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Barangay governance: Toward small is beautiful

The pandemic crisis has reminded me of our foreign exchange shortage in the 1970s, during the Martial Law era, when we experienced rationing. This was the time when I first encountered and appreciated barangay governance. I was then living in a tiny street in Barangay Poblacion in Makati, right behind the old church and the then-Makati Catholic School (now St. Paul’s). I was renting the second floor of what I liked to refer to as a “pandemonium.”

Because of a lack of business investments then, the Marcos government was running out of dollars, and could not pay for oil imports. There was also a rice shortage. Fertilizer and chemicals had become so expensive that our farmers could not produce enough rice. Neither could we import enough rice because we had no dollars.

The impact on our lives was that gasoline and rice had to be rationed.

I don’t know how it was in other barangays, but we were fortunate in Barangay Poblacion, Makati. I think the mayor then was the dynamic Nemesio Yabut. Yabut was rumored to spend much of his time sitting in sari-sari stores, talking to his constituents and going from barangay to barangay.

Our barangay captain then was so devoted to his duties that I still remember his name now, almost 50 years later. Peping Samarista would walk up to my unit each month to ask me how much of my rations I really needed for myself. Since it was just me, my son, and his yaya (nursemaid), I did not need all of the one sack of rice allotted to each household. He always asked my permission to reallocate my “surplus” to neighbors who needed more. I honestly don’t even remember if I was paying for my rice. Probably not. I think that even then Makati was the richest LGU. Barangay Captain Samarista also provided my gasoline coupons. Since I was driving an energy-efficient Renault 4L and my office was not too far away, I did not need all of the gas coupons, so I shared them with him so he could allocate them to other neighbors. I have no doubt at all that soft spoken and low-key Peping Samarista was just doing his job. I had never met him before that rationing time, and I was not into politics. He just came up one day to my place and introduced himself. I don’t even remember if he was elected or appointed. More likely appointed since there were no elections back then. So, he was not even campaigning for my vote. I guess he did the same thing around the whole Barangay Poblacion.

Last week, my katabang (house helper) spent a weekend at her family home in the same barangay (Lahug) here in Cebu where I live. She said that she got five kilos of rice for free from our barangay office. As advised by the barangay, she also went to the local Department of Social Welfare and Development office to fill out a form so that some cash assistance would be given (delivered) to her as among the poor. She shared the rice with her sister’s family.

She also told me that the barangay people told her that my own “monthly financial assistance” as a senior citizen from Cebu City hall would be delivered by the barangay government after the Holy Week to my place instead of my having to pick it up. This arrangement was being made since senior citizens are not allowed to go out of the home these pandemic days. In fact, she said that the barangay was planning to deliver two or more months’ allowance (of P1,000/month) to our homes.

My encounter with barangay governance during these two crises have made me appreciate how much more barangays can do in community development and delivery of services once empowered to do so. My experience with Peping Samarista also makes me wonder what would happen if barangay officials, at least sitio leaders, were to develop personal relationships with their constituents. That could make government much more responsive and sensitive to people’s needs and expectations.

Perhaps there could be less garbage in the streets, and more environmentally sound lifestyles at barangay, and therefore, community levels. Perhaps sitio and barangay leaders can be trained in constructive community relations and of course, given adequate compensation for their work. More community consciousness could result in more responsible citizenship among the constituents. Local governments at municipal, city, and provincial levels could become more sensitive and responsive to their constituents’ real needs. And families can see and share beyond their own household.

Truly, small can be beautiful, as the economist E.F. Schumacher once said in his book with the subtitle “economics as if people mattered.” Perhaps from this strengthened small-community framework of governance, more appropriate methods and technologies could be developed that can improve the quality of life of our people.

 

Teresa S. Abesamis is a former professor at the Asian Institute of Management and Fellow of the Development Academy of the Philippines.

tsabesamis0114@yahoo.com

Gov’t to buy 2 million rapid test kits for novel coronavirus

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte said his government would buy two million rapid test kits for COVID-19 as part of a plan to boost capacity to contain the virus.

In a late night address on Monday, the President said he would buy the test kits against the advice of health experts who have questioned their accuracy.

Mr. Duterte noted that the local Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must approve the use of medical supplies by the public, but he said he would “risk” the purchase of test kits approved by the US FDA.

“I am clearing the way by ordering the purchase,” Mr. Duterte said. “They can proceed to buy it immediately.”

The Department of Health (DoH) earlier said rapid test kits are not accurate and have yielded false results.

The local FDA has approved 13 rapid test kits that must be used by medical professionals.

Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., the country’s anti-COVID-19 chief enforcer, told Mr. Duterte during the televised address that the government should buy both rapid and standard test kits to avoid false results.

He said the government would buy two million rapid test kits and 900,000 standard polymerase chain reaction test kits worth more than P3 billion.

He told Mr. Duterte the law bars the Health department and Philippine Health Insurance Corp. from buying equipment without the approval of the Health Technology Assessment Council.

But the government may buy the rapid test kits through the Office of Civil Defense, he added.

In his address, Mr. Duterte also warned local government officials they could be arrested for violating social distancing protocols.

The president said he had heard reports of people holding boxing matches and gatherings, as well as of crowded public markets.

He also said he would ask the Justice department to file charges against hospitals who refuse patients amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President George T. Barcelon welcomed the state plan to buy rapid test kits, which he said could be used by the regions to change their quarantine strategies.

“The enhanced community quarantine can be modified and it’s a good development for manufacturers and other industries so they can slowly reopen,” he said at a separate briefing yesterday. — Gillian M. Cortez

10 Reasons to doubt the COVID-19 data

By Cathy O’Neil

IF YOU’RE LIKE ME, you’ve been watching the daily data on the coronavirus pandemic, seeking glimmers of hope in the trajectories: the infected, the hospitalized, the intubated, the dead.

If only there were more understanding to be had. The more I look at the numbers, the more I see their flaws. Here are my top 10.

1. The number of infected is close to meaningless. Only people who get tested can be counted, and there still aren’t enough tests — not even close, and not in any country save perhaps Iceland. The best we can do is estimate how many people are sick by guessing what percentage of the infected can obtain a test. In the US, for example, anecdotal evidence suggests that people need to be ill enough to be hospitalized. About 10% of cases merit hospitalization, so the actual number of infected might be about ten times larger than what’s reported.

2. The tests aren’t accurate and the inaccuracies aren’t symmetric. In particular, they produce many more false negatives than false positives — meaning they tend to indicate that people are OK when they’re actually sick. Some research suggests that the false negative rate could exceed 30%. This means that estimates of the true number of infections should be once again inflated.

3. The number of tests doesn’t equal the number of people tested. Because the tests are so inaccurate, some people get tested twice to be more sure of the results. This means that the share of the population tested compared to the number of people found to be infected paints a rosier picture than reality, offering yet another reason to believe that the actual number of infected is higher.

4. The numbers aren’t in sync. People sometimes die weeks after being hospitalized, and they get hospitalized a week or more after testing positive for the virus. So we shouldn’t expect the “number of deaths” curve to flatten until pretty long after the “number of cases” curve does. The bright side of this lag is that, since it takes longer to recover than to die, the death rate will go down over time.

5. The meaning of hospitalization is changing. Officials have recently presented flattening hospital admissions as a positive sign. But it takes a lot more to get somebody to the hospital these days. Hotlines are jammed, ambulances are scarce, standards for who gets hospitalized have drastically changed, and people are avoiding overwhelmed emergency rooms. So fewer hospitalizations doesn’t necessarily mean that the situation is getting better.

6. Deaths aren’t reported immediately or consistently. Various operational issues, such as paper filing and notifying next of kin, determine when a death actually gets registered. This might help explain why the most deaths tend to get reported on Tuesdays. So don’t get too excited about good news on a weekend — you might be disappointed by the beginning of the week.

7. Deaths outside hospitals aren’t being reported. When people die at home or in nursing facilities, veteran homes, or prisons, they’re not always counted. This is a biggie: When France started reporting fatalities in nursing homes, their death count increased by 40%. Belgium reports nursing home deaths pretty well, and they’re finding 40% of deaths occur there.

8. The policy for attributing deaths isn’t consistent. Once somebody is gone, why waste a valuable test? So doctors might not mention COVID-19 as a contributing cause. It’s a judgment call, especially when someone was sick already. This might have a very large effect on the data in certain environments like rehab facilities and nursing homes.

9. Officials may have incentives to hide coronavirus cases. China, Indonesia, and Iran have all come under scrutiny for their statistics. “Juking the stats” is not unknown in other contexts in the US, either. So don’t assume that officials are above outright manipulation.

10. What happens in one place, or on average, might not be applicable everywhere. Some small studies suggest that the COVID-19 mortality rate is about 1% of the infected population. But that doesn’t mean it will be the same in the US, or in New York City. Specific areas could see much worse death rates, simply because their health care systems are not as comprehensive or their populations have more chronic diseases. The US has plenty of polluted areas that seem to make people more vulnerable to infection and sicker once they get sick. As we’ve seen in recent days, such disparities are disproportionately affecting people of color.

Appealing as it may be to keep count, the true numbers might not be knowable until much later. Testing needs to be done systematically, even on asymptomatic people. For deaths, precise numbers might never emerge. It’s possible to estimate using the number of unexpected deaths compared to a year earlier. But even that’s not ideal, because lockdowns might suppress other kinds of deaths — traffic accidents, for example — by forcing people to stay at home.

Don’t get me wrong: Watching the official data is not a complete waste of time and attention.

 

BLOOMBERG OPINION

#COVID-19 Regional Updates (04/14/20)

4 of 12 NCR quarantine facilities ready

FOUR out of 12 mega quarantine facilities in the National Capital Region for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients have been completed, Bases Conversion Development Authority President and Presidential Adviser on Flagship Programs and Projects Vince B. Dizon said. In his presentation during Tuesday’s virtual hearing of the Defeat COVID-19 committee in the House of Representatives, Mr. Dizon said that they have finished preparations for the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Rizal Memorial Stadium, Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), and the World Trade Center. Other quarantine facilities still undergoing conversion are the Quezon Institute, Philippine Sports Arena, Duty Free Philippines in Parañaque, Filinvest Tent in Alabang, Amoranto Stadium, Quezon City Memorial Circle, Veterans Medical Complex and the Philippine Arena. Mr. Dizon added that the Clark Convention Center is already operational and will start accepting patients from Pampanga and Tarlac “in the next few days.” — Genshen L. Espedido

NWRB assures enough water supply during ECQ, summer

THE National Water Resources Board (NWRB) assured that Metro Manila has enough water supply during the extended enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) until April 30 and the remaining summer period. In a radio interview, NWRB Executive Director Dr. Sevillo D. David Jr. said the current water level of Angat Dam is still “comfortable” to meet Metro Manila’s water requirements. “We still have enough water in Metro Manila. It can last this summer and until the arrival of the rainy season,” Mr. David said. As of Tuesday morning, Angat Dam’s water level was at 192.95 meters, lower by 0.20 meters from Monday, according to data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). Mr. David estimated that the minimum operating level of 180 meters will be reached around the second week of June if the dam continues its rate of decline and the rainy season arrives later than expected. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Iloilo officials block return of over 100 OFWs

ILOILO province’s officials, including town and city mayors, have blocked the return of overseas Filipinos workers (OFWs) currently in Manila, citing risks to their families and communities after one from another batch that came in from Cebu tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The over 100 OFWs, who were stranded in Manila following the imposition of an enhanced community quarantine in the province, were supposed to take an April 14 Philippine Airlines flight from Manila to Iloilo. In an April 13 letter to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Governor Arthur R. Defensor Jr. rejected the request for the flight to land at the Iloilo International Airport. The letter was co-signed by San Enrique Mayor Rosario F. Fernandez, provincial president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines. “We like to see our OFWs home with their families but allowing them to come home at this time only increases the risk of more COVID-19 cases in the province of Iloilo, puts the safety of their own families at risk, and further extends the deadline of our enhanced community quarantine,” Mr. Defensor said. The provincial government, in a post on its Facebook page on Tuesday, also said the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) should first set up an isolation facility for returning OFWs and subject them to COVID-19 tests “before any repatriation to Iloilo can be made.” Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, meanwhile, said there was a breach in quarantine protocols involving the group of OFWs that arrived via a ship from Cebu last Saturday. “I was terribly shocked to learn that there was a violation of protocols established by the IATF (Inter Agency Task Force). Aside from OFWs who had finished the 14-day quarantine in Cebu, there were three undocumented persons that one person turned positive both in the rapid testing and the confirmatory PCR test,” Mr. Treñas said in a statement on Tuesday. He criticized the OWWA for failing to handle the situation and lack of coordination with the local government. “A total of 94 people had exposure to the OFW. They are personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard, 32 staff of the City Health Office, 42 crew members from Cokaliong Lines and six personnel of the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office. Personnel from the city government are now under quarantine,” the mayor said. — Emme Rose S. Santiagudo

Sarangani converts drug rehab center into COVID-19 isolation facility

PHOTO CREDIT: SARANGANI PROVINCIAL GOV’T

SARANGANI province is tapping its existing drug rehabilitation center as an isolation facility for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) suspect patients. Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon, in a statement Monday, said while the province remains free from positive COVID-19 patients, measures are in place to address the national health crisis at the local level. Parts of the Dangerous Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in Alabel town, built through a P350 million funding from China, have been retrofitted to accommodate 10 patients under observation for COVID-19. Provincial health officer Arvin C. Alejandro said should there be a surge in the number of suspect cases, the contingency plan is to use the Sarangani Health Care Facility inside the Capitol compound, which will be able to accommodate up to 30 patients. Mr. Alejandro added that their office also has a list of isolation units at the barangay and municipal levels. Davao City is also using its drug rehabilitation center as one of five quarantine areas.

Nationwide round-up

Gov’t to form special team for OFW repatriation

THE government’s Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) will establish a special unit for the repatriation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) displaced by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic. In a briefing Tuesday, IATF-EID Spokesperson Karlo Alexei B. Nograles said the Sub-Task Unit for the Repatriation of OFWs will “facilitate the quarantine requirement of all repatriated OFWs, whether sea-based or land-based.” The unit will be headed by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. Displaced OFWs will receive P10,000 each through the Department of Labor and Employment’s DoLE-AKAP assistance. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), which will be part of the special unit, repatriated over a thousand more OFWs, bringing the total number to over 14,000 as of Tuesday. DFA reported that 301 seafarers from the United States arrived on Tuesday, following the repatriation of six land-based OFWs from Doha, Qatar and 299 seafarers from three cruise ships on Monday. The return of these latest batches of Filipinos was facilitated by the Philippine Embassies in Doha, Brasilia and Washington DC, and local manning agencies MSC Cruises, CF Sharp, and United Philippine Lines. Meanwhile, the DFA reported that as of April 13, there were 660 confirmed COVID-19 patients among overseas Filipinos, including 384 under treatment, 192 who have recovered, while 84 died. — Gillian M. Cortez and Charmaine A. Tadalan

Senators call for ease, expansion of cash aid distribution

PHILSTAR

SENATORS on Tuesday proposed to relax rules that hamper the distribution of cash assistance and the expansion of targeted beneficiaries to hasten the delivery of the emergency subsidy program for low income households. Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III said local government units (LGUs) may opt to “bend” or even do away with restrictions in granting the P5,000–8,000 monthly subsidy to those affected by the disruptions arising from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. “‘Yung mga rules, medyo bend ng kaunti. Luwagan ninyo ng kaunti. Kung pwede nga, ibato na sa bintana ‘yan (The rules, you can bend them a bit, ease them. If possible, just throw them out the window),” Mr. Sotto said over DzMM. He also suggested that LGUs should first tap their own budget to deliver the subsidy while waiting for the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to download funds. Senator Ralph G. Recto, for his part, recommended that the government expand the list of beneficiaries. “My recommendation is to expand the list of families to be given subsidy. If all will be given then it will be faster,” he said in a phone message. In its third weekly report to Congress, the Palace said that LGUs may submit additional family beneficiaries to the DSWD for validation. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

Gov’t medical frontliners get higher GSIS insurance

THE Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has increased the insurance of public health frontliners by an additional P500,000, which covers death due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and accidental death. “GSIS has increased the life insurance of our medical frontliners. Today, a GSIS medical frontliner has a life insurance of P300,000-P500,000. We increased it by an additional P500,000,” GSIS President and General Manager Rolando L. Macasaet said in his presentation during the House of Representatives virtual hearing on Tuesday. The insurance is effective from March 1 to December 31, 2020. “This is the first time the GSIS is doing this, in recognition of the heroic acts our frontliners are doing for our country and our people,” Mr. Macasaet said. — Genshen L. Espedido

Makabayan bloc asks SC to order release of vulnerable inmates

THE Makabayan bloc in Congress asked the Supreme Court (SC) to order the release of inmates who are vulnerable to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The petition came after 23 prisoners also asked to be granted temporary release through bail on humanitarian grounds during the community quarantine arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. They are prisoners who are elderly, sick, and pregnant. “The country’s congested prison and detention facilities are undoubtedly a hotbed for infection, amplification, and spread of infectious diseases, especially of his novel virus that has a mutation for increased transmissibility,” Makabayan’s letter addressed to Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta read. “In this extraordinary time, we appeal to this Honorable Court to exercise its extraordinary powers and order the release, en masse, of vulnerable persons deprived of liberties in the different detention and jail facilities all over the country,” they added. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Schools using August–July calendar may extend semester by a month

UNIVERSITIES and colleges using the August–July calendar may extend the semester for one month after the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) has been lifted, based on the latest advisory from the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd). For institutions using the June–May academic calendar, they may continue the current semester until April 30 through flexible learning options. CHED, in its April 13 advisory, has extended the suspension of classes in all levels and school activities for the entire Luzon until April 30, in line with the extension of the ECQ. Class suspension in areas outside Luzon will be determined by the local government according to the level of risks posed by the coronavirus disease. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

Bucks keeping selves ready in case of return to game action

Reigning NBA most valuable player Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks. — GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO TWITTER PAGE

WHILE the resumption of the 2019–20 season of the National Basketball Association is still to be determined at this point, the Milwaukee Bucks are keeping themselves ready in the event the league returns to action.

Had their solid season halted when the NBA decided to suspend league activities on March 11 when its first case of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was confirmed, the Bucks, which had the best record in the league of 53-12 at the time of the halt, said they are taking the situation as it is, unfortunate it may be, while not losing hope that the season can still be salvaged.

They said they are keeping in shape on their own so that when team activities are allowed anew they would not miss much step.

“You have to stay ready. You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do because you never know what you’re going to expect. I think the league and Adam Silver are doing a difficult job and will come up with a good plan that will make sure every player is ready to go, because it’s going to be really important when the season starts,” said reigning league most valuable player Giannis Antetokounmpo in a media conference call, the transcript of which was shared by the league to BusinessWorld.

Mr. Antetokounmpo was joined in the conference call by Bucks teammates Brook Lopez, Eric Bledsoe and Khris Middleton.

Recently the league said it is planning a 25-day return-to-basketball window before restarting the season — an 11-day series of individual workouts where the players are expected to observe social distancing then hopefully a 14-day training camp after.

The Bucks stars said that while such a setup is something beyond the ordinary, they are giving their trust to the league and will comply to what is asked of them.

“I think we just kind of have to deal with the hand that we’re dealt. The NBA is going to do the best that they can to make sure to not put anybody at risk for all of the reasons out there right now. If we play, we’ll be ready for that. If we don’t, we’ll definitely be disappointed, but I think everybody will understand that it’s bigger than basketball at this point,” said All-Star Middleton.

He was seconded by guard Bledsoe, saying, “Same with Khris. We definitely have to play the cards we’re dealt. Everybody understands what’s at stake. As a group, as a team, we’re going to stay prepared and ready for whatever the outcome is. But like Khris said, we’d be a little bit disappointed, but we know the circumstances and we just have to prepare for what’s next.”

AWAY FROM THE GAME AND LENDING A HAND
While away from regular game action, Antetokounmpo And Company said they are spending their day much of the time with their families, something they do not get to do often during the season.

The Bucks players have also done their share in coming in aid of those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, particular those working for the organization and their home arena of Fiserv Forum.

It is something they hope other people do as well in their own ways because against COVID-19 any help for those in need would go a long way.

“I know that we work with these people every day. My first reaction when the league was suspended was, ‘Are these people going to be able to work? Are these people going to be able to leave their homes? Are these people going to be able to provide for themselves and their families? Because most of these people probably live from check-to-check, so me and my family decided to help as much as we could,” said Mr. Antetokounmpo, who pledged $100,000 for the workers of the Bucks home court.

“At the end of the day it’s about helping one another. All that matters is how you help those families that are in need right now in this period that we’re going through,” he added.

“We took each other’s lead on it and we tried to do the right thing,” Mr. Middleton, for his part, said.

The NBA is mulling the direction it would take for this season in light of COVID-19 and is expected to make a clearer decision in May the earliest. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Anything possible as NHL readies for relaunch, says commissioner

THE National Hockey League will be prepared for a post-coronavirus relaunch whenever an opportunity presents itself, commissioner Gary Bettman said on Monday.

The opening round of the playoffs would have been under way this week but like every other North American sport, the NHL has been forced into hibernation since March 12 by the coronavirus disease 2019.

With no live hockey to digest, fans have turned to social media where various scenarios, some vague and farfetched and others detailed and considered, have been floated and debated.

Bettman conceded during an interview on CNN that many were not realistic but all would be considered.

“All the leagues are basically focused on the same things,” said Bettman. “There has been a lot of speculation we are going to play in neutral sites like North Dakota and a variety of other places.

“The fact is when you are in the position all of us are in, you have to be prepared to relaunch when the opportunity presents itself, which means you have to not rule out any conceivable alternative and be prepared even if some of them turn out to be not realistic.”

With almost 600,000 coronavirus cases and more than 23,000 deaths reported in the United States by Monday, the idea of cramming close to 20,000 spectators into arenas does not seem realistic at the moment.

When play does resume, it is likely to be in neutral locations or hubs in empty arenas where teams and staff can be isolated, limiting exposure to the coronavirus to both players and the public.

Grand Forks, North Dakota and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, have been floated as possible sites. But even as talk intensifies about the reopening of the United States economy, Bettman emphasized the NHL was continuing to consider its options.

One of those options reportedly being considered is a summer finish to the 2019–20 season with the 2020–21 season starting up in November.

“We’re exploring and want to be prepared for every option whatever circumstances present themselves,” said Bettman. “So we haven’t ruled anything in and we haven’t ruled anything out and we will be prepared to go in whatever direction makes sense at the time.

“We’re exploring all options but when we will have an opportunity to return depends on things we have absolutely no control over,” said Bettman.

“It all starts with everybody’s health and wellbeing. Until there is a sense that people can get together… we don’t know when we can come back.” — Reuters

XFL files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to coronavirus

THE XFL, a reboot of the 2001 league of the same name, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday a month after it had to cancel the remainder of its inaugural season because of the coronavirus outbreak.

The brainchild of Vince McMahon, the XFL 2.0 was the second attempt by the World Wrestling Entertainment impresario to provide a National Football League alternative to American football fans, the first folding in 2001 after one season.

“Unfortunately, as a new enterprise, we were not insulated from the harsh economic impacts and uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 crisis,” the XFL said in a statement. “Accordingly, we have filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code.”

The eight-team league began play in February and cancelled the season after five weeks as the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 brought the global sporting calendar to a virtual halt.

According to a Delaware court filing made by XFL parent company Alpha Entertainment, the decision to scrap the rest of a season that was scheduled to conclude on April 26 cost the league “tens of millions of dollars in revenue.”

The announcement that the XFL came three days after media reports said the league was suspending operations and laying off most employees after failing to finish its first season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Backed by a television deal with FOX, ESPN and ABC, the XFL opened with solid ratings but they declined steadily each week until the coronavirus brought a premature end to the campaign. — Reuters

RDO calls it a career

One of the best “stretch fours” in the Philippine Basketball Association has called it a career after Ranidel de Ocampo announced his retirement from pro basketball on Monday.

After an illustrious 16-year career in Asia’s first play-for-pay league, De Ocampo, 38, who played for the FedEx/Air21, TNT and Meralco franchises, said he is retiring, citing that now is the time to take on new challenges in his life and spend time with his family after giving his all for the sport he started playing when he was 14 years old.

He made the announcement over the 2OT podcast and later on Twitter.

While the writing was on the wall for the imminent exit of the PBA champion and many-time national player as he has been hobbled by injuries of late, still the decision came as a surprise to many.

In the lead-up, not much buzz surrounded a possible RDO retirement, if at all.

We heard of Sonny Thoss (Alaska), Cyrus Baguio and Asi Taulava (NLEX), Peter June Simon (Magnolia) and, possibly, Harvey Carey (TNT) retiring this season, but not RDO, or so we thought.

He followed older Yancy to the sunset after announcing his retirement after last season.

In retiring, the former Saint Francis of Assisi College System standout said he has nothing left to prove and achieve as a player in basketball which he credited as well for honing him to be the person he is now.

And it is really hard to argue with that assertion because RDO did and accomplished a lot as a player.

After college, he was selected fourth overall in the 2004 rookie draft by FedEx where he steadily built a name for himself in the PBA.

He then moved to TNT after five years with FedEx/Air21.

It was with the KaTropa where he built his legacy in the PBA, establishing himself as one of the best stretch fours in the league as he combined solid post-up and inside play with clutch outside sniping which proved to be hard to handle for opponents. He was also a tough defender, making him a bona-fide two-way player.

He was consequently rewarded for it, winning six titles in the PBA, earning two finals most valuable player awards and the PBA best player of the conference award in the 2014 Governors’ Cup, and getting the nod for nine PBA All-Star selections, among others.

RDO was also a noted member of the national team since being called up to play for flag and country here and there beginning 2003.

He was a staple in the frontline of recent Gilas Pilipinas iterations, helping the team win silver in the 2013 and 2015 FIBA Asia Championship and was part of the groundbreaking team that played and made waves in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

Later in his career he was traded to the Meralco Bolts and while he played limited minutes as injuries, and in a way Father Time, started to take their toll, still the team turned to him for veteran leadership and, at times, clutch plays in end games which he delivered in most of the time.

In reading his post on Twitter about his retirement, one could sense a player who is happy with his decision and ready to move on to what is next for him in life.

And I do not know about you, but if you are to exit a career you spent a large chunk of your life in, that is the best way to go out, no regrets and appreciated by peers and fans alike as attested by the many tributes dedicated to him when news broke out.

You did well, RDO. Now enjoy retirement! Thanks!

 

Michael Angelo S. Murillo has been a columnist since 2003. He is a BusinessWorld reporter covering the Sports beat.

msmurillo@bworldonline.com

Repair ties

Rudy Gobert was his candid self when he spoke on Instagram Live at the weekend. As the first player in the National Basketball Association to officially test positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 and the trigger for the league to suspend the 2019–20 season, he could have had his experience affect him negatively. Instead, he went the other way, putting the spotlight trained on him to good use by continually promoting good health and safety habits. True, it was penance for the flippant manner in which he treated social distancing measures. On the other hand, there can be no discounting how actively he has tried to make up for his unfortunate misstep. And so we went on social media anew to spread the word as witness to the pandemic’s ill effects.

Not all have seen fit to forgive Gobert, though. Most notably, teammate Donovan Mitchell, the other Jazz player who tested positive for the virus but who also likewise recovered from it, appears to remain distant — in stark contrast to their hitherto-close relationship. The turn of events is understandable, to be sure. Even as officials have rightly noted that either could have infected the other, or that neither did, the point cannot be overemphasized: the two-time Defensive Player of the Year needs to repair their ties not because he may have passed a deadly illness along. Rather, it was because he didn’t take it seriously despite repeated warnings.

Indeed, the Jazz were ahead of the curve when it came to information about the coronavirus. Head coach Quin Snyder had family members in Seattle, Washington, close to where an outbreak in nursing homes that led to 112 cases in 11 days occurred, and so kept tabs on its spread and made sure to keep the rest of the team abreast with developments. Yet, as the need to take precautions kept being hammered into the minds of players, there was Gobert acting without care; in one press conference during which social distancing measures were imposed, he even went to the trouble of touching microphones and recorders on the table as he stood up to leave. And he was the same in the locker room, grasping and holding with no regard for space.

Which, in a nutshell, is why Mitchell continues to be aloof at best. Gobert minced no words on IG, admitting that they “didn’t speak for a while.” Nonetheless, he downplayed the supposed rift, arguing that “we’re professionals … We’re both grown men, and we both are going to do what it takes to win.” And, to be sure, he’s on the mark when he says players can get along just fine on the court without needing to off it as well. “You know, everyone has got different relationships; it’s never perfect. People that are married, it’s never perfect. So you know, me and my teammates, it’s far from perfect.”

In the NBA, however, every little competitive advantage counts. Competition is so stiff that talent alone does not make champions. The hoops landscape is littered with examples of skill-laden franchises that fail to claim any hardware because of lack of esprit de corps. And the Jazz, having experienced the tumult that occurred between star Deron Williams and longtime bench tactician Jerry Sloan early in the last decade, know this only too well. Little wonder, then, that they’re already moving to get Gobert and Mitchell’s friendship going again.

Needless to say, the quarantine hasn’t helped. The good news is that the two have finally spoken to each other, and are, at the very least, in agreement on the ultimate goal. “We’re both ready to go out there and try to win a championship for this team,” Gobert disclosed. But will they? The answer depends on how fast and how well they can mend, alone and together.

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994.

alcuaycong@bworldonline.com

Unlocking the pandemic puzzle

By Argie C. Aguja
Features Writer, The Philippine STAR

Since the coronavirus disease 20019 (COVID-19) was first reported in China in late 2019, it has managed to reachmore than 100 countries, infecting over 1.9 million people, with 120, 434 deaths (as of April 14). As a result, governments around the world are in a race against time to stem the rising number of active cases and prevent more fatalities: even if it means wreaking havoc on the daily life of billionsthroughschool and work cancellations, harsh lockdowns, forced border closures, nightly curfews, and transportation stoppages.

In the global stage, academics and researchers from the entire scientific community place their confidence in various tech innovations, a set of promising keys that can help mankind unlock this puzzling pandemic once and for all. Here are examples on how artificial intelligence (AI), big data, cloud technology,and robotics are being used around the world to fight COVID-19.

Pinoys develop AI chat bot

The all-Filipino development team at Whiz Philippines developed and launched a free chatbot AI called Suitable Aid for Medical needs (SAM)–NCOV Bot PH. This AI-powered tool will automatically answer relevant questions about the COVID-19 pandemic, 24/7. By engaging with the AI chat bot, users can determine the best course of action, given the symptoms they may be experiencing. Developers are currently translating the AI process into 16+ Philippine local dialects. For more details, visit http://whizph.com/aibotncovph/.

AI-powered patient analysis

Huawei is currently offering its Huawei Cloud AI-assisted diagnosis for COVID-19, a system that uses AI to examines coronavirus lung infections based on a patient’s computer tomography (CT) scan. This can help doctors distinguish between early, advanced, and severe cases with an accuracy of 98 percent. To make the evaluation, partner hospitals must upload the CT scan of a patient to Huawei’s cloud service.

Google use machine learning

Google’s DeepMind division is using machine learning to analyze the structure of some proteins behind the coronavirus. Using more than six decades of scientific knowledge and curated data, DeepMind hopes to understand the three-dimensional shapes of COVID-19 proteins, which could aid scientists in coming up with a vaccine. Its predictive capabilities were also used to suggest existing drugs that might be useful in treating patients.

AI-powered fever detector and face recognition

SenseTime, a leading AI firm in China, has developed a contactless temperature detection software that scans crowds to detect people with fever, recognize their faces and identify those not wearing masks. The sophisticated system also keeps tabs on infected individuals and checks if they are following quarantine instructions.

Drones deliver medical supplies

Japanese company Terra Drone Corp. is using its unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to transport medical samples and quarantine materials between Xinchang County’s disease control center and the People’s Hospital. By using drones, delivery time was shortened by 50 percent compared to road travel, using less manpower and hospital resources.

Outbreak forecast using software

Canadian tech start-up BlueDot was among the first to discover how AI can detect the path of an impending outbreak. Using AI to craft proprietary models,BlueDot’soutbreak risk software was able to give advanced warning to governments, hospitals, and airlines about the spread and trajectory of COVID-19 infections.

Real time video conference, translation via cloud

Alibaba Cloud, the data intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, offered medical personnel around the world free use of the DingTalk International Medical Expert Communication Platform. Hosted in the cloud, this video conferencing tool provides real-time AI translation into 11 languages (Arabic, Bahasa, Chinese, English, French, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, Thai, Turkish, and Vietnamese) so that Chinese doctors can share their experiences and answer questions from global peers.

Self-driving disinfection robots

Danish start-up Blue Ocean Robotics deployed self-driving UVD Robots to automate disinfection procedures in hospitals of more than 40 countries. These disinfection robots that use ultraviolet (UV) light to kill viruses and bacteria, thereby curbing the spread of the coronavirus.

Protective fabric from nanoparticles

Israeli firmSonoviadeveloped an anti-pathogen, anti-bacterial fabric made out of metal-oxide nanoparticles from zinc oxide and copper oxide. The fabric is now undergoing further tests and if successful, can be used to makereusable medical masks, protective clothing, hospital beddings, and gowns.

Supercomputers solve scientific calculations

COVID-19 High Performance Computing Consortium Group uses a network of 30 supercomputers with a combined performance of 400 petaflops to help scientists analyze and calculate demanding mathematical processes and scientific models, tasks that would otherwise take a long time to finish.

As the world reels from the effects of COVID-19, mankind’s various technological advances shine a ray of light — a dose of much-needed hope in these uncertain times.

DoH begins ‘mass testing’

 

The Department of Health has began its COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) ‘mass testing’ in various accredited testing centers in the country, giving priorities to high-risk individuals.