Manila Standard - 2020 August 20 - Thursday

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OMBUDSMAN SUSPENDS 13 PHILHEALTH EXECS FOR SIX MONTHS

By Maricel V. Cruz, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Willie Casas

Martires

AMID a growing corruption scandal at the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

(PhilHealth), Ombudsman Samuel Martires has ordered a six-month suspension for 13 officials of the state-run health insurance agency.

The senior officials covered by the preventive-suspension order were Dennis Mas, senior vice president for management services; Shirley Domingo,

vice president in charge of the Corporate Affairs Group; Senior Vice President Rodolfo del Rosario Jr.; Leila Tuazon, acting senior manager in charge of the Audit Department; and Clementine Bautista, vice president in charge of the Quality Assurance Group.

Also suspended were Roy Ferrer, Celestina Maria Jude dela Serna, Raul Dominic Badilla, Israel Pargas, Angelito Grande, Lawrence Mijares, Eugenio Donatos II and Ruben Basa.

Their positions were not indicated in

Palace: President still trusts Duque Duque

By Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte continues to trust Health Secretary Francisco Duque III despite the new corruption allegations against him, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Wednesday.

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Longer curfew for NCR set

Mayors agree on uniform hours: 8 p.m.-5 a.m.; Rules under stricter GCQ out

By Vito Barcelo and Othel V. Campos

A

UNIFORM curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. will be imposed in Metro Manila as part of the stricter implementation of the general community quarantine (GCQ) to combat the coronavirus pandemic, the Palace said.

While the National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 approved a curfew beginning at 8 p.m., Manila, Mu nt i n lupa a n d VOL. XXXIV • NO. 167 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Pasig have yet to amend their ordinances that start their cities’ curfew hours at 10 p.m., Palace spokesman Harry Roque said.

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Let motorcycle taxis roll again —House panel

By Maricel V. Cruz

A CONGRESSIONAL committee has recommended to the Department of Transportation (DoTr) and the InterAgency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to lift the prevailing ban on motorcycle taxis as long as they comply with health and safety protocols.

Samar Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento, chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Transportation, said this at a virtual hearing prior to the re-imposition of the general community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Next page

STRICTER GCQ.

Members of the Manila Police District man a checkpoint along Blumentritt Avenue in Manila on Wednesday as the National Capital Region came under a stricter general community quarantine (GCQ). The new lockdown rule allowed public transport to roll out as well, as commuters flocked to terminals such as the Paranaque Integrated Exchange while keeping their distance on LRT-1’s trains (inset photos). Norman Cruz

5.2 aftershock sways Masbate, gov’t vows aid PH clinical trials of Avigan vs. virus on A MAGNITUDE 5.2 earthquake hit Masbate on Wednesday, an aftershock of the 6.6 temblor that hit the province on Tuesday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.

The tectonic aftershock struck 12 km southeast of the municipality of Cataingan at 5:50 a.m., with a depth of 6 km. The first earthquake’s epicenter was at 7 km southeast of Cataingan and had a depth of 21 km.

There were no reported intensities from the magnitude 5.2 quake, but Phivolcs said aftershocks are still expected.

This developed as Malacanang said the government will extend further assistance to areas hit by the earthquake.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said food packs, water and blankets will be delivered to the victims of the earthquake, as the government will also deploy person-

nel to ensure that social distancing rules are followed in evacuation centers.

Residents living near a coastal area in Cataingan have fled their homes after the earthquake caused the ground to sink in the area, Mayor Felipe Cabataña said Wednesday.

The sinking ground is located near a faultline in Barangay Matayum, he said.

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THE Philippines started its nine-month clinical trials for Avigan to study the efficacy of the Japanese anti-flu drug against the disease caused by the new coronavirus.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the clinical trials would initially include four Metro Manila hospitals.

“The list of hospitals will be expanded for us to be able to have these 100 patients

who will receive the allocated drugs coming from the Japanese government,” Vergeire told a press conference Wednesday.

Avigan is the brand name of favipiravir, an antiviral drug manufactured by a subsidiary of Japanese firm Fujifilm Holdings Corp., which is seen as a potential treatment for COVID-19, a respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

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COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM AUGUST 19)

173,774

NEW

TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

57,498

2,795

111

113,481

716

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

FRIENDS AND FOES. Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay (center) bumps elbows with Senator Francis Tolentino after the Senate hearing Wednesday on the shootout in Jolo, Sulu, which killed four Army soldiers, last June. Also at the hearing were the nine policemen (inset) Gapay accused of shooting the soldiers dead. Senate PRIB

4,650 ACTIVE

NEW

NEW

Palace: Healthy Rody ‘in control’ Story on A2

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Gapay wants charges vs. soldiers’ killers

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

A

RMED Forces of the Philippines Chief Gilbert Gapay on Wednesday urged the immediate filing of charges against the nine policemen tagged in the killing of four soldiers in Jolo on June 29.

ferent version of what happened, saying the policemen stopped the SUV and instructed the soldiers to proceed to a nearby police station to verify their identities.

The PNP claimed that, as the police team and the Army officers neared the police station, the SUV sped off, and that triggered a car chase. Police said they only defended themselves when they fired back after the soldiers opened fire.

Gapay said they had been waiting for two months for justice, and should the cases be elevated to the courts, the “real motive” behind the killing of the military intelligence officers would surface.

“That’s why if we file this in court, we are also hoping that the real motive for the killing of the four Army person-

nel would come out. The truth should come out,” he said.

Gapay said various speculations had come out over the case, including the drug angle mentioned by PNP Chief Archie Gamboa.

He also described as “very unique” the Jolo shooting wherein the military officers were riddled with bullets.

He insisted there was an “intent to kill” the soldiers, and then to “cover up” as the initial spot report of the police on the incident was “fabricated, full of inconsistencies and misleading.”

“This was a deliberate act. There was an intent to kill. We cannot ascertain the motive, but definitely there was an intent to kill. You can see they were all shot in the back,” Gapay told the Senate panel.

Facing the Senate public order hearing led by Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, Gapay urged the immediate filing of murder, neglect-of-duty and plantingof-evidence charges against the policemen as recommended by the National Bureau of Investigation.

The NBI had earlier filed a murder complaint against the nine police officers for the death of Maj. Marvin Indammog, Capt. Irwin Managuelod, Sgt.

Jaime Velasco, and Cpl. Abdal Asula who were assigned to the Philippine Army’s Intelligence Regimen of the Ninth Intelligence Service Unit.

It appeared that the Army men had identified themselves to the policemen when they were accosted, but they were still shot when one of them alighted, unarmed, from the sports utility vehicle they were riding in.

The Philippine National Police gave a dif-

Ombudsman...

From A1

Healthy Rody ‘in control’ as new SC plea filed

the suspension order.

While the House, Senate and a task force formed by the Palace are all investigating several allegations of corruption at PhilHealth, it was unclear which of these cases caused the suspensions.

PhilHealth officials said they have yet to receive a copy of the suspension order.

“As of this time, the concerned officers are not aware of the charges against them. We will issue a full statement as soon as we get hold of the said order,” PhilHealth said in its social media post.

Sources said the Ombudsman order was independent of the investigations of the agency that are still ongoing.

Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo Lacson said the Senate Committee of the Whole is ready to recommend the filing of charges against several PhilHealth officials for the violation of the Revised Penal Code, the Tax Code and the AntiGraft and Corrupt Practices Act. “Of course we will turn over to the DOJ all the pieces of evidence that we have unearthed in the course of the weekly hearings conducted,” he said, referring to the Department of Justice.

At the same time, he said, they would collate individual recommendations from the senators on what legislation might be needed to prevent the systemic corruption at the state-run agency.

These range from a reorganization and restructuring of the agency to its dissolution.

The Senate convened on Tuesday for the third public hearing on the allegations of widespread corruption in PhilHealth.

At an earlier hearing, it was revealed that about P15 billion funds have been stolen from PhilHealth.

Senate President Vicente Sotto said Wednesday he is waiting for President Rodrigo Duterte to get mad at PhilHealth officials who have been accused of pocketing billions of pesos from PhilHealth funds using various schemes.

“I think the Executive Department should do something about them, short of bringing in the Marines,” Sotto said.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, meanwhile, said the Commission on Audit and the National Bureau of Investigation had noted the lack of cooperation on PhilHealth’s part to submit important records need for the ongoing investigations.

Because of this, Zubiri said, it was time for the Office of the President to step in.

“They should move quickly so these records can be secured and before they can be tampered, altered or lost by unscrupulous individuals within the agency,” Zubiri said.

Meanwhile, a congresswoman filed a bill that authorizes the President to reorganize PhilHealth, including the privatization of its services, “to make it more effective in delivering services to the public.” With PNA

5.2 aftershocks...

From A1 “There’s phenomena here we can’t understand. There’s a place on a faultline, Barangay Matayum, where a sitio there near the sea seems to have sunk, as the waters have reached the houses. It’s apparent that the land collapsed there,” the mayor told ABS-CBN Teleradyo in Filipino.

Another area showed cracks or fissures on the ground, Cabataña added.

Subsidence could explain the ground’s sudden sinking, Phivolcs chief Renato Solidum said, noting the same thing happened in 2003. He noted the sand underneath the earth gets compacted during a quake, leading to the ground to drop.

Solidum said the mayor’s decision to evacuate the residents was a good call.

By Rey E. Requejo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is healthy and “in control” of the situation as he continues to lead the country, Malacañang said Wednesday.

“His appearance, his conduct, his actuation, these prove that he is well and healthy,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque told CNN Philippines.

He made his statement even as a lawyer urged the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision denying his appeal to compel Malacañang to disclose Duterte’s state of health.

Dino De Leon asked the high court to reverse its May 8 decision denying the peti-

Longer curfew...

From A1 “There was an NTF meeting and we considered the recommendations of the mayors to actually impose a stricter GCQ because when we consulted the mayors, they were in agreement that it should be GCQ but it should be of a strict type similar to what was imposed in June,” Roque said in an interview with CNN Philippines.

Roque said the implementation of “localized and granular” lockdowns in areas under GCQ would be “aggressively” pursued.

Metro Manila, which remains the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak, eased into a GCQ Wednesday after a two-week modified lockdown to give health workers a breather and to prevent the collapse of the country’s health care system.

Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Nueva Ecija, and Batangas have been placed under GCQ until Aug. 31.

Also under GCQ are the cities of Iloilo, Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, and Talisay, as well as the municipalities of Minglanilla and Consolacion in Cebu province.

Roque said the NTF has also agreed that mass gatherings, including religious services, in GCQ zones must be strictly limited to only 10 people.

Palace:...

From A1

“He will continue to work as head of the Department of Health and as chair of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases,” Roque said.

He made his statement even as Senator Panfilo Lacson said public health was being imperiled with Duque at the helm of the Health department.

He said Filipinos deserved a good, competent, honest and capable Health secretary and not Duque, and notwithstanding the trust and confidence in him by the person who appointed him.

“Secretary Duque has stayed too long in the Health department as well as in PhilHealth in different capacities,” Lac“The water will not leave that place now,” he said.

Malacañang reminded Masbate residents affected by the earthquake to observe social distancing in evacuation centers even though the province has relatively few cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

“One thing going for Masbate is that they have very low cases of COVID-19, but nonetheless, they should not be too complacent; even if they will be staying in temporary shelters, they have to observe social distancing,” Roque told CNN Philippines in an interview.

“Whatever help that Masbate needs is forthcoming. We have a direct line already with the governor, as well as with the mayor of Cataingan. So the coordination effort to deliver what is needed by the residents of Cataingan is in full blast.” Vito Barcelo

NCR hospital beds rate still at ‘high risk’ THE occupancy rate of the beds for COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila is at 70 percent or higher, and are still in the “high-risk zone”, data from the Health department showed.

Nevertheless, the critical care utilization rate in the capital region did drop slightly during the two-week modified enhanced community quarantine or MECQ. According to the updated classification system of the Health department, “high risk” covers occupancy rates between 70 and 100 percent, “medium risk” at 30 to 70 percent, and “low risk” at 0 to 30 percent utilization of critical care facilities.

The Lung Center of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, said Wednesday its critical care beds for COVID-19 cases had reached full capacity.

“No change, our critical care beds are still at full capacity as of 7 a.m. this morning,” hospital spokesman Norberto Francisco told Dobol B sa News TV. He said the hospital had only five beds left for moderate cases who do not need ventilators.

And the emergency room of the Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital in Manila had been closed temporarily for a week starting Wednesday to decongest the patients in the facility.

In Malacañang, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the public schools in Metro Manila were slowly being refurbished to serve as isolation centers for COVID-19 patients.

He told CNN Philippines the government was waiting for the passage of the Bayanihan 2 legislation since funding was needed to renovate the schools.

Willie Casas

tion he filed on July 24 following the speculations on Duterte’s health condition.

“The health of the President, especially at a time like this, should rightfully be disclosed to the public,” De Leon said.

“After all, the enlightened minds behind the system of government the country has adopted originally envisioned an energetic Executive essential for the protection of the community and the steady administration of laws.”

But the high court had ruled that the dismissal of De Leon’s petition was proper since it failed to raise arguments that would necessitate the granting of his petition.

In his appeal, De Leon cited rumors

that a medical jet landed in Davao City last Tuesday and made an immediate return flight to Singapore, triggering speculation that a high-profile person was aboard for treatment.

Roque’s reassurance came amid the growing concerns over the health of the 75-year-old President after the rumors had it that he went to Singapore over the weekend to get medical treatment.

Roque acknowledged that Duterte, a “seasoned” public servant, had always been subject to speculation, especially when it came to the state of his health.

But he expressed confidence that most Filipinos still believed in Duterte’s competence to serve the country.

“That means it is no longer the case that a religious gathering is allowed up to 10 percent of the capacity. It is now only 10 people strictly,” he said.

Roque also said the operation of gyms, internet cafes, and review and tutorial centers would remain suspended.

Restaurants and salons located in GCQ areas may operate, but their capacity would be determined by local government units (LGUs).

“We leave it now to the LGUs to determine the capacity of dine-in, as well as the salon because that’s what the mayors asked — to have more discretion in opening sensitive industries and businesses,” he said.

Roque added that back or pillion riding on motorcycles is allowed in GCQ areas as long as the driver and passenger share the same address (see related story below -- Editors).

“They’re not required to wear the barriers. However, they are still required to wear a helmet, face mask, and face shield. If they are of different addresses, then they will have the angkas-side barrier. But in any case, only private motorcycles are allowed,” Roque said.

LGUs can also issue quarantine passes in places put under GCQ, he said.

“In areas that are covered by localized or granular lockdowns, quarantine passes are a must,” Roque said.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said

members of the NTF agreed that dining in at restaurants and salon and barbershop operations would be allowed under the GCQ. “The NTF last night basically reaffirmed (what was discussed in the) earlier cabinet meeting, presided by the executive secretary, to postpone the reopening of the last batch of sectors,” Lopez said, referring to gyms, review centers and internet cafes, which will remain closed until Aug. 31.

These will be allowed to operate at 30 percent capacity starting Sept. 1, he said.

son said.

He said Filipinos needed a corruptfree PhilHealth and a competent Health secretary.

Senator Grace Poe said Duque had “failed miserably” in his mandate as shown by the glaring number of unaddressed cyclical corruption in the government health system.

“The numbers will show that you have failed miserably as the head of both PhilHealth and the [Health department],” Poe said.

She said Duque could not feign ignorance about the systemic corruption inside PhilHealth, having been at its helm for 11 years.

But Roque said Duterte had time and again expressed his continuing trust and confidence in Duque, and that Duterte

was confident Duque could answer all the allegations against him being studied by the Ombudsman.”

Duque has repeatedly rejected the calls for him to resign as a result of the alleged corruption within PhilHealth and the Health department’s poor handling of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The allegations against Duque were discussed by former PhilHealth antifraud legal officer Thorrsson Montes Keith, who claimed in a Senate hearing that Duque was the “godfather” of the top PhilHealth officials allegedly involved in corruption.

Keith said it was Duque who approved the appointments of the officials belonging to the so-called “mafia” in PhilHealth.

Clinical trial participants for COVID-19 vaccines will be compensated for the time they spend on the project.

However, they won’t be paid excessively, a local vaccine trial expert said.

“We should not be giving excessive compensation that it would become undue,” said Dr. Lulu Bravo, executive director of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination, during a Department of Science and Technology briefing.

Bravo, who has done clinical trials for vaccines in the Philippines over the last two decades, is optimistic that more people would be volunteering because they understand the importance and benefits of the trials.

She said this is already happening in the United States where more than 350,000 people enlisted for a vaccine’s clinical trials when only 100,000 were needed. Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta

Let motorcycle...

From A1

“But they have to show proof, either identification card, certification from the barangay, or any document showing that both the rider and the back rider have the same address to avoid being apprehended and cited for violation of the rules on pillion riding,” he told reporters.

Under the protocol, riders not living in the same house must have a barrier similar to the one designed by Angkas, and the back rider must be an authorized person outside residence (APOR).

The driver may or may not be an APOR and the motorcycle must be privately owned and not for hire.

Sarmiento said he did not immediately submit his recommendation to the DoTr and the IATF-EID as he waited for President Rodrigo Duterte to make the decision on the shift to enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), which banned the use of all public transportation.

“But with the decision to revert to GCQ starting yesterday (Wednesday), my committee has moved for the reopening of all motorcycle-hailing services to ease the burden of the commuting public,” he said.

Eleazar clarified that motorcycle barriers would remain as a requirement for drivers and back riders who are not living in the same house, even if they are relatives.

Based on health protocols, both riders should wear face masks and fullface helmets “that must be worn all the time while back riding.”

Another lawmaker, Rep. Alfredo Garbin of Ako-Bicol party-list, on Wednesday urged government to acquire what he described as “useless motorcycle barriers” from riders who were forced to spend their hard-earned money just to comply with the government directive.

Manila and other provinces.

Panel members unanimously endorsed the use of motorcycle taxis such as the ride-hailing firm Angkas to augment public transportation, Sarmiento said.

Meanwhile, motorcycle barriers are no longer required for riders living under the same roof in areas under GCQ, Joint Task Force COVID Shield commander Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said on Wednesday.

Eleazar made the statement after the National Task Force (NTF) on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) approved the transition protocol on motorcycle back riding that was implemented starting Wednesday.

In other developments: • The League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) on Wednesday said locally stranded individuals should not be allowed to leave Metro Manila unless they commit to stay in their province of destination for at least two months. In a radio interview, Marinduque Gov. Presbitero Velasco Jr., LPP national president, said they made the proposal to the Inter-Agency Task Force for Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

• The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office said lotto operations are now allowed to resume in GCQ and modified GCQ areas. The sale of lotto tickets, online Keno and Instant Sweepstakes would resume, the PCSO said, but Small Town Lottery games will remain suspended. With PNA

PH clinical...

From A1 Number of COVID-19 cases top 170,000

THE total number of COVID-19 cases climbed to 173,774 Wednesday after the Department of Health (DOH) announced 4,650 new infections.

This is the eighth consecutive day in which more than 3,000 new cases were logged.

The five provinces with the highest number of new infections were Metro Manila with 3,092, Cavite with 249, Laguna with 194, Rizal with 189, and Bulacan with 136.

The department also reported 11 new fatalities due to COVID-19, bringing its total death toll to 2,795.

The total number of recoveries rose to 113,481 after 716 more patients were reported to have recovered from the respiratory disease.

There are 57,498 active cases in which the patient is undergoing treatment or being quarantined.

COVID-19 test subjects to be paid

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SK execs petition vs. anti-terror law

Romualdezes push proposed Private Security Industry Act

By Rey E. Requejo

TINGOG party-list Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez and her husband, House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez on Wednesday batted for the enactment of a bill that recognizes the valuable contributions of security guards in securing the country’s peace and order by extending benefits to them such as study now, pay later program.

OFFICIALS of Sangguniang Kabataan from various parts of the country on Wednesday filed the 29th petition asking the Supreme Court to declare as unconstitutional Republic Act 11479 or the AntiTerrorism Act of 2020.

In a 105-page petition, the SK officials led by Lemuel Cayabyab, SK chairman of Barangay Maglaking, San Carlos City, Pangasinan also sought the immediate issuance of temporary restraining order the enjoin the implementation of the antiterrorism law.

The petitioners argued that RA 11479 is unconstitutional for being contrary to the pertinent provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

“With every unjust law enacted and upheld, the country inches farther from democracy. With RA 11479, it would be taking a huge step in the wrong direction; even a leap straight into the bowels of tyranny. For when we, as a nation, accept the idea that all means—moral or immoral, constitutional and unconstitutional— are acceptable if only to defeat a fearful enemy, there would be little left to distinguish us from the very evil we feared,” the petitioners argued.

By Maricel V. Cruz

The Romualdez couple earlier filed House Bill 7037 or the proposed “Private Security Industry Act”, which provides for the regulation and supervision of the private security industry and the practice of security profession.

By having the bill enacted, they said the government would be able to ensure “safe and healthful working conditions” and promote gender-sensitive measures in the formulation and implementation of

policies and programs affecting the local security work.

Trade Union Congress of the Philippine party-list Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza co-authored HB 7037.

The bill recognizes the role of security guards, watchmen, and other private security personnel as force multipliers in promoting public security and safety to strengthen the private security industry.

ALACAÑANG on Wednesday condemned the killing of two human rights activists the past two weeks, but said that blaming state forces for their deaths was “unfounded.”

Go warns vs. fake news on Duterte’s health

Sinas taps Bathan as NCRPO acting chief METRO Manila police deputy director Nolasco Bathan is now the acting chief of the National Capital Region Police Office after Director Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas went on leave for a three-day medical check-up at the Chinese Medical Hospital.

Sinas made this announcement Wednesday, saying Bathan, who is the Deputy Regional Director for Administration, will be the NCRPO officer-in-charge until August 23 or upon his return.

“I will be admitted at said hospital starting this evening, Aug 19, 2020 at 5 p.m., henceforth, all concerns and communications shall be directed to the OIC, NCRPO,” said Sinas in a memorandum to the five district commanders in Metro Manila and NCRPO key officers. Joel E. Zurbano

“The primary task of a security personnel is to provide protection to its clients against possible death, injuries, losses, damages and/or destruction of properties. Recognizing their very important role, this bill seeks to provide a mechanism to adapt to the changes in relation to the regulation and supervision of the private security industry and the practice of security profession,” the Romualdez couple said.

Palace condemns killing of activists M

IN BRIEF SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go on Wednesday issued a stern warning against perpetrators of fake news that President Rodrigo Duterte was airlifted from Davao City to Singapore over the weekend due to a medical emergency.

He also urged individuals behind the lies to stop spreading the fake news.

“It’s just okay to criticize the President.

It’s just okay to criticize us if there’s something that should be fixed in our job. That’s very much welcome since we are public officials… it’s their right to criticize to improve our services,” added the former presidential aide. Macon Ramos-Araneta

A3

RIVER BOAT. Residents board a boat traversing the Navotas River, but most of the passengers do not follow physical distancing. Andrew

Rabulan

P1.9-b program launched for PH out-of school youth

By Rey E. Requejo THE United States government on Wednesday announced the inauguration of a P1.9 billion ($37.5 million) project aimed at helping at least 180,000 out-ofschool youth in the Philippines attain relevant education, obtain necessary work experience for employment and skills for their livelihood.

The five-year program under the auspices of the US Agency for International Development has been dubbed as “Opportunity 2.0: Second-chance Opportunities for Out-of-school Youth project” that will support the education, employment, and livelihood needs of Filipino out-school-

youth Filipinos.

In a statement, the US Embassy in the Philippines said the US government will partner with the Department of Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to augment their ongoing programs to provide relevant education, employability skills, and work experience.

The program will include the DepEd’s enhanced Alternative Learning System and TESDA’s skills training programs.

US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim along with Education Secretary Leonor Briones, and TESDA DirectorGeneral Isidro Lapeña graced the virtual launching of the program, which was par-

ticipated by over 500 participants from across the country.

Ambassador Kim highlighted the continuing US government support for Philippine education, especially for the vulnerable out-of-school youth who are facing significant challenges in education and employment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Through this new partnership, we can leverage a range of resources to maximize the potential of the Filipino youth, particularly those who are out-of-school or unemployed. With the right knowledge, attitudes, and skills, they will play a pivotal role in this great country’s growth and success over the long-term,” the US envoy said in a speech.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque issued the statement after Negrosbased activist Zara Alvarez was shot dead on Monday night in Mandalagan, Bacolod City.

Alvarez’ death came a week after the murder of National Democratic Front of the Philippines peace consultant and peasant leader Randall Echanis in his rented house in Novaliches, Quezon City.

“We denounce any form of violence perpetuated against citizens, including activists. We are a nation of laws; and violence has no place in any civilized society,” Roque said in a statement.

He also assured the public that law enforcement authorities are investigating the killings of both Alvarez and Echanis.

“Blaming state forces as the people behind these murders is unfounded as investigation on the killings of Randall Enchanis and Zara Alvarez is now underway,” he said.

Roque said the Palace will wait for the formal report from the authorities.

Reports showed that Alvarez was gunned down on Monday night in a subdivision in Barangay Mandalagan, Bacolod City.

She was a former campaign and education director and paralegal of Karapatan in Negros Island.

Karapatan Secretary-General Cristina Palabay said that Alvarez was included in the supposed 2018 list where Echanis was tagged as a terrorist.

Echanis was found dead with multiple stab wounds and two gunshots on his head in Novaliches, Quezon City last August 10.

He was laid to rest on Monday at the Loyola Memorial park in Marikina City.

Communist Party of the Philippines founding chair Jose Maria “Joma” Sison earlier blamed the government for the killing of Echanis. Willie Casas

Post Marawi rehab update, TFBM told REMEMBERING QUEZON.

By Maricel V. Cruz

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, Vice Mayor Gian Sotto and 2nd District Councilor Candy Medina offer flowers to commemorate the 142nd birth date of former Philippine President Manuel L. Quezon on Wednesday, Aug. 19 at the Quezon Memorial Circle.

A CONGRESSIONAL leader on Wednesday urged Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) to be vigilant against unused funds intended for the Marawi rehabilitation that has dragged on for almost three years after government forces liberated the city from extremists in 2017.

At the same time, Deputy Speaker and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman asked TFBM—in the spirit of transparency—to post regular “real-time” updates on the status of the Marawi rehabilitation program, including the state of its finances, in its websites and social media accounts for the benefit of the people of Marawi and the rest of the country.

“For purposes of transparency, all activities of TFBM, financial reports, and even accomplishments both physical and financial, should have been posted on the website of Task Force Bangon Marawi,” Hataman at a virtual hearing of the House Committee on Disaster Resilience on the Marawi compensation bills.

Manila

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Standard

Suspect urged to reveal brains in 2018 ambush MAYOR Aleli Concepcion of Balaoan, La Union asked the police officer who surrendered to authorities in connection with the November 14, 2018 ambush that killed her father to divulge the identity of the mastermind and other conspirators in the crime.

The mayor made the statement after Police Master Sergeant Dario Naval Cahigas, who was charged in connection with the ambush of Balaoan Vice Mayor Alfred Concepcio, surrendered to the authorities on August 17, 2020.

“I hope and pray that Cahigas divulges what he knows about our ambush and reveals the identity of his co-conspirators for his own peace of mind,” the mayor said.

In his report to Philippine National Police chief Police General Archie Francisco F. Gamboa,

Northern Luzon regional director Police Brigadier General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said Cahigas, a PNP member assigned at the Regional Police Holding Assistance Service of Police Regional Office 1, voluntarily surrendered during the execution of warrant of arrest issued by Balaoan Regional Trial Court Branch 3 Presiding Judge Marita Bernales Balloguing.

Cahigas faces two counts of murder and four counts of attempted murder. Mayor Aleli Concepcion was with his father when armed men sprayed bullets on their vehicle on the way to the municipal hall on November 14, 2018. Alfred Concepcion and his aide Mike Ulep died, while Aleli Concepcion and three others were injured during the attack.

During the hearing, the TFBM through the Office of Civil Defense updated the panel members on the status of the utilization of funds for Marawi.

Hataman, former governor of the now-defunct ARMM, said he was worried that millions of peso fund intended for the Marawi rehabilitation will go to waste or not be utilized for the intended purpose just like what happener in 2018 where P406 million peso rehabilitation fund expired and reverted to the National Treasury.

He added that “aside from ensuring that the Marawi funds are spent according to its intended purpose, we should also make sure all of the allocation is used for the benefit of the people of Marawi.”

OCD Director Edgar Posadas said that from 2017 up to 2020, P20.8 billion had been allocated for the Marawi rehabilitation and, as of August of this year, P19.940 billion has already been released.

He also said that the unreleased balance is at P868.4 million.

TODAY COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS

ANNOUNCEMENT President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has submitted to the Commission on Appointments (C.A.) for confirmation the nomination of CORLETO S. VINLUAN JR., PA, to the rank of Lieutenant General, in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The public may submit any information, written report, or sworn/notarized complaints or oppositions in thirty two (32) copies on the above nomination to the CA Secretariat, 6th Floor, PNB Financial Center, D. Macapagal Boulevard, Pasay City, Metro Manila.

PETITION. Sangguniang Kabataan officials and other youth

leaders from different regions file a petition before the Supreme Court against the anti-terror law on Wednesday. The petitioners urged the Supreme Court to declare the controversial law null and void, saying that it “poses a danger not just for collective and individual rights, but for democracy as a whole.” Norman Cruz

For the schedule of the public hearings, the CA Secretariat can be reached through telephone numbers 8834-2713, 8831-1824, 8831-0527, 88329830, 8834-2706 and 8551-1989.

19 August 2020.

(MS-AUG. 20, 2020)

HECTOR A. VILLACORTA Secretary

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

A4

THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Makati extolled for COVID response

By Joel E. Zurbano

N

ATIONAL Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. has commended the Makati City government for what he called “its effective response program against the coronavirus disease.”

Esperon said the national government, particularly the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), could learn from the city’s best practices in fighting COVID-19.

“The IATF can learn from Makati’s

best practices, and these can be passed on to other cities. In turn, we may also make some more recommendations to improve what is already there. This is my role. I am here to bridge the national and local governments. Rest assured, we

only want what is good for Makati,” said Esperon, following a meeting with Mayor Abigail Binay.

Binay, for her part, said Makati was looking forward to working closely with the national government in fighting the pandemic. She said the city was grateful that Esperon was assigned as the city's "Big Brother."

“We are looking forward to working with the national government for our policies in containing the virus in the city,” said Binay as she underscored the city’s plans to use the Stay Safe Appli-

cation to expand the city’s contact tracing efforts.

Binay also thanked Esperon for turning over donations of Linhuan Qinjuen Jiaonang, a drug that had been proven to speed up recovery and reduce the symptoms of COVID-positive patients.

The city received a total of 10 boxes of the medicine, which could benefit 1,400 patients.

“We are grateful for these donations,” Binay said, emphasizing that the medicine would be distributed under strict medical protocols, and not randomly.

Jobless drivers to be hired for hub project THE Makati City government announced on Wednesday it would hire jobless jeepney drivers for its Mobile Learning Hub project this October.

“Jeepney drivers in the city who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic will be our partners in running the Makati Mobile Learning Hub Project. Their jeepneys will be outfitted to transport books and other learning materials, teachers and librarians, and laptops with internet connection,” said Mayor Abigail Binay.

She said the city had been coordinating with the Makati Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (MJODA) for the rental of around 27 jeepneys that would be deployed to the barangays when classes start in October.

“We believe this is a great opportunity for residents whose main livelihood as jeepney drivers has been abruptly cut short due to the pandemic. They, too, like the displaced teachers and tutors we have hired to operate the learning hubs, will have regular income to support their families,” BInay said.

“We are glad that we have come up with this project that addresses multiple issues simultaneously. Not only will it help students and their parents cope with the new ‘blended learning’ approach in education, but will also provide much-needed employment to Makatizens,” she added.

According to Rita Riddle, Program Director of the Makati Education Department, the city would be paying P2,000 as daily rental for each jeepney.

“Our initial target is 27 drivers hired. The number may still increase because the jeepney federation is proposing to do a rotation among its member-drivers. We are looking at 100 drivers per week eventually,” Riddle said. Joel E. Zurbano

DRUG DONATION. National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. (left) turns over to Makati City Mayor Abigail boxes of

Linhuan Qinjuen Jiaonang, a drug that has been proven to speed up recovery and reduce the symptoms of COVID-positive patients, at City Hall on Wednesday. Esperon has commended Binay and the Makati City government for its effective response program against the coronavirus disease. Frankie Tuyay

Workers’ quarters in Taguig in 15-day q’tine THE Taguig City government placed under a 15-day localized quarantine the workers' quarters of a business establishment in Barangay Palingon-Tipas where 18 individuals were tested positive for coronavirus disease.

"In order to manage cases and contain the spread of COVID-19 cases more effectively, Taguig City is placing the workers’ quarters under a localized quarantine on August 19-September 2, upon the recommendation of the Safe City Task Force," the city public information office stated in its advisory.

The company conducted RT-PCR

testing on 52 individuals, of which 18 turned out positive for COVID-19.

As soon as the results were released, the City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit investigated the case cluster and evaluated the area.

Under the localized quarantine, the workers’ quarters will be cordoned off so that no one enters or exits the facility.

A quarantine and containment management team will secure the area round-the-clock.

Mayor Lino Edgardo Cayetano said further testing would be conducted to determine the extent of the spread of

the virus in the area.

He added all the individuals under quarantine would be monitored regularly for their health and living conditions.

"The city will also provide the daily food and hygiene needs of the workers.

Rest assured that the city is doing everything in its capacity to keep the general populace safe and secure against the COVID-19 menace," said Cayetano.

Last Tuesday, the local government reported 162 new cases of coronavirus disease, bringing to 3,643 the total number of confirmed cases in the city.

Joel E. Zurbano

QC’s ‘stricter’ GCQ guidelines highlight safety in workplaces

By Maricel V. Cruz THE Quezon City government will implement stricter implementation of health safety protocols in workplaces following the shift to general community quarantine (GCQ), Mayor Joy Belmonte said in her new guidelines issued Wednesday.

“We should not be complacent even

if we are reverted to GCQ because the threat of COVID-19 virus is still there.

We still need to be very, extra careful," Belmonte said in a statement.

Under the new guidelines, companies allowed to operate under GCQ are mandated to enforce stricter health protocols to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among employees.

Employers are now required to subject their workers to regular health screening as supervised by each establishment’s mandatory Health Safety Officer, and immediately report any suspect or confirmed COVID-19 cases to the QC Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU).

“If an employee is showing symptoms of COVID-19 or come in close

contact with a COVID-19 positive patient, then they should be immediately brought to the attention of the CESU,” said Belmonte.

Laboratories, hospitals and disease reporting units are also mandated to immediately inform the CESU about COVID-19 positive patients for quick action and to avoid delays in contact tracing.

Sta. Ana Hospital gets Avigan

By Willie Casas STA. Ana Hospital, in Manila, has received 1,300 tablets of the Japanese anti-flu drug Avigan from the Department of Health (DOH).

Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso said the hospital was among the facilities which would conduct clinical trials using the antiflu drug for COVID-19 patients.

DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said on August 12 that clinical trials for the Japanese anti-flu drug Avigan would take place in four hospitals in Metro Manila over nine months to review its effectiveness as a potential treatment for COVID-19.

Vergeire said the hospitals identified to take part in the trials were the Philippine General Hospital, Sta. Ana Hospital, Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital, and Quirino Memorial Medical Center.

Some 100 patients were scheduled to take part in the trials which started Monday and would run for nine months.

Trials were set to commence after the Japanese embassy donated doses of the medication to the DOH last August 6 as part of its "emergency grant aid" to countries severely affected by the coronavirus.

The DOH earlier said P18 million had been allocated for the clinical trials.

The fund will be used for expenses related to the trial such as clinical monitoring, and for the indemnity of patients, in case there would be adverse events.

Clinical trials for the use of Avigan on coronavirus patients started around April, after receiving earlier positive results from China.

The Philippines first mentioned the country would receive a free supply of the anti-flu drug from the Japanese government last May.

VIB impounds stray animals in schools

THE Veterinary Inspection Board (VIB) Impounding Team has responded to the requests of several academic institutions and Barangays to conduct impounding activities in their respective areas, the Manila Public Information Office (MPIO) said on Wednesday.

A total 13 stray cats and 12 stray dogs from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, College of the Holy Spirit, Arquiza, Mendiola, Sta. Mesa and Tondo were transferred to the Manila City Pound this Tuesday, August 12.

According to VIB Director Nicanor Santos Jr., the department was dedicated to cover more areas and respond to the requests from the local executives to conduct more impounding operations.

"Although the pandemic limits our movement, we see to it to respond immediately to those who will need our services," he said.

Likewise, the director also appealed to the pet owners to remain responsible amid the coronavirus outbreak.

"Do not let your pets roam around the streets, especially during this crisis. There is a threat and it is important that we keep everyone safe, including animals," Santos said.

Willie Casas

Cagayan buys 4 heavy equipment

By Jessica Bacud TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan— Governor Manuel Mamba led the blessing of four heavy equipment for infrastructure projects in the province recently.

Mamba is confident this will further address a streamlined process aimed to boost Cagayan’s economic progress and will upgrade the services of the government to the residents.

Mamba said the continuous rehabilitation and construction of road networks would spur the local economy and help in the upliftment of the lives of the villagers.

Mamba said in an interview the amount used in the procurement of the four heavy equipment came from the P55 million savings—the first equipment were earlier distributed in March under his administration’s “No Baran-

gay/Town Left Behind Program.”

To date, there are 84 units of heavy equipment in the province utilized in the villages.

The equipment will be used for the reparation of the municipal and barangay roads and other projects of the province, he added.

From the data of the Cagayan Provincial Information Office, the brand new equipment were Straight Bulldozer (P8,168,000); Semi-U Bulldozer (P8,268,000); Backhoe Loader (P3,998,000); and 500L Fuel Tanker (P3,415,000).

Meanwhile, Engr. Stanley Tungcul of the Provincial Engineering OfficeMotorpool Division said, the amount of the was P23 million, citing its operation apart from FMRs (farm-to-market roads), road network and maintenance of the provincial roads.

NEW EQUIPMENT.

Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba (center inset, in red shirt) leads provincial officials and priests in blessing the four new units of heavy equipment that will be used to repair municipal and barangay roads and in other infrastructure projects of the province.

Jessica Bacud

Opinion EDITORIAL

W

The President has been particularly gung-ho about the Russia’s Sputnik-V vaccine, despite international doubts about its efficacy and even safety, given the speed with which it was developed and the testing shortcuts that seemed apparent. In fact, Russian authorities cleared the vaccine for limited use ahead of crucial phase 3 clinical trials.

None of this stopped the President from declaring that he, too, wanted to be vaccinated with Sputnik-V. The Palace subsequently said the government plans to buy 40 million vaccine doses either from Russia, China or from any other country that develops one, to vaccinate 20 million people initially.

A Palace spokesman said the Depart-

ment of Finance will allocate about $400 million or roughly P20 billion to buy the vaccines.

It is all well and good, of course, to be prepared to acquire and use the vaccine, once a safe and effective one that has been thoroughly tested becomes available. On the other hand, the national strategy to combat COVID-19 can’t be seen as biding time or treading water until such a vaccine is here.

Certainly, there is a lot more work to be done while we await a vaccine.

In this regard, the World Health Organization (WHO) offers some sound advice, saying countries should not simply wait for a coronavirus vaccine, but should focus on improving their COVID-19 response.

WHO Western Pacific Regional Director Dr. Takeshi Kasai suggests that countries should not overly rely on the development of a vaccine as there might not be enough supply during the

DUTY CALLS

FLORENCIO FIANZA

initial production of the approved drug due to its high demand.

"Unless all countries are protected, no country is safe... We must continue to improve our response and not just hope for the vaccine," he said in a recent press briefing.

Here, several policies hinge on the arrival of a vaccine, including the return of face-to-face classes in schools and the lifting of lockdown restrictions.

On the bright side, Kasai says the country has significantly improved its testing capacity and expanding health care services by increasing hospital beds and ICU capacity.

The WHO official did not seem alarmed that the Philippines has logged almost 170,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases—the highest in Southeast Asia.

But none of this is cause for self congratulation. In fact, Kasai says, the country needs to watch closely the rise in critical patients. He also expressed concern over the continuous rise in the positivity rate, or the ratio of positive test results to the total number of tests. The latest data show the Philippines is as 12.1 percent, much lower than the WHO-recommended benchmark of 5 percent.

Certainly, there is a lot more work to be done while we await a vaccine.

FROM the looks of it, it is not only smoke coming out of PhilHealth but fire—and a big one at that. The performances of those PhilHealth officials who testified in both the Senate and House hearings were so shabby that it ended hurting their credibility.

Take the case of the P10 billion released for pneumonia treatment.

When an official who is a medical doctor and in charge of medical policy was asked whether X- ray was part of the diagnosis, he could not give a definite answer. It is no wonder that the agency is losing so much money due to what can only be describe as gross incompetence.

What is also coming out from the hearings is the lack of regulations and standard operating procedures which gives the ExCom or Board a lot of prerogatives to decide on money issues – clearly a recipe for graft.

The CEO of PhilHealth once said that there is no fraud-free government health insurance system anywhere in the world. This is true. We often read of people being arrested in the United States for defrauding the government of millions of dollars for false and fraudulent medical insurance claims. In one case not too long ago, a couple of Filipino immigrants to the US who came back to hide in the country were arrested and charged for such offenses. And we are talking of a country that is highly computerized with a very sophisticated system borne by many years of experience.

Compare that with PhilHealth which is just starting to embrace computer technology We can then imagine how easy it is for corrupt public officials to defraud the system.

CEO Ricardo Morales seems to be putting all his marbles in computerization to be able to solve the problems of his organization. But computers can only do so much.

Who are needed in PhilHealth are people who can moderate their greed and not steal everything and bankrupt the organization. One difference in the cases that we read about concerning fraud in other government medical insurance systems is that those cases are largely committed outside of the system, in contrast to the current allegations against PhilHealth. In our state insurer, anomalies are being perpetrated by some kind of a mafia inside the organization ensconced in the top echelon of management.

This is the reason why the amount involved is mind-boggling. Worse, this has apparently been going on for a long time.

No wonder there is mention that

The BMW issue THE issue of that luxury vehicle sold

by Panay Electric Company to its president and chief executive officer shortly before its franchise renewal was trashed

by Congress is generating more questions as expected. This, despite the fact that PECO’s legal counsel has branded the issue as false and malicious.

More than that, the issue has put the external auditor of the former utility distributor in hot water after lawyers from Divina Law, counsel of PECO, claimed that the expenses for the purchase of the BMW car was never included in the capital expenditures of PECO but was charged as an administrative expense.

According to PECO’s lawyers, company records will show that said purchase was an administrative expense that was charged to PECO’s own account, contrary to reports published on the media. “The said expense never became part of any of the amounts billed to consumers,” in the same manner the power distributor treats all other administrative expenses.

“Therefore, it is an utter and malicious lie that the consumers were made to pay even a single centavo,” PECO’s lawyers wrote media entities in defense of their client, while at the same time confirming PECO did buy the BMW. They said however it was a second-hand vehicle, first \used by the government for the APEC Summit in 2015.

However, power consumers are saying otherwise.

Halley Alcarde, general manager of Western Visayas Transport Cooperative, and also an accountant by profession, underscored that “all administrative expenses are charged to consumers

NAKED THOUGHT CHARLIE V. MANALO 100 percent but a luxurious car can never be an administrative expense. It should be a capital expense.”

The lawyer’s justification just raised more issues.

What PECO lawyers are saying might be true with regard to how PECO treats its administrative expenses. Still, the distributor’s financial statement for 2015 shows the company only purchased P747,000 worth of transportation equipment. Alcarde said: “This cannot have included the P5 million BMW. And this strongly suggests that the initial information of recording the sale under distribution wires as reported by the media could be correct.”

In my previous column, citing sources, I wrote that sometime in 2015, PECO bought a BMW 520d sedan from Asian Carmaker Corporation. This class of BMW, according to sources, costs around P5 million.

Under PECO’s capital expenditure (CAPEX) for October 2011 to September 2015 which was approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), the company listed to purchase transportation equipment for five years starting in 2011 with P2,133,851 alloca-

Remembering Quezon OVERSIGHT

DANILO SUAREZ EVERY 19th of August, we remember and honor the life of our late President Manuel Quezon—an astute lawyer, a noble statesman, a bold leader, and a notable stalwart of Philippine independence.

He made great strides in pushing for our freedom and sovereignty while serving in the legislative and executive. His leadership was identified with social justice and promotion of Filipino values.

His time was of post-war. More than a century hence, Filipinos now live differently. Our struggles, nonetheless,

remain the same. Our freedom is still threatened, in one way or another, by this COVID-19 pandemic. Our independence is trampled upon by external influence. We continue to strive to uphold social justice and maintain peace and unity among our people.

Amid all these, I am reminded of President Quezon’s vision which he conveyed in 1938 in front of young students and teachers. He said, “I want our people to grow and be like the molave, strong and resilient, rising on the hillside, unafraid of the raging flood, the lightning or the storm, confident of its own strength.”

Have we, then, Filipinos, become like the molave?

Today, more than five months under quarantine, we see the many different faces of our people. We see the weari-

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tion; 2012 with P2,231,446; 2013 with P2,337,988; 2014 with P2,447,289; and 2015 with P2,560,476.

Clearly, the P5 million worth of the luxury car is not reflected in the aforementioned entries in the company’s financial statement.

Actually, the source said the said funding was supposed to be used for the purchase of five units of utility vehicles for the use of its officials but did not materialize after Luis Miguel Cacho, PECO’s President and Chief Executive Officer, allegedly decided to buy just one BMW for himself instead, equivalent to the price of the five utility vehicles, depriving those officials their vehicles intended for use in its official function to serve its customers efficiently.

For his part, a local auditor who requested anonymity also argued that “If this is true, then the external auditor of PECO will have a big problem that might endanger his license to practice the profession for allowing an obvious capital expenditure to be recorded as an administrative expense.”

“PECO is creating more problems here because assuming we will take their statement hook, line and sinker, then the external auditor will have a very big problem for clearly violating the generally accepted accounting standards,” the same auditor noted.

“If this is so, then the financial statement submitted by PECO is no longer reliable because a capital expenditure should not be part of administrative expense,” he added.

So, where did the lawyers get the idea the purchase of the car was charged to the company’s administrative expenses?

The issue just got more complicated.

ness of our health care workers who have been manning the frontlines since the first reported case of COVID-19 in the country. We see hopelessness in the eyes of employees who have lost their jobs and sources of income during the quarantine.

Business owners are filled with desperation as they try to resume their operations and boost their sales. Our leaders also are

Let us stand like the molave. faced with the daunting task of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and protecting the health of the people while sustaining the viability of our economy.

Despite the adversities, we cope and bounce back. To a degree, I can say that we have indeed become like the molave.

We find ways to overcome and resolve our

Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Anita F. Grefal Baldwin R. Felipe Edgar M. Valmorida

THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020

B1

Moderating greed

Sound advice

E watched the President on Monday night thank his “friends” Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping for offering COVID-19 vaccines to the Philippines once they are ready.

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

difficulties, and we help each other. Filipinos are unafraid to help the needy, despite being in need themselves. Thousands have been donating supplies of food and personal protective equipment to hospitals and other health institutions since the start of the community quarantine. People patronize and promote local businesses. We trust ourselves that we will soon overcome and prevail over our difficult situation. We adapt to the exigencies of time. We persevere, endure, and hold our ground.

President Quezon believed in the strength of the Filipino people. He believed that national strength could only be built by character, and that the strength of the people is the power of the nation.

The great statesman trusted that the values and character of the Filipinos will pave the way to the country’s success. This made him one of the most outstanding Filipino heroes of all time. His abiding faith in the Filipino people was his legacy, and it continues to inspire us up to this day and age.

Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Treasury Manager Head—Ad Solutions Circulation Manager

the actuarial life of PhilHealth might not last long.

One good outcome of the two congressional hearings currently going on is that it is showing that the problem within PhilHealth is not only systemic but also deeply rooted. This implies that even with major surgery, it probably cannot be saved anymore. Maybe the government should follow what the good book is saying: “That unless the grain of seed falls and dies, it will not grow.”

We should just abolish PhilHealth and create a new agency.

We should just abolish PhilHealth and organize a new agency. The President and CEO of PhilHealth has already gone on a two week medical leave followed by some senior level officials. Perhaps the whole Executive Committee should follow suit to pave the way for a reorganization. But almost all the senior officials appear to be resisting calls for their resignation. This is no doubt because of their firm belief that they are not guilty of all the corruption charges being labeled against them, coupled by their assertion that they themselves are the ones instituting reforms.

If they are indeed the good guys, why have they failed considering that they are at the top of the decision-making process of the organization?

They say the truth will set you free but the way many of the resource speakers answer the questions was just an exercise in obfuscation.

They were not straightforward, they kept changing their answers, they lied and were beating around the bush.

Nonetheless, four officials of PhilHealth have already been reported to have been charged for falsification of public documents. It is not really much but it is a start.

Hopefully, as the Department of Justice investigation moves forward, there will be more serious charges that will be filed.

The most common method used in defrauding the government in PhilHealth appear to be the connivance between officials and private health providers be it dialysis centers or hospitals and falsification of public documents. There may of course, be other ways that have not yet been made public. But things should become clearer as the congressional hearings progresses.

In the end, what we should worry about is if after all the investigations, those officials who will be identified as corrupt will not be fired.

Truly, our own strength empowers us as a nation. Our fight to be free from this disease may persist for a few more months.

Our spirit may falter, but President Quezon reminded us that shortcomings and weaknesses are pointed out to “awaken and apply these faculties so that our people should become what of right they should be: morally strong, virile, hard-working, refined, enterprising, persevering, public spirited.” With our continuous cooperation, awareness, and unabated compassion amid this pandemic, we will be able to defeat COVID-19. From this strength and power, we will rise and recover, and place ourselves again in the mold President Quezon envisioned for us. The modern molave tree will grow stronger, and more resilient, unafraid, and confident. It will become the tallest it can ever be. It will be proud of its leaves and the storms it has withstood.

In this difficult time, let us make President Quezon proud as we live by his words and stand like the molave.

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua

Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor Opinion Editor

Emil P. Jurado

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

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

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Aussie PM pushes for mandatory vaccine Biden nominated, S tasked to ‘make a nation whole’

MILWAUKEE—US Democrats nominated Joe Biden as their 2020 presidential candidate on Tuesday, offering the Washington veteran as a “man of courage” who would sweep away the “chaos” of four years under Donald Trump.

Viewers tuning in to Day 2 of the four-day Democratic National Convention saw presenters affirm Biden’s character and leadership while drawing a sharp contrast with the brash Republican scrambling to remain in the White House after November’s election.

In an unprecedented and elaborate roll call vote that took place entirely online due to the coronavirus pandemic, all 50 states and seven territories announced their vote tallies that cemented Biden’s role as the party flagbearer.

It was a diverse array of politicians, everyday Americans and even some of Biden’s erstwhile rivals who helped DEMS’ BET. US Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden (left) reacts next to wife Jill Biden after being formally nominated as the Democratic presidential candidate during the second day of the convention on a video feed at its hosting site in nominated the 77-year-old Biden.

“Well thank you very, very much, Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 18. AFP from the bottom of my heart,” a beaming Biden said in a live video link.

“It means the world to me and my family,” he added, reminding viewers he will deliver a formal acceptance speech JERUSALEM—Israeli warplanes ment released shortly before midnight balloons is terrorism just like any other,” on Thursday at the conclusion of the bombed the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip (2100 GMT).

Rivlin told them, according to a statement four-day jamboree. overnight after Palestinians fired a rocket In response, “fighter jets and (other) from his office.

The nomination was a formality as into southern Israel, the army said. aircraft struck additional Hamas military “Hamas should know that this is not a he had already won the majority of the The latest exchange came as Israel targets in the Gaza Strip. game. The time will come when they have more than 3,900 delegates back in June. warned Hamas it was risking “war” by “During the strike, a military compound to decide... If they want war, they will get The roll call came on Day 2 of the failing to stop fire balloons being launched belonging to one of the special arrays of the war,” said Rivlin, whose post is largely mostly virtual Democratic National across the border.

Hamas terror organization was struck,” the ceremonial.

Convention aimed at celebrating the Egyptian security officials shuttled English language statement added.

Israel and Hamas have fought three party’s candidate and welcoming indebetween the two sides in a bid to end the There were no reports from Gaza of wars since 2008. pendents and frustrated Republicans into flare-up which has seen more than a week casualties.

Despite a truce last year backed by their political movement to oust Trump of rocket and fire balloon attacks from Israeli President Reuven Rivlin issued Egypt, the United Nations and Qatar, from the White House.

Gaza and nightly Israeli reprisals. a warning to Hamas during a visit to fire- Hamas and Israel clash sporadically, with The proceedings included a series of “Earlier tonight, a rocket was fired and fighters in the border area who said they Palestinian incendiary balloons or rocket presentations by party leaders past and during the day, explosive and arson bal- were called out to 40 blazes caused by or mortar fire drawing retaliatory Israeli future who unleashed their own arguloons were launched from the Gaza Strip Palestinian arson balloons on Tuesday. strikes and sanctions against civilians in ments against the White House incuminto Israeli territory,” said a military state“Terrorism using incendiary kites and Gaza. AFP bent and urged voters to rally around Biden.

The lineup featured 95-year-old president Jimmy Carter, who served one term from 1977, and 1990s commanderin-chief Bill Clinton, who warned that the Trump White House is swirling with RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazilian health reg- worldwide, health regulator Anvisa said in Brazil has become a key testing ground chaos instead of the competence necesulators said Tuesday they had approved a statement. in the search for a vaccine against COVsary to address the nation’s crises.

Johnson & Johnson’s experimental vacIt said the test would be a randomized, ID-19, since the virus is still spreading fast “At a time like this, the Oval Office cine against the new coronavirus for the controlled, double-blind Phase 3 trial, or in the country. should be a command center. Instead, final stage of clinical trials, the fourth vac- large-scale testing on humans -- the last The South American nation has the it’s a storm center. There’s only chaos,” cine to receive widespread testing in the step before regulatory approval. second-highest number of infections and Clinton said. hard-hit country.

“Another vaccine study has been ap- deaths in the pandemic, after the United “Just one thing never changes -- his The US pharmaceutical company’s proved in Brazil, which is a very important States: nearly 3.5 million and 110,000, redetermination to deny responsibility and subsidiary Janssen will test the vaccine development,” Anvisa official Gustavo spectively. shift the blame,” Clinton said. “The buck on 7,000 volunteers across seven states Mendes said in a video on the regulator’s Brazil has also approved three other never stops there.” AFP in Brazil, part of a group of up to 60,000 website.

Phase 3 trials of vaccine candidates,

Israel bombs Gaza after warning Hamas it risks war

YDNEY―Australia’s leader called Wednesday for coronavirus immunisations to be mandatory, wading into ethical and safety debates raging around the world as the race to develop a vaccine gathers pace.

Almost 30 potential vaccines are currently being tested on humans across the globe in hope of ending a pandemic that has now killed more than 775,000 people and infected nearly 22 million, according to an AFP tally.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he wants all 25 million Australians to get the jab after the country secured access to a vaccine currently under development by AstraZeneca and Oxford University.

“There are always exemptions for any vaccine on medical grounds, but that should be the only basis,” he said.

Nations are scrambling to develop an immunisation or gain access to one of a handful of contenders in the final stages of clinical trials.

Upping the ante, Russia on August 11 said it had developed the world’s first vaccine offering “sustainable immunity”, and was in the final stage of human testing.

But the announcement was met with scepticism by the World Health Organization, which said it still needed a rigorous review, and scientists say it has been approved without large-scale trials.

Among the competitors, Brazilian health regulators on Tuesday gave the green light to the final stage of trials on a vaccine by Johnson & Johnson.

The US pharmaceutical firm will test its drug on 7,000 volunteers in Brazil, authorities said, part of a group of up to 60,000 worldwide.

South Africa, meanwhile, will launch clinical trials of a US-developed vaccine with 2,900 volunteers this week, the second such study in the African country worst hit by the disease. AFP

Brazil approves final tests of J&J experimental coronavirus vaccine

Republic of the Philippines Department of Health Center for Health Development IV-A CALABARZON BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE QMMC Compound, Project 4, Quezon City Tel.: 440-3551/440-3372

Mali coup leaders pledge new polls

INVITATION TO BID The DOH CENTER FOR HEALTH DEVELOPMENT IV-A CaLaBaRZon, QMMC Compound, Project 4, Quezon City, through the General Appropriations Act intends to apply the budget allocation for the herein indicated projects. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at Bid Opening.

Contract Reference No.

Facility Name and Location

ABC

Contract Duration

Cost of Bid Document

CP C01-2020

Design and Build for the Construction of 4-Storey Hospital Building for Southern Tagalog Regional Hospital

Southern Tagalog Regional Hospital, Bacoor City, Cavite

Php127,382,400.00

360 CD

50,000.00

CP C02-2020

Construction of Perimeter Fence, Guardhouse and Gate, Electrical Post and Installation and Land Development for Southern Tagalog Regional Hospital

Southern Tagalog Regional Hospital, Bacoor City, Cavite

Php21,452,600.00

240 CD

25,000.00

Project Description

GRAND TOTAL OF ABC:

developed by Oxford University in partnership with pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca, Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac Biotech, and US firm Pfizer in partnership with Germany’s BioNTech.

The Brazilian state of Parana also signed a deal last week to test and produce Russia’s “Sputnik V” vaccine, which controversially became the first in the world to receive regulatory approval. AFP

P148,835,000.00

CURTAIN PLAY. Children play beside the artwork “Rideau” (curtain) by

The activities are as follows: BAC Activities

Schedule,

1. Advertisement

August 20, 2020 (PhilGeps) ( Philippine Daily Inquirer) (Manila Standard); DOHCHD4A Website and premises

2. Issuance of Bid Documents

August 20, 2020 to September 2, 2020; 8:00AM BAC Secretariat - Tel. No. 8249-2000 loc. 4420, 4411

3. Pre-Bid Conference

September 2, 2020; 10:00AM, 3rd Flr. Conference Room or Kindly send your email address for the online Pre-Bidding Conference at bacsec.doh4a@gmail.com

4.Submission and Opening of Bids

September 16, 2020; 10:00AM, 3rd Flr. Conference Room or Kindly send your email address for the online Opening of Bids at bacsec.doh4a@gmail.com

French artist Stephane Thidet, a water fountain coming down the roof of the Graslin theatre in Nantes, western France, as part of the “Voyage a Nantes” art festival, which runs from August 8 to September 20. AFP

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES TARIFF COMMISSION

The prospective bidder must have an experience of having completed at least one (1) contract that is similar to the contract to be bid, and whose value, adjusted to current prices using the NSO consumer price indices, must be at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC to be bid.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “passed/failed” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (R.A.) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act.” The ITB and Checklist of requirements and complete set of the bidding documents may be purchased by eligible interested bidders from the address above and payment of the stated non-refundable fees.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Project Management Unit and BAC Secretariat, QMMC Compound, Project 4, Quezon City at the address provided during 8:00 am to 5:00 P.M. Bids must be delivered to the address and time herein stated accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the ITB. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. In case of a representative, he/she must be duly authorized thru an SPA, Board Certificate or Cooperative Resolution as the case may be, executed on that particular purpose. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The DOH Center for Health Development IV-A assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids.

DOH RO IV-A reserves the right to waive any minor defects of formality and to accept the proposal most advantageous to the agency.

Furthermore, DOH RO IV-A reserves the right to accept or reject any Bid, to annul the bidding process, to reject all Bids and may not award the contract without incurring any liability and make no assurance that a contract shall be entered into as a result of the bidding when the funds for the program/project activity has been withheld or reduced through no fault of the DOH at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected Bidder or Bidders.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Pursuant to Section 1608 of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), and in. relation to Section 1603(b) and 1603(h) of same, the Tariff Commission (Commission) will conduct a Public Hearing via Videoconferencing (PHV) on the petition filed by the Philippine Association of Meat Processors, Inc. (PAMPI) to maintain the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) rates of duty on Mechanically Deboned Meat of Chicken (AHTN 2017 subheading 0207.14.91) and Turkey (AHTN 2017 subheadings 0207.27.91A1B) at 5% [TCI (TM) No. MFN-2020Mechanically Deboned Meat of Chicken and Turkey].

The PHV will be held on 09 September 2020, at 10:00 a.m., using Microsoft Teams. Interested parties are required to register their participation on or before 02 September 2020 using the registration link posted on the Commission’s website http:// tariffcommission.gov.phl. Parties who intend to make presentations are also required to submit their presentation slides to the Commission on or before said date.

For inquiries and other details, Director Ma. Lourdes M. Saluta, Head of the Task Force, may be reached at the following email addresses: TC.Assist@mail. tariffcommission.gov.ph or mmsaluta@mail.tariffcommission.gov.ph.

Issued this 18th day of August 2020, at Quezon City, Metro Manila.

MARILOU P. MENDOZA Chairperson

(SGD.) NOEL G. PASION, MD, MPH, CESE Chairperson, Bids and Awards Committee (MS-AUGUST 20, 2020)

(MS-AUGUST 20, 2020)

BAMAKO—Mali’s president said Wednesday he had resigned to avoid “bloodshed” after he was detained in a military coup, whose leaders pledged new elections to resolve a spiralling political crisis in the fragile West African nation.

Ibrahim Boubacar Keita’s government had been beset by months of protests over economic stagnation, corruption and a brutal Islamist insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives.

Rebel soldiers took Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse into custody on Tuesday afternoon and drove the pair to a military base on the outskirts of Bamako, which they had seized that morning.

Jubilant crowds were already gathered in the capital to demand Keita’s resignation, and cheered the rebels as they made their way to the 75-year-old’s official residence.

Keita appeared calm as he appeared in a state television broadcast soon after midnight to declare the dissolution of the government and national assembly, and said he had no choice but to resign with immediate effect.

“If it pleased certain elements of our military to decide this should end with their intervention, do I really have a choice?” he said of the day’s events. “(I must) submit to it, because I don’t want any bloodshed.”

It was unclear whether Keita was still in custody at the Kati base, which in a twist of fate was also the site of the 2012 putsch that brought him to power.

The coup’s leaders appeared on television hours later to pledge a political transition and new elections within a “reasonable time”.

Malian Air Force deputy chief of staff Ismael Wague said he and his fellow officers had “decided to take responsibility in front of the people and of history”.

Mali’s neighbours warned against any unconstitutional transfer of power as the coup unfolded on Tuesday. AFP CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Business

Standard

TODAY

Gov’t should woo back Shell; SAP fund abuses THE Royal Dutch Shell Group is one of the many business casualties of COVID-19―it is quitting its Philippine oil refinery operations after nearly 60 years. Its decision to abandon the business is a black eye for the economy considering that the Shell Group is one prized investor.

But it is not too late for the Philippine government to propitiate Shell with enough incentives and keep the oil giant here, at least in other energy-related businesses. For starters, Shell is transforming its refinery in Tabangao, into “a world-class full import terminal to optimize asset portfolio and enhance cost and supply chain competitiveness.” The shift is understandable.

The price of imported petroleum products is now lower than or almost equal to the cost of refining crude oil.

Shell’s pessimistic outlook is in stark comparison to an upbeat mood in early 2008 when it weighed the possibility of expanding its Philippine refinery. Policy flip-flops torpedoed that plan.

Edgar Chua, then chairman of local unit Pilipinas Shell of Pilipinas Shell Corp. in 2008, virtually conceded that the refinery expansion was no-go. “The Pandacan depot has complicated matters,” Chua told reporters back then, adding any business uncertainty would have an impact on the company’s investment decisions.

The Supreme Court earlier ordered the relocation of the oil depot near Malacañan Palace after the city of Manila raised concerns about the safety of the facility, which is jointly operated by Pilipinas Shell, Petron Corp. and Chevron Texaco (formerly Caltex). The depot was supplying half of the country’s petroleum requirements.

Pilipinas Shell, thus, was back to square one―it can either expand its Batangas refinery or shut it down, depending on market conditions and the level of government support.

The pandemic made it easy to for Shell to abandon the Batangas oil refinery operations. The government’s focus on the construction of liquified natural gas storage and re-gasification terminals, however, gives Shell a logical business to pursue in the Philippines. It earlier developed the mid-sized Malampaya offshore gas project in Palawan province that supplies fuel to major power plants in Batangas.

Keeping Shell as a major foreign investor in the Philippines amid these trying conditions is a must. Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi should recognize the contribution of the Shell Group to the Philippine economy.

LGUs must account for SAP House Deputy Speaker and Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte Jr. has every reason to get mad over the scandalous distribution of state funds amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

And Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año should take heed of LRay’s call for an immediate and forceful action against abuses committed by certain local government executives in the distribution of over P200 billionworth of cash grants to coronavirus-hit poor families under President Rodrigo Duterte’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP).

The Department of the Interior and Local Government, for starters, should now move to impose preventive suspensions against erring officials and prosecute them. President Duterte himself is not happy with the way state funds are being disbursed. He has warned during his 5th State of the Nation Address about sending errant officials found guilty of fraud in the two-tranche distribution of SAP worth P205 billion to jail.

Año conceded that at least 50 village chiefs were facing preventive suspension over the alleged misuse of SAP funds. The police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group has logged 155 criminal complaints against barangay captains accused of SAP anomalies.

The failure of some LGUs to liquidate the first tranche of SAP grants, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, was among the reasons why the distribution of the second tranche had similarly faced delays. Mounting complaints of fraud in the distribution of the cash aid by some LGUs have marred the distribution of funds.

Some of the fund abuses are blatant. Villafuerte uncovered some during a hearing conducted in June by the House committee on good government and public accountability chaired by Rep. Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado. One such violation was allegedly committed by Iriga City Mayor Madelaine Alfelor.

Villafuerte, the main author in the House of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act as well as the House-approved Bayanihan to Recover as One bill (Bayanihan 2), cited during the committee hearing the handing out of P5,000 in SAP grants to employees of the University of Northeastern Philippines, which he claims is owned by the mayor’s family.

Deocyl Monte Maninang, one of UNEP’s grade school teachers, confirmed in a sworn affidavit that they received the cash grants personally from Mayor Alfelor. Her father-in-law, San Roque barangay kagawad Rolando Maninang, learned about it and told her to return the SAP grant because her husband had already received one.

Maninang’s case is just a few of the examples presented by Villafuerte during the hearing. The lawmaker described Alfelor’s mishandling of the SAP grants as “gross abuse.” The mayor denied allegations that SAP grants were distributed to UNEP employees despite the claims of the supposed beneficiaries.

State funds by their nature should be judiciously disbursed to the intended beneficiary as defined by the appropriations law. Their distribution should also be devoid of politics.

E-mail: rayenano@yahoo.com or extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks fall; BPI, Ayala retreat

T

HE stock market retreated Wednesday on profit taking in mixed trading, weighed down by poor earnings report of listed companies in the second quarter of the year.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index slumped 114.33 points, or 1.9 percent, to 6,042.12 on a value turnover P5.5 billion. Losers edged gainers, 95 to 92 with 42 issues unchanged.

Bank of the Philippine Islands, the third-biggest lender in terms of assets, fell 4.9 percent to P62.50, while parent Ayala Corp. declined 3.5 percent to P735.

GT Capital Holdings Inc. of the Ty Group dropped 4 percent to P407, while SM Prime Hold-

ings Corp. of the Sy Group shed 3.1 percent to P31.

The rest of Asian equity markets were mixed Wednesday, as another record on Wall Street and hopes for a possible breakthrough in deadlocked US stimulus talks were weighed by China-US tensions and fresh virus flare-ups.

Tokyo ended up 0.2 percent and Sydney added 0.7 percent while Mumbai, Seoul and Taipei were also higher.

But Hong Kong, which was

closed in the morning owing to a strong typhoon, dropped 0.8 percent and Shanghai shed more than one percent, while Singapore dropped 0.1 percent.

Wellington, Taipei and Jakarta saw sizeable losses.

Some upbeat US data helped propel the S&P 500 to its first record since February while the Nasdaq pushed to an all-time high thanks to a surge in demand for tech stocks that are benefiting from lockdowns.

While an eventual deal is expected, a key drag for equities has been the stalemate on Capitol Hill over a new economic rescue package, with Democrats’ $2-trillion proposal to double the size of that

ATRAM PHILIPPINE BALANCED FUND, INC.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING

put forward by Republicans—and both sides refusing to budge.

However, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi provided a ray of hope by saying her party could be willing to make cuts to its offer in order to seal a deal, then return to thrash out other issues after November’s elections.

“We’re willing to cut our bill in half to meet the needs right now,” she said. “We’ll take it up again in January.”

Bloomberg News reported that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Pelosi’s decision to remove $25 billion in funding for the Postal Service was an opening for talks. With AFP

ATRAM ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

Unit 10A, 5th Ave. cor. 26th Street, E-Square, Crescent Park West, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City Tel. No. 8814-7800; Fax No. 8814-7820

Unit 10A, 5th Ave. cor. 26th Street, E-Square, Crescent Park West, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City Tel. No. 8814-7800; Fax No. 8814-7820

NOTICE OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual meeting of the stockholders of A ATRAM PHILIPPINE BALANCED FUND, INC. (the “Company”) will be held online on September 28, 2020, Monday, at 4:00 p.m. with the proceedings livestreamed via Zoom.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual meeting of the stockholders of ATRAM ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. (the “Company”) will be held online on September 28, 2020, Monday, at 2:00 p.m. with the proceedings livestreamed via Zoom.

The Agenda of the Meeting is as follows:

The Agenda of the Meeting is as follows:

1.

2.

3.

Call to Order Certification of Notice and Quorum Approval of the Minutes of the Annual Shareholders Meeting held on June 27, 2019 4. Management Report 5. Presentation of the Audited Financial Statements as of December 31, 2019 6. Ratification of all acts and resolutions of the Board of Directors and Management from the date of the last annual stockholders’ meeting until the date of this meeting 7. Approval of use of remote communication during meetings 8. Amendment of the By-laws and Registration Statement to allow the use of remote communication during meetings 9. Election of Directors for the year 2020 10. Appointment of External Auditor for the year 2020 11. Other Matters 12. Adjournment

1.

2.

3.

Call to Order Certification of Notice and Quorum Approval of the Minutes of the Annual Shareholders Meeting held on June 27, 2019 4. Management Report 5. Presentation of the Audited Financial Statements as of December 31, 2019 6. Ratification of all acts and resolutions of the Board of Directors and Management from the date of the last annual stockholders’ meeting until the date of this meeting 7. Approval of use of remote communication during meetings 8. Amendment of the By-laws and Registration Statement to allow the use of remote communication during meetings 9. Election of Directors for the year 2020 10. Appointment of External Auditor for the year 2020 11. Other Matters 12. Adjournment

Only holders of issued stocks of record as at the close of business hours on August 4, 2020 and whose status as stockholders on that date has been satisfactorily established in accordance with the corporate records of the Stock and Transfer Agent and the Corporate Secretary of the Company, will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the scheduled stockholders’ meeting.

Only holders of issued stocks of record as at the close of business hours on August 4, 2020 and whose status as stockholders on that date has been satisfactorily established in accordance with the corporate records of the Stock and Transfer Agent and the Corporate Secretary of the Company, will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the scheduled stockholders’ meeting.

In order to safeguard the health and safety of the Company’s stockholders due to the COVID 19 disease and in compliance with the quarantine measures imposed by the National Government in the National Capital Region, the Company will dispense with the physical attendance of stockholders at the meeting and will allow attendance only by remote communication, and voting only in absentia or by appointing the Chairman of the meeting as their proxy.

In order to safeguard the health and safety of the Company’s stockholders due to the COVID 19 disease and in compliance with the quarantine measures imposed by the National Government in the National Capital Region, the Company will dispense with the physical attendance of stockholders at the meeting and will allow attendance only by remote communication, and voting only in absentia or by appointing the Chairman of the meeting as their proxy.

Stockholders who intend to participate in the meeting via remote communication and to exercise their vote in absentia must notify the Corporate Secretary by registering through the Company’s website for the 2020 annual meeting of the stockholders on or before September 18, 2020 via https://bit.ly/31rQfjU. All information submitted will be subject to verification and validation by the Corporate Secretary. Successful registrants will receive an e-mail with instructions on how to access an online web address which will allow them to join the meeting and cast votes in absentia or by proxy in favor of the Chairman of the meeting.

Stockholders who intend to participate in the meeting via remote communication and to exercise their vote in absentia must notify the Corporate Secretary by registering through the Company’s website for the 2020 annual meeting of the stockholders on or before September 18, 2020 via https://bit.ly/30IKjEd. All information submitted will be subject to verification and validation by the Corporate Secretary. Successful registrants will receive an e-mail with instructions on how to access an online web address which will allow them to join the meeting and cast votes in absentia or by proxy in favor of the Chairman of the meeting.

The procedures for participating in the meeting through remote communication and for casting their votes in absentia are set forth in the Information Statement.

The procedures for participating in the meeting through remote communication and for casting their votes in absentia are set forth in the Information Statement.

Makati City, Philippines, August 11, 2020.

Makati City, Philippines, August 11, 2020.

(MS-AUG. 19 & 20, 2020)

ATRAM PHILIPPINE EQUITY OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC.

(Sgd.) ATT A Y. Y MA. ALICIA G. PICAZO-SAN JUAN Corporate Secretary

(MS-AUG. 19 & 20, 2020)

(Sgd.) ATT A Y. Y MA. ALICIA G. PICAZO-SAN JUAN Corporate Secretary

ATRAM ASIAPLUS EQUITY FUND, INC.

ATRAM TOTAL RETURN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING

NOTICE OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING

Unit 10A, 5th Ave. cor. 26th Street, E-Square, Crescent Park West, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City Tel. No. 8814-7800; Fax No. 8814-7820

NOTICE OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING

B3

THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

8th Floor, 8 Rockwell Building, Hidalgo Drive Rockwell Center, Makati City, Metro Manila Tel. No. 8814-7800; Fax No. 8814-7820

8th Floor, 8 Rockwell Building, Hidalgo Drive Rockwell Center, Makati City, Metro Manila Tel. No. 8814-7800; Fax No. 8814-7820

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual meeting of the stockholders of ATRAM PHILIPPINE EQUITY OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. (the “Company”) will be held online on September 28, 2020, Monday, at 3:00 p.m. with the proceedings livestreamed via Zoom.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual meeting of the stockholders of ATRAM ASIAPLUS EQUITY FUND, INC. (the “Company”) will be held online on September 29, 2020, Tuesday, at 2:00 p.m. with the proceedings livestreamed via Zoom.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual meeting of the stockholders of ATRAM TOTAL RETURN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. (the “Company”) will be held online on September 29, 2020, Tuesday, at 3:00 p.m. with the proceedings livestreamed via Zoom.

The Agenda of the Meeting is as follows:

The Agenda of the Meeting is as follows:

The Agenda of the Meeting is as follows:

1.

2.

3.

Call to Order Certification of Notice and Quorum Approval of the Minutes of the Annual Shareholders Meeting held on June 27, 2019 4. Management Report 5. Presentation of the Audited Financial Statements as of December 31, 2019 6. Ratification of all acts and resolutions of the Board of Directors and Management from the date of the last annual stockholders’ meeting until the date of this meeting 7. Approval of use of remote communication during meetings 8. Amendment of the By-laws and Registration Statement to allow the use of remote communication during meetings 9. Election of Directors for the year 2020 10. Appointment of External Auditor for the year 2020 11. Other Matters 12. Adjournment

1.

2.

3.

Call to Order Certification of Notice and Quorum Approval of the Minutes of the Annual Shareholders Meeting held on June 27, 2019 4. Management Report 5. Presentation of the Audited Financial Statements as of December 31, 2019 6. Ratification of all acts and resolutions of the Board of Directors and Management from the date of the last annual stockholders’ meeting until the date of this meeting 7. Approval of use of remote communication during meetings 8. Amendment of the By-laws and Registration Statement to allow the use of remote communication during meetings 9. Election of Directors for the year 2020 10. Appointment of External Auditor for the year 2020 11. Other Matters 12. Adjournment

1.

2.

3.

Call to Order Certification of Notice and Quorum Approval of the Minutes of the Annual Shareholders Meeting held on June 27, 2019 4. Management Report 5. Presentation of the Audited Financial Statements as of December 31, 2019 6. Ratification of all acts and resolutions of the Board of Directors and Management from the date of the last annual stockholders’ meeting until the date of this meeting 7. Approval of use of remote communication during meetings 8. Amendment of the By-laws and Registration Statement to allow the use of remote communication during meetings 9. Election of Directors for the year 2020 10. Appointment of External Auditor for the year 2020 11. Other Matters 12. Adjournment

Only holders of issued stocks of record as at the close of business hours on August 4, 2020 and whose status as stockholders on that date has been satisfactorily established in accordance with the corporate records of the Stock and Transfer Agent and the Corporate Secretary of the Company, will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the scheduled stockholders’ meeting.

Only holders of issued stocks of record as at the close of business hours on August 4, 2020 and whose status as stockholders on that date has been satisfactorily established in accordance with the corporate records of the Stock and Transfer Agent and the Corporate Secretary of the Company, will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the scheduled stockholders’ meeting.

Only holders of issued stocks of record as at the close of business hours on August 4, 2020 and whose status as stockholders on that date has been satisfactorily established in accordance with the corporate records of the Stock and Transfer Agent and the Corporate Secretary of the Company, will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the scheduled stockholders’ meeting.

In order to safeguard the health and safety of the Company’s stockholders due to the COVID 19 disease and in compliance with the quarantine measures imposed by the National Government in the National Capital Region, the Company will dispense with the physical attendance of stockholders at the meeting and will allow attendance only by remote communication, and voting only in absentia or by appointing the Chairman of the meeting as their proxy.

In light of the current circumstances, and to ensure the safety and welfare of the Company’s stockholders, the Company will dispense with the physical attendance of stockholders at the meeting and will allow attendance only by remote communication, and voting only in absentia or by appointing the Chairman of the meeting as their proxy.

In light of the current circumstances, and to ensure the safety and welfare of the Company’s stockholders, the Company will dispense with the physical attendance of stockholders at the meeting and will allow attendance only by remote communication, and voting only in absentia or by appointing the Chairman of the meeting as their proxy.

Stockholders who intend to participate in the meeting via remote communication and to exercise their vote in absentia must notify the Corporate Secretary by registering through the Company’s website for the 2020 annual meeting of the stockholders on or before September 21, 2020 via https://bit.ly/3koXFgy. All information submitted will be subject to verification and validation by the Corporate Secretary. Successful registrants will receive an e-mail with instructions on how to access an online web address which will allow them to join the meeting and cast votes in absentia or by proxy in favor of the Chairman of the meeting.

Stockholders who intend to participate in the meeting via remote communication and to exercise their vote in absentia must notify the Corporate Secretary by registering through the Company’s website for the 2020 annual meeting of the stockholders on or before September 21, 2020 via https://bit.ly/3gI4M1h. All information submitted will be subject to verification and validation by the Corporate Secretary. Successful registrants will receive an e-mail with instructions on how to access an online web address which will allow them to join the meeting and cast votes in absentia or by proxy in favor of the Chairman of the meeting.

The procedures for participating in the meeting through remote communication and for casting their votes in absentia are set forth in the Information Statement.

The procedures for participating in the meeting through remote communication and for casting their votes in absentia are set forth in the Information Statement.

Makati City, Philippines, August 11, 2020.

Makati City, Philippines, August 11, 2020.

Stockholders who intend to participate in the meeting via remote communication and to exercise their vote in absentia must notify the Corporate Secretary by registering through the Company’s website for the 2020 annual meeting of the stockholders on or before September 18, 2020 via https://bit.ly/2EYSkw1. All information submitted will be subject to verification and validation by the Corporate Secretary. Successful registrants will receive an e-mail with instructions on how to access an online web address which will allow them to join the meeting and cast votes in absentia or by proxy in favor of the Chairman of the meeting.

The procedures for participating in the meeting through remote communication and for casting their votes in absentia are set forth in the Information Statement.

Makati City, Philippines, August 11, 2020.

(MS-AUG. 19 & 20, 2020)

(Sgd.) ATT A Y. Y MA. ALICIA G. PICAZO-SAN JUAN Corporate Secretary

(Sgd.) ATT A Y. Y MA. ALICIA G. PICAZO-SAN JUAN Corporate Secretary (MS-AUG. 19 & 20, 2020)

(Sgd.) ATT A Y. Y MA. ALICIA G. PICAZO-SAN JUAN Corporate Secretary (MS-AUG. 19 & 20, 2020)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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

B4

THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020

PSE INDEX CLOSING Wednesday, August 19, 2020 114.33 PTS. 6,042.12

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

1,360,063,368 84,266 5,465,711,826.64 92 95 42

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2020

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.6270

Japan

Yen

0.009486

0.4613

UK

Pound

1.324400

64.4016

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129034

6.2745

Switzerland

Franc

1.107174

53.8386

Canada

Dollar

0.759763

36.9450

Singapore

Dollar

0.732601

35.6242

Australia

Dollar

0.724300

35.2205

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652872

129.001

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266652

12.9665

Brunei

Dollar

0.729927

35.4942

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000067

0.0033

Thailand

Baht

0.032134

1.5626

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.2405

Euro

Euro

1.193600

58.0412

Korea

Won

0.000845

0.0411

China

Yuan

0.144463

7.0248

India

Rupee

0.013410

0.6521

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.239234

11.6332

New Zealand

Dollar

0.660100

32.0987

Taiwan

Dollar

0.034024

1.6545 Source: BSP

AC Energy building two solar plants in Central Luzon

By Alena Mae S. Flores AYALA-CONTROLLED AC Energy Philippines said Wednesday it will build two solar plants in Central Luzon with a combined capacity of 150 megawatts.

“While we are facing significant challenges amidst the current crisis, ACEN remains committed to investing in the country and drive renewables expansion,” ACEN president and chief executive Eric Francia said in a statement.

The new projects will bring ACEN’s total Philippine projects under construction to 480 MW, which include 330 MW of solar and 150 MW of peaking diesel plants.

The first project is a solar plant with up to 75-MW capacity in Arayat and Mexico, Pampanga, with a project cost of P3.3 billion. It is expected to start its power generation in the fourth quarter of 2021. ACEN teamed up with Citicore Renewable Energy Corp., with a 50-50 percent ownership in the project.

The second project, costing P2.9 billion, is another solar plant with up to 75 MW capacity in Palauig, Zambales. The project, fully owned by ACEN, is expected to reach completion by the first quarter of 2022.

It will be built near the 60-MW GigaSol Palauig solar plant which is under construction.

“We take the long view when investing, and we also recognize that investments are very much needed urgently to help reignite the economy and create jobs. This is the true meaning of sustainable investing,” Francia said.

ACEN aims to be the largest listed renewables platform in Southeast Asia, with the goal of reaching 5,000 MW of renewable capacity by 2025.

The company registered a P1.96billion net income in the first half, a significant turnaround from the P552million loss in the same period last year.

Business San Miguel to issue P20-b preferred shares in October

By Jenniffer B. Austria

D

IVERSIFIED conglomerate San Miguel Corp. disclosed a plan to raise up to P20 billion from the issuance of perpetual preferred shares in October.

San Miguel said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it filed an application with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the registration of 533.33 million Series 2 preferred shares to be issued over a period of three years.

It said it would issue 133.33 million preferred shares for the initial tranche, with an oversubscription of another 133.33 million preferred shares at an offerinbg price of P75 per share.

The company plans to use net proceeds from the offering to invest in core subsidiaries San Miguel Food & Beverage Inc., Petron Corp., SMC Global Power Holdings Corp., San Miguel Holdings Corp. and San Miguel Properties Inc.. and for general corporate purposes.

The conglomerate tentatively set the offering period on

Sept. 29 to Oct. 9, 2020 and the issue and listing date on Oct. 20, 2020.

San Miguel tapped BDO Capital & Investment Corp., BPI Capital Corp., China Bank Capital Corp., Philippine Commercial Capital Inc., PNB Capital and Investment Corp., RCBC Capital Corp. and SB Capital Investment Corp. as joint issue managers and underwriters for the offering.

San Miguel reported a P4-billion net loss in the first half, a turnaround from the P26.1-billion income in the same period last year, as the pandemic affected operations of core businesses.

First-half revenues declined 31 percent to P352.8 billion as consolidated operating income plunged 74 percent to P14.9 billion.

The conglomerate said signs of recovery emerged with the easing of quarantine restrictions and reopening of the economy.

“With the government’s easing of restrictions on transportation, the operation of business establishments, and consumption of alcoholic beverages, we’ve been recovering a lot of lost ground,” said San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang. “Recovery started around second half of May to June, when government gradually restarted our economy and kept it going,” Ang said.

BEST BANK.

BDO Unibank is awarded Best Bank in the Philippines while subsidiaries, BDO Private Bank and BDO Capital receive the Best Private Bank in the Philippines and Best Equity Capital Market House in the Philippines awards, respectively, during the annual Country Awards organized by FinanceAsia.

tions but the potential to expand beyond the existing 90 outlets it primarily services in Metro Manila,” the company said.

The Philippine Stock Exchange suspended the trading of Macay, pending submission of additional details on the transaction. Shares of Macay traded at P7.29 prior to the trading suspension, Macay said with the acquisition, its priority was to accelerate the growth of Kitchen City and capitalize on potential synergies with its beverage business under ARC Refreshments Corp. and the rest of the Yao Group of Companies.

ARC Refreshment holds an exclusive license from RC Cola USA to manufacture and distribute RC Cola in the Philippines.

The acquisition of Kitchen City is the group’s foray into the food ser-

vice business. “The acquisition will bring to fruition Macay’s vision to expand its business portfolio to other consumer products and services in the Philippines and in other Asian countries,” Macay said.

Kitchen City started out as canteen concessionaire in semiconductor plants, schools and BPO companies. It increased the number of stores in different companies in Metro Manila, Laguna and Cavite and ventured into catering business.

AlphaPrimus Advisors acted as financial advisor to Macay Holdings.

PwC Philippines’ Corporate Finance Team acted financial advisor to the seller.

Macay said last year it was scouting for merger and acquisition opportunities to expand its portfolio outside carbonated drinks.

Jenniffer B. Austria

AirAsia PH passengers decreased 99% in Q2

By Darwin G. Amojelar

CLARK UPDATES. Clark Development Corp. president and chief executive Noel Manankil (third from left), along with (from left) CDC assistant vice president for business enhancement department Noelle Mina Meneses, health and sanitation division manager Clemencita Dobles and officer-in-charge for legal affairs Anna Gayle Barin, discuss updates and developments in the Clark Freeport Zone with members of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce. About 520 Clark locators are now operational with 83,956 employees reporting to work.

Peso sustains rise, hits 48.57 a dollar

THE peso sustained its rise to close at a new 45-month high against the US dollar and inched closer to the 47-per-dollar boundary.

It settled at 48.575 against the greenback on Wednesday, up from 48.625 a dollar on the previous trading session. It was the local currency’s strongest finish since closing at 48.48 a dollar on Nov. 4, 2016.

Analysts said the strength of the peso was driven by the continued lack of demand for the greenback. Astro del Castillo, managing director of First Grade Finance Inc., a finance and investment company, said the peso was not the only currency in the Asian region that continued to exhibit strength against the US dollar.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said in a virtual briefing last week that the peso was the most appreciated currency in Asia because of the significant inflows of dollars in the country and the robust gross international reserves which reached $98 billion as of end-July 2020.

Julito G. Rada

PAFMI supports ban vs. Brazil meat products

THE Philippine Association of Feed Millers Inc. expressed support to the government ban on meat products from Brazil, following reports of coronavirus contamination of poultry products in the South American country.

PAFMI president Nikki Garcia, in a letter to Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, expressed gratitude to the government for immediately imposing the precautionary measure to protect Filipino consumers.

“At these unpredictable times, it is with the greatest reason to protect and safeguard our country’s food safety and ensuring clean and healthy foods on our tables,” she said.

“This, as well, protects Filipino agricultural producers and stakeholders from a serious biosecurity risk. PAFMI, as an association dedicated to producing high quality feeds, mainly relies on locally farmed and raised poultry and livestock for sustained business operations. A threat to these sectors is likewise a threat to us in the feed milling industry. We therefore wholly support this action from the government and we humbly suggest that this precaution be maintained until the threats of the pandemic are subdued,” Garcia said.

“May we, therefore, ask the IATF, along with other relevant and concerned agencies, to continuously implement the ban and impose stricter protocols and measures to prohibit the entry of contaminated meat and poultry products in the country. As always, we commit to support and actively take part in the government’s further actions on this matter,” she said.

Hyundai, Petron back gov’t free ride project

Macay acquires food concessionaire Kitchen City for P2b MACAY Holdings Inc., a holding company led by businessman Alfredo Yao, is taking control of Kitchen City, the country’s leading food concessionaire, for P2 billion.

Macay said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it signed an agreement to acquire 100 percent of Artemisplus Express Inc., which operates under the trade name Kitchen City, as part of its strategy to diversify into food space.

Kitchen City serves clients mainly from BPO, corporate, manufacturing and hospital segments. It also provides catering services and recently ventured into the sale of packed meals and frozen meals.

“The acquisition of Kitchen City provides Macay the opportunity to diversify into the food service space and acquiring not only a market leader in cafeteria opera-

IN BRIEF

AIR Asia Philippines said Wednesday the number of passengers it carried fell 99 percent in the second quarter from a year ago due to the travel restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Philippine unit of Southeast Asia’s largest budget airline said passenger volume reached only 29,111 in the April to June period, down from 2.22 million passengers it flew in the same period last year.

The airline hibernated its fleet from March 20 to June 4 because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Load factor fell by 36 percentage points to 55 percent from 91 percent.

“For the fourth quarter this year, AirAsia Philippines is targeting a recovery of domestic capacity up to 60 percent of preCovid-19 levels,” the company said.

Air Asia resumed limited domestic and international commercial flight

schedules after Metro Manila reverted to the general community quarantine.

The airline resumed flights between Cebu and Davao and Clark and Davao as well as from Manila to Davao, Tacloban, Bacolod, Caticlan, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Kalibo, Puerto Princesa and Iloilo.

Air Asia will also fly between Manila and Kuala Lumpur.

“The airline urges guests to check the latest travel restrictions and advice of respective local and national governments before travelling, as policies may change frequently,” Air Asia said AirAsia said that with travel plans being fluid during the pandemic, it offered enhanced flexibility options for guests to manage their flights.

Those with existing flight bookings departing from March 23 to Aug. 31 this year which were cancelled by the airline could choose between a credit account with a 2-year validity period or unlimited flight changes until Oct. 31, 2020.

HYUNDAI Asia Resources Inc., the official Philippine distributor of the Korean auto brand, and Petron Corp., the country’s largest oil company, signed a partnership agreement to support the Department of Transportation’s Libreng Sakay program.

“With Petron as our partner, expect our Ligtas Biyahe vehicles to be at optimal service for our front liners as we move towards a better normal. This cements our commitment to provide the riding public vehicles that are safe and convenient in these challenging times,” said HARI president and chief executive Maria Fe Perez-Agudo.

Libreng Sakay ensures continued mobility for health workers and frontliners, with 20 defined routes and designated drop-off and pick-up points for medical workers.

HARI turned over three Covid-ready vehicles in May to serve the DOTr program.

Hyundai developed and produced the lineup based on its best-selling H-100 Shuttle, HD36 Shuttle and modern jeepney HD50S

PH bans Aussie poultry products on bird flu outbreak

By Othel V. Campos THE Department of Agriculture said it banned the entry of poultry products from Australia following reports of an outbreak of H7N7 highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, in Lethbridge, Victoria.

The Australian Center for Disease Preparedness confirmed the outbreak based on the report of the Canberra-based Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environmen.

A memorandum order issued on Aug. 14 immediately enforced the ban to protect the local poultry industry.

Agriculture Secretary Willian Dar said the ban would cover the importation of domestic and wild birds and their products, including poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs and semen.

The Bureau of Animal Industry also suspended the processing of all applications and issuances of sanitary and phytosanitary clearance for the importation of the said commodities.

It said all incoming shipments of poultry with SPS import clearance issued on or before Aug. 6, 2020 would be allowed entry provided that frozen poultry meat were certified slaughtered 21 days prior to the start of the outbreak.

The BAI said all incoming shipments of recently poultry and poultry products slaughtered and processed after 21 days prior to outbreak would run the risk of confiscation at all major ports of entry.

Sports

Cone, Shaw share game knowledge at Republika G LEAGUE coach Brian Shaw agreed with Barangay Ginebra mentor Tim Cone that every game is all about preparation.

Shaw gave his nod to Cone’s knack for getting ready for each encounter in the Philippine Basketball Association during a discussion on Monday evening in National Basketball Association Republika Playoffs Party countdown.

“Coach said it, it’s about preparation. But one thing that I’d like to do is hammer home that it’s about us,” said Shaw, who is now handling NBA G League Team for Elite Prospects.

The 54-year-old Shaw, the former head coach of the Denver Nuggets, and an ex-assistant coach to the Los Angeles Lakers before he moved on the G League, listened to Cone talk about his coaching style during the program.

Shaw’s team of crack young cagers includes next season’s top NBA prospect Jalen Green and 7’2” Ateneo standout Kai Sotto.

For Shaw, molding his squad of talents into team players, is something that he is getting into.

“If we put up a game plan, and we execute it, it does not matter what they (the opposing team) do, as long as we do what we want to do,” explained Shaw.

Cone, speaking from the experience he gained from coaching numerous Philippine Basketball teams to a total of 22 titles since 1989, also believes that highly motivated players attract him the most when he goes on a recruitment binge.

“For me, it’s high motive. You have to have a high motive. All the skills are important, and you look at the skills. But for me, I gotta see a guy with high motivation and a desire to play hard,” said Cone.

Many players, according to Cone, can shoot the ball, and some won’t be able to in just three moves.

This is where he sees the difference when he goes to a rookie camp.

He looks for a player who can not only shoot, but can defend. And that is what attracts him the most in a player.

“It’s not about throwing shots every time. Because that throws me off as a coach,” added Cone.

Peter Atencio

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

C1

THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers and CJ McCollum of the Portland Trail Blazers battle for possession during the second half in Game 1 of Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. AFP

Lakers, Bucks stumble in NBA playoff openers L

OS ANGELES—A pair of eighth-seeded teams delivered stunning upsets in their playoff openers on Tuesday as the Portland Trail Blazers and Orlando Magic surprised the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks.

Damian Lillard scored 34 points as the Trail Blazers toppled the West’s number one seeded Lakers 100-93 and Nikola Vucevic tallied 35 points as the Magic defeated the East’s top seeded Bucks 122-110 at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

“Every time we have played since we have been here, it is like a playoff game,” said Lillard. “So that prepared us for a game like this.”

The last time both NBA top seeds lost their playoff openers was 2003 when the San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons stumbled out of the gate.

Game two is Thursday in Orlando, Florida.

Lillard drained several long threepointers including one from 36 feet with just over three minutes left to break a 8989 tie. Three-pointers are something he has been working on in practice.

“In the summer when I step away, I try

to find ways I can improve my game,” Lillard said.

“Playing further out was major part what I wanted to add to my game. It is starting to show. I am just reaping the benefits of the work I put in.”

CJ McCollum had 21 points and Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic scored 16 points and 15 rebounds for the Blazers, who made 13 of 34 three-pointers. Carmelo Anthony added 11 points and 10 rebounds.

New James mark Anthony Davis finished with 28 points and 11 boards, while LeBron James had 23 points, 17 rebounds and 16 assists for the Lakers, who struggled from beyond the arc making just five of 32 attempts.

Kyle Kuzma chipped in 14 points.

James is the first player in history to record a 20 point, 15 rebound and 15 assist triple double in the postseason.

“We had a lot of wide open looks. The first playoff game so there were a lot of

jitters. We have to calm down, take our time. The shots will be there all series,” said Lakers Kuzma.

Gary Trent nailed a clutch threepointer with 75 seconds left in the fourth to give the Blazers a 98-93 lead. Nurkic then sealed the win with a late dunk.

The Magic got off to a quick start to seize a double-digit lead then blunted a second-half rally by the Bucks, who boast the league’s top player Giannis Antetokounmpo.

‘We focus on ourselves’ Orlando came into the series as big underdogs against the NBA’s best allaround team.

“We don’t care what other people have to say,” Vucevic said. “We focus on ourselves and we came out and played a great game on both ends of the floor.”

Vucevic, of Montenegro, also had 14 rebounds and four assists. Terrence Ross finished with 18 points and six rebounds, while DJ Augustin added 11 points and 11 assists for Orlando, who shot 49 percent from the field and made 16 baskets from beyond the arc. “You have to really be ready for what they do,” Vucevic said. AFP

Casugay doubtful of Monaco appearance SAN Fernando, La Union-based national surfer Roger Casugay doubts if he can leave the country to receive his award.

With La Union now under modified enhanced community quarantine, the 26-year-old Casugay feels that it is unlikely for him to travel anywhere outside the province.

The awarding rites are set to be held tentatively on Oct. 27 in Monaco.

“Wala pa po akong planong lumabas ng bansa.

Kasi mahirap na. Baka hindi na ako makabalik,” said Casugay in an online interview.

For now, biking around his twon when not surfing and dabbling into the trading of bicycle parts are among the activities that Casugay is engaging.

This, he says, will do for now, while the surfing community waits for the situation in the province to return to normal.

Casugay got international recognition some eight months after saving a fellow competitor’s life in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

The International Committee on Fair Play recently voted to give him the Pierre de Coubertin World Fair Play Trophy.

The trophy has been awarded to numerous athletes since 1965 when they stop in the middle of their own performances to aid a fellow competitor, who is in trouble.

Casugay said his coaches in the national team are now in touch with authorities concerning his award.

Among those reaching out to the award-giving body are fellow surfers Luke Landrigan and Ian Saguan.

And they are doing it through the United Philippine Surf ing Association.

Peter Atencio

Roger Casugay

Pacio joins Team Lakay mountain biking craze TEAM Lakay is hands down the most prolific martial arts team in the Philippines. With well-known and established stars such as former ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard Folayang, and former ONE Bantamweight World Champion Kevin Belingon leading the pack, Team Lakay is the absolute elite in Asian martial arts.

But because of the effect the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the world, particularly the Philippines where movement has been greatly restricted, Team Lakay has had to resort to alternative methods of training to keep their physical fitness at the highest level.

Fortunately, the team is situated in one of the most breathtaking locales in the entire country. Baguio City is abundant with lush greenery, cool weather, and fresh mountain air.

Reigning ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio recently took up the Team Lakay pastime of mountain biking, and now a handful of their team members regularly hit the dirt roads to experience the fun and excitement of this alternative sport.

“I took up mountain biking because I saw kuya Edward [Kelly], kuya Geje [Eustaquio], and kuya Honorio [Banario] doing it. So I tried it way back then, but it took me two years to buy my own bike. I’ve only just now made it a regular thing.

Now we all go biking together, and it’s a lot of fun,” said Pacio.

“Mountain biking is a leisure activity, but it’s also good for cardio exercise.”

Pacio and the team typically integrate mountain biking into their training regimen, riding at least once a week during training camp, and two to three times a week when they don’t have upcoming bouts.

The area they usually ride in Baguio City is flush with natural beauty— hills, valleys, rivers, and flourishing wildlife.

For Pacio, it’s a chance not only to get in a great workout, but Turn to C2

POC welcomes dancesports, karate to fold

By Peter Atencio Dancesport Council of the Philippines is expected to be elevated from associate to regular.

KARATEDO and dancesports will soon be joining the Philippine Olympic Committee family.

Officials of the POC are reconsidering the standings of the two national sports associations following a recent change in leadership in karatedo and the introduction of break dancing in the Tokyo Olympics.

Karate Pilipinas, through its president Richard Lim, is set to take the place of the Philippine Karatedo Federation as the recognized regular member. This will

be done after Karate Pilipinas got the recognition of the international federation.

The PKF lost recognition from the POC after cases of malversation of funds were filed against its leaders back in 2018 and a new body eventually took over in handling the situation concerning the national team and its affair.

Break dancing will be one of the new events to be played in the Tokyo Olympics.

Because of this, the status of the Dancesport Council of the Philippines, under Becky Garcia, is expected to be elevated from

associate to regular.

Last month, not much changes took place in the POC’s constitution and bylaws when it was tackled by the executive board.

This was after two key amendments that were being proposed for inclusion were strongly opposed.

Board members could not come to an agreement on the scheme which sets an age limit of 70 for POC positions.

There’s no word yet on the issue requiring an NSA to be recognized by its International Federation first for it to become a part of the POC family.

C2

Sports

THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020

September opening for The Nationals CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Manila

StandardORIENTAL MINDORO ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE TODAY

(ORMECO, Inc.)

Brgy. Sta. Isabel, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro

INVITATION TO BID 1. ORIENTAL MINDORO ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (ORMECO, INC.), through its BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE (BAC), hereby intends to apply the sum of Nineteen Million Four Hundred Sixty One Thousand Seven Hundred Fifteen Pesos (Php 19,461,715.00), inclusive of all applicable taxes and fees, being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC), for the procurement, supply, and delivery of materials/supplies/equipment for the Technical Services Department; 2. ORMECO, INC. now calls for the submission of Letter of Intent by interested bidders thru email at ormeco.bac.official@gmail.com. The list of the ORMECO, INC. Eligibility Requirements may be viewed at www.ormecoinc.com, https://web.facebook.com/OrmecoOGMOfficial, and may be requested through email ormeco_coop@yahoo.com, including the numbers listed above. An amount of two hundred fifty pesos (Php 250.00) is required as Accreditation Fee; 3. ORMECO, INC. now invites suppliers for the following: ABC (INCLUSIVE OF VAT)

COST OF BID DOCUMENTS (NONREFUNDABLE)

I

Supply of Fuse Cutouts, Arresters (19 Sets) and Distribution Reconditioned Transformers 25 KVA DB – (9 Units) & 37.5 KVA DB - (10 Units)

Php 1,117,500.00

Php 5,000.00

II-A

1. Supply of Construction Materials for Line Distribution

Php 4,832,320.00

II-B

2. Cross arm steel Hot Dip Galvanized (10 ft – 50 pcs & 8 ft – 50 pcs), And fiber glass (8 ft - 50 pcs)

Php 449,000.00

LOT

ITEM DESCRIPTION

FUNDING SOURCE

Php 10,000.00

1. Kilowatt Hour Meters Single Phase, KWH meter 10(60)A; (3,000 pcs) KWH meter cover for bottom connected (anti-theft); (3,000 pcs) Electronic Kwh meter, Single Phase, CLASS 100; (30 pcs) III-A

Meter Base Socket, CL-100, 4 JAWS, 100 Amp.,600V; (30 pcs)

D

ESPITE the challenges it faces, The Nationals is looking to start its second season this September.

Originally slated to start in March this year, the league has been making the necessary adjustments as the coronavirus pandemic placed sports in the back seat.

Among those changes is the plan to shift the games online.

Esports is a non-contact sport to begin with, and moving the games online allows the league to run, while completely eliminating physical human contact.

League commissioner Ren Vitug said The Nationals is well aware of the country’s situation in the fight against COVID-19.

Still, he believes that competition and sports can bring joy and hope to the people—and out of all the sports, esports is one of the best equipped to do that while still maintaining the distancing protocols.

“We think that there is an opportunity to inspire,” Vitug said. “Not just in giving joy to the people, but also by using the platform that the teams and we have to spread awareness.”

“Of course, the league also generates jobs for a lot of players, their support staff, and in many other interfaces,” he added.

While online play seems synonymous

with esports, The Nationals is unique in that all of its tournament games last year were played in a studio setting.

That opened opportunities in production like live audiences, captured player reactions, and on-the-spot interviews— something that long esports events and leagues rarely have.

For the year, The Nationals plans to lineup the three games it featured last season, namely Tekken 7, Dota 2 and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. Pending approvals, the games will be played for a conference each in that order.

Because of the current health situation, the league plans to have a shortened season where it will only have the three conferences compared to the six it had from the last.

This condensed calendar is not any different from the approach, or at least to the plans of various sports leagues seeking to resume play this year.

The Nationals have been working closely

with the Games and Amusements Board to ensure that if and when the league resumes, it will not be at the expense of the health and safety of its stakeholders.

The recently signed Joint Administrative Order of GAB, the Philippine Sports Commission and the Department of Health is the primary benchmark on which the guidelines are being tailored from.

The Nationals is the country’s first franchise-based esports league. It inaugurated in the year 2019 featuring three games, opening opportunities for more than a hundred local professional athletes.

Aside from the regular salary of the active players, the league also incentivized the top performers by handing out more than P5,000,000 in cash prize in its first season.

The league’s players also helped secure medals for the Philippines in the esports competition of the 30th Southeast Asian Games for all the games that The Nationals featured.

NBA teams out of bubble can begin workouts

Php 3,546,000.00

Electronic Kwh meter, Single Phase, CLASS 200, Form 1S; (10 pcs) Meter Base Socket, Panel Type, CL-200, 4 JAWS, 200 Amp, 600V; (10 pcs) Kwh meter, 3 Phase, CLASS 20, FM48A, 4W, 60Hz, 120480V”) (10 pcs)

III-B

2. Duplex conductors # 6 (150,000 mtrs), # 4 – (1,000 mtrs), # 2 – (500 mtrs), Nut eye 5/8 conventional - (500 pcs), Service guy grip #6 6/1 All. Alum 2 strand – (2,000 pcs), Compression connector #2/0 ACSR YHD #150 – (3,000 pcs), Compression connector YPC2A8U #253– (30,000 pcs)

III-C

3. Bulb spiral 60 watts (CFL) – (50 pcs), photo switch – (50 pcs), Fuse Links 2 – 30 amp – (400 pcs each), Fuse Links 50 & 80 amp – (300 pcs each), Fuse Links 100 & 200 amp – (50 pcs each), Clamp hot line #2 - #4/0 ACSR – (75 pcs), Electrical tape (big) – (3,000 pcs), Rubberize tape – (50 pcs), Service clevis #6 – (2,000 pcs), Insulator spool 1 3/8 – (2,000 pcs), Text screw for concrete #7x1 – (50 gross), Text screw for steel #7x1 – (20 gross), Wood screw #7x1 – (350 gross)

Php 1,336,125.00

IV-A

1. Fabricated rewinding machine, Insulation Resistance tester 10KV, fabricated Oven (Supply of labor & materials)

Php 479,000.00

IV-B

2. Magnetic wires (#19, #18, #15, #14, #12)

Php 2,105,170.00

IV-C

3. Mineral Transformer Oil (PCB free) (8 drums)

Php 200,000.00

IV-D

4. Accessory Materials for In-house repair of damage transformers

Php 322,100.00

5% Reinvestment Fund

Php 10,000.00 Php 5,074,500.00

The Nationals commissioner Ren Vitug (Image from The Nationals) Php 5,000.00

Pacio...

From C1

4. Due to COVID-19, in compliance with the Community Quarantine (CQ), Online/Virtual Bidding Conferences will be conducted. Stable internet connection is required to all prospective bidders during the conferences. BAC shall not be liable in any unexpected disruption due to poor/unstable signal which may cause loss of connection and inability of Bidders to engross with the conferences.

For Additional info please be guided in the following: (please refer to Online Bidding procedures) a. Payment of bidding documents shall be deposited to BAC bank account (to be email by BAC secretariat). b. Prospective bidders must submit to the BAC via email the scanned copy of validated bank deposit slip / screenshot of successful electronic fund transfer as proof of payment. c. Scanned copy of Bidding Documents will be sent by the BAC secretariat upon validation that the payments are credited to the coop’s bank account. d. ID number or link of the Online/Virtual conference will be provided by BAC secretariat 5. Online Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the NEA Memorandum NO. 2017-019: Revised Procurement Guidelines and Simplified Bidding Procedures for Electric Cooperatives, IRR-RA 10531 (2017); All video conferences shall be recorded in CD/DVD for reference and other purposes.

6. The schedule of bidding activities is as follows: ACTIVITIES

SCHEDULE

Release of Invitation to Bid

20 August 2020 (Thursday) Available for viewing in

Submission of Letter of Intent thru email / Availability of Bidding Documents

21 - 27 August 2020 Office Hours, at ORMECO, INC. Office (ormeco.bac.official@gmail.com)

Online/Virtual Pre-Bid Conference

Deadline of Bid Submission (ormeco.bac.official@gmail.com), Opening and Evaluation of Bids (Online/Virtual)

28 August 2020 (Friday) at ORMECO, INC. Board Room

9:00 am for Lot I & II

28 August 2020 (Friday) at ORMECO, INC. Board Room

2:00 pm for Lot III & IV

11 September 2020 (Friday) at ORMECO, INC. Board Room

9:00 am for Lot I

11 September 2020 (Friday) at ORMECO, INC. Board Room

2:00 pm for Lot II

14 September 2020 (Monday) at ORMECO, INC. Board Room

9:00 am for Lot III

14 September 2020 (Monday) at ORMECO, INC. Board Room

2:00 pm for Lot IV

Post-Qualification

15 - 16 September 2020 (Tuesday and Wednesday)

Approval through Board Resolution and Issuance of Notice of Award

Board Meeting for the Month of September 2020

Delivery Schedule

To be announced during the Pre-Bid Conference

7. Only those who have bought the Bidding Documents shall be allowed to attend or participate during the Online/Virtual Pre-Bidding Conference, where their presence is MANDATORY; 8. All bids shall be opened and read in the presence of Bidders or their duly authorized representatives. All bids shall be accompanied by a scanned copy of validated bank deposit slip or screenshot of successful electronic fund transfer representing payment of bid bond equivalent to 2% of ABC. 9. The winning bidder shall issue Performance Security in the form of Cash, Cashier’s Check, Manager’s Check, issued by a Universal or Commercial Bank, equivalent to five percent (5%) of the ABC; and 10. ORMECO, INC. reserves the right to accept or reject any bids, declare failure of bidding and not to award the contract without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. ORMECO, INC. also has no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids.

Certified by: (SGD.) VICENTE V. FERRERA Chairperson Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) (MS-AUGUST 20, 2020)

Noted by: (SGD.) ATTY. NORBERTO M. MENDOZA Head Of Procuring Entity (HOPE)

also to absorb the unique energy of mother nature.

“Me, Danny [Kingad], Jeremy [Pacatiw], Jomar [Paac], kuya Geje, Edward, and Honorio all ride a lot. It’s one of the ways we bond. We ride together and experience the outdoors. It’s reenergizing and revitalizing, great for the mind and body,” said Pacio.

“What I love most about mountain biking is that you don’t really notice how physically tiring it is because you’re having so much fun.

It’s especially fun riding up mountains and roads. Baguio City has some of the best scenic locations in the Philippines. It’s so refreshing to just take in nature. We also have the best weather in the country.”

Pacio is staying ready and staying sharp.

Once the situation with Covid-19 begins to improve and restrictions are relaxed, ONE

THE BOTTOM LINE LITO CINCO AS MENTIONED in the past, my beloved sports is taking a serious beating because of the pandemic.

I am talking of local conditions as no organized sports events are allowed with all kinds of leagues suspending their respective activities, including basketball, amateur and professional, volleyball, football, softball, baseball and more. After all, a lot of sports depend on spectators to give it marketing value.

That is why I have to give it to the Department of Tourism for the support it is giving to a Cebu-based private group, the Selrahco Management and Consultancy Services, for the group’s effort to keep one aspect of sports alive.

You see in the past, I have not just limited my writing to sports as I also dabbled in travel and lifestyle, and as such, I have done a lot of travel stories and was getting invites from the Department of Tourism to cover such events, among others.

The DoT has identified sports tourism as a major segment in its overall plans and programs. Events that have been attracting both local and foreign visitors, either as athletes, officials, or just plain participants, who spend

Championship will look to host events in Manila once again. Pacio, who holds the ONE Strawweight World Title, knows he has to be at the top of his game constantly for when he gets the call to defend his belt.

Luckily, Pacio has mountain biking to keep him busy until he steps into the ONE Circle again. The Team Lakay group activity has produced some memorable moments for Pacio.

“One of my most memorable experiences mountain biking was when ONE Championship came to Baguio for a shoot. They wanted to capture us mountain biking, so we went to Bubok Bisal, which is an hour and a half away from here. We enjoyed it a lot,” Pacio recalled.

“There were a lot of uphill and downhill slopes. We started riding at 10 in the morning, and we finished around 4:30 in the afternoon, ending up along a river where we had a meal before we went home. It’s those moments that get etched into your memory. It was such an amazing experience.”

NEW YORK—The National Basketball Association and the National Basketball Players Association announced today that they have finalized an agreement on a program for each of the eight NBA teams that did not participate in the resumption of the 2019-20 season to engage in voluntary group workouts at their team facilities while residing in a campus-like environment under controlled conditions.

The agreement includes comprehensive health and safety protocols that will govern the program for the benefit of all participating players, coaches and other team staff.

Scheduled to take place Sept. 14 –Oct. 6, the program will be implemented in phases. The first phase (Sept. 14-20) will consist of the continuation of voluntary individual workouts at team facilities and the commencement of daily COVID-19 testing for all players and staff planning to participate in group workouts.

The second phase (Sept. 21 – Oct. 6) will consist of group training activities in market, which may include practices, skill or conditioning sessions and intrasquad scrimmages, and the continuation of daily COVID-19 testing. For this phase, each team will create its own campus-like environment in its home city. The “campus” will include the team’s facilities and private living accommodations for all participating players and team staff. To participate in group training activities, players and team staff must remain on the campus.

Player participation in individual and group workouts and training activities is voluntary. In addition to players under contract with the team, each of the eight teams may also include in the program up to five players who are not currently under an NBA contract, but who were under an NBA G League contract and assigned to the team’s NBA G League affiliate during the 2019-20 season.

Keeping sports tourism alive money while here in the country, have been recognized and supported by DoT in the past.

It is this segment that the said management group is trying to keep alive by reviving it with the opening of nominations for the 4th Philippine Sports Tourism Awards (PSTA) to recognize anew sports groups, private entities and government agencies based on events organized or hosted in 2019.

Previous PSTA awardee events and organizers include the Ironman70.3, Sunrise events of PBA team owner Fred Uytengsu, the Philippine Football Association, Ceres Football Club and the Philippine Inter-Island Sailing Federation, while government awardees have been Clark Development Corporation, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, the province of Cebu, the cities of Davao and Dumaguete and the municipality of Lubao, Pampanga.

Subic was named Destination of the Year in the first two editions of the PSTA, while Clark bagged the award the following year.

The Philippines’ successful hosting of the 30th SEA Games last year, which we won as runaway overall champions, was, for me, would be the hands down choice for the Sports Tourism Event, considering the number of participating countries and athletes, and I shudder to think what would have happened had this pandemic struck during the games.

The categories for nominations are the Sports Tourism Destination of the Year, either Clark or Subic, I guess because of the SEA Games, Sports Tourism Organizer, Sports Tourism Sports Association, Sports Tourism Destination Marketing, Sports Tourism Hotel, Sports Tourism Event Sponsorship, Sports Tourism Charity Event, Sports Tourism Airline, Sports Tour Operator, Adventure Event, Sports Venue, Sports MICE Event and Sports Media Coverage.

The PSTA encourages professionalism in the planning and management of sporting events to help promote tourism.

In fact, PSTA founder and president Charles Lim says the local sports community is encouraging both Clark and Subic to jumpstart the recovery of the sector as these places have relatively lower incidences of COVID-19 because of their strict health protocols.

And both Clark Development Corporation president Noel Manankil and SBMA chair Atty. Wikma Eisma are optimistic of being able to resume their sporting events as soon as allowed by the government.

Depending on the situation, the PSTA awarding is tentatively set in December and the organizers are hoping they can start receiving nominations for the different categories.

I believe I will be there at the awarding, too.

Sports has to come alive once more. For one, I really miss it.

Entertainment RIA ATAYDE gives new TV5 show a millennial twist

M

ORNING talk show Chika, Besh! Basta Everyday Super Happy premiered on Monday with hosts Pauline Luna, Pokwang, and Ria Atayde giving the audience a dose of “good vibes,” especially in these difficult times.

Ria, in particular, being the youngest in the group, wanted to bring something different to the table. With her lively and dynamic personality, she aims to share her insight on things, giving the show a millennial flavor.

“It’s so much fun working with and learning from them. They’re such joys to work with. They’re so open and they’re such sweet and thoughtful coworkers. On our first day, they both gave me food for me to take home,” Ria, who is still a Star Magic talent, said of her co-hosts.

While not everyone is given the opportunity to appear on TV these days, considering the situation we are currently in, the 28-year-old screen star feels fortunate when the project landed on her lap.

“I’m truly grateful to have been given this opportunity, especially amidst the pandemic. APT asked Star Magic for names of people they recommend as the third show. Star Magic submitted my name and thankfully, I was selected,” she recalled.

Ria believes that the show is timely and a breath of fresh air. While we are bombarded by negative news almost all the time, the show dwells on happy topics and endeavors to stay positive.

“The title was chosen by the management. At some point, it was called Rise and Shine but they ultimately decided to call it Chika, Besh. I guess it makes it more relatable and less polarizing that way too,” she revealed.

Here’s our exclusive Q and A with Ria:

Ria Atayde joins comedienne Pokwang and TV host Pauleen Luna in morning talk show ,'Chika, Besh!'

What kind of Ria will the audience see in this show?

People are used to seeing me act. I think just seeing me more candid and more myself.

How does it feel that you are appearing on a different channel?

How supportive is your mom?

Appearing on a different channel is interesting. My mom has been nothing but supportive—if anything, she’s one of the ones who truly encouraged me to take the job.

How will ‘Besh’ change the

Some writing gig

YUGEL LOSORATA THE world-renowned music media brand New Musical Express was launched in Asia yesterday (Aug. 19) under the official name NME.com/asia.

The site’s goal is to give a fresh take on the Southeast Asian music scene through pop culture news from Asia and around the world.

A core editorial team in Singapore manages a wide network of music journalists across Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines. It tapped two seasoned Filipino journalists—Edwin P. Sallan and Aldus Santos. I spoke with my friend Edwin whose work I look up to myself. He’s a pillar in Philippine music and pop-culture writing. He said that getting the gig was, “as cliched as it sounds, is a dream come true.”

He shared, “Did I dream of writing for NME and Rolling Stone and all the other music mags of the time aside from Jingle? Yes, of course. Did I think I was a good enough writer then? No, I still had a long way to go. But 30 years and tons of experience later? I think I have made enough strides to maybe hold my own now. Maybe.”

That’s very humble of him. He’s a kind of guy who would tell you that the sound of George Harrison’s guitar on an obscure Beatles track is similar to that heard on a Rolling Stones classic. And then when you go back to both songs,

morning habits of television viewers?

I believe the show is ready to spread good vibes and it’ll be something new for people to see considering we have so many segments including trending videos, features on Filipino brands, and travel features among others. It’s going to be fun and exciting and I can’t wait for everyone to join us.

Chika, Besh! airs weekdays as part of TV5’s morning programming block at 10:00 a.m., which is part of blocktime productions of APT Entertainment through its subsidiary Archangel Media.

Edwin Sallan, whose colorful music writing career spans three decades, is one of two seasoned Filipino journalists tapped to write for NME.com/asia.

you’d agree and realize you didn’t notice it all along.

Edwin was tasked to write about Island Records Philippines. So surreal for him was this pandemic break that he had to make sure the NME stands for New Musical Express. I have read quite a lot of music stuff myself and NME is simply an icon.

NME.com/asia is touted as a platform to celebrate homegrown talent, both established and emerging, across the region. New Music Monday features and guides on new music, gaming, film, and television are expected to be fun reads as every month, a chosen regional act will be put on spotlight.

This new site will follow the UK-born brand’s expansion in Australia last year which currently attracts over half a million unique monthly readers.

Edwin’s compatriot Aldus wrote for

Pulp and was the editor-in-chief of the online music portal Pinoytuner.

NME (New Musical Express) became a popular print magazine brand upon its establishment in 1952. Its expansion to Southeast Asia is described as a “vote of confidence in the strength and potential of the music market in this region.”

NME Asia editorial lead Iliyas Ong said, “Southeast Asia has a proud musical heritage and we’re thrilled to be able to tell their stories.”

Edwin recalled, “During my late teens and early 20s, NME was seldom available in National Book Store. So, from time to time I would go to the British Council with the hope that I could catch an existing copy and read it there.”

Journalists from other countries who had been given the gig include Daniel Peters (SG), Hidzir Junaini (SG), Adrian Yap (MY), and Chanun Poomsawai (TH).

nickie.standard@gmail.com THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020

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Hit television series 'Kadenang Ginto' (top) and blockbuster film 'Barcelona' are set to make waves on the international scene.

Kapamilya shows, films go international ABS-CBN’s hit series are set to entertain audiences in the region including Africa and some parts of Latin America beginning this year.

A total of 14 Kapamilya series will be shown inAfrica. These include Coco Martin starrer Brothers (FPJ’s Ang Probisnyano), which became the highest rating show on primetime for years, the phenomenal hit drama The Heiress (Kadenang Ginto) led by Dimples Romana and Beauty Gonzales, and The General’s Daughter topbilled by Angel Locsin.

Also making its way to Africa are Kapamilya shows La Luna Sangre starring the popular loveteam of Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, The Killer Bride headlined by Maja Salvador, Mea Culpa (Sino Ang May Sala) led

by Jodi Sta. Maria and Bela Padilla, currently airing series Love Thy Woman featuring Kim Chiu, Xian Lim, and Yam Concepcion, action drama Fists of Fate (Sandugo) with Aljur Abrenica and Ejay Falcon, A Soldier’s Heart with Gerald Anderson, A Mother’s Guilt (Hanggang Saan?) starring the mother-son tandem of Sylvia Sanchez and Arjo Atayde, Secrets of El Paraiso (Araw Gabi) headlined by Barbie Imperial and JM De Guzman, Two Hearts (Sana Dalawa ang Puso) with Jodi, Robin Padilla, and Richard Yap, and Since I Found You featuring Piolo Pascual and Arci Munoz.

In Latin America, the classic Kapamilya series Destined Hearts (Dahil May Isang Ikaw) starring Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa will make its debut in Ecuador. The series is the third ABS-CBN show to air in Ecuador, following Bridges of Love and The Promise (Pangako Sa’Yo).

ABS-CBN continues to delight

audiences in Asia as Indonesia will soon air the remake of Love Thy Woman and Myanmar currently enjoys teleseryes Los Bastardos, Fists of Fate (Sandugo), and Two Hearts (Sana Dalawa ang Puso).

In the Pacific Islands, Since I Found You and Two Hearts (Sana Dalawa ang Puso) will soon air this August and September, respectively.

Meanwhile, the hit ABS-CBN film Dear Other Self starring Jodi Sta. Maria, Xian Lim, and Joseph Marco will soon air in Brunei. This follows the successful showing of My Perfect You and Barcelona in Vietnam recently.

ABS-CBN has produced the highestrating shows in the Philippines and has been recognized as a reliable foreign content provider in the global market.

Its films and shows are available across other territories through ABS-CBN International Distribution.

ABS-CBN recently launched Kapamilya Channel on cable and satellite TV across the Philippines and Kapamilya Online Live onABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube and Facebook to broadcast and stream its programs following the denial of its legislative franchise for its free TV and radio operations last month. Its shows and films are also available on iWant and TFC streaming platforms.

The company continues to syndicate its content through various streaming services and operate other businesses that do not require a legislative franchise, such as international licensing and distribution, digital, and cable TV. ABS-CBN has been a premier source of high-quality Filipino programming in over 50 territories all over the world and has sold over 50,000 hours of content worldwide.

‘Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels’ benefits thousands nationwide AS THE country continues to cope with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, GMA Regional TV (RTV) remains committed to aid Kapuso in the regions through its “Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels”—with the first wave benefiting more than 2,000 families and the second phase set to begin this August.

Launched last May, “Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels” is a mobile version of GMA RTV’s “Kapuso Barangayan,” originally a community activity held in key barangays across the regions. As various provinces and cities have been placed under community quarantine, GMA RTV modified it to Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels to reach more communities and directly provide its residents essential items they urgently need.

For the first wave, the Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels focused on North Central Luzon; Central and Eastern Visayas; Western Visayas; and North, Central and Southern Mindanao.

In North Central Luzon, more than 400 Kapuso families from various barangays were given food and grocery packs by GMA Dagupan.

While the “Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels” has been temporarily discontinued in Cebu following the declaration of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in the province, GMA Central and Eastern Visayas was able to provide fresh veggies and poultry to more than 200 families during the first wave of the activity.

In Western Visayas, some 940 families received breakfast food packs via the various "Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels" held in different barangays.

GMA RTV also activated its teams in North, Central, and Southern Mindanao to reach more than 400 families who received grocery packs.

To further instill hope in the hearts of the beneficiaries, each pack of "Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels" items included notes with messages of encouragement from the anchors and hosts of GMA Regional TV’s newscasts and morning programs: 'Balitang Amianan,' 'Balitang

Bisdak,' 'One Western Visayas,' 'One Mindanao,' 'GMA Regional Weekend News,' 'GMA Regional TV Live!,' and 'At Home with GMA Regional TV.' “Through the ‘Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels,’ GMA Regional TV aims to not just provide essential items but instill hope as well to all our Kapuso in the regions,” said GMA Regional TV and Synergy Vice President and Head Oliver Amoroso.

“We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to all our partners across the Philippines.

We also commend our regional events teams whose dedication allowed us to realize every Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels activity. We will roll out the second wave of Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels with the hope that we can help more communities and families in these very challenging times,” Amoroso added.

“Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels” is scheduled to begin this month with the aim of reaching more communities with around 4,200 family-beneficiaries. Ensuring the safety and welfare of everyone involved in “Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels,” GMA RTV continues to strictly observe all preventive measures in conducting its outreach project in coordination with the LGUs, government agencies and other partners.

GMA RTV also activated its teams in North, Central and Southern Mindanao to provide families with grocery packs.

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

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020

D

AILY routines have taken a 180-degree turn since the pandemic started.

Being stuck at home has made people do things they don’t normally do.

“I have four kids—four boys. Imagine them homeschooling. That’s crazy,” shared private dining chef and restaurateur Happy Ongpauco Tiu. With her days now busier, with mommy duties on top of her business responsibilities, Ongpauco Tiu makes sure her mornings are boosted with a cup of coffee.

“In the morning, I need my coffee right

Enjoying

Life HOUSEHOLD

COFFEE at home

CAFÉ-STYLE COFFEE. Nespresso Philippines encourages homebound coffee lovers to be their own barista at home using the brand’s specially made coffee blends and smart machines.

Radio DJ Chico Garcia cools down after a day of working from home with a cup of iced coffee made with Freddo Intenso and New Citiz.

away just to wake me up,” she said.

The pandemic and ensuing quarantine may be chaotic, but Bea Soriano Dee chooses to look at things from a different perspective.

“I get to really enjoy my day. The pandemic has kind of slowed down our way of living,” said Dee. “I get to enjoy the morning, sit down in a quiet place, and focus on what my day would be like.”

The Sunnies Studio co-founder has also found more time to curl with a cup of coffee and a good book.

Meanwhile, for entrepreneur and father Nico Bolzico, more time at home means more time to enjoy things he love—aside from taking care of his family, it’s making a good cup of coffee.

“Basically, it changed a lot,” he said, adding, “I get a sort of peace,” when inserting coffee capsules into his Nespresso machine—which he named Re-

becca—and hearing the sound it creates while looking after his daughter Thylane.

Bolzico, Ongpauco Tiu, and Dee have been enjoying being their own barista at home, made possible with the help of Nespresso.

Hosted by Chico Garcia, Nespresso Philippines recently held its first-ever At Home Virtual Café to launch its “Be Your Own Barista” campaign, which aims to inspire coffee lovers to indulge in café-quality coffee at home.

The company highlights its products that let anyone, even with no background or knowledge on making a cup of coffee, enjoy what they used to enjoy at coffeehouses before the pandemic.

“Nespresso aims to delight our customers by providing premium coffee experiences and a drop of extraordinary everyday, like today,” said Patrick Pesengco, chairman and managing director of Novateur Coffee Concepts, Inc.

During the event, the guests showcased their personalized coffee concoctions made using Nespresso’s coffee capsules and machines.

Bolzico crafted his frothy cappuccino made with Aeroccino 3, Ispirazione Venezia, and New Citiz.

For milk-based coffee lovers, Dee whipped up a macchiato with Ispirazione Arpeggio Firenze and a touch of cinnamon using the Nespresso Lattissima Touch.

For someone who wants to cool down, Garcia’s iced coffee with the intensely delicious limited edition Freddo Intenso and New Citiz is a great option.

For a richer and happier coffee experience, Ongpauco Tiu combined Vanilla Éclair and Caramel Creme Brulee in her Nespresso Pixie, and added sugar, chocolate powder, and whipped cream.

Nespresso has an ongoing sale of its products this August. Until August 20, Nespresso machines available at nespresso.ph, Nespresso boutique at Power Plant Mall, and pop-up stores around the metro are discounted up to 30 percent off.

Customers can also enjoy 0 percent installment up to six months via credit card and get a complimentary Aeroccino 3 with every purchase of 30 Nespresso coffee sleeves during the 3-Day Ultimate Weekend sale on August 28-30. Those who will purchase a Nespresso machine along with coffee sleeves will also get a chance to bring home premium gifts.

John Kenneth Go

Buy, sell, rent fast in one portal AN ONLINE portal that streamlines property transactions, from buying to selling, is coming to the Philippines.

Singapore’s leading property tech startup Ohmyhome is designed to serve customers in the entire buying and selling process by providing a unique hybrid model of a DIY (do-it-yourself) platform and agency services that help ease pain points for buying, selling, and renting.

“We are very different from property classified platforms,” said co-founder and chief executive Rhonda Wong.

“Our focus is not on advertising but on helping customers transact. We take care of the entire transaction process—from search and deal-closing all the way through legal documentation and mortgage advisory—making it simple for both first time property buyers to seasoned investors to transact real estate.”

According to Ohmyhome, this model has been proven highly successful in Singapore and Malaysia, where it provides an estimate of 2,000 housing transactions per month.

Singapore proptech startup Ohmyhome provides an online platform that helps ease pain points in buying, selling, and renting real estate properties.

Real estate experts and Ohmyhome co-founders Race and Rhonda Wong.

The platform has also garnered 300,000 application downloads, over 175,000 active users, and 15,000 unique listings of real estate properties to date.

Launched in Singapore in 2016, Ohmyhome is anchored on three primary advantages—simple, fast, and value for money.

“First, Ohmyhome is simpler. Clients can choose whether to do it themselves through the DIY option or engage an experienced in-house agent who can evaluate their needs.

Second, it is faster. Consumers can search through unique listings and access services that can get the job done three times faster than market norms in Singapore and Malaysia.

“And finally, it gives the clients their money’s worth, with efficient and reliable housing services.”

The option to DIY is offered for free. Home buyers and sellers will be able to manage their transactions on their own and connect directly with interested sellers and buyers.

Customers who don’t DIY can opt for full agent services, said Wong. The full service includes market research on estimated valuation, powerful database matching of potential buyers, hosting property viewings, documentation, and more.

Nico Bolzico named his Nespresso machine Rebecca.

Pandemic parenting: Mom adjusts kids’ routines to ‘new normal’ AS EVERYONE grapples with the ever-changing situation brought by the pandemic, parents with young children have had to adjust daily routines at home.

Food blogger and mom of two Peachy Adarne admits raising active kids during a crisis is difficult as she has to ensure their environment is safe and healthy.

Since they can no longer go out and try exciting outdoor activities, she lets her kids have fun using what’s available indoors.

“The kids are more inclined to play with gadgets because we are all encouraged to stay at home. So, we watch movies, dance, and play games in our living room together.”

Mommy Peachy also knows the importance of getting the little ones moving and learning new skills. Hence, she shares her passion for food with her children by cooking and baking in their kitchen. She also keeps them excited and exercises their creativity through arts and crafts activities.

But if there is one thing that worries her as a mom, it is the health of her children in these unsafe and uncertain times.

“I want my kids to experience the freedom of going out and traveling wherever they want. But right now, it is my wish and priority that they grow up strong, healthy, bibo (active), and happy,” she shares.

Mommy Peachy makes sure to strengthen her growing kids’ immune system.

“A strong immunity is very important especially today where there are

various diseases. You don’t want your kids to be prone to getting sick easily because it hampers their growth. It’s also heartbreaking for moms like me to see their children not feeling their best, so we do everything to make sure they are healthy,” she says.

Among the healthy habits that Mommy Peachy practices with her kids is giving them nutrient-packed meals every day. She prepares a balanced meal of grow, glow, and go foods.

Her kids share her love of food, among their homemade meal favorites are fried chicken, ginisang sayote, and sinigang na liempo with rice, as well as apple, orange, and banana.

She also supplements her kids’ meals with a glass of Vitaminized Lactum 3+ which has essential immunonutrients like vitamins A, C, and E, zinc, and selenium that helps build a strong foundation for kids’ immunity. It also contains other important nutrients such as DHA, iron, iodine, calcium, and vitamin D which help provide nourishment for brain and bone development.

“Whatever vitamins and minerals are lacking in their meals, I believe that Vitaminized Lactum 3+ helps makes up for it,” says Mommy Peachy, adding, “I’ve been giving Vitaminized Lactum 3+ to Twinkle since the quarantine started. I think it helped her because she is more energetic, curious, and she wants to do a lot of things at home!”

As families are preparing for the new homeschooling setup, Mommy Peachy offers, “Keep everything interesting for the kids. Make the activities fun and colorful so they will be excited to do it.”

Mommy Peachy Adarne helps nurture her daughter Twinkle’s creativity by doing arts and crafts activities together.