Gov’t targets to award Mindanao Rail consultancy contract this week

August 3, 2021 | 7:34 pm

THE TRANSPORTATION department said Tuesday it is targeting to award the project management consultancy services contract for the first segment of the Mindanao Railway Project this week.

The Department of Transportation (DoTr) is “about to” award the contract,” it said in a statement to BusinessWorld. “We are targeting (it) for this week,” the department added.

The DoTr announced in December last year its invitation to shortlisted Chinese consultants to submit bids for the project management consultancy services contract that covers the Tagum-Davao-Digos segment of the railway.

In January, the department said three short-listed Chinese groups had submitted bids for the consultancy contract: the China Railways Design Corp. and Guangzhou Wanan Construction Supervision Co., Ltd. Consortium; China Railway Liuyuan Group Co., Ltd.; and CCCC Railway Consultants Group Co., Ltd.

The China-funded project has an approved budget of P3.09 billion for the consultancy services.

The department requires the completion of the detailed design and works within 17 months, with 33 months set as the period for the contractor to be engaged in pre-construction activities and the defects notification period.

The railway’s P82.9-billion first phase stretches from the Tagum Station and Depot in Davao del Norte to Digos City in Davao del Sur. It will have stations in

Carmen, Panabo, Santa Cruz, and three in Davao City including a sub-depot.

The department said the segment for partial operations by March 2022 is from Tagum to Carmen.

The 100.2-kilometer Tagum-Davao-Digos segment is financed through an official development assistance package from the Chinese government.

The Philippine government expects full operations by June 2023. — Arjay L. Balinbin

DoE calls on quake-affected stakeholders to report power facility damage

August 3, 2021 | 7:34 pm

THE DEPARTMENT of Energy (DoE) asked affected stakeholders to promptly inspect and report damage from the magnitude 6.6 earthquake which hit Luzon, the northern mainland, last month.

“The DoE (directs) all power sector stakeholders to immediately inspect, assess and report any damage/s incurred by the facilities caused by the said earthquake,” an advisory signed by Energy Undersecretary Emmanuel P. Juaneza read, citing a previous directive from Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi.

“All reports on the assessment and inspection should be submitted to the Task Force on Energy Resiliency (TFER) and Electric Power Industry Management Bureau (EPIMB)… as they are handling the monitoring of calamity-related concerns (in) the electric power industry,” states the advisory.

TFER and EPIMB are in charge of working with stakeholders to ensure normal operations after the earthquake.

In the morning of July 24, portions of Luzon, including the capital Metro Manila, and neighboring island provinces experienced various intensities from the tremor.

The DoE’s advisory, issued around a week after the quake, is in line with the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 which orders the department to ensure the reliability, quality and security of the country’s electric power supply. — Angelica Y. Yang

Police ready to use cameras for operations, but units still lacking

August 3, 2021 | 7:34 pm

NATIONAL POLICE chief Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar on Tuesday assured that they will find ways to comply with the Supreme Court’s rules on wearing cameras during operations despite lack of available equipment.

“Our body-worn cameras are not enough, but in the spirit of transparency and accountability, I trust that our commanders will find ways to comply with the guidelines on the use of body-worn cameras,” Mr. Eleazar said in a news release on Tuesday.

He said a memorandum on the general protocols for the use of the cameras in the execution of search and arrest warrants and of warrantless arrests was issued on Monday to all police regional directors and national operational support unit heads.

The memorandum specifies that the cameras must never be turned off while search and arrest warrants are executed, and while warrantless arrests are ongoing “as far as it is practicable.”

He said the national police had a total of 2,696 body-worn cameras as of June 4, and 171 police units will initially receive the units.

He added that 600 cops have so far been trained to use the gadgets.

The High Court promulgated the rules on July 10, and took effect on Saturday after it was published in several newspapers.

“The use of body-worn cameras is not only for the protection of human rights but also to protect policemen from wrong assertions and allegations on the implementation of our operations,” Mr. Eleazar said in Filipino. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago

Duterte daughter tops OCTA’s presidential poll

August 3, 2021 | 7:34 pm

DAVAO CITY Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and her father, President Rodrigo R. Duterte, topped the list of Filipinos’ choices for president and vice president at next year’s elections, according to a poll by Octa Research.

In a statement, the group said 28% of adult Filipinos would vote for Ms. Carpio for president, while 18% would choose Mr. Duterte for vice president.

The poll that was conducted from July 12-18 involved 1,200 respondents aged 18 and above.

The late dictator’s namesake, former senator Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., was the second choice for president with 13%.

Mr. Marcos was followed by Manila City Mayor Francisco M. Domagoso III (11%), and Senators Mary Grace S. Poe-Llamanzares (10%) and Emmanuel “Manny” D. Pacquiao (10%).

Five percent of respondents would vote for Vice President Maria Leonor G. Robredo, who was statistically tied with Taguig-Pateros Representative Alan Peter S. Cayetano and Senator Christopher Lawrence T. Go.

Mr. Go was followed by Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III with 3%, Senator Panfilo N. Lacson, 2%; Jejomar S. Binay, 2%; Senator Richard J. Gordon, 1%; and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, 1%.

OCTA said 6% of respondents “still do not know whom to vote/refused to name candidates/ not going to vote in the 2022 Presidential Elections.”

For the most preferred vice presidential bets, Mr. Duterte was followed by Mr. Moreno (11%), Mr. Cayetano (10%), Ms. Poe (10%), and Mr. Marcos (9%).—Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Another 374 workers repatriated from UAE

August 3, 2021 | 7:33 pm

ANOTHER 374 Filipino workers were repatriated on Sunday from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), bringing the total from the Middle Eastern country to 3,724, the Foreign Affairs department reported.

In a press release on Monday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the latest chartered flight from UAE was the 9^th organized and funded by the government to assist overseas workers affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

“We expect to bring home most stranded Filipinos from the UAE by the end of August,” DFA Undersecretary Sarah Lou Y. Arriola said.

All repatriates received about P10,000 as reintegration assistance from the DFA.

Since the start of the pandemic last year, about half a million overseas Filipino workers have been repatriated, based on data from the DFA and the Department of Labor and Employment. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

PBA suspends games as tighter restrictions up over NCR

August 3, 2021 | 6:54 pm

THE PHILIPPINE Basketball Association moved to temporarily suspend proceedings in its ongoing tournament in line with the government’s decision to place the National Capital Region under tighter quarantine restrictions. — PBA IMAGES

THE Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) moved to temporarily suspend proceedings in its ongoing tournament in line with the government’s decision to place the National Capital Region (NCR) under tighter restrictions until Aug. 5.

In statement released on Tuesday, the PBA said games beginning on Wednesday, Aug. 4, are now postponed until further notice with NCR currently placed in General Community Quarantine with heightened and additional restrictions, and from Aug. 6 to 20 set to be elevated to Enhanced Community Quarantine to further guard against the spread of the coronavirus.

The league has already filed a request to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to have games in the Philippine Cup moved to Lipa, Batangas, from the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City for the time being. The Province of Batangas is under Modified General Community Quarantine.

The PBA Philippine Cup is almost halfway through since opening shop on July 16.

The Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok lead the league in the standings with an unblemished record of 4-0, followed by the TNT Tropang Giga at 3-0.

The Meralco Bolts are third (4-1), with the San Miguel Beermen (3-1), Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (4-2), NLEX Road Warriors (2-2) and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings (2-2) rounding out the top half.

Completing the standings are the Alaska Aces (2-3), Northport Batang Pier (1-3), Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters (1-4), Terrafirma Dyip (0-4) and Blackwater Elite (0-4). — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Warholm destroys world record to win 400m hurdles

August 3, 2021 | 6:53 pm

TOKYO — A world record had been predicted but Norway’s Karsten Warholm had to utterly destroy it to hold off American Rai Benjamin and take gold on Tuesday in the men’s 400 meters hurdles, in what will go down as one of the all-time great Olympic races.

Last month, Warholm broke Kevin Young’s 29-year world mark with a time of 46.70 seconds but he blew his own record away with an astonishing 45.94 run. Benjamin pushed him all the way to take silver in 46.17, also half a second inside the old record.

Brazilian Alison dos Santos, 21, took bronze in 46.72, also inside Young’s previous best, as six of the first seven finishers set national or continental records.

The new carbon-technology shoes may be contributing to the rash of blazing times being seen in Tokyo but even if they had been running barefoot, the two great rivals would have put on a show to remember.

Double world champion Warholm runs every race as if he is trying to break the world record and on home soil in Oslo last month, he finally got Young’s 1992 Barcelona Olympics mark off the books — and seemingly a weight off his shoulders.

With Benjamin posting 46.83 in the US trials, the record was widely expected to be broken in Tokyo, but nobody could have predicted the massive bites both men took.

In perfect conditions, the two 25-year-olds hurdled beautifully and were side-by-side coming into the final straight, only for Warholm to forge clear.

When he saw the astonishing time, Warholm looked to be in shock. He ripped his vest apart and beat his chest in celebration before sinking to his knees.

Benjamin would have been equally amazed with his time, all the more so for it being only good enough for second place.

“Both of them smashed the old world record. No wonder he rips his shirt apart — he is Superman in this event,” said BBC Commentator and former world 1,500m champion Steve Cram.

Former 110m hurdles world record holder Colin Jackson added: “When you talk about world records, this is up there with Usain Bolt’s time of 9.58 seconds in the 100m, up there with Flo Jo’s 10.49 seconds in the 100m.

“This is one of the most outstanding world records, and I’m pretty sure that world record will outlive me.” — Reuters

Lakers invite Howard, Ariza to return

August 3, 2021 | 6:53 pm

AN ongoing overhaul of the Los Angeles Lakers will reportedly turn up a few old friends when free agency kicks off on Friday. Center Dwight Howard and swingman Trevor Ariza agreed to terms with the Lakers, according to multiple reports on Monday, and shooting guard Wayne Ellington also is joining LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Ellington will sign a one-year deal with the team, per several reports on Monday, and the Lakers can officially introduce their new point guard, Russell Westbrook on the same day (Aug. 6) as the league year begins.

Howard, an eight-time All-Star who turns 36 in December, would embark on a third stint with the Lakers. — Reuters

Petro Gazz fortifies semifinal push with win over Balipure

August 3, 2021 | 6:52 pm

2021-PVL-Open---Balipure-vs.-Petrogazz---Jer-Malabanan-6307 — The Petro Gazz Angels solidified their push for a spot in the semifinals of the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference after defeating the Balipure Water Defenders in straight sets on Tuesday. (PVL Media Bureau)

The Petro Gazz Angels solidified their push for a spot in the semifinals of the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference after defeating the Balipure Water Defenders in straight sets, 25-20, 26-24, 25-23, in league action on Tuesday at the PCV Socio-Civic Center & Cultural Center in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte.

The win took the Angels’ record to 5-3, good for joint third place, heading into the homestretch of elimination play.

Grethcel Soltones led the balanced attack by Petro Gazz in the shutout win, finishing with 14 points, nine coming off attacks.

Ria Meneses had eight points for the Angels while Myla Pablo and Jerrilli Malabanan added seven apiece.

After taking the opening set, the Angels had to battle it out tough in the succeeding two sets before taking the win and heaving a sigh of relief.

Graze Bombita finished with 18 points to lead the gallant stand by the Water Defenders (2-5), who unfortunately with the loss kissed their semifinal hopes goodbye.

Sati Espiritu had 10 points for Balipure, with Gen Casugod adding nine.

Next for Petro Gazz is a match against the Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors on Thursday at 6 p.m. while Balipure collides with the PLDT Fibr Power Hitters in the earlier 3 p.m. game on the same day. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Surfing, skating boosts viewership, lack of fans has zero impact — IOC

August 3, 2021 | 6:51 pm

TOKYO — New events such as surfing and skateboarding that made their debut at the Tokyo Olympics boosted the Games’ viewership and the lack of spectators in stadiums had no impact on engagement from fans, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Tuesday.

Timo Lumme, the managing director of television and marketing services at the IOC, said he expected to see slightly more people watched Tokyo’s opening ceremony than Rio’s in 2016, with total TV viewership expected to climb to around 600 million.

In China, huge numbers of viewers tuned in to see the 100-meter men’s race and the finals of the table tennis singles event, he said, while surfing and skateboarding made up five of the top 10 most viewed Olympic programs in Brazil through the first week of the Games.

Lumme said the lack of spectators in the Olympic stands due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) restrictions had “no effect” on the Games’ viewership or engagement, with fans in some regions already accustomed to watching sports online or on TV without seeing spectators in the background during the pandemic.

Though it was too early to say whether Tokyo would be the most viewed Games ever, Lumme said he was happy with the solid numbers so far.

In Japan, where more than half of the public were opposed to holding the Games in the run-up to the event, viewership numbers remained robust, Lumme said, with 113.5 million Japanese watching some coverage of the Games as of Aug. 1. — Reuters

Australians damage rooms, mascots go missing

August 3, 2021 | 6:51 pm

TOKYO — Some Australian athletes caused damage to their Tokyo Olympics athletes’ village rooms before departing while the team’s mascots — an emu and a kangaroo — went missing but have since returned, team chief Ian Chesterman said on Tuesday.

The athletes had damaged beds and put a hole in a wall, but no disciplinary action will be taken after they apologized, he said.

“Some young people made a mistake, they had left the rooms in a condition that was unacceptable,” said Chesterman. But he added the damage was “minor” and that it was “not the hardest thing to break the cardboard bed.”

“The rooms were not completely trashed in any way.”

“It is a book as old as time: a good young person makes a mistake, chapter two is a good, young person is full of remorse. Chapter three is a good young person learns from the mistake and becomes a better person.”

Chesterman also said the life-size team mascots were removed from Team Australia’s accommodation, but found their way back after a few days.

“The kangaroo and emu mascots were missing and we were very pleased to say they have returned. It was a bit of a mystery. There was a bit of a search and (we) were about to post wanted signs,” Chesterman said.

“It seems they enjoyed a pleasant holiday in Deutschland,” he said referring to Team Germany’s accommodation nearby. “The mascots enjoy holidays in the village from time to time. But we are very pleased they are back.” — Reuters

Richest deal

August 3, 2021 | 6:51 pm

As expected, Kawhi Leonard declined his player option for the upcoming season of the National Basketball Association. Nope, he’s not aiming to secure new digs, never mind his stated desire to listen to any and all offers that come his way as an unrestricted free agent. His intent is to remain with the Clippers, but on a fresh contract with which to secure his future. In other words, he’s thumbing down $36 million for the next year in order to bank even more, and for a longer period.

To be sure, Leonard could have done the same had he opted in and looked to the end of the 2021-22 campaign as his key to even more riches. He could have then inked a $181.5-million extension that guaranteed him a whopping $50.2 million in the last leg of its four-year term. By resetting the clock, he instead stands to claim a maximum $176.2 million through 2025. That said, it must be noted that he’s able to latch on to either deal if he stays with the red and blue.

In any case, the Clippers will, no doubt, accede to Leonard’s wishes, which project to a one-plus-one arrangement that will net him $39.3 million this year and, more importantly, eligibility for the qualifying veteran free agent exception. Otherwise known as full Larry Bird rights, the provision in the league’s collective bargaining agreement allows him to negotiate for a maximum contract lasting half a decade. Translated, this means he figures to affix his Hancock on a $235-million accord, the richest in NBA history.

The irony is that Leonard will be sidelined for the foreseeable term. The Clippers stand to pay him megabucks for being a towel bearer at the end of the bench. And they’ll be smiling throughout, if for no other reason than because they firmly believe he’s worth the hassle, and more. After all, the Raptors had him on a single-season rental, and wound up with a championship banner in the rafters. Which, of course, is the bottom line — especially for a snakebit franchise bent on finally emerging from the shadows of the neighboring Lakers.

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.