Manila Standard - 2021 March 16 - Tuesday

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Palace: No ECQ for Metro yet Not in March, but April ‘iffy’ as virus infections seen to tick up further

By Vito Barcelo, Willie Casas and Maricel V. Cruz

ALACAñANG on Monday ruled out the possibility of returning Metro Manila to the strictest enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) this month despite a spike in the country’s new COVID-19 cases.

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Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, however, said he could not tell yet about April, citing the high reproduction number or r-naught of the coronavirus.

“We don’t know yet. If we do not suppress the r-naught of 1.9, this means a person can infect at least two people,” he said.

Metro Manila has been under a general community quarantine (GCQ) since June 2020.

President Rodrigo Duterte was to meet members of the Next page

VOL. XXXV • NO. 34 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM MARCH 15)

626,893 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

5,404 53,479 NEW

ACTIVE

12,837

8

DEATHS

NEW

560,577

71

RECOVERIES

NEW

FIGHTING VIRUS, HUNGER. A worker of the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office conducts disinfection and fogging against the coronavirus at Barangay 628, Zone 63 in Sta. Mesa, Manila on Monday. Meanwhile, a protester holds up a sign (inset) criticizing the government's response in helping the poor and boosting the livelihood of jeepney drivers sidelined by the pandemic at the Social Welfare offices in Quezon City on the anniversary of the community quarantine in Metro Manila. Norman Cruz and Manny Palmero

Hospital ICUs full, surge in cases ‘worrisome’ Duterte worries

By Willie Casas SEVERAL hospitals in Metro Manila said Monday their intensive care units (ICUs) were already fully occupied due to the surge of COVID-19 patients, one year after the national government placed Luzon under lockdown.

St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig is "completely full," Dr. Benjamin Campomanes, its chief medical officer, said in an interview with TeleRadyo.

"In Global City, at least 33 patients are waiting in the emergency room to get a COVID room,” he said.

The Quezon City General Hospital has been "fully booked" since last week, according to Dr. Josephine Sabando.

"As of now we have increased our manpower in our COVID areas. We added doctors and nurses to augment our personnel,” she said.

The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) was forced to open a new ward to accom-

modate more COVID-19 patients, said Dr. Jonas Del Rosario, PGH spokesperson.

"We opened one ward so we were able to produce 40 more beds but our intensive care unit is already full,” he said.

The Philippines confirmed 4,899 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing active cases to 48,157, a year since the government imposed an enhanced community quarantine in the country's largest and most populated landmass to curb the Next page transmission of the disease.

Palawan likely to remain intact, 'No' to split leads

Learning crisis looms as school shutter takes toll

By Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz

By Allison Jackson

THE “No” votes opposing the division of Palawan into three provinces were leading, based on the initial canvassing of plebiscite results as of Monday, March 15, data from the Commission on Election (Comelec) showed.

The Comelec tally showed that it has canvassed the statement of votes from eight of 23 municipalities, with the “no” votes leading the “yes” votes 75,075 to 68, 198.

A total of 144,822 voters participated in the March 13 plebiscite out of the 238,972 registered voters from the eight municipalities, the Comelec said.

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TOUGH SPOT. In this photo taken on February 11, teacher Kristhean Navales conducts an online class using his mobile phone at his home in Quezon City. Navales runs the class over Facebook Messenger but less than half of his 43 students have access to a device. A year after the coronavirus pandemic sent the Philippines into a months-long lockdown, classrooms across the country remain empty, and children are still stuck at home. Ted Aljibe / AFP

ANDRIX Serrano, 9, studies alone inside a Manila slum shack he shares with his street-sweeper grandmother.

Like many in his fourth-grade class, he has no internet for his shuttered school's online lessons.

A year after the coronavirus pandemic sent the Philippines into a months-long lockdown, classrooms across the country remain empty and children are still stuck at home.

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on vax supplies for second dose

By Willie Casas

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is worried the second dose of COVID-19 vaccines for the country won’t arrive in time to boost the first shot already received by several thousand frontliners, even as he told Filipinos on Monday not to despair amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III also said his department would investigate claims on social media that almost 50,000 doses of donated COVID-19 vaccines were mishandled by a logistics company that did not meet government standards.

In his televised address Monday night, Duterte said the government would also use all vehicles at its disposal to bring mobile vaccination teams to the poor, especially to squatter areas in Metro Manila, or fetch the indigent to bring them to vaccine centers.

The President also wants to distribute masks to everybody, even as Duque admitted bringing the vaccines to squatters would be difficult since it would require manpower the government can ill afford, especially in monitoring the possible effects of the vaccines.

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UN probe on lawyers’ slays sought living members of the bar.

Around 61 lawyers, prosecutors, and judges have been killed since 2016 when President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office, A LAWYERS group has asked a UN spe- the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers cial rapporteur to look into the flurry of said in a letter Monday to Diego Garcíaattacks against members of the legal pro- Sayán, the UN Special Rapporteur on the fession in the country, which has 40,000 Next page

By Maricel V. Cruz and Willie Casas

Maya-2, 2nd PH cube satellite, in orbit MAYA-2, the Philippines’ second cube satellite, was successfully released into orbit by the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday, along with Paraguay’s

GuaraniSat-1 and Japan's Tsuru.

Developed under Japan’s Kyushu Institute of Technology’s 4th Joint Global Multi-Nation Birds Satellite (BIRDS-4) Project, these cube satellites were Next page

TAAL EXERCISE. Members of the Cavite provincial police hold rolled-up tarpaulins to be installed on their vehicles in a simulation exercise for the Taal volcano eruption evacuation plan at Barangay Banga, Talisay, Batangas on Monday. JR Josue

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News

TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2021

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Gas up P1.25/L, diesel by P0.90 liter for gasoline, P5.35 per liter for diesel and P4.50 per liter for kerosene.

World oil prices declined last week amid signs of global fuel consumption recovery, as vaccination programs against the coronavirus gained traction.

However, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies have warned that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to be felt in the next two quarters.

OPEC has cut its demand estimates for the first two quarters, but is more optimistic of second half demand due to the positive impact of the vaccinations worldwide.

“Effective 12:01 AM March 16, 2021, Caltex (Chevron Philippines Inc.) will increase fuel prices of Platinum by P1.25

per liter, Silver by P1.25 per liter, diesel by P0.90 per liter and kerosene by P0.85 per liter,” Chevron said in its advisory.

Aside from Caltex, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., PTT Philippines, Cleanfuel and PetroGazz also raised pump prices, while others are expected to follow suit.

Unioil Philippines said over the weekend oil prices will likely go up this week by P0.80 to P0.90 per liter for diesel and P1.10 to P1.20 per liter for gasoline.

The oil price increase reversed the oil price rollback implemented on March 9, when the oil firms cut pump prices by P0.10 per liter for gasoline, P0.35 per liter for diesel and kerosene by P0.55 per liter.

These resulted in the year-to-date adjustments to stand at a net increase of P6.10 per

Palace...

current reproduction rate does not change.

The projection is based on a 1.9 reproduction rate or the number of people infected by a virus patient, David said.

In the National Capital Region, local chief executives reintroduced tougher restrictions on movement—including a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew--hoping the two-week long measure can bring the spike under control.

Metro Manila Police said it would enforce "maximum tolerance" as the capital region's uniform curfew began Monday.

Essential workers, authorized persons outside their residence (APOR) and those with emergencies are allowed to go outside during the 2-week curfew, said Metro Manila Police chief. Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. The PNP will set up checkpoints at COVID-19 hotspots.

Those who violate minimum health protocols such as non-wearing of face masks and face shield, and non-observance of physical distancing will be penalized according to local ordinances, Danao said.

Manila police chief Gen. Leo Francisco said in his city, first time curfew violators will be sent to exercise in a basketball court, but succeeding violations will bring fines.

Police who abuse their authority will face administrative charges, Danao said.

OCTA’s David said the effect of the twoweek curfew would be seen this week.

President Rodrigo Duterte last year restricted the movement of 12.8 million people in Metro Manila after 52 coronavirus infections were reported.

A year later, the Philippines has tallied some 621,498 COVID-19 cases.

In Metro Manila, daily virus cases could reach 5,000 to 6,000 by end of March and 14,000 by mid-April, David said.

The DOH on Monday urged the public to wear face masks even at home to prevent the clustering of COVID-19 cases within households.

DOH Epidemiology Bureau director Dr. Alethea de Guzman, in an interview on GMA News, said wearing face masks at home will help cut the chain of transmission.

The DOH had earlier expressed concern about family clustering amid a spike in COVID-19 cases.

Health officials also urged those who

tested positive for COVID-19 to recuperate in a facility instead of their homes.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto said the best way to honor those who died from the disease is for the government to arm for a final push against the virus.

“Like any war, the people can only be assured of victory not with words but with a show of weapons in use: vaccines in the arms of the people,” Recto said.

He said Malacañang should use the anniversary of the pandemic to unveil a 100-day plan for a summer offensive from April to June, with clear targets in terms of the number of people vaccinated, the number of vaccines that will arrive, and where they will be sent.

“We need a battle plan that will not only unify the nation, but will lift our spirits and assign us the role we have to play. This is the clear tunnel vision we need,” Recto said.

He noted that this is the government’s todo list from now until the State of the Nation Address, so that when the President speaks to the nation on the fourth Monday of July, it is to declare victory and announce that the long national nightmare will be over soon.

Senator Imee Marcos, on the other hand, called for an overhaul of the IATF, asking: “What exactly have they accomplished after one year?”

In that time, she said, families and businesses have suffered due to loss of income, health workers got sick and a number have died, and local government units have run out of funds and resources.

“What will the IATF recommend this time to control this new surge?”she asked.

“We have been imprisoned in our house for one year, our. children have not learned in school for one year, our people have lost their earnings for already one year—it's an anniversary not worth remembering or celebrating,” Marcos said.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson said as the government faces more challenges in the second year of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, it should be more open to constructive criticism as well as the efforts of the private sector.

He also said the government should evaluate the actions it has taken so far and sustain the strengths while addressing the weaknesses of its response.

“Now is the time for an evaluation, what

the government did right and what it did wrong," he said.

"Instead of rejecting constructive criticism, it should accept it as part of their planning and continuing assessment. Our aim is to call their attention to things they may not realize. No one has a monopoly of wisdom and knowledge," he added.

Senator Risa Hontiveros said instead of rolling out aggressive health-based approaches, the government responded through undeserving promotions, pats-onthe-back and premature celebrations.

The consequence of this is that the country now faces 5,000 cases daily, almost 13,000 deaths, an increasing debt of $14 billion and only 1 percent of the whole population vaccinated.

She said IATF continues to use silly and ineffective band-aid solutions as a smokescreen for the fact that the real systematic response has still not yet been made.

Senator Nancy Binay on Monday expressed alarm that minimum health protocols are no longer being observed nor being implemented in public places, or even by public officials.

“What’s ironic is that after a year since the lockdown, we are still here. It seemed that nthing has changed—same problems, same issues, same recommendations (hard lockdown, curfew, liquor ban, etc),” she said.

She said the DOH downplaying the rise in cases and the recommendation of the IATF to open tourism, and other sectors gave the impression that the country was back to normal—which is not the case.

She also said everything is not fine simply because the vaccines have begun to roll out.

“How can we expect people to consciously follow health protocols when even our national and local government officials do not conscientiously follow minimum health protocols?” Binay said.

Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte urged the administration to intensify efforts to hasten the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in the wake of drastic spike in the number of cases.

The legislator issued the statement over the weekend after Health Secretary Francisco Duque III admitted that the vaccine rollout was off to a slow start.

pen with this new increase in cases," she said.

Lim urged the public not to drop their guard against COVID-19 even as the country had started its inoculation program.

"I don't really know whether it's an accurate read. But I get this feeling that people are more complacent. Maybe it’s also brought about by the fact we've gone through the first one. And although it was something that you would not call a pleasant experience, people did live through it.

They did see that most cases are mild. So maybe that informs the way we react," she said.

"Unlike the first time around, we didn't have any experience which on to base our reactions on. I guess the response was more cautious. I think now people are less so, I have to say. And I guess that really is just a natural response,” she said.

She warned of the presence of more contagious COVID-19 variants found in

the UK, South Africa and Brazil. A new variant has also been detected in the Philippines.

"The longer they (virus) live, the more variations they have the opportunity to develop," she said.

Meanwhile, as the national utilization rate of beds and mechanical ventilators dedicated to COVID-19 patients is still considered low-risk at 35 percent, intensive care unit (ICU) beds are slowly being used up, the Department of Health said Monday.

Dr. Beverly Ho, director of the DOH Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Control bureaus, said Metro Manila’s ICU occupancy rate was already in the moderate-risk classification at 65 percent.

The capital region’s overall healthcare utilization rate (HCUR) stood at 49 percent while 38 percent of mechanical ventilators are in use.

The DOH also said a 47 percent HCUR and 49 percent ICU bed occupancy rate was logged in Central Visayas; 33 percent

HCUR and 52 percent ICU utilization in Davao Region; and 56 percent HCUR and 71 percent ICU bed occupancy in the Cordillera region.

“We cannot just be complacent about the numbers now because the ICU beds are slowly being filled up,” Ho said in a briefing.

“As the total number of cases increase, inevitably, the number of patients going to ICUs will also increase,” she said.

The Philippines is seeing a fresh surge in COVID-19 cases, which the DOH said is being driven by new coronavirus variants and relaxed adherence to health protocols.

Experts from the OCTA Research Team have warned that the country could register up to 20,000 new cases per day by April if the surge is not contained.

The DOH has also urged the public to wear face masks even at home to avoid a clustering of COVID-19 cases within households.

doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine are arriving on March 22 and a total of 2.3 million doses by April.

He and Duque also agreed that owing to their short shelf life, the AstraZeneca jabs should be used as the first dose for medical frontliners and those on the government’s priority list.

Duque also told ABS-CBN News it was unlikely for AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines to be mishandled since they “are not requiring ultra-low storage temperature.”

Unlike Pfizer and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines that are required to be frozen, the vaccine brands received so far by the country only require normal refrigerator temperatures.

“I cannot understand how they can be allowed to be mismanaged in a temperature that is easy to be achieved,” Duque said. “So that’s something we have to look into.”

Meanwhile, Duque revealed that two areas in Metro Manila are at “critical risk” for COVID-19 and 16 others are “high risk” areas, as 2,842 cases of the 5,404 cases recorded on Monday were from the National Capital Region.

“If we are unable to stem the spread, we might breach the first surge in July and August last year,” the Health secretary told the President.

Learning...

ternet at home.

"I can't do it, it's difficult for me," said Serrano, sitting in his shack next to a polluted river, a photo of him wearing a class graduation gown hanging on the wall behind him.

"It's fun in school. It's easier to learn there."

The 9-year-old's science teacher, Kristhean Navales, runs a class over Facebook Messenger but less than half of his 43 students have access to a device.

Using heart and thumb emojis, those that can join signal if they have understood or have questions about the lesson Navales has pasted into the group chat.

AFP, Macon Ramos-Araneta

By Alena Mae S. Flores

A

S PREDICTED, the country’s oil firms raised the price of gasoline by P1.25 per liter, diesel by P0.90 per liter, and kerosene by P0.85 per liter effective 12:01 am Tuesday to reflect the movement of prices in the world oil market.

From A1

Inter-Agency Task Force for the Manage-

ment of Emerging Infectious Diseases on Monday to discuss recommendations for quarantine rules nationwide.

“I really do not know what will happen in April. That’s why we’re closely monitoring it,” said Roque, who himself contracted the virus.

The Philippines logged 5,404 new COVID-19 cases Monday, bringing the total to 626,893, as five laboratories were not able to submit their data on time, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.

Eight new fatalities brought the death toll from COVID-19 to 12,837, which is 2.05 percent of the total cases.

The DOH also reported that there were 71 new recoveries, bringing the total recoveries to 560,577, which is 89.4 percent of the total cases.

This left 53,479 active cases, which is 8.5 percent of the total. Of the active cases, 92.4 percent are mild; 4 percent are asymptomatic; 1.4 percent are critical; 1.4 percent are severe; and 0.73 percent are moderate.

The DOH also reported that, nationwide, 54 percent of the total number of ICU bed capacity is available; 62 percent of the total isolation bed capacity is available; 70 percent of the total number of ward bed capacity is available; and 74 percent of the total units of ventilators are available.

An adviser to the DOH said the government must pay close attention to the surge in cases as infections have already breached 620,000 a year into the pandemic.

Dr. Anna Ong-Lim, who is part of the technical working group that advises the Department of Health, said the rise in COVID-19 cases was the same as it was in July and August last year.

“We have to be ready for what might happen with this new increase in cases," Lim said.

A researcher who has been tracking the pandemic, Guido David of the OCTA Research group, warned that the Philippines may record up to 8,000 daily new COVID-19 cases by the end of the month if the

Hospital...

From A1

Despite the rising number of COVID-19 patients, the Philippine College of Physicians said there was no need to call for a "timeout" to aid fatigued health frontliners.

But Philippines must pay close attention to the COVID-19 surge it's currently experiencing, public health expert Dr. Anna Ong Lim warned.

"I don't know whether the correct word to use is more worrisome. It's certainly something that we have to pay close attention to," said Lim, who is part of the technical working group that advises the Department of Health.

Lim noted the rise in COVID-19 cases was the same in July and August last year.

"If that was the situation at that time, we have to be ready for what might hap-

Duterte...

From A1

“This is my question since everyone is in a hurry (to get inoculated). We have doses intended for the second injection. The booster would follow in so many days. That isn’t being used since the second booster (shot) is the problem because it’s said to (expire soon),” Duterte said.

“You know, how about those needing already the second dose? There’s a problem there. You could say we would use that as the first dose to those who haven’t been vaccinated. That’s good.

But the problem is, if you say, the second dose would come from the future deliveries, that’s okay. The next problem is it might not come,” he added.

The President noted that the second coronavirus dose must be given 12 weeks or three months after the first jab.

Duterte expressed hope that the orld Health Organization “must know our quandary” in using the country’s current supply of 525,000 doses, all from donations from China’s Sinovac Biotech and WHO’s Covax facility.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, who recently came from India to secure more shots, told the President that 970,200

From A1

Fearing youngsters could catch the virus and infect elderly relatives, President Rodrigo Duterte refuses to lift the restrictions until vaccinations are widespread -something that could take years.

A "blended learning" program involving online classes, printed materials and lessons broadcast on television and social media was launched in October, four months after the school year was supposed to start.

It has been plagued with problems: most students in the Philippines don't have a computer or in-

Palawan...

From A1

The eight municipalities are Narra, Brooke’s Point, El Nido, Aborlan, Sofronio Española, Rizal, Bataraza and San Vicente.

In a press statement, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the Palawan plebiscite proceedings were suspended as all the received municipal canvass reports had already been canvassed.

“The canvassing will be reconvened on the afternoon of March 15 when the other municipal canvass reports have ar-

rived,” Jimenez said.

He said the Comelec will proclaim the result of the plebiscite after the provincial plebiscite board of canvassers completes the tally of the certificates of canvass of votes for all 23 municipalities.

The plebiscite result will determine whether Palawan will be divided into Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental and Palawan del Sur. Bishop Socrates Mesiona called on the Palawan residents to be watchful as votes against the division of Palawan into three provinces were leading based on the initial canvassing of plebiscite results as of Sunday.

Clark firm calls for sustainable wastewater tack

CLARK FREEPORT – The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) underscored the need for a new and inexpensive technology in meeting the requirements of waste water treatment set by the government.

In a virtual town hall meeting Saturday, CDC has laid out feasible and cost-effective methods that are modern, compliant, and inexpensive that make the business climate for Clark locators and investors more sustainable.

The technology also addresses standards set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The video conference was attended by officers and members of Clark Investors and Locators Association (CILA) and officials from Clark Water Corporation (CWC).

This aims to provide updates, and developments with regard to the various steps taken by the state-owned firm in guiding CWC for its compliance to the Department Administrative Order (DAO) 2016-08, issued by the DENR. CWC, as the water and wastewater concessionaire of the Freeport, is required to comply with the DAO 2016-08 or the Water Quality Guidelines (WQG) and General Effluent Standards (GES).

During the meeting, CDC presented to CILA and CWC a possible alternative and a cost-efficient technology which is a hybrid wastewater treatment that incorporates Bio Remediation and Reed Bed technology.

Speaker hails passage of bill on energy body

By Maricel V. Cruz SPEAKER Lord Allan Velasco on Monday hailed the House of Representatives’ passage of a bill creating the Philippine Energy Research and Policy Institute (PERPI) that he championed when he was head of the chamber’s energy panel.

Voting 208-0 with no abstention, lawmakers unanimously approved on third and final reading House Bill (HB) 8928 to be known as the “Philippine Energy Research and Policy Institute Act.” Velasco, who was chairman of the House Committee on Energy prior to becoming Speaker, said the proposed body would help “bridge the research and policy gap in the energy sector.”

“It is high time that the country develop a stable, sustainable, affordable and reliable energy supply by harnessing the latest research and technology available in order to meet the country’s growing demand for energy and the Duterte administration’s long-term development goals,” Velasco said.

UN...

From A1

Independence of Judges and Lawyers.

The victims of the attacks are either defense lawyers who handled drug cases or those involved in human rights and public interest lawyering, the NUPL said, adding of the 61, at least 54 "are prima facie work-related", the NUPL said.

In other related developments, a House leader has called for the speedy passage of a bill creating the Philippine Marshals Service, which shall be primarily responsible for the protection and security of the members of the judiciary, judicial personnel, the courts, and other court assets.

Rep. Ruffy Biazon of Muntinlupa, vice chair of the House committee on national defense, made the statement following perceived threats made against members of the legal profession by law enforcement agencies.

“We are calling on our fellow legislators in both Houses of Congress to support this bill because of its relevance and necessity, not only for the safety and security of those in the judiciary but also for facilitating the swift delivery of justice,” Biazon said.

Maya-2...

From A1

launched on February 21 at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Station in Virginia, United States through the S.S. Katherine Johnson Cygnus spacecraft at 1:36 AM PST. Maya-2 was designed and built

by Filipino scholars assisted through the Space Science and Technology Proliferation through University Partnerships (STeP-UP) Project of the Space Technology and Applications Mastery, Innovation and Advancement (STAMINA4Space) Program, with funding support from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

“The successful launch of Maya-2 makes me feel proud. The accomplishment made possible by our young researchers and engineers should make us confident that we can do more in the area of space technology," said DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña.

News IN BRIEF VACC officials charged with cyber libel cases

TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2021

TMA ordered to return P702m T

HE Regional Trial Court of Makati City, in its February 15, 2021, Writ of Execution, ordered the TMA Group of Companies Pty Ltd. (now known as TMA Australia PTY Ltd.) and TMA Group of Philippines Inc. to immediately return PCSO’s funds that TMA had previously garnished.

CAPAS, Tarlac—A chief executive in this town filed multiple counts of cyber liber cases against the former head of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, Pampanga Chapter, over a series of allegedly malicious imputations and character assassination posted on social media against Mayor Rey Catacutan.

Catacutan, assisted by his legal team, lodged multiple counts of cyber-libel cases at the Office of the Tarlac City Provincial Prosecutor against Pyra Lucas, former chief of the Pampanga VACC, Froilan Apostol and Cesario Bautista Jr., for alleged violation of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

Catacutan said Lucas described him as a land grabber in many occasions as posted in the social media, which were glaring and deliberate with bad intentions and unjustifiable motives to malign, dishonor, discredit, insult and assassinate his character and reputation. Jess Malabanan

Such order stemmed from the August 28, 2019 decision of the Supreme Court declaring the orders of the court to garnish PCSO funds as void.

Meanwhile, a= bettor from Negros Occidental bagged the P4-million jackpot prize on Sunday night’s draw of the Super Lotto 6/49, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office said Monday.

The bettor guessed the winning combination 49-46-25-42-39-37 with a jackpot of P24,110,508.40.

The ticket was purchased in Himamaylan, Negros Occidental.

The Notice of Compliance and Writ of Execution were served at TMA’s business office address in Calamba, Laguna, while Notices of Garnishment were served to several banks directing them to garnish any other receivable/s and personal properties in their possession or under their control belonging to TMA, among others.

According to PCSO General Manager Royina Marzan Garma, the decision of the Makati RTC came at a very opportune time when the government is struggling for funds to support the COVID-19 pandemic measures. The more than P707 million funds to be returned to PCSO will help a long way in the provision of medical assistance to Filipinos particularly the poorest of the poor.

Caloocan govt honors its best frontliners THE Caloocan City Government honored the outstanding frontliners in relation to the celebration of the first Frontliners’ Day in the city on March 15, 2021.

Mayor Oscar ‘Oca” Malapitan and the author of Frontliners’ Day, Councilor Vince Hernandez, led the awarding of the city’s outstanding frontliners. City Administrator Oliver Hernandez and Councilor LA Asistio were also present during the awarding.

Along with the outstanding frontliners awarded were Dra. Evelyn Cuevas, City Health Officer; Roberto Quizon, Action Officer of the City Social Welfare and Management Department; Police Captain Reynaldo Salazar of the Caloocan Police; Ruby Sugue, ER Head Nurse of Caloocan City Medical Center; Fernando Daya, Barangay Health Worker; Marlon Sulit, Emergency Response Personnel of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office; Genevieve Lyn Pineda, Community Relations Office Staff assigned in the distribution of relief assistance; Gerard Guiller Santos, MedTech assigned in swab testing; Emily Slater, Tourism Operations Officer assigned in the coordination of Locally Stranded Individuals; Kap. Ronaldo Matias of Barangay 175; SK Chairman Joselito Santiago of Barangay 176; Elery Villadores, General Services Department staff assigned in the delivery of relief goods; Rolando Salcedo, garbage collector from the City Environment and Management Department; at Edwin Gutierrez ng Department of Public Safety and Traffic Management personnel assigned in the disinfection. Jun David

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CJ’S FIRST. In an historic first for a chief magistrate, Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta (center) leads the flag raising ceremony at the Rizal Monument in Manila, an event attended by Supreme Court officials and employees. With the Chief Justice is his wife, Court of Appeals Senior Associate Justice Fernanda Lampas Peralta (right) and their four children. SC Photo

Salceda: Govt revenue effort remains resilient

By Maricel V. Cruz THE chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Ways and Means on Monday lauded the strength of the national government’s revenue effort despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, in his presentation of the country’s fiscal status during the regular meeting of the House tax committee Monday, noted that “unlike in previous crises, the revenue effort did not collapse this time, even with the deadline extensions and other tax relief that we gave.”

“Revenue effort remained very strong, only slightly declining from 16.08 percent in 2019, one of the highest ever, to 15.89

percent in 2020. Tax reforms passed by this committee form the foundation of our strongest revenue performance during any recent global crisis,” Salceda, the House ways and means chairperson, said.

Revenue effort is the amount of national government revenues collected during a fiscal year over the same year’s gross domestic product.

Salceda noted that the revenue effort for 2020 is the first major economic crisis where the country’s revenue effort did not collapse massively.

The House tax chair credited this to the “close relationship between fiscal administration (DOF, BIR, BOC, GOCCs) and fiscal policymakers (Ways and Means

Committee)” and to the vigilance of the House tax committee in investigating tax enforcement and administration.

“Tax reforms are the foundation of our fiscal strength. Our children and grandchildren will have government revenues for their time, because we invested in good tax policy,” Salceda added.

Salceda is the principal author of the entire Comprehensive Tax Reform Program of the Duterte administration.

“The DOF and the House Ways and Means Committee work constructively but independently. That’s how we serve as a check and balance to each other. And it works well, as the numbers show,” Salceda added.

Airport’s construction pushed LOCAL officials, residents and various stakeholders expressed their full support for the immediate construction of the new Manila International Airport in Barangay Taliptip, Bulakan, Bulacan, saying the project to be built by San Miguel Corporation will further unlock the economic potential of Bulacan province, provide jobs to millions of Filipinos and help the country recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bulacan governor Daniel Fernando, Bulakan town mayor Vergel Meneses, and officials and residents of Barangay Taliptip and Barangay Bambang voiced their support for the P740 billion project during the public hearing conducted by the Environment Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Monday.

The local officials and residents said they were formally consulted and had carefully weighed the proposed airport’s benefits for the province and its residents, including the measures to mitigate perennial flooding in the province.

“Ang proyektong ito ay maghahatid ng ibayong kaunlaran at mataas na antas ng pamumuhay,” said Fernando, adding that the province was poised to become a global destination for tourism with the construction of the airport.

Meneses says the town of Bulacan is

lucky to have a strategic location fit for a modern airport that will address congestion problems that have affected many air travelers at the country’s current gateways.

“Ang proyekto po ay sinusuportahan ko, ng Sangguniang Bayan at Bayan ng Bulakan. Amin pong ninanais na masimulan na ang proyekto sa lalong madaling panahon, dahil batid naming ang maraming oportunidad na bubuksan nito sa aming bayan,” Meneses said.

He says Bulakan took into careful consideration the economic development, job opportunities and new businesses that the airport project will bring. The town’s council issued a formal decision to support the undertaking in October 27 last year.

Barangay captains Michael Ramos and Jesus Cruz of Taliptip and Bambang, respectively, pointed to the timeliness of the project, saying many of their residents are experiencing poverty due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The proposed airport will be located in the said barangays.

Ramos says San Miguel has shown its commitment and support to his barangay, particularly the relocated residents, even prior to construction. He added that even prior to construction, residents have already been provided skills training and livelihood opportunities.

SNIFFING AROUND. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Region 1 K9 Unit, assisted by the Seaport Interdiction Unit, guides its sniffing dogs in paneling at the Partas Waybill Section, City of San Fernando, La Union. Cargo and parcels were thoroughly inspected as a precautionary anti-narcotic measure against the entry or transit of illegal drugs in the city. PDEA-SIU-RSET UNO Photo

Villanueva eyes early retirement for state workers

By Macon Ramos-Araneta ADJUSTING the optional retirement age for government workers will open up opportunities for the next generation of civil servants and allow retirees to enjoy the next phase of their lives, according to Senator Joel Villanueva.

Villanueva, chairperson of the Senate labor committee, asked the resource persons at Thursday’s hearing of the Senate civil service committee on the likelihood of staffing shortage should several bills

seeking to lower the optional retirement age are passed into law.

“It’s good to note that proposals to lower the optional retirement age will not result in staffing shortage,” Villanueva said after Civil Service Commissioner Aileen Lizada said there was a high demand for government workers.

Lizada said that in one instance, there were about 200 applicants for a single vacancy they opened recently, which showed that there were a lot of people looking for jobs.

Protection of biodiversity urged

BUSY WOMAN. Women entrepreneurs like Inky Zapanta of Pintako Plaster Art Figurines and coffee artist Ella Hipolito (pictured) brave the odds of the pandemic and continue to make a living by selling art and hand-crafted items at SM City Masinag, Antipolo City.

The Women at Work Pop Up Market is put up at SM Malls in Celebration of International Women’s Month this March. Manny Palmero

STRESSING that the Philippines is biodiversity-rich but also among the world’s biodiversity hotspots or those areas experiencing high rates of habitat loss, Senator Cynthia Villar urged the public to be more vigilant against biodiversity loss, wildlife protection and conservation of their habitats.

“What makes the issue even more important to our country is the fact that the Philippines is one of the world’s 17 megadiverse or biodiversity-rich countries, which hosts two-thirds of the Earth’s biodiversity,” said Villar in her privilege speech in observance of the World Wildlife Day celebration on March 8.

The biodiversity-rich countries, Villar says, contain about 70 to 80 percent of the world’s plant and animal species.

Due to this, the Senate chairperson of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources underscored the need to create awareness on biological diversity and take action about its protection.

She warned that any damage or loss would cost too much for the country and more here chronic disease transmission. She said researches indicated that the constant exploitation of wild fauna and their habitats had raised the risk of zoonotic disease transmission or the transmission of disease from animals to humans. Macon RamosAraneta

On the other hand, Villanueva sought from the representatives of the Government Service Insurance System the reasons often cited by government workers on why they remained in service until they reached the mandatory retirement age of 65.

The GSIS representatives said workers stayed until the mandatory retirement age because they needed to meet the 15-year service requirement to be eligible for a state pension. They needed the income to cover their basic needs and pay off debts, and they still wanted to work.

Manila

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Standard

TODAY COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCEMENT

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has submitted to the Commission on Appointments (CA) for its consent on the nominations of the following senior officers in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), namely:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

PHILIP S. LAPINID BENJAMIN G. BATARA JR. RUBEN B. CANDELARIO STEVE D. CRESPILLO MARK EDWIN B. MORO NOEL D. BELERAN FREDDIE T. DELA CRUZ

to the rank of Brigadier General to the rank of Brigadier General to the rank of Brigadier General to the rank of Brigadier General to the rank of Brigadier General to the rank of Brigadier General to the rank of Brigadier General

The public may submit any information, written report, or sworn/notarized complaints or oppositions in thirty - two (32) copies of the above nominations to the CA Secretariat, 6th Floor, PNB Financial Center, D. Macapagal Blvd., Pasay City, Metro Manila.

For the schedule of the public hearings, the CA Secretariat can be reached through telephone numbers 8834-2713, 8831-1824, 8831-0527, 8832-9830, 8834-2706 and 8551-1989.

15 March 2021.

(MS-MAR. 16, 2021)

HECTOR A. VILLACORTA Secretary

News

TURNING JAPANESE.

Iloilo City Rep. Julienne ‘Jamjam’ Baronda donates 43 Japanese bikes during the city’s Women’s Month celebration. Iloilo city is considered the bike capital of the Philippines.

Arnold Almacen/Iloilo City Mayor’s Office

A4

TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2021

New variants account for 7% of PH cases AT LEAST seven percent of the samples from COVID-19 cases in the country involve new variants of coronavirus, an official of the Department of Health said Monday.

“The variants account for 7 percent of our cases based on our sequenced samples. If this goes up to 50 to 60 percent, then the number of cases will jump to as much as 28 times,” DOH-Epidemiology Bureau Director Alethea de Guzman said, referring to the variants first detected in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil.

“As of now, these variants of concern account for a very small percentage, and that is why we have to cut the transmission as soon as possible so it does not spread further,” she added.

Probe changing protocols

A party-list legislator on Monday sought a congressional investigation into what he perceived as frequent changes in testing and quarantine protocols being enforced by the government, specifically on overseas Filipino workers.

Kabayan party-list Rep. Ron Salo filed House Resolution No. 1650 asking the House committees on Health and on Overseas Workers Affairs to probe the alleged “flip-flopping” of testing and quarantine protocols for OFWs. “The frequently changing testing and quarantine protocols for all persons allowed entry to the Philippines has caused confusion and stress to returning Filipinos, especially to OFWs who are returning for emergency reasons, such as terminal illness or death of a family member,” Salo said.

“All this confusion on the protocols is compounded by the unnecessary stress caused by voluminous declarations and documents that need to be signed by the returning Filipinos, particularly the OFWs.” he added. Willie Casas, Maricel Cruz and Rey Requejo

Vico in isolation, Roque positive

By Vito Barcelo

P

RESIDENTIAL spokesman Harry Roque tested positive for COVID-19 while Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto underwent a two-week quarantine after his driver contracted the novel coronavirus disease and subsequently died from it.

“Exactly one year after (the imposition of Enhanced Community Quarantine), COVID-19 caught up with me. I received my results that I am positive for COVID-19,” Roque said yesterday after getting swabbed Sunday as part of the protocol before any scheduled meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte.

Roque, who said he was asymptomatic, said he was shocked that he contracted the infection, saying he has taken

necessary health precautions, including regular testing.

“To those whom I had a close contact with, I ask you for your indulgence, but you need to place yourself on quarantine,” said.

Sotto, for his part, tested negative for COVID-19 but will still complete the prescribed two-week quarantine.

“I took the COVID-19 test Sunday since I am a close contact. We will

strictly follow health protocols. I will temporarily not go to work and I have cancelled all my appointments or meetings. If possible, I will continue doing my work through Zoom, Viber, text and phone calls,” he said.

Sotto said he last saw his driver, Vener, Wednesday. The latter died on Saturday.

For his part, Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate described Roque as “pasaway” (stubborn) and Philippine National Police chief Gen. Debold Sinas, who also contracted the disease, as the epitome of “impunity.”

“Sec. Roque is the ultimate example of ‘pasaway’ for visiting different places in the country as if daring the COVID virus to infect him. From socializing with dolphins to going out without a

Manila places six barangays under lockdown

By Willie Casas

Workplaces as COVID hot spots—QC

By Rio N. Araja THE Quezon City government has identified the workplace as a hot spot of COVID-19 cases, prompting it to issue additional safety guidelines.

“Reports showed that household transmission stems from one member of the household acquiring the virus from his workplace,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

“We have instructed our departments to closely look into workplaces and check if they still adhere to our health protocols. Employers must do all they could to minimize risks among their employees, especially essential workers, so they won’t bring the virus home to their families,” she added.

Data from the City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (CESU) showed that of the 722 positive cases from February 28 to March 13, 2021, at least 104 cases or 14 percent of them occurred in workplaces with many employees.

On the other hand, households remain to be the most common exposure setting, where 256 cases or 35 percent has occurred.

SAFETY MEASURES.

Workers rehabilitate the primary road of Jose Abad Santos Avenue in Hermosa, Bataan to protect slopes and prevent road slips, especially during rainy days. Joseph Muego

mask or face shield and attending fiestas, he’s done all those,” Zarate said in a statement.

Sinas, on the other hand, reportedly skipped triage during his visit in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro on the same day that he received his positive swab test result.

Zarate then described Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Debold Sinas, who has also tested positive, as the epitome of impunity.

“He may have infected many people in the gatherings he attended. Yet, until now, he has not been sanctioned for his careless actions endangering the lives of many citizens,” the lawmaker said, referring to Sinas’ controversial birthday mañanita party in May 2020.

FOR FUR BABIES. SM Dasmariñas in Cavite has opened a paw park for pet lovers. Pet owners may use the park for free by showing P2,000 worth of purchase at the mall. Pets should be at least four months old and must have up to date vaccination. Norman Cruz

3-week liquor ban until April 4 in Muntinlupa THE Muntinlupa local government has enforced a three-week liquor ban and unified curfew hours from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. until April 4 to stem the further transmission of COVID-19.

The lockdown protocols took effect yesterday, Mayor Jaime Fresnedi said, as part of the city’s tighter COVID-19 response efforts.

Fresnedi is set to sign an amended ordinance prohibiting the sale, trade, delivery, and consumption of liquor and other alcoholic beverages in the city.

Under the updated ordinance, vio-

lating business establishments shall be slapped with suspension of business permit and closure for one week for first offense and revocation of business permit or license for second and succeeding offenses.

Individuals who will violate the liquor ban will be meted with a P2,500 penalty for first offense and P5,000 for second and succeeding offenses.

Violators who are government employees will face administrative charges, with penalties.

Penalties for minors shall be charged

against their parents or guardians and those who are part of the local scholarship program may lose their grant.

Members of Philippine National Muntinlupa, Public Order and Safety Office, City Security Office, Muntinlupa Traffic Management Bureau, Business Permits and Licensing Office, and barangay chairpersons shall take the lead in enforcing the liquor ban.

Local homeowners’ associations, including security guards, will also be deputized to augment operations.

MANILA Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Monday ordered a four-day lockdown in six barangays in the city due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases.

Domagoso also ordered all government agencies in the city to again limit the number of staff reporting to their offices to 30 percent.

The snap lockdown will take effect Wednesday, March 17 until Saturday, March 20.

The areas to be placed under lockdown are as follows: Brgy. 185 Zone 16, Tondo 2; Brgy. 374 Zone 38, Sta. Cruz; Brgy. 521 Zone 52, Sampaloc; Brgy. 628 Zone 63, Sta. Mesa; Brgy.

675 Zone 74, Paco; and Brgy. 847 Zone 92, Pandacan.

Meanwhile, the 30-percent limit for on-site staff for government agencies in Manila took effect yesterday.

“We’re going back to reducing the number of people in City Hall as a precautionary measure,” Domagoso said.

Exempted from the new protocol are the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, Department of Public Services, Department of Public Service, Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau, Manila Health Department, Manila Department of Social Welfare, and all district hospitals.

Domagoso also ordered the Manila Police District to cancel all leaves, except medical leaves, to address the COVID-19 situation in the city.

Labor group rejects ‘no vax, no work’ policy AN UMBRELLA network of labor groups hailed the decision of the Department of Labor and Employment banning the “no vaccine, no work” policy of some employers to force their workers to get inoculated.

“The employees are grateful for the prompt positive reaction from DOLE. It is quite rare and precious for or-

dinary working people to praise the DOLE amid the adversity they are going through because of the pandemic crisis,” said Associated Labor Unions (ALU) spokesman Alan Tanjusay.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III earlier approved Labor Advisory 03-2021 or the Guidelines on the Administration of COVID-19 Vaccines in the Workplaces which

outlaws the “no vaccine, no work” policy.

The advisory said COVID-19 vaccination should not be made mandatory and that those who refuse to be vaccinated should not be discriminated against.

It also said workers cannot be terminated, refused promotion, or prohibited from entering the workplace just because they do not want to be inoculated. Vito Barcelo

HR advocates seek review of ‘remote warrants’ A HUMAN rights group on Monday asked the Supreme Court to revisit its rules allowing some trial courts in the National Capital Region to issue search warrants that can be implemented anywhere in the country.

Kapatid, a human rights advocates group supporting families of political prisoners,

said the so-called “remote search warrants” issued by courts “are being manipulated and weaponized by state agents to go after activists and even kill them.”

Kapatid spokesperson Fides Lim was referring to Section 12, Chapter 5 of a 2004 Supreme Court Administrative Circular which allows Manila and Qu-

ezon City executive judges of regional trial courts and, in their absence, viceexecutive judges, to issue search warrants outside their territorial jurisdiction on the basis of applications filed by the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippine National Police and the Anti-Crime Task Force. Rey Requejo

B2

World

TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2021

World awaits COVID China origins report G

ENEVA―The much-anticipated report from the international mission to Wuhan to investigate Covid-19’s origins is set to be published this week, following intense US and Chinese pressure over its contents.

IN BRIEF Afghan ban on girls singing reversed KABUL―A ban on girls singing in public imposed by education officials in the Afghan capital last week has been overturned after a social media campaign that included local women uploading videos of themselves belting out their favourite songs.

Schoolgirl choirs are a regular feature of official Afghan events, but when education authorities in Kabul banned the participation of teenagers it prompted an immediate backlash.

The order raised fears that education officials were “Talibanising” the country, heralding a return to when the authoritarian Islamist group barred the participation of women in almost all parts of society outside their own homes.

Late Sunday, the education ministry issued a statement saying the ban “does not reflect the positions or policies of the Ministry”.

The announcement followed a furious backlash from social media users using the hashtag “#IAmMySong” to raise awareness.

“In Afghanistan today the Ministry of Education suffocated the voices of our little girls by making it illegal for them to sing,” tweeted Shamila Kohestani, former captain of the national women’s football team. AFP

Case vs. Russian Wagner fighters filed by NGOs MOSCOW―Three NGOs on Monday announced a landmark legal case in Moscow against Russian mercenary group Wagner over the torture of a detainee in Syria, aiming to hold to account a murky fighting force with Kremlin links.

The legal push against private military contractor Wagner Group follows a wave of torture-related cases in Europe against Syrian regime officials a decade into a punishing war whose tide was turned by Moscow’s military intervention in 2015.

Three prominent advocacy groups from France, Russia and Syria filed the criminal complaint against alleged members of the contractor outfit over the beheading in 2017 of a man believed to have deserted from the Syrian army.

Wagner has been linked to a powerful ally of President Vladimir Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, and the case probing potential “war crimes” is unlikely to lead to any convictions.

Prigozhin, 59, who has been hit with US sanctions for meddling in US presidential elections in 2016, denies any association with Wagner. AFP

SUU KYI DEFENDER. Khin Maung Zaw, lawyer for detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, answers questions from the media after leaving Zabuthiri township court in Naypyidaw on Monday, as the country remains in turmoil six weeks after a military coup. AFP

44 protesters dead; Suu Kyi appearance postponed

YANGON―A block on mobile data networks across Myanmar on Monday scuppered a scheduled video court appearance by ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, as protesters returned to the streets after the bloodiest day since the military coup six weeks ago.

At least 44 protesters were killed Sunday as security forces cracked down on pro-democracy demonstrations, taking the death toll since the coup to more than 120, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) monitoring group.

Myanmar has been in uproar since the putsch, with daily protests demanding a restoration of democracy despite the junta’s increasingly forceful attempts to quell dissent.

The court hearing for Suu Kyi -- who spent more than 15 years under house arrest during previous military rule -- was

scheduled for 10 am (0330 GMT) in Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw, but it was postponed until March 24, her lawyer Khin Maung Zaw told AFP. “There’s no court hearing because there’s no internet and the hearing is conducted by video conference... We cannot do video,” he said.

Myanmar authorities have throttled the internet every night for several weeks, normally restoring services in the morning, but monitoring service Netblocks said mobile data networks were kept offline Monday.

Suu Kyi faces at least four charges: possessing unlicensed walkie-talkies, violating coronavirus restrictions, breaching telecommunications laws, and intent to cause public unrest.

Military authorities have also accused her of accepting illegal payments of $600,000 in cash as well as a large quan-

Irish, Dutch suspend ‘Astra’vaccines

MSF rips widespread hits on Tigray clinics ADDIS ABABA―The medical charity MSF on Monday condemned a “deliberate and generalised” programme of targeting clinics in the conflict-hit Tigray region of Ethiopia.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched a military campaign in Tigray last year after blaming the region’s ruling party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), for attacks on army camps.

Abiy, winner of the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize, declared victory when federal forces entered the regional capital Mekele in late November, though TPLF leaders remain on the run and fighting continues.

A statement issued Monday by Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF, said “treatment structures in the Ethiopian region of Tigray were looted, vandalised and destroyed in a deliberate and generalised manner” according to its observers in the area.

The group said it had visited 106 sites between mid-December and early March, and that around 70 percent had been looted. AFP

LOUD AND CLEAR. Protesters attend a rally against sexual violence and gender

inequality in Sydney on March 15. Tens of thousands of women protested across Australia against sexual violence and gender inequality on Monday, as outrage grew over rape allegations that have convulsed the conservative government. AFP

US execs in first Asian overseas trips TOKYO―Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin arrived in Japan on Monday, as he and top US diplomat Antony Blinken began their first overseas trip, looking to rally key Asian allies as a bulwark to China.

The pair, who travelled separately, will meet in Japan for the first leg of their trip, holding talks with their counterparts as well as Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

They will both continue on to South Korea, before Defense Secretary Austin headsManila separately to India and Secretary ofStandard State Blinken holds talks back in the TODAY United States with Chinese officials.

President Joe Biden’s team has been deliberately slow to start the usually hectic pace of dipLEGAL NOTICE lomatic travel Notice is hereby given to that marks a the public that an Extranew adminisJudicial Settlement has been executed by the tration, hoping heirs of the late Laureano to set an exB. Faraon. The heirs all of legal age, over personal ample discourand real properties, per aging travel deed executed on 9 during the panFebruary 2021 before Notary Public of Atty. Jason demic.

G. De Belen in the City of But the adQuezon City, per Doc. No. 402; Page No 81; Book No. m i n i s t r a t io n 218; Series of 2021. has also made clear it wants (MS-MAR. 2, 9/16, 2021)

tity of gold -- allegations her lawyer says are “groundless”.

Khin Maung Zaw had previously complained he was not allowed to meet Suu Kyi, who has been in custody since the coup, and on Monday said police have appointed two junior lawyers on his team to have the power of attorney.

“The police have no right to decide who represents the defendants,” he said, adding that the whole situation is “strange” -- from the lack of Wi-Fi in the court to the appointment of junior lawyers.

Martial law Suu Kyi’s postponed hearing came a day after violent clashes between security forces and protesters, and the torching of several Chinese-owned factories in a textile-producing district of commercial hub Yangon as many protesters believe Beijing is supportive of the coup. AFP

The coronavirus pandemic has engulfed the planet, killing more than 2.6 million people and shredding the global economy since the first cases emerged in the Chinese city in December 2019.

In the 15 months since then, science has miraculously developed multiple vaccines to fight the disease -- but the mystery at the very heart of the pandemic remains unsolved.

It was only in January 2021 that a team of international experts assembled by the World Health Organization finally visited Wuhan to start a month-long investigation on the ground.

The WHO mission was aimed at finding clues as to how the virus originally jumped from animals into humans.

Now, another month on after leaving Wuhan, the team and its Chinese counterparts are set to issue their findings -which should help to identify the most likely pathways, while relegating other less probable hypotheses.

- Hunt for clues While global leaders want immediate answers, uncovering the exact origin of an epidemic takes time -- and is sometimes never found.

Nonetheless, the mission members, drawn from a range of fields and disciplines, are upbeat.

“I’m convinced we’re going to find out fairly soon. Within the next few years, we’re going to have real significant data on where this came from and how it emerged,” British zoologist Peter Daszak, one of the team members, said on Wednesday.

On February 9, the team held a lengthy news conference in Wuhan before departing, giving a taster of what might appear in the report.

AFP

to reset US relations with the rest of the world, particularly traditional allies, after the tumult of the Donald Trump era.

In a joint opinion piece in the Washington Post on Monday, Austin and Blinken said they would look to “revitalise our ties with friends and partners”.

The visit will also be about presenting a united front on the challenges posed by China.

“Our combined power makes us stronger when we must push back against China’s aggression and threats,” they wrote.

“Together, we will hold China accountable when it abuses human rights in Xinjiang and Tibet, systematically erodes autonomy in Hong Kong, undercuts democracy in Taiwan or asserts maritime claims in the South China Sea that violate international law.

“If we don’t act decisively and lead, Beijing will.”

Talks with Chinese officials Speaking in Hawaii before heading to the region, Austin said he and Blinken would be “listening and learning”, as well as looking to enhance US military capacity with allies to increase Washington’s “competitive edge” over Beijing. AFP

Nations start making their own weapons

ROME―Coronavirus restrictions were reimposed across much of Italy on Monday, while Ireland and the Netherlands became the latest countries to suspend AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 shots over blood clot fears despite the firm and the WHO insisting there is no risk.

More than 350 million vaccine doses have been administered globally so far, and the AstraZeneca shot -- among the cheapest available -- is crucial to roll-outs in poorer parts of the world.

Despite immunisation programmes gathering pace, surges in infections remain a threat and Italian authorities reimposed restrictions on three-quarters of the country until April 6 to suppress an outbreak fuelled by the variant first detected in Britain.

Health Minister Roberto Speranza said Sunday the government hoped these strict measures and ongoing vaccinations would allow a relaxation of curbs later.

“Each dose of vaccine injected is a step in the direction of the way out of the crisis,” he added.

Schools, restaurants, shops and museums will close, including in Rome and Milan, with residents told to stay home except for work, health or other essential

reasons.

And while France was hoping to avoid another national lockdown, it was facing a hospital crisis with intensive care beds in the Paris region running out.

The coronavirus has killed more than 2.6 million people around the world, with much of humanity going through varying levels of Covid-19 restrictions.

People have been growing weary of the economically painful curbs, however.

The Netherlands -- under tight restrictions including an overnight curfew -began three days of voting on Monday in a popularity test of the government’s coronavirus policies.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte was set to win another term in office, but opposition to the restrictions was on display on the eve of the vote in The Hague Sunday as police used water cannon to clear an antigovernment protest.

AstraZeneca worries As they battle virus surges, health authorities in Italy and France have backed the Covid-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford, as several countries suspended use of the shot over fears it causes side effects such as blood clots. AFP

STOCKHOLM―The number of international arms transfers has levelled off in the last five years, but a more peaceful world is not necessarily the reason as some nations shun imports and have begun producing their own weapons, researchers said on Monday.

Comparing the period of 2011-2015 to CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK 2016-2020, three of the world’s five largest exporters -- the US, France and Ger- MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK CYAN many -- actually increased their exports, but these rises were offset by a drop in exports from the other two major exporters, Russia and China.

While exports remain at their highest level since the end of the Cold War, this is the first time since the period of 20012005 they haven’t risen overall.

“Demand remains high, but it hasn’t grown,” Siemon Wezeman, a senior researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), told AFP. Yearly comparisons are often less informative since individual years can inWINTER RITUAL. This picture taken on March 13 shows artist Sergei Pakhomov clude major weapons systems like subperforming inside a wooden structure called ‘Corona Tower’ during celebrations of marines or fighter jets, causing spikes Maslenitsa, the eastern Slavic Shrovetide in the village of Nikola-Lenivets. Maslenitsa is an and drops that are not the result of policy ancient farewell ceremony to winter, traditionally celebrated in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, changes, Wezeman said. AFP and involves the burning of a large effigy. AFP

Business

B3

TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

China industrial output and retail sales surged in first two months

PSEi March 15, 2021

TOP GAINERS 1 2

BHI LMG

LAST PRICE 0.085 4.97

% CHANGE CHANGE 0.011 14.86% 0.47 10.44%

3

SLF

2500

200

8.70%

4 5 6

DWC LAND CEI

5.37 1.12 0.137

0.27 0.05 0.006

5.29% 4.67% 4.58%

7

FGENG

108.7

3.7

3.52%

8 9 10

EURO BC DMPA1

2.06 2.8 10.5

0.07 0.08 0.3

3.52% 2.94% 2.94%

TOP LOSERS 1 2

PRIM VUL

LAST PRICE 2.46 2

% CHANGE CHANGE -0.54 -18.00% -0.35 -14.89%

3

PHA

2.1

-0.35

-14.29%

4 5 6

LODE PHR DITO

1.18 2.01 9.85

-0.19 -0.32 -1.53

-13.87% -13.73% -13.44%

7 8 9 10

BSC DAVIN MM DD

0.81 3.05 4.54 12.54

-0.12 -0.45 -0.65 -1.74

-12.90% -12.86% -12.52% -12.18%

MOST ACTIVE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

DITO ALI SMPH SM BDO MM BPI MBT PHA ACEN

VOLUME 147283400 11451700 10223400 340165 3025050 62317500 3632230 6214400 127723000 36338200

VALUE (PHP) 1486775707 409399205 364586350 344276310 309746900 289185514 288056714.5 283854455 277879310 245664605

BANK STRIKE. Employees representing the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) take part in a protest during a two-day nationwide bank strike in Hyderabad on March 15, 2021. AFP

Stock market plummets; DITO, MerryMart tumble

T

HE stock market plunged Monday on fears of stricter lockdown rules after data showed a surge in new coronavirus infections.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index sank 176.09 points, or 2.6 percent, to 6,552.46 on a value turnover of P9.2 billion. Losers overwhelmed gainers, 207 to 28, with 32 issues unchanged.

DITO CME Holdings Corp., the third major mobile phone firm, slumped 13.4 percent to P9.85, while MerryMart Consumer Corp., the supermarket chain owned by businessman Edgar Sia II, fell 12.5 percent to P4.54.

Conglomerate Ayala Corp. dropped 5.4 percent to P733, while Security Bank Corp., the eighth biggest lender in terms of assets, declined 4.8 percent to P119.

The rest of Asian markets were mixed Monday as an early rally lost momentum with attention on this week’s Feder-

al Reserve policy meeting, which comes as investors fret that economic recovery will fan inflation and force an interest rate hike earlier than thought.

The Dow and S&P 500 ended Friday at an all-time high for the second day in a row but Asia was unable to keep up the momentum, with a morning advance fizzling.

Hong Kong, Tokyo, Sydney, Singapore and Wellington all rose but Shanghai, Seoul, Taipei, Mumbai, Bangkok and Jakarta fell.

The general mood across trading floors is of a blockbuster surge in global growth this year as coronavirus vaccine rollouts and easing of lockdowns allow life to return to a semblance of normal.

Bets on a strong rebound this year increased last week as Joe Biden signed off on his $1.9-trillion stimulus, which includes big cash handouts for struggling Americans.

The president’s pledge to ramp up the US inoculation program with an aim for herd immunity around the summer also provided some cheer to traders.

However, the government stimulus

UK city where Romans bathed penalizes polluting cars

A general view shows the Royal Crescent in Bath, southwest England, on March 12, 2021. From March 15, drivers of polluting vehicles must pay a daily tax ranging from 9 to 100 pounds (10 to 116 euros) to drive in the center of Bath, a city in southwest England prized by tourists for its Roman baths and its majestic neoclassical buildings. This initiative, the first of its kind in the United Kingdom outside London, aims to reduce harmful emissions. AFP

By Pauline Froissart BATH, United Kingdom—Famed as a spa town where the Romans soaked in the waters, the British city of Bath has long been a magnet for the healthconscious visitor.

But in the age of the car, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels, mainly caused by diesel and older petrol vehicles, regularly exceed legal limits.

The toxic emissions can trigger asthma attacks, a condition that affects about 12,000 people in the city in southwestern England and surrounding areas.

From midnight, however, under a new initiative, polluting cars will have to pay a daily charge of between £9 and £100 ($13-$139, 10-139 euros) to drive in the centre of Bath, with its Roman ruins and majestic neoclassical buildings.

The overhaul—the first of its kind in Britain outside of the capital London— is aimed at cutting health-threatening emissions.

Shop owner Michele Dicorato is one of those affected by the change.

He keeps his brand new ecologicallyfriendly white van parked near his business in front of the local market in the heart of city.

The hardware store owner had not been looking for a new vehicle, until he learned

local officials were planning a new charge on the most polluting vehicles.

“If I’d had it my way, I wouldn’t have changed it... but I got good financial support,” he told AFP of the new purchase, ahead of the levy coming into force on Monday.

Backed by government support, similar measures are on the way in Birmingham, central England, Bradford, in the north, and Bristol also in the southwest.

The UK government has been criticized in court—most recently in 2018—over its consistent failure to cut illegal levels of pollution.

As the COP26 climate conference being hosted by Britain in November draws closer, the country has sought to put itself at the forefront of international efforts to confront the worsening situation.

It has pledged to go carbon neutral by 2050 ahead of the international conference, which is due to be held in the Scottish city of Glasgow.

‘Not the right time’ Under the new initiative, the limits of the new pollution charge area—the “Clean Air Zone”—are shown on signs bearing a cloud on a green background.

Cameras have been installed to track license plates.

“Even though we’ve been locked down for the last year, so lots of us have been at home and there’s been a lot

less traffic, we know that there are still four sites within the city center that are above legal levels of nitrogen dioxide,” local councillor Sarah Warren said.

Private vehicles and motorcycles are exempt from the charge after a consultation showed the “public felt strongly that they were concerned about the impact on the most vulnerable,” Warren said.

Taxi drivers, like Tim Elbehiry, were critical of the measures.

“It is not the right time to do that. We are struggling,” the 49-year-old said, waiting for a hoped-for customer in the deserted city center with strict coronavirus lockdown rules still in place.

“We barely can get our heads above water,” he added. “We don’t have enough business.”

With a family to support, Elbehiry said he was lucky to avoid the charge.

The black Mercedes he bought in 2015 is ineligible for the £9 levy on more polluting cabs.

‘Fastest way’ The zone, which applies 24 hours a day and seven days a week rises to £100 (116 euros) for polluting buses, coaches and trucks.

Chris Ashley, head of policy, environment and regulation at the Road Haulage Association called the measures “blunt” and criticized them for “condemning vehicles that are only five, six or seven years old.” AFP

combined with an expected boost in consumer spending has also ramped up inflation expectations.

That is reflected in the spike in government debt yields, particularly benchmark 10-year Treasury notes—a canary in the coal mine for coming price increases—fanning worries the Fed will be forced to hike borrowing costs.

And while yields remain relatively low, Charles-Henry Monchau of FlowBank SA said: “It’s not just a question of level, it’s a question of pace.

“Are we going to move on the bond yields too quickly too fast for the market to adjust or is it going to be a smooth journey to higher bond yields?”

The Fed’s reaction to market angst over rising yields will be closely watched when it holds its two-day policy meeting from Tuesday.

The bank’s ultra-loose monetary policies, including record-low interest rates, have been a key pillar of the surge in equities over the past year but fears of possible tightening moves have seen that wobble in recent weeks.

With AFP

BEIJING, China—China’s industrial output and retail sales surged in the first two months of the year, official data showed Monday, underscoring the country’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

Industrial production spiked a forecast-busting 35.1 percent on-year, the biggest bounce in decades, while retail sales also beat expectations with 33.8 percent growth.

But the National Bureau of Statistics said the latest surge was in part due to distortions from last year’s “low base in the same period.”

Both indicators plunged in the early months of 2020 after COVID-19 surfaced in central China and spread rapidly around the country.

However, the world’s second-largest economy became the first to bounce back globally after imposing strict lockdowns and virus control measures, clocking a full-year economic growth of 2.3 percent.

“After removing the base effect, the growth of main indicators is stable and macro indicators are in a reasonable range,” said the NBS. Data for January and February were released together to eliminate the influence of uncertainties brought about

by China’s Lunar New Year holiday, which typically falls within this period.

Industrial output in the first two months was up almost 17 percent from the corresponding period in 2019, authorities said.

Industrial activity was likely boosted by the fact that many migrant workers were discouraged from returning to their hometowns because of COVID-19 restrictions, meaning some factories remained open through the holiday or reopened sooner.

“We expect activity to remain strong in the near-term, as the easing of virus restrictions boosts consumption and fiscal stimulus among key trading partners should keep exports strong,” said Capital Economics senior China economist Julian Evans-Pritchard.

Urban unemployment rose to 5.5 percent in February, up from 5.2 percent in December, Monday’s data showed, but experts warn that the real rate might be higher owing to the high number of workers in unofficial employment. AFP

Biden signs huge economic stimulus bill ahead of his coronavirus address WASHINGTON—President Joe Biden signed a massive $1.9-trillion economic stimulus bill Thursday ahead of giving a national address where he was set to urge “hope” on the first anniversary of the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Biden called the American Rescue Plan “historic” as he signed the package into law in the Oval Office.

The bill, passed by Congress earlier this week, dishes out $1,400 payments to most Americans, helps the unemployed, expands public health care and ramps up funds for vaccinations.

Although opposed by all Republican lawmakers in Congress, the plan has voter approval ratings of around 60 percent and was hailed by the IMF on Thursday as potentially juicing global economic recovery.

“This historic legislation is about rebuilding the backbone of this country and giving people in this nation—working people, middle class folks, people who built the country—a fighting chance,” Biden said.

Later Thursday, Biden will deliver his first primetime television address as president.

The 8:00 pm (0100 GMT) speech will mourn the more than half a million Americans who died from COVID-19 and recall the “sacrifices” made, a White House official said.

Biden will cast the struggle against the virus and the ensuing economic fallout as “the greatest operational challenge the country has faced,” said the official, who did not want to be identified.

And he “will lay out the next steps he will take to get the pandemic under control, level with the American people about what is still required to defeat the virus, and provide a hopeful vision of what is possible if we all come together.”

While a somber occasion—12 months after the World Health Organization declared a pandemic and thenpresident Donald Trump shut US borders to travel from Europe—that note of optimism will be key.

With vaccines starting to make a real impact and production soaring, the mood is shifting in the United States, with the stimulus bill poised to push the US economy into a sustained rebound. AFP

Volkswagen announces more job cuts BERLIN, Germany—Carmaker Volkswagen will shed up to 5,000 jobs between now and the end of 2023 as part of cost-cutting to finance its transition to electric vehicles, the company said in a statement Sunday.

Up to 900 employees would opt for an early retirement scheme while others would leave the company as part of a gradual halting of their activities, it said.

It did not give a precise figure for those employees, saying only that it would be in the lower end of a “four-digit number,” an expression usually used to mean between 2,000 and 4,000.

The job losses were intended to make a major contribution to managing the company’s costs, said the statement.

“Thanks to our high level of investment in the expansion of electro-mobility and digitization, Volkswagen has been able to establish itself as a pioneer of automotive change,” human resources director Gunnar Killian said in the statement.

“We now want to consolidate our position of strength,” he added.

“This will require a continuation of a strict cost management in order to finance the necessary investments in the future.”

In 2020, Volkswagen lost its top ranking in the world automobile market to Toyota, selling 9.3 million vehicles, down 15 percent on 2019.

Like all car makers, it has been hit hard by the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic but has said it expects a significant rise in turnover in 2021.

This latest round of jobs cuts follows the 2019 announcement of up to 7,000 job losses by the group’s leading brand, VW. Earlier this month, Volkswagen said it hoped electric vehicles would account for 70 percent of its European sales by 2030, doubling its previous target in the face of ever stricter legislation.

The efforts are part of a strategy which has seen the Volkswagen group invest more than 30 billion euros into e-mobility in order to comply with stricter environmental rules in the EU. AFP

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

B4

TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2021

IN BRIEF Semirara allocates P4-b capex for 2021

INTEGRATED energy company Semirara Mining and Power Corp. said Monday it is budgeting P4 billion for 2021 capital expenditures.

SMPC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it would use P2.9 billion of the total amount to purchase mining and support equipment for the coal business.

The rest will be split between SemCalaca Power Corp. and Southwest Luzon Power Generation Corp. for their preventive and maintenance programs.

“2020 was a tough year for us because our coal and power businesses were hit by pandemic-induced market weakness. We are determined to stage a recovery this year,” said SMPC president and chief operating officer Maria Cristina Gotianun.

“However, the magnitude of our recovery will largely depend on how demand and prices will behave following the vaccination rollout, COVID-19 infection rates and loosening of quarantine restrictions,” Gotianun said. Alena Mae S. Flores

EU providing P170m to local health systems

THE Philippines stands to benefit from a second round of grant from the European Union amounting to P170 million, or about 2.3 million euros, for a program that will strengthen the resiliency of local health systems for future health-related outbreaks.

“The grant is already signed, the money is in the country. The 2.3 million euros cover a six-month period starting from January this year. And we are looking forward to seeing how best we can strategically support the DOH [Department of Health] based on evolving needs,” said World Health Organization representative to the Philippines Rabindra Abeyashinghe.

He said the new grant would not supplement the first grant used to procure COVID-19 vaccines but would be used for capacity-building and creating a far more effective contact tracing process to curb the pandemic.

“This grant will help strengthen diagnostic capacity, epidemiological surveillance, contact tracing and management, improving clinical management outcomes, appropriate risk communications, and of course, facilitating equitable vaccine and develop vaccine distribution across the country.

Othel V. Campos

Business

PAL pledges to stay aloft as it celebrates 80th year

By Darwin G. Amojelar

P

HILIPPINE Airlines vowed to stay aloft amid the global pandemic as it works towards the full recovery of the airline and the travel sector.

“Our message to our country and the world: Buhay pa tayo. Andito pa tayo.

At hindi tayo aalis. [PAL is alive. We’re still here, and we’re here to stay. This great lady—Philippine Airlines—will stay aloft while she is in our care,” PAL president and chief operating officer Gilbert Santa Maria said in celebration of PAL’s 80th anniversary.

He said despite the challenges of the pandemic, the flag carrier was focusing on repatriation and cargo transport efforts and rebuilding the network of commercial flights on key international and domestic routes.

PAL carried home 310,000 of the

displaced 420,000 overseas Filipinos to their respective provinces from March 2020 to the present.

It said within the same period, tens of thousands of foreign nationals also flew back to their home countries via PAL. The airline is airlifting shipments of anti-COVID vaccines to several areas in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

The flag carrier also restored regular commercial flights to the US, Canada, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and several Asian countries and most domestic trunk and inter-island routes.

PAL’s parent firm PAL Holdings Inc.

earlier reported comprehensive loss of P29.03 billion in the first nine months of 2020, up 269 percent from the P7.86billion loss in the same period in 2019.

It said that in third quarter alone, losses reached P7 billion.

Consolidated revenues in the first nine months of 2020 amounted to P45.29 billion, or 61.6 percent lower than P117.85 billion it recognized in 2019.

“The reduction in revenues was mainly due to the drop in passenger and ancillary revenues as a result of flight cancellations starting March 2020 due to COVID-19,” PHI said.

The airline laid off 1,400 workers who already received separation pay amounting to more than P2 billion.

The Department of Labor and Employment-National Capital Region said the 1,455 affected workers of the flag carrier were able to receive their separation pay worth P2.31 billion.

Salceda: CREATE law to boost PH innovation

THE research and development incentives under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act, now awaiting President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval, will boost the country’s global innovation performance and regain its ranking in the Global Innovation Index.

House Ways and Means Committee chairman Joey Sarte Salceda, representing the 2nd District of Albay who authored the measure, gave the assurance in reaction to the March 3 report by the GII advisory firm Tholons, which showed the Philippines and Manila dipped dramatically in their competitiveness as a preferred site for business process outsourcing locators.

The Tholons Global Innovation Index 2021 report showed that the Philippines plunged from its 5th rank in 2020 to 18th spot this year in the “Top 50 Digital Nations” category. Manila also tumbled to 8th spot from its lofty 2nd place position in the 2020 “Top 100 Super Cities” category.

Salceda said while this was not yet a “cause for alarm,” the country’s declining innovation ranking, if left unattended, may impede the further growth of the BPO sector. “BPOs are still growing dramatically in the Philippines,” he said.

Executives of Philippine Airlines attend an open-air mass at the grounds of the south wing of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 in celebration of the flag carrier’s 80th anniversary. The airline assures the flying public of staunch commitment to continue serving the public as it works towards full recovery of the airline and the travel sector.

Megawide reallots NAIA modernization budget to infra projects

By Jenniffer B. Austria MEGAWIDE Construction Corp. said Monday it reallocated its programmed spending for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Rehabilitation project to fund the expansion of other infrastructure projects.

Megawide said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it would re-channel P1.2 billion in proceeds from the recent P4.4billion preferred shares offering for the expansion of the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange and development of other landport terminals in the country.

The company earlier allocated P1.2 billion for the initial development of

the NAIA project, but the government revoked Megawide’s original proponent status for the rehabilitation of NAIA in January, citing the company’s lack of financial capacity.

“Our proof of concept and actual operational track record for the PITX landport has led to new expansion opportunities,” Megawide chairman and chief executive Edgar Saavedra said.

“Activities over the last six months in this space have been very encouraging and the company has been in advanced discussions with representative parties in several areas identified as potential landport locations. We are hopeful that these will be finalized before the end

of the year to scale up our company’s existing transport-oriented development infrastructure,” he said.

Megawide earlier said it planned expand PITx as foot traffic in the terminal was nearing pre-COVID levels, ranging from 56,000 to 60,000 commuters per day.

The expansion of PITx would require a capital spending of P4.5 billion for the construction of more bus bays and terminals and expansion of additional commercial and retail spaces.

Megawide also bagged the Cebu Integrated Transport Hub Project, which involves the redevelopment of the Carbon market.

PSE INDEX

Monday, March 15, 2021

-176.09 PTS. 6,552.46

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

5,563,769,406 182,023 9,225,796,130.56 28 207 32

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.4350

Japan

Yen

0.009173

0.4443

UK

Pound

1.392500

67.4457

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128824

6.2396

Switzerland

Franc

1.076542

52.1423

Canada

Dollar

0.801539

38.8225

Singapore

Dollar

0.743384

36.0058

Australia

Dollar

0.775600

37.5662

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652238

128.4611

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266645

12.9150

Brunei

Dollar

0.740631

35.8725

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.032499

1.5741

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.1875

Euro

Euro

1.195200

57.8895

Korea

Won

0.000880

0.0426

China

Yuan

0.153638

7.4415

India

Rupee

0.013759

0.6664

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.242954

11.7675

New Zealand

Dollar

0.718000

34.7763

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035515

1.7202 Source: BSP

Bangko Sentral says remittances dropped 1.7% to $2.6b in January

By Julito G. Rada MONEY sent home by Filipinos working overseas declined 1.7 percent in January to $2.603 billion from $2.648 billion a year ago, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Monday.

This was the second month of contraction since remittances slipped 0.4 percent in December on the prolonged impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In particular, cash remittances from land-based workers contracted by 2.4 percent to $2.044 billion, while that of sea-based workers increased marginally by 1 percent to $558 million,” the BSP said in a statement.

Data showed the United States registered the highest share to total remittances at 40.9 percent, followed

by Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Malaysia and Taiwan.

The combined remittances from these countries accounted for 78.2 percent of total cash remittances during the period.

Meanwhile, personal remittances which include non-cash items also went down by 1.7 percent to $2.895 billion from $2.944 billion in the same month last year.

“The marginal decline in personal remittances during the month was attributed to the 2.4-percent drop in remittances from land-based workers with work contracts of one year or more to $2.219 billion from $2.274 billion recorded in January 2020,” the BSP said.

Remittances from sea-based workers and land-based workers with work contracts of less than one year increased by 1 percent to $609 million in January from $603 million a year earlier.

Cash remittances showed signs of recovery amid the pandemic, declining by just 0.8 percent last year to reach $29.903 billion from the record $30.133 billion in 2019.

This was stronger than the BSP’s earlier projection of a 2-percent contraction for the year.

Personal remittances also declined by 0.8 percent in 2020 to $33.194 billion from $33.467 billion in 2019.

D.M. Wenceslao’s net income declined to P2.13b as revenues fell 22% in 2020 PROPERTY developer D.M. Wenceslao and Associates Inc. said Monday net income attributable to equity holders dropped 10 percent in 2020 to P2.13 billion from P2.37 billion in 2019 on lower revenues.

Consolidated revenues declined 22 percent to P2.73 billion last year from P3.51 billion in 2019, the company said in a disclosure to the stock exchange.

“While 2020 proved to be a uniquely challenging year that caused unparalleled economic disruption globally, the risks that the pandemic posed in our business operations have been minimal,” said DMWAI chief executive Delfin Angelo Wenceslao.

“Despite the uncertainty brought upon by this pandemic, our leasing business proved to be a solid source of recurring income as our lease portfolio is spread across various industries with diverse area requirements and commercial considerations. Our residential segment continued to deliver favorable results for the year. Our performance in 2020 is reflective of not only the resiliency and scalability of our diversified business streams but also the execution capabilities of the DMWAI team,” Wenceslao said.

DMWAI’s revenues from residential

segment jumped 37 percent to P749.3 million from P547.65 million in 2019.

The company said it turned over 91 percent of its inventory and recognized revenues amounting to P1.25 billion for its first residential project Pixel Residences as of end-2020.

Meanwhile, recurring income consisting of rentals from land, building and other revenues such as common use service area fees continued to provide a robust source of revenue for the company, reached P1.96 billion, accounting for 72 percent of total revenues.

DMWAI said it spent P5.04 billion last year or 66 percent of its net proceeds from its initial public offering for the development of pipeline projects.

The company is set to complete two projects in its pipeline this year, including 8912 Asean Ave., DMWAI’s largest office project to date and Parqal, an integrated mixed-use development.

It said that upon completion, these projects will boost DMWAI’s available gross leasable area by 140,000 square meters and strengthen recurring income streams.

The share price of DMWAI slipped 1.3 percent Monday to P6.80.

Jenniffer B. Austria

SECURITY BANK’S AWARD. Security Bank Corp. receives two golden arrow citation from the Institute of Corporate Directors after scoring 90-99 points from the 2019 ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard. Receiving the award are Security Bank chief compliance officer Anna Christina Chinjen and corporate governance head and data privacy officer Atty. Grace Ayson.

Ayala Group, UPC Solar reach financial close on 100-MW project in India

By Alena Mae S. Flores AC ENERGY and Infrastructure Corp. of the Ayala Group and partner UPC Solar Asia Pacific announced Monday they reached financial closing on the 100-megawatt Sitara solar farm in India.

Sitara Solar, located in the desert state of Rajasthan which has the highest irradiation in India, has an estimated project cost of $67 million.

The construction of the solar farm

started last year and was expected to start power generation by the first half.

Sitara Solar secured a 20-year loan from US International Development Finance Corp. to finance the project through a 75:25 debt-to-equity scheme.

This is a major milestone for UPCAC Energy Solar, the joint venture of ACEIC and UPC Solar Asia Pacific, as it targets to achieve more than 1,000 MW (1 gigawatts) of solar energy portfolio across Asia.

UPC-AC Energy Solar won the power

supply agreement in March 2019 for the 100-MW solar project via a competitive bid at INR 2.48 per kWh, fixed over a 25year period.

UPC-AC Energy Solar is a 50-50 joint venture company between ACEIC through AC Renewables International Pte. Ltd. and UPC Renewables.

The Sitara solar project milestone is the latest in AC Energy’s string of initiatives to sustain growth momentum and expand renewable capacity in the Asia Pacific region.

TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2021

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advertise@manilastandard.net

Dabawenyos at core

of ‘Araw ng Dabaw’s’ 84th anniversary

By P. Y. Deligero

T

HIS March, Davao City is set to celebrate the 84th Araw ng Dabaw which commemorates the city’s founding day. It is during this event that Dabawenyos feature their best and grandest through a series of festivities that highlight their culture.

Davao Mayor Sara Duterte

Araw ng Dabaw is an annual month-long celebration held in March that puts Davao’s best foot forward as it features everything that makes the city unique and worth visiting.

But this year, Davao’s culture isn’t the only thing being highlighted. According to Davao Mayor Sara Duterte, this year’s celebration will have the Dabawenyos at the core of the festivity.

During her message for the 84th Araw ng Dabaw, Duterte called on her fellow Dabawenyos to pay tribute to the frontliners, who have given their all to fight against COVID-19 in the past year.

Although the pandemic was daunting for Filipinos and other countries alike, Araw ng Dabaw is set to continue its festivities like before but with safer circumstances for its participants.

The Davao City Mayor added in her opening remarks that even though the threat of COVID-19 is still rampant in the country, their resiliency and unity as Dabawenyos shall help them overcome any face of adversity.

To show its support for the celebration, Malacañang Palace declared March 1 as a special non-working holiday for the Dabawenyos so they can be part of the festivities.

Virtual celebration Much like during last year’s celebration of Araw ng Dabaw, the festivities will be taken online so that Dabawenyos can celebrate their founding day as they have before.

Someday, Dabawenyos hope to be able to get back on the streets and safely celebrate Araw ng Dabaw with the music, dancing, vibrancy, and other elements that they were accustomed to.

In the meantime, the events scheduled from March 1 to 3 were all done online.

Last March 1, Araw ng Dabaw began with a flag ceremony at the Davao City Hall, followed by a Thanksgiving Mass at the San Pedro Cathedral. Mayor Duterte gave her speech during the online opening ceremony.

On March 2, the schedule of festivities shifted to highlighting the culture of Davao as well as notable Dabawenyos in their respective fields.

It began with Tilaw Dabaw which featured the city’s cuisine from homegrown and classic restaurants. What followed was the Hugyaw Dabaw, which headlined talented and award-winning Dabawenyos in the field of dance and music.

On the third day of the celebration of Araw ng Dabaw, the spotlight remained focused on the art and culture of the city as Obra Dabaw and Istilo Dabaw were held.

First was Obra Dabaw which showcased the works of various community artists in their respective fields. Held shortly after was Istilo Dabaw, which featured local fashion designers and their creativity.

All these events were meant to fully highlight the culture of Davao as well as the talents of Dabawenyos, who have made a name for themselves in their chosen fields.

History of ‘Araw ng Dabaw’ Davao City wasn’t always the bustling city that it is today. It began as a simple village composed of several organized barangays and was known as Nueva Vergara when a Spaniard named Don Jose de Cruz Uyanguren, a native of Vergara, Guipuzcoa, colonized the region on June 29, 1848.

But when the Philippine Revolution broke out, two Davao locals named Pedro Layog and Jose M. Lerma

represented the town and region at the Malolos Congress of 1898, solidifying Davao’s position in national history as a part of the First Philippine Republic.

As the years passed, the small town of Davao grew to become a key player in the Philippines’ economy.

Coconut and banana plantations changed the small town into a thriving economic center. Foreign businessmen would later tap into the rich agricultural resources of the region.

This demand for resources would soon lead the way to the construction of Port Davao, thus opening the region to more economic and trading opportunities

that eventually developed the city’s credit.

Davao’s development did not go unnoticed. On March 16, 1936, then-Congressman Romualdo Quimpo, a Dabawenyo, filed Bill 1609. The bill was passed as Commonwealth Act 51, which created Davao City from the town of Davao and the municipal district of Guianga.

By October 16, 1936, Davao was inaugurated as a charter city by President Manual L. Quezon.

The charter came into effect on March 1 of the following year, explaining why Araw ng Dabaw is celebrated annually for the whole month of March.

The charter made Davao City known as of the first towns in Mindanao to be converted into a city.

With Davao’s growing economy and community, it became home to several famous people, who have left their legacies in their respective industries. Today, it continues to cultivate the elements that have contributed to its success as a city as well as move forward to keep up with the everchanging times as well as the demands in the market.

Araw ng Dabaw is one of the holidays in the Philippines that many people are looking forward to celebrating because it is one that proudly puts the spotlight on Davao’s culture as well as the notable achievements that its community has achieved over the years.

Hopefully, the following years will become more fortunate so that Dabawenyos and tourists alike can enjoy the festivities that belong on the lively streets of Davao.

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Sports

TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2021

Thomas th takes 14 PGA crown Team Singapore’s biomechanist graces National Sports Summit THE Philippine Sports Commission brings world-class Singaporean sports biomechanist Dr. Marcus Lee, in-charge of Team Singapore, in the 7th session of the National Sports Summit 2021 entitled “HighPerformance Sports and Athletic Success” this Thursday.

Dr. Lee manages the national team of Singapore providing support in biomechanics and injury prevention. He heads the Sport Biomechanics team of Singapore Sport Institute and is a director on the board of the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports.

PSC chairman William Ramirez shares the need for Filipino sports educators, trainors, coaches, and stakeholders to gain awareness in this field.

“We need to open the pathways for Philippine sports by allowing them to lear n from experts in sports science. We are beyond grateful to Dr. Lee for sharing his expertise,” said Ramirez Prior to this, the National Sports Summit 2021’s second batch of speakers featured clean and fair play efforts in the country by Philippine National Anti-Doping Organization President Dr. Alejandro Pineda Jr. and Sports Science and Sports Success by International Basketball Federation doctor Dr. Jose Raul Canlas, where some 900 participants have joined online.

NO. 1 PICK. Joshua Munzon is shown on the TV screen after being selected the top overall pick by Terrafirma Dyip in the Philippine

Basketball Association Season 46 Rookie Draft. Also in photo is Terrafirma PBA governor Bobby Rosales (left) and commissioner Willie Marcial.

Tough 5-tourney stretch for Knott in road to Tokyo

By Jessica Luna

A

BUSY two-month stretch is ahead of Fil-American track star Kristina Knott, who will take part in four athletic tournaments in the United States, plus another one in Italy in her bid to boost her chances of qualifying for the Tokyo Olympic Games this July.

Knott, who broke the April 3 in the 200 meters and Philippine record for the possibly, even the 100, should third time this year in Rohsaan Griffin, her athletics the heats of the women’s skills/technique coach, decide 60-meter run in the Arkanto allow her to run it, too. sas leg of the World AthletA week later, Knott plungics Silver Tour indoor meet es into action in the Miraat the Randal Tyson Track mar Invitational in Florida, Center in Fayetteville with before joining a still to be her 7.22-second clocking, determined high-level comstarts her loaded swing on petition in Gainesville, UniMarch 27 at the Texas Reversity of Florida on April lays in Austin, Texas, where Kristina Knott 17, possibly both the 100m she takes part in the 100 meters. and 200m, depending on whatever The 25-year-old Knott then joins the event she needs to qualify at.

Pure Athletics in Clairemont, Florida on Knott then rounds out her tough stretch

on May 13 in the 10th Savona International Meeting Area Permit European Athletics in Savona, Italy, where she may join the 100 or 200 or both, depending which one she needs.

Further to Knott’s Olympic preparations, she is now joined in Orlando, Florida by her strength and conditioning coach Carlo Buzzichelli, who is overseeing her training, focusing on power amplification. Griffin will take over at the Miramar tournament, to the time when they (Griffin and Knott) fly to Italy to reunite with Buzzichelli.

Should Knott qualify in Clairmont for the 200, she might still need to run it again in Savona for her to have a chance to be invited to the Diamond League in Rome.

The Diamond League, where Knott’s fellow athletic star in pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena is a fixture, is for the very élite track and field athletes. It is a secondary goal by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association to the Olympic qualification for Knott to make it to the elite Diamond League list of competitors.

Like ageing fine wine, Curry is getting better LOS ANGELES—Golden State star Stephen Curry celebrated his 33rd birthday Sunday with a 32-point performance that propelled the Warriors to a 131-119 victory over the NBA-leading Utah Jazz and snapped a four-game skid.

Curry got off to a sizzling start, connecting on 63% of his shots in a 14-point first quarter in which the Warriors seized a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

He finished 10-of-20 from the field with six three-pointers.

"It's like that ageing wine, right?" Curry said in a post-game interview with NBC Sports Bay Area.

"Keep it in the cellar and watch it get stronger and better, so I'm just enjoying the ride."

Andrew Wiggins added 28 points and Draymond Green put up a triple-double of 11 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists for the Warriors, who bounced back from a 130-104 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday in which Curry made just one three-pointer.

The Warriors hadn't won since February 26—before the NBA's All-Star break.

They also reversed their fortunes against a Jazz team that had beaten them five straight times.

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors high-fives his son Canon after the game against the Utah Jazz. AFP

I DISLIKE the word “hater”. Maybe because I have this feeling that the word hate connotes a lot of negativity.

I don’t remember when I started hearing this word used in basketball.

I don’t remember hearing about Jordan haters, or Magic Johnson haters, or Isaiah Thomas haters. I know people who didn’t like the Detroit Pistons Bad Boys because they play physical and dirty. But there is a big difference between dislike and hate.

Dislike is a feeling of distaste or aversion. I like the Chicago Bulls. I don’t like the Detroit Pistons. Hate, on the other hand, is an intense, extreme dislike for something or someone. I don’t hate the Detroit Pistons. I just don’t like how they play because that is not how I want to play basketball.

The word “hater” feels very recent.

Like LeBron James-era recent. But I’m not a philologist, so my account is more anecdotal than scientific-historical. All I know is that this is very recent. And true to the essence of being alive in the meme generation, the use of the word “hater” quickly spread. Today, basketball fans casually throw the word around to label

Justin Thomas of the United States raises the tophy after winning the final round of The Players Championship at The Players Stadium Course, TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. AFP

The Weinfeld Dosage of Hate

FREE THROW SHOOTER NATHANIEL DELA CRUZ

"Our whole team played amazing tonight," Curry said. "We took it personally to come out and play aggressive, focused defense. Everybody contributed."

Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell scored 24 points apiece, Gobert adding a career-high 28 rebounds for the Jazz, whose NBA-best record fell to 28-10.

In Oklahoma City, Shai GilgeousAlexander scored 30 points and Serbian rookie Aleksej Pokusevski added a career-high 23 as the Thunder beat the Memphis Grizzlies 128-122 despite having just nine available players.

Trailing by 10 going into the fourth quarter, Oklahoma City scored 38 points in the final frame, their 58% overall shooting helping them offset 24 turnovers.

A three-pointer from Pokusevski gave the Thunder a 109-108 lead with 6:10 remaining and they wouldn't trail again.

The 19-year-old Serbian made five from beyond the arc, the second-youngest player after LeBron James (18) to make five three-pointers in a game. AFP

MIAMI—Third-ranked Justin Thomas outdueled Lee Westwood down the stretch Sunday to capture the Players Championship, taking his 14th US PGA title by matching the best 36-hole comeback in tournament history.

The 27-year-old American overtook England’s Westwood on the back nine with a mid-round run of three birdies and an eagle and added a crucial birdie at the par-5 16th for a one-stroke victory and his first Players crown.

“I’m so happy to be a Players champion,” Thomas said. “Probably one of the best rounds of my life tee to green.”

Thomas, the 2017 PGA Championship winner, hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation firing a four-under par 68 to finish 72 holes on 14-under 274 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

“I was able to play beautifully, make some good shots and some nice putts,” Thomas said. “I was fortunate to hit it well enough that a lot of my birdies were low stress.”

Westwood, 47, closed with a 15-foot birdie putt to finish second for the second consecutive week with US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and fellow American Brian Harman sharing third on 276.

“I didn’t feel like my legs were working properly. Lethargic really. I paid the penalty for it,” Westwood said.

“What I was pleased with was how I battled it out with not much game that I had today. I kept myself in there and gave myself a chance. Justin just didn’t make any mistakes.”

After the week’s low round with a 64 on Saturday, Thomas equaled the lowest 36-hole close in Players history, rallying from seven strokes down at the midway mark to match the best two-round victory fightback in event history.

“This win was huge,” Thomas said.

“I’m really proud of how well I played.”

Thomas joined Tiger Woods, Johnny Miller and Jack Nicklaus as the only players with 14 PGA wins before age 28 and was excited to do it before a limited number of spectators.

“It’s hard to put into words. It has been just crazy, everything we’ve been through since the Players last year,” Thomas said.

“To do it in front of fans was incredible.

“This was a day I’ll never forget.”

Thomas battled controversy earlier this year, apologizing for using a homophobic slur that TV microphones picked up at January’s Tournament of Champions, one that cost him a Ralph Lauren sponsorship. But he praised his team of friends and family for helping him navigate tough times.

“When you’re in a tough place mentally or don’t feel as great, to have a support system like that is huge,” he said. AFP

those who have something negative to say about their idol. Personally, I feel like the word “hate” has no place in sports. I feel like from a lexical standpoint, it stands in close proximity to other words that weigh heavily on social justice issues and it is easy to jump from hate to hater to hate crime, hate speech, racial hatred, etc. I just feel like there is no upside to encouraging the use of “hater” in sports.

Besides, branding people with a different opinion as a “hater” feels like it is petty and narrow-minded; a difference in opinion doesn’t exactly and necessarily merit hate.

We used to be civilized like that. It used to be a gentleman’s disagreement. Now, we have a pejorative for everyone and everything different from our taste and beliefs?

I think above all else, I dislike the word hater because I don’t like it being used on me. There are many things I dislike in sports, but I don’t think I can pick something I can say I hate. And to call me a hater is very presumptuous for someone, who knows very little of me and my love for sports.

Hate feels like a feeling at the polar end of a spectrum, and apparently, so was my conviction to detest hate and the word “hater”. Turns out, there is a healthy kind of hate.

A parenting article explained to me that

hate is not a bad word, just a strong word.

And it is reserved for people or moments or things that truly deserve such an elevated response. I also came across The Importance of Hating People, a 2004 article written by David Weinfeld and published in The Harvard Crimson. Mr. Weinfeld argued that hate is not just about racist hatred, it could also be about loathing regular people, who are just awful. He makes a compelling point, especially when he reasoned out that “This kind of hatred is not wrong; it’s a simple value judgment that we all use to guide ourselves through social situations.

And it doesn’t really hurt anyone, even those we hate, because we usually keep it to ourselves, or a handful of friends.”

What really stuck with me is this: Mr. Weinfeld argued that this kind of hatred is necessary. The act of hating demonstra tes moral awareness.

I will call this the Weinfeld Dosage of Hate.

So, consider me reborn at 42 because I agree: there is room for hate in sports.

The revelation is surprisingly cathartic.

And yes, call me a hater, because: I don’t just dislike players when they flop to get a foul. I really hate it. I was raised a Catholic, and religious doctrine says hate the sin but not the sinner. I

am, unfortunately, not a virtuous man.

So I hate both the act of flopping, and the player who does that, because he does it knowingly, hoping to cheat the game. That is just supremely disgusting. Every flop stains the art of basketball with a cheap trick utilized by scheming idiots. I wish players who flop are banned for one season without pay. Let’s see what happens.

Call me a hater because I don’t just dislike the moronic notion of calling fans “bandwagoners”, I really hate it! And it is doubly infuriating because they are using it wrong. Merriam Webster defines bandwagoners as “a person who takes part in or becomes enthusiastic about something only when it is popular or fashionable” and it is an elitist pejorative, a negativity that is counterintuitive in sports.

If rooting for the Lakers was a result of hearing and reading all about Kobe Bryant’s death when it became the talk of the town, so you started to grow an interest in watching basketball and the NBA, why should you feel bad about it? More importantly, what gives other people the right to make you feel bad about your newfound interest in hoops? When I started enjoying football, I rooted for FC Bayern Munich because they were very good, and I root for teams who are good. I don’t deserve

to be derided or disparaged. I’m simply a fan—a new one, yes, but I am not a second-class citizen—no one should be—in a world that is supposed to be espousing the idea of equality, unity, and harmony.

Here’s something many can relate to: I cheer for another team because my favorite team didn’t make the championship round, and people call me a bandwagoner? Isn’t it idiotic to root for the Chicago Bulls in a Cleveland-San Antonio best-ofseven? It is logical—and normal—to pick one from two competing teams. It is called being a fan of the sport because you are still watching games even if your team has already gone fishing.

And yeah, call me a hater because I really hate fans who think other people need their blessing first before they can root for the same team and be a legitimate fan.

I hate players who join team sports, but refuse to be coached or play as part of the team. I hate how a lot of players are getting away with traveling and people think they have very good handles instead.

A can of worms, indeed. But acknowledging the things you hate (in the context of the Weinfeld Dosage of Hate) is liberating.

All hate considered, my love for basketball remains undiminished.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2021

C3

This generation’s pop princess

dips her toes into hosting

The Academy Awards have been delayed to their latest-ever date, while several big-screen studio blockbusters skipped their 2020 releases entirely.

S

INGER Zephanie Dimaranan had already accomplished numerous feats even before she turned 18 last month. And it’s easy to say that Idol Philippines’s first winner is on her way to pop stardom.

But for Zephanie, she’s just warming up and she’s still exploring the many facets of her showbiz career trying out other vehicles to prove people that she can be a versatile star.

Speaking to Manila Standard Entertainment, the 18-year-old singer, who has been named by her fans as this generation’s Pop Princess (since no one, among her contemporaries, seems to come close to her achievements at such a young age), shared that she enjoys hosting as much as she enjoys singing.

“It’s not my first time to do a hosting job, but I really enjoy it.

It allows me to connect with people. And it allows me to become more comfortable in front of the camera. Iba din po talaga kasi ang hosting sa singing. You become more natural kasi personality mo na talaga and nakikita ng tao, ” she said.

Zephanie is joining Chemist Pinky Tobiano in the third season of Grateful Tuesdays, the inspirational CS Digital show dedicated to gift-giving and sharing gratitude. The digital show also includes Jaya as one of the co-hosts.

“We are glad to have Zephanie on board.

We realized that our show has younger audiences, too, and Zephanie is the perfect person to represent them,” Tobiano shared.

“I’m happy that I was given this chance to work with Ms. Pinky and Ms. Jaya. As the youngest person in the show, I feel that I will be learning a lot from them.

And it’s interesting that they treat me like an adult, they don’t make me feel that I’m inexperienced in this field making my time with them really enjoyable,” the young singer responded.

Streamers and ‘Nomadland’ to vie for coveted Oscar nominations

Teen singer Zephanie joins Chemist Pinky Tobiano and soul diva Jaya in the third season of ‘Grateful Tuesdays.’

Grateful for the third time

The global health crisis resulted in so many Filipino families and individuals being challenged financially and emotionally. When hope is seemingly out of sight, Grateful Tuesdays aims to spread love and joy especially through these trying times.

Hosted by chemist and philanthropist Pinky Tobiano, ‘Grateful Tuesday’ is a digital show that aims to spread love and joy, especially through these trying times.

In its last two seasons, the show has given away gadgets such as laptops to deserving students in need, as well as relief goods and cash donations to displaced families and individuals reaching to over 35,000 families in total.

If the past two seasons of Grateful Tuesdays were any indication, we’re sure that Season 3 would be star studded too. Having guested some of Filipino’s most sought-after singers such as KZ Tandingan, Kyle Echarri, Jay-R, Moira dela Torre, Kyla and even personalities like Ruffa Gutierrez, Tim Yap, Herbert Bautista and Mayor Chavit Singson, Grateful Tuesdays is bound to make longtime viewers and new fans eager to see who would grace the show this season.

Season 3 opens with a bang as the show is set to give exciting prizes on its premiere night! The show also aims to promote tourism in the country as businesses are starting to open. Expect exciting tours, visits and trips to some of the Philippines’ well renowned tourist sites.

Also, the show continues to be of help to all our kababayans in some selected barangays and for the online viewers, Grateful Tuesdays will still be giving away cellphone load and laptop. Plus, new segments are also lined-up to add more fun.

Lots of other surprises await viewers of the show, so make sure you catch the pilot episode of Grateful Tuesdays Season 3 tonight at 7:00 airing simultaneously on Cornerstone Entertainment Facebook Page and Chemist Pinky Tobiano’s Facebook page as well as on the CS Entertainment Kumu Channel.

Pandemic’s guilty viewing pleasure BOYS love dramas and Netflix’s big titles are not just the ones that provided entertainment to all the couch potatoes and people cocooning in the safety of their homes this time of the pandemic.

Here in Manila, as we celebrate year one of the quarantine, one melodramatic TV fare, which is now on its finale week, give us more reasons to be lured by free TV, Ang Sa Iyo Ay Akin.

The revenge theme driven soap stars Jodi Sta. Maria, Iza Calzado, Sam Milby, Grae Fernandez, Kira Balinger, Joseph Marco, Rita Avila, and Maricel Soriano.

According to reports, it gets more love now since it’s already a part of TV 5’s primetime offering.

So why then do we warmly embrace And Sa Iyo Ay Sa Akin this much?

My answer to this question comes from New York based Filipino show business observer Ernie Enad Goldworth who said that “Plot is an essential factor why this drama is most watched. With its handful of initial episodes, one may easily dismiss it as another copycat of the original Pangako Sa’ Yo. However. as the story progresses, one realizes that this is different and it is more than the usual baban-

gon ako at dudurugin ako plot.”

Its plot becomes more alive and riveting because of the staging and presentation of unforgettable scenes.. Some of Goldworth’s recollections of happenings that made an emotional impact and was superbly artistic: “The first and second were inter connecting scenes with each other, the scene where Jacob was killed and Marissa buried him in that unknown lot and the jump into the next scene where we really know that he really died, since he appeared on the dream of Jake.”

“Also memorable the Board Room meeting wherein Lucinda (Maricel Soriano) made a sympathetic plea to the Board Members to extend benefits to all employees and it made Belen (Rita Avila) becoming the devil incarnate in the eyes of all employees. Well-acted and executed as well, the confrontation of Gabriel(Sam Milby), Ellice (Iza Cal zado) and Marissa (Jodi Sta. M a r i a) ,

the hospital stairs scene where Marissa revealed at last to Gabriel that Jake is not his son and Jacob was already dead and revealed that it was Ellice as the one who ordered his murder. The succeeding scene that followed it was amazing. Gabriel bids Ellice goodbye,” Goldworth added.

One of the highlights of the show’s last episodes, of course, was the four way confrontation sequence with Lucing and Marissa against Belen and Elliece.

“The exchange of slaps that transpired with the powerful feminine quartet to me is epic, satisfying ---– It made your blood rise and it was so orgasmic most especially to see once again Maricel’s character giving Iza’s character a slap she will never forget,” Goldworth explained.

Of course, the great acting by its female leads is a major component why many opine that this evening drama became like a master class in melodrama.

The paring of Grae Fernandez and Kira Balinger refreshes and adds more youthful energy, and despite being newbies they were able to be at par with the seasoned members of the cast.

Now that Ang Sa Iyo Ay Akin comes to its conclusion, the many anxieties and concerns of its many characters, though they are fictional, we can use it for introspection, a reminder to be grateful with what we have, and believe, that yes, our tomorrows and our todays are indeed blessed and beautiful.

‘Ang Sa Iyo Ay Akin’ lead cast members

STREAMING films like Mank and The Trial of the Chicago 7 will battle with frontrunner Nomadland for this Monday›s coveted Oscar nominations, setting up the grand finale to an awards season transformed by the pandemic.

With most US movie theaters closed all year due to COVID, the Academy Awards have been delayed to their latest-ever date -- April 25 -- while several big-screen studio blockbusters skipped their 2020 releases entirely, leaving an eclectic field of hopefuls.

Netflix looks set to benefit most. No streaming film has ever won the Academy’s most prestigious prize -- best picture -- but Aaron Sorkin’s anti-Vietnam War protest drama The Trial of the Chicago 7 is seen as Netflix›s strongest hand.

Mank -- David Fincher’s reimagining of Hollywood’s Golden Age -and 1920s blues drama Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom are likely to score across major and technical categories for the streaming giant.

Amazon Prime meanwhile has diverse candidates from civil rights play adaptation One Night in Miami and Sound of Metal, about a rock drummer who loses his hearing, to comedy sequel Borat Subsequent Moviefilm.

Appropriately, with Hollywood’s private screening rooms and glitzy film campaign events shuttered, even Oscar

voters have been forced to watch nearly all the 366 contenders via the Academy’s own online streaming platform.

“We are almost used to streaming now,” said one member of the Academy, which has traditionally championed the big-screen experience.

“It’s quite incredible what can happen within a year. None of us have really been in a movie theater.”

Still, the streaming frontrunners will have to get past Nomadland, which won top trophies at the prestigious Venice and Toronto festivals, and has swept early award season prizes at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards.

The intimate US road movie comes from Searchlight -- the arthouse distributor now owned by Disney which has steered the likes of The Shape of Water and Birdman to recent Oscars glory -- and its campaign has featured a number of drive-in screenings.

“I would say Nomadland right now seems to be the de facto front runner,» said the Academy member, who also predicted a good year for «uplifting» features such as Pixar›s Soul and Borat thanks to 2020›s gloom.

“I heard other Academy members that felt some of the films were too bleak... they were looking more for escapism,” added the voter, who asked not to be named. AFP

Why Francine Diaz stayed in ABS-CBN also given minor roles in the soaps “We Will Survive” and “The Blood Sisters.”

Her biggest break came when she did Kadenang Ginto in 2018, an afternoon soap which lasted on air for more than a year due to TEEN star Francine Diaz has recently its consistent high ratings. Here, renewed her contract with her mother she pitted acting chops with fellow network. During the livestreamed young actress Andrea Brillantes as contract signing, the young actress well as seasoned thespians Albert was a vision of overflowing happiness Martinez, Dimples Romana, Beauexpressing a few times that her decision ty Gonzalez, and Luis Alandy.

Because of the to stay as a Kapamilya show’s popularity, was all worth it. the teen group Gold “I inked an excluSquad came into sive contract with the being. She, along Kapamilya and I’m with Kyle Echarglad I did.” ri, and Andrea Before this, the Brillantes and Seth 17-year-old star adFedelin comprised mitted that she rethe team. Her love ceived offers from team with Kyle was other TV stations esfeatured in iWant pecially at the height TFC’s digital offerof the ABS-CBN ings namely, “Silly shutdown.

Red Shoes” and “I did receive vari“Bawal Lumabas.” ous offers then but Next week, the four still, I opted to stay of them will return to with the Kapamilya. the small screen for For me, they’re my their maiden primetime family already. It’s program called, “Hunot just a company or wag Kang Mangamnetwork. Not because ba.” Then, they are also ABS-CBN is on top of its game I would Francine Diaz is a solid Kapamilya set to finish shooting the horror flick titled, stay here. I chose to “All Nighter.” stay because I conFrancine is proud to be called “Kasider them my family,” Francine said.

As an original Kapamilya talent, she pamilya.”

“It’s actually nice to hear. It’s very started her showbiz career six years ago playing the young Erich Gonza- heartwarming. It’s my way of showles in Be My Lady and the young Kim ing my loyalty to my mother studio.

Chiu in Ikaw Lang ang Iibigin. She was It’s really my home,” she ended. *** With Anak ni Waray Vs. Anak ni Biday’s resounding success people opine that Barbie Forteza should be called the next Primetime Queen of GMA. At present, she is considered as the Kapuso Primetime Princess but due to Marian Rivera’s decision to lie low in doing primetime programs in the meantime. It is believed that she is a rightful heiress to the throne.

“My God, no! Ate Marian will always be GMA’s Primetime Queen.

Nothing and no one can ever change that,” Barbie responded.

Barbie has an impressive track

record since she started headlining Kapuso primetime offerings.

Among her recent hit soaps are Inday Will Always Love You, Kara Mia, and Meant To Be. According to the petite star, she’s already happy with the tag as Kapuso Primetime Princess.

“After years of being asked this question, I can say that I’m more confident now in saying that I earned the title. I worked hard for it. And I’m more inspired at this point to further improve so I will really become worthy of the moniker,” she concluded.

C4 TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2021 advertise@manilastandard.net

Amazing places to visit in Davao City

D

AVAO City is one of the safest cities in the world.

A highly urbanized city in the island of Mindanao, it is also known for its many nicknames—the King City of the South, the Crown Jewel of Mindanao, Durian Capital of the Philippines and the Fruit Basket of the Philippines.

DAVAO CROCODILE PARK Do you want an exciting wildlife adventure? Are you fascinated with giant reptiles? Davao Crocodile Park is the place to go.

You can find thousands of cultured crocodiles here, including one of the largest captive crocodiles in the Philippines named “Pangil.”

https://tourism.davaocity.gov.ph

MONFORT BAT COLONY In the heart of the island Garden City of Samal is a home of more exotic wonders like Monfort Bat Colony. The small caves are sanctuary homes for millions of Geoffroy’s Rosettes fruit bats. An incredible tourist spot to visit!

https://tourism.davaocity.gov.ph

Its cityhood was proclaimed on March 16, 1936, and since then, its anniversary has been the highlight event of this bustling city.

Davao City is the center of Metro Davao, serving as the main trade, commerce, and industry hub of Mindanao. It is considered as the largest city in the Philippines, with

a total land area of 2,443.61 km2 (943.48 sq mi). It is geographically located in the province of Davao del Sur, but administrated and managed independently from it.

Davao City is one of the well-known destinations in the Philippines. If you want to visit the city, here are some of its tourist spots that you may want to explore.

https://www.monfortbatsanctuary.org

EDEN NATURE PARK AND RESORT An unforgettable experience awaits you at the Eden Nature Park and Resort.

At the park, there’s a butterfly sanctuary and aviary for animal lovers. You can go for activities like horseback riding and fishing as well -- the best way to relax and spend your time with your loved ones. You can also “fly like a bird!” Experience the skycycle and pedal your way up to the sky on a cable wire 60 feet high with a distance of 200 meters.

https://www.edennaturepark.com.ph http://davaocitybybattad.blogspot.com

MUSEO DABAWENYO Museo of the People of Davao is one of the most known museums in the country. The museum houses historical items like armors, chairs, crowns, and lamps of the Moro people, as well as traditional Filipino clothing, bills, musical notes, and more. Visitors can also see stilt house replicas, weapons, and musical instruments used by indigenous people.

https://www.facebook.com/butterflyhousedavao

DAVAO BUTTERFLY HOUSE If you want to visit and take photos of this protected butterfly sanctuary, the best time to go is in the morning, when it is not hot and butterflies are the most active.

Aside from displaying colorful butterflies to the public, the Davao Butterfly House also breeds them in the Learning Garden.

Paula Reynoso