Manila Standard - 2020 July 7 - Tuesday

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NCR lockdown eyed anew As hospitals report full bed capacity due to continuous rise in cases

By Vito Barcelo and Willie Casas

M

ALACAÑANG on Monday warned that Metro Manila, home to more than 12

million people, may return to stricter quarantine restrictions if hospital beds start to run out due to the growing number of COVID-19 infections.

Metro Manila was under an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the most restrictive form of lockdown, for more than two months, before restrictions were relaxed under a general community quarantine (GCQ) on June 1.

Areas under a GCQ allows some businesses and public transportation to open on a limited

capacity in a bid to move the economy forward.

“If many of us do not follow health protocols or do not observe social… or physical distancing, wash hands, and continue to leave their homes for unnecessary reasons, we may revert to ECQ or MECQ,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.

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VOL. XXXIV • NO. 133 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Sagada turns away Palace team to film scenes for SONA

By Nickie Wang ACTOR Piolo Pascual and film director Joyce Bernal, along with a team from the Malacañang Presidential Broadcast Staff-RTVM, were denied access to shoot in the COVID-free Sagada Mountain province, where they were supposed to film background views for President Rodrigo Duterte’s next State-of-the-Nation Address.

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No MRT-3 service, 186 crew with COVID

Film director Joyce Bernal (wearing a black face mask), along wit members of the Presidential Broadcast Staff-RTVM, met with the Sagada Bantay COVID-19 task group Sunday after the former arrived in the province to shoot for the President's July 20 State of the Nation Address. The shoot would have featured the highland town (left), with its postcard-pretty village seen here on a sunny day.

By Darwin G. Amojelar and Willie Casas

had tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Department of Transportation said Monday.

As of July 6, a total 186 MRT MRT-3 operations would be temporarily personnel were positive for COVID-19. shut down starting today (Tuesday) Of the total, 169 personnel came from until July 11 after more of its personnel MRT-3 depot and the remaining 17 from

Anti-terror law critics ask SC to suspend it

WORLD ROUNDUP

• Experts to WHO: Virus airborne • Bubonic plague: China on alert

By Rey Requejo, Macon Ramos-Araneta, and Joel Zurbano CRITICS of the new anti-terrorism law, signed on Friday by President Rodrigo Duterte called on the Supreme Court to suspend its implementation, due on July 18, arguing it threatened human rights and freedom of speech.

The law gives the security forces sweeping powers to go after terrorists, but critics fear it could be used to stifle dissent and target government opponents.

The National Union of Peoples' Lawyers and retired SC justice Antonio Next page

SCIENTISTS are calling on the World Health Organization to revise recommendations regarding the novel coronavirus, saying there is evidence that the disease is airborne, the New York Times reported Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

The WHO has said the coronavirus disease spreads primarily from person to

station personnel.

The DOTr said temporary shutdown would be undertaken to give way to RT-PCR (swab) testing of all MRT-3 personnel, including those of its maintenance provider and subcontractors, Next page

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM JULY 6)

46,333 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

1,303

2,099 NEW

1,258 FRESH

6

DEATHS

NEW

12,185

243

RECOVERIES

NEW

Next page Starting today, MRT-3 will temporarily halt its operations for five days after 189 of its personnel, including ticket sellers, contracted the novel coronavirus. MRT-3 has ramped up its safety and hygiene protocols, adopting a ‘five-minute disinfection hustle’ inside its trains at the end stations at North Avenue and Taft Avenue.

Network insists fair reporting on political issues

By Maricel V. Cruz

Agents of the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic (I-ACT) flag down and mark as colorum three vans illegally operating as company shuttle service along Pasong Tamo Extension Monday morning. Passengers (inset) were asked to disembark as the vehicles were impounded.

EMBATTLED broadcast giant ABSCBN on Monday asserted it has been balanced in its news reporting, especially on political issues, and that it treats journalism as a public service.

At the continuation of the House hearing on the network's franchise renewal application, ABS-CBN integrated news and current affairs head Regina Reyes denied allegations of being biased in political reporting, especially during elections.

"Since our return to air in 1986, we have endeavored to perform our duty

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Members of the Makabayan bloc of party-list representatives, led by former lawmaker Neri Colmenares, file a petition Monday against the Anti-Terrorism Act before the Supreme Court in Manila, challenging the constitutionality of the measure. Norman Cruz

Rody not sick, only emotional—Roque PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte regards the death of four soldiers gunned down by policemen in Jolo, Sulu, as a personal loss, Malacañang said Monday.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the remark after observers noticed

that Duterte appeared sick and in low spirits during his speech at the Edwin Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga City on Friday, where he appealed to the soldiers to stay calm and not to take revenge.

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News

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Frontliners get full coverage T The agency made the announcement to remind all hospitals in the country that they should not be charging any copayment against patients whose job is in the medical frontlines.

The call is in support of President Rodrigo Duterte’s appeal to give health care workers and front liners all possible

support in recognition of the risks they face on a day-to-day basis to help treat COVID-19 patients.

Restriction repeated The Bureau of Immigration has reminded the Filipinos who plan to travel abroad as tourists are still restricted from leaving amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commissioner Jaime Morente issued the statement after receiving a report that six Filipinos were recently barred from going to Cambodia via a special chartered flight from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The passengers were reportedly offloaded because their trip abroad was not essential, and neither did they fall under the category of travelers exempted from the travel ban while the country is under quarantine.

Plasma banks Senator Imee Marcos on Monday proposed the creation of plasma banks in all public and private hospitals as COVID-19 survivor Senator Sonny Angara launched plasmangpagasa.com

NCR...

243 more patients recovered from the respiratory disease.

The DOH said they are strictly monitoring six areas where there has been a spike in COVID-19 cases for the past week. These were Cebu City, Cebu province, and the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu, Quezon City and Manila.

As of July 4, the Philippines has 55 certified polymerase chain reaction facilities and 20 GeneXpert laboratories that have tested a total of 738,502 individuals.

Meanwhile, 1,306 or 40.74 percent of intensive care unit beds for COVID-19 patients are currently occupied while 1,971 or 19.89 percent of mechanical ventilators are in use.

But Vergeire reported that 11 Metro Manila hospitals have reported 100 percent utilization of their ICU beds for COVID-19 patients.

She identified the hospitals as Veterans Memorial Medical Center; University of Santo Tomas Hospital; University of Perpetual Help; Tondo Medical Center; Seamen’s Hospital; Philippine Children’s Medical Center; Metro North Medical

Center and Hospital; Las Piñas Doctors Hospital; De Los Santos Medical Center; Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center; and Capitol Medical Center.

Vergeire added that the Lung Center of the Philippines reported a 97-percent utilization of its COVID-19 ICU beds while the East Avenue Medical Center recorded 89 percent and the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Medical Center posted 83 percent.

“When we talk about the percentage of beds that had been occupied already, it is not equivalent to the entire bed capacity of the hospital. Here, we are just referring to the dedicated beds for COVID-19,” she said.

Vergeire earlier said there were some hospitals that ignored the DOH requirement to designate 30 percent of hospital beds for COVID-19 cases.

Meanwhile, the critical care resources of state hospitals in Metro Manila have reached a “moderate risk level” though not yet overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases.

During an online forum Monday, Vergeire said isolation beds in government

hospitals in Metro Manila are 68 percent; ward beds, 79 percent; and ICU beds, 51 percent occupied. About a third of mechanical ventilators were in use.

The Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center in Manila earlier said it would no longer accept COVID-19 patients as its COVID-19 wards were already running at full capacity.

In Cebu City, the critical care and isolation bed utilization were at 62.45 percent. Its case doubling time for COVID-19 cases was 7.62 days.

National Task Force Against COVID-19 spokesperson Restituto Padilla said that at least three hospitals reported to the task force that they have reached their full capacity and will start referring future COVID-19 patients to other hospitals.

Also on Monday, a government scientist said the recent surge in COVID-19 cases may be partly due to a mutation in the novel coronavirus which is making it at least three times more infectious. Dr. Edsel Salvana said “it is very clear our overall cases are ramping up” even if some of the new confirmed cases were backlogs.

Currently, 964 additional negative personnel are required to resume work.

During the temporary shutdown, thorough disinfection of all MRT-3 facilities will be conducted, including its depot, stations, and trains.

To help ferry commuters, the MRT-3 Bus Augmentation Program will continue with 90 buses and a fixed dispatching interval of every 3 minutes.

In addition, 150 buses will be deployed for the EDSA Busway service, carrying passengers between Monumento and the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITx).

A mini loop will also run between Timog Ave. and Ortigas to service passengers, where shuttle services /mini buses will be allowed to pick up and drop off passengers at the curbside.

During this pandemic, the mandate to support the reopening of the economy shall be balanced with the health and safety of the riding public, and of our public transport personnel.

In related developments, the number of police officers infected with COVID-19 was now 902, according to Philippine National Police chief Gen. Archie Gamboa.

In a press briefing at Camp Crame, Gamboa said that of the confirmed cases as of 6 a.m. Monday, there were 479 active cases while 414 have recovered.

The death toll stands at nine.

Gamboa said the high number of cases was registered at the National Capital Region Police with 354; Police Regional Office-7 (Central Visayas), 248; the National Support Units, 81; and PRO 4-A (Calabarzon), 69.

“Incidentally, PRO7 posted the 830 suspected cases that are awaiting confirmatory testing,” Gamboa said.

Based on PNP data, there are at least 1,148 policemen who are classified as suspected Covid-19 cases while 726 others are considered as probable cases.

World...

two most populous states—Victoria and New South Wales—will be closed overnight Tuesday, officials from both states said.

Home to more than 6.6 million people, Victoria announced a record 127 new cases Monday as the virus spread through Melbourne—including a cluster in several densely populated apartment blocks.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews described the decision to close off the state as "the smart call, the right call at this time, given the significant challenges we face in containing this virus."

US hospitals overwhelmed Officials at the epicenter of the worsening coronavirus crisis in the United States warned Sunday (Monday in Manila) their hospitals were in danger of being overwhelmed by the upsurge.

The US has struggled to respond to the devastation wrought by the virus, with its national death toll rising to near 130,000 out of 2.8 million confirmed cases, and many states hit by increasing infections after lockdowns were eased.

Hospital beds are full in parts of Texas, while calls for fresh stay-at-home orders are growing.

The US' annual July 4 holiday weekend was overshadowed by growing evidence that its fractured response has exacted a heavy price across the south and west, after previous hotspots such as New York emerged from the worst of the virus.

India 3rd hardest hit India announced Monday it had nearly 700,000 coronavirus cases, taking it past Russia to become the third-hardest-hit nation in the global pandemic.

The health ministry said 697,358 cases had now been recorded, a rise of 24,000 in 24 hours, while Russia has just over 681,000. AFP

By Vito Barcelo, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rio Araja

HE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation said medical frontliners and allied workers are entitled to full hospitalization coverage should they get infected by the COVID-19 virus.

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Health official have repeatedly advised the public not to be complacent even if quarantine measures have been relaxed, saying the easing is being done to reopen the economy gradually and not because the threat of the virus is no longer present.

On the other hand, the Department of Health (DOH) said that it will meet with hospital representatives to check the situation in their respective facilities.

DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said government hospitals in Metro Manila are not yet filled with COVID-19 cases.

The country’s tally of COVID-19 cases breached the 46,000 mark on Monday after the DOH reported 2,099 more COVID-19 infections—1,258 “fresh” and 841 reported “late”—bringing the total to 46,333.

The death toll climbed to 1,303 with six new fatalities, the DOH said.

Total recoveries rose to 12,185 after

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to prevent further spread of the disease, and, most importantly, to protect the health and safety of both its personnel and commuters.

The Department of Health on Monday advised the public who had contact with the ticket sellers of MRT-3 to check their own health.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, in an interview on GMA Network’s Unang Hirit, said authorities would push the contact tracing of passengers who had transactions with the ticket sellers.

Vergeire said the DOH was having talks with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the management of MRT-3 on how they would trace the concerned passengers.

At the same time, Vergeire said the Philippines planned to further expand the testing criteria for COVID-19, as it expected test kits for 10 million people.

The duration of the temporary shutdown is currently for five days, or until July 11, 2020, or until RT-PCR testing confirms a sufficient number of COVID-19 negative personnel to enable resumption of at least limited operations.

“This means that the period of the shutdown may be shortened or extended, depending on the pace and results of RTPCR testing,” DOTr said.

“This also means that operations will resume even if the number of available personnel can only operate a limited number of train sets at the beginning,” it added.

The RT-PCR testing of MRT-3 personnel will be done by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) at the Palacio de Manila swabbing center as well as with the assistance of the Red Cross. Out of MRT-3’s more than 3,200 workforce, it will require at least 1,300 personnel to be able to resume limited operations.

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person through small droplets from the nose or mouth, which are expelled when a person with COVID-19 coughs, neezes or speaks.

But 239 scientists from 32 countries, in an open letter to the agency, which the researchers plan to publish in a scientific journal next week, outlined the evidence showing smaller particles could infect people, the New York Times said.

Whether carried by large droplets that zoom through the air after a sneeze, or by much smaller exhaled droplets that may glide the length of a room, the coronavirus is borne through air and can infect people when inhaled, the scientists said.

Bubonic plague case Authorities in the Chinese region of Inner Mongolia are on high alert after a suspected case of bubonic plague, the disease that caused the Black Death pandemic, was reported Sunday.

The case was discovered in the city of Bayannur, northwest of the Chinese capital of Beijing, according to state-run Xinhua news agency. A hospital alerted municipal authorities of the patient's case on Saturday.

By Sunday, local authorities had issued a citywide Level 3 warning for plague prevention, the second lowest in a fourlevel system. The warning will stay in place until the end of the year.

Victoria sealed off Australia will effectively seal off the state of Victoria from the rest of the country, authorities said Monday, announcing unprecedented measures to tackle a worrying surge in coronavirus cases.

For the first time since the epidemic began, the border between Australia's

Network...

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Rody...

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The soldiers were said to be tailing suicide bombers affiliated with the Abu Sayyaf group on June 29 when they were shot dead by the policemen.

Duterte’s visit in Zamboanga City was the first time he met with government troops since the Philippines was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“He really took what happened in Jolo as a personal loss, which is why he promised that justice would be served,” Roque said in a virtual presser.

But he allayed the concerns over Duterte’s health, saying he was not suffering from any condition but was simply “emotional” over the death of the four soldiers.

He compared Duterte’s feelings to those of a father grieving over the loss of a son, noting that his voice was cracking while delivering his speech.

“He is really low-spirited because he is sad. He’s like a father who lost a son,” Roque said.

He appealed to his audience to wait for the results of the National Bureau of

Investigation’s probe into the alleged “misencounter” between the members of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines that resulted in the killing of the soldiers.

“Let us wait for the results of the investigation of the NBI because the President himself is the most affected by their deaths aside from their families,” Roque said.

He said Duterte was set to address the public in Davao City today, Tuesday, to give an update on the COVID-19 situation.

In his speech on Friday, Duterte acknowledged that the incident had created an animosity between the AFP and the PNP, “which is not good because, in the end, it would be the people [who] will bear the brunt of all these things.”

He told the military not to hold a grudge against the police as “there is a more important task to do and that is to protect the people of the Philippines.”

Killing policemen would not bring their four comrades back to life, he said, asking the military and the police to wait for the results of the investigation being conducted by the NBI, which would be made public “so that everybody will understand the situation.”

as a news organization. As professional journalists, we strive to keep biases in check and to report on newsworthy events, persons and issues in an accurate, fair and balanced manner," Reyes told the panel.

But Reyes, a veteran reporter prior to heading the network's news department, admitted that they have committed mistakes.

"Just like other news organizations, we are not perfect. Despite our measures to be careful and police our ranks, we admit that we also commit mistakes. But we immediately acted on errors and corrected them. We have mechanisms for handling mistakes committed in the performance of our duty," she said.

Reyes added: "Just like those in government, journalists and the news media operate as trustees of the public.

As such, our first loyalty is to citizens, and our primary obligation is to the truth. We know that as we hold power to account, we ourselves are accountable to the public we serve."

This developed as Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said Monday the House leadership will not impose on its members how to vote

to connect donors with hospitals.

While the effective vaccine for COVID-19 and its possible mutations remained unavailable, Marcos said, the government must prepare for the long haul.

"Not even medical experts can tell the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, how much further cases of infection in the country will increase and when a vaccine will be found,” Marcos said.

Enforce the guidelines Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has ordered the city’s 142 village officials to strictly enforce the general community quarantine guidelines within their areas of jurisdiction.

on bills seeking to grant a new franchise to broadcast network ABS-CBN. “From the start, we’ve been saying, if you are pro, open your mind to those who are criticizing. If you are a critic, open your mind to the answers of the management. So that’s why we made the hearings public, so that the people can decide for themselves," Cayetano said.

Cayetano, who ran for vice president but lost in 2016, earlier accused ABS-CBN of unfair coverage during the campaign.

During the hearing Monday, Cayetano submitted written testimony on ABS-CBN’s alleged "partiality" and "favoritism" in its 2016 election coverage, which Cayetano said will be given to the network’s executives so they could reply to his allegations.

Reyes said ABS-CBN is aware that while the media company has the power and duty to hold public officials to account, the company itself is accountable to the public it serves.

"We uphold this accountability and responsibility as vigorously as we uphold press freedom, freedom of expression, and free speech," she said.

"In these most trying of times, we continue to deliver the news each day knowing that it is an opportunity and a privilege, not just to be a witness to history, but to be a force for good," Reyes added.

Anti-Terror...

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Carpio have also expressed intention to file petitions against the new law.

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra welcomed the filing of petitions challenging the constitutionality of several provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 before the Supreme Court.

"The Supreme Court is the final arbiter of all constitutional issues raised against the anti-terrorism law," Guevarra said.

"The court's ruling will also guide the DOJ (Department of Justice) and the ATC (Anti-Terrorism Council) in the preparation of the implementing rules and regulations of the law," Guevarra added.

The new law repeals the Human Security Act of 2007. It punishes those who will propose, incite, conspire, participate in the planning, training, preparation, and facilitation of a terrorist act; including those who will provide material support to terrorists, and recruit members in a terrorist organization.

Rights groups had called on Duterte to veto the law, which allows for a special council composed of members of his cabinet to order the warrantless arrest of anyone they deem a terrorist.

It also allows for suspects to be detained for up to 24 days without charge and scraps heavy fines for law enforcers for wrongful detention.

The government argues the law, which was approved by Congress last month, is needed to combat terrorism in the country's south where communist and Islamist groups have waged long-running insurgencies.

In at least four separate filings with the Supreme Court on Monday, lawyers, professors and some members of Congress called for the legislation to be halted before it takes effect to allow for a judicial review and the removal of what they say are unconstitutional provisions.

"In a democratic society, security must never be attained nor maintained at the expense of human rights and civil liberties," opposition lawmaker Edcel Lagman said in his petition.

Besides members of the Makabayan bloc in Congress, a group of lawyers along with former Education Secretary Armin Luistro, and Far Eastern University law dean Mel Sta. Maria have also filed petitions challenging the constitutionality of the anti-terrorism law.

The Supreme Court confirmed the filings. Other groups have expressed plans to challenge the law. With AFP

Sagada...

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In an emergency meeting held on Sunday, Bernal and her crew were asked by the Municipal Disaster Risk and Management Office (MDRRMO) to leave Sagada despite having travel papers and authorization from Malacañang.

In a statement posted on its official Facebook page, the Sagada Municipality said a coordinator from the Malacañang Presidential Broadcast Staff contacted the office of Sagada Mayor James Pooten and MDRRMO on July 1 requesting to shoot in the highland town for Duterte’s SONA to take place on July 20.

“Both declined the request,” the municipality wrote on Facebook.

However, on Sunday, the team was informed that Bernal and her crew escorted by military and PNP personnel were already on their way to Sagada to shoot.

“Upon the query of the body for any written communication regarding the video shoot, it was found that an email was sent by Direk Joyce Bernal’s team after office hours on July 3, 2020, Friday. The letterwas informing the Mayor of the team coming on the night of July 5, 2020. Attached to the letter was an Authorization Letter signed by Denis Wilfred P. Pabalan, executive director of the Malacañang Presidential Broadcast Staff-RTVM,” the statement said.

The statement further said that during the emergency meeting where Bernal was invited, the local authority explained their sentiments and reasons why they were not allowing her and her team to shoot any video material in Sagada.

“Direk Joyce clearly understood the decision of the body and she was apologetic. She appealed that they be given the night to rest in the Cellar Door and to ensure that their vehicles were ready for the long trip back to Manila.

The body agreed since they were already at the Cellar Door,” the statement concluded, adding that their Local COVID Task Force would be conducting monitoring activities for the Cellar Door management to ensure that those in the establishment underwent a mandatory quarantine.

Meanwhile, the mayor of Sagada also released a statement explaining the incident. Mayor Pooten said Bernal and her team were asked to leave the highland town because they were giving the health and safety of his town utmost priority.

He said no permits or authorizations could change their decision to keep the town sealed from visitors and tourists.

With Dave Leprozo

News ‘P10b RCEF budget enough for farmers’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Cynthia Villar said the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund does not need any additional budget allocated from the COVID 19 prevention as it has a P10B budget per year annually from the national budget for the next 6 years.

Villar, chairperson of the Senate agriculture committee, said the budget being asked by the Department of Agriculture is not for RCEF but for their other programs.

Aside from the RCEF, she said the DA has a separate National Rice Program with a P7 billion yearly budget allocated to buy fertilizer and hybrid seeds.

The Rice Tariffication Law or Republic Act 11203 which took effect March 2019. It created the RCEF which guarantees a P10 billion allocation annually or higher to be taken from tariff collected by the Bureau of Customs.

The law provides that for the years 2019 to 2024, a P10 billion fund shall be allocated as follows: P5 billion or 50 percent, for the procurement of rice farm equipment—tillers, tractors, threshers, milling, transplanters, harvesters, irrigation pumps, and drying facilities that will be given to 947 or so rice-producing towns in the country to be implemented

by PhilMech; P3 billion or 30 percent, will be allotted for the development, promotion, distribution and production of inbred seeds by PhilRice; P1 billion or 10 percent will go to cheap credit with twopercent interest per year to be implemented by LandBank and the Development Bank of the Philippines; and 10 percent or P1 billion is for training programs.

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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People affected by oil spill should be paid—solon

By Maricel V. Cruz A PARTY-LIST lawmaker on Monday said the owner of the barge carrying petroleum products that blew up off Iloilo City should pay for the environmental degradation caused by the spill and the economic losses that it caused on coastal communities.

Rep. Michael Defensor of Anakalusugan, also a former Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, said: “We

are also counting on the operator of the power barge – AC Energy Corp. – to pay for the cleanup of the spill.”

“The Oil Pollution Compensation Law of 2007, or Republic Act 9483, imposes strict liability for oil pollution damage and guarantees adequate reparation for adversely affected populations, especially those that depend on fishing and seashell harvesting,” Defensor said.

Under the law, Defensor said owners of vessels that “cause pollution damage

or create a grave and imminent threat of causing such damage,” are liable for several offenses.

These include, he said, expenses actually incurred in clean-up operations at sea or on shore; costs incurred for preventive measures and further loss or damage caused by such preventive measures; consequential loss or loss of earnings suffered by owners or users of property contaminated or damaged as a direct result of the spill; pure economic loss or loss

of earnings sustained by people, even if the property tainted or spoiled by the slick does not belong to them; damage to human health or loss of life as a direct result of the incident; and environmental damage and other reasonable measures of restoration.

LEARNING MODULES. Public school teachers and property custodians from different schools sort out modules at the Geronimo Santiago Elementary School in San Miguel, Manila on

Agriculture chief faces graft case

By Rio N. Araja AGRICULTURE Secretary William Dar is facing a complaint of graft, nepotism and grave abuse of authority before the Office of the Ombudsman.

In a 26-page complaint-affidavit, exdeputy executive director John Pagaduan of the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries accused Dar of graft; violation of Executive Order No. 262 and Presidential Decree No. 807 or the Civil Service Decree; nepotism, and grave abuse of authority.

He alleged that Dar appointed his sonin-law—Alexander Arizabal Jr.—as the general manager of the Human Settlement Development Corp., an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture.

He said Arizabal is a concurrent information systems analyst III in the same agency.

Monday. The modules will be distributed to the parents of the students as learning materials for the upcoming school year’s distance learning. Norman Cruz

‘Use SEF to help private teachers’

By Maricel V. Cruz

A

LAWMAKER has proposed the use of the special education fund of local government units in extending financial assistance to private school teachers aside from giving them training, amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City said that helping teachers should be included in the proposed expanded utilization of the local education fund.

“Congress has all the authority to decide on what’s best for the country. And I believe we can assist private school teachers whose remunerations are lagging behind. When we give assistance

to teachers, it is for the benefit of the students,” he said during a recent virtual meeting of the House committee on higher education chaired by Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo, which is considering a proposal to expand the use of the SEF. “Teachers are like candles who in teaching their students consume themselves in order to give light to their stu-

dents,” he said.

Romulo voiced concern over a constitutional provision which he said clearly states “that public funds should not be used for private purposes.”

But Rodriguez said the prohibition would not apply “because we’re not helping the private sector or school per se but we are helping the students of our country in private schools.”

Besides, he said there is nothing wrong if the proposed financial aid to teachers is treated as assistance to private schools, since the government has been helping private educational institutions through various programs, including GASTPE (government assistance to students and teachers in private education).

Rodriguez likewise cited the Education Act of 1965 of the United States which

provided $1.3B in direct aid not only to public schools but also to parochial/sectarian private schools, sidestepping even the religious issue. Also its Higher Education Act of 1965 appropriated $650M for scholarships for students in both public and private Colleges and universities.

“Even in America where we got our Constitutional provision that public funds can only be used for public purposes, its Congress has appropriated funds for private schools because the Assistance ultimately to their students is for a public purpose”, Rodriguez informed the Committee.

“We can legislate that the special education fund in the local level be used for the purpose of assisting private schools.

Their students are part of the public,” he told the Romulo committee.

DENR’s LMB to go digital soon

By Rio N. Araja

JEEPNEY INSPECTION. In line with the order of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board for the resumption of

operations of traditional jeepneys on Monday, July 6, 2020, operatives of the i-ACT conducted a thorough inspection at Samson road in Malabon City. iACT Facebook page

Oil firms cut gas, kerosene prices; diesel prices stay

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE country’s oil firms cut pump prices starting 6 a.m. Tuuesday, ending eight weeks of consecutive oil price hikes.

The oil firms cut the price of gasoline

by P0.65 per liter for gasoline and P0.40 per liter per kerosene to reflect the movement of prices in the world market. Diesel prices did not move.

Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, PTT Philippines, Total Philippines, Flying V and Seaoil Philippines announced the price cut while other oil firms are expected to

follow.

Over the weekend, Unioil Philippines said consumers can expect a price cut of P0.70 to P0.80 per liter for gasoline and no movement for diesel.

World oil prices declined last week amid rising coronavirus disease infections in the US, which traders fear could affect oil demand.

Prior to this week’s rollback, total year-to-date adjustments to stand at a net decrease of P4.97 per liter for gasoline, P8.84 per liter for diesel and P12.99 per liter for kerosene.

On June 30, the oil firms raised the

price of gasoline by P0.70 per liter, diesel

by P0.30 and kerosene by P0.40 per liter to reflect the movement of oil prices in the world market.

Meanwhile, Phoenix Petroleum announced it wrapped up its fuel donation initiatives with a total of 179,079 liters of free Phoenix fuels as part of its campaign to help battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Phoenix participated in various programs and partnered with local government units (LGUs) and non-governmental groups in the past three months to be able to provide relief to frontliners, health workers, and affected communities.

THE Land Management Bureau under the Department of Environment is moving to fast track its digital transformation to ensure safe, fast and efficient delivery of land-related services to the public under the so-called “new normal” triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.

Its director—Emelyne Talabis—said the bureau eyes the completion of the migration of all its land records from the manual system to the computerized Land Administration and Management System (LAMS) this year.

She said the agency is also working to digitize the processing of public land application, verification and approval of survey plans, and access to land information in order to minimize physical presence of clients and stakeholders at LMB offices nationwide.

“Even before the pandemic, the LMB is already revisiting the processes and procedures under LAMS since its launch in 2016. This new normal all the

more showed the urgency of our development plans for LAMS,” she added.

LAMS is a computerized information system that consolidates land data and records in the country for quick and easy processing, tracking and retrieval of land information.

Warlito Quirimit, the head of both the LMB Information and Communication Technology Section and LAMS National Coordinating Desk, said the bureau looks forward to the full implementation of the inspection, verification and approval of surveys under the LAMS. According to Quirimit, LMB also plans to provide the public online access to spatial data with plotting features overlaid on satellite imagery or Google Earth, including adjoining lots, if available.

“An online payment mechanism for the implementation of cashless transactions is also in the work,” he disclosed.

“We aim to hasten these modernization plans brought by the new normal requirements,” he said.

Drug dealer arrested in Taguig City

By Joel E. Zurbano POLICE arrested a suspected drug dealer caught in possession of more than P108,000 worth of shabu in a checkpoint Sunday night in Taguig City.

Arrested was Victoriano Amesola, 48, a native of Lanao del Norte and resident of 107 Tawi-Tawi Street, Barangay Maharlika, Taguig City.

Confiscated from the suspect were three plastic sachets containing 15.89 grams of shabu worth P108,052.00, a .45 caliber pistol with magazine and 10 pieces of ammunition, and a color green Mazda with registration plate number UHG 182.

Members of the Taguig City Police Sub-station 2 led by P/Capt. Joseph Inomis were conducting checkpoint operations at the corner of Rogan Street and Mindanao Avenue in Maharlika Village around 8:55 p.m. when they chanced upon Amesola in possession of a gun.

The authorities made a body search on Inomis and found the prohibited substance.

Inomis is now detained at Taguig Sub-station 2 detention center and will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) and RA 10591 (Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition).

BIG CATCH. Port of Subic District

Collector Maritess Martin and ESS Chief Captain Regie Tuason and Spy Chief Vernie Enciso inspect smuggled cigarettes seized on Wednesday, July 1, worth P94 million.

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

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BOC-Subic nabs P94m cigarettes smuggled as LEDs

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2020

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Better virus outcomes in 3 provinces IN BRIEF Angeles improves ’19 tax collection ANGELES CITY—For the first time in 13 years, this city, under the leadership of Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr. has recorded a budget surplus of P192,961,702.95 for 2019.

This came after the city government's initiative to implement sound fiscal management and intensified collection of business and real property taxes and other local taxes, Lazatin said.

The mayor said the positive revenue collection is evident of the growing confidence of the business sector to the current administration.

He maintained he will not increase business and real property taxes so as not to burden the members of the business sector.

Lazatin said he had reviewed all ordinances that burdened local businessmen.

He said the P20 tourism fee being imposed on hotel guests had been repealed, which gained positive reactions from hotel operators.

Lazatin stressed Angeles will remain a business-friendly city under his watch with continuous dialogues with members of the business sector to get inputs in coming out with city policies. Butch Gunio

Ex-PDEA deputy joins Clark airport CLARK FREEPORT—Irish Calaguas has been appointed Vice President for Airport Operations and Management Group of the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC), airport authorities announced Monday.

Calaguas was former Deputy Director General for Administration of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, where she worked with current CIAC President and CEO Aaron N. Aquino.

The CIAC Board approved Calaguas’ appointment as VP, which was left vacant following the designation of Aquino as the government firm’s president.

Also a former journalist before joining the government service, Calaguas was the executive assistant of former three-term Angeles City Mayor Carmelo F. Lazatin.

She managed Biotop Philippines Agriculture Co. Inc., a multimillion-peso agro feed mill company owned by the Lazatin family in City of San Fernando, Pampanga, in 2013 after Lazatin retired. Jess Malabanan

Navotas, Grab PH ink ‘GrabBayanihan’ pact THE City Government of Navotas and Grab Philippines have sealed an agreement to provide livelihood opportunities to Navoteños through GrabBayanihan.

Mayor Toby Tiangco and Brian Cu, Grab Philippines President, led the virtual signing of the memorandum of agreement.

The GrabBayanihan Socio-Economic Recovery Initiative aims to provide livelihood opportunities to residents of Navotas who were adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic and the consequent community quarantine.

Under the MOA, the city government—through the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), City Franchising and Permits Processing Unit (CFPPU), and City Business Permits and Licensing Office (CBPLO)—will help recruit tricycle drivers and work-displaced Navotenos, who own at least one motorcycle, to work as delivery riders for GrabFood and GrabExpress.

The city government will also entice owners of licensed micro, small and medium enterprises to become Grab merchants and operate their businesses digitally through the Grab app. Jun David

A

display of strong leadership and governance that unified the community led to the successful containment of COVID-19 in three provinces.

Former Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit said that while the provinces of Agusan del Sur, Aklan, and Bataan had very distinct profiles, they all had governors that manifested the same kind of “unifying leadership” and had set in place a functional and “inclusive governance” structure to effectively manage the pandemic.

During the recent online forum “Provincial Initiatives to Mitigate COVID-19 Risks,” three governors, under a health leadership and governance program since 2016 of event organizer Zuellig

Family Foundation (ZFF), presented the challenges they faced at the start of the pandemic and the actions they have taken to overcome them.

Agusan del Sur Gov. Santiago Cane Jr., who allotted P514 million to their response primarily for their frontliners and social amelioration support programs, said being immersed in the plight of his poor constituents clarified his priorities.

Under ZFF’s program, governors are made to undergo a “deep dive.” With its resources, regular medical services

continued, frontliners were provided psychosocial and mental wellness support, and households were given food.

Financial assistance was extended not only to Agusan’s city and municipalities, but also to its students and overseas Filipino workers stranded across the country.

Agusan del Sur was kept COVIDfree until it was placed under general community quarantine and returnees entered, bringing positive COVID-19 cases to 16 as of end-June.

As a landlocked province, it continues to fortify its borders with plans to build a new and better holding area complete with laboratory capacity, an isolation facility, and housing for front-liners.

Farming and deliverance from a pandemic PALAUIG, Zambales—Inspired by a biblical story about the deliverance of Israelites from a pandemic, Agrarian Reform Secretary John R. Castriciones has been going around to spread his message of hope to farmers.

Under his leadership, the agency initiated what they called “their boldest move in history.”

Anthony Delos Reyes, a young farmer from Barangay Pangolingan here, was surprised when a convoy stopped by the roadside adjacent his 7,500 square meter farm. He was surprised to meet high ranking Department of Agrarian Reform officials accompanied by Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane.

“If my father is here today, I am sure he would be jumping with joy. I was 13 years old when I started to work in this farm. Finally, this much-awaited land title came,” a tearful Delos Reyes said while extending his arm for a fist-bump, the popular signature of President Rodrigo Duterte’s supporters, with the DAR Secretary and Governor Ebdane.

Not far from Delos Reyes’ farm, DAR Central Luzon Regional Director Ma. Celestina M. Tam organized as drop-off of farm inputs and seeds. Other farmers also received their land titles in a simple ceremony constrained by strict health protocols.

“We have 2.4-million names in the list of agrarian reform beneficiaries in our database. The total land distributed to the tillers is more than 4-million hectares. Up to now, we are still distributing land titles that farmers longed for decades ago,” DAR Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and Research Virginia N. Orogo said.

“The average age of farmers is 57.

This pandemic seems to have created an opportunity to reverse this trend. Airline workers turned jobless. Some flight stewards are now selling fish balls in the streets. It’s time for us to embrace farming as a way of life,” Castriciones told a group of senior farmers.

THE Bureau of Customs-Port of Subic recently seized smuggled cigarettes misdeclared as LED lights with an estimated value of P94 million, after their containers went through X-ray and physical examination.

Port of Subic District Collector Maritess Martin and ESS Chief Captain Regie Tuason and Spy Chief Vernie Enciso inspected the smuggled cigarettes seized on Wednesday, July 1.

Martin issued a warrant and seizure and detention (WSD) against the shipment, while the consignee is now subject for further investigation for the possible violation of National Tobacco Administration (NTA) Board Resolution # 079-2005 in relation to Section 1113 of Republic Act 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

In a related development, the Port of Subic also surpassed its assigned revenue target for the month of June, collecting a total of P2.768 billion against its target of P1.913 billion with a positive deviation of 9% or P855,527,541.93.

“In addition to our vigilance on the smuggling of prohibited, regulated and contraband goods, the Port of Subic is in conformity with the rules, regulations and all policies of BOC and policies set

by SBMA (Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority),” Martin said in a statement.

“We reiterate that the Port of Subic and the entire BOC is vigilant as well against smuggling and seizure of banned meat products from 23 countries heavily affected with Swine Fever,” she added.

“Also, the bureau fully embraces the new normal of its day-to-day activities, cascading value transformation best practices in order to uplift the overall character of personnel to resist graft and corruption, transform each BOC personnel into proactive agents in curbing smuggling, strengthen border controls, balanced trade facilitation, and increased lawful revenue collections.”

Heritage Park tabbed as site for exercising

By Joel E. Zurbano

DELIVERANCE. Farmer Anthony Delos Reyes finally receives the title to his 7,500 square-meter farm lot in Barangay Pangolingan, Palauig, Zambales. DAR officials led

by Agrarian Reform Secretary John R. Castriciones visited him to personally deliver his much-awaited Certificate of Land Ownership Award. Farm inputs and seeds were distributed as aid to farmers during the coronavirus pandemic.

THE Heritage Memorial Park along Bayani Road in Taguig City is now open for physical activity of the people amid the coronavirus disease pandemic.

The city government on Saturday began stationing personnel in the area, which was designated as one of the exercise safe zones in the city, to monitor the people exercising, jogging, and biking, and to ensure they are practicing health protocols imposed by the government.

"This go-to site for various exercises is one of the exercise safe zones in the city much like the Taguig Lakeshore complex and the 3.5-kilometer C6 Bike Lane in Barangay Lower Bicutan," Mayor Lino Edgardo Cayetano said.

After initial reports involving citizens, runners and bikers failing to comply with health and safety protocols, the local government worked on making Bayani Road an exercise safe zone, with many more sites already in the pipeline.

Cayetano said the personnel manning safe zones will ensure the strict implementation of national and local guidelines through what they described as “tapang at malasakit” approach.

On Sunday morning, the team at the Heritage Memorial Park area provided the people free masks and drinks while working out.

Doing away with plain punitive methods, the city government will place signages across the sites reminding the public of the measures in place, and then designate police and local government employees to inform people politely about possible violations.

BARMM to award 7,000 study grants to technical skills students COTABATO CITY—The Bangsamoro Government is set to award some 7,000 study grant slots to students of technical skills development training through its Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education’s (MBHTE).

MBHTE Minister Mohaguer Iqbal of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) said the regional government was providing the scholarship program to potential youth candidates, under the Technical Voca-

tional Education and Training (TVET) of his ministry.

Among potential beneficiaries are children of former Moro combatants as part of the Normalization Process provided under the Annexes of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, Iqbal said.

The TVET scholarship package includes Skills Training (ST) Entrepreneurship Training (ET), Values Transformation Training (VTT), with

a National Assessment Program, and that the intended beneficiaries will have a monthly stipend of P 3,000.00 each from a Training Support Fund of P100.00 per day per student.

Iqbal said the scholarship program is designed to increase potential learners’ access to TVET especially at the community level, in support to the BARMM leadership’s call for ‘Moral Governance’; to respond to the region’s 12-Point agenda, which include

addressing the pressing challenges on education and poverty; and to provide assistance to students through collaborative governance.

As a distinguished member of the Bangsamoro Parliament, Iqbal said the technical skills training and educational program also formed part of the implementation of the normalization process contained in the Annex on Normalization of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). Nash B. Maulana

Opinion A personal manifesto for our times TONY LA VIÑA THE passage of the Anti-Terrorism Law compels me to write down my core beliefs, the principles that guide in in my personal and public life, and my principal engagements. If ever I am red-tagged, accused of being a terrorist or worst arrested or even killed because of such tagging and accusation, this manifesto speaks for itself: who I am, what I believe in, and the work that I do.

There is hope as long as we live and love.

My worldview is Catholic, Christian, Humanist, Filipino, and Mindanawon.

I believe in the tenets of the Catholic Church and the Christian faith, as summarized best by the Apostle’s Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, the Beatitudes, the Sermon of the Mount, and the catechism of the Catholic Church. I acknowledge that I am a sinner and that Jesus Christ has saved me and that work of salvation is continuing.

My Christian faith calls me to be a person for others, to be always in solidarity with the poor (concretely indigenous peoples, farmers, workers, the urban poor, people with disabilities), to promote social, environmental, and climate justice, to advocate human rights for all without derogation, and to defend the planet. The encyclical Laudato Si, issued by Pope Francis in 2015, summarizes how I see human engagement with the world and with each other. We are called to love and care for all creatures without exception. We are stewards and not masters of the universe. We must respect nature and acknowledge it has rights.

I am a teacher. I teach philosophy, constitutional and political law, public international law, the art and science of negotiations, environmental law and policy, climate justice, and disaster management, social innovation and entrepreneurship, public management and leadership, and governance. I teach undergraduate students, JD law students, MPM, LLM, JSD, and PHD students in a dozen schools in Manila and Mindanao.

I have scaled up my teaching because the issues I care about demand intergenerational work. The best contribution I can make is to teach and mentor future generations. This I have done and continue to do—teaching and mentoring hundreds of human rights and environmental lawyers, politicians and civil servants, and social activists and en-

Facebook page: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

Staying safe amid the pandemic ABOUT TOWN

ERNESTO M. HILARIO WHAT did the World Health Organization prescribe at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic as an integral part of the containment protocol?

Aggressive contact tracing, that's what.

And it's the component that our overburdened health care system apparently has not been able to implement in an aggressive manner, for one reason or another.

But help is on the way. Staysafe.ph is an online-based contact tracing app for the highly infectious disease.

The app was launched in April this year and will be turned over to the Department of Health (DOH) by its developer, Multisys Technologies Corp., next month.

The app, according to Malacañang, is the country’s “official social distancing, health condition reporting, and contact tracing system.” Online-based apps like Staysafe will help the government augment its human contact tracing efforts to save lives. The app's function will be limited to the collection of data, which will be stored in DOH’s "Covid Kaya," a case and contact tracing reporting system for epidemiology and surveillance officers.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has indicated that the DOH would accept the StaySafe.PH application upon issuance by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the National Privacy Commission (NPC) of a certification that the donation is technically feasible and secure, that systems are compatible, and that the arrangement is compliant with data privacy laws.

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2020

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EDITORIAL

trepreneurs. I have also taught many military and police officials, both high level and rank and file.

I am a thinker. Working with others all over the world, I like to do research, develop and apply academic tools and frameworks to understand problems, and generate ideas and solutions. To disseminate the latter, I write columns, scholarly papers and articles, and books.

I am a lawyer and an advocate. My main legal practice is environmental law which I have practiced here and abroad. Early in my career, I specialized in climate change and I still do a lot of work in that area today.

But from the beginning, I have also been a human rights lawyer, having joined the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) immediately after I passed the bar. As an advocate, I always side with the poor and marginalized, aware that our legal system is frequently an instrument of oppression.

I believe in the rule of law, but I am not naïve about how the law is often weaponized against people to perpetuate injustice. A lawyer who is faithful to the attorney’s oath must fight back against such an evil way of using the law. We see this today in the Senator Leila De Lima case, the Maria Ressa case, the ABS-CBN controversy, and the newly enacted anti-terrorism law.

Today, I am a convenor of Manananggol Laban sa Extrajudicial Killings (Manlaban) and Concerned Lawyers for Civil Liberties (CLCL). I work closely with the National Union of People’s Lawyers whose lawyers are the most courageous, competent, and imaginative I have worked with. I lawyer, among others, for Kabataan Party List whose leaders and members are the best of their generation. I also lawyer for Aetas that are being driven away by their ancestral domain in Clark.

As a Filipino, I would defend. our national sovereignty and territory. The current government has betrayed us on this—yielding to China, as the previous government did the same to the United States—and we must push back this before it is too late.

I am a leader and social entrepreneur. I am a change-maker, committed to innovation when demanded by the times while making sure the core of institutions is strengthened. I also try to be a servant-leader, knowing that. empathy and personal integrity are good qualities to have and for others to emulate.

I believe in non-violence and the peaceful resolution of all personal and social disputes. I believe in reason and dialogue.

I believe in the family and community. I believe in the young of this country and the world.

I believe there is hope as long as we live and love.

EAGLE EYES

Adelle Chua, Editor

The WHO warned recently that a "new and dangerous phase" of the pandemic is likely to take place as people grow tired of lockdowns and social distancing. Staysafe would prove highly useful amid this "dangerous phase" of the pandemic as the government gradually reopens the economy in Metro Manila under a General Community Quarantine (GCQ) situation since most workers have a smartphone with 3G capabilities or higher. Staysafe, therefore, can assist the government in carrying out its Test-Trace-Treat or T-3 strategy.

This app will be useful during this dangerous phase.

Staysafe, however, has been criticized by former DICT Undersecretary Eliseo Rio, who says he was eased out of government after raising questions over the app's supposed limitations.

The DICT had formed a technical working group (TWG) to check on the technical specs of Staysafe. The TWG also included the DOH and the Department of the Interior and Local Government along with multiple groups of experts from the private sector.

Staysafe was analyzed by technical experts, and several technical workshops and meetings were held to discuss and evaluate its capabilities. These meetings included highly skilled professionals who were fair and objective in coming up with their evaluation of Staysafe.

After the app's acceptance on April 8, the NTF checked Staysafe’s capabilities.

It was approved by IATF on April 22 through Resolution No. 27. Thus, it took the DICT-led TWG to evaluate Staysafe before IATF declared it as the official con-

R

An imminent danger would obtain from a wolf that promises he will not eat them.

Remarkably, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. quickly demonstrated how broadly this government can apply the terrorist brush, when he said those who opposed the new law were probably “supporters of terrorists.”

ECENT statements from lawmakers and government officials do very little to assure us that the newly passed AntiTerrorism Act of 2020 will not be abused to stifle legitimate dissent.

We can derive as much confidence from such assurances as sheep would obtain from a wolf that promises he will not eat them.

Even without the law, we have seen how this administration has sought to silence its critics while disavowing any connection to those efforts. These are the same officials, after all, who assured us that the Palace had nothing to do with the effort by the solicitor-general, the government's top lawyer, to ask the Supreme Court to shut down a broadcast network that annoys the President, or with the tax and libel suits filed against an online news service that has been critical of the administration's bloody war on drugs.

The military, police, and national security officials have all insisted that they will ensure that the law will not be abused. But we can derive as much confidence from such assurances as sheep

“Law-abiding” Filipinos, he said, have nothing to fear from the law that allows warrantless arrests of terror suspects.

Would that include critics of the new anti-terrorism law, though?

We should ask the 11 members of leftist organizations including three minors who were arrested in Laguna for

protesting the anti-terrorism law.

Some lawmakers say more safeguards could be worked into the law's implementing rules and regulations, suggesting that a constitutionally defective law can somehow be made less objectionable by more well-defined rules. Without conceding that point, we wonder why these defects could not have been cut out from the original bill before it became a law that has been denounced both here and abroad as being violative of human rights and civil liberties.

Then we have the Defense secretary who has appealed to the public to “give this law a chance” so that the government can “contain and eradicate terrorists who don't play by any rules and who hide behind our laws to pursue their evil deeds.”

The Defense chief also urges the public “not to be swayed by misinformation and disinformation” and to “read and understand” the law.

A group of lawyers has done just that, of course, by challenging the law's constitutionality before the Supreme Court.

It is likely that they, too, have read the law and understood it to be the danger it truly is—even though neither they nor we are no supporters of terrorists.

Jolo LAST Friday, the President finally signed into law the controversial anti-terror bill (now R.A. 11479), surprising no one. This after all was a bill he had certified as urgent to Congress, dovetailing with his consistent televised warnings against terrorist threats even at the height of the lockdown.

Equally predictable was the subsequent flood of petitions questioning the constitutionality of the new law before the Supreme Court. This is how separation of powers is supposed to work. Nonetheless, I find it unlikely that even the noisiest judicial activist—and there’s hardly any of them now in the High Court—would try to overturn a law that was properly written by Congress as the representatives of the people’s will, at the behest of a very popular commander-in-chief.

The National Security Adviser has already moved to quell public misgivings by underscoring that the initial list of terrorists will start with names put forward by the United Nations, no friend of Duterte’s. Secretary Esperon described a disclosure and proscription process that heavily involves the courts, the human rights commission, and a Cabinet-level anti-terrorism council.

There’s very little room in it for scoundrels and scalawags in uniform. *** The last is a point worth making in view of what some might say is the infelicitous timing of the new law, coming the same week that a team of four Army intelligence agents were gunned down by nine policemen detailed in the troubled provincial capitol of Jolo. If even soldiers can be victimized by such injustice—the critics argue—how much more innocent civilians?

This seems to me to be a glass that should be viewed as half-empty and not half-full. As a result of the killing of the soldiers, the Abu Sayyaf terrorists whom they were trying to track down were able to disappear from view. We can thus only hope that the nine policemen involved will be grilled as roughly as needed in order to find out who masterminded the whole con-

tact-tracing app for COVID-19.

A unified and centralized system is the only system that will ensure successful online contact tracing. Accrediting multiple contact tracing apps would only result to redundancy and further delay the work of the DOH in providing up-to-date information about the COVID-19 outbreak.

Moreover, using Staysafe on 3G phones is a good start. It would at least cover tens of millions of Filipinos using 3G-capable phones.

A 2017 Global Mobile Consumer Survey conducted by Deloitte showed that more than half of Filipino mobile consumers—55 percent—now use 4G LTE networks.

That was three years ago. This number has already increased since then, with 4G LTE phones becoming more affordable and LTE coverage expanding across the country.

Multisys, Staysafe’s developer, has put up digital platforms used by over 2,000 companies in the country and by 200 local government units (LGUs).

Multisys has also been tapped by Ma-

FORMATION

GARY OLIVAR spiracy--whether it was someone higher up the chain of command, a criminal syndicate, or some influential local politico or religious leader.

Terrorists do not take vacations.

This is precisely the point about modern-day terrorism: that its tentacles can reach high into the senior reaches of a police organization, or up to the most respected ranks of a community. Those tentacles are wielded by the most innocuous sources.

And they will not spare even Army soldiers doing their job, let alone innocent civilians.

Other critics complain that there are other things more important to worry about: the virus, the anemic economy, Chinese incursions, and so much else. All these other concerns do operate to weaken us. But there remains one simple fact which those critics overlook: Terrorists do not take vacations.

It is precisely when their targets are weakest, most distracted, most divided, that they take the opportunity to strike. Unfortunately for us, one such moment is what we find ourselves in today. *** Over the weekend I ran into my old friend Atty. Ferdie Topacio, the loquacious lawyer who’s made it a personal crusade to run after the misdeeds and malfeasances of the late and unlamented PNoy administration.

With so much talk these days about the need for a vaccine against COVID-19, I

nila Mayor Isko Moreno to strengthen the city government’s efforts to fight COVID-19.

The Go! Manila app provides convenient and efficient online services to Manila residents and minimizes physical contact of its citizens. The mayor also endorsed the use of the Manila.StaySafe.PH, which is connected to the Staysafe app, to improve COVID-19 contact tracing among Manila residents.

Online contact tracing to complement the work of human contact tracers is a key element in saving lives and flattening the COVID-19 curve as shown by countries like Taiwan and South Korea.

The government should strengthen its contact-tracing capabilities after the WHO's urgent warning that the pandemic has reached a "dangerous" phase. This is timely and appropriate at this time when the government is starting to relax mobility restrictions to jumpstart the economy and transition to the new normal.

asked Ferdie whatever happened to the case he’d filed years ago over the Dengvaxia vaccine. This was a monumental screw-up that cost the lives of children and inadvertently encouraged the recurrence even of non-dengue diseases (like polio) because it scared so many parents away from any kind of vaccination.

To my surprise, I learned that the cases he filed are still pending before the Ombudsman. In case the reader has forgotten the sad events of 2014 to 2017, here’s a summary of the “glaring anomalies and discrepancies” alleged: • That PNoy himself met with representatives of Sanofi, the vaccine manufacturer, on at least two occasions abroad, in China and France; • That his Health Secretary was personally following up the vaccine’s application for product registration with the FDA; • That PNoy and several of his key Cabinet members, including Budget Secretary Abad and Executive Secretary Ochoa, misappropriated some Ps 3.5-Billion of public funds by allocating them for Dengvaxia, in contravention of the 2015 national budget and to the prejudice of over 800,000 Filipinos who were administered an “untested and unsafe” vaccine; and • That these same senior officials were accordingly charged with plunder, malversation of public funds, and graft and corruption.

Some of these names are already greasy.

For example, the former Budget Secretary is generally conceded to be the slippery mastermind behind the misappropriations earlier committed under PNoy’s unconstitutional DAP program. And for years, his tiny home province of Batanes enjoyed the highest share of national budget per capita compared to everyone else. We can only hope that the Ombudsman will move more quickly in holding such people to account.

Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@ yahoo.com.

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ERWIN TULFO

Is the Anti-Terrorism Law really on our side?

EVERYMAN 70 countries, traders back HK security law

by Herman Tiu Laurel

ernhil@yahoo.com Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher

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Wong: Now is time to ‘stand with HK’

Pink ice in Alps sparks algae probe

THE world must stand in solidarity with Hong Kongers after Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law on the semi-autonomous city, activist Joshua Wong said Monday, vowing to continue campaigning for democracy.

Wong, one of the city’s most prominent young activists and a figure loathed by Beijing, was speaking outside a court where he and fellow activists are being prosecuted for involvement in last year’s democracy protests.

China enacted a sweeping security law for the restless city last week, banning acts of subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.

The law has sent a wave of fear through the city, and criminalized dissenting opinions such as calls for independence or autonomy.

At his court appearance on Tuesday, Wong, 23, remained unbowed.

“We still have to let the world know that now is the time to stand with Hong Kong,” he told reporters.

“They can’t ignore and silence the voice of Hong Kong people. With the belief of Hong Kong people to fight for freedom, we will never give up and surrender to Beijing.” AFP

SCIENTISTS in Italy are investigating the mysterious appearance of pink glacial ice in the Alps, caused by algae that accelerate the effects of climate change.

There is debate about where the algae come from, but Biagio Di Mauro of Italy’s National Research Council said the pink snow observed on parts of the Presena glacier is likely caused by the same plant found in Greenland.

“The alga is not dangerous, it is a natural phenomenon that occurs during the spring and summer periods in the middle latitudes but also at the Poles,” said Di Mauro, who had previously studied the algae at the Morteratsch glacier in Switzerland.

The plant, known as Ancylonema nordenskioeldii, is present in Greenland’s so-called Dark Zone, where the ice is also melting.

Normally ice reflects more than 80 percent of the sun’s radiation back into the atmosphere, but as algae appear, they darken the ice so that it absorbs the heat and melts more quickly.

More algae appear as the ice melts more rapidly, giving them vital water and air and adding red hues to the white ice at the Passo Gavia, altitude 2,618 meters. AFP

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that CEBU AIR, INC. doing business under the names and styles of Cebu Pacific and Cebu Pacific Air with office address at Cebu Pacific Building, Domestic Road, Barangay 191, Zone 20, Pasay City is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as New Operator of Air Transport Services under the Preferred Activity – Infrastructure and Logistics including LGU-PPPs – Air, Land and Water Transport - Air Transport (A321NEO #14 with CAB Registration No. RP-C4137), on a Non-Pioneer status, with project site located at Airline Operations Center, Domestic Road, Pasay City Any person with valid objection/s 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-JULY 7, 2020)

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that CEBU AIR, INC. doing business under the names and styles of Cebu Pacific and Cebu Pacific Air with office address at Cebu Pacific Building, Domestic Road, Barangay 191, Zone 20, Pasay City is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as New Operator of Air Transport Services under the Preferred Activity – Infrastructure and Logistics including LGU-PPPs – Air, Land and Water Transport - Air Transport (A321NEO #15 with CAB Registration No. RP-C4139), on a Non-Pioneer status, with project site located at Airline Operations Center, Domestic Road, Pasay City Any person with valid objection/s 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-JULY 7, 2020)

WELCOME BACK. A child carried by the mother feeds the giraffe in an enclosure at the Singapore Zoo in Singapore on July 6,

2020, on its first day of reopening to the public after the attraction was temporarily closed due to concerns about the COVID-19 novel coronavirus. AFP

Dozens feared dead, missing in Japan floods T ENS of thousands of rescue workers in Japan on Monday combed through the wreckage of houses shattered by deadly floods and landslides in a desperate search for survivors as the death toll rose and more torrential rain loomed.

At least 37 people are feared dead after record rains lashed areas of western Japan in the early hours of Saturday, causing rivers to break banks and flooding low-lying regions.

“Rescue workers are tirelessly continuing the search this morning,” a spokesman for the western Kumamoto prefecture told AFP, with at least 13 people still unaccounted for.

Although the rain has subsided from its peak levels, the floods washed away roads and bridges, leaving many in isolated communities cut off.

A local firefighter in the western region of Kagoshima told AFP they had deployed boats to rescue 11 people but that conditions were making it hard to reach some of the people stranded.

“Calls came from people telling us that they wanted to flee their home but they could not do it on their own,” he said. “Some roads are submerged and you cannot drive through them.”

In one of the hardest-hit areas, residents spelled the words “rice, water, SOS” on the ground, while others waved towels and called for rescue and relief goods.

At a nursing home for the elderly, 14 people were feared dead when water from a nearby river inundated the ground floor, leaving those in wheelchairs unable to reach higher ground.

Emergency services, aided by locals in rafts, managed to rescue around 50 staff and residents from the facility,

NOTICE

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that CEBU AIR, INC. doing business under the names and styles of Cebu Pacific and Cebu Pacific Air with office address at Cebu Pacific Building, Domestic Road, Barangay 191, Zone 20, Pasay City is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as New Operator of Air Transport Services under the Preferred Activity – Infrastructure and Logistics including LGU-PPPs – Air, Land and Water Transport - Air Transport (A321NEO #16 with CAB Registration No. RP-C4140), on a Non-Pioneer status, with project site located at Airline Operations Center, Domestic Road, Pasay City

Notice is hereby given that CEBU AIR, INC. doing business under the names and styles of Cebu Pacific and Cebu Pacific Air with office address at Cebu Pacific Building, Domestic Road, Barangay 191, Zone 20, Pasay City is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as New Operator of Air Transport Services under the Preferred Activity – Infrastructure and Logistics including LGU-PPPs – Air, Land and Water Transport - Air Transport (A321NEO #19 with CAB Registration No. RP-C4143), on a Non-Pioneer status, with project site located at Airline Operations Center, Domestic Road, Pasay City

Any person with valid objection/s 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.

Any person with valid objection/s 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-JULY 7, 2020)

(SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Director Infrastucture and Services Industries Service

(MS-JULY 7, 2020)

NOTICE

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that CEBU AIR, INC. doing business under the names and styles of Cebu Pacific and Cebu Pacific Air with office address at Cebu Pacific Building, Domestic Road, Barangay 191, Zone 20, Pasay City is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as New Operator of Air Transport Services under the Preferred Activity – Infrastructure and Logistics including LGU-PPPs – Air, Land and Water Transport - Air Transport (A321NEO #17 with CAB Registration No. RP-C4141), on a Non-Pioneer status, with project site located at Airline Operations Center, Domestic Road, Pasay City

Notice is hereby given that CEBU AIR, INC. doing business under the names and styles of Cebu Pacific and Cebu Pacific Air with office address at Cebu Pacific Building, Domestic Road, Barangay 191, Zone 20, Pasay City is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as New Operator of Air Transport Services under the Preferred Activity – Infrastructure and Logistics including LGU-PPPs – Air, Land and Water Transport - Air Transport (A321NEO #20 with CAB Registration No. RP-C4146), on a Non-Pioneer status, with project site located at Airline Operations Center, Domestic Road, Pasay City

Any person with valid objection/s 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.

Any person with valid objection/s 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-JULY 7, 2020)

(SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Director Infrastucture and Services Industries Service

(MS-JULY 7, 2020)

NOTICE

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that CEBU AIR, INC. doing business under the names and styles of Cebu Pacific and Cebu Pacific Air with office address at Cebu Pacific Building, Domestic Road, Barangay 191, Zone 20, Pasay City is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as New Operator of Air Transport Services under the Preferred Activity – Infrastructure and Logistics including LGU-PPPs – Air, Land and Water Transport - Air Transport (A321NEO #18 with CAB Registration No. RP-C4142), on a Non-Pioneer status, with project site located at Airline Operations Center, Domestic Road, Pasay City

Notice is hereby given that CEBU AIR, INC. doing business under the names and styles of Cebu Pacific and Cebu Pacific Air with office address at Cebu Pacific Building, Domestic Road, Barangay 191, Zone 20, Pasay City is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as New Operator of Air Transport Services under the Preferred Activity – Infrastructure and Logistics including LGU-PPPs – Air, Land and Water Transport - Air Transport (A321NEO #21 with CAB Registration No. RP-C4148), on a Non-Pioneer status, with project site located at Airline Operations Center, Domestic Road, Pasay City

Any person with valid objection/s 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.

Any person with valid objection/s 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-JULY 7, 2020)

(SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Director Infrastucture and Services Industries Service

(MS-JULY 7, 2020)

When you lose your sense of smell

bringing them to safety by boat.

Heavy rain is expected to continue through Tuesday afternoon and the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a non-compulsory evacuation order for hundreds of thousands of residents in Kumamoto and neighboring Kagoshima Prefecture.

Up to 250 millimeters of rain is expected in the 24-hour period through Tuesday morning in the southern part of Kyushu Island, which includes areas hit hard by the flooding, the agency said.

“It’s such a mess,” resident Hirotoshi Nishi told public broadcasterNHK as he swept debris from his mud-strewn front room. “Many pieces ofwood came into my house. I don’t know what to do.”

Hirokazu Kosaki, a 75-year-old bus driver in the town of Ashikita,told Jiji press: “It was nothing but water as far as I could see.”

Evacuation efforts are being hampered by fears of spreading thecoronavirus that has claimed almost 1,000 victims in Japan, with closeto 20,000 cases. AFP

“WHAT I miss most is the smell of my son when I kiss him, the smell of my wife’s body,” says Jean-Michel Maillard.

Anosmia – the loss of one’s sense of smell – may be an invisible handicap, but is psychologically difficult to live with and has no real treatment, he says.

And it is the price that an increasing number of people are paying after surviving a brush with the coronavirus, with some facing a seemingly longterm inability to smell.

“Anosmia cuts you off from the smells of life, it’s a torture,” says Maillard, president of anosmie.org, a French group designed to help sufferers.

If you have the condition you can no longer breathe in the smell of your first morning coffee, smell the cut grass of a freshly mown lawn or even “the reassuring smell of soap on your skin when you’re preparing for a meeting,” he says.

You only truly become aware of your sense of smell when you lose it, says Maillard, who lost his own following an accident. AFP

Former Nazi camp guard, 93, faces court reckoning THE prosecution’s closing arguments will be heard on Monday in the trial of a 93-year-old former Nazi concentration camp guard for complicity in the murder of more than 5,000 people during World War II. In what could be one of the last such cases of surviving Nazi guards, Bruno Dey stands accused of complicity in the murder of 5,230 people when he worked at the Stutthof camp near what was then Danzig, now Gdansk in Poland.

Dey, who has appeared in court in a wheelchair, denies bearing any guilt for what happened at the camp.

His defense has insisted that he did not join the SS voluntarily before serving at the camp from August 1944 to April 1945, ending

In this file photo taken on May 25, 2020 Bruno Dey, a former SS-watchman at the Stutthof concentration camp, hides his face behind a folder as he is brought to a courtroom before a hearing in his trial in Hamburg, northern Germany. AFP

up assigned there because a heart condition excluded him from frontline service.

But prosecutors argue that his involvement was crucial to the killings, as his time in the SS coincided with the “Final Solution”

order to systematically exterminate Jews through gassing, starvation or denial of medical care.

Dey is standing trial at a juvenile court because he was aged between 17 and 18 at the time.

During his testimony in May, Dey told the court that he wanted to forget his time at the camp.

“I don’t want to keep going over the past,” he told the Hamburg tribunal.

Judge Anna Meier-Goering had asked whether Dey had spoken to his children and grandchildren about the time he stood guard at Stutthof.

“I don’t bear any guilt for what happened back then,” Dey said. “I didn’t contribute anything to it, other than standing guard.

But I was forced to do it, it was an order.”

Dey acknowledged last year that he had been aware of the camp’s gas chambers and admitted seeing “emaciated figures, people who had suffered” but insisted he was not guilty. AFP

Louvre museum reopens after 16-week virus shutdown THE Louvre, the world’s most visited museum, reopens after its coronavirus closure Monday, but with nearly a third of its galleries

still shut.

The vast former palace of France’s kings has lost more than $45 million in ticket sales during the near-

People queue at the Louvre pyramid designed by Chinese architect Ieoh Ming Pei, the entrance to the Louvre Museum in Paris, on July 6, 2020, on the museum’s reopening day after months of closure due to lockdown measures linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. AFP

four-month lockdown, and director Jean-Luc Martinez admitted it could have a few more lean years ahead as the world adapts to the virus.

Although most of the museum’s most popular draws, like the “Mona Lisa” and its vast antiquities collection will be accessible, other galleries where social distancing is more difficult will remain closed.

Nor will there be any crowding in front of Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece for a selfie, with visitors warned that they will have to stick to standing on well-distanced spots marked on the floor.

To avoid bottlenecks, arrows will guide visitors through the labyrinth of gal-

leries, with doubling back banned, the museum said.

Some 70 percent of the Louvre’s 9.6 million visitors last year were from overseas, and with tourism at a standstill, Martinez told AFP that numbers could drop sharply.

“We are losing 80 percent of our public,” he said.

“We are going to be at best 20 to 30 percent down on last summer – between 4,000 and 10,000 visitors a day,” he estimated.

The museum hopes to attract more French visitors to fill the gap as it embarks on a campaign to shake off its elitist image before the Paris Olympics in four years’ time. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Business Argentina extends debt negotiations until Aug. 4 BUENOS AIRES―Argentina will present a new offer to restructure its debt on Monday and has extended its deadline for creditors to agree until August 4, the economy ministry announced on Sunday.

President Alberto Fernandez’s administration “will extend the expiration of the invitation (offer) until 5:00 pm in New York City” on that day, the ministry said in a statement.

The president had earlier stated the deadline would be pushed back to the end of August, saying “it is an enormous effort we are making. It’s the maximum effort we can make.”

The date for concluding negotiations with bondholders had previously been set at July 24 but was moved back in an effort to reach an agreement to restructure $66 billion in bonds issued under foreign law.

The bonds represent roughly a fifth of the country’s $324-billion debt, which amounts to around 90 percent of its GDP. A government source told AFP the new proposal would be for “close to $53” for every $100, compared to the original offer of $39 per $100, which was rejected by a majority of the bondholders.

The ministry said it would also send Congress a bill in the coming days to restructure local debt in dollars “on equitable terms” to the bond swap under foreign law.

Fernandez said the conversations with creditors “are going well” and expressed hope “they end well.”

Argentina has yet to reach an understanding with creditors over interest rate reductions or grace periods.

In recession since 2018, the Argentine economy has been further punished by the coronavirus pandemic. The International Monetary Fund estimates it will contract by 9.9 percent this year.

With the backing of the IMF, Fernandez has insisted that any deal with creditors be sustainable so that the country can meet its obligations over the long term.

AFP

B3

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2020 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks drop; Metrobank, BDO down

T

HE stock market dropped Monday on profit taking and government data showing a steep rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index fell 44.25 points, or 0.7 percent, to 6,328.41 on a value turnover of P6.2 billion. Gainers and losers were even at 103 each, with 43 issues unchanged.

BDO Unibank Inc., the biggest lender in terms of assets, shed 2.4 percent to P97.50, while Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the second largest bank, declined 2.7 percent to P37.90.

Emperador Inc., the biggest liquor producer and a unit Alliance Global Group Inc. of tycoon Andrew Tan, slipped 2.5 percent to P7.80, but Manila Water Co. Inc., a unit of conglomerate Ayala Corp., advanced 8.6 percent to P14.82.

The rest of Asian markets rallied out of the blocks Monday, with further

signs of economic recovery continuing to resonate with investors more than a surge in coronavirus infections across the planet.

The easing of lockdowns is providing hope the global economy will bounce back from an expected recession this year, with England’s pubs reopening at the weekend and tourist attractions around Europe now either open or planning to.

Shanghai led the gains, soaring more than five percent to a more than twoyear high, while Hong Kong finished up 3.8 percent at levels not seen since early March.

Jeffrey Halley at OANDA said: “Hong Kong concerns are fading as fast as they began, as the new Chinaimposed security laws allow money to talk without the annoying interference of protestors.”

But he added that the “story still has more to run in a geopolitical context,” pointing out that Donald Trump was still to sign a bill censuring Chinese officials linked to the law, which would likely lead to retaliation by Beijing.

“The scale of those measures will dic-

tate whether geopolitics will have more to say on global financial markets,” he said in a note.

Tokyo piled on 1.8 percent, while Singapore, Seoul, Taipei and Mumbai were all more than one percent higher, with Wellington and Jakarta also up.

Better-than-forecast data on US jobs creation and factory activity have also provided a boost to confidence, as have hopes for a vaccine, which observers say is key to kickstarting any recovery.

Traders have piled back into stocks in a major way in recent months―with the help of vast government and central bank support―and analysts have suggested the gains are also being helped by a fear of missing out on the rally.

“The global economic data and positive coverage on potential COVID-19 vaccines and treatments represent a... whirligig of positive news that is overwhelming gnarly headline flows around the daily virus case counts in the US,” said AxiCorp’s Stephen Innes.

But there remains trepidation on trading floors as new infections spike around the world. AFP

PSEi July 6, 2020 TOP GAINERS

TOP LOSERS

MOST ACTIVE

LONDON PEDESTRIANIZATION. Customers sit outside re-opened bars in Soho in London on July 5, 2020, as the Soho area embraces pedestrianization in line with an easing of restrictions during the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Pubs in England reopened this weekend for the first time since late March, bringing cheer to drinkers and the industry but fears of public disorder and fresh coronavirus cases. AFP

Why super rich fashionistas are not crying for Paris shows

By Gersende Rambourg PARIS―One very select group of fashionistas were not crying into their cocktails when the Paris fashion shows were canceled because of the coronavirus.

The tiny group of super rich women who buy the ruinously expensive handmade creations that adorn the runways of Paris haute couture week knew that meant their favorite designers would have to come to them.

“I thought they would be upset,” the French courtier Julien Fournie told AFP as he prepared looks for his film for the French capital’s first virtual fashion week, which starts Monday.

“But it was quite the opposite,” he added.

Haute couture’s made-to-measure creations―which are only shown in Paris―can cost the price of a luxury sports car.

With no glitzy shows to go to this time, the jetset queens that usually patronize them expect their own personalized presentations in their palaces and penthouses.

Fournie, who trained as a doctor before turning his passion and considerable anatomical knowhow to couture, said he was used to flying to the Middle East and Asia with the head of his studio, Mademoiselle Jacqueline, for fittings and adjustments.

Royal clientele The difference between couture creations and those you buy off the rail is between night and day, he insisted.

“While you have to get into ready-to-wear clothes”―adapting your body to the norm―“in haute couture, the clothes are made to wrap you,” the designer said.

And Fournie only makes one-off pieces to ensure the exclusivity that his very well-heeled clients crave.

“Once a client from a royal family cancelled an order after seeing a similar creation worn by Lady Gaga,” said the house’s director, Jean-Paul Cauvin.

“For them, exclusively is everything, and they don’t want that tainted by fame or vulgarity.”

For that reason, Fournie tends to avoid lending his dresses out to stars for red carpet events, except when the singer or actress has a style that really chimes with the “DNA of the house.”

Fournie’s film for his virtual Paris show on Tuesday is more of a teaser than a classic run through the collection.

Cut for ‘real women’ “We are not showing too much,” Cauvin said, to avoid any unseemly competition that might sometimes arise after shows when “clients really set their heart on a particular look and want to put an option on it” before anyone else does.

This time, without a formal show, it will be more about pampering the client, Cauvin added. “The couturier will have dresses in mind just for them.”

Fournie is known for designing for “real women” with “breasts and hips and not for gamines” or the androgynous clothes-hanger models that often dominate the catwalks.

“We don’t create fashion, we create personalities,” he told AFP as he put the finishing touches to his “Storm dress,” a silk gown entirely embroidered with goose feathers.

“Whoever wears this after the coronavirus will be like an angel returning to Earth,” Fournie declared.

“I want to help my clients fulfill their destiny, support them, and help them take flight,” he added with a flourish. AFP French fashion designer Julien Fournie (right) poses with his Czech model Michaela Tomanova during the shooting of a film designed in place of the fashion show on June 30, 2020 as France eases lockdown measures taken to curb the spread of the COVID-19 disease caused by the novel coronavirus. AFP

Brexit talks off to London after a difficult week LONDON―Britain’s separation talks with the European Union resume Monday with few signs of compromise on a new trade agreement and time running out to avoid a messy split.

London will host EU negotiator Michel Barnier after a round of face-toface talks ended a day early last week in Brussels because of deep divides in the sides’ approach.

Barnier said after ending the negotiations last Thursday that “serious divergences remain.”

His UK counterpart David Frost said there were “significant differences” that meant the sides were still searching for basic “principles underlying an agreement.”

And German Chancellor Angela Merkel said upon taking over help of the EU’s rotating presidency Wednesday that both her country and the 27-nation bloc “should prepare for the case that an agreement is not reached.”

Britain followed through on the results of a 2016 EU membership referendum and officially pulled out of the bloc in January after nearly half a century.

But a standstill transition period that ends on December 31 allows the UK to effectively function as if it were still a member.

London and Brussels are supposed to agree new trade terms in the meantime that prevent ties from reverting to the minimum standards―and accompanying high tariffs and quotas―of the World Trade Organization.

British businesses fear that possibility and want Prime Minister Boris Johnson to give them guidance as soon as possible about whether a trade deal is feasible or not.

This would give them a chance to trigger costly contingency planning aimed at disrupting trade and business activity as little as possible.

But EU officials feel much less pressure to strike a quick agreement and are suggesting that one could still be done by late October.

Brussels has shrugged off Johnson’s repeated threats to walk away and accept very distant relations with the bloc that complicated trade but gave Britain broader independence. AFP

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

B4

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2020

IN BRIEF Meralco waives charges on online transactions POWER retailer Manila Electric Co. waived the convenience fees for online payments during the enhanced community quarantine and general community quarantine period.

“We will extend the waiver of convenience fee for the entire duration of the GCQ, until the GCQ is terminated or moves to the new normal, if you will. We will spare the consumers the cost of the convenience fee. We will need to find a way to reduce this cost to Meralco,” Meralco president Ray Espinosa said during the Senate energy committee hearing on Monday.

Meralco assured it would refund the convenience fee paid by customers when they previously settled their electricity bills. The company initially announced it would only shoulder the convenience fee covering the period from March 16 to May 15.

‘Meralco is looking at a way of having its own platform and not rely on third party.

It will be part of capex and be reasonably charged to customers. It can be part of capex, reviewed its reasonableness by the ERC [Energy Regulatory Commission],” Espinosa said. Alena Mae S. Flores

ICTSI to retire $450-m securities ROYAL Capital B.V., a subsidiary of port operator International Container Terminal Services Inc., announced a tender offer to all holders of $450-million, 5.5-percent senior guaranteed perpetual capital securities.

ICTSI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its board approved the invitation

by Royal Capital to tender for purchase for cash any and all the perpetual securities under such terms and conditions.

The end of the tender offer will be on July 14, while the results will be announced the following day. The payment of the tender consideration is on or about July 16.

The board also approved the issuance by Royal Capital of new senior perpetual securities guaranteed by ICTSI. The board of ICTSI also approved and ratified the appointment of Citigroup Global Markets Limited (Citigroup), The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) and Standard Chartered Bank as joint lead managers for the new securities offer and as dealer managers for the tender offer. Darwin G. Amojelar

Manila taps PayMaya for cashless stalls PAYMAYA Philippines Inc. said it will deploy contactless payments via PayMaya QR to the newly launched vendor stalls established by the city government of Manila.

Buyers at the “cashless stalls” located near the Manila City Hall and in Divisoria may soon pay using their PayMaya app and without having to hand out cash to vendors.

“Manila City is one of the LGUs that are leading the way in digitalization. Citizens can receive their financial assistance direct to their own PayMaya accounts linked to their Manila City ID cards, and now vendors can easily and safely accept cashless payments via PayMaya,” PayMaya founder and chief executive Orlando Vea said.

“We are proud to be a partner in the city’s digitalization efforts,” he said.

Manila is at the forefront of transforming the nation’s capital into one of the first “cashless cities” and teamed up with PayMaya in disbursing benefits to senior citizens, persons with disabilities and solo parents through PayMaya cards even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Business

Monday, July 6, 2020

44.25 points

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES

1,065,978,916 98,837

TOTAL VALUE 6,153,841,925.35 ADVANCES 103

6,328.41

DECLINES 103 UNCHANGED 43

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • MONDAY, JULY 6, 2020

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

49.6310

Japan

Yen

0.009301

0.4616

Diokno pushes substantial and select economic policies

UK

Pound

1.247800

61.9296

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129032

6.4040

Switzerland

Franc

1.058761

52.5474

Canada

Dollar

0.737572

36.6064

Singapore

Dollar

0.717360

35.6033

Australia

Dollar

0.692800

34.3844

Bahrain

Dinar

2.654985

131.769

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266610

13.2321

Brunei

Dollar

0.714796

35.4760

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000069

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.032134

1.5948

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.5131

the country gradually emerged into the new economy.

“Until we have a vaccine or a successful treatment to the coronavirus, we will see a significant bulk of consumers holding back on their consumption,” he said.

“To address weaknesses in aggregate demand and mitigate further economic contraction, there is a need for substantial targeted economic policies, with fiscal policy at the front line and monetary policy playing a supporting role,” Diokno said.

He said, however, that the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals were strong going into the pandemic. He said the Philippine economy posted a sustained economic growth while inflation remained low and stable before the

Euro

Euro

1.124800

55.8249

Korea

Won

0.000834

0.0414

China

Yuan

0.141503

7.0229

India

Rupee

0.013399

0.6650

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.233372

11.5825

New Zealand

Dollar

0.652400

32.3793

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033955

1.6852

By Julito G. Rada

B

ANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno on Monday pushed for substantial, targeted fiscal and monetary policies to prevent the economy from slowing down further amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Diokno said in a presentation during a virtual briefing with Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque that such economic policies would be needed amid the expected weak aggregate demand as

onset of the pandemic. The economy has been growing at an annual rate of at least 6 percent since 2012.

Before the pandemic, the inter-agency Development Budget Coordination Committee predicted that the economy would grow by 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent in 2020. The forecast was downgraded to negative 2 percent to negative 3.4 percent this year. The economy is expected to rebound by 7.1 percent to 8.1 percent in 2021.

The gross domestic product contracted by 0.2 percent in the first quarter, a turnaround from the 5.7-percent growth a year ago and 6.4-percent expansion in the fourth quarter of 2019. The contraction was the first since the fourth quarter of 1998, thus ending 84 consecutive quarters of positive growth.

Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. through wholly-owned subsidiary MPCALA Holdings Inc. pays the Department of Public Works and Highways P4.368 billion representing the second tranche of the concession fees for the Cavite-Laguna Expressway ahead of the July 10 due date. Attending the turnover ceremony are (from left) MPTC president Rodrigo Franco, DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, MPTC chairman Manuel Pangilinan, MPTC chief operating officer Christopher Lizo and MPCALA Holdings president and general manager Roberto Bontia.

MPTC pays P4.37-b fee to gov’t for CALAX concession

By Darwin G. Amojelar METRO Pacific Tollways Corp.’s wholly-owned subsidiary MPCALA Holdings Inc. paid the government P4.368 billion, representing the second tranche of the concession fees for the CaviteLaguna Expressway.

MPTC said the payment is the second of six tranches amounting to P27.3 billion in total concession fees under the 35-year CALAX concession. The first tranche of P5.460 billion was paid July 10, 2015.

“It is our privilege to be government’s private sector partner in this project of national significance. And despite this COVID-19 pandemic, our work continues to serve our communities, and our people,” MPTC chairman Manuel Pangilinan said.

The tollways group also advanced its tax payments to the Bureau of Internal Revenue amounting to P1.03 billion on May 1 to help the government’s fundraising efforts amid the pandemic.

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said the latest payment would enable the national government to fund development projects, high-priority resource management programs, operations and concession-support activities.

The 44.6-kilometer, 4-lane CALAX toll road is partially operational. The first 10-kilometer portion between Mamplasan, Binan City and Sta. Rosa City was opened to commuters in November last year.

The construction is under way in the next 7.2-km section between Sta. Rosa

City and Silang, Cavite.

“We are making good construction progress and together with DPWH Secretary Villar’s team, we are pulling out all the stops to deliver this important expressway,” MPCALA president Roberto Bontia said.

“We believe the CALAX will enable mobility and become a real commuting option for our traffic harassed motorists in this new road corridor,” he said.

Once the CALAX is completed, travel time between Kawit, Cavite and Binan City, Laguna is expected to be reduced to 45 minutes from the current 90 minutes while the industrial zones, residential areas and tourist destinations around the two provinces will be more accessible.

Metrobank’s planned note issuance receive ‘Baa2’ rating from Moody’s GLOBAL debt watcher Moody’s Investors Service on Monday assigned an investment grade of “Baa2” to the long-term senior unsecured component of Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co.’s $2-billion medium-term note program.

Moody’s said in a statement the ratings were in line with the bank’s “Baa2” foreign and local currency deposit ratings and reflect the bank’s “baa2” baseline credit assessment and Moody’s expectation of a very high probability of support from the Philippine government in times of need.

“MBT’s baa2 BCA reflects the bank’s healthy asset quality; stable profitability, underpinned by its robust access to low-cost deposits; high capitalization, with a proven track record of shareholders’ support; and strong funding and liquidity, supported by its leading domestic franchise,” Moody’s said.

It said the asset risk for Metrobank was rising because of the coronavirus outbreak, but Moody’s expects its asset quality to remain robust, underpinned by a loan composition that is weighted toward financially sound corporates.

“Profitability pressures because of slower loan growth and higher

PSE INDEX CLOSING

credit costs will be somewhat offset by its resilient net interest margin,” it said.

“The MTN program allows MBT to issue senior notes in line with the maturities, currencies, interest rates and redemption structures specified in the applicable pricing supplement. The senior notes to be issued under the program will constitute MBT’s direct, unconditional, unsubordinated and unsecured obligations and will rank pari passu among themselves and equally with all of Metrobank’s other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations,” it said.

It said Metrobank’s medium-term note program ratings of “Baa2” were at the same level as the sovereign rating of the Philippines. It said it was very unlikely for the bank to be rated above the sovereign, as Moody’s views the correlation of risk between the bank and the sovereign to be high.

“MBT’s ratings could be upgraded if Moody’s upgrades Philippines’ sovereign rating,” it said.

Metrobank is the country’s second-largest bank in terms of assets.

It reported total assets of P2.4 trillion as of end-March.

Julito G. Rada

BLOOMBERRY DONATION. Bloomberry Cultural Foundation Inc., the corporate social responsibility arm of Bloomberry Resort & Hotel Inc., operator of Solaire Resort & Casino, donates a digital portable X-Ray machine and two sets of Leica digital microscope worth P4.3 million to the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory. Attending the ceremony are (from left) Ellan Mark Pailan, Solaire director of regulatory affairs; Arcan Lat, Solaire senior vice president and Property chief financial officer; Michael Ray Aquino, Solaire vice president for security; PNP chief PGen. Archie Francisco Gamboa; and PBGen. Rolando Hinanay, Director of PNP Crime Laboratory.

Source: BSP

Ayala Land still optimistic about real estate sector

By Jenniffer B. Austria PROPERTY developer Ayala Land Inc. remains optimistic about the prospects of the real estate sector amid the pandemic given its potential to bounce back after economic downturns, an executive said Monday.

Ayala Land Estate Inc. assistant vice president Cris Zuluaga said in a statement the current uncertainties should not deter potential buyers and investors with capital to invest during this period especially when attractive returns could be expected in the future.

“We have seen in past crises how the property sector has constantly been able to recover after a downturn with values appreciating over time. Given our country’s stable economy, it remains one of the best options for investment today,” said Zuluaga.

Zaluaga said the property sector posted consistently strong performance despite economic downturns while land values in strategic growth centers including Makati and Alabang continued to increase.

Taking financial risks during a pandemic may seem unwise to some, but Zaluaga said there is value in taking advantage of the potential returns of an intelligent, calculated risk.

He said the 700-hectare Vermosa, which is one the estate projects of Ayala Land, presents an investment opportunity for homebuyers, industries and businesses who are banking on reaping returns post pandemic.

Vermosa has reached an 82-percent growth on its commercial properties since its introduction in 2015, with a compounded annual growth rate of 14 percent.

Upon full build-out, Vermosa is expected to house around 30,000 people across several residential developments and generate about 500,000 jobs.

Vermosa has become the destination for modern active living and lifestyle pursuits south of Manila, and is soon to rise as a progressive commercial center.

Ayala Land is banking on the continued growth potential of the province of Cavite as it goes full-swing with the development.

The estate is seen to gain improved access through major infrastructure projects that establish Cavite as a booming growth center such as the Aguinaldo and Molino flyovers, Skyway extension and the Cavite-Laguna Expressway.

“The historical performance of our properties in terms of land value, and the strategy and careful management that we continue to commit to our estates are assurances that we provide to homebuyers and investors who wish to secure strong future returns with Ayala Land,” Zaluaga said.

AC Energy taps Harbor Star to complete Iloilo oil spill clean-up

By Alena Mae S. Flores AC ENERGY Philippines of the Ayala Group said the clean-up of the oil spill from Power Barge 102 in Barrio Obrero, Iloilo City is expected to be completed in the next 10 to 15 days.

“The company has engaged Harbor Star, a leading maritime services provider, to finish the clean-up of both the waters and the coastline, beginning with the inlet areas, followed by the coast, and then any offshore areas to recover and safely disperse any remaining oil residue,” AC Energy Philippines said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange.

It said PB 102 discharged fuel oil at 3 p.m. on July 3.

“The root cause is yet to be determined, but initial findings reveal that the discharge is attributable to ignition of fuel oil in storage which ruptured the barge’s fuel tank,” AC Energy Philippines said.

The company said it would also engage third-party experts to determine the cause of the explosion to avoid similar situations in the future.

Some 120 households in the neighboring area were relocated to Barangay Obrero Elementary School in coordination with local government officials, while their surroundings are undergoing clean-up and as protection against fumes brought by the prevailing winds.

The company said it continued to provide the affected families with food,

healthcare, PPEs and other necessities, and was working on further relocation to other nearby schools to observe social distancing.

AC Energy Philippines said it immediately activated containment protocols through containment booms but due to strong ocean waves, some of the fuel oil escaped the confinement area.

The leakage was contained at around 10 p.m. on July 3 with the rapid deployment of more than 170 combined personnel of the company and the Philippine Coast Guard with 14 boats and multilayered spill booms from the AC Energy Philippines, the Coast Guard, Petron Corp. and Global Business Power Corp.

Sports

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

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2020

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Hamilton: It’s about equality, not politics

AlphaTauri’s French driver Pierre Gasly, Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari’s German driver Sebastian Vettel behind a banner reading ‘End racism’ ahead the Austrian Formula One Grand Prix race on July 5, 2020 in Spielberg, Austria in solidarity with the “Black Lives Matter” movement. AFP

Sports officials to plan Tokyo Olympic strategy

By Peter Atencio Giannis Antetokounmpo

Bucks close practice facilities over virus concerns LOS ANGELES—The NBAleading Milwaukee Bucks have become the league’s latest team to close their practice facility in the wake of coronavirus testing, ESPN reported on Sunday.

The US sports network reported the Bucks, who are led by MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo, closed the facility after receiving results from COVID-19 tests conducted on Friday, although it wasn’t clear how many may have come back positive.

The team reportedly won’t allow players back to train until they depart on Thursday for Florida, where the NBA plans to resume play in a quarantine environment at Walt Disney World in Orlando starting on July 30.

The Bucks led the NBA with a record of 53-12 when play was suspended on March 11 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

They will arrive in Orlando chasing a first NBA title since 1971.

They’re just the latest NBA team to halt individual workouts at their practice facilities over coronavirus concerns after the Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat.

Teams aren’t allowed to begin team workouts until clearing quarantine in the “bubble” at Walt Disney World in Orlando.

The season is scheduled to resume on July 30 with 22 teams jockeying for position in the 16-team playoffs that start August 17.

Meanwhile, Indiana Pacers star Victor Oladipo says he will sit out the remainder of the NBA season because he doesn’t want to risk re-injuring his surgically-repaired right knee.

Oladipo wants to complete his rehabilitation and hopes to get back to 100 percent fitness before playing competitive games again in the 2020-21 season.

“I really want to play, and as a competitor and teammate this is tearing me apart,” Oladipo told The Athletic. “I feel like I’m at a great place in my rehab and getting closer and closer to 100 percent.

Oladipo suffered a ruptured right quad tendon in a game against the Toronto Raptors 17 months ago. He underwent surgery on January 28, 2019.

By the time he starts playing again Oladipo will have undergone almost two years of rehab for the injury.

“We totally respect and understand Victor’s decision to not play in the restart of the NBA’s season,” a Pacers spokesman said Friday. “The first priority for our players is, and always will be, their health. AFP

S

PORTS officials are bracing for the return of activities, expected to be back in the last half of the year, with a series of meetings in the coming days.

Philippine Sports Commission officer in charge Ramon Fernandez said the PSC board will be meeting with the Philippine Olympic Committee to talk about how they can help prepare national athletes, who are seeking qualification to the Tokyo Olympics.

“We will meet with them about their plans regarding the training and preparation of the Olympians and the qualifiers for the Olympics,” said Fernandez.

The discussions will take place following the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases to allow the resumption of

practices for basketball and football.

Fernandez believes that the restart of activities in sports disciplines is expected to follow with this resolution.

Talks with POC president and Tagaytay rep. Abraham Tolentino and Tokyo Olympics chef de mission Mariano “Nonong” Araneta is expected to clear things up.

“We have several qualified and others seeking qualification,” added Fernandez.

So far, pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena, gymnast Carlos Yulo, along with boxers Eumir Marcial and Irish Magno have qualified for the the

Olympiad, along with para swimmer Ernie Gawilan in the Paralympics.

Skateboard Margielyn Didal is seeking qualification with weighlifter Margielyn Didal, while para table tennis player Josephine Medina is an alternate entry.

In athletics, Fil-American standouts William Morrison (shotput) and Kristina Knott (women’s 200-meters) will have more time to get ready for the Tokyo Olympics.

Also seeking berths are sprinter Eric Cray, pole vaulter Natalie Uy and marathoner Christine Hallasgo.

Under a General Enhanced Community Quarantine, practice sessions will be limited to just five athletes on the floor in basketball, and in the field for football.

In a Modified GCQ setup, as many as 10 athletes can do workouts together.

SPIELBERG, Austria—Lewis Hamilton insisted on Sunday his fight against racism is “about equality and not politics or promotion” after six drivers refused to join the Formula One world champion in taking a knee before the season-opening Austrian Grand Prix.

Hamilton, the only black driver in the sport, wore a Black Lives Matter t-shirt, while other drivers, who all lined up with him at the front of the grid, sported black tops saying “End racism”.

However, six of the 20 drivers remained standing during the protest before the Austrian national anthem.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen had confirmed a split among drivers when they said they would not take a knee.

They were joined by Carlos Sainz of McLaren, Danil Kvyat of Alpha Tauri, Antonio Giovinazzi and his Alfa Romeo team-mate, former world champion Kimi Raikkonen.

“Today was an important day for me and all the people out there who are working for and hoping for change, for a more equal and just society,” Hamilton wrote on Instagram after the race in which he finished fourth.

“I may get criticism in the media and elsewhere, but this fight is about equality, not politics or promotion.

“To me it was an emotional and poignant chapter in the progress of making F1 a more diverse and inclusive sport.”

It’s understood that Hamilton had irritated some of his rivals by suggesting they “lacked understanding” of the issues.

Hamilton had explained his views to his fellow drivers before the race, claiming that silence is “generally complicit”.

“No-one is perfect but if we all chip in and do our part, we can see change. I truly believe that,” the 35-year-old added in his Instagram post.

In a statement on Twitter before the race, Leclerc said: “All 20 drivers stand united with their teams against racism and prejudice, at the same time embracing the principles of diversity, equality and inclusion, supporting F1’s and FIA’s commitment.

“I believe that what matters are facts and behaviours in our daily life rather than formal gestures that could be seen as controversial in some countries. AFP

San Lazaro Park pitch is football’s new home, for now FOR now, the artificial turf pitch inside the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite will have to do.

Built there two years ago, the pitch will serve as the only practice venue for professional football.

The Philippine Football League may even use the pitch when action eventually resumes as well.

Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta said this after the InterAgency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases allowed the resumption of practices for basketball and football last week.

“Umpisa na ang practices in one to two weeks. But first, we

have to test the players and officials,” said Araneta.

The start of practices will signal the eventual resumption of games in the PFL. The schedule of the PFL was disrupted after lockdowns were imposed last March to control the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The field in Carmona has been the place of many football activities ever since lighting towers were installed there.

This was done with help from The artificial turf pitch inside the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite has been the the Asian Football Confederation place of many football activities ever since lighting towers were installed there. and with the cooperation of the Manila Jockey Club two years ago. Memorial Sports Complex in Vito Cruz, RMSC are being used as medical and quarantine facilities for coronavirusAraneta said this will have to do Manila won’t be available at the moment.

This is because many areas inside the positive patients. Peter Atencio since the facilities inside the Rizal

Folayang responds to Lee’s challenge

Eduard Folayang

FORMER ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang recently responded to a call out made by reigning division king Christian “The Warrior” Lee. The Filipino, who is not one to back down from a challenge, accepted the invitation from the Singaporean prodigy.

“It would be an honor for me, and of course it will be a different challenge,” Folayang said.

Lee continues to improve as a mixed martial artist, and “Landslide” recognizes his progress.

The Evolve MMA standout came aboard The Home Of Martial Arts as a wide-eyed 17-yearold competing in the featherweight division.

While he had relative success in the weight class, he had trouble hurdling reigning ONE Feather-

weight World Champion Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen, losing by guillotine choke in their first meeting and then coming up short in their rematch.

The pair of defeats prompted “The Warrior” to move to the lightweight division, where he grew into a superstar.

Competing in a new division, Lee upset Japanese legend Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki for the ONE Lightweight World Title.

He then proved the win was no fluke when he beat Saygid “Dagi” Guseyn Arslanaliev in the ONE Lightweight World Grand Prix Championship Final.

Folayang praised the 22-year-old for his rapid development in the ONE Circle.

“I am very impressed with his improvements,” Folayang said. “I saw his growth as an athlete.”

“Landslide” is excited to face Lee, but he knows that he has to conquer many obstacles to get a shot at the reigning ONE Lightweight World Champion.

Lee is set to defend his strap against Iuri Lapicus sometime in the future, while Folayang has to scale the division’s ladder to get his name in ONE’s top-five lightweight rankings.

The soft-spoken Filipino, however, is hopeful that it will happen.

“It’s going to be a very challenging match if I face Christian Lee. I know I am still far from a World Title match, but in the future, I look forward to facing him,” Folayang said.

“It will be a big challenge for me if we face each other. I want to face him, and I hope he remains the champ by then.”

Sports Griezmann shines as Barca keeps hopes alive MADRID—Antoine Griezmann answe red h is c r i t i c s i n s t y l e o n S u n d a y b y scoring with a sensational chip as Barcelona thrashed Villarreal 4-1 to keep their faint La Liga title hopes alive.

After the humiliation of being brought on in the 90th minute against his former club Atletico Madrid, Griezmann was back in the starting line-up at La Ceramica and repaid the faith with a stunning goal, teed up by Lionel Messi.

“It was the kind of goal only great players can score,” said Barcelona coach Quique Setien. “He played a spectacular match.”

Messi also laid on a curling Luis Suarez shot into the top corner after Gerard Moreno cancelled out a Pau Torres own-goal that had put Barca in front. Ansu Fati then added a fourth late on.

An impressive victory for Setien’s side reduces the gap back to four points behind Real Madrid, who earlier ground out another 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao at San Mames, with a Sergio Ramos penalty proving the difference.

Madrid’s resilient performance, and their third 1-0 victory in a row, offered a stark contrast to a goal-fest from Barcelona that was certainly easier on the eye but instructive on the title race too.

An end-to-end contest, full of chances for both sides, showed Messi, Suarez and Griezmann at their free-flowing best yet the defence was opened up with ease by Villarreal, who might have scored more.

Madrid’s discipline and organisation has made them firm favourites with four games remaining.

“We needed this match a while ago,” admitted Setien. “We have to keep adding points and we’ll see what happens.”

Griezmann had experienced his lowest moment since joining Barcelona on Tuesday in the draw against Atletico but this was the perfect response.

He celebrated his goal by sharing a warm embrace with Messi.

Villar real looked a diff icult opponent after winning five games out of six since the restart, a run that has put them in in touching distance of the top four.

This defeat leaves them three points behind Sevilla, who play Eibar on Monday. AFP

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TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2020 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

British sprinter accuses police of racial profiling

DeChambeau delivers down stretch to claim Motor City title Bryson DeChambeau celebrates his win during the final round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic at the Detroit Golf Club in Detroit, Michigan. AFP

ASHINGTON—Bryson DeChambeau held off overnight leader Matthew Wolff down the stretch Sunday, firing a final-round 65 to capture the Rocket Mortgage Classic by three strokes.

W

blasting 367 yard drive on parfour No. 18. That set the stage for a dynamic finish, which included a stunning approach shot which landed just two feet from the f lag.

DeChambeau continued his storybook start to the pandemic-stunted season, finishing the week at 23-under 265 to claim his sixth career win on the USPGA Tour.

He quickly erased Wolff’s three-shot lead to start the day but needed three straight closing birdies to seal the victory in a thrilling back-nine duel.

“I played really well on front nine and struck it beautifully,” said DeChambeau. “On the back nine I got a little tight. I didn’t hit driver the way I wanted to.

“I got a little unlucky on 14 going into water but I was able to persevere and do my best to make three birdies coming in to win.”

The 21-year-old Wolff, who was trying to become the youngest twotime winner on the Tour since Tiger Woods in 1996, birdied four of his final seven holes to shoot a 71.

DeChambeau has been the story of the USPGA Tour’s restart and was the favourite coming into this event. He now has a streak of seven consecutive top-10 finishes thanks in large part to his bulked-up body which allowed him to overpower the Detroit Golf Club course.

Sunday’s win was his first since 2018

He easily made the short putt then celebrated with a fist bump for his caddie.

Wolff, who missed the cut in each of his last two events, struggled early after three solid rounds. The 21-year-old hasn’t posted a top-10 finish since his dramatic maiden win at the 3M Open in Minnesota last July.

Wolff opened with a bogey and after pulling back that shot with a 53-foot birdie putt on the fourth, he had back-to-back bogeys at five and six.

He was 16-under with eight to play and tied for third before roaring back to life with two straight birdies on 12 and 13.

“I was telling myself to get back to what I was doing at beginning of the week and not worry about the outcome before it even happens.

He had a shot at an eagle on 17, landing his approach about eight feet from the hole, but his putt curled away at the cup for a miss by an inch.

“Those putts that didn’t go in, it was a little bumpy and it just wasn’t meant to be,” Wolff said.

“I have that firepower that I can rattle off so many birdies in a row. I made four of the last seven with missing a couple of short ones.” AFP

as he dominated the Michigan fairways with an average driving distance of 350 yards.

Wolff finished alone in second at 20-under 268 and Kevin Kisner was two shots back in third after a 66.

Canada’s Adam Hadwin, American Ryan Armour, and Danny Willett and Tyrrell Hatton, both of England, were tied for fourth at 16-under, seven strokes behind DeChambeau.

World No. 10 DeChambeau and Wolff chose to come to the Motor City while many of the PGA Tour’s top players skipped the event.

In the PGA Tour’s first three events after the COVID-19 pandemic slammed the season, the top five players in the world ranking participated in each tournament.

None of the top five competed at the Detroit Golf Club and the field included just 18 of the top 50.

But that doesn’t take anything away from the power display that DeChambeau put on Sunday. He rolled in four birdies on the front nine then drained a 35-foot putt on the tenth to get to 21-under and a big lead.

He made another lengthy putt on 16 for the first of three consecutive birdies.

DeChambeau closed in style,

Fist bump

Pitcher Tanaka released from hospital

Masahiro Tanaka

FREE THROW SHOOTER

NEW YORK—Japanese right handed pitcher Masahiro Tanaka was out of hospital on Sunday after being felled by a hard line drive up the middle during a training session at Yankee Stadium on Saturday.

The New York Yankees star was hit in the head by a hard shot off the bat of teammate Giancarlo Stanton and immediately collapsed on the ground where he stayed for several minutes.

He was treated and released the same day.

“Masa had concussion-like symptoms that have since dissipated. He went through a battery of tests at the hospital; everything checked out well,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

Boone added that Tanaka has been placed in “concussion protocol” for follow up treatment.

The mathematics of live fans

referencing statistics to substantiate claims found in the article the same way fans use statistics to make a reasonable and logical point when arguing.

Math is ubiquitous in sports. Math WATCHING FC Bayern Munich being awarded the Champions’ Bowl inside in sports commands reverence and a stadium filled with empty seats is a esteem. It is innate in a competitive glimpse of what live sports will be in activity such as sports to constantly the immediate future—without fans in rank everyone and everything from the stands. Fans have always been an best to worst inside a constantlyimportant component of live sporting shifting hierarchy on the account of action. I wonder if we can ever have a recorded and quantifiable attributes. true estimation of what was lost without Math is essential for this task.

Who is the best player? Use math. Who fans in the stands and how this will performed the worst considering his or affect how the game is played. her average? Use math. What are the Maybe math is the answer.

Mark Dalliston, in his book ‘Deism: an odds of one team winning or losing? Use enlightened view’, wrote: “Everything is math. How many minutes should LeBron explained by math...Math can explain James play every game if he expects to remain healthy, reliable, and competitive everything.”

If you’ve seen the Denzel five years from now? Use math.

There is math for everything in sports Washington classic Remember The Titans, there is a scene there wherein —everything, but live fans.

Stadium fans are an interesting football coach Herman Boone sought the help of the math teacher to lot. They fulfill a certain role in the understand and predict the tendencies ecosystem; they are not competitors, and patterns of a formidable coach he but they have a strong influence on the possible turnout of the game. is set to meet next.

Reporters ask for a copy of the score You don’t need fans to start a game, sheet post-game when writing a story, but without live fans, the game feels

NATHANIEL DELA CRUZ

The incident happened on the Major League Baseball team’s first official day of workouts ahead of the start of the delayed American baseball season.

The 31-year-old Tanaka said on social media he was looking forward to getting back on the mound.

“I appreciate all the support. I feel it a bit right now, but I’m all good. Going to try to get back on the mound ASAP! Thanks again for all the encouraging words!”

In six seasons with the Yankees, Tanaka is 7543 with a 3.75 ERA, 947 strikeouts and 200 walks.

Tanaka posted an 11-9 record with a 4.45 ERA in 32 appearances last season.

The Yankees have already lost one starting pitcher to injury, with Luis Severino undergoing Tommy John surgery a couple of months ago. AFP

different even for players.

In basketball, fans watching in the venue are often referred to as the sixth man. In football, there are ‘ultras’— association football fans considered as most passionate, and at times, unfortunately, very extreme in their show of support that it results in violence.

Up to this point, what we have is mostly anecdotal. I remember watching the Jazz-Bulls finals series and the many times the commentators mention how the Delta Center is one of the loudest – if not the loudest – home court in the NBA. As a fan of Michael Jordan, I am glad this didn’t deter the Chicago Bulls from defeating Utah, twice.

It hasn’t been done - understanding the impact of live fans on players and the outcome of a match from a statistical point of view. We never talk about ‘fan factor’ from a statistical perspective. The gathering of live, noisy, chanting fans is an experience, something felt and but hasn’t been quantified or measured. I doubt that there was ever a headline that reads ‘The Lakers are 14-0 at the Staples Center when fan cheering is at 130 decibels or higher’.

Instead, we read about how fans

inspired players to rally towards a victory.

Ask Russia goalkeeper and captain Igor Akinfeev when they won against Spain in 2018. Ask Shillong Lajong owner Larsing M. Sawyan to whom does he attribute the first-ever I-League home game win against Air India. His answer: to the 30,000 fans watching the match responsible for creating an electrifying experience that inspired the players to play well. Ask Gareth Bale what triggered the Welsh victory over Slovakia in 2016. His answer: Welsh fans singing the national anthem late in the game. Fans changed the game, but neither they nor their performance was recorded in any stat sheet.

So the next question is this: is it important? I can’t imagine this data drastically altering the sporting landscape, but someone somewhere out there will find this useful and put this to use, especially now that we are living in the era of data analytics.

If and when someone can finally provide a more elegant mathematical articulation of how live fans affect the players and the game, it will be interesting to have a tour of this previously unchartered territory.

That one I am certain.

LONDON—British sprinter Bianca Williams said on Monday she was considering legal action against the police after accusing officers of racially profiling her and her partner in a stop-andsearch operation in London.

The European and Commonwealth 100m relay gold medallist also rejected the force’s account their car had been driving on the wrong side of the road on Saturday.

“They (the officers) said there’s a lot of youth violence and stabbings in the area and that the car looked very suspicious,” she told BBC radio.

“They see a black male driving a nice car, an all-black car, and they assume that he was involved in some sort of gang, drug, violence problem.

“That is false. We were never on the wrong side of the road. We were driving down through single-width roads.”

Williams, 26, said her partner, Portuguese sprinter Ricardo dos Santos, had been stopped by police about 10 times, pinning the blame on racism.

“We are planning on taking it down the legal route,” she said. “I feel very hurt by their actions... It’s an awful experience.”

Footage of the incident was shared widely on Twitter after being posted by their coach, Britain’s former Olympic champion Linford Christie.

The video was captioned: “Racist police aren’t just in America”.

The Metropolitan Police said staff had reviewed footage from social media and officers’ bodycams and were satisfied there was no concern around the conduct of the police officers. AFP

Aguilar, Wong fined for breaking protocol

By Peter Atencio FOR breaking health protocols, Barangay Ginebra big man Japeth Aguilar and Rain or Shine rookie Adrian Wong were each fined P20,000 each by the Philippine Basketball Association.

They were instructed to go through swab testing by the PBA Commissioner’s Office yesterday.

The two were penalized for practicing in a private facility, defying instructions and guidelines which prohibited them from doing so.

The penalties were handed down after league commissioner Willie Marcial reviewed a video showing them playing in a game.

The video eventually went viral on social media.

Aguilar and Wong were summoned by commissioner Marcial to shed light on the incident that took place recently.

The two players were caught doing scrimmages with Gilas Pilipinas pool member Isaac Go playing in a practice venue in San Juan.

Marcial directed the two players to take swab tests by Tuesday.

Once they are done, Aguilar and Wong will have to undergo a 14-day quarantine period before taking another swab test as a confirmatory course of action.

SBP to discuss plans of action at PSA Forum THE Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas tackles its plan of action moving forward in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic as it serves as special guest of Sonny Barrios the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) webcast this Tuesday (July 7).

SBP Executive Director Sonny Barrios and Director for Operations Butch Antonio will take care of business for the country’s governing body for the sport during Butch Antonio the 10:00 a.m. session presented by San Miguel Corp., Go For Gold, Amelie Hotel, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

The Philippines is still trying to qualify in the Tokyo Olympics through its Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 men’s team.

Powered by Smart, the forum will be shown live via the PSA Facebook page fb.com/PhilippineSportswritersAssociation and likewise to be shared on Radyo Pilipinas 2 facebook page.

Entertainment

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2020

C3

nickie.standard@gmail.com

A song TJ Monterde composed while watching the sunset

Music artist TJ Monterde drops a digital single entitled ‘Puhon.’

By Nickie Wang

T

HREE years ago, singer-songwriter TJ Monterde started writing a romantic song about a guy who longs to be with a girl that he has been loving for quite a while. He couldn’t finish writing the song until one day while watching the sunset, an idea flowed naturally and he was able to complete his mission.

In an online interview with Manila Standard, the 30-year-old musician shared that the song, released via PolyEast Records, talks about a guy who falls in love with a girl who is totally out of his league.

“But no matter how much he tries to forget the person, his heart still belongs to the girl. It’s a song about waiting for the perfect time. Thus, I called the song Puhon,” TJ shared.

“I didn’t know that I would still be able to finish this song because I started writing the chorus three years ago. Then one day, while I was staring at the sunset, a beautiful sunset that is, I suddenly got inspired to continue writing the song as if it was a fresh experience. It happened during the first week of quarantine and all I was hoping for was better days,” he added.

“Puhon,” which translates to “someday” or “God’s time” in Bisaya is a word that means something positive and a word

that’s very special to Cebuano speaking individuals according to the singer.

“It somehow feels so easy to listen to. The kind that you would want to hear while doing nothing, or just stare at the sky and just want to feel good. That’s actually the whole idea of the arrangement especially during these difficult times,” TJ said.

While the new digital hit single was written as a love story, TJ said that the song also brings positivity as we begin to cope with the ‘new normal’.

Part of the challenge for TJ was recording the song while quarantined at home. But with all digital technology available, “Puhon” was created with the help of Chino David of Hale as musical arranger, Arnie Mendaros as back-up vocals and vocal coach, and Albert Tamayo for mixing and mastering.

“It was a memorable experience. I don’t have a proper studio so you can only imagine how I recorded the song in

TJ in a sweet photo with fiancée KZ Tandingan. They were supposed to get married this year but decided to postpone their wedding because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

my room under a blanket so no outside noise would be recorded,” TJ shared.

TJ looks forward to the coming days with so much optimism. Although he misses the energy of the crowd during live gigs, he’s content with online gigs that allow him to interact with his fans for the time being.

To date, TJ has released three albums and a handful of hit songs since his debut

in 2014 which includes “Ikaw At Ako”, “Tulad Mo”, “Dating Tayo” and “Karera.”

Currently, the lyric video for “Puhon” has already reached one million views on YouTube after its debut in May. Listeners may stream the song on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, and other digital platforms.

ABS-CBN workers, supporters hold 3-day vigil as House votes on franchise this week ABS-CBN workers and supporters had conducted a three-day vigil at the broadcast network’s compound in Quezon City that concluded yesterday, calling on the public to let their voices be heard and ask lawmakers to vote “yes’ on the ABS-CBN franchise.

The House committee on legislative franchises resumed its 12th hearing yesterday, and its members may be voting within the week on whether or not to grant ABS-CBN a franchise.

“Patuloy kaming nananawagan sa ating mga kababayan na magpakita ng support at ibahagi ang kanilang nararamdaman,” said ABS-CBN Supervisory Employees Union president Raul de Asis.

“Sana po huwag na patagalin ang pagbibigay ng prangkisa sa ABS-CBN dahil ang mga empleyado po ay sobra na pong apektado. Sana po ay pakinggan naman nila ngayon ang taong-bayan.”

A majority of no votes would lead to the permanent shutdown of ABS-CBN’s broadcasting service, which began its operations in 1953. About 70 million Filipinos tune in to ABS-CBN in a week for news, information, and entertainment when it was still broadcasting.

The House committee on legislative franchises has received 181 petitions supporting the grant of a 25-year franchise to ABS-CBN, but it has so far only tackled the issues raised by a few opposition groups.

Several lawmakers and cause-oriented groups have urged lawmakers to consider the plight of 11,071 workers whose jobs are in peril if the franchise is not renewed.

ABS-CBN Rank & File Employees Union president Jon Villanueva asked lawmakers to allow ABS-CBN to continue serving the public and help the government in fighting the pandemic.

“Patuloy kaming mananawagan sa kongresista na bumoto pabor sa ABSCBN franchise para sa kapakanan ng

higit 11,000 na manggagawa,” he said.

The network’s workers and supporters trooped the broadcast compound along Esguerra Avenue in Quezon City to write messages of support at the vigil’s freedom wall, which they called RENEWall, placed outside the gate. Others left mementos like flowers and balloons in the area filled with heart-decorated streamers in colors red, green, and blue (RGB), the colors of the ABS-CBN logo.

Netizens voiced out their support on social media during the weekend, appealing to the House of Representatives to grant ABS-CBN a new franchise and using hashtags like #IbalikAngABSCBN, #ForeverKapamilya, and #LabanKapamilya.

Various celebrities like Vice Ganda, Martin Nievera, Judy Ann Santos, Kathryn Bernardo, Angel Aquino, Karla Estrada, Jake Cuenca, Gary Valenciano, and other Kapamilya stars also joined the plea, making their voices heard online to appeal for a positive outcome.

Since May 26, the Committees on Legislative Franchises and on Good Government and Public Accountability have spent 11 hearings and at least 65 hours on interpolating ABS-CBN executives and officials of government agencies on various issues raised against the network.

ABS-CBN has since clarified the issues concerning foreign ownership, the 50-year limit on franchises, labor, taxes, and digital TV broadcast and maintained that it has complied with existing laws and regulations.

A total of 13 bills on ABS-CBN’s franchise have been filed since last year. The network was ordered to stop its broadcast operations last May 5 by the National Telecommunications Commission, which earlier assured the Senate and the House of Representatives that it would issue a provisional authority allowing ABS-CBN to operate.

Some fans express their support for the network’s franchise renewal by writing their signature on the freedom wall mounted in front of ABS-CBN compound.

Independent film enthusiasts gathered at the CPP Main Lobby during Cinemalaya’s previous edition.

Cinemalaya announces short film finalists THE Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival has recently unveiled the 10 finalists who will compete in the Short Film Category in this year’s edition of the annual fest.

The finalists are: Ang Gasgas na Plaka ni Lolo Bert by Janina Gacosta and Cheska Marfori; Ang Pagpakalma sa Unos (To Calm the Pig Inside) by Joanna Vasquez Arong; Excuse Me Miss Miss, Miss by Sonny

Calvento; Fatigued by James Robin M. Mayo; Living Things by Martika Ramirez Escobar; Quing Lalam ning Aldo (Under the Sun) by Reeden Fajardo; Pabasa Kan Pasyon by Hubert Tibi; Tokwifi by Carla Pulido Ocampo; Utwas by Richard Jeroui Salvadico and Arlie Sweet Sumagaysay; and The Slums by Jan Andrei Cobey.

Due to social distancing measures implemented to contain the COVID-19 virus, the

MIGUEL ODRON may not be a household name yet, but to those who staunchly supported his Idol Philippines quest wherein he became one of its top five contenders, loving him was not so difficult to do.

Speaking with an American accent, Miguel was probably the most eye candy among the male finalists who slugged it out in the Philippine incarnation of the original US singing competition. At first glance, his uncanny resemblance to James Reid was also another factor for the kilig triggered votes given to him during Idol Philippines.

Odron is a singer and a songwriter, with six anthems to his credit including “Chevy Cruz,” “Still,” and “Weed,” to name a few.

With a budding career, what’s going to happen now after his longish big reveal via his Instagram account that he is gay? Yes, you read it correctly, that’s Miguel’s confession is on his IG page.

“When I joined Idol Philippines, I made a conscious choice with the producers of the show not to address my sexuality.

To be clear, I’ve never been ashamed of being gay. Everybody in my close circle knows and accepts me and anybody who does not is no longer in that circle. Star Music has known from the start and they have always supported and loved me for who I am,” he said in the photo caption.

“I made that choice on Idol not because I wanted to present a fake version of myself to all of you, but because I wanted your focus to be on my voice, my music and my writing.

These are the things I truly value about myself. Being gay is as interesting to me as the number of hairs on my head or the size of my feet. I thought it would just be a distraction from the music,” he carried on.

A Billy Joel song once said that “honesty is such a lonely word, everyone is so untrue,” Odron is living proof that only the brave and those who have positive self-love embrace what the song supposed to mean.

Miguel does not fit the “mold” of the usual gay man that we are familiar with. He has this matinee idol looks that are perfect for a BL series where characters portrayed by straight men fall in love and become sexually attracted to other men.

Without a doubt, being forthright about who he is, in Miguel’s

country’s biggest independent film festival will transition to virtual theater via Vimeo.

This year’s festival will focus on Short Films in Competition, Gawad CCP Para sa Alternatibong Pelikula at Video, Cinemalaya Retrospectives, and Short Films in Exhibition, to name a few.

Co-produced by the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Cinemalaya Foundation, Cinemalaya 2020 will run from Aug. 7 to 16.

Rising singer Miguel Odron came out on social media on the last day of Pride Month.

Beautiful young man heart of hearts, the pros outweigh the cons. He is also aware that once the curiosity and all the hoopla of him being gay simmer down, the genuine music aficionados’ main focus will be on his craft and the messages his songs want to convey.

Odron’s songs are fine samples of the many contemporary aspirations, longings, moods, and musings and are truly representative of the Generation Z demographic.

If you happen to be as astute and emotionally intelligent as his musical supporters, then by now, you know that bits and pieces of his truth puzzle, are being peeled off and are slowly and surely revealed in the lyrics of his composition. Some overt, others are in subtexts.

What more can I say except sending my biggest hugs to Miguel Odron. You are indeed a beautiful and talented young man.

Life

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

C4

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2020

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

LIFE IN QUARANTINE:

Idle seniors urged

to stay active at home

T

HE older population remains one the groups most vulnerable to developing severe coronavirus disease. In the European region, people aged 60 years and above account for over 95 percent of COVID-19 deaths, according to the World Health Organization. Here at home, mortality is highest among individuals aged 50 to 69.

Hence seniors are strongly encouraged to stay at home and avoid crowds and gatherings.

But the WHO also reminds the older folks staying at home to maintain physical activity and proper nutrition to stay healthy.

According to experts, the elderly and those approaching their senior years can benefit from physical therapy (PT), which can help in recovering from potentially debilitating conditions and

encouraging independent living for as long as possible.

A fitness center, which offers online PT consultations, says physical therapy can also help avoid falls, reduced longterm strength and endurance, and infection, among others.

Falls – Aging or post-recovery from injuries/illnesses are prone to imbalances that lead to falling, which can injure or re-injure them.

Reduced long-term strength and endurance – PT can influence the body’s strength and endurance level, however, if the level is low, it can cause increased blood pressure and heart rate, and decreased oxygen saturation levels which can lead to stroke and heart attack.

Reduced confidence – Doing PT teaches its patients more efficient ways of completing daily activities, which can help improve both physical and mental health as well as quality of life.

Increased pain – Decreased movement or no movements at all can lead to stiff joints, which people are prone to during the current quarantine. Decreased mobility leads to more pain.

Infections – Without active movement and the prevention that could

MOVE IT. The World Health Organization reminds seniors staying at home to engage in physical activity, following safety precautionary measures, to stay healthy amid a global health crisis. have been offered by PT, there can be an increased risk for pneumonia, which is one of the main complications of COVID-19, and an increased potential of developing skin problems like ulcers.

“Combining PT with proper nutritional advice can also improve preventive measures to specific existing chronic illnesses like heart disease,

high blood pressure, high cholesterol, allergies, diabetes, and pre-diabetic conditions, irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, and obesity,” Sante Fitness Lab said in a statement.

To help seniors and other individuals stay healthy while in quarantine, SFL (santefitnesslab.com) offers online fitness, PT, and nutritional consultations.

A fitness center says physical therapy can help the elderly recover from potentially debilitating conditions, avoid falls and increased pain, and lower risk of pneumonia.

Study shows dishwashing liquid an effective disinfectant against coronavirus

Garmin users’ health data to support COVID-19 research TECH firm Garmin teams up with a non-profit organization to help researchers conduct studies on the implications and effects of COVID-19.

Registered users’ health data from Garmin smartwatches can now be connected to PhysioQ’s Neo, a self-monitoring system that allows users to proactively monitor their and their family members’ vitals through the Neo mobile app.

Users can register their family members on Neo and keep track of their blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), heart rate, respiration rate, sleep, and body temperature and receive real-time updates.

This will help users keep track of their family members’ health, especially the elderly whose abnormal readings could indicate underlying health issues.

Blood oxygen saturation (SpO2)

Japan Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry’s commissioned study discovers surfactants, usually present in dishwashing liquids, can be effective against SARS-CoV-2 when used at the right levels.

RUNNING out of alcohol and household disinfectant?

A Japanese study discovers dishwashing liquids, when used at the right levels, can be effective against SARS-CoV-2 which causes coronavirus disease.

In response to the global coronavirus pandemic and to mitigate alcohol shortage, the Japan Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) commissioned the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE) to look into other options for disinfecting homes and workplaces.

Laboratory studies conducted by METI/NITE have proven that some cleaning actives also known as surfactants can be used as an alternative to alcohol-based disinfectant.

Test findings by NITE confirmed a significant reduction in the novel coronavirus count on items or surfaces

that are exposed to a surfactant diluted to 0.05-0.2 percent for 20 seconds to five minutes.

According to a review committee of experts, these seven types of surfactants—confirmed effective against coronavirus—are commonly found in household products like dishwashing liquids.

• Sodium linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (0.1% or more); • Alkyl glycoside (0.1% or more); • Alkylamine oxide (0.05% or more); • Benzalkonium chloride (0.05% or more); • Benzethonium chloride (0.05% or more) (newly added on May 28, 2020); • Dialkyldimethyl ammonium chloride (0.01% or more) (newly added on May 28, 2020); and • Polyoxyethylene alkylether (0.2% or more)

How to make a dishwashing liquidbased disinfecting solution: Japan METI and NITE recommend the solution ratio of one teaspoon of dishwashing liquid mixed in 500ml water.

To sanitize, wipe all items or surfaces with a cloth soaked in this solution.

Squeeze excess liquid out of the cloth to prevent the liquid from dripping.

Wipe firmly in one direction to prevent spreading dirt and virus. Leave the items or surfaces to rest with the mixture for about five minutes. Then, wipe off the soap solution with a cloth soaked in water. Finally, wipe dry all items and surfaces with another clean cloth.

This solution is not intended for use on skin or on painted surfaces and materials where water will soak in. NITE said solutions made in advance are ineffective; make a freshly made diluted solution for each use.

The ideal blood oxygen saturation level should be between 95 to 100 percent. According to the World Health Organization’s Interim Guidance on COVID-19, patients suffering from COVID-19 have seen their SpO2 levels drop below 93 percent.

Respiration rate

Tracking respiration rate is valuable for monitoring overall health and well-being. A normal respiration rate for a resting adult ranges from 12 to 20 breaths per minute (brpm) and this will change depending on activity levels.

The respiration rate for patients suffering from COVID-19 have been monitored to go up to 30 breaths per minute.

Heart rate

Heart rate can vary from person to person, depending on age and fitness levels. Resting heart rate is used as a key indicator of heart health, and ranges from 60bpm to 100bpm. It is recommended for users to wear a smartwatch

Garmin users can share their data to help researchers study the implications and effects of the 2019 coronavirus disease.

to track their heart rate throughout the day and night for a more accurate understanding of their heart rate data.

Users are encouraged to opt in to donate their health data to PhysioQ. The donated data will be anonymized and aggregated to aid medical researchers globally in the study to combat COVID-19 and other future pandemics.

Data from PhysioQ has been used by researchers in top institutions including Harvard University, Berkeley University, Boston University, McGill University, and Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, to name a few.

PhysioQ’s Neo app will be available on Android and iOS platforms for free and is compatible with Garmin’s range of smartwatches that tracks SpO2, including the latest Venu, vívoactive 4 series, vívosmart 4, vívomove 3 series, Forerunner 245 and 245 Music, Forerunner 945, fēnix 5X+, fēnix 6 series, and Approach S62.