Manila Standard - 2021 March 20 - Saturday

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As COVID cases climb steadily with the latest Philippine tally at its highest, several sectors embark on moves to curb the spread of the virus, the House of Representatives begins disinfecting the entire Batasan complex for the duration of the 4-day shutdown while 8 Pasay City barangays have imposed a localized enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and a family of three opts for the swab test at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

Manny Palmero, Norman Cruz

PH virus tally at its highest

WHO traces possible cause of upsurge to ‘vaccine optimism’ amid jab rollout

By Willie Casas, Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz

T

HE Philippines logged 7,103 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, the highest in a single day since the pandemic began, bringing total infections to 648,066, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.

The previous record was at 6,958 on Aug. 10, 2020.

An official of the World Health Organization (WHO) said other countries, too, were experiencing similar surges.

In an online press conference, WHO

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM MARCH 19)

648,066

Representative to the Philippines Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe said one of the possible causes of the rise in COVID-19 infections was “vaccine optimism,” a phenomenon that was observed to occur Next page

Cinemas, arcades remain closed; Pinoys abroad free to come home

By Vito Barcelo

THE government has suspended the operation of several businesses in general community quarantine (GCQ) areas— including Metro Manila—for 14 days,

7,103 73,264 ACTIVE

12,900

13

561,902

390

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

starting March 22 as COVID-19 cases continued to surge, hitting a record high of more than 7,000 new cases in a day, Malacanang said Friday.

Researchers tracking the pandemic, however, urged Metro Manila mayors

be available for workers, but all forms of social gathering would be prohibited. Work from home and other types of arrangements would be required both in the public and private sector, a Next page

By Willie Casas and Maricel V. Cruz

its shot had been approved for use in the Philippines, which in recent days experienced a surge in infecTHE Philippines has become the 52nd country to give tions, particularly in the national capital region and the go-ahead to Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vac- nearby areas.

Authorized for limited use among Filipino indicine to be used for its national inoculation program viduals aged 18 and above, the against the deadly COVID-19 non-replicating viral vector COVpandemic.

ID-19 vaccine was developed The developer of Russia’s SputNext page nik V coronavirus jab said Friday

NEW

VAX ROUNDUP

NEW

AstraZeneca wins over EU’s France, Germany FRANCE and Germany were set to resume AstraZeneca vaccinations Friday after EU regulators gave the jab the allclear, and US President Joe Biden said his administration would meet its goal of inoculating 100 million Americans weeks ahead of schedule.

Days of commotion around the COVID-19 jab associated with blood clot risks saw countries from Venezuela to Indonesia put their AstraZeneca programmes on pause, hampering the

to consider more stringent restrictions if the surge continues for two more weeks. They proposed “a soft” modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in which businesses would still be open and transportation would

Russia’s Sputnik V OKd for emergency use

TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

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VOL. XXXV • NO. 38 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

drive to vaccinate populations worldwide against the disease that has killed more than 2.6 million people.

Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovenia and Bulgaria also said they would resume vaccinations after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said Thursday that the jab was “safe and effective.”

Danish health authorities, however, say they will hold off for now on resuming use of the AstraZeneca vaccine

despite an all-clear from EMA. “Our decision to put vaccination with the COVID-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca on hold until week 12 (March 2228) remains in effect,” the head of the Danish Health Authority, Soren Brostrom, said in a statement.

“In the coming days, the Danish Health Authority and the Danish Medicines Agency will assess the impact of EMA’s review of the COVID-19 vaccine from

Next page

IN FULL BLOSSOM. Leyna Bloom, the first transwoman of color to

It’s dangerous to criticize Rody’s administration, SWS survey says

By Vito Barcelo AT LEAST 65 percent of adult Filipinos said it was dangerous to print or broadcast anything critical of the administration, “even if it is the truth,” according to the latest Social Weather Survey (SWS).

In its fourth quarter 2020 survey published by SWS on Friday, 65 percent of adult Filipinos agreed with the statement, “It is dangerous to print or

broadcast anything critical of the administration, even if it is the truth.”

At the same time, the survey found 65 percent agreeing with the statement, “I can say anything I want, openly and without fear, even if it is against the administration.”

The statement “I can say anything I want, openly and without fear, even if it is against the administration” was first tested by SWS in July 1985, during Next page

star in a movie that premiered at Cannes Film Festival, makes another history. This time, the American actress of Filipino descent gets featured in the Swimsuit Issue of Sports Illustrated, hitting the stands in July. Sports Illustrated praised Bloom’s “undeniable sense of self that shines through the minute she walks on set. She represents every person’s right to love themselves and be who they want to be.” Bloom’s Instagram account

Petecio

Paalam

TWO MORE FILIPINO BOXERS QUALIFY FOR TOKYO OLYMPICS

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SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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From A1 in countries where the rollout of vaccines for COVID-19 has begun.

“The arrival of the vaccines and the optimism that the vaccines brought has resulted in the decreased compliance in public health protocols. At a community level, it has opened room for the virus transmission to increase,” Abeyasinghe said.

A similar spike in new infections, he said, is occurring in developed countries that have been administering COVID-19 vaccines to its population for several months, such as the United States and France.

He said the recent focus on planning for a vaccine rollout at the local government level may also have resulted in lapses in the implementation of minimum public health standards such as wearing face masks, shields, and observing physical distancing.

“Because there was the optimism that the vaccines will come, that the economy will bounce back. But this infection has demonstrated again that we have to be very careful,” Abeyasinghe said.

Another possible reason, he added, was the increased transmissibility of new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19.

To date, these variants of concern that have been detected in the country in-

Vax...

From A1 by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology through the support of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF).

Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, which backed the development of Sputnik V, said in a statement the jab was registered “under the emergency use authorization procedure.”

Kirill Dmitriev, RDIF’s CEO, said in the statement the Philippines was “among the first to show interest in the Sputnik vaccine after it was registered in Russia.”

clude the B.1.1.7 variant originally found in the United Kingdom, the B.1.351 variant identified in South Africa, and the P.1 variant identified in Brazil.

He said the P.3 variant, first detected in the Philippines, is still being studied, adding the local variant of the virus has not been observed to have “any increase in transmissibility.”

Thirteen new fatalities brought the death toll from COVID-19 yesterday to 12,900, which was 1.99 percent of total cases.

The DOH also reported that 390 persons recently recovered, bringing the total recoveries to 561,902, which is 86.7 percent of the total.

That left 73,264 active cases, the highest for this year, representing 11.3 percent of total infections.

Of the active cases, 93.9 percent are mild; 3.3 percent are asymptomatic; 1 percent are critical; 1.1 percent are severe; and 0.59 percent are moderate.

Meanwhile, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said half of the beds in Metro Manila’s quarantine facilities for COVID-19 cases are occupied.

He said this compared with the national average of 16 percent occupancy.

The OCTA Research Group on Friday urged the government to ensure consistency in the implementation of measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, and to expedite vaccine rollout.

The call came as the country battled a resurgence in coronavirus infections.

“Our strategies are quite good but it is likely that we are not enforcing [them] consistently at all, most likely at the lower levels of governance,” OCTA Research fellow Benjamin Vallejo Jr. said in an online briefing.

“This would involve more contact tracing, more testing, and if we have to [impose a] lockdown, whether it is at the national level or regional level or sort of granular [approach], or even if this is voluntary, this has to be informed by scientific advice, especially from epidemiologists and the medical doctors,” Vallejo said.

Vallejo also urged the government to speed up its immunization program.

Earlier, OCTA urged the government to prioritize the vaccination rollout in the National Capital Region (NCR), which is the epicenter of COVID-19 outbreak in the country.

They said the virus could not spread if about 7 million or 8 million Metro Manila residents, as well as those from nearby regions such as Calabarzon and Central Luzon, have already been vaccinated.

In a radio interview, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the authorities would “borrow” vaccines from health facilities in the provinces for use in Metro Manila hospitals that recored a high number of COVID-19 patients.

Duque said the vaccines will only be borrowed from hospitals with minimal reported uptake.

“I received a report that there are hospitals with low uptake of vaccines,” he said, noting that some like AstraZeneca would expire in three months.

“Why not borrow [the vaccines] first and bring it where it is needed? We have been doing this before,” Duque added.

Duque said this was no different from health personnel being reassigned to hospitals that are facing emergency situations and in dire need of additional manpower.

“We really do this. It’s part of management intervention,” he said.

On Friday, the Palace said President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation to use all available AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines in the country as the first doses for health care workers, instead of holding some in reserve for second shots.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the announcement days after Duque and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. made the recommendation to protect as many medical frontliners as possible against the deadly disease.

Roque said the government will use all the available 525,600 AstraZeneca vaccines donated by the World Health Organization-led COVAX facility as first doses instead of setting aside some doses for the second shots.

The vaccine is administered in two doses, with the interval between doses at 12 weeks or three months.

On Monday, Duque and Galvez recom-

It’s dangerous...

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1,000 HOUSES. Firemen try to hose down a raging fire that has engulfed a row of at least 1,000 houses in Kawit, Cavite on Thursday, March 19, 9021.

Volunteer-firefighters from as far as Marikina helped battle the blaze and fire out was declared several hours later. JR Josue

Intent to apply

Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration has received letters from two different companies expressing intent to apply for emergency use authorization (EUA) of the coronavirus vaccine developed by China’s Sinopharm Group, the agency said Friday.

“There are two companies [that] wrote us with a letter of intent to apply for an EUA for the product Sinopharm vaccine,” FDA chief Eric Domingo said in a briefing.

The FDA has responded to both letters, informing them of the requirements and the process of EUA application, he said.

“But neither of them responded, so as of now, there is still no officially filed application with documents and requirements with the FDA when it comes to Sinopharm,” Domingo said.

Malacañang has said President Rodrigo Duterte prefers the Sinopharm vaccine.

CoronaVac jab

In a related development, the Chinese firm Sinovac Biotech and its distributor must first submit data proving that their coronavirus vaccine was safe and effective on the elderly before it could be administered on senior citizens in the Philippines, FDA said.

After vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the government was eyeing the CoronaVac jab for senior citizens, Domingo clarified that Sinovac had yet to provide data that could be used to revise its emergency use authorization (EUA).

“Once they submit all of the scientific data and the evidence, then we can always revise the EUA. But at this time we have not received this evidence, so the approved indication is for people who are 18 to 59 years old,” he said in a briefing.

Domingo said that while most studies have shown adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccines are less likely among older people, “of course, we still need the actual data.”

‘Return to growth’

Meanwhile, the ICTSI Foundation of global port operator Enrique Razon said the private sector effort to bring in vaccines in partnership with the government “would catalyze a return to a growth path for the Philippine economy.”

ICTSI has led a group for the procurement of Moderna vaccines, expected to reach between 7 and 8 million doses and arrive in May or June.

“We would like to thank the National Government for its trust in the private sector and for allowing the members of the Buyer’s Group to directly participate in the Government’s vaccination efforts. We are honored to be part of this enormous and noble endeavor to help our people recover from the impact of pandemic and to catalyze a return to growth for our nation,” said ICTSI Foundation in a statement.

Cinemas,...

From A1 member of the OCTA Research group said Friday.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the operation of driving schools, traditional cinemas, videos and interactive game arcades, libraries, archives, and museums would be suspended.

Malacañang also announced a 30 percent limit on business and religious gatherings, down from the previous 50 percent, in GCQ areas until April 4.

Cultural events and limited social events would also be disallowed during the two-week period beginning March 22. Among Department of Tourism-accredited establishments, only open-air tourist attractions will be allowed to operate.

Also starting Monday, March 22, only about 30 to 50 percent of government agencies’ workforce will be allowed to physically report for work following the increase of COVID 19 cases, the Palace said.

Areas that are still under the general community quarantine status are Metro Manila, Baguio City, Apayao, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Batangas, Tacloban City, Iligan City, Davao City and Lanao Del Sur. The rest of the country are under modified GCQ, the most relaxed form of community quarantine.

Meanwhile, Malacanang said that all Filipinos are allowed to return to the Philippines, reversing an earlier pronouncement that only overseas Filipino workers may fly back home amid a renewed surge in COVID-19 cases.

Roque said under the revised IATF order, only foreigners are not allowed to enter the country until April 21, 2021 to prevent the spread of the virus.

Exempted from the order are diplomats, members of international organizations and their dependents, foreigners involved in medical repatriation, foreign seafarers under green

mended to President Duterte to allow the use of all AstraZeneca vaccines as firstdose shots for health care workers. The President, however, was worried that the second dose might not arrive on time.

But Duque assured the President that the interval between the two doses of AstraZeneca vaccines was 12 weeks.

He also stressed the need to use the vaccines because of their relatively short shelf life of three months.

Also on Friday, the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives slammed what it described as the government’s “slow and inefficient” pandemic response.

“With the country still mainly relying on donated COVID vaccines, despite the billions of pesos already borrowed for the inoculation program, ordinary Filipinos then cannot be blamed [for] judging the Duterte administration’s pandemic response as criminally inept, incompetent and an agony for the people,” the group said in joint statement read at a news conference.

The bloc composed of Reps. Carlos Isagani Zarate, Ferdinand Gaite and Eufemia Cullamat of Bayan Muna; Arlene Brosas of Gabriela; and France Castro of ACT Teachers, cited the need for Congress to review RA 11525 or the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021 for its inability to address “the actual situation of the ongoing problematic COVID vaccination in the country.”

lane programs for crew change, foreign spouses and children of Filipinos traveling with them, and emergency or humanitarian cases.

The National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 rejected a proposal to enforce a “total lockdown” in regions that are experiencing a rapid surge in the number of coronavirus disease cases.

NTF Chairperson and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said granular lockdowns — or the closure of a particular building, street, or barangay — should be strictly enforced by local government units (LGUs) instead of putting an entire region under total lockdown to prevent the economy from totally collapsing.

“We are giving the burden to the local government units because we noticed that they have become lenient in enforcing the health protocols. The surge is really alarming,” he said.

In a meeting with Metro Manila mayors on March 11, the OCTA Research group suggested stricter quarantine measures if the surge in COVID-19 cases will continue after two weeks.

OCTA Research fellow Ranjit Rye said his group proposed a “soft” modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) that would keep businesses open but bar all forms of social gatherings.

“This a very serious surge. We cannot minimize it. We cannot downplay it. It’s already affecting lives and livelihoods,” Rye said.

Rye said the shift to a soft MECQ will only happen if a “hard” general community quarantine (GCQ) will not be able to significantly reduce the reproduction number, which is currently at 1.9 for the National Capital Region.

A reproduction number of 1 or higher indicates sustained COVID-19 transmission.

Under its hard GCQ proposal, the operation of government offices and industries will continue but with a significant percentage of the workforce al-

lowed to work staggered hours or work from home.

In other developments: • All activities related to the observance of Holy Week are suspended in Manila this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said on Friday. Domagoso instead urged Manila residents to observe Holy Week inside their homes.

• Pasig City on Friday placed 37 areas under “granular lockdown” for two weeks amid the surge of cases and emergence of new variants of COVID-19. Mayor Vico Sotto said the 37 areas in the city’s 19 villages will have stricter safety protocols from March 19 until April 1, although the lifting of this status will still depend on what the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit finds.

• The Department of Education (DepEd) Task Force COVID-19 on Thursday temporarily closed the Central Office in Pasig City to give way for a complex-wide disinfection and contact tracing activity. The temporary closure will end on March 24.

• Application for assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) central office in Quezon City will have to wait until Monday, as it will undergo a three-day sanitization due to COVID-19 cases in the complex. On Thursday night, the DSWD said they would shut down Friday to Sunday after 33 Covid-19 infections were confirmed.

• Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge, Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, on Friday said all schooling and training for cops are suspended as the police force battles a surge in COVID-19 cases.

• More than a dozen personnel of the government’s witness protection program have tested positive for COVID-19, prompting the Department of Justice to consider an extended lockdown. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said 17 personnel contracted the virus and will be quarantined immediately.

the Marcos regime, and found only 33 percent agreed, while 29 percent disagreed, for a record-low net agreement of a neutral +3.

Net agreement rose to a strong +39 in May 1986 and reached its all-time high of a very strong +63 in March 1987.

Freedom of speech has been probed 46 times from 1985 to the present. Its net score averaged +33 during the administration of Cory Aquino, +38 in the time of Fidel Ramos, +41 in the time of Joseph Estrada, +34 in the time of Gloria Arroyo, and +32 in the time of Noynoy Aquino.

In the six times it was surveyed in the time of Rodrigo Duterte, it ranged from a moderate +23 to a strong +49.

Net danger in publishing things critical of the administration rises in all areas Net agreement with the statement, “It is dangerous to print or broadcast anything critical of the administration, even if it is the truth,” is highest in Mindanao (+58), followed by the Visayas (+55), Balance Luzon (+47), and Metro Manila (+30).

Net agreement with the statement, “I can say anything I want, openly and without fear, even if it is against the administration,” is highest in the Visayas (+59), followed by Mindanao (+55), Balance Luzon (+42), and Metro Manila (+28.

Meanwhile, Malacañang encouraged Filipinos to exercise their right to express their views on government policies, assuring them that President Rodrigo Duterte and his administration uphold free speech in the Philippines.

In a virtual presser, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said he saw no reason for the Duterte government to curtail Filipinos’ freedom of speech and expression.

“The public should not hesitate to exercise their right to free speech because that is guaranteed under the 1987 Constitution,” Roque said.

Roque issued the statement in reaction to the SWS poll which revealed that majority of Filipinos thought printing or broadcasting anything critical of the administration was dangerous.

AstraZeneca...

From A1 AstraZeneca on the Danish vaccination programme,” he added.

Last week, Denmark was the first country to suspend use of the AstraZeneca jab, a decision then followed by more than a dozen other mostly European countries.

The Scandinavian country is currently investigating 10 cases, including one fatality, where blood clots or blood clot symptoms arose after more than 140,000 people received the jab made by the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker.

Meanwhile, America was due Friday to administer its 100 millionth dose, boosting optimism – as infection rates fall -- that the world’s worst-hit country is headed for a powerful rebound.

“I’m proud to announce that tomorrow, 58 days into my administration, we will have met my goal of administering 100 million shots to our fellow Americans,” Biden said in a White House speech.

But he also cautioned it “is a time for optimism but it’s not a time for relaxation.” AFP

News Pinoys urged to avail of national ID PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday enjoined his fellow Filipinos to avail of PhilID, the national identification card under the Philippine Identification System.

Duterte made the appeal during the virtual ceremonial event organized by the Philippine Statistics Authority to highlight the key achievements of the PhilSys. In his taped video message, Duterte reassured Filipinos of simpler and faster transactions with the government and the private sector through PhilID. “As we pursue this long-overdue project, I ask every Filipino to give PhilSys a chance so that we may maximize the advantages of a universal and secure database that will make transactions more efficient and our lives more convenient,” he said.

Duterte also guaranteed that Filipinos’ personal data stored in the PhilSys registry would be protected.

“Let me assure everyone, as well as apart from its primary purpose of providing a resilient digital identification system for all Filipinos, PhilSys will also uphold the privacy of all personal information,” he said.

Duterte praised the PSA and the National Economic Development Authority for implementing Republic Act 11055 or the PhilSys Act, as well as the Presidential Communications Operations Office for raising public awareness on the national ID system.

Despite the ovid-19 pandemic, over 20 million Filipinos have already completed the Step 1 Registration for PhilSys as of February 26 this year.

The first step involves the houseto-house collection of demographic information of low-income households and the appointment setting for Step 2.

The virtual registration for Step 1 is expected to be launched in April this year.

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Hearings on the ATA to resume

By Rey E. Requejo

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HE SUPREME Court said Friday the oral arguments on the 37 petitions seeking to declare the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 as unconstitutional will resume on March 23 after being suspended three times due to COVID-19 reasons.

After starting the arguments on the case on February 2, the high court sus-

WARNING. Cavite police warn motorists passing through the Kaibyang tunnel under a restricted zone in Maragondon, Cavite. Starting march 19, it is prohibited to stop in the area for all types of vehicles according to the executive order of Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla. JR Josue

Passage of bill to help small farmers pushed

By Rio N. Araja THE Commission on Human Rights on Friday batted for the passage of Senate Bill 2100 seeking “to provide direct cash assistance to small-scale farmers and municipal fishermen whose livelihoods have been severely affected by the prolonged lockdowns and economic recession brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“While the crisis is primarily a public health concern, the measures enacted to contain the spread of the virus, especially

the restrictions placed on the movement of people and goods, significantly impacted the agricultural sector and market chain on all levels,” lawyerspokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said in a statement.

“Apart from facing risks every day as they leave their homes either to fish, to farm or to find markets for their products, small-scale food producers such as farmers and fishermen experience the economic burden of the pandemic.”

De Guia said workers in the agricul-

tural sector were suffering from massive losses in sales due to spoilage and reduced sales prices.

“Not only have there been problems plaguing them in the short term but there have also been long-standing structural issues affecting the sector, including land rights, low income of producers, poor infrastructure and high cost of nutritious products among others.”

She said farmers and fishermen were considered to be essential workers who deserved immediate financial and social support.

pended the arguments on Feb. 23, March 9 and 16 as preventive measures to control the spread of COVID-19 in the court.

Oral arguments are usually held at the high court’s En Banc session hall along Padre Faura Street in Manila.

The petitioners have completed the presentation of their arguments on the alleged unconstitutionality of the ATA. On March 23, state lawyers led by Solicitor General Jose Calida will take the podium to defend the constitutionality of Republic Act 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Law, and subsequently to seek the dismissal of all the petitions against it.

Calida had sought the dismissal of the petitions on procedural and substantive grounds.

On the procedural grounds, Calida said the petitioners in the cases had no legal standing to bring the cases before the high court, which was not a trier of facts.

He said the petitioners failed to point out “personal and substantial interest in the case such that he has sustained or will sustain direct injury as a result.”

On the substantive issues, he says the ATA under Republic Act 11479 does not violate the constitutional provisions on equal protection of the laws, due process, right to privacy, freedom of speech and of expression, right to information, prohibition against incommunicado and other similar forms of detention, right to a speedy trial, right to a speedy disposition of cases, proscription against involuntary servitude, separation of powers and indigenous people’s right to self-determination.

USAID, PBEd offer P37m to youth

By Rey E. Requejo

INSPECTION. Health Secretary Francisco Duque and Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez inspect a wet market in Barangay Baclaran on Friday amid the high number of Covid 19 cases in the area that prompted the LGU to conduct granular lockdowns. Norman Cruz

THE United States Agency for International Development and the Philippine Business for Education have signed a P37million partnership with companies to bankroll a youth employability program to provide training and employment opportunities to more than 1,000 unemployed and out-of-school youth in the Calabarzon region and Zamboanga City.

The USAID and PBEd agreed to a collaboration with the Philippine Cable and Telecommunications Association Inc. and canned goods producer Permex to implement the partnership program dubbed YouthWorks PH, the US agency’s private sector-driven youth employability initiative with PBEd. Through the project, USAID and PBEd are redoubling their efforts to reach the youth by expanding the initiative to more rural areas and adding to the 7,500 current program beneficiaries.

In a virtual event on March 18, PCTA President Jose Luis Dabao pledged to provide cable television and internet servicerelated technical vocational training to 100

unemployed and out-of-school youth residing in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon City.

Permex, Zamboanga’s leading producer and exporter of canned goods represented

by Human Resource Director Mabel Grace Bacolod, committed 1,000 new training opportunities in its food processing department.

The six-month training will include remote mentoring and technical-vocational instruction under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority online program, as well as on-the-job experience and access to Permex’s apprenticeship program “We enjoin local governments, businesses and training institutions to build on and leverage each other’s efforts so that we give Filipino youth opportunities to enter the workforce during these trying times. We are grateful to PCTA and Permex, big names in the industries of cable TV and food processing, respectively, for working with USAID and PBEd to provide youth with valuable training and work experiences that they can use to be gainfully employed,” said Thomas LeBlanc, Director of USAID Philippines Office of Education.

100 farmers set Angara backs increase in deposit insurance coverage to P1m Ramos-Araneta to be given land ByandMacon Maricel V. Cruz

By Rio N. Araja THE Department of Agrarian Reform is set to distribute land titles and support services to farmers of Sablayan in Occidental Mindoro today.

Secretary John Castriciones identified an area of 181.5 hectares of land comprising 110 individual certificates of land ownership awarded under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program for distribution to 100 farmer-beneficiaries.

He will also hand over land titles to farmers’ homes through the agency’s Serbisyong DAR-to-Door.

“I will personally deliver these land titles to give them hope, to let them feel that despite this pandemic, the government is here ready to give them help and support,” he said.

The DAR chief, along with other agency officials, would turn over support services for the beneficiaries worth P 3.2 million.

He disclosed that an activity called “Lawyers to the Benepisyaryo” would be conducted on the same day.

“Lawyers to the Benepisyaryo,” is a DAR project that gives free legal assistance and consultations to farmer-beneficiaries.

THE benefits and advantages of invigorating the financial system and overall economy would be enjoyed by depositors with the proposed amendments to the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation Charter, which includes among others, the rise in the maximum deposit insurance coverage of PDIC from P500,000

to P1 million.

Senator Sonny Angara, who presided over the Subcommittee on Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies virtual public hearing on amending PDIC Charter also proposed to attach PDIC to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

He said the proposed amendments aim to remove the regulatory overlap between the BSP and the PDIC. There should be

only one regulator for banks and that should be the BSP. The PDIC can, therefore, focus on its role as a deposit insurer and as a liquidator.

“By sharpening the focus of the PDIC to that of a “pay box” for insurance claims and as liquidator of failed banks, we will ensure even better institutional efficiency than what we have at present,” he said.

Meanwhile, a party-list legislator on Fri-

day backed the enactment of a bill putting an interest rate cap on credit card and consumer loans offered by banks and other financial institutions.

“It is high time that we put an end to predatory and abusive lending practices, which have been among the greatest threats to Filipino families working to achieve financial security,” Deputy Speaker and Bagong Henerasyon Rep. Bernadette Herrera said.

Bill seeks to help unemployed

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Manuel Lapid has filed a bill that seeks to amend RA 11261, otherwise known as the “First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act”, to extend the waiver of fees and charges to jobseekers who have lost their employment during the COVID 19 public health emergency.

Under Senate Bill 2090, all government agencies and instrumentalities, including Government-Owned and-Controlled Corporations, Local Government Units and government hospitals will not collect fees or charges from jobseekers who lost their jobs during the COVID 19 pandemic.

This was as a result of authorized causes such as installation of labor-saving devices, redundancy, retrenchment, closure or cessation of business operations or diseases.

The waiver of payment is for fees or

charges paid in connection with the application for and the granting of licenses, proofs of identification, clearances, certificates or other documents usually required in the course of employment locally or abroad.

“We should rescue our people who lost their jobs due to this pandemic. It’s been more than a year since the government imposed a lockdown due to the COVID 19 pandemic, but even if there is no lockdown, people are still suffering,” Lapid said.

Aside from the health sector, the effect of the current pandemic in society is also severe in the labor sector. Based on the October 2020 Labor Force Survey, underemployment and unemployment rates stood at 14.4% and 8.7%, respectively.

At the regional level, three regions reported double-digit unemployment rates: National Capital Region (NCR) (12.4%), Ilocos (11.5%) and Calabarzon (11%).

ANTIVIRAL DRUGS: MyMed Rx Plus Corporation President Jojo Soliman shows the Favipiravir and Arbidol at the Pure Force and Rescue Operation office in Manila. Both antiviral drugs are being used to treat Covid-19 cases and are exclusively distributed

by My Med RX Plus Corporation under a compassionate permit of the Food and Drugs Administration. Norman Cruz

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News

SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021

Rody: I won’t let int’l court try me for drug killings

By Vito Barcelo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday repeated his declaration that he will never let himself be tried by an international court for mass killings in his war on illegal drugs and vowed no letup in the government’s crackdown against the illegal drug trade in the country.

The President made this remark after the Supreme Court (SC) junked the petition questioning the country’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2019.

In a related development, Malacanang said the President was merely joking after remarking that he had cancer when he suddenly coughed during his speech in Leyte.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the President is healthy and the public has nothing to get worried about.

Duterte, meanwhile, said he was not stupid to let the “animals” in the international court put him on trial.

“You’re crazy. They tried to sue me before the International Court of Justice based in the Hague, it’s in Europe,” Duterte said during the government assembly on efforts to address the local armed communist conflict in Leyte.

Liberals cool to talks with new party

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

T

he Liberal Party is open to informal talks with the newly formed 1Sambayan party but would rather focus first on the COVID-19 crisis, party president Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said Friday.

At present, Pangilinan said the opposition party has no official stand yet on reports that some LP members, led by party chairperson Vice President Leni Robredo, are being considered as potential candidates in the 1Sambayanan coali-

tion launched by retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio.

1Sambayanan is eyeing Robredo as its standard bearer in the 2022 national elections against the anointed candidates of the ruling PDP-Laban part of President

Rodrigo Duterte.

Factions within PDP-Laban are hoping Duterte would run as their candidate for Vice President, with Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go or presidential daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte as their presidential candidate.

“Liberal Party has no official stand yet.

We are open to informal talks, but I think in the end—and I’ve said this—given the rising cases of COVID, I would rather be focused first on how to overcome the current problem of the COVID management and the spread,” stressed Pangilinan.

He said the LP can talk politics “maybe two or three months or July or August”

before the deadline of the filing of certificates of candidacy.

Meanwhile, Sen. Manny Pacquiao said becoming a President is a destiny from God, in reacting to Sen. Panfilo Lacson revelation that the former champion boxer whispered to him that he wants to be president.

Pacquiao said many “have aspired for the presidency and many of them failed.”

He wants the next President to have real concern and true love for the Filipinos.

“Let us stop political colors -- no more yellow, no more orange, red or whatever is your color. Let us pity the Filipino people,” he added.

P6.2m in party drugs seized

By Jess Malabanan CLARK FREEPORT—About P6.2 million worth of sex enhancing drugs were intercepted by government authorities through interdiction operations at Barangay San Francisco, Mabalacat City Thursday afternoon, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency announced Friday.

PDEA provincial chief Joseph Samson said the illegal drugs, neatly stuffed in parcels, were shipped via the postal office of Mabalacat City, and was consigned to a certain Zhyrelle Marquez Ancheta.

The parcels originated from Germany. It was shipped by Kevin Owen. No specific address was mentioned in the package.

Samson said the parcels were initially intercepted by Philpost Inspectorate Service in Pasay City and were placed under controlled delivery in coordination with the PDEA, Bureau of Customs and the local police.

He said the parcels were claimed by Agatha Lavadia Palen, 27, of C-2 Feliciano Compound, Mabalacat City who showed an authorization letter on behalf of Ancheta.

MARKING 500 YEARS. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte joins Ambassador of Spain to the Philippines Jorge Moragas Sanchez, Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, and Eastern Samar

Governor Ben Evardone in unveiling the Quincentennial Marker during the 500th Anniversary of the Philippine Part in the First Circumnavigation of the World held at the Veterans Park on Calicoan Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar on Thursday. Presidential Photo

Cancer council formation urged amid pandemic HEALTH experts have called for the immediate formation of a council that will implement an important law to protect cancer patients who have become more vulnerable amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“It is very critical that the National Integrated Cancer Control Act Council has to be organized and has to be convened.

Based on the law, the council will act as a policy-making, planning and coordinating body on cancer control attached with DOH (Department of Health). If they were not convened, what is there to fund?” Paul Perez, president of the Cancer Coalition of the Philippines, said in a

statement.

Meanwhile, over 100,000 Filipinos may die of tuberculosis (TB) in the next five years if TB services continue to be disrupted because of mobility restrictions brought about by COVID-19, the Health Department warned.

A modelling study by the Imperial College of London projected between 65,100 to 146,300 TB deaths may happen if local TB services remain limited for another year, the DOH said in a statement.

Republic Act No. 11215 or the National Integrated Cancer Control Act (NICCA) was signed into law in February 2019, but it remains to be implemented, according

to Fatima Lorenzo, President of the Philippine Alliance of Patients Organization.

“The NICCA law was signed on February 14, 2019, and we feel frustrated because of its slow implementation. Let us not give up and channel our energies to positive action,” said Lorenzo.

The NICCA Council was envisioned to provide technical guidance and support and oversee the implementation of the law. It aims to ensure that there is judicious and best use of available resources for the benefit of all, especially the most vulnerable sectors—the elderly, women, poor, marginalized, and disadvantaged.

Willie Casas

Scion of mall tycoon dies at 29

ART CROSSING. Locals and tourists taking their time to appreciate the different art on exhibit at the Baguio Malcolm Square on Thursday. In the heart of Baguio beside the City Market, Malcolm Square was named after Justice George A. Malcolm, who wrote the Charter of Baguio making it a city on September 1, 1909. He established the College of Law at the University of the Philippines, became its first dean and was considered the youngest associate justice of the Philippine Supreme Court. Dave Leprozo

JAN Catherine Sy, daughter of SM Prime Holdings chair Henry Sy Jr. and granddaughter of the late mall tycoon Henry Sy Sr., died on Thursday, her family announced in a statement. She was 29.

“Dear Family and Friends, tonight, March 18, 2021 at 6:35 pm, our dearest daughter Jan Catherine Sy is now with the Lord Jesus already. Blessed be the name of the LORD. You give and take away. My heart will choose to say, Lord, BLESSED BE YOUR NAME!” the statement said.

The statement was shared on social media through Sy’s relatives.

Sy was the eldest of three children of “Big Boy” Sy Jr. She served as assistant vice president and project director for SM Development Corporation (SMDC), the residential development arm of the family business run by her father.

In 2019, she launched The Good Guys,

SMDC’s community development program.

Esquire.com described Jan Catherine Sy as “a nature lover, devout Christian, and passionate equestrienne, having trained in the sport all throughout her childhood.”

Sen. Joel Villanueva, a fellow Christian and close friend of Sy Jr., offered his sympathies to the Sys. Previous social posts showed that Jan Catherine may have been exposed to bacteria which led to her confinement. On Thursday morning, she was reported to be in critical condition from septic shock.

Sy graduated with a degree in business and economics at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California.

“I didn’t grow up on computer games; I’m not used to staring at the screen. I was the kid who played outside and climbed trees,” she said.

‘One more year for Boracay body’

By Rio N. Araja ENVIRONMENT Secretary Roy Cimatu wants a one-year extension for the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) pending the creation of a permanent regulatory body that shall oversee the island’s sustainable development and balanced growth.

Cimatu, as BIATF chairperson, said the term extension would allow the task force to complete all its projects that have been stalled by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The task force passed a resolution, which has been submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte for his approval, to extend the term of the task force for another year.

The task force is co-chaired by the Department of Tourism and Department of the Interior and Local Government. It was created on May 8, 2018 under Executive Order No. 53.

Its term was supposed to end in 2020, two years after its creation, but the President issued EO No. 115 on May 11, 2020, extending its term until May 8, 2021.

“We have been hoping that all the good work we have done in Boracay would be continued and sustained by a more permanent body,” Cimatu said.

“We have accomplished much since this body was created by our President Rodrigo Duterte on May 8, 2018 with the mission of ensuring the rehabilitation and ecological sustainability of Boracay Island after its degeneration into a cesspool as a result of a few decades of runaway and haphazard development,” he added.

Win eyes more psychosocial support with rising suicides SENATOR Win Gatchalian wants the continued provision of psychosocial support to the country’s K to 12 learners following the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) report that suicide-related deaths are up by 25.7 percent in 2020 compared to 2019.

Gatchalian pointed out that the country’s learners are especially vulnerable because they had to bear the brunt of a yearlong school shutdown and home confinement.

“Prior to the pandemic, the Filipino youth was struggling with mental health woes,” he said.

According to the PSA, cases of intentional self-harm recorded in 2020 increased to 3,529 from 2,808 in 2019.

The past year also saw an increase in the number of calls to the National Center for

Mental Health (NCMH). From May 2019 to February 2020, the center received 400 monthly average calls, which increased to 953 calls from March to May 2020.

From March 17 to October 6, 2020, the monthly average calls were 907. The monthly average calls related to suicide were 53.

A 2015 survey by the World Health Organization (WHO) showed that 16.8 percent of 8,761 student-participants aged 1317 attempted suicide one or more times a year before the survey.

In an advocacy brief, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned that containment measures and school closures make children feel isolated.

Among the consequences of these are anxiety and sleep problems, which are also caused by increased gadget usage, ir-

regular eating habits, and reduced physical activity.

Aside from isolation, other stressors include health-related fears and financial losses.

“We should prioritize the welfare Dapat nating bigyan ng prayoridad ang kapakanan at mental health ng mga kabataan, lalo na’t isang taon na nilang hindi nakakasalamuha nang personal ang kanilang mga guro at kamag-aral,” said the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture Gatchalian proposed that psychosocial support programs train both teachers and learners in identifying risky behavior, including those related to suicide, so they can be addressed or reported to proper authorities. Macon Ramos-Araneta

NO TO COAL. Mitzi Jonelle Tan (left), international spokesperson of Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines (YACAP), speaks during a protest in front of a Standard Chartered bank office in the financial district of Makati, suburban Manila on Friday, calling on the bank to stop funding coal-fired power plants and other environmentally destructive projects, as part of the global cleanUp Standard Chartered Bank campaign. AFP

Opinion Teen moms: A lost generation?

Conclusion I HOPE those who have read my previous pieces on adolescent pregnancy more or less already have an understanding of this complex problem. Pregnancy among teen-age girls from poor families has trapped them to a life of even more hardships and worsening poverty.

Understandably, the big majority of the teen moms we interviewed have stopped going to school. Very few of them were able to graduate from high school. A handful, with the support of their parents, braved the stigma of teen pregnancy and continued to finish their grade level while pregnant.

As previously discussed, our conservative culture that de-prioritizes women’s and girls’ rights, particularly their sexual and reproductive health and rights has a lot to do with the problem of teen pregnancy. We remain backward in the way we understand sex and sexuality. This gave way to a generation of both parents and young people who are significantly ignorant of how positive sexuality may be lived without putting the lives and future of our young people “at risk.”

These girls still hope for a better future.

This conservative culture has permeated our educational system, our health system, even our laws, and how laws are implemented.

Based on the processes we undertook and our observations and findings, our NGO, the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP) is putting forward some recommendations to effectively address the rising numbers of adolescent pregnancies in the country. Some of the major ones are the following: The implementation of a comprehensive and sustained sexuality education in schools and communities.

The RH law’s provisions on age-and-development appropriate sexuality education MUST be FULLY and PROPERLY implemented by the Department of Education.

While the teen mothers we interviewed said that they had some sex education lessons in school, they were also quick to say that they did not learn much because the lessons were not sustained.

There were those who said that their class would turn rowdy when lessons on sexuality education were on. This also has to do with the fact that young people are not used to talking about matters related with sex and sexuality, a reflection of how these topics are treated in our homes.

Community-based SRHR education must also be done for out of school adolescent and parents, especially mothers. The importance of doing this cannot be over-emphasized especially because many parents remain in denial that their adolescent offspring may be sexually active.

Education is the key for parents, particularly mothers, to overcome their perception that sex and sexuality are taboo topics and

should not be discussed at home. This will also provide them with the necessary topics that should be the subject of their “talks” with their children.

Sessions on how to discuss sex and sexuality with one’s children are also needed to help develop confidence among parents who want to do this but do not know how. Many community women expressed not just discomfort but also their lack lack of knowledge on how this can be done.

Sensible, objective, and non-judgmental discussion of sex and sexuality in school and in homes needs to be seen as normal, not immoral.

Adolescents who want or need contraceptives should have access to such. Repeat teen pregnancy is a reality among many of the teen moms we interviewed. Not a few said that even if they wanted to, they were not given contraceptives by health centers because they were minors. No wonder, many of them got pregnant again soon after the first pregnancy.

Local health care workers must know that minors are allowed access to contraceptives of their choice provided that there is consent from a parent or guardian. Prohibiting minors from getting the family planning services they need does not help. In fact, it compounds the problem.

The age of consent needs to be raised and the present laws on rape and violence against women need to be properly implemented and understood by women and girls.

Among the young mothers we interviewed, at least thirteen were raped, three were abducted, and many others suffered from physical and other forms of abuse.

Most of their rapists, abductors, and abusers were their boyfriends. There were also cases of physical abuse from parents. These are unacceptable.

The present law on statutory rape only applies to girls below twelve years old. The law should be amended to increase the age of consent to at least below eighteen. The rape cases among those we interviewed involved girls sixteen years old and below. Increasing the age of statutory rape will hopefully serve as a deterrent against the crime.

A package of support services need to be provided to families of teen mothers to give them opportunities to improve their lives.

This package should include livelihood and employment and scholarship programs.

Livelihood is needed because many of the girls and their partners are jobless. Their families are already dirt poor and most have, from the start, been involved in irregular and contractual jobs. With the COVID-19 pandemic, most lost their jobs and are making do with whatever they can to earn some. Being engaged in a livelihood activity is one of the major “asks” of the teen moms.

A big number of them want to be able to continue and finish their education. A scholarship program will enable them to achieve this and pursue their dreams. Eventually, they will also be able to provide for their children better. A scholarship program may be key for them to break the cycle of poverty they are in.

All of the teen mothers we interviewed still hope that there will be opportunities for them to improve their lot. They want to study, have jobs, and provide for their families. Our society cannot turn a blind eye on them. They still hope for a better future. They are NOT yet a lost generation. They will not be if we help. @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook

Why couriers need to be regulated I HAVE been writing for the longest time regarding calls for government regulation of couriers, citing numerous incidents when clients have been shortchanged, and even instances when these services have been utilized for unscrupulous activities including being used to deliver illegal drugs.

But up to now, the agency supposed to regulate them, the Department of Information and Communications Technology has virtually done nothing to address the mounting complaints and concern of these couriers’ clients. There is a pending resolution in Congress calling to probe these couriers but to date, no hearing has yet been held. In fact, I have already forgotten about this issue until a friend, my forum co-host, lawyer Al Vitangcol, wrote about it in his column.

According to Atty. Al, he received a text message from Ninja Van on Dec. 28, 2020.

The message read: “A Ninja will deliver your parcel today. Please advise our rider if you’re available to receive your order today.

A friendly reminder we do not allow customers to open the parcel for checking.”

“Once opened you are obliged to pay in full amount. Any concerns on your order you must contact your seller. Ninja Van is a partner courier, we do not get hold of your orders nor your sellers. Any other concerns, please feel free to contact our Customer Service Hotline (02) 827-115-01 to address your concern. Thanks for choosing us to deliver your parcel. We are glad to help you,” the message continued.

The funny thing is, Atty. Al said that around that time, he did not shop for anything online at that time and was not expecting any delivery. Also, if ever he does online shop-

ping, he says he buys “at a reputable and dependable shop like Lazada.”

Anyway, Atty. Al said a small package arrived in his office later that day, which was addressed to one of his household members, but which bears his telephone number.

“Weird as it may seem, the label had no indication as to the contents of the package but showed only the amount to be paid “COD 1099.” After a little discussion with the delivery man as to the contents of the package, I paid him the amount of P1,099,” Al narrates.

Imagine receiving and having to pay for something you never ordered in the first place.

Upon opening the package, Atty. Al said he found a pair of cheap lady’s stockings, which might be worth at most P100. He then asked the members of his household and found out that no one ordered that product.

Calling Ninja Van’s customer service hotline on the same day to file his complaint, Atty. Al said he got no satisfactory response; thus he was obliged to send a formal complaint to Ninja Van through an email.

And this was Ninja Van’s reply to him: “Thank you for contacting the Ninja Van Customer Service Team. My name is Ninja Rech, and it’s my pleasure to assist you today! We are sorry to hear about this incident that the item you have received is not the same as the one you ordered. Words cannot express how we feel in line with the inconvenience it caused.”

“For us to resolve this issue, we need to work hand in hand. Kindly reach out to your seller. If in case, you are unable to reach the seller, kindly provide us a screenshot of your attempt to message the seller,” the

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021

B1

EDITORIAL

Register, register, register

W

E JOIN authorities in Suffrage is whipping up the more the foundation of than four million new voters to register this early for the democracy.

2022 national elections, where the country will invest in the the election. political future of this country of preceding Citing latest data, the poll body has said 110 million people. of the 1,092,484 applications processed,

586,695 are females and 505,879 are males.

Last month, the Comelec reported more than 1.3 million would-be voters had so far filed their applications for registration for the May 2022 polls.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez also reported that from a voting population of 61 million in 2019, they have deactivated nearly three million voters for failing to vote for two consecutive elections, leaving only around 59 million registered voters.

“We also have roughly 1 million to 1.5 million potential reactivations. The reason for this is after every election, we do a round of deactivation of people who

Already the Commission on Elections has processed over 1 million applications for voter registration from early January to the second week of this month—the voters expected to join the estimated 63 million registered, including those who have been reactivated, for the May 2022 national and local elections.

The Comelec, the government’s election watchdog, is targeting to register some four million voters—those, under the Constitution, who are at least 18 years of age and shall have resided in the Philippines for at least one year, and in the place wherein they propose to vote for at least six months immediately

failed to vote twice,” Jimenez has said.

In the 2019 polls, the voter turnout was 75.90 percent or roughly 46 million to 47 million voters.

Currently, the Comelec is conducting a nationwide voter registration, which will run until Sept. 30, 2021. Applications may be submitted to all Offices of the Election Officer. The Comelec has even started accepting applications on Saturdays, for those who have schools or jobs to attend to during the week.

The poll body has explained that voter registration remains suspended under Resolution 10674, in critical areas that may be under localized enhanced community quarantine as determined by appropriate authorities.

But where voter registration is not suspended, we encourage those already 18 and above who are not yet in the list of voters to register and invest in the future and welfare of our country.

The exercise of suffrage cannot and must not be ignored in a democracy like the Philippines.

One country, two systems would allow. Freedom has its valid limitation but it should not infringe on the sovereignty to destroy and dismember the states.

The decision of the 13th National People’s Congress to pass the National Security Law for Hong Kong on June 20, 2020 under Article 38 makes foreign nationals liable for criminal acts committed outside of Hong Kong and China, and such foreigners could be arrested once they arrive in Hong Kong. Anyone found guilty under the law will be barred from holding public office for life.

BACKBENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN WHEN the late President Deng Xiaoping toyed with the idea of forwarding a political formula of “one country, two systems” for Hong Kong, he conceived it not to remind the people of China that the island was once a concession obtained by the British colonialist in 1891 just to dump opium in that territory. Again in 1898, the New Territories known as Kowloon was added in what was infamously known as the Second Opium War for Hong Kong.

Deng’s decision to recognize the “one country, two systems” for Hong Kong was borne out of pragmatism. It was typical of him as he was quoted saying, “It doesn’t matter whether a cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice.”

The trouble is that the West, particularly the US, now wants to stretch Deng’s political metaphor ignoring that the negotiation for the transfer of Hong Kong was for political convenience without China abandoning its sovereignty over the territory. The concept was not meant to divide and keep Hong Kong in perpetuity as an enclave but a gesture to ensure that the sovereignty of China remains in Hong Kong.

Freedom and independence have reference to Hong Kong, concommitant to its return to the Motherland, and the people of Hong Kong cannot treat themselves as alien to the Chinese nation. The people of Hong Kong must show their loyalty and patriotism to the basic law or constitution of China. The concept of two systems was to impress upon others that Hong Kong is free to chart its own political destiny. Deng knows that under international law, states are allowed certain rights except that it should not legislate on issues that would impair or divide the sovereignty of China over Hong Kong.

The term Hong Kong as a special administrative region is a concession to implement the two systems to allow it to exercise free enterprise in its economy but not to adopt policies that would redefine the basic law of China. The electoral system for the special administrative region is not meant to be disregarded, ignored or violated by the people of Hong Kong.

The autonomy enjoyed by the people of Hong Kong is not a gift to accord the troublemakers an advantage to exploit their demand for independence, which if conversely stated, meant giving them their right to secede, which no state that values its territorial integrity message further reads.

But what seller? Atty Al avers they did not order anything from anyone so who’s the seller he would have to contact?

On January 4, said Ninja Rech forwarded an email to Atty. Al from one of their units stating: “This is Mark and it’s my pleasure to assist you today! We apologize if we were not able to get back to you as soon as possible.

We would like to inform you that we already coordinate this for the relevant team for them to reach out to the seller.”

“Give us 11 business days to get the necessary process we believe needs to be approved and fully straightened out,” Ninja Van wrote.

He then made a follow-up on January 19, 15 days after January 4. And he got another reply stating: “My name is Ninja Jessalyn, and It’s my pleasure to assist you today! Thank you for taking the time to submit the necessary documents for your parcels. I will forward this to our assigned team for processing.

Meanwhile, this may take 11 working days, before we can get in touch with you for feedback. You may just keep your lines open for further notification.”

Another 11 days? Actually, I don’t know for how many days Atty. Al had been waiting for Ninja Van to resol…ve his case.

The irony is Ninja Van prides itself with the slogan, “We take the hassle out of your parcel.”

But why then would they not allow their customers to open the parcel for checking to avoid hassles like what Atty. Al had experienced?

We need to understand China’s principle regarding Hong Kong.

Before that law was passed, foreign nationals like the British, Americans, Canadians, and Australians were identified as behind the political agitation. They have been pinpointed to finance anti-government activities in Hong Kong resulting in riots, vandalism, looting and burning of properties sometimes resulting in death and injuries to the civilian population. Often, these foreign nationals are working with foreign embassy, legation and are known to be funded and supported by civil society organizations such as the National Endowment for Democracy believed by many to be operating as front of the CIA. This month, the NPC approved the electoral reforms system for the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong. The electoral reform sought to discourage the clamor for “independence” based on the misguided interpretation that the “one country, two systems” is their cue to separate Hong Kong from China. That was intensified by the Trump administration to agitate Taiwan to clamor for independence in defiance to the “one China” policy recognized by the US in the Shanghai Communiqués of 1972 as a condition for its recognition of China.

The passage of Hong Kong’s National Security Law and the Electoral Reform is an Act of State that if allowed to gain foothold through propaganda, disinformation and deceit could lead to the disintegration of the Chinese nation.

For China to guarantee that wrong interpretation is to make a farce of that policy, for clearly the US is committed to destroying China.

What caused to fan the sentiment of these agitators is the use of “patriotism” as a condition before they are allowed to participate in According to Atty. Al, Ninja Van’s policy preventing customers from verifying what is inside the package makes them complicit with what the scammers are doing. This is further aggravated with Ninja Van allowing the delivery of “unlabeled” packages.

“The package label should contain at least a description of the items for shipping. Ninja Van should not deliver packages without specific descriptions. Allowing this kind of delivery is aiding and abetting the perpetration of the scam. Scammers know this and select Ninja Van as their collecting agents for their criminal activities. Finally, Ninja Van skirts their responsibility, though they are the ones collecting for the scammers,” Atty. Al explains.

Actually, Atty. Al’s is not an isolated case.

Since last year, there have been reports of parcels containing items other than those ordered, including a slab of stone delivered in lieu of a laptop, or defective items being delivered.

Even the anti-cybercrime group of the Philippine National Police admits the existence of such a scam.

In an interview with a major broadcast network in October 2020, PNP ACG spokesman Maj. Joseph Villaran said, “Online shopping is the most common form of online scam [operations]. He said criminals pretend to be online sellers, but items fail to be delivered once money is transferred.”

The problem with these couriers, is that they have eliminated the process of “KYC,” or Know

the electoral reform act of Hong Kong. It is a win-win formula for the people of Hong Kong—that he who refuses to extend his allegiance should equally not be allowed to participate in the political process.

The US’ attempt to dismember China is total and comprehensive beginning in the trade war, the blacklisting of Chinese companies engaged in legitimate trade and sale of technology, alleging violation of the intellectual property and sale of technology to its unabated subversion of Xingjian and Tibet, instigating separatist movement, and accusing China of labor law violation and massive re-education of the native population. At the centerstage of US propaganda, it seeks to erode the territorial integrity of China in Hong Kong.

Notably, states clamoring for independence have their valid and underlying reason. Often, they seek to achieve development, progress and prosperity for their country. But in the case of Hong Kong, the people there do not feel and see their territory being exploited, made a place to re-dump opium, or haven to smuggle goods, or to discriminate its citizens in the exercise of their civil and political rights.

Rather, Hong Kong has tremendously progressed since 1997; its per capita income has doubled and the prosperity and progress of Hong Kong accelerated even faster after its return to the Motherland. This is contrary to rumors there would be capital flight once Hong Kong was turned over to China.

China has poured in much capital to maintain Hong Kong as the number one tourist capital of Asia. The 55-kilometer Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (34 mi), a bridge-tunnel system consisting of a series of three cable-stayed bridges, an undersea tunnel, and four artificial islands is both the longest sea crossing and the longest open-sea fixed link in the world.

The HZM Bridge was designed to last for 120 years at the cost 127 billion yuan (US$18.8 billion) to build. The cost of constructing the Main Bridge was estimated at 51.1 billion Yuan (US$7.56 billion) funded by bank loans and shared among the governments of mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. The HZM Bridge was constructed for 11 years. On 24 October 2018, the HZMB was opened to the public after its inauguration a day earlier by President Xi Jinping.

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge now serves as testament of China’s determination that Hong Kong will not be left behind as the country straddles to attain further progress. rpkapunan@gmail.com Your Client. Thus, everyone can easily avail of their services, including scammers.

The government, through the DICT has to act now. Or much better, Congress has to finally act on the resolution calling for a probe on these couriers and enact a law imposing stringent penalties for couriers found to be in connivance with these couriers.

MORE OPINION ONLINE

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500 years of burdens and gifts

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SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

World

Nokor severs diplomatic ties with Malaysia

N

ORTH Korea severed diplomatic ties with Malaysia on Friday, abruptly shutting down a once-close relationship that took a major downturn following the shock assassination of Kim Jong Un’s half-brother in a Kuala Lumpur airport four years ago.

Pyongyang’s foreign ministry said it was responding to Malaysia’s extradition of a North Korean citizen to the United States this week—a move it labelled an “unpardonable crime” carried out under “blind obedience” to US pressure.

Malaysia had been one of the nuclear-armed state’s few allies until the North Korean leader’s relative, Kim Jong Nam, was murdered with a banned nerve agent as he waited to catch a flight from Kuala Lumpur.

Relations plunged after the Cold War-style hit but had started to get back on track, with Malaysia announcing plans to re-open its Pyongyang embassy.

That all changed on Friday.

North Korea’s foreign ministry announced the “total severance of the diplomatic relations with Malaysia,” according to state news agency KCNA, saying the citizen being extradited had been involved in “legitimate” trading activities in Singapore.

It came after a visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin to South Korea, the second leg of an Asian tour to bolster a united front against the North and an increasingly assertive China.

On Thursday, Pyongyang ac-

GENERAL BIDDING GUIDELINES ON THE SALE OF IP-RUs: 1. Sale of GSIS Investment Properties – Retail Units (IP-RUs) shall be through competitive public bidding.

2. Acceptance of Purchase Offers shall start on the scheduled bidding date and time.

3. Dropping of bid envelopes shall be on the date of bidding from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM only. Opening of Bids shall immediately follow. Late bid envelopes shall not be accepted.

4. The sale of IP-RUs shall be on an “As-Is, Where-is” basis. Interested bidders are enjoined to personally inspect the GSIS IP-RUs for sale. “As-Is, Where-Is” is defined as the present physical condition of the retail unit that GSIS is selling and the buyer is buying, “with all attendant faults, if any,” whether or not immediately apparent and without any express or implied warranty. The buyer takes this condition at his or her own risk, without recourse against the GSIS as to their condition. This includes knowledge by the buyer of the presence of occupants in the retail-unit being purchased.

5. Strictly, “One bidder, One specific property” only, which means that a bidder cannot submit two (2) or more bids for one property. A bidder may submit one bid each to as many properties as he/she wants to buy, as long as, he/she posts the required 10% bid deposit of the total bid price for each property. The bidder must present valid government IDs upon registration on the date of public bidding.

6. Purchase offers shall only be accepted in CASH or MANAGER’S CHECK/S payable within thirty (30) calendar days from the date of bidding, without the privilege of extension.

7. A downloadable bid form shall be properly accomplished with the following information: A. B. C. D. E. F. G.

Date of Bidding Name of the bidder The exact address of the property you are interested to bid Transfer Certificate of Title No. Mode of Payment Amount of bid (in numbers and words) Signature of the bidder/representative

8. The bid proposal shall be written in words and figures and must not be lower than the Minimum Acceptable Offer of the property. Should there be a difference in the amount in words and figures, the amount in words shall prevail.

9. Bidders’ deposit equivalent to at least 10% of the Bid Offer shall be in the form of a MANAGER’S CHECK payable to the Government Service Insurance System.

10. ALL participating bidders shall insert the following documents in a bid envelope: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

properly accomplished bid form; Manager’s Check payable to Government Service Insurance System representing deposit equivalent to at least 10% of the Bid Offer; Duly signed Certificate of due diligence (the form is downloadable); Special Power of Attorney (SPA), if the bidder is being represented by another person.

Two (2) proofs of occupancy, if the bidder is the occupant of the subject property: a. b. c.

Barangay certificate stating that the bidder is occupying or residing in the subject property, Valid Government Issued ID indicating the address of the subject property as home address, or Latest Billing Statement under the Bidder’s Name indicating the address of the subject property as home/billing address.

11. The following information shall be written outside the sealed bid envelope (mailing envelope)

cused the new US administration of adopting “lunatic theory,” ruling out any engagement with Washington unless it changed course.

On March 9 a North Korean man named Mun Chol Myong lost his final appeal in Malaysia’s top court against extradition to the US to face money laundering charges.

He had denied claims of leading a criminal group that violated sanctions by supplying prohibited items to the North and laundered funds through front companies, according to his lawyers.

Mun, in his 50s, faces four charges of money laundering and two of conspiracy to launder money. The allegations relate mainly to his work in Singapore.

There have been cases of businesses in Singapore sending luxury items, such as liquor and watches, to North Korea. Such imports are banned under sanctions imposed on Pyongyang over its weapons programmes.

There was a heavy police presence outside the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur Friday as hordes of journalists arrived following the announcement.

Malaysian officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. AFP

Crackdown triggers exodus from Myanmar’s biggest city ROADS out of Myanmar’s biggest city were choked Friday with people fleeing the junta’s deadly crackdown on anti-coup dissent, as authorities in neighboring Thailand said they were preparing for an influx of refugees.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, triggering a mass uprising that security forces have sought to crush with a campaign of violence and fear.

More than 220 people have been confirmed killed and 2,000 detained, according to a local monitoring group.

The junta this week imposed martial law over six townships in Yangon, the nation’s former capital and commercial hub, effectively putting nearly two million people under direct control of

military commanders.

On Friday, local media showed traffic clogging up a main highway going north out of Yangon, reporting that people were fleeing the city for rural areas.

“I no longer feel safe and secure anymore—some nights I am not able to sleep,” a resident near one of the districts where security forces have killed protesters this week told AFP. “I am very worried that the worst will happen next because where I live... is very intense, with security forces taking people from the streets.”

“I no longer feel safe and secure anymore—some nights I am not able to sleep.”

The women said she had bought bus tickets for her home state in Myanmar’s west and would leave in a couple days.AFP

China trial of Canadian spy lasts less than 3 hrs, verdict unknown Manila

Standard

TODAY

12. The existing tenant or occupant or his duly authorized representative through a valid Special Power of Attorney (SPA) has the right to match the offer of the declared highest bidder, provided: A. B.

He/she participated in actual bidding and Inserted the two (2) proofs of occupancy inside his/her bid envelope as indicated in Number 9 of these guidelines

13. If the occupant exercises his/her Right to Match the offer of the declared highest bidder, he/she shall adjust his/her initial deposit based on the bid amount of the declared highest bidder. He/she must also pay the adjusted deposit on the day of bidding.

14. The declared highest/winning bidder shall submit within fourteen (14) calendar days of the actual bidding, the following documents: A.

If the winning bidder is an individual; a. b.

B.

duly accomplished Personal Profile (downloadable) photocopy of two (2) valid IDs. (one should be a government-issued ID)

If the winning bidder is a company or corporate entity; a. b. c. d.

duly accomplished Company/Corporate Profile (downloadable) Articles of Incorporation/Partnership, By-Laws, and current General Information Sheet, for corporation/partnership Registration Certificate from SEC for corporation/partnership, DTI for sole proprietorship and CDA for cooperatives, or any proof of such registration current Mayor’s Permit issued by the city or municipality where the principal place of business of the winning bidder is located.

15. A Notice of Approval of Sale (NOAS) shall be issued to the highest/winning bidder on the day of bidding. The Bidder’s deposit of the other non-winning bidder/s shall be returned immediately.

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that SBA TOWERS PHILIPPINES, INC. with office address at 12th Floor One/Neo Building, 26th Street corner 3rd Avenue, Crescent Park West, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a New Operator of Telecommunications Infrastructure under the Preferred Activities – Infrastructure and Logistics including LGU-PPPs (Passive Telecommunication Towers Infrastructure) on a Pioneer status, with project sites located Nationwide.

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

(SGD.) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Director Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-MAR. 20, 2021)

16. The deposit equivalent to at least ten percent (10%) of the Bid Offer shall be paid not later than 3:00 P.M. on the day of the bidding. The 90% balance of the bid amount shall be paid either in cash or manager’s check within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of NOAS, without the privilege of no extension.

17. Non-compliance with the terms and conditions stated in the NOAS shall result in the forfeiture of the bidder’s total deposit.

18. In case the highest/winning bidder fails to comply with the requirements within the specified time, the said NOAS shall be deemed automatically revoked and the highest/ winning bidder shall be informed in writing. The second highest bidder, if any, shall be informed in writing of the award of the property to her. If she confirms acceptance of the awards, he/she shall pay the non-refundable 10% deposit within three (3) working days after receipt of said notice.

19. GSIS reserves the right to waive any formality or to reject any or all bids received. The list of properties available for sale may be updated without prior notice.

20. For bidding inquiries, you may call the Real Property Accounts Management Department (RPAMD) at trunkline number (02) 3479-3500, (02) 3479-3600, or (02) 79764900 local number 3228, 3374, or 3396 or send an email at mbgonda@gsis.gov.ph, chplogdat@gsis.gov.ph, mmmagbanua@gsis.gov.ph, amqjulian@gsis.gov.ph, or jsvicaldo@gsis.gov.ph.

HEALTH PROTOCOLS UNDER NEW NORMAL 1.

Only the participating bidder shall enter the bidding room.

2.

The bidder must properly wear a facemask and face shield any time.

3.

Social distancing must be strictly observed.

4.

Bringing of ballpen is encouraged.

5.

Please follow the health and safety protocols before entering the GSIS Building.

6.

Additional health and safety measures shall be published on the GSIS website page once the IATF issues additional or new guidelines.

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that ILOILO SOUTHPRIME DEVELOPERS INC. with office address at Avanceña Street, Brgy. North Avanceña, Molo, Iloilo City is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as an Expanding Developer of Economic and Low-Cost Housing Project under the Preferred List Mass Housing (Emerald Estates Subdivision Phase II) with a capacity of 274 house and lot units on a Non-Pioneer status, with project site located at Brgy.

Cagbang, Oton, Iloilo.

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

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

(MS-MAR. 18, 19 & 20, 2021)

(MS-MAR. 20, 2021)

THE closed-door trial for a Canadian man detained in China for more than two years on espionage charges lasted less than three hours on Friday, a Canadian diplomat said, criticizing the lack of transparency.

Michael Spavor is one of two Canadians detained, in apparent retaliation for Canada’s arrest on a US extradition warrant of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, and formally charged last June with spying. The verdict of his trial remains unknown.

Canada has attacked the charges against its citizens as “trumpedup” and the three cases have sent relations between Ottawa and Beijing to their lowest point in decades.

Spavor’s family have called for his unconditional release, insisting that he was innocent of the accusations and had done much as a businessman to “build constructive ties” between Canada, China and North Korea. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Business Google plans to invest $7b in US, create 10,000 jobs WASHINGTON—Google announced plans Thursday to invest more than $7 billion in the United States this year and create thousands of jobs in a move aimed at helping the economic recovery.

Chief executive Sundar Pichai said the move will create “at least 10,000 new full-time Google jobs in the US this year.”

Much of the investment will go to data centers that power the tech giant’s internet search, emails and other services which have been expanding during pandemic.

Pichai said Google “wants to be a part” of America’s economic recovery from the pandemic and is investing in some communities that are new to the company, as well as expanding in others across 19 states.

Google will spend $1 billion in its home state of California. Outside of the San Fransisco Bay Area, Google said it would add thousands of jobs in Atlanta, Washington DC, Chicago and New York.

“This will help bring more jobs and investment to diverse communities as part of our previously announced racial equity commitments,” Pichai said.

The news comes with Big Tech firms under scrutiny by antitrust enforcers for their growing dominance of key economic sectors, which has increased during the pandemic as more people turn to online services.

Antitrust actions against Google have been filed in the US and elsewhere.

A blockbuster lawsuit filed in October last year by the US government accuses Google of maintaining an “illegal monopoly” in online search and advertising. Dozens of US states filed a lawsuit against Google in December accusing it of abusing its internet search dominance to eliminate competition. AFP

Bank of Japan holds negative rates, tweaks easing policy TOKYO—The Bank of Japan on Friday maintained its negative interest rate and tweaked its monetary easing program as it battles to boost inflation and shore up the pandemic-hit economy.

The adjustment, which marginally expands the fluctuation in long-term rates for 10-year bonds that the bank will accept, is seen as a potential forerunner to further tweaks in policy.

The bank also said it would allow more flexibility in its stock purchases, dropping a target for its intervention in the Tokyo stock market, which has strongly recovered since crashing in spring 2020 as the pandemic began to bite.

The bank’s policies were otherwise largely left untouched after its twoday meeting, with an interest rate of -0.1 percent left intact, as well as an annual ceiling on stock purchases.

Tokyo’s Nikkei index tumbled 1.5 percent with selling picking up after the announcement.

The central bank is attempting to tailor its policies to respond to the pandemic and keep on track towards its longstanding goal of two percent inflation, which remains far from sight.

“It is important to strike an appropriate balance between maintaining market functioning and controlling interest rates by allowing interest rates to fluctuate to a certain degree,” it said.

“For the time being, the bank will closely monitor the impact of COVID-19 and will not hesitate to take additional easing measures if necessary,” it added.

Despite a spike in infections this winter, Japan has seen a comparatively small outbreak overall with around 8,700 deaths, and has avoided imposing the blanket lockdowns seen in other countries.

At its last meeting in January, the BoJ revised its growth outlook upwards for the next two years, even as it warned that the pandemic makes forecasts more difficult.

Analysts said the bank was giving itself slightly more flexibility.

The decision are about paving the way for “more accommodation in the form of rate cuts if necessary, and removing unnecessary restrictions that they had placed on themselves,” said Stephen Innes, chief global markets strategist at Axi. AFP

B3

SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stock market plunges; PLDT, SM Prime slump

S

TOCKS plummeted Friday on rising COVID-19 cases in the country and stricter quarantine rules that could dampen hopes for a quick economic recovery.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index sank 194.75 points, or 2.9 percent, to 6,436.10 on a value turnover of P10.4 billion. Losers overwhelmed gainers, 157 to 64, with 35 issues unchanged.

PLDT Inc., the biggest telecommunications firm, dropped 7.4 percent to P1,195, while SM Prime Holdings Inc., the largest mall operator, slumped 5.6 percent to P34.25.

Jollibee Foods Corp., the biggest fastfood chain, fell 5.2 percent to P176, while DITO CME Holdings Corp., the third major mobile phone company, declined 4.9 percent to P10.

Most stocks also fell in Asia on Friday as the euphoria from the Federal Reserve’s upbeat economic outlook was replaced by fears the recovery will fan inflation and force policymakers to wind back on their pledge to maintain record interest rates for as long as needed.

While mind-boggling amounts of government stimulus and central bank support have helped the global economy bounce back from last year’s virus-induced collapse, traders have been battling for weeks to reconcile the bright outlook and the danger of runaway prices.

The Fed on Wednesday sought to placate the pessimists by once again promising it will not touch rates until it is satisfied unemployment has been controlled and inflation is running hot for an extended period.

Bank boss Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen have repeatedly said the expected lift in inflation this year would be short-term and that a rally in benchmark Treasury yields— a guide to future rates—was a sign of

confidence in the economy.

After dipping Wednesday, yields hit a 14-month high on Thursday, sparking a plunge in US markets with the Nasdaq more than three percent down as tech firms are more susceptible to higher interest rates. The Dow and S&P 500 retreated from record highs.

And the losses carried through to Asia where Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo and Taipei shed more than one percent.

Sydney, Seoul, Jakarta and Bangkok were also in the red.

Tokyo’s Nikkei was also dealt a blow after the Bank of Japan said it would stop buying exchange-traded funds linked to the index as part of its economic support program. Instead it said it would focus on the Topix index, which pared early losses.

Markets were also jarred by news that the first top-level talks between China and the Biden administration, held in Alaska, had got off to a rocky start with both sides swapping barbs on issues including Hong Kong, trade and human rights. With AFP

PSEi March 19, 2021

TOP GAINERS LAST PRICE

% CHANGE CHANGE

1 2

PRMX CAB

1.76 63.35

0.18 5.35

11.39% 9.22%

3

OV

0.012

0.001

9.09%

4

PERC

3.87

0.3

8.40%

5 6

SGP MG

390 0.34

30 0.025

8.33% 7.94%

7

NRCP

0.81

0.05

6.58%

8 9

HI PMPC

3.7 5.89

0.2 0.28

5.71% 4.99%

10

WEB

2.75

0.13

4.96%

TOP LOSERS LAST PRICE

% CHANGE CHANGE

1 2

TFC BCB

42 2.51

-10.2 -0.43

-19.54% -14.63%

3

DAVIN

2.63

-0.45

-14.61%

4 5

LODE DWC

1.02 4.51

-0.16 -0.47

-13.56% -9.44%

6

LMG

4.51

-0.45

-9.07%

7

APO

0.65

-0.06

-8.45%

8 9 10

OPM OPMB LRW

0.011 0.011 2

-0.001 -0.001 -0.18

-8.33% -8.33% -8.26%

MOST ACTIVE

NEW LOCKDOWN. Passengers wait before boarding trains at Montparnasse railway station in Paris, on March 19, 2021.

Millions across France prepared to enter a new month-long, limited lockdown from midnight on March 20 after the country recorded its highest new caseload in nearly four months. AFP

1

SM

VOLUME 1249940

VALUE (PHP) 1204149250

2 3

TEL BDO

580925 6167470

707014860 636040798

4 5

ALI ACEN

18215000 88924500

634640720 626918244

6 7

DITO SMPH

44807700 12539800

453763945 432552995

8 9

JFC AC

2330520 515810

417267689 383107165

10

BPI

4022080

341325148

Payment startups big winners of e-commerce boom

By Benoit Toussaint PARIS, France—They were little known before the pandemic, but startups in the flourishing digital payment industry are now worth a fortune as COVID-19 has forced people to increasingly embrace e-commerce.

Online shopping, contactless card readers and mobile payments are nothing new, but lockdowns and fears of contagion changed consumer behavior during the coronavirus crisis.

“2020 considerably accelerated the shift in consumer preferences to electronic payments and online shopping,” said Marc-Henri Desportes, deputy CEO of Worldline, a French payment and transactions processing firm.

A trio of startups—Stripe, SumUp and Pledg—have benefited from the shift.

Founded by two Irish brothers in 2011, Stripe catapulted to the forefront of the industry after its valuation soared to $95 billion in the past week, nearly tripling since last year.

However, it still has a long way to catch up to the likes of Mastercard, valued above $300 billion.

The California-based payments processing firm reached its new valuation after raising $600 million in funding from investors last weekend.

On Tuesday, the British startup SumUp, which provides card payment

This file photo taken on November 3, 2020 shows a customer making a payment using a Wechat QR payment code (center) via her smartphone, next to an Alipay QR code (left), at a vegetable market in Beijing. AFP

terminals and online services, raised 750 million euros in funding.

On the same day, the Paris-based startup Pledg, which specializes in installment payment services, raised 80 million euros.

“We’ve done in one year a transformation which would in normal times take three or five years,” said Desportes.

PayPal and We Chat According a study by the consulting firm Accenture published last year, global payments revenue may rise by $500 billion over the coming years to

hit $2 trillion in 2025.

The biggest names in the sector include US firms PayPal, Apple Pay and Visa, and China’s WeChat Pay and Alipay.

Others on the rise include US firm Square and Dutch-based Adyen.

Stripe’s “recent valuation is maybe a signal that the accelerating forces of COVID are going to actually make it a lot easier for fintechs to sort of become more successful with greater market share,” said Matt Palframan, director of financial services research at survey and data firm YouGov.

“The really interesting thing ... is to what extent do consumers go back to how they were living before COVID as we emerge from the crisis and to what extent some of this behavioural change is permanent,” he added.

That question is crucial for fintechs (finance technology companies) like Stripe, which helps online retailers with payments processing, said Palframan.

‘Value up for grabs’ It is also important for the other firms that offer accessory services like multi-factor authentication, loyalty programs and installment payments which are becoming more and more popular among retailers.

With commissions for each transaction low, volume becomes key to becoming profitable.

For example, a payments processor like Worldline handles 10 billion transactions per year for retailers.

“There is value up for grabs, particularly from merchants who are already used to handing over several percentage points of transactions to the payment processor,” said Thomas Rocafull, a consultant at Sia Partners.

But retailers also stand to gain.

“Once a client has made the effort to enter his payment details in an electronic wallet or app, they’ll probably think twice before changing,” he added. AFP

Bank of England keeps status quo, sees better economic outlook LONDON—The Bank of England left record-low interest rates unchanged Thursday as it weighed Britain’s vaccine-driven pandemic recovery alongside stubborn fears of rising inflation.

The British central bank said economic growth was “projected to recover strongly over 2021 towards pre-COVID levels,” with the outlook improving as a result of the nation’s rapid vaccination drive.

The bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted unanimously to keep its key rate at 0.1 percent, where it was slashed to one year

ago when the coronavirus crisis first erupted.

Policymakers also left their vast quantitative easing stimulus at £895 billion ($1.2 trillion, 1.0 trillion euros), as they mulled the UK government’s lockdown-easing plans but kept a wary eye on inflation worries.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s latest phased plan to end England’s current COVID-19 lockdown would deliver a “slightly stronger” rise in consumer spending than previously anticipated, the BoE said in a statement.

The BoE cautioned however that Britain’s 12-month inflation rate, which

stood at 0.7 percent in January, would approach the bank’s 2.0-percent target level in the coming months due to energy price hikes.

BoE policymakers “will continue to monitor the (inflation) situation closely”, the bank said in minutes from its meeting.

The near-term economic outlook was brighter due to the successful UK vaccination program, and the impact of the US government’s huge $1.9-trillion stimulus.

Britain has now given more than 25 million people a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as it targets a phased

exit from current lockdown curbs.

Yet the BoE also cautioned over the “unusually uncertain” longer-term outlook as a result of the pandemic, which has so far killed more than 125,000 people in Britain in one of the world’s worst outbreaks.

The coronavirus crisis sparked a 10-percent collapse in the UK economy last year—the biggest slump in more than three centuries—as Brexit also weighed.

The bank noted that recent UK budget measures, including a hike in taxation on business profits, could slow recovery.

AFP

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

B4

SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021

PSE INDEX CLOSING Friday, March 19, 2021

-194.75 PTS. 6,436.10

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

3,526,414,604 122,854 10,408,951,581.75 64 157 35

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.6730

Japan

Yen

0.009181

0.4469

UK

Pound

1.393200

67.8112

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128785

6.2684

Switzerland

Franc

1.078400

52.4890

Canada

Dollar

0.800512

38.9633

Singapore

Dollar

0.744269

36.2258

Australia

Dollar

0.775600

37.7508

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655267

129.2398

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266652

12.9788

Brunei

Dollar

0.741510

36.0915

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000069

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.032446

1.5792

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.2523

Euro

Euro

1.191600

57.9987

Korea

Won

0.000887

0.0432

China

Yuan

0.153704

7.4812

India

Rupee

0.013757

0.6696

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.243368

11.8455

New Zealand

Dollar

0.716400

34.8693

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035201

1.7133 Source: BSP

Power plants’ full operations boost Alsons’ net profit ALSONS Consolidated Resources Inc., the listed company of the Alcantara Group, said Friday it posted a consolidated net income of P1.87 billion in 2020, up from P974 million in 2019, on the full operation of its power plants aimed at meeting the electricity demand in Mindanao.

Net income attributable to the parent reached P325 million last year, up from P148 million in 2019 as consolidated revenues grew to P9.47 billion from P6.80 billion.

“Our power facilities have continued to dispatch power to our customers in order to ensure that the people of Mindanao have access to a reliable and steady supply of electricity in these difficult times,” Alsons executive vice president Tirso Santillan said in a statement.

“This year will see us continuing to pursue our new power projects in Sarangani province, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Norte and Negros Occidental. This is our own contribution to the economic recovery of our country by helping create new jobs and stimulate the local economies in these areas,” Santillan said.

Alsons is building a 14.5-megawatt run-of-river hydroelectric power plant at the Siguil River basin in Maasim, Sarangani.

The Siguil hydro project, the company’s foray into renewable energy, is expected to begin commercial operations by early 2022.

The company will focus on renewables with at least seven more run- of -river hydroelectric plants in various stages of development.

It has two hydro facilities in the pipeline, including the 22-MW Siayan (Sindangan) hydro plant in Zamboanga del Norte and the 42MW Bago hydro plant in Negros Occidental. Also in the company’s pipeline is the P16-billion 105-MW San Ramon Power Inc. baseload coal-fired power plant in Zamboanga City. Alena Mae S. Flores

GPTW DONATION.

Great Place to Work Philippines, in collaboration with GPTW-certified companies such as Sun Life Asia Service Centre-Philippines, donates three educational hubs to the COVID-19 response program of Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation.

These e-hubs are intended to benefit more than 200 Filipino students from far-flung areas by providing them with access to online education and and over 30 teachers who will now have a much-needed assistance to cope with today’s way of learning.

Attending the turnover of 12 printers are (from left) Sun Life Asia Service Centre-Philippines head of finance and operations Dennis Bocoy, head of HR and communications May Sunega, chief operating officer and site head Gaurav Mishra, portfolio manager Ada Mae David and Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation confounder and president Dr. Anton Lim.

Business

ACEN approves P85.93-b share swap deal with parent company

SM Investments purchasing Uy’s entire P6.6-b stake in 2GO Group

AC ENERGY Corp. said Friday its board approved a property-for-share swap with parent company AC Energy and Infrastructure Corp. and the issuance of 16.68 billion shares of stock to ACEIC at P5.15 apiece for a total of P85.93 billion.

The dela involves an exchange for property consisting of 100 percent of ACEIC’s shares in AC Energy International Inc. (formerly Presage Corp.), ACEIC’s wholly-owned subsidiary, which holds all its international renewable energy assets and investment, subject to applicable regulatory and shareholders’ approvals.

“The shares will be issued out of the increase in the company’s authorized capital stock to P48.4 billion,” ACEN said in a disclosure to the stock exchange.

ACEN said to support the transaction, it submitted to the Philippine Stock Exchange the fairness opinion and valuation report of FTI Consulting Inc. FTI Consulting conducted a valuation study of both ACEN and ACE International in accordance with the 2020 international valuation standards to determine the fairness of the consideration to be transferred and consideration to be received by ACEN. “Based upon discussions with and representations of management, research conducted and valuation analyses performed, the consolidated equity value of ACEN using the sumof-the-parts method is reasonably estimated to be within the range of P101,574.68 million to P144,634.98 million with a share price range of P5.09 to P7.25 per share,” FTI said in documents posted at the PSE. FTI valued South Luzon Thermal Energy Corp., which operates a 244-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Calaca, Batangas within a range of P16.715 billion to P29.89 billion.

By Jenniffer B. Austria

C

ONGLOMERATE SM Investments Corp. is taking control of 2GO Group Inc. by acquiring businessman Dennis Uy’s entire stake in the listed shipping and logistics company for P6.6 billion.

Chelsea Logistics and Infrastructure Holdings Corp., a company controlled by Uy, said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Friday it would sell its full 31.73-percent stake in 2GO to SM Investments at P8.50 per share.

The acquisition price of P8.50 represents a 12-percent discount to the stock’s closing price of P9.65 on Thursday.

Chelsea said it would use the proceeds from the sale to pay a loan obtained for the acquisition of the shares.

The transaction will increase SM Investments’ stake in 2GO to 62.22 percent from 30.29 percent.

SM Investments said in a separate disclosure it would conduct a tender offer to acquire all remaining stockholders of 2GO also at an price of P8.50 apiece in compliance with the Securities Regulation Code.

“With the divestment, Chelsea will not be impacted by 2GO losses, which will aid the company in recovering from the current COVID-19 pandemic,” Chelsea president and

chief executive Chryss Alfonsus Damuy said.

“With our numerous group-wide initiatives currently being undertaken, we are confident that Chelsea will be best prepared and positioned to take advantage of the recovery of the industry as we move forward,” Damuy said.

Uy, through his holding company Udenna Corp., obtained $220-million loan from Bank of China in 2017 to fund the acquisition of 2GO. 2GO Group widened its net loss of P1.8 billion in 2020 from P892-million net loss in 2019 because of the reduced economic activities brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gross revenue also decreased 19 percent year-overyear. Travel revenue declined by 78 percent to P2.9 billion amid the quarantine-related travel restrictions which began in mid-March and persisted throughout the rest of 2020.

Freight revenue from shipping also declined 10 percent, while sales from logistics and other services declined 13 percent year-on-year.

The share price of 2GO climbed 4.5 percent Friday to close at P3.72, while the share price of SM Investments fell 2.9 percent to P9.58.50.

SM Investments of the Sy family reported a net income of P23.4 billion in 2020, down by 48 percent from P44.6 billion in 2019 as core banking, real estate and retail businesses took a big hit from the pandemic.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

IN BRIEF BPI expects auto sales to recover

INDIA VACCINES. Entrepreneurial advocacy group Go Negosyo holds a briefing with a number of private companies on COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin, manufactured by India’s Bharat Biotech. Around one million doses of Covaxin are expected to be made available to the private sector beginning April, according to the forecast of presidential adviser for entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion. Joining the virtual panel discussion are (second row, from left) India’s Ambassador to the Philippines Shambhu Kumaran, Jopin Romero of A Dose of Hope, Concepcion, Philippine Ambassador to India Ramon Bagatsing Jr., Dr. Rache Ellas of Bharat Biotech, Deepu Bhatia of Ambica and Enrique Gonzalez of IP Biotech Inc.

LT Group declares P21-b net earnings supported by tobacco, liquor revenues LT GROUP Inc., the listed holding company of beer and tobacco tycoon Lucio Tan, reported an unaudited attributable net income of P21.02 billion in 2020, down 9.1 percent from P23.1 billion in 2019.

The conglomerate said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the tobacco business accounted for P16.83 billion or 80 percent of total attributable net income, followed by banking unit Philippine National Bank, which contributed P1.55 billion or 7 percent.

Tanduay Distillers Inc. contributed P1.10 billion, while property arm Eton Properties Philippines Inc. delivered P799 million.

Asia Brewery Inc. contributed P583 million, while the group’s 30.9-percent stake in Victorias Milling Company Inc. accounted for the remaining P264 million.

The tobacco business under PMFTC Inc. reported a net income of P16.9 billion, up 9 percent from the 2019 level

on increased market share of the company’s premium brands.

Total industry volume, however, declined by 12 percent in 2020 on price increases to pass on the additional excise taxes, coupled with the impact of the enhanced community quarantine implemented in Luzon last year in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

From P35 per pack of cigarette in 2019, its price increased to P45 per pack in 2020 and will increase by P5 per pack annually from 2021 to 2023, then rise by 5 percent annually thereafter.

PMFTC’s volume was also lower by 16 percent year-on-year in 2020.

PNB’s net income reached P2.8 billion in 2020, down 72 percent from P7.2 billion. The bank booked P16.9 billion in provision for credit losses in 2020 because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in a downturn in the economy. Jenniffer B. Austria

PNB sustained profitability in 2020 despite pandemic

By Julito G. Rada PHILIPPINE National Bank said Thursday net profit before provisions for impairment and taxes reached P17.6 billion in 2020, an increase of 17 percent from 2019, on improvement of net interest income and robust trading gains despite the economic downturn due to the pandemic.

PNB said net interest income, comprising 79 percent of the total operating income, increased by 11 percent to P35.8 billion, supported by lower funding cost which cushioned the drop in yield rates of earning assets.

Interest expense on deposits declined by almost half from a year ago despite an 8-percent growth in deposits to P890.3 billion as the bulk of these incremental deposits continued to be in low-cost funds, combined with the reduction in high-cost deposits.

Interest income on loans and receivables decreased by 6 percent as the bank’s loan portfolio declined by 9 percent to P600 billion. This reflected the weak demand for loans owing to economic uncertainties and PNB’s strategy to focus on strengthening its liquidity position by investing most of the available funds in short-term and more liquid placements to remain resilient during the pandemic. ”The economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic made it necessary for PNB to adopt a more prudent approach in asset deployment and recognize substantial credit provisioning which adversely impacted its bottom-line in order to protect the balance sheet. However, we remain confident that these strategies, along with our planned tactical moves will ensure that the Bank will emerge from the crisis stronger in the long run,” said PNB president and chief executive Wick Veloso.

BANK of the Philippine Islands, the thirdlargest lender in terms of assets, expects the automotive industry to recover this year after a 40-percent contraction in sales last year because of the adverse effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

BPI Retail Loans Group head Dennis Fronda said in an online event Friday that better consumer confidence would help the industry bounce back strongly from the slump in 2020.

As an initiative to spur consumer confidence, BPI launched a pioneering product that gives auto loan clients an insurance policy on their vehicle covering the entire life of the loan.

Fronda called this “BPI Auto Loan Multiyear Protect,” that combines monthly installments for insurance with the loan amortization payments in a more affordable and convenient package.

“The Multiyear Protect prioritizes our customers’ convenience and peace of mind because it was designed to eliminate the financial worries and administrative hassles a typical car loan client experiences today,” Fronda said. Julito G. Rada

Globe promotes 4G as mobile standard

GLOBE Telecom Inc. said Friday it is positioning 4G as the new standard of mobile internet in the country to achieve a First World network.

The telecom unit of the Ayala Group said the shift towards the more advanced and faster 4G LTE technology saw a significant decline in the number of customers using 3G technology and 3G data usage.

The company posted a 47.4-percent drop in the number of customers using 3G from May 2020 until January this year. 3G refers to the third generation of wireless mobile telecommunications technology which was introduced in 2001.

Globe also posted a 34 percent increase in the number of customers using LTE from May 2020 until January 2021. “We have been anticipating the decline in 3G users as more customers are realizing the benefits of using 4G LTE for better data experience and faster internet speed,” said Joel Agustin, Globe senior vice president for program delivery. Darwin G. Amojelar

Electricity prices rise at spot market

THE Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines, which runs the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, noted an increase in prices in March, averaging P4.23 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), compared with the previous month’s P2.22 per kWh. IEMOP attributed the uptick in WESM prices to the gradual surge in demand as the economy continued to recover from the restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and as changes in the weather ensued due to the approaching dry season.

IEMOP said power plant outages also contributed to the increase in the prices at the WESM, the country’s trading floor of electricity.

“Despite the generator outages and hotter weather conditions, supply levels remain to be generally sufficient to support the demand requirements which only had an increase of around 9.2 percent in comparison to the previous month,” IEMOP said.

Alena Mae S. Flores

Sports

Tolentino to get PSA President’s Award THE man who bravely led Philippine sports during its darkest hour is among those to be honored by the Philippine Sportswriters Association when it recognizes the top performers and achievers of 2020 next week.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino will be the recipient of the President’s Award during the SMC-PSA Annual Awards Night at the TV5 Media Center on March 27.

Acting in his capacity as congressman of Cavite’s eighth district, the POC chief inserted a P180-million item to the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act 2 that benefitted athletes and coaches belonging to the national team.

Under the House of Representative’s version of Republic Act. No. 11494, members of the national squad began receiving their monthly allowances in full starting November of last year after half of their stipend was cut when government decided to channel funds to its anti-COVID-19 pandemic campaign.

The passing of the Bayanihan Act 2 also allowed national team members to retroactively receive the 50 percent cut from their allowances dating back to July.

At the same time, the Act provided a onetime P5,000 pandemic assistance to Philippine athletes and coaches.

Rep. Abraham “Even be“Bambol” Tolentino fore the din of the victorious Philippine campaign in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games was over, he (Tolentino) proceeded to lead the way for Philippine sports through uncertainty and darkness wrought upon by an invisible and merciless adversity in 2020,” said PSA President Tito S. Talao, sports editor of the Manila Bulletin, on the selection of Tolentino.

“If for this alone, the Philippine Sportswriters Association President’s Award is most sincerely presented to Rep. Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino, president of the Philippine Olympic Committee.”

Tolentino will be among the select special awardees to be recognized by the country’s oldest media organization in the event co-presented by the Philippine Sports Commission and Cignal TV, with 1 Pacman Partylist, Chooks-to-Go, and Rain or Shine as major backers.

The virtual Awards Night, hosted by Gretchen Ho and Carlo Pamintuan, will be aired on March 28 at One Sports+ from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The 57-year-old Tolentino, a former councilor and mayor of Tagaytay City, is in great company as previous recipients of the President’s Award include world champion and Olympic bound gymnast Carlos Yulo, the unbeaten National University Lady Bulldogs, Gilas Pilipinas 3.0, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Chairman Emeritus and PBA team owner Manny V. Pangilinan, Ateneo men’s basketball team, pool champions Rubilen Amit, Dennis Orcollo, Lee Van Corteza, among others.

SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021

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SWAB TEST BEFORE THE CLIMB. A health worker collects a swab sample from the Bahrain’s Everest expedition team member to test for the Covid-19 coronavirus before the teams departure to climb Mount Everest, in Kathmandu. AFP

2 more Filipino boxers make Tokyo Olympics T

HE International Olympic Committee Boxing Task Force (IOC-BTF) has sent to the Philippine Olympic Committee confirmatory notices of qualification to the Tokyo Olympics of two more Filipino boxers.

Joining the list are Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, who together with earlier qualifiers Eumir Marcial and Irish Magno, will banner the Filipino boxing campaign in the Olympiad in July in Tokyo, Japan.

Marcial and Magno booked tickets via the Asia-Oceania Olympic Qualifiers in Amman, Jordan in March, 2020.

Petecio and Paalam Nesthy Petecio Carlo Paalam qualified by virtue of their lied the Filipino people to throw their highest standing in their respective weight categories, according full support to the campaign of the four national boxers. to the Boxing Task Force rankings.

“Let us all come together and foMarcial qualified for the Men’s middleweight class (75 kg), Magno in cus on the challenges ahead not only the Women’s Flyweight (52 kg), Pe- of our boxers but all Filipino athletes. tecio in the Women’s Featherweight Now, more than ever, they need us to (57 kg) and Paalam in the Men’s Fly- stand firmly behind them”, Vargas said. weight (52kg).

The qualification of the two more ABAP President Ricky Vargas exboxers from the earlier two qualifiers pressed elation over the news and ral-

now brings to six the number of Filipino athletes going to the Olympics.

The other two athletes are pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena and gymnast Carlos Yulo.

Meanwhile, an increase in the number of national athletes who needed to be given allowances may have led to delays in the release of financial assistance meant for them.

But national athletes preparing for the Tokyo Olympics and those who are joining qualifiers are already getting the stipends due to them.

National training director Marc Velasco said funds for around 90 athletes have already been allocated by the Philippine Sports Commission since Wednesday.

This includes Marcial and Magno, Obiena and Yulo—and the rest who are undergoing training under a bubble setup.

For now, the PSC is waiting for the approval of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases on the resumption of outdoor training. Peter Atencio

Jaworski recovering from illness BASKETBALL legend and former senator Robert Jaworski Jr., arguably the most popular basketball player of his generation, is recovering from an illness.

Family members said this in a statement as they shed light on the current health status of the 75-yearold Jaworski, who played in the Philippine Basketball Association for 23 years, from Toyota, where he had nine titles as a player, to Ginebra San Miguel, which he led to four pro crowns as a playing coach.

The family revealed that Jaworski, who recently tested negative for COVID-19, was hospitalized for pneumonia last year. They added that he recently experienced dif-

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

ficulty in regaining his strength, weight and normal well-being due to a non-life th reaten i ng blood abnor malit y, which doctors discovered i n 2016.

But Jaworski, who celebrated his birthday last March 8, is now improving.

“He is making good progress and is slowly moving forward,” said family members in a social media announcement.

Late this month, Jaworski will be enshrined to the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame.

Jaworski, along with multi-titled swimmer Eric Buhain and track superstar Elma Muros-Posadas, will lead the fourth batch of athletes

who will be given recognition by the Philippine Sports Commission for their contributions in Philippines sports.

Jaworski had a sterling career as a basketball player with the national squad, as a member of the University of the East Warriors during his collegiate days and then as a pro with Toyota (1973-1983) and Ginebra (1984-1998).

He began endearing himself to fans when he was named Most Valuable Player of the pro league in 1978, as he averaged 20 points, 12 assists and close to nine rebounds per game.

Jaworski also steered a team of pros to a silver medal in the 1990 Beijing Asian Games. Peter Atencio

SJ, Davao break finals’ tie Saturday SUBIC—Whoever wins Game 3 on Saturday will have the inside track to the Chooks to-Go MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Lakan Season title.

The San Juan Knights repulsed the Davao Occidental Tigers, 7065, on Thursday to level the bestof-five National Finals at 1-1.

And with both teams almost equal in all departments, adjustments and play executions will be pivotal in the third game set at 3 p.m. at the closed-door Subic Bay Gym. Mike Ayonayon, John Wilson, Jhonald Clarito and Larry Rodriguez will be the main weapons of the Go for Gold-supported Knights, the North Division champions who are bidding to duplicate their triumph over the Cocolife-backed Tigers in the MPBL Datu Cup. The Tigers, led by Mike Yee, Eman Calo and Billy Robles, came from behind to nip the Knights, 77-75, in overtime on Wednesday.

The Knights averted another meltdown in Game 2 to reduce the series to a best-of-three.

Ayonayon, allowed by the NLEX Warriors to rejoin the Knights for the division and national finals, is proving his worth with an average of 21 points and 7 assists thus far.

Wilson, the pacesetter in the MVP race, is contributing 16 points a game, Clarito 9 points and 11 rebounds, and Rodriguez 8.5 points and 7.5 rebounds.

Calo is averaging 20.5 points, Yee 14 points and 9 rebounds, and Robles 10 points and 10.5 rebounds for coach Don Dulay.

According to San Juan coach Randy Alcantara they went allout on Friday because it would be very difficult to coome back from 0-2, citing the tight schedule and the players’ yearlong layoff due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Robert Jaworski

Harmie seeks 2nd straight win at LPGT Eagle Ridge

Harmie Constantino all geared up to sustain winning start

HARMIE Constantino steps up her build-up for the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Championship unfolding Tuesday, expecting three days of exacting challenge not only from a compact field she humbled the first time out but also from the Norman course ready to test the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour cast’s mental toughness.

Constantino upstaged Princess Superal with clutch shots and putts to win her first pro tournament in last week’s ICTSI Eagle Ridge Challenge at Aoki but the former national amateur standout is aware of what lies ahead while stressing the need to be in top shape for another stab at LPGT glory.

“The win only showed how much work I

have to put in for the next tournament,” said the former Univ. of Georgia stalwart, whose routine includes a two-hour workout on the range and gym work.

“At home, I do some putting,” she added.

That should make her A-ready for the P750,000 championship, together with Superal, who is also priming up for a payback and a return to the podium after back-to-back runner-up finishes following an emphatic victory in the first of two Riviera bubble tournaments late last year that marked the return of the circuit after an eight-month hiatus due to pandemic.

Multi-titled Chihiro Ikeda and Lucy Landicho also signed up for the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.-organized event after missing the action at Aoki, both ready

to crowd the favorites for top honors in the 54-hole championship.

The likes of Daniella Uy, Chanelle Avaricio, Cyna Rodriguez, Marvi Monsalve, Gretchen Villacencio and Pamela Mariano are also out to spoil the big guns while Pauline del Rosario, who held off Superal to snare the other Riviera diadem, is confident she could put it all together this time after grappling with her long game and irons at Aoki.

Emphasis will also be on stamina, particularly at the onset of summer with the wind likewise tipped to come into play the way it did at Aoki, guaranteeing a spirited battle not just of shotmaking, but also of wits and guts right in the first round.

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Tech & Gadgets

SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021

rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

P

ARIS—At a time when musicians are struggling to live off streaming, a Swedish tech entrepreneur says his app can boost royalties by curbing the illegal use of music by millions of businesses.

Many are unaware that songs on Spotify, Apple, Deezer and other streaming platforms are not licensed for use in cafes, shops, restaurants, hair salons and other businesses.

"Basically, it's like using your personal Netflix account to open a cinema," said Ola Sars, the Stockholm-based founder of a new streaming service, Soundtrack Your Brand, which offers a legal alternative for businesses.

Sars commissioned a study by research group Nielsen Music that found an estimated 21.3 million businesses worldwide were using personal streaming accounts to play music for customers.

That works out as roughly $2.65 billion in lost royalties every year for rights holders, the study said, because artists should earn "performing rights royalties" and other benefits when their music is played in public.

"Many people think they can just play any music in the background of their business, but they can't," said Keith Ames, of the British Musician's Union. "It's not your property. If you want to play it for the public, you need to pay for the right to do so."

Spotify, which is explicit in its terms and conditions that businesses cannot use its service, was an initial investor in Soundtrack Your Brand.

'Uncomfortable silence' Though the rules are difficult to enforce, the survey found businesses were willing to pay more to do things legally, but most were unaware of the law.

"The use of music in public spaces such as retail stores is a jungle. Even if you want to do right, it's so easy to get it wrong," said Lars Poulsen, a manager at Danish variety chain Flying Tiger.

He said he was previously unaware of the law but was happy to sign up with Soundtrack Your Brand—which costs around five times more than personal

Tech firm: Musicians lose billions to illegal streaming Musician Justin Siu next to his double bass in his studio in Hong Kong ahead of his live streaming jazz performance in his local noodle shop.

In a densely populated city with notoriously high rents, Hong Kong's musicians are used to playing in cramped stages. But few venues are quite as pokey—or unorthodox—as Yuen Hing Lung noodles. AFP

streaming subscriptions but provides 50 million fully licenced songs—when the issue was explained.

"Music is essential in the Flying Tiger Copenhagen stores," said Paulson.

"Most businesses want to do right."

As with music piracy in the past, Sars hopes a tech solution can succeed where enforcement has failed.

He also hopes to fix the "dysfunctional" way in which performing rights royalties are paid out in the streaming era.

These are currently collected by specialist agencies such as PRS in Britain, or ASCAP and BMI in the United States, but Sars said they often lack the data to ensure that royalty payments go to the artists being played on streaming platforms.

"The agencies collect aggressively

but when a business asks them 'How do I know this is going to the artists I'm playing?', there's an uncomfortable silence," he said.

'Very confusing' Listening data from his 40,000 existing clients shows that royalty agencies are often paying the wrong artists, he said.

"To say they're off is a massive underexaggeration. Restaurants tend to play lowkey, very specific tracks, often jazz or classical. They're not playing Justin Bieber."

PRS told AFP it encouraged firms to use properly licenced music, but did not comment on what happens to money collected from businesses that use personal streaming accounts. ASCAP and BMI did not respond.

It is not their fault, said Sars: streaming

has revolutionised the music industry in just a few years, and there has been little time to consider the implications for businesses.

He has managed to convince labels in the US and Canada to let his company manage royalty payments directly, so that they go to the specific artists being played by his clients.

He hopes he can soon do the same in Europe.

With streaming revenues currently unable to sustain any but the biggest stars, he said it was vital to tap this new source of revenue from businesses.

"The bottom line is that $10 is way too little for all the music in the world at your fingertips. We have to extract more value from the art. That's what will create a more sustainable market."

4 accessories to take your vivo Y31 gaming experience to next level SMARTPHONES are undoubtedly today’s favorite gadget for games.

They make games accessible from almost anywhere and mobile internet carriers have been competitive in offering gaming promos. But there are additional tools that make smartphones the best gaming devices: the accessories.

For both beginners and experts, here are budget-friendly gaming accessories that shall turn your phone into a full-on gaming machine.

A portable phone controller Mobile gaming has gotten obviously better in recent years with internal components of smartphones getting stronger. However, tapping aggressively on the phone’s screen without any tangible control makes for a disappointing experience. A controller can save the day.

Standouts in the budget-friendly list are controllers that work both android phones and those that mimic PlayStation keys.

An immersive headset A solid audio takes one’s gaming experience to a different level.

The selection boils down to three things: noise cancellation capabilities, comfortability when worn and overall audio quality. The nicer the audio, the greater the thrill.

Comfortable finger sleeves Avoiding hand or finger fatigue in long game times? Finger sleeves are anti-sweat which help players get excellent grip of the device and avoid smudges on the screen.

It would be better if the gaming device is easy to hold like the 188 gram-light vivo Y31. More preferred are finger sleeves made of wire fabrics which are more breathable and tactile.

Performance Bluetooth converters For enhanced accuracy, Bluetooth converters allow connection of external keyboard and mouse to your gaming smartphone. A stable wireless connection is needed for a

Take your game to the next level with the vivo Y31 which runs in the latest Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 662 octa-core processor and the Multi-Turbo 4.0 that further avoids lags in games. With a gaming-friendly form that’s easy to hold, the vivo Y31 is also packed with 5000mAh battery and an 18W fast charge for a budget-friendly price of P12,999.

Beko’s new vacuum cleaner is a household superhero IN THE new normal when most people are working and studying from home, they're busier than ever.

Household appliances are important because they help people accomplish day-to-day tasks, including cooking, washing clothes and cleaning.

Cleaning the house, for instance, is not just about wielding a broom and dustpan. Vacuum cleaning is definitely more thorough than manual cleaning. It's more than just getting rid of dust and other debris from floors and other surfaces. A vacuum cleaner can also absorb pet hair,allergens and minute organisms that could result in people becoming sick.

When looking to buy a vacuum cleaner, consider more than just its ability to absorb dust and debris.

Beko, Europe's No. 1 Appliance Brand, makes use technology to help people live better and healthier lives.

The brand's new cordless vacuum cleaners will change the way you look atcleaning with their ergonomic design and powerful performance.

Beko PowerClean cordless vacuum cleaner (VRT94929VI, VRT82821BV) is equipped with the latest technology to help clean any surface so that doing your chores is easier and hassle-free.

The Beko PowerClean vacuum cleaner, available in Grey or Green, allows you to clean without having to plug and unplug continuously.

Every full charge has a 45-minute runtime, just enough time for you to

clean the whole house.

Its foldable tube can easily glide under furniture or any other nook and cranny of the house,thanks to ActiFlex technology. You can also use it as a handheld cleaning device to reach other spaces and surfaces.

Extra accessories like the soft brush, elbow tool and crevice tool are ideal for hard-to-reach areas.

Once the Beko vacuum cleaner has no more charge, the docking station will recharge back up to the full 45 minutes in no time.

The docking station is also where you'll store your vacuum.

Thanks to SelfStand, another special feature, the vacuum will stay upright even when you stop halfway through.

With 165w of suction power, you'll be assured that the Beko PowerClean vacuum cleaner will pick up even the smallest debris.

"Using the Beko P o w e rClean vacuum cleaner will give people more time to do things that they like such as being with family or enjoying a PowerClean Vacuum Cleaner VRT94929VI

hobby or resting. This is why Beko exists, to help people live safer and more hygienic by providing appliances that help them in their daily lives," said Beko Pilipinas Country Manager Gurhan Gunal.

When looking for a vacuum cleaner, get one that combines superior performance withpracticality. Beko PowerClean has everything you're looking for and more.

For more information, visit Beko Philippines’ Facebook page at facebook.com/bekoph.

Beko is the global home appliances brand of the Arçelik Group and belongs to the Koç Holding, one of the largest conglomerates in Europe. The brand has been in the Philippine Market forfive years and is currently available in select SM Appliance Centers, Robinsons, All Home, Anson’s, Savers, Great World, and Manila Imperial Appliances Stores, and Asian HomeAppliance Center in Cebu, and in e-comme rce partners Lazada, Household Appliances Trading (hat. com.ph).

This year, Beko will be made available soon in other appliance stores nationwide as it continues to expand its distribution to other retail channels.

For information, follow@bekoph on Facebook and Instagram or go to http://www.beko.ph.

more solid gaming performance.

The accessory is best maximized with a built-in stability system, like vivo Y31’s Multi-Turbo 4.0. It optimizes core scenes to reduce stuttering and lag in games which is very useful especially with several apps running altogether in the background.

This is an example that accessories could only be as good as your gaming smartphone. vivo Y31 boasts the latest specs in gaming with the latest Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 662 octa-core processor and with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB ROM. The smartphone is also packed with a 5000-mAh battery with 18W fast charge that could outlast a whole day’s worth of fun gaming.

For more details on vivo Y31, visit www.vivoglobal.ph/phone/ vivo-Y31 or follow vivo Philippines on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also visit the vivo store on Shopee and Lazada.

BSP-certified Moneybees eyes to process P2b in 2021 TO ACCOMMODATE the surging demand of Over-the-counter (OTC) transactions among Filipino crypto currency users, traders and investors, Moneybees has opened three new outlets in February 2021.

The huge volume of transactions has accelerated by the price surge of leading cryptocurrencies Bitcoin and Ethereum, which achieved their highest peak this month at US$ 58,000 and US$2000, respectively.

The record high has brought the cryptocurrency market to over US$1 trillion market capitalization.

Meanwhile, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno reported late last year that they had recorded 59B worth of virtual currency transactions for the first half of 2020 in the Philippines. Moneybees aims to bank on this industry growth by partnering with money changers such as Tivoli Money Exchange, an institutional money changer service founded in 1983.

Moneybees can now serve more customers who need to buy and sell cryptocurrencies through Tivoli’s Trinoma, Glorietta, and Okada branches.

This partnership with Tivoli brings a total of 7 outlets for Moneybees where their customers can cash out their trading gains from exchanges that don’t have peso cashouts like Binance, Bittrex, Bitstamp, etc. Users can transact as high as P5,000,000 in one day.

“The partnership with Tivoli is a great step for us to fulfill our mission of making crypto more accessible in the Philippines by providing a familiar and secure way of buying and selling crypto via OTC. Having Tivoli as a partner is a great milestone, but we are only starting,” Paulo Del Puerto, CEO of Moneybees said.

Founded in 2017, Moneybees is the first Cryptocurrency over-thecounter service in the Philippines, making the exchange between currencies and digital currencies more accessible to many. It provides the technology to moneychanger companies with physical outlets so they can accept and facilitate cryptocurrency transactions in their shops, without the risk of market volatility.

It supports almost all crypto users who are using Binance, Bitmex and other exchange wallets.

"With the rising demand for cryptocurrency trading and investment, we aim to facilitate 2 Billion pesos worth of transaction volume in 2021.

To serve more customers, we're also looking at opening more outlets in malls around the Philippines and partner with major market players in the remittance and money exchange industry. We target to open 100 outlets by the end of the year," he added.

Moneybees is duly registered with the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas and with the Anti Money Laundering Council (AMLC) as a Remittance Agent with Virtual Currency Exchange (VCE) service.

#PlayItRight: Globe, AVIA join forces in fighting digital piracy GLOBE and the Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) joined forces yet again in the fight against digital piracy which strips millions of dollars off of legitimate video and pay TV players.

Fighting online piracy requires not only technology to safeguard original creative content, but also legislation to protect copyright and enforcement.

Digital piracy now cripples the creative arts and video on demand industry, and genuine voluntary collaboration and cooperation among stakeholders are needed to defeat it.

“Assertive voluntary agreements among stakeholders targeting digital piracy will make it much more difficult for online pirates to facilitate illegal content. To complement this, we support legislation that will institutionalize the blocking of pirated sites such as the bill authorizing the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines to order ISPs to obstruct pirated websites,“ said Atty. Froilan Castelo, Globe’s Corporate Counsel.

“It is impossible to understate the severity of digital piracy. It is the single largest business issue facing the content industry and putting Filipinos at risk of downloading dangerous malware. We fully support the IP Code Amendment Bills which allow for a fair, balanced and effective process to block egregious piracy sites and protect the video industry and consumers” shared Neil Gane, General Manager of AVIA’s Coalition Against Piracy.

Globe has been voluntarily blocking validated illegal piracy sites as part of its

#PlayItRight campaign, which makes consumers aware that piracy websites can be hotbeds for illegal online activities, malware and other cybersecurity threats.

Consumers themselves are also key stakeholders in the campaign against piracy.

With today's low cost and easy access to content, consumers should no longer find a reason to consume pirated content.

Globe has embraced the social responsibility of educating its customers to become responsible and intelligent custodians of content, by encouraging them to #PlayItRight.

Launched in 2017 with three main pillars: to surface online dangers such malware, illustrate the negative social impact brought about by piracy including loss of jobs, and instill that piracy is an illegal activity, #PlayItRight is a campaign that cuts across several industries: film, music, digital literacy, and education.

Piracy is a crime, and it is a daunting threat given the ubiquity of the internet.

Initiatives that aim to mitigate piracy, if not fully stop this act will make a positive societal impact. What may seemingly be a simple act like going to legal sites to stream a movie instead of downloading a stolen copy has an economic impact on the lives of many people.

Globe remains committed to the 10 UN Global Compact principles and contributes to 10 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. To know more about Globe’s sustainability initiatives, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/about-us/sustainability.html.

Tech & Gadgets

SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021

Attendees of the "Introductory Webinar on Huawei ICT Academy and Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) with Local Chambers and Educational Institutions"

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PCCI, Huawei tie up for tech education, PH businesses

UAWEI Philippines joined hands with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry to enable students and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to develop their skills in innovation and technology through the Huawei ICT Academy and the Huawei Mobile App Development Program.

Speaking at the "Introductory Webinar on Huawei ICT Academy and Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) with Local Chambers and Educational Institutions" on Wednesday, PCCI President Ambassador Benedicto V. Yujuico said: "Huawei and PCCI have worked very closely to develop a collaboration that would truly benefit the youth of our TWO-THIRDS (66%) of threat intelligence analysts are involved in professional communities, but 52% of all those working in IT and cybersecurity roles are not allowed to share threat intelligence artifacts discovered through those communities, finds a new Kaspersky report, “Managing your IT security team”.

Kaspersky is a long-time advocate for international collaboration in cyberspace and contributes to joint initiatives across the global IT security community. The company sees this approach as the best way to protect from ever-evolving cyberthreats. As such, Kaspersky surveyed more than 5,200 IT and cybersecurity practitioners globally for this report, to see if other businesses were ready to collaborate and share TI. The research found that respondents with TI analysis responsibilities, in particular, are likely to participate in specialized forums and blogs (45%), dark web forums (29%) or social media groups (22%).

But when it comes to sharing their own findings, only 44% of respondents have actually made their discoveries public. Conversely, in companies where external sharing is allowed, 77% of security analysts did so. In 8% of

country through training and education in cloud technology, artificial intelligence, and other areas of a cutting-edge of innovation and technology."

Yujuico added that through PCCI's collaboration with Huawei, "we will bring to you the Huawei ICT Academy —the official program that delivers industry-recognized Huawei certifi-

cation courses to students, which will serve as a key to bringing new ICT talent closer to industry."

Huawei also introduced its mobile app development program, which will enhance one's skills in cross-platform app development and also serve as a bridge connecting MSMEs with universities through joint projects.

Huawei Philippines Vice President Daniel Guo stressed that the goal of Huawei's training programs is to "enhance ICT engineers' skills and help them to match the work requirements to be easier for them to find suitable ICT jobs in the domestic market and the world market."

Launched in 2013, the Huawei ICT Academy is a school-enterprise cooperation program that involves global universities, colleges and educational institutions with the goal of building a talent ecosystem for the ICT industry. It provides industry standard training and certification courses to equip students with technical knowledge and skills required by local and global employers.

The Huawei Mobile App Development Program is a non-profit partnership program that trains university students on app development and digitalization. It also supports MSMEs in developing their own applications for their businesses.

Half of companies prohibit sharing threat intelligence findings with pro communities cases, security analysts even shared TI findings despite it being prohibited by the organization they work at.

Kaspersky experts noted that such restrictions are partly driven by concerns that if some objects are known publicly before a company can respond to an attack, then cybercriminals may realize that they have been detected and change their tactics. To help IT security teams analyze suspicious objects without the risk of exposing the investigation, Kaspersky provides a private submission mode option through free access to Kaspersky Threat Intelligence Portal. Thanks to this, a cybercriminal will not know that someone has shared samples, and an analyst can still receive the required data.

“Any piece of information—be it new malware or insights on techniques used—is valuable when protecting against advanced threats.

Tailored for content consumption and expressions of creativity, the Galaxy A32 boasts a best-in-class 64MP quadcamera and 6.4” FHD+ Super AMOLED screen with 90Hz refresh rates

enables users to capture crisp and clear photos throughout the day. The 8MP Ultra-Wide lens has a 123-degree field of view which adds more perspective to images—perfect for capturing lofty landscapes. Meanwhile, the 5MP Macro lens takes crystal clear close-up shots.

Additionally, the 5MP Depth camera gives amazing portrait shots in Portrait mode, while the 20MP front camera en-

MVP emboldens education advocacy, backs Ateneo’s computer science program FOR over two decades, the country’s largest integrated telco PLDT Inc. has supported the computer science program of the Ateneo de Manila University, through its Professorial Chair donation. Manuel V Pangilinan and the companies and foundations under his leadership, have also donated 14 Professorial Chairs to the University of the Philippines College of Engineering to aid in their research studies on innovative and tech developments for the country. Through the Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, Pangilinan also committed to donate another professorial chair to the College of Engineering. The MVP Group also provided two more professorial chairs to the UP College of Science.

The Professorial Chair donation is part of PLDT’s commitment to the advancement of communication and technology in the country, including support for colleges and institutions devoted to the study of Computer Science and Information Technology.

“We remain grateful to you for the generous contribution of the PLDT Foundation Inc. toward the establishment of the PLDT Professorial Chair in Computer Science. Our Professorial Chairs such as the PLDT Chair have been instrumental in the continuing formation of our teachers, which enables them to impart a world class Jesuit and Ateneo education to our students. We thank you for being a valued partner in this urgent mission to transform lives and communities through the gift of an Ateneo education,” said Ateneo de Manila University President Roberto C. Yap, SJ. “Technology has the power to transform lives. As a Company, we believe that the best enabler of change comes from the innovative minds of those who aspire to make a difference in the world today. With education as one of our company’s strongest advocacy pillars, we hope to create a culture of excellence that brings our country to even greater heights. In PLDT, our goal is to have no learner left behind. We are privileged to be a part of Ateneo’s magis culture – a partnership forged to go above and beyond; and always more,” said PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel V Pangilinan.

openSAP celebrates 5M course enrollments That’s why we constantly make our threat research findings available via our information resources and through our TI services. We encourage security analysts to also give a helping hand to others in the same collaborative way,”

comments Anatoly Simonenko, Group Manager, Technology Solutions Product Management, at Kaspersky.

The full report is available here https:// www.kaspersky.com/blog/it-securityeconomics-2020-part-4/

Incredible content streaming experience with new Samsung Galaxy A32 SAMSUNG on Wednesday launched the new Galaxy A32, a powerful mid-range smartphone for all-day work and play.

Featuring a 64MP quad-camera, stunning 6.4” FHD+ Super AMOLED screen with 90Hz refresh rates and a large 5,000mAh battery, the Galaxy A32 is designed for active individuals to capture moments onthe-go and enjoy entertainment anytime, anywhere.

“The all-rounded Samsung Galaxy A32 extends our popular mid-range smartphone portfolio. It is created especially for mobile-native individuals in the Philippines, who see the smartphone as integral to their identity, something much bigger than a tool for communication.

On top of being the primary tool for them to connect and socialize with their friends and loved ones, for these people the smartphone has also become an avenue to express their creativity, and the main outlet they turn to for entertainment,” said Jerry Manus, IT & Mobile Head.

Express creativity through the best-in-segment quad-camera The quad-camera setup of the Galaxy A32 opens up a diverse array of opportunities for users to express their creativity through photos.

For starters, the 64MP main camera

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ables eye-catching selfies in high clarity—perfect for capturing highquality social media content.

For those looking to take their photography experience to the next level, the Galaxy A32 supports Hyperlapse, Night mode, Slow-mo, Panorama and Pro mode as well.

A stunning screen for all needs For many of us, the phone screen has become a main source of our daily entertainment—from bingewatching video clips, to indulging in a few rounds of mobile games or video calls with loved ones.

To deliver a high-quality viewing experience, the Galaxy A32 comes equipped with a 6.4-inch FHD + Super AMOLED Infinity-U Display screen, with 90Hz refresh rates and a brightness level of up to 800nits that stays clear even under bright sunlight.

Meanwhile, Eye Comfort Shield adjusts the display’s color temperature automatically, based on smartphone usage patterns, allowing users to consume hours of content with more protection. In addition, the high refresh rate also indulges users with smoother scrolling that makes switching between applications more seamless.

Long-lasting battery life to support active lifestyles The Galaxy A32 is ready to support

activity-filled days with little respite. The 5,000mAh battery provides the user more time to do what they love.

Meanwhile, its AI power saving detects and adjusts to mobile usage habits for long-lasting power. And with up to 15W of Adaptive Fast Charging, Galaxy A32 gets back to full power, quickly.

Performance that matters Underpinning the awesome screen and camera technologies is the performance speed of the Galaxy A32’s advanced processor. The 8GB RAM is coupled with 128GB of internal memory capacity, which can also be increased up to 1TB. Additionally, the in-built Game Booster software monitors gaming performance and automatically adjusts settings including battery life, temperature and memory usage, for the best gaming experience.

Galaxy A32 supports Android 11 and One UI 3, letting users focus on what matters the most with content and features at their fingertips. It comes with an in-display fingerprint sensor and is secured by a defense-grade Samsung Knox security platform that secures user data.

The Galaxy A32 will be available in two eye-catching colours—Awesome Black and Awesome White. The Galaxy A32 will be available across retail stores, Samsung.com and leading online portals starting April 9.

SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) recently announced a milestone of five million course enrolments on its openSAP platform—a free online platform that offers innovative, expert-led massive open online courses (MOOCs) with accompanying microlearning and podcasts across a range of topics for learners of all abilities. openSAP was established in 2013 to provide individuals with essential knowledge and the opportunity to acquire the skills necessary to navigate the SAP® software landscape, all with the flexibility to learn from anywhere at any time. Leveraging tried and trusted learning concepts, the online platform integrates features such as gamification and discussion forums to allow learners to interact with experts and peers in a way that is impactful and enjoyable. Hosted and run by the Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI), SAP can look back on many years of close collaboration and successful codevelopment with the institute led by Director and CEO Prof. Dr. Christoph Meinel.

“In today’s digitally-driven age, it’s important to create a learning environment that is accessible for all,” said Professor Hasso Plattner, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of SAP SE. “With the COVID-19 pandemic upending all facets of life and forcing many to move to a remote working and learning environment, it has become more important than ever to lower the barriers to essential knowledge to provide learners with the right tools and resources to continue to achieve and further their skills. It is tremendous to see what we have achieved so far with openSAP, and we are excited to continue to be part of our customers’ learning journeys as we work to meet their evolving needs.”

The online learning platform has recently seen accelerated growth, with the number of course enrollments doubling over the last three years. Enrollments in approximately 250 different courses average out to 20,000 enrollments per course, totaling 1.2 million learners across the board. While the platform continues to provide new courses on the latest topics and innovations, such as SAP S/4HANA®, SAP Business Technology Platform, intelligent integration, digital transformation and machine learning, older courses are still relevant and consistently attract new enrollments.

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor

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SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021

Motoring

Hybrid myths debunked

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HANCES are you’ve seen them in your favorite movies and TV series. No, we’re not talking about A-List celebrities (though many stars drive themselves around in one). We’re talking about hybrid cars, especially the uber popular Toyota Prius. Globally, Toyota’s hybrid cars have established themselves as reliable choices for amazing fuel economy. It’s no wonder why you see Hybrids almost everywhere in most other countries!

It’s a very different story though here in the Philippines where there’s still a lot to be understood about Hybrids. There seems to be a lot of misunderstanding surrounding Hybrids, and here we’ll address the top myths to hopefully clear the air (pun intended) about these environmentfriendly vehicles.

Let’s see how many of these Hybrid myths we can bust together.

They’re similar in that they both have electricity as a power source but different because Hybrids vehicles also have a second power source -- the petrol engine.

MYTH # 2: Hybrid Cars Need to Be Charged Before Use THE TRUTH: Hybrids do not need to be plugged in to be charged. They are selfcharging through the motion and braking of the car. This is called “regenerative braking” and is what makes Hybrids unique and extra convenient as electrified vehicles! This makes the ideal for the Philippines since there’s no need for added infrastructure like charging stations.

MYTH #1: Electric Vehicles and Hybrid Electric Vehicles are basically the same THE TRUTH: Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) operate on only one power source (electric motor) while the Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV), as the name “Hybrid” MYTH # 3: Hybrids are difficult to suggests, runs on a combination of a petrol maintain. engine and an electric motor.

THE TRUTH: Similar to a regular car,

A cross-section cut body of the Toyota Prius to show the inner workings of a Hybrid vehicle.

Hybrids just need to be brought to your local Toyota dealer for its preventive maintenance service (PMS). While usage circumstances still play a key role, Hybrid batteries don’t need any special maintenance on top of PMS. Did you know that for added piece-ofmind, Toyota provides a 5-year warranty on the hybrid battery alongside the standard 3-year warranty on the vehicle itself? But don’t think that after 5 years you’re going to need to replace the battery. Toyota’s Hybrid batteries are designed to last the lifetime of the car with proper care and maintenance.

MYTH # 4: Driving Hybrids in a flood will cause you to get electrocuted THE TRUTH: No, you definitely won’t get electrocuted! The power shuts off once in contact with water. It’s no different in

terms of safety from a conventional vehicle since both hybrids and conventional vehicles have their engines at similar heights from the ground. Don’t believe it yet? Check out this video to see how Toyota simulated flood situations with a Hybrid to prove its safety.

MYTH #5: Hybrids are expensive.

THE TRUTH: Hybrids are a lot more affordable now and are priced competitively to their conventional gas counterparts. And since Hybrids are very fuelefficient, you’ll also save a lot on gas expenses in the long run.

Toyota has many Hybrids now for you to choose from, from the iconic Toyota Prius to hybrid variants of the Toyota Corolla Altis sedan and of the Toyota Corolla Cross.

MYTH #6: Hybrids are hard to drive THE TRUTH: If you know how to

drive a conventional vehicle, then you know how to drive a hybrid! Hybrids actually have the smallest learning curve among electrified vehicles! You just need to gas them up like your conventional car (just not as often anymore!). The hybrid system is very intelligent and automatically switches between EV and gas mode to give you the most out of your fuel!

And there you have it! Six myths, all busted!

Hybrids may be thought of as the future, but they’re also the now!

Toyota Motor Philippines offers several hybrid models available now ready to be drive on Philippine roads. No need for charging stations. No worrying about running out of juice in the middle of a trip.

Reduce your emissions today and start saving on fuel!

Isuzu wins over major logistics company

The first-ever Phoenix Block at Sucat Skyway houses a FamilyMart convenience store, a Phoenix SUPER LPG hub, an Autoworx Plus car care shop, as well as a Wendy’s drive-thru and take-out booth, bringing together businesses and brands in one location. Digital payments are also made available through Posible, while loyalty rewards and other exclusive privileges are enjoyed through the LIMITLESS app.

The Phoenix Block fuels a complete lifestyle PROVING itself as a multi-industry consumer brand, Phoenix has introduced a new retail concept that gathers its businesses in one site. The homegrown institution, long known to be the fastest-growing, leading independent oil company in the country, solidifies its intent to expand beyond petroleum with the Phoenix Block, a multi-purpose retail compound that features a Phoenix gas station, a FamilyMart convenience store, a Phoenix SUPER LPG Hub, an Autoworx Plus automotive care shop, Posible digital payments, and Limitless digital transactions.

The site, located along Sucat Skyway, is also equipped with its own Wendy’s take-out and drive-thru counter, the first of its kind in Asia for the restaurant chain whose local franchise is also under the Phoenix parent company, Udenna.

“The Phoenix Block is a great representation of what the Phoenix brand is today-more than just fuel. We may have started as a petroleum company, but we now offer a more extensive portfolio of products and services, offering a complete and cohesive selection of brands that complement a full lifestyle,” said Phoenix President Henry Albert Fadullon. “This fully aligns with our vision to be an indispensable partner to Fili-

Commuting

in style: Lenovo electric scooter GLOBAL innovation leader Lenovo is offering daily commuters a smarter, safer, and more stylish alternative for travel with its brand-new M2 Electric Scooter. The travel solution incorporates features found in other Lenovo devices, offering top-notch perfor-

pinos, and that means addressing as many of their needs as possible, and integrating ourselves in more communities to provide our stakeholders with more value,” he added.

Spanning more than 3,000 square meters, the Phoenix Block at Sucat Skyway is twice the size of the usual Phoenix station. It is the first of its kind, setting itself apart by serving as a multi-purpose destination for the varying needs of motorists and the local community.

“From gassing up to paying bills, everyone can drop by the Phoenix Block and refuel, recharge, and relax. Our aim is to make this place a staple element in the everyday life of the community, which refers to both the residents in the vicinity, and those who would frequent the area,” stated Phoenix Asst. Vice President for Retail Operations, Network Development, and Non-Fuel Retailing Business Arnel Alban. He also added that the company is open to more partners who want to be part of the Sucat site, and the other Phoenix Block developments in the future, saying “We plan to replicate this project in more locations and make Phoenix a part of more communities.”

Since it was established in 2002 in Davao, Phoenix has grown to be one of the most prominent names in the petroleum industry

in the country. Last year, it emerged as the third-largest oil player in the Philippines based on a report by the Department of Energy, replacing one of the usual top three brands. By the end of 2020, Phoenix has opened 670 stations across the country, a far cry from the five that it started with.

Apart from expanding its fuel business, Phoenix has also diversified its portfolio. In 2017, it acquired the local unit of Malaysia’s Petronas, and has since developed it into its own LPG business. The following year, Phoenix acquired digital payment platform Posible, followed by its acquisition of Philippine FamilyMart. Meanwhile, the company started its own chain of auto care shops in 2019 through Autoworx Plus. Last year, despite the challenges of the pandemic, Phoenix launched its app-based loyalty and lifestyle rewards program called ‘LIMITLESS’.

The program now has over 109,000 members since it was introduced in July. This venture serves as the consolidating platform that unites Phoenix businesses by rewarding points and other exclusive privileges for purchases at participating merchants, among which are the company’s own brands, most of which are highlighted in the new Phoenix Block venture,

mance and focus on rider safety and protection in an allpremium chassis.

Lenovo’s M2 Electric Scooter may just be the answer that commuters are looking for amid the currently limited travel options. Convenient enough to be ridden and parked almost anywhere, the scooter is also designed with innovative technology that promises riders safe and comfortable travel and allows them to practice social distancing while traveling. Added with the enhanced portability and premium design that longtime Lenovo customers will surely recognize and appreciate, the M2 Electric Scooter is created to intelligently transform the daily lives of its users,

THE country’s leading manufacturer and distributors of brand-new Isuzu trucks, Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC), continue its domineering streak early this year, as more and more companies continue to trust Isuzu’s reputation for durability and over-all reliability.

First on the list is Isuzu’s delivery to JRS Business Corporation, wherein more than 100 light-duty Isuzu trucks were completely delivered to add to the logistic company’s current fleet of trucks.

“We’ve always had Isuzu trucks in our fleet, due to its durability, we are able to use these trucks for a very long time. It’s like a long-time business partner, and with the addition of these brand-new trucks, we will be able to cater to more areas nationwide,” said JRS President, Antonio Claparols.

Another logistics company, Speedexpress Logistics Inc., purchased 12 units of the heavy-duty Isuzu CYH52W truck with Drop side body, to cover their big and long-haul deliveries across the country.

An Isuzu client since 2016, Speedexpress, operates nationwide delivering cargo to different warehouses, and said to largely rely on Isuzu’s extensive dealer

network for its aftersales support wherever they are in the country.

Most recently, Isuzu delivers 13 units to Force Central Field Distributor an affiliate of JE Distributors, officially completing the fleet of 58 units of truck with Aluminum Van body.

A well-known exclusive distributor of Unilever products, JE Distributors, addresses the increasing demand for consumer product delivery for both the retail stores and online by adding more trucks to their fleet.

“We have different trucking affiliates nationwide, and we really recommend Isuzu trucks to them because of its tried and tested durability and reliability on the road. With these brand-new Isuzu trucks, we can manage to have less downtime in our operations,” said Nelson Ryan Jeturian, JE Distributors President.

Currently, holding the number one position in the truck market for 21 consecutive years, Isuzu continues to strengthen their network of dealers nationwide by adding more truck servicing facilities and even offers mobile medic services, which is ideal for far-flung areas.

From Leftt: Alex Paguio, Chief Operating Officer; Hajime Koso, IPC President; Antonio Claparols, President and CEO JRS Business Corp.; Jose Alejandro Claparols, Business Dev’t Officer, JRS Business Corp.

says Michael Ngan, Lenovo Philippines President and General Manager.

The M2 Electric Scooter is equipped with a powerful 350W motor and 7.5Ah high-capacity battery. It has a top speed of 25 km/h and can travel up to 30 km in one full charge. To maintain optimum performance while on the road, Lenovo installed an intelligent battery management system that protects the battery against common issues facing electric vehicles: short-circuiting, overcurrent, overcharge, over-discharge, and extreme temperatures.It also has a cruise control function that automatically lets the scooter maintain and control constant acceleration and speed while moving. This can help in lessening hand fatigue, especially on longer drives as riders no longer need to constantly press the acceleration button. Moreover, the

M2 Electric Scooter supports speed shifting that allows it to quickly change gears.The handle houses an LED screen that displays vital information. Riders can reference it to keep track of parameters such as speed, mileage, gear used, and battery capacity. It also comes with mobile app control and Bluetooth support, making it possible for riders to connect the scooter with other devices or accessories.For added protection and comfort on the road, the Lenovo M2 Electric Scooter has an innovative triple-brake and triple-damping system. It also has a disc and pedal brake for added protection against sudden accidents. Meanwhile, the triple-damping system (hidden shock absorption, spring shock absorption, and honeycomb tire shock absorption) removes any bumps even on rough surfaces, ensuring total comfort and stability while on the road.