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Cameron Smith still in driver’s seat at Tournament of Champions

CAMERON Smith of Australia birdied his final four holes Friday to reaffirm his grip on the lead at the second round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Kapalua, Hawaii.

Smith carded a 9-under 64 after opening with a 65 on Thursday at the Plantation Course at Kapalua. His one-shot lead after one round grew to a three-stroke advantage over world No. 1 Jon Rahm of Spain and Daniel Berger.

Smith’s 17-under 129 matches the 36-hole record set by South Africa’s Ernie Els in 2003.

It didn’t look like Smith’s day early on. He bogeyed the first two holes and slipped down the leaderboard while other players were shooting low. At the par-5 fifth hole, he chipped in for eagle from just off the green — his second straight day eagling the hole — to get his round on track.

Smith said he didn’t feel comfortable at the driving range while warming up before the round, but he kept his head down.

“There’s no point bashing clubs around and doing all that stuff,” Smith said. “It was definitely frustrating, but kept the head on, and I knew there was plenty of birdies out there seeing everyone go low.”

He finished the day with nine birdies, six of them coming on a bogey-free back nine.

Rahm posted his second bogey-free 66 in a row to move into a tie for second at 14 under. If Rahm finishes the tournament in first or second place, he will fend off Collin Morikawa and maintain his No. 1 spot in the Official World Golf Ranking for another week.

Berger matched Rahm’s 66, eagling the par-5 15th hole while maintaining a clean card. He was paired in a group with Smith for the first two rounds.

“Cameron had a tough start and then he pulled it together on the end of the back nine,” Berger said. “It’s always easy to play with someone when they’re making a ton of birdies and you’re seeing balls go in the hole, and he made every putt he looked at today and I think he’s going to be a tough guy to beat this weekend, but it’s not impossible.”

Patrick Cantlay (bogey-free 67) is alone in fourth place at 13 under. Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama made a push on the back nine with four straight birdies at Nos. 13-16. He carded a 65 and is tied for fifth at 12 under with Sungjae Im of South Korea (67).

The tournament only invites players who won an event in the previous season, and there is no 36-hole cut. Other low scores among the 38-man field Friday included Sam Burns (64), Ireland’s Seamus Power (65) and South Korea’s Si Woo Kim (65), each of whom are tied at 10 under. That seven-way tie also features Brooks Koepka and Xander Schauffele.

Patrick Reed also shot 64 and is at 8-under 138.

Phil Mickelson, who chose to play the event for the first time since 2001, posted a 69 on Friday and could have been lower had he not bogeyed the last two holes. At 6 under, he is in a tie for 30th. — Reuters

Thompson returns

Klay Thompson will be suiting up for a National Basketball Association match for the first time in two and a half years. The set-to won’t be as significant on paper; a regular-season homestand against the middling Cavaliers can’t possibly compare to Game Six of the Finals. That said, it’s no less impactful for the five-time All-Star, and not just because of his ultra-competitive nature. Simply put, he lives and breathes hoops, and can’t wait to get back on the court — or, rather, has waited for so long (perhaps too long) to get back on the court.

For proof of Thompson’s desire to ply his trade anew, casual observers need only turn to his emotional reaction as patrons at the Chase Center called out his name following a late-November victory over the Blazers. For the better part of an hour, he stayed on the bench, a towel draped over his head to hide tears — of both gratitude for his continued acceptance and frustration in the face of his prolonged rehabilitation. Yet, he understood that there would be no shortcuts to convalescence from a torn right Achilles tendon during a workout in November 2020. Never mind that initial prognoses had him returning to action by the start of the 2021-22 campaign.

Again, the good news is that Thompson remains a vital part of the Warriors’ cause. Head coach Steve Kerr deems him among the most important, in fact; not for nothing will he be part of the starting lineup today. As far as the brain trust is concerned, he’s critical to the attainment of the ultimate objective. It’s one thing to be in a virtual tie for the top spot in league standings with more than half the season still to be played, and quite another to possess the roster with talent and experience to withstand any and all comers en route to the championship.

Indeed, Thompson is an all-world, all-time great, and he knows it. He seethed when he failed to crack the NBA’s 75th Anniversary squad, and he will, no doubt, use the slight as motivation to do even better. Which is why it will be foolhardy to bet against him, and against his capacity to be a pillar for the rejuvenated Warriors. They’re all the better with him around, and he may yet be the one weapon they have to be the best of the best.

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.

SMDC’s Light 2 Residences keeps you connected

This SMDC development keeps you in the center of what matters

It’s the new year! Priorities are once again set. Often, these priorities involve either time for oneself or time for others- it’s about connection.

Connection is essential to life, especially these days. People are connected by technology, through which they have stayed in touch with friends and family members. It can also mean being able to find meaningful social connections

Connection is also important to the way we live. Staying connected through transport hubs and traveling from one area to another provide security and ease.

Connection can also mean being one with one’s mind, body and soul. It can come through a “me” time that allows one to re-center and refocus on oneself and on the things that truly matter in order to live healthily and happily.

All about having the right connections

At SMDC’s Light 2 Residences in the EDSA-Mandaluyong area, a prime development with a direct connection to the EDSA-Boni MRT-3 Station connecting with the rest of the metro is more convenient because of so many factors. In addition, SMDC Light 2 Residences is proximate to a future station of the planned Mega Manila Subway that will traverse Quezon City to Parañaque, and will provide easy access to the country’s international airports.

The property is minutes away from dining establishments, commercial centers, and businesses in the Ortigas Central Business District. This provides connectivity to economic and lifestyle opportunities within walkable distances that essentially reduce one’s carbon footprint.

Speaking of connections, Light 2 Residences will also be equipped with fiber internet technology. This is so its residents will have quick access to the internet, making the development ideal even for a work from home set-up.

In addition, SMDC’s Light 2 Residences will have its own mall, which will also complement and connect to the already existing Light Mall. As with other SM malls, these structures become hubs for economic activity complete with multiple dining and shopping options available to residents and nearby communities. Family and friends visiting SMDC’s Light 2 Residences will not need to go far to reconnect with their loved ones who live there thanks to the myriad of lifestyle choices offered right outside their door. Once completed, the additional wing of Light Mall will provide more retail experiences to choose from and for people to enjoy.

Connecting actions to a vision

SMDC is committed to fulfilling the vision of the company’s Chairman Henry Sy Jr. to make the Philippines a nation of homeowners by offering attainable master-planned developments across the country to address the aspiration of many Filipinos to live in communities that are safe and secure, and own homes they can be truly proud of.

That vision is embodied in the promise that Light 2 Residences has to offer. Whether it be interpersonal connections, virtual connections or by way of transport hubs and buildings connected with one another, all of that can be found in SMDC’s Light 2 Residences.

As our lives have been changed for the past two years, the dawn of a new year gives us hope that things will indeed change for the better. Connections have never felt more essential and special than they have after the global pandemic struck, people value connectivity in their lives more than ever. Make those connections possible with SMDC’s Light 2 Residences.

For more information about Light 2 Residences, visit www.smdc.com/properties/light-2-residences/.

 

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Unemployment rate falls in November, but job quality worsens

The number of jobless Filipinos dropped in November amid the further relaxation of mobility curbs. -- Photo by Michael Varcas, The Philippine Star

The number of unemployed Filipinos decreased in November as mobility curbs were further relaxed, but job quality continued to worsen with more employed Filipinos still looking for more work. 

The preliminary estimates of the Philippine Statistics Authority’s November round of the labor force survey (LFS) put the unemployment rate at 6.5%, compared with 7.4% in the October round. 

This was the lowest jobless rate since the agency started releasing the report on a monthly basis in 2021. Including the quarterly releases, it was the lowest since the 5.3% recorded in January 2020 at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. 

In absolute terms, there were 3.159 million unemployed Filipinos in November, down from 3.504 million in October.   

The government placed Metro Manila under the more relaxed Alert Level 2 staring November, allowing businesses to increase capacity and removing age-based mobility restrictions as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases fell. 

However, the quality of available jobs worsened as the underemployment rate increased to 16.7% in November from 16.1% in October. This was equivalent to 7.617 million employed Filipinos looking for additional work or longer working hours, from 7.044 million previously. 

The underemployment rate in November was the highest in four months or since 20.9% estimated in July. 

Average work hours slipped to 39.6 hours that month from 39.7 hours in October. 

The size of the labor force was about 48.637 million in November, more than the 47.330 million the month prior. This translated to a labor force participation rate of 64.2% of the working-age population, higher than 62.6% previously. 

Meanwhile, the employment rate stood at 93.5% in November, higher than 92.6% in October. This was equivalent to 45.477 million employed individuals during the period from 43.826 million previously. 

Services sector accounted for 58.1% of total employment in November, higher than the 57.6% share in October. 

Agriculture and industry made up 24.5% (from 24.6%) and 17.4% (from 17.8%) of the total.  

In a statement, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said the lower unemployment rate in November follows the imposition of more relaxed Alert Level 2 in various parts of the country that allowed more movement and economic activity. 

“Our policies to accelerate vaccination and to shift to the more targeted alert level system with granular lockdowns enabled us to significantly bring down COVID-19 cases and deaths while bringing back more employment,” NEDA Director-General and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua was quoted in the statement as saying. 

The NEDA chief also said the government is taking a “proactive” step back as it shifted the capital region as well as other parts of the country to Alert Level 3, while ramping up the vaccination program. 

Metro Manila and other areas are currently under Alert Level 3 until Jan. 15 to contain the surge of new COVID-19 infections. This means more mobility restrictions and lower operating capacity up to 30% for some commercial establishments. 

‘DECENT HEADWAY’ 

Union Bank of the Philippines Chief Economist Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion said the further improvement in the jobless rate reflected the easing of quarantine restrictions in November. 

“Although [November] was the lowest unemployment rate in 2021, underemployment still has persisted, and this tells me that the economic scarring threat is becoming obvious with a lot of MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) affected by the pandemic,” Mr. Asuncion said in an e-mail interview. 

He added the November underemployment print requires the current and the next administration to “respond better to controlling the negative impact of the pandemic and potentially being stuck with an elevated unemployment rate in the medium-term and the lack of quality jobs to go around for everyone.” 

In a note, ING Bank N.V. Manila Branch Senior Economist Nicholas Antonio T. Mapa said that economic reopening helped generate jobs, although job quality was wanting. He noted the looser quarantine restrictions helped companies hire more workers but with shorter shifts. 

While there was “decent headway” in job creation, Mr. Mapa noted the current level of employment is still well below the pre-COVID unemployment average of 5.5%. 

“Within the fourth quarter, it is natural to assume that as one gets closer to the actual holidays, the pace of economic activities — and thus employment — increases, which is the reason for the lower unemployment rate in November,” Ateneo de Manila University Department of Economics Assistant Professor and Economist Geoffrey M. Ducanes said in a separate e-mail interview. 

‘OFF TO BAD START’ 

Economists expect that the increased consumption during the holidays translated to more jobs in December. This year, an Omicron-driven surge will dictate the already pandemic-battered labor market.  

“Hopefully, the Omicron surge will be transitory and infections lower sooner rather than later to expect a better 2022 than initially anticipated,” Mr. Asuncion said. 

“As long as the response to the surge of Omicron will be appropriate and sufficient with everyone cooperating, labor market improvement to pre-pandemic levels will not only be a wish list but rather a near reality,” he added. 

Mr. Ducanes said the year is off to a “bad start,” with the employment situation expected to deteriorate within the next two months. 

The economy and the labor market will not go back to pre-pandemic levels “for a while,” he added. 

“Certainly, per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been set back by possibly three to four years. The pandemic is also causing fundamental and long-lasting impacts on the labor market, which it will take the workforce and the economy to fully adjust to,” Mr. Ducanes said. 

For Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort, labor market recovery could take much longer amid tighter restrictions due to surge in new COVID-19 cases. 

However, he said that the upcoming May elections may provide more job opportunities in the near term. 

“Increased government spending especially on infrastructure to pump-prime the economy and also in preparation for the 2022 presidential elections would also generate more employment/job opportunities for the various infrastructure projects,” Mr. Ricafort said in a note sent to reporters. — Abigail Marie P. Yraola 

Economy to lose P3 billion each week NCR Plus is under Alert Level 3

Health workers process the papers of individuals before they undergo RT-PCR tests at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila, Jan. 4. -- Photo by Michael Varcas, The Philippine Star

By Jenina P. Ibañez, Senior Reporter  

The economy will lose P3 billion a week in productivity contributions due to the shift to the more restrictive Alert Level 3 in Metro Manila and nearby regions, government economic managers said on Friday.  

“We estimate that the shift from Alert level 2 to Alert Level 3 for NCR plus, which includes Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal, will result in a Gross Value Added loss of about P3.0 billion per week,” the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) said in a joint statement. 

The five areas are under the stricter alert level 3 up to Jan. 15. 

The DBCC said it is monitoring the impact of the surge in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, especially in the capital region and nearby provinces. 

“While this may delay our goal of shifting to Alert level 1, we believe that this is a temporary setback and is a necessary adjustment in view of the new COVID variant,” economic managers said. 

The daily COVID-19 tally went up to 21,819 cases on Monday for a total active case count of 77,369. The Philippines recorded a total of 43 Omicron variant cases so far. 

The DBCC said the country is in a better position to manage a spike in cases, given the vaccine rollout and increased hospital capacity. 

“We now resort to granular lockdowns; and, from all indications, the Omicron variant results in less severe cases, especially to those who are fully vaccinated.” 

About 50 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, which means the government missed its end-2021 target of 54 million. 

The DBCC also said this year’s P5.024-trillion national budget would serve as the country’s main fiscal stimulus. 

“(The budget) was crafted with COVID response and recovery in mind, we expect to accelerate government spending and help the economy bounce back. 

Economic managers said the national budget will prioritize its response to the pandemic. 

“Alongside this, the extended validity of the fiscal year 2021 general appropriations act will serve as an added fiscal stimulus that will support national government agencies and local government units in continuing to accelerate the implementation of COVID-19 recovery measures. 

BUSINESSES AFFECTED  

Meanwhile, Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez on Friday said he has received reports that operations of some malls have been affected by the surge in COVID-19 cases. 

“Yes, we have been receiving reports of malls slowing down their operations and reducing their staff due to the more transmittable Omicron variant,” Mr. Lopez told the media in a Viber message on Friday. 

He noted in some commercial establishments, employers are preparing replacements for staff that may have tested positive for COVID-19 or undergoing precautionary isolation. Other companies are allowing employees to work from home. 

“As we know the businesses, they will find ways to temporarily replace sick staff to ensure that operations continue,” he said.  

Philippine Airlines Inc. (PAL) on Friday said in a statement there may be some flight cancellations and changes in flight schedules amid the surge in COVID-19 cases. The flag carrier said many of its frontline staff are unable to go to work. 

Cebu Pacific also said it has canceled some flights until Jan. 10, as it works with regulators and stakeholders to manage the impact of COVID-19 on its workforce. 

Meanwhile, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) assured the public that banking services will continue despite the imposition of Alert Level 3 in Metro Manila and other areas.  

“The BSP further reiterates its directive to BSP-supervised financial institutions to strictly observe minimum health protocols to safeguard the safety and well-being of bank personnel and customers,” the central bank said in a statement. 

The BSP urged the public to use e-banking and digital payment services for safer and more efficient financial transactions. — with inputs from M.C.Lucenio 

Philippines borrows $800 million for booster shots

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

The Philippines has borrowed $800 million from multilateral lenders to fund the roll out of booster shots of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine, as the country battles a fresh surge in infections.   

Finance Undersecretary Bayani H. Agabin said the government borrowed $250 million each from the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in December.  

Another $300-million loan agreement with the World Bank was also signed last month, the Department of Finance (DoF) said in a press release on Friday.  

“We expect everything, we expect (these loans) to be effective around, towards the latter part of January. So that will give us funds to purchase our COVID-19 booster shots,” Mr. Agabin was quoted as saying in the statement.   

The DoF is waiting for the Justice department’s opinion on the enforcement of agreements already signed with the lenders.  

The government in December cut the waiting time for a booster dose to three months amid the threat from the more transmissible Omicron variant.    

The country has seen a fresh surge in COVID-19 cases in recent days. President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Thursday evening said unvaccinated people will be arrested if they disobey stay-at-home orders.  

About 50 million Filipinos were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of last year, which means the government missed its 54 million end-2021 target.   

Mr. Agabin said the Customs bureau had cleared shipments of over 200 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from March to December last year. The vaccines delivered during that period could help inoculate 100% of the country’s adult population, along with minors aged 12-17, DoF said.  

The government had borrowed $23.4 billion from external sources to fund its COVID-19 response as of Dec. 7.  

REHABILITATION 

Meanwhile, Mr. Agabin reiterated that the DoF plans to borrow another $120 million from a World Bank credit line to support the government’s rehabilitation efforts in regions devastated by Typhoon Odette.  

The government will draw from the $500-million World Bank credit line for disaster recovery. It borrowed an initial $80 million for its disaster recovery efforts last month.  

Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) brought heavy rains and destructive winds over central and southern Philippines in December, causing widespread destruction.  — Jenina P. Ibañez  

PAL says flight cancellations likely amid COVID surge

REUTERS

Philippine Airlines Inc. (PAL) on Friday said there may be some flight cancellations and changes in flight schedules, as the surge in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections has affected operations.  

“We will endeavor to sustain as many flights as possible under these new circumstances, but some cancellations or schedule adjustments are likely,” the flag carrier said in a statement on Friday. 

PAL said it has seen an increase in passengers seeking to rebook or cancel their flights after testing positive for COVID-19 or under precautionary isolation.  

“At the same time, many of our frontline team members in ticket offices, contact centers and other support teams are unable to report for work.” 

“These simultaneous events have created challenges in our ability to serve all our customers promptly, including longer wait times for calls to our reservations hotlines, longer queues in ticket offices, and corresponding delays in handling transactions,” it said.  

The country is currently battling a surge in COVID-19 infections. The Department of Health on Friday reported 21,819 new infections, bringing the active cases to 77,639. 

Metro Manila and other areas have been placed under the more stringent Alert Level 3.  

Instead of calling the PAL hotline or going to a ticket office, the company urged customers to use the MyPAL Request Hub (https://bit.ly/MPRHPAL) for rebooking requests, questions and other transactions. 

“Please consider deferring less urgent rebooking transactions until after the ongoing surge in cases and the current Alert Level 3 period in Metro Manila,” PAL said. 

From Jan. 8 to 31, PAL said its ticket offices in Cubao, Makati, Filinvest, Ortigas, PNB (Pasay City) and Quezon Avenue will be open only five days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Padre Faura ticket office is temporarily closed and will reopen on Jan. 12.  

The PAL Domestic Road Ticket Office will be open from Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

The PAL ticket office at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 remains open daily from 2 a.m. to 10 p.m., while the one at Terminal 3 is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. 

“Our PAL teams are doing all possible to process all passenger requests, unclog any bottlenecks and serve you the best we can. We request your understanding and cooperation as we cope with these serious but temporary challenges,” the company said. — MCL  

Berjaya Philippines assures shareholders amid Makati hotel suspension

The Makati Business Permit Licensing Office implements the order closure against Berjaya Hotel in Makati City, Jan. 6. -- Photo by Michael Varcas, The Philippine Star

Berjaya Philippines, Inc. assured its investors that it is still able to generate income from its other businesses, despite the three-month suspension of its Berjaya Hotel in Makati.   

“The interests of the independent and minority shareholders are protected or safeguarded as the issuer has income from the United Kingdom, the vehicle sales business, and other various investments,” the company said in a disclosure on Friday.   

Berjaya Philippines also said the listed firm’s income from Berjaya Hotel Makati “is not material,” accounting for not even 0.50% of the company’s revenues.   

For its first quarter ending September, the listed company reported revenues of P8.51 billion, of which P8.47 billion came from vehicle sales. Only P37.37 million revenues came from its hotel operations.  

Berjaya Philippines’ net profit attributable to owners worth P272.67 million in the first quarter ending September, surging 410% from P53.4 million a year ago.  

The company’s vehicle sales are from H.R. Own Plc, its motor dealership based in the United Kingdom.   

Berjaya Philippines made the clarification comes after the Department of Tourism (DoT) suspended the accreditation of the Berjaya Hotel Makati for letting a traveler from the United States skip the required quarantine period. It has 15 days to appeal the order. 

The Makati City Hall ordered the hotel’s closure on Thursday, but Berjaya Hotel Makati said there was no legal basis for its closure.  

“For one, the DoT order is not yet final as the hotel will appeal it within the fifteen-day period it is given. Meanwhile, the suspension is not in effect. Secondly, there is no law that penalizes a hotel for not reporting a guest who jumps quarantine,” the hotel said in a statement issued on Thursday. 

“Thirdly, we must be accorded due process and be allowed to explain before any penalty is imposed. We have not been given our day in court by the Makati City Hall.” 

Shares of Berjaya Philippines slumped 5.17% or 29 centavos to close at P5.32 apiece. — K.C.G. Valmonte 

Cebu Pacific cancels more flights after CAAP limits arrivals

BW FILE PHOTO

Cebu Pacific said it canceled more flights after the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) limited arrivals at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).  

In a travel advisory on Friday, the budget carrier also said it is working with regulators and stakeholders to manage the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on its workforce.  

“Cebu Pacific also continues to review its manpower levels with employees currently on quarantine,” the company said.  

The cancelled flights originally scheduled on Jan. 8 to 10 include those from Manila to Kalibo, Legazpi, Tacloban, Boracay (Caticlan), Iloilo, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato, Davao, Cebu, Bohol (Tagbiliran), Cauayan, Puerto Princesa, Iloilo, Coron (Busuanga), Dipolog, and Legazpi.   

“As the situation remains fluid, additional flight cancellations may take place in the coming days, and so we appeal for your patience and understanding,” Cebu Pacific said.  

In a separate advisory, Cebu Pacific said it is also reducing its flights between Manila and Bacolod to once daily or 7 times a week from 16 times weekly. It canceled flights to and from Bacolod scheduled on Jan. 9 to 15.  

Cebu Pacific said the Negros Occidental local government issued an order to limit the flights to and from the National Capital Region amid a spike in COVID-19 cases. — Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte  

COVID positivity rate in the Philippines hits 40%

SM Supermalls partnered with local government units to host vaccination sites in its 71 malls. -- Courtesy of SM Supermalls

FOURTY percent of the people tested for coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) in the Philippines were found to be positive for the virus, the Department of Health (DoH) said in its latest bulletin. The 40% positivity rate is the highest experienced in the country since the COVID19 pandemic started. The health department also reported that there were 21,819 infections on Friday – the sixth-highest one-day tally since the pandemic began.

This brings the total number of infections since the pandemic started to 2.91 million. The total death toll hit 51,871 after 129 more patients died, while the recoveries increased by 973 to 2.78 million in total, the health department said in its regular bulletin.

There are now 77,369 active cases, 2,438 of which are asymptomatic, 70,321 are mild cases, 2,837 are considered moderate, 1,461 are severe, and 312 are critical.

The agency said 99% of the coronavirus cases occurred between Dec. 25 to Jan. 7. The top regions with cases in the past two weeks were Metro Manila with 13,634 infections, Calabarzon with 4,129 and Central Luzon with 2,084.

The DoH said 72 cases had been removed from the tally, with 51 reclassified as recoveries and one as a death. It added that 111 cases previously tagged as recoveries had been relisted as deaths. Ten laboratories failed to submit data.

The agency said 32% of the intensive care units in the Philippines were occupied, while the rate for Metro Manila was 48%.

NUMBER TO INCREASE

Butch Ong of the OCTA Research Group, a private research firm, said in a Friday news briefing that the increase in COVID-19 cases was due to the high mobility during the holiday season.

The number of COVID-19 cases will continue to increase in the next couple of weeks, he added, noting that the current surge may last for a month, basing his judgment on the experience of South Africa with the Omicron variant. “However, we cannot really say for now,” he said.

“Hopefully by February, the situation will be better,” he added.

“It will be very scary for the next few weeks, but we simply have to be patient. We have to wait until this wave passes,” OCTA’s Nicanor Robles Austriaco, Jr. said during the same briefing, “so it’s still important that every single one of our fellowmen still gets vaccinated and boosted because it might help the country as a whole.”

Mr. Austriaco also reiterated his belief that the Omicron variant is the “beginning of the end of the pandemic,” but emphasized that even though it is milder than the Delta variant, “it is still a killer.”

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire, in an online news briefing, said that despite its mild symptoms, the Omicron variant is highly contagious. “The higher the [number of] infections, the higher the chance of the virus to replicate, which is their cycle, and they can reproduce.”

“The most important part is there will be higher chances for the virus to mutate,” she added in a mix of English and Filipino. “We need to prevent this high number of infections so that we will not have further mutations which can lead to more fatal outcomes.”

Likewise, Edsel Salvana, a member of the DoH Technical Advisory Group and director of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the National Institutes of Health at the University of the Philippines Manila, said that the Omicron is a virus, not a vaccine, so it can cause heavy damage to others.

“The risk is not zero. They (vaccinated) can still be infected although it is less severe than (for) somebody who is unvaccinated,” he said in Filipino during the same briefing, “so it is hard to say that it is the beginning of the end.”

OCTA’s Mr. Ong advised the public to follow minimum public health standards, and to get tested immediately when experiencing symptoms, and to isolate to avoid getting infected with the virus.

“If you’re feeling unwell, stay home… If you are unvaccinated, please do consider (vaccination) to protect not only yourself, but our community, and to see the end of the pandemic probably soon.”– Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

Nograles: unvaccinated can be ‘restrained’ regardless of alert level

PHILSTAR

THE president’s order to restrain unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals if they insist on leaving their homes is applicable regardless of the alert level, according to the Presidential Palace on Friday.

“For the public’s safety, health and well-being, the barangay captains, wherever they may be, the president has a directive for them to plead to our residents, barangays, that the unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, should not go out, for now, to stop the spread of this virus and protect them,” Acting Presidential Spokesman and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei B. Nograles said at a televised news briefing.

When asked if this directive will be in effect regardless of the alert level in an area, Mr. Nograles, in a mix of English and Filipino, said that “it appears, last night, in the declarations, pronouncements, and directives of the president, it appears that (it is) regardless and that it is nationwide.”

During a pre-recorded briefing on Thursday evening, President Rodrigo R. Duterte said that despite lawyers’ advice that unvaccinated cannot be restrained, it is his position that it can be done as the Philippines is under a national emergency.

“I’m now giving orders to the barangay captain to look for those persons who are not vaccinated and… request them or order them, if you may, to stay put,” he said, as provided in the transcript sent by his office. “If he refuses, he goes out of the house and goes around in the community or wherever, he can be restrained.”

If the restrained individual continues to resist, the barangay captain “is empowered now to arrest the recalcitrant persons,” the president added. The barangay captain will also have the authority to call on civilians to assist in this act, and they will then become agents of a person in authority.

Mr. Duterte said he was not afraid of people filing cases against him due to this decision.

“Well, they can file cases. I’d be happy to answer. I’ve already said that I have cases in the ICC (International Criminal Court), why not just add to that, so that I can answer them all in one go when the time comes,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.

“Ultimately I am responsible for the safety and well-being of every Filipino and that is why my orders are to restrain them,” the president added.

As of Friday, there are 51.6 million fully vaccinated individuals in the Philippines, while 2.8 million have received a top-up booster shot.

MORE AREAS UNDER ALERT LEVEL 3

During the same briefing, the Palace announced that 14 more areas will soon be under Alert Level 3 amid a fresh surge of coronavirus cases in the country.

Mr. Nograles said during a recorded briefing that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases agreed to heighten the alert level in the following areas beginning Sunday:

  • Dagupan City
  • City of Santiago
  • Cagayan province
  • Olongapo City
  • Angeles City
  • Bataan
  • Pampanga
  • Zambales
  • Naga City
  • Iloilo City
  • Lapu-Lapu City
  • Batangas
  • Lucena City
  • Baguio City

The whole of the National Capital Region, specifically Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, and Laguna, are currently under Alert Level 3. This will remain so until Jan. 15.

The raised alert level limits indoor capacity to 30% and outdoor venue capacity to 50%, while government agencies and instrumentalities may have 60% on-site capacity.

Also on late Thursday, Mr. Duterte ordered the police to arrest and detain those selling COVID-19 drugs and essential medicines on the black market. “Arrest them and detain them. I am ordering the police to arrest black marketeers.” — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

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