Manila Standard - 2021 April 8 - Thursday

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DFA VOWS DAILY DIPLOMATIC PROTESTS TILL CHINA BOATS LEAVE PH REEF

By Rey E. Requejo and Maricel V. Cruz

Chinese vessels leave the Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea. “Firing another diplomatic protest.

THE Department of Foreign Affairs on Everyday ‘til the last one’s gone like it Wednesday vowed to file daily diplo- should be by now if it is really fishing,” matic protests against China unless all Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Loc-

PH FROM SPACE. Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi shares a photo of the ‘beautiful’ islands of the Philippines taken aboard the International Space Station via his Twitter account on Wednesday.

sin Jr. posted on Twitter.

The DFA filed a diplomatic protest in March demanding the immediate pullout of the 220 Chinese militia vessels at Julian Felipe Reef.

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VOL. XXXV • NO. 52 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

FDA taps Sinovac for seniors Vaccine shortage triggers nod for China’s jabs for ages 60 and above

By Willie Casas and Maricel V. Cruz

QUEUE FOR AID.

Policemen and barangay officials urge Quezon City residents to follow health protocols and social distancing despite the long line snaking into Justice Cecilia Munoz Palma High School at Payatas B in Quezon City, where the financial assistance distribution took place on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a woman from Baseco Compound in Manila (inset) shows the P4,000 she received from the government’s assistance to families held down by the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal.

Manny Palmero and Norman Cruz

T

HE Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday approved use of Sinovac’s COVID-19 vaccine for people 60 years and older, overturning its earlier advice against using it for seniors because of the lack of data for that age group.

The FDA approval comes amid a shortage of vaccines from AstraZeneca, which were approved for use for seniors.

The Philippine Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) had earlier recommended that the Chinese-made Sinovac vaccine be used on the elderly, saying the benefits of using it would outweigh the risks.

Dr. Nina Gloriani, the head of the VEP, said clinical trials of the Sinovac vaccine in Brazil and China that included 400 and 422 senior citizens, respectively, showed that elderly recipients of the vaccine exhibited only mild to moderate side effects.

“Sinovac has a good safety profile and the side effects only range from mild to moderate,” she said.

Gloriani herself has been vaccinated with two doses of Sinovac already, Next page

Ivermectin issue sows division in House, solons trade barbs over efficacy

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta LAWMAKERS engaged in heated debate Wednesday over the endorsement by some of them of ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug normally used for animals, as an unproven treatment for COVID-19 patients.

“I appeal to my colleagues in the House

of Representatives… Each time we talk people listen. We have to be responsible with what we say in public, we have to avoid causing false hopes, confusion, distrust [of] the government and disorientation,” Ako-Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin said.

He was clearly referring to Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor, who announced the day before that he would distribute the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin

to COVID-19 patients and the elderly in Quezon City, despite Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warnings on the unauthorized use of the drug used to treat worms in animals.

“I am willing to go to jail to save lives,” Defensor said after the Department of Health threatened the public who are “dispensing” ivermectin with violation of Republic Act 9711 or il-

legal drug distribution, which carries a penalty of one to ten years of imprisonment or a fine from P50,000 to P5 million.

Defensor said he will consider the possibility of filing multiple homicide through reckless imprudence against the Department of Health and Bureau of Food and Drugs for the thousands of COVID-19 Next page

‘1 of 3 COVID survivors suffer mental problems’ PARIS—One in 3 people who overcome COVID-19 suffer from a neurological or psychiatric diagnosis six months on, according to the largest study so far published on the mental toll that long-Covid takes on survivors.

Authors said the research, printed Wednesday in The Lancet Psychiatry journal, proved that COVID-19 patients were significantly more likely to develop brain conditions than those suffering from other respiratory tract infections.

Studying the health records Next page

Rody’s backup list for ‘22 bared PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will pick among Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, Senator Manny Pacquiao, or former senator Bongbong Marcos to be his successor, Palace spokesperson Harry Roque said Wednesday.

That is, if the President’s daughter, Davao Mayor Sara Duterte, and close aide Senator Christopher “Bong” Go will not run in the 2022 presidential elections, Roque said.

“In the end, if Sara and Bong Go

won’t run, because he will only run if the president will run for vice president, the president will have to choose who has the number,” Roque said in a report on GMA’s “24 Oras.”

“He will have to choose from Isko, Manny Pacquiao, and Bong Bong Marcos because there’s no one else,” he added.

Sara Duterte previously said she may run for president in 2034 and not in 2022.

(See related story on A4—Editor) Next page

VILLAR KEEPS STATUS AS RICHEST FILIPINO

‘Ayuda’ gets off to good start, orderly payout

By Maricel V. Cruz RESIDENTS of the so-called NCR Plus bubble formed long lines – and sometimes stood shoulder to shoulder under the midday sun – in a largely orderly process on Wednesday, as the government handed out cash assistance for Next page

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM APRIL 7)

819,164 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

6,414 158,701 NEW

ACTIVE

14,059

242

646,404

163

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

NEW

NEW

HOW JERRY SEINFELD KEEPS RAKING IT IN

Story on B4

Story on A2

KIM KARDASHIAN ADDS ‘BILLIONAIRE’ TO RESUME

Story on C3

A2

News

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Death of curfew violator probed P

OLICE said Wednesday they are investigating the death of a coronavirus lockdown violator who was forced to do a hundred squat-like exercises as a penalty for breaking curfew.

also stepped into the death of Peñaredondo, saying it views the enhanced quarantine measures “as a human rights measure meant to protect the people’s right to health so we may live a life of quality and dignity.”

“As such, we recognize the government’s position to restrict freedom of movement in the interest of public health and safety,” CHR lawyer-spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia added.

Excessive punishments and fines which are punitive in nature and disproportionate with the violation represent an overreach of the enforcement of quarantine rules and regulations, she stressed.

Usana said the city’s police chief and two officers have been removed from their posts pending the results of an investigation into the incident.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra

said Monday local officials should consider using community service to punish people breaking lockdown rules, rather than jailing or fining them.

Rights groups have previously raised concerns about excessive punishments for people caught breaching COVID-19 restrictions.

During last year’s months-long lockdown, police and officials held curfew violators in dog cages and forced them to sit in the midday sun as punishment, Human Rights Watch said.

The Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday it would ask COVID-19 testing laboratories to explain their closure during the Holy Week, as possible actions against these labs would be filed. Rio N. Araja, Willie Casas, Rey E. Requejo, and Darwin G. Amojelar

Police have punished more than 10,000 people for breaching a 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew imposed on Metro Manila and four provinces bordering the national capital region last week to curb soaring infections.

Darren Penaredondo, 28, was detained Thursday night after going out to buy water in General Trias city, south of the capital, his wife told AFP. He was taken along with other curfew breakers to a police station and made to do the gruelling workout, national police spokesman Ildebrandi Usana said, citing two witness accounts.

“They were made to exercise 100

times. It’s a knee-bender exercise,” Usana explained to AFP. “It’s painful. If that’s the requirement, you will really pass out especially if you’re not used to it. Even policemen themselves find it difficult.”

Reichelyn Balce said her husband, who had a heart condition, could barely walk when he got home on Friday and was “in a lot of pain. He said they were made to do pumping exercises for 100 reps. If they’re not in sync, they have to start over,” she told AFP. The next day he had a “convulsion” and died hours later.

The Commission on Human Rights

‘1 of 3...

From A1

How comedian Seinfeld earned almost a billion

of more than 230,000 patients who had recovered from COVID-19, they found that 34 percent were diagnosed with a neurological or psychiatric condition within six months.

The most common conditions were anxiety (17 percent of patients) and mood disorders (14 percent).

For 13 percent of patients the disorders were their first diagnosis of a mental health issue.

Incidence of neurological disorders such as brain hemorrhage (0.6 percent), stroke (2.1 percent) and dementia (0.7 percent) were lower overall than for psychiatric disorders but the risk for brain disorders was generally higher in patients who had severe COVID-19.

The authors also examined data from more than 100,000 patients diagnosed with influenza and more than 236,000 diagnosed with any respiratory tract infection.

They found there was overall a 44 percent greater risk of neurological and mental health diagnoses after COVID-19 than after flu, and a 16 percent higher risk than with respiratory tract infections.

Paul Harrison, lead author from the University of Oxford, said that while the individual risk of neurological and psychiatric orders from COVID-19 was small, the overall effect across the global population could prove to be “substantial”.

“Many of these conditions are chronic,” he said.

“As a result, health care systems need to be resourced to deal with the anticipated need, both within primary and secondary care services.”

‘Severe impact’

Patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19 were at great risk of developing long-term conditions, according to the analysis.

For example, 46 percent of patients who needed intensive care were diagnosed with neurological or psychiatric conditions within six months of recovery.

The data showed 2.7 percent of people needing intensive care suffered a subsequent brain hemorrhage, compared to 0.3 percent of people who weren’t hospitalized.

And nearly 7 percent of those needing ICU care suffered a stroke, compared with 1.3 percent of patients who didn’t.

Writing in a linked comment article, Jonathan Rogers from University College London, said further research was needed on the long-term neurological and psychiatric outcomes among COVID-19 patients.

“Sadly, many of the disorders identified in this study tend to be chronic or recurrent, so we can anticipate that the impact of COVID-19 could be with us for many years,” said Rogers, who was not involved in the study.

“It is clear from this study that the impact COVID-19 is having on individuals mental health can be severe,” said Lea Milligan, CEO of the MQ Mental Health research group. AFP

DFA...

From A1 The number of Chinese ships in the area dwindled to 44 from the more than 200 vessels when it was initially sighted moored off the reef in the West Philippine Sea. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and the DFA issued separate strongly worded statements against China demanding the pullout of the remaining 44 ships, believed to be manned by Chinese militia, from the reef.

Malacañang earlier declared that it will assert the Philippines’ sovereignty over the Julian Felipe Reef, which is

PRRD reduces import duty for pork products PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday issued an executive order (EO) temporarily modifying the rates of import duty on pork products to address the impact of the African swine fever (ASF) on the country’s hog industry.

Under EO 128, Duterte stressed the need to take immediate steps to allow the domestic swine industry to “fully recover and attain sufficient local pork production.” (See related story on B4 – Editor) Hence, Duterte approved the National Economic and Development Authority’s (NEDA) proposed temporary reduction of the Most Favored Nation (MFN) tariff rates on fresh, chilled, or frozen pork products.

“There is an urgent need to temporarily reduce the Most Favored Nation tariff rates on fresh, chilled or frozen meat of swine to address the existing pork supply shortage, stabilize prices of pork meat, and minimize inflation rates,” the EO read.

EO 128 reduces tariff rates for both in-quota and out-quota imports of pork to boost pork supply in the country and tame prices of pork products.

Duterte’s latest EO reduces the MFN tariff rate on pork imports within the minimum access volume (MAV) to 5 percent for the first three months upon the effectivity of the order and to 10 percent for the fourth to 12th month from the current rate of 30 percent.

On the other hand, pork imports outside MAV will be slapped with a lower tariff of 15 percent for the next three months and 20 percent for the succeeding nine months from the current 40 percent, based on EO 128.

EO 128, which is effective for a period of one year, takes effect immediately upon its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

“The government recognized the need to immediately address the current shortage in swine meat, and endeavors to strengthen food supply to ensure that Filipinos have equitable access to food, particularly meat,” according to the order.

Last month, Duterte asked Congress to approve the proposed increase in pork imports to 250,000 metric tons from the present 54,210 MT to address the rising food prices and boost the supply of pork in the country.

On Feb. 1, Duterte signed EO 124, which imposes a price ceiling of PHP270 per kilogram for pork kasim and pigue, PHP300 per kilogram for pork liempo, and PHP160 per kilogram for dressed chicken until April 8.

AMERICAN comedian Jerry Seinfeld is not on the Forbes billionaires list released Wednesday, but he’s close.

His net worth is hovering around US$950 million based on very conservative reports, thanks to “Seinfeld” -- one of the greatest sitcoms in history, with the numbers to prove it.

“It’s a touch under a billion and in a post-Bezos world, sure. But what’s fascinating is that the vast majority came after the show’s initial run,” the website

Boss Hunting reported, breaking down how much money the man has made from the show so far – and how every dollar has contributed to his aggregate net worth.

In the first season of the show, Seinfeld earned US$20,000 per episode.

Given this spanned for just five episodes, season 1 earned him a modest US$100,000.

This rate doubled to US$40,000 per episode for Seinfeld season 2

and season 4, bringing this chunk of take-home to US$3.5 million. For the 70 episodes across seasons 4, 5, and 6, Jerry was compensated with US$100,000 a pop -- US$9.4 million all up.

The real excitement began when the show’s popularity and cultural sway reached all-new heights. At a revised salary of US$500,000 per episode, the 46 episodes across seasons 7 and 8 came to US$23 million.

FDA...

From A1

a “slight delay” in the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines from the COVAX Facility due to logistical problems.

The supply problems stem in part from India’s decision to temporarily stop exports of AstraZeneca so that the vaccines can be used there.

India, one of the world’s largest producers of COVID-19 vaccines, supplies millions of AstraZeneca doses to the WHO-led COVAX Facility, which seeks to ensure the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

The Philippines has so far received 2.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, with the bulk coming from Chinese company Sinovac Biotech.

Only 525,600 were from AstraZeneca through the COVAX Facility.

AstraZeneca was approved by the FDA for use on senior citizens.

AstraZeneca has been favored by some groups over other vaccine brands due to its regular storage requirements and lower price.

Its longer interval for its second dose also allows countries to vaccinate as many people as possible without the need for immediately securing supplies for the second dose.

The Philippines, which aims to inoculate up to 70 million Filipinos by the end of the year to reach herd immunity against the coronavirus, has been criticized for its slow rollout of vaccines as COVID-19 cases surge in Metro Manila and nearby areas.

Party-list Rep. Mike Defensor, who is pushing for the use of ivermectin -- an unauthorized and unproven anti-parasite drug normally used for animals -- as a COVID-19 treatment, asked the government to explain what would happen to those who had already been given the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

“I am sure this is also the question many of the more than 500,000 health care workers and senior citizens who chose the British-Swedish vaccine have in mind,” he said.

He said many of the country’s health

workers who refused the China-made CoronaVac and chose AstraZeneca received their first dose in the middle of last month.

He pointed out that hundreds of senior citizens and persons with co-morbidities also took AstraZeneca, since CoronaVac was not suited for them.

“If we follow the 28-day dosing interval, they should get their second dose before the end of this month, at the latest. But the second shipment of AstraZeneca is expected to be delivered next month or in June yet because of short supply,” Defensor said.

He called on the DOH to inform those who have been vaccinated what would happen if they don’t get the second dose on time and what is the maximum interval between the two doses.

Also Wednesday, Amnesty International said rich countries are failing a “rudimentary” test of global solidarity by hoarding COVID vaccines and accused China and others of exploiting the pandemic to undermine human rights.

In its annual report, the campaigning rights organization said the health crisis had exposed “broken” policies and that cooperation was the only way forward.

“The pandemic has cast a harsh light on the world’s inability to cooperate effectively and equitably,” said Agnes Callamard, who was appointed Amnesty’s secretary general last month.

“The richest countries have effected a near-monopoly of the world’s supply of vaccines, leaving countries with the fewest resources to face the worst health and human rights outcomes.”

Amnesty strongly criticized the decision by former US president Donald Trump to withdraw Washington from the World Health Organization (WHO) amid the pandemic -- a step now reversed by Trump’s successor Joe Biden.

Callamard called for an immediate acceleration of the global vaccine rollout, calling the inoculation campaign “a most fundamental, even rudimentary, test of the world’s capacity for cooperation”. With AFP

tion and opinion. Second, there is a reason why we have the [Food and Drug Administration], we need to trust our institution,” Garbin said.

“Conspiracies, speculations and opinions will not help” he said. “All that we hear about ivermectin are just speculations absent credible studies by our experts.”

“Let us allow our experts to do their job.

Studying the effects of certain proposed medications is not something that can be

rushed even when we are in a pandemic.

Our experts need to make sure that the proposed medication is really a cure and will not pose an added danger to the health of the public,” he said.

Defensor took offense at Garbin’s remarks, which were posted on a Viber group.

“I thank you for this statement and the opportunity to clarify the issues you have raised in relation to the ivermectin medication,” Defensor said.

“...I would have let your statement pass if not for your unfair accusation that we are basing our stance on conspiracies, speculation and opinion,” he said.

He said his statements in support of the drug, along with other lawmakers who support the treatment, were based on their “better understanding on the subject as shared by experts and medical studies conducted on the use of the drug.”

‘Ayuda’...

From A1

cash assistance to residents affected by the reimposition of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista said Wednesday both national and local governments had provided a database of beneficiaries that would expedite the distribution of the cash aid to families affected by the hard lockdowns in parts of the “National Capital Region Plus” bubble.

“After the implementation of the Social Amelioration Program and the Bayanihan 2, we have seen the faces of those beneficiaries who are qualified to get the financial assistance during ECQ,” Bautista said in Filipino in an

interview during the rollout of the government’s aid in Parañaque City.

DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said Manila, Parañaque and Caloocan had started initial payouts of the P1,000 financial assistance to lowincome families.

“We have full trust in our local chief executives, on our local government units that they would be able to distribute the assistance to their constituents within the prescribed period,” she told ANC. Based on the joint memorandum circular issued by the Department of Budget and Management, local government units have 15 days to distribute the cash aid upon receipt of a notice of cash allocation.

having signed a waiver since the FDA’s existing emergency use authorization on Sinovac only recommended it for clinically healthy individuals aged 18 to 59 years old.

Gloriani said getting the Sinovac shot provides more benefits than harm.

“While Sinovac’s efficacy on elderly is a bit lower due to low number of elderly participants in the clinical trials, the same clinical trials still showed that Sinovac can still prevent elderly from getting a severe COVID-19,” she said in Filipino.

Gloriani urged seniors to get their COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it is offered to them, including Sinovac.

“We cannot wait for too long,” she said.

The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday said it hoped a delayed shipment of COVID-19 vaccines from AstraZeneca would arrive by the end of May so that those who have already received a first jab can get their second dose.

In a press briefing Wednesday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the World Health Organization (WHO) had informed the Philippines of the delay in the delivery of AstraZeneca vaccines from the COVAX Facility it leads.

The WHO did not say when the vaccines would finally arrive, but Vergeire said this was not a cause for concern to those who have already received their first dose, as the interval between the first and second jab can be extended for 12 weeks.

She added that some studies show that the efficacy of the vaccine could be even higher if the interval between the first and second shot is longer.

Last week, the DOH said 979,200 doses of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine initially expected this month will arrive in the country in April or early May. However, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. on Tuesday said there would be

Ivermectin...

From A1 deaths “when push comes to shove.”

Garbin, however, said officials should not lose sight of the real issues that must be addressed amid the pandemic: the vaccine rollout, health protocols and distributing aid.

“Vaccine, health protocols and financial aid are solutions and not speculawithin the country’s exclusive economic zone, but it will not use force against China in asserting its maritime territory in the West Philippine Sea. Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday urged the government to look into China’s construction of artificial islands in the West Philippine Sea. A year after filing a resolution questioning Chinese construction and dredging in areas within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, Hontiveros said China continued to impinge on the Philippines’ sovereignty.

“Who betrayed the Filipinos? Are there people who are selling our territories? We need to find out,” the senator said Filipino.

nearly 23 million people who lost jobs amid the strict pandemic lockdowns.

In separate statements, the Social Welfare and Interior departments lauded Filipinos for doing their best to observe social distancing amid the COVID-19 pandemic as crowds in Manila, Quezon City and elsewhere queued patiently to receive P1,000 per person or up to P4,000 for each household.

The government is relying on a comprehensive database to weed out “ghost beneficiaries” and ensure a “swift and manageable” distribution of pandemic

Rody’s...

From A1 Roque said the candidate the President will endorse in the elections will be a big deal, as Duterte’s approval rating remains high.

“The presidential endorsement will be formidable. Not only that, it’s not just the endorsement, it’s the machinery of government that will be working for the anointed candidate of the president,” he said.

When asked if he will also run, Roque said he was not sure.

“When you want to serve, you need to have the resources. I am not sure because it really depends if I have the resources,” Roque said.

News

THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2021

A3

P138.7m earned from containers

By Vito Barcelo THE Bureau of Customs earned more than P138.7 million from the disposition of abandoned or overstaying containers in the country during the first quarter of 2021.

In a statement, the bureau said it disposed of a total of 586 overstaying containers through various modes of disposition such as auction, condemnation and donation, for the first quarter of 2021.

Customs said P138,535,866 was generated from the public auction of 354 overstaying containers carrying assorted items such as rice and galvanized steel as well as from the condemnation of 232 containers.

These overstaying containers were either abandoned or seized under Sections 1139 and 1141 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, which provides for the conditions and modes

CASH AND KIND. Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rolando Joselito

Bautista Jr. (in red vest) hands over financial assistance to one of the low-income residents affected by the enhanced community quarantine in Barangay Vitalez, Paranaque City on Wednesday. Mayor Edwin Olivarez (in checkered shirt, both photos) also distributes relief goods at the same venue with Vice Mayor Rico Golez, Rep. Eric L. Olivarez, and the entire City Council of Parañaque. Avito Dalan

Makati fire crew lauded for work on rooftop blaze

By Joel E. Zurbano MAKATI City Mayor Abigail Binay has commended the city’s fire bureau for its immediate response to control the fire that broke out at the penthouse of a high-rise building in the Central Business District Tuesday afternoon.

No one was reported hurt in the fire that broke out at the 14-story LPA Building along L.P. Leviste Street in Salcedo Village.

The responding firemen led by Bureau of Fire Protection Supt. Flor-lan Guerrero received the emergency alarm around 2:52 p.m. and put the fire out after an hour.

Binay said the immediate and strategic action of Guerrero and his men effectively contained the blaze and prevented it from spreading to the rest of the building and adjacent structures in the area.

“We are thankful to our brave and smart firefighters who succeeded in putting out the fire at the top floor and sparing the lives and properties of the building occupants and neighboring structures. Once again, they have done justice to the substantial investments of the city in modernizing their equipment,” she said.

Initial reports showed that the fire destroyed P1 million worth of property.

A total of 14 firefighting vehicles responded at the scene. Those include vehicles donated by the city government two years ago, such as a chemical fire truck and several penetrator fire trucks.

The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office also deployed two basic life support ambulances to the scene.

The local government beefed up the resources of the Makati Fire Department through providing modern equipment, including a mobile command vehicle, one chemical fire truck, and two rescue boats with fire pump, among others.

Binay emphasized the importance of strong local government support in the protective sector to maintain peace and order and boost socio-economic progress.

Senators defend red-tagged staff

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

S

ENATOR Panfilo Lacson and the four minority senators on Wednesday= took the cudgels for the union of Senate employees who were red-tagged and linked to communist rebels.

“l will agree with National Intelligence Coordinating Agency director general Alex Paul Monteagudo but not totally,” Lacson said.

Earlier, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) backed the claim of Monteagudo that the union of Senate employees is a front of the communist group.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Undersecretary Lorraine Marie Badoy said the NTF-ELCAC is

convinced that the Sandigan ng mga Empleyadong Nagkakaisa sa Adhikain ng Demokratikong Orgnisasyon (SENADO) is being controlled by the labor group Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE).

COURAGE has been tagged as a front organization of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s ArmyNational Democratic Front (CPP-NPANDF).

However, Lacson said: “Not all the members of the Senate employees’ union are the ‘eyes and ears’ of COURAGE. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Accounts, I have had on many occasions taken the cudgels for them in terms of the Senate employees’ benefits and additional allowances, always listening to their plight and concerns in spite of my knowledge of the infiltration within their ranks.”

“I don’t think the Senate leadership should take action, drastic or otherwise,” he added.

As long as their grievances “are legitimate, reasonable and properly brought to our attention,” Lacson said he will listen and take the necessary and appropriate action.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he will open an investigation on the expose of NiCA for the people to know the

truth and for Senate employees to publicly deny and shed light on the matter “for the mutual benefit of all concerned,” he said.

Sotto said they are just telling our people that the CPP has tentacles even in the halls of the Senate through COURAGE, a CTG organization.

“I said I want NiCA to give me the names of the employees and I will have them investigated,” he said.

In a Joint Statement, Senate Minority Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon, Senator Risa Hontiveros, Senator Leila de Lima and Senator Francis Pangilinan deplored the red-tagging of the union of Senate employees.

“We vehemently denounce government officials who continue to label, brand, vilify and harass individuals and organizations such as SENADO as state enemies and subversives,” they said.

18 Manila vax sites dispense jabs

By Willie Casas MANILA Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said Wednesday the city was able to fulfill its original plan of doing the inoculation in 18 sites in the six districts of Manila for the first time since the local government of Manila rolled out its mass vaccination program last month using doses coming from the national government.

Domagoso said the number of sites was used during the continuation on Wednesday of the vaccination of persons belonging to the A3 category or those aged 18 to 59 who have comorbidities in an effort to decongest the long queues.

Domagoso said Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan, herself a doctor and who heads the city’s health cluster, and Manila Health Department chief Arnold Pangan were in charge of the rollout, ensuring that it was orderly, fast, safe, efficient and smooth.

In his live broadcast, Domagoso announced that while continuing to embrace all those from the A3 category, the city also plans to vaccinate those who are involved in the distribution of all sorts of assistance from the local government un-

der the A4 category.

He said those delivering the food boxes and cash aid, for one, face a ratio of 1 is to 500 or even 1,000 in their daily dealings with the residents, thus raising the possibility of getting more exposed and being infected with the virus.

Under the original plan that he and Vice Mayor Lacuna-Pangan discussed as early as January, Domagoso said that the city government actually targets to vaccinate a maximum of 18,000 people a day or a total of 540,000 per month.

In doing so, Domagoso expressed hope that the city will be able to achieve herd immunity.

Once again, the mayor thanked authorities from the national government as well as the Inter-Agency Task Force for the vaccines received by Manila.

He said that as of 6:38 p.m. of April 6, a total of 43,885 have already been vaccinated in the city of Manila with 343 already able to get their second dose.

Once again, Domagoso urged the residents to register at www.manilacovid19vaccine.com.ph for a slot in the vaccination program, stressing the need to get the jab for added protection against the coronavirus.

IN COMMAND. Manila Mayor Francisco ‘Isko’ Domagoso (back to the camera) presides

over a meeting on Wednesday with Manila Police District precinct commanders and personnel headed by PBGen. Leo Francisco. The mayor directed them to strictly implement ECQ rules and curfews and to assist city government personnel in delivering assistance from both national and local governments. Manila PIO

‘Ayuda’ handout starts in QC, Taguig

TRAFFIC TICKET. A traffic enforcer issued a citation ticket to a bus driver at the Imus police checkpoint on Wednesday after he used the lane designated only for frontliners, health workers, essential deliveries and emergency vehicles passing through the Emilio Aguinaldo Highway in Cavite. JR Josue

THE Quezon City government has started the distribution of the national government’s financial assistance to “QCitizens” in 30 sites covering 40 villages.

The city government of Taguig City also started distributing financial assistance to the families affected by the stricter community quarantine imposed by the government to stop the continuing spike of COVID-19 cases.

The QC government has based the list of workers and low-income families from the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s social amelioration program list, waitlisted, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and the city’s own SAP list.

The Quezon City Treasurer’s Office, Social Services and Development Department, Information Technology Development Department, Office of the City Mayor and the Office of City

Administrator spent the previous days purging the duplicates in the consolidated list.

About 2.4 million individuals from over 800,000 families stand to receive P1,000 each with a maximum amount of P4,000 per family.

The national government has allocated P2,481,942,000 for the beneficiaries.

To avoid crowding and ensure that minimum health protocols will be observed, the city yesterday gave out the financial aid or ayuda to 2,000 residents only per distribution center.

During the initial distribution at the Tipas Elementary School and Upper Bicutan Elementary School on Wednesday, more than 2,000 residents of Barangays Ligid-Tipas and North Daang Hari received their cash assistance in the amount not exceeding P4,000. Rio Araja and Joel Zurbano

SMC upgrades Boystown, trains indigent youth for technical jobs SAN MIGUEL Corporation (SMC), through packaging subsidiary San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corp. (SMYPC), is looking to train underprivileged youth for technical jobs to provide them access to economic opportunities and help improve overall competencies in the country’s manufacturing sector.

SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon S. Ang committed to continue helping indigent students in the care of the Sisters of Mary Schools – Adlas Inc. (Boystown) in

of disposition, respectively.

Customs also said that cargoes that were not withdrawn within the regulatory period of 30 calendar days from the payment of duties, taxes and other charges will be deemed abandoned unless covered by duly issued alert orders and upon the finality of the Decree of Abandonment. The Bureau will then determine the proper disposition among auction, condemnation or donation.

The disposition of overstaying cargoes is aimed at eliminating port and yard congestion, thereby ensuring smooth flow of business within the agency.

Customs likewise assured the public that it will remain steadfast in its efforts of ensuring unhampered delivery of its services, especially in these trying times that the movement of goods, essentials and non-essentials, is deemed both substantial and critical.

Silang, Cavite following SMYPC’s donation of manufacturing equipment and renovation of the school’s mechanical workshop.

“Now more than ever we need to produce bright, talented young minds that are central to driving the manufacturing sector forward.

Through this program, we hope to raise the interest of the next generation of Filipinos and equip them with skills in modern technologies to make them industry-ready and self-reliant,” Ang said.

SMYPC and MESCO, Inc., a partner for machine tools, donated two computer numerical control (CNC) machines. CNC machining is a manufacturing process in which pre-programmed computer software dictates the movement of factory tools and machinery. It can be used to control a range of complex cutting machinery, from grinders and lathes to mills and routers.

Both companies have committed to send a team of engineers and technicians to train

the school’s faculty on the operations and maintenance of the CNC machines. The faculty will then train students on the use of the machines so they will be fully-equipped to handle them once they graduate and are employed at manufacturing facilities.

“Students need to have access to the equipment utilized in manufacturing today—to see, touch, and operate them. The CNC machine is an example of a vital piece of equipment currently used in the industry,” says Ang.

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News

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021

Erap’s condition stable, ‘slightly improved’ —son FORMEr President Joseph Estrada is in stable condition with his vital signs normal, his son, former Senator Jinggoy Estrada, said Wednesday.

The younger Estrada said his father remains in ICU and is on mechanical ventilation due to pneumonia after contracting COVID-19.

“His condition has slightly improved. He remains sedated,” he said in a television interview.

The 83-year-old Estrada tested positive for COVID-19 on March 29.

His son said the former president may have contracted the diaease from visitors.

“I think he got the virus from visitors since he does not step outside of the hosue,” he said.

WELL-ORGANIZED. The COVID-19 vaccination program for #ProudMakatizens proceeds smoothly at the Makati Coliseum April 7, 2021. today. Residents are reminded that walk-in immunization is prohibited and only those with a confirmation text will be admitted.

AS SEVERAL PSG TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

Duterte skips public address anew P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte skipped his scheduled public addresss Wednesday night after several members of the Presidential Security Group tested positive for COVID-19.

This is Duterte’s second public address this week that was canceled after his usual Monday night “Talk to the People” also did not push through.

“The Palace confirms that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte will not have a Talk to the People Address tonight, April

7, 2021, in light of the rising number of active COVID-19 cases,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press statement.

“The physical safety of the President remains our utmost concern. In addition, the preparation for the Talk to the People

Address entails a number of staff complement and we also take due consideration of their well-being,” he added.

According to Duterte’s former aide, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, some PSG members contracted the virus and this was “dangerous to the President’s security.”

PSG head Col. Jesus Durante III said at least 45 members have tested positive.

“At the least, our PSG personnel who got infected are not directly or closely detailed with the President and are all asymptomatic without experiencing any adverse symptoms. Hence, rest assured

that the President is safe and in good health,” Durante said.

“PSG—through its Task Force COVID-19 and our medical staff continue to efficiently and effectively manage our situation ensuring that those who are tested positive complete their quarantine protocols and are properly processed. All health and safety protocols are strictly enforced and implemented to all PSG personnel and their dependents.”

“We have established protocols to contain the spread of the virus and we will continue to enforce it so that the President

is kept safe and secured from all forms of threats at all times,” Durante added.

Meanwhile, presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio confirmed leaving for Singapore Tuesday for “personal health management.”

“I am on leave from April 6-10, 2021. I have a travel authority to Singapore from the DILG. The reason is personal health management,” she said in a statement.

“All protocols for return to Davao City including RT-PCR testing and 14-day quarantine have all been pre-arranged,” she added.

Rody appoints new CA justice

By Rey E. Requejo

ECO WARRIORS. Team Mandaragat members maintain the cleanliness of the area around the Manila Yacht Club on Roxas Boulevard.

Foreigners must travel with Filipino relatives to enter PH—Immigration

By Vito Barcelo THE Bureau of Immigration reiterated that foreign parents, spouses and children of Filipino citizens cannot enter the Philippines if they are not traveling with the latter.

In a statement, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said existing guidelines on international travel set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) do not allow the entry of foreign parents, spouses and children of Filipinos if they are traveling alone.

The Balikbayan privilege, which allows the visa-free entry of foreign

spouses and children of Filipinos, remains suspended, Morente said.

He issued the reminder following reports that some foreigners were denied entry at airports for traveling without their Filipino spouse, children, or parent.

The Philippines reimposed a ban on the entry of foreigners last month amid the resurgence in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

The ban, which started March 22, is in effect until April 21.

Aside from prohibiting the entry of foreigners, the IATF also ordered a reduction in the number of inbound international travelers to only 1,500 a day.

Japanese PM eyes Manila visit JAPANESE Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is reportedly planning trips to India and the Philippines at the end of the month, Japanese media said Wednesday.

The visits, however, will be dependent on the COVID-19 situation.

If the trip pushes through, it will be the first time Suga will meet President Rodrigo Duterte and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in person.

Suga and Duterte are expected to discuss regional concerns, including their countries’ respective dispute with China.

The Philippines has repeatedly protested the swarming of Chinese militia vessels at the Julian Felipe reef and in features within the West Philippine Sea. Tokyo, on the other hand, is headlocked with China over the Senkaku Islands.

‘Pass FOI law to fight corruption amid pandemic’

By Maricel V. Cruz DEPUTY Speaker Eddie Villanueva on Wednesday urged his colleagues to expedite the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill.

Villanueva, a nominee of the CIBAC party-list group, raised the call as the House of Representative’s Committee on Public Information started deliberations of various FOI bills filed at the chamber.

The measures include House Bill 1975 that Villanueva and fellow CIBAC nominee Domeng Rivera authored.

“I beseech my fellow lawmakers to expedite passing this measure. We need an FOI law now more than ever,” he said.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has created more opportunities for corruption. If we will not have this FOI bill urgently passed into law, we will just continue to expose our government resources to the mercy of scrupulous and rent-seeking individuals – at the detriment of our people. We need to raise our demands for transparency and accountability now more than at any time before,” Villanueva added.

The lawmaker underscored how the pandemic has spawned opportunities for

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has appointed a new associate justice of the Court of Appeals to assume one of the vacancies in the appellate court.

In a transmittal letter signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, Duterte promoted Judge Nancy Rivas-Palmones of the Valenzuela City Regional Trial Court as CA associate justice.

Palmones, a former prosecutor in Quezon City before joining the judiciary, is the wife of former party-list lawmaker and dzRH broadcaster Angelo Palmones.

She finished her undergraduate degree at Notre Dame of Kidapawan College in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato

before she took up law at the Far Eastern University.

The CA vacancy assumed by Palmones was the last slot from the original eight posts in the appellate court opened by the Judicial and Bar Council.

Duterte recently appointed the following CA associate justices: Anisah Amanodin-Umpa, Roberto Quiroz, Gler Corpin, Bonifacio Pascua, Lorenza Bordios, Raymond Reynold Lauigan and Richard Mordeno.

The vacancies were due to the retirement of CA Associate Justices Normandie Pizarro, Carmelita Manahan, Sesinando Villon, and Edward Contreras, as well as the promotion to the Supreme Court of Justices Ramon Paul Hernando, Henri Jean Paul Inting, Rosmari Carandang and Amy Lazaro-Javier.

corruption.

“Social and physical distancing in this COVID-19 pandemic does not stop corruption; conversely, it even opens opportunities for shady deals to flourish behind people’s backs. We badly need a mechanism to put officials accountable even while people are within the confines of their homes. The FOI will bridge that gap,” he said.

Representatives Joy Tambunting of Parañaque, France Castro of ACT Teachers and Arlene Brosas of Gabriela echoed the appeal for the enactment of the measure.

CHECKING FOR COMPLIANCE. Members of the Philippine National Police -

Highway Patrol Group flag down vehicles along Aurora Boulevard in Quezon City on April 7, 2021 to check motorists’ compliance with health protocols. HPG personnel are also on the lookout for ‘colorum’ or illegally operating vehicles and those that violate the 50-percent capacity in public transport amid the Enhanced Community Quarantine in the NCR Plus area. Joey O. Razon

PAL cancels some flights to W. Visayas

By Joel E. Zurbano FLAG carrier Philippine Airlines canceled several flights going to Western Visayas after the government suspended inbound passenger travel in the region.

PAL cancelled all flights from Manila to Bacolod, Iloilo, Antique, Caticlan, Kalibo and Roxas cities until April 10.

It also suspended flights from Cebu to Caticlan until April 10, and flights in Cebu to and from Bacolod on April 9.

PAL flights going to Manila from Iloilo, Bacolod, Roxas and Kalibo will not be affected and will continue to op-

erate during this period.

The Civil Aeronautics Board made the travel restriction in Region 6 following the endorsement of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Air travelers affected by the cancelations may refund their tickets, avail of unlimited rebooking until December 31, 2021, or convert the ticket to a Travel Voucher, which they can avail until June 30, 2021.

“This is an evolving situation and we seek your understanding and cooperation as we make adjustments in our operations,” PAL said.

Opinion Spain’s great feat in Asia: A Christian Philippines ON MARCH 31, 2021, the head of the Roman Catholic Church celebrated in the Vatican a Mass to commemorate the arrival in Limasawa 500 years earlier of the Spanish sponsored, five-ship expedition of Ferdinand Magellan, which was the first step in the Christianization of the land that eventually became the Philippines.

The Mass was the least that Pope Francis could do to commemorate one of the greatest events in the Roman Catholic Church’s history.

In March 1521, the land upon which Magellan and his expedition’s members was part of a continent that was inhabited by adherents of other faiths. Of those, the most widely practiced was the Muslim faith, whose sway extended all the Here’s to way from the 500 years.

Arabian Peninsula to the western shores of the Pacific Ocean. The island of Mindanao, south of Limasawa, was mostly Muslim territory. Indonesia, to the south of Mindanao, was a totally Muslim land. To the west and north of the Philippines were bastions of Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism and Shintoism.

Truly, Ferdinand Magellan and his band of Catholics – one of whom was the priest Pedro Valderrama who celebrated the first Mass – were in alien territory. They must have come to the realization soon enough. The thought of being among strange – and, after the death of Magellan, hostile – people should have had a daunting effect on the remaining members of the expedition. It should have had the same effect on the expedition’s sponsors, the King and Queen of far-off Spain, but that was not the case. History tells us that Spain, then one of the most powerful countries in Europe, was determined to make the Isles of San Lazarus, as

this archipelago was then called, a colony of Spain. The conquest of Manila by Legazpi in 1571 marked the resumption of a relationship with Spain that was to last until 1898.

With the strengthening of the Spanish colonial administration’s control over the archipelago, Catholicism steadily extended its presence and influence alongside Mohammedanism in Mindanao. Te Catholic order established churches, schools and social facilities and began spreading what came to be known as friar lands. The friars held sway in the parts of the archipelago where the colonial administration was weak or absent.

The religious orders and the friars have been at the receiving end of historians’ criticism – indeed, some historians have the next pointed to resentment against the friars as one of the principal causes of the revolution against Spain – but there can be no denying their role in the survival and strengthening of Catholicism in this country.

Fast forward – to use today’s technical lingo – to March 2021. Today, the Philippines is not only a Christian island in a non-Christian East Asian sea. It also remains a staunch defender of the Roman Catholic faith in a world of increasingly wavering Catholics. Look around you at the attendees at Mass in a European church and you will find that most of the faces of Caucasian devotees are mostly faces of Filipino Catholicism.

At a time when it is long gone from the center of power, Spain can look at the Philippines and take pride in one of its greatest historical feats: Establishing a sole Catholic country in an Asia composed of countries dominated by other religious faiths.

Here’s to the next 500 years of Philippine Catholicism.

Set your moral compass into poverty.

We cannot neglect the negative impact of the ECQ. Pre-emptive measures were earlier taken amid the threat of another ECQ. We have imposed stricter health protocols and public health measures.

Quezon Province is working on improvWITH the continuous and alarming ing food security to ensure that the people rise in COVID-19 cases, particularly in will have food on their tables regardless the National Capital Region and near- of the level of quarantine that will be imby provinces, collectively known as the posed in the country.

NCR-plus, we are once again caught in We strive to cope. We work hard to a series of localized lockdowns and en- cushion the economic impact of the hanced community quarantine. While stricter quarantine. However, we mainQuezon Province is outside of the “trav- tain our call for support from the national el bubble” ECQ areas, the impact of the government. The local government units surge of COVID-19 cases in the NCR- are doing their best to provide the needs plus bubble spills over to the entire coun- of the people. However, some barriers try. prevent us from reaching everyone who We all know that enhanced communi- needs help. Hence, at this juncture, I ferty quarantine means stoppage of work, vently appeal that we set aside political businesses, and limited operations of colors and personal ambitions in renboth essential and non-essential indus- dering public service to the people. As tries. Unlike last year, the government governor of the Province of Quezon, it is has now imposed an earlier curfew at my duty to ensure that the general wel6:00 in the evening. fare of the people With these renewed are protected and restrictions, we can taken care of. By very well imagine virtue of this manNow is not the how this will furdate, I request for time for personal ther aggravate the a more coordinatinterests. economic status of ed and nonpartisan the country and the teamwork between livelihood of the the local governpeople. ment units and the Capital Economics, a London-based national agencies. I ask the assistance think tank, has projected a slump in the of the Department of Social Welfare and country’s gross domestic product in the Development in the fair distribution of upcoming months. The 8.7-percent un- relief goods, including the essential food employment rate for February has been packs to the public. I also ask the police the third highest since April 2020 where to continuously extend the necessary asit was a record high at 17.6 percent. These sistance in ensuring that quarantine protonumbers paint a dismal picture, but the cols are properly and justly implemented. impact of the worsening economic situa- Government agencies and the local govtion is more depressing in the actual com- ernment units need a good working relamunity settings. A higher inflation rate tionship in order to effectively address the means higher prices of goods. Coupled needs of the people. with an increase in the unemployment Now is not the time for personal inrate, more families may plunge deeper terests. Let me repeat, we are in a public

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THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021

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EDITORIAL

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Let’s follow the science

HERE is a painful irony in congressman Mike Defensor’s plan to distribute ivermectin, which is normally used to treat worms and parasites in animals, to COVID-19 patients and the elderly in Quezon City.

Here we have a lawmaker who represents a party-list group that advocates better health care services, promoting a treatment that both the Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) say is unauthorized and unproven against COVID-19.

But Mr. Defensor will not be deterred by admonitions from the country’s top health authorities, and says he got better when he took the anti-parasitic drug when he fell ill to COVID-19 in March.

“We need to hear the experts most especially the DOH and the FDA as the regulatory agencies on this matter and ask why the inflexibility against ivermectin. I took ivermectin. To be honest, I do not know if it helped along with the other meds and vitamins I took. But I am negative for the COVID-19 virus now and that is all that matters,” Defensor said.

That is really not all that matters, of course.

As the congressman himself admits, he does not know if ivermectin really helped him or if other factors led to his recovery.

So here is what we do know about the drug.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says the current evidence on the use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19 patients is inconclusive. Until more data is available, WHO recommends that the drug only be used within clinical trials.

This is hardly the kind of reassurance the public needs to take an unauthorized and untested treatment.

The US National Institutes of Health notes that ivermectin is not approved by the US FDA for the treatment of any viral infection. It also says that results from “well-designed, and well-conducted clinical trials are needed to provide more specific, evidence-based guidance on the role of Ivermectin in the treatment of COVID-19.”

The DOH and the FDA said in a joint statement that they do not recommend using ivermectin for COVID-19 care, stating that existing evidence dues not support claims of its effectiveness.

The agencies cited a study of six trials conducted by the Philippine COVID-19

Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) that concluded the drug “did not significantly reduce” the risk of death in patients with moderate to severe cases.

The DOH and FDA also said that the medication did not substantially reduce the hospitalization period or time resolution of symptoms. The rate of hospital dif discharge was also not substantially different between the Ivermectin and placebo groups.

“Based on the current evidence from randomized controlled trials, the DOH… ivermec does not recommend the use of ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19,” the agencies said in a joint statement.

Even the company that makes it says there is no basis for using ivermectin as a treatment for COVID-19.

In a statement, Merck said analysis has shown that there is “no scientific basis for a potential therapeutic effect against COVID-19 from pre-clinical studies; no meaningful evidence for clinical activity or clinical efficacy in patients with COVID-19 disease; and a concerning lack of safety data in the majority of studies.”

Asked at a press conference who would be responsible if ivermectin creates complications in patients, Defensor could only say that people who receive the drug must give their consent before taking it. Hardly the kind of reassurance the public needs to take an unauthorized and untested treatment. As in all things related to health, wouldn’t it be better to simply follow the science?

Down on our knees THREE weeks ago, when Harry Roque was asked about the government response to the pandemic, his answer was “no one could have done anything.”

What an answer. Something could have been done.

Other counties in the region were able to do a lot better job in limiting the spread of the virus and this resulted in fewer infections and deaths among their citizens.

Why could we not have done the same thing? Now, we are in the worst possible position as the infection rate is going through the roof.

As one prominent doctor said, “we are not losing the battle against COVID-19.

We lost it already.”

When it comes to the more transmissible variants of the virus, our neighbors were also able to do a much better job in controlling the entry of the three variants coming from the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil. Meanwhile, we failed. These variants are now the ones driving the infection surge. Every citizen in this country is rooting for the government to succeed in its efforts to finally control the spread of this virus. This is because if it succeeds, we can then all go back to our normal lives at the earliest possible time. But we cannot do it if the government pandemic team is going from one misstep to another.

It has been more than a year. By now, one would expect that those officials tasked to make the decisions would have had the benefit of experience together with all the lessons learned from other countries.

It appears however, that we have not learned anything at all. In the case of the variants, we took our time in implementing travel restrictions and did not implement the right medical protocols. There could not been so many travelers coming health crisis. For the past weeks, we have seen its negative holistic effects. Many have been afflicted with the disease and are enduring the isolation. Businesses closed down. The unemployed have been lamenting over the uncertainties in getting

The enhanced community quarantine that was imposed on the National Capital Region and four nearby provinces has been extended for another week in an attempt to arrest the surge. This was a painful decision to make due to its impact on the economy but there was really no other choice. Hopefully, it will bring down the infection rate because so many people are already losing hope.

The country’s morale is also very low which is a big problem. If morale is low, we cannot win the fight against COVID-19. It is therefore, incumbent upon the government to finds ways to restore morale if it wants the people to maintain their faith in the ability of government to lead.

The past year has been very hard on everyone. Pandemic fatigue has set in and the people are tired. But we all have to keep on trying. Now is the time for the President to make some changes in his team. We know that this is not his style, but it is now necessary to do so if he wants to invigorate the country for the next phase of the virus war. Let me say that the government pandemic team is composed of many competent and dedicated bureaucrats. But there are some who have demonstrated their unique abilities of always making the wrong estimate of the situation and thereby worsening the situation. This is the reason why we are now in the situation we are in – down on our knees. By making some changes, the President will be injecting new and more vigorous ideas. Those who are saying that changing horses in the middle of a race is not a good idea are wrong as experiences in the past have shown. Since we are effectively fighting a war and losing many lives every day, changes are inevitable and necessary.

In war, when some members of the team do not measure up, they must be replaced so that the mission can move forward and be accomplished at the least possible cost. A medical adviser to the IATF in an interview was against making changes and cited Brazil as an example.

He did not however, explain that our situation is different. What happened to Brazil is believed by many observers to be due to the controversial decisions of its president.

We do not have that problem here.

President Duterte for his part always tried following the science in his decisions.

The ECQ extension is an example. It’s in his pandemic team that many people are asking for some changes. We hope he will undertake these changes.

money for food and other basic necessities. Others are forced to face the risks of getting COVID-19 and endure long hours of walking to work just to be able to proEducating vide for their families. The critically sick have been to survive and find in astruggling pandemic

facilities that can provide urgent health care. Families have been mourning over the loss of their loved ones. We should all contribute to be part of the solution, not the problem. Let this be our moral compass.

from Brazil or South Africa that we were unable to monitor and institute the right control measures. With the daily infection rate now hitting more than 10,000 the last several days, we are beginning to see signs of resignation among the people. They seem to be losing faith in the government’s ability to control the virus.

‘We are not losing the battle against COVID-19. We lost it already.’

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Facebook: Hackers ‘scraped’ data of 533 million users in 2019 leak SAN FRANCISCO—Facebook said Tuesday that hackers “scraped” personal data of some half-billion users back in 2019 by taking advantage of a feature designed to help people easily find friends using contact lists.

A trove of information about more than 530 million Facebook users was shared over the weekend at a hacker forum, prompting the leading social network to explain what happened and call on people to be vigilant about privacy settings.

“It is important to understand that malicious actors obtained this data not through hacking our systems but by scraping it from our platform prior to September 2019,” Facebook product management director Mike Clark said in a post.

“This is another example of the ongoing, adversarial relationship technology companies have with fraudsters who intentionally break platform policies to scrape internet services.”

The data included phone numbers,

birth dates, and email addresses, and some of the data appeared to be current, according to US media reports.

The stolen data did not include passwords or financial data, according to Facebook.

Scraping is a tactic that involves using automated software to gather up information shared publicly online.

“All 533,000,000 Facebook records were just leaked for free,” Alon Gal, chief technology officer at the Hudson Rock cybercrime intelligence firm, said Saturday on Twitter.

He denounced what he called the “absolute negligence” of Facebook.

“Bad actors will certainly use the information for social engineering, scamming, hacking and marketing,” Gal said on Twitter.

Clark urged members of the social network to check their privacy settings to control what information can be seen publicly, and to tighten account security with two-factor authentication. AFP

FLOWER POWER. This photo taken and received from an anonymous source via Facebook on April 7 shows protesters holding padauk flowers during a demonstration against the military coup in Mandalay. AFP

Myanmar junta’s ‘180k rights abuses’

Y

ANGON—A group representing Myanmar’s ousted civilian government said Wednesday it has gathered 180,000 pieces of evidence showing rights abuses by the junta including torture and extrajudicial killings.

The country has been in turmoil since the army deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, with nearly 600 people killed in a crackdown on anticoup protests.

The Committee for Representing Py-

Taiwan train struck truck in a minute

(MS-MAR. 18/25/30, 2021)

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late spouses JOSE C. CARAS SR. and IGNACIA CACHO CARAS has been extrajudicially settled among their heirs consisting of a house and lot covered

by TCT No. 409207 – Marikina City. As per Doc. No. 155; Page No. 31; Book No. CXV; Series of 2021 before Notary Public ATTY. JULIE O. CUA.

LEMBATA, Indonesia—Indonesia’s navy readied hospital ships Wednesday to help treat injured survivors of a cyclone that has killed over 150 in the archipelago and neighbouring East Timor, the disaster agency said.

Helicopters were also dropping food and other essentials into remote villages, as rescuers turned to sniffer dogs in the hunt for dozens still missing after weekend floods and landslides devastated the Southeast Asian nations.

Torrential rains from Tropical Cyclone CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Seroja, one of the most destructive storms to hit the region in years, turned small communities into wastelands of mud, uprooted trees and sent around 10,000 people fleeing to shelters.

The storm swept buildings in some villages down a mountainside and to the shore of the ocean on Indonesia’s Lembata island, where several small communities have been wiped off the map.

Indonesia’s disaster agency said sniffer dogs would hunt through mountains of deand rubble in the hopes of finding the GREENLAND VOTE. Electoral workers count ballots during legislative elections in Nuuk, Greenland, on April 6. Greenland went bris bodies of some 76 still-missing victims— to the polls on Tuesday after an election campaign focused on a disputed mining project in the autonomous Danish territory, as the and any survivors.

Arctic island confronts the impact of global warming. AFP About 120 people have been listed as dead in a remote cluster of islands at the eastern end of the archipelago.

Another 34 people have been listed as killed in East Timor—a tiny half-island nation of 1.3 million sandwiched between HONG KONG—He leads one of the ter returning from a trip to Taipei, where from both Beijing’s more aggressive Indonesia and Australia CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW that is officially world’s smallest nations, but Surangel the two allies set up a coronavirus travel stance under President Xi Jinping, known as Timor-Leste. AFP

‘It’s the tone’: Palau leader explains China mistrust

Book No. LXXXIX; Series of 2019 before Notary Public ATTY. JOSE MA. B. TORRES. (MS-APRIL 8,15 & 22,2021)

NOTICE Notice is hereby given that JOHNDORF VENTURES CORPORATION with office add ress at 14th Floor Ayala Life-FGU Center, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a New Developer of Economic and LowCost Housing Project under the Preferred List - Mass Housing (Navona Lumbia Subdivision) with a capacity of 478 house and lot units on a Non-Pioneer status, with project site located at Brgy. Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro City.

Any person with valid objections 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 Infrastucture and Services Industries Service (MS-APRIL 8, 2021)

ily members hostage, according to AAPP. - UN meeting International powers have voiced anger and dismay at the junta’s brutal approach, and imposed sanctions on key officials.

But while the UN Security Council has condemned civilian deaths, it has stopped short of considering sanctions.

Both China and Russia have come out against sanctions, arguing they risked making the situation worse.

And so far, the diplomatic pressure appears to be having little effect, as deaths and detentions continue every day. AFP

Hospital ships readied for cyclone survivors

Whipps says Palau will not be bullied by anyone into deciding its future -- least of all by China.

Whipps, 52, became Palau’s president after last year defeating an opponent who favored closer ties with Beijing.

The Pacific nation of around 21,000 EXTRA-JUDICIAL people is one of just 15 countries that still recognize Taiwan over China, SETTLEMENT something Whipps is adamant will Notice is hereby given not change under his watch despite that the estate of the late MA. CRISTINA Beijing’s pressure campaign.

“If we were the last man standing, R. PERTIERRA has been extra-judicially we should be because Taiwan has settled among her been with us from the beginning,” he heirs, as per Doc. No. 466; Page No. 94; told AFP via video call this week af-

(MS-MAR. 25/30, APR. 8, 2021)

preventing the military from running the country.

In response, the security forces have used rubber bullets and live rounds to break up rallies and detained thousands of activists, some in night raids.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a local monitoring group, says 581 civilians have been killed in the crackdown and more than 2,700 arrested.

Nearly 50 of the dead were children.

With many protest supporters and NLD activists now in hiding to escape arrest, the junta is increasingly taking their fam-

IN BRIEF

HUALIEN, Taiwan—The truck that caused Taiwan’s worst train crash in decades was on the line for just over a minute before it was struck, officials said Tuesday, as salvage teams worked to remove the most damaged carriages.

At least 50 people were killed and more than 210 were injured in Friday’s crash, which sent a packed eight-car train hurtling into the sides of a narrow Manila tunnel near the eastern coastal city of NOTICE OF EXTRAJUDICIAL Standard SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE Hualien.

TODAY AMONG HEIRS WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS say the Taroko Express Investigators is hereby given that the hitNotice a railway maintenance truck on the estate of the late JULIETA P. LOBITAÑA, who passedon away line in a “head collision” moments last March 3, 2012 at Otis, Paco, Manila and left a real property before it entered the tunnel. pursuant to a contract to sell The vehicle slipped executed between Plus Builders down a steep emInc. and Jesus H. Lobitana and bankment, anddated prosecutors are working Julieta P. Lobitaña Feb. 1997, has been the subject to11, ofdetermine an “Extrajudicialwhether Settlement the driver failed to of Estate the with Waiver of Rights” secure parking brake or if the truck executed on March 10, 2021 by her legal heirs before Notary failure. suffered a mechanical Public Atty. Ramil S. Sasi as per Doc. No. 158; Page No. 33; Book an update on TuesInvestigators gave No. XIII; Series of 2021. day which revealed how close the victims were to avoiding disaster.

NOTICE OF “There was a little over one minute EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT between when the truck slid to the track Notice is hereby given to the the publicTaroko that the Express Extra and hit it, accordJudicial Settlement of the ing to our initial estimate,” said Taiwan Intestate Estate of Teresita C. Trinidad has been Transportation Safety executed by and among her Board chairman heirs, namely: Melissa Mae Hong Young.

Manila T. Maronilla, Ana Margarita told reporters even though T.Young Maronilla, Imelda Rose that Standard M. Sison and Julie Ann M. TODAY the trainasdriver Manas, per Doc.had No. applied the brake, 158; Page No. 33; Book No. Manila the speed of the train -- it was travelling IV; Series of 2021 of the Standard Notarial of at some Register/Book 120 kilometres (74 miles) per TODAY Atty. Henson M. Montalvo, hour -could not be Notary Public for and in the reduced within a Cityseconds of Makati. to avoid the collision. AFP few (MS-MAR. 18/25/30, 2021)

idaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) -- a group of MPs from Suu Kyi’s party -- said its lawyers would meet UN investigators to discuss alleged atrocities committed by the junta.

“CRPH has received 180,000 items of evidence. This evidence shows widescale

abuses of human rights by the military,” the group said in a statement.

They include more than 540 extrajudicial executions, 10 deaths of prisoners in custody, torture, illegal detentions, and disproportionate use of force against peaceful protests, the statement said.

Demonstrations calling for the return of democracy and the release of Suu Kyi from detention have rocked Myanmar almost daily since the coup.

Civil servants, doctors and other key workers have downed tools as part of a civil disobedience movement aimed at

bubble for tourists.

Authoritarian China claims democratic, self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if needed.

Beijing has whittled down Taiwan’s remaining diplomatic allies using a mixture of carrots and sticks.

In 2019, it had two successes in the Pacific, persuading the Solomons and Kiribati to switch sides.

Only Palau, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, and Tuvalu remain.

Whipps has emerged as the most vocally China-skeptical leader in the Pacific, something he says is forged

and his own interactions with Chinese CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK officials.

China dooms Uyghur “I’ve had meetings with them and the ex-officials to death first thing they said to me before, on a BEIJING—Two Uyghur former government phone call, was ‘What you’re doing is ilofficials in China’s Xinjiang have been handlegal, recognising Taiwan is illegal. You ed death sentences for carrying out “separatneed to stop it’,” he recalled. ist activities”, a court said, as Beijing comes “You know, that’s the tone they use,” under increasing fire for its actions towards he added. “We shouldn’t be told we can’t minority groups in the region. be friends with so and so.”

Shirzat Bawudun, a former head of Whipps said he would often receive the Xinjiang department of justice has calls on his mobile from Chinese officials been sentenced to death with a two-year in the run-up to last year’s elections. reprieve on the charge of “splitting the “It would ring for like 16 times,” he country”, according to a statement resaid. “After the elections, I have not taken leased Tuesday on the Xinjiang governtheir calls.”AFP ment website.

CATCH AND RELEASE. Dr. Enrique

Melendez Villa (center) gives Jesus (left), 25, and his son Anthony, 5, from Honduras, a wellness check at Gimnasio Kiki Romero, a gym converted into a makeshift migrant shelter in Ciudad Juarez on April 6. Jesus and his son were flown from Brownsville to El Paso, Texas after crossing the US-Mexico border in the Rio Grande Valley, after which they were expelled to Mexico. AFP

Bawudun had conspired with a terrorist organisation, taken bribes, and carried out separatist activities, Wang Langtao, vice president of the Xinjiang Higher People’s Court, said at a press conference.

Bawudun was found guilty of colluding with the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM)—listed as a “terrorist” group by the United Nations -- after meeting a key member of the group in 2003, according to state news agency Xinhua.

The US removed the group from its list of terror groups last November, saying there was “no credible evidence that ETIM continues to exist.”

Bawudun also illegally proved “information to foreign forces” as well as carrying out “illegal religious activities at his daughter’s wedding”, Xinhua said.

The court statement said Sattar Sawut —former director of the Xinjiang education department—was also sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve after being found guilty of crimes of separatism and taking bribes. AFP

Business PSEi April 7, 2021

TOP GAINERS 1 2

UPM GEO

LAST PRICE 0.0094 0.395

% CHANGE CHANGE 0.0019 25.33% 0.07 21.54%

3 4

PRMX EVER

3.02 0.148

0.43 0.021

16.60% 16.54%

5 6 7

WPI PPC ACE

0.65 5.67 2.06

0.06 0.47 0.17

10.17% 9.04% 8.99%

8 9 10

MED LAND CYBR

0.435 2.71 0.355

0.035 0.21 0.025

8.75% 8.40% 7.58%

TOP LOSERS 1 2

BCP SCC

LAST PRICE 18.9 12.36

% CHANGE CHANGE -8.1 -30.00% -1.12 -8.31%

3 4

OV OPMB

0.012 0.012

-0.001 -0.001

-7.69% -7.69%

5 6 7

DMPA2 MG REG

10.02 0.35 2.4

-0.48 -0.015 -0.1

-4.57% -4.11% -4.00%

8 9 10

PRIM CA IMI

2.91 53 11.22

-0.12 -2 -0.38

-3.96% -3.64% -3.28%

B3

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks sustain rally; MPIC, SM Prime rise

T

HE stock market rose for the third straight day Wednesday after the International Monetary Fund upgraded its 2021 growth forecast for the Philippines to 6.9 percent from the 6.6-percent estimate it made in January despite rising virus infections.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index climbed 61.60 points, or 0.9 percent, to 6,651.71 on a value turnover of P6 billion. Gainers swamped losers, 147 to 57, with 46 issues unchanged.

The IMF raised the growth forecast for the Philippines despite the imposition of tighter lockdown measures in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces for two weeks. The country’s gross domestic product contracted 9.5 per-

cent in 2020, the worst since the end of World War 2.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which is into toll roads, water and electricity distribution, hospitals and infrastructure, advanced 5.9 percent to P4.15, while SM Prime Holdings Inc., the biggest mall operator and owned by the Sy Group, gained 5.3 percent at P36.85.

Bsic Energy Corp. rallied 7.2 percent to P1.04, while AC Energy Corp., a unit of conglomerate Ayala Corp., added 2.1 percent to P7.64.

The rest of Asian markets were mixed Wednesday as investors took a breather following a recent run-up, though another round of healthy data provided cause for continued optimism over the global recovery.

Hong Kong dipped as it reopened after an extended holiday weekend, while Shanghai, Singapore and Bangkok also dropped.

Analysts said buying was dampened by the Chinese central bank’s move to

slow loan growth owing to concerns about the development of bubbles.

Elsewhere in Asia, Sydney, Seoul, Mumbai, Taipei, Jakarta and Wellington were in positive territory.

President Joe Biden gave cause to cheer by saying all adults in the United States would be eligible for a vaccine by April 19, almost two weeks earlier than previously pledged, reinforcing hope that the world’s biggest economy will get back on its feet more quickly.

That came as California’s governor said he aims to fully reopen the most populous US state by the middle of June if the current pace of inoculations continues.

In a further sign the United States was bouncing back, officials said job openings had surged to a two-year high in February, well above the level expected by most analysts.

That followed last week’s forecast-busting employment report and data showing a strong pick-up in the manufacturing and key services sector. With AFP

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

ALI BDO BSC MPI DITO SM ACEN PGOLD SMPH TEL

VOLUME 14564000 3073050 255457000 63686000 21378100 236930 28473400 5288500 4344100 106805

VALUE (PHP) 503423250 313205082 264993820 257170590 239117666 236507415 217438103 200303780 158555295 134599840

H&M to lay off 1,100 in Spain, close 30 shops MADRID, Spain—Swedish fashion giant H&M will close 30 shops in Spain and lay off more than 1,000 staff who are currently on furlough due to the pandemic, the company and a union said Tuesday.

Hit hard by coronavirus restrictions, H&M said earlier this year it would close 350 of its 5,000 shops worldwide, while opening 100 others in order to adapt to the “increased digitalization” of the retail industry where online sales have soared.

The retailer said Tuesday that the redundancy in Spain “will affect a maximum of 1,100 employees” and that the closures would be staggered throughout the coming year.

For now, the retailer has not announced layoffs in any other country, saying in Spain it would prioritize “voluntary” departures wherever possible.

But the Workers’ Commission (CCOO) union called the shop closures “absolutely disproportionate” and the layoffs of furloughed staff unjustified.

“While it is true there may have been a change in consumer habits which could justify a change in the workforce, this in no way justifies such a large number of redundancies, especially considering that H&M has benefitted from the government’s furlough scheme during the pandemic.”

The funding of such temporary unemployment schemes was one of the key measures put in place by Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s government to bolster an economy battered by months of lockdown.

That and other emergency measures to ease the crisis have cost the Spanish treasury a dizzying 40 billion euros (more than $47 billion) since the start of the pandemic.

In return for the funding, companies are banned from laying off staff for six months after the end of the scheme which is currently set to run until May 31, but is likely to be extended.

Asked by AFP if it would reimburse the funding received through the ERTE furlough scheme, H&M said: “According to the current regulations and the conditions under which the company has applied the ERTEs, at this moment we are not subject to any job maintenance commitment.” AFP

NO TO CLOSURES. Restaurant owners, entrepreneurs and small businesses owners gather for a demonstration on April 6, 2021 outside parliament on Piazza Montecitorio in Rome, to protest against closures and against Italy’s Health minister policy, during the coronavirus pandemic. Owners of restaurants, bars, pubs and pizzerias said they will open the doors of their premises from April 7 despite restrictions, as ‘a matter of survival.’ AFP

New Zealand, Australia to open COVID-19 travel bubble WELLINGTON, New Zealand—New Zealanders and Australians rushed to book flights Tuesday as the beleaguered tourism industry welcomed the “lifeline” of a travel bubble between the largely coronavirus-free neighbors.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the two-way, quarantine-free travel corridor would open from 11:59 p.m. on April 18.

Jim Boult, the mayor of New Zealand’s Queenstown, called the move a “savior for businesses.”

“This is the lifeline we needed; this is what we’ve been asking for,” he said.

Air New Zealand and Qantas announced they were ramping up flights as thousands of tickets were sold immediately after Ardern’s announcement.

A spokesman for Australian flag carrier Qantas said tickets to New Zealand were “selling like hot cakes” with a strong “load” to Queenstown, which is billed as the country’s “Adventure capital.”

Air New Zealand boss Greg Foran said his staff were “rushed off our feet.”

The travel bubble comes more than a year after New Zealand closed its doors in response to the pandemic and six months after Australia allowed Kiwis to fly into selected states without the need to quarantine.

Before COVID-19 brought New Zealand’s tourism industry to its knees, it was the country’s biggest export industry, with Australians accounting for about 40 percent of the internaA photo taken on March 5, 2021 shows New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaking during a press conference about COVID-19 coronavirus restrictions in Wellington. New Zealand approved quarantine-free travel to Australia on April 6, 2021 with Prime Minister Ardern saying a two-way corridor for trans-Tasman travel will begin on the night of April 18. AFP

tional visitors and contributing more than NZ$2 billion (US$1.4 billion) to the economy.

Tourism New Zealand boss Rene de Monchy estimated the opening of a travel bubble could recoup more than NZ$1.0 billion this year.

The trans-Tasman route is also Australia’s busiest international aviation market with travelers from New Zealand accounting for 18 percent of all air arrivals and spending A$1.6 billion (US$1.2 billion) annually on travel and tourism.

Ardern described the travel bubble as a world-leading move between New Zealand, with just 26 COVID-19 deaths in a population of five million, and Australia with fewer than 1,000 deaths in a population of 25 million.

“I cannot see or point to any countries in the world that are maintaining a strategy of keeping their countries COVID-free while opening up international travel between each other,” she said.

“That means in a way we are world leading.”

Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he appreciates the arrangement.

“We welcome them back as indeed Kiwis will be welcoming Aussies,” he said.

Last week, the tiny Pacific island nation of Palau, one of the few countries never to have had a COVID-19 case, opened a travel bubble with virus-free Taiwan. Palau President Surangel Whipps described the decision as a “ray of light” showing the world was slowly emerging from the pandemic. AFP

IMF expects slower recovery for Europe than United States BRUSSELS, Belgium—The IMF said Tuesday that the eurozone economy would expand faster than previously expected in 2021, but Europe will be slower than the US to recover from the pandemic shock.

In its latest outlook for the world economy, the International Monetary Fund said gross domestic product in the 19 countries that use the euro would grow by 4.4 percent this year.

This figure was up by 0.2 percentage points from a forecast in January, but trailed the institution’s new prediction for the US, where GDP growth is now expected to hit 6.4 percent, a big revision upwards of 1.3 percent.

Worryingly, the IMF’s outlook for Europe was much lower than it had anticipated six months ago, before the second and third waves of COVID-19 cases brought a fresh round of restrictions and disruptions.

And, while the Chinese economy already returned to pre-pandemic health last year and the United States is expected to do so this year, Europe will not do so until mid-2022, the IMF said.

“A year is a long time in the grim duration of this disease,” acknowledged eurogroup chief Paschal Donohoe, who is also Irish finance minister, in an op-ed last week for the Financial Times.

The IMF said the gaps with the US could be attributed to multiple factors, including different responses to the pandemic, with Europe resorting to far tougher restrictions.

IMF chief economist Gita Gopinath said the slow rollout of vaccinations was also one of the bloc’s “biggest challenges” and that this has left Europe “a couple of months” behind the US. Also to blame, the body said, were “pre-existing trends, and structural rigidities predating the crisis,” with Europe’s economy being seen as less adaptable than that of the US. “In the United States, the first shock in 2020 was smaller and the 2021 rebound was greater. There were no second or third wave confinements either, so the economic impact was weaker,” said Charlotte de Montpellier of ING bank.

Economists also point to a more feeble response in Europe to fighting the recession than what has been delivered in the US, especially under the new Biden administration. AFP

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

B4

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021

PSE INDEX CLOSING Wednesday, April 7, 2021

61.60 PTS. 6,651.71

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

3,409,395,419 120,929 6,054,013,787.31 147 57 46

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.5740

Japan

Yen

0.009110

0.4425

UK

Pound

1.382500

67.1536

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128596

6.2464

Switzerland

Franc

1.073998

52.1684

Canada

Dollar

0.795798

38.6551

Singapore

Dollar

0.746714

36.2709

Australia

Dollar

0.766100

37.2125

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652379

128.8367

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266652

12.9524

Brunei

Dollar

0.743937

36.1360

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000069

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.031857

1.5474

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.2253

Euro

Euro

1.187400

57.6768

Korea

Won

0.000894

0.0434

China

Yuan

0.152884

7.4262

India

Rupee

0.013608

0.6610

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.242131

11.7613

New Zealand

Dollar

0.705800

34.2835

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035172

1.7084 Source: BSP

Villar keeps status as richest Filipino with $7.2-b assets

Business DA lifts local pork ceiling but caps price on imports T

By Othel V. Campos

HE Department of Agriculture said Wednesday imported pork will be subjected to a suggested retail price to ensure consumers have access to affordable meat as the government continues to address the inflationary effects of African swine fever that affected the local hog industry.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar said imported pork kasim would be retailed at P270 per kilogram while imported liempo would be sold at P350/kg starting April 9.

The DA also decided not to extend the price cap on special pork cuts kasim and

liempo and on dressed whole chicken.

The price caps will end on April 9 under EO 124.

“The DA together with the Trade Department are going to implement the SRP in imported pork while observing compliance on existing guideline on hygienic handling of imported pork as prescribed by Administrative Order No. 6 series of 2021, proper packaging and labelling of imported pork and creation of a compliance monitoring team to ensure that sellers and retailers abide by the SRP,” Dar said in a virtual press conference Tuesday.

Imported pork will be packaged by half kilo and 1 kilo and will be available in groceries, supermarkets and wet markets.

Retailers who are willing to sell imported pork and without access to chilling equipment may seek help from the DA’s P45-million assistance program.

Data showed about 18.2 million kilos of in-quota pork imports under the minimum access volume scheme arrived in

the country in the first quarter, while out-quota imports reached 19.7 million kilos.

“The continued deficiency in the supply of meat especially pork has been the leading driver of inflation at 20.9 percent in March from 20.7 percent in February. With the availability of 38 million kilos imported pork supporting local supply, this will further soften inflation,” Dar said.

He said the DA was pushing for the approval of measures to boost supply that include the proposed increase of pork imports under the so-called MAV Plus and the lowering of duties on imported out-quota pork.

“The temporary reduction in tariff and quota control help stabilize food prices and inflation,” Dar said.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier approved the additional in-quota importation of 350,000 metric tons under the MAV Plus. This is on top of the allocation of 54,000 MT under the MAV scheme.

By Jenniffer B. Austria REAL estate magnate Manuel Villar remained as the country’s richest for the third straight year, with a total net worth of $7.2 billion, based on Forbes magazine’s 35th annual world’s billionaires list.

Villar and 16 other Filipino billionaires were included in this year’s Forbes’ list.

The former Senate president’s riches come from his real estate businesses Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. and Golden Bria Holdings Inc., and retail development under Vista Malls Inc. and All Home Corp.

Villar’s global ranking jumped 200 spots to No. 352 in Forbes’ list this year from 565th place in 2020.

Port and casino tycoon Enrique Razon Jr. is the second-richest Filipino with total net worth of $5 billion.

The 61-year old Razon is the chairman of International Container Terminal Services, the country’s leading terminal operator and Bloomberry Resorts Corp., which owns and operates Solaire Casino & Resorts. He ranked No. 561 in the global list.

Beer and tobacco taipan Lucio Tan placed third and was ranked 925th worldwide with a total net worth of $3.3 billion followed by two of the six heirs of the late mall tycoon Henry Sy—Hans Sy and Herbert Sy and real estate tycoon Andrew Tan with net worth of $3 billion, each.

Other heirs from the Sy family— Harley Sy, Henry Sy Jr. and Teresita Sy-Coson posted net worth of $2.7 billion each, while Elizabeth Sy followed with net worth of $2.4 billion. Jollibee Foods Corp. chairman Tony Tan Caktiong also had $2.4 billion.

Other Filipinos included in the Forbes billionaires list are San Miguel Corp. president Ramon Ang, San Miguel director Inigo Zobel, JG Summit president Lance Gokongwei, former Trade minister Roberto Ongpin Jr., Century Pacific Food Inc. chairman Ricardo Po Sr. and DoubleDragon Corp. chairman Edgar Sia II. Forbes said 2021 was a recordbreaking year with a total of 2,755 billionaires, including 493 newcomers, which is unprecedented by any measure, especially in a year in which large economies around the world were hampered by the coronavirus pandemic.

Pilipinas Shell investing up to P20b for 5-year expansion plan

By Alena Mae S. Flores PILIPINAS Shell Petroleum Corp. plans to invest between P15 billion and P20 billion over the next five years as part of expansion program, a top executive said Wednesday.

“We are hoping that we would be able to continue with our investment profile of anywhere between P3 billion and P4 billion per year for the next five years,” Pilipinas Shell president and chief executive Cesar Romero said.

Pilipinas Shell will have three major changes in its strategic priorities in the next five years, he said.

The company is refocusing its business to ensure it is well-positioned to meet the country’s energy and mobility requirements as the economy recovers from the pandemic.

This approach, which will advance the development of low-carbon operations, is expected to drive shareholder value and help determine the energy future of the Philippines.

“The Royal Dutch Shell Group continues to believe in the promise of the Philippine economy and our country.

We believe that Pilipinas Shell is in a strong position to capture these opportunities because of our strong footprint and 107-year history in the Philippines,” Romero said.

The company is transforming its supply chain from manufacturing to full importation following the closure of its 110,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Tabangao, Batangas.

It is also changing its business model from retail to mobility and shifting to lower carbon operations and introducing lower carbon products and services.

“Where it differs now is it will allow us to invest more in our very profitable retail now called mobility business and improve the efficiency of our supply chain,” Romero said.

IN BRIEF

FIRB to have larger role under CREATE

SECURITY BANK DEAL. Security Bank Corp. closes a deal with global partner MUFG Bank Ltd. to allow MUFG’s corporate clients to gain access to the bank’s cash management system DigiBanker. The agreement aims to provide MUFG’s clients with products and services that are suited to the domestic front while complementing its current product offerings. Leading the virtual signing ceremony are Yuichi Yamagishi (top left), country head of MUFG Manila, and Sanjiv Vohra (top center), president and chief executive of Security Bank.

Cebu Landmasters eyes 20% growth in sales as it prepares to launch 15 residential projects PROPERTY developer Cebu Landmasters Inc. on Wednesday disclosed a plan to launch 15 residential projects this year with total sales value of P19 billion as it expects sales to grow 15 percent to 20 percent this year.

CLI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the 15 residential projects would supply the market with 7,500 fresh units to the housing market.

The company also allocated P12 billion in capital expenditures for 2021, up 62 percent from P7.4 billion it spent in 2020. This year’s capex will be primarily used to expand the group’s land bank and complete ongoing developments.

“We have learned much from this pandemic and look forward to offering safe and healthy homes and communities to address not only the great housing backlog in VisMin [Visayas and Mindanao] but also what families really need,” CLI chairman and chief executive Jose Soberano III said.

CLI reported a net income of P1.85 billion in 2020, down 8 percent from P2 billion in 2019 on lower revenues.

LONGEST VESSEL AT VICT. The Port of Melbourne and Victoria International Container Terminal welcome the container vessel Soroe Maersk, the longest vessel to call at the port. Maersk deployed the Soroe Maersk to Sydney and Melbourne to load empty containers that need to be repositioned back to Asia where there is a shortage. The vessel has a total carrying capacity of 9,640 TEUs and a record length of 346.98 meters, which is 11.28 meters longer than the previous longest vessels to call at the port. Soroe Maersk departed on April 6 after loading 4,148 TEUs.

The company said consolidated revenues declined 2 percent last year to P8.3 billion from P8.5 billion in 2019.

Operating expenses, however, jumped 11 percent, while interest expenses climbed 46 percent.

Reservation sales increased 12 percent to P14.25 billion in 2020 from P12.67 billion in 2019.

The company’s economic housing brand Casa Mira accounted for 69 percent of 2020 sales, while its midmarket Garden Series contributed 19 percent. The high-end brand Premier Masters added 10 percent.

“There is a real estate boom and a global trend towards safer and healthier homes. With CLI’s agility, we’re able to take advantage of this new kind of demand,” said Soberano.

The company announced a cash dividend of P0.25 per share to shareholders on record as of April 16, to be paid out on May 10, 2021.

It also declared a 123-percent stock dividend to strengthen its capital base.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Heated tobacco enables Japan to cut smoking rate A PUBLIC health expert acknowledged Japan’s success in reducing smoking rate by nearly a third in a span of just three to four years following the introduction of non-combustible alternatives to cigarettes in 2014.

Dr. Kumamaru Hiroya, vice director of the AOI Universal Hospital in Kawasaki, said cigarettes smoking in Japan declined 30 percent with the introduction of heated tobacco products, something that nicotine replacement therapy failed to accomplish.

He said the launching of HTPs like IQOS from Philip Morris International in 2014, following a market test in 2013, led to a substantial decrease in smoking rate over the next three to four years. Japan is now the world’s largest HTP market.

“In conclusion, after nicotine replacement therapy direction has been tried, they were not really a big success. However, ever since 2014, three heated tobacco products have been launched officially nationwide in Japan and these have been penetrating 25 percent [of total smoking population], and this product has been successful to reduce cigarette smoking in Japan so far by 30 percent in three to four years,” Hiroya, a preventive physician specializing in smoking cessation, said during a webinar organized by business consulting firm Frost & Sullivan on December 7, 2020.

HTPs are non-combustible alternatives to cigarettes that closely mimic the rituals of smoking minus the combustion process. These electronic devices heat, instead of burn, specially-designed tobacco units to release flavorful nicotine-containing tobacco vapor. Results of scientific studies show that tar and carcinogens found in tobacco smoke, cause the death and disease associated with smoking, and not nicotine.

The US Food and Drug Administration authorized the marketing of IQOS as a modified risk tobacco product on July 7, 2020.

FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III wants the newly-reconstituted Fiscal Incentives Review Board to meet soon and discuss the body’s expanded functions under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act once the law takes effect this month.

CREATE was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte as Republic Act No. 11534 on March 26 and published in a national newspaper on March 27, and would make it effective on April 11.

The law’s implementing rules and regulations are being finalized by the Department of Finance and the National Tax Research Center.

CREATE is the largest fiscal stimulus program for the private sector, providing an estimated P1 trillion worth of tax relief to enterprises over the next 10 years.

The law is expected to provide tax savings to businesses totaling around P251 billion in 2021 and 2022, which will help keep them afloat and retain jobs as they recover from the crippling effects of the pandemic-induced global economic upheaval. Julito G. Rada

5 inspection facilities obtain DOTR permit THE Vehicle Inspection Center Operators Association of the Philippines said Wednesday five new modern and automated inspection member facilities secured permits from the Department of Transportation to operate.

It said the Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Authorization Committee of the DOTr and the Land Transportation Office granted authorization certificates to MVIC Bacolod by Cimatech in Bacolod City; CHECK Motor Vehicle Inspection Center in Lubao, Pampanga; Tagbilaran Vehicle Inspection Center in Tagbilaran City, Bohol; Blue Circle Motor Vehicle Inspection Center in Iligan City; and Sta. Clara in Meycauyan, Bulacan.

“We welcome the issuance of the certificates to five of our members. The more PMVIC facilities, especially in the regions, the more convenient, comfortable, and accessible for vehicle owners to make sure that their vehicles are in top condition prior to registration,” said VICOAP president Iñigo Larrazabal.

“When we are assured that vehicles are roadworthy and are complying with emission standards, we can rest easy that we will all be able to get to and from our destinations safely.

This will decrease the likelihood of a road crash due to mechanical failure,” he said.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Century Properties names new director CENTURY Properties Group announced the election of Aileen Christel Ongkauko as an independent director effective April 7, 2021.

Ongkauko, 52, is concurrently the group president and chief executive of La Filipina Uy Gongco Corp. & Subsidiaries, a highly-diversified agribusiness, livestock and food company established more than a century ago. She is also a director of South Balibago Resources Inc. and Ateneo Family Business Development Center.

Ongkauko was a former director of Aboitiz Equity Ventures International, Aboitiz Power International, Pilmico International and advisor to the board of Weather Philippines Inc. She graduated magna cum laude and was a departmental awardee from Ateneo de Manila University, where she earned her degree in Bachelor of Arts in Management Economics.

Her appointment effectively increases CPG’s independent directors to four, which includes Ambassador Jose Cuisia Jr., Stephen CuUnjieng and Carlos Ejercito.

Sports

Lakay’s early 2021 success sign of good things to come THE success of Team Lakay in the early months of 2021 is an inspiration to Filipino fighters, who are getting ready for big fights in the coming weeks.

Coach Mark Sangiao said this as veteran fighters Edward Folayang and Lito Adiwang and latest addition Stephen Loman get ready for action against challengers in the coming weeks during the ONE on TNT series.

“Tingin ko, ito ay isang magandang senyales na naghahandang mabuti ang team. Last year year, pangit ang resulta. Pero nakapagadjust na tayo,” said Sangiao, who considers the victories posted by Adiwang last January and that of Jennifer Olsim last month as morale boosters.

Last Jan. 22, Adiwang made his victory memorable by dedicating it to his late mother, who passed away at the end of 2020.

Adiwang floored his debuting opponent Namiki Kawahara with a left hook in the second round of their strawweight mixed martial arts tilt.

On the other hand, Olsim came out of an 18-month layoff by taking down Maira Mazar by submission in the 41-second mark of the third round last March.

“Sa resulta natin maipapakita ang magandang paghahanda ng Team Lakay,” added Sangiao.

In their coming fights, Sangiao sees Adiwang training intensely with Folayang and Loman.

Adiwang is set to meet strawweight bet Jared Brooks in the undercard of “One on TNT II” on April 14 in Singapore.

Folayang confronts a JapaneseKorean mixed martial art fighter in Choo Sung-hoon.

Choo is well known as Yushihiro Akiyama, a welterweight who will be going down to the lightweight division to face Folayang in ONE on TNT IV on April 14.

Meanwhile, Loman takes on John “The Heart of Stone” Lineker in one of the undercards of “One on TNT III” on April 21 in Singapore. Peter Atencio

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021

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The Techo National Stadium and the 23rd SEAG logo and mascots (inset) (Photos from Cambodia 2023 SEA Games Facebook page)

Cambodia SEAG logo, arena finished 2 years ahead of sked

By Randy M. Caluag

H

AVE you wondered why many Southeast Asian countries are fast catching up with (or by now probably surpassing) the Philippines in a lot of aspects, including sports?

They plan early and get things done ahead of time.

Just take a look at Cambodia.

The 31st edition of the Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam has yet to happen in late this year, and yet Cambodian sports officials are ready with the official logo and the

stadium that will serve as the main hub of the 32nd SEA Games, which Phnom Penh is hosting in 2023.

That’s more than two years from now.

Cambodia’s main stadium for the 2023 biennial meet is reportedly 95 percent complete.

In a latest post on its official social media page, Cambodia Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (CAMSOC) officials inspected the venue, named the Techo National Stadium and found that it’s 95 percent done, with the full completion expected on May 31.

The official logo and slogan for the 2023 SEA Cambodia Games was formally unveiled on August 7, 2020

POC to secure COVID-19 vaccines for Vietnam SEAG-bound athletes

POC President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor

THE Philippine Olympic Committee will procure COVID-19 vaccines in its capacity as a private entity for members of Team Philippines to the Hanoi 31st Southeast Asian Games.

POC President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino made the announcement on Wednesday, just days after Malacanang allowed private companies to secure vaccines for their workforce.

“This is good news for Filipino athletes who will be competing in the Hanoi SEA Games,” Tolentino said.

“Once they get inoculated, they can train with very little fear of getting infected.”

Tolentino said the POC will purchase the vaccine through a $40,000 subsidy from the Olympic Council of Asia.

Ports tycoon Enrique Razon earlier committed to Tolentino Moderna— International Container Terminal Services Inc.—vaccines for the country’s representatives to the Tokyo Olympics.

The POC formed a 626-athlete strong (entry by numbers) Team Philippines that will compete in 39 of the 40 sports in the Hanoi SEA Games program. The Philippine Sports Commission approved of the figures and started deliberating on the team’s funding.

Tolentino also announced on Wednesday, POC First Vice President Al Panlilio’s appointment as chairman of the sports body’s task force on Covid-19 vaccine procurement.

“It would be up to the task force

following the official approval of the design by the organizing committee.

Cambodia’s preparations began even before the December 2019 SEA Games, hosted by eventual overall champion Philippines.

The organizing committee held a design the logo and mascot competition for Cambodia citizens.

The winning logo has the famous Angkor Wat and four dragons as its main motifs. Angkor Wat is a worldrenowned Buddhist temple, inspired

by Khmer architecture and has become Cambodia’s national symbol.

The winning designs for the mascots are two rabbits wearing Cambodian attire. The one wearing red is a female named Rumduol, while the

male in blue is named Borey.

Why so much fuss about the logo?

The SEA Games logo serves as the face and heart of the regional competition in this part of Asia. Remember how the import-designed 2019 Philippine SEA Games’ logo was maligned by local artists and bashed by netizens in social media?

Nevertheless, the logo stayed and the issue was overshadowed by the victorious feat of Team Philippines.

Meantime, the raging Covid-19 pandemic has slowed down the training of athletes of some Southeast Asian nations, including Philippines, for the 2021 SEA Games in Vietnam.

Vietnam though is ready for its 2021 hosting. And so is Cambodia. In 2023.

what brand and when to start the procurement process,” Tolentino said. “Whichever is the first available vaccine that will be allowed for procurement, we will get. We cannot choose.”

The SEA Games are set from November 21 to December 2.

Razon’s vaccines, Tolentino said, are expected in late May or early June.

So far, only men’s middleweight boxer Eumir Felix Marcial was inoculated with the vaccine in Las Vegas as he trains Los Angeles, California, since October last year at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym. The other Olympic qualifiers— boxers Carlo Paalam, Nesthy Petecioa and Irish Magno, gymnast Carlos Yulo and pole vaulter EJ Obiena—have yet to be vaccinated.

PSC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez, who Tolentino named as chef de mission to the Vietnam SEA Games, welcomed the development.

“This is really a very good news for Philippine sports,” he said.

2 municipalities in Cebu to host VisMin Super Cup cagefest

It’s not the end of road for Alvarez LARA Pearl Alvarez’ journey in The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition has come to an end, with the 24-yearold accountant being the third candidate to be given the boot.

“I do see that you are beautiful inside with the real warrior spirit,” said ONE Championship chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong. “But the business world is a dog-eatdog world where only the strong survive.”

“Instead of boxing yourself with your fears, doubts, and insecurities about what you’re capable of and not capable of and staying in your comfort zone, until you learn to break free, it will be impossible for you to unleash your greatness. I know what it’s like to be down and out, so I really empathise with you.”

It was a heartbreaking moment for Alvarez, with her being given the pink slip over Team Valor teammates Sho Takei and Clinton Tudor.

But despite this being the end of the road for her in this competition, she believes that her path will eventually cross with Sityodtong again in the near future. “I’ll make sure that I’ll work hard and I’ll meet you again,” she said at the end of episode three.

Cryptic as the remark was, Alvarez vowed to make true to her words.

And she’s already doing her part, working on her skills to do better on the business side of things. “Right now, I

am working to acquire the business skills that I fell short in during the competition,” she said.

The experience in The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition, she admits, was an eye-opener for her, learning that if she really wants to be successful, she has to badly want to succeed in her goals. And working behind the shadows just won’t cut it.

“I could have been more confident with the skills I had, I should’ve insisted on my ideas when they weren’t heard, and perhaps, I should have also taken bigger roles,” she said.

Alvarez has been vocal of her insecurities inside the Boardroom which, to her, cost her spot in the competition as she constantly downplayed what she could have contributed for her team. And not even the change of scenery, with her moving from Team Conquest to Team Valor, helped her case as she fell into the same trap of being a mere follower.

It’s this quality which made the most impact for Alvarez as she took the lessons she got from Sityodtong to heart.

“My biggest learning from Chatri is that for someone who wants to make a difference, he/she should have an unbreakable spirit, that no matter what challenges he/she faces, or whatever other people say, he/she must never lose the determination and spirit he/she had at first,” she said.

Bitter was this pill for Alvarez to swallow, knowing that all of her sacrifices ended up for naught.

Lara Alvarez

By Peter Atencio WITH cases of COVID-19 dropping in Cebu, two municipalities in the province will host the start of the VisMin Super Cup. Action in the VisMin Super Cup will take place during the Araw ng Kagitingan celebration this Friday in the towns of Moalboal and Alcantara.

Organizers said the games will be held under a bubble, similar to the setup done in the Philippine Basketball Association last year.

However, there won’t be much restrictions since the province is not experiencing a surge in COVID-19 transmissions.

“We have coordinated with the Interagency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on our tournament.

We will have our tournaments in Moalboal and Alcantara,” said VisMin Cup president Vicente Guingona.

Sixteen teams will see action, with seven coming from the Visayas region and nine from Mindanao.

Among those in the list are MJAS Zenith Talisay, ARQ Builders LapuLapu City, KCS Computer Solutions, Cebu City, Tubigon-Bohol, Suiquijor, Dumaguete and Tabogon in the Visayas leg.

The Mindanao teams include Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Del Norte, Pagadian, Sindangan and Cagayan De Oro. The Mindanao leg begins right after the Visayan leg ends on May 8.

Each team is expected to field a 15man roster during the cagefest.

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Sports

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021

Injured Tiger doing well but keenly missed at Masters

Embiid leads Sixers’ romp over Celtics; Bucks stumble LOS ANGELES—Joel Embiid scored 35 points as the Philadelphia 76ers returned to top spot in the Eastern Conference on Tuesday with a 106-96 victory over the Boston Celtics.

Cameroonian star Embiid, playing in his second game since returning from a 10-game injury layoff, led from the front as the Sixers overpowered the Celtics in the third and final regular season meeting of the two teams.

Danny Green added 17 points while Ben Simmons had 12. Tobias Harris and Furkan Korkmaz finished with 10 points apiece as the Sixers improved to 35-16 to edge ahead of the Brooklyn Nets in the East.

Despite his 35-point display, Embiid believes he is still not firing on all cylinders as he works his way back from injury.

“It’s only my second game back,” Embiid said. “I’m still working through it to get back to the shape I was in before I got hurt, but I’m feeling great.

“The body feels healthy. It’s all about me putting game together and getting back to where I was.”

Embiid however was disgusted with his shooting performance from the free throw line. Despite making 16 of 20 attempts for an 80 percent success rate, Embiid believes it should have been more.

‘Too many misses’ “Too many misses,” Embiid said. “I should be a 90 percent free throw shooter. That’s why I get pissed off—they’re called free throws. I should be making more.”

A disappointing night at the TD Garden for the hosts saw Boston booed by their own fans midway through the third quarter as the Sixers surged into a 21-point lead after a Simmons layup.

Although the Celtics closed the margin to 10 points at the buzzer, the contest was effectively over long before the end.

Celtics coach Brad Stevens said his team had paid the price for a lack of precision.

“We were loose with our passes, we took too much of a gamble, too much of a risk and it backfired,” Stevens said.

“You have to be sure with the ball against them because otherwise they get running in transition. AFP

The Olympic Rings are seen near the National Stadium, the main venue for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo as Tokyo Olympics organisers insisted that the coronavirus-postponed Games will still go ahead despite Japan declaring a state of emergency a little over 100 days before the opening ceremony. AFP

Olympic torch relay barred from Osaka’s public roads

T

OKYO—The Olympic torch relay will be barred from public roads across Japan’s Osaka region as virus cases there spike, prompting officials to declare a medical emergency, the governor said Wednesday.

A decision to keep the flame away from public view had already been taken for Osaka city, but Wednesday’s announcement extends the measure to the entire prefecture.

“Today, we decided to ask residents across the entire Osaka region to refrain from making non-essential and non-urgent outings, so we will cancel the torch relay on public roads in the prefecture,” regional governor Hirofumi Yoshimura told reporters.

He said officials were discussing whether the torch could be carried on a closed route inside a park as an alternative.

The Olympic flame began its nationwide relay on March 25 in Fukushima and is due to pass through the Osaka region on April 13 and 14.

The relay launch ceremony was held without spectators because of virus

concerns, and rules already require fans lining the route to wear masks and avoid cheering.

Yoshimura said it would be “inappropriate” to hold it in the Osaka region on public roads as large numbers of onlookers could gather.

“The torch relay tends to attract crowds because people want to see it, even if we take measures,” he said.

The decision came as the Osaka region declared a medical emergency, with rising infections putting local health facilities under increasing strain.

It is expected to report a record number of infections later Wednesday after setting several new highs in recent weeks.

Local residents are being asked to avoid non-essential outings, and Osaka city is already under special

anti-virus measures including asking businesses to close early.

Yoshimura had suggested last week that Osaka city’s relay leg might be cancelled, before a compromise was reached to keep the flame off public roads.

With a little over 100 days until the virus-postponed Games are due to open on July 23, Olympic officials are battling the problems caused by a new surge in cases.

On Tuesday, Tokyo 2020 confirmed a water polo test event would be postponed because virus restrictions mean officials from abroad cannot enter the country.

And three qualifiers organized in Japan by the international swimming federation FINA are in doubt because of virus restrictions, with announcements on whether they will be moved due this week.

There was no immediate comment from Tokyo 2020 organizers, who have previously said legs of the torch relay could be cancelled if overcrowding occurs.

AUGUSTA—Tiger Woods is in “decent spirits” at home recovering from serious leg injuries in a February car crash but his absence from the Masters is keenly felt by friendly rivals.

Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy and second-ranked Justin Thomas, both expected to contend starting Thursday at Augusta National, visted Woods at his South Florida home since he went there from the hospital last month.

“I went over and saw him a couple times last week,” Thomas said Tuesday. “Try to go over a couple times during the week whenever I’m home and see him.

“We texted Friday morning, and he said it’s kind of starting to set in. He’s bummed he’s not here playing practice rounds with us, and we hate it, too.”

Woods, a 15-time major winner and five-time Masters champion, would have been at Tuesday’s Masters Champions Dinner—hosted by top-ranked defending champion Dustin Johnson— if he were not at home recovering.

“I’ll miss running up @DJohnsonPGA’s bill at the Champions Dinner tonight,” Woods tweeted Tuesday evening. “It’s still one of my favorite nights of the year.”

Woods, 45, suffered a shattered lower right leg and ankle in the onecar crash near Los Angeles. He underwent hours of surgery to repair the damage, a rod inserted into his tibia with screws and pins used to stabilize the joint.

McIlroy, who talks of Woods making a comeback to play again, visited last month and saw Woods in much better condition than he expected after seeing photos of the car wreckage.

“It was good to see him in decent spirits,” McIlroy said. “When you hear of these things and you look at the car and you see the crash, it’s like, you think he’s going to be in a hospital bed for six months. But he was actually doing better than that.

“I know he’d love to be here and I’m sure he’s going to put everything he has into trying to be ready to play here next year.”

McIlroy said PGA players who live nearby such as Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Thomas “all have a responsibility to try to keep his spirits up and keep him going and try to get him back out here.”

Woods, whose 82 US PGA titles are level with Sam Snead for the all-time win record, won the 2019 Masters for his first major title in 11 years to complete an astonishing comeback after multiple back surgeries. AFP

Gaming champion to unbox vivo Y20s [G] live on Facebook

Unboxing will be live on vivo Philippines’ Facebook page on April 9 at 5 p.m.

THE BOTTOM LINE LITO CINCO JAJA Santiago was just on her second day of quarantine at Vivere in Alabang when I was able to communicate with her and discussed volleyball.

After all, few will argue with me if I say that presently, she is the best local female volleyball player of the country and her return here recently from Japan after helping her team Ageo Medics win the tough Japan Volleyball Cup as an imported player will bear out my belief.

Fact is, it was reported that she was so impressive in her stint there that she was not just deluged with offers from other clubs, but also Japanese citizenship, which will mean playing for Japan

TEAM Aura PH will explore the top-notch gaming specs of the vivo Y20s [G] live.

Fans will have the chance to ask questions about the new smartphone and about mobile gaming to the champions of some of the prestigious gaming tournaments.

The live unboxing will be held a day before customers can pre-order the vivo Y20s [G] from April 10 to 15.

No one can speak better about a gaming smartphone than the top gamers themselves. Team Aura PH, the back-to-back champions of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines, will take over vivo Philippines’ Facebook page on April 9, 2021 at 5 p.m. for the live unboxing of the new gaming smartphone, the vivo Y20s [G].

Back-to-Back Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Philippines champions Team Aura will unbox the new performance gaming smartphone vivo Y20s [G] live on vivo Philippines’ Facebook page on April 9 at 5 PM. Gaming fans will have the chance to

A chat with Jaja Santiago and not for the Philippine team.

Santiago already confirmed she will sign up anew with her old ballclub, but more importantly, she will be suiting up for the Philippine national squad for the Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam later this year.

This was a part of her agreement with Ageo Medics—that she will be given a two-week window to play for the Philippines.

It’s welcome news indeed as she and sister Dindin Manabat were sorely missed in the 2019 SEAG, which the Philippines hosted. Jaja was not able to join the team because of bureaucracy, if not politics in the then National Sports Association for volleyball, the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, while Dindin failed to make it because of injury. The Philippines finished out of the medal

standing in the games.

I have a personal interest in women’s volleyball, to the point that I would watch live the Philippine Superliga starting in 2015, simply because Foton then had my old friend Alvin Lu as team manager, who always invited me to the games.

But it was only when Alvin was able to sign up Jaja that the ballclub, owned by sports patron Rommel Sytin, won two championships with import Lindsay Stalzer.

In 2019, I was given the opportunity

by Foton for one conference to be a team-building mentor for the team. I even brought them to Mt. Banahaw in Quezon for an adventure team-bonding experience described by Dindin as the best she had experienced.

Thank you.

interact with Team Aura PH members Killuash, Hades, Raflesia, Greed, Bennyqt and Jaypee. The vivo Y20s [G] is available for pre-order period on April 10-15 before its launch on April 16.

Gaming enthusiasts will not only hear about the topnotch features of the vivo Y20s [G] from the gaming experts, but they can also interact and ask questions about gaming, Aura PH’s life as a team, and even gaming tips.

Team Aura will share firsthand experiences on vivo Y20s [G]’s powerful specs like the Helio G80 octacore processor, the HyperEngine Gaming Technology which loads games faster, and its 5,000mAh long-lasting battery, among other exciting features.

The vivo Y20s [G] will be available for pre-order from April 10 to 15 where customers can get a free True Wireless headphones for every advance order.

Watch out for the launch of the vivo Y20s [G] on April 9 and know more about this new smartphone by visiting www.vivo.com/ph or following @vivophilippines on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

I got to know the sisters more closely, and believe me, there is no sibling rivalry between these two. Fact is, they push each other to be the best each one could be.

I saw and admired their passion, the determination to get even better in their chosen sport, but Dindin admits that right now, Jaja is the better allaround player.

Despite her stature as the Philippines’ best, Jaja said her present team Cherry Tiggo, will not find it an easy task to win the championship, but they will definitely exert all efforts to reach the finals, this time in the Premier Volleyball League after PSL teams either left the league or took a leave of absence.

And for Jaja, she welcomed this development in Philippine volleyball, admitting that most players wished that there is only one league for women’s volleyball, with all the best players competing against one another. Form-

ing a national team is easier, too.

Going back to her stint in Japan, she said it was a tough road to the championship with a new coach, a new system and new teammates, too.

But it was there that she continued to improve her game, particularly on defense, specifically in blocking, saying if she could not contribute on offense, she definitely will on defense.

Of course, I would not expect it to happen that Jaja will not score here.

She will, even more than before and right now, at 25 years old, she is still peaking and that is why I consider her right now to be the country’s best allaround player, bar none.

And do not expect her to change teams locally. She will stay with Cherry Tiggo, formerly Foton. You see, loyalty is one of her personal values in life.

Her future can only be better.

That is the bottom line.

Entertainment Make way for ADJENG

VERY WANG Adrienne ‘ADJENG’ Sarmiento-Buenaventura, a freelance writer with two albums as a band frontwoman, comes out with her first solo single ‘O Sige Lang.’

in its own way. I liked the thought of incorporating nostalgia in this kind of love song.”

“When I wrote the words, I was honestly imagining that giddy feeling of a fresh kind of a love, one that is young and carefree and yet full of hope,” she added.

The track, an eight-year-old composition, was recorded amidst the pandemic, with ADJENG laying down her vocals at home and Nino mixing and mastering the track in his place. It’s just the first of several originals she intends to release in the coming months and years, notwithstanding the continuing saga of a virus-halted world.

ADJENG is expected to collaborate with other songwriters and musicians who are as passionate about music.

In 2010, she and Nino’s tandem made the shortlist to the KBP Music Awards, as well as the first FILSCAP (Filipino Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) songwriting competition.

Eloquent and dynamic, ADJENG rose up against the challenges of the new normal with flying colors. She expressed, “During the onset of pandemic, my husband and I have been able to embrace and maximize being hands-on parents even more. We showed our children that we can still be far-reaching and passionate about accomplishing goals. We can surrender our dreams to God in prayer, seek wisdom and favor, and quietly but efficiently do the work.”

Sounds like she's a voice we need to hear at this tough time in our lifetime.

Leading network reaps multiple wins at Philippine Quill Awards

Unang Hirit Ligtas-Padyak Project was launched at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last year.

LEADING broadcast company GMA Network won multiple honors at the 18th Philippine Quill Awards, considered as the country’s most prestigious awards program in the field of business communications.

During the virtual ceremonies held last March 25, GMA took home three Excellence Awards. The first one was for its Corporate Social Responsibility project ‘GMA Network Excellence Awards.’ Its regional arm, GMA Regional TV (RTV), gave the Kapuso Network two more honors for the ‘Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels’ and ‘Kapuso Campus Tour: The Regional Masterclass Series.’

Recognized under the Communications Management Division’s Corporate Social Responsibility Category, the ‘GMA Network Excellence Awards’ (GNEA) is an annual nationwide search that honors outstanding graduating Filipino students of communication and technology-based courses. For 18 years, GNEA has conferred awards to future media practitioners who demonstrate leadership, academic performance, and social responsibility.

Also winning under the same category ‘Kapuso is Barangayan on Wheels’ – the mobile

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021

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Celebrated Fil-Am hip-hop artist Guapdad 4000 returns to his roots

YUGEL LOSORATA THE current difficult times call for some bright love songs. Thus, it actually feels timely for a cut called “O Sige Lang” to drop in digital stores tomorrow, Friday.

The title alone offers that good vibe.

Singer ADJENG and I had come a long way as she was among the first female band lead singers I interviewed when I was starting out in the music beat. She was fronting a band called Wink, with an album in CD format and promoted by a mainstream pop label. Outside of her group she had been frequenting the Finals stage of notable songwriting competitions, from The Levi (Celerio) Music Festival to the Metropop-reincarnation Philpop.

In short, she’d been around -- talent proven. Thus, her debut solo single is being celebrated by the music circle familiar with her track record, thrilled to hear a gifted lady who always got what it takes to fly on her own.

The track is by all accounts a romantic pop single with a strong chorus. Her magic wand as a lyricist delivering the spell in every line with such warm feeling to it.

“It may have been a long time coming to record and release my originals. But I think it’s worth the wait,” said ADJENG who is a hands-on parent and worship leader.

She wrote her anticipated first solo record with Nino Regalado who has been her frequent collaborator; the other half of a songwriting duo that made the grade in highly competitive craft contests. The song has the markings of a songfest gem.

She expressed, “All of us have different love stories, each unique and meaningful

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

version of GMA RTV’s “Kapuso Barangayan” which was originally a community activity held in key barangays across the regions.

Meanwhile, ‘Kapuso Campus Tour: The Regional Masterclass Series’, also organized

by GMA RTV, won an Excellence Award in the Communication Training and Education Division. The series, which was launched in 2019, saw some of today’s most talented Kapuso personalities sharing their thoughts on various topics—from mobile journalism to choosing the country’s next leaders in this digital age.

Moreover, the country’s longest-running morning show Unang Hirit also won a Merit Award for its “Serbisyo at Puso (SAP)” and “Ligtas-Padyak Project” – special projects launched at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last year. Delivering journalism beyond lip service, Unang Hirit has a tradition of news and public service spanning 21 years and counting.

The 18th Philippine Quill Awards honored several entries from professional and student communicators which exemplified the global standards of excellent, effective, and purposeful business communication. It was organized by the International Association of Business Communicators Philippines (IABC Philippines), the first IABC chapter in Asia.

KIM KARDASHIAN KARDASHIAN, the billionaire News broke in February 2021 that Kim Kardashian West and had filed for divorce from husband of six years rapper Kanye West.

F

Filipino-American hip-hop sensation Guapdad 4000 released his new album, ‘1176’ for the emerging new label.

NICKIE WANG

ILIPINO American hip-hop artist Guapdad 4000, whose 2019 album was named by The New York Times as one of the best records of that year, has just released 1176, a very personal project that he considers as his outlet to tell his own story.

The album, which was a product of his creative collaboration with fellow Fil-Am artist !llmind, showcases his quick wit that gives way to poignant reflections on his life, and his community's story at large.

“Everything about this album is so honest, so pure, it’s very nostalgic but at the same time it’s super modern in the sound. It has some of the best music that I've ever made,” the FilAm artist told Manila Standard Entertainment in a virtual interview.

“We decided to pair up with Paradise Rising for this project because they brought up the 88Rising initiative.

This album is very personal because it talks about my roots. The album cover features me and my lola standing infant of the house I grew up in. And there’s a Filipino element to this that I speak on and I want to broadcast and tell about my experience growing up being black and being Filipino,” Guapdad carried on.

The album came out last month via Paradise Rising, 88rising's sub-label with Globe, making Guap and !llmind

His new album is a product of his creative collaboration with fellow Film-Am artist !llmind.

Akeem Hayes, otherwise known as Guapdad 4000, grew up in West Okland (in picture with his Filipino grandmother).

the first artists to release a full-length project through the young label that is dedicated to uplifting artists of Filipino descent.

Speaking about his collaboration with !llmind on their album, 1176, Guapdad said, “If !llmind had a power it would be to shapeshift, he can do anything!

Something like this comes in handy when you need to tell the full spectrum of your story like I did in this music. I had no idea we would stumble upon something this magical though but I guess I should have known that linking up with my Filipino brother would enhance my superpowers!

Enjoy it scamily.”

Growing up in West Oakland provided the Grammy Nominated, Platinum recording artist (born Akeem Hayes) is known for his profound sense of humor,

paired with his aptitude for commanding attention, translated organically into his lighthearted freestyles and ignited his interest in developing his well-rounded capacities as a vocalist.

After releasing a slew of successful hits since, in the summer of 2019, Guapdad 4000 released his highly anticipated debut album, Dior Deposits in October of 2019.

In addition to his singles setting the charts on fire and his solo album going viral, Guapdad also continues to build a buzz after his features on Dreamville’s Grammy Nominated RIAA Platinum Revenge of the Dreamers 3 album by performing at prominent festivals nationwide and touring with P Lo, Earthgang (Dreamville), and Denzel Curry.

Get in the ‘SeenZone’ with Star Magic talents

SeenZone is ABS-CBN’s newest online channel that streams its shows on the popular app Kumu.

REALITY television star, influencer and business owner Kim Kardashian West is officially a billionaire, according to an estimate from Forbes, making her debut on the exclusive global list only one year after her younger sister Kylie Jenner fell off of it.

Kardashian West's money comes from TV income and endorsement deals, according to the magazine, as well as her two lifestyle brands.

The star saw her wealth jump more than $200 million just since October, Forbes estimated, from a worth of $780 million last fall to $1 billion this spring, only five

ABS-CBN’s new online channel SeenZone brings real talk, music, tips, and more from various Kapamilya artists in the virtual Star Magic Tambayan, streaming on Pinoy livestreaming app kumu.

App users are invited to hang out and jam with Star Magic talents as they go live daily at 2:00 p.m., showcase their skills, and talk about their life, career, and everything in between.

Catch Turs Daza back-to-back with Ramona Vega on Thursday, Batit Espiritu and Luis Vera Perez on Friday, and Eian Rances and Isaiah dela Cruz on Saturday.

It’s Migo Manikan and Bianca de Vera’s turn to shine on SeenZone on April 12, KD Estrada and Mark Rivera on April 13, Reich Alim and Gigi Delana on April 14, Alora and Anji Salvacion on April 15, Andre Brouillete and Miko Canosa on April 16, and Jamie Salenga and SAB on April 17.

Meanwhile, Carla Guevara-Laforteza joins the cooking fun in SeenZone’s food block, Tikimmm, which helps viewers become more inventive, resourceful, and creative in the kitchen.

The theater actress-singer goes live and renders some tunes while cooking fresh dishes every Tuesday and Thursday at 12:30 p.m..

Apart from the must-watch Star Magic Tambayan and Tikimmm livestreams, the Kapamilya offering in the growing “Kumunity” also streams live music in Tambay + Gig block, educational shows in Ibang Klase, parenting talks in Momshies, and many more.

years after the magazine first reported she had made her first $51 million.

KKW Beauty was launched in 2017, often releasing cosmetic products in partnership with her four famous sisters that were heavily promoted through social media -- Kardashian West alone has 69.7 million Twitter followers and 213 million Instagram followers.

By 2018, the company was making about $100 million in revenue, according to Forbes, which has listed 2,775 billionaires in this year's rankings.

The 40-year-old's most recent project, Skims, launched in 2019 to

offer underwear and loungewear in the founder's signature minimalist style, a move that proved lucrative during the work-from-home era.

Though the company -- of which Kardashian owns a majority stake -- has not disclosed revenue figures, Forbes has estimated its worth at more than $500 million.

The family's hit reality show Keeping Up With the Kardashians is set to end this year after a 20-season run, as news also emerged earlier this year that Kardashian West had filed for divorce from rapper Kanye West. AFP

Life

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

C4

HOUSEHOLD

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021

Improving home life in quarantine OUR home as a safe haven has never had much weight as it has today. As days pass with us spending them in the confines of what we call our residence, many who have the privilege to enhance the space they’re living in are doing their best to add value and fun to every member of the household’s life.

Summer fun for the kids

Bringing all the summer fun possible to kids stuck at home, Toy Kingdom offers exciting indoor and outdoor (for the backyard, that is) toys.

Its Summer Playbook collection consists of inflatable pools and colorful floaters and bubble blasters. Even adults can have fun with the whimsical Unicorn Island or Mermaid Tail Ring.

Also included in the summer lineup are basketball sets, inflatable hoop sets, Nerf Fortnite toys, playhouses, and playsets.

The collection is available at www.toykingdom.com.ph and can be ordered via the store’s Call to Deliver service at 0917-557-8797.

R&R done right

First-time dad Vince Murga enjoys bonding with newborn daughter Charlie as he gets to be present during the first weeks of her life.

Dads share the joy and responsibilities of parenthood

With limited ways to destress or escape, even for just a while, our home becomes the primary place to seek comfort. One of the expert-approved ways to relieve stress is getting a goodnight’s sleep.

To achieve this easier-said-than-done advice, experts recommend exercising during the day, limiting caffeine and nicotine, and maintaining a routine in sync with the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle.

Having the right kind and good quality mattress is also essential in achieving quality sleep each night.

“A mattress that’s too soft can initially

Adjustable bed system from Sealy.

By Steph Llarena

“I

HAVE only been a dad for a few months but I already think it’s one of the best jobs in the world!” enthuses Vince Murga.

A father being not as present in his child’s life as the mother is a familiar picture in many households. After all, as the breadwinner bringing in the income, sharing the parenting load is not expected of them. But that was before.

The evolving roles of men and women has led to the shift in family dynamics from specialization to partnership, where partners share activities and responsibilities.

During a talk hosted by Goldman Sachs, economist Betsey Stevenson said, “We’re more what we call ‘consumption complementarities,’ meaning that there’s no specialization anymore. It is households where both people are responsible for bringing home income.

Both people are responsible for the home production of caregiving and keeping a house.”

Murga welcomes the opportunity to be more present for his daughter Charlie and to help his wife Billie in caring for their child.

“From changing diapers, exposing her to the morning sun, skin-to-skin time, to as simple as helping my baby daughter burp, there is hardly a dull moment,” he shares.

Lucky for Murga, his employer promotes shared parenting load by offering its employees eight weeks fully paid parental leave— regardless of gender and civil

provide comfort but actually lacks the proper support, leading to back pain and other orthopedic problems. On the other hand, a stiff mattress won’t be flexible enough to adapt to your specific body type,” said a mattress manufacturer.

Sealy Posturepedic boasts a revolutionary patented spring technology and “the first and only spring adjustable bed system in the country.” It offers a range of orthopedic mattresses and five-star hotel bed sets for those who desire to upgrade the place in which they spend a third of their lives. Check out its products on sealy.ph.

SM Foundation bags 7 Quill awards SM Foundation program officials, led by executive director Debbie P. Sy (leftmost, upper row); and corporate affairs and sustainability team, led by trustee Ramon Gil Macapagal (second from left, upper row).

Woo Joong Kim is grateful to share the load at home with his wife Kristine as they take care of their toddler and soon-to-be-born kid.

“I think it’s about time for fathers to be given the opportunity to share the load at home and be present for their families, challenging times or not.” status.

This game-changing policy at Procter and Gamble Philippines provides fathers with paid leave well beyond the seven days provided by law and recognizes even adoptive parents.

Birthing moms continue to receive 105 days of maternity leave to allow for recovery.

“I think it’s about time for fathers to be given the opportunity to share the load at home and be present for their families, challenging times or not. This program gives us more time to

experiment and adjust to a new family routine without having to worry about work first,” he shares.

According to the first-time dad who is a sales director for the omni-retail channel at P&G, fatherhood provides an added inspiration for him to work harder “because I want the best for my daughter.”

“There are also a lot of insights from fatherhood that I can take to my work when it comes to managing people, as well as making sure I get several things

done efficiently.”

Like Murga, Woo Joong Kim (“Wooj”) is a dad who is constantly finding the right balance between work and family.

At home, he is father to two-yearold son Min Joon and a second baby coming this June with his wife Kristine Dianne. At work he is charged with the safety and development of P&G’s manufacturing organization as the P&G Cabuyao Plant HR director.

“I always ask myself, am I spending too much time at work and should I spend more time with my family? Or am I not doing enough work and should I catch up on work at home?” shares Wooj, who felt this dilemma strongly last year when he was leading the Plant Crisis Management team amid the pandemic.

He had to perform his family responsibilities while ensuring that the company continues to operate and that the employees were safe. It was initially challenging since he was working from home but was not able to spend time with his family.

Wooj has learned it is important to establish “hardpoints,” or nonnegotiables at work so they can share the load at home. Prior to the pandemic, one way he would dedicate high-quality time was traveling with his family by taking extended leaves. Now that many are working from home, this means deliberately blocking off time in the morning and evening so he has time to take care of his toddler.

“My wife and I are happy that with the eight-week paternity leave P&G provides through the Share The Care program, I will be around longer to focus on helping her with the challenges of postpartum recovery, newborn care, and looking after the household,” he says.

“It is not really a responsibility of one person, but it is a responsibility that both parents should take on. I am proud to work for a company that understands and respects that.”

SM Foundation (SMFI) took home seven awards for its communications strategies at the 18th Philippine Quill Awards virtually held on March 25.

Three Merit and four Excellence awards under Audio/Visual, Social Media Programs, Publications, Community Relations, and Corporate Social Responsibility categories were bestowed upon SM group’s corporate social responsibility arm.

SMFI executive director Debbie P. Sy expressed her gratitude for the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines for the said awards.

The IABC Philippines, through the Philippine Quill Awards, honors exemplary communication research, programs, skills,

and creative work.

“Being able to bag several Quill awards is a bonus for us since our main goal is to promote social development, especially in areas where we operate. Winning the Quill means that we are on the right track especially on communicating our social good efforts.”

Sy continued, “As a practice, we will continuously innovate our social good programs to provide social development for our stakeholders. And of course, we also continuously improve our CSR communications through our #SocialGoodStories program. And it’s not just putting our message out there, but also making sure that our stakeholders can hear us.”

Group promotes consumer involvement in energy industry A NEWLY launched organization advocates transparency among all stakeholders involved in the electricity industry, citing lack of consumer participation as one of the factors driving energy crisis.

“The Philippines remains to charge one of the highest electricity costs in Asia. This and the continued poor services especially during the current pandemic are affecting the ordinary Filipino’s capacity to cope.

Many are also losing their jobs,” said Nic Satur, national coordinator for Kuryente.

Org, a consumer group launched on Feb. 17.

A research study made by Kuryente.

Org, entitled “Electrifying a Nation: The Philippine Energy Sector in Focus,” revealed over-billing through the averaging scheme was committed against consumers during the peak of the community quarantine in 2020. It said, averaging computation was based on higher generation rates and not the lower rates during the lockdown period.

Satur noted, “Our study shows that, historically, only a few rich families are controlling the energy industry, and we would like to change that by strengthening consumer empowerment

Nic Satur, national coordinator for consumer welfare group Kuryente.Org.

and representation.”

As a consumer welfare organization, Kuryente.Org is calling on the government to allow substantial consumer representation in the ERC as an ex-officio observer in the commission en banc; develop a comprehensive roadmap for migration from coal to cleaner, more efficient and much cheaper renewable energy sources; have a public review and accounting of universal charges, system loss, FIT-All charge, and other subsidies as pass-on charges to consumers; and implement an immediate lifting of the TRO on RCOA and gradual lowering of the threshold.

According to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chair of the Senate Committee on Energy, consumer protection is ensured and competitive operation of the electricity industry is enhanced through the Senate Bill No. 173 or the Energy Advocate Act. “The rationale for the Energy Advocate Act is to give organizations a bigger voice in terms of rate setting and going into the approval of retail rates here in our country,” explained the senator.