Manila Standard - 2020 July 8 - Wednesday

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VOL. XXXIV • NO. 134• 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

TOUGHER COMMUTE.

A staffer of the MRT-3 train line, wearing a protective suit, uses a megaphone to guide passengers in boarding an EDSA Carousel bus (above inset) on Tuesday, after authorities suspended operation of the MRT after some of its staff tested positive for the coronavirus. Operations at the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority offices were similarly halted after several staffers there also caught the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease (see related story on A8).

AFP with Norman Cruz

100k virus cases by August

UP team warns of further surge with reopening, calls for system change

By Willie Casas and Rio N. Araja

C

ASES of COVID-19 in the Philippines may surpass 100,000 by the end of August, a mathematics professor from the University of the Philippines said Tuesday, as he urged the government to tweak pandemic protocols.

“Based on what I’ve seen, the trend is that it will increase, [and] surpass 100,000 if we don't change our system, our handling of the pandemic,” said Guido David, a member of the UP OCTA Research group.

The cases are increasing by at least 1,000 cases a day and areas without any COVID-19 cases before lockdowns were eased recently became virus hotspots, Da-

vid said.

Authorities should tighten border controls, ramp up coronavirus screening, and bring those who test positive for the virus to isolation facilities instead of going on home quarantine, David said.

The government should also rethink Next page

DOH: New virus Restrictions on travel abroad lifted, protocols set Vito Barcelo and mutation seems ByMacon Ramos-Araneta more infectious

By Willie Casas THE NEW mutation of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 appears to make it three times more infectious, the Department of Health (DOH) said Tuesday, even as the country's cases of the respiratory disease neared 48,000.

In a press briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said: “Mutations do occur with the COVID-19 virus, and this particular one is now more common in the world and seems to be more infectious."

"We are continuing to monitor this development and our scientists are sequencing some of our local viruses as we speak," Vergeire added.

Dr. Edsel Salvaña, a member of the technical advisory group that advises the DOH and Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), said the current variant called "D614G" has increased the infectiousness of the virus.

"There is no evidence it makes it more deadly or virulent. However, it can spread

THE government has allowed Filipinos to resume non-essential travels abroad but imposed certain conditions to ensure their safety and health amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Malacanang said

Tuesday.

Palace spokesman Harry Roque said non-essential outbound travel will be allowed, but travelers must present confirmed round-trip tickets for those traveling on tourist visas as well as travel health insurance to cover rebooking and accommodation expenses. Travelers

Next page

SC orders gov't to justify legality DAYTIME KILLING. of anti-terror law Manila prosecutor killed in ambush

By Rey E. Requejo, Willie Casas

will also have to execute a declaration acknowledging the risks involved in traveling.

The country of destination should also have no existing entry ban on foreigners, including Filipinos.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said international flight Next page

the standard th the standard th the standard th

Investigators cordon off a crime scene surrounding the car of Jovencio Senados, 62, the chief fiscal from the Manila City Prosecutor's Office (inset), who lies lifeless after being gunned down at the corner of Quirino Avenue and Anakbayan Street in Manila on Tuesday morning. Norman Cruz

By Willie Casas and Rey E. Requejo

and Maricel V. Cruz THE Supreme Court has ordered the government to file its comment justifying the constitutionality of the controversial Republic Act 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Law of 2020.

During the en banc session on Tuesday, the SC magistrates gave the respondent government agencies and officials 10 days to answer the consolidated petitions filed by groups and personalities challenging the constitutionality of the anti-terrorism law.

SC spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka said the high court also required the government agencies tasked to implement the ATL to comment also within 10 days on the plea of the four groups of petitioners Next page

A PROSECUTOR was gunned down in Paco, Manila, on Tuesday, and the initial information from the police identified the victim as 62-year-old Jovencio Senados, the chief inquest at the Manila Regional

Trial Court.

Senados was gunned down along Quirino Highway and Anakbayan at 11 a.m. while in his car.

The killers were aboard a black SUV, police said.

"We condemn this to the highest level.

We will avail of all the resources of the Next page

Conscience vote on franchise urged THE members of Congress should vote on the ABS-CBN franchise issue according to their conscience, Malacañang said Tuesday as lawmakers wrap up this week their hearings on the bills seeking to grant the broadcasting network a fresh 25-year license to operate.

President Rodrigo Duterte remains

"neutral" on the company's bid for a new franchise, his spokesman Harry Roque said in a Palace briefing.

"They asked for forgiveness," Roque said, referring to the apology offered by ABS-CBN President Carlo Katigbak in February over an aired negative political Next page

NO PLACE TO GO.

In this photo from TV reporter Chino Gaston, locally stranded individuals sleep on the sidewalk along Kalaw Avenue in Manila after they were evicted from the Quirino Grandstand, where they were waiting for flights home to their respective provinces.

GMA via Twitter

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM JULY 07)

47,873 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

1,309

1,540 NEW

993 FRESH

6

DEATHS

NEW

12,386

201

RECOVERIES

NEW

Beijing reports zero infections since outbreak BEIJING—Beijing on Tuesday reported zero new coronavirus cases for the first time since the emergence of a cluster in the Chinese capital in June that prompted fears of a domestic second wave.

A total of 335 people have been infected since a cluster emerged at the city's massive Xinfadi wholesale market in early June.

The news comes as millions of students in the city and around the country gather in exam halls to take the all-important national college entrance exam after days of tracking their health.

This developed as Australia on Tuesday ordered millions of people locked down in its second-biggest city to combat a surge in coronavirus cases, as nations across the planet scrambled to stop the rampaging pandemic.

While some countries are worried about second waves of infections, the worst-hit—the United States—was still Next page

A2

News

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

P500m in counterfeits seized T

By Vito Barcelo

cy Services, the authorized representative of a luxury retail company globally known as Louis Vuitton, had complained that various counterfeit products were being kept inside the warehouse.

Found inside were replica items bearing the brands Louis Vuitton, Lacoste, Gucci, Balenciaga, Kate Spade, Tory Burch, Hermes, Coach, Burberry, Givenchy, Prada, and Calvin Klein and Marc Jacobs.

Meanwhile, the seized shabu were discovered hidden in two separate packages with an estimated street value of P600,000.

The packages containing the drugs were declared as “gift puzzle game board” and “puzzle game made of cardboard as a gift” bound for Albay and Cabanatuan City.

But sachets containing crystalline substances were found concealed inside the puzzle game boards.

Aside from shabu, the raiders also found in another package from Taiwan two bottles of Methyl Ethyl Ketone, a controlled chemical identified by the PDEA as essential ingredients in the production of shabu.

in the Visayas seemed to be slowly decreasing.

Based on the DOH website, Quezon City tops the list of NCR cities with 3,420 cases as of July 4.

Next is Manila with 2,415 cases, Caloocan with 1,059, Makati with 1,020 and Parañaque with 878.

While NCR remains the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak, areas of Region 7 have been identified as emerging hotspots.

Vergeire said Tuesday that the recent increase in COVID-19 cases was due to the clustering of cases and community transmission, and not improved testing.

Vergeire noted that the new cases are not attributed to improved testing anymore.

With the evident transmission of the disease, Vergeire advised the public to be more cautious.

“These numbers that we are having right now should make people more cautious. This is not just because we are testing more but because there are really clustering of cases that we have been identifying for these past days,” Vergeire said in an interview on ANC. “And also, there is really community transmission. This is not just because we are testing more, but this is really a result of community transmission,” she added.

Vergeire said they are looking into the different clustering of cases across different areas of the country to observe them closely, with the help of local government units.

Vergeire said the Department of Health (DOH) is in talks with the mayors to create guidelines on how to manage the COVID-19 cases in their respective areas.

“We have provided them with guidance, discussed with them what should be done so that we can be able to take appropriate measures when it comes to this increasing number of cases,” she said.

The DOH said it will highlight the additional as well as the remaining active cases in reporting updates on COVID-19 numbers starting on July 10, Friday.

In an interview on ANC on Tuesday,

Vergeire said they will no longer report the ‘fresh’ and ‘late’ cases.

"By July 10, we would be introducing our new way of reporting cases where there would be no fresh and late cases anymore,” she said.

“We will just be providing the general public the additional cases and we will be highlighting the active cases instead of the cumulative number of total cases,” she added.

Vergeire explained that active cases refer to persons who tested positive for COVID-19 staying in hospitals, quarantine facilities, or under self-quarantine at home.

The active cases exclude recoveries and fatalities, she added.

“We will be putting up the epidemiologic curve just to show people when the disease really started, the onset of illness of these individuals who were tested positive,” she said.

She noted that the total number of COVID-19 cases will still be reported so that the public will have an idea of the total number of infections since the start of the spread of the disease.

According to Vergeire, active cases will be highlighted since this number shows the remaining cases that need to be managed.

Also on Tuesday, the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center in Manila clarified it can still accommodate COVID-19 patients and has a referral mechanism in place in case the beds designated for the disease are already full.

In an interview on Dobol B sa News TV, Chinese General Hospital medical director Dr. Samuel Ang clarified the recent letter he released urging their hospital doctors to limit the admission of COVID-19 patients to a "manageable level."

"It gives people the impression that Chinese [General Hospital] was overwhelmed. That’s not true. The memo for some reason leaked on social media [but it] was meant for our doctors," Ang said.

"That memo was taken out of context. I was encouraging my staff that mild cases be sent home for quaran-

tine,” Ang said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Ang said every hospital was mandated by the Department of Health to allot 30 percent of its facilities for COVID-19 patients.

Though admitting that the occupancy of COVID-19 beds in the Chinese General Hospital is nearing full capacity, the hospital official said it can still accept mild to severe cases right now.

"We will not turn down anybody,” he said.

According to the DOH on Monday, 11 hospitals in Metro Manila reported 100 percent utilization rate of their intensive care unit (ICU) beds for COVID-19 patients.

The Chinese General Hospital is one of these facilities.

Meanwhile, St Luke's Medical Center dispelled rumors that its hospitals had already reached full capacity.

"We would like to clarify that both SLMC in Global City (GC) and Quezon City (QC) still have the capacity to handle COVID-19 related cases, including non-COVID cases," its statement said.

It added that "as of July 6, we have 70 percent admission based on the designated number of beds for COVID-19 cases."

SLMC assured the public that despite the continued increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, its hospitals remain "fully equipped in handling any medical concern."

It also urged the public to verify information before sharing on social media.

On Tuesday, Quezon City reported a total of 3,869 COVID-19 cases.

The total number of validated cases by the city’s Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit and District Health Offices was 3,762.

Some 162 cases were added to the 3,600 reported cases last July 4.

Active COVID-19 cases were at 1,301.

The city government reported 98 new recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries in the city to 2,214. There were eight new cases of death, bringing total fatalities in the city at 247.

are aware the virus causing COVID-19 can be airborne, the considered “main mode” of transmission is still through respiratory droplets.

In an interview on GMA’s Unang Hirit, Salvana, who is director of the UP Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, clarified there was actually no disagreement among local health experts whether the virus can be airborne or not, but said they are taking measures in light of this possibility.

Salvana made the statement in response to the calls of hundreds of scientists asking the World Health Organization (WHO) to revise its recommendations about the transmission of the disease.

The WHO said the coronavirus disease spreads primarily from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth, which are expelled when a person with COVID-19 coughs, sneezes, or speaks.

At least 239 scientists in 32 countries outlined the evidence showing that the novel coronavirus in smaller particles in the air can infect people. With AFP

Beijing...

sealed off from the rest of the country a day earlier.

Beijing's health commission said on Tuesday it detected only one asymptomatic case the previous day, which China does not include in its count of confirmed infections.

While Chinese authorities are still investigating the cause of the latest outbreak, the virus was detected on chopping boards used to handle imported salmon at Xinfadi market, prompting a ban on certain imports and increased scrutiny of foreign food suppliers.

The Beijing government has tested more than 11 million people for COVID-19 since June 11—roughly half the city's population, officials said at a press conference Tuesday.

Residents lined up in the summer heat at testing venues across the city in June, with hundreds of thousands of samples collected each day.

Localised lockdowns across the city have been eased in recent days, with people living in areas of the city considered "low risk" now allowed to travel freely again. AFP

February sought to reject the network's franchise due to alleged abuses.

The Supreme Court has dumped Calida's petition, saying the issue had become "moot and academic" as ABS-CBN's previous franchise expired May 4.

A joint House panel's scrutiny of the alleged bias in ABS-CBN's news coverage while deciding on the network's application for a new franchise could be regarded as "prior restraint on press freedom," several members of the House of Representatives said on Monday.

Occidental Mindoro Rep. Josephine Ramirez-Sato opted not to interpellate during the hearing, saying the discussions on news bias in connection with the franchise bid were "improper."

Sato then went on to cite several cases in which the courts decided in favor of freedom of expression and free speech.

She also said that those who felt that their rights had been violated should go to court.

"These laws give a highly preferred status to the freedom of speech, expression and freedom of the press. If there are sectors who believe that their rights were violated, they should go to the court and not in this hearing for the renewal of the franchise," Sato said.

SC...

HE Bureau of Customs confiscated more than P500 million worth of imported counterfeit luxury items in a raid of a warehouse along Juan Luna Street in Tondo, Manila.

The agency also seized more than Customs Commissioner Rey Leonarhalf a million pesos worth of shabu from do Guerrero said the raiders entered the the United States in a FedEx Warehouse warehouse after receiving a complaint. in Pasay City.

HE said MANLED Legal Consultan-

100k...

From A1

the transportation of workers, after scores of MRT personnel caught the virus, he said.

David also urged the public to wear masks, and practice physical distancing and good hygiene.

The Philippines on Tuesday recorded 1,540 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, raising the nationwide total to 47,873.

Of the new cases, 933 were “fresh” while 547 were “late” with results having been submitted four days or more ago.

The fresh cases are based on the daily accomplishment reports submitted by only 69 out of 74 current operational labs, the Department of Health (DOH) said.

The DOH also reported six new deaths fromt he disease, bringing the death toll to 1,309. Of the six reported deaths, three occurred in June.

At the same time, the DOH reported 201 new recoveries, bringing the number of patients who have recovered from COVID-19 to 12,386.

On Monday, the DOH said it has seen a decline in COVID-19 cases in three Metro Manila cities—Marikina, Muntinlupa and Makati.

However, it said Quezon City was still being monitored because of a spike in cases.

“Marikina decreased by 68 percent, Muntinlupa decreased by 10 percent, Makati decreased by 4 percent,” the DOH said in a message to media.

“We are closely monitoring Quezon City which has shown an increase by 34%,” the DOH said.

On the other hand, the department said it had misidentified the four cities as emerging hotspots during a Monday briefing.

“We apologize for the confusion. This is our up-to-date record. We will redouble our efforts to keep our reports as current as possible,” they said.

During the briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said cases

DOH:...

From A1

faster and overwhelm our health care system if we don't double our control efforts and so it can lead to a higher number of overall deaths if we do not properly manage the number of infections," Salvaña wrote on Facebook.

Earlier, there was "not enough" evidence yet to back a report by more than 200 scientists who warned the novel coronavirus can spread in tiny airborne particles, which should change pandemic guidelines, the DOH said.

Vergeire told ANC the DOH is “studying all of these articles that are coming out everyday and still there are not enough evidence at this moment to specifically say that it is already airborne."

"We are still working on that concept that COVID is transmitted via droplet infection," she added.

Also, Salvana said that while hospitals

Conscience...

From A1

advertisement in 2016 that offended Duterte.

"He is neutral. Vote according to your conscience.”

While he accepted the apology, Duterte had said he was leaving the fate of ABSCBN's franchise to Congress.

The President had previously threatened to block ABS-CBN's bid for a new franchise.

House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday said he was also seeking a "conscience vote" among his colleagues.

ABS-CBN has been off the air for more than two months since the National Telecommunications Commission on May 5 shut down its free television and radio services.

The NTC committed in March to lawmakers it would let the network stay on air while Congress deliberated on its new franchise application.

Last week, the NTC also closed down ABS-CBN's digital broadcast in Metro Manila and its sister company's SKYDirect services, following the advice of Solicitor General Jose Calida, who in

From A1

"knee-deep" in its first, its top expert warned, with cases also surging in India and Brazil.

Global COVID-19 cases have surged past 11.5 million with more than 536,000 dead, and the lingering threat was illustrated by Australia—which had largely suppressed its outbreak—locking down five million people in Melbourne to fight a recent spike.

"We can't pretend" the coronavirus crisis is over, said Daniel Andrews, premier of Victoria state, after its capital Melbourne reported 191 new cases in 24 hours.

"These are unsustainably high numbers... There is simply no alternative (to the lockdown) other than thousands and thousands of cases and potentially more."

The lockdown of the Melbourne metropolitan area would begin at midnight Wednesday and last at least six weeks, while Victoria state will effectively be

From A1

for the issuance of a temporary restraining order seeking to enjoin the implementation of the law.

The SC also ordered the consolidation of the four petitions which include Lawyers Howard Calleja, Joseph Peter Calleja and Christopher Lao and De La Salle Brothers led by former education secretary Armin Luistro; opposition lawmaker Rep. Edcel Lagman of Albay; Far Eastern University Law Dean Mel Sta. Maria and other law professors of the said university; as well as opposition solons belonging to the so-called Makabayan bloc.

The Supreme Court said: “The four petitions are petitions for certiorari and prohibition with prayer for issuance of a temporary restraining order, and writ of preliminary injunction. They all related to Republic Act 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

“Thus, the Supreme Court ordered the consolidation of the four petitions, and required respondents to file their respective comments on the petition and application for TRO within a period of 10 calendar days from notice.”

The petitioners are seeking to declare as unconstitutional Section 4 of ATL, saying it violates basic rights of the people under the Constitution; Sections 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 22 as these provisions violate the fundamental right to privacy; the designation power of the Anti-Terrorism Council under Section 25 as it violates during process rights; preliminary order of proscription, under Section 26 and 27 for being unconstitutional; the period of detention without judicial charge under Section 29 for being arbitrary, unreasonable and unjustified; and Section 34 as it impairs the constitutional right to bail.

Contrary to the claim of the government and the authors of ATL, the petitioners argued that its Implementing Rules and Regulations cannot rectify the deficiencies and excesses in the new law because the IRR cannot modify, amend or repeal a statute.

Named respondents in the petition were Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, the secretaries of defense, the interior, finance, justice, and information and communications technology, and the executive director of the Anti-Money Laundering Council.

Palace respects Sagada decision on video shoot MALACAÑANG said Tuesday it respects the decision of the municipality of Sagada, Mountain Province, to reject the request of a delegation from Malacañang Presidential Broadcast Staff, including director Joyce Bernal, to shoot videos in the famous tourist spot amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Presidential spokesma Harry Roque said while the team had secured health certificates and travel authorities, they complied with the rules of the Sagada local government.

“Joyce Bernal and RTVM respected the decision of Sagada. I repeat, they had health certificates and travel authorities, but when they were not allowed to enter, they did not insist,” Roque said.

In a Facebook post on Monday, the Sagada local government said the request of the RTVM was rejected both by the Office of the Sagada mayor and the Sagada Municipal Disaster Risk and Management Office.

They said Bernal’s team sent an email about the conduct of the video shoot to the Office of the Sagada mayor “after office hours” on July 3. It also said Bernal and her team would be arriving in Sagada by the night of July 5.

The Sagada officials, however, only received word that Bernal’s team would be arriving on July 5.

That prompted the mayor and the Municipal Disaster Risk and Management Officer (MDRRMO) to convene a meeting with the Local COVID-19 Task Force, which ultimately decided against the request of Bernal and her team.

Restrictions...

From A1

travel restrictions at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and a travel ban on arriving foreign nationals are still in place during the general community quarantine (GCQ) in the entire National Capital Region (NCR).

Foreign nationals not married to a Filipino are still not allowed to enter.

Exempted from the temporary ban are officials of foreign government and international organizations accredited with the Philippines who have a valid visa.

Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has released new guidelines which allow barbershops and salons to offer more services other than haircuts, Malacañang announced on Tuesday.

“The services barbershops and parlors can offer are no longer limited to basic haircutting services,” Roque said in a virtual press conference aired on state-run PTV-4.

This developed as the government eased its quarantine and health protocols by reopening the economy to allow Filipinos to recover from the crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Roque cited DTI Memorandum 20-38, which states that barbershops and salons operating in areas under GCQ may now offer all haircutting and hair treatment services.

Roque said customers who are residing in areas under modified GCQ may avail of haircutting, hair treatment, and nail care services.

He said barbershops and salons in MGCQ zones may also perform basic facial care such as make-up, eyebrow threading, eyelash extension, and facial massage.

He added that basic personal care services like waxing, threading, shaving, foot spa, and hand spa can also be done by barbershops and salons in places put under MGCQ. On July 2, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases approved Resolution 41, which lifts restrictions on the resumption of partial operations of barbershops and salons.

Manila...

From A1

DOJ [Department of Justice] to obtain justice," Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento said in a statement shortly after the killing.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate the motive behind the killing of Senados and to get his killers.

“We are shocked by the audacity of this attack. It highlights once again the grave peril that our prosecutors face each day in the discharge of their duties,” Guevarra said.

At least 50 lawyers, prosecutors and judges have been killed under the Duterte administration.

The National Union of People’s Lawyers denounced the killing and blamed it on the “prevailing culture of violence and climate of impunity engendered by official hate speech and penchant for vindictiveness.

“Whatever the motive and whoever the perpetrators as should be credibly established, this is absolutely unacceptable in a supposedly civilized and democratic society.”

A3

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020

A4

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

To renew or not I HAVE been asked several times by friends who read my column if in the final analysis, and after several hearings at the House of Representatives, Congress would renew the 25-year franchise of the Lopez-owned network, ABS-CBN. Frankly, I do not know. It could go either way.

Still, if our lawmakers would be honest and logical, and as they consider all the issues brought against the network during the hearings, they should not grant the renewal.

Will our lawmakers do the logical thing, or will they be swayed by public sentiment?

Of course, some members of Congress do not think logically. They think of what is best for their own interest and they get swayed by public sentiment.

Let’s take a quick look at the main issues raised against the network. First, there is the question of Philippine Depositary Receipts—an investment tool resorted to by foreigners.

Taking off from the disclosure of ABS-CBN with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Lopezes created many corporations in what we lawyers call “layering.” This is an obvious attempt to circumvent the Constitutional prohibition on ownership and management of mass media. Yet, one of the corporations created by the Lopezes—ABS-CBN Holdings—is a shell corporation, made to be merely a receptacle and issuer of PDRs. That corporate veil can be pierced.

And now we discover that foreigners now have 132 million shares worth P6.072 billion. Santa Banana, this is ownership in any language!

Another issue raised against ABSCBN is the creation of ABS-CBN Convergence that will show in the network’s TV Plus and KDO movies produced by the network.

To make matters worse, the bright boys of ABS-CBN entered into a block time agreement with Amcara Broadcasting over Channel 43. This is where they show movies, teleseryes and concerts despite the fact that the National Telecommunications Commission has released a cease-and-desist order on ABS-CBN! The Lopezes and ABS-CBN are now facing charges of fraud. It seems they also owned Amcara. If this alleged anomaly is proven, it would show that the Lopezes can go to the extent of creating a dummy corporation to achieve their ends.

EDITORIAL

This is a criminal act and the House of Representatives must dig deeper!

The allegation was bolstered by the findings of NTC engineers that Amcara broadcast was in fact coming from the ABS-CBN tower on Mother Ignacia Street, where ABS-CBN’s main offices are also located.

Despite all these, I still am not sure that Congress would do the logical thing.

Santa Banana, look at all the solicitations coming not only from ABS-CBN talents, but even a bishop, and ordinary viewers. It is just sickening how people come to their defense!

Since the Senate must also approve the 25-year franchise renewal, can we trust our senators to do the right thing?

Many of the senators also have interests tied with ABS-CBN’s, my gulay! *** By the end of this month, COVID-19 cases here in our country could breach the 60,000 mark. I have been wondering why President Duterte and the Inter-Agency Task Force have been easing restrictions.

I can understand the pressure on the President to reopen the economy. Jobs and livelihoods are at stake. He is, after all, a politician. But nothing should take precedence over the health and safety of Filipinos. *** I may be wrong but I am told that the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation are doing nothing about the tax backlog of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). The amount is supposedly at P75 billion now.

I cannot explain why this is happening, but it might have something to do with the government policy of taking it easy on the issue of POGOs. I have also been told that there are about the same number of POGOs operating legally and illegally nationwide.

Santa Banana, if all these are true, there is something terribly wrong with our policy of going easy on the Chinese!

There are reports that Chinese employed in POGOs want to return to the mainland. Two things can happen— first, they would leave a vacuum on real estate, because they used to rent entire condominium floors and houses in many villages around Metro Manila.

Second, with their huge tax liability, the Philippine government will be left holding the bag! *** Every day, there are reports of buybust operations conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. Many drug suspects are killed and millions, even billions, of pesos worth of drugs are confiscated.

These reports tell us two things—that there is a continuous supply of drugs to our country, and that the killings are unabated. Are the drugs coming in through Customs? My gulay, the culture of impunity continues!

This is not the kind of problem we need., not when the fight against COVID-19 is yet to be won.

Not made in China CROSSROADS J.A. DE LA CRUZ LOTS have been said about the COVID 19 virus originating from a secret biological laboratory in Wuhan where it was first detected and transmitted all over the world.

Even as the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that there is no evidence supporting this theory, the same persists in a number of circles fueled by long-standing animosity against the Chinese government. It has since gained even more publicity when US President Donald Trump started lambasting the Chinese and, yes, WHO, for what he believes has been a grand conspiracy to hide the "truth" and divert attention away from the Chinese government's responsibility to its people and the world. He says it has failed to own up to its mistakes.

Even the calming voices of leaders of the G7 seeking a unified global action against the pandemic could not restrain Trump from his public criticism of China and its leadership. Not-

Adelle Chua, Editor

withstanding the fact that more and more scientists and medical experts have said categorically that the facts and the evidence gathered, in and out of China, do not support the assertion of Trump and others riding on this issue. The more experts coming out to debunk the claim of Chinese liability, the more hardened their criticism has become to the point of endangering the stability of long-standing cooperative arrangements not only on global health and scientific endeavors and, of course, the fight against this pandemic but of the equally important unified efforts on economic, trade and related concerns.

This anti-Chinese thread has remained in place and in fact getting more virulent with Trump ramping up his attacks lately.

Not only has it cost the WHO early on a good part of its funding support as the US President decided to withdraw further infusions claiming the agency has strayed from the course of supporting the global health and medical environment and has become a " stooge" of the Chinese. That other countries and groups have joined the fray skewering China and its leadership was not surprising. In the US, in particular, China has become a big item as the country heads towards the Novem-

T

Not the enemy

HE presidential spokesman last week rejoiced at beating the forecast of scientists and analysts from the University of the Philippines who predicted the number of COVID-19 cases in the country would hit 40,000 at the end of June.

down, and a renewal hangs in the balance, for numerous alleged violations of its franchise terms and of the Constitution. A media personality and her online organization is found guilt of cyber libel and pilloried for various supposed violations of the law. In both cases, they are accused of bias and unfair reporting— even as their real infraction appears to be displeasing the powers that be.

Again, our leaders get it wrong. Media organizations are not the enemy.

The press exists to hold authorities accountable to their constituents. It is the duty of the press to be critical when necessary—otherwise, it becomes a public relations tool for those whose interests it serves.

A law purporting to combat terrorism is enacted, despite widespread opposition to the many pitfalls it contains.

There is no question that the country must be protected from terrorists, but this draconian law provides massive opportunity for abuse by its implementors, especially those who are easily offended by citizens merely expressing their dissent—a hallmark of democracy.

Critics are not the enemy. They want the same thing our government officials

On that day, the official figures showed a number below—but not far from—the predicted level. Eventually, the 40,000 mark was breached and, more importantly, there emerged renewed concern that hospitals were once again finding difficulty coping with the surge in coronavirus patients.

Secretary Harry Roque was roundly criticized for saying that what we are up against is UP. And indeed, researchers and analysts who scrutinize the data fed us by government are not the enemy. By the questions they raise, they prompt authorities to do better in their jobs.

A radio-television network is shut

want—a just, humane, inclusive society where abuse is checked and every voice is heard.

Those who expose institutional blunders in the hopes of improving their processes are not the enemy.

Those who go out of their homes despite the risks, just to earn a living— they are not the enemy.

The enemy is hubris—our officials’ desire to always be right and their refusal to acknowledge that they could be wrong or that they might need the help of others.

The enemy is entitlement—when because of their position and stature, they believe that rules do not apply to them.

The enemy is simplistic thinking— that people have to be a diehard supporter or a consummate critic, with no space for meaningful insight or participation in between.

Finally, the enemy remains to be this dreaded virus, because it continues to keep us guessing, because a cure and a vaccine continue to elude us, and because we have a long way to go before we beat it.

Let us not allow ourselves to be distracted.

Mark’s eulogy to ECJ TODAY, I devote my column space to the eulogy delivered by Mark Cojuangco, the eldest child and eldest son of Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr. who died at 10 p.m. on June 16, 2020 from an apparent heart attack.

ECJ was due to be discharged Wednesday, June 17, from St. Luke’s Taguig after a three-day checkup. He had been cured of lung cancer. Barely a week before he died, on June 16, he had turned 85. He left wealth valued at least $1 billion as of last reckoning.

Danding started doing business at age 18. In 1983, at age 48, he bought control of the Philippines’ largest company, San Miguel Corp..

But it was not until his longtime friend and partner Ramon S. Ang, a mechanical engineer with a genius for visioning and execution, became president in 2002 did SMC start to climb the scale it has today­—the largest, most diversified and most profitable private industrial conglomerate with more than P1 trillion a year in revenues and unrivaled leadership in eight industry sectors. Today, 60 percent of SMC’s revenues is the handiwork of RSA’s frenetic diversification and expansion program.

Here’s Mark Cojuangco’s eulogy on the day of ECJ’s inurnment June 27 at Mount Carmel Shrine in leafy suburban Quezon City: I miss Dad. There will be a huge hole in my life that I don’t know how to fill.

My memories as a young child are filled with love. It was only Mom, Dad and I in the beginning.

I remember—the dividers in the room

ber elections with both Republicans and Democrats using the Chinese as straw figure in the increasingly heated battle for the hearts and minds of the American people.

The charges have become so ridiculous that the attorney-general in one state aided by a number of politicians and wannabes charged the Chinese leadership in court asking for billions of dollars in damages.

An expert says there is more than one strain of this deadly virus.

Well, even as this highly charged assault on China headed by Trump and his adherents may potentially get shriller as the US elections nears the same may not be as welcome in other parts as the world opens up and the work of restarting economies and lives as we know it normalizes somehow. More importantly, there is now growing scientific evidence that this COVID-19 pandemic is not manmade and did not come from a broken piece of a secret laboratory in the bowels of Wuhan.

The latest such study was issued by no less than a prominent and highly respected scientist from Oxford University who posited the view that this virus has long been with

in Lola’s house in Balete, of bedsheets.

I remember us squatting in our room in Robert’s. I remember that they had to live in Baguio for a while because of some circumstances in the family. And what kept them going was their love for each other. Dad was the center of Mom’s life and she devoted her life to Dad.

“Dad became successful in almost everything he did. He had a Midas touch.”

Dad loved Mom unconditionally and tried to give her everything she wanted in this life. We went through thick and thin, always together. Always hoping and praying that things would turn out for the best.

Dad was a risk-taker. (He) sinangla niya ang halos lahat ng kanyang pagaari—in things, in ventures, to put into ventures that he believed in. Every step of the way. Not just Northern Cebu, Philippine Bank of Commerce when he bought it from Lolo Itoy which he had

us, lurking and waiting for the right time to be activated with a deadliness never before experienced in recent memory.

In an exclusive story carried by the UK daily The Telegraph, Dr. Tom Jefferson, senior associate tutor at the Center for Evidence Based Medicine (CEBM) at Oxford and visiting professor at Newcastle University, said "there is growing evidence that the virus was elsewhere before it emerged in Asia." This is a significant finding which tends to support latest reports of a COVID-19 European strain considered as more virulent and transmittable than the one found in Wuhan last January.

As the report noted, this so-called "European flu" has gained credence with the discovery last week by Spanish scientists of traces of the disease in samples of waste water collected in March 2019, nine months before the coronavirus disease was seen in China. Before that, Italian scientists have also found evidence of coronavirus in sewage samples in Milan and Turin, in mid-December, many weeks before the first case was detected while experts have found traces in Brazil and November. We note that Spain, Italy and Brazil belong to the top ten countries with the most number of infections and deaths reported thus far.

So as far as Doctor Jefferson is concerned, many viruses lie dormant throughout the globe and emerge when conditions are favorable. It also means they can vanish as quickly as they arrive.

to give up because of pressure from the powers-that-be.

When he bought FUB from the Dad of Cory—Lolo Pedro, nagsangla na naman siya. And if things didn’t go right, he’d have lost everything in all of those steps that he took in his business life.

But masipag ang Daddy and pinagaaralan niyang mabuti ang kanyang ginagawa. And he became successful in almost everything he did. He had a Midas touch.

Dad had a way of making anyone he dealt with feel like family. Feel so close to him, feel so comfortable with him.

And that’s what I will miss most about my father. I think in our family, Dad loves us, loved us, from the beginning up to the end. Even when things didn’t seem to go right.

Deep inside his heart he never forgot us, he always loved us. And he had to do things he had to do because of his sense of responsibility to others. And I understand him for that, although I don’t agree with everything he did. I want him to know, and I think he knows, because he knows—he’s up there now watching over us.

I want him to know that I did everything that I could to make him happy, to try to help him, to love him. I will miss him so much. As I know—a lot of—almost all of you feel the same way.

He’s irreplaceable, there’s nobody like him on this earth. Dad and Mom are the best gifts that God gave to our family—the both of them. biznewsasia@gmail.com

Thus, he noted: "Where did SARS 1 go? It just disappeared. So we have to think about these things. We need to start researching the ecology of the virus, understanding how it originates and mutates..We maybe seeing a dormant virus that has been activated by environmental conditions."

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50 Chinese nabbed in illegal POGO den 3 Manila city

By Joel E. Zurbano

P

OLICE have raided an illegal online gambling operation in Makati City and arrested at least 50 Chinese nationals on Monday night.

A composite team from the Makati City Police - Station Intelligence Section, and Sub-Station 3 raided the 5th floor of a building situated at 7299 J. Victor Street in Barangay Pio del Pilar around 9:15 p.m. Monday.

According to Southern Police District spokesperson P/Maj. Jaybee Bayani, the police operation was made in close co-

ordination with Makati City Business Permit and Licensing Office and barangay officials in the area.

The authorities led by P/Lt. Reyne Baluyan and P/Col. Oscar Jacildo conducted the raid following confidential information regarding an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation (POGO) owned and operated by a Chinese national named Hua Xin. The authorities seized at the establishment various laptop computers, electronic devices and gadgets, mobile phones, personal computers, broadband, WI-FI routers and other gaming paraphernalia.

They said the establishment also violated the government’s policy suspending all POGO operations and its service

providers for the duration of the community quarantine in Luzon to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease.

The arrested foreigners are now detained and will be charged with violation of Article 151 in relation to Executive Order 11 (General Community Quarantine), Presidential Decree 1602 (Illegal Gambling), and Republic Act 10175 (Cyber Crime).

Two month ago, the Makati City police arrested 76 individuals, 63 of them Chinese nationals, also engaged in illegal online gambling.

The authorities raided room numbers 402, 403, 404, 405, 406 and 409 of a building situated at 8884 Obrero Street in Barangay Olympia operated operated by a Chinese national named Xiao Bao.

Police said the foreigners have no license and necessary permits from the Makati City government and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation to establish and conduct gambling operation in the area.

Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay had declared an indefinite moratorium on the issuance of new business licenses and permits to service providers of POGO due to rising criminality and prostitution in southern Metro Manila.

The city chief executive cited the “overheating” market for residential and commercial space and the rising criminality and prostitution as major reasons for her decision to stop more POGOs from operating in the country’s financial district.

Isko lauds honest city worker for returning cash THE city government of Manila has recognized of one of the employees of the Department of Engineering - Electrical Division.

Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso admired Miguel Francisco for the act he showed and for not taking personal interest in the bag full of cash he returned to the owner.

Francisco found the bag at Caritas Manila in Pandacan last Friday, and immediately went to the Manila City Hall for proper turnover.

Domagoso said that whoever may have lost the bag may go to the Office of the Mayor to check his or her valuables.

“Iyong pera na iyon, imbes na pag interisan ni Miguel dala ng hirap ng buhay ngayon, wala namang nakakita, wala naman siyang inagrabiyado, napulot lang niya, pero umiral sakanya ang pagiging Batang Maynila. Ang Batang Maynila na may malasakit sa kapwa Batang Maynila,” Domagoso said.

“I’m proud of you, as your Mayor.

We’re proud of you, as co-workers in public service in the city government of Manila,” he added. Willie Casas

HI-TECH CLEANSING. Dasmarinas City Cavite Mayor Jenny Austria-Barzaga demonstrates how to use a computerized temperature scanner and alcohol dispenser machine that will be placed at city government and satellite offices. The machine can also record individuals scanned and stored in its built-in memory card to serve as reference in cases of contact tracing, according to Barzaga. Benjamin Chavez

Quezon City University earmarks P209m for learning continuity plan

By Rio N. Arajaa IN preparation for the 2020-2021 school year in September, the Quezon City University’s Board of Regents has approved a P209-million supplemental budget for its learning continuity plan.

“Aside from providing modules and tablets for our public-school students, we also need to provide for our city’s college students as they too shall adapt the new normal in learning,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

She said university officials have been preparing a transition to flexible learning modalities of offline, online and blended learning amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Belmonte is the chairperson of the university’s Board of Regents.

One major program in the pipeline is the QCU’s laptop loan program, where both students and teachers with limited access to learning devices would become beneficiaries of laptops loaned to them during their stay at the university campus.

“We will still conduct offline classes

for technical and practical learning but we will reduce our class size to only 15 to 20 students and ensure that safety protocols are in place,” QCU officer in charge Dr. Victor Endriga said.

He said the funds have also been allocated to the procurement of additional medical supplies and equipment.

The budget would also cover learning management systems for virtual learning, internet connectivity for students and faculty, computer software for all degree programs and online reference materials,

and development of academic management systems for online processing of enrollment, among others.

With three campuses located in San Bartolome, San Francisco and Batasan, the university is expecting a total enrollment of at least 9,000 college students.

Since one of the campuses was also used as the city’s quarantine facility, the city government assured the students, faculties and parents that a thorough and stringent disinfection would be conducted in and around the campus.

PNP sues 17 plus family who held party in Navotas area, infected 6

By Jun David

FACE MASKS FOR PAMPANGA. To support the community’s fight against

COVID-19, SM Supermalls donated more than 22,000 face masks to senior citizens in the cities of Mabalacat and Angeles, Bahay Pag-ibig Home for the Aged, orphans of Duyan Ni Maria, children with special needs of Munting Tahanan, and Aeta Tribal Association in Mabalacat, Pampanga. The face masks were part of the proceeds of the turnover of used lead acid batteries that were collected from the mall’s monthly Trash to Cash recycling market. Pictured leading the hand over is SM City Clark’s Mall Manager, Jerwin Jalandoni and Mabalacat City Councilor Rubilyn Margarito.

THE Philippine National Police-Navotas has filed charges against a family who tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 after holding a party despite the prevailing community quarantine.

Mayor Toby Tiangco said 17 residents of H. Monroy St., Brgy. Navotas West have been charged for attending a party on May 14, 2020, violating the strict prohibition on social gathering at that time.

The complaint cited violations of Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code, Section 9 of RA 11332, RA 9271 and the Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine.

“The family’s utter disregard of safe-

ty regulations endangered their lives and all those living at H. Monroy. Their reckless act thwarted our efforts to prevent further transmission of COVID-19 and keep our people safe,” Tiangco said.

The city government placed H. Monroy under lockdown from June 11, 5:01am, until June 24, 11:59pm, after 14 of its residents tested positive for COVID-19.

Of the 14, six attended the birthday celebration of one family member, who was later confirmed to be COVID-positive.

“Let this serve as a stern warning to all violators: Even if we don’t catch you in the act, we will file criminal charges against you if investigation showed you flouted the quarantine order,” the mayor added.

gov’t officials virus-positive

By Willie Casas THREE Manila city government officials have tested positive for coronavirus, Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso revealed, as he reminded the public and local authorities not to be complacent as the national government reported the highest one-day increase of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country.

Domagoso made the disclosure during the flag-raising ceremony at the Manila City Hall on Monday, which was broadcast live on Facebook.

“Today is one of the saddest moments of our city government because three of our key officials in the City of Manila has been infected by COVID-19,” Domagoso said, without identifying the officials.

The three officials are now under quarantine and undergoing treatment, the mayor said. Contact tracing and targeted testing activities are now being carried out for those who may have been exposed to COVID-19.

While Domagoso and Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan were exposed to the three officials, they have tested negative for COVID-19.

“We have three, and sad to say, we were exposed again―Vice Mayor and I were exposed because these are key personnel that we meet day-in and dayout, every hour, every day of our duties, that’s why we really have to be careful,” he said.

The matter was discussed as the Manila City government continues to carry out mass testing operations via swab tests and rapid antibody test kits in the nation’s capital.

As of Friday, July 3, about 147,071 rapid tests and 14,893 swab tests have been conducted by the Manila City government.

The mayor also stressed the importance of mass testing operations and compliance with public health protocols such as wearing of face masks and physical distancing.

“It’s really dangerous and we really have to take care of ourselves. Practice simple things (for prevention),” he said.

Domagoso warned against the public’s complacency, stressing that proper preventive measures such as physical distancing, wearing of masks and other public health protocols must be stirctly In a memorandum issued to Manila Police District (MPD) chief Rolando Miranda and all barangay chiefs, Domagoso stressed that protocols and guidelines set by the national government must be strictly observed during the COVID-19 crisis.

“The City Police Office and all Punong Barangays are hereby directed to strictly implement the National Inter-Agency Task Force EID General Community Quarantine protocols and guidelines, city ordinances on curfew and mandatory wearing of face masks in public places, and such other ordinances and laws intended to contain the transmission of COVID-19,” Domagoso said.

The mayor said police visibility must be intensified during curfew hours while barangay workers will assist the MPD as a “force multiplier” in enforcing protocols against the pandemic.

“The City Police Office and the Manila Barangay bureau shall immediately coordinate with each other to strategize the implementation of the directives mandated herein,” he said.

Mayor vows to provide 55k tablets for Angeles kids

By Jess Malabanan ANGELES CITY – Young learners in government schools have been assured of their education amidst pandemic as the local chief executive in this city vowed to provide 55,000 tablets for their use.

Mayor Carmelo Lazatin, Jr. said the gadgets are intended for use of students in 53 public schools including elementary and high schools.

The project, Lazatin said is to ensure that no one is left behind when it comes to education amid the COVID-19 crisis.

He clarified that the tablets will remain a property of the city government after the school year. “I wants it to be used exclusively for educational purposes.

“At the end of the school year, students need to give it back to the school para magamit nila ulit sa susunod na

school year kung kailangan,” said Lazatin in a statement.

Lazatin allotted P150 million under the Special Education Fund (SEF) surplus for the procurement of the tablets.

For the year 2020, the city has recorded an over-collection of P5 million for its SEF that will be utilized for onemonth free internet subscription for the use of the students.

Lazatin sought the support of local internet internet service providers to give high-quality internet access to public school students.

He tasked the Department of Education (Dep Ed) Division of Angeles City to survey the number of households of the public school students.

This will help disadvantaged students to continue their education at home once the national government decides to shift to online class learning, Lazatin says.

“As we face this health crisis, we have

to ensure that students, especially those struggling financially, will have adequate resources for home-based learning,” he added.

Lazatin earlier said the city government will promote digital education to students in public schools.

“The tablets that will be purchased will be exclusively for learning,” Lazatin said.

DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones said the opening of classes will be on August 24. However, it will be a “non-face-to-face interaction” until there is no available vaccine yet for COVID-19.

“Kung ano po ang regulasyon ng ating pamahalaan, susunod po tayo, pero sisiguraduhin po natin na susuportahan natin ang ating mga mag-aaral at ang kanilang mga magulang sa abot ng ating makakaya. The city government is here to assist them,” Lazatin said.

FOR FIRE VICTIMS. Cavite Provincial Board Member Nickol Austri

and Capt. Armando Movido of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office represent Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla as they hand out donations to 175 families affected by a fire in Barangay Sampaloc 4, Dasmariñas City, Cavite. Benjamin Chavez

World

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China censors HK ‘net’, US resists

H

ONG KONG ― China has unveiled new powers to censor Hong Kong’s internet and access user data using its feared national security law—but US tech giants have put up some resistance, citing rights concerns.

The online censorship plans were contained in a 116-page government document released on Monday night that also revealed expanded powers for police, allowing warrantless raids and surveillance for some national security investigations.

China imposed the law on semi-autonomous Hong Kong a week ago, targeting subversion, secession, terrorism and colluding with foreign forces—its wording kept secret until the moment it was enacted.

Despite assurances that only a small number of people would be targeted by the law, the new details show it is the most radical change in Hong Kong’s free-

doms and rights since Britain handed the city back to China in 1997.

Late Monday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke out against “Orwellian” moves to censor activists, schools and libraries since the law was enacted.

“Until now, Hong Kong flourished because it allowed free thinking and free speech, under an independent rule of law.

No more,” Pompeo said.

Restore stability Under its handover deal with the British, Beijing promised to guarantee until at least 2047 certain liberties and autonomy not seen on the authoritarian mainland.

Years of rising concerns that China’s

ruling Communist Party was steadily eroding those freedoms birthed a popular pro-democracy movement, which led to massive and often violent protests for seven months last year.

China has made no secret of its desire to use the law to crush that democracy movement.

“The Hong Kong government will vigorously implement this law,” Chief Executive Carrie Lam, the city’s Beijing-appointed leader, told reporters on Tuesday.

“And I forewarn those radicals not to attempt to violate this law, or cross the red line, because the consequences of breaching this law are very serious.”

With pro-democracy books quickly pulled out of libraries and schools, the government signalled in the document released on Monday night that it would also expect obedience online.

Police were granted powers to control and remove online information if there were “reasonable grounds” to suspect the

data breaches the national security law.

Internet firms and service providers can be ordered to remove the information and their equipment can be seized. Executives can also be hit with fines and up to one year in jail if they refuse to comply.

The companies are also expected to provide identification records and decryption assistance.

Big tech unease However the biggest American tech companies offered some resistance.

Facebook, Google and Twitter said Monday they had put a hold on requests

by Hong Kong’s government or police force for information on users.

Facebook and its popular messaging service WhatsApp would deny requests until it had conducted a review of the law that entailed “formal human rights due diligence and consultations with human rights experts,” the company said in a statement. AFP

Japan floods claim 50 lives, rescuers race against time YATSUSHIRO, Japan―Emergency services in western Japan were “racing against time” on Tuesday to rescue people stranded by devastating floods and landslides that have killed at least 50 people, with more torrential rain forecast.

Japan’s Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued its second-highest emergency warning for heavy rain and landslides over vast swathes of the country’s southwest and said “risks are rising” nationwide.

At least 50 deaths have been confirmed in the rains that began early Saturday, top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said, but the toll is expected to rise, with two more feared dead and over a dozen reported missing.

“We are racing against time,” Yutaro Hamasaki, an official in the hardest-hit region of Kumamoto, told AFP. “We have not set any deadline or time to end the operation, but we really need to speed up our search as time is running out. We won’t give up to the end,” Hamasaki vowed.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he was doubling the deployment of rescue personnel, including police and firefighters as well as coast guards and troops, to 80,000.

Rivers overflowing their banks have swept away bridges and turned roads into lakes, making rescue access possible only by raft or helicopter.

At an elementary school in Omuta city, dozens of children and their teachers spent the night sheltering on the upper floor of the building after floodwater inundated the ground level.

“Shoe cupboards on the group floor were swept away and shoes were floating around,” an 11-year-old girl told a local newspaper after rescuers arrived. AFP

BOXED IN. A sign is seen pasted on a window, while police speak to a resident (inset) at one of nine public housing estates locked down due to a spike in COVID-19 coronavirus numbers in Melbourne on July 6. Australia will effectively seal off the state of Victoria from the rest of the country, authorities said, announcing unprecedented measures to tackle a worrying surge in coronavirus cases. AFP

TAIPEI—The imposition of a sweeping national security law on Hong Kong has sent chills through Taiwan, deepening fears that Beijing will focus next on seizing the democratic self-ruled island.

China and Taiwan split in 1949 after nationalist forces lost a civil war to Mao Zedong’s communists, fleeing to the island which Beijing has since vowed to seize one day, by force if necessary.

“The law makes me dislike China even more,” 18-year-old student Sylvia Chang told AFP, walking through National Taiwan University in Taipei.

“They had promised 50 years unchanged for Hong Kong but they are getting all the more heavy-handed... I am worried Hong Kong today could be Taiwan tomorrow.”

Over the years China has used a mixture of threats and inducements, including a promise Taiwan could have the “One Country, Two Systems” model that governs Hong Kong, supposedly guaranteeing key civil liberties and a degree of autonomy for 50 years after the city’s 1997 handover.

Both Taiwan’s two largest political parties long ago rejected the offer, and the new security law has incinerated what little remaining faith many Taiwanese may have had in Beijing’s outreach.

Some now fear even transiting through Hong Kong, worried that their social media profiles could see them open to prosecution under the legislation.

The law “makes China look so bad, distancing themselves even further from Hong Kongers, not to mention people across the strait in Taiwan”, Alexander Huang, a political analyst at Tamkang University in Taipei, told AFP. ‘Hong Kong today, Taiwan tomorrow’ Beijing has taken an especially hard line towards Taiwan since the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), ramping up military, economic and diplomatic pressure.

Tsai views Taiwan as a de facto independent nation and not part of “one China.”

But the pressure campaign has done little to endear China to Taiwan’s 23 million people. AFP

Pompeo: US ‘looking at’ banning TikTok, other Chinese apps WASHINGTON—Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said the US is “looking at” banning Chinese social media apps, including TikTok, over allegations Beijing is using them to spy on users.

India has already barred the wildly popular TikTok app over national security and privacy concerns while other countries are reportedly mulling similar measures.

Asked on Monday by Fox News’s Laura Ingraham if the US should consider blocking the apps—“especially Tik Tok”—the country’s top diplomat

said the Trump administration was “taking this very seriously; we are certainly looking at it.”

Pompeo said the US had been working for a “long time” on the “problems” of Chinese technology in infrastructure and was “making real progress.”

“With respect to Chinese apps on people’s cell phones, I can assure you the United States will get this one right too,” he said.

“I don’t want to get out in front of the president, but it’s something we are looking at.”

Pompeo earlier lashed out at what he called China’s “Orwellian” moves to censor activists, schools and libraries in Hong Kong under a sweeping new security law.

Authorities in the financial hub have ordered schools to remove books for review under the law, which has criminalized certain opinions such as calls for independence or more autonomy.

Libraries in Hong Kong said they were pulling titles written by a handful of prodemocracy activists.

“The Chinese Communist Party’s destruction of free Hong Kong con-

UK news publisher to cut 550 jobs LONDON―Reach, publisher of UK newspapers Daily Mirror and Daily Express, plans to axe about 550 jobs as the coronavirus forces readers online and slashes advertising revenues, it said Tuesday.

“Structural change in the media sector has accelerated during the pandemic and this has resulted in increased adoption of our digital products,” Reach chief executive Jim Mullen said in a statement.

“However, due to reduced advertising demand, we have not seen commensurate increases in digital revenue.”

Reach said the company plans a reduction in headcount of about 550 staff, or 12 percent of its workforce—as it looks to make annual cost savings of

‘We’re next’: Taiwan feels chills from H’Kong law

£35 million ($43 million).

The company, which owns also a number of UK regional newspapers, said the restructuring would cost the group £20 million.

“Editorial will move to a more centralised structure bringing together national and regional teams across print and digital to significantly increase efficiency and remove duplication while maintaining the strong editorial identity of our news brands,” Reach said.

The company will also have “fewer locations and a simpler management structure”, the statement said.

Reach added that its revenue slumped 27.5 percent in the second quarter, “impacted by reductions in circulation and advertising.” AFP

Bolsonaro takes virus test after symptoms rise

‘TERROR’ SUSPECT. Russian journalist Svetlana Prokopyeva, who was charged with publicly justifying terrorism, attends a court hearing in Pskov, Russia on July 6.

The court found her guilty and given a hefty fine in a case that has sparked an outcry among her allies at home and rights groups abroad. AFP

EU: Tie for warmest June globally, Siberia sizzles PARIS―Temperatures soared 10 degrees Celsius above average in June across much of permafrost-laden Siberia, with last month in a dead heat for the warmest June on record globally, the European Union’s climate monitoring network said Tuesday.

An Arctic hourly temperature record for the month—37 degrees Celsius—was set on June 21 near Verkhoyansk in northeastern Russia, where a weather station logged a blistering 38C on the same day, the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reported.

The hourly record—averaged across 60 minutes—was one to two degrees above previously registered Arctic highs

in 1969 and 1973.

Freakishly warm weather across large swathes of Siberia since January, combined with low soil moisture, have contributed to a resurgence of wildfires that devastated the region last summer, C3S reported.

Both the number and intensity of fires in Siberia and parts of Alaska have increased since mid-June, resulting in the highest carbon emissions for the month—59 million tonnes of CO2—since records began in 2003.

“Last year was already by far an unusual, and record, summer for fires in the Arctic Circle,” said Mark Parrington, se-

tinues,” Pompeo said in a sharply worded statement.

“With the ink barely dry on the repressive National Security Law, local authorities—in an Orwellian move— have now established a central government national security office, started removing books critical of the CCP from library shelves, banned political slogans, and are now requiring schools to enforce censorship,” he said.

Pompeo condemned what he called the “latest assaults on the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong.” AFP

nior scientist at the EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), warning of “intense activity” in the coming weeks.

Copernicus has said that “zombie” blazes that smouldered through the winter may have reignited.

Globally, June 2020 was more than half a degree Celsius warmer than the 1981-2010 average for the same month, and on a par with June 2019 as the warmest ever registered.

Siberia and the Arctic Circle are prone to large year-on-year temperature fluctuations, but the persistence of this year’s warm spell is very unusual, said C3S di-

rector Carlo Buontempo.

Permafrost ‘carbon bomb’ “What is worrisome is that the Arctic is warming faster than the rest of the world,” he said in a statement.

Across the Arctic region, average temperatures have risen by more than two degrees Celsius since the mid-19th century, twice the global average.

Despite lower-than-average temperatures in its western reaches, the whole of Siberia—larger than the United States and Mexico combined—was more than 5C above normal for June, according to C3S satellite data. AFP

BRASÍLIA―Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, who has long minimized the risks posed by the coronavirus, said Monday he had been tested after showing symptoms including a fever.

Bolsonaro told CNN Brazil that he underwent an X-ray of his lungs at a military hospital as a precaution. Local media said the virus test results would come at about midday Tuesday.

He also said he was taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventive measure.

Local media said the 65-year-old Bolsonaro had cleared his schedule for the week.

“The president is in good health at the moment and is in his residence,” his office said in a statement.

Since the beginning of the virus outbreak, Bolsonaro has minimized the risks of what he initially called “a little flu” and flouted social distancing rules and containment measures, such as wearing a mask in public.

Brazil is the second worst-hit country in the world by the pandemic, with more than 65,000 deaths and at least 1.6 million cases.

Bolsonaro had been tested three times previously—all came back negative.

On Monday, the far-right leader made more changes to weaken a law that would require citizens to wear face masks in public.

He had already watered down the bill Friday by vetoing several articles, such as requiring employers to supply face masks for their staff and another mandating that public authorities should provide face coverings for “economically vulnerable people.” AFP

A8

News

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

100+ foreigners have virus; MMDA office shuts down

By Willie Casas, Joel Zurbano and Alena Mae S. Flores MORE than 100 foreign nationals in the Philippines have contracted the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with 45 still in different hospitals, the Department of Health has said.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said of the 127 foreigners infected with COVID-19, 74 had been discharged from the hospital while eight died.

“For the COVID-19 patients currently admitted in Chinese General Hospital, confirmed positive (cases) are Filipinos who are mostly from Metro Manila,” Vergeire said in a briefing.

At the same time, the Manila International Airport Authority on Saturday announced that international flight operations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport would resume on July 8.

Meanwhile, work for employees of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority will be suspended on Thursday and Friday after four personnel tested positive for coronavirus disease.

The MMDA will also conduct contact tracing and swab tests on those who had close encounter with the four personnel, and will be instructed to strictly comply with the 14-day quarantine period.

On Wednesday, all personnel will be allowed to go home at 2 p.m. as their workplaces will be placed under sanitation and disinfection procedures until Sunday to prevent the spread COVID-19.

“Upon the recommendation of the MMDA COVID-19 Committee, we have decided to suspend the operations at all our offices for sanitation and disinfection to protect not only our personnel but also the transacting public against the virus,” said MMDA chairman Danilo Lim.

ILLEGAL POGO. A Chinese national covers his face while holding a bundle of mobile phones in Makati City on Tuesday. He was one of more than 50 Chinese arrested for operating an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operation or POGO, the Southern Police District said. SPD photo

CHR rips killing of teen girl in Ilocos Sur

By Rio N. Araja

T

HE Commission on Human Rights on Tuesday condemned the killing of a 15-year old girl while on her way home in Ilocos Sur last July 2.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE. The Philippine Coast Guard District in Southwestern Mindanao has responded to an incident involving a Piper PA-34 Seneca private plane with call sign RP-C834 that conducted an emergency landing at Barangay Sinunuc, Zamboanga City at 10 a.m. today, 07 July 2020. Initial investigation revealed that the private plane took off from Zamboanga Airport bound for Dumaguete City at around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday. According to its pilot, the emergency landing is caused by the left engine’s failure a few minutes after they took off from the said airport. PCG Photos

IN BRIEF 4 survive aircraft accident in Zambo FOUR persons on board a training aircraft survived after their plane ditched near the sea wall of Sinunuc Boulevard in Zamboanga City Tuesday morning.

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines spokesperson and chief information officer Eric Apolonio said the incident happened at 9:45 a.m. while the plane was conducting a training flight.

He said the aircraft with registry number RP-C834 is owned and operated by Dumaguete-based flying school Royhle Aviation Academy, Inc. Apolonio said the aircraft, carrying two flight instructors, a student co-pilot and a mechanic, took off Zamboanga Airport at 9:38 a.m. and was about to return to Dumaguete City when the incident happened.

Reports said the four individuals were transferred to safety. Joel E. Zurbano

Cops nab 5 for drug dealing in hospital POLICE arrested five persons, including a nurse attendant, for illegal drug trade in a buy-bust operation at the basement of East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City.

Brig. Gen. Ronnie Montejo, Quezon City Police District chief, identified the suspects as Emmanuel Leongson, 45, a nurse attendant from Barangay Bahay Toro, Quezon City; Guardo Herminio, 41, a garbage collector from Caloocan City; James Daguian, 47, a janitor from Barangay Culiat, QC; Rowel Tina, 27, of Barangay Batasan Hills, QC, and Bonifacio Castillo, 37, of Barangay Tatalon, QC, both morgue attendants.

A confidential informant reported to authorities the shabu peddling activity of Leongson, alias Cy, inside the EAMC. On July 6 at about 10:30 p.m., a buy-bust operation was conducted at the hospital’s basement.

A policeman acted as a poseur buyer, who was able to buy P2,000 worth of shabu from Herminio and Daguian.

Leongson, along with Tina and Castillo, was then caught in the act of sniffing shabu. Rio N. Araja

Lawyer-spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said CHR-Region 1 would be conducting an independent investigation into the death of the victim “in pursuit of justice for the aggrieved and her family and loved ones.”

The 15-year-old girl was on her way home in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur when a riding-in-tandem accosted her and shot her to death on Thursday night.

She earlier filed a complaint against one of the policemen of the San Juan municipal police station for acts of lasciviousness.

Another police officer from the same police station is facing a rape complaint lodged by the slain teenager’s 18-year-old cousin.

Both of them are now considered as suspects behind the killing.

There was no immediately available comment from either the Ilocos Sur pro-

Du30 to work from Davao ‘rest of the week’ PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will again be working from Davao City “for the rest of the week”, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte is scheduled to address the public and meet with members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management on Infectious Diseases on Tuesday night.

“Magtatalumpati nga po at magmemensahe si Presidente galing sa Davao.

Ang inaasahan ko po na for the rest of the week, nandun po si Presidente (The President will deliver his message from Davao.

I expect him to stay there for the rest of the week),” he said.

Roque said he is not privy to Duterte’s schedule but explained that the president will be busy attending meetings.

This is not the first time Duterte opted to work from Davao City. Last month, he also stayed in his hometown and held

IATF-EID meetings there.

Duterte’s decision to stay in his hometown comes amid speculations about his health.

Observers noticed that Duterte looked low-spirited during his speech at the Edwin Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga City last Friday where he appealed to soldiers to stay calm, and discouraged them from taking revenge against the police for the killing of four of their comrades.

‘PCV 13 reduces infection, deaths’

THE Philippines needs to keep using a cost-effective and broad-spectrum vaccine against pneumonia, especially now that Covid-19 remains a deadly threat to the population, a leading pediatric specialist has said.

“If you are inoculated for pneumonia, you are indirectly strengthening your body’s defenses against Covid-19,” Dr John Ong said in a radio interview.

Covid-19 is a disease caused by a coronavirus. Those infected usually display flu-like symptoms like fever and coughing. They also suffer from pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses.

Public health officials here have been using pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 13, or PCV 13, since 2014, which protects against 13 pneumococcal strains, including serotype 19a, a virulent and antibiotic-resistant strain that is still prevalent in the country.

Ong said while PCV 13 costs more than another vaccine, PCV 10, it is in the long run “more cost-effective” because it protects against more strains of Streptococcus pneumonia.

He said a Department of Health study showed that with PCV 13, “we had fewer cases of pneumonia, we had fewer deaths”.

With pneumonia the leading illness behind health insurance claims, he said, the state-run health Philhealth has been able to conserve its resources and cover more patients.

COUNTERFEITS. The Bureau of Customs successfully raided a warehouse storing an estimated P500 million worth of counterfeit luxury items located at 1017 Juan Luna St in Tondo Manila on July 6, 2020.

vincial command or from the national headquarters at Camp Crame.

Citing information from the Cabugao police, CHR said the two girls were sexually harassed allegedly by the two police officers after they were arrested for violating the curfew hour.

“This experience again puts into light the vulnerability of women and children to gender-based violences, especially during the pandemic. Many of stories remains (sic) unreported until we hear their horrors of struggle out in the open,” De Guia said.

In a statement, CHR said the Philippine National Police’s women and children protection center had recorded 804 reported cases gender-based violence and violence against women and children between March 15 and April 30.

“However, because of the hidden nature of these violences at home, the actual number of cases might be higher,” it noted.

Cayetano pushes ‘Build Back Better’

By Maricel V. Cruz HOUSE Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday proposed to convert the administration’s Build, Build, Build initiative into a Build Back Better program, which will focus on infrastructure program responsive to the “new normal” requirements of the health, education, agriculture, local roads and livelihood, information technology and tourism sectors.

Cayetano is pushing for the “Build Back Better” initiative in an effort to strengthen government mitigation and recovery efforts amid the coronavirus pandemic.

He cited the need to prioritize infrastructure projects that will create more job opportunities amid these challenging times and help the people adapt, innovate, and manage the new normal. “It is not enough to say we will rebuild our lives, but we need to strive on how we can build back better,” Cayetano said.

Last month, the National Economic and Development Authority released a report called “We Recover as One,” which outlined several policy and priority measures, which seek to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and enable the economy to recover and transition to the new normal. The said report was prepared by the Inter-Agency Task ForceTechnical Working Group (IATF-TWG) for Anticipatory and Forward Planning headed by the NEDA.

Villar: SMC boosts Las Piñas hospital testing capacity

By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center testing capacity to process more Covid-19 tests would be further boosted with a set of Polymerase Chain Reaction Machine donated by San Miguel Foundation Inc., according to Senator Cynthia Villar.

Villar is thankful to San Miguel Foundation fir its donation which was facilitated by Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar.

The PCR Machine with UPS, AVR and laptop will be a very good addition to LPGHSTC’s Covid-19 Testing Laboratory.

The first set of equipment for the said

laboratory, which consists of a passbox, biological freezer, biological refrigerator, autoclave sterilizer and ventilator, was donated by the senator last month (June).

The LPGHSTC Testing Laboratory will be using both its existing Genexpert machine and the newly donated PCR machine to boost its capacity

IN BRIEF Stock market retreats; MerryMart advances

THE stock market fell Tuesday on continued profit taking along with the rest of Asia, with a run of upbeat economic data offset by fears over a spike in new virus infections.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index declined 61.01 points, or 1 percent, to 6,267.40 on a value turnover of P7.6 billion. Gainers, however, edged losers, 99 to 96, with 47 issues unchanged.

SM Prime Holdings Inc. of the Sy Group dropped 3.7 percent to P31.50, while Globe Telecom Inc., the second-biggest telecommunications firm, slid 3.6 percent to P2,062.

MerryMart Consumer Corp., the fastrising supermarket chain owned by businessman Edgar Sia II, however, surged 6.8 percent to P3.13, while Emperador Inc., the liquor unit of tycoon Andrew Tan, rose 2.3 percent to P7.98.

The rest of Asian markets mostly fell Tuesday as traders took a step back after their latest rally.

In afternoon trade Hong Kong shed 0.5 percent, having climbed more than eight percent over the previous four trading days, while Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore and Taipei were also in negative territory.

Sydney, Mumbai and Jakarta were flat.

With AFP

PT&T taps software developer Maxava

PHILIPPINE Telegraph and Telephone Corp. has tapped a US-based software developer to expand its business recovery solutions for local companies.

“Our partnership with Maxava solidifies our thrust to offer our clients with industryleading business resiliency solutions especially now that companies have seen the importance of resilience and business continuity in the current Covid-19 crisis,” Ella Mae Ortega, PT&T’s IT Services business unit head, said.

Maxava is a worldwide provider of innovative Monitoring, High Availability, and Disaster Recovery solutions for IBM Power Systems.

“A pandemic is just one type of a crisis that companies will have to face. We have to be prepared to thrive and not merely survive whatever the conditions,” she said.

PT&T has transformed itself into an IT Services provider offering cloud, security, disaster recovery and other solutions in the past year under a new management.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Business Gov’t rejects proposed changes to NAIA project

By Darwin G. Amojelar

T

HE government rejected the design changes to the proposed redevelopment of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, according to the consortium that submitted the proposal.

Members of NAIA Consortium said in separate disclosures to the stock exchange the government thumbed down the “consortium proposed changes to update the NAIA Project’s framework to ensure the bankability of the NAIA Project.”

“Unfortunately, the government indicated that it is not willing to accept most of the Consortium’s proposed options and the Consortium can only move forward with the NAIA Project under the options it has proposed,” NAIA Consortium said.

The P102-billion NAIA rehabilitation project was proposed by NAIA Consortium that includes Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc, AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp.,

Alliance Global Group Inc., Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp., Filinvest Development Corp. and JG Summit Holdings Inc. Metro Pacific Investments Corp. earlier backed out from the consortium over unresolved issues with the government.

The group said the changes in its proposal would be critical to make the project viable amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The far-reaching and long lasting consequences of the coronavirus pandemic on airline travel, airline operations and airport passenger traffic necessitated a review of the assumptions and plans to ensure that the NAIA Proj-

ect will be viable in the new normal,” NAIA Consortium said.

The consortium, however, said it “remains committed to support the government’s pursuit to implement its strategic infrastructure projects through public-private partnership to jumpstart the recovery of the economy, including the building of an international gateway that will reflect the growing and modernizing economy of the country.”

The NAIA project aims to alleviate the worsening air traffic congestion at the main gateway and resolve capacity constraints by reconfiguring and renovating facilities and enhancing operation and maintenance. This will allow for the accommodation of more traffic.

The rehabilitation project also aims to broaden NAIA’s role as a key economic and tourism driver for Metro Manila and the whole Philippines, deliver capital infrastructure investment to improve the airport’s efficiency and increase its capacity to meet the growing passenger demand from the Philippines and the Asia Pacific region.

Cebu Pacific, Cebgo resume local flights

CEBU Pacific and Cebgo will resume domestic flights from July 7 to 31, 2020 following the regulations issued by the InterAgency Task Force and limitations and restrictions set by the concerned local government agencies and units.

These include flights between Manila and other Luzon cities, such as Cauayan, Legazpi, Puerto Princesa, San Jose, Tablas and Virac.

Cebu Pacific and Cebgo will also resume flights between Manila and the Visayas cities of Cebu, Iloilo, Kalibo and Tacloban.

It will also mount flights from Manila to Butuan, Cagayan deo Oro, Cotabato, Davao, Dipolog, General Santos, Pagadian and Zamboanga and fly between Cebu and Davao.

Meanwhile, passengers on cancelled flights may rebook to any of the above-mentioned flights online via bit.ly/CEBmanageflight Guests are strongly urged to select destinations that are closest to their residences to be able to comply with directives from local authorities. Passengers may be asked to provide their complete addresses prior to travel date. Providing inaccurate information may result in denied boarding of the flight.

BDO issues $600-m senior notes amid strong int’l demand BDO Unibank Inc., the country’s largest lender in terms of assets controlled by the Sy family, announced on Tuesday the issuance of $600 million worth of fixedrate senior notes under its medium-term note program.

BDO said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Tuesday the transaction was oversubscribed, with orders reaching $2.9 billion, equivalent to almost five times the offered amount. The issue has a coupon rate of 2.125 percent per annum and a tenor of five and a half years.

The bonds were rated investment grade or “Baa2” by Moody’s Investors Service. “The senior note issue is part of the bank’s liability management initiatives to tap longer-term funding sources to support dollar-denominated projects,” the bank said.

Standard Chartered Bank acted as the sole global coordinator, while Standard Chartered Bank and Merrill Lynch (Singapore) Pte. Ltd acted as joint bookrunners and joint lead managers for the transaction.

BDO is a full-service universal bank which provides a wide range of corporate and retail banking services. These services include traditional loan and deposit products, treasury, trust and investments, investment banking, private banking, rural banking, cash management, leasing and finance, remittance, insurance, retail cash cards, credit card services and stock brokerage services.

BDO has one of the largest distribution networks, with more than 1,400 operating branches and over 4,400 ATMs nationwide. It also has full-service branches in Hong Kong and Singapore and 15 overseas remittance and representative offices in Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East.

BDO ranked as the largest bank in terms of total assets, loans, deposits and trust funds under management as of March 31, 2020. Julito G. Rada

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020

B1

PSE INDEX CLOSING Tuesday, July 7, 2020

61.01 points

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES

1,475,497,153 110,880

TOTAL VALUE 7,594,250,529.70 ADVANCES 99

6,267.40

DECLINES 96 UNCHANGED 47

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas •TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2020

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

49.4590

Japan

Yen

0.009314

0.4607

UK

Pound

1.249400

61.7941

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129032

6.3818

Switzerland

Franc

1.061571

52.5042

Canada

Dollar

0.738825

36.5415

Singapore

Dollar

0.718288

35.5258

Australia

Dollar

0.697400

34.4927

Bahrain

Dinar

2.657384

131.431

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266652

13.1883

Brunei

Dollar

0.715717

35.3986

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000069

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.032134

1.5893

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.4663

Euro

Euro

1.131200

55.9480

Korea

Won

0.000839

0.0415

China

Yuan

0.142462

7.0460

India

Rupee

0.013399

0.6627

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.233918

11.5694

New Zealand

Dollar

0.654900

32.3907

Taiwan

Dollar

0.034029

1.6830 Source: BSP

June inflation rate reached 3-month high of 2.5%—PSA

By Julito G. Rada

FOODPANDA’S DONATION. In celebration of its 6th anniversary, foodpanda, the on-demand food delivery service, donates grocery packages to the local communities in Makati City, Taguig City and Quezon City in Luzon, Cebu City in the Visayas and Davao City in Mindanao. With the help and dedication of foodpanda employees and riders, soldiers from the Philippine Army and local government units, foodpanda, through its grocery delivery service shops, distributed thousands of packages containing premium quality rice, canned goods, instant coffee, instant noodles and cooking oil to frontliners.

Outsourcing sector remains resilient despite pandemic

By Othel V. Campos THE information technology-business process management remains resilient and will continue to grow as it transitions into the new normal amid the unprecedented events caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, industry players said Tuesday.

Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines president and chief executive Rey Untal stressed the industry’s non-stop contribution to the economy at the height of the lockdown.

Recessions all over the world triggered by the coronavirus pandemic are compelling many countries to offshore more jobs in the IT-BPM industry, and the Philippines has a great opportunity to acquire a good fraction of these jobs, Untal said.

Untal said while 2020 presented major

challenges, the industry would continue to be a major growth driver of the Philippine economy, led by sub-sectors such as animation and game development, contact center and business processing, global in-house centers, healthcare information management, and information technology and software.

Untal credited the government, including the DTI, BOI and Philippine Economic Zone Authority for including the BPO sector as among those recognized by the government’s COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force as essential businesses that were allowed exemptions during the ECQ period.

“That allowed us to operationalize two work streams: the on-site skeletal model, as well as the work-from-home capability,” he said.

Untal participated in the recent webi-

nar “Philippine IT-Business Outsourcing Opportunities: Global Business Processes Powered by the Philippines” organized by the Trade Department with the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C., as part of the campaign to promote US investments in the Philippines.

Untal said 2019 was a strong year for the IT-BPM industry, growing by 5.8 percent in terms of full-time equivalent headcount and 7.1 percent in revenues.

“Growth in 2019 was driven, in part, by incumbent third-party operators that continued to expand. We saw a bit of expansion in healthcare,” he said.

“Likewise, we saw a number of multinational global in-house centers investing and/ or expanding in the Philippines. Lastly, if we look at the creative sectors, specifically animation and gaming, they’ve had their fair share of growth as well,” he said.

INFLATION rate in June 2020 picked up to a three-month high of 2.5 percent from 2.1 percent in May, led by increases in transport, alcoholic beverage, tobacco and fuel prices, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Tuesday.

The June inflation, however, was slower compared to 2.7 percent in the same month last year.

Data showed inflation averaged 2.5 percent in the first half, or within the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent set by the government for 2020.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said the June inflation was also within the BSP’s forecast range of 1.9 percent to 2.7 percent for the month.

“The latest inflation outturn is consistent with the BSP’s prevailing assessment that inflation pressures remain limited due largely to the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the domestic and global economic conditions,” Diokno said in a statement.

He said the latest baseline forecasts suggested a benign inflation environment over the policy horizon. Inflation is expected to average 2.3 percent in 2020, 2.6 percent in 2021 and 3.0 percent in 2022.

“Domestic economic activity is projected to follow a U-shaped quarterly recovery path with output likely to contract further in the remaining quarters of 2020. Growth is expected to recover in 2021 once the impact of government policy support measures gains traction,” Diokno said.

Domestic liquidity or the money supply circulating in the financial system grew faster in May, while bank lending decelerated on constrained economic activity caused by the implementation of community quarantine to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

Preliminary data from the BSP showed that domestic liquidity, also called M3, grew 16.6 percent yearon-year to about P13.7 trillion in May, faster than the 16.2-percent expansion in April. On a month-on-month seasonally-adjusted basis, M3 increased by 0.6 percent.

Mindanao’s WESM to start in December

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE commercial operation of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market in Mindanao is expected to start in December, an official of Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines said.

IEMOP chief operating officer Robinson Descanzo said the start of operations of the Mindanao spot market was supposed to coincide with the implementation of the Market Management System for the three island grids by Dec. 26.

He said the linkup could be pushed back to 2021 if some requirements were not met.

“The market readiness committee chaired by PEMC [Philippine Electricity Market Corp.] recommended target date for the new market using the new MMS or the implementation of the enhanced WESM design which is Dec. 26 for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,” Descanzo

said.

He said the WESM, the trading floor of electricity, is operational in Luzon and the Visayas. He said the Mindanao platform has yet to complete the registration process for market participants.

“Mindanao is new to the market. Even registration completion is low. We hope we can complete all registration activities including participation in trial operations program. In case, we cannot compete that, effectively opening of the Mindanao market will be pushed back,” Descanzo said.

He said IEMOP, as operator of the WESM, asked the Energy Department to assist the participants in Mindanao to complete the requirements.

“We asked DOE to assist us, remind participants in Mindanao to complete their requirements although we also posted some policy issues DOE must address, most important [of which is] collection efficiency,” he said.

BUSINESS KITS. The Department of Trade and Industry Region I awards Negosyo starter kits to 20 identified beneficiaries as part of the agency’s Pangkabuhayan sa pagBangon at Ginhawa program. The beneficiaries received P10,000 worth of kits that vary from sari-sari store, bigasan (rice retail), frozen foods and tools and equipment for food processing during the awarding program on June 29 at Bauang, La Union Municipal Hall.

B2

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020

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

Sports

Baldwin still head of Gilas preparation T

HE Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas yesterday said Tab Baldwin is still project director of Gilas Pilipinas.

Speaking at the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum webcast, SBP Executive Director Sonny Barrios said Baldwin remains on top of the national team’s preparations for the 2023 FIBA World Cup, which the country is co-hosting with Japan and Indonesia.

While Barrios admitted the 62-yearold Baldwin, also head coach of the Ateneo Blue Eagles, recently made public statements that were critical of the basketball landscape in the coun-

try, the governing body for the sport is letting the American-New Zealander stay on and plot the best possible approach for the Gilas program come the world basketball championship two years from now.

“Sa ngayon wala naman, not unless magsasalita ulit siya ng wala sa lugar,” stressed Barrios in the weekly session on Tuesday, where he was joined by SBP Director for Operations Butch Antonio.

Barrios, former commissioner of the PBA, disclosed that SBP President Al S. Panlilio is planning to have a video conference with Baldwin and top officials and staff of the federation to address the Gilas program moving forward.

But at the same time, the SBP executive stressed nothing is cast in stone.

“In any given situation, nobody has a lock on position, not me, not Butch, not

anybody,” Barrios added in the Forum powered by Smart and presented by San Miguel Corp., Go For Gold, Amelie Hotel, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. “As they always say, we serve at the pleasure of the president.”

Baldwin, fined P75,000 by the PBA and suspended for three games in his capacity as assistant coach of TnT Katropa—a position which has since been relinquished from him—was taken to task though, privately by the SBP for his critical comments.

“Mr. Panlilio said the opinions that Tab Baldwin expressed were his personal ones, they were not aligned with the position of the SBP and certainly, not aligned with the personal opinion of president Al Panlilio,” said Barrios.

More than Baldwin stirring the hor-

net’s nest, Antonio said the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic was a major hindrance in the country’s basketball program especially in terms of preparing for the 3x3 Olympic qualifier and the qualifying tournament for the FIBA Asia Cup next year.

“Ang hirap pa ring makagalaw, but we just have to make sure that it’s in our awareness na meron pa ring tayong dapat pag-handaan,” said Antonio, the former Gilas Pilipinas team manager.

The 3x3 Olympic qualifier where Gilas is among the 20 countries in contention for three berths still at stake in the Tokyo Games, has been moved to May 2021, while the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers remain poised to resume this November despite some of the games last February had been cancelled due to the pandemic.

De los Santos claims gold in E-tournament JAMES de los Santos redeemed himself recently with podium finishes in two online karatedo tournaments.

Unable to compete last December in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, the 30-year-old De los Santos still found a way to stay fit and healthy while in home quarantine in the last four months of the lockdowns down throughout the country to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

After claiming a silver finish last May, De los Santos took home the gold medal last week in the Korokotta Cup 2020 E-Tournament.

“I’m really happy to win gold in this tournament. And in just a month, I was able to move in ranking,” said De los Santos in an online interview.

De los Santos showed his best foot forward in virtual kata when he outpointed 18 others from 11 nations.

His efforts allowed him to snare the top honors in the men’s senior individual kata category.

In the finals, De los Santos swept past South Africa’s Silvio Cerone-Biagionil, 5-0.

“After this, I will train hard to be able to join more tournaments,” said De los Santos, who was cut from the national team selection before the Southeast Asian Games.

Because of his podium finishes, De los Santos has risen from world no.6 to world no. 4 since May. “Now, this motivates me to train even harder,” added De los Santos.

Peter Atencio

James del los Santos

SBP is letting Tab Badwin stay on and plot the best possible approach for the Gilas program for the world basketball championship two years from now.

Basketball practices a delicate matter

By Peter Atencio THE decision to allow the resumption of practices in basketball is still a very delicate matter.

Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios said this, a few days after the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases finally gave the go signal for basketball and football to have workouts.

With many limitations present, Barrios said the SBP will still need for the written guidelines from the IATF before many club teams can proceed with their scrimmages.

“Right now, very fluid ang situation, nu’ng nabalitaan naman pumayag na ang IATF sa practices,” said Barrios during yesterday’s weekly online Zoom session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.

The SBP, added Barrios, is still awaiting developments following reports that there is a spike in the number of people who have been infected by the coronavirus pandemic and that Metro Manila may have to go back to enhanced community quarantine measures in the coming days.

Barrios said they have formulated a set of protocols for their activities, with the guidance of the International Basketball Federation.

Under a General Enhanced Community Quarantine, practice sessions will be limited to just four athletes and a coach or trainer on the floor for basketball.

In a Modified GCQ setup, as many as nine athletes, and a coach or trainer can do workouts together.

“These practices will be done with limited parameters. Kaya humingi ako ng kopya nito, kasi we cannot go on without specific guidelines,” added Barrios.

Barrios added that the SBP has currently adopted FIBA’s return to basketball policy, formulated to help many federations worldwide to cope with the situations they face while in lockdown and going through measures to stop the spread of the pandemic in their respective countries.

Fil-Am Hong to see action in Asean football qualifiers FIL-AMERICAN defender Hali Long is recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury and will most likely see action when the ASEAN Football Federation Women’s Championship Qualifiers is held in Manila later this year.

Long said during a podcast that being in home quarantine back home in Arkansas gave her enough time to rest and recover.

“I’ve been home kind of not by choice because I actually got a surgery which I haven’t talked about at all. But it was like a sustained injury a few years ago and I just kept playing on it so I got that taken care of, kind of before everything went really bad,” said the 25-year-old Long, who has been in crutches ever since.

The national squad made it to the semifinals, before bowing to eventual champion Vietnam, 0-2.

“I’ve just been staying home because I’m on crutches, so I don’t wanna really leave anyways. I have nothing else to do besides focus on my rehab which is really good,” added Long.

The AFF Women’s Championship Qualifiers were supposed to be hosted by the Philippines between May and June 2020.

But because of ongoing lockdown measures done to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, this was reset to another time. It could still be held later this year.

Long, on the other hand, is working on her endurance while waiting for word when the national team will resume practice.

“Endurance is hard right now, I’m working on very basic things but I’m finally levelling up my rehab I can do like the bike. So I do a little bit of cardio when I can but my workout is like my therapy session routine everyday,” added Long, who has been with the national squad for three years.

This will be the first time that the AFF Women’s Championship will be held in the country and the second senior women’s competition that the Philippines will host following the 30th Southeast Asian Games. Peter Atencio

ATHLETE/FRONTLINERS GET BOOST. Former Southeast Asian Games hammer throw champion Sgt. Arniel Ferrera of the Philippine Air Force receives boxes of Pocari Sweat drink as part of the Otsuka-Solar Philippines Incorporated’s thrust to help athletefrontliners and the Philippine Sports Commission skeletal workforce remain healthy and hydrated, while on duty at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila. The Rizal complex and the NAS are being used as quarantine facilities for COVID-19 patients. During the country’s hosting of the SEA Games last December, Pocari Sweat partner with the PSC and the Philippine National Anti-Doping Organization.

Federer misses Wimby, aims to be back in ‘21 PARIS—Roger Federer on Monday said he is “missing” Wimbledon after the grass-court Grand Slam was cancelled, but hopes to play the tournament in 2021.

The 38-year-old, who has undergone two knee surgeries this year, had already announced he will not play again until next year.

This week was scheduled to be the second week of Wimbledon, where Federer has won a record eight men’s singles titles, but the tournament was cancelled for the first time since World War II due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Personally, it has been very pleasant to stay in the same place for a long time, I hadn’t experienced that for more than 25 years,” Federer said at the launch of the “Roger Center Court” running shoes created

by Swiss brand On. “But of course I miss Wimbledon, of course I would like to be there currently playing on Centre Court for a place in the second week.

“Clearly, one of my big goals, and that’s why I do recovery work every day and work so hard, and why I’m preparing for a 20-week

important moment for me, (to know) if I wanted to continue,” he said.

“It’s very easy to say but it’s a long way to come back, you have to be patient, it also was a time for reflection.

Roger Federer “We were in the mountains, isolated, we didn’t see anyone, I didn’t see my parents for almost three months, we were very serious and strict.”

The ATP and WTA Tours are set to resume in August despite a raft of professional players having contracted COVID-19.

Federer could have lost his record of most men’s Grand Slam singles titles by the time he returns, with his old rival Rafael Nadal just one behind on the all-time list.

The US Open will be the first Grand Slam following the restart, getting underway behind closed doors in New York on August 31, before the French Open starts, with fans allowed to atphysical preparation block this year, is because I hope to play at Wimbledon next year.” tend Roland Garros, on September 24.

The Swiss star will also be hoping to claim Federer said the coronavirus lockdown gave him the chance to recuperate following Olympic singles gold for the first time next surgery, but said he will have to be “patient” year at the postponed Tokyo Olympics in Japan, with the final to be played a week before as he waits to return to the court.

“Combined with my operations, it was an his 40th birthday. AFP

7 Women’s NBA players positive for coronavirus NEW YORK—Seven Women’s NBA players have tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of Monday’s scheduled team arrivals at a Florida bubble, with one team delaying its arrival until at least Saturday.

The 12-team league announced on Monday tests of 137 WNBA players between June 28 and July 5 returned seven positives for coronavirus, although no names or clubs were revealed.

Under US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations followed by the league, players who test positive will self-isolate until being cleared by a physician, generally after two negative tests at least 24 hours apart.

The Indiana Fever will delay travel to the IMG Academy at Bradenton, Florida, by at least five days, the league said, “in an abundance of caution due to the CDC’s close contact selfquarantine requirements.”

Players and staff from the other 11 clubs were set to arrive Monday at IMG Academy to start a virus-delayed 2020 season.

W NBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced last mo nt h t he le a g u e wou ld s t a ge a s e a s o n at I MG Ac a d e my that would include 22 games for each team without spectators starting in late July after pre-season training workouts.

Cases of COVID-19 have spiked in Florida in recent days after state officials welcomed teams into bubble isolation plans to stage seasons. The NBA and Major League Soccer are using bubbles at Disney World in Orlando to play games despite the deadly virus. AFP

Entertainment Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, WEDNESDAY,JULY JULY8,8,2020 2020 ||

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

ComedyQueen Queenwishes wishes Comedy totowork Alden work with Sanya and Alden

By Nickie Wang

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FEW days after securing a five-year management contract with GMA Artist Center, AiAi delas Alas had a virtual catch up with some select members of the entertainment press where the 55-year-old seasoned comedienne shared what her plans are and what her mother network has prepared for her to celebrate a milestone in her career—her 30th year in showbiz.

In a virtual interview with Manila Standard after signing a contract with GMA Artist Center, AiAi delas Alas shares that she hopes to work with fellow Kapuso artists Sanya Lopez and Alden Richards (inset).

Pandemic brings Jake and Kylie closer together together ACTOR Jake Cuenca revealed that his relationship with girlfriend Kylie Verzosa has never been this strong. He said that the present health crisis has been instrumental in making their bond more solid than ever.

“We’re together the whole quarantine period and I consider each passing day a luxury. It’s like the lockdown is an early stage of our married life. Maybe, it’s an early experience for the two of us. Our relationship grew stronger,” the 32-year-old actor told Manila Standard in a virtual press conference for Star Magic’s “Lockdown Portraits” project.

“Usually, when we’re together on a normal day sans the lockdown, you work with a schedule, right? Subconsciously, twenty percent of you are going to the next day. You can see yourself going to a taping or shooting. So, this is really the first time that I gave someone my undivided attention,” he added.

Jake said that Kylie has his 100 percent attention and it’s the first time that he’s able to give his undivided attention to the former Miss International winner.

“We have our own routine. Like in my case, I’m a morning person, so it’s my alone time. She wakes up later so she’ll have her alone time in the afternoon. After that, we’ll connect. It’s important that you make your respective schedule.

Alone time is essential in a relationship,” Jake admitted.

Meanwhile, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jake stated that it’s vital to still have a bright perspective in life.

“The big challenge is to stay positive despite the hard times. In spite of everything that’s going on, we must learn how to count our blessings and remain grateful for every little thing we have.

That’s what I practice every day when I wake up. I express my gratitude for every little thing that I possess,” Jake concluded.

Jake Cuenca and Kylie Verzosa feel that their relationship is much stronger after spending the whole quarantine period together.

***** For a talent and casting production company. agency whose bread and “We have to evolve butter is to send models and level up. I think it’s and talents to live events, the best way to adapt to film, TV and commercial the new normal,” said shoots, the lockdown due Jojo in a recent interto the pandemic was a view. “We don’t want big blow. And sadly, their to wait for projects to freelance workers were come to us. We stopped badly hit because most of everything and stayed them live from paycheck home for three months. to paycheck with no inNow it’s time to be prosurance or emergency ductive again.” funds. So, it was really a “We have new projects financial nightmare.

Jojo Flores and Maricar Moina that we are working on Since the lifting of aside from our annual of JAMS Artist Production the ECQ in Metro Ma‘JAMS Top Model Philnila, founders Jojo Floippines,’” said Maricar. res and Maricar Moina of JAMS According to the couple, they have Artist Production wasted no time in already started the online registration attending meetings and calling people of their flagship project. In fact, regto discuss new options for their istration is some provinces is already

closed and finalized.

“Once we are allowed to mount live events, we will immediately announce the date of the next Jams Top Model Philippines, from local gala to the grand finals,” Maricar added.

They said they are aware that there are many aspirants from 100 cities and municipalities who are just waiting for their announcement so they could prepare for the competition. With a cash prize of 500,000, who wouldn’t want to win?

But the famous modeling search will have to wait for now because big gatherings are not yet allowed. That’s why they are slowly trekking the path to digital shows and video production.

“We want to find ways to help our talents by opening new doors in the ‘new normal’ for the entertainment industry.

We’ll start with digital shows and then eventually, a movie,” Jojo revealed.

Speaking from her home, and wearing a shimmering gold PPE, she immediately asked everyone present in the virtual meeting how they were, talking casually like she was welcoming the scribes into her residence.

According to AiAi, baking and cooking kept her busy the entire quarantine period. She was quite amazed at the new way to communicate with the press even teasing some senior scribes for not being able to make the app (Zoom) work correctly.

“This is so cool, this new normal teaches us a lot of new things,” she said in vernacular.

While she returned on GMA Network lot in 2015 by signing a two-year contract, it’s the first time that AiAi is entrusting her career to the station’s talent management arm.

“When I returned to GMA in 2015, it was just a two-year contract. Now, it took me quite some time to formalize my partnership with them because I wanted to do it on my 30th year in showbiz, which coincides with the net-

work’s 70th year. Di ba, terno?” she told Manila Standard.

During the virtual interview, AiAi shared what her fans can look forward to in the coming months.

“Napaka-daming ganap. Mayroon akong soap, The Clash Season 3, and I have out of the country shows that we are trying to prepare once safe na magtravel at mag-mount ng live shows,” she said.

The comedienne hopes that her new partnership with GMAAC will open more doors for her. A few of her fellow Kapuso artists she looks forward to work with in the future are Alden Richards and Sanya Lopez.

“I haven’t done any soap with them.

So, I really want to work with Sanya and Alden. With Sanya, gandang ganda ako sa kanya, bagay kaming magina or siguro kambal kame. With Alden, he’s my baby ever since, so I’ll be his mom in a soap. I know my place, I can’t be his love interest kasi ibabash ako ng fans niya for sure,” she ended in jest.

‘Pantawid ‘Pantawid ng ngPag-ibig’ Pag-ibig’campaign campaign

serves servesalmost almost 1M families families

ABS-CBN Foundation’s (AFI) “Pantawid ng Pag-ibig: Isang Daan. Isang Pamilya.” campaign continues to provide relief to Filipinos in need, including members of the transport sector, persons with disability (PWD), and indigenous peoples (IPs), during this community quarantine.

Now on its second phase, “Pantawid ng Pag-ibig” delivers food packs directly to communities as it aims to serve 1 million families. As of July 1, the campaign has raised over P425 million in cash donations and pledges and helped more than 820,000 families since the campaign was launched in March.

With many public transportation drivers still unable to earn a living, AFI recently distributed food packs to about 730 tricycle drivers of ABCMS TODA of Barangay Alabang, Muntinlupa and 75 jeepney drivers of UP Ikot and Katipunan. Another 530 food packs were delivered to families consisting of senior citizens and jeepney and tricycle drivers of Barangay 163 in Sta. Quiteria, Caloocan.

“Pantawid ng Pag-ibig” also partnered with groups to bring aid to families with PWDs. Last June 23 and 24, relief packs were received by 1,000 PWDs and their families under the care of Begay Buhay Multipurpose Coop-

erative in Caloocan City, and 322 families with PWD members in Karangalan, Manggahan Pasig City, under the care of the Kabalikat sa Pag-unlad ng may mga Kapansanan organization.

Hundreds of families in Aeta communities in Tarlac and Pampanga, under the care of Iba Resettlement Organic Garden Association (IROG), Zambales Cooperative Federation (ZACOFED), and JessMag Aeta Community, also benefited from the goods brought to them through “Pantawid ng Pag-ibig.”

The campaign also distributed relief goods in Quezon City to 1,060 families in Samaritana Transformation Ministries in Novaliches, Quezon City, and 275 families in Barangay Bahay Toro, and 1,150 families of the Muslim community in Barangay Culiat.

Relaunched as “Pantawid ng Pagibig: Isang Daan. Isang Pamilya” this month, the campaign hopes to encourage ordinary Filipinos to help in the fight against hunger by donating at least P100 which can already feed one family. The money raised is used to purchase food and basic necessities such as rice, canned goods, biscuits, and vitamins.

To donate and for more information, visit www.pantawidngpagibig.com

‘Pantawid ng Pag-ibig’ campaign has raised over P425 million in cash donations and pledges and helped more than 820,000 families since its launch in March.

‘Imbestigador’ airs COVID-19 special report with Mike Enriquez GMA Public Affairs’ longest-running investigative television program, Imbestigador, presents COVID-19: Special Investigative Reports ni Mike Enriquez, a special series airing on Saturday, July 11.

The special series is a comprehensive examination that seeks crucial answers to relevant issues relating to the COVID-19 outbreak, which has become the worst pandemic the world has ever seen in the past century. It continues to cause an unprecedented global health calamity and it has become the greatest challenge that mankind has collectively faced since World War II. While people and businesses are grappling with significant adjustments to the socalled “new normal” after more than three months of lockdown, Filipinos need to take a step back to analyze and discuss significant issues related to the pandemic. What happened to the mass testing program? Where did the billions of funds intended for the COVID-19 response really go? Has the Social Amelioration Program been implemented well enough to sup-

port all Filipinos in need? How bad are the economic effects of the crisis on businesses and workforce? What future awaits Filipinos in the new normal?

For the special’s first part on July 11, Enriquez begins the investigation with a deep dive into the current state of the transportation sector.

After being suspended for months, public transportation is gradually resuming its operations, although limited. As means of transportation remain few, some commuters have resorted to riding motorcycles and bicycles.

Others are even forced to walk for hours to go to work and run errands because they are left without any options to commute. Meanwhile, other public transport drivers still prohibited by the government from plying their regular routes continue to suffer financially.

Are there any concrete and long-term solutions on the horizon?

Catch the first episode of COVID-19: Special Investigative Reports ni Mike Enriquez on July 11, 4:45 p.m. after Wish Ko Lang on GMA-7.

GMA Public Affairs’ longest-running investigative TV program ‘Imbestigador’ presents ’COVID-19: Special Investigative Reports ni Mike Enriquez,’ which brings back Imbestigador to its news-based, investigative roots.

Life

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

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FASHION AND BEAUTY

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2020

Captain Ri in T-shirt and jeans

THE CAPTAIN HAS LANDED. Crash Landing On You star, Hyun Bin charms in T-shirt and jeans in his first campaign as Bench’s newest brand ambassador.

(Photos from @bcbench/Instagram)

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APTAIN Ri sure looks good in casual wear as much as he does in military uniform.

Homegrown fashion retailer Bench has finally unveiled its newest ambassador, Korean actor Hyun Bin, currently the country’s favorite captain and endorser.

After teasing the public for days, Ben Chan on July 5 welcomed Hyun Bin into his brand’s star-studded roster of “BENCHsetters,” which also include Park Seo-joon, Ji Chang-wook, and Park Hyung-sik.

“Steady those hearts and stay tuned,” Chan said in an Instagram post that drove fans, including celebrities, to a frenzy.

The first drop of Hyun Bin’s Bench campaign features a collection of casual wear including a denim button down, a gray pullover sweater, jeans in a variety of washes, and a blue T-shirt emblazoned with the word “captain.”

The Crash Landing On You star previously said he would visit the Philippines soon. In the meantime, fans can contend themselves with photos of Hyun Bin that exude a charming boy-next-door vibe.

Meanwhile, the mermaid in the Legend of the Blue Sea, Jun Jihyun is the newest ambassador of British luxury fashion house Alexander McQueen.

Jun Ji-hyun wears two of the brand’s bags—the Jewelled satchel and the Story shoulder bag.

The Sassy Girl transforms into a classy woman with the house’s jeweled bag with the Alexander McQueen skull. The satchel is designed to fit a few essentials in its main compartment with a card pocket.

Meanwhile, the Story features the slightly larger version of house’s modern metal handle and new weaved chain. Jun Ji-hyun is seen wearing the day-to-evening bag over the shoulder, but the design allows it to be also worn via the chain strap or hand-held through the front metal handle. Bernadette Lunas

Healthy skin on the surface and within

By Monica Sanchez WHEN you’re stressed, it shows on your skin. And stressors are everywhere—some can’t be avoided, like the passage of time; others are always there, like the sun’s UV rays.

Too much sun exposure leads to premature aging, as in irreversible fine lines and wrinkles.

Working from home and conducting personal and professional affairs online do not mean skin is protected from the invisible enemies. Exposure to blue light emitting from digital screens could be longer than before, resulting in loss of skin’s firmness, dark spots, and increase in visible lines.

Experts assert limiting sun exposure and protecting skin from blue light are proven ways to avoid the cumulative effect of UV rays. UVA rays are associated with skin aging and its manifestations such as fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots. UVB rays can cause sunburns. Both UVA and UVB rays can cause skin cancer. This is where sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection plays a huge role.

Cetaphil Sun Light Gel SPF 50+ offers complete sun protection and photostable filters for more effective defense from harmful UVA/UVB rays and blue light. It is also formulated for both face and body, and works even on the most sensitive skin.

Cetaphil Sun Light Gel SPF 50+ offers protection from UVA and UVB rays and blue light.

Stress could trigger inflammation, cause dry skin, and aggravate other conditions like acne and eczema. Skin problem does not only affect grownups, children, in fact, are more prone to dry skin as compared to adults, as the former loses water five times faster.

“To make sure your kids are protected against this, use a gentle, non-irritant cleanser that has no parabens, nonGMO, and made with natural cleaning ingredients. It’s important to choose cleansers that maintain moisture in our kids’ skin,” suggested Dr. Sison.

Oilatum by German pharmaceutical company Stada, is a pedia-recommended soap that helps address children’s dry and sensitive skin. It has Moisture PROTECTnology which helps leave the skin soft and moisturized by trapping in *** Meanwhile, anxiety due uncertain moisture without the greasy feeling. and stressful situations also takes a *** huge toll on our skin.

Antioxidants are a powerful ally in Psychiatrist and dermatologist Dr. Antonio B. Sison said “people respond fighting signs of skin aging such as sagging, fine lines, and dark spots. A powerto stress differently.”

“It could affect different aspects of house antioxidant, astaxanthin, a caroteyour life, from work to physical and noid pigment that occurs in trout, shrimp, mental well-being. Stress specifically and other sea creatures, is dubbed as the triggers hair loss and accelerates skin newest game-changer in skin care.

Several studies have raved about aging,” he added.

astaxanthin’s potency citing it as more powerful than other antioxidants that prevent aging such as beta-carotene, vitamins C, CoQ10. Unlike its counterparts, it maintains its consistency and is easily absorbed by the body.

Astaxanthin serves as a natural sunscreen, acting as a radiation shield that blocks harmful UV rays and minimizes moisture loss—the body’s inflammatory response to excessive sun exposure.

In addition, it promotes better blood flow, delivers essential nourishment to skin cells, and accelerates repair, bringing forth younger-looking skin.

Several studies have also shown that the regular use of astaxanthin improves skin elasticity and enhances the moisture content of the skin. It has also been found to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, age spots, and overall skin tone and texture.

Vitamin-based skin care brand Myra brings this antioxidant in its newest product made for women in their 40s.

Myra Ultimate harnesses the potent combination of astaxanthin, lycopene, and vitamin E to reveal beautiful, firm, youthful skin. The capsule must be taken orally once or twice nightly as prescribed by a physician.

Korean actor and model Jun Ji-hyun wears Alexander McQueen’s Jewelled satchel.

ADD TO CART

Fab picks from Forever 21 CHIC work-from-home attire, functional workout outfit, and stylish go-to pieces for quick errands from Forever 21 are now available online through its Call to Deliver service and official Lazada store.

To use the shop’s Call to Deliver service, simply browse the catalog on its official Facebook page ( facebook. com/Forever21PH) and call the customer service (0917-811-4777) or the nearest branch: SM Makati (0917-8148944), SM City North Edsa (0917-8154135), SM Megamall (0917-814-1823), SM Mall of Asia (0917-814-5978), and

SM Aura Premier (0917-812-1115). A customer service representative will assist customers in the next steps.

Search the Forever 21 Flagship Store on Lazada to shop on the ecommerce platform.

Those who prefer to personally check the items before purchasing, Forever 21 branches at SM Megamall, SM Makati, SM City Cebu, SM City North Edsa, SM Mall of Asia, SM Aura Premier, SM Lanang Premier, SM City Clark, SM CDO Downtown Premier, and Robinson’s Magnolia are now open.

Low impact cutout sports bra

White ruffle sleeved top and denim shorts

Men’s New York sweatshirt and French terry drawstring shorts

Oilatum cleansing soap features a technology that leaves skin soft and moisturized.

Myra Ultimate harnesses the potent combination of astaxanthin, lycopene, and vitamin E.

Ivory pleated crochet-trim top