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Coronavirus infections hit 269,407; metro had most deaths, says DoH

THE DEPARTMENT of Health (DoH) reported 3,544 coronavirus infections on Tuesday, bringing the total to 269,407.

The death toll rose by 34 to 4,663 while recoveries increased by 395 to 207,352, it said in a bulletin.

There were 57,392 active cases, 87.9% of which were mild, 8% did not show symptoms, 1.2% were severe, and 2.9% were critical.

Of the new cases, 690 came from Metro Manila, 305 from Cavite, 201 Rizal, 173 from Negros Occidental and 98 from Bulacan, the agency said.

Metro Manila had the highest number of new deaths with 13, followed by the Calabarzon region with five, Cagayan Valley and Central Visayas with three each, and Central Luzon, the Bicol region and Northern Mindanao with two each.

Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, the Zamboanga Peninsula and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) reported one death each.

Meanwhile, presidential spokesman Harry L. Roque said almost 3 million people have been tested for the virus.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte last month said the goal was to conduct 3.3 million tests by this month.

The government has been batting for expanded mass testing as part of measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

The more than 2.9 million tests represented 2.6% of the Philippine population, Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., chief enforcer of the government’s anti-coronavirus efforts, said at the same briefing. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas and Gillian M. Cortez

DILG says 89 village officials suspended for cash aid anomaly

THE DEPARTMENT of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has suspended 89 village officials pending their probe for corruption involving state subsidies to the poor amid a Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The mass suspensions were the latest in a series of moves undertaken by the agency to weed out corruption in the distribution of cash aid to the poor, Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya told an online news briefing on Tuesday.

Interior Eduardo Año on Monday night said his office was investigating more than 400 local officials for administrative charges in connection with the cash aid.

More than 400 people had been charged for corruption involving state subsidies to the poor — the biggest in the country’s history — during the pandemic, DILG said last month.

Corruption charges were filed against 203 local government officials, 102 village and city staff and 132 civilian co-conspirators, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año had said.

Most of the respondents faced charges involving graft and violations of the so-called Bayanihan to Heal as One Act and a law on reporting communicable diseases.

Police had also investigated 336 cases and filed 240 complaints at the Justice department. Police are probing 626 more officials, DILG said at that time.

Fifty of the cases were filed in the Soccsksargen region in Mindanao, 40 in Western Visayas, 33 in Central Visayas, 30 in the Calabarzon region, 26 in Eastern Visayas, 24 in the Davao region and 21 in Metro Manila.

There were also 16 cases in the Bicol region, 14 in the Southwestern Tagalog region, 15 in Ilocos, 14 in Cagayan Valley, 12 in Northern Mindanao, 12 in the Caraga region, 10 in the Cordillera Administrative Region and two in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). — Gillian M. Cortez

Regional Updates (09/15/20)

New Tacloban airport terminal construction to start before end of the year

THE DESIGN for the planned new airport terminal building in Tacloban City has been approved and construction is expected to start before the end of this year. Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez made the announcement last week following a meeting with Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines General Manager Jim C. Sydiongco. “After a productive meeting with CAAP General Manager Jim Sydiongco, we were informed that construction of the main terminal building will begin before the end of 2020,” he said. The Tacloban airport, officially named Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport, is the main hub in the Eastern Visayas Region. The new terminal building has a budget of P694.6 million, based on the Department of Transportation’s (DoTr)     bid documents released in 2018. The detailed design was supposedly completed in March, but was delayed by the lockdowns. The original target completion date was December 2021. “We are beyond happy with this development — the construction and expansion of a new airport has always been part of our priorities as a member of the House of Representatives since 2007,” Mr. Romualdez said.

Calandagan Island in Palawan gets power supply

AN 88-kilowatt diesel-fired generator is now supplying electricity to Calandagan Island in Palawan, state-owned National Power Corporation (Napocor) announced Tuesday via its Facebook page. The power source, Napocor’s fourth off-grid area to electrify this year, will initially run for eight hours a day. The power company said the Palawan provincial government set up a powerhouse and the distribution lines for the project. The three other off-grid projects completed this year are in the following areas: Mangsee Island, also in Palawan; Cabra in Lubang Islands, Occidental Mindoro; and Batan in Rapu-rapu, Albay. Napocor is also set to power Bisucay Island in Cuyo, Palawan soon. The company manages 277 small power utilities group across 183 municipalities in 35 provinces across the country. — Adam J. Ang

Nationwide round-up

Duterte takes a jab at pharmaceutical firms for ‘reservation fee’ on COVID-19 vaccine

PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte took a jab at pharmaceutical companies from “western countries” for requiring a “reservation fee” on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines that are still being developed.

“That’s one thing wrong about the Western countries — it’s all profit, profit, profit,” he said in a televised address late Monday night.

“There is nothing with finality, and you want us to make a reservation by depositing money, you must be crazy,” he said.

Mr. Duterte also said he declined the offers because of the country’s stringent procurement laws.

“Because the Procurement Law of the Philippines, this country does not allow you to buy something which is non-existent or to be produced as yet,” he said.

Mr. Duterte reiterated earlier pronouncements of his preference for COVID-19 vaccines from China and Russia, and said he will prioritize these when purchasing especially if they are the same quality as those produced in other countries.

In a briefing on Tuesday, Palace Spokesperson Harry L. Roque said the statement of the President will not affect ongoing talks between the Philippine government and vaccine developers.

“Wala naman pong epekto iyan (That has no effect), we continue to negotiate with everyone. In fact, the President wants to ensure na magkakaroon tayo ng vaccine kahit sino pang unang maka-develop –niyan (that we will have the vaccine regardless of who will develop it first),” he said. — Gillian M. Cortez 

High court junks request for Leonen’s SALN

THE SUPREME Court junked the request of the Office of the Solicitor General and lawyer Lorenzo G. Gadon for the release of the statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) of Associate Justice Marvic Mario Victor F. Leonen.

The SALN was sought for the preparation of a quo warranto petition, a legal action that questions the eligibility of a person to hold a certain public position.

SC Public Information Chief Brian Keith F. Hosaka said the justices unanimously resolvedw to deny the request, but did not cite the reasons.

“Justice Leonen took no part in the resolution,” Mr. Hosaka told reporters via Viber.

A copy of the resolution has yet to be released.

Mr. Gadon last week asked the court for a certified copy of Mr. Leonen’s SALNs following a newspaper columnist’s allegation that the justice did not submit his SALN for 15 years when he was a faculty member at the University of the Philippines (UP).

The court in 2018 ousted former chief justice Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno through quo warranto for non-filing of SALNs when she was a professor at the UP College of Law. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Senators tell legislative liason office to improve coordination system

SENATORS ON Tuesday flagged the inability of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) to establish coordination between the executive department and Congress that led to the veto of certain priority bills.

“It’s such a waste of effort and time, if the debate and the piece of legislation, which we have worked on, is vetoed,” Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon said on Tuesday.

“A better coordination, a more active PLLO can save us the time and effort by pointing out which part of the law we’re working on is contrary to the policy of the President and makes the proposal subject to veto,” he added.

The remark comes as the Senate tackles the proposed Coconut Farmers’ Trust Fund in the plenary, which was among those vetoed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte in the last Congress.

The coco levy fund bill was recalled by the bicameral conference committee to amend provisions on the creation of the trust fund and the broad powers granted to the Philippine Coconut Authority. The bill, however, was ultimately vetoed.

“We are hoping that this will not happen again. We all know the third version of the bill is again being debated in the Senate. I would expect within the next 30 days this bill will go to the president,” Mr. Drilon said.

PLLO Secretary Adelino B. Sitoy, on the other hand, said the coordination between agencies was “smooth flowing,” noting he had informed Senator Cynthia A. Villar, sponsor of the bill, of the reservations of cabinet members.

The finance sub-committee, led by Senator Panfilo M. Lacson, was tackling the proposed P110.092 million PLLO budget for 2021, which increased by 15% from last year.

The panel moved to endorse the budget for plenary deliberation, subject to a written report on PLLO’s plans to improve its liaison system.

Senator Aquilino L. Pimentel III advised the agency to show its “face” more to the senate in light of the issues raised during the hearing.

In the same hearing, the panel found that the agency does not participate in the crafting of implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of laws, resulting in specifications that counter the provisions of the law.

Senators have also raised concern in cases when laws are not implemented in the absence of an IRR.

“Unfortunately, when the IRRs are being ironed out, formulated, we are not involved in the process, but this time we will insist on being notified,” Mr. Sitoy said. — Charmaine A. Tadalan 

Solons want DoTr to allow more public vehicles to operate, open more routes

CONGRESSMEN ON Tuesday asked the government to open more routes and hire more service contractors to boost public transportation in the capital Metro Manila as more sectors reopen with the easing of quarantine measures.

During the House of Representatives appropriations committee’s deliberation on the Department of Transportation’s (DoTr) proposed 2021 budget, Marikina Rep. Stella Luz A. Quimbo said increasing the number of public utility vehicles (PUVs) allowed to operate will improve “economic mobility.”

She cited that there are at least 1.71 million stranded workers as of September 14, which amounts to P890 million in lost wages a day.

The lawmaker proposed an additional P1.575 billion for service contracting and fuel subsidies on top of the P5.58 billion allocation for PUVs under the Bayanihan 2 law, which expires in December this year.

Albay Rep. Jose Ma. Clemente S. Salceda, chair of the ways and means committee, said it is best for the government to provide transportation supply that is higher than demand to ensure physical distancing.

“Sufficient supply of public transportation will enable a good balance between promoting health and protecting livelihood. Increasing more modes of public transportation to operate, increasing the number of ridership per PUV and increasing the number of workers allowed to work at home combined makes sound health and economic measures during a pandemic,” he said in a statement on Tuesday, which was also sent to the Transportation department.

The government started this week to decrease the required distance between passengers in public transport from one meter to .75 meter, and could be further cut to .5 meter in two weeks then 0.3 meter by October 12.

The policy has been criticized by medical experts, citing health risks amid the coronavirus threat. Several lawmakers also opposed the move.

Mr. Salceda also proposed to mandate around 400,000 government employees in Metro Manila to work from home instead of physically going to the office to reduce the number of commuters.

Citing DoTr’s figures, Mr. Salceda said only 14% of people reliant on public transportation in the National Capital Region are serviced, given that only 34% of jeepneys and  85% of buses are allowed to operate. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Probe into ‘sad state’ of PHL’s internet service sought

A RESOLUTION calling for an inquiry on the “sad state” of internet speed and connectivity in the country has been filed in the House of Representatives.

House of Representatives Deputy Majority Leader Bernadette Herrera-Dy’s Resolution No. 1193 orders the appropriations committee to investigate why the internet services in the country are relatively slow and expensive, citing the need to improve digital infrastructure, which has become crucial amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.

“As the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic struck, fast, efficient and stable internet access is not only needed for communication and access to information, it also plays an important role in managing business operations, exploring novel sources of personal income, and continuity of education,” Ms. Herrera-Dy said in a statement on Tuesday.

Various studies have shown the Philippines lagging in terms of internet speed while having one of the highest service rates in Asia. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Almost 1M register for online technical courses during lockdown period

NEARLY A million Filipinos registered in online courses offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) from the start of the lockdown in mid-March to September 13.

In a briefing on Tuesday, TESDA Director General  Isidro S. Lapeña said this number indicates a “spike” in applicants for their online programs.

“During the quarantine period, from March 16 to September 13, total registrants with the program reached 908,396; some 71,251 of these are OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) or their dependents. These were 965,929 total enrolments during the period. 452,992 learners have already completed their courses,” he said.

“We have also added relevant and timely courses for added usefulness of the TESDA online program to the public. These are practicing COVID-19 preventive measures in the workplace, facilitating e-learning sessions, performing proper waste management in the workplace,” he said.

Programs can be accessed for free through www.tesda.gov.ph. — Gillian M. Cortez 

Rx: Presidential Truth Serum

The year 2020 has brought to us a forced awareness of health matters, both on a public and private plane. Indeed, we have not seen in modern history such a paralysis brought about by an ancient enemy, which has pretty much held the whole world hostage. But world affairs must move on and the emphasis on strong leadership — both figuratively and literally — now has even more importance.

In fact, just recently, in Japan, the longest serving Prime Minister Shinzō Abe resigned to tend to a lingering abdominal issue, explaining to the people that he may no longer have the vigor to attend to the demanding work of a head of state and government. Across the Pacific, in the United States of America, it is the first time in its history that the candidates vying for the highest position in the government are both septuagenarians. Naturally, there is a concern on whether the candidates are physically and mentally able to lead a country, and in this respect both President Donald Trump and Democratic Party challenger Joe Biden shared their respective medical test results and bulletins — both showing they are able to withstand the demands of the job.

Biden, if elected, will be the oldest person to sit as President of the United States of America, as he would be 78 by Inauguration Day. In fact, Biden will be older than president Ronald Reagan was when the latter ended his two terms in 1989. Remarkably, Biden’s medical bulletin shows that he is of average weight for his age and has no serious ailments despite two brain surgeries in 1988 and the removal of his gall bladder in 2003.

Trump, on the other hand, at the age of 74, is also considered to be in good health despite being technically obese. He has no serious ailments but takes medications to manage his high cholesterol and to reduce the risk of heart attacks, among others. Trump also proudly announced in various media interviews that he aced a cognitive test and challenged Biden to take the same. He also informed the media of his famous memory test where he repeated the words “person, woman, man, camera, TV.” All these acknowledge the importance of health as a campaign issue.

We also face some curiosities regarding the health of our own President. Recently, there was speculation that President Rodrigo Duterte traveled to Singapore to undergo an “emergency treatment” for an undisclosed ailment. To refute this, Senator Bong Go posted a photo of President Duterte in his family home in Davao City while displaying the newspaper of the day — a photo which seemed to impress as a proof of life.

President Duterte also recently announced that his Barrett’s esophagus is worsening and that his doctors advised that his condition might develop to first stage cancer. This is not the first time the 75-year-old President publicized the ailments he is afflicted with. He previously made statements that he is suffering from Buerger’s disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, spinal issues, and myasthenia gravis, in addition to Barrett’s esophagus.

This now raises the question: why is there a fascination over the health of other people? Is it out of morbid curiosity or is there an underlying rationality behind the movement to make the health of others the subject of discourse?

Consistent with the State policy to protect and promote the right to health of the people, Philippine procedural and substantive laws recognize the sanctity of information relating to health. Under the Revised Rules on Evidence, confidential communications between a patient and a physician are considered privileged and the physician cannot testify in a civil case on any matter relating to the patient’s diagnosis or treatment, unless the patient consents (Revised Rules on Evidence, Rule 130, Sec. 24). Further, under the Data Privacy Act of 2012, any data relative to an individual’s health as well as government-issued health records are considered sensitive personal information and may only be processed when so consented by the data subject, when laws or regulations otherwise allow, or under exceptional circumstances (Republic Act No. 10173, Secs. 3(h) and 13).

The Constitution is the paramount source of the duties of a public officer; particularly, the President. Therefore, when a person swears to undertake the duties of the President of the Republic of the Philippines, one is expected to faithfully abide by what the Constitution dictates.

Notably, Article VII, Section 12 of the Constitution mandates: “In case of serious illness of the President, the public shall be informed of the state of his health.”

This provision actually debuted in the 1987 Constitution as the 1935 and 1973 Constitutions did not expressly mandate this obligation.

In an attempt to enforce the Filipino’s right to be informed of the state of the President’s health, on April 13, lawyer Dino de Leon filed with the Supreme Court an Extremely Urgent Petition for Mandamus to Disclose President Duterte’s Health Record against Public Respondents President Duterte and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea. Parenthetically, a petition for mandamus operates to compel “the performance of an act which the law specifically enjoins as a duty resulting from an office” (Rules of Court, Rule 65, Sec. 3). This Petition was filed when Mr. De Leon’s Freedom of Information Request for President Duterte’s health records was rejected since the Malacañang Records Office was not in possession of any health records. Significantly, the Supreme Court dismissed the Petition for being unsubstantiated. It ruled that the disclosure of the status of the health of the President is not a ministerial act enforceable by mandamus and that there is no clear legal right to demand the disclosure.

This poses another question: when and how must the public be truly informed of the status of the health of the President?

A reading of Article VII, Section 12 of the Constitution shows that only when the President is seriously ill is it the time that the public’s right to be informed is activated. No mechanism is prescribed as to its enforcement nor any guideline is set forth in determining when a President is considered seriously ill.

In dissecting this provision, 1986 Constitutional Commissioner Blas F. Ople shed light as follows: “We are called upon to be more trusting with respect to the Office of the President that they will know what appropriate means to take in order to release this information to the public in satisfaction of the public’s right to know of the presidency. The burden is left to the Office of the President to choose the appropriate means of releasing the information” (Record of the Constitutional Commission No. 43, July 30, 1986). Relatedly, 1986 Constitutional Commissioner Yusuf R. Abubakar enunciated that “the state of health or analysis as to the actual condition of the President should be left to the President and his doctor” (Record of the Constitutional Commission No. 43, 30 July 1986).

If the interpretation of Article VII, Section 12 of the Constitution is to be based only on the foregoing, it seems that the disclosure is a political action solely dependent upon discretion of the President. It is therefore addressed to the President’s own sensibilities which, in turn, would reflect the collective leadership of the executive department.

While constitutional deliberations “are of value as showing the views of the individual members, and as indicating the reasons for their votes,” this is not controlling (Civil Liberties Union v. Executive Secretary, G.R. No. 83896, Feb. 22, 1991). Nonetheless, the Supreme Court invoked the above cited deliberations as one of the bases in dismissing the Extremely Urgent Petition for Mandamus.

To date, the constitutionality of Article VII, Section 12 has never been challenged. As demonstrated by the dismissal of the Extremely Urgent Petition for Mandamus, it seems that neither a Freedom of Information Request nor a Petition for Mandamus is the proper remedy to exercise the right of the public to information relating to the President’s health. Until the Supreme Court pronounces a definitive ruling as to the conditions and procedure to enforce this right or the Congress enacts a law enabling the exercise of this right, Article VII, Section 12 of the Constitution is merely a declared policy and acknowledgment of the public’s right to be informed. When and how? The Filipinos have yet to wait and see.

The demand for disclosure is a call for transparency. The Filipinos have every right to be assured that their leaders have the physical capacity and mental acuity to govern. The Filipinos deserve a stable executive department; most especially today, where every country is battling a pandemic. Otherwise, the execution of the laws will be paralyzed.

Most importantly, the right to be informed goes into the essence of a free country. As the Supreme Court proclaimed: “an informed citizenry with access to the diverse currents in political, moral and artistic thought and data relative to them, and the free exchange of ideas and discussion of issues thereon, is vital to the democratic government envisioned under our Constitution” (Valmonte v. Belmonte, Jr., G.R. No. 74930, Feb. 13, 1989).

Therefore, the plea for disclosure is not merely for informational purposes but delves into the very core of a democratic and republican state. After all, “sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them” (Constitution, Article II, Section 1).

This article is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not offered and does not constitute legal advice or legal opinion.

 

Julienne Therese V. Salvacion is an Associate of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department (LDRD) of the Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices or ACCRALAW.

(632) 8830-8000

jvsalvacion@accralaw.com

Is OPEC’s power over the oil market broken?

MACROVECTOR_OFFICIAL / FREEPIK

THIS WEEK marks the 60th anniversary of OPEC, the cartel of major oil exporters that has, at times, held sway over the oil markets. It is a good time to ask: Is it still effective? The truth is that OPEC’s power to impact the price of oil has waxed and waned over the past 60 years but has always been based on the portion of global spare capacity that it controls. With plenty of crude sloshing around in storage tanks worldwide, that makes it not so effective now.

When the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was formed in 1960, it had two missions. The first was to defend the price of oil through limits on oil production. The second was to foster the native governments’ control over the oil resources in their territories. But for more than a decade, OPEC was largely ineffective at achieving its goals. The cartel didn’t become a household name or a political talking point until 1973, when it succeeded in shocking the oil market by unilaterally forcing higher crude prices on both large international oil companies and consumers. (The oil embargo of that time was actually an act of Arab OPEC countries only).

The main reason OPEC was able to wrest this control in 1973 was that in 1970, crude oil production in Texas started to fall. Starting in the early 1970s, Texas could no longer be counted on to meet rising demand in the US. Instead, the country started to rely on foreign oil imports, and because OPEC countries controlled 80% of the oil exports at that time, the US found itself at OPEC’s mercy, as did US allies like Japan. OPEC found it was able to simply set the price of oil where it wanted; customers had no choice but to pay, and the oil majors had to do what OPEC said or lose access to that oil. Ultimately, combined with the oil embargo, OPEC took control of the market, the price of oil skyrocketed and producing countries made a lot of money. The Saudi oil minister at the time, Zaki Yamani, declared triumphantly, “we are the masters of our own commodity.”

But OPEC was only able to do this because its producing countries controlled global spare capacity. Coupled with growing demand at the time, it meant the world was desperate for OPEC oil and no one was in a position to replace it. OPEC’s place in our collective memory is defined by that incident, but, in fact, OPEC’s power to impact the price of oil has been inconsistent over the past 60 years largely because it does not always maintain control over global spare capacity.

For example, in the 1980s, oil production from outside of OPEC increased, particularly from Alaska. As a result, OPEC’s portion of the global supply stream decreased. In 1986, oil prices collapsed, and OPEC was unable to do much to raise prices, because of the glut of oil from non-OPEC sources and weak oil demand. OPEC tried to cut production — in fact, Saudi Arabia cut its own production down to only 2 million barrels a day — but still prices remained depressed. Only rising demand shifted the balance to finally bring up prices.

In 2014, Saudi Arabia and OPEC crashed the price of oil by ending production quotas for the cartel, but in six years the cartel has been unable to bring the price anywhere near their pre-crash levels. This failure is because of the massive influx of supply from US shale and other areas of global exploration bearing fruit. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the US was producing 13 million barrels per day — a world record. Even OPEC’s attempts to coordinate with outside countries such as Russia and Mexico only achieved limited results.

Now, OPEC is faced with an even worse situation. Because of the economic effects of the coronavirus health crisis, US production has dipped below 11 million barrels per day, and yet we know the US has the capacity for at least about 3 million more. Any effort by OPEC and its partners to curtail their own production and raise the price of oil will be met by a corresponding increase in production from US shale producers jumping back on line to capitalize, however briefly on higher oil prices. Yes, shale-producing companies fail at times, but the assets remain and are simply taken over by someone else.

Is OPEC’s influence over the market broken? Not necessarily. Prolonged periods of low oil prices mean less money is being invested in the exploration and production of new oil sources. Due to the crash in 2014 and recent oil price catastrophe in the spring of 2020 (caused in large part, ironically, by OPEC member Saudi Arabia), virtually every producer has cut its exploration budget significantly. When the global economy recovers and if demand surges, we could be on the verge of an oil supply shortage that might vault OPEC back into a position as a major driver of prices.

On the other hand, OPEC’s fear is that demand will inexorably taper off as new innovations allow the world to replace oil with alternative fuels. In that case, rather than seeing a resurgence in political and market power, this cartel could find itself nothing more than an interesting case study in economic history.

BLOOMBERG OPINION

The COVID-19 pandemic and the US-China strategic confrontation

Prior to the global outbreak of COVID-19, US-China relations had been in a state of dramatic change. At the onset of his term, President Donald Trump had described China and Russia as “rival powers” — that seek to challenge American influence, values, and wealth. Between the two regional powers, American policymakers gave more attention to China since they have recognized that it is a powerful and wealthy country that is also attempting to reshape the regional order in the direction favorable to its interests. From Washington’s perspective, China is considered a revisionist power that seeks to reorder the region to its advantage by leveraging on modernization, influence operations, and predatory economics to coerce other nations.

In late 2017, Mr. Trump made the strategic competition with China the centerpiece of American foreign policy. This competition is characterized by the US’ forceful pushback and initiatives against what the administration claimed as unfair Chinese trade practices, cyber-espionage, unlawful maritime expansion, military intimidation of American allies and security partners in East Asia, and global propaganda campaigns directed against the Western Alliance.

This commentary is derived from a Special Study commissioned from me by the ADR Institute in August 2020 entitled “The Challenge of Managing 21st Century Pandemics amidst the US-China Strategic Competition.”

FROM STRATEGIC COMPETITION TO CONFRONTATION
The Trump administration’s policy toward China is based on a “principal realism” approach that emphasizes Washington’s willingness to cooperate with Beijing wherever possible but more openly complains about Chinese behavior, most specifically in the South China Sea, which “calls into question China’s broader goals.” The COVID-19 pandemic, however, changed the dynamics of US-China strategic competition as the two great powers are currently locked in an antagonistic relationship that could trigger a major conflict in the 21st century.

After successfully containing the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic in its territory in March 2020, China launched a major diplomatic and humanitarian offensive aimed at assisting countries that are struggling against the raging pandemic. It deployed medical experts, and delivered rapid diagnostic testing kits and protective medical gear to the Philippines, Serbia, Spain, Iran, and Italy. From East Asia to the Middle East, China provided or offered humanitarian and medical assistance in the form of medical expertise and equipment. China’s success in containing the spread of the epidemic in the country, and its efforts in extending medical assistance to the global community emboldened Chinese officials and diplomats to conduct a propaganda campaign against the US and its Western European allies.

On March 13, a Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson accused the US of spreading the virus to Wuhan City which became the center of the country’s coronavirus epidemic. In his Twitter account, Chinese Foreign Minister Spokesperson Zhao Lijiang claimed that the US Army brought the virus to China. Relying on a statement by the director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during a congressional hearing, Mr. Zhao inferred that the infection actually began in the US and that American military personnel brought the virus to China during their participation in the 2019 Military World Games that was held in Wuhan in October. Interestingly, after criticizing American officials for politicizing the pandemic, Chinese officials and news outlets flaunted the unfounded theory that COVID-19 is actually an American disease that might have been introduced by members of the United States Army.

In his March 23 speech in the White House, President Trump accused Beijing of concealing the outbreak first detected in Wuhan, which has become a pandemic that paralyzed the US health system. Officials in the administration denounced China’s resistance to sharing data about the virus and warned that China has the power to interfere with medical supply chains into the US. The administration also entertained the clamor of several American commentators and legislators who were calling for American businesses to produce vital medicines and equipment domestically to reduce US dependence on Chinese manufacturers and importers. It also raised questions on the degree of decoupling between the US and its allies, and the need to undertake measures vis-a-vis the Chinese economy by diversifying their supply chain and being less dependent on manufacturing industries based in China. Finally, key cabinet members called for a more confrontation posture toward China as they warned that a fast-growing China, under Mr. Xi’s increasingly authoritarian rule, seeks military, economic, and technological domination overthe US and its allies.

ACROSS-THE-BOARD CONFRONTATIONS
This has generated heightened frictions and across-the-board confrontations in the following realms: a.) military and security matters; b.) ideological and political issues; c.) commercial, technological, and even medical fields; d.) economic and diplomatic influence in the Indo-Pacific region; and e.) in four geostrategic powder kegs — Taiwan Straits, South and East China Sea, and the Korean Peninsula. In all these domains, the US-China strategic confrontation has become pervasive and volatile in a maritime realm that is at the Philippines’ doorstep — the South China Sea.

 

Dr. Renato De Castro is a Trustee and Convenor of the National Security and East Asian Affairs Program, Stratbase ADR Institute.

QBO Innovation Hub celebrates fourth anniversary

QBO Innovation Hub (QBO), a local innovation program for startups, concluded its fourth anniversary celebration in August. It is the country’s first public-private initiative for startups created through a partnership among IdeaSpace Foundation, an incubator and accelerator program; international financial services company J.P. Morgan; the Department of Science and Technology (DOST); and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Peña said during QBO’s internal virtual anniversary celebration that with the government, the program will continue to push the boundaries of technology despite the challenges brought by the pandemic. He believes that QBO Innovation will help push “the Philippines to be the top in the region for having the best and the biggest number of startups.”

Since COVID-19, QBO has been helping startups by moderating the free online platform #SupportStartups, among others. Started by venture capital firms 500 Startups, Cocoon, and Openspace Ventures, it houses information on startups’ promos and discounts to encourage support from consumers and businesses.

QBO has also launched other initiatives such as the Resque: Startups vs. COVID-19 Competition in July; the training program Bootqamp: From Idea to Fruition, to kick off in September; and its flagship incubation program Inqbation: The Take Off, which is accepting applicants. 

Aside from promoting local entrepreneurship, startups provide innovative solutions to problems because they are anchored in technology. In order to fully scale and grow, startups often turn to incubators, accelerators, and other startup enablers to access different kinds of resources.

QBO supports 7,700 members and 421 startups through free programs and services such as introductory classes, workshops, and mentorship opportunities. It has also provided over P167 million in funding assistance.   

Successful incubatees include Kumu, a live-streaming social app; Cropital, a crowdfunding platform for local farmers; and MAD Travel, a social tourism platform that launched a farm-to-table online delivery service in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In the past four years, the program has organized large-scale events such as the Tectonic Summit, a technology conference, and the first-ever Philippine Startup Week. The latter notably concluded with the signing of the Innovative Startup Act, which provides benefits to startups and startup enablers while removing constraints to the ecosystem’s growth and development. 

QBO was also selected to lead DOST’s Technology Business Incubator (TBI) 4.0, which aims to elevate and upgrade university-based incubators through capacity-building activities such as training and workshops. Partner institutions include UPSCALE Innovation Hub of the University of the Philippines, Green Technology Business Incubation of West Visayas State University, and Ideya of Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology. — Mariel Alison L. Aguinaldo

Possible sign of life found on Venus

WASHINGTON — Scientists said on Monday they have detected in the harshly acidic clouds of Venus a gas called phosphine that indicates microbes may inhabit Earth’s inhospitable neighbor, a tantalizing sign of potential life beyond Earth.

The researchers did not discover actual life forms, but noted that on Earth phosphine is produced by bacteria thriving in oxygen-starved environments. The international scientific team first spotted the phosphine using the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope in Hawaii and confirmed it using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) radio telescope in Chile.

“I was very surprised – stunned, in fact,” said astronomer Jane Greaves of Cardiff University in Wales, lead author of the research published in the journal Nature Astronomy.

The existence of extraterrestrial life long has been one of the paramount questions of science. Scientists have used probes and telescopes to seek “biosignatures” — indirect signs of life — on other planets and moons in our solar system and beyond.

“With what we currently know of Venus, the most plausible explanation for phosphine, as fantastical as it might sound, is life,” said Massachusetts Institute of Technology molecular astrophysicist and study co-author Clara Sousa-Silva.

“I should emphasize that life, as an explanation for our discovery, should be, as always, the last resort,” Ms. Sousa-Silva added. “This is important because, if it is phosphine, and if it is life, it means that we are not alone. It also means that life itself must be very common, and there must be many other inhabited planets throughout our galaxy.”

Venus has not been the focus of the search for life elsewhere in the solar system, with Mars and other worlds getting more attention.

Phosphine — a phosphorus atom with three hydrogen atoms attached — is highly toxic to people.

Earth-based telescopes like those used in this research help scientists study the chemistry and other characteristics of celestial objects.

Phosphine was seen at 20 parts-per-billion in the Venusian atmosphere, a trace concentration. Greaves said the researchers examined potential non-biological sources such as volcanism, meteorites, lightning and various types of chemical reactions, but none appeared viable. The research continues to either confirm the presence of life or find an alternative explanation.

Venus is Earth’s closest planetary neighbor. Similar in structure but slightly smaller than Earth, it is the second planet from the sun. Earth is the third.

Venus is wrapped in a thick, toxic atmosphere that traps in heat. Surface temperatures reach a scorching 880 °F (471 °C), hot enough to melt lead.

“I can only speculate on what life might survive on Venus, if indeed it is there. No life would be able to survive on the surface of Venus, because it is completely inhospitable, even for biochemistries completely different from ours,” Ms. Sousa-Silva said. “But a long time ago, Venus could have had life on its surface, before a runaway greenhouse effect left the majority of the planet completely uninhabitable.”

THE ACID TEST
Some scientists have suspected that the Venusian high clouds, with mild temperatures around 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius), could harbor aerial microbes that could endure extreme acidity. These clouds are around 90% sulphuric acid. Earth microbes could not survive that acidity.

“If it’s microorganisms, they would have access to some sunlight and water, and maybe live in liquid droplets to stop themselves dehydrating, but they would need some unknown mechanism to protect against corrosion by acid,” Ms. Greaves said.

On Earth, microorganisms in “anaerobic” environments – ecosystems that do not rely on oxygen – produce phosphine. These include sewage plants, swamps, rice fields, marshlands, lake sediments and the excrements and intestinal tracts of many animals. Phosphine also arises non-biologically in certain industrial settings.

To produce phosphine, Earth bacteria take up phosphate from minerals or biological material and add hydrogen.

“We have done our very best to explain this discovery without the need for a biological process. With our current knowledge of phosphine, and Venus, and geochemistry, we cannot explain the presence of phosphine in the clouds of Venus. That doesn’t mean it is life. It just means that some exotic process is producing phosphine, and our understanding of Venus needs work,” Ms. Sousa-Silva said.

Venus should be hostile to phosphine. Its surface and atmosphere are rich in oxygen compounds that would rapidly react with and destroy phosphine.

“Something must be creating the phosphine on Venus as fast as it is being destroyed,” said study co-author Anita Richards, an astrophysicist associated with the University of Manchester in England.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine on Twitter called the new findings “the most significant development yet in building the case for life off Earth.” Among missions that the U.S. space agency is currently considering is one that would send an atmospheric probe to Venus.

“It’s time to prioritize Venus,” Mr. Bridenstine wrote.

While previous robotic spacecraft have visited Venus, a new probe may be needed to confirm life.

“Fortunately, Venus is right next door,” Ms. Sousa-Silva said. “So we can literally go and check.” — Reuters

South  Korea to secure coronavirus vaccines for 60% of population

SEOUL — South Korea will secure early supply of the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines for 30 million people, or 60% of its population, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun told a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

While authorities would like to inoculate the country’s entire population of 52 million, uncertainty around the vaccine’s safety, efficacy and development was limiting South Korea’s investment, Chung said.

Chung said the government will negotiate with the relevant international organizations and vaccine makers to secure the early supply of the COVID-19 vaccines and would buy more as the development proceeds.

In August, South Korea said it planned to join the COVAX facility, a global COVID-19 vaccine allocation plan co-led by the World Health Organization (WHO) that aims to help buy and fairly distribute the shots.

South Korea will purchase 20 million doses of vaccines from the COVAX scheme, available for 10 million people, and 40 million doses from private drug makers, the health authorities said in a statement.

South Korea’s SK Bioscience in July agreed to manufacture AstraZeneca’s experimental vaccine, that has shown promise against the coronavirus, to help the British company build global supplies.

Novavax, Inc. last month separately said SK Bioscience, a unit of SK Chemicals Co, Ltd., would manufacture a component of the U.S. drug developer’s experimental coronavirus vaccine in a bid to boost its supply.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 106 new coronavirus cases as of Monday midnight, which brought the total number of infections to 22,391, and the total COVID-19 death tally to 367. — Reuters

Denver Nuggets look to spoil Los Angeles Clippers’ season

THE weight of a Game 7 contest will weigh more heavily on the Los Angeles Clippers, the Denver Nuggets believe.

“To us, Game 7 is just another game,” Nuggets center Nikola Jokic said.

Jokic had 34 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists, as the Nuggets stunned the Clippers 111-98 in Game 6 of their Western Conference semifinal on Sunday at the NBA bubble near Orlando.

Game 7 is Wednesday. The winner meets the Los Angeles Lakers in the conference finals.

Jokic connected on 13 of 22 shots from the floor, including four of six 3-pointers. Jamal Murray had 21 points, Gary Harris added 16, and Michael Porter Jr. chipped in 13 for the third-seeded Nuggets, who outscored the second-seeded Clippers 64-35 in the second half.

“It was just amazing,” Denver coach Michael Malone told the media after the game. “We had 11 straight stops at one point. Coming into this round, they were the No. 1 offense in the playoffs, so I’m running out of adjectives, superlatives, whatever you want to call it to speak on our team because that is a tough, resilient group of you-know-what. I love our team.”

Paul George had 33 points, six rebounds, and five steals for the Clippers, who are attempting to advance to their first Western Conference final. They are 0-7 in franchise history in previous attempts to get there.

Kawhi Leonard contributed 25 points, eight boards, and five assists, while Lou Williams scored 14 points. JaMychal Green had 11.

“Just gave up the lead again, pretty much,” said Leonard, who made eight of 18 shots and three of five 3-pointers. “They came down and either scored or got fouled in the third quarter, and we couldn’t buy a basket. That’s how they came back.”

The Nuggets will be trying to become the first NBA club to rally from a 3-1 deficit in back-to-back series. They did so against the Utah Jazz in the first round. And Leonard said the Clippers have to be ready for what the Nuggets have in store for them.

“Just got to leave it all out on the floor,” Leonard said. “Make sure we are paying attention to detail, executing, and communicating on the defensive end. That’s all we can do. Go out there and play hard and make sure we know the game plan.”

The game plan Sunday seemed to be going just fine for Los Angeles in the first half. The Clippers coasted to a 16-point halftime lead and went up by as much as 19 early in the third quarter. But the Nuggets outscored them 30-16 in the third and seized control in the fourth.

Clippers coach Doc Rivers said the game swung when Murray, who appeared to have the wind knocked out of him, crashed to the floor after a third-quarter collision under the basket with George.

“I thought once Murray went down with that injury from that point on the complexion of the game completely changed,” Rivers said. “I thought we were the more physical team, we were attacking, we were getting into the paint. And from that point on, it was a reverse of scripts.” — Reuters

Work continues for Magsayo as he awaits new opponent

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

DEALT an unexpected blow to his return to the boxing ring when his supposed opponent suddenly backed out, Filipino Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo said he is moving on, continuing to work until a replacement foe is named.

Mr. Magsayo (20-0) was set to face American Jose Haro (15-1) on Sept. 23 in Los Angeles before the latter announced last week that he was pulling out of the scheduled fight and going into retirement, citing family reasons for his decision.

The fight, which was rescheduled to Oct. 3, was supposed to mark the return of the undefeated Magsayo to the ring, having last fought in August last year where he won over Thai Panya Uthok by unanimous decision.

It was also his first fight as a member of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, whom he signed with in March.

Mr. Magsayo admitted that Mr. Haro’s withdrawal was very disappointing as he was really training hard to make his ring return a success.

“Initially, I was really disappointed, but I understand him (Haro). I was really excited in facing Haro and we were really surprised when we saw the news on Twitter that he was backing out,” said 25-year-old Magsayo in Filipino in an online interview with BusinessWorld.

“I was ready to fight and was actually doing sparring for eight rounds when we got hold of the news. I was in great condition,” he added.

MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons is currently busy looking for a replacement opponent for Mr. Magsayo in time for the October event.

Despite the turn of events, Bohol native Magsayo said his focus is the same and that work continues for him and his team, with the end view of having him ready when the new opponent comes along.

“It’s the same for us. We will use the added time to sharpen my game. I’ll leave the job of finding my next opponent to our promoter and just concentrate on training,” he said.

Mr. Magsayo is now in the United States, training under the guidance of coaches Freddie Roach, Marvin Somodio and Justine Fortune.

“As disappointing as the recent turn of events is (Haro backing out), it is what it is. That’s how things are in boxing sometimes. Maybe, there is still a better fight for me out there,” said Mr. Magsayo.

“I’m looking forward to getting back to the ring and giving a performance that Filipino fans can enjoy and be proud of.”

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