Manila Standard - 2021 May 17 - Monday

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Outage spoils vax rollout

DOE bares loss of 348 vials, orders co-ops and LGUs to be on their toes

By Alena Mae S. Flores and Macon Ramos-Araneta

LOCAL ROUNDUP

• Shorten detection • Death toll up • Cases down • 55,000 active

T

HE Department of Energy (DOE) has ordered electric cooperatives to coordinate with local government units to avoid the spoilage of COVID-19 vaccines due to power outages.

The department issued the order after local health workers in Makilala town in North Cotabato left 348 vials of Coronavac, the COVID-19 vaccine from China's Sinovac, in a freezer without electricity for two days following a power outage.

"I urge the diligence of everyone concerned so that this incident will not happen again. We cannot afford [to allow] negligence... to derail and affect the government’s vaccination drive," Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said in a statement over the weekend.

"If needed, the DOE is ready to work with the LGUs to conduct some lectures or seminars on what to do when outages occur," he said.

For his part, National Electrification Administration head Edgardo Masongsong said NEA and all electric cooperatives “are fully committed to provide the necessary assistance to ensure reliable and stable power supply to support the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.”

“We will advise the ECs to closely coordinate with the LGUs and the National Task Force regarding the conduct Next page

PGH closes ER after fire: 12 babies among evacuees

VOL. XXXV • NO. 91• 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 MONDAY, MAY 17, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

By Willie Casas

Grateful Mateo thanks fans on finals’ eve

By Nickie Wang MISS Philippines Rabiya Mateo took to Instagram to express her gratitude to those who have continuously supported her journey ahead of the final's night of the 69th edition of the annual Miss Universe in Hollywood, Florida today (Monday).

“Thank you for celebrat ing and empowering us c a n d i dates,” said the selfconf e s s e d

GOLDEN GODDESS.

Like a goddess newly enthroned on eve of the Miss Universe pageant finals, Rabiya Mateo strikes a radiant, regal pose in an Instagram photo – a far cry from the 'dark horse' she paints herself to be at the onset of the beauty contest being held in the USA.

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COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM MAY 16)

1,143,963 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

5,790 54,904 NEW

ACTIVE

19,191

140

1,069,868

7,541

DEATHS

By Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta

RECOVERIES

THE Philippine General Hospital’s (PGH) emergency room was temporarily closed and no admissions were accommodated Sunday after a fire occurred before dawn.

“We appeal for understanding. PGH will be closed for admission of any case. PGH ER will be closed starting today,” the hospital's spokesman Dr. Jonas del Rosario said in an interview on Dobol B TV. Fire broke out on the third floor of PGH’s Central Block Building past midnight and it was put out at 5:41 a.m.

No one was reported hurt.

One of the staff saw smoke coming

NEW

NEW

Filipinos flee Israel-Hamas fierce clashes FILIPINOS caught in the ongoing clashes between Hamas rebels and Israeli forces have been evacuation, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration's Hans Leo Cacdac said Sunday “We have in-country evacuation in at least three affected areas,” Cacdac said

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House tackles ‘impeach Leonen’

By Rio N. Araja MAJORITY Floor Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez on Sunday vowed to include in the order of business for referral to the House committee on justice the impeachment complaint against Supreme Court Associate Justice Mario Victor Leonen within three session days.

Romualdez, chairman of the committee on rules, said the referral of

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THE Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday said they plan to shorten the process of detection and isolation of COVID-19 patients to five days.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the decision to relax the quarantine classification came with the local government’s responsibility to provide a faster response in terms of COVID-19 detection and isolation.

“The recommendation is we will go to the GCQ with heightened restrictions but the LGUs should shorten the period of detection until the patient’s isolation,” said Vergeire.

5,790 new COVID-19 cases logged The Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday reported 5,790 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number of cases to 1,143,963, as six laboratories failed to submit data on time.

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Couple Teofilo Lopez Sr. (right), 101years old, and Catalina Lopez, 95 years old, receives AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID-19 in Navotas City. The couple has been married for 77 years.

Andrew Rabulan

the impeachment complaint against Leonen would be discussed by his committee.

“Last March 25, Speaker Lord Allan Jay Velasco transmitted the impeachment complaint filed by Mr. Edwin M. Cordevilla and endorsed by Ilocos Sur 2nd District Rep. Angelo Marcos Barba to our committee. We will act on it and include it in the order of business,” he said.

Romualdez said Congress would Next page

Israeli air strikes on Gaza killed 40 Palestinians Sunday, Gaza's health ministry said.

(Story on A5)

in an interview over “Dobol B TV.” Filipinos in Gaza Strip itself as well as those in the cities of Ashkelon and Ashdod have been moved to safer areas, Cacdac said.

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News

MONDAY, MAY 17, 2021

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Outage...

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of orientation on contingency measures to address all adverse eventualities," Masongsong said.

Cusi reiterated his earlier directive to power stakeholders to ensure a reliable and stable electric power supply to support COVID-19 vaccine cold storage and health care facilities.

The DOE- Electric Power Industry Management Bureau (DOE-EPIMB) and the Task Force on Energy Resiliency (TFER) worked on a “triple safeguard” approach to securing power

services in vaccine storage and administration sites.

The approach is similar to what was employed during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, which the country hosted.

"Based on this protocol, there would be three power backups. The first line would be coming from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), the second from the distribution utilities, while the third and final back up would be the generators provided by the facility itself or the LGU," Cusi said.

In the case in Cotabato, the vaccine cooling equipment was transferred to a

generator set supplied by their municipal health workers.

"Unfortunately, and for whatever reason, it wasn't connected back to the main line when the power came back. It took two days before they realized that there was no longer any supply to the cooling equipment as the genset had already been turned off," Cusi said.

Senators Nancy Binay and Christopher Go said the government must ensure that no vaccines are wasted.

Aside from the North Cotabato case, Binay noted that 7,500 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine had to be recalled from the Bicol region in March due to

suspect handling.

While the recalled vaccines were later found to still be in good condition, Binay said, there should be no more close calls as the bulk of vaccines are expected to arrive soon.

"Let's avoid oversight and carelessness on the ground given the complicated handling and logistics involved in bringing the vials to islands and far flung provinces,” Binay said.

Go added that there was no room for complacency in the fight against COVID-19.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, meanwhile, appealed to the Inter-Agency Task Force and the Depart-

ment of Health to allow the vaccination of economic and government frontliners, categorized as A4 in the priority list, as soon as possible.

“So many vaccines have arrived in the country thanks to the efforts of Secretary Carlito Galvez and Secretary Vince Dizon,” Zubiri said.

However, he said a lot of these vaccines are just sitting in storage, with many vaccination centers reporting a lack of people to vaccinate under the A1 to A3 categories.

“As a matter of fact, I have been told that some vaccination centers have allowed walk-ins so as not to spoil the defrosted and opened vaccines.”

Local...

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The COVID-19 death toll rose to 19,191 with the addition of 140 new fatalities.

On the other hand, the total number of recoveries climbed to 1,069,868 after 7,541 more patients overcame the respiratory illness.

This left 54,94 active cases. Of these, 93.3 percent were mild, 2.1 percent were asymptomatic, 1.9 percent were severe, and 1.4 percent were in critical condition.

Data from the DOH also showed that 58 percent of the country’s intensive care unit beds and 40 percent of mechanical ventilators were in use.

Average new cases down The country logged a seven-day average of 6,191 new COVID-19 cases — 10 percent lower than the previous week.

The latest monitoring report by OCTA Research released Saturday night said the figures covered the period May 9 to 15.

The National Capital Region (NCR) topped the list with 1,644 new cases but the total dropped by 30 percent, followed by Cavite with a total of 330 new cases, which was 20 percent lower than the previous period.

The NCR had 1,855 new cases from May 5 to 11.

Laguna had 297 new cases and a 17 percent decrease, Bulacan’s 256 new infections were 5 percent lower, and Rizal tallied 238 new cases, a 29 percent decrease.

Among NCR cities, Navotas had the fewest new cases at 16 (down by 19 percent) and lowest average daily attack rate (ADAR) at 5.99.

Quezon City had the most new cases at 398 but this was 25 percent lower than the previous week.

PGH...

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Filipinos...

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He did not give a figure as to how many have been evacuated, but said there have been no reported casualties among Filipinos in the conflict-stricken areas.

Earlier, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the Philippines is ready to facilitate the emergency repatriation of Filipinos in Israel.

“We are preparing for Filipinos’ possible repatriation and they are given a warning to stay safe because of the escalating tensions in Israel and its occupied territory,” Roque said.

Roque said the government would go on a special mission to fetch distressed Filipinos “if need be.”

A total 29,473 Filipinos are currently working and residing in Israel.

The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv advised the Filipino community in Israel to stay vigilant and postpone or cancel travel plans to places near the border of Gaza.

In case of emergency, the embassy may be reached at +972.54.466.1188.

Affected Filipinos may also contact the Israeli authorities at 100 (Police), 101 (Ambulance or Emergency Service), 102 (Fire), 104 (Home Front Command), 106/107/108 (Municipality Call Center).

PRECIOUS MIRACLES. At least 12 babies had to be evacuated from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the fourth floor of the state-run Philippine General Hospital after fire broke out early Sunday morning. The babies were brought to the Sta. Ana Hospital along with other pediatric patients. Facebook post of Dr. Cindy Sotalbo

House...

Grateful...

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“dark horse” who, in a previous interview, said she was a virtual unknown during the start of the competition.

“There may be some who are critical to us but still, there [are] millions of nice people who cheer for us,” she added in her IG post.

The 24-year-old Ilongga, a physical therapist by profession, has been the subject of critical comments on social media after her Philippine flag-inspired national costume performance.

During the preliminary judging, Mateo owned the stage in her yellow twopiece swimsuit that showed off her killer curves before changing into a Furne One-designed yellow gown encrusted with citrine Swarovski crystals.

In the final survey of pageantologists Missosology.org and Pageantology101, Mateo joined delegates from Puerto Rico, India, Thailand and Peru as the top prospective winners.

“There was no unanimous decision on number 1 in the Final Hot Picks, an indication of how intense the competition is," Missosology's Ameer Gamama told ABS-CBN News.

Mateo is competing against 73 other delegates in the pandemic-delayed edition of the pageant.

She is gunning for the country’s fifth Miss Universe crown following in the footsteps of recent winners Pia Wurtzbach (2015) and Catriona Gray (2018).

The Miss Universe pageant airs live on A2Z channel at 8:00 a.m. today and simulcasts commercial-free on iQiyi.

prioritize the passage of the P405.6-billion Bayanihan 3 upon the resumption of its three-week session on Monday before the Congress’ sine die adjournment on June 4.

“We need Bayanihan 3 to help ensure that the economy recovers quickly from the coronavirus disease-19-induced crisis in a strong, sustainable, and resilient manner,” he said.

“We only have three weeks to pass this vital measure that will help our fellow Filipinos who are all affected by the pandemic, and we are confident that before we adjourn, we will be able to pass the measure,” he added.

He said the committees on social services, economic affairs, and ways and means have approved the Bayanihan to Arise As One Act or Bayanihan 3 but it still has to go through the committee on appropriations.

Congress would continue with the deliberation of Resolution of Both Houses No. 2 to amend the restrictive economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

On the other hand, Ako Bicol partylist Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr., chairman of the House committee on constitutional amendments, said he is hoping that lawmakers would vote for the passage of RBH No. 2 on third and final reading before adjourning sine die.

Romualdez reported that the Congress’ sessions resulted in the passage of 39 national laws.

“All in all, we processed 3,316 measures during our 80 session days or an average of 41 measures per session day,” he said.

INNOCENT VICTIMS OF AGGRESSION. A Palestinian girl, who was wounded in overnight Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip, receives treatment at Al-Shifa Hospital on May 16, 2021. Israeli strikes destroyed the home of a Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip and killed more than 40 Palestinians. AFP

out of the operating room supply area (ORSA) where linen is kept.

Fire was seen going up to the ceiling.

The staff member used a fire extinguisher but was unable to put out the fire.

Smoke went up to as high as the seventh floor, prompting hospital staff to evacuate patients, Del Rosario said.

“Some [patients] were brought to the chapel, the driveway, quadrangle, corridor. The 12 newborn babies who need to be in the nursery were transferred to the Sta. Ana Hospital,” he said in Filipino.

Some pediatric patients were also transferred to private hospitals, he added.

COVID-19 pay patients were also evacuated. Those who were in the intensive care unit were temporarily brought to the charity ward, while the others were brought to the emergency room near the OB department, he said.

“They were secured and we made sure they were not brought near non-COVID patients,” he said.

Those admitted in the pay hospital were temporarily brought to the emergency room, thus the ER is closed for the day, he added.

Some patients, however, were already brought back to their rooms.

Del Rosario said the operating rooms of the hospital were spared from the fire.

Fire officials have yet to determine the cause of the fire.

Senator Joel Villanueva on Sunday proposed to tap the P19.445 billion unused 2020 and 2021 “calamity funds” to finance the immediate repair of PGH. He warned that a PGH with a reduced operational capacity would aggravate the chronic bed shortage for patients with severe COVID-19 and others, like those with cancer, who seek treatment from one of the nation’s best public hospitals.

"The repair of PGH is very important because thousands of our people are depending on their (medical) care and treatment.

But it is not only the PGH and its patients who suffer but the public too,"Villanueva said He described as a "double calamity" the early morning fire that sent patients – infants in incubators and intubated adults – being wheeled out to safety.

Villanueva said the unused calamity funds could be used to jumpstart the efforts to “building back a better and bigger PGH.” Under the 2021 national budget, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Fund (NDRRMF), the Calamity Fund’s official name, has been appropriated P20 billion, of which P5 billion is for the Marawi rehabilitation.

News Manhunt on for NPAs in Negros purge

By Rio N. Araja A MANHUNT is underway against suspected members of the New People’s Army who allegedly killed five persons in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said Sunday.

“Right now, authorities are conducting manhunt operations against the suspects of this crime. We promised to the bereaved families of the victims that justice will be served,” Eleazar said in a statement.

“We are getting the statements from the victims’ families and witnesses which will be a big help in identifying the persons behind the killing and solving this case,” he added.

Initial investigation showed that the victims were killed in front of their families inside their respective homes in Barangay Trinidad.

He said the victims were possibly suspected by the NPA as government informants in the clash between the military and the communist terrorists on March 23, in which 10 rebels were killed.

“At least 10 were killed from the NPA side and this is one of the possible motives of the killings. The NPA might have taken revenge. We have information that two of the victims were former NPA supporters. We will look into all possible motives,” Eleazar said.

“We have directed our local police to coordinate with our local government officials to intensify security in barangay and nearby places. We are ready to protect the community against atrocities by the NPA and other lawless groups,” he added.

Meanwhile, Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate on Sunday condemned the red-tagging of institutions and judicial processes by members of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTFELCAC) “merely because these institutions disagree with the red-tagging task force.”

MONDAY, MAY 17, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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Commie hunter new Army chief

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has named the commander of Northern Mindanao’s “Diamond Division,” Maj. Gen. Andres Centino, as the new head of the Philippine Army.

“We are confident that Maj. Gen. Centino will continue the initiatives to professionalize and modernize the principal branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines while building the gains to serve our people and secure our land,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said on Sunday.

Centino, as then commander of the 4th Infantry Division, has committed to defeat the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army in the Northern Mindanao and Caraga regions.

He focused on ending mass support

for the communist rebels to prevent it from raising funds and recruiting new members.

“The CPP-NPA members, without resources, will surely be defeated and can no longer recruit new members nor conduct atrocities against our people,” he said in a speech last year.

For his part, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo welcomed Centino’s appointment, saying it came at a time when the military is vigorously pursuing its initiatives and building on its

gains to defeat communist rebels, the Abu Sayyaf Group, and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

“This is where his attributes are expected to contribute immensely,” Arevalo said.

Centino, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1988, will replace his classmate Lt. Gen. Jose Faustino who was appointed as acting Army chief in February.

Faustino, who still has several months remaining before his mandatory retirement in November this year, will be designated as Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff on Peace and Development, according to AFP chief Gen. Cirilito Sobejana.

Sobejana said Faustino’s relief was done in accordance with Section 4 of Republic Act No. 8186, which states

that the commanding general of the Philippine Army should have at least one year remaining in the service on the day of his assumption.

Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson lauded Malacañang and the Department of National Defense for upholding the rule of law in naming Centino as the new Army chief.

“I thank and commend Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines for rectifying an oversight in appointing Lt. Gen. Faustino, and for their adherence to Section 4 of RA No. 8186,” Lacson said.

Lacson, who chairs the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, said the appointment of Centino complies with the law’s provision.

‘Intensify operations, intel gathering vs. BIFF rebels’

LIFE'S STILL A BEACH. These kids may not be able to go to the beach given the lockdowns amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but they are still able to cool down in the summer heat and have fun on the water with their portable swimming pool in Baseco, Tondo. Normal Cruz

PHILIPPINE National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Sunday ordered police units to intensify their offensive against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

Eleazar made the directive following the statement of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. that the BIFF has heightened its recruitment activities and increased its attacks amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is easy now for the BIFF to recruit members because the pandemic has severely affected the livelihood of many people in Mindanao,” Eleazar said in a statement.

“The BIFF is taking advantage of the hunger and unemployment woes of our people,” he added.

To prevent the BIFF’s recruitment and attacks, the PNP needs to further enhance its intelligence operations against the group and conduct aggres-

sive police operations, Eleazar said.

“We will intensify the police presence as deterrence,” he said.

Eleazar said the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines still need the public’s help to successfully stop the BIFF from getting more members.

“This needs a whole-of-nation approach. Aside from the police and military, other government agencies and stakeholders also have roles to play in preventing recruitment by the BIFF,” he said.

Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte asked local leaders of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to refuse terrorist armed groups seeking sanctuary in their communities.

Duterte said keeping the bandits out of the BARMM was necessary to prevent him from ordering an all-out military offensive against the BIFF in the area.

Opinion

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MONDAY, MAY 17, 2021 Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Virulent

EDITORIAL

Heightened inequalities

practically every food and household item, NAKED including toilet paper. Long queues in evTHOUGHT ery supermarket and grocery was a common sight.

CHARLIE V. Although a Level 3 alert stops short of MANALO a total lockdown, Taiwan’s health ministry and the entire government are not taking N THE beginning it any chances. If contact tracing efforts are The pandemic is appeared that COVID-19 WEDNESDAY last week we were report- unable to contain the transmission, a total ing in this space how the stock market in lockdown similar to our severest ECQ is being felt differently was a great equalizer. It Taiwan was booming, in large part because still possible. Other cities, such as Kaohsiby different people in THE FIFTH affected people from different of their government and people’s success in ung, Taichung and Hsinchu are also on alert, thwarting the spread of the coronavirus in- although of lower levels. countries, races, religions, different places.

GOSPEL fection for the last 16CROSSROADS months.

It seems the virulence began with airline socio-economic classes alike.

Two days later, things changed. On crews, at a time when travel restrictions JUDE J.A. Thursday, 29 new cases of locally-transmitwere about to be relaxed, to a ACIDRE point where Prosperous cities were as ted COVID-19 infections wereCRUZ reported. A in mid-April, a travel bubble between TaiThe economic issues are arguably DELA likely to be hit by a surge as day later, it rose to 180 new infections. wan and Palau was unveiled. Though it fell more gaping than the physical As a result, Taiwan’s Central Epidem- flat due to lack of economies of scale, pospoor ones, and the virus did ones. Mobility restrictions have ic Command Center (CECC) raised the sibilities of expanding the bubble to other not distinguish whose system allowed work-from-home arrangeCOVID alert level for the capital and adjoin- “relatively safe” places like Singapore and ments for many employees, but to invade: The person most ing New Taipei City to Level 3, as an unusu- Vietnam were on the drawing board. al spike never before experienced since the not all have the luxury of staying But a mistake was made. China Airline proximate to the carrier was Wuhan virulence invaded the entire world, pilots are quarantined upon arrival at an airproductive through remote work. always the most at risk. The happened in what was a very controlled port hotel, run by Novotel OPEN of the French SofThose who have to show up have situation in Taiwan. Alert Level 3 will be itel/Mercure/Novotel/Ibis worldwide hotel symptoms are the same.

THOUGHTS to brave the daily risk of exposure effective up to May 28, a two-week period chain. For five days, airline crews were on to the virus. during which contract workers, such as Fil- self-health management in the hotel.

ORLANDO As we learned more about the ipinos, Indonesians and from other Asean Millions have not even been Then hotel management launched a OXALES and South Asian sub-continents will not be promo package for domestic tourists to virus and got accustomed to living as lucky. The restrictions have allowed into the island. “staycation”, with the ability to watch with the constant risk, we realized affected numerous businesses, airplanes land and take-off, a novelty for COVID-19 was anything but an thus forcing them to lay off their travel-hungry locals who in pre-pandemequalizer. If anything, the pan- NAKED workers. It follows that in this ic times would fl y to nearby destinations, Life will not return demic magnified and even aggra- environment, it is difficult to Japan being the favorite, even on short SO THOUGHT to the old normal week-end jaunts. vated existing inequalities. find a new source of income.

I SEE It was in the airport hotel where airline anytime soon.

Physically, for instance, the el- CHARLIE V. Maintaining a safe physical discrews and locals on staycation uncontrollaLITO derly and those with comorbidities MANALO tance is impossible in millions of bly mingled in the dining areas.

This was BANAYO face greater risk of getting infected, households and communities.

Alert Level 3 is being imposed in Taiwan one source of undetected transmission. suffering severe symptoms, taking for the first time. Containment measures inEven students have not been Some of the locals later went to the temclude the wearing of face masks at all times ples which dot the capital, and also to the a long time to recover from the ill- spared. Those who have the dewhen outdoors. Gatherings are strictly lim- karaoke shops. Hence the spread of the ness or even dying from it. vices and the internet connection, ited to five people. All places of business virulence.

The examples do not end with THE FIFTH not to mention a set-up conducive and public venues will be shut down, with In late April, Taiwanese were quite skepthe COVID infections, per se. to learning, have less to worry the exception of essential services such as tical about the need for vaccines.

GOSPEL What CROSSROADS hospitals and the police department. The was available was Astra-Zeneca, and at the JUDE wearing of face masks and social distancing low cost of only 600 NT dollars, or roughJ.A. ACIDRE will be strictly imposed in those offices that ly a thousand pesos, even foreigners like us DELA CRUZ are allowed to remain open. Targeted com- could get a jab. But since there seemed to munity lockdowns where community trans- be no community transmission, and despite missions have taken place will likewise be so many hospitals available as vaccination imposed. sites, the roll-out was rather slow.

As a result of the Alert Level 3, reModerna is coming very soon, and a loligious services in churches have been cally-produced vaccine is expected to roll stopped. Yesterday, the favorite church out by July. With the spike in cases, one “Corrosive capital is often marked by of Filipino OFWs, St. Christopher in the could expect the reluctance to get vaccinatOPEN opaque financial flows from authoritarian Zhongshan district of Taipei City, was ed to turn around. states that undermine the rule of law and THOUGHTS closed down, its masses limited to online There is a lesson here that applies to democratic governance in other countries.,” services. Our OFWs had to stay in their any and all countries in the world: NevMagno said.

ORLANDO homes and dormitories, missing their rou- er lower your guard. With or without the Center for International Private EnterOXALES tine Sunday day-off activities. All uni- vaccine shot, keep wearing the face mask, prise Regional Director for Asia and the versity campuses were shuttered. observe social distancing, and maintain Pacific, John Morrell, explained two onerRENEWED swarming of 287 Chinese miMECO offices have also had to close high levels of personal hygiene, particuous strings attached to loans from China. litia vessels in our exclusive economic zone down, because with indoor gatherings lim- larly frequent washing and disinfecting of First are ironclad non-disclosure clauses on (EEZ) proves the relentless deception that ited to five persons, it was impossible for us hands. Eat a healthy diet, take vitamin C, terms of the loan and then the requirement sadly, our government still tolerates.

Thanks to conduct regular business. The red ink on D and zinc supplements, try getting some that an exclusive Chinese contractor must to the courageous statesmanship of former our bottom line continues to increase. sunshine and exercise, and drink plenty of be engaged for the project. A blatant violaForeign Affairs Secretary Ambassador AlIn an otherwise sea of calm, the commu- lukewarm or warm water. tion of the Philippine procurement law. bert del Rosario and former Associate Sunity transmission became a virulentNAKED shock.

You never know when COVID-19 strikes preme Court Justice Antonio Carpio chamTo residents of Taiwan.

THOUGHTagain and again, or mutates into more severe pioning our national interests and the rule of Unaccustomed to the situation, people strains. Life will not return to the old norHere are the law, like-minded and powerful countries are panicked and emptied grocery CHARLIE shelves of V. mal anytime soon. coalescing into a formidable intercontinental highlights of our recent MANALO alliance to challenge China’s intensifying agforeign policy forum. gression which is threatening the stability of Indo-Pacific states.

Beijing’s belittling of our sovereignty “When an emerging market accepts and legal territorial rights, and its destrucmore money from China, that is statistitive raids into our EEZ have pervasively a product of man’s continuing search for a cally correlated with increased levels of THE FIFTH provoked a simmering distrust and hostility much deeper understanding of himself and corruption in the country that receives it,” the world around him. That is why man nevfrom our people.

GOSPEL Morrel said. er really stops learning. Finding better and This escalating discord in the South China Stratbase ADRi Trustee and De La Salle improved ways of relating with the world— Sea links the hidden agendas of China’s Belt JUDE University Professor, Dr. Renato de Castro including overcoming challenges and diffiand Road Initiative (BRI) which was thorACIDRE explained that the BRI is part of what Xi culties that come in the way—is very much oughly dissected during the latest Stratbase Jinping calls the Rejuvenation of the Great a part of who we are as humans.

Albert del Rosario Institute’s (ADRi) forChinese nation and the goal is to transform OVER the weekend, I delivered an opening Our stories, songs and solutions affirm our eign policy forum where geopolitical thinkSoutheast Asia into a Sino-centric region. talk to an online audience of more than a unique and natural capacity as humans to do ers exchanged insights on the repercussions “BRI provided China with a very effecthousand young participants of the Positive good. Each of our stories, songs and solutions of corrosive capital relative to the BRI. The Impact on Nation Change (PINC) Congress relate not only to the most human of our emotive instrument, creating a wedge between following statements of the esteemed speakorganized by JCI Makati under the leader- tions. They also appeal to our yearning for allies, the Philippines and the United States ers reveal how corrosive investments begets ship of President Lawrence Tan. I began by self-worth and self-efficacy. Man’s own naand adding impact to its core interests in the large scale corruption. asking a question: “Have you ever wondered ture, for example, is to preserve and improve South China Sea,” de Castro said.

Former Supreme Court Associate Justice what makes OPEN us human different from other himself. As it is often said, not even the worst Former UN Office of Internal Overand Ombudsman, Justice Conchita Carpio sentient beings?” criminal would wish harm to his own family. sight Undersecretary General and Former THOUGHTS Morales, in her keynote said that the PhilThen came my ready reply. The three Commission on Audit Commissioner Heidi ippines’ natural resources are being bidded things that, in my mind, make us different ORLANDO Mendoza lamented that “there is no evalas collateral in transactions with clauses from other sentient beings are our ability uation of the necessity of incurring public May this pandemic, OXALES that waive sovereign immunity on our patto share stories, to sing songs and lastly, to debt and the analysis of most appropriate search for solutions. rimonial assets to satisfy China as a lender in all its drudgery and and advantageous sources of funding inFirst, what makes us humans unique is which is a clear threat to seize assets and cluding reviewing the reasonableness of pain, teach us to be good our ability to share stories. Our memories imposition of might. management basis in immediately impleare often stored and usually retold in the “In its lopsided nature and with distaste and inspire us even more menting the project funded by loans.” form of stories. The best way to relate our for transparency, it is a good recipe for corADRi Fellow and De La Salle Professor, to be truly human. aspirations are best contextualized through ruption and favor to selfish political interest,” Edwin Santiago cited as an example, the our own narratives. Each of the stories we Morales said. interest rates of the Chico River Pump Irrishare is more than a retelling of our past ADRi Trustee and Program Convenor, gation Project and the Kaliwa Dam Project experiences. It is in fact a window into our From a wider perspective, this also and Senior Fellow of the La Salle Institute contracts with China which at 2 percent is own, in most cases, intimate perspective of speaks a lot of our society’s capacity for of Governance, Dr. Francisco Magno called things. That is why sharing our stories is collective goodness. Inasmuch as man is grossly disadvantageous compared to only for scrutiny of corporate ownership patterns, a powerful way not only to inform others innately inclined to what is good, so is our 0.2 percent offered by South Korea and Jainvestment deals, and intergovernmental of our past deeds, but more significantly to society attuned toward improving itself. pan. Most controversial is the waiver of sovarrangements involving China to identify inspire others to take future action.

Therefore, our politics, economy and culereign immunity putting our national assets threats of state capture and manipulation.

Second is our skill to sing songs. Our ture are all attuned toward bringing the at risk as experienced by Sri Lanka, Djibouti, human capacity to sing songs—and togeth- best out of our humanity. er weave sounds and rhythm into music— Sadly, however, this truth about humaniIn many ways, this coronavirus crisis has economy is now being fueled by our needs, tells us so much about our innate ability to ty has been mindlessly forgotten by today’s deal with the changing cadence of life. Life society. There has become an eager capacity become a timely opportunity for us to discov- rather than the economic players shaping is not meant to be just existence. The in- to compete, and an inordinate drive to con- er our inner capacity for goodness. Over time our wants. The culture of our world is ner meaning of life is to be lived out in its sume. We mistake growth for what we have, we have become too naïve about sticking to slowly being devoid by the vulgar and promany ups and downs as well as its count- rather than who we have become. We forget rules that we have begun to think that suc- fane to give way to more enduring values such less twists and turns. It comes no surprise that humanity’s greatest strength is not in our cess will come only to the strong-willed and as faith, family and friendship.

There is a lot of talk about the new normal therefore that there seems to be a song for power to divide and conquer, but rather in our the shrewd. But this coronavirus pandemic each of our varied human emotions. There ability to connect with and complement each has not only put at risk the health and safety in the way we do things. I hope that this panare songs that speak of heartbreaks and other. As a result, we have become the dis- of millions. It has likewise exposed the frailty demic also leads to a new way of being us. grief, in the same way that there are music tortion of the society that we are meant to be. of the institutions that we once thought to be When this pandemic is finally over, may our stories we share be that of success and hope. that express triumph and joy.

We want to be heard, but we refuse to listen. stable and secure.

Little have we realized that this pandemic May our songs be tunes of selflessness and Third is our innate capacity to search for We are quick to correct the corrupt acts of solutions. Every life-changing invention or others, but we fail to admit our own share of has also changed the way we look at things. solidarity. May our solutions be that of renewintellectual breakthrough began with one wrongs. In the end, our own urge to compete Politicians are now being measured by way al and growth. May this pandemic, in all its thing – a problem waiting to be solved. Every and consume blinds us from living out our of what they have thus accomplished, rather drudgery and pain, teach us to be good, and than the simple magnitude of their power. Our inspire us even more to be truly human. scientific concept or political strategy was innate nature to be good.

SO I SEE LITO BANAYO

I

about than those with little or no resources. We have no way of knowing today the magnitude of the disruption’s effect on their learning in the long term.

For many months as well we pinned our hopes that things would start looking up as soon as vaccines were available. Now we know that mere availability does not solve the global problem. What we are seeing now is also great inequity: Some cities in rich countries have resumed near-normal activities, but others in developing countries are seeing vicious surges and tragic inability to contain the virus.

Here at home, it does not help that whatever vaccines that manage to fi nd their way here may not be distributed and managed effectively.

What thus can we do in the face of all this? Unfortunately, nothing much in the meantime except to continue maintaining health measures, being aware of these inequities and helping out when we can, and keeping track of what is happening and holding officials accountable for per petuating instead of closing these gaps.

Chinese corrosive investments have bred simmering distrust and hostility

Stories, songs and solutions

and Maldives.

InfraWatch PH Convenor and ADRi Non-Resident Fellow, Atty. Terry Ridon reminded that of the promised $32 billion Chinese loans, only less than 5 percent has come true, akin to “how the President has been making promises of a lot of things.”

Ridon pressed that with the looming elections, the public must realize that the Chinese-funded infrastructure projects are not in the best interest of the nation.

ADRi Non-Resident Fellow Richard Heydarian said that, if you look at the key cases, it seems that the more corrupt the countries are, the more corrosive the Chinese investments can get.

Heydarian pointed out that President Duterte doesn’t have much to show for his pivot to China with the militia harassment in the West Philippine Sea and the economy getting worse.

ADRi President, Prof. Dindo Manhit, for his part, said: “It is the responsibility of the government to ensure transparency and accountability when it comes to transactions with other states especially for foreign investments. The Duterte administration must stop its appeasement policy to China and bring its focus back on our national interests.”

“As citizens we have the right to demand transparency, accountability, and the purging of these harmful foreign investments that are threatening our national security and socio-economic stability,” Manhit said.

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UN chief disturbed by civilian deaths; Biden: End air strikes

A flare fired by Israeli forces lights the sky above the town of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip early on May 16, 2021. Israeli forces pummeled the densely populated Gaza Strip, the sixth day of bombardments on the Palestinian enclave controlled by Islamist group Hamas, which fired back rocket barrages. (Inset) Palestinians carry one of the survivors from under the rubble of a building after it was struck by Israeli strikes. AFP

UN SECRETARY-GENERAL Antonio Guterres was “dismayed” by civilian casualties in Gaza and “deeply disturbed” by Israel’s strike on a building containing international media outlets, a spokesman said.

The comments came as Israel pummeled the Gaza Strip with air strikes, killing 10 members of an extended family and demolishing the 13-floor Gaza building housing Qatar-based Al Jazeera and The Associated Press news agency, with Palestinian militants firing back barrages of rockets.

“The Secretary-General is dismayed by the increasing number of civilian casualties, including the death of ten members of the same family, including children, as a result of an Israeli airstrike last night in the al-Shati camp in Gaza, purportedly aimed at a Hamas leader,” his spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said in the written response to questions on the Israeli air strikes in Gaza.

Guterres was “also deeply disturbed by the destruction by an Israeli airstrike today of a high-rise building in Gaza City

ISRAEL HITS HOUSE OF HAMAS POLITICAL CHIEF

17 killed in strikes on Gaza I sraeli air strikes on Gaza killed 17 Palestinians Sunday, raising the death toll in the crowded coastal enclave since bombardments escalated last Monday to 174, Gaza’s health ministry said.

Among the people killed are 47 children, it said. In Israel, 10 people have been killed in total, with barrages of rockets fired from Gaza.

Israel’s army said Sunday about 3,000 rockets had been fired from Hamas-controlled Gaza towards the Jewish state since conflict escalated

seven days ago.

Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system has intercepted approximately 1,150 rockets, the Army said.

“Hamas has been carrying out a very intense attack in terms of rate of fire,” Israeli General Ori Gordin told reporters as Israeli strikes have kept hitting

targets in the enclave.

Israel hit the home of Yahya Sinwar, head of Hamas’ political wing in the Gaza Strip, the army said, but without saying if he was killed.

“Among the targets struck are the residences of Yahya Sinwar, Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau in Gaza, as well as of his brother, Muhammad Sinwar, Head of Logistics and Manpower for Hamas,” Israel’s army said in a statement, releasing a video showing plumes of smoke and intense damage.

“Both residences served as military infra-

structure for the Hamas terror organization.”

Witnesses confirmed to AFP a strike had hit Sinwar’s house.

Sinwar, a former commander of Hamas’s military branch, served more than two decades in an Israeli jail before he was released in 2011 as a part of a prisoner exchange.

First elected as the head of Hamas’s political wing in Gaza in 2017, he was re-elected in March, extending his tenure as the Islamist movement’s de facto leader in the Israeli-blockaded Palestinian enclave. AFP

IN BRIEF Fighting resumes in Afghanistan

FIGHTING between the Taliban and Afghan government forces resumed Sunday in the restive southern province of Helmand, officials said, ending a three-day ceasefire agreed by the warring sides to mark the Eid al-Fitr holiday.

There were clashes on the outskirts of Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand, which has seen intense fighting since the United States began its final troop withdrawal from Afghanistan earlier this month, an Afghan military spokesman and a local official said.

“The fighting started early today and is still ongoing,” Attaullah Afghan, head of the Helmand provincial council, told AFP. He said Taliban fighters attacked security checkpoints on the outskirts of Lashkar Gah and other districts.

An Afghan army spokesman in the south confirmed fighting had resumed.

“They (Afghan forces) started the operation... do not put the blame on us,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told AFP. The three-day truce initiated by the Taliban and swiftly agreed to by the Afghan government had largely held during the Eid holidays that ended on Saturday.

The calm was broken on Friday by a blast at a mosque on the outskirts of the Afghan capital, which killed 12 people including the imam leading Friday prayers. AFP

FAA: Boeing must inspect older 737s

THE US aviation regulator is ordering Boeing to inspect older generation 737 jets, after the January crash of an aircraft off Indonesia that killed 62 people.

All Boeing 737-300, -400 and -500 planes will need to be examined, a total of 143 aircraft, according to a document from the Federal Aviation Administration seen by AFP on Saturday.

A failure of the “flap synchro wire” missed by the autothrottle computer —which manages the plane’s thrust— “could result in loss of control of the airplane,” the document said.

An interim report from Indonesian investigators in February said the doomed jet’s throttles showed an “anomaly,” though it said the cause of the crash was unclear.

“The preliminary data of the ongoing accident investigation shows that it is highly unlikely that the accident resulted from the latent failure of the flap synchro wire,” the FAA said.

But it said the inspection is “necessary to address the identified unsafe condition” that could be found in the planes, which were built in the 1980s and ‘90s.

More modern iterations of the Boeing 737—including the 737 MAX that was grounded for 20 months after two deadly crashes—were not impacted by the inspection order.

“Boeing works to ensure that our airplanes are safe and meet all requirements.

We are in constant communication with our customers and the FAA, and engaged in ongoing efforts to introduce safety and performance improvements across the fleet,” the company said in a statement to AFP. AFP

A NEW DAWN.

Newly-wed couples pose for a picture along a street in Beijing on May 16, 2021. AFP

Pope urges peace in Myanmar in special mass POPE Francis celebrated mass in honour of conflict-ridden Myanmar Sunday, repeating his calls for peace and an end to the violence that has left hundreds dead in nearly four months.

The mass inside Saint Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican came after several appeals for peace in recent months by Francis, who visited Myanmar in November 2017, marking the first papal visit to a Buddhist-majority nation.

A Myanmar nun recited the first reading in Burmese in front of a congregation of about 200 nuns, priests and seminarians during the mass intended for the country’s Catholics in Rome and beyond.

Myanmar has been in chaos since the military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a February 1 coup, triggering a massive civilian uprising that security forces have sought to quell with lethal force.

Street protests calling for a return to democracy continue to occur nearly daily, despite the junta’s bloody crackdown having killed an estimated 790 people to date, according to a local monitoring group.

In his homily, Francis skirted an overt denunciation of the military regime, instead appealing to the faithful to be “steadfast in the truth,” urging them not to lose hope.

“Dear brothers and sisters, in these days when your beloved country of Myanmar is experiencing violence, conflict and repression, let us ask ourselves: what are we being called to keep? In the first place, to keep the faith,” he said.

Francis appealed for unity, calling division among communities and peoples “a deadly disease.”

“Sins against unity abound: envy, jealousy, the pursuit of personal interests rather than the common good, the tendency to judge others. Those little conflicts of ours find a reflection in great conflicts, like the one your country is experiencing these days,” he said. AFP

that housed the offices of several international media organizations as well as residential apartments,” Dujarric continued.

“The Secretary-General reminds all sides that any indiscriminate targeting of civilian and media structures violates international law and must be avoided at all costs,” he said.

The UN Security Council was to meet Sunday to discuss the violence.

US President Joe Biden expressed his “grave concern” over violence in Israel and Gaza in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Saturday while separately telling Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas that Hamas must “cease firing rockets.”

Speaking on the sixth day of a paroxysm of Israeli-Palestinian violence that has left scores dead or wounded, Biden expressed his “strong support” for Israel’s right to defend itself against rocket attacks by “Hamas and other terrorist groups,” in his call with Netanyahu, while also emphasizing his clear concern over the deadly flareup and casualties on both sides. AFP

5 opposition rebels dead in clashes with junta forces SIX opposition rebels have been killed after days of clashes in Myanmar, an anti-junta defense force made up of civilians said Sunday, as Britain and the United States condemned the military’s violence against civilians.

The country has been in uproar since the military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a February 1 coup, triggering a massive uprising which authorities have sought to quell with lethal force.

Some in the anti-junta movement have set up local militias armed with home-made weapons to protect their towns from security forces – which have killed at least 790 civilians according to a local monitoring group.

In the western state of Chin, the town of Mindat has emerged as a hotspot for unrest, where some residents have formed the Chinland Defense Force (CDF).

“Six members of our CDF who tried to protect the security of the people in Mindat attacked (junta forces) and sacrificed their lives for the national revolution,” said a CDF statement on Sunday.

A spokesman also told AFP that over 10 have been wounded this week, while five Mindat residents were arrested by the military.

With mobile data blocked across the country, details about the fighting have been slow to come out, and onthe-ground verification is made harder as locals are fearful of retaliation.

The spokesman, who declined to be named, said CDF fighters set fire to several army trucks, destroying them, and ambushed reinforcement troops, while the military had attacked the town with artillery.

By Sunday, the CDF had retreated into the jungle, he said.

“We will not stay any more in the town... but we will come back to attack soon,” he said. “We only have home-made guns. This was not enough.”

He added that residents remaining in Mindat—which has been under martial law since Thursday—were afraid to leave their homes for fear of being targeted by the military.

The US and UK embassies in Myanmar sounded the alarm Saturday on Mindat’s unrest, calling for security forces to cease violence. AFP

At least seven dead in Indonesia overloaded boat selfie accident SEVEN Indonesians drowned after an overloaded boat capsized because of tourists attempting a selfie in a reservoir on Java island, police said Sunday.

The accident happened when all 20 passengers suddenly moved to the one side of the vessel to take a group photo on Saturday in the Boyolali regency, said Central Java police chief Ahmad Lutfi.

“The cause of the accident was overcapacity,” Lutfi told reporters.

“The 20 people took a selfie on the right side then the boat lost balance and flipped.”

Police added that 11 people were rescued but seven were found dead. Rescuers were searching for two people still missing.

Authorities said they will look into whether there was negligence by those managing the boat rides at the reservoir.

Lutfi said that the boat was helmed by a 13-year-old.

Boat accidents are common in Indonesia, a Southeast Asian archipelago of around 17,000 islands, due to lax safety standards.

In April, rescuers were rushed to find 17 fishermen after two boats collided in West Java. Three were found dead and 13 were still missing when the search ended.

And in January last year, 10 people went missing after a boat carrying 20 migrant workers to neighbouring Malaysia capsized off the coast of Sumatra island. AFP

MIDNIGHT JAB. People wait in rows for their COVID-19 vaccine inside the International Conference Center during Peel Region’s ‘Doses After Dark’ overnight vaccination clinic in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada on May 15, 2021. AFP

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House panel sets priority: Tax POGOs, e-cockfight

Albay woes: Power theft, unpaid bills

By Rio Araja ALBAY Rep. Joey Salceda, chairman of the committee on ways and means, on Sunday said the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act, military pension reform and tax enforcement would be the prioritiy bills that the House panel would take up.

“We are trying to avoid new taxes, unless they are for sectors that won’t get hurt by taxes, like Philippine offshore gaming operations or e-sabong. Our focus now is really to secure the legacy of President Duterte’s tax reforms and to work on what we still can with the final year,” he said.

Given “both the fiscal importance and the support of the executive,” he said the committee would continue to hold regular meetings and is even ready to meet an extra time every week to finish its priorities.

The main priority “is ensuring CREATE is implemented well. The Department of Finance committed to an IRR date of May 17. I hope we get it by then, because CREATE is only really as good as implementation,” he said.

Salceda said his House Bill No. 9271, or the Fiscal Framework for Military and Uniformed Personnel (MUP) Pension has the support of President Rodrigo Duterte’s economic team and of the House leadership. “MUP pension reform will be painful but crucial. It’s some pain now or very big pain in the future. The unfunded pension liabilities, according to the Government Service Insurance System, amount to some P9.6 trillion pesos based on 2019 data. It’s a serious threat to our economic prospects in the long-term,” he noted.

The Albay representative said his committee would defend in the plenary four crucial tax bills—the fiscal regime for mining, value-added tax administration reform for the digital economy, Ease of Paying Taxes Act and general tax amnesty with automatic exchange of information, subject to the Department of Finance’s revisions.

“Everything is ready, except the language on general tax amnesty with AEOI. We’re waiting on the DOF for that one,” he said.

JUBILEE YEAR. The Jubilee door of the Baclaran church is opened by Bishop Jesse Mercado on Sunday, on the Catholic Church’s celebration of the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines with all parishes all over the Philippines observing the simultaneous opening of the Jubilee Year. Designated churches in every diocese will have Jubilee churches where the Jubilee doors will be opened. Norman Cruz

Comelec urged to look into bidding ‘anomaly’

By Rey E. Requejo

P

Manila

Standard IVOT International Inc. and Power Serve, Inc. Joint Venture TODAY has filed an administrative complaint before the Commission on Elections against the end-user, chairman and members of the special bids and awards committee and technical working group of the COMELEC for alleged conspiracy to commit irregularities when it conducted the bidding for the procurement of the Vote Counting Machines Refurbishment with Consumables intended for use in the May 2022 elections.

In a 19-page manifestation and verified complaint, the PII and PSI Joint Venture asked the Comelec to stop the award of the contract for the procurement of VCMs Refurbishment with Consumables due to the alleged anomaly during the bidding.

The Joint Venture pleaded the Comelec’s SBAC-Automated Elections System to exercise its power under Section 41 of the revised Implement Rules and Regulation of Republic Act No. 9184 otherwise

known as “the Government Procurement Reform Act” to order its Special Bids and Awards Committee “to declare a failure Manila reject the bid and/or not to of bidding, Standard award the contract TODAYfor the procurement of (VCMs) Refurbishment with Consumables – 2nd Bidding – SBAC Ref. No. 01-2020VCMRM.” The joint venture also filed an administrative complaint for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial

to the best interest of service against Jeannie Flororita (end - user), Director IV of COMELEC’s Information Technology Department; Allen Francis Abaya, SBAC chairman; John Rex Laudiangco, SBAC vice – chairman; SBAC members -- Jovencio Balinguit, Divina Blas Perez and Abigail Claire Carbero Llacuna -- for their alleged violation of Section 7 of Republic Act 8436 as amended by RA 9369 or the law governing the Automated Election System that began in May 11,1998 until subsequent elections.

While the TWG members were included in the case, their names were not identified.

The filing of the complaint against Flororita, Balinguit, Laudiangco and members of the SBAC and TWG raised suspicions of another conspiracy to rig the conduct of elections in 2022.

Apart from the the Joint Venture, the other company that participated in the VCMRC project was the Smartmatic.

ALBAY Rep. Edcel Lagman on Sunday raised concern over the “serious problem on the actual and projected disconnection of electric service in various localities and communities of Albay due to reported huge delinquencies in the payment of electric bills and rampant pilferage through illegal connections.”

Lagman proposed several solutions that the local government units and national government agencies must pay immediately their unpaid accounts “which are sizeable,” and that those with illegal connections must avail of the one-month amnesty offered by the Albay Power Agency Corp. (APEC) of holding in abeyance their prosecution if they immediately remove their illegal connections and legitimize their consumption.”

He also suggested that commercial and industrial establishments must update their unpaid accounts, residential and private consumers must fully pay their unpaid bills, any interests and surcharges must be condoned for those who would pay their accrued accounts soonest, there must be a review of the viability and integrity of the Barangay Power Association, there must be an assurance that all regular and goodpaying consumers are spared from a community-wide disconnection, and unpaid bills should not be allowed to balloon because it is harder to collect when the amount of the delinquency becomes huge.

“Although APEC is not expected to subsidize delinquency and pilferage, it must moderate with compassion its enforcement policies, particularly for the marginalized and disadvantaged,” he said.

“It is also urged that the APEC must have a continuing dialogue with local government executives, heads of regionalized national agencies, business leaders, representatives of residential associations, and officials of the Department of Education and the Department of Health whose operations will be gravely affected by the cutting off of electric service,” he added. Rio Araja

Tap Laguna Lake as MM water source—solon THOUSANDS of Metro Manila customers are still getting less than eight hours of running water supply, according to Makati City Rep. Luis Campos Jr. The lawmaker said the Laguna Lake, which is three times bigger than Angat Dam in Bulacan, is key to a Bid No. 2021-01 24-hour water supply for all metro residents.

The office of the General Manager through duly constituted Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), hereby invites He said while the 2019 water crisis may be long all interested manufacturers, suppliers, dealers, and authorized dealers to submit bids for 2020 OPERATION and over, still hundreds of thousands of billed customMAINTENANCE intended for ISELCO ll’s requirements for Poles to wit: ers in the National Capital Region are still reeling NONfrom recurring water shortages.

Approved Budget REFUNDABLE LOT PARTICULARS “A large number of billed Cost (ABC) FEE Manila (Bid Documents) consumers in Metro Manila Standard NOTICE Pole, Steel, 65', Bare-5.0 mm (Two Section), 86 Micron, 1200 kgs TODAY EXTRAJUDICIAL still have limited water sup1 PHP 2,760,000.00 PHP 5,000.00 (Minimum Load Break) SETTLEMENT ply. They enjoy running water Notice is hereby given 2 Pole, Concrete, 60', Class 3,1400 kgs. (Minimum Load Break) PHP 1,975,500.00 PHP 5,000.00 Noticetheis estate hereby ofgiven only for nine to 16 hours daily, that the that the estate of the 3 Pole, Concrete, 45', Class 5, 1000 kgs. (Minimum Load Break) PHP 2,937,500.00 PHP 5,000.00 while others have it less than late MARTIN IMPERIAL late ROSA A. CATIIS, consisting of real 4 Pole, Concrete, 40', Class 5, 1000 kgs. {Minimum Load Break} PHP 1,560,000.00 PHP 5,000.00 eight hours,” he said.

TINIO, JR. was selfproperty located at 5 Pole, Concrete, 35', Class 5,1000 kgs. (Minimum load Break) PHP 2,385,000.00 PHP 5,000.00 “In one service area for inadjudicated her been sole Quezon Cityby have extra-judicially stance, some 187,000 connec6 Pole, Concrete, 30', Class 7A, 500 kgs. (Minimum load Break) PHP 3,395,000.00 PHP 5,000.00 heir as per Doc.settled 311 with deed of donations tions or 1.24 million residents Page No. among 64 Bookheirs No. 7 Pole, Concrete, 25, Class 7A, 500 kgs. (Minimum load Break) PHP 1,800,000.00 PHP 5,000.00 by and have running water supply anyIIbefore Series notary of 2020 public under Transformer, Pole Type, Conventional, Amorphous, 10 KVA Atty. Eliseo S. Calma 8 PHP 1,540,000.00 PHP 5,000.00 Notary PublicNo.514 Atty.; Transformer, Pole Type, Conventional, Amorphous, 15 KVA Jr. as per Doc. Page No.A.103 ; Book No. Geepee Gonzales 9 Transformer, Pole Type, Conventional, Amorphous, 25 KVA PHP 1,860,000.00 PHP 5,000.00

INVITATION TO BID

10 Transformer, Pole Type, Conventional, Amorphous, 37.5 KVA

PHP 4,680,000.00

PHP 5,000.00

11 Transformer, Pole Type, Conventional, Amorphous, 50 KVA

PHP 5,260,000.00

PHP 10,000.00

12 Transformer, Pole Type, Conventional, Amorphous, 75 KVA

PHP 3,540,000.00

PHP 5,000.00

13 Fuse Link (Assorted)

PHP1,601,500.00

PHP 5,000.00

For Lot 2-7: ISO Certified (ISO Certification to be submitted along with the proposal), Open to manufacturer who has 10 years' experience in manufacturing Round-Hollow Centrifugal Concrete Poles and 10 years' experience in supplying Round-Hollow Centrifugal Concrete Pole to Electric Cooperative.

Bidding documents are available in electronic data format for purchase.

Interested bidders shall submit a letter of intent and comply with the following requirements: a.) Company Profile

e.) Latest Income Tax Return (ITR)

b.) DTI Business Name Registration or SEC Registration Certificate

f.) List of Clients for 3 years

c.) Business Permit (Valid and Current Mayor’s Permit)

g.) Latest Audited Annual Financial Statement

d.) BIR/VAT Certificate which consist the TIN

h.) Location Map of the Office

The foregoing amounts are non-refundable and must be paid to the cashier at ISELCO II, Main Office, Government Center, City of Ilagan, Isabela. Tel. Nos. (078) 323-0013 and (078) 323-0715 official receipt of payments must be presented during the Pre-Bid Conference.

ACTIVITIES

SCHEDULE

Release of Invitation to Bid (Publication)

May 17,2021

Selling and Issuance of Bid Documents

May 18-31,2021

Pre-Bid Conference

June 2, 2021

Submission of Eligibility Requirements and Bid Offer (Technical and Financial Documents)

June 3 -9,2021

Evaluation of Eligibility Requirements (Technical Documents)

June 10- 15,2021

Opening of Bids (Financial Documents)

June 21, 2021

Post Qualification ISELCO II hereby reserves the right to reject any bids, waive any formality therein, accepts proposal most advantageous to the Cooperative and assumes no obligation to compensate or indemnify any bidder for expenses or losses that may be incurred in the preparation of bid nor does it guarantee that an award will be made.

JOSEPH S. PALATTAO BAC Chairman

DAVID SOLOMON M. SIQUIAN General Manager M. Standard – May 17, 2021

1411 ; Series of 2021.

MAY 10, 17 & 24, 2021) (MS-MAY 13/20/27)

NOTICE Standard NOTICE TO THE Manila

NOTICE isTODAY hereby given PUBLIC that an Amendment to We are looking the to the for Supplement the whereabout of Extrajudicial Settlement one MR. NELSON M. of the Estate of Rosa STA. MARIA. This is in Manila Go Juato the Ngu,Petition was relation executed byof her heirs for NullityTODAY Marriage to benotarized filed by Mrs. and on Julie May Ann2021 Oriñaper Koike.

14, Doc. No. For information on 412; Page No. 84; Book the XI; current No. Seriesresidence of 2021 and contact details of of Notary Public Tomas Mr. Sta. Maria, please Baga, contact Jr.us of atQuezon 0916City, Metro 4009551 orManila 7718-4845.

Standard

(MS-MAY 17/24/31, 2021) (MS-MAY 6, 13 & 20, 2021)

where from less than eight hours to no more than 19 hours per day,” he said, citing figures from the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System.

“We can only say that Metro Manila has adequate water supply once all residential, commercial and industrial service connections enjoy running water on demand, or every time they turn on the faucet,” he noted.

According to the Makati lawmaker, the problem still has to do with the insufficient raw water coming from Angat Dam. Campos is a member of the House committee on Metro Manila development.

“This is why Congress has to move fast in declaring Laguna Lake as a primary source of water supply for Metro Manila, alongside Angat,” he said.

“It makes no sense for us to continue to rely on Angat to supply 90 percent of Metro Manila’s water demand, when we have a natural water hoard in Laguna Lake that is three times bigger than Angat,” he stressed. Rio Araja

QC wants vax drive to go at full speed WAREHOUSE FOR RENT LOMA DE GATO, MARILAO, BULACAN Area: 500 sq.m to 20,000 sq.m

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT For more details please contact Mr. Ric 09173290549

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late CAYO E. SPACE VILLANUEVA, consisting of real OFFICE FOR RENT properties and shares of stock located at Quezon City and Lapu-Lapu City been extra-judicially HENRY’S Building, No. 80have Ortigas Ave. , Greenhills, settled by and among heirs notary public San Juan City,before MM Atty. Mattheu A. Reyes per Doc. No. Area:Jericho 50 sq.m to 300 as sq.m For details contact 09173290549 357;more Page No. please 74; Book No.:Mr. I; Ric Series of 2017.

(MStandard-Apr. 29, May 6 & 13, 2021)

NOTICE is hereby given that the Articles of Incorporation of TOYO INK 2 COLX. X 4 CMS. COMPOUNDS CORPORATION, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Philippines, was amended by a majority vote of Directors and by the vote of Stockholders representing at least two-thirds (2/3) of the outstanding capital stock of the corporation at a meeting held on February 11, 2021 at 106-A Integrity Avenue, Carmelray Industrial Park 1, Canlubang, Calamba City, Laguna, the principal office of the Corporation.

The amendment refers to shortening of the term of existence of the corporation by amending Article FOURTH of its Articles of Incorporation, as follow: FOURTH: That the term for which the Corporation is to exist shall end on August 31, 2021.

NOTICE is likewise given that any person who may have any legitimate claims for or against the Corporation after August 31, 2021 may contact, for the purpose, A.M. SISON, JR. & PARTNERS LAW OFFICE, represented

by Atty. Carlito P. Egaña, with address at 20/F Security Bank Centre, 6776 Ayala Avenue, Makati City, and with Telephone Nos. 8891-1338 to 40, the party duly authorized by the Corporation to handle its liquidation and winding-up affairs.

CARLITO P. EGAÑA Corporate Secretary (MS-MAY 3/13/17, 2021)

QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte has ordered a hastening of the city’s vaccination drive by putting up more vaccination sites and going into partnership with the private sector to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

“Our vaccination drive is in full swing.

With a continuing effort to establish more inoculation sites and given a steady supply of vaccines, we are now averaging more than 7,095 individuals inoculated every day with yesterday May 15 reaching a high of 8,574,” she said.

To date, the city has 35 vaccination sites scattered in its six districts, strategically located to accommodate more residents.

The number has exceeded the original 24 venues identified by the city when it laid out its vaccination plan to the national government.

The city government has administered over 229,500 doses of vaccines provided by the national government.

Belmonte also expressed deep appreciation to the private sector that has played an important role in opening more sites for QCitizens.

“The private sector organizations and companies here in our city have been truly proactive in extending help to the city government by offering their spaces and lending their medical teams to administer the vaccines. The goal of achieving herd immunity in Quezon City has taken the whole-of-city approach to a new level,” she cited. Rio Araja Manila CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Standard TODAY

News Diesel to go up P0.25, gas to fall P0.30

By Alena Mae S. Flores OIL prices in local pumps will have mixed adjustments this week to reflect the movement of world oil prices.

Oil companies are likely to increase diesel pump prices by as much as P0.25 per liter but will roll back gasoline prices by as much as P0.30 per liter effective Tuesday.

“Expect fuel prices to have mixed movement next week (May 18 to 24).

Diesel will increase by P0.20 to P0.25 per liter. Gasoline will go down by P0.20 to P0.30 per liter,” Unioil Philippines said in its weekly advisory.

On May 11, local oil companies increased domestic oil products. Gasoline rose by P0.75 per liter while both diesel and kerosene increased P0.70 per liter.

These resulted to the year-to-date adjustments to stand at total net increase of P8.55 per liter for gasoline, P6.75 per liter for diesel, and P6 per liter for kerosene.

Meanwhile, the Department of Energy’s latest report showed the number of downstream oil industry participants rise by almost 8 percent to 383 last year from 355 in 2019, bringing in a total accumulated investment of P190.28 billion.

The downstream oil industry reported an increase of 8.58 percent of retail outlets operating nationwide, bringing in a total of 10,186 retail outlets nationwide as of end 2020.

The country’s demand for petroleum products totaled 22,581 million liters (ML) in 2020, down by 17.3 percent from 27,319 ML last year.

This can be translated to an average daily requirement of 61.7 ML compared with last year’s level of 74.9 ML. With community quarantines still up in the country to curb the spread of COVID-19, DOE said the decrease in demand is attributed to reduced economic activity due to lockdown and travel restrictions.

In terms of market share, Petron Corp. captured 20.13 percent, followed by Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. at 17.95 percent, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines at 7.1 percent, Unioil at 6.9 percent, and Chevron Philippines at 5.84 percent.

As this developed, DOE last week signed a memorandum of agreement with Japan Oil, Gas, and Metals National Corp. (JOGMEC) for the study of country’s planned strategic petroleum reserve and national oil contingency plan.

“The MOU that we are signing today is another solid manifestation of the special friendship that our country, the Philippines, enjoy with Japan.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, energy security has always been at the core of our policy agenda,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.

“We have been proactively seeking all potential ways to ensure the availability of sufficient energy supply, most especially in the face of local or global disruptions such as geopolitical movements, global market volatilities, and more recently, this COVID health crisis,” he added.

DOE is currently updating the Oil Contingency Plan that would provide current and deeper insights into how the Philippines could better secure its national fuel supply, especially during severe interruptions, the energy chief said.

1,322 farmers in West Visayas gain land titles THE Department of Agrarian Reform distributed land titles to at least 1,322 farmers in the Western Visayas on Saturday.

Secretary John Castriciones said the 1,322 agrarian reform beneficiaries received 1,416 hectares of farmland in the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras and Iloilo.

He urged the beneficiaries to cherish the day they received their certificates of land ownership, signifying their freedom from the bondage of tenancy.

He said the door-to-door delivery of CLOAs is DAR’s way of addressing challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We do this by personally delivering the CLOAs to farmers at the comfort of their homes or farms,” he said.

DAR also provided support services under its Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project.

Rio N. Araja

MONDAY, MAY 17, 2021

A7

Cuisia: ‘Deceitful’ China reneged in 2012

By Rey E. Requejo

F

ormer Philippine Ambassador to United States Jose Cuisia on Sunday said it was “duplicitous and deceitful” on the part of China to renege on the 2012 agreement between Beijing and Manila in withdrawing from Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

This was despite an agreement, brokered by the United States, that both parties would simultaneously pull out their ships to ease the tension arising from the standoff over the disputed

Scarborough Shoal.

Cuisia also urged the Philippines to continuously put pressure on China through the United Nations General Assembly, saying a unilateral diplo-

matic “protest is futile.”

The former envoy also said the Philippines must have joint sovereignty patrols with US forces and other friendly countries, as our military force is not enough to “confront” China.

Meanwhile, former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario said the Philippines could take several diplomatic options to keep the pressure on China, which his successor Teodoro Locsin Jr. “must have evaluated” by now.

The options, Del Rosario said, include the following: The government must anticipate that China will continue their plan to remain in large numbers in the WPS. This will

be a constant for China in moving forward its expansionist policy.

The government must have prepared a strategic plan internationalizing the WPS issues.

The government must work closely with like-minded nations.

The government country must have formulated a menu of things to do and how to calibrate them. One possible action to calibrate subsequent actions is to inform formally the United Nations through the Secretary General.

The government must have converted the forms of our diplomatic notes into demarches which are pointed, direct and purposive.

‘COD parcels’ scam rampant, Ninja Van warns

COLORFUL POTS. Customers pick from various shapes, sizes, and colors of plant pots along Congressional Road in Dasmariñas City, Cavite on Saturday. Planting and indoor gardening have become popular hobbies as people are staying home most of the time to avoid COVID-19 infections. Gil Calinga

PDEA breaks up 2 big drug dens in Subic, arrests 12

By Jess Malabanan CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—Government anti-narcotics agents demolished two of the largest illegal drugs dens in Subic, Zambales, arresting 12 suspected “users” including the den “maintainers” who were caught by surprise by the raiding teams at Barangay Matain and Calapandayan at dawn Sunday.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region 3 Director Christian Frivaldo said over 27 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) with an estimated street value of P186,575 were seized from the drug dens.

Frivaldo identified the suspects as Felix Dagami Predas Jr, 43, and Loida Mamaril Predas, 35, both suspected

drug den maintainers; Rico Dayap Mamaril, 40; Jhoan Vicario Diaz, 34; Renie Lugtu Sapnu, 31; Nino Rivera Carias, 43; and Crisanto Indoy Padilla, 41, all residents of the area.

Also arrested were Benjamin Monteverde Cruz, 41, another suspected maintainer; Elmer Villanueva Bais, 35; Rex Bagorio Soriano, 26; Emmanuel Guevarra Reyes, 52; and Marvin Manago Toralba, 21; all of Calapandayan, Subic, Zambales.

Initially, Frivaldo said it was a buy bust operation, but one of the suspects pointed to the drug dens during interrogation.

Follow-up operations led the operatives to the drug dens at Matain and Calapandayan being maintained by Predas

and Cruz. Both suspects had been subjects of previous illegal drugs operations, but escaped dragnets.

Reports from residents in both communities pointed to the presence of suspicious individuals going in and out of the place, said Frivaldo.

On Sunday, the PDEA3 chief led operatives and sneaked into the communities unnoticed before they stormed the places occupied by Predas and Cruz.

Frivaldo said the raiding team found the suspects in the act of sniffing shabu.

Charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 are being readied against the suspects.

The confiscated items were brought to PDEA regional headquarters laboratory for confirmatory tests.

TECH-ENABLED express logistics provider Ninja Van Philippines has warned the public against falling prey to the so-called “cash-on-delivery parcels” scam, which duped online buyers through fraudulent deliveries.

Ninja Van revealed that the sharp growth of e-commerce in the Philippines over the past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, when most of the people has resorted to online purchases, has also given rise to incidents of unexpected cash-on-delivery (COD) parcels.

For the past six months, Ninja Van recorded over 200 reports of these incidents.

“We urge the public to be extra prudent in receiving parcels when they are not expecting anything, especially if there is payment involved. As a logistics provider, our riders only depend on the data provided on every parcel and would only collect money if the parcel states so,” Martin Cu, country head of Ninja Van Philippines, said in a statement.

Ninja Van, along with other logistics providers, has been faced with the threat of fraudulent deliveries. “It is imperative for us to protect not only our name, but also the general public who can fall prey to these unscrupulous scams,” Cu stressed.

The COD modus is being committed when an unscrupulous shipper sends out parcels to random unsuspecting individuals under the cash-on-delivery mode of payment.

The unsuspecting recipients, thinking it might have been one of their orders online, would pay for the amount stated in the parcel, only to find out it is not something they were expecting, or worse, they did not order it at all. Rey E. Requejo

Group: Gov’t could lose P100m in rice customs duties via EO 135

By Othel V. Campos THE Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) warned the government Sunday it may lose as much as P100 million in customs duties or more if rice import volumes from non-ASEAN countries increase once Executive Order 135 is enforced.

Based on the recommendation of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board, EO 135 issued on May 15 will bring down the 50 percent out-quota and the 40 percent minimum access volume (MAV) tariffs on rice imports to 35 percent for one year.

The EO intends to “diversify the country’s market sources, augment rice supply, maintain prices affordable, and reduce pressures on inflation.”

“There is no need to diversify the foreign sources of our rice because, under the Rice Tariffication Law, importers

are already free to bring in rice from any country for as long as they pass our quarantine regulations,” said FFF National Manager Raul Montemayor.

“Aside from Vietnam and other ASEAN countries, we have been consistently importing from nine other countries, including India and Pakistan, and more recently China,” he said.

“Similarly, there is no urgent need to augment our rice supply,” Montemayor said. “The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) pegged our March 1 national rice inventory at 2,080 million tons, or only 4.5% lower than last year.”

“This stock level would have already been augmented by the recent dry season harvest. The Department of Agriculture (DA) in turn has repeatedly claimed that we have ample rice supply and has even announced plans to increase our output by one million tons in 2021,” he added.

SAFETY SEAL. SM City Marilao and SM City Baliwag earn PH’s official Safety Seal in the province of Bulacan. “The safety seal is everything to us because it affirms our commitment to safe malling and our strict compliance to safety and health protocols set by the government” said SM City Marilao Assistant Mall Manager Engr. Janette Aguilera. Jun David

FISH HAGGLING. Fresh fish and other seafood varieties are sold wholesale by way of “pandawan” or haggling at the Fishport Estancia Ilo-ilo City. Pandawan is a traditional method of haggling that defies the virus pandemic as dealers and buyers disregard health and safety protocols. Robert Gines

Navotas, DENR, PCG ink environment pact THE City Government of Navotas has sealed an agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Philippine Coast Guard for a partnership to improve the water quality in Manila Bay. Mayor Toby Tiangco; DENR-National Capital Region Executive Director, Jacqueline Caancan; and DENR–Environmental Management Bureau-NCR Bureau Director and concurrent Regional Director, Engr.

William Cuñado signed the agreement.

Also among the signatories were PCGCoast Guard District, NCR-Central Luzon Commander, Commodore Charlie Rances and PCG-Maritime Safety Services Commander, Vice Admiral Eduardo Fabricante.

“We welcome this partnership with the DENR and the Coast Guard. Working together is always better than working alone.

We are grateful that even with the pandemic, the program to clean and rehabilitate Manila Bay remains a priority,” Tiangco said.

“We hope that through this initiative, we will soon realize our common goal of restoring the waters surrounding the city to a classification fit for fishing, swimming and

other recreational water activities,” he said.

Under the MOA, the DENR-EMB-NCR will install a Water Quality Monitoring Equipment (WQME) with buoy near the coastline of Brgy. Tanza 1 to monitor the water quality of the bay.

The agency will also shoulder the cost of the monitoring equipment and installation, as well as the operating expenses of the station.

They will conduct regular inspection of the monitoring station, and share the gathered data with the other parties, if requested. A smart television monitor will be provided for this purpose.

They will also hold orientation regarding the use and operation of the WQME and provide the trained personnel access to the station for real-time monitoring.

Navotas, on the other hand, will allow the installation of the water quality monitoring station and its accessories along the coastline of the barangay, as well as the continuous operation and maintenance of the site by the DENR-EMB-NCR personnel.

The city government will also provide assistance to ensure the security of the monitoring station. Jun David

Sports

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

A8

Kobe inducted posthumously into Basketball Hall of Fame

MONDAY, MAY 17, 2021

Vanessa Bryant speaks on behalf of Class of 2020 inductee, Kobe Bryant alongside presenter Michael Jordan during the 2021 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. AFP

PLDT Home Fibr team cleared to hold camp PLDT Home Fibr has been cleared by the Games and Amusements Board to hold a 14-day bubble camp at Splendido Hotel in Alfonso, Tagaytay.

The camp started last May 10 and will end on the 22nd.

For Power Hitters head coach Roger Gorayeb, the camp is crucial for their build-up to the 2021 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference as they were only able to hold practice at Paco Arena in Manila City for two days before NCR-plus was put under Enhanced Community Quarantine.

“Malaking bagay ito kasi matagal na kaming hindi nag-prapractice. Nagpractice na nga kami, dalawang araw nga lang dahil nag ECQ,” lamented Gorayeb, the only triple crown champion coach in V-League history.

“Kaya nag-worry ako kasi yung ibang team nag-start na. Mayroon sa Subic at sa Clark. Nag-push talaga ako kay Sir Bajjie (Del Rosario, PLDT team manager) kasi naiiwan na tayo,” he continued as Creamline and Choco Mucho have been in a training bubble in Clark since April 27.

In the Splendido bubble are PLDT’s new recruits Rhea Dimaculangan, Isa Molde, Marist Layug, Eli Soyud, Chin Basas, Yeye Gabarda, and Nieza Viray.

Completing the team are holdovers Shola Alvarez, Jorelle Singh, Aiko Urdas, Joyce Sta. Rita, Vira Guillema, Kath Villegas, and Alyssa Eroa.

Though the players are in shape, Gorayeb lamented that the Power Hitters are still in the midst of shaking off some rust after a year-long layoff.

“Kasi halos talagang isang taon na na walang ensayo. True enough, kondisyon yung katawan nila dahil nag-Zoom trai n i ng naman kam i pero y u ng sk ills, hi rap mag-ser vice at receive.

Kaya sana ma ayos nam i n ito d ahil hanggang nex t w e e k k a m i d i t o ,” s a i d G o rayeb, who is joined by assistant coaches Clint Malazo and Ariel Dela Cr uz.

PH archers to train with Taiwan squad

By Peter Atencio

W

ITH travel restrictions expected to be resolved soon, members of the Philippine national archery team is expected to leave for Taiwan this week.

After confining themselves to months of bubble training in Dumaguete, a six-man Philippine squad is preparing to link up with the national contingent of Taiwan, which is in the midst of preparations for the Tokyo Olympics.

The Taiwanese archery team for the games is led by twotime Olympian Tan Ya-ting and reigning world champion Lei Chien-ying in the women’s individual recurve.

The Chinese Taipei Archery Association has informed their Philippine counterpart, World Archery Philippines that their group is willing to lend a helping hand to Filipino archers when they arrive in Taiwan this week.

World Archery Philippines Secretary-General Rosendo Sombrio said this is part of the national team’s plans to join an Olympic qualification competition next month.

“Puspusan ang training nila sa Dumaguete. Nasa peak na ang mga bata,” said Sombrio in a radio interview.

Filipino archers are set to head to France from the June 18 to 21 for the Olympic Qualifier in Paris.

Members of the six-man team that is expected to leave next week for a month-long training stint will be led by Ryan Silos.

A final selection process will be made before the national contingent heads for the Paris Qualifier.

The rest of the contingent is made up of Jason Feliciano, Carson Hastie, Pia Elizabeth Bidaure, Phoebe Amistoso and Monica Bidaure.

Coaches Clint Sayo and Joy Marino will join the team.

“Doon na rin mabubuo ang plans and programs for the team,” said Sombrio, adding that the national team will jointly train with the Taiwanese archers, who will lend them equipment and their analysis system.

The Filipino archers involved will be hosted by their Taiwanese counterparts at the Taiwan National University.

Sombrio said the national squad’s trip to Taiwan was supposed to take place last Saturday.

But it has been held up for the second time since May 1 due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

But Philippine archery officials are looking forward to a resolution to their visa issues within the week.

Plans afoot for rowing training center DEVELOPING a national grassroots’ program in rowing is set to intensify at the soonest time possible following plans to put up a regional training center in Cavite Philippine Rowing Association president Patrick Gregorio said he is now into talks with Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla for such an undertaking.

Gregorio said plans on the creation of the center materialized after a meeting with Remulla and Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who is also the congressman for the 8th district of Cavite.

During the talks, the TernateMaragondon River was identified as a good area to put up facilities for sculling and rowing.

The idea of putting up a training ground for rowers in Cavite came about after national team member Cris Nievarez earned a slot to the Tokyo Olympics.

“Maraming lugar diyan. Kung may access tayo diyan, hindi na tayo mahihirapan maghanap at magtayo ng mga facilities,” said Gregorio.

Patrick Gregorio

Cris Nievarez

Last week, Nievarez qualified for the Tokyo Olympics following his participation at the Asia and Oceania Olympic and Paralympic qualifier in Tokyo.

After finishing 5th in the semifinals of the regatta in Japan, Nievarez placed ninth in the overall rankings,

but still clinched a seat to the Olympics as some rowers ahead of him were already qualified in the games.

Nievarez is the third Filipino rower in history to earn an Olympic slot, next to coach Edgardo Maerina and Benjie Tolentino. Peter Atencio

NEW YORK—Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant was inducted posthumously into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday part of a star-studded group that also included Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett.

Bryant was inducted as part of the Class of 2020, almost 16 months after he and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were killed in a helicopter crash along with seven others in southern California.

Bryant’s wife, Vanessa Bryant, took the podium Saturday to speak movingly about his love for basketball, his family, his teammates and his fans.

“You did it. You are in the Hall of Fame now. You are a true champion, not just an MVP. You are an all-time great,” Vanessa said.

San Antonio Spurs star Duncan, Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics big man Garnett, twotime NBA champion coach Rudy Tomjanovich and WNBA legend Tamika Catchings were among those also inducted on Saturday night.

The delayed enshrinement stretched over two days at the Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, with Vanessa Bryant and Kobe’s oldest daughter, Natalia, accepting Bryant’s Hall of Fame jacket and ring on Friday night.

Bryant and the others were voted into the Hall of Fame as part of the 2020 class, but the formal induction ceremony was delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“There will never be anyone like Kobe,” Vanessa said. “Kobe was one of a kind. He was special. He was humble — off the court — but bigger than life.”

Vanessa was helped to the stage

by NBA legend Michael Jordan, who acted as a presenter for Kobe and three-time NCAA champion coach Kim Mulkey.

“He and Gigi deserved to be here to witness this. Gigi would have been so proud of her dad getting into the Hall of Fame,” Vanessa said.

Like Kobe, Garnett went straight out of high school to the NBA. Garnett talked of his respect and admiration for both Duncan and Kobe.

“I appreciate you,” Garnett said to Duncan from the stage. “It’s an honor to go into the hall with you, bro. You and Kob.” Garnett played 21 seasons for Minnesota, Boston and Brooklyn, averaging 17.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.

“My only regret with Minnesota is that I didn’t get to bring a championship,” Garnett said. “But like I said, I look forward to rebuilding Minneapolis.”

Duncan had an immediate impact in the NBA, winning the rookie of the year award. His first NBA title came just one year after that.

‘Most nervous’ “This is the most nervous I’ve ever been in my life,” the retiring Duncan said. “Been through finals, game sevens, this is officially the most nervous I’ve ever been in my life. I’ve been pacing in my room all day.”

In 19 seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, Duncan averaged 19.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.2 blocks per game.

Catchings overcame a number of obstacles leading up to her stellar basketball career.

“Basketball chose me, an awkward, lanky, introverted tomboy, born with a hearing disability, a speech impediment, and a will to overcome obstacles, dream big and to change the world,” Catchings said. AFP

Spieth chases career Grand Slam at PGA Championship

Jordan Spieth hits his tee shot on the 5th hole during round three of the AT&T Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas. AFP

KIAWAH ISLAND—Three-time major winner Jordan Spieth, who snapped a four-year US PGA Tour win drought in April, tries to complete a career Grand Slam by winning next week’s PGA Championship.

The 27-year-old American makes his fifth attempt to win each of golf’s four major crowns at least once after capturing the 2015 Masters and US Open and the 2017 British Open.

It was only a few weeks after his triumph at England’s Royal Birkdale when he first faced the tension of going for the career Slam.

“I think 2017, the first time, was really the only time where it may have weighed on me, only given it was coming right off of a major win,” Spieth said of career Slam pressure.

“I felt like a favorite going in and it was the last major. And then the years after, I just didn’t really feel in great form in PGAs. It’s going to pick you apart if you’re not driving

the ball straight and far.”

Spieth struggled with form for years before making a breakthrough by winning last month’s Texas Open and sharing third at the Masters, raising his idea of what thrills future events like the PGA could hold.

“I’ve made a lot of good progress, but I feel like that road ahead is still significant for me,” Spieth said.

“I’ll have a good stretch coming up here in May and June, and I’m excited for what’s to come.”

Only five golfers have completed the career Grand Slam, but a victory by Spieth at Kiawah Island on May 20-23 would see him join Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Gene Sarazen.

“Every year I go into that tournament it’s like it’s the one that if I could pick one more to win I would pick that one,” Spieth said. “It just kind of

excites me a little bit more going into it.”

Spieth had not won since taking his third major title in 2017 until the Dallas product won in his home state.

In his attempts to complete the Slam, Spieth has shared 28th at the 2017 PGA, 12th in 2018, third in 2019 and 71st last year.

‘Feel that momentum’ Spieth has regained his touch this year, serving notice with a fourth-place finish at Phoenix —highlighted by a third-round 61— and a third-place effort at Pebble Beach in February and a fourth at Bay Hill in March.

“It was getting to where it could just kind of start to click and really feel that momentum, and that will get me want to go out and nail it inasmuch as possible,” Spieth said after last month’s Masters.

“So I’m hoping I can continue to move that forward.” AFP

Business

IN BRIEF Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com MONDAY, MAY 17, 2021

B1

PSE INDEX CLOSING Friday, May 14, 2021

32.96 PTS. 6,269.36

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

4,184,519,268 139,395 11,058,775,380.20 50 152 52

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • FRIDAY, MAY 14, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

47.8340

Japan

Yen

0.009137

0.4371

UK

Pound

1.405500

67.2307

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128733

6.1578

Switzerland

Franc

1.104484

52.8319

Canada

Dollar

0.822166

39.3275

Singapore

Dollar

0.750019

35.8764

Australia

Dollar

0.772600

36.9565

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655549

127.0255

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266674

12.7561

Brunei

Dollar

0.747217

35.7424

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0033

Thailand

Baht

0.031898

1.5258

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.0239

Euro

Euro

1.208400

57.8026

Korea

Won

0.000888

0.0425

China

Yuan

0.154933

7.4111

India

Rupee

0.013611

0.6511

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.242542

11.6018

New Zealand

Dollar

0.718400

34.3639

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035790

1.7120 Source: BSP

ATI’s net profit increased 19% to P562.9m in first 3 months

By Darwin G. Amojelar ASIAN Terminals Inc. said over the weekend net income rose 19.1 precent in the first quarter from a year ago despite the global pandemic.

ATI reported a net profit of P562.9 million from January to March, up from P472.5 million in the same period last year.

The company attributed the higher income to the continued cost-savings initiatives started during the second quarter of 2020 and the implementation of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act law which reduced the income tax rate from 30 percent to 25 percent.

ATI ended the quarter with revenues amounting to P2.72 billion, or 5.5 percent higher than P2.58 billion last year, while operating against a challenging market backdrop due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Compared to first quarter last year, revenues from ATI’s international containerized cargo operations in Manila South Harbor and Batangas Container Terminal increased by 9 percent and 7.6 percent, respectively, on account of higher container volumes.

The company said that from January to March, international gateway ports in Manila and Batangas handled over 327,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in consolidated container volume, an increase of 5 percent from the same period last year.

It said to sustain its resilient port operations, it would allot around P6 billion in capital investment this year to bankroll port expansion and modernization projects in Manila and Batangas and explore growth opportunities.

This includes the upgrade of the Batangas Passenger Terminal and the yard expansion and extension of berth facilities in Pier 3 of Manila South Harbor. Early this year, ATI took delivery of five brand-new rubber-tired gantry cranes, effectively increasing Manila South Harbor’s fleet by 22 percent to 28 units.

ATI’s investment programs on vital port infrastructure are in line with its commitment with the Philippine Ports Authority and in support of the post-pandemic resurgence of the economy.

MAX’S Group Inc., the country’s largest casual dining restaurant group, returned to profitability with a net income of P337 million in the first quarter of the year from a net loss of P169 million year-on-year despoite weak demand.

MGI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange over the weekend first-quarter systemwide sales, comprising of those generated by both company-owned and franchised stores, reached P2.84 billion, down 29 percent on year, due to the mobility restrictions imposed by the government.

The company attributed the positive firstquarter performance to the adjustments in business models throughout the pandemic as well as asset rationalization strategies.

Operating income during the quarter jumped 353 percent to P145 million on year.

“We are gratified that our strategic shifts to focus on our core portfolio of iconic brands, rapidly pivot towards a diversified go-to-market strategy, optimize both our store network and head office structure, transform our total cost model, enhance our product margins, and embrace new sources of wealth via B2B and channel innovations, have paid off in our commercial results,” said MGI president and chief executive Robert Ramon Trota.

Jenniffer B. Austria

LandBank welcomes revisions to Agri-Agra

ADOPTED MANGROVE. Bayer Crop Science adopts a degraded mangrove coastal area in Barangay Buayan, General Santos City as a ‘Rhizophora’ farm to help sustain biodiversity, protect the community from storm surges and generate livelihood and income. An initial 200 seedlings of the variety Rhizophora mucronata were planted in the mangrove area by Bayer. The project called ‘Adopt a Coastal Special Protection Area’ was initiated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

DOF: Managing health risks key to lower unemployment

By Julito G. Rada

T

he Department of Finance said over the weekend the unemployment and underemployment rates in the country could go down further if the health risks of the COVID-19 pandemic are managed effectively.

It issued the statement following the latest Philippine Statistics Authority data showing that the jobless rate in the country dropped to 7.1 percent in March from 8.8 percent in February. It was also the lowest rate since the enhanced community quarantine was enforced in April last year to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Month-on-month, the number of employed increased by more than 5 percent while there was significant decline in both underemployed (6.56 percent) and unemployed (17.84 percent). As a result,

employment rate rose to nearly 93 percent while underemployment and unemployment eased to 16.18 percent and 7.05 percent, respectively.

New employment generation in March was largely driven by the agriculture and industry sectors. The number of employed persons in the agriculture sector increased by 8.02 percent while in the industry sector, it rose 15.10 percent.

“The employment numbers are encouraging, and we still have to do more to bring down both the unemployment and

March 29 to May 15, 2021, we expect to see a temporary reversal of these employment gains in the next LFS round. However, the impact is expected to be less severe compared to April 2020 given our more risk-managed approach to the present quarantines,” they said.

They said unlike last year’s ECQ and MECQ where around three-fourths of the economy was shut down, most sectors of the economy, including public transport, this time around were allowed to operate subject to guidelines from the InterAgency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

To help low-income families cope with the ECQ, the government swiftly implemented a supplemental social amelioration program amounting to P22.9 billion for 22.9 million individuals in the NCR-Plus bubble, which includes the adjacent provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite and Laguna.

CAGAYAN EXPORTS. The

Department of Trade and Industry’s Philippine Trade and Investment Centers in Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan, along with the Department Agriculture, identify high-value crops from Cagayan Valley (Region 2) with significant export potential to East Asia during a discussion on opening up the agricultural production to global markets on May 11, 2021.

CEMENT manufacturers are pushing for a halt in cement imports, citing increased capacities to serve local demand and the industry’s depressed profits more than a year into the pandemic.

The Chamber of Cement Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. called on consumers, developers and the construction sector to patronize locally-produced cement.

“We have enough capacity, and we do not need to import. We’re hurting from the shrink on demand for cement. Some of our members, many are publiclylisted, announced declining profitability

“heightened restrictions” from May 15 to 31.

“Given the heightened restrictions still being implemented during the GCQ, we continue to take into consideration the challenges our customers are facing amid these difficult times,” Meralco first vice president and chief commercial officer Ferdinand Geluz said in a statement.

“We hope our continued consideration will ease the burden of our

IPOPHL leads drive against IPR violators THE Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines is spearheading partnerships with the National Telecommunications Commission, major Philippine internet service providers and the Asia Video Industry Association to block off websites with pirated content.

“This MoU elevates IPOPHL’s holistic approach in fostering a society that respects Intellectual Property (IP) rights, ” IPOPHL director-general Rowel Barba said in a statement during the virtual signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding with Singapore-based Asia Video Industry Association.

“Together, may IPOPHL and AVIA successfully stamp out the infringers and enable Filipino film and video producers, artists and contributors to wholly enjoy the rewards they deserve and to continue creating fresh original works for the benefit of society, culture and economy,” said Barba said.

He added the partnership was part of IPOPHL’s intensified crackdown against online piracy following a surge of cases.

“This MOU elevates IPOPHL’s holistic approach in fostering a society that respects IP rights,” Barba said.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

PH cement firms seek end to importation amid supply surplus

By Othel V. Campos

THE Land Bank of the Philippines fully supports a Senate initiative to amend the provisions of Republic Act. No. 10000, or the Agri-Agra Reform Credit of 2009 (Agri-Agra Law), which will provide farmers and fishers nationwide an expanded and easier access to responsive financing.

During a public hearing on the proposed Agri-Agra Law amendments on May 12, 2021, the state-owned bank welcomed recommendations from legislators to revisit its loan application requirements, specifically for small farmers and fishers, to make it easier for them to access financing.

In 2019, prior to the ongoing Agri-Agra law revisit, LandBank started simplifying its loan processes to make its programs more accessible to small farmers and fishers.

LandBank has also consistently complied with the Agri-Agra Law, which requires all banking institutions to allot 15 percent of their total lending portfolio for agriculture loans and 10 percent for agrarian reform credit.

Othel V. Campos

Phoenix exporting lubricant brands to Indonesia as part of ASEAN expansion

last year, given the pandemic,” CEMAP president Reinier Dizon said during a recent Senate hearing on cement and other essential commodities affected by the pandemic.

CEMAP data showed imports were growing by an average of 6 percent to 7 percent annually. In 2020, around 500 metric tons of cement arrived from Vietnam, which emerged as the biggest cement exporter in Southeast Asia.

Vietnam cement accounted for nearly 90 percent of total imports, CEMAP said.

“Unlike the Philippines’ wherein manufacturing operations were limited to food and medical essentials in the

first few months in pandemic, Vietnam manufacturers were allowed to continuously operate. And their prices are very competitive compared to local cement,” Dizon said.

Vietnam produces 120 million MT of cement annually with rated demand of about half of its production capacity, based on industry data. Philippine production is about 36 million MT a year.

“Notwithstanding, the industry continued to provide employment to its employees and support to host LGUs. That’s one of our advocacies to really support the communities where we are operating from,” Dizon said.

Meralco vows to be accommodating as it resumes disconnection activities in GCQ areas MANILA Electric Co., the biggest electricity retailer, announced over the weekend it will resume service disconnection activities, but assured customers it will be very considerate and compassionate in treating unpaid overdue bills.

Meralco made the announcement following the government’s decision putting the National Capital Region, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal under the general community quarantine with

Max’s Group booked Q1 income of P337m

customers, providing additional time for them to settle their bills,” Geluz said.

Meralco said customers who were challenged to pay their overdue bills in full may get in touch with the company so that a lighter schedule could be arranged.

Meralco said customers may get in touch safely and easily by sending a private or direct message through Facebook or Twitter, or call its 16211 hot-

line.

“If they still need to go to the Meralco business centers, they may opt to book an online appointment through the Meralco website for a safe and hassle-free transaction. Meralco BCs are open to accept payments, applications and customer assistance. Business hours are from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday and 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays for payment transactions only,” it said. Alena Mae S. Flores

PHOENIX Petroleum Philippines said it is bringing its product line of lubricants to Indonesia as it expands presence across Southeast Asia.

“Indonesia currently has the highest motorcycle and car population in the region. We are excited that a homegrown Filipino brand has grown so tremendously and has finally arrived.

Phoenix Petroleum has proven itself to Filipinos by offering excellent-quality products, and now, we have the opportunity to bring value and the best experience to Indonesian motorists,” said Phoenix vice president for integrated marketing and strategy Ma. Celina Matias.

The PNX lubricants brand will be the company’s market-entry product under newly-established subsidiary Phoenix Petroleum Indonesia.

Based in Jakarta, the full PNX lubricants portfolio will be available for consumer and commercial vehicle segments, including motorcycles and cars through selected distribution partners in the country.

Matias said the product lines under PNX lubricants were specifically designed to address the traffic and weather conditions in Indonesia, making it their best motoring ally on the road.

“Our motorcycle engine oil, PNX Cyclomax, is formulated with Heat Guard additive to prevent the engine from overheating, ultimately, helping our customers accomplish their daily goals or tasks without facing a lot of drama on the road,” said Matias.

Phoenix Petroleum Indonesia is an addition to the Phoenix Group’s portfolio of overseas ventures, which also includes an oil and LPG trading desk through PNX Petroleum Singapore and its LPG marketing and trading venture holding office in Ho Chi Minh under Phoenix Gas Vietnam.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

B2 || MONDAY, MAY 17, 2021

Business

TODAY

extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market likely to trade sideways this week S

By Jenniffer B. Austria

HARE prices are expected to drift sideways this week on concerns of investors about the economic recovery amid the current health crisis.

Analysts said while the latest mobility restrictions announced by the government could ease market uncertainties, the slow rollout of vaccination was impeding the faster recovery of the economy.

“The latest quarantine guidelines, which put National Capital Region Plus

under general community quarantine with heightened restorations, could somehow dispel lingering market uncertainties,” online brokerage firm UTrade said.

BDO Unibank Inc. chief investment strategist Jonathan Ravelas, however, said the market’s recent decline to the

6,200-point level signaled it could slip to the 6,000 levels.

“Should this decline accelerate in the coming days, it could put the 6,000 levels to the test and if it further breaks, could put the 5,700 levels within striking distance,” Ravelas said.

“However, should the 6,000 levels hold, expect a sizable bounce towards the 6,500/6,700 levels in the near-term,” he added.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index last week shed 0.2 percent to 6,269.36, while the boarder All Shares Index dropped 0.7 percent to 3,850.98.

Analysts said the market dropped to the 6,200 levels after the government reported the domestic economy further contracted by 4.2 percent in the first three months of 2021.

Sectoral indices ended in mixed.

Holding firms and financials posted week-on-week gains of 1.9 percent and 0.6 percent, respectively. The mining and oil, property, industrial and services indices lost 5.4 percent, 3.2 percent, 0.7 percent and 0.8 percent, respectively.

Foreign investors, however, turned buyers for the week at P798 million. The average daily value traded improved to

P6.6 billion from the previous week’s average of P4.57 billion.

Weekly top price gainers were LBC Express Holdings Inc., which rose 9.5 percent to P17.02; Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures Inc., which advanced 7.4 percent to P7.95; and Century Pacific Food Inc., which climbed 5.7 percent to P22.20.

Weekly top price losers were Philippine Savings Bank, which declined 28.5 percent to P55; Philippine National Bank, which dropped 24.9 percent to P21.55; and Megaworld Corp., which sank 13.6 percent to P2.60. With AFP

France’s Veolia and Suez make mega water merger plan official PARIS—French conglomerate Veolia and rival Suez said Friday they had signed a deal on the outlines of their merger to create a global champion in water services and waste management.

In a statement confirming an announcement earlier this week of an offer of 20.50 euros ($24.90) per Suez share, the companies said the deal would power Veolia’s growth goals while leaving a smaller but “coherent and sustainable” Suez.

Veolia chief Antoine Frerot hailed the agreement, under which his company will acquire a large part of Suez, as a “win-win” for the two companies.

It would leave his firm free to pursue its ambition of becoming “the world champion of ecological transformation,” slated to have annual revenues of 37 billion euros and 230,000 employees worldwide.

The company wants to become a global leader in helping firms and cities reduce their environmental impact, including by recycling treated waste and reducing the use of resources.

Veolia’s 20.50-per-share offer was the breakthrough after months of bitter battles in the media and courts, topping a previous 18-euro bid.

The battle between the two companies was primarily over what would happen to Suez in the tie-up.

Under the final terms, Suez’s remaining activities will mainly cover waste and water in France plus water in Italy, Senegal, China and India, leaving it with around 7 billion euros in annual revenue.

French investment fund Meridiam and US-based GIP will each own 40 percent of the new Suez, with the remainder held by France’s public Caisse des Depots. AFP

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(MS-MAY 17 & 18, 2021)

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(MS-MAY 17 & 18, 2021)

(MS-MAY 17 & 18, 2021)

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(MS-MAY 17 & 18, 2021)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Entertainment STAR Music act BGYO has broken into the international music arena as it debuted on the second spot of the Next Big Sound chart of international music charting site Billboard.

According to Billboard, the leading provider of online music analytics and insights that track hundreds of thousands of artists worldwide, the Next Big Sound chart tracks “the fastest accelerating artists during the past week, across all major social music sites, statistically predicted to achieve future success."

Prior to landing on the Next Big

The games that Paulo Avelino play I feel I am in a better position to push this, it just took the perfect time and partner and ALWIN now, na-realized. What IGNACIO I do right now is to make sure that we get the quality equipment and make sure that everything is doing well. I am learning a lot, and I hope that my presence helps to strengthen the visions of the company and realize what is needed to be realized.”

He carries on: "I used to order a lot of streaming products to improve the broadcast quality of streamers in the local field. One day our common friend asked me if I had any supplies lying around for a certain product that was out of stock everywhere. I asked who needed it, and he said it was Kuya Nic. Knowing who he was, I offered to give him the product for free. Nung una ayaw niya kasi takot yata siya na may favor akong hihingin.

Eventually, I still gave it to him.” Read full story on manilastandard.net

ARIAS

Sound Chart, BGYO also debuted at number 2 on Next Big Sound's Pandora Predictions Chart, where artists appear based on their likelihood of success.

Currently streaming on various music platforms is the group’s recently released single, "He's Into Her," which is the official theme song of a highly anticipated ABS-CBN weekly series of the same title.

Aside from their recent milestone, the group is also set to release a new single entitled “Feel Good Pilipinas” with another hit Star Music artist, KZ

Cole will play in jersey number 15 for the team representing Rwanda in the BAL

B3

VERY WANG NICKIE WANG

A

NDI Manzano, a former radio DJ, model, actress, host, and now an entrepreneur, is the kind of mom that tells her children that it’s okay to get bored, and given the situation that we are in, it’s fine if you are doing nothing.

#NOMOMLIKEYOU. Andi Manzano in PLDT Home’s video series that

celebrates the light of our homes that provides unconditional love and nurturing, and the person who will do everything for their family – our mothers.

Award-winning actor Paulo Avelino is also an avid online gamer.

Lamarr Cole, 36, played the sport in high school and university, and has long dreamed of a professional basketball career.

His name featured on the roster of 13 players released Friday night by Patriots head coach Alan Major. Cole will play in jersey number 15 for the team representing Rwanda in the BAL. "J. Cole is a very good shooter. We picked him because He has a really high IQ for the game," Patriots chief operations officer Haydee Ndayishimiye told AFP. "He has a history of playing the game ... We just thought that he is a great fit with the team and as we have seen in practice he is gelling well with the team.

While they are practicing with him, they are looking good out there. He really compliments the team," she added.

Ndayishimiye said Cole's contract was confidential, and he would only be with the team for the duration of the tournament.

Cole will play in the tournament's opening game between the Patriots and Nigeria's Rivers Hoopers on Sunday. AFP

Tandingan.

BGYO, composed of Mikki Claver, JL Toreliza, Akira Morishita, Nate Porcalla, and Gelo Rivera released their debut single “The Light” in January in time for the group’s grand launch.

The single was released on various international streaming platforms, eventually landing on the Top 5 of the iTunes chart.

The consistent Twitter-trending pop group’s music video has garnered more than one million views from Facebook and YouTube.

Navigating motherhood in the middle of pandemic

American rap star joins Rwanda basketball team AMERICAN rap star J. Cole has signed with the Rwanda Patriots and will play as a shooting forward in the maiden NBAbacked Basketball Africa League which starts in the East African nation on Sunday.

The award-winning rapper and music producer, whose full name is Jermaine

MONDAY, MAY 17, 2021

P-Pop act BGYO makes strong debut in Billboard

Local pop act BGYO has broken into the international music scene landing on Billboard’s Next Big Sound chart.

He had me at “Hello, Madam Alwin,” the cordial greeting from award-winning film and TV actor Paulo Avelino is just what I needed to stand the scorching afternoon and listen attentively to the Zoom announcement about his latest venture.

Avelino downplays all the teasing from some members of the entertainment media who could not contain their giddiness as they complement how great-looking the actor was during the press conference, which unveiled his partnership with LuponWXC. The country's premier esports and streaming company is founded by local gaming icon, Nico "Kuya Nic'' Nazario in 2015.

“WXC is a gaming lingo that all gamers can relate to and understand. It means wambo ex combo. The term lupon I added because I want it to be community supported. I heard the term when I was younger, watching anime shows kung saan I heard Lupon ni Euguene, Lupon ni Taguro. I integrated the two,” Nazario explains.

“I am a die-hard fan of the esport scene, I put my focus in this, I started as a viewer and then I saw what they are doing abroad and I know we can,” says Nazario. “It took a while to realize this, loaned some money for my parents, and I really started it from scratch.”

The dynamic duo is building a company based on shared passion and collaboration.

The dramatic actor is a longtime fan of Nazario before they met through a mutual friend. What Avelino is doing now, he says, “Binabalikan ko yung mga paborito kong ginagawa nung bata ako. I used to play a lpt of Counter Strike during my high school years in Baguio. So, now that

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

Andi with husband GP Reyes and children Olivia and Amelia

Speaking to Manila Standard Entertainment, Andi shared that it’s during boredom when a child’s imagination soar.

“My kids are very active, and I can’t be with them all the time because I also work. So, I tell them that it’s okay to get bored. When children get bored that’s when they get creative. One minute you see them holding a box, the other minute you see them painting that box,” Andi shared.

This month, as we celebrate our mother – the light of our homes that provides unconditional love and nurturing, and the person who will do everything for their family – PLDT Home gathers Andi Manzano, Camille

Co, and Marie Lozano to talk about challenges in raising a family, especially now as the world continues to face a pandemic. Each of them is featured in a video series available on YouTube.

For her part, Andi, who was a radio DJ for 10 years, while also working as a model and host, her parenting style has changed a lot. According to her, even if she’s a working mom, she is prioritizing taking care of her two children, Olivia and Amelia.

In a new video series featuring the former DJ, PLDT Home reveals the most pressing issues that many parents face today and calls on families to speak up, connect, and celebrate each other’s uniqueness.

While pandemic parenting has been tough, the solid support system of her loved ones helped her get through and overcome parent guilt.

“Stop second-guessing yourself, go by it daily and be focused. I’m thankful for the support system I have at home: the whole pandemic has made me realize the core people I need in my life,” she admitted.

The video series underscores that when it comes to parenting style, the one-size-fits-all mantra doesn’t apply. And to honor parents for their relentless efforts and unique ways to raise their children the best way they can, PLDT Home fosters a movement that inspires them to embrace their own parenting styles and support one another to do the same.

As the country’s fastest fixed network, PLDT Home enables families to enjoy the strongest connections that allow them to do all things better and together at home. PLDT Senior Vice President and Head of Home Business Butch G. Jimenez shares, “Digital connectivity has always been at the core of every home. PLDT continues to innovate and provide the most reliable digital services so that families can stay strongly connected and do better at home with our fastest home broadband.”

In the new video series, PLDT Home emphasizes that “there’s no time like this and there’s no parent like you.” Watch Andi’s latest heartwarming video here: https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=FL1xGqI1_ i8&feature=youtu.be

Watch movies all day, every day for free VIEWERS have even more reasons to love GMA Affordabox and experience all the feels right in the comfort of their homes as they get to watch movies all day, every day for free on GMA Network’s digital channel I Heart Movies.

Launched last April, the channel gives movie enthusiasts a whole new level of viewing experience as they get to binge on local and international movies from drama, romance, comedy, action, to horror. And with the Kapuso Network’s digital TV receiver GMA Affordabox, movies are clearer, more colorful, and of better quality--perfect for that home theater atmosphere.

To further highlight the addition of I Heart Movies to the growing roster of

GMA channels, the network recently unveiled its newest GMA Affordabox ambassador, actor Richard Yap. Richard joins Heart Evangelista, who will also be his on-screen partner in the upcoming romantic comedy series I Left My Heart in Sorsogon, and Dingdong Dantes as the faces of GMA Affordabox in its latest campaign.

I Heart Movies offers a wide variety of free-to-air and all-time favorite Pinoy and foreign titles through its four movie blocks that are tailored to fit all ages -Timeless Telesine, Takilya Throwback, Block Screening, and Pinoy Movie Date.

Timeless Telesine presents various GMA Telesine stories and top-notch quality movies that were made for

television while Takilya Throwback features local classics from the ‘70s to early 2000s. In Block Screening, hit foreign movies await viewers. Lastly, widely followed contemporary Filipino movies air on the Pinoy Movie Date block.

GMA Affordabox is currently available in Metro Manila, Benguet, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Pangasinan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal, Misamis Oriental (including Cagayan de Oro), Camiguin, Bohol, Cebu, Leyte, Bacolod City, Davao de Oro, Davao del Sur, and Davao del Norte.

Catch I Heart Movies' on Channel 5 in GMA Affordabox. Viewers can likewise continue to access Kapuso channels on the

From left: Dingdong Dantes, Heart Evangelista, Richard Yap for GMA Affordabox

digital TV receiver including GMA, GTV, Heart of Asia, Hallypop, and DepEd TV as well as other free-to-air channels in digital broadcast available per area.

For a one-time affordable price of P888 with no monthly fees, GMA Affordabox may be purchased in appliance stores and malls, or online via the official GMA

Store on Shopee and Lazada.

For more details, visit www.

GMAaffordabox.com and its official social media accounts via the handle @ GMAaffordabox. For inquiries, contact (02) 8857-4627 or 0961-252-9393 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., or e-mail support@GMAaffordabox.com.

Life

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

B4

FOOD

MONDAY, MAY 17, 2021

Recovery Food’s Tomarrow Never Dies

Multiple cuisines from one kitchen

Frankie’s Classic Buffalo Wings

Pepi Cubano’s Pan de Bistec

RECIPE FILES Yogorino’s frozen yogurt

Omakase’s Mt. Fuji Roll

Dapo at Tisa’s Seafood Paella

By Bernadette Lunas

A

LITTLE over a year since Grab first introduced its delivery-only cloud kitchen concept in the Philippines, two new GrabKitchen facilities open in Malate and Parañaque.

“GrabKitchen is basically a central commissary optimized for food deliveries and takeaways. There are no dinner areas, only kitchen spaces for staff,” explains Josephine Kamiyama, project lead for GrabKitchen in the Philippines.

The multi-merchant concept, Kamiyama adds, is designed to offer convenience to consumers by allowing them to order items from different restaurants and brands (mix and match) in one transaction and pay only one delivery fee, and to enable partnerrestaurants to expand with minimal capital expenditure.

The first GrabKitchen in the country

opened at Glorietta 2 in Makati in February 2020, the second branch opened in Sampaloc, Manila in February 2021. “Many restaurants are becoming aware that cloud kitchen offers more savings and efficiency, and the staff can concentrate on cooking and preparing orders,” shares Kamiyama.

Ed Firmalo, president of Frankie’s New York Buffalo Wings, affirms, saying the cloud kitchen option, with no dining customers, allows their staff to focus on the kitchen.

The newly opened and now operational GrabKitchen Malate is Grab’s biggest facility to date, bringing 15 merchants together in the

400-square meter commissary. The facility houses Omakase, Frankie’s, Recovery Food, Paper Moon, Yogorino, Pepi Cubano, Dapo at Tisa, King Chef, La Tita, Selecta, So Mot, Blu Kouzina, Coco Fresh Tea and Juice, Merienda by Pan De Manila, and Go! Salads.

Diners in the metro south, meanwhile, can order their favorites from 24 Chicken, Alishan at the Alley, Army Navy, Cara Mia, La Titas MNL, Pizza Telefono, Kyoto Sushi Bake, Bahn Mi Kitchen, El Nacho Libre, Sheikh’s Kebab, Breakfast for 2, and Black Kimchi from GrabKitchen Parañaque.

The Parañaque facility offers longdistance delivery to customers in Muntinlupa, Pasay, Las Piñas, and select areas in Cavite.

Customers can choose the mix and match option to order from more than one restaurant or simply order from their preferred merchant present in the GrabKitchen near them.

Favorite Baguio pasalubongs in Sucat AN ONGOING trade fair brings beloved delicacies and specialties from Baguio and the Cordilleras to metro south.

A project of Old Baguio Café in partnership with SM City Sucat, the Old Baguio Market highlights favorite pasalubong food items, indigenous textiles, handwoven crafts, and artworks in a bid to support MSMEs and artisans in the region affected by the pandemic.

Edibles available at the SM Sucat market include 100 percent Premium Atok Arabica Coffee from the Atok Arabica Coffee Growers Marketing Cooperative in Benguet Province, Choco-Late’ de Batirol Garden Café’s classic chocolate de batirol, Dulche Chocolates’ bean-to-bar chocolate, Vizco’s famous Strawberry Shortcake, and Good Shepherd’s famous ube jam, strawberry jam, peanut brittle, lengua de gato, and alfajor cookies.

More pasalubong options from Teahouse Restaurant & Bakeshop, Tantamco’s Fine Products, Victoria Bakery, Baguio Country Club, Baguio Family, Strawberry Jam @ Swamp, AdeTi’s Enterprise, Mommy La Food Products, Dadi Roi Enterprises, ZTR Garlic Products, and Natural Metaphors Body Products are also available.

In addition to food items, the Old Baguio Market showcases the rich indigenous culture and heritage of the Cordilleras with a selection of textiles, handicrafts, homeware, bags, and

Old Baguio Café’s 100 percent Premium Atok Arabica Coffee

Chef JP Anglo’s easy-to-cook meals USING readily available ingredients, Chef JP Anglo of Sarsa Kitchen + Bar shares his easy-to-make, restaurant-quality recipes. For this menu, he used Marks and Spencer products to make dishes simple enough to create by both budding and expert cooks.

“The ingredients are pretty much ready to mix and cook. The dishes I made are something that’s not too heavy, something that doesn’t require a whole production in the kitchen and a whole lot of dishes to clean (always my wife’s request),” he shares.

Ham, Cheese, and Egg Croissant Sandwich Ingredients: Danish Lean Ham Four Cheese Pasta Blackcurrant Conserve Lightly Sea Salted Hand Cooked Crisps croissants oil eggs sliced tomatoes Procedure: 1. Cut a few slices of Danish Lean Ham and fry.

2. On a separate pan with heated oil, pour in whisked egg mixture and cook.

3. Heat two pieces of croissants in the oven. After taking out from the oven, slice in the middle then spread Four Cheese Pasta Sauce on one piece, and spread Blackcurrant Conserve on the other.

4. Place a slice of ham each, equal portions of scrambled egg, and sliced tomatoes on the sliced croissants. Prepare Lightly Sea Salted Hand Cooked Crisps on the side.

Baked Chicken Pesto with Egg Tagliatelle Pasta Ingredients: Green Pesto Egg Tagliatelle Pasta Tomato and Mascarpone Pasta Sauce Four Cheese Pasta Sauce

Pasalubong favorites, including strawberry jam and ube jam, from the Good Shepherd sisters at the Mountain Maid Training Center.

fashion accessories from homegrown social enterprises and cooperatives. Enterprises and cooperatives present include Easter Weaving Room, Narda’s Handwoven Arts and Crafts, Kinwa Etnika Handicrafts, Mondiguing Furniture, MayatAn Handicrafts, Accents and Petals, Ibay’s Silver Smith, Everything is Pine Manufacturing, Highland Women’s Multipurpose Cooperative, Tam-awan Village, Ellebanna Aklang Handicrafts, and Carol Lines Ethnic and Fashion Accessories.

Artworks from the Pasa-Kalye Baguio Artists, a group of local artists known for their weekly street art festivals, are also on display.

The Old Baguio Market is on the ground level of SM City Sucat’s Building B today until May 30.

Made in Italy Sundried Tomatoes olive oil garlic cloves grated cheese salt Procedure: 1. Preheat the oven at 350-degree F. On a stove, heat an oven-safe pan then pour an adequate amount of olive oil. Add the chicken and cook until the skin is slightly brown.

2. Mix in spoonfuls of Green Pesto and let the mixture sink into the chicken meat.

Take out from the stove and put inside the oven. Bake for 10-15 minutes.

3. Boil a desired portion of Egg Tagliatelle Pasta until al dente, drain and transfer cooked pasta in a bowl.

4. On another pan, heat olive oil and cloves of garlic, then add and whisk a bottle of Tomato and Mascarpone Pasta Sauce and a desired amount of Four Cheese Pasta Sauce. Sprinkle a pinch of salt to taste. Continue mixing until wellcombined.

5. Pour the combined sauces over the pasta and garnish with seared and baked chicken. Drizzle the remaining pesto mixture. Top with grated cheese and Made in Italy Sundried Tomatoes.