Manila Standard - 2021 August 24 - Tuesday by Manila Standard

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PH posts record 18,332 cases as Delta spreads

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16-PAGE SPECIAL REPORT SECTIONS C, D, E & F

Reopening: PH Economy on the Mend Reopening: PH Economy On The Mend Special Report

overnment economic managers remain hopeful about full economic recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, after the gross domestic product grew 11.8 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, the fastest in more than three decades.

The second-quarter expansion ended five quarters of technical recession since the first quarter of 2020 at the onset of the global health crisis. Economic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua expressed confidence the growth momentum could be regained especially with the faster pace of vaccination rollout that would bolster consumer and business confidence in the months ahead. Chua said prospects for a strong economic recovery in 2021 remained promising. “Although there are speed bumps, given the current enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and other parts of the country, we are now better equipped to sustain continuous positive growth,” Chua told reporters during the online second-quarter GDP briefing. Chua was referring to the twoweek enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and adjacent provinces imposed by the government from Aug. 6 to 20 to curb the further spread of the more transmissible Delta variant of the virus. The National Economic and Development Authority earlier said that every week of ECQ in the National Capital Region and adjacent provinces would cost the economy around P150 billion. The quarantine status was downgraded to MECQ after Aug. 20. Latest reports show that the hospital occupancy rates in Metro Manila and adjacent provinces are rising. The Department of Health is not downplaying the possibility of a longer period of lockdowns to provide hospitals breathing space from the influx of infected patients. The International Monetary Fund said the latest quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila and other provinces would be “downside risks” to economic growth. IMF resident representative to the Philippines Yongzheng Yang said in an online briefing the IMF team was closely monitoring the developments. The OCTA Research Group said that as of Aug. 15, 2021, the country’s coronavirus reproduction number, which refers to the number of people that each COVID-19 case can infect, rose to 1.46. To put the situation under control, the reproduction rate should be below 1.0. The country’s average daily attack rate, the number of new daily cases per 100,000 population, reached 10.23 which was considered “high.” The ICU utilization rate of 70 percent as of Aug. 13 was also in the “high” category. Meanwhile, about 12,282,006 or 17.19 percent of the country’s eligible target population were fully vaccinated as of Aug. 12, according to the National Task Force Against COVID-19. The government aims to inoculate around 70 percent of the country’s population by yearend. In a statement, the task force said 26,677,269 doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered in the country including over 14 million firstshot doses. REVISED FORECAST The interagency Development Budget Coordination Committee recently revised the 2021 GDP growth forecast by two percentage points, from the previous range of 6 percent

Reopening: PH Economy On The Mend

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Reopening: PH Economy On The Mend

Gov’t officials remain hopeful on economic recovery this year

Conglomerates roll out infra

By Darwin G. Amojelar

“We were approached by ernment asking us whether the govRAMON S. ANG we can accelerate our projects so RODRIGO FRANCO that we can create employment and put money in the circulation so that it helps late the economy,” Rodrigo stimu- provinces,” Ang added. “We will continue work Ang committed to President president and chief executive Franco, to further is a 19.4-kilometer, six-lane elevated ro Pacific Tollways Corp., of Met- drigo Duterte that San Miguel’sRo- decongest Metro Manila by link- expressway a unit of forts ef- ing east and west of along the banks of the PaMPCI, said. to help the country and the the through the Pasig River metropolis, sig River that will complete the northeconomy, “We took up that challenge so that way Stagewill not stop with the Sky- (Parex) project,”Ang Expressway south, east-west link, connecting R-10 we accelerate the said. 3 project. in Manila, EDSA and The Pasig River Expressway construction of our project gesting Rizal, Cainta C5, and deconand Marikina. It toll road projects from Mindanao Avenue going to the Port Area, we consider this stimu-

to 7 percent to a band of 4 percent to 5 percent. It said the revision was “in light of the re-imposition of stricter mobility restrictions in various areas of the country to effectively address the heightened risks brought about by the COVID-19 Delta variant.” The DBCC said its careful balancing of COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 risks in the first half allowed the country to improve GDP growth to 11.8 percent in the second quarter, a sharp reversal of the 3.9-percent contraction in the first quarter and 17-percent decline a year ago. “Without the present spike, the original growth target of 6.0 to 7.0 percent would have been achievable. However, with the global emergence of the Delta variant, the secondhalf growth outlook was revised downwards to reflect the additional restrictions imposed by the government, which are necessary to curb its spread,” the economic team said. It said the strategy is to continue managing the risks carefully by im-

posing granular quarantines, while allowing a vast number of people to earn a living. “We will continue to use this period to accelerate the roll-out of the vaccination program,” said the committee, which includes the Department of Finance, the Department of Budget and Management and the National Economic and Development Authority. “The Duterte administration remains steadfast in its commitment to save lives, protect communities, and preserve the livelihood of Filipinos amid this pandemic. With everyone’s cooperation, we will recover strongly and regain the pre-pandemic growth momentum towards a better life for every Filipino,” Chua said. National Statistician Dennis Mapa said the main contributors to the second-quarter growth were manufacturing, which rebounded 22.3 percent; construction, 25.7 percent; and wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, 5.4 percent.

Among the major economic sectors, industry and services posted growths of 20.8 percent and 9.6 percent, respectively. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing posted a contraction of -0.1 percent in the second quarter of 2021. On the demand side, household final consumption expenditure improved by 7.2 percent, along with the following items: gross capital formation, 75.5 percent; exports, 27.0 percent; and imports, 37.8 percent. The government final consumption expenditure dropped 4.9 percent in the second quarter of 2021 on high base effect. Public spending peaked in the second quarter of 2020 when the government disbursed record cash subsidies to families affected by the ECQ. ECONOMIC LOSSES As almost all sectors of the economy bounced back in the second quarter despite the imposition of the ECQ and the MECQ in April and May 2021, Chua said this was a

lus projects. We do that because it has benefits in terms of mobility but at the same time during the construction we may employ a significant number of people,” he added. San Miguel is treading a similar track. It is addressing the country’s congestion problems today, as the COVID-19 global pandemic continues to significantly impact the economy. San Miguel president Ramon Ang says “now is really the time to doubleup our efforts and continue all our major investments to help alleviate the country’s congestion problems, to keep people working, and, in completing these infrastructure projects, prepare our country for economic recovery and further growth.” San Miguel recently opened to the public the Skyway Stage 3, which brings to reality the long-held dream of seamlessly clear indication that managingconrisks, necting southern instead of shutting down large segand northern Luments of the economy, stands a far zon. better chance of improving both ecoIt is also a solution nomic and health to outcomes. traffic in Metro Economic managers said unlike Manila, which has last year’s ECQ onlywhere grownaround through 75 percent of the the economy were shut decades. With Skyway down, the country had 3,much more motorists are latitude this year. Most now industries able to bypass EDSA and services continued to operate, and other busy public transportation also streets remained enjoy were travel exavailable andand workers time from Buenempted from the curfew. These are dia to Balintawak supported by in mobility data, which just 20 minutes, shows that visits public transport and to Alabang to imstations and workplaces Balintawakstrongly in only proved compared to last year. 30 minutes. “The increase“This in economic activity is a gamechanger has led to more Filipinos for regaining our economy, their jobs and income.especialThe recent ly now results that wefor labor force survey are June dealing 2021 showedstill that the economy with genthe pandemic. By jobs erated an additional 2.5 million seam-level, compared to providing the pre-pandemic less access between and the quality of employment has north and south, improved given the much lower unwe also unlock the deremployment they said. true rate,” potential of our

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Reopening: PH Economy On The Mend

MERCHANDISE EXPORTS GREW 21% IN FIRST HALF

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Manufacturing and trade bounce back DOTR prepares airports, railways, projects B roads and ports to improve mobility

Special Report

By Julito G. Rada

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By Othel V. Campos

will provide faster, alternative access to the business districts Makati, Ortigas, and BGC. He said the project can be completed by 2023. NLEX Corp., a unit of MPTC, meanwhile, has carried on with construction and enhancement projects despite the restrictions brought by the community quarantine. The lockdowns have significantly reduced road traffic volume, ing the company’s bottom affectline. NLEX has nevertheless continuedBut to improve its services to boost safety and convenience for motorists, as well as build quality infrastructure projects to help revitalize business activities. Among the projects the tollway firm is currently building are 8-kilometer NLEX Connector, the the upgrade of the 5-kilometer aba Viaduct, and the safety Candrepairs along strategic bridges. NLEX president and general manager J. Luigi Bautista says the Next page

OTH manufacturing and trade showed a strong rebound in the first half, before Metro Manila went back to the most stringent form of lockdown in August amid concerns over the spread of the more contagious Delta variant of COVID-19.

While veteran economists would say that the economy was three years removed from the pre-pandemic level, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the robust 11.8-percent expansion of the economy in the second quarter is a telltale sign that the nation is moving towards the pre-pandemic levels, albeit in a slow and painful process. “This growth was unexpected but we welcome it, definitely. Prospects for 2021? We’re kind of seeing a robust second quarter, and third and fourth quarter, as well. We see continuing positive GDP [gross domestic product] growth. The 11.8-percent [growth] is of course is higher rate than expectation. It will give us the momentum to start the recovery process,” Lopez said.

By Darwin G. Amojelar

delayed rail projects. These include the Metro businesses Manila Subway, the country’s and individuals to produce first under- and services goods ground railway system that more efficiently,” he added. was first conceived Villar in 1973 but with actual construction starting Build said the government’s Build, Build, only in 2019. Program will still require millions of local manpower nationwide In addition, Tugade said despite the panthe LRT-1 Cavite demic. Extension, which was delayed for 19 years, “Jobs will allow communities as well as the Manila to Clark Railway, which to recover from was planned in 1993, are undergoing full-blast said. the economic impact of COVID-19,” he construction. This Other railway projects that the agency is around year alone, the DPWH estimates workings are the MRT-7, 1.6 million jobs will be generated North-South Com- its metal components and copper concenfrom 2021 budget of P695.7 billion. muter Railway Project and The rates Subic-Clark Railgovernment, thus, is pushing trates posted double-digit growth The agency said employment way Project. for the opportunities over the first half of 2020. completion of big-ticket transport infrastrucfor engineers, carpenters, Tugade says the DOTr aviation steel man, welder, ture sector, mean- scaffolder, while, has completed 121 FULL CAPACITY Buildprojects under the government’s “Build electrician, painters and airport projects from will Build” program to improve laborers 2016 to the present,. be generated from these Another significant development mobility proejcts. and connectivity that could More infra projects Economy gradually recuperating help the economy is the improving state of local manubounce back from the global pandemic. Villar says “Now that we are gradually facturing. Based on the latest “The IHS recuperating infrastructure the DPWH accomplished public transportation sector has ... [we are] intensifying been one projects amounting to P2.5 Markit Purchasing Managers’ even more our infra- lion of theIndex, primary victims of COVID-19. trilstructure development to from Thus, stimulate the econo- billion 2016 to 2020 compared with P820.4 various the index for June 2021 rose to 50.8, initiatives have been my,” says Public Works from 2011 to 2015, an Secretary Mark Villar. surmount present challenges implemented TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY as operating conditions toimproved, percent or P1.7 trillion worth increase of 209 The way to post-pandemic ARTHUR TUGADE and help the country’s of projects. economy recover,” Transportation Tugade with the gradual easing of quaranWith ery, he says, is to push for economic recovsaid the “Build, Build, Build” the implementation DPWH the more infrastructure investment, the Arthur Tugade said. tine and allowing higherSecretary operating program and completion generated as much as 6.6 continues to create more of high-impact projects The DOTr wants to revolutionize jobs and stimulate the pipeline. million jobs in the nationwide from capacities in several sectors. mobility economy. 2016 to 2020. to keep up with the changing Villar said by the time According to the report, the uptick Just like The government under President the country’s transport systemtimes and shape the BBB program economy most of the world’s, the Philippine steps out into one that is allotted P8 trillion to of office in 2022, the public Duterte was marginal as the country continresilient P9 trillion, raising the communitybadly suffered from the prolonged pect and adaptable to the future. may exthe completion of spending for infrastructure ued to face modified and “And enhanced quarantines but the government from so, we have embraced is projects, which include the agency’s ongoing digitalization of the gross domestic product just 2 percent poised for immediate recovery. community quarantine measures fol-to harness 15,134 and continue during the preroad construction, rehabilitationkilometers of best practices in tech- vious four administrations “We are tapping infrastructure Nextinpage nology and widendevelopment to an average of 5 to reinvigorate all of our four sectors, namely, the percent of the GDP. economic productivity, encour- ing; 1,859 bridge rehabilitation, retrofitting, aviation and airports, railways, replacement and widening; age mobility and provide “We would not stop building 4,155 flood-contime sectors to deliver swift road, and mariemployment oppor- trol and rehabilitat- tunities,” projects; 17,647 more Villar said. and limit human interventionagency processes ing airports, seaports and other infrastructure school workshop buildings classrooms, 186 “As restrictions continue for the safety of projects that will improve and 99 evacuation the people,” he adds. to ease, the lives of Filipi- confident nos,” says Tugade. that the Build, Build, Build we are centers. Despite health and community Program The agency also completed will be able to deliver short The DOTr is also working restrictions, and long-term im- Pantaleon the Estrella on some long- pact from Bridge, a modern bridge generating jobs to enabling that will private

HE economy can only expand through an efficient and modern transportation system that reduces travel time and leads to the faster delivery of goods and services. A modern transportation He said the remarkable growth pared to the same months in 2020. “We are positive that we will con- the general uptick in global system industrialis essential and will provide all theand trappings of a progressive was a result of the government’s The growth was attributed to the tinue to see an upward movement in activity. Exports of machinery economy. continuing efforts to safely balance reopening of the global markets like our export performance, as we allow equipment, cathodes of refined copper, lives and livelihood through calculated and calibrated measures to manage the risks that come with reopening the economy. “The robust performance was sustained as we focused the restrictions on the less essential activities, while allowing the rest of the economy, especially the essential and laborintensive sectors such as the exports and BPO sectors to operate, so as to save jobs and income,” Lopez said. SNIPPETS OF RECOVERY Philippine exports surged 17.6 percent in June, bringing in about $6.51 billion in revenues. From January to June, export receipts were 20.9 percent higher at $35.9 billion, com-

the US, China and the EU and the continuing policy to keep export operations at full capacity despite the lockdowns. Lopez said consumer spending is also on the rise because of increased mobility and a gradual return to the pre-pandemic level of economic activity. “We are seeing an increasing shift of economic growth in Asia, and the Philippines is ready to participate in that growth. With the reopening of more economic activities and more aggressive vaccination rollout in the country, our balanced and calibrated approach manifested a continued strong export performance,” he said.

100-percent operating capacity of our exports sector even during the enhanced community quarantine. In our efforts not to disrupt export activities, we expect to maintain the acceleration of our growth rate and continue to provide jobs for our people. There is still room for more growth for Philippine exports,” he said. Electronics remained the country’s top exports, growing 21 percent in the first half over the same period last year and accounting for more than 60 percent of the total merchandise exports.] Most exports considered as industry inputs are on the rise, reflecting

By Willie Casas

HE Philippines logged a record-high 18,332 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, bringing the total number of infections to 1,857,646.

There were 151 new fatalities on Monday, bringing the COVID-19 death toll to 31,961. The Department of Health (DOH) said 13,794 patients recently recovered, bringing total recoveries to 1,695,335. There were 130,350 active cases, which is the highest since April 1, when

there were 138,948 active cases. Of the active cases, 94.8 percent were mild, 2.5 percent were asymptomatic, 0.6 percent were critical, 1.2 percent were severe, and 0.92 percent were moderate. The country’s positivity rate was at Next page

VOL. XXXV • NO. 190 • 6 SECTIONS 24 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

6-week MECQ could slow down upsurge in MM By Willie Casas, Vito Barcelo and Jun David HEALTH officials said a six-week modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) coupled with an enhanced COVID-19 response could lead to a lower number of active cases in Metro Manila by the end of September. Using a modeling tool, the DOH laid out several scenarios and their projected active cases: * Two-week ECQ followed by fourweek MECQ combined with the current Next page

1,857,646 MONDAY RUSH. On the first working day after Metro Manila shifted to modified enhanced community quarantine from Aug. 23 to Aug. 31, commuters form a long line to the Edsa Bus Carousel from the train’s Roosevelt station in Quezon City. The less strict MECQ allows more businesses to reopen and quarantine passes are no longer required.

Palace to PhilHealth: Pay up, settle bills and charge the crooks By Vito Barcelo, Willie Casas and Maricel V. Cuz and Macon Ramos-Araneta MALACAÑANG on Monday called on the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

(PhilHealth) to immediately pay private hospitals and file cases against those involved in fraudulent claims. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque issued the call after the Philippine Medical Association (PMA), the Philippine

Hospital Association (PHA) and the Private Hospital Association of the Philippines (PHAP) threatened to disengage with PhilHealth for temporarily suspending the payment of claims. PhilHealth issued Circular No. 0013

on the temporary suspension of payment of claims, stating that the measure was meant to control fraud after the agency was investigated for its P153.7 billion in losses from 2013 to 2018. Next page

18,332

130,350

31,961

151

1,695,335 13,794 (As of 4 PM, AUGUST 23)

10-day countdown to release of frontliners’ benefits starts By Willie Casas and Vito Barcelo THE P311 million contingency fund of the Department of Health (DOH) will be used to provide a special risk allowance (SRA) to an additional 20,000 health workers as medical groups began yesterday their 10-day countdown for the

release of their benefits. The Philippine Nurses Association and the Filipino Nurses United held President Rodrigo Duterte to his word that the DOH and the Budget department should be able to release the incentives and allowances due to health workers within 10 days. Next page

PROTOCOLS IGNORED.

Many of them not minding health and safety protocols, people walk along Ylaya Street in Tondo, Manila on Monday, August 23, 2021, on the third day the National Capital Region downshifted to modified enhanced community quarantine. Protocol enforcers are surprisingly nowhere in sight. Danny Pata

Business sector hits out at vax segregation plan SPENDING PLAN. Budget and Managemen Undersecretary Janet Abuel (4th left) hands over the copy of the National Expenditure Program amounting P5.024 trillion to House Speaker Lord Alan Velasco (6th right) during the turnover ceremony at the Social Hall of the House of Representatives. With them are (from right )Deputy Speaker Kristine SingsonMeehan, Rep Jose Christopher Belmonte, Deputy Speaker Bernadette Herrera, Majority Leader and Leyte Rep Martin Romualdez, Rep. Eileen Ermita-Buhain, DBM Usec Kim Robert De Leon, DBM Spokesperson Rolando Toledo and Rep. Franz “Chikoy” Alvarez. Ver Noveno

By Othel V. Campos, Willie Casas, Christine Cortez, Vito Barcelo and Joel E. Zurbano BUSINESS owners and employers hit the government anew on segregation plans of mobile vaccinated from the mobile unvaccinated population in entry to malls and shops as well as in transportation. Next page

DBM submits P5-t spending plan for 2022 to Congress scrutiny By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Department of Budget and Management on Monday submitted to the House of Representa-

tives the proposed P5.024-trillion national budget for 2022. This developed as House leaders led Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez welcomed the inclusion of health in the proposed na-

tional government budget for next year. Romualdez said: “I fully support the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to mainstream health in every aspect of our budget priorities Next page

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PH... From A1 24.9 percent with 64,957 COVID-19 tests conducted, still far off the international benchmark of below 5 percent. Nationwide, 73 percent of the ICU beds, 61 percent of the isolation beds, 67 percent of the ward beds, and 54 percent of the ventilators, were in use. In Metro Manila, 72 percent of the ICU beds, 60 percent of the isolation beds, 71 percent of the ward beds, and 58 percent of the ventilators, were in use. As of Aug. 22, the Philippines has fully vaccinated more than 13 million people or about 18.5 percent of the target 70.85 million adult individuals. About 17.26 million others have received their first dose. Independent researchers tracking the pandemic said new cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) could peak at about 60,000 a day by the middle of September.

The OCTA Research Group said even with a slow decline, Metro Manila would not exceed 70,000 new cases in a day. Earlier, the independent monitoring group said the reproduction number in the NCR, which was placed under an enhanced community quarantine from Aug. 6 to 20, decreased to 1.67 from 1.90. OCTA said the current rate of decrease in reproduction number, which refers to the number of people that each COVID-19 case can infect, was slower this August compared to the previous surge in April possibly due to the highly infectious Delta variant of the coronavirus. The DOH on Monday also said there were already signs of community transmission of the highly contagious Delta variant in Metro Manila and Calabarzon. Citing the World Health Organization, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a briefing that community transmission means there is a clustering of cases and there are no longer links among infected individuals.

OCTA said that the increased mobility reported by the DOH during the recent ECQ might have contributed to the slower rate of decrease in reproduction number. “We will be on a downward trend around the first week of September. This may be delayed and we could see the downward trend around the second week of September. But if we follow these projections we are going to be seeing below 3,000 cases before the end of September,” OCTA’s Guido David said. The NCR is currently under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), where indoor and al fresco dining are prohibited and businesses are allowed to function but only at a limited capacity. The MECQ will be in effect until Aug. 31 unless the government extends it. Health officials on Monday said they detected 466 new Delta variant cases. Of the total, 442 were local cases and 14 were returning overseas Filipinos. Ten cases had yet to be verified.

Of the 442 local cases, 201 cases had indicated addresses in the National Capital Region, while 69 cases had indicated addresses in Central Luzon, seven in Cagayan Valley, 49 cases in Calabarzon, 14 cases in Mimaropa, four cases in Bicol Region, 52 cases in Western Visayas, 19 cases in Central Visayas, six cases in Northern Mindanao, 11 cases in Davao Region, seven cases in Soccsksargen, and three cases in the Ilocos Region. Based on the case line list, one is still active, eight cases have died, while 457 cases have been tagged as recovered. All other details were being validated by the regional and local health offices. The total known Delta variant cases are now 1,273. While the DOH said there were signs of community spread, the government still needs further evidence to show this is so. But the DOH, the national government and local government units are already responding as if there were community transmission.

Palace... From A1

6-week... From A1

The House Committee on Health, led by panel chair Quezon City Rep. Helen Tan, will hold a “dialogue” between the state health insurer and PHAP today (Tuesday) over the circular. “We want to hold a dialogue between PhilHealth and the hospitals. We do not want the bridge to collapse. We want to rebuild whatever trust and partnership that are left between the state health insurer and our healthcare institutions or providers,” Tan said. But Roque said under the Universal Health Care Law, it is the government that pays for medical goods and services for PhilHealth-covered treatments. The unpaid claims, he said, would derail the law. “PhilHealth should pay up because this is not about lack of funds,” Roque said. “We cannot implement the UHC law with just the public hospitals, especially with the ongoing pandemic,” he added. Roque, the primary author of the UHC Law in the 17th Congress, urged PhilHealth to pay private hospitals, reminding them of their duty as the sole purchaser of all medical goods and services. While Roque acknowledged there were fraudulent claims, these could be prosecuted and should not lead to the blacklisting of hospitals. “Pay what you have to pay. There has to be cooperation. PhilHealth needs to pay them faster,” Roque said. PhilHealth, meanwhile, denied that it owes P86 billion to a number of hospitals since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. PhilHealth said its unpaid claims only amounted to P12.9 billion, and are in varying stages of processing, said Shirley Domingo, PhilHealth vice president for corporate affairs. “There is no such thing as P86 billion in claims,” Domingo said in an interview on ANC’s Dateline Philippines. “They added the claims they were processing with the claims already denied,” Domingo said. Of the P12.9 billion claims being processed, about 15 percent are COVID-19 claims, Domingo said. “We are processing our regular claims, our good claims in 43 days. It’s the COVID claims that’s the issue,” she said. Domingo did not say what PhilHealth’s average turnaround time is for the processing of COVID-19 claims, but said that the state insurer would never reach a “zero-zero claims processing status” as it continues to process about 1 million claims a month. Domingo also defended an updated PhilHealth circular on the suspension of payments of claims, saying hospitals and claimants should not be wary of the policy. “The circular has been there since 2016. The provisions of these new circulars give them more protection... because it has a provision on due process,” Domingo said. “We will still pay for the claims pending with us,” she said. The circular simply addressed “the issue of fraud and sustainability of the fund,” she said. President Rodrigo Duterte earlier ordered the state insurer to settle its debt to hospitals as soon as possible as facilities continue to receive more patients as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on in the Philippines. Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Bernadette Herrera said PhilHealth may have overstepped its powers when it suspended the payment of claims of some hospitals and health care providers. “In the time of pandemic, PhilHealth cannot abuse its powers to the detriment of the country’s health care system, including our medical frontliners who have been fighting against the coronavirus since the start of the health crisis last year,” Herrera said. Herrera said PhilHealth must also

levels of vaccination, case isolation, and compliance to health protocols = 66,403 cases by Aug. 31 and 269,694 cases by Sept. 30 * Six-week MECQ combined with the current COVID-19 response = 71,255 cases by Aug. 31 and 330,079 cases by Sept. 30 * Six-week MECQ combined with an improved COVID-19 response = 83,921 cases by Aug. 31 and 152,776 cases by Sept. 30 * Four-week MECQ followed by a twoweek GCQ (general community quarantine) combined with an improved COVID-19 response = 83,921 cases by Aug. 31 and 158,489 cases by Sept. 30 The DOH said, however, that the projections were not cast in stone. “The latest projections suggest that the best-case scenario or the least number of active cases in the NCR is seen when there is an improvement in the vaccination, shortening the interval between symptom onset and isolation to at most six days, and compliance with the minimum public health standards (MPHS),” the DOH said. “We can further lower... the projected active cases in NCR if there is improved adherence to MPHS, better case detection to isolation time, and increased vaccination coverage,” it also said. Metro Manila was under ECQ, the strictest lockdown classification, from Aug. 6 to 20. It was downgraded to MECQ along with the province of Laguna on Aug. 21. Under ECQ, only essential trips and essential industries such as food and medicine are allowed to operate. Under MECQ, indoor and al fresco dine-in services are still prohibited.

Personal care services including beauty salons, beauty parlors, barbershops and nail spas are likewise not allowed. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Monday said the prolonged enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in certain areas does not work. Duque’s comment was made when he said that he had to leave the Go Negosyo forum earlier than the rest of the participants due to an emergency meeting, GMA News reported. “I have an emergency meeting with DOH (Department of Health) regional directors of Region 7 (Central Visayas) and Northern Mindanao because despite the prolonged ECQ, there seems to be no improvement,” Duque said “It is really troubling, to say the least,” Duque said. Iloilo City, Iloilo province, Cagayan de Oro City and Gingoog in Misamis Oriental were placed under ECQ from July 16 to Aug. 7. Dr. Alethea de Guzman of DOH followed up Duque’s pronouncement by disclosing that 42 percent of COVID-19 cases in the country are of the more infectious Delta variant. This is a significant increase from 6 percent in June. Some 12.8 million Filipinos are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 so far. However, this is way below the target of vaccinating 76.3 million by the end of the year to achieve herd immunity. Meanwhile, the Palace assured the public that residents affected by the two-week ECQ in Metro Manila who have yet to receive the cash aid can still get financial assistance despite the new MECQ status. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the distribution of cash aid to affected families under ECQ will continue even after the quarantine status was shifted to a less strict MECQ.

“There is no truth to reports that those who were not able to receive the cash aid will not anymore get the said assistance because the ECQ period had already lapsed,” Roque said. “As long as you haven’t received the cash aid despite the downgrade to MECQ, you will still get the assistance that was intended for the ECQ period,” he added. The target beneficiaries of the cash aid in NCR are the low-income individuals and families identified by the LGUs, who are physically residing, permanently or temporarily, or present in the city or municipality under ECQ, at the time of the ECQ declaration. President Duterte approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to place Metro Manila and Laguna under MECQ from Aug. 21 until Aug. 31. Each qualified resident in NCR may receive cash assistance worth P1,000 or a maximum of P4,000 per household. LGUs were given 15 days to complete the distribution of the financial assistance. However, they were allowed an extension in case they were not able to finish in time due to the challenges brought about by the pandemic. The city of Caloocan said it has completed the distribution of P1.34 billion in cash assistance from the national government. During the 12-day distribution, a total of 402,835 families received cash assistance in Caloocan, the first city in Metro Manila to complete the distribution of the total national government allocation for its residents. Mayor Oscar Malapitan said he was grateful for the funds provided by the national government as assistance to the families affected by the ECQ. The mayor also thanked all those who helped to make the distribution of aid to the beneficiaries fast and organized.

that’s not final yet. We still need to wait for the final list to be submitted by facilities and regional offices,” she said. Hospitals were given until Thursday this week to submit a list of additional health workers to be given the SRA. The list will then undergo validation by the DOH, said Vergeire. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will also be seeking the approval of the Office of the President to allow the DOH to use its contingency funds for the SRA. Vergeire said one of the bottlenecks blocking the release of health workers’ SRA was the need for a memorandum of agreement between the DOH and local governments or private hospitals. “That’s the only way that our regional office can transfer funds to them because they are not part of the DOH family,” she explained. “We are discussing how we can be able to streamline processes to avoid having so many layers and speed up the release of the benefits,” she said.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier gave the DOH and DBM 10 days to release allowances and benefits due to medical frontliners. Health worker groups have warned that they would stage a mass protest if their long-sought-after benefits are not released by the DOH. Meanwhile, Malacanang assured nurses and other health workers of their pay as the government was now working out the papers for the release of their benefits. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque reiterated the appeal to nurses and medical workers not to resign amid the country’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, assuring them that their payment was already being processed. Some 30,000 nurses work in the private sector while there are 13,000 contractual nurses nationwide, according to PNA. For its part, the Department of Labor and Employment said it would send to Malacañang a recommendation to increase the pay and benefits of healthcare workers in private hospitals, which would benefit about 200,000 workers.

own vehicles. Even vehicles that are not road-worthy are on the road due to lack of reliable transportation,” Ortiz-Luis said. For his part, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said he supports the proposal to reduce mobility restrictions for vaccinated individuals even as he acknowledged this could trigger a legal challenge. “I’ve always been supportive of that concept,” Duque said in a separate online Go Negosyo forum. “But the problem is when I consulted with the Justice Secretary, a member of the IATF as well, he is worried about the legal ramifications of this and we might be subject to legal challenge if not actual filing of cases against us if we do translate this into policy. There has to be a legal basis. Right now we don’t, so that is a big obstacle,” Duque said. Ortiz-Luis said what was important was to make it easier for the working population to reach their place of work. “Allow all the buses to come in. And even with this happening, available transportation will be enough to transport the commuting public because of social spacing,” he added.

In a separate forum, the EpiMetrics. Inc, an independent consultation and services firm, said Monday that despite claims of the government of declining COVID reproduction rate, the country needed to achieve not only herd immunity of 70 percent but the entire population needed to be vaccinated to keep the virus at bay.

10-day... From A1 The PNA said that its members would quit their jobs if the government is still unable to pay their benefits by September 1, 2021. “We expect that by this time, they have started reviewing the list of health workers who will receive benefits. We expect that all health workers will be included here, not just the regular employees,” FNU president Maristela Abenojar said. Aside from releasing the SRA, Abenojar said they expect the government to release other delayed benefits such as active hazard duty pay, allowances for meals, accommodation, and transportation, life insurance, and death and illness compensation. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, for her part, said the DOH had identified 20,156 health workers from the private and public sectors who would be added to the list of those who would receive the SRA. “This is worth P311 million for the SRA of those on the additional list but

Business... From A1 In the weekly forum Tapatan sa Aristocrat, Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) president Sergio Ortiz-Luis said it was illogical for the government to propose such a measure when the vaccinated population remained a minority. “What’s the point of opening the malls, retail stores and shops when there is no foot traffic. If unvaccinated people are not allowed to go to malls or restaurants, the more that business will turn for the worse. They will have a difficult time to achieve break-even (sales),” he said. The same goes for the planned separate lanes or queues for the vaccinated and the unvaccinated that will only render workers to rethink their predicament and “many may be forced not to go to work, at all.” “That [bubbles for vaccinated people] won’t work, because as what is happening there has been a dearth in mass transportation in Metro Manila. In EDSA alone, the traffic is so bad because many employees have resorted to bringing their

Vaccine hesitancy

The Vaccine Solidarity Movement (VSM), an organization of influential medical organizations and globally-recognized experts, has blamed anti-vaccine people as the source of vaccine hesitancy. In an online press briefing , the VSM medical coalition convened and agreed to pursue medical professionals who have been actively campaigning to dissuade their fellow Filipinos from getting COVID-19 vaccines. “We denounce all medical practitioners who deliberately cause panic, fear, and confusion among the public by making their anti-vaccination views known. You cannot call yourself a doctor or a medical expert if you’re an anti-vaxxer. There is no room in the medical field for people who question the validity and the scien-

Online dictionary developed LEXICON lovers, read this. A community-built online web dictionary platform has been developed through Project Marayum by computer scientists and linguists. The team is led by Mario Carreon, Assistant Professor of the Department of Computer Science at the University of the Philippines in Diliman – motivated, it said in a statement, by a mission to preserve and save endangered Filipino Languages. Funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and monitored by the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD), the project sought to produce an online language dictionary which can be modified by registered members of a specific community who mainly utilizes the language. During its initial development, the first dictionary uploaded was the AsiEnglish language dictionary. Revisions to the dictionary are allowed only to registered Asi language speakers with entries reviewed by a group of assigned language experts, it said in its statement. Project Marayum was built through a collaborative effort of different communities. As an online dictionary platform for Philippine languages, it aims to empower native language speakers to create and curate an online dictionary of their language without needing to have technical expertise in website design, implementation, and maintenance. On the other hand, DOST-PCIEERD Executive Director Dr. Enrico Paringit expressed support to the project which paved the way for further communication through innovative solutions. He underscored the project’s importance in celebration of Buwan ng Wika, which is August in the Philippines. “The national language is as symbolic as the country’s own freedom, giving it its unique identity as a sovereign nation. This Buwan ng Wika, we can also celebrate other local languages in the country through this project,” Paringit said.

DBM... From A1 as contained in the 2022 National Expenditure Program which was submitted to Congress today. Given this track, I share the optimism that the P5.024-trillion proposed budget for 2022 will pave the way to regain the health and strength of our people as well as the vigor of our economy.” In the Senate, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson resigned as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, and Chairman of the panel’s Subcommittee C,to focus on scrutinizing the P5.024-trillion budget for 2022. Lacson said he wanted to address the advent of red flags raised by the Commission on Audit in its audit reports of several agencies. He said the COA’s red flags indicate the “blatant inefficiency, unconscionable incompetence and worse, probable misuse and abuse of public funds in virtually the entire government.” “I trust that it is to the greatest interest of our people to once and for all, ferret out the truth behind these reports, put value to the oft-ignored COA mandate, and ensure that there will be no ‘sacred cows’ in making accountable those who have blundered the effective and proper use of public monies,” he said in his letter to Senate President Vicente Sotto III. tifically proven positive effects of vaccines,” the group said.

Abalos’ warning

With less than half of the target population in Metro Manila fully inoculated, Metro Manila Development Authority chief Benhur Abalos warned authorities would arrest persons who would get a booster shot. “I am prohibiting you, we will put you in jail, don’t do it because everything will be recorded,” said Abalos. About 43.5 percent or 4,262,546 individuals in the National Capital Region are now fully inoculated, from the eligible 9,800,000 residents.

Emergency use

The Philippine government has approved the emergency use authorization of Sputnik Light, the one-dose COVID-19 vaccine developed by Russia, officials said. Food and Drug Administration chief Eric Domingo, in a text message to ABSCBN News, said regulators approved the EUA of Sputnik Light vaccine last Friday.

News

TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Customs impounds four luxury yatchs By Joel E. Zurbano

Manila

WORKERS’ PLEA. Employees of Vivo Mobile Tech Incorporated hold placardsStandard denouncing their company and calling on the TODAY

Labor Department to intervene and issue a return to work order for 689 employees allegedly dismissed by the company. They staged a rally in front of the Department of Labor and Employment headquarters in Intramuros Manila on 23 August 2021. Norman Cruz

Ex-DBM exec summoned over face-mask purchases By Macon Ramos Araneta FORMER Budget and Management Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao was summoned by the Senate Blue Ribbon committee to attend its probe into the purchase of allegedly overpriced face masks and face shields. Senator Richard J. Gordon, chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, has signed a Subpoena Ad Testificandum, approved by Senate President Vicente Sotto III, requiring the attendance of Lao when the committee resumes its hearing on August 25. Lao, who resigned from the DBM last June, was head of the Procurement Service of the DBM at the time when bulk purchases of masks and face shields were procured by the government due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “He will be asked to explain the circumstances of such procurement. It is important that he appears because there are so many questions that need answers, “ Gordon said. Gordon said Lao was previously investigated over procurement of medical supplies and equipment. In a press briefing, Lao said he is willing to attend the hearing next week “to shed light on the matter”, adding that the most appropriate avenue is the Blue Ribbon Committee. “Mr. Lao is still in the Philippines, or at least, has not left the country, as certified by the Bureau of Immigration. This is a good sign that can only mean to indicate that he is not fleeing and can help us in our investigation in bringing light

to the seemingly murky processes of government procurement,” Gordon said. A subpoena ad testiﬁcandum compels the person so summoned to appear before it to answer questions regarding the matter being heard and discussed. Refusal or failure to appear can be subject to a contempt citation, which the Committee of the Senate has previously, and on occasion, imposed. In order to ensure that the subpoena is served, the Blue Ribbon sought the help of the PNP and NBI. In the ﬁrst hearing, Senator Imee Marcos has pressed for an explanation from the DOH on the “overpriced” face masks and face shields procured by the agency. Marcos cited Commission on Audit (COA) report that stated that the DDBM-PS had bought face masks at P27.22 each and face shields at P120 each. “It appears like the DBM-PS has specialized on this that’s why they required these very expensive items. Even if we say that the supply was tight at that point, these items were still overpriced,” said Marcos. Gordon said he was “astounded” by the reported prices of face shields and face masks. Gordon, also chairperson of the Philippine Red Cross, said they bought their masks at below P5 and face shields at P15 each. From the very beginning of their procurement, he related they bought face mask and face shield for PRC at very low price. He rejected the rationale given by DBM-PS of limited supply for the high prices.

The sailboats—Le Boss, Yuzhen 8, Yua Hal Ming Zhu, and Gu Cheng Gang Guan— are now in the custody of the Manila International Container Port - Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service. MICP-CIIS chief Alvin Enciso said the seizure, which was made in coordination with the the Philippine Coast Guard, is in line with the bureau’s commitment to intensify border security and anti-smuggling campaign. Enciso said the yachts were being rented commercially for transport and private events “without the necessary conversion of papers for local use, as well as the payment of proper duties and taxes.” “We got the WSD (Warrant of Seizure and Detention) last Friday, so we brought the yachts to Pier 13 immediately for safety and security,” he said. “Our mandate at the MICP is to protect all borders from smuggling operations. That also includes monitoring private piers for illegal activities such as these,” he added. The yachts should be Manila imported following Standard Philippine Customs laws and registered TODAY to Philippine authorities such as the Philippine Maritime Industry Authority

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC In accordance with the NTC guidelines, here’s the promo mechanics for the 25GB offline promo: 1) Promo period is from August 27 – September 30, 2021. The promo must be activated within the promo period. Promos activated after the promo period shall not take effect. 2) The promo is priced at Php 199.00 and is inclusive of the following: a. b. c. d. e. 3)

b. c. 4)

1) Promo period is from July 15 – September 30, 2021. The promo must be activated within the promo period. Promos activated after the promo period shall not take effect. 2) The promo is priced at Php 99.00 and is inclusive of the following: a. b. c. d. e.

Must have a valid and working DITO prepaid SIM card installed in one DITO compatible phone. The list of outlets selling the SIM card can be found in DITO’s website (https://www.dito.ph). Must have an existing DITO load of at least Php 199.00. The list of outlets selling the DITO load can be found in DITO’s website (https:// www.dito.ph). Installed and working DITO App in device.

b. c. 4)

How to download and install DITO App:

Must have a valid and working DITO prepaid SIM card installed in one DITO compatible phone. The list of outlets selling the SIM card can be found in DITO’s website (https://www.dito.ph). Must have an existing DITO load of at least Php 99.00. The list of outlets selling the DITO load can be found in DITO’s website (https://www.dito. ph). Installed and working DITO App in device.

How to download and install DITO App: Download and install the DITO App via the link included in the activation SMS. The activation SMS will be sent to the SUBSCRIBER after activation of the SIM card.

(note – use of the DITO App will not use or require any data allocation from the subscriber, free WiFi access shall be available in the DITO’s partner stores for application downloading and promo activation purposes, subscribers may also use the 1 GB data allocation included with the SIM card to download and activate the promo)

Create and Log-in on the DITO App – initial password will be given via SMS.

Create and Log-in on the DITO App – initial password will be given via SMS. 5)

How to avail the promo:

Promo shall only be offered in the following new areas:

How to avail the promo: a. Log-in on the DITO App. b. Go to the App Home Page then select the 10GB Data Promo. c. Subscriber must click on the confirmation button to proceed with the purchase of the offer. d. Subscriber will receive confirmation via APP and SMS.

a. Log-in on the DITO App. b. Go to the App Home Page then select the 25GB Data Promo. c. Subscriber must click on the confirmation button to proceed with the purchase of the offer. d. Subscriber will receive confirmation via APP and SMS. 6)

10GB Data for 30 days upon activation of the promo. Unlimited DITO-to-DITO calls for 30 days upon activation of the promo. Unlimited DITO-to-DITO SMS for 30 days upon activation of the promo. 300 minutes of calls to other mobile networks Unlimited texts to other mobile networks

3) Prerequisites:

Download and install the DITO App via the link included in the activation SMS. The activation SMS will be sent to the SUBSCRIBER after activation of the SIM card.

for water vessels. MICP District Collector Romeo Allan Rosales issued the WSD in accordance with Section 1113 of Republic Act 10863 also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA). The authorities came up with the operation following information about four yachts at Private Pier 18 of the Manila International Container Terminal. They found Filipino crew members, all claiming to be from Boracay island, onboard the yachts. They were Angelo Casimero, boat captain of Yua Hal Ming Zhu, and Jerryco Magno, boat captain of Le Boss. Other crew members are named Rio Mar Hormillosa, Albert Casimero, Christian Joy Blancaﬂor, and Banadicto Calinyao. “Upon inspection and inquiry into the master, the motor yachts were found to have no pertinent papers onboard,” Enciso said. Amid the coronavirus disease pandemic, the Customs bureau under the leadership of Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero is pursuing its mission of cleansing the country’s borders of smuggling and other illegal activities.

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC In accordance with the NTC guidelines, here’s the promo mechanics for the DITO 99 offline promo:

25GB Data for 30 days upon activation of the promo. Unlimited DITO-to-DITO calls for 30 days upon activation of the promo. Unlimited DITO-to-DITO SMS for 30 days upon activation of the promo. 300 minutes of calls to other mobile networks Unlimited texts to other mobile networks

Prerequisites: a.

Immigration eases alien’s entry or exit FOREIGNERS registered with the Bureau of Immigration will soon be able to enter or exit the country with more ease as a result of the upcoming integration of the bureau’s automated travel control system at the ports with its database of issued alien certification of registration identity cards (ACR I-Cards). Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said that the project will soon be pilot tested at the NAIA 3 terminal before its implementation in all the major international airports and seaports of the country. Morente said that under the new system, details of aliens’ ACR I-Cards will be integrated into the bureau’s border control information system (BCIS), which is the software used by immigration officers at the airports, in processing all arriving or departing international passengers. ACR I-Cards are issued to BI-registered foreigners who are holders of immigrant and non-immigrant visas issued by the bureau. “With this project, the time our officers at the airports consume in processing foreign passengers will be shortened and these passengers will be assured of a hassle-free experience when traveling in and out of the country,” Morente said. The BI chief said the bureau is eyeing the project’s full implementation at the NAIA and the other international airports this September. Lawyer Jose Carlitos Licas, BI alien registration division chief, said that when operational the project will enable immigration officers in the ports to immediately and electronically gain access to information about the ACR I-Card of a foreign passenger who is being processed for immigration clearance. “The immigration officer will be able to immediately ascertain the immigration status of the passengers and if the latter’s ACR ICard is still valid, and if he has a valid emigration clearance certificate (ECC) and re-entry permit (RP) or special return certificate (SRC),” Licas said. Vito Barcelo

OVERNMENT agents took possession of four luxury yachts valued at P120 million at the Manila North Harbor.

Promo shall only be offered in the following areas:

LUZON: NCR: Manila, Quezon City, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Pasay, Taguig, Pateros, Makati, Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Marikina, Las Pinas; Pangasinan: Basista, Binmaley, Dagupan, Manaoag, Mangatarem, San Manuel, San Carlos City, Lingayen (Capital); Bulacan: Pandi, San Jose del Monte, Malolos, Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Hagonoy, Bulacan, Plaridel, Baliuag, Guiguinto; Nueva Ecija: Llanera, Palayan City, Santa Rosa, Santo Domingo Science City of Munoz, Talavera, Cabanatuan, Gapan City, San Leonardo, San Jose, General Mamerto Natividad, Rizal, Zaragoza, General Tinio (Papaya), Licab; Pampanga: Angeles, Mabalacat, Mexico, Guagua, San Fernando, Magalang, San Simon; Tarlac: Capas, Tarlac City, Concepcion, Gerona, Moncada, La Paz, Ramos, San Manuel, Pura; Zambales: Olongapo, Subic; Bataan: Balanga, Dinalupihan; Batangas: Alitagtag, Bauan, Cuenca, San Jose, Ibaan, Batangas City, Malvar, Mataas na Kahoy, San Pascual, Santo Tomas, Lipa City, Talisay, Tanauan City, Taysan, Balete, Padre Garcia, San Juan, Balayan, Calaca, San Luis, Taal, Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Lian, Calatagan, Tuy; Cavite: Kawit, Bacoor, Imus, Tagaytay City, Silang, Dasmarinas, Carmona, Amadeo, Rosario, Mendez, Indang, Alfonso, General Trias, Trece Martirez, Tanza, Magallanes; Laguna: San Pedro, Sta Rosa, Binan, Cabuyao, Los Banos, Calamba City, Victoria, Calauan, Alaminos, San Pablo; Rizal: Antipolo, Cainta, Taytay

MINDANAO: Agusan del Sur: Rosario, San Francisco, Trento, Bayugan; Compostela Valley: Monkayo; Davao del Norte: Santo Tomas, Braulio E. Dujali, Panabo, Tagum, Carmen, Island City of Samal; Davao del Sur: Santa Cruz, Bansalan, Davao City, Digos, Hagonoy; Davao de Oro: Montevista, Compostela, Nabunturan, Maco; Cotabato: Kidapawan, Makilala; South Cotabato: General Santos City, Polomolok; Bukidnon: Malaybalay, City of Valencia, Quezon, Don Carlos, Manolo Fortich, Baungon, Libona, Impasug-ong, Maramag; Misamis Oriental: Balingasag, Cagayan de Oro, Claveria, Talisayan, Manticao, Sugbongcogon, Medina, Kinoguitan, Binuangan, Balingoan, Naawan, Villanueva, City of El Salvador, Jasaan, Opol, Tagoloan, City of Gingoog, Lugait

Plus New Areas: Batangas: Laurel Laguna: Majayjay, Luisiana, Rizal Cavite: Naic

Plus New Areas (as approved by DTI-FTEB): Batangas: Laurel Laguna: Majayjay, Luisiana, Rizal Cavite: Naic

Promo resubscription is allowed even if the current subscription is active. The remaining data and off-net minutes allocation from the previous subscription will be carried over to the latest subscription.

Once availed, the promo is non-refundable / non-replaceable / nonexchangeable. Promo is only valid for the subscriber’s DITO compatible mobile phone where the purchased DITO SIM and Promo are installed.

Promo cannot be used in conjunction with any unlimited promo offers, discount available and exclusive promo offers.

10) Promo cannot be converted to cash, credit, or other goods and services.

11) By availing of the promo, the subscriber confirms that he/she has read, understood, and agreed to the promo mechanics, its terms, and conditions. Subscriber also agrees not to use the SIM and/or promo for illicit or illegal means.

12) For any concerns and/or inquiries regarding the promo, information may be sent to customerservice@dito.ph. All matters and disputes will be subject to the final decision of DITO Telecommunity. All decisions made by DITO Telecommunity pertaining to the promo will be deemed final and irrevocable, with the prior concurrence of DTI.

Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-118950 Series of 2021

Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-123441 Series of 2021 Additional areas approved by DTI-FTEB (MS-AUGUST 24, 2021)

(MS-AUGUST 24, 2021)

TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2021

E-mail: mst.daydesk@gmail.com

News

OIL FIRMS CUT GASOLINE, KEROSENE PRICES

By Alena Flores

OIL firms cut pump prices by as much as P0.90 per liter effective 6 a2m.m. today (Tuesday) to reflect the movement of prices in the world oil market. The oil companies—Petron, PTT Philippines, Seaoil Philippines, Cleanfuel, PetroGazz, Flying V and Chevron Philippines—slashed the

price of kerosene by P0.90 per liter, gasoline by P0.80 per liter and diesel by P0.75 per liter. This is the third weekly consecutive oil price rollback amid as the Delta variant continues to affect global economies. Increase in COVID-19 cases in the US has dampened fuel demand and threatened recovery of the world’s biggest oil consumer.

Military chief, senator positive for COVID By Francisco Tuyay and Macon Ramos-Araneta

HREE high-profile individuals – Armed Forces chief of staff Lt. Gen. Jose Faustino, Senator Lito Lapid, and Budget officer-in-charge Usec. Tina Rose Canda – tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday. “I received confirmation that I have tested positive for COVID-19 with the result of my RT-PCR this afternoon,” said Faustino, who is currently in

self-isolation. “Fortunately, I am fully vaccinated and in high spirits to continue performing my job, albeit in quarantine,” the

military chief added. AFP spokesman Col. Ramon Zagala said those who were in close contact with Faustino also underwent RT-PCR testing and are awaiting the results. Faustino presided over two change of command rites at the Central Command and Visayas Command over the weekend. Canda, for her part, said she tested positive for COVID-19, but remained asymptomatic. Apparently, I’m asymptomatic and I hope it stays that way,”

Manila

In accordance Standard

with the NTC guidelines, here’s the promoTODAY mechanics for the 25GB Online promo: 1)

Promo period is from August 27 – September 30, 2021. The promo package must be purchased within this period. SIM and promo must be activated within 30 days from delivery. Promo will not activate beyond the 30-day delivery period.

The Php 199 promo + Php 40 SIM bundle is priced at Php 239.00 and is inclusive of the following: a. b. c. d. e. f.

b. 4)

SIM card 25GB Data for 30 days upon activation of the SIM card. Unlimited DITO-to-DITO calls for 30 days upon activation of the SIM Card. Unlimited DITO-to-DITO SMS for 30 days upon activation of the SIM Card 300 minutes of calls to other networks Unlimited texts to other networks

Only those with device compatible with the DITO SIM card and has passed the location validation may avail the promo. Device and location compatibility shall be assessed during the online ordering process. The list of available devices shall be available at DITO’s website (https://www.dito.ph/). Network locked phones, aside from DITO’s, and phones blocked by government agencies shall be considered as non-compatible devices. DITO shall have the sole discretion on whether a particular device is compatible with DITO SIM cards. In case of dispute on device compatibility, the list, and records of DITO shall prevail. Promo is only valid for the subscriber’s DITO compatible mobile phone where the purchased DITO SIM and Promo are installed.

How to buy the “25GB Data” package Via the DITO Website and DITO Facebook account:

Plus New Areas: Batangas: Laurel Laguna: Majayjay, Luisiana, Rizal Cavite: Naic

Via Shopee:

Rizal, Zaragoza, General Tinio (Papaya), Licab; Pampanga: Angeles, Mabalacat, Mexico, Guagua, San Fernando, Magalang, San Simon; Tarlac: Capas, Tarlac City, Concepcion, Gerona, Moncada, La Paz, Ramos, San Manuel, Pura; Zambales: Olongapo, Subic; Bataan: Balanga, Dinalupihan; Batangas: Alitagtag, Bauan, Cuenca, San Jose, Ibaan, Batangas City, Malvar, Mataas na Kahoy, San Pascual, Santo Tomas, Lipa City, Talisay, Tanauan City, Taysan, Balete, Padre Garcia, San Juan, Balayan, Calaca, San Luis, Taal, Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Lian, Calatagan, Tuy; Cavite: Kawit, Bacoor, Imus, Tagaytay City, Silang, Dasmarinas, Carmona, Amadeo, Rosario, Mendez, Indang, Alfonso, General Trias, Trece Martirez, Tanza, Magallanes; Laguna: San Pedro, Sta Rosa, Binan, Cabuyao, Los Banos, Calamba City, Victoria, Calauan, Alaminos, San Pablo; Rizal: Antipolo, Cainta, Taytay

Prerequisites: a.

Go to DITO’s Promo Page at (https://dito.ph/promo-page.html) or DITO’s Facebook page at (https://www.facebook.com/DITO. ph/). Scan the promo QR code or access the promo link to access the DITO Online Store. In the DITO Online Store, check if your handset is compatible and location covered by the promo. Read, understand, and accept the terms and condition of the SIM card, Welcome Offer Promo, and privacy policy. Purchase the “25GB Data” package. Customers can pay using credit/debit cards and various e-wallet as indicated in the online store. Customers will be asked to input their name, email address, contact number and delivery address where the DITO packaged will be delivered, delivery is valid within the promo areas only. The promo package shall be delivered to the customer via third-party courier and may be subject to a delivery fee. Delivery schedule may be subject to change by the third-party couriers depending on its terms and conditions or force majeure. If you are unable to receive your order or received a damaged SIM card, you may reach out send an email to customerservice@dito.ph or send your concerns via DITO’s Facebook messenger or using the DITO App.

a. b. c. d.

Plus New Areas: Batangas: Laurel Laguna: Majayjay, Luisiana, Rizal Cavite: Naic 6)

How to Activate the Promo a.

Via Lazada Mall: a. b. c. d. e.

Promo shall only be offered in the following new cities and municipalities in the following:

she told GMANEWS in an interview. “I’m in quarantine right now. I’m not even getting out of my room. I still function. I still do my work here inside my room in my house,” Canda said. Lapid, on the other hand, became the seventh senator to test positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Lapid is currently undergoing treatment at the Medical City Clark where his doctors consider his case as mild to moderate.

Insert the DITO SIM in the prescreened DITO compatible device or other DITO compatible devices. The 25GB high-speed data, onnet call, and on-net text promo shall be automatically enabled upon activation of the SIM Card. To activate the SIM card, subscribers may turn on their data, attempt a call or send an SMS. Subscribers will receive confirmation via SMS for the activation of the SIM card and the promo.

Once availed, the promo is non-refundable / non-replaceable / nonexchangeable. The promo must be availed and activated within 30 days from the date the DITO SIM was successfully delivered. The SIM card shall expire if not activated within “1” year from purchase.

The promo cannot be used in conjunction with any unlimited promo offers, discount available and other exclusive promo offers.

10)

The promo cannot be converted to cash, credit, or other goods and services of DITO.

11) By availing of the promo, the subscriber confirms that he/she has read, understood, and agrees to the promo mechanics, its terms and conditions, the terms and conditions of the SIM card. Subscriber also agrees not to use the SIM card and/or promo for illicit or illegal means. 12)

For any concerns and/or inquiries regarding the promo, information may be sent to customerservice@dito.ph. All matters and disputes will be subject to the final decision of DITO Telecommunity. All decisions made by DITO Telecommunity pertaining to the promo will be deemed final and irrevocable, with the prior concurrence of DTI.

Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-122325 Series of 2021 (MS-AUGUST 24, 2021)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER. Admiral John Aquilino,

commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, pays a courtesy call on Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Aug. 23, 2021. The two discussed matters of mutual concern, the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region, and the continued cooperation between the AFP and US Armed Forces.

UP alumni group urges Leni Robredo to run for president A GROUP of alumni from the University of the Philippines on Monday urged Vice President Leni Robredo to run for president. The Nagkaisang Tugon, an organization of UP students established in 1981, said it will support Robredo should she decide to gun for the presidency in the 2022 elections. The group expressed its firm belief that Robredo is the right person to lead the nation since she possesses the qualities of a good leader the Philippines needs. “We believe and declare Leni

Robredo is being called to lead the country,” it said. Meanwhile, Robredo launched her team’s “newest adventure” Monday night: a podcast that will feature relaxed, casual conversations with Filipinos on several topics close to her heart, such as doing what you love, work-life balance and being a woman. “At turns fierce and tender, firm and kind, Vice President Leni exhibits the honesty, lightness and depth of insight she’s become known for,” read the podcast bio which is available on Spotify.

IN BRIEF

First BARMM scholarship fair launched THE Bangsamoro Scholars Association (BSA) launched the first BARMM Scholarship Fair to provide assistance to applicants of different scholarship programs provided by the regional and national governments as well as other scholarship-granting institutions. The launching was done in collaboration with the Office of Minister Diamila Disimban-Ramos and in partnership with the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) and the Office of Minister Abdullah Hashim. With the theme: “Bridging Scholarship Opportunities and the Bangsamoro Youth,” the scholarship fair was simultaneously conducted at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex in Cotabato City and at the Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao in MSU-Main Campus, Marawi City. “In order to establish a more progressive BARMM, we need more professionals, we need more progressive minds, we need young people to help us in rebuilding our home,” Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim said in a video message. “With MP Diamila Disimban-Ramos and her team and the Bangsamoro Scholars Association leading this event, I am optimistic that everyone will get the proper orientation of what the Government of the Day offers in hopes of uplifting education in our region, a clear understanding of what we envision for our students, and an appreciation of education as, a tool of changing the norm,” he added. Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal, for his part, said the best investment the region can undertake is on the education of its youth. “We hope you will be agents of meaningful change in the region and proponents of Moral Governance,” Iqbal said. “Through education, we hope to produce proficient, resourceful, and dependable professionals who exemplify moral values and the willingness to protect the general welfare of the people. Thank you again for your trust and support. Let us continue working together towards providing quality, inclusive, and relevant education to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao so that no Bangsamoro learner will be left behind,” he added. Hashim, who co-sponsored the event, stressed the importance of scholarships. “Scholarships are meant to create equal opportunity for higher education. With the help of scholarships, we can ensure that the Bangsamoro youth, regardless of their socio-economic background, ethnicity, or religion, has access to good quality education. Through my experience as a beneficiary of a scholarship myself, I understand its significance and the impact it can have in the lives of those who may otherwise have no means to pursue a college diploma,” Hashim said. Ramos, for her part, praised the BSA for the display of volunteerism by its members. “[By helping others,] we get to develop our empathy and concern for the community. We get to develop our communication skills, our social skills, and our leadership skills. We get to develop ourselves as responsible members of our society. And we create a positive impact, and in return people will readily support us and give us the respect and recognition we deserve,” she said.

Private schools’ tax bill passed on 3rd reading THE House of Representatives on Monday approved on third reading a bill that would define the tax rates for proprietary schools to allow them to avail of the 10-percent preferential rate on taxable income as well as the one percent special tax rate until 2023. The chamber passed House Bill 9913, which seeks to clarify that the preferential tax rate of 10 percent imposed on proprietary educational institutions will be reduced to 1 percent from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2023, after which the tax rate shall be set to 10 percent under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act (CREATE). Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, chairperson of the House Ways and Means Committee and principal author and sponsor of the bill, said this will constitute a 96 percent tax discount to private schools from 2020 to 2023, and a 60 percent tax discount thereafter. “That is the largest ever tax cut to any sector ever in the country’s history, and I am proud that we will do it for the sector the Constitution values the most – the education sector,” Salceda said. The bill is meant to intervene in the implementation of the recent regulation of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), increasing the tax rate of private educational institutions to 25 percent from 10 percent. The BIR has already suspended the rule. Revenue Regulation 5-2021 would have increased the income tax of private schools from 10 percent to 25 percent by defining proprietary educational institutions as private and non-profit entities. “Although the rule was suspended, their responsibility under the law has not yet been expunged. So, we still have to address that complication. Besides, they are unable to avail of the 1% rate,” Salceda added. Maricel V. Cruz

World

TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2021 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

China reports zero local virus cases

HINA reported no new domestic coronavirus cases Monday, and Beijing appears poised to bring to heel the pandemic’s most serious resurgence in months —driven by the highly contagious Delta variant — with mass testing and targeted lockdowns.

The latest outbreak, which began in mid-July when cleaners at a Nanjing airport tested positive, is the most severe since Covid-19 first surfaced in the central city of Wuhan. Over a thousand people have been in-

fected across dozens of cities. But Communist authorities reacted with swift localized lockdowns, travel restrictions and mass testing of neighborhoods with infections as part of their “zero case” approach to the pandemic, which has virtually sealed off China’s borders but allowed the economy to rebound. New domestic infections have been falling for over two weeks. On Monday, National Health Commission data showed local infections returned to zero after a five-week battle. New Zealand to stay in lockdown New Zealand extended a national COVID-19 lockdown Monday, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern saying a Delta variant outbreak has yet to peak. Ardern said the rapid spread of the highly transmissible variant meant it was too early to lift restrictions imposed last

Manila

In accordance Standard

with the NTC guidelines, here’s the promoTODAY mechanics for the DITO 99 online promo: 1)

Promo period is from August 10 – September 30, 2021. The promo must be activated within the promo period. Promos activated after the promo period shall not take effect.

The Php 99 promo + Php 40 SIM bundle is priced at Php 139.00 and is inclusive of the following: a. b. c. d. e. f.

b. 4)

VISAYAS: Cebu: Toledo City, Balamban, Barili, Carcar, Cebu City, Compostela, Consolacion, Cordova, Danao, Liloan, Mandaue, Minglanilla, Naga, San Fernando, Lapu Lapu, Dumanjug, Talisay, Moalboal, Bogo City, San Remigio, Sogod, Alcantara, Santander, Ginatilan, Daanbantayan; Negros Occidental: Bacolod City, Kabankalan, Pulupandan, Silay City, Valladolid, Binalbagan; Iloilo: Iloilo City, Oton MINDANAO: Agusan del Sur: Rosario, San Francisco, Trento, Bayugan; Compostela Valley: Monkayo; Davao del Norte: Santo Tomas, Braulio E. Dujali, Panabo, Tagum, Carmen, Island City of Samal; Davao del Sur: Santa Cruz, Bansalan, Davao City, Digos, Hagonoy; Davao de Oro: Montevista, Compostela, Nabunturan, Maco; Cotabato: Kidapawan, Makilala; South Cotabato: General Santos City, Polomolok; Bukidnon: Malaybalay, City of Valencia, Quezon, Don Carlos, Manolo Fortich, Baungon, Libona, Impasugong, Maramag; Misamis Oriental: Balingasag, Cagayan de Oro, Claveria, Talisayan, Manticao, Sugbongcogon, Medina, Kinoguitan, Binuangan, Balingoan, Naawan, Villanueva, City of El Salvador, Jasaan, Opol, Tagoloan, City of Gingoog, Lugait

How to buy the “10GB Data” package Via the DITO Website, DITO App and DITO Facebook account:

Plus New Areas (as approved by DTI-FTEB): Batangas: Laurel Laguna: Majayjay, Luisiana, Rizal Cavite: Naic

Via Shopee:

SIM card with 1GB data valid for 7 days 10GB Data for 30 days upon activation of the SIM card. Unlimited DITO-to-DITO calls for 30 days upon activation of the SIM Card. Unlimited DITO-to-DITO SMS for 30 days upon activation of the SIM Card 300 minutes of calls to other networks Unlimited texts to other networks

Go to DITO’s Promo Page at (https://dito.ph/promo-page.html) or DITO’s Facebook page at (https://www.facebook.com/DITO.ph/) or Go to “Purchase your DITO SIM” in the DITO App login page. Scan the promo QR code or access the promo link to access the DITO Online Store. In the DITO Online Store or DITO App, check if your handset is compatible and location covered by the promo. Read, understand, and accept the terms and condition of the SIM card, Welcome Offer Promo, and privacy policy. Purchase the “10GB Data” package. Customers can pay using credit/debit cards and various e-wallet as indicated in the online store. Customers will be asked to input their name, email address, contact number and delivery address where the DITO packaged will be delivered, delivery is valid within the promo areas only. The promo package shall be delivered to the customer via third-party courier and may be subject to a delivery fee. Delivery schedule may be subject to change by the third-party couriers depending on its terms and conditions or force majeure. If you are unable to receive your order or received a damaged SIM card, you may reach out send an email to customerservice@dito.ph or send your concerns via DITO’s Facebook messenger or using the DITO App.

a. b. c. d.

Plus New Areas (as approved by DTI-DTEB): Batangas: Laurel Laguna: Majayjay, Luisiana, Rizal Cavite: Naic 6)

MINDANAO: Agusan del Sur: Rosario, San Francisco, Trento, Bayugan; Compostela Valley: Monkayo; Davao del Norte: Santo Tomas, Braulio E. Dujali, Panabo, Tagum, Carmen, Island City of Samal; Davao del Sur: Santa Cruz, Bansalan, Davao City, Digos, Hagonoy; Davao de Oro: Montevista, Compostela, Nabunturan, Maco; Cotabato: Kidapawan, Makilala; South Cotabato: General Santos City, Polomolok; Bukidnon: Malaybalay, City of Valencia, Quezon, Don Carlos, Manolo Fortich, Baungon, Libona, Impasugong, Maramag; Misamis Oriental: Balingasag, Cagayan de Oro, Claveria, Talisayan, Manticao, Sugbongcogon, Medina, Kinoguitan, Binuangan, Balingoan, Naawan, Villanueva, City of El Salvador, Jasaan, Opol, Tagoloan, City of Gingoog, Lugait Plus New Areas (as approved by DTI-FTEB): Batangas: Laurel Laguna: Majayjay, Luisiana, Rizal Cavite: Naic 7)

b. c. d. e.

Open Lazada and search for DITO in the Lazada Mall (DITO Telecommunity) account or DITO SIM. Click on DITO SIM product in DITO’s shop in Lazada Mall. Go thru handset validation using the link displayed in the Product Description Section. Select the SIM type compatible exactly to your handset and click Buy Now. The promo package shall be delivered to the customer via Lazada partner courier and may be subject to a delivery fee. Delivery is subject to the terms and conditions of Lazada and their partner couriers. If you are unable to receive your order or received a damaged SIM card, you may reach out send an email to customerservice@dito.ph or send your concerns via DITO’s Facebook messenger or using the DITO App. You may also reach out to Lazada or its partner couriers pursuant to their terms and conditions. Promo shall only be offered in the following cities and municipalities in: LUZON: NCR: Manila, Quezon City, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Pasay, Taguig, Pateros, Makati, Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Marikina, Las Pinas; Pangasinan: Basista, Binmaley, Dagupan, Manaoag, Mangatarem, San Manuel, San Carlos City, Lingayen (Capital); Bulacan: Pandi, San Jose del Monte, Malolos, Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Hagonoy, Bulacan, Plaridel, Baliuag, Guiguinto; Nueva Ecija: Llanera, Palayan City, Santa Rosa, Santo Domingo Science City of Munoz, Talavera, Cabanatuan, Gapan City, San Leonardo, San Jose, General Mamerto Natividad, Rizal, Zaragoza, General Tinio (Papaya), Licab; Pampanga: Angeles,

How to Activate the Promo a.

Insert the DITO SIM in the prescreened DITO compatible device or other DITO compatible devices. The 10GB high-speed data, onnet call, and on-net text promo shall be automatically enabled upon activation of the SIM Card. To activate the SIM card, subscribers may turn on their data, attempt a call or send an SMS. b. Subscribers will receive confirmation via SMS for the activation of the SIM card and the promo.

Via Lazada Mall: a.

Open Shopee and search for DITO in the Shopee Mall (DITO Telecommunity) account or DITO SIM. Click on DITO SIM product in DITO’s shop in Shopee. Select the SIM type compatible exactly to your handset and click Buy Now. The promo package shall be delivered to the customer via Shopee partner courier and may be subject to a delivery fee. Delivery is subject to the terms and conditions of Shopee and their partner couriers. If you are unable to receive your order or received a damaged SIM card, you may send an email to customerservice@dito.ph or send your concerns via DITO’s Facebook messenger or using the DITO App. You may also reach out to Shopee or its partner couriers pursuant to their terms and conditions. Promo shall only be offered in the following cities and municipalities in: LUZON: NCR: Manila, Quezon City, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Pasay, Taguig, Pateros, Makati, Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Marikina, Las Pinas; Pangasinan: Basista, Binmaley, Dagupan, Manaoag, Mangatarem, San Manuel, San Carlos City, Lingayen (Capital); Bulacan: Pandi, San Jose del Monte, Malolos, Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Hagonoy, Bulacan, Plaridel, Baliuag, Guiguinto; Nueva Ecija: Llanera, Palayan City, Santa Rosa, Santo Domingo Science City of Munoz, Talavera, Cabanatuan, Gapan City, San Leonardo, San Jose, General Mamerto Natividad, Rizal, Zaragoza, General Tinio (Papaya), Licab; Pampanga: Angeles, Mabalacat, Mexico, Guagua, San Fernando, Magalang, San Simon; Tarlac: Capas, Tarlac City, Concepcion, Gerona, Moncada, La Paz, Ramos, San Manuel, Pura; Zambales: Olongapo, Subic; Bataan: Balanga, Dinalupihan; Batangas: Alitagtag, Bauan, Cuenca, San Jose, Ibaan, Batangas City, Malvar, Mataas na Kahoy, San Pascual, Santo Tomas, Lipa City, Talisay, Tanauan City, Taysan, Balete, Padre Garcia, San Juan, Balayan, Calaca, San Luis, Taal, Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Lian, Calatagan, Tuy; Cavite: Kawit, Bacoor, Imus, Tagaytay City, Silang, Dasmarinas, Carmona, Amadeo, Rosario, Mendez, Indang, Alfonso, General Trias, Trece Martirez, Tanza, Magallanes; Laguna: San Pedro, Sta Rosa, Binan, Cabuyao, Los Banos, Calamba City, Victoria, Calauan, Alaminos, San Pablo; Rizal: Antipolo, Cainta, Taytay

Promo shall only be offered in the following cities and municipalities in the following:

MINDANAO: Agusan del Sur: Rosario, San Francisco, Trento, Bayugan; Compostela Valley: Monkayo; Davao del Norte: Santo Tomas, Braulio E. Dujali, Panabo, Tagum, Carmen, Island City of Samal; Davao del Sur: Santa Cruz, Bansalan, Davao City, Digos, Hagonoy; Davao de Oro: Montevista, Compostela, Nabunturan, Maco; Cotabato: Kidapawan, Makilala; South Cotabato: General Santos City, Polomolok; Bukidnon: Malaybalay, City of Valencia, Quezon, Don Carlos, Manolo Fortich, Baungon, Libona, Impasugong, Maramag; Misamis Oriental: Balingasag, Cagayan de Oro, Claveria, Talisayan, Manticao, Sugbongcogon, Medina, Kinoguitan, Binuangan, Balingoan, Naawan, Villanueva, City of El Salvador, Jasaan, Opol, Tagoloan, City of Gingoog, Lugait

This aerial photo taken on August 23, 2021 shows staff members spraying disinfectant at a school ahead of the new semester in Bozhou in China’s eastern Anhui province. CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK AFP

Mabalacat, Mexico, Guagua, San Fernando, Magalang, San Simon; Tarlac: Capas, Tarlac City, Concepcion, Gerona, Moncada, La Paz, Ramos, San Manuel, Pura; Zambales: Olongapo, Subic; Bataan: Balanga, Dinalupihan; Batangas: Alitagtag, Bauan, Cuenca, San Jose, Ibaan, Batangas City, Malvar, Mataas na Kahoy, San Pascual, Santo Tomas, Lipa City, Talisay, Tanauan City, Taysan, Balete, Padre Garcia, San Juan, Balayan, Calaca, San Luis, Taal, Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Lian, Calatagan, Tuy; Cavite: Kawit, Bacoor, Imus, Tagaytay City, Silang, Dasmarinas, Carmona, Amadeo, Rosario, Mendez, Indang, Alfonso, General Trias, Trece Martirez, Tanza, Magallanes; Laguna: San Pedro, Sta Rosa, Binan, Cabuyao, Los Banos, Calamba City, Victoria, Calauan, Alaminos, San Pablo; Rizal: Antipolo, Cainta, Taytay

Prerequisites: a.

week after a virus cluster emerged in Auckland, ending a six-month run of no local cases. “Delta had a head start on us and we needed to catch up as quickly as we could... we don’t think we have reached the peak of this outbreak,” she said. Ardern said 35 new cases had been detected, taking the total to 107, with more than 13,000 close contacts undergoing testing. New Zealand’s lockdown was due to expire late Tuesday but Ardern said it would continue through to Friday nationwide and until the evening of August 31 in Auckland. “The safest option for all of us right now is to hold the course for longer,” she said. “This will allow us to have additional data and see if the virus has spread.” AFP

The promo cannot be used in conjunction with any unlimited promo offers, discount available and other exclusive promo offers.

10) The promo cannot be converted to cash, credit, or other goods and services of DITO. 11) By availing of the promo, the subscriber confirms that he/she has read, understood, and agrees to the promo mechanics, its terms and conditions, the terms and conditions of the SIM card. Subscriber also agrees not to use the SIM card and/or promo for illicit or illegal means. 12) For any concerns and/or inquiries regarding the promo, information may be sent to customerservice@dito.ph. All matters and disputes will be subject to the final decision of DITO Telecommunity. All decisions made by DITO Telecommunity pertaining to the promo will be deemed final and irrevocable, with the prior concurrence of DTI. Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-124998 Series of 2021 Additional areas approved by DTI-FTEB (MS-AUGUST 24, 2021)

IN BRIEF VP Harris vows ‘enduring US engagement’ in Asia VICE President Kamala Harris vowed “enduring engagement” in Asia on Monday, offering reassurances of Washington’s commitment to the region following the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban takeover. “Our administration is committed to enduring engagement in Singapore, into Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific,” Harris said on a visit to Singapore, just days after the hardline Islamists seized power in Kabul. “The reason I am here is because the United States is a global leader, and we take that role seriously.” The Taliban’s swift return to power, and desperate scenes of people trying to flee, have cast another shadow over the United States’ status as a superpower. Harris arrived in Singapore Sunday for the week-long trip to Asia, which also includes a stop in Vietnam. AFP

Deadly firefight at Kabul airport as US boosts airlift WESTERN security forces were involved in an exchange of fire with unidentified gunmen Monday at Kabul airport, as US President Joe Biden sought to speed up the chaotic evacuation of tens of thousands of people from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. One Afghan was killed and three others were injured in a dawn firefight that according to the German military erupted between Afghan guards and unknown assailants. German and American troops “participated in further exchange of fire,” the German army said in a statement. This was the latest episode in a chaotic operation overseen by the US army that has seen about 30,000 people evacuated from Afghanistan since the Taliban marched into Kabul on August 15, taking effective control of the country. Manila The Taliban, infamous for an ultra-strict interpretation of sharia law during their initial 1996-2001 rule, have repeatedly vowed a softer version this time. TODAY But terrified Afghans continue to try and flee, overwhelming the operation at Kabul airport and leading to tragic scenes in which at least eight people have died. The Taliban’s victory ended two decades of war as they took advantage of Biden’s decision to withdraw nearly all US troops from the country. Biden, who has redeployed thousands back to Afghanistan to oversee the evacuations, has insisted he wants to end the US military presence and the airlifts by August 31. But with the European Union and Britain saying it would be impossible to get everyone out by then, Biden is under pressure to extend the deadline. Speaking at the White House, Biden said Sunday he hoped the airlift would not be extended, but said talks were underway to explore that possibility. “There’s discussions going among us and the military about extending,” Biden said. AFP

Standard

At least 21 dead in flooding in US state of Tennessee DEVASTATING floods after record rainfall in the southern US state of Tennessee have left at least 21 people dead and at least 20 more missing, local officials said in what they warned was a preliminary toll. Tennessee was hit Saturday by what meteorologists called historic storms and flooding, dumping as much as 17 inches (38 centimeters) of rain. Rural roads, state highways, bridges and hundreds of homes were washed out and widespread power outages affected thousands of people. birth but under the name “ARGIELA Republic of the Philippines SHANE DAWING ACILING” (Annex In Humpreys REGIONAL TRIAL COURT “B”). This is the name used by the National Capital Judicial Region petitioner in all her official and personal County, about 90 BRANCH 222, QUEZON CITY transactions (Annex “D” to “T”). In the second registration of minutes from counARGIELA SHANE ACILING, certificate of live birth, her biological try music hub Nasha.k.a. ARGIELA SHANE DAWING mother supplied that she was not ACILING a.k.a. JOCELYN ACILING married to petitioner’s biological ville, the downpour BENDECIO father. Entry no. 18 is of Certificate Petitioner, of Live Birth is hereto sub-marked on Saturday broke a as Annex “B-5”. There was likewise -versusSPECIAL PROC. NO. an affidavit of acknowledgment/ 24-hour rainfall reR-QZN-19-09804-SP admission of paternity in page 2 of the cord for Tennessee, birth certificate is hereto sub-marked THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF as Annex “B-6” and the name and QUEZON CITY, THE signature of Israel Vargas Duma is the National Weather hereto sub-marked as Annex “B-7” and ADMINISTRATOR AND CIVIL Service said. made an integral parts thereof. REGISTRAR GENERAL OF THE PHILIPPINE STATISTICS Lastly, due to the conflicting entries Tennessee Governor in the date and place of marriage, OFFICE (PSA) formerly NATIONAL Bill Lee described the petitioner was constrained to verify the STATISTICS OFFICE (NSO), same in the Philippines Statistics Office ARGENTINA DAWING “picture of loss and and she discovered that her parents ACILING AND RAMON AMBROSIO were never married. A Certificate of No BENDECIO ALL OTHER PERSONS heartache” in WaverMarriage was appended hereto (Annex WHO HAVE INTEREST OR CLAIM “C”). In the same certificate, petitioner ly, a hard-hit town of TO THIS INSTANT PETITION, used the name “ARGIELA SHANE Respondents. DAWING ACILING” (Annex “C-1”). around 4,500 where x-----------------------------------------------x Finding the petition to be sufficient ORDER in form and in substance, the 20 of the victims died. This pertains to the petition for the initial hearing of this case is set on correction of entry, change of name, “Our hearts and our September 6, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. and and cancellation of late registration all interested parties are directed to in the Certificate of Live Birth of prayers need to be appear before this Court and show Argiela Shane Aciling registered cause why the petition should not be for those folks in that with the Office of the Quezon City granted. Civil Registrar filed by the petitioner, Let a copy of this Order be served community, many of through counsel, on October 19, 2018. to the petitioner through his counsel, In her subject petition, petitioner the Civil Registrar of Quezon City, the them who have sufalleges that on 22 January 2000, Philippine Statistics Office (formerly petitioner was born to common law NSO), the Office of the Solicitor fered not only the loss spouses, Argentina Dawing Acling General and the Office of the Quezon of their homes but the and Ramon Ambrosio Bendecio in City Prosecutor’s Office. Lastly, let a Quezon City. copy of this Order be published once loss of family memIn her Certificate of Live Birth a week for three (3) consecutive weeks (Annex “A”), it was registered that her in a newspaper of general circulation bers and friends,” he biological mother’s name is “JOCELYN to be chosen by raffle the Office of ACILING BENDECIO” (Annex “A-2”) the Executive Judge, at petitioner’s said in a televised under the pretense that they were expense. married. press conference SunSO ORDERED. In the aforesaid certificate of live Given in Chambers this 18th day of day after touring the birth, her biological mother was the informant. Entry No. 20 is of the July 2019 in Quezon City. wreckage. Certificate of Live Birth is hereto sub- (Sgd.) EDGAR DALMACIO SANTOS marked as Annex “A-4”. Likewise, Copy furnished: Judge Police chief Grant here biological mother supplied Argiela Shane Aciling (P) that she was married to petitioner’s PAO (C/P) Gillespie said the othbiological father. Entry number 18 is LCR-QC er death was in a more of the Certificate of Live Birth is hereto PSA sub-marked as Annex “A-5”. OSG remote area of the On June 25, 2004, petitioner’s OCP biological mother registered again her CMO-OCAD (MStandard - Aug. 10, 17 & 24, 2020) county. AFP NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC Notice is hereby given that Stock Certificate No. 006 of BAYAN AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRIES CORPORATION issued in the name of Wayne Y. Lee for One (1) common shares of stock has been reported lost and the holder of the said shares have applied to the Company to issue duplicate share certificates. Any person who has a claim in respect of said shares should lodge the claims or inform the Company at its registered address within one (1) year from the last publication of this notice. If no claims/ objections are received during this period, the Company shall be free to issue duplicate share certificate.

(MS-AUG. 17/24/31, 2021)

Business PSE INDEX CLOSING Monday, August 23, 2021

-41.55 PTS. 6,591.67

TOTAL VOLUME 1,935,886,921 TOTAL TRADES 80,738 TOTAL VALUE 6,290,528,933.58 ADVANCES 87 DECLINES 105 UNCHANGED 45

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.4240

Japan

Yen

0.009111

0.4594

Pound

1.362300

68.6926

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128363

6.4726

Switzerland

Franc

1.090988

55.0120

Canada

Dollar

0.779362

39.2985

Singapore

Dollar

0.734053

37.0139

Australia

Dollar

0.712300

35.9170

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652520

133.7507

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266652

13.4457

Brunei

Dollar

0.731368

36.8785

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000069

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.029995

1.5125

UAE

Dirham

0.272301

13.7305

Euro

1.170000

58.9961

Korea

Won

0.000852

0.0430

China

Yuan

0.153818

7.7561

India

Rupee

0.013450

0.6782

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.236072

11.9037

New Zealand

Dollar

0.683400

34.4598

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035744

1.8024 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF

Globe’s KonsultaMD says business up 256%

KONSULTAMD, an affiliate of Globe Telecom Inc., said medical consultations through its app rose 256 percent in the first half of the year as more Filipinos opted to stay at home to keep safe from the COVID-19 virus. The health tech service provider, which was created by Globe six years ago, said the number of users breached one million in the first half of 2021. These are users who enjoy 24/7 unlimited access to licensed doctors via voice or video call for as low as ₱60 a month. “The pandemic propelled the growth of online health services and changed the way Filipinos interact with medical experts. People are afraid to leave their homes, hospitals are overcrowded so the adoption of telemedicine has absolutely exploded. We set new alltime record highs every month,” said KonsultaMD chief executive Cholo Tagaysay. He said teleconsultation spikes whenever there is a significant increase in COVID-19 cases, like what happened in March and April this year when infections reached as high as 11,000 a day. Darwin G. Amojelar

Insular Life services claims of policyholders

WHILE the country reeled from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Insular Life (InLife) made sure policyholders with claims and benefits due are taken care for. “Most of claims paid were for living benefits,” says Insular Life president and CEO Raoul Littaua. “We are very pleased that during this time of the crisis, we were able to adequately respond to the needs of our clients for financial security.” Littaua noted that 84.5 percent of all claims amounting to P3.2 billion, and $1.9 million for dollar policies were for living benefits. The benefits are composed of anticipated endowments, cash allowances, annuities and maturity benefits to the policyholders themselves. “People might think that life insurance proceeds are for last expenses only, or for death claims. But the reality is that an overwhelming majority of benefits pay-out are for the insured themselves, so that they can use their funds at a time like this,” says Littaua. “This only shows how powerful life insurance can be in terms of its ability to save money and grow it over time,” he added.

BDO advises clients on use of mobile apps

BDO Unibank is advising clients to download its mobile apps only from official app store platforms to ensure security of data. The bank’s mobile apps, namely BDO Digital Banking, BDO Pay, BDO Deals, BDO Securities Mobile App, BDO Checkout, BDO Merchant, and BDO Unibank SG, can be downloaded for free from: Google Play Store athttps:// p l a y. g o o g l e . c o m / s t o r e / a p p s / d e t a i l s ? i d = w w w. p a y. b d o . c o m . ph; Apple App Store at ‎BDO Pay; and Huawei AppGallery at https:// appgallery.cloud.huawei.com/ag/n/ app/C103937877?locale=en_US & s o u rc e = a p p s h a re & s u b s o u rc e =C103937877. Meanwhile, clients who are unable to download the mobile apps are encouraged to use the web version. BDO advises against downloading its mobile apps from unofficial app stores and other websites, which may offer outdated versions, or worse, include a malicious software or malware. Scammers use malware to gather confidential information that may be saved in mobile devices, such as online banking username and password, debit or credit card information, and other personal data.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

PAL delays new aircraft orders by up to 10 years P Darwin G. Amojelar

AL Holdings Inc., the operator of Philippine Airlines, said Monday the delivery of 13 new aircraft would be delayed by up to 10 years as it waits for the recovery of the travel sector from the impact of the global pandemic.

PAL, the airline unit of tycoon Lucio Tan, said it remained in the red in the first half because of the travel restrictions related to COVID-19 pandemic. It said the aircraft delivery schedule was revised to align with the forecast recovery of travel demand. The flag carrier said the 2020 and 2021 aircraft deliveries were postponed and rescheduled for delivery by 2026 to 2030. PAL in July this year returned two aircraft to its lessor. PAL said the remaining aircraft for delivery as of December 2020 included 13 Airbus 321-231 NEO, with one scheduled for delivery in December 2021 and the remaining 12 aircraft to be handed over between 2022 and 2025. “The restrictions imposed by the Philippine and foreign authorities compelled PAL to make further adjustments, including flight cancellations, to its limited operations. National

Capital Region was put under enhanced community quarantine until Aug. 20, 2021,” PAL said. The Philippine government also imposed a travel ban from ten countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, India and United Arab Emirates to prevent the spread of the highly transmissible Delta coronavirus variant that first emerged in India. PAL said total comprehensive loss amounted of P18.04 billion in the first half, down 18 percent from P22.02-billion comprehensive loss in the same period last year. Consolidated revenues in the six-month period declined by 51 percent to P18.04 billion from last year’s P36.82 billion because of the effect of continuing COVID-19 pandemic which started in mid-March of 2020. Passenger revenue amounted to P11.62 billion in the first half, while cargo revenues amounted to P5.53 billion. Consolidated operating expenses decreased by 48.6 percent to P26.83 billion from P52.16 billion a year ago because of the significant reduction in the number of flights operated. Manpower costs declined as a result of PAL’s retrenchment program in mid-March and expenses related to grounded aircraft which were recognized this year under other charges which also contributed to the decrease in operating expenses.

SUSTAINABLE FINANCE. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno (top, left) joins the board of directors of the Bankers Institute of the Philippines during a virtual general membership meeting. The BSP continues to strengthen engagement with stakeholders in the domestic and international fronts to intensify the campaign for the adoption of sustainable finance principles. Diokno said the BSP, in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund Philippines, the World Bank and industry associations, will conduct vulnerability assessments and stress testing exercises with volunteer banks.

Solons eye tighter DMCI Power allots P3.5b to expand measures against generation capacity in off-grid areas foreign meddling By Alena Mae S. Flores THE House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability pushed for the adoption of national policies prohibiting government agencies from receiving foreign grant without transparency and accountability. It also called on the Commission on Audit to conduct a fullblown audit on the money received by the Food and Drug Administration from American anti-tobacco group Bloomberg Initiative to draft policies regulating vaping in the country. The committee is seeking air-tight policies to ensure “foreign donors” do not interfere in the country’s internal policy-making affairs. In adopting the committee report on House Resolution 1396 that directed Congress to conduct an investigation on the FDA’s questionable acceptance of money from Bloomberg, the committee recommended the review of the FDA Act on the receipt of grants and donations from local and international sources, as well as its IRR to reflect the realities that a grant may influence the grantee. Deputy Speaker Deogracias Victor Savellano said he and Rep. Estrellita Suansing filed the resolution to conduct an inquiry on the FDA “to determine whether our regulatory agencies are being influenced by any foreign vested interest groups, and to initiate actions within our capacity as lawmakers to institutionalize policies to protect our sovereignty by averting such foreign meddling in our local affairs.” An FDA official, during the agency’s public consultations on the draft guidelines for the regulation of vapor products and heated tobacco products in October last year, initially denied the agency’s receipt of foreign private money to fund the development of regulations for vapes and HTPs. The agency later recanted and admitted receiving a grant from The Union, an anti-tobacco organization financed by the Bloomberg Initiative.

OFF-GRID electricity supplier DMCI Power Corp. is spending around P3.5 billion to expand generation capacity in the off-grid market. DPC said Monday it would spend around P2.7 billion to construct a thermal power plant in Narra, Palawan province, and P800 million on a hybrid diesel-solar power station in Cataingan, Masbate province. “These investments are in response to the government’s mandate to accelerate the exploration, development and utilization of renewable energy and indigenous fuel resources, thus decreasing our dependence on imported fuel,” said DPC chief operating officer Antonino Gatdula Jr. in a statement. The Palawan thermal power plant will have a capacity of 15 megawatts while the Masbate plant will have a combined output of around 12 MW, with 4 MW

coming from solar energy. DPC plans to start commercial operation of the 12-MW Masbate plant in the first quarter next year and the 15-MW Palawan power station by the second quarter of 2023. The company said the operation of the new thermal plant is expected to lower the cost of electricity in Palawan and reduce the subsidy paid by all consumers. Once operational, the Palawan and Masbate power plants will increase the company’s installed capacity in the so-called missionary areas from 136.42MW to 163.72MW. DPC, the off-grid power unit of DMCI Holdings Inc., was established in 2006 to provide sufficient and reliable electricity to areas that are not connected to the main transmission grid. Its off-takers include electric cooperatives in Masbate, Palawan and Oriental Mindoro provinces.

NEW FEEDER SERVICE. TecPlata, the Argentine subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services Inc. operating at the Port of La Plata, is collaborating with the Sta. Fe Port Administrative Entity for a new feeder service to connect the Port of Santa Fe to Brazil and Asia via TecPlata. The service will make a minimum of two calls per month using 500-TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) barges. From the Sta. Port, the new feeder service creates a direct link to Brazil and Asia via TecPlata.

Cebu property company takes control of P20-b reclamation job PROPERTY developer Cebu Landmasters Inc. said Monday it took majority ownership in a P20-billion reclamation project in Cebu province. CLI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Monday it increased its stake in Ming-Mori Development Corp. to 80 percent from 20 percent to streamline the operations of the project. MMDC is the developer of the 100-hectare reclamation and technohub project in Minglanilla, Cebu which is envisioned to be a regional growth center. “We foresee that Ming-Mori will transform this area of Cebu into a dynamic economic zone,” CLI chairman and chief executive Jose Soberano III said. “In fact, as early as now, we already have big companies as interested locators. And, to ensure viability over the long-term, Ming-mori’s master plan draws a balance between an urban mixed-use development, light industrial land use and environmental stewardship,” Soberano said. MMDC secured an approval from the Philippine Reclamation Authority for the project in June this year. CLI also submitted to the PRA detailed engineering designs and expects to receive a notice to proceed before year-end. The P20-billion Ming-Mori Techno Business Park is within Metro Cebu and makes the development a highly viable location for light manufacturing and technology-driven industries, as Mactan and Cebu City’s industrial parks are now fully-occupied. The project is expected to generate thousands of jobs and boost the revenues of the local government units. This will be CLI’s third large-scale township, following those in Davao City and Cagayan de Oro. Jenniffer B. Austria

Century Pacific sells plant-based products in UAE By Jenniffer B. Austria CENTURY Pacific Food, Inc., one of the Philippines’ leading branded food companies, has started selling plantbased meat alternatives overseas. CNPF said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Monday it launched its unMEAT brand in United Arab Emirates in June and was exploring other international markets. “We are quite thrilled with the global development of ‘unMEAT’. The United Arab Emirates is a promising market for us, with its diverse and progressive population and its strong Filipino community,” said CNPF executive vice president and chief operating officer Gregory Banzon. “Over the years, our company, together with our partner distributor, has built an extensive distribution footprint here, and we plan to leverage that network to scale up fast.” The company’s unMEATproducts has a store footprint in over 200 outlets in UAE. The unMEAT is also available at online retail platforms. “We are greatly encouraged by UAE’s reception of ‘unMEAT’, both from end consumers and retail partners. We will continue to strengthen the business here, working on further expanding our listing in the country. At this point, we aim to learn as much as we can, keeping our ears on the ground and being agile with our growth plans,” said Banzon. The entire line of ‘unMEAT’ is available in the UAE, consisting of meat-free burger patties, Hungarian sausages, nuggets and minced meat. All products are made with 100 percent plant-based ingredients and are great sources of fiber and protein, and free of cholesterol, transfat, egg and dairy. CNPF said ‘unMEAT’ is being marketed competitively, with a suggested retail price of around 30 percent lower than other international brands. The production of plant-based alternatives requires lower consumption of natural resources, including water, land and energy, and generates less greenhouse gas emissions compared to that of animal-based meat. ‘unMEAT’ is CNPF’s foray into the fast-growing plant-based food category in response to the rising consumer demand for healthier and products.

Sports

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

TUESDAY, AUGUST 24 , 2021

Nordqvist wins British Open; Saso tied for 39th spot

Manny Pacquiao is comforted by his longtime trainer Freddie Roach after the Filipino ring icon suffered a unanimous decision loss at the hands of Cuban Yordenis Ugas in their WBA welterweight championship showdown at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday.

Pacquiao must pass baton to ‘successor’ before retiring Government releases P50M in awarding rites at Palace WITH the country’s successful Olympic run, the Philippine government through the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation releases almost P50 million in incentives, monetary awards, and additional allowances to the athletes and coaches of Team Philippines to the 32nd Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan. The team paid a courtesy call to President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacanang Monday evening, where team members received their checks. The incentives and monetary awards are based on the provisions of Republic Act 10699 or the expanded incentives act, where medals won and records broken, both international and local, are to receive an equivalent amount of monetary award. P33 Million and P5.250 Million in total were awarded for these, respectively. Part of the total amount is P11.5 million that covered the additional P250,000 travel allowance, as announced by PSC Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez previously for each athlete and coach of Team Philippines.

Zamboangas to grace Forum THE sister-brother tandem of Denice and Drex Zamboanga make their first appearance in the virtual session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum this Tuesday (Aug. 24). Denice will discuss her coming fight in ONE: Empower which features 18 of the best mixed martial artists seeing action in the historic Sept. 3 event at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. The Filipina is taking on Arale Chan Seo Hee Ham of South Korea. Meanwhile, Drex is going to talk about what’s next for him following a successful ONE debut last year after beating Detchadin Srosirisuphatin of Thailand. The session, presented by San Miguel Corporation, MILO, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation starts at 10 a.m. The Forum, powered by Smart and Upstream Media as the official webcast partner, is livestreamed via the PSA Facebook page fb.com/ PhilippineSportswritersAssociation and also shared by Radyo Pilipinas 2 Facebook page.

By Peter Atencio

T’S time for Manny Pacquiao to train a successor before he completely leaves boxing for good. And it could be Mark Magsayo, an unbeaten ﬁghter since stepping on the ring for the ﬁrst time in 2013.

Commissioner Ramon Fernandez of the Philippine Sports Commission said this after Pacquiao fell in a unanimous decision loss to Cuban Yordenis Ugas in their World Boxing Association welterweight showdown in Las Vegas last Sunday. That night, judges had the fight, 115113, 116-112, and 116-112 for the 35-yearold Ugas. “He has a protégé already in Magsayo. Might as well take care of him as his replacement,” said Fernandez, who followed Pacquiao’s fight closely.

Magsayo’s unbeaten record remained intact when he knocked out Mexican Julio Ceja in the title eliminator for the World Boxing Council featherweight title in one of the Pacquiao-Ugas undercards. Fernandez said retirement may be a personal decision for Pacquiao at this time. And he believes “Father Time” may have caught up with him during his clash with Ugas, who claimed a career-changing triumph over the Filipino champion. Ugas was a last-minute replacement against Pacquiao, whose original foe in

Errol Spence Jr. had to beg off after injuring his eye during training some two weeks before the fight. “He is not the same Manny Pacquiao compared to his last fights. But he’s still our boxing hero,” said Fernandez, now that Pacquiao is on the verge of deciding if he will continue fighting or retire for good. Ugas, who now has a 27-4 win-loss record (12 by KO), was thankful of his fight with Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KO), as it had given him the opportunity to be on the world spotlight. Ugas was able to prove that he was a better fighter that night, with many analysts believing that the time has come for Pacquiao to hang his gloves. Ugas, with his height and long reach, proved to be a problem for Pacquiao that evening, with his jabs and looping right hands allowing him to score on points early on.

CARNOUSTIE—Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist won her third major title with a final round 69 to finish on 12-under par at the Women’s British Open at Carnoustie on Sunday. Nordqvist, winner of the 2009 LPGA Championship and the 2017 Evian Championship, finished one shot clear of Georgia Hall, Madelene Sagstrom and Lizette Salas. The experienced 34-year-old shared the lead with playing partner Nanna Koerstz Madsen heading down the 18th, but a par was enough to secure victory. Koerstz Madsen hit her second shot into a bunker and then shanked the recovery. In a nightmare finish, the Dane eventually took a double-bogey six for a share of fifth place on 10-under. The Philippines’ Yuka Saso, the reigning US Women’s Open champion, shot a 3-over 75 for an even par 288 and finished tied for 39th spot. A first major victory in four years was all the more special for Nordqvist with her husband Kevin McAlpine coming from the area. “I had so many family and friends here this week it has been great,” said Nordqvist, who is set to feature in her seventh Solheim Cup in two weeks’ time in Toledo, Ohio. “I have been waiting for this one for a while, it has been a tough couple of years. It is lovely to have my husband here and I could only dream about winning the Women’s Open in Carnoustie. This place is truly special. “The fans have been a great and my caddie (Paul Cormack) is also Scottish too. They have both been my rocks. It’s been so nice to have crowds back this year.” Nordqvist and Koerstz Madsen started the day tied for the lead and after much jostling among the field it ended up as sudden-death between the pair down the last. The older head kept her cool, but Koerstz Madsen will hope her performance over the four days will still have b e e n enough to catch the eye of watching Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew, who will name her team on Monday. Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist

PH Paralympic team settles down, gets ready for opener ceremonies TOKYO - Having left their troubles behind PPC secretary-general Walter Torres said the in Manila, all 12 members of the Philippine delegation members will all be clad in the contingent have settled down and are getting traditional Barong Tagalog designed by the ready for the opening ceremonies of the 2020 Bordadao ni Apolonia, a family of noted arWorld Paralympic Games on Tuesday at the tisan embroiderers from Taal, Batangas. sprawling Japan National Stadium. “The embroidery on the Barong is fully From their quarantine facility at the Conhand-made and a labor of love, “Torres said. rad Hotel, the PH delegation left early Sun“The ‘Disenyong Bigkis’ portrays the unity day for the airport and were given a clean and nationalism of every Filipino. bill of health after all of them had taken “Embroidered on the right of the Barong swabs tests shortly following their arrival at are the words ‘Mahal Kita and on the left the Haneda International Airport in Tokyo ‘Pilipinas’ written in the early form of the before noon. Filipino alphabet,” he said, adding each parThey were then taken by shuttle to the ticipant will also be wearing a “salakot” or Paralympic Athletes Village where each delhat and given a hand-embroidered face mask egate was assigned their respective quarters made of pina with the sun and stars of the in the trip fully supported by the Philippine Philippine flag. Sports Commission. The parade uniforms as well as other loLeading the delegation was Philippine Paragistical requirements of our Paralympics A wheelchair rugby ball is seen during a training session between lympic Committee president Mike Barredo delegation are provided for and supported Denmark and Britain at Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo ahead of the while the athletes who qualified are swimmers by the Philippine Sports Commission. Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. AFP Ernie Gawilan and Gary Bejino, discus throwDiaz said that they had a meeting among the country’s flag-bearer during the audience-free er Jeanette Aceveda, wheelchair racer Jerrold the CDMs on Monday where they disinaugural rites starting at 7 p.m. (8 p.m. in Manila) cussed the issues encountered by the participants at Mangliwan and powerlifter Achelle Guion. Taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin and his within the 80,000-seat arena featuring the world’s the Para Games. coach, Dindo Simpao, are scheduled to premier para-athletes from 163 countries. “There are athletes who don’t follow protocols, “While the formal opening will begin at 7 p.m. the walang mask, mga pasaway, which are flagged by leave for the Japanese capital on Aug. 29. A veteran of the 2016 Rio Paralympic participants will be starting to move from the Athletes the Japanese volunteers at the village,” said Diaz, Games, Mangliwan Village to the stadium,” said national team chef de mis- who was proud that the PH contingent members was awarded the sion Francis Diaz. were well-behaved in complying with the healthNot to be outdone by their Olympic counterparts, safety measures of the organizers. distinction of being

Nguyen on Olsim: I’m going to drown her FRESHLY reignited following the biggest win of her career, Bi “Killer Bee” Nguyen has her sights firmly set on ascending the atomweight ranks in ONE Championship. The Vietnamese-American snapped a threefight skid in mixed martial arts competition, upsetting Ritu Phogat in May when she edged out a split decision victory. The win was the most significant of Nguyen’s career thus far, both in name value and the perspective she gained before and after competition. “I learned that I was at a little plateau in my career and I needed something to light a fire under me and the Ritu [Phogat] matchup did just that,” Nguyen said. “And now I’m only going up from here. I’m more motivated than ever, Bi Nguyen I’m hungrier than ever [the fight

with Phogat] was great for me.” Nguyen makes her return to action at ONE: BATTLEGROUND III, a tape-delayed event from the Singapore Indoor Stadium which airs this Friday, 27 August. Her next challenge will come in the form of Jenelyn Olsim, a rising star with four wins in six fights to her credit, including two submission finishes despite coming from a background in Muay Thai. Hailing from the Philippines, Olsim holds a size and reach advantage over Nguyen, an obstacle that the latter has become accustomed to over the years. But with twice the amount of professional MMA experience, what Nguyen lacks in size she makes up for in know-how and newfound motivation. “I never lost confidence, I’ve always fought the best of the best, I’ve always put on great performances,” Nguyen said.

“What the victory over Ritu did for me was give me momentum. I don’t think that’s the same thing as confidence. I’ve always believed in myself, always believed I was one of the best and could be the best one day. It was amazing for me emotionally and career wise as far as momentum and giving me that drive again.” In step with her brimming confidence, Nguyen maintains a level-headed approach, recognizing the dangers that each new opponent possesses. When it comes to Olsim, “Killer Bee” has identified areas of concern as well as best practices to combat them. Nguyen lauded Olsim’s toughness and ability to hit harder than the average atomweight. However, when it comes to speed, Nguyen expects to have a decided advantage over her foe, opening up various paths to victory for the Xtreme Couture product.

Reopening: PH Economy On The Mend Special Report

TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2021 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Gov’t officials remain hopeful on economic recovery this year By Julito G. Rada

clear indication that managing risks, instead of shutting down large segments of the economy, stands a far better chance of improving both economic and health outcomes. Economic managers said unlike last year’s ECQ where around 75 percent of the economy were shut down, the country had much more latitude this year. Most industries and services continued to operate, public transportation also remained available and workers were exempted from the curfew. These are supported by mobility data, which shows that visits to public transport stations and workplaces strongly improved compared to last year. “The increase in economic activity has led to more Filipinos regaining their jobs and income. The recent labor force survey results for June 2021 showed that the economy generated an additional 2.5 million jobs compared to the pre-pandemic level, and the quality of employment has improved given the much lower underemployment rate,” they said.

C2 || TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2021

Reopening: PH Economy On The Mend Special Report

extrastory2000@gmail.com

Local banks poised to survive crisis despite rising bad loans By Julito G. Rada

HILIPPINE banks remain in good standing despite rising bad loans, as many clients face financial difficulties because of the repeated lockdowns and mobility restrictions.

Results of the latest Banking Sector Outlook Survey for the first semester of 2021 show that banks expect double-digit growth in assets, loans, investments, deposits and net income in the next two years. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said the upbeat expectations of the banking system was a “testament to its confidence in the strong medium-term prospects of the country’s economy.” Local lenders also intend to maintain their Basel capital and liquidity ratios at levels higher than domestic and global standards to promote institutional stability and strengthen capacity to support requirements of a growing economy. Meanwhile, majority of the survey respondents expect their non-performing loan ratio to exceed 5 percent in the next two years. Universal and commercial banks see their NPL ratio settling between 3.0 percent and 6.5 percent in the next two years. This is, however, accompanied by greater prudence in the management of credit risk by the industry as a higher number of banks intend to report NPL coverage ratio of more than 50.0 percent to 100.0 percent. “The banks’ projections are con-

sistent with the BSP’s NPL estimates for the year 2021. The enactment of the Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer Act as well as the issuance of its implementing rules and regulations in the first semester of 2021 will help limit build-up of NPLs in the financial system,” Diokno said. Banks also anticipate restructured loans ratio to be higher than 5.0 percent from earlier projections of between 3.0 percent and 5.0 percent of loans. This reflects continued efforts of banks to grant financial relief to their borrowers through modifications in their loan payment terms. FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY Banks now recognize the need to integrate technology in achieving their business objectives and prioritize the digitalization of products and services for strategic efficiency in the next two years. Mindful of cyberthreats following the lockdown and remote working arrangements, more than half of the respondent banks are ‘prepared’ to handle and manage cyberthreats. Lastly, the survey results show a distinct shift in organizational focus towards sustainable financing. A high proportion of banks consistently view sustainable financing as an important strategic objective. As such, around 71.3 percent of respondents plan to finance sustainable projects on agriculture, transportation, water supply management and solar power in the next two years. The Philippine banking system is projected to withstand the legacy risks and challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic within the next two years on account of stable and sound capital and liquidity buffers, ample loan loss

reserves, good earnings performance and prudent risk governance. The survey provides insights of bank management on the strategic direction of the industry and emerging risks and trends. This is a part of BSP’s surveillance tools to promote the resilience of the banking system. KEY NUMBERS BSP data show that total assets of the Philippine banking system increased by 6.5 percent year-onyear, albeit with decelerated growth, to P19.3 trillion as of end-February 2021. Asset expansion remained positive and was funded by deposit generation, bond issuances and capital infusion. By banking group, universal and commercial banks had the biggest share of the total assets of the banking system at 92.8 percent (P17.9 trillion), followed by thrift banks at 5.8 percent (P1.1 trillion) and rural and cooperative banks at 1.4 percent (P0.3 trillion). The BSP said the tepid credit growth of the banking system was expected, as the pandemic-induced recession in the real sector caught up and weighed on the financial sector. Gross total loan portfolio declined year-on-year by 3.0 percent to P10.6 trillion as of end-February 2021, slower than the 10.2 percent growth rate posted in February 2020 Meanwhile, the bank credit-toGDP (annualized, nominal) ratio stood at 60.5 percent as of end-December 2020. As a result of the BSP’s monetary policy easing through reduction in key policy rates and reserve requirements, the overall mean and median interest rates on loans of banks also showed a general downtrend from

end-March 2020 (start of the enhanced community quarantine) to end-February 2021. The banking system’s overall mean weighted average interest rates declined to 4.9 percent as of endFebruary 2021 from 8.2 percent as of end-March 2020 and 7.0 percent as of end-June 2020. Banks’ median WAIR similarly declined to 4.4 percent as of end-February 2021 from 5.8 percent as of end-March 2020 and 5.4 percent as of end-June 2020. A consistent declining trend was generally observed specifically in both mean and median WAIR of loans to private corporations, agrarian reform and other agricultural loans, small and medium enterprise loans and loans to individuals. NPL LOAN RATION Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the banking system’s non-performing loan ratio widened to 4.1 percent as of end-February 2021 from 2.2 percent a year earlier. The increase in NPLs was matched by higher loan loss provisioning. Banks began recognizing loan loss provisions since the start of 2020 to provide cushion in anticipation of the adverse impact of the pandemic on their loan portfolios. This resulted in a high NPL coverage ratio of 86.6 percent as of end-February 2021. Across banking groups, U/KBs posted a high NPL coverage ratio of 95.3 percent. Meanwhile, the expected credit losses

of TBs and RCBs remained wellcovered, with NPL coverage ratios of 51.9 percent and 55.5 percent, respectively. The banking system’s funding mainly came from deposits at 76.9 percent (P14.9 trillion), capital at 12.7 percent (P2.5 trillion) and bonds payable at 3.6 percent (P0.7 trillion). Total bank deposits increased by 9.0 percent year-on-year to P14.9 trillion as of end-February 2021. By banking group, U/KBs had the largest share of deposit liabilities at 92.9 percent (P13.8 trillion), followed by TBs at 5.7 percent (P0.9 trillion) and RCBs at 1.4 percent (P0.2 trillion) as of end-February 2021.

BSP GOVERNOR BENJAMIN DIOKNO

Remittances hit new record high, mitigate COVID’s financial impact MONEY sent home by millions of Filipinos living and working overseas continues to provide financial buffer against the impact of the global pandemic. Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show that remittances from overseas Filipino workers increased 6.4 percent in the first six months of 2021 to $14.918 billion from $14.019 billion a year ago, as the global economy showed recovery from the lingering impact of the pandemic. The six-month remittance figure also surpassed the pre-pandemic level of $14.64 billion in the same period in 2019. The BSP said in a statement the growth in cash remittances in the sixmonth period came mostly from the United States, Malaysia and South Korea. The US posted the highest share in overall remittances at 40.1 percent, followed by Singapore, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, South Korea, Qatar and Taiwan. The combined remittances from these top 10 countries accounted for 78.4 percent of the total. Data showed that in June, cash remittances rose 7 percent to $2.638 billion from $2.465 billion in the same month last year, on higher receipts from land-based workers by 7.1 percent and sea-based workers by 6.5 percent. It was also higher than the pre-pandemic figure of $2.29 billion in June 2019. Personal remittances, which include non-cash items, also expanded by 6.7 percent in the first half to $16.616 billion from $15.573 billion

a year earlier. In June, personal remittances went up by 7.3 percent to $2.936 billion from $2.737 billion. “The rise in total personal remittances in June was due to the remittances sent by land-based workers with work contracts of one year or more, which grew by 7.1 percent, and sea-based workers with work contracts of less than one year which increased by 6.4 percent,” the BSP said. Cash remittances slightly declined by 0.8 percent last year amid the pandemic to $29.903 billion from the record $30.133 billion in 2019. This was better than the earlier forecast of a 20-percent contraction by some analysts at the onset of the pandemic. The BSP expects cash remittances to grow by 4 percent this year, taking into account the brighter global economic outlook amid the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines and reopening of major economies. Remittances support the country’s balance of payments, contributing nearly $30 billion a year and helping stabilize the value of the peso against the US dollar. These offset the country’s widening trade deficit which reached more than $40 billion in 2019, before narrowing to $24.5 billion in 2020. These foreign exchange inflows also support various sectors of the economy, including banking, real estate, education, transportation, travel, tourism, retail, and healthcare. BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno expects cash remittances to grow by 4 percent this year, a reversal of the 0.8-percent decline in 2020.

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Reopening: PH Economy On The Mend Special Report

BSP... From C4 Although the two-week ECQ in Metro Manila and adjacent provinces might result in job losses, they said the government would maximize this period to accelerate vaccination in highrisk areas to safely reopen economic activities and restore jobs. While more jobs were expected to be lost during the two-week ECQ (around 444,000), the National Economic and Development Authority said this could be partly reversed if the quarantine period would be used to accelerate the vaccination program. TRADE REBOUND Exports and imports both registered double-digit growth in June, reflecting improved economic conditions this year relative to 2020 when successive lockdowns were imposed by the government to curb the further spread of the pandemic. Exports sales in June grew by 17.6 percent to $6.51 billion from $5.53 billion a year ago, although slower than the increase of 30.8 percent in May 2021. The cumulative export earnings from January to June 2021 amounted to $35.90 billion, a 20.9-percent increase from the export value earned from January to June 2020. Likewise, total imported goods in June amounted to $9.33 billion, up 34.2 percent a year ago. In the first half, the cumulative import value reached $53.34 billion, an increase of 29.8 percent from the import value of $41.08 billion in the same period of 2020. STRONG FDIS AND PRODUCTION Net inflows of foreign direct investments in the first five months of 2021 went up by 37.8 percent to $3.5 billion from $2.5 billion in the same period last year. Last year, the FDIs posted a net inflow of $6.5 billion. The BSP expects net FDIs to rebound to $7.5 billion this year and increase further to $8.5 billion next year, taking into account the improving global condition. Manufacturing output also surged in June. The PSA reported that the volume of production index jumped 453.1 percent in June, faster than the 263.2-percent increase registered in May. In June 2020, VoPI dropped at an annual rate of -80.6 percent.

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C4 || TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2021

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BSP maintains ‘accommodative’ stance to support recovery efforts By Julito G. Rada

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, which sets the pace of economic activities in the country, vows to sustain monetary policy support “for as long as necessary” to help boost domestic demand and market confidence, as risk aversion continues to temper credit flow. BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said in the latest meeting of the Monetary Board on Aug. 12, 2021 said the reimposition of quarantine measures to arrest the recent wave of COVID-19 infections could pose a risk to economic recovery. “To this end, targeted fiscal and health interventions, especially the acceleration of the government’s vaccination program, will be crucial in safeguarding public health and preventing deeper negative effects on the Philippine economy,” he said. Diokno said the BSP would remain vigilant against any emerging risks to the outlook for inflation and growth and would be ready to adjust policy settings as needed to ensure price and financial stability conducive to a sustainable economic recovery. The Monetary Board on Aug. 12 maintained the overnight borrowing rate at a record low of 2 percent to

support economic growth amid the lingering pandemic. The interest rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were also kept at 1.5 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively. Diokno said the board was of the view that the expected path of inflation and downside risks to domestic economic growth “warrant keeping monetary policy settings unchanged.” Going into the crisis, Diokno said the Philippines had ample fiscal and monetary buffers to deal with shocks―and these were used extensively and wisely to aptly respond to the crisis. On the monetary front, manageable inflation allowed the BSP to cut the overnight borrowing rate by 200 basis points from 4.0 percent to a record low of 2.0 percent. The BSP also cut the reserve requirement further to 12 percent from 14 percent, thus freeing up more funds for lend-

ing to businesses and households. On top of these conventional monetary actions, the BSP implemented unprecedented measures to squarely respond to the crisis. It granted provisional advances worth P540 billion to the national government to augment its resources for COVID response. The BSP’s charter allows it to extend lifeline support to the government in times of crisis, with proper safeguards. This facility, which allows shortterm financing, does not serve as a long-term source of funds for the government because they are temporary, time-bound and capped. The BSP also purchased government securities in the secondary market to lift market confidence. However, this activity was scaled down, as the economy began to recover. “In sum, the BSP has so far injected P2.2 trillion [$45 billion] into the

financial system, equivalent to about 12 percent of GDP [as of June 10, 2021],” Diokno told a joint foreign chambers economic briefing. He said domestic liquidity remained ample through the liquidityeasing measures of the BSP. STRONG FUNDAMENTALS Diokno believes that strong macroeconomic fundamentals would support the economy’s continued recovery. He cited the country’s strong external position, manageable inflation environment that allows the BSP to keep the record-low interest rates, better employment data, sustained strength of remittances, rebound in exports and imports, foreign direct investments, recovery in factor output, stable peso and the country’s high credit ratings. The country’s gross international reserves level rose by $0.79 billion to $106.55 billion as of end-July 2021 from the end-June 2021 level of $105.76 billion, driven by the inflows from the national government’s net foreign currency deposits with the BSP. The latest GIR level represents a more than adequate external liquidity buffer equivalent to 12.1 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income. It is also about 7.7 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 5.1 times based on residual maturity. LOW INFLATION Meanwhile, inflation or the annual increase in consumer prices, decelerated to a seven-month low of

4.0 percent in July, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. This brought the average in the first seven months to 4.4 percent, still higher than the upper end of the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for the year set by the government. Diokno said the July 2021 inflation was consistent with the BSP’s assessment that inflation could settle close to the high-end of the target range over the near term before decelerating back to within the target by end of the year as the impact of government supply-side measures take effect. “Meanwhile, inflation is projected to remain firmly within the midpoint of the target for 2022 to 2023. The continued implementation of direct non-monetary interventions to ease supply constraints remain crucial in tempering inflation pressures,” Diokno said. “The balance of risks to the inflation outlook remained broadly balanced over the policy horizon. The uptick in international commodity prices due to supply-chain bottlenecks and the recovery in global demand could lend upside pressures on inflation,” he said. BETTER EMPLOYMENT The June 2021 Labor Force Survey showed that the country’s unemployment rate remained at 7.7 percent. Economic managers said figure showed the limits of job creation without major relaxations in quarantine restrictions, especially in Metro Manila. Turn to C3

Strong fundamentals to shore up peso; PH credit rating still stable STRONG macro-economic fundamentals, as confirmed by international credit rating agencies, will support the value of the peso in the coming months despite the recent weakness caused by speculations on the next US Federal Reserve’s move. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno downplayed the weakness of the peso against the US dollar in recent weeks. He said while short-run fluctuations were affected by market sentiment, the local currency’s medium- to long-term movements would be largely supported by economic fundamentals as indicated by the relative stability in the movement of the real effective exchange rate. “Looking ahead, the BSP expects the peso to be supported by structural FX flows such as overseas Filipino remittances, business process outsourcing receipts and eventually by earnings from tourism activities,” he said. Diokno said foreign exchange inflows related to foreign direct investments were also expected to help shore up the currency. He said the peso depreciated recently amid broad US dollar strength driven by sentiments due to the potential spread of the more contagious Delta COVID-19 variant and the markets’ perceived shift to a hawkish tone by the Federal Reserve. He said the observed pick-up in corporate dollar demand with the gradual reopening of the economy added pressure on the peso. “Recent movements of the peso are reflective of shifts in demand and supply conditions in the foreign exchange market as well as emerging external and domestic developments,” he said. Diokno said the peso was not the lone currency to depreciate against dollar as the peso-dollar trend continued to be broadly in line with regional peers. Most regional currencies similarly depreciated against the greenback, weighed down by prospects of earlier US monetary policy normalization and uncertainties in their growth outlook due to the ongoing health crisis.

Diokno said the BSP remains committed to a flexible exchange rate system. At the same time, the BSP will continue to rely on a set of measures to cushion the impact of sharp peso movements such as maintaining a healthy level of FX reserves as a buffer, reviewing and calibrating existing macro-prudential measures. CREDIT RATING In a sea of downgrades of sovereign credit ratings around the world amid the pandemic, S&P Global Ratings in May 2021 kept the Philippines’ investmentgrade of “BBB+” with a stable outlook. The country’s highest in history. In explaining its move, S&P said the Philippines would continue to have good economic recovery prospects once the COVID-19 pandemic was contained, and that the government’s fiscal performance would strengthen accordingly. “The stable outlook reflects our expectation that the Philippines economy will recover to healthy rates of growth as the COVID-19 pandemic is better contained, and that the government’s fiscal performance will materially improve,” S&P said in a statement. It said the country’s fiscal deficits were expected to decline significantly over the next two to three years. The Philippines’ “BBB+” rating with S&P is the highest among its ratings with international debt watchers. The country is rated one notch lower at “BBB” by Fitch Ratings and its equivalent “Baa2” by Moody’s Investors Service. It is also a step away from the minimum rating within the stellar “A” territory. The “stable” outlook indicates the absence of factors that could trigger an upward or downward adjustment in the rating over the short term. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said solid financial buffers and prudent fiscal management placed the Philippines in a relatively strong position to generate the needed funds for COVID-19 response without touching off a worrisome debt situation down the road.

Reopening: PH Economy On The Mend Special Report

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Conglomerates roll out infra projects By Darwin G. Amojelar

ONGLOMERATES San Miguel Corp. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. are not sitting idly in this pandemic time. They have vowed to speed up the construction of major infrastructure projects that are silver linings in the global pandemic because of their ability to create more jobs and stimulate the economy. “We were approached by the government asking us whether we can accelerate our projects so that we can create employment and put money in the circulation so that it helps stimulate the economy,” Rodrigo Franco, president and chief executive of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., a unit of MPCI, said. “We took up that challenge so that we accelerate the construction of our toll road projects from Mindanao Avenue going to the Port Area, we consider this stimulus projects. We do that because it has benefits in terms of mobility but at the same time during the construction we may employ a significant number of people,” he added. San Miguel is treading a similar track. It is addressing the country’s congestion problems today, as the COVID-19 global pandemic continues to significantly impact the economy. San Miguel president Ramon Ang says “now is really the time to doubleup our efforts and continue all our major investments to help alleviate the country’s congestion problems, to keep people working, and, in completing these infrastructure projects, prepare our country for economic recovery and further growth.” San Miguel recently opened to the public the Skyway Stage 3, which brings to reality the long-held dream of seamlessly connecting southern and northern Luzon. It is also a solution to traffic in Metro Manila, which has only grown through the decades. With Skyway 3, motorists are now able to bypass EDSA and other busy streets and enjoy travel time from Buendia to Balintawak in just 20 minutes, and Alabang to Balintawak in only 30 minutes. “This is a gamechanger for our economy, especially now that we are still dealing with the pandemic. By providing seamless access between north and south, we also unlock the true potential of our

RAMON S. ANG

provinces,” Ang added. Ang committed to President Rodrigo Duterte that San Miguel’s efforts to help the country and the economy, will not stop with the Skyway Stage 3 project.

RODRIGO FRANCO

“We will continue work to further decongest Metro Manila by linking east and west of the metropolis, through the Pasig River Expressway (Parex) project,”Ang said. The Pasig River Expressway project

is a 19.4-kilometer, six-lane elevated expressway along the banks of the Pasig River that will complete the northsouth, east-west link, connecting R-10 in Manila, EDSA and C5, and decongesting Rizal, Cainta and Marikina. It

will provide faster, alternative access to the business districts Makati, Ortigas, and BGC. He said the project can be completed by 2023. NLEX Corp., a unit of MPTC, meanwhile, has carried on with construction and enhancement projects despite the restrictions brought by the community quarantine. The lockdowns have significantly reduced road traffic volume, affecting the company’s bottom line. But NLEX has nevertheless continued to improve its services to boost safety and convenience for motorists, as well as build quality infrastructure projects to help revitalize business activities. Among the projects the tollway firm is currently building are the 8-kilometer NLEX Connector, the upgrade of the 5-kilometer Candaba Viaduct, and the safety repairs along strategic bridges. NLEX president and general manager J. Luigi Bautista says the Next page

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Reopening: PH Economy On The Mend Special Report

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New energy technologies to recharge PH economy By Alena Mae S. Flores

Wide-reaching enhanced community quarantine fails to curb infection rate TWO weeks into the most severe form of lockdown, COVID-19 cases in the Philippines have not abated. The enhanced community quarantine that is aimed at curbing the spread of the more virulent Delta variant of COVID-19 has restricted mobility, shut down thousands of restaurants and retail outlets across Metro Manila and eliminated millions of jobs. The ECQ is taking its toll on the Philippine economy while proving less effective in containing the virus infection rate. It is also threatening to wipe out the gains achieved by the economy in the second quarter when it expanded 11.6 percent year-on-year. The interagency Development Budget Coordination Committee last week downgraded its 2021 gross domestic product growth forecast by two percentage points from the previous range of 6 percent to 7 percent to a band of 4 percent to 5 percent amid the latest ECQ in Metro Manila. The lower growth rate simply means fewer jobs than earlier projected, lower state revenues and more people joining the poverty rank. The DBCC, which groups the country’s economic managers, prefers a balancing of COVID-19 risks with threats to the economy. Health and economic authorities managed to balance those risks in the

second quarter when the economy partially reopened and COVID-19 cases slowed down until the Delta variant arrived in the Philippines. Economic managers have long favored managing the COVID-19 risks by imposing granular lockdowns or selective quarantines, and allowing a greater number of people to earn a living. Limiting lockdowns to virus hotspots, instead of wide-scale quarantines, especially in key economic centers where the majority of Filipinos work, makes sense. A street identified in Quezon City as a COVID-19 cluster, for example, should be locked down to effectively curb the virus spread in the community. The quarantine, however, should be limited to that place and in no way be applied to another barangay in the same city, or in Makati for that matter. Workers in other barangays or cities outside of the hotspots should not be penalized, and be allowed to do their jobs. The best solution to COVID-19, of course, is widespread vaccination. But pending the extensive inoculation of the population, local government units must strictly enforce health protocols and social distancing, and ban super spreader events in their jurisdictions.

Diversification, resilience, adaptability fuel CPG’s growth plans DESPITE a challenging 2020 for the real estate sector, the listed Philippine real estate firm Century Properties Group, Inc. (CPG) stood firm and generated reasonable profits, maintained good liquidity levels and a healthy balance sheet, and is moving forward with its horizontal affordable housing expansion plans this year. Company President and Chief Executive Officer Marco R. Antonio underscored CPG’s strength amidst the continued COVID-19 crisis. The 35-year firm said it is focusing on its resilient businesses while it prepares the organization for a post-pandemic economic recovery. “We remain very optimistic with the affordable segment business of CPG under PHirst Park Homes, in partnership with Mitsubishi Corporation. Strong sales in our affordable housing business reaffirmed the real demand coming from local end users and Overseas Filipino Workers, who are looking for good quality homes in safe communities that are located in key growth centers,” Antonio said. PHirst’s reservation sales for the 1st half of 2021 amounted to P4.4 billion, 38% higher than P3.2 billion in the same period last year. In terms of units, reservation sales reached 2,327 or 28% more than 1,819 units in the comparative period. Total collections for the 1st half of 2021 hit P2.03 billion, a 172% increase over P744 million in the same period last year. CPG’s first homebuyer brand launched PHirst Park Homes General Trias, Cavite project this month - its eighth community - and this will be followed by two more project launches in South Luzon, and 1 project in North Luzon for the rest of 2021. Although the initial stages of the pandemic in 2020 imposed strict quarantines that hampered construction activities, CPG managed to complete two residential buildings with 1,015 condominium units in its Commonwealth, Quezon City project. PHirst Park Homes completed 659 house and lot units, bringing its total completions to 1,536 units. This quarter, CPG Managing Director Jose Carlo R. Antonio said the company is turning over two buildings at the Residences at Azure The Residences at Commonwealth by Century

PHirst Park Homes in Tanza, Cavite

North in San Fernando, Pampanga and in December, the Century Spire building at Century City, Makati. With quarantine measures also disrupting sales and collection activities, the company kept its lines open by improving its digital platforms to communicate with clients. Through online channels, the company was able to transact and deliver services. The Century Digital Homebuying Experience brought the customer journey online – from marketing and unit viewing, to documentation and turnover. By ramping up its digitalization efforts, CPG made its processes more convenient, staying true to its promise of helping homebuyers find their dream Century home. Part of the company’s business resilience and adaptability measures is looking after the welfare of its workforce. CPG made sure its employees, site personnel and construction laborers are safe by providing regular COVID testing and PPE supplies. Aside from putting safety protocols in place in the workplace, the company enhanced the disinfection measures and invested in sanitation equipment for its office and residential properties. CPG’s commercial properties Centuria Medical Makati and Century City Mall remained open to provide healthcare services and essential supplies through the quarantine periods. Centuria Medical, which houses a 24/7 Urgent Care Clinic and more than 300 outpatient medical and healthcare locators, is now also an accredited vaccination facility by the Department of Health and the City Government of Makati, shared CPG Executive Chairman Jose E.B. Antonio. This will be the vaccination site for 5,000 CPG company employees, inorganic employees, accredited sales agents, construction laborers, and accredited third-party service personnel this month as the company begins the rollout of its CPG VacciNATION program, which will provide COVID-19 vaccines 100% free to its workforce,” said CPG Vice Chairman John Victor R. Antonio.

limate change is altering our way of life toward a more sustainable source of energy.

Several new and emerging technologies are now taking center stage in the Philippine energy sector that could fuel the country’s economic recovery postpandemic. These new energy technologies can help fill in the need for the 75,325 megawatts of additional generating capacity to meet the demand of the expanding economy by 2040 as envisioned by the Philippine Energy Plan 2018-2040. The creation of the country’s research development institute on energy, for one, is seen to speed up the implementation of these new technologies and boost the country’s technical capacity. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy said the Philippines, is backing the establishment of an all-in-one institution that will focus on technical know-how to enable us to keep up with technological innovations, energy and policy research. “This a realization of our long-time goal of having an energy research and policy institute that will focus on on the latest scientific breakthroughs to improve the country’s energy sector,” says Gatchalian after President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11572, the law establishing the Philippine Energy Research and Policy Institute (PERPI). HYDROGEN FOR POWER GENERATION There is a growing global interest in hydrogen as a source of power generation. Green hydrogen, which refers to hydrogen produced with renewable electricity, is increasingly becoming a buzz world in the energy sector. Early this year, The Department of Energy initiated studies related to hydrogen for power development. “Another area that we are also looking into is the potential of harnessing hydrogen, considered the fuel of the future,”says Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi. The DOE in January signed a an agreement with Australian development company Star Scientific Ltd. and a similar deal in April with Tokyo-based Hydrogen Technology Inc. (HTI) to explore the use of hydrogen as a fuel for power generation. Cusi expressed hope that HTI will be able to bring into the country its technology sooner so that the R&D activities can already begin. “I had been wanting to bring the model here in the Philippines so that we can do the trial usage of the technology in one of

SENATOR SHERWIN GATCHALIAN

the islands. I hope that with the signing of this MOU, the model can be immediately shipped,” Cusi said. OFFSHORE WIND The DOE with support from the World Bank has launched the Philippine Offshore Wind Roadmap to unlock the country’s power potential of over 170,000 megawatts. Offshore wind projects are situated in bodies of water, which have stronger wind potential than onshore projects. “As the country actively pursues the energy transition, broadening our offshore wind prospects would help fast-track meeting our goal of attaining a 35-percent renewable energy share in our energy mix by the year 2030. This project is another key milestone for the energy sector, as we continue to deepen our ability to harness the country’s vast RE resources,” says Cusi. BATTERY STORAGE In 2019, the DOE issued a circular providing for a framework for energy storage systems (ESS) in the electric power industry. It included the battery energy storage system (BESS), which is capable of storing electric energy electrochemically from which it is able to charge or discharge electricity. Industry players such as San Miguel Corp., Aboitiz Power Corp. and AC Energy Corp. have taken the leap and are investing in BESS. San Miguel Corp., through its power arm SMC Global Power Holdings Corp., is spending over $1 billion to simultaneously build 31 new battery energy storage facilities nationwide with a total rated capacity of 1,000 megawatts. Aboitiz Power Corp., meanwhile, is developing 12 BESS projects with a total capacity of 248 MW that will be used for regulating and contingency reserves in the next 10 years. The projects will serve as Aboitiz Power’s model for its future battery investments, as well as hybrid renewable energy projects.

Conglomerates... From D1 NLEX Connector, one of the most anticipated elevated expressway projects, is in full swing with the first 5-kilometer section on track for completion by the end of the year. It uses the existing right-ofwayof the Philippine National Railways (PNR). The first section, which is between the Caloocan Interchange along C3 Road/5th Ave. and España Blvd. in Sampaloc, Manila, is now 40 percent complete. Bautista said construction activities in the segment have now reached Abad Santos and Blumentritt in Manila. Once completed, the section will have on and off ramps in España and will make NLEX accessible from the University Belt area. Another project, next 3-kilometer section between España Blvd. and the vicinity of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Sta. Mesa, Manila, is expected to begin construction soon. The

entire 8-kilometer elevated expressway will connect NLEX, Harbor Link, and Skyway Stage 3. To ensure the safety and driving comfort of motorists, NLEX Corp. continues its series of upgrades on the Candaba Viaduct. The bridge is situated between Pulilan, Bulacan and Apalit, Pampanga. Another mega project in the works is San Miguel’s Manila International Airport project in Bulacan province. Touted as the single-largest investment ever in the Philippines, the airport project will connect to major thoroughfares in the metropolis. It will have four-parallel runways and modern, world-class facilities. Ang set the opening date of the massive airport project for 2025. Two major expressways connecting to the airport will also open by 2023. “We are very confident on our economy and its recovery,” says Ang.

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Reopening: PH Economy On The Mend Special Report

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Stock market bullish despite pandemic By Jenniffer B. Austria

HE market bulls are waiting patiently and ready to storm out of their corral as soon as COVID-19 loses its potency. Stock market analysts still expect the local equities market to climb back to the 8,000-point level before the end of the year despite the current volatile trading conditions. Positive corporate earnings and the increasing vaccination of the population will serve as the catalysts to the anticipated rally. COL Financial research head April Lynn Lee-Tan says in a recent briefing the benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) could hit 8,100 before the end of the year as most of the negatives have already been priced in. The 8,000 year-end target is lower than 8,300 set by COL Financial at the start of the year, but Tan says the market’s recovery is backed up by positive economic and health data. Concerns about the country’s inflation have eased, with many believing the rate has already peaked. The market optimism is also anchored on government’s effort to accelerate the vaccination program, especially in the National Capital Region and key cities in the provinces, in order to achieve its target herd immunity before the end of the year. Even with the threat of the more contagious Delta variant, Tan says the government’s vaccination program is efficient and that the country has secured ample doses to inoculate 70 percent of of its 110 million population. “We should be patient and remain positive,” Tan said.

She believes the NCR can reopen faster than the rest of the country once 70 percent of its population is vaccinated. The wider inoculation will help accelerate economic recovery as NCR accounts for 32.3 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. The reopening of the country will significantly lead to a faster economic recovery that could address concerns about a possible downgrade in credit ratings. Corporate earnings are recovering based on the latest second quarter earnings results of listed companies. And as impetus to investors, share prices of most listed firms remain cheap and are trading significantly below the 10-year historical average. Resilient PSEi First Metro Investments Corp. first vice president and head of research Cristina Ulang says in a recent midyear economic and capital market briefing the company is generally positive and bullish about the vaccination program of the government

and the recovery of the domestic economy, that will enable the PSEi to climb to between 7,400 and 7,800 by the end of the year. Ulang says the local equities market has managed to become resilient. From its end 2019 close of 7,815, the main index plunged to as low as 4,623 in the first half of the year. But by the end of 2020, the PSEi went back to the 7,100-point level even as all economic indicators were on a free fall. “This is a very resilient mark and this is giving us hope that we will be on an upward path in the second half of the year and specifically towards the fourth quarter,” Ulang said. Foreign investors may take time to return, though, as investment outflows reached $2.5 billion in 2020 and $1.5 billion in the first half of 2021. Ulang says foreign participation in the PSEi is currently on a nine-year low from cumulative 2014 to 2018. Despite this trend, there have been spurts in for-

eign buying, especially when the index dropped to the 6,500 level. Ulang says election-related spending will be one of the main drivers for PSEi to reach new heights. The same spending will further boost the domestic economy. “Historically there have been a lot government spending prior to the election. We see the bulk of spending happening in the second half of this year. We expect election year to produce robust GDP growth” Ulang said. She noted that the average GDP growth stood at 6.7 percent in the last election year, significantly higher than 5.2 percent in a non-election year. The market expectations will all depend on the vaccine rollout as it could dictate the reopening of the economy and earnings growth, which in turn should translate to higher GDP growth. “But for an investor this is the time to accumulate. For every market dip you should accumulate,” Ulang said.

STOCK PICKS Tan of COL Financial favors PLDT, Globe Telecom, Puregold and Filinvest REIT among the defensive stocks ,and for dividend play. She also prefers Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., BDO Unibank Inc., GT Capital Holdings Inc., D&L Industries Inc., Megaworld Corp., Metro Pacific Investments Corp., Monde Nissin Corp. and Aboitiz Power Corp. She says these companies will likely to benefit once the economy fully recovers from the pandemic. Ulang, on the other hand, considers profitability, strong balance sheet yield and valuations as importation criteria in buying stocks during the volatile conditions. Among her preferred growth stocks are Century Pacific Food Inc., Wilcon Depot Inc., D&L, Monde Nissin, BDO, MBT, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Converge Information and Communications Technology Solutions Inc. and Ayala Land Inc.

Telecom firms find way to rebuild businesses By Darwin G. Amojelar THE country’s telecom companies are helping businesses to rebuild and get back on track through digital acceleration to overcome the economic challenges of the pandemic. PLDT first vice president, and Enterprise Revenue Group head Mitch Locsin echoed the sentiments of a lot of businesses today, particularly the MSMEs, as industries continue to feel the economic losses and long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The MSME segment represent over 99 percent of total businesses in the country, accounting for over a third of the country’s total employment rate. “The losses of MSMEs have a significant effect on our national economy. This is why it is important for us in PLDT Enterprise to see how we can help in building that road to recovery,” Locsin said. Yet despite the economic slowdown, Locsin presented signs of optimism among entrepreneurs to open up and operate. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas recently shared that business sentiments are improving this year despite the Enhanced Community Quarantine. The confidence index in the BSP’s Business Expectation Survey for the first quarter of 2021 rose to 17.4 percent from 10.6 percent by 2020’s year-end. BEYOND FIBER Locsin noted how the optimism comes from reopening of businesses despite restrictions, the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and the development of new business and marketing strategies that could make their businesses resilient. “This shows us the unbreakable spirit of our MSMEs. Filipino entrepreneurs are finding ways to survive and come out stronger even as we come from the worst post-war GDP slump,” he added. A recent study by the Department of Trade and Industry conducted in February 2021 where 15,400 MSMEs participated showed that 56.4 percent are fully operating; 39.3 percent partially operating; and 4.3 percent have stopped their operations completely. In addition, 69

percent have not adopted any forms of E-Commerce. To help augment their foray into the digital stream, PLDT Enterprise introduced Beyond Fiber in the market as a primary offering to MSMEs during the initial periods of the quarantine restrictions last year. The suite of tailor-fit, bundled services help ensure connectivity for businesses despite remote working set ups and provide digital tools to keep their data secure and running, and support their venture in the E-Commerce space. “For businesses to thrive during―and even moreso after lockdown restrictions, they need to expand their channels from in-store to online―from online stores, websites, social media, or chat. They need to go cashless–and even cardless, through digital payment gateways which provide fast, convenient, real-time, and secured transactions. They need to be connected with strong, reliable, readily available and secured connections – whether fixed, wireless, or a combination of both,” Locsin said. “We assure MSMEs of our unbreakable commitment to them―because we know that this sector is key for the inclusive economic recovery of our country. We will continue to provide digital solutions that will support MSMEs as they navigate this new business landscape,” Locsin added. DIGITAL ENABLER Ernest Cu, Globe Telecom Inc. president and chief executive, meanwhile, said the company remains focused on its role as an enabler of digital transformation for all Filipinos, including businesses, by providing them with technology and agile and affordable solutions. “As businesses begin their journey to economic recovery, we will continue to extend our hand to entrepreneurs to give them meaningful and life-enabling innovations and access to opportunities and growth,” Cu said. Globe Business offers an array of digital business solutions to equip MSMEs in their digital journey including products, platforms, learning programs, and technology assistance.

Reopening: PH Economy On The Mend Special Report

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MERCHANDISE EXPORTS GREW 21% IN FIRST HALF

Manufacturing and trade bounce back By Othel V. Campos

He said the remarkable growth was a result of the government’s continuing efforts to safely balance lives and livelihood through calculated and calibrated measures to manage the risks that come with reopening the economy. “The robust performance was sustained as we focused the restrictions on the less essential activities, while allowing the rest of the economy, especially the essential and laborintensive sectors such as the exports and BPO sectors to operate, so as to save jobs and income,” Lopez said. SNIPPETS OF RECOVERY Philippine exports surged 17.6 percent in June, bringing in about $6.51 billion in revenues. From January to June, export receipts were 20.9 percent higher at $35.9 billion, com-

pared to the same months in 2020. The growth was attributed to the reopening of the global markets like the US, China and the EU and the continuing policy to keep export operations at full capacity despite the lockdowns. Lopez said consumer spending is also on the rise because of increased mobility and a gradual return to the pre-pandemic level of economic activity. “We are seeing an increasing shift of economic growth in Asia, and the Philippines is ready to participate in that growth. With the reopening of more economic activities and more aggressive vaccination rollout in the country, our balanced and calibrated approach manifested a continued strong export performance,” he said.

“We are positive that we will continue to see an upward movement in our export performance, as we allow 100-percent operating capacity of our exports sector even during the enhanced community quarantine. In our efforts not to disrupt export activities, we expect to maintain the acceleration of our growth rate and continue to provide jobs for our people. There is still room for more growth for Philippine exports,” he said. Electronics remained the country’s top exports, growing 21 percent in the first half over the same period last year and accounting for more than 60 percent of the total merchandise exports.] Most exports considered as industry inputs are on the rise, reflecting

the general uptick in global industrial activity. Exports of machinery and equipment, cathodes of refined copper, metal components and copper concentrates posted double-digit growth rates over the first half of 2020. FULL CAPACITY Another significant development is the improving state of local manufacturing. Based on the latest IHS Markit Purchasing Managers’ Index, the index for June 2021 rose to 50.8, as operating conditions improved, with the gradual easing of quarantine and allowing higher operating capacities in several sectors. According to the report, the uptick was marginal as the country continued to face modified and enhanced community quarantine measures folNext page

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By Othel V. Campos

HERE is enough food for everyone despite the numerous challenges faced by the agriculture sector such as natural calamities, outbreak of animal diseases and the global health crisis, according to the Department of Agriculture.

“A case in point is the African Swine Fever that, luckily, hasn’t broken down significant gains such as our historic productivity in crops,” said Agriculture Secretary William Dar. He said the DA works to harmonize its efforts with other related sectors such as transport, energy, water, environment, manufacturing and health. “The new normal is hardly a mere post-pandemic visualization. It is both a present and future, overrun by crisis, hitting where we are most vulnerable during the pandemic. However, on top of healing, our top concern has been to promote economic recovery as a means to mitigate hunger and malnutrition,” said Dar. The DA mapped out the Philippine food systems encompassing not only access to food, but also the generation of income and livelihood for farmers through sustainable methods. ‘PLANT, PLANT, PLANT’ Dar recalled historic accomplishments such as the flagship program of the DA―“Plant, Plant, Plant” or “Ahon Lahat, Pagkain Sapat Kontra COVID-19”―which transitioned into a complete reform package, following the encouraging results and growth. “Under the banner program ‘Plant, Plant, Plant’ is our mandate to ensure the unhampered food supply logistics. It is necessarily en-

Gov’t assures Filipino people of enough food despite virus

twined with those of the Department of Transportation and Department of Energy. We are constantly on guard against food inflation, so the DA teams up, every so often, with the Department of Trade and Industry such as the recently launched ‘Presyong Resonable Dapat’, in partnership with Robinson’s Supermarkets,” Dar said. He said the DA’s program “Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita” generated immense sales during the lockdown and benefited 41,357 farmers. The DA also continues to carry on the “One DA Agenda” to trans-

form Philippine agriculture against emerging threats to food security and the income potential of farmers and fishers who ironically were the first victims of hunger and malnutrition. With the imposition of another lockdown for NCR and its environs, the DA recently issued a set of guidelines, directing its regional field offices to facilitate the transport and delivery of food and agri-fishery commodities to markets in NCR and other areas. SUPPLY CHAIN “We will see to it that food supply

Aboitiz includes LGBTQ+, common-law partners as healthcare dependents ABOITIZ Equity Ventures, Inc. (AEV), as part of its commitment to support diversity, equality, and inclusion within the Aboitiz Group, includes LGBTQ+ The Aboitiz Group is and common-law partners as medical dependents of its committed to building team members. Starting August 15, 2021, all AEV team and nurturing a members with a legal civil status of “single” have the culture where its team option of listing their LGBTQ+ or common-law partners members are celebrated as one of their dependents under the health insurance for their individuality policy of the company. As a listed dependent, these and diversity. The partners are entitled to the same medical coverage as the inclusion of LGBTQ+ and spouse of a legally married team member. Aboitiz Group President and CEO Sabin M. Aboitiz common-law partners highlighted the importance of inclusion and diversity into our team members’ in the Group. “The Aboitiz Group is committed to healthcare dependents building and nurturing a culture where its team members is just one way the are celebrated for their individuality and diversity. The Group shows how inclusion of LGBTQ+ and common-law partners into we value and respect our team members’ healthcare dependents is just one each team member’s way the Group shows how we value and respect each individuality, and how team member’s individuality, and how we are sensitive we are sensitive to their to their needs. As an equal opportunity employer, we needs. are an innovative company that embraces a progressive culture—one that recognizes team members as valued SABIN M. ABOITIZ drivers of organizational success,” Aboitiz said. Aboitiz Group President and CEO The new policy is a testament to the Aboitiz Group’s commitment to its sustainability journey. The policy supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 5: Reducing Inequalities. As a signatory to UNGC, the Group upholds the UNGC Principles on Human rights and Labor to create an inclusive working environment for its employees. In addition, Aboitiz is the first conglomerate to join the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment which aims to promote Gender Workplace Equality. These alliances provide a learning avenue for businesses on best practices and policies that would benefit the company and employees with increased productivity and good employee morale in the long run. Apart from supporting UN SDG 5, the new policy comes as one of the many products of the company’s REMIX program. Inspired by the book “The Remix” by Lindsey Pollak, the program is an initiative within the Aboitiz Group that aims to future-proof the organization by encouraging senior team leaders and junior team members to share ideas, insights, and suggestions on how to improve (or “remix”) internal policies or processes. The concept of “remixing” is one way the Aboitiz Group concretely practices ways to future-proof its organization and design a more inclusive work environment as it moves towards a ‘better normal.’ Some recent outputs in AEV from the REMIX program involve addressing team members’ individual needs on mental health by providing counseling sessions and mental health awareness sessions, and the inclusion of mental health concerns for medical leaves. Other REMIX initiatives include a “work-from-anywhere” virtual work policy and a virtual work equipment loan. Through the continuous review of policies and guidelines via the REMIX project, the Aboitiz Group ensures that relevant assistance is continuously provided to its team members to help improve their lives despite the tough challenges brought about by the pandemic.

lines are kept open, and ensure continuous delivery of major food items and temper prices.” Dar said. Among the measures that ensure safe and secure transport and delivery of agri-fishery commodities is the issuance of “Food Passes” or IATF IDs . For those without these IDs, the DA RFOs will issue new ones. Under the guidelines issued by the Department of Interior and Local Government, those entering Metro Manila from other regions should bring the Food Passes, IATF IDs, or any ID issued by the DA and other

Manufacturing... From E1

lowing a rise of COVID-19 cases. Input costs rose with material shortages, reportedly the main driver of inflation. Global demand for Filipino manufactured goods also rose for the second successive month (May and June) with a rate of growth that was stronger than the historical average, the report said. The improvement in the PMI can be credited to a government policy allowing exporting industries to operate at 100-percent or at full-capacity. According to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, about 98 percent of the companies inside the economic zones are operational with information technology and business process management taking the lead in the reopening of more enterprises. During the enhanced community quarantine and modified ECQ in March and April 2021, the government allowed several more manufacturing and essential sectors to operate.This had multiplier effect, resulting in a broad-based multisectoral expansion. The Department of Trade and Industry thus maintains its projection of P1.25 trillion in approved investments for the year, which should be up 10 percent from P1 trillion in 2020. “Prospects for 2021 are encouraging and will allow us to recover to pre-pandemic levels in 2022. This will precent long-term scarring and productivity losses,” Lopez said. He said among the identified enablers of economic recovery are the timely implementation of an intensified vaccination program; re-opening of the economy at the appropriate time with all safeguards; implementation if the recovery programs like the CREATE Law, Bayanihan 1 and 2, Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer Act, “Build, Build, Build” program and the 2021 budget; and, passage of key reforms. STATE OF MSMES Meanwhile, about 16 percent of almost 2 million micro, small and medium enterprises were still closed, based on the recent monitoring by the DTI. The department said it continues to capacitate the MSMEs in achieving larger marketability to help them pivot to the digital space and survive the new trends

government agencies. The DA regional executive directors are instructed to coordinate with their provincial and municipal LGUs and buy food from Kadiwa, farmers’ and fisherfolks cooperatives and associations. The DA-Regional Field Offices’ Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Divisions in Luzon was tasked regularly coordinate with the DA-AMAS to hasten the delivery of food and agri-fishery commodities in Metro Manila markets and Kadiwa stalls. The DA-RFOs should also coordinate with DOH and DILG counterparts for developments regarding health and medical protocols. EMBRACING CHANGES As the country pivots to a new world, the DA is preparing its subsectors to move-up, scale-up and embrace the changes, as there seems to be no turning back to the old normal. Among the initiatives and imperatives of the DA in the next 11 months are plans to intensify the “Plant, Plant, Plant” program all over the country; upscale urban agriculture; establish more Kadiwa outlets in Metro areas; hold more activities to encourage and engage the youth in agriculture and entrepreneurship; update industry roadmaps; scale up of digital agriculture; endeavor big agricultural projects; and, implement province-led agriculture and fisheries extension systems. “We need to rethink, as we all have to play an active part in enhancing the transformation of our agricultural areas,” Dar said.

in transacting business. Apart from loan programs provided for under Bayanihan 1 and 2, the DTI strengthens the One Town One Product business concept. “We believe that MSMEs will play essential role in helping to rebuild the economy back better so we can help uplift the lives of people in the pandemic future,” said Lopez. OTOP is a priority stimulus program for MSMEs as the government’s customized intervention to drive inclusive local economic growth. The program enables localities and communities to determine, develop, support and promote products or services that are rooted in its local culture, community resource, creativity, connection and competitive advantage. It is a convergent initiative involving DTI and other government agencies and private sector. MSMEs looking to restart their operations during the pandemic are encouraged to apply for interest-free, collateral-free government loans by creating an account at www.BayanihanCARES.ph. Small business owners will have access to non-collateral loans through the website being maintained by the Small Business Corp., an attached agency of the DTI. SBCorp is the program implementer of the P8-billion Bayanihan CARES (COVID-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises), made available to MSMEs, cooperatives, hospitals, tourism businesses, and repatriated or displaced overseas Filipino workers. Under the program, qualified loan applicants can apply for loans ranging from P10,000 to P5 million, depending on their pre-pandemic sales and business assets figures, if applicable. SBCorp. so far approved 31,700 MSME loan applications. These correspond to a total loan amount of P4.84 billion. VACCINATION EFFORTS As new infections continue, stressing the country’s already battered health system, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion said local government units should aim to fully vaccinate 70 percent to 80 percent of their citizens if they wanted to avoid future lockdowns.

Reopening: PH Economy On The Mend Special Report

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DOT bares strategy for tourism recovery By Othel V. Campos

OURISM, an economic sector that bore the brunt of the pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns, is determined to bounce back better and quicker on the back of intensified vaccination of its frontliners.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said efforts to save the sector continue through coordinated push from the private sector, with assistance from the national government, in terms of amelioration packages, loans and vaccination of tourism frontliners. “Nonetheless, the volatility of the situation was highlighted by the recent surge in COVID-19 cases, due to the new variants. This resulted in the re-imposition of strict quarantine measures in many parts of the country. Yes, this is a set back in our recovery efforts, but I strongly believe that this is only temporary,” she said. “Over the last several months, we’ve laid the groundwork for recovery in the whole country, with the continued support of the national and local governments, as well as private stakeholders, coupled with the increasing rate of vaccinations. We are improving our chances for the full revitalization of the tourism industry,”Puyat said. “The key to achieving all our targets, is through the forging of strong partnerships, and everyone reaching for the same lofty goal,” she said. Taking a multi-sectoral approach, the Tourism Response and Recovery Plan outlines various measures

TOURISM SECRETARY BERNADETTE ROMULO-PUYAT

The Department of Tourism spearheads the inoculation of tourism frontliners.

to help affected sectors and lays the groundwork for a better normal― that is creating a stronger, more resilient and more sustainable tourism industry. The TRRP serves as the sector’s blueprint for recovery. “Another strategy to prepare our stakeholders, workers and partners in the tourism industry for the better normal was to use this downtime in tourism activity to rescale upskill and retool them. Even in the midst of a pandemic, we continue to provide training programs for our partner tourism enterprises and workers, and improving the quality of their services operating procedures, and tourism products,” Puyat said. To keep tourism micro, small and medium enterprises afloat, the DOT

forged a partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry for the immediate implementation of the Cares for Travel program―which stands for COVID-19 assistance to restart enterprises, for the tourism rehabilitation and vitalization of enterprises and livelihood. Launched on Oct. 12, 2020, the program provides recipients access to zero interest, no collateral loans with a loan term period of up to 4 years, including a corresponding grace period of up to 2 years. Under the Bayanihan 2 Act, P6 billion was allocated for working capital loans from the DTI’s Small Business Corp. “Apart from our push to promote health and safety in our tourism destinations, through the imple-

Multilateral lenders cautiously optimistic on PH growth outlook MULTILATERAL lenders expect the Philippines to post growth this year, but at a slower rate than previously anticipated following the recent surge in COVID-19 infections across Southeast Asia. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Asian Development Bank and the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office tempered their GDP projections for the Philippines this year, taking into account the impact of the quarantine restrictions enforced by authorities to contain the surge in new cases. Early in June, the World Bank cut its previous 5.5-percent growth projection for the Philippines this year to 4.7 percent. It also cut its 2022 growth forecast for the Philippines to 5.9 percent from 6.3 percent, and the 2023 forecast to 6 percent from 6.2 percent. Meanwhile, the Asian Development Bank expects the Philippines to grow 4.5 percent in 2021 and 5.5 percent in 2022. “Sustained government spending on infrastructure and social assistance programs is supporting recovery, as did a gradual pickup in household spending aided by strong remittances,” the ADB said in its Asian Development Outlook 2021 report. The Washington-based IMF also adjusted its growth forecast for the Philippines this year to 5.4 percent from 6.9 percent previously, saying the surge in new COVID-19 cases could slow economic recovery. An IMF team led by Thomas Helbling conducted virtual discussions with the officials of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the economic cluster of the government and other public and private sector representatives about the Philippine economy for the 2021 Article IV Consultation from May 21 to June 11, 2021. Helbling said, however, the IMF raised its 2022 growth forecast to 7 percent from 6.5 percent. For 2022, Helbling said the new 7-percent GDP forecast was anchored on the expectations of further reopening of the economy amid the faster

rollout of COVID vaccination program, more business activities and more investments on the government side which could result in higher multiplier effect. Helbling said the uncertainty around the pace of the economic recovery was high, and the balance of risks to economic activity was tilted toward the downside. He said supply constraints could lead to delays in vaccinations, which in turn would increase the risk of virus resurgence after the recent second wave and tightening quarantine measures. It could also amplify the effect of external shocks, such as rising global interest rates and inflation, that would constrain the monetary policy response and raise financing costs for the public and private sector. He said a reinvigorated infrastructure push with greater private sector participation and a stronger global recovery could help accelerate growth. “For the recovery to take hold, monetary policy should remain accommodative. While the recent spikes in inflation should be closely monitored, the present monetary policy setting is appropriate as the current inflation pressure appears to be temporary and is likely to taper off in the second half of the year,” Helbling said. He said the timely implementation of fiscal support—with flexibility to address evolving priorities—is crucial for continued recovery. The IMF said to rekindle investment and revert to its strong pre-pandemic growth rates, the Philippines should maintain the momentum of structural reforms. Important progress has been made on many fronts, such as tax reform, digital payments, cutting red tape and climate mitigation and adaptation, it said. However, sustained efforts will be needed to reduce restrictions on foreign investment, fast-track the rollout of the national ID, scale up social protection, strengthen healthcare and education and implement climate change commitments. Julito G. Rada

mentation of strict guidelines, another critical factor is getting everyone in the tourism industry vaccinated. The vaccination of the tourism workforce, not only protects them. It also protects and reassures tourists that travel can be safe, yet fun. We are in close coordination with Secretary Charlie Galvez and Secretary Vince Dizon, and all the different LGUs to make sure that all tourism frontliners are vaccinated,” Puyat said. More than 70 percent of tourism frontliners in Metro Manila working in DOT-accredited quarantine facilities, isolation facilities, multiple-use hotels and staycation hotels, under the A1 and A4 vaccination groups were vaccinated against COVID-19

as of Aug. 9, 2021. Based on the data submitted by 455 DOT-accredited accommodation establishments, about 19,315 of 26,745 tourism frontliners from the 16 cities and one municipality in Metro Manila received jabs. Across island destinations, 9,240 tourism workers received their full doses. They included 9,920 in Bohol, 6,500 in Boracay, 7,500 in Palawan and 1,000 fully-vaccinated workers in Pampanga. “The vaccination of tourism workers is a necessary step to keep them protected while doing their duty in the frontlines. These figures are of high importance especially with the threat of the Delta variant,” Puyat said. The DOT, through its NCR office, also facilitated the vaccination of workers in DOT-accredited restaurants. As of Aug. 9, 1,245 of the 4,479 workers in the list submitted by 202 restaurants in Metro Manila were vaccinated. “With the arrival of more vaccines, the DOT looks forward to the vaccination of those employed in tourism support services as well, such as tricycle drivers, massage therapists and porters, among others,” Puyat said.

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DOTR prepares airports, railways, roads and ports to improve mobility By Darwin G. Amojelar

HE economy can only expand through an efficient and modern transportation system that reduces travel time and leads to the faster delivery of goods and services. A modern transportation system is essential and will provide all the trappings of a progressive economy. The government, thus, is pushing for the completion of big-ticket transport infrastructure projects under the government’s “Build Build Build” program to improve mobility and connectivity that could help the economy bounce back from the global pandemic. “The transportation sector has been one of the primary victims of COVID-19. Thus, various initiatives have been implemented to surmount present challenges and help the country’s economy recover,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said. The DOTr wants to revolutionize mobility to keep up with the changing times and shape the country’s transport system into one that is resilient and adaptable to the future. “And so, we have embraced digitalization and continue to harness best practices in technology in all of our four sectors, namely, the aviation and airports, railways, road, and maritime sectors to deliver swift agency processes and limit human intervention for the safety of the people,” he adds. Despite health and community restrictions,

TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY ARTHUR TUGADE

Tugade said the “Build, Build, Build” program continues to create more jobs and stimulate the economy. The government under the BBB program allotted P8 trillion to P9 trillion, raising the spending for infrastructure from just 2 percent of the gross domestic product during the previous four administrations to an average of 5 percent of the GDP. “We would not stop building and rehabilitating airports, seaports and other infrastructure projects that will improve the lives of Filipinos,” says Tugade. The DOTr is also working on some long-

delayed rail projects. These include the Metro Manila Subway, the country’s first underground railway system that was first conceived in 1973 but with actual construction starting only in 2019. In addition, Tugade said the LRT-1 Cavite Extension, which was delayed for 19 years, as well as the Manila to Clark Railway, which was planned in 1993, are undergoing full-blast construction. Other railway projects that the agency is workings are the MRT-7, North-South Commuter Railway Project and Subic-Clark Railway Project. Tugade says the DOTr aviation sector, meanwhile, has completed 121 airport projects from 2016 to the present,. Economy gradually recuperating “Now that we are gradually recuperating ... [we are] intensifying even more our infrastructure development to stimulate the economy,” says Public Works Secretary Mark Villar. The way to post-pandemic economic recovery, he says, is to push for the implementation and completion of high-impact projects in the pipeline. Just like most of the world’s, the Philippine economy badly suffered from the prolonged community quarantines but the government is poised for immediate recovery. “We are tapping infrastructure development to reinvigorate economic productivity, encourage mobility and provide employment opportunities,” Villar said. “As restrictions continue to ease, we are confident that the Build, Build, Build Program will be able to deliver short and long-term impact from generating jobs to enabling private

businesses and individuals to produce goods and services more efficiently,” he added. Villar said the government’s Build, Build, Build Program will still require millions of local manpower nationwide despite the pandemic. “Jobs will allow communities to recover from the economic impact of COVID-19,” he said. This year alone, the DPWH estimates around 1.6 million jobs will be generated from its 2021 budget of P695.7 billion. The agency said employment opportunities for engineers, carpenters, steel man, welder, scaffolder, electrician, painters and laborers will be generated from these proejcts. More infra projects Villar says the DPWH accomplished public infrastructure projects amounting to P2.5 trillion from 2016 to 2020 compared with P820.4 billion from 2011 to 2015, an increase of 209 percent or P1.7 trillion worth of projects. With the more infrastructure investment, the DPWH generated as much as 6.6 million jobs nationwide from 2016 to 2020. Villar said by the time President Duterte steps out of office in 2022, the public may expect the completion of the agency’s ongoing projects, which include 15,134 kilometers of road construction, rehabilitation and widening; 1,859 bridge rehabilitation, retrofitting, replacement and widening; 4,155 flood-control projects; 17,647 more classrooms, 186 school workshop buildings and 99 evacuation centers. The agency also completed the Estrella Pantaleon Bridge, a modern bridge that will Next page

Meralco Communicates Excellence in 2021 Affirms status as top industry communicator during the pandemic

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By Peter Duran THE Manila Electric Company (Meralco), the country’s premier electric distribution utility, continues to exude excellence beyond providing stable and reliable power in its franchise area. Recognized for its initiatives centered on customer service excellence, communication, and transparency, it recently bagged three (3) golds, three (3) silvers, and three (3) bronzes at the 2021 Stevie International Business Awards (IBA). It commanded superiority in the field of communications in the global scene as it bested 3,700 nominations from various organizations from different industries in 65 countries. The prestigious Stevie International Business Awards is an annual awards program that started in 2002 and is joined by top corporations to showcase professional achievements and compete for various awards. It honors and generates public recognition of these achievements and positive contributions of organizations and working professionals worldwide and is one of the world’s most coveted prizes. Awarded Gold were the One Meralco Foundation (OMF) program “One for Trees: Helping Farmers Survive the Pandemic through Sustainable Reforestation;” the “Meralco Annual Report,” which was recognized as the best annual report among utilities in 2021; and the “MVP The Man and His Art,” a book that showcases Filipino artistry that graces the halls of Meralco, PLDT, First Pacific, and MVP’s residence. The “Meralco Sustainability Report,” “Energizing off-grid schools in the Philippines,” and “Powering-up Communities Amidst the Pandemic” were given Silver awards. Meanwhile, “A Back to School Program to support Teacher-Frontliners during the Pandemic,” the “Meralco Advisory,” and the “Meralco Facebook page” each bagged a Bronze award. Furthermore, Meralco was recognized for its initiatives in customer-centric innovations in the 8th Annual Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards—an awards competition open to all organizations from 29 nations in the region, focusing on recognizing innovation in all its forms. Awarded Gold was the “Meralco 2019 Sustainability Report”, an allinclusive discussion of Meralco’s sustainability agenda. This is the third international recognition received by the said publication. Two (2) entries, “Fitting The Bill: Meralco Makes Paying Bills Easier With The Customer Account Number (CAN)” and “Safeguard the Economy at All Costs: Meralco Waives Energy Demand Charge” both received Silver, while “Safety first: Empowering Enterprises to fight an invisible enemy” was awarded Bronze. According to Meralco President and CEO Atty. Ray C. Espinosa, “Excellent customer service and communication are at the core of what we do in Meralco, and transparency is a value we’ve long adhered to. To be recognized internationally for campaigns focused on these is definitely an honor, and a feat for the many men and women of Meralco who have been toiling relentlessly for the fulfillment of these programs, despite adversities brought by the pandemic.” Consistently showing excellence in communications, the One Meralco Group also received various citations from different award-giving bodies in the country. It recently topped pandemic response communications in the 18th Philippine Quill Awards, an awards program organized by the International Association of Business Communicators – Philippines (IABC Philippines). Its entry “Meralco Digital Press Conferences: Keeping Close with Media and Public Despite Social Distancing” was awarded the Top Communication Award for COVID Communications. Alongside this are 31 Excellence and Merit Awards for various programs. Meralco was also named Company of the Year 2nd Runner Up in the event, which was held via livestream due to the pandemic. The Quill Award is bestowed to companies, organizations, and institutions for the use of excellent communication programs, research, learning and development, and skills to achieve business goals and make a difference in society. Among Meralco’s programs that won Excellence Awards were the following internal and external programs in various categories:

The One Meralco group also received various citations from different awardgiving bodies in the country, a testament to the customer-centric, goal-oriented, and impactful programs they implement as part of their commitment to keep the lights on.

Meralco was recognized at the 2021 Stevie International Business Awards (IBA) for its initiatives centered on communication, customer service excellence, and transparency. Winning the Gold Stevies are “MVP The Man and His Art,” a coffee-table book that showcases the preservation and documentation of Filipino art and culture; and the “2020 Meralco Annual Report” for its clean, concise presentation of the company’s effort to fulfill its role through delivering reliable service by pivoting to digital solutions and ensuring system resiliency amid disruption. Also awarded a Gold Stevie is One Meralco Foundation’s “One for Trees: Helping Farmers Survive the Pandemic through Sustainable Reforestation” for presenting its outreach efforts to farmers from within and beyond its franchise area.

Excellent customer service and communication are at the core of what we do in Meralco, and transparency is a value we’ve long adhered to. To be recognized internationally for campaigns focused on these is definitely an honor, and a feat for the many men and women of Meralco who have been toiling relentlessly for the fulfillment of these programs, despite adversities brought by the pandemic. ATTY. RAY C. ESPINOSA

Meralco President and CEO

“Meralco Goes Green”, “CovidComms 2020: Keeping the Lights On in the time of Pandemic”, “Laging Handa: The 2019 One Meralco Foundation Back-to-School Program”, “Meralco Advisory: Informing, Educating and Equipping Customers with Knowledge through Innovative Communications”, “Meralco Advisory: Informing, Educating and Equipping Customers with Knowledge through Innovative Communications”, “Ensuring our Stakeholders are Informed: The 2019 Quarterly Meralco Operating and Financial Media Briefings”, “CovidComms 2020: Green Transport for Frontliners”, “Kaisa sa Kabuhayan: Aplaya Sardines Enterprise with Atimonan Fisherfolks”, “KKK Towards a Green Future”, “MVP Academic Achievement Awards 2019 “Builders of the Future”, “Meralco is Ready: Hosting of the 2019 4Q Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED)”, and the “2019 Meralco Sustainability Report: Sustaining the Future”. Meanwhile, the following internal and external programs were given Merit Awards in various categories: “2019 One Meralco Cooltural Festival”, “One For Trees: Engaging Employees in Sustainable Reforestation”, “Araw ng mga Lineman: Pasasalamat sa IDOL naming Lineman”, Meralco Integrated Reporting Management System: A Big Leap Towards a Safer Work Place”, “Una sa Lahat, Safety”, “Power Up Forum - Sustainability Edition”, “MakaBayad”, “Bayanihan at Malasakit: Meralco’s Taal restoration and CSR response”, “Covid Comms 2020: Enlightening the public on ECQ months bill spike issue through media engagement”, “Meralco’s revitalized renewable energy push for solar microgrids”, “Household Electrification Program”, “The Good Store: A Commitment to Sustainability”, “Meralco’s proactive supply procurement communication campaign”, “Typhoon Tisoy Response: Managing

crisis communications during 2019’s strongest typhoon”, “COVIDComms 2020: From Farmers to Frontliners”, “No School Left in the Dark - Energizing the farthest public schools in the Philippines”, “CovidComms 2020: Flattening the Curve by Flattening the Fear - One MERALCO COVID-19 Online Awareness Roadshow”, and the “Meralco Liwanag Park Digital Tour”. Another award-giving body that recognized Meralco’s excellence in communications is The Anvil Awards, an awards program annually held by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP). Meralco and OMF received eight silver awards for their various programs in the 56th Anvil Awards, which was also held via livestream. The Anvil Awards, dubbed “the Oscars of Philippine Public Relations,” recognizes outstanding external and internal programs, campaigns, and tools that exemplify the highest standards of PR practice in the country. Meralco also received a nomination for the “Company of the Year” award as its flagship program, Meralco Advisory, winning for the 6th time since 2013. Meralco Advisory has been one of the company’s longest-running communication programs and has effectively provided its customers with technical information presented in a simplified and creative manner that a layperson can easily understand. The company also received a Silver Anvil award for its program “Keeping the Lights On in the Time of Pandemic” in the newly added category for COVID-19-related programs and tools. The said program is a communication management program on keeping its employees safe and well informed of matters related to the pandemic. Meralco was also recognized for “Meralco Goes Green Internal Communications,” a campaign launched in 2019 to empower its employees to do their part in living sustainably through various programs and initiatives. Other programs that received recognitions were the following: “Meralco Digital Press Conferences: Keeping Close with Media and Public Despite Social Distancing”, “Share A Leave/A Day To Give”, “From Farmer to Frontliners,” “No school left in the dark-School Electrification Program” energizes the farthest schools in the country, and “Household Electrification Program.” All these awards and recognitions serve as a testament to Meralco’s customer-centric, goaloriented and impactful programs that not only promote sustainability, but also prove to be beneficial for customers and industry stakeholders during the pandemic. Excellent and clear communication is essential to ensure that Meralco’s critical programs and services are well understood and appreciated by its customers and stakeholders.

Lockdown in capital region leads to job losses NO one will dispute that lockdowns or restrictions in the movement of the population result in a higher unemployment rate. The return of Metro Manila to a severe form of lockdown, or the enhanced community quarantine, starting on Aug. 6 displaced hundreds of thousands of jobs as fast-food restaurants, small retail outlets and those offering personal services close their stores or reduce their operations to the minimum. Government economists this early have conceded that the unemployment rate will rise from 7.7 percent in June when the August Labor Survey comes out in October. The June rate translates into 3.76 million jobless Filipinos from 3.73 million in May this year. In sum, 45.08 million were employed in June out of 48.84 million Filipinos in the labor force. The correlation of the unemployment rate to lockdowns is easy to comprehend. The economy, per the estimate of the National Economic and Development Authority, will lose around P210 billion in terms of business output for the two-week implementation of the strictest ECQ in Metro Manila to curb the increasing number of new COVID-19 cases. A week of ECQ in Metro Manila, which accounts for about 32 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, will cost the economy P105 billion. It will also increase the number of poor people by up to 177,000 and 444,000 more with the loss of jobs. The smallscale businesses will suffer greatly under the new lockdown scheme, as well as workers because of the no-work, no-pay labor arrangement. The ECQ serves as a pre-emptive strike against the spread of the more virulent Delta strain of COVID-19. But had local government units done their job in policing their citizens about health protocols and social distancing, the lockdown could have been prevented. LGUs, especially barangay chiefs, have been amiss in contract tracing and isolating cases to stop the spread of the virus. A faster and more widespread vaccination drive can extricate the Philippines from these series of lockdowns. Unfortunately, vaccine supplies have been short and not enough to inoculate more Filipinos. In the meantime, LGUs should do their job in curbing the spread of COVID-19, instead of conveniently proposing a general lockdown to cover up their incompetence.

DOTr... From F1 connect the cities of Mandaluyong and Makati within five minutes. Built at a cost of P1.46 billion, the Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge Project is one of the two bridges funded by a grant of the People’s Republic of China―the other one is the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge in Manila that is expected to be finished by the end of the year. Villar says the modern bridge across Pasig River is expected to accommodate about 50,000 vehicles daily. It is among the projects under the Metro Manila Logistics Improvement Network to address traffic congestion, including that of EDSA. The DPWH also aims to complete and open the other half of the work for the BGC-Ortigas Center Link Road Project toward the end of this third quarter. The P5.72 billion BGC-Ortigas Center Link Road Project involves the construction of 440-meter 4-lane Kalayaan Bridge, rehabilitation and widening of 362 meter Brixton (corner Reliance St.) to Fairlane Street, and 565 meter viaduct structure traversing Lawton Avenue onwards to the entrance of Bonifacio Global City. Once fully completed, travel time between Bonifacio Global City and Ortigas Central Business District will be reduced to 12 minutes. “We are confident and we are really pushing to achieve our goal that by the end of this administration, every Filipino will be able to reap the benefits of these infrastructure projects that they very much deserved,” Villar said.

Reopening: PH Economy On The Mend Special Report

TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2021 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Prospects bright for renewable energy By Alena Mae S. Flores

OING green is a mantra that is guiding global leaders to rethink their energy strategy.

With severe fires, floods and drought wreaking havoc on the planet, climate change has given urgency to the growing global call for governments and financial institutions to increase investments on renewables as clean sources of energy. Worldwide, the pressure to go green and move away from coal has gained significant traction. On the local front, the Department of Energy wants to increase the share of renewables to allow the displacement of carbon-intensive energy sources, thus, reducing greenhouse gas emissions while sustaining the country’s energy supply. The government has set forth a national commitment to intensify the use of renewable energy resources as a major policy to support its clean energy goals as contained in DOE’s Philippine Energy Plan for 2018 to 2040, The DOE under the plan encourages private entities to mobilize more investments for the development of renewable resources and technologies. The DOE updated the National Renewable Energy Program and revised the RE Roadmap containing the targets and deliverables necessary to further advance the expansion of renewables in the energy system.

The draft National Renewable Energy Program 2020-2040 provides an indicative interim capacity targets for each RE technology from 2020 to 2040 to reach the total RE capacity target of more than 30,000 MW by 2040. This is double the original target of 15,304 MW of installed capacity by 2030. The DOE said NREP foresees an additional 20,000 MW capacity is expected to be integrated into the grid on top of current RE capacity. NREP forecasts new geothermal capacities of 1,453 MW, in addition to the current output of 1,906 MW, to be installed within the planning period, bringing the total capacity to 3,359 MW by 2040. Around 13,440 MW in additional capacities from hydropower resources are also expected to be in place by 2040. But the target is dependent on the development and completion of identified hydropower potentials during the period.

Awarded biomass operating contracts (as of December 2017) indicate new capacities totaling 1,305.7 MW are foreseen to be added in the energy system within the planning horizon, while wind capacity is likely to increase by 1,337.7 MW during the planning period. On the other hand, the capacity target of 11,070 MW for solar is expected from awarded service contracts and committed and indicative projects. PARADIGM SHIFT The agency said NREP 2020-2040 introduces a paradigm shift on renewables wherein it categorizes RE systems into three main baskets, refocusing toward a consumer-centered use from the previously gridcentered approach. NREP introduces the Consumer + RE Systems where it encourages the development of RE systems to be utilized by the consumers in the agriculture, fisheries, health and educa-

tion. This aims to maximize the integration of battery and other energy storage systems, as well as the use of information and communications technology. The Consumer + RE Systems + Distribution Utility (DU) basket, meanwhile, aims to promote investments in the Net Metering Program, demand-side participation schemes and distributed energy systems through innovative, technical, and commercial approaches. Finally, the Consumer + RE Systems + DU + System and Market Operations facilitates and improves compliance to the renewable portfolio standard, Green Energy Auction Program RE Rules, Green Energy Option Program and smart grid policy, among others. To realize the NREP goals, the DOE intensified the strategies and implementing mechanisms as reflected in the revised RE Roadmap.

The roadmap seeks to provide an inclusive approach to mainstream the targeted 20,000 MW RE capacity by 2040. The DOE accelerated the enforcement and fast tracking of all policy mechanisms required to fully realize the objectives of the RE Law. It pushed to streamline existing guidelines and procedures in the awarding and administration of RE service contracts and registration process of RE developers to expedite the implementation of RE projects. Renewable Energy Zones The DOE says prospective investments from RE are expected to come from the 25 candidate RE zones with highest concentrations of high-quality wind and solar resources. The CREZ is a stakeholderdriven planning process chaired by the DOE with financial support from the United States Agency for International Development and technical support from the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory. It aims to encourage the transmission upgrades and expansion towards the optimal utilization of the country’s indigenous RE resources. The 25 selected CREZs across the Philippines have an estimated gross capacity of 152 gigawatts (GW) of wind and solar photovoltaics potentials. The zones also include an estimated 365 megawatts (MW) of geothermal, 375 MW of biomass, and over 650 GW of hydropower capacity distributed across the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao systems.

MPIC supports ASEAN Green Initiative through its groupwide environmental programs I

N LINE with the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) commits to fully support the ASEAN Green Initiative (AGI) led by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB).

“As the Philippines’ leading infrastructure investment Company, MPIC is well-positioned to help advance ACB’s goals and objectives” said MPIC Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan. The ACB is ASEAN’s response to the challenge of biodiversity loss. It is an intergovernmental organization that facilitates cooperation and coordination among the ten ASEAN Member States (AMS) and with regional and international organizations on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of such natural treasures. ACB recently launched the AGI to encourage and incentivize the planting of at least 10 million trees throughout the ASEAN Region over a period of 10 years using native species. This demonstrates the regional cooperation led by the AMS in recognizing local and national activities to promote the restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. It also encourages the adoption of nature-based solutions to address biodiversity loss and respond to climate change through grassroots actions. In his Opening Remarks, H.E Kung Phoak, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community discussed the value of preserving and restoring ASEAN’s rich biodiversity as it hosts megadiverse ecosystems. It is home to 18% of the world’s known plants and animals, 60% of tropical peatlands, and 42% of mangroves. He also added that these natural resources are at risk because of climate change, oil exploitation, rapid land conversion, human-induced pollution, and illegal wildlife trade. These have resulted to serious consequences that affect people’s livelihood, food security, health and resiliency. “Allow me to stress that the difference a simple tree planting can make has never been trivial or inconsequential, especially now with environmental crises that we are experiencing, the link between the loss of biodiversity and the rise of diseases and pandemics is undeniable” said ACB’s Executive Direc-

tor, Dr. Theresa Mundita S. Lim. “The AGI primarily aims to usher in coordinated tree planting activities across ASEAN that are anchored on sound scientific principles and are aligned to contribute positively to the region’s overarching commitment to restore and sustainably use the region’s rich and diverse ecosystems.” MPIC, represented by its Chief Finance, Risk and Sustainability Officer Chaye A. Cabal-Revilla, was invited by ACB as the sole private sector representative in the AGI launch. Integrating business and environmental stewardship in investment strategies During the said event, Ms. Cabal-Revilla emphasized the Group’s sustainability philosophy of integrating business and environmental stewardship in their investment strategies. This is evident in how MPIC designs, builds, and operates their businesses with minimal environment and social disruption.

The group’s Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway, for example, was carefully designed and built to protect the existing 278-hectare mangrove ecosystem and avoid disruption to the fisherfolk communities in the area. Investing in environmental protection programs It was also an opportunity to bring awareness to MPIC’s Gabay Kalikasan environmental programs such as Metro Pacific Investments Foundation’s Shore It Up! that has institutionalized initiatives on the conservation of marine and coastal biodiversity for the past 13 years. Aside from creating livelihood opportunities for coastal communities, Shore It Up! has protected over 5,300 hectares of mangroves across its three Mangrove Protection/Propagation and Information Centers. MPIC’s presentation also highlighted the group’s existing reforestation programs that were developed to offset the carbon footprint in its operations. These include Meralco’s

“One for Trees” program that aims to rehabilitate ecosystems through reforestation and agroforestry by planting at least five (5) million trees by 2025; Maynilad’s “Plant for Life” program that engages the Dumagat indigenous community to reforest the denuded Ipo Watershed – a vital source of water for Metro Manila; and Global Business Power’s carbon sink forestry project in the Visayas region that empowers local communities in planting endemic tree species, high value crops, and fruit-bearing trees, which can eventually become a source of sustainable income for the locals. With the increasing push towards digitalization, the Group has also taken strides to protect nature through collaboration and technology, advocating the use of new platforms and technologies to promote greater environmental responsibility. MPIC and MPIF recently forged a partnership with Rainforest Connection and Huawei for the deployment of an Internet of Things (IoT) solution to protect the country’s rainforests.

Protecting nature through collaboration and technology Ms. Cabal-Revilla also emphasized the pivotal role of strengthening partnerships and increasing collaboration as well as regional cooperation in restoring rich forest ecosystems. In line with this, the Group is collaborating with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Laguna Lake Development Authority under the LAWA (Laguna de Bay Welfare Awareness) campaign. This project aims to align rehabilitation efforts across the Group and formulate a cohesive action plan to protect Laguna Lake, a critical water source for Metro Manila and neighboring areas. As MPIC fosters an inclusive approach in its sustainability programs, the Company, together with the rest of the MVP Group of Companies, also launched six (6) Gabay advocacies for a sustainable Philippines with specific focus areas on environmental stewardship, livelihood, health and sports, youth, education and community empowerment. These advocacies encapsulate the Group’s efforts towards the attainment of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. “Our individual actions create a ripple effect and serve as the foundation of pervasive impact. If we work together and promote collective action, we can accelerate our efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change and halt biodiversity loss,” said Cabal-Revilla. “We need to implement meaningful initiatives that are aimed at creating a sustainable and crisis-resilient future for all.” Beyond the newly launched ASEAN Green Initiative, MPIC will broaden its partnership with the ACB and work with the organization in identified areas of collaboration, particularly the #WeAreASEANBiodiversity campaign that calls for everyone’s participation to save the planet and restore biodiversity. “We are grateful to the ACB for the opportunity to jointly implement programs that are in line with our shared goal of protecting the environment” said MPIC President and CEO, Jose Ma. K. Lim. MPIC’s support for the ASEAN Green Initiative is aligned with its commitment to contributing to the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG#13 Climate Action which focuses on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts; and SDG # 15 Life on Land that aims to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.