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Italy reaches last eight in Davis Cup Finals, wins for Russia and Britain

FAVORITES Russia Tennis Federation opened their Davis Cup Finals campaign with a resounding victory over Ecuador, Britain began with a win against France and Italy eased into the quarterfinals with a win over Colombia on Saturday.

But 28-time champion Australia is facing almost certain elimination despite beating Hungary (2-1).

Novak Djokovic’s Serbia is beaten 2-1 by Germany in Group F as the world number one lost a thrilling doubles decider, meaning they must wait until Sunday’s final round-robin matches before knowing whether or not they progress.

The Russians beat Ecuador (3-0) in Madrid to move level with holder Spain whom they face on Sunday to decide who will emerge as winners of Group A.

World number five Andrey Rublev beat Roberto Quiroz (6-3, 4-6, 6-1) before US Open champion Daniil Medvedev crushed world number 149 Emilio Gomez for the loss of two games.

Rublev then teamed up with Aslan Karatsev to beat Gonzalo Escobar and Diego Hidalgo in three sets.

Italy, who beat the US in their opening Group E tie, won both their singles matches against Colombia in Turin with victories for Lorenzo Sonego and Jannik Sinner.

Britain was given a fast start against France in Group C with Dan Evans beating Adrian Mannarino (7-5, 6-4).

Cameron Norrie then defeated Arthur Rinderknech (6-2, 7-6(8)) after coming back from 1-4 down in an absorbing tie-break.

France won the doubles as Rinderknech, a late replacement for Pierre-Hugues Herbert, joined Nicolas Mahut to beat Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski (6-1, 6-4) — a win that could prove vital for France who had beaten the Czech Republic.

Britain plays the Czechs on Sunday with top spot at stake.

Djokovic was made to work overtime in Serbia’s clash with Germany in Innsbruck where fans are not permitted.

After teammate Filip Krajinovic lost 7-6(4), 6-4 to Dominik Koepfer, Djokovic leveled the tie with a comfortable win against Jan-Lennard Struff.

Djokovic returned to court to partner Nikola Ćaćić but Serbia’s hopes of progressing as group winners were dashed as the Serbian pair lost 7-6, 3-6, 7-6 to Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz despite being a break ahead in the decider.

Serbia, who beat Austria 3-0 in their opening Group F tie, must now wait until Germany’s clash with Austria on Sunday to learn their fate although they are well placed to progress as one of the best runners-up.

Eighteen teams are competing in six round-robin groups across three cities for places in the last eight which begin on Monday. Six group winners and the two best runners-up advance.

The ties in Innsbruck are being played behind closed doors due to Austria’s reintroduction of a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown while those in Madrid and Turin have less-than-capacity attendances.   

AUSTRALIA ON THE BRINK
Australia beat Hungary 2-1 in Turin but finished their Group D campaign with a 2-4 record having lost 3-0 to Croatia in their opening match on Thursday.

Australia went 1-0 down against Hungary when Zsombor Piros, ranked 282nd in the world, claimed the biggest win of his career by beating John Millman (4-6, 6-4, 6-3).

Lleyton Hewitt’s Australia finally claimed their first victory of the tournament when Alex de Minaur came through a three-hour match to beat Marton Fucsovics (7-5, 2-6, 7-6(2)).

The doubles pairing of Alex Bolt and John Peers sealed the tie when they beat the Hungarian duo (6-3, 6-7(11), 6-3). Hungary faces Croatia on Sunday.

In Madrid, Kazakhstan beat Sweden 2-1 in Group B with their doubles pairing of Andrey Golubev and Aleksandr Nedovyesov sealing victory after Swede Elias Ymer and Kazakh Alexander Bublik won their singles rubbers.

Sweden remains top of the group, having beaten Canada (3-0) but Kazakhstan can win it with a victory over Canada on Sunday. — Reuters

Hot Suns

The Suns are scorching hot, and, through a fourth of the 2021-22 season of the National Basketball Association, have underscored their immediate past Finals appearance to be no fluke. For a short while, it didn’t appear to be so; the start of the season was clouded by news of starting center DeAndre Ayton locked in a contract dispute with the franchise, threatening to disrupt the esprit de corps that enabled it to be greater than the sum of its parts. And they did search for it in the beginning, with their lone win in their first four starts courtesy of the revamped Lakers.

But then the Suns clicked, as — to be fair — they always argued they would. And for a full month spanning 16 contests to date, they haven’t yet been treated to the bitter taste of defeat. As with all successful runs, they’ve learned to win the outings they should with comfort, as well as make statements en route. Their latest conquest has them exposing the Nets — highly touted and on top of the Eastern Conference — as inadequate at best. That they did it on the road, in front of 18,071 hostile fans at the Barclays Center, and on the second of a back-to-back set, serve only to highlight their ascendancy.

If the Suns are extremely confident, it’s because head coach Monty Williams has instilled in them a sense of pride in the strides they make, no matter how small. They take encounters a play at a time, and they’re propped up by both youth and experience. Yesterday saw them led by fifth-year Devin Booker and 15-season veteran Chris Paul in equal measure; the former put up 30 markers with 18 shots, while the latter filled his stat line to become the only player in league history to score 20,000 points, dish out 10,000 assists, and grab 5,000 rebounds.

Considering how important Paul is to the cause, it’s hard to imagine that he was seemingly destined for a quiet exit not too long ago; injuries marked snakebitten campaigns with the Clippers and Rockets before he managed to reboot his career with the Thunder. And with the Suns, he’s deemed the glue that binds them together. His in-your-face style that demands the best from those around him have grated many an All-Star, but not the rest of the purple and orange. Instead, they welcome the lessons he gives, seeking to look beyond the manner in which he imparts them.

Forget that Ayton’s contract status remains in limbo, and that owner Robert Sarver is mired in controversy. The Suns have managed to hurdle obstacles on the court and off, and there’s little reason to believe they won’t keep doing the same as they aim not just to book another Finals appearance, but to prove worthy of the hardware. Up next are the West-pacing Warriors — and they’re clearly ready for the test, as well as with the other tests to come. They may not win, but if they don’t, it won’t be because they beat themselves.

 

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.

Australia eyes law to force media platforms to unmask online trolls

PIXABAY

MELBOURNE — Australia will introduce legislation to make social media giants provide details of users who post defamatory comments, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Sunday.

The government has been looking at the extent of the responsibility of platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook, for defamatory material published on their sites and comes after the country’s highest court ruled that publishers can be held liable for public comments on online forums.

The ruling caused some news companies like CNN to deny Australians access to their Facebook pages.

“The online world should not be a wild west where bots and bigots and trolls and others are anonymously going around and can harm people,” Mr. Morrison said at a televised press briefing. “That is not what can happen in the real world, and there is no case for it to be able to be happening in the digital world.”

The new legislation will introduce a complaints mechanism, so that if somebody thinks they are being defamed, bullied or attacked on social media, they will be able to require the platform to take the material down.

If the content is not withdrawn, a court process could force a social media platform to provide details of the commenter.

“Digital platforms — these online companies — must have proper processes to enable the takedown of this content,” Mr. Morrison said.

“They have created the space and they need to make it safe, and if they won’t, we will make them (through) laws such as this.” — Reuters

China study warns of colossal COVID outbreak if it opens up

RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS are seen after rain in Huangshan, Anhui province, China, May 12, 2016. — REUTERS

BEIJING — China could face more than 630,000 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections a day if it dropped its zero-tolerance policies by lifting travel curbs, according to a study by Peking University mathematicians.

In the report published in China CDC Weekly by the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the mathematicians said China could not afford to lift travel restrictions without more efficient vaccinations or specific treatments.

Using data for August from the United States, Britain, Spain, France and Israel, the mathematicians assessed the potential results if China adopted the same pandemic control tactics as those countries.

China’s daily new cases would reach at least 637,155 if it adopted the United States’ pandemic strategy, the report said.

And daily cases would hit 275,793 if China took the same approach as Britain and 454,198 if it imitated France, it said.

“The estimates revealed the real possibility of a colossal outbreak which would almost certainly induce an unaffordable burden on the medical system,” the report said.

“Our findings have raised a clear warning that, for the time being, we are not ready to embrace ‘open-up’ strategies resting solely on the hypothesis of herd immunity induced by vaccination advocated by certain western countries.”

The mathematicians cautioned that their estimates were based on basic arithmetic calculations and that more sophisticated models were needed to study the evolution of the pandemic if travel restrictions were lifted.

China has maintained a zero-tolerance policy towards COVID-19, saying the importance of containing local cases when they are found outweighs the disruptions caused by efforts to trace, isolate and treat the infected. China reported 23 new confirmed coronavirus cases for Nov. 27, down from 25 a day earlier, its health authority said on Sunday.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday designated a new COVID-19 variant detected in South Africa with a large number of mutations as being “of concern,” prompting some countries to impose travel curbs. — Reuters

US Black Friday shoppers tapered online splurge, as some returned to stores

RALEIGH, North Carolina — US shoppers spent slightly less online during Black Friday this year, with many venturing back to physical stores despite coronavirus fears, tight supplies, and retailers’ efforts to encourage earlier holiday purchases.

For the first time ever, spending online during Black Friday — traditionally one of the biggest shopping days of the year — fell, reversing the growth of recent years, according to data from Adobe Analytics, a wing of Adobe’s business that specializes in data insights and tracks transactions at 80 of the top 100 US retailers.

Retailers lured shoppers to make holiday purchases online as early as September this year, because the supply-chain logjam has prevented them from quickly replenishing year-end merchandise. Shoppers’ total outlay online during Black Friday was roughly $8.9 billion, less than the $9 billion in 2020, Adobe said. Spending online during Thanksgiving Day was flat at $5.1 billion, Adobe said.

Many retailers closed physical stores on Thanksgiving this year, as they did in 2020, amid a labor shortage and the coronavirus pandemic. Stores reopened the day after Thanksgiving, and shopper visits increased by 47.5% compared to 2020, but fell by 28.3% when compared to 2019, the last pre-pandemic year, according to data from Sensormatic Solutions.

Supply-chain challenges and shipping delays may have prompted shoppers to visit stores in order to increase the chances of securing gifts in time for Christmas. More are making purchases online that they can pick up in-store, which keeps shipping costs down.

Macy’s, Walmart, Target and Kohl’s , for example, gave shoppers the flexibility to shop online, in stores or through hybrid methods, walked away as winners on Black Friday, said Louis Navellier, chairman of investor Navellier & Associates.

Of those purchasing online, slightly more used their smartphones. Canadian e-commerce company Shopify said the number of shoppers on its platform who used smartphones to make purchases increased this year to 72% from 67% last year.

Retailers’ moves to encourage buying holiday gifts earlier could also lessen the importance of Cyber Monday, the first Monday after Thanksgiving. — Reuters

Health dept. to determine alert level classifications in all areas

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

The Philippines’ coronavirus task force has tasked health authorities to determine the COVID-19 alert level classifications of all areas in the country, according to the presidential palace.

The Department of Health (DoH) will coordinate with a group managing coronavirus data to determine the risk status of an area, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei B. Nograles said at a regular news conference.

The recommendation will be approved and announced by the pandemic task force, he said.

The final alert level classifications cannot be appealed, Mr. Nograles noted.

Recommendations for new alert level classifications “will be given in time for the 15th and the end of the month,” he said. “However, assessment of areas will be done weekly to determine areas requiring immediate escalation.”

The Palace official said authorities may escalate alert level classifications at any time within the implementation period if warranted, noting that de-escalations would only be done at the end of the implementation period.

He reminded the public to always follow health protocols. “We have already seen what can happen when we become lax.”

At the same briefing, Mr. Nograles said establishments, both public and private, can reject people who refuse to wear face masks.

Under the enforcement of the alert level system first tested in the Philippine capital and nearby areas, establishments are directed to ensure the implementation of health protocols and to “exclude all persons who cannot comply with the same from their respective premises.”

“In other words, a person who does not follow the rule on wearing a face mask may not be allowed entry in an establishment,” he said in Filipino.

FEWER COVID CASES

Citizens being urged to continue following health rules to sustain the current decline in the number of coronavirus cases.

Philippine health authorities on Thursday reported the lowest number of active coronavirus cases this year at 17,796.

The country has also been imposing stricter rules on unvaccinated people, as more businesses around the world have been prioritizing fully vaccinated job seekers and patrons.

The government will require employees doing on-site work in high-risk areas to be fully vaccinated starting next month. This will be enforced in areas with a stable supply of vaccines, according to the presidential palace.

Critics have said hiring based on an applicant’s vaccination status is highly discriminatory. Requiring people to get vaccinated may also lead to political divisions and tarnish the credibility of the government’s pandemic response, they added.

The Philippines has declared Nov. 29, Nov. 30, and Dec. 1 as national COVID-19 vaccination days, with the aim of inoculating at least 15 million Filipinos.

Private and public workers who will participate in the vaccination drive would not be considered absent from their work as long as they present proof of vaccination to their employers.

An analysis of hospital data from March 1 to Nov. 14 showed that 85% of admissions due to COVID-19 are not fully vaccinated, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire said in a statement.

“Moreover, deaths and serious outcomes are more likely to happen among unvaccinated patients, with over 93.4% of them dying based on the reports gathered by DoH,” she added.

“Protecting our health through vaccination will increase our confidence to go out and see our loved ones this Christmas, as well as ensure a safe return to work,” she said. “So we encourage every eligible individual, especially our lolo and lola, and our loved ones who have underlying medical conditions who are not yet vaccinated, to take advantage of these National Vaccination Days and get your jabs done.”

A poll conducted by the Social Weather Stations from Sept. 27 to 30 found that 64% of adult Filipinos were now willing to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, up from 55% in June.

COVID BY THE NUMBERS

The Philippines has relaxed pandemic rules after it contained a spike in infections that exhausted hospitals.

Health authorities reported 863 new coronavirus cases on Friday, bringing the total number of cases to 2.83 million since the start of the pandemic.

The death toll hit 48,017 after 142 more patients died, while recoveries increased by 791 to 2.76 million, the DoH said in a bulletin.

The agency said there were 17,853 active cases, 51.5% of which were mild, 21.57% were moderate, 14.2% were severe, 6.6% were asymptomatic, and 6.1% were critical.

It said 29% of intensive care units nationwide were occupied. The rate for Metro Manila was also 29%.

The Health department said 17 duplicates had been removed from the tally, 16 of which were recoveries, while 128 recoveries were relisted as deaths. It added that 77 cases “were found to have tested negative and have been removed from the total case count.” Two laboratories failed to submit data on Nov. 24. — Kyle Aristophere Atienza

Philippines to allow entry of more foreign tourists amid decreasing cases

REUTERS

Fully vaccinated people from countries that do not require a visa will be allowed to enter the Philippines next month, the government said.

The travelers from so-called non-visa-required countries should have stayed “exclusively” in an area tagged as low-risk from the coronavirus for two weeks, President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s spokesman Karlo Alexei B. Nograles said at a regular news conference.

The tourists should have passports valid for at least six months at the time of arrival and a return or outbound ticket to their country of origin or next country of destination, he added.

Qualified foreign tourists will not be quarantined if they test negative for the coronavirus within 72 hours prior to their departure from the country of origin, the presidential spokesman said. But they are enjoined to self-monitor for symptoms until the 14th day from their arrival with their arrival date as the first day, he added.

The new rules for foreign travelers will take effect from Dec. 1 to 15, Mr. Nograles said. “If we see that it is being implemented well, we may extend the dates.”

Tourism is an important sector for the Philippines, accounting for at least 12.8% of its growth output in 2018, government data showed. In 2020, when the pandemic started hitting the country, the sector’s contribution to the economy fell to 5.4%.

For the past five years, the average share of tourism to the Philippine economy was 10.5%.

The new rule for foreign travelers “will enhance tourist arrivals and give hope to business owners who were severely affected by the pandemic,” said Noe Lineses, a tourism official in the popular beach destination Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro, south of the Philippine capital.

It will be a “booster shot” for businesses that rely on foreign travelers, he said in a Facebook Messenger chat. “It will create more jobs and stimulate the economy.”

Puerto Galera, which is considered as the mini version of Boracay in central Philippines, has started accepting vaccinated tourists.

COVID VARIANT

Countries included in the Philippines’ green list for travel are considered at a low-risk from the coronavirus.

China — where the first case of the coronavirus was reported in late 2019 — and 44 other countries are currently on that list.

China recently struggled to manage a coronavirus outbreak believed to be spurred by the highly contagious Delta variant. The country had tightened mobility restrictions due to the outbreak, with capital Beijing enforcing lockdowns in several residential compounds.

Mr. Nograles said Philippine health authorities are “aware” that a new coronavirus variant with a number of mutations has been detected in Africa and other countries.

“We are intently monitoring the situation,” he said, noting that the country is now in talks with the World Health Organization to get updates regarding the new variant known as B.1.1.529.

The variant has more than 50 mutations, BBC reported, citing a health expert in South Africa.

“This variant did surprise us, it has a big jump on evolution [and] many more mutations that we expected,” Tulio de Oliveira, director of South Africa’s center for epidemic response, was quoted as saying. It was very different from other variants that have circulated.

Dana Sandoval, spokesperson of the Philippine immigration bureau, said they are prepared to implement restrictions to prevent the entry of the variant.

The Philippine immigration bureau anticipates an increase in passenger traffic. It has already banned its workers assigned at international airports from going on leave during the holiday season

With the expected increase in passenger volume in Philippine ports, the government should improve its coronavirus testing capacity and establish additional testing centers in public areas, OCTA Research Fellow Fredegusto P. David said in a Facebook Messenger chat. — Kyle Aristophere Atienza

Senate may ask for ‘fraud audit’ on DoE, PNOC on Malampaya issue

BW FILE PHOTO

Senate Energy Committee Chairman Sherwin T. Gatchalian on Thursday said there’s a possibility that the committee will ask the Commission on Audit (COA) to conduct a “fraud audit” on the Department of Energy (DoE) and the state-owned Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC).

“It’s highly possible that we will request COA to conduct a fraud audit, although we haven’t triggered that yet since we are focused on the process and on the basis for the controversial approval by the DoE,” Mr. Gatchalian said during a virtual forum with the National Youth Movement for the West Philippine Sea.

“We’re looking at the scope of the fraud audit. We have to make sure that if we trigger this, the objective is clear and that the COA knows what to look at,” he said.

In 2019, Davao-based businessman Dennis A. Uy’s Udenna Corp., through its subsidiary UC Malampaya, acquired Chevron Malampaya LLC’s share in the project for nearly P28.6 billion. The deal was approved in April.

In previous statements during the senate hearing on the Malampaya deals, Mr. Gatchalian said that the deal between the DoE’s approval of Chevron Malampaya LLC’s transfer of its 45% interest in Malampaya to Udenna subsidiary UC Malampaya (Pte Ltd.) was rigged.

Fraud audits are usually done through a detailed investigation of financial statements, and since the COA can only audit government entities, Mr. Gatchalian said the Senate will have to be very objective so that the COA will not go beyond its boundaries.

The audit commission, said Mr. Gatchalian, can audit the 60% royalty share of the government to see if the government is receiving its fair share, which the Senate can use to derive what the other entities are getting.

“PNOC is a 10% consortium holder and being under the Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC), [it] also falls [under] the ambit of COA,” Mr. Gatchalian said.

In May, another Udenna unit, Malampaya Energy XP, bought out SPEx, which had held a 45% operating interest in the Malampaya gas field, for P23.2 billion.

Aside from the Chevron Malampaya stake, Mr. Uy bought Shell Philippines Exploration BV’s (SPEx) stake, through another Udenna subsidiary, Malampaya Energy XP, for P23.2 billion. SPEx had held a 45% operating interest in the Malampaya gas field.

When approved, Mr. Uy will hold a 90% stake in the Malampaya natural gas field, which fuels power plants providing 30% of Luzon’s power demands.

The Malampaya deals have been under fire since the Senate Committee on Energy questioned the transactions in November 2020.

In October, three concerned citizens filed a criminal complaint before the Ombudsman against officials of the DoE, Udenna, Chevron Malampaya LLC, SPEx, and the PNOC-Exploration Corp. (PNOC-EC).

Last week, Senator Ana Theresia N. Hontiveros filed a resolution urging the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to investigate the “propriety” of Udenna Corp.’s takeover of the country’s fossil energy assets. — Marielle C. Lucenio

Senate committees set to deliberate bill formally identifying PHL’s maritime zones

SENATE committees will soon deliberate on a bill formally identifying the country’s maritime zones, said a Senator, following Chinese justification of its attack on Philippine supply ships and its demand to remove a grounded Philippine Navy ship in Ayungin Shoal.

Senator Aquilino Martin L. Pimentel III, who chairs the Senate Foreign Affairs committee, and Senator Panfilo M. Lacson, who chairs the Senate National Defense committee, told Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III that a schedule has been set to tackle Senate Bill 2289.

If enacted, a maritime zone map similar to China’s so-called nine-dash-line, which it has been using in defense of its claims of about 85% of the South China Sea, will be created.

Mr. Sotto, who is running for Vice-President in next year’s elections, said protecting the country’s sovereign rights will be easier if the bill is passed, since it will define the maritime zones under Philippine jurisdiction.

“We should not, we cannot, give up what is ours without exhausting every available option,” the Senate chief said in a statement Friday. “This is ours, so we should persist.”

If necessary, Mr. Sotto also said the Philippines can connect with foreign allies to protect and defend its maritime territories, adding that the government can initiate a review of its Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) and Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States.

Mr. Sotto also said that he supported joint oil exploration in the South China Sea, whether with China or any other nation, so long as the Philippines also benefits from its “vast maritime treasures.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Lacson, Mr. Sotto’s presidential running mate, on Thursday filed a resolution condemning “the continued presence and hostile acts” committed by Chinese ships within the country’s territory, urging the government to assert its sovereign rights.

INCONSISTENT APPROACH TO THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA

Meanwhile, senatorial aspirant Jose Manuel Tadeo I. Diokno, a human rights lawyer, called out the administration for its inconsistent approach to the disputed waterway after President Rodrigo R. Duterte criticized China’s water cannon attack in Ayungin Shoal during the ASEAN-China Special Summit.

The problem, Mr. Diokno said, is that the president’s words keep changing. “Sometimes, it’s like he’s defending China. Now, it’s like the opposite with a stronger stance.”

Mr. Duterte, who had sought closer trade and investment ties with China since taking office in 2016, called China’s move to block Philippine supply boats and fire water cannons at them abhorrent during last week’s virtual meeting.

Stakeholders should exercise self-restraint and avoid escalating tensions in the area, he added.

“Our government should be consistent when it comes to this issue because it’s very clear that [the area] is ours, that’s why we should fight for it,” Mr. Diokno said in a mix of English and Filipino, noting however that it is “difficult to know what will come out next from the mouth of the President.”

The people want the government to have a consistent policy on the maritime issue, he added, because it is crucial to our food security and to the nation’s sovereignty.

The human rights lawyer suggested discussing and cooperating with other nations to find a compromise that is beneficial to all states involved.

“I believe the better approach is to have multilateral talks because it is not only China and the Philippines who have interest in this area,” he said. “If we work together on this, the discussion with China will become fairer.”

The Philippines, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan are all claimants to parts of the South China Sea. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

DepEd eyes additional 177 public schools for pilot face-to-face classes

PHILSTAR

The Department of Education (DepEd) will be adding more public schools to the list of schools included in the pilot implementation of face-to-face classes as active coronavirus cases continue to decline.

DepEd Undersecretary Nepomuceno A. Malaluan said on Friday that they are considering adding 177 public schools to the program.

“[The] DepEd and DoH (Department of Health) has endorsed [this idea] to the Office of the President to give greater flexibility in increasing the number of schools, and they have approved this provided that we still keep the pilot nature,” he said in an ANC interview.

Mr. Malaluan added that Education Secretary Leonor M. Magtolis-Briones instructed schools nationwide to begin with school safety assessments in preparation for an expanded phase of limited face-to-face classes which is expected to start early next year.

The expanded phase will not be limited to specific grade levels. The current program is limited to classes in kindergarten, grades 1 to 3, and technical vocation students in senior high school.

Twenty-eight schools in Metro Manila are expected to conduct dry runs for physical classes which will begin on Dec. 6 as part of the pilot program.

“There was an agreement between the Metro Manila mayors that they want to have representation for all cities,” Mr. Malaluan said.

He also said that they are constantly working to improve guidelines for face-to-face classes, especially in extending the number of hours in school and setting up plastic barriers.

“We have put out a monitoring and evaluation template for all of our schools to report, and this will be basis of our evaluation over the Christmas break for submission to the Office of the President,” Mr. Malaluan said.

The government allowed the pilot run of face-to-face classes in 100 public schools and 18 private schools starting Nov. 15 and Nov. 22 respectively.

DepEd earlier said that no coronavirus cases have been reported so far in schools with limited physical learning.

The Philippines is the last country in the world to reopen schools since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. — Russell Louis C. Ku

Transport, BPO, workers’ groups want IATF vax-for-work resolution junked

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

TRANSPORT, business process outsourcing, and workers’ groups on Friday urged the government to junk resolutions requiring COVID-19 vaccinations to work and to have access to services, with plans to stage a rally at the labor department on Monday.

The online petition against Resolutions 148-B and 149 of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, which ordered all establishments and employers to require all employees working in-person to have COVID-19 vaccinations beginning Dec. 1, already had more than 3,000 signatories as of Friday.

During the Pandesal Forum, the groups read the unity statement, saying in Filipino that “these rules made by the IATF are not fair or pro-people. These will deprive the employees and their families of livelihood, just because the employees are not vaccinated.”

Under the resolutions, unvaccinated workers working on-site will be required to regularly take Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests for COVID-19 “at their own expense.”

“It is also an added burden for low-wage workers to undergo the mandatory swab tests every two weeks for those who are unvaccinated,” the groups said, noting that numerous workers already have difficulty making ends meet.

The motion is unlawful, the group added, as it goes against the protections of the rights of workers and security of jobs guaranteed by the Constitution and the Labor Code. An advisory previously released by the labor department also disallowed forced vaccinations.

The IATF resolutions also allow establishments to deny access to unvaccinated people. They will also be given less priority in government programs.

“There should be no discrimination between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated in enjoying these rights, and accepting services and other benefits,” they said.

Camille Joyce O. Cruzada, a physician from the Institute for Occupational Health & Safety Development, joined the protest, saying that the responsibility of the government to ensure the people’s health includes not only illnesses but the overall well-being.

Rather than punishments, she said, it is better to spread the right information on vaccines to truly achieve informed consent, adding that the government should compose a comprehensive plan while expanding its indemnity provisions.

Bayan Muna Representative Ferdinand R. Gaite, who was also in the forum, on Tuesday filed House Resolution 2373 urging the repeal of the resolutions and instead prioritize the well-being of workers and economic frontliners. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

House bill seeks to provide communications allowance to public school teachers

A TEACHER holds an online class in this August 2021 photo. — THE PHILIPPINE STAR/MICHAEL VARCAS

A bill has been filed at the House of Representatives to provide data and communication allowances to public school teachers to help them provide quality education through distance learning.

ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Eric G. Yap, chair of the House appropriations committee, filed House Bill 10526 as he noted that funds provided to teachers through the Bayanihan laws were “insufficient.”

“Our teachers have been incurring out of pocket expenses because the stimulus given to them could only cover a few hours of data access. This appalling reality… is immensely unacceptable in this day and age,” he said in the bill’s explanatory message.

The measure would mandate the Department of Education (DepEd), along with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), to provide a data and communication allowance which will be determined by the time of execution and amount of data needed for blended learning.

Access to a website where blended learning materials are published will also be subsidized by the government, and access will be free of charge.

The Department of Finance and the Bureau of Internal Revenue can also provide fiscal incentives to these providers as long as they don’t significantly affect government revenue.

According to the bill, the DepEd and DICT should also provide teachers in both public and private schools with appropriate and affordable computers or similar gadgets in order for them to effectively execute blended learning. — Russell Louis C. Ku

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