Manila Standard - 2020 June 30 - Tuesday

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VOL. XXXIV • NO. 126 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

NEW COMMUTING ‘NORMAL’.

A dispatcher at a UV Express terminal in Brgy.

Molino, Bacoor, Cavite asks a passenger to step on a foot bath before allowing her to board the vehicle, while a cashier with gloves and personal protective equipment collects fares from other passengers at her booth (inset above) on Monday. Other photo shows passengers of a traditional jeepney put their fares on a moving tray operated by a pulley system to help observe physical distancing, in a pilot test ahead of the expected lifting of the ban on public utility jeepneys next week. JR Josue and Norman Cruz

No lifting of restrictions just yet Task force against virus wants quarantine controls to stay nationwide

By Vito Barcelo, Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta

T

HE national task force against the coronavirus pandemic is not recommending the lifting of community quarantine restrictions in any part of the country anytime soon, even as the situation is driving the Philippines to an economic recession, according to its chief implementer on Monday.

In a televised briefing, Secretary Carlito Galvez, National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief, said there was a need to gradually lift quarantine controls as “there will be a possibility the vigilance of adjacent provinces will disappear.”

“That's why we (in the task force) have decided that our threshold is the MGCQ (modified general Next page

On hold OFWs Rural doctors buck transfer to Cebu City in MM won't go By Willie Casas back to provinces

(DOH) plan to transfer them from their Rural health physicians in those reassigned rural municipalities in Central gions were told on June 26 they would be PHYSICIANS working in the Doctors and Western Visayas to private hospitals pulled out of their respective municipalito the Barrios (DTTB) program on Sun- in Cebu City, where the COVID-19 pan- ties to report for duty in unspecified Next page day denounced a Department of Health demic is raging.

MOST of the 8,000 stranded aspiring overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were withheld from going abroad due to the coronavirus pandemic have been refusing to go back to their provinces, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said.

At a forum on Monday, Cacdac said these aspiring OFWs were already abandoned by their manning agencies. The agency had already spent around P80 million to provide food for them since March 15.

“These are the ones who haven't been able to leave and haven't heard from their manning agencies,” he said.

“Either they failed to board their ships (for work), they have a POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration) contract, or they are trainees that have been abandoned by their manning agency,” he added.

According to Cacdac, most of them don't want to go home to their provinces in Visayas or Mindanao because they are waiting for a “crew change” for their targeted ships.

OWWA also shoulders the accommodation of around 1,000 seafarers stuck in Metro Manila.

He commended some cruise ship manning agencies for stepping up in assisting their personnel like Magsaysay

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM JUNE 29)

36,438

985 NEW

TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

643

1,255

11

9,956

270

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

FRESH

NEW

NEW

14 missing in sea collision off Occ. Mindoro

By Vito Barcelo, Willie Casas

cargo ship about 15 miles from Paluan town in Occidental Mindoro, authoriRESCUERS were searching Monday ties said. for 14 people missing after a local The boats crashed early Sunday, fishing boat collided with a Chinese capsizing the local fishing vessel

Liberty 5.

The captain of the cargo ship Vienna Wood, which is registered in Hong Kong, called for help "a few hours later" and the vessel was being

escorted to land by the Philippine Coast Guard, said agency spokesman Commodore Armando Balilo.

It was not immediately clear if the Liberty 5 had sunk.

Next page

GOLIATH AND DAVID.

Next page

Palace to POGOs: Pay taxes or go MALACAÑANG said Monday it is willing to let the Philippine offshore gaming operators or POGOs to leave the country should they fail to pay the right taxes.

“They can leave the country if they cannot pay the taxes,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.

ARRESTED. Actor and

host KC Montero (above) is one of 113 customers, including 73 foreigners (at right), who were arrested at the Skye Bar rooftop restaurant in Makati City for health and quarantine violations on Sunday night. Montero later appeared for inquest at the Makati Police headquarters (inset). Joel Zurbano, Makati Police photos

“Our position is clear: If they want to stay, they have to pay the right taxes. They have to follow the rules and regulations and health guidelines set by the government.”

But Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the government would still Next page

No Meralco disconnection till August

By Alena Mae S. Flores POWER retailer Manila Electric Co. said Monday it will not disconnect customers with unpaid bills until the end of August.

Meralco spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga, however, said customers should pay at

least one of the four- or six-month staggered bills so they would not be disconnected, adding the August timeline could still be extended.

“We have already completed our meter readings, so by the end of June all our bills will based on actual meter readings,” Zaldarriaga said.

Next page

This undated handout photo released by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on June 29 shows the massive Hong Kong registered cargo ship Vienna Wood anchored near Batangas City pier, after colliding with a local fishing boat Liberty 5 — a type of which is shown at left (inset)— which capsized off the coast of Occidental Mindoro on Monday.

AFP

WORLD COVID TOLL REACHES 500,000 WORLD / B2

AUDITOR GETS IRE FOR WIRECARD BUSINESS / B3

A2

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

News

PH halts Vietnam rice imports T But Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque stopped short of giving out figures on the volume of the country's current stocks.

The country was supposed to import 300,000 metric tons of rice from Vietnam after it lifted its ban on rice exportation, but Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said

last Friday this would no longer push through.

Vietnam serves as a major import source of the Philippines, accounting for over 90 percent of the country’s rice imports, the Department of Trade and Industry said.

It also said that the Philippines imports

around 7 percent to 14 percent of its total rice requirement.

Under the implementing rules and regulations of the Rice Tariffication Law, the President, in the event of a rice supply shortage, may direct the Secretary of Trade and Industry and the Philippine International Trading Corporation to purchase the needed rice supplies from domestic and foreign sources to enhance market competition and stabilize rice prices.

Following the notice from Agriculture Secretary William Dar, Lopez said the Department of Trade and Industryattached agency Philippine International Trading Center abandoned the rice importation plan, which was initially targeted to arrive during the lean months of July and

No lifting...

Spokesman Roque said the Philippines should not be compared with other countries without considering socioeconomic context like population, living conditions, and health system capacity.

“Please take that into account when we do our analysis. Let us not cherry pick the countries we want to compare ourselves to,” he said.

The Philippines only ranked sixth in the Western Pacific region, if the number of cases is divided on a per million population basis.

By this calculation, he said, India topped the list followed by Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Singapore.

“When we declared an ECQ, the number of cases went down and we were really able to take care of those who got sick,” Roque said.

The Palace official said the country is winning against the deadly virus “in terms of positivity rate, case-doubling rate, [and] mortality rate.”

“Did the government take the correct steps? Our answer is yes. We are not perfect. Perhaps, we could have done better.

But we’re here now. And one thing I can assure you: The President did the very best that he can and we are in control of the situation,” he added.

Of the 643 fresh cases, which refer to those whose test results were released within the last three days, 223 are from the National Capital Region, 106 are from Region 7 or Central Visayas and 314 come from other regions.

Of the 342 late cases, or those whose results were released at least four days ago, 96 are from NCR, 29 are from Region 7 and 217 are from other regions.

While NCR has long been the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in the Philippines, Cebu City and Cebu Province are now among the emerging hotspots because of the recent spike in cases.

The DOH also reported 270 new recovered patients or a total of 9,956 recoveries. Recoveries have been at more than 200 a day since June 11.

There were 11 new COVID-related deaths, bringing total fatalities to 1,255.

There are also 24,525 active cases undergoing treatment or quarantine.

Of the active cases, 23,451 (95.6 percent) are considered mild cases, 126 (0.5 percent) severe cases, 26 (0.1 percent) critical cases and 922 (3.8 percent) asymptomatic cases.

The DOH also said it removed two duplicate cases from the total tally of infections.

As of June 28, the Philippines has 53 certified polymerase chain reaction facilities and 19 GeneXpert laboratories that have tested a total of 636,291 individuals.

Some 1,313 or 36.63 percent of intensive care unit beds for COVID-19 patients are occupied while 1,883 or 22.89 percent of mechanical ventilators are in use.

President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to announce his latest directives regarding quarantine measures on Tuesday.

Earlier, a group of experts forecast that COVID-19 cases in the country could possibly reach 60,000 by July 1.

The DOH said the recent increase in cases was due to expanded testing and increased mobility in different regions after quarantine restricions were eased.

Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho, Director of the DOH Health Promotion and Communication Service, said the situation could be mitigated through continued behavioral change.

With the increase in cases in different regions, she said the public must follow infection control and prevention measures.

“According to studies, wearing a mask will reduce the chances of infection by 8 percent. If you observe physical distancing, the chance of infection drops by 80 percent. If you are wearing a face shield, the chance of infection falls by 78 percent,” Ho said.

DOH also reiterated its advice to avoid congested spaces with poor ventilation.

Meanwhile, those who have mild symptoms and lower risk are instructed to always opt to receive treatment, rest, and recover in community isolation facilities especially if the patient shares a room with other members of the household.

Meanwhile, the DOH said Sunday the number of health care workers who have contracted COVID-19 climbed to 3,360 as

of June 27.

In its daily COVID-19 report, the DOH said 2,515 of these health workers have recovered from the respiratory illness, while the death toll has remained at 33 since June 10.

The other 812 medical workers are active cases undergoing treatment or quarantine.

Of all the confirmed cases, 1,207 are nurses, 842 are doctors, 230 are nursing assistants, 135 are medical technologists, 52 are midwives, 33 are respiratory therapists, 21 are pharmacists. There are also 218 administrative staff working in health facilities, 97 utility workers, 53 dietary staff, 37 drivers, 34 barangay health workers, 19 security guards and 12 caregivers.

Also on Monday, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he believes the delay in actions and responses by the DOH has put the Philippines among the countries in Southeast Asia that have failed to contain the coronavirus.

"Something is very wrong," added the Senate leader who was among the signatories to the Senate resolution calling for the resignation of Duque over the slow response to the pandemic.

On Sunday, the DOH said there are now 69 laboratories nationwide licensed to conduct COVID-19 testing, after five more received accreditation.

The latest PCR laboratories to be certified were the San Miguel Foundation Testing Laboratory, Qualimed Hospital Sta. Rosa, and the Prime Care Alpha COVID-19 Testing Laboratory.

The GeneXpert facilities recently accedited were those of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute and the Sta. Ana Hospital.

There are also 166 other laboratories undergoing the five-step accreditation process, 147 or 89 percent of which are already on Stage 3 or above.

The licensed laboratories have tested 635,395 individuals as of June 27, yielding a positivity rate of 7.05 percent.

Meanwhile, an average of 13,514 samples were processed by 63 laboratories in the past week, 6,947 of which tested positive for COVID-19 for a weekly positivity rate of 7.91 percent.

in licensed recruitment and manning agencies closing shop in the coming months,” Geslani said in a statement Monday.

As a result of the virus which has devastated many countries especially in the Middle East, the total deployment of OFWs for the past five months has gone done by 47 percent compared to the period of January to May 2019.

He said that in 2019, deployment of OFWs reached 870,015 while in 2020 deployment so far had only reached 460,264, down by 50 percent.

For rehired OFW, it reached 618,710 in 2019 but recorded a low of 308,2587 re-hired OFWs in 2020.

New hires also suffered a huge loss of 59 percent in 2020 with only 70,990 compared to 174,398 in 2019 for the same period of January to May. “Even deployment of seafarers have considerably gone down by 62 percent

where in 2019, it recorded 215,482 while only 80,867 were hired in 2020 from January to May,” he said.

He feared that deployment of seafarers was not expected to improve in the coming months as major cruise liners who have repatriated more than 35,000 seafarers and were not expected to recall the cruise ships crews this year as cruise lines had cancelled cruises till October and even till January next year.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the Philippine government has brought home an estimated 36,625 OFWs. Geslani, however, said the near 100,000 OFWs waiting to be repatriated were only a fraction of the total number of migrant workers who may be displaced

by December 2021, citing figures from the labor department.

Earlier, Alice Visperas, director of the Department of Labor and Employ-

ment—International Labor Affairs Bureau (DOLE-ILAB) estimated that over one million Filipino workers abroad would have been displaced by December 2021.

The DOLE predicted that the number of displaced OFWs would rise from the current figure of more than 300,000 to about 600,000 by December 2020, around 800,000 by June 2021, and tipping over the one million mark by the end of next year.

The majority of OFWs expected to lose their jobs are employed in the Middle East, followed by Europe, the US, and Asia.

“This grim prediction by the DOLE will have a devastating effect on over 1,200 land and sea-based licensed recruitment and manning agencies with over 50 percent of the existing agencies not expected to survive the next few months,” Geslani said. Vito Barcelo, Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta

private hospitals in Cebu City as part of the government's COVID-19 response.

Those from Western Visayas were to report for work in Cebu from June 30 to Sept. 5, while those from Central Visayas were expected to report from June 26 to July 30.

This order was only supported by a request letter addressed to the Undersecretary of Health for Field Implementation and Coordination Team (FICT) for Visayas and Mindanao and an unsigned advanced copy of an Office Order, respectively.

“We, the Doctors to the Barrios Batches 36-ALAB and 37-MANDALA strongly condemn this directive because: 1) the involved doctors have not been suitably informed through writing, 2) no proper consultation with the stakeholders was done prior to this directive, 3) detailed guidelines and protocols to protect the doctors in this temporary reassignment are not provided, and 4) it contradicts the thrust of the DTTB Program,” said the group in a statement posted on Facebook.

The absence of proper communication to justify the temporary reassignment of rural health physicians serving in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas to serve in private hospitals in Cebu City is a clear violation of the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers, they said.

As the reassignment also involves the Doctors to the Barrios and the local government units that they serve, it is only appropriate to conduct proper consultation with all stakeholders before the directive was issued, they said.

“The DTTBs and the local chief executives should have been represented in decision-making involving this temporary reassignment. Failing to do so makes such directives exploitative for doctors and inconsiderate for the communities that they serve. There is complete disregard [of] the concerns of the doctors and the local chief executives,” the group said.

ability is concerned, it will be the Filipinos who will decide since the collision happened in our waters,” Roque said.

The wooden fishing boat was heading to Manila when the collision happened early Sunday, the Coast Guard said.

The Gabriela Women's Party urged the Coast Guard to use all possible assets to hasten the search and rescue of 14 missing fishermen, after their fishing boat was reportedly rammed by a Chinese vessel.

“It is unfortunate that this latest hitand-run mishap at sea yet again calls for a review of how our maritime safety authorities are actually protecting our fisherfolk from foreign vessels. We demand an immediate and impartial probe on this latest incident as we fervently hope that our missing fishermen are far from danger,” Gabriela said in a statement.

The PCG’s patrol boat BRP Boracay conducted search and rescue operations in Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro. Its Islander plane, as well as an additional rescue team from Batangas, also joined the search and rescue operations.The cargo vessel was on its way to Australia from Subic while the fishing boat, which came from Cagayan de Oro and Tawi-Tawi, was on its way to the Navotas Fish Port.

With AFP

Palace...

ready paying the franchise tax. But the BIR said the company would be investigated before it was cleared to close shop.

Senator Joel Villanueva said the reported exodus of the POGOS due to tax issues showed they had contributed very little to the Philippine economy.

"POGOs won't be a big loss to the Philippine economy. We should attract companies that invest in the Filipino people. Good riddance," said Villanueva, chairman of the Senate’s labor committee.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said the reported exodus of the POGOs due to tax issues was good news.

"Let them go. They’re not a big loss and we should not go after them," he said.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, urged PAGCOR to revoke the licenses of the POGOs that are failing to settle their tax deficiencies which, she said, amounted to at least P50 billion in 2019.

“PAGCOR should exercise its regulatory powers and come down hard on the tax-evading POGOs,” she said.

Roque said the POGOS’ exit would be a big loss to the Philippines’ income since the POGOs were providing billions of pesos through taxes. Vito Barcelo, Julito Rada and Macon Ramos-Araneta

plaints due to their unusually high power charges in June.

Meralco officials said that was due to the high power consumption as a result of the high temperatures and the compounded estimates during the enhanced community quarantine.

Meralco vice president and head of utility economics Lawrence Fernandez, meanwhile, said power demand continued to be low compared to the pre-ECQ levels.

He said second-quarter peak demand reached 7,000 megawatts compared with 7,600 MW during

the first quarter.

“During the second quarter, Meralco’s peak demand was around 7,000 megawatts, which was reached last June 23,” Fernandez said.

“While this is higher than the 5,500 megawatt peak in April, at the height of the enhanced community quarantine the demand was still lower than the pre-ECQ levels.”

Zaldarriaga earlier said the June bill would likely be higher, but assured customers it would contain a detailed explanation on the computations made for March, April, May and June.

HE Philippines, an erstwhile rice-exporting country, has mothballed plans to import rice from Vietnam, a fellow member in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations after what Malacanang said was enough supply of the staple grains amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

From A1

community quarantine) so we can all go forward to the new normal," Galvez added.

President Rodrigo Duterte will announce today (Tuesday) the quarantine classifications that will be implemented starting next month, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said at the same briefing.

The Philippines’ tally of COVID-19 cases topped 36,000 on Monday after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 985 more infections—643 “fresh” and 342 “late,” bringing the total to 36,438.

It is the third highest number of fresh cases reported in a single day since the DOH re-classified new cases on May 29.

Meanwhile, Galvez also said "stringent" coronavirus restrictions need to be enforced in Cebu City following a spike in infections in the key Visayas metropolis, which has become the country's new emerging COVID-19 hotspot along with Cebu province, Southern Leyte, Leyte and Samar provinces.

“We found out that stringent restrictions are still needed because the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) was not properly implemented,” he said (See related story on A1—Editors).

The Philippines has not been spared from the worldwide downturn owing to COVID-19—and if current forecasts hold up, the country will plunge into a recession for the first time in over two decades.

The economy logged a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of minus-0.2% in the first quarter of 2020, for the first time in 22 years or since 1998. If GDP growth worsens, economists and experts say the country will enter a recession, the first time the Asian financial crisis, also in 1998.

This developed as Malacanang on Monday said the Philippines is winning the war against COVID-19, disputing the observation of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) that the country has the fastest growing rate of infection in the Western Pacific region.

On hold...

From A1

Maritime Corporation, Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Inc., and United Philippine Lines, Inc. Around 66,000 stranded OFWs have returned home to their provinces since May 15, Cacdac said.

Meanwhile, more than one million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will be out of work until 2021 as the world economy continues to slump due to the coronavirus disease crisis, according to recruitment consultant and migration expert Emmanuel Geslani.

At the same time, hundreds of recruitment agencies will close shop as a result of fewer deployment of Filipino workers abroad, he added.

“With a huge number of OFWs out of the market, this would also result

14...

From A1

The authorities deployed aircraft and ships in the hunt for the missing people, who included 12 Filipino crew members and two passengers.

Strong ocean currents interrupted the search Sunday evening, but operations resumed early Monday.

Occidental Mindoro Gov. Eduardo Gadiano said nearby towns were notified of the incident in case any of the missing fishermen wash up on their shores.

The Palace said the Philippines would take legal action against the Hong Kong-flagged cargo ship that hit the Filipino fishing boat.

In a televised press briefing, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the incident would be governed by local laws since it happened within the Philippines’ territorial waters.

“This is an issue of Philippine admiralty law because the collision occurred in Philippine territorial waters,” Roque said.

“There is no international law application here other than foreign flag ships can sail through under the concept of innocent passage but as far as account-

From A1

collect the taxes owed by the POGOS that intend to close their operations here.

The state-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. over the weekend confirmed that two offshore gaming firms, including a unit of Macau’s gambling giant Suncity Group, had already left the country.

Citing a report from the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Dominguez said one of the Pogos (Don Tences Asian Services Solutions Inc.) was a local licensee and was al-

No...

From A1

“Our current situation now is that we handle concerns of customers individually. We will address and we will continue engaging all of our customers one-onone. It is definitely challenging, but we understand also that there are still questions.”

Zaldarriaga says Meralco’s priority is “keeping the lights on” during this pandemic, when most people stay at home.

Meralco drew many customer com-

August.

The PITC is the agency tasked to implement any directive from the Department of Agriculture to import rice under a G2G arrangement, pursuant to the Rice Tariffication Law. “The provisions of the RTL basically opens up rice importation to any private group,” Lopez said.

“It will be recalled that the initial decision for the G2G importation plan was a result of the potential threat to maintaining a good buffer supply of rice for the country. Earlier computations from DA showed a threat to the targeted level of buffer stock following the imposed ban of rice exportation of Vietnam in April,” Lopez said.

Gas up P0.70/l, kerosene P0.40, diesel by P0.30

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE oil companies raised pump prices

by P0.70 per liter of gasoline, P0.40 per liter of kerosene and P0.30 per liter of diesel effective at 6 a.m. today, Tuesday.

Pilipinas Shell, Phoenix Petroleum, PTT Philippines, Seaoil Philippines, Cleanfuel and PetroGazz issued separate advisories of their latest price adjustments.

Unioil Philippines forecast that diesel prices would go up by P0.30 to P0.40 per liter and gasoline by P0.40 to P0.50 per liter over the weekend.

Before the price increases announced for Tuesday, the total year-to-date adjustments stood at a net decrease of P5.67 per liter of gasoline, P9.14 per liter of diesel and P13.39 per liter of kerosene, according to data from the Energy department.

The oil companies have also started charging the additional 10-percent tax on crude and petroleum products as provided in Executive order 113.

Malacañang imposed the tax on May 2 to help finance the measures aimed at easing the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

But consumer advocacy group Laban Konsyumer Inc. president Vic Dimagiba said the collection of the higher duty should stop.

“For everybody’s information, the collection of the 10- percent tariff on fuel products ended on June 25, 2020, based on Section 7 of Executive Order 113,” Dimagiba said.

Rural...

From A1

News BOC-NAIA agents seize ecstasy, kush on CMEC parcels

By Joel E. Zurbano and Vito Barcelo GOVERNMENT agents intercepted another smuggled shipment of ecstasy and cannabis worth P2 million at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City.

The Customs-Port of Ninoy Aquino International Airport turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency the prohibited drugs that were discovered through random parcel profiling and K9 sweeping at CMEC. The shipment of 547 grams of marijuana was misdeclared as “Gift” and was shipped from Netherlands via DHL Parcel. The consignee was identified as Mark Lumanlan Chavez, a resident of Park Avenue Mansion, Park Avenue Street, Unit 1430, Pasay City.

The second parcel, containing 28 grams of kush marijuana, was declared as “Adult Toys” and came from Nantwich, Cheshire, United Kingdom.

The shipment is consigned to an individual residing at 120 Harvard corner Stanford Streets, Provident Village, Barangay Jesus Dela Peña, Marikina City.

The third parcel, containing 500 pieces of ecstasy pills, has no declaration with no shipper’s details and consigned to Ken Kenneth Rosales, a resident of of 2564 Tres Borces Street, Mabolo, Cebu City.

Customs district collector Carmelita “Mimel” Talusan said the ecstasy tablets were discovered hidden inside different parcels.

“The raw ecstasy from Netherlands was declared as a gift, while the marijuana from Great Britain was declared as adult toys",” she said.

Next bar exams to be held after Feb. 2021—SC

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court on Monday announced that the next Bar examinations will not be held earlier than February 2021.

In a bulletin, Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, the 2020 Bar chairman, said that the Court en banc resolved to announce the schedule of the next examinations to a later date to give time for a "more considered deliberation."

"For the guidance of all concerned, however, please note that the next Bar examinations will definitely not be held at a date earlier than February 2021," Leonen said.

The SC earlier decided to defer the 2020 Bar examinations to 2021 in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The next Bar exams will be held in Manila and Cebu City.

Before the pandemic, the country’s licensure test for lawyers was usually held on the four Sundays of November each year at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila.

In the 2019 Bar exams, 2,103 of 7,685 examinees passed, with Mae Diane Azores of the University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi as the topnotcher.

Last week, the country's new lawyers took their oath through videoconferencing. They will become fullfledged lawyers upon their signing of the roll of attorneys.

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020

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ABS-CBN pleads House for fairness

By Maricel V. Cruz

T

HE National Telecommunications Commission on Monday threatened to halt the airing of programs of ABS-CBN Corp. on Channel 43 of AMCARA Broadcasting Network and on the network's TV Plus digital box.

This prompted ABS-CBN president and chief executive officers Carlo Katigbak to appeal for fairness and due process before legislators at the continuation of hearing of the House joint committees on legislative franchises and good government and public accountability on the network's bid for renewal

of franchise.

Katigbak said that Channel 43 of AMCARA, where shows of ABS-CBN continue to air under a block time arrangement, was not covered by the cease and desist order that the NTC issued last May 5.

"The reason we continue to see our

channels on TVPlus is we have a block time arrangement with AMCARA...

This is common in the broadcast industry," he told lawmakers.

A block time arrangement is a standard commercial arrangement where a company is allowed to buy airtime from a duly licensed broadcaster.

"Of course, we are willing to submit our judgment to the regulatory agency.

Our only request is to make sure we are given due process so we have the right venue to express our position on this matter," he appealed.

Katigbak also said that Congress had been allowing companies with expired

franchises to continue operations for as long as their renewal application is pending.

"Our appeal to Congress is, in the spirit of fairness, please consider that you have allowed other companies to operate before even after their franchises have expired for so long as Congress continues to hear their application for a renewal," he told lawmakers.

"There are about 11 million homes that have access to our service. If we cut it, that’s almost 55 million people that will lose access to their entertainment, their news and information," Katigbak lamented.

IN BRIEF 170 Pinoy seafarers sent home for crew change ANOTHER fresh batch of Filipino merchant mariners due for crew change were sent out via chartered flight Sunday, June 28, organized by Peter Döhle Schiffahrts- KG, principal of Döhle Seafront (Manila) Inc. Lawyer Iris Baguilat, President of Döhle Seafront (Manila) Inc., said about 170 seafarers has left NAIA Terminal 1 7p.m.via Condor Air DE8587.

She said the airline has arrived Saturday, June 27 and brought home some of their crew, and once again shared the seats for free to other seafarers and overseas Filipino workers who wanted to be repatriated but stranded for months in some ports and places in Europe.

The airline has also brought home German Ambassador to PH Anke Reiffenstuel after availing one of the said free seats.

HDI biz permits may be cancelled

POWER CHAT. Defeat Covid19 Committee Co-Chairman and House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez (center) chats with ABS-

CBN President and COO Carlo Katigbak (right) and ABS-CBN Chairman Martin Lopez (left) before the start of the Joint Hearing of the Committee on Legislative Franchises and Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability at the Plenary of the House of Representatives. Ver Noveno

DOJ chief Guevarra nominated to SC justice post JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra has been nominated for a Supreme Court associate justice’s post that will be left vacant when Associate Justice Jose Reyes reaches his mandatory retirement age of 70 years old on September 18, 2020.

In a two-page letter to Judicial and Bar Council, retired Associate Justice Raoul Victorino recommended Guevarra’s nomination to the SC post, saying the Justice Secretary “possesses the necessary credentials, professional experience and the motivation to discharge the duties of an associate justice of the Supreme Court.”

This would be the second time that Victorino nominated Guevarra to the SC post. The first time was in October 2019 when then Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta was appointed chief justice.

Guevarra had declined the nomination, saying he was “still in love with the DOJ (Department of Justice)" but intimated that the SC will always be in his mind.

If appointed to the SC, the Justice Secretary, who is 66 years old, still has four years before reaching the mandatory retirement age for justices.

According to Victorino, he believes that Guevarra will find his “true love”

on the other side of Padre Faura Street, referring to the SC Building “This time, I believe, Guevarra, in replying to his previous nomination to the High Court, intimated that he is still in love with the Department of Justice.

This statement merely exemplifies the loyalty and dedication of the man, to public service and the pursuit of justice, in our Republic,” Victorino said.

“This time, I believe, is that he will meet his true love to the other side part of Padre Faura, Manila. May his love for justice move the Secretary of Justice to the glorious and historic halls of the Supreme Court,” he added. Rey E. Requejo

THE Office of the City Prosecutor in Quezon City has found probable cause to charge in court the directors of three related outdoor advertising firms for violating the Anti-Dummy Law and the prohibition of foreign ownership of mass media in the country.

In a resolution filed March 9, 2020 but only made available on June 10, the city prosecutor found probable cause to charge Chia Tzu Chern, Darmo N. Castillo, Margie M. Fortin, and Joel Mendoza, directors of the sister companies HDI Stopovers Inc., HDI Adventures Inc., and HDI Admix Inc. They are liable for three counts of violation of Section 2-A Commonwealth Act No. 108, or the Anti Dummy Law, and another three counts of violating Section 2, in relation to Section 5, of Presidential Decree (PD) 1018, limiting the ownership and management of mass media to citizens of the Philippines, according to the filing.

Violating PD 1018 has a penalty of cancellation of company permits and an imprisonment of six months to five years for the persons involved.

A letter dated January 11, 2016 from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), providing an opinion that HDI is a mass media entity, and the 20162017 General Information Sheet (GIS) of HDI revealing that 30% of the company is owned by a Singaporean bolstered the decision of the QC prosecutor.

Belmonte unveils QC’s mobile community testing unit

By Rio N. Araja QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Monday unveiled the city's own mobile community testing unit, the first-ever in the country, to fight the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) The modified truck would help complement the city’s strategy of tracing, isolating and testing more residents

from various communities, she said.

“With this mobile testing unit, our team can further its efforts in testing more people who need to be isolated immediately,” she added.

She thanked the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Quezon City for the donation of the mobile community testing unit to be managed by the city government's Epidemiology

and Surveillance under the Health Department.

Sarah Deloraya-Mateo, PCCI-QC president, said the donation is part of the business sector's corporate social responsibility to help slow down the spread of COVID-19 that has badly impacted the private sector.

“We will use this mobile testing unit to test areas with high attack rate, high

active cases, and also those areas that are under special concern lockdown,” ESU head Dr. Rolly Cruz said.

Belmonte said village officials and other barangay frontliners would also be prioritized in the testing unit.

The truck would be manned by three to five people and could conduct rapid diagnostic tests and polymerase chain reaction tests.

Police break up illegal assembly at SC of rallyists linked to PECO

VIRTUAL COMMENCEMENT. Some 19 honors graduates attended the 22nd Commencement exercises of Universidad De Manila on Monday, June 29, 2020, and 1,287 other graduates were in attendance. Many schools have conducted virtual end ceremonies to follow the government's ban on mass gathering amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Norman Cruz

THE Manila police barricaded the street fronting the Supreme Court yesterday morning to stop a group rooting for the almost century-old utility firm Panay Electric Co. whose case questioning its loss of its operation of the electricity distribution business after the expiration of its franchise in January 2019.

Manila Police Department Station 5 commander Lt. Col. Ariel Caramoan said the police were deployed to protect the Supreme Court from the rallyists under the omnibus guidelines issued by the national government during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fifty-five police personnel from MPD’s Station 5 said any gathering by any group is prohibited by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Managing Emerging Infectious Diseases while community quarantine is in effect.

Any violators of the ongoing prohi-

bition on mass gathering and failure to comply with physical distancing rules could be arrested and jailed for illegal assembly under the Revised Penal Code, Caramoan said.

The group identified as the Ilonggo Consumers Movement had sent an invitation to the media to provide coverage to their protest action before the Supreme Court, according to Tuesday Calma, who identified herself as coordinator of the group.

Calma said they wanted to protest the loss of control by PECO of the operations of the electricity distribution system in Iloilo City and wanted to rally the SC to act on a case questioning the constitutionality of Congress’ granting of the franchise to another company.

She said her group decided to cancel its rally and proceed to the nearby Max’s Restaurant instead to hold a media conference.

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor

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TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020 lgu@manilastandard.net editor.lgustandard@gmail.com

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

READY FOR GUESTS. Workers at The Bellevue Resort in Panglao, Bohol

demonstrate the strict safety measures they have in place to welcome back guests and tourists under the new normal under the coronavirus pandemic.

Robes birthday bash benefits lady trike drivers

By Orlan L. Mauricio SAN JOSE DEL MONTE CITY – San Jose Del Monte Rep. Florida “Rida” Robes kicked off a series of public service events benefitting lady tricycle drivers and other persons here in time for her birthday over the weekend.

The events were Robes’ way of expressing gratitude for the trust and support given to her by the people of this Bulacan city.

Mindful of social distancing protocols amid the COVID-19 public health crisis, majority of the events in the three-day thanksgiving project, from June 25 to June 27, were held at the SJDM Sports Complex in Barangay Minuyan Proper.

The first day started with distribution of medicines, followed by a meeting with persons with disabilities (PWDs), and a prayer session. By noontime, Robes led the distribution of gift packs, containing assorted groceries placed inside a reusable plastic pail, calling the activity “Timba Pa More Para sa Taga-Lungsod.” Participants wore facemasks and practiced physical distancing.

On the second day (June 26), Robes distributed financial aid to disadvantaged persons under the “Dagdag Ayuda” program, followed by a dialogue with the lady tricycle drivers, who were the major beneficiaries of her birthday gifts.

On Saturday, Robes brought her “Kusina ni Ate Rida” team to feed people in 59 barangays.

When asked why she chose to hold such activities instead of just simply celebrating her birthday, she said: “More than being consistent with my role as a public servant, I want to spread happiness among San Joseños, whose lives have been drastically changed by the pandemic.”

“It’s just a small gesture, but hopefully it assures them that I am working hard to make sure each person will be taken care of. Like I always say, ‘Nobody will be left behind in SJDM.’ This has made my birthday celebration more meaningful,” she added.

Mayors call for men to care for families L

OCAL chief executives nationwide have urged men from all over the country to involve themselves deeper in the overall welfare of their families, particularly when it comes to responsible parenting and family planning.

The mayors have thrown their support to this cause in time for the recent celebration of Father’s Day, noting the critical role of the elder male in the family in providing a better level of care for his wife or partner, a more invested concern in the holistic growth of their child or children, as well as the development of their family members as basic units of structure of communities.

Specifically, they have pitched-in for the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM)’s program for male involvement known as “KATROPA” (Kalalakihang Tapat sa Responsibilidad at Obligasyon sa Pamilya), which calls for men to be more responsible and proactive participants as marital

partners, fathers, and even as father-figures to their communities.

City and municipal leaders who have lent their voices in support of KATROPA include Pasig City Mayor Victor Ma. Regis “Vico” Sotto, Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez, and San Juan City Mayor Francisco Javier “Francis” Zamora.

The first two have already vowed to back the movement through their video messages posted in the “Usap Tayo Sa Family Planning” Facebook page (@UsapTayoSaFP), which have gained considerable engagements in the social media network.

In their testimonials, Mayor Sotto underscored the importance of revisiting the current mindset of the heads of the families in protecting the persons under their care, especially their wives or partners, and more so in the area of family planning.

For his part, Mayor Gomez vouched for the effectiveness of KATROPA as important in realigning the psyche of Filipino men from a “macho” standpoint to a more conscientious and dynamic participant in the development of their respective families.

Both mayors have committed for male employees of their respective local government units to undergo KATROPA orientations.

Meanwhile, POPCOM’s executive

director, Undersecretary Juan Antonio Perez III, MD, MPH, acknowledged the mayors’ sincere support for the effectiveness of the KATROPA movement.

He noted that men are slowly realizing the importance of their positions in molding the future and total wellbeing of their families.

“The nationwide rollout of KATROPA has been steadily and positively influencing our fathers and male partners in imparting that their impact in the growth and development of their families is unmistakable,” Perez said.

“I urge them to reach out to our regional offices to know and learn more about being heavily involved in rearing their families, in proactively participating in family planning, and protecting their loved ones during this time of a health crisis. We sincerely thank all mayors who have shared their voices to this noteworthy undertaking,” he added.

Governors, other mayors from the provinces, civic leaders, broadcasters, and prominent professionals have also signified their willingness to back the movement.

To date, 88,576 Filipino males have enlisted for KATROPA. POPCOM’s regional offices are accepting applications and can help organize pocket orientations through online platforms. Jimbo Gulle

CDC launches ‘State of the Art’ online exhibit CLARK FREEPORT – The Clark Development Corp. (CDC) continues to explore measures to promote arts and tourism in Clark amidst the pandemic – this time, by launching its first-ever ‘State of the Art’ online exhibit.

The online exhibition consists of 45 unique artworks proudly made by 25 Pampanga-based artists, which are all posted at a designated website that can be accessed through https://clarkmuseum. wixsite.com/stateoftheart.

The artists found solace during the quarantine period by expressing themselves through their paintings, thus giving birth to ‘State of the Art’.

One Kapampangan artist, Dodgie Aguinaldo, said art has become his therapy to ease his anxiety brought by the pandemic.

“I always make colorful artworks that reflect positivity. Since we are still in the ‘dark’, the pop of colors will bring joy to those who will see it,” he said.

The inspiration behind the artworks is the theme “We heal as one,”, which depicts daily life during the quarantine.

The ‘State of the Art’ online exhibit was made possible by CDC’s Tourism Promotions Division (TPD), which aims to bring the Clark Museum into homes by

utilizing technology.

At the same time, the online platform encourages everyone to stay at home where they can still access, view and enjoy the virtual gallery for free at the comfort of their own homes.

‘State of the Art’ shows us how Filipinos use their talents and skills to produce something that can be a source of hope, inspiration and strength during these difficult times.

In support of our local artists, those who are interested in buying a piece from the gallery may fill up an online form at https://clarkmuseum.wixsite.com/stateoftheart. Romeo Dizon

Bohol resort gears up for new normal IN PREPARATION for the reopening of the tourism industry in Bohol province, The Bellevue Resort has put in place stringent health measures under the “new normal” regime in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The luxury resort in Panglao was recognized as the model establishment, as it was the first to implement strict safety protocols to help restore visitor confidence in one of the country’s top tourist destinations.

On top of the typical prescribed practices, its guest rooms undergo rigorous cleaning and disinfecting using ultra-violet light sanitation device and NASA-level, high-grade, food-safe Hygiene Pro solution.

Rooms are also provided with disinfecting kits using eco-friendly, WHOlisted, USFDA-approved D-125 disinfecting solutions.

The Bellevue Resort’s outbreak readiness and response procedures outline the basics of infection prevention and control in a hotel setting based on the guidelines set by the World Health Organization and the Department of Health.

The resort’s precautionary measures emerged with stronger protocols to reduce risk and also paved the way to innovation and digital transformation in the property’s operations.

The resort has been certified by the Department of Tourism certification as having met the standards of a Covered Accommodation Establishment under Section 4 of Administrative Order No. 2020-001B. Bellevue is the first five-star resort in the tourist island and recipient of the prestigious Asean Green Resort Award (2016 to 2018) and the DOT’s Anahaw Zero Carbon Resorts for Sustainable Tourism Awards.

Recognized nationally as a model for successful local government response in preventing the spread of COVID-19, Bohol will be among the initial tourist destinations to be gradually reopened by the DOT in the next few weeks.

SM Marilao unveils ‘Buddy’ chatbot app CHATBOT may sound like a science fiction. But when social isolation and distancing became the new norm, chatbot is one of the dependable solutions to connect to customers and ensure easy, safe and efficient shopping.

With this in mind, SM City Marilao introduces “SM Buddy”, a chat bot and virtual mall guide that provides accessible and personalized shopping experience to customers.

This Facebook Messenger bot answers queries, gives relevant recommendations and provides support any time of the day. Because social media is the digital platform we use on a daily basis, shoppers may visit SM City Marilao page on facebook and select “Message Us” option to chat with SM Buddy.

“SM City Marilao rolled out SM Buddy to continue to connect with our shoppers while attending to their shopping needs any time and on any device,” says SM City Marilao Mall Manager Emmanuel Gatmaitan.

Providing helpful, fun, and unique experiences for shoppers; SM Buddy gives immediate insight on take-out, pick-up and delivery services, online events, games, catalogue and special deals that SM City Marilao offers. It also assists shoppers in making reservations, appointments and eases ordering through a simple chat-to-order process.

“Shoppers can get instant access to helpful information and updates right in their messengers. This will help them to stay safe while providing them accessible and personalized shopping experience,” said SM City Marilao Assistant Mall Manager Janette Aguilera.

With SM Buddy, SM City Marilao continues to provide smart and efficient solutions as it ushers new era of customer experience. For more information follow SM City Marilao on Facebook and Instagram. Jun David

Village protests cell tower erection in Bataan town HERMOSA, Bataan -- Village residents here have petitioned against the construction of a Huawei cell site tower in Purok 3, Barangay Balsik, this town.

Daisy Enriquez, leader of complaining residents, said they have already submitted the petition to the Department of Interior Local Government Region 3 and the Sangguniang Bayan.

She said 88 Balsik residents signed the petition.

“There was no consultation done among village residents for the project. This project has impact to our lives, we should have consulted,” Enriquez said.

“There will be devaluation of our properties once the facility is constructed, and there are also some health concerns,” she said.

“Our position is for Huawei to build their cell site tower at other parts of Her-

mosa or somewhere else,” Enriquez said.

The facility site is a residential area and the required cell site tower distance to residence is not being followed, the residents asserted in their petition.

Barangay Balsik Captain Jerry Asuncion claimed the barangay council has already passed a resolution approving the project, but Enriquez said he not showing residents a copy of the measure.

“They have started construction and erected posts without the permit from the municipal government,” she said.

The Hermosa Office of the Building Official had issued a work stoppage order dated June 4, 2020 to Huawei Technologies Philippines Inc. for the construction of the cell site tower, requiring the company to secure first a permit from their office.

Butch Gunio

‘SMILE’ DONATIONS. Operation Smile Philippines (OSP) has used a $10,000 (about P500,000) grant from global headquarters to purchase 1,000 complete sets of PPEs (personal protective equipment) that were distributed to 19 hospitals in Metro Manila and three in Quezon Province. Pictured are recipients at the Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center and Dr Jill Gonzales-Ponce (in green) and her team.

Opinion Pillars of our environmental community EAGLE EYES

TONY LA VIÑA JUNE is environment month. This is because major environmental conferences were held in this month: in June 1972, Stockholm, Sweden (United Nations Conference on the Human Environment); in 1992, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (United Nations Conference on Environment and Development); in 2002, Johannesburg, South Africa (World Summit on Sustainable Development; and in 2012, again in Rio de Janeiro (United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development or Rio+20). All these conferences provided momentum to the work on the environment in many places, including the Philippines. I am lucky to have participated in this work from the 1992 conference up to the present.

I thank them for their contributions to the intergenerational work on the environment.

Before environment month ends, I thought that it would be good to pause and remember pillars of the environmental community of practice that passed to eternal life during this period of the pandemic, not necessarily of COVID-19 as some died of other illnesses.

But the pandemic stopped us from big celebrations of their lives, where we could thank them for their contributions to the intergenerational work on the environment.

I remember former Environment Secretary Fulgencio Factoran, who was the DENR Secretary during the Rio conference in 1992. He died on April 5 after a lingering illness. Our professional relationship, which became a friendship later, began in 1988—when I was still working for the Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center and a strong critic of some decisions of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) at that time, including its approval of the Mount Apo Geothermal Plant being proposed by PNOC and its promotion of the Industrial Forest Management program. In spite of that, he appreciated the role I was playing, On my part, I admired Factoran as one of the giants of human rights lawyering, having seen his work with the anti-Marcos lawyer’s organization during martial law.

When I joined the DENR in 1996 to become undersecretary, I went to Factoran for advice and he was generous with that and all throughout my stint in that office. For sure, he always had our backs in all the crises we faced

and the ones I managed Through the years, Jun and I stayed in touch, aligned in how we thought about political, human rights, and environmental issues. And when I joined the Rappler Board last year, he was there to welcome me in my first meeting.

On environmental governance, the main contribution of FSF, as we called him, was the creation of the DENR. Having come from Malacanang where he was Deputy Executive Secretary and trusted by Cory Aquino, he had a free hand in creating the department which put together the traditional natural resources extraction agencies—Bureaus of Forestry, Mines, and Lands—with the newer environmental agencies whose mandate was protection and anti-pollution. The theory was that putting together the conflicting mandates of extraction (the most environmentally harmful activities like logging, mining, and land conversion) and protection (environmental regulations, protected areas) would assure us a balanced approach and outcome - consistent with sustainable development. It also gave the environment secretary enormous political clout - he had carrots (logging concessions, mining rights, and land titles) to give out and sticks (environmental impact assessment, the Pollution Adjudication Board, protected areas system) he could use as needed.

How successful that system has been is subject to debate but it was definitely visionary and ambitious at that time. In those days, our leaders could be giants and think big for the country, innovate and imagine how to move us forward, unlike the pettiness of the last two decades.

His management team also reflected these two mandates—with Ric Umali representing the development approach and Celso Roque and Delfin Ganapin pushing the environmental perspective, with Vic Ramos (who was my boss in the DENR), Bebet Gozun (who also became DENR Secretary), and Yoyong Magdaraog, among others, balancing the two tendencies. Factoran, being a protege of Paeng Salas, also paid attention to building up DENR’s cadre of younger officials, like Aimee Gonzalez and many others.

I should also mention here Rolly Metin, who worked with Secretary Factoran and later became undersecretary to Secretary Gozun.

Rolly died a month after Jun, also of another illness. While he may not be as famous as the two secretaries he served, Rolly was the consummate administrator and manager of big and small bureaucracies, someone you could completely trust to act with integrity and to deliver agreed outcomes. He may be lesser known but Rolly Metin was also a pillar of the environmental community.

In the next column, I will write about three other pillars of the environmental community that passed to eternal life in these past few months: former Senator Heherson Alvarez, the forester Pat Dugan, and the activist Obet Verzola.

Facebook page: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

Lawmakers slam ‘overpriced’ P1.8-B fertilizer supply deal ABOUT TOWN

ERNESTO M. HILARIO THE Department of Agriculture recently conducted a series of negotiated biddings for supply contracts of urea fertilizer worth P1.8 billion intended for distribution to four regions, namely Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Western Visayas and Central Visayas.

The deal, however, is being questioned by the Makabayan bloc of party-list lawmakers in the House of Representatives.

They have filed House Resolution No. 992 seeking a joint inquiry by the Committees on Agriculture and Food and Good Government and Public Accountability on the procurement.

The lawmakers cited monitoring by the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas showing that the average retail price of urea in the regions covered by the supply contracts was lower by as much as P150 per bag (Tarlac at P850 per bag, Nueva Ecija at P830 to P870 per bag and Iloilo at P880 per bag).

The lawmakers said the four supply contracts may be overpriced by some P271.66 million, which could have been used to buy 400,000 more bags at an average of P850 per bag.

"The DA must have the sense to put on hold and/or suspend 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 is given clarity," the lawmakers said.

The resolution was signed by Bayan Muna party-list representatives Eufemia Cullamat, Carlos Zarate and Ferdinand Gaite, Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro and Kabataan party-list Rep. Sarah Elago.

Funding for the supply contracts came from

the DA's stimulus program Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat Kontra COVID-19 (ALPAS sa COVID-19), which allocated P5.69 billion for urea fertilizer at P990 to P995 per bag.

Suppliers La Filipina Uy Gongco Corporation and Atlas Fertilizer bagged the initial four contracts last month amounting to P1.8 billion. Farmers, however, have complained that the P990 to P995 price tag per bag of the winning bidders was overpriced by as much as P150.

The Makabayan bloc is having none of Dar’s explanation.

Joseph Canlas, chairman of the Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon, said recent purchases of urea fertilizer showed a bag would cost only P830 in Tarlac, P810 in Pangasinan, and P840 in Nueva Ecija.

Even Oftociano Manalo, national president of P4MP, a national alliance of rural-based organizations affiliated with the DA's Agricultural Training Institute, also said the P990 to P995 per bag retail price does not exist.

"I personally bought two bags of urea fertilizer—one costing P830 and the other only P810. And these bags were delivered to my house, which is at least 6 kilometers away from the outlet in Rosales, Pangasinan...They are making fools out of us," Manalo said.

Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) chairman Rosendo So said the DA was in a position to negotiate for a lower contract price since it was buying in bulk and was dealing with importers. "The DA claims the higher contract price would cover distribution costs but it is the same for retail outlets.

In fact, for retail stores, you go through the importer, the distributor, and the dealer until it reaches the retailer. And at every step there is additional cost, yet the retail price

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020

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Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

T

Good riddance

WO offshore gaming companies have left the country and more are expected to follow suit, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) said over the weekend.

the hugger-mugger of the industry.

A PAGCOR primer sought to address the criticism of the industry, but opposition to the online gambling companies—which are banned from operating in China—remains strong.

In an interview with CNN, Domingo said racist attitudes toward Chinese POGO workers were endangering the industry and depriving Filipinos of jobs.

“It’s very racist. In fact, we are losing some business. There are operators who have signified that they will close down here and transfer to a different jurisdiction where the people In a statement, PAGCOR chair and chief aren’t that racist,” Domingo told CNN Philipexecutive Andrea Domingo confirmed that pines.

Suncity, a unit of Macau’s gambling giant Suncity Group and the leading casino junket operator in Asia, has left the country over We do need the “tax issues” with the government.

She also warned that more are leaving the money, but this Philippines, which she said will hurt not only country can and must government revenues but also the more than 30,000 Filipinos working for the online gamdo better. bling companies.

PAGCOR Assistant Vice-President for the Offshore Gaming and Licensing Department She also defended the fact that of the Jose S. Tria, Jr. said 13 POGO service provid- 120,000 POGO workers, only 31,600 are ers have already closed shop, mostly because of Filipino, saying the companies need Mandastringent tax rules. rin-speaking employees because most of their “There are other jurisdictions that have online gambling clients are Chinese. opened up offering better tax rates and [a] She also said the industry has contributed friendlier environment. Some [POGOs] also can some P20 billion in the last four years through no longer take the criticisms they get each day license payments and various taxes, and that make them feel unwelcome in our country,” pumped some P25 billion into the real estate the PAGCOR official said, alluding to questions sector through leases for the tens of thousands being raised about the large-scale hiring of Chi- of Chinese workers. nese nationals as opposed to local workers, and a But Senate hearings earlier this year reafrise in crime and other social ills associated with firmed the case against POGOS: the limited

hiring of Filipinos by gaming operators, the non-payment of taxes, minimal contribution to the domestic economy, the role of organized crime in trafficking workers, corruption in the processing of work permits, the security threat posed by the proliferation of Chinese-dominated gaming centers, and the popular perception that the Duterte administration is promoting POGOs at the expense of other industries.

After all, they were allowed to operate even during the COVID-19 lockdown because government officials claimed they provide an “essential service.”

PAGCOR may be barking up the wrong tree when it links the POGO exodus to racist attitudes. Anti-Chinese sentiment, after all, has been building up over Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea, and this government’s apparent willingness to bend over backwards to appease Beijing.

Giving favorable treatment to companies that offer greater employment opportunities to foreigners than local workers by a ratio of 3-to1 simply exacerbates any anti-Chinese sentiment that was largely absent before Beijing’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea. A critic of the administration, Senator Leila de Lima, succinctly asks the questions most of us want answered. “Why are these POGOs being recognized and extolled here, and given the status and perks of a legitimate enterprise, when they are outlawed in their country of origin?” she says. “Where is the logic and the morality of it all? This legal and social anomaly is unacceptable.”

If there is indeed an exodus of POGOs, we say good riddance to bad rubbish. We do need the money, but this country can and must do better.

Jeepneys and GDP THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, the government agency that runs public transportation, may move at a glacially slow pace, but at least there is—such as it is—motion.

Effective yesterday, on top of the 38 Metro Manila routes that were opened earlier for the new type of minibuses, another 30 were added for traditional jeepneys. At the same time, 47 routes were opened between the capital region and other parts of the country for use by pointto-point UV Express vehicles.

This is good news for the 55,000-odd jeepney drivers who lost their livelihoods during the lockdown. Many of them were reduced to begging on the streets. It is also good news for our GDP—not just from all those drivers, but also from the thousands of commuters who’ve been prevented from contributing to the national product by government’s failure to let them commute to and from work.

What LTFRB is silent about, though, is what physical modifications they’ll be requiring—if any—to those liberated jeepneys. An Inquirer story interviewed Edwin Quilaton, an out-ofwork jeepney driver who’s found a new livelihood installing plastic partitions between the two rows of jeepney seats and every one meter along the seats.

He says the whole fix-up costs only one thousand pesos. If true, there’s no reason why those cheap partitions shouldn’t be made mandatory, thereby easing public fears about resuming their jeepney rides. *** Unforced errors like delays in meeting public transport needs have been a factor behind what BSP Governor Diokno recently admitted was “the negative impact of the COVID-19 crisis [that was] harsher than originally thought.”

From a first-quarter contraction of 0.2 percent, GDP is expected to contract further in the 2nd quarter by a much higher 5.7 to 6.7 percent. At this pace, the whole-year contraction for 2020 may range from 2 to 3.4 percent, the first such contraction in over two decades. This places us squarely between Vietnam and Indonesia who’re expected to post positive—albeit

average is only P850. The DA went straight to the importer, but the price is P995 per bag.

What kind of deal is that?” So said.

Worse, the DA disqualified a supplier who tendered a bid of P850 per bag of urea, citing the supplier's lack of available stocks of the fertilizer. But one of the winning bidders, La Filipina Uy Gongco, also did not have stocks on hand, despite the higher bid price of P990 and P995 per bag.

The alleged overpriced fertilizer further raised suspicion because news reports stated that the winning bidder, La Filipina, does not also have available stocks of urea fertilizer nor has it shown any bill of lading to prove that it had incoming supply yet it still bagged the contract," the Makabayan bloc said in their resolution.

A bill of lading would indicate a detailed list of shipment of goods in the form of a receipt given by the carrier to the person consigning the goods.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar has denied any irregularity in the supply contracts, citing a survey by the department's Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority which showed that the aver-

FORMATION

GARY OLIVAR very slow—GDP growth this year of 1.2 and 0.7 percent, respectively, and Singapore and Thailand who’ll be contracting even more deeply, by 5 percent.

Thousands of commuters were prevented from contributing to the national product by government’s failure to let them commute to and from work.

The BSP is already doing a yeoman’s job after coming up most recently with a surprise 50 b.p. cut in the overnight rate. But we may already be caught in a liquidity trap, since the banks, instead of hiking their lending, are choosing instead to park their liquidity in safe instruments like excess reserve deposits with the BSP itself. No matter how cheap their loanable funds may be, they’re still fearful of lending--and rightly so.

At this point, it’s fear that will hold back our recovery. For this reason, it’s even more important for our officials to start using their coconuts and, in a very public and reassuring way, put all the by-now familiar public hygiene safeguards in place while they move even more aggressively to open up public transport, workplaces, and—yes—churches. Common sense and urgency of action—these aren’t too much to ask from our leaders.

age price of urea was from P1,043 to P1,062 per bag from March to May. "At less than P1,000 per 50-kg bag, we are already saving a lot for the government,” Dar said.

The Makabayan lawmakers are having none of Dar's explanation, and neither are farmers convinced by his argument.

The KMP has already called for the filing of graft charges against DA officials involved in the bidding, while the Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to start a motu proprio investigation.

With the House expected to look into the matter soon, even Senator Cynthia Villar has expressed her intention to call for a Senate probe.

The alleged overpricing of fertilizer for farmers is unfortunate, particularly since it has taken place amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and the government already scrounging for more funds to assist those sectors adversely affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

The government's economic stimulus funds are intended to help farmers who have been pushed into even deeper poverty by the pan-

*** Last week, former President Gloria Arroyo was guest of honor at an online session of the House Committee on Economic Affairs. The nominal topic was the economic recovery bill jointly sponsored by Congressmen Salceda, Quimbo and Garin. Predictably, though, it became another lovefest between the former Speaker and her former colleagues. Among her key takeaways: PGMA fielded no less than three epidemics (SARS, avian flu, and swine flu) and one global recession (financial crisis of 2008) on her watch. She attributed her success to early preparation, decisiveness, and a whole-of-government approach. She didn’t say it, but I would also add her zero tolerance for slackers on the job. This encourages the public to comply with restrictions for their own good that would otherwise be called unreasonable.

• Amid her expected unconditional support for the way President Duterte has been handling this pandemic, she mentioned that one reason we can now afford to be more aggressive about relaxing the lockdown towards economic recovery is because—in case mistakes are made—Duterte will have no qualms about reimposing lockdown. This ought to relieve us of the fear of failure, a very potent reason for failure to act.

• With social distancing and permanently lower economic capacity among the consequences of the pandemic, the digital economy is now coming into its own. Widespread teleconferencing, distance learning, cashless transactions, contactless contact tracing— these are among the new inventions being borne out of necessity.

• Mrs. Arroyo sees the silver lining in the pandemic as the forcible acceleration of the “fourth industrial revolution.” It’s a game-changer in which we Filipinos, by dint of our creativeness and gregariousness—but provided that DICT enables the necessary connectivity and digital infrastructure—ought to be able to excel.

Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@yahoo.com.

demic. But the alleged overpriced supply contracts may instead be bleeding them dry, and that's what the probe by lawmakers may ultimately reveal. ernhil@yahoo.com

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TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Merkel, Macron meet as Germany takes EU reins BERLIN—Chancellor Angela Merkel hosts French President Emmanuel Macron for talks on Monday, just days before Germany takes on the rotating presidency of the European Union with an economy mired in the worst crisis since World War II. Berlin’s chairing of the 27-member bloc will be its last with Merkel in charge, and could be the one that defines the legacy of the leader dubbed the “eternal chancellor.”

With the future of the bloc’s relationship with Britain still to be determined, a crucial shift to a lower carbon world in the balance and crises from Libya to Syria all jostling for attention, there is no shortage of burning issues to tackle.

But it is the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic devastation it has wrought which will dominate and concentrate minds.

“This crisis that we’re currently experiencing is different compared to any other we have experienced since the founding of Europe,” Merkel, in power since 2005, told parliament in an address laying out Berlin’s priorities for the EU presidency.

“Alone in Europe, it has claimed more than 100,000 lives. A few weeks of economic standstill was enough to endanger what we have built up over years.”

With all to play for, member states are anxiously looking to Europe’s biggest economy to take charge.

In an interview published Saturday, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said it was “very fortunate that Germany is taking over the presidency at this time of a major crisis.”

Merkel’s long experience and credibility “helps enormously,” she told the Handelsblatt newspaper.

German ‘bulldozer’ Besides its geopolitical weight and economic heft, Germany takes on custodianship of the bloc with a strong hand as it has so far withstood the health emergency better than most other member states.

Compared to the debt crisis that threatened to sink the single currency zone in 2009-2010, Germany looks very different today—it’s out with Scrooge and in with Lady Bountiful. AFP

EU, Brits boost talks on future after Brexit BRUSSELS—The European Union and Britain launch an intense five weeks of negotiations on a deal to define their post-Brexit relations on Monday, with London keen to wrap things up quickly.

The new round of talks in Brussels will be the first to be held face-to-face since the coronavirus shutdown combined with the two sides’ entrenched positions to stall progress.

The meetings will alternate weekly between Brussels and London throughout July and at the end of August, as the teams learned on Sunday, the British negotiator David Frost will be promoted to become Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s national security adviser.

Some commentators immediately suggested this could break the British side’s focus, but a UK spokesman insisted Frost’s new title does not mean he will be distracted from the ongoing discussions with his EU counterpart, Michel Barnier.

“David will remain chief negotiator for the EU talks until agreement is reached or until the talks end,” the official said.

“This will remain his first priority. As we have made clear we do not anyway wish these talks to run on into the autumn.”

Intensification Hopes are that the intensification of the discussions will make it possible to deliver results after previous sessions, of mainly videolink talks, achieved little.

But tempers have flared in recent days and Johnson insisted on Saturday that Britain will accept the consequences of no deal if common ground cannot be found.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel -- whose government takes over the presidency of the EU next week -- has also sharpened her public stance, questioning whether London actually wants a deal. AFP Manila

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NOTICE Notice is hereby given that 8990 HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, with office address at 8990 Corporate Center, Negros St., Cebu Business Park, Cebu City, is applying for registration, with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a New Developer of Economic and Low-cost Housing Project (Urban Deca Homes Banilad – Tower 1, 2 & 3) with a capacity of 3,264 residential units on a Non-Pioneer status with project site located at Sitio Orel, Brgy, Banilad, Mandaue City, Cebu.

Any person with valid objections on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

(SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Director Infrastucture and Services Industries Service (MS-JUNE 30, 2020)

LGBT TROUPE. This photograph taken on June 27 shows performers of the “Sai Gon Tan Thoi” (Modern Saigon) LGBT troupe selling tickets during a lotto show in Ho Chi Minh City. Hundreds of LGBT performers in Vietnam who have found confidence, and a way to earn a living, through a lotto show dating back to the colonial era that has transformed into a wildly popular night out in buzzing Ho Chi Minh city and its surrounds. AFP

Virus death toll hits 500,000 globally ARIS — More than half a million people have died in the coronavirus pandemic, an Agence France Presse AFP tally showed Sunday, as bars in Los Angeles were ordered to close again due to surging cases in the United States.

P

The worldwide number of recorded infections is now just over 10 million from the virus that first emerged in China late last year, with fears growing of a full-blown second wave. The rate of contagion has doubled since May 21.

One million new infections were recorded in just six days, according to the AFP count based on official sources, even as some countries loosen punishing lockdowns that have devastated their economies and thrown millions out of work.

The United States, the hardest-hit country, has more than 2.5 million cases alone, and efforts to reopen the world’s biggest economy have been set back by a jump in new infections in big states such as Florida and California.

(See related story on B3 -- Editor) President Donald Trump was under growing pressure to set an example by wearing a face mask as his health secretary warned the “window is closing” for the country to gain control of the situation.

The disease is also rampaging through Latin America, where Brazil alone has over 1.3 million cases.

Infections are up too in some other parts of the world that have reopened, with Europe registering a caseload of over 2.6 million, although daily rates have stabilised.

Several other countries have also imposed new restrictions to counter fresh outbreaks.

China imposed a strict lockdown on nearly half a million people in a prov-

ince surrounding Beijing to contain a fresh cluster.

Beijing official Xu Hejian described the situation as “severe and complicated”.

And while the British government warned it might have to shut down the city of Leicester because of a spike in cases, it still plans a July 4 reopening of pubs, restaurants and hairdressers across England.

In Paris, police used tear gas to disperse crowds of young people who had gathered for an impromptu party on Saturday evening.

‘Very serious situation’ The tension between reopening battered economies—efforts pushed in the US by Trump—and public health concerns is a source of debate in nearly every country.

US deaths now exceed 125,000, about a quarter of the world total.

“This is a very, very serious situation and the window is closing for us to take action and get this under control,” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said on CNN. AFP

Trump denies being briefed on Taliban bounty WASHINGTON—US President Donald Trump denied Sunday being briefed on intelligence that reportedly showed Russia had offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing US soldiers in Afghanistan.

The report by The New York Times sparked renewed questions about Trump’s reluctance to confront Russia over behavior that, if accurate, would represent a serious national security challenge.

In a pair of early-morning tweets, Trump angrily slammed the report as “probably just another phony Times hit job, just like their failed Russia Hoax.”

“Nobody briefed or told me, @ VP Pence, or Chief of Staff @MarkMeadows about the so-called attacks on our troops in Afghanistan by Russians, as reported through an ‘anonymous source’ by the Fake News @ nytimes,” he wrote.

“Everybody is denying it & there have not been many attacks on us....”

“Nobody’s been tougher on Russia than the Trump Administration.”

The Times, citing anonymous officials, said Trump was briefed on the US intelligence findings in March, but has not decided how to respond.

According to the report, US intelligence had concluded that a Russian military intelligence unit offered rewards to Taliban-linked militants to kill troops of the US-led coalition in Afghanistan.

The rewards were purportedly incentives to target US forces as Trump tries to withdraw troops from the conflict-torn country—one of the militants’ key demands—and end America’s longest war. AFP

IN BRIEF Opposition flounders, Putin changes charter MOSCOW—Russia’s opposition is denouncing this week’s vote on President Vladimir Putin’s constitutional reforms as a joke, pointing out that copies of the amended basic law are already on sale in Moscow bookshops.

From liberal reformers to Communists, Kremlin critics say the vote -- which started last week and ends on Wednesday -- is a thinly veiled attempt to keep Putin, 67, in power for life.

But other than tepid calls to boycott or vote “No”, the opposition has done little to actively fight the changes.

Russia’s top opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who last summer rallied thousands against suspected voter fraud in Moscow, has also shown little interest in combating the reforms.

Experts say deep divisions and shrewd moves by the Kremlin are keeping opponents from mounting any serious opposition to Putin’s plans. AFP

New president calls for unity LILONGWE, Malawi—Malawi’s newly elected President Lazarus Chakwera vowed Sunday to maintain unity in the southern African country after quashing the incumbent’s bid for a second term in the re-run of a hotly contested election.

It was a dramatic twist of fortune for outgoing president Peter Mutharika, whose victory in a May 2019 ballot was overturned by the Constitutional Court over fraud allegations.

Chakwera, a former evangelist preacher, was declared the winner of the election replay with almost 59 percent of the vote, according to results announced late Saturday.

Malawi is only the second sub-Saharan African country to have presidential poll results overturned in court, after Kenya in 2017.

It is also the first time in the region that a vote re-run has led to the defeat of an incumbent leader. AFP

US to pull troops from Germany WASHINGTON—Defense Secretary Mark Esper will present President Donald Trump with a series of options Monday to withdraw thousands of US troops from Germany, with many moving to eastern Europe, the Pentagon said Saturday.

“Secretary Esper met with President Trump on Wednesday to discuss our presence in Europe,” said Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman.

“On Monday the Secretary will brief the President at the White House on options for our force posture in Germany.”

According to two senior Pentagon officials, the plan calls for cutting the perGAMES COUNTDOWN. Just over half of Tokyo’s residents don’t think the manent US troop presence in Germany to postponed 2020 Olympics should be held next year, backing either a further delay or 25,000, as Trump announced June 15, for outright cancellation because of fears over the coronavirus, according to a poll. AFPCYAN MAGENTA BLACK a reduction ofYELLOW 9,500 troops.

AFP

Mississippi removing ‘racist’ Confederate symbol from flag JACKSON, Mississippi — Lawmakers in Mississippi voted Sunday to remove the Confederate battle standard from the state flag, after nationwide protests drew renewed attention to symbols of the United States’ racist past.

The measure passed with a 91-23 majority vote in the House of Representatives, triggering cheers in the Senate gallery. A few hours later, the Senate voted 37-14 for the bill.

“In the name of history, whether you’re black or white, rich or poor, Democrat or Republican, I ask you today to stand in the name of history,” Democratic senator Derrick T Simmons

urged his colleagues before the vote.

“I ask each of you as we recognize and understand the Mississippi of yesterday, let’s vote today for the Mississippi of tomorrow.”

Senators celebrated with cheers, hugs and fist-bumps.

Mississippi is the only American state to incorporate the Confederate standard on its official flag, after nearby Georgia dropped it in 2003.

The criss-crossed diagonal stars pattern was used by southern troops, including Mississippians, during the 18611865 American Civil War -- the bloody conflict that brought an end to slavery

-- and for many it remains a symbol of the country’s dark racial legacy.

The bill calls for a nine-member commission to design a new flag that does not use the Confederate standard and does include the phrase “In God, We Trust.”

State residents would vote on the design in November. If they reject the new design, Mississippi will go without a state flag until a new design is approved.

Democratic senator John Horhn said changing the flag was a “big step... in the journey we are on to recognize everybody’s God-given humanity.” AFP

Business Thailand set to ease curbs on massage parlors, bars BANGKOK—Thailand’s nightlife will restart with some restrictions this week, the kingdom announced Monday, part of a return to normalcy as it prepares to welcome business travelers and medical tourists after a ban on foreign entry.

So far Thailand has 3,169 cases and 58 deaths from the coronavirus—a low toll considering the kingdom in mid-January became was the first country outside China to register a case.

But the country’s tourism-reliant economy has been hit hard by the border closures, while a halt to its infamous nightlife has left the kingdom’s informal workers—in bars, massage parlors, and karaoke lounges—adrift.

Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha said the “most at-risk businesses” will be allowed to reopen from Wednesday, as there has been no local transmission of the virus for more than a month.

“The most important thing we care about are the people who have no income for their families,” he said. “Secondly we are confident that our health system is ready to handle (the situation).”

Beginning July 1, bars, clubs and karaoke lounges can reopen, though they must adhere to a midnight closing time and have social distancing measures, said Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman for the Centre for COVDI-19 Situation Administration.

Massage parlors and teahouses— which sometimes act as fronts for brothels—will also have to register customers using the government’s tracking app.

“Staff must be tested for COVID-19 from time to time and there should be no sex trade,” said Taweesin.

Thailand will also relax entry restrictions on foreigners with work permits or with Thai spouses and families, and people who wish to enter the kingdom for medical services.

Business travelers from Japan, South Korea, Singapore and China, including Hong Kong, will also be allowed in, provided they pay for quarantine in hotels.

The selected countries and cities are “important to our economy, they control the spread of the pandemic well, and they have the same health and efficiency standards,” said Taweesin.

Tourists will still be barred, although authorities floated the idea of “travel bubbles” earlier this month.

Thailand’s economy has flatlined since the virus struck, hammering tourism and exports, and annual growth is forecast to slump by between five to seven percent. AFP

B3

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks tumble; BDO, Megaworld fall

T

HE stock market sank Monday along with the rest of Asia after a surge in coronavirus infections in several countries, including the US, prompted officials to reimpose containment measures that have fanned worries about the economic recovery.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index dropped 86.66 points, or 1.4 percent, to 6,105.18 on a value turnover of P5.6 billion. Losers overwhelmed gainers, 142 to 63, withy 44 issues unchanged.

BDO Unibank Inc., the biggest lender in terms of assets, fell 4.6 percent to P94, while conglomerate Ayala Corp. slipped 2.9 percent to P762.

Megaworld Corp., the largest lessor of office spaces, declined 4 percent to P2.89, while parent Alliance Global Group Inc. of tycoon Andrew Tan decreased 3.3 percent to P6.50.

Asian markets tracked steep losses in New York on Friday.

Tokyo lost more than two percent and Seoul was 1.9 percent off, while Sydney, Mumbai, Taipei and Singapore lost more than one percent each.

Hong Kong sank 1.3 percent as investors there keep a nervous eye on this week’s July 1 China handover anniversary, fearful of fresh protests.

Shanghai finished 0.6 percent lower, with little solace in upbeat weekend data showing profits at Chinese industrial firms rose last month for the first time since November.

There were also losses in Jakarta and Bangkok..

After weeks of lockdown easing across the planet, there are signs of a second wave of infections in key cities, jolting the investor confidence that has helped power a surge in equities from their March trough.

Bars in Los Angeles and six other counties in California―with a joint population of more than 13 million people―were ordered to close up again, just over a week after reopening, while San Francisco is stalling its easing measures.

There has also been a sharp pick-up in Texas and Florida, two of the most populous American states and home to a combined 50 million people.

Other big states including Arizona and Georgia have also seen large jumps in cases.

“This is a very, very serious situation and the window is closing for us to take action and get this under control,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar.

Stephen Innes at AxiCorp warned that increased mobility as parts of the country returned to business had likely led to the recent rise in coronavirus infections.

That had in turn caused “a reversal of mobility trends and a reduction in economic activity, particularly in the hardest-hit states,” he said.

OANDA’s Jeffrey Halley added that the trajectory of new infections in the US was still a “primary concern” for investors.

“As the consumer of last resort for the rest of the world for so long, an aggressive double-dip in the US economic recovery will surely see the rest of the world catch a cold,” Halley said. AFP

LONDON―Bargain hunters have returned to Britain’s beloved charity shops since they began reopening following lockdown but busy tills alone will struggle to repair the damage done by the coronavirus pandemic.

The country’s charitable sector, worth billions of pounds, has seen its revenues collapse in the roughly three months since the virus prompted the unprecedented restrictions.

Popular stores selling various secondhand items from clothes to crockery were allowed to restart operating earlier this month alongside other so-called nonessential retailers.

But shops must follow various government guidelines, including ensuring customers stay at least one meter apart.

Maxine Boersma, 53, a public relations consultant, was the first customer through the doors Thursday at the British Red Cross store in Chelsea, in west London, two days after its reopening.

The retailer, in one of the capital’s most upmarket districts, has a reputation for selling expensive brands at eye-poppingly low prices.

“I used to come here before COVID(-19) so I was pleased to see it

TOP GAINERS

TOP LOSERS

MOST ACTIVE

OUTDOOR AGAIN. People shop for fast food in the sunshine as they visit Camden Market in London on June 28, 2020.

The British government on Thursday unveiled plans to get the public out of indoor confinement and on to the streets to boost the economy after three months of coronavirus lockdown. AFP

Critics’ ire turns on auditor EY after collapse of Wirecard FRANKFURT―Global audit giant EY is facing growing questions and threats of legal action over its role in the bankruptcy of German payments processor Wirecard after signing off on the accounts for years.

Some plaintiffs have already launched legal cases against EY after Wirecard’s spectacular bankruptcy last week.

German shareholders’ association SdK said Friday it had launched a case targeting two auditors still working at EY and one former employee.

Listed on the blue-chip DAX index since 2018, Wirecard filed for insolvency Thursday after acknowledging that 1.9 billion euros ($2.1 billion) supposedly held in trust for it in bank accounts in the Philippines did not exist.

German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz has called the Wirecard collapse an “unprecedented scandal in the financial world,” saying it was a “wake-up call that we need more supervision” in financial markets.

Neither Wirecard’s private-sector auditors nor Germany’s financial markets watchdog BaFin saw the crunch coming.

Press reports had since 2015 pointed to possible irregularities in Wirecard’s business model, while the Financial Times published a string of articles from early 2019 on fraud suspicions in the group’s Asian operations.

BaFin reacted by imposing a ban on traders betting against Wirecard stock and announcing a probe into FT journalists.

This week the London-based business daily took aim at EY, alleging that the auditors did not do a thorough job.

In a Friday article, the paper reported that EY did not ask for account information for over three years from a Singapore bank where Wirecard claimed to hold a cash balance of one billion euros.

“Checking the existence of bank deposits is one of an auditor’s easiest tasks,” the SdK shareholder group complained, normally following “clearly regulated” procedures.

Berlin-based law firm Schirp and Partner launched a lawsuit against EY in early June, saying on its website the group could not have certified Wirecard’s accounts “without a breach of an auditor’s auditing obligations.”

Given Wirecard’s share price has collapsed by 98 percent in 10 days, Schirp told shareholders that “EY is economically the better claimant for aggrieved investors,” urging them to join a class action suit.

Outside Germany, Dutch association European Investors (VEB) has demanded an out-of-court settlement from EY to fend off a threatened lawsuit, business daily Handelsblatt reported.

The audit group said last week there were “clear indications that this was an elaborate and sophisticated fraud” after refusing to sign off on Wirecard’s 2019 accounts.

“Multiple parties around the world in different institutions” must have acted with “a deliberate aim of deception,” EY added. AFP

Reopened stores bright spot for Britain’s stretched charity sector

By Marine Pauwels

PSEi June 29, 2020

was open,” she told AFP while browsing summer clothes, unperturbed by the need to socially distance.

“I would rather have it open with restrictions than without, than not having it open at all.”

Staff have limited the number of customers at any one time to five, asked them to disinfect their hands on entering and follow a signposted path once inside.

They are also unable to try on any items.

The manager, Ernestina Fonseca, is delighted and said the shop appears to be “back to our normal days,” with a daily income returning to some ￡1,200 pounds ($1,480, 1,320 euros).

Opening hours have been reduced, though, to allow daily deep-cleaning of the premises.

The fitting room has morphed into a storage space for donations, which have continued to arrive, as locals spring cleaned their closets during months of confinement.

All donations and returns are steamcleaned.

Some of Britain’s roughly 9,000 charity shops immediately resumed trading in mid-June when the lockdown rules were eased.

But many like the Red Cross staggered reopenings over several weeks out of an

An employee steam cleans clothing in the stock room as a measure against the spread of COVID-19 at a British Red Cross charity shop in London on June 25, 2020 after the store reopened from its coronavirus shutdown. AFP

abundance of caution. It has concentrated on reconfiguring its most spacious or busiest sites.

‘Shops will survive’ A lack of volunteers has also affected charity shops’ ability to get back to normal.

Some staff remain confined―such as the elderly or particularly vulnerable― while others are reluctant to take public transport to reach stores.

“Our guess is somewhere between 30 to 50 percent of the volunteers won’t be

able to come back straight away,” said Robin Osterley, chief executive of the Charity Retail Association.

He estimates around 230,000 people volunteer nationwide.

Oxfam, which relies on 20,000 volunteers to help run its 650 stores―with a team of around 30 volunteers supported by one or two staff in each―said “many” were elderly.

“We are acutely conscious of our responsibilities towards them,” the charity added. AFP

LA, California clubs ordered to close again LOS ANGELES, California―Bars in Los Angeles and six other Californian counties were ordered to close again on Sunday as parts of the United States reimpose shutdown measures to try to quell a surge in coronavirus cases.

New coronavirus cases have jumped in more than half of US states, reaching record highs after months of uneven mitigation efforts and sometimes contradictory messaging from government.

Texas and Florida have also once again cracked down, ordering bars to stop serving alcohol.

California, Texas and Florida are the three most populous states in the country.

“Due to the rising spread of #COVID19, CA is ordering bars to close in Fresno, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, San Joaquin, and Tulare,” California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Twitter.

About 13.5 million people live in the seven counties, accounting for roughly one-third of California’s population.

The hardest-hit US states are currently in the south and west, where many state leaders pushed for early economic reopenings.

But Californian bars were only allowed to reopen from June 12, with the final decision left to local authorities. Bars in Los Angeles, the secondlargest city in the United States, had been open since June 19.

The latest upsurge, pushing the nation’s total of declared cases to more than 2.5 million and its death toll past 125,000, has prompted a growing chorus of calls for much tougher rules and enforcement of restrictions.

“This is a very, very serious situation and the window is closing for us to take action and get this under control,” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said on CNN on Sunday.

Three northeastern states that made significant progress beating back the pandemic―New York, New Jersey and Connecticut―have urged visitors arriving from US hotspots such as Texas, Florida and Alabama to quarantine themselves.

President Donald Trump has pushed strongly for the US economy to reopen despite the surge in cases as he prepares for a tough battle to hold onto office in November elections. AFP

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

B4

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020

IN BRIEF

PAL shifts to cargo flights amid crisis

FLAG carrier Philippine Airlines is shifting to more cargo flights to make up for the lull in passenger flights.

“We’ve become more and more of a cargo airline because, as we said, our airplanes could also be used to help preserve the critical supply chains, including carriage of PPEs, medicines, equipment and all the kinds of goods that are needed to keep communities thriving. At the same time, we’ve operated hundreds of charters, and we ration flights to bring not just foreign nationals back to their home countries bit also returning OFWs,” said PAL vice president for corporate communication Jose Enrique Perez de Tagle.

“We may have to operate more cargo flights. We have to repurpose some of our aircraft to fly cargo other than just passenger,” he said.

Perez de Tagle was one of the panelist in a webinar organized by the Asian Institute of Management on Monday. The e-forum presented a survey on Filipino travellers’ sentiment on the new normal.

Othel V. Campos

DICT to cut tower permitting process

THE Department of Information and Communications Technology said it will reduce by 52 percent the common tower permitting requirements this year to expedite the rollout of more cell sites nationwide.

“Since last year, we have been working on streamlining the permitting for Independent Tower Companies. We are looking into cutting down redundant or duplicitous permitting requirements for ITCs to reduce the number by more than 50 percent, and at the same time, reduce the average processing days,” said DICT assistant secretary for Digital Philippines Rey Caintic.

This is in compliance with Title V, Sections 20 to 25, or the Permitting Process for the Construction and Operation of Passive Telecommunications Tower Infrastructures stipulated in the recently issued Department Circular No. 8 or the Shared PTTI Policy, and with Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.

DICT is coordinating with the Anti-Red Tape Authority and other government agencies in ensuring streamlined permitting requirements and procedures for ITCs. Darwin G. Amojelar

Business

US investment firm KKR buys P9.6-b stake in FGen

By Alena Mae S. Flores

A

MERICAN investment firm KKR through subsidiary Valorous Asia Holdings acquired an 11.9-percent equity stake in First Gen Corp. for P9.6 billion through a tender offer.

KRR said in a statement that after the completion of the voluntary tender offer, Valorous accepted all the 427,041,291 common shares of First Gen that were sold by shareholders at the close of the tender offer, represent-

ing 11.9 percent.

Valorous said it intended to acquire all the tendered common shares at a price of P22.50 ($0.45) per common share on July 1, the cross date previously set out in the tender documents, representing a total investment value of P9.6 billion ($192.2 million).

“We are thrilled to make this infrastructure investment in the Philippines in First Gen. We have long viewed First Gen as an exceptional business with a high-caliber leadership team, and we have great respect for the Lopez family for building this strong, well-established company,” said David Luboff, partner and head of Asia Pacific infrastructure at KKR. “This is an exciting and further milestone for KKR’s Asia Pacific infrastruc-

ture business, and we are pleased to have this opportunity to be an investor in First Gen able to positively engage with the company’s management team and the Lopez family as helpful in the future,” said Luboff.

First Gen is one of the Philippines’ largest independent power producers and is a subsidiary of First Philippine Holdings Corp. controlled by the Lopez family.

The company primarily generates power through renewable energy and indigenous fuel sources such as natural gas, geothermal energy from steam, hydro-electric, wind and solar power.

First Gen has 3,492 megawatts of installed capacity in its portfolio, which accounted for 21 percent of the Philippines’ gross power generation in 2019.

Billionaire gets notice to vacate Palawan site

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Palawan province ordered the group of billionaire Beatriz Zobel de Ayala to vacate a timberland they occupied in Taytay town, which is covered by the Malampaya Sound Protected Landscape and Seascape.

Eriberto Saños, officer-in-charge of Palawan’s Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), said community environment and natural resources officer Allan Valle on March 9 issued a notice to vacate to the group of Zobel de Ayala for alleged violation of Republic Act No. 11038, or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System or E-NIPAS Act of 2018.

“There was an investigation made by CENRO, and we received reports and communication about the case. Based on the investigation, it was found out that the property they occupied was in conflict [with the law], which means not all of the property was agricultural, or we can say alienable and disposable. A large portion is timberland,” Saños said.

The investigation stemmed from a complaint filed by a tribal group about the alleged illegal occupation of and construction of structures by the group of Zobel de Ayala in Sitio Maypa, Barangay Pancol, Taytay, Palawan.

SHIPPING CHARGES. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez (right) credits and supports the initiatives taken by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade to address mounting complaints against unreasonable shipping charges. This follows the Transportation Department’s issuance of multiple department orders to bring down the cost of shipping and provide redress on complaints against shipping lines.

PH secures P14-b loan from France, P1.3b from ADB

By Julito G. Rada THE Department of Finance and the Agence Française de Développement signed two credit facility agreements worth 250 million euros or P14 billion to support major policy reforms of the government to expand financial services to vulnerable sectors and increase private sector participation in infrastructure projects.

Both programs, co-financed with the Asian Development Bank, also aim to support the economy and strengthen its resilience in the post-COVID-19 period.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and French Ambassador to the Philippines and Micronesia Nicolas Galey

signed the loan agreements for the Inclusive Finance Development Program worth 100 million euros and the Expanding Private Participation in Infrastructure Program worth 150 million euros on June 9.

“The Philippine government is grateful to the Agence Francaise de Developpement for co-financing with the Asian Development Bank two programs supportive of President Rodrigo Duterte’s overriding goal of accelerating infrastructure development in order to spur high growth, attract investments, create jobs and achieve financial inclusion for all Filipinos,” Dominguez said.

Dominguez said President Duterte put his signature project “Build, Build,

Build” back on the fast track amid the COVID-19 pandemic, given that infrastructure investments spell the highest multiplier effect on the economy, particularly the creation of jobs that will make up for the ones lost during this global health emergency.

“Such financial support from the country’s development partners like AFD for our priority programs is crucial at this time when the Philippine government is embarking on its resources-intensive, four-pillar strategy to suppress the coronavirus outbreak and provide relief to our most affected sectors while restarting the stalled economy to a quick recovery from the global economic slump induced by the lethal virus,” he said.

Megaworld reduces 2020 capital spending by 40% as income dips

By Darwin G. Amojelar PROPERTY developer Megaworld Corp. said it reduced its 2020 capital spending by 40 percent as net income fell in the first quarter because of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

The country’s largest developer of integrated urban townships trimmed its capital expenditures for the year from P60 billion to P36 billion.

“During the past 31 years, we have witnessed and surpassed several crises that rocked our nation,” Megaworld chief strategy officer Kevin Tan said.

“Our company’s resilience has been tested over and over again. Our experience in overcoming the 1997 and 2008 financial crises; our strong financial position; and our continuing quest for creativity and innovation, put us in a favorable position to adapt to these new realities and take advantage of the opportunities that will arise once recovery starts,” he said.

Megaworld’s net income declined by 8 percent in the first quarter to P3.8 billion from P4.1 billion in the same period last year. Consolidated revenues rose 1 percent to P15.1 billion from P14.9 billion a year ago.

Around 64 percent of the company’s total revenues came from the company’s residential business, while 28 percent were from rentals and 4 per-

Monday, June 29, 2020

86.66 points

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES

1,013,147,896 106,357

TOTAL VALUE 5,554,629,702.79 ADVANCES 63

6,105.18

DECLINES 142 UNCHANGED 44

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • MONDAY, JUNE 29, 2020

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

49.9390

Japan

Yen

0.009335

0.4662

UK

Pound

1.233900

61.6197

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129032

6.4437

Switzerland

Franc

1.055298

52.7005

Canada

Dollar

0.730887

36.4998

Singapore

Dollar

0.718236

35.8680

Australia

Dollar

0.684700

34.1932

Bahrain

Dinar

2.654985

132.587

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266645

13.3160

Brunei

Dollar

0.715666

35.7396

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000071

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.032352

1.6156

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.5970

Euro

Euro

1.122500

56.0565

Korea

Won

0.000831

0.0415

China

Yuan

0.141289

7.0558

India

Rupee

0.013221

0.6602

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.233155

11.6435

New Zealand

Dollar

0.641000

32.0109

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033873

1.6916 Source: BSP

SMC pursuing $12-b Bulacan airport, MRT-7 amid pandemic

By Jenniffer B. Austria

Iloilo solon backs bid to stop power pilferage

ILLEGAL power connections were allowed to proliferate in Iloilo City to benefit alleged syndicates who ran the huge electricity pilferage operation, according to a member of the House of Representatives.

Iloilo City Rep. Julienne Baronda expressed support to the move of Iloilo Mayor Geronimo Treñas and the new distribution utility More Electric and Power Corp. to go after pilferers of electricity.

MORE Power’s technical analysis showed there could be as many as 30,000 illegal power connections that existed in the city especially under the old utility Panay Electric Co. “Electricity pilferage has become a practice because the violators have gotten away with their crime but this should be put to a stop,” the lawmaker said.

She appealed to Iloilo residents to help stop the said illegal operations by pointing to authorities where illegal power connections exist or apply for an electricity connection with MORE Power.

Alena Mae S. Flores

PSE INDEX CLOSING

cent from hotel operations. The rest came from the company’s non-core revenues.

Megaworld said it was ramping up its e-commerce facilities to fast track the recovery of commercial and hotel businesses which were greatly affected by the pandemic.

The company is set to roll out digital platforms in the coming weeks that are aimed at “enhancing customer experience” under the so-called “new reality”.

“Our e-commerce platforms will give our customers the convenience and comfort that they need as we take their safety and well-being to a whole new level. We will also do the same for our mall customers, which will also greatly help our retail tenants,” said Tan. Revenues from Megaworld’s rental businesses, particularly from Megaworld Premier Offices and Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, grew 8 percent to P4.2 billion in the first quarter.

Rental revenues were driven by office leases as mall rentals weakened during the quarter on concerns over the pandemic.

Hotel revenues went down 4 percent to P551 million from P574 million as check-ins, particularly from international guests, dropped from a year earlier.

MINDANAO PROJECTS. Officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways say the government’s priority infrastructure projects in Zamboanga Peninsula keep on moving toward successful completion despite the pandemic. In his report to Secretary Mark Villar, DPWH Undersecretary Emil Sadain said civil works for three core subprojects under the Improving Growth Corridors in Mindanao Road Sector Project or IGCMRSP are ongoing, including Alicia-Malangas Road (PR 06) and LutimanGuicam-Olutanga Road (PR 09) in Zamboanga Sibugay; and Tampilisan-Sandayong Road (PR 07) in Zamboanga del Norte.

Diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. said it will pursue the expansion of plans of its food and beverage, power and infrastructure businesses, including the proposed $12-billion airport project in Bulacan province, even as the domestic economy is still grappling from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said in a message to shareholders as contained in the company’s 2019 annual report that the group would continue the expansion projects of its food business, the construction of new breweries in Cagayan de Oro and Sta. Rosa, Laguna, development of new unit of Masinloc Power Plant and the Battery Energy Storage System project.

Ang said San Miguel would also continue to implement its infrastructure projects such as the Skyway Stage 3, Skyway Extension, Metro Rail Transit Line 7, Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway which are essential not just in keeping the economy going, but also in dealing with the issue of congestion.

He said that while the airline industry is one of the hardest hit by the pandemic, San Miguel was still keen on developing the proposed airport project in Bulacan.

“We don’t know how this pandemic will affect global travel in the medium-term, but we are still pushing through with our plans to build the airport,” Ang said.

“We still believe that a world-class airport is key to sustaining our economic growth and solving our air transport congestion problems,” he said.

The group’s food business managed to register growth during the lockdown period. In order to bring its products to the consumers, the group set up new and non-traditional selling channels, including tapping community resellers and ramping up selling through online channels.

“Within a fairly short amount of time, we were able to launch order through sanmiguelfoods.com. This serves as a safer, more convenient way for our customers to buy our products. So definitely, these channels will be part of our new normal,” Ang said.

Ang said the company was already seeing a slow recovery as the country shifted from enhanced community quarantine to general community quarantine.

“Until there’s a vaccine, the battle with COVID-19 is far from over. It’s going to be a gradual recovery, and already we’re seeing a lot of improvement because of the shift to GCQ starting in June,” Ang said.

Smoking risks due to combustion, says international expert A SMOKING cessation expert said the combustion or burning process is what causes disease and death from smoking.

“Practically all risks to health from smoking are due to combustion products that are released from burning tobacco,” said Peter Hajek, professor of clinical psychology and director of the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine’s Tobacco Dependence Research Unit at Queen Mary University of London.

Hajek, who is known for his research into smoking cessation, made the statement to clear the confusion among authorities in countries such as the Philippines over the difference between smoking and nicotine consumption.

Numerous studies have shown that it is the tar and carcinogens found in tobacco smoke that cause the death and disease associated with smoking, and not nicotine.

Hajek said that by removing the element of combustion from nicotine consumption, health risks will be significantly reduced.

He said this is possible by using products such as e-cigarettes or Swedish snus.

“E-cigarettes are expected to pose less than 5 percent of risks of smoking, and with snus, the risks are even smaller,” he said.

Various scientific studies have confirmed that these smoke-free nicotine products are significantly less harmful than traditional cigarettes. Public Health England issued a report in 2015 stating that e-cigarettes are at least 95-percent less harmful to humans than combustible tobacco. Public Health England is an operationally autonomous executive agency of the UK Department of Health that brings together public health specialists from more than 70 organizations.

Innovations such as e-cigarettes and snus do not burn tobacco and so do not produce smoke and tar.

Hajek said that nicotine on its own poses limited risks. “Outside pregnancy and some rare vascular diseases, using nicotine on its own does not pose much risks to physical health. If smokers switch from smoking to using nicotine on its own, they avoid practically all risks of smoking,” he said.

Hajek said nicotine and its supposed addictiveness is poorly understood globally including in the Philippines. “Nicotine seems addictive when combined with other tobacco chemicals, but much less so when on its own. Adolescent non-smokers who try cigarettes have over 50-percent probability that they will progress to daily smoking, but adolescent non-smokers who try e-cigarettes very rarely progress to daily vaping,” he said.

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

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020

C1

ONE: No Surrender card starting to take shape

Sports

FANCAMS. A giant screen displays Manchester City fans as they watch the match on their computers during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England. The resumption of football behind closed doors is forcing TV broadcasters and directors to fill the void and silence. Between new camera placements, virtual audience and pre-recorded songs, the time is ripe for innovation, even for “fireworks”, at the risk of offending certain purists. Reintroducing supporters to the stadium, at least virtually while waiting for the closed doors, is also the challenge of all leagues, in collaboration with their broadcasters. So, in England, “fan-cams”, these giant screens split into fifteen live video streams of supporters watching their match on their sofa, are flourishing all over the country. AFP

Private venues tapped for training, competition

By Peter Atencio

P

RIVATE venues will be tapped to hold training sessions, and possibly, competitions in athletics.

Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Philip Ella said they are now considering this, now that many venues that are managed by the government are being used as quarantine facilities.

Juico said that among the venues they are looking at includes the ovals at the De La Salle University campus in Dasmarinas, Cavite, and Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus, Cavite.

“We are considering this, and I still have to talk to the La Salle brothers.

As for Vermosa, it has been closed by Ayala Land. They have their advantage, and they also have their logistical problems,” said Juico.

In a Google Meet online interview, Juico said this is now likely to happen following his talks with National

Training Director Marc Velasco of the Philippine Sports Commission.

Juico was informed that the Philsports complex is currently being tapped as a quarantine facility and monitoring for coronavirus patients and so are the venues inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Plans to move the training venues in Cebu have been shelved since the province has been heavily hit by the pandemic.

“We will wait for July and see what comes up if we move from general

community quarantine to modified community quarantine, or not,” added Juico.

The PATAFA has adopted policies that will embrace the new normal when it begins resuming activities and competitions in the last quarter of 2020.

With the 2020 Philippine national athletics championships most likely be held this December, athletes, coaches, educators and officials will be asked to observe numerous protocols, and safety and health measures during their activities.

For now, activities done within the athletics’ community are mostly online, while the athletes are under home quarantine.

The PATAFA discussed their guidelines with PSC right after the International Association of Athletics Federations gave the green light for all member countries to resume their activities by August.

TWO World Title showdowns and a super bout are set to banner ONE Championship’s return to live shows.

ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong announced on Sunday the first three bouts set for ONE: NO SURRENDER on 31 July in Thailand.

In the Thai capital, Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon will try to protect his ONE Muay Thai Flyweight World Title from Petchdam “The Baby Shark” Petchyindee Academy.

Rodtang has been virtually unstoppable in ONE Super Series as he has yet to taste defeat in the organization. “The Iron Man” is fresh off a TKO win over Jonathan “The General” Haggerty at ONE: A NEW TOMORROW, where he defended his strap for the second time since winning the belt from the same man last year.

Petchdam, on the other hand, is no stranger to winning gold as he has previously won the ONE Kickboxing Flyweight World Title. He beat Momotaro at ONE: FIRE & FURY to earn his shot at Rodtang’s belt.

Petchmorakot Petchyindee Academy defends the ONE Muay Thai Featherweight World Title against “The Boxing Computer” Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex.

After losing to Giorgio “The Doctor” Petrosyan in the ONE Kickboxing Featherweight World Grand Prix, Petchmorakot won his last two bouts in the promotion in impressive fashion – a KO win over Charlie “Boy” Peters and a decisive five-round victory over Pongsiri PK.Saenchaimuaythaigym to win the inaugural ONE Muay Thai Featherweight World Title.

Old foes “The Killer Kid” Sittichai Sitsongpeenong and Superbon make their respective kickboxing debuts in The Home Of Martial Arts on the same card in a highly anticipated rematch.

While it’s the first time that both men will be competing against each other inside the Circle, the pair are known as two of the best Muay Thai and kickboxing athletes outside of ONE Super Series.

Catch ONE: NO SURRENDER live and for free by downloading the ONE Super App.

Globe esports team signs wellness Younghusband expert as new conditioning coach

James Younghusband

wants to coach Azkals in future

WHEN the timing is right in the future, James Younghusband, along with his brother Phil, will consider any offers to coach the Philippine Azkals.

The 33-year-old Younghusband said this is one of his dreams when he made plans to retire.

“It’s a possibility. It’s a possibility,” said Younghusband when he talked about his goals after announcing his decision last week to hang his jersey in a podcast.

Younghusband is working on his plans at becoming a coach, or a member of the coaching staff of a club team.

And he will pursue his goals when “the new normal” times come.

“It’s all about if things will work out and if the timing is right,” added Younghusband.

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 and the coming games of the Azkals were cancelled.

During the three months that he stayed at home and spent a lot of time with his sister, Younghusband kept himself in shape with workouts.

“During this time, there are a lot of unknowns and it is important to look after our minds. When working out, you have to keep it fresh so you look forward to doing new exercises. It can be mentally tough staying in one place so exercising helps you forget that,” added Younghusband.

Peter Atencio

THE global esports market has seen a steady rise through the years, with followers spending 6.6 billion hours watching content in 2018. While physical games have been brought to a halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an opportunity for esports to thrive. Per Twitch Tracker,, an app that monitors audiences on the gaming live stream platform, 56 million hours are watched daily from more than one million streamers.

This positive outlook has encouraged teams to train their players to become well-rounded athletes.

Team Liyab, the esports team co-owned by Globe and Mineski, is tapping Strength and Conditioning coach Martin Alido to help its athletes become fit and well-equipped to practice their profession, while at home.

“Unlike traditional sports, esports is largely sedentary. Long hours of sitting may increase the risk of high blood pressure, osteoporosis, depression, and anxiety. Encouraging athletes to be mindful of their health and wellness can help push the team to the top of their esports game,” says Alido.

Alido is seasoned in the field of physical fitness. He is currently the strength and conditioning coach of Batang Gilas, the men’s national under-17 basketball team. As their coach, he implemented programs designed to improve strength, speed, agility, and power. He has also completed training and certifications for strength and conditioning in Australia.

Under the partnership with Liyab, the coach developed a customized program centered on exercise,

nutrition, and recovery after long hours of play. With his expertise and experience, his programs will address the pain points of an esports athlete and get the team physically and mentally fit, which is especially important in a time of a global health crisis.

“Our vision for Team Liyab and the esports industry in general is to be perceived as a truly legitimate sport that requires talent, skills, and passion; as well as physical and mental wellness,” shares Jil Bausa-Go, Vice President of Content Business Group at Globe. “Having Coach Alido onboard is a milestone for us in fulfilling this vision, and making sure that our athletes are safe, healthy and secure amid the ongoing pandemic.”

Liyab Esports, of Globe and Mineski Global, is composed of three (3) game titles - League of Legends, Arena of Valor, & Starcraft II. Their line up includes SEA Games 2019 Gold Medalist, Caviar “Enderr” Acampado for Starcraft II, Edrian “DoeDoii” Brancia, Ren “Kanji” Motomitsu, Kim “Rex” Taeyeon (���), Kyle “Dawn” Somera, Kim “Mocha” Taegyeom (���) for League of Legends.

They are managed by a renowned coaching staff led by Gerald “Tgee” Gelacio, Akarawat “Cabbage” Wangsawat, and SEA Games 2019 National Athletes for Arena of Valor Lawrence “Rubixx” Gatmaitan, Kevin “Gambit” Dizon, and Miguel “Miggie” Banaag, along with new members Allen Dean “Don” Viola and Edriane “Zeus” Balbalosa.

Learn more about this story via https://www. globe.com.ph/. For more updates on Team Liyab, visit the official Liyab Esports Facebook page.

Team Liyab coach Martin Alido

Fil-Swiss Kempter itching to join PH Azkals Fil-SWISS professional booter Michael Kempter is itching to join the Philippine Azkals once he gets to the Philippines.

After getting the necessary clearance from the International Football Federation (FIFA), the 25-year-old Kempter said he now has a great chance to prove himself with the Philippine national men’s team.

“Yes, it was really tough. It took me longer than one year to get all the papers done for the Azkals and the FIFA. So it’s just this year in February (that) they gave me the okay. So now, it’s officially official to play for the Azkals, but I still have to wait,” said

Kempter in a podcast interview from Switzerland.

The 5’11” Kempter used to play for the Swiss national Under-19 team.

He is coming aboard at a time when two Azkals mainstays, the Younghusband brothers Phil and James have retired.

He is back from a long layoff, coming back from injury and surgery back in 2018.

Kempter has since returned to the first team of FC Zurich in the Swiss Super League since his recovery last year.

“I got the chance at the beginning of this year before the coronavirus. I had the chance to play in the

first game since two years in the club and then again we had a new player in my position. I don’t play anymore now the coronavirus comes and, this gives me, I would say, a second or third chance and now I’m back again,” added Kempter.

Filipino-Swiss football player for FC Zurich in the Swiss Super League.

Kempter, whose mother hails from Pasay City, said he is slowly getting his game to a high level in preparing to link up with the Azkals.

“I played a lot of friendly games and it’s good now. I’m back at a high level,” added Kempter.

Peter Atencio

Sports

C2

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Johnson wins Travelers to keep streak alive EW YORK—Dustin Johnson fired a three-underpar 67 to claim a one-shot victory at the Travelers Championship and keep his tournament win-streak alive on Sunday.

N

Former world number one Johnson bagged his first tournament win since February 2019 after a closing threeunder-par 67 at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut.

Johnson, who started the day two shots adrift of third round leader Brendon Todd after a brilliant 61 on Saturday, held his nerve after a late wobble following a weather delay.

The victory means Johnson has now won at least one tournament in each of the 13 seasons he has been on the PGA Tour, a feat matched only by an elite group of players that includes Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Tiger Woods.

“Obviously it’s a great streak and any

time your mentioned with those names it’s good,” said Johnson, who finished on 19 under, one clear of Kevin Streelman.

“I’m proud of myself for continuing the streak, and I want to keep it going, but it was a long time between wins—hopefully it won’t be as long until the next one.

Although the tournament was played without spectators because of the coronavirus, Johnson admitted he had been nervous after a weather delay with three holes remaining.

“Even though there’s no fans, you still feel the pressure,” Johnson said.

“The weather delay didn’t help very much because I had time to start thinking...but I figured out a way to get it done.”

The 36-year-old laid the foundations for

victory with a run of three straight birdies either side of the turn to take sole possession of the lead as partner Todd struggled to make any birdies over the front nine.

Weather delay After a bogey on the seventh which saw him relinquish a share of the lead, Johnson bounced back with a curling 27-foot birdie putt on the eighth to get back to 18 under.

He took the lead on the ninth after drilling a 126-yard second shot to within five feet of the pin before rolling in the simplest of birdie putts.

Johnson then pressed home his advantage on the 10th, stroking in another long birdie putt to go two shots clear.

Johnson looked to have taken an unassailable grip on the lead when Todd, who opened with 11 consecutive pars, then triplebogeyed the 12th to fall out of contention.

But Johnson’s serene progress came unstuck on the par-five 13th, when his

drive off the tee drifted out of bounds down the left side of the fairway.

He limited the damage by digging out a bogey and then hit back on the 14th with his sixth birdie of the day, draining a 16ft putt to take a two-shot lead.

Johnson was forced to scramble again on the par-four 15th when his tee-shot flew down the left and only narrowly avoided the pond guarding the green.

Johnson was forced to roll his trousers up and wade into the water for his second shot. He chipped from the rough and missed the green but was able to get up-and-down for par.

By now the biggest threat to Johnson’s chances of victory came from Streelman, playing in the group ahead.

Streelman’s hopes of snatching victory however vanished as he was unable to pick up any birdies over the closing five holes, reeling off five straight pars to finish with a 67, for an 18-under-par 262. AFP

Social justice messages may be allowed on NBA jerseys LOS ANGELES—NBA players could be allowed to wear jerseys bearing slogans supporting social justice causes or charities instead of their names when the league resumes next month, ESPN reported Sunday.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Chris Paul, president of the National Basketball Players Association, told ESPN’s The Undefeated website that players were in talks with the league about the initiative.

The report said jerseys could carry messages such as “Black Lives Matter” or “I Can’t Breathe”—two popular rallying cries of the protest movement which erupted after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month.

“We’re just trying to continue to shed light on the different social justice issues that guys around our league continue to talk about day in and day out,” Paul told The Undefeated.

“People are saying that social justice will be off of everybody’s mind in Orlando. With these jerseys, it doesn’t go away.”

NBA players have been prominent supporters of the protests which swept across all 50 states following Floyd’s death during his arrest by police on May 25.

Players would also have the opportunity to use the initiative to show support for causes not related to racial injustice and police brutality, Paul said, adding that no player would be forced to display a message.

Paul meanwhile said the idea had received positive feedback from players he had discussed it with.

“The guys I talked to were definitely excited,” Paul said.

“The reason I’m passionate and excited about it is that it gives a voice to the voiceless.

“It also gives guys a chance to shine a light on something they are passionate about,” added Paul, who earlier this month joined protesters at a Black Lives Matter event in Los Angeles.

The NBA is due to resume its coronavirus-disrupted 2019-2020 season in Orlando, Florida on July 30. AFP

FREE THROW SHOOTER

Dustin Johnson of the United States puts on the winner’s jacket after winning the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. AFP

Hamilton eyes Schumacher record LONDON—Seven months after they last competed in earnest, the Formula One circus will push a post-lockdown reset button to open the 2020 season in Austria on Sunday.

The event at Spielberg is being held on its original calendar date, but is not the once-anticipated 11th round of the championship, but the first—a season-opener delayed by the global coronavirus pandemic.

More than three months after the Australian Grand Prix was abandoned on the eve of opening practice in Melbourne, the race in the Styrian Alps will be run behind closed doors, without fans, sponsors’ agents and guests and only a handful of reporters restricted to the media centre.

The usual high-rise motor homes will be replaced by tents and awnings while the teams, cut to 80 members and all in

Lewis Hamilton

Unsportsmanlike sports fan

Others think this is all a charade to legitimize the coronation of a preordained champion.

Some believe that the restart is the NBA merely trying to get it (season) over with.

THIS is going to be a bad season—or so Some people fear basketball games many seem to say. won’t be as exciting because players will For months, people have clamored for play basketball with caution—physical the NBA to resume, and now, we are a contact will be diminished (if not overtly month away from the NBA restart. It is avoided), more players taking jump shots, odd and surprising because instead of and defense will be for show - not to enthusiasm from excited fans, palpable prevent injuries but to minimize contact is the pall of gloom looming across hoping this will improve their chances of the horizon, feeding on fans who are staying uninfected. expecting to be disappointed. The air is I am an NBA fan and I am not worried thick with talk of how the NBA restart about a bad season, and even if, in sets the league for a disappointing retrospect, it is valid to say it was a bad conclusion. season, I think this is not the problem.

Curious to the opinion of naysayers, The real problem is having bad fans.

I ask them why they think this is this I think it is being a bad fan when you going to be a bad NBA season. disparage a championship won by the They say winning the Larry O’Brien deserving. trophy in this ‘new normal’ sometime I think it is being a bad fan when you late September or mid-October is a mere belittle the best efforts of those who possess token championship. It does not carry the the expertise and know-how and are bestsame prestige as the championships won suited to come up with the best possible from the ‘old normal’. This bitterness plan considering this unforeseen situation is always expected from people fearful the NBA and the world are facing. their favorite team will not win this I think it is being a bad fan when you season. expect a professional athlete—who has

NATHANIEL DELA CRUZ

protective gear, will operate in sanitised “bubbles within bubbles” in a paddock bereft of human contact and the usual swell of rumour and speculation.

For all involved, who are tested four days before the event and five days later, it will be an unprecedented and unique experience.

Yet, despite all the change and the surreal atmosphere it is expected that the action, when it begins, will deliver the same likely story.

Lewis Hamilton, powered by the all-conquering Mercedes, goes in search of a seventh drivers’ title to equal the record of Michael Schumacher.

“It has been unbearable—I have missed the racing and the competition so much, so it will be great to be back,” said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff.

Even during lockdown, drivers moves for next year took place, Ferrari announcing the release of four-time champion Sebastian Vettel, to be succeeded by Carlos Sainz of McLaren and Daniel Ricciardo signing to leave Renault and be the Spaniard’s replacement at the cash-starved outfit so badly hit by the pandemic.

On the move Those 2021 moves will not affect this year’s line-ups, but may affect relationships between departing drivers and teams anxious not to allow unique operational and performance intelligence to leave with them.

If anywhere, this is likely to have most effect at Ferrari as the Italian team strives to avoid open conflict between rising star Charles Leclerc and Vettel, who is a free agent and a potential target for not only Renault, but also Mercedes.

The pair, who were intense rivals last year, tested in Italy last week ahead of the opening “double-header” with two successive races at Austria’s Red Bull Ring circuit before a third race in Hungary.

“I have no experience of heading back to the same track and having a second race, but I’ve been around for a while,” said Vettel. AFP

been working hard despite the break using the limited means available to him when the gym was closed and players were not allowed to work out with one another to stay in basketball shape— to perform under par and question his professionalism and ethics.

I think it is being a bad fan expecting the league to fail.

Even if it is true that this is a bad season for the NBA, the league is capable of doing it better the next time around. For bad fans, this is not the case, because bad fans are set on being bad. They’ve been around for quite a while. Their numbers are growing and they help create a toxic environment that tarnishes what should be a wholesome, entertaining sporting experience. Promoting the idea that this is going to be a bad NBA season is not the first time bad fans have mongered unsavory notions.

Bad fans are those who think picking a different favorite team is a sin for which a fan should be chastised and punished.

Bad fans are those who don’t have a sense of what ‘humility in defeat’ is.

There was a time when fans are buoyed by a healthy sense of sporting rivalry.

There was a time when the word ‘hate’ is

too strong a word to use in sports. Now, fans do not only brand others as ‘haters’, some are even proud to be one, and that is being a bad fan.

It is not going to be a bad season, not with league officials, team owners, coaches, basketball players, and support teams doing their best to fulfill the promise they made to the public of providing high-level professional basketball despite all the difficult and trying circumstances surrounding the NBA that have threatened to re-shape its immediate and long-term future.

True, it is going to be a different season.

Perhaps it is going to be a landmark season. For sure, it is going to be a season of learning, transition, and adapting to new conditions. It is going to be a first-ofits-kind season.

There are many ways we can hope to describe this NBA season, but bad is not one of them.

But fans who speak ill of the league and its players when it is undeserved, fans who have very little faith yet teeming in cynicism, fans who continue to spread unpleasant ideas just to be disputatious, there is only one way to describe them.

Bad fans.

Half of Tokyo residents oppose ‘21 Olympics TOKYO—Just over half of Tokyo’s residents don’t think the postponed 2020 Olympics should be held next year, backing either a further delay or outright cancellation because of fears over the coronavirus, according to a poll published Monday.

The survey carried out by two Japanese news organisations is only a single data point, but comes after health experts warned that even a year’s delay may not be sufficient to hold the Games safely.

The poll conducted over the weekend found 51.7 percent of respondents hope the Games in 2021 are postponed again or cancelled, while 46.3 percent want to see the rescheduled Olympics go ahead.

Among those opposed to a 2021 Games, 27.7 percent said they want them cancelled altogether, while 24.0 percent would prefer a second postponement.

The telephone poll, conducted by Kyodo News and Tokyo MX television between June 26-28, received 1,030 replies.

Of those who said they want to see the Games held next year, 31.1 percent said the event should be in a scaled-back form, including without spectators, while 15.2 percent said they wanted to see a full-blown Olympics.

Tokyo 2020 was postponed in March as the coronavirus spread across the globe, causing the worst disruption to the Olympics since two editions were cancelled during World War II. The Games are now scheduled to begin on July 23, 2021, although they will still be known as the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Officials from Japan and the International Olympic Committee have warned it will not be possible to postpone again, and even the year-long delay has created significant financial and logistical headaches.

The poll, conducted ahead of the Tokyo gubernatorial election on July 5, also found incumbent Yuriko Koike leading her opponents “by a large margin”.

Her precise lead was not specified, in keeping with a media tradition of not publishing polling figures in the days before a vote.

Koike has been heavily involved in preparations for the Games, travelling to Rio for the handover ceremony after the last Summer Olympics. AFP

PSA Forum to tackle PH boxing ASSOCIATION of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines president Ricky Vargas is the special guest in the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum webcast on Tuesday (June 30).

Va r g a s , the former Philippine Olympic Com mit tee president and current PBA Board chairman, will be joined by ABAP secreRicky Vargas tary-general Ed Picson in the session that starts at 10:30 a.m.

The boxing federation is still in the process of qualifying Filipino pugs to the Ed Picson Tokyo Olympics. So far, two Philippine boxers in Eumir Felix Marcial and Irish Magno have qualified to the games, which has been postponed for next year following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Forum will be shown anew live via the PSA Facebook page fb.com/ PhilippineSportswritersAssociation and likewise to be shared on Radyo Pilipinas 2 facebook page.

The weekly public sports program is backed by San Miguel Corp., Go For Gold, Amelie Hotel, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and powered by Smart.

Entertainment Entertainment

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tuesday, june 30,Wang, 2020 Editor Nickie

nickie.standard@gmail.com nickie.standard@gmail.com

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020 ||

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Blackpink thrilled Blackpink thrilled fans with VLive comeback show The month of June has been shaped up to be a fun-filled and exciting time for K-culture Filipino fans to come together—online, of course—to celebrate all things wonderful about Korean culture and music.

Dubbed #Kmmunityhwaiting Month, Globe Kmmunity Ph has been pulling out all the stops for their community members by releasing and unveiling exclusive giveaways, partnerships, promos, and events to give everyone their fill of K-culture.

The ‘How You Like That’ video featuring Blackpink’s Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa, is one of the fastest videos in YouTube history to hit 100 million views.

Globe Kmmunity Ph celebrated week after week with K-Drama and K-Pop Watch Virtual Gatherings, K-Culture Trivia events, KPop Listening Parties with DJ Happee Hour, and an exclusive Virtual hangout with GOT7’s Park Jin Young.

Last week, Globe partnered with Asia’s leading entertainment and lifestyle company, CJ eNM’s KCON, to bring the biggest K-pop concert fest of the season– KCON:TACT 2020 SUMMeR—to the country for free. But the fun didn’t stop here. Globe ended the celebration with a big event, in fact, it was dubbed as the biggest comeback of the year.

With music video teasers and posters appearing everywhere, there’s no

hiding that YG entertainment’s biggest girl group, Blackpink -- composed of Lisa, Jennie, Rosé, and Jisoo -comes back to capture ears and hearts with a much-awaited new single.

Blackpink’s newest track titled “how You Like That” was officially launched on Friday, June 26 at 4:00 p.m., Philippine time. As of this writing, the music video, which is available on Youtube, has already been viewed more than 137 million times on the streaming platform.

The launch was made possible by Globe’s partnership with Korean streaming platform, VLive. For more information and K-pop updates, and dibs on exclusive activities and invites, join Globe and its Official Kmmunity Ph Facebook group.

Kapuso stars join grand launch of

‘GMA Affordabox’

on network’s 70th year year F OR its 70th anniversary celebration, the country’s leading and largest broadcast firm GMA Network, Inc. offers its own high-quality and affordable Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) receiver, GMA Affordabox.

As the network aspires to enable every Filipino home to enjoy digital TV viewing experience, GMA Network Chairman and CeO Felipe L. Gozon proudly shared that GMA Affordabox was specifically developed to be made accessible to millions of Filipino households.

“In celebration of this milestone of reaching seven colorful decades in the industry, we are more than grateful for the Filipinos’ continued trust in GMA Network as we reaffirm our commitment to deliver excellence in news and entertainment. Kaya naman, kasabay ng aming ika-70 anibersaryo, buong puso naming inihahandog ang digital TV receiver na para sa Pilipino.”

GMA Affordabox is a plug-and-play device that can easily be connected to an analog TV in order to receive digital television broadcast. Users can watch GMA, GMA News TV, and the most-awaited heart of Asia in digital display, as well as all other free-to-air digital TV channels available in their area.

“GMA Affordabox stays true to its name as we make it available in the

Big stars, talent managers take pay cut in support of ABS-CBN network

The faces of GMA Affordabox digital TV receiver (from left) Michael V., Heart Evangelista, and Dingdong Dantes.

market at an affordable price, without compromising quality. GMA Network has teamed up with the best product developers and engineers to give you a device built with additional features and high-quality materials at an accessible price. Now, more Filipino homes can start enjoying digital TV viewing,” GMA Network President and COO Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr. stated.

With a sleek black metal casing that is set to endure years of TV viewing, GMA Affordabox provides superior digital reception as well as additional features that will take the users’ enter-

Klea Pineda

Ken Chan

Sanya Lopez

Benjamin Alvez

Kim Domingo

The cast of ‘It’s Showtime’

Gabbi Garcia

tainment experience to a whole new level. It comes with a built-in multimedia player that makes it an all-around digital file access device allowing users to play compatible video files, view photos, and even listen to music using a USB drive.

“Aside from providing superior digital reception, we also wanted Filipino homes to enjoy additional features that are built to suit their lifestyle,” said GMA Network Chief Risk Officer and First Vice President for Corporate Strategic Planning and Concurrent head for Program Support Regie C. Bautista.

Another advanced function of the GMA Affordabox is its personal video recorder that allows viewers to record GMA, GMA News TV, and heart of Asia programs so they never have to miss any of their favorite Kapuso shows. Affordabox users can watch and re-watch highlights of the shows by instant or scheduled recording.

In addition to the one-of-a-kind features exclusively available for GMA channels, the device also has a nationwide emergency Warning Broadcast System (eWBS) that receives alerts from the NDRRMC about any calamity warnings in their area. It will automatically set off an alarm during emergencies with its functional autoon alert feature for every household’s safety and preparedness.

For just a one-time purchase of P888 and no monthly fees, each GMA Affordabox unit promises to deliver a clearer and more vibrant TV viewing experience along with other bonus features.

Meanwhile, GMA stars joined the network in its campaign to introduce the digital TV receiver. Kapuso artists took to social media to show how inexpensive GMA Affordabox is and how easy the device can be set up.

It is now for sale online and in stores for the following areas where GMA›s digital signal is already available: Metro Manila, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva ecija, Tarlac, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal, Bohol, Cebu, Leyte, Davao de Oro, Davao del Sur, and Davao del Norte.

For more details, visit www.

GMAaffordabox.com and its official social media accounts via the handle @ GMAaffordabox. For inquiries, contact the hotline (02) 8857-4627 within Metro Manila from 8AM to 10PM or 0961252-9393 for outside Metro Manila, or e-mail support@GMAaffordabox.com.

AS The entertainment industry grapples with low revenues and challenges of restarting production due to the COVID-19 lockdown, actors and industry workers are facing huge pay cuts. Anywhere in the world, top stars, celebrities, and even athletes have agreed to salary reduction to reduce the economic effects of the coronavirus crisis.

In the case of ABS-CBN, Kapamilya artists with currently airing shows and their talent managers have agreed to take pay cut not just because of the restrictions put in place by the government when it comes to production, it also includes the situation that the network is currently in.

In a statement sent to the media last week by ABS-CBN’s Corporate Communications team, it said that the move was mainly to help the network deal with the impact of the shutdown of its TV and radio operations.

“We are grateful to all our artists for their understanding and support for the network during these difficult times. We thank them for keeping the passion and commitment to bring joy and entertainment to our audience in the midst of the pandemic and the shutdown,” said ABSCBN chief operating officer of broadcast Cory Vidanes.

The reduction in talent fees is one of the cost-saving measures undertaken

by ABS-CBN as it continues to lose P30 to 35 million in daily advertising revenues due to the broadcast shutdown, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to stricter production guidelines for tapings and staging of live entertainment shows.

Professional Artist Managers Inc. (PAMI) president June Rufino said the group of talent managers fully understands the situation of ABSCBN and did not object to the plan.

Rufino said PAMI members ac-

Coco Martin’s ‘And Probinsyano’ is one of the shows currently airing on Kapamilya Channel.

Judy Ann Santos (top) and Angel Locsin’s TV programs ‘Paano Tita Mapasasalamatan’ and ‘Iba Yan,’ respectively, are two of the recently introduced shows airing on ABSCBN’s cable channel.

knowledge the support, professional development, and job opportunities that ABS-CBN has given to their talents through the years.

“In good times, ABS-CBN has been with us. In bad times, we want to be there for them. Ngayon alam nila, wala ang ABS-CBN. Naiintindihan nila iyon. We want to cooperate. We want to help ABS-CBN in whatever way we can and taking a pay cut is one way to do that,” she said.

When Rufino spoke to her artists about the plan, she said her artists feel sad about the company’s situation.

“ABS-CBN has always been in the service of the Filipino. Kapag may calamities, ‘yung ABS-CBN ang nauunang tumulong. Now, it’s time for us to pay it forward,” said Rufino.

The network recently brought back some of its television series and live entertainment shows via the Kapamilya Channel on cable and satellite TV nationwide. These include FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, A Soldier’s Heart, Love Thy Woman, Magandang Buhay, The Voice Teens, ASAP Natin ‘To, and It’s Showtime. It also launched two new shows namely Paano Kita Mapapasalamatan and Iba Yan. “We will continue to serve the Filipino through Kapamilya Channel on cable, satellite TV, and iWant,” ended Vidanes.

Life

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

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HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020

How to boost immune system

naturally SLEEP YOUR WAY TO HEALTH.

Nutrition experts urge adults to get seven to eight hours of sleep daily, the optimal amount of time for the body to rest and repair itself.

By Teddy S. Manansala, RND

Citrus fruitinfused water is a vitamin C-rich way to hydrate.

I

N ADDITION to the novel coronavirus that’s endangering public health, there’s another threat, so to speak, that poses risk to people’s well-being.

The colds and flu season that comes along with the rainy season is here, hence it is important to keep your immune system strong and in top shape.

There are several natural ways to strengthen our immune system, which is our body’s defense against viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens. First is staying hydrated.

Don’t wait for signs to rehydrate as water is a natural immunity booster that cleanses our body from toxins. The average fluid intake recommended for adult is two liters a day.

Drink water to maintain moisture on the sense organs (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin) and prevent penetration of infectious material.

Next is increasing intake of vitamin C- and vitamin D-rich food items.

Good nutrition is a prerequisite to good health, and eating a variety of foods following the Pinggang Pinoy of DOST-Food and Nutrition Research Institute is fundamental to adequately provide one’s needs.

Along with other nutrients found naturally in foods, vitamin C is essential in maintaining the integrity of the immune system. Citrus fruits are good sources of vitamin C and you can increase your intake in the form of fresh fruit juices and shakes, infused water, and tea with

Tuna, mackerel, and salmon, which are common in Japanese cuisine, are rich sources of vitamin D.

a squeeze of lemon or calamansi.

The recommended intake of vitamin C per day ranges between 60mg to 70mg. For reference: three pieces of dalandan contain 48mg, two pieces of redfleshed guava have 95mg, two segments of pomelo contain 46mg, five pieces of rambutan come with 50mg, one slice of ripe papaya has 67mg, and one slice of unripe mango contains 49mg.

Meanwhile, increasing intake of vitamin D-rich food sources is important during the rainy season as exposure to sunlight in the morning may be reduced.

The primary function of vitamin D is to promote calcium absorption. It likewise helps regulate the immune responses in the body.

With limited sunlight, you may obtain

your daily dose of vitamin D from dietary sources such as egg yolks, tuna, mackerel, salmon, and liver. Milk, dairy products, and cereals are also significant sources.

When common symptoms ensue during an episode of common colds or flu, it’s recommended to use indigenous food as remedy. Better still, go domestic and obtain your fresh produce and products from our farmers to help uplift their economic status.

Four popular food remedies include garlic, ginger, honey, and spices.

Garlic is known for its antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties.

Ginger, as in ginger tea is a perfect remedy to alleviate nasal congestion during episodes of cold and chills. It also alleviates progression of muscle pain and

Dr. Vicki Belo shares self-care

Balance As more companies embrace remote working to keep their employees safe, many struggle with the blurring lines between home and office. Dr. Belo shared how one can find worklife balance by setting a specific work area and work schedule, dressing up

tion in full capacity thereby allowing the repair and growth of body tissues.

Taking 30-minute naps twice a day may lessen stress from sleep deprivation.

Staying hydrated also helps in getting enough rest as proper hydration stimulates the body’s production of melatonin and other sleep-inducing chemicals.

Learn more about the in-depth science of Nutrition and Immune System through an online diploma program in Holistic Food and Nutrition to be conducted by the School of Professional and Continuing Education of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde on August 8, 15, and 22. Email space@ benilde.edu.ph or visit benilde.edu.ph/ space for more details.

5 steps of proper hand washing

advice for Filipinos

FINDING work-life balance, staying informed, and getting plenty of sleep are some of the habits dermatologist to the stars Dr. Vicki Belo said could help Filipinos as we face uncertainties during the pandemic.

At the webinar entitled “Beauty Behind Closed Doors: SelfCare During Quarantine,” Dr. Belo shared self-care advice grounded on four principles:

exercise-induced muscle sores.

Honey is known to relieve cough and cold symptoms, as well as heal wounds and burns, relieve diarrhea, prevent acid reflux, and provide hangover relief, among many others.

Spices such as chili, cayenne pepper, horseradish or wasabi are known to help unclog stuffy nose. In addition, the combination of ginger, coriander, and cinnamon helps alleviate fever and promotes sweating.

Finally, a natural way of boosting our body’s defenses is by getting a good amount of sleep.

The optimal amount of sleep for adults is seven to eight hours. Resting and sleeping have lower body energy expenditure that enables your immune system to func-

Dr. Vicki Belo, at a webinar, discusses self-care habits that can help Filipinos face uncertainties during the ongoing pandemic.

even at home, and protecting one’s mental health by doing projects that will make them happy and journaling their progress.

She also mentioned taking care of skin even while indoors.

Screen time can be just as harsh as sunlight and can cause hyper pigmentation and premature aging.

Eating and exercise Dr. Belo also noted how exercise and balanced diet can help boost immu-

nity and manage stress and anxiety amid the pandemic. She also mentioned “Face Gym,” a form of exercise specifically for the face and neck, and the importance of staying hydrated, getting plenty of sleep, and avoiding alcohol and drugs.

Learning Dr. Belo believes that it is good to stay informed but not overwhelmed, and to seek reliable information from trusted sources only. While physical distancing is necessary, she reminded people to minimize the feeling of isolation by fostering deep emotional closeness with loved ones.

Offering gratitude The dermatologist encouraged embracing an attitude of gratitude, which has been cited as an important pillar of psychological wellbeing that also manifests in stronger physical health.

YOU’RE probably washing your (4) fingernails; (5) and thumbs, and keep scrubbing for at least 20 seconds. hands wrong.

As with many things, hand washing Rinse and dry hands thoroughly.

“Safeguard, being 54 years in the is not about speed, or how fast you can country, has do it, it’s about become much doing it right. of a household SM Cares and name.

From Safeguard team our beige bar up for the #Safesoap from long HandsAtSM ago to our hand campaign to sanitizers and educate and liquid hand encourage peosoap now, we ple to practice have always the five steps committed of proper hand ourselves to washing. serve the needs “Hand washof the Filipino ing is our first people, just line of defense like SM has,” against illnesssaid Procter es, and is also and Gamble crucial during vice president a global health for skin and crisis. We are personal care very excited to Shweta Sharpartner with SM Cares and Safeguard team up for the ma.

Procter and As part of Gamble’s Safe- #SafeHandsAtSM campaign that educates and partnerguard to raise encourages the public to wash their hands the the right way. ship, Safeawareness on guard has made the importance of this matter,” said SM Supermalls its liquid hand soap available in restrooms of all SM malls across the president Steven Tan. To ensure that all areas of hands country. Information materials on the are properly washed, make sure to five steps of hand washing are also dedo the five steps: (1) wash palms; (2) ployed in restrooms and high-traffic back of hand; (3) in between fingers; areas in SM to remind customers.