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Deadly serious

The call for a “revolutionary government” by the pompously named Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte National Executive Coordinating Committee may seem absurd and cluelessly sophomoric, but it is not just the joke some observers have described it to be. It is a deadly serious threat, as both the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the Philippine Bar Association have warned, for espousing which, some lawyers have argued, the instigators should be charged with inciting to sedition.

Mr. Duterte’s spokesperson and his secretary of justice airily dismissed the call as just one group exercising its right to free expression — but without reminding its members that right is protected by the very same Constitution they want to trash. Free expression or not, the campaign for a revolutionary government is nevertheless enough of a challenge to the fragile Constitutional order that has been in constant danger under strongman rule for many to be alarmed.

The likely reason behind it is the instigators’ fears that time is running out for their patron. Those fears are based not only on the approaching end of Mr. Duterte’s term in 2022, but also on the possibility that he is not in the best of health and may not even complete his six-year term of office.

In the process of making their fears public, his partisans have unwittingly confirmed what much of the public has long suspected but hasn’t been quite sure of: that despite his cohorts’ frequent denials, and in confirmation of his own recent public declaration that his Barrett’s esophagus is getting worse and may become cancerous, Mr. Duterte is seriously ill.

What the open advocates and secret sponsors of a “revolutionary government” want is to prevent from happening what the Constitution mandates: their protector’s being succeeded by the current vice-president should he be incapacitated by health issues.

Their fears are driven not only by Vice-President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo’s not being among Mr. Duterte’s true believers. They are also premised on the assumption that once in power she could begin the difficult but doable process of putting an end not only to the plague of corruption that has spread throughout government but also to the exemption from punishment — the impunity — of wrongdoers in it.

But even if Mr. Duterte finishes his term, they also fear that whoever he chooses to run for President — will it be the boxer-cum-senator Manuel Pacquiao, his daughter Sara, or his senator-aide Christopher “Bong” Go? — may not win the 2022 elections as handily as he did in 2016, when, because of the number of candidates then, he won the country’s highest elective post, although only with 35% of the votes.

The opposition parties should have enough sense to unite and field only one candidate in 2022 in the person of Vice-President Robredo. It isn’t just because there is no one else. Despite the efforts of regime trolls, its print and broadcasting hacks, and its flunkies in the government media system, Mrs. Robredo is also gaining a quality following among academics and professionals as well as the poor who want competence and honesty in government. The growth of support, respect, and admiration for her is one of the consequences of the lethal impact on vast numbers of Filipinos of the Duterte regime’s sorry record of governance as most glaringly demonstrated by its disastrous handling of the COVID-19 crisis.

Despite the pandemic and the consequent demands on meaningful leadership during the crisis, and the billions at his disposal, Mr. Duterte has mostly been elsewhere other than his office for days and even weeks at a time. When he does appear in public he provides citizens little relief from their fears of contagion, and their worries over where their next meals are coming from.

Although with limited resources, Mrs. Robredo has in contrast managed to address the economic and other difficulties of many Filipinos as well as provide medical frontliners the protective gear they need in the course of doing their jobs at the risk of their own lives. Its failure to stem the tide of unemployment and hunger and the continuing surge in the number of coronavirus infections is costing the Duterte regime dearly in the support of even its most ardent followers, some of whom are already migrating to the Robredo bloc.

Whether early or late, Mrs. Robredo’s assuming the Presidency could mean not only the end of the unlimited and unaccountable access to public funds regime accomplices, cronies, and collaborators now enjoy, but quite possibly, even their being tried and penalized for their crimes.

To forestall that catastrophe, Mr. Duterte’s minions are planning the demise of the 1987 Constitution and the framing of a new one by the very same creatures who would most benefit from it. It doesn’t matter to them what the costs to the country will be, among them the economy’s likely descent into a full-scale depression as political chaos and uncertainty shut down even more enterprises and foreign investors pull out of the country; the passing of the Republic and the rule of law as various forces contend violently for political dominance; and, worst of all, the destruction of what little remains of democratic institutions as one-man rule becomes the norm even after Mr. Duterte passes from the scene.

Rather than being about meaningful change, any so-called “revolutionary government” that’s established in the present context will be the exact opposite of what “revolutionary” means. A truly revolutionary government would, among others, lead the country to a sustainable peace, to development and political stability, assure the marginalized a voice in governance, and respect human rights.

Mr. Duterte has denied any link with the instigators, and so have his police and military officials. But as his own apologists insist, he does not always mean what he says or says what he means, and neither do his subordinates. Those declarations should not lull anyone into thinking that the proposal for him to lead a “revolutionary government” does not have his support and that of his police and military generals. He has after all threatened a number of times to declare it as the “antidote” to the complexities of democratic rule — and his wish is the latter’s command.

Neither should anyone delude themselves into believing that there are enough legal barriers to prevent that atrocity’s being forced on the people of this country. The lessons of history simply say otherwise.

Despite a spate of credible reports in 1972 that Mr. Duterte’s idol and mentor, Ferdinand Marcos, was planning a coup against the Republic and the Constitution by declaring martial law, few took the threat seriously in the belief that the Philippine “show window of democracy” was more than capable of defending itself from the ambitions of any would-be fascist overlord.

Everyone was soon disabused of that illusion when the entire country woke up in the morning of Sept. 23 with a president-for-life in Malacañang; the police and military empowered to arrest, detain, torture and murder anyone; only static over radio; no television and no newspapers; and worst of all, no Bill of Rights.

The lawyers are right to be alarmed. As outlandish and as deceptive as it may be, like Marcos’ martial law, a so-called “revolutionary government” can devastate this country as well unless everyone takes it seriously enough to oppose it for what it is: a plot against the Republic, the Constitution, and the entire Filipino nation. 

 

Luis V. Teodoro is on Facebook and Twitter (@luisteodoro).

www.luisteodoro.com

Appealing for the WTO’s Appellate Body

Perhaps the best main feature of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has to do with its dispute settlement system. Through a combination of well defined timelines, a “buy-in” of all the WTO members with regard to the jurisdiction of the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), and the interest of the members to make it work, the WTO’s dispute system has for a long time been considered the best in the international legal system.

Disputes are normally initiated if a WTO member considers that any benefit accruing to it directly or indirectly under the WTO agreements are being “nullified or impaired or that the attainment of any objective [thereof] is being impeded as the result of (a) the failure of another contracting party to carry out its obligations under the [WTO agreements], or (b) the application by another contracting party of any measure, whether or not it conflicts with the provisions of th[e WTO agreements], or (c) the existence of any other situation.” Which is a long, convoluted way of saying that WTO members can file cases anytime they feel like it.

If “consultations” between the disputing members don’t work out, then the complaining party may request for the establishment of a panel. Panels are usually made up of three members (sometimes, in quite rare instances, five). Panel members are selected with a view to ensuring the independence of the members, a sufficiently diverse background and a wide spectrum of experience. When a dispute is between a developing country Member and a developed country Member (as in the case of DS396), the panel shall, if the Philippines so insist, for example, include at least one panelist from a developing country Member.

The panel’s powers are usually laid down in what is called the terms of reference. Normally, the terms would read something like: “To examine, in the light of the relevant provisions in (name of the covered agreement(s) cited by the parties to the dispute), the matter referred to the DSB by (name of party) in document … and to make such findings as will assist the DSB in making the recommendations or in giving the rulings provided for in that/those agreement(s).”

After the panel process, a party may appeal to the Appellate Body (AB), which works as some sort of “supreme court” of the WTO. Unlike our Supreme Court, however, the AB may only uphold, modify, or reverse the legal findings and conclusions of the panel but not remand.

If the WTO’s DSU has been touted as the “crown jewel” of the international trading system, then the Appellate Body is the jewel within that jewel. The WTO describes it as “composed of seven Members who are appointed by the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB). Each Member of the Appellate Body is required to be a person of recognized authority, with demonstrated expertise in law, international trade and the subject-matter of the covered agreements generally. They are also required to be unaffiliated with any government and are to be broadly representative of the Membership of the WTO.”

Our very own Florentino Feliciano, a former member of the Philippine Supreme Court, was among the first seven appointed to the Appellate Body. He served for six years at the AB, penning some of the most significant and seminal decisions from that body, from the oft-quoted Shrimp-Turtle case (relating to trade, the environment, and State sovereignty), the US Foreign Sales Corporation tax case (which resulted in the biggest ever WTO permitted retaliation valued at $4 billion), and a ruling on duties of imported steel which allowed the filing of amicus curiae briefs by NGOs and private individuals (other than WTO State members).

Unfortunately, the Appellate Body is barely functioning at the moment. If at all. Presently, it has only one member, Chinese lawyer Hong Zhao, whose term ends this year. The reason for the AB’s sorry state stems from US frustrations on ruling against its “zeroing” practice relating to anti-dumping cases.

Additionally, as described by the Council for Foreign Relations, the US complains of — amongst other things — that “the Appellate Body’s frequent failure to complete appeals in the required 90 days, arguing that a rules-based system needs the adjudicators themselves to follow the rules.” Also, the US “contends that the Appellate Body exceeds its authority in reviewing and sometimes overruling factual findings by panels, despite a mandate that appeals be limited to issues of law.” Another, and more fundamentally, the US “asserts that the Appellate Body has overstepped its bounds by reaching decisions that go beyond the text of the agreements themselves, potentially taking away rights or adding to US obligations.”

The WTO is certainly in a precarious condition, currently leaderless after Roberto Azevêdo vacated the Director-General position last Monday (Aug. 31). With an appellate Body also floundering about, a rudderless WTO is the last thing the world needs right now as the global economy seeks to regain footing after many countries’ ill-advised lockdowns.

 

Jemy Gatdula is a Senior Fellow of the Philippine Council for Foreign Relations and a Philippine Judicial Academy law lecturer for constitutional philosophy and jurisprudence.

jemygatdula@yahoo.com

www.jemygatdula.blogspot.com

facebook.com/jemy.gatdula

Twitter @jemygatdula

Illusion and transformation

The eminent psychologist Gustav Carl Jung explained that every individual has two sides — the anima (mind, soul or true self) and the persona (assumed or externalized self).

Alphonse Karr, the 19th century French writer, observed man’s nature as having three characters: “That which he shows, that which he has and that which he thinks he has.”

These theories apply to the prominent personalities in the public consciousness. The past months of lockdown, people have been active with the internet, social media, and television. For connection and entertainment. There has been shown a diverse parade of interesting contrasting characters.

Pope Francis is one major character whose constant assuring, comforting, spiritual and paternal presence has calmed the fears of the Catholic laity and millions who have needed solace. Throughout the season of Lent, Easter until Pentecost. It was much better to watch him at the daily Vatican live Mass and rites than to cringe at the chaos of the pandemic around and the dark news on TV.

The decline of show business and the absence of a major network have made life harsher, difficult and disorienting.

In the local scene, some obscure neophytes were suddenly thrust in front of the TV camera. The image builders do not have time to polish and transform them into a more attractive package. The veterans have the advantage of past experience. They switch the charm on and off, as needed. The grizzled politicians growl and issue sarcastic statements. The supercilious instant power trippers appear on the small screen with conflicting, confusing statements.

Each one tries to upstage the others, to attract attention and to command respect and to gain credibility. It has become a mad, whirling circus. Between the storms of world health and politics, we are tossed around grasping for an anchor or seeking shelter in a temporary refuge. The new normal seems to be a surreal illusion. We should keep the faith and hang on tight during this endless wild ride.

“When I was young, I used to think that money was the most important thing in life; now that I am old, I know it is.” Oscar Wilde, British playwright, writer, and wit.

In the material world, money talks. It is a currency to purchase goods, services and only the essential things. On another level, it is used to persuade, motivate, coerce, influence, alter, and dissuade.

Money enhances one’s quality of life. It is a means to an end. There are tremendous psychic returns when it is used to improve the lives of others —  through education, scholarship and research grants, community livelihood.

The stylish Duchess of Windsor, once remarked, “One can never be too rich nor too thin.”

Wealth has its limitations. It cannot buy character, breeding, natural elegance, and all the good qualities such as kindness, compassion and courage.

In the case of sudden fortune and fame, the arriviste is hurled into a different stratosphere wherein the nouveau riche flaunts possessions and moves in grandiose flamboyance. High above the earth and the pull of gravity, he is in orbit. Far removed from reality, he becomes giddy and dizzy with a distorted perspective, impaired vision and imbalance. The altitude and the attitude cause it.

Money has been equated with status, success and power. The lack of it spells social loss and failure.

The pretentious and calculating people quantify their neighbors’ assets. They measure net worth by a yardstick. Will they be useful? How much can we get? How much can they give?

The bottom line is vital.

Money has had a deteriorating, blinding effect on people. Those who are vulnerable change radically. The quality of their relationships diminishes in inverse proportion to the level of material success.

Fair weather and success attract false friends and sycophants. The number of satellites depends on a star’s estimated gross value. When the star dims, and his fortune is depleted, the predators and parasites vanish in search of greener pasture and new benefactors.

Money makes the world go round. It is all an illusion.

Before the virus crisis, people indulged in luxuries, safari trips and pilgrimages, fancy gadgets and expensive accessories in a carefree manner. Months into quarantine, there have been palpable changes.

Health is a priority.

People are more careful with money.

Luxury is irrelevant and not politically correct (PC). There are no events and no reasons to flaunt things.

A fog of melancholy and sad stillness has descended.

Money can prolong one’s life to a certain extent but it cannot make miracles to cure a critical illness.

People are aware that the brave frontliners need help. The homeless and the hungry need shelter and food. Generous and kind people give material goods to alleviate the plight of those who have lost family members and jobs.

One can see the power of prayer and how it unites people.

January was an illusion. We thought that this new decade would be a great one. It cracked and morphed into a shockingly different world. The stark reality of the new normal is so difficult to understand and accept.

But we must trust the Divine.

Despite the crisis, we can see the blessings. Nature and the earth are being refreshed and rejuvenated.

The inner transformation is happening.

 

Maria Victoria Rufino is an artist, writer and businesswoman. She is president and executive producer of Maverick Productions.

mavrufino@gmail.com

Consumers are waiting for sales, delaying big purchases — survey

By Mariel Alison L. Aguinaldo

Eight out of 10 shoppers are looking to reward themselves across the holiday season by purchasing electronic devices and by traveling — an optimistic stance that assumes travel will be permissible by the end of 2020. 

They may be looking to buy these rewards through sales. According to a survey by Facebook and data company YouGov, 60% of Filipino shoppers have made purchases during sales. 

Upcoming sales include the “9.9” sale on September 9; and the usual November sales: Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Singles Day. 

 “A deal can be seen in two ways. Am I saving money on this deal versus what I got before? Or am I getting the same price but getting better quality? People do that calculation of saying, ‘Maybe I’ll pay the same, but am I getting 15% more? Or am I getting something of a better quality?” said John Rubio, country director of Facebook Philippines, during a virtual press briefing on August 28. 

To capture a bigger share of the market, Mr. Rubio advised sellers to offer free delivery, cash-on-delivery payments, and discounts or coupons.

COVID-10 has made consumers more comfortable with e-commerce, with 46% saying that they will be shopping online more frequently even after the pandemic.

According to the Facebook and YouGov survey, a majority of Filipinos browse the most through the Facebook family of applications—which includes Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp—for gifting inspiration. 

Marketers should also consider that most of their online content is consumed on mobile phones. Mr. Rubio cited a study by market research firm Global Web Index (GWI) that showed 82% of Filipinos have been spending the most time on their mobile phones since the COVID-19 pandemic began; the mobile phone’s popularity cuts across generations as it is the most used device among members of Gen Z, millennials, and baby boomers.

The Facebook Mega Sales & Holiday 2020 Insight is based on third-party sources including GWI’s Coronavirus Research from April 22 to 27; Facebook conversion and conversation data from October 1, 2019 to January 31, 2020; and surveys done in partnership with YouGov, which polled 1,194 holiday shoppers in the Philippines aged 18 and above from December 2 to 24, 2019. 

A Career on lock

Career opportunities at Mondelez Philippines amidst the pandemic

Starting a career can often be a daunting task—going through job searches, interviews, and feeling anxious on the “first day” of work.  For many of us this can be all too overwhelming, what more during a pandemic?

With parts of the country still placed under quarantine, tech-savvy companies and organizations like Mondelez Philippines have successfully transitioned to a work-from-home (WFH) setup and have retained a sense of continuity. This applies as well to its recruitment. Even amidst the pandemic, the organization continues to hire people for critical roles, having recently welcomed aboard eleven new employees who are part of the Company’s EDGE Stars.

Fresh grads Carrell Calderon, Gia Supetran, and Celine Co are starting their careers in the most unusual circumstance. Having recently been accepted for Mondelez Philippines’ EDGE Stars program, the trio were absorbed into the company during the lockdown. The EDGE Stars are graduate trainees who have the right stuff, the right leadership competencies and learning agility. This is the 13th batch of Mondelez Philippines’ graduate trainees, having started their pioneering leadership development program in 2009.  It has since welcomed 166 fresh graduates for the past 11 years and itsalumni now comprise the managers and leaders of the Company.

Calderon is a Management Engineering graduate from Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU). He was in the midst of job hunting when the virus struck. “The pandemic certainly introduced so much uncertainty to my future given that this is a once in a lifetime event. Most companies started to freeze hire when the pandemic started, and it struck me because I felt like all my efforts into job hunting would be for nothing.”

Determined to find work, he spent his time discerning his future and taking up online courses. “I do a lot of scouting before applying to any company and Mondelez Philippines was a standout. I heard so many good things about the company’s culture and its long-standing graduate program.”

Faced with the opportunity of working with global brands such as OREO and Cadbury Dairy Milk, joining Mondelez Philippines was a no-brainer for Calderon. However, his first day on the job went a little differently – in a good way. “While nothing beats going to the office and meeting everyone face-to-face, the HR team behind the virtual onboarding has done a terrific job in utilizing the technology to give us a warm welcome to the organization.”

Mondelez Philippines offers many opportunities to “Make It” inside the Company. One of the highlights of being partof the snacks maker is the opportunity to “Make it with Pride” by working with beloved brands that people have grown up with. And more importantly, become part of building their future.

The company builds community partnerships as it searches for gems in the pool of great talents across the Philippines. It’s strongly committed to developing future leaders from its early careers program. At the same time, the Company aims to contribute to the Philippines economy even while on lockdown by offering great products and brands for consumers to enjoy at home, helping alleviate unemployment, and provide exciting career opportunities for its people.

Gia Supetran is an Industrial Management Engineering graduate from De La Salle University (DLSU). She had previously joined the company’s iTaste: Lean Six Sigma competition during her senior year. When the virus struck, she had just completed her time in college.

“Throughout the quarantine, my parents’ safety has always been a vital concern of mine. Because of this, the task of finding a job after graduating, has been my top priority. Knowing that there is a problem of unemployment in the world right now, I felt the competition to land a job was more challenging,” Supetran recalled.

Fortunately, her experience during the iTaste competition acquainted her with the company and she was hired as one of the two EDGE Stars for Mondelez Philippines’ Supply Chain function. “The virtual onboarding process is a different and remarkable experience. It is truly a blessing that despite the quarantine, Mondelez Philippines still managed to open its doors to give opportunities for people, such as myself, to land a job in their company.”

“Onboarding virtually posed its own challenges but the company has been very understanding of our connectivity issues,” she exclaimed. “Despite this, the schedule planned out by the HR team has been very smooth in transition and no delays occurred.”

Meanwhile, Celine Co is an Industrial Engineering graduate from University of the Philippines Diliman (UP). Fresh from completing her studies, she was thrust into a world of uncertainty due to the pandemic.

“Attending job interviews virtually was something I worried about because I wasn’t used to talking to people through a screen and I was also worried that my internet connection might fail me,” she recounted.

“Luckily, I chose to put those fears aside and stumbled upon a great opportunity at Mondelez,” Co adds. “I applied for the company, specifically the EDGE Stars Program because it provided the opportunity for fresh graduates like us to build our capabilities to become future leaders. The selection process for the program wasn’t easy; we had multiple interviews and a case study, but I was very blessed to have been selected for this program.”

Like her contemporaries, Co’s professional career thus far has been mostly conducted online. She describes her virtual experience as fun and insightful. “Coffee chats with senior leaders and past graduate trainees weresome the meetings I found useful from the onboarding process because I was able to hear their stories and gather great advice from them. The onboarding experience was one-of-a-kind because we all had it virtually. It was a unique experience because we had to learn the culture, people, and ways of workingof the Company through our screens.”

Eager to make a positive contribution, she is grateful for the opportunity to work with a company that reflects her personal values. “I am committing to do my best in everything I do to reach and bring joy to Filipino families whenever they snack, even during the pandemic.”

 

 

How to apply for a sales promo permit

By Mariel Alison L. Aguinaldo

With establishments working to keep the lights on during the COVID-19 pandemic, entrepreneurs have turned to sales promotions as a means of enticing consumers to spend. Sales promos are activities for broad consumer participation which promise some form of gain, such as cash or material prizes, a free product, or monetary discounts.

According to a survey by Facebook and YouGov, price is the greatest purchase consideration for 90% of Filipinos. Sixty percent of Filipinos have also made purchases during sale events.

Here are the steps to follow in applying for a Department of Trade and Industry-Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (DTI-FTEB) sales promo permit.

1. Check if the promotional activity that you had in mind is eligible for application.

Not every activity that offers promises of gain is actually a sales promo. It must have all of the following elements:

• Offers consumer products and services – These are goods and services that are primarily for personal, family, household, or agricultural purposes. Products that fall under food, drugs, devices, cosmetics, and hazardous substances, are under the jurisdiction of the Department of Health – Food and Drug Administration.

Targets consumers – A consumer is a natural person who is the end-user of a product or service. Sales promos, therefore, do not apply to juridical persons such as corporations and firms.

Uses mass media – A promo must be broadcast to the public using the likes of television, radio, broadsheets, and the Internet. Collaterals within the store or mall do not fall under this category.

Has a clear duration – A promo must have a set timeline that runs within one year. Pride reduction promos cannot exceed three months, while closing-out sales cannot exceed six months. However, promos can be extended up to six months upon the approval of the DTI. In this case, promos can run beyond a year. If an extension for a nine-month promo was approved, then it will run for a total of one year and three months.

 

2. Complete the list of requirements set by the DTI.

There are different kinds of sales promos, such as discount promos and raffles. Each one entails their respective set of requirements.

The checklist may be accessed through the IRegIS Portal, under the Sales Promotions tab.

3. Determine the scope of your sales promo.

Aside from being an integral part of the sales promo plan, identifying the area of implementation also determines the office of application.

If the sales promo covers a single province or several provinces in a single region, the application must be filed at the DTI Regional Office where the business’ head office is located.

If it covers the National Capital Region (NCR) or several regions including NCR, the application must be filed at the DTI-FTEB office. It could also be accomplished online through the IRegIS Portal, but this first requires registering the business on Negosyo Konek. This can be done on the Konek Your Business portal.

If the sales promo covers several regions excluding NCR, the application must be filed either at the DTI-FTEB office or at the DTI Regional Office where the business head or coordinating office is located.

Rep. Villar donates tablets to Las Piñas teachers for e-learning

Public schools in Las Piñas City are gearing up as they get ready for distance learning.

Las Piñas Lone District Rep. Camille Villar donated mobile tablets to the Las Piñas City National Senior High School-Talon Dos Campus which teachers can use for holding virtual classes and for making their video lesson learning modules.

“This will give teachers access to technology needed during this period,” Villar said. She also gave face masks and face shields to the school.

Just last month, Villar donated three RISO machines to DepEd-Las Piñas which would be used for the printing of modular learning program materials of various schools.

The congresswoman said this was just an initial batch of donations to the Education sector as she vowed to help them during this crisis.

“We are aware of the various challenges that teachers, children and their parents are facing that is why we are doing this to help facilitate learning as schools go online, we are dedicated to helping in any way we can,” Villar pointed out.

Face-to-face classes are not yet allowed and the Education department would be adopting modular distance learning to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Public schools are due to reopen on October 5.

Present at the turnover were Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Joel Torrecampo, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Juan Obierna, Las Piñas City National Senior High School principal Jennifer Erispe, and Education Program Specialist II-Schools Mobilization and Networking head Raygeinald Villacorta.

Wear a mask while having sex, Canada’s top doctor suggests

OTTAWA — Skip kissing and consider wearing a mask when having sex to protect yourself from catching the coronavirus, Canada’s chief medical officer said on Wednesday, adding that going solo remains the lowest risk sexual option in a pandemic.

Dr. Theresa Tam said in a statement there is little chance of catching COVID-19 from semen or vaginal fluid, but sexual activity with new partners does increase the risk of contracting the virus, particularly if there is close contact like kissing.

“Like other activities during COVID-19 that involve physical closeness, there are some things you can do to minimize the risk of getting infected and spreading the virus,” she said.

Skip kissing, avoid face-to-face closeness, wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose, and monitor yourself and your partner for symptoms ahead of any sexual activity, Ms. Tam said.

“The lowest risk sexual activity during COVID-19 involves yourself alone,” she added.

Sexual health is an important part of overall health, Ms. Tam said, and by taking precautions, “Canadians can find ways to enjoy physical intimacy while safeguarding the progress we have all made containing COVID-19.”

Canada has reported 129,425 cases of COVID-19 and 9,132 deaths, as of Sept 1. New daily cases are far below peak volumes, but there has been a recent uptick, driven by more infections in certain western Canadian provinces. — Reuters

Japan coastguard rescues one person in search for missing NZ livestock ship

WELLINGTON/TOKYO — Japan’s coastguard rescued one person in the search for a cargo ship carrying nearly 6,000 cattle and dozens of crew members that was feared capsized in the East China Sea as Typhoon Maysak lashed the region.

The Gulf Livestock 1 sent a distress call from the west of Amami Oshima island in southwestern Japan. Strong winds and rains from Typhoon Maysak were hampering rescue efforts as the storm moved on to drench the Korean peninsula.

A spokeswoman for the coastguard said one person was rescued on Wednesday night (Tokyo time) during the search for the ship.

The rescued Filipino crew member said the ship’s engine failed before it was hit by a wave and capsized, a second coastguard spokeswoman said.

Pictures provided by the coastguard showed a crew member in a lifejacket being hauled from choppy seas in darkness.

The Gulf Livestock 1 departed Napier in New Zealand on Aug. 14 with 5,867 cattle and 43 crew members on board, bound for the Port of Jingtang in Tangshan, China. The journey was expected to take about 17 days, New Zealand’s foreign ministry told Reuters.

The crew included 39 people from the Philippines, two from New Zealand, and two from Australia, the coastguard said.

The 139-meter, Panamanian-flagged vessel was built in 2002 and the registered owner is Amman-based Rahmeh Compania Naviera SA, according to Refinitiv Eikon data. The ship manager is Hijazi & Ghosheh Co.

New Zealand animal rights organization, SAFE, said the tragedy demonstrated the risks of the live animal export trade.

“These cows should never have been at sea,” said Marianne Macdonald, campaigns manager at SAFE.

“This is a real crisis, and our thoughts are with the families of the 43 crew who are missing with the ship. But questions remain, including why this trade is allowed to continue.”

Last year, New Zealand’s government launched a review of country’s live animal export trade, worth around NZ$54 million ($37 million) in 2019, after thousands of animals being exported from New Zealand and Australia died in transit.

A conditional ban of the live export of cattle was one of several options being considered, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor said. — Reuters

K-Shaped recovery comes to emerging markets as rich get richer

Look no further than emerging markets for evidence that the K-shaped recovery is taking hold.

Stocks and currencies from wealthier developing nations are outperforming their poorer peers amid the coronavirus outbreak, magnifying the gap between the “haves” and “have-nots” of the global economy. The gulf may even get wider if the pandemic leads to deeper recessions in less wealthy nations due to their lower capacity for containing the virus.

A Bloomberg study of 17 emerging markets (EM) has found a 42% correlation between gross domestic product per capita and stock performance since the virus-fueled risk sell-off began on Jan. 20 until early this week. The correlation between GDP per capita and currency returns was 31%.

As long as the virus lasts the K-shaped divergence will continue, said Rob Subbaraman, global head of macro research at Nomura Holdings Inc. in Singapore. “In the EM world with rapidly rising debt and deep recessions, the cost of servicing debt is going to get more burdensome and we cannot rule out some financial crises or major debt restructuring.”

Wealthier emerging markets have been better placed to rebound from the March sell-off due to more advanced technology and governance that have given them greater flexibility to respond to the pandemic. They have been able to limit the impact of lockdowns and social distancing, make larger fiscal responses, and are better equipped with the resources needed to curb the outbreak, such as hospitals, test centers, and quarantine facilities.

Countries such as South Korea and Poland have seen the smallest increase in economic disruptions, according to an effective lockdown index compiled by Goldman Sachs Group Inc. The gauge takes into account a combination of government restrictions that suppress activity and adds social distancing numbers based on Google mobility data. There has been a negative correlation of 54% between Goldman’s gauges and per capita GDP. In turn, countries with the lowest lockdown index have tended to see the best stock market and currency performance.

WIDEST IN ASIA

The rich-poor divide among emerging markets is widest in Asia. The stock returns from the four economies with per capita GDP above $10,000 last year—China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Malaysia—has been 20% above that of the nations which fall below that level, including India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand. While this is partly due to the number of technology companies listed in the former countries, it is also due to the fact that authorities there have been able to spend more to reassure citizens and investors.

South Korea’s fiscal response to the pandemic, including three supplementary budgets, totals 270 trillion won ($228 billion), or about 14% of GDP, providing support to the stock market even as the local outbreak has worsened. In contrast, the Philippine government has said it’s unable to fund the 1.3 trillion pesos ($27 billion) stimulus package approved in June. The nation’s stock market is the region’s worst performer this year, dropping more than 25%.

Looking ahead, lower rates of infection, greater policy space, and stronger health services may help more affluent countries maintain their lead in the economic recovery.

Richer emerging economies are likely to gain access to effective coronavirus vaccines sooner, following the steps of wealthy developed nations. There is even a risk bigger economies will monopolize supply, a scenario that played out in the 2009 swine flu pandemic.

“Not many emerging markets have access to cutting-edge technology, and they will continue to struggle,” said Tsutomu Soma, a bond trader at Monex Inc. in Tokyo. “We will continue to see the divergence in developed and emerging markets going forward.” — Bloomberg

Note: Simon Flint is an emerging-market strategist at Bloomberg News. The observations he makes are his own and not intended as investment advice.

Unemployment hits 10% in July

LATEST official labor data showed a decline in the country’s unemployment and underemployment rates in July compared to April, but were higher when compared to July of last year.

Preliminary results of the Philippine Statistics Authority’s July 2020 round of the Labor Force Survey (LFS) put the unemployment rate at 10% versus 17.7% in April 2020 and 5.4% in July 2019.

This is equivalent to 4.571 million jobless Filipinos, lower than 7.254 million in April, but higher than 2.437 million in July last year.

Likewise, the underemployment rate — the proportion of those already working, but still looking for more work or longer working hours — was 17.3%, down from 18.9% in April but higher than 13.6% in July 2019.

In absolute terms, underemployed Filipinos numbered 7.137 million, higher than 6.388 million and 5.799 million in April 2020 and July 2019, respectively.

The size of the labor force was approximately 45.877 million out of the 74.061 million Filipinos aged at least 15 years old, yielding a labor force participation rate (LFPR) of 61.9%. This was higher than the 55.6% in April, but lower than 62.1% in the same survey round last year.

The employment rate, which is the proportion of the employed to the total labor force, registered at 90%. This was higher than the 82.3% in the previous survey round, but lower than last year’s 94.6%. The actual number of employed Filipinos reached 41.306 million as compared to April’s 33.764 million and July 2019’s 42.521 million. — Michelle Anne P. Soliman

Nationwide round-up

New police chief to focus on drug trade high-value targets

THE NEW police chief, Lt. Gen. Camilo P. Cascolan, will be focusing on the capture and filing of charges against big-time drug dealers. “We will see to it that we will build up cases most especially against high-value individuals,” he said in an interview over Teleradyo on Wednesday, his first day as head of the Philippine National Police (PNP). Mr. Cascolan also acknowledged that street pushers and users, who have been the main casualties in the government’s controversial anti-drug campaign, should not be killed and instead be tapped as leads to the drug trade’s main players. He is one of the authors of Oplan Double Barrel, which became the PNP’s flagship program in the anti-drugs campaign. Previously designated as the PNP’s deputy chief for administration, Mr. Cascolan is due to leave the service on Nov. 10 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56. With just two months at the top post, he said he still aims to institute lasting changes with the ongoing “cleansing” program for the 209,000-strong police force. — Emmanuel Tupas/PHILSTAR and Gillian M. Cortez

Ban on transfer of inmates to jails extended

THE SUSPENSION on the transfer of inmates to jails has been extended to September 30, the Office of the Court Administrator announced Wednesday. In a circular, Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez ordered the continued ban on the issuance of commitment orders of inmates to prison units of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor). The court administrator cited the different levels of community quarantine imposed around the country. The suspension on moving inmates to BJMP and BuCor units was first implemented in July to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, especially with most facilities operating at congested levels. The first circular was prompted by a request from Interior Secretary Eduardo M. Año and BuCor Director General Gerald Q. Bantag. President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Monday placed Metro Manila, the provinces of Bulacan and Batangas, and the cities of Tacloban and Bacolod under general community quarantine (GCQ) until September 30. The rest of the country is under the more relaxed modified GCQ except for Iligan City, which is under a stricter lockdown. The Supreme Court earlier issued guidelines addressing congestion in jails to prevent coronavirus outbreaks, including the release of indigent inmates through reduced bail or own recognizance. The court also allowed hearings through video teleconferencing while judges have been directed to release inmates who have served the minimum penalty of their sentence and those who have no witnesses for their cases. The Justice department also approved the rules that eased the requirements for the grant of parole and executive clemency to prisoners. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas