Manila Standard - 2020 September 8 - Tuesday

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Duterte pardons Pemberton Says US Marine was ’not treated fairly,’ gov’t failed to record jail time WALKING FREE.

In this file photo, US Marines Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton is escorted out of the Olongapo Regional Trial Court last week, ahead of the absolute pardon granted him by President Rodrigo Duterte for the killing of Filipino transgender woman Jennifer Laude in October 2014.

By Joyce Pangco Panares and Rey E. Requejo

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday granted absolute pardon to an American soldier who was convicted of killing transgender Filipino woman Jennifer Laude in 2014, saying it was only fair to grant it to US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Pemberton because he was "not treated fairly."

Duterte said the government, specifically the Philippine Marines, failed to keep a record of Pemberton's jail time.

"You have not treated Pemberton fairly so i-release ko. Pardon. Ang pardon walang question yan," he said in an address to the nation aired on government TV stations.

"The Marines never kept a record, di nila trabaho yan... Hindi kasalanan Next page

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 186• 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

WHITE SAND' SOURCE.

This photo from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region 7 shows the hills of Alcoy town in Cebu, the source of the crushed dolomite used to whiten the beaches of Manila Bay (inset), a move environmentalists and lawmakers have opposed. MGB, GMANews

Protests mount against Manila Bay ’whitening’

By Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

partment of Environment and Natural Senator Nancy Binay, citing a DeResources to immediately suspend the partment of Health warning, urged the filling of Manila Bay's shore with syn- DENR to stop the P385-million makeLAWMAKERS joined environmental thetic white sand made from crushed over, as the dust from dolomite, which Next page groups on Monday in urging the De- dolomite.

Rody hails frontliners, public for flattening curve of cases PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has praised frontliners and the public for the apparent slowdown of coronavirus cases in the country, noting that the lockdowns have contributed greatly to flattening the curve.

In a televised meeting with his Cabinet on Monday night, the President said he truly appreciated those following the minimum health protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emergent and Infectious Diseases (IATF).

"That meant a lot and contributed to

what is happening now, the flattening of cases," Duterte said. "Remember that the lessening of contamination is not because COVID-19, the germ is gone. It is there floating around us. Kaya lang ang mga tao sumunod na... The mask was one important factor."

He also noted that several vaccines against the coronavirus, mentioning Moderna in particular, would be ready by the end of the month, and that the government would "go for less expensive ones."

Next page

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM SEPT. 7)

238,727 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

1,383 49,931 NEW

ACTIVE

3,890

15

184,906

230

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

NEW

NEW

Another Parojinog died in prison Cops in soldiers slay in Sulu face Palace defends socmed monitoring admin charges THANKFUL. President Rodrigo Duterte addresses the nation on Monday with updates on the IATF-MEID response in battling COVID-19, which he said the curve has now flattened. Ey Acasio

By Rey E. Requejo

By Vito Barcelo

MALACAÑANG on Monday said it does not see any wrong with the Philippine National Police (PNP) monitoring social media accounts to spot violators of quarantine protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In defending the PNP’s move, Palace spokesperson Harry Roque said that the right to privacy was already waived once something is posted on the Internet.

This developed as Interior Secretary Eduardo Año filed charges against a netizen who had attributed a false quote to

JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Monday directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of two jailed members of the Parojinog family, who have been tagged as drug lords by the Duterte administration.

Guevarra said he asked the NBI to include in its preliminary inquiry the reported death of Melodia "Apyat" Parojinog Malingin, just two days after her brother, former Ozamiz City councilor Ricardo "Ardot" Parojinog, was found dead in his detention cell last week.

The Commission on Human Rights

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Locsin rejects opening 11 PH sea lanes

By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

of the Philippine Coast Guard to open 11 archipelagic sea lanes.

“Why I turned down the Coast Guard’s insistence on opening 11 archipelagic FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Teodoro lanes instead of three has to do with Locsin Jr. on Monday denied the request Next page

RODY READY TO INK BAYANIHAN 2 BILL

FILM ICON 'MANAY ICHU' PASSES AT 77

NEWS / A2

ENTERTAINMENT / C3

CHARGED. Nine Jolo cops leave the National Bureau of Investigation after a preliminary investigation in July in this file photo. PNP Chief Police General Camilo Pancratius Cascolan on Monday said their Internal Affairs Service has already filed administrative and criminal complaints against the policemen involved in shooting four Army soldiers in Jolo, Sulu last June.

THE nine policemen accused of shooting dead four military intelligence operatives in Jolo in June and the three top officials in Sulu have been charged administratively, Philippine National Police Chief Camilo Cascolan said Monday.

He said the charges were filed against Senior Master Sgt. Abdelzhimar Padjiri; Master Sgt. Hanie Baddiri; Staff Sgt. Iskandar Susulan; Staff Sgt. Ernisar Sappal; Cpl. Sulki Andaki; Pat. Moh. Nur Pasani; Staff Sgt. Almudzrin Hadjaruddin; Pat. Alkajal Mandangan, and Pat Rajiv Putalan. All are under restrictive custody in Camp Crame.

The three senior officials—Lt. Col. Michael Bayawan Jr., the chief of police in Sulu; Maj. Walter Annayo, the chief of police in Jolo; and Capt. Ariel Corsino, the head of the Sulu drug enforcement unit-have also been charged since they are similarly liable under the doctrine of command responsibility.

Killed in the June 29 incident were Maj. Marvin Indammog, Capt. Irwin Next page

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News

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Rody ready to ink Bayanihan 2 P “I don’t think the first two weeks of September will pass without the bill being signed. I think they’re aiming that the bill should be signed this week. Next week at the latest,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque told reporters.

He made his statement even as House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez rallied his colleagues to quickly pass the P4.5-trillion national budget for 2021 as a major component of the Duterte administration’s plan to re-

build the economy and to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Romualdez, head of the House committee on rules, appealed to his colleagues to give their full cooperation in ensuring the swift passage of the national budget before the 18th Congress takes its break on Oct. 17.

“Our hybrid and virtual budget briefings and consultations will proceed so that we will have enough time to raise various concerns. We also appeal to our colleagues to avoid repetitive questions during the deliberations,” Romualdez said in response to the appeal of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III for Congress’ swift enactment of the proposed budget.

Roque said the Palace was consulting

Duterte...

the President did not erase was Pemberton's conviction. He is still a killer.”

Laude's family on Monday condemned President Duterte’s decision.

Virginia Lacsa Suarez, legal counsel for the Laudes, said: “As a lawyer of the Laude family, secretary general of the Kilusan and chairperson of Kaisa Ka, we condemn the statement of Duterte giving absolute pardon to Pemberton, an American soldier who committed atrocious crime to a transwoman like Jennifer Laude.”

Suarez said she was surprised to hear that Pemberton would now be able to walk free, and that she did not expect the pardon, which now effectively prevents them from questioning his release and efforts to correct the system.

“Goodness, I am shocked. There are many thoughts running through my mind.

What is happening? Is this a joke? Are we just playing moro-moro? Has Pemberton already left? Is that why he was given absolute pardon to give legal color or to justify that he is no longer here?” Suarez said.

Suarez said Pemberton’s release only showed that the Philippines is still a follower of the United States.

Locsin’s disclosure came after the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court on Monday ordered the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) to submit a manifestation on whether or not Pemberton, who was sentenced to a six- to 10-year imprisonment for killing Laude, is entitled to Good Conduct Time Allowance.

The Olongapo City court earlier ordered the early release from detention of Pemberton, who has served five years of the sentence.

Judge Roline Ginez-Abalde held that Pemberton had served a total of 2,142 days and earned 1,548 GCTAs. Taken together, this amounts to 3,690 days, or 10 years, one month, and 10 days.

The BuCor later suspended Pemberton’s release pending resolution of the motion for reconsideration filed by the Laude family seeking to stop the US soldier’s early release.

Earlier, the Olongapo court ordered BuCor to submit a manifestation stating

whether Pemberton was entitled to good conduct time allowances, said Virginia Suarez, counsel for the Laude family.

The Laude family opposed the court's ruling, saying Pemberton is not entitled to GCTAs. They also argued that there is no proof of the convicted Marine's supposed good conduct.

Pemberton's lawyer, on the other hand, insisted that the BuCor officers who guarded the convict at Camp Aguinaldo attested to his good behavior.

The Department of Justice, through its prosecutors in Olongapo, was expected to file its own motion for reconsideration opposing Pemberton’s early release—but a presidential pardon would render the action moot.

The law on GCTAs, Republic Act No. 10592, provides the number of days that may be deducted from an inmate's service of sentence for each month of good behavior.

Laude, a 26-year-old transgender woman, was found dead in the bathroom of a motel room in Olongapo City on Oct. 11, 2014.

Pemberton was charged with murder, but he was convicted of homicide in 2015, a verdict that was affirmed by the Court of Appeals. Instead of a regular jail, he has been detained for more than five years at military headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo.

Amid the controversy over his early release, the Laude family sought to go to his detention cell to see if he was still there. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said they would have to communicate with BuCor. The Laudes' lawyer said she is not discounting the possibilities that the grant of pardon to Pemberton was part of the condition for the country to have its $2 billion attack helicopters and ammunition approved or part of the condition for the US to return to Subic by taking over Hanjin Shipyard.

Suarez said President Duterte’s order to grant absolute pardon to Pember-

ton took away from the Department of Justice the opportunity to question the decision of RTC Judge Roline Ginez Jabalde and the Bureau of Correction (BuCor) to explain on the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) of Pemberton.

“This is disappointing. We could have fixed it. This could have served as a lesson in case a similar incident happens in the future,” Suarez added.

Centerlaw, a human rights advocacy group, tied Pemberton's release to larger developments involving Manila and Washington.

“The signs had been there all along —the President’s turnaround on the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.’s statements on renewed cooperation between the US and Philippine Armed Forces in the South China Sea, and even a sale of US helicopters to the Philippines. And the price we had to pay, among other things, is the freedom for Mr. Pemberton, and the violation of the rights of poor Filipinos like Jeffrey Laude, who are deemed insignificant in the scale of things.”

Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite denounced the pardon, calling it “an act of an American lackey.”

“There is a pending appeal in the court from the family of Jennifer Laude, but this connivance between Malacañang and the United States government ensured that this appeal would not prosper," Gaite said.

"The granting of his early liberty is premised on Good Conduct Time Allowance but this remains to be suspended and thus should not have been accepted by the court,” he said.

He added that the Palace had to come to the rescue since the legal case for Pemberton's early release was on shaky ground.

“Clearly the Palace gives more value to being in the good graces of the United States rather than give justice to its own citizens," he added.

mainly," Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said in a briefing.

"Using dolomite as a substitute for white sand only means that this did not pass the right process and study,” Binay said.

She noted there was no public consultation, no environmental clearance and no comprehensive plan on the project.

However, Malacanang on Monday defended the makeover, saying this would benefit the mental health of “millions of residents in Metro Manila” who had to go through a lockdown that lasted more than

two months as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque also defended the project from critics who argue that funds for Manila Bay's rehabilitation could have been allotted to the government's COVID-19 response.

In defending the DENR rehabilitation plan, Roque said funds for the program were already allocated even before the COVID-19 pandemic started.

Manila Mayor Isko Domagoso also rejected calls to scrap the project, saying

it was planned before the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We cannot just strike down a valid contract without violation of anything under the provision of that contract,” Domagoso told ABS-CBN in a mix of English and Filipino. “It won’t be good for the government to be an example of changing the rule in the middle of the ballgame.”

He said the DENR would know “better than anybody else” whether or not the project harms the environment and public health.

lations found on social media must be obtained legally, the National Privacy Commission said Monday.

According to NPC commissioner Raymund Liboro, policemen may use social media to look for possible violations of quarantine protocols but they must recognize the public's data privacy rights.

"The leads or evidence the police get from social media must be legally obtained," Liboro told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.

"Our law enforcers must use techniques that are non-invasive," he added, as he urged the task force to explain its method of monitoring social media posts to allay the public's fears of mass and indiscriminate surveillance.

"Everyone should be aware and the law enforcers who will use this should be trained in order to protect the public's rights. At the end of the day, if the public's trust is lost, it will not help the police," Liboro said.

Another...

"The NBI will find out if Parojinog had already been sick before he was transferred, and what his condition was upon actual arrival in Ozamiz," Guevarra said.

According to Guevarra, the inquiry on Malingin's death will also involve an inquiry into the state of her health before she died.

Police authorities said they are determining if Parojinog had any prior illness before he was found dead in his cell at the Ozamiz City Police Station Friday morning, with no sign of violence on his body.

Police Regional Office 10 chief Brigadier General Rolando Anduyan said Parojinog died of a heart attack. He had also been tested for COVID-19.

Malingin, Parojinog's sister, reportedly died at the hospital on Sunday morning.

Reynaldo's son, Reynaldo Jr., was convicted of illegal possession of drugs in 2019. Reynaldo Jr.'s sister, Nova Princess, faces charges for illegal possession of firearms and dangerous drugs.

and designate where civilian and military ships could pass through.

Locsin made his statement even as Senator Risa Hontiveros criticized Malacañang's decision to continue several projects involving the Chinese firms that allegedly took part in illegal reclamation activities in the South China Sea. “This is disappointing. We need to investigate these deals. We need to protect our national interest," Hontiveros said.

"If our position on the issue is unclear to other countries, it will seem like we are not serious in asserting our claim to the disputed territories.”

China has reclaimed and militarized a number of features in the South China Sea, and has rejected the 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated its sweeping claims there.

Cops...

By Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will sign any time this week the proposed Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2, which aims to provide a COVID-19 relief package worth P165 billion, Malacañang said Monday.

From A1

ni Pemberton. Hindi siya required to keep a record of his own.... Allow him good character presumption kasi wala naman nagreport na nagkakalat siya sa loob or he destroys things," the President added.

The American soldier was convicted of killing Laude in a fit of rage over a sexual encounter in Olongapo in October 2014.

Sources, who requested anonymity, told the Standard Pemberton would be transported out of the country within 24 hours to prevent appeals that would keep him in a local cell.

The President said he was not favoring Pemberton and that he only wanted to be fair. "If there is a time you are called to be fair, be fair," he said.

Perhaps anticipating backlash from critics who may compare his fairness to Pemberton to his administration's bloody war on drugs, Duterte said: "If you ask me kung fair ako sa durugistan, I say be cruel.

Be cruel."

Asked if the President consulted him before making the decision, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he was.

"Pardon is an act of grace on the part of the Chief Executive. He may exercise this plenary power of executive clemency at anytime and under any circumstance," Guevarra said in a text to reporters.

Hours earlier, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. announced on Twitter the US Marine's impending release.

"Cutting matters short over what constitutes time served, and since where he was detained was not in the prisoner’s control—and to do justice—the President has granted an absolute pardon to Pemberton. Here at the Palace," Locsin said, in his Twitter post.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, who served as legal counsel for the Laude family, reported Duterte's move, but said Pemberton was still a killer.

“The President has erased any punishment that should have been imposed on Pemberton,” Roque said in Filipino. “What

Protests...

From A1

will be used as a substitute for white sand, can cause adverse respiratory reactions, eye irritation and discomfort in the gastrointestinal system.

Dolomite is a type of mineral composed of calcium magnesium carbonate.

"It is a form of rock, which according to studies, if a person inhales it, it can have adverse reactions, respiratory

Palace...

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him about observing physical distancing after sex, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said Monday.

Police identified the netizen as Gabriel Marvin Cabier, a 26-year-old from Cebu City, according to DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya.

Cabier was confirmed to be the administrator of Facebook page “One Ride One Shot," whose post falsely quoting Año was shared 11,000 times and had 3,600 reactions and 1,900 comments as of Aug. 11, Malaya said.

Cabier is facing complaints for unlawful use of means of publication and unlawful utterances in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, among others, Malaya added.

However, evidence of quarantine vio-

Locsin...

From A1

fisheries and marine conservation,” Locsin said in a Twitter post.

“With 11, we might as well turn over our territorial waters to the nearest naval power. Cheaper than patrolling.”

Locsin made his statement after the Philippine Navy opposed a plan by the Cavite provincial government to move the military service command out of Sangley Point in Cavite as part of a P500billion airport project that is supposed to ease the congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila.

There are now pending measures in Congress seeking to allow the Philippines to identify its archipelagic sea lanes

From A1

(CHR) will likewise conduct an independent investigation into the deaths of the Parojinog siblings while under police custody, spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said Monday.

Ardot Parojinog was found dead inside his detention cell last Friday ahead of a court hearing for a string of charges, while Parojinog-Malingin also died under detention over the weekend.

Both were siblings of Ozamiz City Mayor Reynaldo “Aldong” Parojinog, who was killed along with 15 other people in a 2017 police raid.

Guevarra earlier admitted that NBI OIC-director Eric Distor has ordered his operatives to do some initial fact-checking on the state of Parojinog's health before he was found dead.

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Managuelod, Sgt. Jaime Velasco, and Cpl. Abdal Asula, all Army personnel.

The four were conducting intelligence and monitoring operations against two suspected suicide bombers when gunned down by the policemen.

"I am giving the internal affairs unit a free hand in exercising its mandate to determine the administrative liability of these personnel and to impose the appropriate penalty as prescribed under PNP regulations," Cascolan told reporters.

He made his statement even as the Transport department said more K9 units would be deployed in all railway stations across Metro Manila to prevent terror

agencies on the contents of the proposed Bayanihan 2, which the President endorsed to Congress in July.

“The reason why it’s taking a little long, though it hasn’t been that long yet, is the consultation with concerned government agencies,” Roque said.

He says the ordinary process takes a little while, but that once the consultation ends, the President will sign it since he is the one who asked for it from Congress.

The bill, ratified by the Senate and House of Representatives last month, will provide P50 billion to government’s financial institutions to provide soft loans to the sectors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"threats" following the blasts in Jolo.

The department said it had ordered the Philippine Coast Guard to expand the deployment of K9 units.

At least 40 K9 units would be deployed at the LRT-1, LRT-2, MRT-3 and the Philippine National Railways to augment the security protocols to prevent terror threats, the department said.

The National Bureau of Investigation earlier filed murder charges against the nine policemen. It also recommended the filing of charges against Bayawan, Annayo and Corsino for neglect of duty.

"These personnel are readily available to face investigation by the panel of summary hearing officers who will determine probable cause to take further administrative actions against them," Cascolan said.

Lone QC bettor bags P339-m lotto jackpot A LONE bettor from Quezon City is the second jackpot winner in the lotto games since the implementation of community quarantine measures in mid-March that affected the games' operations, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) said Monday.

In an advisory, PCSO general manager Royina Garma said the winner bagged the P339-million jackpot prize in Sunday night's Lotto 6/58 draw.

The bettor guessed the winning combination 18-19-28-09-01-11. To claim the check, the bettor must go to PCSO's main office in Mandaluyong City and present the winning ticket and two ID cards.

Meanwhile, 57 bettors won second prize and will each receive P120,000 for correctly guessing five numbers out of the six-digit winning combination, while 2,390 bettors won P2,000 and 29,424 also won P100.

Garma said the selling agents get a prize commission of one percent of the jackpot prize but not to exceed P1 million.

The 6/58 lotto is drawn every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday.

Meanwhile, the jackpot of the Grand Lotto 6/55 is estimated to reach P100 million in the draw to be held Monday night.

Garma said there was no jackpot winner in the last draw held Saturday night which yielded a winning combination 41-16-36-43-19-34 which carried a jackpot of a P97.6 million.

Rody...

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The President again vouched for Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, saying he should not resign from his post despite calls from lawmakers and the private sector to do so.

"This is not the time for you to resign.

Hindi pa panahon mag resign. I have full trust in you. Ang akin lang naman dyan corruption, wala ka doon sa... Tiningnan namin yung papel. Unless there is a specific finding," he told Duque.

New COVID-19 cases down to 1,383 The Department of Health (DOH) reported 1,383 news cases of COVID-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of infections to 238,727.

The DOH also announced 230 recoveries which brought total number of recoveries to 184,906. There were 15 deaths.

The confirmed cases are reported based on the total tests done by 88 out of 115 current operational labs. Twentyseven labs failed to submit their data to the COVID-19 Data Repository System.

Athletes allowed to resume training The government’s COVID-19 task force has allowed student-athletes to resume training in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), Malacañang said Monday. (See related story on C1 -- Editors).

Palace spokesman Harry Roque said people are also now required to wear face shields in all public places as a precaution against COVID-19.

Previously, the government approved the mandatory wearing of face shields in areas such as supermarkets, shopping malls and government offices as well as in public transportation, indoor workplaces, and commercial establishments.

UP group warns about Bacolod cases DUE to an increasing number of COVID-19 cases, Negros Occidental’s Bacolod City must be placed under stricter modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), according to a University of the Philippines researcher who has tracked the pandemic.

In an interview over Dobol B sa News TV, Ranjit Rye from the UP-OCTA Research Team UP-Department of Political Science urged the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases(IATF-EID) and National Task Force Against COVID-19 to revert Bacolod City’s general community quarantine (GCQ) to MECQ. COVID-19 cases in Bacolod City has continued to rise at over 100 every day, and hospitals and other health care facilities are getting overwhelmed, he said.

Palace mouthpiece under self-isolation Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque is now under self-isolation at home after his security detail tested positive for COVID-19.

Roque made the statement in his regular press briefing but said he does not show any symptoms.

“One of my security detail tested positive. I don’t have the any symptoms, but we’re following protocol,” Roque said.

Isolation and quarantine are public health practices used to protect the public by preventing exposure to people who have or may have a contagious disease.

DOH, vaccine makers in talks The Department of Health (DOH) is holding continuous talks with US pharmaceutical firms Pfizer, Moderna, and other coronavirus disease vaccine developers.

Willie Casas, Rio N. Araja, and Vito Barcelo

News

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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SMC gets House nod for Bulacan airport

By Joel E, Zurbano

HE House of Representatives on Monday approved on third and final reading a measure granting congressional franchise to conglomerate San Miguel Corp. to build and operate an international airport in Bulacan.

T

ASSAULT VEHICLES. Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna and the Manila Police District SWAT team receive six urban assault vehicles donated by the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. for the MPD SWAT team on Monday morning. Norman Cruz

Search for missing ship crew continues

By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday said Japan was expected to conduct an aerial search operation for the 40 missing crewmen from the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand of the sunken Panamanian cargo vessel.

“As the area is still pounded by gusty winds, search by patrol boat is not possible at this time,” the DFA said.

The department expressed hopes that the other Filipino seafarers will soon be found.

The DFA said that so far two Filipino crewmen have been rescued, while another died after being found unconscious on Friday.

The DFA, along with Philippine Embassy in Tokyo, the Philippine Consulate General in Osaka and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office said that they will continue to monitor and coordinate the situation with the Japanese Coast Guard, the ship owner and the manning agency to extend all appropriate support for the Filipino seafarers and their families.

The search was stopped on Saturday due to bad weather, when Typhoon Haishen was headed towards southwestern Japan.

En route to Port of Jingtang in Tangshan, Gulf Livestock 1, was able to make a distress call on September 2 from Amami Oshima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture before it sank as Typhoon Maysak lashed the area with strong winds and heavy seas.

IN BRIEF ‘Bill on online voters registration a priority’ A SENIOR official of the House of Representatives on Monday said he would prioritize the deliberations on the online voters’ registration bill.

Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, chairman of the Committee on Rules, said he would push for the approval of House Bill 7063 that he and the late Party-list Rep. Francisco Datol Jr. of Senior Citizens, who was then chairman of the chamber’s Special Committee on Senior Citizens, filed.

Datol died last month of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Maricel V. Cruz

COA flags OVP over ‘slow’ use of medical aid funds THE Commission on Audit has called the attention of the Office of the Vice President for its slow use of medical assistance program funds for indigent patients in 2019.

Its audit report said that the OVP has yet to use its P122.8-million pending medical assistance program funds for last year now totaling at P195 million.

COA said there were lesser patients who benefited from the program, a breach of Presidential Decree 1445 or the Auditing Code of the Philippines.

The OVP had P317.9 million worth of recorded obligation but only 38.64 percent or P122.8 million had been delivered to hospitals servicing patients endorsed by the OVP. Rio N. Araja

Solons seek more funds for DAR’s ‘mega farms’

By Maricel V. Cruz TWO congressmen on Monday want to give the Department of Agrarian Reform from P3 billion to P5 billion more in the 2021 national government budget to fund the planned establishment of ‘mega farms’ for agrarian reform beneficiaries.

The department plans to establish such farms after the break-up of big land holdings in order to distribute to the farmers the land they cultivate.

During the budget hearing at the House of Representatives on Monday,

Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte and Party Rep. Argel Cabatbat said there is a need for the department to be given enough funding for the implementation of its “mega farms” pilot project for agrarian reform beneficiaries.

Villafuerte said the DBM-approved proposed P8.85 billion budget for the DAR next year is “too small,” since of the amount, only P741 million was allotted for the Agrarian Reform Beneficiary and Sustainability Program.

“The department submitted the mega farms proposal to the House. I am in favor of the concept since it involves consoli-

dating farms now owned by beneficiaries into 50-hectare plantations in order to develop these for commercial farming. This will liberate the beneficiaries from subsistence farming,” Villafuerte said.

Under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law, farmers are not given more than three hectares each.

“So I would like to put on record and I hope our colleagues will support, that I will strongly push for the funding of the mega farms concept by at least P3 billion to P5 billion to help the farmers get liberated from the bondage of the soil,” he added.

With 218 affirmative votes, six negative votes, and two abstentions, the lower chamber approved House Bill 7507, which grants SMC subsidiary, San Miguel Aerocity, Inc., a franchise to establish a domestic and international airport in the municipality of Bulakan, Bulacan and develop an adjacent airport city.

Under the bill, the franchise shall be in effect for 50 years, inclusive of the 10year maximum period for the construction of the airport and the Airport City.

During the 10-year construction period, the grantee shall be exempt from any and all direct and indirect taxes, including income taxes, value-added taxes, percentage taxes, customs duties and tariffs, business taxes, franchise taxes, and supervision fees.

Under the profit-sharing agreement in the franchise bill, the grantee shall be entitled to generate income from the Airport City equivalent to a project Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 12 percent per annum.

Any amount in excess of the 12 percent IRR of the Airport City shall be remitted to the national government.

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said the project would be beneficial with the PHP740-billion infrastructure investment that “come(s) entirely out of the private sector’s hands”.

“This is probably the biggest singleitem investment in the country’s history.

San Miguel is a Filipino company that has kept nearly all of its money here, to develop this country,” Salceda said.

“They are doubling down on their commitment to Philippine development with this investment. I want the airport to happen on fair and equitable terms.”

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Customs Ninoy Aquino International Airport has launched an information campaign to properly guide the public on claiming parcels and protect them from being scammed online.

On Monday, the agency started distributing fliers and other information materials to stakeholders aimed at providing them the guidelines on processing and claiming of parcels from Customs’ Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City.

Sanchez moved to another hospital BOOKS FOR RE-USE. Parents list down the number of books used by their children last school year (2019—2020) which will be

returned to Sta. Cristina Elementary School in Dasmarinas, Cavite. The same books will be used by incoming students in the coming school year which starts October 5,2020 per Department of Education guideline. JR Josue

BI earned P3b in 1st half of 2020 despite COVID-19

By Vito Barcelo THE Bureau of Immigration earned more than P3 billion in revenues during the first half of the year amid the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said the Bureau’s collection of immigration fees from January to June totaled P3.14 billion, which is 39-percent lower than the 4.3 billion the agency remitted to the national treasury in the same period last year.

“We still consider this as a significant

accomplishment considering that even amidst the pandemic we are just 50-percent short of attaining our target of P6.18 billion for 2020,” Morente said in a statement.

The BI chief said the Bureau’s collections would have already reached record levels at this time without the pandemic which forced the agency to suspend services and scale down operations in most of its offices.

He also cited the 95-percent drop in the number of local and foreign travelers who entered and exited the country which

led to a tremendous decline in the volume of the Bureau’s clientele.

Morente, nonetheless, said the BI is optimistic that it will attain its income target for the year as the country transitions to “new normal” under less restrictive quarantine measures.

“We are seeing resurgence in the number of people transacting in our offices and as the economy slowly reopens and travel restrictions are eased, we anticipate a steady rise in our revenues in the next few months,” he added.

CONVICTED former Calauan Mayor Antonio Sanchez has been transferred to the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center for various ailments on Friday, a Department of Justice official confirmed.

“He is now being guarded by four BuCor (Bureau of Corrections) personnel,” DOJ Undersecretary and spokesperson Markk Perete said on Monday.

Sanchez, who had been confined at the New Bilibid Prison Hospital, is suffering from “multiple electrolyte imbalance, chronic kidney disease stage IV and pulmonary tuberculosis” among other conditions.

“There was deliberation by doctors last Friday and their consensus was there was a need for further testing,” said BuCor spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag.

Sanchez underwent confirmatory swab tests for coronavirus disease and yielded negative results, the BuCor said.

The former mayor of the Laguna town is serving a sentence of seven reclusion perpetua for the rape and killing of UP Los Baños student Aileen Sarmenta and her boyfriend, Allan Gomez in 1993.

Pinoy frontliners in Austria honored THE Philippine Embassy in Vienna, led by Ambassador Maria Cleofe R. Natividad, honored 16 remarkable Filipino and Filipino-Austrian frontliners during the Dangal ng Pasugan (Honor of the Embassy; Ehren der Botschaft) awards ceremony on 28 August 2020 in Vienna.

The awardees, comprising medical healthcare workers, grocery clerks, and household and airport workers, have demonstrated their unwavering dedication and professionalism in the midst of the ongoing global health pandemic.

The Dangal ng Pasuguan awardees were nominated by members of the Filipino community and/or their Austrian employers after bearing witness to “their courage and dedication in heeding the call

to action during an unprecedented and continuing global crisis.”

The hour-long ceremony, which was attended by approximately by eighty individuals from both Austrian federal and local government, including high-ranking officials from the Austrian Ministry of European and International Affairs), as well as the private sector, media, and members of the Filipino community in Austria, featured messages from Ambassador Natividad, Mayor Michael Ludwig as delivered by his representative Mag. Marcus Schober, and Austrian Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Bita Rasoulian. Finally, as a heartfelt tribute to the frontliners, the Embassy Chorale serenaded the audience with their well-applauded rendition of the popular OPM hit Tuloy Pa Rin.

AWARDEES. Dangal ng Pasuguan Awardees 2020 pose for posterity with Ambassador Maria Cleofe Natividad (center), together with Bishop Franz Scharl, Member of the Vienna Parliament Mag. Marcus Schober, Ambassador Hannes Schreiber and District Mayor Ernst Nevrivy.

LGUs

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

A4

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2020

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

RAINBOW CLOUD. An

astonishing iridescent cloud forms over Narra, Palawan at around 3 p.m.

Monday as captured by Dan Albert Pangan. This phenomenon is usually formed when sunlight reflects off tiny water droplets present in the atmosphere.

Earth Shaker PH via Twitter

Navotas shuts computer shops defying rules

By Jun David MAYOR Toby Tiangco on Monday ordered the closure of two computer shops for having no business permits and for allowing entry to minors.

Tiangco reiterated his warning that internet cafes, computer shops or piso net should remain close because they cater mostly to young clients who are prohibited from leaving their homes and are placed under a 24-hour curfew.

“We want to keep our children safe in their homes. We do not want them in computer shops or out in the streets where they could contract the dreaded disease,” he said.

“Parents should discipline and zuard their children. Their negligence can cause a setback to our fight against COVID-19,” he added.

City Ordinance No. 2020-33 imposed a 24-hour curfew on residents below 18 years old while Navotas is under community quarantine or in any form of lockdown required by the national or local government.

Parents or guardians who will let their children roam the streets or play or loiter outside their home will be fined P1,000 or P2,000 for the first or second offense. P3,000 or imprisonment and P4,000 or imprisonment will be levied on third, fourth and succeeding offenses.

Since March this year, the City Business Permits and Licensing Office has issued closure notices to 45 computer shops.

Meanwhile, the Navotas City Police reported that as of September 6, 1,187 minors and adults have been apprehended for violating the curfew ordinances.

Aside from the 24-hour curfew for minors, Navotas implements an 8PM-5AM curfew for adults who are not Approved Persons Outside of Residence per guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Isko: Manila picks up neighbors’ creek trash

By Willie Casas MANILA City Mayor Francisco Domagoso on Monday exhorted nearby local government units to properly manage its waste materials in rivers and creeks which could result in polluting the city.

In an interview over ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo, Domagoso related that part of a local government unit along their boundary is loaded with trash, but did not identify the neighboring city.

He said it was the local government unit of Manila that removed the waste materials in the concerned area “loaded” with waste.

“In cooperating with the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), modesty aside, you can see it in our Facebook that we were getting the wastes though we already knew it’s in a boundary area,” said Domagoso.

The Manila mayor said he just wanted to show their sincere approach to address solid waste materials in their creek.

He expressed hope that the government, whether local or national, will be strict on this matter especially concerning factories.

“We are talking about large volumes of waste that could end up in the creeks and rivers in our city,” he added.

Makati sets P2.5-b small biz aid

By Joel E. Zurbano HE Makati City government is set to give financial assistance of up to P100,000 to businesses in the city under its P2.5billion economic relief program to pump-prime the local economy during the pandemic.

T

“This is not a loan, but financial aid aimed to help some 78,000 businesses registered in Makati. We will ensure an easy, fast and automatic process for the approval of grants under the program,” said Mayor Abigail Binay.

Under the Makati Assistance and Sup-

port to Businesses (MASB) Program, the city will extend grants ranging from P10,000 to P100,000 to registered businesses in the city, depending on the type of business and the number of residents it currently employs.

The grant will be used to pay for sala-

ries of employees, both Makati and non-Makati residents, and for payment for supplies.

The money will not be released to the employers, but directly to employees and to their Makati-based suppliers.

Recipients of the grant will not be required to pay back, provided that they comply with three conditions for the next two years: 1) They continue to operate; 2) They will not lay off any of the Makatizen employees; and 3) They will comply with the city’s ordinances and safety guidelines.

Other programs include:

REVGOV ASSEMBLY. Delegates

to the Assembly of Solid North Coalition for Revolutionary Government and Charter Change raise clenched fists after signing a manifesto in support of Peoples' National Coalition for Revolutionary Government. Inset is lawyer Myrna Torralba, Convenor of Solid North Coalition, and Rafael Wasan, Spokesperson of the Cordillera Peoples' Liberation Army (CPLA), who delivered a message of support. Also inset is Professor Ponduma Sani, a Member of Parliament of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Mindanao (BARMM) and Vice Chairman for Military Affairs of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), who joined the assembly via Zoom conferencing. Lino Santos

Bill to exempt QC PWDs from parking fees filed

By Rio N. Araja QUEZON City Councilor Nikki Crisologo has filed a measure exempting persons with disabilities (PWDs) from payment of parking fees.

Crisologo, along with Councilor Wencerom Benedict Lagumbay, filed City Ordinance No. PO21CC-139 covering parking facilities, including those inside malls, hospitals and other

similar establishments.

Crisologo is the chair of the committee on people with special challenges.

She said that under the 1987 Constitution, the State values the dignity of every human and guarantees full respect for human rights.

PWDs belong to a special sector that need preferential attention in order to promote the social, economic

and spiritual aspect of their lives, and to allow them to convey their concerns and other vital issues through the establishment of worthy projects, programs and activities, Crisologo said.

Under the Local Government Code of 1991, a local government unit shall provide for the care of disabled persons, paupers and senior citizens, she said.

Setting the lowest possible tax rates for online sellers; A “travel window” during curfew hours that would allow residents more time to dine in restaurants and other food establishments; and Provide pooled testing for employees of private companies.

“These initiatives are intended to support businesses and ensure a safe environment for Makatizen consumers. We recognize the urgent need to help business owners recover in order to sustain their operations and retain their employees, which include city residents,” Binay said.

Carmona debuts 151-bed facility built by DPWH

By Vito Barcelo THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has completed the construction of a 151-bed capacity healthcare facility in Carmona, Cavite.

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said the repurposed evacuation center at Brgy. Lantic, Carmona, Cavite into a “mega-isolation” facility will aid treatment and care of COVID-19 patients from Carmona and other parts of the industrial zone of Calabarzon.

Villar, the government’s chief isolation czar, said the project was supervised by the DPWH Task Force to Facilitate Augmentation of National and Local Health Facilities, which was created to address the need for health system facilities to decongest hospitals as part of the government’s efforts in battling the coronavirus pandemic.

Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, head of the DPWH Task Force, headed the turnover of the facility to Carmona Mayor Roy M. Loyola.

Sadain said the repurposing of the Carmona health facility was completed in 20 days.

The DPWH is also closely monitoring the conversion of the 3,000 square meter multi-purpose building into a makeshift hospital in Cavite.

DOST hails PH’s 50th rank in GII Innovation

By Jessica M. Bacud TUGUEGARAO City—The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has further strengthened its research, development efforts and competences in numerous programs paving the Philippines in ascending its ranks in the Global Innovation Index (GII) in the past years.

Secretary Fortunato de la Peña said DOST’s efforts in leading science, technology, and innovation are bearing fruits citing that the Philippines is now 50th among 131 economies in this year’s Global Innovation Index the Philippines’ best rank ever.

The Philippines has climbed the Global Innovation Index ranking from 73rd in 2018 and 54th in 2019 besting 131 countries in 80 indicators that were grouped into innovation inputs (ranked 70th) and

innovation outputs (ranked 41st).

In 2014, just six years ago, the country still ranked 100th.

“I am pleased that we inched steps higher than last year in the GII rankings. Should we just continue with the increasing undertaking, we will be able to achieve what we have in mind as a medium-term goal to be in the top onethird by 2022,” he said.

De la Peña said that to achieve this goal, the DOST would focus on its Science for Change Program (S4CP), which identifies the areas that need an enhanced research and development investments and innovations.

The DOST will focus on its startup programs, strengthening research and development (R&D) in university research centers, deploying R&D leaders to the regions or provinces.

DOST has consider this as a major news

since it can be considered as an evidence of the departments effort in advance strategies employing science, technology and innovations as drivers of socio-economic growth and development in the countryside, Sec De la Peña said.

The Philippines along with other three economies namely China, Vietnam and India has made the most significant progress in the GII innovation ranking over time.

Compared to other economies in South East Asia, the Philippines performs above average in two of the seven GII pillars: Business sophistication and Knowledge & technology outputs.

The Philippines stands out for the innovativeness of its business sector and the innovation outcomes produced by its investments, with levels of outcomes that remain even above some high-income economies.

FACEMASKS FOR CADETS. New Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Director Police Major General Gilberto Cruz hands out face shields and surgical masks donated by Stone of David Corp. to the PNPA Cadet Corps, in Silang, Cavite. Roy Tomandao

Opinion From activism to public service EAGLE EYES

TONY LA VIÑA FOR this series, started last Saturday, I share the stories of former editors and writers of college papers and members of the League of Editors for a Democratic Society (LEADS), circa 1969 to 1972—as they held their first reunion after 40 years. Their stories are compiled in the anthology “Not on our watch: Martial Law really happened,” edited by Jo-Ann Q. Maglipon.

These writers and editors belong to the generation caught in the crossfire of one of the darkest chapters in history.

They belong to the generation caught in the crossfire of one of the darkest chapters in history, the martial law years, especially the First Quarter Storm—the series of intense anti-government protests by progressive and militant groups in the first three months of 1970—which warned the country that President Ferdinand Marcos would hold on to power beyond the constitutional limits. Some, but not all, were members of the militant organizations or the radical left and remained ordinary college students, expressing their opposition to the Marcos rule by joining rallies and protest demonstrations.

Robert “Obet” Verzola was a BS in electrical engineering student from the University of the Philippines. He served in the Philippine Collegian in 1971 as a columnist and later as associate editor. He was a member of Samahang Demokratiko ng Kabataan (SDK) and joined the underground movement when martial law was declared. Obet was captured by the military and imprisoned twice. He wrote powerful testimonies on the torture he had experienced.

Later, he also articulated for a generation of activists a new mission: “With the ecological crisis compounding our economic problems, the country and the world needs change badly, more than ever.” Speaking about the legacy of his generation, Obet said—“When we of this generation go, our memories should not leave the world with us. No, we must not forget.”

Obet passed to eternal life last May but those of us who worked with him will never forget his contribution.

Dr. Manuel Dayrit was a college student at Ateneo de Manila University in 1967.

He became a sports editor of Guidon, the college newspaper. Of the 1970s he said, “I was already in active search of a clear political analysis of the country’s ills. I had begun systematically exposing myself to social and political initiatives...the First Quarter Storm had an unnerving effect on me. I started attending political seminars which were organized in school…. the chants of social revolution had become familiar to me, but the political ideology behind it was not clear. And so it happened that on the first days of 1971, the political line was explained to me in a teach-in at Eliseo Hall, one of the student dormitories in the Ateneo campus.”

After college, Dayrit entered medical school. Yet the stirrings of nationalism that started in Ateneo did not end in medical school. During his internship, he decided to work in the rural communities in Mindanao, extending his health care expertise to the rural folks of the Island. His work organizing health programs in the barrios brought him closer to the rural poor. Dr. Dayrit—Manolet to those who know him well—subsequently joined the Department of Health and rose from the ranks to become Secretary of Health. After a stint in Geneva, Switzerland with the World Health Organization, Manolet joined the Ateneo de Manila University as Dean of its School of Medicine and Public Health. I had the good fortune of working with him in the university as his counterpart in the School of Government.

Diwa Guinigundo was a reluctant student activist in the 1970s. According to him, what actually set the stage for his decision to get involved in mass actions was having witnessed all that had taken place before and during the martial law years. The 1970s were tumultuous, underscoring the urgency of the cause to fight and live for. As editor of Ateneo’s Pandayan, the school organ, he fought for the restoration of human rights.

For a brief period, he was detained by the Marcos military for a few weeks. After graduation, he continued on to work in public service, until he was appointed deputy governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, a post which he currently holds.

When the “Not on our watch” book was launched, Guinigundo represented the hopes of his generation: “What is our challenge today? Many of us from the First Quarter Storm found ourselves going back to the mainstream. But the few of us who remained fighting sacrificed their lives and their future. The challenge to us in the mainstream is quite obvious. We need to continue raging against the dying light of patriotism. It is important to keep our hearts focused on national transformation. Should we allow the spirit of institutionalized ruthlessness and violence stalk the land again?

We can only say, ‘Not on our watch!’”

Website: tonylavina.com Facebook: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

Arrant nonsense ABOUT TOWN

ERNESTO M. HILARIO THE revolutionary government or RevGov idea being pushed by a motley group of incumbent appointed and elected public officials basically calls on Rodrigo Duterte to throw the 1986 Constitution—which he swore to defend when he assumed office in 2016—into the garbage can. Through this, he would have unlimited power not only until 2022 when his term is supposed to end but perhaps even beyond.

In essence, it is nothing but a "coupd'etat-me" scenario aimed at legitimizing his already authoritarian rule in the guise of ostensibly facilitating the shift to a federal system of government to replace the current unitary-presidential system.

The RevGov that its rabid adherents want would in fact be an out-and-out counter-revolutionary government that would basically retain the status quo but perhaps replace those now occupying key positions in government with a new set of ambitious politicians keen on usurping political power for their own selfish interests, not the public interest nor the common good.

What the RevGov proponents are saying is that they have grown impatient with the pace of reform especially with only two years left of Duterte's term. That's why they want to hasten the shift to a federal system of government; they claim that this would spread the benefits of economic growth to the countryside and solve widespread poverty.

What they are not saying is that federalism could even expand the power and influence of entrenched political dynasties, not just in cities and provinces but also in whole regions that would transform into states, and concentrate power in the hands of a few political families who will not easily give up their political and economic clout.

What RevGov will do is to upend the system of checks and balances as it would consolidate executive, legislative and even judicial power in the hands of one man.

What RevGov will also do is to throw out of the window the Bill of Rights under the 1987 Constitution. We could very well witness a curtailment of civil and political rights, with press freedom among the first to go. We could also see the right to due process and the commitment to the rule of law conveniently shelved in the rush to adopt the untested federal system.

What RevGov will do is to upend the system of checks and balances.

A "revgov" will necessarily have to rely on the coercive apparatus of the State—the police and the military—to enforce its orders. That means martial law all over again.

It was Duterte himself who openly broached the RevGov idea early on, when he was still on the campaign trail. But when the RevGov group surfaced recently, he denied that he knew anyone among them, and that he gave them any sort of encouragement. And then, days later, Duterte made a turnaround, saying that any discussion on the RevGov idea should be held in public, not in secret.

The Malacañang spokesman even dismissed calls for the government to file inciting to sedition charges against the leaders of the movement. He said their statements fell within the ambit of the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression.

In fact, there are two groups actively pushing the RevGov scenario. Apart from the group that declared its intention to pursue this path, another group led by the former national chairman of the pre-martial law radical youth and student group Kabat-

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2020

B1

EDITORIAL

Monitoring social media T The Commission on Human Rights has also weighed in against the monitoring.

“While we recognize that the right to privacy is not absolute, any interference or surveillance must be subject to the standards of necessity, legitimacy, and proportionality,” the commission said. “Otherwise, violation of these standards, especially if not found-

HE commander of the task force that implements quarantine regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic has stirred up some controversy by saying police would now regularly monitor social media platforms for violations.

Eleazar can use the Sinas case to demonstrate the utility of discovering wrongdoing in social media.

“The social media are full of photos and evidence of hardheaded people deliberately violating the quarantine protocols,” Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, commander of the task force, said in a statement. “These can be used as pieces of evidence to warn, to fine and to summon the people concerned in coordination with the barangay officials concerned.”

Eleazar said the directive, issued by PNP chief Gen. Camilo Cascolan, covers violations of minimum health safety standard protocols such as mass gathering for drinking sessions and other forms of celebrations.

The announcement immediately drew fire from critics on the left, who accused law enforcement officials of using the pandemic to turn the Philippines into a police state “where every action is being watched by the authorities.”

ed on legal measures, may lead to offenses against the people’s rights. This is a scenario that we wish to avoid noting that we look upon the police as law enforcers and not as the first ones breach laws.”

But Eleazar defended the social media monitoring, saying the police would not violate anybody's privacy. He noted, for example, that the police can only monitor posts that are public, viral photos and videos, as well as any complaints reported by

concerned citizens through the social media pages of the police.

The argument seems reasonable—as long as the police limit their monitoring to what people post publicly. After all, we expect our law enforcement agents to monitor the streets and other public places for crime; monitoring social media pages would be no different. Besides, any violators of quarantine restrictions foolish enough to post photographic evidence of their misdeeds on social media deserve to get caught.

But it seems the task force commander is missing an excellent opportunity to show the public how serious the police take these quarantine violations.

Back in May, photos appeared on the police force's Facebook page showing Metro Manila police chief Debold Sinas whooping it up with his men, who threw him a birthday party. The photos showed Sinas celebrating his birthday along with dozens of people without masks sitting close together, in clear violation of quarantine restrictions, with beer cans on their tables despite an alcohol ban.

Rather than brush these blatant violations aside or sweeping them under the rug simply because they were committed by a fellow police officer, Eleazar can use the case to demonstrate the utility of discovering wrongdoing in social media.

Climbing out of the hole THE administration over the weekend unveiled photos of the huge subway tunnel boring machines that will be imported from Japan to build the country’s first-ever subway system under Metro Manila. Each machine reportedly costs $100 million, capable of digging 12 feet per day. An initial six are expected to ship starting January, with the total order reportedly reaching as many as 25 machines.

Upon full build-out after five years, the new subway system is expected to carry 1.3 million riders per day. That takes a huge bite out of traffic in NCR, especially along EDSA and C-5 which will flank the system’s initial alignment. But there are also other surface infra projects, altogether comprising an expanded network that can recapture up to P400 billion of productivity being lost every year to the capital’s traffic woes.

In turn, this new surface network in Metro Manila is just one component of the major “Build Build Build” projects coming onstream under Duterte. Among those already completed—in addition to Manila’s Harbor Link connector—are the final stretch of TPLEX from Pozorrubio to Rosario, Phase 1 of New Clark City, the Laguna Lake highway, Sangley airport, a Luzon-wide broadband system in partnership with Facebook, and Cagayan de Oro seaport.

Lined up behind these in Metro Manila alone—presumably slated for completion by the time Duterte steps down in 2022— are Skyway Stage 3, MRT-7, LRT-2 East extension, and a new bridge from the Fort to Ortigas. Among projects near completion in the regions are the new passenger terminal at Clark Airport, new airports in Legazpi and General Santos, Phase 1 of the cross-cutting Central Luzon Link expressway, and the Boracay circumferential road. *** These projects are far from inconsequential. The pandemic has brought home the urgent need to divert demographics and development from the capital to the regions, if only to avoid aggravating the risk of pandemics and other natural disasters with

aang Makabayan (KM) and spent more than 10 years as a political detainee appears to be doing organizing work at the grassroots level.

The latter group seems unable to attract more supporters. Its latest political move demanding the ouster of the current commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue for alleged corruption has fallen on deaf ears in Malacañang despite their rallies every now and then in front of the agency's Quezon City main office. If Duterte would not listen to this specific demand, how can they even imagine him listening to them and leading a RevGov?

Not a good idea A top official of the Philippine National Police wants cops to scour the Internet to look for concrete evidence of violations by citizens of health protocols now in place to check COVID-19.

This is an unnecessary and misplaced move, not to mention illegal, as pointed out by the head of a lawyer's group. It infringes on the right to privacy and free expression

FORMATION

GARY OLIVAR the burden of population and construction densities.

In today’s pandemic, the “BBB” projects are far from inconsequential.

Private spending on both consumption and investment will continue to be depressed by COVID-related uncertainties. In this environment, we must, again, count on the government to boost overall demand by spending for infrastructure, uniquely unconstrained in its powers to print money, tax, and borrow at home and abroad.

This is in fact the gist of the case for maintaining our investment grade ratings, at least according to the rating guys at Moody’s. It’s their job to assess—unsentimentally and cold-bloodedly—our government’s capacity to repay its borrowings from abroad.

As of last September 2, Moody’s maintained our credit rating of “Baa2-Stable,” exactly in the middle of their triple-B investment grade. Among the component sub-ratings, our lowest was, ironically enough, in “fiscal strength” where we scored only “ba1.”

This reflected our relatively high foreign-currency debt of over 30 percent, aggravated by the expectation of “acute fiscal deterioration” due to huge COVID-related spending.

Slightly higher was our susceptibility to “event risk,” rated “baa.” This reflects a low probability of political stress emerging with a moderate impact on economic performance. This might be ascribed to the

guaranteed by the Constitution.

The police general said that in much the same way that the public has taken a dim view of another police general who had earlier violated health protocols during a surprise birthday party for him, then the PNP is well within its right to go after all those not wearing face masks and not practicing social distancing in mass gatherings caught on CCTV. In other words, it's nothing more than titfor-tat. You go after us, we'll go after you.

The police general should be reminded that he treads on dangerous legal ground with his proposal. The AFP chief earlier aired a similar proposal to search social media for violations of the anti-terror law, and was promptly put in his proper place by lawyers and lawmakers, among others, for his unsound proposal.

What will authorities think of next to punish us citizens? Arrest everyone with dirty or unwashed hands for violating the cardinal rule on frequent handwashing for 20 seconds with soap and water? ernhil@yahoo.com

administration’s enduring hold on popular loyalties, notwithstanding adventurist importunings from both extremes of the political spectrum. *** Even higher was “institutions and governance,” assessed at “baa1.” This measured the ability of the government to maintain economic order despite a rising tide of political noise, with the opposition trying to exploit recent lapses on the health and corruption fronts. For this sub-rating, the Department of Finance and the Bangko Sentral must take much credit.

Highest of all, unsurprisingly, was our rating of “a3” for “economic strength,” which considers such plusses as our large and young population and the liquidity from OFWs and BPOs. Nonetheless, these too are increasingly being weighed down by the “acute cyclical challenge” posed by the virus, which has prompted extreme public health measures that are choking off growth.

Because of the way the virus has taken over our lives, it isn’t surprising that it also dominates the government’s economic plans at least for the short-term.

In the latest iteration of its national expenditure plan, NEDA forecasts our economy to contract by 5.5 percent by the yearend. Returning to positive growth by next year will depend critically on assuaging the fears that are holding back economic activity, as well, of course, as restoring to health all those businesses that are going under. *** Moving words for today’s special feast day, from the Magnificat of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Lk 1: 46-55): “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation. For he has shown me such favor— me, his lowly handmaiden.

“Now all generations will call me blessed, because the mighty one has done great things for me.”

Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@ yahoo.com.

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Standard TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 TODAY B2 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

India now 2 on world virus list N nd

EW DELHI—India overtook Brazil on Monday as the country with the second highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases, even as key metro train lines re-opened as part of efforts to boost the South Asian nation’s battered economy.

India has emerged in recent weeks as the new global pandemic hotspot, although cases continue to soar across the globe with reported infections worldwide nearing 27 million and deaths surpassing 880,000.

France, Israel and Australia were among the nations forced in recent days to extend travel restrictions or impose new ones to try and contain fresh surges.

India, home to some of the world’s most densely populated cities, has been reporting the highest single-day rises in the world and on Monday it confirmed a new record of nearly 91,000 new cases.

India’s cases have now risen above 4.2 million, surpassing Brazil’s total and making it the second-highest tally behind the United States’ 6.25 million.

However, with India’s economy imploding following months of travel restrictions, authorities pressed on with risky reignition plans.

The metro in the capital of New Delhi began reopening on Monday after a fivemonth shutdown and 12 other cities began restarting subway services.

Authorities imposed strict rules on passengers, with masks, social distancing

and temperature checks mandatory.

During peak hour in New Delhi on Monday morning, carriages were sparsely filled as people followed guidelines dictating that only alternate seats could be occupied.

For total deaths worldwide, the United States has the most with more than 188,000, followed by Brazil with 126,000.

India is next with about 71,000 fatalities.

New European spikes Britain is battling another spike, with the number of daily cases hitting nearly 3,000 on Sunday, a level not seen since late May, according to health ministry figures.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the latest sufferers were predominantly young people.

“It’s important that people don’t allow this illness to infect their grandparents and to lead to the sort of problems that we saw

IN BRIEF

earlier in the year,” he said.

The British government said it would tighten local restrictions in areas showing sharp rises in cases rather than impose a second national lockdown for fear of its effect on the economy.

In neighbouring France authorities placed seven more regions covering major cities including Lille, Strasbourg and Dijon on high alert Sunday as increases in infections accelerate.

Of the country’s 101 “departments”, 28 are now considered “red zones” where authorities will be able to impose exceptional measures to slow the virus if necessary.

The curbs come after France reported a record of nearly 9,000 daily cases on Friday, In Paris masks are now mandatory in all public spaces.

Lockdowns have also been imposed or extended Israel and Australia in recent days. AFP

Invitation to Bid Rehabilitation and Improvement of Porac-Gumain River Irrigation System– Canalization Works and Construction of IA Offices and Support Facilities ITB No. NIAR3-NISRIPD-C-7 The Government of the Philippines (GOP) has received a Loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) toward the cost of National Irrigation Sector Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (NISRIP), and it intends to apply part of the proceeds of this loan to payments under the contract for the Rehabilitation and Improvement of Porac-Gumain River Irrigation System – Canalization Works and Construction of IA Offices and Support Facilities under Contract No. NIAR3-NISRIPD-C-7.

2.

The NIA now invites bids for the proposed Rehabilitation and Improvement of Porac-Gumain River Irrigation System particularly the construction of 1,468 meters canal lining on Gumain Main Canal North and Dam 82 South Canal 2 lining, and construction/repair of 1468.60 m Left Side and 1499 m Ride Side downstream of Porac Main Canal East. The project is situated in the Municipalities of Guagua, Floridablanca, Sta. Rita and Lubao in the Province of Pampanga, Region 3 and has the following major item of works;

3.

Description/Item of Works

Quantity/Unit

a) Concrete Class “A”, 210 kg/sqcm 662.64 cu.m b) Concrete Class “B”, 170 kg/sqcm 33.43 cu.m. c) Reinforcing Steel Bars, all Sizes 92,796.64 kgs d) Construction of IA Offices and Support Facilities 8.0 units Completion of the Works is required within One Hundred Twenty 120 calendar days.

4.

Bidders should have completed a single contract in the construction of dam (for agricultural projects and/or hydropower project) or irrigation canals and/or irrigation canal structures with a value of at least 50% of the ABC. All prospective bidders should possess a valid Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) license with a Principal Classification and Category in General Engineering as “B” and Registration Particulars with size range of “Medium A” in Dam or Irrigation Facilities.

5.

Bidding will be conducted in accordance with relevant procedures for open competitive bidding as specified in the IRR of RA 9184 (R.A. 9184), with some amendments, as stated in these bidding documents and is open to all bidders from eligible source countries as defined in the applicable procurement guidelines of the JICA. The contract shall be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bidder (LCRB) who was determined as such during post-qualification by the BAC and evaluated and conformed by the NISRIP-PMO and JICA. The approved budget for the contract (ABC) is PhP 34,795,446.36. Any bid with a financial component exceeding this amount shall not be accepted.

6.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from NIA and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address below from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday to Friday.

7.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by the interested bidders at the address below and upon presentation of the original copy of their valid PCAB License and payment to the NIA Cashier of a nonrefundable fee for the bidding documents in the amount Thirty Five Thousand Pesos [PhP 35,000.00].

Interested Bidders must also present a letter authorizing his/her representative to acquire the Bidding Documents duly signed by the General Manager/Owner, if a Sole Proprietorship, or authorized signatory, if a Corporation.

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the NIA website, provided that bidders shall pay the nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

8.

Bidders must secure Site Inspection Certificate from IMO Office as a technical requirement for Eligibility and Technical Document (Envelop A). Noncompliance will be a ground for disqualification.

9.

Only who submitted Document Request List (DRL) from PhilGEPS including updated company profile by the owner or its authorized liaison officer, will be accepted to participate in the bidding.

10.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on September 16, 2020, 10:30 a.m. at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy. Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

11.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 9:30 a.m.

(PST) of October 6, 2020 at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy. Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on 10:00 a.m. (PST) of October 6, 2020 at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy.

Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

12.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: BAC Secretariat/s; NIA – Region 3,Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan Tel No. (044) 766-4839 and 816-8608 (SGD.) VIRGILIO J. ILAO BAC – Chairman

LOS ANGELES—A firework at a gender reveal party triggered a wildfire in southern California that has destroyed 7,000 acres (2,800 hectares) and forced many residents to flee their homes, the fire department said Sunday.

More than 500 firefighters and four helicopters were battling the El Dorado blaze east of San Bernardino, which started Saturday morning, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said.

Residents of several communities in the area have been ordered to evacuate.

“CAL FIRE Law Enforcement has determined the El Dorado Fire, burning near Oak Glen in San Bernardino County, was caused by a smoke generating pyrotechnic device, used during a gender reveal party,” Cal Fire said on Twitter. AFP

UK police arrest man over mass stabbings LONDON—A 27-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the mass stabbings in Britain’s second city Birmingham that left one person dead and two critically wounded, police said Monday.

The man was held on suspicion of murder and seven attempted murders that were carried out after midnight Saturday, West Midlands Police said.

The suspect was detained in the Selly Oak area of the city at around 4.00am (0300 GMT) and he remained in police custody for questioning.

A 23-year-old man suffered fatal injuries in what was believed to be a random attack, while a man and a woman, aged 19 and 32, are in a critical condition in hospital.

“Officers worked through yesterday and into the early hours of this morning in a bid to trace the man we believe responsible for these terrible crimes,” said Birmingham police chief Steve Graham. AFP

Republic of the Philippines National Irrigation Administration Regional Office No. III

1.

Gender reveal triggers Cali fire

STORM’S WRATH. Waves brought by Typhoon Haishen crash into the breakwater in the eastern port

city of Sokcho on September 7. The powerful typhoon lashed South Korea on Monday after smashing into southern Japan with record winds and heavy rains that left four people missing in a landslide. AFP

Trump, Biden battle on uneven ground BROWNSVILLE—Door-to-door canvassing and weekly rallies for Donald Trump, while Joe Biden’s campaign avoids both due to the coronavirus: Democrats in Pennsylvania’s rural counties are battling to win back the key electoral state, but the pandemic is not making it easy.

The difference between the Republican and Democratic efforts in Pennsylvania’s Washington County, in the distant suburbs of Pittsburgh, is stark this election season: three tents welcomed the president’s supporters this weekend, as team Biden tried to stick to public health guidelines by organizing primarily online.

Trump backers without anti-virus masks, arrived by the dozens to pick up yard signs and T-shirts emblazoned with the slogan “Make America Great Again” in an atmosphere CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK akin to

a family reunion.

A day prior, state representative Tim O’Neal had walked along the county’s hills to rally Republican supporters, saying he has knocked on 3,500 doors since late June.

But on the Democratic side, “we are not canvassing door-to-door,” says Christina Proctor, the local Democratic party’s vice chair. “We don’t want to put our volunteers at risk.”

“I am frustrated with that, I do feel they (Trump’s campaign) are creating some enthusiasm with their events and they are still knocking doors and because we are taking the pandemic so seriously, we are not doing that—I am concerned that that will put us at a disadvantage,” she said just two months out from the November 3 vote. AFP

Assange extradition hearing to resume LONDON—A London hearing resumes on Monday to decide if WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should be extradited to the United States to face trial over the publication of secrets relating to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The 49-year-old Australian, who is currently being held on remand at a high-security jail, faces 18 counts from US prosecutors that could see him jailed for up to 175 years.

The hearing at the Central Criminal Court, the Old Bailey, is due to last three to four weeks. It had been due to go ahead in April but was delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Any ruling is “almost certain” to be appealed by the losing side, according to John Rees, of the Don’t Extradite Assange Campaign, raising the prospect of more time behind bars for the former hacker. AFP

Noted by: (SGD.) JOSEPHINE B. SALAZAR Regional Manager

(MS-SEPT 8, 2020)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 225-QUEZON CITY JIMMY BONDOC VIRAY, Petitioner,

Republic of the Philippines National Irrigation Administration Regional Office No. III Invitation to Bid Rehabilitation and Improvement of Porac-Gumain River Irrigation System–Dam and Check and Weir Works ITB No. NIAR3-NISRIPD-C-8 1. The Government of the Philippines (GOP) has received a Loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) toward the cost of National Irrigation Sector Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (NISRIP), and it intends to apply part of the proceeds of this loan to payments under the contract for the Rehabilitation and Improvement of Porac-Gumain River Irrigation System – Dam and Check and Weir Works under Contract No. NIAR3-NISRIPD-C-8.

2. The NIA now invites bids for the proposed Rehabilitation and Improvement of Porac-Gumain River Irrigation System particularly the construction of 1,468 meters canal lining on Gumain Main Canal North and Dam 82 South Canal 2 lining, and construction/repair of 1468.60 m Left Side and 1499 m Ride Side downstream of Porac Main Canal East. The project is situated in the Municipalities of Guagua, Floridablanca, Sta. Rita and Lubao in the Province of Pampanga, Region 3 and has the following major item of works; 3. Description/Item of Works Quantity/Unit 4. a) Concrete Class “A”, 210 kg/sqcm 149.70 cu.m 5. b) Concrete Class “B”, 170 kg/sqcm 5.30 cu.m.

6. c) Reinforcing Steel Bars, all Sizes 8,965.40 kgs 7. d) Supply, Delivery and Installation of Steel Gates 116.0 assy.

Completion of the Works is required within One Hundred Twenty 120 calendar days.

8. Bidders should have completed a single contract in the construction of dam (for agricultural projects and/or hydropower project) or irrigation canals and/or irrigation canal structures with a value of at least 50% of the ABC. All prospective bidders should possess a valid Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) license with a Principal Classification and Category in General Engineering as “B” and Registration Particulars with size range of “Medium A” in Dam or Irrigation Facilities.

9. Bidding will be conducted in accordance with relevant procedures for open competitive bidding as specified in the IRR of RA 9184 (R.A. 9184), with some amendments, as stated in these bidding documents and is open to all bidders from eligible source countries as defined in the applicable procurement guidelines of the JICA. The contract shall be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bidder (LCRB) who was determined as such during post-qualification by the BAC and evaluated and conformed by the NISRIP-PMO and JICA. The approved budget for the contract (ABC) is PhP 60,045,218.57. Any bid with a financial component exceeding this amount shall not be accepted.

10. Interested bidders may obtain further information from NIA and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address below from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday to Friday.

11. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by the interested bidders at the address below and upon presentation of the original copy of their valid PCAB License and payment to the NIA Cashier of a nonrefundable fee for the bidding documents in the amount Fifty Thousand Pesos [PhP 50,000.00

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

Interested Bidders must also present a letter authorizing his/her representative to acquire the Bidding Documents duly signed by the General Manager/Owner, if a Sole Proprietorship, or authorized signatory, if a Corporation.

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the NIA website, provided that bidders shall pay the nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

Bidders must secure Site Inspection Certificate from IMO Office as a technical requirement for Eligibility and Technical Document (Envelop A). Noncompliance will be a ground for disqualification.

Only who submitted Document Request List (DRL) from PhilGEPS including updated company profile by the owner or its authorized liaison officer, will be accepted to participate in the bidding.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on September 16, 2020, 10:30 a.m. at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy. Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 9:30 a.m. (PST) of October 6, 2020 at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy. Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on 10:00 a.m. (PST) of October 6, 2020 at NIA-R3 Office, Conference Room, Brgy.

Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION – REGION 3 reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

-versus-

Civil Case No. R-QZN-20-00537 For: Judicial Recognition of Foreign Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage

LYDIA SARIBAY BERZABAL, LOCAL CITY CIVIL REGISTRAR OF QUEZON CITY, CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL OF PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY AND OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR GENERAL, Respondents, x----------------------------------------------------------x

ORDER A verified petition was filed on January 10, 2020 by petitioner through counsel praying that judgment be rendered: 1) granting judicial recognition of the judgment for dissolution of marriage dated February 9, 2017 issued in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Domestic Relations Division, Illinois, USA in Case No. 2017 D 230037, dissolving the marriage between petitioner Jimmy Bondoc Viray and Lydia Saribay Berzabal; and 2) ordering the Office of the Local Civil Registry of Quezon City, and the Philippine Statistics Authority, to record and register the Decision rendered by the Honorable Court in the proper Books of the Civil Registries and to cancel the registration of the marriage of Jimmy Bondoc Viray and Lydia Saribay Berzabal solemnized on May 2, 2007 in Quezon City.

Finding the verified petition to be sufficient in form and substance, the Court gives due course thereto.

WHEREFORE, let the copy of this Order be Published in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks at petitioner’s expense, upon coordination with the Office of the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court Quezon City. Hearing on the verified petition is hereby set on October 1, 2020 at 10:30 o’clock in the morning at the Hall of Justice annex Building, Quezon City, at which time and place, any person having an interest in the petition may appear.

Let copies of this Order be posted by the Branch Sheriff thirty (30) days before the hearing date at the following place at the expense of petitioner.

1. at the main entrance of the City Hall Building Quezon City 2. on the Bulletin Board of the Court, Hall of Justice Building, Quezon City 3. at the Barangay Hall of the barangay where the petitioner resided.

Let copy of this Order be furnished the Office of the Local Civil Registrar of Quezon City, the Consulate General of United States of America, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Further, petitioner through counsel is ordered to furnish respondent Lydia Saribay Berzabal with a copy of this Order together with the petition and its annexes at her given address and to show proof of compliance before the hearing date.

SO ORDERED. June 22, 2020, Quezon City, Metro Manila.

(Sgd.) MARIA LUISA LESLEG GONZALES-BETIC Presiding Judge

For further information, please refer to: BAC Secretariat/s; NIA – Region 3,Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan Tel No. (044) 766-4839 and 816-8608

Copy furnished:

(SGD.) VIRGILIO J. ILAO BAC – Chairman Noted by: (SGD.) JOSEPHINE B. SALAZAR Regional Manager (MS-SEPT 8, 2020)

Atty. Geraldine Grace F. Tibigar-Rabago – Rm. 207 ACRE Bldg., 137 Malakas St., Quezon City Jimmy Bondoc Viray c/o Atty. Geraldine Grace F. Tibigar-Rabago – Rm. 207 ACRE Bldg., 137 Malakas St., Quezon City Office of the Solicitor General, Makati City Office of the City Prosecutor, Quezon City Office of the Local Civil Registrar, Quezon City Philippine Statistics Authority (formerly NSO) – Vibal Bldg., Quezon Avenue, Quezon City Embassy of United States of America – 1201 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City (MStandard - Sep. 1, 8 & 15, 2020)

ON GUARD. Part of hundreds of Hong Kong riot police flooded the district of Kowloon on Sunday in a bid to thwart online calls for flash mob protests to mark the suspended vote. AFP

HK police swoop down on poll protests HONG KONG—Nearly 300 people were arrested by Hong Kong police on Sunday as riot officers swooped on democracy protesters opposed to the postponement of local elections.

Sunday was meant to be voting day for the city’s partially elected legislature, one of the few instances where Hong Kongers get to cast ballots.

But the city’s pro-Beijing leader Carrie Lam suspended the polls for a year—citing the coronavirus—angering the pro-democracy opposition who had been hoping to capitalise on seething anti-government sentiment.

Hundreds of riot police flooded the district of Kowloon in a bid to thwart online calls for flash mob protests to mark the suspended vote.

Throughout the afternoon officers were heckled by people shouting slogans such as “Give me back my vote!” and “Corrupt cops!” as officers conducted multiple stop and searches and ordered crowds to disperse.

In a Facebook statement, police said at least 289 people were arrested, mostly for unlawful assembly.

One woman was detained under a new security law Beijing imposed on the city for chanting independence slogans, the force added.

Live images showed three prominent prodemocracy politicians—Leung Kwok-hung, Figo Chan and Raphael Wong—were among those held.

The protests came hours after the police’s newly formed national security unit arrested Tam Tak-chi, another democracy activist and radio DJ, for “uttering seditious words”—a colonial-era offence.

Tam is the latest in a long line of government critics to find themselves facing prosecution in recent months for their involvement in protests.

When they announced the arrest on Sunday morning, police did not explain what Tam may have said that was considered seditious.

Beijing’s Liaison Office in Hong Kong called the protest organisers “heartless”, with a spokesperson adding: “there is zero tolerance for any act that violates the national security law”. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Business

B3

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Specters of deflation, virus haunt ECB forum FRANKFURT, Germany—The European Central Bank is expected Thursday to prepare the ground for new stimulus measures, armed with a new set of economic forecasts and amid signs of a resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic.

The ECB will publish its latest assessments on the eurozone’s growth prospects through to 2022, which will be closely scrutinized for signs of whether the worst of the pandemic’s devastating economic impact is over.

Inflation trends will also be key as fears of deflation are fueled by sinking oil prices and consumers putting off purchases in the grim economic climate.

The Frankfurt-based institution has unleashed unprecedented firepower to help the bloc fight its worst crisis.

It is in the process of pumping 1.35 trillion euros ($1.59 trillion) into the eurozone economy through its pandemic bond-buying program, known as PEPP. But with no clear prospect of an end to the health crisis in sight, investments are lackluster while households are also hesitant to make use of the huge credit lines.

Across the Atlantic, a major policy shift by the US Federal Reserve has also thrown a spanner in the works.

In a stunning change, the Fed last week said it would now allow inflation to accelerate to let the economy generate more jobs.

That means it will hold off from raising interest rates for now even if inflation moves about the central bank’s target of 2.0 percent.

And that, in turn, has led to a significant weakening of the US dollar against the euro, something that could make eurozone exports less competitive.

BNP Paribas economist William De Vijlder said the ECB was faced with “three headaches.”

“Inflation is too low and declining, the strong euro reinforces this development and there is concern that the change in the longer-term goal of the Fed... will complicate matters,” he said. AFP

PSEi September 7, 2020

TOP GAINERS

TOP LOSERS RISING EXPORTS. This aerial photo taken on September 7, 2020 shows cars waiting to be exported at a port in Lianyungang in China’s eastern Jiangsu province. China’s exports expanded more than expected in August, 2020 as key markets eased virus containment measures, official data showed on September 7, but imports unexpectedly shrank despite a push to boost domestic demand. AFP

Stocks advance; Ayala, SM issues lead gainers T HE stock market jumped Monday on bargain-hunting and on analytics that the Philippines has already flattened the curve on new coronavirus infections.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index surged 150.76 points, or 2.6 percent, to 5,935.85 on a thin value turnover of P3.9 billion. Gainers overwhelmed losers, 132 to 65, with 37 issues unchanged.

“Actually, cases have already flattened, and we said around two weeks ago that we are seeing a flattening of the curve by the end of August or early September,” said Prof. Guido David of the UP Institute of Mathematics Sunday.

Major property developer Ayala Land Inc. advanced 6.4 percent to P30, while sister firm AC energy Philippines Inc. climbed 7 percent to P2.89.

SM Investments Corp. of the Sy Group rose 5.7 percent to P894, while sister unit SM Prime Holdings Inc. added 3.2 percent to P28.85.

The rest of Asian equities struggled Monday following last week’s painful sell-off, with a mixed US jobs report offsetting a pledge from Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell that interest rates would remain rock-bottom for years.

China-US tensions and a lack of progress in Washington stimulus talks—all against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic—were keeping markets from surging.

Closely watched non-farm payrolls data Friday showed the US economy created 1.37 million jobs last month, slightly better than expected, while unemployment plunged to 8.4 percent from 10.2 percent—well below forecasts.

Powell described the report as “a good one” but added the

Italy’s Costa joins return of liners to sea ROME, Italy—Italian cruise ship Costa Deliziosa returned to service on Sunday, setting sail from the Adriatic port of Trieste after a coronavirus furlough of more than five months.

Carrying only Italian residents as part of its precautions against Covid-19 contagion, its weeklong outing will follow an all-Italy itinerary of Adriatic and Mediterranean ports.

Following a strict protocol, passengers had their temperatures taken, were tested for Covid-19 and completed a health questionnaire before being allowed on board.

The crew had been tested for the virus and spent 14 days in quarantine before the departure.

Social distancing rules were in place that entailed the elimination of the traditional dinner buffet. The use of restaurants, bars and swimming pools will be carefully scheduled to limit numbers.

The coronavirus pandemic visited an unprecedented crisis on the cruise ship industry, which had been enjoying robust growth since 2018.

Not only were operators forced to ground their ships but they faced accusations of botching the handling of the epidemic in its early stages.

Cruise lines are hoping that tighter protocols will allow them to control the still-lingering threat of coronavirus aboard their ships while still offering travelers a worthwhile cruise experience.

Several of Costa’s rivals have already returned to sea, notably Italian operator MSC Cruises.

The MSC Grandiosa was the first big cruise ship to venture out, leaving the northwest port of Genoa on August 17, also for a weeklong cruise.

Italy represents the bulk of Europe’s cruise industry, reaping 14.5 billion euros of revenue per year ($17 billion) and supporting nearly 53,000 jobs, according to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). AFP

bank would not change its ultra-loose monetary policy until the economy was back on track.

“We think that the economy’s going to need low interest rates, which support economic activity, for an extended period of time,” he said. “It will be measured in years.”

But while the reading was good, a closer look showed 344,000 jobs were for temporary workers hired for a census.

Earlier in the week, private-sector payrolls came in well short of estimates, indicating the recovery continues to stutter.

Tokyo closed 0.5 percent lower with SoftBank plunging more than seven percent after reports said the conglomerate had been engaging in high-risk derivatives trading of tech shares in New York.

The Financial Times said the firm had “stoked the fevered rally in big tech stocks” that helped the Nasdaq rocket higher since March.

Manila Shanghai was down one percent, Standard REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Department of Finance TODAY while Hong Kong dropped 0.5 perSECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION cent a day after fresh unrest in the Secretariat Building, PICC Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay, 1307 city as pro-democracy demonstrators clashed with police on a day that canceled elections were due to MARKETS AND SECURITIES REGULATION DEPARTMENT take place.

But Sydney was marginally IN THE MATTER OF higher, while Seoul and Wellington were also in positive territory.

MEGAWIDE CONSTRUCTION Registration of Securities Wall Street’s three main indexes CORPORATION x------------------------------------------x (Perpetual Preferred Shares suffered more losses, albeit shalSeries 2) lower than Thursday’s rout that hammered the tech sector as traders took profits from months of NOTICE huge gains. With AFP

This photo taken on August 3, 2020 shows Si Hongqi, founder of Si Hongqi Gambling Addiction Rehabilitation Center, speaking with clients and their families at the center in Shanghai.

AFP

Notice is hereby given that on 12 August 2020, a sworn Registration Statement was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on behalf of MEGAWIDE CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION (the “Corporation”) for the registration of FIFTY MILLION1 (50,000,000) Perpetual Preferred Shares Series 2 at an offer price of up to ONE HUNDRED PESOS (PHP 100.00), amounting to FIVE BILLION PESOS (P5,000,000,000.00), broken down as follows:

SHANGHAI, China―Holding a fist up next to his head like a soldier, Huang Chunhao makes a solemn vow.

“I hereby swear an oath: from today onwards, I will correct bad habits, be kind to others and try my best to get rid of gambling addiction.”

Gambling was outlawed in mainland China along with other activities deemed vices by the Communist Party when it took over in 1949, but is making a comeback via websites and apps aimed at Chinese customers and based offshore.

One of these, based in the Philippines, dragged Huang into what his wife Zhao Jing called a “bottomless pit” of compulsive wagering that left them more than two million yuan ($290,000) poorer.

“It always will be a losing game and has ripped my family apart,” said Huang, a 32-yearold vegetable wholesaler.

Helping him climb out this hole is Si Guoqi, a former hair salon owner and self-proclaimed gambling expert who now operates a Shanghai rehabilitation center.

Established in 2017, it has been billed as the country’s first rehab solely dedicated to gambling addiction.

During the center’s standard week-long program, participants are given an old mobile phone without internet access to prevent them from logging on and placing bets.

Treatment is a mix of behind-the-scenes education on how gambling is arranged to ensure that “the house always wins,” psychological treatment and advice on lifestyle changes to promote healthy routines and keep

one’s mind off gambling.

You can’t get away’ Si’s own family was nearly torn apart by his wife’s compulsive gambling at the Chinese game mahjong, and he used to sell mahjongplaying equipment.

He calls online gambling a “virus.”

“If it activates your greed, you can’t get away,” he said.

With the growth of internet access and mobile communications in China, increasing numbers of operators are seeking to take advantage with Chinese-language gambling platforms, according to official data.

Online gambling options abound, offering everything from baccarat to blackjack and sports betting.

Si estimates that 70 percent of such operators set up servers in the Philippines.

In the first half of 2020, Chinese police busted more than 250 cross-border gambling cases, arresting more than 11,500 suspects, according to state media.

Gambling was a huge business in China in pre-Communist times, and there are signs of growing official unease that it could return.

The central government is even planning to impose restrictions on Chinese citizens traveling to overseas tourist destinations where gambling is rife, state news agency Xinhua reported on August 26.

‘I can’t be slack’ Online platforms sometimes entice unwitting victims with ruses―Huang clicked a pop-up ad for a part-time jobs site but was quickly diverted into gambling.

He lost 80,000 yuan in one bet as his debts spiraled. AFP

Primary Offer

30,000,000 Perpetual Preferred Shares Series 2

Over Subscription Option

20,000,000 Perpetual Preferred Shares Series 2

According to the papers presented, the following persons are the directors of the Corporation: Name

China’s compulsive gamblers climbing out of pit

By Lan Lianchao

MOST ACTIVE

Position

Mr. Edgar B. Saavedra

Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, and President

Mr. Manuel Louie B. Ferrer

Director and Chief Corporate Affairs and Branding Officer

Mr. Oliver Y. Tan

Director

Mr. Leonilo G. Coronel

Independent Director

Former Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr.

Independent Director

Mr. Celso P. Vivas

Independent Director

Mr. Alfredo E. Pascual

Independent Director

The following persons are the officers of the Company: Name

Position

Mr. Christopher A. Nadayag Mr. Ramon H. Diaz

Treasurer and Deputy Chief Finance Officer Chief Finance Officer

Mr. Raymund Jay S. Gomez

Chief Human Resource Officer Compliance Officer, Chief Legal Counsel and Data Privacy Officer

Mr. Anthony Velasco

Chief Audit Executive

Mr. Kama Neson Ganeson

Acting Chief Risk Officer and Head of Total Quality Management

Mr. Anthony Leonard G. Topacio

Corporate Secretary and Corporate Information Officer

Ms. Jennifer C. Lee

Assistant Corporate Secretary and Corporate Information Officer Assistant Corporate Secretary

Ms. Maria Belinda Morales

Ms. Charlotte Y. King

In order to implement necessary health protocols consistent with the directives and guidelines of the Department of Health for the protection of its employees and the investing public, the Commission hereby suspends the physical inspection of the RS and other papers/documents attached thereto (collectively referred to as “Documents”) as well as (ii.) providing physical copies thereof to interested parties, until further Notice. In lieu thereof, the Commission has adopted an alternative mode of viewing and/or downloading the said Documents and any subsequent amendments thereto by enabling interested parties to access the same through the MSRD corner of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website (www.sec.gov.ph) or the Company’s website (www. megawide.com.ph).

signed VICENTE GRACIANO P. FELIZMENIO, JR. Director

1

The registration of 50,000,000 Perpetual Preferred Shares Series 2 shall be effective upon approval by the Commission of the company’s Amendment of Article Seventh of its Amended Articles of Incorporation which pertains to the increased in the authorized capital stock from Five Billion Pesos (Php5,000,000,000.00) divided into Four Billion Nine Hundred Thirty Million (4,930,000,000) common shares with par value of One Peso (php1.00) per share and Seventy Million (70,000,000) cumulative, non-voting, non-participating, non-convertible, perpetual preferred shares with par value of One Peso (Php1.00) per share to Five Billion Fifty-Four Million Pesos (Php5,054,000,000.00) divided into Four Billion Nine Hundred Thirty Million (4,930,000,000) common shares with par value of One Peso (php1.00) per share and One Hundred Twenty Four Million (124,000,000) cumulative, nonvoting, non-participating, non-convertible, perpetual preferred shares with par value of One Peso (Php1.00) per share.

(MS-SEPT. 8 & 15, 2020)

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

B4

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2020

IN BRIEF IMI’s unit prepares listing in New York INTEGRATED Microelectronics Inc. said Monday German subsidiary Via Optronics AG filed a registration statement with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission for a planned initial public offering.

IMI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Via Optronics applied to list its American Depositary Shares on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “VIAO”.

It said the number of ordinary shares to be represented by each ADS, the number of ADS to be offered and the price range for the proposed offering would still be determined.

VIA Optronics engaged Berenberg to act as sole bookrunning manager for the proposed offering. Via Optronics, which is 76 percent owned by IMI, is a leading provider of enhanced display solutions for multiple end markets in which superior functionality or durability is a critical differentiating factor.

Its customizable technology is well-suited for high-end markets with unique specifications and demanding environments that pose technical and optical challenges for displays, such as bright ambient light, vibration and shock, extreme temperatures and condensation. Jenniffer B. Austria

Business

URC’s purchase of Roxas sugar mill cleared by PCC T

By Othel V. Campos

he Philippine Competition Commission said Monday it approved the acquisition by Universal Robina Corp. of the sugar mill and ethanol facility of Roxas Holdings Inc. in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental.

The approval of URC’s acquisition of Central Azucarera de la Carlota Inc. and Roxol Bioenergy Corp. in Negros Occidental and shares in Najalin Agri-ventures Inc. came a year after the anti-trust body blocked a similar transaction over merger-to-monopoly concerns in Batangas province.

It said the transaction involves URC’s acquisition of CA-Carlota and Roxol’s sugar milling and bioethanol distillery plants and its parcels of land and shares held by RHI in Najalin Agri-Ventures.

The anti-trust body approved the transaction on Sept. 3.

URC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the purchase cost would be determined at the closing of the transaction and based on fair market value. RHI said in a separate disclosure it would use the proceeds from the sale to prepay all longterm debt and reduce short-term credits.

RHI said the sale of the La Carlota assets would also allow it to refocus its resources on rebuilding its sugar milling and refining

ECPay reports 114% increase in customers

FOOD PACKS.

ELECTRONIC Commerce Payments Inc. said Monday its business grew significantly despite the pandemic as many Filipinos shifted to digital channels to remain safe from virus infection.

The multi-platform payment company said it recorded an 18-percent increase in digital merchant partners in April to July, resulting in a 114-percent hike in the number of customers reached via mobile apps for eMoney, banking, lending and payment vending machines.

The service has direct access to about 27 million customers nationwide using various digital channels. ECPay also has 560 unique merchant partners with physical stores, with a total reach of 25,000 outlets nationwide.

“We are seeing the public’s growing willingness to adopt the digital lifestyle, and we are glad to be able to support them by providing convenience through various touch points that may be closer to our customers and easier to get to for bills payment, cashin services, and purchase of electronic load,” said ECPay chief executive Jasmin Montelibano. Darwin G. Amojelar

Taxpayers given easy way to settle liabilities THE Department of Finance said it issued a regulation allowing taxpayers to voluntarily settle their tax deficiencies even without an audit for the taxable year 2018.

The DOF said in a statement the implementation of the Voluntary Assessment and Payment Program under Revenue Regulation 21-2020 would run until Dec. 31, 2020.

“With the VAPP, the government hopes to increase its tax collections while providing taxpayers an easy and affordable way to settle their unpaid tax deficiencies,” the agency said.

It said the VAPP allows taxpayers to voluntarily pay their unpaid internal revenue tax liabilities—with or without an ongoing audit of or investigation into their finances—and those who do so will no longer be audited or investigated for 2018 for the tax types availed.

The program covers all internal revenue taxes due for the taxable year ending Dec. 31, 2018 and for fiscal year 2018 ending on the last day of July 2018 to June 2019.

Julito G. Rada

facilities in Nasugbu, Batangas The PCC said while URC and CA-Carlota were among the big players in Negros island, the transaction was not expected to lead to the substantial reduction of the competition in the sugarcane milling and tolling markets in the region and in the national market for bioethanol, wholesale raw sugar and molasses.

It blocked last year URC’s attempt to take over Central Azucarera Don Pedro Inc. and RHI, its sole rival in Batangas province, after a market investigation raised competition concerns over a monopoly of sugar milling services that might corner farmer-planters in their sharing agreements, sugar recovery rates and incentives in Southern Tagalog.

It said, however, that the acquisition by the same parties over the assets in Negros presented a different market environment where there are many players.

With Jenniffer B. Austria

Seventy-three nutritionally-atrisk pregnant women and indigent families of Malabon City receive #TogetherWeHeal food packs from J. Amado Araneta Foundation, Araneta City, Bb. Pilipinas Charities Inc. and Ticketnet through the office of Malabon Councilor Enzo Oreta.

Garments exporters likely to reduce over 20,000 jobs MORE than 20,000 Filipino workers may lose jobs in the garments and apparel industry this year, as exports continued to fall dramatically in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, an industry group said Monday.

The Confederation of Wearable Exporters of the Philippines said the 50-percent decline in global demand for garments and apparel forced export companies, especially producers of designer apparel and leather goods, to cut thousands of jobs.

CONWEP said based on a study it submitted to the government in May, about 21,518 workers in the sector might be retrenched this year.

“What can you do when the global

market is 50-percent down. We expected that as early as May 2020 based on a survey and we wrote the DTI [Department of Trade and Industry and DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) about our concern. We have forewarned the government,” said CONWEP executive director Maritess Agoncillo.

She said among the first to retrench workers was Yuenthai Philippines Inc., a unit of Luen Thai International Philippines Group Inc., which is considered the largest fashion and designer apparel manufacturer in the Philippines. It manufactures bags and accessories for labels like Coach and Ralph Lauren.

Luen Thai lost about 30 percent of its 5,000 labor pool across all its compa-

nies in the Philippines, including 200 in Yuenthai.

Sports City International, which manufactures popular sports brands like Adidas, also laid off workers. The company has been operating in the Philippines for 32 years from seven factories in Mactan, Cebu where it used to employ 21,000 workers.

The Mactan Economic Processing Zone recently reported that 4,000 jobs in various locators were lost this year.

CONWEP in May said around 35 percent of CONWEP workers were in precarious situation and could be retrenched if the government failed to provide support to the sector.

Othel V. Campos

Former Iloilo distributor files petition with PCC against rival MORE Electric

By Alena Mae S. Flores FORMER Iloilo City distributor Panay Electric Co. filed a petition with the Philippine Competition Commission against rival MORE Electric and Power Corp. for alleged monopoly and incompetence.

PECO, in a statement, accused MORE Power of monopolistic and antitrust practices, claiming the new power utility violated tenets concerning the prohibition of monopoly under the 1987 Constitution, Republic Act 9136, or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001, and Republic Act 10667, or the Philippine Competition Act. It said MORE Power’s violation of PECO’s constitutional principles occurred when it seized the assets, equipment and clientele of PECO without purchasing its own property or investing in resources that would have enabled it to serve consumers reliably.

PECO legal counsel Estrella Elamparo said MORE Power’s actions were aimed to establish their monopolistic stronghold in the power sector of Iloilo City.

“Instead of building its own distribution system capable of keeping up with PECO’s existing assets, MORE Power, under the guise of expropriation, picked the easy way and simply took PECO’s facilities and clientele. In this way, it avoided competing against a seasoned player and, at the same time, gained dominance over the industry,” she said.

“Eliminating one’s competitors to ensure absolute dominance over an industry

is the very essence of anti-competitive conduct,” Elamparo said.

Elamparo said MORE Power violated Section 45 of the EPIRA Law, also known as Cross Ownership, Market Power Abuse and Anti-Competitive Behavior, “despite having no experience, expertise or even resources for the distribution of electricity.” She said MORE Power took responsibility as electric distributor of Iloilo City, although it was identified as a mining company.

She said PECO also filed a libel case against Francis Gentoral, the executive director of the Iloilo Economic Development Foundation Inc. for claiming that PECO had caused numerous investors to turn away from Iloilo PECO disputed the allegations of over-billing Iloilo consumers, saying that MORE Power was the one shown to be overcharging by an estimated P7.7 million in the July to August billing cycle alone.

“MORE Power has always passed the blame to us because it has been failing to deliver on its mandate to deliver its electrical services. It has been failing its duty and should be investigated. Instead of being objective about their statements, ILEDF has supported their statements despite what the facts show. MORE, with IELDF’s assistance, is concealing their failures and playing the blame game, when they should be fulfilling their responsibilities,” PECO head of public engagement and government affairs Marcelo Cacho said.

RICH BIODIVERSITY. Birds thrive and flourish at the Aboitiz Cleanergy Park in Davao City, thanks to its rich biodiversity including trees that serve as ideal bird habitats. Nearly 100 bird species have been spotted in the park, 10 to 15 of which are endemic to the Philippines. The site, 20 kilometers from the Therma South Inc. base load power plant, is an eight-hectare ecological preserve in Punta Dumalag, Davao City.

PSE INDEX CLOSING Monday, September 7, 2020 150.76 pts.

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES

2,945,182,883 59,239

TOTAL VALUE 3,902,450,007.17 ADVANCES 132

5,935.85

DECLINES 65 UNCHANGED 37

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2020

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.5870

Japan

Yen

0.009413

0.4573

UK

Pound

1.325600

64.4069

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129032

6.2693

Switzerland

Franc

1.095050

53.2052

Canada

Dollar

0.765638

37.2001

Singapore

Dollar

0.732762

35.6027

Australia

Dollar

0.728200

35.3811

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652731

128.888

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266652

12.9558

Brunei

Dollar

0.730087

35.4727

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000068

0.0033

Thailand

Baht

0.031827

1.5464

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.2289

Euro

Euro

1.184300

57.5416

Korea

Won

0.000842

0.0409

China

Yuan

0.146124

7.0997

India

Rupee

0.013645

0.6630

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.241138

11.7162

New Zealand

Dollar

0.671600

32.6310

Taiwan

Dollar

0.034090

1.6563 Source: BSP

Agriculture lifts temporary ban on shipments of Brazilian poultry THE Department of Agriculture on Monday lifted the temporary ban on poultry imports, including mechanically deboned meat from Brazil, after meat processors warned the restrictive policy could lead to food shortage and high prices of meat products in the country.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar issued Memorandum Order No. 42 Series of 2020 to lift the temporary ban on MDM of poultry from Brazil.

The Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. welcomed the DA’s decision. “We recognized that the ban was lifted because the DA and the Brazil Ministry of Agriculture worked together to address issues related to food safety in the midst of Covid-19 pandemic engulfing Brazil,’’ said PAMPI president Felix Tiukinhoy Jr. He said the meat processing industry could now move forward and enter into term contracts with Brazilian suppliers to ensure the stability and cost efficiency of MDM as raw material in the production of processed meat products.

The group earlier sought modifications to the ban exempting MDM amid the adverse impact it had on the sourcing and inventory of MDM materials, which are usually delivered on just-in-time basis.

Brazil is the second largest supplier of MDM, next to the Netherlands.

Other major suppliers of MDM are Belgium, the US and Canada.

PAMPI assured the government and consumers that prices of processed meat would remain generally stable for the rest of the year.

The DA lifted the ban on Brazilian MDM after documents from the Brazilian government showed compliance to foreign manufacturing establishments to COVID precautionary protocol. The documents showed the detailed plan of MDM plants in Brazil on COVID-19 prevention, infection control, occupational safety and health in poultry MDM meat establishments.

Dar said that only COVID-free FMEs would be allowed to export MDM to the Philippines.

The DA asked all exporting MDM manufacturers from Brazil to include an addendum in the veterinary health certificate that states, “the meat was handled and processed in facilities with functional food safety management system and where stringent hygiene and sanitary measures are practiced” to the shipment arriving in the Philippines.

It also required that all poultry products from Brazil carry safe handling label. The agency made it clear in the memo that MDM imports would be for the sole use of local meat processors and should not find their way to the local wet market.

Under Memorandum 42 Series of 2020, shipments that are non-compliant to the provisions of the memo will be confiscated by veterinary quarantine officers and inspectors at all ports of entry. Othel V. Campos

PSALM readies auction of five more properties this month STATE-RUN Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. said Monday it will privatize five more real estate properties this month after selling five Mindanao lots in August.

PSALM said it would privatize its Loboc property in Bohol, Calumpang in General Santos City, Magdalena in Laguna, Supiden in La Union and Camalaniugan in Cagayan.

“Bidding is open to individuals/sole proprietorships, corporations, cooperatives or partnerships duly registered and organized under the laws of the Philippines and at least 60 percent Filipinoowned, joint ventures or consortiums, government corporate entities and local government units authorized by law to acquire, own, hold or develop real estate

properties in the Philippines,” it said.

It set the pre-bid conference for the properties on Sept. 15 and the bid submission deadline on Sept. 30.

PSALM said in the event of a failure of auction, the lone bidder’s bid would be considered an offer to buy the properties for the purpose of negotiated sale.

PSALM earlier privatized its real estate assets in Agusan del Norte for P36.233 million.

The proceeds of the privatization can be utilized to pay for remaining liabilities of the National Power Corp., it said.

“We are glad that the privatization activity was successful despite the pandemic. This privatization activity will generate a total bid amount of P36,233,308 for PSALM. And once remitted to PSALM,

the proceeds will be used by us to pay the remaining financial obligations that we got from the Napocor,” PSALM president and Irene Besido Garcia said earlier.

PSALM manages the assets and liabilities of Napocor as mandated by the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001.

PSALM said Lopez-led FG Bukidnon Power Corp. offered the winning bid for three lots with a total area of 10,596 square meters in Bukidnon for P28,610,168.00.

Therma Marine Inc. of Aboitiz Power Corp. acquired two properties including one lot with an area of 1,595 square meters in Maco, Davao de Oro for P3.2 million and a lot with an area of 3,395 sq. m. in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte for P4.4 million.

Alena Mae S. Flores

Bucks lose Giannis, but stay alive; Lakers prevail MIAMI—Khris Middleton starred as the Milwaukee Bucks, their backs against the wall and star Giannis Antetokounmpo injured, beat the Miami Heat 118-115 in overtime on Sunday to stay alive in the NBA playoffs.

With reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Antetokounmpo ruled out after aggravating his sprained right ankle in the first half, Middleton stepped up to score 36 points—including nine of the Bucks’ 11 in overtime.

A Middleton three-pointer put Milwaukee up 116-112 with 6.9 seconds left in the extra session.

Miami rookie Tyler Herro drained a three-pointer to close the gap before Middleton made two free throws to seal the win.

Milwaukee, the Eastern Conference top seeds after posting the league’s best regular-season record, trimmed the deficit in the best-of-seven East semi-final to 3-1.

In Western Conference action, Anthony Davis scored 36 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and LeBron James added 28 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Houston Rockets 117109 to level their series at 1-1.

Milwaukee still have a mountain to climb as they try to become the first NBA team to rally from an 0-3 deficit to win a series.

“We all fought,” said Middleton, who led six Bucks players who scored in double-figures in the must-win game.

‘Giannis put it all out there’ “Especially with Giannis going down the way he did. He came out and tried to fight for us with a bad ankle.

We wanted to have his back and just fight for him and fight for everybody.”

Antetokounmpo had rolled his right ankle in the Bucks’ game-three defeat and twisted it again and went down hard in the second quarter.

He stayed in the game and shot two free throws, making one, before limping to the locker room, clearly emotional as he was assisted by team personnel.

“Giannis put it all out there for us,” said Milwaukee’s Eric Bledsoe, who scored 14 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. “We wanted to come out and get this win by taking it one play, one possession at a time.”

Heat forward Jimmy Butler said Antetokounmpo’s exit affected Miami, too.

“I think that we relaxed a little bit,” said Butler, who scored 17 points.

Bam Adebayo led the Heat with 26 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists.

It wasn’t clear if Antetokounmpo will be available when the Bucks again try to fend off elimination in game five on Tuesday. AFP

Sports

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2020

C1

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks exits the game after an injury during the second quarter against the Miami Heat in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 06, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. AFP

Student-athletes can train soon, says CHED

By Peter Atencio

I

N THREE weeks or less, student-athletes can go back to training. Commission on Higher Education chairman Prospero de Vera III said this moments after Malacanang announced that varsity players from different disciplines can resume training in general community quarantine and modified general community quarantine areas.

“Pinakamatagal na ang tatlong linggo, based on our experience in crafting guidelines with the universities. Kasi, iyung process na ginagawa ng CHED, we involved the universities in crafting the guidelines,” said De Vera.

De Vera discussed their plans for collegiate athletes during a web conference with members of the tripartite body known as the Joint Administrative Order Group.

Also present were Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez, National Training Director Marc Velasco, Games and Amusement Board chairman Abraham Mitra and Department of Health undersecretary

Rosette Vergeire.

A Technical Working Group has been formed after De Vera had a meeting with University of the Philippines College of Human Kinetics Dean Francis Diaz and Chooks-to-Go 3x3 tournament director Eric Altamirano.

With Diaz’s involvement, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines would most likely be in the picture in shaping the TWG’s recommendations since he is part of the UAAP Board of Managing Directors.

The formation of the TWG comes after the JAO group wrapped up its inquiry in the University of Santo Tomas

Drex to adjust training for next ONE bout DREX “T-Rex” Zamboanga is fresh off a successful campaign in Bangkok where he made his ONE Championship debut.

The 31-year-old former Philippine mixed martial arts world champion scored a hard-earned submission victory over Thailand’s Detchadin Sornsirisuphathin at ONE: A NEW BREED, last Friday.

But despite the win, “T-Rex” highlighted the difficulties in training camp, having had to move from Pattaya where he and his younger sister Denice trained at Fairtex. Due to the lack of an established training facility, and the required sparring partners, Zamboanga says he was barely ready to head into the biggest fight of his career thus far.

As a result, he appeared sluggish all throughout the contest and was far from satisfied with his performance.

“Having a good place to train is so important in MMA. We just train where we can here in Bangkok. Having a lack of dedicated training and sparring partners, as well as facing a little bit of ring rust, I felt sluggish heading into this one. It’s not easy adjusting to the new

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

Drex Zamboanga raises the Philippine flag as he is declared the winner.

weight system. I think I had a little too much ice cream before the fight. I felt so heavy and slow,” said Zamboanga.

“The situation was difficult but we made some adjustments and the three of us just found ways to train whenever

and wherever we could. Somehow, we were able to condition ourselves well enough to give a good performance. It wasn’t easy.”

Prior to making his debut in ONE Championship, Zamboanga was a na-

Growling Tigers men’s basketball team and the National University women’s volleyball squad for health and safety protocol violations.

The JAO group brought its findings to the Department of Justice and the Department of Interior and Local Government also yesterday.

The panel believes that violations may have been committed when the Growling Tigers did team workouts in Sorsogon, while lockdown protocols were still in place.

The Lady Bulldogs were also in a similar situation after several athletes were stranded in the school’s Calamba, Laguna campus when lockdowns began last March.

De Vera said it will now be up to the DOJ to issue an order to the UST and NU camps to initiate a thorough investigation and implement possible sanctions.

“The order will demand that they explain why sanctions will not be imposed on officials, teaching and non-teaching personnel for failure to comply with with guidelines,” said De Vera. tional champion in his native Philippines, competing for local mixed martial arts promotions. After signing with ONE, Zamboanga knew he had to adjust to his new promotion’s unique weight and hydration system.

Luckily for Zamboanga, he was able to figure it out just in time to pass all tests, including the one inside the Circle.

“Adjusting to the weight and hydration system of ONE Championship, it was totally different from what I was used to in my career, in a good way,” said Zamboanga.

“Thankfully, I was able to make the weight and I was hydrated. The first few weeks of camp were a bit rocky because I was still trying to figure things out. The last week was when I was able to piece it all together and it got easier from there.”

Against Detchadin, Zamboanga showcased the well-rounded game he has become known for. Although he wanted to test himself in the striking department against an opponent he knew would give him a good challenge, Zamboanga ultimately ended up bringing the action to the ground where he had the advantage.

Once he made this key adjustment to his strategy, Zamboanga almost instantly locked up the rear naked choke and completed the submission.

Disqualified Djokovic apologizes for behavior NEW YORK—Novak Djokovic was dramatically disqualified from the US Open on Sunday after accidentally striking a female lines judge with a ball in frustration during his last-16 match, sending shock waves through the tournament.

The world number one apologized for hitting the ball in disgust after losing his serve to go 6-5 down in the first set to Spain’s 20th seed Pablo Carreno Busta inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Djokovic appeared to be looking the other way when he pulled the ball from his pocket and smacked it in the direction of the official, it hitting her full toss in the throat.

The official cried out and began gasping for air as she collapsed to the ground.

Djokovic rushed over to check on her, placing his hand on her back as she struggled to breathe. After a few minutes she got up and walked off the court looking dazed.

Around ten minutes of discussions then ensued between Djokovic and the tournament referee Soeren Friemel, during which the world number one pleaded his case.

The umpire then declared that Carreno Busta had

won by default. Djokovic shook hands with his opponent before leaving the court without appearing to shake the umpire’s hand.

‘So wrong’ He went then directly to his car and left the Flushing Meadows site in New York without speaking to reporters.

Djokovic, 33, later posted an apology on Instagram saying he was “so sorry.”

“This whole situation has left me really sad and empty,” he wrote, adding that “thank God” the woman was okay.

“I’m extremely sorry to have caused her such stress. So unintended. So wrong,” Djokovic said.

He also apologized to tournament organizers for “my behavior” but did not say whether he thought they were right to default him.

The United States Tennis Association said Djokovic had been defaulted under the Grand Slam rules for “intentionally hitting a ball dangerously or recklessly within the court or hitting a ball with negligent disregard of the consequences.” AFP

Novak Djokovic of Serbia tends to a line judge who was hit with the ball during his Men’s Singles fourth round match against Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain on Day Seven of the 2020 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. AFP

Letran: No training until face-to-face classes allowed RESUMPTION of training among varsity athletes will not be allowed until face-to-face classes will be allowed to resume as well.

NCAA management committee chairman Fr. Vic Calvo of Season 96 host Colegio de San Juan de Letran said this is the position of the league at the moment.

Calvo said this following an announcement from Malacanang that varsity players from different disciplines can resume training in general community quarantine and modified general community quarantine areas.

“The position of the NCAA is that if there is no face-to-face classes, we won’t allow face-to-face practice,” said Calvo in a statement.

The Mancom will meet on Thursday to look at the guidelines that the Commission on Higher Education is crafting.

“That position stays for now, but we’ll meet on Thursday and see what’s the guideline of CHED,” added Calvo.

“CHED is meeting today to craft the guideline. I asked Paul Supan of Jose Rizal University and Herc Callanta of Lyceum to attend the online meeting.”

A Technical Working Group has been formed after CHED chairman Prospero de Vera III had a meeting with University of the Philippines College of Human Kinetics Dean Francis Diaz and Chooks-to-Go 3x3 tournament director Eric Altamirano.

The University Athletic Association of the Philippines would most likely be in the picture in shaping the TWG’s recommendations since Diaz is part of the UAAP Board of Managing Directors.

De Vera said a small group of schools will first be involved in crafting the policies.

But others will be involved after the initial meeting next week of the TWG. Peter Atencio

PSA Forum tackles cage league, cycling CYCLING and the emerging women’s professional basketball league get their share of the spotlight in Tuesday’s online edition of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.

Pru Life UK Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Marketing Officer Allan Tumbaga talks about the cycling side especially PRURide PH moving forward following the event’s cancellation this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The second part of the weekly session meanwhile, will tackle the Women’s National Basketball League, which is looking to hold its first ever tournament as a professional league. Executive Vice President Rhose Montreal will talk about the matter, with WNBL ambassadress Bea Daez-Fabros and NBL chairman Celso ‘Soy’ Mercado also invited in the Forum.

The 10 a.m. public sports program is presented by San Miguel Corp., Go For Gold, MILO, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

The session is powered by Smart, with Upstream Media as webcast partner.

The Forum is being aired live via the PSA Facebook page fb.com/ PhilippineSportswritersAssociation and also shared by Radyo Pilipinas 2 Facebook page.

Sports

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

IOC’s Coates: Tokyo Olympics to go ahead ‘with or without COVID’ S

YDNEY—Tokyo’s postponed Olympics will go ahead next year regardless of the coronavirus pandemic, IOC vice president John Coates told AFP Monday, saying they would be the “Games that conquered Covid.”

The Olympics have never been cancelled outside of the world wars and Coates, speaking in a phone interview, was adamant that the Tokyo Games will start on their revised date.

“It will take place with or without Covid. The Games will start on July 23 next year,” said Coates, who heads the International Olympic Committee’s Coordination Commission for the Tokyo Games.

“The Games were going to be, their theme, the Reconstruction Games after the devastation of the tsunami,” he added, referring to a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan in 2011.

“Now very much these will be the Games that conquered Covid, the light at the end of the tunnel.”

In an historic decision, the 2020 Olympics were postponed because of the global

march of the pandemic and they are now set to open on July 23, 2021.

But Japan’s borders are still largely closed to foreign visitors and a vaccine is months or even years away, feeding speculation about whether the Games are feasible at all.

Japanese officials have made clear they would not delay the Games a second time beyond 2021.

A recent poll found just one in four people in Japan want them to go ahead next year, with most backing either another postponement or a cancellation.

‘Monumental task’ Coates said the Japanese government

Difficult techniques net James 3 golds

“haven’t dropped the baton at all” following the postponement, despite the “monumental task” of putting the event back a year.

“Before Covid, (IOC president) Thomas Bach said this is the best prepared Games we’ve ever seen, the venues were almost all finished, they are now finished, the village is amazing, all the transport arrangements, everything is fine,” he said.

“Now it’s been postponed by one year, that’s presented a monumental task in terms of re-securing all the venues... something like 43 hotels we had to get out of those contracts and renegotiate for a year later. AFP

(FILES) This file photo taken on August 24, 2020 shows the Olympic Rings and the Japanese flag outside the Olympic Museum in Tokyo.

Tokyo’s postponed Olympics will go ahead next year regardless of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, IOC vice president John Coates told AFP on September 7, 2020, saying they would be the “Games that conquered Covid.” AFP

By Peter Atencio WINNING three gold medals using difficult techniques over the weekend allowed Cebuano bet James de los Santos to increase his medal count in the individual male seniors’ division of online karatedo tournaments.

Since shifting to more demanding forms, De los Santos won his sixth, seventh and eight championships in a span of three days.

His title victories allowed the 30-yearold De los Santos to firm up his grip on second position in the world rankings with more points.

Utilizing the explosive execution of the ebi-geri formation twice and the graceful moves of a turning jump in Unsu were among the movements that enabled De los Santos to rule with his video presentations in the second Dutch Open and Miyamoto Musashi 5-Rings E-Kata competitions.

His last two trophies came after he tinkered with the levels of difficulty of the Ebi-geri to collect enough points and claim the crown in the Echampions Trophy Series 1.

“I did Unsu for the Dutch Open and Sansai for the Miyamoto Musashi tourney. I trained a lot harder to make my performances better for every upcoming tournament I participate in,” said De los Santos.

The ebi-geri, known as shrimp kick, came in handy for the second time when he unravelled the Sansai kata to score points over Murillo Alvez of Brazil, 25.324.5 in Musashi finals.

The shrimp kick, which is used in the Genseiryu style of fighting, earned De los Santos enough points to claim the crown in the Echampions Trophy Series 1.

This was when he outperformed Matias Domont of Switzerland, 25.7-24.5, in the finals.

“The ebi geri (shrimp kick) is the highlight of the kata. It’s difficult to keep it steady. The turns also make it very complicated,” said De los Santos on his execution.

In the Dutch Open, De los Santos came up with another volatile form, with a turning jump that came with Unsu style and this enabled him to conquer Alfredo Bustamante, 25.4-24.7, in the second Dutch Open.

Discount ID, booklets to over 1,000+ national athletes, coaches this month THE wait is over for national athletes and coaches.

The Philippine Sports Commission has sent two of the three batches of booklets for the availment of the 20% discount to national athletes and coaches pursuant to Republic Act 10699 or the “National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act (Republic Act 10699).”

“We are doing our best to deliver everything within this month even though there are lockdowns due to the pandemic and the limited workforce. We are doing our best to comply with it as much as possible this 3rd week of September we should have sent the last batch,” explained Manuel Bitog, Chief of Assistance and Coordination Division and head of the PSC frontline personnel.

PSC immediately went to work to produce Identification Cards (PNSTM ID) and accompanying booklets for all qualified national team members. The Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) Revenue Resolution 13, series of 2020, prescribes the implementation and regulations of R.A. 10699 on discount privileges. Luzon-wide lockdown delayed the initial distribution efforts to national athletes and coaches.

“Karamihan kasi ng mga inilagay ng atleta ay addresses nila nung nandito pa sila sa RMSC (Rizal Memorial Sports Complex) dormitory at saka sa Philsports dormitory. That’s why kinailangan naming kunin ‘yung updated addresses nila,” said Bitog who is currently stationed in RMSC along with the sports arm’s skeleton force.

The PSC sent off all the national athletes and coaches under its care earlier this year back to their respective hometowns and provinces to ensure their safety against the threat of COVID-19.

“We have been remedying it through coordinating with the different concerned NSAs (National Sports Associations)

NATHANIEL DELA CRUZ WHEN news broke about Steve Nash getting the job at Brooklyn as the new head coach for the Nets, I’m sure that the first thing that came to mind for many basketball fans was the challenge posed by the fragile dynamics of a rookie head coach working with superstars and their egos.

It is always a good idea, on paper, to have talented individuals come together and expect them to achieve great things. However, while skills allow you to show people how good you can be, it is your personality that defines how good you can be around others who are just as talented, and if such endeavor promises success or if it is doomed to fail from the start.

Basketball fans were hoping they’ll get to have a good look at how Irving’s ball-heavy style of iso backcourt play

meshes with Durant’s position as a primary go-to player in a set half-court offense. And yet, it remains to be seen if Irving and Durant are a good fit in Brooklyn as individual players and as a two-punch combo, owing to their lengthy stay at the sidelines because of injury.

And now, things become more complicated with Nash joining the fray: three Alpha males, three different basketball styles, three different personalities.

As a basketball player, Nash has cemented his stature playing his brand of basketball. He led the Phoenix Suns to multiple playoff appearances with his run-and-gun up-tempo style of basketball that didn’t only look good but also did a lot of good for Phoenix, making the Suns a real contender.

Nash excelled and became the league’s Most Valuable Player because he has a high basketball IQ, judging from how he reads the court and how he decides between taking a shot and making a pass. He loves to spread the floor and his excellent court vision allows him to see and make plays for open teammates, which makes him a joy to watch (and

THE NBA has obviously never played regular or postseason games in July, August and September, so judging the ratings the league has gotten has been tricky and divisive, though we’re going to #sticktosports in this particular piece.

Outside the United States, league data shows that compared to the 2019-2020 regular season, ratings and interest in the eight seeding games and the first round of the playoffs inside the Orlando bubble have been popular, with games broadcast in 215 different countries and territories in 47 different languages.

Compared to the average regular season ratings, the viewing audience for the first two weeks of seeding games was up 325% in the Philippines, 130% in Spain, 88% in Mexico, 79% in Lithuania and 29% in Italy, per NBA data. Those numbers were aided by a record number of games airing in primetime internationally. Of the 88 seeding games, 41 games aired in primetime in Latin America and 40 aired in primetime in Europe, the Middle East and Africa on League Pass and various broadcast partners, by far the most ever in a two-week span.

“There has never been a better time to be an international NBA fan,” said Matt Brabants, the NBA’s senior vice president of global media distribution. “Between primetime games in key markets around the world, the impact that international players are having on the court, and new broadcast innovations introduced as part of the season restart, there are more ways for international fans to experience the excitement of the NBA than ever before.”

In Canada, ratings for the defending champion Toronto Raptors’ first round sweep of the Brooklyn Nets were up 24% across TSN and Rogers Sportsnet from last season’s first round win over the Orlando Magic. And in the other playoff series, Canadian ratings were up 41% year over year from last year’s first round, in part because of the 11 Canadian-born players among the 16 playoff teams, the most outside the U.S. Ratings during the seeding games were up 62% year over year on ESPN Mexico, though that total does not include Christmas Day, the All-Star game or the Mexico City games, per the NBA. Ratings on Nu9ve were up 65% and viewership nearly doubled on TUDN in games played through Aug. 9.

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that FORT PILAR ENERGY, INC. is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as New Operator of 20MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on a Non-Pioneer status with project site in Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur. Any person with valid objection/s on the above-mentioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication/posting.

Nesthy Petecio captures her Philippine National Sports Team Identification Card (PNSTM ID) and booklet (Photo courtesy of Nesthy Alcalde Petecio)

to contact athletes regarding their addresses and if their areas are serviceable to the courier. Sa ngayon may 300 na lang na natitira as the last batch dahil hinihintay namin iforward sa amin ang addresses nila,” said Bitog.

PSC chairman William Ramirez, who is on top of these efforts, believes in the positive implication of this progress to the national athletes and coaches, most especially in this time of pandemic.

“We have always been supportive of our athletes and coaches and we hope this privilege help in easing their burdens caused by COVID-19,” said the sports Chief who has

Nash this time FREE THROW SHOOTER

NBA’s TV ratings grow during seeding, playoff games

most certainly, a joy to play with - after all, we can argue that many former teammates were able to elevate their game and status in the NBA because Nash allowed them to shine).

Whether or not he plans on implementing the same offensive approach now that he is no longer the starting guard, but the head coach remains to be seen. Fans are excited to find out, that is for sure.

But it shouldn’t surprise anyone if the Brooklyn Nets under Nash plays basketball using a different blueprint.

After all, it is not uncommon for a player-turned-coach to utilize a different approach. Style of play is always dictated by the personnel available to the team and it is the job of the head coach to play to their strengths and not force a team to adopt a style not suitable to how the team is built. It is interesting to see what Nash will change and what part of Brooklyn basketball Nash opts to keep and build on, and how the Nets’ very young and very talented supporting unit will take part in the process of improving the quality of Brooklyn basketball, which in itself and its current form is already promising.

But overall, I think few will nitpick this part of Nash’s rookie season as a head coach since everyone will give him at least one full season to adjust, adapt, and establish the identity of the team with him calling the shots.

Instead, people (I think) will focus more on how all three Alpha males will be able to work together. They will make a case early on as to why this partnership merits great expectations or portends to a series of unfortunate events, as soon as proof is made available via game stats, locker room chatter, and insider gossip.

I like Nash. I wish him success in his coaching career. But the truth is his success as a coach depends on a lot of moving parts—how Irving and Durant will play under his system, how the players who are set to lose their playing time (once Irving and Durant return) respond to playing limited minutes, how Brooklyn trades during the free agency, and how the battle lines in the East is reformed once free agency concludes and whether big names stayed put or transferred to a new team.

By all accounts, this is a challenging journey for Nash and it will begin soon.

If there is anything Nash has proven in the NBA, it is his grit and willingness to grind it out.

RAQUEL B. ECHAGUE OIC-Director Resource-Based Industries Service M. Standard – Sept. 8, 2020

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that FORT PILAR ENERGY, INC. is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as New Operator of 20MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on a Non-Pioneer status with project site at Sangali, Zamboanga City.

Any person with valid objection/s on the above-mentioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication/posting.

RAQUEL B. ECHAGUE OIC-Director Resource-Based Industries Service M. Standard – Sept. 8, 2020

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that FORT PILAR ENERGY, INC. is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as New Operator of 60MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on a Non-Pioneer status with project site at Sitio Pitogo, Barangay Sinunoc, Zamboanga City.

Any person with valid objection/s on the above-mentioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication/posting.

RAQUEL B. ECHAGUE OIC-Director Resource-Based Industries Service M. Standard – Sept. 8, 2020

Entertainment

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2020

C3

nickie.standard@gmail.com

Film icon Marichu Vera-Perez Maceda passes on

By Nickie Wang FILM producer and local movie pioneer Ma. Azucena “Manay Ichu” Vera-Perez Maceda has succumbed to cardio respiratory failure, her family confirmed. She was 77.

Fondly called as Manay Ichu by her colleagues in the film industry, Maceda was born on Dec. 23, 1942 to the family that owned Sampaguita Pictures, one of the biggest film productions in the Philippines from the ‘30s to the ‘70s.

As one of the pillars of local cinema, Maceda was one of the founders of the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund), the Film Developmental Council of the Philippines, the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), the Film Academy of the Philippines, the Philip-

pine Motion Picture Producers Association (PMPPA), and the Experimental Cinema of the Philippines (ECP).

According to radio announcer Ali Sotto, in a flash report made on dzBB, Maceda had been ill for a long time before her demise yesterday, Sept. 7.

“Matagal na pong may karamdaman si Manay Ichu, as she is lovingly called. So she has been ill for a long time. Lumalaban lang siya. For the past days, marami ang request for her healing but God, in His wisdom, has decided to bring her home,” Sotto said.

In a Facebook post, Maceda’s nephew Rep. Christopher De Venecia, son of her sister Gina De Venecia, confirmed the death of the local movie pioneer.

“I will really miss you Mama Tutu.

You are a pillar of the Philippine film

industry who took care of me as I grew up. Mahal na mahal ka namin,” the former TV personality wrote in his social media post.

Considered as one of the matriarchs of Philippine Cinema, she was widely known for producing films with Dyesebel and Batch 81 as two of her most popular and highly acclaimed projects.

Some of her notable works also include Just Married ‘Do Not Disturb’ (1972), Umibig ay Di Biro (1964), and Always in My Heart (1971).

(Maceda’s family honored her with a mass at 6:00 last night in Arlington Chapel. Her remains were cremated immediately. She will be inurned at Sampaguita Chapel beginning today from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m..In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to MOWELFUND.)

Another phase in McCoy’s career

Local cinema pioneer Ma. Marichu Vera-Perez Maceda literally grew up in the industry having born into a family that owned Sampaguita Pictures.

Digital channels for DepEd’s blended learning program GMA Network is offering the free use of two of its digital television channels for the implementation of the Department of Education (DepEd)’s blended learning program as the nation continues its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and face-to-face classes remain unsafe.

This is part of the Kapuso network’s efforts to help the government curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country, and, at the same time, provide Filipino students access to quality education while keeping them safe at home.

GMA’s digital channels can be utilized in time for the adjusted opening of classes for School Year 2020-2021, which is scheduled on Oct. 5.

For further updates, visit www. gmanetwork.com or GMA Network’s official social media platforms.

GMA Network offers free use of its digital channels for DepEd’s blended learning program.

EXTRA INTERNATIONAL

Christopher Nolan’s ‘Tenet’ opens with $20 m after pandemic delays Former Star Magic talent McCoy de Leon inks a management contract with Viva Artist Agency.

Y

OUNG actor McCoy de Leon admitted that he found it hard to say goodbye to Star Magic before inking a contract with Viva Artists Agency.

“Actually, there’s no conflict in my moving to VAA since my contract with Star Magic has already expired at the start of the pandemic,” McCoy revealed in a recent digital press conference.

“I became a freelancer though I told Star Magic that they can still handle the scheduling for my projects. You know, even if I don’t have a contract with them, saying goodbye is a very difficult process,” he added.

Before signing up with VAA, the 25-year-old actor admitted that there came a point when he wanted to quit showbiz and just pursue his studies.

Only, a positive development came.

“I wanted to study and leave the ‘biz permanently. But a sign came that made me realize that there are still opportunities for me. There’s nothing wrong if I grab it, right? I still want to act and try other things related to it,” McCoy stated.

What if it struck and you’re not ready financially? It’s hard,” the actor stated.

The former Pinoy Big Brother housemate has gone back to school, too, during the pandemic. He’s taking up Civil Engineering at the Mapua InNow that he’s a Viva talent, McCoy stitute of Technology. is excited about this new phase in his *** career. He believes that through Viva’s Through his recent Instagram help, he would be able to realize his dream of becoming a good actor “and post, Enzo Pineda admitted that he’s playing beautiful music together with making a lot of movies.”

Meanwhile, McCoy didn’t deny that pretty actress Michelle Vito.

He dropped a very meaningful meshe also felt depressed with the shutdown of ABS-CBN. He was afraid sage in his social media account which thinking of how his future would be if was accompanied by three sweet photos of him and Michelle. he lost his job.

“In this vast infinite universe that we “I thought of my family. I want my siblings to continue school. I want to are in, I’m blessed that I ended up in tell my folks that they should not worry this interesting planet called Earth and for I will take care of everything. I want met you. Thank you for sunnier days them to feel secured and comfortable,” and thank you for inspiring me to be a better man,” the caption in his social he said.

McCoy is grateful to the fact that he media post read.

Enzo values every moment they share was able to save enough and that’s what they’re spending during this pandemic. together and look forward to happy adHe has also invested in some properties, ventures they can engage themselves in which serve as his source of income at the coming days.

“I treasure every moment with you the moment.

“We don’t know what the future and I’m excited about the adventures holds. Like this COVID-19 pandemic. life has in store for us,” he said.

AS MOVIE theaters struggle to return $150 million globally. to normality during the coronavirus After several postponements, the pandemic, the first major Hollywood film has become the first of its kind release in six months, Christopher to dare a release during the pandemNolan’s Tenet, has taken in $20.2 ic. In contrast, Disney canned its plan million in five days. for a big-screen release of Mulan, preIn normal times that sort of ferring instead to run it number for an expected blockChristopher buster would be worrisome for Nolan’s ‘Tenet’ Warner Bros. Pictures, its distribw utor. With a production budget thas seen as e savior of $200 million, the film’s early of cinemas rollout represented a major gamwhich have ble for the studio. been hit badly “Domestically, Tenby absence of audiences et debuted at the lower end of during the expectations—$20 million pandemic. through Monday,» industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Sunday.

But the release comes in the COVID-19 world -- with many theaters still closed or operating at reduced capacity.

The US release hopes to capitalize on the important Labor Day on digital platforms. weekend.

The latest James Bond film, No “There is literally no context in Time to Die, which was due for rewhich to compare the results of a lease in April, was also postponed film opening during a pandemic with and will now go into cinemas in Noany other circumstance,” Warner vember.

Bros. said in a statement.

Tenet was released in more than 70 The film has done better overseas, countries, including most of Europe, where theaters are further along in Canada, Australia and South Korea. the reopening process, Hollywood The cast also includes Robert PatReporter said. It has taken in close to tinson and Elizabeth Debicki. AFP

TFC brings high-quality programming in brilliant HD to Comcast’s Xfinity customers

Judy Ann Santos (left) and Angel Locsin’s public service shows are some of the programs shown in HD available on the biggest cable company in the US.

ABS-CBN’s TFC, the leading international news and entertainment channel for Filipinos, has announced that TFC in HD is now available to Comcast’s Xfinity customers on X1 and via the Xfinity Stream app.

X1 customers can say “TFC” into the Xfinity Voice Remote to subscribe to and enjoy TFC’s high quality live original content with English subtitles including series, talk shows, variety shows, blockbuster movies, relevant news, and public service programs telecast in brilliant high definition. X1 custom-

ers can also find TFC programming within the International and Asian American Film and TV destinations on Xfinity on Demand.

“TFC is championing the effort to bring Filipinos the world-class entertainment content and viewing experience they want and deserve,” said Jun del Rosario, managing director for ABS-CBN International which covers North and Latin America.

“Especially during this ‘new normal’ where TV and online entertainment need to step up, we are happy that Comcast prioritized this effort to offer

Filipino programs on TFC in HD to its Xfinity X1 customers,” the media executive added.

Xfinity customers can now enjoy TFC in HD programming including series FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, A Soldier’s Heart, and Love Thy Woman, variety shows “It’s Showtime” and “ASAP Natin”, news program TV Patrol, and public service programs with Judy Ann Santos on Paano Kita Mapasasalamatan and Angel Locsin on Iba ‘Yan. For more information on TFC in HD in your area, please visit xfinity.com.

Life

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

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HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2020

Designer showcases bioplastic

as sustainable material

F

ILIPINO fashion design student Erika Ng recognizes the fashion industry’s huge contribution to the planet’s waste and pollution problem. And she wants to do something about it.

For her showcase, dubbed Putik, as the lone Filipino representative in this year’s Global Design Graduate Show, Ng explores various handmade fabric manipulations such as beading and braiding using her very own BioPlastik made of natural raw materials such as water, glycerol, and gelatin.

“My end goal is to create a new plastic material for a sustainable future, thus, BioPlastik,” shares the Fashion Design and Merchandising student of De La Salle-College Saint Benilde.

“Unlike mass-produced plastics,” she adds, “bioplastics help reduce the use of fossil fuels, which promotes sustainability as well as feedstock d ive r sif ication.”

Bioplastics are a renewable plastic material made from vegetable fats and oils, straw, woodchips, sawdust, recycled food waste, agricultural by-products, or other biological material.

“BioPlastik aims to meet the challenges of the local fashion industry by developing innovative solutions for materials, which meets commercial success while still promoting social, ecological, and cultural development,” says Ng. The young fashion designer aims to use the platform to tackle the environmental problems behind the glamorous fashion industry.

“If we merely appreciate the surface without learning and understanding what goes on behind the scenes, I don’t think we can fully be grateful for the beauty of things in life.”

Philippine agricultureinspired design using yarn embroidery.

ECO-FRIENDLY STYLE. Filipino fashion design student Erika Ng (inset) explores various fabric manipulations using her own bioplastic, dubbed BioPlastik, to offer a sustainable alternative that can be used in the fashion and design industry.

She continues, “The duality in nature is what inspired me to promote awareness not just on this industry but also on how we can work towards resolving its issues together.”

Ng also highlights the beauty of the Philippine landscapes and the agricultural problems that goes with it in her sustainable collection.

With Filipino identity, ingenuity and craftsmanship in mind, she incorporated traditional hand embroidery techniques to represent the aerial view of Philippine agriculture and rice paddies

Health-conscious consumers want ‘healthier’ choices

with innovative yarn embroidery and sewing practices.

“Agriculture is one of the essential industries in the Philippines. We have remarkable destinations and mindblowing landscapes, and I wanted my collection to evoke the same amazement that people get when they see the beauty of our country.”

Ng likewise hopes that her graduation showcase will help people better recognize and appreciate the hardworking farmers as heroes.

The Global Design Graduate Show

2020 is an international competition that recognizes the journey of graduating art and design students from around the world.

Out of 4,482 submissions from different art disciplines, Putik is among the shortlisted entries in the Fashion, Accessories, and Textiles Category. This is in collaboration with luxury brand Gucci.

Vote for Ng’s collection at www.artsthread.com/events/gdgs2020/fashiontextile-accessories/#/project/putik. Voting is open until September 14.

HEALTH BULLETIN An infectious disease specialist suggests patients consult with a physician before taking any antibiotic to prevent antimicrobial resistance.

Expert warns against two other threats in dealing with COVID-19 Recent data show the pandemic has driven consumers to become more health-conscious, opting for organic products and purchasing health supplements.

HEALTH-conscious consumers have become more health-conscious because of the current pandemic, a health supplement brand reported Citing their sales data, Amway Philippines notices an increased demand for its brand of health supplements.

“Even before the lockdown, there was already a surge in demand for immunity-related products such as our Nutrilite health supplements, especially our own vitamin C, Acerola C, and B vitamins,” recalls Leni Olmedo, country manager

of Amway Philippines.

She continues, “Though there is no specific supplement that’s been found to prevent catching illnesses, consumers continue to take these to support their balanced diet in hopes of being less vulnerable.”

According to Euromonitor, Amway’s plant-based health supplement line Nutrilite is the only global vitamin and dietary supplement brand that grows, harvests, and processes plants on their own certified organic farms.

Recent research by Ecovia Intelligence shows that organic and sustainable food retailers all over the globe are also experiencing significant increase in sales amid the health crisis, and that the demand for these products is expected to remain strong post-COVID-19.

“Many will keep to these healthy eating habits to help protect themselves, so this amplified awareness and these demands on health and wellness will surely continue to be relevant in the future,” adds Olmedo.

A peso for a smile FILIPINO-made toothpaste Hapee launches “Pisong Handog Promo” in support of the local Deaf community.

For every purchase of Hapee Toothpaste in 100ml and 150ml, and Gumtect in 100ml, one peso will be donated to help the deaf scholars of DEAF Inc. school in Cavinti, Laguna.

“The Philippine Deaf community has always played a huge role in the Hapee family, and we want every #NgitingHapee to make a difference and empower them even further through this promo,” said Dr. Cecilo Pedro, president of Lamoiyan Corporation.

The Lamoiyan Corporation, the mother company of Hapee, has long been a patron of the Philippine Deaf community. In addition to providing financial support, the company employs a lot of deaf people.

Hapee Toothpaste is available in leading supermarkets nationwide. Variants include Hapee Fresh and Cool White, Hapee Explosive Menthol Red, Hapee Fresh Green Outburst, and Hapee Outrageous Blue Chill.`

For every purchase of Hapee Toothpaste, one peso will be donated to the deaf scholars in Laguna.

INFECTIOUS disease specialist Dr. Maria Rhona G. Bergantin underscores COVID-19 patients’ susceptibility to coinfection when exposed to a healthcare setting, particularly when intubated.

Dr. Bergantin, a member of the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Inc., explains that when a person’s immune system is weakened due to existing ailments, aside from SARS-CoV2, other pathogens such as bacteria may try to gain entry into the patient’s body, and if it does, will result to a bacterial co-infection.

The risk, according to the expert, increases in severe patients needed to be intubated, wherein a long plastic tube is inserted into the patient’s windpipe to assist in their breathing.

Among the most susceptible to this condition, Dr. Bergantin states, are those with chronic co-morbid conditions or those who have repeatedly visited hospitals and healthcare centers due to their unstable health.

“Patients with pulmonary diseases, who undergo dialysis or cancer-related therapies, or even those with recurrent or repeated antibiotic use are susceptible to bacterial co-infections,” she explains.

Because healthcare workers and medical practitioners are still working to understand how the novel coronavirus behaves and how bacterial coinfections work in tandem with it, Dr. Bergantin adds that “doctors may tend to perform a shotgun approach and prescribe antibiotics as well.”

With this prescription comes another healthcare concern that merits close attention.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), or the resistance of microorganisms to an-

timicrobial medicines it was once sensitive to, has been touted as a global health concern. It is when antibiotics no longer “work” for a particular infection.

Even before the outbreak of COVID-19, antibiotic resistance has been already present due to misuse, unnecessarily prolonged duration, wrong drug or wrong dosage, self-diagnosis and self-prescription by patients, consumption of products from animals who have been treated with antibiotics, and chronic antibiotic use due to recurrent health conditions.

Dr. Bergantin suggests patients and doctors should work together to contribute to the solution.

For patients who are otherwise healthy but are showing flu-like symptoms, she points to the government’s set guidelines of strict at-home monitoring, timely reporting to proper health officials, and telehealth consultation with doctors.

She reminds fellow medical practitioners that, “although there is only a 7-10 percent chance of acquiring a bacterial co-infection, watch your patient closely. Each patient is unique and their immune systems might act dissimilarly. Zero in on the most vulnerable.”

Healthcare organizations are also stepping up to find solutions to this challenge, in collaboration with the medical community.

“Over the years, MSD has been a trusted collaborator of medical organizations and hospitals to implement Antimicrobial Stewardship programs,” says Dr. Cesar Recto II, medical director of MSD Philippines. “Decreasing AMR would mean giving the present population and future generations a fighting chance to combat infections.”