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Safe COVID-19 vaccines for Filipinos

The government aims to roll out the distribution of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines to the public by the end of February. Priority populations for COVID-19 vaccination are healthcare workers, the elderly, indigents, and uniformed personnel, among others.

In January, the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted its first Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. President Rodrigo R. Duterte — through Executive Order No. 121 s. 2020 — gave the FDA the authority to issue EUA for vaccines under development where there is no adequate, approved, and available alternative to a vaccine for preventing COVID-19 during this present public health emergency. The EUA is not a marketing authorization or a Certificate of Product Registration, and therefore cannot be used to market the vaccine commercially.

The EUA was granted after a careful evaluation of current available data on the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. A panel of clinical experts reviewed the vaccine’s safety and efficacy, and technical experts from the FDA Center for Drugs Regulation and Research reviewed the quality data. “The interim data from the ongoing phase 3 trial shows that the vaccine has an efficacy of 95% in the study population and at least 92% among all racial groups,” FDA Director-General Dr. Rolando Enrique D. Domingo said in a press statement.

Just last week, the FDA approved the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use, making it the second COVID-19 vaccine in the country to be granted EUA. The vaccine has an average efficacy of about 70% after two full doses. The vaccine had no safety concerns and its adverse effects were “transient and mostly mild to moderate, similar to common vaccine reactions,” Mr. Domingo said. The COVID-19 vaccine of AstraZeneca can be transported and handled at normal refrigerated conditions of between 2°C and 8°C for at least six months.

Biopharmaceutical companies are at the forefront of global efforts to develop safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines and to scale up manufacturing to ensure equitable access to people around the world. As of Jan. 26, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports 63 candidate vaccines in clinical evaluation and 173 candidate vaccines in preclinical evaluation. Companies are collaborating on an unprecedented scale to extensively scale up the production capacity of COVID-19 vaccines.

Biopharmaceutical companies are sharing real-time clinical trial data with governments and other companies around the world to advance the development of additional COVID-19 therapies. They are rapidly screening the industry’s vast libraries of medicines to identify potential treatments and undertake numerous clinical trials to test new and existing therapies. They are also sharing tools and insights to test potential therapies and vaccines as well as to develop and scale up the capacity of diagnostics testing for COVID-19 patients as much as possible.

The Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) fully supports the government’s COVID-19 vaccination program under the Department of Health (DoH) and the Inter-Agency Task Force. An urgent challenge we need to address is vaccine hesitancy, or the delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite the availability of vaccine services. The WHO considers vaccine hesitancy as one of the 10 threats to global health that demand attention from the organization itself and its health partners.

The DoH has pointed to vaccine hesitancy as one of the reasons for the 2019 measles outbreak in several regions of the country. Moreover, DoH data reveal that the country’s immunization coverage has been declining in recent years. There is an urgent need for all concerned stakeholders to unite in increasing the country’s immunization coverage and restoring public trust and confidence in vaccines, especially in this time of pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most daunting public health challenges we have faced in recent history. However, COVID-19 is not the only health threat in our midst. This is why the industry is working to continue research and secure continuity of supply for all essential medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics for patients with other life-threatening diseases.

 

Teodoro B. Padilla is the executive director of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP). PHAP and its member companies represent the research-based pharmaceutical sector in the country.

Zuellig orders more freezers ahead of vaccine rollout

HEALTHCARE services provider Zuellig Pharma Corp. has ordered 10 additional ultra-low freezers to increase cold chain capacity in the Philippines in preparation for the vaccine rollout in the country.

“We have ordered 10 additional ultra-low freezers, on top of the 14 already deployed through our network in anticipation of the storage and distribution demands of COVID-19 vaccines in the Philippines,” Zuellig Chief Business Officer Jannette Jakosalem said in a statement.

The 24 ultra-cold freezers can hold seven million doses of vaccines at temperatures as low as -70 to -80 degrees Celsius, it said.

Zuellig has cold rooms with temperatures of two to eight degrees Celcius in warehouses located in Santa Rosa, Laguna, Sun Valley in Parañaque, Cebu, and Davao, and has the capacity of up to 629 million vaccine doses. Its walk-in freezers can store up to 52 million doses at -15 to -25 degrees Celsius.

Zuellig’s cold chain includes the eZCooler solution, which extends storage time of temperature-sensitive products in transit to five days from two day with a traditional system, it said.

The Philippine government plans to procure 148 million of vaccines this year to inoculate up to 70 million Filipinos.

Vaccine czar Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. in a statement on Sunday said the government is expected to receive at least 5.6 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer, Inc. and AstraZeneca Plc. in the first quarter under the World Health Organization’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine Global Access facility.

Zuelleg said it had been involved in the supply chain management of “almost every major vaccine” in the country.

The company participated in the urgent deliveries of influenza vaccines and conducting mass flu vaccination exercises in the country amid the pandemic, Zuellig Chief Executive and Area Director Maikel Kuijpers said.

“We are honored and excited to engage with the Philippine government to explore ways in which we can support measures to address this current crisis and help execute the national COVID-19 vaccination program,” he said in the statement.

Mr. Kuijpers also said that Zuellig’s COVID-19 digital care platform eZVax developed in partnership with Accenture and Microsoft, serves as a “centralize by hub coordinating and linking both stakeholders and processes through the whole mass vaccination program.”

The platform also allows checking of eligibility, pre-screening, scheduling of vaccination and has administration support with records of patient and vaccine details and make health passport or vaccination card. This will also generate centralized reporting of adverse events. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Arts & Culture (02/03/21)

Free online lecture on art, travel and scholarship

WRITER, thespian, film artist, arts advocate, educator and scholar Sunita Mukhi will share her creative journey and impart expert advice as an artist, wanderer, and an academic in an online lecture entitled “Tall Tales of a Traveling Scholartist.” The lecture is free and open to the public, and will be conducted via Zoom on Feb. 11, at 3 p.m. Interested participants may register through the link: shorturl.at/mnuyM. Hosted by Benilde Arts and Culture Cluster (BACC) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Design and Arts, the lecture will immerse the participants in the joys and challenges of art, travel and scholarship experienced in the Asian Pacific Dance Conference and Festival conducted in University of Hawaii in Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii and in the Storytelling and the Body: Inclusive Interdisciplinary Conference held in Hotel San Marco, Verona, Italy. Ms. Mukhi will transport participants into her Hawaii talk wherein she emphasized how performance art tells stories of inclusion and intimacy. Her traditional and practiced-based research has become part of a cross-cultural exchange and celebration of the rich heritage of dance. She will likewise expound on her Verona venture, wherein she joined fellow artists in a creative exploration of the power of diverse narratives through her live and improvised demonstration entitled My Eyes Adore You: You Are Beautiful To Me. Her showcase, which sought to redefine and reclaim the essence of beauty, has been featured worldwide, such as in the South Asian Women’s Creative Collective’s suite entitled “Beauty at the Dumbo Arts” in New York. It had a local iteration at Benilde’s “Reinterpretations” exhibition at the Alto Mondo Gallery at The Picasso in Manila. For inquiries, visit the official Facebook page of Benilde Arts and Culture Cluster through the link: https://www.facebook.com/benildearts/.

Gateway Gallery Pocket Museum open to submissions

THIS year, the Gateway Gallery Pocket Museum will give artists the opportunity to have their artworks featured in the mobile app through Art Flex. Art Flex will feature weekly art submissions by Filipino artists based on a monthly theme. This is open to students, amateur, and professional artists. Art Flex will pick an artwork to be featured every Friday of the month For February, the theme is “My Home.” The theme for March is “My Summer,” while the theme for April is “Cebu” in celebration of the 500 years of Victory in Mactan. At the end of the quarter, one artwork will be selected based on the listed criteria. The winning artist will get to bring home prizes and a chance to exhibit at Gateway Gallery. In addition, two exhibits will also be uploaded this year and the bi-monthly feature of the Gateway Gallery Art Collection will be started this February. The Art Collection Feature will contain insights and perspectives of invited writers, curators, and educators. Gateway Gallery Pocket Museum mobile app is available for download in Google Play and Apple IOS. Gateway Gallery is the art museum of Araneta City devoted to the promotion of Philippine culture, heritage, and art. It is managed by the J. Amado Araneta Foundation. To know more about these programs, call 8588-4000 local 8300, e-mail at gatewaygallery@aranetagroup.com, or like and visit its social media accounts.

Conrad unveils ‘Of Art and Wine: Thrive’ exhibit

THE CONRAD Manila has unveiled its art curtain riser for 2021, the 15th edition of its “Of Art and Wine” exhibit at Gallery C, featuring various artists from the Association of Pinoyprintmakers (AP) in an ensemble series entitled “Thrive.” The exhibit brings together 24 artists whose collective work of 34 art pieces underscore the art community’s courage to cope and conform as the world goes through inevitable changes and challenges, including the COVID-19 global pandemic. The exhibit represents the Association of Pinoyprintmakers conviction that the role of artists has always been to observe, reflect and translate these to tactile units using various media to create art that celebrates life conveying reflective narratives through printmaking. The works are on display for purchase at Gallery C until Feb. 19. For more information about “Of Art and Wine: Thrive” including the price list, call (632) 8833-9999 (Angelica Restrivera) or e-mail conradmanila@conradhotels.com.

4 exhibits at West Gallery in February

WEST Gallery has four exhibits this month running until Feb. 13. There is a group show, “End of the Spectrum,” which gathers new works by artists Allan Balisi, Bjorn Calleja, Jonathan Ching, Don Dalmacio, Paolo Icasas, Jonathan Olazo, Soler Santos, and Art Tavera, revolving around the color red. Then there are three solo shows: “Play, Cut, Stick, Paint” in which Ayka Go presents works that evoke a sense of longing and introspection but with a clear departure from her established process of painting images of origami landscapes; “Chops, Hams, Head” by Jemima Yabes, the artist’ fixation on chopped meat came with the curiosity for the commodity’s price hike in COVID-19-struck Metro Manila; and “Peeking Out from Under the Blanket,” where Nicole Tee ventures on to other types of processes on fabric, even as she retains enduring engagements with past themes and materials. Visitors are welcome by appointment. To make an appointment, call (02) 3411-0336.

Kulay Diwa selling Anita Magsaysay-Ho book

KULAY Diwa gallery is selling Anita Magsaysay-Ho, A Retrospective, a monograph published on the occasion of the first retrospective exhibition of Anita Magsaysay-Ho (1914-2012). The monograph encompasses the evolution of her work from the early 1940s to the late 1980s. In the more than 40 years of her career, Magsaysay-Ho developed a unique and inimitable style, with women as her first and dominant subject, and was one of the Philippines’ first modernist artists. The hardcover monograph, which includes an introduction by Purita Kalaw-Ledesma and an essay by Alice Guillermo, was published by the Metropolitan Museum of Manila in 1988. It is priced at P38,500.

Palacio de Memoria holds a flea market

ART, antiques, artisanal goods, conversations, food, and fun await art lovers as Palacio de Memoria holds a colorful and safe activity on Feb. 6 and 7, from 10 am. to 5 p.m. Inspired by the famous European flea markets, the event titled “Flea Market at Palacio de Memoria” will welcome fairgoers in search of one-of-a-kind art and antique pieces, great deals, and gastronomic delights. Palacio de Memoria will be housing several merchants and shops for its Antiques Fair including Gallery of Prints, Archivo 1984, Galeria Lienzo, the private collection of Edd Fuentes, Rue Angelique, and Vidro. There will also be Connoisseur Talks on Feb. 6 at 11 a.m. Art patron Dr. Jaime Laya will be sharing his knowledge and expertise during the discussion. This event will be moderated by Issa Litton. There will be food and libations on Feb. 7 at 11 a.m., featuring an exclusive menu and demo by Cibo di Marghi, as well as a Cognac master class and open bar by Remy Martin on Feb. 6 and 7 at 1  and 3 p.m. Capping off the two-day affair, Palacio de Memoria will hold a Cigar Night on Feb. 7 at 5 p.m., where guests will learn about cigar carving and rolling with Tabacalera Incorporada. They will also serve with drinks by Don Papa Rum. To ensure the health and safety of everyone, Palacio de Memoria will implement strict safety measures throughout the duration of the fair. Palacio de Memoria is located at 95 Roxas Blvd., Barangay Tambo, Parañaque City. The event is open to the public, but registration is required. To register, e-mail john@casadememoria.com. For more information, visit https://www.palaciodememoria.com or follow @thepalaciodememoria on Facebook and @palacio.de.memoria on Instagram.

Night of ideas with CCP, French Embassy

THE CULTURAL Center of the Philippines (CCP) supports the global exchange of ideas and knowledge that is “La Nuit des idees” (The Night of Ideas), organized by the Embassy of France in Manila. On Jan. 27, the pocket event — dubbed “Proches a velo: Closer by Biking” — put the spotlight on the development of the culture of cycling in the Philippines. The CCP has always been a destination for most bike enthusiasts in the country. During the pandemic, the biking community has indeed grown leaps and bounds. Among those who attended the event were (L-R): Arturo Carballo, Jr. (Project Lead, SM Bike-Friendly Initiative); Chris Millado (CCP Artistic Director); Martin Macalintal (Cultural Attaché, French Embassy); Cyril Rocke (Vice-President, European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines); Marc Piton (Counselor for Cooperation and Cultural Affairs, French Embassy); Cameron Gray (electric bike distributor); and Howie Severino (broadcast journalist).

Nicole Coson, Frank Callaghan in Silverlens

SILVERLENS presents two solo shows this month, both running from Feb. 11 to March 13. “Exoskeleton,” a solo exhibition by Nicole Coson, is an extension of the artist’s thesis presentation at the Royal College of Art in London, where she recently completed an MA in Painting. Produced during the pandemic, this series of works was prompted by society’s sudden transformation from public to private. This change, which occurred on a global scale, urged Ms. Coson to consider the renewed way in which people viewed the outside world — through the glass of their windows. Through Venetian blinds, a domestic object perceptible both inside and out, Ms. Coson subtly communicates society’s seismic shift in a manner that contrasts the volume of its context and import. Meanwhile, in “Flux,” a solo exhibition by Frank Callaghan, the artist shifts his attention away from the moon, instead focusing on capturing moonlight, seascapes, as well as the surface of the water itself. The photographer actively explores disruption by intervening restful scenes to encourage disarray. Through long exposures at night with minimal post processing, Mr. Callaghan continues to push the potential of what a single photographic exposure can compress to a surface. Simultaneously, he explores how the surface can act as an intermediary of meaning. Visits to the gallery, located at 2263 Don Chino Roces Ave. Ext., Makati, are by appointment only. Call 8816-0044, 0917-587-4011, or e-mail info@silverlensgalleries.com.

German lawmakers turn sights on finance ministers in Wirecard fraud fiasco

FRANKFURT — Fresh from toppling the head of Germany’s top financial regulator last week, lawmakers are turning their fire on finance minister Olaf Scholz and his deputy Joerg Kukies.

As their inquiry into the collapse of Wirecard gathers pace, it has put Germany’s biggest fraud center stage in national elections in which Mr. Scholz wants to stand for chancellor.

“The focus of the parliamentary inquiry will more and more shift to the role of Scholz and his ministry,” Florian Toncar, a lawmaker involved in the investigation said.

The inquiry into the implosion of a payments company which was once worth $28 billion and hailed as a German success story has embarrassed the country’s governing centrist coalition.

Mr. Scholz and Mr. Kukies, who deny responsibility for failings which led to Wirecard’s collapse, have responded with reforms to the structure and leadership of financial watchdog BaFin. They are due to announce further changes on Tuesday.

But lawmakers are growing impatient, with some such as Danyal Bayaz saying Mr. Scholz has been slow to respond.

“The tough questions about political responsibilities only start now,” Fabio De Masi, one of the lawmakers driving a parliamentary inquiry into the affair, told Reuters.

Mr. Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD) have been in a coalition government with Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) for years and he hopes to succeed her as chancellor in elections later this year following her decision to retire.

But the SPD is struggling with voters, polling a distant third behind the CDU and the Greens, while criticism of Mr. Scholz is also emanating from within Ms. Merkel’s party.

“Consequences for the finance ministry are now overdue,” CDU parliamentarian Hans Michelbach said.

KUKIES CONNECTIONS
Mr. Kukies’ role has also come under close scrutiny and lawmakers have highlighted multiple discussions he held with regulators, Wirecard executives, bankers and others.

The Finance Ministry said these were part of his job.

Lawmakers say they also want to examine a €100-million ($121- million) loan to Wirecard by a subsidiary of state bank KfW in September 2018, some two years before its collapse.

One person with knowledge of the matter told Reuters that the money was unsecured and that 90% of the loan by KfW’s IPEX bank had been written off.

The finance ministry said that the bank’s supervisory board, on which Mr. Kukies sat, was not involved and learned of the loan only in the middle of last year.

The lawmakers are also calling for details of communications between Kukies and the CEO of Goldman Sachs in Germany, his former employer, Mr. De Masi said.

Goldman Sachs declined to comment, referring to Wolfgang Fink’s statement that he had no contact with officials on Wirecard.

The Finance Ministry also said there had been no contact.

German lawmakers are not the only ones to see the root cause of BaFin’s problems in the finance ministry, a weakness also flagged by European regulators last year.

Hans-Peter Burghof, a professor at the University of Hohenheim, said the ministry had years ago hired many of the agency’s top staff. “They lost this spirit of independence.” — Reuters

How PSEi member stocks performed — February 2, 2021

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Tuesday, February 2, 2021.

Household spending on non-essentials remains subdued in the fourth quarter of 2020

Household spending on non-essentials remains subdued in the fourth quarter of 2020

PSEi improves on bicam approval of CREATE bill

By Revin Mikhael D. Ochave, Reporter

PHILIPPINE STOCKS closed higher on Tuesday as investor sentiment got a lift from the Bicameral Conference Committee’s approval of the proposed Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act (CREATE).

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) improved by 53.12 points or 0.77% to close at 6,867.88, while the broader all shares index rose 40.5 points or 0.98% to 4,144.17.

AAA Southeast Equities, Inc. Research Head Christopher John Mangun said in an e-mail that the market improved as investor sentiment was boosted by the approval of the CREATE bill by the Bicameral Conference Committee on Monday.

“The bill is expected to boost the economy’s recovery with the outright reduction of corporate income tax and other fiscal incentives,” Mr. Mangun said.

Under the proposed law, the country’s corporate income tax will be lowered to 25% compared to the current rate of 30%.

“Included in the law is the value-added tax free sale and importation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) drugs, vaccines, medical devices, and components of personal protective equipment until December 2023, which will make the process cheaper for the private sector,” Mr. Mangun said.

Philstocks Financial, Inc. Senior Research Analyst Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco said in a mobile phone message that the market closed higher as Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua announced the possibility of further relaxing the country’s quarantine measures by March.

“The easing of restrictions would allow more consumer and business activities, which in turn would help our local economy recover,” Mr. Tantiangco said.

Mr. Chua said in a briefing on Monday that the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines will improve consumer and business confidence, adding the government is not expected to hit its growth targets until lockdowns are eased further.

Majority of sectoral indices at the PSE ended higher on Tuesday, with property being the sole decliner as it went down by 12.68 points or 0.35% to 3,514.47.

Mining and oil increased 278.57 points or 3.3% to 8,715.96; industrials went up 228.59 points or 2.59% to 9,040.26; holding firms climbed 84.43 points or 1.23% to 6,950.16; financials gained 8.39 points or 0.59% to 1,430.18; and services surged 8.19 points or 0.54% to 1,503.73.

Value turnover on Tuesday amounted to P10.66 billion with 56.17 billion issues switching hands, higher than the P9.98 billion with 32.11 billion shares traded in the previous session.

Advancers beat decliners, 157 against 68, while 43 names ended unchanged. Net foreign selling went down to P567.48 million from the net outflows worth P1.19 billion seen on Monday.

“Investors are slowly gaining confidence as more developments progress. The main index remains in a downtrend and until we see it break above 7,000, the current trend will remain,” AAA Southeast Equities’ Mr. Mangun said.

Peso climbs on stock market’s rise

THE PESO appreciated against the greenback on Tuesday on risk-on sentiment amid gains in the local stock market as well as signals of likely lower borrowings in the US.

The local unit closed at P48.053 per dollar yesterday, gaining 1.2 centavos from its P48.065 finish on Monday, data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines showed.

The peso started Tuesday’s trading session at P48.07 per dollar, which was also its weakest showing. Meanwhile, its intraday best was at P48.05 against the greenback.

Dollars exchanged slumped to $597.7 million from $787.95 billion the previous day.

The peso’s appreciation was supported by gains in the local stock market, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index closed at 6,867.88 on Tuesday, increasing by 53.12 points or 0.78% from its Monday finish.

Meanwhile, a trader said signals of likely lower US borrowings in the first quarter also pushed up the peso.

The US Treasury said on Monday that it expects to borrow $274 billion in the first three months of this year, Reuters reported.

The department said the estimate, which was lower than the $1.127 trillion it penciled in November was due to the higher cash balance at the beginning of January.

For today, Mr. Ricafort expects the local unit to play around the P48.04 to P48.08 band while the trader gave a forecast range of P48 to P48.05. — LWTN with Reuters

House body endorses Charter ownership easing

A HOUSE of Representatives committee on Tuesday adopted a resolution allowing Congress to lift restrictive economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution, supposedly to help the Philippine economy recover amid a coronavirus pandemic.

Voting 64 to three with three abstentions, the House committee on constitutional amendments agreed to insert the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” in parts of the Charter that limit foreign ownership in certain Philippine industries, according to a statement posted on the House website.

This will allow Congress to pass a law later relaxing ownership limits.

Lawmakers agreed not to touch a section of the basic law that bars foreigners from owning land, the House said.

The changes will be made under three articles on the national patrimony and economy; education, science and technology; and general provisions, for a total of seven changes.

Party-list Rep Alfredo A. Garbin, Jr., who heads the committee, told reporters in a Viber group message he would sponsor the Charter change proposal in plenary as early as next week.

The voting coincided with the 34th anniversary of the ratification of the 1987 Constitution, which he described as a “living Constitution” that is “far from being perfect.”

“When the people ratified the 1987 Constitution containing limitations on foreign ownership and participation in certain economic activities, it was their desire at that time to make the limitations specific,” he said in the statement. “However, the Constitution is not unchangeable.”

“It is about time we correct this unintended anomaly by introducing an amendment that gives the Legislature the freedom to amend those time-bound laws that have been enshrined in the Constitution to the detriment of the common good of the Filipinos now and in the future,” Mr. Garbin said.

Speaker Lord Allan Q. Velasco, who authored the resolution, wants to liberalize the economic restrictions in the Charter and let Congress enact laws that will free up the economy to foreign investors.

Mr. Velasco said foreign investment plays a crucial role in the Philippine economy by supporting domestic jobs and creating physical and knowledge capital across a range of industries.

“The need to attract foreign capital is critical to support our economy’s recovery from COVID-19,” he said in the statement.

Mr. Velasco’s resolution was backed by all major political parties and power blocs in the House, according to the House statement.

‘HIGHEST BIDDER’
Lawmakers who voted no said Charter change was “ill-timed” and would affect Filipino businesses.

“If Charter change pushes through now, foreigners would have a heyday and gobble up wholesale of what is left in our already much liberalized economy,” Party-list Rep. Carlos Isagani T. Zarate said in a statement.

“Our national patrimony would  be put on sale to the highest foreign bidder at the further expense of our local industries,” he added.

Lifting foreign investment restrictions could improve foreign direct investment inflows (FDI), particularly in restricted sectors, the House said, citing some economists.

Easing the restrictions could lead to an additional average annual FDI of P330 billion pesos ($6.8 billion) and generate 6.6 million jobs over 10 years, it added, citing Bicol Rep. Jose Maria Clemente S. Salceda.

Party-list Rep. Michael Edgar Y. Aglipay, one of the House leaders involved in the preparation for “Cha-cha” hearings, earlier said lawmakers would not try to change political provisions of the Constitution.

He said they wanted to form a constituent assembly by the end of the month. A plebiscite for proposed changes could coincide with the presidential elections in May 2022, he added.

Opposition senators last month thumbed down the fresh Charter change push at the House, saying it was likely to fail and waste lawmakers’ time.

Senator Franklin M. Drilon said Charter change has a zero chance of success in any administration that is already in the home stretch. President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s six-year term will end next year. He is barred by law from running for reelection.

Senator Francis N. Pangilinan, who heads the committee on constitutional amendments, had also questioned the timing of the Charter change push.

Harry L. Roque, Mr. Duterte’s spokesman, has said Charter change is the last thing on the President’s mind, adding that Mr. Duterte would rather focus on battling the coronavirus pandemic.

Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III earlier said Charter amendments would have a better chance of hurdling the chamber if these are limited to changing the party-list system and easing economic restrictions. — Norman P. Aquino and Gillian M. Cortez

Gov’t to order 178M doses of vaccines for 90M Filipinos

THE PHILIPPINES will try to order 178 million doses of coronavirus vaccines so it can inoculate more than 90 million Filipinos this year, according to the presidential palace.

“We are not yet counting the children,” presidential spokesman Harry L. Roque said at a televised briefing in Filipino on Tuesday.

The government is in talks for more than 100 million doses with various drug makers worth $1.2 billion and about 40 million doses under a global initiative for equal access worth $84 million, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said at a televised meeting with President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Monday night.

He said the government was negotiating for more vaccine supplies given the delays in manufacturing and delivery.

“We really expect delays but delay is not our fault because we have the money,” he said. “We are ready.”

The Philippines originally wanted to buy only 148 million doses to inoculate as many as 70 million Filipinos.

Mr. Dominguez said the country got loans worth $1.38 billion from the World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which will be used for vaccine orders.

The Department of Health (DoH) reported 1,583 cases on Tuesday, bringing the total to 528,853. The death toll increased by 67 to 10,874, while recoveries climbed by 39 to 487,611, it said in a bulletin.

There were 30,368 active cases, 89% of which were mild, 5.3% did not show symptoms, 2.7% were critical, 2.5% were severe and 0.54% were moderate.

About 7.4 million Filipinos have been tested for the coronavirus as of Jan. 31, according to DoH’s tracker website. The coronavirus has sickened about 104 million and killed about 2.2 million people worldwide, according to the Worldometers website, citing various sources including data from the World Health Organization (WHO).

About 75.8 million people have recovered, it said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Roque said tensions between the Philippines and China would not affect coronavirus vaccine deals.

“I don’t think so because that has already been a promise made by the Foreign Secretary of China,” presidential spokesman Harry L. Roque, Jr. told a televised news briefing on Tuesday.

The government has signed deals with China’s Sinovac BioTech Ltd. for 25 million orders of coronavirus vaccines. China also donated 500,000 doses to the country.

Mr. Roque also said it was difficult for him to keep silent on foreign affairs matters because he speaks for “the chief architect of foreign policy.”

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. earlier told Mr. Roque to “lay off” after he suggested that the Philippines should sue Beijing at an international court for passing a law letting its coast guard fire at foreign vessels in the South China Sea.

“I am not listening to Harry Roque,” Mr. Locsin tweeted. “Love the guy but he’s not competent in this field. We do not go back to The Hague. We might lose what we won. Harry, lay off.”

Mr. Roque said he was not intruding, adding that he would defer to the Foreign Affairs department.

Meanwhile, Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III urged the government to double efforts in educating Filipinos about its vaccination program both in mainstream and social media.

A nationwide information drive should focus on the benefits of getting vaccinated against the coronavirus, he said in a statement.

“Many are afraid to get vaccinated because of rumors that vaccines are ineffective against COVID-19,” he said in Filipino. “The vaccination system is also unclear to the public.”

A Pulse Asia poll last year found that nearly 50% of Filipino adults would shun coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines, citing safety concerns.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the emergency use of Pfizer, Inc. and AstraZeneca Plc’s  vaccines in the Philippines. The Pfizer vaccine is 95% effective, while the one from AstraZeneca has a 70% efficacy rate. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Vann Marlo M. Villegas and Charmaine A. Tadalan

Proof of violations needed vs anti-terror law

PLAINTIFFS who questioned the validity of the country’s anti-terror law must prove actual violations of the Bill of Rights to boost their lawsuit, according to a Supreme Court magistrate.

“This court in a unanimous way has already said that there must be a clear actual case,” Justice Mario Victor F. Leonen told a court hearing on Tuesday.

More than 30 lawsuits have been filed asking the high court to void the law that expanded the country’s law against terror.

“Yes we have fears of any law,” Mr. Leonen said. “Yes, we have fears of any government. It’s understandable.” But the tribunal could only use its review power if certain standards are met, the justice said.

The plaintiffs earlier said the government could use the law that expanded terror crimes in the country to violate human rights and stifle dissent. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Nationwide round-up (02/02/21)

Child car seat law implementation deferred

TRANSPORT agencies on Tuesday said they would postpone the “full” implementation of the child car seat law, which means penalties for non-compliance will not be imposed yet. “There will be no apprehensions yet. Penalties will not be imposed just year,” Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope O. Libiran said, in mixed Filipino and English, at a virtual briefing. Land Transportation Office (LTO) Assistant Secretary Edgar C. Galvante said they would have to focus first on the comprehensive information campaign about the Child Safety in Motor Vehicle Act or Republic Act No. 11229, which President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed on Feb. 22, 2019. The law, which was supposed to fully take effect on Tuesday after a year of transitory period, requires the use of child restraint systems for children who are 12 years old and below with a height of up to 4’ 11”. The decision to postpone the full implementation of the law was “in consideration of the current pandemic, and until a comprehensive information, education, and communications campaign is executed in close coordination” with relevant agencies, the Transportation department said in a statement. Ms. Libiran said the information campaign will be conducted for “at least six months” before the strict implementation of the law. Meanwhile, at the same briefing, Transportation Undersecretary for Finance Garry V. de Guzman said a “strike three” policy would be implemented at cashless toll plazas to limit the number of motorists who abuse the system. — Arjay L. Balinbin

SWS survey: Adult joblessness at ‘record high’ in 2020

THE average adult joblessness in 2020 was at a “record high” of 37.4% as the country faced a coronavirus pandemic that battered the economy, according to the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey. In a statement on Monday, the SWS said joblessness in November dropped to 27.3% or 46.3 million of the total labor force from 39.5% or 60.1 million in September 2020, based on the Fourth Quarter 2020 Social Weather Survey. Adult joblessness reached 45.5% in July 2020, the highest in SWS history, as strict lockdowns were imposed beginning mid-March. Prior to last year, the highest joblessness average was recorded in 2012 at 28.8%. The SWS definition of adult joblessness covers those who “(a) voluntarily left their old jobs, (b) are seeking jobs for the first time, or (c) lost their jobs due to economic circumstances beyond their control.” The SWS also reported that the number of adults participating in the labor force in November 2020 was lower at 66.7% or 46.3 million from 86.5%  or 60.1 million in September 2020. The non-commissioned survey was conducted on 1,500 adults nationwide from November 21 to 25. The sampling error margin was ±2.5% for national percentages. — Gillian M. Cortez

President’s spokesperson defers to top diplomat on Myanmar coup stance

THE President’s spokesperson, who said on Monday that the military coup in Myanmar is an “internal matter,” has deferred all statements relating to the political situation in its regional neighbor to the country’s top diplomat. “We leave that matter to the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs),” Presidential Spokesman Harry L. Roque, Jr. said in a televised press briefing on Tuesday. The DFA issued a statement Tuesday saying, “Myanmar has made substantial and important strides toward democratization in recent years” and the Philippines had supported these efforts. The department said it is monitoring the situation and is concerned about the safety of Aung San Suu Kyi. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr., in a post on his Twitter account, said the country’s current position is based on his recommendation. “That’s me waiting and seeing to give junta room to back away honorably. (President Rodrigo R.) Duterte regards Aung San Suu Kyi a personal friend and he has a strong sense of loyalty. Blame me,” he said addressing critics. Several countries around the world, including other southeast Asian neighbors have condemned the coup. “It is actually surprising that Singapore and even Indonesia are actually speaking out against the coup while the Philippines is silent. It also shows how far the Philippines has fallen as one of the leading countries championing democracy and human rights in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations),” Maria Ela L. Atienza, a political professor at the University of the Philippines (UP), told BusinessWorld in an email. Dennis C. Coronacion, chairperson of the University of Santo Tomas’ (UST) Department of Political Science, said the diplomatic culture in ASEAN is another significant factor that has convinced the Palace to stay out of the political crisis in Myanmar. “Since the regional organization’s inception, the ASEAN countries have adhered to the policy of non-interference in domestic affairs believing that this is going to foster harmonious relationships among the member-countries,” he said in an email. Asian Institute of Management economist John Paolo R. Rivera said in an email on Tuesday that the Philippines should be “very careful” with its pronouncements regarding the issue and “let our diplomatic experts handle this matter.” — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Senator calls for probe on human trafficking to Syria

A SENATOR filed a resolution seeking to investigate human trafficking involving Filipino women after reports that 12 women were victimized to work illegally in Syria. Under Senate Resolution No. 631, Senator Risa N. Hontiveros-Baraquel said while the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) already reached the 12 victims to bring them home, the Senate should probe the incident to understand the “supply chain.” “We need to better understand the human trafficking ‘supply chain’ in order to craft more effective legislation to prosecute offenders and protect our women and children,” she said in a statement on Tuesday. An article published by The Washington Post reported the case of 12 Filipinas recruited to work in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) but were later trafficked as domestic workers in Syria. The DFA has started its own investigations on the allegations and also provided legal assistance to the migrants, who faced penalties for their illegal entry. Ms. Baraquel, who chairs the women committee, said the inquiry aims to determine whether there are syndicates involved in the trafficking, among other issues. She added the hearing will also look at “gendered dimensions” of human trafficking, particularly in light of the coronavirus pandemic. “Dahil na rin sa kakulangan ng oportunidad sa Pilipinas, nagiging mas bulnerable ang ating kababaihan sa (Due to lack of opportunities in the Philippines, our women become more vulnerable to) trafficking,” she said. “The pandemic will only drive many families further into poverty, making many members, especially women, more at risk of exploitation and abuse.” — Charmaine A. Tadalan

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