Manila Standard - 2020 July 29 - Wednesday

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P140b to fund fight against virus Senate provides war chest for recovery plan as it okays Bayanihan 2

By Macon Ramos-Araneta, Maricel V. Cruz and Vito Barcelo

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HE Senate has approved on third and final reading Senate Bill 1564 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2) to allow the government to continue its COVID-19 response and help the affected sectors recover from the impact of the pandemic.

Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, the bill’s author and sponsor, said Bayanihan 2 will effectively extend the validity of the government’s COVID-19 programs and interventions under Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, which lapsed on June 5.

“With Bayanihan 2, the government would be assured of sufficient funding for the ramped up testing for COVID-19 and for contact tracing. It will also ensure that our valiant health workers who contract or succumb to the disease will continuously receive financial support,” Angara said.

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VOL. XXXIV • NO. 155• 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Overload hits PH healthcare as infections top 83k mark THE country’s healthcare system is close to being overwhelmed by the rising number of coronavirus cases, the Department of Health (DOH) said Tuesday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the national COVID-19 bed occupancy rate breached the “warning zone” as 52.3 percent or 8,577 of the 16,388 beds dedicated for COVID-19 patients across the country were occupied as of July 26.

An area is in the “safe zone” if zero to 30 percent of COVID-19-dedicated facilities are in use, while it is in the “warning zone” at 30 to 70 percent utilization and in the “danger zone” at 70 to 100 percent utilization, the DOH explained earlier.

“Nationally, our health system is close to being overwhelmed, so we are pleading with you to follow the minimum health standards,” Vergeire said in a briefing.

This developed as the Philippines’ tally of COVID-19 cases topped 83,000 on Tuesday after the Health department announced 1,678 more infections, bringing the total to 83,673.

NECESSARY PAIN.

A boy winces in pain in his mother's lap as health workers from the Manila Health Department draw blood as the city government conducts a free COVID-19 Mobile Serology Test at Parola Compound in Tondo on Tuesday. Norman Cruz

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Sotto says gov’t takeover of telcos ’possible’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Vito Barcelo

ADDING weight to a threat by President Rodrigo Duterte during his State of the Nation Address (SONA), Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Tuesday it is "possible" for the government to take over telecommunication firms that fail to deliver quality service to the public.

"That is possible. The government can remove those franchises anytime with another law," Sotto said in a TV interview with ANC.

Duterte, in his fifth SONA on Monday, urged the existing duopoly of PLDT and Globe Telecom to improve their services or face "closure" or "expropriation."

Malacañang on Tuesday said executives of the country’s two major telecommunication companies can meet with the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) if they want to discuss in detail the plans to improve their services.

“The NTC is there for them to talk to,” Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in Filipino during a virtual Palace briefing.

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Romualdez vows close review of ’death’ bill

By Maricel V. Cruz, Rey E. Requejo, Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta HOUSE Majority Leader Martin Romualdez on Tuesdaysaid the House of Representatives will thoroughly deliberate the proposed bill restoring the death penalty for drug-related crimes.

Romualdez said the House is

ready to stand up to the task and pass the priority bills outlined by President Rodrigo Duterte in his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), including the revival of the death penalty.

“We, in the House of Representatives, are committed to deliver to the President the measures needed to support his vision for the nation in the years to come. We are ready to take on the challenge,”

Romualdez said. “Despite the uncertain times brought by the global pandemic, we will ensure that the administration’s priority bills will be realized with efficiency for the welfare of the Filipino people.”

The chairman of the House of Representatives' committee on dangerous drugs on Tuesday backed Duterte's call for reviving the death penalty for drug-related crimes.

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BACK TO WORK. House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez (left) discusses with Deputy Majority Leader and Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo (right) and Magsasaka Party List Rep. Joseph Cabatbat (center) the new agenda on the House of Representatives plenary during their first day of work after the State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday. Ver Noveno

RITM receives 300 testing kits from LabX Corp.

RITM DONATION. (From left) Tom Navasero, founder and CEO LabX Corp., hands over the Sofia 2 antigen test analyzer to RITM Chief of Laboratory Research Amado Tandoc III and RITM Assistant Director Beatriz Quiambao.

COVID-19 testing firm LabX Corp. has donated the first Food and Drug Administration-approved antigen test Sofia 2 SARS Antigen Fluorescent Immunoassay analyzer machine to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).

Aside from the machine, LabX Corp. handed over 300 testing kits and demonstrated how to use it before RITM Chief Laboratory Research Amado Tandoc III and RITM Assistant Director Beatriz Quiambao at the facility in Muntinlupa City. Next page

Palace to critics: Are you deaf to the drift? his fifth State-of- the-Nation Address (SONA) while waiting for a vaccine to be available.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque MALACAÑANG on Tuesday defended said the President’s critics might be deaf President Duterte’s plan against COV- because they did not hear the proposed ID-19 after critics said no concrete and measures mentioned by the President detailed battle plans were mentioned in Next page

By Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

Carpio: No to war, but assert rights on SCS

By Rey E. Requejo THE Philippines can still assert its sovereign rights over its territories in the South China Sea without going to war, retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said Tuesday.

"Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia are

asserting their sovereign rights to their maritime zones against China’s claims," Carpio said in reaction to President Rodrigo Duterte’s remarks during his fifth State of the Nation Address on Monday.

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. asked the United States Embassy in the Philippines to

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020

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Palace to fix issues with LSIs ALACAÑANG on Tuesday admitted there were shortcomings in the “Hatid Tulong” program after photos of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) seen cramming inside Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila went viral on social media.

In a virtual Palace briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said it was clear there was a lack of physical distancing being implemented in the stadium.

“I would be blind to say that there were no shortcomings there. There were shortcomings there,” he said.

Roque said he would personally speak to Hatid Tulong Executive Director and Assistant Secretary Joseph Joy Encabo to ensure these issues were addressed.

He echoed the suggestion of Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to set up separate venues for LSIs who would be sent home

based on their region.

“Perhaps we can make it by region so people would not be cramming inside and there would be social distancing while waiting for a bus ride,” he said.

In a related development, the number of LSIs at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex whose rapid tests have produced positive results for the coronavirus disease 2019 have climbed to more than 20 on Tuesday.

According to Manny Vargas’ report on Super Radyo dzBB, Hatid Tulong program lead convenor Joseph Encabo said they were expecting a further rise in positive results rapid testing continues.

He said the LSIs who tested positive

P140b...

Bank of the Philippines (P30 billion), Development Bank of the Philippines (P15 billion), and the Philippine Guarantee Corp. (P5 billion) as capital infusion for the grant of low-interest loans to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME).

For the agriculture sector, P17 billion will go to the Plant, Plant, Plant program, including cash subsidies and interest-free loans under the Agricultural Credit Policy Council and government financial institutions.

To assist the affected members of the transport sector, a total of P17 billion will go to the Department of Transportation for the provision of interest rate subsidies and the provision of temporary livelihood to displaced workers.

The tourism industry, which was among the hardest hit by the pandemic, will get P10 billion through the Department of Tourism for assistance to the critically affected businesses.

State universities and colleges will get assistance for the development of smart campuses to implement flexible learning.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority will also get additional funds for its training for work scholarship program and special training for employment program for the retooling, retraining and up-skilling of displaced workers, including the returning OFWs. Bayanihan 2 will also pave the way for the continuation of programs under Bayanihan 1 such as the provision of emergency subsidies for areas placed under enhanced community quarantine; the swift procurement of essential equipment such as medical supplies and equipment to be used for COVID-19, goods and services for social amelioration measures, construction of temporary medical facilities, and other critical services for distribution centers and temporary medical facilities; the use by LGUs of more than 5 percent of the amount allocated for their calamity fund; the grant of a grace period for the

payment of loans and residential rents and the engagement of temporary human resources for health.

In the House of Representatives, the committee tasked with drafting COVID19-related legislation approved a bill that strengthens the capacity of government banks to provide assistance to small business affected by the pandemic.

House Bill 6795 seeks to help workers in micro-, small- and medium-enterprises (MSMEs) as well as in big strategic companies by allocating P55 billion as paid-up capital for Land Bank of the Philippines (P35 billion), the Development Bank of the Philippines (P15 billion) and the Philippine Guarantee Corp. (P5 billion) so that they can expand their loan programs, particularly to help small businesses.

At the same time, House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez approved the House resolution expressing appreciation and gratitude to health care works and other frontline workers who rendered ervices to the nation in the battle against COVID-19.

At the same time, Romualdez said the House is committed to pass the priority bills identified by the President in his fifth SONA. He also said the President’s call for the reimposition of the death penalty for drug-related offenses would be discussed thoroughly.

Duterte, in his speech, has called on Congress to expedite the passage of several key measures including the Bayanihan To Heal as One Act 2; the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives Enterprises Act (CREATE); the National Housing Development bill; and the Rental Housing Subsidy bill.

“The House had already passed on third and final reading some of the measures mentioned by the President on Monday such as the CREATE, and the bill creating the Department of Overseas Filipinos. Others are either being deliberated at the committees or at the plenary,”

Romualdez said.

Duterte said bills amending Republic Act (RA) 10912 or the Continuing Professional Development Act of 2016 must also be approved along with the Advanced Nursing Education Act; the Medical Reserve Corps Act; and measures that would institutionalize the National Disease Prevention and Management Authority.

Also identified as legislative priorities were the Unified System of Separation, Retirement and Pension for Uniformed Personnel; the Modernization of the Bureau of Fire Protection; and establishment of education centers in every city and municipality.

Duterte also asked Congress to pass the National Land Use Act; measures creating the Boracay Island Authority; the Coconut Levy Act, the Coconut Farmers Trust Fund; the Rural Agricultural and Fisheries Development Financing System Act; as well as the Internet Transactions Act. Romualdez said that upon the instruction of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, he will work closely with Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri to tackle and harmonize the President’s latest priority measures and those that have been mentioned in the previous year’s SONA. With barely two days before July 31, the target deadline set by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to complete the distribution of the second tranche of its emergency subsidy program (ESP), President Duterte said opportunists who misuse the funds intended for the poor will be caught.

“Some opportunists turned crisis into opportunity. We will catch up with you sooner than you think,” the President said on Monday when he delivered his fifth SONA. In June, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said it received 452 complaints on alleged social amelioration program (SAP) anomalies.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said cases were being prepared against those accused.

hospitals for COVID-19 cases.

“At present, 21.4 percent of public beds and 10.1percent ng private beds are reserved for COVID-19 cases. This is inadequate, so we at the DOH are discussing how we can raise these numbers,” Vergeire said.

The government earlier required hospitals to allocate 50 to 70percent of beds to COVID-19 cases in the event of a surge in infections.

Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, Joint Task Force COVID Shield commander, on Tuesday ordered police commanders to submit the names of their designated officers who will serve as quarantine rules supervisors in every village in their area of responsibility.

He gave the order as the government pushed for the community-level enforcement of minimum health safety protocols in the fight against COVID-19.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque has hinted that the government may revert Metro Manila and other areas to a stricter Modified Enhanced Community Quaran-

tine (MECQ) in August if the number of coronavirus cases hit or exceed 85,000 by the end of July as predicted by experts from the University of the Philippines.

The National Capital Region is currently under a General Community Quarantine (GCQ), but with just three days left before July 31, it is likely that the country will surpass the 85,000-cases danger mark as early as today.

Eleazar said the quarantine rules supervisors will serve as the Philippine National Police's COVID-19 focal people in the more than 42,000 villages in the country, and will supervise the village guards in implementing the mandatory wearing of face masks, physical distancing and the prohibition of mass gatherings.

Safer activities The services considered relatively safer in the pandemic will be allowed soon—especially the personal grooming and internet cafe services, the Department of Trade and Industry said Tuesday.

The other services that will be allowed to open include the tutorial testing centers,

the review centers, esthetic services, pet grooming centers and drive-in cinemas.

“Internet cafes are still prohibited from operating. But in the light of the current situation wherein students are advised to attend online learning, we have considered the opening of the internet cafes if it will be used for education purposes only,” Trade secretary Ramon Lopez said.

South Korean donation The South Korean government has donated P36.8 million worth of essential medical supplies to support the Philippines' fight against COVID-19.

The donation included 600,000 high-quality KF94 masks worth about $500,000 and seven walk-through COVID-19 testing booths worth $150,000 via the Korea International Cooperation Agency.

The Korean firms T&B Company and SD Biosensor, along with the South Korean Embassy in Manila, also provided 1,000 face shields and COVID-19 diagnostic kits worth $100,000. Othel V. Campos and Macon Ramos-Araneta

vival of the death penalty, which was abolished in 2006, in his SONA last year. “Drug syndicates continue to operate – just like the countries of Colombia, Mexico – and it is being played inside the national penitentiaries….

This law will not only help us deter criminality but also save our children from the dangers posed by illegal and dangerous drugs,” he said.

Barbers appealed to his fellow congressmen to pass with dispatch pending bills in the House re-imposing the death penalty on drug related crimes and called on the senators to do the same.

“Illegal drugs is (sic) a menace in society. It destroys not only its victims but entire families, and with them, the whole nation," Barbers said. With AFP

Palace...

which aims to provide a stimulus package to offset the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

The Palace official also said the government would ramp up testing, contact tracing and treatment of COVID-19 case.

Roque said Duterte did not “go into details” during his SONA, because the specifics have been discussed in the preSONA forums held in the weeks leading up to Monday’s event.

“We conducted pre-SONA with economic managers that detailed measures to fight COVID 19,” he said.

Roque dismissed the opposition's criticism, saying it is expected from them to find the SONA lacking in details over the government's pandemic response.

Roque also said that the Palace welcomed an offer from media giant ABS-CBN Corp.—which was denied a congressional broadcast franchise

by Congress this month—to use its transmission network and educational programs for distance learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

He noted that ABS-CBN made the offer after Duterte, also in the SONA, said that television frequencies reverted to the government will be used for educational purposes as the country's schools shift to e-learning.

Sotto said the government ran a telephone service in the 1960s, adding that local telcos "should seriously take up what the President said."

Duterte's remarks only concern Smart and Globe and are not intended for foreign investors, the senator added.

"To each his own. We’ll just have to accept the fact that that is the style of the President. The formal speeches are not his strength. He got extemporaneous," Sotto said.

Asked if Duterte was open to meeting with executives himself, Roque said telcos should provide better service to their customers regardless if a meeting is possible.

He said the NTC will be in charge of declaring whether telco services have improved by December.

“There are many bases to know that they have improved their services and the NTC knows them, there’s the issue on dropped calls, on whether people can clearly hear each other, they have a way of measuring it,” Roque said.

The spokesman said he too experienced issues with his mobile service.

“Those with certificate of public convenience should give convenience to the public and not difficulty,” he added.

Meanwhile, he denied that Duterte was prioritizing better mobile and internet services over the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.

“He didn’t say telcos will be his only priority. Everything that will benefit the people will be his priority. One of them is better telco service,” he said.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, a supporter of the President, said this kind of threat had worked before. In the past, he said, a threat from the President led to a P40 billion tax settlement by Mighty Corp., the settlement of a P6 billion obligation by Philippine Airlines and the government takeover of the Mile Long property.

Lacson also pointed to the rehabilitation of Boracay Island.

None of these cases went through long and expensive court hearings, he said.

"Whether government takeover of telcos is justified and compliant with the provisions of the constitution given the circumstances is another matter altogether," he added. With PNA

Authorization (EUA) that were submitted to the US FDA. “Quidel announced that they have increase the sensitivity to 96.7 percent. This is basically two additional points from the previous 93.8 percent rating that US FDA has given Quidel,” LabX Corp. CEO Thomas Navasero said.

"This new generation of antigen test will continue to play a critical role as an effective first line of defense against COVID-19 in the country, because it is faster and more accurate than the old gold standard," Navasero added.

“Further studies have validated that our Sofia SARS Antigen FIA offers sensitiv-

ity that is comparable to PCR within this 5-day window, providing healthcare workers with confidence in their ability to accurately diagnose their patients,” he said.

The US Department of Health and Human Services has indicated its intent to purchase both Sofia 2 instruments and the Sofia SARS Antigen FIA for distribution and use in nursing homes.

“I’m looking forward how COVID-19 testing game changer is in the Philippines through LabX Corp. Through Sofia 2 antigen test, we can up the testing exponentially, and we can easily mitigate virus transmission in the country,” said Norman Bungubung, LabX Corp. Chief Operating Officer.

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He said the new law will also allow the government to continue providing assistance to Filipino businesses and workers who have been hurt by the pandemic, including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were either repatriated or whose deployments were suspended.

In his 5th State-of-the-Nation Address, President Rodrigo Duterte asked Congress to support the passage of the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act to “supplement funds for recovery and response against the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

A total of P140 billion will be appropriated to fund the provisions of the law, a figure reached after long consultations with the administration’s economic managers.

The bill appropriates P10 billion for the procurement of PCR testing and extraction kits and corresponding supplies including enhancement of DOH capacities in programs involving elimination and control of other diseases.

A total of P15 billion will go to the cash-for-work program and the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers or TUPAD of the Department of Labor and Employment.

To help the displaced workers, including probationary, project, seasonal, contractual and casual employees in private health institutions, tourism, culture and arts, creative industries, construction, public transportation, trade industries, and other sectors of the economy as may be identified by the DOLE, P17 billion will be provided as unemployment or involuntary separation assistance.

Also included in the benefit package are freelancers, self-employed and repatriated OFWs, including those whose deployment were suspended due to a government-imposed deployment ban.

A total of P50 billion will go to the government financial institutions Land

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The tally marked the 14th consecutive day that more than 1,300 new coronavirus cases were reported.

The five areas with the highest number of new cases were Metro Manila with 698, Laguna with 218, Cebu with 100, Cavite with 87 and Davao del Sur with 33.

The total recoveries also rose to 26,617 after 173 more patients recovered from the disease, while the death toll climbed to 1,947 with four new fatalities.

Vergeire also reported that Metro Manila was in the danger zone with 82.2 percent of COVID-19 beds occupied as of July 26. The Cordillera Administrative Region and Regions 1, 3, 4-A, 6, 7, and 11 were in the warning zone.

However, Vergeire said not all hospitals have complied with the DOH order to allocate 30 percent of beds in public hospitals and 20percent of beds in private

Romualdez...

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Rep. Robert Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte, the panel's chairperson, said "re-imposing the death penalty now on drug related offenses will surely stop the criminals in their tracks and deter them from further plying their trade."

In the 17th Congress, Barbers is one of the principal authors of the death penalty bill that was passed by the House on third reading but was not taken up by the Senate.

President Rodrigo Duterte has pushed for the reimposition of the death penalty for drug-related charges.

Duterte first made a pitch for the re-

Carpio:...

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rectify its statement that referred to Sabah as part of Malaysia in a Twitter post about Filipino repatriates.

“Sabah is not in Malaysia if you want to have anything to do with the Philippines,” Locsin said on his Twitter account.

“You better edit that announcement if you know what’s good for you.”

Locsin made the statement after US Embassy tweeted about the US Agency for International Development (USAID) donation of hygiene kits to the Zamboanga Peninsula office of the Department

of Social Welfare and Development.

The hygiene kits were meant for use by Filipinos who came from Sabah. The US Embassy has not yet issued a statement on the matter, despite requests from reporters.

The Philippines has a long-standing claim over Sabah, the northern part of Borneo Island, which started during the term of President Diosdado Macapagal.

Manila’s claim is anchored on the Sultanate of Sulu’s assertion of ownership over the northern part of Sabah.

Several historians believe the former Sultan of Sulu was gifted with the land in exchange for helping the Sultan of Brunei defeat his adversaries.

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during his speech before a joint session of Congress at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.

"That's not true. We know globally that our tools are testing, isolation, tracing, and treatment, that's why we're improving these. Siguro po bingi sila pero nakita ko po iyon (They must be deaf because I saw it)," Roque said.

In a televised press briefing, Roque said the President called for the passage of the proposed Corporate Recovery and the Tax Incentives for Enterprises and the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act,

RITM...

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The machine is approved by the FDA of both the United States and Philippines, the firm said in a statement.

Quidel Corp., a California-based diagnostic healthcare firm that produces the machine, has announced that it has updated the performance data for its Sofia SARS Antigen FIA antigen test on its package insert to 96.7% using direct nasal swab versus PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests.

This is a result of further studies included in Quidel's amended Emergency Use

were brought to isolation centers and subjected to confirmatory swab tests.

To date, an estimated 2,000 LSIs were still at the Rizal Memorial stadium waiting for trips back to their home provinces, according to Año.

He said the national government was eyeing to finish transporting the remaining LSIs by Thursday.

Over 4,000 LSIs staying at the stadium were already transported to various provinces, he said.

Local government units (LGUs) with departing and returning LSIs are encouraged to support the Hatid Tulong program, he added.

Closing borders not sustainable vs. virus—WHO GENEVA—Keeping borders closed to halt the spread of COVID-19 is unsustainable, the World Health Organization said Monday, urging countries to adopt comprehensive strategies based on local knowledge of where the virus is spreading.

Border closures and travel restrictions remain an important part of many countries' strategies to combat the novel coronavirus.

At the same time, rising cases in a range of countries in Europe and elsewhere that had loosened measures after appearing to get their outbreaks under control have spurred discussions of possible fresh border closures.

But the UN health body warned that such measures can not be kept up indefinitely, and are also only useful when combined with a wide range of other measures to detect and break chains of transmission.

"Continuing to keep international borders sealed is not necessarily a sustainable strategy for the world's economy, for the world's poor, or for anybody else," Michael Ryan, WHO emergencies director, told journalists in a virtual briefing.

"It is going to be almost impossible for individual countries to keep their borders shut for the foreseeable future," he said, pointing out that "economies have to open up, people have to work, trade has to resume."

He acknowledged that when it comes to COVID-19, it is impossible to have a "global one size fits all policy" because outbreaks are developing differently in different countries. AFP

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Gordon: Attack on Drilon ‘unpresidential’ DOTr adds more buses to EDSA Busway System

By Darwin G Amojelar THE Department of Transportation said it will add 90 bus units in the EDSA Busway System that can ferry more MRT-3 passengers starting July 29 this year.

The agency said the 90 buses under the MRT-3 Bus Augmentation Program will be added to the 194 buses which are currently deployed for the EDSA Busway service, carrying passengers between Monumento and the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITx).

From the fixed rate of P25, the base fare will now be P13 for the first five kilometers and P2.2 will be added for the succeeding kilometers.

In addition to the bus stops at the curbside from Monumento to North Avenue and Buendia to PITX, the EDSA Busway service will continue to load and unload passengers in bus stops near MRT-3 stations.

For northbound commuters, the loading stations are Taft Avenue and Ayala station, while the unloading stations will be in Ayala, Guadalupe, Ortigas, Quezon Avenue and North Avenue.

For southbound, the loading stations are North Avenue and Quezon Avenue, while the land stations will be in Ortigas, Guadalupe, Ayala and Taft Avenue.

With the EDSA Busway, travel time from Monumento, Caloocan to PITX from the usual 2 to 3 hours is expected to be reduced to only 45 minutes to an hour.

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

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MEMBER of the Senate went to the defense of Minority Leader Franklin Drilon who was verbally attacked by President Rodrigo Duterte in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, the second to the last he would have to make under hjis six-year presidency.

In a virtual press conference, Senator Richard Gordon noted that while the President was infuriated with Drilon, he should not come out with it (tirades) in public.

He said Duterte, whom he said should be “presidentiable” at all times, had mentioned many things in public which he

should not have said.

Conceding that it’s the business of Duterte, and they were not meddling, Gordon still believes that he should not single out one person.

At the start of his SONA, Duterte took potshots at Drilon for saying there should be an Anti-Political Dynasty Law to get rid of oligarchy and dragging the

SENATOR Cynthia Villar on Tuesday said she has committed to further push for the release and utilization of the P105 billion after President Rodrigo Duterte in his State of The Nation Address ordered that the coconut levy fund be used for the welfare of coconut farmers and the development of the coconut industry.

“Like the President, I believe that the urgent utilization of the coconut levy fund will help uplift the lives of coconut farmers,” Villar said.

JUNGLE WARFARE.

She said that the release of the coco levy fund has long been overdue. She said the money for coconut farmers, which they rightfully own, will also benefit the coconut industry, not only the 3.5 million coconut farmers.

In his 5th SONA, the President also urged “both Houses of Congress to pass a version of the bill establishing the Coconut Farmers Trust Fund”.

As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, Villar has already sponsored a revised version of the bill on May 28, 2020, plenary discussion of the legislation has already started.

She said the bill was re-filed with some modifications, taking into consideration the inputs being suggested by the executive branch of government so it will not be vetoed again. “We are confident that it will already be enacted into law, given the President’s support,” said Villar.

Earlier, the President vetoed the version approved during the 17th Congress in 2019. Since his SONA in 2016, he has vowed to pass a law for the utilization of the coco levy fund. In his SONA on Monday, he said will leave it up to Congress to “sort out” on “how best the money can be utilized”.

IN BRIEF DOJ: Placards showing opinions on issues lawful

CHILDREN AT RISK.

JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday said expressing one’s position on public issues in placards or streamers is a lawful exercise of the freedom of speech, unless its contents incite people to rise up in arms against the government.

“It depends on the contents,” Guevarra said when sought for comment on the actions taken by the police authorities, particularly the confiscation of banners or posters showing one’s sentiments against the anti-terrorism law.

“If the contents incite people to rise up in arms against the duly constituted authorities, the police may seize these materials as part of the evidence for a possible prosecution for the offense of inciting to sedition,” he said in a message to reporters. Rey E. Requejo

DENR to restore ‘dead’ forest’ in Boracay AFTER the recovery of another encroached wetland in Aklan’s world famous Boracay Island from illegal occupants, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said it will soon start the restoration of the “dead forest.”

Natividad Bernardino, an agency director who serves as the general manager of the Boracay Inter-Agency Rehabilitation Management Group, said they were able to clear an 8.5-hectare wetland in Barangay Manoc-Manoc of illegal structures with 31 families from the Tumandok tribe occupying the place.

The displaced families were transferred to lands awarded to them by the government.

“That’s hitting two birds with one stone,” she said. Rio N. Araja

sail his critics including Drilon. “ Clearly, there is no plan for the public,” said Hontiveros.

These so-called attacks against the oligarchy, she said. are yet another distraction from the lack of leadership in handling this crisis.

She said no oligarcy was dismantled.

“And unlike the President, Senator Drilon does not belong to any political dynasty.”

She expressed hope that unlike the President ‘s SONA, the government should focus on responding to a pandemic..

The Philippine Coast Guard, in collaboration with the Philippine Army, held their first-ever Jungle Warfare and Mountain Operations Course at the grounds of the 2ID, Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal

Villar seeks release of P105-b coco levy fund

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

names of his daughter, Davao Mayor Sara Duterte, and his other children to the political dynasty.

“In an interview, he arrogantly mentioned among others that oligarchs need not be rich. Then he linked the anti-dynasty system with oligarchy and the topic was my daughter and son,” Duterte said.

The President blasted Drilon and called him a hypocrite since, as member of Congress, the senator was fully aware that this law could not be passed.

Senator Risa Hontiveros said that instead of inspiring hope and presenting a cohesive plan to the Filipino people in the middle of a crisis, Duterte used his SONA to rant about his personal grudge against the media and as-

Two children play at a sidewalk in Quiapo, Manila on July 28, 2020 unmindful of the threat of the Covid-19 disease, even as their parents watch from a distance.

JR Josue

CebuPac resumes flights to Incheon, Dubai CEBU Pacific said it will resume flights from Manila to Incheon, South Korea starting on August 6, 2020. However, passengers will not be allowed to travel from Incheon to Manila.

The airline has also opened flights from Manila to Dubai (Flight 5J 18), every Sunday. Departure time is set at 6:55 p.m. (Manila time) and a return flight from Dubai to Manila (Flight 5J 19) every Monday at 3:30am (Dubai time)

The Manila-Incheon flight (5J 194), is scheduled every Thursday at 11:55 a.m. (Manila time) All other Cebu Pacific international flights remain cancelled until July 31, 2020.

Passengers are reminded of the following requirements for international travel: Before departure, passengers should submit a negative result on their PCR test report which is valid for 96 hours.

Power sector plans left out of SONA—energy advocates POWER consumers and clean energy advocates on Monday expressed dismay at the absence of power sector plans in the country’s COVID-19 recovery pathway as pronounced in President Duterte’s fifth State of the Nation Address.

Prior to SONA 2020, the Power for People Coalition had been staunchly advocating for relief and reform programs as well as renewable energy development to aid the people’s recovery from the coronavirus crisis and transform the power sector for the better.

“We are disappointed that the President did not reaffirm his directive to the Department of Energy to reduce the country’s reliance on coal. There was no mention of a sanction on Secretary Al Cusi, whose ‘technology neutral’ approach was as an act of brazen disobedience to a direct presidential order,” said Gerry Arances, Convenor of P4P. Arances said that the Meralco billing shock during the Enhanced Community

Quarantine was also left out from the address, despite it being a major blow for consumers already struggling to make ends meet.

“Power consumers all over the country are also certainly dissatisfied that, while the President did warn private electricity providers to serve end-users better, no satisfactory resolution was provided.

There was no mention of Meralco’s bill shock, immediate power relief for consumers as they struggle with the economic dislocation caused by the pandemic, and the renegotiation of power supply agreements detrimental to consumers,” he said.

While P4P commended the President’s recognition of solar energy as a viable method of powering Last Mile schools, the group reiterated that solar and other forms of renewable energy provide the same kind of electricity produced by coal which we can power factories, homes, and offices even in major cities.

COMPLIANCE.

Bus company Metrolink has complied with the Valenzuela City government and removed half of the seats in their buses to implement physical distancing.

It also settled their fines amounting to P462,000. Photo via Mayor RexGat Twitter

Laguna’s Badillo tops Net 25’s ‘Tagisan ng Galing’ as winners get over P4m in prizes “REALIZING dreams, rewarding talent” was what Eagle Broadcasting Corporation’s Net 25 channel did for a group of individuals who showcased their skills and topped the network’s Tagisan ng Galing competition last July 27, 2020.

The singing and dancing contest conferred the Grand Champion award to Jonacris Bandillo, while the Power Duo, Edrien Oclarino, the Cosmic Angles and Nicole Francisco bagged the first, second and third runner up spots, respectively.

The awarding ceremony was held at the Net25 Studio and graced by known local performance artists. Among the distinguised guests

was Glicerio B. Santos, Jr., General Auditor of the Iglesia Ni Cristo.

Contest winners received well over 4 million pesos in cash prizes.

Top winner Badillo, who is also known as the “Legendary Pool Player of Laguna,” thanked the network and fans who voted online for his achievement. He received P2 million and 34.15% from the public’s SMS and online votes.

“Unang-una gusto ko pong magpasalamat sa Panginoong Diyos. Siya po ang nagkaloob sa akin ng ganitong talent at minarapat lang po na ibalik sa Kaniya ang kapurihan at tagumpay.”

He added, “Gusto ko din pong magpasalamat sa lahat ng sumuporta sa akin at sa kapwa kong contestants, pati na rin sa mga hurado. Sa lahat po ng bumubuo ng Tagisan ng Galing, sa Ka Jun Santos po, Sa lahat po ng mga viewers, sa bumoto sa aming lahat, maraming, maraming salamat po.”

Power Duo, the “Amazing Couple from Rizal”, brought home P1.5 Million and garnered a score of 18.02% while Edrien Oclarino, the “Captivating Guitarist from Cavite obtained 17.64% nods and was awarded P1 Million.

The other winners were given P100,000 in

consolation prizes and opportunities to guest in NET25’s musical programs including Himig Ng Lahi.

“We will continue to search for, encourage, and develop local Filipino talent. Our artists are well-known around the world and our Tagisan ng Galing can be a breeding ground for those who may not have the opportunity otherwise to showcase their unique skills,” Santos, Jr. said.

The Tagisan Ng Galing Grand Finale which was aired on NET25 and on TNG’s Facebook and YouTube channels was highlighted by the performances of Ms. Kuh Ledesma, Angeline Quinto

and Marcelito Pomoy. The show was jointly hosted

by Imelda Papin, Marco Sison and Vina Morales.

A second holding of Tagisan was announced during the awarding “to give more opportunities for Filipinos to present their world-class talents in singing and dancing.”

The Juke Box Queen Imelda Papin, OPM hitmaker Marco Sison and singer-actress Vina Morales will remain as judges to be joined by America’s Got Talent grand finalist Marcelito Pomoy.

Watch NET25 and subscribe to NET25 and Tagisan Ng Galing FB and YouTube for more updates on Tagisan Ng Galing Part 2.

LGUs

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

A4

WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

ULAP prexy welcomes Duterte classes policy A DAY after President Rodrigo Duterte’s fifth State of the Nation Address, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) President and Quirino Gov. Dax Cua thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for reiterating the government's "no vaccine, no face-to-face classes" policy amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Cua said Tuesday it was a decision that he and many local chief executives welcomed as it would help them in their efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

According to Cua, who earlier raised concerns that the conduct of face-to-face classes would lead to a surge of COVID-19 cases in provinces like Quirino, said that LGU heads like himself are committed to protecting the lives of their constituents.

“The President is right. Whatever lessons our students miss, they can make up. But a life, once lost, is gone forever,” said Cua. "For now, we prioritize the lives of our constituents.

As the frontliners of the government, LGUs know the realities on the ground. We are happy that the Presiden—as a former LGU chief—recognizes the challenges we face in order to keep our provinces COVIDfree."

Only four provinces in the country have zero cases of COVID-19—Aurora, Batanes, the Dinagat Islands, and Quirino.

MOBILE TEST CENTER. Manila

Mayor Francisco "Isko" Dumagoso addresses the crowd as he leads the launching of the city's COVID-19 Mobile Serology testing center at Velasquez, Tondo, and Pandacan on Monday. Norman Cruz

Manila deploys 2 mobile clinics

By Willie Casas

T

HE Manila City government has rolled out two mobile clinics that would test residents for COVID-19 for free to arrest the spread of the respiratory disease.

The mobile serology testing trucks, initially deployed to the Pandacan and Tondo districts, can screen 100 blood samples a day, said the Manila Public Information Office.

The mobile clinics will prioritize areas

with the highest COVID-19 tally, said Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso.

"This is the start of our saturation drive in the city. If they go to your place, that means your area has registered the most number of COVID. You have

something to be concerned about,” Domagoso said.

The Manila government earlier launched two drive-thru and two walkin screening centers that make use of serology tests that detect the presence of antibodies against the coronavirus in blood samples.

This type of test is more accurate than the rapid antibody screening, Domagoso earlier said.

The mayor urged his constituents to follow health protocols to contain the

2 Caloocan villages shut for 6 days

FOR FIREFIGHTERS.

Officials of the Association of Volunteer Fire Chiefs and Firefighters of the Philippines Inc., led by President George Go Pen Siong, Executive Vice President Andy Cheng, Vice President Arvin Sy, and Fire Marshal Trencio Magdangal distribute vitamins to all volunteer firefighters in the National Capital Region to ensure the health and stamina of all firefighters during the coronavirus pandemic.

Norman Cruz

By Jun David TWO other barangays in Caloocan City have been placed under a sixday lockdown due to the continuous increase in the number of people who test positive for COVID-19.

Under the direction of Mayor Oscar Malapitan, Barangay 95 and Barangay 97, which started on Sunday at midnight and will end on August 1, 2020, are being locked down at the same time.

According to the City Health Office, Barangay 95 recorded 20 confirmed cases of the virus whileBarangay 97 recorded 13 cases.

Those who tested positive for COVID-19 increased when the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) was imposed in Metro Manila.

The Caloocan LGU will distribute food packs to residents affected by the lockdown, while locals are strictly prohibited from leaving the house.

There are up to 2,900 residents affected in Barangay 95 and 1,800 in Barangay 97. Only fronliners and workers are allowed to leave their premises.

spread of COVID-19.

"The key to success rests with the people because the virus doesn't walk around. People walk around, people spread it. If we remember that, we will be careful,” he said.

The Philippines as of Sunday confirmed 80,448 cases of the respiratory disease, including 1,932 deaths.

University of the Philippines experts earlier predicted that the country’s COVID-19 tally would hit 80,000 to 85,000 by the end of July.

Muntinlupa puts Filinvest bldg. in ELCQ DUE to the alarming rise of confirmed cases and doubling time of COVID-19 transmission in the area, the local government of Muntinlupa will be imposing another extreme localized community quarantine in Filinvest Socialized Housing, the second lockdown in the residential complex.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi signed Executive Order 30 s.2020 ordering a 14-day Extreme Localized Community Quarantine (ELCQ) in Filinvest Socialized Housing Bldg. 2 in Brgy.

Alabang starting July 28, 12:01 p.m. until August 11, 11:59 a.m.

Muntinlupa City Health Officer Dr. Tet Tuliao said that as of July 26, FSH Building 2 had 14 active cases and three were admitted to the hospital.

She said the doubling time was narrow for the residential area at 8.83 days and had a high attack rate of 5.88/100.

Tuliao added the community showed clustering of cases as housing units were close to one another. The community also has a high-risk population of children, pregnant women, PWDs, and senior citizens.

Navotas cedes quarantine Joy B orders probe of Quezon City firms, hotels requirement

By Rio N. Araja QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte has ordered an investigation into failure of some companies to inform the city’s health department of alleged positive cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in their workplace.

She said hotels booked by the Bureau of Quarantine as host for COVID-19 positive patients must also report to the city, otherwise they could be held liable under Republic Act 11332.

“We call on all companies, business establishments, private subdivisions and condominiums in the city to cooperate with us in our efforts to combat the disease as well as maintain a safe environment by following all health protocols," she said.

The city government is also looking into reports that some of them have not complied with standard health protocols, such as the use of thermal scanners and the observance of social distancing and mass gather-

ing directives.

According to Dr. Rolando Cruz, head of the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU), these firms were reported by concerned citizens through the unit’s contact tracing hotline and email.

“We have sent these firms a letter requiring them to cooperate with us during our investigation, and to provide us with documents that will clearly tell us the health status of their employees,” she said.

QC taps AI to fight virus spread

KIT DISTRIBUTION. Manila Barangay 688 Zone 75 Sangguniang Kabataan chair Joy

Marie Hicaro, Barangay Chairman Irene Sy Gotoc, Kagawads Rommel Gotoc and Rogeilo Ibarra lead the house-to- house distribution of health sanitation kits in their effort to help fight the coronavirus pandemic by urging residents to stay at home and practice proper hygiene. Jhayson Velasco

QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte has tapped artificial intelligence to closely monitor and track cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

To ease the burden of contact tracing, the city government adopted the scheme to automate tracking and monitoring of suspected and probable cases.

On July 26, she spearheaded the launching of the BANTAI COVID project designed to remotely reach and monitor those who have been exposed to COVID-19 positive individuals in a real-time manner and via short message service.

“The latest method will help spare healthcare workers from unnecessary

exposure and risks,” she said.

As a recovered COVID-19 patient, she said she understands the worries of those battling the disease, particularly the asymptomatic patients.

The city mayor has just recovered from COVID-19.

“Aside from medical advice, we want them to know they have someone to turn to or consult whenever they feel the need. We’re happy this project will address this,” she noted.

BANTAI COVID is made possible through close collaboration with the Philippine Medical Association, private enterprise VIREO Loadworks, and the Quezon City Medical Society. Rio N. Araja

NAVOTAS City has waived the requirement for quarantine for informal sector workers who will participate in the community testing for Coronavirus Disease 2019.

Per Executive Order TMT-040, series of 2020, market vendors; grocery staff; tricycle, jeep and bus drivers and conductors; fisherfolk; and fish brokers and their employees are given priority to undergo the swab test but are allowed to return to work afterwards.

“Market vendors, grocery staff, drivers as well as fish brokers and their employees interact closely with their customers. Fisherfolk, on the other hand, work alongside each other and often fail to meet the 1-2 meter requirement for physical distancing,” Mayor Toby Tiangco noted.

“They are being prioritized because by the very nature of their jobs, they have a higher chance of getting infected. They are at the frontliners serving us during these trying times, hence, the privilege of being prioritized is granted to them,” he explained.

However, Tiangco said many of them refuse to get tested, even if the test was free of charge.

“Many fear that because of quarantine, they would have to stop working for a few days and lose the opportunity to earn for their family. To address this, we decided to forego such requirement but with certain conditions,” the mayor said. Jun David

Opinion Regretful and frightening T Last Saturday and Sunday, these 8,000 plus stranded—sadly only a few wearing face masks—who have been stuck in the national capital due to the lockdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic, were set to be transported by the government to their respective home provinces under the government's “Hatid Tulong” program.

Beyond the alphabet, the protocols and strict restrictions imposed by the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infections Diseases have been shamelessly and openly violated, with social distancing forgotten and swept under the rug.

While the government imposes these protocols, this is the same government that violates these protocols while the number of infections and deaths are rising, the recorded recoveries despite.

The health of everyone is at stake.

We commiserate with Hatid Tulong program head Joseph Encabo who has appealed for public compassion for the LSIs (locally stranded individuals) packed inside the sports stadium, social distancing already disregarded.

But, properly, such compassion can

TO THE POINT

EMIL JURADO Before 2020, it was a popular tourist destination, known for its pristine beaches and varied wildlife. It was also known as the fishing basket of the Visayas, ensuring that the people of Cebu and Bohol were fed. Currently, all three municipalities in Bantayan are 100-percent energized. They are served by the Bantayan Electric Cooperative. The electricity that Banelco distributes currently is generated by the Bantayan Island Power Corporation, the sole producer.

I think President Duterte is trying his best.

Bantayan has been experiencing power shortages since 2018. This has been more keenly felt this year in the midst of the Enhanced Community Quarantine.

My gulay, from January to May this year, Banelco recorded an average of three to six hours of daily power interruption because of BIPCOR’s power supply shortfall. In fact, there have been extreme instances of nine- to 16-hour interruptions. Sometimes the outages last for 24 hours.

What is more infuriating for the residents of Bantayan is that BIPCOR does not seem to have any concrete plans to improve its performance. Technically, it is still the provider until November 2021, but there seems to be no urgency to improve. In fact, it appears that BIPCOR is expending more energy on fighting Banelco in the newspapers instead of doing its job.

A cursory glance at the Banelco so-

J.A. DELA CRUZ

be raised posthaste if the enemy the government is fighting against is something that can be seen by the naked eye.

And then we put thousands—women, children, men and the elderly—inside a sports stadium where the protocols are not enforced, giving the high possibility of infections and, God forbid, death and eventual cremation far beyond the eye range of the nearest of kin.

We agree with suggestions that there should be swab testing instead of just rapid testing before they are sent back to their home provinces to avoid, under any and all circumstances, infections in their destinations.

At the same time, the national government should schedule bus trips by province or region and quickly conduct tests in housing facilities for LSIs. Nothing can be less. The health of everyone is at stake.

AS EXPECTED, President Duterte delivered a sobering assessment of the state of the nation. We are in a grim situation. The COVID-19 outbreak has wreaked havoc not only in the Philippines but globally. We have to prepare for more trying times. All of us will have to do our part to ensure that we will be able to rise and move on. But for that to happen, we must shape up. Yes, more than anything else shaping up was the call of that speech.

This was the main message of the President in his address.

Of course, as in all SONAs, here and in other countries, there was an enumeration of promises done and promises of those still to be done. With the pandemic in progress, measures to improve our defenses and mitigate COVID-19’s impact on lives and livelihood were outlined across the hour-andforty-minute speech. Contrary to the claims of those who continue to belie the alleged "inexplicable neglect to come out with a COVID-19 plan," specific measures to precisely enhance our ability to overcome the pandemic were indicated, starting off with a call for Congress to pass a second Bayanihan Act. The earlier one already contained, albeit in some instances gingerly, measures to address the outbreak.

If the earlier measures were not enough to address the pressing problems at that time, then we have to review and find out why. Was Bayanihan Act One, a fanciful response, devoid of any logic and, in fact, an act of tokenism to the nth degree? Was it an honest-to-goodness plan or just a wish list of sorts, a hodge podge of suggestions to combat the outbreak signifying nothing? Or it was a crude copycat of the WHO protocols with no relation to the realities on the ground? These will have to be to be looked into.

Now, if the measures indicated therein were inadequate, in what sense were these so? Were the guidelines so rigid? Loose?

Unrealistic? Unimplementable? Were the resources unavailable? Were the personnel unprepared to undertake the plans? What really went wrong, if any? These and other concerns will now have to be scrutinized to the minutest detail if needed to come out with an enhanced response to this continuing outbreak.

I think the problem was essentially in the implementation of the plan. Yes, sir. We have a plan and a simple one at that. It's called Save Lives, Save Livelihoods.

On the matter of saving lives, the protocol is as plain as well: Test, Trace, Isolate, Protect. So, the question is: were we able to implement this protocol to a degree which would have gotten us to the same level of

cial media sites sheds more light on the condition that resident are living in. And yet, BIPCOR seems to think that a backand-forth with Banelco is a smarter use of their time.

Here’s some context: In anticipation of a prolonged and worsening power supply deficit, Banelco conducted what is known as a Competitive Selection Process in July of 2020.

This is essentially a bidding process, and is required to adhere to standards set by the Department of Energy in October 2019. Banelco issued a Notice of Award to the winning bidder, which has gone on to prepare for the contract by forming a new company dedicated to supplying the needs of Bantayan. Furthermore they appear to have entered into a partnership with a global firm, in order to provide stable power to the island when their contract starts next year.

BIPCOR is calling foul on Banelco, saying that the bidding process was rushed and irregular. Yet, in the same breath, they acknowledged they did not have complete requirements when they submitted their bid. Furthermore, they don’t seem to be respecting the Court of Mandaue like when they filed a petition for temporary restraining order against the award of the contract. The Court of Mandaue did not issue a TRO. Now there is a heated back-and-forth battle between the two companies about the merits of the bid, the rejoinder, the statement released essentially with BIPCOR waging a battle in the clouds without solving problems on the ground.

Why is BIPCOR protesting not being chosen for the bid. If you have not been able to deliver the needed power supply in your contract, how can you expect to be chosen again?

From an outsider’s perspective, it seems BIPCOR has not fully thought this through. It should spend the remainder of its contract addressing the issue of undersupply instead of throwing a tantrum.

SONA message: Fight the oligarchs VIRTUAL REALITY

TONY LOPEZ SOME conclusions from President Duterte’s penultimate State of the Nation Address (SONA): • Despite being poorly delivered and one hour 40 minutes, and 8,880-word long, it is the best of the five SONAs of Duterte and one of the best of any Philippine president’s.

• Duterte is not done with the old-time oligarchs yet. He equates oligarchy with corruption. Corruption not in the traditional sense of bribery but using government franchises like broadcast to play politics and using concessions like telco, electricity and water to create profits and capital without investing so much, parlaying the subscriptions or fees paid by users to sustain the business. Ginigisa sa sariling mantika, to use a local slang.

He said: “The oligarchy that exists in this country is the oligarchy that existed during

the Spanish time. And the Spanish lands and the friar lands and all the benefits that were passed on to the Insulares who did not go back to Spain or to the Spaniards and into their… But that was long ago, it has been forgotten. This is the oligarchy that controls the Philippines by what? By taking control of the water and the electricity and power. Iyan ang oligarchy mo (Senator Frank) Drilon.” These words were applauded.

The President has already denied renewal of the franchise of ABS-CBN Corp., the broadcast behemoth of the Lopez family. It seems the government machinery is not done with the Lopezes yet.

Some influential congressmen want to check into the Lopez family’s ownership of the ABS-CBN building and the land on which it stands, at Mother Ignacia Avenue.

They think it was owned by JUSMAG (the joint US-Philippine military advisory group) which was turned over to the Philippine government which happily went into the possession of the Lopezes. During 12 hearings of Congress, ABS-CBN failed to produce original titles to the properties.

• Duterte seems to think there are only three oligarchs in the Philippines—the Lopezes, the Ayalas, and Manuel V. Pangilinan, the top honcho of the Hong Kong-based First Pacific Group of Indonesia which in turn controls PLDT, Smart, Maynilad Water, tollways concessions north and south of Manila, and properties.

Duterte is not done yet.

• The Ayala family and MVP Group own two major concessions—telco and water.

Duterte has given Ayala’s Globe Telecom and MVP’s Smart to improve their service substantially by Christmas 2020, for two reasons: One, he wants to greet Jesus happy birthday on Dec. 25, and two, he wants cheaper and faster telephone service as his Christmas gift to the Filipino people.

Also, the President wants cheaper electrici-

B1

confidence as say, Thailand or Malaysia, among our neighbors in ASEAN. Never mind Vietnam or to a certain degree, Singapore. The former has maintained the discipline, patriotic fervor and thoroughness achieved through the country's liberation struggles. We do not have a similar experience after World War II. In the case of Singapore, the country's graduation from an under-developed (developing) economy to a developed (almost developed or middle income as how some economists call it) has given it the means and information to address the pandemic more adequately than ours. As for Thailand and Malaysia, the only difference I would concede is the fact that both countries are constitutional monarchies: Thailand has a King and Malaysia an Agong (a designated leader among its sovereigns). Apart from that, we should be at par in terms of resources, information and education. In fact, some would even suggest, we have more in dexterity (mas maabilidad). So, we go back to implementation. We really have to focus and shape up.

The same may be said of the other part of the equation: Saving livelihoods. The plan is equally plain—as best as we can enhance agriculture and create production centers in the countryside, save the millions of SMSEs employing the bulk of our workforce; retrain and, as warranted, make entrepreneurs of our workers including the thousands of returning OFWs; reform our tax and incentives system; provide adequate, affordable and easy financing for businesses; provide means to maintain the health of our financial system and extend payment terms for debtors-inneed. These and other measures to restart the economy and save jobs have been on the table for consideration. Some of these, such as the tax and incentives reform measure as well as the financing for SMSEs, have in fact been out there even before the outbreak.

Again, it is a matter of implementation.

Then, there is the matter of monopolies, rent-seekers and related abusers of government resources or government-issued privileges. The question of reforming the manner by which basic services and utilities from water, power, communications, transport, among others, are being provided has been out there waiting to be tackled and resolved to benefit the public long before COVID-19 reached our shores. That the President had to mention the same "threat" all over again and ordered those in control to shape up or else is a stark reminder of the power and longevity of those holding sway over these sectors.

Again, it's a matter of implementation.

Finally, mention should be made of the fact that the "shape up" order was equally addressed to those providing basic government services or those monitoring and regulating certain sectors like DoTr and its agencies like LTFRB, MARINA, PPA, CAAP in transport or DoE in the case of the power industry or MWSS in the case of water and sewerage in the Metro Manila and suburbs areas and LWUA in the case of the provincial water utilities or DITC and NTC in the case of the telcos. And, of course, all other agencies including LGUs providing front line services to our long suffering public. It is time to shape up. Otherwise, be prepared to be shipped out.

CROSSROADS

Honest and frank THIS is one man’s opinion, but as far as I am concerned, the fifth State of the Nation Address by President Duterte last Monday was honest and frank, Santa Banana!

While there are those who believe that Duterte’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic is a failure, I believe nobody else could have done better. My gulay, considering the fact that COVID-19 is a pandemic, this is an acid test for all of us Filipinos. I think the President is trying his best to fight a faceless enemy.

If there has been a surge of COVID-19 cases nationwide, I attribute it to the lack of discipline of many Filipinos who break guidelines and health protocols out of either ignorance or defiance. They do not realize that this virus is a faceless killer.

People expected the President to present some sort of road map of our economic recovery. People lost jobs and businesses closed because of COVID-19.

I expected Duterte to give some reassurance to the people and boost their confidence as we go into the so-called new normal.

I also do not agree with him on the need for a revival of the death penalty.

Aside from the fact that there is no empirical data to support that capital punishment deters crime, my Catholic faith tells me that nobody can take away the life of another.

I agree with him, though, in the need for a separate department for Overseas Filipino Workers nd for disaster resiliency.

There will always be those who will disagree with him In the end, that is democracy. *** The Philippine government has set a 100-percent electrification target for 2020.

We must note, however, that electrifying a barangay is vastly different from making sure that the people have uninterrupted power supply.

The island of Bantayan is an example.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020

Shape up or else

EDITORIAL

HE crammed crowd of thousands of locally stranded passengers— more than 8,000 as reports have it—inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex these few days is a giant turnoff, at the minutest frame.

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

MORE OPINION ONLINE (www.manilastandard.net) SO I SEE LITO BANAYO

Land use ty rates, as his Yuletide gift to the people.

With the pandemic, the economy has collapsed, resulting in massive joblessness, massive hunger, massive poverty, and massive misery. How do you make people merry then?

Give them cheap, fast and reliable utilities— telco, water, and power. These three utilities, if you think about it, account for as much as 60 percent of an average household’s expenses. About 70 percent of the people are locked up in their houses—jobless, hungry, poor, and bored.

The poor people need water for hygiene and drinking water. That is the best way to fight COVID—through water—wash your hands, clean your body, drink lots of it.

Now for cheap, fast, and or/reliable and fast telco and electricity: It has something to do with entertainment. When people are suffering, give them entertainment. That was the role of ABS-CBN. Without ABS-CBN, there is telco to turn to—it is an immense medium for entertainment—texts, photos, videos, movies, and tsismis (remember, PNP said they will tap tsismosas for contact tracing).

Coincidentally, using telco and electricity is the best way to economic recovery—thru computers, wifi, online business. But with expensive, slow and bad telco service, you cannot achieve recovery fast enough.

Doing things at home means you don’t need to physically go out, take mass transport and queue endlessly at pay stations of public utilities—telco, electricity, and water. If you ask me, their service is bad.

• The three oligarchic families—Lopez, Ayala, and MVP—can do a lot to burnish the image of Duterte as president. The pandemic has proved that his administration has many shortcomings and it has it has had its share of the incompetent and the corrupt. Also, Duterte has a growing dynasty and his own share of oligarchs.

• Duterte delivering cheap and reliable wireless telephone, water, and power ensures that his popularity ratings remain in high double digits.

Duterte seems bent on creating larger and larger bureaucracy. There will be a new cabinet department for OFWs and another for pandemic management. There will even be an authority to manage Boracay.

That is one lesson of pandemic management—create layers of bureaucracy by naming so many czars. The idea is to cut up responsibility and spread the blame. The czars of old Russia should complain. Their title has just been pedestrianized. biznewsasia@gmail.com

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors Joyce Pangco Pañares News Editor

Adelle Chua Opinion Editor

Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Jimbo Owen Gulle City Editor Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

B2

World

WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

UN: Virus to cause 7m stunted kids P ARIS—The unprecedented social and economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic will see nearly seven million more children experience stunting as a result of malnutrition, the United Nations said Tuesday.

Even before COVID-19 there were an demic could have an “intergenerational estimated 47 million children under five effect” on the health of millions. who were moderately or severely wastWriting in The Lancet medical joured, most living in sub-Saharan Africa and nal, a team of experts showed the results southeast Asia. of computer modelling estimates on food Now as lockdowns and international supply in 118 poor and middle-income trade routes disrupt vital aid supplies, nations. the UN warned that the coronavirus panThey found that the prevalence of CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region BRANCH 101, QUEZON CITY PETITION FOR CORRECTION OF ENTRY IN THE CCT NO. 004-2016024814 ISSUED BY THE R.D. FOR Q.C. AND REGISTERED UNDER THE NAMES OF BONIFACIO V. DIANASAS & JONA B. HALTINER. JONA HALTINER Represented by Attorney-in-fact, ROGER N. BANGALISAN, Petitioner, -versus-

CASE NO. Q-RZN-19-05541-CV

BONIFACIO V. DIANASAS/ THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OF QUEZON CITY, Respondents. x----------------------------------------------x

SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION TO : BONIFACIO V. DIANASAS Unit 2706, Tower 3, Grass Residences, Nueva Ecija Street and Misamis Street, Bago Bantay, Quezon City GREETINGS: WHEREAS, on April 15, 2019, the petitioner through counsel, filed the instant petition; WHEREAS, on February 4, 2020, the counsel for the petitioner filed a ‘Motion for Leave of Court to Serve Summons by Publication’; WHEREAS, on February 6, 2020, the Honorable Court issued an Order, the last paragraph of which reads as follows: “As prayed for, the petitioner, within 15 days from receipt hereof, is to coordinate with the Clerk of Court of the Branch for the issuance of summons by publication.

SO ORDERED.” NOW, THEREFORE, you, the respondent Bonifacio V. Dianasas, are required to enter your appearance and answer the petition in the aboveentitled case within sixty (60) days after the last publication hereof, serving a copy thereof upon the petitioner at B3 Lot 22, Golden Hear Village, Mulawin, Tanza, Cavite, otherwise, the petitioner will take judgment against you and demand from the court reliefs prayed for in the petition.

Let this summons together with the petition be caused to be published by the petitioner at her own expense in the Manila Standard, a newspaper of general circulation which was chosen through raffle, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks.

Witness the HON. EVANGELINE C. CASTILLO-MARIGOMEN, Presiding Judge of this Court, on this 27th day of February, 2020, in Quezon City, Philippines.

(Sgd.) ATTY. ROMMEL H. SUMEDCA Clerk of Court V

PETITION FOR CORRECTION OF ENTRY IN THE CONDOMINIUM CERTIFICATE OF TITLE (CCT) NO. 004-2016024814, ISSUED BY THE REGISTER OF DEEDS FOR QUEZON CITY, AND REGISTERED UNDER THE NAMES OF BONIFACIO V. DIANASAS & JONA B. HALTINER; CASE NO. 19-05541-CV JONA B. HALTINER, REP. BY HER ATTORNEY-IN-FACT, ROGER N. BANGALISAN, Petitioner, -versusBONIFACIO V. DIANASAS, & THE REGISTER OF DEEDS FOR QUEZON CITY, Respondents. x----------------------------------------------------x PETITION WITH REQUEST TO SERVE SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION COMES NOW, Petitioner by counsel, and unto this Honorable Court, respectfully avers: 1. That Petitioner is a Filipino citizen, of legal age, and presently residing in Berne, Switzerland, with Philippine address in B3 Lot 22, Golden Hear Village, Mulawin, Tanza, Cavite, represented herein by his brother and attorneyin-fact, ROGER N. BANGALISAN, via a General Power of Attorney (GPA) hereto attached as Annex “A”. For purposes of this petition, it is hereby requested that all pleadings, motions, orders and other court processes be served via their undersigned counsel’s given address below; 2. RESPONDENT BONIFACIO V. DIANASAS is a Filipino, of legal age, and with last known address at Unit 2706, Tower 3, Grass Residences, Nueva Ecija Street, and Misamis Street, Bago Bantay, Quezon City, as disclosed in the owner’s Condominium Certificate of Title (CCT); 3. RESPONDENT REGISTER OF DEEDS FOR QUEZON CITY is being impleaded in its official capacity as a government agency tasked to be the custodian of records of lands, their titles, and their conveyances and liens and encumbrances.

It may be served with summons and processes at the LRA Compound, East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City; RESPONDENT OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR GENERAL (OSG) with address at 134 Amorsolo St., Legaspi Village, Makati City, is being impleaded being the counsel for and in behalf of the State/government.

4. That Petitioner Jona B. Haltiner is a naturalborn Filipino citizen, a widow, who was previously married to a Swiss national. She is likewise an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) based in Berne, Switzerland.

5. After the death of his husband, Petitioner found a second chance at love in the person of Respondent Bonifacio V. DIANASAS and they briefly had an intimate relationship; 6. They decided to live together as husband and wife without the benefit of marriage; 7. In January 2011, Petitioner decided to purchase a condominium unit from SM

The models showed that in the worst case scenario where the pandemic could cause young children to miss 50 percent of their nutritional care and treatment services, nearly 180,000 could die this year alone.

Wasting is responsible for one in 10 infant deaths in low- and middle-income countries and recent research suggested the pandemic will throw an additional 140 million people into extreme poverty—that is, living off less than $1.90 a day.

In countries already experiencing a humanitarian crisis, the United Nations’ children’s fund has warned that up to 100 percent essential nutrition services could be disrupted. AFP

Development Corporation (SMDC), particularly, Unit 2706, Tower III, Grass Residences, located in Barangay Sto. Cristo, Quezon City, just beside SM North, where she and Respondent DIANASAS could live together as husband and wife.

7.1 Their agreement was that Petitioner will shoulder the payments for the purchase of the Condominium unit, Respondent DIANASAS will manage and pay the monthly amortizations of said condominium unit from the remittances and wire transfer funds of Petitioner to respondent’s account.

7.2 This was the agreement since Petitioner is an Overseas Filipino Worker based in Berne, Switzerland, who has to go back to work in order to earn a living, So, Respondent DIANASAS will act as trustee of Petitioner for the payment of the amortizations until fully paid. And to give semblance of authority, both of them shall sign in the Contract to Sell as buyers and SMDC as the seller; 8. Thus, Petitioner and Respondent DIANASAS executed a Contract to Sell with the SMDC, hereto attached as Annex “B” and the made an integral part hereof. The purchase price is P2,366,449.00.

9. Petitioner thereafter went back to Berne, Switzerland to work as an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW). As agreed upon, she entrusted to Respondent DIANASAS all her affairs, pertaining to the purchase and payment of Unit 2706, Tower III at the Grass Residences, SMDC. She sent her remittances to Respondent DIANASAS for him to pay the monthly amortizations of subject property.

10. Later, she learned from her friends and relatives that Respondent DIANASAS is having an affair with several girls. Petitioner confronted him but he denied having an affair. They fought over it and their communication waned until such time that Petitioner could no longer contact him; 11.Worried that Petitioner might lose the Condominium she bought from SMDC for nonpayment of the amortizations, Petitioner then sought the help of his brother, Roger Bangalisan, to look for Respondent DIANASAS, and to settle all obligations with SMDC regarding subject property; 12.Petitioner’s attorney-in-fact could not locate the whereabouts of Respondent DIANASAS, despite his diligent efforts. He was only able to transact with SMDC and the title to subject property was released to him sometime in 2018; 13. Attached as Annex “C” is a copy of CCT no. 004-2016024814; as Annex “C-1” is a copy of the Tax Declaration for subject property, both made integral parts hereof.

14. However, in said CCT owner’s title, the name of Respondent “Bonifacio V. DIANASAS”, was still indicated as one of the registered owners of the condominium unit, despite not having contributed to the payment of the unit.

15. Thus, in order to correct the true status of subject property, and the true owner thereof, this instant petition was filed to remove the name of Respondent DIANASAS in said CCT No. 0042016024814;

PRAYER Republic of the Philippines National Capital Judicial Region REGIONAL TRIAL COURT QUEZON CITY Branch ___

moderate or severe wasting among underfives would increase 14.3 percent—equating to an additional 6.7 million cases.

Wasting occurs when the body is so acutely malnourished that its muscles and fat begin to diminish.

A host of research initiatives have shown clear links between wasting and chronic and severe health conditions later in life.

“The profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on early life nutrition could have intergenerational consequences for child growth and development and life-long impacts on education, chronic disease risks and overall human capital formation,” wrote the researchers.

WHEREFORE, premises respectfully prayed that:

considered,

it

is

1. Prior to hearing, that an Order be issued for the Service of Summons to Respondent Bonifacio V. DIANASAS, by publication; 2. That after notice and hearing, this Honorable Court direct the respondent Register of Deeds for Quezon City to correct the name of the registered owner of Unit 2706, Tower III, Grass Residences, Brgy. Sto. Cristo, Quezon City, by removing the name of Respondent Bonifacio V. DIANASAS in said title; 3. Reliefs, just and equitable under circumstances, are also prayed for.

SURROUNDED. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is surrounded by pistol-wielding generals in this handout photo from the country’s official news agency. Pyongyang insists that it needs its nuclear arsenal to deter against a possible American invasion. AFP

Kim: Nokor nuke deterrent ‘necessary’ SEOUL—North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said that Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons guarantee its safety, state media reported Tuesday, signalling once again that it will not give up its arsenal.

Kim was addressing a conference of veterans on the 67th anniversary of the 1953 armistice that ended Korean War hostilities, the official Korean Central News Agency said.

Up to three million Koreans died in the threeyear conflict, in which the armistice has never been replaced with a peace treaty, leaving North and South technically still at war.

“Thanks to our reliable and effective self-defensive nuclear deterrent, there will no longer be such word as war on this land,” Kim was quoted as saying by the KCNA. “Our national security and future will be firmly guaranteed forever,” he added.

Najib

Ex-Malaysia PM Najib found guilty KUALA LUMPUR—Malaysia’s exleader Najib Razak was found guilty Tuesday in his first trial over the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal, two years after the fraud contributed to the downfall of his long-ruling government.

The former prime minister could now face decades in jail after being convicted on all charges in the case related to the looting of sovereign wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad.

Billions of dollars were stolen from the investment vehicle and spent on everything from high-end real estate to pricey art, while investment bank Goldman Sachs also became embroiled in the scandal.

Anger at the looting played a large part in the shock loss of Najib’s longruling coalition in elections in 2018, and he was arrested and hit with dozens of charges following his defeat.

The verdict was a test of Malaysia’s rule of law. It comes about five months after Najib’s scandal-plagued party returned to power as part of a coalition, a development observers had feared could affect the outcome of the case.

About 16 months after it began, the Kuala Lumpur High Court delivered the verdict in Najib’s first trial, which centred on the transfer of 42 million ringgit ($9.9 million) from a former 1MDB unit, SRC International, into his accounts.

Najib had vehemently denied wrongdoing. AFP

IN BRIEF

Pyongyang insists that it needs its nuclear arsenal to deter against a possible US invasion.

It has spent decades developing it and is internationally isolated as a result, subject to multiple United Nations Security Council sanctions over its banned weapons programmes.

Inter-Korean relations have been in deep freeze for months, following the collapse of a summit in Hanoi between Kim and US President Donald Trump last year.

That nuclear negotiation foundered on what the North would be willing to give up in exchange for a loosening of sanctions.

Kim declared in December an end to moratoriums on nuclear and ballistic missile tests, and Pyongyang has repeatedly said it has no intention to continue talks unless Washington drops what it describes as “hostile” policies towards the North. AFP

NZ suspends extradition to HK WELLINGTON—New Zealand suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong on Tuesday in protest at a “deeply concerning” new security law China has imposed on the territory, joining its allies in sanctioning Beijing over the move.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the suspension, which risks the ire of Wellington’s largest trading partner, was because “New Zealand can no longer trust that Hong Kong’s criminal justice system is sufficiently independent from China”.

He said New Zealand was also tightening restriction on military and dual-use exports to Hong Kong, as well as upgrading travel warnings to Kiwi citizens in the territory.

“China’s passage of its new national security legislation has eroded rule-of-law principles, undermined the ‘one country, two systems’ framework that underpins Hong Kong’s unique status, and gone against commitments China made to the international community,” Peters said. AFP

900+ girls dead, missing in Peru

the

Tanza, Cavite for Quezon City, March 14, 2019.

C.G. GONZALES JR. & ASSOCIATES LAW OFFICES Counsel for Petitioner 111 Sta. Cruz St., Poblacion, Tanza, Cavite Tel. No.: (046) 437-7085 By: (Sgd.) CESARIO G. GONZALES, JR. IBP Roll No. 56976 IBP Lifetime Member No. 012897 (6-26-2014) PTR NO. CAV1613134; 1-04-19; Cavite MCLE VI Compliance No. 0011351-(8/17/18) MCLE V Compliance No. 0011148-(09-29-15) CP: 0927-784-6177 E-mail:czarlaw@gmail.com

VERIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION ON NON-FORUM SHOPPING I, ROGER N. BANGALISAN of legal age, Filipino, married and with address at Block 3 Lot 22, Golden Heart Ville, Mulawin, Tanza, Cavite, after being duly sworn to in accordance with law; hereby depose and state that: 1. I am the Petitiioner’s attorney-in-fact in the above-mentioned case as evidenced by the attached SPA; 2. I have caused the preparation of the foregoing Petition. I have read the same and declare that the contents thereof are true and correct of my personal knowledge and/or based on authentic records; 3. I have not heretofore commenced any other proceeding involving the same subject matter with the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, the courts of general and limited jurisdiction, or any other tribunal, agency or commission, and to the best of my knowledge, no such other action or proceeding is pending therein; and, 4. If I should thereafter learn that a similar action or proceeding has been filed or is pending before the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, or any other court, tribunal, agency or commission, I hereby undertake to report that fact within five (5) days to this Honorable Court.

WATER FUN. Children play in a waterlogged alley after heavy monsoon rains in the Pakistan’s port city of Karachi on Tuesday. AFP Manila

Standard

TODAY

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto affixed my signature on the 6th day of February 2019, (Sgd.) ROGER N. BANGALISAN SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO before me a notary public for and in 6th day of February, 20019, affiant exhibiting to me his SSS ID with No. 03-9472736-1 issued on__________ at _________.

WITNESS MY HAND AND SEAL.

Doc. No. 328 Page No. 66 Book No. VIII Series of 2019.

(MStandard - July 15, 22 & 29, 2020)

(MS-JULY 29, 2020)

LIMA—A staggering 900-plus girls and women are missing and feared dead in Peru since COVID-19 confinement began, authorities said Monday.

The Andean nation home to 33 million people long has had a horrific domestic violence problem.

But COVID-19, which has compounded home confinement combined with job losses and a health crisis, has seen an already scary situation grow worse in just 3-1/2 months, according to Eliana Revollar, who leads the women’s rights office of the National Ombudsman’s office.

Seventy percent of that figure are minors, she added.

“During the quarantine, from March 16 to June 30, 915 women in Peru were reported missing,” and feared dead, said Revollar.

Before COVID-19, five women were reported missing in Peru every single day; since the lockdown, the number has surged to eight per day. AFP

Blockbuster Depp libel trial wraps today LONDON—Johnny Depp’s blockbuster libel lawsuit wraps up Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) after three weeks of graphic testimony in which the star admitted to years of drug abuse but denied beating ex-wife Amber Heard.

The “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise hero is suing the publisher and executive editor of Britain’s The Sun tabloid in London’s High Court over a 2018 story calling him a “wife beater”.

The 57-year-old rejects accusations of repeatedly hurting the 34-year-old actress over a three-year span that ended with Heard’s 2016 decision to get a restraining order and file for divorce.

Depp’s former American fiance Winona Ryder and long-term French partner Vanessa Paradis both testified on his behalf.

But The Sun’s lawyer called Depp a “Jekyll and Hyde” character who was “controlling and physically abusive towards Ms Heard”— especially when he was on drugs.

“The defendants have established that many more than one incident of wife-beating took place over the course of the relationship,” defence lawyer Sasha Wass said in her closing submission Monday.

Depp’s legal team will make its closing statement on Tuesday.

Judge Andrew Nicol is then expected to take some days poring over 12 bulging volumes of evidence submitted in a case that was born at the hight of the #MeToo movement.

‘The damage is done’ Some legal experts say Depp’s reputation will have trouble recovering even if The Sun is forced to retract its claim.

“I think the damage is done,” said London PR agent and crisis consultant Mark Borkowski. “Even if he wins, it’s going to be a Pyrrhic victory.”

The odds favour Depp because England’s strict libel laws put the burden of proof on the media. AFP

Business

B3

WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stock market rises; gold eases from record S HARE prices rebounded Tuesday on bargain hunting, while the rest of Asian equity markets struggled to hold on to gains with fears about the coronavirus pandemic mounting.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose 66.17 points, or 1.1 percent to 5,927.11 on a value turnover of P4.3 billion. Gainers and losers were even at 97 each, with 45 issues unchanged.

Bank of the Philippine Islands, the third-biggest lender in terms of assets, advanced 4.9 percent to P68.20, while Nickel Asia Corp., the largest nickel producer, climbed 5.8 percent to P2.57.

SM Prime Holdings of the Sy Group added 2.6 percent to P31.10, but Manila Water Co. Inc., a unit of conglomerate

Ayala Corp., fell 3.5 percent to P12.16.

Gold, meanwhile, briefly chalked up another record Tuesday before easing later in the day as the dollar clawed back earlier losses.

With worrying new spikes in COVID-19 in Asia and Europe―on top of the already high new US cases–forcing governments to impose strict containment measures, the global economic outlook remains clouded, putting the brakes on a months-long stocks rally.

All three main indexes on Wall Street

ended higher.

Hong Kong gained 0.4 percent and Shanghai ended up 0.7 percent, while Seoul jumped 1.8 percent and Mumbai put on 0.9 percent.

Taipei was marginally lower a day after hitting a record high, though market heavyweight chipmaker TSMC rose 10 percent for a second day, putting it among the top 10 biggest firms in the world briefly before it pared the gains.

Tokyo finished down 0.3 percent and Sydney shed 0.4 percent with Jakarta and Wellington also in the red.

The virus uncertainty descending on trading floors, combined with China-US tensions, sent gold soaring nearly 30 percent and on Tuesday it hit another record of $1,981.27, smashing the previous

day’s all-time high, but it later pared the advance to sit slightly lower for the day.

But observers say $2,000 could be broken as early as this week, with focus on the Federal Reserve’s next policy meeting, which is tipped to see it unveil more easing measures to support the world’s top economy.

US second-quarter economic growth data is also due this week, and a disappointing reading on what is expected to be a historic contraction could fuel further dollar weakness.

The rush for bullion has also dragged silver to a seven-year high above $26 an ounce before that also edged back.

“There seems to be enough momentum in the US money supply to actually push gold higher,” Fat Prophets analyst David Lennox said. With AFP

MOST ACTIVE

People have lunch at the extended terrace of a restaurant made of wooden pallets in Paris on July 23, 2020, in respect for social distancing due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. AFP

US sees manufacturing growth ahead of GDP data WASHINGTON―The Federal Reserve is set to meet this week ahead of a key GDP estimate as new data shows recovery in US manufacturing, although surging coronavirus cases threaten the economy’s gains.

The jam-packed week of economic news comes as lawmakers in Washington debate provisions of another stimulus package to follow up on the $2.2-trillion CARES Act passed in March as COVID-19 hit.

The business shutdowns caused by the pandemic are expected to see the US economy shrink an unprecedented 35 percent in the April-June quarter when the Commerce Department releases its advance GDP estimate on Thursday.

However, some sectors have begun bouncing back, with retail and new home sales recovering from the coronavirus hit and data from the Commerce Department released Monday showing durable goods orders rising 7.3 percent on demand for transportation equipment.

But Oxford Economics warned that the prevalence of coronavirus in the United States, where more than 57,000 new cases were reported in the 24 hours to Monday, threatens the gains.

“The sugar rush from re-openings has now faded and a resurgence of domestic coronavirus cases, alongside very weak demand, supply chain disruptions, historically low oil prices and high levels of uncertainty will weigh heavily on business investment,” Oxford Eco-

nomics said.

Amid the durable goods data, transportation equipment grew 20 percent or $9.2 billion, particularly among motor vehicles and parts, where new orders were up 85.7 percent and shipments rose 83.1 percent.

In a sign of Boeing’s continued struggles, new orders for non-defense aircraft slumped 462.3 percent, deep into negative territory, as customers canceled orders previously placed with the plane maker.

The Fed will likely take such indicators into account as it begins its two-day policy meeting on Tuesday, but few big moves are expected since the committee had already slashed its benchmark lending rate to zero in mid-March.

If Fed boss Jerome Powell addresses the surge in COVID-19 cases, he will likely reiterate “that the Fed is prepared if necessary to provide more support to the economy,” said Mickey Levy of Berenberg Capital Markets.

Another possibility is that the Fed might link its movement of the lending rate to inflation, Oxford Economics said.

Inflation rose 0.6 percent in June but is expected to stay low with COVID-19 hampering consumer demand, particularly with new claims for unemployment benefits still high.

The Labor Department reported nearly 1.42 million claims in the week ended July 18. AFP

Rising infections a major blow for Spain’s embattled tourism sector

By Emmanuelle Michel MADRID, Spain―As one of the world’s top tourist destinations, Spain was hoping to salvage the summer by billing itself as a safe haven from the pandemic but with infections surging, all bets are off.

Britain’s decision late Saturday to impose quarantine on all travelers coming from Spain represents a huge setback―British tourists are the largest national group of visitors, with 18 million of them taking a Spanish holiday in 2019.

“It’s a very tough blow” given that the tourist sector “had hoped to be able to turn things around in August,” Ximo Puig, the Valencian regional president told Cadena Ser radio.

For some resorts like Benidorm, British tourists constitute 40 percent of visitors.

The announcement was terrible news for the embattled sector, which had hoped the summer months would help it claw back some of the colossal losses incurred through months of lockdown.

TOP GAINERS

TOP LOSERS

More Chinese airlines offering unlimited flights to revive sector BEIJING―China Southern on Tuesday became the latest Chinese airline to offer ultra-cheap, all-you-can-fly deals aimed at reigniting air travel following coronavirus lockdowns.

At least eight Chinese carriers have so far launched similar schemes which they hope will boost the ailing domestic aviation sector in the world’s second-largest economy.

Lucky Air, which unveiled offers for unlimited domestic flights on July 13, announced two days later that it had hit capacity for monthly and seasonal passes for individuals.

The deals, valid for anything between a month and a year, start at 1,588 yuan ($227) for unlimited flights over 31 days per person.

Lucky Air said it has plans to sell more of such packages in the future.

Airlines offer variations of such deals, including Spring Airlines’ package for children traveling with their parents and China Eastern’s unlimited weekend flights.

Southern’s all-you-can-fly deal costs 3,699 yuan ($528) and can be used until next January.

Some carriers have chosen to join hands, with Qingdao Airlines, Okay Airways and Ruili Airlines collaborating for unlimited weekend deals as well.

Others like Juneyao Air rolled out a 888 yuan ($127) package for unlimited upgrades―allowing passengers to bump up their economy class tickets for no added cost.

China’s economy has been recovering gradually since the coronavirus outbreak, and last Friday, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said daily flights had returned to about 80 percent of pre-virus levels.

The country’s aviation industry lost 34.25 billion yuan ($4.89 billion) in the second quarter this year, the CAAC said this month, after Beijing took drastic moves to curb the spread of the coronavirus that first surfaced in the central Wuhan city.

As the virus began its global march, governments around the world had started limiting travel from high-risk countries, with China going a step further in March to dramatically cut flight routes and bar most foreigners from returning. AFP

PSEi July 28, 2020

Tourists sunbathe at Palmanova Beach on the Island of Mallorca on July 27, 2020.

Tour operator TUI has canceled all British holidays to mainland Spain from today until August 9, after the UK government’s decision to require travelers returning from the country to quarantine. AFP

“We’d had a good feeling about the coming weeks with reservations picking up and although we were far from the norm for this time of year, we were hoping things would get back to normal

by September or October,” the HOSBEC regional hotels association said.

“There have already been cancellations and more are expected. Nobody is going to come here for a week’s

holiday and then spend 14 days shut away when they get back home,” said Emilio Gallego, secretary general of Spain’s hotels association.

The Exceltur tourism association estimates Britain’s quarantine move could cost up to 8.7 billion euros in August and September, a major hit to a sector whose turnover had already been expected to halve this year.

Conscious of the impact on a sector that accounts for 12 percent of GDP and 13 percent of employment, Madrid has sought to secure an exemption for the Canary Islands or the Balearic Isles.

Although TUI, Britain’s biggest tour operator, cancelled all holidays to mainland Spain, it has said it will continue holidays to the Canaries or Balearics where COVID-19 cases are markedly lower.

“I don’t think that we have uncontrolled transmission of the virus in Spain right now,” said Fernando Simon, the health ministry’s emergencies director, indicating there were areas “where it is hardly circulating” such as the Balearic and Canary Islands. AFP

Makeshift patios flourishing in Paris streets amid virus

By Ali Bekhtaoui PARIS, France―At his cafe under the shadow of the Paris district of Montmartre, Guillaume Dubois shows off the brightly painted wooden pallets enclosing a quickly built patio that he says has transformed business in the summer of the coronavirus.

Following a loosening of regulations by city hall, customers at the Sunset cafe are now spread out on tables and chairs across three parallel parking spaces, in a scene repeated throughout Paris.

“It completely changes the face of Paris,” said Dubois, adding that it helped propel a surge in sales last month, when the city’s bar and restaurants were allowed to reopen after 92 days of COVID-19 lockdown.

With the general scientific consensus that it is much harder to catch the virus outdoors than inside, cafe-goers are more at ease on the street in the summer sunshine.

Mayor Anne Hidalgo eased outdoor seating limits so owners could lure virus-wary clients, and commandeered hundreds of parking spots for additional seating.

Hammers soon rang across the city as plywood platforms were cobbled together over uneven roads, with delivery pallets serving as “walls” to offer a sense of security from drivers who are often just an arms’ length away.

“It’s a little ragtag, but it reminds me of the beach and paddle boats―you feel as if the entire city is on vacation,” said Roxane, 50, enjoying her coffee at the Sunset.

While some owners stick with the rough look of raw wood, many others have added splashes of color and installed plants or small trees and other decorations.

As a result, pallets that usually languish behind stores or warehouses are being put to new use―some restaurants have even reported having their newly installed structures stolen.

“Everyone is scrambling to get hold of them,” said Momo, whose Taverne 28 is a few streets away from the Sunset in the 18th Arrondissement.

He said he enlisted a friend in the construction business to get the 10 pallets he covered the French national colors of red, white and blue. AFP

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

B4

WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020

Business

Electronics exports seen to fall 26% IN BRIEF A

By Othel V. Campos

Peso climbs again to hit 49.17 a dollar

THE peso strengthened to a fresh 44-month high against the US dollar on Tuesday and neared the 48 level on investors’ loss of appetite for the greenback.

Data showed the peso gained six centavos to close at 49.19 Tuesday from 49.25 on Monday. It was its strongest level since settling at 49.17 a dollar on Nov. 15, 2016. Total volume reached $849.4 million Tuesday, up from $838.17 million in the previous session.

“There is [a continued] loss of appetite for the US dollar… The dollar remains weak [partly] given by the continued rift between the US and China,” Astro del Castillo, managing director of First Grade Finance Inc., a finance and investment company, told Manila Standard in an interview.

Del Castillo, however, does not see the peso breaching the 48-per-dollar boundary soon. “I think it will just consolidate around that level… Maybe 49.10 to 49.12 per dollar this week,” Del Castillo said. Julito G. Rada

BSP issues SBL relief measures

N industry group said Tuesday electronics exports, which account for more than half of the country’s total exports, are expected to fall between 20 percent and 26 percent in 2020 amid the pandemic that affected both demand and production.

The Semiconductor and Electronics Industry of the Philippines Inc. said the country’s outbound electronic shipments could drop to $32 billion this year from $42.32 billion in 2019. SEIPI bared the industry forecast during a virtual forum on supply chain hosted by the German Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“This is going to be a significant drop, where our initial forecast was about 5 percent growth before COVID, it looks like

we’re gonna be coming in at a contraction of 20 percent to about 26 percent,” said SEIPI president Dan Lachica.

Electronics imports were also expected to decline by 26 percent this year, according to the group.

Lachica said the pandemic had affected operations of export-oriented industries, leading to the transfer of volume to other plants outside the Philippines.

“So we’ve lost about 15 percent of our volume to two plants outside the

Philippines and I doubt if we will be able to get that back again,” he said.

He said the scheme is a part of the single liability or the so-called single country risk that multinational companies were avoiding especially in times of recession.

“That’s why there is a need to develop local sourcing of raw materials, and we’re not quite there yet. We’re still working on it,” Lachica said.

He said that while single sourcing is good for loyalty and developing trust with business partners, multi-sourcing or having alternative sources is a responsive policy that will insulate semiconductor companies from international developments.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that exports of electronic products amounted to $2.29 billion in May, down by 33.4 percent from $3.44 billion in the same month last year.

THE Monetary Board, the policy-making body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, approved the exclusion of debt securities acquired as a result of market-making activities of financial institutions from the Single Borrowers Limit for 90 and 60 calendar days to contribute to capital market development.

BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said the SBL relief would “provide supervised financial institutions with additional latitude to engage in market-making activities and enable them to continue providing prices for the debt securities in the secondary market as well as to make available an exit mechanism for investors to liquidate their holdings”.

Diokno said the initiative “will ultimately promote liquidity and price transparency in the market”.

The new policy provides that debt securities acquired from market-making activities from Aug. 1, 2020 to July 31, 2021 will be excluded from the SBL computation for 90 calendar days from the time of acquisition of the securities. Beginning Aug. 1, 2021, the debt securities will only be excluded from the SBL computation for a period of up to 60 calendar days. Julito G. Rada

Cemex’s income dips 93% to P46m CEMEX Holdings Philippines Inc. said net income in the second quarter declined 93 percent to P46 million from P634 million in the same period last year amid quarantine measures to mitigate the spread of coronavirus.

CHP said in a disclosure to the stock exchange net sales from April to June dropped 35 percent to P4 billion from P6.12 billion recorded a year ago.

“The second quarter was very challenging for our company, with our volumes adversely impacted by quarantine measures nationwide. But we have seen construction activity gradually return with the easing of restrictions, starting the second half of May,” CHP president and chief executive Ignacio Mijares said.

“We remain committed to supplying the Philippines with high quality cement to build the country for many years to come. By acting safely always, working together as one team, and focusing on the tasks at hand, I am encouraged that we will be able to surmount the challenges that lie ahead,” he said.

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

66.17 PTS.

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES

1,959,380,883 74,273

TOTAL VALUE 4,310,095,522.21 ADVANCES 97

5,927.11

DECLINES 97 UNCHANGED 45

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2020

Currency

Unit

US Dollar Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

49.2230

Japan

Yen

0.009490

0.4671

UK

Pound

1.289200

63.4583

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129014

6.3505

Switzerland

Franc

1.086602

53.4858

Canada

Dollar

0.748503

36.8436

Singapore

Dollar

0.725374

35.7051

Australia

Dollar

0.714400

35.1649

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652450

130.561

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266652

13.1254

Brunei

Dollar

0.722752

35.5760

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000069

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.031566

1.5538

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.4020

Euro

Euro

1.175200

57.8469

Korea

Won

0.000837

0.0412

China

Yuan

0.142898

7.0339

India

Rupee

0.013371

0.6582

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.235294

11.5819

New Zealand

Dollar

0.667500

32.8564

Taiwan

Dollar

0.034124

1.6797 Source: BSP

Aboitiz Group’s income dropped 55% to P4b in first six months

By Alena Mae S. Flores

RMB clearing volume grows fastest in PH STATISTICS from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication network shows the Philippines that as of June 30 ranks first in Southeast Asia in terms of growth rate of RMB clearing volume, ahead of countries like Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia.

The total volume of RMB cleared in the Philippines in 2020 is CNY 302,511 million, a 138-percent increase compared to last year’s total of CNY 127,234 million. This makes the Philippines the 22nd largest RMB clearer among 46 countries and regions around the world.

Deng Jun, country head of Bank of China Manila, said the growth could be attributed to the improved understanding of the currency by the local market.

“There is an increased awareness about the benefits from using RMB as a settlement and payment currency between China and the Philippines,” he said.

“More and more enterprises are finding that direct conversion of renminbi to peso, instead of converting it first to US dollar, can help save on friction costs and hedge FX (foreign exchange) exposure risks,” he said.

Bank of China’s Manila branch is the officially designated RMB clearing bank for the Philippines and a member of the Philippine RMB Trading Community.

“Our confidence in the continuous growth in RMB clearing volume comes from the increasing trade volume between China and the Philippines,” said Deng.

PSE INDEX CLOSING

PLDT DONATION. PLDT Inc. chairman and chief executive Manuel Pangilinan (second from left) leads the turnover of the School-in-a-Bag to North Bay Boulevard North Elementary School in Navotas, Metro Manila. With him during the turnover are (from left) Navotas Rep. John Rey Tiangco, PLDT-Smart Foundation president Esther Santos and PLDT and Smart Communications Inc. public affairs head Ramon Isberto.

DITO vows to roll out telecom network by March 2021

By Darwin G. Amojelar DITO Telecommunity said it is accelerating the rollout of its network to provide world-class internet access to the Filipino people by March next year after President Duterte threatened to shut down the operations of Globe Telecom Inc. and PLDT Inc. “We cannot speak for what the president has mentioned in his State of the Nation Address yesterday,” DITO chief administrative officer Adel Tamano said in a statement.

“As far as DITO Telecommunity is concerned, we all share the concern of the president for the need to provide world-class connectivity to the Filipino people, especially in the face of the pandemic,” he said.

Tamano said DITO was on track to meet the commercial rollout by March

2021. “Furthermore, DITO is currently working on meeting the 27 mbps [megabits per second] and 37-percent coverage in time for the government technical audit come January of 2021,” Tamano said.

“As DITO Telecommunity hastens its roll-out in time for the March 2021, let me assure the Filipino people that we recognize the clamor for the third major telco to already go on-air,” he said.

“DITO is doing all it can to work through the challenges, move forward, and launch soonest,” Tamano said.

Duterte, in his 5th SONA on Monday, threatened to shut down the operations of Globe and PLDT if they failed to improve telecom services by December this year.

“I’ve called on our communication companies to improve their services, or else we will be forced to take drastic steps…,” Duterte said.

“If you are not ready to improve, I might just as well close all of you and we will revert back to the line of telephone,” he said.

Globe said it would heed the call of the president to improve telco services, but the industry was facing many challenges. “We heed the call of the president to improve telco services,“ Globe vice president for corporate communications Yolanda Crisanto said.

Crisanto said service performance and increased consumer demand for data were the key reasons why the company was investing billions of dollars to upgrade and improve the company’s network.

“This year, Globe has earmarked $1.2 billion in capex, majority of which goes to network and capacity builds. These substantial investments are paying off as we experience marked service improvements, she said.

ABOITIZ Equity Ventures Inc. said Tuesday net income fell 55 percent in the first half to P4 billion from P9 billion in the same period last year, reflecting the impact of the lower contribution from Aboitiz Power Corp.

Aboitiz Power reported a net income of P3.7 billion in the six-month period, down 57 percent from P8.6 billion a year earlier.

“The current COVID-19 crisis continues to disrupt and impact our organization in different ways. Throughout this, we have given significant attention to our ability to adapt to changes and to prepare for uncertainties,” said Aboitiz Group president and chief executive Sabin Aboitiz.

AEV recognized non-recurring losses of P20 million in the first half, versus the P78 million in non-recurring gains recorded in the previous year, representing foreign exchange losses from the revaluation of dollardenominated assets.

It said that without these one-off losses, core net income in the first half reached P4 billion, down 54 percent from P8.9 billion a year ago.

Power accounted for 49 percent of the total income contributions from AEV’s strategic business units (SBUs), followed by banking and financial services with 39 percent, food with 14 percent, infrastructure with -1 percent and land with -1 percent.

“For the rest of the year, our goal is unchanged—to remain resilient and for our business units to be in the best possible position when we emerge from this crisis, in order to support the country’s economic recovery. As One Aboitiz, we will continue to be one with the nation in its fight against COVID-19,” Aboitiz said.

Aboitiz said he was looking forward to a better economy in the second half as the country slowly opened up and adapted to the new normal.

2 1600

Duterte appoints 2 Monetary Board members for 6-year term

By Julito G. Rada

ICTSI IN CAMEROON. International Container Terminal Services Inc. signs the concession contract with the Port Autonome de Kribi for the development, operation and maintenance of the Kribi Multipurpose Terminal in Cameroon. KMT, a subsidiary of ICTSI, is now the official concessionaire of the terminal for the next 25 years. ICTSI senior vice president and regional head for Europe, Middle East and Africa Hans-Ole Madsen (center) delivers his message via teleconference with officers of Port Autonome

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte appointed Bruce Tolentino and Anita Linda Aquino as full-time private sector representatives to the sevenmember Monetary Board, the policymaking-body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Tolentino, who first joined the board on June 18, 2018, will have a fresh term of six years after serving the unexpired balance of the term of the late Valentin Araneta, who passed away on Feb. 21, 2018.

Before his appointment to the board, Tolentino worked as deputy director-

general of the International Rice Research Institute. He was also the chief economist and country representative at The Asia Foundation, senior technical adviser at the Agriculture and Natural Resources of the Catholic Relief Services and senior economic policy adviser at the Asian Development Bank.

Meanwhile, Aquino was a member of the board of directors of state-run Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. representing the private sector. Most recently, she also represented PDIC as board adviser to the United Coconut Planters Bank.

Aquino also served as Department

of Finance chief of staff and held key positions at Standard Chartered Bank Manila, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., Citicorp Investment Bank in Singapore and Citibank NA Manila.

Aquino succeeded former MB member Juan de Zuniga.

“The BSP welcomes their appointment and looks forward to their contribution in the fulfillment of the BSP mandates,” the BSP said in a statement Tuesday.

Other members of the Monetary Board are BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno as chairman, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, Felipe Medalla, Peter Favila and Antonio Abacan.

PSALM names Soosan ENS of Korea as lone contract bidder to operate Malaya thermal plant in Rizal STATE-RUN Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. said Korean company Soosan ENS Co. Ltd. emerged as the lone bidder with an offer of P222.55 million for the one-year service contract of the 650-megawatt Malaya thermal power plant in Pililla, Rizal.

PSALM held the bid opening relative to the public bidding for the operation and maintenance service contract of

MTPP on July 27.

The agency said in a statement the bid was still subject to the detailed evaluation and post-qualification activities.

“Should Soosan ENS Co. Ltd. pass the said activities, the bid will be presented to the PSALM board of directors for the approval of the issuance of the notice of award,” PSALM said.

PSALM approved a budget of P224.8 million for the procurement of the

OMSC. Situated in Pililla, Rizal, MTPP is being managed by PSALM through an OMSC. The plant was designated by the Department of Energy as a must-run unit in 2014. As an MRU, it is called by National Grid Corporation of the Philippines to run and provide security capacity during a shortage in electricity supply caused by power plant outages to ensure system reliability of the Luzon grid.

MTPP will continue to be operated as an MRU pending its privatization, which was moved anew to Sept. 3 from July 30.

PSALM president Irene Garcia earlier said the coronavirus pandemic had affected the movement of people and the agency was reviewing its timelines.

Three companies earlier expressed interest to participate in the third round of bidding for the Malaya power plant,

including Ayala-controlled AC Energy Inc., Panasia Energy Inc. and Denki Power.

There were two rounds of public bidding for the Malaya facility last year which were both unsuccessful.

PSALM is tasked to manage the assets and liabilities of National Power Corp. as mandated by the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001.

Alena Mae S. Flores

Sports

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

WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020

IOC watching developments at PH Olympic Committee

Fil-Am pole vaulter bags gold in Atlanta

Fil-Am Natalie Uy went on to claim the gold after she cleared the height right on her first attempt.

By Peter Atencio

Jr. NBA Global Championship goes virtual

F

IL-AMERICAN bet Natalie Uy tied with two others after clearing 4.11 meters during the 19-29 years-old age-group women’s pole vault meet at the American Track League in Atlanta, Georgia last Saturday.

By Bob Meadows HERE’S what the nearly 3,000 teens participating in the 2020 Jr. NBA Global Championship can look forward to in the coming weeks as the tournament officially began—Meeting and competing against other young basketball players from around the world, lessons in life skills, and discussions about social justice and other relevant topics. It’s not much different from the first two incarnations of the JNGC, only this time everything will be virtual.

After COVID-19 shut down US sports in March, the NBA staff almost immediately began discussing how they could stage the global tournament that highlights the Jr. NBA’s four core values of teamwork, respect, determination, and community.

“We considered all scenarios, but we were determined to find a way to deliver an exciting event while prioritizing the health and safety of the Jr. NBA community,” said David Krichavsky, the NBA’s Head of Youth Basketball Development. For one, within a few weeks of the pandemic, the Jr. NBA team successfully launched its Jr. NBA at Home Program, which provided hundreds of videos teaching basketball drills and good habits to youth. Secondly, “we feel a responsibility to the Jr. NBA community,” said Krichavsky. “They are passionate about basketball and we know the Jr. NBA Global Championship is an event they look forward to, so we pushed forward to deliver it in the best and safest way possible.”

It took a massive effort that involved collaboration from departments across the NBA. The tournament, which has Gatorade returning as a partner, runs through mid-August. It features top teams of 13- and 14-year-old male and female players from eight US regions (Central, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Northeast, Northwest, South, Southeast and West) and eight international regions (Africa, Asia Pacific, Canada, China, Europe & the Middle East, India, Latin America, and Mexico). All told, dozens of countries will be represented.

“The Jr. NBA Global Championship is an immersive experience, unlike any other tournament,” said Adam Harper, NBA Senior Director and Youth Development Team Leader. “While the event will certainly look and feel different than years past, we are excited about the virtual platform and hope to provide impactful and memorable experiences to youth basketball players around the world.”

The teams will compete in a series of virtual basketball competitions using HomeCourt, a mobile basketball training app that uses advanced artificial intelligence to track key performance metrics such as speed, vertical jump, shot accuracy, release time and ball handling. The boys and girls teams will participate in bracket-style competitions with the respective US and international winners advancing to a global championship in August. Additionally, HomeCourt will power a digital Jr. NBA Global Championship Skills Challenge to extend the excitement of this year’s virtual event to fans and players of all ages.

The activities will culminate next month with a Jr. NBA Day of Celebration as part of the 2019-20 NBA restart at ESPN Wide World of Sports, which hosted the two previous Jr. NBA Global Turn to C2 Championships.

It was not her best work in weeks, but Uy went on to claim the gold after she cleared the height right on her first attempt.

Marissa Kalsey did it on her second attempt for the silver medal, while Megan Zimlich claimed the bronze following three tries.

The 25-year-old Uy is working on reaching the Olympic entry standard of 4.70 meters.

Doing so will put her in the the qualification process for the Tokyo Olympics.

“I’m going for it,” said Uy in an online interview with the Manila Standard after joining her second competition since emerging from isolation and quarantine last week.

Last July 18, she cleared a new Philippine record of 4.30 meters at the UCS Pink Panther, surpassing her own mark of 4.26 meters.

Her efforts put her sixth behind top American pole vault bets Sandi Morris and Katie Nageotte.

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She is expected to move up in the Asian and world rankings following her record-breaking feat. Uy is now no. 74th in the world and no.

6 in Asia.

The Fil-Am pole vaulter is now seeing action under Brad Walker.

Uy’s previous mentor, Becky Holliday, could not be with her when she went into quarantine due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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

In 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 Asia, ahead of fellow Fil-Am Alyanna Nicolas and Malaysian Yu Thian Chuah.

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

THE International Olympic Committee is closely monitoring what’s happening in the Philippine Olympic Committee.

The assurance came from IOC representative to the Philippines Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, who appeared in Tuesday’s online version of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.

The 2002 Asian Games gold medalist in equestrian was scheduled to grace an IOC online meeting also on Tuesday.

She was to provide the IOC an update on the POC developments.

“We at the IOC are regularly in touch,” said Cojuangco-Jaworski, a newly-elected member of the powerful IOC executive committee.

One of the POC amendments revolved around the plan to set an age limit of 70 for positions.

“Maraming items, maraming developments ang Olympic movement that we would want to keep up. And there were a lot of questions that the came up because of the interpretations of the bylaws,” said Cojuangco-Jaworski, who added the IOC is waiting for the POC to commit to char ter change before elections take place this November.

The POC executive board is currently split on the decision to effect changes, with some members believing that the timing to put changes in the constitution and bylaws is not right.

“But, of course, the IOC is hoping that the constitutions would be amended by this election, para magtake effect na,” added Cojuangco-Jaworski “There are many developments in the Olympic movement and we want to keep up. The IOC wants the amendments to take effect before the different NOCs hold their elections,” said Cojuangco-Jaworski in the session presented by San Miguel Corp.

Go For Gold, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), and powered by Smart, with Upstream Medias as official webcast partner.

ONE Championship finds new home at TV5, Cignal ONE Championship has found itself a new home in the Philippines.

The Home Of Martial Arts announced on Tuesday that TV5 will now carry its events after signing a multi-year partnership with the network.

TV5 will kick off their partnership by airing ONE: NO SURRENDER—the promotion’s first live show in five months—this Friday.

ONE: NO SURRENDER will air live on TV5’s sports arms—One Sports and One Sports+—at 8:30 p.m. It will then re-air on TV5 the next day, August 1, at 11 p.m.

“It is with great excitement that I announce a multi-year partnership with one of the largest broadcasting companies in the Philippines. TV5 is the nationwide leader in digital innovation,” said ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.

“Together, we will bring new content offerings to our fans, beginning with ONE: NO SURRENDER, live from Bangkok.”

It is another major acquisition for TV5, which has been cementing itself as the premier sports channel in the Philippines.

The network already carries the Philippine Basketball Association, and just last

Monday, it announced the acquisition of the National Basketball Association, just in time for its return.

“We are very excited to bring ONE Championship to all Filipino viewers on our Pay TV and Free to Air platforms. It is a welcome addition to the growing list of world class sports properties that we offer,” Cignal TV and TV5 President and CEO Robert P. Galang said.

“This is yet another step in our continued mission to deliver the best sports content to all our viewers and subscribers.”

The seeds of the partnership between TV5 and ONE were planted in October 2019 when the network aired ONE: CENTURY, the organization’s 100th event, much to the delight of their viewers.

“Fight Sports has always been a strong content offering in CIGNAL. When the opportunity for a partnership with ONE Champion-

ship presented itself this year, we knew it was something we could not pass up,” said Sienna Olaso, FVP, Head of Channels and Content of Cignal TV. “It started out as a one-off broadcast of ONE’s 100th event in October 2019, and because of the event’s success on our platform, we knew that a partnership like this was something that would definitely excite our CIGNAL subscribers. “ At ONE: NO SURRENDER, FilipinoKiwi stud Mark “Tyson” Fairtex Abelardo returns to action when he battles Fabrício “Wonderboy” Andrade in a 67-kilogram catchweight contest.

The main event features Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon defending his ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title against compatriot Petchdam “The Baby Shark” Petchyindee Academy.

The ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title will also be at stake as Petchmorakot Petchyindee Academy defends his strap against “The Boxing Computer” Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex.

Aside from watching on TV5, fans can also catch the action live and for free by downloading the ONE Super App.

PSC conducts webinars for para-athletes, coaches

Mike Barredo

THE Philippine Sports Commission hosted a week-long webinar for national para-athletes and coaches, in celebration of the National Council on Disability Affairs’ 42nd National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation.

Dubbed as “Para sa PARA-Athletes: Isang selebrasyon ng pagpupugay at pasasalamat sa mga natatanging Filipino Para-Athletes,” the PSC Sports Rehabilitation Unit partnered with the Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) to conduct a series of online seminars to the differently-abled.

“Our goal is to raise social media awareness about para-sports, para-athletes and persons with disabilities, and recognize their achievements for the country,” said PSC Sports Reha-

bilitation OIC Rico Barin.

Both PPC President Mike Barreto and Secretary-General Walter Torres thanked PSC Chairman William Ramirez and the Sports Rehabilitation Unit for this initiative.

“We thank Chairman Ramirez for making sure that our para-athletes are educated on sports psychology programs like this to reinforce their training and skills,” said Barredo.

“This tribute given to our para-athletes during the NDPR week is a boost in their morale self-esteem, especially at times like this when the pandemic has resulted in the cancellation of sporting events,” added Torres, who is also a former Olympian fencer.

Over 300 para-athletes from athletics, sitting

volleyball, football, swimming, chess, archery, wheelchair basketball, cycling, dancesport, triathlon, bowling, powerlifting, badminton, table tennis, goalball and boccia, took part in the week-long program from July 17 to 23.

Topics on body and postural mechanics, proper mobilization and transfer strategies for para-athletes, as well as online zumba session were conducted by PSC’s Physical Therapists’ Arryl Puchero, Maya Angelou Mel, Jaja Antonio, Riggs Poblete, Christine Magtibay, and Fatima Pereyra.

Barin added that the sports rehab unit is “looking to conduct more sports specific webinars that may be able to help para-athletes and coaches.

Sports MILO brings sports straight to everyone’s living room GOING by the new normal, MILO is bringing sports straight to everyone’s living room.

Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, MILO decided to transfer sports programs into digital platforms to ensure children can still get into sports even while at home.

Out of such concept came the MILO Homecourt project that was launched last week with the purpose of nourishing a kid’s journey to success with nutritious energy and inspiration to grow sports.

“Dahil sa sitwasyon ngayon, ‘yung mga kabataan ay talagang kailangan na mag-stay home. Pero hindi ibig sabihin na porke’t naka-stay home ka ay hindi ka puwedeng maging active,” according to Lester P. Castillo, Assistant Vice-President, Nestle PhilippinesMILO, during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum webcast edition.

“During the time, moms and dads are seeking for imaginative ways to keep their kids active and moving, and sports is the perfect outlet to promote not just a healthy lifestyle, but also instill valuable life lessons that their kids grow into well-rounded individuals.”

Southeast Asian Games gold medal winner Jamie Lim and Richard Lim of the Association for the Advancement of Karatedo also joined the session presented

by San Miguel Beer, Go For Gold, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, and powered by Smart, with Upstream Media as webcast partner.

Karate is one of nine sports being offered by the program along with arnis, badminton, basketball, football, gymnastics, volleyball, taekwondo, and tennis.

“It’s a very good project, its bearing kasi it has never been done before. And you wouldn’t automatically think that sports like karate can be taught online pero nagawan naman namin siya ng paraan,” said the 22-year karateka and daughter of basketball legend Samboy Lim. “I’m proud na maraming sports ngayon ang nagta-try ng online training.”

All online courses are developed and facilitated by MILO’s expert coaches and mentors from its trusted partners such as the Philippine Taekwondo Association and the AAK to ensure kids and other enrollees receive the best kind of training.

C2

WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Virus outbreak postpones MLB games L

OS ANGELES—An outbreak of COVID-19 rocked Major League Baseball on Monday, forcing the postponement of multiple games less than a week after the sport launched its season following a four-month coronavirus delay.

Major League Baseball confirmed in a statement that games between the Miami Marlins and Baltimore Orioles in Florida, and the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees in Pennsylvania, had been scrapped.

The decision followed reports that 10 more members of the Marlins—eight players and two coaches—had tested positive for the coronavirus following Sunday’s game against the Phillies in Philadelphia.

Four Marlins players—pitcher Jose Urena, first baseman Garrett Cooper, outfielder Harold Ramirez and catcher Jorge Alfaro—had already tested posi-

tive for COVID-19.

Major League Baseball said in a statement the games had been postponed in order to allow for additional testing.

“The members of the Marlins’ travelling party are self-quarantining in place while awaiting the outcome of those results,” the MLB statement said.

In a separate announcement later Monday, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said that the Marlins game against Baltimore on Tuesday had also been called off.

The Yankees were due to use the same locker room at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park that the Marlins had

used over the weekend.

Marlins chief executive Derek Jeter said postponing Monday’s game in Florida was the “correct decision.”

“The health of our players and staff has been and will continue to be our primary focus as we navigate through these uncharted waters,” Jeter said.

“Postponing tonight’s home opener was the correct decision to ensure we take a collective pause and try to properly grasp the totality of this situation.”

Jeter said the Marlins had remained in Philadelphia to undergo further testing.

Baseball chief Manfred meanwhile said the Marlins could return to play as soon as Wednesday depending on the outcome of testing.

“Our first concern is the health of the players, and their families and making sure that we do everything possible to minimise the spread of the virus amongst our employees,” Manfred told MLB Network.

Jr. NBA...

From C1

Guillermo Heredia of the Pittsburgh Pirates scores on a two RBI single in the seventh inning against the Milwaukee Brewers during Opening Day at PNC Park on July 27, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. AFP

Irving pledges $1.5M to WNBA opt outs MIAMI—Kyrie Irving has pledged $1.5 million to provide financial support to WNBA players who choose to sit out the season, the Brooklyn Nets star said Monday.

Irving will distribute money from his newly created KAI Empowerment Initiative fund, a statement said.

Several players have already decided to opt out of the WNBA’s shortened season, with some citing concerns over COVID-19 or issues surrounding social justice reform.

Irving said he had set up the program after talks with WNBA players Natasha Cloud and Jewell Loyd. Washington Mystics star Cloud was one of the first players to opt out of the season.

“I have connected with several WNBA players who have decided to play and those who have decided not to play,” Irving said in a statement.

“In these conversations I have learned about the challenges and opportunities of their decisions and how it will impact their lives, family and overall wellbeing.

THE LINK REY JOBLE AS A kid aspiring to become a better ball player, I was used to hearing this opening spiel from Norman Black sharing the fundamentals in basketball.

“Hi, I’m Norman Black and welcome to another episode of our Burlington Basketball Tips.”

This catchy phrase stuck to my mind. I would then look forward to his inputs on some of the basics of the game—from rebounding, dribbling, shooting and passing—and I would wake up early to play on the streets at

“The Miami Marlins will not play tonight and tomorrow. We’re doing additional testing. If the test results are acceptable, the Marlins will resume play in Baltimore on Wednesday.”

Player concern The postponements came with Major League Baseball less than a week into its abbreviated 2020 season.

The season finally got under way last Thursday four months after it had been due to open in March.

Games are taking place without fans, while players are subject to a range of strict health and safety protocols designed to prevent outbreaks of COVID-19.

Unlike other sports leagues, such as Major League Soccer and the NBA, which are restarting their seasons with teams based at a single location, baseball has opted to leave clubs at their home ballparks, meaning they must travel throughout the United States during the season. AFP

“This platform was created to provide support for all WNBA players in hopes to relieve some of the financial strain imposed during these challenging times.

“Whether a person decided to fight for social justice, play basketball, focus on physical or mental health, or simply connect with their families, this initiative can hopefully support their priorities and decisions.”

The WNBA season got under way on Saturday, with all teams playing at a single location at Bradenton, Florida.

Kyrie Irving has pledged $1.5 million to provide financial support to WNBA players who choose to sit out the season.

Irving will distribute money from his newly created KAI Empowerment Initiative fund, a statement said. AFP

One of the teams competing this year is The Skill Factory, a metro Atlanta squad representing the Southeast. Bella Martin, 14, plays point guard for the team.

“I really like the virtual aspect and I’m most looking forward to competing against girls I’ve never seen play before,” said Bella, who has used HomeCourt while at home. “If we win, that will be great. But just being with my team and competing alongside my teammates, I’m most excited to be a part of that.”

She and her teammates haven’t been together since the shutdown but their coach, Tad Spencer, has held weekly Zoom meetings to make sure the girls stay connected. “We’re kind of used to the virtual world already,” Spencer said. “The tournament is a wonderful opportunity to spread our wings and see where we stand as a team.”

Competition isn’t the only focus. The tournament will develop all aspects of the young athletes, and the Jr. NBA is partnering with VirBELA and Event Farm to encourage cross-cultural exchanges. VirBELA is creating a virtual campus where the players can use avatars to interact with the other players, no matter where they are in the world. The virtual campus will feature lifestyle, culture and music components, trivia, scavenger hunts and other interactive competitions as well as content from all NBA and WNBA teams.

“The virtual campus is one of the more unique components we have going on for this year’s Jr. NBA Global Championship. The youth will be able to experience presentations and also connect with each other in the virtual campus,” said Dawn Smyth, the NBA’s International Grassroots Basketball Lead. “The Jr. NBA Global Championship is the only Jr. NBA property that has different regions interacting with each other. It’s important that we’re able to share this cultural basketball experience.”

For their community service, players will also submit an image that represents their ideals of global unity and social change. Live Art International will use the images to create a mural that will be donated to a community organization. Players will also participate in leadership and life skills lessons, including conversations about social justice, race and mental health and wellness. While each region will tailor the presentation to their community, the overall focus will be on inclusion, diversity and equity. This year, however, does have a twist: JNGC alumni from the US who played in 2018 and 2019 will participate in the life skills conversations alongside NBA and WNBA players. The dialogue will be led by youth facilitators and center on the opportunity for the next generation of players and leaders to drive collective action and create long-term change.

Growing old with Black’s Burlington tips the time when there was no one there except you, the goal and the basketball, hoping to practice what you’ve learned from the PBA’s Mr. 100 Percent.

That was during the mid-1980s, the time when coaching tips could only be learned when you have face-toface sessions with a more seasoned baller ready to share his knowledge of the game.

When it comes to fundamentals, Black had a wealth of ideas.

Back at the time when bigger imports would dominate the rebounds or when The Black Superman Billy Ray Bates would soar high to slam the ball to the deafening roar of the fans, Black would do it the old-fashioned way.

He would outwork everybody—bigger imports or locals about his size.

On rebounding, I’ve first seen this ploy from Black: Sitting on his opponents’ lap before beating them on the battle of the boards.

When it comes to providing energy, Black had boundless of it, he would stay on the game for 48 minutes and could play solidly on both ends of the court. That means Black would not only produce 40 to 50 points a game during the peak of his playing years, he would also play the difficult task of stopping the opposing team’s best import. Through the years, he had waged battles with Bates, Michael Hackett, Francois Wise, Lew Massey, Bobby

Parks and even bigger players like Andy Fields and Larry McNeil, among others.

More than three decades later, a grand slam, 11 championships, a Hall of Fame award and a COVID-19 pandemic that has swept the world, Black is back at it as he he has gone full circle by reviving his Burlington Basketball Tips.

The last time I saw the session, he did it with his son, Aaron Black, then an incoming PBA freshman, who would play for his own team, the Meralco Bolts.

As kids are mostly quarantined at home at due to the pandemic, Black is able to share some home workouts that would keep young players stay glued

on the screen while being given the chance to stay productive.

In his most creative way, Black is able to teach young players in the comfort their homes with his stretching and warm up exercises, controlling the ball with one’s fingertips, ball wraps from different parts of the body and dribbling skills.

Learning never stops and Black is making true to his commitment to share his basketball knowledge, culled from nearly four decades of being involved in the game.

“We hope you’ve enjoyed our episode in our Burlington Basketball Tips. See you next time.”

Gets me everytime.

Entertainment Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor wednesday, july 29, 2020 nickie.standard@gmail.com nickie.standard@gmail.com

c3 WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020 || C3

Are you ready for cinema drive-in experience? experience? o

uR time in isolation, at least in the Philippines, is still uncertain. in this period of lockdown with increasing numbers of CoViD-19 active cases, nobody wants to leave their homes even to just get access to basic necessities, more so to mingle with other people in an enclosed air-conditioned venue to get their big-screen entertainment fix. then again, the entertainment industry is not stopping. though movie production is not yet in full swing, there are already feature films, which production had been complete even before the CoViD-19 outbreak brought the entire world to a halt, waiting to be commercially exhibited.

But how will they do it?

Enter drive-in cinemas. this classic movie experience, which is having its moment again in some parts of the world, began on June 6, 1933 when Richard Hollingshead – who had earlier patented the concept – opened the first drivein theater in Camden, new Jersey. according to Robin T. Reid in a smithsonianmag.com article, people paid 25 cents per car as well as per person to see the British comedy Wives Beware under the stars. the success of Hollingshead’s drivein caused more and more theaters to appear in the uS, and spread internationally as well. Drive-ins peaked in the 1950s and 1960s, and by 1958, there were 4,063 theaters. they were popular both as space for families to spend time with each other, as well as an affordable date-night option.

SOCIAL DISTANCING CINEMA. SM Cinema brings back a classic concept to serve customers in the new normal. (Photo for illustration only, from https://www.essexlive.news/)

Jung-hyun Lee and Dong-Won Gang in ‘Peninsula: Train to Busa.’ This film was selected to be shown at the 2020 Cannes Film Festival, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Musician-journalist turns to e-book writing WRitinG has always been a weapon Sleeping Beauty”) “i committed myself to writing books for entertainment journalist Yugel Losorata whether in quickly delivering in early april when i realized we’re likearticles to meet deadlines or seeking ly to be in this situation for the long haul. inner peace under the stress of a forced the writing process actually helped me go through the adjustments and allowed lockdown. the manila-based musician-scribe me to dig deeper into myself and my turned to e-book writing while in lock- thoughts which i think were healthy,” the down and produced three e-books with author explained. ePublish Book Hub, represented by the guidance and support of ePublish Book Hub. the first one, titled How operations manager Edgar Portento, To Survive The New Normal (new made it possible for Losorata to realWorld, old World Legacy), is already ize this wholesome rapid turnaround making rounds worldwide via popular from the shackles of the new normal. it took the author and the team as short online retailers amazon Kindle as 45 days to get Book 1 off the and Kobo. ground! the next two books, “this book seeks to ina flash fiction collection and spire readers about how the a tribute account on the auhuman spirit can hurdle thor’s favorite band, will be the toughest challenge to up within this quarter or the human safety and sanity. next, as both are still in the it shows how fruits can production stage. spring forth from human illustrations includsurvival instinct and the ed in the books were passion to give glory done by the author’s to the legacy of brother Rockefelthe past when life ler Losorata who was much, much currently works better,” said the in Dubai, united book’s editor Milarab Emirates. lie Vera whom Manila Standard His involvement the author considmusic columnist p r o v e d ers as his writing Yugel Losorata’s ‘How personally mentor.

To Survive The New uplifting as it the e-book Normal (New World, enabled him to is a collection Old World Legacy),’ is re-practice his of essays writalready making rounds craft. He drew the ten last summer worldwide via popular images while in when ECQ (Enonline retailers. lockdown. hanced CommuYugel Losorata began nity Quarantine) writing for broadsheets in was implemented the early 2000s and curLuzon-wide, and rently writes a weekly cities in metro mamusic column. He is also nila were practically a professional musicianclosed down as an antidote to the spread of CoViD-19. Lo- songwriter, with his composition “Sandasorata opened with an essay about his lan” released as the debut single of teenage experience adjusting to home life un- belter and The Voice Kids alumnus Angel der quarantine. then wrote about top- Andal last February. another composition ics close to his heart, including tribute “next Big thing” was released last summer pieces to the late Pinoy Rock icon Pepe by his band The Pub Forties where he Smith (“Red Hot Chili Pepe”) and plays bass.

Losorata further commented, “i found basketball icon Robert Jaworski’s popular mantra (“Yesterday’s never- both songwriting and writing therapeuSay-Die Spirit of Legends”). He also tic and they have made me survive in my reflected on episodes from his youth run before and while there’s pandemic. i (“Flashback from a Fly”) and his- dreamed of being a book author and not torical subjects (“the most Despic- even a globally catastrophic virus could able Genocide of all time,” “Forever stop it from happening.”

Acclaimed director Yeon Sang-ho brings us ‘Peninsula,’ the next nail-biting chapter in his post-apocalyptic world.

While the popularity of drive-ins declined over the years with less available land, smaller cars, and the advent of home entertainment systems, some 300 theaters remain in the uS. and

today, the drive-in concept is being transformed into a safe and fun way of movie watching. in the country, a similar big-screen entertainment system is set woe the

public with Sm Cinema re-opening its doors with the newest out-of-home entertainment experience for movie lovers – the Sm Cinema Drive-in. it is set to premiere at the amphitheater of Sm City Pampanga on Friday. this brings back the attraction of watching movies under the stars, this time as #SafeAndFunMovieWatching from the comfort of their own cars in the new normal. the Sm Cinema Drive-in will be open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday starting July 31 at the Sm City Pampanga amphitheater with the most anticipated horror movie from South Korea, Train 2 Busan: Peninsula. other films to be screened are Sea Monsters on July 31 (8:20 p.m.) and My Spy on aug.1 (5:30 p.m.).

Entry to the Sm Cinema Drive-in will start at 4:30 p.m.. there will be two movie screenings per day. the first screening will start at 5:30 p.m. and the second screening will be at 8:20 p.m.. all tickets must be purchased online in advance. Each ticket costs P400 per person, and this already includes a Snack time bundle consisting of bottled water, regular-sized popcorn, and beef franks.

Food concessions will be available on-site. a separate menu will be provided upon entering the Sm Cinema Drive-in. For additional orders, simply raise your flags and a server will approach your vehicle to take your orders.

For the best movie-viewing experience, two persons are allowed per vehicle with a maximum of four persons. to optimize the viewing experience for all our guests, each vehicle will be assigned their parking spots upon arrival depending on the size of their cars. traffic marshals will assist guests and direct them to their designated spot. once parked, guests will be instructed to turn on their car’s Fm radio to a specific frequency to broadcast the sound straight into their vehicles.

Guests are also welcome to bring their own radio and other devices with Fm capabilities. the venue can accommodate between 80 and 90 vehicles per screening, and individuals aged between 21 and 59 will be admitted in accordance with iatF Guidelines and Safety Protocols.

Enjoy the drive-in cinema experience. Buy your tickets now at https:// bit.ly/SMCinemaDriveinTickets. all ticket purchases must be through the website.

Art in the time of quarantine

By Seymour Barros Sanchez CommuniCation students from Far Eastern university recently held an online exhibit to take on different pressing issues during the pandemic. the best creative media productions were also recognized in a virtual awards night last may and July 27. as part of MULAT 2.0 and MULAT 2.1 exhibits (https:// www.facebook.com/FEUMulat/), FEu Communication majors contributed short films, movie posters, photo and video essays, and advocacy print ads which deal with the theme “Visual Expressions of Quarantine.”

Prof. Herwin Cabasal noted that the exhibits are in line with the program’s mantra “may alam, may pakialam.” the muLat adviser added that the works urge viewers to think critically. “it is not enough that we just merely appreciate the aesthetics, but to perceive what it is really trying to convey. most of the time, we must see these artworks outside the frame. it is by seeing outside the frame that we become critical and responsive to the diverse issues of society,” Cabasal said.

Since MULAT’s inception last year, FEu DepComm program chair Prof. Anansa Dijan has backed the exhibit. “now more than ever, we find it very important that our students are aware of what’s happening around them. muLat is one way where our students can showcase their creativity and more importantly how they see the value of their voices in the society,” she said. in the July 27 awarding ceremonies, sophomore student Sophie Casasola bagged the Best Cineminuto Short Film, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Screenplay, audience Choice, and Best application of theories in Cinema for her work Ang Sigaw sa Hardin ng Digma.

Jillian marie V. Bolayog took second prize and Best Editing for Salingin, while Ericka insigne and Paula navarro placed third for Papel. Best Production Design was awarded to Aking Liyag by Gene Sayson and Silas Hope Obien, and Best acting went to Ikaw ay Ikaw by Carl Saliente and Carl Digno. the Best Video Essay and Best application of theories in Cinema went to Marxismo at Aktibismo sa Pelikulang Pilipino while Structuralism in Philippine Cinema was hailed second.

Last may, Nickey Zacate’s Blue Zone topped the Cineminuto category. Marc Andrew Baldo’s Kapalaran got second place and Best Editing, while Neil Juliano’s AyudaMe won third, Best Screenplay and audience Choice awards.

Imran John Aquino was adjudged Best Director for Hirap sa Harap, Harap sa Hirap. Nina Gonzalez’s Makabagong Darna won Best acting and Best application of art movement, sharing the award with Prince Rodriguez’s Ika4 na Estado and Karl Magboo’s Contrast.

PaHRa Secretary General Rose Trajano moderated an online talkback with Cabasal and six student filmmakers after the screening of Bantay” by Regina Atenas, Ingay by Melvin Rosetes, 555 by Edel Hembrador, AyudaMe, Blue Zone, and Makabagong Darna.

Cabasal believes that through the online visual arts page’s engagements, it has already attained its objective, “which

‘Lunas, Hindi Dahas’ by Jay Cenzon won 2nd place in Mulat’s Advocacy Print Ad category.

is to serve as a platform for discourse and discussion about what matters in our society.” For him and MULAT artists, what Aldous Huxley wrote in The Art of Seeing, “the more you know, the more you see,” sums up their visual communication experience.

Life

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

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FASHION AND BEAUTY

WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020

Art in fashion Young Filipina designer lone PH rep at Fashion Week San Diego

By Monica Sanchez

R

ISING designer Bea Cruz is making a name for her bold choices and fearless style that she breathes into her creations.

Cruz, a fashion design graduate from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, believes that clothes create a sense of confidence and empowerment; that it it’s the modern-day armor of every brave person.

This is exactly what she exhibits in her entry in Fashion Week San Diego’s (FWSD) special online exhibition, The Art and Beauty Behind Fashion, that features promising designers and their original couture look inspired by contemporary artworks mounted at the Art Renewal Center.

FWSD is the longest-running, tradi-

tional fashion week that puts the spotlight on emerging fashion designers from around the world and San Diego, California. The Art and Beauty Behind Fashion is part of the 14th International Virtual Art Renewal Center (ARC) Salon Exhibition, the largest realism art competition that gathers thousands of contemporary artists from around the world. The tilt is hosted by Sotheby’s New York in partnership with ARC. As the lone representative from the Philippines, and also the youngest participant in the prestigious competition, Cruz drew inspiration from “Lisa

The two-tone piña silk ensemble (left) young designer Bea Cruz (right) will present at Fashion Week San Diego in October.

Aesthetic clinic in QC promotes wellness amid pandemic

the Shield Maiden” (2019), an oil painting

by American contemporary painter David Bowers.

“We live in this gender norm reality where it is completely unsafe and unjustified to be a woman,” Cruz wrote in a post on her Facebook page. “This is why the art piece, ‘Lisa The Shield Maiden’ by David Bowers inspired me the most.”

She added, “The artwork inspired me to show what it feels like to be a strong woman living in a prejudiced gender-norm reality.”

Her creation is composed of a luxe chiffon dress matched with handcrafted accessories reminiscent of the classic chainmail body and neck armor made with beads, chains, and metal scraps.

“This is my dedication to the women of today,” enthuses the young designer from Victorias City, Negros Occidental. “I believe that every woman is an empowered and fearless fighter and that clothing creates a sense of confidence that is the modern-day armor of every individual.”

According to Cruz, the three-piece look can be also worn separately.

The ARC Salon debut gave Cruz the opportunity to present a new collection in the fall runway of Fashion Week San Diego scheduled this October in California, where she is set to launch sophisticated two-tone piña silk ensembles that seamlessly blend the traditional silhouettes of the 1940s and 1950s Philippine fashion with the 21st century sultry elegance.

FEMME FATALE.

Bea Cruz’ luxe chiffon dress look inspired

by David Bowers’ contemporary painting, ‘Lisa The Shield Maiden’ (2019), showcases a fearless female fighter empowered by her armor.

While excited, she admits that it is “intimidating to be the youngest designer in an unfamiliar crowd and environment.”

“However, it has been my dream to unveil my art and debut my brand internationally. So I took the leap and went for it. I always have an eye for going

MANY deserve pampering in this trying time, a fact that encourages a full service dermatology and aesthetic clinic to open its newest branch in Quezon City.

“After being on a lockdown for months, we feel it is the best time for people to focus on self-care and wellness and to move forward in the new normal,” said Benedict Sy, president of Avigon Clinic.

“This is our flagship clinic and we are really making sure to give only the best service for our customers while following strict protocols to ensure that the clinic is a safe space for everyone,” he added.

Strategically located along Sgt. Esguerra Avenue in South Triangle, the newest Avignon Clinic features a 250-square-meter space with elegantly designed French minimalist interiors and a luxurious, five-star hotel-like ambiance to ensure customers will have a calm and refined environment.

Each private room is safe and cozy, with supplementary robes and slippers which patients can use for added relaxation.

Attending to clients are the clinic’s expert doctors and nurses.

The QC-based Avignon Clinic is equipped with cutting-edge, FDAapproved devices, providing excellent customer service and cost-effective treatments and procedures that are noninvasive, no downtime, and have visible results after one or two sessions.

Avignon brings its popular treatments available in its Bonifacio Global City branch to its newest outlet, including its signature facial Skin Reset which helps the skin recover its elasticity by

The clinic offers non-invasive treatments.

accelerating collagen production and triggering cell regeneration; and Thermage FLX, a contouring and lifting procedure guaranteed to make a person look five years younger in 40 minutes.

As it opens amid the pandemic, the clinic implements safety protocols to protect its clients and staff from the coronavirus. Appointments and pre-screening of clients will be done via phone call to limit the number of people in the clinic, all medical and aesthetic staff members are fully equipped with level 4 personal protective equipment, and clients are also provided with PPE at no extra cost.

On top of the mandatory COVID-19 protocols like sanitation stations, thermals scans, and foot bath, Avignon Clinic has also added its own extra hygiene measures such as UVC sterilizers, eight-stage air purifiers with HEPA filters, negative exhaust ventilation, and vacuum in the suites.

Go to www.avignon.clinic or call 0917-6566988 or 8442-8290 for more information.

The Art & Beauty Behind Fashion online exhibition is available on view until July 31 at www.sothebys.com/en/articles/contemporary-realism-14th-internationalvirtual-arc-salon-exhibition.

5 clothing fails you can fix with the right brassiere WHEN it comes to fashion, what’s inside matters just as much as what’s outside. Case in point: A pair of wrong bra can easily ruin a dressy blouse, a chic white T-shirt, and a gorgeous strapless top. Here are five fashion fails that can be avoided by wearing the right bra.

The See-through The newly inaugurated flagship clinic of Avignon in Quezon City features fivestar, hotel-like amenities.

bold and daring, not just with fashion pieces but for my goals in life as well.”

A common problem of those who love light-colored tops, it happens when colorful bras call more than their fair share of attention. If you don’t have a bra that’s remotely the same shade of your top, wear one that matches your skin tone instead.

For Filipinas with fairer skin, the Mindy Underwire Brassiere is indistinguishable under white clothes yet still fashionable in a simple Marinella nude color with Underwire scallop-cut cups Full Cup and cute straps.

Lace Tanner ladies, Brassiere meanwhile, may choose the champagnecolored Mira Underwire Lace Brassiere that complements their golden complexion.

Morenas will find just the right support in their perfect nude with the mocha-hued Marinella Underwire Full Cup Lace Brassiere.

The VBL

The Spill When busting out the low-cut tops, ensure that the décolletage is accentuated tastefully.

This happens when the bust spills over the top edge of the bra because the intimate wear is too tight, creating a sloppy overflow. In extreme cases, ill-fitting Cristina Underwire Shaping Bra bras can result in The Ledge, which makes breasts look like an unnatural ledge pushed up from the chest.

For just the right lift, the Simonette Underwire Push-up bra from Avon Fashions gives the bust a boost along with extra support with its snug, underwired cup. For bustier women, the Cristina Underwire Shaping bra gives extra support while providing better breast contouring.

The Wet Look

Willow Breathable Bra

The underboob sweat is uncomfortable and when visible, can be embarrassing. Deal with warmer days by putting on a breathable bra like the Willow Breathable Bra made of mesh fabric that allows air to flow freely, cooling wearers down especially in target areas where they sweat the most.

The VBL or visible bra line occurs when the edges of the bra poke through the clothing. It is not as obvious as its colorful cousin The See-through, but it’s just as noticeable.

To avoid this fashion boo boo, ladies are advised to choose the Salma Non-wire The Stiffness T-shirt Bra whose A bra that doesn’t smooth cups work fit can restrict movebest especially when ment, require constant wearing clothes that adjustment, and even hug the bust. Those result in back probwearing sleeveless lems. These can all be or off-the-shoulder fixed by getting the blouses or tops and right fit and support. don’t want their All bras from Avon, Lauren Nude bra straps to be vissuch as the Lauren Non-wire Bra Salma ible may opt for the Nude Non-Wire Bra Non-wire Regina Underwire comes in a wide range T-shirt Bra Convertible Brasof sizes and proporsiere whose curvetions. The comforthugging underwired able, non-wire lace bra ensures maximum comfort. cups and adjustable and removable straps let users wear anything from halter tops to square-cut tops.

The aforementioned bras are available at Avon.