Manila Standard - 2020 August 21 - Friday

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By Willie Casas

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N ESTIMATED 3 million COVID-19 cases could have gone unreported from April to June, an economics lecturer from the Ateneo de Manila University said Thursday, but the Department of Health (DOH) quickly disputed this figure.

The estimate from the Ateneo emerged even as the DOH reported 4,339 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the country’s total to 178,022 cases, and marking the third straight day in which more than 4,000 new cases were reported.

In an interview on GMA Network’s Unang Hirit, Jan Frederick Cruz of the Ateneo Department of Economics said the estimate of 3 million unreported cases was based on current data on COVID-19.

Cruz said the methodology used was based on a previous

Ateneo: 3m virus cases unreported

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Health Usec disputes study: Not appropriate for PH

REPURPOSED. Container vans are repurposed at the

Navotas Centennial Park and transformed into instant quarantine facilities at the Navotas Centennial Park with the Department of Public Works and Highways egging on workers to rush completion of the project on August 20, 2020 amid the rising cases of virus infection in Navotas City. Norman Cruz

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 168 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM AUGUST 20)

178,022

4,339 NEW

PhilHealth IT system can’t detect fraud claims, task force says

By Rey E. Requejo, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Willie Casas

A GOVERNMENT task force investigating corruption in the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) said Thursday that the state-owned insurance agency’s information technol-

ogy systems are unable to detect fraudulent claims.

Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete on Thursday said PhilHealth’s Senior Vice President Jovita Aragona admitted that parts of the agency’s validation processes are still done manually.

Aragona also said the relevant offices failed to specify their required internal

control systems when the IT systems were being developed, Perete added.

PhilHealth chief Ricardo Morales earlier testified before the Senate that an improved IT system would help address corruption in the state-owned corporation.

He revealed that the insurer is investigating about 20,000 fraudulent claims.

The Task Force PhilHealth, which

was formed to investigate allegations of corruption in the agency, held its second hearing on Tuesday.

The task force has agreed to set up teams to thoroughly investigate the IT and legal sectors of PhilHealth, Perete said.

Perete also said Aragona called for an investigation on PhilHealth’s National

TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

61,025

2,883

88

LOCAL ROUNDUP

114,114

727

• Senate ratifies ‘Bayanihan 2’

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

ACTIVE

NEW

NEW

Manila shuts four traders for mislabeling

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz THE Senate on Thursday ratified the reconciled version of the proposed P140 billion Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or the Bayanihan 2 bill, Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, chair of the senate Finance committee, said.

“The total is still (P140 billion) with allotments for various programs to help our affected countrymen and sectors and an additional (P25 billion) standby appropriations,” he added.

He said the Bayanihan 2 bill, seen to replace the expired Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, laid out the country’s COVID-19 response and recovery plan and allocated funds to help

By Willie Casas, Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz MANILA Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso on Thursday ordered the closure of several establishments at the Divisoria Mall for selling beauty products which listed its Manila address as a “province” of China.

Manila Business and Licensing Office head Levi Facundo said the establish-

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PROVINCE OF CHINA?

On orders of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, members of the Bureau of Permits padlock one of four business establishments in Divisoria district that has described Manila as the “Province of China” on its product packaging.

Norman Cruz

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Deployment ban on health workers stays, Palace insists FILIPINO health workers are still prohibited from working abroad — except for those with employment contracts as of March 8, 2020 — Malacañang said Thursday in light of the calls from medical workers seeking jobs overseas.

The inter-agency task force on the pandemic response has limited the deployment of health workers abroad to those with em-

ployment contracts as of March 8, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.

He said the health workers who are in the Philippines only for a vacation were also allowed to return to their jobs abroad.

“Health professionals with OEC [overseas employment certificates] issued by POEA and have verified employment contracts as of March 8, 2020, can leave the country,”

Roque said.

Roque on Thursday also appealed to the nurses’ sense of nationalism to stay while the country faced a public health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He made his appeal after Filipino Nurses United sought the lifting of the deployment ban as many of them remained unemployed.

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WORLD ROUNDUP

• Aussie PM: Immunize 25m people

BACK TO NEW NORMAL. Motorists experience bumper-to-bumper morning traffic along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on Thursday (August 20, 2020). Metro Manila and nearby provinces have been placed anew under a less strict general community quarantine from August 19 to August 31. Joey Razon

AUSTRALIA’S leader called for coronavirus immunizations 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, Next page

PRICE HIKE. A man catches native chicken which he sells for P300 pesos per kilo (live weight ) at a public market in Dasmariñas, Cavite on Thursday, August 20, 2020.Poultry prices have gone up in wake of the import ban the Agriculture department has imposed on chicken from Brazil and Australia which are suspected of virus infection. Pond News Asia

Google services disrupted POPULAR Google services including Gmail and Drive were down for many users around the world on Thursday, with the US technology Next page

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‘Slain soldier not into drugs’

By Vito Barcelo

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HE allegations that Cpl. Abdal Asula, one of the four Army men killed by police officers in Jolo on June 29, was into illegal drugs were meant to draw attention away from the senseless killings, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said on Thursday.

“That is obviously a desperate attempt by the assailants to besmirch the reputation of Corporal Asula to justify or to divert attention away from the senseless killing of the soldiers,” Armed Forces spokesman Major Gen. Edgard Arevalo said in a statement.

He made his statement even as Malacañang on Thursday assured the Armed Forces that the four soldiers slain in the shooting incident in Jolo two

months ago would receive justice.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque gave his assurance to Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay and asked the AFP chief to let the court decide on the case.

“The President has made his promise that justice will be served in this case,” Roque said.

Arevalo issued his statement after Brig. Gen. Manuel Abu, head of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro

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Capital Region Office, which she claimed was the unit that entered into an allegedly anomalous procurement of network switches.

Corporate Secretary Jonathan Mangaoang and Acting Senior Manager of PhilHealth’s Fact-Finding Investigation and Enforcement Division (FFIED) Ernesto Barbado also testified at the task force’s hearing.

Perete said Barbado asked the task force to look into fake claims being investigated by the FFIED. Mangaoang explained that the purpose of the controversial interim reimbursement mechanism (IRM) was to ensure that hospitals and medical facilities remained financially viable in case of emergencies and fortuitous events.

Mangaoang also said that the PhilHealth’s board of directors has approved a recommendation to grant amnesty to hospitals that belatedly filed claims for reimbursements from 2011 onwards.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra formed Task Force PhilHealth in response to an order from President Rodrigo Duterte. It is composed of the Office of the Ombudsman, the Commission on Audit, the Civil Service Commission, and the Office of the President, with the National Bureau of Investigation and the Anti-Money Laundering Council for support.

Meanwhile, Senator Richard Gordon called for the removal of all of the agency’s regional directors to address widespread corruption.

Senator Grace Poe, on the other hand, said there was “gross incompetence” in the agency’s leadership.

Speaking in an interview over ABSCBN News Channel, Gordon noted that some regional directors have been in their positions for 20 to 22 years.

“So you can see from there the upcasing of cases to increase the payment for claims. They also practice favoritism in the payments,” said Gordon.

He also said PhilHealth’s spending should also be strictly monitored. Hd said there should be a board of supervisors composed of eminent persons to monitor what is happening, and within the organization, a monitoring group in the central office.

Gordon said other senators have also recommended a computerized system for announcements on deaths that PhilHealth, as well as the Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System, and the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office can access to avoid payments of benefits to members who were already dead.

study, “Evaluating the Massive Underreporting and Undertesting of COVID-19 Cases in Multiple Global Epicenters.”

“There has long been speculation about underreporting,” Cruz said in Filipino. “What we did was just to put a number to show how serious that underreporting is.”

He added that the computation— which he described as a crude estimation—was based on a paper published in an academic journal several months ago, and that was included in a World Health Organization (WHO) in a scientific briefing.

That study sought to determine “the real” number of COVID-19 cases using the number of confirmed infections and fatalities in the US, South Korea, Japan, China, France and Italy.

Cruz said the methodology applied to these industrialized economies was applied to the ASEAN-5 for his study, including the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore.

“The analysis reveals that 96 percent to 99 percent of COVID-19 cases in the ASEAN-5 were undetected during April-June 2020,” said the study, which was released on Tuesday.

“Roughly 3 million Filipinos (2.6

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He said the following assistance would be given: Social Amelioration Program (SAP)- Emergency subsidy of P5,000 to P8,000 to affected low-income households in areas under (ECQ/ Hard Lockdown) and to households with recently-returned OFWs; Isolation and quarantine facilities, field hospitals, dormitories for frontliners- P4.5 billion; Contact tracing- P5 billion; Vaccines- P10 billion standby funds including COVID-19 testing; PPE Procurement- P3 billion; Assistance for Displaced Workers- P13 billion; Additional funds for education- P8.9 billion and Transportation sector- P9.5 billion.

Angara said the assistance for the tourism industry and its stakeholders remained “intact and preserved” under the reconciled version of the Bayanihan 2.

At the same time, Angara, in a virtual interview, said there would be a 60-day grace period for the payment of loans in the country once the proposed Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2 becomes a law.

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those who get infected with COVID-19, life insurance, free accommodation and transportation and free and frequent testing.

Roque’s announcement was a reiteraHe said the government was already tion of the government’s policy of limitproviding healthcare workers additional ing the deployment of health workers to benefits such as risk allowance, P15,000 for those with existing contracts.

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From A1 ments were all owned by a company named Elegant Fumes Beauty Products, Inc. The said company sells the hair care product “Ashley Shine Keratin Treatment Deep Repair” that labelled its address in Binondo, Manila as a “province of People’s Republic of China.”

In Malacañang, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque dismissed the incident as a handiwork of opponents of the government.

“To me that’s nonsense. We should not be paying any attention to that,” Roque said.

He said this should not be taken seriously, adding “Nobody believes that we are a province of China because we all know that every Filipino loves the country,” he added.

“We are proud to be Filipinos and we will never allow to be subjugated by any foreign body,” Roque said.

Facundo said Domagoso ordered the establishments’ closure for violation of city ordinances.

“That is a misrepresentation…our permit is not for Binondo in China that is a major insult to us and we will not allow that,” Facundo said, adding they have not determined as yet the nationality of the owner of the firm.

Facundo said they had coordinated with the mall operator to not allow the establishments to reopen until they coordinated with the city government.

Earlier, PBA party-list Representative Jericho Nograles called on authorities to investigate and blacklist the Chinese beauty product distributed locally after it labelled its Manila address as a “province” of China.

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, in a Senate public order and dangerous drugs committee hearing, claimed Wednesday that Asula had links with an illegal drugs syndicate.

“The police earlier invoked self-defense even if the investigation by the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] and eye-witness accounts clearly showed there was no unlawful aggression or sufficient provocation to warrant the shooting. And now we have the vilification of one of the slain soldiers,” Arevalo said.

He said the police were coming up with all sorts of falsities to attempt to avoid criminal, civil and administrative responsibilities for the murder of the four soldiers.

Killed in the June 29 incident in Jolo were Major Marvin A. Indammog, 39;

Capt. Irwin B. Managuelod, 33; Sgt. Jaime M. Velasco, 38, and Asula, 33.

The four soldiers were conducting intelligence and monitoring operations against two suspected suicide bombers when gunned down by nine Jolodetailed police officers.

Meanwhile, Philippine Army commander Cirilito Sobejana said the Army’s ranks were always being cleared of individuals with illegal drug links, adding that those found with such connections were immediately investigated and discharged from the service if found guilty.

“Once you are involved in drugs, you will be discharged,” Sobejana said.

He said when he was head of the Western Mindanao Command, he had these accusations against Asula investigated, but nothing came of it.

percent of the national population) may have been infected by the virus in the same period—the worst record in the ASEAN-5 group in percentage terms,” it added.

The study revealed that the confirmed COVID-19 cases are only 1 percent to 2 percent of the estimated unreported cases, Cruz said.

Cruz said the Philippines was the worst performer among the ASEAN-5 in controlling the spread of the infection, saying that the country has a high proportion of COVID-19 cases over its population.

While acknowledging the improvement in the testing capacity, Cruz said the coverage should be expanded.

He said that mass testing will improve the response against COVID-19.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, however, disputed Cruz’s conclusions in his paper “An Empirical Argument for Mass Testing: Crude Estimates of Unreported COVID-19 Cases in the Philippines vis-à-vis Others in the ASEAN-5.”

Cruz, one of those involved in the study, said estimates were computed by multiplying the number of reported cases with the ratio obtained by dividing the COVID-19 case fatality rate of the Philippines against that of Singapore, which has the lowest COVID-19 case fatality rate.

But Vergeire said there were differ-

ences in health systems before the pandemic. The Philippines, she said, was decentralized, and capabilities differed across the country.

“If you compare it by the numbers without considering the health system capacity of a country, that is not appropriate,” Vergeire said at a Palace briefing.

“One of the bases that they used was the case fatality rate, and our economists and epidemiologists have said that such is not correct,” Vergeire added.

Still, she said, the DOH will study the findings and consider them in improving its COVID-19 response.

The DOH announced 4,339 new infections Thursday, 2,590 of which were from Metro Manila.

Laguna had 223; Cavite, 155; Cebu, 128; and Rizal, 109.

Health officials reported 88 new deaths, bringing the total fatalities due to COVID-19 to 2,883.

Total recoveries rose to 114,114 after 727 more patients recovered from the respiratory illness.

The remaining 61,025 are active cases undergoing treatment or quarantine, 91.3 percent of which are mild, 6.6 percent of which are asymptomatic, 0.9 percent of which are severe, and 1.2 percent of which are in critical condition.

The DOH said figures reported were based on data submitted by 100 out of the 109 operational laboratories.

In a virtual interview, the chairper- ID-19 patients. son of the Senate committee on finance He said this would be P10,000 monthsaid this is applicable regardless of ly in the duration of the pandemic. community quarantine status.

He said a P1 million financial assistance would be given to the family of Tourism sector a health worker who would die from Before the approval of the measure’s COVID-19. reconciled version, Senate Majority A health worker who is critical COVLeader Franklin Drilon said one of the ID-19 case will get P100,000 financial contentious provisions under the Bay- help and P15,000 for mild cases. anihan 2 was the P10-billion funding This is retroactive to February 1, for the tourism sector.

2020 and exempted from tax.

But after the bicam, Drilon said senators and House lawmakers were able to Priority assistance arrive at an agreement regarding the aid On the other hand, Sen. Grace Poe for the tourism industry. said displaced public utility vehicle “Tourism sector got [P10 billion],” (PUV) drivers made hungry and homesaid Drilon. less by the COVID-19 lockdown would He said that of the P10 billion, P6 bil- be among those given priority for assislion was earmarked for soft loans for tance with a P5.58 billion funding unMicro, Small and Medium Enterprises der the Bayanihan 2 bill.

(MSMEs) in the tourism sector, and P3 The bill has incorporated provisions billion would be given to the Depart- for loan facility, fuel vouchers, facilitament of Labor and Employment for dis- tion of contracting of PUVs as governplaced tourism workers. ment service vehicles, among others.

He said P1 billion would be given to “We agreed to provide the muchthe Department of Public Works and needed support to displaced workers in Highways for tourism infrastructure. the transport sector, particularly when Drilon also said there was allocation it comes to contracting vehicles by the for COVID-19 special risk allowance government. So, that will be a big porfor public and private health workers tion of the funding,” said Poe, chair of directly involved in attending to COV- the Senate public services committee.

At the onset of the pandemic, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration barred the deployment of Filipino health care workers abroad, with only those with perfected and signed employment contracts abroad as of March 8, 2020, allowed to leave the country.

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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

But groups of nurses and medical workers have called on the government to lift the deployment ban.

The Philippines, a key exporter of nurses and other medical workers, is seeking to keep a reserve force of medical workers as it battles the COVID-19 pandemic. skepticism 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.

Germany, France record worst daily tally Germany and France recorded their worst daily infection rates in months with concerns growing Thursday that coronavirus cases could spike in Europe just as holidaymakers return home and children go back to school.

Germany Thursday reported 1,707

Rody grapples with ‘mountain’ of paperwork MALACAÑANG on Thursday said President Rodrigo Duterte had been working “nonstop” in his hometown Davao City amid the rumors over his health.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte was busy with a “mountain” of paperwork, particularly with appointment papers.

“I know that when he leaves Manila, we bring him a mountain of documents so he works nonstop,” Roque said.

He said the President was very meticulous when it came to signing official documents.

“I’m sure our President, a former mayor, is checking them one by one before he signs them off, so he continues to work wherever he is,” Roque said.

He says Duterte always ensures he does not neglect his work regardless of whether he is in Davao City or Malacañang in Manila.

“When he’s in Davao, he still fulfills his duties but in a different venue,” he said.

Meanwhile, Roque said Duterte was scheduled to hold another public address on Aug. 24.

Over the weekend, the rumors swirled that Duterte flew to Singapore due to a health emergency.

But Duterte belied the rumors by appearing on a live Facebook video on Monday together with his former aide, Senator Christopher Go. He says he never leaves his hometown as a precaution against the coronavirus disease.

In his public address the same night, Duterte said he had no reason to hide any of his foreign trips—especially if those involved the use of public funds.

He said he had “no obligation” to “travel in secret.”

“So stop this nonsense about me going to Singapore. If I want to go there, I will. It’s none of your business if I want to go,” he said.

Duterte’s health had always been subject to speculation since the start of his presidency.

The 75-year-old President suffers from back pains, migraines, Buerger’s disease, an inflammation of small- and mediumsized blood vessels, and Barrett’s esophagus, a potentially serious complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

However, he says, his health conditions do not hinder him from performing his duties.

Duterte, who is in Davao City, his hometown, was in “perpetual isolation” in the sense that he was not allowed to have close contacts with the members of his Cabinet, Roque said earlier.

Google...

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Frustrated customers in countries including Australia, Japan, France and the United States complained online of the outage and tracking website DownDetector reported Google services were down in every continent.

“Anyone else having issues with @gmail in Australia?” one person tweeted.

Another Twitter user, in Brooklyn, New York, wrote: “Nearly 16 years in and this is the first time I can remember Gmail being completely down.”

Google’s @Gmail Twitter feed replied to the posts with: “Thanks for reporting. We are aware of a service disruption at the moment.”

The message contained a link to a Gmail service details page that told users “we are continuing to investigate this issue,” and to check back later.

Responding to an AFP enquiry, Google said to refer to the G Suite Dashboard for status updates. AFP new cases of the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, the highest daily toll since the peak of the pandemic in April.

The country has fared better than many European neighbours in suppressing the virus so far but like elsewhere, the number of cases has jumped significantly over the summer holidays.

Finland imposes ‘Europe’s tightest’ border restrictions Finland has removed most EU countries from its “green travel list,” with only arrivals from a handful of states now able to enter the country without coronavirus restrictions from Monday.

Finland’s tougher rules mean only travelers from Italy, Hungary, Slovakia, Estonia and Lithuania will now be allowed into the country without proof of a valid reason and self-isolating for two weeks. AFP

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BOC-NAIA agents seize ‘downer’ drugs DOJ task force seeks probe into activist’s death

By Maricel V. Cruz A DEPARTMENT of Justice task force recommended that the agency conduct a probe on the killing of activist Zara Alvarez in Bacolod City.

“The AO35 Secretariat today recommended the inclusion of the Zara Alvarez case in the docket of the task force,” Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete, who heads the task force, said.

Under AO 35, DOJ prosecutors will lead a team of investigators from law enforcement agencies which will be tapped to conduct the probe.

Earlier, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the DOJ “may consider” investigating the death of Alvarez.

The 39-year old Alvaez was shot dead Monday night in Bacolod City. She was a teacher, a single mother, and a former campaign and education director and a current paralegal of human rights group Karapatan, the organization said.

She also served as research and advocacy officer of the Negros Island Health Integrated Program of the rights organization.

Karapatan said Alvarez was the 13th member of their group who was killed during the Duterte administration.

They claimed that she had been threatened, harassed, and falsely charged with murder by the military in 2013, but was acquitted last March.

Alvarez was killed one week after another activist, peace consultant Randall Echanis, was found dead in Quezon City.

A separate AO35 special investigating team is also looking into the Echanis case.

As this developed, the Commission on Human Rights has voiced concern over the killing of Alvarez.

“The Commission on Human Rights sees this as a cause for concern, especially that the number of cases is still growing and justice is nowhere in sight,” CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said.

IN BRIEF Approval of public assembly bill hailed THE Makabayan Bloc in the House of Representatives has welcomed the approval at the committee level of a bill that will “ensure and uphold the Filipino people’s right to assemble and freedom of expression.”

House Deputy Minority leader and Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate of Bayan Muna was referring to House Bill 6297 or the New Public Assembly (NPA) Act that was approved by the House Committee of People’s Participation chaired by San Jose del Monte Rep. Rida Robes.

“After exhaustive consultations with congressional members and stakeholders, the house bill was unanimously approved,” said Zarate, the principal author of the bill.

Maricel V. Cruz

‘Teachers, learners need mental health support’ SENATOR Win Gatchalian on Thursday urged the government to ensure that learners and teachers are given psychosocial and mental health support while educators scramble to carry out logistical challenges and many learners experience feelings of anxiety as they await classes to begin amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gatchalian’s ‘Education in the Better Normal’ bill seeks to formally include psychosocial and mental health support in safe school re-opening.

According to Gatchalian, when a state of calamity was declared last March due to COVID-19, the education sector saw an unprecedented suspension of classes in all levels. The opening of classes in the basic education sector was eventually moved to August 24, and finally to October 5. Macon Ramos-Araneta

By Vito Barcelo and Joel E. Zurbano

DOWNERS. Bureau of Customs-NAIA operatives seized 5.376 kilos or 7,999 tablets of downer drugs at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City. The seized drugs were allegedly consigned to a certain Sandeep Kumar. Members of the Customs Anti- Illegal Drugs Taskforce and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) confirmed that the capsules were “dextropropoxyphene”, a known downer drug and regulated in the country.

T

HE Bureau of Customs seized more than five kilos of “dextropropoxyphene” a regulated drug and known as a ‘downer’at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City.

PRC reiterates call for more blood donors

By Macon Ramos-Araneta WITH the country’s hospitals already running low on blood supply amid the COVID-19 pandemic and with the dengue season also setting in, the Philippine Red Cross has renewed its call for more blood donors.

“We need more blood donors because a lot of hospitals are running out of blood and we are called upon every day to provide,” said Senator Richard J. Gordon, PRC chairman and CEO. Aside from the COVID-19 pandemic

that is still affecting our country, Gordon said dengue season has set in, which further increases the demand for blood.

Gordon said that the PRC needs to have sufficient supply of blood at all times because hospitals depend on the top humanitarian organization in the country for their blood requirements.

“That’s why we should get our families, our friends and co-workers together to give life-saving blood,” he said.

From January to May this year, the Department of Health recorded a cumulative total of 50,169 dengue cases with 173

Moratorium on Meralco bill payment sought

By Willie Casas MERALCO consumers, led by the Power for People Coalition on Thursday called on the government to impose a moratorium on bills payment on electricity of household consumers until the quarantine due to Covid-19 has been completely lifted and the issue of bill shock has been resolved.

The group made the call ahead of a scheduled hearing in the House of Representatives on Meralco’s bill shock.

“Almost half of Filipinos are out of work. We have lost almost a fifth of our GDP and entered the worst recession in our country’s history. The threat of Covid-19 continues to stalk our countrymen. Yet Meralco continues to mercilessly bill its customers even as it also holds on to the money they received from overbilling them in the past,” said Gerry Arances, P4P Convenor, in a statement.

The P4P led calls for an inquiry on Meralco as consumers were hit with record high bills, called bill shock, even as consumers suffered through power interruptions during the enhanced community quarantine period.

“Meralco cannot say they need the money. They want the money of course, but they already have 19 billion in refunds never returned, the meter and bill deposits of consumers amounting to 28.5 billion which they use for their operations without compensation for the owners of the money, and its force majeure clause on power contracts,” said Arances.

TURNOVER. The Department of Public Works and Highways turned over on Thursday, August 20 to the local government of Quezon City two (2) additional cluster dormitories inside Quezon Memorial Circle as temporary staying place of medical personnel.

Secretary Mark A. Villar said that the accommodation facilities set-up by DPWH Task Force to Facilitate Augmentation of National and Local Health Facilities will ensure safety and efficiency in the delivery of services of healthcare workers. people turned-over by DPWH on July 7.

Teachers urged to do outreach calls

Applications for CA, CTA S’bayan posts extended JUDICIAL and Bar Council has extended the deadline for the filing of applications for 13 positions in the judiciary and the Legal Education Board (LEB) until September 25 to give aspirants more time to secure pertinent documents during this time community quarantine arising from the coronavirus pandemic.

In an advisory, the JBC announced that the deadline for submission of application and documentary documents has been moved from August 25 to September 25.

The JBC will be accepting applications and nominations for the six vacant Court of Appeals associate justice posts; one associate justice at Sandiganbayan; two associate justices at Court of Tax Appeals; chairmanship of the LEB and three regular member posts of LEB. Rey E. Requejo

deaths. The dengue virus is transmitted by day from Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes.

Mild dengue fever causes a high fever, rash, and muscle and joint pain. But a severe form of dengue fever, also called dengue hemorrhagic fever, can cause severe bleeding, a sudden drop in blood pressure (shock) and death.

Gordon said individual blood donors may call 143 to arrange donations; while for group blood-letting, the PRC can send its mobile blood bus to their locations.

BOC-NAIA district collector Carmelita Talusan said the confiscated parcel, which contains 5.376 kilos or 7,999 capsules of downer drugs, was consigned to a certain Sandeep Kumar.

Dextropropoxyphene is a mild narcotic analgesic, less potent than codeine, and closely related to methadone and is used as an antitussive (cough suppressant).

Officials of the Customs Anti- Illegal Drugs Taskforce and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency confirmed that the capsules were indeed “dextropropoxyphene.”

“The seizure is the result of the 100% examination conducted by BOC examiners as part of BOC Commissioner’s directive to inspect and clear BOC facilities of abandoned and overstaying parcels,” the BOC said in a statement.

Talusan reminded the public to ensure that all goods they import have the necessary permits and also warned that importing such drugs must be in compliance with and permitted by the Food and Drug Administration.

The latest seizure bolsters the BOC’s commitment to curb the smuggling of illegal and prohibited drugs into the country.

Customs personnel have been apprehending illegal drug shipments in compliance to the Bureau of Customs commissioner’s directive to secure the borders and the anti-drug campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Recently, the authorities intercepted smuggled parcels of ecstasy pills worth P23 million also at CMEC. The shipments with different consignees came from Netherlands and Belgium and were misdeclared as coffee beans and granules, fishing bath, energy saving LED light, and Disney - Pixar brand child toys and pillows.

The authorities placed the parcels under physical examination and discovered seven packages containing 13,824 tablets of ecstasy.

GOING HOME. A total of 61 overseas Filipino workers were sent home Thursday, August

20, from the We Heal As One Center at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija after recovering from COVID- 19 following a send-off ceremony held by the Bureau of Quarantine and the medical staff for the COVID survivors.

AHEAD of the school opening in October, Save the Children Philippines is calling on teachers to conduct outreach calls to support students’ wellbeing and prepare them for learning at home.

Outreach calls are part of the mental health and psychosocial support being provided by teachers to learners who face anxiety, fear, and uncertainties, especially in this time of pandemic, in order to encourage them as well to be motivated to continue learning even from home.

Atty. Alberto Muyot, Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children Philippines said teachers, along with parents and communities, are critical to the fulfillment of children’s rights to access inclusive and adaptive education in the time of COVID-19.

“Besides health and survival risks, children face the devastating and long-

term impacts of the pandemic because it limited their mobility and prevented many of them from personally interacting with friends and schoolmates as they miss out on their classes,” said Muyot.

For Jerly Villanada, Child Protection Manager of Save the Children Philippines, outreach calls are beneficial in many ways. It gives teachers the chance to check-in with their students without being intrusive. Outreach calls also provide an opportunity for children and families to be able to speak with a trusted adult professional to discuss important family matters.

Also, outreach calls allow teachers to develop empathy by listening to children.

They can also focus on the child’s health and well-being instead of homework, and offer help on access to essential protection or health services.

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

A4

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

‘Bubble’ housing for Clark workers

By Jess Malabanan

C

LARK FREEPORT— Workers in manufacturing industries within the freeport zone here will be housed in areas accessible to Clark to ensure continuity of factory operations and avoid eventual shutdown due to health crisis and work stoppage, officials said.

“We are exploring possibilities on the proposals of big manufacturing industries to look for ‘bubble’ housing near Clark to ensure continuity of operations and preserve jobs for thousands of workers,” said Clark Development Corp. President and CEO Noel Manankil.

Manankil met Wednesday with Westchester Realty and Development Corp. and Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund top executives at the Xevera village in Mabalacat City.

He said the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) lockdown extremely affected the manufacturing industries at Clark due to work stoppages.

“We’ve seen this problem during the ECQ. Manufacturing industries have been allowed to operate provided they have to house their employees to avoid being contracted with coronavirus. That made a lot of sense to our locators in Clark,” said Manankil.

Xevera Mabalacat City is being eyed as potential housing for Clark workers considering its proximity and accessibility to the freeport.

“Xevera Mabalacat and Clark is separated by a perimeter fence,” said Westchester Realty Chairman Rod Valencia, adding that thousands of housing units are available and ready for occupancy at Xevera.

At least two Korean-owned industries, Manankil said, have requested for “bubble” housing to accommodate their workers to guarantee their health.

“In this way they will be and healthy.

These companies are very much concerned with the continuity of their operations,” said Manankil, adding that similar proposals for workers housing from other industries in the manufacturing sector are being studied by CDC. Clark has more than 1,200 locators with more than 80,000 workers, most of which are into manufacturing.

Valencia found Xevera Mabalacat as an ideal housing area for Clark workers, citing its affordability.

FLU SHOT. A health worker administers a flu vaccine, meant to give protection against COVID-19, to a resident of Multinational Village in Barangay Moonwalk recently, after the Parañaque City health office approved the project of the village’s homeowners’ association headed by Arnel Gacutan. Around 700 residents were given the free flu vaccines.

By Joel E. Zurbano THE city government of Makati on Thursday announced it will enforce a new policy regulating dine-in services at commercial food establishments whenever the city is under a state of calamity, public health emergency, or similar emergency declarations.

Mayor Abigail Binay said the City Council approved Ordinance No. 2020165 to ensure the prevention, rapid containment, and restriction of the spread of infectious or communicable diseases, pandemics, epidemics, or outbreaks of diseases.

The policy will be implemented beginning Monday, August 31.

Binay said the local ordinance will serve as a guide in the operations of all restaurants and fast food businesses in the city, regardless of size, including canteens, food courts, food parks and other eateries providing on-premises dining or dine-in services.

“We enjoin all the owners of food businesses providing dine-in services to strictly adhere to the rules and regulations provided in the ordinance during times of crisis, such as this pandemic,” the city chief executive said.

“This ordinance aims not only to ensure the safety of our constituents and other patrons of food businesses in the city, but also to promote the welfare of their employees. While we recognize the need of business owners to continue operations to earn and survive a crisis, public health and safety must always prevail,” she added.

Under the ordinance, dine-in services are strictly prohibited when the city is placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine.

For Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine, a maximum of 30 percent of the dine-in services will be allowed subject to strict compliance with the minimum public health standards and social distancing protocols.

Isko allows 24-hr NTF, CODE Team gab with San Pablo a success food takeout biz

By Roy Tomandao to run in Manila SAN PABLO CITY, Laguna—The National Task Force against COVID-19 and CODE Team held a successful dialogue with government officials and private sector members here on August 15 at the Palmeras Restaurant.

Both sides discussed strategies to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 at the community level here.

In the NTF assessment, Secretary Martin M. Andanar, PCOO Chief and NTF Implementer, said the local government, led by Mayor Loreto Amante, was quick to respond to the implementation of programs to curb the spread

CLARK HOUSING. Westchester Realty and Development Corp. chairman Rod Valencia stresses a point during a meeting with Clark Development Corp. and Pag-IBIG Fund executives led by CDC president and CEO Noel Manankil at the Xevera Mabalacat City clubhouse on Wednesday. Also pictured are Westchester manager Alexander Cauguiran and other officials.

of COVID-19.

Andanar said he also had good cooperation with provincial and national government agencies for the implementation of minimum health standards against COVID-19.

He also called for distributing accurate information on reliable social media platforms to prevent an “infodemic.”

Testing czar Secretary Vince Dizon, NTF Deputy Chief Implementer, lauded the innovative programs San Pablo City is running.

One of these is the launch of the song-and-dance routine of an AntiCOVID Mascot, which shows the use of distancing stick for social distancing, wearing a face mask, using alcohol or sanitizer and hand washing, and having various laws or ordinances related to COVID-19 strictly enforced in the city.

NTF Medical Adviser Dr. Teodoro Herbosa pushed for the availability and use of the QR Code to all who attended the program, which can be helpful and an effective way to speed up contact tracing of those infected with COVID-19 and those who come in contact with the person.

Amante was grateful to the NTF and CODE Team for visiting the city and holding the dialogue to intensify the city’s community-focused strategy to fight the current epidemic.

By Willie Casas

DIALOGUE. San Pablo City Mayor Loreto

Amben Amante (top) welcomes PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar and CODE Team Laguna in a dialogue to fight the coronavirus in the province.

Roy Tomandao

‘TIBIK members should’ve discussed problems internally’ MEMBERS of a women’s vegetable farmers’ association in Nueva Vizcaya should have discussed their problems within their group instead of filing estafa complaints with the Provincial Prosecutors’ Office, the provincial board member in the center of their dispute said.

In an email interview with the Standard, Provincial Board Member Roland Carub said that as founder of TIBIK (Timpuyog Ti Babbalasang Idi Kalman, or Association of Ladies in an Earlier Season in Ilocano) in the province, he wished the members of the group’s chapters in Ambaguio and Villaverde towns would have discussed their problems among themselves or approached him for guidance.

Twenty-two women—16 from TIBIK Ambaguio and six from TIBIK Villaverde—are accusing Carub and officers of the Cebu People’s Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Cebu Coop) satellite office in Solano town of swindling them of funds in the guise of membership fees in the cooperative.

According to their complaint, the co-op collected fees from them on the promise of securing loans for their farms from several government agencies, which the women claimed have never developed.

Carub disputed this to the Standard, saying he has not stopped following up their loan applications, but they are still being processed and have been hampered by lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Makati sets new dining, drinking policy for restos

“Patungkol po sa estado ng application ng mga complainants sa loan nila, ay hindi naman po tayo huminto sa pag-follow up sa lending conduit ng DA (Department of Agriculture) at DTI (Department of Trade and Industry),” he said.

“As of now ay pwede ulit silang ma-follow up sa status ng kani-kanilang loans kung may approval,” Carub added.

He confirmed that he received the women’s complaint filed with the PPO on August 6, and in fact had submitted his counter-affidavit to the provincial prosecutor on August 14.

The provincial lawmaker also confirmed that along with his siblings, he founded TIBIK in Nueva Vizcaya, which has grown to 71 registered Workers’ Associations with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) with over 3,000 members across the province.

Carub said that he became a member of Cebu Co-op in 2018 and helped it establish a satellite in Solano, the province’s commercial and financial center, on March 18, 2019. The farmers’ group is

registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the co-op is listed on both the SEC and the Cooperative Development Authority, he added.

Both TIBIK Nueva Vizcaya and Cebu Coop also hold office at the Carub Building in Barangay Quirino in Solano, which the board member confirmed is owned by his family.

TIBIK’s provincial livelihood training center is right beside the building, he added.

Considering his personal stake in both TIBIK and Cebu Co-op, Carub said he could not understand why the women in Ambaguio and Villaverde would not approach him first with their complaints.

“Ang nagreklamo sa akin ay ang TIBIK Ambaguio na 12 complainants. Ang inyong lingkod po ay nagtataka rin kung bakit umabot ang ganitong reklamo na pwede naman ilagay sa pag uusapan mula sa mismo sa chapter nila, sa barangay or sa aking opisina,” he told the Standard.

Carub noted that even before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, he would ask the TIBIK chapters how they were doing, even visiting their group chats and Facebook pages to check on their situations amid the quarantine lockdowns.

He said he has sponBM Roland Carub.

sored livelihood training, seminars, and workshops for all TIBIK members to sustain them during the lockdowns, and held online programs and activities for each chapter­—even for the dozen women who complained against him, the board member noted.

“Binibili ng inyong lingkod ang kanilang produkto at heto naman ay akin ipamahagi rin sa mga iba pang TIBIK chapters gaya ng mga gulay at bigas o grocery items. Akin personal na pananaw ay bakit nga ba sila galit sa akin? (I even bought their produce and distributed them to the other chapters, like vegetables, rice, and groceries. So, I wonder, why are they mad at me?),” Carub told the Standard.

As for the loans being processed through Cebu Co-op, he said the cooperative is a lending conduit of the DA through the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, which oversees the Production Loan Easy Access (PLEA) program that farmers and fisherfolk can access.

Carub noted that the Standard itself ran the story on PLEA’s launch on its Sept. 10, 2017 issue (written by Ben Moses Ebreo­—Editor), and that it was a pet project of then-Agriculture Secretary Manny Pinol.

It included the P3 (Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso) program pushed by President Rodrigo Duterte for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) for them to avoid usurious or “5-6” loans, he noted. Jimbo Gulle

MANILA Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso issued Wednesday an executive order allowing all food establishments to offer take-out and delivery services 24/7 under the general community quarantine (GCQ) to help food businesses survive the COVID-19 pandemic.

Domagoso said it was the city government’s “own little way” of protecting businesses and rebooting the economy sapped by the global pandemic.

“For the meantime, we must learn how to live while there is COVID-19, and at the same time, we must learn to go back to work safely and to discipline ourselves, for us to help stimulate our economy,” Domagoso said in a statement.

Under Executive Order No. 35, restaurants may operate beyond the curfew hours of the city, provided they shall cater only to those authorized persons outside of residence (APORs).

Under the GCQ rule, all food establishments are “allowed to operate at 30 percent venue capacity, provided that it strictly adheres to minimum public health standards at all times,” Domagoso said.

Balanga cleans rivers, drainages BALANGA CITY, Bataan—Behind the leadership of Mayor Francis Garcia and Vice Mayor Vianca Venzon-Gonzon, the city government has recently been cleaning rivers and drainages to prevent flooding.

Plastic wastes and other debris that have clogged open waterways were cleaned, the most recent report from City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) said.

“Drainages in Virgen Mary Subdivision in Brgy. Jose were cleaned; the river in Brgy. Tenejero was dug up and cleaned; and drainages along Capitol Drive were unclogged,” CENRO reported.

Garcia and Venzon-Gozon have appealed to city residents to dispose of their garbage properly and refrain from throwing them in water tributaries.

“We saw the good result of the waterways cleanup, just the other day there was rain, and we experienced no flooding,” CENRO said. Butch Gunio

Opinion Adopting a child in the Philippines TRANQUIL G.S SALVADOR III IN A country where orphans abound, where children with no known parents are on the streets, and where abandoned, neglected and abused children are in charitable institutions, adoption is an option to give these children a home and a normal family life.

Adoption is the legal process that

It’s a chance to nurture and educate an adoptee to become a valuable and useful member of society. bonds the parent and child who are not related by blood. The necessity of this legal vinculum is highlighted when we hear stories of infants being left outside houses or in delivery rooms of hospitals, and of infants being left under the care of a sibling of the parents or to the grandparents.

With the desire to legalize the adoption of a child without a judicial process, some adopters simulate birth. To simulate birth, the adopters will get the birth certificate forms and fill in the birth details to show that they are the natural parents of the adoptee/child.

The person causing the fictitious registration of the birth of a child shall be criminally liable for simulation of birth. (Section 21, Article VII, Republic Act 8552).

The law requires that the husband and the wife shall jointly adopt except: (i) if one spouse seeks to adopt the legitimate son/daughter of the other; or (ii) if one spouse seeks to adopt his/her own illegitimate son/daughter, provided, the other spouse consents; or (iii) if the spouses are legally separated from each other (Section 7, Article III, Republic Act No. 8552). The law further requires that the adopter should be in the position to give support and care for his children, legitimate or illegitimate, in keeping with the means of his family (Article 183, Family Code).

The adopter must be a Filipino, of legal age, in possession of full civil capacity and legal rights, of good moral character, has not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude, emotionally and psychologically capable of caring for children, and at least sixteen years older than the adoptee, unless the adopter is the biological parent of the adoptee or is the spouse of the adoptee’s legitimate parent (Section 7, Article III, Republic Act No. 8552; Article 183, Family Code).

An alien or foreigner with the same qualifications as a Filipino may adopt

Full version at www.manilastandard.net

ERWIN TULFO IT IS welcome news that the Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the suspension of several officials of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

The anti-graft office under Ombudsman Samuel R. Martires joins the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Depart-

These con men can look straight into your eyes and deny any wrongdoing. ment of Justice, and the National Bureau of Investigation in uncovering the well-entrenched mafia that has fleeced PhilHealth of multi-billion pesos.

This is certainly one case where the Ombudsman must come on strong as it did in ordering motu propio the preven-

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020

B1

Strong peso, rising forex reserves

T

tive suspension of at least 13 PhilHealth officials allegedly involved in massive irregularities.

Suspended for six months without pay are: Dennis Mas, Senior Vice President (SVP) for Management Services Sector; Israel Pargas, SVP for health finance and policy sector; Shirley Domingo, Vice President for Corporate Affairs Group and Rodolfo Del Rosario, legal sector chief; Roy Ferrer, Celestina Ma Jude dela Serna, Ruben John Basa, Raul Dominic Badilla, Angelito Grande, Lawrence Mijares, Leila Tuazon, Clementine Bautista, and Eugenio Donatos II. The Ombudsman, who said it would coordinate with the Presidential Task Force headed by the Department of Justice (DOJ), earned kudos from various camps.

Some lawmakers said that top PhilHealth officials should also be sacked, namely Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque, who sits as PhilHealth Board Chairman and PhilHealth President and CEO Ricardo Morales.

Duque would not heed the widespread clamor for his resignation for as long as he enjoys the trust and confidence of President Duterte.

Apparently, the enormous irregular-

aid money to help the government contain the spread of COVID-19.

HE Philippines economy would have been in a complete shambles now after the gross domestic product registered a record secondquarter contraction of 16.5 percent. The peso would have plunged against the US dollar―a telltale sign of a weak economy and the loss of business confidence―with foreign investors exiting the Philippines in droves.

Critics of the administration have likened the poor second-quarter performance of the economy to the crises in the pre-EDSA revolution, the 199798 Asian currency crunch and the 2007-2008 global financial meltdown.

The Philippines succumbed to past crises because of inherent weaknesses in the local economy. The Philippines during those times had high foreign debt in relation to the GDP, low foreign investment levels and little revenues to work with.

The Philippine economy now, in contrast, is structurally strong. The inflation rate is benign while interest rates are at record lows. Besides the strong fundamentals, the Philippines has built a robust banking industry with good capital adequacy ratio and low net performing loans ratio.

The second-quarter economic plunge is likely temporary. Consumer confidence is certain to improve as the population adapts to the new normal forced upon by the pandemic. The Philippine economy, in sum, remains healthy despite the temporary setback.

The second-quarter economic plunge is likely temporary.

The strict lockdown has rendered millions of Filipino workers jobless as factories and offices operated on skeleton staff. Fast-food outlets, malls, restaurants and hotels were also shut down as all forms of travels were restricted in the capital region and the rest of the country. The economy, thus, is certain to struggle for the rest of 2020, depending on the pace of reopening.

But the country's economic managers, while worried over the slow pace of reopening, are not that pessimistic on the outlook of the Philippines. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno has assured the economy remains robust despite the sharp drop in business activities.

But none of these are happening in the economy. The peso rose to 48.57 against the US dollar the other day, its strongest in 45 months, while the international reserves were close to the milestone of $100 billion at the end of July. Foreign credit rating agencies are not setting the alarm bells on the Philippines while multilateral lenders continue to pour in

2Q GDP decline probably more than 16.5% BUSINESS CLASS

RUDY ROMERO OF ALL the statistical data from the National Economic and Development Authority andPhilippine Statistics Authority, none are more eagerly awaited than the data relating to the national income accounts. This is particularly true of the figures for Gross Domestic Product.

The GDP records all the productive activities of an economy during a given period. They indicate to all interested people—policymakers, analysts, researchers, investors, producers, and consumers—the extent to which the Philippine economy has grown or—in these very different economic times—contracted. They tell us the sectors that experienced growth or contraction and the sectors of the economy that have performed best or worst. They comprise a comprehensive road map of the economy’s most recent journey.

Because of their great importance to the work of makers of economic decisions, it is imperative that the preparation of the GDP figures be

You can’t fool all people all the time POINT OF IMPACT

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

provided his/her country has diplomatic relations with the Philippines, that he/she has been living in the Philippines for at least three continuous years prior to the filing of the application for adoption and maintains such residence until the adoption decree is entered. It is also required that he/she has the legal capacity to adopt in his country as certified by his/her diplomatic or consular office, and that his/her government allows the adoptee to enter his/her country as his/her adopted son/daughter (Section 7, Article III, Republic Act No. 8552).

The requirements on residency and certification for an alien may be waived for the following reasons: (a) if he is a former Filipino citizen who seeks to adopt a relative within the fourth degree of consanguinity (by blood) or affinity (by marriage); (b) if he or she seeks to adopt the legitimate child of the Filipino spouse; and (c) if he or she is married to a Filipino citizen and wants to adopt jointly the spouse’s relative within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity (Section 7, Article III, Republic Act No. 8552). Aliens not covered by Republic Act 8552, not being residents of the Philippines for at least three continuous years, may adopt Filipino children in accordance with the Rules on Inter-Country Adoption (Article 184, Family Code) This feature of the law on adoptions is commonly used by former Filipinos or alien spouses of Filipinos who would like to ease the financial burden of relatives in the Philippines, or by Filipinos who have children from their prior marriages and would like to have these children adopted by their current alien spouse. These practices are prevalent among Filipinos working abroad or permanently residing in foreign countries.

Only minors may be adopted, unless the adoptee/child is the natural child of the adopter or his or her spouse, or prior to the adoption, the child has been treated by the adopter as his or her child during minority (Article 187, Family Code). Why will someone adopt his own natural child? The reason for the adoption is to elevate the status of an illegitimate child to a legitimate child since the adopted shall be “deemed a legitimate child of the adopters,” who has the right to inherit and use the surname of the adopters (Article 189, Family Code; Section 8 (c), Rule III, Republic Act 8552).

The following may also be adopted: (a) the legitimate son/daughter of one spouse by the other spouse; (b) a child whose adoption has been previously rescinded; or (c) a child who has been orphaned. The latter may be available for adoption, provided no proceedings shall be initiated within six (6) months from the time of death of the parents (Section 8, Rule III, Republic Act 8552).

FOOTNOTES

Adelle Chua, Editor

ities at PhilHealth that dwarf the Good Conduct Time Allowance racket at the Bureau of Corrections (BoC) may not be enough to shake the President’s loyalty to Duque, as well as Morales.

Morales is on leave of absence August 17 to 28 while undergoing treatment for lymphoma or cancer of the lymph nodes.

He skipped the Senate hearing Tuesday.

PhilHealth executive vice president and COO Arnel De Jesus, who was appointed officer-in-charge, was supposed to be Morales’ representative in the Senate hearing but he was also a no-show due to a scheduled medical check-up.

At the hearing, Duque vehemently denied the allegations against him and other PhilHealth officials, in the same fashion he has denied alleged graft practices at the DOH in connection with the government efforts on COVID-19 crisis.

When grilled by Senator Ping Lacson, however, Duque admitted that cash advances made by PhilHealth to maternity clinics and dialysis centers such as B. Braun Avitum under the controversial Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM) are illegal, similar to the Wellness Clinic ghost dialysis racket.

Thorrsson Keith, resigned anti-fraud

undertaken with the utmost competence and care. GDP figures that are way off the mark will give rise to bad decision-making across the economy. Decisions to invest, produce, and consume will be based on faulty assumptions about the strength and direction of the Philippine economy’s growth.

NEDA has a generally good record of preparation of the national income

Bad times still lie ahead. accounts. As additional data have come in, it has had to adjust initial estimates, but NEDA has been way off the mark thus far.

Late in July, NEDA released to a highly expectant nation its GDP estimates for the very problematic second quarter, when Metro Manila and Calabarzon except Quezon—the Philippine economy’s economic center—were subject to Enhanced Community Quarantine. This country’s economic planning agency estimated that the economy contracted by 16.3 percent year-on-year, bringing to 7.4

percent the contraction for the whole of 2020’s first semester. NEDA was in uncharted territory: neither it nor its predecessor, NEC (National Economic Council) has ever had to record a GDP contraction of that magnitude.

Never in its past-World War II history has the Philippine economy seen devastation of the kind that it is currently undergoing. Like a scythe, the novel coronavirus has cut down virtually everything in its path—livelihoods, small businesses, profits, prospects.

After almost six months of lockdown, the worst may be behind the economy, but bad times still lie ahead.

At least the remaining quarters will very probably be contractionary periods for the economy as a whole.

Consumption, specifically, which accounts for close to two-thirds of this country’s economy, is sharply down, and production, which accounts for the remaining one-third, continues to be hampered by the public health protocols. With most of the necessary economic data, NEDA’s second quarter estimate of 16.4-percent contraction will very likely prove to be an overestimate. So, necessarily, will its 7.3 percent first-quarter estimate.

legal officer, tagged Duque as the “Godfather” of the Mafia that has fleeced the state insurer of funds amounting to over P154 billion since 2014.

Keith accused Duque of tolerating the malpractices of his appointed officials allegedly involved in the anomalies.

Senate President Tito Sotto said Senior Vice Presidents Renato Limsiaco Jr. and Jovita Aragona were linked to the anomalous use of the P30-billion IRM funds and the botched overpriced P2.1-billion information technology project.

Sotto said he terminated the Senate investigation after three hearings as the senators have had enough of the “carousel of lies” from the PhilHealth officials.

That made me recall my days as a police reporter, encountering suspects arrested by Manila policemen.

Even when caught in the act, hardened criminals or recidivists would look straight into your eyes and deny any wrongdoing.

Government officials who lack accountability are worse than thieves, robbers, holdup men and con artists on the streets.

I agree with Senator Sotto that we have had enough of Duque and PhilHealth officials’ second, third waves of lies As an adage attributed to Abe Lincoln says, “You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.”

MORE OPINION ONLINE (www.manilastandard.net) TO THE POINT

EMIL JURADO

Lack of discipline CROSSROADS J.A. DELA CRUZ

A health-driven restart VIRTUAL REALITY

TONY LOPEZ

‘Kill them’

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Harris makes history as VP pick

Kim calls rare Nokor ruling party congress

AMALA Harris made history Wednesday when she accepted the Democratic nomination for vice president, while joining Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to condemn President Donald Trump’s profound “failure” as a leader.

K

NORTH Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called a rare congress of the ruling Workers’ Party for January to address policy “shortcomings” and lay out a new fiveyear plan for the isolated nation’s moribund economy.

Kim made the announcement at a full meeting of the party’s central committee on Wednesday, where he “assessed achievements and shortcomings” since the last congress in 2016, the official KCNA news agency reported Thursday.

In unusually frank terms for Pyongyang, the meeting concluded “the goals for improving the national economy have been seriously delayed,” and living standards had not been “remarkably” improved.

Kim said there had been “unexpected and inevitable challenges in various aspects and the situation in the region surrounding the Korean peninsula.”

The UN Security Council, US, EU and others have imposed sanctions on the North over its banned nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, which have made rapid progress under Kim’s leadership.

The acknowledgement of falling short was “intended to justify the regime’s expected failure to achieve the economic goals it set out earlier,” Hong Min told AFP, an analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification. AFP

IN SOLIDARITY. A student ties a white ribbon to the gate of the Education Ministry during a protest in Bangkok on August 19, 2020, as the national flag is seen in the foreground. Hundreds of uniformed teenagers protested outside the Education Ministry, chanting “dinosaur” and booing the minister for what critics say is a rigid, antiquated education system. The pro-democracy movement has spread to the country’s high schools, with pupils tying a white bow in their hair and on backpacks to represent solidarity with the cause. AFP

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

8.

Finally, in compliance with the pre-filing and other documentary requirements under the ERC Rules of Practice and as well as ERC Resolution 26, Series of 2009, TARELCO II is submitting herewith the following documents which are made integral parts hereof, to wit: Annex No.

Nature of Document

A

TARELCO II Board Resolution approving the application and authorizing its General Manager to sign and execute the required documents.

B

Proof of Furnishing copies of the application to the Sanguniang Bayan of Bamban, Capas, Conception, Lapaz, & Zaragoza, and Sanguniang Panlalawigan of Tarlac & Nueva Ecija.

C

Publication of the Application in a newspaper of general circulation within TARELCO II franchise area.

ERC CASE NO. 2020-003 RC TARLAC II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (TARELCO II), Applicant. x----------------------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

PRAYER

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 17 January 2020, the Tarlac II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (TARELCO II) filed an Application dated 25 October 2019 (Application), seeking the Commission’s approval of its proposed unplanned electric Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) projects for the year 2019, with prayer for provisional authority.

The pertinent portions of the said Application are hereunder quoted as follows: 1.

Applicant is an electric cooperative duly organized and existing under and by the virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office at Brgy. San Nicolas Poblacion, Concepcion, Tarlac;

2.

It is the holder of an exclusive franchise issued by the National Electrification Commission (NEC) to operate an electric light and power distribution services in the five (5) municipalities, namely the Municipalities of Bamban, Capas, Concepcion, and La Paz in the Province of Tarlac and Municipality of Zaragoza in the Province of Nueva Ecija;

NO.

That pursuant to ERC Resolution No. 26 Series of 2009, and in accordance with Section 3.5 and other provision of Article III of the Amended Rules for the Approval of Regulated Entities Capital Expenditure Projects; and likewise in accordance with its mandate to render reliable, adequate and efficient electric service to all its member- consumers on an area coverage basis, herein applicant seeks the authority from this Honorable Commission for the approval of its Unplanned Capital Expenditure Projects for the year 2019, for the replacement of overloaded transformer due to the sudden increased of demand causing Dolores and Sto Rosario Substations loading issue, as follows: PROJECT CODE

PROPOSED PROJECT

TITLE Replacement of existing 20MVA to 30MVA S/S in Dolores, Capas, Tarlac.

Replacement of existing 5MVA to 20MVA S/S in 2.

2019-02 Magunting, Sto. Rosario, Concepcion, Tarlac.

Total Unplanned CAPEX Projects

IMPLEMENTING YEAR 2019

2019-01

1.

4.

34,250,000.00

WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is respectfully prayed to the Honorable Commission to render a decision approving the following proposed capital projects in the total amount of Php35,250,000.00; In view of the need to immediately implement the various projects which are necessary to replace the old equipment and to acquire new or additional materials and equipment.

Other relief/s just and equitable in the premises are likewise prayed for.

In the Order dated 03 February 2020, the Commission has set the instant Application for the determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, pre-trial conference, and presentation of evidence on 12 March 2020 at TARELCO II’s main office.

However, due to the public health emergency brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Commission deemed it necessary, as a precautionary measure, to cancel all out-of-town hearings for the months of February and March 2020.

In view thereof, the Commission, in its Order dated 18 February 2020, cancelled the hearing set for the instant Application on 12 March 2020 until further notice.

ACCORDINGLY, the Commission hereby sets the instant Application for the determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, pre-trial conference, and presentation of evidence on 10 September 2020 (Thursday), at ten o’clock in the morning (10:00 A.M.), at TARELCO II’s Main Office at Brgy. San Nicolas Poblacion, Concepcion, Tarlac.

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following:

1,000,000.00

1)

The petitioner’s name and address;

35,250,000.00

2)

That in compliance with the guidelines and documentary requirements of this Honorable Commission, applicant herein hereby submit the following documents, as follows:

The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and

3)

A statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Applicant rests its case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following:

 Historical and Forecast Planning Data  Technical and Engineering Analysis  Project Financial and Economic Cost Benefit Analysis  Project Cost Estimates  Project Descriptions and System Study of the Projects  Proposed GANTT CHART Schedule

1)

The name and address of such person;

 System Map

2)

A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and



3) The grounds relied upon.

Single Line Diagram of the System

 Board Resolution Approving the Proposed Projects  Sworn Statement PROJECT DESCRIPTION 5.

The components of this Unplanned Capital Expenditures Project is a continuation of the expansion, rehabilitation and upgrading of various facilities of the electric cooperative for sustainable growth and development in order to render a more reliable and efficient service to all its customers in all its area coverage; BENEFITS

6.

It aims to further enhance the reliability programs geared towards the delivery of a more efficient and satisfying electric service to its member consumers;

7.

Funding for the acquisition and purchase of technical capital expenditures will be taken from the approved Phpo.2904/kwh Member’s Contribution for Capital Expenditures or the Reinvestment Fund for Sustainable Capital Expenditures (RFSC) based on the projected load growth (conservatively computed based on simulated normal growth rate) of the cooperative;

FINANCING PLAN & RATE IMPACT

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from Applicant that they be furnished with the same prior to the date of the initial hearing. Applicant is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours.

Finally, to contain the spread and transmission of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), TARELCO II is directed to implement the health protocols and community quarantine guidelines required to be observed. Moreover, TARELCO II and all those who have signified their intention to appear as Oppositor or Intervenor, are highly encouraged to send only one (1) authorized representative each.

WITNESS, the Honorable Commissioners ALEXIS M. LUMBATAN, CATHERINE P. MACEDA, and PAUL M. CERVANTES Energy Regulatory Commission, this 3rd day of July 2020 in Pasig City.

TARELCO II UNPLANNED CAPEX PROJECTS 2019 Capital Budgeting 2019 Forecasted energy sales, kWh 334,587,060.00 Cash Balance beginning, PhP, 22,861,869.54 excess/ (shortfall) CASH INFLOWS Currentyearcollection@PhPo.2904/kWh 97,164,082.22 50%ofincomeleasedproperties 2,195,047.18 Total Cash Inflows, PhP 99,359,129.40 Available cash for disbursement 122,220,998.94 CASH OUTFLOWS CAPEX requirement(per application 75,153,557.54 ERC Case No- 2017-022RC) Unplanned CAPEX 35,250,000.00 ERC Permit Fee, PhP 828,026.68 Total Cash Out flows, PhP 111,231,584.22 Cash balance ending, Php, 10,989,414.72 excess/(shortfall) Excess/(shortfall) on RFSC, PhP/kWh 0.03 Reinvestment fund rate 0.2904

the office and discover some reverence for the democracy that had been placed in his care.”

“But he never did,” Obama said.

As a result, Trump has left America’s “worst impulses unleashed, our proud reputation around the world badly diminished, and our democratic institutions threatened like never before,” Obama said.

Trump responded by telling reporters that Obama had been “a terrible president.”

Former first lady and secretary of state Hillary Clinton, who narrowly lost the 2016 presidential election to Trump, pleaded with voters to take nothing for granted in another tight contest.

“This can’t be another woulda-coulda-shoulda election,” she said.

Others on the night’s program included Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, who unsuccessfully challenged Biden for the nomination, and Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House of Representatives. AFP

COMPLIANCE WITH PRE-FILING AND OTHER DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF PROPOSED UNPLANNED ELECTRIC CAPITAL EXPENDITURE PROJECTS FOR THE YEAR 2019 AND FOR PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

3.

Harris, the first black woman on a major party’s White House ticket, accused Trump of turning “our tragedies into political weapons.” And she urged Americans to vote for Joe Biden, “a president who will bring all of us together.”

“Donald Trump’s failure of leadership has cost lives and livelihoods,” the former California prosecutor charged in her acceptance speech.

“We’re at an inflection point.”

Biden, who faces Trump on November 3, is due to give his own acceptance speech on Thursday, closing a Democratic convention held wholly online and on television due to coronavirus safety precautions.

Shortly before Harris spoke, America’s first black president, Barack Obama, delivered his own condemnation of Trump – and appeal for Biden’s election.

Obama said that on handing over the White House to Trump in 2017, he thought the Republican “might show some interest in taking the job seriously; that he might come to feel the weight of

2020 357,621,930.00

2021 379,260,420.00

2022 399,502,530.00

TOTAL 1,470,971,940.00

10,989,414.72

117,037,870.36

229,370,143.51

22,861,869.54

103.853,408.47 2,195,047.18 106,048,455.65 117,037,870.36

110,137,225.97 2,195,047.18 112,332,273.14 229,370,143.51

116,015,534.71 2,195,047.18 118,210,581.89 347,580,725.39

427,170,251.38 8,780,188.70 435,950,440.08 458,812,309.62 -

AGNES VST DEVANADERA Chairperson and CEO

75,153,557.54 -

-

-

35,250,000.00 828,026.68 111,231,584.22

117,037,870.36

229,370,143.51

347,580,725.39

347,580,725.39

0.33

0.60

0.87

1.83

Standard – August 21 & 28, 2020

Senator from California and Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris speaks during the third day of the Democratic National Convention, being held virtually amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware on August 19, 2020. AFP

Kremlin critic Navalny hospitalized with ‘poisoning’ RUSSIAN opposition leader Alexei Navalny is unconscious and in intensive care in hospital after apparently being poisoned, his spokeswoman said Thursday.

Kira Yarmysh said Navalny was flying from Siberia to Moscow and his plane made an emergency landing after he fell ill.

Yarmysh told Echo of Moscow popular radio station: “I’m sure it was intentional poisoning.”

“Alexei has toxic poisoning,” she wrote on Twitter. “Alexei is now in intensive care.”

Navalny is in the intensive care unit for toxicology patients in Omsk Emergency Hospital No. 1, the TASS state news agency confirmed.

“He is in a serious condition,” the hospital’s chief doctor Alexander Murakhovsky told TASS. “Alexei is still unconscious. They have connected him up to a ventilator. They have called police to the hospital on our request,” Yarmysh tweeted.

She wrote: “We think that Alexei was poisoned with something mixed in his tea. That was the only thing he drank in the morning.”

“Doctors say the poison was quickly absorbed through the hot liquid,” she added.

The 44-year-old, known for his anti-corruption campaigns against top officials and outspoken criticism of President Vladimir Putin, has suffered physical attacks in the past.

He endured chemical burns to his eye in 2017 when attackers threw green dye used as a disinfectant at his face outside his office.

In August last year Navalny suffered rashes and his face became swollen while he was in a police detention center serving a short term for calling for illegal protests. AFP

Thousands flee as fast-moving wildfires spread in California THOUSANDS of people fled their homes in northern California on Wednesday as hundreds of fast-moving wildfires spread across the region, burning houses and leading to the death of a helicopter pilot.

In Vacaville—a city of about 100,000 people located between the state capital Sacramento and San Francisco—residents were urged to evacuate during the night as the wind-whipped flames swallowed dozens of homes.

Many were awakened by neighbors or firefighters desperately banging on their doors, and rushed out dressed only in their pajamas.

Several suffered burns as they ran for their lives.

Evacuation orders or warnings were also issued in other counties – including the wine regions of Sonoma and Napa – where fires sparked by lightning are raging unchecked amid a sweltering heat wave.

Cal Fire officials said the series of fires in that region, dubbed the LNU Lightning Complex, had destroyed 50 homes, burned through nearly 50,000 acres and were zero percent contained by early Wednesday evening.

They added that a helicopter pilot taking part in the firefighting efforts in Fresno County, southeast of San Francisco, had died in a crash as he was attempting to drop water.

In Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties a series of fires called the CZU Lightning Complex forced the shutdown of portions of the iconic coastal Highway 1 as flames came close to the road.

Officials said the region’s rugged terrain and dry vegetation were making it difficult to combat the blaze. AFP

Business

B3

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Fed bankers say American economy needs more stimulus WASHINGTON―Federal Reserve bankers voiced fear the US economy would need more aid to weather the coronavirus downturn as provisions of a key spending measure expired, according to meeting minutes released Wednesday.

The rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) held a regularly scheduled meeting in July as the coronavirus pandemic was causing one of the sharpest economic downturns the United States has seen in recent history, with tens of millions of people losing their jobs since mid-March.

Congress also authorized the $2.2 trillion CARES Act spending measure at the pandemic’s onset that included loans and grants to small businesses, extra money for unemployed people and direct payments to all Americans, measures that have been credited with blunting the pain somewhat.

The FOMC cut its benchmark lending rate to zero while rolling out trillions of dollars in liquidity as the pandemic intensified. At the July meeting, they kept the rate unchanged but the meeting minutes show some FOMC members worrying about what would happen when the stimulus measures ran their course.

“A number of participants observed that, with some provisions of the CARES Act set to expire shortly against the backdrop of a still-weak labor market, additional fiscal aid would likely be important for supporting vulnerable families, and thus the economy more broadly, in the period ahead,” according to the minutes.

The US saw a surge in weekly jobless claim filings after businesses closed to curb transmission of COVID-19. That wave has subsided since peaking in late March, with claims dropping below the one million mark for the first time in the most recent week that ended August 8.

FOMC members “generally agreed that prospects for further substantial improvement in the labor market would depend on a broad and sustained reopening of businesses,” which would “depend in large part on the efficacy of health measures taken to limit the spread of the virus,” the minutes said. AFP

PSEi August 20, 2020 TOP GAINERS

WORKERS RETURN. Migrant workers work at a construction site in Singapore on August 20, 2020. About 86 percent of foreign workers in the construction, marine and process sectors have been allowed to resume work, up from the 81 per cent announced last week, as the Ministry of Manpower announced on August 19 that all dormitories housing migrant workers were declared cleared of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus. AFP

Stock market declines; Metrobank, BDO down T HE stock market fell Thursday, along with the rest of Asia, after a sobering Federal Reserve assessment of the US economic outlook, and as talks remained deadlocked on a stimulus bank officials say is urgently needed.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index shed 36.72 points, 0.6 percent, to 6,005.40 on a value turnover of P4 billion. Losers overwhelmed gainers, 131 to 64, with 46 issues unchanged.

Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the second-biggest lender in terms of assets, dropped 3.6 percent to P34.70, while BDO Unibank Inc., the largest bank, declined 3 percent to P89.05.

Nickel Asia Corp., the biggest nickel

producer, fell 3.3 percent to P2.93, but Manila Water Co. Inc. of the Ayala Group advanced 4 percent to P13.60.

Hong Kong shed 1.9 percent and Tokyo closed percent lower while Shanghai dropped 1.3 percent and Seoul tumbled more than three percent.

Sydney eased 0.8 percent and Taipei was also more than three percent off.

Singapore sank 1.5 percent while Wellington and Bangkok were 0.7 percent down.

World equities have surged from a March bottom thanks to a wall of cash support from the Fed and other central banks, but with the multi-trillion-dollar fiscal rescue hammered out earlier this year now running out, US lawmakers are under pressure to stump up more.

While Democrats and Republicans dig their heels in on a new package, the chances of anything coming soon are slim.

With the coronavirus continuing to

ravage the country and containment measures keeping businesses closed, minutes from the Fed’s July meeting showed it was concerned about the recovery as help for small businesses, extra money for the jobless and direct payments to all Americans come to an end.

“A number of participants observed that, with some provisions of the CARES Act set to expire shortly against the backdrop of a still-weak labour market, additional fiscal aid would likely be important for supporting vulnerable families, and thus the economy more broadly, in the period ahead,” according to the minutes.

Policymakers added that the “prospects for further substantial improvement in the labor market would depend on a broad and sustained reopening of businesses,” which would “depend in large part on the efficacy of health measures taken to limit the spread of the virus.” With AFP

MOST ACTIVE

Qantas posts loss of $1.9b, set to retrench 6,000 workers

Emirates to serve all destinations by summer of 2021 DUBAI, United Arab Emirates― Dubai-based airline Emirates expects to resume flights to all “network destinations” by summer 2021, its chief operating officer said Thursday, after the coronavirus pandemic halted most global air travel.

The Middle East’s largest carrier, which has a fleet of 270 wide-bodied aircraft, halted operations in late March.

Shortly afterwards, it resumed limited passenger flights focused on repatriations and has since been gradually expanding its network after Dubai eased travel restrictions to revive its tourism industry.

“I think we can easily say by summer 2021, we’ll be serving 100 percent of our network destinations,” Adel al-Redha told CNBC. Redha said the airline will serve 143 destinations by summer next year, down from 157 before the crisis.

“Obviously the... frequency of flights per day will depend on the demand and some of the restrictions that will need to unwind from some airports and some countries.”

According to the Emirates website, the airline currently serves 70 destinations.

“If I compare our performance now with a month ago, we have almost doubled the number of passengers we have been carrying onboard our aircraft,” Redha said.

Emirates president Tim Clark has previously said that it could take up to four years for operations to return to “some degree of normality” and the airline could lay off up to 15 percent of its staff.

The airline has announced several rounds of layoffs, without disclosing numbers.

Before the virus hit, Emirates employed some 60,000 staff, including 4,300 pilots and nearly 22,000 cabin crew, according to its annual report.

Tourism has long been the economic mainstay of Dubai, which welcomed more than 16 million visitors last year. Before the pandemic crippled global travel, the aim was to reach 20 million this year. AFP

TOP LOSERS

A general view shows the empty Qantas departure terminal at Melbourne Airport on August 20, 2020. Australian flag carrier Qantas on August 20, 2020 posted an almost US$2 billion annual loss after a “near-total collapse” in demand due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. AFP

Startup Airbnb files application for initial public offering SAN FRANCISO, United States― Home-sharing startup Airbnb on Wednesday said it has confidentially filed with US regulators for an initial public offering.

The number of shares and price has yet to be determined, according to the San Francisco-based company.

The move comes as the travel industry suffers an economic blow from the coronavirus pandemic amid slowdowns in tourism.

Airbnb recently said it had seen bookings begin to “bounce back” and unveiled an initiative to promote shortrange travel as pandemic restrictions ease.

“It does look like people are a bit more comfortable going someplace and staying in a person’s house instead of a hotel,” said technology analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group.

Chances that the US stock market could crater later this year due to unemployment and ebbing stimulus money was likely a factor in the decision by

Airbnb to go public at a time when the travel industry is struggling, the analyst added.

“Airbnb is moving now because the market is hot, people are staying at Airbnb properties, and the market could go south,” Enderle said.

“Eventually, the market will reflect the unemployment. So better to IPO before things get really bad and they have to wait a few years.”

Airbnb has been working with local authorities, charities and tourist agencies to entice potential visitors and stimulate economic activity.

“The travel industry, including Airbnb has been hit hard by COVID-19 and there will continue to be tremendous uncertainty,” the company said in a June blog post.

“But, our booking data shows that travel is beginning to bounce back.”

Earlier this year the company slashed a quarter of its workforce―around 1,900 people―as the coronavirus pandemic crushed the travel industry.

The cuts were needed for the company to survive until people started traveling again, Airbnb co-founder and chief executive Brian Chesky said in a blog post at the time.

The company recently announced new cleaning “protocols” to reassure travelers.

Airbnb last week began testing in Britain, France and Spain a ban on people younger than 25 with fewer than three positive ratings from renting entire homes close to where they live to avoid them being used for big parties.

It followed similar measures in the United States and Canada, and a strengthening of an Airbnb ban on gatherings that violate public health mandates in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Airbnb began cracking down last year as rowdy parties were causing problems with neighbors, and the coronavirus pandemic ramped up concern about events where social distancing measures are flouted. AFP

SYDNEY, Australia―Australian flag carrier Qantas on Thursday posted an almost US$2-billion annual loss after a “near-total collapse” in demand due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Strict restrictions on travel to Australia and a near-blanket ban on citizens leaving spelled a statutory pre-tax loss of Aus$2.7 billion (US$1.9 billion), including the cost of mothballing its Airbus A380s and huge redundancy payouts.

Revenues collapsed 82 percent between April and June.

Facing “the most challenging period” in its 99-year history, Qantas said it would move ahead with retrenching 6,000 staff and has grounded 100 planes for up to a year in a US$10billion cost-cutting blitz.

The airline reported a “strong first half of the year” followed by “a neartotal collapse in travel demand” as virus restrictions were introduced.

“We were on track for another profit above Aus$1 billion (US$718 million) when this crisis struck,” CEO Alan Joyce said.

The global aviation industry is facing perhaps its biggest crisis to date, with numerous big-name carriers seeking billions of dollars to stop them from going under, while others have gone out of business.

In Australia, the sector has received hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds as the government scrambled to save it from collapse.

Joyce said the industry’s recovery will “take time and it will be choppy.”

“COVID is reshaping the competitive landscape and that presents a mix of challenges and opportunities for us,” he said.

Qantas said “fast action to radically cut costs and place much of the flying business into a form of hibernation” helped minimize the financial impact from the pandemic shutdown.

Despite the ongoing uncertainty, the carrier believes it remains “well positioned” to take advantage of the eventual return to air travel. AFP

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

Business

PSE INDEX

Thursday, August 20, 2020

36.72 PTS. 6,005.40

TOTAL VOLUME 1,500,785,310 TOTAL TRADES 72,419 TOTAL VALUE 4,045,807,857.00 ADVANCES 64 DECLINES 131 UNCHANGED 46

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.5610

Japan

Yen

0.009431

0.4580

UK

Pound

1.311500

63.6878

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129031

6.2659

Switzerland

Franc

1.093733

53.1128

Canada

Dollar

0.757117

36.7664

Singapore

Dollar

0.729714

35.4356

Australia

Dollar

0.718200

34.8765

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652731

128.819

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266638

12.9482

Brunei

Dollar

0.727061

35.3068

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000068

0.0033

Thailand

Baht

0.032020

1.5549

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.2218

Euro

Euro

1.184500

57.5205

Korea

Won

0.000846

0.0411

China

Yuan

0.144523

7.0182

India

Rupee

0.013361

0.6488

By Darwin G. Amojelar

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.239808

11.6453

New Zealand

Dollar

0.655800

31.8463

ABS-CBN Corp. said Thursday it incurred a net loss of nearly P4 billion in the first half after the government ordered it to stop broadcast operations in May. The broadcast unit of the Lopez Group posted a net loss of P3.93 billion in the six-month period, a reversal of the P1.46-billion net income it posted in the same period last year.

Advertising revenues suffered a sharp decline in the second quarter following the issuance of a ceaseand-desist order against Channel 2 on May 5 by the National Telecommunications Commission.

The NTC also issued a CDO against the company’s digital TV transmission in Metro Manila using Channel 43.

“These events in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic that the country is facing drove down both the advertising and consumer revenues of the company,” ABS-CBN said.

ABS-CBN said revenues from digital platforms reached P685 million in the first half, down by 8 percent from the same period last year.

“After NTC issued the CDO to the company, prohibiting free-to-air broadcast operations, daily active users for Iwant platform reached over 1 million and daily views of over 1.6 million,” the company said. “ This provided the company an avenue to alleviate the shortfalls driven by the COVID-19 pandemic during the first quarter of 2020,” it said.

Revenue of cable and broadbant unit Sky increased 10.4 percent yearon-year as broadband and direct-tohome subscribers went up by 56,000 and 405,000, respectively.

Kidzania and Studio Experience generated P94 million in revenues in the first half.

ABS-CBN’s direct costs and expenses amounted to P16.7 billion, representing a 11.4-percent decline year-on-year. Production cost decreased by 16.9 percent following its decision to cease producing new content amid the pandemic and cooperate with the government’s enhanced community quarantine efforts.

Taiwan

Dollar

0.034016

1.6519

B4 FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020

ABS-CBN incurred P3.9-b loss on radio, TV shutdown

Pag-IBIG vows to help borrowers keep their homes amid pandemic TOP officials of Pag-IBIG Fund on Wednesday assured borrowers that the agency’s loan policies are designed to help them keep their homes, especially during the pandemic.

“We heed President Duterte’s call to prioritize the welfare of our fellow Filipinos during these challenging times.

We want to help members keep their homes, especially now because that is the safest place they can be. Pag-IBIG Fund extends favorable terms to our home loan borrowers. We give them several remedies to save their properties in case of default. Our remediation process also gives borrowers at least one year to update their accounts,” said Secretary Eduardo del Rosario, who heads the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and the 11-member Pag-IBIG Fund board of trustees.

Del Rosario said home loan borrowers who may encounter financial difficulties as a result of the pandemic can avail of Pag-IBIG Fund’s loan restructuring and penalty condonation programs. The programs are meant to help borrowers update their loans and avoid foreclosure.

Pag-IBIG Fund chief executive Acmad Rizaldy Moti said that unlike most financial institutions, Pag-IBIG Fund’s rules on penalty are more compassionate towards borrowers. The agency computes penalties based only on unpaid dues instead of the outstanding loan balance.

“Due to the economic slowdown, we expect to see default rates climb in the next few months. We want to assure our borrowers that we take into consideration their unexpected loss of income as a result of the pandemic. We at Pag-IBIG Fund remain committed to enable Filipino workers not only to buy homes, but to keep their homes. COVID-19 will not change that,” said Moti.

Source: BSP

IN BRIEF

EDUCATION PROGRAM. Clark Development Corp. president and chief executive Noel Manankil (third from left) leads

the turnover of check to Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija Mayor Josefino Angeles (center). With them are CDC director Nestor Villaroman Jr. (fifth from right), assistant vice president for external affairs Rommel Narciso (second from left), communications head Noel Tulabut and Santa Rosa municipal administrator Argee Esquejo (right). A total of 28 scholars from Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology will be given educational assistance. CDC also has CSR programs in Pampanga and Tarlac provinces.

Bangko Sentral keeps policy rate at a record-low of 2.25%

By Julito G. Rada

he Monetary Board, the policy-making body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, on Thursday kept unchanged the overnight borrowing rate at a record low of 2.25 percent, taking into account the benign inflation and the 16.5-percent gross domestic product contraction in the second quarter amid the health crisis.

T

BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said in an online briefing following the board meeting that the interest rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were also retained at 1.75 percent and 2.75 percent, respectively.

“The Monetary Board’s decision was based on its assessment that the inflation environment remains benign. While latest baseline forecasts have risen slightly due to the higher-than-expected inflation in July and recent increases in global crude oil prices, the future inflation path remains firmly within the government’s 2-4 percent target,” Diokno said.

“The balance of risks to the inflation outlook also leans toward the downside from 2020 until 2022 owing largely to potential disruptions to domestic and global economic activity amid the ongoing pandemic. Meanwhile, inflation expectations remain broadly consistent with the inflation target,” he said.

The Monetary Board said the outlook for global economic growth remained subdued and uncertain amid the resurgence in COVID-19 cases in many jurisdictions. The MB noted the sharp contraction in domestic output in the first half, reflecting the impact of the enforcement of necessary measures to contain the spread of the virus in the country, according to Diokno.

“At the same time, the Monetary Board observed early signs of recovery in domestic economic activity with the gradual easing of lockdown restrictions, supported by ample liquidity in the financial system,” he said.

“Given these considerations, the Monetary Board is of the view that monetary policy settings remain appropriate for the time being. A prudent pause will enable the cumulative 175-basis-point reduction in the policy rate as well as other monetary and regulatory relief measures by the BSP to fully work

their way through the economy, even as the national government continues to implement interventions to bolster economic activity and protect human lives and livelihoods,” he said.

BSP Deputy Governor Francisco Dakila said the board also revised the inflation forecasts made during the previous meeting for 2020, 2021 and 2020. For 2020, the inflation forecast was revised to 2.6 percent from 2.3 percent; 2021, to 3 percent from 2.6 percent; and 2022, to 3.1 percent from 3 percent previously.

“One of the major factors that led to the revisions was the higher inflation in June and July… although these inflation outturns were within our forecast range,” Dakila said.

ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa said that despite keeping policy rate untouched, the central bank opted to relax the cap of banks’ exposure to real estate from 20 percent to 25 percent in a bid to bolster loan activity.

“Monetary authorities will likely hold off on further rate cuts in 2020 and look to fiscal stimulus to complement the flurry of moves from the BSP to jump start economic growth. With the economy in recession and BSP likely running out of options to boost growth, fiscal authorities may need to front load expenditures to avoid another quarter of double digit contraction,” Mapa said.

NEDA raises issues about Megawide’s NAIA proposal

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Department of Transportation said it will ask Megawide Construction Corp. and partner GMR Infrastructure Ltd. of India to comply with the issues raised by the National Economic and Development Authority on the rehabilitation and development of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

“There was a deliberation yesterday [Wednesday] and the NEDA-ICC technical board noted a number of pending compliance with certain requirements of the BoT law, so we have conveyed that to the proponent, and we asked them to comply,” Transportation Undersecretary Ruben Reinoso Jr. said in a virtual briefing.

“So basically these are the issues on financial capacity and the joint and sev-

eral liability agreement of the consortium,” he said.

The Manila International Airport Authority on July 15 granted Megawide-GMR the original proponent status for the development of NAIA. The government granted the new OPS to Megawide group after a consortium of local conglomerates withdrew its offer.

Megawide earlier offered to develop NAIA for $3 billion with a contract period of 18 years on March 1, 2018. Its proposal was two weeks behind the proposal of NAIA Consortium which was submitted to the government on Feb. 12, 2018.

The Megawide proposal, however, did not include building a third runway.

Even without it, Megawide estimated that it could increase the terminal ca-

pacity to 72 million against the competitor’s estimate of just 65 million.

It said the solutions would increase airfield capacity to 950 to 1,000 aircraft movements per day, representing 30-percent to 35-percent increase from the current 730 aircraft movements a day.

For peak hours, the consortium will increase NAIA’s peak hour aircraft handling capacity by 50 percent from 40 to 60. Within 24 months of taking over operations, the consortium will also rehabilitate and expand the existing terminals, which will roughly double the space and result in over 700,000 square meters of terminal area.

Once completed, both the airside facilities and the terminals will be able to handle a total annual throughput of 72 million passengers.

Phoenix gets SEC nod to raise P3.5b

THE Securities and Exchange Commission granted Phoenix Petroleum Philippines a permit to sell up to P3.50 billion worth of commercial paper.

Phoenix Petroleum senior vice president for external affairs Raymond Zorrilla said the company aimed to list the commercial papers next week and “proceeds will be used for working capital, in particular, fuel importation.”

Phoenix expressed optimism that it would return to profitability in the third quarter after narrowing its losses in the second quarter.

“We are pleased with the progress we’ve made in stabilizing the business as we are on track to bringing the business back into profitability by third quarter.

We are confident and hopeful that the worst is behind us,” Phoenix president Henry Albert Fadullon said.

Phoenix earlier said the proposed issuance of the fourth series of the P3.5-billion commercial papers (Series D) was rescheduled from the July 29 target date due to the delay in the completion of the requirements for the registration and listing.

Alena Mae S. Flores

SEC nullifies hospital takeover

THE Securities and Exchange Commission nullified and declared as illegal the takeover of The Medical City by a group of investors led by Jose Xavier Gonzales.

It affirmed the resolution issued by a special hearing panel penalizing Viva Holdings, Viva Healthcare Limited, Fountel Corp and Felicitas Antoinette Inc. for violating the mandatory tender offer rules and committing fraud in taking over Professional Services Inc., which operates The Medical City.

The SEC, however, modified the resolution to declare null and void with immediate effect all share acquisitions made by Viva Holdings, Viva Healthcare, Fountel and FAI in PSI beginning Aug. 1, 2013.

The corresponding increases in the authorized capital stock of PSI, however, remain valid. The shares will be considered as unsubscribed and allocated for subscription by investors.

Shares acquired from other shareholders, namely Splash Corp., San Miguel Corp. and Insular Life Assurance Co. Ltd. will be canceled and revert to PSI as treasury shares, which may be sold to other persons. Once the shares are sold and paid for, PSI will reimburse Viva Holdings, Fountel and FAI for the subscriptions that were nullified.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Lopez Holdings’ trading suspended

THE Philippine Stock Exchange said it suspended the trading of Lopez Holdings Corp., the listed holding company of the Lopez group, for failure to submit reportorial requirements.

The PSE said in a notice posted on its website that Lopez Holdings failed to file its annual report for 2019 and first-quarter financial report for the period ended March 31, 2020.

Lopez Holding’s media arm ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp., however, evaded trading suspension after it filed the 2019 annual report and the first and second0quarter financial reports for 2020 on Thursday.

Lopez Holdings, formerly Benpres Holdings Corp., also has investments power generation, real estate, manufacturing and infrastructure.

The company earlier requested for a delay in the filing of 2019 annual report and first-quarter financial report because of the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic and the completion of the audit of the financial statements of its significant investee firm ABS-CBN. Jenniffer B. Austria

Toyota Motor PH seeks fiscal support

TOYOTA Motor Philippines is seeking fiscal and technical support from the government to allow automotive industry players to recover from the pandemic.

“We need appropriate assistance and collaboration with the government, so we could maintain local production and at the same time be competitive not only among brands but among regions,” said Toyota vice president for corporate affairs Rommel Gutierrez during a virtual briefing Thursday for the launch of Corolla Cross, a hybrid sedan.

“As you know the market is already 50 percent down from last year’s figure. So, it is really a challenge now. In fact, tremendous pressures have been felt by all the automotive industry players. We already sounded off the DTI that we will be the discussing with them, appropriate measures that we think is needed by the auto industry, particularly the manufacturing sector,” Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez said the requirement of 200,000 units of assembled sedans to qualify for incentives under the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy might not be met. Othel V. Campos

MB raises real estate loan limit of large banks

MAIDEN CALL. With the maiden call of MV Thorsky, Pakistan International Container Terminal welcomes another new service—the FAR Shipping Gulf Service-1.

MV Thorsky, a 2,169-TEU vessel with a length of 183 meters, is deployed on the FGS-1 with a voyage plan routing from PICT Karachi to Mundra, Sohar, Jebel Ali, Dammam, Haad and Khalifa. The newly launched service, operating between India, Pakistan and the Gulf Region, will be a large benefit for trade. PICT, a unit of Manilabased International Container Terminal Services Inc., looks forward to strengthening corporate ties and handle increased cargo through NVOCCs and main line operators.

THE Monetary Board, the policy-making body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, increased the real estate loan limit of universal and commercial banks from 20 percent to 25 percent.

“The increase translates to additional liquidity for real estate lending amounting to around P1.2 trillion based on end March 2020 numbers,” BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said Thursday.

Diokno said the measure aimed to support the growth in productive sectors of the economy amid the COVID-19 situation, including the real estate activities. It also encourages bank lending to households for the acquisition or construction of a residential real estate property.

Prior to the amendments, U/KBs were required to comply with a real estate loan limit of 20 percent of their total loan portfolio, net of interbank loans. The real estate loan limit has been increased to 25 percent.

Universal and commercial banks and their subsidiary thrift banks are also required to comply with the real estate

stress test limits, after assuming a 25 percent write-off of real estate exposures, on both solo- and consolidated basis: 10 percent capital adequacy ratio and 6 percent common equity tier 1 capital ratio and 10 percent CAR and 6 percent Tier 1 ratio (for TBs that are not subsidiaries of U/ KBs).

Under the new guidelines, the methodology for computing a bank’s REST limits was revised to exclude residential real estate loans to individuals for own occupancy and foreclosed real estate property.

The REST limits are implemented as soft limits such that a bank may maintain exposures to real estate for as long as it is able to demonstrate ability to manage risks.

The forthcoming guidelines reinforce this approach by relating assessment of risks by a covered bank on its real estate exposure to its Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process or capital planning process. This ensures that a holistic approach is adopted by banks in the management of their risks vis-à-vis their capital position. Julito G. Rada

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020

Boston Celtics grab 2-0 lead over Sixers

Jayson Tatum (0) of the Boston Celtics glides to the hoop in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One, Game 2 of the NBA Playoffs at The Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida. AFP

Obiena targets World Athletics A

By Peter Atencio

FTER a fruitful campaign in Monaco, Ernest John Obiena promises to be more mindful of wind condition when he travels with training partner and defending Olympic champion Thiago Braz da Silva to Poland next week.

This is when the 24-year-old Obiena will next see action with da Silva in the World Athletics Continental Tour/ Europe Silver in Chorzow, Poland this Tuesday.

“I would probably do one in Poland on the 25th,” said the 6’2” Obiena in an online discussion.

This will be Obiena’s fourth campaign in an outdoor setting after settling

IM Garma leads Baby Uno Chess Challenge INTERNATIONAL Master Chito Garma will spearhead a strong cast clashing in the Baby Uno Chess Challenge dubbed as Ivan Cup 16 players Invitational online tournament at chess portal Lichess which starts today Friday, August 21.

The former University of Manila standout looms as the player to beat in the nine-round Swiss system tournament, seven-minutes play to finish time control format owing to his big wins in the Baby Uno Chess Challenge dubbed as Retired PNP Captain Jun Isaac last week.

Garma won the title in the Retired PNP Captain Jun Isaac online tournament with a higher tie break points against fellow 12 pointers second placer Fide Master Alekhine “Bbking” Nouri and third placer Sherwin Tiu. Garma won the Ninth Asian Seniors Chess Championships was held at the Tagaytay International Convention Center, Tagaytay City in November 2018.

Other invited players in the one day blitz event Ivan Cup 16 players Invitational online tournament organized by Bayanihan Chess Club, hosted by Teddy Cu are International Master Angelo Young, Woman International Master Bernadette Galas, Fide Master Jony Habla, Woman Fide Master Cherry Ann Mejia, Woman Fide Master Samantha Glo Revita, National Master Giovanni Mejia and National Master Robert Arellano.

Also participating are National Master Julius Sinangote, National Master Alfred Acaling III, National Master Marlon Bernardino, Woman National Master Francois Marie Magpily, Arena Grandmaster Voltaire Marc Paragua, Malaysian chess champion Glenn Hullana Garcia, veteran campaigner Genghis Imperial and PH chess wizard Ivan Travis Cu, the 2019 Singapore National Age Group 1st runner-up.

for the silver medal behind da Silva in the virtual pole vault meet of FineGuard last Sunday.

He will have to be more attentive to changes in the condition of the wind while in Poland.

When, Obiena immediately plunged into action upon retur ning to Formia, Italy, and cleared 5.6 meters, wind conditions became a

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factor on his performance.

“Unpredictable direction ng malakas na hangin at apektado ang talon nila. Isa yan sa maaring maulit na condition sa laro kaya kailangan niyang matutunan mag-adapt,” said Obiena’s dad Emerson following long distance talks with his son.

Being aware of winds will help Obiena improve his performance.

“Hindi madaling gawin ngunit kailangan,” said Emerson.

After settling for the bronze in Monaco last Friday, Obiena settled for the silver medal in the virtual pole vault meet of FineGuard last Sunday.

Da Silva, who is seeking to retain his crown in the Tokyo Olympics, claimed the gold medal with a 5.7-meter performance during the virtual meet.

Their rivals, Matt Ludwig and Pawel Wojciechowski had clearances of 5.35 meters and 5.20 meter for the bronze and fourth place respectively while in Poland.

Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association Philip Ella Juico, who was in communication with Obiena, said this is an alternative to plans to go to the Stockholm leg of the Diamond League.

Juico explained that athletes from neighboring Scandinavian tournament have been invited to go to the Swedish capital.

And he feels that this has something to do with the situation concerning the coronavirus pandemic in Europe.

“Because of the pandemic, they are just going to nearby areas to compete,” said Juico.

MIAMI, United States—The Boston Celtics seized a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference clash with Philadelphia, shrugging off the absence of injured Gordon Hayward to thrash the 76ers 128-101 Wednesday (Thursday Philippine time) in the league’s quarantine bubble in Orlando, Florida.

Jayson Tatum was the star for Boston, scoring 33 points in a dominant victory over the 76ers.

The Celtics lead the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round clash.

Kemba Walker added 22 points and Jaylen Brown added 20 for a Celtics team that announced after their game one win that Hayward would be sidelined for several weeks with a sprained ankle.

Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 34 points and 10 rebounds.

In Western Conference action, Luka Doncic had 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as the Dallas Mavericks posted a 127-114 win over the Los Angeles Clippers to level their opening round series at 1-1.

Meanwhile, the NBA reported zero positive COVID-19 cases for the fifth consecutive week on Wednesday (Thursday Philippine time) in the latest round of test results released at the league’s “bubble” in Orlando, Florida.

“Of the 341 players tested for COVID-19 on the NBA campus since test results were last announced on August 12, zero have returned confirmed positive tests,” the league said in a joint statement with the NBA Players’ Association.

“In the event that a player on the NBA campus returns a confirmed positive test in the future, he will be isolated until he is cleared for leaving isolation under the rules established by the NBA and the Players Association.”

Two players tested positive upon arrival in Florida in July, but neither had fully cleared quarantine for admittance into the NBA’s safe zone.

The league relaunched its season on July 31 after a four-month shutdown doe to the pandemic, with 22 teams playing without spectators.

Sixteen teams remain at the Florida campus for the NBA playoffs that began on Monday. AFP

Fil-Am Striegl makes Vegas debut at UFC Fight Night

By Reuel Vidal FILIPINO-American Mark “Mugen” Striegl makes his debut on a global stage when he takes on dangerous Timur Valiev at UFC Fight Night to be held August 23, Sunday at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Baguio-based Striegl, 32, said he was proud to represent the Philippines in the fight which was the culmination of a lifetime of hard work.

Filipino fans can watch live over Cignal TV but will have to wake up early to catch the fight which will be held 5:30 a.m. over FoxSports (Channel 263 on Cignal). It’s the first fight in the preliminary card.

With the pandemic shutting down all MMA promotions except the UFC, the Baguio-based Striegl, 32, flew to Las Vegas last July hoping to land a fight with the promotion.

His prayer was answered with the fight but he comes in a decided underdog against the Dagestani Valiev, a countryman of UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Striegl fought three times under ONE Championship with all fights held at the Mall

of Asia Arena. He then fought four times under local promotion URCC with the last fight being held last year. He has 18 wins (14 submissions, four decisions), two losses and one no contest.

Striegl won a gold medal in Sambo for the Philippines during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. Sambo is a style of amateur wrestling included in World Wrestling Championships along with Greco-Roman wrestling and freestyle wrestling.

Striegl fights in the US for the first time since his professional MMA debut when he beat Andy Jewett through rear-naked choke at Total Combat 34 held July 25, 2009 at the Star Light Bowl at Balboa Park, San Diego.

The main event of UFC Fight Night features a Bantamweight battle between Pedro Munhoz and Frankie Edgar. The co-main event is a Light Heavyweight match between Ovince St. Preux and Alonzo Menifield.

Other fights in the main card are another Light Heavyweight match between Marcin Prachnio and Mike Rodriguez; Mariya Agapova against Shana Dobson at Women’s f lyweight; and a Welterweight Mark Striegl (right) connects with a leg kick against Bulgarian Sotir Kichukov bout between Daniel Rodriguez and in this file photo taken during ONE: Age of Domination held December 2, Takashi Sato.

2016 at the Mall of Asia Arena. ONE Championship

Rahm, McIlroy, Thomas ready for US PGA playoffs

Jon Rahm of Spain putts on the 17th green during the third round of The Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. AFP

NEW YORK, United States—Topranked Jon Rahm, season points leader Justin Thomas and four-time major champion Rory McIlroy top the lineup for this week’s US PGA FedEx Cup playoff opener, the Northern Trust tournament.

The top 125 players on the tour’s season points list begin a three-week fight for the crown Thursday at TPC Boston with the top 70 advancing to next week’s BMW Championship, where 30 players qualify for next month’s season-ending Tour Championship.

“The playoffs are always an exciting time of the year,” said thirdranked McIlroy, last year’s Cup winner. “It’s nice to be up there even though I haven’t had the best few weeks from coming back from lockdown. I’m still right in there.”

McIlroy stands eighth in Cup points and is the only player in the

field with two wins at TPC Boston, in 2012 and 2016.

“This is usually a time of year where I’ve historically played pretty well and Boston is a place and a course where I’ve got some nice history, so hopefully that can ignite something for me this week,” said McIlroy, who shared sixth in last year’s Northern Trust.

“Trying to get a bit of good form going. I think that’s the most important thing for me right now.”

Rahm, a winner at last month’s PGA Memorial, is more about bragging rights than he is about the huge payday on offer for the Cup winner next month at East Lake in Atlanta.

“It’s a lot more, at least for me,” Rahm said. “I don’t play for the money. Luckily I’ve been able to make a lot of income for somebody my age, but I’ve never played golf for money. I played it for the enjoy-

ment and winning and trying to be the best.

“That’s what the FedExCup is, when you need to play good and you play good when you need to, right.

It’s kind of how I feel.

“I’ve been able to start strong and maybe not finish so good at East Lake and that’s what I’m looking forward this year. Hopefully I can get in contention, not only every week but hopefully Sunday at East Lake.”

Tiger faces ‘challenge’ Reigning Masters champion Tiger Woods, a 15-time major winner, will try for an 83rd career US PGA title to break the all-time record he shares with Sam Snead.

Woods, 44, starts 49th on the points list but says he will play next week at the BMW as he is still chasing a top-30 spot for East Lake.

That would mean playing four times in five weeks. AFP

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Sports

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020

Abueva fulfills all PBA requirements

By Jessica Luna

S

USPENDED Calvin Abueva has fulfilled all six needed requirements for his reinstatement in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Abueva, himself, confirmed that he already completed all the things required by the league but didn’t specify those requirements.

“I am just waiting for the PBA’s decision. Yes, I already completed all requirements,” said the 32-year-old Abueva in Filipino, who, according to his agent

Danny Espiritu, underwent several tests including psychological therapy during the pandemic.

Espiritu said all the requirements were completed by the first week of August.

One of Abueva’s plans once he is allowed to return is to again play for Gilas Pilipinas.

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial, however, did not comment for the meantime after learning that the 6’3” former San Sebastian College standout has completed all the requirements.

Without a salary coming from Phoenix due to his indefinite suspension, Abueva is relying on a seafood restaurant in San Juan City in these desperate times.

Known for his intense plays and hustle, the player called by the fans as the “Beast” was slapped with an indefinite suspension and was fined P70,000 last June 4, 2019 for clotheslining former NBA player and TNT KaTropa import

Terrence Jones during a game in Antipolo last May 2019.

He had a verbal tussle with Bobby Ray Parks Jr.’s girlfriend in a separate incident also from that month.

While suspended, Abueva of Angeles, Pampanga made a public apology for his action in addition to his apology to the PBA board. He also made some charitable works, held basketball clinics and community services, as part of the requirements asked by the league.

Abueva was allowed to attend Phoenix’s training last September by the league.

Phoenix Pulse Fuelmasters forward Calvin Abueva (8) attempts a layup against Alaska Aces defenders Jeron Teng (10) and Jayvee Casio (42) in file photo of their PBA game.

PBA Media

United City names new coach today

By Peter Atencio NOW that they have a complete roster of players, United City Football Club, will now move on to get a head coach.

Co-owner Eric Gottschalk said this Wednesday after they signed up former Far Eastern University star Pocholo Bugas into the team.

Gottschalk said they have found a replacement for Risto Vidakovic, and they will name their new coach

by Friday.

The new mentor will take over in coming PFL season and the resumption of the AFC Cup. The new coach will be around as the AFC resumes on November 23.

“It’s just a matter time before our team will be able compete in the group stages,” said Gottschalk, whose team replaced the Ceres Negros FC squad.

Bugas will be playing out of school, and this is the second time this has happened in Philippine football.

“We have finalized our roster for this season. We will now have 16 players coming on board. Now we have a total of 21,” said Gottschalk.

On the other hand, the new coach was chosen from a pool of seven candidates.

F1 grid unites USA learns path it must take to approve for return to FIFA World Cup ‘milestone’ agreement PARIS, France—Formula One announced Wednesday (Thursday Philippine time) that all 10 teams on the grid had finally agreed to a crucial five-year commercial deal from 2021 which guarantees the motorsport’s “sustainable” future and is designed to usher in a new era of closer and more unpredictable racing.

“The FIA (F1’s governing body) and Formula 1 can today confirm that all 10 teams have agreed to the new Concorde Agreement,” a statement confirmed.

“The agreement will secure the long-term sustainable future for Formula 1,” it noted, and will help usher in the top item in any F1 fans’ wishlist —better action on the track.

“All our fans want to see closer racing, wheel to wheel action and every team having a chance to get on the podium,” said F1 boss Chase Carey.

“The new Concorde agreement, in conjunction with the regulations for 2022, will put in place the foundations to make this a reality and create an environment that is both financially fairer and closes the gaps between teams on the race track.”

The first team to publically declare they had committed to Concorde was McLaren who in a tweet suggested: “This is the right deal at the right time for the sport, its owners, its teams and, most of all, the fans.”

Another famous F1 outfit Williams are pinning their hopes on the deal to help revive their fortunes.

“The Agreement is a major milestone in the development of Formula One, and also represents a significant opportunity for Williams to continue on our journey back towards the front of the grid,” said deputy team principal Claire Williams.

Ferrari, the only team to have contested every season since F1’s launch in 1950, said the result of the grid’s rare show of unity would be “stability and growth” for the sport.

FIA president Jean Todt said that in a time of “unprecedented global challenges” from the coronavirus pandemic he was proud of how the sport’s stakeholders had worked together.

Mercedes u-turn Wednesday’s announcement did not look remotely close earlier this month when world champions Mercedes said they weren’t prepared to sign.

It got the green light only after the German constructor executed a u-turn, announcing they were on board after changing their minds at last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona. AFP

WASHINGTON, United States— The United States learned Wednesday (Thursday Philippine time) the path it must take in continental qualifying to return to the FIFA World Cup after missing out on a 2018 trip to Russia.

A 14-match round-robin qualifying slate for the Qatar 2022 World Cup was unveiled by the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) including five automatic finalists and three play-in nations.

The first qualifying window for the final “Octagonal” series in June 2021 will see the Americans visiting an opponent to be determined while their final match will be in March 2022 at Costa Rica.

The top three finishers in the eightteam final CONCACAF group will qualify for Qatar 2022. The fourthplace team will play a home-and-away series with a team from another region to decide another berth.

“We have been developing this group for more than a year to get ready for

World Cup qualifying and now we know the path ahead,” US men’s coach Gregg Berhalter said.

“This campaign presents some unique challenges, so the message is to be prepared for the unexpected and control what we can control. One thing is certain: this group of players is hungry for the challenge.”

The COVID-19 pandemic wiped out international matches in March and June and that forced changes to the usual North American format for qualifying, with five top-rated sides from July’s FIFA rankings—the USA, Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica and Mexico—automatically into the final round and three other spots settled in two preliminary qualifying rounds from October 2020 to March 2021.

Highlight matches for the Americans will include meetings with arch-rival Mexico on home soil in October 2021 and at Mexico in January 2022.

The United States could open at Trinidad and Tobago in their first qualifying match if the Soca Warriors advance from early qualifying.

Draw assistant David Suazo holds the slip of USA during the Concacaf preliminary draw for the World Cup Qatar 2022 football tournament at the Home of FIFA in Zurich on August 19, 2020. AFP

It was Trinidad and Tobago that beat to keep the United States from reaching the visiting Americans 2-1 on October the Russia 2018 World Cup, missing out 10, 2017 in the final qualifying match for the first time since 1986. AFP

Woods could double 2020 events if body can hold up HONG KONG, China—Tiger Woods has been seen at just four US PGA Tour events in 2020 but could double that over the next five weeks, providing the 44-year-old’s creaking body can hold up during three consecutive FedEx Cup playoff events.

The 15-time major winner has been protecting his fused back and dodgy knees—appearing only twice since June’s restart—in anticipation of a busy run starting with Thursday’s Northern Trust in Boston, which will reduce the top 125 in the standings to a field of 70 for the BMW Championship in Chicago next week.

Woods is 49th on the FedEx points list and needs to break into the top 30 to qualify for the Tour Championship in Atlanta, the scene of an emotional and career-reviving triumph in 2018.

That victory, his first since 2013, was the launchpad for a fifth Masters triumph and record-equaling 82nd PGA Tour win at the Zozo Championship in Japan 10 months ago.

Should history repeat at East Lake in 2020, it will set Woods up for an assault on a 16th major at the US Open at Winged Foot beginning September 17—a fourth tournament in a little over a month.

Woods and his aching bones will at least have plenty of time to recover before the defence of his coveted green jacket.

Tiger Woods looks on during a practice round for the The Northern Trust golf tournament at TPC Boston in Norton, Massachusetts. AFP

The Masters, without spectators, does not begin at Augusta until November 12.

Don’t write off Rory Before coronavirus, Rory McIlroy was flying.

Six top-five finishes in a row, including a WGC win in Shanghai, had propelled him back to world number one. Then the US PGA Tour shut down for three months.

Since the resumption? Six starts and one top30 finish—tied 11th at the Travelers Championship at the end of June—are all McIlroy has been able to muster.

But anyone seeking to write off the Northern Irishman as yesterday’s man should beware: McIlroy has an unmatched record at this time of year.

In 2019 he became only the second player after Tiger Woods to win the FedEx Cup twice.

His five victories in FedEx Cup playoff events are more than anyone—Dustin Johnson and Woods come next at four apiece.

With a tidy $40,551,452 in prize money and cup bonuses in the bank, McIlroy is out on his own as number one in FedEx Cup earnings, surpassing Woods with his win in the Tour Championship courtesy of a $15 million payday in August last year.

He might just add a few cents to that over the next three weeks. AFP

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020

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Hit novel comes to life in Star Cinema’s podcast series

‘LISTEN TO LOVE’

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N TIME of pandemic, the country’s leading film production outfit Star Cinema officially ventures into producing digital series with Listen To Love.

Maymay Entrata plays the important role Master Lovecaster DJ Zari in the podcast anthology, ‘Listen To Love.’

Hosted by Maymay Entrata as the Master Lovecaster DJ Zari, Listen To Love brings well-loved romance books to another medium through Star Cinema’s way of storytelling mixed with captivating visual elements, animated illustrations, and a musical soundtrack.

As Star Cinema continues to innovate, Listen To Love marks its first-ever lovecast (love + podcast) series as it will become available on Spotify as a treat to podcast listeners. First story to be featured on Listen To Love is the adaptation of the hit Wattpad novel by Tina Lata a.k.a. Blue Maiden, with over 300 million reads, The Four Bad Boys and Me. Topbilled by today’s most promising young stars Jeremiah

Beauties vie for Mrs. Queen of Hearts Philippines title PAGEANT CONCEPT ETON CONCEPCION WHILE most local beauty pageant annual searches hang in the balance due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mrs. Queen of Hearts Philippines 2020, the pageant for married women, is pushing through with a virtual coronation night set this month.

Fourteen candidates from around the country are vying for six titles at stake to represent the country in international pageants. Presented by Queen of Hearts Foundation, Inc., headed by CEO/national director Mitzie Go-Gil, Queen of Hearts Philippines 2020’s virtual national costume competition will be judged via online voting.

The Queen of Hearts Foundation, Inc. has been fulfilling its outreach undertakings since the lockdown distributing relief goods to help the citizens and frontliners cope with the

pandemic. Queen of Hearts Philippines 2020 has decided to have each of this year’s candidates to organize their own charity projects with the aim to help their respective communities during these most trying times. About 15,000 gift packs containing groceries, face masks, and vitamins were recently provided to frontliners, hospital personnel, and poor

communities.

Two of last year’s Queen of Hearts Philippines title-holders brought honors to the country with Avon Morales crowned Mrs. Asia Pacific Global 2019 and Llena Tan bagging 2nd runner up in Mrs. Worldwide 2019. The rest also reaped honors and special citations.

Mrs. Queen of Hearts Philippines 2020 candidates will compete in a virtual pageant happening this month.

Public service takes another hit with closure of ABS-CBN Tulong Center ANOTHER sad news reached Filipinos recently after the ABS-CBN Tulong Center announced its closure this month after providing free legal and medical assistance to thousands of Filipinos for many years.

In an official statement posted on its Facebook page, the unit under ABSCBN Integrated Public Service said that it is unable to continue its services after ABS-CBN was not given a new franchise.

“Nais po sana naming patuloy na makapaglingkod sa inyo, subalit ikinalulungkot po naming ipaalam na dahil sa hindi pagkakaloob ng prangkisa sa ABS-CBN, ang aming Tulong Center, kabilang ang aming online na serbisyo, ay tuluyan nang magsasara simula August 1, 2020,” it said.

The nonrenewal of the franchise has weighed down on some of ABS-CBN’s public service efforts like its Tulong Center, which has beneficiaries like children and adults seeking medical treatment, parents and workers asking for legal advice, and even overseas Filipino worker in need of rescue from her abusive employer in the Middle East.

Founded in 2014, the Tulong Center had provided free legal and medical assistance to almost 55,000 Filipinos, who sought help through phone, online, or by visiting its office inside the ABS-CBN Compound in Quezon City.

ABS-CBN Foundation has also felt the impact of the ABS-CBN franchise denial. While it will continue its flagship programs Sagip Kapamilya, Bantay Bata 163, and Bantay Kalikasan, ABS-CBN Foundation announced that some services will have to be discontinued or limited.

For one, Bantay Bata 163 will lose its provincial offices as ABS-CBN shuts down its regional operations starting September. Bantay Bata 163 advocate Jing Castañeda said.

"Malaki ang kinapilay natin. Ang dami kasing nalilibre ng Bantay Bata

dahil sa ABS-CBN," she told ABSCBN's TeleRadyo. "Talagang mabigat sa puso, nakakaiyak na hindian ang mga request na ito. ‘Yung mga gusto pong tumulong, pwede sa 163. We’d be happy to accept donations."

Apart from the ABS-CBN Tulong Center and the ABS-CBN Foundation, Filipinos also lost different ABS-CBN current affairs shows that directly provided life-changing services to the public.

Prior to the shutdown, pioneering medical show Salamat Dok! conducted weekly medical missions for Filipinos that could not afford medical checkups and treatments. My Puhunan held free livelihood seminars through its Kabuhayan Caravan, “SOCO” would visit schools and communities for crime prevention seminars, while “Mission Possible” sought and provided help for the inspiring Filipinos it would feature every week.

Also affected are other public service events under ABS-CBN Integrated News and Current Affairs (INCA) that serve thousands of Filipinos every year, such as the HaPinay Convention of DZMM TeleRadyo and Umagang Kay Ganda, DZMM’s TLC (Teaching,

Learning, & Caring) classroom-onwheels and clinic-on-wheels, Kapamilya Day, Global Pinoy Idol, Maligayang Paslit, Red Alert Emergency Expo, and the annual INCA Grand Kapamilya Christmas Fair.

ABS-CBN Regional’s iconic public service event “Grand Halad sa Kapamilya,” as well as its public service projects and relief efforts, will also bid goodbye as the shutdown impaired the network’s regional operations.

Still, despite the setbacks, ABS-CBN has not stopped serving the Filipino, especially as the nation continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The ABS-CBN Foundation-led “Pantawid ng Pag-ibig: Isang Daan. Isang Pamilya.” has already helped feed over 880,000 families and delivered medical supplies to over 100 hospitals.

ABS-CBN news public service head Rowena Paraan, who leads the team that delivers relief good s to communities, said they get strength from the genuine love and support they receive from Filipinos they encounter in their operations.

For donations to “Pantawid ng Pagibig” or the ABS-CBN Foundation, visit www.abs-cbnfoundation.com.

Established in 2014, ABS-CBN Tulong Center had provided free legal and medical assistance to almost 55,000 Filipinos.

Lisbo, Rhys Miguel and Kaori Oinuma, and directed by Joel Ferrer, The Four Bad Boys and Me revolves around nerdy girl Candice Gonzales (Kaori). Her life changes upon getting in trouble with the four bad but heartthrobs at school. She annoys them except for Marky (Jeremiah), whom she has grown a crush on. While they get close to each other, Candice ends up being bullied by Jeydon (Rhys).

Will it be possible for Candice to have the ‘happy ending’ she wants? Or will it be too much to ask for because of her ruined life with them? Let’s find out as DJ Zari (Maymay) tells us the entire story.

Completing the four bad boys are Mark Rivera as Charles and Aljon Mendoza as Troy, the love interest of Tiffany, played by Karina Bautista. Also joining the cast are Jenny Jamora, who plays Candice’s mom, Candy, Alora Sasam as Ma’m Tina, and Chie Filomeno, and Stacy Chua.

The Four Bad Boys and Me will also be streamed via Star Cinema’s official Facebook page and YouTube channel, every Tuesday and Thursday beginning Aug. 27, 7:30 p.m..

Dynamic duo

ARIAS ALWIN IGNACIO THIS is not about Bruce Wayne and his ward Dick Grayson of Batman and Robin fame. Don’t even think this has something to do with Zan and Jana, the Wonder Twins in of the Justice League cartoon show that most Generation X-ers watched during its Saturday Fun day timeslot.

Today’s dynamic duo is brought to us by the letters B, the first letter in Benedict Cua’s name and M, which begins the screen name of Mimiyuuh. Nowadays, they are two of the biggest internet sensations this side of the Pacific.

Their stand-alone numbers are quite impressive. Cua’s digits: 1.41 million YouTube subscribers, 679.5K followers on Twitter, and on Instagram, 514K followers.

Jerermy Sancebuche, the fairy’s birth name, has numbers high and mighty: 13 million IG followers, 1.8million Twitter followers, and in YouTube 2.87 million strong supporters.

Loving them is easy as falling in love with your first ChocNut. Cua can pass as a KDrama lead star. In his vlogs, he is funny, naughty with a sunshiny smile and vibe that screams down-to-earth and easy to hang out and be friends with kind of millennial young man.

Mimiyuuh, on the other hand, is your charming and friendly gay neighbor. The one fairy friend for keeps. The barkada’s “Barbie Doll” and source of endless guffaws. When the going gets rough, we all know he becomes the sounding board and crying shoulders of all.

The ladies of Fate, the forces of the Muses, or is it Cupid that brought them together? We do not have a definite answer to this question for now. What is certain, the cosmos made them collaborate so that they can become the Universe’s biggest happy pill kind of a surprise to us all.

Cua and Mimiyuuh’s dynamism as partners is contagious because of the following reasons: the spontaneity of their banters. The chemistry they share is electric. And the kilig that they unknowingly give, hits you bull’s eye.

As a spectator, a part of you wants them to go beyond what their tandem dictates.

There is this little duwende that grows in you, and it gets tickled with every

SNAPSHOT

flirtatious remark they exchange. There is this romantic rush you feel when they look at each other’s eyes, hold hands, smell the breath of each other and just laugh out loud with their antics laced with titillation. Thus, we all cannot help but wonder, is there more to the bromosexual relationship that they now enjoy and share?

Their collabs always trend: when Mimiyuh acted as vocal coach to Cua, the video got 892,223 views; the Benedict “Dalagang Pilpina” tutorial by Mimi registered 654,281 views; their 24Hour Mag-Jowa Challenge, amassed 1,560,413 total views for the fairy and 1,450,950 views for the reluctant matinee idol; and The Spicy Noodles Challenge with Mimi by Cua got 2,491,552 views and its counterpart by Mimi, My BOY na FRIEND Does My Make-Up received 1,363,535 views.

Their last collaboration, which was the first video of them together that made this author a believer, the One Night Stand Challenge, Cua’s views clocked 979,050 views while Mimiyuuh’s gained 7,754,579 views.

It has been nine months since their last video collaboration. Their videos, after repeated viewings, provide the muchneeded respite from the excruciatingly difficult times we are all experiencing this pandemic and quarantine season.

To Benedict and Mimiyuuh, thank you to this internet dynamic duo for bringing laughter and kilig. Indeed, the different kind of love you have for each other needs no label. Here’s hoping that a new collaboration happens the soonest. Your adoring public awaits. Choke us! LOL!

Online personalities Benedict Cua and Mimiyuuuh

Sen. Grace Poe marks FPJ’s 81st birth anniversary

SEN. Grace Poe commemorated the 81st birth anniversary of her father, the late National Artist Fernando Poe Jr., with donations of 50 tablets to help needy students cope with the shift to online and blended learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Poe turned over the gadgets to the Don Quintin Paredes High School in Quezon City for distribution to students. The school’s principal, Ernest Ferrer Jr., received the donations from the senator who was accompanied by her son and chief of staff Brian Poe Llamanzares and Quezon City Vice Mayor Gian Sotto.

“We need to provide disadvantaged students the learning tools so they will not risk falling behind amid the rise of online education. As the nation deals with the pandemic, it is crucial to ensure that this crisis encourages innovation and inclusion, and does not compound learning inequalities,” Poe stressed.

Poe gave away local brand Cherry Mobile tablets, which came at a critical time as schools intensify preparations for the new modes of learning.

Face-to-face classes have been ruled out this year due to COVID-19, and the Department of Education has turned to

alternative delivery modalities under distance learning this coming school year, start of which has been moved to Oct. 5 for public schools.

The senator said linking with groups and individuals with common goals to help the disadvantaged was also FPJ’s advocacy.

“FPJ’s lessons and values have been my guiding light—to serve selflessly and make a difference in the Filipino people’s lives,” Poe said.

Sen. Grace Poe (center) with Vice Mayor Gian Sotto (left) and Don Quintin Paredes High School principal Ernest Ferrer.

Life

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

C4

TRAVEL AND LEISURE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2020

BATANGAS beach beckons

GOOD TIMES. The natural wonderland in Nasugbu, Batangas, Hamilo Coast is home not only to endemic flora and fauna but also to a host of fun outdoor and indoor activities that recharge mind and body and rejuvenate weary city folks.

By Steph Llarena

I

BELIEVE I’m not alone in saying that I miss the powdery beach, the salty sea water, the tingling sea breeze, the feeling of time standing still while the sun shines and all I worry about is reapplying my sunscreen.

Good times. Fun times.

As the tourism industry slowly and carefully restarts, destinations around the Philippines are busy preparing to once again welcome guests like me aching to escape the urban jungle and the hustle and bustle and virus.

A 90-minute drive from Manila and a popular beach destination among city dwellers, Hamilo Coast in the heart of Nasugbu, Batangas reminds visitors that it is more than a natural wonderland surrounded by rising mountains with lushly covered forests—it is a natural wonderland complete with fun activities and relaxing treats.

unique natural coves where marine wildlife native to the region thrive and thrill those adventurous enough to plunge into the clear blue waters.

For a vacation peppered with education, kids can take in the amazing scenery while learning more about the region’s endemic flora and fauna through the Santelmo Nature Trail.

Bird-watching throughout the property serves as an introduction to ornithology and encourages a better appreciation for these fine-feathered friends.

Meandering through the mangrove forest will give young and young-at-heart Vacation peppered with education guests a better idea how these unique Down below Hamilo Coast are 13 organisms work and how they are instru-

THIS week, I’m going to take a break from my usual tourism concerns to pay tribute to a skilled “angel,” a modern-day wizard, who saved me from several months of helplessness, despair, and unimaginable agony, a predicament that I wouldn’t even wish on my worst enemy!

But now that it’s over, I can happily talk about it. In fact, one day last week, I heard myself singing, as I was driving across the metropolis, borrowing the lines from a favorite childhood movie, “I’m off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of EYES…he is a whiz of a wiz because of the wonderful things he does…” But starting my narrative here would be putting the cart before the horse, so I‘ll start where I should.

Last year, my vision was starting to get blurry, the reason why I decided to beg off from my part-time teaching job in a popular university. I could no longer correct test papers nor see clearly the faces of my students. The first eye doctor I consulted told me that a severe case of cataract had built up on my left eye.

She could easily remove it but needed a clearance from my cardiologist.

I immediately tried to obtain one but, upon failing the Stress Test, the latter told me I had to have an angiogram. I never had any invasive medical procedure done on me since I was a child, so the sound of it scared the wits out of me. My right eye could still see very well, so I decided to forget about the angiogram and went on enjoying life as I should.

Early this year, I noticed that my vision was getting worse. I could no longer drive nor watch TV. I went to see another eye doctor, hoping that, this time, there wouldn’t be any clearance required from my cardiologist. This second doctor confirmed that the severe cataract had completely covered my left eye and that my right eye’s vision was also starting to fail because of another rapidly advancing cataract.

This was when I decided to submit myself to an angiogram. As suspected by my cardiologist, there

mental in keeping the delicate balance of the natural environment.

Fun in the sun Pico de Loro Cove, the primary development within Hamilo Coast, boasts over 1.5 kilometers of white sand beach where guests can enjoy a seaside jog or walk to start or end the day.

Better still, guests can grab the gang (while still practicing social distancing) and zip off aboard a banana boat or skim over the waves while riding jet skis.

Thrill-seekers are invited to go on an adventure to the skies as they parasail over the surface of the waters. Nature lovers, on the other hand, are in for a treat that many can only watch on Discovery or

National Geographic, such as swimming with a colorful array of sea creatures while snorkeling and exploring Hamilo Coast’s natural coves.

Those who aren’t really into the great outdoors can have a splashing good time at any of the swimming pools at the Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club.

Fun indoors Since not everyone wants to stay out in the sunshine, the resort offers several options which they can do to stay active indoors.

The Pico de Loro Country Club, in particular, has several indoor courts for anyone with a hankering to shoot some hoops or play a heart-pounding set of volleyball.

Courts are also available for those into racket sports such as tennis, badminton, and squash. The bowling and billiards facility is likewise open for those who want

Dark days and the Wizard were three points in my cardiac arteries that were blocked, one in a very crucial part, the left coronary artery which takes care of 70 percent of the heart. Stents were placed and the angiogram was successful. My achy, breaky heart was functioning 100 percent once again.

I was ready for my cataract surgery, or so I thought.

I went back to the first eye doctor I had consulted but she told me she could remove my cataracts only if I stopped taking, for a week, the two blood thinners required after my angioplasty. The second one I previously went to had the same requirement.

My cardiologist and my stent doctor said I have to wait a year before I could temporarily stop my blood thinners, otherwise, there’s a very high risk of thrombosis which could lead to a heart attack.

I went around town, consulting four more eye doctors in as many big hospitals here in the metro. Nobody would touch me with a ten-foot pole if I didn’t stop my blood thinners. Meantime, my right eye’s vision was getting worse, until such time when I became completely blind in both eyes, detecting only faint lights and a lot of dark shadows.

I had to be totally dependent on my sons to act as my guide and assistant—for a shoulder I could hold on to every time I walk—feeding me when I eat, choosing clothes to wear, reading and typing my messages, etc. My pathetic condition robbed me of my self-esteem, my confidence, and my will to live.

Ever since I graduated from college, I have always been in complete control of my life, successfully charting my future the way I wanted it. Then, here I was, reduced to a useless, powerless creature who couldn’t even feed himself because he couldn’t see what he was eating. I was having anxiety attacks every day, as I felt buried and trapped underground, not being able to see anything. I laid awake all night, scared, emotionally drained, and in total anguish.

Meantime, I never stopped looking for an eye doctor who could help me, calling many friends every day, just to check if they had referrals. Finally, a former colleague in school told me about her mother’s quick cataract operation in a clinic in an upscale mall and gave me a doctor’s name who she heard does cataracts even without discontinuing blood thinners. I im-

“I guess our Divine Healer made me go through such emotional upheaval for me to realize that I actually need only very little to enjoy life.”

to enjoy some friendly competition.

Musically inclined guests, meanwhile, can belt out a tune or two at any of the videoke rooms, while die-hard digital gamers have a space for an hour or five of gaming.

After a day of activities, outdoors or indoors, Chef Pat Obia and his team take care of guests’ appetite, as they serve up delectable specialties from across the globe at the Coast’s various dining establishments.

Those looking for a laid-back and refreshing way to end the day can choose from a selection of expertly mixed sundowners to sip as they wind down along with the sunset.

I pray this pandemic finally ends, because Hamilo Coast awaits. Go to www. hamilocoast.com or call (02) 7945-8000 for more information.

mediately asked my son to bring me to this doctor.

Dr. Richard Kho of the American Eye Center immediately took pity on me and scheduled my surgery right away. He also assured my cardiologist that he will remove my cataracts even with my blood thinners. Although he made clear to me the risk involved, because both cataracts were of the hardened type, I was impressed by the confidence he exuded and his having handled similar cases many times before, including those of big-name personalities.

Dr. Kho magically removed each of the pesky cataracts in a matter of 20 minutes, a week apart.

Now, I’m back to my usual happy self, being able to do things on my own, and praising Somebody Up There for my continuing gift of life. I guess our Divine Healer made me go through such emotional upheaval for me to realize that I actually need only very little to enjoy life.

And HE also gave me the best gift ever—this skilled eye doctor, a real angel, the wizard who gave me back my 20-20 vision in time for my birthday!

In my book, somebody who can do things that others can’t is definitely a wizard. And, I will never get tired of thanking God for bringing me to the yellow brick road that led me to this wonderful “Wizard of EYES,” as I continue to sing, “…The Wizard of EYES is one because, because, because of the wonderful things he does!”

YOUR WEEKEND CHUCKLE Who was complaining at the start of the year that this year 2020 didn’t have enough holidays?

Now what?

For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com.

Dr. Richard Kho, an ophthalmologist at the American Eye Center.