Manila Standard - 2021 February 1 - Monday

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Vaccines out soon—DOH

Mid-February delivery assured; first batch from AstraZeneca, Pfizer

By Willie Casas, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rio N. Araja

T

HE country is set to receive the first batch of PfizerBioNTech and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from the Covax Facility starting mid-February.

In a letter addressed to the Department of Health (DOH), Covax Facility Managing Director Aurélia Nguyen said their office will distribute 117,000 doses of Pfizer BNT162b2 vaccine and 5,500,800 to 9,290,400 indicative doses of AstraZeneca AZD1222 vaccine to the Philippines subject to the UNICEF Supply Division and Pan American Health Organization establishing supply agreements with the Next page manufacturers.

Next page

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 328 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

VEGGIES FROST, BAGUIO CHILLS. 'Andap' or frost hits Atok,

Benguet – a major producer of highland vegetables – for the second time this month but no damage to crops has been noted so far. The annual weather phenomenon brought on by the prevailing northeast monsoon is expected to last until March and farmers fear that a prolonged 'andap' will destroy their crops. Meanwhile, Baguio City has recorded its coldest temperature so far this year at 9.4 degrees Celsius at 5 a.m. on Jan. 31, 2021. Dave Leprozo

DRY RUN. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III administers a "vaccine" on a barangay health worker during a vaccination dry run of Taguig City's Mega Vaccination Hub at the Lakeshore Complex on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021 in this file photo. AstraZeneca and PfizerBioNTech are touted to deliver the first batch of anti-COVID vaccines starting mid-February.

Saliva testing in malls eyed; no new cases of UK variant tory, said in an interview on radio dzBB. Such a move would allow more people to get tested for COVID-19 because the saliva test costs only P2,000, which THE Philippine is cheaper than the Red Cross (PRC) swab test by 60 perplans to offer COcent, she said.

VID-19 saliva RTUbial said the saliva test may be conPCR tests at major shopping malls.

“A few large malls have contacted the ducted in the parking lots of shopping Philippine Red Cross now that the saliva malls.

“It's like a drive-through. You're just RT-PCR is also available," Dr. Paulyn Ubial, head of PRC's Molecular LaboraNext page

By Willie Casas and Dave Leprozo

LOCAL ROUNDUP

Summon China envoy over new law, solon urges

’Imports to kill hog industry’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rio N. Araja SENATOR Imee Marcos on Sunday warned that importation may kill the local pork industry faster than Aafrican swine fever (ASF) as she asked the Department of Agriculture (DA) to hasten its probe of the hoarding of pork products.

Marcos, who chairs the Senate committee on economic affairs, said the hoarding may be causing an artificial hike in market prices amid the spread of ASF, particularly

Fil-Chi scraps CNY revelry, goes virtual MILLIONS of pesos in losses are estimated as the pandemic cancels the celebration of Chinese New Year on February 12, the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry said Sunday.

The group respects the capital city's prohibition of gatherings to prevent the spread of the virus and will instead hold virtual celebrations, said FCCCI president Henry Lim Bon Liong.

"We have our own celebration but Next page

in Luzon.

She called on the government to prevent pork importers from taking over local market supply and pushing Filipino producers out of business.

She said importation amid the COVID-19 pandemic means losing more local jobs and surrendering the country’s food security to foreigners.

She said many local hog raisers have already shut down their business.

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Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio

By Joyce Pangco Pañares

Sara’s teaser: I will run in 2034 DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte said she wants to run for President, but in 2034 and not next year.

Duterte said she will only change her mind about gunning for the position to be vacated by her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, in the 2022 national polls if the opposition would commit to support her bid.

“A president only has six years to help.

I will not be able to do the job well if we are not united,” she told GMA News in

an interview.

"If we want to lift our fellowmen out of poverty, we need all hands on deck working hard and not spend the next six years wringing each other's necks," she added.

Over the weekend, calendars urging the younger Duterte to seek the presidency next year were distributed in Quezon City.

"I understand where they are coming Next page

WORLD ROUNDUP

Next page

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM JAN. 31)

’Single-dose vax 66% efffective’ JOHNSON & Johnson's single-dose COVID-19 vaccine has an overall efficacy of 66 percent, the company said after a huge multi-continent trial, but the shot does not protect as well against a variant first detected in South Africa.

SENATOR Francis Tolentino on Sunday said the Philippines should file a joint diplomatic protest against China before the United Nations after Beijing passed a new law authorizing its coast guard to fire on foreign vessels in the hotly contested South China Sea waterways.

He also urged the Department of Foreign Affairs to summon Chinese Ambassador to Manila Huang Xilian and Philippine Ambassador to Beijing Chito Sto.

Encouragingly, the vaccine was able to prevent 85 percent of severe COVID-19 cases across all geographical regions – a key indicator lauded by experts.

Its effectiveness against Next page

525,618 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

2,103 27,318 NEW

ACTIVE

10,749

80

DEATHS

NEW

487,551 11,653 RECOVERIES

NEW

News Law on child seat in private cars takes effect Feb. 2 A2

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

CHILDREN 12 years old and below who are shorter than 4'11'' are now prohibited from taking the front seat in private vehicles as the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act takes full effect tomorrow (Feb. 2).

The law was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in Feb. 2019 but mandatory compliance only takes effect this year.

Children who do not meet the height requirement are required to use a child restraint system or a car seat.

"Child restraints in cars are intended to keep a child firmly secured in their seats so that in case of sudden braking or collision, the child would not be fatally thrown away against the car interior or ejected from the vehicle," said Land Transporta-

tion Office – Law Enforcement Service deputy director Robert Valera said.

The LTO, however, will not apprehend violators for at least the next three months as the agency embarks on an information dissemination campaign.

"The enforcement is not only about apprehension. It also covers information dissemination as well as warning. Instead

of issuing an initially a show cause order, we will be on the warning mode as well as information dissemination," he said.

Drivers who will violate the prohibition will be fined P1,000 for the first offense; P2,000 for the second offense; and P3,000 and a one-year suspension of the driver's license for the third and succeeding offenses.

DepEd rejects ‘no-failures’ plan

T

HE Department of Education said the recommendation to pass all students due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is not fair, according to a report of Super Radyo dzBB over the weekend..

Education Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio said many learners were doing their best to pass despite the challenges, while others were not taking their studies seriously.

“Kailangang maunawaan ng mga bata na ang pag-aaral ay kailangan ng effort at sineseryoso, kaya ang paniniwala namin ay kailangan ng marka, numerical pa rin

ang grading,” San Antonio said.

“Naniniwala kami na mas magkakaroon ng magandang motibasyon ang bata na mag-aral kung alam niya ang kanyang ginagawa ay minamarkahan ng maayos.”

Meanwhile, while students are not dropping out from their classes, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian questioned if they are learning enough from the online classes

that is being implemented under a pandemic.

Gatchalian noted that although the Department of Education reported there is no clear indicator of massive dropouts among learners as they either shifted from one mode of learning to another, he said there should be equal focus in tracking their learning progress under the distance learning setup.

He said an equally alarming scenario is having a high proportion of learners who are unprepared for their next schooling level.

While acknowledging that the recommendation aims to address the stress and

Vaccines...

cured.

The government has approved and ratified the Philippine National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for COVID-19 Vaccines and is now set to carry out the nationwide immunization campaign.

"All implementing agencies of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, all regional and local COVID-19 task forces, and all regional and local COVID-19 vaccination operations centers, local task forces and local COVID-19 vaccination operations centers are hereby mandated to implement and adopt the said plan," a memo from the National Task Force against COVID-19 read.

The regional and local COVID-19 vaccination operations centers are also directed to develop their own deployment and vaccination plans based on the templates disseminated by the DOH. On Sunday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said churches can be used as alternative sites for vaccination in hard-toreach municipalities that lack facilities.

Duque made the remark as the DOH welcomed the offer of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to convert its churches into COVID-19 vaccination sites.

Earlier, CBCP president and Davao City Archbishop Romulo Valles offered their facilities to be used in the vaccina-

tion rollout, which is expected to start by February.

The DOH said it has been reaching out to several medical and allied health professionals, local government units and other sectors to help in the coming vaccine rollout and in boosting vaccine confidence.

On Saturday, the DOH said it is coordinating with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) following reports of COVID-19 vaccines being offered on the black market.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, in an interview on ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo, said she was dismayed that bootleg vaccines were available locally, and said these were unsafe to use.

Vergeire said the purpose of an emergency use authorization (EUA) was to ensure that vaccines would only be procured by the national government to prevent private inoculation.

“People should be careful when offered with a COVID-19 vaccine from the black market, because no one can guarantee its authenticity,” she said in Filipino.

She added that the Health Department would have a hard time monitoring the vaccine’s side effects in an individual inoculated with an unauthorized or smuggled brand.

In other developments:

• Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said the government should stock up on vaccination supplies such as syringes even before the vaccines arrive. “You don’t have to wait for the horse to arrive before you start building the cart,” Recto said, referring to ancillary requirements for vaccination that range from PPEs and syringes to refrigerators. Government officials said during the recent Senate hearing on the national vaccination plan that the current DOH stockpile of 30.5 million pieces of 0.5 ml syringes, 3.6 million pieces of mixing syringes, 3.8 million safety collector boxes, 3.6 million face masks, and 151,761 face shields are enough to meet initial vaccination requirements. But Recto said the national stockpile should consider a possible surge in cases on top of regular caseloads of public hospitals.

• Senior Citizen party-list Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes on Sunday said a prescreening and precise data are crucial for proper vaccination of seniors and retirees. Specifically, they should be screened now for allergies, “co-morbidities,” such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma and other “markers” or “red flags” for possible adverse reactions.

Moreover, co-residents of the seniors and retirees should also be vaccinated, except those who are too young for the available vaccines, he added.

ment Council, however, has yet to give the go-signal for public use, said PRC chairman Senator Richard Gordon.

“Secretary Duque told us we can test but for private use. The ordinary people, the OFWs, will be late to avail because their testing is shouldered by PhilHealth,” he told ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo.

“I'm getting angry because it's not right that they're slow. That's why I call a spade a spade,” he said.

The state insurer still owes PRC some P590 million for its coronavirus testing of returning Filipino migrant workers, Gordon said.

No new UK variant cases found The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday evening announced that no UK variant of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was detected in the fourth batch of 48 samples that underwent sequencing.

“Due to the global shortage of sequencing

reagents for high throughput whole genome sequencing, the Department of Health (DOH) reports that the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) was able to sequence only 48 samples for the fourth batch of sequencing, and none of which was positive for the B.1.1.7 variant,” said the DOH in a statement.

Of the 48 samples, 23 cases came from the National Capital Region which were mostly from Quezon City; 19 from CALABARZON with most cases from Laguna; four from the Cordillera Region; and two were returning overseas Filipinos.

The DOH also reported that seven of these cases are already tagged as recovered, while the rest are active and are either asymptomatic or mild cases.

2,103 new cases logged The Philippines has logged on Sunday 2,103 new cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), bringing the total to 525,618, as 10 laboratories failed to sub-

mit their data on time, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.

This marks the second consecutive day with more than 2,000 new infections.

The DOH reported 80 new fatalities, bringing the death toll to 10,749 cases, which is 2.05 percent of the total.

The DOH also reported 11,653 new recoveries, in the DOH’s “mass recovery adjustment”, bringing the total recoveries to 487,551, which is 92.8 percent of the total.

34 cases found in House mass testing Thirty-four of 2,848 people tested positive for COVID-19 in the House of Representatives' second mass testing effort, Secretary General Mark Llandro Mendoza said Sunday.

In a statement, Mendoza said the new cases are equivalent to a positivity rate of 1.19 percent, which is below the 5 percent positivity rate recorded during the first mass testing.

can hire back their workers.

"But then... people have no money. So how can they spend? That's why we want the government hopefully to stimulate the economy.”

The group is "fighting very hard" to get the Chinese New Year to be declared as an official non-working holiday, Lim said.

"It's not really just Chinese, but it's also Lunar New Year. It is observed not only in China but in Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand-almost every other country in Asia," he said.

"But every year, we’re happy the President designated us a special non-working holiday."

The Year of the Ox is expected to be "good," according to Lim. "The ox is always lucky. When there's a bull run in the stock market, it means it's doing great.

"Hopefully, when our people are already vaccinated, things will go back to normal and business will be as usual."

‘Imports...

Prices of pork imports from the United States, Canada, Spain, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Brazil suggested excessive profits were being made at the expense of consumers.

Marcos cited that the import cost of a 40-foot container of frozen pork belly (liempo) from Spain was P117.87 per kilo, already including a 40 percent% tariff.

“Compare that to its market price of as much as P450 per kilo. Even if you add cold chain, storage and outlet delivery costs, the meat importer’s costs would only amount to about P153 per kilo,” Marcos said.

Besides arresting hoarders and profiteers, Marcos said the government can also bring down meat prices by subsidizing the cost of transporting pork products to Luzon, which gets about 80 percent of its supply from the Visayas and Mindanao.

The slaughter of local hog raisers, she

said, will begin if the DA executes its plan to raise the minimum access volume of pork imports by as much as three times the present 54,000 metric tons.

“The DA may be overcompensating in its rush to increase imports to reduce consumer prices,” she said.

“It may deal the coup de grace to our pork industry before Vietnam could release a vaccine against African swine fever (ASF) later this year,” Marcos added.

Furthermore, Marcos pointed out that the DA got the single biggest item for emergency and stimulus funding under Bayanihan 2, amounting to P24 billion.

“DA’s spending must be investigated, as well as the failure of the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) to implement its suggested retail prices,” Marcos said.

Marcos’s Senate Resolution 619 calling the government’s consumer price arbiters to an inquiry will be taken up in a joint hearing of the committees on agriculture, food and agrarian reform and trade, commerce and entrepreneurship on Monday.

with urgency for everyone, everywhere," the company's CEO Alex Gorsky said.

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said President Joe Biden was "encouraged" by the data and the Food and Drug Administration would carry out its own evaluation.

J&J said it would apply for US emergency authorization in early February, and the vaccine will then likely become the third available in the world's hardest-hit country.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were

the first to be authorized in the US, and both have efficacies of around 95 percent.

Berlin eyes legal action over vaccine 'favoritism' Germany's government on Sunday threatened legal action against laboratories failing to deliver coronavirus vaccines to the European Union on schedule, amid tension over delays to deliveries from AstraZeneca.

"If it turns out that companies have not respected their obligations, we will have to decide the legal consequences," Econ-

omy Minister Peter Altmaier told German daily Die Welt.

"No company can favor another country over the EU after the fact," he added.

AstraZeneca said it could now only deliver a quarter of the doses originally promised to the bloc for the first quarter of the year because of problems at one of its European factories.

Brussels has implicitly accused AstraZeneca of giving preferential treatment to Britain in the delivery of its vaccine, at the expense of the EU. AFP

From A1

Covax is a global initiative that ensures rapid and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for all countries regardless of their income level.

Nguyen said the delivery of the vaccines within the timeframe would also be subject to the completion of the distribution requirements.

These are indemnity and liability frameworks, including the required legislative framework in place; and execution and providing documentation of national regulatory approval or proof of recognition or reliance on another type of regulatory approval, import license, and signed indemnity and liability agreement.

"We will be regularly communicating updates on expected doses and remain confident that we will be able to meet our commitment to you by the end of 2021," Nguyen said.

On Monday, the DOH said the country will receive a vaccine allocation for 20 percent of its population from Covax.

It noted that only 15 percent will be free and the remaining 5 percent will be paid by the government.

The agency also assured the public that the budget for the 5 percent has been se-

Local...

From A1

inside the car, they will give you a sample kit, that's where you spit, and you're going to give it to the sample collector. You don't need to get out of the car," she said.

The saliva test is safer for the one conducting the test and also does not need a cold storage facility, she added.

Saliva test not yet covered by PhilHealth State insurer Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has yet to include saliva COVID-19 tests in its benefit package, the Philippine Red Cross said Sunday.

PhilHealth last week launched the cheaper and non-invasive saliva PCR test in its Metro Manila laboratories following approval from the Department of Health.

The DOH Health Technology Assess-

Fil-Chi...

From A1

virtual only. We’ll be greeting each other on social media,” Lim told ABS-CBN’s TeleRadyo.

The cancellation of the celebrations will affect businesses, Lim said.

“Usually, it's not only a lion dance. We also have a procession in Sta. Cruz, Binondo, Ongpin. Along the way we give out Ang Pao, candies. We'll no longer have those now.

"Those who sell lucky charms will also be affected. I cannot estimate how much we'll lose, but it might be millions.”

Lim said the FCCCI respects the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte as regards the quarantine measures being implemented in the country, even as he personally hopes to see more people outside.

"In fact, I advocated 'spend, spend and spend'. We need people to spend so businesses could earn. If sales are up, factories

World...

From A1

all forms of the disease – mild, moderate and severe – was as high as 72 percent in the United States, but fell to 57 percent in South Africa, where a more transmissible new variant is dominant. In Latin America it was 66 percent effective.

"We're proud to have reached this critical milestone and our commitment to address this global health crisis continues

From A1

anxiety of learners, San Antonio said teachers could offer help to these students.

“Nauunawaan namin na ang gusto ng panukala ay mabawasan ang stress at anxiety ng mga bata,’ he said.

“Hindi naman puwedeng lahat [ng bata] ay papasa. 'Yung talagang nagpapakita ng interes at ginagawa ang lahat pero nahihirapan ay bibigyan ng tulong at atensiyon ng mga guro.”

Implementing a no fail policy would not teach children responsibility, he said.

For San Antonio, learners would have more motivation in their studies once they saw their grades.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

‘Foreign equity limit blocking investment’

By Rio N. Araja VARIOUS Philippine industries would be more attractive to foreign investors and could generate fresh capital if the restrictive economic provisions of the 34-yearold Constitution were amended, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said Sunday.

He said such industries have a high return on equity, but their full potential is being hindered by the Constitutionally mandated foreign equity restrictions.

“Transportation, 21.47 percent; railroads, 22.73 percent; financial services, 61.83 percent. Napakalaki ng ROE which invites competition,” he said.

ROE is a measure of the profitability of a business in relation to its equity or ownership of assets.

It measures how much profit can be generated in relation to a shareholder’s equity, which means the higher the ROE, the greater the return on one’s equity, thus making a business more attractive to investors, he said.

The other industries that Salceda cited were telecom services, cable television, farming and agriculture, brokerage and investment banking and investments and asset management.

Summon...

From A1

Romana to explain the measure which takes effect today (Feb. 1).

“Maybe Foreign Affairs Secretary (Teodoro Jr.) Locsin can start suggesting that all claimant nations in the West Philippine Sea – Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam – hold an emergency meeting.

Because we’re not the only one (affected). Vietnam’s fishermen would also be facing the same threatening actions from China. Taiwan will also face the same thing,” Tolentino said.

“A joint protest is stronger, rather than filing a single protest because it would only feature one sentiment only. But if all claimant countries file jointly and simultaneously, that would be stronger,” he added Tolentino said China appeared to have railroaded the passage of the measure ahead its National People's Congress slated in March.

“I do not know how this came about.

It is correct that Sec. Locsin filed a diplomatic protest, but I think the next step is to summon the Chinese ambassador,” he said. “Summon him, ask him to explain.

Ask him, too, how this new law will affect our fishermen.”

The senator said Sta. Romana should also be summoned to explain why the embassy in Beijing seemed to have failed to act on the measure until it was too late and it was already passed into law.

“Ask him – you have been there for quite some time now, how come you were not able to monitor this? Why did you not monitor even before it became a law? Whether it was done in secret or not, they should have gotten wind of this so that when the Chinese foreign minister came here, this was brought up,” he said.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made a two-day visit to the Philippines last month where he met with Locsin and President Rodrigo Duterte.

“So I think there were lapses on the part of our embassy in Beijing. They (Philippine officials in China) are the second ones who should be summoned by the DFA,” Tolentino said.

The passage of China's new law allowing its coast guards to fire on foreign vessels in its claimed territories in the South China Sea is expected to stoke tensions in the region.

The law authorizes the Chinese coast guard to undertake "all necessary measures, including the use of weapons when national sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction are being illegally infringed upon by foreign organizations or individuals at sea.”

Sara’s...

From A1

from. I, too, am anxious where we are going as a nation. I am always grateful that I have their trust and confidence. I am pleading to them to please allow me to run for President in 2034, if at that time there is something I can do to help the country," she said.

The chief executive earlier said he would not allow his daughter to run for president in the coming national elections because he would not want her to experience what he was going through as leader of the country.

“My daughter, they are egging her to run, but I told her not to run. I pity her and (I) don’t want (her) to experience what I am going through,” Duterte said.

He said the job was not for women, adding “you know, the emotional setup of a woman and a man is totally different.

You'll become a fool here.”

News

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

Team formed to validate CARP lands

HIJABS FOR SALE.

A Muslim woman vendor arranges hijabs for sale at a stall near the Golden Mosque in Quiapo, Manila on Sunday, a day before the first annual celebration of the World Hijab Day on February 1 in recognition of millions of Muslim women who choose to wear the hijab and live a life of modesty. In the Philippines, the House of Representatives approved on Tuesday a bill declaring February 1 as “National Hijab Day.” Norman Cruz

By Rio N. Araja

THE Department of Agrarian Reform and Department of Agriculture have partnered to form a joint validation team to ensure that the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program covers only “idle” government-owned agricultural lands.

Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones and Agriculture Secretary William Dar decided to work hand-in-hand in pursuit of the country’s food security program.

The formation of the joint validation team came after Dar suggested that all government-owned lands be verified and validated first before deciding whether or not these should be placed under CARP coverage as provided for under Executive Order No. 75.

Under the law, DAR is authorized to place under the CARP coverage all idle government-owned land for distribution to landless farmers.

Castriciones proposed the formation of a joint validation team between DAR and DA. The agriculture chief said there are lands owned by the DA that are being used as “farm laboratories” even as he raised concerns that these may be inadvertently placed under the CARP coverage during its implementation.

Meralco told to halt anew disconnection

By Macon Ramos-Araneta FOLLOWING Manila Electric Co.’s (Meralco) issuance of disconnection notices to some of its consumers who have not completely settled their bills after having been allowed to defer payment last year at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Christopher Go has urged the utility company to show more compassion to its consumers.

He also asked Meralco to study the possibility of extending their no-disconnection policy for underprivileged consumers.

Given the ongoing public health issue, Go also urged the government to look into the matter and prioritize the welfare of ordinary Filipinos by finding ways to avoid putting any additional burden to those who are already struggling to make ends meet.

Meralco’s no-disconnection policy was supposed to end on December 31 last year, but was further extended until the end of January.

Vice-President and Head of Corporate Communications at Meralco, Joe R. Zaldarriaga, said that households consuming 201 kilowatt-hours (kWh) or more were asked to settle their unpaid bills last month, while those consuming 200 kWh and below were allowed to pay until the end of January.

Meralco also said that only non-lifeliners who have not paid any amount since March last year will be disconnected. The company will also allow payment on installment basis upon request.

Following the Energy Regulatory Commission’s issuances, Meralco said that the refunds for the inadvertent overcharges during the periods of heightened community quarantine measures are already being implemented and deducted in the billings.

Solons seeks ‘drastic’ reforms vs. corruption

By Rio N. Araja

C

ITIZENS Battle Against Corruption party-list Representatives Eddie Villanueva and Domingo Rivera are urging the government to go back to the drawing board aimed to introduce genuine and drastic reforms on its campaign against corruption and red tape.

They issued the statement after the Philippines’ seeming deteriorating ranking in the recently released 2020 Corruption Perception Index by the global watchdog Transparency International.

“It’s high time for the government to take genuine even drastic reforms to address this issue,” Villanueva said “It must be a strong signal to

the government that it needs to go back to the drawing board to examine its anti-corruption efforts, either they are not performing enough or we’re missing the right solutions to the problem,” he added.

He said what is more worrying and disturbing is that the CPI 2020 report was done amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and com-

munity quarantine.

“We call on the certification as urgent of the Freedom of Information bill which CIBAC has been championing ever since because an FOI law will certainly institute the culture of openness, transparency and accountability in the government. This will make our citizenry an informed and educated people which we all believe is the most effective antidote to corruption in the government,” he urged. On the other hand, Rivera said it is very crucial that the government would address the problem of unabated corruption, particularly in this time of pandemic when almost all is counting on the government’s help as Filipinos grapple for survival.

ATA SUPPORTER. Jose Antonio Goitia (right), Secretary General of LIPI, helps put up tarpaulins all around Metro Manila to support government lawyers who will defend the Anti-Terrorism Act in oral arguments at the Supreme Court on Feb. 2.

LIPI, other groups, back Anti-Terrorism Act THE multi-sectoral organization Liga Independencia Pilipinas, along with the League of Parents of the Philippines, Melchora, Sulong Maralita, and similar groups have expressed support to government lawyers who will defend the Anti-Terrorism Act in oral arguments at the Supreme Court on Feb. 2.

“We all decided to put up tarpaulins all around Metro Manila so our valiant lawyer defenders would see themselves the overwhelming support the people

and our Nation has for them,” said Jose Antonio Goitia, Secretary General of LIPI, in a statement.

“We are doing this to boost their morale and principles to fight the terror which is the Communist Terrorist Groups, the Radical Extremists, their legal fronts and sympathizers,” Goitia added.

“The Anti-Terrorism law is of paramount importance to our national security, as the nation endured decades

of violent extremism perpetrated by the Communist Party of the Philippines, its armed and legal fronts, causing the destruction of billions worth of businesses and properties, killings of innocent people, kidnappings, radicalization of our youth, illegal taxation, and other crimes,” he added.

The group also claimed that Mindanao “is now a mecca of transnational terrorism in Southeast Asia. ISIS claimed the islands of Southern Philippines as

Angara: Businesses should go digital to hasten economic rebound SENATOR Juan Edgardo Angara on Sunday renewed his call for more businesses to go online or digital to remain competitive under the new normal and to provide a much needed boost to the economy.

While the economy is expected to rebound after a historic slump last year, growth is still expected to remain slow as restrictions to movement are still in place and the roll out of the vaccination against COVID-19 has yet to begin.

“We want to see more economic activity this year but we still have to remain cautious as we are seeing a lot of new COVID-19 cases, as well as the new B117 variant of the coronavirus.

Easing of restrictions will not happen right away so we have to continue mak-

A3

ing adjustments to thrive under the new normal,” Angara said.

The National Economic and Development Authority has reported the full year GDP figures for 2020, which saw a contraction of the economy by 9.5%.

This was due to the lockdowns imposed after the COVID-19 outbreak in the country early last year wherein almost all economic activity came to a halt.

For 2021, the economic managers expect to see a growth rate of 6.5% to 7.5%.

Angara said that micro, small and medium enterprises could help generate more economic activity for the country by moving towards digitalization, which many of them have done already.

COUNTERFEITS. As part of the Bureau of Customs’ commitment to prevent the proliferation of fake and smuggled goods, the Manila International Container Port apprehended counterfeit items in a storage facility in Tondo, Manila.

Villar donates composting equipment

By Macon Ramos-Araneta TO BOOST a local urban farming project, Senator Cynthia Villar and the Bureau of Soils and Water Management delivered to St. Bosco Parish in Tondo, Manila, a composting equipment and a shredder to recycle kitchen and garden waste into organic fertilizers.

With the composting facility, the parish will have a steady supply of compost to enrich the soil of their urban garden project.

The parish, headed by headed by Father GC Carandang, has implemented a project entitled “Buhay sa Gulay” where residents from the nearby barangays grow their own food.

They are encouraged to plant vegetables like squash, upo, talong, and pechay in an 8,000-square meter vegetable garden that used to be a football field.

This is in partnership with the Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Agriculture and the local government of Manila.

The senator has been embarking on the composting of wastes and turning them into organic fertilizers which they distribute for free to farmers, urban gardeners and other stakeholders in the agricultural industry.

Aside from being cost efficient, Villar, chairperson of the Senate committee on Agriculture and Food, noted that using organic fertilizers would be beneficial to the environment The senator has a successful waste recycling program in Las Piñas in all the 20 barangays of the city, which produces at least 60 tons of organic fertiLIzer monthly.

P100m fake signature bags, goods seized

By Joel E. Zurbano AGENTS of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service raided a storage facility based on a letter of authority from Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guererro.

The raid was conducted on Jan. 25 with the help of operatives from the National Bureau of Investigation and Philippine Coast Guard.

The authorities initially inspected the storage facility which revealed the existence of intellectual property infringing items such as bags bearing the name Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Chanel.

Also found inside the establishment were unregistered face shields, facemasks, fake medicines, and fake soaps.

Among the face masks discovered were those with the brand of AIDELAI which is a prohibited brand as per Food and Drug Administration Advisory No. 2021-0011.

Further investigation and inventory are being conducted for the identification of those responsible as well as the filing of charges for violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and the Intellectual Property Law of the Philippines.

“The Bureau of Customs remains steadfast in preventing the proliferation of counterfeit and unauthorized goods in the country as well as safeguarding public welfare,” said Guerrero.

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

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LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

PLDT-CDC GAB. Officers and executives of PLDT led by Chairman and CEO Manny V. Pangilinan receive Clark Development Corporation (CDC) President and CEO

Manuel R. Gaerlan and CDC Chief of Staff Dennis Legaspi at the PLDT office in Makati. They include PLDT Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer Alfredo Panlilio, PLDT and Smart Senior Vice President and Group Head Enterprise Business Jovy Hernandez, PLDT ClarkTel CEO Chito Franco, PLDT ALPHA Enterprise First Vice President and Head Victor Tria, and Metro Pacific Investments Government Relations and Public Affairs Head lawyer Michael Toledo.

CDC chief meets MVP, PLDT execs for utility, ICT projects in Clark CLARK FREEPORT – This Freeport moves another step closer to becoming a smart city, a premier aerotropolis and a preferred tourism destination as it strengthens partnership with one of the leading telecommunications, service, and utility providers in the region.

Setting sights on improved systems and service standards here, Clark Development Corporation (CDC) President and CEO Manuel R. Gaerlan recently met with PLDT Chairman and CEO Manny V. Pangilinan and discussed various undertakings that will boost ICT capabilities and future-proof the Freeport.

Gaerlan said PLDT is one of the most important partners of the state-owned firm as it will significantly contribute to making the Freeport a smart and technology-focused investment destination.

On top of telecom projects, the meeting also tackled other utilities such as fuel distribution in Clark.

This Freeport is host to Clark Telecom, a subsidiary of PLDT, considered one of the leading internet and telecom services providers in Clark. The 92-year company was also present during the presence of American troops inside the former US airbase.

PLDT also rolled out the very first 5G service in the country inside Clark in 2018, making the Freeport lay a foothold on reliable and extremely high speed with low latency internet connection. 5G service is key in achieving IOT (internet of things) that create smart cities.

In 2017, a P1.3-billion Vitro Data Center Clark was launched by ePLDT here. The facility is the first Rated-3 data center facility outside Metro Manila, based on TIA942 standards. This certification is given to data centers that are concurrently maintainable in design, which means each component that is part of the distribution path can be removed, replaced, or serviced on a planned basis without any disruption in the client’s ICT capabilities.

Makati: Vax ready for all city workers M

AKATI Mayor Abby Binay has announced that the city’s free COVID-19 vaccination program will include employees of all registered businesses in the city even if they are not Makati residents.

The mayor said the city’s P1-billion budget for the purchase of the vaccines and its share of vaccines procured by the national government will be enough to cover all Makati-based businesses, from micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to large companies.

“We are confident we will have enough to cover our essential workers who keep businesses running,” Mayor Abby said.

“We will use the number of employees declared by the businesses in their business permit applications as basis for the number of employees who will be vaccinated for free. This is our way of helping our economic frontliners,” she said.

To qualify, companies must have a 2021 business permit and are up-to-date with their tax payments, including those paying in installments.

Companies that have purchased vaccines for their employees will no longer be included.

The mayor said expanding the scope of the city’s vaccination program to the business sector will help boost its efforts to sustain the city’s economy through 100 percent COVID vaccination.

The mayor noted that during daytime, the city’s population balloons to nearly five million as millions of non-residents troop to its companies and

establishments daily. Makati has a resident population of over 500,000.

Mayor Abby also sought to allay fears among residents and workers who may be apprehensive about its possible adverse side effects.

She said the city will cover medical expenses and hospital bills of those who experience any adverse effects linked to the vaccine.

“Anybody who experiences adverse effects will receive free hospitalization. For non-residents it will be covered by Philhealth and the ‘Malasakit Financial Assistance’ from the Department of Health. In Makati, our #ProudMakatizens will get free medical and health assistance through our Yellow Card program,” Mayor Abby said.

“Getting vaccinated is our best hope of fighting the coronavirus. It is a chance to regain mobility and jumpstart the economy. We do not have to live in fear of infecting our families and loved ones each time we come home from work,” she said.

Speaking at the Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (CODE) Team’s recent visit to the city, Mayor Abby announced that the first batch of the COVID-19 vaccines will arrive in February and will immediately be administered to the city’s frontliners. Joel Zurbano

Toledo Mangrove River Park launched GLOBAL Business Power Corporation (GBP), through subsidiaries Cebu Energy Development Corporation and Toledo Power Co., recently launched the Toledo Mangrove River Park Project to support the local government’s efforts to make Toledo City an eco-tourism destination in Cebu Province.

A joint venture between GBP and the City of Toledo under the administration of Mayor Joie Perales (third from right), GBP will finance the infrastructure component of the project, monitor its construction, and rehabilitate mangroves through propagule planting activities.

The project, encompassing Barangay Ibo, Barangay Poblacion and Barangay Tubod, will consist of a 300-meter stretch of boardwalk. It also aims to establish livelihood programs and encour-

age community participation in the protection of coastal resources and preservation of the natural mangrove habitat.

“We, at GBP, are dedicated to help our surrounding communities grow as the company grows. The soon-to-be Toledo Mangrove River Park is one of GBP’s initiatives in creating a balanced development for the society, economy and the environment,” said Leah Diaz, GBP First Vice President - Cebu Operations.

The launching was attended by the City Council, Toledo City department heads and officials of the three barangays.

GBP, through its subsidiaries, is an independent power producer in Visayas, Mindanao and Mindoro, with a total gross capacity of 1,091 MW.

RIVER PARK PROJECT.

Leah Diaz, GBP First Vice President-Cebu Operations (third from left) leads the launching of the Toledo Mangrove River Park project also attended by the City Council, Toledo City department heads, and officials of three barangays spanning the project.

9 Pampanga LGUs trade trash for cement NINE local government units (LGU) in the province of Pampanga— Lubao, Sasmuan, San Fernando, Mexico, Guagua, Floridablanca, Macabebe, Mabalacat and Porac—have successfully reduced their residual plastics going into landfills.

They have diverted these to a more sustainable and environment-friendly recovery and disposal process via cement kiln co-processing, in partnership with Republic Cement’s resource recovery group, Ecoloop.

Through Ecoloop’s Cement-for-Trash program, these LGUs received cement, which they can use for environment or social development projects, in exchange for qualified residual plastic wastes.

These include waste that cannot be recycled or reused, which are usually plastic packaging such as sachets, plastic cutlery, grocery bags, food packaging, and straws, among others.

CEMENT FOR TRASH.

Through Ecoloop’s Cement-forTrash program, nine LGUs in Pampanga receive cement, which they can use for environment or social development projects, in exchange for qualified residual plastic wastes.

“Republic’s Cement-For-Trash program not only helps save the environment but also helps LGUs save on landfilling and transport cost, as well as provides employment to support the Materials Recovery Facility operations,” said Lubao Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) Engineer Dan Aquino.

Ecoloop’s LGU partners diverted the equivalent of 100 dump trucks or 120 million sachets from landfills in the second half of last year.

Republic Cement is backed by the global expertise of CRH, a leading building materials company headquartered in Ireland, and diversified Filipino business conglomerate Aboitiz, recognized as one of the best-managed companies in Asia.

LGUs interested to participate in ecoloop’s Cement-for-Trash Program may contact ecoloop@ republiccement.com.

Opinion The mechanic SEVERAL business writers, including our Standard columnist Tony Lopez, have cited businessman Ramon S. Ang as possible presidential material for 2022.

It is quite obvious that aside from the health and safety issues, the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in a massive economic dislocation with millions becoming jobless, smalland medium-scale businesses closing shop, and livelihood opportunities being shattered.

People come 2022 and even this year will be looking for someone who can “save” the economy and provide hope for their future.

Thus, the potential of a billionaire visionary providing that hope becomes quite interesting. Sometime before, in the 2010 elections, another Filipino billionaire, Manny Villar, then a senator, a former Senate President and former Speaker of the House, tried to woo the voters to elect him senator. He failed, defeated by a political heir who was catapulted by accident of fate to the presidency after the nation mourned the death of his mother, the widow of a political martyr who was, by snap elections and a people power revolt, elevated to leadership as well.

Ang has relied on vision, daring and street smarts, coupled with a high sense of social responsibility unparalleled by most of the Filipino business elite.

But while in 2010, the central issue in the election campaign was character rather than competence, owing to public condemnation of several controversial deals and acts of people in power, things may be different this time. Though corruption has not stopped, public perception about President Duterte’s remaining untainted is quite evident in his high popularity ratings.

The main issues will be COVID response, quick economic recovery, and a vision to unite people and provide hope for a better future amidst present pessimism.

It is in the competence metric where a billionaire businessman would shine above the other presidentiables.

Ramon See Ang was not to the silver spoon born. His father was a small shopkeeper who retailed spare parts in then Reina Regente, now Jose Abad Santos, in the periphery of Divisoria and Binondo, leading to the Sta. Cruz and second-district Tondo middle class and lower communities.

And like most Filipino-Chinese children, he was introduced to business and hard work at an early age. At eleven, he was already tending the store, assisting his parents.

From there, he wandered into a used-truck yard in Abad Santos, made friends with the owner who was impressed with the young man’s spunk and drive, and bought parts of re-conditioned trucks and heavy equipment from them, later to re-sell in the family store.

In his early teens, Ramon had made a few hundred thousand pesos of his own at a time when

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such was yet a princely sum. But he ploughed on with hard work and a keen nose for opportunities, which included importation of used equipment from Japan, later gravel quarrying.

At the time, Ferdinand Marcos was on an infrastructure binge, and Ramon cashed in on the huge demand for gravel, which probably explains why he has now likewise invested heavily on both the cement business and infrastructure projects on a grand scale.

But he was also an automobile fancier, and while taking a course on mechanical engineering at middle-class Far Eastern University, he became friends with the university president whose family owned the school, and whose wife was the fabled doyenne of the landed aristocracy of Tarlac, Josephine Cojuangco-Reyes. He became the manager of the FEU Tamaraws, and for the first time in their basketball history, the players sported jerseys and jackets that were at par with the richer colleges and universities.

Because of his love for fixing and re-conditioning cars, he became friends of the fourth-generation Cojuangcos, including Mark, who introduced him to father Eduardo, also an automobile fancier. That began a friendship that would last a lifetime, with the politician-business mogul entrusting more and more of the management of San Miguel Corporation to his quick-thinking, articulate and visionary Chinoy friend.

The partnership brought the beer and food giant into even greater heights. The conglomerate is now also into agri-business, cement, petrol, liquor, power generation, hotels, and building world-class infrastructure through PPP’s initiated even before the present administration. Despite the demise of patriarch Danding last year, RSA, as he is fondly called by business associates, nurtures all these business ventures with competent and effective management, always mindful of the huge empire’s corporate social responsibilities.

Currently on track are RSA’s dream project, a huge aerotropolis sitting on more than 2,400 hectares of land in sleepy Bulacan, Bulacan, where light manufacturing and service industries as well as commercial enterprises would flourish amid a world-class airport that would bring the Philippine aviation and tourism industries at par, if not better than some of the world’s best.

RSA together with the President has just inaugurated a flyover that links the SLEX to NLEX, cutting travel time from Buendia to Balintawak to 16 minutes, easing the traffic in EDSA and C-5 with an alternative route that connects Southern Tagalog through Alabang to Makati, Manila, San Juan, Quezon City and on to Northern Luzon. This writer has used it twice since it was opened January 14, on Ramon’s 67th birthday.

Other projects that RSA plans to implement within the next few years include a flyover connecting Marikina in the east to Manila’s port area in the west, straddling the Pasig River, further inter-connecting the East-West traffic flow which now congest into existing North-South highways.

There seems to be no end to RSA’s visions to modernize our infrastructure, using his extraordinary vision and his genius at financial engineering. The mechanic has gone a long, long way from his humble origins helping a modest family business and finishing college in a middle-class university, with no Ivy League credentials, relying on vision, daring and street smarts, coupled with a high sense of social responsibility unparalleled by most of the Filipino business elite.

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Election game changer IN LESS than a year and a half, Filipinos are expected to vote for a new president.

As early as now, one can be certain that the upcoming elections in May 2022 will be like no other in history.

The coronavirus pandemic has significantly disrupted the way we live. None is immune to the adverse impact of this public health emergency—politics and elections, included.

Politicians and candidates are starting to realize they are about to sail through uncharted political waters.

Having no clear end in sight to the crisis appears to fuel the growing unpredictability on what is going to happen before, during and immediately after the election.

The chances of having the elections postponed is almost nil. Such would require a constitutional amendment, and forcing the issue of extending the terms of incumbent elected officials would be courting a constitutional crisis.

The coronavirus pandemic will certainly change the direction and ways of our politics, particularly in the way we campaign and in the choices that we make.

Due to existing health precautions, the usual campaign strategies that would require personal interaction and crowded political rallies would be off the table. Instead, there would

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

certainly be an increase in political engagement through traditional and social media.

Incumbent officials are expected to be be made accountable for their political leadership during this crisis. On the other hand, without the usual campaign crowds, new politicians might find it a huge challenge even to just boost awareness.

With business in the red, financing the elections through political contributions

The COVID-19 pandemic will make the 2022 polls starkly different from the ones we have known before. might be even more challenging than the usual.

The World Bank has projected that the COVID-19 pandemic will result in 2.7 million more Filipinos becoming poor – a near-certainty given the record slide in the country’s gross economic output, the worst drop in its gross domestic product since the Second World War. There is always the possibility of an economic recovery toward the end of the year, if quarantine restrictions are eventually eased further and if COVID-19 vaccinations are conducted in time to meet the target of the 60 percent needed to build herd immunity.

If the current administration is unable to reverse the downward economic trend just

I

Fighting climate change

T IS good that more people are now getting aware of the danger the world faces due to climate change. Last week, researchers from the United Nations Development Programme and the University of Oxford revealed that in their survey of 1.2 million people in 50 nations, nearly two-thirds say humanity faces a climate emergency.

The rising level of awareness among people in the different continents, plus the return of the United States to the Paris Agreement—the global pact to combat climate change—are for us good signs while we suffer from the effects of a slowly deteriorating environment.

Within hours of becoming president, Joe Biden moved to recommit the United States to the Paris Agreement, a year after the United States formally withdrew from the deal, despite being the world’s second-largest producer of greenhouse gases behind China.

But the US now looks set to return to the climate agreement after a 30-day notice period, and is expected to resubmit an emissions reduction target for 2030.

Recent studies show the 20 warmest years on record have been in the past

We hope decisive action would follow rising awareness of this global threat.

22 years, and the top four in the past four years.

Over the past century, the average temperature of the Earth has risen by 1.8°F. Over the next one hundred years, scientists are projecting another 0.5 to 8.6°F rise in the temperature.

Official documents say the cause of this temperature change is human activities that have released large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (such as methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases) into

the atmosphere.

The majority of greenhouse gases come from burning fossil fuels to produce energy. Results of this global warming include rising ocean temperatures, a more acidic ocean, melting ice caps, and rising sea levels.

The negative consequences of human-driven climate change will continue to accelerate with disastrous effects. Seas continue to rise, inundating and eliminating nesting beaches and foraging habitat for marine wildlife. Warming seas are driving ocean animals further north, leading to cold stunning and further reducing sea turtle hatchling success. The effects of increasing ocean acidification will become more deadly to all marine life.

Human-driven climate change is a key driver of biodiversity collapse and species extinction—up to one million species may go extinct by the end of the century.

With the rising awareness on what climate change is doing and can further do to our environment.

There is indeed an urgency to hit the brakes—for a better Earth, for a better world, and for a better environment.

Digital indispensables and requisites to recovery THERE was a very insightful international webinar last week where top technology leaders of some of the biggest digital technology-driven brands shared their latest innovations that consumers have found indispensable during these pandemic times.

The online event was organized by the Philippine-American Academy of Science & Engineering (PAASE), a non-profit organization composed of scientists and engineers of Philippine descent who have distinguished themselves in scholarly and research related activities in partnership with think tank Stratbase Albert del Rosario Institute (ADRi) and speakers from Netflix, Amazon, Google, Grab, and GCash.

According to Stratbase ADRi Trustee and Program Convenor Dr. Carlos Primo (CP) David, “Filipino consumers have quickly shifted to digital technologies such as e-payments and e-shopping platforms and spawned a new way of living to adjust to the non-contact restrictions, safety protocols and lockdowns.”

Dr. David said that new technologies are critical enablers for enhancing relationships, makes daily transactions easier and safer, and levels the playing field for small and big players in the new-normal ecosystem.

A life-saving technology that changed our shopping culture virtually overnight are the cashless payment systems and the online buy and sell platforms. I for one hardly go to an ATM for cash. Almost every purchase I have made since the lockdowns have been through my smartphone.

Stanford University alumna and currently Head of Enterprise Architecture and Innovation of GCash, Ms. Karen Yang Chiang, said that Filipinos can now conduct seamless financial transactions in real time with the integration of banks and Instapay. Their 33,000 in time to fully re-open our economy, or fails to effectively implement its vaccination plan, there could be a likely change in the country’s choice for its next leadership.

Drawing from the inefficiencies in carrying out its COVID-19 amelioration programs, the government’s delay could risk a sharp increase in unemployment and steep collapse in household incomes.

There is no doubt that this coronavirus pandemic might just be the unforeseen political game-changer.

The other side of the story may likewise be true. If this administration meets its vaccination targets before the year ends, it would leave us with enough time to re-start the economy. This might just assure the present political dispensation another lease on our nation’s executive power.

But while future forecasts on the upcoming election appear to be straightforward, the options may actually be more complicated than it seems.

For one, jumpstarting the economy on our own may be difficult to do considering the impact of the continued economic regression of an increasingly interconnected global economy. Likewise, securing the sufficient supply of vaccines, as well as ensuring the efficient implementation of the vaccination plan may be easier said than done.

outlets and machines are integrated with Lazada, Apple, Google, social media sellers, and over 400 billers that consumers can conveniently pay.

Chiang said, “For the non-contact revolution, services like online web pay, pay bills, and buy load, and to serve the emerging virtual communities, we have the send money and convenient bank transfer, and for navigating through financial volatility we offer a number of financial services such as savings, investment, insurance, and loans.”

Without a robust broadband backbone our country will suffer a fundamental disadvantage and will be uncompetitive in the emerging digital economy.

GCash also served as a platform for relief efforts and ran campaigns like #UlyssesPHAid and #TulongCagayan collecting over 21 million in donations. Celebrities and NGO partners, Red Cross and Kaya Natin boosted their own donation drives using GCash to collect cash aid.

Grab Philippines, Country Head Miss Grace Vera-Cruz told the story of how disrupting their own business model grew their company from taxi’s to private Grab car services. They launched Grab protect to operationalize a robust set of safety and hygiene standards for public transportation and food delivery. Grab food launched long distance delivery that aside from satisfying food cravings from their favorite restaurant, enabled smaller businesses to reach more and more customers that may have been too far.

Amazon Senior Software Engineer, Paul Echevarria’s talk was surprisingly not about their online forte, but on bringing back the Questions will surely be asked on issues relevant to the country’s COVID-19 response such as the availability of an affordable and accessibility of a quality healthcare system.

There are so many what ifs on what might happen.

It could be that current political issues, such as constitutional reform, political dynasties or even corruption may be relegated to the backseat, as the voters demand clarity on more commonplace concerns such as healthcare, education and employment.

As the situation worsens, motherhood statements might fail to satisfy the voters.

The same might even be certain for those in local government positions – for whom the bar of accountability might even be higher.

Local governments may have responded to the pandemic differently given their actual financial capacities, but their constituents will have relatively similar expectations. It might be then be extremely difficult for local governments with limited resources to deliver the same amount of services that more thriving cities and municipalities can afford – but the people would care more about having their demands met and not by excuses otherwise.

One will have to also take into consideration the fact that more Filipinos continue to hold President Duterte in higher regard, with his Duterte’s approval ratings are higher than

good things about physical stores. The Amazon Go technology is envisioned to give the same frictionless shopping online by automatically figuring out the items that a shopper bought by just walking out of the store using machine learning and AI technologies.

Another amazing innovation is Amazon One which is a fast, convenient, and contactless way for people to pay using their palm.

Netflix Director of Encoding Technologies Anne Aaron is the lead of a team of software engineers and research scientists responsible for all the software and research that generates the media that’s giving hours of time killing diversion to more than 200 million subscribers.

She gave a high-level discussion of Netflix’s streaming technology and complex server networks deployed worldwide to optimize varying bandwidth services and deliver the best content at the highest resolution and sound quality to each subscriber.

Stratbase ADR Institute President Prof.

Dindo Manhit said, “It is not a hard sell to realize that digitization will be a requisite to an acceptable pace of recovery, and that the foundation to building this capacity is with digital infrastructure.

COVID-19 has pushed the world beyond the fear barriers of change that before the pandemic resisted our advance towards digital transformation.

Digital technologies have become an indispensable extension of our physical and mental being. The warnings of inherent risks may be valid but very manageable, and experiencing the advantages, accessibility, and great utility of digitalization, is the big lesson of this crisis that will continue to shape the new normal.

This brings us to a critical flaw in the government’s apparent de-prioritization of the National Broadband Plan. If the government does not invest in at least building a digital infrastructure that’s up to global standards, the already aggressive expansion and service upgrades of the two dominant telcos Globe Telecom and Smart will be outpaced by increasing bandwidth traffic. Without a robust broadband backbone our country will suffer a fundamental disadvantage and will be uncompetitive in the emerging digital economy. they have ever been. Whether it is indicative of his administration’s performance or a clear setback resulting from populism and theatrics will definitely be a matter for political observers to consider.

There are however bright spots in how COVID-19 could affect the 2022 elections.

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Protesters disrupt vaccination site in LA THE vaccine rollout in the US has been bumpy so far but President Joe Biden has vowed to vaccinate 100 million people within his first 100 days.

Protesters briefly disrupted a coronavirus vaccination distribution center at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, US media reported Saturday.

Several dozen people carrying signs demanding the end of lockdowns and promoting anti-vaccination conspiracy theories gathered at the entrance to the site, one of the largest in the US, social media posts showed.

“There appears to be only about 30 protestors total. It’s not clear why they’ve shut off the whole facility,” tweeted social media user Mikel Jollet.

Officials shut the site down for nearly an hour, US media reported, citing fire department officials— though the Los Angeles police department later insisted that the site had not been shut down and that all

the vaccines would be distributed.

The incident represents just the latest challenge to the vaccine rollout in the US, which has the highest number of cases and deaths in the world from COVID-19.

More than 26 million people have been infected and 439,000 have died in the country since the start of the pandemic, a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University showed Satuday.

President Joe Biden has pledged to have 100 million people vaccinated within his first 100 days—but the rollout began slowly under former President Donald Trump.

Los Angeles county, where COVID-19 cases have surged this winter, is currently only vaccinating frontline medical workers and people aged 65 and over.

Even among those groups, appointments are extremely difficult to obtain, with Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna shots in limited supply.

AFP

Activists from the Fight for $15 movement have called for a $15 per hour US minimum wage, and now President Joe Biden has proposed the wage increase to Congress. AFP

Biden, Democrats seek ambitious wage hike W crats including left-wing Senator Bernie Sanders, establishes the fight for higher wages as a top priority for the new administration, potentially leading to one of Washington’s boldest adjustments in US social and labor policy in decades.

The fate of the initiative—which so far lacks support from Republicans— will help determine whether Biden delivers on a core pocketbook issue as US More striking was Biden’s inclusion income inequality widens during the of a measure to more than double the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sanders, a former presidential candifederal minimum wage to $15.

The move, backed by leading Demo- date, called the current federal minimum

HEN President Joe Biden unveiled a $1.9 trillion stimulus proposal earlier this month, few were surprised by the plan’s hefty price tag or sweeping scope.

wage of $7.25 an hour a “starvation wage” as he unveiled the proposal for an increase in Congress.

The senator said he hopes Republicans “will understand the severity of the crisis,” but added that Democrats should be prepared to enact the policy on a narrow party-line vote.

Such an increase would boost wages for more than 32 million US workers, according to the Economic Policy Institute, a progressive think tank.

The Sanders bill proposes “a significant increase in the minimum wage,”

Ben Zipperer, an economist at the institute, told AFP. “Unfortunately, we have quite a big hole to dig out of in terms of providing what low-income workers need.”

Popular support The bill would put the United States on par with a growing number of states and cities that have already enacted the hike at the urging of the “Fight for $15” movement launched by fast-food workers in the early 2010s.

“The bump up made it a little bit easier,” said Maggie Breshears, who works

Trump impeachment lawyers leave team

IN BRIEF With Amazon billions, MacKenzie Scott shakes up philanthropy

MacKenzie Scott FOOD banks, immigrant rights groups, and struggling colleges across the US discovered a surprise benefactor last year as billions of dollars flowed into organizations hurting during the pandemic from MacKenzie Scott, the exwife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

Scott unlocked a staggering sum of nearly $6 billion in charitable gifts last year, and unlike many other large donors did not attach any restrictions or even naming rights requirements.

The approach has shaken up the philanthropic world, not only with the size of her gifts, but without the limits and accounting requirements of many large foundations or donors.

Laura MacDonald, board chair of the Giving USA Foundation, a nonprofit which conducts research on philanthropic giving, said Scott’s approach is part of a movement of “trust-based philanthropy” which does away with some of the red tape imposed by many donors.

MacDonald said Scott’s approach moved beyond the “Big Brother” approach of some donors and the venture capital mindset which permeates much of the business world.

“Trust-based philanthropy has catapulted to the top of the list of taking points” in the philanthropic world as a result of Scott’s initiative, MacDonald said. AFP

Bernie’s mitten maker finds manufacturer to fill order deluge A VERMONT schoolteacher whose homemade mittens went viral after Senator Bernie Sanders wore them at President Joe Biden’s inauguration has found a manufacturer to fulfill the resulting thousands of orders for her cozy gloves.

“I have amazing news! I’m partnering with Vermont Teddy Bear to make Bernie’s Mittens for EVERYONE!!” Jennifer Ellis tweeted Saturday, adding that some of the proceeds would benefit the Make a Wish Vermont charity.

“I knew there had to be a way to get them to you—and I found it!!” the second-grade teacher said.

The 42-year-old had sent Sanders a pair of her mittens, made from repurposed wool sweaters and lined with fleece made from recycled plastic bottles, after he lost to Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic presidential primary, as a consolation gift.

Last year, as Sanders was running again for president, Ellis learned that he was wearing the mittens—“people were calling them his oven mitts”—but had lent them to someone else.

Ellis said she was so touched that she sent Sanders another 10 pairs.

The senator’s homely brown and beige mittens featured prominently in a photo from the January 20 inauguration showing Sanders sitting alone in a folding chair, bundled up and seemingly unimpressed with the pomp and circumstance. AFP

at grocery store and retailer Fred Meyer in Seattle and has gone from making about $10 per hour in 2013 to $17.59 after Seattle lifted its minimum wage in 2014.

The US minimum wage was first enacted in 1938 as part of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal reforms.

The measure has been periodically increased since then, most recently in 2007, when Congress lifted it gradually from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour, which would equal a $15,000 annual salary. AFP

Vietnam President and Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong addressing the opening session of the 13th National Congress. AFP

Vietnam re-elects party leader after secretive congress VIETNAM’S ruling Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong was re-elected Sunday—a victory that makes him the most powerful leader in decades—but his win was overshadowed by a serious coronavirus outbreak in the country.

Trong, a 76-year-old pro-China conservative who is rumoured to be in poor health, was given the nod after a week of closed-door talks at the twicea-decade Communist Party congress.

It will be his third term in office—a feat unprecedented in Vietnam’s modern era.

“On Sunday morning, comrade Nguyen Phu Trong was elected the General Secretary of the 13th Communist Party Central Committee,” the Vietnam News Agency reported.

Another stint in the top job for Trong is seen as a boost for his high-profile anti-corruption campaign, officially dubbed a “blazing furnace”, that has swept through the party, police and armed forces.

“We can expect Trong to continue to push” his campaign, which has claimed high-level party officials, including three Politburo members, said Carl Thayer, an emeritus professor at the University of New South Wales and an expert on Vietnam.

With graft widespread across all state sectors, Trong’s anti-corruption drive has largely proved popular with the Vietnamese public and many party members.

“We admired him for his determina-

tion and efforts to cleanse and purify the party,” said Nguyen Tran Trung, a longtime Communist Party member.

“Though not in good health, his presence in the leading position still scares bad cadres in the apparatus. He plays a major role in preserving the Communist Party,” the 78-year-old state official told AFP. But for opponents of the regime, the last five years have been marked by escalating repression, according to rights groups and analysts, who warned Trong is likely to push forward with the crackdown during his third stint in power.

“We can expect a continuing crackdown on dissenting voices in the online social media,” Thayer told AFP. AFP

SEVERAL of former US president Donald Trump’s impeachment lawyers have left his team a little over a week before his trial, US media reported Saturday.

CNN cited unnamed sources as saying that five lawyers—including two who were thought to be leading the team—had parted ways with the Republican billionaire after disagreeing over his legal strategy.

Trump had wanted the lawyers to continue his baseless claims of mass election fraud rather than focus on the legality of convicting a president after he has left office, CNN said, adding that he was “not receptive” to discussion.

The lawyers included Butch Bowers and Deborah Barbier, expected to lead Trump’s defense, CNN and other outlets reported, saying it had been a “mutual decision.”

“We have done much work, but have not made a final decision on our legal team, which will be made shortly,” tweeted Trump advisor Jason Miller in response to the reports.

The development leaves Trump, who has reportedly been struggling to form a defense ahead of his historic second impeachment trial over the ransacking of the US Capitol this month, facing new hurdles with just days to go.

However, even with his legal team in chaos he looks increasingly likely to dodge conviction.

Nearly all senators from his party have signaled opposition to his trial and fueled efforts to censure him instead. AFP

Russian billionaire says he owns ‘Putin palace’

Vladmir Putin (left) and Arkady Rotenberg

BILLIONAIRE and Vladimir Putin ally Arkady Rotenberg Saturday said he owns a Black Sea coast property that Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny says costs over $1.5 billion and belongs to the Russian president.

Navalny claims the 17,691 square metre mansion sits on a property 39 times the size of Monaco and features a casino along with a theatre, an underground hockey arena, an aquatic disco and a hookah lounge complete with a pole-dancing stage.

Underscoring the grand price tag, Navalny noted in a two-hour video report that it features Italian-made toilet brushes estimated at 700 euros ($851) apiece.

Navalny’s video has garnered over 100 million views on YouTube, helped spur the largest street protests in Russia in years and forced Putin to deny that he or his relatives own the property.

On Saturday, Putin’s former judo partner Rotenberg said the property belonged to him.

“I have successfully concluded a deal with some creditors and I became the beneficiary of this site,” Russian news agencies quoted Rotenberg as saying.

His media service said the billionaire wanted to turn it into an apartment hotel.

“Everything has been done with great care, efficiently and professionally,” he said.

“I am hoping that we will finish work on the hotel in a few years,” he said.

Russian state television on Friday rejected claims that the property was owned by Putin and dismissed reports that it had an aquatic disco, showing an empty fountain at the purported site.

But Navalny’s allies say work is ongoing to rectify flaws due to “negligence” during initial construction. AFP

Business

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Regulators monitoring Reddit stock onslaught NEW YORK―The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Friday said its regulators were keeping an eye on the whipsawing share prices of some Wall Street stocks that had been targeted by a social media-driven campaign to make wealthy hedge funds suffer.

“The commission is closely monitoring and evaluating the extreme price volatility of certain stocks’ trading prices over the past several days,” the SEC said in a statement, a day after some platforms restricted trading in GameStop, AMC Entertainment and other stocks caught up in the surge.

“We will act to protect retail investors when the facts demonstrate abusive or manipulative trading activity that is prohibited by the federal securities laws.”

The regulator also said it “will closely review actions taken by regulated entities that may disadvantage investors or otherwise unduly inhibit their ability to trade certain securities.”

Investors who organized over Reddit and other forums have in recent days targeted shares of companies that had been short-sold by hedge funds, which have bet that the price of the company would fall.

Their tactics have caused massive spikes in share prices, and on Thursday Robinhood, an app popular among retail investors whose stated goal is to “democratize finance for all,” decided to limit trades on the most volatile stocks.

British market watchdog the Financial Conduct Authority also took notice on Friday, issuing a statement saying they were “warning UK investors in certain US listed shares which are being discussed online to use extreme caution.

“Volatile markets are unpredictable and mean you can quickly lose money.”

The move to restrict trades was decried by lawmakers from across the United States. AFP

CLOSED MALLS. Shoppers

walk past the Forum des Halles in Paris on January 30, 2021, a day before the closing of large shopping centers, following new sanitary measures decided by the government to curb the spread of COVID-19. The French Prime Minister, speaking after a meeting of the country’s defense council, said on January 29 he was not announcing a fresh national lockdown for now, adding that “the next few days will be decisive” in terms of any possible new restrictions. AFP

Market cautious amid slow economic recovery outlook

By Jenniffer B. Austria

S

HARE prices are expected to move sideways this week with a downward bias as investors are starting to lose confidence on the quick recovery of the domestic economy.

Analysts said expectations from government economic managers that the first quarter gross domestic product figures would remain negative were making investors cautious on the market.

The GDP contracted 9.5 percent in the full of 2020 and dropped 8.3 percent in the fourth quarter. But the contraction was in line with market expectations, The rising number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, with many provinces reverting to much stricter quarantine measures, and the uncertainty over the vaccine rollout are also adding to investors’ worries.

UK seeks entry to Asia-Pacific free trade bloc

LONDON―Britain will apply to join a massive 11-nation free-trade bloc of Asia-Pacific countries, it announced Saturday, weeks after leaving the European single market with its departure from the EU. International Trade Secretary Liz Truss will formally request Monday for Britain to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for TransPacific Partnership (CPTPP), a market representing half a billion people and roughly 13.5 percent of the global economy.

The CPTPP application will come one year after Britain left the European Union following more than 40 years of membership―and after five years of complex trade discussions.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the potential new partnership would “bring enormous economic benefits for the people of Britain.”

“Applying to be the first new country to join the CPTPP demonstrates our ambition to do business on the best terms with our friends and partners all over the world and be an enthusiastic champion of global free trade,” he said.

Negotiations between the UK and the partnership―which represents 11 Pacific Rim nations including Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, Mexico and Vietnam―are expected to start this year, the trade department said.

But opposition Labor party shadow international trade secretary Emily Thornberry questioned the lack of transparency surrounding the pact.

After five years of debate over Brexit trade agreements, she said people would question the British government’s decision “to rush into joining another one on the other side of the world without any meaningful public consultation at all.” AFP

“Investor sentiment remains cautious are still reasonable given low interest as elevated valuations, signs of a tepid rates,” Tan said. recovery are feeding bearish sentiment The stock market may also benefit that could worsen if earnings disappoint from the flow of foreign funds into enand the government fails to contain the ergy markets, like the Philippines.

The PSEi last week sank 6.2 percent outbreak,” BDO Unibank Inc. chief investment strategist Jonathan Ravelas to 6,612.62, its lowest close in nearly three months, as investors turned causaid.

“The week’s close at 6,612.62 signals tious over the recovery of the domestic further tests towards the 6,500 levels in economy.

Global stocks, meanwhile, finished the near-term,” Ravelas added.

But COL Financial expects the Phil- an ugly week with another volatile ippine Stock Exchange Index to end session Friday as the buying frenzy 2021 at at 8,300 points despite the cur- over GameStop and some other equities resumed amid stepped-up scrutiny from rent negative trading sentiments.

COL Financial research head April regulators. With AFP Lee-Tan said the outlook on the domestic economy for 2021 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES was not very attractive given City Government of Makati the poor prospects for conCommittee on Awards on Disposal sumer and business spending, 7th Floor, Makati City Hall Bulldog II J.P. Rizal cor. F, Zobel Sts., Brgy. Poblacion, Makati City and delays in the passage of tax Tel. No. (02) 870 1793/ 1779 cuts. www.makati.gov.ph “However, the stock market can still go up on hopes that INVITATION TO BID FOR THE SALE OF UNSERVICEABLE the availability of COVID-19 vaccines will help economic PROPERTY, PLANT & EQUIPMENT (PPE) conditions normalize faster.

Moreover, valuations of stocks The CITY GOVERNMENT OF MAKATI, through Its Committee on Awards on Disposal (CAD), wishes

Demands of Life in the 21st Century

to announce to the public and all interested buyer/s to join the sale through Public Bidding of FORTYFOUR (44) LOTS OF UNSERVICEABLE PROPERTY, PLANT & EQUIPMENT on a “AS IS, WHERE IS” basis on February 18, 2021, detailed as follows: Locations

Lot Numbers

1. Pio del Pilar Warehouse, Brgy Poblacion

WITH the advancement of science and technology, a lot has improved in our way of life. Tools ranging from simple to sophisticated are available at our convenience to simplify our tasks. Communication evolved from written letters to long-distance audiovisual conferences. Travels that took months have been reduced to hours and days. Our health care has also improved in a lot of ways to heal us and extend our lives. Gathering resources and necessities can be done inside our homes thanks to online shopping. The 21st Century has made a lot of what people thought was impossible possible.

Time is a luxury Despite all the conveniences we have today, have you ever felt you do not have time at your disposal― time to do your office work, time for your family, time for yourself, time for friends, or time to do whatever it is you want? Have you ever felt you do not have the freedom to do it all? Almost everything in the 21st century is doable. You can do so much, travel to places, indulge in many activities, and the only thing you need besides money and resources is time. Time has become a luxury in this 21st century world.

Demands of life Since time has become an irreplaceable resource, what do we need to do to make the most of it? How do we spend time so that we truly live? How can we fit everything into our schedules? How do we balance the demands of living in the 21st century: family, friends, health, career, money, business, leisure, travel, and others? And why do we need to balance these demands?

Risks of an unbalanced life Being unable to balance our work, life, and everything can be harmful to us. As we work harder and longer, we tend to sleep less to have some time for ourselves. I know because I have been there. As a millennial eager to prove himself, I have accepted more responsibilities and tried to accomplish them alone. To do this, I would work longer and still have time for myself by sacrificing some hours of sleep.

But, we have always been reminded that getting a full night’s rest is needed so our body can recuperate and fix itself. If we do not have enough rest, we are at risk.

Fatigue. Overworking ourselves takes a toll on our body and mental health. This can lead to even lower productivity.

Poor Health. Working can be stressful, and as we work longer shifts, stress can negatively affect our immune system, which makes us vulnerable to diseases.

Social Disconnection. As social beings, it is in our nature to be with others. When we devote too much time to work, we deprive ourselves of this necessity.

This can lead to feelings of isolation, and at worst, can destroy our relationships.

Increased Expectations. As we prioritize work over, we tend to accept extra responsibilities. These

Floor Price

1 to 11 PhP 1,035,443.00

2. Sultana Warehouse, Brgy Olympia

ALLEN JUDE AQUINO

Green LiGht

responsibilities carry increased expectations, which can affect our confidence and contribute to stress if we cannot meet.

So how do we do it? How do we balance those demands? A 2019 blog found in https://www. pasadenavilla.com/2019/05/08/work-life-balanceimportance/ gave the following ideas: SMILE to achieve work-life balance We have always heard experienced people say, “set limits and learn to prioritize” then you can have worklife balance. These are timeless pieces of advice. For me.

S–Say No. When we say no, we accept our limits.

We can do and accomplish so much, but there is a time to stop, say no, and rest. By saying no, we make time for things that are more important to us.

M–Make a list. Identify all the things we need or want to do. By listing them, we can plan how to accomplish each and stay focused.

I–Identify necessary from unnecessary. Not everything we need to do or want to do must be done simultaneously. Some are urgent; some are not. Some are important; some are not. This only means that some activities must be prioritized over others.

L–Leave work at work. We can spend the whole day working, and there would still be much to do.

Work has become endless, and so we must decide to separate work with life.

E –Enjoy. Life is too short to do something we do not enjoy. If we do something because it pays our bills, then we need to learn to find joy in it or find something better.

Achieving work-life balance is not a definite science. There could be a hundred ways to accomplish it. What works for me may not work for you and vice versa. Our tolerance for different levels of stress is also a differentiating factor. Still, we must strive to find what works for each of us. Otherwise, we face the risks of an unbalanced life. If time is important, so is our health.

At the end of the day, it is we who decide how to live our own lives. So, let us make the most of it.

The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, De La Salle University.

This article is part of his blog for the course on Leadership, Ethics, and CSR. The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the position of De La Salle University, its faculty, and its administrators.

12 to 44

No bid shall be allowed lower than the said Floor Price.

Schedule of bidding as follows:

Activity

Date

Time

Issuance of Bid Documents

February 1 - 5, 2021 February 8 - 11, 2021

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Inspection of Unserviceable Property

February 1 - 5, 2021 February 8 - 11, 2021

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Pre-Bidding Conference

February 11, 2021

2:00 PM

Deadline for Submission of Bid Offer

February 18, 2021

2:00 PM

Opening of Bid Offer

February 18, 2021

2:01 PM

Bid documents shall be issued only to interested bidders upon presentation of a Letter of Intent and a non-refundable fee of ONE THOUSAND PESOS (PhP 1,000.00) to the Committee on Awards on Disposal Secretariat not later than twelve o’clock in the afternoon of February 5, 2021.

Interested bidders are advised to conduct actual inspection of the unserviceable property subject for disposition.

The CAD will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on February 11, 2021, Friday, 2:00 PM at the Pio del Pilar Conference Room, 21st Floor, Makati City Hall Building I, J.P. Rizal St., Brgy Poblacion, Makati City through video conferencing which shall be open to prospective bidders to discuss the Eligibility Requirements and the Technical and Financial Components required. However, only those interested bidders who have purchased bidding documents are allowed to raise and submit queries or clarifications regarding the auction, Deadline for the submission of bids is on February 18, 2021, Friday, 2:00 PM, at the Pio del Pilar Conference Room, 21st Floor, Makati City Hall Building I, J.P. Rizal St., Brgy Poblacion, Makati City.

The time for the deadline of the submission of bids shall be based on the Philippine Standard Time (PST) pursuant to R.A. 10535 otherwise known as “The Philippine Standard Time Act of 2013”.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidder’s representatives who choose to attend at the said address. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in the form of Cash, Manager’s Check or Cashier’s Check in favor of Makati City Treasurer in the amount equivalent to at least Ten Percent (10%) of the bid.

Late bids shall not be accepted.

The winning bidder shall remove all 44 lots of unserviceable Properties, Plant & Equipment within Forty-Five (45) calendar days upon issuance of an approved Sales Invoice.

Handling of Documents still follow current Makati City Government Protocols.

All Public Conferences shall follow social distancing protocol of the City. We will follow the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) guidelines on mass gathering. To manage attendees, we will only allow at most one (1) representative per bidder who should confirm with the Committee on Awards on Disposal Secretariat at least a day before the scheduled conference of its attendance.

We will allow at most one (1) pre-registered representative from prospective bidders to attend the PreBid Conference / Bid Opening through virtual (zoom) meeting. Please register with the CAD Secretariat Office at least one day before the scheduled Pre-Bid Conference or Bid Opening. The meeting ID and password will be provided to the register representative. For ease of recording attendance and identification of attendees, please log in using the registered name. Format of zoom profile name should follow: <<Company>>-<<Last Name, First Name of Representative>> For further inquiries, interested bidder/s may call or contact the Committee on Awards on Disposal Secretariat at Tel. No. (02) 870-1793 / 1779, THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF MAKATI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY OR ALL BIDS, TO WAIVE ANY FORMALITY THEREOF AND TO ACCEPT ONLY SUCH BIDS THAT ARE ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE GOVERNMENT.

ATTY CLARO F. CERTEZA Chairperson Committee on Awards on Disposal

M. Standard – Feb. 1 & 8, 2021

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

B4

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2021 SATURDAY, JANUARY1,30, 2021

Business Business

PSE INDEX CLOSING Friday, January 29, 2021

-239.22 PTS. 6,612.62

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE

41,762,733,134 180,080 3,614,014,603.46

ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

91 133 44

Foreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.1210

Japan

Yen

0.009596

0.4618

UK

Pound

1.372200

66.0316

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128991

6.2072

Switzerland

Franc

1.125239

54.1476

Canada

Dollar

0.779545

37.5125

Singapore

Dollar

0.752502

36.2111

Australia

Dollar

0.767900

36.9521

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655478

127.7843

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266631

12.8306

Brunei

Dollar

0.749681

36.0754

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000071

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.033311

1.6030

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.1020

Euro

Euro

1.212500

58.3467

Korea

Won

0.000899

0.0433

China

Yuan

0.155039

7.4606

India

Rupee

0.013712

0.6598

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.247280

11.8994

New Zealand

Dollar

0.717000

34.5028

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035727

1.7192 Source: BSP

Bangko PayMayaSentral says sees January digital dealings gained tipping inflation hitting aspoint highinas2020 3.7% BANGKO ng Pilipinas GovBy DarwinSentral G. Amojelar ernor Benjamin Diokno said Friday inflation in Philippines January likely PAYMAYA Inc. accelerated said digital to as high became as 3.7 percent from 3.5 perpayments the preferred mode cent in December on higher pricesonof of settlement of Filipinos shopping fuel andyear power. line last and overtook cash transactions.

Diokno said in a message to reportfounder and likely chief execuersPayMaya the January inflation settled tive Orlando Veaofsaid within a range 3.3cashless percent modes to 4.1 of payment―which include e-Wallets percent.

The Philippine Statistics Ausuch as PayMaya, cards bank transthority will release theand official figure fers―most next week. likely reached a tipping point in 2020 whenfor overfuel 50 percent of “Higher prices and meat online transaction value in as wellshopping as increased Meralco power the country were paid through cashrates and excise taxes on alcoholic less means, based on data from Google, beverages and tobacco contributed Temasek, Bain & Company, Euromonito upward price tor and PayMaya. pressures during the month,” said.Delivery, today “From Diokno Cash On He said increases could be partCOD now the means Cashless Orders and ly offset by stable rice prices, lower Delivery. In 2020 alone, we processed cost of selected fish and vegetables over P95 billion worth of online shopand appreciation of all theofpeso. pingthe transactions across our plat“Thewhich BSP only will shows remainthat watchful of forms, consumer preference and for financial cashless payments and economic developments online shopping is overwhelmingly to ensure the delivery of its primary present,” Vea said. stability conducive mandate of price said because this development, to Vea a balanced andof sustainable ecothe Philippines on the cusp of an nomic growth,”was he said. online explosion as financial The shopping inflation rate averaged 2.6 pertechnology providers, digital cent in 2020, slightly faster thanplayers, 2.5 perbusinesses andasthe accelercent in 2019, thegovernment string of typhoons ated the pivot to digital, bolstered by the in the latter part of the year contributed launch of the update e-Commerce Philipto the uptick in consumer prices. pines Roadmap 2022 by the Department The Monetary of Tradepolicy-setting and Industry on Friday. Board, in With a meeting on Dec. 17, retained the the updated e-Commerce roadovernight borrowing rateisattargeting record low map for 2022, the DTI to 2increase percente-commerce because of merchants the benigntoinflaone tion environment. interestand rates on million from a baseThe of 500,000 hike the overnightcontribution deposit and to lending facile-commerce Philippine ities were toalso at 1.5 percent and economy 5.5kept percent from 3.4 percentpercent, last year.respectively.

2.5 “As weinteragency recharge our economy and The Development build back better in the Committee, post-pandemic Budget Coordinating in era, let us create ‘better normal’ by consultation witha the BSP, retained taking advantage of at the2benefits the inflation target percentoftoe-4 commerce. aim Itfor percent for And 2021 as andwe 2022. alsofast, set convenient easy a the inflationand target at acommerce range of 2inperdigital world, let us remember that cent to 4 percent for 2023 and 2024. more e-commerce means more jobs and The latest BSP forecasts indicated employment generated for our countrythat the inflation would settle within men,” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez the for 2021 The saidtarget duringrange the launch of to the2022. updated BSP said that for 2023 to 2024, inflae-commerce roadmap. tion largely be influenced by Veawould said the conditions created by the of economic recovery in the the pace COVID-19 pandemic accelerated post-pandemic period. but the supthe push for e-commerce, Julito G. Rada port of players in the entire ecosystem

would turbo-charge its growth all the way to 2022.

“With the guidance of DTI and the push to make e-commerce easy for all players of involved, we are seeing onlinethe BANK the Philippine Islands, shopping andlender cashlessinpayments boom in third-largest terms of assets, country like before,”experienced Vea said. isthe optimistic thenever recession

CUSTOMERS with an average monthly consumption of 500 kilowatts to 749 kW can start choosing their own suppliers on February 26 , the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines announced over the weekend.

IEMOP said customers under the new

By Julito Radawith retail electhreshold can nowG.transact tricity suppliers (RES).

“As of 26managers January 2021, 10 out suppliers FUND pulled $4.2 bilhavelion already submitted initial switchfinancial refrom the Philippine quests to IEMOP for a total of 26 contestmarkets last year amid prolonged able customers under the new lower threshimpact of the COVID-19 pandemic, old,” IEMOP said in a statement. data from the Bangko ng PiliIEMOP, as operator of theSentral Wholesale pinas Spot showed over the weekend.

Electricity Market (WESM), the counRegistered foreign released portfolio try’s trading floor of electricity, an investments—also called hot money— advisory to suppliers regarding the guidelinesyielded of the initial switching. of $4.2 billion in net outflows Based thehighest lower threshold, all quali2020,onthe on record.

This was fied a end-users canthe be $15.9-billion considered contestable result of gross outcustomers under the Phase III threshold levflows and $11.7-billion gross inflows el (500kW to 749kW) and will be allowed to lasttoyear. switch the Competitive Retail Electricity 2020 outflows were also Market.The Alena Mae net S. Flores

bigger than the $1.9-billion net out-

flows in 2019.

Peso is one of Asia’s Data showed that the net outflows most stable last year includedcurrencies net outflows in Phil-

NEW TRAIN. Officials of the Department of Transportation, Light Rail Transit Authority, Light Rail Manila Corp., ambassadors, consultants, contractors, loan financer and stakeholders unveil the first LRT-1 4th Generation Train Car at the Manila Harbor Center Port Services.

LRMC, the privateOne operator of Foundation LRT Line 1, says the state-of-the-art passenger train, designed

by Construcciones y POP-UP LABORATORY. Meralco and PLDT-Smart Foundation join hands to set up a pop-up molecular laboratory Ferrocarriles Spain,inmeasures 106that meters in length and 2.59 metersits inown width, with a maximum polymerase design speed of up to 70 atAuxiliar the Eastde Avenue MedicalofCenter Quezon City enables the hospital to conduct reverse-transcription chain kilometers hour. the presence of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony are (from left) reaction testsper to detect EAMC officer-in-charge Dr. Allan Troy Baquir, EEI Corp. senior vice president Earl Jason Vistro, EAMC medical center chief Dr. Alfonso Nuñez, Health Assistant Secretary Elmer Punzalan, PSF president Esther Santos and OMF president Jeffrey Tarayao.

Stock market falls to lowest Toyota set to open P4.5-b level in nearly three months new logistics hub this year

S T

THEippine peso remains of the most stable Stock one Exchange-listed shares Asian currencies despite headwinds from ($3.3 billion); peso government securithe domestic andmillion); global fronts, especially ties ($931 and other portfolio the instruments prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, the ($22 million).

Department of Finance said over the weekThe $11.7-billion total registered end. investments Inportfolio an economic bulletin, the in DoF2020 cited fell 29.7 percent from $16.6-billion the rising risks in the global economy, level in 2019. heightened by the These spread investments of COVID-19,were predominantly in PSE-listed securithe collapse of global markets, the extreme volatility currencies and themostly downgrading ties in (80.5 percent) in propof credit of manyholding economies. erty ratings companies, firms, banks, “The firm, and food,Philippine beveragepeso and remained tobacco firms appreciating from year-end 2019 level.

In information technology companies, 2020, the Philippine peso was in the middle while the balance (19.5 percent) were of the pack among the nine currencies in in peso securiAsiainvested that maintained theirgovernment value against the ties. DoF said.

US dollar,” The Kingdom, Singapore, It said the United peso in 2020 appreciated 5.18 percent US dollar, or in the and the against UnitedtheStates, Luxembourg middle of the pack of nine Asian currencies, Hong Kong were the top five invesincluding the Taiwan dollar, yuan, tor countries last year,Chinese with combined Taiwan dollar, Korean won and Japanese share of 78.2 percent yen, which appreciated 6.33 percent, 6.26 “Developments for the year inpercent, 6.07 percent, and 4.94 percent, recludedJulito the G.ongoing impact of the spectively.

Rada

COVID-19 pandemic to the global of prices as the planet emerges from lockdowns and more TOCKS tumbled Friday on rising incredible resilience and was able to economy and financial system, along people get inoculations.

More local investors virus infections worldwide and weak in sales. a That being with international and domestic deWall Street and achieve most of 242,000 Europe provided positive lead, trade in stock market said, I am pleased to announce that TMP velopments throughout the year such consumer spending that has helped by some much-needed good news that fewer Amerioyota Motor Philippines saidbeen over the weekend was able to achieve 100,019 unit sales as geopolitical tensions, certain DOMESTIC retail and institutional in- corcans than expected made claims for jobless benefits last week. hampering economic to in 2020, with an expanded share of the it expects to startrecovery this yeardue operations of the dominated trading issues during and the first porate governance extendAnd data showing the US economy suffered its worst year vestors month the year, accounting for 75.3measures permarket at 41.3 percent,” Okamoto said. edofcommunity quarantine lockdown restrictions.

P4.5-billion Batangas Vehicle Logistics Hub, a since 1946—while growth tapered in Alfred the fourth quarter—also centinofvarious value turnover, according to data the chairman Ty cited the efregions in the country,” The Philippine Stock Exchange Index plummeted 239.22 gave support to calls Toyota foroflawmakers to pass Biden’s huge from the Philippine Stock Exchange.

32-hectare forts the government andJoe industry partBSP said. points, or 3.5 facility percent, tonear a nearBatangas three-monthPort. low 6,612.62.

By Othel V. Campos

proposals.ners in contributing to improvements in “TMP remains committed to billion, sup- 160,000 unitsbeating per year stimulus and a stockyard Value turnover reached just P3.6 with losers Tokyo shed closemarket to twoconditions percent, while Seoulenvironment plunged more and overall porting the goal of the government to that can accommodate at least gainers, 133 to 91, with 44 issues unchanged. The benchmark than three4,500 percent and Jakarta more than two percent, with for both businesses and the consumers. stimulate the economy and to prepare at a time. index closed at its lowest level since cars November 4, 2020, Taipei off 1.8 percent.“While the automotive industry as a for the eventual resumption of motorSimilar to its Santa Rosa Vehicle when it ended at 6,464.05.

Kong, Singapore and Bangkok whole Sydney, may have seen challenging salesalso ization in the country. The auto industry Logistics Center, the newHong facility willShanghai, Inc. of theand Gokongwei suffered car sizeable Mumbai both we rose.also at the onsetand of Wellington the pandemic, is aJG keySummit driver ofHoldings economic activity have an Group 18-trucksank lane covered car- falls.

8.2essential percent part to P60.80, whiletounit Universal Corp., saw combined gradual growth the down, lowest inSeveral to pushfrom markets an of the drive increase rierRobina loading and the unloading area. issues This have largest maker of snack foods, fell 5.4 percent to P135. point in May. had We gone expecttoo this mobility. At the heart of the Batangas will ensure the safety and healthconcerns of the that cluding valuations farincrease as well as Manila Electric thepromise biggestof retailer of crew, electricity, to continue as Filipinos ease back into Vehicle Logistics HubCo., is our working enablingthe them to operatespike frightening in virus cases and new variants, along slumpedever 6.8better percent P261, while Aboitiz Power Corp. of with stuttering vaccination their daily routines and resume making carstofor our customin any weather condition. campaigns around the pursuing world. the Preserving Aboitiz Group dropped 6.8 vehipercent toThe P24.

SM Prime the life that by hadatoDavid-and-Goliath take a backseat ers. the quality of our company said thatMarkets despite have the also beengoals rattled Holdings of the Sy percent to P35.30. in 2020,” said Ty. cles, from Inc. production inGroup variousdeclined plants 4.1 drop in 2020 sales across thebetween automo-a growing battle number of chatroom-inspired retail “Every week there are developAsian to anddelivery European markets alsosector suffered more oftraders all The overrest theofworld, dealers tive because the prolonged and Wall Street investors centered on new struggling video ments regarding a COVID-19 and customers, efficient alogistics nec- forlockdowns and limitations physical losses Friday, capping painfulisweek global equities that gameinretailer GameStop, which has seen a numbervaccine of profeswhile this may not be the be-all and essary,” TMP president Atsuhiro movements, it had bright spots has beensaid characterized by fears over surging infections andseveral sional dealers lose and billions of dollars. end-all solution to this pandemic, it is a Okamoto. indicating industry resilience and showstuttering vaccine rollouts.

“The mood haswelcome become development quite gloomy on avaccinations, sign that The logistics housetheir a preing promise of recovery.

Traders havehub beenwill licking wounds after the worst which may not be surprising given we areand in the than pandemic’s exdelivery inspection and post produc-a months-long “Even though year has been progress is happening earlier global rout since October, following rally the thatpast darkest time so far,” said Axi strategist Stephen Innes.

“But pected,” he said. tion installation facility with a capacity challenging, the market has shown has seen several indexes strike record or multi-year highs.

I think it’s important not to lose sight of what matters from a But observers remain confident for the long-term prospects medical perspective: the vaccines work.” With AFP

The PSE said it was the highest local investor participation on a monthly basis since 76.2 percent in March 2010.

Foreign investors accounted for the balance of 24.7 percent.

“This is the eighth consecutive month that locals outpaced foreign investors in terms of value traded in the stock market,” said PSE president and chief executive RamonTHE S. Monzon.

Philippine National Railways has de“Trading activity foreign may that ployed three newoftrains fromfunds Indonesia runbut from Tutuban in Manila to Los Bahavewill abated liquidity in the stock market ñosdeteriorated. in Laguna. In fact, daily average valhas not Withisthe addition of year the new Diesel ue turnover up 50.3 percent to date and HyLocomotives sets, the PNR 82.4draulic percent year on year,” hetrain added.

Metro Line according now canto serve The valueCommuter turnover ratio, daily,ofdoubling the curPSE,140,000 was 56.8passengers to 43.2 in favor foreign inrentincapacity 48,000 60,000 perinday. vestors Januaryof2020 and to 54.6 to 45.4 Secretary Tugade favor ofTransport local investors forArthur the entire 2020.said the new PNR train setsJenniffer assures theB.riding public of Austria safe, convenient, and comfortable travels.

Tugade noted that PNR stations had increased from 25 to the present 34.

“For you to have an improved rail movement, you must have the facility, and the rails. You must have the trains and the coaches, and you must have the people. The three are being done by PNR,” he added.

Tugade thanked PT INKA and the Indonesian Embassy in Manila for their support in realizing the development projects of the especially rail sector.

By country, Julito G. Radain the Darwin G. Amojelar

IN BRIEF

PNR introduces new trains from Indonesia

Fitch Solutions: PH poised to Electronics group economy grow 7.6% in 2021

ACEN OFFERING.

AC Energy Corp. concludes its 2.27 billion stock rights offering with a bell ringing ceremony at the Philippine Stock Exchange The Ayala-led energy company raised P5.37 billion from the capital raising activity. Joining the bell-ringing ceremony are (front row, from left) ACEN president and chief executive Eric Francia and PSE chief operating officer Roel Refran; (second row) ACEN chief finance officer and treasurer Corazon Dizon, AC president and ACEN chairman Fernando Zobel

By Othel Campos de Ayala, Securities and V. Exchange Commission Commissioner Ephyro Luis Amatong, PSE president and chiefelectronics executive Ramon THE and Monzon semiconducand PSE Issuer headaMarigel tor Regulation industryDivision expects 7-percent Garcia; (third row) ACEN Dodjie growth in executive exports director this year, after Lagazo, ACEN vice president for finance Janel shipments fell by over 7 percent Bea and Securities Clearing Corporation of the last year.

Philippines chief operating officer Renee Rubio.

forecast exports expansion of 7%

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed electronics exports dropped 7.6 percent to $37 billion in 2020 from $40 billion in 2019. The rate of decline was slowproving its financial viability in the long market share, will not affect

By Alena Mae S. Flores er than thethat 10.1-percent drop inthetorun and address some major concerns. supply,” Cusi said. tal exports to $63.77 billion from Petron plans to invest nearly P3 bilPetron hasbillion. a network of about 2,400 PETRON Corp. will proceed with the $70.93 stations nationwide which capshutdown of its 180,000-barrel-per-day lion to further improve the efficiency of retail The Semiconductor and Electronabout a third of the domestic marrefinery in Limay, Bataan this month, a the integrated operation of the refinery ture ics Industry of only the Philippines Inc. over fivethe years. ket. Petron is the remaining oil top executiveDONATION. said over the weekend.

PAGCOR A priest blesses thethe sitenext where multi-purpose said exports in December reached “Considering that the will refining busi- refinery in the country after Pilipinas Petron president Ang Kayan confirmed evacuation center Ramon in Barangay West, Tadian, Mountain Province be built. $3.9 billion, up 2.4 percent from Noness remains challenging both here the shutdown of Petron refinery for State-run Philippine Amusement andecoGaming Corp. is funding the construction ofand Shell Petroleum Corp. shut down its vember, while imports fellbecause 9.1 peraround the world, the plan for the refin110,000-barrel-per-day refinery nomic reasons.

He said earlier the refinery evacuation centers in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur and Tadian, Mountain Province, that will cost cent to $2.3 billion from the previous ery undergo an economic plant shutof the impact of the pandemic. would be closed for four will months starting P50 million.

The facilities address the lack of to appropriate evacuation facilities not month. the oil firms are expected down early this year will still proceed,” Meanwhile, February but might still reopen thisinyear only in the recipient towns but also neighboring communities. electronics imports in 2020 Petron said in a previous disclosure. to raiseTotal the price of gasoline

by P0.20 to depending on the economic situation. amounted Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi earlier P0.30 per liter. to $25.95 billion, or 30.3 He said the shutdown would go ahead “Expect prices to haveinbound mix percent fuel of total Philippine despite the recent approval of the proj- assured the country’s supply would not movement next week [Feb. 2 to Feb. shipments. ect as a registered enterprise of the Au- be affected by the refinery shutdown.

“TheyThursday will import prodhave price change.

However, said much of Bataan. the eco- ported thatthe thefinished economy con- 8]. Diesel thority of the he Freeport Area of “Theshould increase inno exports is caused and 9.5 use percent their terminal as the storage increase P0.20 toreThe AFAB registration of the Petron nomic recovery would hinge on the roll- uct tracted in 2020, worst Gasoline by theshould slow but steadyby economic instead of crudestarted oil. P0.30 per liter,” Philippines said refinery facility willthis helpyear. make its refin- for out of the vaccines on clean recordproduct since the government covery from Unioil the initial impact of the is also looking to keeping weekly forecast. ingChua business more competitive by im-of Petron said supporting the recovery collecting gross domestic producttheir data in itspandemic, which bodes well for the the economy were the manageable in- in 1946, a year after the Second World semiconductor and electronics inflation environment, the government’s War ended. dustry that has a projected growth higher fiscal spending and the monetary The decline surpassed the 7-percent of 7 percent for 2021,” said SEIPI policy support from the Bangko Sentral contraction posted in the latter part of president Dan Lachica.

Herrera, JDVC and APL consul- mercial extraction, testing and and at a distancethe ngJun Pilipinas. the Marcos administration in 1984.

Fac-and Gonzaga He saidtowns, quarantine restrictions, tant, said the first newly-built deep sea sampling and production of magof over 14 kilometers.

That’s more than “Inflation will remain benign this year tors that contributed to the decline were global pandemic and economic situnetite iron. two horizon lengths away from the mining vessel arrived in Cagayan and and may average 3.2 percent from 2.6 the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and ation could affect the growth of the said complaint from certain the company said. was taking because of strong percent last shelter year. Also, the support that aAPL string of the natural disasters such as theshoreline,” industry. of Ballesteros, alleg-and Ballesteros Lazaro Ramos, waves. we are seeing from the BSP is there... residents Taal Volcano eruptionCagayan in January “This isresident why SEIPI is truly grateMining operations are expected to ing that the planned offshore mining in a letter to Environment Secretary The government is providing fiscal strong typhoons in the fourth quarter. ful for the assistance and quick restart by mid end-February as soon as operations of JDVCsector Resources would Cimatu,ofdescribed JDVC spending to orthe tune of P4.5-trillion,” The agriculture declined by 2.5Roy sponses the variousthegovernment the ocean swell subsided, he said. cause damage to coral beds had no baproject as a “catastrophe”, citing a Chua said. “These are measures in- percent in the fourth quarter and -0.2 agencies that we have had the plea“The first vessel has arrived and three sis.

by University of Hawaii oceantended to provide economic support,” percent for the full year. Industry fell 9.9studysure to work with.

Their assistance more vessels are expected to arrive this “We won’t even be mining Craig Smith on theindustry ocean as he said. percent in the fourth quarter in andtheir -13.1ographer has been invaluable to the year,” Herrera said. waters.

In the first place, our mining opseabed in the northeast Pacific Chua said the expected economic re- percent for the entire year. Services, we resume operations, whileabysobservThe vessel is capable of comeration will be in the waters of Buguey sal waters.

Alena Maeprotocols,” S. Flores Lachica covery would favor more the equities meanwhile, contracted 8.4 percent in ing strict health than fixed income market. the fourth quarter and -9.1 percent the said.

The Philippine Statistics Authority re- whole year. Julito G. Rada

Petron to go ahead with Bataan refinery shutdown this month

BPI says economic recession over, expects 6% recovery this year by the Philippines due to the COVID-19 pandemic is over and that a 6-percent economic growth could be expected in 2021.

BPI Asset Management and Trust APOLLO Globalofficer CapitalSmith said Chua subchief investment sidiary JDVC Resources will start the said in an online event Friday there commercial operations of the country’s were indications the recession was over, first offshore iron mining judging from themagnetite gradual recovery of the project inthat Cagayan next month.8.3-pereconomy posted a lesser companyinassured the quarter, governcentThe contraction the fourth ment of a minimal impact on the sea an improvement from the 11.4-percent environment as studies by a Singaporedecline in the third quarter. based company showed Isthat “The survey economy is opening... it there is no coral or aquamarine life something that we can look forward within the mining to...,” Chua said. area located 150 meters below level.

“Our GDPsea may grow by 6 percent this year...we are fine-tuning our numbers,” he said.

Fund managers IN BRIEF WESM operator bares withdrew $4.2b rules on power switch in investments from PH in 2020

Apollo Global announces subsidiary’s start of magnetite mining operations in Cagayan

FITCH Solutions, a unit of the Fitch lists it2.27m Group,AC saidEnergy over the weekend expects the Philippine economy to rebound this shares, raises P5.4b yearAC with a growth of 7.6 percent from ENERGY Corp., a unit of Ayala Corp., a record-low slump shares last year on Friday 9.5-percent listed 2.27 million at the amid the prolonged impact offollowing the CO- the Philippine Stock Exchange VID-19 pandemic. completion of a stock rights offering that raisedSolutions P5.4 billion.

Fitch said in a report that “Today, we raised overwould P5.37 billion household consumption remainfrom SRO…Therebound, tripling ofwith ACEN’s key ACEN’s to the economic a re-balanceinsheet would paveformation the way for rapid excovery gross capital depenof its renewable business across the dentpansion on stronger domestic demand. region, while also allowing us to make more “Risks were tilted heavilythat to the sustainable investments aredowncertainly side,needed with the highlythisvulnerand Philippines welcomed during challengableingto times,” anothersaid tightening domestic Fernando of Zobel de Ayala, restrictions to curb domestic AC Energy chairman, duringCOVID-19 the listing ceremonies itatsaid. the PSE. outbreaks,” conducted stock rights offering “TheACEN Philippines is seta for only a partial from January 18 to at price of economic recovery in January 2021, as22 activity P2.37capped per share. remains by continued headwinds “Moving forward, we’re excited from the COVID-19 pandemic,” it said. of the forthcoming integration of Ac Energy’s inItternational said that with COVID-19 cases avassets into a unified platform eraging over 1,700 a day as of Jan. under ACEN. This would put us in an 26 exceland lent the position threat oftomore strains, reachcontagious our goal of 5000 megaauthorities likely have tobymaintain watts of would renewables capacity 2025 and be Southeast asia’s largest listed renewables some elements of mobility restrictions platform,” throughout theZobel year.de Ayala said.

Mae S. Flores “As such, we at FitchAlena Solutions forecast the economy to only partially recover its losses in 2020, with ourupbeat forecast for DTI’s Lopez growth at just 7.6 percent in 2021,” Fitch on e-commerce deals Solutions said.

THE phenomenal growth of Philippine It said expectations for recovery to ecommerce prompted the Department of pre-pandemic levels by the first half was Trade and Industry to strive to increase the predicated ability of much Philippine value of on the the industry to as P1.2 trilauthorities to ease lockdown lion by 2022, or domestic about 5.5 percent of the restrictions economy.through 2021 and a gradual normalization of activity.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez during the launch consumption of the E-commerce Roadmap Friday Private and gross capital put the are estimated value of ecommerce formation expected to grow 5.5 per- in at P850 billion, or 4.3from percent of the cent2021 and 25.1 percent in 2021, avergrossofdomestic product. age country’s contractions 7.9 percent and 35.4 need to take advantage of how the percent“We in 2020. pandemic has boosted e-commerce in the “The government willpeople continue Philippines, given that now its accept accommodative stanceNormal.” to aid the the digital life fiscal as the “New We are recovery in domestic activity while an confident that the new e-Commerce Roadupturn offerhesome mapin willglobal help ustrade in thiswill regard,” said.

DTIeconomy, is optimistic the with number boost The to the albeit nei-of ewould increase thercommerce enough toenterprises offset disruptions to pri- to by 2021 and 1 million by 2022offrom vate750,000 domestic demand.

The ability in 2020. the 500,000 government to provide stimulus also Lopezrests noted increase in the somewhat onthe itssignificant containment of the number of online sellers that registered with pandemic,” FitchName Solutions said. System of the Business Registration the DTI in 2020. Othel V. Campos

Sports

Sotto sets up Kaiju Global Academy in Florida

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

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

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By Peter Atencio KAI Sotto’s basketball academy is almost finished.

The 18-year-old Sotto, who is set to return to the Philippines to join the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball practices, said this after he gave an update on his plans to set up a basketball academy, and sell apparel that’s named after him.

“This right here is a dream coming true. Workers are busy building and very soon, the Spooky Nook Champion Mill will open and will be the permanent home to the first ever Kaiju Global Academy,” said Sotto on Instagram as he showed picture of the work going on to finish the academy.

Sotto won’t be joining Team Ignite when they see action in the National Basketball Association G League which will play under a bubble setup in Orlando, Florida next month.

The 7’3” Sotto will join Gilas Pilipinas when they plunge into action in the FIBA Asia Cup’s Group A qualifier in Doha in the latter weeks of February.

Another Ignite teammate, Princepal Singh, who plays for the Indian national squad, won’t be joining his team for the FIBA Asia Cup Group D’s February window anymore since he has not been asked to rejoin their practices.

Singh also left the G League squad to play for his national team, India, during the second window of the qualifiers last November. And now Singh will be in Florida with the rest of his Ignite teammates, according to team officials.

Sotto began working on organizing the Kaiju Academy last December. It will be located inside Spooky Nook in Hamilton, Ohio.

Spooky Nook is a 1.3 millionsquare-foot sports facility that is under construction in a building that used to be a paper mill.

Once done, Sotto said this will fulfill his dream of being able to teach basketball to young athletes on a global scale.

Sotto wants to help kids who were like him, recalling the days when he played street ball on concrete and dirt-covered courts alike in his neighborhood in Las Piñas.

“I grew up playing on dirt and concrete basketball courts in the Philippines. So, to have a playground and performance center like this for all athletes around the world to come to is such a blessing,” said Sotto.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives to the basket against the Boston Celtics defenders Marcus Smart and Jeff Teague (55) at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. AFP

Lakers end losing streak with victory over Celtics L

OS ANGELES, United States—Anthony Davis scored 27 points to fuel the Los Angeles Lakers, who ended their twogame NBA losing streak in dramatic style Saturday (Sunday Philippine time) with a 96-95 victory over the Celtics in Boston.

A well-rested Davis, who sat out the Lakers’ loss to the Pistons in Detroit on Thursday with a bruised thigh, added 14 rebounds for the reigning NBA champions.

LeBron James finished with 21 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the reigning NBA champions, who bounced back after defeats in Philadelphia and Detroit.

“We’re a team that takes pride in not losing two in a row and we lost two in a row,” Davis said. “For damn sure we weren’t losing three in a row.”

It was a close-run game, however.

Jayson Tatum scored 30 points and pulled down nine rebounds for the Celtics and Jaylen Brown added 28 points.

It was a one-point game when Boston’s Marcus Smart departed with 10:28 remaining after a fall that left him with what the Celtics said was a calf strain.

James drained a three-pointer to put the

Lakers up 88-85 with 5:25 remaining and the Lakers pushed the lead to as many as seven points before the Celtics again narrowed the gap.

Tatum cut the deficit to 96-95 with 32.8 seconds remaining.

Boston’s Kemba Walker blocked a Davis shot but missed at the other end. Teammate Daniel Theis grabbed the rebound but couldn’t get his follow-up effort to fall.

The victory was especially satisfying, Davis said, not necessarily for the long history between two clubs that own 17 NBA titles apiece but because of what happened the last time the Lakers played in Boston in March.

“We got a little revenge,” Davis said.

“This team beat us by 30 the last time we were in this building.”

Lillard lifts Blazers It came down to the buzzer in Chicago,

where Portland’s Damian Lillard drained a three-pointer as time expired to give the Trail Blazers a 123-122 victory over the Bulls.

Lillard finished with 44 points on eight 3-pointers.

Chicago appeared headed for victory when Coby White made a pair of free throws to put the Bulls up 122-117 with 11.5 seconds remaining.

But Lillard, whose 44 points included eight three-pointers, closed the deficit to 122-120 with a strike from beyond the arc with 8.2 seconds left.

The Blazers then forced a jump ball with 6.2 seconds left and Lillard was able to snag a loose ball and make the winner.

It was a narrow escape for a Blazers team that led by 19 in the third quarter.

Forward Lauri Markkanen scored 31 points and guard Zach LaVine added 26 for the Bulls.

And it was close in Miami, where Jimmy Butler returned from a 10-game absence due to the league’s coronavirus protocols to score 30 points in the Heat’s 105-104 victory over the Sacramento Kings. AFP

Nadal ready to perform for ‘suffering’ fans around the world MELBOURNE, Australia—Rafael Nadal pronounced himself fit and ready Sunday to produce some magic to entertain “suffering” tennis fans around the world as they cope with the coronavirus pandemic.

The Spanish great, who can move past the injured Roger Federer’s 20 Grand Slam titles with victory at the Australian Open beginning February 8, kicks off his season representing Spain at the ATP Cup from Tuesday.

He will take to the courts of Melbourne Park after completing 14 days of quarantine in Adelaide, where he was allowed to train for up to five hours a day before an exhibition on Friday against US Open champion Dominic Thiem.

“For me personally, preparation has been positive,” said Nadal.

“I have been able to practice around two hours per day in Adelaide. Some days a little bit more, two hours 15, two hours 20. That’s it “I did, I think, the things that I had to do to be ready. Now is the

moment to start playing and practicing with other colleagues and let’s see what’s going on.”

Most players are now out of quarantine and the world number two is keen to get the focus back on tennis, although his thoughts are with those in lockdowns around the world.

“When we arrived here, we have this quarantine. But I think that’s over. Is the moment to start talking about tennis,” he said.

“That’s why we came here: to play tennis, to try to give to the fans around the world and to the fans here in Australia.

“For some of the people who are suffering a lot at home, we try to have good entertainment for them.

The only way to make that happen is to go on court, try our best.”

He leads Spain in the ATP Cup, desperate to make amends after being beaten in the final at Sydney last year by Novak Djokovic’s Serbia.

- Strange situation Nadal, who doesn’t usually play the week before a Grand Slam,

Rafael Nadal of Spain smiles after victory against Dominic Thiem of Austria in their men’s singles match at the ‘A Day at the Drive’ exhibition tennis tournament in Adelaide on January 29, 2021. AFP

said it was a different experience the Australian Open. this year, with the tournament cut “It’s a very unusual situation to 12 teams from 24 and all games for most of us. Most of you that in Melbourne immediately before are around tennis know I never

play the week before a Grand Slam,” he said.

“So is a little bit new and is a strange situation. But here I am, the same like the rest of the team, to try our best in every moment.

“Because we are a team, and a good team, with great players, we have different options. Everybody’s ready to play, and to play with very competitive level.”

Spain start their campaign against home nation Australia, who are without Nick Kyrgios but led by the in-form Alex De Minaur, who won the seasonopening Antalya Open this month.

The two teams met in the ATP Cup last year with De Minaur pushing Nadal hard in an engrossing three-setter.

“It was an emotional match, not great for me, but emotional one,” Nadal said of that clash.

“He’s young, he’s improving every year. I think it’s going to be a tough battle for all of us playing against a great team like Australia.” AFP

Diaz named chef de mission to Paralympics TALKS that the forthcoming Tokyo Olympics will be cancelled again has affected the hosting of the Paralympics.

But, the Philippine Paralympic Committee, which remained cautious, still named University of the Philippines College of Human Kinetics Dean Francis Carlos Diaz as the country’s chef de mission to the Tokyo Paralympics.

And they have one sure qualifier for now with swimmer Ernie Gawilan, and another candidate in table tennis player Josephine Medina.

Gawilan, who grabbed the first Asian Para Games gold medal for Team Philippines in 2018, has already qualified to the Paralympics on Aug. 24 to Sept. 5.

On the other hand, 2016 Paralympics bronze medalist Josephine Medina is also a favorite to book a seat in table tennis.

“We are looking forward to a busy calendar for our para athletes. In fact, preparations for major events this year have already started,” said PPC president Michael Barredo.

CDMs have also been named by the Philippine Olympic Committee to the 11th Asean Para Games in Hanoi, Vietnam (Dec. 17-23) and Asian Youth Para Games in Bahrain (Dec. 1-10).

PPC secretary general Walter Torres will be the CDM in the Asean Para Games while Judd Anastacio has been tasked to handle the affairs in the Asian Youth Para Games.

Filipino para athletes have also begun to train their sights to the 4th Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China scheduled in the latter part of 2022.

Gawilan will be there defend his 200m individual medley crown. Peter Atencio

Rain or Shine not trading Belga says owner

By Rey Joble AFTER Terrafirma Dyip was bashed for trading yet another marquee player, CJ Perez, to San Miguel Beer, Rain or Shine dismissed rumors of plans to trade main man Beau Belga.

No less than team owner Raymond Yu confirmed the news to Manila Standard in a telephone interview.

“That’s not true,” Yu said. “No one has approached us and no one has made an offer. So how can we say there’s a trade offer?”

Yu made it clear that the team has no plans of trading Belga even as speculations grew when the Elasto Painters acquired the services of Bradwyn Guinto in a three-player trade with NorthPort Batang Pier.

Once considered as a solid force in rebounding and defense, the 6-foot-6 Guinto was picked up by the Elasto Painters in a trade with forward Sydney Onwubere and guard Clint Doliguez.

For Yu, the acquisition of Guinto doesn’t mean they’re displacing another player and that includes Belga, whom he believes will play a big role in helping the young player in fast-tracking his involvement with the team’s system.

“What’s the good thing about Guinto’s acquisition is that Belga can now play the power forward spot. Besides, Beau is one of the stretch four players in the PBA, so we can utilize him more,” added Yu. “Guinto was highly recommended by our assistant coach Chris Gavina, his former coach in Kia, where he had a solid season.”

But Yu sees the most valuable contribution

Guinto could bring to the squad.

“We know that big players like June Mar Fajardo and Greg Slaughter will be coming back next season, so we really needed a player like Guinto, who can match up with these big centers,” added Yu. The 6-foot-10 Fajardo, the reigning six-time PBA Most Valuable Player, was not able to join the recent “bubble” tournament as he was sidelined by a leg injury while the seven-foot Slaughter failed to join his team, newly-crowned champion Barangay Ginebra, as he was not included in the roster.

Now a free agent, but his playing rights still belongs to Ginebra, Slaughter is currently negotiating with the Gin Kings management on his new contract.

Rain or Shine Elasto Painters big man Beau Belga (left) tries to score against Blackwater Elite defenders Marion Magat ang Mac Belo(12). PBA

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Sports

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

PH Sports Hall of Fame starts screening nominees

WNBL holds 1st draft as pro league on Feb. 7

NOMINATIONS for the fourth enshrinement in the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame closed on Sunday, with the committees buckling down to work on the final selection.

“We have already received additional nominations since the extension of submissions, and we are expecting for more as we near the deadline,” said PSHOF 2020 Selection Committee chairperson and Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez.

The sports agency chief is set to meet the Selection Committee members— Games and Amusements Board Chairman Abraham Mitra, Philippine Olympic Committee Secretary-General Atty.

Edwin Gastanes, Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines SecretaryGeneral Atty. Avelino Sumagui, University Athletic Association of the Philippines Executive Director Atty. Rene Saguisag Jr., and Philippine Olympians Association President Akiko Thomson Guevara—on February 11, for the presentation of nominees.

Previously, the selection committee adopted a resolution approving the automatic nomination of Olympic medalists, and the possibility of hosting the awarding on a virtual platform, with the current restrictions placed on mass gatherings.

Ramirez also named members of the Review Committee, who are tasked to thoroughly evaluate and shortlist the nominations, before the decision of the Selection Committee.

The Review and Evaluation Committee is comprised of Joaquin Henson of Philippine Star, Eduardo Andaya of People’s Tonight, Lorenzo Lomibao Jr. of Business Mirror, Eriberto Talao of Manila Bulletin, Eduardo Catacutan Jr. of Spin.ph, Jose Antonio of People’s Journal, Reynaldo Bancod of Daily Tribune, and Prof. Theresa Jazmines of UP College of Mass Communication.

“We asked for the expertise of our notable sports media friends to form the review and evaluation committee, for they are the timekeepers of Philippine sports, and have covered the many great achievements of our Filipino athletes,” added Ramirez.

THE Women’s National Basketball League will hold its first-ever draft for its inaugural season as a professional league on February 7.

The draft will proceed through a virtual conference as teams begin the process of forming their respective lineups. A lottery to determine the order of the draft and the release of the official list of draftees will be done on Tuesday.

WNBL executive vice president Rhose Montreal said the draft was delayed due to the quarantine restrictions but the league made full use of respite to laid out its plans for the 2021 season.

Montreal also said the WNBL made a thorough evaluation of the teams which applied to join the first season of the league as professional status. A total of 17 teams sent their intent to take part in the debut pro season but only six passed the stringent requirements of the league.

“We are very careful now that we are a pro league already,” said Montreal. “We are really very careful on this because the financial capability of the team really matters ensuring that players will be compensated well and commitment to the players will be delivered on time.”

Under the guidelines of the league, teams can avail of the ‘protect six’ rule in which they directly sign players without them going through the draft.

However, teams will lose the right to select in the draft from the first to sixth round depending on the number of their direct-hire players.

Aside from the six teams, the Go For Gold Lady Sailors will also see action in the first season of the WNBL pro as a guest team and will have no draft picks.

Last December, the WNBL held a draft combine to allow the teams to further evaluate the draftees seeking to make history and become part of the first-ever women’s professional basketball league in the country.

The draft combine was held at the Victoria Sports Center in Quezon City under strict health and safety protocols under the supervision of the Games and Amusements Board and clearance from the local government unit.

Ryan Garcia celebrates after defeating Luke Campbell during the WBC Interim Lightweight Title fight in Dallas, Texas. Garcia said on Instagram he wants to get in the ring with Philippine icon Manny Pacquiao in an official bout. With Yahoo among the outlets reporting such a fight is in the works, Garcia said he wanted to make it absolutely clear that it wouldn’t be an exhibition. AFP

Garcia wants to fight Pacman in official bout L

OS ANGELES— Up and coming US lightweight Ryan Garcia said on Instagram Saturday that he wants to get in the ring with Philippine icon Manny Pacquiao in an official bout.

With Yahoo among the outlets reporting such a fight is in the works, Garcia said he wanted to make it absolutely clear that it wouldn’t be an exhibition.

“Hey everybody, I just want to make it real clear: My fight with Pacquiao would not be an exhibition,” Garcia said in a video posted on his Instagram story.

“It will be a real fight, shooting for 12 rounds, all on the line. Our records will be on the line. I just want to make that

very clear for everybody.”

One stumbling block could be the weight class, with 42-year-old Pacquiao long fighting at welterweight.

The 22-year-old Garcia survived an early knockdown to stop Luke Campbell in the seventh round earlier this month in Dallas to claim the interim World Boxing Council lightweight title.

He improved to 21-0 with 18 wins inside the distance.

Pacquiao, meanwhile, hasn’t fought since claiming the World Boxing As-

sociation’s welterweight “super” world title with a stunning victory over Keith Thurman in Las Vegas in July of 2019, taking his record to 62-7 with two drawn and 39 knockouts.

On Friday, the WBA said it was designating Pacquiao “Champion in Recess” and promoting Cuba’s Yordenis Ugas to welterweight world champion because of Pacquiao’s inactivity.

The WBA noted that its rules state that the recess can be invoked “when a champion is unable to defend the belt for medical, legal or other reasons beyond his control.”

The governing body didn’t specify which of those reasons might apply in Pacquiao’s case. AFP

Star pitcher Tanaka hopes to win Olympic gold, celebrate with Japan fans

Masahiro Tanaka of the New York Yankees pitches in the second inning against the Atlanta Braves at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City.

Tanaka, who helped the New York Yankees reach the Major League Baseball playoffs five times in the past seven seasons, said he will return to Japan for the 2021 season. The 32-year-old righthanded pitcher went 78-46 with 991 strikeouts and a 3.74 earned-run average with the Yankees from 2014 through the 2020 campaign.

TOKYO—Japanese baseball star Masahiro Tanaka said Saturday he hopes to win a gold medal at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics and celebrate with Japan fans, as the pitcher returns home after a seven-year stint with the New York Yankees.

Speaking at a press conference in Tokyo, the 32-year-old—now set to play for the Rakuten Eagles—was asked about the possibility of him playing in the postponed Summer Games.

“If I ever have a chance to participate, there is no reason for me to reject,” he said.

“I had a bitter feeling when I played in the Beijing Olympics...

This time I want to win a gold medal” as part of the host country’s team, he added.

“I’m very excited at the fact I will be able to pitch in front of fans in Japan.”

The timing of this year’s games is particularly meaningful, he said, as it comes 10 years after a 2011 tsunami that left thousands dead in Japan.

Star pitcher Tanaka played for the Eagles from 2007 until 2013, when the team won their first-ever “Japan Series” title to the joy of fans in its home city of Sendai, which was devastated by the disaster.

He began a seven-year $155 million contract with the Yankees the

following year.

Rakuten’s chairman Hiroshi Mikitani said he hoped Tanaka’s pitching would “invigorate” Japan this year.

The Tokyo Olympics—initially set to take place last year but postponed due to the coronavirus—are set to begin on July 23.

Despite growing concern over the event’s feasibility, organisers and the International Olympic Committee insist it can go ahead safely.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga vowed Friday that the Olympics would be held this summer “as a symbol of global unity” to “bring hope and courage to the world”. AFP

Spain’s Marin guns for badminton World Tour title BANGKOK—Reigning Olympic champion Carolina Marin was unstoppable Saturday, clinching a spot in badminton’s World Tour Finals after quickly dispatching Thai player Pornpawee Chochuwong in a 21-13, 21-13 game.

The delayed 2020 season finale, which began Wednesday, is the third tournament behind closed doors in three weeks in Bangkok, as badminton resumes after months of coronavirus cancellations.

The Spaniard—winner of back-toback titles for the past fortnight—is gunning for a hat-trick of victories in Sunday’s final.

Her opponent on Saturday, 13thranked Pornpawee, has performed better than expected in the World Tour.

She beat her personal idol, Thai star Ratchanok Intanon, as well as topranked Tai Tzu-ying during the roundrobin stage earlier this week.

But the 23-year-old was no match against the more experienced Marin, who praised Pornpawee’s play and admitted that three straight weeks of bad-

minton was wearing on her.

“Three tournaments in a row is tough,” said the fifth-seeded player.

“But I am looking forward to tomorrow... I’m really happy to play and give my best tomorrow and enjoy one more game.”

Marin will once again be facing off against top-ranked Tai Tzu-ying, who she has beaten two weeks in a row during the previous tournaments’ finals.

Earlier in the day, the Taiwanese player trounced South Korean teen prodigy An Se-young, who admitted to feeling lethargic during the 37-minute game.

“I think my physical condition has dropped—I feel heavy and made mistakes, so I couldn’t match Tai Tzuying’s speed,” said An of the 21-18, 21-12 game.

As for Tai’s final meeting with Marin, she said she wanted to just “focus now and be patient” for Sunday’s final.

In the men’s games, Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen secured his spot in the final after trouncing second-ranked Chou

Tien-chen, who he acknowledged gave him a run for his money in the 21-16, 21-9 match.

“Chou made it tough for me in the first game—he controlled the drift well but I managed to keep going,” said the fourth-ranked Dane, who will also be looking to win his third title in a row.

“I’m really, really happy to be in my third consecutive final here [in Bangkok]. I can’t even believe it to be honest,” Axelsen said.

It will be a all-Danish showdown on Sunday—his compatriot Anders Antonsen pushed through a difficult three-set match with Taiwanese athlete Wang Tzu-wei to a 21-18, 14-21, 21-16 win.

Missing from the tournament are players from China and Japan—2019’s World Tour Finals champs—because of coronavirus problems.

Despite the strict biosecurity arrangements in Bangkok, four people inside the tournament “bubble” have tested positive, including two players who were forced to withdraw. AFP

Spain’s Carolina Marin hits a shot against Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong during their women’s singles semifinal match at the World Tour Finals badminton tournament in Bangkok. AFP

Entertainment MOBILE services provider Smart Communications, Inc. is giving its subscribers better streaming experience by upgrading the Smart Signature SIMOnly Plans, which are now exclusively bundled with a Netflix Mobile Plan subscription.

By signing up with any Smart Signature SIM-Only Plan, subscribers also conveniently get a monthly Netflix Mobile Plan subscription throughout their 12-month contract so they may enjoy thousands of award-winning shows, series, documentaries, specials, and feature films right at their fingertips.

This way, subscribers won’t have to shell out for a separate subscription just to immerse in the worlds of their favorite Netflix Originals like Crash Landing On You, Money Heist, Stranger Things, The Umbrella Academy, Extraction, Bridgerton, Kingdom, The Crown, and more.

Signature SIM-Only Plans start at P999 per month with Plan S, which is inclusive of 10 GB open access data monthly,

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

Escaping to a world of entertainment American actress Anya Taylor-Joy in Netflix's adaptation of ‘The Queen's Gambit.’

Smart ambassadors Son Ye-jin and Hyun Bin in a scene from the worldwide phenomenon ‘Crash Landing On You.’

unlimited All-Net texts, unlimited All-Net “Goal slayers who hustle also deserve calls, and 150 minutes of calls to PLDT their time off, and now with just a – along with the bundled Netflix Mobile simple tap on your phone, you can be Plan subscription. transported to so many different worlds.

This is especially relevant during this time when we all miss traveling and exploring new places,” said Jane J. Basas, SVP and Head of Consumer

C3

Wireless Business at Smart.

“This is why we’re glad to team up with Netflix to launch our upgraded Smart Signature SIM-Only Plans that come with a Netflix Mobile Plan subscription making it so much easier for our customers to stream and enjoy their favorite shows for a complete streaming experience - with the plan, the subscription, and the network,” Basas added.

Smart Signature subscribers may also take better control of their plan using the GigaLife app. Downloadable on Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, the GigaLife App enables postpaid customers to check their usage, link their accounts, and pay their bills with just a few taps on their smartphone.

Through the app, postpaid customers can keep track of their data, call, and text usage as well as monitor their bill in realtime so there’s no reason to worry about incurring unwanted charges.

To know more about the latest Smart offers, follow Smart’s official accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Manny Pacquiao’s next big bout VERY WANG NICKIE WANG

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T 42, Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao, or simply Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao to his legion of followers, has yet to announce his retirement.

His last fight was with Keith Thurman, Jr. in 2019.

In September last year, Manny confirmed with Sports Illustrated a fight with Conor McGregor will happen this year. It was also reported that part of Manny’s earnings will go to the COVID-19 relief in the country.

On Jan. 25, CNN Philippines reported American boxer, Ryan Garcia,, teasing a fight with Manny in his social media account.

However, Manny’s camp replied that boxing is not the senator’s focus for now and that he has a bigger battle to conquer: how to better help the Filipinos from the pandemic.

While the world awaits for Manny’s next boxing match to happen, here’s an excerpt from his speech at Oxford University that still holds truth: “Manny Pacquaio is the best fairytale every Filipino can tell and retell to all generations to come. Manny Pacquiao’s story is incredible but true. Miracles do happen. Dreams do come true.”

Manny has come a long way from being an impoverished young boy in General Santos City. The same boy who stepped inside the boxing ring not knowing much about the sport but was determined to win the P50 prize money so he could buy rice for his family.

Who knew many years later that he’d become one of the greatest boxers of all time?

It is quite impressive to think of what Manny has accomplished in the past 26 years as a professional boxer, as a public servant, and as a human being. That no matter how far he has gone in life, he will always look back where he came from and be grateful to the family and partners who have helped him along the way.

A quick search on the internet would show that “Manny is the first boxer to win the lineal championship in five different weight classes, the first boxer to win major world titles in four of the eight "glamour divisions" - flyweight, featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight, and is the only boxer to hold world championships across four decades.”

“In boxing, there’s a science to it. You have to thoroughly study what techniques you are

In boxing, Pacquiao has 12 world titles and holds an impressive record of 62 wins and 39 knockouts.

Sen. Manny Pacquiao (pictured in Dubai in 2019) said that he would dedicate his earnings to the COVID-19 relief in the country in case he enters the ring again for another boxing match.

going to prepare for a fight – especially a championship fight. You have to think of a solution,” said Manny in an interview.

He added, “If I want to achieve something, I dedicate myself to it, work hard, discipline, determination, I really prepare of it.”

No wonder Manny has won the world over including Hollywood celebrities and famous athletes. Even lawbreakers seem to take a break in the country whenever he has a boxing match. He has reignited the Filipino pride and that is among his most valuable victory.

Yet, with all of his riches, fame, and glory, Manny still uses his money and influence to help his less fortunate brethren.

“Akala ng iba magtatayo ako ng subdivision dahil ang dami kong pinapatayong bahay at puro concrete.

Pero para talaga sa mga tao ‘yon.

Ibibigay ko ng libre, walang bayad kahit piso,” he said.

Manny is also proud that with his winnings, he was able to sponsor kids who can only dream of getting an education. A cause he started way back in 2005 and have produced graduates who are now in the workforce – some even abroad. ““Nagpunta ako sa Dubai, isa sa mga waiter doon Pilipino. Sabi sa akin, ‘Sir Manny, marami pong salamat sa lahat po ng tulong ninyo. Sir, iskolar po ninyo ako from high school to college.’ Meron din sa Japan. Kumakain kami sa isang hotel nang may lumapit at nagpapasalamat. Doon na rin daw sila nagtatrabaho,” he narrated.

“Napakasaya sa pakiramdam ko na makita ‘yung mahirap na nangarap – hindi makapag-aral. Nangarap sila na umasenso, makatulong sa magulang nila.

‘Yan ang pangarap ng puso ko, na ‘yung mga mahihirap guminhawa sana,” said the boxer-turned-politician.

Fighting mantra In his social media account (https:// www.facebook.com/MannyPacquiao/ videos/1311706672537110, https://www. instagram.com/p/CKVWnccJq7t/), one specific partner that Manny made mention is Alaxan FR, a pain reliever brand by United Laboratories Inc. (UNILAB). Manny wrote in his post: “I had to punch my way to victory every time. Before that, I had to train. More days than not, bugbog ako. Kaya tanong sa’kin, ‘Pano ko nagagawa ‘to?’

“My secret is speed — in my punches and my pain recovery. Most of all, it’s my family and friends, my fans, my coach and team, and my partner Ibuprofen + Paracetamol (Alaxan FR), Kasama ko sa laban since 1995. #LabanLang” The brand’s mantra fits Manny to a T! He who never backs down from anything – not an opponent in boxing, not life’s challenges.

“I will always be a fighter not just because it’s my profession. I was a fighter long before I first set foot in a boxing ring. All my life I fought to live every single day in my youth, I fought for survival, now I do it and get paid for it.”

“I believe that I was born for a purpose and destined to serve as inspiration for the average Filipino and the rest of the world. To fight, to rise above adversity, to conquer and defy, and to embrace life in all its difficulties. In fact, I consider myself not just a fighter but a warrior that has won over so many battles and emerged victorious, made possible by my family and those who have trusted me through all these years,” he concluded.

GMA’s digital box passes 1 million sales mark GMA Network hits another milestone with one million units of its digital TV receiver, GMA Affordabox, sold in just seven months after its launch.

With superior digital TV reception and bonus features, viewers can catch all the Kapuso channels GMA, GMA News TV, Heart of Asia, Hallypop, as well as DepEd TV, and other available free-to-air channels in digital broadcast in their areas.

“We, at GMA Network, express our gratitude to our Kapuso viewers for their continued trust and for wholeheartedly welcoming GMA Affordabox into their homes. Rest assured that we always aim to provide superior quality content across all platforms and improve our digital TV products that are accessible to many Filipinos,” said GMA Network Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon said in a statement sent to Manila Standard Entertainment.

As GMA Network expands its digital

broadcast coverage, more and more Filipinos are able to use GMA Affordabox. Recently, Misamis Oriental (including Cagayan de Oro City) and Camiguin were added to its coverage areas. It is also available in selected towns/cities within Metro Manila, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal, Bohol, Cebu, Leyte, Davao de Oro, Davao del Sur, and Davao del Norte.

Leading the success of GMA Affordabox is Senior Vice President for Corporate Strategic Planning and Business Development, Chief Risk Officer, and Head for Program Support Regie C. Bautista.

“We believe that every Filipino home should be able to enjoy digital viewing, which is why GMA endeavored to bring GMA Affordabox to our market.

Quality digital TV viewing is now made accessible to the majority of Filipino homes. It’s exciting to hit the

GMA Affordabox ambassadors Michael V., Heart Evangelista, and Dingdong Dantes.

one million mark only months into its launch and we are very grateful for the support of our Kapuso viewers,” Bautista said.

This 2021, GMA Network is also set to launch its digital TV mobile receiver, GMA

Now, which will allow users to watch TV on the go for free.

For more details, visit www.

GMAaffordabox.com and its official social media accounts via the handle @ GMAaffordabox.

Jasmine Curtis-Smith and Glaiza de Castro star in ‘Midnight In a Perfect World,’ a horror story set in a dystopian future Metro Manila.

Midnight madness ARIAS ALWIN IGNACIO HORROR and suspense thriller aficionados are raving about Midnight In A Perfect World.

Penned and directed by Dodo Dayao, the motion picture stars Jasmine Curtis-Smith and Glaiza de Castro together with Anthony Falcon and Dino Pastrano.

The quartet of actors play a group of friends who are skeptical about the current goings-on, until they suddenly get caught in a blackout and must now find a safe house to survive. During nightly blackouts that happens in various parts of the metropolis, mysterious disappearances occur and no traces of those gone are ever found.

“The film came from my dream. I combined and expanded it with personal memories of growing up and my fascination with haunted houses stories,” Dayao says of the film.

Its main story arc of building up the tension of the unknown and a horror film that is not the usual fare with a script that “read like a novel” are the main reasons why its lead stars are proud to promote the film, too.

“When I first read the script, it was like intense. Nakakapagod siyang basahin and I have not encountered a horror material like it. I felt so tired reading it pero at the same time was so excited to be Mimi, kasi she is an extra ordinary woman who happens to be so caring and giving, and courageous. Very feminine exterior with a kickass attitude,” Smith, who plays Mimi, shared.

For Glaiza, who gives life to Minka, the script answers the question about everyone’s safety, if everyone is still safe nowadays.

“I have not done someone like Minka before na feisty, almost bordering on the crazy kind of walang takot and she being in a situation na hindi mo alam what is out there when it gets dark, na ang dami mong questions, and you only get your answers when you experience that big darkness not knowing what lurks. There is nothing more terrifying than being uncertain when you go out of the safe house and face the darkness,” Glaiza related.

Completing the talented cast are Bing Pimentel, Soliman Cruz, Dolly de Leon, Charles Aaron Salazar, and Brian Sy. Midnight In a Perfect World had its world premiere at the QCinema International Film Festival, where it was the festival’s highest grossing film.

The film is produced by Globe Studios and Epicmedia Productions and is currently streaming worldwide through UPSTREAM.ph.

Life

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

C4

FOOD

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021

The secret’s in the broth Jollibee Foods Corp. opens PHO24 today

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FTER more than two years since Jollibee Foods Corporation’s announcement of bringing Vietnamese brand PHO24 to the Philippines, the first branch is finally opening today, Feb. 1 in Ortigas Center.

The first of the planned 100 outlets to be opened here in the country serves the chain’s bestselling pho, known for its beef broth made with 24 special ingredients—a family’s secret recipe first introduced in Ho Chi Minh City in 2003.

Two more stores, according to JFC business group head Joseph Tanbuntiong, will be opened this year.

PHO24’s flagship Beef Fillet Pho features piping hot beef broth bursting with flavor. The brand says the soup is simmered with 100 percent beef shin bones for eight hours—like how it is done in restaurants in Vietnam where the broth

is prepared seven to eight hours before store opening.

The beef fillet pho is served with freshly prepared rice noodles, lightly cooked tender beef, fresh herbs and vegetables, hoisin sauce, sriracha, and lime wedge Another distinct ingredient in the brand’s pho is culantro, an herb similar to cilantro in flavor and aroma (albeit stronger) but has long, serrated leaves and can be added while cooking. “It is a fragrant herb that is rich in vitamins and minerals, and packed with iron, calcium, and riboflavin, which helps

in the normal function of the immune and digestive system,” PHO24 said in a statement.

Since culantro is not available in the Philippines, JFC has commissioned local farmers to grow the biennial herb for PHO24.

Other pho variants include Chicken Pho, Beef Brisket, Beef Meatballs, and 3 types of Beef. A regular serving starts at P210. Non-soup options, meanwhile, are Saigon Fried Chicken, Shaking Beef, and Savory Pork Chop rice meals. Vermicelli Bowl with Spring Rolls is also available.

Appetizers come in two variants: fresh spring rolls (served with peanut sauce) and fried spring rolls (served with traditional Vietnamese dipping sauce and fresh vegetables on the side).

Desserts on offer include Banh Flan

PHO24’s flagship product Beef Fillet Pho (top) whose beef broth—a family secret recipe—is made with 24 special ingredients.

Chicken Pho (bottom) boasts rich flavors.

(custard with clear caramel sauce), Taro in Coconut Cream, and Yogurt.

PHO24 also offers ready-to-cook meal kits of its Beef Fillet Pho (P540 for two servings) and fried spring rolls (P360 for a pack of 12). The meal kits can be ordered via Face-

book online ordering or GrabFood, foodpanda, or LalaFood.

As food delivery is expected to be the preferred option of many, PHO24 reveals its plans to launch its own delivery platform as well as new products.

Bernadette Lunas

PHO-NOMENAL. Jollibee Group brings to the Philippines PHO24, a restaurant founded in Ho Chi Minh City in 2003. The first of the planned 100 branches in the country is now open at Jollibee Tower in Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

Café serves all-day Aussie breakfast fare

Truffle oil and sauce are used to boost flavors of dishes.

COOKING 101:

How to use truffle oil, truffle sauce

RARE and highly prized, truffles are akin to glitters or any sparkling addition to something to make it more special.

They are famously used in French cuisine and have continually gained popularity among other nations that discovered or learned how to cultivate them.

Valnerina in Italy, for instance produce the ingredients used in Umbria Terra Di Tartufi’s white truffle oil and black truffle sauce.

Truffle oil use and pairings

The brand’s white truffle oil—made with olive oil, dehydrated Bianchetto truffle, and white truffle aroma—features a delicate flavor with a slight garlicky taste and a hint of pepper. It is used almost exclusively as a finishing oil, meaning it is added to a dish near or at the end of preparation, as its potency is heat-sensitive and not suitable as a cooking oil.

It works best mixed in fresh with pasta recipes and risotto. It also goes great with fish and chicken recipes such as chicken wings, fish fillet, salmon, and scallops, and even simple toasted bread. It can also be used to dress salads and soups.

Truffle oil can also boost the flavors of popcorn, French fries, or pizza; or mixed with ketchup, mayonnaise, or hummus.

Black truffle sauce use and pairings

Black truffle sauce, on the other hand, has a more intense and robust flavor, which some may describe as earthy and nutty with chocolate notes. It is heated up and mixed with other ingredients.

Umbria Terra Di Tartufi’s black truffle

Umbria Terra Di Tartufi’s white truffle oil and black truffle sauce

sauce is made with fresh Champignon mushrooms, extra virgin olive oil, black olives, and the natural flavor of black summer truffle. It comes in two variants, Black Truffle Sauce and the more intense Black Truffle Sauce 5%.

To use the original black truffle sauce, simply heat it up and mix with pasta, meat, fish, potatoes, roasted vegetables, or salad. It is perfect for garnishing appetizers and canapés or for enhancing dishes with a delicate and fine flavor.

The 5% variant is a perfect match for both Western and Eastern cuisines like shrimp or risotto. A little goes a long way, and it’s best not heated too much to preserve its aroma.

Umbria Terra Di Tartufi is distributed in the Philippines by Dygen Food Ventures, Inc. and is available at goodwill.market. The white truffle oil is available in 100ml and 250ml bottles for P719 and P1,399, respectively.

The Original Truffle Sauce is available in 80g and 180g bottles for P519 and P759, respectively, while the Black Truffle Sauce 5% is available in 180g bottle for P999.

KNOWN for its array of fine ice cream and desserts, St. Louis Café in Bonifacio High Street highlights its expanded all-day brunch menu in response to Filipinos’ demand for hearty meals anytime of the day.

“Australian breakfasts are versatile and exciting—a mix of different cultures and a range from wholesome, vegan-friendly dishes to indulgent ingredients,” says Ben Arnold, master franchise holder of St. Louis.

The café highlights modern Australian cuisine, its brunch culture and global influences.

“St. Louis Café has transported quintessential Australian items to the Philippines. This is exemplified by the ethnic fusion toast—smashed avocado on house-made sourdough toast, with poached eggs, garnished with micro greens and arugula, laced with dukkah, a Middle Eastern ground spice and pea humus smeared on the side, and dusted with Spanish paprika.”

Other items on the expanded menu include Norwegian smoked salmon grain bowl with quinoa or on cream cheese sourdough toast or in a kewpie-whipped egg omelet, as well as the Reuben, Cubano, Croque Monsieur, and Chicken and Avocado toasted sandwiches, which represent American, Latin American, and French cuisines.

New vegan option, Vegan Chicken Bowl features fried chicken substitute made using fried jackfruit.

According to Arnold, the dishes can be customized according to the customer’s preferences. Pancakes can be topped with bacon, strawberries, bananas, or all. Eggs Your Way are eggs cooked to the customer’s preference with their

St. Louis Café offers customizable dishes such as Eggs Your Way, whose side dish options include Australian bacon, Norwegian smoked salmon, Spanish chorizo, sautéed cherry tomatoes, mushroom, and hash browns among others.

choice of sidings such as Australian bacon, Spanish chorizo, sous vide chicken breast, Norwegian smoked salmon or non-meat options sautéed cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, cauliflower, spinach, vegan chicken, and hash browns.

St. Louis works with Filipino roaster Yardstick for its unique coffee blend.

“Much like coffee being available any time, Australia brunch can last until it’s time for a beer,” shares Arnold.

He continues, “Reflecting Australian’s unmatched pub culture, Estrella Galicia, a popular Spanish beer, is on tap. Wines, spirits, and cocktails are also available.

This allows many demographics to enjoy St. Louis, at different times.”

The café also serves popular aperitif Aperol Spritz, made with Aperol, Prosecco, and orange slices.

St. Louis has always been associated with its diet-busting international desserts. The churros are made in-house, while its traditional French crepes and Belgium waffles come with sweet and savory fillings.

Arnold reveals the café’s ice cream and sherbets will be available in Rustan’s Supermarket and MetroMart in April.

The Australian café, popular for its fine ice cream and other desserts, highlights its brunch menu available all-day.