Tourism chief says sector ready to sustain gradual reopening as 50% of workers nationwide fully vaccinated

September 16, 2021 | 9:29 pm

THE TOURISM industry is on a gradual reopening as the Philippines eases lockdown policies and stakeholders are ready to sustain recovery with the vaccination of frontline workers, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.

“Vaccinating our tourism workers is the only way we can continue to sustain the recovery of domestic tourism, especially with the presence of a new virus variant,” Ms. Puyat said in a statement on Thursday.

She reported that as of Sept. 10 data from the department, 51.4% of the target 245,338 tourism workers nationwide have been fully inoculated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The capital region Metro Manila registered the highest coverage at 94%, followed by the Davao Region with 88% and the Cordillera Administrative Region with 80%.

“As we work to secure more vaccine doses… I am also encouraging our workers to submit themselves for vaccination especially with the presence of the Delta variant,” she said.

In Metro Manila, where the new granular lockdown system is being piloted, several tourism destinations reopened on Thursday.

These include Fort Santiago, Baluarte de San Diego, and Plaza San Luis, all within Intramuros, and Rizal Park. — MSJ

Duterte allows health, vaccine chiefs to attend Senate inquiries

September 16, 2021 | 9:28 pm

PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte on Wednesday night said he would allow his two pandemic officials to attend Senate hearings to clear themselves of corruption allegations.

Mr. Duterte made the statement a few days after he required Cabinet officials to seek his permission first before attending legislative inquiries.

In a televised Cabinet meeting aired on Thursday, the President said he would allow Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III “to complete his story” at the Senate since he already testified before the House of Representatives.

Mr. Duterte said he will also allow vaccine czar Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. to participate in Senate hearings.

The tough-talking leader said his decision would “allow (Senator Richard J.) Gordon to show his stupidity.”

“But for others, in the future, I’m sorry, I will be the one who will say go to Congress to testify or to the Senate or do not go to Congress,” Mr. Duterte said. He also gave assurance of protection to his appointees. “I will not allow anybody to arrest you. That is a guarantee.”

Mr. Gordon chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which is currently conducting an investigation into controversial pandemic contracts.

At the same meeting, Mr. Duterte directed the Office of the Solicitor General to ask the Commission on Audit to look into the financial records of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), which is chaired by Mr. Gordon.

Earlier this month, the President criticized Mr. Gordon for ordering PRC to halt its COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) testing services after collectibles from the state health insurer ballooned to billions. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Business sector-led group lobbies for swift passage of bill strengthening judicial security

September 16, 2021 | 9:27 pm

THE JUDICIAL Reform Initiative (JRI) appealed to Congress for the swift passage of a measure that will strengthen the security of judiciary members and all court proceedings.

In a letter to Congress dated Sept. 13 and released to reporters on Thursday, the JRI — composed of local business organizations, judicial advocacy groups, and foreign chambers of commerce — said the passage of a law creating the Judicial Marshal Service will “help deter” the killings and threats as well as “ensure that such threats and acts are more timely investigated, assessed and mitigated.”

The House version was approved on third and final reading on June 2 while the Senate version is still at the interpellation stage.

Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny T. Pimentel, author of the House version, said the marshals will operate “as an independent, professional, and organized security force under the direct control and supervision of the Supreme Court.”

“The service may have up to 2,800 marshals, assuming at least one is detailed to every trial judge and every justice,” Mr. Pimentel said in a statement.

JRI cited that since 1991, only 24 cases of killings of judiciary members have been prosecuted in court, of which only two were convicted and six were acquitted.

Since the start of the Duterte administration in 2016, at least 58 lawyers have been killed, according to Union of People’s Lawyers in Mindanao (UPLM) Chairman Antonio C. Azarcon.

The latest incident was the shooting of UPLM’s vice chair, Juan G. Macababbad, outside his home in Surallah, South Cotabato on Wednesday. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago

Museum on martial law slams historical revisionism in interview of Marcos son

September 16, 2021 | 9:27 pm

martiallawmuseum-screenshot-MARTIALLAWMUSEUM.PH — MARTIALLAWMUSEUM.PH

THE ATENEO Martial Law Museum said late Wednesday that a recent interview of the son of the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos by a popular entertainment personality was an “attempt to whitewash (the Marcos family’s) human rights violations and (their) proven historical record.”

“No amount of propaganda spewed by the Marcos family and their supporters can erase the factual and proven disastrous effects of the Marcos regime on our country,” the museum said in a statement.

Vlogger and actress Celestine “Toni” C. Gonzaga-Soriano uploaded on her YouTube channel, which has over four million subscribers, the interview with Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. tagged as “The Greatest Lesson Bongbong Marcos Learned From His Father.”

The museum said that Mr. Marcos is only interested in returning to power in order to clean his family’s “disastrous” legacy by continuing to push a message that “erodes efforts to exact justice” from atrocities committed during Martial Law.

It invited the popular vlogger to speak to surviving victims and families of Martial Law, adding that the museum will be open to organize these talks.

Mr. Marcos said on Sept. 8 that he will eye a national position in the 2022 polls.

Ms. Gonzaga-Soriano has yet to issue a statement on the controversy. BusinessWorld has also sought for her comment but has yet to receive a reply. — Russell Louis C. Ku

Water service disconnection activities banned only under Alert Level 5 or granular lockdown

September 16, 2021 | 9:26 pm

METRO MANILA’s water concessionaires can carry out disconnection activities unless a locality is placed under Alert Level 5, the strictest under the government’s new quarantine system, or an area is placed on granular lockdown, according to the regulator.

Patrick Lester N. Ty, chief regulator of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Regulatory Office, said they have given the directive to Manila Water Co., Inc. and Maynilad Water Services, Inc.

“This is in light of the implementation of Alert Levels system and granular lockdowns in certain areas of the National Capital Region (NCR) beginning Sept. 16,” Mr. Ty said in a statement on Thursday.

The new alert level system took effect on Sept. 16 with the pilot run in the capital region, which has been placed under Alert Level 4.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ty urged customers of Manila Water and Maynilad in areas not under Alert Level 5 or granular lockdown to pay their bills to ensure continuous water service.

“As the MWSS Regulatory Office has previously directed the concessionaires to provide economic relief and consideration for customers in this difficult time of the pandemic, customers who are not able to settle their water bills may contact their service provider for flexible payment terms,” he said.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which has a majority stake in Maynilad, is one of three Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT, Inc.

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has an interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Peso down on weak US factory production

September 16, 2021 | 9:00 pm

THE PESO declined against the greenback on Thursday on weak US industrial production and cautious trading ahead of the release of US jobless claims data.

The local unit closed at P49.97 per dollar on Thursday, down by 18 centavos from its P49.79 finish on Wednesday, data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines showed.

The peso opened Thursday’s session at P49.72 per dollar. Its weakest point was at P50.02, while its intraday best was at P49.70 versus the greenback.

Dollars exchanged rose to $1.273 billion on Thursday from $654.8 million on Wednesday.

The peso depreciated on data showing slower US factory production, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said.

The US Federal Reserve on Wednesday said manufacturing output inched up by 0.2% in August, Reuters reported, slower than the upwardly-revised 1.6% expansion in July.

Hurricane Ida likely reduced manufacturing output by 0.2 percentage point as it led to plant closures for petrochemicals, plastic resins and petroleum refining, the Fed said.

Meanwhile, a trader said investors were cautious ahead of the release of the weekly initial jobless claims report expected overnight.

For today, Mr. Ricafort expects the local unit to move from P49.85 to P50.05 per dollar, while the trader gave a forecast range of P49.90 to P50.10. — with Reuters

Stocks rise as remittances hit seven-month high

September 16, 2021 | 9:00 pm

PHILIPPINE shares snapped three days of decline on Thursday amid improved remittances and as the implementation of an alert level system in Metro Manila started.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) gained 88.23 points or 1.28% on Thursday to close at 6,968.43, while the all shares index climbed 45.90 points or 1.07% to 4,323.53.

“Market went on bargain hunting after three days down at the start of localized or granular lockdown as NCR’s (National Capital Region)… and with remittances higher year on year,” Diversified Securities, Inc. Equity Trader Aniceto K. Pangan said in a text message.

Metro Manila is now under Alert Level 4 as the government shifted the capital to looser restrictions despite rising infections and hospitals remaining full.

The Health department reported 16,989 new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases on Wednesday, bringing active cases to 170,446.

The Health department’s COVID-19 vaccination dashboard showed the country has administered over 40.03 million jabs so far, with nearly 17.68 million fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, money sent home by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) reached a seven-month high in July, reflecting the improved employment situation in major economies that have begun recovering from the coronavirus pandemic.

Cash remittances rose 2.5% to $2.853 billion in July from $2.783 billion a year earlier, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported on Wednesday.

For the first seven months of 2021, cash remittances stood at $17.771 billion, up 5.8% from the $16.802 billion in the same period of 2020.

“Though still in trickles and inspired by the inoculation ramp-up and economic reopening, foreign investors are buying up the market in increasing frequency of late and at the higher range of the PSE trading band, which suggests the rally may have further to run,” First Metro Investment Corp. Head of Research Cristina S. Ulang said in a Viber message.

Foreigners turned buyers anew, recording P53.9 million in net purchases on Thursday from the P73.03 million in net outflows logged on Wednesday.

All sectoral indices posted gains on Thursday. Services went up by 44 points or 2.40% to end at 1,871.30; property gained 66.14 points or 2.19% to 3,075.79; industrials rose 150.05 points or 1.48% to 10,246.84; financials went up by 8.83 points or 0.62% to 1,432.53; holding firms improved by 40.13 points or 0.57% to 7,013.71; and mining and oil inched up by 6.25 points or 0.06% to 9,609.74.

Value turnover inched down to P7.37 billion with 1.07 billion shares traded on Thursday, lower than the P7.55 billion with 1.51 billion issues logged the previous day.

Advancers beat decliners, 103 versus 90, while 47 names closed unchanged. — K.C.G. Valmonte

Bolts mark return with win

September 16, 2021 | 7:57 pm

PBA-Images — THE Meralco Bolts marked their return to Philippine Basketball Association action with a victory, 95-83, over the Terrafirma Dyip on Thursday in Pampanga. — PBA IMAGES

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

THE Meralco Bolts marked their return to Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) action with a victory, 95-83, over the Terrafirma Dyip on Thursday at the Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU) Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.

Held out as a team for two weeks over the league’s health and safety protocols, it took a while for Meralco to shrug off Terrafirma, but when it got the leverage it needed, the team was not to be denied en route to the win that saw the Bolts improve to 6-2 in the Philippine Cup.

The Bolts did it minus key cogs Chris Newsome and Cliff Hodge, who had yet to be cleared for play in accordance with the PBA’s health guidelines, and sophomore Aaron Black, who hurt his hand early in the contest and was taken to the hospital to be checked.

The teams played it back-and-forth for three quarters, fighting to a 73-70 count, with the Bolts ahead, after 36 minutes of play.

In the fourth quarter, Meralco got early traction on the lead by veteran Reynel Hugnatan and guard Anjo Caram.

The Bolts outscored the Dyip, 12-9, to build a six-point cushion, 85-79, by the 6:17 mark.

They extended their lead, 93-79, four minutes later and were never threatened after.

Bong Quinto led five Meralco players in double digits with 17 points, with Mr. Caram adding 13 and Allein Maliksi 12 points. Raymond Almazan finished with 11 while Mr. Hugnatan had 10.

“We we’re missing some key players so I just told them to play as a team, play for one another. Good thing some players stepped up,” said Meralco coach Norman Black after the game.

With the loss, Terrafirma is now on the brink of elimination with a 3-7 record.

Aldrech Ramos top-scored for the Dyip with 15 points, followed by Joseph Gabyani with 14. Juami Tiongson and Reden Celda each had 10 points.

ALASKA STARTS GRIND
Meanwhile, the Alaska Aces begin their grind of three straight matches on Friday with a clash against defending champions Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings.

Out for two weeks because of the league’s health and safety protocols, the Aces (2-4) look to get wind in their push for the playoffs although under tough conditions, playing three in a row, beginning with the Kings set for 6 p.m.

They then take on league-leading TnT Tropang Giga (9-1) on Saturday and Terrafirma on Sunday.

Against the Kings (4-5), Alaska will be facing a team fresh from a huge come-from-behind win in their previous game and are looking to sustain the momentum.

Despite the adversity they are set to face, the Aces remain hopeful, taking it “a game at a time.”

Volleyball Champions League set for November

September 16, 2021 | 7:56 pm

THE Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) will be holding Champions League tournaments for men and women in November, the sports body announced on Thursday.

Federation chief Ramon Suzara said that they have approved the staging of the Champions League (CL) early this week upon the recommendation of a dedicated working group.

With the targeted national league, the PNVF aims to bring together all volleyball stakeholders through a high level of club play.

The Women’s CL is eyed to take place from Nov. 13 to 19, with the Men’s CL following suit from Nov. 20 to 26.

Eight teams are expected to play in each tournament, playing as many as 24 matches.

The PNVF is eyeing either the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena in Laoag City, Claro M. Recto Events Center in Lipa City or Tagaytay City as a potential venue for the semi-bubble competitions.

In the preliminary round, the eight clubs will be divided into two pools of four teams playing in a round-robin format. At the end of pool play, the teams will be ranked and will advance to the quarterfinals playing a cross-over single elimination.

The quarterfinal winners will advance to the semifinals, while the losing clubs will play in the classification round.

The semifinal winners will progress to the gold medal match, while the losing teams will play for the bronze medal.

The two winning clubs in the first stage of the classification phase will figure in the fifth to sixth place match, while the losing teams will play in the seventh to eighth place match. Deadline for the submission of 20-player rosters is on Oct. 20.

“One of the PNVF’s 10-point agendas is to serve Filipino families with entertainment through volleyball and to make volleyball a widely played sport by elevating it through high-performance competition,” said Mr. Suzara in a statement just as he underscored their push to strengthen and sustain the country’s national team program through an alternate yet equally strong platform like the Champions League.

The PNVF said that with Mr. Suzara in the meeting were federation Secretary-General Don Caringal, Vice-President Arnel Hajan and board members Charo Soriano, Carmela Gamboa and Yul Benosa, and Technical and Coaching Commission Chairman Jerry Yee.

Present, too, were representatives from Metro Manila clubs Cignal HD, Black Mamba-Army, Sta. Lucia, Chery Tiggo, PetroGazz and F2 Logistics, as well as teams from Baguio City and Iligan City. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Malditas begin Asian Cup Qualifiers bid anchored on ‘Remember The Goal’ push

September 16, 2021 | 7:50 pm

THE Philippine national women’s football team begins its 2022 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Asian Cup Qualifier campaign this weekend, seeking to do well in the competition and beyond.

The team, collectively known as the Malditas, will start its bid in Group F where it is lumped with Hong Kong and Nepal.

World 68^th ranked Philippines plays Nepal (101^st) on Sept. 18 at the JAR Stadium in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, then collides with Hong Kong (78^th) on Sept. 24.

Qualifying phase format has the top teams in each of the eight groupings advancing to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, where they get to vie for spots in the 2023 International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) Women’s World Cup.

“As further motivation to the players, we came up with the rallying cry of ‘Remember The Goal,’ which is to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023, and it starts here in Tashkent,” shared national team coach Marlon Maro in a virtual press conference with Filipino media on Wednesday from Uzbekistan.

The team, some coming from here and the training camp in California, left for Tashkent early this week and arrived safely, with the squad happy to report that all of the members tested negative for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in tests done upon their arrival.

Mr. Maro said the team is in high spirits and looking forward to playing and representing the country.

He is confident that they have assembled a good team and prepared well for the competition at hand.

“This is definitely a new team, an exciting team to watch. And they are very motivated. When it comes to the lineup, I think this is the best lineup that we were able to assemble. It’s a combination of young and senior players and we have a combination of big and tall players from goalkeeper, midfield, and strikers,” the coach said.

Adding, “We were able to prepare for the competition through the training camp and competitive matches where the team continued to improve day by day.”

Named team captain of the Maldita is goalkeeper Inna Palacios, with defender Hali Long serving as co-captain.

Also part of the team are goalkeepers Olivia Davies McDaniel and Isabelle Mapanao; defenders Sofia Harrison, Chelo Hodges, Tara Shelton and Patricia Tomanon; and midfielders TahSara Castañeda, Anicka Castañeda, Malea Cesar, Charisa Lemoran, Rocelle Mendano, Jessica Miclat, Camille Rodrigue, Alyssa Ube and Camille Wilson.

Completing the squad are forwards Alisha Del Campo, Arianna Lepage and Chandler McDaniel.

The team will be sans veterans Tahnai Annis and Ryley Bugay, who are with their respective clubs in Japan, but Mr. Maro said the team they have can manage.

“We will miss their services, but the team, as it is, is very competitive,” said Mr. Maro.

Team captain Ms. Palacios also shared her coach’s confidence in the team.

“We’re confident of the tactics we have for the competition. We just have to follow the game plan. We’ll play our best and we’re very much motivated by the campaign that we have #RememberTheGoal in our heads at all times,” said Ms. Palacios, part of the Malditas team which saw action in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

In the lead-up to the qualifiers, the team conducted online training sessions early this year before going to camp in Irvine, California, from Aug. 4 to Sept. 11.

The team’s campaign is supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and MVP Sports Foundation.

The Philippine Football Federation said it is currently working on ways to show the Malditas’ matches, if not on live television, at least through livestream.

In the 12-country AFC Women’s Asian Cup happening in India next year, five spots in the FIFA Women’s World Cup are up for grabs. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Man City survives Nkunku hat trick to overwhelm Leipzig 6-3

September 16, 2021 | 7:50 pm

MANCHESTER, England — Manchester City, last season’s Champions League runners-up, crushed RB Leipzig (6-3) in a thrilling Group A game on Wednesday as Christopher Nkunku scored a hat trick for the German side.

It was a hugely entertaining match at the Etihad Stadium and although City manager Guardiola will be happy with the three points he will be concerned about the spaces his team left for the German side to exploit on the break.

Nkunku became only the fourth player to score a Champions League treble and end up on the losing side and he deserved his player of the match award as Leipzig showed real spirit to keep fighting back against City’s impressive firepower.

Defender Nathan Ake put City ahead in the 16^th minute with a header from a Jack Grealish corner and the hosts doubled the lead 12 minutes later when Kevin De Bruyne produced wonderful skill to leave three defenders for dead before his deep cross was headed into his own net by Leipzig defender Nordi Mukiele.

Leipzig got back in the game with a 42^nd-minute header from Nkunku, only for City to restore their two-goal advantage on the stroke of half time.

Lukas Klostermann was ruled to have handled after the referee went to the pitchside monitor to check the incident and Riyad Mahrez blasted home the spot-kick.

Leipzig were not deterred, though, and Nkunku reduced the deficit again in the 51^st minute by heading in a cross from the excellent Spanish midfielder Dani Olmo.

Grealish then delivered a wonderful solo goal to mark his first European club appearance, collecting the ball on the left flank and jinking inside before giving Péter Gulácsi no chance with a curling shot into the far corner.

That was surely that, the City fans could be forgiven for thinking, but once again French forward Nkunku kept the game alive, completing his hat trick with a crisp drive after being set up by Yussuf Poulsen.

Incredibly, City responded immediately with an unstoppable long-range drive from Portuguese full back João Cancelo and any hopes the visitors had of a comeback ended when they went down to 10 men when former City full back Angelino was sent off in the 79^th minute.

Substitute Gabriel Jesus added the sixth from close range five minutes from time and the home crowd were delighted with the display of Grealish, in front of his England manager Gareth Southgate.

“I loved it,” Grealish said of his first taste of the competition.

“I’ve been waiting a while. The past few weeks, I couldn’t wait for this game. It’s a great night.

“It was one of those games. It had absolutely everything. In the end, we’re delighted to get the win against a good team full of energy and young players,” he said.

City lead the group on three points after Paris St.-Germain were held to a 1-1 draw at Club Brugge in their opener. — Reuters

Yankees rally past Orioles, keep pace in wild card race

September 16, 2021 | 7:49 pm

BRETT Gardner hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the ninth inning and the New York Yankees beat the host Baltimore Orioles (4-3) on Wednesday night after blowing a one-run lead in the eighth.

Luke Voit opened the ninth off Tyler Wells (2-3) with a walk, and Gleyber Torres followed with a single. With one out, pinch runner Tyler Wade and Torres pulled off a double steal that was upheld via replay, and both scored when Gardner lifted a 1-2 slider into short left field after fouling off three consecutive pitches.

Shortstop Richie Martin ran out and attempted to make a diving catch, but had his back turned and the ball fell in just before he could make the catch.

Gardner’s clutch hit in the rain occurred after New York’s Chad Green was one strike away from preserving a 2-1 lead. Green allowed a two-run homer to Austin Hays that gave Baltimore a 3-2 lead, and Wandy Peralta (5-3) got the final out of the eighth after Green allowed his 14^th homer in 60 appearances this season.

The homer was Hays’ second of the night and 20^th of the season.

Aroldis Chapman, pitching for the third straight day, needed only eight pitches to toss a perfect ninth and convert his 27^th save in 31 chances.

The Yankees (82-64) earned their third straight win after a 3-12 skid that followed their first 13-game winning streak since 1961. New York remains tied with the Toronto Blue Jays (82-64) and the Boston Red Sox (83-65) for the two American League wild card spots.

Baltimore (46-99) took its fifth straight loss.

Yankees starter Nestor Cortes, Jr. logged a career-high 11 strikeouts and allowed one run and Hays’ solo homer among three hits in 6 1/3 innings. He walked two.

Gio Urshela hit a two-run homer in the third, but the Yankees did little else offensively most of the night after tying a season high with five homers while winning the series opener on Tuesday.

Hays slugged a solo shot in the sixth before his two-run homer in the eighth.

Baltimore left-hander John Means allowed two runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out four and walked two. — Reuters