DoT to start issuing seals to operate for Boracay establishments by Aug. 16

July 29, 2018 | 7:35 pm

By Louine Hope Conserva, Correspondent
BORACAY, MALAY — Accreditation for establishments in Boracay that are compliant with all environmental and legal requirements will be released beginning Aug. 16, in time for the October 26 reopening of the island tourist destination.
The accreditation, which will come from the Department of Tourism (DoT), will serve as the final control seal for determining which businesses would be allowed to operate after the island’s six-month closure for rehabilitation work.
“No DoT accreditation, no opening of establishments for tourism activities,” DoT-Western Visayas Regional Director Helen J. Catalbas said in an interview.
She explained that they will use as basis the final report of the multi-agency Boracay Inspection Committee, which is in charge of checking compliance to all national and local requirements.
The DoT held a meeting with Boracay stakeholders last July 25 for updates and preparations for the reopening.
Maylynn “Nenette” Aguirre-Graf, a member of the municipal council of Malay and president of the Boracay Foundation Inc., said it was a good meeting because it gave the business sector and residents an opportunity to express their concerns, particularly on the requirements for accreditation.
“Because whether they accept it or not, we live here and we are the ones who are privy (to) what needs to be done,” she said.
Ms. Graf also said that they are relieved that the government has finally released a clear list of requirements after a period of confusion since the island’s closure last April 26.
The Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force will set up a one-stop shop composed of member agencies where establishments can get their various compliance certificates.
Representatives of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the DoT will be present at the center.
“The one-stop shop is part of the government’s assistance to establishments in observing a ‘No compliance, No operations’ policy upon the reopening of Boracay,” said DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, chair of the task force.
Mr. Cimatu said the center will temporarily be located at the DENR operation center in Casa Pillar, but a final venue will be decided upon and opened this week.
The DENR chief said they already have the data on compliant and non-compliant businesses, which will be subject to a final validation.
“So if they are already compliant, they can go to the venue to secure their clearances. The three member agencies will schedule a visit to these establishment to validate their compliance,” he said.

Group flags HIV-related discrimination in workplace even with legal penalties

July 29, 2018 | 7:33 pm

By Gillian M. Cortez
DISCRIMINATION related to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is still predominant in the workplace, despite widespread awareness now on the illness, a labor organization reported.
“It is sad to see that despite years of work, stigma and discrimination still persist,” said Shauna Olney, chief of International Labor Organization’s (ILO) Gender, Equality and Diversity and of ILOAIDS (ILO Programme on HIV/AIDS and the World of Work), at the launching last week of ILO’s report, “HIV Stigma and Discrimination in the World of Work: Findings from the People Living with HIV Stigma Index.”
“People living with HIV have a right to work and no one should deny them that,” she also said in a statement by ILO.
ILO partnered with the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+) for this study, which reported that “In many countries, people had their job description changed, the nature of their work changed, or they had been refused promotion as a result of having HIV.”
In the report, the organizations gathered data from 10,000 respondents from 13 different countries worldwide between 2014 and 2017.
“Between five (percent) and 40% of respondents had lost a job or source of income during the preceding 12 months. Between 15% and 80% of those had suffered job loss
wholly or partly as a result of their HIV status,” the study reported in its summary findings.
Gender is also a factor in the discrimination on HIV-positive workers, with the report citing higher unemployment in some countries among women than among men.
“The lack of independent income among women means women living with HIV do not enjoy economic autonomy to the same extent as their male counterparts,” the report read.
The report also said unemployment among HIV-positive transgenders “remained high,” although in countries like Belize, Cameroon, Nicaragua and Uganda, majority of transgender respondents were employed either full-time or part-time.
“What this report shows is that we still have a long way to go in our efforts to combat workplace-related stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV,” GNP+ Programme Manager Sasha Volgina said.
ILO and GNP+ recommended “Interventions to reduce work-based stigma and discrimination and to (provide) more supportive workplaces (that) have the potential to deliver far-reaching results.”
The report also said workplaces should provide more than financial security and assurance for HIV workers, because “(t)he workplace can be an effective entry point to facilitate access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services. It can also be a key site to enforce human rights obligations by ensuring HIV stigma is minimized and discrimination does not occur.”
Article VII, Section 35 of Republic Act 8504, or the Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998, states “Discrimination in any form from pre-employment to post-employment, including hiring, promotion or assignment, based on the actual, perceived or suspected HIV status of an individual is prohibited. Termination from work on the sole basis of actual, perceived or suspected HIV status is deemed unlawful.”
An employer found guilty of such discriminatory acts could face six months to four years in jail and pay a fine not exceeding P100,000, besides removal of licenses or permits if found guilty.
The Department of Health (DOH) released its 2018 First Quarter report on HIV on July 3, reporting that 3,730 people were diagnosed with the disease during the first four months of this year.
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) also reported last week that the Philippines has the fastest growing rate on the disease in the Asia-Pacific region.

Senator warns derailment of TRAIN 2

July 29, 2018 | 7:32 pm

By Camille A. Aguinaldo, Reporter
SENATOR Joseph Victor G. Ejercito on Sunday warned the second package of the tax reform program will be derailed in the Senate if it would cause “hardships” to Filipinos.
In a text message to reporters, he said, “I will not even think about considering the TRAIN 2 (Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion 2) package unless I get clear guarantees from our economic managers that this measure will not result (in) more hardships for the Filipino people. This means that government economists need to provide us with accurate and well-studied data and, more importantly, exhibit complete transparency and honesty.”
“TRAIN 2 will derail if they feed us with the wrong information and engage in deception as they did when we were discussing TRAIN 1,” Mr. Ejercito also said.
Senators during a legislative inquiry on the inflationary effects TRAIN 1 last May took to task the government’s economic cluster for not delivering on its earlier assurances to the Senate while the law was still being deliberated upon in Congress.
Officials from the economic departments told senators last year that TRAIN 1 would not contribute greatly in inflation and social mitigating measures were in place for the poorest Filipino families.
The Department of Finance (DoF) repeatedly assured that the TRAIN law had minimal effect on inflation, which hit 5.2% this June. Meanwhile, social mitigating measures have yet to be fully implemented by the government.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri earlier said senators were nervous of TRAIN 2 because of the inflationary effects of TRAIN 1. He added that no one in the Senate wanted to sponsor the bill.
The first package — Republic Act No. 10963 which took effect last Jan. 1 — slashed personal income tax rates but increased or added levies on a host of items and removed several value-added tax exemptions.
The second package of the tax reform program seeks to gradually cut corporate income tax rates to 25% from 30%, subject to a streamlining of tax holidays granted by 14 investment promotion agencies. It was filed in the House of Representatives last March.
According to the Constitution, tax measures should emanate from the House of Representatives. While TRAIN 2 is still being tackled in the House, separate bills have been filed in the Senate concerning the lowering of corporate income tax and the rationalization of incentives.
Mr. Ejercito said he would push instead for taxes on tobacco so its revenues may fund the proposed universal healthcare which remained pending in Congress.
“It will now be a revenue as well as a health measure,” he said.
He also added that the government should also improve efficiency in tax collection as ma eans to plug revenue loopholes.
“I would rather that we make tax collection more efficient. Raising taxes is the lazy way to raise revenues,” Mr. Ejercito said.

Mandaue business leader backs tax reforms, warns vs price manipulation

July 29, 2018 | 7:32 pm

A CEBU business leader expressed support for President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s call for support on the implementation of tax reforms as he called on businessmen not to use it to manipulate prices. “We are aware that the purpose of implementing tax reforms is to fund infrastructure and other programs for development. The business sector confidence of his leadership is very strong now,” said Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) President Stanley Go. In his third State of the Nation Address last Monday, Mr. Duterte warned businesses against citing the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law as a reason to jack up prices. — The Freeman
>> See the full story on https://goo.gl/AZ6cUa

Modern jeepneys to ply 3 new Iloilo routes

July 29, 2018 | 7:31 pm

NEW PUBLIC utility jeepneys (PUJs) under the government’s transport modernization program will be deployed in three new routes in Iloilo starting Tuesday, July 31. In a statement Sunday, July 29, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) announced that its attached agency, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, has approved the following new routes:
1. Vista Mall — Mohon Terminal (via C1 road)
2. Vista Mall — Jaro New Ceres Terminal (via C1 road)
3. Vista Mall — Pavia Terminal (via Gorriceta)
There will be an initial 45 brand new PUJs — which look more like mini-buses — under the Metro Express label. The DoTr said these modern jeepneys “are equipped with CCTV cameras, Wi-Fi, GPS, automatic fare collection system (AFCS), TV monitors, PWD-friendly and are fully air-conditioned.”

Japanese tour operator pledges to buy 50% of seats for Japan-Davao flights

July 29, 2018 | 7:31 pm

A JAPANESE travel and tour operator has given guarantee to buy 50% of the seats for the proposed direct flights between Japan and Davao City, according a local business official. Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) President Arturo M. Milan said the tour operator was one of the eight Japanese attendees during a recent City Tourism stakeholders meeting . He said the Japanese are pushing for the Davao-Japan-Davao direct flight. “According to him (Japanese), he can already assure 50% of the available seats for Japan-Davao route for all Japanese tourists,” Mr. Milan said during a media forum earlier this week. The DCCCII has been pushing for the direct air service from flag carrier Philippine Airlines while the city council has passed a resolution supporting the proposal. Mr. Milan also pointed out that the opening of Davao-Japan direct flights will help decongest the country’s main gateway in Metro Manila, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). “You’re creating space (at NAIA)… It is just a mindset because the traditional mindset (of people from) Mindanao punta ng (is go to) Manila and take their international flights out there… We are now developing the air traffic in Davao for international flights and that is the objective of why we are doing it,” he said. — Maya M. Padillo

Davao City police undergo surprise drug test

July 29, 2018 | 7:30 pm

160 Davao City Police Office (DCPO) personnel were subjected to a surprise drug test last week as part of the organization’s internal cleansing effort. “The initial result of the drug test showed all personnel subjected to the test are negative,” DCPO Spokesperson Sr. Inspector Ma. Teresita Gaspan said. Senior Supt. Alexander C. Tagum, the city police director, led the drug testing, along with the command staff, officers, station comanders and all drug enforcement unit members. “The aforesaid activity is in line with our advocacy on effective and faithful compliance on internal cleansing,” Ms. Gaspan said. In November last year, all 255 DCPO personnel were also tested for drug use and no one came out positive. — Carmencita A. Carillo

Nation at a Glance — (07/30/18)

July 29, 2018 | 7:28 pm

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.

Improving local MMA scene wins in ONE: Reign of Kings

July 29, 2018 | 7:04 pm

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
IT was a big night for Filipino mixed martial arts fighters at ONE Championship’s “Reign of Kings” on Friday, going unbeaten in four featured fights and in the process highlighted how the Philippine MMA scene is coming along and improving.
Strawweights Rene Catalan and Joshua Pacio, lightweight Eduard Folayang and bantamweight Kevin Belingon all came away with convincing victories at the Mall of Asia Arena, with the latter going away as the biggest winner after bagging the interim ONE world bantamweight title over two-division champion Martin Nguyen.
Mr. Catalan set the tone for the Filipinos in the preliminaries early with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Indonesian Stefer Rahardian.
The 39-year-old Catalan was dominant right from the opening bell, exhibiting dynamic striking, feints, sweeping low leg kicks, and a powerful left hook that his opponent simply could not match.
Team Lakay’s Pacio then followed it up with a quick victory over Thai Pongsiri Mitsatit, submitting him with an armlock in the opening round.
Mr. Pacio, 22, a former world title challenger, slammed Mr. Mitsatit hard to the canvas before finishing things off with a straining armlock that eventually forced his opponent to tap at the 3:37 mark of the first round.
In the main card, Mr. Folayang, the former ONE lightweight champion, continued with his winning bouncing run with a unanimous decision win over Russian Aziz Pahrudinov.
Fighting for the second time after losing his title in November last year, Mr. Folayang turned a complete game, punctuated with solid leg kicks that greatly hampered Mr. Pahrudinov’s ability to put up a consistent challenge as the fight progressed.
Then Mr. Belingon completed the big night for the Filipinos, dominating in five full rounds to get the better of Mr. Nguyen in the main feature of Reign of Kings.
Displaying unrelenting striking and highly improved takedown defense, Mr. Belingon frustrated Mr. Nguyen, who was angling to add the bantamweight gold to his featherweight and lightweight belts, throughout the contest and hardly allowed the Vietnamese-Australian fighter to get his groove en route to winning.
The victory put Mr. Belingon, 30, in the list of current Filipino ONE world champions alongside Team Lakay stable mate Geje Eustaquio (flyweight) and Brandon Vera (heavyweight) and another shot at reigning bantamweight champion Bibiano Fernandes of Brazil.
IMPROVING
With three of his wards going away with victories, Team Lakay coach Mark Sangiao could not help but feel proud and highlight the significant improvement of their team and the whole local MMA scene in general.
“Back in the early days of ONE Championship we were going winless. But we made it a point to learn from all of those losses and find ways to improve ourselves. Now we are winning world titles because of all that hard work,” Mr. Sangiao said in the post-match press conference.
“I think the MMA scene here will continue improving, not only us, because other groups as well are making headway,” he added.
It is an observation that Mr. Catalan of Catalan Fighting System shares.
“This victory shows that Filipinos can compete in MMA on the world stage. Given the opportunities like what ONE is giving us I think we will continue improving and show what we can do,” said Mr. Catalan, whose group has been on a roll of late with fighters like Robin Catalan and Jomary Torres winning fights in succession.
Next for ONE Championship is “ONE: Beyond the Horizon” in Shanghai, China, on Sept. 8.

Staying on top of its game key for F2 Logistics in latest PFL title

July 29, 2018 | 7:04 pm

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
THE F2 Logistics Cargo Movers returned to the top of the heap of the Philippine SuperLiga (PSL) after bagging the PSL Invitational title on Saturday at the expense of rivals Petron Blaze Spikers at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig.
Beating Petron in four sets, 25-18, 23-25, 25-23 and 25-18, F2 Logistics completed a sweep of the Blaze Spikers in their best-of-three finals series and avenge their defeat in the championship of the previous tournament, PSL Grand Prix.
F2 Logistics credited its latest title conquest on the team’s conscious effort to stay on top of its game all tournament long.
“I keep on reminding them when their performance is declining. All of my players have already created a name in Philippine volleyball and I don’t want their level to go down,” said Cargo Movers coach Ramil de Jesus following their championship conquest as he spoke of the mind-set they had throughout the Invitational.
“I’m here to guide the players and push them to their limits. When there is a room for improvement and something is missing on their performance, we are here to help them,” he added.
And the Cargo Movers responded well to their coaching staff’s stewardship, staying the course as they made their way to the title.
Despite losing to Petron to surrender the outright semifinal berth, F2 Logistics quickly bounced back and crushed Sta. Lucia Realty in the quarterfinals before clobbering erstwhile unbeaten Cignal in the Round of Four.
In the finals, the Cargo Movers bucked a jittery start to take Game One and held on strong in the clincher to earn their third PSL title.
“My players just never gave up,” Mr. De Jesus said.
Part of the winning F2 Logistics team were tournament most valuable player Ara Galang, Aby Maraño, Kim Fajardo, Dawn Macandili, Majoy Baron and Kianna Dy, who incidentally all played for the De La Salle championship teams of Mr. De Jesus in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
PSL matches are shown live over ESPN5, Hyper HD and AksyonTV.

No-quit Poirier gets better of Alvarez at UFC Calgary

July 29, 2018 | 7:03 pm

DUSTIN “The Diamond” Poirier showed tremendous resolve on Sunday (Manila time) to beat former Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight champion “The Underground King” Eddie Alvarez by technical knockout in the second round of their rematch at “UFC on Fox 30” in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Found himself in early trouble to start the second round, Mr. Poirier just poured it in when he regained his bearing and the opportunity came to take out Mr. Alvarez to come away with the well-deserved victory.
Also winning in their respective fights at UFC Calgary were former champions Jose Aldo, Jr. and Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
Mr. Poirier found himself under Mr. Alvarez in the second round but an illegal 12-to-6 elbow by the latter forced the referee to have the two fighters back on their feet.
The turn of events proved to be game-changing as Mr. Poirier hit his opponent with a solid knees and shot to the body moments later that signal the end for Mr. Alvarez as the former did not relent after that with a barrage of strikes, sending the former champion to the canvas before the referee stopped the fight at the 4:05 mark of the second round.
The win settled the rivalry between the two, whose first fight in May last year finished in a no-contest.
“Eddie has been talking trash. He said I quit [in our first fight]. I’ll die in here first. This is what I do. I’m living this every day and I’ll never quit!” said Mr. Poirier (24-5) in the post-match interview.
Winning his last four fights, including three over former champions, namely Mr. Alvarez, Justin Gaethje and Anthony Pettis, the number four-ranked Poirier expressed his desire to get a shot at the title currently held by Khabib Nurmagomedov.
With the loss, Mr. Alvarez dropped to six losses with 29 victories.
FORMER CHAMPS WIN
Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Mr. Aldo and Ms. Jedrzejczyk won their respective fights.
Former featherweight champion Aldo topped Jeremy Stephens by technical knockout in the first round.
Got Mr. Stephens with solid shot to the body, Mr. Aldo showed no let-up after as he pounded his fallen opponent with crushing punches before the fight was stopped at the 4:19 mark.
The win broke for Mr. Aldo (27-4) a two-fight losing streak in the UFC.
Ms. Jedrzejczyk, for her part, outlasted Tecia Torres in their women’s strawweight clash by unanimous decision, 30-27, 30-27 and 30-27.
Like Mr. Aldo, the victory also stopped a two-fight losing streak for Ms. Jedrzejczyk.
Also victorious was lightweight Alexander Hernandez over Olivier Aubin-Mercier by UD, 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28.
Next for the UFC is “UFC 227” in Los Angeles, California, on Aug. 5 (Manila time) that will feature the bantamweight title rematch between reigning champion TJ Dillashaw and former champ Cody Garbrandt as well the flyweight title clash between champion Demetrious Johnson and challenger Henry Cejudo.
In the Philippines, Cignal TV, the country’s foremost direct-to-home (DTH) company, is the home of the UFC after the two groups agreed to an extensive deal that will see the UFC beamed on various platforms. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

More than 200 join DSCPI midyear ranking tilt

July 29, 2018 | 7:02 pm

MORE than 200 participants all over the country joined the DanceSport Council of the Philippines (DSCPI) 2018 Midyear Ranking and Competition at the Ballroom Hall of Valle Verde Country Club, Pasig City yesterday.
World DanceSport Federation licensed adjudicators Katarina Baluchova of Slovakia, Peter Chen of Chinese-Taipei, Simon Mok Chi Keung of Hong Kong, Hyun Ok Oh of Korea, Chu Tan Duc of Vietnam, Glen Tierney of Australia, Liwei Xu of China and George Tan of Malaysia were present in the competition.
The competition organized by DSCPI President Becky Garcia is supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Flawless, Like-FM 105.9, Studio AK and The Greenery Bulacan.
The DSCPI Board of Directors are Chairman Atty. Noel Laman, Secretary-General Atty. Andy Fornier, assistant Emma Nieto and Sports Director Gloria Alcala, Treasurer and Directors Marvie Cojuangco-Yulo, Ambassador Antonio Lagdameo, Edward Hayco, Alejandro Herrera, Chona Mercado, Nanette Mendoza, Rebecca Jose, Girme Gutierrez, Luis Morales and Miguel Antonio “Mike” Ozaeta.