THE economy of the National Capital Region (NCR), alongside those of Calabarzon and Central Luzon, suffered double-digit contraction that weighed heavily on the country’s output last year, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Thursday. Read the full story.
THE PESO rebounded versus the greenback on Thursday as the US Federal Reserve expressed its commitment to retain policy support and following the extension of local restriction measures, which could hurt imports.
The local unit closed at P48.315 per dollar yesterday, strengthening by 16.2 centavos from its P48.477 finish on Wednesday, based on data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines.
The peso opened the session at P48.45 per dollar, which was also its worst showing for the day. Meanwhile, its strongest level was at P48.29 against the greenback.
Dollars exchanged slipped to $837.5 million yesterday from $854.98 million on Wednesday.
Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said the peso was backed by the Fed’s signals of continued support for the economy via easy monetary policy.
The Fed maintained rates on Wednesday and gave a rosier outlook for economic recovery, Reuters reported. However, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said “it is not time yet” to discuss rolling back support as the labor market is still in a dire situation.
Mr. Ricafort said the extension of the modified enhanced community quarantine also backed the peso’s appreciation on Thursday as this could affect imports.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Wednesday night placed Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, and Cavite under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from May 1 to 14.
Meanwhile, a trader said the peso strengthened due to profit-taking after its depreciation on Wednesday.
For today, Mr. Ricafort gave a forecast range of P48.27 to P48.37 per dollar while the trader expects the local unit to play around the P48.25 to P48.45 band. — LWTN with Reuters
SHARES closed higher on Thursday on last-minute bargain hunting and as the country recorded slightly lower new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases the previous day.
The Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) rose by 18.37 points or 0.28% to close at 6,487.51 on Thursday, while the broader all shares index gained 10.46 points or 0.26% to end at 3,967.96.
“The local bourse traded mostly in the red territory after the government extended the MECQ (modified enhanced community quarantine) in Greater Manila, which would adversely affect those businesses that are prohibited to operate, as well as those whose operations are at a limited capacity only like restaurants, malls, etc,” Philstocks Financial, Inc. Research Associate Claire T. Alviar said in a Viber message.
“Last-minute bargain hunting lifted the PSEi,” Ms. Alviar added.
Meanwhile, First Metro Investment Corp. (FMIC) Head of Research Cristina S. Ulang said the 6,300 level is “proving to be a strong support” for the PSEi.
“Narrow range trading continues in a show of market resiliency anchored on recovery hopes inspired by [the] International Monetary Fund’s 6.5% GDP (gross domestic product) growth outlook this year,” Ms. Ulang said in a separate Viber message.
AAA Southeast Equities, Inc. Research Head Christopher John J. Mangun said the lower COVID-19 cases reported on Wednesday made investors optimistic.
“[However,] trading volumes remain low which signals a lack of interest from investors due to the uncertainty and the lack of justification for high valuations,” Mr. Mangun said in an e-mail.
The Health department reported 6,896 new COVID-19 infections on Wednesday. However, on Thursday, new cases rose to 8,276, which brought total infections to 1,028,738.
All sectoral indices posted gains on Thursday except for holding firms, which declined by 15.52 points or 0.23% to finish at 6,558.43.
Meanwhile, mining and oil increased by 251.22 points or 2.73% to end at 9,447.52; services climbed by 11.84 points or 0.82% to 1,455.52; property gained 22.99 points or 0.73% to 3,166.93; industrials rose by 34.95 points or 0.40% to close at 8,709.65; and financials went up by 4.29 points or 0.30% to 1,410.28.
Value turnover declined to P4.73 billion on Thursday with 4.23 billion shares traded, from the P5.31 billion with 2.91 billion issues the previous day.
Advancers outnumbered decliners, 107 against 92, while 45 names closed unchanged.
Net foreign selling dropped to P394.39 million from the P617.51 million seen on Wednesday.
AAA Southeast Equities’ Mr. Mangun said he expects the market to continue trading sideways in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, FMIC’s Ms. Ulang expects the PSEi to trade in a “narrow range” of 6,300 to 6,500.
“But next week with inflation tempering, relaxation of business reopening guidelines of flexible MECQ, plus arrival of vaccines, buying appetite toward bargain good names will return and provide a market uplift,” she said. — Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte
THE PHILIPPINES won’t end patrols in the South China Sea, President Rodrigo R. Duterte said on Wednesday night, adding that the country’s sovereignty is nonnegotiable.
Tensions over the sea, which China claims almost entirely, have spiked as Beijing refuses to withdraw vessels from Philippine waters and Manila boosts sea patrols. Mr. Duterte is under growing domestic pressure to take a harder stance, but has been reluctant to confront China over the issue.
“I read China said we should leave,” the tough-talking leader said in a televised speech. “I now say: Do not leave. Period,” Mr. Duterte told Philippine ships that held drills in the disputed waterway.
Mr. Duterte said Philippine sovereignty over the disputed waterway is nonnegotiable even if it owes China a “debt of gratitude.”
“There are things which are not really subject to a compromise,” the President said. “I hope they will understand, but I have the interest of my country also to protect.”
China’s Foreign Ministry earlier demanded that Manila stop its sea drills in the South China Sea.
Mr. Duterte said the Philippines would not go to war with China over the South China Sea, citing the country’s long-standing friendship with its neighbor.
“We do not want war with China. China is a good friend,” he said in a televised speech, citing Beijing’s donation of coronavirus vaccines.
“So China — let it be known — is a good friend and we do not want trouble with them, especially a war,” Mr. Duterte said.
China has donated at least a million doses of CoronaVac to the Philippines.
Mr. Duterte blamed retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio T. Carpio and former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario for China’s island-building activities in the South China Sea.
He said both had failed to stop Chinese incursions in the area under the administration of his predecessor Benigno S.C. Aquino III.
“I have one question for Carpio and Albert: If you are bright, why did we lose the West Philippine Sea?” Mr. Duterte said in Filipino, referring to areas of the sea within the country’s exclusive economic zone.
He said China’s occupation of certain features in the water happened during their time.
Mr. Carpio and Mr. Del Rosario led the country’s legal fight against China’s claims in the area. An international tribunal in 2016 favored the Philippines and rejected China’s claim to more than 80% of the sea based on a 1940s map.
Mr. Duterte insisted that invoking the legal victory, which he said was nothing but “paper,” constitutes going to war with China.
Mr. Carpio and Mr. Del Rosario and other maritime experts have said the Philippines does not need to go to war to defend its territories.
In a statement on Thursday, Mr. Carpio noted that it was Mr. Duterte who announced that he was “setting aside” the ruling in favor of seeking loans and investments from Beijing worth $22 billion.
‘GALUNGGONG’
“Today, less than 5% of those loans and investments have materialized even as President Duterte is already leaving office next year,” he said. Mr. Duterte had also allowed China to fish in the country’s territorial waters, he added.
“We even import galunggong (round scad) now from China, the same galunggong that Chinese fishermen take in the West Philippine Sea.”
Mr. Duterte also “remained absolutely silent” when China seized a sand bar just two nautical miles from Thitu Island near Palawan province in 2017, the former magistrate said.
“China’s seizure of Sandy Cay has resulted in the loss of one-third of our territorial sea in Pag-asa, a loss of maritime area three times larger than the land area of Quezon City,” Mr. Carpio said. “Still, the President has declared ‘I simply love President Xi Jinping.’”
“Filipinos deserve, and should demand, a President who loves Filipinos first and foremost and who will uncompromisingly defend Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea,” he added.
Mr. Duterte last week said he would only deploy warships to the South China Sea once Beijing starts drilling for oil and taking other key resources.
He also said he would not quarrel with China over fish since there is not enough in the area, something that the local fishery bureau and political analysts corrected.
He said drilling oil from areas within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone is not part of the country’s agreement with China.
He blamed his predecessor for failing to maintain Philippine presence in the area. Mr. Duterte said the Philippines would not be able to gain control of its territories in the disputed waterway “without bloodshed.”
The Philippines has fired off several diplomatic protests against China after authorities spotted a swarm of Chinese vessels, including six war ships within its waters in the South China Sea.
Two Houbei class missile warships were spotted at Mischief Reef, one Corvette class warship at the Fiery Cross Reef and one navy tugboat at Subi Reef, according to a Philippine task force on border security.
Two Chinese coast guard vessels were also spotted at Thitu Island, which the Philippines calls Kalayaan, according to a report based on patrols by Philippine authorities on April 11.
The Philippine task force said more than 200 Chinese ships were scattered in waters within its exclusive economic zone. About 15 vessels either manned by Chinese militia, People’s Liberation Army Navy or the Chinese Coast Guard had also been spotted at the Scarborough Shoal.
Meanwhile, about 240 Chinese vessels that China claims are ordinary fishing vessels have spread out to a wider area in the South China Sea, the agency said. The ships allegedly manned by Chinese maritime forces were scattered across the Spratlys, about 175 nautical miles west of Palawan province, it added.
It said 136 vessels were seen at Gaven Reef and more than 60 vessels were at McKennan Reef.
The rest of the ships were scattered in other parts of the disputed territory — 11 at the Second Thomas Shoal, nine at Whitsun Reef, six at Mischief Reef, five at Loaita Island, four at Thitu Island, three at Subi Reef and one at West York Island. The ships were about 60 meters long.
The Philippines has summoned China’s ambassador to convey its “utmost displeasure” over the continued presence of Chinese militia vessels at Whitsun Reef.
Meanwhile, Senator Risa N. Hontiveros-Baraquel said the Philippines is not indebted to China despite its donation of coronavirus vaccines.
“The donated vaccines should not be in exchange for our rights in the West Philippine sea,” she said in a statement in Filipino.
Senator Grace S. Poe-Llamanzares said the government should assert the country’s rights and protect Filipino fishermen by continuing to patrol the sea.
“Our presence in the West Philippine Sea is an unyielding display that we are standing our ground on what is ours and securing our people’s productive access to our marine resources,” she said in a statement. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza and Vann Marlo M. Villegas
THE PHILIPPINES took delivery of about 500,000 more doses of CoronaVac made by China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd. on Thursday, according to the Presidential Palace.
About 1.5 million more doses of CoronaVac would arrive on May 7, presidential spokesman Herminio “Harry” L. Roque, Jr. told a televised news briefing.
The country expects to receive 500,000 more doses of CoronaVac next month, vaccine czar Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. told the same briefing. About 4.5 million doses of CoronaVac will arrive in June, he added.
The Philippines has received 3.5 million doses of CoronaVac, including one million doses donated by China.
Mr. Galvez said the shipment of about 15,000 doses of Sputnik V developed by Russia’s Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, which was supposed to be delivered on Wednesday, is expected to arrive on May 1.
The Department of Health (DoH) reported 8,276 coronavirus infections on Thursday, bringing the total to 1.03 million. The death toll rose by 114 to 17,145, while recoveries increased by 6,636 to 942,239, it said in a bulletin.
There were 69,354 active cases, 1.1% of which were critical, 94.9% were mild, 1.6% did not show symptoms, 1.4% were severe and 0.92% were moderate.
About 11 million Filipinos have been tested for the coronavirus as of April 27, according to DoH’s tracker website.
The coronavirus has sickened about 150.3 million and killed 3.2 million people worldwide, according to the Worldometers website, citing various sources including data from the World Health Organization.
About 127.8 million people have recovered, it said.
Mr. Galvez said the government expects to take delivery of as many as 10 million coronavirus vaccines starting June.
About 2.3 million doses of the vaccine developed by Pfizer, Inc. will arrive not later than June. Mr. Galvez said the shipment already includes the 117,000 doses of Pfizer vials that were supposed to arrive in February.
About 94,000 doses of the vaccine developed by Moderna, Inc. and two million doses of Sputnik V are also expected to arrive in June.
At least 1.3 million doses of the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca, Plc, which were paid for by the private sector, will arrive in the second half.
The Philippines aims to vaccinate 70 million Filipinos this year, but as of April 27, only about 1.8 million doses have been given out. Mr. Galvez said the government expects to vaccine 500,000 Filipinos daily in the third quarter.
Meanwhile, Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez told Radyo 5 he was recommending the reopening of some salon and barbershop operations in areas under a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) to fast-track job recovery.
The government has extended the modified strict lockdown in Metro Manila and nearby provinces until May 14.
Personal care services such as beauty salons, massage therapy, cosmetic clinics, nail spas and reflexology centers are barred in areas under the modified lockdown.
Trade Undersecretary Ruth B. Castelo told a separate news briefing the agency had recommended allowing personal care services to open at 50% capacity and restaurants to offer indoor dining with an initial 10% capacity. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Vann Marlo M. Villegas and Jenina P. Ibañez
JUSTICE Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra has admitted that the escalation of red-tagging activities by state agents can be linked to a provision in the new anti-terror law that criminalizes recruitment and memberships in terrorist groups.
“There is a provision in the anti-terrorism law about recruitment and membership in terrorist organizations and punishes those acts accordingly, (which may be related) to the percent of what’s happening now that certain persons or group of persons are being tagged as communist or terrorist or subversive or enemies of the state,” Mr. Guevarra said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel on Thursday.
He explained that prior to the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, joining or supporting the communist movement was not illegal as the 1957 anti-subversion law that criminalized involvement in such groups was repealed in 1992.
The United States Department designated the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization on Aug. 9, 2002. The Philippine government, through a proclamation signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte in Dec. 2017, also declared the CPP-NPA as a terrorist organization.
University of the Philippines’ College of Law Associate Professor Rowena E.V. Daroy-Morales said while “red-tagging cannot be avoided,” it should not be made normal practice by government representatives as it goes against basic freedoms.
“Why do we need to avoid any kind of tagging? We are proud of being a democratic country, of freedom of speech and freedom of press in our Constitution, so paano natin sasabihin na dapat maging ganyan o dapat hindi maging ganyan (how can we dictate one’s actions),” she said in a phone interview with BusinessWorld on Wednesday.
“There was no such thing as red-tagging until it evolved. It is a moral process more than a legal process,” she added. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago
A SENATOR urged the government to convert unused stimulus funds to assist micro businesses and individual workers heavily affected by the coronavirus pandemic but do not qualify for aid or loans under current guidelines.
In a statement, Senator Maria Imelda Josefa R. Marcos said the “sluggish disbursement” of stimulus funds can be addressed by converting the budget for the loan programs of state banks and pension funds into “more direct forms of assistance” like wage subsidies and job programs.
“For example, despite 65% of carinderias (eateries) and small neighborhood shops having temporarily or permanently closed, this target group cannot access these loans, being mere barangay-level operations that are not qualified according to the requirements of the Small Business Corporation and the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry),” she said.
Ms. Marcos also said that even micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that are qualified to borrow will be hesitant to take out a loan amid the pandemic. “Until there is a clearer policy on imposing community quarantines, they will lack the confidence of being able to pay back,” she said.
Ms. Marcos noted that only P3.3 billion of the P10 billion allotted for the DTI’s COVID-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises under Bayanihan II has been lent out. The P6 billion allotted for those affected in the tourism sector may also remain unutilized until the vaccine rollout expands and tourist confidence is boosted, she said.
The funds that were provided by the LANDBANK of the Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines, and Philguarantee Corporation are “similarly slow-moving,” according to the senator.
The amounts should be formed into cash assistance distributed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Labor and Employment, or through the Social Security System, “plus other direct subsidies for digitizing, retrofitting, retooling, and retraining MSMEs,” she said. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas
THE TASK force leading the government’s pandemic response said on Thursday the administration is currently discussing with experts the viability of a plan to provide aftercare programs for coronavirus patients.
“We have talked to experts so we can explore ‘yung further mental care and social healing,” Secretary Carlito G. Galvez told a televised news briefing, noting that some coronavirus survivors have experienced mental health problems.
Mr. Galvez, chief of the pandemic plan implementation, said mental care and social healing programs are necessary to facilitate the recovery of survivors who have experienced abandonment and isolation. “Maraming mga pamilya ang nagbi-breakdown dahil kasi nakikita natin hindi nila alam ng gagawin (There are many families that break down because we see that they are at a loss on what to do),” he said.
Presidential Spokesman Herminio “Harry” L. Roque, Jr., for his part, said the program is part of the government’s “reintegration” program for coronavirus patients.
The task force has yet to discuss the matter, Mr. Roque said at the same briefing. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza
THE DEPARTMENT of Agrarian Reform is partnering with the Philippine National Police for a program that aims to help rebel returnees through farm livelihood.
Agrarian Reform Secretary John R. Castriciones said in a statement on Thursday that the department and the police, through its Calabarzon regional office, will sign a memorandum of understanding on April 30 for the Sitio Kapayapaan (SIKAP) Buhay program.
Under the program, a model farm will be developed in Kalayaan, Laguna where former rebels can train on farming skills and technology.
“We contribute in the peace-building efforts of the government by giving the rebel returnees livelihood and properties that could also contribute in securing the country’s food supply,” Mr. Castriciones said.
After training, the returnees will be transferred to three settlement areas in the provinces of Laguna, Quezon, and Rizal where they will be given a piece of land where they can apply their farming skills.
“The lands that they would receive are idle government-owned lands provided by the DAR, while the rebel returnees who are willing to participate in the SIKAP-Buhay Project are screened by the PNP-Police Regional Office 4A,” the department said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
GLOBE TELECOM, Inc. has partnered with University of Mindanao (UM) for the installation of a cell tower that will boost coverage in the school’s Matina campus as well as Davao City’s central area.
“This is an area where we were challenged in terms of internet and connectivity. What happened in Dec. 23, 2016 when NCCC Mall was razed by fire, where we had a temporary cell site on top of the building, when it got burned down the signal and coverage in this particular area got compromised,” Ric Angelo Aquino, regional sales head of Globe MyBusiness South Mindanao, said in an interview during the site’s inauguration on Tuesday.
The tower delivers an average speed of 30mbps, he said.
The campus is located near several other academic institutions, the city’s downtown area, and residential neighborhoods.
The project broke ground in Feb. 2020, prior to the imposition of coronavirus-related restrictions.
“Today’s inauguration of the cell site comes at a time when interconnectivity is needed more than ever,” says Edward Anthony Go, first vice chairman of the UM Board of Trustees. He also said they are looking forward to “the continued partnership with Globe, with the hope of improving and uplifting the lives of our community.”
UM is a private, non-sectarian academic institution with five other campuses in different parts of Davao Region. Under the partnership, UM teachers and students get a limited free internet access from Globe.
The Ayala-led firm and the university first teamed up in 2017 for the Digital Thumbprint Program, which was intended to help schools gain a better understanding of the importance of digital connectivity and online security.
“It is part of our vision to empower teachers and students with the latest technology so that the graduates of UM become responsible citizens that contribute to the country’s growing and thriving economy,” Mr. Aquino said. — Maya M. Padillo
THE CLINICAL trial for anti-parasitic drug ivermectin as treatment for coronavirus may start by end-May within Metro Manila, the Department of Science and Technology said.
Jaime C. Montoya, executive director of the agency’s Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, said they are looking at conducting the trial in the capital region for faster recruitment of around 1,200 participants. “The study will actually target mild cases, and some moderate cases, but these are patients seen in the quarantine facilities,” he told an online briefing.
“Because based on the review of the Living CPG (Clinical Practice Guidelines) and the recommendation of the World Health Organization, these are the type of patients na insufficient ang evidence (where evidence is insufficient) for benefit of ivermectin,” he added.
Marissa M. Alejandria, president of the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, said the trial will also look at whether the drug will prevent progression to severe disease and hospitalization as well as faster resolution of symptoms and viral clearance.
Mr. Montoya said the trial will also be “very useful” in monitoring the possible side effects of the drug that may be unique to Filipinos.
The Department of Health on Wednesday said there is still insufficient evidence to recommend the use of the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.
“There is that remark that the quality of evidence is very low,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire told an online briefing, citing the reevaluation of evidence on ivermectin as a treatment for the COVID-19 issued by group of medical societies, including the Health department and Food and Drug Administration (FDA). She said ivermectin is not recommended for severe COVID-19 cases and combining it with doxycycline, which is used to treat bacterial infections. Ms. Vergeire said only hospitals granted a compassionate special permit by the local drug regulator are allowed to distribute ivermectin.
Only five facilities had been allowed to use the drug against the coronavirus under a special permit, FDA Director-General Rolando Enrique D. Domingo said in a mobile phone message on Tuesday. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas
THE DEPARTMENT of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said on Thursday that it will be issuing a notice of violation against the owner of MV Sarangani, which was identified as the source of untreated wastewater dumped at the Manila Bay over the weekend.
Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu visited the area Monday where he discussed the incident with the coast guard and local authorities. In a media release issued on Thursday, he was quoted as saying that they hope to get to the bottom of the issue.
Samples taken from the discharge area showed a level of effluent fecal coliform at 1,700 most probable number per 100 milliliters (MPN/100 mL), said DENR Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs Jonas R. Leones.
The standard effluent fecal coliform level is at 200 MPN/100 mL.
Meanwhile, data from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) also showed that ambient fecal coliform stood at 2,400 MPN/100 mL, higher than the standard 100 MPN/100 mL. Oil and grease traced to MV Sarangani reached 19 milligrams per liter (mg/L), which exceeded the standard of 5 mg/L.
“We found out that the wastewater from the vessel is above the standard of the DENR. On this basis, we can now issue a Notice of Violation to the owner,” Mr. Leones said.
A technical conference will be held to hear MV Sarangani’s side.
Once due process is completed, the EMB and coast guard will file a case against the shipowner before the Manila Bay Task Force.
Mr. Leones said the shipowner may face charges for violating the Clean Water Act, the Marine Pollution Decree, and Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, among others. “If held liable, based on the provisions of the Clean Water Act, the vessel owner has to pay a daily fine ranging from P10,000 to P200,000 from the start of the discharge until such time that it has cleaned up the affected area,” the DENR said.
To prevent similar incidents, Mr. Cimatu said the department will implement a 2.5 kilometer no-entry zone for vessels, except for those that will deliver dolomite for the DENR’s ongoing beach nourishment project in the bay. — Angelica Y. Yang
