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SUPERMARKETS' GROUP GOES ON 'PORK HOLIDAY' IN SUPPORT OF RETAILERS By Macon Ramos-Araneta TRADERS' THREAT.

Meat vendors sell pork inside the San Andres Wet Market in Leveriza, Manila on February 7, 2021. Retailers say they will not sell pork during the 60-day implementation of the price ceiling to avoid losses and penalties for violation. Agriculture officials say hog farmers could not cope with high demand for pork as a result of the onslaught of the Asian Swine Flu, thus making it necessary to import pork. Norman Cruz

MEAT dealers and retailers are set to adopt a “pork holiday” today (Monday) as the 60-day price ceiling on pork and chicken products takes effect. “It is not logical for us to carry pork or chicken. We cannot make anything, any profit out of it (price ceiling),” said Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association president Steven Cua in an interview with GMA Network. “We will not carry (pork or chicken), but not as an opposition to the government directive of a price freeze,” he added. Several pork vendors were also worried about their livelihood after meat dealers were told of a possible “pork holiday” due to the implementation of the price ceiling which sets pork kasim or pigue at P270 per kilogram and liempo at P300 per kilogram. “They told us that there will totally be no sale on Monday due to transportation losses,” Arnel Penos, a meat vendor, said in an interview with state-run PTV-4. He said they cannot lower their prices due to the impact of the African Swine Fever. Next page

P420-b stimulus bill pushed Velasco-led 'Bayanihan to Arise as One' gains support of 115 solons

By Rio N. Araja

“W

ITH the Philippine economy still in recession and no end in sight for the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic,” Speaker Lord Allan Velasco has proposed a P420 billion fund to help stimulate the country’s economic recovery. Velasco, along with Marikina City Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo, recently filed House Bill No. 8628 or the proposed “Bayanihan to Arise as One Act” or the Bayanihan 3. At least 115 members of major political parties and power blocs

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM FEB. 7)

537,310 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

1,790 26,333 NEW

ACTIVE

11,179

499,798

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

NEW

comprising the supermajority in the House of Representatives expressed their support and signified their intent to coauthor HB 8628. While the two previous Bayanihan laws—Bayanihan to Heal as One and Bayanihan to Recover as One —increased the government’s initial capacity to respond to the demands of the COVID-19 crisis, Velasco said these were “not sufficient for the genuine economic recovery of the country.” Citing recent data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, Velasco said the economy contracted by 9.5 percent overall in 2020, the worst performance in the nation’s post-war history. Such a contraction, he said, is significantly deeper than the predicted contraction of 4.5 to 6.6 percent drop, which became the basis for the 2021 budget. “Given that actual economic output in 2020 was far below what was assumed for budget purposes, and further losses may still be incurred as the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to prevail well into the Next page

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 335 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

VACCINE STORAGE. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (right) and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles inspect one of the freezers to be used for storage of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines at the Navotas Polytechnic College in Navotas City on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021. Navotas City Rep. John Reynald Tiangco (left) joins the inspection. Joey O. Razon

Senator slams double standard 70m assured of getting the jab in COVID-19 control measures By Willie Casas

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Willie Casas SENATOR Imee Marcos warned that the special treatment of government employees by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) will make it more difficult for local governments to control the spread of COVID-19 and discourage the

cooperation of the general public. She scored the “double standard” in enforcing pandemic control measures after state employees were allowed to skip testing and quarantines in local government units (LGUs) where they arrive on official business. “This is outrageous and dangerous. Why should anyone, least of all government employees who should be exem

LOCAL ROUNDUP

HAPPY FARMERS.

Benguet farmers have a reason to be happy as wholesale prices of cabbage at the Benguet Agri Pinoy Trading Center now fetch 100 pesos per kilo at wholesale from 50 pesos the past weeks. BAPTC Head of Operations Violeta Salda says supply is low and demand is high as the last crop for 2020 has been harvested and the new crop season for 2021 has just started in vegetable-producing areas of Benguet. Dave Leprozo

HERD immunity to COVID-19 is possible by the end of the year, if the vaccines that the government has negotiated to obtain arrive on time, the country's vaccine czar said Sunday. In an interview with ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the government can inoculate 50 million to 70 million by the end of the year, within the vicinity of its target to vaccinate 70 million to 80 million adults to achieve herd immunity. “In a best-case scenario, if we have enough supply and our negotiations are successful, by December we can inoculate 50 million to 70 million,” Galvez said in Filipino. “If there's a shortage of supply, the worst case scenario is we'll finish by

the middle of 2022.” He said so far, the country has signed term sheets with five drug companies for 108 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines. This is on top of the 44 million doses the country will get from the COVAX Facility, a program launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) aimed at the equitable distribution of the vaccine. “More or less we will have 152 million doses. If we divide it by two, we can vaccinate more than 75 million people,” he said. The Palace, meanwhile, assured medical frontliners they would receive the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines this month. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Next page

Oil price hike looms: diesel, P1/liter By Alena Mae S. Flores CONSUMERS can expect a hefty oil price increase of as much as P1.10 per liter effective Tuesday to reflect the movement of prices in the world market. Unioil Philippines forecasts diesel will go up by P1 to P1.15 per liter and gasoline by P0.75 to P0.85 per liter. “Expect fuel prices to go up next week (February 9 to 15). Diesel should increase by P1.00 to P1.10 per liter. Gasoline should increase by P0.75 to P0.85 per liter,” the company said in its

weekly advisory. World oil prices last week were buoyed by supply curbs implemented by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies to help cut the supply surplus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysts also believe global economic recovery is underway as the world oil prices have reached their bottom, supply is kept in check by the OPEC countries and their allies, while investors have remained keen on infusing funds to the US oil sector. Next page

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MONDAY,FEBRUARY 8, 2021

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Comelec: Amend early voting law A N OFFICIAL of the Commission on Elections on Sunday called on Congress to amend the local absentee law or pass a measure on early voting so that vulnerable sectors would be allowed to cast their votes ahead of the May 9, 2022 national elections. This, in the assumption that the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing by the time Filipinos elect their new leaders next year. In a Dobol B sa News TV interview, Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said she had already talked to Senator Imee Marcos, head of the Senate electoral reforms panel, about amending the Local Absentee Act, which allows certain sectors like the media, police and teachers to cast their votes early so that they could perform their duties during election day. "Kung puwede nilang i-amend 'yan para 'yung mga PWD, elderly, mga pregnant women, mga indigenous people, people who are in jail can vote early. Puwedeng i-amend 'yan, mabilis lang 'yung amendment," she said.

Last week, Malacañang said it was still “too early” to discuss the proposal to ban face-to-face election campaigns amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the government must first start the country’s vaccination program against COVID-19 and would decide based on the outcome of the inoculation program whether to ban the face-to-face elections campaign. The Comelec earlier raised the possibility of banning face-to-face campaigning for the May 2022 polls to control the spread of new COVID-19 cases. The Palace official said the InterAgency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases, a policy-making body that provides recommendations to the President related to the pandemic,

P420-b...

under the Department of Labor and Employment; P30 billion for internet allowances to primary, secondary and tertiary students and teachers in public and private educational institutions; P5 billion to the Department of Public Works and Highways for the rehabilitation of typhoon-affected areas, including the repair, reconstruction or construction of flood control works, roads, bridges, public buildings and other damaged public works, to be distributed proportionately among provinces and cities affected, and P25 billion to the Department of Health for the procurement of COVID-19 medication and vaccines, and to finance logistics, information awareness campaigns, and other related operational expenses. He lamented that “uncertainty is the primary effect this pandemic has on every aspect of our lives.” Faced with continued risk and uncertainty, he said household consumption has significantly declined, contributing as much as 5.7 percent to

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current fiscal year, an additional economic stimulus package is needed to help the government meet its recovery targets for the year,” he said. The breakdown of the proposed P420 billion appropriation under Bayanihan 3 is as follows: P52 billion for subsidies to small business for wages and other workerrelated expenses; P100 billion for the capacity-building of businesses in critically affected sectors; P108 billion for additional social amelioration to affected households through programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development; P70 billion for the provision of assistance and capacitybuilding to farmers, livestock producers and fishermen; P30 billion for the implementation of unemployment assistance and cash-for-work programs

would also have a say on the matter. Alternatively, Guanzon said Congress may approve an Early Voting Act, which essentially would also allow voters from vulnerable sectors to vote ahead of the election day itself. Such measure, she said, would reduce the expected volume of people gathering in voting precincts during election day, hence minimizing the chances of COVID-19 transmission. "Let's say 61 million [ang voting population]. Dapat one-fourth man lang niyan vulnerable groups ay magaangaan na ang trabaho, at 'yung mga tao makakaboto talaga," Guanzon said. Several measures have been proposed in Congress to allow Filipino voters to cast their votes in the 2022 elections while guaranteeing their safety against COVID-19, including the one put forth by Marikina City Representative Stella Quimbo to allow "postal voting" for senior citizens. Guanzon, however, expressed reservations on the proposed mail voting, citing possible election fraud. "'Yung voting by mail, medyo de-

the total 9.5 percent annual reduction in output in 2020. “Government must therefore take the lead to promote business and consumer confidence and social welfare. Increased, well-targeted spending is a vital step to achieving these goals,” he added. Meanwhile, Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel is batting to triple the amount of unemployment insurance that laid off workers can claim from the Social Security System. He filed House Bill 8594 to enable dislocated workers to claim unemployment benefits equal to 50 percent of their monthly salary for a maximum of six months granted through a one-time payment. To date, the subsidy is equal to 50 percent of the monthly salary for a maximum of two months. “Our bill seeks to give more meaning to social security, and to the mandate of the 1987 Constitution for the state to afford full protection to labor,” Pimentel

likado 'yun e. Hindi ako sure. Although I spoke with Chairman [Norman] Fulgencio of PHLPost, kaya naman daw nila with their new infrastructure na machines," she said. "Pero hindi ako [pabor] doon sa voting by mail, kasi alam mo naman ang mga Pilipino masyadong enterprising, baka maharang ang mga balota," she added. What the Comelec is doing, for now, is adding more vote counting machines and voting precincts to manage the flow of people during election day, Guanzon said. "Ang problem ngayon kapag may pandemic, social distancing, medyo slow motion ang mga tao. So talagang dadagdagan natin ang mga vote counting machines at dagdagan din natin ang presinto," she said. "[Pero] ang solusyon talaga diyan, early voting ng vulnerable sectors. Kailangan talaga ang Kongreso, sana ipasa nila 'yung batas tsaka iakyat kay Presidente, certify as urgent, para mapasa na 'yan this year, let's say within six months," she added.

said. “We have to guarantee households income security and safeguard them against distress when breadwinners lose their jobs through no fault of their own,” he added. The bill, if passed, would mandate that a displaced worker who used to earn P15,000 per month could claim P45,000 in unemployment benefits. At present, the same worker could claim only P15,000. Pimentel’s bill seeks to amend Republic Act 11199 or the Social Security Act of 2018. Under the law, the unemployment insurance is a cash grant, and not a loan, and does not have to be repaid. The benefit is paid to cover employees, including household staff and overseas Filipino workers, who lost their jobs due to retrenchment or downsizing, closure or cessation of operation, installation of labor-saving devices, redundancy or similar reasons.

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told radio dzBB that the 117,000 doses of vaccines from the COVAX Facility would be administered to 50,000 medical frontliners, who are first in the government's list of priorities for vaccination. A second batch of 5 million doses from AstraZeneca will also cover medical frontliners, he said. He said the vaccination of the medical frontliners would be completed in less than a month. On Saturday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said people 60 years and older should not be inoculated against COVID-19, even though they are on the government's priority list. In a television interview with GMA, Duque also said health care workers in public hospitals are not required to get vaccinated, because inoculation is voluntary. Those who decline the vaccine must sign a consent form, hwever. He added that those who decline a vaccine may wait until another brand arrives, but there is no certainty it will arrive. Medical frontliners who decline vaccination will not be affected as long as they observe minimum public health standards by wearing masks and face shields and observing social distancing at work. The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) released its list of priorities for vaccination, starting with health care workers and senior citizens. The IATF resolution, however, also provides that exclusion criteria for each vaccine (i.e. possible contraindications such as severe allergic reactions) will be considered in the vaccination of the priority populations. “We are not excluding senior citizens and those with co-morbidities including the immunodeficient. In fact, they are included among the priority groups to be vaccinated. However, due to their risk, they must first be clinically assessed before getting vaccinated,” Duque said. “With the forthcoming vaccines from COVAX, we have to be strategic in distributing the limited supply of vaccines to ensure that we will maximize our resources and minimize potential losses,” he said. The Health secretary also encouraged the priority groups to get the earliest available vaccines. “Any amount of protection is better than cure, and we assure everyone that the vaccines that the government will roll out are safe and effective. So we encourage those in our frontlines and the most vulnerable groups to get vaccinated when presented with the opportunity under the immunization program. Vaccines work and have saved millions of lives,” Duque said.

Powerful quake jolts Davao Sur twice; no damage A STRONG earthquake hit the southern Philippines on Sunday, though there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, the US Geological Survey and local officials said. The 6.3-magnitude quake struck the town of Bansalan on Mindanao at 12:22 pm (0422 GMT), the USGS said in a bulletin. The quake was recorded at a depth of 15.6 kilometers, it said, slightly shallower than at first reported by the agency. The earthquake, the second tremor to hit Davao del Sur, jolted the area on Sunday noon. The second tremor occurred at 12:22 p.m. six kilometers southeast of Magsaysay town. The first quake happened at 7:28 a.m. nine kilometers west of Magsaysay town. Of tectonic origin, the quakes had a depth of 15 and 16 kilometers, respectively. "It was strong, but things did not topple or fall off," Major Peter Glenn Ipong, the police chief of Bansalan, told AFP by telephone from the epicenter. Ipong and civil defense officials in the region reported strong shaking but said there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. The USGS in an earlier bulletin put the epicenter two kilometers east of the neighboring town of Magsaysay before revising the location to Bansalan. The Philippines is regularly rocked by quakes due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", an arc of intense seismic activity that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin. The region around Bansalan, a town of 60,000 people, was struck by three deadly quakes over a two-week period in October 2019, killing at least 10 people. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said intensity 5 was felt in Kidapawan City, Arakan, Carmen, Kabacan, Makilala and M’Lang, North Cotabato; City of Koronadal and Banga, South Cotabato; Matalam,Cotabato; Bansalan, Hagonoy, Magsaysay and Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, while intensity 4 was recorded in Davao City; Banisilan and Midsayap, North Cotabato; Don Carlos, Bukidnon; Polomok, Sto. Nino and Norala, South Cotabato South Cotabato; Alabel, Kiamba and Malapatan, Sarangani; Palimbang and Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat. Rio Araja with AFP

Supermarkets... From A1

IN SOLIDARITY. Pope Francis on Sunday expressed "solidarity with the people of Myanmar" following last week's military coup, urging the army to work towards "democratic coexistence" as thousands demonstrate in the streets. The Pope was speaking as tens of thousands of protesters poured on to the streets of Yangon in the biggest rally yet against Monday's military coup. "I pray that those in power in the country will work... towards the common good," he said from the balcony overlooking St Peter's Square after his recital of the Angelus prayer Sunday. The Pope, who visited Myanmar in 2017, called for "social justice, national stability and harmonious democratic coexistence." There have been reports of large protests Sunday against the military regime in several cities across Myanmar. AFP

Local... From A1

plars, be exempted from quarantine and health protocols?” Marcos said. “It defies logic, to say the least. Exempting government officials and employees from testing and quarantines 'in the line of duty' won't sit well with ordinary people,” Marcos added. She said the IATF also needs to take time off to get enough sleep and relax or they could burn out. Marcos urged the IATF to abide by its rallying cry to “test, trace and treat” while the government’s vaccination program could not yet begin on a large scale, citing the uncertainty of global vaccine supply. “Vaccine manufacturers have been falling short of their promised production output, forcing the European Union to consider export controls. Countries where pharmaceutical firms have made commitments to the Philippine government will want to ensure the health and safety of their citizens first,” Marcos said. Marcos also cited the latest medical findings in Western countries where those who have already received COVID-19 vaccines can still be infected

because the vaccine takes a few weeks to build up immunity. 1,790 new infections The country logged on Sunday 1,790 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total infections to 537,310, the Department of Health (DOH) reported. The DOH reported 70 new fatalities, bringing the death toll to 11,179 since the pandemic started, which is 2.08 percent of total cases. The DOH also reported 11,388 recoveries, bringing total recoveries to 499,798, which is 93 percent of the total cases. This left 26,333 active cases, which is 4.9 percent of the total cases. Of the active cases, 87.9 percent are mild; 5.6 percent are asymptomatic; 3 percent are critical; 2.9 percent are severe; and 0.67 percent are moderate. The DOH also reported that, nationwide, 62 percent of the total ICU bed capacity are available; 66 percent of the total isolation bed capacity are available; 77 percent of the total ward bed capacity are available; and 79 percent of the total units of ventilators are available. Palace confident Magalong will remain as testing czar Also on Sunday, Palace spokesman Harry Roque said the country's testing czar, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who resigned irrevocably after he

was seen at a birthday party where minimum public health standards were not observed, could be convinced to stay. He said Magalong's letter did not say his resignation was irrevocable, which was why the National Task Force against COVID-19 had rejected it. Roque said it was only a matter of time before Magalong would be convinced to stay as head of the country’s contract tracing efforts. Last week, Roque said it is “100 percent sure” that President Rodrigo Duterte wants Magalong to stay as contact tracing czar. “I have heard with my own two ears nothing but words of praises for Mayor Magalong from the President. So, of course, I am sure, I am 100 percent sure the President would want Mayor Magalong to stay on as contact tracing czar,” Roque said. On Jan. 29, Roque announced that the NTF against the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) rejected the resignation of Magalong who was recently criticized over his attendance at the birthday party of celebrity Tim Yap at The Manor Hotel in Baguio City where guests did not wear masks. In several interviews, he said his resignation was irrevocable—but later denied that it was.

Aside from pork kasim and liempo, Executive Order No. 124 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte also imposed a price ceiling of P160 per kilo for dressed chicken. Meanwhile, Senator Francis Pangilinan said the Department of Agriculture must confiscate and return hoarded food to the market. "That's one of the solutions to improve supply. If supply will increase, prices will go down," the senator said. Pangilinan, a former food security czar, said the imposed price ceiling on meat products is a Band-Aid solution to the deeply-wounding problem of rising food prices. “The price ceiling is not a magic wand. The price of foods will not go down if supply is lacking," he said. Apart from monitoring prices and imposing a price ceiling, the senator said the government must strictly implement laws that protect consumers. As food security czar during the rice price inflation in 2014, Pangilinan created an inter-agency task force composed of the National Food Authority, the Department of Trade and Industry, the National Bureau of Investigation and the police. The task force went after profiteers, unscrupulous traders and even a number of NFA managers. It revoked or suspended the permits of those who violated the law and filed cases against them.

Oil... From A1

The continuing rollout of the vaccines especially in the US have also helped boost optimism on world oil prices. The oil companies adjusted pump prices on February 2 by P0.25 per liter for gasoline and P0.25 per liter for kerosene, but did not move diesel prices. These resulted in the year-to-date adjustments to stand at a net increase of P2.40 per liter of gasoline and P1.25 per liter of kerosene. Diesel showed a net increase of P1.55 per liter, according to the Department of Energy.

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Gov’t must focus on out-of-school youth—Angara Tax-free cancer S medication with

ENATOR Sonny Angara yesterday cited the need to focus on out of school youth (OSY), particularly at this time when their numbers are growing due to COVID-19 pandemic.

CREATE bill

By Macon Ramos-Araneta ONCE enacted into law by President Duterte, the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises bill will result in a more affordable cancer treatment as cancer prevention medication will be exempted from the Value Added Tax, Senator Joel Villanueva said. Villanueva, chair of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resource Development, said the enactment of the CREATE bill could serve as a milestone not only in the country’s fight against the pandemic, but also in the campaign to prevent cancer and other diseases in the country. “Not only will the proposed CREATE law help our economy bounce back from the raging effects of the pandemic, it will also greatly reduce the cost of cancer medication that has been killing hundreds of Filipinos every day who cannot afford the cost of cancer treatment,” said Villanueva, a co-sponsor of Republic Act 11215, also known as the National Integrated Cancer Control Act. On Wednesday, Villanueva hailed the congressional ratification of the bicameral conference committee report on the CREATE bill which will lower corporate income tax (CIT) and amend the country’s tax incentives system in a move to attract more foreign investments and create job opportunities in the country. The measure also included so-called “health prescriptions” on important health resources, specifically on cancer medicines. Along with the other provisions, the proposed CREATE law will benefit the public health system as it will reduce the high cost of cancer treatment, especially for poor Filipinos who otherwise had no choice but to skip medication due to lack of funds.

ECOLOGY ENFORCERS. Some agency personnel underwent training to become environmental enforcers. They studied the provision

of the Anti-Littering Law which aims to reduce waste in public places, roads and also for maintaining cleanliness. Once they pass the test, they will be deposed and deployed to enforce the Anti-Littering Law including the apprehension of reprimands and reckless waste disposal.

CA affirms drug conviction of Chinese national By Rey E. Requejo THE Court of Appeals has sustained the 2019 conviction of a foreigner by a regional trial court after finding him guilty of committing the crime of illegal drug trading. In a decision, the CA upheld the life imprisonment and the P500,000 fine imposed by the Makati City RTC on Shi Jianjia, a Chinese national, who was caught in possession of 2,815.5 grams of shabu during a buy-bust operation conducted by the police in 2018. The appellate court found no reversible error in the judgment rendered by the trial court against the Chinese national who had been found guilty of in engaging in the smuggling and distribution of illegal

drugs in the country. In affirming the ruling of the Makati City RTC, the CA through Associate Justice Fernanda Lampas Peralta rejected the argument of the accused that the prosecution failed to comply with Section 21 fo Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002” mandating strict compliance on chain of custody of confiscated illegal drugs. “There is no merit in accused-appellant’s contention that the prosecution failed to comply with Section 21 of R.A. No. 9165 on chain of custody requirement because the mandatory witnesses were not present during the actual arrest of accused-appellant and seizure from him of the subject illegal drugs,” the appellate

court ruled. The CA said it scrutinized meticulously – in line with Supreme Court (SC) decisions and provisions of RA 9165 -- the proceedings during the buy-bus operation conducted by the police and in the trial court, particularly in the observance of the procedures in the handling of the seized illegal drugs. Shi was arrested by members of the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-DEG) in Barangay Pio del Pilar in Makati City on a tip from an informant in late 2017 and after several days of surveillance. Confiscated from him, among other things, were two plastic packs containing more than 2.8 kilos of shabu, methamphetamine hydrochloride.

As chairman of the Committee on Youth, Angara noted that the increase in the number of OSY is a serious issue that could lead to bigger problems later on if left unchecked. “What worries me is that many of the children who were not able to enroll last year could end up missing even more time out of school or worse, drop out completely for one reason or another,” Angara said. As of 11 August 2020, the DepEd noted that some 23M have enrolled in both public and private schools, a significant reduction from the 27.7 million enrollees in 2019. According to the DepEd, 2.75 million of the four million who did not enroll were private school students. “We understand that the sharp drop in enrollment for the current school year was due to the restrictions on face-to-face education. We hope to see these figures improve once our schools start to open up again, albeit gradually,” Angara said. Based on 2017 Philippine Statistics Authority data, nine percent or 3.53 million of the estimated 39.2 Filipinos aged 6 to 24 years old were considered OSYs. Of that number, 83.1% consist of individuals 16 to 24 years old, 11.2% were 12 to 15 years old, and 5.7% were 6 to 11 years old. The PSA data indicated that the most common reasons among OSYs for not attending school were marriage or family matters, lack of personal interest, and high cost of education or financial concerns. Around 50% of OSYs belong to families whose income fall within the bottom 30% of the population based on their per capita income. “The data is alarming and there is a real danger that we’ll end up with even more OSYs now because of the impact of the pandemic on family incomes and the challenges posed by blended learning on both students and their parents alike,” Angara said.

CHR looks into arrest of violators in Silay By Rio N. Araja

UNPROTECTED. Children play unprotected from the virus COVID-19 and its variant at a private subdivision in Imus Cavite on Sunday February 7, 2021. PonD News Asia

THE Commission on Human Rights has stepped into the apprehension of quarantine violators in Silay, Negros Occidental, who were ordered to march from a police station to a covered court for the conduct of a seminar. In a statement, lawyer-spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said CHR’s office in Region VI would conduct a probe on the incident to also hear the side of police officers in Silay City. She reacted to a video posted on social media showing a group apprehended for allegedly violating the city ordinance mandating the wearing of face masks. “The CHR agrees that we need to continuously need to work together to curb the transmission of the COVID-19 virus by faithfully adhering to health safety protocols set by experts,” she said. “However, as we have repeatedly stressed, addressing the current pandemic

must always be guided by human rights principles. After all, the present national health crisis is a human rights issue -- not a mere law enforcement agenda,” she added. She reminded law enforcers to adhere to human rights-based policing, including respect for every person’s dignity. “Parading alleged quarantine violators on the streets may amount to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment penalized by Republic Act No. 9745 (Anti-Torture Act) and barred by Convention Against Torture signed by the Philippines,” De Guia said. “Human rights must always rest at the core of law enforcement. We urge law enforcement officers to also coordinate with public health experts on how to better explain and ensure compliance to health safety protocols amidst the pandemic. At the same time, we look forward to the cooperation of the PNP in Silay City toward addressing this human rights concern,” she noted.

Gov’t has to invest PopCom warns against rising teen-age pregnancy among 15-years old below in PH in more public growth areas—NEDA THE National Economic Development Authority said that more public investments are needed in four priority growth areas to stimulate economic recovery. In a statement during a recent Presidential Communications Operations Office virtual presser, NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon said that solutions for digitalization will support business and learning continuity in the midst of the long lockdown. Edillon said the recovery cluster under the national task force against COVID-19 identified digital transformation, health systems, food resilience, and learning continuity as key investment areas that would help in economic recovery. “We want the private sector to have more investments in these areas,” she said. Edillon pointed out that the government will identify investments to support these sectors. According to Globe Telecom President Ernest Cu, P70 Billion in capital expenditures are allocated this year to build 2,000 new sites and faster fiber roll-out to address home connectivity for the largely underserved market. The telco will deploy high speed 4G LTE and 5G technologies to improve internet services.

THE latest civil-registry statistics from the Philippine Statistics Authority for 2019 revealed that births among girls ages 15 years old and below have gone up by 7%, compared to 2018. This is the ninth year since 2011 that this figure has continued to rise, the Commission on Population and Development warned.

The government agency noted that this increasing trend of younger girls giving birth has been observed in the last 11 years, as one out of every 10 pregnancies in the country has consistently been among teenagers during the same period. In 2019, 2,411 girls considered as very young adolescents aged 10 to 14 gave

birth, or almost seven every day. This was a three-fold increase from 2000, when only 755 from the said age group gave birth. Overall, the number of Filipino minors who gave birth in 2019 increased to 62,510, which was slightly higher than the 62,341 minors in 2018. One in three births among minors oc-

curred in the three contiguous regions of CALABARZON (8,008), National Capital Region (7,546) and Central Luzon (7,523). Outside Luzon, the highest number of minors who gave birth were in Cebu/Central Visayas (4,541), Northern Mindanao (4,747), as well as the regions of Davao (4,551) and Cotabato (3,394).

‘Only legit beneficiaries should get houses’ By Rio N. Araja THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development is pro-actively working with partner-organizations to ensure that only legitimate beneficiaries receive government housing units. As the government’s primary agency task to provide decent and affordable housing, DHSUD has been actively capacitating partners in the selection process of housing beneficiaries, through sustained engagements. Secretary Eduardo del Rosario is encouraging the key shelter agencies, local government units and other partner-organizations to strictly follow the implementing guidelines and criteria in beneficiary identification and selection. “I am calling on our partner-stakeholders to pro-actively observe the prescribed process and criteria in identifying our

housing project beneficiaries so that only those who are truly affected are given assistance,” he said. In a recent workshop led by the Social Housing Finance Corp. in partnership with the Philippine National Railways, Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor, Department of Transportation and the local government of Biñan, Laguna, the Beneficiary Selection, Awards and Arbitration Committee of the Local InterAgency Committee for the North-South Commuter Railway Extension Project discussed the process of BSAAC deliberation to prevent illegal occupancies. The workshop revisited the process and criteria for the deliberation of project affected persons under the NSCREx. It started in 2018 conducting a census among the PAPs in the area and followed by a pre-qualification validation in 2019.

FOSSIL FUEL-FREE. Climate and Environmental advocates from Asian People’s

Movement on Debt and Development hold up protest placards during a demonstration rally held near the Filipino-Chinese friendship arch in Binondo Manila, on 07 February 2021. APMDD coordinator Lidy Nacpil calls on China to take decisive steps and pave the way for a fossil fuel-free Asia, together with the governments of Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and the rest of the Asian region. Norman Cruz

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor lgu@manilastandard.net editor.lgustandard@gmail.com

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2021

Navotas holds 3rd vaccination practice rollout By Jun David THE City Government of Navotas has conducted a simulation of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination rollout. The dry run was conducted at Navotas Polytechnic College (NPC), which houses the city’s vaccine cold room. “The drill will help us assess our readiness for the citywide COVID-19 immunization and enable us to see what needs to be improved on,” Mayor Toby Tiangco said. “The first batch of vaccines is expected to arrive this February and we need to ensure that we are set and primed to execute the campaign. We aim to inoculate 1,500 daily and we want it to go as safe and smooth as possible,” he added. Friday’s simulation was the third in a series of dry runs the city conducted to be ready for the vaccination rollout. Scenarios included responding to a patient experiencing adverse reaction to the vaccine and transporting the vaccines from NPC to other inoculation sites. Navotas has allotted an initial P20 million for its COVID-19 vaccination program. It aims to vaccinate 103,000 residents and non-residents who work in Navotas and aged 18 and above. The city has signed a tripartite deal to purchase 100,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines and sent order for 10,000 doses from Moderna. It also intends to buy 40,000 doses from Pfizer.

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

COURTESY CALL. Clark Development Corporation (CDC) President and CEO Manuel R. Gaerlan (right) recently made his courtesy call to Angeles City Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr. Their partnership is expected to bring in more improvements and developments in Clark and Angeles City. CDC-CD Photo

QC readies for inoculation

By Rio N. Araja

HE Quezon City government has intensified preparations for its initial 24 coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) inoculation sites.

Officials from the Quezon City Health Department and Zuellig Pharmaceutical Company, together with the City Engineering Department, General Services Department, and Information

Technology Development Department, led the inspection of the triage areas. The chosen vaccination sites are all public schools since these are the most strategic and efficient venues for

the inoculation. “Schools have ample space to ensure the free movement of personnel and to implement social distancing. They are also the nearest venues from our health centers, where the vaccines coming from Zuellig to our cold storage facility will be stored,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said. Each inoculation site has a waiting area, registration area, counseling area, screening area, vaccination room and observation room.

The city government and Zuellig assured that each vaccination site has a unidirectional workflow or one entry and one exit, and comfort rooms. According to city health officer Dr. Esperanza Anita Arias, the vaccine is overly sensitive so it cannot be exposed to direct sunlight. The city government is set to vaccinate 1.05 million citizens initially based on the priority list from the Department of Health.

Taytay resumes P721-m sports complex TAYTAY, Rizal—After being sidelined at the onset of the global pandemic, the construction of the P721-million world-class sports complex in this locality resumes and is expected to be completed even before the coronavirus dilemma is over. In a statement, Taytay Mayor Joric Gacula said the world-class facility, which would rise on a 13-hectare local government-owned parcel in Barangay Muzon and funded by the national government, is expected to generate employment and boost business following an economic slump in view of the national health emergency. “There are quite a number of residents in our locality who have lost jobs and closed down their businesses because of the pandemic. Hopefully,

this project will trigger economic activities that would attract business seen to help displaced local folks and rejuvenate small businesses,” the local chief executive said. In a social media post, Gacula said: “Bago matapos ang pandemic na ito, may world class sports complex na tayo.” The post had eight photos showing local officials in an ocular inspection at the worksite. Rizal 1st District Rep. Michael John “Jack” R. Duavit pledged additional support for the sports complex to allow the Department of Public Works and Highways to resume its construction the soonest. Interestingly, the 13-hectare Taytay Sports Complex used to be a trash dump that Gacula ordered closed 10 years ago.

FRANCHISE RENEWAL. The local government of General Trias in Cavite recently issued renewal of local tricycle franchises for year 2021 free of charge to operators and drivers, to help them bounce back after 10 months of irregular trips. Tricycle owners saved around P700 for the renewal of the franchise. Dennis Abrina

MyEG debuts COVID saliva testing service MYEG Philippines Inc. (MyEG PH), a market leader in electronic solutions championing government services via online automation, has introduced the arrival this month of an at-home COVID-19 testing service for the Philippine market -- a safe and noninvasive test method aimed at helping the country’s fight against the ongoing pandemic by accelerating and enhancing screening. The product is in partnership with IP Biotech, Inc. (IPB), a licensed importer of vaccines and medical devices in the Philippines, and Family Vaccine and Specialty Clinics, Inc. (FVSC), one of the largest chains of vaccination clinics in the country that de-

livers quality health care services to Filipinos. As the exclusive distributor of the VereRT ZeroPrep Covid 19 PCR Kit, MyEG PH through IPB and FVSC will be making the service. It will be the first of its kind in the Philippine market, enabling home and on-site corporate collection of saliva samples by licensed medical professionals that are then sent to partner laboratories for processing and with test results delivered in 1-2 working days. The diagnostic kit is developed by Singaporebased biotechnology company Veredus Laboratories that specializes in developing portable diagnostic tool kits.

Holcim HELPS aids over 160,000 in 2020

LEADING building solutions provider Holcim health and sanitation projects in response to the Philippines assisted more than 160,000 people COVID-19 pandemic. in 2020, diverting more resources to community Despite the impact of COVID-19 on its business and the challenges on bringing out support to local communities due to safety, the Company continued its corporate citizenship campaign Holcim HELPS, which benefitted 164,913 individuals in 2020. The centerpiece of this year’s Holcim HELPS campaign is on water access, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) for schools and communities in partnership with the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) and the Manila Water Foundation. Through these partnerships, Holcim Philippines communities received 5,300 information HOLCIM HELPS. Among the highlights of and education materials on proper hand washing Holcim HELPS in 2020 are the partnerships with the and COVID-19 prevention, as well as 800 hygiene League of Corporate Foundations and Manila Water Foundation to provide educational materials on proper kits and children’s storybooks on WASH. The initiative benefited 78,698 individuals in hand washing and COVID-19 prevention for 78,698 individuals in Bacnotan, La Union; Norzagaray, Bulacan; Bacnotan, La Union, Norzagaray, Bulacan), Mabini, Batangas, Lugait, Misamis Oriental, and Mabini, Batangas; Lugait, Misamis Oriental; and Bunawan District, Davao City. Bunawan District, Davao City.

Opinion The assistant UP UNTIL he became senator of the realm by an astounding come-from-behind election in 2019, he was the “pambansang photobomber,” the guy who was always beside the President, and who would take selfies with Mr. Duterte and whoever was in the background, be it The Donald or Xi Jinping. Now, already a senator, he is still beside the President in official functions, whether presiding in a meeting with select cabinet and sub-cabinet officials regarding pandemic measures, or visiting soldiers in the field. He is both in the legislature and in the executive branch. One cannot say however that he falters in his legislative work, for he attends both online sessions and committee hearings without fail. Still, he finds time to be with the man he treasures most above all, and who in turn trusts him more above any other. This is Christopher Lawrence Tesoro Go, better known as Bong Go, who from the time he finished his business administration course at De La Salle University, has been a follower and know-it-all assistant of then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte, now president of the Philippines.

Bong Go is both in the legislative and executive branch. Those who desire continuity in policy, in reforms, and even in style of governance of the present occupant of Malacanang need look no further than entrust to Bong Go the reins of government after Duterte’s term of office ends in 2022. Not even Duterte’s daughter, Inday Sara, the current mayor of his city, can be as seamless in style and substance as Senator Bong Go if continuity is the question. The guy is simply tireless. Of course he is only in his mid-forties, and can intertwine work in the Senate along with being the de facto special assistant, or SAP, a position especially created for him when Duterte became president in 2016. As SAP, he had under his wings the very important Malacanang think tank cum work horse, the Presidential Management Staff or PMS. Appointments to most positions in government were screened by his staff, as well as meetings with the president by both public officials and leaders of the private sector. Over and above these, he can still find time to play a mean game of basketball practically each week, his form of relaxation and de-stressing in Manila. In homecourt Davao, Bong regularly jet-skis from the city to the beaches of Samal on week-ends, before the president starts his day which is normally after lunch. The energy is simply boundless, even for a 46-year-old. Interspersed with all these, Sen. BG, as many call him, still finds time to inaugurate his Malasakit Centers in different hospitals all over the land, a one-stop shop for medical assistance services to indigents for whom, despite PhilHealth, an appointment with

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2021

EDITORIAL

sickness is a family financial crisis. Started in early 2018 with a Malasakit center in Cebu City’s Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Sen. Bong has as of this writing opened a hundred such Malasakit Centers all over the country. In these onestop shop assistance centers, Go, with the help of friend Sec. Michael Dino, the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas, put together DOH, DSWD, PCSO, Pagcor and Philhealth to pool resources and assist the financial needs of hospitalized indigents. Dino claims that the centers have served close to 2 million marginalized people since 2018. Malasakit is a Tagalog term that connotes empathy, even compassion towards others. It will be recalled that in the middle of 2015, when Mayor Rodrigo Duterte was moving around the country introducing himself to various sectors and testing the waters, a television infomercial which ran for less than 20 days for lack of funding support was aired, showing a rough and tumble mayor riding a motorcycle amidst his Davao City constituents, touting his domain as one of the world’s safest cities, and in visual images showing his empathy towards the common man, from senior citizens to children. That infomercial was tagged “Tapang at Malasakit.” Tapang or courage is how then Davao mayor Digong was known all over the country for, but behind the tapang was a “hugot” of compassion towards the marginalized. To date, the loyal support of millions towards the president springs from his actualizing these leadership qualities through political will and a natural empathy towards his countrymen. Rare indeed is a leader who retains such high approval and trust ratings as Duterte, despite the pandemic and a shrinking economy. Not just in comparison to previous presidents, but even among leaders all over the world. His assistant Bong now hugs the “malasakit” cloak, not only through his one-stop centers for medical assistance, but by bringing relief goods to wherever his untiring body can bring him each time there is a disaster or calamity. In effect, he subs for his Tatay Digong, whose senior-citizen body could no longer abide with such rigorous demonstration of empathy. As senator, Bong Go institutionalized the malasakit program through legislation, signed by the president as RA 11463 in December 2019, just before the pandemic struck. Compassion is a metric of political dividends particularly touching the hearts of the D-2 and E income classes. Not that Senator Bong uses his “malasakit” to gain such dividends, but like it or not, his fast ascent into the national consciousness, from the devoted “alalay” of Mayor, then President Duterte, is a product of the public’s recognition of his selfless service. It is for this reason, aside from his amazingly strong 3rd place showing in the 2019 senatorial derby, that pollsters and pundits have classified him as “presidentiable.” But gravitas is something else, and Senator Bong has yet to gain the same. People in this country tend to typecast their political figures in much the same way they typecast actors and actresses. T’is sad, but such is political theater, where perception is reality. Bong himself dismisses presidential ambition. “Count me out,” he said the other day, referring to aspirations for higher office next year. But many of his colleagues in government and in the president’s close circles, benefitting from his ever-present role as the Duterte “go-to guy,” want him to try for the top post. Will he? Or better still, will the President will it?

Myanmar’s time of redemption

FROM being a self-sacrificing “political saint” and the leading voice in her country’s struggle for human rights and democracy, Myanmar’s de facto civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi came under fire for defending before the International Court of Justice the country’s military against allegations of genocide against the Rohingya minority. Early on her term of office, the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate was already being criticized not only for her government’s failure to fulfill promised economic and political reforms and the delay in the needed improvements in the delivery of social services, but also for alleged suppression of the freedom of expression. Many of the countries that praised her fearless indignation during the fifteen years of house arrest felt that Daw Suu turned out to be a surprising grave disappointment. Her swift and dramatic fall from grace left her international reputation in tatters. In response to her silence over the alleged military crackdown against the Rohingya, Canada stripped Daw Suu of her honorary citizenship. Several awards once granted to her were eventually revoked, the Freedom of the City from the City Councils of Oxford and Dublin, the Elie Wiesel Award from United States Holocaust Museum and even the Ambassador of Conscience Award given by Amnesty International. Despite her declining approval overseas,

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Daw Suu remained very popular in her country, with her leading the main opposition political party, the National League for Democracy in a decisive election win in November of last year. But Myanmar’s democratic experiment appeared to be short-lived. Days before the country’s Parliament was scheduled to convene, leading NLD members including Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint as well as other elected members of Parliament were arrested by the military, after disputing and rejecting the results of the November 2020 elections to be fraudulent. The country’s military leaders immediately imposed a year-long state of emergency, installing one of their own, Min Aung Hlaing, as de facto leader and stalling Myanmar’s uneasy transition to full democracy after decades of military rule, a move once applauded by the international community. Despite rumors of a brewing coup already circulating for weeks, the military’s move apparently caught the international community by surprise. But the hard truth is that the world may have been played by Myanmar’s military generals and that the last ten years then could turn out to be part of a survival plan carefully crafted by Myanmar’s military. Close to 50 years of ethnic strife and economic sanctions may have already crippled Myanmar’s economy, leaving the ruling junta with no choice but to agree to carry out political reforms. In 2010, elections were held, and a year after, the military junta was dissolved. In its place, a nominally civilian government was installed. Daw Suu and other political prisoners

A duty to speak up

N DECEMBER 2019, a doctor from Wuhan in Hubei province in China used his WeChat social media account to warn the people about a SARS-like virus spreading fast in his city. As a result, Li Wenliang was reprimanded by police for spreading rumors; he was forced to acknowledge that he was wrong.

Just a few days later, Li himself contracted the virus from a patient. He died exactly a year ago last Saturday. He was only 34 years old, with a wife, a 4-year old child and an unborn baby. Li gave interviews to the press during his confinement. He said that he and his colleagues were discussing the mysterious illness, initially thinking it was SARS making a comeback. They agreed that they needed to be ready for it mentally, and that they should take protective measures against it. The doctor himself did not expect that the virus would claim his life. He told

The New York Times that he expected to recover in 15 days, and that he would join medical workers in fighting the pandemic. “That’s where my responsibilities lie,” he said. It’s a tragedy that he never recovered to continue the fight.

People should continue to demand transparency and accountability from their governments.

In speaking out, however, Li had already carried out another responsibility —to raise alarm and inform people of the impending danger of what, one year later, has sickened nearly 106 million and killed more than 2.3 million across the globe. Dr. Li’s silencing, while not unexpected from a country like China, is a common response from governments and officials who value image over truth. To maintain people’s perception and high regard for them, they with-

hold the true state of affairs and paint a rosier version of reality. It’s a tendency that is not altogether foreign to us. Had our own national leaders believed the science and made the safety of our people a paramount consideration, refused entitlements and not made excuses for the incompetence of some, then perhaps we would have also arrested the spread of the virus instead of resorting to a long and economically crippling lockdown. Our duty as citizens is to speak up and call out the inadequacies of the people who are leading us. If we see something that should be cause for alarm, we should use any means available to us so long as our message is clear and fair and based on fact. We may be intimidated by those seeking to protect their image and their interests, but they should not deter us. One year after Dr. Li’s message, repression and eventual death, the whole world, not just China, is still grappling with the virus. While a lasting solution seems within reach with the rollout of vaccines, people should continue to demand transparency and accountability from their governments and resist attempts to repress the truth for the sake of maintaining appearances.

Rethinking restrictive regulation

THE new e-Commerce Roadmap recently launched by the Department of Trade and Industry sets an optimistic tone for the potential of e-commerce growth in the country. Experts project that the sector will pump in P1.2 trillion into the economy by 2022. Secretary Ramon Lopez said: “As our economy recovers from the pandemic, we can harness the fast-growing e-commerce in the country to boost our economic growth.” However, the sudden surge in online transactions has also seen a sharp spike in complaints from unsatisfied consumers causing mistrust and a growing clamor for redress mechanisms. Hence the impetus to craft a new regulatory framework for e-commerce players. Such a framework is now being proposed under the Internet Transactions Act (ITA) so defined in Senate Bill 1591 as “An Act promoting online transactions, safeguarding the rights of consumers and merchants, and for other purposes.” As a consumer advocate and a regular online shopper, I have been following the progress of this important legislation as this will affect not just the e-commerce platforms but all stakeholders of the digital economy. The following are some of my observations: The first is on defining what an e-commerce platform is and is not. The ITA bill attempts to capture a diverse e-commerce landscape under one definition. Just go to a search engine to search for an item you are shopping for and you’ll see what I mean. The big shopping platforms like Lazada, Shopee, Zalora, the branded online stores, and even supermarkets and malls have their own integrated platforms

Its democratic experiment appears short-lived. were released, allowing them to participate in the 2015 parliamentary elections where the leading opposition party won an overwhelming majority in both houses of the country’s Parliament. But it was clearly a political accommodation that from the start was bound to fail. The military retained their hold on to the powerful Ministries of Home Affairs, Defense and Border Affairs, critical Cabinet portfolios related to defense and security, in addition to the power to fill up a quarter of the seats of Parliament. This left the civilian government with no power to undo the military’s grip on politics or even hold them accountable for their actions. Despite being the uncontested party leader, a constitutional prohibition imposed on Myanmar citizens married to foreigners even prevented Daw Suu from being rightfully elected as president.

with all the needed commerce and business functionalities. In other words, after you confirm your order, whether pre-paid or cash on delivery, your goods will arrive via a courier service in due time. Then there are platforms that are more like product listings or online classified ads like Carousell and Facebook Marketplace where buyer and seller will need to work the transaction details. These are just like printed classified ads where the newspaper plays no role in the transaction and never liable for deals that went bad from their ads. Something the ITA proposes to impose to all the platforms.

Building a safe and vibrant digital marketplace is a symbiotic concern of all e-commerce stakeholders. There are as many permutations as there are diverse products and services being offered online but, in all cases, the objective is to make a good deal based on each consumer need and preference. Technology has made this dynamism viable and is what makes the e-commerce sector so competitive and innovative. This raises the question on whether crafting a catch-all regulatory regime that would compel all online commerce actors to act the same way as brick-and-mortar establishment will work. Or, whether a more nuanced approach with customized rules adaptable to distinctions between platform models, for let’s say each e-commerce sub-sector may be more responsive and more enabling for our e-economy to flourish. The second observation is about cross-border trade implications as the ITA will require all e-commerce entities whethIt could be the reason why Daw Suu found herself in no position to run head-on with the military. Her hands were tied by the constitutional provisions that were clearly meant to keep the military’s control over politics. She nevertheless hoped to work with whatever available political means towards the possibility of correcting an unjust system. But she frustratingly ended up with a disappointing devil’s gamble. Daw Suu must have been optimistic that she could reform the country’s political system from within, but the failsafe provided by the Constitution drafted by the military junta in 2008 nipped in the bud all attempts for constitutional amendment. Then political pragmatism must have come into play. The Rohingya were very unpopular among the country’s Buddhist majority, and with an election to win, Daw Suu could not risk the electorate’s displeasure. In the meanwhile, despite having cunningly used Daw Suu as a shield from international criticism, the overwhelming electoral success of the National League for Democracy in the latest elections must have made the military establishment realize that she has become an even greater threat to their continuing political influence. Full version on www.manilastandard.net

er platforms, merchants, or sellers to register and have a license to operate before they will be allowed to engage in e-commerce. This would be problematic as it will raise jurisdictional, compliance, and enforcement issues. Can this be implemented unilaterally? Come to think of it, how about the sellers on platforms like Amazon? Does this mean we cannot access these platforms unless their sellers are registered and licensed? What if these countries do the same thing for Filipino merchants trying to get into their online market? Adding bureaucratic barriers will always raise costs and will stifle the dynamic energy of the digital marketplace. Diversity is what makes the e-commerce sector so competitive and quick to innovate. Our legislators should consider a pause in deliberations to understand the regulatory models of developed economies with robust e-commerce industries and how they managed, or even allowed its multiplicity to take-off at great speed. We’re actually having an e-commerce boom right now without any new regulation. With that thought, safely navigating the risks of the digital marketplace is a matter of practicing the same shopping sense when venturing into the “tiangge” or an unfamiliar shop. The less-than-ideal consumer protections is a significant problem but there are other barriers to e-commerce growth such as the need to improve internet connectivity, building a robust digital infrastructure, and the largely unbanked population. A game changer would be a well implemented national ID system integrated in every establishment. E-commerce is a lifesaver not just for those who lost their livelihood in this deep recession but for all of us fighting to survive this pandemic. Building a safe and vibrant digital marketplace is a symbiotic concern of all e-commerce stakeholders. For now, I believe a clever social marketing campaign on safe online shopping and responsible online entrepreneurship may be more effective while legislators and regulators are trying to catch up with an industry operating at lightning speed.

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Vaccines know no nationality

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2021

Thousands rally again in Yangon

Sister Nathalie Becquart

Pope appoints first woman to synod post POPE Francis has broken with Catholic tradition to appoint a woman as an undersecretary of the synod of bishops, the first to hold the post with voting rights in a body that studies major questions of doctrine. Frenchwoman Nathalie Becquart is one of the two new undersecretaries named Saturday to the synod, where she has been a consultant since 2019. The appointment signals the pontiff’s desire “for a greater participation of women in the process of discernment and decision-making in the church,” said Cardinal Mario Grech, the secretary-general of the synod. “During the previous synods, the number of women participating as experts and listeners has increased,” he said. “With the nomination of Sister Nathalie Becquart and her possibility of participating in voting, a door has opened.” The synod is led by bishops and cardinals who have voting rights and also comprises experts who cannot vote, with the next gathering scheduled for autumn 2022. A special synod on the Amazon in 2019 saw 35 female “auditors” invited to the assembly, but none could vote. AFP

2nd HK radio host arrested for sedition A HONG KONG internet radio host was arrested on Sunday under a littleused colonial era sedition law that authorities have begun to wield against Beijing’s critics. Officers from the police’s national security department arrested 52-year-old Wan Yiu-sing on a charge of “seditious intent,” according to a police statement. Authorities did not disclose what Wan had said or did that was potentially seditious. The radio personality, better known by his DJ name “Giggs,” has hosted programs discussing anti-government demonstrations and previously called for donations to support young Hong Kongers who have fled to nearby Taiwan. Hong Kong’s sedition law is separate to a sweeping national security law that Beijing imposed on the city last summer in a bid to stamp out dissent. Instead it dates back to the mid-19th century during British colonial rule. It remained on the books after the 1997 handover to China but was never used in a city that has enjoyed political freedoms unseen on the Chinese mainland. But after 2019’s huge and often violent democracy protests, prosecutors dusted off the law. Last September another pro-democracy radio host, Tam Tak-chi, became the first person to be charged with sedition since the handover. AFP

HOUSANDS of anti-coup protesters in Myanmar poured back onto the streets Sunday, as an internet blackout failed to stifle growing outrage at the military’s ouster of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The fresh rally followed the largest protests to date on Saturday, when tens of thousands came out in cities across the country to condemn the coup that brought a 10-year experiment with democracy to a crashing halt. Thousands of chanting protesters marched in Yangon, backed by a din of car horns. They held up banners that said “Justice for Myanmar” and “We do not want military dictatorship.” Some waved the signature red flags of Suu Kyi’s National League of Democracy (NLD) party. “I completely despise the military coup and I am not afraid of a crackdown,” said Kyi Phyu Kyaw, a 20-yearold university student. “I will join every day until Amay Suu (Mother Suu) is freed.” Many demonstrators flashed the threefinger salute inspired by the “Hunger Games” films, which was used as a symbol of resistance by pro-democracy protesters in Thailand last year. The protesters planned to hold a rally at Yangon City Hall, but access to the area was blocked by police and barricades. Demonstrators were forced to split into different groups as they tried to find a way around the checkpoints. “We have decided. We will fight until the end,” said Ye Kyaw, an 18-year-old economics student. “The next generation can have democracy if we end this military dictatorship.” The surge in popular dissent over the weekend overrode a nationwide blockade of the internet, similar in magnitude to an earlier shutdown that coin-

A protester gives bouquets of flowers to a line of riot police during a demonstration against the military coup in Yangon on Saturday. They marched again on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, to demand the immediate release of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi. AFP

cided with the arrest of Suu Kyi and other senior leaders on Monday. Online calls to protest the army takeover have prompted bold displays of defiance, including the nightly deafening clamor of people around the country banging pots and pans – a practice traditionally associated with driving out evil spirits. Yangon residents repeated the potbanging at 8 a.m. on Sunday. “#Myanmar’s military and police must ensure the right to peaceful assembly is fully respected and demonstrators are not subjected to reprisals,” the United Nations Human Rights office tweeted after Saturday’s protests. As protests gathered steam this week,

the junta ordered telecom networks to freeze access to Facebook, an extremely popular service in the country and arguably its main mode of communication. The platform had hosted a rapidly growing “Civil Disobedience Movement” forum that had inspired civil servants, healthcare professionals, and teachers to show their dissent by boycotting their jobs. On Sunday, a live Facebook video feed showed the Yangon protesters as they marched through the streets, as well as police in riot personnel standing by in some locations. It was not immediately clear how the broadcast was bypassing the government block.

The military had widened its efforts to quell organised dissent on Friday when it demanded new blocks on other social media services including Twitter. “The generals are now attempting to paralyze the citizen movement of resistance – and keep the outside world in the dark – by cutting virtually all internet access,” said Tom Andrews, UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar. In addition to Suu Kyi and some of her top aides, dozens have been detained so far. The precise number of arrests is not yet known, but monitoring group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners said Saturday that more than 150 people are still in custody. AFP

For sale: London’s thinnest 5-floor house Blood-red flood caused by Batik dye

Estate agent David Myers stands in the doorway of what is dubbed ‘London’s thinnest house’ (painted blue) in west London. Wedged neatly between a doctor’s surgery and a shuttered hairdressing salon, the five floor house in Shepherds Bush is just 1.6 meters at its narrowest point and is currently on the market for $1.3 million. AFP

BLINK and you could easily miss it. Wedged between a doctor’s surgery and a hairdressing salon, London’s thinnest house is only identified by a streak of dark blue paint. But the five-floor house in Shepherd’s Bush – which is just 1.6 meters at its narrowest point – is currently on the market for $1.3 million. The unusual property, originally a Victorian hat shop with storage for merchandise and living quarters on its upper floors, AN INDONESIAN village was inundatwas built sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. ed by crimson-colored water after floodIn a nod to its past, the house still has an old-fashioned ing hit a fabric dyeing center in central glass shopfront with a lamp in the shape of a bowler hat. Java, sparking a social media frenzy. David Myers, an assistant sales manager at Winkworth Residents of Jenggot, near the town estate agents which is selling the property, said the house of Pekalongan, were seen wading was worth its price tag because it’s “a unique part of Lonthrough blood-red water on Saturday don history.” and many shared images of the rare “It’s a bit of London magic,” he told AFP. phenomenon online. The dimensions of the house differ throughout. Officials later confirmed the unique While the kitchen at the end of the lower ground floor is colour came from harmless fabric dye the house’s narrowest spot, it opens up into a dining area used by several batik factories in the area. that’s nearly double the size. Pekalongan itself is well known for its A 16 foot-wide garden lies beyond behind French windows. batik textiles industry, with many cottage The ground floor, which now contains a reception where industries flourishing across the town. the old shop would have been, and the first floor are of simi“They did not dump the dye on purlar sizes. pose, but several home industries were The first floor – where a bedroom and study can be found flooded and the dye packages were car– also has a roof terrace with commanding views over the ried away by the water,” local disaster roofs and chimney pots of west London. agency official Dimas Arga Yudha told Spiral stairs lead from the second floor – the location of AFP Sunday, adding that the batik dye a bathroom and shower room – up to the master bedroom was not toxic or dangerous. on the third. Local officials deployed pumps to It is accessed by a hatch which opens through the floor drain the flooded area, which was to save on space and the bed, which is built in, takes up an cleared in less than an hour. entire end of the room, fitted into the walls on either side. Floods are very common across the Myers said the house was for a “young couple or an indiIndonesian archipelago, especially vidual” who “sees the beauty for what it is and will snap it up.” during the rainy season. With what the London estate agent described as “unique” In January at least 21 people died period features mixed with art deco and other eclectic inand more than 60,000 were evacuated terior designs, the house would appeal to buyers who were after a series of major floods hit South “arty” or “bohemian.” AFP Kalimantan. AFP CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Manila

Standard

TODAY

(MS-FEB. 8, 2021)

Conjoined Yemeni twins flown to Jordan for surgery

Conjoined Yemeni twins Muhammad and Ahmad Yasser al-Bukhaiti

CONJOINED baby twins born in war-ravaged Yemen were taken to Jordan Saturday for separation surgery, the UN children’s agency said, almost two months after a hospital warned they were in critical condition. Born in the Yemeni capital Sanaa in mid-December, “an echocardiogram showed that each of the two children had their own heart, though the position of the heart of one of them is not normal,” Majda al-Khatib, director of Al-Sabeen hospital, told AFP at the time. The facility’s “low capacity” prevented doctors from accurately determining “which organs are connected,” she added. Unicef said Saturday that the twins “have been medically evacuated this morning to Amman, Jordan, where they will undergo a separation surgery.” “Following weeks of arrangements... They are now in the safe hands of a team of expert surgeons. We hope to see them back soon in Sanaa in good health,” Philippe Duamelle, Unicef representative to Yemen, was quoted as saying in a statement. The Yemeni capital has been controlled since 2014 by Iran-backed Huthi rebels, who are fighting an internationally recognised government that is supported by a Saudiled military coalition. AFP

Business

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Investors focus on earnings, BSP meeting By Jenniffer B. Austria

HARE prices are expected to move sideways this week after last week’s bargain hunting as investors focus on the upcoming monetary policy meeting.

After a higher-than-expected January inflation rate, investors are curious on the next action of the Monetary Board during its meeting scheduled Thursday. Most analysts expect the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to keep the current policy rates, although a possible rate hike is not far-fetched if the inflation rate surpasses the government’s target. The government on Friday reported the January inflation rate quickened to two-year high of 4.2 percent, topping the government’s target of between 2 percent and 4 percent this year. The significant jump in inflation rate was largely due to higher food and and transport costs. BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno, however, said the projected uptrend in inflation rate was just temporary. Investors will also be monitoring the earnings report of listed companies.

Most listed firms are expected to report lower 2020 earnings because of the impact of the pandemic. Analysts said investors will be looking at earnings guidance and outlook from companies for this year as the economy starts to recover. “The PSEi showed a tong return to the 7,000 level but its staying power will be tested given heightened volatility from the upcoming earnings season when capex spending and earnings per share recovery stories for the year are affirmed,” online brokerage firm 2TradeAsia.com said. “Amid period of rising consumer prices, recall that the best bets tend to be natural hedges and those that can pass on the input cost burden to consumers,” it added. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index last week jumped 406 points to 7,019, up 6.2 percent weekon-week, despite the higher January inflation rate. All sub-indices ended in the green, led by mining and oil which rose 7.6 percent, property which climbed 6.8 percent and industrial which advanced 6.1 percent. The average value turnover declined to P9.95 billion while the average net foreign selling eased to P530 million. Wall Street stocks, meanwhile, scaled new heights Friday as a lackluster US jobs report was seen as bolstering the case for US President Joe

Biden’s $1.9-trillion stimulus plan. are looking right now to their government for help... The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq ended at records so I’m going to act. I’m going to act fast.” With AFP for a second straight day followManila ing the jobs data. Analysts also Standard TODAY cited progress on coronavirus vaccines as a factor in extending the rally. The closely-watched jobs data NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING showed the unemployment rate On the ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (EIA) REPORT of the proposed dropped to 6.3 percent in Janu- CEMENT FINISH MILL ANDIMPACT QUARRY OPERATIONS PROJECT of the REPUBLIC ary but the economy added only CEMENT & BUILDING MATERIALS, INC. (RCBMI) located in Brgys. Dunggoan, Sandayong Norte, Binaliw and Malapoc in Danao City, Brgys. Triumfo, 49,000 jobs, the Labor Depart- Cagat, Hagnaya, Dawis Norte, Dawis Sur, Baring, Ipil and Corte in Carmen Municipality, Province of Cebu. ment said. Stephen Innes, chief global Notice is hereby given to all parties who wish to give their opinion regarding the of the proposed CEMENT FINISH MILL AND QUARRY OPERATIONS markets strategist at Axi, called implementation PROJECT to attend on-line Public Hearing that are scheduled as follows: the report a “double clunker” Date Time Microsoft Team Link as the December figure was re16 February 2021 10:00AM-12:00 NN https:tinyurl.com/RepublicDanaoPublicHearing vised to show a loss of 227,000 This Public Hearing is being conducted in connection with the RCBMI’s application jobs from an initial estimate of its Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC). The EPRMP of the aforementioned project is being reviewed by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the 140,000. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Biden argued the data show the The following is the project information: need for speedy relief. Proponent Republic Cement and Building Materials, Inc. (RCBMI) Project Name Cement Finish Mill Plant and Quarry Operations Project “I see enormous pain in this Project Location Barangays Dunggoan, Cagat, Sandayong Norte, Binaliw, and country, a lot of folks out of work, Malapac in the City of Danao and Barangays Triumfo, Hagnaya, and Dawis Sur in the Municipality of Carmen, Province of Cebu a lot of folks going hungry,” the Nature of Project Quarry and Cement Manufacturing Project Project Size Cement: 1,200,000 metric tons per year (MTPY) US president said in a White Quarry: • 500,000 MTPY of limestone House speech. • 150,000 MTPY of pozzolan/shale “I believe the American people All interested parties who wish to attend or participate in this on-line Public Hearing should preferably confirm their attendance/ participation through the above MICROSOFT TEAMS platform.

Tiny houses: Turkish tourism thinks small in COVID era

The project’s EPRMP and Executive Summary for the Public are downloadable at our website: www.eia.emb.gov.ph (kindly access the Notice of Public Hearing/ Consultation link found in our website) while copies will be available in the following offices:

A picture taken on January 15, 2021 at Polenezkoy district in Istanbul shows an inside view of a tiny house. The tiny house movement—a lingering fad that gained momentum in the United States in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis—appears to have caught fire in Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic. AFP

By Fulya Ozerkan ISTANBUL―Gizem Baburhan stepped into a tiny house on wheels she rented in the Aegean vineyards and saw the future of Turkey’s coronavirus-ravaged tourism industry. “This minimalist life offered us priceless peace,” said Baburhan. “I hope in the future, we will own a tiny house and tour the world with a home on our backs.” The tiny house movement―a fad that gained momentum in the United States in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis―appears to have caught on in Turkey during the pandemic. The unimposing wood and composite metal structures resemble spruced-up sheds on wheels or sawn-off trailer homes. Yet the Turkish firms that make them say they have barely been able to keep up with demand in the past year. YAKO Groups chief executive Galip Olmez said he received only “sporadic orders” after introducing the concept to Turkey in 2017. “If we compare 2020 with the previous year, the orders have increased 20 fold,” Olmez said without disclosing precise numbers. Architect Pelin Dustegor said most of her Casa Lokomotif tiny house company’s clients were “from the tourism industry looking for camping concepts.” “We had just under 250 orders in all of 2019 and this shot up to 4,500 a month in

Likewise they may give their opinion(s) in a concise position paper submitted to the ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT DIVISION (EIAMD) of this Office through email at eia@emb.gov.ph, three (3) days before the Public Hearing schedule.

EMB Region VII DENR Compound, Green Plains Subdivision, Banilad, Mandaue City, Cebu (032) 260-9777

City Planning and Development Office City Hall, Danao City, Cebu – Mabini Street, Danao City, Cebu

Municipal Planning and Development Office Municipal Hall, Carmen, Cebu

For more details, please contact the EIAM Division at this Office at telephone numbers (02) 89202240 to 41 and look for the project case handlers, Engr. Jose Paolo Aragoncillo and Engr. George Silvederio, or at this email: eia@emb.gov.ph.

(MS-FEB. 8, 2021)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

City Government of Makati

2020,” Dustegor told AFP. “There has been tremendous interest.” Fear of hotels Turkey is perhaps best known to global tourists as the place of golden beaches and all-inclusive luxury hotels. But the economic shock of the pandemic and suspicions that people will shy away from crowds for years to come have some Turkish tourism firms revising their plans. Dustegor said the tiny houses’ popularity with tourism companies was rooted in their low investment

cost and the potential to turn a profit within three and a half years. It is easier and far less risky to invest in a scattering of little mobile homes than it is to maintain or build a hotel. The houses can also be parked on lands without a building permit because they have the status of a vehicle in Turkey. Dustegor said people between their late 30s and early 40s also tended to buy them as an investment then rent them out. AFP

Work hard, play hard, but safeguard your body OCCUPATIONAL safety and numerous studies linking unathealth have not been given too tended occupational health and much attention over the past safety issues to various work DAN GUBAN few centuries. Some laborers, performance, such as producespecially in the construction intivity, efficiency and safety. dustry, were physically strained It was a great Integral hubeyond their capacities and exman development class session hausted much of their vigor to keep up with the back- where we discussed Safety and Productivity Enhancebreaking schedule. It was also apparent that in the ment through Ergonomics Development (SPEED). past, safety in the workplace was not a top priority as The resource person, Dr. Jennifer Gutierrez, discussed this was not a factor of profit. Being exposed to dan- how they conducted a study on workplace discomfort ger or accidents in the workplace due to human error experienced by employees in several offices. Their was seen as merely the irresponsibility of the person study revealed that workers complained that they exbeing blamed. perienced body pain and cramps that last for least a Today, much has changed. With society’s develop- day and some, even a week. Surprising as this may ment and emerging global standards in labor, care for seem, even workers who have sedentary tasks expepeople is the top priority. We now see the importance rience body pains. Given that most of the class are of having a safe working environment in protecting working from home and sedentary, we welcomed Dr. the welfare of workers. It also decreases the chances Gutierrez’s recommendations to reduce these discomof having accidents, as hazard and accident preventive forts. One is the use of ergonomic furniture, such as measures are implemented all throughout the facilities ergonomic chairs, to ease the tension when using it. of many workplaces. This, in turn, decreases the costs These are especially helpful for people working in that will be incurred if ever accidents happen. In the the offices who are seated for several hours a day. A Philippines, our country has also been active in em- good, well-designed office chair can help reduce back, ploying programs relative to occupational safety and shoulder and wrist pain. health activities, including fire prevention and control, With this new knowledge, I now know how I could drug-free workplace, emergency response prepared- improve my health even when I am at work. Safety is ness, and accident prevention programs. extremely important for us since we are working in the Although 95 percent of total establishments have laboratory. I have established several safety standards, some form of occupational health and safety; there is protocols and administrative controls to manage the hazstill room for improvement. As one study shows, there ards in our laboratory. I also try to take a break from time is still a lack of designated health officers, conduct of to time, doing several stretches, especially when working annual physical examinations, implementing healthy in front of the computer for a long time. Also, I go out lifestyle program, and ergonomics intervention (Re- of the office for a few breaks to breathe in fresh air from villa, 2019). On a personal level, I believe we, as a outside and intentionally look at the trees as, based on country, are quite advanced in adapting principles of what I know, this reduces stress and eases tension in the occupational safety and health practices in various in- eyes from focusing too much on the monitor. dustries. Although there are still some lapses, especialLikewise, I shared these good habits with my colly for the non-compliant establishments, our perfor- leagues to not be overworked and experience body mance in other occupational safety and health aspects pains as well. I try to encourage them to do as I do, are quite commendable. conversing with them to get to know more while benI have to admit I also have a minimal understanding efiting from these exercises. I hope that we could still of the concept. As far as I know, as long as my em- improve our physical aspects in the workplace because ployer compensates me well, I need not worry about I believe this will be beneficial not just for us on our other things. I just let the government regulators do continuing journey to wholeness and well-being but their functions. Maybe one reason is I still consider also for the organization. myself as young and full of vigor; that I can take physical and mental stress at my age. That’s how we were The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. del oriented. I felt guilty for complaining about sitting for Rosario College of Business, De La Salle University. long hours, which is nothing compared to physical la- This article is part of his blog for the course Integral borers’ jobs. Who am I to complain? Human Development. But after learning that occupational health and safety is important regardless of the industry you work for, The views expressed here are the author’s and do I now realize that we all have the right to a safe and not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its conducive working environment. There are probably faculty, and its administrators.

Green LiGht

Committee on Awards on Disposal 7th Floor, Makati City Hall Bulldog II J.P. Rizal cor. F, Zobel Sts., Brgy. Poblacion, Makati City Tel. No. (02) 870 1793/ 1779 www.makati.gov.ph

INVITATION TO BID FOR THE SALE OF UNSERVICEABLE PROPERTY, PLANT & EQUIPMENT (PPE) The CITY GOVERNMENT OF MAKATI, through Its Committee on Awards on Disposal (CAD), wishes to announce to the public and all interested buyer/s to join the sale through Public Bidding of FORTYFOUR (44) LOTS OF UNSERVICEABLE PROPERTY, PLANT & EQUIPMENT on a “AS IS, WHERE IS” basis on February 18, 2021, detailed as follows: Locations

Lot Numbers

1. Pio del Pilar Warehouse, Brgy Poblacion

Floor Price

1 to 11 PhP 1,035,443.00

2. Sultana Warehouse, Brgy Olympia

12 to 44

No bid shall be allowed lower than the said Floor Price. Schedule of bidding as follows:

Activity

Date

Time

Issuance of Bid Documents

February 1 - 5, 2021 February 8 - 11, 2021

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Inspection of Unserviceable Property

February 1 - 5, 2021 February 8 - 11, 2021

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Pre-Bidding Conference

February 11, 2021

2:00 PM

Deadline for Submission of Bid Offer

February 18, 2021

2:00 PM

Opening of Bid Offer

February 18, 2021

2:01 PM

Bid documents shall be issued only to interested bidders upon presentation of a Letter of Intent and a non-refundable fee of ONE THOUSAND PESOS (PhP 1,000.00) to the Committee on Awards on Disposal Secretariat not later than twelve o’clock in the afternoon of February 5, 2021. Interested bidders are advised to conduct actual inspection of the unserviceable property subject for disposition. The CAD will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on February 11, 2021, Friday, 2:00 PM at the Pio del Pilar Conference Room, 21st Floor, Makati City Hall Building I, J.P. Rizal St., Brgy Poblacion, Makati City through video conferencing which shall be open to prospective bidders to discuss the Eligibility Requirements and the Technical and Financial Components required. However, only those interested bidders who have purchased bidding documents are allowed to raise and submit queries or clarifications regarding the auction, Deadline for the submission of bids is on February 18, 2021, Friday, 2:00 PM, at the Pio del Pilar Conference Room, 21st Floor, Makati City Hall Building I, J.P. Rizal St., Brgy Poblacion, Makati City. The time for the deadline of the submission of bids shall be based on the Philippine Standard Time (PST) pursuant to R.A. 10535 otherwise known as “The Philippine Standard Time Act of 2013”. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidder’s representatives who choose to attend at the said address. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in the form of Cash, Manager’s Check or Cashier’s Check in favor of Makati City Treasurer in the amount equivalent to at least Ten Percent (10%) of the bid. Late bids shall not be accepted. The winning bidder shall remove all 44 lots of unserviceable Properties, Plant & Equipment within Forty-Five (45) calendar days upon issuance of an approved Sales Invoice. Handling of Documents still follow current Makati City Government Protocols. All Public Conferences shall follow social distancing protocol of the City. We will follow the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) guidelines on mass gathering. To manage attendees, we will only allow at most one (1) representative per bidder who should confirm with the Committee on Awards on Disposal Secretariat at least a day before the scheduled conference of its attendance. We will allow at most one (1) pre-registered representative from prospective bidders to attend the PreBid Conference / Bid Opening through virtual (zoom) meeting. Please register with the CAD Secretariat Office at least one day before the scheduled Pre-Bid Conference or Bid Opening. The meeting ID and password will be provided to the register representative. For ease of recording attendance and identification of attendees, please log in using the registered name. Format of zoom profile name should follow: <<Company>>-<<Last Name, First Name of Representative>> For further inquiries, interested bidder/s may call or contact the Committee on Awards on Disposal Secretariat at Tel. No. (02) 870-1793 / 1779, THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF MAKATI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY OR ALL BIDS, TO WAIVE ANY FORMALITY THEREOF AND TO ACCEPT ONLY SUCH BIDS THAT ARE ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE GOVERNMENT.

ATTY CLARO F. CERTEZA Chairperson Committee on Awards on Disposal

M. Standard – Feb. 1 & 8, 2021

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

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2021

Business

PSE INDEX CLOSING Friday, February 5, 2021

115.43 PTS. 7,019.18

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

19,758,854,674 150,019 9,205,889,152.11 123 76 56

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.0650

Japan

Yen

0.009475

0.4554

Pound

1.367400

65.7241

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128987

6.1998

Switzerland

Franc

1.105828

53.1516

Canada

Dollar

0.779727

37.4776

Singapore

Dollar

0.748055

35.9553

Australia

Dollar

0.759900

36.5246

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655408

127.6322

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266603

12.8143

Brunei

Dollar

0.745268

35.8213

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000071

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.033289

1.6000

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.0868

Euro

1.196300

57.5002

Korea

Won

0.000893

0.0429

China

Yuan

0.154512

7.4266

India

Rupee

0.013708

0.6589

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.246488

11.8474

New Zealand

Dollar

0.715300

34.3809

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035749

1.7183 Source: BSP

Local company to invest P14.6b in LNG project near Ilijan plant By Alena Mae S. Fllores LINSEED Field Power Corp., a local company based in Ortigas Center, is developing an integrated liquefied natural gas import terminal in Barangay Ilijan, Batangas City with proposed investments of about P14.6 billion. Documents submitted to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources showed the proposed project would be built near the 1,200-megawatt Ilijan combined cycle power plant. Industry sources said Linseed’s partner is Atlantic Gulf & Pacific Company of Manila Inc., which earlier announced plans to develop an LNG terminal. The company’s planned integrated LNG import terminal aims to serve the requirements of the nearby Ilijan power plant and future projects of SMC Global Power Holdings Corp., such as the 850-MW combined cycle power plant expansion. SMCGP’s proposed 850-MW midmerit plant is scheduled to start operations in 2022. “Given the timelines/requirements associated with this project, the terminal shall first be designed to utilize onshore re-gasification, storage, utilities and balance of plant, supplemented with a floating storage unit,” Linseed said. The company is led by lawyer Herbert Hernane who serves as president. The terminal off-shore components consist of structures to support berthing and mooring of the FSU and LNG carriers. “The project is in line with this goal which is to supply clean and reliable liquefied natural gas to the adjacent Kepco Power Plant and to other industries [through future expansion]. In doing this, the Project will contribute to the national economy, improve the quality of life of the people and meet the projected need for power in the Luzon grid,” Linseed said in its report. It said the Ilijan plant’s supply agreement with the Malampaya gas field would expire by June 2022. “Linseed is targeting to commission this import facility by June 2022 so that the power plant can seamlessly secure supply and continue its operations thereafter. Therefore, the Project will contribute to the national economy, improve the quality of life of the people and meet the projected need for power in the Luzon grid,” it said.

PH gets $17-b loans from foreign sources

THE Department of Finance has secured a total of $17.06 billion in affordable financing from external sources in 2020 for key infrastructure projects and other priority programs, and for helping bridge the wider fiscal deficit incurred last year because of the huge state spending on COVID-19 response measures. Spearheaded by its International Finance Group, the DOF obtained $7.73 billion or 45.3 percent from multilateral lenders, $2.86 billion (16.7 percent) from the Philippines’ bilateral partners, and $6.47 billion (37.9 percent) from the commercial markets. The provision last year of program loans from the Philippines’ bilateral and multilateral partners is “a testament to the timely delivery of our key sectoral reforms,” said Finance Undersecretary Mark Dennis Joven in his report to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III. “Out of the total external financing contracted in 2020, around $15.44 billion is for the emergency requirements for our COVID-19 response, while the remaining $1.62 billion is for other initiatives including ‘Build, Build, Build’ infrastructure projects,” said Joven, who heads the DOF-IFG. Julito G. Rada

DoE issues directive on ‘no-disconnection’

SM GROUP’S AWARDS. SM Investments Corp. and its subsidiaries clinch 10 awards for scoring high in the recentlyconcluded 2019 ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard assessments. SMIC executives led by chairman Jose Sio (fourth from left) and vice chairman Teresita Sy-Coson say the group is grateful for the honor and that it ensures a responsible business for the benefit of various stakeholders. China Banking Corp. and SM Prime Holdings Inc. were named under Top 20 ASEAN Publicly Listed Companies, while China Bank was recognized among the Top 3 Publicly Listed Companies per Country. The ASEAN Asset Class Award, cited SMIC, SM Prime, 2GO Group Inc., BDO Unibank Inc., Belle Corp. China Bank and Premium Leisure Corp.

SEC toughens regulations against money laundering By Jenniffer B. Austria

HE Securities and Exchange Commission reinforced its rules against money laundering activities and terrorist financing in the Philippines to keep the country off the gray list of global watchdog Financial Action Task Force

It issued a new circular providing the guidelines to prevent the misuse of corporations for illicit activities by promoting transparency. The new guidelines require the mandatory disclosure of the identity of the beneficial owners, or persons who ultimately own or effectively control corporations. “Arrangements that allow sharehold-

ers or members to hide their identity expose corporations to the risk of being misused for illicit activities such as money laundering and terrorist financing,” said SEC chairperson Emilio Aquino. “The newly-issued guidelines will provide the commission with adequate, accurate and timely information to combat such unlawful activities, while

tion; and other penalties the commission may impose. It said the new measures adopted the recommendations in the Mutual Evaluation Report issued by Financial Action Task Force in October 2019. This move is expected to keep the country off the gray list of FATF, the global financial watchdog. The FATF recommended that the Philippines introduce measures to ensure that bearer share warrants, nominee directors and nominee shareholders were not misused for money laundering and terrorist financing. The watchdog also urged the Philippines to ensure that mechanisms operate to ensure that information on the beneficial ownership of a company can be determined on time.

CIACR EORGANIZATION.

Clark International Airport Corp. president Aaron Aquino confirms the agency’s reorganization plan as it marks 26 years of managing the Clark civil aviation complex. The reorganization plan was approved on October 28, 2019 by the agency’s board of directors, headed by chairman and Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade. From the original 335 employees, 120 personnel remained at CIAC after the operations and maintenance of the Clark International Airport were privatized in August 2019. CIAC handles leasing of land, structures and spaces for potential investors, and businesses involving aviation, aviation-related services and aviation-related logistics activities.

A BANK economist refuted the assessment of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas that the faster inflation rate in recent months was “transitory” and that the full-year figure could settle above the target range in 2021. Bank of the Philippine Islands lead economist Jun Neri said in a report the acceleration of inflation to 4.2 percent in January from 3.5 percent in December showed that consumer prices continued to surge, opening the possibility of breaching the 5-percent level in the coming months. He said inflation maintained its upward trajectory, “confirming our view that it’s not transitory.” “Back in November, we started to notice the impact of the African Swine Fever on pork supply. We also mentioned in our October inflation report that pork

er supply that INEC provides Banelco as sometimes delivery of fuel to the islands are hampered by bad weather,” INEC vice president Cris Fernandez said in a statement. Banelco contacted INEC to provide emergency power for a year to address any shortage in supply from the electric coop’s current power provider. The generators installed by INEC at the Banelco compound produce 3

UK keen on regional economic partnership

THE British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine said over the weekend said the UK is very much interested to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. BCCP chairman Chris Nelson said the economic bloc could rise as a potentially powerful regional trade group and that the UK would like to take part in it. “Clearly one of the aims of leaving, or being out for Brexit is the fact that the UK would then look at other trading agreements around the world. The British Chamber is of course, is certain that the Philippines, for companies, is like a gateway to Southeast Asia. And that’s what we’re constantly trying to reinforce,” he said in an interview. “And I think they are very interested and it’s quite clear that the UK sees Southeast Asia as a very important economic area, and therefore I’m sure it will get to focus on other regional trade agreements,” he added. He said British firms’ confidence in the Philippines remains strong, as ever, with continued interest to invest in varied industries especially in retail, food and drink, advance machinery and business outsourcing. Othel V. Campos

By Darwin G. Amojelar

BPI economist expects inflation to settle above BSP target range By Julito G. Rada

THE Department of Energy issued an advisory directing all distribution utilities to implement the no-disconnection policy on lifeline consumers. In an advisory dated February 5, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said the directive was in line with the DOE’s plans to assist the marginalized electricity consumers. “All DUs are hereby directed to implement a no disconnection policy due to non-payment of bills falling due by March 2021 for all electricity consumers whose consumption level are within the lifeline rate set by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for the DU’s franchise area,” Cusi said. Lifeliners are the low-income captive market end-users who cannot afford to pay at full cost, and are determined based on electricity consumption below a threshold level set by the ERC. He said the directive would apply to all unpaid regular bills and installment payments relative to various advisories of the DOE and the ERC. Alena Mae S. Flores

DITO: Cell sites in military camps not a security risk

prices may keep inflation above the policy rate. Since then, the situation has worsened and the possibility of inflation breaching the 5 percent level has increased significantly,” Neri said. The Philippine Statistics Authority said Friday the inflation in January accelerated to a two-year high of 4.2 percent from 3.5 percent in December 2020 because of the uptick in food prices and transport costs, breaching in the process the 2 percent to 4 percent inflation target band of the BSP. The January print was faster than 2.9 percent a year ago. It was also the fastest inflation rate in two years since it reached 4.4 percent in January 2019. It also surpassed the forecast range of 3.3 percent to 4.1 percent announced by the BSP prior to the release of the official data. The PSA said the overall inflation was pushed up by the higher annual incre-

ment of the heavily-weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages at 6.2 percent during the month, from 4.8 percent in December 2020. “There is a significant chance that full-year inflation will exceed the BSP’s 4-percent target, unless the supply constraints are addressed. The ASF problem will not likely subside soon since it’s going to take the swine industry several months to address this according to the Department of Agriculture,” Neri said. BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said Friday that despite the uptick in consumer prices in January, it was still consistent with the BSP’s assessment of a transitory increase in inflation in the first half. “Average inflation is still seen to settle within the 2 percent to 4 percent target range over the policy horizon,” Diokno said in a statement. He said the uptrend in inflation was seen temporary.

Isla Norte Energy installs 20,000-liter tank to ensure stable power supply in Bantayan Island ISLA Norte Energy Corp., a partnership between Vivant Energy Corp. and Gigawatt Power Inc., installed an additional fuel storage to ensure reliable and stable power supply to the service area of Bantayan Electric Cooperative, an executive said over the weekend. “The fuel tank with a capacity of 20,000 liters will provide added security and flexibility in the emergency pow-

IN BRIEF

megawatts, or nearly half of Bantayan Island’s total demand. “INEC provided the additional fuel storage at no additional cost to Banelco and its member-consumers as part of its commitment to Bantayanons in providing secure and stable power,” Fernandez said. INEC is constructing a 23.3-megawatt diesel power plant that will supply the long-term total power requirement

of Bantayan Island. The power firm was awarded a 15year contract to supply Banelco following a successful competitive selection process. The new power plant will be completed by the third quarter this year. Vivant Energy and Gigawatt Power have a long partnership of providing reliable and stable power to off-grid and on-grid areas. Alena Mae S. Flores

DITO Telecommunity Corp. rejected claims of potential national security risks from its plan to build cell sites inside military camps. “On the issue of the memorandum of agreement signed by DITO Telelcommunity with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, let me take this opportunity to reiterate that this agreement contained the very same provisions signed by the other two telcos. Unlike the agreements with these other telcos, ours contained additional provisions pertaining to the commitments of DITO to national security,” DITO chief administrative officer Adel Tamano said. DITO’s statement came after Senator Risa Hontiveros raised concerns over the security risks that may arise from China Telecom’s stake in DITO. Tamano assured that DITO’s devices, equipment and structures would not be used to obtain classified information from the Armed Forces. “May we further state that, as part of the new major player selection process, we submitted our cybersecurity plan during the bidding process to prove that the DITO network and facilities will not compromise national security and shall abide with the National Cybersecurity Plan,” he said. “This plan has been accepted by no less than the Department of Information and Communication Technology and the National Security Advisor,” Tamano said. He said that as the final item on the list of requirements for compliance with the National Cybersecurity Plan, DITO established its network and security operations center. “We respectfully extend our invitation to Senator Hontiveros and members of the Senate committee to schedule a visit to our Network and Security Operations Center for a live demonstration of our capabilities,” Tamano said.

Sports

Catantan helps Penn beat Duke SOUTHEAST Asian Games bronze medalist Samantha Catantan got off to great start in her stint with Penn State University women’s fencing team. Catantan, who is from Quezon City, debuted with a 7-2 win-loss record in her debut in the women’s foil event of the in the Ohio State Invitational in Columbus yesterday. Catantan’s teammate, Lodovica Bicego, who is from Vicenza, Italy, was also impressive with her 3-0 performance against North Carolina. According to the league’s official website, Catantan’s win contributed to the Nittany Lions’ 15-12 beating of Duke and their 15-12 triumph North Carolina 19-8. Their only loss of the day also came in Round 1 against Notre Dame, 7-20. The Penn State men’s and women’s fencing teams stint in the invitational is their first dual meet of the season. The men’s team won two of their three duals, with the Nittany Lions stopping Duke, 20-7, and North Carolina 1710. They lost in Round 1 against Notre Dame, 8-19. In women’s epee, freshman Kateryna Chorniy, who is from Kyiv, Ukraine, also made her Penn State fencing debut by going undefeated against North Carolina, and after posting a 6-2 record. The 18-year-old Catantan left for the United States last December to accept a scholarship with Penn State, which was offered to her in 2019. She is one of two national fencers who settled for bronzes in the 30th Southeast Asian Games. Catantan was able to avail of her scholarship with Penn State after getting her paper works completed, according to the Philippine Fencing Association. Catantan, who studied at the University of the East, is now part of the Nittany Lions, a team which placed runner up in Division I back in 2019. Peter Atencio

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

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2021

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dribbles past Detroit Pistons defender Mason Plumlee (24) during their game in Los Angeles yesterday. AFP

LeBron lifts LA Lakers past Pistons in double OT N

EW YORK, United States—LeBron James scored eight of his 33 points in the second overtime as the Los Angeles Lakers survived a scare from the lowly Detroit Pistons with a 135-129 win in Los Angeles on Saturday (Sunday Philippine time). James was able to salvage the victory for the reigning NBA champions after they blew a 17-point lead, allowing the Pistons to get back in it and force two overtimes. Anthony Davis scored 30 points and Dennis Schroder finished with 22 points and eight assists for the Lakers, who almost lost their second straight game to the woeful Pistons who have won just five games all season. Jerami Grant delivered 30 points and Josh Jackson scored 25 of his 28 points in the second half and overtime for the Pistons, who have the worst record in the league. In Dallas Luka Doncic equaled a career high with 42 points to fend off a 57-point performance from Stephen Curry as the Dallas Mavericks avoided back-to-back losses to the Golden State

Warriors with a thrilling 134-132 win. Slovenia’s Doncic drained a clutch three pointer with 44 seconds left and Maxi Kleber, of Germany, sealed the win with another three to give the Mavs a four-point lead with six seconds to go in the contest at the American Airlines Center in Texas. The Mavs with the victory managed to avoid a two game sweep at home after losing 147-116 on Thursday. Curry bombed in 11 threes including one with 39 seconds to go and another with 10 seconds to cut the Mavericks lead to 131-130. That set the stage for Kleber’s heroics as he finished off a three-way passing play from the left side to clinch the victory. “What a display of basketball out there,” Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said.

“Just amazing playmaking and shot-making the entire night. Curry and Doncic were spectacular. Both teams played with a lot of heart and a lot of joy. Great thing to see.” Doncic made 12 of his 23 shots and seven of his 12 from beyond the arc. He also dished out 11 assists and had seven rebounds. Curry’s 57 points came on 19-for-31 shooting overall and 11-for-19 from beyond the arc. It was his second-highest scoring game of the season, after posting 62 against Portland in January. Meanwhile, Harrison Barnes scored 28 points as the red-hot Sacramento Kings overcame Nikola Jokic’s 50-point night with a 119-114 victory over the under-manned Denver Nuggets. The Kings used a balanced scoring attack to continue their dominance over the Nuggets. They have won all three contests this season and six of the past seven duels. “It’s hard work and trust that has led us to a turnaround,” coach Luke Walton said. “The group’s continued to believe in each other, believe in what we’re building. There’s just a confidence with the group and we’re giving ourselves chances.” AFP

Barty beats Muguruza to rule Yara Valley Classic MELBOURNE, Australia—World number one Ashleigh Barty insisted Sunday she felt “no extra pressure” ahead of the Australian Open as she tuned up with a battling win over Garbine Muguruza to win the Yarra Valley Classic. The Australian wore down the two-time Grand Slam champion 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 on Margaret Court Arena in one hour and 47 minutes to claim her ninth WTA singles title. It was a big confidence boost for the 24-year-old in her first tournament in 11 months, after struggling to rediscover her best form in earlier rounds and then missing out on court time when Serena Williams pulled out of their semi-final. Barty, hoping to break her country’s 43-year singles title drought at the Australian Open, said she was unfazed by rising local expectation. “There’s no extra pressure for me, that’s for sure,” she said. “It’s the same whether it’s a Grand Slam or a tour event. I love playing in Australia. “I go into this Australian Open excited, well prepared and ready to play.” Barty received an eye-catching trophy, a wood carving of a wombat, which was designed by a local Indigenous artist. “It’s a very touching tribute to my heritage, and it’s very cool to have some indigenous art,” she said. Barty’s father is Aboriginal. She lifted the intensity after Spain’s Mugu-

ruza had dropped just 10 games in her four earlier matches, in echoes of the 2017 form that took her to world number one. But she was unable to sustain her red-hot run. “We’re very grateful to have fans after almost a year without crowds,” said the world number 15 to a smattering of spectators as intermittent rain fell outside. “I normally don’t play the week before (a Slam), but I’m taking a lot of positives from this week.” Muguruza’s powerful baseline game frazzled an errant Barty early but the Spaniard was unable to close out the first set on serve in the ninth game as the Australian forced a tie-break, which she dominated. A confident Barty continued to hit the lines to run Muguruza ragged and she claimed the title in style with a superb lob winner. - Mertens victorious Barty starts her Australian Open campaign on Tuesday against world number 77 Danka Kovinic of Montenegro, while last year’s finalist Muguruza plays Russia’s Margarita Gasparyan. Elise Mertens of Belgium beat Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi 6-4, 6-1 in 71 minutes in the final of the Gippsland Trophy. The world number 20, who reached the final after world number three Naomi Osaka withdrew with a shoulder injury, hit 19 winners and clinched Australia’s Ashleigh Barty hits a return during a Yarra Valley Classic women’s singles match in Melbourne on February 5, 2021. AFP victory with her sixth ace. AFP

PH athletes don’t need to acclimate in Tokyo By Peter Atencio THERE are no changes in the number of events that will be played and the number of athletes that will participate. But, participating athletes do not have to come early for the Tokyo Olympics. Philippine chef de mission Mariano “Nonong” Araneta said this ahead of a Tokyo Olympic Games CDM meeting that will take place online on Tuesday. “Wala pa rin pagbabago sa number of sports at sa number of athletes na magka-qualify. Pero, nawawala iyung training before the Olympics. Iyung need to be there to acclimatize,” said Araneta. Araneta, who guested in the weekly program,”Power and Play” that’s hosted by Noli Eala, talked about the coming Olympics after receiving a playbook which organizers gave to the CDMs last week. The playbooks that were distributed provided instructions to athletes, officials and members of the news media on the protocols they must follow at this summer’s rescheduled Games. The president of the Philippine Football Federation said organizers are planning to put up a bubble where athletes in specific disciplines will training. And how the training bubbles will play out, will be among the topics of Wednesday’s online discussion. The playbook contains 32 pages, and does not give much details on how the Olympics can proceed safely amid a pandemic. “The movement of athletes and officials are limited under the bubble,” added Araneta. Araneta feels that the Olympics will be logistics nightmare if the restrictions are not properly management.

Laguna Heroes win 10 straight in PCAP All-Filipino Cup

Arena Grandmaster Dr. Alfredo Paez, the team owner and playing coach of the Laguna Heroes, plays a tournament game in this photo taken before the pandemic.

AFTER 10 straight wins, the Laguna Heroes team jumped to solo 3rd after beating Cordova Dagami Warriors, 165, at the start of the 2nd phase of elimination round of the PCAP All-Filipino Cup, Saturday, February 6, 2021 at the lichess platform. The Laguna Heroes composed of woodpushers two-time Asian Junior Champion Grandmaster Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla Jr., Fide Master Austin Jacob Literatus, Woman National Master Jean Karen Enriquez, Fide Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad, Grandmaster John Paul Gomez, Vince Angelo Medina, Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo, Candidate Master Arjie

Bayangat and team owner-playing coach Arena Grandmaster Dr. Alfredo Paez proved steadier in the end to beat the determined Dagami Warriors team. With their victory, Laguna improved to a 11-2 win-loss record in the Northern Division of the PCAP All-Filipino Cup while Cordova dropped to 6-7 in the Southern Division. “We have been treating each round like a championship round,” said Paez. In the Blitz portion versus the Dagami Warriors, the Heroes started well with a 4-3 after close decision wins from FM Literatus, GM Gomez, Medina and Bayangat.

The Heroes proved too tough for the Dagami Warriors in the Rapids as FM Literatus, WNM Enriquez, GM Gomez, Medina and Lorenzo convincingly beat Allan Pason, Woman International Master Bernadette Galas, Rex Androe Cabuncal, Francisco Rivera and Dione Patrick Minoza. The Laguna Heroes also had engineer Jonathan Mamaril, Benjamin Dy and David Nithyananthan as they crushed Cebu City Machers, 20-1. Only National Master Lincoln Yap was able to score for City Machers after beating FM Bagamasbad in their blitz encounter.

The Laguna Heroes opened their bids in a high note after demolishing Rizal Batch Towers (17.5-3.5) last January 16. The Laguna Heroes tasted defeat at the hands of San Juan Predators (9-12) and Caloocan Loadmanna Knights (1011) last January 20. Then they beat Cavite Spartans (14-7) and Olongapo Rainbow Team 7 (18-3) on January 23; Pasig City King Pirates (12-9) and Antipolo Cobras (147), January 27; Cagayan Kings (16.54.5) and Isabela Knight Raiders (1110), January 30; Manila Indios Bravos (11.5-9.5) and Quezon City Simba’s Tribe (19-2), February 3.

Sports

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2021

Former world heavyweight champ Spinks dead at 67

Manning headlines Football Hall of Fame class TAMPA—Quarterback Peyton Manning, defensive great Charles Woodson and legendary Lions receiver Calvin Johnson are headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. The trio were among eight 2021 inductees named on Saturday in the television broadcast celebrating the NFL’s 2020 award winners. The show was part of the festivities surrounding Sunday’s Super Bowl, which pits Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against Patrick Mahomes and his reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in Tampa, Florida. Manning was the first, and as of Saturday night, the only starting quarterback to lead two different teams to Super Bowl titles. Brady, who won six with the New England Patriots, will be trying to match that feat on Sunday. Manning, 44, guided the Indianapolis Colts to the 2007 Super Bowl crown and led the Denver Broncos to the 2016 Super Bowl title in the final game of his 18-year NFL career. Manning threw for 71,940 career yards and 539 touchdowns, rewriting the league record books with such efforts as 55 touchdown passes in a season and 5,477 passing yards in a season. Woodson helped Green Bay win the 2011 Super Bowl but spent most of his 18-year career with the Oakland Raiders. He made 65 career interceptions and matched an NFL record with 13 defensive touchdowns. Johnson made 731 catches for 11,619 and 83 touchdowns for Detroit from 2007 through 2015, leading the NFL in receptions in 2012 and in receiving yards in 2011 and 2012. Current San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch, who played for the Buccaneers and the Broncos, and former Pittsburgh Steelers guard Alan Faneca were also elected. Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Drew Pearson was elected as a senior inductee, former Steelers personnel executive Bill Nunn will be posthumously enshrined as a contributor and former Raiders and Seahawks coach Tom Flores will be enshrined in a ceremony in August in Canton, Ohio. For Pearson, 70, it was a long wait for the Hall of Fame call. He played 11 seasons with the Cowboys and won one Super Bowl with the team, finishing his career with 489 receptions for 7,822 yards and 48 touchdowns.

Fans walk along riverwalk in preparation for Super Bowl LV in Tampa, Florida. AFP

Brady, Mahomes set for Super Bowl classic

AMPA—Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes go head-to-head on Sunday in a potential Super Bowl classic that pits the greatest quarterback in NFL history against the pretender to his throne. After an NFL season played out against the backdrop of Covid-19, Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers will take on Mahomes and the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs at the Raymond James Stadium. The biggest event on the American sporting calendar kicks off at 6.30pm local time (2330 GMT), with a reduced capacity crowd of 25,000 and a US television audience of around 100 million expected to tune in. A dream season finale sees the 43-yearold Brady attempting to win a seventh NFL championship against the 25-yearold Mahomes, who is hoping to lead the Chiefs to back-to-back Super Bowls. A victory for Brady and the Buccaneers would etch another improbable chapter in a career that has spanned 21 seasons. The veteran quarterback has advanced to the 10th Super Bowl of his career in his first season with the Buccaneers after ending his two-decade stay with the New England Patriots last March.

“It’s been an incredible team effort throughout my life on and off the field,” said Brady, who will become the oldest player ever to start in a Super Bowl. “I’ve tried to play my ass off every week -- and I’m still trying to do it.” A win for Mahomes, however, would mark a symbolic passing of the torch from the most successful quarterback in NFL history to the man tipped by many as a potential successor. - Home advantage While the Chiefs have been installed as favourites, the Buccaneers will have the advantage of playing in their home arena. The Bucs won the right to be the first team ever to play a Super Bowl at their own stadium after beating the Green Bay Packers on the road in the NFC Championship game at Lambeau Field two weeks ago. The team checked into a hotel in Tampa Bay on Saturday for final meetings before Sunday’s showdown. Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians --

who came out of retirement to take the Tampa Bay job in 2019 -- said Saturday his team would require no motivational speeches ahead of the game. “Like I told them, if you need a speech to get fired up to play football, you’re in the wrong game,” said Arians, who at 68 could become the oldest head coach to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy. The Chiefs meanwhile flew to Tampa on Saturday under a cloud after assistant coach Britt Reid was involved in a traffic accident on Thursday that left two children injured, one of them seriously. Reid, the son of Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, is being investigated for possible driving under the influence after telling police officers at the scene of the crash he had been drinking. The Chiefs confirmed Britt Reid’s involvement in the accident but have so far declined further comment. Head coach Andy Reid showed no sign that the incident involving his son -- who has a history of drug and driving offenses -- was weighing on his team’s Super Bowl preparations. “Good energy,” Andy Reid said after a final walkthrough on Saturday. “It’s important to have that. This was just kind of a review day, so we go back through all the situations and make sure we have all those covered.” AFP

LOS ANGELES—Former world heavyweight boxing champion Leon Spinks, who took the crown from Muhammad Ali in 1978 before losing a rematch, died on Friday, according to his publicists. He was 67. Spinks had been hospitalized in December at Las Vegas before losing a five-year battle with cancer with his wife, Brenda Spinks, at his side, according to a statement from The Firm PR to Las Vegas television station KVVU. “His final fight was fought with the same skill, grace and grit that had carried him through so many lifetime challenges,” the statement said. “Leon fought his battle with numerous illnesses resiliently, never losing his trademark smile. Showing true Spinks determination, he never threw in the towel.” Spinks finished his career 26-17 with three draws and 14 knockouts, but struggled to try and recapture the fame that came early in his career in one of the most shocking upsets in boxing history. With a trademark gap-toothed grin, Spinks fought his way to Olympic gold in 1976 as a US light heavyweight in Montreal and turned professional six months later at age 23. After only eight professional fights, seven wins and a draw, Spinks was sent into the ring against iconic Ali on February 15, 1978 at the Las Vegas Hilton. Spinks captured a 15-round split decision over a 36-year-old Ali, who lost world crowns in the ring for the only time in his career, falling to 55-3 as Spinks claimed the heavyweight title in the shortest time of any fighter in history, only 13 months after his pro debut. It would be the greatest moment of his career. Seven months later, in a rematch before 70,000 at the Superdome in New Orleans, a fit and formidable Ali won a unanimous 15-round decision in what would be the final victory of his legendary career, making Ali the first three-time champion in heavyweight history. Spinks had been stripped of the World Boxing Council crown for taking the rematch with Ali rather than face mandatory challenger Ken Norton, so the second fight was only for the World Boxing Association title. Spinks lost his next fight as well but earned another shot at the crown in 1981 against Larry Holmes only to be stopped in the third round. It took nearly five years for Spinks to gain another chance at a world crown but he fought for the WBC crusierweight title in 1986, stopped in the sixth round by Dwight Muhammad Qawi. AFP

Pole vault king Duplantis soars to season-leading win

Swedish athlete Armand Duplantis competes to pass a 6.03m bar during the Perche Elite Tour pole vault event at the Kinderama arena in Rouen. AFP

ROUEN, France—World record holder Mondo Duplantis soared to a seasonleading 6.03m in Rouen on Saturday, edging out rival and former Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie on his home ground. Duplantis, 21, easily cleared the height before attempting an ambitious assault on his own world record of 6.18m. However, he failed at 6.19m despite the loud encouragement of his rivals, whose enthusiasm made up for the empty stands in the arena. Lavillenie, the 2012 Olympic gold medallist who is the Swede’s senior by

13 years, failed with three attempts to get over six metres. He had succeeded with 6.02 at Tourcoing in France last weekend. “You have to manage the recovery from last week and get the rhythm of the competition,” said the French athlete who finished in a tie for second with Christopher Nielsen of the United States on 5.93m. “It would have been nice to repeat six metres again today. “But we are only at the beginning of February -- there is still time to continue to climb.” America’s Sam Kendricks, the 2017

and 2019 world champion, was fourth on Saturday with 5.83m. Results Men 1. Mondo Duplantis (SWE) 6.03m, 2. Renaud Lavillenie (FRA) 5.93m, .Christopher Nielsen (USA) 5.93m, 4. Sam Kendricks (USA) 5.83m, 5. Jacob Wooten (USA) 5.73m, .Ethan Cormont (FRA) 5.73m Women 1. Holly Bradshaw (GBR) 4.85m, 2. Iryna Zhuk (BLR) 4.62m, 3. Alysha Newman (CAN) 4.62m, 4. Eleni-Klaoudia Polak (GRE) 4.62m, 5. Tina Sutej (SLO) 4.62m AFP

Giannis, Harden, Kawhi don’t like All-Star Game plan NEW YORK-—NBA stars Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard and James Harden have joined LeBron James in saying they would rather have a week off than play an NBA All-Star Game next month. Multiple reports say the league plans to stage an all-star contest on March 7 in Atlanta, with fan voting for starting spots already underway. “We all know why we’re playing it,” Los Angeles Clippers star Leonard said in a Friday post-game interview session. “There’s money on the line. It’s an opportunity to make more money... just putting money over health right now, pretty much. “We’re playing games now and it’s still a pandemic, we’re doing all these protocols and rules, so it doesn’t really surprise me.” Players were expecting a week off for a mid-season break after agreeing

to return before Christmas with only a two-month off-season since finishing the 2020 playoffs in a quarantine bubble at Orlando. “Coming into the season, what we knew was there’s not going to be an AllStar Game, it was going to be a time to spend time with our family,” Milwaukee’s Antetokounmpo said. “Obviously, when the protocol changes it’s kind of hard because your family cannot come on the road. Back home you cannot leave the house, you only can go to the practice facility or to the arena, and you don’t have time to take your family to a nice dinner or your family coming on the road or like just escaping the game. “I think every player was looking forward to those five days, seven days, whatever the days are.” James, star playmaker for the reigning NBA champion Los Angeles Lak-

ers, called the idea of an All-Star Game a “slap in the face” to players and said he had “zero energy and zero excitement” for such a contest given the Covid-19 pandemic has already cut short the season and forced tight safety protocols on players. “I’m the same way,” Antetokounmpo said. “I really right now don’t care about the All-Star Game. We cannot see our families. I can’t worry about the All-Star Game. I want to see my family.” Antetokounmpo will play if the game is staged, but don’t expect an enthusiastic performance. “At the end of the day, if they tell us we’re going to show up, we’ve got to do our job,” the Greek star said. “I’m always going to do my job. I’m always showing up, showing the right example. “But at the end of the day inside, deep down, I don’t want to do it. I want to get some break.”

Brooklyn guard Harden, the NBA’s top scorer each of the past three seasons, already feels the rigors of a condensed NBA season. “It’s already draining to be playing a lot of games in a week. I feel like that was a week for us to kind of relax, be with our families and kind of take a step back away from basketball,” Harden said. Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul, president of the National Basketball Players Association, said the league wanted the game and the union is getting feedback from players now on having the All-Star Game. “Guys are entitled to their feelings, decisions and everything,” Paul said. “I think the job for the union is to try to make sure our players are healthy and safe. “This is something that was a decision by the league and we are definitely, day in and day out, trying to figure it out. AFP

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2021

‘Anak Ni Waray Vs. Anak Ni Biday’ airs all-new episodes

‘Anak Ni Waray VS. Anak Ni Biday’ sizzles with young leads Barbie Forteza, Migo Adecer, and Kate Valdez.

FOLLOWING its three-week recap, GMA’s TV adaptation of the hit 1984 movie by Regal Films Anak Ni Waray Vs. Anak Ni Biday is set to air its muchawaited fresh episodes beginning tonight on the primetime block. Prior to the suspension of tapings due to the pandemic, viewers were on the edge of their seats with the riveting and suspenseful revelations in the primetime series. Upon realizing that Ginalyn ((Barbie Forteza) is Cocoy’s (Migo Adecer) new Forteza girl, Caitlyn ((Kate Valdez) – heartbroken and devastated – confronts the former and things ended on bad terms between the two. With their friendship hanging by a thread, Ginalyn and Caitlyn soon realize their fates are more intertwined than they can imagine as Joaquin ((Jay Manalo) tries to patch things up with their mothers – Amy (Snooky Serna) and Sussie (Dina Bonnevie).

Palawan’s SAMANTHA BERNARDO guns for PH’s first Miss Grand International crown PAGEANT CONCEPT

ETON CONCEPCION

FTER finishing 2nd runner-up for two consecutive years at the Binibining Pilipinas 2018 and 2019 search, Samantha Bernardo has been finally selected as the Philippines’ representative in the 8th Miss Grand International pageant happening in Bangkok, Thailand on March 27.

The 27-year-old Bernardo is a native of Palawan and holds a degree in Hospitality Management. Formerly the president of Sining Palawan Dance Troupe, Bernardo worked as a model and is an entrepreneur managing her own clothing company. A cultural performer, Bernardo was also into the sports of rhythmic gymnastics and competed in national competitions representing her home province. She presently volunteers as a spokesperson with the Philippine Movement Against Malaria, a movement that aims for a malaria-free Philippines by 2030. At the Miss Grand International pageant, Bernardo aims to compete in a platform to campaign on the strengthening of health systems and helping poor countries cope with the crippling effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The dusky Bernardo, who stands 5-foot-8, has started preparation for the pageant with the valuable help and guidance of her mentor, beauty queenmaker Rodgil Flores. While seasoned national costume designer Patrick Isorena will design her national costume. Since the Thailandbased pageant started in 2013, the Philippines has finished strongly with Annalie Forbes (3rd runnerup in 2013), Parul Shah (3rd runner-up in 2015), Nicole Cordoves (1st runner-up in 2016), and Elizabeth Durado Clenci (2nd runnerup in 2017). Will Bernardo become the first Filipina to win the Miss Grand International crown currently held by Valentina Figuera of Venezuela? Let’s all wait and see. Pageant veteran Samantha Bernardo is representing the Philippines at the Miss Grand International pageant happening in Thailand in March.

FDCP supports funding for 22 local film projects IN ITS bid to continue through CreatePHFilms, and supporting the Filipino film now, we have our first batch of industry especially amid the grantees,” said Diño. COVID-19 pandemic, the “We are proud of the Film Development Council resiliency of our filmmakers of the Philippines (FDCP) and their perseverance to announced the awardees of continue the production its CreatePHFilms Philippine of their projects in these Cinema funding program challenging times. We hope that provides selective funds for the government’s continued for development, production, support to the industry through post-production, and funding programs,” she added. distribution. Through the CreatePHFilms CreatePHFilms was launched in September in time for the Cycle 1 of CreatePHFilms commemoration of the closing of the Philippine Cinema Funds for Development for ended in November and Centennial celebration. Scriptwriting and Project after thorough deliberations Development, the FDCP wants in December, the Selection to support Filipino scriptwriters Raymond Red, Cinema Evaluation Committee chose 22 grantees: eight for Board Chairman Christine Dayrit, Solar by helping them develop innovative stories scriptwriting, four for script development, Pictures, Inc. General Manager Butch based on Filipino culture and heritage. three for small budget production, two Ibañez, and cinematographer and Lupon CreatePHFilms was launched in for large budget production, and five for ng Pilipinong Sinematograpo President September in time for the commemoration post-production. The funding allocated Mackie Galvez. of the closing of the Philippine Cinema for the CreatePHFilms Cycle 1 awardees “The industry has been clamoring for Centennial celebration. amounts to P12.1 million. “This domestic funding program also public funding to support the development The esteemed Selection Committee of films since 2016. We believe in shows the government’s support for the members for Cycle 1 are Pangasinan 4th the importance of public funding, as vulnerable sectors of the film industry District Rep. Christopher de Venecia, countries with thriving film industries by increasing economic opportunities for FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza such as France and South Korea benefit local services and workers,” added Diño. Diño, director and writer Clodualdo del from various government programs and For more information and the list of Mundo, Jr., director and Directors' Guild funding. At long last, the Philippines awardees, email createphfilms@fdcp.ph of the Philippines, Inc. representative has public funding for film development or visit www.fdcp.ph/CreatePHFilms.

With the continuation of the family drama, the cast members expressed what they feel about their highly-anticipated brand-new episodes, experiences during their lock-in taping, and what’s in store for the viewers as the story continues. Dina reveals feeling delighted yet anxious upon their return, “I’m very happy but anxious at the same time. Sana we still get the same warm reception from viewers.” Snooky entices viewers that there are more exciting scenes to watch out for, “I am so excited. We are back on primetime and so the excitement and drama continue. Mas marami silang dapat abangan. Mga revelation and more heartwarming scenes that deal on family and friendship.” Likewise, Barbie drops hints on what to expect in the coming episodes, “Kung tuluyan na bang lalayo ang loob ni Caitlyn kay Ginalyn? Kung ipaglalaban ba ni Cocoy ang pag-ibig niya para kay Ginalyn

ARIAS ALWIN IGNACIO BACON, lettuce, and tomato? No! But what is affirmative is a fresh take on the time and tested love triangle formula, with a pink twist of course. Three young men named Jethro, Mario, and Arnold figure as the central characters in Limited Edition, story by Bernard Umali, screenplay by John Fontanos, and directed by Jill Singson Urdaneta. With Pinoy Boys Love dramas such as Gameboys, Gaya Sa Pelikula, and Hello Stranger winning big in the recently concluded Brazil's 2021 Central Boys Love Awards. Gameboys, the first Philippine BL series, bagged four awards: Actor of the Year (Elijah Canlas), Actress of the Year (Adrianna So), Couple of the Year (Cairo and Gavreel), and Cast of the Year. Meanwhile, Gaya Sa Pelikula took home three awards, which are the Best Onscreen Kiss Award (Karl and Vlad), Revelation of the Year (Ian Pangilinan), and Surprise of the Year. Tony Labrusca

The romantic boys of the latest BL series ‘Limited Edition.’

hanggang sa huli? Kung makikilala ba nina Ginalyn at Caitlyn ang kanilang tunay na ama? At kung sino nga ba ang tunay na anak ni Waray at anak ni Biday.” Kate, in turn, admits feeling tested going back to work after their hiatus, “Na-challenge po ako dahil ilang months na-stop ang taping then pagbalik po namin, mabibigat na scenes na po ang aming kinunan. Medyo na-pressure ako sa adjustments sa emotions ko for my character as Caitlyn. So far, it’s a great experience dahil memorable ‘yun for me.” Directed by Mark Sicat dela Cruz, Anak Ni Waray Vs. Anak Ni Biday is an original series created by the GMA Entertainment Group headed by SVP for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable, VP for Drama Redgie A. Magno, AVP for Drama Cheryl Ching-Sy, Senior Program Manager Camille Hermoso-Hafezan, and Executive Producer Arlene Pilapil.

Care for some BLT? won Hottie of the Year for Hello Stranger. There is no doubt that the forthcoming Urdaneta-directed romantic, which offers a different kind of love drama will be a welcome addition to this top-tier list. “Loving is a process. It is not just a destiny, it is a journey,” begins director Urdaneta. “I think everyone can relate to this story. The process of love and loving, of being loved and in love, your many discoveries about yourself, your insecurities, your maturity, and your willingness to compromise and sacrifice, to make your relationship work because you are truly, deeply in love, all these and more, you will see, feel and experience in this BL romantic drama.” Andrew Gan is Jethro: “He is goaldriven, ambitious and his life is currently in topsy-turvy because of a domestic problem. The most challenging part about being him is how to feel like him, live in his shoes, and give justice to that feeling of falling in love with another young man. I want to be truthful lalo na pag naramdaman na niya na he is in love with Mario.” His romantic partner is Jomari Angeles. Gan declares: “Jomari is a very good actor and I am lucky that he plays my love interest. You know, the basic principle in acting is to react to your partner. And it becomes easier and more fulfilling to do if you have an Angeles doing the scene with you.” What Angeles promises about his character: “For sure, those who consider themselves as hopeless romantics will relate to him. He is a little conservative. I should say he is a major pabebe. I think his major strengths are he is very loving and industrious.” For Angeles and Gan, portraying Mario and Jethro are their biggest roles to date. Ron Angeles becomes the official third angle in this BL love triangle as Arnold. Completing the cast are Donna Cariaga, Michelle Jhoie Ferraris Miss Iyah Mina, Miss Yayo Aguil, and Ruby Ruiz. Introducing Aaron Concepcion, Celine Dorado, and Luke HembLing. Limited Edition will be shown during the last week of the arts and love month of February on the Bragais TV YouTube channel.

Real-life couple Loisa and Ronnie push the bounds of forbidden love in ‘Unloving You’ LOISA Andalio and Ronnie Alonte find themselves falling in love but doomed to stay apart as they play step-siblings in iWantTFC’s special Valentine treat and LoiNie’s first original series titled Unloving U, which starts streaming today. Having to live under one roof after their parents’ marriage, Fiona (Loisa) and Alfie (Ronnie) are forced to learn how to live together as step-siblings. With completely different personalities, the two are disgusted with each other as Fiona vents to her father (Ariel Rivera) how she cannot stand Alfie’s snobbish personality. Alfie, on the other hand, bares his feelings to his mom (Gelli de Belen) about how he wants Fiona out of the house. Fiona and Alfie’s constant bickering, however, leads her to secretly fall in love with him as their interest in music also allows them to grow closer and develop a deep bond. Knowing she can never be in a romantic relationship with Alfie, who also has a girlfriend, Fiona begins the process of unloving him. Will Fiona be able to ignore her love for Alfie? How will her love for him Reel and real-life couple Loisa Andalio and Ronnie Alone star in iWantTFC’s Valentine offering ‘Unloving You.’

affect their relationship with their parents? Unloving U is directed by Easy Ferrer and also includes members of “The Squad Plus,” Sam Cruz, KD Estrada, and Anji Salvacion. The official soundtrack of the series, meanwhile, is now available on all online music streaming platforms and contains songs performed by Loisa, Sam, KD, and Anji such as “Kaya Pala,” “Saves It,” and “Keeps on Coming Back.” The six-episode series will begin streaming for standard and premium subscribers worldwide on the iWantTFC app (iOs and Android) or on iwanttfc.com today, with daily episodes dropping at 8:00 p.m. until Feb. 13.

Life

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

FOOD

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2021

Dinner date destinations in Metro south By Monica Sanchez

OVE and the smell of sumptuous steaks and salmon and red wine are wafting in the air in the southern part of Metro Manila. The pandemic may have reshaped the way Valentine’s Day will be celebrated this year, but these favorite dining destinations are opening their doors to let love and lovers in.

in Pasay, has a veranda where diners can enjoy their meals overlooking Manila Bay. On the second level of the mall, Hukad: Golden Cowrie serves lechon belly roasted to perfection, baked scallops, and pinakbet; Lola Café offers mouthwatering Auro Tsokolate cake; while casual ramen restaurant Uma Uma serves delicious noodles with aromatic tonkotsu stock.

Mall of Asia

Pasay’s largest mall houses an array of restaurants couples can choose from depending on the ambiance and food they want to enjoy. Highlands Steakhouse on the second floor of Entertainment Mall serves the bestsellers also offered at its Tagaytay branch, including US-certified Angus steak, carefully aged for 28 days, Tbone steak, and ribeye. Steaks in various cuts, crispy grilled salmon steak, and other juicy delights abound Meat Plus Café at the North Wing ground floor. Also on the same floor is favorite barkada hangout TGI Friday’s which offers hearty meals like the Pacific Grilled Pork Chop, Signature Baby Back Ribs, and Sixspice Chicken. Another place for meat-loving lovers is Tajimaya at the North Wing of Entertainment Mall. The restaurant is known for its grill-it-yourself yakiniku and Wagyu beef served in a number of ways. If your date prefers local fare over international, Chikaan Sa Cebu serves home-cooked dishes from different provinces in Cebu, such as its bestselling pochero and baked scallops.

DINNER FOR TWO. Special menus await diners celebrating Valentine’s Day in some of Metro

south’s favorite dining and leisure destinations. Resorts World Manila offers La Serenata, a six-course meal at Casa Buenas.

Omakase which diners can enjoy al fresco in floating water cabanas surrounded by a lush garden. The 10,000peso for two set menu comes with a complimentary glass of champagne and consists of Nobu canapé selection, a trio of Nobu sushi cups, sea bass tempura with inaniwa noodles and uni corn SM by the Bay sauce, sous vide Australian tenderloin Another place with good food and a with truffle butter crust and balsamic scenic view of Manila Bay, it houses reduction, and strawberry yogurt jello. Red Ginger serves charcoal-grilled Iberico Pork Belly with Seven Spices for the whole month of February. Café Society has a variety of cakes, cupcakes, and other sweet confections for sale until Valentine’s Day. Overnight stay rates for Metro Manila and Calabarzon residents start at P16,400 nett (weekday) and P17,900 nett (weekend) for Nuwa; P9,400 nett and P10,900 nett for Nobu Hotel, and Sheraton’s Valentine’s To-Go meal for two Cafe Society’s box of chocolate and dragees P6,300++ and P7,300++ for Hyatt Regency Manila. Call 8800-8080 or email guestservices@cod-manila.com for inquiries and reservations.

sauce, and mixed berry dome inclusive of arrival beverages; Valdivieso sparkling wine; and coffee and tea for P2,850++ per guest. Vubble Pod’s menu, on the other hand, starts with marinated salmon with lemon caviar, followed by chef’s salad, seafood fumet soup with crab cake, pulled Spanish pork ravioli with mushroom ragout, US beef tenderloin, one glass of Duval Leroy champagne,

Casa Buenas

Lola Café’s Auro Tsokolate Cake

Sheraton Manila

Couples can take a journey before dinner under the stars in one of Sheraton’s bubble pods (Vubble) or by the Vega pool. The night starts with a welcome drink and canapé, complete with romantic lights and visuals in the ballroom. Diners will then be escorted outside into their pod or onto their poolside table to enjoy a special menu and a performance by the Manila Philharmonic Trio. Dinner by pool includes chef’s salad; seafood fumet soup with crab S Maison cake; US beef tenderloin with truffle Premier seaside mall S Maison, also potato puree, burnt onion, mousseline

Highlands Steakhouse’s Omaha Cargille ribeye steak

and coffee and tea for P7,000++ per guest. After dinner drinks and desserts await in the ballroom. The Valentine Journey package is available on Feb. 12-14. Seating time on Feb 12-13 is from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., while available schedule on Feb. 14 is from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Call (02) 7902-1800 to reserve a table. S Kitchen and Oori also have special offers to celebrate Valentine’s Day for two or with family and friends. Sheraton, a Department of Tourism-authorized hotel accepting leisure accommo-

Two is better than one GOOD things come in two, especially in the month of hearts. These fast food establishments offer dining promos good for two and more.

Tacos together

Taco Bell’s love month promotion takes two tacos together and combine them with other bestsellers for a savory and sweet combination. Ikaw A-Taco Perfect Combo comes with two Taco Supremes, an order of Cheese Quesadilla, two servings of Cinnamon Twists, a side of either Nachos Sprinkles or fries, and two 16oz. soda. Price starts at P449, and is available for dine-in, takeout, and delivery (through 8911-1111, GrabFood, or foodpanda) in all participating Taco Bell stores nationwide until Feb. 28.

Every order of the Double Happiness Bundle comes with a free box of Choco Pao.

Double happiness

For the whole month of February, Chowking is giving a free box of its three-piece Choco Pao for every order of the Double Happiness Bundle. The bundle consists of two main dishes (two or one of each of Chao Fan and Chick ‘n Sauce, a new dish featuring real chicken chunks with two special sauces), two orders of halo-halo, and two large Coca-Cola. Price starts at P365. It’s available in all Chowking stores for dine-in, takeout, drive-thru, and delivery via Chowking, GrabFood, or foodpanda.

dations, offers a staycation package on Feb. 12-14 at P5,780 nett. Meanwhile, those who prefer to stay in may order a Valentine’s Hamper (price starts at P2,400 nett), dinner-to-go (three-course meal with a bottle of sparkling wine for P5,500 nett), or cake (P1,500 nett).

Taco Bell’s sweet and savory bestsellers comprise its February food combo.

One for family, one for you

What’s better than two pieces of inasal Family Size Large meals per transaction. It’s available in all Mang Inasal chicken? Five inasal chicken, of course. Mang Inasal, today until Feb. 19, is stores nationwide for takeout and delivoffering a special deal available only for ery via GrabFood or foodpanda. takeout and delivery. Every order of Chicken Inasal Family Size Large, which consists of four pieces of large paa or pecho in original or spicy, comes with a free one-piece Chicken Inasal Large in the same variant. Price starts at P355. Customers can buy up to a maximum of three Takeout and delivery orders of Mang Inasal Family Size comes orders of Chicken Inasal with free one-piece inasal.

Gen Korean’s spicy pork bulgogi

The Roadhouse Manila Bay, a rock and roll and bike bar and restaurant known for Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Bruce Springsteen-signed guitars hanging on its walls, and biker burgers and nachos. Gen Korean serves 100 percent premium meats, seafood, and K-pop vibe.

City of Dreams Manila

The integrated resort and casino in Parañaque highlights the thoughtfully prepared menu in its signature restaurants and staycation packages in its hotels. Nobu Manila offers a five-course

Executive Chef Godfrey Laforteza is leading Resorts World Manila’s culinary team as they prepare a special dinner available on Feb. 13-14 at Casa Buenas. La Serenata’s six-course menu starts with hors d’oeuvre of Foie Gras Toast and sourdough bread with Casa Buenas butter, followed by Citrus Cured Salmon and Octopus Kilawin appetizer. The bold flavor of the soup course’s Sopa de Ajo is complemented by the tenderness of Caviar and Beef Wellington. The meal ends with Sweet Garden for dessert and a box of elegant confectionery. The meal is paired with free flowing wine from a house selection of reds. Rates start at P8,000. A limited La Serenata dinner package for two at P7,099 is available at RWM Exclusives (rwmexclusives.com). Call (02) 79088988 or 0917-878-8321 to book a table.

CDO Foodsphere spearheads internal vaccine information campaign MEAT-processing firm CDO Foodsphere led a vaccine information campaign for its company executives in preparation of the national vaccine rollout expected to happen early this year. “It is hard to decide if there is no one there who can provide you with real information directly, that is why we decided to do an information campaign internally,” said president and chief executive Jerome D. Ong. The learning session, entitled “Handa Ka Na Ba Sa Bakuna?” featured a panel of medical experts and researchers including Dr. Cynthia P. Saloma, executive director of the Philippine Genome Center; Dr. Nina Gloriani, chair of the Department of Science and Technology expert vaccine panel on COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials; and Dr. Reynaldo Mariano, president and chief executive of the Center for Health Services Inc. Each speaker gave a 30-minute talk followed by question-and-answer towards the end of the virtual session. The activity allowed the participants to get answers on common questions about vaccines and the emerging variants of the virus. “What CDO Foodsphere is doing is a good practice to help make the general population appreciate the vaccine program. It is always good to begin with the leaders, so that the rest can follow,” said Dr. Gloriani Dr. Saloma added, “To be able to

CDO Foodsphere Inc. president and chief executive Jerome D. Ong

appreciate the vaccine program, we first need to understand the virus and how it is developing over time. Through this, we will all understand that the effective way to prevent the further spread and mutation of the virus is to continue practicing the minimum health standards. And we need to get vaccinated.” CDO Foodsphere in November was one of the first batch of companies that secured the initial 2.6 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine by AstraZeneca, which it expects to arrive this month, at the earliest.