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Mavs even series

Luka Doncic didn’t want to talk about the monstrous numbers he put up in Game One of the Mavericks’ first-round series against the Clippers, and with reason. Even as his stat line of 42, seven, and nine was a first in National Basketball Association history, he labeled his effort “terrible” if for no other reason than it likewise included a whopping 11 turnovers. Considering that the total was seven more than his season average, and that the blue and white lost by eight points after leading by as much as 14, the lost possessions may well have told the outcome.

To be sure, the ejection of second-leading scorer Kristaps Porzingis proved critical as well. The Mavericks were up by five early in the third quarter — and, significantly, appeared ready to take the measure of the heavily favored Clippers — before a second technical foul sent Doncic’s principal escape valve to the showers. It’s no coincidence that the latter turned the ball over three times the rest of the way; his increased usage rate, and the extended coverage given him following the loss of a vital cog, told on his effectiveness as a playmaker.

That said, the Mavericks headed into yesterday’s set-to confident of their chances to prevail. Even after an atrocious Game One start that had them down 18-2 early on, even after missing Porzingis for practically the entire second half, and even after seeing the Clippers’ one-two punch of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George play extremely well, they came close to prevailing. Conventional wisdom might have consigned them as underdogs, but they believed they had more than enough to take the measure of the title favorites. With 21-year-old Doncic spearheading the charge, and with the competition’s supposed homecourt advantage nullified by circumstances in the bubble, they deemed themselves ready for prime time.

As things turned out, the Mavericks were right. Proving that they learned from their Game One missteps, they hit the ground running yesterday. They built a double-digit lead with nary a third of the opening canto going by, wound up winning every quarter but the last (which, by the way, was a standstill), and ultimately walked off the court with a convincing 13-point triumph. Sure, the Clippers missed the services of defensive whiz due to a calf injury; based on historical data, he would have been good for 20 minutes of leech-like guarding and all-around pestering. On the other hand, there should still have been more than enough talent for the second seeds to adjust to the development.

Indeed, the result was more what the Mavericks did right than what the Clippers did wrong. More than anything else, the victors made better use of their possessions; they finished with just nine turnovers all told, with Doncic committing a single one way back in the first quarter. And in sharing the ball well, they managed to sink half their 88 shots from the field and close to 45% of their 29 tries from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, they smothered the opposition to 44% and 39% clips, respectively, with George hitting only four of 17 attempts. Apparently, they can also play solid defense.

Make no mistake. The Clippers can, and will, be better; Beverley will be back, and Sixth Man of the Year candidate Montrezl Harrell figures to post numbers closer to his season norms as he works himself back to shape. On the flipside, so, too, can the Mavericks. They know they possess the opportunity to disrupt proceedings the way the Magic and Blazers have, but more consistently. Yes, Doncic is that good. Yes, Porzingis is that important. And, yes, head coach Rick Carlisle is that prepared. At the very least, they’re keen on showing the series won’t be the cakewalk dismissive quarters have foreseen.

 

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.

China state papers back Wuhan park after viral pool party

SHANGHAI — Chinese state newspapers threw their support behind an amusement park in the central city of Wuhan on Thursday after pictures of a densely packed pool party at the park went viral overseas amid concerns about the spread of COVID-19.

Videos and photos of an electronic music festival at the Wuhan Maya Beach Water Park on July 11 raised eyebrows overseas, but reflected life returning to normal in the city where the virus causing COVID-19 was first detected, the official English-language China Daily newspaper said in a front-page story.

Another story in the Global Times, a tabloid published by the ruling Communist Party’s People’s Daily, cited Wuhan residents as saying the pool party reflected the city’s success in its virus-control efforts.

While the coronavirus was first reported in Wuhan, strict lockdown measures that paralyzed the Chinese economy earlier this year have kept its spread in check.

China on Thursday reported its fourth straight day of zero locally transmitted coronavirus infections.

The stories come after a World Health Organization epidemiologist warned earlier this week that people, especially the young, are not invincible to the pandemic, despite their wishes to live normal lives.

More than 22.27 million people have been reported to have been infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 781,162have died, according to a Reuters tally. — Reuters

Global travel on ice until mid-2021, Qantas chief says

International travel won’t resume until mid-2021 as coronavirus flareups keep borders closed, Qantas Airways Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce said.

Routes to the US might be closed for even longer, only opening widely to overseas airlines once a vaccine has been developed and distributed, Mr. Joyce said Thursday.

Next year “is going to be another bad year,” Mr. Joyce told media on a briefing call after reporting Qantas’s first loss since 2014. “Recovery will take time and it will be choppy.”

Expectations for a prolonged recovery reflect COVID-19 resurgences around the world, from Europe and Japan to Australia, Hong Kong, and New Zealand. These outbreaks have dashed hopes for controlled flight corridors between some countries that had earlier suppressed the virus.

Most of Qantas’s international fleet will be grounded until June 2021. Even in the following 12 months, the airline will probably operate only half its pre-virus offshore schedule, Mr. Joyce said.

The Sydney-based carrier on Thursday joined loss-making peers such as Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. and American Airlines Group Inc. after a near-destruction of their normal business. Qantas doesn’t expect to make money next year, either.

Aviation’s worst-ever crisis has wound back the clock for the Qantas boss, who must turn around the airline once again after pulling it back from the brink in 2014.

The industry faces a record $100 billion black hole this year and next, according to the International Air Transport Association. Traffic won’t return to pre-crisis levels until 2024, the trade group has said.

“The impact of COVID on all airlines is clear,” Joyce said. “It’s devastating and it will be a question of survival for many.”

Qantas has repeatedly made deeper cuts as the scale of the crisis became apparent. In recent weeks, the airline raised more than A$1.4 billion ($1 billion)—its first equity call in a decade—and it’s also cutting at least 6,000 jobs.

Qantas swung to a net loss of A$1.96 billion from a profit of A$840 million a year earlier. The result reflected a slump in passengers, the cost of staff layoffs, and the writedown of the airline’s entire fleet of Airbus A380s, redundant superjumbos that are now grounded for three years.

Underlying profit before tax, Qantas’ preferred measure of earnings because it strips out one-time costs, fell 91% to A$124 million.

The airline had A$4.5 billion in available liquidity at June 30, including A$1 billion of undrawn facilities, according to the statement. Net debt stood at A$4.7 billion. — Bloomberg

‘My life is a miracle’: COVID-19 patient recuperates after four-month ordeal

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles resident Francisco Garcia tested positive for COVID-19 in April and says he doesn’t know how he caught it.

Now recuperating, the 31-year-old had avoided leaving the house because he was afraid of bringing the virus home and infecting his family. His mother has cancer and his sister has lupus.

The symptoms seemed mild at first: fever and headache, but Garcia’s condition quickly deteriorated.

“A couple of days later, I couldn’t breathe as much and I felt like I was having like a panic attack. My sister called the paramedics and they came and just took me to the hospital,” he said in an interview at his home on Wednesday.

Mr. Garcia doesn’t recall being in pain. All he can remember is being at a hospital near his home. Then he woke up in a different hospital with a tube inserted into his nose.

His family watched helplessly as he was transferred between four different hospitals in total.

“In the second hospital, they just told my dad that the only reason that he was still alive was because of the medication they’re giving him,” said Mr. Garcia’s sister Lorena, explaining how the family had to make difficult choices with his medical care.

“Then two or three days passed and that’s when he started bleeding from his brain.”

Mr. Garcia slipped into a coma and doctors recommended to his family they turn off his life support. But his mother and sister never gave up hope, and eventually he woke up.

The primary carer at home, Mr. Garcia was devastated when he was told he’d been in hospital for four months.

“Just knowing that my mom and my sister are sick… and I can’t do nothing about it. That kind of hurt me,” he said, fighting back tears.

Released from hospital two weeks ago, Mr. Garcia is now recovering at home. He says he wants his old life back.

“Before all this happened, I was an active kid. I’d go play basketball, go hiking, bike riding,” he said.

“From now on, I will do everything possible to move on with my life and do everything I can to better my life and my family’s life as well.” — Reuters

Coronavirus forces tourism rethink in world’s most visited city

BANGKOK — Bangkok tourist destination Khao San Road is usually heaving with people on weekends, its cheap beer bars, tattoo parlors, street vendors, hostels, and buzzing nightlife drawing budget travelers and tour group alike.

On a recent Saturday evening, the street was deserted except for a few dozen locals who wandered past boarded up shops, ignoring restaurant staff calling out meal and drink deals.

Khao San Road clearly shows the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Bangkok, the world’s most visited city for four consecutive years before a ban on international travel.

“I have never seen it like this. Usually, we don’t have time to stand for even a minute,” said a waitress who goes by the name Pookie.

“Lots of businesses have shut here, and if we don’t see foreign tourists coming back soon, we may also shut. There are some locals coming on the weekends, but that’s not enough to keep us all going,” she said, pointing to the empty tables.

After a record 39.8 million foreign visitors last year whose spending accounted to 11.4% of gross domestic product, Thailand had looked to welcome more than 40 million tourists this year.

But with flight bans and quarantines, the central bank expects only 8 million visitors this year.

The effect is keenly felt in Bangkok, where most tourists spend a night or two before heading to sandy beaches and hilltop Buddhist temples, with questions over whether the city should ditch the mass tourism model it has come to rely on.

It is a question many cities are grappling with, as the future of urban tourism is “deeply uncertain” in the short to medium term, said Tony Matthews, a senior lecturer in urban and environmental planning at Australia’s Griffith University.

“Cities that rely heavily on tourism are facing an extraordinary crisis. Do they wait it out until mass tourism is viable again, or do they start developing major new industries and economies?” he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

“But you can’t easily retool an urban economy, and moving away from a tourism-dependent economic model is not easy unless there is something else ready to take over that’s at least as beneficial.”

QUALITY OVER QUANTITY

With cheap air travel fueling a boom in tourism in recent years, cities from Amsterdam to Sydney have struggled to balance the needs of local residents with the demands of visitors who boost the hospitality industry but can also cause damage.

Overcrowding can frustrate local residents, drive up rents, and put pressure on infrastructure including public transit and waste management, while also damaging the ecology and cultural and heritage assets, according to McKinsey Consulting.

With restrictions brought on by the coronavirus, some cities are changing their tourism-focused strategy.

Authorities in Barcelona said they would put “quality over quantity,” promoting local food and drawing more high spenders.

In Amsterdam, authorities said they would develop a so-called “doughnut” model that prioritizes social and ecological goals for better living, including decent housing, healthcare, as well as climate action and biodiversity.

“With less future income from tourists, it makes sense for Amsterdam to try to improve its economic fundamentals in other ways,” said Mr. Matthews.

“But cities build up tourism profiles and associated economies over time. They come to depend on these and will not want to change approach unless they have to.”

Thailand has shut some of its most popular beaches in recent years to allow fragile coral reefs to recover from pollution caused by tourism, and removed vendors from Khao San Road and other areas to appeal more to tourists.

There have also been efforts to discard Thailand’s seedy reputation, and the go-go-bars and soapy massage parlors that Bangkok and some beach towns are notorious for.

Now, authorities have the opportunity to move towards a more sustainable model, said David Robinson, a tourism expert who has long criticized authorities’ drive for quantity over quality.

“The race to the top of the ‘most visited’ chart does not benefit the country,” said Mr. Robinson, director of Bangkok River Partners, a network of riverside businesses that boost culture and heritage.

“More is just more, not better, and certainly not more financially beneficial to the country. It’s unsustainable.”

NEW SCENARIO

Thailand has fared well in containing the coronavirus, with some 3,300 cases and fewer than 60 deaths recorded.

Yet plans for a “travel bubble” agreement with select countries that would have allowed movement without the need for travelers to undergo quarantine have been shelved amid new outbreaks in East Asia, officials said.

Thailand has said it will allow a limited number of business travelers and medical tourists into the country, while also encouraging domestic tourism with stimulus measures worth more than $700 million to defray costs of hotels and flights.

Domestic tourism made up about 30% of the total market, and had not received much attention before, said Tanes Petsuwan, a deputy governor of marketing at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

“This is the worst ever crisis for the tourism industry; the tsunami, SARS, MERS, bird flu, political upheaval—none of it was as bad as COVID. It has changed everything,” he said.

“Tourism will not be the same again: the line of coaches outside the Grand Palace or Chatuchak market, guides leading big tour groups around major attractions—we will not see that again, so we are preparing for a new scenario.”

While the meetings and conferences market has shrunk, there is demand for eco-tourism and wellness and medical vacations, said Michael Marshall, chief commercial officer of the Minor Hotels Group, which operates more than 500 hotels.

“Luxury travel is an opportunity, but the domestic market will only keep us going to a certain extent,” he said.

Authorities also cannot simply “turn off the tap” on the sex industry without a strategy and a transitional plan to develop cultural tourism, said Robinson.

“I’m encouraged to see the number of people during COVID-19 getting to know their city again,” he said.

Rose Duangkamol and her friend who were eating fried noodles on Khao San Road were doing just that.

“We used to come here maybe once a month before, but now we come more often,” she said. “It’s nice when it isn’t so crowded.” — Thomson Reuters Foundation

Regional Updates (08/19/20)

Palace denies hand in activist deaths

THE PRESIDENTIAL palace on Wednesday denied it was behind the killing of two activists. In a statement, Presidential Spokesman Harry L. Roque said the government had nothing to do with the killing of  National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace consultant Randall Echanis and human rights activist Zara Alvarez, who were killed in separate incidents this month. “Blaming state forces as the people behind these murders is unfounded as investigation on the killings of Randall Enchanis and Zara Alvarez is now under way,” Mr. Roque said. He added that the palace denounces any form of violence. “We are a nation of laws and violence has no place in any civilized society.” Mr. Echanis was stabbed to death inside his home in Quezon City last week. His wife earlier said his body had been taken by the police. Mr. Echanis was buried at the weekend. Unidentified gunmen shot and killed Ms. Alvarez earlier this week in Negros province. Both men were among the 13 activists killed under the term of President Rodrigo R. Duterte, who took office in 2016. Mr. Duterte has openly criticized leftist groups and activists. — Gillian M. Cortez

Suspected pusher killed in sting

POLICE KILLED a suspected drug pusher during a supposed shootout in Dasmariñas City, Cavite on Tuesday. Suspect Rommy Batrina had just sold a sachet of shabu to an undercover police officer when he allegedly pulled out a gun after sensing that it was a drug sting. The shootout took place along Congressional Road in the village of Burol I at about 11:30 p.m., according to a report from the Cavite police. Mr. Batrina was killed during the exchange of gunfire with policemen. An undetermined quantity of shabu was found in his possession, according to the report. Meanwhile, three drug suspects were caught during a sting in Rodriguez, Rizal province that same evening. The suspects were arrested in the village of Burgos at about 9 p.m. The suspects had 12 sachets of shabu and P500 in cash that they received from a cop who posed as a drug buyer. Drug trafficking charges were being prepared against the suspects, police said. — Emmanuel Tupas, Philippine Star

Nationwide round-up

Ressa travel plea rejected

THE COURT of Appeals has rejected the plea of Maria A. Ressa, founder of news website Rappler, Inc. to travel overseas pending appeal of her conviction for cyber-libel.

The former CNN investigative journalist who is critical of the Duterte government had failed to prove the urgency and necessity of her overseas travel, the appellate court said in an Aug. 18 resolution.

“There is no basis to grant her motion,” according to a copy of the court’s seven-page order.

Ms. Ressa sought permission to go to the US so she could attend a couple of journalist events. She wanted to leave on Aug. 23 and return to the Philippines on Sept. 19.

A Manila court convicted Ms. Ressa and Rappler’s former researcher Reynaldo Santos, Jr. for cyber-libel in June.

They were sentenced to an indeterminate six months to six years in jail and were ordered to pay businessman Wilfredo D. Keng P400,000 in moral and exemplary damages.

Ms. Ressa and Mr. Santos are both out on bail.

“The bail puts the accused under the jurisdiction of the court, and it operates as a valid restriction in a person’s right to travel,” the court said. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Pooled testing to start soon

THE GOVERNMENT will soon start pooled coronavirus testing as local physicians complete their evaluation of the method, according to the Department of Health (DoH).

Other countries have allowed pooled testing for COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) to expand checks for the coronavirus and use fewer testing resources.

“We are  still finalizing the evaluation of this pooled testing because it has to go through the evaluation by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and Philippine Society  of Pathologists,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire told an online news briefing on Wednesday.

The doctors presented their initial results on Monday, she said, adding that pooled testing would start as soon as they finish the evaluation.

Ms. Vergeire said pooled testing would benefit the country as the government enforces expanded testing protocols.

In pooled testing, specimens from several people are pooled in a single polymerase chain reaction or PCR test. There is no need to test people belonging to the pool if the result is negative.

If a pooled test is positive, people whose specimens came from the pool will be tested individually.

Ms. Vergeire said there are situations where pooled testing is more effective, such as in non-hotspot areas. On the other hand, the method is ineffective in areas where there is a big number of COVID-19 patients.

She said Makati City has a pooled-testing project with Project Ark that will start as soon as the evaluation is finished. Other local governments were interested in the method, she added. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Infected cops reach 3,035

THE NUMBER of coronavirus-infected policemen has breached the 3,000 mark, according to data from the Philipine National Police.

Fifty-five more police officers have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, bringing the total to 3,035.

The death toll remained at 13, while 2,221 or 73% of the personnel have recovered, police spokesman Brigadier General Bernard Banac said on Wednesday.

He said 30 of the new patients had been assigned in Metro Manila, including four at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Three were assigned in the Calabarzon — Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon — region, two each in Central Visayas and Zamboanga peninsula, and one each in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Western Visayas.

The remaining 15 were assigned in various national administrative and operational units of the police, according to Mr. Banac.

At least 3,177 police officers were being monitored after showing symptoms or getting in contact with COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) patients. — Emmanuel Tupas, Philippine Star

Another anti-terror suit filed

YOUTH LEADERS have asked the Supreme Court to strike down the law that expanded the scope of terror crimes in the country.

In a 105-page petition, members of Sangguiniang Kabataan and other local youth leaders said the Anti-Terrorism Act involves “direct and unequivocal violation of constitutional safeguards.”

“So long as it is in effect, this law maintains an atmosphere of fear — the proverbial ‘chilling effect’ — that deters the free and full exercise of fundamental rights,” according to a copy of the lawsuit.

“The law poses a danger not just for collective and individual rights, but for democracy as a whole,” it added.

Similar to other lawsuits before it, the new suit questioned the vague definitions of terrorism, which allegedly violates the right to due process and infringes freedom of speech, expression, right to peaceful assembly and freedom of association.

The youth leaders also questioned a clause in the law allowing law enforcers to arrest a suspect without a warrant based on suspicion and orders by the Anti-Terrorism Council.

Rights against unreasonable searches and seizures and the right to be presumed innocent were also violated by the law, they said.

The law also violates the separation of powers provided by the Constitution since only judges can issue arrest warrants, according to the lawsuit.

“By providing that arrest may be carried out based on written authority given by the council, section 29 amounts to a usurpation of a function vested by the Constitution exclusively in the Judiciary,” the youth leaders said.. “It violates the principle of separation of powers.”

With the Anti-Terrorism Act, “it would be taking a huge step in the wrong direction; even a leap straight into the bowels of tyranny.”

The law that took effect on July 18 considers attacks that cause death or serious injury, extensive damage to property and manufacture, possession, acquisition, transport and supply of weapons or explosives as terrorist acts.

It also allows the government to detain a suspect without a warrant for 14 days from three days previously.

The council, which is made up of Cabinet officials, can perform acts reserved for courts such as ordering the arrest of suspected terrorists.

The Supreme Court will hold oral arguments in the third week of September at the earliest on several lawsuits against the law, spokesman Brian Keith F. Hosaka said. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

PSA amendments put on back burner

By Charmaine A. Tadalan, Reporter

A MEASURE amending the 83-year-old Public Service Act (PSA) to lift foreign ownership restrictions in certain sectors is taking a backseat to coronavirus pandemic response bills at the Senate.

Senate Public Services Committee Chairperson Grace S. Poe-Llamanzares on Wednesday said the committee will focus first on bills related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis, and the 2021 national budget.

“(The PSA amendments will) be tackled, if we have time hopefully this year. Lined up are COVID-related legislation and budget,” she said in a phone message. 

The committee is tackling a bill requiring internet service providers to deliver a minimum standard internet speed, and another that would legalize motorcycle taxis.

“At this time, it appears that we will take up the other bills I mentioned first before (PSA amendments),” Ms. Poe-Llamanzares said at an online briefing.

The measure seeks to amend the PSA or Commonwealth Act No. 146, providing a clearer definition of “public services” which had been used interchangeably with “public utilities.” An amendment will effectively limit the definition of public utilities to power transmission and distribution, and waterworks and sewerage pipeline distribution system.

At present, public utilities are subject to foreign equity restrictions of up to 40% as provided under the 1987 Constitution.

If enacted, the measure will lift foreign equity restrictions particularly on telecommunication and transportation service providers. The 1987 Constitution allows operation of public utilities that are at least 60% Filipino-owned.

The bill amending the PSA was among those President Rodrigo R. Duterte mentioned in his fifth State of the Nation Address last July. Local and foreign business groups have also pushed for the bill’s passage, along with others that will open up the economy to foreign investments.

Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua had said the PSA amendment will allow the Philippines to capture much-needed foreign investments amid the pandemic.

The measure nearly hurdled the 17th Congress, when it was approved by the House of Representatives but remained pending second reading in the Senate.

Ms. Poe-Llamanzares said senators have raised concerns on lifting the foreign ownership restriction, which may threaten national security and may favor a single country.

“It would have passed except that the pronouncements that are pro-one country is scaring other senators, na kapag binuksan natin ’yung economy, baka biglang ang bibili lahat ng ating kumpanya ay galing lang sa iisang bansa (that if you open up the economy, companies might be bought by just one country),” she said, noting these may be addressed through safeguards. 

There are now six bills amending the Public Service Act pending before the Senate panel, while its counterpart House Bill No. 78 has already been approved on final reading.

The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) said it will continue to push for the passage of the bill as well as the proposed amendments to the Foreign Investments Act (FIA) and the Retail Trade Liberalization Act (RTLA).

“The ECCP understands the government’s intentions to prioritize COVID-19 measures at this time. However, we wish to highlight that the passage of economic policy reforms is instrumental in accelerating economic recovery,” ECCP President Nabil Francis said over a phone message.

“Economic reforms such as the amendments to the Public Services Act, Foreign Investment Act and Retail Trade Liberalization Act will help spur inclusive growth through increased job generation, poverty reduction, and improved global competitiveness.”

The FIA amendment will remove restrictions on foreigners practicing their professions in the Philippines, while the changes to the RTLA will reduce the required minimum paid-up capital for foreign entrants to the country’s retail sector.

American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Senior Advisor John D. Forbes said they are hopeful the bill will be certified as urgent, seeing that it will stimulate the economy.

“We have been told the PSA is a high priority reform of the administration and hope it will be certified by the president. It can help stimulate foreign investment and competition and help economic recovery after 2020,” he said in a separate message.

“The law is 83 years old and is one reason OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) rates the Philippines as comparatively closed to foreign investment.”

Metro Manila imposes unified curfew amid GCQ

By Jenina P. Ibañez and Gillian M. Cortez, Reporters

BUSINESSES are expecting some improvement in consumer spending as they adapt to new restrictions after Metro Manila on Wednesday transitioned into a general community quarantine (GCQ), which included a unified curfew.

The 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew was implemented in Metro Manila starting Wednesday evening, as mayors sought stricter measures to contain the rise in coronavirus infections which reached over 173,000.

“We considered the recommendations of the mayors to actually impose a stricter GCQ (during Tuesday’s meeting of the National Task Force Against COVID-19),” Palace Spokesperson Harry L. Roque said in an television interview.

The NTF, along with other Cabinet members, approved Metro Manila mayors’ recommendation on a unified curfew throughout the capital region until Aug. 31. Mr. Roque said Manila, Muntinlupa and Pasig cities are initially exempted as their ordinances state that the curfew starts at 10 p.m., but their mayors have committed to comply with the unified curfew hours within the week.

Despite the stricter measures, Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) Vice-Chair Roberto S. Claudio said businesses are hoping to see an improvement in consumer spending during the GCQ, but admitted it will still be well below pre-pandemic levels.

“(The) main reason for this is people are still apprehensive to go out to the malls. Limited public transportation availability and ban on person(s) below 12 years old & seniors above 60 years in shopping malls, contribute to lower consumer spending at this time,” Mr. Claudio said in an e-mail on Wednesday.

The 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew is acceptable to most retailers because it is consistent with the availability of public transport and reduces manpower cost by removing additional work shifts, Mr. Claudio said.

He expects the curfew to limit dining and food retailing hours, which may improve once the area shifts to a more relaxed lockdown. Mr. Claudio hopes this shift would happen soon, but retailers “can live with” the stricter lockdown if it helps address the coronavirus pandemic.

Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) Chairman Richard Sanz, on the other hand, said they support a consistent curfew in Metro Manila but an 8 p.m. curfew may be too restrictive for food establishments and restaurants.

“It forces stores to close very early at 6 p.m. considering store closing/cleaning procedures and travel time of employees going back to their homes. We hope that this can be amended to 10 p.m. to allow food businesses to serve dinner and maximize sales for the day to cover for the higher-than-normal overhead expenses during this time of pandemic,” he said in a mobile message.

Dine-in at restaurants as well as salon and barbershop operations were also allowed to resume at limited capacities on Wednesday.

“Extending the curfew to 10 p.m. will be a big help for all businesses, many of which are on the verge of folding up, but provided that all health and safety protocols and precautions are in place,” Mr. Sanz added.

However, there are questions on which businesses may be exempted from the Metro-wide curfew.

“We also need to define exemptions like call centers, drugstores, emergency cases, private transport,” Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Quezon City President Sarah Deloraya Mateo said in a mobile message. “What we need to emphasize though is the use of face mask, face shield, and the observance of social distancing at all times.”

LIMITED MASS GATHERINGS
Under the GCQ, Mr. Roque said mass gatherings of more than 10 people, including religious services, will continue to be prohibited.

The enforcement of the quarantine pass system will be up to the local government units (LGUs), he said.

Metro Manila Council Chair and Parañaque Mayor Edwin L. Olivarez said in a radio interview they want to continue making quarantine passes mandatory in order to minimize the number of people going out of their residences. Penalties for violators will depend on the LGU, he added.

Other protocols discussed and approved during the NTF’s Tuesday meeting include the mandatory wearing of face shields and face masks in commercial places, workplaces (indoor) and public transport.

Mr. Roque said for those using motorcycles, a barrier will no longer be required for a driver and passenger who live in the same home. An Angkas-designed barrier will still be required for those who do not live in the same residence.

“Motorcycles must be privately owned and not for hire and both riders should have face masks and full-face helmets that must be worn at all times while back riding,” the Palace statement read.

The Palace also said businesses including tutorial centers, review centers, gyms, fitness centers and sport facilities, internet cafés, establishments offering personal grooming and aesthetic services, pet grooming, and drive-in cinemas will remain closed “under the principle of gradual reopening” as Metro Manila transitions from modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) to GCQ.

However, gyms and internet cafés may continue to operate at 30% capacity in areas under GCQ that were not placed under the MECQ from Aug. 4-18, Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said in a mobile message to reporters on Wednesday.

“Presumably those under GCQ before have adopted and allowed the new sectors (to operate),” he said.

After Bayanihan II, Senate to focus on CREATE bill

THE SENATE will begin deliberations next week on the proposed Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act (CREATE), which will immediately cut corporate income tax to 25%.

This as Congress is aiming to ratify the proposed Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan II) today (Aug. 20).

The Bicameral Conference Committee still has around 10 to 12 provisions of Bayanihan II to reconcile, allowing it to finish by Thursday morning, Senator Juan Edgardo M. Angara said.

“There’s a great possibility of finishing it (Wednesday evening) or (Thursday) morning at the latest,” Mr. Angara said during Wednesday’s session.

The Bayanihan II grants President Rodrigo R. Duterte special powers to realign items in the 2019 and 2020 national budget as well as provide much-needed assistance to various sectors hammered by the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr. Angara said one of the provisions being ironed out is the P10 billion in funds allocated to the Department of Tourism to help affected businesses. The House of Representatives, however, used the funding for the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority.

“We just want to be sure that the Senate version, especially on the Department of Tourism funding is intact,” Senate President Vicente C. Sotto told Mr. Angara. “You can inform the members of the House that when it comes to that we want to make sure that it would be for the good of the country.”

After the Bayanihan II, the chamber will turn its attention to the CREATE bill.

The Senate is supposed to have a briefing with the Finance department on Thursday, but Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon recommended it be postponed until Bayanihan II is ratified.

Senator Pia S. Cayetano, Ways and Means chairperson, agreed to postpone the scheduled briefing, which Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri said will not affect Monday’s agenda that includes the interpellation period on the CREATE bill.

“But we’ll push through with the agenda for CREATE, so don’t worry,” he told Ms. Cayetano.

The Senate had committed to approve the bill within the month after failing to tackle the bill ahead of the June 5 adjournment.

The bill is the revised version of the proposed Corporate Income Tax and Incentives Rationalization Act (CITIRA). The new version accelerates the reduction in CIT to 25%. This will further be reduced by 1 percentage point annually from 2023 until 2027. The CITIRA version of the bill proposed to gradually reduce the rate until it reaches 20% in 2029.

The new version will also extend the sunset period for enterprises enjoying incentives to four years from the 2-7 year period under CITIRA. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

AC Energy to build solar farms worth P6B

AYALA-LED AC Energy Philippines, Inc. (ACEN) is investing in more renewable energy projects in the country as it sets to build two solar farms with a combined capacity of 150 megawatts (MW) in Central Luzon.

The energy firm told the stock exchange on Wednesday that it is building the plants with a total investment of around P6.2 billion.

It teamed up with Citicore Renewable Energy Corp., a unit of Citicore Power, Inc., to put up a 75-MW solar facility in Arayat and Mexico, Pampanga for about P3.3 billion. AC Energy will be infusing P500 million to the project, as stated in a separate disclosure.

Another project, also a 75-MW solar plant in Palauig, Zambales, is fully owned by the Ayala unit. The project, which will be constructed through ACE Endevor, Inc. and Giga Ace 8, Inc., is estimated to cost up to P2.9 billion.

“While we are facing significant challenges amidst the current crisis, ACEN remains committed to investing in the country and drive renewables expansion,” ACEN President and Chief Executive Officer Eric T. Francia said.

“We take the long view when investing, and we also recognize that investments are very much needed urgently to help reignite the economy and create jobs. This is the true meaning of sustainable investing,” the official added.

The projects will bring the company’s total under-construction projects in the Philippines to 480 MW, including 330 MW of solar and 150 MW of peaking diesel plants.

The Pampanga and Zambales power facilities are expected to start generating power by the fourth quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2022, respectively.

Recently, the power company announced that it would infuse P2.2 billion into Bataan Solar Energy, Inc. and Giga Ace 4, Inc. to introduce new energy technologies.

It also plans to expand ACE Endevor’s power generation operations to other areas within the country with a budget of up to P5 billion.

The Philippine unit of AC Energy, Inc., Ayalas’ arm in the energy sector, is accelerating its investments as it aims to become the largest listed renewables platform in Southeast Asia. It targets to reach 5,000 MW of renewables capacity by 2025.

Shares in ACEN inched up 0.74% to close at P2.71 each on Wednesday. — Adam J. Ang

Ayala Land to launch P6.25-billion bonds with exchange offer

AYALA LAND, INC. plans to issue bonds worth P6.25 billion under its P50-billion securities program that will also have an exchange option for some of its present bondholders.

The debt papers come as the fifth series of its securities program, which started in April last year. It will have a tenor of five years. The company has yet to set a price and finalize the terms and conditions for the new bonds.

The upcoming offer also comes with an exchange option for the present holders of its 4.625% bonds, which are due on Oct. 10.

Sans obligation, debt securities investors can settle the maturing bonds fully or partially by exchanging them for the latest notes at a 1:1 ratio.

They will receive the accrued interest, net of applicable taxes, in cash on the bonds’ issue date, which is likely before the maturity of their present securities, depending on market conditions and subject to regulatory approvals.

Ayala Land said the bonds’ settlement through the purchase of newer bonds would be the first of its kind in the corporate debt capital market in the Philippines.

No date has been set yet for the public offer, which will be listed and traded in the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp.

The company tapped BDO Capital & Investment Corp., BPI Capital Corp., China Bank Capital Corp., First Metro Investment Corp., and SB Capital Investment Corp. as joint lead underwriters and bookrunners for the offering.

On Wednesday, shares in Ayala Land fell by 3.04% to close at P31.85 apiece. — Adam J. Ang

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