Manila Standard - 2021 March 13 - Saturday

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RULING PARTY LEADERS PACQUIAO, CUSI FEUD OVER CHOICE OF BETS

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Vito Barcelo LEADERS of the ruling party PDP-Laban have locked horns over the candidates it will be fielding for the 2022 elections, seven months before the filing of the certificate of candidacy and amid a raging pandemic.

PDP-Laban acting president Senator Manny Pacquiao threw a jab at Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, party vicechairman, for pushing a resolution urging President Rodrigo Duterte to run for vice president next year.

“I am not the kind of person you can toy with. This is simply a warning: I am not fighting with you. I want Next page

PARTY SQUABBLE. Senator

Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Pacquiao, PDP-Laban president, and Energy Secretary Al Cusi, PDP-Laban vice-chairman. Cracks in the ruling party begun to show after Pacquiao in a press conference warned Cusi not to ‘poison the minds’ of the party members, a rebuke over the alleged mishandling of PDP-Laban affairs.

Vax rollout comes up short

Duque admits program ‘not as quick’ ; cases hit 6-month high of 4,578

By Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta

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S the country logged a six-month high of 4,578 new COVID-19 cases in one day, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III admitted that the country’s vaccination program was “not as quick” as the government wanted.

Duque’s admission came after Senator Panfilo Lacson said the Philippines would not be able to achieve herd immunity until 2033 based on the current pace of the vaccination program.

“At the rate of about 4,000 a day, as-

suming that the vaccination is not accelerated and assuming we will have the vaccines... we might not achieve herd immunity until 2033,” Lacson told CNN-Philippines.

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PH to continue using AstraZeneca vaccine despite blood clot reports

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM MARCH 12)

611,618

By Willie Casas

TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

4,578 52,012 NEW

ACTIVE

12,694

87

546,912

272

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

A vaccinator holds an AstraZeneca vaccine during a vaccination rollout in Tagaytay City on Wednesday, March 11, 2021. JR Josue

THE Philippines will continue using AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine as there is currently no indication that it caused the blood clots reported in some European countries, health and regulatory officials said yesterday.

Thailand, Bulgaria and Italy on Friday joined

six European nations in suspending the AstraZeneca vaccine over blood clot fears, despite a range of health authorities around the world insisting it was safe.

The European Medicines Agency said severe allergies should be added to the possible side effects of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine afNext page

NEW

LOCAL ROUNDUP • More cops in COVID areas • Contact tracing in 24 hours

NEW

Three lenders fork out $1.2b in loans to PH THE Philippines has secured $1.2 billion worth of loans from the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to support the procurement of vaccines against COVID-19.

The loans include $500 million from the World Bank, $400 million from the ADB and $300 million from the AIIB. The World Bank said Friday its board of executive directors approved $500 million in funding to support the Philippine government’s program to buy and distribute COVID-19 vaccines, strengthen the country’s health systems and overcome the impact of the pandemic, especially on the poor and the most vulnerable.

It said the newly-approved financing would support the Philippines to vacNext page

By Willie Casas, Joel E. Zurbano, Vito Barcelo and Rio Araja THERE will be increased police presence in areas where there is a surge of COVID-19 cases, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Friday.

“It is a national policy now,” Roque said.

A total of 12 Metro Manila cities were among the top 15 areas with a “significant” upward trend in the number of new COVID-19 cases, the OCTA Research Team said Friday.

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Palawan fate decided via today’s plebiscite

By Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz

Color-coded map of Palawan shows how it will be divided into three, with each emerging province covering their areas of jurisdiction.

NBI files raps against 11 for Dacera’s death

By Willie Casas

An operative of the National Bureau of Investigation carries a pile of documents pertaining to the charges the NBI lodged against 11 individuals including a medico-legal officer accused in the death of an airline flight attendant Christine Dacera. Norman Cruz

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed on Friday several criminal charges against 11 persons in connection with the death on January 1 this year of flight attendant Christine Dacera.

Filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ), the complaints include the Next page

THE Commission on Elections said voting for the postponed Palawan plebiscite – which will divide the province into three – would start at 7 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. today (Saturday).

The voters will only be asked to cast a yes vote if they are in favor of the split and no if they are against it.

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Shanghai cafes expand to exotics A BABY raccoon to stroke while you sip your skinny latte? Or a snake to coil around you after your cappuccino? Forget dog or cat cafes, Shanghai’s animal cafe scene has expanded to include a wider – and more exotic – kingdom.

The fad in dining alongside all manner of species – from raccoons to pigs and reptiles – Next page

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SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2021

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IBP urges SC to review warrants

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Integrated Bar of the Philippines on Friday called on the Supreme Court to review its rule allowing executive judges of regional trial courts in Manila City and Quezon City to issue search warrants that could be implemented anywhere in the country.

sulted in the death of nine activists Reports showed that the search warrants for the raids were issued by Manila RTC First Vice Executive Judge Jose Lorenzo Dela Rosa, also the presiding judge of Manila RTC Branch 4, and Manila RTC Branch 174 Presiding Judge Jason Zapanta.

The IBP president noted there were allegations that RTCs have become “warrant factories” for the police.

Cayosa also said there were instances where cases were filed based on warrants issued by Metro Manila courts resulted in the dismissal of charges by provincial courts for lack of sufficient evidence and conflicting testimonies in requesting the warrants.

The IBP official warned judges who would be proven to have committed irregularities in issuing search or arrest

warrants might be sacked from their posts and face charges.

Cayosa also urged the high court to make the wearing of body cameras a requirement in serving search warrants to prevent police abuse.

According to him, body cameras would help secure evidence if the police would be accused of committing irregularities in serving the warrants.

Police authorities justified the legitimacy of their operation that resulted in the deaths of 9 activists, saying the fatalities have engaged them in armed confrontations.

But Cayosa emphasized that individuals who were subjects of warrants should be alive after the police operation.

The IBP official deplored the killing of the nine activists, saying search and arrest warrants should not be “death warrants.”

The day’s fresh cases is considered the highest since Sept. 14 last year, when the Department of Health announced 4,699 confirmed infections.

The DOH said this pushed the total active cases in the country to 52,012, also this year’s highest.

Among these, 92.2 percent are mild, 4.1 percent are asymptomatic, 1.5 percent are severe, and 1.5 percent are in critical condition.

A total of 87 more fatalities also brought the death toll to 12,694.

Total recoveries climbed to 546,912 after 272 more patients recovered from the illness.

Amid the rising cases, Metro Manila mayors agreed to reimpose curfew hours for two weeks starting Monday.

The OCTA Research group that has been tracking the pandemic warned that the country might record more than 6,500 new daily COVID-19 cases by the end of March.

In a report, the researchers said Metro Manila alone can record up to over 4,000 new daily COVID-19 infections at the end of the month due to the increase in the reproduction number (R) in the region at 1.86. An R value above 1 can lead to exponential growth.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the government is trying to speed up vaccinations.

“The DOH has met with vaccine sites and regional directors to hasten the vaccine rollout,” Vergeire said in Filipino during a virtual briefing.

Vergeire pointed out that the Philip-

pines is still in the early stages of vaccination since the 600,000 Sinovac jabs were only rolled out on March 1.

“We have not distributed vaccines to all regions. Our distribution is ongoing.

Just like with Sinovac, for the first three days, the number of vaccine recipients was low. But after a while, it kicked off and increased. So we are hoping that as the days pass, our accomplishment will improve,” Vergeire said.

Vergeire also said herd immunity is the long-term goal while the reduction of morbidity and mortality linked to COVID-19 is the immediate focus.

Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro also expressed disappointment with the slow rollout of COVID-19 vaccines a year into the pandemic.

“The problem really is with the supply of the vaccine and the [national] government should, I think, it’s imperative to address this problem of supply,” he told ANC. Teodoro was reacting to Duque’s statement that the inoculation drive was not quick enough.

In Marikina City, Teodoro said they had listed nearly 5,000 medical frontliners for the vaccination.

“We’re only able to inoculate around 1,500. So, that’s not even half of the number of medical frontliners that we intended to be inoculated,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPi) said private hospitals could reach full capacity in the next three to four weeks if the spike in COVID-19 cases goes unabated. nation program as well as beneficiary feedback surveys to boost engagement with citizens will help ensure effective implementation.

Meanwhile, the Philippines became the first recipient of financing support under the Asian Development Bank’s Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility with the approval of a $400-million loan that will help the country buy safe and effective vaccines against the coronavirus disease.

“ADB’s support will boost the Philippine government’s urgent efforts to secure and deploy COVID-19 vaccines for all Filipinos, especially those who are vulnerable, such as frontline workers, the elderly, and poor and marginalized populations, as well as those at increased risk of severe illness,” said ADB president Masatsugu Asakawa.

Comelec data showed that Palawan has 490,639 registered voters, with 2,959 clustered precincts and 487 voting centers. The same number of precincts and voting centers will be used for the plebiscite.

Proponents of the division say it will shatter the traditional centerperiphery development pattern where everything emanates from the capitol in Puerto Princesa.

Meanwhile, the inter-agency task force leading the country’s pandemic response ordered local governments to quarantine people who are likely infected with COVID-19 and their close contacts within 24 hours to curb increasing coronavirus infections.

The public can also expect the full implementation of contact tracing application StaySafe.ph within 10 days, Malacañang said on Friday.

“There are no more problems with the StaySafe app. As of yesterday, all problems have been ironed out. The full implementation of StaySafe app is expected within 10 days,” Roque said in a press briefing in Ilocos Norte.

Darwin Joseph Macalla, Gregorio Angelo Rafael de Guzman, Jezreel Rapinan, Alain Chen, Reymar Englis, lawyer Neptali Maroto, Louie de Lima and Southern Police District medico-legal officer Michael Nick Sarmiento.

The NBI said it was Sarmiento who ordered the embalming of Dacera’s remains even without the consent of her family.

Some of Dacera’s friends were also among those charged by the police with rape with homicide before the Makati

City Prosecutor’s Office.

Dacera, 23, died after a New Year’s Eve celebration with her friends. Her family believes she was drugged and sexually abused.

Dacera’s friends, however, have insisted they did not harm her, instead claiming that they took care of her when she was heavily drunk and until her final moments.

A medico legal report of the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory ruled out homicide as the cause of death.

creatures and sharing them on social media.

Tucked away in central Shanghai, Raccoon Cafe is home to eight of the mammals. The biggest of them, weighing about 10 kilos, jumps up and down by a window, seemingly agitated by customers.

“I think it’s really cute,” said Qin Siyu, a 27-year-old professional volleyball player who found out about the cafe from a friend’s pictures.

Customers pay from 98 yuan ($15) for entry but it is debatable how much of the venue actually functions as a cafe.

The raccoons’ behavior is too unpredictable for people to have hot drinks around them and the menu is limited.

The cafe’s owner, Cheng Chen, admits she had no first-hand experience of raccoons before taking over the establishment at the end of last year. AFP

IBP National President Domingo Cayosa sought a review of a 2004 circular allowing executive judges, or in their absence, vice executive judges, in Manila and Quezon City regional trial courts to issue search warrants that could be enforced anywhere in the country for as long as the legal requirements are met.

“That is one of the suggestions of the IBP, that if possible, the Supreme Court should review the rule allowing a regional trial court in Manila to issue

search or arrest warrants valid all over the country,” Cayosa said in an interview over ABS-CBN. “Especially for search warrants, maybe it is better if the regional trial court that has jurisdiction over the area, and not the one based in Manila, should provide it,” he added.

The IBP official made the proposal after the police-military operations in Calabarzon to serve search warrants for loose firearms and explosives last Sunday re-

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ter likely links were found to a number of cases in Britain.

The Amsterdam-based drug regulator of the EU said it had “recommended an update to the product information to include anaphylaxis and hypersensitivity (allergic reactions) as side effects.”

For his part, Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn, an adviser for Thailand’s COVID-19 vaccine committee, said: “Vaccine injection for Thais must be safe, we do not have to be in a hurry.”

But the World Health Organization said there was no reason to stop using AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine.

“Yes, we should continue using the AstraZeneca vaccine,” WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told reporters, adding: “There is no indication to not use it.”

Australia, Mexico and the Philippines said they would continue their rollouts as they had found no reason to alter course.

“The Department of Health and the Food and Drug Administration are aware that a few countries in the European Union have recently paused their inoculation campaign with the COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca following reports of blood clots in people who received the vaccine,” said the DOH in a statement issued.

“This has been decided as a precautionary measure, while they conduct a full investigation to determine causality between the vaccination and the reported adverse events following immunization. Moreover, the European Medicine Authority (EMA) has also emphasized that there is currently no indication that vaccination has caused these conditions, which are not listed as side effects with this vaccine,” the DOH added.

The DOH also noted that the EMA safety committee said the vaccine’s benefits continue to outweigh its risks and that the vaccine can continue to be administered while the cases involving bl-ood clots are being investigated.

Meanwhile, some 1,000 health workers have reported minor side effects after inoculations against COVID-19, the DOH said, as the government races to vaccinate more health and essential workers. With AFP

Duque said some 83,000 health personnel have been inoculated so far.

The Palace, on the other hand, said some 114,615 Filipinos had been vaccinated as of Wednesday, out of the government’s target of 70 million inoculated this year.

Duque admitted that the first week of the vaccine rollout was off to a slow start.

He also said giving health workers a choice of vaccine – China’s CoronaVac or the UK-developed AstraZeneca – was a factor in the slower pace of inoculation.

Duque said about 797,000 doses or more than 70 percent of the 1.1 million COVID-19 vaccine doses in the country were already deployed to 361 implementing sites.

He also said that the waiting time to observe adverse symptoms on inoculated individuals has taken much of the time during the vaccine rollout, when in fact the actual vaccination only takes less than three minutes.

“We observed that the actual vaccination is short...But some people who exhibit more pronounced symptoms need more time to be observed,” he said in Filipino.

He said vaccinations were up to about 11,000 a day.

The Philippines logged 4,578 confirmed COVID-19 cases Friday, the highest in six months, pushing the country’s total infections to 611,618.

cinate the population based on vulnerability and risk. Priority groups include frontline health workers, senior citizens, indigent communities, followed by priority groups of teachers, government workers, indigenous peoples, and then the remaining population.

Prioritization of vulnerable groups reduces the health and economic consequences of the pandemic, protecting those that are at a high risk of infection and of developing severe COVID and adverse outcomes.

“Procuring and administering vaccines provides the country an added layer of defense against COVID-19 on top of public health measures or inter-

ventions like social distancing, wearing of masks, and washing hands,” said Ndiamé Diop, World Bank country director for Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.

“Inclusive deployment of vaccines in line with the World Health Organization Fair Allocation Framework is critical for preventing grave illness and deaths from COVID-19, opening the economy in earnest, ensuring a resilient recovery, and restoring jobs and incomes,” Diop said.

The additional World Bank financing will also support the Philippines to continue to implement public health measures until a majority of the population has been vaccinated or is deemed safe based on global evidence. The use of web platforms to gather citizen feedback on the vacci-

Palawan...

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voting precincts, and ensuring that bottles or dispensers of alcohol for sanitizing hands are available in these areas, the Comelec said.

A lot is at stake in the division of the biggest province in the country in terms of land area at nearly 15,000 square kilometers.

Voters and everyone involved in the plebiscite would be required to wear masks at all times.

“The wearing of face masks is mandatory, whether they are poor or rich,” Teopisto Elnas Jr., Comelec deputy executive director for operations said.

Each voter would be required to fill out a health declaration form at health stations to be set up in voting centers.

While the Comelec is expecting a low turnout of voters to determine whether Palawan will be split into three provinces, this will not affect the result.

The Palawan plebiscite will ratify Republic Act No. 11259 dividing Palawan into Palawan Del Norte, Palawan Del Sur and Palawan Oriental.

All registered voters must comply with health protocols, such as maintaining physical distance outside and inside

Ruling...

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“Do not go back on your word that we should set aside politics and help our people first. Do not divide the minds of our partymates just to further your own interest. If you are going around to help our people, I will applaud you.”

“But if you go around talking about politics – don’t do that. Do not poison the minds of our party-mates to cause a division,” said the senator, whom political observers said will likely seek the presidency in next year’s polls.

Cusi, for his part, said partymates who attended a consultative meeting in Manila on March 8 agreed to execute and sign a resolution supporting Duterte as the PDPLaban’s vice presidential bet next year.

“The common sentiment is continuity of service. It was instinctive on the part of

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the members because of their recognition that the pandemic and the natural disasters that converged in 2020 unreasonably interrupted the economic programs and infrastructure projects of the administration,” Cusi said in a statement.

“They were mindful of the past lessons wherein transition of power from one president to the next resulted in change of policies and directions, thus resulting in unfinished and unfulfilled projects, causing disservice to the Filipino people,” he added.

The party members who signed the resolution also used an amended PDPLaban logo which now bore the clenched fist icon associated with the President.

Pacquiao was unaware of the resolution, which he described as unauthorized.

“That was not sanctioned by me, as acting president of the party. That was not authorized... The focus of the party now is to help people facing difficulties, help people going hungry – not politics,” Pacquiao added.

Ex-DOH chief faces more damage suits

NBI...

From A1 following: administering illegal drugs, attempt to deliver or to give away illegal drugs, perjury, obstruction of justice, reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, and falsification of an official document by a public officer.

Named respondents in the complaints are Mark Anthony Rosales, Rommel Galido, John Pascual dela Serna III,

Shanghai...

From A1 comes despite pandemic-fueled concerns about the dangers of deadly viruses jumping from wild animals to humans.

There are dozens of animal cafes in China’s biggest city, with visitors helping to drive the craze by posing for photos with the

By Rio N. Araja FORMER Health Secretary Janette Garin, now Iloilo representative, and 38 others, including Sanofi Pasteur Inc. executives, are facing three more multi million-peso damage suits before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court in connection with the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine.

Parents of Rolando Malagum, Shane Lague and Melvin Karl Elipane are seeking an indemnification of P3,404,966.40, P3,355,076.45 and P3,604,040, respectively, for the deaths of their children who supposedly died due to complications arising from the vaccine inoculation.

The new damage suits were filed last Feb. 18, Feb. 11 and Dec. 5 last year.

Some 50 other indemnification cases were earlier filed between Feb. 5, 2018 and Feb. 26, 2020.

All of these cases had been raffled off to Branch 226.

The 53 plaintiffs are asking a total of P196,064,337.70 to be paid separately.

In October 2021, the Supreme Court approved a petition filed by the Public Attorney’s Office in April 2019 to transfer all Dengvaxia-related cases to a single family court in Quezon City.

Parents of children who allegedly died after receiving the Dengvaxia vaccine filed multiple counts of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide before the lower courts and Department of Justice.

The justice department found probable cause to indict Garin, former and active health officials, for the procurement of the vaccines worth P3.5 billion and mass vaccination of school children in public schools.

Local...

From A1 In their latest monitoring report, the independent team of experts said Quezon City, Manila, Pasay, Makati, Parañaque, Taguig, Caloocan, Pasig, Malabon, Valenzuela, Marikina, and Navotas have been reporting a higher number of new COVID-19 cases.

Others in the list were the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu in Cebu province. However, Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu were considered “exceptions” as they both recorded a downtrend in new cases.

OCTA Research noted that Metro Manila, now classified as “high-risk,” averaged 1,546 new infections daily over the past week, bringing its reproduction number to 1.86, daily attack rate to 11 per 100,000 population, and positivity rate to 10 percent.

A reproduction number of 1 or higher indicates sustained COVID-19 transmission. The World Health Organization’s benchmark for the positivity rate is 5 percent or lower.

Contact tracing within 24 hours

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IN BRIEF QC, CBCP limit Holy Week events THE Quezon City government and the Bishops of Dioceses of Cubao and Novaliches have agreed to limit their activities in line with the Holy Week to help quell the rise in the number of COVID-19 cases.

Mayor Joy Belmonte met with Bishops Roberto Gaa and Honesto Ongtioco of the Diocese of Novaliches and Cubao, respectively, and agreed to implement restrictions in the observance of the Holy Week to begin on March 28 and end on April 4.

The bishops agreed to prohibit the conduct of penitentia or traditional penance involving self-flagellation, crucifixion or self-infliction of pain, she said.

Physical gatherings for “pabasa” or reading of the passion of Christ is prohibited, while virtual or online “pabasa” is encouraged, she noted.

The traditional “visita Iglesia” or station of the cross is also encouraged to be practiced online, she said.

A public gathering for “palaspas” or Palm Sunday on March 28 and “salubong” or the welcoming of the risen Christ on Easter Sunday will be suspended. Rio N. Araja

625 curfew violators arrested in Caloocan ABOUT 625 violators were caught by Caloocan City Police on the first day of the 10pm-4am curfew implemented in the city.

Aside from breaking the curfew, there were citizens caught drinking in public places while others were not wearing face masks. Others were outside their homes.

The violators were taken to village covered courts near the Police Substation, where they were issued violation tickets.

Face masks were given to those who were caught not wearing them.

Before being sent home they were also reminded and encouraged to follow the ordinances as part of the ongoing fight against the pandemic.

Caloocan Police Chief Col. Samuel Mina said police officers will strictly implement the ordinances based on the directive of Mayor Oscar Malapitan.

“We continue to tell the people of Caloocan that we will be strict in our implementation. If you don’t go to work, please stay in your homesduring curfew hours,” Mina said. Jun David

Banks urged to stop charging higher fees A CONGRESSIONAL leader on Friday appealed to banks to stop charging higher fees for automated teller machine transactions during the COVID-19 crisis.

“We must give workers and hardworking Filipinos the tools they need to recover from the pandemic, and that includes making sure they can keep their money in their own pockets and out of the hands of banks to cover unnecessary fees,” House Deputy Speaker and Bagong Henerasyon Rep. Bernadette Herrera said.

Pursuant to a memorandum issued by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, ATM users will pay fees depending on rates by banks that own the specific machines they are transacting with starting April 7.

Herrera says this is a departure from the current system in which flat rates are set by the bank where the client maintains an account.

ATM withdrawal fees currently range from P10 to P15, which has been the case since 2013.

By April 7, ATM withdrawal fees are expected to range from P10 to P18.

Banks will also be imposing a fee of P1 to P2 for balance inquiries. Maricel V. Cruz

CHECKPOINT. Members of the Manila police conduct a random checkpoint on motorcycle riders along Recto in Divisoria on Friday as COVID-19 cases increase in Metro Manila. Norman Cruz

Justice vowed for NPA victims

By Maricel V. Cruz

A

n official on Friday vowed to deliver justice to the families of those killed by com≠munist rebels in the more than 50-year insurgency launched by the Communist Party of the Philippines—New People’s Army.

“These killings should not go unpunished so as not to develop a sense of impunity among rebels,” National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said in a statement sent to reporters.

“It is high time that the CPP-NPA be held accountable for the atrocities they have committed against the people. particularly to the grieving families of the

Inopacan Massacre.”

Esperon, the 29th and last witness to the Inopacan Massacre case, continued his testimony and presentation of evidence to the trial of the CPP-NPA founder and Chairman Jose Maria Sison and 36 other communist leaders.

“As my moral and social duty, I shall see to it that those responsible for these

“It is estimated that all the purges nationwide cost more than 4,000 lives of the NPA cadres, fighters and civilians. I take the position that, as shown by evidence, the Central Committee members of the CPP-NPA, led by Jose Ma. Sison, are complicit and directly responsible for the mass murders,” Esperon said.

Among the many pieces of evidence presented by Esperson to the Manila Trial Court Branch 32 were documents written by CPP-NPA Central Committee that discussed the alarm given to territorial units, internal purging and affected organization and written by the Melito Glor Command, which detailed how the MGC investigates tortured, buried in mass graves, suspected infiltrators.

Official takes up nurses’ case

By Maricel V. Cruz PRESIDENT Duterte was urged Friday to reverse the demotion by the Department of Budget and Management of tens of thousands of government nurses, including those employed by local government units throughout the country.

“Intervention by the President is the fastest way to rectify the injustice done to our nurses, who are at the forefront of our fight against Covid-19. I am sure that if this matter is brought to his attention, he will act fast,” Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor said.

Defensor said while rectification could be done through legislation or the filing of a new case in court, “it would take time, years perhaps, before the demotion of our nurses is reversed and they finally get justice.”

He lamented that the DBM downgraded the nurse positions “at a critical time, when the country is battling a crippling

pandemic.”

Defensor says the downgrading is contained in DBM Budget Circular 2020-4, which implements the ruling of the Supreme Court that government nurses are entitled to Salary Grade 15 entry-level pay (P33,575) under the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002, instead of the P21,000 Salary Grade 11 compensation they have been receiving.

The ruling, made in a case filed by party-list group Ang Nars, became final last December.

“Our nurses waited for almost 20 years to receive the minimum salary they are entitled to under the law. But the DBM has undermined the Supreme Court ruling and the law by demoting most of our nurses,” Defensor said.

Under the DBM circular, Defensor said, Nurse II positions were “modified” to Nurse I, Nurse III to Nurse II, Nurse IV to Nurse III, Nurse V to Nurse IV, Nurse VI to Nurse V, and Nurse VII to Nurse VI.

Solon: Charter change to boost manufacturing

VACCINES DELIVERED. Cebu Pacific once again transports COVID vaccines to

Zamboanga and Tuguegarao on March 10 and 12, respectively. These vaccines are part of the second batch received by both destinations. (Story on A4)

Focus on misfits, police urged

By Maricel V. Cruz

By Maricel V. Cruz

THE House of Representatives’ Committee on Constitutional Amendments Chairman Alfredo Garbin Jr. on Friday said that evidence and data show that liberalizing the economic provisions of the Constitution will boost the influx of foreign direct investment in the manufacturing sector.

Garbin’s statement came as the House leadership led by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco discussed in the plenary session the benefits and disadvantages of liberalizing the economy under Resolution of Both Houses Number 2 (RBH 2), which the Speaker principally authored.

Speaking in Filipino, the AKO Bicol Party-list Representative said “the truth presented by the data of the Philippine Statistics Authority is that FDI brings with it huge amounts of capital that contributes to local economies.”

This capital, said the lawmaker, “contributes to the local economy by paying taxes, so many taxes—business taxes, real property taxes, income taxes. It also brings advanced technology, management expertise, most importantly technology transfer, and it also significantly increases the much needed employment opportunities to our countrymen.”

heinous crimes are held answerable to the bar of justice,” he said.

Sison and other CPP-NPA leaders are facing 15 counts of murder in connection with the alleged killing of more than 100 former members of NPA who were buried in Mt. Sapang Dako in Inopacan, Leyte, sometime in 2006.

Esperon was the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Chief of Staff when the massacre was discovered on August 31, 2006.

In his testimony, Esperon narrated his personal account of the massacre that transpired during Operation Venereal Disease (Oplan VD) launched by the CPP and conducted by the NPA during the 1980s, to which those suspected to be government sympathizers were being liquidated.

LOCKDOWN. Barangay officials make their rounds as the local government imposed a seven-day granular lockdown on Block 41 Zones 4, 5 and 9 in Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City on Friday to limit the movement of residents and curb the spike in COVID-19 cases. Norman Cruz

A PARTY-LIST legislator on Friday advised the police leadership to focus on ridding their ranks of scalawags and misfits instead of running after couples who publicly display affection.

Rep. Jericho Nograles of the Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta party-list group finds it absurd for the PNP to prioritize the restrictions on couples.

“Physical distancing is a collective effort in the fight against the virus, but the men and women of the PNP have bigger fish to fry. The top brass should review their priorities,” Nograles said.

“What is happening with our PNP? There are more immediate and pressing matters other than running after couples.

The security guards and the Barangay tanods are already actively reminding people of physical distancing.”

Nograles says the image of the Philip-

pine National Police is at its all-time low because of the series of scandals involving police personnel.

He reminded the PNP that only a few days ago, policemen were involved in the killing of Mayor Ronald Aquino of Calbayog City but instead of taking the necessary action to get into the bottom of the incident, the PNP leadership immediately declared that it was a shootout.

A few weeks ago, the PNP was also involved in a questionable armed encounter with operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. Several months ago, the PNP was involved in shooting Army intelligence officers in Sulu and in the shooting of a discharged Army corporal in Quezon City.

“Unless the top brass wants the people to fear the police instead of seeing them as professional public servants, then the PNP has to take action against scalawags and misfits,” Nograles said.

Agency investigates removal of squatters in Angeles City

By Rio N. Araja THE Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor has stepped into the demolition of over 20 families in Barangay Margot in Angeles City.

“Now that we are still in the pandemic, we would like to ask that no demolition take place if it is not covered by our Commission.

We will make sure that the eviction is fair and no one will be aggravated,” chairman and chief executive Alvin Feliciano said.

The affected families are now staying in a covered court.

PCUP is determining if the demolition was done in a proper process anchored on the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992 or Republic Act Republic Act No.

7279.

“Instead of assisting those who are affected by the (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic, we are still abusing this time to carry out the demolition. The commission is waiting and taking steps to finally resolve it,” Feliciano said.

The involved families claimed their water and power connections had been

cut off without any notice.

The PCUP vowed to look into the matter and identify other similarly situated areas in Pampanga so that it could provide “full attention and appropriate legal action” on the evicted residents.

“The commission is open to any report that may be sent to them regarding such incidents,” Feliciano said.

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News

SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2021

PNP: Calbayog shooting report out Mar. 16 T

ACLOBAN CITY —The special investigation task group formed to probe the killing of Calbayog City Mayor Ronaldo Aquino and five others will come up with its first full report on the incident on or before March 16.

PRISON LOOT. The Bureau of Corrections New Bilibid Prison presents to the media the confiscated contraband from inside the Maximum Security Compound and all other Operating Prison and Penal Farms in Friday. The items were recovered in operations from October 2020 up to February 2021 and include everything from thousands of bladed weapons to portable WiFi modems, cellphones and televisions (inset). Bucor photo

IN BRIEF CJ bet Bernabe frets about SALNs being weaponized Eleazar named PNP OIC; Sinas goes into isolation LT. GEN. Guillermo Eleazar, the number two man of the Philippine National Police, took over as officer-in-charge on Friday after PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas, contracted the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

The PNP also said Friday it is tracing police personnel and civilian employees who were in close contact with Sinas.

Eleazar said the PNP Health Service is now checking personnel of units visited

by Sinas from March 9 to 11.

“Based on the guidance of our Chief PNP, General Debold Sinas, all our personnel who made close contact with him must be checked as a matter of protocol and for their health safety and the safety of their family,” Eleazar told reporters.

He said the PNP, through the Public Information Office headed by Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana, has already coordinated with the PNP Press Corps for contact tracing of all its members who attended an activity with Sinas last March 10 in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Deposit insurance hike to P1 million sought WITH more Filipinos now putting their money in banks, Senator Sonny Angara is looking to hike the deposit insurance coverage provided by the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) from the present P500,000 to P1 million per depositor.

Under Senate Bill 2089 filed by Angara, further amendments to the charter of the PDIC will be introduced to make it more responsive to the constantly changing financial landscape in the country.

Based on data from the PDIC as of September 30, 2020, 96.7 percent or 76.1 million of the 78.7 million total deposit accounts maintained in 537 banks nationwide are now fully insured.

This was an increase of 11.8 percent from the 68.1 million recorded over the same period in 2019.

PDIC also reported a double-digit growth of 11.7 percent in the number of total deposit accounts in banks nationwide. Total deposit amount grew 9.5 percent year-on-year from P13.1 trillion to P14.3 trillion. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Pulilan-Baliuag road now open to traffic THE 9.6-kilometer Pulilan-Baliuag diversion road in Bulacan is now open to traffic and will cut travel time between the two towns from one hour to 30 minutes, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said.

DPWH Region III Director Roseller A. Tolentino said the four-lane PulilanBaliuag Diversion Road has made daily travel between the two towns of Bulacan a bit easier.

“Without enduring the Maharlika Highway’s busy and constricted intersections, the 9.6-kilometer Pulilan-Baliuag Diversion Road cut travel time between the towns of Baliuag and Pulilan or vice versa from 1 hour to just 30 minutes,” Tolentino said.

The recent completion of final phase of the project assured a safer and environmentfriendly road facility for motorists, bikers and pedestrians, the DPWH official said.

“This road has promoted biking for transport and recreational use with the inclusion of bike lanes for faster, safer and pleasant travel,” he said.

Villar said the widened roadway resulted to the increased road capacity, making travel more comfortable. Vito Barcelo

By Rey E. Requejo SUPREME Court Senior Associate Justice Estela Perlas Bernabe said on Friday that while she has nothing to hide, she shared the view of Ombudsman Samuel Martires that the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) of government officials could be weaponized to destroy their reputations.

Appearing before the public interview conducted by the seven-member Judicial and Bar Council for nominees aspiring to succeed Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta who is retiring on March 27, Bernabe stressed that releasing a summary of the justice’s SALNs would be enough to promote transparency.

CEB, PAL ship more vaccines CEBU Pacific Air (CEB) flew more COVID-19 vaccine shipments to Zamboanga and Tuguegarao, part of the second batch of shipments received by these provinces.

CEB transported the cargo on March 10 and 12. The airline carried the first batch of 21,000 doses on March 5, it said in a statement.

The second batch comprises around 32,000 doses (about 20,000 for Zamboanga and about 12,000 for Tuguegarao).

The vaccines were stored in a refrigerated storage container and were handled with utmost precision to ensure its conditions are preserved up until its release at the local destinations, the airline said.

To date, CEB has already flown around 53,000 doses to both cities.

“We are happy to continue supporting the distribution of vaccines across the archipelago. Rest assured we will keep doing what we can to ensure the successful rollout of our country’s vaccination program,” said Alex Reyes, president and chief executive officer of CebGo, the sister airline of CEB. Also on March 10, Philippine Airlines transported from Manila shipments of AstraZeneca and CoronaVac vaccines.

The flag carrier has flown a total of 25,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines and 17,030 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines to the provinces of Legazpi, Cebu, Iloilo, Tacloban, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato and Davao.

“I have really nothing to hide. It’s just that sometimes people tend to criticize or to find ways and means to really destroy the reputation of a justice,” Bernabe said, when JBC member and retired SC Justice Noel Tijam asked her if she was in favor of publishing the SALNs of justices for as long as it conforms to the requirements of the data privacy law.

“If there are complaints against the justice, then I think the complainant should really file a case in the proper forum,” she said.

Bernabe agreed with Martires’ view that SALNs could be used against public officials. “To a certain extent, yes, Your Honor,” she said.

“A justice is a person of integrity, com-

petence. He has all the qualifications of a justice, but it might come to a point where the SALN can be used to destroy this certain person,” she added.

Ombudsman Martires had tightened the rules on the release of SALNs by requiring the requester to secure the consent of the declarant or the public official who owns the SALN. While access to Court records, such as SALN, is not prohibited, it is subject to a regulation.

In its decision last January, the SC ruled that an asset statement of a government official or employee should be viewed as a “tool for public transparency” and not as a “weapon for political vendetta.”

Col. Ma. Bella Rentuaya, Philippine National Police (PNP) Eastern Visayas regional office spokesperson, said the report will be completed in time for the scheduled press briefing on the case at the PNP national headquarters.

“Our appeal to the public is to be patient since we are doing everything to gather all facts. It takes time to identify all policemen involved and complete the ballistic examination,” Rentuaya said in a phone interview Friday.

The SITG has so far received the sworn statement of four police officers reportedly involved in the bloody firefight between the camp of the mayor and policemen along Laboyao Bridge in Barangay Lonoy, Calbayog City, Samar at 5:30 p.m. on March 8.

Killed on the spot were Mayor Aquino, his security personnel, his driver, a civilian said to have been caught in the crossfire, and two anti-narcotics policemen.

Based on the police report, Aquino and his aides were heading north on board a white van when one of his security personnel fired at the vans that they allegedly thought were tailing them.

Other vehicles, later identified to be carrying PNP personnel from IMEG (Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group) and DEU (Drug Enforcement Unit), then fired back.

“One of the key objectives of the investigation is to find out if the incident was a shootout or an ambush. We are gathering facts not just from policemen, but from civilians as well who witnessed the incident,” Rentuaya added.

PNP Eastern Visayas regional director Brig. Gen. Rolando De Jesus said in a radio interview Thursday that all police officers involved in the incident are accounted for, but the official declined to disclose the numbers.

ROUNDED UP. Hundreds

of violators of minimum health protocols from different communities in Quezon City are apprehended and processed at the Quezon City Memorial Circle on Friday in an effort to curb the surge of COVID-19 infections in Metro Manila. The police and the local Task Force Disiplina are enforcing the restrictions, but only gave tickets and face masks to the violators .

Manny Palmero

P3.4m shabu seized from drug group in Capas CAPAS, Tarlac—Some P3.4 million worth of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu was seized from suspected illegal drugs traffickers following buy-bust operations at Barangay Sto. Domingo here over the weekend.

Five suspected members of the Bicutan-Capas Drug Group were arrested.

They were identified as Romulo LA Unayan Jr.,27, of Bacoor, Cavite; Nasrudin Mumamayo Masulot, 30; Fahad Ibrahim Kasan, 35; Virgilio Martin Gutierrez, 27; and Corazon Midtimbang Sayadi,

37, from Lower Bicutan, Maharlika Village, Taguig City.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director General Wilkins Villanueva said the suspects were allegedly responsible for the distribution of shabu in Capas with the local contacts as dealers.

Villanueva said the suspects were placed under surveillance by PDEA and Tarlac Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit for their alleged involvement in illegal drugs.

On Thursday, one of the suspects negotiated the sale of 500 grams of shabu to a

poseur buyer through an exchange of text messages.

The suspects agreed to meet the poseur buyer in one of the establishments at Bgy. Sto. Domingo 1st, where they handed a plastic bag of shabu to anti-narcotics agents, leading to their arrest.

The suspects were brought to PDEA regional headquarters for further investigation shortly after their arrest. Charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 will be filed against them. Jess Malabanan

DAR backs ‘CLOA as collateral’ bill

By Rio N. Araja

FIGURINES, ANYONE? A woman sells different types of ceramic figurines from P350

to P500 each at the Dapitan Arcade in Quezon City on Friday. Many businesses have been allowed to open by the government to slowly revive the economy that has been leveled by the coronavirus pandemic. Rico H. Borja

THE Department of Agrarian Reform on Friday backed a bill to hasten the subdivision and titling of lands and the use of the Certificate of Land Ownership Award as collateral for loans.

DAR Legal Affairs Office Undersecretary Luis Meinrado Pañgulayan, in a position paper, told Ifugao Rep. Solomon Chungalao, House Committee on Agrarian Reform chair, that the proposed measure would turn Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Programawarded lands into effective resource generation mechanisms and help ARBs improve their agricultural productivity.

The agency supported the passage of House Bill No. 3434, which it said “shall have a direct impact in speeding up the subdivision and titling of agricultural lands” awarded to agrarian reform beneficiaries under CARP and allow farmers to use their awarded lands

as collateral in availing loans from banks and other financial institutions.

House Bill No. 3434 or “An Act Expediting the Titling of Lands Awarded Under the CARP, Lifting the Restrictions on the Utilization of Such Lands as Collateral for Securing Agricultural Loans, and Other Similar Financial Instruments, and for Other Purposes” was authored by Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto.

“The bill aims to speed up the subdivision and titling of lands under CLOAs arrangement and remove ownership uncertainties associated with CARP-awarded lands. It also intends to allow ARBs to use their awarded land as collateral in availing loans from banks and other financial institutions for the improvement of the land they cultivate, procurement of agricultural inputs and machineries, and establishment of agricultural facilities,” Pañgulayan stressed.

Opinion Teen moms: A lost generation?

(Part 3) AS PREVIOUSLY said, based on the conducted interviews of 60 girls who experienced teen pregnancy and focus group discussions (FGDs) with at least 120 community women from the same areas where the girls are from, my NGO will come up with observations in relation with and recommendations to address the complex issue of adolescent pregnancy.

Last week, I discussed the impact of a conservative culture on young people’s sexuality. I delved on how young people are starting to have sex early on and how parents are generally in a state of denial regarding this. The fact that sex and sexuality are topics that are not discussed in families, and barely touched in our educational system owing to our conservative culture, has resulted—and continues to result—in our young people not having enough and correct knowledge. On the other hand, parents shy away from getting into conversations on sex also because they do not know enough, feel embarrassed, or do not know how to discuss these taboo topics.

Here are our findings.

Moreover, the use of contraceptives by young people is generally frowned upon not only by parents but by many of those working in our Barangay Health Centers.

It is then not surprising that many of our young girls get pregnant.

The experiences of the girls we interviewed should serve as a wake-up call to all of us.

So far, these are the major observations we have gathered from the teen moms’ interviews and conducted FGDs: The big majority of girls said that they knew very little about sex despite the few lessons they had in school and the unexplained prohibitions imposed by their parents and guardians once they have menarche. They entered relationships not knowing what they were going into and how they could protect themselves from teen pregnancy.

A good number of girls had their first boyfriends at the ages of 12 or 13 years old. Most of the interviewed girls had their first sexual experience NOT with their first boyfriend.

In many cases, there was a big gap between the ages of the girls and that of the guy who got them pregnant.

These are but some of ages of the girls and their BFs when the girls got pregnant – 12 and 23; 13 and 20; 14 and 20; 14 and 23; 14 and 28; 15 and 22; 15 and 23; 15 and 26; 15 and 28; 16 and 27; and, 16 and 30. In a few cases, the men lied about their age.

Many of the first sexual experiences among the girls involved alcoholic drinks. They usually get invited by their boyfriends to parties that turn out to be

drinking sessions. Even if the girls are not used to alcohol, they are put in a position where they are unable to refuse. They get drunk and unprotected sex happens after whether the girls liked it or not. In most cases, they did not.

Most of the first sexual experiences of the girls happen in their boyfriends’ homes.

Virtually all first sexual experiences of girls were unprotected sex. A good number of pregnancies resulted from these.

From the data that we have so far analyzed, there were at least 10 cases of rape, three cases of abductions/kidnapping, a good number of cases of physical violence, and many more cases of other forms of abuse, harassment, coercion, and intimidation committed against the girls. Sadly, many of the girls who were raped by their boyfriends still live with them.

Upon knowing about the pregnancies, parents of the couples take it upon themselves to decide on what would happen to them WITHOUT even asking what the girls and their boyfriends wanted. In most cases, they were “forced” to live together. Some girls said that this was not what they wanted.

In one extreme case where no sex was involved, the boyfriend wanted to do right by the girl and decided to talk with her parents to ask their permission for them to “officially” become a couple.

The girl’s mother misunderstood this to mean that the two already had sex. They were forced to live together to protect the girl’s “honor.”

A good number of girls had difficult pregnancies and childbirth. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) was a common complication among them. There were cases when the girls’ lives were put on the line and emergency Caesarian Section procedures had to be performed. A few girls have undergone three (3) Caesarian operations.

Repeat teen-pregnancy is common.

From the partial data we have culled, we have counted at least 18 cases of repeat teen pregnancies. A few of the girls already have three children. This is because most of those who have already given birth the first time did not use contraceptives. A second, even third pregnancy was inevitable.

All the interviewed teen mothers come from poor families. Virtually all of them stopped their schooling due to the pregnancy. Most said their lives are harder now when money is very scarce especially because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the worsening poverty they experience, the big majority of the teen moms still dream to be able to go back to school, finish some course, and in the future, land a job. All said they want to be able to give their children better lives.

All of the girls said that if only they knew how difficult it is to be a young, poor mother, they would have waited until they were older, most said 25 years old, before getting pregnant. By then school would be finished, they would be more stable and better prepared to face the responsibilities of motherhood.

Do not get pregnant early—this is their main message to young people now. @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook

The shoe won’t fit all residents of Metro Manila, who were asked to rate their respective mayors regarding overall job performance for the year 2020.

THE other day, I ran across an article printed in another paper stating according to an independent, “non-commissioned survey” conducted by the RP-Mission and Development Foundation, Inc., Quezon City Mayor Josefina “Joy” Belmonte has again emerged as the top performing local chief executive in Metro Manila according to an independent, non-commissioned survey, besting Pasig City Mayor Regis Vico Sotto, who was recently honored by the US State Department for his anti-corruption initiatives and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso.

According to RPMD Inc (I just can’t reconcile their corporate name with that of an opinion polling firm), the survey was conducted based on face-to-face interviews with 3,500 respondents, from Feb. 20-28, 2021 with respondents from 18 to 70 years old, registered voters and

Were respondents not aware of these things?

Dr. Paul Martinez of RPMD Inc. was even all praises for his firm’s top five Metro Manila Mayors, declaring they were all doing a great job as confirmed by the comments, given by the respondents like in Belmonte’s case—“innovations in reaching and addressing constituents’ concerns during pandemic, social and welfare services, ease in doing business and transactions at city hall, and (being a) hands-on mayor,” which made her the top NCR mayor.

And that’s where the problem lies. If Martinez is saying Belmonte emerged as the top performing mayor in Metro Manila because of her handling of

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2021

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EDITORIAL

Curbing the COVID climb

O

FFICIALS of Metro People have started Manila, whose population swells to 15 to relax and are now million during daytime, have less vigilant. agreed to reimpose a sevenhour curfew from 10 p.m. for The people, who have started to relax two weeks starting Monday, and be less vigilant than 12 months back March 15.

must comply with the curfew to ensure that the increasing infections and deaths, the recoveries notwithstanding, may be quickly frustrated.

The latest figures from the Department of Health before weekend suggest that nearly 608,000 have been infected, of whom almost 48,000 are active cases, while deaths have now been racing toward 13,000.

Most of these infections and deaths have been recorded in the NCR, described by some health experts as the epicenter of the coronavirus in the country. The virus is said to have metamor-

The local government officials of the 16 cities and one town have agreed to implement a common curfew—checkpoints will be installed anew—to curb a surge in coronavirus infections in the national capital region.

There will, of course, be those exempted: Authorized persons outside residence, workers and individuals dealing with emergencies, health workers, uniformed personnel, LGU officials on duty, employees traveling to/from work, delivery services, and transport drivers.

phosed with some variants—two of them already in the Philippines—that experts say are far deadlier than the original.

The common curfew was announced

by Benhur Abalos, chief of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority during a news conference after the mayors’ meeting Thursday night.

Abalos said the Metro Manila Council, the policy-making body of the MMDA, drafted a resolution for the adoption of a common curfew after the meeting, with penalties imposed on different scales, depending on local ordinances. San Juan City, for instance, will impose P20,000 to P50,000 for curfew violators.

Before they agreed on the common curfew, the local chief executives were implementing different curfews, mostly starting at midnight but ending at different hours early on the following day.

We hope this will help hold back the virus from running riot.

An unorthodox choice for the presidency More often, it is difficult to accomplish the projects and policies of the government given the time set by the Constitution. It was the phobia of that hypocritical regime that forced them to discard the time-honored principle that democracy is rooted on the choice of the people to elect their leader and not to dictate how long he will stay in office.

BACKBENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN THE latest gig among political aficionados is the idea of floating President Duterte to run for vice-president with his favorite subaltern, Senator Bong Go, now taking the cudgels of running for President. The idea was first sounded out by former presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo.

Running for vice president is neither illegal nor unconstitutional. But it is but unpalatable to the tableau of most political matchmakers, just as it does not rhyme with the political compass of drumbeaters who look at politics as their sort of pastime.

The other choice floated by those who cling to the political raft of the Duterte administration is Davao City mayor Sara Duterte, the daughter of the P resident.

Both are floated by these modern-day political kingmakers to assure themselves of continuity. In either case, they are the trusted pillars of the Duterte administration, but neither can claim responsibility for building the colorful political career of the incumbent president.

The dilemma on whether to allow the President to run for a second term all boils down to the political hypocrisy that originated in the ideology of the Cory Aquino government, the founder of our wobbly democracy. What that lamentable government did was to make her interpretation of democracy: That an elected President should strictly serve only for one term, as set by her theocratic political architects.

To stay in office beyond the period stated in Section 4, Article VII is to violate the Constitution or to end up being accused as a dictator or an authoritarian. her constituent’s concerns during the pandemic, etc., then maybe he, or the respondents he and his staff had interviewed, may be living in another world in another dimension.

If indeed Belmonte was successful in her handling of the pandemic, then there would have been absolutely no chance for Quezon City to emerge as topnotcher with regard to the number of COVID-19 cases—the country’s ground zero for the pandemic.

According to the Department of Health, Quezon City has accumulated a total of 46,842 COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic. As of March 11, Quezon City has 3,370 active cases, still the highest, with 2,729 cases in the last 14 days, again the highest in the land.

So, are the respondents not aware of this?

On the contrary, instead of being hailed as the top-performing mayor in Metro Manila, Belmonte should be asked to explain the discrepancy in the DoH’s COVID-19 figure for Quezon City as against the reporting of her administration.

The Quezon City COVID-19 website states that the city has 34,897 total cases since the pandemic began, with 2,317

It is only political continuity that could bring about stability.

Today, we see corrupt political leaders whose loyalty is not to the electorate but to the various interest groups that financed their candidacy. They make a political circus for the political gamblers to bet.

Even projects designed to bring about development are shortcuts to accommodate the interest groups that allotted their capital to make sure that profit is generated. Even courts are dragged into this vicious form of corruption by their unbridled issuance of restraining orders to honest-to-goodness bidders on worthy projects that the President himself already voiced out his concern about this corruption in the judiciary.

Even in the reformatted ideology of socialism, it is now an accepted fact that it is not the period of time that makes a great leader but what he has accomplished for the people. It is this criterion on why Duterte is trying his best to unshackle the country from the various interest groups that retard progress and prosperity to our people.

Political aficionados opted to re-craft Section 4, Article VII of the Constitution to allegedly shower this country with a system of their dilapidated democracy. Instead, we only sank deeper into the sinkcases still active. Both figures are lower than the DoH’s official tally.

And if this is a case of under-reporting just to show she is effectively handling the pandemic, then this is not helping.

How can the situation be addressed if the people are being given a wrong ground situationer by no less than the local government? You can only offer a solution based on the report being given.

And under-reporting a problem could result in two things: First, Quezon City would not be prioritized in the assistance the national government would provide given the impression the local government is handling the situation well. And second, the people would become complacent, seeing the number of cases going down.

Belmonte should be made to explain this.

So, where does the recognition fit in?

Actually, there is also one detail in the survey result that I find hard to comprehend.

According to RPMD Inc., Belmonte received the highest approval rating among its residents at 86 percent. However, it added the respondents were also asked if they will vote or will not vote for their mayor if they will run for re-election and

hole, with our election becoming a collector of political dregs and demagogues.

Gradually, the country deteriorated such that today we stand as a helpless mendicant ashamed to even assert our sovereignty and independence. Duterte as leader is now entrapped in that bogus democracy inoculated with that same virus of hypocrisy doing his best to re-craft the Constitution to allow him to continue his projects. Should he accept his fate of retiring all his projects will be thrown to waste in the name of political vengeance. Both his political enemies and errand-boys of foreign interest groups will be glad to see this legacy branded as grandiose and extravagance, just like that they did to the past administration.

As some political observers noted, the dilemma that now confronts the Duterte administration is not only a question of continuity but on how to make that continuity work and acceptable to our people. The Duterte administration should bear in mind that the process of consolidation, which many believe has not yet been attained, continues to gnaw at his government. The good-for-nothing and corrupt administration that pretends to be democratic has implanted the foundation to keep the country forever wobbly and begging for foreign interference.

His vice president, Leni Robredo and all those who surround her describe the Duterte government as murderous and authoritarian. She has nothing positive to say about the government where she draws her salary regularly; by some twist of fate she might just end up ruling this God-forsaken land. By then she would be the only President who continues to badmouth her country and its people. She has even managed to have a stooge in the judiciary to sustain her weird theory that what happened was an act of God to whitewash the massive electoral fraud she committed.

Belmonte only got 76 percent approval and voters’ preference.

So, what happened to the 10-percent differential? After deciding Belmonte was the best, they have opted not to vote for her?

My apologies to RPMD Inc., but everything just won’t jibe.

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World

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Beijing defends legal moves vs. HK critics to ‘end chaos’ CHINA’S plans for electoral reform in Hong Kong, coupled with the imposition of a security law, amount to a “combination of punches” to quell unrest in the southern city, a top Beijing official said Friday.

Hong Kong was rocked by massive and sometimes violent pro-democracy protests in 2019 against Beijing’s encroachment on its unique freedoms.

The Chinese government has since cracked down on the opposition, arresting dozens of activists and smothering the street movement with a draconian national security law.

On Thursday it moved to ensure only “patriots” run the city, when an annual rubber-stamp parliament voted for sweeping changes to Hong Kong’s electoral system—including powers to veto candidates.

The plan was swiftly pilloried by the US, EU and Britain, the city’s former colonial ruler which handed control of the territory to Beijing in 1997 under a special “one country, two systems” ar-

rangement.

A Beijing official in charge of Hong Kong policy told reporters Friday the “chaos” of recent years showed that the city’s electoral system has “clear loopholes and shortcomings.”

Alongside the national security law, the move represents “a combination of punches, to... effectively manage the ongoing chaos,” said Zhang Xiaoming, of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office.

The problem in Hong Kong is a “political one,” he said, repeating anoftenused—but unproven—allegation by Beijing that outside forces are fomenting disruption in the financial hub.

“It is a contest between a seizure of power and countering the seizure, subversion and counter-subversion, infiltration and counterinfiltration,” Zhang said. “We have no room for concession on this issue.”

At its annual congress last year, the Communist Party leadership approved the national security law that has since seen dozens of campaigners prosecuted or jailed. AFP

FOR LORD SHIVA. Hindu devotees carry milk pots as they take part in a procession to mark the Hindu Maha Shivratri festival in Chennai on March 12, 2021. AFP

Britons advised to flee Myanmar

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RITAIN on Friday advised its citizens to flee Myanmar, as a UN expert warned the junta is likely committing “crimes against humanity” in its attempt to stay in power.

The military authorities are cracking down with increasing severity on daily protests against their February 1 coup, with at least 70 people killed according to

the UN’s top rights expert on the country.

The turmoil prompted Britain, the country’s former colonial ruler, to urge its citizens to get out if they could, warning that “political tension and unrest are widespread since the military takeover and levels of violence are rising.”

“The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advises British nationals to leave the country by commercial means, unless there is an urgent need to stay,” the British foreign ministry said.

The move comes after Thomas Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on

human rights in Myanmar, gave a stark assessment of the crisis.

The country is “controlled by a murderous, illegal regime” that was likely committing “crimes against humanity,” Andrews told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

These crimes likely include “acts of murder, enforced disappearance, persecution, torture” carried out with “the knowledge of senior leadership,” including junta leader Min Aung Hlaing, Andrews said.

While stressing that such offences can

only be determined in a court of law, he said there was clear evidence that the junta’s crimes were “widespread” and part of a “coordinated campaign.”

Thursday saw at least nine protesters killed in different parts of the country, including six in central Myanmar’s Myaing township—five of them shot in the head, according to a witness.

Rights group Amnesty International released a major report on the crisis on Thursday, accusing the junta of using battlefield weapons on unarmed protestors and carrying out premeditated killings. AFP

Biden holds 1st summit with Japan, India, and Australia US PRESIDENT Joe Biden on Friday holds the first-ever four-way summit with the leaders of Australia, India and Japan, ramping up efforts to cement alliances as concerns grow over a rising China.

In a flurry of diplomacy, Japan announced that Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will become the first foreign leader to see Biden in person, a sign of the primacy the new US leader attaches to allies.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are also paying a joint visit next week to both Japan and South Korea on their first foreign travel, with Austin continuing on to India.

Blinken and the US national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, will then meet later next week in Alaska with top Chinese officials in what the Biden administration has promised to be a blunt airing of US concerns.

Friday’s four-way summit, while virtual, will mark the first time that leaders of the United States, Japan, India and Australia have met together following more than a decade of meetings at lower levels of the socalled “Quad.”

The summit comes at a time that all four democracies see relations deteriorate with China, which in the past year engaged in a deadly clash with Indian forces in the Himalayas, has stepped up activity near islands administered

by Japan and has imposed sanctions on Australian products following a series of disputes. AFP

IN BRIEF Twins being born at ‘all-time high’ MORE twins—almost one in 40 children—are being born than ever before, according to research published Friday, citing the rapid rise in medically assisted reproduction as a major factor.

More than 1.6 million twins are now being born every year, researchers said in a paper published in the scientific journal Human Reproduction.

“The relative and absolute numbers of twins in the world are higher than they have ever been since the mid-twentieth century and this is likely to be an all-time high,” Professor Christiaan Monden, of the University of Oxford (UK), one of the study’s authors, said.

The rise of assisted reproductive technology (ART) in developed countries since the 1970s contributed to the rise in multiple births, they said, as did mothers giving birth at an older age, when twinning rates are higher.

Increased use of contraception, women choosing to start families later in life, and lower overall fertility were also responsible.

Researchers gathered data from 135 countries from 2010-2015 for the study.

The rates of twin births were highest in Africa, they said, citing “genetic differences” between the continent and the rest of the world. AFP

2nd Sanofi vax human trials start

HIGH-END DINING. People dine around a table suspended by a crane at 50 meters above the ground, at the Dinner in the Sky restaurant, in the Gulf emirate, on March 11, 2021. AFP

Aussie defense chief settles defamation case AUSTRALIA’S defense minister settled a defamation case Friday with a former staffer who was allegedly raped in her parliamentary office, after calling the woman a “lying cow.”

Brittany Higgins, 26, who last month came forward with allegations she was raped by a colleague in the minister’s office, issued a statement noting minister Linda Reynolds had apologized and settled the case.

“I am pleased that the Minister has now withdrawn her comments and I accept her apology to me,” Higgins said.

“This has been an immensely challenging period for me and I wish to reiterate the only reason I have chosen to come forward is to help others.”

Higgins launched the defamation case after Reynolds’ comments to staff leaked to the press.

The minister also released a statement Friday retracting the comment and repeating an earlier apology.

“Given that the comment was made public, which I never intended, I also want to retract it and unreservedly apologise to Brittany Higgins and acknowledge the hurt and distress it caused to her,” Reynolds said.

Although details of the amount to be paid by Reynolds were not disclosed, Higgins said any money beyond her legal costs would be donated to an organization that supports survivors of sexual assault.

The settlement follows weeks of pressure on Australia’s conservative government over several revelations and allegations about the conduct of top officials in Canberra.

Reynolds is just one of two senior

cabinet ministers currently on health leave after being caught up in separate rape allegations.

Attorney General Christian Porter is accused of raping a 16-year-old fellow student in 1988, an allegation he denies.

The woman who made the allegation died last year of suspected suicide, effectively precluding a police investigation into the rape allegation.

Calls for an independent inquiry into her accusations have been rejected by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, fuelling criticism that a “toxic culture” pervades Parliament House.

Thousands are expected to attend protests around the country on Monday amid growing anger over the government’s response to the various allegations. AFP

FRENCH pharmaceutical firm Sanofi on Friday announced the launch of human trials of its second Covid-19 vaccine, with its first still in the testing phase after having fallen behind in development.

Sanofi and US company Translate Bio are developing the vaccine based on messenger RNA technology.

The phase 1 and 2 trials aim to verify that the vaccine is not dangerous and to provide initial information on its effectiveness.

Phase 3 would be carried out on many more patients to determine its effectiveness.

The first trials will include 415 people, with initial results expected in the third quarter.Messenger RNA technology is also used in the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, already authorized in the European Union, the United States and elsewhere.

It is the second vaccine developed by Sanofi against the coronavirus.

An earlier candidate, developed with Britain’s GSK, is recombinant proteinbased, but its development is several months behind schedule and testing is only in phase 2, with hopes to launch it in late 2021. AFP

New York governor faces impeachment inquiry

REMEMBRANCE. A visitor takes pictures of paper lanterns at the ‘Washi candle garden’ —a memorial to send messages from Tohoku region, in Roppongi district of Tokyo on March 11, 2021, the 10th anniversary of the 9.0-magnitude earthquake which triggered a tsunami and nuclear disaster. AFP

EMBATTLED New York Governor Andrew Cuomo found licly called for his resignation. himself under increasing risk of impeachment over allegaAfter meeting with lawmakers, Democratic assembly speaker tions of sexual harassment Thursday when the Democratic Carl Heastie said Thursday he was “authorizing the Assembly head of the state assembly – until now a key ally – green- Judiciary Committee to begin an impeachment investigation”— lighted a formal investigation of the claims. the first step towards an eventual impeachment.

Since the end of February, the 63-year-old Cuomo, whose “The reports of accusations concerning the governor are sethird term is due to expire in 2022, has been under scrutiny rious,” Heastie said in a statement. “The committee will have after five women accused him of sexual harassment or inap- the authority to interview witnesses, subpoena documents and propriate behavior. evaluate evidence.” AFP But on Wednesday, the Times Union – a newspaManila per in the state capital Albany—reported explosive NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION DYNALEAD FIRST CORP. Standard claims that Cuomo put his hand under the blouse of TODAY Notice is hereby given that the Amended Articles of DYNALEAD FIRST CORP. a female staffer and touched her “aggressively” at the with the TIN of 009-888-125-000, shortening the term of its existence and thereby dissolving the said corporation as of February 8, 2021. a Balance Sheet showing end of 2020 in his private residence. that no creditors thereof will be affected by such dissolution, have been filed with the Aides to the powerful governor, who made a name Securities and Exchange Commission. All persons having claims against the corporation are required to present the same at its principal office at UNIT 2119, HERERA for himself last year as a straight-talking pragmatist in TOWER RUFINO COR. VALERO ST. SALCEDO VILLAGE BEL-AIR MAKATI CITY the first onslaught of the coronavirus pandemic, were for immediate settlement. obliged to notify the police of those claims, a spokesThis announcement will serve as a notice to all parties concerned of the legal dissolution of the said corporation. man told AFP. The allegations prompted 59 Democratic lawmakMakati City. Philippines. February 8, 2021 ers from the state assembly—which has a total of 213 GISELLE MAE LETRAN GONZALES members, most of them from Cuomo’s Democratic Corporate Secretary Party—to join dozens of Republicans who have pub(MS-FEB. 27/MAR. 6/13, 2021)

Business UK economy sinks on virus curbs, Brexit trade regime LONDON—Britain’s economy hit reverse in January on renewed coronavirus curbs while the nation’s post-Brexit EU goods exports suffered a record collapse, official data showed Friday.

Gross domestic product shrank 2.9 percent after 1.2-percent growth in December, the Office for National Statistics said in a statement, with heavy falls in services, production and manufacturing on COVID-19 restrictions.

“The economy took a notable hit in January with retail, restaurants, schools and hairdressers all affected by the latest lockdown,” said ONS statistician Jonathan Athow.

“Manufacturing also saw its first decline since April, with car manufacturing falling significantly,” he said, adding that the health sector was boosted by COVID testing and vaccines.

The export of goods to the EU tanked by 41 percent to £5.6 billion ($7.8 billion, 6.5 billion euros) in January from December, in the first month since Britain’s final Brexit divorce.

The value of EU goods imported into Britain also sank, by a record 29 percent or £6.6 billion.

However, the British government described the performance as “inevitable” due to various factors, adding that freight levels have since returned to normal.

“A unique combination of factors, including stockpiling last year, COVID lockdowns across Europe, and businesses adjusting to our new trading relationship, made it inevitable that exports to the EU would be lower this January than last,” said a government spokesperson. AFP

Market gains slightly; DITO, AC Energy climb

T

HE stock market ended virtually flat Friday, with cautious investors capping gains at the close of trading after Metro Manila mayors agreed to a long curfew hours to stem the rise in COVID-19 infections.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 9.37 points, or 0.1 percent, to 6,728.55 on a value turnover of P6.9 billion. Gainers beat losers, 108 to 99, withy 60 issues unchanged.

DITO CME Holdings Inc., the third major mobile phone company, advanced 8.4 percent to P11.38, while AC Energy Corp., a unit of conglomerate Ayala Corp., rose 3.2 percent to P7.10.

Alliance Global Group Inc., the holding firm of tycoon Andrew Tan, climbed

2.4 percent to P10.94, while major property developer Ayala Land Inc. added 1.1 percent to P37.

The rest of Asian markets mostly rose Friday following more records in New York and Wall Street after Joe Biden finally signed his enormous stimulus into law, while fears over inflation and a possible interest rate hike subsided for now.

Less than two months after taking office, the new president on Thursday put his name to the $1.9-trillion rescue plan that paves the way for a spending splurge that is widely seen as ramping up domestic and global growth.

The package—which includes up to $1,400 in cash handouts, extended unemployment benefits and various other aid programs—comes as the government pushes ahead with a vaccine drive that will allow lockdowns to be eased and life to return to a semblance of normality.

Wall Street welcomed the news with

the Dow and S&P 500 ending at new records, while the Nasdaq, which has been battered by a sell-off in tech firms, piled on more than two percent.

Tokyo jumped 1.7 percent, while Shanghai, Seoul, Wellington and Jakarta also added more than one percent while Sydney, Taipei and Mumbai were also in positive territory.

“Global markets continued to revel in the afterglow of President Biden pulling off one of the most significant legislative accomplishments of all time, securing a $1.9-trillion spending bill that will undoubtedly help spur the global economy,” said Axi’s Stephen Innes.

Hong Kong fell deep into the red after recent gains as market heavyweight Tencent was hit by an anti-monopoly fine by China that fueled fears it was next on the list of targets for mainland authorities looking to reel in the country’s tech giants. There were also losses in Singapore and Mumbai. With AFP

PSEi March 12, 2021

TOP GAINERS LAST PRICE

% CHANGE CHANGE

1 2

LRW SGP

2.05 345.8

0.5 32.8

32.26% 10.48%

3

BKR

1.77

0.14

8.59%

4

DITO

11.38

0.88

8.38%

5 6

ARA KEP

1.32 3.01

0.1 0.21

8.20% 7.50%

7

ZHI

0.224

0.015

7.18%

8 9

LAND I

1.07 1.48

0.07 0.08

7.00% 5.71%

10

MFC

950

50

5.56%

TOP LOSERS LAST PRICE

% CHANGE CHANGE

1 2

MAHB ANS

2.51 6.6

-0.38 -0.85

-13.15% -11.41%

3

SPM

2.22

-0.23

-9.39%

4 5

SFIP RLT

1.83 0.27

-0.14 -0.02

-7.11% -6.90%

6

CEI

0.131

-0.008

-5.76%

7

IS

0.154

-0.009

-5.52%

8 9 10

DAVIN SLI MVC

3.5 2.15 4.25

-0.2 -0.12 -0.21

-5.41% -5.29% -4.71%

MOST ACTIVE

IMF: US stimulus offers huge lift to global economy WASHINGTON—US President Joe Biden’s stimulus program is being hailed as both boosting domestic growth and spurring the global recovery, but the IMF warned that policymakers will need to be alert to risks posed by the massive spending as well as low interest rates.

The package, which Biden signed into law on Thursday, will inject $1.9 trillion in aid into the pandemicdamaged economy by funding small businesses, extending unemployment benefits that were due to expire in days, and sending direct payments of as much as $1,400 to many Americans starting this month.

That spending will expand US GDP by five to six percent over three years, according to the IMF’s preliminary estimates.

And higher demand will help other countries sell more products to American consumers, the fund’s spokesman Gerry Rice told reporters Thursday.

“We see potentially significant positive spillovers in terms of global growth,” he said. “Most countries should benefit from stronger US demand... so this will help global growth and recovery.”

However, he cautioned that with low interest rates, policymakers worldwide should be on the alert for a sudden shift in borrowing costs.

That has been a growing concern for financial markets in recent weeks as accelerating COVID-19 vaccine rollouts offer hope of a rapid recovery, but also sparked fears that growth could ignite an inflationary spiral that would force the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates sooner than expected.

The concerns have sent stock markets reeling in recent sessions, especially tech shares, which are more likely to be hindered by rising lending rates.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell has repeatedly tried to calm financial markets, saying that policymakers have no intention of reining in stimulus or raising the benchmark interest rate until inflation is holding solidly above two percent and employment has recovered.

He acknowledged that inflation could jump this year compared to the depressed rates during the pandemic restrictions in 2020, but said those price spikes are likely to be “transitory.” AFP

B3

SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

BARGAIN SALE. People leave a Go Sport store, on March 11, 2021 center of Nantes, western France. The Rallye company, owner of Casino group and Go Sport, announced negotiations to sell the Go Sport brand for ‘one Euro’ to an investment fund. AFP

Strange days for rare foreign tourists in Paris

By Joseph Schmid and Guillaume Bonnet

PARIS, France—Long walks, no crowds and maybe a church or two: Despite missing out on museums and brasseries, the few foreign tourists in Paris are discovering sides of a city they could hardly have imagined before the COVID crisis hit one of the world’s most popular destinations.

For Ginevra Morello, a student from Milan, it meant a chance for her and a friend to check off an item on their bucket list—have their portrait done by an artist on the Place du Tertre, the famed square perched at the top of the former village of Montmartre.

“Before there were so many people who wanted to do it, and now there are not so many people, so it’s an occasion for us,” Morello told AFP as birds chirped in the crisp sunshine—a sound usually drowned out by chattering throngs on the cobblestones.

She would have liked to mark the occasion with a celebratory drink in one of the postcard-perfect cafes, which like restaurants are closed.

“It’s a pity because I think the most beautiful thing in Paris is to visit the locals, the cafes and the bars,” she said.

Instead, foreigners find themselves strolling the streets, admiring the architecture of monuments they cannot visit inside, and making sure they get back in time for the 6:00 p.m. curfew.

“It’s a little sad that there are so few people—you can tell that mostly it’s

People gather on the banks of the River Seine near Notre Dame Cathedral (left), on a sunny afternoon in Paris, on March 6, 2021, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. AFP

the French visiting,” said Paul Vida, an automotive quality control manager from Quebec, after touring the Sacre-Coeur Basilica.

His strategy: Just pick a place and go, without worrying if it’s closed or not, and make sure to get back before curfew— “otherwise it’s a 135-euro fine!”

‘Appreciate the little things’ While shopping remains an option at smaller boutiques, the grand department stores like the Galeries Lafayette that usually draw tourists by the busload have been closed as a precaution.

But for many foreigners, the lack of fellow travelers makes taking in the sights all the more enjoyable.

“It’s kind of private—everything is closed and it’s really quiet,” said Christine Jouard, who came from Manila with her French husband to visit the city for the first time.

They were taking their time to find the perfect angle for a family picture in front of the Arc de Triomphe on the ChampsElysees, a spot where hundreds of people usually jostle for a clear shot.

Jouard acknowledged that eating takeaway meals on a bench was fine as long as skies stayed clear, but the weather can’t help with one thing: “For bathrooms, it was really a struggle to find some place!”

Niall Carden, a 21-year-old Erasmus student from Ireland who studies in western France, concurred that “public toilets are limited, very limited.”

“But the views!” he said on the nearly empty steps of the Trocadero gardens, gazing at the Eiffel Tower rising

majestically across the Seine.

“I know, the pub life, the restaurant life is very sad, and even the fact that you can’t go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, that’s a bit frustrating, but you do have to appreciate the little things,” he said.

“To be honest, it’s quite quiet and a lot more peaceful. I kind of prefer it this way.”

‘A bit weird’ Last month, foreign clients made up just four percent of bookings at hotels currently open, according to the Paris Region association of tourism professionals.

That translates into an average revenue drop of 73 percent for hotels compared to the same month last year, the association said—a figure that climbs to 88 percent for hotels in Paris proper.

People still willing to come despite the closures and curfew face the additional expense of producing a negative COVID test upon entry into France, and usually when going back home.

In return, they get a chance to see the city a way few ever will: In 2019, before the crisis hit, Paris and the surrounding Ile-de-France region attracted 50 million visitors, a figure slashed by two-thirds last year.

“It feels like I own Paris!” said Ivan Vdovicic, a 27-year-old optician from Switzerland, while enjoying an outdoor coffee at the Trocadero with a friend.

“It’s a bit weird that there are so few people on the streets,” he admitted.

“That’s why I’ll be coming back to Paris when normality is back.” AFP

1

DITO

VOLUME 144173400

VALUE (PHP) 1627760936

2 3

BPI PHA

4018570 124809000

322839955.5 305539030

4 5

ALI APL

8230600 1353570000

302769860 280747700

6 7

ACEN BDO

37534900 2289220

265693087 239301700

8 9

AC TEL

213140 122320

164130610 160637210

10

ICT

1215660

153993302

China denies $1-b penalty for Alibaba in monopoly case BEIJING—China denied on Friday it was planning to hit e-commerce giant Alibaba with a fine of almost $1 billion for allegedly flouting monopoly rules, as authorities put the screws on the firm as part of a crackdown on the technology sector.

Officials are considering a hefty penalty that could top the $975 million paid by US chipmaker Qualcomm in 2015—the biggest known for anticompetitive practices in China—the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing unnamed “people with knowledge of the matter.”

But the regulator in charge of the case told AFP there was no truth to the story.

“If it’s not there (on our website), it’s not (true),” a spokeswoman for the State Administration for Market Regulation said.

Alibaba, China’s largest online shopping portal, has been in the crosshairs of authorities in recent months over concerns of its reach into the daily finances of ordinary Chinese people.

Its legal troubles began after comments in October by billionaire founder Jack Ma in which he laid into China’s convoluted regulatory system.

In November, financial regulators pulled the plug on the record $35-billion Hong Kong-Shanghai initial public offering of Alibaba’s online payment subsidiary Ant Group.

A month later, officials opened an investigation into Alibaba’s business practices, deemed anti-competitive, and Ma disappeared from public view until mid-January.

The company based in the eastern city of Hangzhou said it was “fully cooperating” with the investigation by the State Administration for Market Regulation last month.

Regulators are also investigating whether the conglomerate should divest assets unrelated to its main online retail business, the Journal reported without offering details.

An Alibaba spokesperson declined to comment on the report when contacted

by AFP. The company has come under fire in the past for allegedly forbidding its merchants from listing on rival e-commerce platforms.

Once finalized, measures against Alibaba will need to be approved by China’s top leadership. AFP

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

B4

SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2021

PSE INDEX CLOSING Friday, March 12, 2021

9.37 PTS. 6,728.55

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

3,405,504,540 152,144 6,870,007,343.61 108 99 60

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.5190

Japan

Yen

0.009217

0.4472

UK

Pound

1.399400

67.8975

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128891

6.2537

Switzerland

Franc

1.082017

52.4984

Canada

Dollar

0.798339

38.7346

Singapore

Dollar

0.746603

36.2244

Australia

Dollar

0.778700

37.7817

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655055

128.8206

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266652

12.9377

Brunei

Dollar

0.743826

36.0897

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000069

0.0033

Thailand

Baht

0.032744

1.5887

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.2104

Euro

Euro

1.198800

58.1646

Korea

Won

0.000885

0.0429

China

Yuan

0.153976

7.4708

India

Rupee

0.013757

0.6675

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.243605

11.8195

New Zealand

Dollar

0.722500

35.0550

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035595

1.7270 Source: BSP

Aboitiz infra unit allocates P13b to fund ‘21 projects

Business January exports, imports shrank on lingering impact of pandemic

By Julito G. Rada

E

XPORTS and imports contracted in January on the lingering impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the global trade.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed Friday merchandise export sales amounted to $5.49 billion in January, down 5.2 percent from $5.8 billion a year ago. The figure was a reversal of an annual increase of 1.7 percent in December and 9.4-percent growth in January 2020.

The PSA said of the top 10 major commodity groups in terms of value, four recorded annual decreases led by fresh bananas (-46.9 percent). This was followed by other manufactured goods (-12.8 percent); machinery and transport equipment (-11.9 percent), and coconut oil (-11.7 percent).

By commodity group, electronic products continued to be the top export with total earnings of $3.24 billion. This amount accounted for 59.1 percent of the total exports in January 2021.

Meanwhile, imports tumbled 14.9 percent in January to $7.91 billion from $9.3 billion a year earlier. This represented 21 consecutive months of negative growth since May 2019.

Data also showed that the annual decline was lower at -8.2 percent in December.

The PSA said the annual decrement of imported goods in January was due to the decrease in nine of the top 10 major import commodities. The annual rate of decline was fastest in industrial machinery and equipment (-36.9 percent), followed by transport equipment (-36.8 percent), and mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (-33.6 percent).

ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa said the sustained drop in imports highlighted the negative impact of the recession, with the 14.8-percent drop in capital goods mirroring falling capital formation and the 12.9-percent contraction in consumer goods reflecting fast-fading household consumption.

“The ongoing slump in imports suggests that growth pains for the Philippines will be around for some time with the sustained drop in capital goods and raw materials suggesting that potential output is falling as well,” Mapa said.

He said demand for heavy machineries for construction, commercial aircraft and road vehicles fell sharply, which would dent capital formation and cap any recovery effort for an economy still struggling with recession.

The country’s total external trade in goods in January amounted to $13.40 billion, down 11.1 percent from the same month last year. This was faster than the annual decrease in the previous month of -4.2 percent.

The country incurred a trade-in-goods deficit of $2.42 billion in January, down 30.9 percent a year ago.

Exports tumbled 10.1 percent in 2020 to $63.77 billion, while imports fell 23.3 percent to $85.61 billion.

By Darwin G. Amojelar ABOITIZ InfraCapital Inc. said Friday said it is spending more than P13 billion this year for the rollout of various projects, including telecommunication towers.

The company’s 2021 capital expenditure represent a 250-percent increase from P3.7 billion it spent in 2020.

“COVID-19 may have affected our short-term plans, but we remain committed to our businesses, and to the same growth pathway and trajectory,” Sabin Aboitiz, president and chief executive of Aboitiz Group, said.

“We are here for the long haul and we will continue to take bold and deliberate steps to achieve our growth objectives,” he said.

The company said to support the government’s thrust to improve digital connectivity in the country, the company would spend about P2.5 billion for passive digital infrastructure this year.

This involves ramping up the deployment of mobile network operators’ small cells into its pole network and the construction of macro towers.

An Aboitiz InfraCapital subsidiary secured a certificate of registration as an independent tower company from the Department of Information Communications and Technology in February. The subsidiary is now working on the rollout of pilot towers with MNOs. Meanwhilethe company said P6.5 billion or majority of the capex would go to water projects, particularly for the construction of Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc.’s bulk water supply project with Davao City Water District.

Once operational, Apo Agua can provide at least 300 million liters of treated water daily to more than 1 million Davaoeños, making it one of the largest bulk water supply projects in the country.

Aboitiz InfraCapital also budgeted P2.8 billion for land acquisition and redevelopment efforts to consolidate its foothold in existing assets and transform its industrial parks into smart and fully integrated economic centers.

The company allocated about P1.2 billion to fund the development of other projects in the pipeline.

GLOBAL BUSINESS DONATION.

Global Business Power Corp., through subsidiaries Cebu Energy Development Corp., Toledo Power Co., Panay Energy Development Corp. and Panay Power Corp., distribute food packs to the local government units of Toledo City in Cebu, Iloilo City in Iloilo province and the municipalities of Nabas and New Washington in Aklan and hospital fixtures in Toledo to support efforts in combating the adverse effects of COVID-19.

Makati subway firm finds new partner, begins land purchases

By Jenniffer B. Austria PHILIPPINE Infradev Holdings Inc. said Friday it started purchasing properties for the development of the main station of the Makati’s underground rail system following the signing of a joint venture partnership between unit Makati City Subway Inc. and real estate and gaming entrepreneur Kevin Kristopher Wong.

Philippine Infradev said in a disclosure to the stock exchange whollyowned subsidiary MCSI formed an unincorporated joint venture with Richer Today Inc., which is owned by Wong, for the financing, design, construction, development, marketing and sale of some 5.5 hectares of lots in and around Station 5 of the Makati City Subway Project.

Located near Makati City Hall, Station 5 is the main construction site where tunnel boring machines will be assembled and lowered, the company said.

RTI is a holding firm engaged in property acquisitions, fund transfers, remittance services, foreign exchange transactions and other allied activities.

The company has investments and interests in property development, leasing of office and commercial spaces, food and beverages and other related businesses.

Under the term sheet agreement, RTI agreed to release at least P775 million within 120 days from signing, including P234 million within 10 business days from the execution of the agreement.

The firm will also be primarily and exclusively responsible for the marketing and sale of the gross sellable areas of the project, subject to the applicable laws and requirements.

MCSI said it already paid P780 million for land acquisitions in preparation for the arrival of the tunnel boring machines, which are being assembled in China.

IN BRIEF Volkswagen PH to launch T-Cross

NEW CALAX SECTION. Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar (second from right) leads the inspection of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway Subsection 5 from Santa Rosa, Laguna to Silang, Cavite. The 7.7-kilometer segment is scheduled to open by the third quarter of 2021. With Villar are (from left) DPWH Public-Private-Participation Services director Alex Bote, MPCALA Holdings Inc. vice president for tollways development Art Monge and Build, Build, Build Committee chair Ana Mae Lamentillo.

PSE tightens regulation on backdoor listing, announces plan to collect P5m in listing fee THE Philippine Stock Exchange said Friday it is tightening backdoor listing rules to protect the interest of the investing public and maintain public confidence in the stock market.

A consultation paper posted on the PSE website showed the new requirements that aim to strengthen the bourse’s regulation of reverse takeovers or backdoor listing of unlisted companies that do not go through the initial listing process and are not subjected to the same level of scrutiny applied to companies conducting initial public offerings.

Among the salient amendments to the backdoor listing rules are the need for corporate approvals on backdoor listing that involves issuance of primary shares of the listed company and/or acquisition of assets and the conduct of a public offering of at least 10 percent of the issued and outstanding shares within a year from the completion of the backdoor listing.

The PSE said it would also charge a backdoor listing fee of P5 million.

Backdoor listing will be deemed to oc-

cur if the listed company, directly or indirectly, acquires the shares or assets of an unlisted company or person or group of persons or vice versa. The transactions that will result in change in control or de facto control of the listed company, or change in composition of the board of directors of the listed company or substantial change in the business of the listed company, will also be considered backdoor listing.

The transaction may also be deemed a backdoor listing if the acquisition of assets takes place within 24 months of such unlisted company, person or group of persons gaining control or acquiring a seat in the board of the listed company, which was then not regarded as backdoor listing.

The change in control takes place when the acquirer purchases more than 50 percent of the voting power of the listed company, while de facto control is obtained if the acquirer becomes the single largest substantial shareholder of the listed company after the transaction leading to the backdoor listing. Jenniffer B. Austria

Vivant Renewable investing P364m in solar company

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Vivant Group is expanding its renewable energy portfolio with its latest equity investment of P364 million into the Buskowitz Group, one of the country’s major players in rooftop solar projects.

Vivant Renewable Energy Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vivant Energy Corp., will acquire a 34.85-percent stake through a series of investments in Buskowitz Energy, a sustainable solutions enterprise specializing in rooftop solar photovoltaic installations.

The investment is part of the Vivant Group’s commitment to expand its renewable energy portfolio. VREC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vivant Energy Corp., the holding company for energy-related investments of publicly-listed Vivant Corporation.

“We give high importance to both supply security and sustainability in our investments. We study renewables as well as technologies that combine both conventional and renewable. In our projects in SPUG [small power utilities group] areas, we find hybrid technologies to be highly viable,” VREC president and chief executive Emil Andre Garcia said in a statement.

Buskowitz Energy chief executive James Buskowitz said VREC’s series of investments of up to P364 million would enable Buskowitz Energy to continue innovating and making a positive impact on the country’s development.

“At the end of the day, the benefits of harnessing the power of the sun goes beyond lowering costs. Sustainability is the true bottom line and sustainable development is the common future, where the needs of this generation must be met without compromising the needs and growth of future generations,” Buskowitz said.

Vivant and Buskowitz Energy expect to power more communities with renewable energy, offer sustainable solutions and create a low-carbon future for the Philippines.

VOLKSWAGEN Philippines said Friday it plans to bring a new model to the Philippine automotive market as part of efforts to regain opportunities lost in 2020 when the pandemic stalled automotive sales and almost all active businesses and enterprises.

Volkswagen president Felipe Estrella said Volkswagen T-Cross would be the brand’s first sub-compact sports utility vehicle to be brought to the Philippines.

“This is a car—a vehicle that the Philippines team have worked hard to secure and to bring to the Philippine shores. We’ll follow our way to zero campaign and adhere to the brand-new Volkswagen aspiration of being more than one thing,” Estrella said in a virtual briefing.

He said T-Cross would be available in the local market by the second quarter of 2021.

“If things materialize as planned, we hope to bring in another model in the third quarter and possibly a fourth one in the last quarter,” Estrella said. Othel V. Campos

2m farmers benefit from new rice program

MORE than 2 million rice farmers are now enjoying the initial benefits provided by the government under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund program, the Department of Agriculture said Friday.

“We are pleased to report for the first two years of implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law that created the RCEF, farmers are producing additional harvests, averaging 400 kilograms per hectare or roughly eight cavans [at 50 kilograms each], which is equivalent to an additional income of P7,000 per hectare,” said Agriculture Secretary William Dar. “This shows that with the use of certified seeds, adoption of modern technologies, and mechanizing land preparation, crop establishment and harvesting, farmers could attain incremental yields,” he said.

Rice farmers using traditional homesaved seeds can harvest an average of only 3.6 metric tons per hectare, while those planting certified inbred seeds under RCEF are now producing at least 4 MT/ha, according to DA National Integrated Rice Program director Dr. Dionisio Alvindia.

Othel V. Campos

NLEX to complete pavement repairs

NLEX Corp. said it plans to complete the pavement maintenance works at the North Luzon Expressway and Subic-Clark Tarlac Expressway by June this year.

NLEX Corp. president and general manager J. Luigi Bautista said the comprehensive pavement repairs were being done annually, covering the entire expressway, to ensure safe driving experience and improve the quality of service.

“Every year, we repave our roads portion by portion to make sure our motorists continue to experience safe and efficient travel. Our engineers regularly inspect the expressway and do the necessary repairs before serious damage takes place,” Bautista said.

The ongoing maintenance covers the 109,886-square-meter section of NLEX and 31,600-square meter section of SCTEX. The tollway company assured that minimal lane closures were being implemented while signs and other warning devices were installed to guide motorists passing the repair sites. Darwin G. Amojelar

Sports

Tabuena back with a bang GEN. TRIAS, Cavite—Miguel Tabuena broke a mediocre run of form with a twostroke victory in the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Challenge on a closing 68 yesterday, fighting back from three down off Justin Quiban with a frontside birdie-spurt then thwarting Zanieboy Gialon with clutch hits at Aoki course’s finishing holes here.

To say that he saved his best for last would be an understatement. For the former two-time Philippine Open champion and former Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit winner fumbled early but used his experience to rebound strong, producing four birdies in a seven-hole stretch from No. 3 to storm ahead.

As Quiban faded with a disastrous triple-bogey 7 on No. 13, Tabuena held sway and claimed a two-stroke victory on a birdie-birdie feat from No. 16, frustrating Gialon, who eagled the par-5 16th and birdied the next, no end.

“We just stuck to our game plan and everything worked pretty well for me,” said Tabuena, after nailing the victory on a 282 total worth P360,000, his first since ruling the Queen’s Cup of the Asian Tour in 2018.

“We knew Justin won’t gonna give up as well as Zanieboy. But I guess I have the experience, having played here a few times,” said Tabuena, who notched his second Phl Open at The Country Club in early 2018, his last local triumph before shifting his campaign abroad. “I was pretty familiar with the conditions and it wasn’t the hardest because the greens were actually in good shape and it was pretty easy to read the putts.”

Tabuena, who never figured in the title chase in PGT’s return in new normal at Riviera, actually fell by as many as three in the early going as Quiban turned a oneshot lead after 54 holes into a three-stroke cushion on a two-shot swing (birdiebogey) on No. 2. But he birdied Nos. 3, 5, 6 and 9 to wrest control then watched Quiban crumble on No. 13 before foiling Gialon’s charge at the finish.

Gialon, who threatened to within one after that eagle feat, closed out with a 70 and ended up second with a 284 worth P236,000 while Richard Sinfuego snatched third place with a 287 after a 72 and received P136,000.

Quiban, who took charge with a tournament-best 65 in the second round and stayed ahead despite a 73 Thursday, bounced back with a birdie on No. 15 but yielded the stroke on the next and ended up with a 75 and a 288 for fourth worth P106,000.

Michael Bibat, who tied for the lead halfway through the P2 million championship marking the start of the new ICTSI-sponsored circuit, failed to recover from a third round 76 and hobbled with a 74 for fifth at 290 while Jobim Carlos placed sixth at 291 after matching par 72.

Ira Alido, who dominated the stellar field to score a breakthrough at Riviera Langer, finally broke par 71 and could only tie for seventh at 292 with Rupert Zaragosa, who carded a 72.

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

SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2021

Miguel Tabuena, two-time Philippine Open champion and former Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit winner, held sway and claimed a two-stroke victory.

Jaworski leads Hall of Fame enshrinees

By Peter Atencio

B

ASKETBALL great Robert Jaworski, multi-titled swimmer Eric Buhain and track superstar Elma Muros-Posadas lead the fourth batch of athletes to be enshrined in the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame.

The final list of enshrinees a heptathlon champion, were decided Friday morna former member of the ing following a meeting of Philippine national athletthe the Philippine Sports ics team and is considered Hall of Fame (PSHOF) Sea legend for her tireless lection Committee. effort in the field of long Jaworski is widely rejump. garded as one of the best and The other enshrinees most popular players in the are football player Paulino Philippine Basketball AssoAlcantara, basketball and ciation. He was the playing fooball coach Dionisio coach of the national men’s Robert Jaworski Calvo, bowler Arianne basketball team that clinched Cerdena, trackster Rogelio the silver medal in the 1990 Asian Games. Onofre, and boxers Leopoldo Serrantes Buhain, is a champion swimmer who and Roel Velasco. has won several Southeast Asian Games Philippine Sports Commission chairmedals for the Philippines and has seen man William Ramirez and Philippine action in the 1988 and 1992 Summer Olympic Committee president Abraham Olympics.

“Bambol” Tolentino discussed the enMuros-Posadas, known as the “Long shrinees with committee members which Jump Queen” of the Philippines, was also included Games and Amusement Board

Chairman Abraham Mitra, Philippine Football Federation Secretary General Atty. Ed Gastanes, Philcycling Secretary General Atty. Billy Sumagui, Philippine Olympians Association President Akiko Thompson-Guevara and University Athletic Assocition of the Philippines Executive Director Atty. Rene Andrei Saguisag Jr. “I definitely appreciate the work of the committee for this recognition of our sports heroes which is an inspiration to all,” said Tolentino.

The Review Committee included sportswriters from various publications like Ed Andaya (Peoples Tonight), Joe Antonio (Peoples Journal), Rey Bancod (Daily Tribune), Dodo Catacutan (Spin.ph), Quinito Henson (Philippine Star), Tessa Jazmines (Business Mirror), Jun Lomibao (Business Mirror) and Tito Talao (Bulletin) Details will be announced later. Enshrinees will receive P200,000 each, plus the PSHOF trophy “It was a journey of discovery. I would like to thank everyone for all their work.

It is very enriching for me to be part of these awards. I am pleased with the choices of both the review and selection committees,” said Ramirez.

Eala, 2 boxing champs major PSA awardees A YOUNG tennis prodigy and two world champions comprise the short list of major awardees to be recognized during the SMC-PSA (Philippine Sportswriters Association) virtual Awards Night two weeks from now.

Alex Eala and boxing world title holders Johnriel Casimero and Pedro Taduran made it to the 2020 honor roll of the country’s oldest media organization, headed by President Tito S. Talao, sports editor of the Manila Bulletin.

The traditional Awards Night, being held virtually for the first time in PSA history, will be on March 27 at the TV5 Media Center and co-presented by the Philippine Sports Commission and Cignal TV, with 1-Pacman Partylist and Rain or Shine as major backers.

Lady golfer Yuka Saso is the consensus choice as 2020 Athlete of the Year, an award solely bestowed by the 72-year-old media group.

Eala, 15, was among the few bright

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spots for Philippine sports during the pandemic after bagging her maiden grand slam juniors’ title by winning the Australian Open girls’ doubles tournament together with Indonesian partner Priska Madelyn Nugroho, beating the pair of Slovenian Ziza Falkner and Britain’s Matilda Mutavdzic in the final.

The charming teener later reached the semifinals of the French Open girls singles, but lost to hometown bet Elsa Jacquemot. Her strong showing in both grand slam tournaments had the Filipina netter rising to as high as no. 2 in the girls’ junior rankings by the end of the year.

A full scholar at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain, Eala has since turned pro, campaigning in various meets around Europe that allowed her to achieve a current WTA singles ranking of 763.

Casimero made noise last year by successfully retaining his World Boxing Organization bantamweight title against Duke Micah of Ghana at the Mohegan

Eala

Sun Arena in Connecticut.

Originally set to duke out with unbeaten Japanese champion Naoya

Inoue in a title unification match, the 31-year-old pride of Ormoc saw his dream match go up in smoke after it was twice postponed due to the outbreak of the pandemic.

Micah, a last-minute replacement, then bore the brunt of Casimero’s wrath as the Filipino destroyed the 2012 Olympian in just three rounds to defend his 118-pound belt.

On the other hand, Taduran kept his International Boxing Federation minimumweight crown as he settled for a fourth-round technical draw against Mexican challenger Daniel Valladares in Guadalupe, Mexico shortly before the outbreak of the COVID-19.

It was the first title defense for Taduran, who scored a fourth-round stoppage of fellow Filipino Samuel Salva in Sept. 2019 to win the 105-pound version of the IBF. The 24-year-old native of Libon, Albay however, lost his title early this year with a unanimous decision loss to compatriot Rene Mark Cuarto.

PVL basks in run-up to pro league’s inaugurals TALK about visions becoming reality and the Premier Volleyball League sure is basking in the runup to the inaugurals of the country’s first-ever women’s volley pro league with the stars literally aligning for the league the past week.

And PVL president Ricky Palou is grateful for the trust given to him by F2 Logistics, Chery Tiggo and Sta. Lucia.

“We are delighted to have F2 Logistics, Chery Tigo and Sta, Lucia into our fold and words could not express the gratitude I have for their respective team owners,” said Ricky Palou, referring to Efren Uy, Rommel Sytin and Exe Robles, respectively.

“Their presence will not only bring out the best in which our beloved sport brings but also adds more depth to the talent pool of the national team gearing up for various international competitions,” he added.

F2 Logistics, five-time champions in the Philippine Superliga, announced its decision to change course the other day. Earlier in the week, two-time champion Chery Tiggo and Sta. Lucia decided to turn pro.

Cignal, a founding member of the PSL, and PLDT Home Fibr also transferred to the PVL as it was part of the Manny V. Pangilinan-group’s commitment to help develop and promote the league.

That brings to 12 the total number of teams set to dispute the crown and the bragging rights as the first pro volley champion with the PVL targeting a May 8 inaugurals at a still undisclosed venue.

“Things are getting clearer and better for not just for women’s volley in particular but for the sport in general. The on-going global health crisis may have held back our programs but it has also created camaraderie among all of the sport’s stakeholders which led to this monumental moment for volleyball,” added Palou, whose Sports Vision revived the once-dormant sport in 2004 and helped turn it to what it is today.

Subic Freeport hosts ‘bubble’ MPBL championship

Subic Gym

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Just two weeks after successfully hosting the first beach volleyball battle in the country under a sports bubble set-up, this premier free port is now the venue for the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League playoffs that was stalled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The matches, which will decide the champion in the MPBL Chooks-to-Go Lakan Cup, started on March 10 at the Subic Gym here with San Juan Knights clinching the North division title following a massive 131-54 win over the Makati Super Crunch.

On March 17, Basilan Steel and Davao Occidental Tigers will collide for the South division crown, before the national finals start on March 18.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma,

who welcomed the participants at the Subic Gym, said the MPBL playoffs will further cement Subic’s claim to fame as the nation’s sports bubble capital.

“Subic Bay is out to prove that sports activities, which are essential for our physical and mental health, can still be done despite the limitations of Covid-19,” Eisma said.

“However, let us not forget that we are here because we were able to keep the Subic Bay Freeport safe. And this is not the time to rest,” she added, calling on participants to observe health protocols while in Subic.

Under the sports bubble concept, all the participants—the players, organizers, and technical crew—will have to pass an RTPCR test, and will be allowed access only to the sports venue and their designated hotels.

Health protocols also forbid the participants from having any interaction with the public, as well as spectators from watching the games inside the venue.

The playoffs will be shown on Channel A2Z. The MPBL games in Subic took off from the March 11, 2020 games when both the North and South divisions in the league were tied at 1-1.

Organizers said the games did not progress to the championship level since then after the Covid-19 pandemic forced a Luzon-wide lockdown on March 17, 2020.

On the other hand, it took a long time for Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases to allow the games to resume because the MPBL, which was founded by Senator Manny Pacquiao, has an amateur status, organizers also said.

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Tech & Gadgets

SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2021

rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

Globe expands 5G Roaming services to more Middle East, Asian countries GLOBE accelerates its 5G Roaming rollout to more countries in Asia and the Middle East as part of its commitment to bring #1stWorldNetwork to its customers.

In the first quarter of the year, Globe introduced its 5G roaming service in Thailand and in the United Arab Emirates. In the coming weeks, the telco is set to launch 5G in more parts of Asia and the Middle East to help customers traveling abroad, Filipinos working overseas, as well as, foreign visitors visiting the Philippines.

Globe is set to open its 5G service to visiting customers of CSL Hong Kong, Singtel of Singapore and Ooredoo of Kuwait.

While for Globe subscribers who will be traveling abroad, the 5G roaming service will be made available in South Korea through SK Telecom, Qatar and Kuwait via Ooredoo.

“Apart from ensuring that our customers are able to rely on a service to keep them connected during these challenging times, our goal in getting the 5G service up in more countries is to make certain that when travel becomes more safe and less restricted, our Globe customers will be able to enjoy 5G in more countries worldwide,” said Coco Domingo, Globe’s Vice President for Postpaid and International Business.

Globe is a pioneer in 5G technology in the Philippines with 1,200 areas across the country with this latest generation in wireless technology. Its sustained network builds and modernization efforts resulted in higher 5G footprint for Globe.

Globe has set its sights on making its 5G roaming services accessible soon in more countries in the Middle East, North America, Asia and Europe through its roaming partners.

For more information on 5G Roaming, go to glbe. co/5GRoaming.

To learn more about Roam Surf 399 and Globe’s other roaming offers which are best experienced with 5G, visit glbe.co/roam.

T

Never a good idea to buy vaccines on the Darknet

HE entire globe is currently undergoing one of the largest and most complex vaccination campaigns in history, and, not surprisingly, scammers and sellers on the dark market have been eager to make a profit off the process.

Kaspersky researchers examined 15 different marketplaces on the Darknet and found advertisements for three major COVID vaccines: Pfizer/BioNTech, AstraZeneca, and Moderna. There were also sellers advertising unverified “COVID19” vaccines.

The majority of sellers came from France, Germany, the UK, and the USA, and the prices per dose ranged from $250 to $1,200, with an average cost of about $500.

Communications are made via encrypted messaging apps like Wickr and Telegram, while payments are requested in the form of cryptocurrency, primarily bitcoin.

The majority of these underground sellers have made between 100-500 transactions, indicating that they’ve been completing sales but what exactly Darknet users are purchasing remains unclear. With the information available to Kaspersky experts,

it’s impossible to tell how many of the vaccine doses being advertised online are actual doses (many medical facilities have found themselves with leftover doses) and how many advertisements are a scam.

Even if you did receive something in the mail, most likely what you would receive would not be an effective, valid

dose. More importantly, obtaining such doses is illegal.

“You can find just about anything on the Darknet, so it’s not surprising sellers there would attempt to capitalize on the vaccination campaign. Over the past year, there have been a whole host of scams exploiting the COVID topic,

and many of them have been successful. Right now, not only are people selling vaccine doses, but they’re also selling vaccination records—pieces of paper that can help you travel freely. It’s important for users to be cautious of any “deal” related to the pandemic, and, of course, it’s never a good idea to buy a vaccine off the Darknet,” comments Dmitry Galov, security expert at Kaspersky.

Learn more about these Darknet vaccines on Kdaily (https://www. kaspersky.com/blog/coronavirusvaccines-darknet/38903/).

To stay safe from scammers at the time of COVID, Kaspersky experts recommend: • Never buy products—including vaccine doses—on the Darknet.

• If you see an advertisement for something related to COVID, look carefully at the URLs of the sites that you visit. If just one letter looks out of place, or if the usual .com has been replaced with .com.tk or something along those lines, your gut should tell you it’s phishing. Never enter personal information on such a site.

• Pay attention to grammar and layout on both the sites you visit and the emails you receive.

If something smells phishy, it probably is.

Samsung introduces new ‘Do-It-All’ Smart Monitor BASED on the latest Google Search Trends and the Entrepreneur.com survey done at the end of 2020, 76% of CEOs reported that their company’s productivity was either maintained or even increased as a result of working remotely. The survey also sighted that 70% of CEOs prefer that a portion of their employees continue to work remotely even after their offices reopen. Given this stark new normal, Samsung introduces their latest technological breakthrough, designed for both young professionals and students alike, the new Samsung Smart Monitor.

The world’s first “Do-It-All” screen, the Samsung Smart Monitor is highly adept in meeting all types of demands for work, entertainment, learning, gaming, and just about anything in between, without the need for a PC. The Samsung Smart Monitor is loaded with productivity features such as Remote Access, Office 365, and Samsung DeX. Remote Access allows users to have full access to their office PC or laptop via the Internet. With Office 365, documents and presentations can be viewed, edited, and saved in the cloud, while with Samsung DeX, Samsung Galaxy phone users will

vivo expands R&D network by investing in image system

VIVO officially expanded its R&D network in Xi’an China in February 2021 to further invest in the image system.

The Xi’an R&D center will host project debugging and development as well as algorithm pre-research as they apply to the image system. It will offer technical support that accelerates the materialization of R&D results and provides superior professional photography experiences.

As a user-oriented and design-driven company, vivo is dedicated to optimizing the image system and other long-term strategic tracks to strengthen its differentiation-based competitive advantages. Since 2017, vivo has developed a collaborative network of global R&D centers for image system development in Shenzhen, Taipei, Tokyo and San Diego.

The company’s R&D centers for image system development combine to employ more than 700 people, who dedicate their careers to improving hardware, software and algorithms while also advancing research on frontier technologies. With the newly-established Xi’an R&D center, vivo bolsters its global R&D network and expands its resources to provide users with superior products and services.

be able to easily connect with the Smart Monitor and open a desktop workspace.

The Samsung Smart Monitor also comes fully equipped with a slew of entertainment features in an easy to navigate hub for Netflix, YouTube, and other Smart TV apps, including AirPlay 2, Tap View, App Casting, and Screen Mirroring.

It comes with a remote controller, a builtin speaker, and voice assistance through Bixby. Its versatility is also uncompromised as it comes with a USB type-C port on the 32” UHD M7 model, alongside other USB ports and Bluetooth connectivity. So, not only is it a flexible work and study monitor, it also serves as a full entertainment hub for the whole family.

When it comes to e-learning, the Samsung Smart Monitor also has impressive features including Adaptive Picture which recognizes its surroundings and provides the best viewing experience possible, as the display automatically adjusts its backlight brightness by using ambient light sensors, thus reducing eye strain. It is also Flicker Free and employs App Casting and Tap View which easily displays the phone's screen on the TV. Besides this, it is also TUV Certified which means that

Samsung Smart Monitor M7

the product has been thoroughly tested for safety and found to meet the minimum requirements set by the German Equipment and Product Safety Act. The Samsung Smart Monitor comes in three sizes and configurations: a 27” Full HD monitor priced at P18,999; 32” Full HD monitor priced at P22,999; and a 32” Ultra High-Definition (UHD) monitor priced at P28,999. The main advantage of the UHD can be seen in its crisp clear picture clarity. It has four times more pixel density and can provide a workspace four

times larger, than Full HD, while only taking up the same physical space. It will be available in all major retail outlets starting March 5, 2021.

From March 5 to 31, 2021, early-bird buyers of the Samsung Smart Monitor will get a premium Logitech MK120 keyboard and mouse set worth P1,000, plus a 1-year premium subscription to video streaming provider, Viu, For more information on the Samsung Smart Monitor, visit www.samsung.com/ph.

Google Search directs people to suicide prevention hotline THE uncertainties and challenges brought about by the pandemic continue to take a toll on mental health.

To help the National Center for Mental Health in its service to provide free, reliable and confidential psychological support, Google now instantly shows the NCMH Crisis Hotline on Search.

By simply typing in suicide-related keywords on Search such as “suicide prevention”, the NCMH Crisis Hotline immediately shows up without opening the website. This is to also prompt people online to seek professional help during their vulnerable state.

Launched in 2019 by the Department of Health (DOH), in partnership with NCMH, the Philippines’ first Crisis Hotline (0966-351-4518) is a 24hour service meant to respond to mental health-related queries. It connects the public to mental health professionals to provide necessary counselling and proper triaging to those who are in crisis.

The Search query result also features the link to the NCMH official site which contains more information and contact details including: a toll-free Luzon-wide landline (1553), an alternative Globe/TM number (0917-8998727), and Smart/Sun/TNT (0908-6392672).

According to the NCMH data, there was a significant increase in monthly

hotline calls in 2020 regarding depression, with numbers rising from 80 calls pre-lockdown to nearly 400, including a monthly average of more than 50 suicide-related concerns.

"As the pandemic continues to affect people's mental well-being, we want to help by partnering with the Department of Health's National Center for Mental Health to connect Filipinos to immediately accessible and reliable information online through Google Search," said Bernadette Nacario, Country Director - Philippines, Google. "Let's make it a habit to check in on ourselves and others and consult a professional if needed. There is always help and hope."

“Many Filipinos are grappling with stress, anxiety and other mental health issues. We want them to know that they are not alone and that we are ready to help,” said Frances Prescilla Cuevas, Head of the Department of Health's National Mental Health Program. “It’s important to reach more people through platforms like Google Search to provide them with the information and help they need.”

If you or someone you know needs help, contact the National Center for Mental Health Crisis Hotline through the following hotlines: toll-free Luzon-wide landline (1553), Globe/TM (0966-351-4518 and 0917-899-8727), or Smart/Sun/TNT (0908-639-2672).

Tech & Gadgets

SAM empowers women through entrepreneurship IN CELEBRATION of the International Women’s month, the blockchain-powered Smart Asset Managers is offering its various platforms in both conventional and nonconventional business models to empower women by developing their entrepreneurial experience.

SAM Digital Technology Founding Chairman Rommel Santos said one of the main goals of SAM is to make the general community aware of the SAM Women Empowerment Program by unleashing their potential within. Unfortunately, he said, most often the entrepreneurial skills of most individuals are ignored “because they lack selfesteem, personality and confidence."

“Thru the SAM Advocacy, we believe these lacking methodologies can be learned and this is what exactly we are going to do.

However, this cannot be done without a systematic collaborative and collective talent approaches and contributions from the professional industry. Most of the time they can come but at a high price,” said Santos, a Filipino-New Zealander based in Australia.

One of the women entrepreneurs empowered by SAM DT is Eloisa Francesca Figueroa, a Filipina flight attendant who is based in Saudi Arabia. She said her experience working overseas has shown her some of the challenging difficulties faced by people working overseas, with some of them almost impossible to change.

However, she believes that through entrepreneurial learning system, women could be empowered “and we can make a change, a plan for the future and not just for ourselves but our entire ecosystem as a whole. Only then we can prove to ourselves that change is possible if we will commit to change.”

Santos explained that SAM’s basic approach is encouraging education that promotes sustainability and financial stability.

This advocacy program of the company is seen “as work in progress” to benefit thousands of women who will enrol in the program and looking to mento hundreds of thousands more in a global scale.

Abel Deng, CEO of Huawei Technologies Thailand, accepts the “PM Award: Digital International Corporation of the Year”, from HE General Prayut Chano-cha, Prime Minister of Thailand.

ODERN enterprise networks are diverse and often span multiple environments, each with its own unique requirements and standards.

Securing each network ecosystem independently creates a challenge for consistent policy enforcement, transparency, and unified orchestration and response.

Organizations are tasked with securing multiple network edges, often in hybrid cloud environments, while maintaining consistent, unified security operations.

Fortinet’s Adaptive Cloud Security portfolio enables organizations to protect all their applications, data, and workloads regardless if they’re on-premises, or in multiple clouds.

Requirements for your Cloud Security Strategy

A similar challenge is trying to secure each edge while trying to impose a unified security policy. Single transactions can span many different applications and workflows, so security needs to be consistently applied at each point across the fabric—on the LAN, WAN, and cloud edges. Any and all dynamic connections need to be reliable and secure, from the data center to the cloud, between clouds, as well as among branch offices. Thus, cloud security needs to readily adapt to changing customer needs and digital innovation strategies as they evolve. Security should be consistent across private clouds and public clouds.

In order to optimize network performance, organizations are increasingly replacing traditional router-based networks that back-haul traffic back to data center with application aware

Secure organizations of the future must realize now the importance of converging and uniting security, network, and computing

SD-WAN solutions. SD-WAN solutions utilize broad network visibility and application awareness to select the optimal WAN access methodology.

In addition to issues of compatibility, a comprehensive and integrated security strategy also has challenges in terms of speed and scale. It’s clear that the volume, velocity and variety of new data generated will be greater than ever before— stretching the limits of traditional security solutions. Cloud security solutions will need to support new, high speed connections and hyper-scale operations. 5G, with its ultra-high speeds and highly reliable connections, is rolling out globally, and most network security—especially cloud security solutions—are struggling to keep pace. But what most leaders don’t realize is that this is just the opening salvo. New, higher performance, higher frequency 5G (mmWave)—and the technologies needed to make it practical—is just around the corner. And according to some reports, 6G, with its terabytes per second performance, will be here by the end of the decade. Security solutions not designed for high-speed environments will create serious roadblocks for organizations looking to meet increasing end user and consumer

national company to receive this award.

Abel Deng, CEO of Huawei Technologies (Thailand) Co., Ltd., accepted the award from HE General Prayut Chan-ocha, Prime Minister of Thailand in the presence of Mr. Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, President/CEO of Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa), during the award ceremony held at Government House.

The Prime Minister congratulated this year’s awardees. He commended the

younger generation for being able to apply digital technology creatively and for leveraging innovation to create new businesses to move ahead together. He also added that the government believes the development of 5G and AI systems is important in driving Thailand forward and expressed hope that today's success will inspire university students to make use of digital technology to create business opportunities for the country in the future. In addition, the Prime Minister congratulated Huawei executives and asked them to continue the company’s mission to drive Thailand forward.

“The PM’s Digital Awards recognize organizations whose products and solutions help drive digital technology and innovation development. The criteria for the PM’s Special Award include excellence in development of digital technology that supports enterprises, services and the society; application of digital technology that fosters a better and more secure economy, society, and culture for Thais; investment that creates jobs in Thailand; and social and environmental developments that support local and international economies. Huawei received the highest scores from our distinguished committee,” said Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, President of Digital Economy Promotion Agency.

“Our collaboration with Huawei has

demands for performance.

Security at scale requires consistent policies and enforcement across the highly distributed networks—across multiple LAN, WAN, and cloud edges.

Here are three future-forward business imperatives for cloud security solutions: Integration everywhere: Traditionally, security always follows the compute which was previously centered on main frames and then servers in enterprise data centers. Today, the compute is highly distributed across hybrid networks, spanning private and shared infrastructures from homes, and branch offices to service provider clouds. Cloud security solutions need to support zero trust principles and operate as integrated solutions with flexible form factors and consumption models. Protection is not just about cloud but needs to be end-to-end, following data and applications wherever they may be located rather than tied to a traditional perimeter that defines an “inside” or “outside” of a network. The Fortinet Security Fabric provides the broad, integrated and automated capabilities required for hybrid networks.

Security and network convergence: Digital transformation has shifted the focus of enterprise businesses and public been central to the country’s development, and crucial in terms of the technology used for emergency responses to unforeseen events such as natural disasters, security threats, health crises and others. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company instantly applied the world’s leading technology called AI-assisted solutions and 5G technology to support the country’s medical working teams at government hospitals. Recently, Thailand’s first 5G Ecosystem Innovation Centre (5G EIC) was launched at depa’s office, thanks to a collaboration between the Digital Economy and Society Ministry, Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa) and Huawei. Our partnership with Huawei and our ability to utilize 5G technology gives us an edge in enhancing our business competitiveness. I would like to congratulate the company on this achievement.

We are grateful for Huawei’s goodwill and continuous efforts to help drive the digital economy in the country,” he added.

“It is an honor for me to accept the Prime Minister’s Award on behalf of Huawei Technologies,” said Deng during the ceremony. “At Huawei, we value long-term partnership. We are committed to working closely with customers and partners to help keep Thailand at the forefront of the digital age. With the mission of 'Grow in Thailand, Contribute to Thailand’, Huawei reinforces its commitment to helping the country move forward to Thailand 4.0 and become a digital hub in the Asia Pacific region, and to ensuring that no one is left behind. We will bring digital to every person, home and organization, for a fully connected, and intelligent Thailand.”

Vertux finally here in Philippines to delight gamers GAMING peripheral brand designed in Dubai, Vertux, is finally coming to the Philippines much to the delight of gamers and enthusiasts alike across the country.

Awaken the gamer in you as Vertux takes your gameplay to greater heights with their wide array of accessories such as keyboards, mice, and headphones. You may also elevate your gaming setup with their offerings of cooling pads, headphone stands, and microphones. And the best thing about it? Vertux gives a 2-year warranty for all its gaming devices ensuring that you are given the quality you deserve!

“We are bringing Vertux in the Philippines with the intent of elevating the experience of every Filipino gamer with accessories that last, without having to break the bank,” Vertux Philippines Country Manager Dimple Condes said. “We also want to add value to consumers’ hard-earned money by extending our warranty to two years on all our products.”

Vertux has a lot in store for consumers

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Adaptive Cloud Security Solutions protect all apps, data, workloads M

Huawei Thailand receives Prime Minister Award as Digital International Corporation of the Year BANGKOK—Huawei Technologies (Thailand) Co., Ltd. has been chosen for the Special Prime Minister Award and recognized as “Digital International Corporation of the Year”. The award acknowledges Huawei Thailand for its valuable support and outstanding contributions to Thai society since its establishment in the country 21 years ago, as well as its efforts to support digital transformation. Huawei is the only inter-

SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2021

including its best-selling keyboards that board-mouse combo you should not miss! are designed to achieve the highest gaming Aside from its ergonomic design and properformance. Vertux Tantalum s a high- grammable macro keys, it has GX rubperforming mechanical keyboard which ber dome switches and RGB lighting feature with 9 modes provides precision with 100% for a more immersive anti-ghosting keys and a customgaming session. izable RGB illumination of React faster than ever 16.8 million colors. From before with Vertux’s line up one mechanical keyboard to of mice and give yourself a another, Vertux Tungsten is competitive edge with devica hyper action gaming keyes that offer impeccable accuboard with six customizable racy. Vertux Cobalt has 6 promodes that let you enjoy grammable buttons for easier every game dependcustomization lets you score ing on your mood. an advantage with its highVertux RaidKey, on tracking accuracy and up the other hand, is a to 4800 DPI that deliv104-key keyboard that paers ultimate performance rades itself as the ultimate combine with your skill. gaming keyboard which Sporting classic white and features blue mechanical black variants, Vertux Dominaswitches for the response and tor and Drago let you feel a whole tactical feel gamers always look Vertux Glare another level of control beyond for. Vertux Vendetta is the keyCooling Pad

Vertux Havana Headphones (Black)

expectations with its four on-thego DPI settings to let you one up your competitors. An unassuming alternative is the Vertux Sensei—a USB-wired gaming mouse that helps you to play with your full capacities. With up to 3200 DPI, it boasts LED backlights and comfortable buttons and scroll wheel. Make sure to also pair your Vertux mouse with a Pro-gaming mousepad. Flexing a stylish, unseen design, Vertux Glider features 2.4G wireless transmission technology which allow lag-free gaming experience. And for a more seamless wrist action, Vertex FluxPad is not your ordinary mousepad. It has an optimized low resistance anti-friction slim LED technology that gives you greater tracking performance and superb precision.

sector organizations to business outcomes and customer experiences. This requires network performance and security to work as an integrated solution because outcomes and experiences require optimized network access and security. Gartner refers to this as “total experience” (TX), which is the convergence of customer experience (CX), employee experience (EX), and user experience (UX) within a multi-experience environment. For this reason, enterprises have begun to implement more distributed and more regionalized clouds closest to where the end-user or device leveraging the applications and data reside; this is also referred to as “edge computing” by Gartner. As such, TX depends on a high-performance, highly integrated network, and that needs to be secure at every touchpoint. A risk extending into compute edges is the introduction of complexities that negatively affect customers’ operations and security. As a result, enterprises must look to solutions that allow them to maintain control, visibility, and operational efficiency at the same time.

Effective cloud security solutions must secure the cloud, as well as facilitate seamless network performance, which means integrated Secure SD-WAN and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE).

Online lending platform SeekCap processes P1.5B in loans RAQUEL Ramos, owner of Lemonology, was hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak.

With the lockdowns and stay-at-home orders, businesses like Raquel’s were forced to temporarily close. Continuing operations meant it was tough: they had to face paying for significant expenses such as rent despite their business situation at that time. However, Lemonology knew their suppliers were just as affected by the pandemic. Raquel decided to look for assistance through business loans.

As expressed by Raquel, “SeekCap is my 2021’s great blessing. I've been trying to find a business loan for a small business owner like me. It's kind of hard to find one that is very friendly, one that doesn't require much unlike others in which you should have a record of more than six months. It is also very userfriendly. I submitted all the requirements and I got approved A DAY AFTER! They reimbursed the loan for about three days after and I can say that they are very efficient, very quick, and they have a heart for us who own small businesses and support us in achieving our dreams for our businesses.”

Raquel is just one of the thousands of Filipino entrepreneurs (or micro- to small and medium sized enterprises, collectively MSMEs) in the Philippines who have been affected during the pandemic. The global phenomenon that is COVID-19 generated a major economic crisis in the country, forcing many businesses to shut down. Some tried to battle the waves of the lockdown but ended up exhausting remaining resources. These businesses, especially small ones, need access to working capital now more than ever, especially with many of them stepping up to play a key role in revitalizing our economy.

Motoring

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor

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SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2021

Ford Ranger raised to the Max

By Othel V. Campos

N

OTWITHSTANDING the pandemic nor the challenges brought about by the added duties of a provisional safeguard measure, Ford Philippines is gearing up for another fierce but friendly competition as it aims to maintain its leadership in the 4x4 space in 2021.

Ford Philippines president and managing director PK Umashankar said despite bad business in the past year, the brand managed to sustain its influence in the sub-segment and the new Ford Ranger FX4 MAX is expected to drive Ford’s prominence beyond limits.

“At this point in time, our aim is to make sure that we continue to maintain our leadership in the 4x4 space that we did in 2020. The whole range of series delivered 24 percent of the segment share becoming the 1 of the 2 most sold pickups in the Philippine market.

So we would continue to maintain that leadership and the availability of the FX4 MAX reinforces not just the pickup leadership going forward, but also delivering on the overall range of performance as well,” he said during the pre-launch interview.

Ford officially unveiled the new FX4 MAX on a virtual platform Wednesday, March 10, with same day availability of units to interested pick-up fanatics.

Umashankar said the new Ranger pickup truck delivers off-road driving capabilities inspired by the Ranger Raptor while living up to the Ranger’s brand of comfort, safety, and versatility.

“The Ranger FX4 MAX is definitely a strong addition to our growing Ranger portfolio and further boosts the off-road capabilities of our trucks. It is the perfect pickup for customers who seek adventures as it is equipped with features that offer confidence and convenience in taking on the roads less traveled,” he said.

Umashankar said he’s getting a good feel on how the FX4 MAX will tread the current market vibe coming from a pandemic year.

“In the last couple of months we’ve seen the segments doing really well. The industry is slowly picking up, and we are coming off the throes of pandemic, if not fully. But there is that slow improvement in industry from what we originally predicted, which is probably a good sign for us in the industry and economy as a whole. What I know is that FX4 MAX kind of delivered a certain expectations in the performance space in the affordable pickup range in all these markets,” he added.

Among the winning features of the FX4 MAX include its iconic F-O-R-D grille, tubular sports bar, leather seats with carbon accents and Miko suede inserts, and all-

FAMILY AFFAIR: Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher (right) and his son Mick

Formula One testing: Talking points FORMULA One teams take the wraps off their 2021 cars over three days of pre-season testing starting Friday at Bahrain’s Sakhir International Circuit.

Here AFP Sport takes a look at five talking points ahead of the first race of the year, also in Bahrain, on March 28: Hamilton and Mercedes unstoppable?

• In what could be the end of the Formula One road for Lewis Hamilton the all-conquering Briton will be striving to complete the season as he has done seven times before, as world champion.

The 36-year-old swept to his latest title in imperious fashion in 2020, to draw level with Michael Schumacher’s record haul.

He will be hot favourite to become the

most decorated driver in the sport’s history with an eighth crown, but says it is not the determining factor on whether he continues driving in 2022.

“I got into racing because I loved racing and I think that’s got to always be at the core of what I do,” he said.

For team boss Toto Wolff, despite seven consecutive constructors championships, Mercedes still has the “same fire, hunger and passion” as when he arrived in 2013.

Not good news for Red Bull and company.

Can Ferrari fire?

• After a humiliating 2020, and their worst season in 40 years, Ferrari believe their SF21 car is ready to restore a spring in the step of the Prancing Horse’s Maranello stable.

weather floor mats that give the FX4 MAX a tough look outside and premium feel inside.

Further, Unique to the FX4 MAX is the auxiliary switch pack, allowing full control of aftermarket accessories from the comfort of the driver’s seat.

The new Ford Ranger FX4 MAX offers greater off-road capability with FOXTM shocks off-road suspension and17-inch alloy wheels with BFGoodrich™ all-terrain tires.

Just like the Ranger Raptor and Wildtrak 4x4, the Ranger FX4 MAX is equipped with the 2.0-liter Bi-Turbo diesel engine, capable of generating 213PS of power and 500NM of torque. This is seamlessly mated with the 10-speed automatic transmission. The powertrain enables the FX4 MAX a 981kgpay-

PK Umashankar, Ford Philippines president

tion. The 16-valve DOHC dual VVTi petrol engine is paired with an equally powerful electric motor. When in tandem, power delivered to the rear wheels is a combined 220hp. Zero to 100kph happens in a swift 8.7 seconds. Maximum torque is an impressive 221Nm. Even more noteworthy is the kind of fuel efficiency the IS 300h delivers.

The EV Drive Mode lets you use the electric motor at slow speeds. This in turn reduces emissions and saves on fuel.

Keeping drivers engaged and in full control is a suspension system that was tuned and refined in the Shimoyama Test Track.

The double-wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear is complemented by ABS; Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Hill Start Assist (HSA); and a Traction Control System. The IS 300h will bring out the sporty

Sport sedan with a hybrid edge

The Ranger FX4 MAX comes in six colors, including Arctic White, Absolute Black, Aluminum Metallic, Meteor Grey, Blue Lightning, and True Red. “The FX4 MAX builds on the success of the Ranger as a rugged and versatile pickup while harnessing the winning off-roading capabilities of the Ranger Raptor. True to our Live the Ranger Life philosophy, the FX4 MAX caters to customers who are up for challenges and go over the horizon to experience their adventure of a lifetime with the pickup truck’s uncompromising blend of toughness and power,” Umashankar said.

The new Ranger FX4 treads the road less-travelled

With Sebastian Vettel’s unhappy spell terminated and Charles Leclerc now joined by Carlos Sainz, Ferrari say they have learned the lessons from a misfiring season “that will make us stronger”.

But realism is the watch word, with team chief Mattia Binotto dampening expectations of mounting a serious challenge to Mercedes, saying the focus was on developing a new car for 2022.

“The gap with the leaders was substantial,” he said. “It is not something that can be corrected in one winter”.

Schumacher - Act II • Nine years after dad Michael’s last race the Schumacher name is back on the grid with the F1 legend’s son Mick graduating as Formula Two champion to drive for Haas.

For some, the pressure of having a famous parent can prove overbearing, not for Mick.

“I am very proud of it. It is a boost for me and it gives me motivation every single day to work as much as I can and work as hard as I can,” he said at the team launch.

Alonso, return of a champion • Fernando Alonso insists that at 39 and after a two-year exile, as well as jaw surgery following a cycling accident last month, he is in the best shape of his career as the double world champion returns behind the wheel of an Alpine, formerly Renault.

The Spaniard won the world title for the French team in 2004 and 2005.

He returns alongside Esteban Ocon after Daniel Ricciardo’s move to McLaren to replace Sainz.

“Without a doubt, I’m a more competent driver now than two years ago,” Alonso says after competing in the Indy500 and winning Le Mans twice. AFP

Lexus has just unwrapped the latest variant in the exciting IS lineup: The IS 300h THROUGH rigorous development and testing, the new IS was born and bred at the Toyota Technical Center Shimoyama Test Track—where the toughest and most challenging roads in the world have been recreated. The outcome was an IS lineup that is agile and provocative. First to be introduced locally were the pulse-pounding IS 350 F Sport (P3,808,000) and the IS 300h Premier (P3,328,000). Now, Lexus introduces the IS 300h which is priced at P2,978,000. Both IS 300h variants—while boasting hybrid technology—thoroughly espouse Lexus’s DNA. Under the IS 300h is a powerful-yetefficient hybrid drivetrain. It is powered by a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder mated to a Lexus E-CVT intelligent transmission for optimum efficiency in every driving condi-

load as well as 3,500kg of towing capability.

Convenience and safety features render the Ranger FX4 MAX a cut above the rest in the 4x4 space. It features an 8-inch color touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, Smart Keyless Entry with Push Button Start, SYNC 3 with Voice-Activated controls, Bluetooth with Phone/Audio streaming, two USB ports, and six speakers.

Driver-assist features such as Cruise Control, ABS + EBD, Electronic Stability Control Including Roll-over Mitigation and Traction Control, Hill Launch Assist, Hill Descent Control, driver and passenger airbags, Rear Parking Sensors, and Child Seat ISOFIX Anchorage Points offers unmatched safety.

driver in you—if you so desire.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Front and center on the dashboard is an 8-inch touch display for the audio system.

Connectivity is of utmost priority these days, therefore Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Miracast come standard in the IS 300h. A ten-speaker audio system will please even the most discerning audiophiles.

A power tilt and telescoping tiller and leather-wrapped wheel with paddle shifters nestled behind them offer an even more satisfying driver and car interface. Voice recognition adds ease of use as well. There is also a multi-information TFT display where drivers can monitor their fuel economy through the Eco-Driving Indicator Light and Zone Display.

The luxuriously crafted interior can be had in black synthetic leather. Driver and front passenger are treated to 8-way poweradjustable seats, so finding the best driving position can be done with ease.

Safety Features A Parking Assist Monitor accurately guides your parking attempts by superimposing guide lines on the back camera’s video screen. This is very helpful, especially in crowded parking spaces. Adding to this is a clearance and back sonar to make sure that drivers are aware of what is behind them when in reverse. Passenger safety is of course very important, so eight sensorcontrolled airbags line the cabin giving enhanced protection.

FASTLANE

Cleanfuel expands retail network LEADING Independent oil company Cleanfuel opened the latest member of its retail network in the country’s premier destination hub of trade and commerce and several other major industries— Batangas City.

Situated along the busy street of San Jose-Ibaan Road in Barangay Balagtas Batangas City, the 2,500 square-meter station connects to the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and 42-kilometers Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR), providing easy access to motorists traveling towards the road of Maharlika Highway at Santo Tomas in Lipa, Ibaan-Batangas City, and the rest of Calabarzon.

The newly opened Batangas station adds to the other Cleanfuel branches in the province including the ones in Calaca, Lipa, and Lemery, providing more Batangueños an affordable yet premium fuel in their daily drives.

The recently-opened Cleanfuel station is also set to cater to the heavy trucks going to and from the Batangas International Port—considered one of the busiest passenger and container terminals in the country.

Batangas City is known as the “Industrial Port City of Calabarzon” and is one of the fastest urbanizing cities in the Southern most edge of Luzon. Aside from being an industrial and infrastructural zone, the Southern Luzon city is also at the center of marine biodiversity and houses historical landmarks and cultural heritage buildings.

“As we look at 2021 being the time for recovery, we would like to share our strength in giving quality fuel for less in this area where commerce has constantly been thriving in keeping the economy afloat,” Cleanfuel president lawyer Bong Suntay said.

With the station inauguration, Batangas City will now be given access to Cleanfuel’s products such as Clean91, Premium 95 and Euro-4 diesel. But topcaliber fuels are only part of the service

Geely branches out to Bulacan

that Cleanfuel prides on. Customers can also enjoy the first-class amenities such as clean and spacious air-conditioned restrooms, credit card facility, and air and water services.

Cleanfuel also offers the VIP reward cards that are given to motorists for free to help patrons further enjoy brand’s customer rewards program filled with numerous, giveaways and discounts with partner establishments.

The chief executive of Cleanfuel assures that Cleanfuel Batangas City is just the opening salvo to the numerous programs that the company has in store for the year. “Our drive to serve more and more Filipinos through our affordable yet reliable product portfolio never ceases,” Suntay added.

“The successful opening of our newest station in Batangas City is a testament to our continued growth and commitment to customers providing an affordable yet premium fuel for less. We look forward to sharing our growth with you, and help us maintain, if not improve, our high quality services and stations patronized by many motorists, in support of our brand, “explained Suntay.

SOJITZ G Auto Philippines has brought Geely closer to the Bulakenyos with the opening of Geely Baliuag, Bulacan.

Geely Baliuag is the ninth dealership outlet in the Geely’s increasing network.

This dealership will be managed by SGAP’s dealer partner Autospectrum Corporation which has been in the automotive business for almost 2 decades.

Autospectrum Corp. President Dexter Co said, “we look forward to taking part in bringing success to the Geely brand with this partnership. Geely Baliuag is now more than ready to serve its customers in the eastern part of Bulacan.”

SGAP President & CEO Mikihisa Takayama said “Bulakenyos wouldn’t have to travel farther to get the refined, wonderful, and fun ride that they are looking for. This year, Geely customers could expect more dealerships to rise as part of our aim to serve them more.”

Geely Baliuag is located at DRT Highway, Brgy. Sabang, Baliuag and is now fully operational from Monday to Saturday, 8:00AM to 5:00PM.