Manila Standard - 2020 June 26 - Friday

1.3-T STIMULUS TO COME IN THREE TRANCHES, HOUSE MEMBERS STRIKE A DEAL

By Maricel V. Cruz, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rio N. Araja

covery and Investments Stimulus for the Economy At a virtual meeting Thursday, House Economic Garin, one of the bill’s authors with Reps. Stella (ARISE) bill in the House of Representatives have Affairs Committee chair and AAMBIS-OWA Quimbo of Marikina City and Joey Salceda of Albay, come up with a compromise on how to implement Rep. Sharon Garin said proponents of the ARISE proposed to stagger in three stages the P680-billion bill decided to implement it on a “staggered” basis.

PROPONENTS of the P1.3 trillion Accelerate Re- the measure once it is enacted.

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RED FOR BRAVERY.

Several historical landmarks in Manila such as the City Hall and the Bonifacio Shrine are bathed in red light in honor of the fearless frontline workers battling the virus pandemic and also in celebration of the city’s 449th founding anniversary. Norman Cruz VOL. XXXIV • NO. 122 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

TUCP sees 12m job losses Neda warns of 15% jobless rate in recession-hit economy

By Vito Barcelo and Julito G. Rada

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

T

HE country’s largest labor group said job losses could hit 12 million before the year ends as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, while the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said unemployment is likely to hit a 15-year high as the economy slides into recession.

(AS OF 4 PM JUNE 25)

33,069 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

1,212

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said Thursday the biggest job losses come from accommodation and food services, where

WORLD ROUNDUP

• US states impose tougher controls, cases near record US OFFICIALS imposed tough measures including quarantines and stay-at-home advice as daily coronavirus cases approached record levels after surging across the nation’s South and West.

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AUGMENTATION FORCE. Policemen line

up for virus rapid testing at Pier 15 in Manila on Thursday, June 25, 2020 before boarding a Coast Guard ship BRP Gabriela Silang to take them to Cebu City to beef up their ranks (inset) after the government has tightened its enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) amid surging cases of infections in the city.

Norman Cruz, AFP

CRISIS. File photo shows people from all walks of life, mostly workers, wait in line for a ride to take them to different work places. Groups warn of a crippling transport crisis amid a severe shortage of public utility vehicles like jeepneys, with a worsening unemployment rate telling heavily on the overall economy.

NEW

415 FRESH

8

DEATHS

NEW

8,910

255

RECOVERIES

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778

NEW

1m testing kits flood PH; gov’t upbeat on target

TWELVE barangays in Cebu City were identified Thursday as hotspots for the coronavirus pandemic while authorities suspended the issuance of travel authority for locally stranded individuals (LSIs) bound for the provinces in Samar and Leyte.

THE government aims to reach 1 million tests for the coronavirus disease 2019 by next month, the deputy chief implementer of the National Policy Against COVID-19 said Thursday.

In a Palace briefing, Vivencio Dizon said the country now has the capacity to test more persons as over 1 million test kits arrived last weekend.

The expanded targeted community testing will focus especially on Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), Cebu, and Davao, he said.

As of June 23, actual Covid-19 tests already reached 612,571 from just 17,414 tests last March, he said.

Dizon reiterated the country’s daily testing capacity has improved since the COVID-19 outbreak in March with the increased number of testing laboratories and enough supply of test kits.

From a 2,000 test capacity in a day in March, the country has improved to 51,302 tests per day as of June 19,

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Transport crisis seen to worsen with jeeps idled

By Darwin G. Amojelar and Maricel V. Cruz

transportation crisis as the shortage will hit 10 million passengers daily trips, according to Move As One Coalition.

“If we do not allow traditional jeepTHE absence of traditional jeepneys in Metro Manila could worsen public neys to operate the deficit will be

about 10 million passenger trips. That is already assuming only 50 percent of public transport demand will return,” Dr. Robert Siy, urban planner Next page

12 virus hot spots in Cebu bared; LSIs passes on hold

By Willie Casas

SAP enforcers told: Be fair or face charges

By Maricel Cruz, Rio Araja, Willie Casas and Rey Requejo

Program of possible criminal charges if they exclude the areas with less strict quarantine restrictions from the second wave of financial assistance.

Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez issued the A LAWMAKER on Thursday warned the implementers of the government’s Social Amelioration Next page

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FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020

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Senators grill DepEd on new normal

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Willie Casas

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WO months before the opening of School Year 2020-2021, less than half of all public school teachers have been trained on distance learning, the mode of education that will be used under the “new normal” due to the coronavirus pandemic.

the disposition of teachers’ duties. But the same gadgets and connections remain scant in many public schools in the urban areas, and especially so in the rural areas.

In July, San Antonio said they would be conducting training to cover the remaining 60 percent of the total population of public school teachers who were yet to be trained on distance learning.

This was to be led by the National Educators Academy of the Philippines.

Senator Nancy Binay questioned Education officials if they had completed the mapping to identify places where online learning could be feasible.

The department said mapping was ongoing, and by next month its regional directors would determine the modal-

ity. The learning modules would be finished before the opening of classes in August.

Gatchalian warned that students would not be able to learn if the teachers were not prepared for the shift in teaching.

Education officials said there were still no laptops for the teachers since it was not clear where the budget for those would be coming from.

Senator Francis Tolentino said the preparation for the proper implementation of distance learning would take six to nine months.

The hearing tackled Tolentino’s Senate Bill 1460, which seeks to develop a national education policy framework for online or broadcast learning delivery amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the hearing of the Senate education committee led by Senator Win Gatchalian, it was revealed that only 337,000 of the 800,000 public school teachers had been trained on distance learning by the Department of Education.

Quizzed by senators on the situation, Education Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio said the training of teachers was continuing.

But the Alliance of Concerned Teach-

ers Philippines slammed the department for its alleged “hypocrisy” in the requirements it set for employing the blended modes of learning without faceto-face classes in the private schools, which the group said the agency had yet to fulfill in its own backyard.

The group says the department requires private educational institutions to make sufficiently available in schools the gadgets and internet connections for

1m testing...

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UN warns: Drug use could worsen amid virus pandemic THE coronavirus pandemic could see a rise in the use and trafficking of narcotics as well as increased risks for users, the UN drugs and crime agency (UNODC) said on Thursday.

The virus could lead to an overall increase in drug use with a shift towards cheaper products and injecting, both of which could mean greater danger for users, the agency said in its 2020 World Drug Report.

The Vienna-based agency said there were lessons to be learnt from what happened in the wake of the 2008 economic crisis.

The UNODC warned that drug consumption has already been rising at an

“alarming” rate over the last decade.

It also warned that countries were more likely to further reduce drug-related budgets and to give less priority to antitrafficking operations and international cooperation in the wake of the pandemic.

Rising unemployment and a lack of opportunities would increase the chances that poor and disadvantaged people “turn to illicit activities linked to drugs -– either production or transport,” the report said.

“The COVID-19 crisis and economic downturn threaten to compound drug dangers further still, when our health and social systems have been brought

to the brink and our societies are struggling to cope,” UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly said in a statement accompanying the report.

“We need all governments to show greater solidarity and provide support, to developing countries most of all, to tackle illicit drug trafficking and offer evidence-based services for drug use disorders and related disease.”

The pandemic comes on the back of a trend of already rising drug use, especially in developing countries, with UNODC finding 269 million people in 2018 had used drugs at least once, up 30 percent from a decade earlier. AFP

TUCP...

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Citing Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data, the group expressed alarm over the sharp rise in the unemployment rate, which jumped to 17.7 percent in the June quarter of 2020 from 5.1 percent in the same quarter a year earlier.

Strict stay-at-home rules forced most business operations to shut down. Those who can work from home were allowed to, but casual workers were forced into “no work, no pay” schemes since mid-March.

In a recent interview with Bloomberg TV, acting NEDA director-general and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua said the country is already in recession, as recent data showed that the economy contracted by 0.2 percent in the first quarter, a reversal of the 5.7 percent growth a year ago and 6.4 percent a quarter ago due to COVID-19.

Economists predict the second-quarter numbers could be even more grim as the lockdowns were extended several times to encompass the period from April to June.

A recession is characterized by two straight quarters of economic contraction.

If that happens, a double-digit jobless rate will be the highest in 15 years since it hit 8.4 percent in April 2005.

Based on the April 2020 Labor Force Survey released by the Philippine Statistics Authority on June 5, the unemployment rate rose to a record 17.7

percent accounting to 7.3 million unemployed Filipinos. This was significantly higher than the 5.1 percent unemployment rate in April 2019.

PSA said the record-high unemployment rate “reflected the effects of the COVID-19 economic shutdown on the Philippine labor market.”

The employment rate in April 2020 fell to 82.3 percent from 94.9 percent in April 2019. It was also lower than the 94.7 percent in January 2020. This translates to 33.8 million employed persons in April 2020, sharply down from 41.8 million in April 2019.

The average number of hours worked per week also fell to 35 in April 2020 from 41.8 hours per week in April 2019.

All regions reported double-digit unemployment rates. The highest unemployment rate was in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARRM) at 29.8 percent.

It was followed by Region III (Central Luzon) and Cordillera Administrative Region with unemployment rates recorded at 27.3 percent and 25.3 percent, respectively.

The International Labor Organization (ILO), meanwhile, said policies need to be put in place to protect stranded migrant workers and to ensure the reintegration of those who return to their home countries.

spending plan in the stimulus package bill.

“Its going to be P140 [billion], then P280 [billion] in two months after SONA (State of the Nation Address, and then another P280 [billion] in the 2021 budget,” Garin said.

“So, this was not done in a hurry... I think it’s doable,” she added.

The proposed P1.3-trillion fund provided by ARISE Philippines bill to spur the

country’s economy amid the expected economic contraction in 2020 has caused worries that the national budget deficit would outpace the median in the region, hurting the credit rating status and long-term economic growth prospects of the country.

The bill proposed that P688 billion in new spending on the first year to help the country cope with the economic impact of COVID-19 and another of P650 billion in three years for the enhanced “Build, Build, Build” program aimed at creating 1.5 million jobs.

However, the Department of Finance

and other agencies involved in the economy said the government can afford not more than P300 billion for the projects meant to jump start the economy.

National Economic and Development Authority Acting Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua was concerned about the funding for the measure “due to limited funding sources.”

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said the country could only afford a P140 billion stimulus package even as he warned against increasing the government’s budget gap further.

against COVID-19, on the recommendation of the department, has decided to limit the second wave of assistance to households in the communities covered warning as the implementing agencies led by stricter enhanced community quaranby the Department of Social Welfare and tine and general community quarantine.

Development are preparing to distribute anNo impact other P100 billion to the low-income famiThe expiration of the Bayanihan to lies affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

But the Inter-Agency Task Force Heal as One Act will have no impact on

the distribution of cash assistance to the poor families affected by the pandemic, Malacañang said Thursday.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque gave the assurance in a virtual presser aired on state-run PTV-4 as the validity of RA 11469 ended on Thursday.

“As of now, it has no impact,” Roque said.

“It’s not covered by the Bayanihan Act. It’s a physical act of disbursing

what has been allotted by Congress, so there will be no problem with that.”

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outbreak over fears of a second wave.

Victoria state has seen a spike in COVID-19 cases, recording almost 150 new infections over the past week as new clusters have emerged in Melbourne.

On Thursday authorities recorded at least 37 cases – the highest national total since mid-April.

Defense Minister Linda Reynolds said 1,000 troops would be deployed to Victoria “in the coming days.”

Up to 850 Australian Defense Force personnel will help monitor returned international travelers being held in hotel quarantine while about 200 others will provide logistical and medical support to COVID-19 testing facilities, she added. AFP

he added.

The country already hit its 50,000 testing capacity target earlier than end-June 2020.

He said the country now also has 66 testing laboratories.

Dizon said a high number of confirmed COVID-19 cases will be expected in the coming weeks as the government accelerates the testing activities.

“This is important that our public should understand that while we are increasing our testing capacity, we will find more positive cases; but the positivity rate is declining,” he said in Filipino.

Dizon said the COVID-19 positivity rate in the Philippines fell from 20 percent during the period when testing was limited, to nearly 5 percent to date.

Positivity rate is the percentage of people confirmed being infected with COVID-19 out of the total number of tested persons.

“According to the WHO (World Health Organization), a 5 percent positivity rate and lower is a sign that a country is improving in its management on COVID-19 cases. We are near that point. We are nearly below 5 percent,” Dizon said.

He added that the turnaround time of COVID-19 tests also improved from more than two weeks in March to only 48 to 72 hours this month as automated testing has sped up the results.

The Palace, meanwhile, said all media workers can avail themselves of free COVID-19 testing.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the free polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing would be offered to reporters, cameramen and photographers, newsroom employees, and other media workers, saying they would be treated as front-liners.

Besides media, other non-medical front-liners who may also undergo free COVID-19 testing are the police, military, coast guard, Bureau of Fire Protection workers, barangay tanods, contact tracing teams, mortuary and cemetery workers, and social workers and other facility volunteers.

Residents in hot spot villages may also receive free testing, Dizon said.

He said all non-medical front-liners could visit either public or private labs, such as those run by the Philippine Red Cross, to undergo testing.

“It’s not only protection for them because they have frequent contact with many of our citizens but protection for the community to ensure that they do not get infected and do not infect others,” Dizon said in Filipino.

Willie Casas, Joel E. Zurbano

more than a third of workers have lost employment, followed by arts and recreation services, where 27 percent of staff have found themselves out of work.

With no end in sight for the coronavirus health crisis, calls for social distancing are taking a bite out of service sector jobs that depend on customer interactions or involve the congregation of large numbers of people.

“Workers in industries such as restaurants, hotels, school care services, retail trade and transportation services are at a higher risk of losing their jobs,” the TUCP said.

The TUCP said other sectors hard hit by job losses were “other services” (15 percent), real estate services (12 percent), administration and support (11 percent) and agriculture, forestry and fisheries (10 percent).

The labor group said at least 50 percent workers in retail trade and food services and drinking places were displaced by the COVID 19 crisis and could see even more job losses due to public health restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

These two industries alone employ nearly 3 million Filipinos, the TUCP said.

1.3-t stimulus...

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SAP...

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almost 122,000.

Some officials – including the Texas governor – who loosened restrictions on business, dining, public gatherings and tourism, are now urging residents to again stay home.

Three northeastern states that made progress beating back the pandemic – New York, New Jersey and Connecticut – urged visitors arriving from US hotspots to quarantine themselves.

Nearly four months after reporting its first death from COVID-19, the United States faces a deepening health crisis as a wave of infections hits young Americans and experts issue new acute warnings.

More than 35,900 cases were recorded in the past 24 hours, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University, with Australia deploys 1,000 heavily populated states including Flortroops to Melbourne ida, Texas and California all reporting Australia’s military announced Thursdaily record cases.

The world’s largest economy is al- day it would send 1,000 troops to Melready the country hardest hit by the bourne in an effort to help contain the pandemic, with a mounting death toll of country’s only significant coronavirus

Online meeting Southeast Asian leaders will have an online meeting on Friday to discuss developments in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as regional issues including the South China Sea dispute, Malacañang said Thursday.

12 virus...

From A1 Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said the 12 barangays would be placed under strict lockdown to avoid transmission of the virus to other communities, with Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, commander of Joint Task Force COVID Shield, saying members of SAF, an elite unit of the Philippine National Police, would be deployed to Cebu City to help impose discipline on “hardheaded” residents. “[The] SAF commandos are known to be strict in enforcing the quarantine rules which subsequently compelled hard-

Immigration looks into Wirecard chief travel records in PH THE Bureau of Immigration records showed Jan Marsalek, the former chief operating officer of the troubled European financial tech company Wirecard, arrived in Manila on June 23, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said.

Guevarra said based on BI records, Marsalek left for China from Cebu on the morning of June 24, but there were no signs of the ex-Wirecard officer in the CCTV of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

“What is really bothersome is the fact that it appeared in the database of BI,” Guevarra told CNN Philippines, adding that Marsalek was reportedly accompanied by his Filipina wife.

“We want to find out exactly if he arrived here or there was only a glitch or something, but there were certain details appearing in the database, like the aircraft that carried him to Manila and his departure from Cebu via specific airline going to China,” Guevarra said.

Guevarra said Marsalek earlier visited the Philippines on March 3, and stayed at a hotel in Makati City until March 5.

The stricken payments provider Wirecard, meanwhile, said it is filing for insolvency days after the high-profile German company admitted that $2.1 billion were missing from its accounts.

“The management board of Wirecard AG has decided today to file an application for the opening of insolvency proceedings for Wirecard AG with the competent district court of Munich due to impending insolvency and over-indebtedness,” the company said in a statement.

Guevarra said the National Bureau of Investigation would coordinate with the Anti-Money Laundering Council in the initial phase of the investigation of the people involved in the Wirecard case.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas earlier said Wirecard’s missing funds did not enter the Philippines’ financial system.

Transport...

From A1 and transport expert at Move As One Coalition told the virtual briefing hosted by COVID-19 Action Network Philippines Thursday.

“For us, it is important to allow or find some ways to increase the current capacity of the public transport,” Siy said.

He said that pre-COVID, there were 35 million daily trips in Metro Manila, of which 25 percent was private vehicles and 80 percent public transport.

“If we resume the public transport vehicle that we have in Metro Manila, our estimate is that only about 8 million out of the 14 million will be served by public transport because of the physical distancing,” Siy said.

“We will only have so much capacity in the train, buses and jeepneys.

All that capacity is reduced because of the physical distancing, so even (if) we put out all the traditional jeepneys we will be short in terms of serving the demand,” he added.

The Department of Transportation barred traditional jeepneys as it observed a “hierarchy of public transportation,” wherein jeepney was at the bottom because of the difficulty in physical distancing.

At present, the DOTr only allowed mass rail transit, taxis, TNVS, 31 rationalized city bus routes and modern jeepneys.

Ernesto Cruz, president of the National Confederation of Transport Networks, urged the government to allow them to operate as soon as possible.

“The drivers don’t need financial assistance. Let them have their trips.

It’s hard for them that their families are hungry,” Cruz said.

Cruz said the drivers were losing P600 daily since the government implemented the community quarantine in the country.

headed residents to stay in their houses,” Eleazar said, referring to the time SAF forces helped enforce enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila.

At the same time, Eleazar, task force commander, said the suspension of the travel authority for locally stranded individuals (LSIs) bound for Eastern Visayas provinces was upon the order of Interior Secretary Eduardo Año who approved the request made by local chief executives in the region.

“According to our Secretary Año, the isolation facilities of these local government units are still full and they want to unclog these facilities first before they accept new batches of LSIs,” Eleazar said in a statement.

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FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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Olongapo court junks sedition charge vs Mas

By Rey E. Requejo

OATH-TAKING. Justice Jose Reyes leads the invocation during the online oath-taking ceremony for successful 2019 Bar candidates.

IN BRIEF New lawyers take oath thru videocon THE passers of the 2019 Bar Examinations on Thursday became the first batch of news lawyers who took their oath via online video conference as necessitated by the country’s continuous fight against the dreaded coronavirus pandemic, which has now infected more than 30,000 people in the country and killed more than 1,000 others.

The Supreme Court has approved the holding of the virtual oath-taking ceremony for the 2,103 bar passers that successfully hurdled the 2019 Bar exams.

The SC said that the current health crisis and COVID-19 pandemic made it not possible to hold the oath-taking ceremony the traditional way, as it had to take into consideration the existing government policies on public health, particularly on mass gatherings. Rey E. Requejo

Du30’s son, 2 others want to rename NAIA LAWMAKERS led by the President’s son, Rep. Paolo Duterte of Davao City on Thursday filed a bill renaming the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Pilipinas.

Duterte, a deputy speaker, together with Reps. Eric Go Yap of ACT-CIS and Lord Allan Jay Velasco of Marinduque filed House Bill 7031.

“We need a more representative branding for the international gateway of our country, thus our proposal renaming NAIA to the Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Pilipinas.

Aside from it bearing our country’s name, it is in our national language,” Duterte said.

It was in 1987 that the original name of the biggest airport in the country, Manila International Airport (MIA), was renamed to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) through Republic Act 6639. Maricel V. Cruz

Suspended mining firms’ compliance up for review THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources is now in the process of reviewing the compliance of suspended mining firms on corrective measures set by the government.

Undersecretary Juan Miguel Cuna said the suspended mines could allow resumption of operations if found compliant with the guidelines.

The measure is one of its interventions toward green economic recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cuna said the DENR is now facilitating the declaration of “minahang bayan” in the provinces to allow small-scale miners to operate legally and earn an income as the government conducts close monitoring and regulation of their extractive activities.

As far as the large-scale mining firms are concerned, he said the agency is expediting its review, assessment and validation of their compliance to see if they could start operations and provide employment. Rio N. Araja

174 Pinoy veterans of Korean war remain alive OF THE 7,420 Filipino soldiers who fought in Korea during the Korean War from 1950-55, only 174 are still alive as of Thursday (June 25, 2020), according to 98th year-old retired Army Maj. Maximo P. Young, former tank commander of the famed 10th Battalion Combat Team, who saw action in Korea.

In an interview on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Korean War Thursday, Young recalled his war exploits as he cited the bravery of the Filipino soldiers, who despite being outnumbered stood their ground fighting the advancing Chinese troopers, who invaded South Korea.

Young said this is the first time that he and other Korean War veterans were not able to attend the anniversary celebration because they have to stay home due to COVID-19.

“Among the 174 still living Korean War veterans is former President Fidel V. Ramos, who turned 92 years old last March 18,” Fidel V. Ramos Young said. Ben Cal

Makabayan bloc seeks probe of fertilizer ‘scam’ L

By Maricel V. Cruz

EGISLATORS belonging to the Makabayan Bloc on Thursday pushed for a congressional investigation of the alleged irregularities in the Department of Agriculture’s grant of a P1.8 billion fertilizer supply contract to a supplier that bid higher than the prevailing retail price of the farm input.

To make matters worse, the legislators said the DA’s chosen supplier not only asked for a higher price but also did not have locally available stocks of the urea fertilizer that the agency needs.

In a resolution, Party-list Reps. Isagani Zarate, Ferdinand Gaite and Eufemia Cullamat of Bayan Muna, Arlene Brosas of Gabriela Women’s Party, France Castro of ACT Teachers and Sarah Jane Elago of Kabataan sought a probe into the P1.8 billion fertilizer

contract for the DA’s Rice Resiliency Program that is aimed to increase rice production from 87 to 93 percent by yearend.

House Resolution 992 filed by the bloc directs the House of Representatives’ Committees on Agriculture and Food and on Good Government and Public Accountability to look into the alleged irrgularity.

“The issue on the alleged overpriced fertilizer further raised suspicion be-

cause news reports stated that the winning bidder La Filipina, does not also have available stocks of urea fertilizers nor has it shown any bill of lading to prove that it had an incoming supply of urea fertilizers and yet it still bagged the contract,” the resolution said.

The legislators said the department “must have the sense to put on hold or suspend or both the succeeding bidding for the procurement of an additional P3.8 billion worth of fertilizer until the questionable bidding and procurement of the P1.8 billion fertilizer had been clarified.

Members of the Makabayan Bloc noted that on April 28, the DA posted an invitation to bid for the supply and delivery of 5.69 million bags of urea fertilizer with an approved budget of P5.69 billion. DA also conducted bidding for the 1,811,090 bags of urea fertilizers for P1.8 billion or P1,000 per bag.

THE Olongapo City Regional Trial Court has quashed the sedition charges against teacher Ronnel Mas who tweeted a P50 million bounty to anyone who could kill President Rodrigo Duterte after it ruled that the accused was “unlawfully” arrested by operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation.

In a 13-page order dated June 24, 2020, Olongapo City RTC Branch 72 Presiding Judge Richard Paradeza ruled that because of the unlawful arrest of the accused, the court “failed to acquire jurisdiction” over him, warranting the dismissal of the sedition charges in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Action of 2012 filed against him.

“Considering that the accused Mas had timely raised objection to the legality of his arrest before arraignment, and with the findings of this court that accused Mas was indeed unlawfully arrested, this court failed to acquire jurisdiction over his person,” Judge Paradeza ruled.

“With the quashal of the criminal information for violation of Article 142 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to R.A. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2020), this case is now considered dismissed,” the judge added.

Mas was supposed to be arraigned last May 28 before the Olongapo RTC, but it was deferred after the teacher filed a motion to quash.

The lower court held that NBI operatives failed to comply with Section 5, Rule 113 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure which enumerates the occasions wherein a law enforcer or a private person may lawfully arrest even in the absence of a warrant.

The trial court noted that the subject tweet of Mas was posted on May 5, but his arrest took place only after six days solely on the basis of the sworn statement made by a certain Julius Hallado.

The judge said that the NBI did not exert effort to gather evidence to determine real ownership of the account, but merely rely on the statements of Hallado.

Under Section 5, Rule 113, it is imperative that the arresting officers have personal knowledge of the crime or offense allegedly committed, Judge Paradeza pointed out.

Prioritize waste management---Villar

By Macon Ramos-Araneta WASTE management should not take a backseat during the pandemic but instead be prioritized to prevent the spread of diseases, said. Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.

“We all know that a clean environment is a healthy environment. Improperly disposed wastes can cause infection and contamination. So, we should take proper waste disposal and management even more seriously,” she said.

The World Health Organization said if solid waste is not dealt with quickly, serious health risks will develop which will further demoralize the community already traumatized by the emergency.

Villar also cited an advisory from the International Solid Waste Association, which said that “Waste Management is one of the most important sanitary barriers to prevent dissemination of illnesses and diseases.”

Villar noted that recycling of recyclable wastes can also help manage the amount of wastes accumulated even during community quarantine. She said experts themselves cite that continuity of recycling efforts is important during and after the pandemic.

“Proper waste management becomes even more crucial now during quarantine or lockdown because some waste collection services are discontinued or disrupted. But the amount of wastes produced continues to increase,” cited Villar, who has established 3,000 livelihood projects nationwide, which help process solid wastes by using them as raw materials.

These are water hyacinths for the waterlily handicraft-weaving enterprise and the handmade paper factory; waste coconut husks for the coconet-weaving enterprise and the charcoal-making factory; kitchen and garden wastes for the organic fertilizer composting facility; and plastic wastes for the waste plastic recycling factory that produces school chairs.

The coconet weaving enterprises turn waste coconut husks into coconets, organic fertilizers and charcoal briquettes out of them. The workers using a decorticating machine can extract fiber and coco peat from the husks which are used for making coconet. The coco dusts are mixed with household wastes to make organic fertilizers that are distributed for free to farmers and urban gardeners. A decorticating machine can extract fiber and dust from up to 8,000 waste coconut husks daily.

HOMEWARD BOUND. Locally-stranded individuals (LSIs) line up to board the Philippine Coast Guard BRP Gabriela Silang inside Pier 15 in Manila on June 25, 2020. Norman Cruz

PH population to grow by 2M next year—POPCOM

By Willie Casas THE Philippine population will have an increase of around 2 million by next year, the Commission on Population said Thursday.

According to POPCOM executive director Juan Antonio III, approximately 1.8 million babies are expected with another 200,000 due to the pandemic, citing projection by the University of the Philippines’ Population Institute and the United Nations Population Fund.

POPCOM attributes the increase as

millions of people are on lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic and may not have access to family planning methods.

“Alam naman natin sa loob ng household ay...hindi naman ganun kastrikto.

Sa mag-asawa di mo madidikta ‘yan so nangyayari pa rin ‘yun,” Antonio said during a television interview.

Ten percent or around 180,000 teenagers give birth every year, according to Antonio, adding that the agency is working with the Department of Health in its campaign against unplanned pregnancies.

Health workers distributed three months’ supply of birth control pills house-to-house last March and will have to distribute again, he said For those seeking reproductive health information, the public may call POPCOM through these numbers: (02) 87829284; (02) 8531-6897; 0917-597-0770; and 0998-865-2810.

POPCOM’s wellness clinic in Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City is also open Monday to Friday, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Lorenzana says China’s planned ADIZ on WPS ‘illegal’ DEPARTMENT of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday concurred with the warning of a ranking United States military official saying the air defense identification zone planned

by China in the South China Sea “goes against rules-based order.”

“Yes, I agree. First, an ADIZ by China over the entire South China Sea would arrogate unto itself a vast sea considered to be a global commons that has been opened

for millennia to all for navigation and fishing,” Lorenzana said in a media statement.

US Pacific Air Forces commander, Gen. Charles Brown earlier said such a move from Beijing would impact not only the United States but all nations in the region.

“Second, it violates the exclusive economic rights of littoral states over their EEZs (exclusive economic zones) under the UNCLOS (United Nations Conven-

tion on the Law of the Sea) of which China was a signatory. Third, a lot of countries will treat this ADIZ as illegal and violative of international laws,” Lorenzana said.

The UNCLOS provides a framework for the governance of the oceans.

Should the ADIZ be put in place, this would further raise tensions in the region and could trigger miscalculations at sea and in the area, he added.

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LGUs

FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020 lgu@manilastandard.net editor.lgustandard@gmail.com

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

EARLY TREATS. Children smile after receiving school supplies donated by SM Stationery to ChildHope Philippines and Caritas Manila.

QC halts PWD ID card handout following scam

By Rio N. Araja QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte has ordered the processing of identification cards for persons with disability (PWDs) suspended over the irregular issuance of PWD cards, which grants discounts for purchases and services, to a well-to-do family.

Belmonte said the suspension of the card issuance will last until today (Friday) to give the city government enough time to craft new guidelines in a bid to eliminate abuses.

“We will use the two days to come up with the needed safeguards to ensure that only those deserving get the PWD cards,” she said.

“Our protocols will be revisited and needed controls will be placed so the system will not be abused by greedy and opportunistic individuals,” the mayor added.

Earlier, Belmonte ordered a probe of the issuance of PWD IDs to unqualified individuals after receiving a report that six immediate members of a well-off family managed to acquire the cards in 2018 without submitting any of the mandatory requirements.

The six were issued PWD cards despite not being qualified under Republic Act 10754 or An Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of Persons with Disability. They supposedly paid P2,000 for each card.

Belmonte said the culprit behind the issuance of PWD cards was already identified and was already issued a show-cause order.

22 Angeles policemen contract coronavirus

By Jess Malabanan

A

NGELES CITY—About 22 rookie policemen undergoing on-the-job training with the Angeles City Police Office since the start of quarantine have been infected with the deadly coronavirus, highly placed sources at the City Hall revealed to the Standard.

The source, who declined to be named for not being authorized to talk to the media, said Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin quickly instructed the City Health Office to conduct massive rapid testing in all police precincts, including the Angeles City Police Office (ACPO) headquarters.

ACPO has more than 500 personnel, excluding civilians or non-uniformed employees, spread across six police stations and precincts around the city.

Before this, Angeles City had 23 confirmed cases and 11 recoveries, Department of Health data showed.

“A total of six teams have been formed to speed up the testing among police personnel of ACPO,” said Lazatin, as he stressed the need for immediate contact tracing to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 disease.

Lazatin said all personnel of ACPO were confined to their respective police

SM Stationery gives supplies to poor kids SM Stationery recently donated school supplies to ChildHope Philippines and Caritas Manila, to support the education initiatives of these non-government organizations for less fortunate children. While schools are not yet open, ChildHope and Caritas have come up with innovative programs to educate the young.

Each of the kits distributed by SM Stationery, the school and office supplies department of The SM Store, includes envelopes, notebooks, crayons, rulers, writing pads, ballpoint pens and pencils.

ChildHope Philippines has already helped in the distribution of the school supplies to poor communities in Marikina, and has worked with community and youth leaders to train mothers so that they can teach their kids basic writing, reading and life skills during the quarantine.

Jem Tumbaga, Resource Mobilization and Communications Officer of ChildHope Philippines, said the other school supplies will be used in their EduKit Project and street learning sessions.

“By donating essential school supplies, SM Stationery has helped ease the burden for these children and their parents, especially now that we are facing a severe health, education and economic crisis,” Tumbaga said.

Caritas Manila, the leading social arm of the Archdiocese of Manila, on the other hand, will use the donations to help its scholars, and sell the other donations in their Segunda Mana stores the proceeds of the sale will be used to fund its projects to help not just students but also poor families struggling because of COVID-19. The SM Group has been regular donor to Caritas Manila’s COVID-19 relief efforts and its Youth Service Leadership and Education Program.

SM Stationery’s donations complement the active participation of The SM Group in providing relief to frontliners and communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

SM Stationery, which offers a wide range of school and office supply products, is now open in The SM Store branches nationwide.

Free virus tests for media, vendors, drivers in Pasay

By Joel E. Zurbano

Lazatin opens OTOP center free of charge ANGELES CITY—Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. is opening the One Town One Product (OTOP) Shop Angeles City souvenir center to all Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), local producers, and local manufacturers free of charge.

Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel said the initiative aims to help local businesses recover from the impact of COVID-19 as well as to promote local products with a campaign “Pasal-one, Angeleno pa!”

Manuel said local merchants can register via a link provided on the OTOP Angeles City Store Facebook page.

The application form should be filled out through the link, which will automatically be submitted to the Angeles City Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office (ACEDIPO). They can also contact phone numbers 0923-4247320 and 0997-3102202, she added.

Manuel also said the Department of Trade and Industry will also distribute business starter kits to identified beneficiaries in the city as part of the Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay program.

ACEDIPO OIC Irish Bonus-Llego said local merchants just need to submit their barangay permit. Food enterprises should also provide their certification from the Food and Drug Administration, she added.

stations and headquarters while the rapid test is being undertaken to ensure their safety.

The infected cops are under the supervision of the Regional Special Training Unit 3 (RSTU3) of the PNP Training Services under Police Col. Frederick Ogar, stationed at Clark Freeport Zone.

Five of the rookie cops who tested positive for the coronavirus are deployed at the Mabalacat City police station and were pulled out of their respective posts for treatment.

The Standard source said all infected policemen were brought to the ASEAN Convention Center, where they will be treated and monitored.

Police personnel and staff of RSTU3 will also be subjected to rapid testing.

This follows a report on Wednesday that a vendor at the public market in Barangay Pampanga reportedly died of COVID-19.

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor

ALSONS’ SUPPORT. The Alsons Power Group, Mindanao’s first privatesector power generator, has reaffirmed its support to the LGUs in the areas it group operates. Its Western Mindanao Power Corp. (WMPC) recently turned over P1.5 million to Zamboanga City for the purchase of testing kits to be used in the fight against COVID-19, received by City Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar. Meanwhile, Sarangani Energy Corp. (SEC) remitted around P7.9 million to its host Municipality of Maasim, Sarangani Province, as received by Vice Mayor Tessie Nambatac and Mayor Zyrex Pacquiao.

Spanish firm turns over $127m Putatan water plant ACCIONA, a Spanish global leader in providing sustainable solutions for infrastructure and renewable energy projects, recently turned over the US$127 million (P6.36 billion) Putatan II drinking water treatment plant in Muntinlupa to its client, Maynilad Water Services Inc., after involvement in its design and construction up to its operation and maintenance for the first 12 months.

Through advanced reverse osmosis technology that uses a small carbon footprint, the new plant treats 150,000 cubic meters of raw water per day from Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the Philippines and the second-biggest inland freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, to provide clean and potable water to nearly 1.5 million people.

In strengthening its presence in the

Philippines, ACCIONA bagged another Maynilad contract to put up a plant with similar requirements in the Laguna Lake area.

“One of ACCIONA’s goals in the country is to supply clean drinking water to as many households as possible,” Ruben Camba, ACCIONA Country Manager, said.

ACCIONA previously won the contract to construct the 650-meter CebuCordova cable-stayed bridge that will provide a faster and more accessible connection between Cebu’s industrial zone and Mactan International Airport and to Cordova’s new urban developments on Mactan Island.

ACCIONA is a global company with a business model based on sustainability.

Its aim is to respond to society’s main

needs through the provision of renewable energy, infrastructure, water and services.

With a presence in more than 40 countries, it carries out its business activities based on the commitment to contribute to the economic and social development of the communities in which it operates.

The sustainability strategy at ACCIONA is executed through the Sustainability Master Plan, a road map which incorporates all of the company’s initiatives in this field.

ACCIONA’s goal is to lead the transition towards a low-carbon economy, which is why it equips all its projects with quality criteria and innovation processes intended to optimise the efficient use of resources and respect for the environment.

THE Pasay City government is offering free COVID-19 rapid tests for mediamen covering the city, market vendors, and drivers of pedicabs and tricycles in the city.

The project, according to Mayor Imelda Rubiano, is in line with its campaign to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease.

“This is another addition in our overall COVID-19 response, especially in the component of preventing the spread of the virus in our city and our people,” Rubiano said.

“These people – the vendors and drivers, and more especially, the journalists – are very much exposed to the risk of contamination because of the nature of their profession which entails their close interaction with the public. So, we need to protect them and the public that they deal with,” she added.

Rubiano said the results of the rapid tests will help the City Health Office to identify COVID-19 cases, if there’s any, among the people to be tested, which will then serve as basis for determining who would need medical assistance and what form of assistance to give depending on the degree of affliction.

All mainstream media entities and social media sites have assigned reporters and crew covering Pasay on a daily basis to relay important information about the city to its residents and the general public.

The Geneva-based international nongovernment organization Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) said that media workers “play an important role in the fight against the novel coronavirus, even as they face heightened and grave health risks as they pursue crucial stories on the COVID-19 crisis.”

It also reported that at least 127 journalists in 31 countries have died due to the novel coronavirus over the past three months while “several hundred other media workers tested positive for the virus, and some media had to be temporarily closed.”

PEC noted that the number “represents a minimum confirmed tally, and that many more reporters are likely to have succumbed to the pandemic.”

Opinion A sinister scheme POINT OF IMPACT

ERWIN TULFO IT MIGHT have been Divine Providence, or the authorities were simply reminded of some tenets of the 1987 Constitution that they are reportedly considering allowing jeepney drivers to ply their routes.

The Supreme Law of the Land declares it is the policy of the State to “free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all.”

This impoverished sector has not received adequate social services. They have been prohibited from earning their livelihood. They have suffered a subhuman standard of living.

I sure hope it is true that the hundreds of thousands of jeepney drivers will be permitted to return as soon as possible, as they are becoming convinced that the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has prohibited public utility jeepneys (PUJs) from resuming operations.

Unfortunately, as of this writing, Malacanang could not confirm whether the LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra would indeed greenlight the jeepney operations next week as he was quoted during a Congressional hearing.

To many observers, it has become too obvious that transport authorities, particularly the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB), have been opposing the return of the traditional jeepneys to pave the way for the government’s jeepney modernization program.

I sure hope it is not true. It is such a sinister conspiracy by officials to use COVID-19 as an excuse to keep old jeepneys off the streets, thereby depriving jeepney drivers of their livelihood. Jeepney passengers are less susceptible to transmitting or contracting COVID-19 in non-airconditioned vehicles like the King of the Road.

I would not like to think that the IATFEID, LTFRB, as well as the Department of Transportation (DOTr) under Sec. Arthur Tugade, will entertain such evil designs.

President Duterte will not have any of it!

When Metro Manila and other regions shifted from Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) to General Community Quarantine (GCQ) on June 1st, over a million people went out desperately wanting to return to work. Except for those who have their own vehicles, the majority were left with no means of transportation.

Almost a month since the supposed gradual opening of the economy, there are still barely enough public utility vehicles (PUVs) available on the streets.

The fate of jeepney drivers remains uncertain.

Most of the jeepney drivers, over 600,000 of them, did not receive any cash assistance from the first tranche of the P100 billion Social Amelioration Program (SAP).

Like the millions poorest of the poor who did not get the Social Amelioration Cash (SAC), jeepney drivers no longer expect to see any singkong-duling from this program.

Jeepney drivers and their families have expressed extreme difficulties such that they have resorted to begging on the streets sans their jeepneys.

It is a shame that six jeepney drivers, including a frail 72-year old man, were thrown to jail for begging passers-by and motorists for a spare of money to buy food with.

Lolo Elmer Cordero and his five companions were hardly staging a “protest rally” when policemen pounced on them for violation of quarantine rule against “mass gathering.”

But what they were doing were a far cry from Debold Sinas’ “mañanita” and the “despedida” of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) officers in Boracay Island.

Jeepney drivers have families who depend on them for sustenance and children who look forward to going back to school.

It is truly insensitive for the transport authorities to keep them off the streets and deprive them earning barely the minimum wage to support their loved ones.

These officials and the IATF-EID should indeed be guided by Divine Providence.

Secular obedience: The clergy and the laity EVERY now and then, we are confronted by issues affecting secular institutions—and yet, among us from the laity, we have had as every now and then a very vague idea what these institutions are, who are within them, what rules are being followed there, from whom and by whom.

With relatively reasonable intervals, people from various walks of life are bombarded by pastoral letters and similar documents— asking them to do what the authorities require them to do for the betterment of the group or the masses.

There is in these secular institutions a particular area: obedience by the secular sector.

But what is this secular sector in the first place anyway? As related to the Catholic Church, there is what is described as the secular clergy as contra-distinguished from the regular clergy.

The secular clergy are religious ministers, like deacons and priests, who do not belong to a religious order—like the Order of Preachers, the Order of Saint Benedict, the Society of Jesus, to name just three.

The regular clergy take vows of chastity, poverty and obedience and place themselves under a rule or regulum, the secular clergy do not take vows and live in the world or saeculum.

Celibacy and obedience

But they remain bound to Canon law. For Latin rite priests, this means they are bound to obligations of celibacy and obedience.

Like the regular clergy, the secular clergy are also bound to the recitation of the Divine Office.

Very quickly, and for an easier understanding—or at least hopefully—of the issue, what is celibacy, what is obedience, and what is this recitation of the Divine Office?

Chastity is one of the three traditional vows, the two others being poverty and obedience. These must be understood in their anthropological, theological—or Christian— and religious dimensions to have a better understanding of these vows.

Authorities say the anthropological dimension of each vow justifies the idea that chastity, poverty, and obedience are basically and essentially human realities and values.

In turn, these are deeply rooted in the hearts of all human beings regardless of re-

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Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Everyman

By Honor Blanco Cabie

FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020

ligion, belief, race, culture, status, sex, and other circumstances in life.

Values of poverty

The Christian (theological) dimension, according to authorities, explains the truth that these human values of chastity, poverty, and obedience are Christian/Kingdom values.

These were taught and lived by Jesus Christ Himself.

Christians, the radical followers of Jesus Christ, ought to live these values as their master did.

But one must have a deeper understanding of chastity here, particularly when one is part of the laity—from the Greek laos, or the people; whence laikos, or one of the people— and therefore outside of the secular clergy.

For the laity particularly, chastity as part of human values is sexual behavior of a man or woman acceptable to the ethical norms and guidelines of a culture, civilization, or religion.

In the Western cultures, the term has become deeply associated (and is often used interchangeably) with sexual abstinence, especially before marriage.

But the term remains applicable to persons in all states, single or married, clerical or lay, and has implications beyond sexual temperance.

Catholic morality

T

Jeepneys: Decadence on the road

HE jeepney as a mode of mass transportation has lost its iconic status and is now a symbol of road decadence that politicians have perpetuated.

economies-of-scale.

Old jeepneys, according to Malacañang Palace, may never be allowed to operate again amid the general community quarantine in Metro Manila. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board is now conducting an assessment The current rickety make of most of to determine if Metro Manila would have these jeepneys and their unsafe features enough transportation with the planned have led to accidents on the roads, with phaseout of traditional jeepneys. their undisciplined drivers mainly responsible for the mishaps. A post-World War II creation, the jeepney equipped with reconOld jeepneys, ditioned engines plied major roads in Metaccording to ro Manila and the provinces, and was the most popular form of mass transportation.

Malacañang Palace, Its inefficient consumption of fuel and road may never be allowed unworthiness, however, will send it oblivion as the nation modernizes the mass transto operate again. portation system.

The government has recognized that The government is introducing “modthe age of jeepneys is coming to an end to give way to a modern form of trans- ern jeepneys,” or basically mini-buses, to portation—one that is fuel-efficient and push the delayed Public Utility Vehicle environment-friendly, and operating on Modernization Program of the state. The

program essentially aims to phase out jeepneys, buses and other public utility vehicles that are at least 15 years old and replacing them with safe and more comfortable alternatives over the next three years.

The jeepney phaseout is timely. It gives regulators the chance to change the current franchising system, revise and introduce new routes and provide training to about 50,000 jeepney drivers in the face of a modernizing metropolis.

Traditional jeepney operators, meanwhile, should form cooperatives and consortiums to enable them to acquire at least 10 of the modern jeepneys offered at P1.4 million each under the government’s PUV modernization program.

The Philippine economy is fast developing. As the economy expands, it will need modern buses and mini-buses, more rail networks and modern modes of transportation. The jeepneys had served their purpose in the past. They have no place in the current and future Philippine roadmap.

Libel vis-à-vis cyber libel HAVE you had the urge to impute on someone the commission of a crime without knowledge or while you are uncertain of the facts? Have you ever wanted to pin down a person just because it is going with the wave of public opinion and it seems to be the most logical thing to do? Have you posted on your Facebook, Twitter or Instagram accounts about a contentious subject that you have not verified but shared because you wanted to get in on the bandwagon? Have you passionately supported public issues just because you believe in the trustworthiness of those who advocate the causes without checking the facts? Pause and think before you act further—you may be exposing yourself unknowingly to libel or defamation.

The Revised Penal Code defines libel as a public and malicious imputation of a crime, vice or defect, real or imaginary; or any act, omission or circumstance tending to cause the dishonor, discredit, or contempt of a natural or juridical person (Article 353). According to the case of MVRS Publication, Inc. v. Islamic Da’wah Council, defamation, which includes libel and slander, means the offense of injuring a person’s character, fame or reputation through false and malicious statements (G.R. No. 135306, January 28, 2003). If it is published it is libel, but if it is spoken it is oral defamation. For a statement to be libelous, the following requisites must be present: (a) the statement is defamatory; (b) there is the existence of malice; (c) the statement must be published; and (d) the identity of the person defamed is known (Alonzo v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 110088, February 1, 1995).To determine whether a statement is defamatory, the words used are to be construed in its entirety and should be taken in their plain, natural and ordinary meaning as they would be understood by the persons reading them, unless they were used and understood in another sense (Novio v. Aggabao, G.R. No.

FOOTNOTES

TRANQUIL G.S SALVADOR III 141332, December 11, 2003). The question is not what the writer of an alleged libel means, but what the words used by him mean. The words describing the offended party as “mandurugas”, “mag-ingat sa panlilinlang”, “matagal na tayong niloloko”, etc. are words used to induce suspicion, and are sometimes more effective in destroying reputations than false charges directly made (Sazon v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 120715, March 29, 1996).

We have to act with circumspection after learning the true facts.

The case of Vasquez v. Court of Appeals explained the requirements of identity, publication and malice. To satisfy the requirement of identity, it must be shown that at least a stranger was able to identify him as the object of the defamatory statement. In simple words, it must be made sure that the person was the one alluded to in the statement. On the other hand, the requirement of publication is satisfied if the written material was communicated to a third person. It is not required that the person read or learned of the libelous statement; what is important is a third party read and learned of the same (G.R. No. 118971, September 15, 1999). Finally, malice must be present. It is must be noted that malice is presumed, if no good

who remain where they were placed by baptism, while the clergy, even if only tonsured, have been raised by ordination to a higher class, and placed in the sacred hierarchy.

There are those who suggest that the Church is a perfect society, although all who are within that society are not equal.

Some are the depositaries of sacred or spiritual authority under its triple aspect: government, teaching, and worship, that is, the clergy, the sacred hierarchy established by Divine law.

There are those over whom this power is exercised, who are governed, taught, and sanctified, the Christian people, the laity.

Again, there are the clerics, also taken as individuals, who are governed, taught, and sanctified.

But the laity are not the depositaries of spiritual power.

They are the flock confided to the care of the shepherds, the disciples who are instructed in the Word of God, the subjects who are guided by the successors of the Apostles towards the last end, which is eternal life.

It is thus that the laity, having come to supernatural life through the sacrament of baptism, belong to a chosen race and have become adopted children of God.

In Catholic morality, chastity is placed opposite the deadly sin of lust, and is classified as one of seven virtues.

In the theological dimension, Jesus Christ becomes the central point of reference and identification in understanding and living these virtues.

Another biblical figure who is outstanding in living out these Christian virtues and who is venerated as the model and prototype disciple of Christ is the Blessed Virgin Mary.

From her, the faithful learn also the meaning of chastity, poverty, and obedience.

The general idea, when we talk of the laity, is that this refers to the faithful, which is opposed to infidel, unbaptized, or simply one outside the border of Christian society.

The word laity is opposed to clergy. But while the laity and the clergy, or clerics, belong to the same society, they do not occupy HBC, who used to teach cathecism under the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, is an offithe same rank. cer of the Elderly Ministry of the Sacred Heart Who comprise the laity?

The laity are the members of this society of Jesus of Brookside Hills.

intention and justifiable motive for making it is shown (Article 354).

There are exceptions to the presumption of malice in libel, and these are: (a) absolute privilege; and (b) qualified privilege. A communication is “absolutely privileged” when it is not actionable even if it was malicious.

This includes statements made by members of Congress in the discharge of their legislative functions, official communications made by public officers in the performance of their duties, and allegations in pleadings and motions in judicial proceedings, as well as by witnesses in reply to questions propounded to them (Orfanel v. People of the Philippines, G.R. No. L-26877, December 26, 1969). On the other hand, communication is “qualifiedly privileged” when a statement, even if containing defamatory imputations, is not actionable unless made with malice and in bad faith. This includes a private communication made by a person to another in the performance of any legal, moral, or social duty, or a fair and true report made in good faith without comments or remarks of any judicial, legislative, or other official proceedings that are not of a confidential nature (Article 354).

Qualified privileged communication has to some extent been abused by some news correspondents, reporters, columnist and editors since they can “cherry pick” portions of an official proceeding to suit the report and story they want the public to understand. By doing this, they are able to frame the mind of the readers towards their biases and prejudices. This is the reason why we find different written materials or news reports presenting different angles of the same story. To the mind of this writer, if the facts are intentionally or unintentionally incomplete or skewed, the conclusion will definitely vary.

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World

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Japan scraps US missile defense system JAPAN has scrapped the deployment of a multibillion-dollar US anti-missile system, the government confirmed Thursday, days after saying the program had been suspended.

Interceptors for the Aegis Ashore system were to be placed in two regions under the costly and controversial programme.

But the government reversed course under pressure from local residents concerned about the risks posed by a missile defense system in their backyard.

"The National Security Council discussed this matter and reached a conclusion that the deployment of Aegis Ashore in Akita and Yamaguchi is to be rescinded," Defense Minister Taro Kono told a meeting of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

"I want to deeply apologize that it has come to this."

The government had originally guaranteed that interceptor missile gear would not land in residential areas near where the system was based.

But last week, when initially announcing that deployment of the system had been suspended, Kano said maintaining that promise would require a costly and time-consuming hardware upgrade.

The Aegis Ashore system, the purchase of which was approved in 2017, was estimated to cost Japan $4.2 billion over three decades.

Howeve r, there have been competing claims about whether initial estimates would fall short of the real cost.

AFP

IN BRIEF

GRAIN ART. This aerial photo taken

on June 24, 2020 shows an image of a train created using different varieties of rice in a paddy in Shenyang in China's northeastern Liaoning province. AFP

Sahara dust cloud looms over Cuba

Gov’ts tighten power grip during pandemic O

VER 500 political and civil society leaders, Nobel laureates and rights groups, on Thursday warned that some governments were using the coronavirus pandemic to "tighten their grip on power," undermining democracy and civil liberties.

In an open letter signed by former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, actor Richard Gere and Nobel Peace Prize laureates Shirin Ebadi, Lech Walesa and Jose Ramos-Horta, among others, the authors called the ongoing pandemic a "formidable global challenge to democracy."

"Democracy is under threat, and people who care about it must summon the will, the discipline, and the solidarity to defend it," the authors wrote.

"At stake are the freedom, health, and dignity of people everywhere."

The letter—the aim of which is to raise "awareness and mobilise citizens"—was initiated by the Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA).

"Just as the pandemic is already having massive economic and social consequences, it is very likely already having very profound political consequences," Kevin Casas-Zamora, the

organization's secretary general, told AFP. Stressing that it was still early days and the full impact on democracy would have to be evaluated later, Casas-Zamora noted there were already worrying signs.

Casas-Zamora pointed to "cases like Hungary where basically the emergency powers invoked by the government had no expiration date."

Those powers were lifted, however, by a unanimous vote in parliament on June 16 that took effect the following day.

Casas-Zamora also pointed to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's expansion of emergency powers and El Salvador's use of detention centers as other causes for concern. AFP

A massive cloud of Saharan dust darkened much of Cuba on Wednesday and began to affect air quality in Florida, sparking warnings to people with respiratory illnesses to stay home.

The dust cloud swept across the Atlantic from Africa over the past week, covering the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico since Sunday and hitting south Florida in the United States on Wednesday, authorities there said.

Conditions over the Cuban capital Havana are expected to worsen on Thursday, specialists on the Communist-run island reported.

Francisco Duran, head of Epidemiology at the Ministry of Health, said the cloud is likely to "increase respiratory and allergic conditions."

Air quality in Miami is currently "moderate" the city's health department said, asking people with respiratory problems to stay home. AFP

Google tightens privacy settings GOOGLE has begun auto-deleting new users' search data and location history on a rolling 18-month basis, CEO Sundar Pichai announced, as the tech giant moves to tighten privacy settings.

The tweak was introduced Wednesday and is the latest attempt by a big online firm to boost public trust after hefty fines were levied against Facebook and Google for privacy violations in recent years.

"We believe that products should keep your information for only as long as it's useful and helpful to you," Pichai said in a blog post, adding that the changes were designed to "keep less data by default."

When creating a new Google account, "your activity data will be automatically and continuously deleted after 18 months, rather than kept until you choose to delete it," he explained.

Current users can already opt in to auto-delete their data every three or 18 months—a setting that has not changed, although existing users will be reminded of the option to do so.

Smartphone location technology has been in the spotlight as governments study or implement app-based initiatives to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, despite concerns over privacy and civil liberties. AFP

RULES OF PROCEDURE GOVERNING INQUIRIES

IN AID OF LEGISLATION OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Republic of the Philippines House of Representatives 18th Congress Section 1. Power to Conduct Inquiries.—Pursuant to Section 21, Article VI of the Constitution, the House of Representatives or any of its committees, may conduct inquiries in aid of legislation in accordance with these rules.

The filing or pendency of a case before any court, tribunal or quasi-judicial or administrative body shall not stop or abate any inquiry conducted to carry out a legislative purpose.

Section 2. Modes of Initiation.—Inquiries may be initiated through the following modes: a. motu proprio action of a committee on any matter within its jurisdiction upon a majority vote of all its Members: Provided, That the committee shall first seek authority from the Committee on Rules to proceed with their motu proprio inquiry; or b. upon order of the House of Representatives through: b1. the referral to the appropriate committee of a privilege speech containing or conveying a request or demand for the conduct of an inquiry, upon motion of the Majority Leader or the Deputy Majority Leaders; or b2. the referral of a resolution to the appropriate committee: Provided, That all resolutions directing any committee to conduct an inquiry shall be initially referred to the Committee on Rules for the determination of the necessity and propriety of the conduct of such inquiry; or b3. the referral of a petition filed or information given by any person not a member of the House requesting such inquiry to the appropriate committee: Provided, That such petition or information shall be submitted to the Speaker under oath stating the facts upon which it is based, and accompanied by supporting documents, and thereafter included in the order of business for referral to the Committee on Rules which shall determine the necessity and propriety of the conduct of such inquiry.

Section 3. Change of Referral.—The referral of the privilege speech, resolution, petition or information may be changed on motion of the Majority Leader upon receipt and approval by the Committee on Rules of a written request from the chairperson of the committee to which said privilege speech, resolution, petition or information was originally referred. The Committee on Rules shall decide on the said request within a reasonable time from receipt thereof.

Section 4. Conduct of Inquiry. – The committee(s) authorized and directed to conduct an inquiry may:

shall constitute a quorum. For purposes of determining the existence of a quorum, the Speaker, the Deputy Speakers, the Majority Leader, the Deputy Majority Leaders, the Minority Leader & the Deputy Minority Leaders or the Members deputized by them shall be added to the total number of committee or subcommittee members, as the case may be, if they are present in a meeting. In cases of joint referrals, a quorum must be present in each of the committees concerned.

Section 7. Executive Sessions.—If the committee or subcommittee deems that the subject matter of the discussion in a public hearing may endanger national security or may be offensive to decency or public morals, it shall conduct the examination in an executive session.

Attendance in executive sessions shall be limited to Members of the committee, the committee secretariat staff and such other persons whose presence are required or allowed by the Chairperson.

Testimony taken or evidence presented in an executive session, or any summary or excerpt thereof or documents related thereto, in whole or in part, shall not be made public, unless authorized by a majority vote of the Members present, there being a quorum.

Section 8. Attendance of Witnesses.—The committee shall have the power to issue subpoena ad testificandum and subpoena duces tecum to witnesses in any part of the country, signed by the Chairperson or acting Chairperson and the Speaker or acting Speaker. However, if the committee is unable to secure the signature of the Speaker or acting Speaker on a subpoena ad testificandum and/or subpoena duces tecum, it may request the Committee on Rules to act on the matter. Upon the recommendation of the Committee on Rules through a majority vote of all its Members after determining that the attendance of a witness is indispensable to the effective conduct of the inquiry, the Speaker shall issue a subpoena ad testificandum and/or a subpoena duces tecum to compel the attendance of a witness.

Within Metro Manila, subpoena ad testificandum and subpoena duces tecum shall be served by the Sergeant-at-Arms or his duly authorized deputies. Outside Metro Manila, service of these processes may be made by the appropriate police officer or authority of the town or city upon request of the Secretary General.

Subpoena shall be served to a witness at least three (3) days before a scheduled hearing in order to give the witness every opportunity to prepare for the hearing and to employ counsel, should the witness desire. The subpoena shall be accompanied by a notice stating that should a witness wish to confer with the secretary of the committee prior to the date of the hearing, the witness shall convey such desire to the committee by mail, telephone or any other electronic communication device.

Section 9. Rights and Duties of Witnesses.—The rights of witnesses including their right against self -incrimination shall be respected.

a. upon a majority vote of all its Members, invite any other interested committee(s) or Members thereof to attend its hearings: Provided, That the committee(s) or Members thereof so invited shall not participate in the preparation and approval of the report on the investigation; and

Witnesses who are not government officials summoned by the committee shall be entitled, upon their request and subject to the approval of the Speaker, to reasonable transportation expenses and such other amounts as may be deemed necessary for their stay in Metro Manila.

b. constitute sub-committees composed of at least one-fifth (1/5) of the total number of committee Members for the purpose of performing any and all acts which the committee as a whole is authorized to perform in the conduct of an inquiry except to punish for contempt.

Witnesses shall testify under oath to be administered by the Chairperson or by any other person authorized by law.

The findings and recommendations of the sub-committees shall be submitted for approval and other appropriate action(s) thereon by the mother committee: Provided, That findings and recommendations including summary statements thereon or publications related thereto shall not be released by any Member of the sub-committee and the secretariat staff prior to the inclusion of the final committee report in the Calendar of Business as provided in Section 17 hereof.

Section 5. Joint Inquiry or Investigation.—When a privilege speech, resolution, petition or information is referred to two or more committees, a joint inquiry by the said committees shall be conducted.

Section 6. Quorum.—One-fifth (1/5) of all the Members of a committee or a majority of all the Members of a subcommittee

A witness shall be limited to giving information relevant and germane to the subject matter under investigation. The committee shall rule upon the admissibility of any testimony or information presented by a witness. Privileged communications shall be respected.

Any witness desiring to deliver or present a prepared or written statement before the committee shall file a copy of such statement, under oath, with the secretary of the committee within forty-eight (48) hours before the hearing at which the statement is to be delivered or presented.

Such statements or portions thereof that are relevant and germane to the subject of the investigation may, at the conclusion of the testimony of the witness, and upon approval by a majority vote of the Members of the committee, a quorum being present, be inserted into the official transcript of the proceedings.

A witness shall be allowed to request for and be granted

postponement of the appearance before the committee or sub-committee on grounds that render such witness physically unable to attend the inquiry or investigation: Provided, That the fact of physical inability to attend the inquiry or investigation is supported by appropriate medical or other certification as may be required by the committee or sub-committee, and: Provided further, That no witness shall be granted more than two (2) postponements of appearance before the committee without justifiable cause.

Section 10. Rights and Duties of Persons Affected by a Hearing.—Where applicable, any person named in a public hearing or in the released record of testimonies given in executive sessions, who has not been previously so named shall, within a reasonable time thereafter, be notified of such fact by registered letter, return receipt requested, to the address of such person last known to the committee. The notice shall include: a. b. c. d.

a statement that the person has been so named; date and place of hearing where the person was named; name of the person who testified; and information that a copy of the Rules of Procedure Governing Inquiries in Aid of Legislation is available for the perusal of such person in the house.

Any person so notified who believes that one’s character or reputation was adversely affected may, within seven (7) days after receipt of said notice: a. communicate with the secretary of the committee; and/or b. request to appear in person before the committee in public session and give testimony, at the expense of the concerned person.

Any person testifying under the foregoing provisions shall be accorded the same privileges as any other witness appearing before the committee, and may be questioned concerning any matter relevant and germane to the subject of the investigation.

Section 11. Contempt.—The committee may punish any person for contempt, by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Members present, there being a quorum. The following shall be grounds for citing any person in contempt: a. b. c. d.

refusal without legal excuse to obey summons; refusal to be sworn or placed under affirmation; refusal to answer any relevant inquiry; refusal to produce any books, papers, documents or records that are relevant to the inquiry and are in the possession of the concerned person; e. acting in a disrespectful manner towards any Member of the committee or any misbehavior in the presence of the committee; or f. undue interference in the conduct of proceedings.

Contempt of the committee shall be deemed contempt of the House. The person cited in this section may, upon order of the committee, be detained in such place as the Chairperson or acting Chairperson may designate.

Section 12. Penalty.—By a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Members present, there being a quorum, those cited under Section 11, paragraphs (e) and (f) shall be detained for a period not exceeding ten (10) days in a place designated by the Chairperson or Acting Chairperson under the custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms.

Section 13. Appearance of Counsel.—The person at whose instance the inquiry was initiated may be represented by counsel.

A witness shall be informed by the committee or subcommittee of the right to be represented by counsel. When informed by a witness of the desire to be represented by counsel or when such witness requests to be represented by counsel, the committee or sub-committee may provide a counsel de officio or allow such witness to choose own counsel and be assisted by the same.

The participation of counsel for the witness during the hearing and while the witness is testifying shall be limited to advising on the legal rights of said witness.

Counsel for a witness shall conduct oneself in a professional manner and shall observe proper decorum.

Otherwise, upon a majority vote of the Members present, there being a quorum, such counsel shall be subject to contempt or to such other disciplinary action that may include censure and removal from the room where the hearing is being conducted.

A counsel ordered removed from the room where the hearing is being conducted may, upon such counsel’s request, be allowed to remain in the room as an observer. The counsel shall sit in the place reserved for the general public and shall have no participation in the proceedings.

In cases where a counsel for a witness is ordered removed from the room, the witness shall be given reasonable time as may be determined by the committee to secure the services of another counsel. Should the witness deliberately or capriciously fail or refuse to obtain the services of another counsel, a counsel de officio may be provided to the witness by the committee within a reasonable time. Thereafter, the hearing shall continue and the testimony of such witness shall be heard.

Section 14. Safekeeping and Release of Record of Testimonies of Witnesses.—The testimony of witnesses shall be recorded verbatim. Records of testimonies given in executive sessions shall be placed in the custody of the Secretary General who shall ensure their preservation and confidentiality.

A witness or the counsel of such witness may obtain transcripts of any public testimony of witnesses from the secretary of the committee at the expense of the witness and upon written request duly approved by the committee chairperson.

No committee report, an excerpt or summary statement of the contents thereof, or any publication related thereto, shall be released by any Member of the committee and its secretariat staff prior to the inclusion of the report in the Calendar of Business.

Section 15. Termination of Inquiry.—The committee shall terminate an inquiry, and submit a report thereon within sixty (60) calendar days from the date of commencement unless the committee, by a majority vote of members present, there being a quorum, deems it necessary to extend such inquiry. The inquiry commences on the date of referral of the privilege speech, resolution or petition or information to the concerned committee.

Section 16. Report of Committee.—The report shall contain the findings of the committee on the subject matter of the inquiry, the grounds on which its findings are based and its recommendations, if any. The report shall be approved by a majority vote of the Members present, there being a quorum.

Members who vote against the approval of the report and who do not sign the majority report may make concurring or dissenting opinions.

The report, together with any concurring and dissenting opinion, shall be filed with the Secretary General who shall include the same in the Order of Business within three (3) days from receipt thereof.

In case of joint inquiry, the committees concerned shall be jointly responsible for submitting the report to the House on the measure referred to them for consideration. The first committee mentioned in the joint referral shall be the lead committee and shall be principally responsible for preparing the report to the House: Provided, That the committees may decide to designate which committee among them shall prepare the report.

Section 17. Plenary Action on the Report.—The report, upon inclusion in the Order of Business, shall be referred to the Committee on Rules for appropriate action. The Committee on Rules shall, thereafter, include the report in the Calendar of Business.

Upon inclusion of the report in the Calendar of Business, the Plenary may approve or adopt, disapprove or reject, in whole or in part, the report and its recommendation(s) or commit it to the archives.

Section 18. Internal Rules.—The committee tasked to conduct an inquiry may adopt internal rules of procedure: Provided, That these rules are consistent with the Rules of the House and to these rules.

Section 19. Rules of Procedure and Evidence.—The Rules of Court shall be suppletory to these rules.

Section 20. Effectivity.—These Rules shall take effect seven (7) days after publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Adopted, June 5, 2020

Business

B3

FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market drops; banks lead decline S HARE prices declined for the third straight day Thursday on track with the rest of Asia as a sharp rise in fresh virus infections in the United States and elsewhere sparked a hard sell-off in equities, following hefty losses on Wall Street and in Europe.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index fell 70.57 points, or 1.1 percent, to 6,118.26 on a value turnover of P6.7 billion. Losers beat gainers, 139 to 58, with 38 issues unchanged.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which is into toll roads, water and electricity distribution, infrastructure and hospitals, dropped 5.4 percent to P3.67, while Security Bank Corp., the sixthbiggest lender in terms of assets, shed

3.5 percent to P105.

BDO, the largest bank, lost 3 percent at P97.10, while Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the second-biggest lender, declined 3 percent to P36.85.

Concerns about a possible trade battle between Washington and Europe added to the downbeat mood on trading floors, with a warning from the International Monetary Fund over the global outlook also souring sentiment.

Sydney dived 2.3 percent, while Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore, Jakarta, Bangkok and Wellington were all down more than one percent Mumbai, however, edged up slightly, while Hong Kong and Shanghai were closed for holidays.

A three-month surge across world markets, supported by the easing of lockdown measures and a wall of government cash, is showing signs of stalling as the killer virus sees a resurgence and raises questions about the pace of reopening.

A key worry is the US, where dozens of states including Texas, Florida and Arizona have seen infections spike in recent days.

Some US officials who loosened re-

strictions on business, dining, public gatherings and tourism are now urging residents to again stay home.

Disneyland, near Los Angeles, delayed its planned July 17 reopening without announcing a new date for the world’s second-most visited theme park, while Apple and Nike have closed stores that had recently reopened.

The issue had become serious enough for New York, Connecticut and New Jersey to announce they will impose a 14-day quarantine on people arriving from areas with high infection rates.

Elsewhere, Australia’s military announced it would send 1,000 troops to Melbourne to help contain the country’s only significant outbreak over fears of a second wave. With AFP

PSEi June 25, 2020 TOP GAINERS

TOP LOSERS

Singapore selects Ericsson, Nokia over Huawei as main 5G providers SINGAPORE—Nokia and Ericsson have been chosen as Singapore’s main 5G network providers, telecom operators said, leaving Huawei with only a minor role as the Chinese tech giant faces growing US pressure.

Huawei has been dogged by allegations of stealing American trade secrets and aiding China’s espionage efforts, with Washington pushing countries to bar the company from involvement in their nextgeneration networks.

Huawei has denied ties with the Chinese government.

Singtel, one of the city-state’s main telecom operators, on Wednesday said it had chosen Sweden’s Ericsson to build its 5G network after the government gave final approval.

A joint venture that includes the country’s two other major telecom operators, M1 and StarHub, announced it had opted for Nokia to build its main 5G infrastructure.

However both M1 and Starhub said that other firms, including Huawei, could have some involvement in the project.

Huawei only won the contract to be a

provider for a smaller, local network system, operated by TPG Telecom, a more minor player.

The Southeast Asian city-state tries to maintain good relations with both the US and China, and Information Minister S. Iswaran insisted that no company had been excluded in the selection process.

“We have run a robust process spelling out our requirements in terms of performance, security and resilience,” he said, adding that mobile network operators also had their own criteria.

“There is a diversity of vendors participating in different parts of the 5G ecosystem, and... there remain prospects for greater involvement in our 5G system going forward.”

Singapore is aiming to have ultra highspeed internet coverage for half of the country by the end of 2022, and expand it to cover the entire island by the end of 2025.

The US government launched a worldwide campaign against Huawei, the world’s largest supplier of telecom network equipment and the planet’s number two smartphone maker, about 18 months ago. AFP

MOST ACTIVE

RETURN TO NORMALCY. People sit at a restaurant with outdoor seating in the Little Italy neighborhood on June 24, 2020 in New York City. New York businesses opened their doors to returning waves of workers June 22 as the city that was once the epicenter of the global pandemic marked an important milestone in its return to normalcy, even as other US states were seeing an alarming rise in COVID-19 cases. AFP

RULES OF PROCEDURE IN IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS Republic of the Philippines House of Representatives 18th Congress

answer the complaint within ten (10) days from receipt of notice thereof and serve a copy of the answer to the complainant(s). No motion to dismiss shall be allowed within the period to answer the complaint.

RULE I Applicability of Rules

The answer, which shall be under oath, may include affirmative defenses.

If the respondent fails or refuses to file an answer within the reglementary period, the respondent is deemed to have interposed a general denial to the complaint. Within three (3) days from receipt of the answer, the complainant may file a reply, serving a copy thereof to the respondent who may file a rejoinder within three (3) days from receipt of the reply, serving a copy thereof to the complainant. If the complainant fails to file a reply, all the material allegations in the answer are deemed controverted. Together with their pleadings, the parties shall file their affidavits or counter-affidavits, as the case may be, with their documentary evidence. Such affidavits or counteraffidavits shall be subscribed before the Chairperson of the Committee on Justice or the Secretary General. Notwithstanding all the foregoing, failure to file an answer will not preclude the respondent from presenting evidence to support the defenses.

Section 1. Applicability of Rules.—These Rules shall apply to all proceedings for impeachment in the House of Representatives against the President, Vice-President, the Members of the Supreme Court, the Members of the Constitutional Commissions and the Ombudsman for culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes or betrayal of public trust.

RULE II Initiating Impeachment Section 2. Mode of Initiating Impeachment.—Impeachment shall be initiated by the filing and subsequent referral to the Committee on Justice of:1 a.

a verified complaint for impeachment filed by any Member of the House of Representatives or;

b.

a verified complaint filed by any citizen upon a resolution of endorsement by any Member thereof; or

c.

a verified complaint or resolution of impeachment filed by at least one-third (1/3) of all the Members of the House.

Section 3. Filing and Referral of Verified Complaints.—A verified complaint for impeachment by a Member of the House or by any citizen upon a resolution of endorsement by any Member thereof shall be filed with the office of the Secretary General and immediately referred to the Speaker.

An impeachment complaint is verified by an affidavit that the complainant has read the complaint and that the allegations therein are true and correct of his personal knowledge or based on authentic records.

An impeachment complaint required to be verified which contains a verification based on “information and belief”, or upon “knowledge, information and belief,” or lacks a proper verification, shall be treated as an unsigned impeachment complaint.

The Speaker shall have it included in the Order of Business within ten (10) session days from receipt. It shall then be referred to the Committee on Justice within three (3) session days thereafter.

RULE III Finding Probable Cause for Impeachment A. COMMITTEE PROCEEDINGS Section 4. Determination of Sufficiency in Form.—Upon due referral, the Committee on Justice shall determine whether the complaint is sufficient in form. If the committee finds that the complaint is insufficient in form, it shall return the same to the Secretary General within three (3) session days with a written explanation of the insufficiency. The Secretary General shall return the same to the complainant(s) together with the committee’s written explanation within three (3) session days from receipt of the committee resolution finding the complaint insufficient in form.

Section 5. Determination of Sufficiency in Substance.—Should the committee find the complaint sufficient in form, it shall then determine if the complaint is sufficient in substance. The requirement of substance is met if there is a recital of facts constituting the offense charged and determinative of the jurisdiction of the committee. If the committee finds that the complaint is not sufficient in substance, it shall dismiss the complaint and shall submit its report as provided hereunder.

Section 6. Notice to Respondents and Time to Plead.—If the committee finds the complaint sufficient in form and substance, it shall immediately furnish the respondent(s) with a copy of the resolution and/or verified complaint, as the case may be, with written notice that the respondent shall

1 The Supreme Court decision in Francisco et al. vs. House of Representatives (GR No. 160261, 10 November 2003), states that Impeachment proceedings are initiated upon filing of the complaint and/or resolution and its referral to the Committee on Justice.

When there are more than one respondent, each shall be furnished with a copy of the verified complaint of a Member of the House or a copy of the verified complaint of a private citizen together with the resolution of endorsement thereof by a Member of the House of Representatives and a written notice to answer. In this case, reference to respondent in these Rules shall be understood as respondents.

B. HOUSE ACTION Section 11. Vote Required for Approval.—A vote of at least one-third (1/3) of all the Members of the House is necessary for the approval of the resolution setting forth the Articles of Impeachment. If the resolution is approved by the required vote, it shall then be endorsed to the Senate.

On the other hand, should the resolution fail to secure approval by the required vote, it shall result in the dismissal of the complaint for impeachment.

Section 12. Where Dismissal Recommended.—When the report of the Committee on Justice dismisses the complaint, it shall submit to the House a resolution for the dismissal of the verified complaint and/or resolution of impeachment. A vote of at least one-third (1/3) of all the Members of the House shall be necessary to override such resolution, in which case the Committee on Justice shall forthwith prepare the Articles of Impeachment.

Section 13. Vote by Roll Call.—The voting on a resolution with the Articles of Impeachment of the Committee on Justice or a contrary resolution dismissing the impeachment complaint shall be by roll call, and the Secretary General shall record the vote of each Member.

RULE IV Verified Complaint/Resolution

by One-Third of Members

Section 7. Submission of Evidence and Memoranda.—After receipt of the pleadings, affidavits and counter-affidavits and relevant documents provided for in Section 6, or the expiration of the time within which they may be filed, the Committee shall determine whether the complaint alleges sufficient grounds for impeachment.

Section 14. Endorsement of the Complaint/Resolution to the Senate.—A verified complaint/resolution of impeachment filed by at least one-third (1/3) of all the Members of the House shall constitute the Articles of Impeachment, and in this case the verified complaint/resolution shall be endorsed to the Senate in the same manner as an approved bill of the House.

If it finds that sufficient grounds for impeachment do not exist, the Committee shall dismiss the complaint and submit the report required hereunder. If the Committee finds that sufficient grounds for impeachment exist, the Committee shall conduct a hearing. The Committee, through the Chairperson, may limit the period of examination and cross-examination by members of the Committee. The Committee shall have the power to issue compulsory processes for the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents and other related evidence.

The complaint/resolution must, at the time of filing, be verified and sworn to before the Secretary General by each of the Members constituting at least one-third (1/3) of all the Members of the House.

Hearings before the Committee shall be open to the public except when the security of the State or public interest requires that the hearings be held in executive session.

The contents of the verification shall be as follows: “We, after being sworn in accordance with law, depose and state: That we are the complainants in the above-entitled complaint/resolution of impeachment; that we have caused the said complaint/resolution to be prepared and have read the contents thereof; and that the allegations therein are true of our own knowledge and belief on the basis of our reading and appreciation of documents and other records pertinent thereto. ______________” (Signature)

After the submission of evidence, the Committee may require the submission of memoranda, after which the matter shall be submitted for resolution.

Section 8. Protection to Complainants or Witnesses.—The House may, upon proper petition, provide adequate protection to a complainant or witness if it is shown that the personal safety of the complainant or witness is in jeopardy because of participating in the impeachment proceeding.

Section 9. Report and Recommendation.—The Committee on Justice after hearing, and by a majority vote of all its Members, shall submit its report to the House containing its findings and recommendations within sixty (60) session days from the referral to it of the verified complaint and/or resolution.

Together with the report shall be a formal resolution of the Committee regarding the disposition of the complaint which shall be calendared for consideration by the House within ten (10) session days from receipt thereof.

If the Committee finds by a vote of the majority of all its Members that a probable cause exists on the basis of the evidence adduced before the Committee, it shall submit with its report a resolution setting forth the Articles of Impeachment. Otherwise, the complaint shall be dismissed subject to Section 12 of these Rules.

Section 10. Report to be Calendared.—The Committee on Rules shall calendar the report and the accompanying resolution of the Committee on Justice regarding the disposition of the complaint in accordance with the Rules of the House of Representatives. The House shall dispose of the report within sixty (60) session days from its submission by the Committee on Justice.

RULE V Bar Against Impeachment Section 15. Scope of Bar.—No impeachment proceeding shall be initiated against the same official more than once within a period of one (1) year.

RULE VI Prosecutor in All Impeachment Proceedings Section 16. Impeachment Prosecutor.—The House of Representatives shall act as the prosecutor at the trial in the Senate through a committee of eleven (11) Members thereof to be elected by a majority vote of the Members present, there being a quorum.

RULE VII Applicability of the Rules of Court Section 17. Rules of Procedure.—The Rules of Court shall, as far as practicable, apply to impeachment proceedings before the House.

Adopted, June 5, 2020

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

Business

PSE INDEX

Thursday, June 25, 2020

70.57 PTS. 6,118.26

TOTAL VOLUME 1,343,839,880 TOTAL TRADES 111,737 TOTAL VALUE 6,748,620,231.77 ADVANCES 58 DECLINES 139 UNCHANGED 38

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.0720

Japan

Yen

0.009344

0.4679

UK

Pound

1.242900

62.2345

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129031

6.4608

Switzerland

Franc

1.055409

52.8464

Kia opens four new dealerships in PH expansion

Canada

Dollar

0.733299

36.7177

Singapore

Dollar

0.718546

35.9790

Australia

Dollar

0.686700

34.3844

Bahrain

Dinar

2.654844

132.933

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266596

13.3490

Brunei

Dollar

0.715973

35.8502

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000071

0.0036

Thailand

Baht

0.032446

1.6246

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.6332

Euro

Euro

1.125800

56.3711

Korea

Won

0.000829

0.0415

By Othel V. Campos

China

Yuan

0.141693

7.0949

India

Rupee

0.013219

0.6619

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.233863

11.7100

New Zealand

Dollar

0.640900

32.0911

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033886

1.6967

B4 FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020

KIA Motors Philippines, a member of the Ayala Group, opened four new dealerships in the country as it remains optimistic on a sales rebound despite the health crisis.

“Kia Philippines hopes to continue the gains it has made in 2019 by expanding our reach and allowing us to give Filipinos more surprises,” said Kia Philippines president Manny Aligada.

The four new dealerships are in Marikina, Fairview, Isabela and Bonifacio Global City. The four will offer sales and after-sales services to help customers.

Kia expects to launch more dealership contracts by the third quarter this year to expand its reach and make the Kia brand more accessible to Filipinos.

Aligada said the new Kia dealerships were full sales and service facilities designed to satisfy the needs of customers.

He said more new dealerships were identified for inclusion in the growing network as soon as plans and designs become final. For 2021, more areas will enjoy the brand as the expansion continues, he said.

“We, together with our business partners, are confident that this move will help strengthen the brand’s presence and show the Filipino people that we are here for them, despite the challenges we are facing today,” he said.

The brand posted a 124-percent sales growth in its first year of operations under the Ayala Group as it unveiled new models such as the Soluto, the Seltos and the Stinger.

The introduction of new models in 2019 set the tone for the brand’s expansion in 2020.

ERC dismisses PSALM’s bid to collect more stranded costs

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Energy Regulatory Commission dismissed several petitions filed by Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. to collect stranded contract costs and stranded debts under the universal charge billed by state-run National Power Corp. to consumers.

“The ERC’s dismissal of the PSALM’s petitions embodies the intent of the Murang Kuryente Act which is to lower the cost of electricity being charged to end-users. With the dismissal of the subject PSALM petitions, electricity consumers will no longer be charged with an additional P0.2536 per kilowatt-hour which is supposed to be added to their electricity bills had the Murang Kuryente Act not been passed into law,” said ERC chairperson Agnes Devanadera in a statement.

The cases were deemed moot and academic after the enactment and effectivity of the Murang Kuryente Act or Republic Act No. 11371 where no new universal charges for SCC and SD would be collected from all electricity end-users.

The regulator dismissed eight petitions filed by PSALM from 2007 until 2018 for the true-up adjustment of the NPC’s SD and SCC portions of the universal charge.

The Murang Kuryente Act mandated the use of P208 billion of the Malampaya fund for the payment of the NPC’s SCC and SD which was assumed by PSALM. It also provides that PSALM should not file with the ERC any new petition for UC SCC and SD until the allocated P208 billion amount was exhausted and no other allocations were made by Congress.

PSALM is mandated under the Electric Power Industry Act of 2001 to manage the assets and liabilities of NPC. “Had the ERC been hasty in approving those eight PSALM petitions, consumers may have suffered another rate increase,” Devanadera said.

Source: BSP

IN BRIEF

Hot money yields $3.1-b net outflow

INSURANCE COVERAGE. DoubleDragon Properties Corp. signs an agreement with Alliedbankers Insurance Corp., the nonlife insurance company of the Lucio Tan Group, to provide insurance coverage for its workforce. Signing the agreement in Taguig City are (seated, from left) DoubleDragon president Ferdinand Sia and chairman and chief executive Edgar ‘Injap’ Sia II, PNB president and chief executive Wick Veloso, and ABIC president and chief executive Reynaldo Montalbo Jr.

BSP reduces interest rate to an all-time low of 2.25%

By Julito G. Rada

HE Monetary Board, the policy-making body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, on Thursday reduced the benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points to an all-time low of 2.25 percent on expectations inflation will remain benign amid the coronavirus pandemic.

T

It was the third of such size of reduction this year, following the 50-bps cut in March and another 50-bps adjustment in April.

The interest rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were also reduced to 1.75 percent and 2.75 percent, respectively.

“Latest baseline forecasts indicate that inflation could settle near the low end of the target range of 3.0 percent ± 1 percentage [2 to 4 percent] point inflation for 2020 up to 2022, with inflation expectations remaining firmly anchored over the policy horizon,” the BSP said.

“Meanwhile, the balance of risks to the inflation outlook leans toward the downside from 2020 up to 2022 owing largely to the potential impact of a deeper and more disruptive pandemic on domestic and global demand condi-

tions,” it said.

The Monetary Board said that domestic economic activity slowed with the enforcement of necessary protocols to contain the spread of the virus in the country. It said the outlook for global growth also deteriorated further as considerable uncertainty surrounded the extent of the health crisis.

“The Monetary Board noted that even as economies begin to reopen, the global recovery would likely be protracted and uneven. Hence, there remains a critical need for continuing measures to bolster economic activity and support financial conditions, especially the effective implementation of interventions to protect human health, boost agricultural productivity and build infrastructure,” it said.

It said that given these considerations, it decided that a further reduction in the

policy rate amid a benign inflation environment would help mitigate the downside risks to growth and boost market confidence.

“Even as domestic liquidity dynamics and market function continue to improve owing to prior liquidity-enhancing measures, the Monetary Board believes that keeping an accommodative stance will further ease the cost of borrowing and ensure ample credit and liquidity in the financial system as the economy transitions toward recovery in the coming months,” it said.

The BSP said its support for the health and fiscal programs already being rolled out by the national government in responding to the needs of Filipino households and businesses.

It remained committed to deploying its full range of monetary instruments and regulatory relief measures as needed in fulfillment of its mandate to promote non-inflationary and sustainable growth.

The BSP also reduced the reserve requirement ratios of universal and commercial banks by 200 basis points to 12 percent earlier this year in an attempt to boost domestic liquidity. The 200-bps cut in RRR translates into P180 billion to P200 billion in additional liquidity to the financial system.

DOF extends tax amnesty deadline to December 2020 THE Department of Finance extended the deadline for tax amnesty until the end of December 2020 from June 22.

It issued Revenue Regulations 152020 for delinquencies under Republic Act No. 11213 to ensure the timely processing of such applications by Bureau of Internal Revenue offices.

The new RR extends the deadline provided under RR 11-2020, which amended RR 10-2020 and 7-2020 and first extended the amnesty deadline to June 22, 2020.

“These regulations were issued to implement the provision in RA 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act al-

lowing the extension of statutory deadlines and timelines to ease the burden on taxpayers following the imposition since mid-March of community quarantines nationwide in a government bid to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak,” it said in a statement Thursday.

Under RR No. 15-2020, taxpayers can avail of the tax amnesty for delinquencies until Dec. 31, 2020.

“This extended deadline intends to give taxpayers ample time to settle their tax delinquencies while allowing the BIR to increase its collection from this new tax amnesty program,” it said.

The RR also provides deadlines for BIR offices to process the documentary requirements needed to avail of the tax amnesty.

Certificate of delinquencies/tax liabilities should now be issued or denied with a legal and factual basis by concerned BIR offices within three working days from the submission date of the request.

The completed amnesty application and return should be endorsed for payment by the BIR within one working day from complete submission.

The streamlining ensures the BIR’s prompt processing of tax amnesty applications. Julito G. Rada

FOREIGN portfolio investments or “hot money” posted a net outflow of $1 billion in May, higher than the $749.84-million net outflow a year ago.

The net outflow resulted from the $1.5-billion gross outflows and $486-million gross inflows for the month and was also larger than the net outflow of $660 million in April.

About 88.3 percent of investments were parked with Philippine Stock Exchange-listed securities pertaining mainly to property companies, holding firms, banks, retail companies and telecommunication firms, while the remaining 11.8 percent went to investments in peso government securities.

The United Kingdom, the United States, Singapore, Hong Kong and Luxembourg were the top five investor countries for the month.

This brought hot money transactions in the first five months to a $3.1-billion net outflow resulting from the $7.8-billion gross outflows and $4.7-billion gross inflows.

This was larger compared to the $685-million net outflow recorded in the same period last year. Julito G. Rada

AGI accelerates digitalization efforts

CONGLOMERATE Alliance Global Group Inc. is accelerating digitalization efforts across businesses to catch up to changing customer behavior.

AGI chief executive Kevin Tan said digitalization efforts would cover all businesses including real estate, leisure, entertainment and hospitality, liquor manufacturing, quick service restaurants and infrastructure.

“This pandemic is accelerating our digitalization efforts across our businesses.

These involve investments in e-commerce applications, interactive customer service management, and contactless online transactions, among others. This should help us navigate the business environment and provide our customers with the enhanced services they need under the new realty,” Tan said.

Tan said that with the digital strategy in place, the group was poised to hurdle the challenges brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.

AGI reported a net income of P27.1 billion in 2019, up 15 percent from P23.7 billion in 2018. Jenniffer B. Austria

JoyRide, Happy Move team up with PLDT THE enterprise unit of PLDT Inc. teamed up with two motorcycle ride-hailing service providers to equip their drivers and riders with communication and connectivity solutions for daily operations.

JoyRide and Happy Move were tapped by different local government units to give opportunities to tricycle drivers for alternative livelihood as delivery riders for the said apps.

Around 10,000 tricycle drivers and other riders were given livelihood, as JoyRide and Happy Move saw the need to change its platform to point-to-point delivery and concierge service.

“Our latest project with the local government units, the tricycle drivers conversion to independent delivery service providers, is a further testament to the commitment of JoyRide and Happy Move to assist public and private entities in creating jobs and livelihood opportunities during this pandemic,” said Noli Eala, vice president for corporate affairs of JoyRide.

“JoyRide and Happy Move will continue to be a true partner and ‘kasundo’ of the Filipino in good times and in bad,” he said.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Dar says fertilizer bidding ‘aboveboard’

TIEZA PERMIT. San Vicente Flagship Tourism Enterprise Zones administrator Bernard Alarilla (left) issues the first Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority permit to Marlon Ballesteros, owner of Pisces Tourist Inn in San Vicente, Palawan. The TIEZA board earlier approved the reduction in TIEZA fees to P1 to help tourism stakeholders recover as the new normal sets in. TIEZA is supporting recovery efforts by engaging private partners, continuing to develop TEZs and offering fiscal and non-fiscal incentives.

AGRICULTURE Secretary William Dar said the centralized bidding of fertilizers by the department is aboveboard and transparent and favorably influenced the retail prices of urea (460-0 NPK) to drop to less than P1,000 per 50-kilogram bag.

“The downward trend of prices of urea shows that we are on the right track in centralizing the bidding process, thus providing our farmers nationwide with affordable and reasonably-priced fertilizers,” Dar said in a statement.

He noted that prices of urea were hovering at more than P1,100 per 50-kg bag before the bidding.

The urea fertilizers will be given free to farmers participating in the DA’s Rice Resiliency Project under a “buy two, take two” scheme for those who use certified inbred seeds and “buy two, take three” for hybrid users.

The current bidding set an approved budget for the contract at P1,000/bag,

which is the ceiling price. Bidders that submitted proposals at much lower price than the ABC can be considered for the award if they fully complied with the legal, technical and financial requirements.

The DA Rice Program serves as the ‘end-user’ of the ongoing urea fertilizer procurement being conducted by the agency’s Bids and Awards Committee.

For transparency, the bidding process is live-streamed via the official DA FB page.

The DA Rice Program based the ABC on the month-long price trends collated by the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority and the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Based on FPA data, the national average price of urea fertilizer from February to April 2020 was P1,051/bag.

After the first and second biddings, 1.8 million bags were awarded to La Filipina Uy Gongco Corp. and Atlas Fertilizer, which offered urea at prices ranging from P900 to P995 per 50-kg bag.

Sports

Taekwondo association to look into Geisler case AN AD hoc committee has been formed by the Philippine Taekwondo Association to address a situation involving Olympian Donnie Geisler, who has taken legal action against the association by filing a complaint before the Philippine Competitions Commission on Wednesday.

This was after Geisler expressed his concern on the PTA recently after members of the national team were prohibited from joining the online Zoom classes that he has been organizing.

“We sent him an email, informing him that we formed a committee to get in touch with him. Ipakita niya kung ano ang problema,” said Samson in a statement.

Geisler alleged that his situation with PTA involved Pauline Lopez when she was not permitted to join the online conference as a guest speaker.

Then, other national athletes like Samuel Morrison and Arven Alcantara were prevented as well.

Morrison and Alcantara submitted courtesy resignations for their participation.

But the PTA, through its top leader Sung-Chon Hong did not accept their offer to quit and forgave them instead.

Samson said the inclusion of national team members in the seminar did not carry the permission of the association.

“We need to get through the proper protocols. This came out without him approaching the PTA. We just want to be official when he talks about his complaints,” said Samson.

The Philippine Sports Commission is set to join a dialogue involving the PTA and Geisler this Friday. Peter Atencio

Baldwin out as consultant, deputy coach of TNT KaTropa FORMER Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tab Baldwin has reportedly been relieved from his post as consultant and assistant coach of the TNT Katropa in the Philippine Basketball Association.

Baldwin’s relief came two weeks after he uttered controversial comments about the league’s officiating and single-import conference.

His fiery remarks, along with his observations on the “tactical immaturity” of the local coaches was discussed in the Coaches Unfiltered podcast last June 11.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial fined Baldwin P75,000 and suspended him for three games in the pro league.

Baldwin has since apologized to the PBA. TNT management, through team manager Gabby Cui, however, said that Baldwin’s exit as TNT official was not a result of his PBA comments.

The American-New Zealander is also coach of the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the University Athletic Association and a program director of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

Peter Atencio

FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020

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ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT. Dragon boat teams take part in practice runs in Hong Kong on Thursday, during the annual Tuen Ng festival which has been postponed amid the COVID-19 pandemic. AFP

Younghusband retiring for good

By Peter Atencio

J

Tab Baldwin

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

AMES Younghusband won’t be waiting for the football season to restart.

Instead, he will just say goodbye to his teammates, his coaches and his team and retire for good.

The 33-year-old Younghusband said he made up his mind to just hang his jersey after spending a lot of time with her sister while in home quarantine for the last three months.

“Life is just too short. You just want to do as much as you can,” said Younghusband in a podcast.

He said his plans to retire took shape last year when Ceres FC won its second of three crowns in the Philippine Football League with him around.

When the coronavirus pandemic hit and the Busmen’s games in the Asian

Football Confederation 2020 Cup got short, that was when Younghusband finally made up his mind.

“I decided to stay on for one more year. But with the pandemic, they had to adjust and wait until football will be allowed to play. I’m turning 34 in a couple of months and I see the end of my playing career,” said Younghusband.

The Busmen’s last game saw them beat Bali United FC, 4-0, at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium on March 11.

“Then, the pandemic hit. We were keeping fit at the start. And then it got longer than we thought. It kind of brought our levels down and we were then working out four to five times a week,” added Younghusband, whose career in the Philippine football spanned 14 years.

It began when he and his brother Phil joined the U-23 national team for the 2005 Southeast Asian Games.

James and Phil were part of the

Philippines Azkals andtogether, they saw the rise of Philippine football.

Their most memorable games were during the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup campaign of the senior national squad, when they reached the semifinals.

“Time to say goodbye. Thank you for the amazing memories. I have loved playing this game. Thank you to my family, bosses, managers, coaches, team mates, opponents and all my supporters who have been part of my professional career. I feel lucky to have experienced wonderful memories and thankful for every moment of my time with my clubs and country,” said Younghusband on Instagram.

Younghusband said he now plans to become a coach and will pursue his goals when “the new normal” times come.

His brother Phil retired last November after marrying his girlfriend Margaret.

James Younghusband

Berlin tennis event will allow 1,000 fans despite Novak row

A billboard depicting Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic and the Christian Orthodox monastery of Ostrog is seen on a building in Belgrade. Djokovic has also tested positive for coronavirus on June 23, 2020 along with Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki, after taking part in an exhibition tennis tournament in the Balkans featuring the world number one, raising questions over the sport’s planned return in August. AFP

BERLIN—One thousand fans will be allowed to watch a Berlin tennis tournament next month despite the controversy which has engulfed Novak Djokovic whose Balkans event left him and three other players testing positive for coronavirus.

There will be two events in the German capital—one outdoors at the Steffi Graf Stadium and one indoors at the city’s historic Tempelhof Airport.

“When we host the tournament in mid-July, there will be a strict hygiene concept that we will coordinate with the Berlin Senate,” tournament director and German Fed Cup skipper Barbara Rittner told Deutsche Welle.

“We will have around 1,000 spectators at the Steffi Graf stadium and around 300 in the hangar at Tempelhof.

“It will be important to carefully observe all regulations and to test the players beforehand.

This is one of the requirements for these events.

“We will treat the situation and regulations very respectfully.”

Djokovic, Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki all tested positive for coronavirus after playing in the first two legs of Djokovic’s illfated Adria Tour in Belgrade and Croatia.

Djokovic’s wife Jelena also tested positive.

Around 4,000 spectators watched the Belgrade

event where there was no social distancing.

Players were also photographed shirtless, dancing the night away at a packed Belgrade club.

Australian firebrand Nick Kyrgios, as well as top-10 players Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev, who both featured in the Balkans, have been signed up to take part in Berlin.

Thiem and Zverev tested negative on the Adria Tour while Kyrgios described the staging of the event as “bone-headed”.

“Of course, regardless of the Adria Tour, we can also get a message at any time that a player has tested positive and cannot play,” added Rittner.

“We can only ensure that the strict requirements are adhered to as correctly as possible and ensure that further planning is not jeopardised.”

Rittner, a former top 30 singles player on the WTA, described Djokovic’s event as “an absolute catastrophe.”

“I don’t understand the world they live in. For some, their success has probably gone to their heads,” Rittner told Cologne-based newspaper, the Koelner Stadt-Anzeiger.

“The whole world keeps its distance and wears masks. Yet on the Adriatic Sea, people sat shoulder to shoulder without masks and partied at night.” AFP

Lee on becoming 2-division ONE world champion WHEN Christian Lee captured the ONE Lightweight World Championship last May 2019, no one expected the young Singaporean to hold a candle against such an iconic and dominant champion in Shinya Aoki, let alone dethrone him.

But the young man nicknamed “The Warrior,” who just recently turned 22, shocked the world and became the youngest male mixed martial arts world champion in history by putting together an impeccable performance, not only beating Aoki, but finishing him inside of two rounds.

Like a true champion, Lee does not mind taking on the best challengers in his division to further prove his claim to the lightweight throne as legitimate.

Undefeated Moldovan Iuri Lapicus is the current number one contender at lightweight. He owns two high-profile victories over top talents including Thailand’s Shannon Wiratchai, and former featherweight king Marat Gafurov.

Sitting at the number two spot is Turkey’s Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev, who Lee already once defeated in another one-sided affair during the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix Championship. Lee stepped in as a late replacement in the final round and ended up winning the tournament.

Needless to say, Lee is in pole position right now, as far as the hottest athletes go in ONE Championship.

“I will defend my belt against

anyone, anytime. The lightweight division is the most stacked division in ONE Championship, so I feel like it will only be right to start with the number one contender and work my way down until my division is cleared out,” said Lee, about his plans to defend his title.

Not looking past Lapicus, however, Lee says he is also open to making other high-profile bouts, particularly against legends in American Eddie Alvarez and two-time former ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard Folayang of the famed Team Lakay.

A showdown with Alvarez, the former UFC lightweight champion, would effectively pit the best in the east versus the best in the west, some-

thing that combat sports enthusiasts have long clamored for.

Lee is wise not to take any opponent lightly.

“Eddie [Alvarez] has done enough in his career to make him a legend of this sport, so I would love to share the ONE Circle with him when the time comes.

I think that our styles would make for an exciting fight for the fans,” said Lee. “I think that Eddie is a very wellrounded mixed martial artist. He has great striking, wrestling, and just recently displayed great Jiu-Jitsu in his last outing against Eduard Folayang.

He’s a very complete fighter who does not have too many weaknesses. It would be a big mistake to underestimate his skill set.”

Christian (left) and Angela Lee (right) with Olympic swimmer Joseph Schooling

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION Pacific Center Building San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE POWER SUPPLY AGREEMENT BETWEEN ORIENTAL MINDORO ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. AND MINDORO GRID CORPORATION, WITH PRAYER FOR ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY, ERC CASE NO. ____ RC ORIENTAL MINDORO ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (ORMECO) AND MINDORO GRID CORPORATION (MGC), Applicants. x ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- x

APPLICATION WITH PRAYER FOR ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY APPLICANTS ORIENTAL MINDORO ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (“ORMECO”) and MINDORO GRID CORPORATION (“MGC”), through their respective counsels and to this Honorable Commission, respectfully state: THE APPLICANTS 1. Applicant ORMECO is a non-stock, non-profit electric cooperative, duly organized and existing under Philippine laws, with principal address at Barangay Sta. Isabel, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro. It has the exclusive franchise to supply and distribute electricity in all the municipalities of the Province of Oriental Mindoro namely: Baco, Bansud, Bongabong, Bulalacao, Gloria, Mansalay, Naujan, Pinamalayan, Pola, Puerto Galera, Roxas, San Teodoro, Socorro, and Victoria, and in the City of Calapan.

2. Applicant MGC is a corporation duly organized and existing under Philippine laws, with corporate address at Barangay Santiago, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

NATURE OF THE APPLICATION

30. Considering that eight (8) months had passed since ORMECO filed the Application for the said Certificate of Exemption and the one-year mandatory period for the emergency PSA was about to expire on 13 September 2019, ORMECO and MGC decided to execute the Emergency PSA on 03 June 2019.

31. Despite ORMECO’s submission of the document and explanation on the clarification of the DOE regarding the actual capacity requirement from 10MW to 8MW on 10 January 2019, the Certificate of Exemption was only issued on 03 September 2019. Following the issuance of the Certificate of Exemption, MGC sent letters to ORMECO demanding the payment of the unpaid billings. MGC even requested the intervention and assistance of NEA and ERC in pursuing its demands for ORMECO to pay the unpaid billings.

32. While these demands for payments were pending, ORMECO and MGC had already been completing the documentary requirements for the Application for Approval of PSA. It was only on 20 January 2020 that the Applicants were able to complete the documentary requirements and to refer the same to their respective counsels for the preparation of the Application. Then, ORMECO and MGC were able to present the documentary requirements to the ERC technical personnel during the initial pre-filing conference held on 21 February 2020.

ORMECO Demand - Supply Scenario and Average Daily Load Curve

P

Judicial Affidavit Relative to the Issuance of the Certificate of Exemption from the Conduct of CSP to ORMECO by DOE together with the Pertinent Documents thereon

Q

Certificate of Exemption from the Conduct of CSP issued by DOE

R

ORMECO’s Latest Audited Financial Statements

S

ORMECO’s Explanations on the (1) Submission of Transmission Service Agreement (TSA) with NGCP or NPC; (2) Certification by NPC on Whether Transition Supply Contract (TSC) Capacity and Energy is Expected to be Available during the Contractual Period; and (3) Alternative Demand Side Management (DSM) Program of ORMECO that could be implemented if the application is approved by the ERC Heat Rate Certificate/Equipment Data Sheet

SALIENT FEATURES OF THE PSA AND RELATED INFORMATION

V to V-2

34. The Temporary Power Facility. Under the PSA, MGC shall install and operate a Temporary Power Facility consisting of modular diesel generating sets, with installed capacity of 8MW at the Municipality of Socorro.

ORMECO Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws and Certification on the List of Board of Directors

W

Judicial Affidavit in Support of the Prayer for Issuance of a Provisional Authority

X to X-2

Proof of furnishing copies of the Application to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Oriental Mindoro, Sangguniang Panlungsod of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro and Sangguniang Bayan of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro

Y to Y-2

Publication of the Application in a newspaper of general circulation in ORMECO’s franchise area or where it principally operates, the page whereon the Application was published and the Affidavit of Publication

35. The Temporary Power Facility will supply the power requirements of ORMECO for a period of one (1) year which started on September 2018 until September 2019. This supply period coincides with the time that the GBHPRI’s Bunker-C Fired Diesel Power Plant, with installed capacity of 7.5MW (2 units x 3.75MW) and dependable capacity of 5.0MW covered by its PSA with ORMECO, are on shut down for the PMS and while waiting for the completion of the rehabilitation of the pertinent section of transmission line of NPC. 36. Salient Features of the PSA. The PSA for the emergency power requirement between ORMECO and MGC has the following salient provisions, to wit: Supply of Electricity 36. 1

4. ORMECO has a Power Purchase Agreement with GBH Power Resources, Inc. (GBHPRI), formerly Mirant (Philippines) Island Generation Corporation involving the latter’s Bunker-C Fired Diesel Power Plant, with installed capacity of 7.5MW (2 units x 3.75MW) and dependable capacity of 5.0MW, for a cooperation period of twenty (20) years.

Supplv of Electricity. MGC agrees to supply electricity generated by the Temporary Power Station to ORMECO. The Parties agree that the Temporary Power Facility shall have 8MW installed capacity and the contracted energy shall be 43,200, 000kWh during the cooperation period. ORMECO agrees to take and pay for all such electricity delivered by MGC in accordance with this Agreement except, however, that the cause is beyond the control of ORMECO. The ORMECO agrees that MGC’s generated power shall be accorded priority dispatch and its plant capacity as must-run generation plant, subject to ORMECO’s current energy quantity with existing IPP as of the signing of this Agreement.

36.2

Quantity. The quantity of electricity delivered to ORMECO by MGC shall be monitored, measured, and recorded by both Parties in accordance with the provisions of metering procedure per Fourth Schedule.

36.3

Failure to Supplv Electricity. MGC shall promptly notify the ORMECO of the occurrence of any event (other than Planned Downtime) which results or may result in the Power Station’s inability to supply the electricity requirement of ORMECO whether such inability is caused by either the MGC’s being unable to operate in accordance with the Operating Parameters, and Specifications, or inadvertent trippings of protective apparatus, or the ORMECO’s Systems emergency.

36.4

Failure to Accept Electricity. ORMECO shall promptly notify MGC of the occurrence of any event, which result in ORMECO’s being unable to accept the electricity in accordance with this Agreement. If the failure to accept electricity results to lower quantity than the agreed basic energy quantity, MGC has the option to deliver additional quantities in succeeding period at the same rate as originally contracted.

5. During a series of discussions from the period of March 2018 up to May 2018, ORMECO was advised by GBHPRI of the possible shutdown of its Diesel Generator (DG) No. 1 due to sequencer fault (Programmable Logic Controller), financial losses and the status of its engines which had been operating under run to failure mode.

36.5

6. In its letter dated 15 March 2018, GBHPRI informed ORMECO that the sequencer fault that caused the outage of DG No. 1 was already referred to its manufacturer. Then, in its letter dated 10 May 2018, GBHPRI notified ORMECO that: a. DG No. 2 is operational but already overdue for 2 minor and 1 major Preventive Maintenance Schedule;

Delivery Points. The place delivery of the electricity shall be the Delivery Points.

Title to and all risks associated with electrical energy generated by the Power Station shall pass to the ORMECO at the Delivery Points.

36.6

The PSA shall be effective for a period of one (1) year commencing on 14 September 2018 until 13 September 2019.

36.7

ORMECO shall pay MGC its TCGR for the energy delivered by its Modular Generating Units in Municipality of Socorro, which shall be treated as a separate plant:

ALLEGATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE PRAYER FOR ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY 39. All the foregoing allegations are re-pleaded by reference in support of the Prayer for Issuance of Provisional Authority.

40. The basis by which Applicants ORMECO and MGC pray for the issuance of a Provisional Authority or interim relief prior to final decision is Rule 14 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure: “Section 3. Action on the Motion. - Motions for provisional authority or interim relief may be acted upon with or without hearing. The Commission shall act on the motion on the basis of the allegations of the application or petition and supporting documents and other evidences that applicant or petitioner has submitted and the comments or opposition filed by any interested person, if there be any.” [Emphasis Supplied] 41. MGC already installed and operated the modular diesel generating units last14 September 2018 despite the fact that there was no PSA yet and the DOE has not yet issued a Certificate of Exemption from the Conduct of CSP because of the urgent need to address the emergency power supply requirement of ORMECO as directed by ORMECO. 42. Considering that the emergency situation has been addressed by MGC through the supply of emergency power from the Temporary Power Facility of MGC and that the one (1) year cooperation period under the PSA had already expired last 13 September 2019, there is a need for the issuance of a Provisional Authority in the meantime that this Application is still pending evaluation and resolution of Honorable Commission for MGC to be able to collect the provisionally approved fees.

43. To emphasize the necessity for the provisional approval of this Application, a Judicial Affidavit to support the prayer for issuance of provisional authority is attached hereto as Annex “W”.

44. In view thereof and in recognition of the fact that a substantial amount of time is customarily needed to evaluate the documents submitted to support the approval of this Application, Applicants ORMECO and MGC respectfully seek the kind consideration of the Honorable Commission to approve the instant Application immediately, albeit, provisionally.

Term

Fees

7. ORMECO exerted considerable efforts to prevent the temporary shutdown of the GBHPRI power plant but to no avail.

36.7.1

8. During the 24 May 2018 meeting between ORMECO and GBHPRI initiated by the Office of the Mayor of Pinamalayan, it was agreed that GBHPRI will not shut down its power on 25 May 2018 and will postpone the implementation of the PMS in the meantime that ORMECO is finalizing the agreement with MGC for the installation and operation of a Temporary Power Facility as part of ORMECO’s Emergency Power Supply Action Plan. It was further agreed that GBHPRI shall continue as the power supplier of ORMECO until the expiration of the PPA on 2020.

36. 7.2

9. On 11 June 2018, ORMECO Board of Directors approved Resolution No. 18-089 authorizing ORMECO to direct MGC to install and operate a Temporary Power Facility with 10MW installed capacity modular diesel generating sets at the Municipality of Pinamalayan. In addition, ORMECO Board approved the rates that would be paid by ORMECO to MGC for the power delivered from the Temporary Power Facility. The power rates are the same as the rates of the approved ESA dated 18 December 2012 and its Addenda between ORMECO and MGC per ERC Case No. 2013-041 RC.

The Total Electricity Fee to be paid by ORMECO for the supply of power

by MGC shall be the sum of the Capacity Fee, the Local O&M Fee, the Foreign O&M Fee, Lube Oil Charge and Fuel Charge, less the Prompt Payment Discount.

Capacity Fee - The monthly Capacity Fee to be paid by ORMECO shall be fixed at PhP1.80/kWh of Delivered Energy, but in no case should be lower than PhP2,590,000.00/month during the operation of the Temporary Power Facility.

36. 7. 3 Local O&M Fee - The monthly Local Operation & Maintenance Fee to be paid by ORMECO shall be fixed at PhP400,000.00/month during the operation of the Temporary Power Facility regardless of the delivered energy.

36. 7.4

10. In the same Resolution, the Board likewise resolved to authorize ORMECO to file with the DOE an application for the issuance of a Certificate of Exemption (COE) from the Conduct of Competitive Selection Process (CSP) to enable ORMECO to implement its Emergency Power Supply Action Plan and to comply with the Department of Energy (DOE) Circular No. DC2018-020003 dated 01 February 2018 which states in Section 2.2.2 thereof that:

PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, Applicants ORMECO and MGC respectfully pray that this Honorable Commission: 1. Upon filing of the Application and pending hearing thereon, issue an Order granting Provisional Authority for the immediate implementation of the provisions of the Power Supply Agreement dated 03 June 2019 as well as the generation rates and adjustment mechanisms indicated therein, and allowing ORMECO to pass-on the same to its consumers and to draw the difference between ORMECO’s SAGR and the provisionally approved TCGR of MGC as subsidy from the UC-ME Fund being managed by NPC. 2. After due hearing, issue a decision approving with finality the Power Supply Agreement, generation rates and adjustment mechanisms indicated therein and allowing ORMECO to passon the same to its consumers and to draw the difference between ORMECO’s SAGR and the approved TCGR of MGC as subsidy from the UC-ME Fund being managed by NPC. Applicants further pray for other relief just and equitable under the premises.

Pasig City, Metro Manila, March 12, 2020.

DECHAVEZ LERIOS-AMBOY AND EVANGELISTA LAW OFFICES1 Counsel for Applicant MGC Unit 2008 20th Floor, Tycoon Centre Pearl Drive, Ortigas Center, Pasig City 1605 Tel. NO.lTelefax (632) 7-910-1587 email:powerlawfirm@gmail.com

Foreign O&M - The monthly Foreign Operation and Maintenance Fee to be paid by ORMECO shall be computed in accordance with the following formula: FOMF = FOMR x DE x CPI current / CPI base

NELSON V. EVANGELISTA Roll of Attorneys No. 38075 PTR No. 5242428, January 15, 2020, Pasig City IBP Lifetime Member Roll No. 010192, Bulacan Chapter MCLE Compliance No. VI Cert. No. 0026811, May 24, 2019

Where: FOMF FOMR

1. All PSAs shall be procured through CSP; Provided however, that the following instances shall warrant a Certificate of Exemption from the Department of Energy for the conduct of CSP: xxx “Negotiated procurement of emergency power supply; Provided, that the cooperation period of the corresponding PSA shall not exceed one (1) year; Provided further, that the rate shall not be higher than the latest ERC approved generation tariff for same or similar technology in the area.”

36. 7.5

11. Under the aforesaid DOE Circular, it is required that all the PSAs of Distribution Utilities (DU) shall be procured through Competitive Selection Process (CSP) except that in some instances, DOE may grant Certificates of Exemption from the conduct of CSP. One of such instances that justifies the issuance of the Certificate of Exemption is to address the DU’s emergency power supply requirement.

= Foreign Operation and Maintenance Fee = Foreign Operation and Maintenance Rate of PhP0.600/ kWh DE = Delivered Energy CPI Current = The latest Philippine Consumer Price Index as published by the NSO applicable during the Billing Period CPI Base = The Philippine Consumer Price Index as published by the NSO for the month at the time of signing of the Agreement Fuel Charge - The monthly Fuel Charge to be paid by ORMECO shall be computed in accordance with the following formula:

LORAINE B. BOBILES Roll of Attorneys No. 73213 PTR No. 5242430, January 15, 2020, Pasig City IBP Member No. 110092, January 16, 2020, RSM Chapter MCLE Compliance No. Admitted 20192

FC = DE x GCF x AFC Where: FC DE GCF AFC

12. On 02 August 2018, ORMECO Board of Directors issued Resolution No. 18-131 to supplement Resolution No. 18-089 by providing that the Temporary Power Facility of 10MW installed capacity modular diesel generating sets shall be constructed in the Municipality of Socorro instead of Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro.

= = = =

Fuel Charge Delivered Energy Guaranteed Fuel Consumption of 0.275li/kWh Actual Fuel Cost in Pesos per liter

36. 7. 6 Lube Oil Charge - The monthly Lube Oil Charge to be paid by the ORMECO shall be computed in accordance with the following formula:

13. In order to address the emergency power supply requirement of ORMECO, brought about by the shutdown of GBHPRI, MGC immediately installed the Temporary Power Facility in the Municipality of Socorro and started supplying power to ORMECO on 14 September 2018 based on the approved Resolution No. 18-089 as supplemented by Resolution No. 18-131. MGC’s supply of emergency power requirement to ORMECO continued until 13 September 2019.

LOC = DE x GLOC x ALOC Where:

14. On 27 November 2018, ORMECO applied with the DOE for the issuance of a Certificate of Exemption (COE) from the Conduct of CSP for the procurement of 10MW capacity citing as bases the existence of an emergency power supply requirement and the Emergency Power Supply Action Plan.

LOC DE GLOC

= Lube Oil Charge = Delivered Energy = Guaranteed Lube Oil Consumption of 0.001 liter per kWh = Actual Lube Oil Cost

ALOC

15. On 03 December 2018, DOE clarified with ORMECO if the actual capacity requirement is 10MW or 8MW as DOE had observed that in the draft PSA with MGC, it is only 8MW capacity.

Should the ERC finds that this NPP’s TCGR is not fair and reasonable with reference to the established BNE Rate by ORMECO or that it is unreasonably higher than such benchmark, the ERC may determine the reasonable or allowable NPP’s TCGR that maybe recovered by the NPP. And should it be acceptable to the NPP, then it shall be considered as the prevailing NPP’s TCGR of this PSA. The EDC commits to present the justifications for the applied TCGR and/or propose the appropriate adjustments to it to make it acceptable to the ERC.

16. Taking into consideration the aforesaid DOE clarification, on 10 January 2019, ORMECO Board issued Resolution No. 19-012 to amend Resolution No. 18-131 and to supplement Resolution No. 18-089, reducing the capacity requirement from 10MW to 8MW. Copy of Resolution No. 19-012 was submitted to DOE. 17. On 03 June 2019, ORMECO and MGC signed the Power Supply Agreement (PSA) for the supply of emergency power supply requirement of 8MW installed capacity to be sourced from MGC’s Temporary Power Facility in the Municipality of Socorro.

18. On 03 September 2019, DOE approved ORMECO’s Application for Issuance of Certificate of Exemption from the Conduct of CSP relative to the procurement of a PSA with MGC relative to its emergency power supply requirement of 8MW capacity involving the installation and operation of a Temporary Power Facility at the Municipality of Socorro, for a period of one (1) year starting from September 2018 until September 2019.

ORMECO Updated DDP Summary

O and O-1

Rate Impact Analysis

Issuance of Certificate of Exemption from the Conduct of CSP and Execution of Power Supply Agreement (PSA)

To avoid a catastrophic engine failure, GBHPRI decided to shut down the plant starting 25 May 2018 until the issues are resolved.

MGC’s Fuel Purchase and Sale Agreement

N

T

STATEMENT OF FACTS

c.

M

U

“Section 1. Applications for Approval of Power Supply Contract. - Applications for approval of power supply contract between a distribution utility and power producer, other than those covered by the Guidelines for the Setting and Approval of Electricity Generation Rates and Subsidies for Missionary Electrification Areas (ERC Resolution No. 11, series of 2005, dated 6 July 2005), shall include a statement of the salient provisions of the said contract, including the stipulations on the pricing, and a statement of its impact on the overall rates of the applicant-utility once said contract is approved.”

The plant operation is at risk especially the safety of its operation and maintenance personnel;

MGC’s Basis of Purchased Power Rates/ERC Orders in ERC Case No. 2013 041 dated 20 September 2016 and 23 May 2018, approving the ESA and its Addenda, between MGC and ORMECO

33. As shown above, the seeming delay in the filing of an Application for Approval of PSA between ORMECO and MGC was due mainly on the fact that the Certificate of Exemption was only issued by the DOE on 03 September 2019 and the Applicants have to prepare and complete a number of documentary requirements for the filing thereof. In addition, MGC had first initiated efforts to collect from ORMECO the unpaid billings after the Certificate of Exemption was issued before the Applicants prepared for the filing of the Application.

3. This is an Application for the Approval of the Power Supply Agreement (“PSA”) executed by and between ORMECO and MGC on 03 June 2019, which is being filed pursuant to Rule 20 (B) of the Rules of Practice and Procedure before the Energy Regulatory Commission which provides that:

b.

L to L-1

RATE IMPACT 37. ORMECO considered the impact of the implementation of (Emergency) PSA on its effective rates taking into account the other suppliers of electricity in its franchise area. The Tables below summarize the rate impact as follows:

By:

SURTIDA & HERNANDEZ TORBELA Attorneys-at-Law Counsel for Applicant ORMECO 6th Floor Strata 100 Building, F. Ortigas, Jr. Road Ortigas Center 1600 Pasig City Tel. No. (632) 636-6030; Telefax (632) 632-0273 Email: attys@hsglegal.com VENUS A. TORBELA-TIO IBP No. 103989; 01/08/20; RSM PTR No. 6442425; 01/10/20; Pasig City Roll of Attorneys No. 55899 MCLE Compliance No. VI-0022359; 04/04/19

Republic of the Philippines) ____________________ ) S.S. VERIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION OF NON-FORUM SHOPPING I, JOSE B. SONCUYA, of legal age, Filipino, with office address at Barangay Santiago, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, after being sworn to according to law, depose and state that: 1. I am the Vice-President of the Mindoro Grid Corporation (MGC), duly authorized to represent the corporation in filing the instant Application jointly with the Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ORMECO), copy of the corresponding Board Resolution is attached hereto and made integral part hereof.

2. I caused the preparation and filing of the foregoing Application jointly with the ORMECO; have read the allegations contained therein, and certify that the same are true and correct based on my personal knowledge and on authentic records.

3. MGC has not heretofore commenced any other action or proceedings involving the same issues and parties before any court, tribunal or quasi-judicial agency; to the best of my knowledge no such action or proceeding is pending, and if I should learn that the same or similar action or proceeding has been filed or is pending, I undertake to report such fact to this Honorable Commission, within five (5) days therefrom.

Further, Affiant sayeth naught.

JUSTIFICATIONS ON THE INSTALLATION AND OPERATION OF THE TEMPORARY POWER FACILITY WITHOUT THE CERTIFICATE OF EXEMPTION AND APPROVED PSA

JOSE B. SONCUYA Affiant

19. As stated above, ORMECO Board of Directors directed MGC to install and operate a Temporary Power Facility in order to prevent a looming power supply crisis due to the scheduled shutting down of Diesel Generator No. 1 and the Preventive Maintenance of the Diesel Generator No.2 of GBHPRI. 20. Likewise, ORMECO Board approved the rates that would be paid by ORMECO to MGC for the power delivered from the Temporary Power Facility which are the same as the rates of the approved ESA dated 18 December 2012 and its Addenda between ORMECO and MGC per ERC Case No. 2013-041 RC. 21. Pursuant to the directive and authorization of ORMECO, MGC installed the Temporary Power Facility in the Municipality of Socorro using modular diesel generating units rented from Aggreko Energy Rental Services, Inc. (Aggreko). MGC started supplying power to ORMECO on 14 September 2018 to avert a threatened massive power shutdown due to the inability of GBHPRI to deliver power from its plant. MGC’s supply of emergency power requirement to ORMECO continued until 13 September 2019.

Republic of the Philippines) ______ ______ ________ ) S.S.

22. ORMECO paid the first power bill of MGC. However, since the parties have yet to execute a PSA and ORMECO was still in the process of applying for a COE, ORMECO was constrained to withhold payment of the second power bill.

VERIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION I, Atty. NORBERTO M. MENDOZA, Filipino, of legal age, married, and with business address at Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative, Inc., Simaron, Sta. Isabel, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro after having been sworn to in accordance with law, depose and state: THAT– ;

23. This prompted MGC to write ORMECO a number of times demanding the full payment of the second power bill.

23.1. In a Letter dated 20 November 2018, MGC demanded that ORMECO pay its Billing No. 2.

1. I am the authorized representative of the Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative, Inc., the applicant in the above-captioned case.

23.2. In a Letter dated 21 November 2018, MGC also informed ORMECO that should ORMECO fail to pay its Billing No. 2, MGC will stop operations of the power plant as the fuel stock had already been depleted and will only last for 18 more hours.

2. I have jointly caused the preparation of the foregoing Application [With Prayer for Issuance of Provisional Authority] and I have read the contents thereof and affirm that the same are true and correct to the best of my personal knowledge and/or based on authentic records.

24. In its letter to MGC dated 21 November 2018, ORMECO replied that:

3. The Application [With Prayer for Issuance of Provisional Authority] is not filed to harass, cause unnecesary delay, or needlessly increase the cost of litigation.

“x x x we are appealing to your management not to proceed with the stoppage of operation as this will produce adverse effect to our membersconsumers. With regard to your request for payment, the undersigned cannot process the same based on the recommendation of our Finance Service Manager, as evidenced by hereto attached note of the Finance Service Manager, that the same lacked documentary requirements, like Power Supply Agreement (PSA), etc.

Pending drafting and finalization of the Power Supply Agreement (PSA) and other supporting documents, to ease your burden in paying your fuel consumption please be informed that through this communication that ORMECO from hereon is willing to directly shoulder your expenses for the Socorro plant subject to the deductions from final billing. The current management of this cooperative is willing to rectify previous lapses in the procedure, if there is any so as not to derail our operations provided that, we will comply with al/ the documentary requirements and must be approved by the appropriate agencies.”

25. MGC continued supplying power to ORMECO. 26. In a letter dated 23 November 2018, the DOE told MGC that ORMECO referred to its office MGC’s letter of 20 November 2018 wherein it manifested that the MGC will stop the operations of its 8MW modular diesel generating sets.

27. In the same letter, the DOE stated that ORMECO should secure a Certificate of Exemption from the conduct of CSP and thereafter, MGC and ORMECO should execute a PSA and have the same approved by ERC but expressed its deep concerns about the adverse effects of power shortage should MGC stop operations. The DOE directed ORMECO and MGC to take the necessary actions to avoid a situation whereby the public suffers due to contractual and legal issues between the ORMECO and MGC. DOE also reminded MGC and ORMECO that they operate businesses imbued with public interest, hence, they out to endeavor to find ways to settle or resolve their issues without sacrificing consumer welfare.

28. In MGC’s letter to DOE dated 26 November 2018, MGC explained it was prevailed upon to install and operate the Temporary Power Facility to serve the Municipalities of Socorro, Pola, and Pinamalayan sans the permits and licenses in consideration of public interest and general welfare. Further, MGC stated that with the DOE’s statements in its 23 November 2018 to MGC and based on the same reasons of public interest and general welfare, MGC was constrained to continue supplying power to ORMECO despite the absence of PSA and Certificate of Exemption from the conduct of CSP issued to ORMECO. JUSTIFICATIONS ON THE LATE FILING OF THE APPLICATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE PSA 29. As directed by the DOE, ORMECO filed an Application for Issuance of Certificate of Exemption from the Conduct of CSP due to an emergency power supply requirement on 27 November 2018.

4. The factual allegations therein have evidentiary support or, if specifically so identified, will likewise have evidentiary support after a reasonable opportunity for discovery.

5. I have not commenced any other action or proceeding involving the same issues raised in the above-captioned case, in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, or different Divisions thereof, or any other body, tribunal or agency of the government.

RELATED INFORMATION 38. In support of the instant Application and in compliance with the documentary requirements of the Honorable Commission as provided under Article VI, Section 2 of the “Guidelines for the Recovery of Costs for the Generation Component by Distribution Utilities” as well as the pre-filing requirements mandated under Rule 6, Sections 2 to 4 of the ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, Applicants are submitting herewith attached documents which are made integral parts hereof, as follows: ANNEX A B to B-2

MGC Articles of Incorporation, Amended Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws MGC Latest General Information Sheet

D

MGC Latest Audited Financial Statements

E

Power Plant Description

F

MGC’s Explanations on Certain Requirements for the Application such as (1) Shareholder’s Agreement, (2) Ultimate Parent Company, (3) Copy of Related Agreements, (4) Replacement Power, (5) BOI Certificate of Registration, (6) Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) Issued by DENR, (7) Certificate of Compliance (CoC) Issued by ERC, (8) Certificate of Endorsement (CoE), (9) Renewable Energy Service/Operating Contract from the DOE, (10) Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC), (11) Indexation and Assumptions; and (12) Alternative Demand Side Management Program (DSM Program)

G

Power Supply Agreement (PSA) between ORMECO and MGC

H

ORMECO Board Resolution approving the PSA with MGC

I

MGC Board Resolution approving the PSA with ORMECO

K

7. Should it come to my knowledge that a similar action or proceeding has been fiied or is pending before the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, the different Divisions thereof, or any other body, tribunal or agency of the government, I hereby undertake to notify this office of such fact within five (5) days from receipt of such knowledge.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 28 day of May 2020 in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.

NATURE OF DOCUMENT MGC Certificate of Registration with the SEC

C

J and J-1

6. To the best of my knowledge, no such action or proceeding is pending in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals or different Divisions thereof, or any other body, tribunal or agency the government.

Atty. NORBERTO M. MENDOZA Affiant SUBSCRIBE AND SWORN to before me, a Notary Public for in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro this 28 day of May 2020 by Affiant who is personally known to me. Affiant likewise exhibited to me, as competent evidence of his identity, the following Identification Cards: UMIS CRN: 021-1334-4202-06.

MGC’s PSA Executive Summary and Summary of Project Cost MGC’s Sources of Funds/Credit Line With Union Bank (MS-JUNE 26, 2020)

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020

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Beautiful, colorful characters in Jay Altarejos’ ‘Balangaw’ VERY WANG NICKIE WANG

HIS pride month, seasoned filmmaker Jay Altarejos introduces eight colorful and diverse fictional characters in a series that intends to delve into many different issues that modern society encounters.

T

International groups in the Asia-Pacific region called on Congress to immediately restore the broadcast operations of ABS-CBN.

Karen, Jal, Jay, Rap, CJ, Mela, Mac, and Tads, each individually locked down during the pandemic, will go through individual challenges while still trying to help resolve one another’s predicament.

“It’s LGBT-themed but it’s going to discuss not just the problems that the pink community encounters,” Altarejos told Manila Standard in an online interview.

“Balangaw means rainbow. And just like a rainbow, the series has so many layers that you might realize that it’s already tackling different issues in politics and society,” the filmmaker added.

According to Altarejos, Balangaw cent- Director Jay Altarejos ers on the eight characters and how their lives are intertwined because of eventualities and choices they make.

“But as each character goes along traversing his or her own rainbows, they will gather that the only way to move along is staying and surviving together no matter how tough the odds are,” Altarejos said.

Balangaw introduces Karen (Karen Toyoshima), a lesbian actress who has been working steadily for years at ABSCBN as a noncontract player. Although, she has a longtime partner, Rox, she believes that having a child of her own will give her a profound sense of responsibility and purpose.

Artificial insemination is the way to go, and she does not believe in crossing the line of her sexual orientation just for her to be pregnant given all the available options. She is best friend to Jal (Jal Galang), another Tadsky Obach ABS-CBN bit actor, a bisexual; and Tads (Tadsky Obach), another actor, an asexual.

After depleting her savings to undergo in vitro fertilization, ABS-CBN has been shutdown, and the lockdown due to COVID-19 ensued—Karen is now under great duress for being pregnant without good prospects for the future.

Jal, a struggling bisexual actor who has also recently been affected by the network shutdown, becomes the sperm donor to Karen’s fertilization procedures, and now equally anxious about embracing coparenting responsibilities with his best friend.

Jay (played by Jay Altarejos himself) is a sociopolitical conscious filmmaker whose recent transition from popular LGBT films to staunchly political protest films has made him a controversial public figure of late.

His no-holds-barred opinions made him a target of contention by other filmmakers CJ Barinaga and producers, greatly affecting his creative pursuits and his ability to earn a viable living.

Rap (Rap Robes) is an up and coming actor presently being groomed to become a leading man in commercial movies.

Unbeknownst to the public, he is gay and currently in a relationship with CJ (CJ Barinaga), a dancer and digital content creator from Cebu.

The two met at an acting workshop in Manila months before. Vulnerable and inexperienced, CJ depends on Rap’s “mentorship.”

Mela (Mela Habijan) is a former television personality who has shifted her priorities to trans right activism. She’s also planning her next election campaigns having been the first trans person to run for public office in history. Currently, Karen Toyoshima she is in a relationship with Mac (Mac Mendoza), who is a real estate agent born to a wealthy political family. When the news about his relationship with a trans woman becomes known to his conservative family, he thinks he needs to convince them and Mela, that real love goes beyond label and SOGIE. Tads is (Tadsky Obach) an actor who identifies as “asexual.” It is always his goal to break the stereotypes and myths about asexual people. He identifies as biromantic asexual. He is not actively attracted to partnered sex, but romantically attracted to both males and females. In the group, he is equally the common source of funny stuff and the go-to-guy when someone needs someone to talk to in confidence.

Balangaw premieres tomorrow, June 27, at 9:00 p.m. on Balangaw Online Channel (www.2076balangaw.com ).

Mela Habijan

Int’l groups laud ABS-CBN’s vital service to OFWs

Mac Mendoza

INTERNATIONAL groups in the Asia-Pacific region called on Congress to immediately restore the broadcast operations of ABS-CBN as they emphasize the importance of the network’s services to overseas Filipino workers.

HD Telecom, an internet and communications service provider in South Korea, mentioned that with ABS-CBN’s broadcast operations being halted, more uncertainties would be made especially amid a pandemic. The company also asked for the government officials to “see the reality of the situation.”

“We believe that in order for us to get through this health crisis, it is crucial to keep the public informed and aware so we can act appropriately,” the company said in a statement.

HD Telecom likewise stated that ABSCBN “plays a vital role” in bringing the Filipinos in Korea together, highlighting that the network is not only a source of information, but also of comfort as it keeps overseas Filipinos connected.

“We consider them (ABS-CBN) as great partners in reaching our common goals of bringing the Filipino community in Korea together, and helping them cope in their new home,” the group said.

Sharing the same sentiments, the Seoul Filipino Catholic Community (SFCC), a religious organization of Filipinos in South Korea, voiced out their gratitude for ABS-CBN and conveyed their support for the network during these trying times.

According to SFCC, with ABS-CBN’s support in their community projects, the group was able to carry out financial

assistance to distressed Filipinos and scholarship grants to indigent Filipino students.

SFCC also commended ABS-CBN’s shows and programs, citing its effect on easing the homesickness of Filipinos abroad while also reminding them of the Filipino culture, values, and spirit.

“ABS-CBN’s news and entertainment programs have served tens of thousands of Filipinos in South Korea by providing engaging entertainment and relevant practical information for OFWs and expat Filipinos,” the community said in a statement.

On the other hand, Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, a union and professional association of Australia’s journalists, expressed “deep concern” on the forced closure of ABS-CBN, saying that such closure “hurts the Filipino people for no reason,” especially on people relying on the broadcast network for news and information.

The group also stressed the need to renew ABS-CBN’s franchise quickly, as “there has been no satisfactory evidence presented for why the Congress has moved so slowly to renew the ABS-CBN franchise.”

Despite the shutdown of its broadcast operations, ABS-CBN continues to be in the service of the Filipinos abroad via The Filipino Channel (TFC), a 24-hour cable, satellite, IPTV, web, and mobile service that broadcasts globally, carrying a range of programs to suit the needs and preferences of millions of overseas Filipinos.

‘Usapang Artista’ delves into the art of humor Rap Robes

Jal Galang

IN CELEBRATION of Pride Month this June, various actors who have portrayed LGBTQ characters on screen including My Husband's Lover star Tom Rodriguez, The Rich Man's Daughter lead actresses Glaiza de Castro and Rhian Ramos, comedian Divine Tetay, and Fuccbois star Ricky Davao gather via GMA Artist Center’s online show How Do You Feel?: Usapang Artista.

Facilitated by Chynna Ortaleza, who also played a lesbian character in The Rich Man's Daughter, the latest episode of How Do You Feel?: Usapang Artista was a colorful two-part discussion about the actors' process to open people’s eyes to the beauty of their preparation and experiences.

In the show, Tom reveals realizations he gained from exploring and portraying perspectives different from his own.

“Regardless of gender, you go through the exact spectrum of emotions,” says Tom. Likewise, Glaiza and Rhian admitted that they had to study and go through various resources to gain a deeper understanding of their characters.

“When you go out of the box, you will discover a lot of things. Ang dami palang mundo, there are so many kinds of love and relationships,” shares Glaiza.

“I became more aware of feminine and masculine energies, not the physicality, not the gender,” added Rhian.

Meanwhile, Tetay related that he is willing to take on roles that go beyond the stereotype and the mold. “I’m waiting na magkaroon ng a little more challenging than I usually do. I know I can do more when it comes to acting.”

Ricky, on the other hand, emphasizes their capabilities as an actor. “Actors always share something personal, something private,” he says.

Tomorrow (June 27), multi-talented comedian and content creator Michael V., Bubble Gang mainstays Paolo Contis and Chariz Solomon, and veteran actor and Pepino Manaloto star Ronnie Henares dive deep into what makes an

effective comedian, how to incorporate improvisation into a scene, where to turn for comic inspiration, how to get laughs through one’s character, and the current landscape of comedy here in the Philippines.

Mikoy Morales, who is also part of the award-winning gag show Bubble Gang, facilitates the roundtable discussion.

Produced by acting coach Ana Feleo and Artist Center talents Chynna Ortaleza, Benjamin Alves, and Mikoy Morales, catch How Do You Feel?: Usapang Artista on GMA Artist Center’s YouTube channel and GMA Network’s Facebook page every Saturday night at 8:00 p.m..

In tomorrow's episode of 'How Do You Feel: Usapang Artista' host Mikoy Morales welcomes a new set of panelists that will talk about humor and comedy in front of the camera.

Life

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

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TRAVEL AND LEISURE

FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2020

By Bernadette Lunas

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AINING guests’ trust is the primary objective of the hospitality industry in the time of a public health crisis.

Suffice it to say, it’s not easy to be confident to go out, much less stay in shared spaces, when the possibility of catching a virus that has disrupted lives remains likely.

So how do establishments in this industry work to gain that trust?

They adapt.

“The first thing we had to do was change our mindset,” Resorts World Manila chief operating officer Stephen Reilly said at a virtual press conference. “We’ve been used to adapting to change: our management and our partner hotels are very resilient as we go the next level: RWM 2.0.”

As restrictions are expected to further ease on July 1, putting Metro Manila under modified community quarantine, RWM and its partner hotels in Newport City look forward to welcoming back their guests.

“Hotels will be available when we go to MGCQ state. We are looking at July 1 being open for local bookings,” said Marriott Manila cluster general manager Bruce Winton.

In anticipation of possible delay of reopening, Winton said “if it changes, we’ll adapt” by offering free cancellation and rebooking as well as temporarily waiving penalty fees.

Implementing more stringent safety and sanitation procedures All seven hotels in RWM property have implemented enhanced cleaning procedures to ensure guests’ safety which could then lead to increased confidence.

International brands Marriott Hotel Ma-

SAFE TOGETHER.

Enhanced safety and sanitation procedures have been implemented to ensure guests in restaurants and hotels feel confident to once again go out and stay in shared spaces.

RWM hotels gear up for reopening nila, Sheraton Manila Hotel, Hilton Manila, Holiday Inn Express Manila (HiEx Manila), soon-to-open Hotel Okura, and homegrown hotels Belmont Hotel Manila and Savoy Hotel Manila account for approximately 3,600 rooms in the Pasaybased integrated resort. Each property has its own brand of enhanced sanitation standard in compliance with the Inter Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and World

The Anti-Virus Patrol is tasked to ensure everyone in Resorts World Manila premises wears their face masks and follows physical distancing guidelines.

This COVID-19 lexicon WE ALL know that this pandemic is wreaking havoc on our existence, thrashing the tenets of life and turning our world upside down. It continues to have devastating effects on our world economy, instills fear every time we are near another human being (especially if he coughs or sneezes), and has brought death in numbers that approximate the World War II casualties.

However, together with these catastrophic developments, one can’t help but notice a surge in words and phrases that have never or rarely been heard of before. Whether you consider these new entries to our vocabulary as something positive or as harbingers of gloom and doom, it is for you to decide.

When I first heard the authorities express their desire to flatten the curve, I had to process the phrase thoroughly in my mind. I eventually realized it referred to a plateau in a statistical chart, coming after peaks and spikes, indicating a suppressed or controlled activity. Many people immediately

Social distancing, flatten the curve, hand sanitizer, and ‘new normal’ are some of the popular words and phrases we often hear amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

used the term with gay abandon, maybe because they wanted to sound like learned statisticians. Because the phrase was new to everybody’s daily lingo, some netizens were quick to poke fun at it. They showed memes with people exercising through abdominal crunches, trying to flatten the curves of their oversized bellies.

Then came social distancing which, to me, is an oxymoron. How can you be social if you distance yourself from other human beings? I prefer to use the more appropriate “physical distancing,” because it clearly portrays the actual set-up required of the situation.

But the biggest misnomer of them all is new normal, or next normal, whichever the misguided speaker prefers to use. Covering one’s face all the time, keeping a six-foot distance from any living creature, not being able to hug, kiss, or show any form of affection to your loved ones—is there even an iota of normalcy in any of these? And there are other restrictions, too many to mention, that have made our lives almost unbearable. I am willing to accept, albeit reluctantly, “new environment,” because this phrase does not deceive us to believe that what we are currently required to do is normal.

Ever since I was a child, I’ve always known hand sanitizers to be possessions of the rich who are always careful with everything they touch outside their prim-and-proper world. Now, these are owned by everybody from all walks of life, millennials to seniors, and those in between. In fact, just the other day, I saw a delivery boy spraying his hands with his bottle of this vaporizing solution right after he received payment for his errand.

Through my growing up years, I have always known protocol as a procedure paired with anything diplomatic. Now, I’m surprised that people are freely using it with “medical,” “hygiene,” and “safety.” The other day, I even saw somebody on TV pairing this word with “virtual.” I’m not sure if I should rejoice that this disease has expanded our vocabulary.

From out of nowhere, there suddenly appeared a three-letter acronym that has taken daily conversation by storm. PPE (personal protective equipment), has become an overnight sensation, even more popularly used than ATM, CNN, and SMS. I guess it’s the novelty of the item and Filipinos’ penchant for using initials every time they can (as in referring to a boss using the three initials of his full name).

When I first heard authorities talk about a second wave, it hit me with an almost apocalyptic impact, like hearing of the second coming of Christ. I later understood, and was relieved to find out, that it meant something less cataclysmic—a resurgence of massive contamination after experiencing a much-desired decrease of such. No wonder our Secretary of Health merrily used it even before we were done with our first wave.

Do you notice that everybody you talk to now ends their messages with be safe? This phrase has taken over “goodbye,” “take care,” and “see you again,” verbalized by everyone of all ages.

I remember the time when this phrase would only be used by a father secretly whispering to his son before the latter goes out on a date with his girlfriend.

There are many more entries to this lexicon. I’m sure you have your own list, too, and your feelings about each of them. It would be nice to hear from you. Meantime, staying within the confines of this COVID-19 vocabulary, let me remind you—be safe.

--------O---------YOUR WEEKEND CHUCKLE BIG QUESTION: At a movie theater, which armrest is yours?

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

Health Organization guidelines.

Marriott and Sheraton have Global Health Cleanliness Program, Hilton has Clean Stay, HiEx follows Intercontinental Hotel Group’s guidelines for COVID-19 prevention, and Megaworld Hotels’ Savoy and Belmont have Stay Safe programs.

While terminologies and a few details vary, all aforementioned programs basically focus on more rigorous cleaning than usual with the aid of expert hygiene partners. It entails identifying key touchpoints or the most frequently touched surfaces and sanitizing them regularly.

For instance, in every Hilton Manila guest room, a Clean Stay seal is placed in all key areas to assure guests that they are the first person to enter the room.

“When they pick up a telephone or a television remote, a client will wonder who touched them before, so we put a seal around the remote so you know it has been disinfected,” explained Hilton general manager Simon McGrath.

In case you’re wondering what are the 10 identified key touchpoints, these are switches and electronic controls, handles and knobs, major bathroom surfaces, climate control panels, telephones and remote controls, bed and bedding, bath amenities, hard surfaces such as desks and nightstands, closet goods, and inroom food and beverage.

Housekeeping services are also limited. At HiEx, general manager Elpidio Beloso, Jr. said the amount of time housekeeping spends in each guest room would be reduced, and for extended stays, housekeeping would be on “upon request” basis.

To ensure all protocols such as physical distancing and wearing of face masks are followed throughout the RWM property, the Anti-Virus Patrol will be deployed.

“The AVPs will tour the property to remind the staff and guests of our protocol. They will ensure safety but make sure people still enjoy because people go to Resorts World Manila to enjoy,” said

Reilly who is a trained AVP as well.

Taking advantage of technology Digital keys, QR codes, digital payment options, online check-ins, and menus on TV screens are just some of the new innovative solutions in place to promote contactless service and further reduce interaction between guests and staff.

HiEx places emphasis on contactless transactions from check-in to check-out.

“Guests will no longer be asked to sign the registration card unless required by local guidance. We are also working on a cashless journey,” said Beloso.

Hilton Manila promotes its digital key, launched two years ago, that can be used to open the door using the guest’s smartphone. How does it work? A guest can book and choose a room online using the Hilton app, and their digital key will be sent to them through the app. In addition, its room service directory and menu have been moved to the TV. Savoy and Belmont, on the other hand, will soon launch an e-concierge service.

“Megaworld Hotels’ e-concierge is a fully digital app that guests can use for mobile check-ins and check-outs, ordering online from outlets, and addressing concerns in real time,” explained general manager Avinash Menon. The app also offers cashless transactions and online guest feedback.

Hilton Manila’s digital key lets guests open their rooms using their smartphone.

Offering modified dining options and new services In addition to transparent acrylic barriers, limited capacity, and enhanced sanitation procedure, restaurants in RWM and partner hotels are promoting pick-up and delivery services. RWM’s in-house delivery service, Delishvery, is now accepting orders for Victoria Harbour Café, Silk Road, Happy 9, and Casa Buenas. Soon it will also cater to Marriott Manila and Hilton Manila.

Savoy and Belmont both launched their pick-up and takeaway services Out of the Box and B on the Go, respectively Meanwhile, the yet-to-open Hotel Okura Manila offers its exquisite Japanese cuisine for takeout. Sheraton Manila has to-go selections from S Kitchen and Oori.

Sheraton is also opening its property to remote employees, offering a “work from hotel” concept.

Sheraton’s co-working space, CoLab will be the first by the brand in Asia Pacific. It offers one-stop solution for companies and employees looking for a conducive workspace.

“The co-working space is an ample 1,300 square meters,” enthused Sheraton general manager Anna Vergara, “plus you get to work with a view of the airport and have a nice gym, pool, and restaurants a few steps away.”

(Top row, from left) Holiday Inn Express Manila general manager Elpidio Beloso, Jr., Resorts World Manila corporate communications director Joee Guilas, Hotel Okura Manila general manager Jan Marshall; (2nd row) Hilton Manila general manager Simon McGrath, Sheraton Manila Hotel general manager Anna Vergara, RWM chief operating officer Stephen Reilly; (3rd row) Marriott Hotel Manila cluster general manager Bruce Winton, and Savoy Hotel and Belmont Hotel Manila area general manager Avinash Menon talk about RWM 2.0.