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Saudi crown prince says kingdom has no plans to introduce income tax

REUTERS

DUBAI — Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in televised remarks on Tuesday that the kingdom had no plans to introduce income tax and a decision last July to triple value-added tax to 15% was temporary.

The kingdom had tripled VAT to offset the impact of lower oil revenue on state finances in a move that had shocked citizens and businesses expecting more support from the government during the coronavirus pandemic.

“Raising VAT was a painful measure and I hate to hurt any Saudi citizen, but it is my duty to build Saudis a long-term sustainable future,” the prince said in an interview aired on Saudi TV to mark the fifth anniversary of Vision 2030.

“Raising VAT to 15% is a temporary decision that will last one to five years and then it will go down to between 5% to 10%,” he said.

Prince Mohammed also said the kingdom aims to reduce unemployment to 11% this year. Unemployment among Saudi citizens fell to 12.6% in the fourth quarter of 2020 from 14.9% in the third quarter.

The government has been pushing through economic reforms since 2016 to create millions of jobs and reduce unemployment to 7% by 2030.

The plans were disrupted by the coronavirus crisis that sent oil prices plummeting last year. — Reuters

Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 team begins OQT bid on May 26 in Austria

RICHARD ESGUERRA
CJ PEREZ (#17) and the rest of the Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 team will begin their FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Austria on May 26. — RICHARD ESGUERRA

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

THE Philippine 3×3 national team will begin its bid in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Graz, Austria, on opening day on May 26 in Pool C.

Composed of young Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) veterans CJ Perez and Mo Tautuaa of San Miguel and incoming rookies Joshua Munzon (Terrafirma) and Alvin Pasaol (Meralco), Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 will try to notch one of the three tickets up for grabs in the qualifiers for the Tokyo Games, where the sport is making its debut.

The nationals play in the tough Pool C, which also has Slovenia (Europe Cup 2016 winner), France (second at Europe Cup 2019), Qatar (2014 World Champ), and the Dominican Republic.

OQT format calls for each team playing the other four in their respective pools. The top two teams from each pool qualify for the crossover quarterfinals and then play knockout games all the way to the semifinals.

The semifinals and the third-place games will be known in the FIBA 3×3 OQT as the Olympic Ticket games.

Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 will first play Qatar on May 26 at 8 p.m. (Manila time) to be followed by the game against Slovenia at 9:45 p.m.

It will take a break the following day before resuming its campaign on May 28 against the Dominican Republic at 6 p.m. and France at 8 p.m.

The Philippine team is set to start its “bubble” training at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna, in the first week of May. They will stay there before flying to Graz for the OQT.

Messrs. Perez and Tautuaa were members of the gold medal-winning 3×3 team in the 30th Southeast Asian Games held here in 2019.

The duo is looking at building on that success notwithstanding the long break they had in the sport because of the pandemic.

“The last time we played 3×3 was before lockdown and that was last year, so it’s been a while. We are not able to play, that’s the hard thing for us,” Mr. Perez admitted in an interview with the official International Basketball Federation (FIBA) website.

“We are doing our best to be in shape. Our coaches never stopped working for the program for us and they keep pushing every day,” he added.

Messrs. Munzon and Pasaol, meanwhile, are the top 3×3 players in the country and played a big role in the Philippines securing a spot in the OQT, being part of teams which saw action and gained qualifying points in various FIBA tournaments.

They have decided to take their talent to the PBA by applying for the rookie draft early this year where they were selected in the first round, but expressed their commitment for the country’s 3×3 cause in the OQT.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and the PBA have vowed full support for the team, which also includes Rain or Shine rookie Santi Santillan and free-agent Karl Dehesa.

The FIBA 3×3 OQT happens from May 26 to 30.

GILAS TEAM IN PHILIPPINE CUP
Meanwhile, if plans push through, the Gilas Pilipinas national team will be featured in the PBA Philippine Cup.

League commissioner Willie Marcial shared the news during the online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday.

He said it is the PBA’s way of helping Gilas train for its international competitions, namely, the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Serbia in June and FIBA Asia Cup in Indonesia in August, in light of the many restrictions currently in place because of the pandemic.

The league chief said they will be coordinating with the SBP in accommodating Gilas, which he sees could play eight to 10 games at least in the Philippine Cup as part of its preparation.

The PBA is looking to begin its delayed Season 46 hopefully in late May or in June.

League officials were to meet government officials on Wednesday to discuss the staging of its new season.

Jerwin Ancajas wants a shot at fellow champion Estrada

ALVIN S. GO
IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas wants a shot at WBA champ Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico in a unification fight. — ALVIN S. GO

FRESH from his successful title defense of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight title, Filipino champion Jerwin Ancajas is now eyeing possible bouts against top fighters in his division, including versus fellow champ Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico.

Speaking at the media conference hosted for him by the Games and Amusements Board on Wednesday, Mr. Ancajas shared that there is nothing definite yet on when his next fight will be and against who, but given the opportunity, he would like to battle Mr. Estrada, the World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Council (WBC) champion.

“Even before I became a champion, I was already following his career; watching his fights. Now I have a chance to fight them (top fighters in the division) and I want to take a shot at them,” said Mr. Ancajas in Filipino.

The IBF champion recently came back to the country after successfully defending his title for the ninth time against Mexican Jonathan Javier Rodriguez by unanimous decision on April 11 in Uncasville, Connecticut.

It is something the Davao del Norte native Ancajas (32-2) looks to build on in trying to further solidify his standing as a champion in the sport.

But while he wants to face Mr. Estrada (42-3), the Filipino champion admits that at least for this year, a unification bout against any of the other champions might be hard to set up, but he is still not losing hope just as he said that he will welcome any fighter who will pitted against him.

“Maybe this year, a unification fight might not happen because the other champions have their own schedules and have something lined up. But from our end, whether it is Estrada or any fighter, we will just train and be ready when called up,” Mr. Ancajas said.

Team Ancajas said it is looking at a September return to action.

ASIAN ELITE TILT MOVED
Meanwhile, in other boxing news, the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) announced on Wednesday that the Asian Elite Men and Women Boxing Championships have been moved to the United Arab Emirates, capital of Dubai from May 21-June 1.

Originally set to take place in New Delhi, India, the boxing event was forced out because of the massive surge in coronavirus cases in said country.

Filipino boxers were eyeing to see action in the championships as part of their preparation for big international tournaments this year, including the Olympic Games, but were forced to rethink over health and safety concerns.

But the ABAP said it is now looking at reconsidering its decision since the boxing tilt will now be held in Dubai.

“We will make that determination in a few days,” said ABAP secretary-general Ed Picson.

Currently, most of the elite national boxers are in Muaklek, Thailand, in a joint training camp with the Thai national boxing team. They have been in Thailand since March 10 of this year. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

How the government plans to make Clark’s sports facilities pay their way 

NEW Clark City is a fully master-planned development with the world-class sports complex as one of its components. — BCDA AND JUN MENDOZA

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

SPORTS STADIUMS are expensive and need to be booked for as many days of the year as possible to be viable, which is why the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex fell into decay, while more commercially oriented venues like the Araneta Coliseum and the Mall of Asia Arena are thriving. Which brings up some questions about the sustainability of a recent jewel in the crown of the Philippine infrastructure program — the sports facilities at New Clark City.

The P9.5-billion complex includes a 20,000-seat Athletics Stadium with an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)-certified track; a 2,000-seat International Swimming Federation (FINA)-certified Aquatics Center; and an Athletes’ Village. The complex was built to serve as the showpiece of the 30th Southeast Asian Games in December 2019.

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), aware of the fate of Olympic venues in places like Athens and Beijing which have gone derelict or have yet to be self-sustaining, essentially believes that the sports complex will be a big draw for locators to the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ). At the risk of oversimplifying, the strategy might be summed up as: “If you build it, they will come.”

“New Clark City is a fully master-planned development with the world-class sports complex as one of its components… The sport facilities play a huge part in creating strong interest for local and foreign investors looking to locate in a regional hub that adopts a work-and-play environment,” Vivencio B. Dizon, BCDA president and CEO said in an e-mail interview.

Mr. Dizon said the labor and services, business, education, government, and tourism sectors will benefit from having the sports complex in New Clark City in Tarlac.

He said tourism promoters, for one, can develop sport tourism offerings, and the Department of Tourism sees its place in the greater strategy of building regional resilience.

“The national government is aiming for a more resilient economy by building regional growth centers across the country, and part and parcel of this outlook is ensuring the availability of public infrastructures and facilities to enable and support the economic progress,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said in a statement on the New Clark City development.

In building the sports hub, BCDA partnered with infrastructure developer MTD Philippines, a unit of MTD Capital Bhd. of Malaysia.

The construction of the facilities was controversial, not just because of the expense, but also because of questions about their long-term viability. Observers advocated the renovation of existing facilities, but the fiscally responsible choice was ultimately overruled by the sports community, judging from the satisfaction expressed by it about the stadiums during the games.

“Our athletes have waited so long for world-class sports facilities. BCDA is thrilled to be part of the creation of the National Academy of Sports (NAS), and the development of the country’s athletes who will study and train there. With a sports-centered academic program and facilities at par with international standards, we envision NAS to be a cradle for future world champions,” Mr. Dizon said.

The BCDA is confident that the sports complex will not turn into a “white elephant” because of its role as an attraction for locators to New Clark City (NCC). NCC itself is designed to be a driver of Central Luzon’s development, while serving as an alternative capital should a calamity impair the national government’s ability to function in Metro Manila.

The sports facilities will serve as the main training hub for national athletes, as well as that of future generations of elite athletes to be produced by the NAS, a secondary school tailored for the needs of high-performance athletes.

  The NAS, created under Republic Act No. 11470, is scheduled to open later this year in coordination with the Department of Education and the Philippine Sports Commission.

 The Athletes’ Village itself has performed valuable national service by standing in as a quarantine center during the pandemic, while also housing healthcare workers.

To date, over 15,000 coronavirus positive and quarantine patients have been admitted to four treatment and medical facilities there.

The BCDA said the continued use of the Athletes’ Village as a quarantine facility will be determined by need, and will be decided by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).

RECOUPING INVESTMENT
Mr. Dizon said the New Clark City sports facilities will ultimately pursue the broader approach taken by the BCDA in tapping public-private partnerships to ensure that the investment poured into them will be recouped and the hub’s world-class certifications maintained. 

He said, however, that the pandemic has forced a rethink of the plans and projections for the complex.

 “In early 2020, we estimated a (payback period) in the 8- to 10-year range, but this had to be pushed back because of the pandemic. No one can truly predict when we are returning to normal. Once the pandemic is over, projections will be subject to another study to determine the expected return,” Mr. Dizon said.

“Because of the pandemic as well, BCDA is currently reevaluating the timing for privatizing the operations and maintenance of the facilities, but that is still in the pipeline. In the meantime, we’re trying to make sure that the facilities are in good condition,” he added.

Considering the resources channeled to building the facilities, Robert Dan J. Roces, chief economist at Security Bank Corp., said a well-thought-out plan is needed for the returns to measure up.

“As with facilities of this magnitude, maintenance costs can easily overtake the original cost to build these even only after a few years, and run the risk of becoming a drain on taxpayers. That’s why it’s laudable that the BCDA has long-term plans for the facilities to prevent wastage even before construction begins so that these do not become one-off use facilities,” Mr. Roces said in an e-mail interview.

 “A public-private partnership seems the best option, as such deals have a higher chance of success in terms of managing costs, hitting the RoI on time, and attracting complementary investments that provide positive multiplier effects and employment all around, while at the same time maintaining the original vision for the surrounding areas with the sports complex as the centerpiece,” he added.

He said that if the plans for the facilities succeed, such an approach could form the template for future development.

“And as with any infrastructure spending program — especially now with the pandemic — it bodes well for economic recovery,” he added.

GENERATING INTEREST
After the success of the Games, Mr. Dizon said the immediate interest in the facilities centers on their suitability for hosting training and tournament “bubbles” due to the pandemic.

The PSC, for one, has requested the use of the site for training bubbles in preparation for the Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam in November.

The Philippine Athletics and Track and Field Association has also requested the complex’s use as an Olympic training bubble and hopes to stage the annual Philippine Athletics Championship/National Open there. Its request is awaiting IATF approval.

Other organizations studying the use of the venue are the Triathlon Association of the Philippines and the Asia Swimming Federation.

The NCC was cited as the 2019 Sports Tourism Venue of the Year at the 4th Philippine Sports Tourism Awards.

“So in terms of confidence in the facilities including the onsite implementation of the health protocols, I’d say that NCC is in good shape,” Mr. Dizon said.

Further developments are in the works, including a high-performance gym and sports museum and a center for sports medicine and holistic wellness.

Additional facilities due to be constructed include a FIFA-certified football stadium, an arena for sports like basketball, volleyball, and tennis, as well as a softball stadium and a skate park.

Wimbledon to become 14-day tourney from 2022 with play on Middle Sunday

BENGALURU — The Wimbledon Championships will become a 14-day tournament from 2022, with matches set to be played on Middle Sunday, traditionally a day off at the grasscourt Grand Slam, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) said on Tuesday.

The first Sunday of Wimbledon is normally a rest day, on which tournament organizers work to get the courts back into top shape for the latter rounds, resulting in a so-called Manic Monday featuring the entire fourth round of both the men’s and women’s singles.

“From 2022, to coincide with the centenary of center court, Middle Sunday will become a permanent part of the tournament schedule, turning the Championships into a 14-day event,” AELTC chairman Ian Hewitt said.

“Thanks to improved grass court technology and maintenance over the past five years… we are comfortable that we are able to look after the courts, most particularly center court, without a full day of rest.”

Middle Sunday has rarely been needed and only when bad weather has required some catch-up time for organizers. It featured in 1991, 1997, 2004, and 2016 — allowing fans a rare chance to buy on-the-day tickets.

Wimbledon is the only one of the four Grand Slams that includes a rest day in the middle.

Hewitt said there had been no pressure from the ATP or WTA to alter the scheduling.

“The most logical thing is that the fourth round will be split over two days to do justice to that important part of the tournament,” he told a news conference.

“We are confident we can make it a special day.”

No private housing

This year’s tournament is eagerly awaited after Wimbledon was canceled last year for the first time since World War II because of the coronavirus pandemic.

But it will feel different.

Organizers have had to ensure a Minimized Risk Environment to satisfy health protocols, meaning players will be limited to a maximum of three in their entourage and they will have to stay in designated hotels, rather than the plush private housing the top players generally prefer.

“The minimized risk environment we created for the players is a requirement from the government to bring athletes without them going into quarantine upon entry into the UK,” AELTC chief executive Sally Bolton said.

“Players enjoy private housing and we hope to bring it back next year, but it’s just not possible this year.”

The rule applies even to British players such as Andy Murray, who lives a short drive away from the grounds, and instead will have to stay in a hotel this year.

Wimbledon is planning for a 25% capacity, but hopes that will be increased as lockdown restrictions ease.

The tournament starts on June 28, a week after the government hopes to free the country of coronavirus restrictions.

However, organizers say that even if the country is unlocked, players will still have to remain in a bubble.

“What might happen in the UK is different to what happens to international travel,” Bolton said. “The minimized risk environment is part of the permission for staging the tournament.”

Ticket prices will be the same as last year while prize money allocations will be announced in June.

“It’s premature to make a judgment on prize money,” Hewitt said. “We will take a sensible judgment in June.”

Wimbledon was the only Grand Slam canceled last year and Hewitt said the tournament had collected an insurance payout of 180-million pounds ($250.15 million), of which 36 million pounds went to the Lawn Tennis Association. — Reuters

ONE Championship stages last installment of TNT series in Singapore

ONE CHAMPIONSHIP
“ONE on TNT IV” will be headlined by the re-engagement of ONE light heavyweight champion Aung La N Sang of Myanmar and middleweight champ Reinier De Ridder of the Netherlands this time for the light heavyweight title. — ONE CHAMPIONSHIP

THE final installment of the four-part “ONE on TNT” series of ONE Championship happens on Thursday at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

The concluding event will be headlined by the world light heavyweight title clash between reigning champion “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang and replacement opponent and middleweight champ Reinier De Ridder of the Netherlands.

Also seeing action is Filipino mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran Eduard “Landslide” Folayang against Japanese legend Shinya Aoki in the third encounter of their trilogy as well as Filipino-American muay thai fighter Jackie Buntan against Ekaterina Vandaryeva of Belarus.

The “ONE on TNT” series started on April 8 where the promotion’s fights are broadcast across various platforms in the United States on prime time.

Aung La faces Mr. De Ridder for the second time in seven months.

The two collided in October last year where the Dutch submitted the Burmese fighter (rear-naked choke) in the first round to win the ONE world middleweight title.

Aung La is hoping that he could exact payback and prevent Mr. De Ridder from doubling up on him and taking the light heavyweight title this time.

It is a quick pivot for Aung La though as he saw his original opponent Vitaly Bigdash of Russia pull out in fight week after contracting the coronavirus.

Messrs. Folayang and Aoki, meanwhile, found themselves in an instant trilogy after their respective opponents backed out for varying reasons.

Team Lakay’s Folayang was supposed to face Japanese Yoshihiro Akiyama while Mr. Aoki was to face American Sage Northcutt.

The two former lightweight champions split their first two encounters with Mr. Folayang taking the first fight back in 2016 by knocking out then ONE lightweight champ Aoki in the third round to become the new champion.

The Japanese then exacted payback in 2019 when he submitted the Filipino by way of arm triangle choke in the opening round to reclaim the lightweight belt.

“This is a crucial fight for both men, to be honest. We have to factor in age and their current mentality as well as the technique that they will employ in this fight. These two have fought twice, and are very familiar with one another,” said local fight analyst Nissi Icasiano when asked by BusinessWorld for his thoughts.

“It’s a matter of who has the better game plan coming into the fight. In the case of Folayang, he needs to sport a more cautious and patient approach, leaning on snap kicks and telegraphing long-distance strikes. He has to do this repeatedly for at least two rounds to wear out Aoki, who will try to hunt for a takedown right off the bat and sink the Filipino on the ground,” he added, underscoring that the longer the fight, goes the better for the Filipino’s chances.

Ms. Buntan, for her part, will make her second appearance in ONE Championship and try to solidify her standing as a contender.

Also seeing action in the event is MMA veteran Eddie Alvarez of the United States against Ok Rae Yoon of South Korea.

“ONE on TNT IV” will be broadcast live here over One Sports at 8:30 a.m. with an encore telecast on the same channel on April 30 at 8:30 p.m., and on May 2 at 12 a.m. on TV5. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Trail Blazers pound Pacers; Bucks offer in-game vaccines

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS FACEBOOK PAGE
THE Portland Trail Blazers snapped a five-game losing streak after a dominant 133-112 win over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday. — PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS FACEBOOK PAGE

ANFERNEE Simons’ 27 points on 9-of-10 shooting from three-point range led a dominant effort by the Portland Trail Blazers during a 133-112 win over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night in Indianapolis.

The Blazers (33-28) snapped a five-game losing streak as seven players scored in double figures, including Damian Lillard (23 points) and CJ McCollum (20).

The nine made triples were a career-high for Simons and the scoring output was the second-highest ever for the Blazers’ 2018 first-round pick.

Indiana (29-32) had its three-game winning streak snapped and took its 18th defeat at home this season, which guaranteed a .500 or worse record in Bankers Life Fieldhouse. That snapped a streak of 31 consecutive seasons with a winning home record for the Pacers.

Oshae Brissett and Malcolm Brogdon led the Pacers with 18 points each. Brissett also grabbed 10 rebounds. Caris LeVert had 16 points and Doug McDermott finished with 13.

Lillard was held under his season scoring average of 28.4 points per game, but he didn’t need to be spectacular as Portland opened things up by outscoring Indiana (79-43) over the second and third quarters.

Lillard contributed six assists and four rebounds in 31 minutes for the Blazers, who led by as many as 43 points in the fourth quarter. McCollum hit 9 of 13 field-goal attempts.

The Pacers continued to compete without a player taller than 6 feet 7 as Domantas Sabonis missed his fifth consecutive game with a lower back strain. Indiana was also without Myles Turner (foot) and Goga Bitadze (ankle) in addition to Jeremy Lamb (knee) and T.J. Warren (foot), who is out for the season.

Portland took advantage of its size advantage as three frontcourt players — Robert Covington (15 points and 11 rebounds), Enes Kanter (12 points and 14 rebounds) and Jusuf Nurkić (11 points and 10 rebounds) — recorded double-doubles. Carmelo Anthony added 13 points.

BUCKS VACCINE
Meanwhile, basketball fans can obtain their first coronavirus vaccine dose in an unusual venue this weekend — at a Milwaukee Bucks game.

Those aged 16 years and older attending Sunday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets will be able to obtain their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at a mobile vaccination site inside Fiserv Forum, which the Bucks are opening in partnership with the Milwaukee Health Department.

Tip-off is at 2:30 p.m. but doses will be available from 1 p.m. through the end of the game inside the Panorama Club, one of the 17,341 capacity arena’s VIP lounge areas.

“This is a critical time for all of us to take the necessary step that will help return our lives to normal,” Bucks President Peter Feigin said in a written statement on Tuesday. “Let’s make this happen together.”

The team is widely believed to be the first in the National Basketball Association to offer in-game vaccinations, though numerous stadiums and arenas across the United States opened their doors to inoculate residents during the pandemic, when not performing their usual functions. — Reuters

AkadsPH streamlines process of booking an online tutor

AkadsPH, an online tutoring service, offers one-on-one tutorial sessions to students who undergo its matching system. Clients can book and pay on a single platform.

“Most of the tutorial services that transitioned to offer online tutorials have unorganized booking systems and limited payment modes,” said Angela Nicole M. Mercado, chief executive officer of AkadsPH. “They operate mainly on Facebook and Zoom, which could be time-consuming for busy parents who wouldn’t want to go through multiple platforms just to book a tutor.”

Students are matched to a tutor in the AkadsPH platform based on the details they include in their profile. All eligible tutors are notified afterwards, with the first one to accept getting the booking. 

The platform also has a chat feature, which allows for easy communication among parents, tutors, and students; email and text notifications, to remind parents of upcoming tutorial sessions for their children; a files drive similar to Google Drive, to help a tutor align with the current lessons of the student; and a favorite tutor function, for parents who prefer to book a particular tutor.

Akads Meet, the platform’s video call component, provides a stable learning experience by adjusting each call’s video quality based on the tutor and the student’s Internet connection.

“Being software scalable, we can easily add helpful features that can make this experience better for both parents and tutor,” said Gabriel Lucas M. Reganit, chief sales officer of Akads. 

AkadsPH, which launched with the help of startup incubator QBO Innovation Hub, targets parents of students in grades 1 to 10 who are affected by the closure of tutorial centers due to the pandemic. It has conducted over 180 sessions with 26 students since its launch in January, with most of its clients coming from private schools in Metro Manila. It has also onboarded 84 college-student tutors. 

A rigorous application process is conducted for its tutors, which includes assessments that weigh heavily on mock tutorials, said Ms. Mercado. “Most of our tutors are college students who can teach Math, English, Filipino, and Science, which is why we only offer these subjects for now.”

Parents usually book math tutorials for their children, added Mr. Reganit. “We ensure that we enrich the student’s knowledge by giving exercises during and after the session to promote mastery and constant practice,” he said. “Parents are satisfied because of the improvement of their kid’s grades.”

TUTORING INDUSTRY
Technavio, a global technology research and advisory company, forecasts the global K-12 online tutoring market to grow by $60.03 billion during 20192023, progressing at a compound annual growth rate of 12% during the forecast period. Forty-eight percent of this growth will originate from the Asia Pacific region. One of the key drivers for this market will be the importance of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education.

A report released in December 2020 by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) said that the Philippines fared worst among 58 countries in an assessment for mathematics and science for Grade 4 students. The Philippines scored 297 in math and 249 in science, according to the IEA’s Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2019.

“Seeing as students in this generation live in a digital age, schools and tutorials would be able to teach better by adapting technology in their education programs,” said Mr. Reganit. “We aim to address these gaps starting with online tutoring. Looking forward, we believe that digitizing education will empower students to help them achieve their academic goals and beyond.” 

AkadsPH offers a free one-hour trial session. Rates range from P500 for an hour to P6,760 for 15 hours. — Patricia B. Mirasol

India’s coronavirus toll tops 200,000 after record surge in cases

A MAN runs past the burning funeral pyres of those who died from the coronavirus disease, during a mass cremation in New Delhi, India April 26. — REUTERS
REUTERS

NEW DELHI — India’s toll from the coronavirus surged past 200,000 on Wednesday, the country’s deadliest day, as shortages of oxygen, medical supplies, and hospital staff compounded a record number of new infections.

The second wave of infections has seen at least 300,000 people test positive each day for the past week, overwhelming healthcare facilities and crematoriums and fuelling an increasingly urgent international response.

The last 24 hours brought 360,960 new cases for the world’s largest single-day total, taking India’s tally of infections to nearly 18 million. It was also the deadliest day so far, with 3,293 fatalities carrying the toll to 201,187.

Experts believe the official tally vastly underestimates the actual toll in a nation of 1.35 billion, however.

The world is entering a critical phase of the pandemic and needs to have vaccinations available for all adults as soon as possible, said Udaya Regmi, South Asia head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

“This is both an ethical and public health imperative,” he added. “As variants keep spreading, this pandemic is far from over until the whole world is safe.”

Ambulances lined up for hours in the capital, New Delhi, to take the bodies of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) victims to makeshift crematorium facilities in parks and parking lots, where bodies burned on rows of funeral pyres.

Coronavirus sufferers, many struggling for breath, flocked to a Sikh temple on the city’s outskirts, hoping to secure some of its limited supplies of oxygen.

Hospitals in and around the capital said oxygen remained scarce, despite commitments to step up supplies.

“We make hundreds of calls and send messages every day to get our daily quota of oxygen,” Dr. Devlina Chakravarty, of the Artemis hospital in the suburb of Gurgaon, wrote in the Times of India newspaper.

The Mayom Hospital nearby has stopped new admissions unless patients brought oxygen cylinders or concentrators with them, its chief executive, Manish Prakash, told television channel NDTV.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said people were falling sick more severely and for longer, stacking up the pressure.

“The current wave is particularly dangerous,” he said.

“It is supremely contagious and those who are contracting it are not able to recover as swiftly. In these conditions, intensive care wards are in great demand.”

SUPPLIES INCOMING
Supplies arriving in New Delhi included ventilators and oxygen concentrators from Britain, with more sent from Australia, Germany and Ireland, while Singapore and Russia pledged oxygen cylinders and medical supplies.

“First shipment of oxygen generators from #Taiwan to #India is leaving this week,” Kolas Yotaka, a spokeswoman for Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, said on Twitter. “We are all in this together.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau committed $10 million, adding on Twitter, “We stand ready to donate extra medical supplies, too.”

Credit rating agency S&P Global said India’s second wave of infections could impede its economic recovery and expose other nations to further waves of outbreaks.

The Asia-Pacific region, in particular, was susceptible to contagion from the highly infectious variants in India, given the region’s low ratios of vaccination, it added.

Tech firms in the southern city of Bengaluru and elsewhere set up “war rooms” as they scrambled to source oxygen, medicine and hospital beds for infected workers and maintain backroom operations for the world’s biggest financial firms.

Epidemiologist Bhramar Mukherjee called for much larger lockdowns to slow the spread.

“At this point, lives are so much more important than livelihoods,” the University of Michigan professor said on Twitter. “Provide assistance to the poor, but please lock down and vaccinate.”

Vaccinations in a national campaign begun in January have averaged about 2.8 million doses a day since an April 5 peak of 4.5 million, government data shows.

More than 121 million people have received at least one dose, or about 9% of the population.

Later on Wednesday, India will allow all above 18 to register for vaccination, starting from May 1. About 800 million are estimated to become eligible.

US President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., said he had spoken at length with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on issues such as when the United States would be able to ship vaccines to the South Asian nation, and added that it was his clear intention to do so.

“I think we’ll be in a position to be able to share, share vaccines, as well as know-how, with other countries who are in real need. That’s the hope and expectation,” he told reporters at the White House on Tuesday. — Neha Arora and Tanvi Mehta/Reuters

Standard Chartered women leaders take action

Standard Chartered previously held a local staging of The Vagina Monologues to celebrate International Women’s Day to benefit One Billion Rising and to raise awareness on women’s issues.

Standard Chartered Bank (SCB), the oldest international bank in the Philippines, continues to provide a collective voice and foster meaningful actions to create awareness, further improve inclusivity and drive change. For years, the bank has embedded diversity and inclusion into its organizational DNA, celebrated female role models and allies to reaffirm its commitment to gender equality, and build an inclusive culture where everyone, regardless of gender, can thrive. The bank has institutionalized initiatives globally including mentoring and coaching, staff engagement, training and development, and community programs across its network.

SCB Philippines CEO Lynette Ortiz participated as one of the CEO coaches in the Women Summit organized by Filipina CEO Circle in 2019.

In 2018, SCB signed a statement of support for the UN Women Empowerment Principles to reinforce its ongoing commitment to gender equality. It has also made a commitment to address gender pay gaps and increase its female representation in senior leadership roles. To date, the bank’s percentage of women in leadership positions increased to 30% and aims to further increase to 35% by 2025. Fourteen of its markets have female CEOs at the helm, including China, Hong Kong, India, UAE, and the Philippines, with Lynette Ortiz as its first Filipina CEO since 2016. More than half of its country management team members are women.

Ortiz is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion with gender equality and women empowerment as her personal advocacies. In the past, she led the local staging of Vagina Monologues to celebrate International Women’s Day to benefit One Billion Rising with some parts played by international theatre actress and women’s rights activist Monique Wilson and has spoken in conferences and symposia on these topics.

Ortiz is also actively involved in various career coaching sessions for college students and young professionals with Filipina CEO Circle, and a mentor in the bank’s global Speed Mentoring Programme for female colleagues. She was recently appointed as Vice-Chairperson of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the Management Association of the Philippines.

“There is strength in solidarity and sisterhood.  It is important to inspire each other and add a collective voice to the conversation.  We must actively challenge stereotypes, offer support to female colleagues, and openly celebrate role models in order to drive a more inclusive environment,” said Ortiz highlighting the importance of active involvement in keeping the conversation on women empowerment going.

Ortiz has ongoing virtual coaching sessions with college student Carmela Arnesto
as part of the Filipina CEO Circle coaching program to develop female talents in the country.

SCB Philippines is a founding member of the Philippine Financial Inter-Industry Pride (PFIP) and actively participates in the annual celebrations of International Women Day, Pride Month, World AIDS Day, World Mental Health Day, World Sight Day, International Men’s Day, International Day for People with Disabilities among others.

The bank recently launched a Lean-In Circle called “Women of Wonder (WoW)” dedicated to providing a platform to provide peer-to-peer support for female employees. Through WoW, it aims to create a more inclusive environment that enables everyone, regardless of gender, to contribute to their full potential.

Other female leaders of the bank are also involved in year-round volunteering and coaching sessions supporting students, young professionals, and people with disabilities in partnership with universities and non-profit organizations such as Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, Gawad Kalinga and Virtualahan, a social enterprise that champions the welfare of women and PWDs. Mentoring topics include job application tips, communication skills, and career guidance.

Standard Chartered was recently ranked as among the top 100 companies in Equileap’s 2021 Gender Equality Global Report and Ranking and recognized on the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index 2019, for the fourth year in a row. Financial Times likewise recognized SCB as a diversity leader, ranking in the top 20 among banks and financial services list of European 2021 leaders for workplace diversity and inclusion.

Malayan Insurance leads Philippine non-life insurance in Gross Premiums Written

In the latest release of insurance industry unaudited figures, Insurance Commissioner Dennis Funa said that Malayan Insurance Co., Inc. was in first place for the Philippine non-life insurance industry, based on Gross Premiums Written, for the Year 2020.

Malayan Insurance’s number one ranking was based on the compilation of quarterly reports on selected financial statistics of the insurance industry, submitted by companies to the Insurance Commission.

Based on a compilation of unaudited reports submitted for the year 2020, Malayan Insurance’s gross premiums written amounted to P14.21 billion, the highest in the industry, despite the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy. Malayan’s net premiums written were at Php4.08 billion, putting it among the top non-life insurers in the country.

“Gross premiums written (GPW) are computed by taking the sum of an insurance company’s premiums from direct business and assumed premiums before the effect of ceded reinsurance,” IC Commissioner Dennis Funa earlier explained. GPW reflects the total business written by the insurance company, “while net premiums written (NPW) are obtained by subtracting a non-life insurance company’s reinsurance cessation from GPW,” said Funa.

With many of the largest Philippine companies placing their non-life insurance with Malayan Insurance during the pandemic, the company has secured reinsurance support to be able to meet the requirements of Philippine business.

Official and audited insurance industry figures are released on the Insurance Commission website in, middle of the year.

Malayan Insurance has been the dominant non-life insurer of Philippine businesses and families for over 50 years. Malayan Insurance is rated by AM Best, a global rating authority for the insurance industry, with Financial Strength Rating (FSR): B++ (Good), and Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR): bbb+, providing the Philippine insuring public with world-class insurance protection.

Malayan Insurance, founded in 1930, is a member of the Yuchengco Group of Companies (YGC), one of the largest conglomerates in the Philippines, with core businesses in financial services, banking, investments, construction, education, energy, and information technology.

Top US trade negotiator discussed vaccine ramp-up with Novavax exec

Image via Novavax

WASHINGTON — US Trade Representative Katherine Tai discussed increasing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine production in a virtual meeting on Tuesday with an executive with drugmaker Novavax, Ms. Tai’s office said in a statement.

Ms. Tai and Novavax Executive Vice-President John Trizzino also discussed a proposal before the World Trade Organization to waive certain intellectual property rights in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the USTR statement said.

“Ambassador Tai sought Mr. Trizzino’s views on steps Novavax is taking to quickly increase equitable production and distribution of vaccines in the United States and around the world,” the statement said.

Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine is not currently authorized for use in the United States.

WTO members are due to discuss a proposal by India and South Africa to waive certain provisions of the WTO’s Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights on April 30, but the United States and a few other big countries have blocked such a move.

Democratic lawmakers, civil society groups, and 60 former heads of state and 100 Nobel Prize winners have urged President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., to back the waiver.

Shares of Novavax surged 16% in extended trading on Tuesday after Biden Mr. said the United States was planning to share COVID-19 vaccines with countries in need of aid.

The company is expected to report data from its ongoing large, late-stage study in the United States and Mexico during the second quarter of this year.

Ms. Tai held virtual meetings on Monday with vaccine makers Pfizer and AstraZeneca.

Novavax Chief Executive Stanley Erck met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday and said he was in talks with SK bioscience, the vaccine arm of SK Chemicals, to extend production and tech transfer agreements until 2022.

SK bioscience plans to start producing the Novavax COVID-19 vaccines as soon as the approval comes and manufacture 40 million doses to supply South Korea. — Reuters