THE Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) said its proposed port development project in Mabini, Batangas that would have accommodated larger-capacity vessels is no longer deemed viable due to the current economic conditions.
“In a special meeting held on Oct. 20, at which a quorum was present, the board of directors of the PNOC, exercised their right… to not award the contract for the Energy Supply Base Port Development Project as they have determined that the economic conditions have significantly changed as to render the project no longer economically feasible,” the PNOC said in a notice of non-award posted on its website last week.
In its invitation to bid, the firm had allotted P1.4 billion for the project.
PNOC has said it had plans of reclaiming and building a new pier in the area “to provide support and logistics for (its unit) PNOC-EC (Exploration Corp.) and other exploration service contract holders, as well as meet the growing demand for ports that can accommodate larger energy vessels with heavier cargoes.”
PNOC-EC used to operate the energy supply base in Mabini, Batangas, which provides berthing, cargo handling, storage, and warehousing facilities to its energy and commercial clients. But in 2018, PNOC took over the supply base’s operations.
PNOC has a mandate to provide access to facilities for companies engaged in onshore and offshore exploration.
The Batangas provincial council had cleared PNOC’s project and the reclamation activity that will come along with it, issuing a resolution of no objection on Oct. 11.
The Philippine Reclamation Authority requires such a resolution for reclamation works. — Angelica Y. Yang
DAVAO CITY — Port development in Mindanao will stimulate the logistics industry and position the southern island as a viable hub for imports that will then be transshipped south to north as an alternative to importing through Manila, a Mindanao business leader said.
Ricardo F. Lagdameo, chairman of this year’s Davao Investment Conference (ICon 2021), said it is cheaper to import through Mindanao and from there distribute goods to the rest of the country, compared to landing the imports in Manila, which suffers from congestion. Additionally, shipping rates are more expensive going south.
“I would encourage importers to look at the reverse and we do have several of them that are doing that already. We have less congestion, domestic shipping is cheaper going the other way around,” Mr. Lagdameo, president of Davao-based Damosa Land, Inc., said on Oct. 27 during the third in a series of webinars leading up to the investment conference on Nov. 11-12.
“Davao gives you access to the Mindanao market and also access to the Visayas as well. It is something that I would encourage shipping lines, importers, and investors to consider,” he added.
Donna May Lina, executive board director at logistics conglomerate OneLGC or the Lina Group of Companies, said in the same forum that Mindanao is viable as an import hub given its current economic landscape, location, and human resources.
“One (factor) is lower cost of living and transactions; there’s also less congestion. There are also fewer typhoons going around in the Davao region, which means less disruption in moving goods. Of course, there’s also the great people who are highly trainable and warm,” Ms. Lina said.
One of the focus areas of this year’s Davao ICon is to promote and position Mindanao as a logistics hub in Southeast Asia.
Malou G. Monteverde, president of the Davao City business chamber, said making Mindanao a key logistics center requires government action on port upgrades.
Two seaports in Mindanao — Sasa Port in Davao City and the General Santos City Port — have pending unsolicited proposals under a private-public partnership scheme.
Original proponent status has been awarded to Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp. for the P19.9-billion Sasa Port project, and to Davao-based Kudos Trucking Corp. for the P5.2-billion GenSan Port.
Ms. Monteverde said the upgrade of major ports should be complemented by the development of smaller ports that could serve as “smaller hubs.”
“Though, we have a main hub we can also have a smaller hub. In Mindanao, there are still a lot of smaller hubs that can be developed. So the PPA (Philippine Ports Authority) also has to do its share… That is something we should look forward to so that the cost of shipping and logistic will be lowered too,” she said.
Tony S. Peralta, chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP)-Southern Mindanao Business Council, said Royal Cargo, Inc. recently commenced shipping from Davao City to the US West Coast.
The company’s Philippine-flagged MV Iris Paoay, left Davao on Oct. 24 bound for Long Beach, California.
Mr. Peralta said the vessel of Royal Cargo, an ECCP member, is carrying agricultural and industrial products.
“I hope this kind of development can spur more trade for Mindanao,” he said. — Maya M. Padillo
LEGISLATORS are considering the print media industry’s request for tax relief and are studying alternative ways to provide incentives to the hard-pressed sector, Pangasinan Rep. Christopher V.P. de Venecia said.
Mr. De Venecia, who chairs the House Committee on the Creative Industry and Performing Arts, said further discussions are needed before a bill can be filed in response to the industry’s request to be exempt from Value-Added Tax (VAT) on printing materials like paper and ink, as well as on advertising sales.
He did not elaborate on what alternative incentives might be provided to the industry.
The United Print Media Group Philippines (UPMG), a trade association, has said the exemptions are needed for the survival of the print media industry, which has seen a years-long decline in advertising revenue amid pressure from new media such as the internet.
“We still need to conduct a separate discussion with UPMG on the tax-related proposals. We sympathize with the industry on its desire to get back on its feet,” he said in a statement to BusinessWorld via Viber.
UPMG, in its position paper, also proposed a lower corporate income tax rate of 15% for the industry, against the 25% called for under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) law.
It also proposed a tax holiday and refundable tax credits for print subscribers and advertisers along with implementation of a news and current affairs subject in the academic curriculum to help students value journalism and keep them from falling victim to fake news.
Mr. De Venecia said the proposed tax exemptions are likely to be a contentious issue with economic managers, who tend to oppose any erosion of government revenue.
“We also have to work within the new regime of tax incentives under CREATE Law which is performance-based, time-bound, and transparent,” he said.
He said however that any lost revenue will be offset by the social benefits of maintaining a robust industry.
“I believe that print media remains significant for our society… It is alive, enduring, and striving to become better, and to serve the people and the country in its full potential,” Mr. De Venecia added.
UPMG President Barbie L. Atienza said that the government will not lose much revenue from VAT exemptions, estimating the taxes generated from the print industry at around P300 million each year.
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS said the Philippines’ climate objectives need to be considered at every stage of the planning process in order to maximize the resources available for climate-change mitigation, including foreign aid.
“Aid given to LGUs (local government units) for programs related to climate resilience is a good initiative, but we should consider that funding is just one intervention,” Greenpeace Campaigner Rhea Jane Pescador-Mallari said in a mobile message Sunday.
She was responding to a recently-announced program by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to help vulnerable countries adapt to climate change.
“If we integrate climate adaptation and mitigations and other related concepts in every decision-making process… we can use the resources of our nation effectively.”
USAID on Thursday launched the Climate Resilient Cities project, which helps vulnerable countries like the Philippines gain access to climate-mitigation financing and expertise.
In a statement issued by the US Embassy in Manila, USAID proposes to help local governments and other stakeholders to “better understand, use, and disseminate climate information to local communities.”
Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities Executive Director Renato R. Constantino added that the Philippines needs “solid plans to maximize every peso for climate action.”
“It is vital we increase ambition for adaptation as a matter of priority even as we contribute what we can to the larger decarbonization effort globally.”
Mr. Constantino said the government must implement strategies with transparency and accountability to encourage the public to participate in the national effort against climate change.
In the 2020 World Risk Report, the Philippines ranked ninth out of 181 countries worldwide.
The most disaster-prone countries according to the report are Vanuatu, Tonga, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, and the Solomon Islands.
Qatar, Malta, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and Saudi Arabia were deemed least disaster-prone countries in the world, according to the report.
Mr. Constantino added that Southeast Asia “is facing losses of up to 37% of GDP by mid-century if countries such as the US fail to dramatically curb their emissions.” — Bianca Angelica D. Añago
Accelerated by the pandemic and enabled by technology, businesses continue to explore new ways of working and business models outside of traditional capabilities. But to maintain momentum, boards will need to reimagine their roles to ensure they remain relevant, adaptive and responsive to the needs of this transformative age. The current pace makes it imperative for boards to continuously evolve and embrace transformation. Environmental, technological and geopolitical changes require them to guide their companies to better seize opportunities arising from disruption, manage risks and optimize for future performance.
Boards can become future-fit by employing a forward-thinking mindset, and being proactive in collecting perspectives which can impact the business. They must be outward-looking and lead in balancing long-term interests, as well as expand their view of risk with technology-enabled compliance, mitigation and monitoring. Future-fit boards are diverse by nature, inclusive, transparent, and responsive. They are capable of navigating the provocative and unexpected and are innovative in their oversight of culture and human capital to drive value.
As discussed in an EY article, Setting the pace or keeping up — is your board future-fit?, there are six key areas of action boards must consider in order for them to achieve future fitness. In the first part of this two-part article, we will look at how boards will need to revitalize board composition and dynamics, gather insights from fresh perspectives, and increase focus on the long-term.
REVITALIZE BOARD COMPOSITION AND DYNAMICS To gain insight into what the boardroom of the future will look like, boards must consider their current composition in the context of long-term strategy coupled with the need for reinvention, adaptation, and challenge. They will also need to determine who will be necessary in the boardroom to optimize performance, not just for now, but also for years to come. By maintaining a diverse set of backgrounds, experience and cognitive styles, boards can plan for and ensure a balance that will be maintained even as new directors come and go.
However, even with a diverse, well-balanced board, it is still possible to disregard otherwise valuable input and underutilize assets. Future-fit boards can counter this by actively valuing diverse inputs, and by recognizing the importance of different opinions and disruptive ideas. They should also recognize the value of an age-diverse group, leveraging experience while valuing new directors, particularly with the rapid disruptions happening in the world today. Future-fit boards must be open to developing new knowledge and competencies — training and re-training its members as a whole rather than just relying on the expertise of a single director with the relevant skills.
To determine whether a board is future-fit in its dynamics, it must ask itself if it seeks and encourages unexpected and disruptive ideas, and if it can reach outside of traditional methods to analyze business challenges and issues from every angle. By keeping open to reinvention and transformation, boardrooms can discover new dimensions for long-term growth.
GATHER INSIGHTS FROM FRESH PERSPECTIVES Simply gaining a different view on matters, such as understanding employee well-being or the quality of customer experience, is not enough to truly gather varied and quality perspectives with the breadth of insight needed in today’s environment. Future-fit boards must proactively gather new perspectives at a broad and strategic level, seeking input from more stakeholders such as investors, industry peers and others.
Future-fit boards need to be able to ask the right questions regarding strategic priorities, direction, and emerging risks. This also means they have to determine the right internal and external stakeholders to ask. They will need to review the kinds of information they receive and assess whether there are new data points they must find. This in turn can help facilitate dialogue that fosters trust and maximizes access to markets, talent, and customers.
Boards must also be strategic in their analysis of feedback and various forms of external data. While it is possible to be overwhelmed by large volumes of information and face challenges in sorting through that information to determine what is relevant, future-fit boards must take the initiative and determine what data and information is necessary before developing their knowledge on the right issues.
Finally, boards will also need to ensure they maximize the use of external data, stakeholder perspectives, and the relevant expertise to educate themselves on new areas of risks and gain further opportunities to hold the right conversations.
INCREASE FOCUS ON THE LONG-TERM With uncertainty and disruption continuing to prevail in the current landscape, it is easy to understand why some boards narrow their views toward short-term survival. Based on another EY survey, over 40% of global board members believe that investors would prefer to focus on long-term decision-making and investments that will enhance the future prospects of the business even if this reduces short-term financial performance. Since there are no universally applied or disclosed metrics on value generated from customer loyalty, trust, human capital, innovation and culture, it can be challenging to communicate with investors consistently. However, future-fit boards must be focused on articulating long-term strategies clearly, determining what investments they make to sustain and protect the value drivers underpinning the business.
Boards also need to be cognizant of what “long-term” may look like. We are now in a time when business models are rapidly evolving, and traditional markets and industries are transforming and converging to create new models. Consider, for example, how fluidly enterprises are diversifying their services and offerings today — ride-hailing apps have added shopping and food-delivery features, telecommunications companies are venturing into banking and remittances, and online shopping platforms have become venues for insurance and financial products. Future-fit boards have to remain focused on transformation and create a culture of agile adaptation that reimagines what their business could become, using information from megatrends and stakeholder intelligence to boldly redefine and reinvent their own future.
In the next part of this article, we will discuss how boards must align and communicate purpose with action, align and monitor culture, and enhance risk and compliance oversight.
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional advice where the facts and circumstances warrant. The views and opinions expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of SGV & Co.
Leonardo J. Matignas is a business consulting partner of SGV & Co. and the EY ASEAN risk management leader.
DAILY coronavirus infections in Manila, the capital and nearby cities would probably fall to 500 by mid-November, according to researchers from the country’s premier university.
“By Nov. 15, the National Capital Region could be at 500 cases per day, which is around the level last December,” Fredegusto P. David, a fellow from the OCTA Research Group from the University of the Philippines, said in a Facebook Messenger chat on Sunday.
Metro Manila is now under Alert Level 3, which allows 50% capacity for outdoor services and 30% capacity for indoor activities.
Mr. David said Metro Manila would probably be placed under Alert Level 2 before the holiday season. “We support a move to Alert Level 2. COVID-19 indicators are already low.”
“We will see if cases continue to decline,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire said when asked if the lockdown in the capital region would be eased by December. “We use case trends such as the two-week growth rate and average daily attack rate, and healthcare utilization rate,” she said in a Viber message.
Mr. David said Metro Manila had a coronavirus infection rate of 5%, while its healthcare use rate was below 50%.
The virus reproduction rate in the region was below 0.9, lower than the critical cut-off of 1.4, Mr. David said. The average daily attack rate or the number of infected people for 100,000 people was below seven, he added.
The Department of Health (DoH) reported 3,410 coronavirus cases on Sunday, bringing the total to 2.8 million.
The death toll rose to 43,172 after 128 more patients died, while recoveries increased by 5,825 to 2.7 million, it said in a bulletin.
There were 45,233 active cases, 73.6% of which were mild, 4.9% did not show symptoms, 6.8% were severe, 11.83% were moderate and 2.9% were critical.
DoH said 30 duplicates had been removed from the tally, 25 of which were reclassified as recoveries, while 91 recoveries were relisted as deaths. Four laboratories failed to submit data on Oct. 29.
The agency said 46% of intensive care units in the Philippines were occupied, while the rate in Metro Manila was 39%.
OCTA earlier said Metro Manila posted only 953 infections per day from Oct. 20 to 26.
Presidential adviser for entrepreneurship Jose Maria “Joey” A. Conception III has been urging the government to place the region under Alert Level 2 to boost business recovery.
Under Alert Level 2, businesses may operate indoors at 50% capacity. They will get an additional 10% capacity if they have a so-called safety seal from the government. For outdoor operations, they may operate at 70% capacity.
“The public should continue to follow public health guidelines and avoid large gatherings for now,” Mr. David said. “Local government units should continue their good efforts in implementing granular lockdowns.”
Health authorities should enforce the alert level guidelines strictly, he added.
The presidential palace on Friday said Metro Manila would remain under Alert Level 3 until Nov. 14.
Presidential spokesman Herminio L. Roque, Jr. also said an inter-agency task force had approved a plan to increase passenger capacity in road- and rail-based public transportation in Metro Manila and nearby provinces from 70% to full capacity starting Nov. 4.
The government started enforcing granular lockdowns with five alert levels in the capital region after the country struggled to contain a fresh spike in infections triggered by a highly contagious Delta variant.
The Department of Transportation on Friday said it would gradually increase the passenger capacity of public transportation in Metro Manila starting this week.
Transportation Assistant Secretary Mark Steven C. Pastor said this, along with the P1-billion cash aid from the government, would help public utility vehicle drivers.
The agency cited greater demand for public transport after businesses were allowed to operate at increased capacity and as more Filipinos get vaccinated against the coronavirus.
It said it would issue guidelines on the gradual increase in passenger capacity while enforcing health and safety protocols to help contain the coronavirus.
A PRESIDENTIAL aspirant has pledged to ease private sector regulation if he wins the elections next year, saying the government should treat companies as partners rather than opponents.
“Overregulation, when it goes beyond our competition policy, has no place in modern and civilized society especially at a time when we need to encourage foreign investments and attract more capital inflow in the Philippines,” Senator Panfilo M. Lacson told an online forum at the weekend.
“It is time for the government to really treat the business sector as partners in progress instead of competitors,” he added.
Mr. Lacson said he would push the recovery of small and medium enterprises, which account for more than 99% of registered businesses in the country and provide more than 60% of total jobs, through fiscal stimulus packages.
“We need to implement eviction and foreclosure moratoriums and employee-retention tax credits to motivate businesses to reopen,” he added.
Mr. Lacson said he seeks to put 100% of the country’s irrigable lands to use, unlike now when fewer than two-thirds of the Philippines’ irrigable lands have been used.
“A major part of my agenda for the agriculture sector is the completion of our long-time lags in providing effective and sustainable irrigation systems to 100% of our irrigable lands in the country,” he said.
He promised to free farmers and fisherfolk from the “grip and control of middlemen and traders” who now dictate market prices.
“This approach can provide alternatives to lower our reliance on importation of agriculture products. It is high time that we veer away from the import-dependent mentality,” the lawmaker said.
Mr. Lacson also pushed digitizing the country to improve governmental and business processes, adding that this would “minimize, if not totally eliminate corruption in government.”
Meanwhile, Vice-President Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo said she would focus on rural development if she becomes the next Philippine president.
“Our infrastructure should spur rural development because development right now is so concentrated in Metro Manila,” she told reporters in Filipino in Sorsogon City on Friday, based on a transcript e-mailed by her office.
She vowed to invest more in farm-to-market roads, cold storage facilities, solar dryers, fish cages and other infrastructure projects.
She also pledged to continue President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program, while ensuring that projects would directly benefit ordinary Filipinos.
Ms. Robredo, who has criticized the President for belittling the country’s traffic woes, said she would also solve the country’s mass transportation problem.
Fitch Solutions earlier said Mr. Duterte’s key policies such as his infrastructure program would likely be continued by his predecessor.
Analysts earlier said foreign investors are likely to stay cautious during the Philippine election season to gauge policies that will be prioritized by the next government.
FDI inflows sank to a five-year low of $6.542 billion last year, when the world was forced to deal with the pandemic. Inflows have improved in recent months from their levels a year earlier.
July inflows climbed by 52% to $1.263 billion from a year earlier. This brought the seven-month level to $5.562 billion, 43.1% higher than a year ago.
Some analysts said investors would be keen on policies that would boost the capacity of the country’s health system and its ability to deal with future health crises.
Other key considerations will be policies on restructuring the economic and business environments during the so-called new normal.
Foreign investors would also watch the stance of presidential candidates on human rights issues because political instability could hurt economic growth, political analysts said. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan and Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza
MOTORISTS and pedestrians get checked at a border going into Metro Manila in this March 29, 2021 file photo, when rigorous mobility restrictions were in effect. — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS
By Alyssa Nicole O. Tan
THE PHILIPPINES should ensure risk mitigation, adhere strictly to health protocols, improve air quality, and enhance contact tracing to successfully end pandemic-related restrictions without worries of another surge, said health professionals, after political leaders called for an end to lockdowns in 2022.
“We need to reopen properly in order to avert another lockdown,” said Aileen R. Espina, co-convenor and steering committee member of the Healthcare Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19’s (HPAAC), via call on Saturday.
“If we put all of these solutions in place, the probability of a surge, like the ones experienced in the past, is low.”
The Philippines had one of the longest and strictest lockdowns in the world, which has taken a toll on the economy and growth prospects. The government has eased restrictions this fourth quarter, starting in the capital Metro Manila.
By strictly adhering to the policies and protocols well defined by professionals, the risk can be properly mitigated, Ms. Espina said, noting the “3Cs” that refer to enclosed spaces, crowded spaces, and close contact.
“Our situation is different from those (first-world) countries, so it’s not easy to say that we’ll just open,” said Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAPi) President Jose Rene de Grano via call on Friday.
“Our people are sometimes so hard-headed, they don’t want to follow directions and health protocols,” he said, noting as well the issue of anti-vaxxers.
Mr. de Grano said based on current norms, lockdowns should continue until the country has attained herd immunity.
As of Oct. 26, the Philippines has administered more than 56.2 million doses of COVID-19, according to the national task force against COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019).
Almost 26 million individuals have been fully vaccinated, comprising 34% of the country’s 70% target by yearend.
Mr. de Grano added, however, that lockdowns may no longer be necessary if the number of coronavirus cases continue to go down and is maintained, alongside a continuing vaccination rollout and adherence to minimum health protocols.
Ms. Espina also recommended the use of carbon dioxide monitors to enhance air quality and air circulation, which authorities can tap for monitoring crowded areas and take necessary action on.
Senator Panfilo M. Lacson, who is running for the top seat in the 2022 May elections, earlier said that if elected, he will end lockdowns that have “crippled the economy but failed to stop or even slow down the spread of COVID-19.”
In a forum Saturday, Mr. Lacson said the country can no longer afford another day of “on-off, off-on” lockdowns.
He cited the National Economic and Development Authority’s assessment that the present and future costs of COVID-19 and quarantines are estimated at P41.4 trillion. In 2020 alone, he added, the country lost P4.3 trillion.
In Metro Manila, the country’s capital and economic center, P20.5 billion was lost per day under the strictest quarantine classification, he said.
MENTAL HEALTH Nonetheless, both doctors warned the public not to be complacent just because the number of cases have recently dropped.
“If we look at the global trend, it is rising once again, that is how pandemics and endemics behave; they will have downtimes then it will rise again,” said Ms. Espina.
“We have to be very careful, until such time that it is completely zero, that’s the only time that we can relax fully,” said Mr. de Grano in a mix of English and Filipino.
The challenge, Ms. Espina said, is nipping the problem in the bud before it spreads. “The goal, if there is a new variant, is to make sure that it doesn’t spread too much, and the way to do that is through contact tracing.”
Ms. Espina also said people should adapt a “hybrid lifestyle” to limit the “time of interaction with other people outside of your bubble.”
Vaccination, Mr. de Grano stressed, is key to achieving a balance between the people’s need to “go out” for mental wellness and keeping safe from the virus.
At least 3.6 million Filipinos suffer from one kind of mental, neurological, or substance use disorder, the Health department earlier said, citing a study by the World Health Organization.
“HPAAC is more than willing to sit down with any political group, with any presidentiable, to help them craft their health agenda in the new normal,” she added. “We are offering our services for that.”
DUMAGUETE City, capital of Negros Oriental province, closed its 35-year-old dumpsite earlier this year while a facility for recyclable materials was opened in July. A sanitary landfill is also planned for construction in the area where the material recovery plant is. The city government has allocated about P100 million over the last three years for the waste management plan, including the closure and rehabilitation of the dumpsite, and the purchase of land and setting up the recovery and recycling facility. — DUMAGUETECITY.GOV.PH
LOCAL governments now face the responsibility of rehabilitating the dumpsites closed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in compliance with the country’s solid waste management law.
“After our successful feat to close dumpsites all over the country, I would like to reiterate to our concerned LGUs (local government units) to ensure that all systems and engineering measures are carried out in their rehabilitation plan to prevent negative impacts and risks to the environment,” DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said in a news release on Sunday.
The DENR officially closed all 335 operating open dumpsites in the country in May.
Mr. Cimatu acknowledged the cooperation and support of local governments in the long-overdue program.
However, he stressed that the work of LGUs is not over as they have to implement their respective safe closure and rehabilitation plans.
“Closing the dumpsite is just the first step… (LGUs) have to proactively implement rehabilitation because it is a requirement for closure,” Mr. Cimatu said.
Under Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, open dumps for solid waste should have been converted into “controlled dumps” within three years of the law’s effectivity. The controlled dumps should have been closed within the succeeding two years.
The waste management law mandates the country, with LGUs at the forefront, to “adopt a systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management program.”
A DENR administrative order issued in Sept. 2006 sets the guidelines for dumpsite closure and rehabilitation.
Under the guidelines, LGUs or contracted private operators can undertake the rehabilitation based on the local government’s approved solid waste management program. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago
THE BACOLOD City government has asked the national government to downgrade its coronavirus alert category to the more relaxed level 3 from the level 4 imposed from Nov. 1 to 14, citing a decrease in cases and manageable utilization rate of medical and isolation facilities.
Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia, in a letter to the Health secretary dated Oct. 29, said the city’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case growth rate in the last two weeks dropped by 39% while the average daily attack rate decreased to 13.24 from 21.62.
“There is a significant indication of a continuous reduction of additional cases in the city. Given the foregoing, it is reasonable to loosen restrictions in order for our residents to resume earning activities,” the mayor said.
He also pointed out that city residents account for only half of the hospital utilization rate of 69%, with the rest of the patients coming from neighboring towns. Bacolod, although a politically independent city, serves as the capital of Negros Occidental province.
As of Oct. 30, the city with a population of over 583,000 had 1,730 active COVID-19 cases out of the 23,032 recorded since the start of the pandemic, based on data from the Department of Health’s Western Visayas office.
There were 577 deaths and 20,722 recoveries.
“By ramping up our vaccination program, we also expect cases to even decrease significantly in the proceeding weeks,” Mr. Leonardia said.
He cited that 42.28% of the local population were fully vaccinated as of Oct. 28, while 12% have received a first dose. Bacolod City was also among the areas outside the capital that started pediatric vaccination for those aged 12 to 17 on Oct. 29. — MSJ
THE TnT Tropang Giga are PBA champions once again after six years. Rookie Mikey Williams (lower left photo) was named Philippine Cup finals most valuable player. — PBA IMAGES
TnT back on PBA summit after six years
By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter
THE TnT Tropang Giga are back on the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) summit after six years following their successful conquest of this year’s All-Filipino championship.
Defeated the Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots, 4-1, in their best-of-seven Philippine Cup finals series, capped by a 94-79 win in Game Five on Friday, TnT is a champion for the first time since 2015.
It was a culmination of a long process of transition for a winning franchise that saw it go through a number of personnel changes in search of a team that would click and get it back to the top.
The journey was anything, but easy, including having no finals appearance in 11 of the previous 14 PBA tournaments. And in the three they did make it to the “Big Dance,” it was on the losing end, the most recent in 2020 in the Philippine Cup against the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings.
Leading the Tropang Giga to the Promised Land anew was comebacking PBA coach Chot Reyes, who returned to the sidelines this season after nearly a decade away to take on other pursuits, including being coach of the national team.
Anchored on the push of consistently bettering themselves, Reyes-led TnT overcame every obstacle that was thrown its way throughout the tournament.
“I have to give it to these guys… They put in all the effort. They stayed together through adversity. It’s been a long journey and I’m proud of these guys,” said Mr. Reyes during the trophy presentation at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
The latest title is the sixth All-Filipino crown for Mr. Reyes, tying him with the great Baby Dalupan, and ninth overall in the PBA, good for joint fourth place with Jong Uichico.
Playing a key role in TnT’s title run was rookie Mikey Williams.
In the lead-up to the Philippine Cup, there were concerns of his availability as he was among those late to join their teams in the preparation.
But when he got on board, everything practically went well.
Mr. Williams, the fourth overall pick in this year’s rookie draft, flourished in a starting role, helping the team to the best record of 10-1 in the elimination round before continuing to ascend in the playoffs.
In the finals, he had it memorable with averages of 27.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.8 assist en route to being named finals most valuable player. He was the first rookie to achieve such a feat after Brandon Cablay in 2003 for Alaska.
“The whole team definitely made my job a lot easier. They just gave me confidence and continued to push me. Thanks to the 15 (players) and the coaches,” said Mr. Williams upon receiving the award.
Also stepping up and doing their share were young veterans Roger Pogoy, Troy Rosario and JP Erram, who did it on both ends of the court and were rewarded with their first-ever PBA title.
Mr. Rosario, in particular, was all heart after playing hurt in the last two games of the series following his freak on-court accident in Game Three where he injured his back and left pinkie.
While he was ruled out for the rest of the series, he forged ahead and played, providing valuable on-court contributions as well as inspiration to his team.
Mr. Pogoy had his ups and down throughout, but continued to be confident and go-getting while Mr. Erram did everything asked of him be that as a starter or off the bench.
While they took a step back for their younger teammates, old hands Jayson Castro, Kelly Williams and Ryan Reyes did not fail to make an impact in their title run.
Mr. Castro was a true mentor to the young guards of the team while still doing Jayson Castro things despite limited minutes. Mr. Williams showed he still has a lot in him notwithstanding retiring last season. Mr. Reyes was his do-it-all self.
“It was worth it. This is really special for me. I hope we can another championship,” said Mr. Castro, now a seven-time PBA champion.
On their way to winning the title, the Tropang Giga defeated erstwhile defending champion Barangay Ginebra in the quarterfinals and the San Miguel Beermen in the semifinals.
Incidentally, Barangay Ginebra, San Miguel and Magnolia were the champions in 13 of the last 14 conferences prior to this year.
The 2021 PBA Philippine Cup is the sixth All-Filipino championship of the Tropang Giga in franchise history and eighth overall in the PBA.
DANSBY Swanson and Jorge Soler hit back-to-back home runs in the seventh inning as the Atlanta Braves rallied for a 3-2 victory over the visiting Houston Astros on Saturday in Game 4 of the World Series to move one victory away from the title.
Swanson’s one-out home run to right field tied the game 2-all before Soler followed four pitches later with a pinch-hit homer to left as the Braves rallied against Astros right-hander Cristian Javier (0-1).
The Braves, who are 7-0 at home in the postseason, can wrap up their first championship since 1995 with a victory in Game 5 at Atlanta on Sunday.
Jose Altuve hit a home run for the Astros, while Zach Greinke pitched four shutout innings for the Astros, who are in danger of falling in the World Series for the second time in three seasons.
The Astros looked like they would break the game open early when they loaded the bases in the first inning against Braves opener Dylan Lee on an Altuve single and walks to Michael Brantley and Yordan Alvarez.
After recording just one out, Lee was replaced by right-hander Kyle Wright, who retired Correa on a ground out with Altuve scoring for a 1-0 Astros lead.
Wright escaped further trouble in the first and was charged with his only run of the game when Altuve crushed a home run to center field in the fourth inning for a 2-0 Houston lead. It was Altuve’s second home run of the World Series and fifth of this postseason.
It was also the 23rd postseason homer of Altuve’s career, breaking a tie with the New York Yankees’ Bernie Williams and moving him alone into second place all-time. Manny Ramirez had 29 career postseason home runs.
The Braves began to storm back in the sixth inning. An Eddie Rosario double and walk to Freddie Freeman chased Astros left-hander Brooks Raley, with right-hander Phil Maton giving up a two-out RBI single to Austin Riley as Atlanta pulled within 2-1.
Javier struck out Adam Duvall to start the bottom of the seventh before Swanson hit his first home run of the postseason. Soler, who had just two at-bats in the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers while on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) list, followed with his second homer of the series as Atlanta went up 3-2.
Braves left-hander Tyler Matzek (1-0) pitched a scoreless seventh inning to earn the victory. Right-hander Luke Jackson pitched a scoreless eighth and left-hander Will Smith pitched the ninth for his second save of the World Series and the sixth of the postseason. — Reuters
