Sara takes oath as VP before Marcos inauguration

June 19, 2022 | 7:36 pm

SaraDuterte-inaug-1-BUSINESSWOLRD-MMPADILLO — Vice President-elect Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio (2nd from left) stands on stage with (from left) Supreme Court Justice Paul L. Hernando, her mother Elizabeth Zimmerman and her father President Rodrigo R. Duterte after taking her oath in her hometown Davao City on June 19. — BW FILE PHOTO/ MMPADILLO

By Maya M. Padillo and
Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporters

PRESIDENTIAL daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio took her oath as vice-president in her hometown of Davao City late Sunday, days before the presidential inauguration of her running mate in the May 9 election.

“Today, our children are facing a very complex future — one rife with conflict and uncertainties,” Ms. Duterte-Carpio, who is set to take charge of the Education department, said. “Some of these challenges include the winding cycle of poverty, the trauma of broken families, the lifelong baggage because of irresponsible and bad parenting.”

Ms. Duterte-Carpio also mentioned drugs, sexually transmitted diseases, online misinformation, recruitment by supposed “terrorist” groups as among the issues confronting Filipino children.

She also mentioned “abandonment issues due to an absentee parent” and the “anguish of gender confusion” and discrimination. “The list could be endless.”

“We can never go wrong if we are a people dedicated to honoring the will of God, to serving our country and our fellowmen and protecting the integrity of our families and the future of our children,” Ms. Duterte-Carpio said.

President-elect Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., with whom Ms. Duterte-Carpio ran under a unity message, attended her inauguration. Both won the election by a landslide.

Her father President Rodrigo R. Duterte, mother Elizabeth A. Zimmerman and partymate former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo also attended the event. Some senators and congressmen and diplomats were likewise present.

Supreme Court Justice Paul L. Hernando, her former professor in law school, administered the oath.

Political analysts said Mr. Marcos must remain popular during his six-year term to avoid a rift with Ms. Duterte-Carpio.

“I think it is natural for Sara to distance herself if there is discontent against Marcos, especially if she intends to run in 2028,” Jean Encinas-Franco, who teaches political science at the University of the Philippines (UP), said in a mobile phone message. “The 2025 mid-term elections and the trust ratings of Marcos will test the strength of their alliance.”

Ms. Duterte-Carpio’s spokesperson, Liloan Mayor Christina Codilla-Frasco, and Victor D. Rodriguez, Mr. Marcos’ chief of staff, did not immediately reply to separate Viber messages seeking comments.

Mr. Marcos Jr. has chosen Ms. Duterte-Carpio as his Education chief. She earlier said she wanted to head the Defense department.

“The offer of the education portfolio is an indication of the Marcos camp starting to flex its muscle,” Ms. Franco said.

“We expect the Carpio camp, together with the kingmaker Gloria Arroyo, to mount a separate slate for the Senate and even a separate slate for local positions in the 2025 midterm elections,” said Arjan P. Aguirre, who teaches political science at the Ateneo de Manila University. “This is to prepare for the next presidential elections in 2028.”

Ms. Duterte-Carpio could easily mobilize her own bloc for the midterm challenge through political machinery and traditional alliances, which her partymate Ms. Arroyo could broker, he said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

“Marcos has to be careful in dealing with Duterte-Carpio because her camp can really do these things in the years to come,” Mr. Aguirre said. “His presidency is built on a shaky foundation based on an alliance of convenience and not of principle.”

The alliance is weak because “it is bound by the need to win and for the families’ interests to be protected,” Maria Ela L. Atienza, a political science professor at UP, said in a Viber message.

“They are not bound by principles and party programs,” she said. “They already won. If the interests of their respective families are threatened, that can cause tensions in the alliance.”

People should expect efforts to continue the “unity façade,” Ms. Atienza said. “What we should watch out for is if the president-elect will have high trust ratings and remain popular.”

She said the disqualification cases against Mr. Marcos Jr. at the Supreme Court, the potential lawsuits against Mr. Duterte in connection with his war on drugs, and the possible sidelining of Ms. Duterte-Carpio and her allies could weaken the alliance.

Before being elected vice-president, the presidential daughter served as Davao City mayor, a position held by her father for more than two decades. Her brother, Vice Mayor Sebastian Z. Duterte, will succeed her.

Mr. Duterte took his oath at a small ceremony at the presidential palace in Manila, the capital on June 30, 2016. Vice-President Maria Leonor G. Robredo, who came from a different party, was inaugurated separately on the same day.

70M Filipinos fully vaccinated against the coronavirus

June 19, 2022 | 7:35 pm

MORE than 70 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, the government’s vaccine czar said at the weekend.

The number is about 78% of the target population, vaccine czar Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. said in a statement, citing the latest government data. The Philippines started its vaccination program in March last year.

Mr. Galvez said that this is a testament of the administration’s commitment to vaccinate as many Filipinos as possible to protect them from the coronavirus.

“The National Task Force thanks our health workers, volunteers and our fellowmen who worked together to make sure that we vaccinate and protect more people from COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019),” he said in Filipino.

“This is our parting gift to the next administration,” Mr. Galvez said. “We hope that our new leaders will also prioritize our vaccination program and continue to build an immunity wall among our people.”

President Rodrigo R. Duterte, who will finish his six-year term this month, will be replaced by President-elect Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.

The government had given out more than 153 million vaccine doses as of June 17, with 75 million people having received at least one dose.

Almost 15 million Filipinos have been injected with their first booster shot, while more than 600,000 have received their second top-up dose.

More than 3 million children aged 5 to 11 and 9.5 million minors aged 12 to 17 have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Mr. Galvez said the country’s high vaccination rate and compliance with health protocols could prevent another coronavirus surge.

“We have had many superspreader events in the past months, including the national elections, but we still managed to keep our new COVID-19 cases low because of our high vaccination rate,” he said. “Vaccination alone is not enough. We still have to follow our public health protocols, including frequent washing of hands and wearing of best-fitted face masks.”

About 3.7 million Filipinos had been infected with the coronavirus as of June 18. Only a little over 4,000 people still have the virus, according to the Health department.

The capital region could post as many as 1,200 daily coronavirus infections by end-June, the Department of Health (DoH) said on Saturday. It also warned about rising hospitalizations in some regions.

On June 16, the OCTA Research Group from the University of the Philippines said the government was unlikely to tighten the lockdown in the Philippine capital and nearby cities this month despite rising coronavirus infections.

Daily infections could only go as high as 500 in the capital region by end-June, while cases nationwide could hit 2,000 — far below the 6,000 threshold that would spur a higher alert level, OCTA fellow Fredegusto P. David told One News Channel.

Metro Manila has been under Alert Level 1 — the most relaxed in a five-tier system — since March after a drop in daily coronavirus infections. An inter-agency task force has recommended to extend this until June 30. — Norman P. Aquino

Land owners give final consent for the opening of Mati airport

June 19, 2022 | 7:32 pm

THE PRIVATE owners of the land where the Mati City airport is located have given their final consent, paving the way for the commercial opening and expansion of the facility, according to a city official.

“Right now, they are finalizing ng mga documents, all the heirs have already signed, for both the Rocamoras and Rabat (families),” Vice Mayor Glenda Rabat-Gayta said in an interview during the opening of the 15^th Cityhood Day of Mati and the 19^th Pujada Bay Festival on June 13.

“It’s just a matter of time. You know how documentation is… I think they are targeting (to finalize the papers) before the end of this month, before the turnover to the next administration,” she said.

Mati City, the capital of Davao Oriental province, is located about 182 kilometers west of Davao City, where the Francisco Bangoy International Airport is located. A land trip from Davao to Mati takes an average of 3.5 to 4 hours.

The rehabilitation and development of the Mati airport, built in the 1980s, started in 2019 with an initial P200-million fund from the national government. The facility was designed just for small aircraft.

Under a plan approved by local officials, the Department of Transportation, and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, the airport’s runway will be expanded to accommodate bigger planes, which would require at least another 27 hectares. The terminal building will also have to be improved while basic facilities such as a fire station and parking area will have to be constructed.

Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang, who is returning to Congress after winning in May as House representative, has said that the airport would boost tourism and investments in the province.

“We have a lot of destinations to offer in terms of tourism which can be maximized if we could offer our tourists an alternative and inviting means to reach us,” he said.

Davao Oriental’s popular tourist destinations include the Dahican Beach in Mati, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Mt. Hamiguitan, and Aliwagwag Falls, among others.

PUJADA BAY
Meanwhile, the Mati local government assured that it is continuously strengthening efforts to protect Pujada Bay, one of three bays in the city included in the Most Beautiful Bays in the World Association (MBBWA) since 2020.

Mayo and Balete Bays are the other two recently included in the list.

Pujada Bay is also declared under Philippine law as a Protected Landscape and Seascape.

Ms. Rabat-Gayta said one of the priority areas they are focusing on is waste management involving the coastal communities.

“We are really boosting our campaign on waste management and other programs by partnering with the communities because we thought that the best way to solve this concern is to involve the communities so that they can be part of the solution,” she said.

One of the criteria for inclusion in the MBBWA list is community involvement in environmental protection. — Maya M. Padillo

Bangsamoro board approves 3 investments worth P734M

June 19, 2022 | 7:32 pm

BARMM-office-@BANGSAMOROGOVT — @BANGSAMOROGOVT

THREE companies have been given the green light for their proposed projects in the Bangsamoro with a combined outlay of over P734 million, the regional investment board announced at the weekend.

These are: P340.8 million from Nama Concrete Philippines Corporation (NAMA) for a pre-mixed cement facility in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao; P340.8 million from Mount Kalantungan Agri-Ventures, Inc. (MKAVI) for the expansion of its Cavendish banana production for export in Amai Manabilang, Lanao Del Sur; and P169.8 million from the Austrian Trade and Investment Group Asia, Inc. (ATIGA) for products relating to Halal coffee in Cotabato City.

“As we conduct our (most likely) last board meeting during the administration of President (Rodrigo R.) Duterte, we are glad that we are ending the term on a high note with three additional registered investment projects,” Bangsamoro Board of Investments Chairman Ishak V. Mastura said in a statement released by the regional government.

MKAVI’s project is an expansion of its existing operations that started 18 years ago.

“Since the start of our operation way back in 2004, our company did not fail in choosing its location for putting up banana plantation in the Bangsamoro region because Regional BBOI is always there ready to assist us, we thank the BARMM government for the approval of our new application,” MKAVI External Relations Officer Joyal Maquinto is quoted in the statement.

NAMA Manager Jabib Guiaber, for his part, said their facility will help ease cement supply in the region for various infrastructure projects.

ATIGA is setting up an assembly line that offers parts and components for coffee vending machines.

The new investments are expected to create 636 jobs, including 304 workers for NAMA, 213 for MKAVI, and 119 workers for ATIGA.

WAGE HIKE
Meanwhile, the Bangsamoro Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board also approved last week a P16-minimum wage within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Under Wage Order No. 02, all minimum wage earners of the private sector in all industries are covered by the pay hike, except for family drivers, those employed in the personal service of another, and workers in registered Barangay micro enterprises.

Also exempted are retail and service establishments regularly employing up to 10 workers, and establishments validated as “distressed” or affected by disasters.

“After public consultations and hearings, the BARMM region’s wage increase is P16.00 in the meantime, since we also have to listen to our business sectors and we have to consider that they were also affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Bangsamoro Minister for Labor and Employment Muslimin Sema.

The last wage increase in the region took effect on Jan. 1, 2020.

Current rates are: P300.00 for the non-agriculture sector and P290 for the agriculture sector in the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and the cities of Lamitan and Marawi.

In Cotabato City, the regional center, and the 43 barangays in North Cotabato that are clustered as Special Geographic Area (SGA), existing rates are P325.00 for the non-agriculture sector and P300.00 for the agriculture sector.

The increased rates will take effect 15 days after publication of the wage order in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the region. — MSJ

Offshore wind power development gets solon’s support

June 19, 2022 | 7:31 pm

A LAWMAKER on Sunday expressed support to the proposal of Norway Chargé d’Affaires Bjorn Jahnsen to establish and develop an offshore wind energy sector in the Philippines.

“Offshore wind farms in the West Philippine Sea would be consistent with long-term plans to develop the area as the country’s energy hub,” Makati City Representative Luis N. Campos, Jr. said in a statement at the weekend.

“The advantage of offshore wind farms is that we can build them faster because they do not have land use and right-of-way issues,” he said.

Mr. Jahnsen, in a meeting with President-elect Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. last week, suggested the creation of the sector to attract more foreign investors and generate as many as 50,000 high-paying jobs.

He mainly discussed climate change and renewable energy with the incoming Philippine president, particularly focusing on offshore wind, floating solar and hydropower.

“That’s the plan for the future for Norway and the Philippines — really to increase our imprint on renewable energy in the country,” he told a news briefing.

Mr. Campos expressed confidence that Norway would follow through on its offer of support.

“Norway has the new technologies needed to put up offshore bottom-fixed or floating wind turbines. The Philippines would benefit from the eventual transfer of these technologies,” he said.

Mr. Campos also said he had “no problem” allowing foreign companies to have a majority stake in entities that will develop offshore wind energy resources.

“We have to transition faster to renewable energy such as wind, solar and hydro if we want to insulate the country from future global oil price shocks,” the lawmaker said.

He cited that the Philippines currently generates only 443 megawatts (MW) of electricity from onshore wind farms. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

Marcos admin urged to use tech to address transport problems

June 19, 2022 | 7:30 pm

Traffic-EDSA-7-12-2021-PHILSTAR-MICHAELVARCAS — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

A GROUP of transport advocates on Sunday urged President-elect Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to use technology and intelligent support systems to address public transportation challenges.

Convened by the Filipino Society and Development Advocates, Inc., the group said the next government should consider smart city and sustainable mobility concepts, which promote ride-hailing services and other on-demand solutions.

The government should also build more bike lanes, use technology-driven traffic monitoring and enforcement, and construct more commuter-friendly terminals for seniors and other vulnerable sectors, it added.

“According to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the country loses an estimated P3 billion in economic gains daily due to Metro Manila congestion alone, and if not addressed, this value could balloon to P5.4 billion per day by year 2035,” it said.

“We call for the use of intelligent technologies that promote good governance, efficiency in public services, and, most importantly, safer roads for the public.”

The group noted that the state of traffic congestion in Metro Manila has returned to pre-pandemic levels as schools and offices have resumed face-to-face operations.

Move As One transport coalition, another group, recently urged the Philippine government to promote and prioritize active transport and roll out an efficient service contracting program as the public transport sector faces supply and demand shocks.

“The transport sector is in a deadly spiral: Oil prices are skyrocketing. Drivers are losing their jobs as they cannot afford to ply their routes,” the group said in a statement.

“Public transport supply is collapsing. More commuters are experiencing long lines, waiting times, and crowded commutes in enclosed spaces, and are at-risk for COVID-19.” — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

BHW party-list rep to file bill on salt tax

June 19, 2022 | 7:30 pm

A LAWMAKER will file a bill in the incoming 19^th Congress that seeks to impose a two-tier tax on products with sodium content to encourage manufacturers to shift to low-salt goods.

“Low sodium products would have a much lower tax rate compared to high sodium products,” Barangay Health Workers (BHW) Party-list Rep. Angelica Natasha Co said in a statement on Sunday.

This aims to help bring down high health costs from too much consumption of salty foods, she said.

Revenues generated from the salt tax will provide additional funding for the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act, she added.

The lawmaker said she has high hopes for this proposal since the tax on sweetened products, contained under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion, has successfully helped fund the country’s health programs and promoted new products with natural juices or no sugar content.

“Consumers have been choosing low sugar over high sugar,” she said.

For food like dried fish, a staple in many parts of the country, she said local governments can be given authority to provide incentives for products with less salt content.

“High sodium consumption greatly increases health risks and costs because salty diets lead to cardiovascular and kidney disorders leading to high medical costs,” Ms. Co said. “We must address this public health crisis causing many deaths every year.” — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

Global body of swimming to vote on transgender policy on Sunday

June 19, 2022 | 6:58 pm

SYDNEY — The International Swimming Federation (FINA) will vote on a new policy regarding transgender swimmers at an extraordinary general congress in Budapest on Sunday, the global governing body of swimming said.

The regulations could have a major impact on the career of American Lia Thomas, the first known transgender woman to win a NCAA Division I title in the female class.

The Congress will hear a report from a transgender task force comprised of “leading medical, legal and sports” figures and then vote on the new inclusion policy, a FINA spokesman said.

The issue of transgender inclusion in sport is highly divisive, particularly in the United States where it has become a weapon in the so-called “culture war” between conservatives and progressives.

Opponents to transgender athletes in women’s sport, which include British former Olympic medalist Sharron Davies, maintain that anyone who goes through male puberty will always have a major physical advantage over women.

Advocates for transgender inclusion argue that not enough studies have yet been done on the impact of transition on physical performance, and that elite athletes are often physical outliers in any case.

Cycling’s global governing body this week amended its rules on transgender participation.

The UCI doubled the period before transgender athletes are allowed to move from one sex class to another from 12 to 24 months and halved the maximum permitted testosterone level to 2.5 nmol/L. — Reuters

Japan’s Naomi Osaka pulls out of Wimbledon due to Achilles injury

June 19, 2022 | 6:57 pm

FORMER world number one Naomi Osaka has pulled out of Wimbledon due to a left Achilles injury, the four-times Grand Slam champion said on Saturday.

Japan’s Osaka suffered the injury in Madrid, forcing her to miss the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 1000 tournament in Rome in the leadup to the French Open where she lost in the first round.

Last week, she posted a video on social media, saying: “Here’s me running on a underwater treadmill because my Achilles is being stubborn still (sic) I must be aging or something.”

She added on Saturday: “My Achilles still isn’t right so I’ll see you next time.”

Osaka had said after her defeat at Roland Garros that she was not 100% sure if she would play on grass this season.

The men’s ATP and women’s WTA took away ranking points from the grasscourt Grand Slam after organizers the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) decided to ban participation by Russian and Belarusian players following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

Osaka had reasoned that playing in the major without the possibility of earning points would not help her ranking and the decision of the authorities had reduced her motivation to play.

Osaka, who is ranked 43^rd, also pulled out of Wimbledon last year after taking time off for “personal reasons” — a month after quitting the French Open due to mental health issues. — Reuters

Will Zalatoris, Matt Fitzpatrick share lead at US Open

June 19, 2022 | 6:56 pm

us-open-co-leader — MATT Fitzpatrick of England — REUTERS

IF Will Zalatoris can complete his mission in the final round of the US Open on Sunday, he’ll know he was deserving for multiple reasons.

Zalatoris shot 3-under par 67 on Saturday to share the lead through three rounds, putting the young golfer in contention at yet another major championship.

He’s joined at the top by Matt Fitzpatrick of England at 4-under 206 at The Country Club in Brookline, MA. Fitzpatrick shot 68 in the third round.

Defending champion Jon Rahm looked to be in position to hold the third-round lead until a double-bogey 6 on the last hole, unable to get out of a sand bunker that turned costly. He’s alone in third, one shot back of the leaders.

Rahm went to the top of the leaderboard with a birdie on the 17^th hole.

Zalatoris, 25, is contending in a major for the second month in a row after falling in a playoff to Justin Thomas in the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Championship.

Fitzpatrick led briefly late in the day with a birdie on No. 17. He fell back into a tie with Zalatoris, who already had finished his round, with a bogey on the final hole.

But Rahm wasn’t finished, posting birdies on Nos. 14, 15 and 17 and appearing in good shape until a mess on No. 18.

First-round leader Adam Hadwin (70) of Canada, Scottie Scheffler (71) and Keegan Bradley (69) are tied for fourth at 3 under. Bradley, a Vermont native, is giving the tournament a particular New England flavor.

Members of the gallery chanted Bradley’s name as he approached the 18^th green and he’ll be the fan favorite for the final round.

Sam Burns (71), Rory McIlroy (73) of Northern Ireland and Joel Dahmen (74) are all at 1 under.

Zalatoris, who was the 2021 runner-up at the Masters, tied for sixth in the 2020 US Open. He played the backside in 1 under Saturday.

Fitzpatrick already owns success on the course, winning the 2013 US Amateur at the site.

Fitzpatrick is aiming to become the first non-US golfer to win the US Amateur and US Open. He said the importance placed on the majors adds to the drama.

Windy conditions created trouble for many golfers on Saturday. Long sleeves were the order of the day for many on the course.

Scheffler took the lead on the eighth hole by chipping in for an eagle from about 100 yards. But he hit trouble spots with a double-bogey 5 on the 11^th hole and bogeys on the next three holes.

Still, Scheffler made a difficult par-saving putt on the last hole to stay in the mix.

Collin Morikawa, who won the PGA Championship in 2020 and British Open in 2021, and Dahmen were the co-leaders at the midway mark through Friday’s round. They experienced varying degrees of difficulty.

Morikawa was even through five holes, then suffered a bogey and double-bogey on the next two holes. He shot 77 to slip into a tie for 17th at 2 over. — Reuters

Nelly Korda fires 66 to take lead at LPGA Classic

June 19, 2022 | 6:56 pm

DEFENDING champion Nelly Korda carded two eagles en route to shooting a 6-under-par 66 on Saturday in the third round of the Meijer Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Classic in Belmont, MI.

Korda, who sits at 18 under, flip-flopped places with first and second-round leader Jennifer Kupcho atop the leaderboard. Kupcho shot 69 on Saturday to sit in second place, one shot back.

Canada’s Brooke Henderson shot 67 and has sole possession of third three shots back at 15 under. Lexi Thompson (68) is in fourth place at 14 under.

Korda opened with six straight pars before going birdie-eagle on the next two holes. She also eagled No. 18. Korda missed about four months of the season due to a blood clot in her arm and is playing her second tournament since coming back.

“I just kind of went about it. I knew that I had enough practice under my belt and it was just more of like can I put that into tournament golf kind of play,” Korda said. “So far, you know, I’ve played pretty well and hopefully I can continue. I mean, there is still 18 more holes, still a lot more golf to be played. I’m just happy to be out there playing again.”

Kupcho finished with four birdies against one bogey to remain in the hunt.

“I wasn’t playing as well as I thought I should,” Kupcho said. “I think after a little bit of a rough start, missed a couple fairways, I kind of set a goal for myself to shoot 3-under and I did do that. So glad to have done that. Obviously not exactly what I wanted, but it works.” — Reuters

More than half of all players at Euros, AFCON finals abused online — study

June 19, 2022 | 6:55 pm

MORE than half of all players at the finals of last year’s European Championship and Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) were subjected to some form of discriminatory abuse online, a report published by global soccer governing body International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has revealed.

The independent report used artificial intelligence to track over 400,000 posts on social media platforms during the semifinal and final stages of the two competitions and found the majority of abuse to be homophobic (40%) and racist (38%).

It added that much of the abuse came from players’ home nations and took place before, during and after games.

England’s Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka, who are Black, were bombarded with online abuse after missing their spot-kicks in a shootout against Italy which settled the July 11 European Championship final after the game finished in a draw.

The report said a substitute player from Egypt was the most abused player at the AFCON finals this year.

“Our duty is to protect football and that starts with the players who bring so much joy and happiness to all of us by their exploits on the field of play,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement on Saturday.

“Unfortunately, there is a trend developing where a percentage of posts on social media channels directed towards players, coaches, match officials and the teams themselves is not acceptable, and this form of discrimination — like any form of discrimination — has no place in football.”

The report added that the abuse on Twitter was constant across the period of its study while Instagram abuse was “event driven” — like losing a final — and more than 75% of comments on the platform included emojis.

Reuters has contacted Twitter and Instagram for comment.

Ahead of the World Cup starting in Qatar in November, FIFA said it would work with players’ body FIFPRO to implement a plan to protect teams, players, officials, and supporters from abuse on social media during international tournaments.

The two bodies will launch moderation tools and offer educational support and mental health advice to players at FIFA tournaments. — Reuters