Manila Standard - 2021 February 23 - Tuesday

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Rody: No vaccines, no MGCQ Prioritizes public health over reopening economy amid uptick of cases

By Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta

NO MGCQ YET.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte issues a directive that the National Capital Region (NCR) and specific areas in the country shall not be placed under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) while there is no vaccination rollout as he presides over the 52nd Cabinet Meeting at the Heroes Hall in Malacañan Palace on Monday.

Presidential Photo

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday ruled out easing quarantine restrictions across the country, saying this would not happen until mass vaccination against COVID-19 begins.

The decision quashed a recommendation to place the entire country — including regions with high COVID-19 cases such as Metro Manila -- under a modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), the least restrictive of four quarantine levels.

“The Chief Executive recognizes the importance of re-opening the economy and its impact on people’s livelihoods.

However, the President gives higher premium to public health and safety,” Roque said.

Egged on by members of the President’s economic team, nine out of 17 Metro Manila mayors last week recommended a shift from the current GCQ to an MGCQ in a bid to revive the economy, which has been devastated by the

COVID-19 pandemic.

Vaccines were supposed to begin arriving in the middle of February, but managers of the government response to the pandemic have been unable to meet their delivery deadline, blaming a global shortage.

Earlier, Duterte’s former aide, Senator Christopher Go, said the President was not prepared to announce an MGCQ for the entire country.

He is also not ready to allow face-toface classes, he added.

“MGCQ is not to the best interest of the country. Let’s start with the vaccinations,” Go quoted the President as saying.

Duterte said he was confident that Next page

Sinovac okayed for emergency use but not for health workers, elderly

By Willie Casas, Maricel V. Cruz will not get the jab due to its comparatively low efficacy. and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave emergency approval Monday to the Chinese-made Sinovac coronavirus vaccine, with the first doses set to arrive this week, but health workers

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM FEBRUARY 22)

563,456 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

CoronaVac is the third vaccine approved for emergency use in the country, but so far none have been delivered and the Duterte administration is under fire over the delayed rollout.

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VOL. XXXV • NO. 13 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Face-to-face classes rejected anew, high risk to teachers, students cited PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has rejected a pilot test for face-to-face classes as the country has yet to roll out its COVID-19 vaccination program, Malacañang said Monday.

The Education Department had backed a proposal for a dry run of in-

person classes in areas with low-risk of want to put the lives of students or teachCOVID-19 transmission. ers at risk while there is still no vaccine.

“Our President has decided, we will still have no face-to-face classes in the DOH to send mutant country,” presidential spokesman Harry data to WHO Roque said in Filipino.

The Department of Health (DOH) will He added that the President does not submit its data on the two newly detected

12,094

ACTIVE

6

DEATHS

NEW

522,874

33

RECOVERIES

NEW

Gov’t eyes lifting of price ceiling on pork, chicken

By Julito G. Rada and Macon Ramos-Araneta AGRICULTURE Secretary William Dar on Monday said they would study the possibility of recommending to President Rodrigo Duterte the lifting of the price ceiling on pork and chicken.

“We are going to study the Price Act or the price ceiling, if it can already be stopped or recommended to the President or not. We will study that,” said Dar during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food.

The committee, led by chairperson Sen. Cynthia Villar, is looking into the alarming increases in the prices of basic commodities, including pork and chicken, and the actions taken by the DA. Duterte’s Executive Order 124 has set price ceilings of P270 for a kilo of “kasim or pigue,” P300 per kilo for “liempo,” and P160 per kilo for dressed chicken Meanwhile, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has directed the Bureau of Customs to keep a tighter watch over the possible misdeclaration or misclassification of pork shipments entering the country.

These are done by importers attempting to dodge the correct payment of tariffs on these products amid the current supply shortfall and retail price spiral, Dominguez said.

In a statement Monday, the Department Next page

OIL PRICES UP FOR FOURTH WEEK IN ROW

Story on A2

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‘Auring’ loses steam, strands people in ports

2,288 28,488 NEW

mutations of coronavirus in the country to the World Health Organization (WHO) for further study, Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Monday.

Vergeire, in an interview on GMA News’ Unang Balita, said their data on

STORM VICTIMS. Stranded passengers bound to Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, and Cebu stay outside the gate of the North Port in

Tondo Manila on Monday after their scheduled trips were cancelled due to Tropical Storm ‘Auring’ even as soldiers of 36th Infantry Battalion rescue civilians trapped by floodwaters in Lanuza, Surigao del Sur (inset). Norman Cruz

TROPICAL depression Auring, which weakened into a low pressure area on Monday morning before crossing the Rapu-Rapu Islands in Albay left more than 4,500 people stranded in various ports across the country, the Philippine Coast Guard said Monday.

But the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the total number of people evacuated due to Auring had reached 59,170, Interviewed on GTV’s Balitangahli, NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Timbal said the evacuees were from the Caraga, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, and Northern Mindanao Regions.

Data from PCG showed that 4,565 passengers, drivers and cargo helpers were stranded as of 4 a.m. More than half of those stranded are in Eastern Visayas where five ports are.

The operations of 1,879 rolling cargoes, 78 vessels and nine motorbancas were also suspended due to the weather condition.

PCG spokesperson Armando Balilo said “It’s quite a problem for roll-on, roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessels because they have to transport their shipment. If I’m not mistaken, vegetables have Next page

ASF affects 9 towns in Leyte; 4,000 hogs culled to control it

By Rio N. Araja and Willie Casas consumption in the country.

THE Department of Agriculture on Monday identified nine municipalities in Leyte affected by African swine fever.

Francis Rosaroso, MDA Eastern Visayas information officer, identified the areas as Abuyog, Burauen, Dulag, Javier, La Paz, MacArthur, Palo, Pastrana and Tanauan.

To prevent the spread of ASF, the provincial government culled 4,000 hogs.

“We are encouraging village officials to man border checkpoints,” Rosaroso said.

He said affected backyard hog raisers would be compensated for the culled pigs.

Pork accounts for 60 percent of meat

Some 3,989 live hogs and 54,864 kilos of carcasses were delivered from various regions to Metro Manila as of Feb. 21, 5 p.m.

“Of these, 57.33 percent or 2,287 heads from CALABARZON and were bound to slaughterhouses in Muntinlupa Cityand Caloocan City,” the Department of Agriculture said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Quarantine and the Department of Agriculture are on heightened alert after Russia reported the first case of the H5N8 avian flu in humans, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said on Monday.

“Our BOQ has intensified their border surveillance and control as well as Next page

RED TIDE. Residents of Brgy. San Roque and Brgy. Baybay Triunfo in Ozamiz City wake up to crimson waters on Monday, which the local Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources office said was caused by algal blooms or ‘red tide’—and was nothing to worry about.

VisMinPH/MOSSA Operative via Facebook

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News

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Pump prices up for 4th week

By Alena Mae S. Flores

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HE country’s oil firms raised the price of gasoline by P1.20 per liter for gasoline, P0.95 per liter for diesel, and P1 per liter for kerosene effective 6 am Tuesday amid an anticipated global tightening of oil supply.

Over the weekend, Unioil Philippines said consumers can expect another round of higher pump prices this week.

“Diesel should increase by P1 to P1.10 per liter. Gasoline should increase by P1.10 to P1.20 per liter,” Unioil Philippines said.

This is the fourth consecutive weekly oil price increase.

On February 16, the oil firms raised the price of gasoline by P0.75 per liter, P1.25 per liter for diesel and kerosene

by P1.10 per liter.

On February 9, the oil firms raised

the price of gasoline by P0.85 per liter, diesel by P1.10 per liter and kerosene by P1 per liter.

On February 2, the oil firms raised the price of gasoline by P0.25 per liter but cut the price of kerosene by P0.25 per liter. The oil firms did not move diesel prices.

World oil prices continued to edge up higher with investors expecting stronger demand for oil in the second quarter amid the accelerating global vaccination program while compliance with agreed OPEC production cuts seemed to be holding.

“Petron will implement the following price increases effective 6 a.m. on Feb. 23: P1.20/li for gasoline; P0.95/li for diesel; and P1.00/li for kerosene. These reflect movements in the international oil market,” Petron Corp. said in its advisory.

Aside from Petron, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., PTT Philippines, Cleanfuel, Seaoil Philippines, Seaoil Philippines, Flying V, and PetroGazz issued separate advisories of the oil price hike. Other oil companies are expected to follow suit.

Sinovac...

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Congress OKs bill to expedite vax purchase

The Philippines also did not sign an indemnification deal for the Sinovac Biotech jab, Malacañang said on Monday.

An indemnification agreement shields vaccine makers from legal claims stemming from their emergency use.

Beijing has agreed to donate 600,000 doses, which will arrive in the next three to five days, officials said -- despite misgivings over its safety and effectiveness.

“It is decided... that the benefit of using the vaccine outweighs the known and potential risks,” said Eric Domingo, head of the FDA. Palace spokesman Harry Roque said Congress was set to pass a bill granting indemnity to vaccine makers and establishing a fund to pay claims for damages in the event of adverse effects from the inoculations (see related story on A2 -- Editor).

“The law is applicable to all vaccines,” Roque told reporters in a televised briefing.

The CoronaVac can be given to “clinically healthy” adults aged 18 to 59, but was not recommended for frontline health workers or the elderly, Domingo said.

Roque said workers considered essential to the economy and soldiers were likely to receive the first jabs.

Although trials in Turkey found CoronaVac to be 91.25 percent effective, other, more robust trials in Brazil only demonstrated an efficacy rate of around 50 percent.

Roque defended the push to use the Sinovac vaccine, saying “it’s better than not having protection at all.”

Many world leaders have been among the first in their countries to receive jabs to boost public confidence.

But Duterte preferred to wait for a different Chinese vaccine made by state-owned Sinopharm, Roque said, citing the president’s old age.

The Sinopharm vaccine was secretly given to members of Duterte’s security team last year even though The government is in talks with seven vaccine makers, including Sinovac, in the hope of securing enough doses to inoculate 70 million people -- about 60 percent of the population -- this year.

But the lack of transparency and delays in delivery of the first doses have fueled criticism of the government over its handling of the health crisis.

More than 560,000 cases of coronavirus have been recorded in the country, including over 12,000 deaths.

Social distancing rules and travel restrictions have crippled the economy.

Carlito Galvez, a retired general overseeing vaccine procurement, recently admitted the government had not yet signed any supply agreements, only non-binding “term sheets” for potential deals.

More than 100,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine were supposed to be delivered mid-February through the COVAX global vaccination program.

But Galvez said the delivery had been held up over indemnification agreements that would protect the vaccine makers from legal claims over any side effects.

“I appeal for a little more patience to my fellow Filipinos,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Monday.

Even when vaccines do arrive, it is not clear how many people will want them.

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta SPEAKER Lord Allan Velasco on Monday expressed high hopes the country’s first COVID-19 vaccines will arrive sooner after the House of Representatives unanimously passed on final reading a bill seeking to expedite the government’s purchase and administration of the life-saving shots against the deadly disease.

“We hope the bill will serve its noble purpose of helping the national government hasten the purchase and administration of the vaccine against

Rody:...

From A1 Filipinos and his economic managers who proposed the shift to MGCQ last week to improve the economy and to end hunger for the millions who lost their jobs during the pandemic would understand.

Earlier, University of the Philippines researchers who have been tracking the pandemic warned that if Metro Manila were put under an MGCQ and hit by a variant of the coronavirus that affected Cebu City, it would take just 36 days for the region to return to the situation in August, when the country was reporting an average of 2,400 cases a day.

The OCTA Research group also noted an upward trend in Metro Manila infections.

COVID-19 cases in Pasay City more than tripled from Thursday to Saturday compared to the previous seven-day average, the OCTA Research Team said on Sunday.

OCTA also said the average number of new COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region over the past three days increased 45 percent compared to the daily average from the previous seven days.

From just 28 cases from Feb. 11 to 17, the number of new confirmed infections in Pasay rose to 86 from Feb.18 to 20, the independent research group said.

The Philippines logged 2,288 new cases of COVID-19 Monday, bringing

Face-to-face...

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COVID-19, which already killed more than 12,000 people nationwide and sent the economy into deep contraction,” Velasco said.

With 225 affirmative votes, no negative vote and six abstentions, lawmakers passed on third and final reading House Bill 8648, or the proposed COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021 filed

by Velasco, Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Minority Leader Joseph Stephen “Caraps” Paduano and Quirino Rep. Junie Cua. The bill provides for a COVID-19 vaccination program that would address the adverse impact of the disease

through the procurement and administration of safe and effective vaccines by the national government.

This is through the Department of Health (DOH), the National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF), and other duly constituted authorities and instrumentalities in an expeditious, efficient and equitable manner.

At the Senate, Sen. Panfilo Lacson inquired from Senate Finance Committee chairperson Sen. Sonny Angara about the basis of the P500 million indemnity fund following the DOH projection that only 300 individuals will suffer adverse effects from the COVID-19 vaccination.

the total to 563,456, as six laboratories failed to submit their data on time, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.

Six new fatalities brought the total death toll to 12,094, which is 2.15 percent of total cases.

The DOH also reported that 33 persons recently recovered, bringing the total recoveries to 522,874, which is 92.8 percent of the total.

This left 28,488 active cases, which is 5.1 percent of the total number of cases.

Of the active cases, 88.1 percent were mild; 5.7 percent were asymptomatic; 2.7 percent were critical; 2.6 percent were severe; and 0.85 percent were moderate.

Vice President Leni Robredo over the weekend also questioned the basis for the MGCQ proposal, saying virus transmission remained high while there are no vaccines yet.

But, Duque expressed confidence that the country is ready for a shift to an MGCQ despite a rise in infections and the detection of coronavirus variants and mutations.

“I think we are ready. I can say that because after one year, we have managed to keep our infection rate manageable… It is at a level that has not overwhelmed the health care system,” Duque told CNN Philippines.

Duque said local government units have been “increasingly effective” at managing transmission, citing the increase in COVID-19 cases after the hol-

iday season and the feast of the Black Nazarene that turned out to be weaker than expected.

He also said localized lockdowns, not sweeping community quarantines, are “the way to go.”

“You cannot discount the fact that you will have some spikes. Now we see that happening in Pasay, in Navotas, but I think the interventions of early detection, isolation, treatment, and reintegration strategies are very much in place,” Duque said.

The Pasay City government tightened restrictions in 33 barangays due to a spike in COVID-19 cases.

Last week, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) acting Director General Karl Chua proposed that the entire country be placed under the most lenient quarantine status, citing the need to revive the ailing economy and mitigate sickness, hunger, poverty, job and income losses that are rising.

Chua also proposed increasing public transport operations from 50 percent to 70 percent of capacity and gradually expanding the age group allowed to go out.

The NEDA chief also recommended the resumption of face-to-face classes in low-risk areas.

Earlier, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said local government units (LGUs) should be capable of handling the threat of transmission of COVID-19 if the proposal to place the entire country under MGCQ pushes through.

Dr. Eric Tayag, director of the Health Department’s Knowledge Management and Information Technology Service, said there may be cases in which individuals experience the effects of the disease months after being diagnosed.

“As we try to review the data that’s available, it’s about the response (of our) immune system. (Our) immune system (sometimes overdrives), because of this overdrive, it gives us the complications,” he said in a report on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend.”

Among the reported long-term effects of COVID-19 are tiredness, brain fog, depression, muscle pain, cough, and headaches. -- Willie Casas

still undecided.

“The survey findings show that nurses are willing to be vaccinated if there is full guarantee for their safety so that they can still continue serving and caring for their patients,” the FNU said. -Willie Casas Central Visayas DOH gets deadline The Department of Health (DOH) Region 7 has until Friday to assess the effects of its strengthened testing, isolation, and tracing efforts on the transmission of COVID-19, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said on Monday.

Duque said the region’s daily attack rate and two-week growth rate need to decrease to prove that the strengthened measures worked against COVID-19.

The healthcare utilization rate of Central Visayas currently stands in the low-risk classification at 48 percent, he added.

Last week, DOH Central Visayas Director Jaime Bernadas said local government units agreed to intensify containment and contact tracing efforts as well as expand the health system capacity following the detection of two coronavirus mutations. Willie Casas

mutations E484K and N501Y in SARSCoV-2 virus will also be forwarded to Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GSAID).

Earlier, DOH Region 7 announced that the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) detected two coronavirus “mutations of concern” in samples from Cebu.

DOH 7 spokesperson Dr. Mary Jean Loreche said 37 of 50 samples sequenced by the PGC showed the mutations E484K and N501Y in SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the Most nurses want the jab COVID-19.

Majority of nurses surveyed by FiliShe added that 29 out of the 50 samples had a co-occurrence of the both pino Nurses United (FNU) were willing to get vaccinated against the coromutations. -- Willie Casas navirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In a week-long survey, FNU said 494 Long-term effects of out of its 646 nurse respondents were COVID-19 eyed The Department of Health (DOH) is willing to be inoculated.

A total of 37 nurses said they did not looking into reports of long-term effects from the coronavirus disease 2019 want to get vaccinated mainly due to (COVID-19), which could be caused by concerns over the vaccine’s side effects, the immune system going on overdrive. while the remaining 115 nurses were

‘Auring’...

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Gov’t...

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been stranded for three days and they have to be immediately shipped to Manila.”

Travel to and from Boracay Island, and Manila ports is also not allowed.

Rescue operations were also continuing as some of the areas not prone to hazards had unexpectedly experienced flooding.

Auring was forecast to move northwestward to westward and may traverse Bicol Region, southern Quezon, Marinduque, and northern Mindoro in the next 24 hours.

“There is an increasing likelihood of the disturbance dissipating while traversing Southern Luzon,” the weather bureau said.

Rio N. Araja

of Finance said Dominguez issued the order after President Duterte approved in principle during the Cabinet meeting held on Feb. 3 the recommendation of the Department of Agriculture to expand the minimum access volume allocation for pork imports.

The Tariff Commission has already submitted its recommendation on increasing the MAV to the President, according to the DA. Aimed at boosting pork imports, the DA said the expansion of the MAV will help offset soaring pork prices amid the outbreak of the

African Swine Fever in the country, which has significantly reduced the pork output of local producers and jacked up market prices.

“Please take a close look at the potential smuggling of pork,” Dominguez told Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero during a recent DOF executive committee meeting.

President Duterte was scheduled to hold a Cabinet meeting Monday night but it was not clear if lifting limits on pork imports and pork supply woes would be discussed, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.

Roque said among the possible agenda was the planned transition to modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) protocol, which expands public transport and business

House inaction on AJ Leonen’s impeachment hit LAWMAKERS in the House of Representatives on Monday criticized Speaker Lord Allan Jay Velasco over his supposed inaction on the impeachment charges filed against Associate Justice Marvic Leonen.

Anakalusugan Rep. Michael ‘Mike” Defensor stressed that the Lower House Rules on Impeachment are very clear that the Speaker should have endorsed the impeachment complaint against Leonen ten days after it was accepted and endorsed by one or two members of the lower chamber.

The complaint against Leonen was filed at the House on December 7, 2020 by one Edwin Cordevilla.

Cordevilla, secretary-general of the Filipino League of Advocates for Good Governance – Maharlika (FLAGG – Maharlika), asserted in his complaints that Leonen deliberately violated several provisions of the 1987 Constitution and betrayed public trust.

Cordevilla’s impeachment charges were accepted and filed by Ilocos Norte Rep. Angelo Barba.

Barba said he strongly believed Cordevilla, thus he filed the impeachment complaints against Leonen.

“Gusto ko lang malaman Mr. Speaker, not only for myself but for Honorable Barba, what is the status of the Impeachment case filed before the House of Representatives,” Defensor was heard as asking the lower chamber’s leader.

Defensor learned of the inaction of Velasco after the parliamentary inquiry he made Monday about the status of the case.

He and other members of the House found out that “officially” Velasco did not endorse the complaints against Leonen to the House Committee on Justice.

This led Defensor to remind Velasco of his legal duty as leader of the House to act on the issue.

Cavite Rep. Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla strongly agreed with Defensor’s view.

Remulla, who is also a senior deputy speaker of the House, noted the specific period on the endorsement of the impeachment complaint as pointed out in the Rules of Impeachment.

Defensor averred that 10 days have already lapsed if the counting starts on December 7, 2020.

“I thank the explanation of the majority leader on that [matter]. But, I will not debate on it. This impeachment case was filed by Honorable Barba since December [7]. Lumagpas na po tayo sa 10 session days. But I will debate on that. We can look on our record,” Defensor explained.

Among the bases of Cordevilla’s complaint against Leonen were the snail-paced release of his ponente on 82 cases filed at the Supreme Court, failure to act as chairman of the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) on the electoral protests of a number of candidates in the 2019 elections, and his failure to submit his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN) for 15 years while a law professor and at one time dean at the University of the Philippines College of Law.

ASF...

From A1 our surveillance of animal health by our DA,” he said in a Laging Handa briefing.

“The two agencies are coordinating to ensure that it cannot enter the Philippines,” he added.

Last weekend, Russia said it informed the World Health Organization about the transmission of the strain to humans.

The flu was detected in seven workers of a poultry farm in southern Russia. The cases did not experience any serious health consequences.

Duque said its symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle ache or numbness, as well as nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting in certain cases.

operations, including eased limits on mass gatherings amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The consumer group SUKI resounded the call for subsidies for producers as the latter expressed difficulty amid decreasing pork prices in some public markets.

Hog raisers and other producers continue to oppose the government’s enforcement of a price cap on pork and other agricultural products because the cost of production remains high.

In the immediate term, SUKI officials agreed that the government should provide livestock and poultry raisers indemnification and support from the consequences of the African Swine Flu.

News

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021

P10,000 cash aid for poor in 2021 budget —solon

IN BRIEF Taguig expands contact tracing

THE City of Taguig is expanding its contact-tracing tool for residents to have an easy access to all government programs and COVID-19-related services.

With the main goal of unifying the services into one portal, the local government will also use the Taguig Registry for Assessment and City Engagements or TRACE as a registration tool for other services that the city offers like vaccination, health benefits and social services.

On Monday, Mayor Lino Edgardo Cayetano encouraged residents, workers and visitors to the city to register to TRACE Taguig and generate a QR code.

“Now, that we are few steps closer to the COVID-19 vaccine, I am encouraging the public to download the TRACE Taguig application. The main goal is to trace all Taguigeños, visitors and workers that go around the city. Through TRACE, people will have an easy access to all government programs and COVID-19 related services,” he said.

The city has one of the lowest fatality rates recorded in Metro Manila.

“With the help of our medical workers and the people’s cooperation, we were able to maintain these low numbers. Depsite this, Taguigeños are still encouraged to follow health and safety protocols,” said Cayetano.

He says registration can be done through the application available for Android and iOS, website application, or self-service kiosks and door-to-door registration procedure for those who do not have access to technology or legal identification.

Joel E. Zurbano

100th Strong Motion station up

THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology on Monday vowed to expand its Philippine Strong Motion Network or PSMNet. In partnership with the Tanay municipal government in Rizal through Mayor Rex Manuel Tanjuatco, Phivolcs is set to celebrate the milestone inauguration of its 100th Strong Motion station today.

Director Renato Solidim says the PSMNet is one of the key earthquake monitoring networks in the Philippines that is equipped with strong-motion accelerographsstrategically located in densely populated areas and near active faults.

The instruments are capable of faithfully recording large ground motions during high-magnitude earthquake events.

Data from the PSMNet can be used to provide critical information about the earthquake rupture process, understand the generation and propagation of seismic waves near the source, characterize the type of materials underneath the soil, provide information about site effect and response, and determine the ground motion effects to buildings and ground failure such as landslides and liquefaction. Rio N. Araja

Caloocan, utility firms in dialogue

By Maricel V. Cruz

ON HOLIDAY. Some 50 pork and chicken meat vendors put up a sign at Murphy Market in Cubao, Quezon City denoting their ‘pork holiday’ as they vowed not to resume selling until after Tuesday to protest the government’s price ceiling on their commodities.

Customs out to stop flow of illegal drugs

By Joel E. Zurbano

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IRPORT authorities have heightened their vigilance in the campaign against trafficking in illegal drugs in a bid to discourage international drug syndicates from using the Philippines as a transshipment point for those.

In Clark, a drug syndicate used a shipment of air fryer to transport P6.8 million worth of shabu from Sha Alam, Malaysia. But alert Customs agents and examiners intercepted the shipment.

Based on the import manifest, the shipment arrived on Feb. 16 and was declared as air fryer and silkware.

The authorities examined the shipment and discovered two pieces of frying pans and one air fryer where the

1,000 grams of shabu were concealed.

“To verify the x-ray image which showed organic substances inside the lid of the air fryer, the Customs Examiner opened the same where he found two black plastic packs containing crystalline substances suspected to be shabu,” said District Collector Ruby Alameda.

Alameda said the shipment was also subjected to K-9 dog sniffing and sam-

THE Caloocan City Government has held a dialogue among utility companies regarding the repair of power cables in some areas in the city.

Under the directive of Mayor Oscar Malapitan, the dialogue was conducted so the utility companies could assist the City Government in organizing hanging and tangled wiring.

“We want to ensure the safety of the people in the inconvenience and danger posed by these cables. Therefore, we ask for your help and support to clean and repair them. As early as now, we are grateful for your future action in the matter,” said City Administrator and Officer-in-charge of the City Engineering Department Oliver Hernandez.

In the meeting, it was decided to form a Task Force to take the lead in the project and other parts of the City Government and the companies regarding the project.

There will also be a memorandum of agreement that will be discussed in the next dialogue. Among those who participated in the dialogue were representatives from Globe, Smart, Meralco, PDLT, Converge and others. Jun David

ples were taken for laboratory testing and chemical analysis, which “confirmed positive results for the presence of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride.”

Alameda immediately issued a warrant of seizure and detention on the shipment.

Airport authorities are implementing stricter measures against smuggled drugs, saying international drug syndicates were using the Philippines as a dumping ground for their illegal substances.

At the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, more than P2 billion worth of drugs were seized by the Customs bureau in 2020.

Records showed that the Port of NAIA seized a total of 44 shipments of shabu, ecstasy, marijuana and other prohibited substances.

FLOOD OF FISH. Hundreds

of small fish wash ashore in Brgy.

Bukana in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental on Monday, with residents helping themselves to bagfuls. Officials believe it was caused by the churning seas caused by Tropical Storm Auring that crossed the central Philippines over the weekend. Christian Jay Hondrada LapuLapu via Facebook

Isko OKs release of P38.4m to AstraZeneca for jabs for Manila

By Willie Casas MAYOR Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso authorized the release of P38.4 million from the city’s budget on February 19 in line with Manila’s COVID-19 vaccination program.

The amount is a 20 percent advance payment for 800,000 doses of British– Swedish multinational pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca’s vaccine.

The AstraZeneca vaccine requires two doses per person. As such, the 800,000 doses would be enough to vaccinate 400,000 people.

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Domagoso said that while this was just a fraction of Manila’s population, it was a very good start.

“Fortunately, the national government allowed LGUs to fast-track the procurement process. I am thankful for that,” he said.

The Government Procurement Reform Act only allows advance payment equivalent to a maximum of 15 percent of the cost of government-financed projects. But Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado called for the easing of this limitation earlier this month.

President Rodrigo Duterte subsequently

signed a memorandum order increasing the limit for advanced payments for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines.

“The vaccine is coming but we can’t let ourselves be complacent,” Domagoso said.

“Let’s keep practicing the health protocols mandated by the Department of Health and let’s keep refining our mass vaccination simulation exercises.”

In January this year, the Manila LGU had the distinction of being the very first to enter a tripartite agreement with AstraZeneca and the National Task Force against COVID-19. Some 300 companies

and more than 30 other LGUs from across the country also signed the agreement.

The City of Manila has always taken a proactive stance in the bid to procure vaccines.

In the face of businesses having to shut down and people losing their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Domagoso has repeatedly said “Vaccination is the solution for the nation. So, the key to the city’s economic recovery is mass vaccination against COVID-19. Once there is a vaccine, people can move around again.

Businesses can reopen and those who lost their jobs can once again go out and seek employment.”

FUNDS for the proposed Bangon Pamilyang Pilipino Assistance Program that aims to provide low-income and vulnerable households at least P10,000 in cash assistance are available under the national budget, an official said Monday.

Camarinee Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte said a third cash subsidy for the families hardest hit by the global economic turmoil unleashed by Covid-19 was “necessary at this point to boost household income amid the elevated unemployment and inflation or spike in food prices resulting from the lingering pandemic.”

He said the government recently reported around P452 billion in unused funds from the 2020 national budget and P204 million in its unobligated cash balance.

He said the proposed cash aid’s budget would be sourced from these unused and unobligated funds, which are under the 2020 and 2021 General Appropriations Acts.

House Bill 8597 or the BPP Assistance Program that was primarily authored by former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Taguig Rep. Lani Cayetano aims to treat the cash assistance given to qualified families as “capital” that would help stimulate consumption and revitalize the economy.

“Imagine if we inject P200 billion into the economy now. That would pump-prime it,” said Villafuerte, one of the other members of the Cayetanoled independent majority bloc BTS sa Kongreso who co-authored HB 8597.

“That money will circulate and will be used to buy necessities and will be used for livelihoods and businesses while we wait for the Covid-19 vaccine for our mass immunization program.”

Villafuerte was one of the co-authors of the laws extending the validity of the 2020 GAA and the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2.

‘Dengvaxia case mishandling led to vaccine delay’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATE Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon on Monday said the mishandling of the Dengvaxia case by the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) contributed to the delays in arrival of COVID-19 vaccines in the country.

“To me, the indemnification requirement is borne out by the events that transpired in the Dengvaxia controversy,” he said.

“Why suddenly do the manufacturers require an indemnity clause? Because of their experience on the way the Dengvaxia controversy was handled against Sanofi,” Drilon stressed in an interview with ANC. Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez earlier said that drug manufacturers are seeking indemnity agreements following the news of warrants of arrest against Sanofi officials involved in the Dengvaxia case.

“It should be looked at in the context of the way PAO Chief Persida Acosta handled the Dengvaxia controversy,” he added.

The senator lamented how the PAO chief’s handling of the case burdened the poor health workers who were made defendants in the cases filed all over the country.

Drilon said that given the unfortunate experience of health workers in the Dengvaxia case, it is only proper to include a provision in Senate Bill No. 2057 or the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021.

The bill, he said, will shield volunteers like health workers who are authorized to carry out the COVID-19 vaccination program from suits and liabilities, except arising from willful misconduct.

Capital vaccinates 94% of kids for measles in record time

MURILLO MAP. Navotas Rep. John Rey Tiangco (right) receives an official replica of the 1734 Murillo Velarde map from Mel Velarde, President and CEO of Velarde Inc. and Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication. The Murillo Velarde map is the first scientific map of the entire archipelago, and has been regarded as the ‘mother of all Philippine maps.’ Navotas City Mayor Toby Tiangco thanked and lauded Velarde, noting that his endeavors are a ‘strong manifestation of love of country.’ The Murillo Velarde map served a crucial role in the Philippines’ case against China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands. Andrew Rabulan

MANILA Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso has expressed his pride and gratitude after the city of Manila took the lead in the National Capital Region when it registered over 94 percent completion of the city government’s campaign against measles in record time.

The mayor also thanked the Department of Health, which cited the efforts and achievement of the Manila local government unit with regard to the anti-measles campaign and thus ranked it as the leading LGU in the NCR with regard to the successful measles vaccination program.

“I thank and am so proud of our

health personnel led by our tireless Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna and Manila Health Department chief Dr. Arnold ‘Poks Pangan for their efforts and dedication to duty,” Domagoso said.

Domagoso said that in just a matter of more or less 10 days, the city government was able to vaccinate more than 127,000 children, which was beyond expectation.

The campaign, dubbed, ‘Tsikiting Ligtas,’ is also being used by the local government as some sort of a simulation in preparation for the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines.

Domagoso said the city was trying so hard to finish the measles vaccination at the earliest possible

time, so that it may focus entirely on the COVID-19 vaccination program which, he said, would hopefully be implemented soon.

As of 2 a.m. of February 20, electronic data processing head Fortune Palileo had reported to the mayor that the total number of individuals who had so far registered with the Manila Vaccination and Immunization app, https:// manilacovid19vaccine.com, had already reached 88,747.

These individuals, Domagoso said, would be among those who will be prioritized, along with health workers, once the vaccines arrived.

Willie Casas

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NEWS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021

Solon wants task force vs. fuel ‘paihi’

By Maricel V. Cruz THE chairman of the House of Representatives committee on ways and means on Monday called for stricter customs enforcement on imported petroleum products.

Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda made the call in a briefing to legislators by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) as his committee conducted an investigation into the use of customs bonded warehouses as smuggling conduits.

During the committee briefing, Salceda tasked the BOC and the Department of Finance to form a Task Force against fuel smuggling, colloquially known as ‘paihi.’

“If you want to know why some gasoline stations can offer prices 10 pesos lower than the competition, look no further than fuel smuggling.

It’s real and it happens just under our noses. The opportunity to catch smuggling is everywhere from the port to the gasoline station, so we can if we try,” Salceda said.

He said the government lost some P357 billion due to fuel smuggling alone from 2010 to 2019.

Citing trade data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Salceda said the value of potentially smuggled fuel from 2010 to 2017 was on the rise, before the fuel marking program under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law helped lower the probable value lost to smuggling in 2018.

While smuggling has since been on a slow decline, Salceda says the foregone revenues are increasing as TRAIN also imposed new excise taxes on fuel.

“We have lost P357 billion in foregone revenues due to fuel smuggling from 2010 to 2019. While fuel marking has helped lower smuggling, the bleeding on the revenue side is still growing because we raised taxes on fuel products in 2018,” he said.

Fuel smuggling, he said, is easiest in freeport zones where marking is only conducted at the gates and not upon entry at the freeport, and where enforcement is less strict as freeports are outside customs territory.

Justices on quarantine, ATA hearing moved

By Rey E. Requejo

S

OME magistrates of the Supreme Court went on selfquarantine, prompting the High Court to postpone its regular en banc session today (Tuesday) and the scheduled continuation of the oral arguments on the 37 petitions seeking to declare as unconstitutional Republic Act No. 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

In an advisory released by the Office of the Clerk of Court, the SC said the oral arguments have been moved to March 2 at 2:30 p.m.

“Considering that some of the justices are on self-quarantine as a health precaution against COVID-19, you are hereby informed, per instruction of the Honorable Supreme Court, of the suspension of the oral arguments scheduled on February 23, 2021,” the advisory stated.

The advisory was signed by Clerk of Court Edgardo Aricheta.

The SC justices are expected to continue to interpellate the lawyers of the 37 petitioners on their arguments against the provisions of the ATA when the hearing

resumes next week.

After the interpellations, the high court will hear expert opinions of amici curiae retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno and retired Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza.

The Court earlier directed the parties in the case to refrain from discussing its merits in public in order not to affect the outcome of the petitions.

It was learned that one of the justices tested positive for the virus.

Court sources said the magistrate has immediately informed his colleagues about his test result.

While subsequent tests showed the justice has already recovered from the virus,

the other magistrates opted to go on selfquarantine.

Earlier, lawyers of the 37 petitioners asked the magistrates to scrap the AntiTerrorism Act of 2020 and instead uphold the supremacy of the provisions of the Constitution over the controversial law.

Former Integrated Bar of the Philippines president Jose Anselmo Cadiz argued that Filipinos are facing “real and imminent danger” to both constitutionally guaranteed civil liberties and separation of powers.

Cadiz considered the current controversy between the 1987 Constitution and the ATA as “a colossal battle.”

“Presently, the Anti-Terror Law is running roughshod over the Constitution, particularly the Bill of Rights,” he said.

Human rights lawyer Jose Manuel Diokno expressed apprehension the antiterrorism law puts activists at the risk of being arrested and prosecuted on mere “subjective impression” of law enforcers of what their intent was.

“Anyone therefore who tweets for people to attend a peaceful rally could be arrested for engaging in acts intended to endanger a person’s life due to the danger of COVID infection,” Diokno argued.

WAGE HIKE PUSH. A

laborer holds up a placard during a demonstration held at the Labor Department’s National Wages and Productivity Commission office in Manila on Feb. 22, 2021. Labor group Defend Jobs Philippines yesterday filed a P100 emergency wage relief acrossthe-board increase petition. The group said the last wage hike implemented by the Duterte administration for minimum wage earners was in 2018.

Norman Cruz

Army, NBI to help track down 9 dismissed Jolo cops PHILIPPINE National Police chief Gen. Debold Sinas on Monday said the PNP has sought the assistance of the Philippine Army in tracking down nine former police officers implicated in the fatal shooting of four Army intelligence troopers in June last year.

“Our dialogue is still ongoing and some of them are still hesitant to surrender, but we already gave copies of the arrest warrant to the PA to help us in tracking them,” Sinas said in a

media interview.

Sinas said the dismissed Jolo cops are wary of surrendering due to fears for their security and safety despite earlier assurances that they will be detained at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

“But they still refused to surrender so our manhunt goes on,” Sinas said.

Aside from the Army, he said they also gave copies of the arrest warrants to the National Bureau of Investigation.

Reports said the nine former police-

men are still in Jolo, Sulu.

Last month, a panel of prosecutors of the Department of Justice found probable cause to indict the nine police officers – Senior M/Sgt. Abdelzhimar Padjiri, M/Sgt. Hanie Baddiri, S/Sgt. Iskandar Susulan, S/Sgt. Ernisar Sappal, Cpl. Sulki Andaki, Pat. Moh Nur Pasani, S/Sgt. Almudzrin Hadjaruddin, Pat. Alkajal Mandangan, and Pat. Rajiv Putalan for four counts of murder and planting of evidence.

The panel did not recommend bail for the accused.

Sinas earlier approved the dismissal from service of the police officers.

The four soldiers – Maj. Marvin A. Indammog, Capt. Irwin B. Managuelod, Sgt. Jaime M. Velasco, and Cpl. Abdal Asula, – were conducting intelligence and monitoring operations against two suspected suicide bombers when they gunned down by the Jolo police officers in June 2020.

Arman Dumaguing Armero, 58 MAY 25, 1962 – FEBRUARY 22, 2021 MANILA Standard deskman Arman Dumaguing Armero, seen by friends as a newsman to a tee, died Monday, February 22, only two days after looking for assignments from his newsroom seniors during his day off. He was 58.

Armero, a branded quipster in his league and an indulgent son to his widowed 87-year-old mother Nena, left behind his 20-year-old son Aaron Cham and his wife Cherry Ramos.

He finished a bachelor’s degree in 1984 at age 22 from the Lyceum of the Philippines, now Lyceum University, in Intramuros, Manila, after starting out at the Catholic San Sebastian College-Recoletos in Sampaloc, Manila.

While his parents are from Surigao del Norte, Armero, the third of five siblings – Adamar Estrada, Nicolas Ernesto, Emily, and Wilhelmina Termulo – was born in Metro Manila, and studied at the Tandang Sora Elementary School before he enrolled at the Ramon Magsaysay High School in Cubao, Quezon City.

The wake will be at St.Peter Funeral Homes at Barangay Gulod in Novaliches, Quezon City.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

LIKE SANTORINI. A Greek-inspired gazebo attracts plantitos and plantitas during the Plant Festival at SM City Dasmariñas. Norman Cruz

‘Unmask travel firms in pastillas syndicate’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel Cruz SENATOR Risa Hontiveros on Monday called on the National Bureau of Investigation to unmask the travel agency involved in a new pasillas scam, in which Chinese nationals allegedly paid P550,000 each for a seamless entry into the country.

During an operation conducted by the NBI, the agency entrapped Vivian Lara, a liaison officer who was caught receiving P900,000 to process the papers of three Chinese nationals inside the office of BI prosecutor Arnulfo Maminta.

The Chinese nationals, Lara said, are clients of a travel agency.

“Chinese nationals with criminal records are able to enter the country because of the collusion between this travel agency and corrupt personnel of the BI. I’ve called for a BI overhaul before and this needs to happen now as it seems the new scam features the same cast of characters,” the senator said.

Last year, Hontiveros led a series of Senate investigations on the pastillas scam, revealing that corrupt officials at the BI received P10,000 for every unchecked entry of Chinese nationals.

The senator also previously disclosed that the travel agencies involved in the scam have offered to help Chinese nationals who want to get their names off the BI’s blacklist for a price.

“This is a direct threat to our national security. We’ve already established that Chinese syndicates have exploited our women and children, among many other unspeakable crimes,” she said.

The senator reiterated her call to permanently abolish the Visa Upon Arrival system for Chinese nationals, which she said is what most syndicates use to traffic women into the country.

Meanwhile, a party-list lawmaker has filed a bill that mandates the modernization of the Bureau of Immigration and provides for higher pay for immigration personnel.

Digital Bar exams hailed as innovative THE Supreme Court’s decision to hold digital bat examinations was hailed as an innovative balancing act of technology use and the need to maintain social distancing amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rizal Rep. Fidel Nograles, vice chairman of the Committee on Justice, also urged other government agencies to take their cue from the High Court, which has used technology to continue performing its mandate.

“Once again, the SC is leading the way in taking advantage of available technology in order to strike the balance between public safety and duty,” said Nograles, a deputy majority leader.

In a statement, the Supreme Court said it will hold “a digitalized, localized, and proctored modality” for the bar examinations.

The Court decided to hold digital bar examinations this year after a pilot test conducted on January 31 to assess proposed reforms proved successful. The mock exams took place in Metro Manila, Baguio, Cebu, and Davao.

Eighty law students participated in the trial using computer software while being proctored in testing rooms.

“From allowing virtual trials to expediting the release of persons deprived of liberty to decongest our jails, the high court has been quick to adapt to the situation. Such flexibility should be emulated across all of government,” Nograles said.

On the other hand, Nograles took the Civil Service Commission to task for its failure to hold online its eligibility examinations, which have been deferred since the enhanced community quarantine was imposed in March last year.

Maricel V. Cruz

Bill deferring SSS contribution hike OK’d THE Senate on Monday passed a bill granting President Rodrigo Duterte the power to defer the increases in contribution to the Social Security System while the nation is still under public health emergency under Proclamation No. 922, as amended by Proclamation No. 1021.

“Thank you to all our colleagues who contributed to this wonderful opportunity to alleviate the suffer-

ing of our people even for a short while,” said Senator Richard J. Gordon, chair of the Senate Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises, and author of Senate Bill No. 2027.

During his sponsorship speech for the bill, Gordon said the measure will give SSS members the financial breathing space to be able to adjust to the ongoing national emergency, while also

taking into consideration the state-run insurer’s financial viability.

“People have no money to pay because of the pandemic. We want to help those having difficulty. We should make the SSS law nimbler and leave the deferment of contribution increase for the President to decide, provided that there is a consultation with the SSS and affected stakeholders,” he said.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

B2

TODAY

Department Administrative Order No. 21-01 Series of 2021 AMENDING DAO NO. 20-11 ON THE PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF THE SAFEGUARD MEASURES CASE ON THE IMPORTATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES FROM VARIOUS COUNTRIES (AHTN Codes 8703 (Passenger Cars), 8704.21.19 and 8704.21.29 (Light Commercial Vehicles) (Safeguard Measures Case No. SG01-2020) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

ORDER WHEREAS, on 29 December 2020, The Department of Trade and Industry issued Administrative Order (DAO) 20-11 imposing provisional safeguard measures in the form of cash bonds amounting to P70,000/unit for passenger cars/ vehicles classified under AHTN Code 8703 and P110,000/unit for light commercial vehicles classified under AHTN Codes 8704.21.19 and 8704.21.29 imported from various countries; WHEREAS, Rule 8.8 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 8800 and Article 9.1 of the WTO Agreement on Safeguards excludes from safeguard measures imports originating from developing countries with de-minimis volume; WHEREAS, Annexes A & B have been drawn up listing certain developing countries that meet the de-minimis import volume on subject motor vehicles as provided under the aforementioned WTO provision and the IRR of RA 8800; WHEREAS, the Department reviewed the aforementioned Annexes and noted that countries/economies generally considered as developing have certain qualities, such as low to lower middle income and have low, medium, to high human development; WHEREAS, the Department also notes that many developed countries are members of an international organization comprised mainly of high-income economies such as the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development; WHEREAS, in view of the foregoing, there is a need to amend the List of Developing Countries under Annexes A and B of DAO 20-11 taking into consideration the abovementioned attributes.

NOW, THEREFORE, Annexes A and B, List of Developing Countries from which imported motor vehicles subject of the provisional safeguard measures shall not be applied, of DAO 20-11 is hereby amended.

All other provisions of DAO No. 20-11 except as herein expressly modified, shall remain in full force and effect.

The Department Administrative Order can be accessed at the DTI website: https://bit.ly/AmendedDAO11 The notification and consultation requirements under Article 12 of the WTO Safeguards Agreement and Section 17 of RA 8800 and its IRR shall be complied with. Imports originating from ASEAN member states shall be governed by the provisions of Articles 11 and 23 of the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA).

Let this Order be published in two (2) newspapers of general circulation and let individual notices be sent to all interested parties including the country members concerned.

This Order shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from its publication or from the date of the issuance of relevant BOC-CMO, whichever comes earlier.

SO ORDERED. 19 February 2021

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

World

US nears 500,000 COVID-19 deaths

W

ASHINGTON ― The United States stood on the brink Sunday of recording 500,000 Covid-related deaths since the start of the pandemic, while nations globally pressed on with vaccination rollouts, including with Australia giving its first shots.

The catastrophic US toll comes as some signs of hope are emerging in the world’s hardest-hit country, with millions of people now vaccinated and winter’s massive spike in infections dropping.

But deaths are still coming, and President Joe Biden last month warned that “well over” 600,000 people in the US could die from the virus.

“It’s terrible. It is historic. We haven’t seen anything even close to this for well over a hundred years, since the 1918 pandemic of influenza,” Biden’s chief medical advisor Anthony Fauci told NBC’s “Meet The Press.”

“It’s something that is stunning when you look at the numbers, almost unbelievable, but it’s true,” Fauci added.

As of Sunday night, the US toll on the Johns Hopkins University tracking website stood at 498,879. Globally,

the figure was approaching 2.5 million.

After America’s first Covid-19 death was announced in February last year, it took about three months to pass the 100,000 mark, during a first wave that hit New York particularly hard.

But as the outbreak surged across the country, the pace of deaths increased, with the toll jumping from 400,000 in just over a month amid a spike fueled in part by holiday gatherings.

Fauci noted the number of daily new infections was on a steep decline after peaking in January, but he added normal life may still be some way off.

“I think we’ll have a significant degree of normality... as we get into the fall and the winter, by the end of the year,” Fauci said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

Vaccination rollouts According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 61 million people have received at least one shot of vaccine in the United States, with some 18 million getting the full two doses.

Biden has made it a priority to get 100 million people vaccinated within the first 100 days of his administration.

In Australia, top officials Sunday were among a small group receiving the first vaccinations, a day before the program starts in earnest. AFP

RAMON M. LOPEZ Secretary

SEA OF RESISTANCE. Protesters take part in a demonstration against the military coup in Yangon, Myanmar on

Monday. AFP

Huge Myanmar anti-coup rallies after junta threat

IN BRIEF Malcolm X’s family wants fresh probe

YANGON, Myanmar―Tens of thousands of anti-coup protesters rallied across Myanmar again on Monday despite a clear threat from the junta that it was prepared to use lethal force to crush what it branded “anarchy”.

The warning came after three demonstrators were shot dead over the weekend, and the funeral on Sunday for a young woman who died from bullet wounds at an earlier rally.

Massive street demonstrations have taken place since Myanmar’s military staged a coup on February 1 and detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, ending a decade-long experiment with democracy.

A civil disobedience campaign has also since choked many government operations, as well as businesses and banks, and the junta late Sunday gave its most ominous signal yet that its patience was nearing an end.

“Protesters are now inciting the people, especially emotional teenagers and youths, to a confrontation path where they will suffer the loss of life,” said a statement on state-run broadcaster MRTV. The statement, read out in Burmese with text of the English version on the screen, cautioned protesters against inciting “riot and anarchy”.

Protesters on Monday were undeterred by the warning, with tens of thousands rallying in Yangon, Myanmar’s biggest city and commercial hub.

“We came out today to join in the protest, to fight until we win,” said Kyaw Kyaw, a 23-year-old university student.

“We are worried about the crackdown, but we will move forward. We are so angry.”

Yangon residents had woken up Monday to a heavier security presence, including police and military trucks on the roads and an embassy district barricaded.

Another protester expressed similar defiance to AFP. “The military unjustly took power from the elected civilian government,” said the 29-year-old, who asked not to be named.

“We will fight until we get our freedom, democracy, and justice. AFP

Only ‘patriots’ to run Hong Kong

HONG KONG ― A top Chinese official on Monday outlined plans to ensure only “patriots” run Hong Kong as Beijing seeks to neuter any Standard remaining TODAYdemocratic opposition and take a more direct role in how the business hub is run.

The landmark speech by Xia Baolong, head of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, came just two weeks ahead of the annual meeting of China’s rubber-stamp legislature as speculation grows that further measures are being planned to sew up control of the city.

“The most vital and pressing task to enforce rule by patriots is to improve the relevant systems, particularly the relevant electoral system,” Xia said, according to a speech published by his office.

“Being patriotic means loving the People’s Republic of China.”

Hong Kong has never been a democracy -- something that has fuelled years of protests and resentment towards Beijing.

But until recently, the city had a veneer of choice that allowed a small and vibrant opposition to flourish at certain local elections.

LEGAL NOTICE After huge and often violent democracy Notice is hereby given to the public that an Extrajudicial protests swept the city in 2019—and opposition Settlement has been executed by the heirs of Teresita R. politicians won a landslide in district council Bejarin namely: Josefino D. elections—Beijing responded with a major Bejarin, Jemy R. Bejarin, Jennifer R. Bejarin, Joewell crackdown.

At its last annual meeting, China’s National R. Bejarin, John R. Bejarin, Samuel R. Bejarin, Josephine People’s Congress imposed a sweeping national Bejarin-Diaz, all of legal age, per deed on Feb 16, 2021 security law that outlawed much dissent in Hong before Notary Public Rafael B. Kong and radically transformed its relationship Madrid, Per Doc. No. 25, Page No. 6, Book No. CCVI, Series with the authoritarian mainland.

Hong Kongers are therefore looking closely at of 2021. what the next meeting might bring. AFP Manila

(MS-FEB. 23, 2021)

(FEB. 23/MAR. 1 & 8, 2021)

NEW YORK—The daughters of prominent Black activist Malcolm X have called to reopen the investigation into his murder in light of new testimony implicating the New York police and the FBI. “Any evidence that provides greatest insight into the truth behind that terrible tragedy should be thoroughly investigated,” said Ilyasah Shabazz, one of Malcolm X’s six daughters, during a press conference on Saturday.

Considered alongside Martin Luther King Jr as one the most influential African Americans in history, Malcolm X was an outspoken Muslim advocate of Black rights, although critics said he preached racism and violence.

He was gunned down during a public speaking appearance in New York in February 1965.

When contacted Sunday by AFP, a spokesman for the Manhattan district attorney said the office’s “review” of the case is “active and ongoing.”

During the press conference, a letter written by former New York police officer Raymond Wood, now deceased, was read out, in which he accused the NYPD and FBI of being complicit in the killing.

According to his cousin, Wood, who was Black and worked as an undercover operative, claimed to have approached Malcolm X’s entourage on orders from his higher-ups. AFP

Trump offered Kim ride on Air Force One

SEOUL―Donald Trump offered North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a ride home on Air Force One after a summit in Hanoi two years ago, according to a new BBC documentary.

Kim and Trump first engaged in a war of words and mutual threats, before an extraordinary diplomatic bromance that featured headline-grabbing summits and a declaration of love by the former US president.

But no substantive progress was made, with the process deadlocked after the pair’s meeting in Hanoi broke up over sanctions relief and what Pyongyang would be willing to give up in return.

According to a BBC documentary, “Trump Takes on the World”, the US president “stunned even the most seasoned diplomats” by offering Kim a lift home on Air Force One after the 2019 summit in Vietnam.

If Kim had accepted the offer, it would have put the North Korean leader -- and probably some of his entourage -- inside the US president’s official aircraft and seen it enter North Korean airspace, raising multiple security issues.

In the event, Kim turned it down.

“President Trump offered Kim a lift home on Air Force One,” Matthew Pottinger, the top Asia expert on Trump’s National Security Council, told the BBC, it reported at the weekend. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stock market drops; Ayala, PLDT decline

S

TOCKS slumped Monday on profit taking and after senators cautioned against a push by government officials to ease quarantine restrictions.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index fell 116.07 points, or 1.7 percent, to 6,810.34 on a value turnover of P8.5 billion.

Losers beat gainers, 116 to 96, with 44 issues unchanged.

Majority of Metro Manila mayors earlier said they would recommend dropping to the less restrictive modified general community quarantine by March to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases as a way to revive the economy.

Conglomerate Ayala Corp. dropped 4.6 percent to P760, while PLDT Inc., the biggest telecommunications firm, declined 3 percent to P1,305.

SM Investments Corp. of the Sy Group decreased 2.9 percent to P1,034, but Nickel Asia Corp., the largest nickel producer, advanced 8 percent to P6.32.

Asian markets, meanwhile, mostly fell Monday as falling infection rates and more good news on the vaccine front were overshadowed by growing worries about high valuations and inflation.

While the United States is ap-

proaching 500,000 deaths, there is optimism that there is light at the end of the tunnel in the COVID-19 crisis as governments embark on immunization programs that will allow economies to reopen.

Expectations that President Joe Biden’s vast stimulus will be passed next month are also keeping spirits up, as a raft of data last week on factory and services activity indicated the financial hit to the United States and Europe might not be as bad as feared.

News that the Pfizer/BioNTech jab appeared to prevent nine in 10 people from getting the disease in Israel—which is the most advanced in its rollout—provided a positive background. Israeli officials also said the shot was 99 percent effective at preventing deaths from the disease.

Meanwhile, hopes for a wider distribution were given a lift after Pfizer said its drug could be stored in normal medical freezers instead of the ultracold conditions initially thought necessary. With AFP

Manila

Standard TO HOLDERS OF COMMON SHARES OF TODAY

LOPEZ HOLDINGS CORPORATION

All holders of shares of common stock of LOPEZ HOLDINGS CORPORATION (“LPZ”) (the Common Shareholders and the Company, respectively) are hereby notified that FIRST PHILIPPINE HOLDINGS CORPORATION filed a tender offer report (SEC Form 19-1, including any and all of its annexes, exhibits and schedules) on 4 December 2020 as amended on 20 January 2021, 16 February 2021, and 22 February 2021, and as the same may be further amended in the future, with the Company, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) (the “Tender Offer Report”). The Bidder is prepared to acquire through a public and voluntary tender offer (the Tender Offer), subject to the terms and conditions of the Tender Offer as stated in the Tender Offer Report, a minimum of 908,459,782 common shares of the FPH’s parent company, LPZ representing approximately 20% of the total issued and outstanding common shares of LPZ and up to a maximum of 1,430,824,156 common shares of LPZ representing approximately 31.5% of the total issued and outstanding common shares of LPZ (“Tender Offer Shares”) from all the Common Shareholders of the Company (though the Ultimate Parent has agreed not to tender its common shares into the Tender Offer at the tender offer price (the Tender Offer Price) of Three Pesos and Eighty Five Centavos (P3.85) per common share Background on the Tender Offer First Philippine Holdings Corporation (“FPH” or ”Bidder”), intends to conduct a tender offer (“Tender Offer”) to acquire a minimum of 908,459,782 issued and outstanding common shares representing approximately 20% of the total issued and outstanding common shares of LPZ and up to a maximum of 1,430,824,156 issued and outstanding common shares representing approximately 31.5% of the total issued and outstanding common shares of LPZ, from all the Common Shareholders of the Company (though the Ultimate Parent has agreed not to tender its common shares into the Tender Offer).

FPH originally intended to acquire up to a maximum of 2,069,273,361 common shares representing approximately 45.56%, of the total issued and outstanding common shares of the Company. However, to remove the risk of LPZ falling below the required minimum public ownership and dispense with the need to pursue its petition for a voluntary delisting, the Bidder decided to reduce the maximum number of shares to be acquired from the Tender Offer to 1,567,093,124 issued and outstanding common shares representing approximately 34.5% of the total issued and outstanding common shares of LPZ. An Amended Tender Offer Report was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to reflect such changes on 20 January 2021.

On 21 January 2021, LPZ withdrew its petition for voluntary delisting of its 4,629,532,611 common shares from the Main Board of the Philippine Stock Exchange.

To address concerns and the risk that LPZ may still fall below the public ownership requirement, the Bidder decided to further reduce the maximum number of shares to 1,430,824,156 issued and outstanding common shares representing approximately 31.5% of the total issued and outstanding common shares of LPZ. A Second Amended Tender Offer Report reflecting such changes was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 16 February 2021.

(i)

In the course of the Tender Offer, a minimum of 908,459,782 issued and outstanding common shares representing approximately 20% and up to a maximum of 1,430,824,156 issued and outstanding common shares representing approximately 31.5% of the total issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company shall have been (a) validly tendered (which means offered for sale to the Bidder) by the Company’s shareholders (“Tendering Shareholders”); (b) eligible for or otherwise capable of being purchased by the Bidder; and (c) accepted for purchase by the Bidder.

(ii)

The Bidder shall have obtained all organizational, contractual, and regulatory approvals, consents, and authorizations for the acceptance and purchase by the Bidder of the Tender Offer Shares before the expiration of the Tender Offer Period.

(iii) Each of the Tendering Shareholders shall have obtained all the required approvals and authorizations to enable it to transfer the common shares to the Bidder before the expiration of the Tender Offer Period, and such Tendering Shareholder is not aware of any objection, adverse claim, dispute, or notice concerning such Tendering Shareholder’s right to tender and transfer the Tender Offer Shares. (iv) In the sole determination of the Bidder, no material adverse change in or affecting the business, operations, property, condition (financial or otherwise), or prospects of the Company shall have occurred.

Originally, there were other prerequisites pertaining to the delisting of the common shares of the Company. Since the voluntary delisting of the common shares will no longer be pursued, these prerequisites will no longer be imposed by the Bidder. The prerequisite that the Philippine Competition Commission render a decision that the Tender Offer is exempt from notification or clearance was fulfilled on December 16, 2020.

Australia’s tech law pits powerful moguls

By Andrew Beatty SYDNEY, Australia—Australia’s push to regulate tech giants has become a power struggle between two of the world’s most powerful men, with Rupert Murdoch and Mark Zuckerberg locked in a generational battle for media dominance.

Efforts in Australia to make Google and Facebook pay for news has garnered worldwide attention, creating what some call a defining moment for the web and for journalism, and even a litmus test for democracy.

But beyond the high-sounding rhetoric lies a more base struggle, with the barons of traditional media fighting back against their digital heirs.

Sydney tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes went as far as calling the Australian push to force payments for content a “shakedown.”

The landmark legislation may carry the seal of government, but media and political insiders see

the fingerprints of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp all over it.

“This has been a passionate cause for our company for well over a decade,” said News Corp chief executive Robert Thomson, hailing his boss’ “fervent, unstinting support” for the cause.

“For many years, we were accused of tilting at tech windmills, but what was a solitary campaign, a quixotic quest, has become a movement, and both journalism and society will be enhanced.”

For decades, the Melbourneborn billionaire behind Fox News, The Sun and Sky News Australia has be-straddled politics in the United States, Britain and Down Under.

Today, he controls roughly two-thirds of daily newspaper circulation in Australia’s major cities, with complete monopolies in Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart and Darwin.

That has prompted critics to paint the 89-year-old in almost cartoonish terms—as an all-powerful political puppet master. AFP

All the tendered and accepted Tender Offer Shares will be purchased by the Bidder via a block sale through the facilities of the PSE, subject to the approval of the PSE, on or around the Cross Date, unless the Tender Offer Period is extended with the prior approval of the SEC. In this case, the block sale for the Tender Offer Shares (subject to approval of the PSE) will be on or around the eighth trading day after the end of the extended Tender Offer Period.

Delivery of each required document in relation to the Tender Offer to the Tender Offer Agent shall be deemed made only upon actual receipt thereof by the Tender Offer Agent. The Bidder or the Tender Offer Agent reserves the right to require presentation or submission of any additional documents for the purpose of, among others, enabling the Bidder or the Tender Offer Agent to determine from any Tendering Shareholder (or any person acting on its behalf, including any Participating Broker) the validity, eligibility, and acceptability of any common shares in the Company tendered pursuant to the Tender Offer.

Hence, Tendering Shareholders are strongly urged against tendering at the last minute to allow sufficient time to correct any deficiency in their application (or any document submitted in support thereof). Tendering Shareholders are also urged to indicate their telephone numbers in their respective Application Forms to allow the Tender Offer Agent to inform them immediately of any deficiency in their applications.

In addition: If you are a CORPORATE SHAREHOLDER, please submit the following: 1.

Certified true copies of the SEC Registration, the latest Articles of Incorporation and By-laws of the shareholder or equivalent constitutive documents thereof.

1.

Two (2) valid identification cards containing the photo and specimen signature of the shareholder.

2.

A notarized Secretary’s Certificate substantially in the form prescribed by the Bidder setting forth resolutions of the tendering shareholder’s Board of Directors authorizing the tender and sale of the Company’s shares and designating the signatories for the purpose.

2.

For shareholders acting through an attorney-in-fact, a duly notarized Irrevocable Power of Attorney substantially in the form prescribed by the Bidder (N.B. Endorsement of stock certificate/s must be made by the shareholder himself).

3.

Copy of the latest General Information Sheet (GIS) filed with the SEC or any equivalent documents thereof and certified as a true copy of the original by the Corporate Secretary or equivalent persons having official custody of corporate shareholder’s records.

3.

Two (2) duly accomplished signature cards containing the specimen signature of the shareholder and verified by his broker (the name of the broker and the broker’s signatory must be specified) or officer of the bank (the name of the bank and the bank’s officer must be specified) where he is maintaining an account.

4.

Two (2) duly accomplished specimen signature cards containing the specimen signature of the Applicant’s designated authorized signatories and verified by the Applicant’s Corporate Secretary or equivalent person having official custody of corporate shareholder’s records.

4.

Two (2) copies of valid IDs of the bank’s signatory is also required.

5.

Photocopy of two valid IDs of the authorized signatory/s certified as true copy of the original by the Corporate Secretary.

If you have lost your share certificates: Common Shareholders who have lost their share certificates are required to submit (1) a notarized Affidavit of Loss in the form prescribed by the Bidder, (2) Affidavit of Publication executed by the publisher of newspaper of general circulation attesting that the affidavit of loss and the details required under Section 72 of the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines have been published in a newspaper of general circulation in the place where LPZ has its principal office once a week for at least three consecutive weeks, and (3) an applicable surety bond in an amount of twice the closing price per share of the LPZ shares as of the date of execution of the affidavit of loss, multiplied by the number of shares covered by each lost stock certificate, which bond shall run for a period of one year.

If you are a PARTNERSHIP, please submit the following:

The prerequisite that the extension of the Tender Offer Period to 8 March 2021 be cleared by the SEC was fulfilled on 19 February 2021 (see discussion on “Tender Offer Period” below).

Copy of SEC Registration or any equivalent constitutive document of the Common Shareholder certified as true copy of the original by the Partnership Secretary or equivalent person having official custody of the partnership records.

2.

In the event any of the Tender Offer Prerequisites is not met, the Bidder may, upon notice to the SEC and shareholders of LPZ, withdraw the Tender Offer by providing written notice of withdrawal of the Tender Offer on or before Settlement Date. The Bidder also reserves the right to waive any of the Tender Offer Prerequisites, as may be allowed.

Copy of the latest Articles of Partnership or equivalent constitutive document of the Common Shareholder certified as true copy of the original by the Partnership Secretary or equivalent person having official custody of the partnership records.

3.

Notarized Partnership Resolution authorizing the sale of the Common Shareholder’s LPZ common shares, designating signatories for the purpose and indicating the specimen signature of the signatories, substantially in the form prescribed by the Bidder.

Copies of the Tender Offer Report (SEC Form 19-1, including any and all of its annexes, exhibits, and schedules), are available at the PSE Electronic Disclosures Technology portal (http://edge.pse.com.ph), company disclosures section for FPH. Any Common Shareholder who wishes to secure a copy of the Tender Offer Report may likewise do so at the office of the Tender Offer Agent or download a copy from www.fphc.com.

The Tender Offer Price The consideration for the Tender Offer Shares shall be Three Pesos and Eighty Five Centavos (P3.85) per share (the Tender Offer Price), payable by way of credit in the nominated bank account or by check as hereafter provided.

The Tender Offer Price does not include customary selling charges amounting 0.621% of the total transaction value (excluding broker’s commission, which shall be for the Tendering Shareholder’s account), and shall include the following Selling Charges Type of Fee

% of Value of the Transaction

Stock transaction tax

0.600%

Fees payable to the Securities Clearing Corporation of the Philippines

0.010%

PSE transaction fees

0.005%

SEC fees

0.005%

Stock Investment Protection Fund

0.001%

After deducting the Selling Charges from a Tendering Shareholder’s account, the net Tender Offer Price is estimated to be Three Pesos and Eight Hundred Twenty Six Centavos (P3.826) per common share.

If the Tendering Shareholder will lodge its shares through the Tender Offer Agent, other fees such as lodgment fee and EQ trade transfer fee (as applicable) will be for the account of the Bidder. If the Tendering Shareholder will lodge its shares through a different PSE authorized broker, other fees such as lodgment fee and EQ trade transfer fee (as applicable) will be for the account of the Tendering Shareholder.

The selling broker’s commission, including value added tax, shall be payable by the Tendering Shareholder, subject to mutual agreement between the Tendering Shareholder and the broker.

BDO Unibank Inc. has confirmed that the Bidder has sufficient resources, including cash, which are available to satisfy full acceptance of all of the Tender Offer Shares that may be tendered pursuant to the Tender Offer.

The Tender Offer Period The Tender Offer started at 9:00 am on 22 January 2021 and shall end on 8 March 2021 (from the original end-date of 19 February 2021).

As of date hereof, 170,627,922 shares have been deposited by stockholders of LPZ for the Tender Offer.

The closing date of the Tender Offer was initially intended to be on 19 February 2021.

On 15 February 2021, the Bidder submitted a request for extension of the Tender Offer Period to 8 March 2021 to give the investing public time to digest the changes in this Second Amended Tender Offer Report and to make a decision on whether or not to participate in the tender based on the revised parameters and information that may be provided in this Second Amended Tender Offer Report. On 19 February 2021, the SEC issued a letter stating that the request to extend to 8 March 2021 was consistent with the requirement of Rule 19.9.1.2 of the implementing rules and regulations of the Securities Regulation Code.

During the Tender Offer Period, any Tendering Shareholder of the Company may offer all or a portion of their common shares in the Company for acceptance by and sale to the Bidder in accordance with, and subject to the terms and conditions of, the Tender Offer.

Acceptance The Tender Offer Agent will accept an Application on behalf of the Bidder on the condition that the Tendering Shareholder has been certified by the Stock Transfer Agent as a Common Shareholder of the Company at any time during the Tender Offer Period and that the signature/endorsement on the stock certificate(s) submitted matches the signature on file with the Stock Transfer Agent or with the Company, if such is available. If a Tendering Shareholder does not have any signature card on file, or the signatures on the certificates and on the Application differ from the signature on file with the Stock Transfer Agent, the Stock Transfer Agent shall certify the same to the Bidder. The Bidder shall exercise its sole and reasonable discretion to accept or reject the Application. The Tender Offer Agent shall rely on the signature affixed on the Application and on the validated endorsement of the relevant stock certificates. Neither the Bidder nor the Tender Offer Agent shall be required (nor are they expected) to make further inquiries into the authenticity of the signature. A Tendering Shareholder shall hold the Bidder, the Tender Offer Agent, the Buyer Agent, their respective officers, directors, agents, or advisers free and harmless from any and all damages that may arise or result in the Bidder’s/Tender Offer Agent’s acceptance of the Application.

Applications received after the end of the Tender Offer Period shall be rejected, unless the Tender Offer Period is extended by the Bidder, upon prior approval of the SEC. Tendering Shareholders whose Applications have been rejected, in whole or in part, shall be notified of such fact by the Tender Offer Agent on or before the Settlement Date.

Settlement The consideration shall be payable within ten (10) business days from the lapse of the Tender Offer Period (the Settlement Date). Should the Settlement Date fall on a day other than a business day, the payment of the relevant consideration shall be made on the next business day.

On Settlement Date, the Tender Offer Agent shall provide the payment by way of credit to a nominated bank account or check in the amount of the total Tender Offer Price in the name of either: (i) each selling broker which delivered the scripless shares of its tendering clients (scripless shareholders), or (ii) the Tendering Shareholders that have delivered certificated shares directly to the Tender Offer Agent.

Checks shall be available for pick-up at the Tender Offer Agent’s office beginning Settlement Date up to thirty (30) days thereafter. Checks not claimed shall be mailed or delivered to the Tendering Shareholders, at their own risk, to the registered address indicated in the Application Form.

When collecting payment, the Tendering Shareholders shall present the Shareholder’s Copy of the Application as well as a proper identification document (e.g., driver’s license, passport or company I.D. with photograph and signature). Duly authorized representatives of Tendering Shareholders shall be required to present either a duly notarized secretary’s certificate for corporate shareholders or a duly notarized special power of attorney for individual shareholders.

Withdrawal Any or all of the Tendered Shares may be withdrawn by the relevant Tendering Shareholder any time during the Tender Offer Period, but only up to 12:00 pm of 8 March 2021, by submitting a written request for the withdrawal of the relevant Tendered Shares to the Tender Offer Agent, together with a copy of the Tendering Shareholder’s Copy of the Application issued by the Tender Offer Agent. For a withdrawal to be effective, the written notice of withdrawal must be timely received by the Tender Offer Agent at the address(es) set forth herein.

The written request for the withdrawal of any Tendered Shares must specify: (i) the name of the Tendering Shareholder and (ii) the number of Tendered Shares to be withdrawn. If the stock certificates evidencing the Tendered Shares have been delivered to the Tender Offer Agent, the serial number of such certificates must likewise be indicated in the written request for tendered shares. The Bidder has the right, in its sole discretion, to determine the validity of the written request.

Any Tendered Shares that are withdrawn in accordance herewith shall be returned in the same form they were received to the PDTC Participant (if previously lodged with the PDTC Participant) or to the Tendering Shareholder (if previously certificated), as the case may be, within thirty (30) business days from the end of the Tender Offer Period. The cost of returning the Tender Offer Shares shall be borne by the Tendering Shareholder making the withdrawal.

Tendering Shareholders are advised to read the Application Form, the Tender Offer Report (including in particular the Terms and Conditions of the Tender Offer appended as Exhibit A thereof) as filed by the Bidder with the SEC, PSE and the Company. For queries, please contact the Tender Offer Agent at the contact details set forth below. Copies of the Application Form and the Tender Offer Report may also be obtained by Common Shareholders, free of charge, from the following: BDO Securities Corporation Address:

Tendering Shareholders who previously tendered their shares are permitted to withdraw such tendered shares at any time while the Tender Offer Period remains open.

The accepted Tender Offer Shares are intended to be crossed through the PSE eight (8) business days after the close of the Tender Offer Period or on 18 March 2021 (“Cross Date”), subject to any extension of the Tender Offer Period with the approval of the SEC. Subject to the confirmation of the PSE that the parties may proceed to consummate the Tender Offer and the approval by the PSE of the crossing of the Tender Offer Shares, the sale and purchase of the accepted Tender Offer Shares shall be settled on the tenth (10) business days after the close of the Tender Offer Period or on 22 March 2021 (“Settlement Date”).

Tel No.: Fax No.:

20F BDO Corporate Center, 7899 Makati Avenue, Makati City +63 2 8840-7080, 8840-7000 +63 2 8878-4156

For inquiries on the Tender Offer, please contact any of the following personnel of BDO Securities Corporation through their telephone numbers and email addresses provided below: Ms. Janet Amora +632 8840-7000 local 41115 amora.janet@bdo.com.ph Ms. Michelle Gaspar +632 8840-7000 local 32104 gaspar.michelle@bdo.com.ph

Tender Offer Process - For Certificated or Scrip Shareholders

A woman in this file photo takes a picture with two smartphones in front of the logo of the US multinational technology and Internetrelated services company Google as she visits the Vivatech startups and innovation fair, in Paris on May 16, 2019. Google has agreed to make ‘significant payments’ to Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. for content, the companies said on February 17, 2021 as tech firms face growing pressure to pay for news from an Australian-led initiative. AFP

If you are an INDIVIDUAL SHAREHOLDER, please submit the following:

1.

Tendering Shareholders whose Tender Offer Shares have been scaled back or otherwise adjusted shall be notified of such fact by the Tender Offer Agent on or before the Settlement Date and Tender Offer Shares that are not accepted and acquired by the Bidder due to such scale back shall be returned by the Tender Agent to the relevant common shareholder. The Philippine Depository & Trust Corp. (“PDTC”) transfer and upliftment fees incurred arising from the return of Tender Offer Shares occurring due to a scaled-back as described here, shall be for the account of the Bidder.

customer at a hypermarket, newly launched by the operator LuLu and run by a team of women, in the Saudi Arabian port city of Jeddah, on February 21, 2021. AFP

Tendering Shareholders whose shares are lodged with the PDTC who wish to offer all or a portion of their common shares for sale to the Bidder, must instruct their brokers (Participating Brokers) to accomplish and submit, on their behalf, the duly accomplished Application to Tender Shares (the Application), together with all the requirements stated therein to the Tender Offer Agent, and instruct their Participating Broker to electronically transfer their shares to the Tender Offer Agent for receipt by the Tender Offer Agent prior to 12:00 pm on 8 March 2021 in order to participate in the tender.

The Tender Offer shall be subject to the terms and conditions attached as Exhibit A of the Tender Offer Report, and the fulfillment of the following prerequisites (“Tender Offer Prerequisites”):

Pursuant to Rule 19.9.5 of the implementing rules and regulations of the Securities Regulation Code, in the event that the Tender Offer Shares (following acceptance by the Bidder of the Applications from Tendering Shareholders) exceed 1,430,824,156 outstanding common shares representing the maximum outstanding common shares sought by the Bidder, all Tender Offer Shares shall be scaled back on a pro rata basis and rounded down to the nearest share. Provided that, the Bidder may (at its sole discretion) accept, purchase acquire all the Tender Offer Shares provided that, in the Bidder’s determination, such acquisition would not breach or would be reasonably likely to cause a breach of any legal or regulatory restrictions applicable to the Bidder or the Company.

ALL-FEMALE STORE. A Saudi female employee serves a

Tender Offer Process - For Non-Certificated or Scripless Shareholders

Tendering Shareholders holding stock certificates who wish to offer all or a portion of their common shares for acceptance and sale to the Bidder should, within the Tender Offer Period, (i) submit their original stock certificates to the Tender Offer Agent or a stockbroker accredited by the PSE for authentication by the Stock and Transfer Agent or the Company, and subsequent lodging with the Philippine Depository & Trust Corp. (PDTC), and (ii) after such lodgment, comply with the procedures set out in the immediately succeeding subsection (For Non-Certificated or Scripless Shareholders).

Yours truly,

If the Tendering Shareholder does not have a trading account with a stockbroker accredited by the PSE, it/he/she must open such an account with the Tender Offer Agent or such stockbroker within the Tender Offer Period.

The Board of Directors FIRST PHILIPPINE HOLDINGS CORPORATION

Mr. Donald Buensuceso +632 8840-7000 local 33667 buensuceso.donald@bdo.com.ph

(MS-FEB. 22 & 23, 2021)

:

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

B4

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021

IN BRIEF Solar eyes 2,000 MW Batangas power plant

SOLAR Philippines Biga Corp., a unit of Solar Philippines of businessman Leandro Leviste, is proposing to build a 2,000-megawatt solar power plant with a 6,000 MW hours battery energy storage system (BESS) and a 600-MW diesel backup in Nasugbu, Batangas to supply clean and renewable power.

“The project is expected to generate local employment during the construction and operations phase of the plant and aims to contribute to the stability of the country’s energy supply, reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels, and mitigate the impacts of climate change,” Solar Philippines Biga said in a filing with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Solar Philippines Biga secured a Solar Service Energy Contract (SESC No. 201705-384) from the Department of Energy, giving the company exclusive right to explore, develop and utilize the solar energy resources.

Solar Philippines has purchased and secured land in the Nasugbu, Batangas generally composed of rolling terrain of idle lands. Alena Mae S. Flores

Bank’s NPL ratio to worsen—S&P

Business

DITO Telecom passes audit, prepares commercial rollout

By Darwin G. Amojelar

D

ITO Telecommunity Corp., the joint venture of Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy and China Telecoms, passed the technical audit by an independent party as it prepares for commercial rollout next month.

Independent auditor R.G. Manabat & Co. reported to the National Telecommunications Commission that DITO’s first year of national population coverage reached 37.48 percent or 37,845,315 based on the 2015 national census population of 100,983,124. It covered 8,860 barangays.

The procedure used in determining national population coverage involved simulation using the propagation model ATOLL software. The areas covered by

the -105dBm were determined by the software.

DITO Telecom, which received a certificate of public convenience and necessity in July 2019, was expected to deliver its commitments of 37.03 percent national population coverage with a minimum average broadband speed of 27 megabits per second in its first year of operation.

The technical audit also showed that DITO registered a minimum broadband

speed of 85.9 megabits per second for 4G service and 507.5 mbps for 5G service.

It said broadband speed reached 102.4 mbps for 4G and 769.1 Mbps for 5G near base stations. At the middle point, DIT registered broadband speed of 91.2 mbps for 4G and 437.1 mbps for 5G. Tests also showed that far from the base station, DITO’s broadband speeded registered 64.4Mbps for 4G and 316.5Mbps for 5G. The auditor said stratified random sampling was used to choose 12 percent of the 1,602 cell sites for field testing.

“This report relates only to DITO’s Year 1 commitments on national population coverage and minimum average broadband speed as set forth in the engagement letter, as amended, and do not extend to any financial statements of DITO Telecommunity Corp., taken as a whole,” the report said.

DEBT watcher S&P Global Ratings on Monday sees the non-performing loan ratio of the Philippine domestic banking industry to increase to 6 percent in 2021 from 3.6 percent at the end of last year, saying lenders are on a long road to recovery from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

S&P’s observation was contained in a report published Monday titled “Philippine Banks: Buffers Won’t Hold If COVID Comes Back.”

S&P Global Ratings credit analyst Nikita Anand said NPLs of local banks would jump in the first quarter of 2021 as loan moratoriums and fiscal support were phased out. “NPLs should peak by the second half if the economic recovery stays on track,” Anand said.

“Philippine banks are on a long road to recovery... Asset quality will deteriorate further in the coming quarters as banks recognize the full brunt of COVID-19 on borrowers,” she said.

Anand said credit costs (a measure of provisioning for bad loans) would stay high at 1.5 percent to 1.8 percent. Julito G. Rada

BOI grants perks to CHRG Electric

THE Board of Investments recently approved the application of CHRG Electric Vehicle Technologies Inc. as a new domestic producer of electric vehicles (EV) fast chargers and retrofit kits on a nonpioneer status under the current Investments Priorities Plan listing of Innovation Drivers.

The Innovation Driver category covers the commercialization of new and emerging technologies and products of the Department of Science and Technology or government-funded research and development, such as hardware or software for the upgrading of local industries.

Trade Undersecretary and BOI managing head Ceferino Rodolfo said the category s a strategic activity of the domestic Electric Vehicle supply chain. “We look forward that homegrown technologies like this will play a major part in the development of electric vehicles in the country as we gradually begin the transition from fossil-fueled cars to environment-friendly vehicles and aspire to be a manufacturing hub for the EV components,” he said.

CHRG has invested P3.9 million in a production facility at the University of the Philippines-National Engineering Center in Diliman, Quezon City, part of the DOSTsupported technology business incubator called UPSCALE Innovation Hub. Othel V. Campos

MGCQ PREPARATION. In preparation for the proposed transition of Metro Manila from General Community Quarantine to Modified General Community Quarantine, Department of Trade and Industry Consumer Protection Group Undersecretary Ruth Castelo and DTI Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau Director Ronnel Abrenica lead a special price and supply monitoring of agricultural and processed basic necessities and prime commodities in two supermarkets and two cinemas in Pasig City and Quezon City.

Robbie Antonio quits as director of Century Properties Group

By Jenniffer B. Austria PROPERTY developer Century Properties Group Inc. announced Monday the resignation of Jose Roberto “Robbie” Antonio as director and member of the board amid financial issues involving his own private company.

The resignation of Robbie Antonio, son of CPG chairman Jose Antonio, was effective immediately.

CPG said in a statement Antonio’s departure from the company would allow him to focus on resolving the issues in his privately-owned company—Revolution Precrafted Philippines, its subsid-

iaries and allied businesses, which were affected by the pandemic.

“I know I am making the correct decision to step down from my position in CPG as I will leave it under the very capable leadership of the board and the professional expertise of its senior management team. This will also allow me to focus on addressing the pressing issues in Revolution and its allied businesses,” Antonio said.

CPG said the board’s nomination committee was in search of Antonio’s replacement as director and member of the board.

Last week, nine contractors and suppliers filed complaints with the National

Local company proposes P7-b project to develop flu and cold vaccines

By Othel V. Campos LOCAL pharmaceutical firm Glovax Biotech Corp. is seeking incentives from the Board of Investments for a proposed P7-billion project to develop second-generation vaccines that will cover future variants of flu and colds infections.

The company plans to team up with LG of Korea and the National Development Corp. to put up the P7-billion equity and technological support to continue the research, a source said.

A source from the Intellectual Proper-

ty Office of the Philippines said the proposal was still exploratory, pending a meeting with the Board of Investments.

The proposed project aims to develop vaccines for future COVID-related ailments and similar afflictions, the source said.

Glovax is a fully-integrated Philippine company that imports, distributes and retails a complete line of vaccines at affordable prices to improve the availability of vaccine access to mid and lower income families.

The company proposed to develop new vaccines under the Vaccine Development

and Security Program, a long-term project that aims to help the government in its annual vaccine requirement by making sure the doses are available anytime and at predetermined prices.

The support from LG and NDC, if approved, will equip the company with resources to pursue research and generate the required clinical data to develop the vaccines.

It also has the support of Impact Investment Asia and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, a leading global private equity firm with over $400 billion in equity transactions.

CLARK TOWER.

Members of the Special Bids and Awards Committee of Clark International Airport Corp. headed by vice president Irish Calaguas (fourth from left) announce the winning bidders for the construction of the airport control tower and the upgrading of the airfield’s ground lighting system at the emerging Clark airport complex after the tender process from July to December 2020.

Bureau of Investigation against Revolution Precrafted, which is engaged in building modern prefabricated houses, over P151 million worth of deals.

Revolution Precrafted said in a statement it would comply with the all agreements and was ready to settle legitimate obligations that have fallen due.

“The company is likewise in the process of collecting what is due them from those that have also defaulted in their obligations to Revolution. The pandemic has activated force majeure stipulations in our contracts and has caused issues with our business transactions as it did with other industries,” it said.

PSE INDEX

Monday, February 22, 2021

-116.07 PTS. 6,810.34

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

16,427,480,511 157,788 8,496,336,227.96 96 116 44

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.4400

Japan

Yen

0.009488

0.4596

UK

Pound

1.402200

67.9226

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128977

6.2476

Switzerland

Franc

1.115698

54.0444

Canada

Dollar

0.793084

38.4170

Singapore

Dollar

0.755629

36.6027

Australia

Dollar

0.787000

38.1223

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655055

128.6109

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266660

12.9170

Brunei

Dollar

0.752785

36.4649

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000071

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.033367

1.6163

UAE

Dirham

0.272264

13.1885

Euro

Euro

1.212000

58.7093

Korea

Won

0.000906

0.0439

China

Yuan

0.154804

7.4987

India

Rupee

0.013782

0.6676

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.247647

11.9960

New Zealand

Dollar

0.728800

35.3031

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035813

1.7348 Source: BSP

Meralco set to award deal to two SMC power firms

By Alena Mae S. Flores MANILA Electric Co. is set to award a 1,800-megawatt supply contract to two companies controlled by San Miguel Corp. this week following the successful competitive selection process, a top executive said Monday.

“The post-qualification process has seven days, at most, to be completed.

Thus, the latest date for releasing a notice of award is on Friday, assuming compliance with all post qualification requirements,” Meralco third party bids and awards committee secretariat and Meralco vice president and head of utility economics department Lawrence Fernandez said.

The Meralco TPBAC announced Friday that Excellent Energy Resources Inc. and Masinloc Power Partners Co. Ltd controlled by SMC submitted the “two best bids” for Meralco’s 20-year 1,800 MW supply contract.

ERI offered a levelized cost of electricity of P4.1462 per kilowatthour while Masinloc Power Partners Co. Ltd. offered P4.2605 per kWh. Both are significantly below the LCOE reserve price of P5.2559 per kWh. Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi lauded the successful conduct of the Meralco CSP as it would help bring down power rates.

“The result is very encouraging. It will definitely bring down rates, which would be to the benefit of our consumers. CSP is a work in progress, which aims to help us achieve electricity tariff levels that are affordable and competitive enough to attract both foreign and local investors to do business in the Philippines,” Cusi said.

The opening of the qualified bid prices was observed by representatives of the Department of Energy.

SMC president Ramon Ang said the company offered the best bid as it wanted “to serve our country to the best of our ability.”

EERI offered to supply Meralco 1,200 MW from a natural gas-fired power plant, while MPPCL would source power from a 600-MW coalfired power plant.

Lucio Co transforming Da Vinci Capital into liquor unit through share swap deal RETAIL tycoon Lucio Co is transforming his listed shell company Da Vinci Capital Holdings Inc. into a liquor subsidiary through a share swap deal.

Da Vinci said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its board of directors approved the acquisition of a 100-percent stake in three liquor firms from Cosco Capital Inc., the listed holding company of the Co family.

These are Montosco Inc., the exclusive Philippine importer and distributor of Spanish brands Alfonso Brandy and Vino Fontana; Meritus Prime Distributions Inc., which distributes premium wine and whiskey brands from Beam International, Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark; and Premier Wine and Spirits Inc., the exclusive Philippine dealer of brands like Chivas Regal Scotch Whisky, Glenlivet Single Malt, Martell Cognac and Absolut Vodka.

Cosco Capital in exchange will acquire the controlling stake in Da Vinci.

Da Vinci will conduct a share sale to comply with the minimum public ownership requirement and remain listed in the local bourse.

The company said the terms and condition of the follow-on offering would be determined by the management.

Da Vinci, to accommodate the acquisition of the three liquor firms, is increasing its authorized capital stock to P2 billion from P327.6 million. The board of Da Vinci also approved Investcap Inc.’s subscription of 25 percent of the proposed increase in the authorized capital stock of Da Vinci.

The company said it would also apply with the Bureau of Internal Revenue for a tax-free exchange ruling.

Cosco Capital’ portfolio will still include grocery retail, real estate and property leasing and specialty retail, with the sale of its liquor firms.

The Philippine Stock Exchange on Monday suspended the trading of Da Vinci. Shares of Da Vinci were last traded on Friday when it closed at P6.50 per share. The price hit a 52week high of P10.34 on Feb. 11.

The share price of Cosco Capital rose 0.8 percent Monday to P5.38.

Co acquired Da Vinci, formerly known as Mariwasa Siam Holdings Inc., in 2013. Jenniffer B. Austria

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

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021

C1

Beyond Big 3: Djokovic sets sights on Williams, Court

Sports Manila Standard deskman Armero passes away

PH to join 46 sports in ‘22 Hangzhou Asian Games

T

Arman Armero

MANILA Standard deskman/ sportswriter Arman D. Armero died in his sleep on February 22, 2021 (Monday) after lingering heart and kidney ailments.

He was 59.

Armero is survived by his son Aaron Cham, mother Nena and siblings Adamar, Ernesto, Emily and Wilhelmina.

He began his media career as assistant sports editor of People’s Tonight in 1991 during the Manila Southeast Asian Games and filed for early retirement from the Journal Group of Publications in 2002.

He then joined the Manila Standard as assistant sports editor in 2005, before being transferred to the desk a decade later.

A veteran of several international sports tournaments, Armero covered the 2005 Manila SEA Games, the 2009 Laos SEA Games and the recent 2019 SEA Games hosted by the Philippines, plus several Asian tournaments for basketball, chess and cycling for the Standard.

He wrote his last Second Stringer sports column for the Manila Standard on Feb. 4, 2021.

Prior to his media work, Armero was a radio talent and copywriter.

He was also President of the Lyceum Journalism Society in 1984 and literary editor of The Lyceum from 1983 to 1985.

Details of his interment will be announced later.

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic (left) signs on a pregnant woman Vanessa Kezerle’s belly during a photo shoot for his winning the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup trophy at the Brighton Beach in Melbourne, a day after his victory over Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in their men’s singles final match of the Australian Open tennis tournament. AFP

EAM Philippines will be shooting for golds and glory in 46 of the 61 sports calendared for the 2022 Asian Games set on September 10 to 25 next year in Hangzhou, China.

Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said the POC submitted the list to the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee last Friday.

Filipino athletes will be competing in aquatics, archery, athletics, baseball, softball, men’s basketball, men’s 3x3 basketball, boxing, canoe-kayak and cycling MTB and BMX. Also on Team Philippines’ list are dancesports’s breaking, men’s dragon boat, equestrian, fencing, men’s football, golf, artistic and rhythmic gymnastics, judo, jiu-jitsu, kurash, karate, bridge, chess, esports, xiangqi, modern pentathlon, skateboarding, rowing and men’s rugby.

Completing the list are sailing, sepaktakraw, shooting, sports climbing, squash, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, men’s and women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s beach volleyball, weight-

earnest last week. “We started working on the Asian Games because next year is an election year, so it’s transition year for the PSC [Philippine Sports Commission],” said Canlas. “I’m coordinating lifting, wrestling and wushu. with [PSC] Chairman William Ramirez Tolentino, also the PhilCycling presi- on how we are going to go about the buddent, said it is high time that Filipino get right now.” athletes performed better in the Asian The Philippines won four gold Games after the country’s two-time medals in the Jakarta 2018 Asian domination of the Southeast Asian Games— Hidilyn Diaz (weightlifting), Games.

Margielyn Didal (skateboarding), “We submitted our list last Friday— Yuka Saso (golf, women’s individuthe deadline—and we al) and Saso, Bianca based our list on our efPagdanganan and Lois fort to surpass our last Kaye Go (golf, womachievement of four gold en’s team). medals—in Jakarta—beThe country also ga cause we improved a lot bagged two silver medin the SEA Games,” said als—Rogen Ladon Tolentino, who appointed (boxing) and Kiyomi Dr. Jose Raul Canlas of Watanabe (judo) and 15 surfing as chef de misbronze medals—four sion to Hangzhou. in pencak silat, three in Canlas said ground work taekwondo, two each in for the preparation and boxing and wushu and participation in the Asian POC president Abraham one each in cycling, jiuGames alteady started in “Bambol” Tolentino jitsu, karate and golf.

MELBOURNE—Not content with challenging Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for the men’s Grand Slams record, Novak Djokovic has Serena Williams and Margaret Court in his sights after claiming an astonishing ninth Australian Open title.

The world number one’s bold statement followed Sunday’s final, when he ended a turbulent tournament marked by a muscle injury and media attacks by humbling an inform Daniil Medvedev.

Djokovic’s 18th major crown placed him within striking distance of the men’s record of 20, jointly held by Nadal, who lost in the quarter-finals, and Federer, who was absent through injury.

But the Serb also raised the prospect of a bigger goal: reaching the 23 held by Williams, and even the 24 won by Court straddling the amateur and Open era.

“Getting closer to maybe Roger’s, Rafa’s record, Serena, Margaret,” said Djokovic, when asked about his goals and schedule for this year.

“Everyone has their own journey and their own way of making history.

They’ve made history already. They made a tremendous mark in our sport.

“I think about winning more Slams and breaking records, of course. And most of my attention and my energy from this day forward, until I retire from tennis, is going to be directed in majors, trying to win more major trophies.”

Djokovic, 33, said he would play a slimmed-down schedule focusing on the majors, rather than the rankings, now he’s guaranteed to surpass Federer’s record of 310 weeks as world number one on March 8.

‘Three knights of tennis’ His triumph follows a difficult tournament, after he suffered a muscle tear in the third round and was criticised for requesting better conditions for players during quarantine.

“It hurts,” he said of the criticism.

“I’m a human being. I have emotions.”

The Serb’s 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 win over the 25-year-old Medvedev, who was on a 20-match winning streak, was also a sobering moment for the younger players hoping to dislodge the ‘Big Three’.

“The three knights of tennis,” Djokovic smiled.

Turn to C2

Woods unsure of Augusta Masters’ comeback yet LOS ANGELES—Tiger Woods made his first public comments since undergoing his fifth back surgery, with the 15-time major champion uncertain if he will be able to play at the Masters.

Asked if he plans to play in April at the Masters, which he won in 2019, Woods said, “God, I hope so.”

But the 45-year-old winner of 82 US PGA titles, level with Sam Snead for the all-time record, said it will depend on how well he recovers.

“I’m feeling fine. I’m a little stiff,” Woods said during Sunday’s CBS telecast of the US PGA Genesis Invitational, where Woods serves as tournament host.

“I have one more MRI scheduled so we’ll see if the annulus is scarred over finally and then I can start doing more activities,” Woods said.

“Still in the gym, still doing the mundane stuff that you have to do for rehab, the little things where I can start gravitating toward something more.”

Woods had no timetable for a return and said of playing in the final round on April 11 at Augusta National—“I’ve got to get there first. I don’t have much wiggle room. I’ve only got one back.”

Woods underwent a microdiscectomy after playing alongside son Charlie at a December event but is unsure when his next competitive outing might occur.

“I don’t know what the plan is,” Woods admitted. “The plan right now is to get through tomorrow and start progressing.”

Woods said he intends to make sure he works with doctors about his comeback and “do it correctly.”

Woods said he uses a long put- Max Homa (right) of the United States stands with the trophy and tournament host Tiger Woods ter than before so he doesn’t bend after defeating Tony Finau of the United States (not pictured) in a playoff to win The Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California. over as far. AFP

Rising boxing star Martin KOs foe, keeps unbeaten record

Carl Jammes Martin’s hand is raised in triumph by the referee

RISING boxing superstar Carl Jammes Martin posted a sensational win after knocking out Joe Tejones in the fifth round of their bout in Binan City, Laguna.

Supported by Globe, Martin made a successful debut in the super bantamweight division after hitting Tejones with a right hook to the body that sent his veteran opponent to the canvas. Tejones was not able to beat the count in the match that served as a curtain-raiser of the all-Filipino title bout between Vic

Saludar and Robert Panadero for the World Boxing Association’s minimum weight crown.

The win, however, was not easy for the fighter from Ifugao as the wily Tejones kept Martin on his feet during the first four rounds of the fight.

The Valencia, Bukidnon pug tested Martin’s defense and footwork as he unloaded several shots against Martin to keep him at bay. Despite getting frustrated, Martin kept his cool and patiently waited for the right moment to unload

his killer punch.

Dubbed as “Wonder Boy”, Martin improved his unblemished record to 17 wins, with 15 knockouts.

Globe has been supporting Martin in his last two fights as the company believes in his potential and pursuit of a world title in the next few years.

Aside from being dubbed as the next Filipino boxing superstar, Martin is also a social media sensation with his fights garnering millions of views on YouTube and enjoys a growing fanbase.

C2

Sports

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021

Nets end road trip with win over Clippers; Ingram powers Pelicans LOS ANGELES—James Harden finished with 37 points and 11 rebounds as the Brooklyn Nets improved to 7-0 against Pacific Division teams this season with a 112-108 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.

The Nets went a perfect 5-0 on their western swing road trip and extended their win streak to a season-high six games.

Harden recorded the 77th career double-double and added seven assists at Staples Center arena in southern California.

“We just kept our composure,” he said. “Down the stretch we wanted to get a good shot every single time and we came out with the win.

“We are a very confident team that continues to grow.”

Kyrie Irving scored 28 points with eight assists while Joe Harris, DeAndre Jordan and Bruce Brown scored 13 each for the Nets.

Brooklyn’s Kevin Durant missed his fourth straight game with an injured hamstring.

The Nets also lost forward Jeff Green with an apparent shoulder injury after a collision with Clippers guard Patrick Beverley with just under three minutes left.

Kawhi Leonard tallied 29 points and 13 rebounds, while Ivica Zubac finished with 13 points and eight rebounds in the loss.

Paul George had 34 points and seven rebounds but sat out the game’s crucial moments down the stretch because Los Angeles wanted to limit his minutes in the game.

“We had to bring him back to get the game close,” said Clippers coach Tyronn Lue. “The biggest thing is he is healthy.”

Elsewhere, Brandon Ingram scored 33 points as the New Orleans Pelicans engineered their largest comeback in team history Sunday by overcoming a 24-point deficit to beat the Boston Celtics 120-115 in overtime.

Ingram hit the go-ahead three pointer with 34 seconds remaining in the overtime. AFP

Superliga makes historic return

T

HE Philippine Superliga is set to make a historic return when it rolls out its 2021 Gatorade-Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup starting this Friday at the sand courts of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

Eight teams, including guest team Kennedy Solar Energy-PetroGazz, are seeing action in this volleyball tournament, the first one to be held during the pandemic era.

Kennedy Solar Energy-PetroGazz is parading the tandem of Ariane Luna Alarcon and Christina Canares, while Sta. Lucia emerges as the team to beat as it fields veteran beach volley campaigners Bang Pineda and Jonah Sabete as well as DM Demontano and Jackie Estoquia.

F2 Logistics is also coming in strong with the presence of Jenny Mar Senares, Kyla Angela Gallego while Chery Tiggo will don the colors of United Auctioneers, Inc. with Ella Viray and Theresa Ramas as entries.

Rounding up the field in this tourney that has Cherrylume, Ube Express and Subic bay Peninsular Hotel as sponsors and Cocolife, UCPB Gen, Data Project and Genius Sports as technical partners, are Alexa Polidario and Erjan Magdato for Abanse

Negrense 1, Jennifer Cosas and Gelimae Villanueva for Abanse Negrense 2, and Jonah San Pedro and Javen Sabas for Toby’s Sports.

PSL chairman Philip Ella Juico said the league’s staging of the tourney will not be possible without the support of the teams as well as the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, which released Resolution 79 last October allowing the staging of beach volleyball tourney using a bubble setup in Subic, the site of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

“We want to thank the teams, especially our guest team PetroGazz, for helping us restart our beach volleyball tournament using a bubble setup,” said Juico, a former chairman of the Philip-

Echauz graces PSA web forum

Kyrie Irving (right) of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles the ball against the Los Angeles Clippers’ Marcus Morris during the game against the LA Clippers at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. AFP

Lausa resumes mixed martial arts career at BRAVE Combat GYMNAST WINNER. Jan

Mckayla Cariquitan won the Individual All-Around 1st Place in the 1st Virtual Gymnastics Competition, organized by TMC Gymnastics.

Cariquitan garnered the highest score of 9.5 in the Floor Exercise and 9.8 in the Balance Beam, in Level 1, 6 to 8-year-old category to run away with the gold. She has been in full training for two years under the supervision of coaches Bayani Gonzales, John Mark Labang and Revv Lictana. Photo shows Cariquitan during her winning performance at the Balance Beam.

Misnomer THE LINK REY JOBLE IN A universe where I get to decide how All-Star starters will be selected, here’s how I’ll probably do it: one player each from the top five teams at the time of the selection. Each team will vote their “champion” to represent the team in the All-Star.

No teammates should be named to the All-Star. You have 15 teams in the east, 15 in the west. Pick the best player from each team. Starters come from the top five teams. The first set of reserve comes from teams 6th to 10th in the ranking. The rest of the reserves are from the bottom five teams in the conference. Considering the talent in the NBA, I don’t think it is a big swing to assume that each team has at least one player playing at an All-Star level deserving to be an All-Star, regardless of how

pine Sports Commission and president of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association.

“We also want to thank the IATF Region 3 and the SBMA for supporting us and making sure that our delegates, especially the athletes, will be safe from contracting coronavirus disease.”

“By becoming the first volleyball league to restart its season in the coronavirus era, we have a very big responsibility to our players, coaches, team owners, the media, and other stakeholders. But rest assured that we will do everything to observe all the necessary health and safety protocols in accordance with the policies of the IATF, the SBMA, and the Department of Health.”

bad the team is doing in the standings. I think this justifies picking Washington Wizards’ Bradley Beal—but to say that he is more deserving compared to the AllStars in Indiana, Toronto, Boston, New York, Charlotte, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, and Orlando, that is just contentious.

If we are selecting now using this process, that means one player each from the Lakers, Blazers, Jazz, Clippers, and Suns. It could be LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard, Devin Booker, and Donovan Mitchel. East All-Star starters would be Joel Embiid, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Malcolm Brogdon (or Domantas Sabonis), and Pascal Siakam (or Fred VanVleet). Now, is there anyone here who does not deserve to be an All-Star starter considering what they’ve done and how this is one of the reasons their respective teams are currently successful in the 2020-21 NBA season?

One of the main reasons I don’t like fanvoting to determine who gets the honor of being an All-Star is because there is a very real risk of invalidating the hard work of players outside the landscape of meritocracy

SEEF DISTRICT, Bahrain—BRAVE Combat Federation, the fastest-growing mixed martial arts organization in the world, has further bolstered its burgeoning roster of top-class athletes with the acquisition of Filipino sensation Jenel “The Demolition Man” Lausa. He joins the promotion’s list of outstanding mixed martial artists by signing an exclusive multi-bout contract.

“Coming back to mixed martial arts is really something that I look forward to. I am very grateful for this opportunity, and I value the trust that BRAVE CF has given me.

I am excited to represent my country once again on the global stage of mixed martial arts, and it is with great pride that my return to the sport will take place under the banner of BRAVE CF,” Lausa stated.

Lausa is a 32-year-old Filipino flyweight who was born and raised in Iloilo, Philippines. He holds a professional record of 7-5 with two knockouts wins and two by way of submission. He once held the Pacific Xtreme Combat Flyweight Title by defeating Team Lakay’s Crisanto Pitpitunge via split decision in 2016. He is also a UFC veteran, owning a one-sided unanimous decision victory over China’s Yao Zhikui.

Apart from MMA, Lausa likewise made his mark inside the boxing ring, when fan votes are the ones that hold sway.

Right now, Utah Jazz is best in the league with 24-6; they’ve been top tier around the time the votes for All-Star selection for starters are being tallied. And yet not one Utah player was deemed deserving of an All-Star starting role? I’ve read numerous times about NBA players gripping about AllStar snob year after year after year, but this is more than a snob—it is a slap in the face.

If fan-voting and media votes are a big part of selecting the starters, then call the team you are building an All-Star Fan and Media Roster. Have them play a separate game during the All-Star weekend.

Call me an old-timer but this is how I see it: being an All-Star is a reflection of the quality (and result) of your work. I believe the AllStar Games is a showcase of the best of the best, and if that is the case, here is another way of selecting the starters—automatically name stat leaders (points, assists, rebounds, shooting percentage, least turnovers, etc.) as starters. Statistics validate—impartially, if I may add—what the player rightfully earned, which is to be called an All-Star, regardless of the opinion of biased fans. Numbers don’t lie. Fans are petty and subjective.

I’m not saying remove the fan and media votes. I say use them - let them, at the most,

SPORTSMAN and Standard Insurance Group Chairman Ernesto ‘Judes’ Echauz makes a rare appearance in the online session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday.

Echauz will talk about duathlon and road race events of cycling in the coming Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam where the Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance Philippines have entries.

He’ll also discuss in part, updates on local sailing, being the president of the Philippine Sailing Association.

Presented by San Miguel Corp., Go For Gold, MILO, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, the weekly session starts at 10 a.m., with Upstream Media as official webcast partner and powered by Smart.

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

Beyond...

From C1

Jenel Lausa

possessing a perfect 10-0-1 slate with six knockouts. He captured the Philippine Boxing Federation Super Bantamweight Championship in 2016 and then clinched the Global Boxing Organization Asia-Pacific Super Featherweight Title three years later.

Lausa is expected to make his promotional debut under BRAVE CF very soon. vote for bench players. Or like I said earlier, have a separate event game featuring fan and media favorites.

The NBA is overflowing with very talented and gifted players. Every year, we see players who continue to play excellent basketball. Every year, we see players showing how much they continue to improve. Every year, we see players who finally deserve to be noticed because they are having a breakout season. Every year, we see players promoted by the team to become the go-to player of their respective teams. Every year, we see players who transformed erstwhile bottom-feeders into contenders the moment they joined the team. Every year we see consistent role players doing an excellent job of playing above par in a quiet grind. Why do we need fans and media telling us who deserves an All-Star spot when the choices are obvious and defined by performance and statistics?

I understand the importance of fan votes from the point of view of the NBA as a business enterprise trying to make sure the consumers remain engaged, invested, and rewarded. But should it be at the cost of staining or devaluing the esteem that comes with being an All-Star, because the result of talent and hard work is overlooked

“Roger and Rafa inspire me,” he added. “I think as long as they go, I’ll go. In a way it’s like a race who plays tennis more and who wins more.

“It’s a competition between us in all areas. But I think that’s the very reason why we are who we are, because we do drive each other, we motivate each other, we push each other to the limit.”

Djokovic’s coach Goran Ivanisevic said the Big Three were producing “better and better tennis” and also noted that Court’s record was on the horizon.

“I don’t know where is the end. Maybe they’re going to overtake Margaret Court and Serena, maybe not,” he said.

“But it’s amazing what they doing on the court. It’s amazing how they perform in the big matches.”

And Djokovic, dubbed the “king of Melbourne” by Medvedev, had a warning for the generation coming up behind the Big Three.

“Roger, Rafa, myself are still there for a reason,” he said. “We don’t want to hand it to them and we don’t want to allow them to win Slams.

“I think that’s something that is very clear. Whether you communicate that message or not, we are definitely sending that vibe out there.” in favor of popularity?

I used to think the All-Star selection is the best of the best. According to ESPN, Damian Lillard ranks third overall in offense and number one among Western Conference players. How is this not enough to earn him a starting position in the All-Star? That is just the tip of the iceberg. Every leader in different categories except for offense (Beal) and 3-pointers made (Steph Curry) that should ideally qualify a player as an All-Star is not in the starting unit for either West or East— Clint Capela (defensive leader, rebounds); James Harden (assists); Myles Turner (blocks); Jrue Holiday (steals). The greatest injustice of all? Utah Jazz currently holds the best record in the league at 24-6 but not one Jazz player named as a starter, and yet Luka Dončić, playing for a team that is below .500 after 28 games (13-15) and is currently at the bottom half of the Western Conference, is named an All-Star starter.

I refused the due diligence of digging for data to know when exactly was the last time the best team in the conference had no representative in the All-Star starting unit because if that ever happened, it feels unnatural, highly illogical even.

Meh. Maybe the term All-Star has been demoted to a mere misnomer.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021

C3

Jane, the triumphant T

WO years ago, together with her co-actors in the immensely popular primetime melodrama Halik, JC Alcantara and Gab Lagman, Jane de Leon made it to Arias› “Showbiz›s New Batch of Hope,” a list of showbiz newbies to watch out for.

Since that prophecy, Alcantara has become a BL sensation with his partner for reel Tony Labrusca in Hello Stranger. Lagman, on the other hand, continues to be one of showbiz’s most sought-after hunks.

De Leon, of course, is the most celebrated among the trio con brio having bagged the iconic role of Darna and currently being part of the longest-running action drama FPJ’s Ang Probinsiyano.

De Leon is Lia Mante in the five-year-old viewing habit, an expert sniper whose main task is to capture Coco Martin’s Cardo Dalisay, by hook or by crook, come hell or high water, preferably alive rather than dead.

“Lia is an empowered woman,” begins De Leon. “I am fully embracing her now.

On the outside, she is one tough cookie but deep inside her, she is a sofite and compassionate. Honestly, I like to give life characters that are courageous, who are not afraid to speak out their minds and express their truths. Ang sarap sa pakiramdam to portray ladies who are not princesses waiting to be saved,” she expressed.

For someone who hasn’t held a gun, being a sniper comes as a welcome jolt.

“When they told me that I will be part of the show, of course, I am most thankful. I only learned that my role is that of a sniper. So when I first arrived on the set for the shoot, binigyan agad ako ng baril. Shocked ako! What will I do with it? I do not know how to use a weapon. I am glad that they

were very patient with me. They taught me how to handle it step by step. When they saw I could carry the weapon with confidence, shoot na para sa poster.”

Lia’s role in the life of Cardo Dalisay, “Who will I be in Cardo’s life? I think it’s the most pleasant surprise to the show,” says De Leon. “She is no damsel in distress. So, will I be a foe, a friend, a romantic partner? The answer will unravel in due time.”

Tal ki n g

about Coco Martin, De leon had nothing but good words for the television action star saying he’s very gentlemanly and the utmost professional.

“Maasikaso. Very creative. And works and supervises well the people and staff. Hindi ko pa siya nakikitang magalit. Laging cool. Naka-smile. We talk a lot during breaks. He tells me his struggles when he was just beginning his career. When he shares to you yung mga pinagdaanan niya, nakakatuwa kasi dama mo ang sincerity and daming aral.”

De Leon believes that her being the latest showbiz “It Girl” did not happen overnight. She said it took her five years to finally find her spot in showbiz.

“I know that there is a perfect time for everything. What I did while waiting for it was to improve myself, physically, especially emotionally. I surrounded myself with great people na positive rin ang outlook sa buhay,” she utters. “ Now, I cannot afford to be complacent. I need to give my A-game all the time. I was given this big task to be Lia and the next Dana, I wanted to assure the big bosses that they made the right decision,” she ends.

MNL48 crowns third-gen men ‘Center Girl’ THE third time turned out to be a charm for 23-year-old Abelaine Trinidad as she was proclaimed the Third Generation Center Girl of MNL48 after she got the most number of votes in the MNL48 Third General Election, on It’s Showtime on Saturday.

After finishing Rank 2 in the First General Election and Rank 3 in the Second General Election, Abby finally secured the Center Girl position to lead the Third-Year members this year.

The MNL48 Third General Election is an annual event where fans get to choose who among their oshis they think should be part of the Top 48,

following the system of MNL48’s international sister group, AKB48.

The election started last March 2020 and ended last November 2020.

Coming in 2nd in this year’s general election is MNL48’s First Generation Center Girl, Sheki Arzaga while Maria Jamie Beatrice Alberto took the 3rd Rank. Completing the KAMI7 are MNL48 Ruth (Rank 4), Ella (Rank 5), Jan (Rank 6), and Andi (Rank 7). Adding to the Senbatsu roster are Jem, Yzabel, Gab, Alice, Princess, Lara, Coleen, Thea, and Tin. The new Senbatsu led by Abby, together with the Undergirls will start preparing for their 7th single.

‘Voltes V: Legacy’ cast unveiled

Millennial Darna Jane de Leon reflects on the success of her appearance in the longest action drama ‘FPJ’s Ang Probinsiyano.’

Justin Bieber’s Valentine concert breaks Tiktok records POP superstar Justin Bieber teamed up with TikTok for Journals live from the drew house, the platform’s first-ever full-length single-artist live performance. The show drew over four million unique views over two broadcasts, making it the most-viewed single-artist livestream in TikTok history.

Journals Live from the drew house was a special moment for TikTok, but also for Justin, as it marked his first-ever performance of songs from his fan-favorite 2013 album JOURNALS. The buzz surrounding the Valentine’s Day performance caused a resurgence in the popularity of the album, ushering JOURNALS past the three billion all-time streams landmark.

Project highlights “All That Matters” and “Heartbreaker” reached charts in multiple countries, and the buzz surrounding the performance had a rising tide effect on the rest of the artist’s catalog–Bieber’s newest single “Anyone” ascended to the #1 spot on iTunes over the weekend.

With over 20.3 million followers -- a 700K increase since the announcement of #JournalsLive -- Justin Bieber is an active member of the TikTok community, using his account to reveal behindthe-scenes footage, partake in the latest trends, and more.

His first-ever TikTok, which included a snippet of his hit song “Yummy” (which was a big TikTok hit with over 5 million video creations) generated over 117 million views.

Justin is currently trending worldwide with his benny blanco collab “Lonely,” which has over 872K video creations and more than 5 billion video views.

After closing out 2020 with three smash singles — “Holy,” with Chance The Rapper, “Lonely” with benny blanco, and “Monster” with Shawn Mendes — Justin Bieber rang in the new year with

From left: Rank 2 MNL48 Sheki, MNL48 Third Generation Center Girl Abby, Rank 3 MNL48 Jaime

youngest of the Voltes team and is a genius inventor. He pilots Volt Frigate.

Newcomer Ysabel Ortega will be Jamie Robinson, the only female member of the Voltes team. An excellent martial artist, she pilots Volt Lander.

As for the main antagonists, critiDURING its 2021 New Year countdown, GMA Network unveiled the cally-acclaimed actor Martin del Rofull-animated teaser of Voltes V: Leg- sario gets to play Prince Zardoz, the acy making local fans overly excited leader of the Boazanian group whose about the reimagination of the hit main goal is to conquer the earth. Inanime series about the intergalactic terestingly, this confirms the public’s robot. The original series had a suc- guess after he recently posted one of cessful run in the Philippines during the teasers of the upcoming show on his social media account. the late ‘70s.

Actress Liezel Lopez will breathe Voltes V, along with Mazinger life into the role of Zandra, a member Z, Daimos, Meof the Boazanian kanda Robot, force who is seand UFO Grendizcretly in love with er, dominated the Prince Zardoz. ratings game durApart from this ing its peak. That program, Liezel is why the public also appears in is very curious as the afternoon drato how the Kapuso ma Babawiin Ko network will reAng Lahat topboot the unforgetbilled by Pauline table anime series.

Mendoza, CarVoltes V has mina Villaroel, an explosive plot John Estrada, and about the war beTanya Garcia. tween earthlings For the characand the Boazanian ter of Zuhl, adviforces, the search sor and major aide of three brothers of Prince Zardoz, of their missing veteran actor Epy father, and the Quizon is tapped to bloodline between portray it. Another brothers separated loyal ally of Prince by their opposing Zardoz is Draco worlds. and this will be To end the suspense as to who GMA has unveiled the complete cast of given life by Carlo ‘Voltes V:Legacy,’ the live-action television will portray the adaptation of the Japanese anime series, Gonzalez. The former was last seen in plum roles in the led by Miguel Tanfelix.

TV 5’s Wanted: Ang re-boot, GMA reSerye and the iWant cently announced TFC series Loving some of the actors Emily. Meanwhile, the latter’s last TV who grabbed the parts.

To play Steve Armstrong is Miguel credit was the remake of DescendTanfelix. He is the leader of the Vol- ants of the Sun starring Dingdong tes team and pilots the Volt Crewzer. Dantes and Jennylyn Mercado.

Able character actors Gabby EigenBreathing life to Mark Gordon is StarStruck alumnus Radson Flores. Mark mann and Neil Ryan Sese also nabbed is a rodeo champion and pilots the Volt important roles. The former will play Bomber. Matt Lozano, the champion Commander Robinson, Jamie’s father of GMA’s “Spogify” singing contest and is the head of the earth’s defense in Eat Bulaga in 2016 landed the role of team against the Boazanian force Big Bert Amstrong, the Voltes’ team de- while the latter breathes life to the fense tactician who is adept in hand-to- character of Dr. Hook, the commandhand combat. He pilots the Volt Panzer. er of Camp Big Falcon which is the Meanwhile, playing Little Jon Arm- home base of Voltes V. Both actors are strong is child actor Raphael Landi- happy to be included in the ambitious cho whose TV credits include, Love of show saying that as kids, they’re fans My Life, Tadhana and Bihag. He is the of the famous robot. ***

Justin Bieber’s Tiktok show drew over four million unique views over two broadcasts, making it the most-viewed single-artist livestream in the platform’s history.

a brand new single “Anyone,” and his return to the live stage in a blow-out NYE livestreamed concert.

Justin continues to reign as one of the

biggest artists in the world: the #1 artist on YouTube with 60+ million subscribers, and the #2 artist on Spotify global with over 65 million monthly listeners.

Viva TV, through its YouTube account recently featured their prized possession Sarah Geronimo who talked about her present status as a married woman.

“Actually, Matteo (Guidicelli) and I just celebrated our first wedding anniversary,” she said. “Based on my experience, marriage itself is a blessing.

It’s an opportunity to spend the rest of your life with your loved one---the one whom you chose to be your partner.”

The Pop Queen points out though that married life is not all a bed of roses.

“Definitely, it’s also challenging. In

my case, it is my big leap towards being an adult. As I always say, it was kind of expedited. This is something that is long overdue. But I guess this is really the plan for me.”

The famous singer-actress-endorser admits that this is the happiest state in her life.

“Oh, yes! It’s very rewarding since as I’ve mentioned earlier, you are with the one you love. Then, you have the freedom to choose and decide for yourself. And this time, it’s not just yourself since you already have a spouse. Both of you decide now. You become one,” Sarah stated.

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

C4

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021

Life

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

TO GET VACCINATED OR NOT:

Understanding the virus and the vaccines

By Carmie Dulguime

I

HAD been asked if I would be willing to get vaccinated for COVID-19. My immediate answer was “No.” At 54, I can think of so many medical excuses to turn down the offer to get inoculated. I am pre-diabetic, anemic, and hypertensive. I have also been diagnosed with cardiomegaly (enlarged heart), which makes me a candidate for heart failure. Not to mention, my thoracic spine is drying out quickly from all those physical activities I’ve been doing since I learned how to walk.

I have yet to ask my doctor if I have the green light to go for it, but I have decided at this point that vaccination will help me protect myself and my loved ones.

As I scoured the Internet for legitimate sources on vaccine information, I came across a virtual town hall on COVID-19 vaccine deployment presented by the Department of Health (DOH) to the Philippine Nurses Association (one of a series). There were technical details that YES OR NO. A pre-diabetic and hypertensive 54-year-old Filipino woman shares how she changed her decision from ‘no’ to ‘yes’ for getting the COVID-19 vaccine once it my lay brain could barely digest, but the becomes available in the Philippines. simplified explanations did a good job of helping me say “Yes” to vaccination. nization), (7) and affordable and acces- to go through a process first: learn about happen in terms of local injury and local in a sense, a responsibility. Those who this new enemy and remember what it symptoms. We expect that there would be get vaccinated indirectly help protect sible to all who need them.

Vaccines to the rescue Several groups here in the Philip- learned, before being able to know how some redness, some swelling, and pain the vulnerable among us, like babies Most of us have been praying for a pines are working together to assure to fight back the moment they cross after receiving a vaccine,” said Dr. Kwek. and the critically ill. When majority of Just like any other vaccine used for the people within a community are alvaccine so we can all get on with our that the vaccines that will be allowed in paths again.

With vaccines, the “training” is done other illnesses, one may experience se- ready immune, we lessen the chance of rebooted lives already; but now that it’s the country have these qualities. Some here, we suddenly find ourselves asking of these groups are from DOH, DOST, using a specific type of antigen to ini- vere or life-threatening reaction after spreading the virus. This is what is referred to as “herd” or “population” imif it’s a good idea. That’s because we be- Philippine Society for Microbiology tiate the appropriate immune response. administration. Possible, but rare. munity. To achieve this, at least a third lieve that vaccines usually take years of and Infectious Diseases (PSMID), Food During this training, the vaccine imiWhy we need to get of the population must be vaccinated. research and tests before they are rolled and Drug Administration (FDA), and tates the virus and creates antibodies.

For your own peace of mind, it is best These antibodies are then stored in vaccinated out; which begs the question: how reli- members of the private sector.

We are all exposed to the virus one to seek your doctor’s advice before you memory cells, then do the actual protecable are these vaccines? tion against infection the next time they way or another, which is why we are go through vaccination. In my case, But we’re not living in a time where How vaccines work things are “as usual,” so it’s really in our In explaining how vaccines work, see a pathogen. The memory cells can taking precautions with masks, face while I have already decided to take it, I best interest to listen to what experts Dr. Marion A. Kwek, chair of the continuously watch out for these viru- shields, hand washing, disinfection, would need my cardiologist and internhave to say about this batch of vaccines Health Education Committee of PS- lent pathogens for months or years to physical distancing, and staying home ist to tell me that my body can take it. as much as possible. These are what we This is not a case of getting caught that are already being given in some MID, said it plainly: “Parang nagte- provide immunity.

The body will react to a vaccine in can do externally, and vaccines can take between the devil and the deep blue sea. parts of the world, and will soon be here training yung katawan natin. We are This is really just an invitation for disin the Philippines. being taught how to identify an organ- different ways the second it enters our care of what happens inside our body.

“From the time you are exposed to an cernment: are you willing to fight back bloodstream. Common side effects According to Dr. Nina G. Gloriani of ism and how to fight back.” the Department of Science and TechWhen coronavirus attacks, our body’s include headache, fever, and fatigue. infectious agent, for someone who did with a vaccine, or would you keep taking nology-Philippine Council for Health immune system uses our red and white There have also been reports of al- not receive a vaccine, it takes a while the risk of contracting COVID? RememResearch and Development Vaccine blood cells to accomplish specific mis- lergic reactions (breathing difficulty, before your body would develop an ber, though, that the virus is mutating and Expert Panel, the ideal vaccine has the sions: red for providing oxygen to our rashes, etc.), nausea, vomiting, diar- immune response. And in contrast to might continue to do so. In the end, I will following qualities: (1) safe, (2) im- body’s tissues and organs, and white to rhea, and appearance of lymph nodes someone who has received a vaccine, have to agree with Dr. Kwek when she because you were already able to train said, “I would rather have some discomin the injected area. munogenic (can induce the appropri- do the actual fight against infection.

“Vaccine components would trigger your body to recognize these pathogens, fort (from vaccine side effects) than get ate immune response), (3) can provide The thing is, these cells need time— long-lasting immunity, (4) can protect days or even weeks—before they can our body to respond, so our body would you are able to mount a faster immune COVID-19 infection.” Hear! Hear! against disease, (5) stable in field con- execute a solid defense against a new release all sorts of chemicals, proteins, response as if you were already infected ditions, (6) preferably administered in a pathogen like SARS-CoV2 (or any new cytokines, and when you inject this, for the first time,” explained Dr. Kwek. (A complete text of this story was first Vaccination is not mandatory, but it is, published on NewsFeed 360) single dose (especially in mass immu- variant, for that matter). Our cells need definitely there is something that would

HEALTH BULLETIN

HIV drug shows ‘impressive’ results in critically ill COVID-19 patients

CytoDyn, Inc.’s recent treatment of COVID-19 patients under emergency investigational drug with Leronlimab has shown impressive results as it reduced the plasma viral load and restored the immune function by the seventh day. (File photo/Norman Cruz)

LERONLIMAB-Vyrologix, a humanized monoclonal antibody drug used to treat HIV patients, showed impressive results in improving the immune function of critically ill COVID-19 patients in the United States.

Developed by late-stage biotechnology company CytoDyn, Inc., Leronlimab-Vyrologix is a CCR5 (C-C chemokine receptor type 5) inhibiting drug that protects healthy T cells from viral infection. The CCR5 receptor, the National Center for Biotechnology Information says, plays a crucial role in modulating immune cell trafficking to sites of inflammation.

“Because of the drug’s ability to mitigate cytokine storm, which is common in COVID-19 fatalities, it has become the basis for its study as a potential COVID-19 treatment,” CytoDyn said in a statement.

CytoDyn’s recent treatment of patients under eIND (Emergency Investigational New Drug) with Leronlimab for COVID-19 infection has shown impressive results, with “hardly any” drug-related serious adverse events, as the drug reduced the plasma viral load and restored the immune function by the seventh day.

The company has already completed its Phase 2 clinical trial for COVID-19, a double-blinded, randomized clinical trial for mild-to-moderate COVID-19 patients in the U.S. The company has also recently announced that it has completed the en-

The drug’s ability to mitigate cytokine storm has become the basis for its study as a potential COVID-19 treatment.

rollment of 394 patients in its Phase 2b/3 randomized clinical trial for the severe-tocritically ill COVID-19 population.

CytoDyn has appointed Chiral Pharma, a subsidiary of New Marketlink Pharmaceutical Corporation (NMPC) as its authorized partner for the distribution of Leronlimab-Vyrologix to the Philippines subject to registration approval of the Philippine Food and Drug Administration.

Through the partnership, the companies are working to register Leronlimab under a licensed physician’s request for Compassionate Special Permit (CSP).