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Nationwide round-up (01/13/21)

OFWs withdraw from repatriation program as host countries roll out vaccines

A NUMBER of Filipino migrant workers have withdrawn from the government’s repatriation program as their host countries have started vaccinations against the coronavirus, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Wednesday. DFA Undersecretary Sarah Lou Y. Arriola, in a televised press briefing on Wednesday, said a number of Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have backpedalled on their plan to return home with the renewed confidence on economic opportunities abroad. Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s (OWWA) Hans Leo J. Cacdac earlier said around 80,000 OFWs planned to return to the Philippines in the first half of 2021. “We noticed that many OFWs are backing out (of the repatriation program), especially in Middle East, because mass vaccination programs are now implemented in their host countries,” said Ms. Arriola. “We heard that the plan of Middle East countries, the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council), is to have herd immunity before the Ramadan,” she added. “Many of our countrymen are now deciding to stay in their ‘country of destination’.” Citing data as of January 12, Ms. Arriola said more than 342,000 overseas workers returned to the country since repatriation efforts began in February last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Vaccine czar assures equitable vaccine distribution nationwide

THE national government will assist local governments that cannot afford to procure vaccines for their constituents, the vaccine czar assured on Wednesday, as urban areas with higher income have cornered advance orders from British pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca Plc. “Provinces and towns that cannot procure their vaccines, we will provide the vaccines. If others lack supply, we will fill that gap,” Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. said in mixed English and Filipino in a televised press briefing. The national government will sign on Thursday an agreement with AstraZeneca for 20 million doses of its coronavirus vaccine. Mr. Galvez also assured that the cold chain facilities needed to store the vaccines and personal protective equipment (PPEs) for health frontliners who will be involved in the inoculation program would be provided by the national government. The government could begin distributing vaccines to the public as early as February, Mr. Galvez said.  At the same briefing, Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian asked the national government to allow local governments and private firms to directly purchase vaccines from manufacturers to speed up the rollout. The government, meanwhile, is beefing up its information campaign regarding the country’s vaccination program. At the same briefing, Philippine News Agency Director General Ramon L. Cualoping III said the Presidential Communications Operations Office will hold online townhall meetings with representatives from the Philippine Medical Association and Philippine Nurses Association, among others, to brief the public on the coronavirus vaccine program and address reservations and concerns. “We were given the mandate to hold information drives in priority areas across the nation,” he said in Filipino. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Solon dismisses ‘constituent assembly’ claim of Charter change chair

A LAWMAKER has dismissed the assertion of a fellow House of Representatives member that Wednesday’s committee meeting constitutes a “constituent assembly.” Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel C. Lagman pointed out that a constituent assembly will need the presence of both senators and congressmen. Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Alfredo A. Garbin, Jr., chair of the House committee on constitutional amendment, said during Wednesday’s hearing on the proposed economic provision adjustments is already considered a “constituent assembly.” Mr. Lagman further said voting on the proposed changes in the Constitution will need a resolution from the Supreme Court before it proceeds. “This will have to be resolved by the Supreme Court… we will not have sufficient time to effectuate any proposed amendment,” Mr. Lagman said. House members are pushing for the lifting of restrictions on foreign ownership in certain sectors, which is seen to attract investments in the country and boost the economy battered by the coronavirus pandemic. Economists, among them former socioeconomic secretary Ernesto D. Pernia, invited to the hearing expressed support for the proposals, citing that the Philippines has the most restrictive policies among southeast Asian countries. “The easing of restrictions on foreign participation of the economy is very important because it is not only going to speed up economic growth but also improve quality of growth,” said Mr. Pernia. On the other hand, Rosario Guzman, executive director of the non-profit research foundation IBON, said allowing more foreign control in certain sectors will hamper goals on having policies focused on local needs and instead build on the demand of foreign investors. “We will become even less able to pursue effective measures to build national industries,” she said. — Gillian M. Cortez

Law on hybrid election needed by Feb for implementation in 2022 polls

CONGRESS needs to pass the measure providing for the conduct of a hybrid election by February to allow the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to implement it in the May 2022 national and local polls, the senate leader said. “January to February now, kapag naipasa namin, madali nilang magagawa (when we pass it, Comelec can work on it),” Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III said at an online media forum on Wednesday. Senate Bill No. 1950, the Hybrid Election Act, is now pending second reading in the Senate. It is among the priority measures of the chamber when sessions resume on Jan. 18. Six counterpart bills have been filed at the House of Representatives, which are all pending at the committee level. If enacted, the system will allow a combination of automated election and manual election, intended to ensure transparency and credibility of the electoral process. Mr. Sotto said this will also allow Comelec to move the filing date of the certificate of candidacy to January 2022, instead of October 2021. He added Comelec may also opt to conduct a three-day election in 2022 to observe physical distancing in polling stations, should the coronavirus pandemic persist. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

Senator pushes for realignment of GOCC subsidy to vaccine procurement

THE subsidy allotted to non-performing government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) in the 2021 national budget must be realigned to boost the country’s inoculation drive against coronavirus, a senator said on Wednesday. Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian said the Department of Finance (DoF) is already studying the suggested realignment of some P200 billion in subsidies appropriated to “unproductive” GOCCs to augment the funds needed for the procurement of vaccines. “This was my suggestion and the DoF is already studying this. We are looking into the GOCCs that are not productive or not generating revenue, to use the supposed subsidies for other important matters,” he said during a televised press briefing in mixed English and Filipino. Senators earlier urged the national government through the DoF to re-channel the assistance to government-owned firms under the P4.5-trillion national budget to pandemic and typhoon response efforts. They cited 118 GOCCs that remitted only P47 billion in dividends last year. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Regional Updates (01/13/21)

Bays in 2 Samar provinces, Leyte added to list of red tide positive areas

THE BUREAU of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has warned consumers against eating shellfish harvested from Daram Island and Cambatutay Bay in Western Samar, Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar, and Carigara Bay in Leyte after testing positive for red tide contamination. In its first shellfish bulletin for 2021, BFAR said these areas are the latest additions to the list of red tide positive zones in the country, which include Honda and Puerto Princesa Bays and Inner Malampaya Sound in Palawan; Milagros in Masbate; Sorsogon Bay in Sorsogon; and Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol. Other areas that are affected by red tide include Tambobo Bay in Negros Oriental; Zumarraga in Western Samar; Calubian and Cancabato Bay in Leyte; Biliran Islands; Guiuan in Eastern Samar; Balite Bay in Davao Oriental; Lianga Bay and Hinatuan in Surigao del Sur; and Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur. All types of shellfish and Acetes sp. or alamang harvested from these areas are not safe for human consumption. However, other marine species can be eaten with proper handling.  — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

4 farmers to represent PHL in 2021 International Cocoa Awards

FOUR farmers were declared winners in the Philippine Cacao Quality Awards 2021 on Wednesday and will be representing the country in the International Cocoa Awards (ICA) set October 2021 in Paris, the Agriculture department’s Davao regional office announced. The winners, among 23 cacao bean entries submitted, are: Christopher Fidraga of Bago City, Negros Occidental; Arthur Lagoc of Tugbok District, Davao City; Solidad Robillo of Gumalang of Baguio District, Davao City; and Carlos Brasicula of San Isidro, Davao del Norte. Malagos Agri-Ventures President Charita P. Puentespina, chair of the Philippine awards this year, said showcasing the produce as well as best practices of the local cacao industry in the international scene “will create market linkages which will open more market doors and vast opportunities for our cacao farmers.” “We are confident with our national entries to the ICA as we believe on the unique and exceptional quality of our cocoa. For years, Filipino cacao farmers have been making it big in the international market. This has been made possible with the support from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, and the Davao City Agriculture Office,” Ms. Puentespina said in a statement from the DA-Davao. In 2019, Jose Saguban of Paquibato District in Davao City, a partner farmer of Auro Chocolate, bagged the country’s first Top 20 Best Cacao Beans Award in Salon du Chocolat Paris. — MSJ

Samal-Davao bridge gets ECC; design-build contract under final review 

THE design-and-build contract for the bridge that will connect Samal island to mainland Mindanao is now under final review after the project was recently granted an environmental compliance certificate (ECC), according to a public works official. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) “is now reviewing and perfecting the Contract for Design and Build for the Samal Island-Davao City Connector project,” Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain said in a text message last week. He said the ECC was released by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on January 4. DENR issued the Protected Area Management Board clearance in November last year. Mr. Sadain said once the contract is fully reviewed, it will be submitted to the Department of Finance for the loan negotiation with the Chinese government. The 2.8-kilometer bridge between Samal and Davao City is estimated to cost P23.04 billion and is planned for funding through official development assistance. Meanwhile, the legal team of the Rodriguez family that is questioning the bridge’s design and location is eyeing to file administrative and criminal cases before the Office of the Ombudsman against those involved in the issuance of the clearance and ECC. “We are preparing a complaint against all those involved in the irregularity in the issuance of the PAMB clearance and the ECC. These people have violated the very procedure which they themselves crafted, in order to railroad the issuance of the ECC,” said lawyer Ramon Edison Batacan in a text message. The Rodriguez family, owner of Paradise Island and Beach Resort and Costa Marina Beach Resort in Samal, has asked DPWH to realign the landing platform of the bridge, citing adverse environmental impacts. — Maya M. Padillo

Sotto: No need for 3rd stimulus after extension of Bayanihan II

SENATE President Vicente C. Sotto said he does not see the “necessity” for another stimulus package with the extension of the validity of the second package, known as Bayanihan II, to the end of June.

Mr. Sotto said a sequel to Bayanihan II, known more formally as the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Republic Act (RA) 11494, is not being discussed in the chamber.

“Right now, there is no Bayanihan III. We are not discussing it because we extended Bayanihan II,” Mr. Sotto said at an online media forum Wednesday.

Bayanihan III bills that provide up to P485 billion in assistance to hard-hit sectors have been filed in both Houses.

“I don’t think there is a necessity for Bayanihan III,” he added, referring to Senate Bill No. 1953 and House Bill No. 8031, the proposed “Bayanihan to Rebuild as One Act,” which both seek to boost government spending to help the economy recover from the pandemic and the various natural disasters of 2020.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11519, which extends the validity of Bayanihan II until June 30. The law initially expired on Dec. 19, 2020.

Bayanihan II allocated up to P165 billion to various sectors, of which the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has so far released P107.96 billion, as of Dec. 19.

Mr. Sotto said the implementation of the first Bayanihan law, RA 11469, could have been improved if the government had rolled out the national ID system. He said the ID system would have been instrumental in the distribution of the emergency funds.

“The implementation of Bayanihan I, I think was very good. I cannot not say excellent because there was a problem with the Social Amelioration Program (SAP),” he said.

“The reason was the national ID system… di agad tinrabaho noong nakaraang administration hanggang ngayon… naipasa pero hindi na-rollout (it was not worked on by the past administration until now).”

According to DBM data, as of Dec. 19, P386 billion had been released under Bayanihan I. — Charmaine A. Tadalan    

National ID system biometrics collection kicks off in Laguna

THE Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said it began collecting biometric information for the national ID system on a small scale last week in Laguna, and will expand registration soon for the program, which is deemed a critical component of effective aid distribution.

In a statement Wednesday, the PSA said biometrics collection is the second step of the three-step process for the national ID, known formally as the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys).

It conducted the first biometrics collection in San Pablo City, servicing 218 registrants on Jan. 8-9. Collected were scans of fingers, eyes and faces. In the next few weeks, the PSA said it will set up more registration centers in Bataan, Zambales, Batangas, Cavite and Rizal.

By Monday next week, Jan. 18, PSA Undersecretary and National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said in a text message that pre-registration — which is step one, the collection of demographic information, will be expanded nationwide, including cities and provinces with high COVID-19 case counts.

Initial registration for the national ID was delayed early last year due to the lockdown and quarantine restrictions. The PSA began step one in late 2020, pre-registering 10.5 million people in 32 priority cities and provinces chosen for their low infection rates.

“(The small-scale rollout) allows us to ensure our system’s functionality and security before a bigger deployment, and to put in place strict health and safety protocols at our registration centers,” he added.

Those who completed the first step of registration will be scheduled in batches to go to their assigned registration centers with supporting documents and appointment slips to proceed with the biometrics collection.

During the second step, the PSA said representatives from Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) to help registrants open bank accounts, helping meet some of the national ID’s other goals — expanding financial inclusion and enabling the direct deposit of cash aid.

“Our collaboration with PSA significantly advances… greater financial inclusion. Through LANDBANK accounts, we can reach and provide financial services and government support interventions to as many underserved and unbanked Filipinos nationwide,” LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo said in the same statement.

The third and final step of the registration process involves the issuance of the unique, PhilSys Number (PSN), one of the system’s key features, and the actual physical card, formally called the “PhilID.”

“The PSN is randomly generated and will serve as a permanent identification number for every registrant which can be used for digital transactions. PSA partnered with PHLPost for the delivery of the PSN and PhilID to successful registrants,” the PSA said.

The 32 priority, low-risk areas identified by the government are: Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Isabela, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon province, Rizal, Albay, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo City, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cebu City, Negros Oriental, Leyte, Compostella Valley, Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Occidental and Tawi-Tawi.

Republic Act No. 11055 or the Philippine Identification System Act signed in August 2018 provides for a single identification system for all citizens and does away with the need to register for multiple government-issued IDs.

The PSA aims to register over 40 million people this year and more than 90 million by June 2022, when the government is due to step down. — Beatrice M. Laforga

Finance dep’t flags inflation risk from calamities, wants other provinces to also cultivate vegetables

THE Department of Finance (DoF) said the December uptick in inflation highlighted the vulnerability of the food supply to calamities, and called for the development of other vegetable-growing regions to guard against any disruptions to the transport links or storm damage to intensively-farmed areas.

In an economic bulletin Monday, the DoF attributed the 3.5% inflation reading in December to the surge in prices of vegetables and meat, which rose 19.7% and 10% year on year, respectively.

“Vegetable supplies were dented by the successive typhoons that swept the country during the last quarter. Meat was adversely affected by the African Swine Fever (ASF),” it said.

The price of rice also rose 0.1%, completely reversing the 4.45% decline seen the year prior, after rice-growing regions such as the Cagayan Valley and Bicol sustained serious damage from typhoons and flooding in November.

“The (Department of Agriculture’s) food programs may have to be re-strategize so that unaffected regions can supply alternative supplies of vegetables to typhoon-battered regions immediately after a typhoon,” the DoF said.

Last month’s inflation number pushed the 2020 average to 2.6%, up from 2.5% in 2019 but well within the central bank’s 2-4% target.

To address the rising price of meat, the DoF also called on the DA to roll out a “stronger program to stamp out” ASF.

In a statement Monday, Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said the DA has signed partnerships with two organizations to curb the spread of ASF and help restore the hog population.

Mr. Dar said the Univet Nutrition and Animal Healthcare Company and the Philippine College of Swine Practitioners will also help implement a local ASF surveillance system to help with early detection of the disease.

The DA had yet to respond to requests for comment at deadline time. — Beatrice M. Laforga

DBM summons agencies to pre-budget virtual consultations

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will stage budget consultation sessions with various agencies and state-owned firms for 2022, the last spending plan of the administration’s term.

Budget Secretary Wendel E. Avisado issued Circular Letter No. 2021-1 dated Jan. 11, posted online on Wednesday, inviting agencies to the budget forum at the end of the month.

The 2022 budget consultations will be held virtually on Jan. 26-28, over asynchronous sessions in which video presentations will be delivered. Officials responsible for the budget, accounting and planning from the agencies and government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) are required to attend.

On Jan. 29, the representatives are due to participate in a virtual open forum on their budget proposals and other matters.

The DBM gave agencies and GOCCs until Friday, Jan. 15 to identify their designated representatives.

Late last week, Mr. Avisado issued the budget call for 2022 through National Budget Memorandum No. 138, ordering agencies to prepare their proposals before the spending plan is submitted to President Rodrigo R. Duterte on July 22, in time for the State of the Nation Address.

The National Government’s budget for 2022 is estimated at P5.024 trillion, an 11.6% increase from this year’s P4.5 trillion. — Beatrice M. Laforga

Poultry imports from Netherlands, S. Korea, France banned on avian flu

THE PHILIPPINES has temporarily banned poultry imports from several countries after reported outbreaks of the H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu).

In three separate memorandum orders, Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar suspended imports of domestic and wild birds and their products including meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen from the Netherlands, South Korea, and the French regions of Corsica, Ile-de-France, Aquitaine, Pays de la Loire, and Midi-Pyrenees.

The ban also stops the processing, evaluation, and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances for commodities from these areas.

“There is a need to prevent the entry of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus to protect the health of the local poultry population,” Mr. Dar said.

Mr. Dar implemented the ban on parts of France after its government sent a report to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) that confirmed H5N8 outbreaks.

Meanwhile, the ban on the Netherlands was issued after its Ministry of Agriculture, Nature, and Food Quality confirmed to the OIE the detection of H5N8 in Utrecht, Friesland, and Zuid-Holland.

Mr. Dar said the South Korean Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs also reported to the OIE the confirmation of additional H5N8 outbreaks in the provinces of Jeolla, Gyeongsang, Gyeonggi, and Chungcheong.

According to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), the Philippines imported 402.70 million kilograms of chicken in 2020. 

The Netherlands accounted for 30.9% or 124.27 million kilograms of the total, while France was the source of 2.2% or 8.89 million kilograms of chicken and duck products. The BAI data did not contain poultry import totals for South Korea.

Jesus C. Cham, president of the Meat Importers and Traders Association, said in a mobile phone message that the recent bans are unfortunate.

“We are already experiencing a shortage of supply so it does not help. We can deduce (supply) from the price of chicken — if the price is high, then it indicates a shortage,” Mr. Cham said.

Based on the DA’s price monitoring report on Wednesday, the price of whole chicken was at P150-P180 per kilogram.

The DA’s suggested retail price per kilogram of whole chicken is at P140.

In a virtual briefing Tuesday, Agriculture Assistant Secretary William C. Medrano said the supply of broiler chickens is sufficient.

“We have enough supply. The country is more than self-sufficient when it comes to broiler supply. We have a surplus on a quarterly basis, equivalent to 11 days to 14 days per quarter,” Mr. Medrano said.

“The demand for chicken increased since the price of pork has gone up. Consumers opted to buy chicken, which then resulted in higher broiler prices,” he added. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

The non-automatic application of PILAA

Bustling defines this time of the year. On cue, taxpayers prepare for the renewal of their business permits. With barely six days left, taxpayers buckle down to meet the Jan. 20 deadline, hoping for an extension from the local government units (LGUs) having jurisdiction over their respective businesses.

The renewal of the business permit is not without challenges.

For the business permit to be renewed, the taxpayer must pay the local business tax (LBT) based on the gross sales or receipts of the preceding calendar year. The LBT shall be payable for every separate or distinct establishment or place where business subject to tax is conducted. Often, taxpayers have to struggle with bureaucratic procedures at best, and downright unreasonable presumptions at worst, such as some LGUs’ refusal to accept a decrease in gross sales or receipts compared to last year’s declaration, automatic application of additional increase of a certain percentage in gross sales or receipts, and the application of the presumptive income level assessment approach (PILAA). Unfortunately, taxpayers would often be forced to acquiesce to the LGUs assessment to beat the deadline and ensure the issuance of their business permit.

WHAT IS PILAA?
PILAA is a tax collection tool which enables LGUs to set a certain income level standard for various business entities based on industry factors. It is commonly utilized nationwide among LGUs as a tool for the efficient and effective collection of taxes.

PILAA is usually applied at the height of the renewal of business permits when transaction traffic is heavy, and LGUs have limited time to verify the gross sales or receipts declared by the taxpayers applying for business permits.

However, use of the PILAA should not be automatic. While the application of PILAA caters to the convenience of LGUs, the approach raises due process issues, both substantive and procedural, in the collection of LBT.

Black’s Law Dictionary (8th ed.) defines presumption as “a legal inference or assumption that a fact exists, based on the known or proven existence of some other fact or group of facts.” Based on this definition, it is inferred that presumptive income in PILAA is a presumed or assumed income level based on known or proven facts.

APPLICATION OF PILAA
Through Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 001.2020 dated Jan. 2, 2020, the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) reminded treasurers that the PILAA is used in computing LBT only if these two requisites are present: (1) the use of PILAA should be embodied in a local tax ordinance which has undergone public hearings and publications, and (2) the taxpayer is unable to provide proof of income.

The first requisite aims to ensure that the taxpayers are informed of the factors used in determining the presumptive income, and they agree to such level of presumptive income applicable to their industry. Further, for the PILAA to be validly applied, the second condition requires that the taxpayer failed to submit financial data of its income for the preceding calendar year.

In proving the income for the preceding calendar year, MC No. 001.2020 provides that a taxpayer may submit a sworn declaration of gross sales or receipts instead of the audited financial statements and the income tax returns since these documents may not yet be available early on in the year.

In the 2017 opinions of the BLGF and decisions of the Court of Tax Appeals (in C.T.A. EB Case No. 501 dated Dec. 10, 2010 and C.T.A. AC Case No. 200 dated Oct. 22, 2018), the rule is that the use of PILAA is not automatic. Treasurers have no right to apply the PILAA if the taxpayer has provided proof of its income by submitting the sworn declaration of gross sales or receipts. Further, the BLGF stressed that treasurers should not unjustifiably use the PILAA at their convenience. The practice results in undue harassment of taxpayers who are compelled to secure the needed business permit to operate their businesses.

Though CTA decisions and BLGF opinions do not form part of the law of the land, these decisions and opinions have probative value as being valid interpretations of the local tax laws and issuances and may be used as basis by taxpayers to refute any LBT assessment using PILAA without proper basis.

In practice, while there are treasurers that give weight to these decisions and opinions, it is unfortunate that there are a number of them who still insist on using PILAA without legal basis and allege under-declaration of income on the part of the taxpayer to justify the use of the PILAA. But without using PILAA, treasurers are not left without recourse against under-declaration. MC No. 001.2020 provides that if there is suspected under-declaration of gross sales or receipts by the taxpayer, these should be tagged by the LGU, and the business may be subjected to an examination by the treasurer. However, the audit should not result in the deferment of the issuance of the business permit and should be done after the business renewal period. In other words, the taxpayer should not stand to suffer by the non-issuance of its business permit.

I hope treasurers assess LBTs in accordance with the requirements of the law and for LGUs to smoothly issue business permits if indeed the taxpayers have complied with all the requirements. This would give businesses small victories during these challenging times.

The views or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Isla Lipana & Co. The content is for general information purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for specific advice.

 

Rachel D. Sison is a senior manager at the Tax Services Department of Isla Lipana & Co., the Philippine member firm of the PwC network.

rachel.d.sison@pwc.com

PBA rookie draft for March steadily taking form

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

THIS year’s Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) rookie draft slated for March took further form recently after the league announced the order of drafting.

Set to pick first for the third straight season are Terrafirma Dyip, who finished last in the lone tournament in the coronavirus pandemic-hit PBA season in 2020.

Picking second are the Northport Batang Pier, who also have the 11th pick, to be followed by the NLEX Road Warriors, who have the third and fourth picks.

NLEX’s third pick was from the Blackwater Elite, which the former acquired in a previous trade between the two squads.

Selecting fifth are the Rain or Shine (ROS) Elasto Painters.

The Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok are at sixth, followed by the Alaska Aces (seventh), San Miguel Beermen (eighth), Meralco Bolts (ninth), Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters (10th) and Philippine Cup champions Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings (12th).

Sans first-round picks are the TNT Tropang Giga and Blackwater.

For the second round, Northport will be selecting first, followed by Blackwater for the next two picks.

Then Phoenix selects, with the order going ROS-Magnolia-Alaska-NLEX-Alaska-ROS-ROS-Barangay Ginebra after.

The PBA has yet to decide if it will have a special draft for Gilas Pilipinas  just like last time.

“We’ll meet with the board of governors after all the applications are in to decide on how the drafting will go. The SBP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas) hasn’t decided yet whether or not they need one (Gilas draft) because they don’t know who will declare for the draft,” said PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial.

Deadline for the submission of applications for the rookie draft is Jan. 27, with the draft happening on March 14.

In the last rookie draft, a special selection was made for Gilas in line with the SBP mission of putting a pool of players who will be available for the national team for future competitions, including the 2023 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup, where the Philippines is one of the hosts.

Selected in the draft were Isaac Go (Terrafirma), Rey Suerte (Blackwater), Matt Nieto (NLEX), Allyn Bulanadi (Alaska) and Mike Nieto (ROS).

Having another shot at the top pick, Terrafirma is hoping of landing another solid player who could finally help them achieve consistency in winning.

In the two previous PBA drafts, the team selected CJ Perez (2018) and Roosevelt Adams (2019).

Mr. Perez has turned out to be one of the top players in the league, piling up all-around numbers of 24.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists and two steals a game in the Philippine Cup last year. Mr. Adams, meanwhile, had his struggles in his rookie season but still managed to post respectable numbers of 10.3 points and 8.1 rebounds.

Meanwhile, the number of applicants for the draft is steadily growing as the deadline approaches.

As per the official PBA website, 33 aspirants have already filed applications.

Among those who have applied are collegiate standouts, players from pro-am leagues and Filipino-foreigners like Alvin Pasaol, Santi Santillan, Troy Rike, RK Ilagan, Frank Johnson, Tyrus Hill.

“I am looking forward to playing in the PBA. I’m not putting too much pressure on myself. My mindset is if they can play in the PBA, why can’t I,” said Mr. Santillan in Filipino in submitting his application.

Mr. Santillan played collegiate ball in Cebu and at De La Salle University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. He is also one of the top 3×3 players in the country and has represented the Philippines in many FIBA 3×3-sanctioned events.  

“It will be an honor to play in the PBA. And I vow to do everything I can to represent not only myself but also the community I came from,” said San Sebastian product Ilagan, who grew up in Tondo, Manila.

The status of keenly eyed Fil-foreign applicants Jason Brickman, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Jeremiah Gray, meanwhile, is still to be determined as reports have it that legal documents needed for them to join the draft will not come in time for the application deadline.

Philippine baseball’s push resumes this year, officials say

PHILIPPINE baseball is looking to make up for lost time this year after it got sidelined by the coronavirus last year, officials said.

Speaking at the online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday, officials of the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association (PABA) said this year is poised to be a busy one for the country’s baseball squads, with international competitions originally set for 2020 lined up in the coming months.

“Now, they (international federation) are slating everything this year. But it will still depend on the progress of the vaccine [for the coronavirus],” said PABA vice-president Boy Tingzon.

Among the competitions they are gearing up for, the officials said, is the Women’s Baseball World Cup slated to take place from March 1 to 9 in Tijuana, Mexico.

PABA said the Under-23 competition carries much significance as it presents an opportunity for the Philippines to barge into the top 10 in the world rankings.

“This is a world event and this is the best time for us to move up in the standings in the world. We can even break into the top 10,” said Mr. Tingzon.

The Philippines is currently ranked 15th in the division.

To prepare for the tournament, Mr. Tingzon said they at PABA have already asked for approval from the Philippine Sports Commission to allow them to return to face-to-face training in a “bubble” setting. Venue is the INSPIRE Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.

The federation added that the players have expressed readiness to go into bubble training, seeing how it will go a long way in further shoring up their game as they move to compete against the best teams in the world.

In Mexico, the Philippines is to face powerhouse teams like Japan, Chinese Taipei, Canada, Mexico, United States, France, Australia, Dominican Republic and the Netherlands.

Other competitions the country is looking at competing in this year are the men’s Asian Baseball Championship in October and the men’s youth 12-under, 15-under and 18-under tournaments.

PABA, however, lamented the non-inclusion of the sport in this year’s edition of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Vietnam in November but it remains undeterred in its mission of continuing to push baseball to the fore and highlight its potential as a sporting discipline that Filipinos can excel in.

“Unfortunately, there is no baseball in this year’s SEA Games. But even without the SEA Games, we’re going to be quite busy,” said PABA secretary-general Pepe Muñoz, who joined Mr. Tingzon in the forum.

In the last edition of the SEA Games in 2019 held here, the Philippine national men’s baseball team won the gold in the competition, beating Thailand, 15-2, in the championship game. It was the third baseball gold for the country in the SEA Games, which was first played in 2005.

PABA is currently headed by former Philippine Basketball Association player Joaquin “Chito” C. Loyzaga, who was elected Philippine Olympic Committee auditor in last year’s elections. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

NBA tightens health protocols as COVID-19 affects season

NBA players should stay at their residences when they are at home and in their hotels when on the road for at least the next two weeks, the league said on Tuesday in a list of new health protocols designed to limit COVID-19’s impact on the season.

The league, which postponed one game on Sunday and three games this week due to the virus, is trying to avoid a league-wide suspension of play like the one that derailed it in March before it returned in a “bubble” environment in Orlando in July.

The NBA said the new protocols, which take effect immediately, were issued “in response to the surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases across the country and an uptick among NBA teams requiring potential player quarantines.”

Players and team staff can leave their homes to attend team-related activities, exercise outside, perform essential activities or as a result of extraordinary circumstances, the protocols said.

While at hotels, players and team staff are prohibited from leaving expect for team activities or emergencies. They are also barred from interacting with non-team guests.

Players and coaches must wear face masks at all times on the bench and in the locker room, according to the protocols, which were endorsed by the players’ union.

“Upon exiting the game, and prior to returning to the bench, players can sit in ‘cool down chairs,’ arranged at least 12 feet from the bench with each chair six feet apart, where facemasks are not required,” according to the protocols.

Players must also limit their pre- and post-game interactions to elbow and fist bumps and maintain six feet of distance as much as possible.

Elsewhere the rules limited the length of team meetings, mandated that massages and physical therapy at a hotel occur in a ballroom or other large open space, and prohibited players from arriving at the arena more than three hours before tip-off.

The league on Sunday said it had no plans to put its season on hold, as teams struggle to make available a league-mandated eight-man roster for games due to injuries and COVID-19 contact tracing. — Reuters

Los Angeles Lakers ground Houston Rockets again 117-100

LEBRON James scored 22 of his game-high 26 points in the first half and the Los Angeles Lakers posted their second runaway victory over the Houston Rockets in as many games, rolling to a 117-100 victory on Tuesday at Toyota Center in Houston.

The Lakers, who led by as many as 27 points in their 120-102 win on Sunday, matched that advantage on a Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 3-pointer at the 3:35 mark of the second quarter. The Lakers led wire to wire while remaining perfect on the road, combining stingy defense with blistering perimeter shooting in the first quarter to build a 35-14 lead entering the second.

James made four of nine 3-pointers and added eight rebounds and five assists. Five other Lakers joined James in double figures, with Anthony Davis posting 19 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots in just 29 minutes. The starting backcourt of Dennis Schroeder and Caldwell-Pope combined for 28 points on 11-for-18 shooting with six rebounds and four steals.

Christian Wood paired 18 points with eight rebounds while James Harden added 16 points, seven rebounds, and six assists for Houston. The Rockets continued their poor shooting from deep, finishing 12 of 40 on 3s while shooting just 39.2% overall. Harden missed five of six treys and shot five of 16 overall.

The Lakers turned a 12-0 run into a 28-10 advantage in the first quarter, getting 3s from Caldwell-Pope and James while recording three blocks and forcing two turnovers during the rally. The Lakers entered the second quarter with a plus-8 advantage on the glass and eight fast-break points while limiting the Rockets to 6-for-21 shooting.

SIXERS 137 – HEAT 134 OT
Joel Embiid scored 35 of his 45 points in the second half and overtime (OT) to lift the host Philadelphia 76ers past the Miami Heat 137-134 on Tuesday.

NETS 122 – NUGGETS 116
Kevin Durant totaled 34 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds as Brooklyn overcame an 18-point deficit to post a victory over Denver in New York.

JAZZ 117 – CAVALIERS 87
Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points and Jordan Clarkson added 21 to lift visiting Utah to a victory over Cleveland.

SPURS 112 – THUNDER 102
Lonnie Walker IV scored 24 points to lead San Antonio to a victory at Oklahoma City. San Antonio forced 13 Thunder turnovers, converting them into 26 points on the other end, while Oklahoma City managed just two points off four Spurs turnovers. Keldon Johnson had 18 points for the Spurs and Patty Mills contributed 17. — Reuters

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