Manila Standard - 2020 September 16 - Wednesday

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VOL. XXXIV • NO. 194• 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Former Health officials back distancing cut in public rides

By Willie Casas and Maricel V. Cruz DESPITE a dire warning from Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, former Department of Health officials and several other medical experts said on Tuesday that evidence from several studies support the gradual reduction of social distancing inside public transportation vehicles.

In a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte and several Cabinet Next page

NOT ENOUGH RIDES. Commuters waiting for the next bus reach the stairs of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 North Avenue station in Quezon City. Though more buses were allowed to resume operation under less strict general community quarantine in Metro Manila, daily commuters still have to endure long queues due to limitation of passengers in public utility vehicles. PNA

More PhilHealth heads to roll Duque not off the hook yet as probers dig deeper into the agency's mess

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

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, as board chairman of the state health insurer, is not off the hook yet, even though his name was not included on the list of seven officials facing administrative and criminal charges submitted by Task Force PhilHealth to the President on Monday.

M

ORE heads are expected to roll at the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) as a task force commissioned by President Rodrigo Duterte looks deeper into the complicity of its officials and board members, Malacanang said Tuesday.

“This is only the beginning. The report stated the investigation of the NBI (National Bureau on Investigation) and DOJ (Department of Justice) will continue. The investigation of the Ombudsman will also continue,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque said Tuesday.

Roque was referring to the 177-page preliminary report submitted by the Justice DepartmentNext page

SWS says more adult Pinoys see worse yet to come

Next page

AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM SEPT. 15)

269,407 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

3,544 57,392 NEW

ACTIVE

4,663

34

207,352

395

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

NEW

NEW

PH infections near 270k, new cases at 3,554

By Vito Barcelo MORE than half of the adult Filipinos recently surveyed by Social Weather Stations said the worst was yet to come because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a 10-point increase from 47 percent in May to 57 in July this year.

The SWS poll, conducted via mobile phone from July 3 to 6, revealed that the highest proportion of those who feared that the worst was yet to come lived in Metro Manila at 70 percent, followed by those in the Visayas at 61 percent.

Those who said “the worst is behind us” fell from 44 percent in May 2020 to 35 percent in July 2020, while those who did not answer stayed at 8 percent.

The proportion of those who feared “the worst is yet to come” with the Covid-19 crisis was highest in Metro Manila

COVID-19 PH

Ombudsman limits access to SALNs of gov't execs

stricted the access to public officials’ man’s office.

Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net This was stated under the Sept.

Worth by requiring the consent of the 1 Memorandum Circular signed by statement's owner before a SALN re- Ombudsman Samuel Martires.

Next page THE Office of the Ombudsman has re- quest can be evaluated by the Ombuds-

By Vito Barcelo and Rey E. Requejo

THE Philippines' COVID-19 total cases increased to 269,407 on Tuesday after the Department of Health (DOH) announced 3,544 new infections, marking the eighth consecutive day in which more than 3,000 new cases were reported.

Metro Manila still recorded the highest number of new infections at 690, followed by Cavite with 305, Rizal with 201, Negros Occidental with 173, and Bulacan with 98, the DOH said.

The total number of recoveries rose to 207,352 after 395 more patients recovered Next page from the respiratory disease.

Duterte pleads for help for Filipino deportees in Sabah

By Joyce Pangco Pañares

ernment to extend humanitarian help to the stranded immigrants.

WITH over 3,000 Filipinos still facing "We are trying our best to appeal deportation in Sabah, President Rodrigo to the humanitarian sense of the MaDuterte appealed to the Malaysian gov- laysian government to please help our

First Filipino mayor in Britain passes on CYNTHIA AlcantaraBarker, England’s first Filipino mayor, has passed away, her family announced in a Facebook post on Sept. 14.

She was elected mayor of Hertsmere District in Hertfordshire, England, in June Next page 2020.

citizens in your country, as we would do for your citizens if they are in our country," the President said in his address to the nation late Monday evening.

Next page

Another Korean star in apparent suicide SOUTH Korean actress Oh In Hye, known to her Filipino fans for her roles in "The Plan," "Wish Taxi," and "No Breathing", passed away Tuesday after an apparent suicide. She was 36.

Her passing continued a trend from last

Cynthia Alcantara-Barker

Next page

Oh In Hye

DESPITE THE RAIN. Personnel of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources pick up trash along the shore of Manila Bay despite a downpour on Tuesday morning. Jonathan Andal/GMA via Twitter

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

News

PH wants new sea code talks T fus Rodriguez on Tuesday filed a resolution urging the Defense department to retain two Navy stations in Sangley Point, Cavite, to maintain security especially in the Manila Bay area.

Rodriguez filed Resolution 1199 saying the development of the Sangley Point International Airport would entail the relocation of Naval Station Heracleo Alano and Naval Station Pascual Ledesma.

He said the naval base where the stations were located served as the headquarters of the Naval Installations Command and housed “other vital facilities and offices of the Philippine Navy.”

Rodriguez, quoting Navy Chief Giovanni Carlo Bacordo, said Sangley’s location “allows the Navy to conduct surveillance operations and use it as a staging point.”

Locsin said despite the restrictions imposed on travel to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the region, it was still necessary to push through with the talks.

"It is imperative to bring everyone back to the negotiating table to demonstrate to the world that we are sincerely committed and determined to arrive at a conclusive result, one way or the other, but we must get down to sincere and serious work," Locsin said.

Health’s ICT budget based on a mere representation by the senior vice president, who claimed the management information system would collapse unless such budget was approved.

The PhilHealth officials also supposedly adopted corporate policies and practices that “fail to check, investigate, prosecute and penalize the wrongdoing of PhilHealth personnel as well as health care institutions and professionals,” Roque said.

He said the task force also found that the PhilHealth executive committee and board showed “lack of due care, if not outright negligence, in approving and implementing the IRM.” The IRM fund releases were rushed even though the circular implementing the scheme was not yet effective.

“In converting the IRM into a special privilege, the circular removed the need for prior board approval. It likewise removed a number of requirements previously imposed upon HCIs (health care institutions) such as survey and post-survey requirements,” the report said.

These requirements were designed to assess the condition of the HCI and centralize the evaluation of IRM fund beneficiaries.

The task force also found that IRM fund releases were made despite the absence of mechanisms to monitor fund utilization and liquidation, and without taxes being withheld.

Roque said the members of the PhilHealth executive committee also concealed important information or documents to obtain board approval on ICT procurement.

The members of the executive committee proposed to the board a P734-million budget for the procurement of ICT resources items for 2020 but the items were neither included in PhiHealth’s Information System Strategic Plan (ISSP) nor approved by the Department of Information and Communications Technology as required by law.

The task force also discovered the Internal Audit Report (IAR) that showed discrepancies or inconsistencies in the PhilHealth’s inventory of hardware and software was also not presented to the board.

The board also supposedly approved a proposal to procure network switches for the PhilHealth Regional Office at the National Capital Region (PRO NCR) despite a Commission on Audit (COA) report that 24 similar switches have not been used.

Roque said the task force probe also showed PhilHealth management adopted “questionable policies and weak enforcement practices that failed to check, investigate, prosecute, and penalize wrongdoing.”

It said the PhilHealth management has adopted a policy towards settlement of claims without accountability, and even granted “wholesale amnesty” in favor of HCIs with claims that appear to be no longer enforceable against the corporation.

Cases involving fictitious crediting of remittances were allegedly “settled,” Roque said.

Instead of complying with a court decision on the penalty of suspension on six HCIs, the PhilHealth board merely imposed fines. The board also withheld suspension and did not pursue legal action against 20 HCIs in exchange for payment of fines.

The task force also discovered the PhilHealth board approved the amnesty to HCIs whose claims had been denied on account of late filing or re-filing. The total claims included in the amnesty reached more than P687 million.

Thousands of cases involving HCIs and PhilHealth employees have not yet been filed, the report said.

Those recommended to be criminally charged were Morales, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Arnel De Jesus, Senior Vice President Jovita V. Aragona, Chief Information Officer and Head of the Information Management Sector, Senior Vice President Renato Limsiaco, Jr., Senior Vice President Israel Francis A. Pargas of the Health Financial Policy Sector, Officer in Charge Calixto Gabuya, Jr. and Division Chief Bobby A. Crisostomo.

Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete said charges would be filed against those named in the report as soon as the complaints and the collation of supporting documents are finalized.

He said criminal and administrative cases would be filed either with the Office of the Ombudsman, with prosecutors or with PhilHealth depending on the crime committed and the rank of the respondent.

The DOJ declined to furnish the media a copy of its report, saying it contains information on ongoing investigation by member-agencies of the task force.

President Duterte created Task Force PhilHealth with a mandate of conducting a full investigation into allegations of widespread corruption and irregularities at PhilHealth.

It has representatives from the Office of the Ombudsman, the Commission on Audit (COA), the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Office of the President (OP) . The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) among other agencies support the task force.

The panel has been authorized to look into PhilHealth’s finances, conduct lifestyle checks, and impose preventive suspension of PhilHealth officials.

PhilHealth whistleblower and former anti-fraud officer Thorrson Montes Keith said Senator Richard Gordon should be included in the list to be charged, but the senator dismissed the accusation as “a canard” and described Keith as “a spurious source.”

In an interview on ABS-CBN’s TeleRadyo, Keith said the Philippine Red Cross, which Gordon chairs, has been receiving payments from PhilHealth for the COVID-19 tests it has been administering to returning Filipino migrant workers and some frontliners.

Keith, who resigned in July over alleged widespread corruption in the agency, said he did not bring up the issue concerning Gordon before the Senate as the latter is a member of Senate.

“But the evidence against him is very clear,” he said in Filipino.

Gordon says PhilHealth has deposited initial payments to PRC for the latter's COVID-19 testing activities, but failed to remit more after the initial fund was depleted.

On Sept. 6, Dr. Ramon Murillo, Assistant Secretary General of PRC, said the amount PhilHealth owes the organization has ballooned to P878.7 million, of which, P781.4 million is already overdue.

Gordon, in an interview with ANC last month, said, "whatever he says against the Red Cross is a canard."

Gordon said the testing activities of PRC is legally allowed, particularly the Bayanihan 1 law and Universal Health Care law.

"By the way, for the record, I never asked that the Red Cross do the testing. They all came to me... And we signed an agreement.

Nobody put a gun to their heads," he said.

Gordon also said that the PRC's testing fee is the lowest, at P3,500.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he was surprised that the task force did not include Duque.

“No Duque? No Del Rosario? I’m dumbfounded! Article 217 (Malversation) of the [Revised Penal Code] is very clear,” Sotto said in a Viber message to reporters.

The Senate Committee of the Whole chaired by Sotto recommended the filing of graft and malversation charges against Duque and several other officials over the allegedly questionable release of billions of funds through PhilHealth’s emergency cash advance measure.

The DOJ-led task force just urged Duterte to “strongly admonish and remind” Duque and other ex-officio members of the PhilHealth board of the “grave consequences of action or inaction.”

But Sotto said those who were not implicated by the task force are not off the hook yet since the Ombudsman may still find them responsible.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto supported the assertion of Sotto that Duque as head of the Philhealth Board is still liable for malversation.

“That is correct, at the very least that should have been included in the DOJ report,” Recto said.

Senator Risa Hontiveros said she was disappointed with the decision of the task force.

"If it's true that we believe in the right of every Filipino to health and the right to have a clean government, let us include Duque in the charges," she said.

A party-list lawmaker said those listed in the report should be prevented from going abroad and urged the Justice Department to secure computers and files at PhilHealth to make sure that evidence and witnesses do not vanish.

tion’s (WHO’s) recommendation of keeping at least one meter of distance from others “allows for adjustments based on context.”

“Given our other recommended health interventions, we propose the gradual reduction of the physical distancing norm during transit to 0.5 meters or lower… We believe the evidence shows physical distancing can be maintained below 1 meter, so long as other health measures are also implemented,” they said in a statement.

The other signatories included National

Task Force Against COVID-19 advisor Ted Herbosa, University of the Philippines Manila officials Vicente Belizario Jr. and Michael Hernandez, Philippine College of Surgeons Cancer Commission Director Manuel Roxas, Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines founder and CEO Ma. Dominga Padilla, and infectious diseases specialist Rontgene Solante.

The medical experts said the economy cannot bounce back without increasing the capacity of public transport, which has long

been on limited operation to avoid possible transmission of COVID-19.

They also pushed for the strict implementation of the “seven commandments” for all public utility vehicles: · Wearing of proper face masks · Wearing of face shields · No talking and no eating · Adequate ventilation · Frequent and proper disinfection · No symptomatic passengers

Meanwhile, the July 2020 survey found 79 percent of the adults polled saying their quality of life got worse, while 12 percent said it was the same (“Unchanged”) and only 8 percent saying it got better (“Gainers”).

The government eased quarantine restrictions in June to partially open the economy and to allow mass transport to operate again, but this development hardly made a dent among Metro Manila residents since the 70 percent who feared the worst was yet to come were 20 points higher compared in May. The SWS poll was conducted among 1,555 working-age Filipinos aged 18 years and above. Of this number, 306 were in Metro Manila, 451 were in Balance Luzon, 388 were in the Visayas and 410 were in Mindanao.

PH...

The death toll also climbed to 4,663 with 34 new fatalities.

The other 57,392 are active cases undergoing treatment or quarantine, 87.9 percent of which are mild, 8 percent are asymptomatic, 1.2 percent are severe, and 2.9 percent are in critical condition.

– Willie Casas Reproduction number still low Researchers from the University of the Philippines (UP) OCTA Research Team have seen an increase in the daily number of new COVID-19 cases in the country in the past week but said the virus' reproduction number remains below one.

In their latest report, the research team said the reproduction number remains at 0.96 from Sept. 7 to 13 despite an increase in new cases that deviated from the downward trend in the four weeks prior.

The reproduction number indicates the average number of people who may contract COVID-19 from an infected person.

In earlier reports, the researchers said that to flatten the curve, the reproduction number should be less than one.

Not simple to add more beds A health workers’ organization said on Tuesday that increasing beds in private hospitals for COVID-19 patients, as requested by President Rodrigo Duterte, is “not a simple matter.” Willie Casas

laws, rules and regulations.

This developed as the Supreme Court on Tuesday denied Solicitor General Jose Calida and a lawyer's request for copies of Associate Justice Marvic Leonen's SALN. “I would like to confirm that the Supreme Court in Tuesday’s en banc session unanimously resolved to deny the request

of the Office of the Solicitor General and Lorenzo G. Gadon for copies of the SALN of and other information pertaining to SC Associate Justice Marvic Mario Victor F. Leonen for purposes of preparing a Quo Warranto petition,” high court spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka said in a text message to reporters.

Meanwhile, the President's net worth

in 2017 was P28.549 million, while the copies of his 2018 and 2019 SALN could be had by filing a Freedom of Information request, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte filed his asset statements in the last two years, but the copies of the public documents were not immediately available.

By Rey E. Requejo and Maricel V. Cruz

HE Department of Foreign Affairs has called for a resumption of talks on the proposed Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, but repeated the Philippines’ position that disputes should be resolved peacefully and based on international law.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Nations ministerial meeting with Chinese Locsin Jr. made the call last week during Foreign Minister Wang Yi. the virtual Association of Southeast Asian Locsin made his call even as Rep. Ru-

More...

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led task force looking into allegations of corruption in PhilHealth.

On Monday, the President approved the recommendations of the task force to file charges against former PhilHealth president Ricardo Morales and other senior officials over the alleged anomalies in the agency.

Morales on Tuesday denied any wrongdoing, as his legal spokesman Arnedo Valera said the former PhilHealth chief “invokes at this time his basic Constitutional right of presumption of Innocence.”

“Our client is a man of integrity and completely denies any wrongdoings and the criminal charges against him,” Valera said.

“His attorneys… will vigorously defend Gen. Morales and will appropriately respond to the criminal complaints either before the Department of Justice and or before the Ombudsman,” he added.

The task force recommended that the PhilHealth officials be held liable for violating the country’s anti-graft law, malversation of public funds, gross misconduct, and gross neglect of duty, among others, in connection with the alleged irregularities in the procurement of information and communications technology equipment and disbursements through its interim reimbursement mechanism (IRM).

PhilHealth officials have shown negligence in handling the funds of the state firm and failed to investigate and prosecute wrongdoing, the report said.

The task force did not include Duque or PhilHealth senior vice president for legal sector Rodolfo del Rosario, but Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the report submitted to the President was only preliminary and that further investigation would be conducted to determine who else should be held liable.

“Our report is about our initial findings only. Further investigation will be conducted and more people may be charged,” Guevarra said, in a text message.

“The Task Force noted that its composite teams are still continuing with the investigations to determine the liability of others involved in similar or other wrongful practices in the PhilHealth,” the task force said in a statement.

“Persons who are supposed to set the policies and operational guidelines for the management of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation – the board of directors and the executive committee – have not shown the due diligence required of them in the discharge of their duties, particularly in the disbursement of the National Health Insurance Fund,” Roque said.

He said the PhilHealth officials’ “lack of diligence and due care” has allegedly been shown in their approval and implementation of the IRM without sufficient standards.

They also allegedly approved Phil-

Former...

From A1

members, Duque had warned that the plan to reduce the distance between passengers from one meter to 0.75 meter alone would result in 686 new COVID-19 infections a day—or more than 20,000 a month.

But a group of experts, including former Health secretaries Manuel Dayrit and Esperanza Cabral, said that the World Health Organiza-

SWS...

From A1

at 70 percent, followed by the Visayas at 61 percent, Balance Luzon at 56 percent and Mindanao at 49 percent.

Compared to May 2020, the proportion of those who feared “the worst is yet to come” rose sharply in Metro Manila by 20 points from 50 percent. It rose in Balance Luzon by 13 points from 43 percent, in the Visayas by 7 points from 54 percent, but hardly changed in Mindanao at 48 percent Those who said “the worst is behind us” were highest in Mindanao (41 percent) followed by Balance Luzon (35 percent), the Visayas (33 percent) and Metro Manila (26 percent).

Ombudsman...

From A1

Under President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order on Freedom of Information, government officials are required to “file and make available for scrutiny” their SALNs in accordance with existing

From A1

· Appropriate physical distancing.

House passes bill for amnesty on estate taxes

By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on third and final reading a bill extending estate tax amnesty.

The chamber voted to approve House Bill 7068 by an overwhelming 209 votes.

The bill extends the availment period of the estate tax amnesty from two years to four years as a way of economic relief for Filipinos in this time of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID).

It amends Republic Act 11213 or the Tax Amnesty Act of 2019 to provide aid for Filipinos during the pandemic that led to unemployment, bankruptcies, and stalled economic activities.

This developed as the bill's principal authors, House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and wife, Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez of Tingog party-list group, and Deputy Majority Leader and Zamboanga Sibugay Rep. Wilter Palma II thanked their colleagues for supporting the bill's passage.

“We thank our colleagues for supporting the passage of this very important measure. While the COVID-19 pandemic still persists, people will have extreme difficulty in paying their taxes much more in settling their estate tax dues even with this tax amnesty program,” they said.

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"It is with extreme sadness that we announce the passing of The Worshipful Hertsmere Mayor Councilor Cynthia Barker following a bout of serious illness," the family’s statement read.

"We will be issuing further information in due course, but may we ask please to respect the family's privacy at this very difficult time. Your prayers for the repose of her soul would however be welcome."

As Hertsmere mayor, Alcantara-Barker was described as "extremely proud of her heritage" and a politician who was "committed to doing her utmost to champion equality and diversity" for all the communities in her town.

Responding to the news, the leader of Hertsmere Borough Council, Councilor Morris Bright MBE, said: “I knew Cynthia as both a colleague and friend.

Nothing was ever too much for her. She thrived at being a local councilor, always wanting to help residents with their issues. She left a lasting impression on the council and Borehamwood.

Another...

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year, when two beloved Korean female stars, Sulli and Goo Hara, ended their own lives in two months, exposing the painful side of being a K-pop idol.

Quoting the Incheon Yeonsu Police Station and Incheon Songdo Fire Station, K-pop news website Soompi said Oh “was found in a state of cardiac arrest at her home in Songdo International Business District, Incheon” early Monday morning.

Emergency procedures were immediately performed on her before she was taken to a proximate hospital. But citing another report from news outlet OSEN, Soompi said Oh In Hye “did not regain consciousness following cardiac arrest.”

Oh began her acting career in the film “Sin of the Family” in 2011.

Duterte...

From A1

Duterte urged Malaysia to extend a helping hand despite the "ticklish" issue of Sabah.

He made the appeal in response to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana's report that around 400 Filipinos from Sabah will arrive back in the country this week -- the fifth batch since the deportation process for at least 5,300 started on June 30.

Meanwhile, the Philippines' claim over Sabah should not have been allowed to go dormant and the issue was expected to be taken up by regional peers, Foreign Secretary Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin Jr. said Tuesday.

During a budget hearing, Locsin was asked to update lawmakers on the developments regarding the BIMP-EAGA or the Brunei Darussalam-IndonesiaMalaysia-Philippines East Asian Growth Area.

"It's been pretty dormant for a while, but now we agreed to revive it pretty much, like, I guess, even some of our special concerns like Sabah. That too was put on the back burner which I never agreed to," Lacson said.

Last month, Malaysia fired off a note verbale rejecting the territorial claims of the Philippines over Sabah.

The note verbale said Malaysia “has never recognized the Republic of the Philippines’ claim to the Malaysian state of Sabah, formerly known as North Borneo."

News

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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Publishers’ group supports MORE for Iloilo power

By Alena Mae S. Flores

ALL ABOUT BUDGET. House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep Martin Romualdez (center) confers with Secretary Arthur Tugade (left) of the Department of Transportation and Director General of CAAP Capt. Jim Sydiongco during a short break of the budget briefing for the 2021 budget of the Department of Transportation at the plenary of the House Representatives. Ver Noveno

Maynilad lowers monthly bill

By Othel V. Campos and Rio N. Araja

C

USTOMERS of Maynilad Water Services, Inc. in the West Zone can expect a slight drop in their monthly water bill starting October 1, 2020 as the company follows a decline in Foreign Currency Differential Adjustment beginning the 4th quarter of 2020.

“This is a downward adjustment of P0.15 per cubic meter from the previous FCDA of P0.48 per cubic meter,” the MWSS said in a statement.

The tariff reduction is due to the downward movement in the FCDA equivalent

to P0.09 per cubic meter (cu.m.) or negative 0.26 percent of the Average Basic Charge of P36.24/cu.m.

Lifeline customers down will continue to enjoy the negative 0.35 percent FCDA that was implemented since the first quar-

IN BRIEF Eliminate nuclear

Bahrain lifts suspension on domestic workers

THE Kingdom of Bahrain has lifted its temporary suspension on household service workers, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Tuesday.

The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Bahrain said employers in Bahrain are already in need of Filipino workers.

The POLO said that the Labor Market Regulatory Authority of Bahrain has warned employers to avoid transacting with unlicensed expatriate employees and employment offices in hiring workers.

It added that this was to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as well as to protect the employees.

Based on data from the POLO, the number of domestic workers in Bahrain decreased to 9 percent from January 2019 to June 2020. From 18,663 in 2019, it decreased to 16,576 in 2020. Vito Barcelo

Lacuna’s assets ordered seized by Sandiganbayan THE Sandiganbayan has ruled that P9 million worth of former Manila Vice Mayor Danilo Lacuna and wife Melanie’s assets are ill-gotten wealth and should be returned to the government.

In a 53-page ruling, the anti-graft court said the total value of the properties acquired by the couple from 1998 to 2004 when Danilo was Vice Mayor of Manila amounted to P20,707.168.84—an amount it said was manifestly out of proportion from their combined income of P11,703,289.42.

“The difference of P9,003,879.42 is too large if the six-year period from 1998-2004 is to be considered. This disproportion creates a disputable presumption that the properties acquired from 1998 to 2004 were unlawfully acquired and that the respondents-spouses have the burden of rebutting the presumption,” the anti-graft court said.

“Although the respondents-spouses insist that they had savings and secured loans to purchase the real properties or that respondent Melanie inherited a fishpond, there was no proof of actual income derived therefrom,” the anti-graft court added.

Private school shutdowns hit 4k teachers—DepEd AT LEAST 4,488 teachers were affected after 865 private schools have suspended operations for the coming school year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Education said Tuesday.

In a budget hearing, Undersecretary Jess Mateo said that affected teachers and other personnel of these private schools can receive assistance under the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act or Bayanihan 2 law.

“As of today po, there are about 865 private schools na nagsarado. Majority of which are pure elementary schools,” Mateo said.

The total enrolment in public schools reached 98.85 percent of the last year’s record, while private schools only have 48.32 percent, according to DepEd data as of Monday.

weapons—Du30

By Vito Barcelo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has called on all nations to reject war and eliminate nuclear weapon, saying nuclear weapons will not make the world a freer, stronger, and more secure place.

In his message for the 75th anniversary of the destruction of Japanese city Hiroshima by a US atomic bomb, Duterte urged all countries to do everything to pave the path for peace.

“We must not forget: Nuclear weapons will not make us freer, stronger, nor more secure. We must not waver,” he said. “All nations must work together to eliminate nuclear weapons.”

“Seventy-five years ago, the world learned that the full power of nuclear weapons was finally unleashed on the people of Hiroshima. That defining moment in history documented and revealed in great detail came with grim suffering, crippling pain, and horrific tales. Today, we remember the lessons of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: No goals, however lofty, can justify weapons that destroy with such unforgiving brutality,” he said.

“We must be firm. All nations must work together to eliminate nuclear weapons.”

An estimated 140,000 people in Hiroshima were killed after an uranium bomb was unleashed by the United States in the city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 in the final stages of World War II. Three days later, a plutonium bomb was dropped on Nagasaki that left more than 70,000 people dead. In the following years, many survivors endured health ailments due to the radiation.

The President reminded nations to build, not destroy as he cited the country’s relations with Japan, particularly in advancing peace and progress.

ter of 2020. Lifeline customers are those residential customers consuming 10 cu.m. per month or less.

For Maynilad’s residential customers consuming an average of 20 cu.m. per month, the adjustment will translate to a reduction of P0.25 in their monthly water bill. Those consuming 30 cu.m. per month will see a monthly bill reduction of P0.50.

The FCDA adjustment will be effective for 3 months from October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. FCDA is a tariff mechanism granted to utility companies to allow it to recover losses or give back gains arising from the fluctuating movements of the peso against other currencies.

Maynilad pays foreign-dominated concession fees to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), as well as loans to fund projects that will improve service for its customers.

Maynilad is an agent and contractor of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System for the West Zone of the Greater Manila Area, which is composed of the cities of Manila (certain areas), Quezon City (certain areas), Makati (certain areas), Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon—all in Metro Manila; the cities of Cavite, Bacoor and Imus, and the towns of Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario—all in Cavite province.

THE Publishers’ Association of the Philippines (PAPI) strongly believes new Iloilo City power distributor More Power and Electric Corp. is addressing the power distribution and supply needs of the city and its residents.

“Aside from winning the support of just about all sectors of the community—city officials, church leaders, business groups, consumer advocacy groups, etc. We are convinced that More Power is doing everything to ensure a much better relationship with the community it serves,” PAPI president Nelson Santos said.

PAPI, one the country’s largest media groups, released its investigative report on the power distribution system in Iloilo City, which includes the management of former Iloilo City distributor Panay Electric Company(PECO) and the changes in the city after its franchise was revoked.

“We took interest on the issue because it involves the interest and welfare of Ilonggo power consumers, which is really the most affected sector in this controversy. We looked at the issue and knew right away that we need to do something to ferret out the truth regarding this matter,” said Santos.

Santos said the numerous issues involving PECO after its franchise was rejected created confusion among the public that needed to be clarified.

Santos is also hopeful that the comprehensive report on the power situation in Iloilo City will help the 650,000 power consumers in Iloilo City receive the accurate information.

PAPI discussed in its report Congress’ basis for the cancellation of PECO’s legislative franchise and the filing of different cases in the courts and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to stop More Power from operating.

“Energy is considered to be the lifeline of an economy and the most vital instrument for socio-economic development in a community like Iloilo City. Significantly, the city’s energy distribution infrastructure has been grossly underfunded for years as clearly manifested by PECO’s dilapidated and rotten facilities as well as outmoded and dangerously substandard equipment,” according to the PAPI report.

JAPAN LOAN.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. and Japanese Ambassador Haneda Koji exchange diplomatic notes on Tuesday, Sept. 15, in simple rites at the Department of Foreign Affairs office on Japan’s extension of a loan to support early recovery after natural and health-related disasters.

The JPY 50-billion Post Disaster Standby Loan Phase II is seen to help the Philippines better manage its vulnerability to natural disasters, combat the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigate the adverse effects of these risks on the country’s economy.

House OKs DDR bill on 2nd reading THE House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on second reading the measure seeking to create the proposed Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR).

In a vote of ayes and nays, the chamber approved House Bill 5989, creating the DDR as the country’s national emergency department.

Once the measure is enacted in the law, the DDR will be an institutionalized agency to coordinate a national response to disasters and emergencies, replacing the ad-hoc and primary secretariat-type work of the existing National Disaster Risk Re-

duction and Management Council.

The department will be headed by a secretary supported by undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, and directors.

The DDR will likewise take the lead in the continuous development of strategic, holistic, and systematic approaches to disaster management such as; prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery, and rehabilitation, and anticipatory adaptation strategies, measures, techniques, and options.

In his fifth State of the Nation Address last July, President Rodrigo

FIRST RESPONDERS.

A group of first responders attend to an e-trike driver after he figured in an accident at the foot of Jones Bridge in Manila. The driver lost control of his e-trike due to the slippery road caused by the rain and hurtled into a sidewalk and tipped over, pinning him under the e-trike.

Norman Cruz

SMC seals P2-m life insurance cover for Cebu frontliners SAN Miguel Corporation (SMC) on Tuesday said it has completed providing life insurance coverage to about 5,000 medical front liners from 18 hospitals across Cebu, who are now insured for P2 million each.

“We started this initiative several months ago, at the height of COVID-19 cases in Cebu, when our medical front liners there were really having a hard time.

Many of them were also testing positive for the coronavirus. We wanted to do something to help protect them, and to show our solidarity and support for them,” said SMC president Ramon S. Ang. With the insurance packages, obtained through Cocolife, Ang said that medical front liners in Cebu can now have added security as they save lives and fight the virus.

“Saving lives is still our highest priority.

Unfortunately, COVID-19 can affect anyone, even our doctors and nurses. As much as possible, we cannot lose any more lives, especially not our medical front liners, because they are the ones tasked to save lives.

Through this effort, we hope they feel that their everyday sacrifices are valued and appreciated,” Ang added.

Under the program, SMC pays for all the premiums for the insurance of medical front liners. Thus far, SMC’s P2 million coverage-each insurance package has benefited front liners in the following Cebu hospitals:

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

A4

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2020

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

MAKATI'S GIFTS. Mrs. Esther P. Cruz of Brgy. Guadalupe Viejo holds the P100,000-check she received from a staff of the Makati Social Welfare Department on Tuesday at her home.

Born on May 12, 1920 in Negros Occidental, she obtained her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Sto. Tomas in 1946. Since 2012, the city has recognized 70 centenarians, including 45 during the administration of Mayor Abby Binay.

Makati now has new 45 centenarians

By Joel E. Zurbano

Mining firms back DENR’s project

By Maricel V. Cruz

T

WO of the country’s leading mining companies have expressed strong support for Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu’s call to provide additional areas for bamboo plantations as part of the Duterte administration’s post-coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) recovery efforts.

Marcventures Mining and Development Corp. and Benguet Corp.'s Nickel Mines Inc. welcomed the order of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ requiring mining firms to double their areas allotted for bamboo

plantations from 10 percent to 20 percent of the declared final mining area as part of the government’s economic recovery program.

The DENR issued the order on June 11, 2020 in memorandum titled “Establish-

ment of Bamboo Plantation in Mining Areas” that the Mines and Geosciences Bureau sent to all mining companies.

The memorandum is meant to address soil erosion, landslides and flooding which are common occurences in any mine site.

MMDC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of listed Marcventures Holdings Inc., pioneered the planting of bamboo trees in Surigao del Sur in its effort to provide livelihood, environmental benefits, absorb greenhouse gases and protect the soil.

“Marcventures is the acknowledged

pioneer among mining companies in bamboo planting and has been cited by the DENR, and so far, with biggest bamboo llanting area. The DENR has now mandated the planting of bamboo as a major activity for mine rehabilitation,” said Isidro Alcantara, president and board director of MHI, which has mining operations in Cantillan, Carrascal and Madrid in Surigao del Sur. With the celebration of World Bamboo Day on September 18, MHI reported that it has already planted a total of 34,375 bamboo seedlings covering over 54.3 hectares.

Belmonte welcomes DSWD drive

Vendors undergo swab testing

By Willie Casas VENDORS in Manila’s 17 public markets will be the first ones to undergo swab testing of the second RT-PCR molecular laboratory in Sta. Ana Hospital when it opens next week, Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said on Monday.

“This is to ensure that every buyer in our public markets is safe from any possible COVID-19 infection,” Domagoso said in a Facebook post.

Domagoso gave the directive to Manila Health Department Acting City Health Officer Dr. Arnold Pangan, Sta. Ana Hospital director Dr. Grace Padilla, and Market Administrator Zenaida Mapoy.

“We test them so we can guarantee the people that those selling inside our markets are safe individuals. They are our first clients; we start with those in the public markets. The vendors would in fact be gladdened because they would not spending P4,000 each. They would know they are safe, and the buyers would also know they are safe,” he said in a meeting with city officials.

He said after the public market vendors, drivers of pedicab, tricycle, and jeepneys; and meat butchers would also be tested for COVID-19.

By Rio N. Araja

FRIENDLY COMPETITION. Muntinlupa City

joins the World Wildlife Fund’s “We Love Cities campaign,” a friendly competition among global cities to raise awareness on sustainability, as one of the country’s representatives. The aims to bridge better communication between city officials and citizens they represent on climate and sustainability issues.

RTC judge, staff go on 2-week self-quarantine THE presiding judge and all personnel of Taguig City regional trial court branch 15 went on self quarantine for two weeks after two of its employees got infected with the coronavirus disease.

In a memorandum dated Sept. 14, Taguig RTC Vice Executive Judge Mariam Bien said the entire Branch 15 personnel "shall undergo self quarantine for a period of 14 days starting

Portable handwash posts in Las Piñas

By Macon Ramos-Araneta TO HELP fight COVID-19, Sen. Cynthia Villar has set up portable handwashing stations in areas where people usually converge such as tricycle terminals, market and crowded communities.

She said the move would also provide a way for people to keep clean outside their homes.

The portable hand-washing station, she said, is made of steel with angle bar framing and plain sheet cover. It features a stainless steel sink with faucet and liquid soap dispenser and operated by foot pedal for easy hands-free washing.

THE local government of Makati has named its new centenarian awardee, bringing to 45 the total number of centenarians in the city during the administration of Mayor Abigail Binay.

Esther P. Cruz, a resident of Barangay Guadalupe Viejo, received the P100,000-check from a staff of the Makati Social Welfare Department who visited her at her home on Tuesday.

Born on May 12, 1920 in Negros Occidental, Mrs. Cruz obtained her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Sto. Tomas in 1946.

She worked as Assistant City Health Officer in Davao City and served in various health centers before coming back to Manila.

Records from Makati City Hall showed that Cruz has been a Blu Card holder since July 4, 2011.

The five other new centenarians who also received P100,000 each from the city government were Emilia V. Magsaysay of Barangay Poblacion; Adelaida C. Soria, of Barangay Cembo; Natividad V. Yuson, of Baragay Pembo; Florina R. Kaluag-Liboro, of Barangay Bel-Air; and Manuel Y. Carmona, of Barangay Urdaneta Village.

The latest awardees were able to meet the criteria set by MSWD, the lead implementer of the Blu Card Program, as follow: 1) must be a Filipino citizen; 2) must be a bonafide resident of Makati; 3) must have reached 100 years old between January to (xic) December of the current year; and 4) must be a Blu Card and White Card holder for at least five years.

She said the water supply was tapped from the water line and the liquid hand soap is provided by the barangay.

“We installed these portable stations to make sure that people who frequent crowded areas have a way to wash their hands whenever the need arises," said Villar.

"We cannot overemphasize the fact that handwashing is the most effective way to slow down the spread of diseases, such as COVID-19,” she added.

Around the city, people were seen lining up to try the newly-installed handwashing stations.

Barangay leaders and tricycle drivers thanked Villar for this project.

Sept. 10 to Sept. 24."

Bien issued the memo after two of the employees of RTC Branch 15 were found positive for COVID-19 during swab testing conducted by the Philippine Red Cross Thursday last week.

"During the entire 14-day period, Branch 15 shall continue its court operations through their hotlines and judiciary email accounts. They are directed

to accomplished their respective work from home," the memo stated.

It further stated that previously scheduled hearings will be made via video tele-conferencing Aside from the 14-day quarantine, all personnel were also told to undergo another round of swab testing, "considering that they were exposed to the two positive cases." Joel E. Zurbano

QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Tuesday welcomed the initiative of the Department of Social Welfare and Development to tap a new payout facility to hasten the distribution of the second tranche of the Social Amelioration Program.

The agency's National Capital Region-Local Government Unit coordinator Ilene Lotino responded to Belmonte's clarification about the delay in the payout to many of the SAP beneficiaries.

"Finally, the DSWD has coordinated with us for the longest time of making an appeal for a clarification.

Many of the residents have been complaining to us. Most of them have lost their jobs, and that they have nothing to spend for their daily needs,” Belmonte said.

The DSWD said the payout was hampered by the lack of information, particularly the contact numbers of the beneficiaries.

“It was explained to us that (DSWD) has been experiencing the difficulty to give (the money) out because many of these beneficiaries do not have the complete information, such as their cell phone numbers,” Belmonte said.

The DSWD is suggesting a new payment facility to fast track the payout process.

Right now, the agency is also providing manual payout delivery services to recipients without contact numbers for wire transfers.

LAGUNA VISIT.

PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar attended the “Explain, Explain, Explain: Visit to Laguna” conference with a two-day visit in Laguna in Bay, Los Baños, Victoria and Calauan. Andanar is the designated Cabinet official to be the "big brother" in Laguna. Together with Representatives of national government agencies DILG, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Department of Health.

Roy Tomandao

Opinion CROSSROADS

J.A. DELA CRUZ which can immobilize entire communities.

Still, the worst and most insidious hacking operations are done to subvert political processes and undermine societies. The controversy over the Russian interference in the 2016 US elections in favor of then-candidate Donald Trump lingers. In fact, it remains a key issue against Trump all over again in the run-up to the November elections, with the Democrats and a number of US security experts insisting that the Russian hackers are back in the

They are here to stay. incumbent president’s corner. And this time around they are joined by Chinese and Iranian hackers presumably in Democratic challenger Joe Biden’s side given the sanctions imposed and high profile bashing these two countries have been getting from the Trump administration.

In the case of the Russian operations for Trump’s re-election, the reports coming out not just of the security establishment but of Microsoft itself is that Russian military hackers have targeted 200 US organizations (political parties, think tanks, consultants and even the main Democratic fundraising platform) for cyber attacks. Microsoft vice president Tom Burt has been quoted as saying that the initial failed attempt on Biden’s campaign was “...specifically targeted by the Russian hackers via phishing attacks against the campaign’s communications

Duterte’s failures VIRTUAL REALITY

TONY LOPEZ IN A previous column I talked about President Rodrigo Duterte’s achievements. Now, here are his failures: 1. The Philippines’ greatest depression In the second quarter of 2020, the Philippine economy slumped to its lowest ever in the country’s history -- a 16.5-percent contraction in economic production. On top of the 0.7-percent contraction in the first quarter 2020, the 16.5 -percent GDP growth drop means the country is now in recession with first semester drop in economic output of 9 percent. It is the worst recession in our history.

For the whole of 2020, the economy is expected to decline by 10 percent. BizNewsAsia estimates the GDP contraction for the whole could be as large as 30 percent -- assuming a loss of P1.5 trillion for each month of lockdown. This lockdown – the longest and severest in the world – has run for seven months.

This means half of the economic production is gone by now. That cannot be recovered in four months.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez explains that “no matter how much money countries pump into their economies, their GDP would have shrunk massively, anyway.

It is not the sheer size of the stimulus package that matters now but also whether it is actually saving the productive parts of the economy.

This is because the problem is not a systemic contraction or a cyclical bust. Simply, necessary mobility restrictions hamper aggregate demand.”

Government economists earlier projected a recovery of 7 percent to 8 percent in GDP growth rate in 2021. That is now overly optimistic. Without a vaccine for general use, the recession could rage well into 2021.

When the President came to power in July 2016, he stumbled into the greatest and longest economic expansion in the country’s history—70 consecutive quarters of growth.

Duterte himself added 14 quarters of growth before it went negative in the first quarter of 2020.

Begun in 1999, the expansion meant a 4.2fold increase in the size of Philippine economy (from $72.2 billion in 1998 to $304.9 billion in 2016), a dramatic reduction in poverty, and middle-income status for Filipinos, with their per capita income exceeding $3,000.

Today, Duterte presides over the worst economic performance of the Philippines ever.

The slump is also the worst in ASEAN. The economic collapse also makes him the worst president ever in terms of economic performance.

And that is all due to the second biggest failure.

2. Pandemic mismanagement

Duterte imposed one of the earliest lockdowns in the world. Still, even if it was the world’s longest and strictest, the lockdown failed to contain the pandemic.

Ten days before Duterte imposed the lockdown on March 15, 2020, there were only TWO confirmed cases. At this writing, the Philippines is the pandemic epicenter in the 11-nation ASEAN with a total of 265,888 cases. It is No. 21 in the world. The Philippines dislodged Germany yesterday and is barely 23,000 cases below No. 20, Italy, 288,761.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez says “the decisive (lockdown) helped us avert an estimated 1.3 to 3.5 million infections according to researchers from our universities. The lockdown enabled us to reinforce our health system and build up our capacity to do widespread testing in our communities. From just around 1,282 actual PCR tests per day conducted in the last week of March, our capacity

Without a vaccine for general use, the recession could rage well into 2021.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2020

B1

EDITORIAL

Hacking and hackers THAT news about the P167 million lost by UCPB reportedly to a hacking syndicate has again shocked an already exhausted public six months cooped out under a nationwide lockdown.

At a time when almost everyone, government included, is grasping at straws scrounging around for funds just to stay in place, this heist is truly disheartening.

The culprits have to be brought to justice and the cash, at least whatever is left of it, returned. Having said that, we should put everybody on notice that this UCPB caper will probably not be the last.

No matter how condemnable this incident is, some groups are saying: We told you so. Others are even going to the extent of insinuating that this could not have happened without any insider help. In fact, as the narrative goes, it could have been simply an inside job considering the internal problems rocking UCPB, which has seen its top officials resigning en masse.

In any event, this heist should serve as a wake-up call not only for banks. This is also for regulators, government agencies and other companies doing essential and sensitive services. The incident reminds them to double their efforts in securing their digital systems and devices.

After all, activities that seek to compromise digital devices, even entire systems, for financial or state gains or just plain “gotcha” moments have become such lucrative, even highly sought and developed undertakings in the past few years. Hackers are lurking just around the corner and hacking operations can be activated in no time at all. Indeed, they have become part of everyday life.

What makes these activities dangerous is when these are done in such a brazen and wayward manner as what happened to UCPB which can unhinge the banking system. Or, to companies providing essential goods and services such as those in food manufacturing or in power and utilities

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

advisors, SKDKnickerbocker...”

The US tech giant advised that this particular Russian hacking group called Strontium is widely known as Fancy Bear or APT28 and is believed to operate out of Russia’s military intelligence agency, GRU. Apparently, these continuing attacks mimic the “sustained hacking and information warfare carried out in the 2016 presidential race in favor of then candidate Trump against his Democratic rival, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s campaign.”

Microsoft has also spotted state-sponsored hackers in China and Iran, targeting individuals involved in both presidential campaigns but more intensely against the Trump organization.

But experts say Moscow is the adversary that worries them the most, given Russia’s lengthy track record.

An expert, John Hultquist, senior executive of the cybersecurity firm FireEye, has raised alarm bells over the Russian hackers noting that while multiple cyber-espionage actors have targeted organizations associated with the upcoming election, the experts are “most concerned with that of the Russian military intelligence unit..which poses the greatest threat to the democratic process.. as this hacking group has been responsible for some of the most provocative and aggressive cyber operations of all time.”

If these latest hacking attempts on otherwise secure organizations in US soil involve the most hotly contested electoral race in the planet, using as they do the most sophisticated methods available, it is not farfetched to think that the same can be done anywhere at any time and against any perceived adversary. Given such an environment, the security and stability of nations and societies as well as the integrity and standing of companies and institutions of note can indeed be easily undermined by a click of a finger Grabe.

Army commanders.

In 2019, the Human Rights Watch reported that “State security forces and government-backed paramilitaries continue to harass, threaten, arbitrarily arrest, and in some instances attack and kill political activists, environmentalists, community leaders, and journalists.”

Duterte has vowed to continue his “war on drugs” which will be “as relentless and chilling on the day it began.” He wants death penalty, banned under the Constitution for most crimes, to be reimposed for drug crimes.

But the people love the President for the “drugs war.” In May 2019, two top allies made it handily into the Senate elections which solidified Duterte’s power base. Longtime aide, Christopher Go, and Davao’s former police chief, Ronaldo dela Rosa, who initially spearheaded the “drug war,” were elected to the Senate. Dela Rosa was named to head the Senate committee charged with investigating police matters and the “drug war.”

4. Failure to contain the communist insurgency and the Muslim separatist movement The killings of political activists and alleged NPA leaders have failed to dent the 52-year old communist insurgency. Muslim terrorists are on the warpath marked by a new phenomenon—suicide bombers. The PNP has tripled its anti-insurgency budget, a worrying sign.

5. Coddling of the police and the military Duterte has employed more generals, from the military and the police, than any other president before him. More than 45 star-rank officers occupy cabinet and civilian positions in the government.

Despite the overwhelming dominance of generals, the Duterte administration has not proven itself any more competent nor any less corrupt than past administrations.

When the chief of the national capital’s police force was caught on social media having a breakfast birthday party with more than 50 guests (despite strict lockdown prohibiting gatherings of ten or more people in one place at the same time), Duterte refused to fire the erring general.

has grown to about 32,000 average daily tests this (August).”

Adds Dominguez: “Without the lockdown, the rate of infections and deaths could have been much worse. The latest data suggest that a little over 1 percent of all COVID-19 cases in the country are severe or critical. Our mortality ratio, on the other hand, is at 2.5 people per a hundred thousand.”

He notes that per 100,000, the EU member states average 31 deaths, UK 70, Spain 61, Sweden 57, and the US 52.

3. Unprecedented human rights violations What has made Duterte a strong president, the vicious illegal drugs campaign, has also given him one of his major failures—massive human rights violations. Critics say he killed more than 27,000 in the guise of eliminating the pervasive illegal drugs curse.

Human Rights Watch says many of the biznewsasia@gmail.com 27,000 are “vigilante-style killings perpetrated by police officers themselves or by killers linked to the authorities.”

Authorities admit to 7,000 deaths during the campaign. Any numbers above that are classified as “homicides under investigation.”

Aside from the drugs war killings, the Human Rights Watch has also noted the politically motivated detention of his most prominent critic, Senator Leila de Lima, the removal in May 2018 of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, the revocation of am(www.manilastandard.net) nesty given Senator (now retired) Antonio SO Trillanes IV who led mutinies in 2002 and I SEE 2007, and the passage of a new Anti-Terror LITO Act (ATA).

BANAYO Recently, there have been sensational killings of known political activists, human Opportunities rights defenders, and alleged New People’s

MORE OPINION ONLINE

Learning curves T O SAY that the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly altered people’s lives would be an understatement.

One of the clearest manifestations of that change is in the education system.

Public school are set to reopen on October 5, but many private learning institutions have already started the school year.

Through a mix of so-called synchronous and asynchronous methods—where the students and teacher are present all at the same time, and where they perform other tasks on their own, respectively—educators are trying to make do with available technology to reach out to their students and enable them to learn, notwithstanding the great challenges posed by these untested methods.

The teachers themselves are having a difficult time adjusting to the new demands of their work. Sure, they may be teaching from the comfort of their homes, but there is definitely nothing comfortable about doing your work in the same manner for many years, even decades, and then having to shift to an altogether new way of teaching.

They could have trouble with their tools and with connectivity, or they could also find it difficult to be effective at their jobs using the only available medium of instruction.

Meanwhile, students are also adjusting to the much-changed demands of schoolwork.

They may have grown up with technology, but mostly for recreation and socialization.

Today they have to use technology to substitute the interactions and experiences they

would otherwise have in the classroom.

In an ideal world, the present workfrom-home set-up would allow parents to pay closer attention to their children’s work habits. This is true for some families fortunate enough to keep a job and provide their children their learning tools.

Lessons from this episode will be priceless.

In the real world, however, and especially as the public schools open in a few weeks, the situation could be starkly different. Children may not have adequate or functioning equipment. The home may not be an ideal place to focus and to learn new things. Parents could be anxious about where the next meal may come from, even if they did not have to worry about a COVID-19 infection.

Everybody is trying his or her best to still be able to learn in this new environment. Students will learn their lessons, educators will learn to teach better, and parents will learn how best they can support their children. Nothing prepared us for this, so complaining will not help.

In finding our stride, it is best to remember that one crisis affects families and communities differently. This should improve our empathy and correct our short-sightedness. In doing our best to cope, but we should also pick out the lessons that will come handy when this crisis is finally over. That wisdom would be priceless.

Gierran’s appointment is illegal TO THE POINT

EMIL JURADO I HAVE been requested to repeat my reasons for my belief that the appointment of former National Bureau of Investigation chief Dante Gierran as president and chief executive officer of PhilHealth is illegal.

Under Section 1 of Republic Act 11223 (Universal Healthcare Act), upon the recommendation of the Board Trustees of PhilHealth, the President shall appoint the agency’s president and CEO from the Board’s non-ex-officio members.

This means that the President cannot appoint Gierran unless he is a member of the

The reasons are clearly spelled out in the law.

Board of Trustees of PhilHealth, and unless the Board recommended his appointment to the President.

Thus, before Gierran can be appointed as President and CEO of PhilHealth, he must be first appointed as a member of the Board of Trustees.

What is/are the legal requirements before Gierran can be appointed as a member of the Board of Trustees?

Section 13 of RA 10149 (GOCC Governance Act of 2011) mandates that an appointing director shall be appointed by the President from a short-list prepared by the Governance Commission for Government-owned or-Controlled Corporations (GCG).

Under this law, Gierran can only be appointed by the President as a member of the Board of Trustees of PhilHealth if he was included in the list prepared and submitted by the GCG to the President. But the President cannot legally appoint Gierran a member of the Board of Trustees, much more as a PhilHealth president/CEO, my gulay!

Take note that before the GCG can include your name in the shortlist for appointment as a member of the Board of Trustees of Philhealth, the GCG first needs to determine whether you are qualified to hold this office.

My gulay, it’s a long process! The President cannot just pick anybody to be PhilHealth president and CEO. The three permanent Commissions of GCG and the two ex-officio members (Secretary of Finance Carlos Dominguez and Department of Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado) will also have to vote whether to include you or not in the shortlist.

The GCG is akin to the Judicial and Bar Council. Before you can be appointed as member of the Board to any GOCC, PhilHealth included, you must pass through the wringer of the GCG, and you must be in-

cluded in the shortlist. Otherwise, the President cannot legally appoint you as a member of the Board of Trustees of PhilHealth, much more as president and CEO. Thus, the answer to the question of whether or not the appointment of Gierran is legal depends on whether his name was in that shortlist for the Board of Trustees.

It’s pretty basic. *** In an earlier column, I suggested that the President should create a “jobs policy” in the wake of so many jobless people as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Department of Labor and Employment will deny this, for sure, but a survey showed that almost half of the country's adult labor force of 60 million are jobless.

Santa Banana, they are the new poor!

The newest of the “new poor” are some 119,000 to 140,000 retrenched teachers and staff, out of the more than 700 private schools which will remain closed. These schools have lost income because of lack of enrollees.

The group representing these teachers and staff claim that the P500 million allocated to them is not enough.

The jobs policy that President Duterte has to adopt right away should not be an emergency employment scheme. For sure, the ranks of the unemployed can only worsen the poverty problem of the country for many years to come.

While the President may have signed into law Bayanihan 2, the billions allotted for his project are only stop-gap measures to alleviate the people’s needs.

What is essential and urgent is a longterm jobs policy to prevent a bigger problem of poverty.

My gulay, if there’s one element missing, it’s an urgent and lasting jobs policy. Santa Banana, I foresee a bleak future for the Philippines without any assurance that people can get employed when this pandemic finally ends! *** I don’t know whoever had the idea of easing the one-meter social distancing protocol in public transport. To me it would worsen the problem.

Mark my words, there will be a surge of COVID-19 cases in the country as a result of this nonsense.

They say the idea was to help operators and drivers of public utility vehicles. Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said that if this is true, we should add more jeepneys, buses, and other means of transportation—not ease the social distancing protocol.

Health experts say this is dangerous.

What can happen here is that we could lose everything we have gained. *** The ban of going to cemeteries during “Undas” or All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day is no problem for me and my wife.

For many years, we have not gone to the cemeteries on those two days. We go on other days. What matters is that we remember and pray for our loved ones who have gone ahead of us.

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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WHO delivers Europe virus death warning

IN BRIEF Netanyahu ‘not talking’ to Palestinian officials

COPENHAGEN—Europe will face a rising death toll from the coronavirus during autumn, the World Health Organization warned on Monday as the number of daily infections around the world hit a record high.

Israel is among the countries battling a new spike, announcing a three-week lockdown from Friday when people will not be allowed more than 500 metres from their homes.

The announcement sparked anger.

“It’s unfair!” said Eti Avishai, a 64-year-old seamstress.

“They didn’t stop the big gatherings in synagogues, the weddings and the other events, and now I can’t be with my children and grandchildren during the holidays?”

The World Health Organization reported 307,930 new cases worldwide on Sunday, the highest daily figure since the beginning of the pandemic in China late last year, as global cases rapidly topped 29 million.

“It’s going to get tougher. In October, November, we are going to see more mortality,” WHO Europe director Hans Kluge told AFP in an interview.

“COVID-19 has brought to light the weaknesses and strengths of European society. It has bluntly revealed the reality of our health systems.”

Kluge also said the pandemic had disrupted services for noncommunicable diseases, including monitoring of diabetes, hypertension and cancer screening in 68 percent of the member states.

FREEDOM MARCH. Guatemalan Army cadets take part in the celebrations for the 199th anniversary of the Guatemalan independence in Guatemala City on September 14. AFP

Court sides with Trump on deporting immigrants L ERRORS & OMISSIONS

N OTICE

Notice is hereby given that AXEIA DEVELOPMENT CORP., with office address at 5th & 6th, Westar Building, 611 Shaw Boulevard, Kapitolyo, Pasig City, is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as an Expanding developer of economic and lowcost housing project (Green Meadows Residences Phase 3) with a capacity of 120 economic and low-cost housing units on a nonpioneer status with project site at Brgy. Calansayan, San Jose, Batangas.

Any person with valid objection/s on the aboveManila

mentioned project may file his/her objection in writing, underTODAY oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

Standard

(SGD) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Director Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-SEPT. 16, 2020)

In Classified Ads section must be brought to our attention the very day the advertisement is published. We will not be responsible for any incorrect ads not reported to us immediately.

To All Stockholders: Please be informed that the annual meeting of stockholders of MARCVENTURES HOLDINGS, INC. (the “Corporation”) for the year 2020 which is scheduled to be held on September 25, 2020 (Friday) has been postponed and reset to October 16, 2020 (Friday).

The purpose of the postponement is to give the Company more time to prepare for additional matters that will be presented to the stockholders at the meeting.

A Notice of Meeting will be issued in relation to the new meeting date on October 16, 2020.

Makati City, September 9, 2020.

ROBERTO V. SAN JOSE Corporate Secretary (MS-SEPT. 15 & 16, 2020)

Manila

Republic of the Philippines) Standard Province of Cagayan )

TODAY

OS ANGELES—A US court of appeals on Monday gave the green light for the Trump administration to expel hundreds of thousands of nationals from four countries who had been granted protected status for humanitarian reasons.

In a 2-1 ruling, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said a federal court in San Fransisco had erred when it issued an injunction protecting more than 300,000 immigrants from El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua and Sudan from being deported from the US.

US eases China travel warning on ‘progress’

WASHINGTON—The United States on Monday eased its warning against travel to China, acknowledging that the nation had made progress against COVID-19 despite frequent US criticism of its pandemic role.

The State Department still urges Americans to reconsider travel to China, but it upgraded its advice from a blanket warning not to go to the country.

The People’s Republic of China “has resumed most business operations (inPresident Donald Trump’s administration cluding day cares and schools),” the State has sought to end the Temporary Protected Department said.

Status (TPS) granted to these people—who “Other improved conditions have been have several hundred thousand American reported within the PRC,” it said. children—on the grounds that their countries The State Department separately still which were previously wracked by unrest cautioned US citizens about the risk of arwere now safe. bitrary arrest in China, including in Hong Monday’s ruling will not result in the immeKong as Beijing enforces a tough new sediate deportation of TPS holders, the American curity law.

The updated travel advice comes a Civil Liberties Union said, as the challengers week after China declared victory over have vowed to file an appeal. the virus as President Xi Jinping decorated Writing for the majority, Judge Consuelo CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW in BLACK medical professionals a triumphant cerCallahan disagreed with arguments that a bid emony. to terminate TPS was influenced by Trump’s China’s propaganda machine has alleged anti-immigrant bias shown through his sought to reframe COVID-19 as an examcontroversial remarks, including a 2018 comple of the state’s agile leadership against ment in which he referred to “shithole counthe global pandemic that emerged in the tries.” AFP country. AFP

In Australia, no DOVID-19 deaths for 1st time in 2 months

NOTICE OF POSTPONEMENT OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING

City of Tuguegarao

JERUSALEM—Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has “no intention” of discussing peace with the Palestinians, opposition leader Yair Lapid told AFP ahead of the signing of landmark deals with the UAE and Bahrain.

“This government has no intention of discussing anything with the Palestinians,” said Lapid, who pushed for the resumption of peace talks.

The opposition chief spoke to AFP ahead of a signing ceremony hosted by US President Donald Trump at which Netanyahu will sign normalisation deals with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, the first Israel has agreed with an Arab state since the 1990s.

While centrist leader Lapid welcomed the Gulf deals, he argued Israel should also resume peace negotiations with the Palestinians.

“The current government is saying we have achieved agreements with moderate Sunni countries without paying the price of negotiating with the Palestinians. What I say is it’s not a price. It’s an Israeli interest,” he told AFP at his parliamentary office.

MELBOURNE—Australia recorded zero new coronavirus deaths for the first time in two months on Tuesday, as a slowdown in new cases allowed a crippling lockdown in its second-biggest city to be eased.

Just 50 fresh virus cases were reported nationwide -- down from peaks above 700 in late July and early August -- while no fatalities were registered for the first time since July 13,

according to an AFP tally.

The news came a day after a strict lockdown of Melbourne was loosened, allowing residents to spend an extra hour a day exercising outside and visiting friends living alone.

In surrounding Victoria state, locals will be able to leave their homes and businesses can reopen from midnight Wednesday after rural case numbers dipped.

Manila

Standard

TODAY

NOTICE OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING DEAR STOCKHOLDERS: Please be informed that the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting of Allied Care Experts (ACE) Dumaguete Doctors Inc. will be held on October 1, 2020 (Thursday) at 8:00 o’clock in the morning, via Zoom Webinar, in light of the COVID pandemic.

For the conduct of the Webinar, please register on or before September 29, through the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/ WN_5V02VvR6SyGzsNKlJViF6Q The link will provide you the process for the registration. You will receive a confirmation email once you have successfully registered in the platform, including the details and procedures in the conduct of the meeting. Voting will be done via the online tool which you can access once you have logged in to the Webinar.

) AFFIDAVIT

I, JAMEELA B. BERNARDINO, of legal age, married, Flipino citizen, with residence address at Gumarueng, Piat, Cagayan, under oath, depose and state that: (1) I am the lone business owner of DOUBLE J1908 CONSTRUCTION, duly registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and with the Philippine Contractor`s Accreditation Board; (2) The said business is now changing its status, SINGLE PROPRIETORSHIP, to a CORPORATE status bearing the name of DOUBLE J1908 CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION; (3) The said business has no pending case whatsoever be it civil, criminal or administrative case; (4) All business documents necessary and pertinent to the change of status has been submitted to and registered under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

(5) Being the holder of majority of the shares of stock, I have the controlling interest over the said corporation; (6) As such, I am executing this affidavit to attest to the truth of the foregoing.

In withness whereof, I have here unto set my hand this _____day of September, 2020 at Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, Philippines.

Affiant further sayeth naught.

JAMEELA BALDORIA BERNARDINO TIN NO. 489-125-135-000 Subscribed AND SWORN to before me this ____________ in __________________, affiant exhibiting her TIN Card, Issued on March 15, 2009 at Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, Philippines.

The meeting shall be recorded (visual and audio) for future reference.

The Agenda: I. Call to Order II. Invocation III. Determination of Quorum IV. Welcome Message from the Chairman of the Board V. Reading and Approval of the Minutes of the Y2019 Annual Stockholders’ Meeting VI. Approval of the Y2019 Audited Financial Statement VII. President’s Report VIII. Ratification of the Acts and Proceedings of the Board of Directors, Officers, and Management of the Corporation IX. Amendment of Section 8, Article II of By-laws of the Corporation X. Election of the Board of Directors 2020-2021 XI. Appointment of External Auditor for the year 2020 XII. Other Matters XIII. Adjournment Only stockholders of record at the close of business on September 11, 2020 (Friday) shall be entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting. If you cannot personally attend the meeting, you may opt to send your proxy to attend in your behalf. Kindly submit your duly executed proxy form with the undersigned, via email, at office staff at acedumaguetedoctors@yahoo.com. ph not later than September 30, 2020 on or before 5:00 PM but preferably by September 28, 2020, to enable your proxy to register in the Zoom Webinar.

Attached is a sample proxy form for your reference. [NOTE: Management is not soliciting proxies.]

The Information Statement and Management Report and SEC Form 17-A are available at the Corporation’s website at http://acedumaguetedoctors. org/.

You may contact the undersigned via email office staff at acedumaguetedoctors@yahoo.com.ph or at telephone number: (035) 4212119 if you have inquiries/concerns regarding the meeting.

Very Truly Yours,

Aejeleth B. Eyas Corporate Secretary (MS-SEPT. 16, 2020)

“It is a massive thing, it is a very positive thing,” Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said.

Melbourne residents still face restrictions, with non-essential businesses remaining closed and an overnight curfew in place until October 26.

Almost three-quarters of Australia’s almost 27,000 cases and 90 percent of the 816 coronavirus deaths have occurred in Victoria state. AFP

(MS-SEPT. 19 & 17 2020)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

NOTHING LEFT. Feather Falls Union School is seen burned by the Bear

fire, part of the larger North Lightning Complex fire, in Oroville, California on September 14. President Donald Trump on September 14 suggested global warming will reverse itself and dismissed climate change as a cause of ferocious fires engulfing swaths of the US West, during a briefing in California on the deadly blazes. AFP

British MPs back Brexit bill despite European Union anger LONDON—British lawmakers on Monday backed a new bill that would override parts of the Brexit treaty struck with the European Union last year, despite outrage in Brussels and alarm at home over such an overt breach of international law.

MPs in the House of Commons gave their initial approval to the UK Internal Market Bill by 340 votes to 263, clearing the way for four days of detailed scrutiny of the text this week and next.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier argued the legislation was a “safety net” against what he claimed were EU threats to impose tariffs on UK internal trade and even stop food going from mainland Britain to Northern Ireland.

But EU leaders have dismissed this as “spin” and warned Johnson to uphold commitments he himself made in the Brexit treaty last year— demanding he withdraw the offending parts of the new bill by the end of September.

The row threatens to disrupt already tough post-Brexit trade negotiations, fuelling growing fears of failure that would see more than four decades of EU-UK integration come to a crashing halt at the end of this year.

The legislation also sparked angry debate in London, reminiscent of the years of bitter political battles that followed the 2016 shock referendum vote to leave the EU. AFP CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Business PSEi September 15, 2020

TOP GAINERS

Market index rises to 6,000 level; Metrobank, SMIC up TOCKS rose for a third day, sending the benchmark index above the 6,000-point level following overnight gains on Wall Street and on hopes for a coronavirus vaccine.

S TOP LOSERS

B3

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company bellwether, climbed 21 points, or 0.4 percent, to close at 6,018.21 Tuesday.

The broader all-share index was nearly unchanged at 3,591.57 on a value turnover of P5.5 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 113 to 78, while 51 issues were unchanged.

Ten of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. which advanced 2.7 percent to P35.85 and SM Investments Corp. which rose 2.4 percent to P937. Ayala Land Inc. gained 2.1 percent to P31.95, while Manila Electric Co. picked up 2

percent to finish at P278.60.

Meanwhile, most Asian markets also advanced Tuesday. After their first two successive weekly losses since March, markets were enjoying a broadly positive start to this one as traders eyed progress in drug trials, with AstraZeneca saying tests on the candidate it is developing with Oxford University could be finished by the end of the year.

And the head of Pfizer said the drug it is working on with BioNTech could be ready for distribution within months.

“Financial markets remain optimistic a vaccine will get done before the year is over,” said OANDA’s Edward Moya.

However, the World Health Organization’s European chief Hans Kluge sounded a sober note about the fight against the disease.

“I hear the whole time: ‘the vaccine is going to be the end of the pandemic’.

Of course not,” he warned, saying the end of the pandemic would come when communities learn to live with the disease.

Kluge also told AFP on Monday that the autumn will be “tougher” with “more mortality”.

Hong Kong and Shanghai rose. Traders cheered data showing China’s retail sales -- a key gauge of the crucial domestic consumer sector—rose for the first time since the pandemic struck, beating expectations.

There was also a forecast-beating pick-up in industrial output.

The readings indicate the world’s number-two economy is gradually recovering from the impact of virus lockdowns.

Seoul, Mumbai, Singapore, Taipei, Manila and Bangkok also rose, though Tokyo, Sydney and Jakarta edged down.

London, Paris and Frankfurt all rose in opening trade.

But analysts warned that further ups and downs were to be expected “Market volatility is returning after months of steady advances in risk assets,” BlackRock Investment Institute strategists said. With AFP

MOST ACTIVE

An electric-rickshaw transports passengers along a street in the old quarters of New Delhi on Sept. 15, 2020. Coronavirus-ravaged economies across the Asia Pacific will make a “swoosh-shaped” recovery next year, the Asian Development Bank forecast on September 15, but it warned that further restrictions to combat the contagion could derail the region’s return to growth. AFP

Chinese retail sales post growth as signs of recovery emerge BEIJING, China―Chinese retail sales rose in August for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic struck, data showed Tuesday, as officials try to kickstart the crucial domestic consumer sector to fuel recovery in the world’s number-two economy.

Spending had previously remained sluggish despite China bringing the virus largely under control, with shoppers still cautious owing to global uncertainty―but economists believe the latest data suggests recovery is on a firmer footing.

The key indicator of consumer sentiment rose 0.5 percent on-year last month. A poll of analysts by Bloomberg News had forecast no growth.

Beijing has ramped up initiatives such as shopping festivals and voucher campaigns to spur consumer spending.

The latest reading is an improvement on the 1.1 percent drop seen in July and much better than the 20.5 percent plunge suffered in January-February when millions of people were put into lockdown to prevent the virus from spreading.

With external demand expected to remain weak as China’s major trading partners struggle to contain the disease, China has redoubled efforts to encourage its exporters to target its vast local market instead.

Oxford Economics economist Louis Kuijs said the economic recovery was “on a reasonably firm footing now... with solid investment growth, gradually recovering consumption momentum and resilient exports”.

Industrial output, which has recovered more quickly than retail, strengthened further, rising 5.6 percent, which also beat forecasts and improved on July’s 4.8 percent increase.

Julian Evans-Pritchard from Capital Economics said that with fiscal spending set to be ramped up and a revival in consumer confidence, China’s economy was on track to return to its previrus growth rate before the end of the year.

On Tuesday, National Bureau of Statistics spokesman Fu Linghui told reporters that China’s economy had a “sustained steady recovery”. AFP

Asia import ban adds to German pork trade woes BERLIN, Germany―The discovery of African swine fever in a German boar is the latest blow to the country’s meat industry that is already struggling from the impact of the coronavirus.

Japan on Monday joined China and South Korea in saying it would suspend pork imports from Germany after it confirmed a first case of African swine fever in the carcass of a wild boar in the state of Brandenburg near the German-Polish border last week.

African swine fever is highly contagious and deadly among wild boars and domestic pigs, but not harmful to humans.

The news is a “source of great concern” according to the German Farmers’ Association, or DBV, amid a series of crises for the traditionally robust meat sector.

The country’s largest meat production plant was temporarily closed in June after more than 1,000 workers tested positive for the coronavirus, with the incident also highlighting the dire working conditions faced by workers―often from migrant backgrounds.

A string of other German abattoirs have also faced clusters of COVID-19 outbreaks.

The unflattering spotlight comes as the sector is already battling a progressive change in tastes, as vegetarian and vegan diets become more widespread.

Germany is Europe’s largest producer of pork, slaughtering more than 55 million pigs last year, a fall of 3.0 percent compared with 2018, according to federal statistics agency Destatis.

The confirmation of a single African swine fever case in Germany means its pork can temporarily no longer be certified for export to non-EU nations, although sales to other EU nations may continue.

The Asian market represents around a quarter of German pork exports.

Chinese diners in particular have seen their appetite for German pork increase after the Asian country’s own swine fever outbreak meant millions of pigs had to be slaughtered.

China alone makes up 17 percent of Germany’s pork exports outside the European Union, with South Korea taking around 4.0 percent, and Japan 3.0 percent. AFP

Virus restrictions threaten Asia economic recovery in 2021, says ADB report MANILA—Coronavirus-ravaged economies across the Asia Pacific will make a “swoosh-shaped” recovery next year, the Asian Development Bank forecast Tuesday, but it warned that further restrictions to combat the contagion could derail the region’s return to growth.

Developing Asia—stretching from the Cook Islands in the Pacific to Kazakhstan in Central Asia—is expected to contract in 2020 for the first time in nearly six decades, throwing tens of millions of people into poverty, the Philippines-based lender said.

The 0.7 percent shrink in gross domestic product compares with the bank’s previous estimate in June for 0.1 percent growth and will mark “the first

regional GDP contraction since the early 1960s”, it said.

“The downturn is across the board, with almost three-fourths of regional economies projected to contract—the largest such share in the past 6 decades,” the bank said in the latest update to its outlook.

While the vast region is expected to bounce back next year, with GDP projected to grow 6.8 percent, it will be “substantially smaller” than forecast before Covid-19 struck.

“Thus, the regional recovery will be L-shaped or ‘swoosh-shaped’ rather than V-shaped,” the bank said, noting a prolonged pandemic was the main threat to the outlook.

The bank warned that reimposing tough virus restrictions could hamper the recovery and even trigger “financial turmoil”.

“While economies in developing Asia remain resilient, continued policy support is needed to underpin recovery,” ADB chief economist Yasuyuki Sawada said.

Policy support packages announced to the end of August had reached a total of $3.6 trillion -- about 15 percent of regional GDP, the bank said.

China, where the virus first emerged late last year before morphing into a pandemic that has infected more than 29 million people worldwide, was one of the few economies to buck the down-

ward trend in the region.

After successfully beating back the disease, the world’s second largest economy is forecast to grow 1.8 percent this year and 7.7 percent in 2021, the bank said.

In contrast, India, which is one of the hardest hit countries in the world with over 4.8 million infections despite lengthy lockdowns, is expected to shrivel by nine percent in 2020 before expanding by eight percent next year.

“The path and speed of economic recovery in regional economies will depend on many different factors, the most important of which is ability to control and contain the pandemic,” the ADB said. AFP

Inner Mongolia seethes as China presses Mandarin at school TONGLIAO, China—As his son returned to school under the watchful eye of plainclothes police, an ethnic Mongolian father admitted defeat after days of fighting against a curriculum imposed by the Chinese state, which he fears will suffocate his culture.

“The spirit (of resistance) is still there, but we are scared,” said the man, requesting anonymity as he watched other students lugging their suitcases back into Tongliao Mongolian Middle School after a week-long boycott.

“Little by little, parents are sending their kids back.”

Tens of thousands took part in demonstrations and school boycotts in Inner Mongolia -- a vast expanse of northern China where herders marshall livestock across grasslands -- to protest against an edict mandating Mandarinlanguage teaching, over fears it will wipe out their language.

The rare mass rallies held by ethnic Mongolians is the largest China has seen in decades, where authorities under Chinese President Xi Jinping brook no dissent.

Armoured vehicles moved in to surround schools in Tongliao, a stronghold of resistance where ethnic Mongolians make up almost half of the population.

The clampdown echoes Beijing’s moves in Xinjiang and Tibet, where similar policies to assimilate local minorities into the dominant Han popula-

Parents wait at the entrance to the Tongliao Mongolian Middle School in Tongliao in China’s northern Inner Mongolia region, following recent protests over a new bilingual education policy by the Chinese government. For several days, Inner Mongolia, a vast expanse of northern China where herders marshall livestock across grasslands, was convulsed by protests –the largest in decades—in anger at an edict mandating Mandarin-language teaching. AFP

tion were implemented in line with Xi’s vision of national and ideological unity through cultural identity.

Police offered cash bounties for leads on ringleaders and publicised the arrests of dozens of suspects accused of gathering signatures and sharing dissenting messages on WeChat.

Parents who refused to send their chil-

dren back to school were threatened with layoffs, fines and students’ expulsion. In one district, officials offered cash to students who convinced their peers to return, according to official notices.

The dragnet has cowed the most outspoken.

Petitions that circulated in early September and other outward signs of dis-

sent have evaporated, as fear silences many Inner Mongolians.

During a recent trip to the region, AFP reporters were tailed by a convoy of propaganda officials and unidentified men, leaving contacts jittery and afraid to be named.

Hastily imposed for the start of term on September 1, the new rules say Mandarin must be taught from first grade -- one year earlier than before -across the region’s bilingual boarding schools.

History, politics and literature will also be taught in Mandarin now instead of Mongolian.

Similar education policies have been introduced in Xinjiang and Tibet, other border regions that have faced government repression and extensive campaigns to rein in their minority education, religions and cultures.

“This is something we cannot accept,” the father told AFP. “For young children who are now around seven or eight years old, in a decade or two they will not be able to speak with grandparents in their own language.”

Ethnic Mongolians count for less than a fifth of the region’s 25.3 million population, and are vastly outnumbered by Han Chinese.

But they are fiercely proud of a heritage that they share with Mongolia to the north, and fear Beijing is ramping up an assimilation drive. AFP

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

B4

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2020

Business

PSE INDEX CLOSING Tuesday, September 16, 2020 21.07 points

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES

6,018.21

829,029,499 82,600 5,549,829,658.39 78

DECLINES

113

UNCHANGED

51

Foreign E xchange R ate

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.5220

Japan

Yen

0.009462

0.4591

UK

Pound

1.285200

62.3605

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129032

6.2609

Switzerland

Franc

1.101322

53.4383

Canada

Dollar

0.759013

36.8288

Singapore

Dollar

0.733030

35.5681

Australia

Dollar

0.729000

35.3725

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652238

128.6919

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266617

12.9368

Brunei

Dollar

0.730353

35.4382

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000067

0.0033

Thailand

Baht

0.031928

1.5492

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.2112

Euro

Euro

1.186700

57.5811

Korea

Won

0.000846

0.0410

China

Yuan

0.146873

7.1266

India

Rupee

0.013626

0.6612

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.241371

11.7118

New Zealand

Dollar

0.670200

32.5194

Taiwan

Dollar

0.034193

1.6591

MONEY sent home by Filipinos working overseas rose for a second straight month, growing by 7.8 percent in July to $2.783 billion from $2.581 billion a year ago, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Tuesday.

It was the highest volume in seven months and marked the fastest growth in nine months, data from the BSP showed. Cash remittances went up by 7.7 percent in June to $2.465 billion.

This brought total cash remittances in the first seven months to $16.802 billion, down by 2.4 percent from $17.219 billion a year ago.

The BSP said the 7.8-percent growth in July was led by the 12.6-percent increase in land-based workers remittances, but was slightly tempered by the 9.2-percent decrease in sea-based workers’ remittances.

“Cash remittances from land-based and sea-based workers continued to be lower than their levels in 2019 by 1.5 percent to $13.232 billion from $13.429 billion, and 5.8 percent to $3.57 billion from $3.789 billion, respectively,” the BSP said.

Remittances from the United States, Japan, Singapore, Qatar and Taiwan continued to grow, while those from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Germany, Kuwait and the UK declined.

ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa said OFWs defied expectations for a second straight month of growth.

“Most analysts had expected remittance flows to contract given challenging labor market conditions in host countries and given the fact that more than 170,000 OFs have returned to the Philippines over the course of the past few months,” Mapa said.

Personal remittances which include non-cash items also grew by 7.6 percent in July to $3.085 billion from $2.867 billion a year ago. This brought personal remittances in the first seven months to $18.658 billion, down 2.4 percent from $19.119 billion in the same period last year.

“The growth was attributed to the 12.6-percent increase in remittances from land-based workers with work contracts of one year or more to $2.467 billion in July 2020 from $2.192 billion in July 2019,” the BSP said.

Julito G. Rada

Globe to expedite building of cell sites GLOBE Telecom Inc. said it will accelerate the building of cell sites nationwide this year after President Duterte signed into law the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act. “Over the weekend the Bayanihan 2 Act was signed and that gave us again another boost and that gave us the temporary suspension of requirements and streamlining of process with regard to permits,” Globe president and chief executive Ernest Cu said in a virtual launching of the company’s National G Day Celebration on Sept. 17.

“As you know permits were really the difficulties that sometimes really blocked how we can implement both cell sites and fiber optic cable to feed the data needs of different homes and businesses that we would like to serve,” he said.

Cu said the public could expect more network activities from Globe until the end of the year to bring world-class internet to the Philippines.

“We are working as hard as possible to deploy much capacity as possible both of the wireless and wireline front,” he said. Darwin G. Amojelar

PLDT-SkyCable merger opposed A LAWMAKER said Tuesday PLDT Inc.’s alleged plan to acquire Sky Cable Corp. will reduce competition in the pay television market.

“There will surely be serious concerns about the business combination, potentially reducing market competition and increasing the market power of the acquirer,” said Deputy Speaker and Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel.

“The deal may easily be construed as buying out the competition in order to kill it,” he said.

“Assuming the transaction pushes through, we would expect it to be thoroughly scrutinized by antitrust regulators, who are there to ensure fair market competition for the benefit of consumers,” Pimentel said.

Under the law, business merger or acquisition agreements may not be consummated without the approval of the Philippine Competition Commission, which may reject transactions that prevent, restrict or lessen market competition.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Source: BSP

Remittances increased 7.8% in July—BSP

IN BRIEF

MANILA BAY RESTORATION. The Rotary Club of Manila expresses full support to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ commitment and efforts in the improvement, beautification, restoration and cleanup of Manila Bay. Shown are (from left) Rotary Club of Manila president Bobby Joseph, DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Danilo Lim.

ADB expects PH economy to contract 7.3% this year

By Julito G. Rada

T

HEAsian Development Bank said Tuesday it expects the Philippine economy to contract by 7.3 percent this year, deeper than its previous estimate of a 3.8-percent decline, because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It said, however, that the economy would likely rebound by 6.5 percent in 2021, on expectation that the health crisis would be over by that time.

“The economy is expected to rebound in 2021 as the outbreak is contained, the economy is further opened, and more government stimulus measures are implemented. Downside risks next year include a slower than expected global

recovery that could weigh heavily on trade, investment, and overseas Filipino worker remittances,” the bank said in the Asian Development Outlook 2020 Update.

“We believe the worst is now over and that the contraction in GDP bottomed out in May or June this year. The package of measures the government rolled out such as income support to families, relief for small businesses, and support to agriculture in the second quarter all helped the economy to bottom out. We expect the recovery to be slow and fragile for the rest of this year, and growth to accelerate in 2021 on the back of additional fiscal support and an accommodative monetary policy stance,” ADB country director for the Philippines Kelly Bird said in a statement.

ADB said it fully supported the government’s COVID-19 response, delivering a combination of loans and grants to help finance measures aimed at lessening the pandemic’s impact on lives and livelihoods.

It provided about $2.3 billion in loans and grants to support the government’s urgent COVID-19 response, including social protection and livelihood support to help mitigate the impacts on livelihoods and employment and assistance to further scale up the government’s health response against the pandemic.

Following a contraction of 9 percent in the first half, a slow economic recovery is expected to start in the second half, as the government’s fiscal response gains traction and household consumption slowly picks up on a jobs rebound, the bank said.

Following the relaxation of community quarantines in June, the employment situation in July improved markedly from April. The services sector was the main job creator with 3.4 million jobs added between April and July, followed by the agricultural and industrial sectors, with 2.1 million and 2 million, respectively. Consequently, the unemployment rate fell from 17.7 percent in April to 10.0 percent in July.

PH, Japan sign 50-billion-yen post-disaster loan THE Philippines and Japan signed Tuesday an agreement for a 50-billion yen (P23 billion) standby loan that aims to quickly disburse Japanese funding for the Philippine government’s post-disaster response efforts in the event of a national calamity or health emergency.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, representing the Philippine government, and Japan International Cooperation Agency chief representative Eigo Azukizawa, on behalf of Japan, signed the accord for the second phase of the Post-Disaster Standby Loan Tuesday afternoon.

Under the agreement, the disbursement of the standby loan to the Philippines will be triggered by either the declaration of a state of calamity;

or the declaration of a state of public health emergency.

It said that in the case of theCOVID-19 pandemic or any other public health emergencies, the imposition of an enhanced community quarantine or its equivalent in the National Capital Region or in any other highly urbanized area in the country would trigger the disbursement of the loan.

“The ongoing pandemic underscores the need to further improve our policy and institutional framework for disaster risk reduction and management. It likewise emphasizes the need to build our financial resilience against disasters and similar emergencies. The ability to mobilize financial resources without delay is essential to emergency preparedness.,” Dominguez said

during the ceremonial signing of the loan agreement at the Department of Finance office in Manila.

Equivalent to about P23.3 billion, the PDSL 2 will be available for quick disbursement in tranches within three years, once the loan is declared effective, and may be extended for an additional three-year period for up to four times.

The Philippines and Japan on July 1 also signed an agreement for a separate 50-billion-yen loan for the COVID-19 Crisis Response Emergency Support Loan which aims to assist the government’s efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic and provide economic relief to Filipinos most affected by the crisis.

Julito G. Rada

Feed millers agree to buy more local corn

MARKET STUDY. The Swiss Import Promotion Programme, the Embassy of Switzerland in the Philippines and the Department of Industry-Export Marketing Bureau sign a tripartite memorandum to conduct a market study on three key export products of the Philippines: processed food, natural ingredients and natural fiber and textiles. Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to the Philippines Alain Gaschen shows the signed agreement.

THE Philippine Association of Feed Millers said Tuesday its members are buying more local corn as reports of bumper crop from the ongoing harvest season.

PAFMI said the bumper harvest boosted the feed millers’ confidence in the availability of yellow corn which takes up over 50 percent of the local feed formulation.

PAFMI president Nicole Sarmiento Garcia said the association aimed to fuel the domestic economy by producing locally and buying feed inputs from Filipino farmers.

Garcia also encouraged other feed millers and manufacturers to purchase inputs from local producers and asked consumers to buy and eat locally produced food and farm items.

Roger Navarro, president of Philippine Maize Federation Inc., the association of local corn farmers, confirmed the reports of good harvest during a meeting hosted by the Department of

Agriculture. No data were available yet on this year’s crop output, but last year’s production reached 5.9 million metric tons.

The Department of Agriculture encouraged local government units to assist corn farmers in selling their produce either by linking the farmers to direct buyers like the feed millers or brokering the purchase deals.

One of the LGUs actively pursuing DA’s initiative is the province of Isabela with Governor Rodolfo Albano directly offering corn to the feed millers delivered to Bulacan and Batangas.

Another DA initiative is a corn contract growing project between PAFMI and corn farmers where PAFMI guarantees a market for the local produce and the DA provides technical assistance through local agriculturists. A memorandum of agreement is being worked out to implement the scheme, according to Garcia.

Nissan LEAF to be sold in PH

JAPANESE automotive manufacturer Nissan plans to bring Nissan LEAF, a full electric vehicle, to the Philippines next year.

Nissan executives told Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi that the company would bring the LEAF’s EV technology to the country in support of the Duterte administration’s vision of a safer, smarter and more sustainable future.

Cusi led the test drive of the Nissan LEAF, the world’s best-selling electric vehicle. The zeroemission vehicle is engineered to give a more confident and cleaner drive.

The test drive was held at the Energy Center at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, where the Department of Energy’s office is located.

Joining Cusi are Nissan Philippines Inc. president Atsushi Najima, Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines chairman Rommel Juan, Energy Assistant Secretary Leonido Pulido III, Energy Utilization and Management Bureau director Patrick Aquino and Nissan LEAF specialist Cyrus Macasera. Alena Mae S. Flores

BSP backs Salceda’s virtual banking bill

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas expressed support to a bill authored by House Ways and Means chair Joey Sarte Salceda which seeks to establish a separate regulatory and industry development regime for virtual-only banks in the country.

BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said in a letter to Salceda dated Sept. 7 that the central bank welcomed House Bill 5913, or the Virtual Banking Act, saying that “the creation of a regulatory framework for digital banks promotes a level playing field by allowing new entrants to credibly compete with existing banks, as well as prevents regulatory arbitrage.”

“This will reinforce the provisions of the General Banking Law with respect to the proposal of the BSP which introduces digital banks as a new bank classification, distinct from the existing categories of banks, i.e., universal and commercial banks, thrift banks, rural banks, cooperative banks and Islamic banks,” Diokno said.

Under Salceda’s proposal, which also gained the support of the Cebu Bankers Club, virtual-only banks will be a separate classification of banks and will encourage virtual-only banks to pursue financial inclusion initiatives.

Tobacco heating system does not adversely affect indoor air quality THE use of tobacco heating system does not adversely affect the overall indoor air quality, according to several scientific studies published in peer-reviewed publications.

The studies were conducted to determine the impact on air quality of new nicotine products such as tobacco heating system which are considered better alternatives to combustible cigarettes. Researchers said assessing air quality is an important factor of the science behind products that heat and not burn tobacco as it provides a strong indication of the potential impact that a product’s use may have on bystanders.

A novel and smoke-free nicotine product, THS such as IQOS of Philip Morris International uses an electronicallycontrolled mechanism to precisely heat the specially-designed tobacco sticks at temperatures below the threshold for combustion or burning.

In a study published in September 2018 by ScienceDirect, the leading platform of peer-reviewed literature, researchers from Kaunas University of Technology in Lithuania reviewed the impact of THS on indoor air quality.

It compared the indoor concentrations of substances such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, benzene, toluene, nicotine and particulate matter 2.5 and discussed the concentrations of other harmful and potentially harmful substances.

“In the controlled environment, the use of THS [as well as an electronic cigarette] resulted in the lowest concentrations of formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, PM2.5 among majority researched pollution sources [conventional cigarettes, waterpipe, incense, mosquito coils],” according to authors Violeta Kauneliene, Marija Meisutovic-Akhtarieva and Dainius Martuzevicius.

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2020

Rafael Nadal of Spain serves during a practice session on day one of the Internazionali BNL D’Italia ATP tour at Foro Italico in Rome, Italy. AFP

Archers welcome 2 ex-Tigers A NEW journey begins for the two former members of the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers men’s basketball squad.

This was after last year’s Rookie of the Year Mark Nonoy and Dennis Cuajao were formally accepted into the La Salle Green Archers’ fold yesterday.

They were welcomed by the team’s new supporter, presidential son-inlaw Manases “Mans” Carpio, who is the husband of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter.

Carpio gave Nonoy and Cuajao a warm welcome following a visit to the Southern Mindanao metropolis with their managerguardian Jackson Chua of Team Phenom Sports.

“Through the years, La Salle has become one of the biggest and proudest collegiate basketball programs in the country. My goal is to open the doors of the school to more homegrown players who cannot afford to study there through sports,” said Carpio in a statement.

Nonoy, a 5’8” point guard, and Cuajao, joined 6’7” National University standout Kevin Quiambao as among the new recruits of the Green Archers this season.

Nonoy averaged 11.11 points, 3.83 rebounds and 2.78 assists per game during his first year in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines last season.

The 6’1” Cuajao normed 17.5 point per game with the Tigers.

Carpio is a La Salle alumnus, who earned his political science degree back in 1998.

Both players will now undergo two years of residency and are expected to suit up in Season 85 of the UAAP. A total of seven players have left the UST team since controversy involving the squad began last August 20, following a training camp in Sorsogon at the height of the pandemic.

That was when skipper CJ Cansino was removed from from the team after he made efforts to explain to coach Aldin Ayo his mental health issues at that time.

Cansino eventually transferred to the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons. Peter Atencio

EJ tries to scale greater heights at Golden Gala

By Peter Atencio

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RNEST John “EJ” Obiena can scale greater heights when he sees action in the Diamond League this Thursday at the Golden Gala in Rome, Italy.

His father Emerson believes so after the younger Obiena competed against a talented field and still managed to pick up a share of the bronze medal in the men’s pole vault meet of the Poznan Athletics Grand Prix 2020 last week in Poland.

“Magandang indication ito. Kasi kagagaling lang niya sa quarantine at medyo naapektuhan ang training niya,” said Emerson.

EJ, according to Emerson, is slowly gaining his form and this was evident when he recorded his season best attempt of 5.74 meters to grab the gold in the 59th Ostrava Golden Spike competition in the Czech Repubic on Tuesday also last week.

Ernest John Obiena

“Nagkaroon kasi siya ng injury sa likuran. Kaya iyung expectation ko, hindi ganoon kataas,” added the elder Obiena on his son’s gold medal win.

EJ, who recently recovered from a back problem, was supposed to com-

pete in Berlin this week, but he was not able to get an invitation.

That’s why he will just seek his sixth medal in Rome.

“Gumanda na ang kundisyon niya sa likod at nakita ko pa rin na nandun pa rin ang galaw niya,” added Emerson.

EJ will be on his second Diamond League stint this season after claiming a bronze medal in the Monaco leg last August 29.

He missed four other legs of the Diamond League because he did not get invitations to join.

After EJ was able to clear a height of 5.45 meters, the elder Obiena believes that his son can clear a higher height as time goes by.

“Simula sa 5.45 meters ay magandang senyales iya na nakakapa na niya ang dati niyang galaw,” said Emerson.

Currently ranked no. 16 in the world, EJ is travelling from his home base at the CONI Athletics Training Center in Formia, Italy with his coach Vitali Petrov and his training partner, and Rio Olympics champion Thiago Braz of Brazil.

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Nadal returns; Djokovic eyes redemption in Rome meet ROME—Rafael Nadal returns to competition after a six-month enforced break while Novak Djokovic is looking to make up for his US Open disqualification as the short clay-court season got underway in Rome on Monday without spectators.

The tournament at Rome’s Foro Italico normally takes place in May but was pushed back after the coronavirus pandemic which turned the calendar upside down.

“Obviously, it’s not the same thing.

There is no public, we are in a bubble, we cannot enjoy the city,” said Nadal, who will play his first competitive match since his win in Acapulco at the end of February.

“But at least we have a tennis tournament.”

Nadal, 34, is the second seed behind world number one Djokovic in the tune-up for the final Grand Slam of the season at the French Open on September 27.

“Excited to be back. Circumstances have been, you know, heavy for everyone, tough ones,” said Nadal who is targeting a tenth title in the Roman capital.

Professional tennis was shut down from March until early August.

And the world number two opted out of the US hard court tour because of coronavirus concerns and citing the “madness” of the new calendar.

“Without regret,” he insisted before his second round tie midweek against 27th-ranked compatriot Pablo Carreno Busta, who reached the semi-finals of the US Open.

“I am similar to always, maybe a little bit worse because I didn’t compete for the last six months.

“But here I am. I arrived with plenty of time to try to have the right practices. That’s what I am doing. I know I have a tough match against Pablo. He’s playing great.”

“It’s going to be a good test. I’m excited about going back to the competition without big expectations.”

But third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas does not believe the lack of competition will have an impact on two-time defending champion Nadal who has a 61-6 record in the tournament.

“I don’t think Rafa will be struggling much playing here,” said Tsitsipas.

“Regardless of how he feels, I’m sure he’ll find a way. He always finds a way every single year.” AFP

FIA investigating Hamilton for Breonna Taylor t-shirt MUGELLO—Formula One’s ruling body is reported to be considering action against world champion Lewis Hamilton after he wore a t-shirt highlighting police brutality at Sunday’s Tuscan Grand Prix.

The six-time world champion and series leader, who won the race, wore a t-shirt bearing a message that said “Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor” before and after the race, during an anti-racism ceremony and television interviews.

A spokesperson for the International Motoring Federation (FIA) told the BBC that the case against Hamilton is “under active consideration”.

Hamilton had previously worn a “Black Lives Matter” t-shirt at every race without any comment from the FIA. Taylor, a 26-year-old black woman, was shot by police in Kentucky in March. She was a medical worker and was killed in her own home.

Winner Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton, wearing a shirt with the message “Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor,” reacts on the podium after the Tuscany Formula One Grand Prix at the Mugello circuit in Scarperia e San Piero. AFP

The FIA rules state that drivers are not to use advertising that is “political or religious in nature of that is prejudicial to the interests of the FIA”.

Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka, the US Open champion, also brought Taylor’s death to public attention when she wore a face mask with her name on it at the New York tournament.

“It took me a long time to get that shirt and I’ve been wanting to wear it and bring awareness to the fact that there’s people that have been killed on the street and there’s someone that got killed in her own house, and they’re in the wrong house, and those guys are still walking free,” said Hamilton after his 90th career victory on Sunday.

“We can’t rest. We have to continue to raise awareness with it. And Naomi’s been doing amazing, so huge congratulations to her. She is an incredible inspiration with what she has done with her platform.” AFP

MILO BEST Center resumes via online form THE long-running basketball program MILO-BEST Center evolves into an online form, as it now resumes its cage clinics through virtual method starting Sept. 26.

Three online programs have been lined up by the 42-year-old training academy in partnership with the country’s leading beverage brand, bannered by BEST Center’s staple platform of Interactive Basketball Clinic to be handled by the country’s top notch and competent coaches around.

MILO Sports Executive Luigi Pumaren, BEST Center Executive Vice President Monica Jorge, and BEST Center product and MILO ambassadress Ella Fajardo announced the long-awaited resumption of the premier sports academy Tuesday at the Philippine Sportswriters

Association online Forum.

“We believe that even if we’re in this pandemic situation, we still have to be active, to be healthy. So we have developed programs for that,” said Jorge, daughter of the late BEST Center founder and former national coach Nic Jorge in the session presented by San Miguel Corp., Go For Gold, MILO, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., and powered by Smart, with Upstream Media as official webcast partner.

“We recognize the need to adapt to innovation, and by doing so, we are able to bring our expertise to a wider audience so that more kids will have the opportunity to develop their skills with our trusted mentors.”

Kiefer Ravena, MILO ambassador

and a BEST Center graduate like Fajardo, was supposed to join the weekly session, but a last-minute change in his workout schedule with NLEX prevented him from appearing in the program.

Pumaren, son of champion mentor Franz Pumaren, who is now with Ad amson University, said the resumption of the BEST Center is the latest sport to be included in the MILO Home Court program launched last August with the holding of online classes in karate and taekwondo.

“We have expanded our MILO Home Court program with the BEST Center to help and show kids that their dreams and aspirations can still be pursued,” he said.

The 17-year-old Fajardo is expected to share her experience with MILO-BEST through its other program called BIDA

PSA Forum hosts Randy Caluag and Judith Caringal with MILO Sports Executive Luigi Pumaren, BEST Center Executive Vice President Monica Jorge, and BEST Center product and MILO ambassadress Ella Fajardo

Best, an online webcast where she will and Dave Ildefonso, Andrei Caracut, be joined by other BEST Center alumni Chris Tiu, and two-time PBA MVP such as Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Sean Benjie Paras.

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Sports

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2020

New father McIlroy faces toughest test ONG KONG—Rory McIlroy will play his first major as a dad at the US Open this week, after his wife Erica gave birth to daughter Poppy on August 31, and now he can join in the baby talk with plenty of his rivals on course.

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World number one, FedEx Cup champion, PGA Tour player of the year and 2016 US Open champion Dustin Johnson has two sons with partner Paulina Gretzky, five-year-old Tatum and three-year-old River.

Defending champion Gary Woodland has three children with wife Gabby: three-year-old son Jaxson and yearold twin girls, Maddox and Lennox.

McIlroy’s Ryder Cup teammate Tommy Fleetwood, the 2018 US Open runner-up, and partner Clare’s son Franklin will be three at the end of this month.

While fellow Europe star and 2013 US Open champion Justin Rose has Leo, 11, and Lottie, eight, back home in the Bahamas with wife Kate.

And of course McIlroy’s good friend Tiger Woods is a doting dad to 13-yearold daughter Sam and 11-year-old son Charlie—reportedly no mean junior golfer himself—from his previous marriage to Elin Nordegren.

“If you look at fathers in all different sports, golf, tennis, it’s not a new lease of life, but it’s a different perspective,” said McIlroy after practice at the New York course at the weekend.

“It’s your career, but at the end of the day you get to go home to your family, which is the most important thing.”

That perspective just might do the 31-year-old Northern Irish world number four some good as he seeks to end a six-year major drought this

week and lift his second US Open after winning his maiden major at Bethesda way back in 2011.

Treachery afoot This week will mark the sixth US Open at Winged Foot, rated as the most treacherous host of all, with its notorious rough, vast bunkers and multicrested greens so slick that 2006 runner-up Colin Montgomerie regarded them as harder to master than Augusta.

Since it first played host in 1929, only one player has won with a score under par, Fuzzy Zoeller in 1984.

Hale Irwin’s victory in 1974’s “massacre at Winged Foot” saw him finish sevenover—a score that remains the highest to win a major since the word “par” entered the golfing lexicon in 1911.

“They had trouble finding their ankles, much less the golf ball,” said one player that year as a succession of the world’s best lost balls in the rough and watched putts run off the greens.

LOS ANGELES—Denis Gurianov scored a powerplay goal 3:36 into overtime as the Dallas Stars punched their ticket to the 2020 Stanley Cup finals with a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over the Vegas Golden Knights.

Joel Kiviranta also scored a power play goal late in the third period goal to force overtime as the Stars rallied from a 2-0 deficit Monday night to shock the Golden Knights and win the Western Conference final series 4-1.

“We found our game. We scored a goal and that got us going, then the powerplay took over,” said forward Joe Pavelski of the Stars’ eighth come-from-behind win in the postseason.

On the winning goal, Gurianov, 23, took a pass from John Klingberg and hammered a one-timer past Vegas goalie Robin Lehner on the short side that sparked a mob scene celebration with Dallas goalie Anton Khudobin in the middle.

Canada’s Jamie Benn also scored while Khudobin stopped 34 shots for the Stars, who advanced to their first Stanley Cup final since 2000.

Dallas will play either the New York Islanders or the Tampa Bay Lightning for the NHL championship. The Lightning can wrap their series up with a win on Tuesday in the NHL’s quarantine bubble in Edmonton, Alberta. AFP

Cohen acquires New York Mets LOS ANGELES—American hedge fund manager Steven Cohen has agreed to purchase a majority stake in Major League Baseball’s New York Mets, for a reported $2.47 billion.

Cohen has worked out a deal to buy the 95 percent stake in the team from the Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz families.

“I am excited to have reached an agreement with the Wilpon and Katz families to purchase the New York Mets,” the 64-year-old Cohen said on Monday.

Katz is the president of the franchise and Wilpon holds the title of managing partner.

Cohen, an investment tycoon worth over $14 billion, is considered one of the richest men in the country.

The other league owners will have to vote on the approval of the deal. Ownership approval could come as soon as November and is dependent on at least 23 of the current 30 owners signing off on the agreement. AFP

first tee and never gets any easier,” Jack Nicklaus famously said.

He should know. In 1974 on his opening hole of the tournament he had a downhill 25-footer for birdie. He walked off four putts later with a double-bogey six.

Great wall of Dinah With no fans, the massive blue barrier behind the 18th green for the LPGA’s ANA Inspiration at the Dinah Shore course in Rancho Mirage should have been surplus to requirements.

But the ‘Great Wall of Dinah’, which normally fronts a temporary grandstand perched above, was installed anyway and ended up stealing the show at the second women’s major of the year. AFP

English Premier League kicks off on SKYcable FOOTBALL fans in the Philippines will get to see more action as SKYcable brings the all-out return of the English Premier League for free via the cable channel Premier Football this month of September.

Owned and operated by TAP Digital Media Ventures Corp. (TAP DMV), the 24/7 channel is dedicated to showcasing non-stop football games and content, featuring world-class titles such as the EPL, Scottish Premiership, Eredivisie, DFBPokal, Chinese Super League, Barça TV, and Juventus TV. The EPL is considered the top tier international football league headlined by renowned clubs such as Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, reigning champions Liverpool, among others. Matchday 1 begins on September 12, 2020, with a triple header and airs LIVE on Premier Football with the reigning champions Liverpool hosting newly-promoted Leeds in the season opener, while Manchester City and Manchester United will start their season a week later.

With the majority of this season’s matchdays played on Saturdays, fans can spend their evenings watching the live matches on Premier Football and enjoy a whole day of programming on “Premier League Sundays” featuring match replays, previews, and highlights shows.

Premier Football is on free preview until September 30, 2020, on SKYcable.

For non-stop football action, SKYcable and SKY Fiber with All-In Box subscribers can add the channel to their plan for only P299 per month via SELECT. Visit mysky.com.ph/ getpremierfootball to avail.

To know more about SKY, visit mysky.com.ph.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland lines up a putt on the first green during the third round of the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia. AFP

Stars reach 1st Stanley Cup final since 2000

The last time Winged Foot staged the US Open, in 2006, Geoff Ogilvy won without breaking par in any round after one of the wildest finishes ever seen in a major.

A stroke behind were Montgomerie and Phil Mickelson, who both doublebogeyed the 72nd hole when needing a par to win, and Jim Furyk, who missed a five-foot putt to force a playoff.

Someone has bet $45,000 on Mickelson to win this week at odds of 75-1.

If the 50-year-old does complete his career slam at Winged Foot, the payout would be an astronomical $3.375 million. “Hoping for both of us I have a 3 shot lead on 18 tee,” Lefty tweeted.

“The golf course gets tough on the

Tearful Jeremy Lin seeks NBA return after one season in China BEIJING—Jeremy Lin said Tuesday he is leaving the Beijing Ducks after one season in China and wants to return to the NBA, where he sparked the “Linsanity” craze of 2012.

The 32-year-old guard, who as a Toronto Raptors player in 2019 became the first Asian-American to win an NBA championship, signed for Beijing as an unrestricted free agent last year.

Lin helped Beijing reach the semifinals of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league, where they were edged out by eventual champions Guangdong Southern Tigers.

“This decision has really been the hardest in my life,” Lin, who has complained about the rough-house treatment he received in the CBA, told his seven million followers in a video on the Twitter-like Weibo.

“Every morning I would wake up at 4:00 am or 5:00 am, thinking, thinking and thinking all the time.

“In the end, although Shougang (the Ducks) has treated me incred-

THE LINK REY JOBLE BRUCE Bowen may be regarded as one of the best stoppers ever among the wing men who played in the NBA. He was a member of the three-time league champions San Antonio Spurs and shot close to 40-percent shooting from beyond the arc.

But shooting free throws were his Achilles Heel as the 6’7” guard/forward could only average 57.5% shooting from the line throughout his career.

Today, in the PBA, even guards had been struggling shooting from the charity stripe.

Simon Enciso of Alaska is among the top scoring guards, averaging 10.2 points per game, but he was only averaging 63.6-percent from the foul line, quite interesting for someone who has a decent perimeter shooting yet having trouble making a shot when nobody’s guarding him.

ibly well... giving me everything I wanted, in the end, I feel that I still have NBA dreams.

“I still have time to play (there) and I have to chase this.”

Lin began his NBA career with Golden State Warriors in 2010 before his heroics with the New York Knicks in 2012 sparked a frenzy that was dubbed “Linsanity”.

He went on to play for several other NBA teams but has struggled with injury in recent seasons.

Despite that he enjoyed a successful stay in China, where the CBA was suspended for almost five months because of the coronavirus.

Lin averaged 22.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game during the regular season.

“I know that many of my fans have stood by me no matter if I was injured,” he said in the video.

“Why was this decision so difficult?

Yesterday, when I shared this with my family and friends, when I told them I would have to leave China, I cried.” AFP

Beijing Ducks’ Jeremy Lin dribbles the ball during the Chinese Basketball Association match between Beijing Ducks and Guangdong Southern Tigers in Qingdao in China’s eastern Shandong province. Lin, at the center of the “Linsanity” craze in 2012, said on September 15, 2020 that he is leaving the Beijing Ducks after one season in China and wants to return to the NBA. AFP

Magsanoc’s school of free throws Through the years, there has been a decline in free-throw shooting as guards in the PBA had been the all-time leaders in free throw percentages. One of them was Ronnie Magsanoc, who ended up as the fourth overall in the all-time list with an average of 86.2-percent. As steady as he was as a free throw shooter, The Point Laureate was even deadlier when it comes to three-point shooting as he was third in the all-time list.

A PBA Hall of Famer, Magsanoc explained the logic behind the declining averages in free throw shooting as this appeared to become a lost art, particularly for guards, who should give this routine extra attention.

“I guess it’s the allocated extra time to practice free throws,” Magsanoc told The Link. “I’m a believer on you’re getting better on the things that you worked on.”

Small and not as athletic as the other guards, Magsanoc had to find an edge that would make him ahead over his bigger, stronger and more flexible rivals during his 15 seasons of playing in the PBA. “Ako kasi ang routine ko, next to ball

handling is free-throw shooting. ‘Yung three-point shooting ko ‘yung huli. Kasi gustung-gusto ko kapag na-technical ‘yung kalaban, ako ‘yung titira ng free throws. Kasi doon ako nakakapahinga,” added Magsanoc.

Back in the days when free-throw shooting was an art, the PBA even had a contest for the most consistent shooter from the charity stripe. The winner receives a television or a component from a well-known international brand in the same way that a popular restaurant gives away gift certificates each time you crack individual honors during the annual awards.

These prizes would only sweeten the pot, but more importantly for Magsanoc, free throw shooting gave him an edge as percentages played a big factor here. True enough, he used it as a potent weapon. On top of being one of the most dependable guards, he was able to play in three championship teams of Shell and Purefoods before retiring in 2002.

Magsanoc was always up there when it comes to free-throw shooting, but he

also recalled the time he missed out several shots away from winning the component, which went to Ato Agustin, a former MVP, who had been the undisputed free-throw shooting champion for several seasons.

“Naiinis ako noon kay Ato Agustin, kasi halos hindi nagmimintis,” said Magsanoc in jest.

Turning serious, Magsanoc believes it’s high time today’s generation paid more extra time shooting free throws.

“Nasanay kasi ako dati, sa amateur basketball noon, wala namang time out sa dulo. ‘Yung inbound play na hindi nanggaling sa timeout, kukunin mo ‘yun, kasi kailangan kong ibaba ‘yung bola, tapos pa-foulin ka,” added Magsanoc. “Kadalasan ganu’n. ‘Yung sequence na ‘yun, mauulit ‘yun in the last two minutes at least three times. Tumatak na sa isip ko ‘yun.

Kapag hindi ka maka-shoot doon sa anim na free throws, or isa sa apat or isa sa dalawa, puwedeng ikatalo niyo ‘yun.

Paano kung ako yung tatanggap? Nilalagay ko ‘yung sarili ko kung ano ‘yung posible situation.”

Entertainment Even without franchise, ABS-CBN continues to produce new, original content A new drama series featuring power couple Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla is one of the offerings Kapamilya network has lined up for its avid viewers.

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BS-CBN’s main television and radio stations were shut in May when its franchise lapsed, but it didn’t stop the media giant from creating fresh content made available on digital platforms.

In its effort to be “of service to Filipinos,” Kapamilya network continues to bring entertainment, relief, and inspiration to its millions of viewers with new episodes of current TV series, upcoming new programs, new songs, and innovative digital offerings.

“The network remains committed to serve the public even if it was denied a broadcast franchise,” the network said in a statement sent to Manila Standard Entertainment by ABS-CBN’s corporate communications team.

The lineup of shows that ABS-CBN has been preparing was revealed in a video blog on YouTube by ABS-CBN head of TV entertainment Laurenti Dyogi where he talked about ABS-CBN stars being wooed by other media network and talent management agencies.

“It’s a compliment to us because it only proves that Kapamilya stars ay de kalibre talaga at in-demand kaya hinahabol sila ng ibang agencies or management,” he said.

According to the media executive, viewers can expect big projects this year including a new drama series starring Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, Cara Y Cruz topbilled by Julia Barretto, and Walang Hanggang Paalam featuring Angelica Panganiban, Zanjoe Marudo, Paulo Avelino, Jake Cuenca, and Arci Munoz.

“Despite the pandemic and the lack of a broadcast franchise, we never stopped producing programs. Filipinos need fresh content to keep them energized and motivated in these challenging times. We also want to help the economy and produce programs so we can provide jobs to workers and artists,” said Dyogi in his vlog.

Being the first to resume production in June, ABS-CBN has remained the only media company that is showing fresh episodes of all its current teleseryes like FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, Love Thy Woman (which ended on a high note last Friday), A Soldier’s Heart.

It has also launched three new shows, namely Ang Sa Iyo Ay Akin, Paano Kita Mapasasalamatan, and Iba ‘Yan. With strict safety protocols in place, It’s Showtime and ASAP Natin ‘To have also ditched replays and staged live shows featuring musical performances and fun games.

“The great thing about this is everyone is helping one another in this time of crisis. ABS-CBN is very much alive.

In music, ABS-CBN has released numerous collaborations among big recording stars including a song from Darren Espanto, who is currently in Canada, and Jayda, who is based in Manila.

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2020

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EXTRA INTERNATIONAL

Alicia Keys unlocks ‘Love Looks Better’ GLOBAL music superstar Alicia Keys has released her anthemic new single “Love Looks Better,” from her highly-anticipated seventh studio album ALICIA (via RCA Records).

The song -- loud, passionate, and unapologetically vulnerable -- is a high-energy offering from Keys, who was recently crowned the most RIAA-certified R&B artist of the 21st century. The track was co-written and co-produced by Keys, along with OneRepublic frontman and hitmaker Ryan Tedder.

Keys premiered the single with a show-stopping performance during last week’s 2020 NFL Kickoff broadcast, after announcing a $1 billion fund that the NFL league will be contributing to, aimed at supporting Black businesses and communities. Earlier this week, she reflected on her participation in the event with a powerful letter, shared with Billboard, about moving forward and using her platform to provoke conversation and change.

“This song has such an energy! It really talks about how busy we’ve become, how fast we got used to moving, and now we realize that my love looks better on you. It’s time to really be present for each other. It feels like something we can all understand now.

It’s the perfect energy heading into the release of my new album ALICIA,” Keys said.

“It’s a sneaky melody. It’s going to

Alicia Keys releases a new single culled from her upcoming album.`

get caught in your head and you’re not going to be able to stop singing ‘Can we touch for a second / Be us for a second / No matter what I give it to / My love looks better on you,” she added.

Keys plans to bring the new album to life in the summer of 2021, during rescheduled dates of her upcoming ALICIA: The World Tour, originally scheduled for summer 2020 before the global pandemic put a pause on live music gatherings.

The album is a counterpart piece to Keys’ New York Times Best-selling book More Myself: A Journey, which was released in March as the first title on Oprah’s new imprint with Flatiron Books.

Dingdong Dantes wins

at 15th Seoul International Drama Awards

Maymay Entrata plays a key role in the ongoing digital series ‘The Four Bad Boys and Me.’

We continue to make programs, and with us are our artists, Star Magic, the Rise artists of Star Cinema, the Star Hunt management, and other artists managed by PAMI or Professional Artists Managers, Inc,” Dyogi underscored in his vlog with almost 200 thousand views as of this writing.

While tours and festivals are still canceled, music fans can also look forward to virtual concerts in their own

homes, such as Star Events’ APOLLO: A Daniel Padilla Digital Experience on Oct. 11 and MYX’s MYX Presents: Ebe Dancel Digital Concert on Sept. 18.

As cinemas remain closed, ABS-CBN Films has turned to digital to connect with fans and released what would become the most-watched Filipino digital series, Hello Stranger, and scored a breakthrough with the Twitter-trending visual podcast Listen To Love: The Four Bad Boys and Me led

by Maymay Entrata.

Dyogi also named some of the upcoming projects of ABS-CBN Films such as the movie version of Hello Stranger, Angelica’s talk show Ask Angelica, the third installment of Vice Ganda’s MMFF entry Praybeyt Benjamin, Four Sisters Before the Wedding, For the Love of Money headlined

by Angelica and Coco Martin, and a horror movie with Kim Chiu.

Dyogi added that Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano will have an original series in the iWant TFC streaming service, which has produced several originals in recent months, such as Malaya, Beauty Queens, Love Lockdown, Tawa Tawa Together, and Ampalaya Chronicles.

On the Kumu app, ABS-CBN has launched several new shows under its For Your Entertainment (FYE) Channel with a fast-growing community of followers watching Bawal Ma-stress Drilon with Ces Drilon, Ambagets with Sharlene San Pedro and Miles Ocampo, POP Cinema with Bianca Gonzalez and MJ Felipe, and Kwentong Auntie Julie featuring Macoy Averilla or Macoy Dubs.

ABS-CBN also continues its search for budding talents online with Bida Star, Star Hunt’s newest virtual talent competition. Its first winner will win a cash prize and the opportunity to star in their own short feature with a Kapamilya artist.

Apart from digital shows, ABS-CBN Music has also dropped new and original songs that range from romantic to quirky and inspirational. These include “Beautiful,” a devotional song by Ogie Alcasid and Moira Dela Torre, “Balang Araw,” Iñigo Pascual’s hopeful romantic ballad, and “HEAL,” a massive collaboration of Southeast Asian musicians featuring Moira, Jayda, Jona, Kyla, KZ Tandingan, Lesha, and Xela.

New singles from Darren Espanto and Jayda, Kyle Echarri, Elisse Joson, Zephanie, and Kritiko are also available now on various music streaming services.

ACTOR Dingdong Dantes received the prestigious Asian Star Prize at the 15th Seoul International Drama Awards announced via live stream yesterday, Sept. 15.

In his speech, Dingdong dedicated his award to all frontliners and to his fellow Filipinos.

“This award is a tribute to all frontliners in the world – soldiers, healthcare workers, and volunteers,” he shared. “This award is also for my loved ones and all the Filipino people. May we find consolation knowing that our stories are being appreciated especially during these trying times. Again, thank you very much. A snappy salute to you all,” the 40-year-old actor said.

GMA Entertainment Group’s Pinoy adaptation of Descendants of the Sun (DOTS), where Dingdong stars as Captain Lucas Manalo or ‘Big Boss’, was also recently recognized as the Most Popular Foreign Drama of the Year from the award ceremony. It is the first television program in the country to receive recognition from the annual global festival.

The 15th Seoul International Drama Awards was held last Sept. 10 at the MBC headquarters in Sangam-dong, Seoul.

The Seoul International Drama Awards is a yearly festival organized by the Seoul Drama Awards Organizing Committee and Korean Broadcasters Association which brings together all professionals in the field of TV drama production and media industry and global audiences who enjoy television dramas.

Primetime television star Dingdong Dantes

Celebrity Chef Luigi Muhlach connects with Thai food fanatics by preparing a do-ityourself Tom Yum Fried Rice (inset).

Luigi Muhlach whips up DIY Thai gastro favorites EVERYONE misses experiencing the wonders of Amazing Thailand, but here are some #DIYThai recipes by celebrity chef Luigi Muhlach that everyone can recreate.

Muhlach demonstrated how to make gastronomic favorites from the Land of Smiles such as Tom Yum Fried Rice, Tamarind Baby Back Ribs, and Mango Sticky Rice on his Instagram account(@muhlachluigi).

In the videos, Muhlach also invited

his followers to try the recipes for themselves by posting their own rendition of these Thai classic dishes, and tag him and @TATPhilippines.

“As everyone waits for the day people can visit Thailand again, these easy, delicious recipes will give people a taste of Thailand in the comforts of their homes,” Muhlach says.

For more information follow the Tourism Authority of Thailand on Instagram and Facebook @TATPhilippines.

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

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2020

Life FASHION AND BEAUTY

Amateur gamers are invited to G Legends Cup, the biggest Mobile Legends tournament for Globe subscribers.

Globe treats customers on National G Day

SEPTEMBER 17 is a special day for telecommunications company Globe as it signifies its original prefix—0917. Called the National G Day, this year’s celebration goes virtually with online gaming competition, virtual music festival, and business summit, among other surprises.

“We started this (National G Day) way back. It’s our way of treating our customers and our partners for being loyal to us,” Globe president and chief executive Ernest Cu said during a virtual press launch.

‘WORKLEISURE.’ In Good Company’s Capsule 18 pieces (from left) Seattle linen jumpsuit, Poppy reversible cotton jacket, Soho cotton jacket, and Vanessa wrap dress.

Effortlessly ready for virtual meetings

are coming together for the one-day G Music Fest on Sept. 26, 4:00 p.m. The virtual concert, streaming on Globe’s Facebook page, will feature LANY, Ben&Ben, December Avenue, SB19, The Juans, Up Dharma Down, Massiah, and Kiana Valenciano.

Business summit for MSMEs

On Sept. 23, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Globe myBusiness will be hosting its first-ever G Summit, “Usapang Diskarte: Pivot your Business to Success,” in a bid to assist micro, small, and medium enterprises Mobile Legends in running their businesses amid unfamiliar situation. Guest speaktournament A prize pool of P600,000 is up for ers include innovation speakers John grabs in the upcoming G Legends Cup, Linkner, as well as business leaders the biggest amateur Mobile Legends from Google, CIA Bootleg Manila, tournament for Globe subscribers. To and Manila Workshops. be one of the 1,000 teams that will be announced on Sept. 17, go to the Globe Raining raffle prizes Rewards app and redeem tournament Globe customers can now get their codes. After receiving a tournament raffle codes from Globe Rewards or code, participants need to go to globe. Globe at Home apps, or exchange com.ph/NationalGDay to register. The their rewards points for raffle codes final round is scheduled on Sept. 24, for more chances of winning at the G and the top 64 teams will be awarded Chance the Raffle. Prizes include 5G with cash prizes. smartphones, Nintendo Switch gaming consoles, Segway Ninebot, Xiaomi Virtual music festival Mi Box, Globe Rewards points, GCash Local and international musicians credits, and more. Bernadette Lunas

By Steph Llarena

V

ERSATILE is king; relaxed is queen. When it comes to today’s fashion, clothes that let wearers present themselves professionally while allowing them to move around comfortably at home or for a quick run outside are getting all the love.

The term “workleisure” comes to mind in the latest collection of Singapore-based label In Good Company.

The Capsule 18 collection features “versatile, effortless pieces perfect for virtual meetings, a day in the office, running errands, or day-to-day wear.”

From the label known for its designs that put a twist into classic silhouettes, Capsule 18 consists of feminine dresses with soft shapes and fresh colors, sophisticated tops with stylish detailing, and jackets that can be easily throw in for that added edge.

“Featuring modern tailoring with a dash of femininity, each piece can in-

Comfortable and versatile Saville stretch cotton top and Dahlia linen tiered top.

stantly upgrade a woman’s look as she navigates through the new normal,” the brand said in a statement.

These new workwear pieces are available at In Good Company stores on the 2nd level of SM Makati, R1 Level of Powerplant Mall in Rockwell, and

in its pop-up store at SM Aura Premier. Metro Manila residents can shop through the label’s Call to Deliver/ Pick-Up service. Contact its stores at SM Makati (0917-625-6622), SM Aura Premier (0917-571-7308), and Powerplant Mall (0917-895-1374) to order.

Watch LANY, Ben&Ben, SB19 and more at G Music Fest on Sept. 26.

The perfect fragrance based on your zodiac sign FRAGRANCE is a personal thing—it’s an expression of oneself Gemini (May 21 - June 20) and a way to make a lasting first impression. A signature scent You are determined to keep your is something that encapsulates you personality, strengths, hopes, days productive. Feeling accomplished and depths of inner being—or basically what your zodiac sign is something that matters a lot to you, describes as who you are. therefore you never shy away from responsibilities.

Aquarius Channel your inner superhero with (January 20 - February 18) Disney’s Marvel Adult Collection: the You are one who is concerned about Iron Man eau de toilette is infused with the people around you. You have a warm notes of apple, bergamot, cinnamon, heart that seeks to reach out for the betand cedar; while the Captain America terment of others. You are bold with features notes of vanilla, orange, petitgrain, and bergamot. your words, carefree with your actions, and rooted in your principles.

Cancer (June 21 - July 22) L’eau Kenzo Pour Homme Hyper You are highly intuitive. You Wave’s modern aquatic aromatic fraeasily read and sense people’s grance matches your passion for life. feelings, including your own. You have a good grasp of everything Pisces (February 19 - March 20) that’s going on around you, which You often find yourself daydreaming enables you to be bold about your and dissociating from reality. You are own self-expression and mysterian imaginative soul, which makes you a ous with things that you prefer to powerful creative and storyteller. keep to yourself.

Unleash the side that you have kept hidMade with black pepper, pomelo, and nutmeg, GUESS Seductive den with Givenchy L’Interdit’s intense Noir for Men encapsulates your personality. and airy scent.

Leo (July 23 - August 22)

Aries (March 21 - April 19) Always competitive, ambitious, and bold, you never settle for less. You know your strengths very well, which enables you to use your self-awareness to your advantage in any given situation.

Your goal is to always give your best in everything—to be No. 1.

Dunhill ICON Racing, infused with Italian bergamot, grapefruit, and cardamom, embodies a fresh aroma for men on the move.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20) As one who enjoys the sweet serenity of nature’s amazing landscapes, waters, and aromas, quarantine has certainly been tough on you.

Cozy up at home to scintillating ylangylang flowers in every bottle of 1902 Ylang and Fleur de Sel by Berdoues.

You have high expectations and a good appetite for the spotlight. You are not afraid to speak your mind to protect and guard the people you love, and you easily inspire others without even noticing it.

Vera Wang Princess brings forth female empowerment with its floral, oriental fruity fragrance.

Virgo (August 23 - September 22) You love to keep things in order according to your own systemic approach. You are logical, practical, and rich with talent.

Although you may disagree, you are a perfectionist; nonetheless you manage to keep your expectations realistic and your standards attainable.

L’eau Kenzo Pour Femme Hyper Wave’s iconic lotus flower scent and pink grapefruit note is a fragrance with a strong personality.

Libra (September 23 - October 22) Harmony and symmetry plays a huge role in the way you manage your days.

You have a good grasp of your personality, which enables you to always respond with decency and appropriateness.

Givenchy Gentleman Boisée features a woody-floral-spicy fragrance that reveals your captivating and sensual character.

Scorpio (October 23 - November 21) You are one with strong passions and emotions. As one who knows yourself very well, you have the ability to channel your joys, frustrations, hopes, and dreams into your craft.

You know how to use your strengths and weaknesses to your advantage though it may be hard at times.

GUESS Seductive Noir for Women’s warm floral scent succinctly expresses your personality.

Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21) You are a seeker for knowledge and wisdom. In everything you do or go through, you aspire to be better in your understanding of how the world works and how everything relates to each other. You are a person of adventure and you always make every second count.

GUESS 1981 Los Angeles Woman captures that sense of adventure with its succulent mélange of red currant, juicy mandarin, and a touch of pear.

Capricorn (December 22 - January 19) You are ambitious, adventurous, and calm. You don’t easily get intimidated by the things that threaten to impede your goals. You know how to navigate around unfavorable circumstances and turn it around to your advantage.

The fresh aquatic scent of Nautica Voyage fuels you to actively pursue your dreams without compromise.