who was always on the go, and I loved being productive. I think the quarantine is God’s way of answering my mom’s prayer for us to be together as a family.

It has now been three months since that fateful day. I continue to be productive at home. I do my office work but, at the same time, help out with household chores. I strive to be a blessing to my parents.

If any of you who are reading this remain quarantined, make your time useful. Spend these days with your family because you’ll never know what can happen in the future.

Matthew Baluran is an MBA student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, De La Salle University. This article is part of his blog, a requirement for the course, Lasallian Business Leadership with Ethics and CSR. Visit his blog at https:// mbaluranpov.blogspot.com.

it in detail and I try to quantify its impact on prices,” Andurand, a 20-year finance veteran, told AFP. “Very soon” he became convinced COVID-19 would prove “hard to stop” and that there was “a strong probability of confinement measures the world over.”

The 43-year-old anticipated the chain reaction that broke over the oil market as demand collapsed, leading to giant stock surpluses―catastrophic for producers reduced to paying buyers to take supplies off their hands.

Andurand then bet on prices going back up slightly after output cutbacks.

Andurand Capital manages around $800 million across varying risk levels.

And this year was not the first time that the Frenchman had beaten the house on oil. AFP

China’s global businesses in limbo because of travel limits BEIJING, China―China’s coronavirus travel ban is wreaking havoc among foreign companies and international schools, with many fearing for their future as executives, teachers and students are left stranded in their home countries.

A ban on most foreigners entering the country was implemented in March as the outbreak gathered pace overseas―leaving families separated and firms struggling without key employees.

Even those with valid residence or work permits, or who run businesses, have been shut out, and there was further doubt about when the restrictions would be lifted after a new cluster of infections was detected in Beijing over the weekend.

Jessie Lim, the founder of Frequency Advertising & Event, has been stranded in Singapore since travelling there in January. “(The ban) really shocked me,” she told AFP, adding that her Chengdubased firm earned nothing in the first three months of the year as the virus put a stop to gatherings and events.

Lim had been due to return in February when a 14-day quarantine on arrivals was imposed―so she delayed in the hope that measure would be lifted.

Instead, she was stunned when the ban was announced and she was unable to return at all.

Business is expected to pick up in the coming months but Lim is unable to meet clients, and worries she will suffer further losses if she stays away much longer. AFP

MOST ACTIVE

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

B4

MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020

Business

ABS-CBN, Cignal TV hold talks PSE INDEX

By Darwin G. Amojelar

Thursday, June 11, 2020

36.87 PTS.

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE

6,476.24

1,865,817,402 115,337 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

C

IGNAL TV, a subsidiary of MediaQuest Holdings, the media partner of PLDT Group, said it will decide this week whether it will broadcast the television programs of ABS-CBN Corp.

“That’s currently under discussions between the two [ABS-CBN and Cignal TV]. I don’t know where we are. That’s been offered not only to us but to other pay TV operators in the country. I think

some of them have already accepted,” Cignal chairman Manuel Pangilinan said during a virtual briefing over the weekend.

“I think Cignal is still assessing it, hopefully to decide by [this] week. We are open to it, but there are other factors to consider,” he said.

Pangilinan said , however, there were no discussions between TV5 and ABSCBN. Cignal TV transmits 121 channels including free-to-air, SD and HD channels to household and commercial venues nationwide. It also offers a mix of 12 audio channels and on-demand service through pay-per-view channels.

ABS-CBN said in a statement Kapamilya Channel became the latest cable and

satellite offering of the company.

“The channel is available to cable and satellite operators in the Philippines. As such we encourage all viewers and subscribers of the various cable and satellite systems of the country to reach out to their operators for information as to the availability of he channel on their service,” the Lopez-led network said.

The Kapamilya channel is now available in GSAT Direct TV, members of Philippine Cable Television Association and Cablelink.

Congress is still hearing the legislative franchise of ABS-CBN. The National Telecommunications Commissionearlier ordered ABS-CBN to stop operations following the expiration of its congressional franchise.

Source: BSP

IN BRIEF Pandemic affects CARS program

TOYOTA Motor Philippines Corp. plans to consult with the Trade Department on the future of the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy program as the automotive industry was among the sectors affected by the pandemic.

“Because plant operation was on hold for more than two months, production for CARS program was certainly affected. Adjustments will have to be made as far as volume requirement is concerned,” said TMP vice president Rommel Gutierrez.

He said the company followed the government’s guidelines and stopped production upon the declaration of enhanced community quarantine.

“While production team members stopped working, most of office employees adopted work-from-home scheme,” Gutierrez said.

He said not all dealers were able to open at the same time. Those in areas earlier declared under general community quarantine had the chance to open, strictly following health protocols. All dealers are now already open based on latest Inter Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases guidelines. Othel V. Campos

NDC seen as vehicle to bail out companies

THE Trade Department said it supports the proposal to harness National Development Corp. as the vehicle for the government’s bailout scheme for companies heavily impacted by the COVID crisis.

Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said the NDC had the potential to save companies from collapse, especially in the aviation and tourism sectors and other industries reeling from the effects of a bad economy amid the public health crisis.

“The NDC has broad powers. It can float bonds or increase capitalization to invest in industries critical to the bringing back the health of the economy,” Rodolfo said.

The bail-out scheme, as proposed under the Bayanihan 2 bill, seeks to provide relief to distressed sectors and industries by way of loans and other means of financial support.

Bayanihan 2 is the supplement bill to Bayanihan to Heal as One Act. The bill proposed a P162-billion relief standby fund to bail out companies. Othel V. Campos

FRONTLINERS DORMITORIES. The Department of Public Works and Highways Task Force for Augmentation of Health Facilities speeds up the construction of dormitories for hospital workers who are on the front lines of caring for COVID-19 patients.

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar says the construction of off-site dormitories for healthcare workers is moving forward inside the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City.

By Jenniffer B. Austria HONG KONG-LISTED International Entertainment Corp. plans to file an application with state-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. for a provisional license to build and operate an integrated resort project in the Philippines.

International Entertainment said in a disclosure to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange wholly-owned local subsidiary Marina Properties Corp. would apply for a gaming license with PAGCOR to expand and upgrade the current hotel premises, facilities and services of an integrated resort in Manila.

Marina Properties will also seek a no-objection letter from the local government unit of Manila on the planned casino project.

“As part of the requirement of PAGCOR for the issuance of the provisional license for the development of the integrated resort, MSPI is required to obtain a no-objection letter and a resolution issued by the government of the city of Manila posing that there is no objection for MSPI’s intention on the development of the integrated resort in the city of Manila,” the company said.

The company did not identify the exact location of the planned casino venture.

International Entertainment’s primary asset in the Philippines is the New Coast Hotel Manila, formerly known as New World Manila Bay Hotel.

International Entertainment acquired a 51-percent equity interest in AG New World Manila Bay Hotel that owns New World Manila Bay Hotel in 2007. In October 2016, International Entertainment through a subsidiary, completed the acquisition of the remaining 49-percent interest in AG New World Manila Bay Hotel.

The 32-floor deluxe hotel offers more than 370 guest rooms and a gaming area. The hotel’s facilities include restaurants, business center, conference rooms, swimming pool, music bar and fitness center.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier ordered PAGCOR to stop issuing licenses to new casinos.

DENR asked to probe billionaire’s Palawan structures Phoenix requests A PUERTO Princesa City-based nongovernment organization asked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to investigate the alleged use and occupation of untitled lands in areas under the Malampaya Sound Protected Landscape and Seascape by certain individuals and groups, including billionaire Beatriz Zobel de Ayala.

“We respectfully request the DENR to look into reclamation activities and tourism-related construction activities in El Nido and Coron, Palawan which apparently have not undergone the appropriate consultations, environmental impact assessments/studies and have led, among others, the destruction of mangrove areas [particularly in El Nido],” Environmental Legal Assistance Center Inc. executive director Grizela Mayo-Anda said in a letter to DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu on June 5.

Malampaya Sound Protected Landscape and Seascape spans 200,115 hectares of both aquatic and terrestrial environment with diverse ecosystems in Palawan. It was declared a marine protected area in 2000.

Mayo-Anda said ELAC was in possession of two letters signed by a member of an indigenous people’s group, the Nagkakaisang Tribu Tandolanon Barangay Pancol, in the municipality of Taytay. The IP group complained about the cutting of big trees by the group of Ms. Zobel de Ayala in Sitio Maypa, Barangay Pancol, Municipality of Taytay, Palawan.

A certain Felipe Valones, chieftain of NTTBP and a member of the Protected Area Management Board, asked the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office of Taytay to look into the alleged permanent concrete build-

ings erected in Sitio Maypa upon the orders of Zobel de Ayala.

Asked for comment, Christopher Louie Ocampo, the legal counsel of Zobel de Ayala, said Valones “has withdrawn that complaint and the Council of Elders of NTTPB issued Resolution No. 37, Series of 2020 disowning the complaint for having been filed without its knowledge and authority”.

“Ms. Zobel de Ayala is a law-abiding citizen and respects the people of Taytay, Palawan, which is evident from her dealings with them. She will continue her endeavors in supporting the community. She is ensuring that all permits, clearances or applications for her lawful use of the property are in order. Ms. Zobel de Ayala has engaged counsel to advise and assist her on this matter and to coordinate with the authorities,” Ocampo said.

SAFEGUARDING WORKERS. The

DPWH backs NLEX extension to Port Area

Bases Conversion and Development Authority, Clark Development Corp., Clark Investors and Locators Association and Bamban local government unit convene to explore possibilities of putting up housing for Clark workers as part of addressing challenges brought about by the pandemic. Joining the meeting are CDC president and chief executive Noel Manankil (right), BCDA senior vice president for business development and operations Joshua Bingcang, CILA chairman Irineo Alvaro Jr., CILA president Frankie Villanueva and Bamban Mayor Jose Antonio Feliciano Jr.

THE Public Works Department said it is looking at expanding the scope of the supplemental toll operations agreement of NLEX Corp. to expedite the construction of a P16-billion elevated expressway from Navotas to Anda Circle in Port Area, Manila.

“The Anda Circle project is something that we are looking at right now,” Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said during a virtual briefing over the weekend.

NLEX in December last year proposed to construct Harbor Link Port Access Mobility Facility--a 5.1-kilometer elevated expressway from Navotas to Anda Circle at a cost between P15 billion and P16 billion.

Villar said to expedite the approval process of the project, the agency is looking at expanding the scope of the existing STOA of NLEX. The project will be connected to C3-R10 Section of NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10, a 2.6-kilometer, 4-lane elevated ramp that extends NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10 to Radial Road 10 using C-3 Road as its route.

Darwin G. Amojelar

PMI executive: Non-combustible tobacco products likely to replace cigarettes soon CIGARETTES may become a thing of the past as smokers switch to nicotine products that do not burn, and this may be as soon as 10 to 15 years from today.

This was the bold forecast of a top executive of Philip Morris International, the world’s most successful cigarette company at the opening of the 2020 Global Forum on Nicotine.

“With the right regulatory encouragement and support from civil society, including the public health community, we believe that cigarette sales can end in many countries in 10 to 15 years. That’s right, in 10 to 15

HK company seeking permit from PAGCOR to operate casino

years,” Dr. Moira Gilchrist, PMI vice president of strategic and scientific communications, said during the virtual version of the GFN on June 11, 2020.

Gilchrist, who holds a degree in Pharmacy and a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, was one of the panelists who discussed the topic “Nicotine: science, ethics, and human rights” during the annual conference organized by London-based Knowledge Action Change Limited. The forum sheds light on tobacco harm reduction products such as e-cigarettes, heat-not-burn tobacco products, and snus as safer alternatives to

combustible cigarettes.

Gilchrist said PMI is undergoing a transformation despite the skepticism it faces from health authorities and other groups.

“We have committed to replacing cigarettes with better alternatives as rapidly as possible,” said Gilchrist who has been with PMI since 2006 and has worked exclusively on reduced-risk product programs in roles related to research and development as well as commercialization. Prior to joining PMI, she worked in the pharmaceutical sector for more than 10 years.

Dr. Moira Gilchrist

firms to continue brand building

By Alena Mae S. Flores PHOENIX Petroleum Philippines asked other companies to continue marketing and brand building efforts in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

“This crisis serves as an eyeopener to the role of brand and marketing in business resiliency,” Celina Matias, assistant vice president and head of integrated marketing and strategies of Phoenix, said in a statement.

Matias said a large part of marketing program today and in the future would happen in the digital arena.

The Phoenix official said that unlike other companies whose instinct is to cut marketing when the pandemic kicked in, Phoenix would move ahead with its programs.

“Companies should resist the instinct to forego brand building when finances run tight, which is based on the thinking that marketing is not an essential expense. The truth is that a brand’s resiliency should be put on full display precisely during times of crisis,” said Matias.

“Consumers as well as the general public will remember brands that were with them in difficult times. When the dust settles, they will gravitate toward the familiar, the tried-and-tested, and the true. Sustaining and fortifying brand equity when the going gets tough is the mission that any company worth its salt should take to heart,” she said.

Phoenix responded to the business challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic with a swift rollout of its digital transformation plans as part of its aggressive marketing strategy.

Phoenix fortified its online sales channels such as the delivery ordering portal on the Phoenix SUPER LPG website as part of its digital transformation in its operations.

The company also pioneered contactless payment solutions in the industry starting with 100 of its fuel retail stations in Luzon, with those in Visayas and Mindanao to follow.

Phoenix is the only gasoline station that accepts four e-payment merchants—GCash, Alipay, Grab Pay and WeChat. These digital solution are all geared toward ensuring the safety and welfare of Phoenix’s customers.

Catalan wants another crack at Dejdamrong BIG things await Robin “The Ilonggo” Catalan who is coming off a spectacular knockout victory over Gustavo “El Gladiador” Balart at ONE: Masters of Fate at the Mall of Asia Arena last November.

The immediate plan for the Catalan Fighting Systems fighter is to climb into the promotion’s Top 10 and the most satisfying way to do that would be to battle inaugural ONE Strawweight World Champion, Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke.

Dejdamrong is ranked No. 7 in the promotion’s ranking but he also a second-round knockout victory over Catalan which was registered at ONE: Quest for Greatness back in August 2017.

“I can take on anyone right now because I am so excited to fight after this lockdown, but if I am to choose, I want to face Dejdamrong again. I think I didn’t fight to my potential against him. My preparation wasn’t sufficient, and it showed because he got the KO finish over me.”

Additionally, his older brother and coach, Rene “The Challenger” Catalan, also fell victim to Dejdamrong.

A victory over Dejdamrong redeems both losses.

“I just want to finish that first. In a sense, it’s also for our pride because Dejdamrong beat me and my brother in the past, so I just want to get that back,” said Catalan.

Beating Dejdamrong, who remains at the top of his game, will be a tough challenge.

The 41-year-old Evolve representative, also a three-time Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai World Champion, has won three of his last four bouts. Last time out he scored a third-round TKO victory over Muhammad “The Spider” Imran at ONE: Edge of Greatness November, 2019 at the Singapore Indoor.

A victory over Dajdamrong will propel Catalan into the Top 10 rankings of ONE Championship. He promises to be better prepared if he gets another chance against Dejdamrong.

“I’ll certainly be ready. I have to work on my cardio and maybe improve on my wrestling a bit. Of course, I also have to polish my striking because we all know he’s a good striker,” Catalan says.

“You can expect a more explosive version of me in my return. Someone who is hungry and never satisfied.”

ONE Championship Catalan has no doubt there are big things in store for him at ONE Championship. But before anything else, first he wants to avenge the losses against Dejdamrong.

PBA shelves 3X3 tourney for time being COMPETITION in the Philippine Basketball Association 3x3 will have to wait even if PBA Season 45 gets to restart late in the year.

The PBA Commissioner’s Office, handicapped by the limited activities allowed because of the Covid-19 pandemic, is focused on trying to get the 12 PBA teams to return to training and hopefully return to play by October.

Everything else has been shelved, including the inaugural 3x3 tournament.

“It’s on hold,” said PBA deputy commissioner Eric Castro. The event was supposed to help the national cage federation in the hoop discipline which will make its debut in the Tokyo Olympics as a regular sports event.

The PBA earlier had the quartet of Moala Tautua, CJ Perez, Jason Perkins and Chris Newsome represent the country. They ruled the inaugural 3x3 event in the SEA Games in Manila last year.

Tautuaa and Perez were later named to the Gilas 3x3 team that will vie in the Olympic Qualifying Tourney.

“We’re supposed to start the 3x3 this Philippine Cup. Pero probably next year na. We’ll see kung kailan natin ma-i-start,” said Castro.

The PBA 3x3 tournament was conceptualized during the PBA annual planning session. It was recommended by PBA vice chair Bobby Rosales. It would be a stand-alone event run by an executive director under the supervision of the PBA commissioner.

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

MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020

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Sports Robin Catalan (left) connects with a left hand against Indonesian Stefer Rahardian during their ONE Championship battle at ONE: Eternal Glory January, 2019 in Jakarta, Indonesia. ONE Championship

PSC to launch online development program

By Peter Atencio

A

FTER cancelling numerous events because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Philippine Sports Commission will now go online with its grassroots development programs.

And first up in the pipeline will be a series of coaches clinics in the Visayas region.

Commissioner Ramon Fernandez said they are ready to roll out with their series of classes in the last week of July.

“We will zoom in on one key factor

in sports development. And that is the training of coaches,” said Fernandez.

Fernandez believes that this a positive development for the government sports agency.

This is because their program won’t cost much, now that they are imposing

belt-tightening measures next month.

The agency is now implementing cost-cutting measures, with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. set to reduce its remittance by next month.

“Hindi gagastos nang malaki ang PSC because we don’t have to bring all the coaches in one place,” added Fernandez.

The certification classes meant for coaches is set to start on July 27, and it will run for five days.

Fernandez said there’s a lot of excitement in their classes, that it is drawing a big number of participants from the Visayas region.

NBA sets 17-player rosters for return to action LOS ANGELES, United States—The National Basketball Association plans to allow as many as 17 players per team

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers stands on the court injured during a time out in their recent game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco, California in this file photo. AFP

when the season restarts at the end of next month, US media reported.

The total will include 15 players with standard contracts and two others per team that are under two-way deals.

The NBA has been shut down since March 11 due to the new coronavirus pandemic.

Twenty-two of the NBA’s 30 teams are scheduled to resume the season at the end of next month at the Disney Resort sports complex in Orlando, Florida.

The date of the restart is July 31, but ESPN reported that the latest plan was to move it up to July 30.

Under the revised schedule 14 of the teams will be eliminated within 53 days of arriving in Florida. Only four teams will remain after 67 days, ESPN said.

The league expects the NBA finals to begin by September 30.

Once the playoffs start, teams can replace any player who tests positive for the coronavirus with a substitute player. The new player would be subject to a minimum seven-day quarantine period.

The league is planning to begin training camps July 9-11. The players will quarantine before beginning formal training camps.

The eight NBA teams left out of the Orlando action are allowed to waive or sign players during a transaction window in late June. AFP

Disappointed So laments poor play in chess tilt WORLD No. 8 woodpusher Wesley So admitted he had a difficult time against Italian American grandmaster Fabiano Caruana.

So talked about his match where the world No. 2 ranked Caruana got crucial points in his last two games against the Filipino GM. Caruana earned a 9.5 – 8.5 triumph at the close of their two-day 12-game semifinals encounter in the 2020 Clutch Chess International online tournament.

“All rounds at this level are extremely difficult. You do not get into the top ten of the world by accident and when you know that your opponents are the best in the world, all the games are exhausting and nerve wracking,” said So in an online statement provided to the Manila Standard by the organizers.

The 2835-ELO rated Caruana went on the finals, and is currently tied after the first six of his 12game clash with world no. 1 Magnus Carlsen, 4-all.

The 26-year-old So promised to bounce back in future tournaments.

So far, Caruana and Carlsen have played to two wins and two draws each.

Their scores stayed tied after the Carlsen took Game 5, and Caruana claimed Game 6, and each one got two points each.

In Game 6, Caruana played white and took the initiative when his knight went to check the a6 pawn, and he went on to simplify the game.

Caruana posted a 54-move triumph to gain to keep up with Carlsen going into Round 2.

Earlier in Game 5, Caruana made a stand in the middle game with the black pieces with precise moves.

But an error on the 44th push allowed Carlsen to pick up all of Caruana’s remaining queenside pawns.

From there, Caruana quit on a losing king and pawn endgame position.

“Considering that I was never really in the lead today and I was sort of playing catch-up, it’s very good to be on equal footing with him now,” said Caruana in an online statement at the end of the Game 6. Peter Atencio

Chooks-to-Go helps stranded OFWs TRUE to its promise, Chooks-to-Go returned to Pasay to continue to take care of stranded overseas Filipino workers, Saturday.

Though some of the first 200 OFWs were already sent home to General Santos City, the number of the stranded passengers doubled to 400.

The 400 OFWs were moved to Villamor Elementary School for temporary lodging.

Chooks-to-Go once again sent over packs of warm meals for the day.

“The least we can do is keep them strong and satiated as they countinue their difficult journey back to their hometowns. May they find comfort in the simple meals we’ve shared,” said Chooks-to-Go

president Ronald Mascariñ as.

Mascariñas vowed that he and Chooks-to-Go will continue to do this until all of the country’s modern day heroes are sent home.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country, Bounty Agro Ventures Inc. has been supporting frontliners and vulnerable communities severely affected by the lockdowns.

BAVI has donated chicken and poultry products for nearly 400,000 meals.

BAVI is the largest rotisserie chicken company and the only poultry integrator in the Philippines that does not put any antibiotics in its chickens. It is also the company behind Uling Roasters and Adobo Connection.

A stranded OFW receives a food pack and water from Chooks-to-Go which returned to Pasay to continue to take care of overseas Filipino workers trying to go home.

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MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020

NHL teams tentatively set to open training camps July 10 NEW YORK, United States—National Hockey League training camps for the 24 teams remaining in the Stanley Cup chase will begin July 10, provided a deal is struck with players on resuming the season.

The NHL and its players’ union announced the timetable Thursday, conditional upon medical and safety conditions allowing and an agreement on returning from the coronavirus pandemic shutdown that began March 12.

Exactly how long the workout sessions will last and when games will resume will be determined later, a statement from the league and the NHL Players Association said.

The NHL’s return two play plan, allowing teams to conduct limited workouts with small groups at their club facilities, began on Monday.

The NHL said last week players would be allowed to conduct individual training activities at team facilities on a voluntary basis, with sessions limited to no more than six players at a time plus a limited number of team staff members.

Play was halted with just over three weeks remaining in the regular season.

The NHL plan to resume announced on May 26 included 24 of its 30 clubs.

The bottom 16 teams in the standings when the shutdown came will meet in eight best-of-5 qualifying series while a round robin among the top four clubs in each conference determines seeds for the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Matches will be staged at two hub cities that have yet to be identified, one for the 12 Eastern Conference teams and another for the 12 Western conference clubs.

The NHL is a professional ice hockey league in North America, currently comprising 31 teams: 24 in the United States and seven in Canada. The NHL is considered to be the premier professional ice hockey league in the world and one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada.

The Stanley Cup, the oldest professional sports trophy in North America, is awarded annually to the league playoff champion at the end of each season. AFP

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic reacts during a tennis doubles match with Jelena Jankovic against Serbia’s Nenad Zimonjic and Olga Danilovic during a charity exhibition hosted by Novak Djokovic, on June 12, 2020 in Belgrade.

AFP

Baldwin gets chance to clarify harsh remarks

By Peter Atencio

S

AMAHANG Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) program director and TNT consultant Tab Baldwin will be penalized for his harsh commentary about the Philippine Basketball Association including its coaches.

But he will be given a chance to air his side when PBA commissioner Willie Marcial meets with him today, Monday.

“Yes. He asked for an audience, and we’ll have it by video conferencing,” said Marcial.

The commissioner’s office is still studying how much fine will be imposed on Baldwin and if he will also be suspended.

Baldwin, who also coaches the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the University Athletic Association of the Philip-

pines, drew the ire of the league including the coaches when he guested in the podcast of the premiere episode of Coaches Unfiltered.

Baldwin delivered a harsh commentary about the league especially the way it treated imports during the podcast hosted by Charles Tiu, Anton Altamirano and Paolo Layug, Marcial said they will look into Baldwin’s remarks on the officiating and his words concerning the imports.

“As an industry here, we have one major, major flaw in the basketball

landscape of the Philippines and it’s a regulatory flaw and that is that in the PBA, we have three conferences, two of those conferences are a single import conference. This is a big mistake. We should never have a single import playing on a team,” said Baldwin.

He added that the imports are being given some leeway on the league rules.

“Further, we should never have a single import that is given all of the rules latitude that the imports are given here by the referees, and by the administration of the PBA, and I do believe it is by the administration,” said Baldwin.

During the talks, Baldwin also talked about the tactical immaturity among Filipino coaches, and their need to be aware of advancements in the coaching system in Europe.

Irving against Orlando plan as NBA players eye return NEW YORK, United States— Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving was among NBA players on a conference call who raised doubts about resuming the season as planned in a Florida quarantine, according to multiple reports.

ESPN and The Athletic, citing unnamed sources, reported that racial justice issues and the chance to impact the ongoing discussion were among the topics touched upon in the Friday night session of nearly 100 players.

Others were concerned with issues regarding the Orlando “bubble” and coronavirus safety measures in the wake of the pandemic that forced a shutdown to the campaign in March.

“I don’t support going into Orlando,” Irving said, according to The Athletic. “Something smells a little

Kyrie Irving (11) of the Brooklyn Nets looks on against the Atlanta Hawks at Barclays Center in New York City in this file photo taken January 11, 2020. AFP

fishy.”

Joel Embiid, Carmelo Anthony, Donovan Mitchell, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul and Dwight Howard were also among those reportedly on the call.

Irving is out for the completion of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery three months ago.

Reports said the players agreed they needed to present a united front in any decision and there was concern about economic impacts upon players.

Agents reportedly have warned players they could lose $1.2 billion in salary if the season is not completed and prompt the NBA to opt out of its collective bargaining agreement with the union, which could lead to worse salary terms in future seasons with the pandemic likely to reduce previously expected revenue levels. AFP

US Open faces D-day amid uncertainty among players LOS ANGELES, United States—The fate of the US Open is set to be revealed next week when officials decide whether or not the tournament can go ahead as planned amid mounting unease among top players.

The deadly COVID-19 pandemic, which has decimated the international tennis calendar, now has the Flushing Meadows fortnight in its crosshairs.

With New York the hardest-hit city by the US coronavirus crisis, the United States Tennis Association has been scrambling to come up with a plan that allows the tournament to be staged.

But with the French Open postponed to a September 20 start, Wimbledon cancelled and the tennis season in shutdown, the US Open’s status has looked increasingly questionable as its August 31 start date looms ever closer.

After considering and reportedly discarding the idea of moving the tournament to either California or Florida, the USTA has settled on staging the event in New York inside a protective “bubble”, possibly without fans.

Under safety protocols proposed for the tournament, players would be confined to a hotel outside of Manhattan and would only be allowed to bring one member of their entourage to the event.

Singles qualifying would be eliminated while the doubles tournaments would be drastically reduced from 64 pairings to just 24.

The ATP/WTA Cincinnati Masters event could also be shifted to New York as a lead-in tournament.

“This is the world we are living in,” USTA’s director of player relations Eric Butorac told ATP and WTA players during a conference call on Wednesday.

“We believe this is a good plan and believe it is good for the sport. It’s good for the tennis economy, creates jobs for you, for coaches, for commentators, for so many people.

“And most importantly, this plan keeps you safe.”

Mission ‘impossible’ So far, however, those words of reassurance have failed to quell unease amongst some of the international tennis circuit’s biggest names.

World number one Novak Djokovic said the proposed safety measures and restrictions on the numbers of support staff were problematical.

“We would not have access to Manhattan, we would have to sleep in hotels at the airport, to be tested twice or three times per week,” Djokovic said.

“Also, we could bring one person to the club, which is really impossible.

“I mean, you need your coach, then a fitness trainer, then a physiotherapist.”

Djokovic said most players he had spoken to had “a rather negative view” about playing in New York, and predicted some would instead switch to the delayed clay court season instead.

Djokovic’s misgivings were shared by defending men’s singles champion Rafael Nadal, who would be chasing a 20th Grand Slam title at Flushing.

Nadal, the world number two, said earlier this month that he would not play in New York if the tournament was taking place now.

The 34-year-old says tennis should not resume until it is “completely safe” for all competitors.

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios, meanwhile, accused the ATP Tour of riding roughshod over player concerns.

“The ATP is trying to make the US Open go ahead. Selfish with everything going on at the moment,” Kyrgios wrote on Twitter. AFP

MLB players’ union rejects owners’ restart plan NEW YORK, United States—The Major League Baseball Players Association has rejected the latest plan from team owners to start a coronavirus-reduced 2020 season and asked for them to produce a schedule.

Tony Clark, the players’ union executive director, said in a statement Saturday (Sunday Philippine time) night that it was time to halt negotiations and set a start date for an MLB campaign played in empty stadiums.

“It unfortunately appears that further dialogue with the league would be futile,” Clark said. “It’s time to get back to work. Tell us when and where.”

The MLB season was to have started in late March but the league shut down games with two weeks remaining in the pre-season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The last MLB proposal to the union called for 72 games with 70% of prorated salaries.

A March 26 deal between MLB and the union allows the league to set a

schedule. MLB has indicated it would impose a schedule of about 50 games and pay full prorated salaries to the players worth about $1.25 billion.

Multiple reports said MLB games would be played in home stadiums without spectators.

Players have been steadfast in talks for a start plan that they be paid full prorated salaries while owners have sought to trim that percentage even as both sides sought to play a longer campaign.

“Our No. 1 focus is playing the fullest season possible, as soon as possible, as safely as possible,” Clark said. “Players agreed to billions in monetary concessions as a means to that end.

“We made additional proposals to inject new revenues into the industry... it has now become apparent that these efforts have fallen upon deaf ears.”

ESPN reported the union sent a letter to the league demanding to be informed of MLB’s plans no later

than Monday.

“We are disappointed that the MLBPA has chosen not to negotiate in good faith over resumption of play after MLB has made three successive proposals that would provide players, clubs and our fans with an amicable resolution to a very difficult situation,” MLB said in a statement.

The league said its March deal with the union was “premised on the parties’ mutual understanding that the players would be paid their full salaries only if play resumed in front of fans, and that another negotiation was to take place if clubs could not generate the billions of dollars of ticket revenue required to pay players.”

The league said the union’s position is “not fair to the thousands of other baseball employees that clubs and our office are supporting financially.”

“We will evaluate the union’s refusal to adhere to the terms of the March agreement and, after consulting with ownership, determine the best course

MLB pitcher Seth Blair with the San Diego Padres sprays water onto his backyard dirt before a throwing session on June 5, 2020 in Scottsdale, Arizona. AFP

to bring baseball back to our fans.”

The league and players do not have a deal on health and safety details, which would need to be settled before players return to pre-season training.

MLB plans call for a three-week

training period before games would begin and a desire to complete the World Series around the end of October, its usual time, over concerns that COVID-19 cases could grow larger later in the year. AFP

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020 ||

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Life

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

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FOOD

MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020

NEW PROTOCOLS. Customers dining in restaurants are required to follow strict safety protocols starting with temperature checks before entry, physical distancing, and contactless transactions. Fast food restaurants have acrylic barriers installed on the counters and tables to protect guests and crew.

By Steph Llarena

S

TARTING today, June 15, restaurants in Metro Manila reopen their doors to customers dining in, albeit in a limited capacity.

If you’re one of the 30 percent allowed at a time to sit down and enjoy your meal, expect to see several changes in the whole dine-in experience.

What to expect if you’re

dining in a restaurant today Disinfecting of frequently touched areas is also expected. Jollibee will disinfect door handles and other store surfaces and fixtures every 30 minutes. A crew at McDo will be offering sanitizers to the customers in-store every 30 minutes.

Stringent safety protocols in food preparation and handling are likewise in place.

New entry requirements A “no mask, no entry” policy will be implemented to keep customers and crew members safe. Before entering store premises, customers have to go through three steps: step on a disinfectant mats; have their temperatures checked; and sanitize their hands with alcohol/sanitizers provided.

In a statement, McDonald’s said all reopening stores would be implementing a one-door policy to manage the flow and movement of customers.

Keeping employees safe

Keep your distance Once in store, customers are required to follow physical distancing protocols, especially when queuing to order. Fast food chains such as Jollibee has installed floor markers, table markers, and seat markers guiding guests to keep at least one-meter distance from each other.

Meanwhile at McDonald’s, customers will immediately see in-store safety enhancements to guide them while inside.

A dedicated crew member will be assigned to ensure safety protocols such as physical distancing, wearing of face masks, and contactless transactions are followed. Jollibee has Hygiene Ambassadors, while McDonald’s has Safety Managers.

Contactless service When it’s your turn to order, expect to see transparent acrylic counter guards

Crew members of a fast food chain are equipped with protective gear in preparation for the resumption of dine-in services of restaurants in GCQ areas on June 15.

installed as a protection for customers and cashiers.

Cashless transactions using digital payment options are encouraged, but should customers pay with cash, they will be asked to place them in cash containers or trays to ensure no-touch policy is followed.

McDonald’s encourages customers to use their self-order kiosks, which, the chain said, are sanitized after every use.

In a bid to avoid the crowding of customers at counters, the fast food chain implements a table service where the crew will bring the food to the dine-in customers’ tables. For take-out orders, there will be a dedicated waiting area separate from the dine-in area.

This way, customers are protected but they can still enjoy a conversation while sitting diagonally from each other.

This time, customers are allowed to remove their face masks.

Frequent and intensive sanitation

Table shields Stores undergo intensive cleaning Diners are separated using transparent and sanitation before, during, and after acrylic barriers installed on dining tables. business hours.

To ensure customers’ safety, employees are provided with protection and required to follow safety protocols as well.

To ensure that McDonald’s crew members are fit to work, they are required to regularly submit a health declaration form and a fit to work clearance if they experienced any sickness, whether or not related to the virus. Daily health checks are conducted, as well as temperature checks before and after their shift.

The company also provides a face mask or face shield, hand gloves, and a care kit for the use of its employees.

The kit includes vitamins, face mask, and sanitizers.

Jollibee store members are likewise required to have their temperatures checked before entering the store, wear full protective gear provided for them, observe physical distancing, and practice regular hand washing and sanitation. Vitamin supplements are also provided to boost their immune system.

BITES

CRAVINGS DELIVERED

Ramen, kare-kare, ice cream—any food available at Megamall ADAPTING to what they call “new normal,” Megamall makes dining, as well as shopping, easier with its new services.

Mega To-Go makes it possible for customers to have their favorite dishes delivered right to their doorstep with just a phone call.

Customers may have Vikings’ feasts; well-loved Filipino dishes from Abe, Gerry’s Grill, and Sizzlin’ Steak; as well as rich Asian flavors from Tim Ho Wan, Lugang Café, Tuan Tuan, Banh Mi Kitchen, Soban, Botejyu, Dohtonbori, and Teriyaki Boy; and Gram’s Instagram-famous jiggly Japanese Souffle Pancakes delivered and enjoyed at home.

Also included in the Mega ToGo service are delectable baked goods from Cinnabon, Cupcakes

by Sonja, French Baker, and Red Ribbon, as well as Merry Moo’s tasty artisanal ice cream, Tiger Sugar’s Brown Sugar Milk Tea, Seattle’s Best Coffee’s beverages.

The three-step ordering process starts with browsing the restaurant guide posted in SM Megamall’s Facebook, Instagram, and SM Viber Community.

After selecting their orders, the

Clockwise: Abe’s Klassik Kare-kare, Merry Moo’s Spanish Bread Ice Cream, Dohtonbori’s ramen

customer needs to directly call to order and pay the restaurant.

Once settled, SM Megamall’s partner courier will deliver the items to the customer’s home.

Mega Pick-up, on the other hand, offers curbside pickup by car or by foot at Mega B, J. Vargas Entrance.

Other SM Megamall restaurants are open for take-out as well as delivery via GrabFood, foodpanda, and LalaFood.

Other food items available for delivery are Din Tai Fung’s Taiwanese dumplings and noodles; 8Cuts and Shake Shack burgers; Pizza Express or Sbarro’s signa-

ture pizzas; chicken dishes from Panda Express, Bad Bird, Buffalo Wings N’ Things, Kenny Rogers, and Wendy’s.

Auntie Anne’s hand-baked pretzels, Caramia and Tous Les Jous cakes, donuts from J. Co or Krispy Kreme, coffee from Starbucks are also available for takeout and delivery.

Finally, Megamall also launches Mega Shopper, a personal shopper service powered

by MyKuya App. Customers can find the Mega Shopper icon in the MyKuya App when they input Mandaluyong City, San Juan City, or Ortigas as their location.

To use, customers need to enter the details and duration of the task, they will then be matched with their own Mega Shopper for easy and quick coordination on their order list. Delivery fees depend on the duration of the task.

The Mega Shopper can purchase food from any of the open restaurants in the mall, as well as essentials from Ace Hardware, GNC, Pet Express, SM Supermarket, Surplus Shop, The Body Shop, Watsons, and Wonderbake; or run errands at BDO, Chinabank, and Johnny Air.

Cardinal Cakes’ (clockwise, from left) Dark Chocolate Cake, Caramel Cake, Naked Red Velvet Cake, and Carrot Cake.

Cake for dad

CELEBRATE dad’s special day with a delectable cake baked just the way mom makes them.

Made specially for Father’s Day, Cardinal Cakes by Parañaque caterer Cardinal Cuisine serves Sugar-Free Mocha Cream Pie, for dads who want their dessert on the not-so-sweet side.

Cardinal Cakes’ other four regular offerings include the

moist and sumptuous Dark Chocolate Cake; the luxurious Naked Red Velvet Cake; the crave-worthy Carrot Walnut Cake; and the light and fluffy Caramel Cake.

Cardinal Cakes delivers via Grab or Lalamove. To order, contact 0905-420-4030 or 8821-0057; or send a message via Facebook Messenger at m.me/CardinalCuisine.