Manila Standard - 2020 July 21 - Tuesday

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19 died of COVID in Bilibid 9 high-profile inmates included; Sotto III raises doubts, calls for probe

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Willie Casas

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ENATE President Vicente Sotto III called for an investigation Monday into the death of highprofile inmates and their immediate cremation at the New Bilibid Prison, saying officials there could have replaced their bodies and declared them dead from COVID-19.

“How would we know? There were no more fingerprints,” Sotto said.

Sotto's call for a Senate investigation came as the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said 19 inmates at the NBP have died from COVID-19.

In his resolution, Sotto noted that a ranking police official, who was aware of the supposed COVID-19 deaths, said prison officials “could have just replaced the body with another inmate and declared the death of a high-profile inmate.”

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VOL. XXXIV • NO. 147• 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

File photo shows the entrance to the maximum security compound of the New Bilibid Prison, which is now in hot water after the death and immediate cremation of high-profile inmates, reportedly from COVID-19. According to the Bureau of Corrections (inset), at least 19 inmates at the NBP have died from the virus, prompting Senate President Vicente Sotto III to seek an investigation amid speculations that bodies could have been switched.

'Cha-cha' not Palace priority; House pushes on

By Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law allowing the Chief Executive to set or move the opening date of classes in case of a state of calamity or emergency.

Republic Act No. 11480—which was approved on July 17 but was announced only on Monday—amended Republic Act No. 7797, which says the opening of classes should be between the first Monday of June and the last day of August.

In case of a declaration of a state of emergency or calamity, the President, Next page

(AS OF 4 PM JULY 20)

TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

1,835

UP experts see infection spike a high 85k by Aug.

1,521 NEW

43,991 ACTIVE

4

DEATHS

NEW

23,072

607

RECOVERIES

NEW

LOCAL ROUNDUP

Cebu hospital posts highest frontline cases

By Willie Casas and Rio Araja EXPERTS from the state-run University of the Philippines have raised a possible grim scenario on the COVID-19 pandemic: 76,000 infections on the average by next month.

UP Los Baños assistant professor Darwin

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New law allows President to set school opening

AT A GLANCE

68,898

By Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz MALACAÑANG on Monday said that Charter change or “cha-cha” is not a priority as the country is grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic, but a House panel said it would convene after Congress opens on July 27 to tackle two proposals for constitutional amendments.

Palace spokesman Harry Roque made the remarks in his regular press briefing after a number of mayors called for amendments to the Constitution.

“Cha-cha was never mentioned as a government priority during President Duterte’s speeches. You know, every week the President talks to the people and Charter change was never mentioned as a government priority,” Roque said.

The League of Municipalities of the Philippines is pushing to amend the Constitution to increase local governments’ internal revenue allotment (IRA) and lift restrictions on foreign investments in unspecified industries.

COVID-19 PH

Residents and non-residents alike line up for free COVID-19 testing at the City of Manila's first walk-in testing center at the Ospital ng Sampaloc on July 20. Aside from the walk-in testing center, Manila Mayor Francisco 'Isko' Domagoso last week opened two drivethrough testing centers, including one at the Quirino Grandstand (inset). Norman Cruz

By Willie Casas, Vito Barcelo and Maricel Cruz ONE out of every five COVID-19 cases among health workers in the Philippines are from the government-operated Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu, according to data released by the Health department on Monday.

The VSMMC had 148 infected staff as of July 18, which accounted for about 20 percent of the 712 active COVID-19 cases involving health workers in the PhilipNext page pines, the data showed.

Duterte to deliver SONA at Batasan

sang Pambansa in Quezon City on July 27 to deliver his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), PalPRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will ace spokesman Harry Roque said be physically present at the Bata- Monday.

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By Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

Eateries now open for longer hours

RESTAURANTS are allowed to stay open longer and to accept more dinein customers starting today, Tuesday, according to the new rules released by the Department of Trade and Industry.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez says restaurants, fast-food chains, canteens, food parks and other eateries in the General Community Quarantine areas may operate at 50-percent capacity starting today.

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HOME-BOUND. Some 55 locally-stranded individuals bound for Davao City board their flight arranged by the Philippine Coast Guard.

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TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2020

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News

BREAKTHROUGH VIRUS TREATMENT

Trials show reduced death risk among patients

A

N AEROSOL-BASED treatment could drastically reduce the number of new coronavirus patients dying from the disease or requiring intensive care, according to preliminary results released Monday by a British biotech firm.

likely to make a full recovery compared with the control group.

The firm behind the treatment, known as SNG001, said the preliminary results suggested "a major breakthrough" in the pandemic.

"We are all delighted with the trial results announced today, which showed that SNG001 greatly reduced the number of hospitalised COVID-19 patients who progressed from requiring oxygen to requiring ventilation," said Richard Marsden, CEO of Synairgen.

The results published Monday have not yet been peer-reviewed and the sample size is relatively small.

But if confirmed the treatment could revolutionize the way COVID-19 is dealt with in hospitals.

Interferon beta is a naturally occurring protein, commonly used to treat multiple sclerosis.

It forms part of the body's natural fight against infection, and the novel coronavirus suppresses its production in an attempt to evade an immune response.

BuCor reported 301 confirmed cases and 16 deaths.

Meanwhile, De Lima said her lawyers are still assessing the effect of Sebastian’s death on the drug cases against her, considering that he was the government’s supposed star witness.

“However, all testimonies coming from the inmates and some other so-called witnesses are all fabrications anyway. One less fabrication might be good in my case, but let us not forget all the other testimony fabrications. Whether the fabricator is dead or alive does not change the fact that their stories are all lies, and that the cases against me are all fake,” De Lima said.

De Lima said a judge worth his or her salt and who is still independent of Malacañang would readily see through all “this machinated persecution of an opposition figure.”

“He or she will not see the cases on the basis of mere technicality like the number of witnesses, and be extra perceptive on the issue of the credibility of convicted prisoners whose very lives and freedom depend on [President] Duterte. He or she should verily know that of course they are not credible. Duterte holds them all by their throats.”

“The Duterte regime can have 100 live witnesses for all I care,” she said. “But this still does not change the fact that the charges against me are absolutely false and fictitious. Conversely, the regime’s witnesses can all be dead, but this will not prevent Duterte and his operators from inventing other evidence to keep me in jail.”

Despite Sotto's resolution, Senator Ronald dela Rosa, former director of BuCor, said he had misgivings about an inquiry into the inmate deaths.

Dela Rosa is the chairman of the Senate committee on public order, which is supposed to lead the Senate investigation.

Sought for his comment, Dela Rosa said he saw no basis for an investigation.

He said COVID-19 spares no one.

Earlier in the day, Senate Majority

Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said he would try to convince Dela Rosa to conduct an investigation.

He said the inquiry will look into reports that inmates succumbed to COVID-19 at the NBP and other detention facilities in the country.

All inmates have the right to safe detention, Zubiri said.

Sotto, on the other hand, said there were too many unanswered questions, including the absence of an autopsy and the failure to inform the relatives and the Justice department of the deaths.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, too, seemed reluctant to pursue an investigation into the Bilibid deaths.

“Unless there is very compelling reason to suspect any foul play--and as of now, there is none--personally, I'd rather focus on more pressing matters than be distracted by the death s of drug convict s who had shown no remorse at all by continuing their drug operations even in the confines of the highsecurity facility of the New Bilibid Prison, right under the noses of prison officials, corrupting those who have no moral fortitude to resist even drug money.”

Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon rebuked BuCor Director Gerald Bantag for refusing to reveal the real conditions and reported deaths of inmates by invoking the Data Privacy Act. “What’s BuCor hiding? Moreover, transparency is an effective mechanism to guard against abuses such as fake or simulated deaths,” he said.

Drilon said BuCor is wrong to invoke the Data Privacy Act. He said the fact of death is not sensitive personal information protected by the Data Privacy Act and that a death certificate is in fact a public document required to be filed upon any person’s death.

Bantag said they are prohibited by the Data Privacy Act to reveal the names of persons deprived of liberty who allegedly died of COVID-19 disease.

But Drilon said disclosing information

about a prisoner’s death is not protected information under the Data Privacy Law. “The fact that a person is dead is not contemplated by the law.”

“What we are asking is information on those who died. That is factual,” he added.

“Disclosing information about prison deaths will not do any harm,” Drilon said, adding: “Transparency is an effective mechanism to guard against abuses such as fake or simulated deaths.”

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Monday ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of nine high-profile inmates, including Sebastian, to verify the claim of Bantag that they had died of COVID-19.

The directive came after Guevarra met with Bantag at his office to shed light on reports about the death of several high profile inmates and the cremation of Sebastian, a co-accused in one of the illegal drug trade cases filed against De Lima before the regional trial court of Muntinlupa City.

Guevarra and Bantag met Monday afternoon on the COVID-19 situation at the BuCor as well as the reported deaths of nine prisoners who were convicted of offenses involving illegal drugs, including Sebastian.

In an interview over Dobol B sa News TV, BuCor spokesman Col. Gabriel Chaclag said 19 inmates in the NBP who tested positive for COVID-19 have already died.

Chaclag said the national penitentiary has recorded 343 COVID-19 cases, as of Monday.

Of the 343, 311 have recovered and 19 had died, he said.

Some of the cases came from Building 14, he added.

The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday reminded jail authorities that health protocols should be strictly observed in jails.

DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, in a virtual press briefing, said health screening and contact tracing should be conducted in prison.

Interior and Local Government (DILG) even created a task force on federalism in October last year.

The chairman of the House committee on constitutional amendments said his panel would convene after Congress opens its second regular session to discuss the two constitutional amendments proposed by the League of Municipalities of the Philippines.

“I will call a virtual meeting of our committee possibly within the first two weeks of our session to tackle the proposals of our 1,489 town mayors and other pending measures,” Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, the panel chairman, said.

The second regular session will start

July 27, when President Duterte delivers his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) before a joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Rodriguez said he would get the sense of his members and leaders of the House on discussing Charter cha amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

On Friday, the Department of Interior and Local Government announced that the League of Municipalities, which groups town mayors, is pushing for two cha-cha proposals.

These are the institutionalization of the so-called Mandanas ruling of the Supreme Court on internal revenue allotments (IRA) of local government units

and the lifting of restrictions on foreign investments in businesses currently limited to Filipinos.

Rodriguez said the Mandanas ruling expands the basis for the computation of IRA to include collections not only of the Bureau of Internal Revenue but also the customs duties collected by the Bureau of Customs, a part of taxes collected in BARMM, taxes from the exploitation of national wealth, excise tax on tobacco products, other taxes provided in the NIRC and franchise taxes.

It is called the Mandanas ruling because the case questioning the basis for the IRA was filed by Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas, he said.

the DOH said.

“Seventy-nine duplicates were removed from total case count. The total cases reported may be subject to change as these numbers undergo constant cleaning and validation,” said the DOH. There are also 43,991 active cases undergoing treatment or quarantine, 90.6 percent of which are mild, 8.5 percent are asymptomatic, 0.4 percent are severe, and 0.5 percent are in critical condition.

The DOH said figures reported were based on data submitted by 62 out of the 84 operational laboratories.

Bandoy said UP experts used an epidemic model to project the possible number of COVID-19 cases in the future, adding the Philippines’ reproductive number currently stands at 1.07, meaning that each COVID-19-positive individual could infect more than one person.

The UP team earlier predicted that COVID-19 cases in the country could reach 85,000 by the end of July.

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that position,” Vergeire said.

She cited a resolution of the InterAgency Task Force that rapid testing results should not be a condition for an employee to go back to work.

Slow distribution Malacañang on Monday admitted that the distribution of financial aid for the second tranche of the social amelioration program was “slow,” but assured the beneficiaries that the Department of Social Welfare and Development would finish the release by the end of July.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the distribution of the second tranche of the emergency subsidy to the 12 million low-income families had been bogged down by the “slow uploading of the beneficiaries’ information by local government units, limited state personnel and reports of fake messages.

“It’s really slow. I can say that the Palace finds the processing of the second tranche slow,” Roque told reporters.

(at the Batasang Pambansa) when he delivers his fifth SONA. The rehearsal has been scheduled and preparations continue," Roque said in a televised press briefing.

Roque earlier said Duterte might deliver his SONA online from the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang.

The Palace spokesman said at least 50 lawmakers would be allowed inside the venue but could not say how many Cabinet officials would be permitted to attend.

Gamboa himself told a virtual briefing: "To those who want to conduct protest, especially in (sic) SONA, we are pleading (with) you to do it online."

New...

In a randomized trial of 100 patients percent lower risk of developing severe admitted to hospital with COVID-19, disease compared to those who received those who received an inhaled formula a placebo. of the protein interferon beta were at 79 They were also more than twice as

19...

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Due to unclear, inaccurate and unverified reports, he said speculation is rife over whether or not the Bilibid inmates actually died from COVID-19.

Sotto also cited the alarming news that at least nine high-profile inmates of the NBP, mostly convicted drug lords detained in Building 14, a highly secure facility inside the maximum security compound, died of COVID-19.

While BuCor Chief Gerald Bantag said there were inmates who died due to COVID-19, he did not disclose their identities, invoking the Data Privacy Act. However, he confirmed there were Filipino and Chinese drug lords who died due to the disease.

Also based on the log of the Panteon de Dasmarinas Public Cemetery in Dasmarinas, Cavite, and according to its OIC Liezl Camaganacan, Sotto said Jaybee Sebastian’s body was cremated by them on July 18.

Sebastian was among the convicted drug lords who testified that former Justice secretary Leila De Lima received bribes from convicted drug lords in Bilibid to bank her senatorial campaign in the 2016 elections.

Sotto said some names including Marcelo, Zhang and Hung were also among the 28 bodies that the crematorium had processed since May 31.

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga said no autopsies were conducted on the bodies cremated at the Panteon de Dasmarinas.

He said BuCor paid Dasmarinas City P15,000 for each deceased prisoner “but our people at the crematorium were not to open the body bags anymore.” So long as there were death certificates with the proper papers, the bodies were cremated.

Based on published reports, Sotto said, BuCor on June 4 reported 222 COVID-19 cases and 10 deaths among its inmates due to the virus. In just more than 10 days, the

’Cha-cha’...

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Roque said he sympathized with the call of the mayors to institutionalize the ruling of the Supreme Court in 2018 to widen the base of local government units' share in the country's taxes.

Duterte's proposed shift from a presidential form of government to a federal system has yet to pass Congress, which is dominated by his allies.

The President has argued that Charter change will address economic and power imbalances in the country.

Roque said that the Department of the

UP...

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Bandoy said updated projections for the number of COVID-19 cases by August 1 were 67,546 for the lower estimate and 84,914 for the higher estimate.

The Philippines has recorded 68,898 confirmed cases, with 1,521 more infections reported Monday, with 23,072 recoveries and 1,835 deaths.

The figure marks the sixth consecutive day where over 1,300 new cases were reported.

The five provinces with the highest number of new infections were Metro Manila with 1,237, Cavite with 51, Laguna with 51, Rizal with 34, and Davao del Sur with 22.

“Of the 4 deaths, all deaths occurred in July 2020. Deaths were from Region 7 (2 or 50 percent), NCR (1 or 25 percent) and Region 11 (1 or 25 percent),”

Duterte...

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Critics and protesters, however, were urged by Roque and Philippine National Police chief Gen. Archie Gamboa to conduct online protests as the government had prohibited large gatherings to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Gamboa said online protests on the President's fifth SONA—the penultimate during his six-year presidency— would accede to the health protocols being implemented with a guideline prohibiting mass gathering.

"I can confirm for the first time that the President will be physically present

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The data also showed that the cumulative total of coronavirus infections among the health workers in the country had already hit 3,938, up by 295 from last week.

Cebu province and Cebu City are among the COVID-19 hot spots in the country.

Rapid testing discouraged The Health department on Monday discouraged rapid testing to screen employees who are returning to work, and following evidence that it yields false positive or false negative results.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire made the announcement in a virtual press briefing following the claim of some groups that the use of rapid testing on returning workers had contributed to the increase of COVID-19 cases.

“The [department] has always had

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on the recommendation of the Education secretary, “may set a different date for the start of the school year in the country or parts thereof,” the new law said.

The Education department welcomed the signing of the new law.

"We thank the president for signing [the new law] mandating the Secretary of Education to recommend to the Chief Executive adjustments in the school calendar in times of national emergency," Education Secretary Leonor Briones said in a statement.

She said her department had been consulting and conferring with the President

and legislators over the proposed law.

Senator Win Gatchalian said the new law provides that the school year starts on the first Monday of June but not later than the last week of August.

Earlier, Gatchalian, head of the Senate’s basic education committee, said the Education department was nearly 90-percent ready for next month's opening of classes at the local level, where blended forms of learning methods would be used as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the COVID-19 pandemic had caused enrollment to drop for the coming school year, Senator Francis Pangilinan had urged the Education department to make available more financial aid and other assistance to students and teachers.

Delivering the protein directly into the lungs of patients is designed to trigger a robust immune response to the virus, even in patients whose immune system is already weakened by infection.

"The results confirm our belief that interferon beta... has huge potential as an inhaled drug to be able to restore the lung's immune response," said Tom Wilkinson, professor or respiratory medicine at the University of Southampton. AFP

Oil firms reduce pump prices by P0.10 per liter

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE country’s oil firms cut the price of gasoline by P0.10 per liter for gasoline and P0.15 per liter for kerosene effective 6am Tuesday to reflect the movement of prices in the world market.

“Petron will implement the following price adjustments effective 6 a.m. on July 21: P0.10/li rollback for gasoline; P0.15/ li increase for kerosene. These reflect movements in the international oil market,” Petron Corp., the country’s biggest oil firm said in its advisory.

Aside from Petron, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Cleanfuel, Flying V, Chevron Philippines and PTT Philippines also cut prices at the same level while other oil firms are expected to follow suit.

The oil firms did not move diesel pump prices.

Youth group files perjury case vs.

Honeylet's cousin

By Rio N. Araja A YOUTH group on Monday filed a complaint of perjury against the cousin of the President's long-time partner, Honeylet Avanceña, before the Office of the Ombudsman, questioning the eligibility of Melissa Avanceña Aradanas to be assistant secretary of the Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development.

In an 11-page complaint-affidavit, the Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK) represented by Alladin Panganiban said Avanceña-Aradanas lied in her Career Executive Service board application when she did not disclose that she was dismissed from the Presidential Commission on Urban Poor (PCUP) as one of its commissioners in December 2017 for supposed excessive travel.

“This very public fact alone should have prompted the CES Board to decline the respondent’s candidature for CES eligibility and disallowed her from taking the written examination,” the complaint read.

Eateries...

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Meanwhile, the food establishments in the Modified Community Quarantine locations may accommodate up to 75 percent of their original seating capacity.

The department’s Memorandum Circular 20-39 allows food establishments to operate until 11 p.m. in the GCQ and MCQ areas.

"All restaurants and fast-food businesses shall be allowed to operate until 11 p.m. Thus, LGUs are enjoined to adjust curfew hours up to 12 midnight to allow greater daily turnover of dine-in services and enhance income opportunities for workers," the order says.

Lopez earlier said the new rules would add to workers' salaries since dinner meals usually accounted for 40 to 50 percent of a store's daily sales.

The easing of the rules comes as the infections, especially in Metro Manila, saw a recent spike attributed to the relaxation of the restrictions.

Most of the Philippines remains under GCQ and MGCQ except for Cebu City, which transitioned to the modified enhanced community quarantine on July 16. A number of cities in Metro Manila have relaxed the curfew hours to 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. During the months of ECQ, the cutoff was from 8 p.m.

Food establishments are also allowed to serve alcoholic drinks to customers, but at a maximum of two individual servings each.

News

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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Ruling dismissing BURI’s suit vs DOTr upheld

By Rey E. Requejo The Supreme Court upheld the ruling of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court that denied the plea of Korean-Filipino firm Busan Universal Rail Inc. for the issuance of a status quo order enjoining the government from terminating its P3.8 billion threeyear maintenance contract for the Metro Rail Transit 3.

In a 14-page decision, the SC’s Second Division, through Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul Inting, ruled that the Quezon City RTC properly dismissed the petition filed by BURI. The high court agreed that the lower court is barred from issuing a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunctions against national government projects

under Republic Act No. 8975, otherwise known as “An Act to Ensure the Expeditious Implementation and Completion of Government Infrastructure Projects by Prohibiting Lower Courts from Issuing Temporary Restraining Orders, Preliminary Injunctions or Preliminary Mandatory Injunctions, Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof, and for Other Purposes.”

The SC rejected the argument of BURI that the RTC has the authority to issue a TRO or other interim measures of protections in cases involving disputes that are proper for arbitration under R.A. No. 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act. BURI insisted that under R.A. No. 9184, its implementing rules and regulations and the MRT-3 contract, all disputes arising from the contract shall be settled through arbitration proceedings governed

by R.A. No. 9285 or the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act of 2004.

The firm also argued that under Section 28 of R.A. 9285, the grant of an interim measure of protection by the proper

court before the constitution of an arbitral tribunal is allowed.

But in denying BURI’s petition, the SC adopted its previous ruling where it described that R.A. No. 9284 as a general law applicable to all matters and controversies to be resolved through alternative dispute resolution methods.

While R.A. No. 9285 allows trial courts to grant interim or provision relief, including preliminary injunction to parties in arbitration cases prior to the constitution of the arbitral tribunal, the SC said it must give way to a special law governing national government projects, such as R.A. No. 8975.

“With respect to other matters raised.

‘Nurses’pay hike a new benchmark’

Du30 to certify CDC bill as urgent

By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Salary Grade 15 entry level position of nurses should be recognized as the new benchmark for compensation for all licensed health professionals in the government, said Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto.

If done, he said, it would make the current monthly base pay of P32,053 of an SG-15 nurse as their new minimum wage.

Recto said the pandemic has shown the bravery of other white coats in the trenches battling the virus and saving lives—and who deserve a pay raise.

For example, he said many medical technologists—those in hazmat suits who take samples and test them for COVID 19—are holding SG-11 items, with a monthly base pay of P22,316.

He said many radiologists and dietitian-nutritionists, PRC test passers like nurses, have also been marooned in SG11. “Mga stranded individuals din sila, denied of a ticket to a pay hike,” Recto said Recto added that the entry level pay of government dentists, which is SG-17’s P38,464 per month, should be increased, too, as the low pay contributes to the lack of dentists in the public health system, rendering it a “toothless entity.”

So that local governments can afford the increases as health services have been devolved to them, Recto said the Supreme Court ruling on the correct computation of the Internal Revenue Allotment must be implemented immediately.

“We must not valorize our frontliners with platitudes. They are best honored by providing them with PPE, better pay and support services, which they have earned for themselves with their sacrifices and selflessness. Making such a grant is the duty of the government, not merely a prerogative,” he said.

Entry-level nurses in the government, many of whom are now in the frontlines against COVID-19, will now be entitled to P32,053 to P34,801 monthly, from previously only P22,316 to P24,391.

The increase will also cover nurses, regardless of whether they are occupying regular, casual or contractual positions, full-time or part-time, in national government agencies, including state colleges and universities and government corporations, and local government units.

SKATE PARK. The city government of Manila has built the Vitas Skate Park in Tondo, envisioned to help mold future skateboarding champions. Inset photo shows a skateboarder performing a jump as his colleagues look on during the celebration of the World Go Skateboarding Day 2019 at Liwasang Bonifacio in Lawton, Manila. Norman Cruz / Manila PIO

WHO, UNICEF, DOH resume polio campaign in PH

By Willie Casas THE Department of Health, with support from the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund, is resuming its Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio campaign to combat the poliovirus outbreak in the Philippines.

The polio immunization campaign was put on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The next phase of the Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio campaign in the whole of Mindanao will start on 20 July and last until 2 August 2020 for children under 5 years old. Children under 10 years old in selected areas in Mindanao will also re-

Bill protecting online customers ok’d

By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives’ Committee on Trade and Industry has approved a bill creating the Electronic Commerce Bureau to protect online consumers and merchants.

“This bill seeks to regulate all businessto-business and business-to-consumer commercial transactions conducted over the internet, including those related to internet retail, online travel, online media, ride hailing services, and digital financial services,” Valenzuela Rep. Wes Gatchalian, the panel chairman, said.

The committee-approved measure will not cover consumer-to-consumer transactions, or those considered petty, one-off, or occasional low value transactions.

The proposed law also makes online platforms, including Lazada, Shopee, and Zalora, solidarily liable with their own merchants if these platforms fail to exercise ordinary diligence; know or should

have known that items in their platform do not comply with law, and they fail to take necessary measures; fail to publish the details of their merchants as required under the bill; or if they permit an online merchant, not duly registered with the appropriate regulatory agencies, to offer its goods and services for sale through their platform.

Gatchalian’s bill also makes it illegal to cancel orders for food and/or grocery items made via a ride-hailing service when the said items have already been paid by or is already in the possession of the ride hailing service partner or in transit to the consumer. It will also be illegal to “unreasonably shame, demean, embarrass, or humiliate ride hailing service partners.”

A consumer, however, may cancel an order if the delivery of ordered food or grocery items was or will be delayed for at least an hour from the expected time of arrival due to the fault or negligence of the ride hailing service partner.

ceive polio drops.

Meanwhile, new polio immunization campaigns for children under 5 years old will begin in a phased approach in Region 3 (Central Luzon) on 20 July and in the provinces of Laguna, Cavite and Rizal in Region 4A in August.

DOH and the Centers for Health Development, together with WHO and UNICEF, have been preparing for the immunization campaign, addressing the special challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic through online orientations and planning with field teams.

“Continuous implementation of polio response amid the present health crisis we are facing is important as this will prevent

not only the debilitating effects of the disease, but also interrupt the transmission during a pandemic,” said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III. “Polio is a vaccine-preventable disease and we cannot let our gains over the years go to waste by deprioritizing our polio response. It is imperative for parents and caregivers to have their children vaccinated, while strictly adhering to infection prevention and control protocols, as we cannot afford to overwhelm our health system with another outbreak,” Duque said.

The Health Secretary added that a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach is critical in preventing the polio outbreak.

THE Bureau of Customs seized P2.6 million worth of fake cigarettes in Santiago, Isabela.

In a statement, the BOC said that customs agents raided a warehouse in Santiago, Isabela where 86 master cases of fake Marvel and Mighty cigarettes were found inside an abandoned truck.

“The goods were immediately confiscated by Customs for lack of permit

and violation of Customs laws, rules and regulations,” the agency said.

The BOC reiterates its commitment to prevent the entry of smuggled and fake goods as the same may have serious effects on the health of unknowing users as well as the impact it will have on legitimate manufacturers and importers.

Local officials, police and the Bureau of Internal Revenue were also part of the raid, the BOC said.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will soon certify as urgent a bill which creates a Center for Disease Control and Prevention to institutionalize the country’s health emergency framework, with an integrated concept of rapid-onset risks and decisive intervention.

Crafted by House Ways and Means chairman Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, with 166 co-authors, House Bill No. 6096 is considered historic in scope, being the country’s first bill to incorporate all key elements of health emergency management.

Salceda filed the proposal for the creation of the CDC in January and the measure is now pending with the House committee on health.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III earlier expressed support for the passage of the bill, which was made more relevant by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I thank the President for his openness to certifying the bill as urgent. This is a bill with 166 co-authors, so once we get it moving, it will pass very quickly,” Salceda said.

“The bill institutionalizes the interagency approach that the government, through the IATF, has done, but it provides a step-by-step blueprint for grand planning during pandemics. One of our weaknesses during this crisis is a systems-based view of the problem. We do individual interventions, but during system-wide risks like pandemics, you need system-wide solutions,” Salceda added.

The country, with its tropical location, large population and fast rate of urbanization, and a highly mobile transborder population—OFWs, tourists, foreign workers—is especially prone to communicable diseases, both emerging reemerging, threatening public health safety, said Salceda.

He said quick and decisive intervention is not expected out of a bureaucracy, thus the need for a high-level public institution imbued with the capacity, the competencies, the ecosystem, and the authority to decisively confront health risks, and enable development to proceed.

MPTC introduces ‘no contact entry’ with EasyTrip With concrete plans to implement an RFID-only policy before the year ends, the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation has shown that it values the health and safety of both the motorists and their employees above all else.

“We intend to deliver on our commit-

ment to public service,” said Celeste Pia Alimon, MPTC Asst. Vice President for Branding & Communication.

“The no-contact entries and exits on NLEX, SCTEX, CAVITEX, C-5 Southlink and CALAX minimize the risk of exposure to the virus.”

BOC seizes P2.6-m fake cigarettes

By Vito Barcelo

We note that most of the parties’ factual allegations and counter-allegations already touch upon the merits of the main controversy, i.e. the propriety of respondent’s termination of the MRT3 contract, “ the SC said.

“We deem it best to refrain from ruling on this issue and the matters surrounding it since they should be threshed out and litigated in the appropriate arbitration proceedings between parties,” it added.

The Department of Transportation had terminated its contract with BURI in 2017 due to numerous service interruptions which it blamed on the Korean-Filipino maintenance provider.

NO CONTACT. Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation has launched Easytrip Lane, the no-

contact entries and exits on NLEX, SCTEX, CAVITEX, C-5 Southlink and CALAX which MPTC officials said would “minimize the risk of exposure” to the novel coronavirus.

The leading tollway developer in the country holds good on its promise of “malasakit” for its partners and public with its new product, the now-available and easily accessible Easytrip Stick-ItYourself RFID. Launched by Easytrip, a subsidiary of MPTC, the Easytrip Stick-It-Yourself RFID can be conveniently purchased online from Shopee and Lazada.

With the heightened anxiety bordering on paranoia brought about by the public health crisis, MPTC has encouraged people to go cashless. “The less contact, the better,” said Alimon. “Motorists’ safety is paramount.”

In a pandemic world, reducing the practice of handling cash significantly cuts down on the spread of the virus. Today, a tool like the Easytrip Stick-It-Yourself RFID has become even more relevant.

With the rise of the new normal, the value of digital payments has become very timely and comes highly recommended by the World Health Organization.

Earlier, the government’s top transport official, DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade, called for maximized “digitization” of tollway transactions in a bid to reduce virus transmission. Alimon said that MPTC’s RFID sticker aptly contributes to meeting government’s goals.

To ensure a seamless transition into a new way of doing things, Easytrip’s R&D team spearheaded the first phase of development. Using questions such as “can we buy our RFID card and install it ourselves?” and “can we give it to someone as a gift?” as a springboard, the company was able to create a product that went beyond addressing these initial concerns.

LGUs

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

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TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2020

Mayor to charge barangay officials

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

CHURCH REOPENS.

The historic church at the Parish of San Francisco de Malabon in General Trias City, Cavite finally reopens to parishioners on Sunday, but with new signs and physical distancing (inset) to ensure that churchgoers— admitted at just 10 percent of its capacity in accordance with government guidelines—do not catch the coronavirus while worshipping.

Dennis Abrina

Joy B: We’re not out to arrest QC people over virus

By Rio N. Araja QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Monday dismissed allegations that the city government is out to indiscriminately arrest quarantine violators amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“I’m sorry if they caused so much misunderstanding or apprehension, and they alarmed a lot of people.

But really, the intent is precisely to inform the public. These are your rights. This is the way things should be,” said the mayor, who herself tested positive for COVID-19.

She was referring to her July 13 memorandum listing guidelines to “ensure humane and uniform protocols” in the enforcement of health measures.

Under the memo, a peace officer or a private person may arrest without a warrant a person caught violating health-related ordinances.

Those who have just committed an offense may also be arrested if the officer “has probable cause to believe, based on personal knowledge of facts or circumstances, that the person to be arrested has committed it.”

THE Manila city government continues to go after local officials who violate quarantine protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso said on Monday.

Domagoso said a barangay chairman was recently charged for being involved in illegal cockfighting in Tondo, while some barangay officials were caught drinking alcoholic beverages outside their homes.

“For the chairman we charged, they were caught cockfighting and we got witnesses that they really engaged in cockfighting during the GCQ (general community quarantine) in a small alleyway in Tondo," Domagoso said without naming the official.

“For the other official, we saw on video that barangay officials were drinking on the street, while the sun is still out. So, we continue to castigate these irresponsible barangay officials, while at the same time praising the others," he added.

Domagoso instructed Manila Police District (MPD) Director Police Brig. Gen. Rolando Miranda and the local police commanders to constantly monitor the situation in the 896 barangays of the city.

Last week, 34 parents of minors who have allegedly violated quarantine measures were arrested by police. Some city residents were seen ignoring social distancing measures and the proper wearing of face masks in public places amid the health crisis, the mayor noted.

Willie Casas

Isko appeals for testing donations

By Willie Casas

M

ANILA Mayor Francisco "Isko" Domagoso on Monday appealed for donations to the city government to sustain the operations of the city's free COVID-19 walk-in and drive-thru testing centers.

More than 1,500 persons have been tested in the city's drive-thru testing centers, Domagoso said.

Donations to the city government will be used to buy more reagents needed to test more blood samples taken from patients, he said.

The city's testing areas are open for both Manila City residents and non-residents, as

the city is promoting an inclusive approach in battling the coronavirus pandemic.

"I want every Manileño to be good people to others, like how Manila is trying to be a good neighbor to other cities," Domagoso said. “Let’s embrace as many as we can (for testing). We cannot survive alone.

We will get through this challenge.”

Currently, the Quirino Grandstand

drive-thru area has a capacity of 700 tests a day, while the Lawton drivethru area can do 200 tests a day. They operate from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the mayor said.

On Monday, the City government also opened its first walk-in testing center at the Ospital ng Sampaloc.

Like the drive-thru testing sites, the walk-in testing center is also open to both residents and non- residents of Manila.

Results from the COVID-19 tests taken at these facilities are released within 24 hours by the Manila Health Department (MHD) through SMS or text messaging.

THE city government of Paranaque has urged residents to fully cooperate in the government's campaign against the coronavirus disease as the city’s number of confirmed cases is nearing the 2,000 mark.

“At this critical moment, I’m appealing again to my constituents to come together to defeat this terrible disease. Each of us has role to play, whether through unselfishness or humanity,” said Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

This developed as the entire legislative building of City Hall will be temporarily closed from Monday to Wednesday to give way for containment and disinfection activities.

Olivarez said the following offices were closed: • All offices of the judiciary and other National Government Agencies • All offices of Sangguniang Panglungsod • Treasurer's Office • Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO).

Barangay BF Homes, where the biggest subdivision in the country is located, still has the highest number of confirmed cases at 306, with an additional 11 cases in just three days, according to Dr. Darius Sebastian of the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit.

The active cases in BF Homes have reached 184 with 11 fatalities, the highest recorded deaths among the city’s 16 barangays.

Bataan liquor ban still in effect: SP BALANGA CITY, Bataan—The Bataan provincial government said the provincial liquor ban passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), one way to counter the spread of COVID-19, is still in effect.

The provincial board presided over by Vice Gov. Cris Garcia adopted the liquor ban resolution on May 6.

The ordinance was unanimously approved by the members of the SP led by Garcia, and will continue to be effective until such time the provincial board would adopt another resolution ceasing the ban’s implementation, according to the advisory issued by the provincial government.

"For the purpose of strict physical distancing and promoting health practices, I authored the provincial liquor ban ordinance," said Board Member Popoy Del Rosario earlier.

"I always take guidance from Vice Gov. Garcia and my other colleagues at the provincial board in drafting ordinances I am authoring," he added.

Butch Gunio

DENR-2 beefs up solid waste drive

Olivares renews plea for P’que to fight COVID

By Joel E. Zurbano

IN BRIEF

LGU AWARD. San Pablo City Mayor Loreto Amben Amante (right) receives the city’s recognition for being adjudged as

Outstanding Local Government Unit 2020 for Police-Community Relations (PCR), provincial level, from guest of honor and speaker Brig. Gen. Alex S. Rillera, Commander of the 202nd Infantry (Unifier) Brigade (center) of the Philippine Army. Looking on is Laguna Provincial Director Police Col. Serafin F. Petalio at the flag ceremony at Camp BGen. Paciano Rizal, Brgy. Bagumbayan, Sta. Cruz Laguna. Roy Tomandao

Bulacan cops lauded for clampdown on gambling

By Orlan L. Mauricio MALOLOS CITY—Central Luzon Police Regional Commander Brig. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia has lauded the efforts of police operatives in clamping down on illegal gambling activities in Bulacan.

Gambling in any form is outlawed while the province remains under gen-

eral community quarantine (GCQ) with the number of persons infected with the coronavirus rising by the day.

Based on a report by Bulacan police provincial commander Col. Lawrence Cajipe, 21 were arrested in anti-gambling operations conducted over the weekend in the cities of San Jose Del Monte (SJDM) and Meycauayan and in Pandi town.

Sermonia said the police crackdown was intensified amid an alarming rise in the number of persons infected by the COVID-19 disease in the three cities and 21 towns of Bulacan.

As of July 19, the total confirmed positive cases in the province has reached 870 with 547 active cases and 2 new cases. Death toll has remained at 41 for several weeks now.

TUGUEGARAO CITY—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 2 has reminded the agency officials of the use of locally produced reusable water bottles instead of the prohibited single-use plastics such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles in line with measures on solid waste management.

Gwendolyn Bambalan, DENR Region 2 executive director, said in their executive committee meeting that environment officers in the region should be proactive in promoting environmental management, particularly within the regional government center here.

“Let us encourage other government agencies to be role models on cleanliness and proper waste disposal,” Bambalan said.

To intensify solid waste management, she said the DENR and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) will be preparing mechanisms to promote environmental management among government agencies within the government center.

Bambalan noted that as the lead and oversight agency in the implementation of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, the EMB was ordered to strictly monitor the compliance with the law of local government units and other government agencies. Brenda Jocson

CIAC poised to improve Clark Airport control tower, light system CLARK FREEPORT—The Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) will improve the facilities of the airport here, including its control tower and ground light system to complement the opening of its new passenger terminal next year.

Ret. Gen. Aaron Aquino, president of CIAC, said the improvement includes upgrading the airfield ground lighting system worth P500 million and the airport control tower, an 18-story building amounting to P375 million.

Aquino said the funds for the projects were provided for under the General Appropriation Act of 2020 under the account of the government-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

CIAC is a subsidiary of BCDA. A ccording to Aquino, the construction of the multimillion projects will start within a few months after the public bidding.

The changes would dovetail with the opening of the new P12.55-billion

passenger terminal, designed to accommodate 8 million travelers a year.

The passenger terminal was to open this year, but the coronavirus pandemic forced its postponement to 2021. The project, which started in April 2018, is now 95 percent finished, Aquino said.

The privatized operation and maintenance of Clark International Airport is now run by Luzon International Premier Airport Development Corporation (LIPAD).

Earlier, the CIAC board of directors

approved the appointment of Irish Calaguas as the new Vice President for Airport Operation and Management Group (AOMG) during their recent regular meeting.

Calaguas holds a master’s degree in education from the Philippines Women University (PWU) and is an expert on local and national government management policies.

“IC” to colleague and friends, Calaguas was a former reporter based in Pampanga. Romeo Dizon

Opinion Big energy fight in Iloilo EAGLE EYES

TONY LA VIÑA THE Panay Electric Company (PECO) has been the power service provider of Iloilo City since the early 1920s. In 1994, its franchise expired but was again renewed via a fresh 25-year franchise as the sole power distributor in the city. With the passage of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) carrying with it the mandate that Electric Distribution Utilities can no longer produce power but only buy from power suppliers, PECO sold its stake in the Panay Power Corporation (PPC) and shut down its diesel-generating units to primarily focus on sourcing of power and distributing it to the consumers of Iloilo City.

Why let a rookie bypass a veteran player in the middle of a crucial game?

In January 18, 2019, PECO’s franchise expired. In the interim, to avoid power interruption, the Energy Regulatory Commission granted a provisional Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) allowing PECO to continue distributing power in Iloilo City.

The problem started when, on February 14, 2019, President Duterte signed into law Republic Act 11212 granting More Power Electric Corp. (MORE) owned by billionaire Enrique Razon, the franchise to distribute power in Iloilo City. This notwithstanding PECO’s protestations that it has been bypassed for franchise renewal. According to PECO administrative manager Marcelo Cacho, PECO has been waiting for the schedule of its franchise renewal hearing since last year, but no schedule was given despite "constant follow-ups." Inexplicably, PECO’s application was denied by Congress even before PECO could submit its supporting documents and data to back up its franchise renewal bid.

It is apparent that in granting the distribution franchise to MORE, the legislature has not accorded PECO the right to defend its 95-year track record as a power distributor in Iloilo. Its application was denied perfunctorily even before the old power distributor could submit documents and data in its defense. This smacks of a denial of due process. Elementary due process dictates that PECO should at least been given the opportunity to defend its record.

PECO is an experienced veteran in the field of power distribution with almost a

century under its sleeve. It has all its facilities in place and readily installed that could be utilized to continue its service of providing electricity to the Ilonggos. On the other hand, MORE is an upstart with no facilities in place in the locality; hence, it has to acquire the assets of PECO to even start its power distribution operations. In its bid to expropriate the facilities of PECO in order to start providing power, MORE has betrayed its inability to perform the conditions of its franchise. This PECO is now questioning—the authority of MORE under its franchise to acquire the assets of PECO, as the Razon company has now initiated that process.

It is obvious by now that granting franchise to MORE, a neophyte in the game of power distribution, is ill-thought of and myopic, to say the least. Why let a rookie bypass a veteran player in the middle of a crucial game? A basketball coach worth his grain of salt would never do such a thing.

As Cito Beltran wrote in his Philippine Star column in 2018: "How on earth can a 90-year-old-plus company that went from the ground up in power distribution covering 64 square kilometers of Iloilo City and with an investment of P1.7 billion pesos in its operation simply be taken over by a mining firm whose only possible ace card would be the billions it can tap into from sister companies engaged in gambling and port operations. The would-be competitor for the franchise does not have the track record, history, or logistics on the ground that would make them a legitimate aspirant for such a takeover. If the Panay franchise were subject to bidding in a fair and square process, MORE Inc. would automatically be disqualified on the basis of having no experience in power distribution."

Sadly, that is precisely what Congress did when it passed R.A. 11212 and ousted PECO. Understandably, irate Iloilo residents are venting their anger on social media over the almost daily prolonged power interruptions; the city council lamenting the effects of these brownouts on the economy, which is already reeling under the weight of the extended community quarantines. According to some residents, the brownouts they are now experiencing are worse than those they experienced under PECO. Should MORE emerge as the sole electricity provider in the city, to sideline PECO, Iloilo City will be back on square one to the utter detriment of the Ilonggos who can only cry out—Walang liwanag ang bukas!! (There is no light tomorrow.)

In Part 2 of this column, I will write about the legal and policy issues at stake here as it has serious implications on Philippine energy policy not just for Iloilo but for the country.

Website: tonylavina.com Facebook: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

Political dynasties must go ABOUT TOWN

ERNESTO M. HILARIO SEN. Franklin Drilon is right: President Rodrigo Duterte should do away with political dynasties as the key step in getting rid of the oligarchy that uses economic power to take control of the political system.

Why? Because political dynasties “have made our national and local offices extensions of their household.”

“We must review the whole structure, because the structure may in fact or make oligarchy easy to achieve…The lack of an anti-dynasty system or provision in our system allows oligarchy to continue,” Drilon pointed out.

“They wield power for their own benefit. It has gone so bad that these dynasties now hold simultaneous national and local positions... Oligarchy is bad for our governance and, therefore, as a policy, yes, we should adopt policies to prevent or dismantle these oligarchies. But, let’s make sure that the oligarchs are not substituted by cronies,” he explained.

Duterte must start in his own backyard.

He has established his own political dynasty. His daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio now serves as Davao City mayor while her brother Sebastian “Baste” Duterte is the vice mayor. Meanwhile, another son, Paolo Duterte, represents the 1st District of Davao City and is also a Deputy Speaker in the House of Representatives.

The Duterte family dynasty traces its origins to the time when his father Vicente served as governor of the then-unified province of Davao. The son eventually served in Davao City—as mayor and representative for one term—for 22 long, long years.

Here’s what the 1987 Constitution’s

Declaration of Principles and State Policies in Article II explicitly provides: “The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.” But by leaving the matter of prohibiting political dynasties to members of the legislature, many of whom come from established political families, the framers of the 1987 Constitution doomed the enterprise to epic failure.

The President must start in his own backyard.

The problem is that the members of Congress who are themselves part of political dynasties do not want to lose the power and influence they wield over their constituencies.

With political power, these entrenched politicians also wield economic power as they are able to accumulate wealth over time, whether through legitimate means or through corruption.

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno is also among those who want Congress to pass an anti-dynasty law. “There are no ifs or buts, the 1987 Constitution prohibits political dynasties. Unfortunately, the Constitution gave Congress the power to enact laws in order to implement this constitutional prohibition in 1987,” he said.

“Instead of eliminating the dynasties, Congress has allowed them to flourish and to multiply. They are now reigning supreme in all our provinces, cities and municipalities. Their number must have broken a Guinness world record,” he added.

It's not just Drilon and Puno who do not members of the same families to dominate public office for years on end.

I recall that in 2018, leaders of premier

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2020

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EDITORIAL

Bigger tasks at hand nor said. “I would rather focus on bigger problems such as effectively managing the COVID crisis, supporting education, Caviteños who have lost their jobs, transportation and unite the people by working on effective solutions towards recovery.”

We might add that government resources—including the NBI’s time—might be better spent on going after real criminals that do real damage to the fabric of our society, than to address a politician’s hurt feelings or to issue subpoenas to online critics.

The governor continued: “Dissent and varying opinions are the very fabric of our political culture. We are a better nation because we are able to freely express ourselves, responsibly.”

Governor Remulla said that in these times, leaders should listen and understand the sentiments of their people and not use an iron fist against them.

The late US President John F. Kennedy expressed a similar sentiment decades ago, when he said: “A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.”

(NBI) to look into the proliferation of video footage of him taking notes while the national anthem was being played before a congressional hearing on the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise, calling this a case of cyber bullying.

The younger Remulla had expressed his disappointment in a letter addressed to his brother, which he posted on his Facebook account..

“We have attended countless flag ceremonies together in the capitol. We have always come on time. We have always treated people with respect. We have always stood and held our hands to our chest. That wasn’t The governor of Cavite, Jonvic Remulla, you on the Batasan floor. You were never seems to understand this. In a social media like that,” he said in his post. post, he said there are bigger problems to solve The congressman apologized for the inthan the gnashgabs who lurk on the internet. cident but accused “ABS-CBN people” of "Is trash talking enough to threaten and playing it up and circulating it on social mesubject netizens to an inquest? Social media is dia and asked the NBI to investigate the posts. full of this. How can one discern words with The governor did not refer to his brother, ill-intent from that of a joke?" Remulla said, however—or any other politician—when he without referring to any particular instance. said in a separate post that there were bigger Remulla’s own brother, Cavite 7th District fish to fry than online smellfunguses.

Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla, had only recent“I am man enough not to be overly senly asked the National Bureau of Investigation sitive nor be easily offended,” the gover-

W

ITH the COVID-19 pandemic still raging, the mark of a true leader would be to ignore the brickbats that come with public service, and to focus on the more important tasks at hand. How do we keep people safe? And how do we create jobs for those who have lost them as a result of the pandemic?

Sotto voce LAST week the indestructible Mayor Chavit Singson, now president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP), threw the support of the country’s 1,400plus mayors behind a couple of Constitutional reforms being advocated by DILG: constitutionalizing the Supreme Court’s Mandanas ruling, and relaxing restrictions on foreign investment.

More predictably, Senate President Sotto last Sunday reiterated his longstanding position that there are more urgent items on the Senate’s agenda. But this time he did us the courtesy of enumerating what those items are: a second Bayanihan “Heal as One” bill, the long-pending CITIRA tax reform, and bills to provide more benefits to solo parents and (finally) reorganize the coconut levy fund.

These are important measures, to be sure.

But they are neither urgent nor numerous enough to justify ignoring something as important as reforming the Supreme Law of the land.

Solo parents will cheer their bill, for one, but the Republic will neither rise nor fall over it. The coco levy fund legislation has gone through a protracted period of ups and downs; the current version claims to address issues raised by the President when he vetoed the last attempt. It’s important, but it’s focused on just one sector, at a time when the pandemic exposed the structural weakness of the entire economy and bureaucracy.

CITIRA is a wider-ranging, likewise-delayed economic reform bill intended to revive overall business activity; it deserves to be prioritized. And a second Bayanihan bill is likewise urgent, although it may need to be scaled down for fiscal prudence. Both bills must be passed urgently in the wake of the economic damage wrought by lockdown. For once, we can expect the glacially slow Senate to send them out within, say, 1-2 months. Any longer than that may be too late for the sick patient.

But after that, what does the Senate do?

schools of government and development management had expressed support for the ban on political dynasties.

Among these were the Ateneo School of Government, University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Government, AIM Stephen Zuellig Graduate School of Development Management, Philippine Institute for Development Studies, and Jesse M. Robredo Institute of Governance. These institutions do serious research on political and economic issues.

They agreed with the stand of 13 lawmakers who had signed the Senate committee on electoral reforms and people's participation's report banning political dynasties.

The senators, they said, "have broken an over 25-year-old impasse on a key reform by supporting political dynasty regulation...This is a reform that the 1987 Constitution called for our leaders to pass into a law in order to prevent the monopoly of political power."

The Senate bill aimed to prohibit immediate and extended relatives from running for public office to succeed or replace or simultaneously seek a post as an incumbent relative in the same area, among others.

The Church also frowns on political dynasties. Manila Archdiocese Apostolic Administrator, Bishop Broderick

investment—ought to be a no-brainer. If anything, it’s very relevant to our pandemic problem. We need more investment to revive our enfeebled economy, more specifically in two areas of lockdown concern.

One is investment in the provinces to create the jobs that will attract, and keep, people leaving Metro Manila under Duterte’s Balik-Probinsya program. The other is investment to create more jobs for returning OFWs, estimated to number a million this year. As they flee the rest of the world, especially from host countries in the Middle East that were also hit by the current slump in oil prices, we should be creating opportunities for this pool of highly-skilled and experienced repatriate labor. *** Even before the pandemic, we were already the lowest recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI/GDP ratio) in the region.

Not coincidentally, we also had the lowest-rated infrastructure among the large ASEAN countries, and were the only Asian country to fail to cut its poverty rate by half in the last 25 years.

Today the US and Japanese companies who are already fleeing China are relocating elsewhere in Asia, but not a single one of them to the Philippines. And yet a leftist party-lister who sits in the senior leadership of the House has dismissed the relaxation of foreign investor restrictions as “utterly preposterous and should be junked.”

Why would any decent legislator want to preserve economic policies that have self-evidently helped to keep us in poverty for so long? It is this poverty that has been rightly indicted as the main reason why our country is today the only one afflicted by what is now the longest-running Maoist rebellion in the world. Should we worry that this explains why party-lists like his appear to be espousing a pro-poverty, pro-rebellion agenda?

FORMATION

GARY OLIVAR Shouldn’t we expect all those 24 immensely talented and hard-working individuals to keep themselves busy for our people? *** Because idle hands are the devil’s work, the honorable senators might wish to then turn their attention to those Constitutional reforms.

Idle hands are the devil’s work.

If they want to ignore constitutionalizing Mandanas, I can live with that. After all, it’s already a Supreme Court ruling. One problem, though, is that the ruling might precipitate a larger budget deficit because it includes in local governments’ internal revenue allocation (IRA) the fees and taxes collected by Customs. To avoid such a deficit, the Finance Department is authorized to reduce the overall IRA share. Not for the first time, two admirable public policy initiatives may end up butting heads.

To head off that impasse, Constitutional reformers are also advocating the empowerment of regional development councils (RDCs) as a first step towards federalism.

If the national government agrees to transfer some of its own powers to local government through the RDCs, together with the Mandanas funds, then overall fiscal balance is maintained while preserving quality of public services.

The other reform singled out for LMP’s support—relaxing restrictions on foreign

Pabillo, wants to give others the chance to serve in public office. During the campaign for the 2019 midterm polls, he said: “Do not vote for those who belong to political dynasties. Political dynasties thrive because we vote for them...Let us take time to know the candidates. Certain criteria can be used to shift the good from the worthless or the trapos (traditional politicians). As voters, let us show the politicians that we are better than them. We have better sense than them, we are more discerning. Let us show them that we know how to choose.”

In the same vein, we ask now: Has the Philippines ran out of qualified and competent public officials that the same families who have been lording it over at the national and local levels for many years now want to continue to dominate the country's political system in the years to come?

We note with dismay that efforts in the past to prohibit political dynasties as provided in the 1987 Constitution have led to nowhere as the very same people from dominant political families in the legislature thumbed down every bill to this effect.

We need to move closer to a level playing field in Philippine politics and governance. It's something long overdue.

Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@ yahoo.com.

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Restoring the DOJ’s respectability COVID-19: UN and humanitarian partners lending a hand to the most vulnerable Filipinos

by Gustavo Gonzalez

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Astrophysicists Iran executes man convicted of spying for CIA, Mossad unveil biggest 3D universe map ASTROPHYSICISTS on Monday published the largest-ever 3D map of the Universe, the result of an analysis of more than four million galaxies and ultra-bright, energy-packed quasars.

The efforts of hundreds of scientists from around 30 institutions worldwide have yielded a “complete story of the expansion of the universe,” said Will Percival of the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada.

In the project launched more than two decades ago, the researchers made “the most accurate expansion history measurements over the widest-ever range of cosmic time,” he said in a statement.

The map relies on the latest observations of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), titled the “extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey” (eBOSS), with data collected from an optical telescope in New Mexico over six years.

The infant Universe following the Big Bang is relatively well known through extensive theoretical models and observation of cosmic microwave background—the electromagnetic radiation of the nascent cosmos.

Studies of galaxies and distance measurements also contributed to a better understanding of the Universe’s expansion over billions of years.

But Kyle Dawson of the University of Utah, who unveiled the map on Monday, said the researchers tackled a “troublesome gap in the middle 11 billion years.”

Through “five years of continuous observations, we have worked to fill in that gap, and we are using that information to provide some of the most substantial advances in cosmology in the last decade,” he said. AFP

IRAN on Monday executed a former translator convicted of spying on its forces for the US and Israel, including help to locate a top Iranian general killed later in a US drone strike.

“Mahmoud Mousavi Majd’s sentence was carried out on Monday morning over the charge of espionage so that the case of his betrayal to his country will be closed forever,” the judiciary’s Mizan Online website reported.

Majd had spied “on various security fields, especially the armed forces and the Quds Force and the whereabouts and movements of martyr General Qasem Soleimani,” judiciary spokeswoman Gholamhossein Esmaili told a news conference earlier this month.

Majd had been found guilty of receiving large sums of money from both the US Central Intelligence Agency and Israel’s Mossad, Esmaili said.

Soleimani headed the Quds Force, the foreign operations arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, and was killed in January in a US drone strike near Baghdad airport.

Iran retaliated by firing a volley of ballistic missiles at US troops stationed in Iraq, but US President Donald Trump opted against responding militarily.

While the attack on the western Iraqi base of Ain Al-Asad left no US soldiers dead, dozens suffered brain trauma.

Trump calls Biden ‘not competent’ P In this handout photograph taken and released on July 20 by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, an H-2A rocket carrying the Hope Probe known as “Al-Amal” in Arabic, developed by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center in the United Arab Emirates to explore Mars, blasts off from Tanegashima Space Centre in southwestern Japan. AFP

Nokor’s Kim berates officials over hospital NORTH Korean leader Kim Jong Un berated officials for their “careless” construction of a flagship hospital in Pyongyang and ordered those responsible to be sacked, state media reported Monday.

The North has long used giant infrastructure projects to try to burnish the government’s credibility, including housing developments in Pyongyang and the continuing Wonsan-Kalma tourism development, but critics say speed is often prioritized over quality.

The latest scheme is the Pyongyang General Hospital, in a prime location across the Taedong river from Mansu hill, where giant statues of the North’s founder Kim Il Sung and his son and successor Kim Jong Il—father of the current leader—look out over the capital.

Completion is scheduled for October 10 to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party, and Kim called its construction a “crucial task” for the country’s public health program at a groundbreaking ceremony in March.

But after being briefed on the progress during a visit to the construction site, Kim “pointed out serious problems,” the official KCNA news agency reported.

The commission in charge had organized the finances “in a careless manner with no budget for the construction properly set up,” Kim was quoted as saying. AFP

Majd had migrated to Syria in the 1970s with his family and worked as an English and Arabic language translator at a company, Mizan said.

When war broke out, he chose to stay in the country while his family left.

“His knowledge of Arabic and familiarity with Syria’s geography made him close to Iranian military advisers and he took responsibilities in groups stationed from Idlib to Latakia,” the site added. AFP

First Arab space mission to Mars launches from Japan THE first Arab space mission to Mars, an unmanned probe dubbed “Hope,” blasted off from Japan on Monday, in a bid to reveal more about the atmosphere of the Red Planet.

The Japanese rocket carrying the probe developed by the United Arab Emirates lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Centre in southern Japan right on schedule at 6:58 a.m. local time.

The launch of the probe, known as “AlAmal” in Arabic, had twice been delayed because of bad weather, but the Monday liftoff appeared smooth and successful.

Almost exactly one hour later, a live

feed showed people applauding in the Japanese control room as the probe successfully detached.

“The launch vehicle trajectory was executed as planned and separation of the Hope spacecraft was confirmed,” rocket manufacturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said.

In Dubai, the launch was met with rapturous excitement, with the Burj Khalifa—the world’s tallest skyscraper—lit up hours before liftoff with a symbolic 10-second countdown in anticipation.

“This mission is an important milestone for the UAE and the region,” said Yousuf Hamad AlShaibani, director of

the UAE’s Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, at a post-launch press conference in Japan.

“It has already inspired millions of youth regionally to dream big and work hard to achieve what seems to be impossible,” he said.

The Emirati project is one of three racing to Mars, including Tianwen-1 from China and Mars 2020 from the United States, taking advantage of a period when the Earth and Mars are nearest.

In October, Mars will be a comparatively close 62.07 million kilometers from Earth, according to NASA. AFP

Pirates in west Africa kidnap tanker’s crew

RECORD FLOODING. This aerial photo taken on July 19 shows water released from the Xiaolangdi Reservoir Dam in Luoyang in China’s central Henan province, in preparation of the upcoming annual flood season at the Yellow River basin. (Inset) The 700-year old Guanyin temple can be seen in the swollen Yangtze River in China’s central Hubei province. Heavy rains since June have left at least 141 people dead and missing, forced nearly 15 million people to be evacuated from their homes in July alone, and caused billions of dollars in economic losses, according to the government. AFP

PIRATES have kidnapped over a dozen Ukrainian and Russian crew members on a Greek-owned tanker off the coast of Benin in west Africa, the company said Monday.

The Gulf of Guinea, which includes the Nigerian coast, is among the world’s most dangerous waters as pirates regularly loot ships and kidnap sailors for ransom.

Alison Management Corp said the MV Curacao Trader “was attacked by pirates approximately 210 miles off the coast of Benin on 17th July.”

“Thirteen out of its 19 Ukrainian and Russian crew members have been taken hostage by the pirates. As a result the ship is currently drifting with limited manpower on board,” the Athens-based company said.

Alison Management said a refrigerated carrier owned by the company had been sent to assist the tanker, adding that “no effort shall be spared” to secure the crew’s release.

AFP

RESIDENT Donald Trump assailed likely opponent Joe Biden as “not competent” to lead the United States, speaking as polls over the weekend showed deepening voter disenchantment with his own handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

“He’s shot, he’s mentally shot,” Trump said about Biden in a wide-ranging interview with “Fox News Sunday.”

He said that if Biden is elected on November 3, he will “destroy this country.”

Facing the multiple challenges of a spreading pandemic, racial unrest and a struggling economy, Trump made several unfounded or highly speculative accusations against the former vice president, saying Biden would “triple your taxes” and “defund the police.”

He added broadly that “religion will be gone,” referring to Democratic officials banning large church services to stem the virus spread.

Asked whether he would accept the election result in November, even if he loses, Trump echoed his position of 2016, saying, “I have to see ... I’m not going to just say yes.”

The interview, which was taped in advance, came as new polling results showed support for Biden increasing as doubts about Trump’s handling of the pandemic grew amid a resurgence of infections in many states.

Interviewer Chris Wallace told the president that a new Fox opinion poll showed Biden with a substantial lead over Trump not only on his ability to manage the pandemic (with a 17-point edge) and to deal with racial unrest (by 21 points), but even—by a single point—on handling the economy, long a Trump strong point.

And a new Washington Post-ABC News poll has Biden leading Trump among registered voters nationwide by a resounding 15-point margin, 55-to-40 percent.

Trump dismissed such polling as “fake,” saying White House surveys show him winning both nationally and in key swing states.

He repeatedly pummeled Biden, who has kept a relatively low profile amid the restraints imposed by the pandemic. AFP

Deadly virus spreading in jails in Egypt—HRW AT LEAST 14 prisoners have died from likely COVID-19 complications in scantly-monitored outbreaks of the disease at Egyptian detention centers, Human Rights Watch said Monday.

“At least 14 prisoners and detainees have died, most likely from COVID-19 complications, in 10 detention facilities as of July 15,” the rights groups said in a statement.

HRW based its report on witness accounts, leaked letters from prisons and reports by local rights groups.

“Prisons had insufficient medical care and virtually no access to testing for the virus or symptom screening,” it said.

Information about the health situation in Egyptian prisons is strictly controlled by the authorities.

HRW noted that Egypt had released some 13,000 prisoners since February, but this was “insufficient to ease overcrowding in congested prisons and jails.”

It urged authorities to ensure “adequate medical care” and to accelerate the release of prisoners.

“Prison authorities appear to have done no contact tracing measures and have done little to isolate prisoners who show symptoms,” HRW said.

Guards in at least three prisons had refused to allow inmates to source or wear masks, it added.

Egypt’s interior ministry has banned prison visits by inmates’ relatives since early March. AFP

Business

B3

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2020 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

EU attempts to save virus help plan as deaths surge BRUSSELS, Belgium―EU leaders will resume their fractious summit on Monday to save an $860-billion coronavirus aid plan, hoping to offset some of the economic destruction unleashed worldwide by the pandemic.

The disease has killed more than 600,000 people globally out of nearly 14.5 million known infections, and with new clusters across the planet, alarm is growing about the virus spreading out of control.

Europe remains the worst-hit continent, with more than 200,000 deaths, but there is bitter dispute among European Union leaders on how to help its worst-hit―and most indebted―members such as Italy and Spain.

“Are the 27 leaders, responsible for the people of Europe, capable of building European unity and trust?”

EU Council President Charles Michel asked the attending leaders, reminding them of the human cost of the crisis.

A handful of EU countries led by the Netherlands are reluctant to hand over such vast sums―750 billion euros― to nations they regard as profligate, particularly Spain and Italy.

The summit will resume at 1400 GMT on Monday.

Many countries in the continent had largely brought their outbreaks under control and were considering further easing of restrictions before fresh clusters were detected.

France has made face masks compulsory in public indoor spaces, Spain asks millions to stay at home again, while the German state of Bavaria said it would soon offer free virus tests at airports.

But an anti-mask demonstration in London on Sunday highlighted the challenge still facing authorities and health experts despite the mounting COVID-19 toll.

Dozens gathered to protest the face mask requirement in England’s shops and supermarkets, many of them holding banners with widely discredited conspiracy theories―such as coronavirus prevention measures being used for “mind control.” AFP

PSEi July 20, 2020 TOP GAINERS

TOP LOSERS Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel departs from a meeting at the EU summit, amid the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) in Brussels, Belgium on July 20, 2020. Leaders from 27 European Union nations met throughout the night of July 19 to assess an overall budget and recovery package spread over seven years estimated at some 1.75 trillion to 1.85 trillion euros. The summit will continue into its fourth day on Monday. AFP

Market gains on bargain hunting; URC, ALI climb T HE stock market rose Monday on bargain hunting, with investors picking up select stocks with growth prospects despite the pandemic.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index climbed 61.95 points, or 1 percent, to 6,150.70 on a lean value turnover of P3.1 billion. Gainers beat losers, 109 to 75, with 52 issues unchanged.

Universal Robina Corp., the biggest snack food maker, advanced 4 percent to P125.80, while major property developer Ayala Land Inc. rose 3.9 percent to P32.95.

Megawide Construction Corp. increased 3.6 percent to P7.50 after its partnership with GMR Infrastructure Ltd. of India secured the original proponent status from the government to develop the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

MacroAsia Corp., a major aviation support service provider owned by airline and tobacco tycoon Lucio Tan, jumped 11.5 percent to P5.63.

The rest of Asian equities were mixed Monday as a spike in new coronavirus infections across the planet forced governments to impose fresh containment measures, fueling fears about the stuttering economic recovery.

Shanghai jumped more than one percent, resuming a rally that saw the composite index jump around 15 percent in the first two weeks of July before a sharp drop last week.

Hong Kong and Tokyo were each 0.1 percent higher after reversing early losses, while there were also gains in Mumbai and Bangkok.

But Sydney and Jakarta slipped 0.5 percent, Singapore lost 0.4 percent and Wellington gave back 0.3 percent. Taipei and Seoul both lost 0.1 percent.

Traders are also keeping tabs on Europe, where leaders are struggling to unite over an $860-billion rescue package for the battered European Union.

The rally that has characterized equity markets since hitting a March low is showing signs of stalling as the pandemic rages, with new infections from Australia to the United States.

The spikes―Hong Kong saw a record

rise Sunday, while Florida’s has been described as “out of control”–have led leaders to unveil new measures to curb the disease’s spread, including closing bars and restaurants and making masks compulsory.

That has raised questions about the pace of the global economy’s recovery from an expected recession this year.

An index of US consumer sentiment last week showed it hit a three-month low in July.

“When coupled with the recent stickiness of jobless claims, the Michigan survey suggests some risk that the positive data surprises that dominated through June might have hit a brick wall,” said AxiCorp’s Stephen Innes.

Shane Oliver, of AMP Capital Investors, added: “Our base case remains for the economic recovery to continue, but for the deep V rebound evident in much recent data to give way to a slower, bumpier recovery going forward.

“Shares are still vulnerable to a further correction or consolidation, with renewed lockdowns and the US presidential election being the main risks.” With AFP

Facing joblessness and rising crime rate, New York hopes to reinvent itself again

By Catherine Triomphe NEW YORK―People fleeing town, widespread joblessness, a rising crime rate: the coronavirus pandemic has plunged New York into crisis, deeply concerning for many, but for others a

chance for this famously dynamic city to reinvent itself.

“We may be going through one of the most painful and exceptional moments in our history,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said Friday. “We may be going through profound social dislocation.”

People enjoy outside dining in a restaurant in Manhattan on July 18, 2020 in New York City. People fleeing town, widespread joblessness, a rising crime rate: the coronavirus pandemic has plunged New York into crisis, deeply concerning for many, but for others a chance for this famously dynamic city to reinvent itself. AFP

Income of Dubai’s largest bank drops DUBAI, United Arab Emirates―Emirates NBD, Dubai’s largest bank, said on Monday its net profits plunged in the second quarter as it made huge provisions to counter the potential impact of the coronavirus crisis.

The United Arab Emirates’ second-largest lender saw its net profit in the second quarter this year dive by 58 percent to $545 million from $1.3 billion a year ago.

Its net profit in the six months ending June 2020 also slumped by 45.3 percent to $1.1 billion from $2.0 billion the same period last year, it said in a statement.

The bank said it has set aside $1.14 billion in impairments for potential risks from the coronavirus pandemic.

“The Group increased impairment allowances... in anticipation of a potential deterioration in credit quality in subsequent quarters related to the coronavirus pandemic,” it said.

CEO Shayne Nelson said the bank provided support to one-tenth of customers primarily through the deferral of over $2.2 billion of interest and principal for periods of up to six months.

The UAE’s central bank said on April 5 that it had doubled to $70 billion a stimulus package aimed at supporting the economy and domestic banks in the face of the novel coronavirus pandemic. AFP

The epidemic has claimed more than 23,000 lives in America’s economic capital, making it the hardest-hit Western metropolis.

Despite a sharp drop in the number of cases since May, the city has limited its reopening amid fears that a surge of infections felling southern and western states could strike New York.

With tourism evaporating, office towers nearly deserted, many stores shuttered, unemployment at 20 percent, and city services trimmed: this metropolis of 8.5 million people, synonymous with crowds and consumerism, has become a muted version of its former self.

For the reopening of schools in September, city officials are planning on a maximum of three days of in-class time a week, frustrating parents desperate to return to normal work schedules.

And the crime rate, in decline since the mid-1990s, is surging: police have tallied 634 shootings and 203 murders since January, respective rises of 60 percent and 23 percent from the same 2019 period.

Against that background, many New Yorkers have fled the city, leaving thousands of vacant apartments behind.

Manhattan real estate rental prices declined slightly in this year’s second quarter for the first time in 10 years, according to the StreetEasy real estate website.

‘A perfect storm’ “This is a perfect storm, in some ways, of bad events,” said Kenneth Jackson, a Columbia University professor who specializes in the city’s history.

For Jackson, who left Manhattan for the countryside as the pandemic struck, today’s situation is reminiscent of the dark period in the 1970s and 1980s when New York, facing financial bankruptcy, was ravaged by crime and an exodus to the suburbs.

But like many New Yorkers, Jackson tries to keep matters in perspective.

New York, after all, survived the cholera epidemics of the 19th century and the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, after which some predicted that people would no longer want “to work in a tall building.”

And people are not fleeing urban hubs as they were in the 1970s.

“There’s been a rebirth of central cities,” Jackson said, as US crime rates

have fallen sharply and the quality of urban life has improved, with more personal, professional and entertainment opportunities.

‘Adjusting to the realities’ Thirty-year-old Kyle Scott, an online real estate specialist, agreed.

He and his wife, a pediatrician, had left New York two years ago for a pleasant suburb, before growing disillusioned.

While in the suburbs “there’s so much more space, you have such a better family life and much better sort of quality of living,” he said, “you don’t have the same benefits that the city has to offer.”

Now back in New York, and parents of a seven-month-old baby, they plan to stay in the city that “always reinvents itself”–hoping a decline in real estate prices will allow them to own their first apartment.

Eva Kassen-Noor, an urban planning professor at Michigan State University, believes New York “will adjust to the realities that the epidemic is here.”

Already, certain changes which environmentalists once thought unattainable have become reality: the number of cyclists, already on the rise in New York for years, has exploded.

More than 100 miles (160 kilometers) of roads have been, or will soon be, closed to cars.

Meanwhile, nearly 9,000 restaurants opened outdoor terraces in recent weeks, after city authorities streamlined the approval process to help compensate for the loss of indoor dining.

Scott Ellard, who owns the wellknown 55 Bar jazz club in Greenwich Village, is currently negotiating to have his street converted to a pedestrian zone.

He hopes to use the outdoor space for the club’s reopening after a painful fourmonth closure.

“We are doing whatever we can,” he said. “Who the hell wants to close?”

“You spend time building a reputation for a place; it would be a shame to let all that history go.”

Jackson, the Columbia University professor, said he is sure the city will come back and will gladly return to his Upper East Side apartment.

“No later than the summer of 2021,” he said, “… there will be clear signs that the city is recovering.” AFP

MOST ACTIVE

Philips eyeing return to profit despite sharp fall in demand THE HAGUE, Netherlands―Dutch electronics giant Philips said Monday that net profits fell in the second quarter due to the coronavirus outbreak, but foresaw a return to growth this year on the back of burgeoning health equipment sales.

Soaring demand for equipment, including ventilators used to treat the pandemic, had boosted the order book for the firm, which recently abandoned its home appliance arm to focus on the health sector.

Amsterdam-based Philips said net profit in the second quarter sank 14.63 percent year on year to 210 million euros, compared to 246 million for the same period in 2019.

Sales dropped 6 percent for the same period to 4.4 billion.

“As anticipated, COVID-19 caused a steep decrease in consumer demand,” Phliips chief executive Frans van Houten said in a statement.

The decrease in normal, non-virus hospital procedures involving Philips equipment had a particular impact, van Houten said.

However demand for equipment used to treat COVID-19 had caused orders to grow by 27 percent, he added.

“We have tripled our production of ventilators, doubled our production of patient monitors, and there is big demand for CT imaging systems and X-ray equipment,” van Houten added in a phone call with AFP. Philips was now targeting an improvement for the rest of the year despite the impact of the pandemic.

“We feel we can get back to growth in the second half of the year, and then even for the whole year have positive growth,” van Houten said.

Amsterdam-based Philips started off as a lighting company more than 100 years ago but has undergone major changes in recent years.

It first divested its lighting division before announcing in January it was selling off its home appliance arm to fully concentrate on health sector products.

Van Houten said the firm was still confident in this plan, due to health being a “higher margin” business, and increased need resulting from the pandemic for services such as telehealth care which Philips had focused on. AFP

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

B4

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2020

IN BRIEF Duterte names 2 ERC commissioners PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte named two new commissioners of the Energy Regulatory Commission, replacing the post of two commissioners who have completed their seven-year terms and ensuring the continuity of the regulator’s services to power consumers amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Lawyer Floresinda Digal, the current spokesperson and executive director of the ERC, was named as a commissioner in place of Josefina Patricia Asirit. Digal, who first joined the Energy Regulatory Board, the predecessor of ERC in 1994, is expected to serve as commissioner until July 2027.

A certified public accountant from Davao, Marko Romeo Fuentes was also appointed to replace Paul Cristian Cervantes as commissioner. Both Cervantes and Asirit’s terms ended on July 10.

“The appointment of Com Floresinda Balgos-Digal brings with her a deep knowledge of the responsibilities of a regulator….Her appointment will inspire the employees of ERC to work with renewed dedication and commitment as she is one of us,” ERC chairperson Agnes Devanadera said. Alena Mae S. Flores

Swab tests required on Davao passengers

Business

GMA Network forecasts higher income this year G

By Darwin G. Amojelar

MA Network Inc., the main rival of ABS-CBN Corp. which went off the air in May, said Monday it expects net profit to be higher this year despite the drop in first-quarter earnings brought about by the health crisis.

“In terms of bottom line results, given a steady top line coupled with costcutting measures implemented by the network, we are optimistic that we can surpass 2019 net profit,” GMA chairman and chief executive Felipe Gozon said in an e-mail to Manila Standard.

The broadcast network posted a net income of P2.63 billion in 2019, up 14 percent from P2.32 billion in 2018 as consolidated revenues improved 8

percent to P16.49 billion from P15.23 billion.

Gozon said the general reduction in revenues in the first quarter was due to the COVID-19 and the subsequent enhanced community quarantine.

“However, sales have started to pick up recently. It must be noted though, that last year’s top line included non-recurring election-related inflows which might be difficult to match this year,”

he said.

“Although incremental revenues are expected from the distribution of GMA Affordabox, the company’s newest venture was launched only towards the end of the first half this year,” Gozon said.

He said the company was poised to exceed the initial GMA Affordabox sales projection of 600,000 for the balance of the year.

“We are likewise continuously working on expanding its coverage in addition to the initial areas,” Gozon said.

Affordabox is available in Metro Manila, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal, Bohol, Cebu, Leyte, Davao de Oro, Davao del Sur and Davao del Norte.

CEBU Pacific said in compliance with the regulations set by the Davao local authorities, passengers flying to Davao City will be required beginning July 20 to submit a COVID-19 RTPCR test with negative result taken within 48 hours before departure.

It said the antibody blood or rapid test results would not be accepted before the flights.

Guests without the swab test will not be allowed to board the plane.

“Passengers are strongly urged to check with the concerned local government units first prior to departure as they may have specific requirements and regulations. They may be also be asked to provide their complete addresses prior to travel date. Providing inaccurate information or incomplete requirements may result in denied boarding of the flight,” Cebu Pacific said.

“We encourage guests to check the email addresses and contact numbers they provided upon booking for updates on their flights. Passengers who booked through travel agencies or any other third party are strongly urged to check with them for information regarding their flights before their travel dates,” it said.

BDO Life promotes protection mindset BDO Life Assurance Company Inc. launched an online video to address life’s ‘what ifs.’

“Everyone needs two plans in life. Plan A consists of a wealth accumulation program focused on successfully saving and investing within a given timeframe. But given life’s uncertainties, lifestyle needs, health risks, education costs, and other similar concerns, it’s smart to have financial safety nets, and that’s Plan B,” said BDO Life president and chief executive Renato Vergel de Dios.

De Dios said that life insurance is Plan B. “When Plan A is disrupted, Plan B takes over and infuses cash to complement Plan A. When life throws a curve ball, insurance money enables families to preserve their financial dignity. With sound preparation and planning, their lifestyle won’t have to change much—bills will be paid on time, children can continue their schooling, and there’ll be no need to agonize over expenses when invited to social occasions,” the insurance firm said.

BDO Life’s video is part of its corporate mission to instill a protection mindset among Filipinos by educating them on the value of life insurance, in keeping with the company’s tagline, “We Protect.”

Vergel de Dios said insurance is a way of life and a risk mitigation philosophy.

TESTING CENTER. Maynilad Water Services Inc. chairman Manuel Pangilinan (left) looks on as company president and chief executive Ramoncito Fernandez (right) and Delos Santos Medical Center chief executive Raul Pagdanganan unveil the commemorative plaque of collaboration marking the formal inauguration of the Maynilad-DLSMC RT-PCR Testing Center.

Pandemic continues to affect 97% of tourism establishments

By Othel V. Campos THE coronavirus pandemic continues to affect the operations of about 97 percent of tourism establishments in the country, according to an industry survey.

Results of the survey commissioned by the Department of Tourism also showed 88 percent of the respondents were expecting losses of over 50 percent in 2020 because of the quarantine restrictions, while 63 percent were hoping that businesses would normalize within six months to over a year.

The Philippine Tourism Survey: COVID-19 Edition, organized by Isla Lipana & Co./PwC Philippines, gathered data on how tourism players faced challenges and

concerns brought about by the pandemic during the quarantine period in Luzon and other parts of the country.

“The DOT will sustain tourism businesses through proper financial support and policies, which are covered in our Tourism Response and Recovery Program. We are working towards the establishment of proper infrastructure, and enhanced health and sanitation protocols in line with the standards of New Normal,” said Tourism Secretary Bernadette Puyat.

She said the department’s goal was to build a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive tourism industry.

Tourism contributed 12.7 percent to the gross domestic product in 2019, with value of P2.48 trillion. It also pro-

vided jobs to 5.71 million Filipinos or 13.5 percent of the total workforce.

PwC Philippines chairman and senior partner Alexander Cabrera expressed optimism that the tourism sector would recover from the impact of COVID-19.

“Our country has beautiful islands that will once again attract the tourists after the pandemic. Nevertheless, we should take this opportunity to rebuild the sector by helping the players upskill and digitalize, rethink the way they do business and ensure compliance with safety and health standards. Promoting medical tourism and agri-tourism may be among the programs that our country can prioritize to help restart the sector,” he said.

PH, World Bank sign $370-m loan for titling of 750,000 land reform lots

By Julito G. Rada THE Philippines and the World Bank signed a $370-million loan agreement that aims to split 1.4 million hectares of land covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program and confer titles on 750,000 farmer-beneficiaries.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Achim Fock, who was then the World Bank’s acting country director for Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, signed the loan agreement on July 14 for the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling or SPLIT Project of the Department of Agrarian Reform.

“The SPLIT project will improve the bankability of farmers and enable them to access credit and government assistance,” Dominguez said.

“It will support our economic recovery program by intensifying assistance to farmers and making agrarian reform beneficiaries more resilient to the economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

“We truly appreciate the World Bank’s funding support for this initiative designed to make CARP beneficiaries far more productive members of the farm sector, in step with President Duterte’s goal of boosting agricultural productivity and food security, especially at this time of the pandemic and achieving financial inclusion for all

Filipinos,” Dominguez said.

Fock said the World Bank expected the project to encourage beneficiaries “to invest in their property and adopt better technologies for greater productivity and higher incomes.”

Under the project, the collective certificate of land ownership awards will be parcelized into individual titles for 750,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries to help fulfill the completion of the decades-old CARP. The government has redistributed about 4.8 million hectares of land to some 2.8 million beneficiaries under the agrarian reform program, but only 53 percent were in the form of individual land titles.

The remaining 47 percent or about 2.5 million hectares are CCLOA titles that were issued to groups of beneficiaries in the 1990s as a temporary measure to fasttrack the distribution of land to farmerbeneficiaries.

The parcelization of the CCLOAs into individual titles has been very slow, which is why about 1.4 million hectares remain to be subdivided among farmers under the SPLIT project.

“Through the project, ARBs will be provided security of tenure by way of issuance of individual titles. If ARBs or members of their family fall ill, clear and valid documentation of their property will allow them to mortgage their land, sell, or pass it on to their family members through inheritance,” the DOF said.

PRU DONATION. Pru Life UK donates P5 million to Philippine General Hospital Medical Foundation Inc. as part of the Prudential COVID-19 relief fund, which provides financial support for Prudential’s communities and the volunteering efforts of its people in Asia, the US and Africa. Receiving the donation are (from left) UP-PGH deputy director for administration Dr. Maria Teresa Julieta Benedicto, director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi and deputy director for fiscal services Dr. Ma. Margarita Lat-Luna.

PSE INDEX CLOSING Monday, July 20, 2020

61.95 points

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES

2,273,295,243 76,057

TOTAL VALUE 3,110,546,023.90 ADVANCES 109

6,150.70

DECLINES 75 UNCHANGED 52

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

49.4900

Japan

Yen

0.009355

0.4630

UK

Pound

1.262900

62.5009

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129006

6.3845

Switzerland

Franc

1.062586

52.5874

Canada

Dollar

0.735781

36.4138

Singapore

Dollar

0.718752

35.5710

Australia

Dollar

0.694900

34.3906

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655337

131.412

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266667

13.1973

Brunei

Dollar

0.716178

35.4436

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.031980

1.5827

UAE

Dirham

0.272264

13.4743

Euro

Euro

1.130700

55.9583

Korea

Won

0.000833

0.0412

China

Yuan

0.142857

7.0700

India

Rupee

0.013299

0.6582

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.234522

11.6065

New Zealand

Dollar

0.657000

32.5149

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033941

1.6797 Source: BSP

Ayala unit eyes 140-MW solar project in India

By Alena Mae S. Flores AC ENERGY Inc., the energy unit of Ayala Corp., is expanding its renewable energy footprint to India with plans to develop the 140-megawatt Sitara Solar plant in Rajasthan.

AC Energy is developing its first project in India through UPC-AC Energy Solar, the company’s joint venture with UPC Solar Asia Pacific.

“India is one of the world’s largest and fastest growing markets for renewable energy. We look forward to participating in this market as we continue to expand around the region, and work towards our goal of reaching 5000 MW of renewables by 2025,” said AC Energy president and chief executive Eric Francia.

AC Energy’s total renewable capacity is expected to reach more than 1,200 MW with its latest investment in India.

The estimated $68-million facility in Rajasthan, a desert state with the highest irradiation in India, is expected to start power generation in the first quarter of 2021 and will supply energy to the Solar Energy Corp. of India.

UPC-AC Energy Solar won the power supply agreement for the project via a competitive bid at INR 2.48 per kWh, fixed over a 25-year period.

India set itself an ambitious target of 175 gigawatts of renewable capacity by 2022 in the form of 100 GW from solar, 60 GW from wind, 10 GW from bio-power and 5 GW from hydro power.

AC Energy International chief operating officer Patrice Clausse lauded the opportunity to strengthen the company’s presence in India with long-time partner UPC Renewables.

“As we join forces once again with UPC, which shares our commitment towards sustainability, we will continue to push for the deployment of new technologies and best practices to harness India’s growth potential for clean energy, while contributing to their renewable energy goals,” Clausse said.

Brian Caffyn, chairman of UPC Renewables, said the renewable energy project pipelines with AC Energy across the Asia-Pacific region would account for a significant part of AC Energy’s 2025 renewable energy capacity target.

Pranab Kumar Sarmah, chief executive of UPC-AC Energy Solar and co-founder of UPC Solar Asia Pacific, said Sitara Solar’s construction was a head start for the joint-venture to achieve its more than 1 GW target of operating solar project portfolio across Asia in a few years.

“This project is expected to reduce 2.4 million tons of CO2 in its life-cycle. This is our humble contribution to help India reach its renewable energy goal,” Sarmah said.

San Miguel hires three banks for international fund-raising

By Jenniffer B. Austria CONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. said Monday it hired several banks to arrange dollar-denominated senior notes issues as the company sustains its big-ticket infrastructure projects despite the current pandemic.

San Miguel said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Monday it tapped BofA Securities and Standard Chartered Bank as joint global coordinators and joint book runners and DBS Bank Ltd as joint book runner to arrange a series of fixed-income investors across Asia and Europe starting July 20.

It said an issuance of Reg S only US

dollar benchmark senior perpetual securities might follow after the investors meetings, depending on market conditions.

The dollar-denominated notes will be issued under San Miguel’s $3-billion medium-term note and securities program registered at the Singapore Exchange.

San Miguel said in May its board of directors approved $1-billion perpetual securities to be issued either in US dollars or its equivalent in Philippine pesos.

The perpetual securities will not be offered to the public. They will have a fixed-rate, cumulative terms and will be

payable on a quarterly basis.

Aside from issuance of dollar denominated notes, San Miguel also plans to register P60 billion worth of short-term commercial papers with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Net proceeds from the offering will be used to pay-off short-term loans for working capital.

The conglomerate said earlier it would pursue the construction of new manufacturing facilities in various regions nationwide and major infrastructure projects such expressways, railways and proposed airport in Bulacan province to boost the domestic economy.

Sports

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

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2020

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Eumir Felix Marcial

Marcial to talk of Olympic preparations at PSA Forum OLYMPIC-bound and newlyturned pro Eumir Felix Marcial, together with the top executive of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, will be the special guests in another webcast edition of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum this Tuesday.

The 24-year-old pride of Zamboanga, a silver medalist in last year’s AIBA World Championships, is expected to talk about his continuous preparation for the Tokyo Games and his new journey as a professional boxer after recently signing up with the MP Promotions of boxing legend and Senator Manny Pacquiao.

Sean Gibbons, president of MP Promotions, will join the 10 a.m. session straight from the US to talk about the promotional firm’s plans for the career of Marcial The weekly forum is powered

by Smart and presented by San Miguel Corp., Go For Gold, Amelie Hotel, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

The public sports program will be shown live via the PSA Facebook page f b.com/PhilippineSportswritersAssociation and likewise to be shared on Radyo Pilipinas 2 facebook page.

Fil-American Natalie Uy is hoping the reach the Olympic entry standard of 4.70 meters, which will put her in the the qualification process for the Tokyo Olympics

More discussions needed to okay POC amendments

By Peter Atencio

M

ORE time will be needed to tackle the three key amendments proposed for inclusion the Philippine Olympic Committee’s constitution and bylaws.

No final decision was passed by the Executive Board of the Philippine Olympic Committee yesterday following an online meeting presided by Chairman Steve Honitveros.

POC officials said they will need more time to discuss this and more talks are expected to take place this Friday.

The three proposals that the POC constitutional amendments committee is seeking resolution to are the setting of an age limit of 70 for POC positions, the restriction on POC officers to represent only one national sports association and requirement for an NSA to be recognized by its International Federation first before becoming a POC member.

The Committee is chaired by past pres- POC president Abraham Tolentino

ident Ricky Vargas of boxing.

Members of the POC are seeking approval to implement the age limit of 70, which the International Olympic Committee imposed since 2016.

The second amendment disallows POC officials from representing more than one NSA. At the same time, NSAs that are recognized by its IF are the only ones that will be recognized as POC members.

Many officials will be affected by the age limit and this includes Hontiveros of handball, Joey Romasanta of volleyball and Julian Camacho of wushu.

This will also put limitations with the POC president Abraham Tolentino, who has positions in cycling and chess.

Meanwhile, the POC membership committee, which is headed by Bones Floro, has confirmed the acceptance of of an association representing polo as an associate member, along with a group representing pole dancing and aerial sports as a recognized members.

Eustaquio dreams of competing with legendary striker TEAM Lakay stalwart and Filipino martial arts veteran Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio has conquered the mixed martial arts arena, reaching the pinnacle of the sport when he captured the ONE Flyweight World Championship in June of 2018 after defeating Brazilian rival Adriano Moraes.

But as the 31-year-old former world champion embarks on his journey back to the top of the flyweight division, he dreams of adding yet another feather in his cap, and one day compete among the world’s best strikers in ONE Super Series.

Eustaquio says he is focused a hundred percent on his mixed martial arts career, but wouldn’t mind stepping into the ring against legends should he be called upon.

“It would be a privilege for me to compete in ONE Super Series among legends, but right now, I’m just focused on my MMA career and looking to get back on track. It’s been a rough couple of years, but I still consider myself among the top in my division. My mind is still on the flyweight title, and that’s what I’m working

Uy joins Atlanta tourney

towards,” said Eustaquio.

“But yes definitely, I want to test my striking against the best in the world.”

Right now, the best in the world is Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon, the reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion. He’s referred to cleverly by hardcore fans as Rod-tank because of his ability to mow down opponents with no abandon, blasting them with his blitzkrieg of powerful combinations as he constantly moves forward.

According to Eustaquio, there is no fighter in the world quite like Rodtang, and he would consider it a huge opportunity to face the Thai superstar. “Gravity” feels that though it would be a monstrous challenge, he has what it takes to cause an upset and knows exactly what he needs to do in the ring against the young 22-yearold striking phenom.

“I think Rodtang [Jitmuangnon] is a tremendous athlete, and a big inspiration to many. Even though he’s the champion, he never forgets where he came from. You can still find humility in him, and I have so much respect for him,” said Eustaquio.

Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio (right) trains under Mark Sanguiao.

AFTER emerging from isolation and quarantine, Fil-American bet Natalie Uy said she enjoyed her recent competition in North Carolina as she vowed her readiness for more.

This weekend, Uy is expected to have an even better showing when she participates in a meet in Atlanta, Georgia.

“My next competition is on Saturday, in Atlanta, Georgia. I am in between coaches right now and will be making a transition soon,” added Uy in an online interview with the Manila Standard.

Uy said this after she cleared 4.30 meters at the Acadia Invitational in Greenville, North Carolina, UCS Pink Panther to place sixth behind top American pole vault bets Sandi Mor ris and Katie Nageotte.

Her effort allowed her to surpass the Philippine mark of 4.26 meters she herself set last March 1.

“My competition in Greenville South Carolina was great! It was so much fun and a great atmosphere,” said Uy, who is expected to move up in the Asian and world rankings following her record-breaking effort.

She is now no. 74th in the world, and no. 6 in Asia.

For her next competition, Uy will see action under Brad Walker.

Her previous mentor, Becky Holliday could not be with her when Uy went into quarantine. And training on her own because of this became quite challenging over the last four months.

“It was tough,” said Uy on her experience during a podcast.

Last March, Uy had 4.26 meters during the KTTCCCA Indoors in Shelbyville, Indiana.

During the 2019 SEA Games, she took the gold medal in record breaking fashion at 4.25 meters.

Since then, Uy has been ranked no. 1 in Southeast, ahead of Alyanna Nicolas and Malaysian Yu Thian Chuah.

Uy is hoping the reach the Olympic entry standard of 4.70 meters, which will put her in the the qualification process for the Tokyo Olympics.

Peter Atencio

Maroons look back at their historic Season 81 run

Bright Akhuetie and Juan Gomez de Liaño

IF THERE’S one good thing that has come out of this pandemic, it’s that friendship and family bonds have gotten stronger, despite or because of the physical absence.

A tightly-knit family and the best of friends because of their shared experience, the UP Fighting Maroons of University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81, held a long overdue reunion Friday, July 17 and hopped on a Zoom call for a virtual party.

Dubbed Zoomustahan with UAAP Season 81 UPMBT, the get-together was attended by Season 81 captain Paul Desiderio, that season’s MVP Bright Akhuetie, Jun Manzo, Juan Gomez de Liaño, Javi Gomez de Liaño, Diego Dario, Jarrell Lim, Gelo Vito, Janjan Jaboneta, Will Gozum, Pio Longa, Jaydee Tungcab, JJ Española and head coach Bo Perasol. Season 80’s UP courtside reporter Agatha Uvero and Nowhere To Go But UP: How a Basketball Team Inspired a Nation

author Naveen Ganglani hosted the e-vent that was aired on Facebook Live so UP fans and the public could join the reunion.

The giddy group recalled their favorite memories of the UP Men’s Basketball Team’s incredible run in 2018, exchanged updates on what they have been doing during the quarantine, revealed behindthe-scenes thoughts and conversations of Season 81 and uncorked a few secrets that still surprised many.

Team captain Paul Desiderio jokingly recounted how much of a challenge it was to lead his team that year, but how his fellow seniors – Diego Dario, Jarrell Lim and Gelo Vito – shared the load and made the job easier.

The boys recalled special moments – like that classic inbound pass from Juan GDL that Bright caught at the precise moment and laid up for the winning points while Paul Desiderio fought tooth and nail to get Papi Sarr out of his defensive position. That shot

opened the gates for the Maroons’ first real ticket to the Finals as it erased the Adamson Falcons’ twice-to-beat advantage and put them at par with Adamson in a knock-out game for a Finals seat.

“That was a classic. There was no way to rehearse that the way it happened, even if it was a play that was designed by Coach Ronnie (Magsanoc) at practice. Nobody could have prepared for the way it was executed,” he said. “That’s why we still talk about it today.

But prior to that blistering Final Four run that began when the Maroons played a masterful game against La Salle that catapulted them into the Final Four for the first time in 21 years, the Maroons were floundering and being inconsistent. From heady conquests of some teams, they would succumb to teams they could easily beat.

Most glaring was a Second Round game Turn to C2

Sports

C2

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2020 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

LeBron rookie card fetches record $1.8M at auction

NEW YORK—NBA superstar LeBron James is a record-setter in the memorabilia world as well as on the court.

A rare James trading card from his rookie season in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers—one of only 23 manufactured— sold for $1.8 million ($1.57 million euros) on Saturday, Goldin Auctions said.

James signed the card, which features a patch from one of his jerseys, and it was graded at 9.5—“Gem Mint condition” according to the auction house.

“The incomparable superstar has penned a vivid blue ink signature on the obverse of this ultra-premium collectible,” Goldin Auctions said in the description of the item. “Its cardfront presentation also incorporates an exceptional, tri-color James-worn jersey patch relic.”

Bidding began on the card at $150,000.

The Cavaliers selected the highly touted James with the first pick in the 2003 NBA draft.

The Akron, Ohio, native scored 25 points on 12-of-20 shooting with nine rebounds, six assists and four steals in his debut against the Sacramento Kings.

He posted 20.9 points, 5.9 assists and 5.5 rebounds to win the Rookie of the Year award.

Now a 16-time All-Star, three-time NBA champion and four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, James was averaging 25.7 points per game, 10.6 assists and 7.9 rebounds when the NBA season was halted amid the coronavirus pandemic.

He has led the Lakers to first place in the Western Conference with the league preparing to resume action on July 31.

The previous record for most expensive modern day sports trading card belonged to Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout.

In May, one of Trout’s cards sold for $923,000. AFP

LeBron James

Maroons...

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against UE where they were whipped by the Wartriors in the first half.

Jarrell Lim recalled the moment. “There was a game against UE where Coach Bo got really mad. We knew we could win that game easily, but we were playing badly. In the dugout, Coach Bo said something that really scared us. He said, “If we lose this game, I’m going to resign.” That was a wake-up call for us. That was the turning point. That was when we really talked to each other as teammates and we began to take things more seriously.” The Maroons saved the day with a decisive win over the Red Warriors in the second half. From that point onwards, they never looked back.

“Nag-usap kaming mga seniors, I think losing-record kami non. We said ‘We can’t let this happen kasi ito na ‘yong last year namin.’ Naisip namin to talk to the coaches, and we all got our acts together,” Diego Dario added.

Still there was talk that UP got to the finals because they were simply lucky.

Coach Bo dismissed that impression without hesitation.

“Hindi ka naman mananalo nang magic lang, na walang galing. Even if you keep on fighting, , if you do not have the set of skills to match up with one other, ang hirap, hindi makakaya yon,” Perasol said. “There were a lot of times in UP history na puro laban lang.

Hindi mo matatawaran ang laban ng mga taga-UP. But this bunch of guys, hindi sila puro lumaban lang. You have to consider the skill level of these guys.”

There was a lot of light-hearted ribbing and teasing among the reuniting Maroons, one of which was pointing out Bright Akhuetie’s incredible appetite for Crispy Pata, determining who had the biggest appetite at dinners and parties (Javi GDL, Will Gozum, and Pio Longa) and who was the most “makulit”. The band of brothers – who were obviously still very comfortable with each other -- was not beyond asking Will Gozum (who has since joined the De La Salle-College of St. Benilde) to go back to UP “habang may pandemic pa”.

Later in the reunion, Season 82 teammate and Mythical Team member Kobe Paras and new recruit Malick Diouf also joined in the fun, conversing with their brothers rowdily and familiarly.

Nicklaus, wife had virus, but recovered

Jon Rahm of Spain is celebrates with his wife Kelley Cahill after winning during the final round of The Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. Sam Greenwood. AFP

LOS ANGELES—US golf legend Jack Nicklaus said Sunday that he and his wife Barbara tested positive for the coronavirus back in March and both recovered.

The 80-year-old Nicklaus, winner of a record 18 major titles, revealed the experience on the television broadcast of the US PGA Tour’s Memorial tournament, which Nicklaus hosts at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio.

He said his wife had no virus symptoms, while he dealt with a sore throat and cough from March 13 “until we were done with it” more than a month later.

“It didn’t last very long, and we were very, very fortunate, very lucky,” said Nicklaus, who noted that he and his wife, both 80, are at an “at-risk age” for more serious COVID-19 symptoms.

“Our hearts go out to the people who did lose their lives and their families. We were just a couple of the lucky ones.”

The US PGA Tour shut down for three months amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Memorial, the sixth event since the tour resumed, is being played without spectators as coronavirus case numbers surge in many areas of the United States.

Tiger Woods, a five-time winner of the Memorial, said he had known that the Nicklauses had tested positive.

“The fact that they got through it and they’re safe and here and healthy, it’s all good news for all of us who are a part of golf and who looked up to Jack and (have) been around Barbara all these years,” Woods said. AFP

Rahm wins PGA Memorial, grabs world no. 1 ranking OS ANGELES—Jon Rahm became the first Spaniard since Seve Ballesteros in 1989 to hold golf’s world number one ranking, fending off a late challenge Sunday to win the US PGA Memorial tournament.

L

Rahm holed out an amazing 31-foot chip shot at the par-3 16th and, despite a twostroke penalty that turned it from a birdie to a bogey, took a three-stroke victory over American Ryan Palmer that boosted him over Rory McIlroy atop the rankings.

“I don’t know how to describe it,” Rahm said. “It has been a goal since I was 13-, 14- years-old.”

Rahm was among the Spanish youth inspired by the feats of Ballesteros, a five-time major champion who died in 2011 at age 54 of brain cancer.

“Seve is a very special player to all of us, and to be second to him, it’s a true honor,” Rahm said. “Anytime I can join Seve at anything, it’s incredible.”

Rahm said the moment was difficult to comprehend in part because his thoughts were with his family, two members of which have died from COVID-19.

“It’s hard to process right now,” he said. “There are so many things going

through my mind right now that have nothing to do with golf.”

Rahm fired a three-over par 75 in the final round to finish on nine-under 279 with Palmer second. England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick was third on 283 after a closing 68 while Australia’s Jason Day and England’s Matt Wallace shared fourth on 284.

Rahm began with a four-shot edge and made the turn ahead by eight before dropping four strokes in a five-hole span with a bogey at the 10th, double-bogey at 11 and a bogey at 14 as Palmer pulled within three.

That’s when the 25-year-old made his amazing chip shot at 16.

“That’ll probably go down as my greatest chip shot. I don’t know if I’ll ever do better than that,” Rahm said.

“Luckily, I pulled out probably the best short game shot I will ever have.

That was unbelievable. For that to go in, that was exactly what I needed.”

Jack Nicklaus, the 18-time major winner who hosts the event at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio, called the shot “spectacular” as he congratulated Rahm with a fist bump at the 18th green.

Rahm, who won a US PGA event for the fourth year in a row, was given a two-stroke penalty after television slowmotion cameras showed his ball moved when he pushed down on the grass behind it shortly before his incredible chip, although it didn’t change the lie and was unperceptible to Rahm himself.

“I did not see or feel anything,” said Rahm, who agreed with the decision after watching a video replay.

“It did move. It is a penalty. I’ll accept it,” Rahm said. “Unfortunate as it is to have something like this happen, it was a great shot.

“Had I seen it, I would have said something, but the camera had to zoom in to see it.”

The tournament was the sixth of the season for the US PGA, all without spectators, since the tour returned in June from a three-month coronavirus pandemic shutdown. AFP

Hamilton wants better anti-racism effort BUDAPEST—Lewis Hamilton intends to write to Formula One’s bosses in a bid to create a more co-ordinated antiracism stance and improve the sport’s pre-race ‘taking a knee’ ceremony.

Speaking at the Hungaroring after his classic drive to a hat-trick of victories at Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix, the six-time champion said he will write an email to urge them to improve communications and do a better job.

“I think they can give us more time,” he said, referring to Sunday’s shambolic and rushed pre-race gesture by a group of drivers. “So, I’ll probably send an email over the next couple of days—and try and co-ordinate with them to create a better way.

“They do want to do it…. I guess there’s not good enough communication.”

Hamilton revealed that there were clear rifts among the drivers and a lack of planning for the ceremony that is now a part of many other major sports events.

He said that the shambolic and rushed ceremony that took place ahead of Sunday’s race was not mentioned in the official drivers’ briefing meeting and said the chairman of the Grand

FREE THROW SHOOTER NATHANIEL DELA CRUZ IT STANDS on the edge of becoming almost paradoxical that Zinadine Zidane was able to cement his stature as manager par excellence by making Real Madrid FC this year’s paragon of defense in La Liga when the path he as a football player not too long ago often took to achieve victory is through artful, crafty but nonetheless lethal, tenacious, and relentless scoring.

Call it maturity. Call it pragmatic. Call it changing the way Real Madrid plays.

Call it having the wisdom to know when it is best to focus on offense and when to win using defense. Call it coming back with a vengeance after a humiliating 7-3 loss to Atletico Madrid in a preseason friendly. None of these post-season opinions from armchair observers matter to Zidane (who, for all we know, could be exiting Real Madrid for the second time now, and for good, but let’s try to tune out this rumor for now) as long as he is deserving to be called one of the best managers by virtue of the trophies

Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton reacts after the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix race at the Hungaroring circuit in Mogyorod near Budapest, Hungary. AFP

Prix Drivers Association (GPDA) Romain Grosjean did not believe it was necessary.

He is expected to make contact with Formula One’s chief executive Chase Carey, who has donated one million dollars of his own money to the sport’s battle for diversity and against racism, and the president of the ruling body, the International Motoring Federation (FIA).

Hamilton made clear his disappointment and frustration at F1’s failings in presenting a united front by the drivers in the anti-racism drive.

On Sunday, a cluster of drivers took the knee in parc fermee in the pit-lane, but several arrived late, some stood and some did not turn up at all.

Hamilton said: “He (Grosjean) doesn’t think it’s important to do it – he’s one of them that thinks it was done once and that’s all we need to do….

Leadership lacking “So I tried to speak to him about what the problem is, that it’s not going away and we have to continue to fight for it. I think this time he didn’t mention anything in the drivers’ briefing and neither did Sebastian (Vettel, also a director of the GPDA).

“Sebastian and I messaged each other and he stressed, as did I, the importance that we continue to do it.” AFP

Defense is desire he was able to collect as Real Madrid’s manager, and for as long as Los Blancos gets to be called kings of Spain’s top tier association football again.

Esteemed manager Sir Alex Ferguson has said it—attack wins you games, defense wins you titles. Well, in fairness to Real Madrid (and Cristiano Ronaldo), Los Blancos has won trophies as an aggressive attacking squad. What made this a landmark season for Real Madrid is showing that they can remain victorious even after adopting a different approach to winning games.

I bet it was not easy to transition from being an offense-oriented squad to putting a premium on defense—not to Zidane (who is fifth in the list of top scorers in the history of the French national football team), not to Real Madrid players, and not to the fans who are all used to watching Cristiano Ronaldo’s dazzling display of scoring flair.

Defense, after all, is desire (borrowing from Will Patton’s Remember the Titans character Bill Yoast). Real Madrid clearly wanted it, and the numbers provide proof.

In the past, Real Madrid has been consistent in having high overall goals -

153 (2012-13 season), 160 (2013-14), and 162 (2014-15). When Zidane took over, there is a noticeable decrease in overall goals—173 (2016-17 season), 148 (201718), 108 (2018-19), and 98 (2019-2020). I did not include the 2015-16 season because that is when Real Madrid transitioned from Rafael Benitez to Zidane.

It is not easy to shift a team’s character and to start adopting defense as a trademark style of play because it is an overhaul that requires major changes not just in the playbook but in the mindset and attitude of the players as well. There is also the matter of acceptance from fans, but Zidane brings with him not just his decorated past as a player, but tactical acumen that hasn’t rusted and most important of all, gravitas. A manager with less impressive qualities and inferior qualifications would’ve surely folded, considering the egos in the dugout and the expectations in Santiago Bernabéu.

The question now is whether or not this trend continues in the succeeding years with Zidane remaining at the helm.

I can understand the logic of investing in defending to win especially after

losing Cristiano Ronaldo and having no one par to the Portuguese forward to fill the scoring void left by what many consider as the greatest football player of all time. French striker Karim Benzema appears poised to take over the scoring chores for Real Madrid. While he is no Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema is a very talented athlete, no doubt. It leaves to be seen whether Zidane and Real Madrid continue this path in the coming years, especially since some say winning with defense takes the excitement away from playing football—a sport wherein scoring goals is the one that spurs excitement and generates energy.

Ken Ferris, in his book Manchester United in Europe: Tragedy, History, Destiny, wrote about former Manchester United goalkeeper Alex Stepney’s dislike for playing Italian teams because Italian clubs put emphasis on defense when playing, and they are good at it, too.

“The Italians had become masters of boring the pants off the rest of Europe with their defensive play.”

If defense is desire, how long will the players, the management, and the fans remain desirous?

Entertainment Entertainment

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tuesday, july 21,Wang, 2020 Editor Nickie

nickie.standard@gmail.com nickie.standard@gmail.com TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2020 ||

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Comedian Michael VVTESTS tests positive COMEDIAN MICHAEL POSITIVEforFORCOVID-19 COVID-19

SeaSoned actor and comedian Michael V took to YouTube to announce he tested positive for the deadly CoVId-19 virus. on Monday morning, Michael V, Beethoven del Valle Bunagan in real life, revealed he experienced fluMichael V learned that his positive for COVID-19 eight days into his self-quarantine.

Online Onlineselling selling saves saves Pinoys Pinoysininlockdown lockdown a neW user behavior study conducted

by Carousell, one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing classifieds, shows that Filipinos largely adapted to the lockdowns around the country by making the best of what they have, through selling and buying. during the lockdown period, the average Filipino made P55,000, selling on Carousell.

Selling second hand with ‘hugot’ Filipinos made more than 450,000 transactions for second-hand items to earn extra money. For many, this was to save for rainy days, supplement income, or even to cushion the blow of losing a job during the pandemic. Carousell user Jhocen, who was forced to pause her full-time work and sold her pre-loved and vintage items to keep her afloat, earned over P10,000 on the platform during quarantine.

But many others sold their items with a different purpose in mind. another user, ashley, decided to start an initiative with a few of her friends, to raise funds for those who lost their sources of income during the quarantine. “during lent season, I wanted to be more proactive in fundraising for those affected by the quarantine and decided to sell my items and donate 100 percent of the proceeds,” said ashley.

Similarly, Gabbi listed her secondhand clothes to raise funds as she “wanted to help daily wage earners and local businesses.” The quarantine period prompted her to notice how important everyday frontliners such as couriers were, how difficult their situation was, and how many still needed help with their jobs being cut.

Yet, even with this rise in conscious resourcefulness, there is still a lot more value to be unlocked in selling underused items. on Carousell’s marketplace alone, Filipinos could be selling an additional ₱3.8 billion worth of second-hand items.

test showing that he tested positive for SaRS-CoV-2, the virus that causes CoVId-19.

The detection happened on his eight day of isolation. He said he only had fever and that he had already regained his sense of smell. despite the sad revelation, the comedian ended his video on a positive note thanking his supporters as he goes through this difficult challenge.

Piolo’s idyllic life in Batangas

Love for food

Second-hand marketplaces have quickly become a top of mind destination for certain items like women’s fashion and electronics, two of Carousell’s historically popular categories. But during the quarantine period, another popular category emerged.

Food and beverage businesses affected by the quarantine took to Carousell to continue selling their homemade delights, using the newly-launched local F&B category, where users are able to search within a 10km radius of their location to narrow down the food nearest to them.

It’s no secret that Filipinos love their food—during the quarantine period alone, chats for items in the F&B segment alone increased by 188 percent.

Filipinos were both selling their homemade goods on Carousell and using it to source for their cooking and baking needs too, right down to the nitty-gritty of equipment such as whisks, which more than doubled in demand.

“We are one with our market partners and communities in the Southeast asian region in working towards fighting this pandemic and restoring our respective economic lives and well-being. The country lockdowns brought about by our efforts in flattening the curve of the virus spread have shown the need to remain interconnected whilst apart,” Raffy Montemayor, General Manager, Carousell Philippines said.

“We are proud to be part of facilitating these vital commercial flows of buying and selling that are crucial in these difficult times. It is inspiring to see such great entrepreneurial drive mirrored in the stories of our users, and we want to ensure that our platform continues to empower them and allow their businesses to thrive.

We wish to remain their reliable and trusted partner in our common journey to remake a better world for all beyond this crisis,” Montemayor added.

To celebrate and share the stories of Carousellers who have exemplified true grit and resourcefulness, the company has launched a #MakingTheBest campaign that will roll out over the next few months. For more Carousell stories, visit press.carousell.com.

like symptoms when he tried to make a vlog last time.

Bitoy said he had been experiencing loss of taste and smell, which he thinks is a big sign for people who have the virus.

“Isa sa mga symptoms ng CoVId is yung lost of smell and taste. I was afraid that it could be something like that,” the 50-yearold actor said while showing the document of the result of his swab

a

CToR Piolo Pascual is definitely a nature person. In a recent virtual press conference, the actor describes how idyllic his life is in his resort-like property in Batangas while in quarantine. “every day, I wake up to a breathtaking view of Batangas Bay. I get to appreciate it on my porch. Then, I hear the chirping of birds and crows of chicken in the morning,” the 43-year-old actor says.

Piolo shares that his property doesn’t use air-conditioning.

He allows natural air to circulate in the entire property. “everything’s open. We’re outdoors. I love to see the horizon. That’s what I wake up to every day. There’s no outdoor activity, no one’s on the beach since it is still prohibited. It’s so peaceful and quiet,” he avers. during the lockdown, the award-winning actor keeps himself busy by engaging in daily exercises. He has become a familiar face to the residents in the area.

“I do a lot of walking within the interconnected barangays.

Usually, I walk in the morning. Sometimes, I try to walk a little earlier and jog fast. But it’s inevitable sometimes when you have to slow down because of the people you meet along the way. They want to take pictures with you. of course, I oblige. It’s fun because I get to meet and mingle with the locals,” he shares. “although I try to leave early so I can cover more ground, there are moments as well when I walk in the evening. This way, I can reach farther since before dawn breaks, there are already lots of people in the streets,” he adds.

It’s not only this CoVId-19 pandemic that Piolo sought sanctuary in his Batangas abode. Prior to the outbreak, he

Actor Piolo Pascual spends the quarantine period in his lavish rest house in Batangas.

was also in his Batangas property during the Taal Volcano eruption in early January.

“It serves as my safe house when there are calamities,” Paolo says.

Speaking of these unfortunate developments in the country, the award-winning actor believes that everything will turn out fine eventually. “all the tragic events that happened this 2020 are just challenging. despite these, I am positive that these things shall pass. I just really want everybody to be able to survive and rise above the situation,” he ends. ***

Loisa Andalio and Ronnie Alonte

During the lockdown period, the average Filipino made P55,000, selling on Carousell.

Young actor Ronnie Alonte reveals that he and steady Loisa Andalio are already talking about tying the knot. The young couple has just celebrated their third year together.

“I constantly tell her that it’s what I feel,” he says.

The actor knows though that they still have a long way to go, he already looks forward to their future together.

“We know that there are lots of challenges that we still have to face along the way but I believe we’ll overcome the odds. That’s why I remind her every day that in the future, we’ll get married.

I’m simply excited about the things that will still happen to the two of us,” he reveals. as to the circulating rumor that they are already living in together, loisa is quick to deny it.

“It’s not true! Maybe it’s because people always see us together. But the truth is Ronnie and I live not very far from each other. We’re like neighbors: laguna, then Cavite. It’s just one exit. We just love each other that we’re always together, prompting some quarters to think that we’re living together. But as I’ve said earlier, there’s no truth to that.”

Lamangan togethericonic iconictitleholders titleholders Lamangan brings brings together

inindigital ’BeautyQueens’ Queens’ digitalseries series ‘Beauty

Real-life titleholders Gloria Diaz, Maxine Medina, and Winwyn Marquez, along with Ross Pesigan and Maris Racal, show the joys and hidden sorrows of a family with a tradition of joining and winning pageants in the original series “Beauty Queens.”

In the six-part series, Miss Universe 1969 dahlia (Gloria) is determined to maintain a lineage of Miss Universes in her family. This dream started when her mother Tarsila (Maris), Manila’s last Carnival Queen back in 1939, made

her promise to follow in her footsteps.

However, in dahlia’s blind obsession over molding her daughters into the ultimate candidates, she fails to realize that her children want something else for themselves.

Her eldest daisy (Maxine) runs away to become a nun, her second Tingting (Winwyn) becomes an activist and gets pregnant, while her youngest and only son Rico (Ross) becomes what she did not expect the most—Miss Gay Universe. after years of being away from each

other, dahlia hosts a party for her late mother’s centennial birthday as a way to bring her children together. However, what is meant to be a celebratory reunion erupts into a night of revelation as secrets are unearthed and confrontations ensue. directed by Joel lamangan, Beauty Queens is strutting its way on iWant, streaming for free. Produced by aTd entertainment Productions, its cast also includes Lotlot De Leon, James Blanco, Ruby Ruiz, Rafa Siguion-Reyna, Shido Roxas, and Nella Marie Dizon.

Winwyn Marquez as Tingting in iWant’s latest offering, ‘Beauty Queens.’

Life

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

C4

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2020

OLD BUT HEALTHY. Degenerative conditions affecting the body as it ages may be inevitable, but experts say they can be delayed by leading a healthy and positive lifestyle.

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GING comes with two things, wisdom and declining health.

But a sports medicine expert and orthopedist shares how individuals can look forward to healthy golden years.

“Everything gradually falls apart,” says Dr. Gar Eufemio, medical director at Peak Form, one of the country’s leading centers for sports conditioning and recovery.

Degenerative conditions affecting the body’s vital systems are the primary source of concern for both doctors and patients. As the body ages, the tissues that would quickly recover and regenerate are no longer as resilient as when a person is younger. As a result, there are significant changes to the nervous system and skeletal system, along with major organs such as heart and lungs. “[Degeneration is a] normal process as one matures,” explains Dr. Eufemio “[This can be seen in issues like] forgetfulness, irritability, osteoporosis and arthritis, hypertension and cholesterol issues, diabetes and digestive problems, blurred vision, and hearing loss. For doctors, the greatest challenge is how to slow it down.”

Dr. Eufemio says avoiding degeneration is not that simple.

“The health issues of aging are impossible to escape, but we can delay their onset and retard the progression,” he says. “Genetics play the biggest part here: if you’ve been blessed with good genes, you can do all the wrong things and still live a long and healthy life.”

LIKE A FINE WINE:

The challenges of aging and how to stay healthy in your golden years

ercise, and getting a good night’s sleep.

Keeping stress levels down to a manageable minimum and living in a clean and healthful environment are also key, according to health experts.

Dr. Eufemio suggests eating “a modified but still balanced diet” and staying active to maintain health over time.

Although old age brings a number of restrictions when it comes to food, this should not be a reason for consuming meals that lack nutrition and flavor.

Consider healthy yet delicious meals featuring protein from green sources, natural sweeteners, and organically grown produce in season. Dr. Eufemio also suggests checking with one’s healthcare professional for the best possible supplements to keep the body in optimal condition.

How to age like a fine wine?

Meanwhile, taking brisk walks in the For the most part, critical points to morning can help, as well as regular consider for staying healthy well into sessions of dance-style routines such old age are proper nutrition, regular ex- as aerobics or Zumba. Using equipment

such as treadmills and elliptical trainers at home or at a gym are also excellent ways to stay in shape.

Older adults will also benefit from yoga and guided meditation, experts posit. Meditation helps destress and clear mind of negative thoughts while placing the body into a state of rejuvenating rest.

More spiritual seniors have also experienced a sense of calm through regular devotions or attendance at religious services. Volunteer work for civic or religious organizations also goes a long way in making the elderly feel active and useful.

In addition to these three smart ways to stay healthy, Dr. Eufemio suggests the use of far infrared ray (FIR) technology on a regular basis. Infra-therapy machine Vital Dome, which is available in the Philippines, uses far infrared which penetrates the body and helps relax muscles, remove toxins, and reduce inflammation.

“Theoretically, every major organ

can be rejuvenated,” Dr. Eufemio says of this unique treatment. “Well-perfused tissues perform optimally, effectively slowing down the course of aging.

An added bonus is the release of endorphins, or the happy hormones, that help in stabilizing mood.”

Dr. Eufemio also recommends Vital Dome for athletic recovery and postsurgical healing. Patients who undergo rigorous training for competitions or events are advised to get at least two sessions a month. Post-operative patients, on the other hand, get a session at intervals, usually when there are major changes in their therapy regimen.

Dr. Gar Eufemio is available for online consultation through the Cardinal Santos Medical Center portal at www.csmeconsult.com.

Orthopedist and sports medicine expert Dr. Gar Eufemio attests to the efficacy of far infrared therapy in slowing down the course of aging.

Filipinos can now obtain painless blood sugar monitoring system

Hetero’s Camber Pharmaceuticals Inc. brings investigational drug remdesivir to the Philippines.

Drug shown to help quickly treat COVID-19 now in the Philippines THE Japan-approved drug authorized for emergency use to treat coronavirus disease infection is now available in the Philippines.

Remdesivir is an investigational drug that has shown broadspectrum antiviral activity against various viral pathogens including SARS-CoV-2 which causes COVID-19. Available data point to reduced recovery times in COVID-19 patients.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration has authorized the emergency use of the drug to treat patients with suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Camber Pharmaceuticals brings remdesivir, licensed by Gilead Sciences, to the country.

“The availability of Remdesivir in the Philippines is a significant milestone for all of us and we are very thankful to our parent company Hetero,” said Camber Pharma’s country manager Manoj Sihag.

He added, “With Remdesivir, we hope to reduce the treatment time of a patient in a hospital, thereby reducing burden

on medical facilities in COVID-19 cases.”

Camber Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hetero, one of India’s leading generic pharmaceutical companies, which has partnered with Gilead for a licensing agreement to make the product accessible in 127 countries.

Hetero has developed the technology and initiated commercial production of remdesivir API and Formulation which is being considered for COVID-19.

Under the licensing agreement, the company has a right to receive a technology transfer of the Gilead manufacturing process for the antiviral drug to enable it to scale up production.

The licensee also set its own prices for the generic product.

The licensee is royalty-free until the World Health Organization declares the end of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern regarding COVID-19, or until a pharmaceutical product other than remdesivir or a vaccine is approved to treat or prevent COVID-19.

In the coming days, more remdesivirs are expected to flood the market.

Country product manager Imee Lapig-Igpuara explained, “It is important to note that not all remdesivirs are the same.

Not all remdesivirs are legal to be marketed in the Philippines under patent protection.”

Lapig-Igpuara continued, “Do not compromise the safety of patients at this critical moment. It is best to know the source of your remdesivir. Check the packaging marked with ‘manufactured under the license of Gilead Sciences, Inc.’”

GLOBAL healthcare company Abbott brings to the Philippines its revolutionary continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology, FreeStyle Libre system.

Simple and discreet for those living with diabetes, the FreeStyle Libre system monitors glucose levels continuously, every minute through a small, coin-sized sensor worn on the back of the upper arm for up to 14 days— making it the longest-lasting CGM available globally.

Since its introduction in 2014, the FreeStyle Libre portfolio has revolutionized the way diabetes is managed globally by over 2 million users across 50 countries.

Beyond the proven benefits for people living with Type 1 diabetes, realworld data show use of the system significantly reduces HbA1c levels in people with Type 2 diabetes, whether using insulin or not.

“Compared to a conventional finger-stick method that gives a single glucose reading at just one specific point in time, this technology provides physicians with a comprehensive Ambulatory Glucose Profile and Time-in-Range to help make informed treatment decisions,” said Dr. Michael Villa of the Philippine Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Dr. Villa added, “It also gives patients actionable glucose readings and

FreeStyle Libre is a continuous glucose monitoring technology that can be worn on the back of the upper arm for up to 14 days.

trends all through their day. Recently published data from Japan concludes that flash glucose monitoring technology helps achieve better glycemic control than conventional self-monitoring of blood glucose in people with non-insulin treated Type 2 diabetes.”

FreeStyle Libre is available at Mercury Drugstore nationwide and on Abbott’s official online store at www. lazada.com.ph/abbott-official-online-store-by-great-deals.