Manila Standard - 2021 March 6 - Saturday by Manila Standard

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UK envoy pledges 23-m AstraZeneca doses for PH By Rey E. Requejo and Willie Casas

against COVID-19 as part of the COVAX Facility within the year. “I think you’ll see a steady stream of BRITISH Ambassador to the Philip- consignment arriving throughout the pines Daniel Pruce on Friday said the rest of the year, and in total I think by Philippines will receive as many as 23 the end of the year we’ll have something million doses of Astra Zeneca’s vaccine Next page

VOL. XXXV • NO. 24 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

ANTI-HATE DRIVE.

This handout aerial photo courtesy of Nailing It For America shows luminarie bags spelling out “Stop Asian Hate” in lights during a vigil organized by Nailing It For America for those who have died from COVID-19 and to “Stop Asian Hate” on March 4, 2021 in Fountain Valley, California. AFP

Pope Francis grants jubilee year to Manila POPE Francis has granted a jubilee year with the built-in plenary indulgence, or remission of the entire temporal punishment for sin, for the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the country on March 16, 1521. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines website reported Friday the 84-year-old pontiff, who made a Next page

Cases surge past 3K anew

DOH confirms link between UK/SA variants and spike in transmissions COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM MARCH 4)

587,704 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

3,045 40,074 NEW

ACTIVE

12,423

535,207

178

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

By Willie Casas and Rio N. Araja

HE country logged 3,045 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, the highest daily case count for the year, as the resident epidemiologist of the Department of Health linked the surge in cases to new variants of the coronavirus.

Friday’s cases—the highest since Oct. mit their data on time, the DOH said. 16 – brought total infections to 587,704 The DOH also reported 19 new fatalias five laboratories were unable to sub- ties, bringing the death toll to 12,423,

which is 2.11 percent of the total cases. Some 178 patients recovered recently, bringing the total number of recoveries to 535,207, which is 91.1 percent of the total. That left 40,074 active cases, which is 6.8 percent of the total number of infections. Of the active cases, 89.7 percent are mild; 5.6 percent are asymptomatic; 2 percent are critical; 1.9 percent are severe; and 0.77 percent are moderate.

NEW

PH evacuation from Myanmar mulled—DFA By Rey E. Requejo

INFLATION RISES TO 4.7%, HIGHEST IN 26 MONTHS Story on B4

Lawmen seize giant clams worth $3.3m

NEW

THE Department of Foreign Affairs is seriously considering the evacuation of all Filipinos in Myanmar, if it is still possible, following deadly clashes between the military and the protesters seeking the release of detained government leaders, including State Counsellor Daw Aung Suu Kyi. Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said the DFA would issue another advisory to Filipinos in Myanmar to consider leaving as soon as they could due to escalating violence between the military and the pro-democracy supporters of Suu Kyi. “@DFAPHL will issue the same advisory to our citizens which we have already started evacuating,” Locsin made the statement after the Singaporean government advised its citizens in Myanmar to consider leaving the country, citing rapidly escalating

The OCTA Research Team, which has been tracking the pandemic, said Metro Manila averaged over 900 new COVID-19 cases per day in the last week, a 50 percent increase from the previous week, and a 119 percent rise from two weeks ago. Meanwhile, the Philippine Genome Center has detected the more transmissible South Africa coronavirus variant in

ENDANGERED SPECIES. The Philippine Coast Guard has seized a total of 324 pieces of giant clam shells weighing a total of 80 tons

with an approximate market value of P160 million at Barangay VI, Johnson Island, Roxas, Palawan on March 3, 2021. Giant clams, also known as ‘taklobo’, are an endangered species and harvesting them is prohibited under the Fisheries Code of 1998. AFP

Rody teases Bong Go: 2022 beckons By Joyce Pangco Pañares PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday hinted that Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go will be the administration’s standard bearer for the 2022 elections. Go, a former presidential aide, was asked by Duterte to stand up and wave to the crowd to see if he is president material during the Joint Meeting of the National Task Force-Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in Cagayan de Oro. “Stand up, Senator Bong. Stand up. President? Let us see if the position suits him. Raise your hand and wave to the crowd,” Duterte

said in the vernacular. Go, a constant companion of the President, obliged. The senator, however, earlier assured the public he was not gunning for a higher position in next year’s polls as he would rather focus first on the COVID-19 pandemic. “Please count me out po. Don’t include me when it comes to talks about the elections,” Go said in a television interview in February. Next page

REAL MALASAKIT. Senator Bong Go waves to the crowd during the opening of the Malasakit Center in Angeles City, Pampanga on March 4, 2021.

PHILIPPINE authorities have seized illegally harvested giant clam shells worth $3.3 million as smugglers turn to the endangered creatures as a substitute for the illicit ivory trade. In one of the biggest operations of its kind in the country, 80 tons of the tropical species were discovered in a village on a remote island in the western archipelago of Palawan, officials said Friday. The Philippines is home to most of the world’s giant tropical clam species, which are considered threatened in the country as poaching surges. Conservationists say their shells are used as an alternative material for products ranging from earrings to chandeliers as ivory becomes scarce amid a global crackdown on the illegal trade in elephant tusks. Marine troops, the coastguard and local conservation officials raided local homes on Johnson Island on Wednesday, unearthing more than 300 clam shells with a value of around Next page

News

SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2021

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Power producers gain tax breaks By Vito Barcelo

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the reduction and condonation of real property taxes and penalties assessed on some independent power producers (IPPs).

ernment units) and provide grid capacity of around 3,100 megawatts, their closure or non-operation will entail substantial losses to the government and force resort to more costly power source alternatives or the implementation of power outages,” the EO reads. Under Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, the President “may, when public interest requires, condone or reduce the real property tax and interest for any year in any province, city, or municipality within the Metropolitan Manila area.” The order intends to consolidate the government’s fiscal efforts, stabilize energy prices, and avoid further crossdefaults and significant economic losses across all sectors.

The EO also states that it is necessary given that a substantial portion of real property taxes being assessed on these IPPs have been contractually assumed by the state-run National Power Corporation and Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation which carry the full faith and credit of the national government. “The collection of the real property taxes by the local government units concerned will trigger massive direct liabilities on the part of such GOCCs, thereby threatening their financial stability, the government’s fiscal consolidation efforts, the stability of energy prices, and may even trigger further cross-defaults and significant economic losses across all sectors,” it added.

Duterte signed Executive Order 126, which reduces and condones real property taxes and penalties assessed on power generation facilities of IPPs under Build-Operate-Transfer contracts with government-owned and -controlled corporations. The EO, signed by Duterte on March 4, states that “all liabilities for real property taxes, including any special levies accruing to the Special Education Fund, for calendar year 2020, on property, ma-

chinery and equipment” directly used by IPPs for the production of electricity will be reduced to an amount equivalent to the tax due if computed based on an assessment level of 15 percent of the fair market value of the said property or equipment, depreciated at the rate of 2 percent per year, less any amounts already paid by IPPs. “As the operations of affected IPPs contribute largely to tax revenues for the national government and LGUs (local gov-

UK... From A1

Airlines come to the rescue, transport anti-virus doses

in the order of 22 to 23 million shots of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the Philippines,” Pruce said in a television interview. Pruce said the Philippines is expected to get a steady supply of AstraZeneca vaccines starting with the 487,200 doses that arrived on Thursday night. AstraZeneca is a British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, England. The British envoy stressed that the vaccine shipments will include the doses contained in the tripartite agreements between AstraZeneca, private firms, and local government units in the Philippines. It also committed more doses from the COVAX Facility, a global initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO). On Thursday night, 487,200 doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine arrived in the Philippines, the second vaccine shipment following the arrival of 600,000 CoronaVac doses from China’s Sinovac on Feb. 28. Pruce said he was delighted by the arrival of the AstraZeneca vaccines in the Philippines, describing it as a “wonderful moment.” He said the vaccine consignments are part of the United Kingdom’s commitment to do all it can to ensure equitable access to safe and effective vaccines. He also noted AstraZeneca’s commitment to supply the vaccine “on a not-for-profit basis” during the pandemic. WHO country representative Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe said 4.5 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine will arrive in the country by batches before the end of May. AstraZeneca, which can be administered to individuals aged 18 and above, secured an emergency use authorization from the Philippine Food and Drug administration on Jan. 28. Based on FDA evaluation, AstraZeneca’s efficacy rate reached 70 percent after the first dose and that such rating increases after administration of the second dose after four to 12 weeks. Meanwhile, the initial batch of Moderna vaccines against COVID-19 is expected to arrive by May or June 2021, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Romualdez said Friday.

Pope... From A1 pastoral and state visit to the Philippines in January 2015, issued a decree to the CBCP on February 25. Earlier this week, the CBCP said the pontiff will lead the Filipino community in Italy in the quincentennial or 500th annual celebration of Christianity in the Philippines, where nearly 88 percent of its 110 million population are Christians. Quoting Fr. Ricky Gente of the Filipino Chaplaincy in Rome, the CBCP said the celebration will be highlighted with a

PH... From A1 clashes and rising civilian casualties. The Singaporeans were also advised to defer all travel to Myanmar. Last February 15, the DFA repatriated 139 Filipinos through a special flight from Yangon days after the military grabbed power and ousted former Nobel Peace prize winner Suu Kyi and other government officials. Locsin earlier said those remaining Filipinos in Myanmar who wanted to go back to the Philippines should gather themselves together so the DFA and the Philippine Embassy in Yangon can

Senators demand soak-the-POGOs collection scheme By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATE President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto cited the huge potential revenues which could be collected from the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations on a proposal to establish a tax regime for the POGO industry, and to tax POGO employees. According to Recto, the government should have earned roughly P38 billion in 2019 from the POGO industry. Saying the POGO industry is as huge as the Business Process Outsourcing sector in the country, he mentioned studies from the PricewaterhouseCoopers, a multinational profession service network of firms, and Leechiu Property Consultants, Inc., which estimated that the Philippines could earn as much as P65 billion from the POGO industry. Sen. Sonny Angara said tax revenues from POGO could fund government programs like the Universal Health Care, pension for the military, and free tertiary education. As chairman of the Committee on Finance, Angara said he could see that entitlements grow immensely over the years and the need to protect the government and fund these programs. “Money doesn’t grow on trees; we have to find it somewhere. I think this is a possible area, really, to generate revenues especially in this difficult economic environment,” Angara said. Sen. Imee Marcos aired her gratitude to Sen. Pia Cayetano, chairperson of the Committee on Ways and Means, for including her (Marcos) proposed Senate Bill 2076, which seeks to tax persons engaged in POGO as among the bills discussed during the virtual hearing Thursday on POGO. Marcos noted her proposal was aimed at establishing a definitive law which shall settle the so-called “lost potential tax revenues” and address questions with regard to the taxability of POGOs and POGO employees/workers by amending the National Internal Revenue Code. “We like to be clear and certain that whatever bill or law we come up with will overcome the problems that the Supreme Court (SC) based its temporary restraining order (TRO) on last January,” Marcos said. The SC, on January 5, 2021, issued a TRO stopping the Bureau of Internal Revenue from collecting a five percent franchise tax on POGOs, a provision included in the Bayanihan to Recover as One law or Bayanihan 2.

luna said the flag carrier also carried 17,400 doses to Cagayan de Oro; 21,600 doses to Davao; 12,000 doses to Legazpi, and 4,200 doses to Cotabato on Thursday while on Wednesday it flew 12,000 doses to Davao, and 7,200 doses to Cebu. “Philippine Airlines is proud to be part of this mission of bringing the vaccines to various parts of the country as a first step towards healing and recovery,” said Villaluna. The Cebu Pacific Air, on the other

hand, carried COVID vaccines to Zamboanga and Tuguegarao. After its standard screening protocols, all 35 boxes (17 for Zamboanga, 18 for Tuguegarao) were stored in a 20-footer refrigerated carrier reefer van, equipped with cooling systems, to preserve the condition of the vaccines. The vaccines were turned over to the local government for proper handling, in preparation for distribution to medical facilities.

52 COVID-19 cases and the United Kingdom variant in 31 additional patients. These figures bring the total number of South Africa variant cases to 58, UK variant cases to 118, and cases with mutations of concern to 76. The rising number of cases has accompanied the government rolled out COVID-19 vaccines to health workers. COVID-19 vaccines from Chinese company Sinovac arrived on Sunday and those from AstraZeneca arrived Thursday. The resident epidemiologist at the DOH said there was indirect evidence that the surge in infections was linked to the new variants of the coronavirus. “One evidence that the variant could be causing this surge is we detected the variant just before [the] cases started to rise. There’s some indirect evidence that the variant is causing this surge,” Dr. John Wong said in a virtual briefing. Wong said the Philippines needs to sequence more samples from all regions to accurately determine the prevalence of the new variants. The more transmissible United Kingdom and South Africa variants as well as two coronavirus mutations of concern have so far been detected by the Philippine Genome Center. “We have to consider that the variants are an important factor in driving the surge because this has also happened in other countries, countries that have had variants have also experienced surges,” Wong said. Wong also urged the public to protect themselves from COVID-19 by observing health protocols. “Whether or not this is variant-driven, the fact that we’ve had increasing cases

since February is sufficient enough to get people to do more,” Wong said. “Our focus now should be… masking and ventilation. You wear a mask to protect yourself but also to protect other people. It’s sort of a form of herd immunity also. As more people wear masks, you protect the rest of the population,” Wong said. Out of the 584,667 COVID-19 cases in the Philippines as of Thursday afternoon, 239,113 are in Metro Manila. Of this number, 220,774 have recovered while 4,794 have died. OCTA said Pasay averaged 150 new COVID-19 cases daily over the past week and logged a reproduction number of 1.83. “This is the highest average daily new cases reported by the city in its history, even higher than what Pasay had back in July to August 2020,” the researchers said. The experts also flagged Barangay 76 in Pasay as a COVID-19 hotspot after it recorded 128 new cases in just one week, or “an average of 18 per day, higher than the daily numbers reported in Muntinlupa, San Juan and Pateros.” Nearby barangays that also registered a high number of new infections included Barangays 59, 70, and 36 in Pasay and Barangays Baclaran and Tambo in Parañaque. “The objective is to prevent [the] spread of the virus from these clusters of barangays to the rest of the NCR in order to quickly reverse the pandemic surge that is happening now in parts of the NCR,” OCTA said. Meanwhile, the experts said the number of new COVID-19 cases in Cebu City dropped for the first time, indicating that the upward trend in the area has reversed. In Davao City where infections are still on a downtrend, the positivity rate has also decreased.

Meanwhile, slight case increases were recorded in the cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue in Cebu province. OCTA also said nearly all Metro Manila cities showed an increase in infections. In Baguio City, experts noted a “renewed uptick” in new COVID-19 cases. “However, the high positivity rate suggests a possible spike in new cases in CAR,” OCTA said, referring to the Cordillera Autonomous Region. Majority or 41 of the newly-confirmed South African or B.1.351 variant cases were detected in Metro Manila, while the places where the 11 came from are still being verified, Duque told reporters in a briefing at the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City. Meanwhile, Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso described the latest COVID-19 situation in Manila as “alarming,” where he said 196 positive cases were recorded in just a single day the other day, a first in the recent past months. He also lamented that in the six cityrun hospitals, the present occupancy rate of the city’s 300 bed capacity is 108 or a total of 36 percent. At the quarantine facilities, Domagoso said the occupancy rate is at an all-time high of 61 percent. Of the 371 bed capacity, the number of patients is at 225. Domagoso reiterated calls for everyone to observe the basic health protocols at all times and anywhere they go. The mayor also announced that in the three-day period of the city government’s vaccination rollout which he and Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna Pangan spearheaded, 1,034 medical frontliners have been vaccinated with Coronovac made by Sinovac. In Quezon City, Mayor Joy Belmonte said the city government would show no leniency for people who violate health protocols.

Mass to be officiated by Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Basilica at 10 a.m. (5 p.m. in Manila) on March 14, two days to the date Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan landed in Limasawa 500 years ago. The website said the document was signed by the head of Vatican’s Apostolic Penitentiary, Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, who said the celebration, which officially starts on April 4, would be an opportunity to increase the virtues of faith, hope, and charity. The Catholic faithful can receive plenary indulgence when they make a devotional pilgrimage to one of the designated “Jubilee Churches” until April 22, 2022. The Catholic Church has listed some

537 pilgrimage churches in 85 dioceses for the quincentennial celebration. It said when the faithful make the pilgrimage, they have to meet the usual conditions of going to confession, receiving the Eucharist, and praying for the intentions of the pope. Pilgrims are also asked to pray “for the fidelity of the Filipino people to their Christian calling, for the increase of priestly and religious vocations and for the defense of the family, concluding with the Lord’s Prayer, the profession of faith, and an invocation to the Blessed Virgin Mary”. An indulgence is the remission of the temporal punishment due to sins, which have already been forgiven.

Also joining the mass are Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples; and Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, the pope’s vicar for Rome. Only a limited number of people will be allowed to attend the mass in person at the basilica due to COVID-19 restrictions, CBCP said. After the mass, Pope Francis will also lead the traditional recitation of the Angelus prayer at St. Peter’s Square. In an interview on Teleradyo Wednesday, Fr. Greg Gaston, rector of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino, said the mass will most likely be in Italian, but some Filipino songs may be used during the mass.

$3.3 million on the black market. Among them was the Tridacna gigas, the world’s largest clam, which can grow a shell up to 1.4 meters long. The International Union for Conservation of Nature considers Tridacna gigas a “vulnerable” species. The island’s village chief will be charged with poaching for supervising the illegal collection, said Jovic Fabello, spokesman for the Palawan government’s conservation council. “This has been our biggest haul so far,” he said. It likely took the locals between six months and a year to amass the 80-tonne pile, a coastguard spokeswoman told AFP. Palawan is considered the last frontier of the Philippines’ rich biodiversity, but is also a hotspot for the illegal wildlife trade, with pangolins, marine turtles and wild birds poached and sold illicitly. The country’s fisheries code bans the collection of giant clams that are considered endangered, with prison terms for offenders of up to eight years and fines of up to P3 million. Giant clams are important ecological components of coral reefs, which are nurseries for many fish species consumed by humans. AFP

“If Mayor Sara does not run, then we can have Senator Bong Go,” Panelo said as he f loated the possibility of a Bong Go-Rodrigo Duterte tandem in 2022. “See, Go-Duterte. Does it not have a nice ring to it?” Panelo said. Duterte’s own political party, PDP-Laban, in December elected Senator Manny Pacquiao as its president. The Liberal Party, on the other hand, said it is considering Vice President Leni Robredo as its standard bearer for the 2022 polls. In a survey conducted by OCTA Research from Jan. 26 to Feb. 1, DuterteCarpio topped the list with 22 percent

of the respondents choosing her to be the next president. The Davao City mayor was followed by Sen. Grace Poe (13 percent), Pacquio and former Sen. Bongbong Marcos (12 percent each), Manila Mayor Isko Moreno (11 percent) and Robredo (5 percent). In the December survey of Pulse Asia, Duterte-Carpio also emerged as the prospective frontrunner in next year’s presidential polls with 26 percent. Tied statistically for second place were Marcos (14 percent), Poe (14 percent) Moreno (12 percent) and Pacquiao (10 percent). Robredo, on the other hand, got eight percent while Go got four percent.

By Joel E. Zurbano MAJOR airlines have committed to help the government in transporting COVID-19 vaccine shipments to various provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao. On Friday, Philippine Airlines flew 10,580 doses of vaccines to Iloilo; 17,480 doses to Cebu; 6,600 doses to Bacolod; 17,940 doses to Cotabato; 8,940 doses to Butuan; 2,680 doses to Tagbilaran, and 6,900 doses to Tacloban. PAL spokesperson Cielo Villa-

Cases... From A1

arrange another flight. On Wednesday, reports showed that nearly 40 people were killed as a result of the military and police violent crackdown against anti-coup protesters in several towns and cities in Myanmar. Virtually condemning the shooting of civilians joining pro-democracy protests in Myanmar, Locsin said: “It is plain indecent for soldiers to shoot civilians.” “That’s against the law of nations and the honor of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). We don’t do that for any reason,” Locsin said, in a separate tweet. The DFA data showed that there are about 1,000 Filipinos who are still in Myanmar.

Rody... From A1 Last week, chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo said Go is qualif ied to succeed Duterte if Davao Mayor Sara DuterteCar pio would not r un for president next year. Duterte himself rejected calls for his daughter to seek the presidency, saying it is not a woman’s job. Duterte-Carpio said she will only consider gunning for the highest position in 2034 and only “if at that time, there is something I can do to help the country.”

Lawmen... From A1

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SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2021

Price controls sought on oil, food items By Maricel V. Cruz

BLESSING. A lay minister sprinkles holy water on devotees inside Quiapo Church during the first Friday mass of the month. Quiapo church officials remind the public to observe physical distancing and wear face masks and face shields during and after the mass. Ben Briones

Tourism zones to create jobs By Macon Ramos-Araneta

BOUT 10,000 jobs would be created and local tourism activity would be boosted with the designation of several Tourism Enterprise Zones by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, an official said Friday. TIEZA Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid says the TEZs, together with the two new Tourism Enterprises also recently designated by the agency, seek to “generate greater economic benefits for local people and enhance the well-being of host communities, improve working conditions and access to the industry.” They also aim to “make positive contributions to the conservation of natural re-

sources and cultural heritage of the area of development,” Lapid said. “Especially with the COVID-1 pandemic, TIEZA understands the direct impact of the travel restrictions in the tourism sector as well as the limited capital outlay for infrastructure development.” Among the TEZs designated by TIEZA seen to generate jobs are the La Jolla TEZ in Bagac, Bataan, the Boracay Gateway

Project TEZ in Nabas, Aklan, and the Neo Aqua Town Center in Bulakan, Bulacan. Located in Bagac, Bataan, the designated La Jolla TEZ is an area of development that aims to promote sustainable tourism development through environmental conservation, cultural preservation and inclusive growth. The P2-billion worth of development will generate at least 880 jobs and spur tourism activity in the province. Meanwhile, the Boracay Gateway Project TEZ is expected to create an estimated 5,247 diverse jobs and livelihoods to integrate the communities in the business’ value chain to improve the quality of lives and create a long-term solution to alleviate conditions of the province. The Boracay Gateway Project TEZ is a 68.41-hectare general leisure zone situated in the Municipality of Nabas in the province of Aklan.

The project, spearheaded by La Belle Plume Realty Inc., is envisioned to attract and capture the anticipated influx of local and foreign tourists in the region and support the socio economic development in the host municipality by promoting entrepreneurship and business opportunities involving the communities through inclusive business models. The Neo Aqua Town Center TEZ, on the other hand, is expected to generate 3,977 direct and indirect jobs and provide social development initiatives in its host local community. This TEZ is located in Bulakan, Bulacan, and covers 161,867-square meters. It is master planned as an integrated tourism complex which entails the development of an agri-tourism commercial zone, residential zone, convention center, luxury hotel, orchard and wellness zone.

IN BRIEF Loans for housing pushed for members

Only one part of law cited PETITIONERS against the Anti-Terrorism Law of 2020 at the Supreme Court are arguing over parts of its provisions, specifically Section 29, and not its entirety to justify the unconstitutionality of the law, the group Liga Independencia Pilipinas Inc. said Friday. In a statement, LIPI Secretary-General Jose Antonio “Ka Pep” Goitia said Section 29 of the ATL, or the Detention Without Judicial Warrant of Arrest, had been one of the focal points of the petitioners, claiming this a violation of the suspect’s constitutional right to due process. The provision allows the detention of a person, who is suspected of committing terrorist acts, for 14 days, which can be extended for another 10 days. The petitioners noted that the Revised Penal Code allows law enforcers to keep someone they arrested without a warrant for only up to 36 hours, otherwise they should be released if not charged in court. They also mentioned Section 18, Article VII of the Constitution, which says that if the nation is under martial law and the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus is suspended, a suspect can be kept for up to 3 days only. Supreme Court Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, Goitia noted, zeroed in on Section 29. She asked the petitioners’ lawyer Alfredo Molo III which is more important: the interest of the individual suspect on one hand, specifically to his unrestrained liberty that will only last for 14 to 24 days with all the safeguards installed by the law, or the safety of our country, “the safety of the Filipino people including our children who may just be instantly eradicated from the face of the earth,” Goitia said. Jimbo Gulle

AN OFFICIAL on Friday urged the government to adopt measures like placing price controls on food items like galunggong and going back to regulation of the downstream oil industry to address “runaway inflation.” “With the February inflation at 4.7 percent, which is even higher than the 4.2 percent inflation in January, consumers are apparently in once again for more price shocks in the coming months. While prices of food are the ones driving inflation up, spiking oil prices also play a major part in the upsurge,” House Deputy Minority leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate said To address this, Zarate said, his group would propose to the government, among others, the putting up of a price ceiling for galunggong and to run after those manipulating and profiteering from its jacked up prices. The source price of the “poor peoples’ fish” is at an all-time low of P60/ kg, yet, it is selling in the market now at an all-time high of P280/kilogram, said Zarate. Zarate said his group also proposed the extension of subsidies for farmers as well as to hog and poultry raisers, the increase in support for the agricultural sector and the regulation of the downstream oil industry. “If these are done now, these will not only help pull down the inflation but will also help secure our already threatened food security,” Zarate said. He said “Up to 95 percent of the country’s petroleum requirements are imported, rendering the country exceedingly vulnerable to the dictates of big transnational corporations.”

MABALACAT CITY—Housing Secretary Eduardo del Rosario has assured the members of the Home Mutual Development Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund under the informal economy of housing loans provided that applicants have to present the needed requirements. “It is our mandate to provide decent housing for both informal and formal settlers,” said Del Rosario on the sidelines of his first out-of-town visit at XeveraMabalacat City, a township community being developed by the Westchester Development Corporation. It was gathered that more than 40 percent of the country’s economy is being supported by the informal sector and it contributes largely to the government coffers. Besides, it is the mandate of the government to provide decent housing for the people. Jess Malabanan

Checks on arriving foreigners ordered SOLIDARITY JAB. Activists lament the worsening plight of women amid the ongoing pandemic. “Almost a year has passed since the entire country has been on lockdown and the condition of women has only worsened. The multiple burden we bear has only been exacerbated by a neglectful and unquestionably the most misogynistic of all the presidents we ever had,” said Lidy Nacpil, national chairperson of Oriang.

P13 million worth of shabu seized in Bulacan By Joel E. Zurbano GOVERNMENT agents on Friday seized in Bulacan more than P13 million worth of a shipment of shabu. Operatives of the Customs-Ninoy Aquino International Airport also arrested one Jayson Quiloy, 38, the claimant of the shipment from Malaysia. The bureau conducted a controlled delivery operation with help from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency

and NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group. resulting in the arrest of Quiloy in Barangay Guyong in Sta. Maria town around 5 p.m. The shipment was declared as “kitchen appliances-steamboat grill” and was shipped by a “Glus Sdn Bhd. (MBE Sri Gombak).” But it contained 2,003 grams of shabu. “In the course of the physical examination, the package was found to contain white crystalline substance inside a

hotpot grill. Subsequent PDEA Chemical Laboratory Analysis confirmed that the seized white crystalline substance as shabu,” said NAIA collector Carmelita Talusan. The suspect will be facing criminal charges. Last February 15, a claimant of a package containing the party pill “Ecstasy” was also arrested by the authorities in the Manila Central Post Office, and also in a controlled delivery operation.

Early voting for seniors urged By Maricel V. Cruz

PROTECTION. Doctor Ricardo Runez, chief of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, receives the first shot of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine which arrived in Baguio City on March 4. The 7,800 doses of vaccine will be distributed to all government hospitals in the Cordillera Administrative Region. Dave Leprozo

A CONGRESSIONAL leader on Friday filed a bill calling for early voting for senior citizens and people with disability in future elections beginning with the May 9, 2022 presidential-congressional-local balloting. Deputy Majority Leader and Quezon City Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo filed House Bill 8756, saying “It is safe to assume that the pandemic will still be here during the election period. Thus, it is important for Congress and the Commission on Elections to take measures to help health authorities prevent the spread of Covid-19 among voters and the population in general.” She said one such measure is to allow senior citizens and PWDs to vote early because they are among the sectors most

vulnerable to Covid-19. “They should be given the chance to cast their ballots without compromising their physical health and safety. Otherwise, thousands might just opt not to vote for fear of contracting the virus,” she said. Castelo said the state “must do everything to protect the right of suffrage and to make sure that everyone will have the opportunity to exercise such right.” She called for expeditious action on her proposal, since the Comelec “is now in the thick of preparations for next year’s elections, which are just 14 months away, and the nation will soon be on election mode.” Under the bill, the Comelec must schedule early voting for senior citizens and PWDs in pre-designated venues easily accessible to such voters within seven working days before the elections.

IMMIGRATION Commissioner Jaime Morente has ordered all officers in the different international airports to thoroughly screen arriving foreigners with temporary visitor’s visas and entry exemption documents to make sure that they have valid and legitimate purposes in visiting the country. He reminded immigration inspectors in a memo manning the ports to conduct strict arrival formalities on arriving passengers despite having the required documents. The memo was addressed to the heads of the bureau’s port operations division, which supervises primary inspectors assigned at the airports’ immigration counters, and the intelligence division and travel control and enforcement unit, which handles the secondary inspection of arriving aliens. Vito Barcelo

Official slams poor Internet connection SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday called on the telecommunications companies over their poor internet connection. “It’s been over three months since the President’s ultimatum to the telecommunications companies has lapsed in improving their services, yet consumers continue to suffer from unreliable internet connectivity in the country,” said Gatchalian. He also mentioned the poor customer service afforded by telcos to subscribers who lodge complaints over data concerns and deficient broadband services, among many others. “To say that the public is not getting their money’s worth is an understatement,” he said. Macon RamosAraneta

News

SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2021

DOJ panel to probe ‘tapioca’ shabu shipment By Rey E. Requejo

HE Department of Justice has created a panel of prosecutors to conduct preliminary investigation into the criminal complaints filed against Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director General Wilkins Villanueva, Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, and other officials and personnel for their alleged failure to detect a shabu shipment worth P1 billion in 2019.

MISENCOUNTER PROBE. Members of the Quezon City Police District present themselves to the National Bureau of Investigation-National Capital Region (NBI-NCR) office in Manila on Friday to attend the probe on the alleged misencounter between policemen and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operatives during a buy-bust operation on Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, last month. Norman Cruz

IN BRIEF Binay: Fight drugs, but not at expense of human rights Pasay hesitating to reopen cinemas CITY officials in Pasay are having second thoughts of reopening cinemas even in a limited capacity. “Much as I want to open up the economy more, but based on data and our situation, we will observe and analyze for two more weeks if we could indeed already allow cinemas to reopen,” said Mayor Imelda Rubiano. Rubiano made the statement in reaction to Department of Trade and Industry’s declaration that local government units, especially those based in Metro Manila, that are wary of reopening cinemas may begin allowing just 20 percent capacity of the operations to gradually help more Filipinos return to their livelihoods. The DTI noted that the local entertainment industry, nationwide, including film production, distribution, and cinemas, was a P13 billion-industry which employed 300,000 Filipinos before the COVID-19 pandemic locked down majority of the population and padlocked theaters all over the country. Joel E. Zurbano

Malapitan, Tolentino lead Caloocan rollout MAYOR Oscar “Oca” Malapitan and Senator Francis Tolentino attended the start of the vaccination rollout at the Caloocan City Medical Center (CCMC) today. To encourage other medical staff, CCMC Administrator Dr. Fernando Santos and Caloocan City Health Officer Dra. Evelyn Cuevas volunteered to get the Sinovac vaccine first. They immediately underwent monitoring and at present they do not feel any adverse effects, Malapitan said. In an earlier statement by Dr. Santos, he said that out of a total of 457 hospital staff, 149 of them agreed to get the Sinovac vaccine. But they hope to increase it and make use of the first 300 doses of the vaccine available from the Department of Health. In their message, the mayor and the senator urged health workers to get vaccinated while ensuring that vaccines are safe and effective. “This is an effective solution for us to recover from this pandemic that has greatly affected our lives. Let’s get vaccinated for the protection of ourselves and our loved ones,” said Mayor Oca. Jun David

100 Navotas health workers get first shots SOME 100 medical workers of Navotas City Hospital on Friday received vaccines for thr coronavirus disease 2019. Dr. Roan Salafranca, NCH Chief of Clinics, was the first to get the CoronaVac shot. Navotas received the vaccines Thursday and stored them in the cold room at Navotas Polytechnic College. “We are ecstatic and thankful that some of our frontliners have already received their shot. Since our cases our increasing, we hope the national government will allocate and send more vaccines to Navotas,” Mayor Toby Tiangco said. “We have purchased 100,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine, which are expected to arrive on the second half of 2021. While we are waiting for our order, we hope we will receive more vaccines from the national government so we could protect our almost 800 medical frontliners,” he added. “We don’t want a repeat of our experience last year when we had to close down our health care facilities because some of our frontliners contracted the virus. That is why we are fiercely advocating for the vaccine, but we also respect those who wish to wait for other brands to arrive,” he said. Jun David

By Joel E. Zurbano FORMER Vice President Jejomar Binay on Friday slammed the proponents of House Bill 7814, who he said were using the template of the Anti-Terror Law (ATL) on the floundering war on drugs. House Bill 7814, which introduces amendments to Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, aim to reinforce the campaign against illegal drugs by providing for a legal presumption on individuals considered as importers, financiers, protectors, or coddlers of illegal drugs. “And like the ATL, the authors want us to trust the judgement of law enforcers

Court: Charges vs. De Lima stay THE Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) denied a motion for reconsideration filed by the lawyers of jailed Senator Leila de Lima and her aide, Ronnie Dayan, to quash the drug charges against them. In a two-page order dated March 5, RTC Branch 205 Judge Liezel Aquiatan denied for lack of merit the motion for reconsideration. “The Court stands with its omnibus order that accused De Lima and Dayan must present their evidence to prove their innocence of the crime charged,” the decision read. Last month, the Muntinlupa court also dismissed the demurrer to evidence filed by de Lima’s counsels in an omnibus order, which also denied the grant of bail. The charges alleged that from November 2012 to December 2012, de Lima, who was then Secretary of Justice, conspired with Dayan to use mobile phones in drug trading and receiving money to fund her senatorial campaign. A government prosecution witness testified that de Lima received PHP1.4 million from the late high-profile inmate Jaybee Sebastian inside the latter’s quarters at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City. Inmate Joel Capones said he transacted illegal drugs upon the directive of Sebastian, who alleged he had strong connections with de Lima.

known for planting evidence, lying to the courts, ignoring standard operating procedures, and disregarding human rights and due process,” said Binay, a human rights lawyer. Those indiscretions and acts of criminal negligence have been acknowledged recently by the Department of Justice and before the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR), he added. “We all share a concern over the proliferation of illegal drugs. But fighting it should not be at the expense of our basic rights and due process,” the former vice president said. Other human rights advocates also raised worry over the propose measure, saying it presumes guilt of drug suspects

until proven innocent. Amnesty International said the measure showed a “dangerous disregard for human rights guaranteed under domestic and international law.” But President Rodrigo Duterte has assured that the proposed amendments to RA 9165 are constitutionally compliant. Presidential spokesman Harry. Roque said President Duterte would not sign into law any proposed legislative measure that could infringe the 1987 Constitution and the country’s laws. “As an implementer of the Constitution and laws, the President will make sure that bills awaiting his signature will not violate the Constitution,” he said.

Prosecutor General Benedicto A. Malcontento, head of the DOJ-National Prosecution Service, said the panel is headed by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Rassendel Rex Gingoyon with Assistant State Prosecutors Mary Jane Sytat and Ethel Rea Suril as members. The panel will probe the complaints filed last February 23, 2021 by the National Bureau of Investigation-Task Force Anti-Illegal Drugs (NBI-TFAID) against Villanueva, Guerrero and other PDEA and Bureau of Customs officials and personnel. The complaint arose from the alleged failure of the officials and personnel to detect the shipment of “tapioca starch” from Cambodia in 2019, which was found to contain 171 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu, hidden in 30 aluminum pallets. The NBI seeks for the prosecution of Guerrero, BOC Deputy Commissioner Raniel Ramiro, and former PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino for violation of Section 4(c) of Republic Act No. 6713, the Code of Conduct for Public Officials and Employees. They were also charged with violations of Section 3(e) of RA 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, together with Villanueva and 17 other government officials and personnel — Joel Plaza, Aldrin Albarino, Jigger Montallana, Melvin Estoque, Mark Malibiran, Judith Rigo, Dorcas Repolles, Noilan Avila, Mark Espiritu, Marc Anthony Marero, Cesar Carlo Bilowan, Alejandro Noble, Kathryn Joy Dionio, Koden Dario, Ivy Joy Nitura, Vincent Puti and Rory Dela Torre.

READY AND WILLING. Medical frontliners of the city-run Ospital ng Makati (OsMak) led by Dr. Vergel Binay, medical director, receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine Sinovac as part of the initial rollout of vaccines procured by the national government. The hospital received 300 doses of Sinovac vaccine from the Department of Health last Tuesday evening. Mayor Abby Binay led the officials present that included Testing Czar Sec. Vince Dizon, DOH-NCR Regional Director Corazon Flores, and DOH-NCR Asst. Regional Director Ma. Paz Corrales. Norman Cruz

OsMak workers get first Makati COVID jabs HEALTH workers at the Ospital ng Makati became the first batch of frontliners in the city to receive the COVID-19 vaccines. Mayor Abigail Binay said all doses if the vaccine produced by Sinovac of China allotted by the national government to the city were administered to health workers at the Ospital ng Makati. “This is a historical moment for Makati’s medical frontliners. For one year they bore the brunt of caring for our Makatizens who have contracted the coronavirus — at the expense of their own health

and safety. Today, they are receiving protection in the form of a vaccine that will allow them to save countless lives in the months to come,” Binay said. The city chief executive said OsMak Hospital Director Dr. Vergel Binay volunteered in the event and was immunized by Dr. Flerida Hernandez, the hospital’s Quality Assurance Director, and a Pediatric Hematologist. Dr. Max Angelo Terrenal from the Department of Emergency Medicine; Dr. Michelle Cuvin, Pediatric Infectious Dis-

ease Specialist and other doctors, nurses and hospital personnel followed Dr. Binay. Mayor Binay said she declined the opportunity to be immunized, stressing that the vaccines should be given to those with high exposure to the coronavirus and are treating patients who have been infected. “The important thing is that the priorities should be the first one to be immunized. After the frontliners, if there are vaccines available, then I will. If there’s not, I will wait for my turn,” the mayor said. Joel E. Zurbano

Salem, Esparago released from jail

SMOKE AND RUBBLE. Firemen go through the charred remains of a residential area

along F Roxas St. in Sta. Ana, Manila. The fire broke out at around 11:30 am and reached the third alarm before it was put out.

JOURNALIST Lady Ann Salem and trade unionist Rodrigo Esparago, who were arrested and charged with possession of firearms late last year, were released from detention on Friday, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said Friday. Salem, editor for alternative media group Manila Today, and Esparago were arrested last December 10 along with five activists during a protest on International Human Rights Day. The NUJP, which described “Icy” Salem’s arrest as an attack on the free press, posted on Twitter photos of the editor and unionist facing the media after their release from the Mandaluyong City Jail. Earlier, Judge Monique QuisumbingIgnacio of the Mandaluyong Regional

Trial Court Branch 209 issued the release order after granting the motions filed by the lawyers of Salem and Esparago and junking the prosecution’s opposition. Salem and Esparago were among those arrested in a series of raids that reportedly yielded loose firearms. But on Feb. 21, the court ruled there was no probable cause to issue the search warrants that became the basis for the raids. “Even as we celebrate Icy’s freedom, we continue to denounce those who sought to prolong her detention and call on all members of the Philippine community of independent journalists to strengthen our ranks and resist any and all efforts to stop us from serving the people’s right to know,” the NUJP said.

Opinion Teen moms: A lost generation? struation as “face wash” to avoid pimple outbreaks, and refraining from eating sour fruits to not block the flow of “blood.” A good number of teen moms said that they had sex education topics in school a few times but that they have since forgotten about what was taught them noting that when these were discussed, their class became rowdy. Some also noted that when topics on sex and relationships are on, these mostly focus on the biology of things. A few interviewed girls remembered the formula egg + sperm = pregnancy. However, there is very little conversation on how this happens, even where the sperm and the egg come from. The relevance is lost on the young people. The thing is, many young people are able to access internet sites that carry sexual content, a good number are not for educational purposes and can possibly exploit their ignorance about sex. The information they get from these sites is not balanced by those they get from their families and schools. That sex and sexuality is taboo is confirmed by the FGD participants. Only very few of the mothers who have adolescent children have actually discussed these topics with them. They said that it is very discomforting and embarrassing. Others said that this is not proper, that is immoral. The few who exhibited the openness said that they do not know how and what to say to their children. They were also not taught by their own parents. So it becomes a cycle of ignorance and parents end up ordering their adolescent children to not have boyfriends/girlfriends until they are finished with school. Some parents wanted to pass the responsibility to schools saying that it should be the schools, not them, that should teach their children matters about sex and sexuality. It is also sad to note that despite everyone seeing the reality of teen pregnancy in their communities because it is getting to be a common occurrence, most of the mothers in the FGDs were in denial that their adolescent offsprings may be sexually active. They are too young, they said. On the other hand, as expected, all the interviewed young mothers, (except the few who were already living with their boyfriends) said that their parents had no knowledge that they were already in relationships and having sex. Interviewed teen moms also said that besides them, they have several friends and relatives who have also gotten pregnant quite early. Of those interviewed, a good number started having relationships and having sex at ages 13 and 14. There were those who also got pregnant at these ages. These belie the thinking of many parents that their adolescent children are too young to learn about sex. Parents may not know it but their adolescents may already be having sex. This is something that parents should seriously think about. Understandably, parents’ refusal or disbelief that young people may be, or are sexually active is borne of our conservative culture. Sex education is important and the responsibility should be jointly shared by the family, schools, and society as a whole.

Part 2 LAST week, I quoted data from the Commission on Population on the continuing increase of teen pregnancy cases in the country, and the worrisome numbers of pregnancies involving girls aged 10 to 14. I also shared the story of Kristine, one of the 60 girls interviewed by my organization. She was one of those who experienced teen pregnancy and motherhood. Outside of the interviews, the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP) also conducted six focus group discussions (FGD) involving at least 120 community women from Quezon City, Caloocan City, Bulacan, Bataan, Laguna, and Quezon Province. These are the same areas where the 60 teen mothers come from. All the participants to the interviews and FGDs are poor girls and women because according to the 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), a lot more girls from families in poverty get pregnant than those who are not poor.

Teen pregnancy is a complex problem. The FGDs discussed the women’s perspectives on adolescent sexuality, teen pregnancy, and contraceptive use of young people. The intent is to compare and analyze the results of the two processes, (interviews and FGDs), highlight the actual experiences of teen moms, come up with general observations, and develop recommendations on how teen pregnancy may be effectively addressed. The DSWP has yet to finish the whole process but already, some important “trends” have emerged. Thus, pending the final numbers, this piece will share vital observations and a few recommendations to address the problem. What is emerging is the fact that teen pregnancy is a complex problem. It is deeply rooted in a Filipino culture that remains largely conservative, where sex and everything related to it is considered as taboo and not discussed, or difficult to discuss especially in families. Connected with this is how the rights of women and girls, particularly in relation with reproductive health and sexuality, are marginalized even in terms of government programs available to them. That sex and sexuality are taboo is quite evident in the girls’ experiences where none of them had any serious conversation with their parents regarding relationships, sex, early pregnancy and the like. Most said that as soon as they had menarche, they were told not to allow boys to touch them or they would get pregnant, period. Worse, some of the girls were ordered to perform the traditional things about menstruation such as: jumping from the third step of the stairs so their “period” would only last for three days, using their men-

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Burn SOONER or later, it was bound to happen. And early this week, ﬁnally it did. The two opposing camps in Congress burned each other—and themselves. It started with a privilege speech delivered by Anakalusugan Partylist Rep. Michael Defensor exposing maneuverings in the passage of national budget bills allegedly made under the watch of Speaker Lord Allan Velasco. Perhaps knowing Defensor as someone who, always ready to back up anything with hard proof, ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Eric Go Yap, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, was left with no choice— but without passing the chance to point a ﬁnger at the team of former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, whom he alleged to have committed a bigger “crime” than they did. Surprisingly, not only did former Appropriations chair, Davao Rep. Isidro Ungab, acknowledge they realigned the budget intended for other purposes

as alleged by Yap. He even admitted it was an even higher ﬁgure than what the ACT-CIS representative claims. In his speech, Defensor alleged Velasco secretly slashed P20-billion from the 2021 budget for gratuity and pension fund of personnel of uniformed services. Defensor said that under Velasco’s leadership, the proposed allocation for the gratuity and pension fund for retired military and police personnel has been reduced by P20 billion, thus, putting in danger the small amount they receive as they face the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now these lawmakers must face the consequences. But instead of defending the Speaker, Yap, pointed at Cayetano and his team whom he accused of doing much worse when the former speaker secretly cut by P70 billion the 2020 allocation for the same gratuity and pension fund, further accusing Ungab of having a hand in Cayetano’s action. Ungab, who was then attending the

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2021

EDITORIAL

Academic dishonesty

DUCATION authorities will look into reports of academic dishonesty— cheating—as it implements the distance learning system. Education Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio said as much during a news brieﬁng. He said this is not allowed “because it won’t help in teaching honesty among students.” But are students alone guilty of academic dishonesty? Academic dishonesty, academic misconduct, academic fraud and academic integrity are related concepts that refer to various actions on the part of students that go against the expected norms of a school, university or other learning institution. What could cause academic

Are students alone guilty of this?

fraud? They include peer pressure, performance anxiety, excuse making, inability to manage the demands of student life, situations that encourage academic dishonesty, selfjustiﬁcation habits, unfamiliarity with what constitutes academic dishonesty and lack of understanding about consequences. But academic dishonesty refers as well to committing or contributing to dishonest acts by those engaged in teaching, learning, research, and related academic activities, and it applies not just to students, but to everyone in the

academic environment. And here San Antonio is on the right track when he said DepEd is also looking into reports on teachers giving and selling answers to the exercises in learning modules. He calculatingly added DepEd is not allowing this “and of course those who are proven to engage in this activity, especially my fellow teachers, will face administrative cases.” But he stopped short of giving ﬂesh to what would be the administrative cases. We are watching what DepEd would do, persuaded as we are that San Antonio’s statements were not to accompany a photo opportunity. We will have our eyes for an informed judgment—in fairness to the suspects, both students and teachers. And let the guilty be suitably sanctioned.

Abrasive, disrespectful, idiotic Western brands, it was clear she was following what was endorsed by those people in the HTAC. Besides, Robredo has a misplaced understanding of why we extend our respect and courtesy to our leaders who run our system of democracy. For the fact that her victory was afﬁrmed by a sloppy decision

BACKBENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN THE claimant to the vice presidency is suggesting to overturn the decision of President Duterte, saying that “there is no added layer to protect Filipinos who will get the dose of the Chinese Sinovac than an evaluation from the government-bases Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) before they are administered to health workers.” The President naturally had to react to this uncalled-for assessment on what the President should do to contain the pandemic sweeping the country. First, Vice President Leni Robredo failed to read the law that the HTAC is merely a recommendatory council. The HTAC cannot supersede the ﬁndings and recommendation of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Second, the HTAC should have coordinated and consulted with the FDA before issuing a statement recommending Pﬁzer and AstraZeneca over that of the donated China-made Sinovac. In rebutting Robredo, the President said, and to quote: “Iyan ang mahirap sa iyo eh, you want to be relevant. And you...you know sometimes your make an idiotic stance. Iyong mga ganoong “they deserve the best” Anak ka ng ...Bakit ako? Would you give them the worst? Mamatay ka na. Hindi ko iwanan ‘yong mga frontliners and you do not need to really be redundant about it.” There was a clear undertone of politics in Robredo’s statement. While she did not mention Sinovac to compare it to the session via Zoom, objected, denying any role in the P70-billion cut, pointing to Cayetano and Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte as the real culprits, adding that what was slashed by the two former leaders was not P70 billion but actually P209 billion. Being a reserve military man, Ungab said he could not, in conscience, do what Yap had accused him of doing. He said it was the Cayetano-Villafuerte partnership that made decisions with regard to the proposed 2020 General Appropriations Act. While admitting he was fully aware that P209 billion was re-aligned, Ungab said he absolutely had no participation when Cayetano and Villafuerte mangled what had already been agreed upon in the Lower House. Ungab detailed the realigned funds as follows: P70 billion from the pension fund; P1.3 billion from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources; P71 billion from the Department of Public Works and Highways; P52 billion from the Department of Transportation; P2 billion from the Department of Education; P4 billion from the bases conversion allocation and P4 billion from the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council. He however stopped short of saying where Cayetano and Villafuerte realigned the budget cuts, although he vowed to reveal them next week in a privilege speech.

Robredo has a misplaced understanding of why we extend our respect and courtesy to our leader. by a magistrate acting more as stooge than as judge, she now acts as though she has the right to openly rebuke and contravene the policy of the government. She ignores the protocol that she is still obligated to respect and give courtesy to the person entrusted by our constitution to define the nation’s policy so we can harmoniously move forward. Rather, Robredo, anointed by that good-for-nothing President to run for the coveted position, now takes it upon herself to openly criticize the present administration. She and her cabal now wallow in ambition to negatively react when the President reminded her of her place in our leadership. She accuses the President of being authoritarian, having a dictatorial tendency, being vulgar for being candid, being without ethics and decency, forgetting that the President is merely reacting to what she and her Western trolls have been doing to reduce the office of the President that she now aspires to to absolute irrelevance Yap, on the other hand, was not about to drag Velasco along with him to his grave. According to Yap, the decision to cut the said allocation was his only and that he alone should be blamed for it. The Speaker was not aware of his actions. Oh, come on! Does Yap want us to believe he is on his own, as chair of the most powerful committee in the Lower House, and the Speaker has no idea about what he is doing? If so, then Velasco, should not only immediately fire him as chair of the appropriations committee. He should also submit him to the ethics committee and give him the highest penalty possible—expulsion from Congress. But I don’t believe that’s the case. From my interviews with some lawmakers, they have stated one thing and one thing only: It would be impossible for the Speaker not to be aware of what his appropriations chair is doing. The Speaker may keep other members or leaders of the House out of the loop in some of his actions, but it would be never the other way around. Anyway, the last time I heard is that Yap is conducting another committee hearing to find ways to reinstate the P20 billion they took away from the pension fund. But I don’t think that would be enough to appease the members of Congress that he and his accomplice or accomplices, whoever they may be, have

Their greatest mistake is the people elected a President who is not only extraordinarily intelligent but one so witty to throw back at them every nasty remark they say about him. He is not condescending or arrogant but blunt and candid to say what he has in mind that persons who alluded to him squirm in shame once they realize what the President is saying. The President is so quick in making his repartee to throw back at the opposition led by this “adelantado” to say what exactly he has in mind. The President simply calls her “stupid” or “timang” for her inability to discern what is logically right or wrong. She was called stupid for it seems she opposes every word the President says even if it is apparent he is correct, and her opposition is just to let everybody knows she has something to say when in truth, she is an empty can. The President cannot be wrong in calling her idiotic on her stand on many issues. What infuriated the President was the statement by Robredo calling for transparency, insinuating that some the members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) were already inoculated with the smuggled Chinese COVID-19 vaccine since September. She again issued a statement echoing the concern of Filipino doctors to have the Sinovac brand of vaccine undergo evaluation from the government-based HTAC before they can be administered to health workers......” Robrebo argued, “Ako mismo, hindi ko bibili yung ganoong argument na dahil donated, hindi na kalingan ang positive recommendation ng HTAC.” Full version on www.manilastandard.net insulted with their action. They have burned themselves, now, they should face the consequences.

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Three moments of conversion

EVERYMAN RSA ‘vaccines’ for ailing Philippine economy By Melandrew T. Velasco

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SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Fresh bloodshed in Myanmar as UNSC set to meet on crisis A PROTESTER was shot dead in Myanmar on Friday, in the latest round of bloodletting at anti-coup demonstrations as the UN Security Council prepared to meet on the escalating crisis. Despite an increasingly brutal crackdown by the military authorities that has seen more than 50 people killed, protesters took to the streets again in towns around the country to denounce the February 1 coup. The violence has brought condemnation from around the world, with the UN rights chief demanding the junta “stop murdering and jailing protesters,” and the Security Council is set to discuss the crisis later Friday. But despite the mounting international pressure, the generals have shown no signs of heeding calls for restraint. In Mandalay, Myanmar’s second largest city, hundreds of engineers took to the streets crying “Free our leader” in reference to ousted State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, detained by the

military since the first night of the coup. A 26-year-old man helping at barriers set up in the city to slow security forces died after being shot in the neck, medical officials told AFP. The killing follows the deadliest day of the crackdown so far on Wednesday, when the UN said at least 38 people were killed as graphic images showed security forces firing into crowds and bloodied bodies dragged away. There were also protests Friday in the central town of Bago and the San Chaung district of the commercial capital Yangon—a hotspot for rallies – where groups of demonstrators sang a song of defiance. Meanwhile in the country’s north, a number of people have crossed the border into India in a bid to escape the crackdown. Indian police said nine people had crossed the 1,600-kilometer frontier— three of whom were police officers who had refused to take part in putting down protests. AFP

Protesters step on portraits of Myanmar armed forces chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing placed on a street during a demonstration against the military coup in Yangon on March 5, 2021. AFP

China tightens crackdown on HK

HINA moved Friday to grant itself veto powers over selecting Hong Kong’s lawmakers, part of a campaign to eliminate dissent and ensure a “patriotic” government in the city following huge democracy rallies in 2019.

nist rulers to vet all election candidates in Hong Kong was tabled at the opening of the nation’s rubber-stamp parliament in Beijing. It came a day after dozens of democracy campaigners in the financial hub —including former lawmakers – were jailed under a security law that was passed during last year’s parliamentary session. The new legislation includes a “qualification vetting system” that will promote “orderly political participation,” Legislation to allow China’s commu- parliamentary spokesman Wang Chen

told reporters. China had committed to giving Hong Kong a degree of autonomy when it reverted from British colonial rule in 1997. But it began moving quickly to dismantle the financial hub’s democratic pillars in response to huge and sometimes violent democracy rallies that paralyzed the city throughout 2019. The introduction of the vetting legislation—expected to be approved next week—was quickly interpreted as one of the final nails in the coffin of Hong

Kong’s democracy movement. “If the measures are passed, as I’m sure they will be, then the voice of the opposition will be effectively silenced,” said Willie Lam, China analyst at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. “This will effectively wipe out any remaining opposition.” The measure had been widely expected with Beijing officials stating in the lead-up that only “staunch patriots” —those loyal to the Communist Party— should be involved in governing Hong Kong. AFP

Tsunami alerts ‘Pilgrim of peace’ Pope heads to war-scarred Iraq lifted as threat from monster quakes eases TSUNAMI warnings were lifted across several South Pacific islands Friday allowing tens of thousands of evacuees to return home, as the risk from a series of powerful earthquakes appeared to ease. Quakes of 7.3, 7.4 and 8.1 magnitude struck near New Zealand’s remote Kermadec Islands in quick succession early Friday, followed by dozens of powerful aftershocks and a slew of tsunami warnings across the Pacific. Thousands headed for high ground as waves of up to three meters had been predicted in New Caledonia and Vanuatu, with states and territories from New Zealand to Peru, Russia to Antarctica also put on high alert. In New Zealand, authorities said the entire town of North Island Town of Opotiki, about 4,000 people, had been emptied out. Six hours drive up the coast, Keith Wooderson said he sought refuge in the hills outside town. “There were queues and queues of cars as far as the eye could see. We didn’t even get out of our van, we just waited for the all clear,” he said. “There was no panic, it was all pretty orderly.” In the end, the largest surges of one metre were reported in New Caledonia’s Loyalty Islands, and eyewitnesses in the Vanuatu capital Port Vila’s saw only a few outsized waves slosh against the seafront, soaking the pavement promenade. There were no reports of major damage and the only immediate impact to human health appeared to be mild dehydration among commuters stuck for hours in heavy traffic on the French island of Tahiti.AFP

POPE Francis began a historic trip to war-battered Iraq on Friday, defying security fears and the pandemic to comfort one of the world’s oldest and most persecuted Christian communities. The 84-year-old, who said he was making the first-ever papal visit to Iraq as a “pilgrim of peace,” will also reach out to Shiite Muslims when he meets Iraq’s top cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani. The pope left Rome early Friday for the four-day journey, his first abroad since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which left the leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics saying he felt “caged” inside the Vatican. While Francis has been vaccinated, Iraq has been gripped by a second wave with a record of over 5,000 new cases a day, prompting authorities to impose

full lockdowns during the pontiff’s visit. Security will be tight in Iraq, which has endured years of war and insurgency, is still hunting for Islamic State sleeper cells, and days ago saw a barrage of rockets plough into a military base. Francis will preside over a half-dozen services in ravaged churches, refurbished stadiums and remote desert locations, where attendance will be limited to allow for social distancing. Inside the country, he will travel more than 1,400 kilometers by plane and helicopter, flying over areas where security forces are still battling IS remnants. For shorter trips, Francis will take an armored car on freshly paved roads that will be lined with flowers and posters welcoming the leader known here as “Baba Al-Vatican.”

The pope’s visit has deeply touched Iraq’s Christians, whose numbers have collapsed over years of persecution and sectarian violence, from 1.5 million in 2003 to fewer than 400,000 today. “We’re hoping the pope will explain to the government that it needs to help its people,” a Christian from Iraq’s north, Saad al-Rassam, told AFP. “We have suffered so much, we need the support.” The first day of the pope’s ambitious itinerary will see him meet government officials and clerics in the capital Baghdad, including at the Our Lady of Salvation church, where a jihadist attack left dozens dead in 2010. He will also visit the northern province of Nineveh, where in 2014 IS jihadists forced minorities to either flee, convert to Islam or be put to death.AFP

A general view of the Blue Train observation car at the departing hall of the train station in Cape Town, on February 25, 2021. Forty-eight hours to stop thinking about anything, to let yourself be pampered, to play the princes and princesses. The Blue Train, the ultimate luxury travel train experience, crosses South Africa for more than 1,400 k.m. from Cape Town, its southern tip, to its capital Pretoria, through fields and slums, urban centres and dream landscapes. AFP

IN BRIEF Japan to extend virus emergency JAPAN will extend a coronavirus state of emergency in the Tokyo area by a fortnight, officials said Friday, less than five months ahead of the pandemic-postponed Tokyo Olympics. The emergency measure, which primarily calls for bars and restaurants to close from 8 p.m., was supposed to end on Sunday and has been lifted early in other regions. It has brought infections down in the capital but the rate of decline is slowing and medics say hospitals in and around Tokyo are still under strain. The government’s top spokesman said the measure would continue in Tokyo and three surrounding regions until March 21 – four days before the nationwide Olympic torch relay kicks off in northeastern Fukushima. “Regarding the critical situation of the number of hospital beds available, it does not appear that pressure is easing in a stable manner,” Katsunobu Kato told reporters. The extension is expected to be officially announced on Friday evening. AFP

NZ to lift lockdown on largest city NEW Zealand will lift a COVID-19 lockdown on nearly two million people on Sunday, as authorities say they are confident that a virus cluster in the country’s largest city has been contained. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Friday the stay-at-home order for Auckland will end early Sunday, one week after it was imposed in response to a mystery case that contact tracing could not explain. It later emerged that family members of the infected person had defied isolation orders, socializing with friends who later tested positive for COVID-19. With the case’s origins solved, quarantine protocols were enforced and Ardern said the cluster had been limited to 15 cases, allowing Aucklanders to leave their homes. “This plan is consistent with our cautious and careful elimination strategy,” she told reporters. New Zealand has won widespread praise for its coronavirus response, recording just 26 deaths in a population of five million. Ardern acknowledged Aucklanders, who have endured two lockdowns in the past month, were weary but urged them to stick to rules designed to curb the spread of the virus.AFP

Escape from COVID: South Africa’s luxury ‘Blue Train’ WAITERS in grey waistcoats bearing dainty platters of canapés circle the private lounge at Cape Town’s main train station and the tinkle of champagne glasses fills the air. Timeless ease fills the room as passengers wait to embark on the fabled Blue Train for a luxurious two-night trek across South Africa. But even in this cosseted world, 2021 intrudes, showing that nothing can escape the grip of the coronavirus pandemic. Passengers are discreetly ushered off in small groups to a fast-track coronavirus testing center nearby. A negative result, sent by text, is followed by an elegant appetizer lunch— the final step before “All aboard!” signals the start of the adventure. In the background stands the dashing Blue Train, ready to accommodate

excited passengers in 19 plush wagons lined with wooden panels and polished brass. Forty-eight hours of pampering begins as the train rolls out of the station on a 1,600-kilometer trip through the Karoo desert, slicing up the middle of the country to the capital Pretoria. Arid ochre landscapes gradually morph into rolling hills and green pastures sporadically broken up by mining towns and informal settlements. The Blue Train is a perfect escape from the cares of the world. Ironically, most South Africans could never have dreamed of affording its luxury before COVID appeared. But coronavirus travel restrictions have stemmed the flow of wealthy international tourists that long dominated the train’s clientele, mainly from Australia, Britain and Japan.

Service resumed in November with heavily discounted prices. Today nearly all its passengers are from South Africa. “I grew up knowing there was a Blue Train, it was unaffordable,” said Cape Town-based doctor Mashiko Setshedi, accompanied by her 67-year-old mother. “Thanks to COVID it became possible.” Unlike Setshedi, most of the passengers were white couples in their 50s and 60s. “Our trip to the US was cancelled in 2020,” said Bennie Christoff, a 54-yearold financial advisor, flanked by his wife. “We are locked in and the Blue Train is one of the things I wanted to do. My grandparents told us about it.” The decades-old train is run by South African state logistics firm Transnet, which has struggled to keep rail traffic smooth since the economic setbacks of

the pandemic fuelled a surge in cable theft. A discounted ticket still comes at a steep minimum price of $1,544 – about four times the average monthly minimum wage in one of the world’s most unequal countries. “Returning guests are rare,” barman Simon Moteka said. “It’s often a oncein-a-lifetime experience for them.” Sliding drinks over the counter, the 43-year-old expertly navigated conversation, peppering discreet small talk with the occasional well-placed joke. As dinner time neared, a loudspeaker announcement politely reminded men to don a coat or waistcoat and “women to be as elegant as possible.” Flip-flops and shorts gave way to dark suits and dresses before passengers made their way to the restaurant car, filling the narrow passageway with the

scent of perfume. The sun was setting as diners were shown to their tables, casting a golden glow over the sheep-dotted Karoo whizzing past the windows. Each dish on the three to five-course menu is paired with a different glass of wine. Dessert—deconstructed cheesecake or a lemon meringue tart – was followed by a shot of grappa or a sweet South African white from Klein Constantia. “Nelson Mandela’s favourite,” said restaurant manager Sydney Masenyani, ramrod straight and impeccably dressed. The 61-year-old started his career as a senior waiter on a smaller train in 1981. In 1993, he joined an all-white team of staffers, two years after apartheid formally ended. His first months were tough. Tall and shy, Masenyani was often teased. AFP

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Oil prices jump after new OPEC+ agreement NEW YORK—Oil prices jumped higher Thursday after OPEC+ countries allowed crude production to rise only slightly, while US stocks unwound over concerns about rising inflation despite the Federal Reserve’s attempt to allay fears. After a videoconference lasting less than three hours, the OPEC groups of oil producers and its allies decided to extend output cuts enacted at the pandemic’s outset into April, while the production boost they did approve amounted to only a third of what observers had predicted. Oil prices surged more than five percent by the end of the meeting, reaching levels not since early January 2020, before dialing back slightly. “Today’s decision is clearly a positive outcome for oil prices,” said analyst Fawad Razaqzada at Thinkmarkets. “With (coronavirus) vaccinations well underway across important regions of the world, travel demand should keep prices supported for the next few months,” he added. Inflation fears led to a bad day on Wall Street, with bond yields rising and the Nasdaq nearing correction territory after investors were disappointed by Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s response to their concerns. Powell downplayed the fears of rising prices and reiterated that the Fed won’t be raising rates until inflation is above the central bank’s 2.0 percent goal and stays there “for some time.” Karl Haeling of LBBW said markets were hoping for “something stronger” including some operation to help contain the bond sell off. “We don’t know right now if it’s just a knee jerk reaction of disappointment, or if this is really the starts of a new phase higher in bond yields,” he told AFP. AFP

Palm oil dispute fuels Swiss vote on Jakarta deal ZURICH, Switzerland—Switzerland votes Sunday on a free trade deal with Indonesia but the agreement, which opens up a vast potential market, could slip up over the issue of palm oil imports. Under the deal, tariffs would be gradually removed from almost all of Switzerland’s biggest exports to the world’s fourth most populous country, while the Swiss would abolish duties on Indonesian industrial products. Anyone importing Indonesian palm oil must prove that it meets certain environmental and social standards. But controversy around palm oil and its sustainability fueled enough concern in Switzerland to trigger a public vote. Two separate polls in February put support for the deal at 52 percent, with 41 to 42 percent against. The agreement was signed in 2018 and approved by the Swiss parliament in 2019, but opponents were especially critical of Bern’s move to reduce import duties on palm oil. The deal contains exceptions for agricultural products, notably to protect Switzerland’s sunflower and rapeseed oil production. For palm oil, customs duties will not be removed but instead reduced by between 20 percent to 40 percent. These reductions will only be granted on a volume limited to 12,500 tons per year—and importers will need to prove that the palm oil has been produced in a sustainable manner. Campaign posters backing the economic partnership agreement show a Swiss bear hugging a tiger, while those against show an orangutan and baby clinging to a tree trunk, surrounded by flames. The agreement aims to boost ties with Indonesia, which despite its population is only Switzerland’s 44th biggest economic partner, and only its 16th biggest export market in Asia. In 2020, Swiss exports to Indonesia amounted to just 498 million Swiss francs ($540 million, 450 million euros). “This is the first time that the people will be called upon to vote on a trade agreement,” Swiss President Guy Parmelin said during a press conference on the vote. Switzerland relies on around 30 such agreements which do not normally pose a problem, he said. However, Parmelin called the vote an opportunity not only to respond to “legitimate concerns” but also to “dedemonize free trade.” AFP

SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks end flat; URC, MerryMart lead losers

HE stock market closed nearly flat Friday as investors start consolidating their position amid a rise in the inflation rate last month.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index slipped 1.12 points, or 0.02 percent, to 6,881.37 on a value turnover of P7.7 billion. Losers beat gainers, 135 to 87, with 45 issues unchanged. The inflation rate in February surged to a 26-month high of 4.7 percent from 4.2 percent a month ago, driven mainly by higher prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Friday. MerryMart Consumer Corp., the supermarket chain owned by businessman Edgar Sia II, sank 5.7 percent to P6.12, while Nickel Asia Corp., the biggest nickel producer, fell 3.7 percent to P5.15. Universal Robina Corp., the biggest

snack food maker, declined 2.4 percent to P128.10, while Da Vinci Capital Holdings Inc., a shell company rumored to be a candidate for back door listing, sank 24.5 percent to P4.91. The rest of Asian markets fell further Friday after Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell failed to soothe fears of a surge in inflation fueled by the expected global economic recovery, which many warn could force the central bank to hike interest rates earlier than thought. US markets extended the week’s losses, with the Nasdaq down more than two percent—tech firms are more susceptible to higher rates—while the Dow and S&P 500 dropped more than one percent. And the selling bled through to Asia, though bargain-buying at the end of another volatile week pared the morning’s deep losses. Tokyo, Hong Kong, Sydney, Seoul, Wellington, Taipei and Mumbai all fell but Singapore, Bangkok and Jakarta ticked slightly higher. Shanghai was flat.

PSEi March 5, 2021

TOP GAINERS

While the rollout of vaccines, slowing infections, easing of lockdowns and an imminent new stimulus are breathing life back into economies, investors are increasingly worried that ultra-loose monetary policies—a key pillar of a yearlong equity surge—will be wound down to deal with an expected spike in prices. That has led to a sharp sell-off across world markets with the tech-rich Nasdaq on Thursday almost sinking into correction territory—a 10-percent drop from recent highs—having touched a record peak last month. Powell reiterated that the Fed would not tighten its policies until its goals of full employment and consistently high inflation had been met, and that was likely to be some time away. As the economy recovers, he said “you could see prices moving up” but those increases are likely to be transient. “And this is a difference between a one-time surge in prices and ongoing inflation.” With AFP

LAST PRICE

% CHANGE CHANGE

1 2

BHI PRIM

0.093 3.45

0.031 0.6

50.00% 21.05%

FAF

0.69

0.09

15.00%

TFC

4.75

11.80%

5 6

TCB2A ACEX

0.77 26.8

0.07 2.35

10.00% 9.61%

0.48

0.03

6.67%

8 9

NRCP ICT

0.8 124.9

0.05 6.1

6.67% 5.13%

EAGLE

12.38

0.58

4.92%

TOP LOSERS LAST PRICE

% CHANGE CHANGE

1 2

DAVIN MAH

4.91 2.94

-1.59 -0.4

-24.46% -11.98%

0.0099

-0.0011

-10.00%

4 5

IS BCB

0.174 2.72

-0.017 -0.26

-8.90% -8.72%

LAND

0.83

-0.07

-7.78%

LRW

1.92

-0.16

-7.69%

8 9 10

APVI OV VUL

22.7 0.013 2.74

-1.8 -0.001 -0.21

-7.35% -7.14% -7.12%

MOST ACTIVE

HOMEGROWN.Officials from the Agriculture Bank of Taiwan pose at a press conference to promote domestically grown pineapples and their exports, at the bank’s headquarters in Taipei on March 5, 2021. AFP

DAVIN

VOLUME 127843300

VALUE (PHP) 751195166

2 3

BDO SM

4692500 307150

516756548 319056675

4 5

ICT ALI

2513470 7584700

312278966 291569655

6 7

SMPH MBT

7635500 5748500

280513620 278836265

8 9

DITO BPI

17256800 2620170

264681988 227278594

280030

215141355

Snarl-ups to start-ups: Cairo’s jams inspire tech solutions

By Emmanuel Parisse

CAIRO, Egypt—In gridlocked and heavily polluted Cairo, start-ups are searching for technological solutions to solve the transport headaches for an expanding megacity already struggling with over 20 million people. With only three metro lines and overcrowded, run-down buses servicing the capital, public transport is stretched to its limits. “The problem of traffic in Greater Cairo has resulted in very low average speeds, not exceeding 10 kilometers (six miles) per hour,” said traffic expert Osama Okail, from Cairo University, who says the solution to the capital’s woes must lie in fixing public transport. Cairo, the most populous Arab city where a fifth of all Egyptians live, is ranked 30th worst in the world for congestion, according to TomTom, the Dutch vehicle navigations systems maker. Runaway growth has pushed the ancient city to breaking point. Egypt’s government has embarked on an ambitious urban transformation, but that is mainly focused on the construction of a new administrative city some 50 kilometers (30 miles) east of Cairo. In Cairo itself, several giant road flyovers have been built to avoid jams in densely populated suburbs, criticized by some for the architectural damage done in historic areas. For middle-class consumers, ride-hailing and delivery giant Uber and its Middle East subsidiary Careem have moved to plug the gap of poor public transport. But tech-savvy Egyptians are also looking for their own homegrown solutions. Five days in traffic They include the start-up Transport for Cairo (TfC), which launched a detailed mapping of the city’s routes including informal transport networks to provide “actionable and high quality data.” The data is used “to improve urban mobility,” to help commuters best navigate the city and cut down journey times. “By mapping large cities and using the data for future planning, we are hoping to change them for the better,” said TfC co-founder Mohamed Hegazy. “We are working with the authorities to change the way the system works.” For now, an informal system of minibuses, motorized rickshaws, taxis, and millions of personal cars clog the city’s urban arteries bumper to bumper. TomTom calculates that a Cairo driver wastes over five days a year sitting still in traffic. That has a dramatic impact on work productivity, adding up to as much as $8 billion lost each year, according to a 2014 World Bank study.

Vehicles stuck in a traffic jam amidst street vendors and peddlers in the central Attaba district of Egypt’s capital Cairo. In gridlocked and heavily polluted Cairo, startups are searching for technological solutions to solve the transport headaches for an expanding megacity already struggling with over 20 million people. AFP

Notice to the Public The Philippine Pickleball Federation (formerly the “Philippine Pickleball Sports Association”) is applying for membership with the Philippine Olympic Committee. If there are any other sports body who claim to represent the same in the Philippines and objects to the application by the Philippine Pickleball Federation, please submit your objection in writing to the POC Membership Commission within a period of fifteen (15) days from the date of this publication. Manila

(MS-MAR. 6, 2021)

It estimates Cairo’s traffic congestion could cost Egypt as much as four percent of its entire GDP. Heavy cost of pollution Making travel simpler is one way to get commuters out of private cars and onto public transport, reducing congestion on the roads. Another start-up, Ocra Wallet, is trying to digitize the estimated $30 million circulating as cash daily in commuter fares through its phone app, creating contactless payment to pay for tickets. “We are working to make payments for transport easier,” Ocra founder Khalid Khaleel told AFP. Ocra, which means fare in Arabic, is subsidizing ticket prices by selling advertising to private bus companies. “The money that comes from that we use to help users as well as drivers,” Khaleel said, adding he believes that by stopping the handling of cash, the app can help cut coronavirus transmission too. AFP

NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION DYNALEAD FIRST CORP. Notice is hereby given that the Amended Articles of DYNALEAD FIRST CORP. with the TIN of 009-888-125-000, shortening the term of its existence and thereby dissolving the said corporation as of February 8, 2021. a Balance Sheet showing that no creditors thereof will be affected by such dissolution, have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All persons having claims against the corporation are required to present the same at its principal office at UNIT 2119, HERERA TOWER RUFINO COR. VALERO ST. SALCEDO VILLAGE BEL-AIR MAKATI CITY for immediate settlement. This announcement will serve as a notice to all parties concerned of the legal dissolution of the said corporation. Makati City. Philippines. February 8, 2021 GISELLE MAE LETRAN GONZALES Corporate Secretary (MS-FEB. 27/MAR. 6/13, 2021)

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THE GROWING CONSTRUCTION FIRM OWNED BY ENGR. FERNANDINO D. LAXINA, LOCATED AT BRGY. CUTCUT, ANGELES CITY, RECENTLY CHANGED THEIR COMPANY NAME INTO F.D.LAXINA CONSTRUCTION SERVICES & TRADING CORPORATION FROM F.D LAXINA ENGINEERING SERVICES & TRADING LAST JUNE 8, 2018. SERVICES OFFERED: GENERAL ENGINEERING SERVICES, ROADS & HIGHWAYS PAVEMENTS, HORIZONTAL STRUCTURES, RAILWAYS & BRIDGES, BUILDING AND INDUSTRIAL PLANTS, ELECTRICAL WORKS, MECHANICAL WORKS, BUILDING PLANS (AUTOCAD) AND DOCUMENTS. FOR INQUIRIES; CALL OR TEXT: 0968-536-5468/0915246-5188, you may also email us at fdlaxina_engineering. services@yahoo.com. (MS-MAR. 5,6 & 8, 2021)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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

SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2021

PSE INDEX CLOSING Friday, March 5, 2021

1.12 PTS. 6,881.37

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

3,998,824,668 142,951 7,732,132,176.53 87 135 45

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

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.5730

Japan

Yen

0.009262

0.4499

Pound

1.389900

67.5116

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128884

6.2603

Switzerland

Franc

1.077006

52.3134

Canada

Dollar

0.789578

38.3522

Singapore

Dollar

0.747831

36.3244

Australia

Dollar

0.772500

37.5226

Bahrain

Dinar

2.651816

128.8067

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266588

12.9490

Brunei

Dollar

0.745045

36.1891

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.032949

1.6004

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.2251

Euro

1.197000

58.1419

Korea

Won

0.000884

0.0429

China

Yuan

0.154540

7.5065

India

Rupee

0.013749

0.6678

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.246609

11.9785

New Zealand

Dollar

0.718900

34.9191

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035871

1.7424 Source: BSP

AG&P obtains notice to start LNG terminal

Business February inflation rose to 4.7%, the highest in 26 months—PSA By Julito G. Rada

NFLATION in February climbed to a 26-month high of 4.7 percent from 4.2 percent in January, driven by higher prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Friday.

It was the fastest increase in consumer prices in more than two years since it hit 5.1 percent in December 2018. Inflation reached 2.6 percent in February 2020. Data showed inflation averaged 4.45 percent in the first two months, beyond the government’s 2021 target range of 2 percent to 4 percent. But the February inflation rate was within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ forecast range of 4.3 percent to 5.1 percent for the month. BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said the latest outturn was consistent with the bank’s assessment of a transitory uptick in inflation in the first half, reflecting the impact of weatherrelated disturbances, the African swine fever on food prices, higher global oil prices and as positive based effects. “Average inflation is expected to remain within the 2 to 4 percent target range over the policy horizon. The projected upward trend in inflation is seen to be temporary, driven pri-

marily by supply side factors,” Diokno told reporters in a message. He said the overall balance of risks to the future inflation continued to lean toward the downside, owing to the continued uncertainty caused by the pandemic on domestic and global economic activity. “Upside risks could emanate from the possibility of an early roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines in the Philippines. The sources of near-term inflation are supply-side shocks in nature that should not require a monetary response unless they lead to second-round effects,” Diokno said. He said the Monetary Board would consider carefully recent price developments that could influence the outlook for inflation along with evidence of second-round effects during the monetary policy meeting on March 25, 2021. “The BSP stands ready to deploy its full arsenal of instruments as needed in fulfillment of its mandate to maintain price and financial stability conducive to sustainable economic growth,” Diokno said. ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa said although the target range of 2 to 4 percent was breached for the second month, the BSP likely was “to stay on the sidelines.” “We expect BSP to remain sidelined for 2021 while inflation will likely remain elevated in the near term before gradually decelerating by the third quarter. The peso will likely move sideways as Diokno suggests that a rate hike is not on the table for now,” Mapa said.

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Department of Energy issued a notice to proceed to Atlantic Gulf & Pacific Company of Manila Inc. on its liquefied natural gas project in Batangas province. “We have approved the NTP of AG&P,” DOE director Rino Abad said. Investors interested to participate in the emerging LNG industry should secure an NTP from DOE prior to moving ahead with the project. AG&P plans to put up an LNG import facility that will supply regasified LNG to the 1,200-megawatt Ilijan natural gas power plant. AG&P said in a report to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in September 2020 the project with an estimated budget of $315 million would be adjacent to the Ilijan power plant, which secures natural gas from the Malampaya project. The Ilijan natural gas plant’s supply contract with Malampaya will expire in June 2022. “AG&P is targeting to commission this import facility by June 2022 so that the power plant can seamlessly secure supply and continue its operations thereafter,” the company said in the report. The LNG project will employ an onshore terminal-based re-gasification facility that is often applied over longer distance transport of LNG by ocean-going vessels. It said LNG would be re-gasified into natural gas at a land-based terminal, which receives it from vessels (LNG carriers) that transport LNG produced at liquefaction plants. “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,” AG&P said. The project will require around 1,500 direct and indirect workers during the construction period. Personnel will include operators of heavy equipment and construction workers for support facilities and administrative personnel. AG&P said if the project would not push through under a ‘no-go’ alternative, the Ilijan power “would either be decommissioned or converted to run on more expensive and higher emission fuels such as condensate and diesel.”

DoubleDragon’s REIT unit prices public offering at P2.25 apiece By Jenniffer B. Austria DDMP REIT, the real estate investment trust company owned by DoubleDragon Properties Corp., priced its initial public offering at a maximum of P2.25 per share. DDMP REIT is expected raise up to P14.7 billion in proceeds from the share sale scheduled this month based on the IPO price. The offering period is March 10 to 16, while listing of the shares at the Philippine Stock Exchange is set on March 23. “The DDMP basket is seen to be a compelling REIT offering since it will include the land, a premier corner lot located along the main thoroughfares of Macapagal Ave., EDSA Extension and Roxas Boulevard, where the first six completed buildings sit on,” DoubleDragon chairman Edgar Sia II earlier said. “This feature is expected to be a game changer since the value of the prime double corner 4.75 hectare block of land with titled land ownership to be held in perpetuity should keep on appreciating decade after decade, a very important inclusion for both domestic and foreign investors,” he said. Net proceeds from the offering will be reinvested in the Philippines, as required by relevant regulations. The company said majority of the proceeds would be infused as equity into CentralHub Industrial Centers Inc. to increase its leasable industrial warehouse space and footprint nationwide. The warehouse complexes are designed for use as warehouses, cold storage facilities, commissaries or as logistics and distribution centers. DDMP tapped Credit Suisse, DBS, Nomura and PNB Capital as joint global coordinators and joint bookrunners, together with RCBC Capital, ICCP, Macquarie, Maybank Kim Eng and CIMB for the REIT IPO.

IN BRIEF

ATM machines now at 7-Eleven stores

VACCINE SHIPMENT. Cebu Pacific planes carry COVID-19 vaccines to Zamboanga City and Tuguegarao City. The vaccines are the first to be received by the local destinations. The vaccines arrived at the CEB Cargo warehouse at 10:30 p.m. on March 4. After standard screening protocols, all 35 boxes (17 for Zamboanga and 18 for Tuguegarao) were stored in a 20-footer refrigerated carrier reefer van, equipped with cooling systems, to preserve the condition of the vaccines. A total of 21,000 doses were carried by CebGo, the operator of Cebu Pacific’s turboprop fleet.

Cebu Air signs P16-b landmark syndicated loan facility with six major domestic banks By Darwin G. Amojelar CEBU Air Inc., the operator of Cebu Pacific and Cebgo, on Friday signed a P16-billion ten-year term loan facility with a syndicate of domestic banks. The airline unit of the Gokongwei Group said the term loan facility, which was equally participated in by government financial institutions and leading private sector domestic banks, represented the confidence of these institutions in the recovery of the Philippine economy and the belief that Cebu Pacific would continue to play a leading and vital role in this economic recovery. State-run Development Bank of the Philippines and Land Bank of the Philippines joined hands with Asia United Bank Corp., Bank of the Philippine Islands, Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company and Union Bank of the Philippines as lenders in the facility. “We at JG Summit and Cebu Pacific are grateful for the confidence of the Philippine banking community, given

the participation by both the government owned financial institutions and the private sector commercial banks in this landmark syndicated loan facility,” said Cebu Pacific president and chief executive Lance Gokongwei. “Cebu Pacific remains focused on its business transformation to reduce its unit cost so as to continue to offer affordable flights and remain as our country’s airline for every Juan,” he said. The airline will use the proceeds fund capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes. The loan will also provide a cushion against unexpected working capital requirements that may stem from fuel price and foreign exchange rate volatility. BPI Capital Corp. acted as the lead arranger and bookrunner for the transaction. DBP, LBP and AUB were lead arrangers, while MBTC and UBP acted as arrangers for the syndicated loan. AUB-Trust and Investments Group was appointed as the facility agent.

SCHOOL DONATION. True to its commitment of supporting endeavors that advance the culture of academic excellence among Filipinos, Henry Sy Foundation turns over the second tranche of its donation to the University of the Philippines Medical Alumni Foundation Inc. to support the construction of the 11-story Medical Sciences Building at the UP Manila Campus in Ermita, Manila. Joining the virtual turnover ceremony are Henry Sy Foundation trustees Debbie Sy and Harley Sy, chairman and treasurer Virginia Yap, trustee and executive director Dr. Lydia Echauz and independent trustee Chito Macapagal, along with UPMAF officers and UP officials.

DMCI Holdings’ 2020 profit down by 44% to P5.9b DMCI Holdings Inc. of the Consunji Group said Friday net income fell 44 percent in 2020 to P5.9 billion from P10.5 billion in 2019 amid the strict quarantine restrictions and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Excluding non-recurring losses of P1.9 billion mostly coming from onetime non-cash goodwill impairment charge for its Zambales mining assets in 2019 and P708 million pertaining mainly to sales cancellations for a real estate project in 2020, core net income went down by 47 percent to P6.6 billion from P12.4 billion in 2019. “The community quarantines hit our construction productivity while weak market conditions dragged the sales performance of most of our businesses,” said DMCI Holdings chairman and president Isidro Consunji. “DMCI Mining was able to beat the downtrend because of strong nickel demand from China amid the Indonesian nickel ore export ban. DMCI Power posted higher sales volume but its revenues fell due to the high base effect of the retroactive tariff adjustment for its Aborlan plant in 2019,” he said. The company said fourth-quarter consolidated earnings improved 59 percent to P1.9 billion from P1.2 billion from the previous quarter. Core income contribution from Semirara Mining and Power Corp. dropped 65 percent to P2 billion in 2020 pulled down by double-digit declines in coal sales and average selling prices of coal and electricity. Real estate unit DMCI Homes contributed P1.9 billion in core income, down 36 percent from P3 billion as the suspension of non-essential work in the first semester led to a slowdown in construction accomplishments which effectively lowered revenue recognition and unit turnovers. Higher construction costs also contributed to the earnings decline. Jenniffer B. Austria

PHILIPPINE Seven Corp., the exclusive licensor of 7-Eleven in the Philippines, said Friday it rolled out automated teller machines in their stores. PSC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it teamed up with Pito AxM Platform Inc., a Philippine subsidiary of Seven Bank Ltd. of Japan, to begin installing cash recycling ATMs in select 7-Eleven stores. The ATMs accept cash deposits via highspeed bill readers and then dispense those same bills for withdrawals. About 30 ATMs are now operational and 320 units will be in operations by June. PSC chief executive Jose Victor Paterno said cash-recycling ATMs are standard in Japan, because it reduces the need to deliver cash and provides a reliable and convenient experience for receiving deposits. He said in the Philippines, there were only few cash recycling ATMs because they are considerably more expensive than withdrawal only ATMs. Jenniffer B. Austria

BDO ATMs offer easy withdrawals

BDO Unibank, Inc. and BDO Network Bank offer clients the most expansive ATM network in the country to serve cash withdrawals anytime and anywhere. There are more than 4,400 BDO and BDO Network Bank ATMs strategically located all over the Philippines. These ATMs operate 24/7 at accessible locations where people go to or pass by regularly, such as corporate offices and commercial places like malls, and even in locations near their residence. Besides withdrawing cash, accountholders can check account and cash card balances, withdraw up to P50,000 per day, transfer money, pay bills, load prepaid mobile phone and broadband services and avail of cash advance. At select ATMs, accountholders can also make card-less cash withdrawals using biometrics (fingerprint and/or facial recognition) or a QR Code generated via the BDO Digital Banking app.

Sika launches new retail product line

CONSTRUCTION solutions provide Sika recently launched its newest retail product line as part of its targeted home construction solutions which are easy to use and apply. The new products include sealing and bonding, waterproofing, crack repair and grouting solutions. “Sika’s theme this year is customer centricity, pivoting ways on how to adapt and provide solutions in the new normal mostly through digitalization,” said Sika general manager Christophe Lejeune. Sika is strengthening its retail distribution to hardware stores and launched the products in the first virtual retail product and Sika retail management tool launch. “We launched Sika retail management tool to make managing retail network easier through an online app accessible to distributors, to monitor activities of their hardware store network related to Sika business,” said Lejeune. The virtual product launch was attended by a network of direct retail distributors across the country. Sika executives shared marketing support and programs that can be given to retail distributors. “As part of the integration of Sika and Parex last 2019, Sika is proud to include in its roster of retail products targeted solutions for home repair, renovation and new construction,” said Alainne Leonardo, target market and marketing head of Sika Philippines.

Sports

Cone named PBA bubble’s best coach ANOTHER championship, another individual accolade for Tim Cone. For steering Barangay Ginebra to the Philippine Cup title in the most challenging period in the 45-year history of the PBA, Cone is set to be feted with the Outstanding Coach of the Bubble in Sunday’s PBA Press Corps virtual Awards Night at the TV5 Media Center. The Kings defeated the TNT Tropang Giga in five games of the first-ever bubble finals at the Angeles University Foundation gym in Pampanga to claim their first allFilipino crown in 13 years. And Cone did it despite the uncertain time brought about by the current pandemic and the health status of his players. After big man Greg Slaughter decided to skip the season, Cone was also faced with the specter of key players LA Tenorio and Japeth Aguilar not exactly in game shape entering the bubble due to personal reasons. But the brilliant coach that he is, Cone found a way to keep the Kings competitive until both Tenorio and Aguilar were healthy enough to anchor the team’s campaign again. The end result had the Kings winning their 13th championship overall, trying the fabled Crispa Redmanizers at no. 4 overall in the all-time winning list. As a result, Cone solidified his legacy as the league’s most accomplished coach with 23 titles tucked under his belt. Cone will be joined by 2019 Baby Dalupan Coach of the Year winner Leo Austria of San Miguel Beer on center stage during the special two-in-one awards night presented by Cignal TV. The program will be shown over PBA Rush on March 8. Also receiving major awards are Commissioner Willie Marcial as Mr. Executive and Chairman Ricky Vargas, recipient of the 2019 Danny Floro Executive of the Year. To be recognized with the President’s Award are the 12 member teams for the sacrifices they made to help restart the league’s 45th season, along with 2019 winner Vergel Meneses, current Bulakan, Bulacan mayor and one of the 25 Greatest Players in league history.

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

SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2021

With Christian Standhardinger, the Gin Kings will become even more formidable up front as the 6’8” center will join forces with 6’9” athletic forward Japeth Aguilar.

Standhardinger gives Kings sturdier frontline By Rey Joble

T’S LIKE a case of the best getting better as Barangay Ginebra, last year’s PBA Bubble champion, became even formidable more than a week before Draft Day.

The Gin Kings struck a deal with NorthPort, acquiring the Batang Pier’s biggest star—Christian Standhardinger —and shipping returning seven-foot big man Greg Slaughter to Rep. Mikee Romero’s franchise. This was confirmed by the PBA in its official website, posting the deal was already approved by the Commissioner’s Office. The Gin Kings won the championship inside the Bubble tournament in Clark without Slaughter, who sat out because of contractual issues. He returned to Ginebra’s camp in the off season before the deal was consummated and got approved by the Commissioner’s Office.

In getting Standhardinger, the Gin Kings will become even more formidable up front as the 6’8” center will join forces with 6’9” athletic forward Japeth Aguilar in creating the Ginebra’s newest version of twin towers. For the Batang Pier, dealing Standhardinger to the Gin Kings was also the best option as the Fil-German player didn’t sign up his contract extension offer. NorthPort management made this confirmation and reached a decision with Ginebra in swapping these two big men. “It was a good trade, beneficial for both teams,” wrote NorthPort management in a release statement. After seeing Standhardinger cracking

the Mythical Team two years ago, the former Gilas Pilipinas standout had his share of struggles during last year’s bubble tournament. Coupled by the injury suffered by Sean Anthony, the team’s other star, the Batang Pier had an early exit in the Philippine Cup. NorthPort felt Slaughter, who spent the past year working out in the United States while sitting out the PBA season, would fill in the big shoes left by Standhardinger. The Batang Pier will also have a chance to bolster their roster even more as they have two first round picks in the coming draft—the No.2 pick where they are expected to select Fil-Am Jamie Malonzo and the No. 11 pick, which they can use for the best talent available. “The team is thrilled to have him, knowing how hard he worked in the US to polish his game,” added the NorthPort managementm of Slaughter.

Rule hits Olympic Selection Time By Peter Atencio FIL-AMERICAN standout Remedy Rule stayed in the hunt for a qualifying slot for the Tokyo Olympics. The 24-year-old Rule once again hit the Olympic Selection Time during the ongoing TYR Pro Swim Series at the North East ISD Blossom Athletic Complex in San Antonio, Texas. Rule placed sixth with clockings of two minutes and 11.43 seconds in the preliminaries and then 2:12.23 in the finals of the women’s 200-meter butterfly. Her prelims’ time put Rule inside the OST qualifying time of 2:12.08. On the other hand, Rule’s finals performance also went past the competition’s Olympic wave II trial time of 2:12.56. According to the FINA’s qualification rules, one athlete per event can potentially enter if they meet the Olympic Selection Time or if the quota of 878 athletes has not been reached. An OST qualifier will be chosen once athletes who have the Olympic Qualifying Times have been selected. “I’m a bit nervous but feels great to have a 200-m

butterfly LC under my belt,” said Rule, a member of the Longhorns Aquatics team, in her message to Philippine Swimming Inc. president Lailani Velasco. Rule, who is a from Crozet, Virginia and a twotime All-American awardee in the US NCAA, was one four Filipinos who hit OST-B time for the Olympic Games during the 30th Southeast Asian Games. Rule’s next target is still the Olympic Qualifying Time of 2:08.43. In the coming days, Rule will also seek to improve her times in the 200-meter butterfly and in the 200-meter freestyle. So far, Hali Flickinger of the Sun Devils, hit the OQT in taking the gold medal in 2:07.55, with Regan Smith taking the silver medal in 2:08.85 to hit the OST qualifying time with Katie Drabot, who settled for the bronze medal in 2:10.20. Also beating the OST clocking were US swimmers Leah Gingrich (2:10.42) and Katie Crom (2:11.31). Velasco said it was unfortunate that James Deiparine was not able to swim in the men’s 100-meter breakstroke event. Deiparine’s COVID-19 test results came out late, and did not reach organizers on time.

Pido: We can’t pass up chance of getting 7-foot center Slaughter NORTHPORT coach Pido Jarencio said the opportunity to get Ginebra’s 7-footer in Greg Slaughter was something they can’t pass up. “In the last season, we were outrebounded so with Greg around, I’m certain that we have now an inside presence. He can intimidate,” said Jarencio as he explained the reason why the Northport management shipped FilGerman Christian Standhardinger. “Christian is not a bad player, but what we need now is one who can intimidate inside,” said Jarencio. “Besides, he trained in the US for a while and played with some big guys, so I believe he’s in top shape now.” “With Greg, I believe we can go up against the best teams because Greg can shoot from the perimeter and attack the basket,” said Jarencio, who added that the former Ateneo star would be playing for 30 to 35 minutes for the team. The management, on the other hand, is convinced the trade would benefit both teams. Slaughter played his first six seasons with the Ginebra Kings but did not play in last season’s bubble which the team won at the expense of TNT Tropang Giga. NorthPort is excited to have Slaughter as the team’s spearhead as the Batang Pier intend to bounce back following a forgettable showing the last time. “The team is thrilled to have him in the team, knowing he worked hard in the US to polish his game,” the team added. Meantime, Standhardinger expressed his gratitude to the team, especially to Jarencio, for helping him polish his game. “I want to thank NorthPort Batang Pier for everything—for taking a chance on me and for the great memories that we had together,” Standhardinger said on his Instagram account. Standhardinger made special mention on his first conference with the team that saw the Batang Pier pull off crucial wins to earn the No. 8 seed before shocking top-ranked NLEX in the quarterfinals of the 2019 Governors’ Cup.

Remedy Rule

Del Rosario all cranked up for LPGT Eagle Ridge

Pauline del Rosario: Still hungry for the wins

PAULINE del Rosario hasn’t lost her appetite for winning three months after edging Princess Superal in the second of two Ladies Philippine Golf Tour bubble tournaments at Riviera, all geared up for another title chase in the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Challenge unfolding Tuesday (March 9) at the Aoki course in Gen. Trias, Cavite. Through that long layoff, Del Rosario kept her form in good shape through regular workouts and drills while sneaking in a round or two to improve not just her muscle memory but also gain a greater sense of distance and depth. “My focus is to always play my best,” said the first Filipina to win on the

LPGA of Taiwan Tour, who dominated the LPGT with four victories in her rookie season in 2017. “To get ready (for a competition), I’m sticking to my program— working out, drills and rounds.” But she has opted to tone down the level of expectations for another title shot, saying: “No expectations since ever yone in the field is capable of playing good golf.” Superal, for one, is out for a payback after failing to compete a sweep of the two Riviera tournaments that marked the re-start of the ICTSI-backed circuit disrupted by the global health crisis last year. But the rest of the compact field are also raring to get going and spoil the pro-

jected Del Rosario-Superal title clash, including former three-time Order of Merit winner Cyna Rodriguez, Taiwan LPGA Tour veterans Daniella Uy and Marvi Monsalve, along with Gretchen Villacencio, Pamela Mariano, Sunshine Baraquiel and Chanelle Avaricio. Amateur Laurea Duque spices up the cast in the 54-hole championship as the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.-organized circuit continues to provide the youth the venue where they could hone their talent and skills and get a feel of competitive play. Meanwhile, listup for the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Championship, slated March 2325 at the Norman layout, ends on March 12. For details, log on to www.pgt.ph.

SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2021

rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

Tech & Gadgets

FarmSmart empowers

Huawei opens 1st innovation hub for developers in Asia Pacific HUAWEI is further accelerating the digital transformation in Asia Pacific with the launch of its first regional center for developers and partners —the DigiX, which is located at the Changi Business Park in Singapore and equipped with augmented and virtual reality, artificial intelligence, Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) core kits, and other technological capabilities to support developers across Asia Pacific, including the Philippines, in their app development journey. "In the new intelligent era, Huawei aims to build a ‘1+8+N’ all-scenario mobile ecosystem with HMS that empower developers to innovate as they build their business," Jay Chen, Vice President of Huawei Asia Pacific, said in an interview during the event. Chen explained that the DigiX Lab provides a platform to "cultivate and equip developers with the necessary app development tools to innovate and advance the future of the digital space." "In the era of ecosystem collaboration, it is more important to manage cooperation than to manage competition. With this in mind, Huawei will continue to increase investment in building a diversified and prosperous ecosystem to build a fully connected, intelligent Asia Pacific," Chen added. Huawei is also committed to bring more local in-demand apps onboard HUAWEI App Gallery to elevate its mobile ecosystem. Currently Huawei has been working with Filipino software and app developers to accomplish this goal. As an advocate of talent enablement, Huawei initiated programs such as Huawei ICT Academy, ICT Certifications, Huawei Mobile Service Training, ICT Competition and Seeds for the Future to train students across the globe including the Philippines on ICT technologies and products. Through its TECH4ALL initiative, Huawei aims to use the power of technology to bridge the digital divide and drive sustainable development.

PH agriculture‘s digitalization N

EARLY a year since the COVID-19 health crisis disrupted the lives of all Filipinos, the pandemic continues to pose challenges to many industries, including the agricultural sector. Roadblocks include the lack of resources and the lack of proper training on ways to improve farming efﬁciencies and productivity.

With these in mind, PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) continues to ramp up FarmSmart initiatives through its ﬂagship Digital Farmers Program. A collaboration with the Department of Agriculture—Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI), the program promotes the use of digital technology in farming, and highlights the importance of simultaneous learning among young and seasoned farmers to help bridge the digital divide.

Purposeful use of technology

FarmSmart’s social strategy is to bring the younger and older generation of farmers together in learning about technology and agriculture. “We make sure that the farmers have a younger companion during training. We partner them together so they can learn along and from each other,” Smart Vice President for Community Partnerships Darwin F. Flores said during an interview on the live online show Tech Sabado. “In the process, the younger generation gains a different perspective, and hopefully, gets inspired to go into farming,” Flores added. To expand the reach of the program, Smart is collaborating with DA-ATI, local agriculture ofﬁces, and cooperatives in reaching more farming communities. The organizations are working together to roll out ICT modules through capacity-building sessions with farmers-youth tandems.

Digitalization amid the pandemic

FarmSmart is using technology to usher smallholder farmers into the digital economy. Through the trainings,

DFP links technology-savvy youths with small-holder farmers so that the latter could tap the digital space, and consequently, establish a channel for exchanging ideas—from using modern agricultural technologies, to discovering time-tested farming traditions.

farmers are introduced to technology tools that enable them to access essential information in a timely manner and that help improve their productivity. They are also trained on basic mobile photography and videography and social media marketing— designed to help expand their presence and reach in their communities and online to increase their income. “If farmers embrace new methods such as browsing the internet to search, or to connect with their community, this brings a new level of

Google strengthens commitment to data privacy IN LINE with its announcement last year to remove support for third-party cookies, Google conﬁrmed that once third-party cookies are phased out, it will not build alternate identiﬁers to track individuals as they browse across the web, nor will the company use them in its products. Instead, Google’s web products will be powered by privacy-preserving APIs which prevent individual tracking while still delivering results for advertisers and publishers. David Temkin, Director of Product Management, Ads Privacy and Trust at Google, said, “We realize this means other providers may offer a level of user identity for ad tracking across the web that we will not— ike PII graphs based on people’s email addresses. We don’t believe these solutions will meet rising consumer expectations for privacy, nor will they stand up to rapidly evolving regulatory restrictions, and therefore aren’t a sustainable long term investment.”

Privacy innovations are effective alternatives to tracking Committed to protecting people’s data privacy, Google highlighted that people should not have to accept being tracked across the web to get the beneﬁts of relevant advertising. And advertisers don't need to track individual consumers across the web to get the performance beneﬁts of digital advertising. Advances in aggregation, anonymiza-

tion, on-device processing and other privacy-preserving technologies offer a clear path to replacing individual identiﬁers. In fact, Google’s latest tests of FLoC show one way to effectively take third-party cookies out of the advertising equation and instead hide individuals within large crowds of people with common interests. Chrome intends to make FLoC-based cohorts available for public testing through

MediaTek’s MT9638 4K Smart TV chip ushers in new era of AI-enabled multimedia experiences MediaTek today announced its new 4K smart TV chip, the MT9638, with an integrated high-performance AI processing unit (APU). MT9638 supports cutting-edge AI-enhancement technologies such as AI super resolution, AI picture quality and AI voice assistants, plus variable refresh rate (VRR) and MEMC (motion estimation and motion compensation) so graphics appear smoother. With its high performance processing for optimized visual quality, MT9638 gives global TV makers premium features to design competitive 4K smart TVs. “As smart home appliances become more intelligent and diversiﬁed, smart TVs are becoming the new hub for the smart home as consumers take advantage of AI-enabled multimedia features to control all their devices right from their TV,” said Alex Chen, General Manager of the TV Business Unit at MediaTek. “The new MT9638 continues our legacy as the No. 1 chip provider of smart TVs, bringing consumers incredible AI, multimedia, gaming and entertainment experiences in theater-quality 4K.” MediaTek’s premium TV chip technologies are designed to enhance the user experience with our custom APU that brings highperformance AI computing to smart TVs. With built-in AI picture quality technology, the chip enables real-time content and scene recognition, automatically adjusting color saturation, brightness, sharpness, dynamic motion compensation and smart noise reduction to im-

ease and convenience. We believe that the future is bright for Philippine agriculture if we use technology,” said Flores. FarmSmart and other livelihood initiatives are part of PLDT’s commitment to support United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG#1: No Poverty. To know more about FarmSmart and other related advocacies, visit FarmSmart PH and Smart Communities on Facebook.

prove overall image quality. MediaTek’s AI super resolution technology, combined with the company’s MEMC technology, intelligently upscales resolution through multiframe blending to deliver clearer images at the smart TV’s native resolution.

New chip pairs innovative AI-powered features with the latest connectivity and display technologies

The chip supports the latest connectivity technologies including Wi-Fi 6 for fast, reliable connectivity and HDMI 2.1, which integrates support for VRR to match movies or console gaming frame-rates in order to avoid screen tearing. The MT9638 also supports applications powered by AI voice recognition and AI-enabled video calls, opening up new ways for consumers to interact with their smart

TV and connect with their family and friends. These technologies are turning living rooms into true home entertainment centers, delivering new, immersive experiences in streaming, gaming and entertainment. MediaTek’s MT9638 supports multiple advanced technologies: A multi-core Arm Cortex-A55 CPU, Arm Mali-G52 GPU and dedicated MediaTek APU integrated into a single chip, delivering superior performance while also being extremely power efficient. Up to 4K60 resolution support with a multimedia decoding engine for HEVC, VP9 and the latest AV1 content. HDR10+ display support, enabling full array backlight local dimming with >2000 zones. Premium Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual X surround sound support. The latest HDMI 2.1a and USB 3.0 interfaces, in addition to gigabit-class Wi-Fi 6 connectivity. With up to four far-field microphones, the chip provides whole room coverage for voice assistants with ultra-low power consumption (0.5W) on standby and ultra-fast, one second resume for wake-up words. MediaTek has shipped more than two billion units of its TV chips globally, powering products from entry level to flagship with comprehensive solutions that meet global TV specifications. Providing world-class entertainment solutions for more than 20 years, MediaTek is a trusted partner for all leading global TV manufacturers.

origin trials with its next release this month, and Google expects to begin testing FLoCbased cohorts with advertisers in Google Ads in Q2. Chrome also will offer the first iteration of new user controls in April and will expand on these controls in future releases, as more proposals reach the origin trial stage, and they receive more feedback from end users and the industry. This points to a future where there is no need to sacrifice relevant advertising and monetization in order to deliver a private and secure experience. David underscored, “Keeping the internet open and accessible for everyone requires all of us to do more to protect privacy—and that means an end to not only third-party cookies, but also any technology used for tracking individual people as they browse the web. We remain committed to preserving a vibrant and open ecosystem where people can access a broad range of ad-supported content with confidence that their privacy and choices are respected. We look forward to working with others in the industry on the path forward.”

Globe most improved in mobile average download in Q4 2020 GLOBE'S aggressive and sustained network builds and upgrades are showing enhanced overall customer data experience as the telco emerged as the most improved in mobile average download speed across all technologies to 16.44 Mbps in Q4 2020 from 13.50 Mbps in Q4 2019, a 22% improvement according to Ookla data[1]. Based on a report from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), the company has led new cell site builds; a testament to Globe’s support towards the government’s initiative to improve the country’s overall state of connectivity. To date, around 90 percent of Globe’s cell towers are now equipped with 4G LTE technology. In Ookla’s January 2021 Speedtest Global Index[2 ] data, the Philippines climbed 10 spots in terms of mobile download speed at 25.77 Mbps. “We are seeing the fruits of our massive efforts and investments towards network and service upgrades, and customers are able to feel improvements especially those who have started shifting to or have already moved to 4G LTE,” said Ernest L. Cu, Globe’s President and Chief Executive Ofﬁcer. Globe puts into action its commitment to reduce its carbon footprint by actively supporting the Race To Zero global campaign spearheaded by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and COP26 Presidency and backed by the GSMA, the global mobile industry body. Globe strongly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly UN SDG No. 9 which highlights the roles of infrastructure and innovation as crucial drivers of economic growth and development. Globe is committed to upholding the 10 United Nations Global Compact principles and 10 UN SDGs.

Tech & Gadgets

Cinematic experience with realme Smart TV

iVS launches 1st programmatic in-stream video marketplace in PH INTELLIGENT Video Solutions (‘iVS’), a leading video advertising platform for both publishers and advertisers in Southeast Asia, announced the launch of its instream video advertising marketplace in Southeast Asia. The marketplace, which is the first in Southeast Asia, provides advertisers with a single point of access to in-stream video inventory across premium publishers in the region, reducing inefficiencies and costs. The platform also provides publishers with hosting, transcoding, and streaming capabilities. Clients partnering with IVS on a longterm basis for advertising activation include regional media agencies such as GroupM, M&C Saatchi, Dentsu Aegis Network, Havas & IPG and publishers include a raft of top tier publishers, including ABS-CBN, Summit Media, Inquirer, Manila Times, GMA, Cignal, Bohol Chronicle, The Asian Parent and more. “At ABS-CBN, we choose vendors who not only have a robust product offering but also have an equally robust product roadmap, respond to requirements with agility & accuracy and also have more to offer along the value chain, including bringing incremental revenue opportunities to the table. After thorough evaluation, we decided to partner with IVS recently because we found IVS to be on top of their game on all aspects above.” said Jane Quiambao, Program Management Head - Digital Consumer Technology, ABS-CBN. As part of its expansion in the region, iVS has onboarded two new senior hires Hari Shankar, who joined as Chief Revenue Officer from Singapore Media Exchange (SMX) in 2020. Hari is an industry veteran bringing his digital media experience as former Managing Director at Ecselis, the digital performance unit of Havas Media Group. He was also previously the Head of Digital Acquisition of APAC at PayPal. Hari will be responsible for acquiring new publishers and advertisers onto the platform. Today, iVS has over 150 premium publishers on its platform from key markets including Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.

SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2021

Owning a realme Smart TV, not a difficult choice

By Jessica Luna

N THE highly competitive smart television market, do we need another player to make our choices all the more difficult? The answer is always in the affirmative. That’s because new players keep the old hands on their toes. Competition between usual rivals with newcomers alike, drives innovation and that is always a positive thing. That is why the entry of rising tech giant realme into the smart TV market is a welcome thing, given that it provides consumers an additional brand to seriously look into. As part of its realme TechLife, which aims to make every young Filipino live more conveniently and efficiently daily, realme recently launched a full-circle digital experience for the public, driven by a powerful mix of audio, wearables, smart TVs, smart home devices, and smartphones. The realme TechLife was introduced in the Phil-

ippines with the company’s first smart home entertainment device, the realme Smart TV; and the newest smartwatch in its line-up, the realme Watch S Pro. realme envisions every Filipino home to become a smart home in the future with the realme TechLife. Kickstarting the realme TechLife for Filipino homes is the realme Smart TV, realme’s first Certified Android TV in the Philippines. What stands out With the realme Smart TV’s one-touch google

Conquer battlefield with Lenovo Legion’s new value-for-money gaming monitors IN ITS quest to provide immersive gaming experiences to everyone, Lenovo Legion is releasing five new gaming monitors offering topnotch quality at a value-for-money price segment – the Lenovo Gaming G25-10, G27-20, G27q-20, G34w-10, and Legion Y25-25 monitors. As the gaming industry has evolved, demand for high-fidelity visual gaming experiences has increased too. These modern monitors maximize home movie entertainment and the visual effects of smooth and speedy gaming by integrating technologies that Lenovo has taken directly from the insights of its customers, and their price allows Lenovo to deliver the power of technology to more people for improving their everyday experience. “The past year has shown that gaming is no longer a niche experience enjoyed by a small group. Through its ability to bring people together in a time when everyone is disconnected, gaming has now been embraced by people of all ages and from all walks of life. And so, Lenovo ensures that everyone can experience immersive games to the fullest by making our gaming devices and peripherals easily accessible and packed to the brim with top-performing features and functions,” said Michael Ngan, Lenovo Philippines President and General Manager. All the monitors feature qualities that make them perfect for high-end gaming and the workplace, as they boast the raw performance to handle the most difficult gaming requirements. Combining higher refresh rates, better and safer viewing

opportunities, and specialized software meant to reduce visual distraction, Lenovo’s newest monitors push the limits of system performance with top of the line components, allowing everyone to run any demanding game or visual content with ease.

Leave opponents in the dust

Lenovo equipped the new Lenovo Gaming and Legion monitors with lightning-fast refresh rates to give gamers the competitive edge they need on the battleﬁeld. The G25-10, G27-20, and G34w-10 come with a rapid 144Hz refresh rate, while the G27q-20 has a 165Hz refresh rate which makes all fast-paced action smoother. The Y25-25 monitor, on the other hand, has a whopping 240Hz refresh rate that makes it possible to spot opponents ﬁrst before being discovered. The monitors are also compatible with NVIDIA G-SYNC and AMD Radeon FreeSync technology, which leaves no room for any disruptive screen tearing, blurring, and image lag. In addition, the G27-20, G27q-20, and G34w-10 have 1ms MPRT (Moving Picture Response Time) that removes ghosting and adds more clarity and quality in the middle of the action.

Never miss any detail

The new monitors are also able to create vibrant and life-like colors, making it easier for gamers to survey their in-game surroundings. The G25-10, G27-20, and Y25-25 offer a perfect balance of clear visuals and attractive design through their FHD 1920 x 1080 resolution quality with either 72% NTSC or 99% sRGB color accuracy. Meanwhile, the G27q-20 and G34w-10 have QHD 2560 x 1440 and QHD 3440 x 1440 resolutions, respectively, and 99% sRGB color accuracy, allowing high-quality and crisp images of games and movies.

assistant and all-in-one smart remote, it can easily access the weather, calendar, and several apps under Google. The feature that stands out is the built-in Chromecast app. This alone is a winning proposition, considering a Chromecast gadgets retails from P2,500 to P3,500, depending on the model. With the touch of the Chromecast app on your phone, you can conveniently play your music and stream your video from your smartphones to your realme Smart TV. This is particularly helpful when you are lazy enough to download the apps on your TV and just rely on Chromecast to pair all your streaming needs from your phone. But applications like Google Play Store are made available so that you can install apps that you like. Cinematic experience Filipinos can also now also enjoy a cinematic experience at home with the realme Smart TV’s Dolby Audio Speakers, not to mention 24W quad stereo speakers, creating a surround sound effect designed for vast rooms, thereby increasing the overall immersive experience without compromising the sound quality. To provide options for consumers, realme is making the Smart TV available in two sizes—80cm (32 inches) and 108cm (43 inches), the second of which is perfect for homes as it provides just the right size— not too small, and not too big either. The 32-inch model retails for only P11,990, while the bigger 43-inch variant is at P18,990. Powering the TV is the 1.1GHz MediaTek quadcore processor with Mali-470 GPU. Other features include the 2.4GHz WiFi, Infrared, and Bluetooth 5.0, not to mention three HDMI ports, two USB Type-A, SPDIF, Ethernet, and a digital TV receiver. Premium feel The bezel-less design is a plus, with a 1366 x 768-pixel resolution for the 32-inch model, and a 1920 x 1080-pixel resolution for the 43-inch model —our review unit. It also comes with HDR10 support, HLG, and Realme’s Chroma Boost technology that’s also present in Realme smartphones. The eye test doesn't lie as it looks premium against other smart TVs with uneven edges in the same price range. For realme's ﬁrst TV product, it incorporates several premium features only found on high-end counterparts with its budget offering. So is the realme android TV worth your investment? Our review unit has been with us for only a week and so far, we like what we see. And going back to the question at the start of this review, owning a realme Smart TV isn't a difﬁcult choice, after all. (Connections available: LAN; HDMI in 1/2/3; USB ports; ANTENNA Input; Digital Audio Output; AV Input; Headphone Output; What’s in the box?: 43” realme Android TV; 2x Base Stands; 4x Screws; Remote Control; 2x AAA Batteries; Instructional Manual; Quick Start Guide;Warranty Card)

SAMSUNG offers discounts up to P5,000 on Galaxy Tab S7 Series SAMSUNG is now offering a discount on the Galaxy Tab S7 and S7+ until March 31. Customers who purchase the Galaxy Tab S7+ worth P63,990, available in Mystic Black and Mystic Bronze, will get a discount of P5,000. Meanwhile, those who buy the Galaxy Tab S7 worth P47,990, in Mystic Black and Mystic Silver, will get a P3,000 discount from participating Samsung Authorized Stores nationwide, as well as online partners . Starting March 8, the Galaxy Tab S7+ in its new color, Mystic Navy, will be made available exclusively online via Samsung.com, priced at P63,990 SRP. Customers who buy the new color variant will also receive FREE Galaxy Buds Live in Mystic Blue worth P7,990, and 12 months of FREE Samsung Care+ worth P5,999. For more information on Samsung’s latest offers on the Galaxy Tab S7 series, visit samsung.com/ph Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redeﬁning the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI, foundry, and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at http://news.samsung.com.

LG sets tone with revolutionary TONE Free Earbuds WORKING from home is a luxury for most but it presents its own share of challenges. Meetings are continuously interrupted by running children, crowing roosters, or even roadside vendors selling their wares. Even leisurely activities, such as exercising or gaming at home, suffers from distractions inherent at home. You can’t play music to work out to or play games in full blast when other people in the household are working, after all. Even if it’s your “me time”, you still have to be considerate of others. One of the most popular ways to minimize distractions, increase productivity, and reclaim your personal time is through the use of earbuds which can eliminate background noise. LG Electronics offers a compelling case in why its TONE Free line of earbuds is the best among the rest. Nowadays, safety and cleanliness is the most important factor in purchasing anything. LG TONE Free FN7 offers the state of the art UVnano technology that kills 99.9% of bacteria. Studies show that earbuds can contain a host of bacteria. The FN7’s UVnano charging cradle kills almost all bacteria in

as little as 10 minutes while charging. LG TONE Free FN7 earbuds have comfortable, hypoallergenic medical-grade ear gels made from non-toxic, hypoallergenic silicone that allows you to have fewer worries about all-day use. The FN7 also offers Active Noise Cancellation to reduce urban noise. The more advanced LG TONE Free FN7 Active Noise Cancellation is engineered to reduce the high-frequency noise we encounter from day to day. Block out the busy street and enjoy your own private concert wherever you are. This technology is effective at reducing the high-frequency noises we hear in our everyday lives, like conversations, cafe chatter, ofﬁce or home noise, roosters, and car horns. Freedom from these noises allows you to stay even more focused on your music and fully immerse yourself in authentic Meridian audio. LG TONE Free FN4 on the other hand, features built-in, high-performance dual microphones for maximal call clarity. Echo Cancellation and Noise Reduction, which is engineered with the leading beamforming algorithm of LG TONE neckband series, detects and minimizes unwanted noise. And

the lower microphone positioned at the end of the stem picks up and ampliﬁes your voice even in a crowded space. You can use these to coordinate with your playgroup while gaming online, workout with your friends in spin class, or simply calling up your friends. Its ﬂexibility is limitless. Both LG TONE Free earbuds deliver clear and spatial audio made in collaboration with Meridian. No matter where you are, become completely immersed in whatever you listen to and forget you are wearing earbuds. Meridian's Headphone Spatial Processing (HSP) overcomes the challenges of headphone listening such as their compact size and lack of 'crosstalk' between the left and right channels. HSP not only recreates a realistic soundstage that simulates the experience of listening to real loudspeakers, but it also delivers vocals with pristine clarity. This is a fresh listening experience helping you forget you're wearing earbuds. A special EQ is also provided by Meridian to give you the best sound for all types of music. As well as the standard Immersive mode, you can choose three other presets enhanced with Meridian Headphone Spatial Processing (HSP).

LG’s UVnano technology kills 99.9% bacteria on earbuds in as little as 10 minutes

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor

SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2021

Motoring

Isuzu launches

new, improved D-Max By Othel V. Campos

Schumacher son proud to follow in father’s F1 footsteps

SUZU Philippines Corporation has set a fighting target of doubling its market share in the pick-up segment to 15 percent in 2021 from 8 percent in 2020 with the introduction of the all-new D-Max pick-up Thursday (March 4, 2021. “We aim to hit 15 percent of market share in the pick-segment with this new model,” Isuzu vice-president for sales Yasuhiko Oyama said during the virtual launch of th D-Max Thursday. He added that the Isuzu has the confidence to achieve the target market share despite the current situation because of emerging signs of economic recovery and efforts of the government to open-up the remaining sectors of the economy. Isuzu president Hajime Koso said the Philippine unit is eager to market the all-

new D-Max in the Philippines after its successful debut in Thailand that sold over 160,000 units in 2020, dominating the pickup segment with 44 percent market share. “We are very excited to introduce this model to the Philippine market—a market that has been particularly special for us since there are a lot of scenic routes and challenging terrains all over the country that a pick-up and 4x4 enthusiast would love to traverse, especially on the weekends. Because of that, we’ve made sure that the All-New D-MAX will have a

IPC officers led by Hajime Koso held a virtual launching of the new pick-up truck Thursday.

wide range of choices to cater to every consumer’s needs,” he said. The Isuzu D-MAX is well received in the international scene specially in Thailand and has been redesigned to keep in harmonious step with the modern-day Filipino’s ever-changing needs, and is more than capable of meeting the unpredictable daily demands of both work and lifestyle, while still achieving that remarkable balance between toughness and style. About 30 percent of the D-Max sales are expected to come from the 4x4 variant and the bigger share will have to come from the variant with the most value for money which is the 4x2 variant. Isuzu has carefully designed the all new D-Max to suit the requirement of the Filipino market, officials said.

Oyama said the company preferred not to set sales target in 2021 since -“nobody knows how big of an impact the safeguard duties will have on the market.” “We requested our customers to include the provisional safeguard duties of P123,400 in escrow. This will be refunded once we receive favorable result from the ongoing proceedings on the safeguard issue at the Tariff Commission,” he explained. He added that the safeguards issue is very challenging for the local automotive industry considering the state of the industry which is still reeling from the effects of the harsh lockdowns and the depressed demand in 2020. Of the total automotive firms in the Philippines, Isuzu ranked 5th in terms of sales and market share in January 2021.

Allianz PNB Life urges motorists:

Support bike safety, green mobility AS THE need for social distancing forces governments around the world to reduce public transportation services, many have turned to bikes instead. In the Philippines, the uptick of bike users is even more notable not just because it has one of the highest coronavirus caseloads in Asia, but also because it has some of the region’s tightest urban congestion. Despite the increased ubiquity of bikes due to the pandemic, Manila’s roads remain particularly hazardous for biking, in part because some drivers regard cyclists as obstacles. In fact, monitoring data from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority indicated that bicycle accidents increased to 2,606 last year, compared to 1,759 during the previous year. As part of its Ride Safe campaign, Allianz PNB Life is urging motorists to be more proactive participants in making the roads safer for bicycles. “Ride Safe is a campaign in support of cycling for sustainable cities. As a global sustainability leader, Allianz launched this campaign to encourage more Filipinos to rekindle an interest in cycling, which promotes lowcarbon emissions and safe, green transport,” said Allianz PNB Life President and CEO Alexander Grenz.

A road for all Drivers sometimes feel that roads are for vehicles only, and that bicycles have no right to be there. Allianz PNB Life urges motorists to change this mindset, especially now that bikes are a lot more common due to necessity. “We need to think of bike riders as equals who are just as entitled to the roadway as car drivers,” said Gino Riola, Chief Marketing Officer of Allianz PNB Life and a bike rider himself. “When we consider bikes as vehicles, we treat cyclists the same as motorists.” One reason for the lack of awareness regarding road safety for cyclists is the absence of any law governing cycling and cycling safety standards. But with government officials working towards making the roads safer for bike riders, cars will be sharing the road with other modes of transport more safely than before. According to Riola, a national law that promotes bike safety on the road is a very welcome change for the biking community, especially as more and more Filipinos now turn to bicycles for their daily commute. Globally, Allianz has always been a staunch advocate of the environment and has topped the Down Jones Sustainability

FASTLANE

Geely, dealers hold 1st conference WITH its growing dealership network, Sojitz G Auto Philippines last month held its 1st Dealer Conference since the Geely brand was launched in the Philippines in 2019. The conference, which was held virtually, aims to further bolster SGAP’s ties with its dealer

partners and strengthen the business amid still looming uncertainties in the industry. There, SGAP laid down its forecast for the year, plans, programs, and strategies, among others. Present in the virtual event were the officials from Geely Automobile International Corpora-

His appearance in the Haas line-up means a return to F1 for the famous family name.

Allianz PNB Life president and CEO Alex Grenz (left) and Chief Marketing Officer Gino Riola at the pit stop’s repair station. The pit stop also has a resting and parking area for bikers.

Index from 2017 to 2019, making it one of the world’s most sustainable insurers. With its Ride Safe campaign, Allianz PNB Life looks to encourage more Filipinos to cycle as a means towards more sustainable and livable cities. Last year, Allianz provided the City of San Juan new protected on-road cycling facilities, such as bollards and safety signs, as well the country’s first solar-powered bike pitstop. According to Allianz PNB Life, bike safety is an essential component of this mission. “The national bike law is a muchneeded step towards not just creating bike-friendly roads and communities, but

tion, Sojitz Corporation Tokyo, and SGAP and its dealers. For 2021, SGAP aims to continue the trend towards higher sales and stronger market presence. It has set its sales target to around 9,500 units for this year. According to SGAP Sales and Marketing General Manager Froilan Dytianquin, “this will provide around 3% market share given that the new vehicle demand is forecasted to be at 300,000. This forecasted volume and market share will generally make Geely further climb up in the industry ranking.” SGAP President & CEO Mikihisa Takayama expressed his confidence on the Geely brand this year, “2021 has presented its own challenges this year. Starting off with the imposition of additional safeguard tariff in most imported vehicles. This policy is seen to hurt majority of the automotive brands in the country, including us. But with our collaborative efforts, we will continue to deliver on our commitment to provide our customers better value for the ride they deserve.”

towards building more sustainable cities,” said Riola. “After all, a bike lane isn’t just a bike lane that keeps riders safe, it’s also allowing people to switch to another mode of transport—to one that promotes health and doesn’t consume fuel.” “Cars and bikes can co-exist. Other cities around the world have proven that,” said Riola. “What is needed is that motorists and bikers respect each other and the rules of the road are followed.” If the many newly opened bike stores are any indication, bikes are here to stay. And that is good for drivers, the environment, and the community.

MICK Schumacher is eager to ensure his family name remains a part of Formula One's present and future as well as its past when he makes his Grand Prix debut later this month. The 21-year-old son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher is set to be on the grid for American team Haas at the season-opening race in Bahrain -- an event won by Michael when the Gulf state staged its inaugural Grand Prix in 2004. It will be the first time a member of the family has been involved directly in a Formula One race since Michael retired in 2012 and 30 years after the German great's impressive debut for the Jordan team at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix. "I have never said that carrying the family name is pressure, and I am pretty sure I will never say that because I am very happy to carry that name back into Formula One," said Schumacher at Haas' 2021 launch on Thursday. "I am very proud of it. It is a boost for me and it gives me motivation every single day to work as much as I can and work as hard as I can." Schumacher senior went on to win 91 races for Benetton and Ferrari, with five of his world titles coming in the famous red colours of the Italian marque. It was only last year that Britain's Lewis Hamilton surpassed his total of race wins, with the Mercedes driver bidding to capture an unprecedented eighth world title this season. The 52-year-old Michael Schumacher has not been seen in public for more than seven years after a skiing accident, witnessed by Mick, in the French Alps left him with severe brain injuries. Schumacher, last season's Formula Two champion, added: "I will try to improve in every aspect -- that is what I want to do -- and I will work my arse off for that and give everything I have." Schumacher and fellow rookie Nikita Mazepin are set to be Haas' two drivers this season. Mazepin is the 22-year-old son of billionaire Dmitry Mazepin, a non-executive director of Russian company Uralkali, who are the main title partner of the Haas team. Uralkali, one of the world's largest potash fertiliser producers and exporters, have signed a multi-year agreement starting with Haas, with the team's race car set to be decked out in the colours of the Russian flag even though they are an American outfit. The VF-21 race car will make its physical debut on March 12, the first day of pre-season testing hosted at the Bahrain International Circuit. AFP

Legado launches new MPV LEGADO Motors, Inc., the official distributor of GAC Motor in the Philippines, has launched its new multi-purpose vehicle – the GAC GN6. Initially released in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this 7-seater MPV is the newest model on the GAC Motor Philippines product line-up in the Philippines. GN6 boasts a sharp and elegant exterior, contributed by the all-new flying dynamics front- end design, which also highlights the GAC Motor emblem. The design is accentuated by the wing- shaped daytime running lamps that are not only functioning as the vehicle’s safety feature, but also give the GN6 a more appealing look. This new MPV comes in three colors: Pearl White, Elegant Black, and Peacock Blue. At the back, a pair of LED tail-

lights is complemented by an LED braking light strip, which is similar to the GN8 minivan. To give the GN6 a better stance and ride, it is equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels. With dimensions of 4,780mm long, 1,860mm wide, and 1730mm tall, the GN6 provides a comfortable and spacious ride for seven adult passengers. Its 190mm ultrawide second-row corridor lets the passengers enter and exit the vehicle with ease, allowing easier access to third-row seats. For a more comfortable ride, the second-row has captain seats, in which the armrests can be lifted or lowered. This also makes it more convenient to place the child booster seat. The seats can be adjusted frontwards or backwards so that the passengers may maximize the leg space of the GN6.

To complete the cozy and relaxed driving and riding experience, the GN6 also features a 360-degree Quiet Car technology that cancels the ambient noise in your environment. The GN6 also has a 324-liter trunk space, that can be expanded to 1,100 liters by folding down the third-row seats — a space that is enough to fit in fourteen 20-inch luggage. Apart from a spacious and comfortable cabin, the GN6 also comes with a 7-inch instrument and 8- inch LCD infotainment display that are housed in a single panel for a clean and elegant look. It is also equipped with Bluetooth connectivity and a 6-speaker system, so you can listen to your favorite playlist while on the road. Plus, its center console is equipped with cockpit controls for ease of access and undistracted driving. Engine