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Storm knocks out power to over 4 million Meralco customers

FREEPIK

THE NUMBER of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) customers that experienced power outages due to Severe Tropical Storm Paeng rose to 4.06 million, the power distributor said Sunday.  

In a statement, Meralco said  504,234 customers remain without power, mostly in Laguna and Cavite. The remainder are in parts of Batangas, Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, and Quezon.

“Our ground personnel and line crews are working round the clock to restore power the soonest possible time,” Meralco Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga said the statement.

The number of affected power customers was the highest this year. The previous high was 1.23 million customers affected following the passage of Typhoon Karding (international name: Noru) in September, Meralco said in a Viber message.

In a statement, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) reported to the Department of Energy that as of noon Sunday, 91 electric cooperatives (ECs) were affected by the storm.

The NEA said five of these ECs experienced total power interruption; 24 experienced partial interruption; 32 are back to normal operations, while 30 ECs have yet to report their status.

It said that affected ECs were based in Regions I, II, Cordillera Administrative Region, III, IV-A, IV-B, V, VI, VIII, X, Caraga and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The NEA reported an initial damage estimate of around P778,468 from Leyte V Electric Cooperative, Inc. and Province of Siquijor Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Meanwhile, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) said restoration activities in areas affected by the storm are ongoing.

“NGCP mobilized a total of almost 600 personnel, or 73-line gangs, to expedite restoration works. Four choppers augmented foot patrols to expedite line inspections,” the grid operator said.

The NGCP said transmission lines in Aurora, parts of Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Quezon, and Batangas are still being restored.

“Restoration schedules for the remaining affected lines will be released (when) damage assessments come in. When possible, restoration works are done simultaneously with the line patrols,” it said.

Transmission lines in Camariñes Norte, Camariñes Sur, Albay, Laguna, Samar, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Antique, and Aklan have been restored, it said. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

PHL to seek extension of EU GSP+ scheme, free trade agreement

KURT COTOAGA-UNSPLASH

THE DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry (DTI) said the Philippines will seek to renew its participation in the European Union’s (EU) Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) and will continue to pursue a free trade agreement (FTA) with the trade bloc.  

Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual said during a presentation to the EU Parliament Committee on International Trade in Brussels on Oct. 27 that the GSP+ scheme has helped improve socio-economic development in the Philippines.

The Philippines is in the last month of a monitoring process to renew its GSP+ participation.

The scheme is set to expire at the end of 2023. The European Commission proposed a revised scheme in September 2021 to better meet the needs of participating countries.

GSP+ allows the Philippines to enjoy zero tariffs on 6,274 products or 66% of all EU tariff lines. Some of the top Philippine GSP+ exports to the EU are crude coconut oil, vacuum cleaners, prepared or preserved tuna, hairdressing equipment, and prepared or preserved pineapple.

According to Mr. Pascual, the Philippines posted a record utilization rate for GSP+ of 76% in 2021.

He added that the Philippines has undergone “significant” changes such as the new government, a shift to a preventive and rehabilitative approach to illegal drugs, and a new commitment to work against climate change.  

The GSP+ scheme requires the Philippines to uphold commitments to 27 international conventions on human rights, labor, good governance, and environment.

The Philippines has been threatened with the loss of GSP+ status, with the European Parliament in February approving a resolution asking the previous government to address violence and human rights violations.

“Since the Philippines’ successful application to the GSP+ in 2014, the country has benefited from increased market access to the EU. Philippine exports to the EU rose from 5.3 billion euros in 2014 under the standard GSP to 7.77 billion euros in 2021,” the DTI said.

Mr. Pascual said that the Philippines is still keen on resuming negotiations for an FTA with the EU.

“The Philippines remains interested and therefore ready to work toward the resumption of negotiations of the Philippine-EU FTA. A 2020 study shows that 83% of German companies want to resume FTA negotiations, citing huge potential for EU companies, with the FTA positively affecting competitiveness,” Mr. Pascual said.

“The Philippines is an attractive investment destination given its solid macroeconomic fundamentals, enabling policy environment, and young and trainable workforce. With a stable and predictable political regime, our country is well-positioned in the Indo-Pacific to become a regional hub for manufacturing, innovation, training, and education,” he added. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

‘Undas’ period expected to dampen sales of neighborhood stores

BW FILE PHOTO

SALES OF small neighborhood retailers, known in the trade as sari-sari stores, typically fall during the grave-tending holidays around Nov. 1,  according to startup Packworks, a provider of technology to small stores.

Packworks said that daily sales from the Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, 2021 period, known in the Philippines as “Undas,” showed a sales decline of 19.78% relative to the October overage.

Citing its Sari IQ data service, Packworks said the pattern of lower sales “might be due to people leaving their houses to visit graves; thus, some sari-sari stores might be closed during this time to observe the long holiday,” Packworks Chief Data Officer Andres Montiel said in a statement over the weekend.  

Sari IQ found that cigarette sales lost 1.02 percentage points of market share during the Undas period. Normal-day cigarette market share of sari-sari store sales is about 21.91%.

Packworks said the share of sales of alcoholic beverages in sari-sari stores increases during Undas.

“Sales (share) of alcoholic beverages jumped up to 14.29% from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, 2021 from 11.10% on Oct. 1-30, 2021,” Packworks said.

“Different alcoholic drinks dominated the market share during the holiday last year, with brandy rising from 1.65% for normal days to 2.70% during the holiday; rum from 2.42% to 3.20%; gin from 5.32% to 5.94%; and beer from 1.14% to 1.61%,” it added.  

Packworks, which was founded in 2018, provides a business-to-business open platforms to sari-sari stores. It raised $2 million in August during a seed round. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Navigating Customs audit and prior disclosure

After more than three years from the time the Bureau of Customs (BoC) resumed the conduct of customs audits, many importers stepped forward and voluntarily paid deficiency duties and taxes by availing of the Prior Disclosure Program (PDP).

Based on international best customs practices, the PDP authorizes the BoC Commissioner to accept, as a potential mitigating factor, the prior disclosure by importers of errors and omissions in goods declaration that resulted in the deficiency in duties and taxes on past imports. It is both a compliance and revenue measure aimed to generate additional revenue with the least administrative cost both to government and importers. The PDP also helps importers avoid a full customs audit and the steep penalty in case of deficiency duty and tax findings in the course of an audit.

In availing of the PDP, the bigger question is — is it worth the potential risk of being exposed to closer scrutiny? We break down our observations to assist importers in navigating their customs audits and in deciding whether to avail of the PDP or not.

WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE BOC POST CLEARANCE AUDIT?
Since January 2019, the BoC has issued almost a thousand Audit Notification Letters (ANLs) to conduct audits on importers, covering companies from various industries and groups such as oil and gas, automotive, pharmaceutical, consumer, and those in the Super Green Lane category, etc. Based on information from the BoC website as of June 2022, the BoC Post Clearance Audit Group (PCAG) has collected about P600 million from audit findings and P5 billion from PDP applications filed by importers, whether under audit or not. Based on these figures alone, around 90% of the PCAG’s collection came from PDP applications.

It appears that there were several companies under audit who availed of the PDP. Moreover, there were also companies who, even without an ongoing audit, availed of the PDP. This goes to show that importers who are not under audit may come forward at any time and volunteer to pay their deficiency duties and/or taxes to show good faith and commitment to comply with the customs laws and its rules and regulations.   

WHO MAY FILE AND WHEN TO FILE A PDP?
Importers who are not undergoing an audit may file a PDP at any time. Those undergoing audit should file the PDP within 90 days from the receipt of the ANL as provided under Customs Administrative Order (CAO) 1-2019. In this case, the PDP application may be amended within 30 days from the filing of the initial PDP.

Some of the common issues covered by the PDP applications filed include dutiable royalties, upward transfer pricing adjustments, error in value declared, excise tax on sweetened beverages, industry specific issues, among others.

Moreover, importers may avail of the PDP for the following reasons without penalty and interest: dutiable royalty payments; other proceeds of any subsequent resale, disposal, or use of the imported goods that accrue directly or indirectly to the seller; or any subsequent adjustment to the price paid or payable. For these, the PDP application should be filed within 30 calendar days from the date of payment or accrual of subsequent proceeds to the seller or from the date of the adjustment to the price paid or payable is made.

PENALTIES TO BE PAID FOR AVAILING OF PDP AND HOW TO AVOID OR MINIMIZE THEM
While the PDP provides for a facility to pay deficiency duties and taxes, the same is subject to penalty and/or interest depending on whether the importer is under audit or not. If the importer is under audit, the availment of the PDP with the 90-day period is subject to a 10% penalty and 20% interest per year.

On the other hand, an importer who is not under audit will only be subject to 20% interest per year. Since the penalty and/or interest may be significant, importers availing of the PDP normally request for its waiver pursuant to the power of the BoC Commissioner to compromise any administrative case arising under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) involving the imposition of fines and surcharges, including those arising from the conduct of a post clearance audit. The BoC Commissioner’s power to compromise, however, is subject to the approval of the Secretary of Finance.

Since there is no specific guidance on the parameters or requirements for the approval of PDP applications with request for waiver of penalty and/or interest, the PCAG has to consider on a case-to-case basis the PDP applications that they will endorse to the Commissioner and ultimately to the Secretary of Finance for approval. We understand that for PDP applications of importers without an audit and which are found to be complete and accurate, the same are being approved by PCAG and endorsed to the Commissioner for approval.

Meanwhile, PDP applications of importers with an audit which are also found to be complete and accurate will be subject to evaluation by PCAG. These applications may or may not be endorsed for approval depending on the issues applied for PDP and the relevant facts and circumstances.

To ensure the approval of PDP applications, the same should be filed on time and should include a full disclosure of the relevant issues. Moreover, the same should comply with the documentary requirements provided under CAO 1-2019. If importers fail to comply with these, the PDP application may be denied.

THE BEST TIME TO AVAIL OF THE PDP
Given the greater certainty in the approval of the PDP filed by importers not undergoing an audit, it seems more prudent to avail of the PDP while the company is not yet under audit. Though some importers think that availing of the PDP when they are not yet under audit may expose them to additional risks and potential liabilities, it seems this is not the case based on previously filed applications.

We are not aware of an importer who is not under audit and availed of PDP who was subsequently subjected to a full-blown customs audit. It appears that the BoC recognizes the good faith of the voluntary payment made given that there is no on-going audit that may possibly result in deficiency findings.

PROACTIVITY IS THE KEY
It is prudent for importers to review their customs practices and procedures without waiting for an ANL. Upon determination of the actual exposure, importers may consider availing of the PDP considering that the benefits far outweigh the risks, if any. The filing of PDP without awaiting an ANL may potentially save importers from the customs audit for a certain period. This may also help importers avoid the hassle of going through a three-year audit, saving time, effort, steep penalties and interest.

This will also enable importers to contribute to the collection efforts of government while complying with customs laws and regulations. Moreover, importers who are aware of their exposure and risk areas can better implement corrective measures to strengthen compliance with existing customs rules and regulations.

To encourage more importers to avail of the PDP, the BoC and the DoF should continue to exert their best efforts in expediting the processing of filed PDP applications. In the end, success in any initiative will undoubtedly be achieved when all stakeholders work together.    

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional advice where the facts and circumstances warrant. The views and opinion expressed above are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of SGV & Co.

 

Lucil Q. Vicerra is a Tax Principal for Indirect Tax Services – Global Trade & Customs and Yzrael Edwin V. Pineda is a Tax Senior Director, respectively, of SGV & Co.

Yulo plunges into battle in Artistic Gymnastics in Liverpool, England

CARLOS YULO — REUTERS

FILIPINO star Carlos “Caloy” Yulo tries to add more to his stockpile of conquests as he plunges into battle tonight in the 51st Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Liverpool, England.

The pocket-sized wonder from Leveriza, Manila is scheduled to see action in all six apparatuses, hoping to make the finals in most of it if not all as well as in the individual all-around.

The quintuple Southeast Asian Games gold medalist will be keenly eyeing to perform great in three if his most favored events — floor exercise, vault and parallel bars.

It was in the floor exercise where he first became world champion in Stuttgart, Germany three years ago before capturing the mint in vault and silver in parallel bars in Kitakyushu, Japan last year.

While he sets out to cop at least a medal in the three events, Mr. Yulo’s other target is to finish from sixth to eighth place in the individual all-around.

“We will do our best to win medals there,” said Mr. Yulo during a brief presser in a training camp in Paris, France less than a week ago before flying to Liverpool for his final preparation.

But unlike last year, the field is expected to be tougher this time as this edition is considered the biggest after drawing 400 gymnasts from 74 countries including more than two dozen world and Olympic medalists, among them Japanes Hashimoto Daiki, the men’s all-around and horizontal bar world titlist.

For the first time this year, gymnasts have had to earn the right to compete at the World Championships via events including the FIG World Cup series and continental championships, rendering the field one of the most competitive in history.

“This is a very exciting time for Gymnastics. Only a year after the Tokyo Olympic Games, gymnasts and coaches are already starting to think about Paris 2024, and Liverpool gives them the chance to gain valuable experience on the world stage,” said FIG President Morinari Watanabe.

“Since the last World Championships in Kitakyushu 12 months ago, fascinating new talents have emerged all over the world. At this competition, they will meet the greatest of this generation. Like everyone else, I cannot wait to see what happens.” — Joey Villar

Prulla overpowers Capadocia to win PCA Tennis crown

17-YEAR-OLD Bulacan Lass Jenaila Rose Prulla

“Happiest day of my life.”

That’s how Jenaila Rose Prulla described her sensational 6-3, 7-6(3) victory over seven-time champion Marian Jade Capadocia yesterday in crowning herself the queen of 39th PCA Open Tennis Championships queen at its Plaza Dilao, Paco indoor court.

There was no fear anymore in the 17-year-old San Jose del Monte, Bulacan lass as she disposed of the same person who smashed her into submission when they met three years ago.

But compared to the last time, Ms. Prulla is no longer a bewildered, frail 14-year-old as the three years that passed turned her into a taller, bigger and more experienced tennis killing machine that Ms. Capadocia could no longer handle.

“I’ve gotten taller by around two inches, I have more muscles now because I focused on fitness so I can have power. And most importantly, I’m no longer afraid like before,” said the Hanoi Southeast Asian Games quarterfinalist.

The 27-year-old Ms. Capadocia knew she’s facing a different Ms. Prulla but she didn’t expect she was this tougher and more dangerous.

Ms. Capadocia tough didn’t go down without a fight as she fought back from a 4-3 deficit and even came on the verge of snatching the second set and forcing a deciding one where she hopes to salvage another title — her eighth.

Ms. Prulla though didn’t let it happen and courageously battled back to force a tiebreaker where she rallied from a 3-1 deficit by stringing together six straight points in sealing the triumph.

It was in that stretch that Ms. Capadocia found herself in trouble with after falling due to a tightening right leg.

She was given a warning at first and then a point deduction next.

When she did get up, she was no longer the same person possessing that blistering two-handed groundstrokes that was her ticket to winning seven crowns here.

“I couldn’t explain the feeling, this is probably the happiest day of my life,” said Ms. Prulla,who  engraved her name as one of the prestigious clubs’ great champions while pocketing P100,000 courtesy of Smart/PLDT, official ball Dunlop, Manila councilor Jong Isip, San Jose Salt, W. L. Food Products, Palawan Pawnshop and Pagcor. — Joey Villar

Indiana dumps Brooklyn, 125-116

INDIANA PACERS GUARD Bennedict Mathurin (00) controls the ball against Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons (10) in the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. — WENDELL CRUZ-USA TODAY SPORTS/REUTERS

ROOKIE Bennedict Mathurin scored a career-high 32 points as the visiting Indiana Pacers hit a team record 23 3-pointers and pulled away for a 125-116 victory over the struggling Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night in New York.

Playing on the second night of a back-to-back, the Pacers tied their previous team record for 3-pointers, 22 set twice in May 2021, when Chris Duarte connected from deep for a 111-101 advantage with 6:14 remaining.

Indiana hit its 23rd 3-pointer when Mr. Mathurin connected from the corner with 2:33 left to put Indiana ahead 121-109.

Mr. Mathurin made 8 of 16 shots and hit six 3-pointers off the bench as Indiana’s reserves totaled 47 points. Mr. Mathurin also became the first Pacer rookie to score at least 30 points as a reserve since Myles Turner on Jan. 22, 2016, at Golden State.

Tyrese Haliburton added 26 and tied a career high with six 3-pointers to go along with eight assists for Indiana, which broke a seven-game losing streak to Brooklyn. Isaiah Jackson collected 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Indiana outrebounded the Nets 53-34.

Buddy Hield nearly posted a triple-double by totaling 17 points, nine boards and eight assists as the Pacers handed out 31 assists.

Kyrie Irving led all scorers with 35 points for the Nets. Kevin Durant added 26 but missed 12 of 20 shots as the Nets lost their fourth straight. Royce O’Neale and Joe Harris contributed with 11 points apiece.

The Nets shot 50 percent from the floor but also allowed 17 offensive rebounds.

After taking a 63-62 lead into halftime, the Pacers held a 92-90 edge into the fourth before surging down the stretch.

Mr. Irving’s three-point play cut Indiana’s lead to 98-95 a little over two minutes into the fourth. The Pacers opened a 118-103 lead on two free throws by Mr. Mathurin with 4:18 left to ice the win before he hit the record-setting 3-pointer. — Reuters

Astros defeat Phillies, 5-2 to even World Series, 1-1

HOUSTON ASTROS starting pitcher Framber Valdez (59) throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fifth inning in game two of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park. — ERIK WILLIAMS-USA TODAY SPORTS/REUTERS

HOUSTON — Framber Valdez carried a shutout into the seventh inning and Alex Bregman slugged a two-run home run as the host Houston Astros beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-2 on Saturday in Game 2 of the World Series.

The Astros squared the best-of-seven series at 1-1 with Game 3 set for Monday in Philadelphia.

Mr. Valdez (2-0) labored a bit over his first three innings, found his rhythm in the fourth and fifth, and recorded the biggest outs of the game as Philadelphia attempted to mount a rally in the sixth.

The Phillies mustered a baserunner in each of the first three innings, with Rhys Hoskins and Alec Bohm working one-out walks in the first and second before Kyle Schwarber recorded a one-out single in the third. Mr. Valdez worked around each baserunner and didn’t allow any to reach scoring position, yet needed 55 pitches to complete three scoreless frames of work.

Mr. Valdez retired the side in order in the fourth on 11 pitches and faced the minimum in the fifth when he induced Matt Vierling to roll into a 6-4-3 double play before getting a called third strike on Edmundo Sosa.

In the sixth, after Houston extended to a 5-0 lead, Mr. Valdez faced a threat.

After erasing a five-run deficit and winning the series opener 6-5, the Phillies fashioned the makings of a comeback when Mr. Schwarber and Mr. Hoskins reached in succession to open the sixth. But Mr. Valdez responded with a strikeout of J.T. Realmuto before getting Bryce Harper to ground into a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play.

Nick Castellanos doubled leading off the seventh and later scored but that was the lone tally against Mr. Valdez, who allowed four hits and three walks while striking out nine over 6 1/3 innings. Mr. Valdez threw 104 pitches, 70 for strikes, and had nine swings and misses on 42 curveballs.

After tagging Phillies starter Aaron Nola for five runs in Game 1, the Astros did the same to Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler (1-2) on Saturday.

Houston became the first team in World Series history to open a game with three consecutive extra-base hits as Jose Altuve, Jeremy Pena and Yordan Alvarez doubled in succession to spark the Astros to a sudden 2-0 lead.

Mr. Alvarez followed with some daring baserunning, tagging from second on a Kyle Tucker flyout to center field and subsequently scoring when Mr. Sosa delivered an errant throw to first on a Yuli Gurriel grounder to short.

Mr. Wheeler held the Astros to three runs until the fifth, when Mr. Bregman blasted a 2-0 slider 405 feet to left-center field, scoring Mr. Alvarez and extending the lead to 5-0. Mr. Wheeler allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits and three walks over five innings.

The Phillies kept pushing, placing runners on the corners against Astros reliever Rafael Montero with two outs in the eighth for Harper, whose popup to shallow right field nearly dropped before Mr. Pena made the running catch. — Reuters

Thousands of workers evicted in Qatar’s capital ahead of World Cup

DOHA — Qatar has emptied apartment blocks housing thousands of foreign workers in the same areas in the center of the capital Doha where visiting soccer fans will stay during the World Cup, workers who were evicted from their homes told Reuters.

They said more than a dozen buildings had been evacuated and shut down by authorities, forcing the mainly Asian and African workers to seek what shelter they could — including bedding down on the pavement outside one of their former homes.

The move comes less than four weeks before the Nov. 20 start of the global soccer tournament which has drawn intense international scrutiny of Qatar’s treatment of foreign workers and its restrictive social laws.

At one building which residents said housed 1,200 people in Doha’s Al Mansoura district, authorities told people at about 8 pm on Wednesday they had just two hours to leave.

Municipal officials returned around 10.30 pm, forced everyone out and locked the doors to the building, they said. Some men had not been able to return in time to collect their belongings.

Nearby, five men were loading a mattress and a small fridge into the back of a pickup truck. They said they had found a room in Sumaysimah, about 40 km (25 miles) north of Doha.

World soccer’s governing body FIFA did not respond to a request for comment and Qatar’s World Cup organizers directed inquiries to the government.

Around 85% of Qatar’s three million population are foreign workers. Many of those evicted work as drivers, day labourers or have contracts with companies but are responsible for their own accommodation — unlike those working for major construction firms who live in camps housing tens of thousands of people.

One worker said the evictions targeted single men, while foreign workers with families were unaffected. A Reuters reporter saw more than a dozen buildings where residents said people had been evicted. Some buildings had their electricity switched off.

Most were in neighborhoods where the government has rented buildings for World Cup fan accommodation. The organizers’ website lists buildings in Al Mansoura and other districts where flats are advertised for between $240 and $426 per night.

The Qatari official said municipal authorities have been enforcing a 2010 Qatari law which prohibits “workers’ camps within family residential areas” — a designation encompassing most of central Doha — and gives them the power to move people out.

Some of the evicted workers said they hoped to find places to live amid purpose-built workers’ accommodation in and around the industrial zone on Doha’s southwestern outskirts or in outlying cities, a long commute from their jobs.

“Who made the stadiums? Who made the roads? Who made everything? Bengalis, Pakistanis. People like us. Now they are making us all go outside.” — Reuters

Omnist Irving

To argue that Kyrie Irving is easy to figure out would necessitate engaging in revisionist history. In fact, there’s nothing easy about him — and not just because of his partiality to conspiracy theories and scientifically debunked positions. He has long marched to the beat of his own drum, and it’s fair to note that his value on the court as a seven-time All-Star excuses away his transgressions off it. And does he have a lot — among them his refusal to be vaccinated for the COVID-19 virus and, just three days ago, his tweet of an Amazon.com link to the movie Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up, Black America, which, like the book on which it is based, carries a racist tone.

To be fair, Nets owner Joe Tsai immediately went to social media to blast Irving’s promotion of wrongful content. “I’m disappointed that Kyrie appears to support a film based on a book full of antisemitic disinformation. I want to sit down and make sure he understands this is hurtful to all of us, and as a man of faith, it is wrong to promote hate based on race, ethnicity or religion.” The Nets and the National Basketball Association then issued similar statements. Given the negative backlash, the 2011 first overall pick would have done well to take down the Twitter post, issue an apology for what is clearly a mistaken viewpoint, and move on.

Irving being Irving, however, the message he sought to impart in the aftermath was one of defiance. No, he said, he wasn’t being racist when he shared the link. “I am an OMNIST and I meant no disrespect to anyone’s religious beliefs. The “Anti-Semitic” label that is being pushed on me is not justified and does not reflect the reality or truth I live in everyday. I embrace and want to learn from all walks of life and religions.” In other words, he’s simply being himself, and all and sundry are wrong to pillory him for his so-called inclusive stance.

That Irving did not take down the tweet speaks volumes of his stubborn nature. That the Nets still played him yesterday in spite of their opposition to it likewise speaks volumes of their supposed commitment to the truth. Freedom of speech comes with responsibility, and their failure to penalize him for acting inappropriately indicates the greater importance they place on his skills with a basketball in hand than on the line he crossed with a keyboard at his disposal. Their protestations notwithstanding, they kept him on the floor for the most number of minutes and let him take and issue the most number of shots and assists. So much for sending the right message.

There’s no question that Irving is a magician when he burns rubber and aims to make leather and nylon meet under the klieg lights. There’s also no question that he courts controversy with errant perspectives when not in uniform. If nothing else, his gaudy stat line yesterday, albeit in a loss, underscores which is really more important to the Nets. Ignorance is his excuse. What is theirs?

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.

Typhoon Nalgae shatters hopes of tourism recovery

PHILIPPINE STAR/ WALTER BOLLOZOS

By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter

RESORT owners along the white beach of Puerto Galera south of the Philippine capital were expecting a boost to their revenues during the long weekend holiday after President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. made mask-wearing indoors optional.

But Typhoon Nalgae (Paeng) came, forcing visitors to cancel reservations, killing dozens and sending rescuers to search for missing victims.

“The holiday resulted in a sharp increase in bookings, but before the ink had dried on those new records, they were all swept away by the winds of the storm,” British Daniel Stracey, who manages Lalaguna Villas Luxury Dive Resort & Spa, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

“We saw hope that made our hearts flutter briefly. But the slightest good news was followed hastily by the bad,” he added.

The luxury resort in the province of Oriental Mindoro, which is about an hour by boat from Batangas port, was estimated to have foregone P1 million in sales at the weekend, an amount that would have funded the holiday bonuses of its workers, Mr. Stracey said.

Thankfully though, damage on most facilities along Puerto Galera’s white beach was minimal.

Noe Lineses, who owns an online platform that organizes trips and tours to the popular beach destination, said resorts and cafeterias had prepared for Halloween parties for its visitors.

When ferry trips got canceled on Oct. 28, more than 3,000 tourists failed to make the trip to Puerto Galera, he said.

“There are many establishments in Puerto Galera that are struggling to survive due to the on and off nature of tourism nowadays,” he said in a Messenger chat. “Long weekends would have guaranteed income to many, but unluckily, the typhoon came.

The town had lost as much as P50 million in potential income due to the typhoon, Mr. Lineses said.

Both Mr. Stracey and Mr. Lineses hope that the Christmas holiday could somehow offset the losses from the typhoon.

The Philippines lies along the typhoon belt in the Pacific and experiences about 20 storms each year. It also lies in the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, a belt of volcanoes around the Pacific Ocean where most of the world’s earthquakes strike.

The Philippines’ 16th typhoon this year also affected other tourist spots including the world-renowned Boracay Island in Aklan province.

CONTINGENCIES
Beibi Balana, a member of a Facebook group on DIY (Do-It-Yourself) travel, said Paeng had brought rains to the small island as early as Oct. 27, forcing them to delay their land tour for a day and cancel all water activities.

She was one of thousands of tourists who were stranded after flights to Manila were moved from Oct. 29 to the 31st.

“Typhoons threaten itineraries, disrupting potential revenues from tourism products and services, while costs may have already been incurred due to preparations for guest arrivals,” said John Paolo R. Rivera, associate director of the Asian Institute of Management’s Dr. Andrew L. Tan Center for Tourism.

“Rebooking is also disruptive especially when reservations have already been paid,” he said in a Viber message. “It messes up the system and smaller tourism enterprises may not have the ability to adjust.”

Paeng disrupted the operations of at least six airports and 78 seaports, according to a report by the local disaster agency.

More than 180 flights were canceled and only 4% of affected seaports were operational. Almost 8,000 passengers, more than 2,400 rolling cargoes and 68 vessels were stranded.

Many businesses also incurred losses after the typhoon caused brownouts. More than 124 cities experienced brownouts at the weekend.

“We cannot do anything about the Philippines’ vulnerability to natural calamities,” Mr. Rivera said. “They will definitely disrupt tourism activities to some extent. For small players reliant on tourism receipts, contingency should be available.”

Small players should have alternative sources of livelihood so they can cope when disruptions happen, he added.

The government and the private sector should also work together to make tourism infrastructure resilient to typhoons and other natural calamities, Mr. Rivera said.

“Better weather forecasting equipment should be available to generate reliable information, allowing players and tourists to make adjustments even before calamity strikes,” he added.

Mr. Marcos and his economic managers have said the revival of Philippine tourism would boost the Southeast Asian nation’s economic recovery.

Tourism arrivals in the Philippines have hit 1.7 million as of Oct. 17, exceeding the target for the year, Tourism Secretary Maria Esperanza Christina Frasco said earlier this month.

The tourism sector accounted for 12.8% of Philippine economic output in 2019, or about P2.48 trillion. Tourism’s economic contribution fell to 5.2% last year as most countries closed their borders amid a global coronavirus pandemic.

Thousands stranded as Philippines cancels flights due to severe tropical storm

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE MANILA International Airport Authority (MIAA) on Sunday said 181 flights — 160 domestic and 21 international — were canceled due to Typhoon Nalgae (Paeng).

Local airlines have advised their passengers whose flights got canceled to rebook.

“Recovery flights are still ongoing,” flag carrier Philippine Airlines said in a statement.

Planes that were diverted to outstations were in the process of returning to Manila and flights originally slated to use these planes were canceled, it said. “Other flights are on planned delays.”

Sixty road sections in various areas were closed to traffic, the Department of Public Works and Highways said in a separate statement.

As of 6 a.m. on Sunday, seven road sections were affected in the Cordillera Administrative Region, three in the National Capital Region, six in the Cagayan Valley region, one in Central Luzon, and 11 in the Calabarzon and Mimaropa regions, it said.

These roads were closed due to flooding, strong water current, soil collapse, road cuts and slips, mudflow, collapsed bridges and uprooted trees, among other causes.

Three road sections were affected in the Bicol region, 18 in Wester Visayas, four in Eastern Visayas, one the Zamboanga Peninsula, three in Soccsksargen and three in the Bangsamoro region.

More than 3,000 passengers, drivers and cargo helpers were stranded at various ports, the Transportation department said in a separate statement, citing the Philippine Coast Guard.

More than a thousand cargoes, 21 vessels and 10 motor boats were stranded, it said, adding that 159 vessels and 71 motor boats were taking shelter from the storm.

The PLDT group said its network remained resilient in Northern Luzon.

“Our teams have prepositioned mission-critical equipment and manpower even before Paeng intensified into a severe tropical storm, which helped our network stay resilient,” it said in an e-mailed statement.

“We await more details on the restoration of commercial power in areas such as Batangas and Laguna, as our connectivity service is dependent on power,” the company said. “We are widening our relief distribution in the coming days to reach more people in need.”

Globe Telecom, Inc. said its teams were ready to address network issues and deploy free calls, charging and WiFi stations in affected areas.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives might adjust the proposed P5.268-trillion national budget for next year for the rehabilitation of typhoon-hit areas.

“I have asked the chairman of the House appropriations committee, Rep. Elizaldy S. Co, to compile the damage assessment from House members and executive offices so that they may aid us in reviewing possible adjustments in budget allocations for repair and rehabilitation of affected areas under the proposed 2023 General Appropriations Act,” Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said in a statement.

He said he had asked his colleagues to help Executive departments and agencies in assessing the damage from Paeng. and focus on relief operations.

“The House of Representatives will also use its power over the purse to see to it that rehabilitation of affected communities will proceed unhampered as soon as the relief stage is completed,” he said.

The House has passed the proposed budget bill on third and final reading. The Senate expects to pass its version next month. — Arjay L. Balinbin and Kyanna Angela Bulan

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