Manila Standard - 2021 January 23 - Saturday

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16 more UK strain cases in PH 12 cases of new variant in Bontoc, NBI to trace 2 more in Dubai flight

By Dave Leprozo, Willie Casas and Rio N. Araja

S

IXTEEN more cases of the UK strain of COVID-19 were detected in the Philippines, the Department of Health said late Friday evening.

Twelve of the 16 were recorded in Bontoc, Mountain Province, Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey said in a statement posted in the municipality’s Facebook page.

The DOH said two are overseas Filipino workers returning from Lebanon who were aborad Philippine Airlines Flight PR 8661. The first case is a 64year old female whose indicated local address is Jaro, Iloilo City. The patient was isolated in San Juan, Metro Manila and discharged on January 9. The other is a 47-year old Filipina whose reported local address is Binangonan, Rizal and was quarantined in New Clark City and discharged from isolation on January 13.

The remaining two are from La Trinidad in Benguet and Calamba in Laguna.

“Both have no known contact to any confirmed case or travel history from outside the country. One is currently admitted in a Benguet Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facility, while the 23-year-old male in Laguna has been discharged after receiving a negative result on January 16,” the DOH said in a statement.

These brought to 17 the number of COVID-19 infections found to be of the more transmissible UK variant.

MASSACRE MEMORIES. Farmers

and militant groups on Friday stage a protest rally along Mendiola, Manila to commemorate the 34th anniversary of the Mendiola Massacre where 14 farmers were killed in 1987. Norman Cruz

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COVID-19 PH

BIDEN TAKES ON HUNGER CRISIS

Story on B2

AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM JANUARY 22)

509,887

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 319 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IATF relaxes age restrictions in MGCQ areas

NEW ID. President Rodrigo

Duterte shows a newly printed National Identification Card following his submission in the registration process for the ID System administered by the Philippine Statistics Authority at the Malacañang Palace on January 21, 2021. Duterte signed the national ID system into law in August 2018, seeking to establish a single national ID for all Filipinos and resident foreigners.

Presidential Photo

TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

2,178 32,126 NEW

ACTIVE

10,136

20

467,720

250

DEATHS

By Othel V. Campos, Willie Casas and Vito Barcelo

RECOVERIES

THE Palace announced Friday the easing of age restrictions in areas under a modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), where people aged 10 to 65 years will be allowed to leave their homes starting Feb. 1.

Previously, only those aged 15 to 65 years living in MGCQ areas were allowed to go out.

The decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) said areas under a general community quarantine (GCQ) like Metro Manila could decide whether or not to follow the relaxed age restrictions.

IATF vice chairman and Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the easing of age restrictions would help revive the Next page

NEW

NEW

Simplify rules on donations, senators insist

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel Cruz SENATOR Panfilo M. Lacson on Friday sought simplified procedures for the entry of donated COVID-19 vaccines, especially those with emergency use authorization (EUA) from countries or territories with stringent

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Galvez to senator: No compromise on sea claim

By Macon Ramos-Araneta VACCINE czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the government would not compromise its claim on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) after Senator Risa Hontiveros sought assurances that there would be no quid pro quo for getting Chinese COVID-19 vaccines.

“In this pandemic, the global interest of

the global commons is really to save humanity so all countries rallied to support each other. That’s the context we are looking at, that every country wanted to halt our global pandemic,” Galvez told senators during the resumption of the Senate hearing on the government’s COVID-19 vaccine acquisition program.

Galvez said the selection and procurement of the COVID-19 vaccines will be determined through a science-based process and the recommendation of the vaccine expert

New Bond movie pushed back anew to October 2021 MUCH-delayed James Bond movie “No Time To Die” was postponed again due to the pandemic Thursday, with studio MGM confirming 007’s next mission will not take place until October.

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panel (VEP) as well as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

He added that the government adheres to the concept of equitable access, and the safety and efficacy of the vaccine.

“And at the same time, we are looking at the global interest of really putting an end to this pandemic. This is a world menace, the differences that we have, maybe we have to set this aside so that we can rally, that’s my point, to rally behind saving humanity,” Galvez Next page

JAB GAB. Senate President Vicente Sotto III shows a message in his cellular phone to vaccine

czar SecretarY Carlito Galvez Jr. before the start of the discussions on the government’s COVID-19 vaccination program on Friday, January 22, 2021. Alex Nueva España

Wuhan nightlife back with a vengeance G LOW-in -the - dark rabbit ears, pulsating beats, and a flexible attitude to masks: nightlife in China’s Wuhan is back with a vengeance almost a year after a lockdown brought life to a standstill in the city of 11 million.

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IBP: Defense can scrap UP deal on its own

By Rey E. Requejo and Maricel V. Cruz THE Integrated Bar of the Philippines said Friday the agreement between the University of the Philippines and the Department of National Defense did not obstruct law enforcers

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News

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2021

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Pass stimulus bill, solon urges

By Maricel V. Cruz

A

LAWMAKER from Bicol appealed Friday to the Senate to help boost economic-stimulus spending by passing a Houseapproved measure anchored on much higher infrastructure investments to jumpstart the economic recovery and accelerate its bounce back from the coronavirus-driven global recession.

Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte made the call amid the increasing likelihood of a slow recovery for the Philippines.

He expressed the hope that senators would consider and pass its version of the COVID-19 Unemployment Reduction Economic Stimulus (CURES) bill.

The House passed in June 2020 the CURES substitute measure—House Bill 6920—which proposes a three-year P1.5-trillion stimulus program, to ramp

up state spending on health, education, agriculture, local roads, livelihood, information and communication technology and tourism infrastructure.

Villafuerte said: “In light of the somber forecasts by various international financial institutions that the Philippine economy is heading for a slow recovery, partly because of the government’s relatively smaller fiscal stimulus package, I am appealing to our senators to consider passing the House-approved CURES bill

Simplify...

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regulatory agencies.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, for his part, urged local government units to coordinate their vaccine procurement with the national government to avoid excessive supply in what he described as “panic-buying” from different pharmaceutical firms.

The senators made the call during the third hearing of the Senate, convening as a Committee of the Whole, on the government’s vaccination program.

Lacson said simplifying the procedures is critical because there are many associations abroad that may donate vaccines to their sister-cities in the Philippines.

“Would it not be more practical to ensure the goods reach the intended recipients directly under strict supervision and guidance by health authorities, instead of coursing the goods through the Department of Health and having the DOH distribute them?” he said.

“Besides, many local government units like Baguio City already have their own cold storage facilities for the vaccines, as their local leaders had the foresight to act accordingly,” he said.

Allowing such donated vaccines to go directly to the LGUs instead of having to go through the logistical requirements of the DOH and InterAgency Task Force on COVID-19, Lacson said, would also avoid the prospect of double handling and additional costs.

The senator pointed out the pandemic involves an emergency where authorities cannot afford to have vaccines go through the bureaucratic processes.

“The point of my question is that we should find ways to simplify instead of complicate things,” he said.

In the House of Representatives, Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon filed a bill seeking to exempt vaccines and other essential medical supplies from import duties, taxes, and other fees during public health emergencies.

Biazon, a former Customs commissioner, noted that some critical medical products, essential goods, equipment and supplies needed to address public health emergencies may have to be imported and that any impediment could affect their availability and accessibility to the people.

“Government must willingly give up these revenue sources as it will redound to more lives saved,” Biazon said.

At a hearing conducted early this week by the House committee on health, vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. asked lawmakers to include in the third Bayanihan law (Bayanihan 3) a provision to exempt the procurement of vaccines from tariffs and custom duties.

Biazon’s HB 8375 exempts the importation of critical medical products, essential goods, equipment and supplies from import duties, taxes, and other fees when a public health emergency is declared. The exemption will only be valid for the duration of the public health emergency.

“Contact tracing was immediately initiated to contain the spread of the infection. Investigation is also underway to identify these cases’ exposure and travel histories,” the DOH said.

Of the additional 16 cases with B.1.1.7 variant detected, three have already recovered while 13 are active cases, three of which are asymptomatic and 10 are exhibiting mild symptoms.

The department said of the 12 cases in Bontoc, seven are male and five are female. Three are aged below 18 years old while three are above 60.

“The Bontoc LGU urges everyone to intensify adherence to basic health protocols. Lockdown is still in effect. Rest assured that the LGU is doing its best to help deter further spread,” Odsey said.

The DOH said earlier Friday it had sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation in locating two more passengers of the same Dubai-Manila flight that brought home the Filipino man considered as the country’s first case of the new and more transmissible variant.

“We will be providing these two names to the NBI through the Department of Justice today para lang mahanap natin (so we could find them),” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said during a virtual briefing.

Vergeire said the NBI, the country’s premier law enforcement agency, might be able to locate the two passengers from

New Bond...

From A1 The release of the 25th installment of the fictional British spy saga has already been pushed back multiple times.

It was originally set for a London premiere last March, before that was pushed back to November by the global spread of COVID-19.

With coronavirus still sweeping the globe and thousands of movie theaters shuttered again due to lockdowns, the film’s next April 2021 release dates have now also been abandoned.

“NO TIME TO DIE, the 25th film in

IBP:...

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This coincided with a push by some legislators for the adoption of a resolution urging the leadership of the House of Representatives to call on the Department of National Defense to respect its agreement with the University of the Philippines.

Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Michael Defensor said the proposed resolution would appeal to the DND to reconsider the termination of the 1989 accord which prohibits soldiers and policemen from entering the premises of UP campuses without prior notice to the university.

IBP president Domingo Egon Cayosa said in a statement.”The U.P.-DND accord does not and should not hinder legitimate law enforcement and security operations as the agreement specifically provides that ‘nothing herein shall be construed as a prohibition against the enforcement of the laws of the land,’” Cayosa also cited UP’s institutional autonomy as a national university under Republic Act 9500 or the UP Charter.

However, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana unilaterally terminated the accord purportedly to protect students from alleged communist recruitment.

Various sectors denounced the action of the DND, saying it threatened the freedom that made the university a safe space for protests for decades.

Major General Edgard Arevalo, spokesman for the military, defended the DND action, saying the pact was contrary to public interest for requiring the James Bond series, previously set to release April 2, 2021 will now release on October 8, 2021 – wide,” MGM said in a statement to AFP. The film directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga (“Beasts of No Nation,” “True Detective”) is expected to be Craig’s last outing as the suave British spy, after starring in four previous films.

It sees Bond drawn out of retirement in Jamaica by his old friend and CIA agent Felix Leiter.

Rami Malek (“Bohemian Rhapsody”) plays Bond’s adversary Safin, while Lashana Lynch, Lea Seydoux, Ana de Armas and Ben Whishaw also star. AFP

in order to reset the stalled economy back on its pre-COVID-19 high-growth path and serve as an initial booster as well for President Duterte’s new initiative— Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) program—to decongest Metro Manila by creating a lot more infrastructure jobs in the countryside.”

Villafuerte also authored HB 6970, which aims to fast-track the implementation of Duterte’s BP2 program by establishing township revitalization programs to entice businesses to relocate to the countryside and thus encourage people to return to their home provinces and get jobs there.

He pointed out that the CURES stimulus package aimed to blunt the impact of what the International Monetary Fund last year described as the worst global recession since the Great Depression in the 1930s by resetting eco-

nomic activity and creating so many jobs in the countryside.

“CURES will at the same time boost President Duterte’s BP2 program by encouraging city dwellers to return to their home provinces amid the prospects of more employment and livelihood opportunities in the regions outside the national capital,” he added.

“It is also meant to encourage people in the provinces to stay put and get newly available jobs there instead of relocating to Metro Manila in search of better livelihood opportunities.”

With infrastructure investments having the highest multiplier effect on the economy, Villafuerte said “the House passed the CURES bill in June 2020 to dramatically raise state spending on HEAL IT projects and thereby spur the domestic economy’s quick recovery from the coronavirus pandemic’s economic fallout.”

Metro Manila through their database.

They are the only ones left among 159 passengers, who arrived from the United Arab Emirates on Jan. 7, who have not been traced by authorities.

“Let’s see if we can find them through this kind of process,” Vergeire said, adding the two could not be reached with the contact details they had given.

One wrote using a telephone number from abroad while the other could have written a wrong number.

The two passengers may have put the city and village they lived in but there was no house number or street name provided in the contact form, she added.

On Thursday night, a passenger of the same flight was found by police in Central Visayas.

“We are having difficulty in locating them but we are doing everything to find them,” the health official said.

Finding patient zero’s contacts during the flight is critical to prevent the spread of the more contagious coronavirus strain.

To date, 14 contacts of the index case of the UK coronavirus variant tested positive for the virus: 12 were passengers of the same flight, including the man’s girlfriend, one relative and a health care worker.

Authorities have yet to determine what strain of the virus they had contracted.

Vergerie said they were in talks with other national agencies on how to further improve the country’s contact tracing system.

Under Republic Act 11332 or Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health

Concern Act, non-cooperation of persons and entities that should report and respond to notifiable diseases or health events of public concern or those having the notifiable disease are prohibited.

Violators may face jail term of not more than 6 months and fine of up to P50,000 or both./Willie Casas Meanwhile, the Quezon City government said the resident who tested positive for the UK coronavirus disease 2019 variant had tested negative based on his latest swab test.

Dr. Rolly Cruz, City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit chief, said the doctors at the Hope quarantine facility where the 29-year-old patient was staying would make a final assessment before he would be declared fully recovered.

“After that, he would be allowed to reunite with his family and reintegrate with the community,” he said. But the patient would still remain under strict health monitoring for at least two weeks.

Mayor Joy Belmonte warned the community against discrimination, saying it was punishable under the city’s existing anti-discrimination ordinance.

“At this point, let us not give discrimination a place in ourselves because it will do us no good, and that would only aggravate the situation,” she said.

“Instead of getting disgusted, let us show our love to them and let them feel that we are happy that they have recovered,” she added.

The UK COVID-19 patient returned to the Philippines from Dubai with his girlfriend on Jan. 7.

state forces to notify UP officials before conducting operations in campus, an extra step that he said might make them lose their suspects.

The UP Diliman’s Department of Chemical Engineering bewailed Arevalo’s statement, saying the military should “refrain from issuing hypothetical statements absent of any factual basis.”

Cayosa said the DND could legally terminate the accord, but that prior consultation with UP would have been “more ideal.”

When asked on whether UP could challenge the termination, Cayosa replied: “They can go to court but chances are slim.”

The IBP executive stressed that it may “not be practical or wise to force another agency to remain in an agreement” if it no longer wants to.

Nonetheless, Cayosa insisted that academic freedom, a right guaranteed by the Constitution, should be enjoyed in UP with or without the agreement with the DND. “Diverse groups, including those who oppose the government, conduct recruitment in U.P. as they do in many other schools. Nevertheless, what truly impels and fuels dissent is not U.P. or its tradition of critical thinking and activism but the injustice, corruption, incompetence, abuse and oppression, poverty or hopelessness that citizens may experience or discern,” he said.

“Academic freedom, freedom of expression and association, due process, privacy, and other fundamental rights are guaranteed by the Philippine Constitution. These basic rights cannot be

taken away by the unilateral scrapping of an agreement for operational coordination,” the IBP president added.

Reps. Kit Belmonte of Quezon City and Stella Quimbo of Marikina City joined the initiative, according to Defensor. The three lawmakers are members of UP alumni.

“The 1989 accord should be respected, and in fact, should be reinstated. I appeal to the Department of National Defense, Secretary [Delfin] Lorenzana, to let UP exercise its academic freedom,” Defensor said.

Earlier, Belmonte filed House Bill 8443 or the Academic Freedom Act of 2021, institutionalizing state universities and colleges as freedom spaces.

Belmonte said the bill aimed to declare schools and state universities and colleges (SUCs) as freedom spaces where academic freedom is guaranteed. It also recognizes that SUCs shall exercise full acts of ownership over their properties, which would require coordination with and authorization from school administrations for the state to conduct security operations within the school premises.

Under the bill, no permit should be required by the national or local government for any person or persons to organize and hold a public assembly in SUCs. The bill also prescribes that uniformed personnel should also not interfere with peaceful protest action by SUC constituents within SUC premises.

The bill reiterates the provision in the UP-DND accord that uniformed personnel cannot conduct any operation inside these academic institutions without prior coordination with their officials.

Wuhan...

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the dancefloor amid the deafening sound of techno and a blinding laser show, the rules are not always so strictly followed.

While masks are obligatory at the door, DJs and partygoers take them off to chat with friends, dance, or smoke.

Many are just happy to find themselves out on the town after last year’s gruelling quarantine, imposed to battle what was then a mysterious new virus.

“I was stuck inside for two or three months... the country fought the virus very well, and now I can go out in complete tranquility,” a man in his thirties, who identified himself as Xu, told AFP. The hedonistic vibes and cham-

As the rest of the world continues to grapple with lockdowns and soaring infections, young people in the city, once the epicentre of the novel coronavirus, are enjoying their hard-earned freedom.

In Super Monkey – a huge nightclub in the city center – there is no dress code or VIP list.

What is obligatory, at least to get through the door, is a mask and a temperature check – any higher than 37.3 degrees Celsius and bouncers can turn prospective partygoers away.

Inside, where clubbers let loose on

IATF...

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“Based on the survey that we had, retail activities can easily bounce back to double or triple sales if children, 10 years to 14 years, are allowed to visit malls and other retail establishments with parents,” he said.

He said the movement restrictions during the holiday season dampened consumers’ appetite and contributed to the slowdown in retail activities, which went back to a lockdown level of 20 percent from 70 percent in October-November 2020.

Lopez said the slow retail sales could cause another spike in unemployment numbers.

“We’re still a long way from the pre-COVID unemployment rate of 5 percent. Right now, unemployment is at 8.7 percent. We do not want retail woes to lead to mass lay-offs,” he said.

Lopez said the decline in COVID-19 cases was one reason the IATF relaxed age restrictions.

In GCQ areas, the IATF has given the prerogative to local government units to decide on their own if they are inclined to ease age restrictions, depending on the situation on ground.

“Just a reminder to everybody, we are relaxing protocols to expand the coverage of those allowed outside of home access but let us continue to be strict on our protocol on face masks and face shields,” Lopez said.

He added that the Philippines, unlike other countries, has never had another surge.

“Let’s keep that way. We just need to follow the protocols and continue the reopening of sectors so we can hasten economic recovery,” he said.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, meanwhile, said Metro Manila mayors would be consulted on the easing of age restrictions.

She said the IATF’s decision to ease age-based restrictions was to balance health and the economy.

The Department of Trade and Industry has been pushing to allow minors to go out of their homes to increase demand and family consumption, thereby helping in economic recovery.

The Philippines logged 2,178 new cases of COVID-19 Friday, the highest in two months, bringing the total to 509,887, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.

The country has been logging fewer than 2,000 cases this week, except on Monday.

Health authorities had expected a rise in cases after the bustle of activity over the holidays. The country is also on alert for the new, more contagious COVID-19 variant, with one confirmed case so far who has just recovered.

The DOH reported 20 new fatalities, bringing the death toll to 10,136, which is 1.99 percent of the total cases.

The DOH also reported 250 newlyrecovered patients, bringing the total number of recoveries to 467,720, which is 91.7 percent of the total.

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Galvez earlier said the government will go through stringent regulatory procedures to ensure transparency and accountability in the selection, procurement, and administration of COVID-19 vaccines.

Hontiveros said the country’s strategic goals and foreign policy objectives should not be compromised by the purchase of Chinese vaccines.

“While we will buy Chinese vaccines or receive donations and gifts from China, we should not set aside our rights over the West Philippine Sea,” she said.

Until now, she said, even though the international community has collectively rejected Beijing’s claims on the WPS, China remains resolute in asserting its illegal ownership of the country’s territories.

She also observed that the public seemed to have a low confidence in vaccines coming from China, even though the Palace is pushing them. pagne on ice are far from the austerity preached by authorities in Beijing.

But Chen Qiang, a man in his 20s, praised the Communist Party for having practically eliminated the epidemic, despite a recent surge in cases in other parts of the country in the past few days.

“The Chinese government is good.

The Chinese government does everything for its people, and the people are supreme. It is different from foreign countries,” he said.

Beijing’s state media has hammered home the failure of Western governments to tackle the virus, contrasting the chaos abroad with China’s return to normal. AFP

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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MMDA facility to be vaccination center

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority is planning to convert its quarantine facility to a national vaccination center to help the government roll out its vaccination program next month.

THE TRAINS RETURN. Commuters observe social distancing and other health protocols while waiting for the train at the LRT Line-2 Santolan station in Pasig City on Friday morning. The

Santolan, Katipunan and Anonas stations were suspended for more than a year after a power transformer caught fire between the Anonas and Katipunan stations in October 2019. Norman Cruz

ARMM special Three LRT-2 stations now back in operation audit welcomed

By Maricel V. Cruz A LAWMAKER from Mindanao on Friday welcomed the special audit requested by the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on some infrastructure projects of the now-defunct ARMM. At the same time, Deputy Speaker and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman renewed his call for an exhaustive midterm review of the BARMM transition period before discussing the possibility of an extension.

“The call for a special audit proves the importance for us to conduct a midterm review of both the BARMM and ARMM, para malaman natin kung may problema nga ba sa ARMM and to identify the challenges and hurdles experienced by the transition leadership in project implementation and see where we can plug these holes and help,” Hataman, former regional governor of the ARMM, said, adding he will give auditors his “full support and cooperation.”

“As I have said, I am not against the extension. But I feel it is not wise to blindly decide to extend without looking at the very reasons for the call of extension and present concrete plans at addressing them.

If we do not have a clear roadmap, how are we able to assess what is lacking and what is needed?” he said.

Hataman earlier urged the leadership of the House of Representatives to exercise its power of congressional oversight and conduct a midterm review of the implementation of Republic Act 11054, or the Bangsamoro Organic Law, and the peace agreement that brought about the creation of BARMM. The Bangsamoro Transition Authority had earlier pushed for an extension of its expiration from 2022 to 2025, or three years more.

Bill seeks stop in premium rates

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Christopher Go, chair of the Senate Committee on Health, has filed Senate Bill 2000 that seeks to grant the President of the Philippines the authority to suspend the scheduled increase in the premium contribution rates of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.

“Let us first focus to help our needy to survive the COVID-19 crisis. During this time, we have to address their needs first,” Go said.

“Especially now that our country is facing a health emergency, our people are incapable of giving additional contributions due to the crisis. Nawawalan ng kakayahan ang mga Pilipinong magbigay ng dagdag na kontribusyon dahil sa krisis. In this time of crisis, every single peso counts!”

In line with this, Go has urged the national government to shoulder first the necessary funding to implement the Universal Health Care Law while the majority of Filipinos are still overcoming the adverse effects of the COVID-19 crisis on their livelihoods and the whole economy.

SBN 2000 would authorize the President to suspend, upon the recommendation of the PhilHealth Board, the increase in premium contributions when public interest so requires, such as times of national or public health emergencies. The increase and all succeeding increases will be implemented in the year following the cessation of the emergency.

THE Santolan, Anonas and Katipunan stations of the Light Rail Transit Line 2 were back in operation on Friday after over a year of repair works.

In a Facebook post on Friday, the Light Rail Transit Authority, the operator and maintenance provider of the LRT-2, spokesperson Hernando Cabrera announced the resumption of operation of the three stations.

In October 2019, the power transformers between the Anonas and Katipunan stations and in the Santolan depot

tripped and led to a fire that damaged the LRT-2’s power rectifier stations in the area, resulting in the closing of the three stations.

In an earlier statement, LRTA Administrator Reynaldo Berroya said “all appropriate tests” were conducted to confirm the stability and reliability of the provisional power supply for the reopening of the affected stations.

He said the LRTA’s Safety and Security Division, Engineering section, contractor and consultants all recommended

the reopening of the three stations after conducting all necessary works and tests, and met the required parameters for “safe and reliable operations.”

Despite the repair works already accomplished and the reopening of the entire rail line, Berroya appealed to passengers to allot “additional hours” in their travel as the wait between trains will take an average of 14 minutes due to a speed restriction of 30 kilometers per hour as the trains approach the Anonas station.

MMDA chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr. said the 800-square meter facility will be turned into a COVID-19 vaccination center that will help expedite the distribution and administration of the vaccines once they are available.

“The MMDA quarantine facility is open for any national government agency that needs a place to efficiently roll out the anti-COVID-19 vaccination program.

We are always willing to lend assistance to stop the transmission of disease at the soonest time possible so we can go back to normal again,” Abalos said.

He said the agency will help local government units on vaccine logistics and equipment for quick mobility across the National Capital Region.

The MMDA established the isolation facility located in its headquarters in Makati City to serve as a temporary holding area for its own employees who need to undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine in accordance with the Department of Health’s protocols.

Each section of the facility has a 24bed capacity equipped with shower rooms, comfort rooms and lavatories. The rooms are fully-air conditioned, with WI-FI connection and are regularly cleaned and sanitized. Free meals are also provided.

Meanwhile, the MMDA chief also bared his plan for all the agency’s employees to undergo monthly COVID-19 swab tests to ensure their health and safety as the MMDA continues to deliver its services across the metropolis.

“Our personnel’s welfare is our topmost priority. We need to make sure that they are safe from the dangers of COVID-19. This is one of our ways to help the national government in curbing the spread of the disease,” said Abalos.

Call to defer tourism taxes

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Nancy Binay has backed the appeal of tourism stakeholders for the deferment of the payment of local taxes this year due to the massive losses brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I hope the government will accede to the appeal for deferment of the tourism establishments. The tourism industry is one of the most affected so we need to give them some leeway,” Binay said.

The Tourism Congress of the Philippines recently sent a letter to Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año seeking help in getting local government units to defer the payment of business taxes.

The TCP said it had received reports from its members that various LGUs had been issuing assessment fees for business taxes, with some assessments based on 2019 income.

Binay said tourism establishments shouldn’t be expected to be able to pay their taxes based on un-adjusted assessments, given that the sector had ground to a halt after the first quarter of 2020 after travel restrictions were imposed.

The country’s tourism receipts fell by 81 percent to PHP81.05 billion from January to November 2020, down from PHP437.9 billion in the same period in 2019.

“We understand the side of LGUs. After all, taxes are the lifeblood of public services,” Binay said.

OPLAN SITA. Members of the Highway Patrol Group and I-ACT conduct an “Oplan Sita” operation along Baseco in Tondo, Manila, on Friday. Norman Cruz

Whistleblower taken into custody in Albay EMBATTLED whistleblower Peter Joemel Advincula alias “Bikoy” has been taken into custody by the police in Albay after he was ordered arrested by a Manila court, the Philippine National Police said Friday.

In a report, Lt. Col. Ronnie Fabia, officer-in-charge of the Daraga Municipal Police Station, said Advincula, 31, with a registered address in Barangay Tupas, Donsol, Sorsogon and in Purok-2, Barangay Tinago, Ligao City, Albay, personally

appeared and submitted himself to the Daraga Municipal Police Station on Thursday noon.

Fabia said Advincula was informed of the cause of his arrest and apprised of his constitutional rights in a dialect known to and understood by him and had undergone mandatory booking procedures and documentation.

On Wednesday, Judge Immaculada Concepcion Ylagan-Galang of the Manila Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 17 is-

sued the arrest warrant against Advincula for perjury with a recommended bail set at PHP18,000.

In 2019, Bikoy was named in a perjury charge by lawyers Theodore Te, Jose Manuel Diokno and Lorenzo Tañada III, who were among the 36 people named in sedition raps in connection with the supposed efforts to undermine the Duterte administration during the May elections through the so-called “Ang Totoong Narcolist” video

Farmland awarded to eight farmers

By Rio N. Araja

DISTRIBUTION. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources distributes fiberglass

boats and aquaponics growing systems to local government units in Albay as part of its rehabilitation and livelihood assistance to fishermen. The Tabaco fishermen received 10 fiberglass boats and 10 aquaponics systems. Twenty more boats and one fish pen will be delivered soon.

THE Department of Agrarian Reform on Friday distributed 9.7 hectares of agricultural land to eight agrarian reform beneficiaries in Barangay Guadalupe in Coron, Palawan, through its personalized Serbisyong DAR-to-Door program.

Secretary Brother John Castriciones said Serbisyong DAR-to-Door is a program of the department where he would personally deliver the certificates of land ownership award right at the farm or at the doorsteps of the recipients.

The effort aims to bring the government to the farmers’ household so that they would feel that the Duterte administration is on their side.

“We visit various far-flung communities to give hope to the farmers. To show

them that if we can personally deliver the land titles they’ve been dreaming of for many years, we can do more to make their lands become more productive,” he said.

He was accompanied by other agency ranking officials from central, regional and provincial offices to show their full support to the program.

Support Services Office Undersecretary Emily Padilla advised the new landowners that they should join farmers’ organizations or cooperatives to quickly receive various support services from the government.

“The government’s support is in the form of access to credit facilities, farm inputs and machineries, training and seminars among others, and you would quickly benefit from them when you join organizations,” she said.

LGUs

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2021 lgu@manilastandard.net editor.lgustandard@gmail.com

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

TRIKES FOR FRONTLINERS. Tri Motors Technology Corporation and Jesus V. Del Rosario Foundation, Inc. turn over five units of Bajaj RE tricycles to the local government of Muntinlupa as part of its partnership with the City Government. Mayor Jaime Fresnedi (right) received the tricycle units from JVR Foundation executive director Gina Bulanhagui and Tri Motors Technology Corp. group chief financial officer Fritzie Castro (left) on Thursday. The mayor extended his thanks to Trimotors and JVR Foundation and said the donated tricycles will help augment the city’s COVID-19 response and the upcoming vaccination program.

Makati hands out emergency kits

By Joel E. Zurbano

M

akati City Mayor Abigail Binay has ordered the distribution of free emergency kits to some 8,232 city hall employees and detailed national agency personnel to boost their resilience and ensure uninterrupted public service when disasters strike.

The city chief executive said her ad- ber 16 among frontliners actively enministration prioritized the provision of gaged in COVID-19 response operations.

72-hour emergency kits to city workers “We want to ensure that our frontand started the distribution last Decem- liners and other city hall personnel are

well-equipped not only to survive, but to continue providing critical services to Makatizens even during emergencies,” Binay said.

“We need to take care of our work force and build their resilience to any kind of crisis, if we are to continuously serve our constituents amid this pandemic and other disasters that may occur,” she added.

Binay explained that each portable kit provides necessities sufficient for three days that would help an individual survive a disaster while waiting for rescuers to arrive.

Each portable emergency kit contains five moist towelettes, two SOS water pouches, two 12-hour light sticks, one food bar, one thermal blanket, one N95 Respirator Mask, one ID card holder with lanyard and an emergency card.

To date, 3,417 regular employees, 4,795 casual employees, and 20 contractual employees benefitted from the project.

Last December 16, the city prioritized the distribution of the kits to some 200 frontliners and essential workforce personnel who are actively deployed for the COVID-19 operations of the city.

E. Visayas out to stop spread of swine fever

By Ronald O. Reyes TACLOBAN CITY—Several local government units (LGUs) in Eastern Visayas have stepped up measures to stop the spread of the African Swine Fever (ASF), which already hit three towns in Leyte.

In Tacloban City, City Veterinarian Eunice Alcantara said they have set up quarantine checkpoints “to tighten the watch against the entry of live hogs and pork products.”

Alcantara said the city has been strict on documentary requirements in the transport of all swine and pork products after Mayor Alfred Romualdez extended the regulation of its entry since March 2020.

“But due to ASF cases in three towns in Leyte, we just depend on supplies from backyard raisers in this city and some nearby towns. If the situation will get worse, we can only sustain the pork demand of the city in the next one to two months,” Alcantara said in a press briefing.

According to the Tacloban City Information Office, the city has banned the entry of pork products from Luzon while it regulated shipment from Mindanao and the Visayas.

In Barugo, Leyte, Mayor Macel Avestruz ordered the depopulation of pigs in Barangay Canomantag on Thursday after a swine from an ASF-infected town was brought into the barangay.

Avestruz, however, assured the residents that Barugo is ASF-free.

“We are appealing for everyone’s support and understanding. We can really prevent the entry of ASF in our town as long as we help each other,” said Avestruz, as they launched an inventory and monitoring of swine in the town.

Southern Leyte Governor Damiano Mercado also ordered the total ban on the transportation of live hogs, pork and porkrelated products, and by-products and boar semen from areas outside of Southern Leyte and other ASF-affected countries into the province for the period 60 days.

“All pork, pork-related and pork containing products and by-products in wholesale or retail stores, manufactured and sourced from ASF-affected Luzon area with the production date starting July 2019 and Mindanao areas with the production date starting November 2019 until present and without the appropriate documentary requirements mentioned shall be removed from the shelves and/or confiscated and disposed of properly,” Mercado said in an executive order dated January 19.

Isko urges biz to return to Manila

By Willie Casas MANILA Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso is encouraging businessmen who have left before he became mayor due to distrust with City Hall to come back and restore their confidence in the city government, assuring certainty and stability in the present administration.

In his speech at the recent opening of the Coca-Cola distribution center in Manila, Domagoso thanked the beverage company for returning to the city and expressed hope that others will follow suit.

“Hinihikayat ko ang mga mamumuhunan na muling pagtiwalaan ang lungsod ng Maynila at ang mga natitira pa na manatili,” Domagoso said.

The mayor revealed that another big company is going back to its former

place in the Intramuros area after having left due to differences with the previous local government and prior to his assumption into office.

He expressed hope that the businesses which choose Manila as their base of operations would consider hiring Manila residents.

According to Domagoso, about 1,000 businesses have been registered with the city for the first three weeks of January 2021.

“Please continue hiring the people of Manila,” he said, noting that if each of the 1,000 businesses will hire just one resident each, it would already mean a thousand jobs for the citizens of Manila.

“We are optimistic that one way or another, businesses will bounce back or flourish because there is nowhere else to go, we’re already down,” he added.

MRG MEETS MCG. Clark Development Corp. (CDC) President and CEO Manuel R. Gaerlan (right) pays a courtesy call on Mabalacat City Mayor Crisostomo Garbo. The two executives discussed various priority programs and projects geared toward creating a more businessfriendly environment for all communities near Clark Freeport Zone. Gaerlan serves as the Chairman of the Metro Clark Advisory Council (MCAC), which is also co-chaired by Mayor Garbo. CDC-CD Photo

DSWD pushes digital parenting for Central Luzon kids

By Jess Malabanan CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—The Department of Social Welfare and Development is pushing for “digital parenting,” a scheme where parents can supervise and caution their children for the responsible use of cyberspace.

“It is important that digital parents guide their children when browsing online. We are teaching them how to

NOVELETA ‘BOSS’. Noveleta, Cavite Mayor Dino Chua (standing right) foresees

the newly opened Business One Stop Shop in Primark Town Center in Barangay Magdiwang on Monday. The BOSS outlet ends on February 15 and is open from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. Dennis Abrina

DAR to award agri graduates land to till

By Ben Moses Ebreo BAGABAG, Nueva Vizcaya—The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) will be giving away free agricultural lands to new graduates of agricultural courses to maximize the development of the country’s agricultural resources.

Secretary John Castriciones said their agency is expected to distribute at least 20 hectares of agricultural lands in Boswanga, Palawan this week to 20 agriculture graduates, while another 30 hectares of agricultural lands in Lallo, Cagayan will also be distributed to 36

agriculture graduates on February 5.

“This is the right time for us to encourage our new graduates to patronize farming, especially now that the COVID-19 pandemic is still present,” he said.

Castriciones, along with other DAR central office officials, were in the province to conduct the KAMUSTASAKA 2021, an information gathering scheme to know the impact of the agency’s programs, projects, and services to the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) in the province and the problems, issues, and concerns of the farmers to be addressed.

11 unregistered chainsaws seized CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—Environment and police authorities confiscated 11 unregistered chainsaws from suspected illegal loggers as part of the government effort to stop the unlawful cutting of trees in areas declared as forest reserves in Central Luzon.

“Confiscating unregistered chainsaw is one of our strategies to curb timber poaching in our forest lands in the region,” said Laudemir Salac, head of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENRO).

He said instead of the traditional approach of apprehending suspected illegal loggers while transporting forest contrabands, we go after those unregistered chainsaws, which may be used in illegal cutting of trees.

Salac said timber poachers usually used chainsaws which are not registered with the DENR and this approach may help prevent the actual cutting of standing trees in our forest. Jess Malabanan

regulate their children’s use of gadgets,” said Rosan Pelariza, focal person of the DSWD-Family Development Session.

She said proper education was shared among parents on the features to restrict or block malicious sites on the Internet, and how to check sites visited by their children.

With the advent of technology and excessive spread of different gadgets, Pelariza warned Thursday of the risk, ex-

ploitation, and other cyber-abuses being faced by children through social media and other online platforms.

“Nowadays, children are using the internet for communicating with others, for recreation, or for online learning. Now that they have the time and the luxury to use their gadgets, and engage on social media, they are at a great risk of cyberbullying or other cyber abuses,” said Pelariza.

Lazatin to dads: Use Kapampangan ANGELES CITY—Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr. has requested the City Council to hold a session at least once a month using the Kapampangan language.

“I am humbly urging our Sangguniang Panglunsod, led by our Presiding Officer Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting, to hold a session at least once a month using purely Kapampangan. I believe that the City Council is one with us in preserving our culture, especially in revitalizing our Amanung Sisuan,” Lazatin said.

In his letter addressed to the vice mayor, he wrote that this initiative is to enforce Ordinance No. 424 series of 2017, an ordinance establishing Kapampangan as an official language of Angeles City and institutionalizing its use in all sectors, alongside existing national and official languages.

The said ordinance serves to promote the Kapampangan language throughout Angeles City and preserve and nurture its culture and heritage, especially its

language.

“We are doing this to show our commitment and raise awareness in preserving the Kapampangan language. We are doing this for our next generation. We want to avoid our culture’s demise that is why we’re taking the necessary steps to make sure this does not happen,” the mayor said.

Vega-Cabigting expressed her full support to Lazatin’s initiative to reinforce the use of Kapampangan language, especially within city hall offices and departments.

“Suportan taya pu ing kaburian na ning mayap a mayor tamu, king pamanyulung king pamangamit ning Amanung Sisuan king siyudad, lalu na karing opisina na ning city hall,” the vice mayor said.

“Ipayabut taya pu ini king miyembru da ring City Council. Paniwalan ku na suportan ne ning konsehu ing mayap tamung tagimpan king pamanyulung ning lengwahe tamung Kapampangan king siyudad,” she added. Butch Gunio

Opinion The arrogance of power IT’S REALLY sickening when you encounter people elected to public office who cannot distinguish public service from power. It is as if that the primary objective of getting into public office is to wield power instead of extending public service. And to make matters worse, when they wield that newfound power emanating from the public office they were elected to, they do it in such a way that makes it look like their power is so absolute. As if they have been bestowed some godly powers.

Take the case of the barangay chairman of Barangay Horseshoe in Quezon City, Francisco Aguilar, whom a Dr. Alfred Buenafe had lodged a complaint against before the Office of the City Prosecutor in the same city, for Grave Coercion and Usurpation of Official Function.

The objective should be to serve the public.

In his complaint, Buenafe alleges that Aguilar, with the aid of other barangay officers, illegally clamped and towed his vehicles, depriving him of a much-needed ride to Batangas where he was set to perform surgeries that day.

In his complaint-affidavit, a copy of which this writer had obtained, Buenafe narrated that he received a notice on February 14 last year from the barangay, “threatening to conduct clamping and towing operations” against his vehicles, which were parked on one side of Hilltop Street in Horseshoe Village Inquiring with his neighbors, Buenafe said he learned it was only him who received such notice, despite the fact that there were other vehicles parked on the same street.

While he, though his counsel, tried to reason with Aguilar on the matter through a letter received by the Office of the Barangay on February 17, his vehicles were nevertheless clamped and towed the next day, February 18. Again, this despite the fact that there were other vehicles parked on the same street. No amount of reasoning could change Aguilar’s deci-

sion as shown in a video captured by Buenafe.

As he supposedly had an operation on a patient in Batangas scheduled that day, Buenafe said he decided to accept things as they were and proceeded to the barangay office to pay the fine so he could retrieve his vehicles. However, Buenafe said Aguilar refused to release them unless he signed some sort of promissory note stating he would not park in the said area anymore. Left with no choice, Buenafe said he had to sign the promissory note under duress.

Later, he said he consulted with the president of the Homeowners’ Association regarding the parking practices inside their village, who informed him there was no ordinance that disallows parking on the contested street. In fact, if there was an ordinance regarding parking inside their subdivision, it was one that designated Hilltop Street as a one-sided parking area. In fact, Aguilar unknowingly admitted this when he presented a copy of a barangay ordinance dated February 19, 2020, one day after the incident, prohibiting parking of vehicles on the said street.

Oops! Is Aguilar conscious of our Constitutional protection against the enactment of ex-post facto laws, which seeks to penalize anyone for an act committed even before the law was enacted? Aguilar might be digging his grave deeper.

Interviews with other residents of the village reveal Aguilar’s other offenses as a public servant. A resident presented to this writer a screenshot of Aguilar’s own social media post showing him inside a casino, which is totally off-limits to public officials like him.

Another resident alleges that Aguilar is personally collecting association dues from other homeowners even though he is not an official of the association.

Maybe, aside from the complaint filed by Buenafe against Aguilar, the Department of Interior and Local Government, or even Mayor Joy Belmonte herself, could conduct an investigation into the allegations against his particular barangay chairman. This is not helping her administration in any way.

We tried to get the contact number of Chairman Aguilar to get his side but the residents interviewed by this writer failed to provide us. But in case this article gets his attention, we would be more than willing to accommodate him. He could send his reaction either to his paper’s desk, or directly to this writer. We assure him of equal space.

A nation’s birthday JANUARY 23, 1899 is a date that must be etched in the memory of every Filipino. It is on this date that the Republic of the Philippines was born. It is the inauguration date of the First Philippine Republic—the first in Asia.

Following the terms of the pact of Biak-na-Bato between the Spanish authorities and Filipino revolutionists, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and select leaders of the revolution went to exile in Hong Kong in December 1897. There, they did not stop working for the country’s independence.

They formed the Hong Kong junta—the revolutionary government in exile.

Aguinaldo and the other revolutionists may have left but they never intended to stop the quest for the country’s freedom from foreign domination. The 400,000 pesos paid by the Spanish authorities was put in banks and while in exile, Aguinaldo and the revolutionaries led spartan lives, living off solely on the money’s interest. There are many accounts of how strict Aguinaldo was in safeguarding the funds to the point of only providing the leaders with a small allowance and just one winter coat each. Onofre D. Corpuz in his book “Saga and Triumph” said that the nobody complained because Aguinaldo adhered to the frugal life he required of the others despite the his being in control of the funds.

The Junta decided that Spain reneged on the pact’s terms. The group was also very

concerned about the possible impact of a war between Spain and America on the Filipino’s struggle for independence. They resolved that Aguinaldo should immediately return home and resume the revolution. They used P200,000 of the funds to buy arms and ammunition to be used by Filipino revolutionists.

Thus, in May 1898, Aguinaldo and some of his leaders were back in Cavite, reorganizing the revolutionary command and planning the resumption of the struggle. His call for his comrades to rejoin him was met with renewed passion and enthusiasm to fight again. The Americans were correct in their assessment that only Aguinaldo had the stature and capacity to lead the revolution.

We are free because our heroes fought and died.

The Filipinos recaptured the whole of Cavite from the already weak Spanish forces made even weaker by the defection of Filipino militia to the side of the revolution. By this time, the revolutionary forces were gaining strength and also winning in other provinces including Batangas, Laguna, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, and Tarlac.

Within a few weeks, on June 12, 1898 in Kawit, the revolutionary government declared Philippine independence. On August 1, the declaration was ratified.

Aguinaldo was leading both the revolution and the dictatorial government. They were busy organizing government and

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2021

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EDITORIAL

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Truth, not its versions

N THIS era of Alarm bells should information surplus and sound when people fake news, there is a need to quickly go back to the spread lies. basics of proper information dissemination to the various must continue to believe in the inpublics that subscribe today tegrity of the disseminators. to all forms of media.

This clarion call, addressed to everyone who has the go-ahead and support of print, broadcast and online, among others, is timely, with the nomination of the International Fact-Checking Network at the Florida-based Poynter Institute for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize.

Alarm bells should sound when

At a time when thousands have climbed up the bandwagon of unlicensed spreaders of information, scattering all kinds of claims not supported by researched reality on the ground, we need to stand up to the challenge of upholding the truth and crushing the lies for people who

people spread lies through disinformation. This should be true for whoever makes that claim—from the most naive of social media users to the highest official of the land.

Information must be disseminated in accessible formats, supported by clear and complete facts. Questions must be welcomed and not discouraged or taken personally; they should be answered directly. These facts should be available to all who seek them.

Fact-checking has grown out of necessity and will continue to play a big role in the future. Everyone has to embrace a culture of being conscientious providers and discriminating consumers of information.

China’s policy of multilateralism Hans Morgenthau recognize the value of collective effort as a way to legitimize multilateralism but in substance still allow the realization of one’s own interest. Former US State Department secretary John Foster Dulles said “The State Department was not created to make friends but to protect America’s interest.”

READING the speech of China’s ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian, he discussed the most talked about terms in international relations - multilateralism in contrast to unilateralism.

One is the policy of unilateralism, which is a doctrine that supports one-sided action. Countries that resort to this course of action is often referred to as adhering to a unilateralist policy or being arbitrary. Often, dominant states tend to ignore or disregard international law or the consensus of the majority of the members of international organizations like the UN or to a collective defense if such would run counter to its interest.

On the other hand, states that adopt a multilateralist policy seek to follow international norms and pay respect to international institutions. This is in contrast to unilateralism, where a dominant state influences how international relations should be conducted.

To quote what the Chinese ambassador said: “In the community of a shared future for mankind, there is no polarity of unilateralism and multilateralism is the right way ahead.” If we are to equate the true purpose and objective of what the Chinese ambassador categorized as of pseudo-multilateralism, it is nothing more but a disguised form of unilateralism.

Among its traits is the pretension of magnanimity and false adherence to international law and resort to “collective” action. Some international relations experts like American professor the military structures, issuing decrees, and transitioning into a republic.

To achieve the last, the seat of government was transferred to Malolos. A Constitution was necessary to serve as the republic’s basic law. Aguinaldo called for a Congress to draft the Constitution. He wanted delegates to be elected by localities. Those that could not hold elections were assigned representatives. This was the country’s first exercise in representative democracy.

Flawed as it may be considered in modern times, we must not forget that the country was still at war then.

The processes and discussions they went through were very interesting, exciting even. Finally, on January 21, 1899 or barely eight months after Aguinaldo returned from Hong Kong to continue the revolution, the country’s first Constitution was ratified.

Two days later, on January 23, the Republic of the Philippines was born to the jubilation of the Filipino people gathered in Barasoain church. The revolutionary leader General Emilio Aguinaldo became the Republic’s first president. It was such a glorious occasion meant to show the whole world that the Filipinos were an independent and free people, civilized and ready to govern themselves.

In fact, recognition from other countries was what the new republic wanted. At that time, Felipe Agoncillo, our first diplomat, was already hard at work in seeking for America’s recognition—a difficult task

This is the genuine kind.

Modern-day diplomacy resorts to the practice of “multilateralism”—not that it wants the consensus of the majority.

Instead it wants to lend legitimacy to its arbitrary action. The US wants other countries to endorse its policy in what China’s ambassador would term as “closed-group” politics.

The concept of the so-called “dollar diplomacy” has long faded from our history. The US is engaged in a rather brutal but calculated diplomacy. Its policy is presented as a multilateralist policy to make it appear civil but can easily morph to one of brutal aggression once that state deviates to what it wants. It is a calculated diplomacy depending on how that intimidated state would live up to defend its national sovereignty and independence.

Today, multilateralism has been exploited by countries to advance their own interests. Ambassador Xilian calls this “pseudo-multilateralism.” Others say multilateralism is losing much ground and credibility in light of the thinning financial resources of the US and its allies. Because of depleting financial resources, donor states resort to a system of joint financial given him by Aguinaldo. The importance of foreign recognition and acceptance was very clear from President Emilio Aguinaldo’s inaugural address parts of which I have quoted below: “…Hereafter, the Philippines will have a fundamental law, which will unite our people with other nations by the strongest of solidarities; that is the solidarity of justice, of law, and of right, eternal truths, which are the basis of human dignity… … our beloved people will cease to be anonymous and will be able with legitimate pride to proclaim to the universe the long coveted name of Philippine Republic.

We are no longer insurgents; we are no longer revolutionists; that is to say armed men desirous of destroying and annihilating the enemy. We are from now on Republicans; that is to say men of law, able to fraternize with all other nations, with mutual respect and affection. There is nothing lacking, therefore, in order for us to be recognized and admitted as a free and independent nation…

Great is this day, glorious is this date and this moment, when our beloved people rise to the apotheosis of independence, will be eternally memorable. The 23rd of January will be for the Philippines hereafter a national feast... … we are a civilized nation and also a brave one, worthy, therefore, of being freely admitted into the concerts of nations. … you (referring to the Representatives) showed the entire world, by your wisdom,

ventures to ensnare debtor countries.

There is less fanfare, much that participants have their own share of interest in the outcome of the project. Others say, this is not really a multilateral agreement, for obviously, developed countries act as brokers to facilitate the loan and to secure their release usually through the international finance institutions they control, like the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. Western financiers acting as brokers insist on some kind of modification that reflects their interest as guarantor, than for the debtor states.

China’s ambassador Xilian said that China today is involved in many of the country’s construction projects.

Many are government-to-government funded projects. He said “the two countries have made headway in major cooperation with 11 projects completed, 12 others in the pipeline, and 12 more under negotiation.”

The biggest project is wholly capitalized by China through the China-Philippine Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation which will provide a grant of 500 million RMB (approximately P3.73 billion) to finance livelihood, infrastructure projects and other mutually agreed projects. They also witnessed the unveiling ceremony to launch the Bank of China, Manila Branch as the clearing bank for RMB business in the Philippines.

With the robust growth of RMB transactions totaling over 400 billion RMB last year, the facility will boost trade and investment cooperation through clearing efficiency and unimpeded access to RMB in advantageous trading rates.

Full version on www.manilastandard.net sound sense, and prudence, that in this remote and heretofore unknown portion of the world, the principles of European and American civilization are known, and more than known, that intelligence and hearts here are perfectly in accord with those of the most civilized nations; and that notwithstanding the calumnious voice of our detractors, there is here, finally a national spirit, which unites and forges together all Filipino hearts into a single idea and single aspiration to live independent of any foreign yoke in the democratic shadow of the Philippine Republic.

For this reason on seeing consecrated in our constitutional work the eternal principles of authority, of liberty, of order and justice, which all civilized nations profess, as the most perfect guaranty of their actual solidarity, I feel strength, pride, and am sincerely impelled, from the bottom of my heart to shout – Long live the Philippine Republic! Long live the Constitution!..”

January 23, 2021 marks the Republic’s 122nd birthday. While the country has come a long way, we must not forget our roots.

Our nation was born because tens of thousands shed blood and gave their lives up.

If there is one lesson that we must learn from the Philippine revolution, it is love of and sacrifice for country. Let us remember, we are free because our heroes fought and died. @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www. manilastandard.net

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Biden takes on hunger crisis

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RESIDENT Joe Biden is ordering an expansion of government benefits for hungry Americans, after the coronavirus pandemic ignited the worst hunger crisis the United States has seen in modern times.

The decree, one of two executive orders the White House said he will sign Friday, is modest and far short of the actions the president has called for from Congress.

Nonetheless, it represents one of Biden’s first actions since taking office on Wednesday aimed at reviving the world’s largest

economy, after Covid-19 caused mass layoffs beginning last year that have left many people scrambling to pay the bills.

“The American people can’t afford to wait. And so many are hanging by a thread, they need help, and we are committed to doing everything we can to pro-

Manila

GERMANY’S Covid-19 death toll passed 50,000 Friday as it reeled from The orders also instruct government a second wave, while new US president agencies to help people more quickly acJoe Biden embarked on a “wartime uncess federal stimulus payments, allow dertaking” to battle the pandemic in the workers to leave jobs that could jeopardize world’s worst-hit country. their health, and expand protections for With infection rates spiralling, vacfederal workers, while laying the groundcine rollouts still in their infancy and the work for a minimum wage increase for global death toll now past two million, federal contractors. the possibility of life returning to normal Economy wrecked seems as far off as ever.

Even after two massive government Germany survived the first wave of aid packages, the US economy is reeling the coronavirus pandemic relatively from the damage caused by the pandemunscathed compared to its European ic, which has seen the death toll soar to neighbours, but is now reeling as new, 400,000. AFP CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK more contagious variants of the virus run rampant and authorities warn of a tighter lockdown on the continent’s biggest economy.

On his first day in office Thursday, Biden signed a flurry of executive orpolice ready to enforce the lockdown last year. ders, including mask-wearing and quarcovering some 150 housing blocks and Over the last two months it has been antining requirements, and reversed up to 9,000 people. hit by a fourth wave of infections with predecessor Donald Trump’s decision Health officials declined to comment authorities struggling to bring the daily to quit the World Health Organization on the proposal at an afternoon press numbers down.

(WHO). briefing but multiple local outlets reStubborn clusters have emerged in The new president is seeking to vacported the lockdown citing government neighbourhoods within Yau Tsim Mong, cinate 100 million people in 100 days, officials throughout Friday. a low-income district notorious for some increase the use of masks and testing, Hong Kong was one of the first places of the world’s most cramped housing. expand the public health workforce and to be struck by the coronavirus since it On paper Hong Kong is one of the offer more emergency relief to those burst out of central China. richest cities in the world. struggling with the restrictions.

It has kept infections under 10,000 But it suffers from pervasive inequalOn Thursday alone the US registered with some 170 deaths by imposing ef- ity, an acute housing shortage and eye4,045 new deaths and more than 192,000 fective but economically punishing so- watering rents that successive governnew cases. AFP cial distancing measures for much of the ments have failed to solve. AFP

vide that help as quickly as possible,” said Brian Deese, director of the White House’s National Economic Council Director.

Biden’s main initiative to turn the economy around is a $1.9 trillion “rescue” package that he outlined last week, followed by a promised proposal aimed at fueling job creation and spurring hiring.

“Much, much more is needed. And so that’s why, as we take these actions, we will continue to engage with Congress and with the American people around the need to move on the American rescue plan,” Deese told reporters.

HK residents ordered to stay home in city’s first virus lockdown

Standard

TODAY

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that ESGUERRA SHIPPING CORPORATION, with office address at #94 Herma Building, Scout Rallos Street, Sacred Heart, Quezon City is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as New Domestic Shipping Operator of Water Transport Services under the Preferred Activity – Infrastructure and Logistics including LGU-PPPs – Air, Land and Water Transport – Water Transport [Oil Tanker (Hull 117), MT Maunlad with 936 GT], on a Non-Pioneer status, with home wharf located at Bataan.

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

(MS-JAN. 23, 2021)

(SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Director Infrastructure and Services Industries Service

THOUSANDS of Hong Kongers will be ordered to stay in their homes for the city’s first coronavirus lockdown, local media reported Friday, as authorities battle an outbreak in one of its poorest and most densely packed districts.

The order bans anyone from leaving their apartment unless they can show a negative test where cases have surged in recent days, and will last until everyone within the designated area has been tested, the reports said.

The South China Morning Post said the measures would come in at midnight Friday into Saturday with some 1,700

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

SUMMARY COMPUTATION OF OVER-UNDER RECOVERY 2017-2019 Allowable Cost

IN THE MATTER APPLICATION CONFIRMATION APPROVAL OF THE FOR AND OF CALCULATIONS OF OVER OR UNDER RECOVERIES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AUTOMATIC COST ADJUSTMENTS AND TRUE-UP MECHANISMS COVERING THE PERIOD OF 2017 TO 2019 AND CORRESPONDING CONFIRMATION PROCESS PURSUANT TO ERC RESOLUTION NO. 16, SERIES OF 2009 AS AMENDED BY RESOLUTION NO. 21, SERIES OF 2010 AND ERC RESOLUTION NO. 23, SERIES OF 2010,

813,755,753.42

816,268,225.57

(2,512,472.15)

101,089,998.21

107,557,987.55

(6,467,989.34)

Particulars

Promulgated:

1.

That applicant is an electric cooperative duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Philippines, with the principal office at Brgy. Ihatub, Boac, Marinduque where it may be served with summons and other legal processes, represented in this instance by its General Manager, ENGR. GAUDENCIO M. SOL, JR., of legal age, Filipino, married and with office address also located at Brgy. Ihatub, Boac, Marinduque;

2.

Herein applicant is the exclusive franchise holder issued by the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to operate an electric light and power services in the municipalities of Boac, Mogpog, Sta. Cruz, Torrijos, Buenavistan, and Gasan all in the Province of Marinduque;

3.

That pursuant to ERC Resolution No. 16 Series of 2009, as amended by Resolution No. 21, Series of 2010, and ERC Resolution No. 23, Series of 2010, Luzon Distribution Utilities (DUs) and Electric Cooperatives (ECs) are required to file their respective consolidated application for the approval of their confirmation filing on the Calculation of the Over or Under recovery in the implementation of various adjustment calculations covering the period from January 2017 to December 2019, as follows: Folder 1.

Application Supplier and Transmission Data Sheet 2017-2019 Statistical Data Sheet 2017-2019 URR Addendum/DSL Data 2017-2019 Actual Implemented Rates Sheet 2017-2019 Lifeline Discount Sheet 2017-2019 Senior Citizen Discount Sheet 2017-2019 Summary of O/U recoveries computation per charges for the entire period in yearly presentation Proposed scheme of refund/collect using the latest kwh sales

Folder 2. Supplier and Transmission Data Power bills from suppliers (Power bill - Proof of Payment Debit or Credit Memo)

Folder 3. Statistical Data Summary of Pilferage Cost recoveries/Manifestation 2017-2019 Summary of Implemented Orders/Decisions MFSR - Sections B and E

Folder 4. Actual Implemented Rates Data Consumer bills per customer class (non-lifeliner) Consumer bill per Lifeline Bracket (lifeliner) Senior citizen consumer bill

Folder 5. Other Docs

4.

5.

1

2

3

42,257.60 (9,249,308.09)

Submitted Monthly URR 2017-2019 Submitted monthly URR Addendum 2018-2019 Single Line Diagram

That in applying the various formulae in the determination of the adjustments and the recovery or refund of Over or Under Recoveries herein applicant hereby adopts the respective formula as provided for in ERC Resolution No. 16 Series of 2009, as amended by Resolution No. 21 S. 2010, and ERC Resolution No. 23, Series of 2010 together with the specific definitions and subformula for each item thereof;

(Over)/ Under Recovery Php

Php/kWh

(2,512,472.15)

System Loss Rate

12

(6,467,989.34)

(0.0711)

Lifeline Rate

6

(311,104.20)

(0.0122)

Senior Citizen Rate

1 TOTAL

(0.0276)

42,257.60

0.0140

(9,249,308.09)

(0.0970)

PRAYER WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is respectfully prayed of this Honorable Commission that the submitted calculations and computations prepared by applicant be approved; that upon receipt of the Order of approval, herein applicant be allowed to propose the scheme of refund/recovery as the case may be; Other relief/s just and equitable in the premises are likewise prayed for.

The Commission hereby sets the instant Application for the determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on the following dates and online platforms for the conduct thereof, pursuant to Resolution No. 09, Series of 20204 dated 24 September 2020: Date and Time

Platform

Activity

04 February 2021 (Thursday) 9:00 A.M.

Microsoft Teams

Jurisdictional Compliance and Expository Presentation

11 February 2021 (Thursday) 9:00 A.M.

Microsoft Teams

Pre-Trial Conference and Presentation of Evidence

Any interested stakeholders may submit their comments and/or clarifications at least one (1) calendar day prior to the scheduled virtual hearing, via electronic mail (e-mail) at docket@erc.ph, copy furnish the Legal Service through legal@ erc.ph. The Commission shall give priority to the stakeholders who have duly submitted their respective comments and/or clarifications, to discuss the same and propound questions during the course of the expository presentation.

Moreover, all persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission via e-mail at docket@erc,ph, copy furnish the Legal Service through legal@erc.ph, a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) calendar days prior to the date of the initial virtual hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following: 1)

The petitioner’s name, mailing address, and e-mail address;

2)

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

3)

A statement of the relief desired.

Likewise, all other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may likewise file through e-mail at docket@erc.ph, copy furnish the Legal Service through legal@erc.ph, their Opposition or Comment thereon at least five (5) calendar days prior to the initial virtual hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 ERC Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following: 1)

The name, mailing address, and e-mail address of such person;

1)

A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and

2)

The grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from MARELCO that they be furnished with the same prior to the date of the initial hearing. MARELCO is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, through any of the available modes of service, upon their agreement, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours. In the alternative, those persons who wish to have an electronic copy of the Application may request the Commission for the e-mail addresses of MARELCO by sending an e-mail to docket@erc.ph copy furnish the Legal Service through legal@ erc.ph. Nonetheless, any person may also access the Application as posted by the Commission in its official website at www.erc.gov.ph.

(This space is intentionally left blank.)

Finally, all interested persons may be allowed to join the scheduled initial virtual hearing by providing the Commission, thru legal.virtualhearings@erc. ph, with their respective e-mail addresses and indicating therein the case number of the instant Application. The Commission will send the access link/s to the aforementioned hearing platform within five (5) working days prior to the scheduled hearing.

WITNESS, the Honorable Commissioners ALEXIS M. LUMBATAN, CATHERINE P. MACEDA, FLORESINDA G. BALDO-DIGAL and MARKO ROMEO L. FUENTES, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 8th day of January 2021 in Pasig City.

That in support of this application has hereby submitted and attached to this application the other requirements, as follows:

A Resolution Adopting the Rules Governing the Automatic Cost Adjustment and True-up Mechanisms and Corresponding Confirmation Process for Disfribution Utilities; A Resolution Amending Section 4 of Article 4 and Section 1 of Article 5 of the Rules Governing the Automatic Cost Adjustment and True-up Mechanisms and Corresponding Confirmation Process for Distribution Utilities; A Resolution Adopting the Rules Implementing the Discounts to Qualified Senior Citizen End-Users and Subsidy from the Subsidizing End-Users on Electi’icity Consumption Under Section 4 & 5 ofRepublic ActNo. 99941

No. of Mos. 12

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

a. b. c.

(137,609.98)

Generation Rate

January 20, 2021

Notice is hereby given that on 27 November 2020, Marinduque Electric Cooperative, Inc. (MARELCO) filed an Application dated 25 August 2020 (Application), seeking the Commission’s confirmation and approval of calculations of over or under recoveries in the implementation of automatic cost adjustments and true-up mechanisms covering the period 2017 to 2019 and corresponding confirmation process, pursuant to the Commission-issued Resolution No. 16, Series of 2009 1, as amended

by Resolution No. 21, Series of 2010 2 and Resolution No. 23, Series of 2010 3.

a. b. c.

95,352.38

(311,104.20)

PROPOSED (REFUND)/COLLECT SCHEME 2017-2019

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

b. c.

(5,272,346.45)

TOTAL

NOTICE OF VIRTUAL HEARING

a.

Discount

5,583,450.66

Senior Citizen Rate

x----------------------------------------------------x

a.

(Over)/ Under Recovery

System Loss Rate Lifeline Rate

ERC CASE NO. 2020-056 CF

i.

Actual Revenue

Generation Rate

Subsidy

MARINDUQUE COOPERATIVE, ELECTRIC INC. (MARELCO), Applicant.

a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h.

Germany’s COVID-19 death toll now 50k

AGNES VST DEVANADERA Chairperson and CEO

4

A Resolution Adopting the Guidelines Governing Electronic Applications, Filings and Virtual Hearings Before the Energy Regulatory Commission.

M. Standard – Jan. 23, 2021

Families of Indonesian jet crash victims hold memorial at sea RELATIVES of 62 people killed when an Indonesian passenger jet slammed into the sea scattered flowers at the crash site Friday, as investigators look for clues to why the plane dropped from the sky minutes after takeoff.

The memorial came as the search for human remains and wreckage ended two weeks after the Sriwijaya Air Boeing 737-500 plunged roughly 10,000 feet (3,000 metres) in less than a minute before crashing into waters off Jakarta.

However, the hunt continues for a still-missing cockpit voice recorder, as investigators pore over details from a retrieved flight data recorder -- so-called black boxes that could be critical to the probe.

Maintenance logs pointed to an issue with the plane’s autothrottle, which controls engine power, authorities said, but it was not clear what role -- if any -- the apparent malfunction played.

On Friday, dozens of relatives tossed red petals from the deck of a navy ship, some overcome with emotion.

“When I cast the flowers I could see my sister’s face on the surface of the water,” said Heri Purnomo, whose older sibling Agus Minardi and her husband were on the flight.

“I burst into tears... It was a very sad moment.”

Jefferson Irwin Jauwena, the airline’s president director, said he was “devastated” by the accident which claimed 12 crew lives.

“We also feel sad and lost,” he said.

So far, 47 of the 62 victims have been identified through fingerprints and DNA matches to living family.

But Bety Saprianti, 33, who lost five relatives, is waiting for her aunt to be officially identified.

“We did not attend the ceremony today. None of our family joined -- it was too painful,” she said.

“Our only hope now is (the last) of our relatives is identified soon.”

The 26-year-old plane crashed just four minutes after setting off from Jakarta, bound for Pontianak city on Borneo island, a 90-minute flight away.

Authorities said the crew did not declare an emergency or report technical problems with the aircraft before its dive, and that it was probably intact when it hit the water -- citing a relatively small area where the wreckage was scattered.

The crash probe is likely to take months, but a preliminary report is expected next month. AFP

Hungary reaches deal to buy Sputnik V virus vaccine from Russia HUNGARY said on Friday it had reached a deal to buy large quantities of Russia’s Sputnik V virus vaccine, even though it has not been approved by the European Union.

The deal comes a day after Hungary became the first EU member to break ranks and approve Sputnik V, as well as the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine.

“Hungary has concluded with Russia an agreement to buy in three phases large quantities of the Sputnik V vaccine; the contract has been negotiated, and signed during the night,” Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said in a video statement on his Facebook page after meeting the Russian health minister in Moscow.

He added more details would be given “during the day”.

Hungary has repeatedly criticised what it says is the slow pace of vaccine approval and procurement by EU authorities.

“We should face the fact that something has gone wrong with the EU,” nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in a weekly radio interview on Friday.

“If there is no vaccine from the Union, let it come from elsewhere. It is not possible that Hungarians die because of this.”

According to regulations from the EU’s Amsterdam-based European Medicines Agency (EMA), a national regulator may grant a temporary licence for a vaccine in an emergency situation.

Only two vaccines have so far been approved by the EMA: PfizerBioNTech and Moderna.

The EMA is currently evaluating the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine and has said a decision on its approval could come before the end of next week.

On Wednesday Russia filed an application for registration for Sputnik V with the EMA. However the EMA said the vaccine was “not undergoing a rolling review”.

The Sputnik doses still need a final sign-off from a Hungarian public health authority, so no date has been given for the first jabs.

Russia registered Sputnik V -- named after the Soviet-era satellite -- in August, months ahead of Western competitors but before the start of large-scale clinical trials, which left some experts wary. AFP

Business

B3

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

PSEi January 22, 2021

TOP GAINERS 1 2 3 4

VUL MA ZHI ORE

LAST PRICE 2.02 0.012 0.25 1.06

5 6 7 8 9 10

PHA AR UPM PA BHI MG

2.64 0.0067 0.0078 6 0.049 0.32

CHANGE 0.38 0.002 0.038 0.14

% CHANGE 23.17% 20.00% 17.92% 15.22%

0.34 0.0007 0.0008 0.59 0.004 0.025

14.78% 11.67% 11.43% 10.91% 8.89% 8.47%

TOP LOSERS 1 2 3 4

DWC DFNN BCB APC

LAST PRICE 3.44 4.96 3.03 0.43

CHANGE -0.36 -0.51 -0.26 -0.035

% CHANGE -9.47% -9.32% -7.90% -7.53%

5

RLT

0.315

-0.025

-7.35%

6 7 8 9 10

NI APL IPM MAHB ALCPC

2.92 0.32 5.01 2.8 102.3

-0.23 -0.025 -0.39 -0.21 -7.6

-7.30% -7.25% -7.22% -6.98% -6.92%

MOST ACTIVE 1 2

APL BSC

VOLUME VALUE (PHP) 5,168,930,000 1,599,190,420.00 868,925,000 972,005,940.00

3 4 5

AR BDO SM

118,393,000,000 679,800,800.00 5,073,070 560,611,109.00 521,960 542,400,730.00

6 7 8 9

DITO PHA SMPH TEL

42,982,700 165,958,000 9,068,600 225,200

533,907,842.00 418,684,100.00 341,718,465.00 314,821,700.00

10

ALI

7,350,700

287,770,335.00

NEW SAMSUNG GALAXY. Visitors take pictures in front of a big display screen showing the Samsung Galaxy S21 during a domestic launch event at a flagship store of SK Telecom in Seoul on January 22, 2021. AFP

Stocks fall for 6 straight day; PLDT leads decliners T th

HE stock market dropped for the sixth straight session Friday in step with the rest of Asia following rising COVID-19 cases in Europe and the US.

The Philippine Stock Exchange slumped 94.46 points, or 1.3 percent, to 7,045.83 on a value turnover of P11.4 billion. Losers beat gainers, 117 to 104, with 39 issues unchanged.

PLDT Inc., the biggest telecommunications firm, fell 3.1 percent to P1,390, while SM Investments Corp. of the Sy Group declined 3 percent to P1,035.

AC Energy Corp., the power generating unit of conglomerate Ayala Corp., slipped 2.4 percent to P6.80, while magnetite iron miner Apollo Global Capital Inc. shed 7.2 percent to P0.32.

The rest of Asian markets fell Friday as investors took a breather following a strong week for global equities as Joe Biden took up residence in the White House, though there were concerns about the outlook for his new stimulus proposal.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen walks through art pieces installed for the Portuguese presidency ahead of a presser at the end of a video conference meeting of the members of the European Council focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, in Brussels, on January 21, 2021.

The EU leaders will discuss coordination on the response to the pandemic, including the large-scale rollout of vaccines and the deployment of all available instruments to limit the spread of the virus. AFP

BRUSSELS BELGIUM—EU leaders on Thursday “strongly discouraged” Europeans from non-essential travel and warned tougher restrictions on trips could come within days if efforts to curb the coronavirus fell short.

EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel issued the warning after a four-hour summit by video link with the heads of government of the 27-nation bloc focused on responding to the second wave of the pandemic.

The tone of urgency was fueled by fears over the spread of highly contagious coronavirus variants that could send already high infection rates skyrocketing and strain hospitals, as is happening in former EU member Britain.

“All non-essential travel should be strongly discouraged both within the country and of course across borders,” von der Leyen, head of the European Commission, told a media conference.

Michel, president of the European Council, said: “It will be probably necessary to take additional restrictive measures in order to limit the non-essential travels and that is the orientation that we are taking.”

Both added that further coordination on that issue would be made in “the next days.”

But both also said the EU wanted to avoid a repeat of the height of the first wave, in March last year, when several member states panicked and closed off national borders unilaterally, triggering travel and economic chaos.

“It is absolutely important to keep the single market functioning,” von der Leyen said, so that workers and freight can continue to cross borders.

The European Union is “one epidemiological zone,” she said.

PARIS, France—Emerging stronger from the COVID-19 pandemic, Asia is set to dominate this year’s virtual World Economic Forum as a virus-battered West struggles and a new US president faces particularly daunting challenges.

The 2020 WEF, which took place in its usual Swiss Alpine resort of Davos, saw the global elite just starting to worry about a pandemic that surfaced in China a month earlier.

While the coronavirus leaves a mounting death toll and upends economies, depriving millions of people of work, China and Asian countries in 2021 are making a strong comeback from the virus that hit them first.

In virtual format because of the pandemic, next week’s event is headlined: “A Crucial Year to Rebuild Trust.”

The spotlight will be on Chinese President Xi Jinping, who will give a speech on Monday, the opening day of the event that will last through next Friday.

The big names from Europe will be German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who heads the European Union executive.

US President Joe Biden will not appear at the virtual Davos, which has never been a fixture on the White House calendar—even if the new administration has pledged to revive a US multilateral foreign policy after four years of Donald Trump’s America First approach.

Trump had been an exception as he stopped in Davos twice, with the real estate billionaire enjoying mixing with the global business elite.

Before him, Bill Clinton was the only American president who had travelled to Davos, and that was just once. AFP

The new president spent his first full the S&P 500, though the Dow inched day firing out a series of executive or- slightly lower. ders to kickstart the government’s battle Top infectious disease adviser Anagainst COVID-19 as he looks to get the thony Fauci said the president’s goal of world’s top economy back on its feet, distributing 100 million doses of vacincluding ramping up its vaccination cine within his first 100 days was “absoprogram. lutely” achievable. With AFP But he warned that the counManila try would probably record its 500,000th death next month as Standard NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC TODAY the disease surges, though there Huang Hsiang Development Corporation (“HHDC”) is the registered owner of parcels of land was some optimism as infeclocated at Roxas Boulevard corner M.H. Del Pilar Street corner Pasaje del Carmen (the “Subject tions appeared to be plateauing.

Properties”) covered by Transfer Certificates of Title Nos. 208479, 208480, 208481, and 208482 Asia was in the red, with (“HHDC Titles”).

Hong Kong down more than HHDC learned that an Affidavit of Loss dated 28 October 2020 (“Affidavit of Loss”) was filed with one percent on profit-taking the Registry of Deeds for the City of Manila (“Manila RD”) by a certain Mr. Johnson C. Yu. In the after cracking 30,000 points Affidavit of Loss, Mr. Johnson C. Yu falsely claims that: (1) he is the holder and custodian of the Thursday for the first time since HHDC Titles which he lost in a taxi sometime in October 2020; and (2) he is the Vice Chairman of HHDC. April 2019, though analysts say a flood of cash from mainland The general public is hereby notified and warned NOT TO DEAL with Mr. Johnson C. Yu in any Chinese traders should buoy matter or transaction involving or relating to HHDC and/or the HHDC Titles. Mr. Johnson C. Yu the market for some time to is NOT IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH HHDC. He is not and has never been the holder or custodian of the HHDC Titles. He is not and has never been the Vice Chairman of HHDC. He is come. not and has never been an officer or director of HHDC and has never been authorized to act for or Tokyo, Shanghai, Sydney, represent HHDC or any of its directors and officers. The statements contained in the Affidavit of Loss Seoul, Singapore and Taipei are FALSE. The owner’s duplicate original copies of the HHDC Titles are NOT lost and have always also fell, though there were been and remain safely in HHDC’s possession and control. gains in Wellington.

HHDC discovered that fake/falsified General Information Sheets (“Fake/Falsified GIS”) have been The losses came despite a filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in 2019 and 2020 falsely indicating, broadly positive lead from Wall among others, that Mr. Johnson C. Yu is the Vice Chairman of HHDC. The Company Registration Street, where the Nasdaq fired and Monitoring Department (“CRMD”) of the SEC has issued an Order dated 26 October 2020 to another record along with directing the cancellation of the Fake/Falsified GIS filed in 2019. The CRMD of the SEC found that

EU leaders discourage travel, eye tougher rules

By Marc Burleigh

Asia set to dominate Davos talks amid virus

“We will only contain the virus if we have targeted measures, and not unnecessary measures like a blanket closure of borders, which would severely hurt our economy, but not very much restrict the virus.”

But to avoid closing the intra-EU borders in the passportfree Schengen zone, testing needs to be stepped up, leaders agreed.

From Sunday, anybody arriving from outside the EU— possible only for those with essential reasons—could have to have a test for COVID-19 before departure, von der Leyen said.

Within the EU, some countries will apply prior testing for cross-border trips that do not come under essential categories such as workers and truck drivers.

From Sunday France will require a negative PCR test 72 hours before departure for most European arrivals other than those on essential travel, President Emmanuel Macron told the European Council, according to his office.

A statement from Macron’s office said “some of his European counterparts” have also chosen this approach.

Variant spreading in Portugal The summit also backed wider use of antigen tests in other situations deemed low-risk. Those tests, often using saliva samples, are cheaper and faster—though less reliable—than nose-probing PCR tests.

Thursday’s summit started just as the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control said there was a “very high” probability of the more contagious variants spreading in the European Union.

These mutations—which emerged in Britain, South Africa and Brazil—have already prompted bans or restrictions on travelers from those countries. AFP

there is “an attempt of certain persons, who are neither directors nor officers of the Corporation [HHDC], to physically take over the identity and the resources of the Corporation [HHDC] by taking advantage of the processes of the Commission.” A copy of the said Order is reproduced below.

HHDC likewise takes this opportunity to warn the public of fraudulent and unauthorized documents (secretary’s certificate, board resolution, special power of attorney, and General Information Sheets) which purportedly show that certain individuals have been authorized by HHDC to sell or mortgage the Subject Properties. Please be advised that HHDC IS NOT SELLING OR MORTGAGING the Subject Properties, and no person has been authorized to sell or mortgage the same. In fact, the Subject Properties are the subject of a Writ of Preliminary Injunction issued by the Regional Trial Court of Manila (Civil Case No. R-MNL-18-08329-CV) which prohibits, among others, the sale, mortgage, encumbrance, or disposition of the Subject Properties. We advise the public to be prudent in dealing with the fraudulent and unauthorized documents, as well as with persons representing themselves to be authorized to sell the Subject Properties. HHDC shall not hesitate to criminally and civilly prosecute any person(s) who falsifies documents or who will attempt to defraud HHDC by selling or mortgaging or attempting to sell or mortgage the Subject Properties.

For any questions or concerns, please contact HHDC’s counsel at (+632) 8555-9555.

(MS-JAN. 23 & 29 2021)

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

B4

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2021

Business

Friday, January 22, 2021

7,045.83

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

135,081,403,936 202,751 11,387,600,467.67 104 117 39

Foreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.0470

Japan

Yen

0.009664

0.4643

UK

Pound

1.373500

65.9926

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129007

6.1984

Switzerland

Franc

1.129816

54.2843

Canada

Dollar

0.791578

38.0329

Singapore

Dollar

0.756430

36.3442

Australia

Dollar

0.776300

37.2989

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655478

127.5878

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266596

12.8091

Brunei

Dollar

0.753580

36.2073

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000072

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.033422

1.6058

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.0819

Euro

Euro

1.216600

58.4540

Korea

Won

0.000909

0.0437

China

Yuan

0.154811

7.4382

India

Rupee

0.013706

0.6585

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.248262

11.9282

New Zealand

Dollar

0.721200

34.6515

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035779

1.7191 Source: BSP

British bank expects GDP to grow 6.1% after slump

By Julito G. Rada STANDARD Chartered Bank expects gross domestic product to rebound with a 6.1-percent growth this year from an expected slump of 8.9 percent in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Standard Chartered economist for Asia and the Philippines Chidu Narayanan said in an online briefing Friday the economy would continue to recover beginning the fourth quarter of 2020.

“We expect a 6.1-percent growth in 2021 to be driven by public investment and higher fiscal spending of the government,” he said.

Narayanan, however, said private investment might continue to remain “very low.”

He said to achieve that level of growth in 2021, jobs should return to the pre-pandemic levels and business activity should increase.

“These two factors should come back... Daily COVID infections must also be under control,” he said.

He said while consumption was expected to pick up this year, it would remain subdued. “Consumption will pick up but not so much,” he said.

Narayanan said from an 11.5-percent GDP contraction in the third, the fourth-quarter GDP was expected to settle at -6.1 percent.

He said GDP was expected to show positive numbers beginning the first quarter of 2021 with a 2.1-percent expansion.

Narayanan said remittances were expected to post a mild contraction in 2020.

He said remittances might grow within a range of 3 percent to 5 percent in 2021. “That will support consumption in 2021,” he said.

Narayanan said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas might not reduce the policy interest rate this year, as inflation is expected to remain within the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent.

The BSP last month decided to keep the overnight borrowing rate at a record low of 2 percent, taking into account the manageable inflation rate which averaged 2.6 percent last year.

AYALA EXPANSION. AyalaLand Logistics Holdings Corp. breaks ground on ready-built facilities at the Cavite Technopark in Naic, Cavite under its industrial leasing brand ‘ALogis’. Leading the ceremony are (from left) ALLHC deputy general manager for industrial parks and real estate logistics Rona Sañez; head of property management for industrial parks and real estate logistics Justin David; head of ALogis Bianca Tan; Laguna Technopark Inc. chief finance officer Sherri Pasquil; ALLHC president and chief executive Rowena Tomeldan; head of project management and technical services for industrial parks and real estate logistics Hezron Arandela; chief finance officer Francis Montojo; and head of industrial parks and real estate logistics Patrick Avila.

PSE approves Cebu Pacific’s $250-m fund-raising program

By Jenniffer B. Austria

T

HE Philippine Stock Exchange approved the $250-million fundraising plan of Cebu Airline Inc., the operator of low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific.

The PSE on Friday announced the approval of Cebu Air’s stock rights offering of US-dollar denominated convertible preferred shares.

The beleaguered airline will offer up to 337.837 million US-dollar denominated convertible preferred shares at a price of $0.74 to $0.84 apiece.

The convertible preferred shares are cumulative, non-voting, non-participating and convertible into common shares.

Any convertible preferred shares that remain outstanding on the sixth anniversary of the issue date will be automatically converted into common shares on such date.

CPAir Holdings Inc., the principal shareholder which beneficially owns 66.77 percent of the airline’s outstanding capital stock, agreed to subscribe to its entitlement rights.

The shareholders of the company as of Feb. 10, 2021 will be entitled to participate in the rights offering.

Documents showed the offering period will be from Feb.

26 to March 4, 2021. The shares will be listed on the PSE on March 19, 2021.

Cebu Air engaged BPI Capital Corp. as the underwriter of the transaction.

Cebu Air is raising funds as the airline industry faces significant challenges as a result of unprecedented events brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aside from raising additional capital to strengthen its balance sheet, Cebu Air implemented a business transformation exercise that involves right-sizing of network and fleet to meet new demand and improvement of operations efficiency through process and policy enhancements and digitalization.

The airline earlier reported a net loss of P14.68 billion from January to September last year, a turnaround from the P6.76billion net income it earned in the same period in 2019.

Cebu Air said travel restrictions, both local and abroad, led to the abrupt reduction in passenger traffic and cast uncertainty over the near-term prospects despite its market leadership.

It said the lockdowns imposed in various parts of the country also led to cancellation of flights across the group’s entire network.

Local airlines continued to reel from the impact of travel restrictions this year after the government extended the temporary ban on foreign nationals until Jan. 31, 2021 to prevent the spread of the new COVID-19 variant.

Aboitiz Power unit renews power deal with N. Ecija co-op

By Alena Mae S. Flores

EV OWNERS. Hyundai Asia Resources Inc., the local distributor of Hyundai vehicles, joins fellow advocates of the newly-formed EV Owners Society to reignite interest in electric mobility in the country. The EV Owners Society, the sub-group of electric vehicle owners formed by the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines, aims to bring together private EV owners and other industry stakeholders to discuss and advance the future of the local EV market.

Business groups say no to Charter change, eye focus on recovery

By Othel V. Campos BUSINESS groups on Friday called on the government to maintain its focus on ensuring the safe economic recovery this year and avoid tinkering with the 1987 Constitution ahead of the 2022 elections.

The business groups said they were supporting legislative reforms that would raise Philippine economy to global standards. The groups include the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, Filipina CEO Circle, Investment House Association of the Philippines, Judicial Reform Initiative, Management Association of the Philippines, Makati Business Club, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Philippine Women’s Economic Network, Philippine Retailers Association

By Darwin G. Amojelar LUZON International Premiere Air-

PSE INDEX CLOSING -94.46 PTS.

LIPAD: New Clark terminal operational by July this year

and Women’s Business Council.

“We support initiatives to liberalize the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution to enhance the country’s competitive position globally.

However, we are strongly opposed to any initiative at this time to amend the constitution,” the groups said.

The 10 groups said any charter change 15 months before presidential elections would only raise fears that additional constitutional changes might be introduced and passed.

“Thus any attempt at Charter Change now will be highly divisive at a time when our country still needs to be totally united in our efforts to overcome the ill effects of the pandemic,” the groups said.

They also asked presidential and congressional candidates in the coming

2022 elections to express their support for the relaxation of restrictive economic provisions in the Constitution and commit to initiate steps for the adoption of such provisions within the first 12 months of their term.

They also pushed for the enactment of other bills pending in Congress that will open doors to the economy that the Constitution kept locked against the entry of foreign investors. These include the Public Service Act Amendment which was approved by the House of Representatives and is pending at the Senate committee on public services.

“The bill lifts restrictions on foreign equity ownership in some sectors currently classified as public utility. We are hoping for this and other economic bills to be enacted before the end of the 18th Congress,” they said.

ABOITIZ Power Corp. said Friday subsidiary AP Renewables Inc. renewed its partnership with Nueva Ecija II Electric Cooperative Area 1 for another five years beginning December 2020.

APRI is set to deliver 41 megawatts of clean energy to 10 municipalities within the NEECO II Area 1 franchise area.

APRI president and chief operating officer Dennis Jordan said conducting and participating in a competitive selection process during the pandemic was challenging.

“This is one of the hurdles that both teams had to overcome, but in the end, the results proved to be as rewarding as the journey itself,” Jordan said in a statement.

“It must not have been an easy task to continue the selection in the context of a pandemic and the recent calamities, but the support of NEECO II Area 1 as well as TPBAC’s full cooperation have truly been instrumental in carrying out a fair and streamlined process,” Jordan said.

NEECO II Area 1 board president Reynaldo Villanueva, in a ceremonial signing at the Talavera head office, welcomed the members of the technical working group and the bids and awards committee.

“This partnership with Aboitiz Power is definitely part of a continuing commitment to power the needs of the residents and businesses of the municipalities we serve while minimizing our carbon footprint. It’s been a tough nine months for the NEECO II Area 1 group, but with the strong support from all groups within the organization, we are on-track once again towards fulfilling our unwavering service to the people,” Villanueva said.

port Development Corp. said Friday it expects the new passenger terminal building of Clark International Airport to be operational by July this year.

“We look forward to having this terminal operational in July this year despite the challenges of working during this pandemic because we believe that Clark International Airport is a major growth driver of Central and Northern Luzon,” Bi Yong Chungunco, chief executive of LIPAD, said during the turnover ceremony of the new terminal.

“Getting this terminal ready will contribute to our economic recovery,” she said.

LIPAD, which consists of Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc., Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions Inc. and Changi Airports Philippines Pte. Ltd., is the operator of CIA. The Department of Transportation and Bases Conversion and Development Authority turned over the new passenger building terminal, built by Megawide GMR Construction Joint Venture Inc., to LIPAD. Megawide GMR Construction won the construction package of the Clark International Airport expansion project in December 2017 after submitting the lowest bid of P9.36 billion under a hybrid public-private partnership scheme.

Once operational, it will boost Clark’s operational capacity, tripling the airport’s passenger volume from 4.2 million to 12.2 million annually.

The expansion will also elevate Clark’s stature as “Asia’s next premier gateway” and help decongest the passenger traffic at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Paranaque City.

Airlines operating in Clark include Qatar Airways, Cebu Pacific, Tigerair, Jin Air, Asiana Airlines, Dragon Air, AirAsia Berhad, Philippine Airlines, Korean Air, Xiamen Airlines, Pan Pacific Airlines and Emirates Airlines.

With Jess Malabanan

IN BRIEF

8990 Holdings gets PSE nod to raise P5b THE Philippine Stock Exchange approved the P5-billion preferred shares offering of mass housing developer 8990 Holdings Inc. 8990 Holdings will issue 30 million preferred shares, with an oversubscription option of another 20 million preferred shares at an price of P100 apiece.

The cumulative, non-voting, non-convertible and redeemable preferred shares will be issued as second and last tranche of the company’s shelf registration of 50 million preferred shares.

Net proceeds from the offering will be used to fund general working capital, construction of projects and repayment of debts. The company hired China Bank Capital as the sole issue manager and lead underwriter for the offering from Jan 2, 2021 to Feb. 2, 2021.

The preferred shares will be listed under the main board of the PSE on Feb. 9, 2021 under the trade symbol “8990B”. Jenniffer B. Austria

PLDT Global, Equinix announce partnership PLDT Global Corp. said Friday it teamed up with Equinix, a digital infrastructure company, to deliver a wider range of digital services to customers.

Under the partnership, PLDT Global customers will be able to experience faster speeds of cloud connection, optimized bandwidth and cloud migration cost, enhanced business continuity services and improved security.

“We live in a time when technology is constantly evolving. Both consumers and enterprises are continuously demanding better digital experience. To meet the rising expectation of speed, ubiquity and agility, applications are re-architected moving towards a multi-cloud, multi-technology and multi-collaboration environment,” Diarmid Massey, senior vice president of sales at Equinix Asia-Pacific. said.

“I’d like to thank PLDT Global for trusting and having confidence in our platform to provide high-quality communications infrastructure and innovative solutions to its global network of carriers, enterprise customers, and distribution partners across Asia-Pacific, including Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan,” he said. Darwin G. Amojelar

PH, Indonesia hold copper industry talks THE Philippines committed to forge closer economic and bilateral ties with Indonesia as the two countries are deepening collaboration on boosting the copper industry.

The Board of Investments said it held an online copper industry dialog with the Investment Coordinating Board of Indonesia, along with other government agencies and stakeholders on Jan. 14.

It said the dialogue was conceptualized and proposed during the 8th meeting of the Philippines-Indonesia Joint Working Group on Trade, Investments, Handicrafts and Shipping which was virtually conducted on Aug. 11, 2020.

It is also a follow-up initiative of the Philippine side after presenting economic proposals/ areas for collaboration in the copper industry during the 7th meeting of the PH-ID JWGTIHS on Aug. 26, 2019 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

“This serves as a venue for both countries to exchange information, share good practices, and present investment opportunities and areas for collaboration in the sector, among others.

The dialogue serves as a benchmark for future initiatives and collaborations between the Philippines and Indonesia in different sectors,” said Trade Undersecretary and BOI managing head Ceferino Rodolfo.

Department of Transportation SPECIAL FEATURE

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2021

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DOTr @ 122: Going the extra mile for Filipinos T

By P.Y. Deligero

HE transportation sector found itself in a totally unprecedented situation when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out.

Lockdowns were implemented, businesses were shuttered, and roads were suddenly devoid of the usual volume of vehicles, including those belonging to public transportation.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade

But the need for mobility remained, and in fact became crucial, for frontliners – not just those in the health sector but also those who bravely risked their lives to deliver food and other basic goods as well essential services so that the majority of the population can remain safely at home.

It was in this context that the Department of Transportation, which is marking its 122nd anniversary this year, went over and above its duty to ensure the safe movement of people and goods amid the restrictions and despite the health crisis.

The DOTr offered free bus rides to frontliners to ensure that health workers are able to report for work in their respective hospitals and clinics.

As of January 19, the total number of passengers that availed of the program has reached 2,033,738, of which 560,720 were from the National Capital Region and Greater Manila areas.

“If we hold hands and understand our current situation, this inconvenience, in my view and my belief, is only temporary,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said in an interview in June last year when Metro Manila was placed under the less restrictive General Community Quarantine.

“This will be replaced by what we call the long-lasting convenience and connectivity and mobility of people,” he added.

Transportation infrastructure The pandemic may have delayed the rollout of certain infrastructure projects, but the DOTr strived to meet its targets under less than ideal circumstances last year.

It signed P85 billion in construction contracts for a crucial phase of the North-South Commuter Railway System in Luzon, a major project of the Duterte administration.

The Metro Rail Transit-3 boosted its train operating speed to 60 kilometers per hour in December, cutting the average time between trains by half as a result of rail replacement works in the transportation line.

And just this week, the Santolan, Anonas, and Katipunan stations of the Light Rail Transit Line-2 are finally back in operation after over a year of repair works.

All of these are part of DOTr’s commitment to fulfill the administration’s vision of ushering in a Golden Age of Infrastructure for the country.

The DOTr has already completed 121

airport projects while 111 are still ongoing, in recognition that air connectivity is a vital enabler of economic growth and development.

The department is also working toward improving the railway sector by extending the current length of the country’s railway lines from 77 kilometers to 1,900 kilometers by 2022 and beyond.

As for the maritime sector, the DOTr has carried out immense improvements and advancements in the country’s seaports to boost maritime connectivity and mobility. The DOTr and the Philippine Ports Authority have completed 189 commercial port projects while 37 are ongoing.

Transparency and performance The department has been recognized as one of the Top Performing and Requested Agencies during the 2018 Freedom of Information (FOI) Award, besting more than 300 agencies onboard the government’s eFOI portal.

Since the launch of the eFOI portal in 2016, the DOTr has received a total of 511 requests and was able to process 309 requests from January to November 2018.

The DOTr was also nominated as one of the top three performing agencies under the Department Category, where it was listed along with the

Department of Justice and the Department of Labor and Employment.

Attached agencies under the DOTr were also recognized such as the Light Rail Transit Authority and the Philippine Ports Authority, which was nominated under the Government-Owned & Controlled Corporation category.

Back in 2017, the DOTr also received a plaque of recognition for being the first government agency to enroll all of its attached agencies and offices

into the eFOI portal, and was nominated for the Department Award.

As it celebrates its 122nd anniversary this year, DOTr is working toward completing its 2030 vision of becoming a world-class organization that provides integrated transport, connects people, islands, families, communities and the nation with the rest of the world, constantly responding for environmentally sustainable and global competitive transport.

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Sports

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2021

rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

Japan PM determined to hold Olympics TOKYO—Japan’s prime minister said he was “determined” to hold the Tokyo Olympics as organizers on Friday brushed off a report claiming officials think cancellation is inevitable.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s latest insistence that the postponed Games are on track comes after The Times cited an unnamed government source saying Japan has already shifted its focus to hosting in 2032.

“I am determined to realise a safe and secure Tokyo Games as proof that mankind will have overcome the virus,” Suga said Friday, without actively denying the Times report.

Tokyo 2020 organizers, when asked about the report, said they were focused on delivering a “safe and secure” Games.

“Prime Minister Suga has expressed his determination to hold the Games, the government is leading a series of coordination meetings for COVID-19 countermeasures and is implementing thorough infection countermeasures in order to be able to hold the Games,” they said in a statement.

“All our delivery partners... are fully focused on hosting the Games this summer. We hope that daily life can return to normal as soon as possible, and we will continue to make every effort to prepare for a safe and secure Games,” they added.

Concerns have risen about the fate of the Games as Japan battles a third wave of virus infections, with polls showing around 80 percent of Japanese oppose hosting the event this year.

The Games are currently scheduled to open in just over six months, on July 23.

Meanwhile, International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach said in an interview Thursday that the Olympics will go ahead this summer, and there is “no plan B”.

“We have at this moment, no reason whatsoever to believe that the Olympic Games in Tokyo will not open on the 23rd of July,” Bach told Kyodo News.

“This is why there is no plan B and this is why we are fully committed to make these games safe and successful.”

Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga (center), Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi (left) and Finance Minister Taro Aso (right) attend a cabinet meeting in Tokyo on January 22, 2021, as the prime minister said he was "determined" to hold the Tokyo Olympics following an overnight report claiming officials think cancellation is inevitable. AFP

New virus variant delays PH track team’s training T

By Peter Atencio

HE emergence of a new variant of the coronavirus has pushed back plans to have members of the national athletics' team go into physical training this week.

The tracksters were supposed to go into a training camp bubble at the New Clark City Athletics stadium for two months beginning Monday.

Instead, the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association, led by its president Dr. Philip Ella Juico, will go on with the workouts in the first week of February.

“It was supposed to start the other day.

But because of the documentary requirements that emerged because of the new COVID-19 variant, our athletes will have

Dr. Philip Ella Juico

to undergo swabbing seven times,” said Juico on Zoom.

Juico said this on the occasion of the launch of the Fineguard Sport National Half-Marathon Virtual Challenge, a 21-km distance event from Feb. 22 to 28.

Designed for participants, who are at home during the pandemic, it will be a weeklong event that can be done indoors or outdoors.

Fineguard is the same brand being used

by Tokyo Olympics-bound Ernest “EJ” Obiena in his regular training.

This also the Official Performance Mask of the Athletics' Philippine Team.

Fineguard president and CEO Jim Lafferty also talked about their sponsorship of the national team with PATAFA marketing and communication chief Edward Kho and Fineguard executive Lizette de Guzman.

Runners seeing action in the half marathon can do their running on a treadmill or on the road by themselves, or one continuous session of running within the day and at any time during a 24-hour period.

If participants opt to do their running outdoors, they may choose their own course, from the starting point and finishing stop

Lakers win 8th straight on the road LOS ANGELES—LeBron James scored a season-high 34 points as the Los Angeles Lakers won their eighth straight road game to start the season with a 113-106 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday.

The victory opened a seven game road trip for the first-place Lakers, who are hoping this is the beginning of another win streak. They had a five-game winning streak snapped in their most recent outing, a 115113 loss to Golden State.

James made a clutch three pointer and capped his night with an emphatic double clutch slam dunk as the Lakers improved to a NBA best 12-4 on the season after Thursday's gritty performance at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 23 points and Anthony Davis fin-

ished with 18 points and nine rebounds in the win. Caldwell-Pope sank seven-of-10 threes.

Going on a seven-game road trip might be a daunting task for some teams but not the Lakers, who have excelled away from Staples Center arena this season by compiling a franchise best 8-0 start on the road.

"We still have a lot to improve on," said Caldwell-Pope. "It is coming along. We are just playing for each other."

The Lakers made 19-of-37 from beyond the arc and bottled up Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Antetokounmpo had a career high nine turnovers.

Jrue Holiday tallied 22 points and Khris Middleton scored 20 for the Bucks, who lost just their sec-

ond game of the season at home and have lost two straight for the first time this season.

The Lakers started the fourth with a five point lead, 86-81, but quickly extended that to 11 points. The Bucks took advantage of some sloppy Laker defence to go on a 9-0 run to close the gap to 98-96 with three minutes to go.

But James and Alex Caruso each drained key three pointers in the final two minutes. James put the game away in style by driving hard to the basket and dunking it with 15 seconds remaining in the fourth. AFP

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on January 21, 2021 at the Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. AFP

Eala stuns no. 2 seed in ITF meet ALEX Eala again made heads turn in the in the international women’s professional circuit.

The 15-year-old Eala stunned world women’s no.

2 and top seeded Seone Mendez of Australia, 6-4, 6-1, in the second round of the W15 Manacor ITF tournament on Thursday evening.

After racing to a 3-0 start in the opening set and letting Mendez tie the score at 4-4, Eala took the last two points in the first set of their 80-minute encounter.

Eala went on to claim the win by taking points on 33 out 49 first serves.

The tournament, which is a Rafa Nadal Academy-sponsored event, will have Eala advancing to the quarterfinals against Carole Monet of France.

Eala’s win was one of three big upsets that day, with world junior girls' no. 2 Victoria Kasintseva and fourth seed Alice Rame also dropping out.

Emilia Arango ousted Kasintseva, 6-1, 6-2, while Jean Jean eased out Rame, 6-3, 6-4.

Second seed Simona Waltert of Switzerland also made it to the quarterfinals with a 6-2, 6-2, triumph over Tess Sugnaux.

Eala, whose Women’s Tennis Association ranking has gone up to 1180 from 1594, is now seeking her best finish in the professional competition.

Now on her fifth pro tournament, Eala recently made it to the first round of the W15 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Last Tuesday, Eala eked out a 6-1, 6-2 win over Italian foe Anna Paradisi in the opener. Peter Atencio

Bucks-branded Tanduay Rum to be made available in Wisconsin TANDUAY is now an official partner of the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Mil-waukee Bucks. As part of their partnership, the two brands created a co-branded package for Tanduay Rum to be sold in Wisconsin in early 2021.

“Tanduay Rum is a premium spirit that is recognized across the world for its taste, quality and popularity,” said Milwaukee Bucks Chief Business Development Officer Matt Pazaras. “We’re thrilled to expand our international partner footprint to the Philippines, which has one of the Bucks’ most engaged international fan bases, and we’re excited to bring Tanduay’s finest rum to Fiserv Forum and Deer District. We look forward to Bucks fans enjoying the world’s best-selling rum at games, concerts, and events very soon. Tagay!”

Tanduay, which has been hailed the World’s Number 1 Rum, will begin distributing its products throughout Fiserv Forum, the surrounding Deer District, and in The MECCA Sports Bar & Grill. The Fiserv Forum is a multi-purpose arena and home of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks located in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It will also

Tanduay partners with Milwaukee Bucks.

receive naming rights to an anchor bar on the main concourse of Fiserv Forum in the 2021-22 NBA season.

“We are honored to partner with one of the NBA’s best teams and bring our products not just for our fellow Filipinos but for everyone in Wiscon-

sin to enjoy,” said Tanduay Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing Paul Lim. “We would like to thank the Bucks’ management for their trust in our brand and we are looking forward to all the exciting activities that will result from our partnership.”

Tanduay and the Bucks have inked a three-year partnership agreement.

“Tanduay has started to work with NBA teams and the Bucks noticed that. Tanduay identified the Bucks and Wisconsin as a growth market so the partnership came together seamlessly. What Tanduay has done is extremely smart and more brands should follow this model. Tanduay has expanded its reach far beyond Asian markets to reach NBA fans around the world by partnering with some of the best teams in the league,” according to Pazaras on behalf of the Bucks management.

They added that they love all of their fans “but we know that Filipino fans are special.”

“We hope that Filipino NBA fans will become Bucks fans as we work to win the NBA championship,” Pazaras added.

For Tanduay’s part, Lim said that it is proud to

partner with one of the brightest young teams of the NBA. “We feel very proud being the only Filipino brand to partner with NBA teams. When we started this journey of using sports as a marketing tool for our brand, we never imagined it to become as big as it is now. We are very thankful to our partners for trusting our brand and working with us even during the pandemic for this to come into fruition,” Lim said.

As part of its aggressive expansion in the US, Tanduay is continuing its partnership with the Golden State Warriors and two more NBA teams. The partnerships for the two other NBA teams are set to be sealed within the month.

Tanduay closed 2020 with a bang as it furthered its presence in international markets. Aside from Wisconsin, it also entered the wines and spirits markets of Hawaii, Indiana, Minnesota, Nevada, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, California, Tennessee, and Michigan. Its products are now likewise available in the U.S. territory of Guam, and the countries of China, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates.

Tech & Gadgets Huawei: More focus on data minimization, biz continuity management SHENZHEN—Huawei today hosted a webinar comprising an expert panel to discuss the lessons learnt on data protection in 2020 and the trends to watch out for in 2021.

The speakers included Felix Wittern, Partner at multinational law firm, Fieldfisher; Ramses Gallego, International Chief Technology Officer, Cyber Security at global software & IT company, Micro Focus and Joerg Thomas who leads the Data Protection Office at Huawei. The panel offered a comprehensive view, providing the legal, technical and business implications of growing changes and stricter enforcements in data protection laws on corporates in the telecoms industry. Citing the dangers of increased litigation, the panel highlighted how co-operation, focus on technology and transparency would help corporates prepare for challenges going forward.

The shifting sands of the data protection landscape in 2020 and what it means for 2021 2020 was a challenging year for data protection—COVID-19 digital contact tracing and general health surveillance added to an already complex landscape of human rights and privacy laws.

The Schrems II judgment and a looming Brexit put in play some key changes that will fully unravel in 2021. Added to this were data sovereignty strategies of governments, stricter enforcement of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) not to mention impact of new technologies such as 5G and artificial intelligence (AI).

Elaborating on the challenges, Felix Wittern, Partner, Fieldfisher said, "There's never a dull day in privacy! Take for example the Schrems II ruling that was announced in July last year—it poses one of the biggest challenges around international data transfers, outside the European Economic Area (EEA). As regulators themselves make sense of the evolving situation, MNCs that do not tread carefully will be liable for hefty fines. In fact, while COVID-19 actually slowed down enforcements, going forward I predict a lot of litigation in this space. Corporates will do well to co-operate with regulators as a common ground is reached rather than take a confrontational stance."

He further touched upon issues such as data localization—i.e if data doesn't leave the EU, the challenge of companies dealing with their subsidiaries in other countries still warranted attention. On the subject of Brexit, he mentioned how the final solution was still at least six months away as bridging to adequacy requirements were put under the test.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2021

Southeast Asian women in tech face barriers to career progression A

LMOST half of women in Southeast Asia (SEA) working in technology believe the effects of COVID-19 have delayed their career progression, despite 64% of women believing that much needed gender equality is more likely to be achieved through remote working structures.

While lockdown life was earmarked as a possible accelerator towards equal gender opportunity in IT positions, lingering social biases have hindered this potential breakthrough period.

Lockdown life was generally predicted to bring about a positive industry shift in the fight for gender equality.

By levelling the playing fields from a social and family planning perspective, traditional stereotypes around availability and longevity when it comes to women’s careers would be removed. The impact of COVID meant that companies were accelerated or even forced into this new norm overnight, and to an extent, this prediction has yielded positive steps forward in terms of the overall industry mindset.

Kaspersky’s new Women in Tech report, Where are we now? Understanding the evolution of women in technology, found that almost a third of women (25%) from the region working in the tech industry do indeed prefer working at home to working in the office. A similar number report they work most efficiently when working from home, and as many as 28% revealed they have more autonomy when not working in an office, a tad lower than the global results at 33%.

However, more concerning statistics from this report highlight

Where are we now Understanding the evolution of women in technology

how the potential of remote working for women in tech isn’t quite being matched by social progression in this ‘working from home’ dynamic. Almost half of Southeast Asian women (46%) working in technology have struggled to juggle work and family life since March 2020. This trend is at its most prominent in North America, but is a consistent worldwide trend.

Delving deeper, and the reasons for this imbalance become clearer.

When female respondents were asked about the day-to-day functions that are detracting from productivity or work progression, 66% said they had done the majority of cleaning in the home, 68% had been in charge of home schooling and 56% of women

have had to adapt their working hours in order to look after the family. As a result, 48% of women believe that the effects of COVID-19 have actually delayed, rather than enhanced, their overall career progression.

“The effect of the pandemic broadly differed for women. Some appreciated the greater flexibility and lack of commute from working at home, whilst others shared that they were on the verge of burnout.

It’s paramount that companies ensure their managers are aligned with their strategy to support employees with caregiving responsibilities.

“The other significant trend that the pandemic has accelerated is the co-existence of remote and hybrid employees within the same organi-

zation. This can be a challenge for women working remotely as they may experience less access to top management working from offices. This may decrease their chances to be considered for the kind of stretch assignments that lead to promotions. Employers need to be conscious of those disadvantages and plan accordingly to minimize them,” comments Dr Patricia Gestoso, Head of Scientific Customer Support at BIOVIA, 2020 Women in Software Changemakers winner, and prominent member of professional women’s network, Ada’s List.

While these examples of social disparity aren’t tech specific, they do point towards a barrier that is preventing women from capitalising on the past year’s shift to remote working. As many as 46% of women in tech from SEA (compared to 39% of men) believe an equal working environment would be best for career progression, and 64% think that remote working is an optimum way to achieve that equality. The tech sector must now leverage its own encouraging momentum in the hope that social stereotypes enable this chain of events in the months and years to come.

Merici Vinton, Co-Founder and CEO at Ada’s List adds: "Companies need to signal, both through culture and policy, that they will give working parents of both genders the flexibility they need during COVID (and beyond). Companies need to understand that representation does matter and having women in leadership, majority-women teams and women in interviews demonstrates that there's space for women in their company. Finally, we see lots of successful companies partner with external women's organizations who can challenge you, push you forward, and also provide external inspiration for your employees.”

Expect faster, more affordable prints

Brother launches its new Ink Refill Tank machines with improved print speeds, cost-efficiency, and mobile connectivity for today’s home, SOHO and office environments.

with Brother’s feature-rich ink tank printers THE future of business printing is changing, and with the shift to remote working, SOHOs and small-office environments, Brother has developed a new line of compact, space-saving print solutions that deliver improved user-friendliness, print speeds and stellar cost-effectiveness – all without compromising connectivity, print quality, and features.

“With the increase in remote working and the implementation of social distancing protocols in the office, the benefits of decentralizing your printing fleet can result in significant cost-savings and a great boost to productivity.” says Glenn Hocson, President at Brother Philippines. “Brother’s latest Ink Tank Printers offer powerful and affordable solutions in small, compact packages that can be effortlessly deployed across home and office departments to provide excellent print quality while keeping printing costs low. And of course, they will feature wireless and mobile connectivity for seamless productivity and workflows.”

This series features a total of 5 new models to suit every business need. Performance and enhanced features for this new series include:

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Brother’s latest Ink Tank Printers offer powerful and affordable solutions in small, compact packages that can be effortlessly deployed across home and office departments

Incredible Cost Efficiency • Outstanding cost-per-page – Ultra high-yield ink refill bottles allow you to print up to 7,500 pages in black and 5,000 pages in color • Automatically reduce paper wastage – Reduce paper wastage by up to 50% with Automatic 2-sided printing

• Award-winning reliability – Cut down the costs of repairs and servicing with our awardwinning “Customer First” commitment.

Simply a Breeze to Use • Customizable one-touch Copy Shortcut – A quick one-touch copying feature for quick access to commonly-used copy functions.

• Plug and play simplicity – This series can be used straight out of the box without the need for any driver installation on Windows 10 PCs and notebooks.

• User-friendly navigation – The user interface has been reworked to make it easier than ever before to print, scan or copy.

• Convenient access for refills – The embedded, front-access tank on Brother’s Refill Tank System offers quick, fuss-free refills without the mess.

• Multi-page copy, scan & fax capabilities – Perform multi-page copy, scan and fax jobs without having to insert the pages individually with the built-in 20-sheets Automatic Document Feeder • Monitor ink levels at a glance – The transparent ink tank cover allows users to clearly view individual ink levels for timely refills Speed Up Your Productivity • Fast print speeds – Enjoy fast print speeds1,3 of up to 17 ipm for mono prints, and 16.5 ipm for color

• Quick first-page-out times – Spend less time waiting at the device with fast firstpage-out times of just 6 sec for mono prints and 6.5 sec for colour prints.

• Professional print quality – New dyebased black ink results in brilliant photos, crisp lines and clear text with superior colour vibrancy.

• Multiple connectivity options – Easily share your device among the entire workgroup with built-in wireless and Ethernet connectivity.

Print Wherever You Are • Email print – Wherever you are, you can simply email your documents to be printed on these devices.

• Effortless mobile printing – Print directly from your iPhone, iPad, Android™ or Windows® Mobile device through Brother’s iPrint&Scan, Apple Airprint, and Mopria • Scan and print without network access – Wi-Fi Direct enables you to print or scan directly from your mobile device without access to your network.

Bayad Center rebrands as Bayad, elevating PH financial experience BAYAD Center, the country’s most trusted payments authority has rebranded with a new brand identity, logo and tagline as it connects with the new generation of payers, expand its digital footprint, and further contribute to the advancement of the country’s finance sector.

Now known as Bayad, the brand’s transformation was driven by the company’s commitment to elevate the payment and financial experience of Filipinos. Building on its 20-year history and market leadership, Bayad reinvents itself as a bigger, better, and younger brand to adapt to the evolving financial needs of Filipinos in the face of accelerating digital transformation and recovery from the ongoing pandemic.

Bigger, Better, Younger Bayad With the rebranding, the paying public can expect a Bigger Bayad as the company expands its service and solutions portfolio, biller, and channel partner network, as well as its onsite-to-online platform. It is a Better Bayad because all the trusted payment

solutions - Bills, Instasure (insurance), Load, Travel, Pay-out (loan disbursement), Withdraw (ATM transactions), Remit, and Medassist (medical reimbursement) - are now under one name. And finally, it is a Younger Bayad as the brand sports a new look and vibe that resonates with the modern generation of consumers who lead dynamic lifestyles, as they establish themselves or build a good life for their families.

Bayad President and CEO, Lawrence Ferrer elaborates, “We see a new world order emerging from advances in technology, business, and social spaces. We are transforming to keep pace with the times and people we serve. But always, we are guided by our belief that Filipinos deserve to be rewarded for their hard work, and so we always think of ways to make payments and other financial services simple, fast, and readily available in every home and community.”

Bayad in the new normal Since its inception, Bayad has been revolutionizing financial services through

technology and has been supporting the advancement of fintech in the country. It further boosts its digital presence with the introduction of its revamped mobile app and online payment facility.

The Bayad app is an all-in-one pera transaction platform that provides an acces-

sible, easy, and reliable way of managing funds and earning incentives with family and friends. It is designed for digitally-savvy Filipinos who want to live responsibly and keep their personal expenses in check while earning exclusive rewards. The app carries an array of valuable features such as e-wallet

& e-load, bills viewing and payment, personal financial manager, QR payments, rewards, insurance, savings accounts, personal loans, and credit scoring system.

The new Bayad Online, as an extension of the Bayad Centers, offer the same safe, hassle-free, and reliable payment acceptance that is available 24/7 and can be accessed from anywhere in the world.

As a trailblazing feature, both Bayad digital touchpoints significantly benefit Meralco customers by being the first to introduce a real-time posting of Meralco payments through its system. With a few clicks and taps, every Meralco customer is assured that payments made through the Bayad App and Online are immediately posted in their accounts.

From its humble beginnings as an over-the-counter payment center solely for Meralco, Bayad has evolved to be a fullservice fintech company, offering a whole suite of financial products and services available through its extensive physical and digital channels.

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor

C4

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23 , 2021

Motoring

Auto industry sees slow growth with import curbs

By Othel V. Campos

T

HE proposed safeguard measures on imported vehicle will shed at least 10 percent of projected sales over the next 5 years, based on a recent industry study.

Based on the slides presented by KIA president Manny Alegado, the Philippine auto industry while sustaining growth will take a slower path to recovering its preCOVID-19 performance, under an auto safeguards regime.

Prior to the proposal to impose safeguard measures on imported vehicles, the industry came up with a 5-year recalibrated growth trajectory, wherein sales were projected to reach 439,000 units by 2025. However, in a scenario where safeguards are in place, the projected sales could slow down to 397,000 units in 2025. The gap of more than 40,000 units was expected to arise from the safeguard measures on local auto sales.

Industry officials said that with the safeguards in place, it may take more than

5 years to reach the 2019 sales level of 416,637 units.

In 2021, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) estimated that sales will recover from 250,000 units in 2019 to 273,000 units, with safeguards. However, sales could be higher at 301,000 units, without safeguard measures.

Alegado said Kia Motors Philippines is optimistic for 2021 prospects despite the impending imposition of safeguard measures on auto imports.

“We will continue to strive to double our market share in 2021 and triple digit growth moving into 2021. Our intention is to repeat 2019 performance wherein we ended with 5,015 units sold. ,” he said in a

briefing Thursday.

The car company currently has 1 percent share of the local automotive market.

Sales in 2020 plunged by over 50 percent.

It is banking on the introduction of 2 new models it plans to bring within the second half of 2021 to recoup sales and possibly another 2 models if sales are good.

To maximize its footprint, the brand intends to add 8 more dealers and 2 more sales outlets to add to its network of 30 dealers in 2020.

Alegado said the company will continue to engage dealers to provide better customer service as it plans to increase its parts inventory by 5 times that will cover maintenance, mechanical and collision parts. Partners from China and Korea will deliver the parts directly to dealers within 7 days thru its new logistics partner, DHL. With the use of remote diagnostic technology, KIA expects to beef up its services providing dealers with real-time expert advise on how to resolve issues.

Alegado also mentioned that the company will be offering customers options as it introduces a new mineral oil which is 40 percent more affordable than synthetic oil.

Hyundai volts

Ford’s compact SUV: Small but terrible

in with EV owners

THE country’s distributor of Hyundai vehicles, HARI joins fellow advocates of the newly-formed EV Owners Society to fire up interest in electric mobility in the country.

The EV Owners Society, the sub-group of electric vehicle owners formed by the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (eVAP), aims to bring together private EV owners and other industry stakeholders to discuss and advance the future of the local EV market.

Society Adviser and current eVAP President Edmund Araga underscored the group’s important role in promoting sustainable mobility in the country, while Society President and Philippine Parts Maker Association (PPMA) President Ferdi Raquelsantos assured everyone that EVs are exempt from the new DTI safeguard measures on vehicle imports.

“We welcome and support this development,” said HARI President and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo. “It’s been a long time coming. Globally, Hyundai has been leading the charge in commercializing

KIA president Manny Alegado

new energy vehicles, while HARI is one of the first local car companies to introduce EVs to the Philippine market.”

HARI debuted the full electric variants of the IONIQ hatchback and the Kona crossover at the 2019 Manila International Auto Show.

In August 2020, Hyundai Motor Company launched the IONIQ sub-brand for its line of customer-centric electric vehicles.

The Hyundai IONIQ Electric boasts zero emissions, smart aerodynamics, and

sets the standard in electric drive technology. It has an estimated range of over 373 kilometers powered by a high-efficiency, high-power permanent magnet-type electric motor which produces 136 PS. It has all the bells and whistles including a multimedia information center, drive mode selector, electronic gear shift, six airbags, and 357-liter luggage capacity. In 2020, it won top awards, beating other emerging local EV brands, at the first virtual C! Magazine Awards, adding on to its string of global citations.

IF WE are to take Ford Philippines’ sales pitch at its face value, then the saying that small is terrible indeed holds water.

It took only five months for the USbadged company to realize the gains from its comeback in the small SUV segment with the launch of the all-new Ford Territory in 2020.

Full-year sales of the sub-compact SUVreached 1,925 vehicles, or a 33 percent share in the its segment, according to Ford.

The Ford-engineered and designed SUV boosted Ford’s SUV portfolio as it complemented the needs and lifestyles of young professionals and starting familiese.

Further expanding its lineup in the SUV and pickup segments in the country, Ford also launched the Everest Trend, Everest Sport, and F-150 full-size pickup last year to cater to a diverse range of Filipino customers.

The move paid modest dividends for Ford Philippines which saw its pickup and small SUV segments boasting strong sales of the Ford Ranger and Ford Territory last year.

The Ford Ranger became the best-sell-

ing 4x4 pickup truck in 2020 with a market share of 41 percent in the 4x4 pickup segment.

Full-year sales for the Ranger 4x4 pickup portfolio totaled 5,093 vehicles, or 52 percent of the total 9,767 Ranger sales in 2020.

This drove Ford’s overall market share to 24 percent in the pickup segment, securing Ranger’s position as one of the two bestselling pickups in the market last year.

Ford currently offers a 4x4 variant for the Ranger XLS, FX4 and Wildtrak, including the Ranger Raptor, in its pickup portfolio, as it continues to serve the different needs, lifestyles and budget of its growing truck customer base.

With consumer demand for vehicles on an upswing towards the end of last year, Ford said it sfourth quarter sales surged 36 percent from the previous quarter to 5,411 vehicles, for a full-year retail sales of 14,775 vehicles. December was the second best-selling month of the year with sales growing by 30 percent compared to the previous month with 1,847 vehicles.

Changan Motor embarks on nationwide tour THE newest player in the automotive game, Changan Motor Philippines, Inc. kicks off the New Year with its first nationwide test drive tour.

Entitled “Change Your Mindset”, the tour features Changan’s flagship lineup consisting of Alsvin, CS35 Plus and CS75 Plus.

Running from January 25 to March 17, 2021, the Test Drive Tour will stop at Changan dealerships and sales outlets nationwide where customers will get a firsthand experience of the Alsvin subcompact sedan, the CS35 Plus subcompact SUV, and the CS75 Plus compact SUV. The three globally best-selling models along with the CS95 seven-seat SUV and the Eado EV 460 pure electric vehicle debuted on Philippine shores on November 26,

2020 and at the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS Wired) on December 16.

“We are so excited to share to the market the remarkable features and the ‘Lasting Safety’ of Changan,” said CMPI President and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo. “Now you can experience our brand’s proof of quality and fuel efficiency as you will be road testing them in various locations of the country under real driving conditions in a safe and comfortable way.”

The Alsvin boasts its best in class features including a Sunroof, Cruise Control, Blind Spot and Rear Cameras, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, and Leather Seats.

The CS35 Plus features an Panoramic Sunroof, Engine Remote Start, Passive Keyless Entry, Blind Spot and Rear Cam-

Changan Motor’s CS35 Plus

eras, 10-inch Touchscreen Display, and 7-speed DCT. The award-winning CS75 Plus has a Panoramic Sunroof, 360° Panoramic Camera, Engine Remote Start, 12-inch Touchscreen, 7-inch Digital Cluster, Cruise Control, Triple Drive Modes, and six Airbags.

“Now that Filipinos are back on the road, but cautiously still, we want to be proactive in addressing their need for personal mobility. This is what Changan would like to offer. Changan is a standout choice in quality and price points, given the present market that is on the lookout for a great deal in mobility. Let our products speak for themselves.” Agudo said.

Catch the First Changan Nationwide Test Drive Tour at the dealership nearest you: January 25-26 Changan Quezon Avenue January 27-28 Changan E. Rodriguez February 1-2 Changan Alabang February 3-4 Changan Cainta February 5-6 Changan Sta. Rosa and Changan Calamba February 10-11 Changan Pagsanjan February 12-13 Changan Commonwealth Ave. February 23-24 Changan Santiago City and Changan Baguio March 4-6 Changan Davao and Changan General Santos March 12-13 Changan Cebu March 16-17 Changan Iloilo

AutoSweep RFID installed at Araneta City ARANETA City offers more convenience and access to travelers via a free AutoSweep Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) sticker installation at the Gateway Mall from January 23 to 31, 2021.

Interested car owners may head to the Basement 2 of Gateway Mall for registration and free installation of the AutoSweep RFID stickers from 10 am to 6pm (or until stocks last, the management said.

Riders are advised to park at any level of the Gateway Mall parking, the management said, adding that “No RFID sticker installation and testing shall be done outside the Gateway Mall parking.”

Only 250 RFID stickers will be issued per day. The “no vehicle, no installation” and “first come, first serve” policies will be observed. Be sure to come at the Gateway Mall early to avoid the cut-off.

It advised motorists to prepare P200.00 cash as initial load for the Autosweep card.

AutoSweep RFID is exclusively used

at Skyway, South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway (NAIAX), Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) Tollway, Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway (MCX), and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX).

PROCEDURES: STEP 1. Bring your vehicle at Araneta City and park at the Gateway Mall (any level).

STEP 2. Proceed at the AutoSweep booth located at Basement 2.

STEP 3. Fill out form (or submit accomplished form, if downloaded online) at the booth.

STEP 4. After presenting your form, the Autosweep representative will conduct a short interview to assess your vehicle. Pay the P200 initial load (strictly cash only).

STEP 5. After paying, accompany the Autosweep representative to your vehicle for the installation and testing of RFID sticker.