Gov’t lowers prices of coronavirus tests effective Sept. 6

September 1, 2021 | 8:09 pm

THE DEPARTMENT of Health (DoH) has lowered the prices of coronavirus tests further under an order issued on Aug. 26.

Prices of cartridge-based reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests should not exceed P2,450 in public laboratories and P2,940 in private laboratories according to a copy of the circular that will take effect on Sept. 6.

Prices of plate-based RT-PCR testing should not exceed P2,800 in public laboratories and P3,360 in private laboratories. Home service swab test prices should not exceed regular RT-PCR tests by P1,000.

Meanwhile, prices of rapid antigen tests should not exceed P960, DoH said in a separate circular that took effect on Aug. 16.

Last year, the government set the price cap for RT-PCR testing at P3,800 to P5,000.

RT-PCR is one of the most accurate laboratory methods for detecting, tracking and studying the coronavirus.

While many countries have used real time RT-PCR in diagnosing other diseases such as Ebola and the Zika virus, many of them need help in adapting this method for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) virus and in increasing their testing capacities.

Meanwhile, agencies have agreed to impose granular lockdowns instead of province- or city-wide quarantines to contain the pandemic, Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Jonathan E. Malaya told a televised news briefing.

An inter-agency task force against the coronavirus would soon decide whether to allow the shift to two-week granular lockdowns, he said.

“There is a consensus among the different government agencies that instead of a wide enhanced community quarantine, we will use granular lockdowns instead,” Mr. Malaya said.

The government would ensure that people in affected areas would get state support, he added.

The agency wants to bar people from leaving their homes during granular lockdowns, which could be imposed on a building, street or village.

Local governments will provide aid to residents in the first week of the lockdown, while the Social Welfare will distribute food packs in the second week, Mr. Malaya said.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte placed Manila, the capital and nearby cities under an enhanced community quarantine from Aug. 6 to 20 to contain a fresh spike in infections caused by a more contagious Delta variant.

The lockdown capital region has since been eased to a modified strict quarantine. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

House junks complaint vs magistrate after committee rejection

September 1, 2021 | 8:08 pm

THE HOUSE of Representatives on Wednesday rejected the impeachment complaint against Supreme Court Justice Mario Victor F. Leonen.

Voting 165-1 with one abstention, congressmen adopted House Resolution 2068, which dismissed the complaint filed by Edwin M. Cordevilla, secretary general of the Filipino League of Advocates for Good Government in December.

The complainant had accused Mr. Leonen of violating the Constitution by allegedly delaying cases and failing to file his statements net worth.

Ilocos Norte Rep. Angelo Marcos Barba and Speaker Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco endorsed the complaint to the justice committee which rejected it on May 27.

Mr. Barba is the cousin of former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr., whose vice-presidential election protest was junked by the Supreme Court in a decision penned by Mr. Leonen.

The House panel said evidence provided by the complainant was based on hearsay, particularly printouts of online news articles and photocopies of documents, it said in a report. — Russell Louis C. Ku

Senate panel proposes extension of Metro Manila water concession deal to sync with franchise period

September 1, 2021 | 8:06 pm

Watermeter-man-PHILSTAR-MVARCAS — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

A SENATOR has proposed extending the revised concession deal of the two water distributors in the capital to synchronize it with the franchise that, if approved, would be valid until 2046.

The revised concession agreements signed by the government separately with private utilities Manila Water Co., Inc. and Maynilad Water Services, Inc. will expire in 2037.

At Wednesday’s Committee on Public Services hearing on the franchise, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri said changing the concession agreements’ validity period would benefit consumers as it would mean more stable tariff rates.

He noted that if the current concession agreements end in 2037, a bidding for the distribution contracts will have to be undertaken, which could translate to an increase in rates to about P103 per cubic meter (/cu.m.) from P67/cu.m.

The two concessionaires backed the proposal.

Maynilad President and Chief Executive Officer Ramoncito S. Fernandez said an extension would help in terms of their financing requirements and ease the tariff adjustments necessary to recover long-term investments.

“The longer recovery period translates to a lower tariff,” said Manila Water Director Donato C. Almeda in the same hearing. “We fully support that.”

The proposed revisions will have to be sent to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System’s (MWSS) board, whose members were absent in the hearing. The MWSS oversees the privatized water distribution system in the capital and some surrounding areas.

Senator Mary Grace S. Poe-Llamanzares, chair of the committee, lambasted the MWSS board, particularly Vice-chair and Administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco, for skipping the hearing.

“We’ve had hearings in the past and there’s actually a law saying that whoever is the head of the department has the responsibility and the burden of response. It’s really difficult to be conducting these hearings at such a very important matter when your head of agency is not even present,” Ms. Poe-Llamanzares said.

“It would have been better if a member of the board was present here today to at least give legitimacy, and if not that, to show their actual endorsement and sincerity in approving this agreement,” she said.

Ms. Poe-Llamanzares said the proposed extension will have to be finalized before deciding on the franchise.

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 interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

Voter registration to resume in MECQ areas

September 1, 2021 | 8:05 pm

Voter-registration-PHILSTAR-FILE-MVARCAS — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

THE COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) has approved the opening of registration sites in areas placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), the second strictest lockdown level, starting Sept. 6.

Registration will be open in Comelec offices and partner malls in areas under MECQ from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“Comelec en banc just now approves conduct of registration, from 8 a.m. (to) 5 p.m., in areas under MECQ, starting Sept. 6, 2021. In-mall voter registration will be allowed,” Comelec spokesperson James B. Jimenez said in a Viber message to reporters on Wednesday.

The Comelec has partnered with SM, Ayala, and Robinson’s malls, for 81, 22, and 47 satellite voters’ registration booths nationwide, respectively.

The deadline for voters’ registration is still on Sept. 30. Service hours have been extended in areas under less stringent lockdown levels to 7 p.m. Sites will also be open on Saturdays and holidays.

Meanwhile, the Comelec special bids and awards committee said no supplier participated for the contract on vote-counting machine operating buttons for the 2022 national and local elections.

In the committee’s hearing on Wednesday, the secretariat said no company bought bid documents “because of the low approved budget.”

There were interested companies that requested for an increase in the approved budget, but it was denied by Comelec.

The approved budget is P173.50 per unit, totaling P7.63 million.

The committee declared a “failure of bidding” and will conduct a mandatory review as required under Comelec rules.

The committee is also set to conduct a pre-bidding conference on the i-buttons, which will be for the digital signatures on the ballots for the 2022 elections, on Sept. 3 at 10 a.m. through video conferencing. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago

Solons say time to increase election duty allowance for public school teachers

September 1, 2021 | 8:05 pm

Teachers-election-duty-PHILSTAR-FILE-MVARCAS — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

HOUSE LAWMAKERS filed a resolution on Aug. 27 urging the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to increase the honoraria granted to public school teachers for election duties.

Filed by representatives belonging to the Makabayan bloc, House Resolution 2181 asks the poll body to consider the rates recommended by the group Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT-Teachers).

ACT-Teachers recommended that benefits mandated by Republic Act 10756 or the Election Service Reform Act be increased to P10,000 for chairpersons of electoral boards, P9,000 for electoral board members, P7,000 for support staff, P3,000 to P5,000 for travel allowance, and P2,500 for food allowance, among others.

Rates under the law are currently set at P6,000 for electoral board chair, P5,000 for members, P2,000 for support staff, and P1,000 for additional travel allowance.

The solons noted that the law requires a review of the honoraria by Comelec in coordination with the Department of Education every three years from effectivity, which was in April 2016.

“While it is true that poll workers are volunteers who undertake election duties and accept the attendant risks by choice, it is also true that they render an extraordinary service… to ensure the sanctity of a democratic exercise. Indeed, it would be unjust if the government pays election frontliners pre-pandemic compensation during these pandemic times,” according to the proposal. — Russell Louis C. Ku

Bill providing free legal aid to uniformed personnel gets nod of 3 House committees

September 1, 2021 | 8:05 pm

police-OFFICIALGAZETTE.GOV.PH — OFFICIALGAZETTE.GOV.PH

THE HOUSE of Representatives Committees on Justice, National Defense and Security, and Public Order and Safety have approved a substitute bill that would provide free legal assistance to uniformed personnel facing job-related cases.

The measure would allow any enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) facing charges arising from an incident to be entitled to free legal assistance.

The unnumbered substitute bill, approved in a joint hearing on Wednesday, would consolidate House Bills 2499, 3141, 3929, 4312, 5972, 9898, 9902, 9961, and 9969.

The committees also agreed to add an amendment to extend the same benefit to uniformed personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Philippine Coast Guard.

The measure is one of the priority measures that President Rodrigo R. Duterte asked Congress to pass in his final State of the Nation Address in July.

Ana Lisa M. Soriano, deputy chief public attorney for Luzon, said during the hearing that while the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) supports the measure, she warned that it would lead to a clear conflict of interest with the office’s mandate since most of their clients undergo criminal cases filed by the police and the military.

Several versions of the bill would require PAO to provide free legal assistance to the PNP and AFP within 24 hours from the official receipt of charges filed against any enlisted personnel.

Ms. Soriano suggested that lawyers of the PNP and AFP should instead be authorized to provide the free legal assistance.

“The strengthening of the AFP and PNP legal offices… such as by expansion of its work force, upgrading of the legal offices’ positions and salaries, and increase in employee’s benefits will truly address the intention of the bills,” she said.

Gabriela’s Women Party-list Rep. Arlene D. Brosas said that she will oppose the approval of the bill, citing that it extends “special privilege” to uniformed personnel compared to other government workers such as public school teachers. — Russell Louis C. Ku

Soldier dead, another wounded in Basilan blast

September 1, 2021 | 8:05 pm

ONE OF the two soldiers wounded in a bombing in Basilan Tuesday morning has died, the military reported late Tuesday.

The two were posted at a temporary checkpoint in Campo Uno in Lamitan City when an improvised explosive device went off at around 8:50 a.m., according to the head of the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom).

“They were immediately evacuated to Lamitan City Hospital for medical attention,” WestMinCom acting commander Generoso M. Ponio said in a statement.

They were airlifted at 12:30 p.m. to Camp Navarro General Hospital in Zamboanga City, where one of the soldiers was declared dead on arrival. The other was brought to the Zamboanga City Medical Center for further medical attention.

The military has yet to release the names of the two pending notifications of their next of kin.

Three suspects behind the bombing are now being tracked by the military and police, which is also leading the investigation. One of the suspects fired at one of the soldiers. — MSJ

Oman lifts ban on Filipino workers, travelers

September 1, 2021 | 8:04 pm

THE SULTANATE of Oman has lifted its ban on Filipino workers and travelers effective Sept. 1, in line with its agreement with the Philippine government made on June 21.

“The Secretary wishes to announce that effective today, traveling Filipinos, OFWs (overseas Filipino workers), and tourists likewise are now allowed to enter the Sultanate of Oman,” Raul M. Francia, information director of the Labor department, said in an online briefing on Wednesday.

In response, Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III has also ordered the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to lift the Philippines’ ban on the deployment of OFWs to Oman by Sept. 5.

The Philippines currently has a travel ban on Oman, which will expire Sept. 5.

On Tuesday, Malacañang announced the extension of the travel ban for passengers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia from September 1 to 5. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago

Gilas Pilipinas to chart plans for World Cup Qualifier push

September 1, 2021 | 7:24 pm

NOW that it knows where it will be competing in the Asia/Oceania region of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup (WC) 2023 Qualifiers, Gilas Pilipinas is now set to chart its plans on how to go about its campaign.

While the country is already assured of a spot in the World Cup, being one of the three host countries along with Japan and Indonesia, the national team has made it known that it will go in the qualifiers seeking to do well as part of its preparation for the 2023 basketball event.

“It actually doesn’t change anything. We’re still going to prepare as if there’s a slot that we’re fighting for,” said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) Special Assistant to the President Ryan C. Gregorio following the official World Cup Qualifiers draw on Tuesday.

Gilas is bracketed with New Zealand, Korea and India in Group A in the first round of the qualifying phase, with games set to begin in November this year.

As World Cup hosts, the Philippines and Japan are automatically qualified, but will play in the Asian Qualifiers first round and second round, advancing to the next phase as automatically qualified.

Indonesia, for its part, needs to be ranked among the top eight teams at the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 in order to receive automatic qualification as per the decision of FIBA’s Executive Committee.

New Zealand is the highest FIBA-ranked team in Group A at number 25, followed by Korea (29^th), the Philippines (31^st) and India (78^th).

Gilas program director and coach Tab Baldwin said that among the things they have to tackle is the composition of the team as they proceed with their push, needing for them to sit down with various stakeholders, including the local collegiate leagues and the professional league from which the players will come from.

“Everything has to be on the table. We expect the UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines) and the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) to begin again next year so there’s a need for discussions with all of the stakeholders for all of those players involved,” said Mr. Baldwin, incidentally the head coach of defending UAAP men’s basketball champion Ateneo de Manila University.

“The PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) has to come back to the mix. We have to talk again about the potential of having PBA players,” he added.

Mr. Baldwin also said local players currently playing abroad as well as Filipino-foreign players will be considered.

Further foreign exposure is also being readied for the national team, seeing how beneficial it has been for the development of the squad.

“What we need to do right now is to identify the possible tournaments we can join. There might be out-of-the-country gigs, too. This is to strengthen our team and continuously improve heading into 2023,” said Mr. Gregorio.

The Gilas officials said they expect to get the ball rolling for the team by October and that they are bracing for a busy stretch from there.

“September will be very quiet for us, but October will be the restart of our practices. November, we will be preparing for the window,” Mr. Baldwin said.

For Asia/Oceania, six spots are up for grabs in the 32-team field that will see action in the World Cup.

The rest of the groupings have Australia, China, Japan and Chinese Taipei in Group B; Jordan, Lebanon, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia in Group C; and Iran, Kazakhstan, Syria and Bahrain in Group D.

As per FIBA schedule, the two-round qualification windows will run until February 2023. The national sides play home and away games across each of these event windows.

The 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup is scheduled to take place from Aug. 25 to Sept. 10 with the Group Phase taking place in all three host countries, and the Final Phase of the tournament happening in the Philippines.

For the official draw results, check out http://www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2023. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

TnT remains unscathed after 96-76 win over Blackwater

September 1, 2021 | 7:23 pm

PBA-Images — THE TnT Tropang Giga kept their unblemished record intact after defeating the Blackwater Bossing, 96-76, in PBA Philippine Cup action on Wednesday. — PBA IMAGES

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

THE TnT Tropang Giga kept their unblemished record intact after defeating the Blackwater Bossing, 96-76, in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup’s return on Wednesday at the Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU) Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.

The Tropang Giga used a big chargeback in the third canto to create considerable distance from the Bossing and never looked back from there to stretch their record in the season-opening Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) tournament to 4-0.

Rookie Mikey Williams top-scored for TnT in the win, finishing with 16 points, six coming in the pivotal run they made in the third quarter.

Blackwater had early control of the contest on the lead of guards Simon Enciso and Baser Amer, taking a six-point cushion, 43-37, by the half time break.

In the third quarter, TnT came out firing, outscoring Blackwater, 10-3, in the first four minutes to seize the lead, 47-46.

The Tropang Giga went on to outgun the Bossing the rest of the quarter, 27-14, to take a 74-60 advantage heading into the final frame.

Having gained control of the match, TnT did not show letup in the fourth quarter, staying out of reach of its opponent en route to the victory.

Roger Pogoy finished with 13 points for the Tropang Giga, with Jayson Castro adding 11.

The win was the first-ever 4-0 start for TNT under come-backing PBA coach Chot Reyes, who was at the helm of the team from 2008 to 2012 prior to his return this season.

For Blackwater, which dropped to 0-5 with the loss, it was Mr. Enciso who showed the way with 14 points, followed by Kelly Nabong and Carl Bryan Cruz with 11 apiece.

The defeat extended the Bossing’s losing streak to 13, dating back to last year, one shy of the franchise record in futility established back in 2015.

The TnT-Blackwater game marked the return of the PBA after a one-month stoppage to action because of the rising cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), particularly the Delta variant.

The PBA Philippine Cup opened on July 16 with games held at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City. Action was stopped after matches on Aug. 1 as Metro Manila was placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).

The league spent the next weeks looking for areas which could hold its games, eventually finding a willing host in Pampanga, which is under a less strict Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) setup.

Games on Thursday will see the NLEX Road Warriors play the Alaska Aces at 2 p.m. and Rain or Shine Elastopainters take on the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters at 4:35 p.m.

Mangliwan, Bejino return to action in Tokyo Paralympic Games

September 1, 2021 | 7:22 pm

FILIPINO wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan and para-swimmer Gary Bejino resume their respective campaigns at the Tokyo Paralympic Games on Thursday.

Mr. Mangliwan will see action in the preliminaries of the men’s 100m T52 event at the Olympic Stadium with an eye on the finals the next day while Mr. Bejino competes in the heats of the 400m freestyle in the morning and is hoping to qualify for the medal race in the afternoon at the Tokyo Aquatic Centre.

Forty-one-year-old Mr. Mangliwan, who has paraplegia acquired from polio, has competed in two events in the ongoing sporting meet for the differently abled, making it to the finals of both the men’s 400m and 1500m T52 events.

Unfortunately, he was disqualified in the 400m finals on Aug. 27 because of lane infringement, but redeemed himself in the 1500m two days later with a sixth-place finish, but with a new personal-best time of 3:58.24, eclipsing his previous best of 4:09.95.

He is now looking to do well in his last shot at snatching a medal in the Tokyo Paralympic Games.

“Jerrold’s training the last two days has been focused on his starts. That is his weakness. The start is important in the sprint event. His one-hour training has been devoted mostly to this,” said para-athletic coach Joel Deriada.

Mr. Bejino, 25, for his part, struggled in his first events in Tokyo, failing to swim past the preliminaries of the men’s 200m individual medley SM6 event on Aug. 26 and 50m butterfly on Aug. 30.

The para-swimmer, who had his arm and leg amputated when he was seven years old after being electrocuted, finished last in the 200m IM with a time of 3:17.19 while he ended up 14^thout of 16 swimmers in the 50m butterfly.

“I think Gary is more relaxed now after getting his personal best time in the 50-meter butterfly event last Monday. Hopefully, he will also make a good time in the 400-meter freestyle,” said para-swimming coach Tony Ong.

Apart from the 400m freestyle, Mr. Bejino will also see action in the 100m backstroke on Friday.

Messrs. Mangliwan and Bejino, along with para-taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin, are the only remaining competing members of the Philippine Sports Commission-supported Team Philippines in the Tokyo Paralympics after para-swimmer Ernie Gawilan ended his campaign on Monday and blind discus thrower Jeanette Aceveda and para-powerlifter Achelle Guion unable to compete because of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Mbappé stays with PSG as Ronaldo completes Man United transfer

September 1, 2021 | 7:22 pm

MANCHESTER, England — Real Madrid failed in their attempt to sign France striker Kylian Mbappé from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on the final day of the transfer window as Cristiano Ronaldo completed his move from Juventus to Manchester United.

After a window which saw Lionel Messi’s shock move from Barcelona to PSG, Real had hoped to create another upset by luring the most exciting young talent in the game to Madrid.

Multiple media reports in Spain said Real offered transfer fees ranging from €150 million ($177.14 million) to €200 million ($236.18 million) for the World Cup-winning forward who is out of contract in June.

A source close to PSG said the club had no intention of selling one of their key players in a year in which they are targeting Champions League success and said there was skepticism about whether Real was in a position to pay such a fee.

“It’s been bemusing to see some take Real Madrid’s supposedly credible bids at face value,” said the source.

United announced last week that they had reached agreement with Juve to sign their former player, 36-year-old Mr. Ronaldo, a five-times Ballon d’Or winner.

Having passed a medical, secured a visa and agreed personal terms, Mr. Ronaldo said he was ready to recreate the glory years he enjoyed under former United boss Alex Ferguson. “I’m back where I belong. Let’s make it happen once again… Sir Alex, this one is for you,” he said in an Instagram post.

Real did manage to bring in one Frenchman — teenage midfielder Eduardo Camavinga joining on a six-year contract from French side Stade Rennes.

Local media reported that the fee for the 18-year-old France international was about €30 million ($35.41 million).

GRIEZMANN DEAL
Despite the absence of another blockbuster deal there was plenty of movement elsewhere.

The most eye-catching deal saw Mbappé’s France team mate Antoine Griezmann leave Barcelona to rejoin Atletico Madrid — initially on loan.

Griezmann left Atleti for the Nou Camp two years ago and his new club said there was an option to extend the loan by a further year, while Barça said there was an obligation to make the move a permanent one.

Spain midfielder Saul Niguez departed Atletico to join Thomas Tuchel’s European champions Chelsea — also on an initial loan basis.

Premier League club West Ham United signed Croatia attacking midfielder Nikola Vlašić from Russian side CSKA Moscow on a five-year contract and Czech midfielder Alex Král on loan from Spartak Moscow.

Tottenham Hotspur, who held on to England forward Harry Kane in the window despite interest from Manchester City, signed right back Emerson Royal from Barcelona on a five-year deal for €25 million ($29.51 million).

Ronaldo’s arrival had the knock-on effect of seeing United’s Wales winger Dan James leave for Leeds United for a reported fee of £25 million.

Juventus filled the gap in their attack left by Mr. Ronaldo by bringing Italy striker Moise Kean, 21, back to the club on a two-year loan worth seven million euros from Everton.

Arsenal signed Japanese full-back Takehiro Tomiyasu from Serie A club Bologna to replace Spanish right-back Hector Bellerin who has moved to Real Betis on a season-long loan. — Reuters