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COVID-19 infections at 1.12 million, with 18,714 deaths — DoH

THE DEPARTMENT of Health (DoH) reported 4,842 coronavirus infections on Wednesday, bringing the total to 1.12 million.

The death toll rose by 94 to 18,714, while recoveries increased by 8,312 to 1.05 million, it said in a bulletin.

There were 53,214 active cases, 1.4% of which were critical, 93% were mild, 2.4% did not show symptoms, 1.9% were severe and 1.23% were moderate.

The agency traced the low tally to fewer samples from laboratories on Monday.

It said 30 duplicates had been removed from the tally, 21 of which were tagged as recoveries and one as death. Thirty-five recoveries were reclassified as deaths.

About 11.6 million Filipinos have been tested for the coronavirus as of May 10, according to DoH’s tracker website.

The coronavirus has sickened about 160.4 million and killed 3.3 million people worldwide, according to the Worldometers website, citing various sources including data from the World Health Organization.

About 138.2 million people have recovered, it said.

Meanwhile, the Health department said more than 2.5 million Filipinos have been vaccinated against the coronavirus as of May 11.

Of the total, only about 514,655 people received their second dose, Health Undersecretary Myrna C. Cabotaje told a televised news briefing.

She said almost 1.2 million health workers out of the 1.5-million target had received their first dose. The rest have completed their vaccination.

Ms. Cabotaje said more than 466,000 of 7.7 million senior citizens have received their first dose. About 25,070 already completed their vaccination.

About 134,343 seriously ill people have received their first dose. More than 8,900 essential workers also got partially vaccinated.

Ms. Cabotaje said the government seeks to vaccinate at least 70,000 Filipinos daily next month.

The Philippines last week received more than two million doses of the vaccine made by AstraZeneca Plc under a global initiative for equal access. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas and Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Filipino fisherman dismayed over Duterte’s failed jetski promise

PCOO

THE FILIPINO fisherman who asked presidential candidates during a 2016 forum about their stance on the South China Sea dispute has expressed dismay over President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s statement that his promise to ride a jetski to the contested waters was just a publicity stunt.

“Masama po ang loob naming lahat dahil siyempre ‘yun ang sinabi niya. Inasahan namin ‘yun na gagawin niya. Ba’t sinabi niyang joke-joke lang (We feel resentful because, of course that is what he said and we expected that he will do just that. Why is he saying that it was just a joke?)?” Carlo Montehermozo, a fisherman in Pangasinan, told ABS-CBN News Teleradyo.

Mr. Montehermozo, who asked presidential candidates about their plans on defending Filipino fishermen being harassed by Chinese vessels, added: “Joke-joke lang din naging presidente natin (Our president became a joke too.).”

Mr. Duterte earlier this week said his campaign promise that he would ride a jetski to the South China Sea to plant the Philippine flag there and assert the country’s territorial rights over the resource-rich waterway was only a “joke.” He said those who believed him were “stupid.”

“All in the name of his political ambition. Face to face, he deceived a fisherman who was crying for help to the next leader of the country,” fisherfolk group Pamalakaya said in a press release on Wednesday.

The group said the President’s statement “is a matter of fishing rights for Filipino fishers who are forced to abandon their traditional fishing grounds due to continued Chinese presence.”

The group said Mr. Duterte’s China policy would definitely affect his anointed candidates for the upcoming polls.

“The Filipino fishers have already lost trust in him, thus he should bid goodbye to any illusions of his anointed minions winning next year’s elections.”

‘DRAMATIZE’
The President’s chief legal counsel, Salvador S. Panelo, said the President just wanted to dramatize that “he will not allow China to assault the sovereignty of this country” when he made the promise.

“He said that to dramatize the fact that he will not allow China to assault the sovereignty of this country. I think that was clear enough. For me, that was very clear during the campaign,” Mr. Panelo told ABS-CBN News on Wednesday.

Mr. Panelo, who has been criticized by civic groups for defending the President’s controversial public remarks, said Filipinos need to use “common sense” to determine whether the country’s top leader is “joking or not.”

Retired Justice Antonio T. Carpio earlier said the President committed estafa by not being true to his campaign promise that he would assert the country’s sovereign rights over the disputed waterway.

Rebuking Mr. Carpio and former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario, who have spoken against his foreign policy on China, Mr. Duterte had said he never promised to retake the country’s territories in the South China Sea.

Mr. Duterte had called the arbitral ruling that rejected China’s claim to more than 80% of the South China Sea a piece of paper that could be disposed of. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Groups press gov’t to free activists after farmer leader’s death in jail

BJMP ANGELES CITY DISTRICT JAIL FBPAGE

A SUPPORT group for families and friends of political prisoners in the Philippines again asked the Supreme Court to act on their request for intervention in the cases of jailed activists following the death of a farmer leader due to coronavirus complications.

Kapatid Spokesperson Fides Lim, in a statement on Tuesday, said they have asked Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo to intervene in order to “prevent more deaths,” and “to order an inspection of all prison facilities, including quarantine centers.”

“This function is within the High Court’s judicial duties to protect the right to life and health of those in government custody,” she said.

Joseph Canlas, who was vice chairman of the farmers’ group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and chairperson of Alyansa ng mga Magsasaka sa Gitnang Luzon, died Tuesday due to complications relating to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which his family and colleagues believe he contracted at the Angeles City Jail.

The 59-year old farmer was arrested March 30 for alleged illegal possession of firearms and explosives.   

Mr. Canlas’ lawyer, Luz Luchi Perez of the National Union of People’s Lawyers   said they hold the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group “accountable for the tragic death of our client and shall take legal action against them.”

Ms. Perez said the BJMP does not have clear health protocols, and that inmates were not tested for COVID-19 “with around 90 to 100 detainees sharing the same quarantine facility in the Angeles City Jail.”

“We believe that the government should be held accountable because in the midst of a pandemic, it focuses its resources and powers to trump-up cases and incarcerate activists and development workers,” Council for People’s Development and Governance (CPDG) Spokesperson Liza Maza said in a press release on Tuesday.

“Not one individual should be subjected to repression simply because of their political and social involvement,” Ms. Maza added. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago

SC modifies requirements for psychological incapacity in annulment cases 

PHILSTAR

THE SUPREME Court (SC) has unanimously ruled that psychological incapacity need not be proven through a testimony of a psychologist or psychiatrist in annulment cases, and that the “totality of the evidence” must be clear and convincing enough to declare a marriage void.

“The Court pronounced that psychological incapacity is not a medical but a legal concept… It need not be a mental or personality disorder…(nor) a permanent and incurable condition,” the SC’s Public Information Office PIO said on Wednesday through a press briefer.

The SC added that psychological incapacity “refers to a personal condition that prevents a spouse to comply with fundamental marital obligations only in relation to a specific partner that may exist at the time of the marriage but may have revealed through behavior subsequent to the ceremonies.”

Psychological incapacity is a ground for declaring a marriage null and void as found in Article 36 of the Family Code which states that a “marriage contracted by any party who, at the time of the celebration, was psychologically incapacitated to comply with the essential marital obligations of marriage, shall likewise be void even if such incapacity becomes manifest only after its solemnization.”

Justice Marvic Mario Victor F. Leonen penned the decision and was deliberated in the Court’s En Banc session on Tuesday in the case of Rosanna L. Tan-Andal versus Mario Victor M. Andal.

The full opinion will be uploaded to the SC website once the official copy is released. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago

Senator pushes for ‘buy local’ policy

PHILSTAR

A SENATOR on Wednesday urged the government and the public to buy local products to boost the economy following its contraction in the first quarter of 2021.

In a statement, Senator Francis N. Pangilinan underscored the need to tap locally-made personal protective equipment (PPE) and agriculture products to boost livelihood.

“Patuloy tayong nag-iimport ng mga PPEs, samantalang maraming supply na available dito. Dahil sa kakulangan ng demand mayroong nawalan ng trabaho ang 3,500 na manggagawa (We continue to import PPEs when there are many available supplies here. Because of the lack of demand, around 3,500 workers lost their jobs),” said Mr. Pangilinan.

The country’s gross domestic product fell by an annual 4.2% in the first quarter, the fifth straight quarter the economy contracted, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported on Tuesday.

Mr. Pangilinan said local suppliers are not maximized by the government in its procurement, citing the Confederation of Philippine Manufacturers of PPE.

The group said only 27% of the government’s monthly demand for cover-all and gowns, and 69% of monthly mask capacity were awarded to local suppliers.

For agricultural products, homegrown rice and pork should be prioritized over imported products.

“We can boost the economy by buying local products, or if we can, buy directly from farmers, hog raisers, fishers. It is beneficial for everyone. Kung may kakilala kayo na nagbebenta ng mga lokal na produkto, supportahan natin sila (If you know someone who sells local products, let’s support them),” he said.

“It is a positive chain of effect,” he added. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Proponent says proposed Nayong Pilipino vaccination site a ‘vacant area’; Megaworld townships opening inoculation centers

PHOTO shows the area where the temporary “mega vaccination facility” proposed by ICTSI Foundation will be built. — ICTSI FOUNDATION HANDOUT PHOTO

ICTSI FOUNDATION, proponent of the “mega vaccination center” within the Nayong Pilipino property in Parañaque City, said the proposed site is a vacant area.

“Contrary to previous reports, the proposed site is actually a deserted, uninhabited and vacant area and not an urban forest as erroneously claimed,” the foundation said in an emailed statement on Wednesday.

The Nayong Pilipino Foundation’s board has held back the signing of the memorandum of agreement for the project, citing environmental impact and legal procedures.   

Malacãnang, which has previously given the green light for the project, reiterated on Tuesday its support for the construction of the temporary facility that is seen to contribute to the government’s inoculation program.

The coronavirus vaccination facility, which will have a capacity for as many as 12,000 people a day, will be funded by the Razon-led International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

“Within the proposed site is the mega quarantine center run by the Armed Forces of the Philippines that was also built by the Razon Group at no cost to the government,” ICTSI Foundation said.

MEGAWORLD TOWNSHIPS
In another development, Megaworld Corp. said on Wednesday that it will be setting up 10 vaccination sites in its townships in Metro Manila and Laguna in collaboration with local governments.

The first vaccination centers to be opened this week are in Lucky Chinatown to serve Manila City and Venice Grand Canal for Taguig City.   

“Our townships are convenient, comfortable, and safe venues for the vaccination program, especially for the elderly,” said First Vice President and Megaworld Lifestyle Malls Head Graham M. Coates in a statement.

Megaworld will also be opening vaccination sites within the coming weeks in Eastwood City for Quezon City, Uptown Bonifacio in Taguig, Makati City’s Paseo Center and San Lorenzo Mall, Newport Mall in Pasay City, The Village Square Alabang in Las Piñas City, Pasig City’s Arcovia City, and Southwoods City in Laguna.

The company said it expects the centers to serve around 75,000 to 90,000 citizens who are in the top priority groups for inoculation, which include health workers, senior citizens, those with comorbidities, and economic frontliners. — Marifi S. Jara and Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte

DoJ readying charges vs rogue cops

PHILSTAR

Government prosecutors are preparing charges against cops who violated protocols in enforcing President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s war against illegal drugs, Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said on Wednesday.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo M. Año and new national police chief Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar have expressed their support to the panel of prosecutors reviewing cases of deaths from illegal drug operations, he said in a Viber group message.

Officials from the three agencies would meet soon to discuss the criminal complaints “so that we’ll have consistent baseline figures,” the Justice chief said. “We request your patience.”

Meanwhile, convicted drug lord Yu Yuk Lai has died of a heart attack and was confirmed to have been positive for the coronavirus, the Bureau of Corrections said in a statement on Tuesday night.

Ms. Lai was confined at the East Avenue Medical Center for seven days until May 11 and died on Tuesday.

She was imprisoned at a prison for women near the Philippine capital after a Manila trial court sentenced her to life imprisonment in Sept. 2001.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency earlier said she was still involved in drugs even while in prison. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago

SMC allots P1 billion to revive Pasig River

Pasig river — PHILSTAR

SAN Miguel Corp. (SMC) has earmarked P1 billion to rehabilitate Pasig River, and has scheduled to begin clean-up operations before the month ends, the firm said in a press release on Wednesday.

SMC said that it will embark on the project with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), citing the initiative as the “boldest attempt” to revive the biologically inactive river.

The company aims to extract some 50,000 metric tons of silt and waste every month, or a total of 600,000 metric tons per year from Pasig River.

Last year, SMC began a P1-billion initiative to clean up the 27-kilometer Tullahan-Tinajeros River system, which runs from La Mesa Dam through Quezon City, Malabon, and Navotas, three flood-prone localities in the capital.

The company has also announced plans to dredge the Meycauayan river system to better mitigate floods in Bulacan province, where it is building a P740-billion airport project.

“We are taking decisive action to clean up our major river systems to balance the needs of our economy and the environment towards a viable and sustainable path forward,” SMC President Ramon S. Ang was quoted as saying. — Angelica Y. Yang

ASF calamity to free up funds for farmer compensation, testing

PHILIPPINE STAR/MICHAEL VARCAS

AGRICULTURE Secretary William D. Dar said the declaration of a state of calamity following the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak will free up emergency funding to compensate affected farmers and pay for rapid testing and disinfection.

“We will now be able to quickly pay affected farmers. We can also now buy much needed… RT-PCR test kits and disinfection trucks,” Mr. Dar said in a virtual briefing Wednesday.

“We still need an additional P6.6 billion (on top of our) budget so that in the next three years, there will be a total of P27 billion to fully accelerate the recovery of the hog industry,” he added.

On May 10, President Rodrigo R. Duterte issued Proclamation 1143 that declared a one-year state of calamity due to the ASF outbreak. 

Mr. Duterte ordered all local government units (LGUs) and government agencies to assist in containing the spread of ASF.

“All government agencies and LGUs are enjoined to render full assistance to and cooperation with each other, and mobilize the necessary resources to undertake critical, urgent, and appropriate measures in a timely manner to curtail the further spread of ASF, address the supply deficit in pork products, reduce retail prices, and jumpstart the rehabilitation of the local hog industry,” Mr. Duterte said in the proclamation.

Meanwhile, Mr. Dar said the release of the executive order that will amend Executive Order (EO) No. 128, which lowered the tariffs on pork imports, is pending.

“The EO on changing the tariffs of pork imports amending EO 128, (I hope) will come soon. Around 44,000 metric tons (MT) of pork imports have arrived since the issuance of the EO on April 7,” Mr. Dar said.

Mr. Dar added that the Department of Agriculture is also still finalizing the details on the suggested retail price (SRP) scheme for imported pork products and expects it to be out within the week.  

“The SRPs on imported pork that we are finalizing are still based on EO 128. There are still final discussions being done now. Hopefully within the week, we will be able to release the new SRPs,” Mr. Dar said.

Currently, the SRP for imported pork shoulder (kasim) is P270 per kilogram while imported pork belly (liempo) is P350 per kilogram. 

EO 128 lowered the tariff rates on pork imported within the minimum access volume (MAV) quota to 5% in the first three months, increasing to 10% in the following nine months.

The order also lowered the tariff rates on out-of-quota pork imports to 15% in the first three months, rising to 20% in the succeeding nine months.

Recently, the Senate and the cabinet’s economic ministers agreed on final revisions to EO 128. Changes include tariff rates for pork imports within the MAV quota of 10% in the first three months and 15% over the following nine months.

Tariff rates for out-of-quota pork imports were also recommended for resetting to 20% for the first three months, rising to 25% in the succeeding nine months. 

Before the EO, pork imports within the MAV quota paid 30%, while out-of-quota pork imports were charged 40%. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Special industry fund among proposals to amend Agri-Agra law

PROPOSED amendments to a law regulating lending to farmers should include a special fund to be seeded with an initial P10 billion to help develop the agriculture and fisheries sector, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said Wednesday.

Lyn I. Javier, the BSP’s managing director for Policy and Specialized Supervision, said the special fund is among the features of proposed amendments to Republic Act No. 10000 or the Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act of 2009.

Ms. Javier said the creation of the Agribusiness Management Capacity and Institution Building Fund will address the lack of funding in the agriculture sector, to which banks are reluctant to lend.

“The special fund will be used to finance well-defined agriculture and fishery-related activities as well as capacity and institution-building programs of farmers and fisherfolk cooperatives and organizations,” she told a Senate Agriculture committee hearing.

She said the special fund will consist of contributions from the banking sector in the form of grants, as well as penalties accrued from non-compliance with the agricultural financing requirement.

The initial P10 billion will be comprised of penalties collected from banks after the effectivity of the proposed measure. A P2-billion contribution of the banking industry will be chargeable against future penalties “in case of any short fall,” she said.

The central bank proposes that 70% of the special fund be allocated for technical capacity building programs and agri-agra pilot projects, 20% to learning opportunities and research, and 10% to financial literacy and programs “that will professionalize the management of cooperatives and duly registered organizations of rural agriculture and fisheries households.”

The measure will also form the Agricultural and Fisheries Finance and Capacity-Building Council, which will set up and manage the special fund. 

The council should have a “good balance and broad representation from private and government sector,” she said, adding that it will identify projects or programs and eligible beneficiaries. It will oversee the monitoring of, reporting from, and audits performed on the special fund.

Ms. Javier also said that the BSP also wants to enhance access by rural communities to private-sector financing by expanding the coverage of the law to benefit members of the household of a farmer or agricultural worker, including their associations or organizations and enterprises.

She also said the BSP wants to “broaden types of activities eligible for private sector financing, provide incentives, and facilitate increased access to funding for all financial institutions in rural communities, not just those that are accredited.

Ms. Javier also said the BSP is seeking the removal of the distinction between the 15% agriculture and 10% agrarian credit but wants to maintain the 25% credit quota for the agriculture sector and agrarian reform beneficiaries, which banks need to comply with.

The proposed term of effectivity for the amendments is 10 years, she said.

“We believe that the 10 years will provide the time to implement strategic interventions,” Ms. Javier said. “After this period the government may consider pursuing other forms of intervention that would benefit the needs of a more mature and we hope more progressive agriculture sector.”

Monetary Board member V. Bruce J. Tolentino noted that the amendment to RA 10000 is among the priority measures of the government for the 18th Congress.

“The BSP fully supports the objectives driving the various agri-agra bills which seek to strengthen rural development through holistic approaches that consider the broad context for agricultural financing and rural community development and to improve the welfare and economic prospects of agriculture workers, their enterprises as well as their households and address the key challenges faced by the agricultural sector in obtaining access to financing,” he said at the hearing.

The Agri-Agra Law is among the bills the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council identified as priority measures to be passed by June. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

DTI’s Lopez tells oxygen industry to prepare for demand surge

JCOMP/FREEPIK

THE oxygen industry can currently produce more than the market needs, but must be prepared to ramp up manufacturing by up 50% in case the coronavirus case count surges, Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said.

After surveying the four domestic producers, Mr. Lopez told One News Wednesday that production of the gas, a critical medical supply for coronavirus patients, is currently at 604 tons per day while consumption is at 470 tons a day.

“There is a surplus now, but (we) need to ramp up to cover a possible surge,” he told reporters via Viber, calling a 50% increase a good starting point. 

“(We should produce) around 900 tons per day if we want to be prepared.”

New producer Cryogenics Gases will start operations in Butuan by the end of the year, he added.

“Some (producers are) planning to expand, some (are) buying more cylinder tanks, also wholesalers and resellers buying more tanks as people stock up in their homes for emergency requirements.”

The supply of oxygen and tanks was under severe strain during the recent surge in Indian coronavirus infections, prompting other countries to ship in emergency supplies.

Mr. Lopez also told One News that domestic suppliers should be preferred even though making such an award may run counter to government procurement rules.

“What we need is a new law that will say procurement, especially for government projects, pwedeng diretso bibili na para buy local rather than ibi-bid mo (at) mananalo ‘yung galing sa ibang country na mas mababa ‘yung cost (to allow buying local rather than go to a bid where a foreign supplier can undercut the Filipino company on cost).”

Personal protective equipment makers are also asking the government to create a stockpiling program that will exclusively procure locally. The industry last year said that the government continues to import most of its supply from other countries.

Assured procurement would also encourage vaccine manufacturers to establish operations in the country, Mr. Lopez said.

The Anti-Red Tape Authority is working with various agencies to shorten the processing time for vaccine manufacturers.

Permits for firms planning to do fill and finish production, in which active ingredients are imported for packaging here, should be processed within 21 days, Mr. Lopez said. — Jenina P. Ibañez

Greenergy unit won’t renew deal with Chinese solar company

LISTED Greenergy Holdings, Inc. said its wholly-owned unit has discontinued its distribution agreement with China solar panel maker Hanergy Thin Film Power Asia Pacific Ltd.

“WGVI (Winsun Green Ventures, Inc.) has decided to not renew the agreement,” Greenergy told the bourse Wednesday. “(It) has decided to open up supply sourcing of its pending project from any solar panel suppliers which can offer the best technology at efficient cost, in light of the advancement in global solar technology and improved cost efficiency,” it added.

In a May 2020 disclosure, Greenergy announced a one-year distribution deal with Hanergy with an option to renew upon expiration. The company had been assigned to distribute Hanergy’s solar products, including its Film Flat SOLARtile.

On its website, Greenergy said it aspires to be a global holding company focused on renewable energy, fintech, and green infrastructure by 2030.

Greenergy shares closed up 3.16% or 13 centavos to P4.25 on Wednesday. — Angelica Y. Yang