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Wellbeing programs increasingly highlighted in hiring process

GLOBAL ADVISORY firm Willis Tower Watson said over 80% of Philippine companies plan to use wellbeing programs to attract talent after identifying stress as a major employment issue during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

In a statement Wednesday, Willis Towers Watson said the findings were contained in a study of 122 companies known as the Wellbeing Diagnostic Survey conducted between October and November. Of the survey participants, 85% said they will promote wellbeing programs in hiring.

“Five years ago, over half of the employers in the Philippines indicated that, while they offered various programs, they did not have a formally articulated wellbeing strategy. Today, not only do many employers have a strategy in place, 85% plan to use it as a differentiator to compete for talent in three years,” said Willis Towers Watson Head of Health & Benefits Philippines Susan La Chica in a statement Wednesday.

Ms. La Chica said the study found that 83% of employers view stress as a labor concern, after work pressures intensified due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Companies are also looking to upgrade programs to adjust to their employees’ rising stress levels. Willis Towers Watson Head of Business Development and Medical Director Demosthenes Villarin, Jr. said employers view their current programs to be no longer sufficient.

“The pandemic has taken its toll on employees, especially in terms of their physical and emotional wellbeing. In fact, the impact is so great that many employers expect these effects will continue in a post-vaccine environment. Fragmented programs that act as band aids for short-term concerns are no longer sufficient. Many employers are now acting with urgency as they look to take their wellbeing programs to the next level and also address the changing needs and demographics of today’s employees,” he said. — Gillian M. Cortez

Import ban partly lifted on Dutch deboned poultry meat

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IMPORTS of mechanically deboned meat (MDM) from Dutch poultry have been allowed to resume if the region or origin in the Netherlands is free of highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu), the Department of Agriculture said.

Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar signed a memorandum order on April 6 that permitted the import of poultry MDM from bird flu-free Dutch regions as listed by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

Mr. Dar said the order grants the request of meat processors.

“Appeals have been made by the meat processing sector for the Department of Agriculture (DA) to reconsider the acceptance of (imports from bird flu-free regions), in order to address the shortage of affordable MDM,” Mr. Dar said in the memorandum order.

The DA had issued a memorandum order on Jan. 11 that suspended all poultry imports from the Netherlands due to outbreaks of the H5N8 bird flu strain in Utrecht, Friesland, and Zuid-Holland.

According to the new memorandum order, a team composed of representatives from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) will be created to inspect domestic meat processing plants with thermal processing equipment on-site.

The DA said accredited meat processors that were inspected and found compliant will be allowed to import poultry MDM from bird flu-free zones in the Netherlands.

Each shipment will undergo review before the issuance of the sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPSIC).

“The poultry meat shipment must be sourced from one meat establishment only. Multiple sources of meat establishments for each poultry shipment shall not be allowed,” according to the order.

Before the departure of the shipments, the DA said attestations should be included to confirm that the MDM imports were sourced from bird flu-free areas, slaughtered in an approved abattoir, produced in a bird flu-free zone, adhered to OIE guidelines, and tested negative for bird flu.

Meanwhile, the order also disclosed requirements from local meat importers and processors such as the identification of one DA-accredited cold storage warehouse to be used solely for storing poultry MDM imports from the Netherlands, and that MDM imports should only go to licensed meat processing plants that have thermal processing facilities, among others.

The DA said the issuance of SPSICs will be suspended if poultry MDM imports are found to have been sold online or in wet markets.

“Unannounced visits to meat processing plants may also be conducted by veterinary authorities to ensure compliance with government regulations and other food safety policies, while random sample collection of MDM shall be conducted by NMIS plant officers for detection of the presence of bird flu,” according to the order.

Jesus C. Cham, Meat Importers and Traders Association president, said in a mobile phone message that the easing of import restrictions is a step in the right direction.

“We hope it goes further. If products are certified and tested to be free of bird flu, why should there be any restrictions at all? OIE guidelines are to just ban the affected zones. Now we have added a layer of protection by product testing. So all poultry products, not just MDM should be allowed access to markets and consumers,” Mr. Cham said.

However, Mr. Cham said only a number of processors will be able to meet the requirements set by the DA such as the availability of thermal processing equipment.

“Only a few processors can manage. All of the small processors will be shut out unfortunately. These are the ones who serve mainly the lower C, D, and E segments,” Mr. Cham said.

Philippine Association of Meat Processors, Inc. Vice-President Jerome D. Ong welcomed the partial lifting of the import ban, noting that the easing in policy still complies with OIE and World Trade Organization principles.

“On the whole, the conditions are very stringent, so we will wait if exporters can ship even with additional cost, especially on the testing requirement that will surely drive up the price of MDM,” Mr. Ong said in a mobile phone message.

“Without lifting the countrywide bans on the UK and Germany, the reopening of Poland, and the accreditation of new plants in Hungary and Brazil, the supply of MDM will remain inadequate and hinder the processed meat industry from fully supplying the needs of the country at affordable prices,” he added.

According to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), chicken MDM imports from the Netherlands amounted to 115.05 million kilograms in 2020, equivalent to 42% of the total imports. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

ASEAN seen remaining major player in global supply network

ASEAN COUNTRIES are well-positioned to attract investment following shifts in global value chains (GVCs) in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, economists said, citing the region’s growing middle class.

At a webinar organized by the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) Wednesday, Hoe Ee Khor, chief economist of AMRO, said: “Although we have seen some cross-border relocation of GVCs globally, the ASEAN+3 region will remain a highly attractive location for GVC investment in the post-pandemic world.”

“The region’s middle class is expanding rapidly and becoming more affluent. The large pool of labor is upskilling to the digital economy. Businesses are adopting new technologies and creating more commercial opportunities,” he added.

He said before the pandemic hit, ASEAN countries reported an increase in investment flows, particularly in the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand.

The size of the GVC sector and trade relative to the global economy had been receding prior to the pandemic mainly due to rising protectionism and reshoring of outsourced businesses, Mr. Khor said.

He said that the pandemic has added to the slowdown due to disruptions like border closures.

AMRO said GVCs drive growth for the region and accounted for half of the regional and global trade volume of ASEAN+3, which includes the 10 members plus China including Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea.

To better capture the opportunities from the pandemic, Deborah Elms, founder and executive director of the Asian Trade Centre, said ASEAN economies should strengthen trade integration within the region to create a stable and smooth flow of goods, services and investment and boost production.

“This is an opportunity for ASEAN to deliver on the promise of the economic community, which is we finally have ASEAN members create almost a seamless movement of goods, services and investment that has long been promised but has been short in reality,” Ms. Elms said during the webinar.

“It becomes more urgent for ASEAN to make sure that the policy landscape is supportive of continuing integration in the region itself, plus 3, (and with) global partners,” she added. — Luz Wendy T. Noble

MSME recovery to be complex, may boost chances by digitizing

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SMALL BUSINESSES are expected to better deal with post-pandemic challenges if they embrace digitization, according to a study conducted by a microfinance non-profit.

Restart Micro-Enterprise, Inc. (RestartME) concluded in its study, which is supported by Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Foundation and BPI Direct BanKo, that digital solutions carry the promise of helping small businesses navigate the complexity of the recovery, at a time when many small businesses are struggling and with banks reluctant to lend to the segment.

“The extent of financial tech adoption recently shows how a significant number of MSMEs are flexible enough to embrace innovation. But with institutional support, they can take these digital solutions even further,” RestartME Executive Director Jessica Marie G. Robredo said in a statement.

The study noted that MSMEs face a recovery path that is not as straightforward as in previous calamities.

As the pandemic is also a financial crisis, MSMEs and microfinance institutions are also facing funding difficulties as collection rates fall and portfolio risk exposure increases, it added.

Other challenges that impede reopening of small businesses identified in the study were the slow recovery of consumer demand due to shifts in consumer purchasing behavior and income; inadequate access to affordable capital for businesses seeking to reopen; lack of infrastructure and ability to use digital solutions; disruption of operations due to changing government policies; and low capacity for resiliency and risk management.

Despite the general adoption of digital transactions, most small retail stores and market stalls still prefer face-to-face engagement and have yet to fully adopt digital solutions.

The study suggested that the tech industry, particularly telecommunications, financial technology, e-commerce, and social media companies, could play a pivotal role in pushing MSMEs to adopt digital solutions.

“The immense capacity of the private sector and financial institutions per se in driving innovation put us in a strong position to create opportunities for the MSME sector and give them the wings to fly,” BPI Foundation Director Owen L. Cammayo said.

The central bank has provided regulatory relief for banks to boost lending to MSMEs, including making MSME loans eligible as alternative reserve compliance, and reducing the credit risk weight for loans extended to the sector. — Luz Wendy T. Noble

New RMO on Tax Treaty Relief: Intent vs Impact

While everybody was busy anticipating developments on CREATE and a possible extension of the tax filing deadline given the re-imposition of the Enhanced Community Quarantine, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) pulled a rabbit out of the hat and issued Revenue Memorandum Order (RMO) No. 14-2021, providing updated procedures for availing of tax treaty benefits for nonresident foreign income earners.

The RMO cited the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision in the case of Deutsche Bank vs. CIR that a tax treaty relief application (TTRA) merely confirms a taxpayer’s entitlement to treaty benefits. However, it also clarified that the BIR may still require the filing of a TTRA to confirm eligibility for the benefits, provided that it does not unduly deprive the taxpayers of the intended benefits.

Aiming to comply with the Ease of Doing Business Act, the updated guidelines define the roles of the parties; expand the list of supporting documents including those required for fiscally transparent entities; and allow the issuance of confirmatory certificates instead of the usual ruling. However, it also discontinues the Certificate of Residency for Tax Treaty Relief (CORTT) forms and imposes penalties for late filing.

PROCEDURES
The RMO repealed previous issuances on TTRAs. Thus, the simpler requirement of submitting CORTT forms for royalties, dividends and interest income will no longer apply.

Under the new rules, if the nonresident has furnished the withholding agent with the necessary documents and treaty relief has been applied, the withholding agent shall file a request for confirmation of the treaty availment with the International Tax Affairs Division (ITAD). The request must be filed at any time after the payment of the withholding tax but not later than the last day of the fourth month following the close of each taxable year.

On the other hand, if regular tax rates have been applied, the nonresident income earner may file a TTRA at any time after receipt of the payment to prove entitlement to the treaty benefit.

A certification confirming entitlement to the benefits will be issued in lieu of the usual BIR ruling.

DOCUMENTS AND ANNUAL UPDATE
Similar to the earlier rules, the request or TTRA should be supported by documents which include the application form and tax residency certificate issued by the foreign tax authority. New general requirements include proof of income payment and remittance of tax. Other specific documents are also required, depending on the transaction.

An application must be filed for every transaction. For long-term contracts (e.g., service and loan agreements, licensing contracts covering more than one year), annual updates are required until their termination. Thus, an updated application form and the supporting documents need to be filed within the prescribed period for each taxable year.

PROCESSING TIME
The TTRAs shall be processed within four months from submission of complete documents. This is, however, contingent on ITAD resolving its current backlog, hence may not materialize for a good while.

REFUND
Nonresidents subjected to the regular tax rates but have obtained confirmation of eligibility to the preferential rates may subsequently file a claim for refund with the proper BIR office within two years from payment.

DENIAL AND APPEAL
If treaty rates were applied and the BIR deems that regular rates should apply, a ruling will be issued discussing the factual and legal bases for the denial. The local payor will be assessed for deficiency withholding taxes including penalties.

Nevertheless, taxpayers may file an appeal with the Department of Finance within 30 days from receipt of the denial.

PENDING TTRAS & THREE-MONTH WINDOW
Taxpayers with pending TTRAs covering income earned in 2020 and prior years (including those with Notice of Archiving) are granted three months from receipt of the Final Notice to Submit Additional Documents or from effectivity of the RMO, whichever is later, to submit all lacking documents. Failure to do so will result in automatic denial of the TTRA.

On the other hand, previously filed CORTT forms will be forwarded to the district offices for compliance check.

INTENT VS IMPACT
RMO 14-2020 applies the classic “intent versus impact” principle. As to intention, the RMO is very clear — simpler and consistent procedures to confirm treaty benefits. As to impact, however, the new rules may result in more administrative burdens and leave taxpayers with more questions than answers.

For one, is the denial of treaty benefits for failure to strictly comply with filing and documentary requirements consistent with the principles articulated by the SC in the Deutsche case? Perhaps the BIR can consider not issuing denial rulings and instead just set aside incomplete applications. The onus is thus on the taxpayer to prove with valid and convincing evidence its entitlement to the benefits during an audit. The RMO admits to ITAD’s lack of manpower resources which also compounded the backlog. Perhaps it makes sense to spread the work by having the compliance check be done also through the normal tax audit process.

Based on experience, the request for additional documents not listed in the previous RMOs can come only years after the TTRA filing, and taxpayers face setbacks in securing archived and possibly lost documents. Considering that no similar parameter was provided in earlier rules, the three-month window under the new RMO would be prejudicial to taxpayers, especially during this time of quarantine.

The recurring filings for long-term contracts also unduly burden both taxpayers and the BIR with the additional requirements.

Given the options, withholding agents may be more inclined to apply the regular tax rates and pass the TTRA filing burden to the nonresidents. Apart from the TTRA filing, the foreign income earner will have to contend with overpaid taxes. Although the refund route is available, the process is time consuming and complicated and may end up costing more than the amount being recovered.

Moving into 2021, taxpayers had hoped for simpler requirements, even envisioned for CORTT-like procedures for all income payments. But RMO 14-2021 appears to provide no further relief. I hope that the BIR can put more trust in the good faith of taxpayers in their availment of treaty benefits and reconsider these updated guidelines. Again, I think the key might be to bank on revenue examiners to supplement the evaluation during the audit process by requesting specific but reasonable critical documents to prove a taxpayer’s eligibility for treaty relief. This shared responsibility would certainly help address the existing and future workload of ITAD and provide holistic relief to taxpayers.

The views or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Isla Lipana & Co. The content is for general information purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for specific advice.

 

Maria Jonas Yap is a Senior Manager at the Tax Services Department of Isla Lipana & Co., the Philippine member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers global network.

maria.jonas.s.yap@pwc.com

Manila fires off another protest against China

WHITSUN REEF

THE PHILIPPINES has filed another diplomatic protest against China over the presence of fishing boats, suspected to be manned by Chinese maritime militia, at a Philippine-claimed reef in the South China Sea.

“Firing another diplomatic protest,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr., tweeted on Wednesday. “Everyday until the last one’s gone like it should be by now if it is really fishing,” he added.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte sees no need to use force against the Chinese vessels occupying Whitsun Reef, his spokesman said this week.

A national task force overseeing border disputes with China earlier said Beijing had refused to leave Whitsun Reef despite a diplomatic protest filed by Manila last month.

Mr. Duterte thinks the sea dispute could be resolved through peaceful means, Mr. Roque said. The Philippines would continue to assert its legal victory at an international tribunal in 2016, he added.

The Palace official earlier said more than 200 Chinese ships that were spotted at the reef, which the Philippines calls Julian Felipe, were fishing vessels seeking refuge from bad sea conditions.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday renewed the call of the military for the Chinese vessels to leave. In a statement, it said it would file more diplomatic protests until the vessels leave the area.

The Philippines last month filed a diplomatic protest against China after the vessels were spotted moored at the reef. The Chinese Embassy said the reef is part of its territory and the vessels had taken shelter due to rough sea conditions.

Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana, who on Wednesday said he got the coronavirus, had urged the remaining 44 Chinese vessels to leave. He said the Chinese had no reason to stay there since the weather has been good.

The Chinese Embassy reiterated that the reef is part of China’s Nansha Island, adding that the waters around the reef had been “a traditional fishing ground for Chinese fishermen for many years.”

It also said it hopes authorities would make constructive efforts and avoid “unprofessional remarks which may further fan irrational emotions.”

Philippine senators have decried the presence of Chinese vessels at the reef.

Senator Panfilo M. Lacson accused China of taking advantage of the coronavirus pandemic to advance its interests.

Senator Maria Imelda Josefa R. Marcos said a “multilateral joint stand” with neighboring countries was needed.

Senator Risa N. Hontiveros-Baraquel said the Chinese vessels should leave immediately, adding that the Chinese can’t fish in the country’s exclusive economic zone without its consent.

Senators on Tuesday said the Philippines should talk to Southeast Asian countries and western allies about China’s continued incursions in the South China Sea.

Ms. Baraquel renewed her call to investigate the possible collusion and collaboration by Filipinos in the construction of China’s artificial islands in the disputed waterway.

The senator in September filed a resolution to investigate the possible involvement of Filipinos in China’s island-building activities after reports of continued dredging and reclamation around territories claimed by the Philippines.

“I am positive that the more we could look into this issue, the more that we would be able to know how to ultimately oblige China to pay for her shameless adventurism,” she said.

“If Filipinos have colluded to help in China’s brazen abuse, they too won’t escape,” the lawmaker said in Filipino. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

CoronaVac approved for use by seniors amid supply issues

HEALTH authorities on Wednesday approved the use of CoronaVac, the vaccine made by China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd., for the elderly amid global supply problems.

This as the Department of Health reported 6,414 coronavirus infections on Wednesday, bringing the total to 819,164. The death toll increased by 242 to 14,059, while recoveries increased by 163 to 646,404, it said in a bulletin.

There were 158,701 active cases, 97.5% of which were mild, 1.2% did not show symptoms, 0.5% were critical, 0.5% were severe and 0.3% moderate.

“After considering the recommendation of the experts and the current situation of high COVID-19 transmission and limited available vaccines, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is allowing the use of Sinovac on senior citizens,” FDA Director General Domingo said in a statement.

“Vaccination should be preceded by an evaluation of the person’s health status and exposure risk to assure that benefits of vaccination outweigh risks,” he added.

FDA and the Department of Health said the benefits of using the vaccine for seniors outweigh the risks. More scientific data on use for senior citizens may soon become available.

DoH and FDA issued the approval upon the recommendation of the Vaccine Expert Panel from the Science and Technology department.

“The Vaccine Expert Panel thoroughly discussed the matter amid the current vaccine supply in the country and we hope that this would address the present demand for vaccines,” presidential spokesman Herminio L. Roque, Jr. said in a statement on Wednesday.

The FDA earlier refused to recommend the use of CoronaVac for seniors supposedly due to a lack of concrete studies.

Nina G. Gloriani, chief of the Science and Technology department’s vaccine development panel, said the body had recommended the use of the drug for the elderly because it was safe to use.  

Citing clinical trials of CoronaVac in Brazil and China that included 400 and 422 senior citizens, respectively, Ms. Gloriani said the patients only exhibited mild to moderate side effects after taking the shot.

“It’s safety profile is good,” she told a televised news briefing in Filipino. “The side effects were mild to moderate,” she said, adding that patients only experienced pain in the injection area for two days, as well as headaches.

The vaccine was being used by China and Indonesia to inoculate their seniors, she said.

Ms. Gloriani said the panel made the recommendation amid a shortage in supply of vaccines made by British drug maker AstraZeneca Plc that were being used to vaccinate old people.

“We are in a pandemic and we can’t afford the delay because the vaccines that we ordered have not arrived,” she said. “We want to use whatever we have.”

Vaccine czar Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. on Tuesday said the Philippines would take delivery of about 1.5 million more doses of CoronaVac this month.

The Philippines initially expected to receive four million doses of vaccines this month but the target delivery was trimmed to just two million due to global supply problems.

He said the government was using diplomatic channels to ensure access to almost a million more doses from AstraZeneca.

Ms. Gloriani said the vaccine developed by Russia’s Gamaleya Institute could also be used on seniors. Sputnik V is 92% effective among the elderly, she said, citing an evaluation by the panel.

More than 854,000 Filipinos have been vaccinated against the coronavirus as of April 5, Mr. Galvez said. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas and Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Duterte skips weekly address given risk from virus infection

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo R. Duterte will skip his public address this week amid a fresh surge in coronavirus infections, his spokesman said on Wednesday.

The President skipped his weekly address “in light of the rising number of active COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) cases,” presidential spokesman Herminio L. Roque, Jr. said in a statement. “The physical safety of the President remains our utmost concern.”

His public address on Wednesday night was moved to next week, he said..

The palace postponed the event after several presidential guards tested positive for the coronavirus, Senator Christopher Lawrence T. Go, Mr. Duterte’s close friend, said in a Viber group message. He added that the President was in good health.

A number of the President’s security guards got vaccinated last year using an unregistered vaccine made by China’s Sinopharm Group Co., Ltd.

Meanwhile, Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio said she got a travel authority from the Interior and Local Government department so she could fly to Singapore.

She quietly flew to Singapore on Tuesday and was on a five-day leave for “personal health management.”

“All protocols for return to Davao City including RT-PCR testing and 14-day quarantine have all been pre-arranged,” she said in a statement.

The National Capital Region and nearby provinces are under a strict lockdown amid a fresh spike in coronavirus cases.

The Transportation department earlier said travelers who are not Metro Manila residents may still enter the region if they have outbound international flights from the international airport. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Nationwide round-up (04/07/21)

Ivermectin sale illegal — DoH

THE SALE of the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin as a coronavirus treatment is illegal and violates the law that created the local Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to the Department of Health (DOH).

“Specific to that law, we can’t allow the use of unregistered drugs,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire told an online news briefing in mixed English and Filipino.

Only doctors and other health professionals may distribute the drugs, she added. Under the law, violators may be fined P50,000 to P500,000 and jailed for one to 10 years.

If the violator is a distributor, manufacturer, or distributor, he can be imprisoned from five to 10 years and fined P500,000 to P5 million.

The law also prohibits the manufacture, importation, exportation, sale, transfer, nonconsumer use, promotion, advertising or sponsorship of any health products that are “adulterated, unregistered or misbranded.”

The FDA last month warned the public against the use of ivermectin against the COVID-19 virus, saying the only registered ivermectin products in the country are for animals.

The registered ivermectin for human use is only used to treat head lice and skin conditions. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Philippines eyes travel pass

THE PHILIPPINES may require a COVID-19 travel pass for tourists when international travel resumes, according to the Department of Tourism (DoT).

“This move is parallel with the steps undertaken by other countries that have successfully relaxed borders to visitors amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said in an e-mailed statement on Wednesday.

The agency might adopt the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) travel pass technology for visitors to the Philippines, she said.

International airlines including Emirates and Qatar Airways are testing the IATA mobile travel pass that contains information on passenger COVID-19 test results and vaccination status. Through the travel pass, passengers can also access information on other countries’ COVID-19 rules.

Ms. Puyat said the agency is working on gradually reopening tourist destinations.

“Once the country’s adoption of the IATA Travel Pass is put into motion, the DoT hopes to safely reopen our tourist destinations to international visitors and revive the tourism industry as a whole,” she said. “But this will be done only when the time is right.”

IATA represents about 290 airlines in 120 countries, or 82% of global commercial air traffic. Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines are both IATA members. — Jenina P. Ibañez

Senators slam red-tagging

MINORITY members of the Senate on Wednesday criticized the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) for falsely linking the Senate workers’ union to communist and terrorist groups

Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon, Sen. Risa N. Hontiveros-Baraquel, Sen. Leila M. de Lima and Sen. Francis N. Pangilinan said the union only upholds the interest and welfare of Senate employees.

“We strongly condemn the red-tagging of the union of Senate employees and we vehemently denounce government officials who continue to label, brand, vilify and harass individuals and organizations such as SENADO as state enemies and subversives,” they said.

The attack on the union is an attack on the Senate, they added.

The senators belied the claim of NICA Director-General Alex Paul Monteagudo on Facebook that the union had acted as the “eyes and ears” of maoist rebels to hijack government programs.

“These are dangerous allegations to make,” they said. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Immigration bureau reiterates ban

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday said Filipinos’ foreign spouses and their children without valid visas would not be allowed entry until April 21 amid a fresh surge in coronavirus infections.

These foreigners must have valid visas to be able to enter the Philippines, Immigration Commissioner Jaime H. Morente said in an e-mailed statement.

He said airlines and ships must ensure that only foreigners eligible to enter the country during the implementation of the travel restrictions are allowed to board their Philippine-bound flights.

The government reimposed the travel restriction on the entry of foreigners on March 22 amid a spike in infections. The task force limited inbound foreign travelers to 1,500 daily. The restrictions are effective until April 21. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago

Freedom of information law sought

THE MAKATI Business Club (MBC) urged the government to improve transparency, which it said is critical to investments, as the House of Representatives started hearings on a proposed Freedom of Information law.

“Access to government information generates confidence in investment planning and creates a level playing field for the private sector,” MBC Director Roxanne Lu told the House committee on public information.

The passage of the bill is crucial especially during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, she said.

The House body seeks to consolidate 19 bills aiming to improve freedom of information. If legislated, the measure will oblige public officials and agencies to disclose transactions.

The bill will cover all branches of the government, local government units and other government entities such as state schools, organizations and companies.

Muntinlupa Rep. Rufino B. Biazon, who authored one of the bills, said there is still no enabling law on freedom of information since it was provided for in the 1987 Constitution more than three decades ago. — Gillian M. Cortez

Senator decries underspending

A SENATOR on Wednesday welcomed the call for a special session to discuss further stimulus funds amid a coronavirus pandemic.

But the government should ensure that previous stimulus measures meant to help the poor have been enforced, Senator Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva said in a statement.

“Legislation is not the main solution, executive action is,” said the lawmaker, who heads the Senate labor committee.

“The main cures to COVID-19 and its deadly effect on lives and livelihood are not waiting to be legislated, but to be implemented,” he said. “Case in point is the new COVID-19 Vaccination Law, a great law in need of good implementation.”

Senator Franklin M. Drilon on Tuesday urged President Rodrigo R. Duterte to call for a special session so Congress can approve a measure that will augment the government’s pandemic response and expand the cash subsidy for poor Filipinos.

Mr. Villanueva cited P165.6 billion in underspending of funds approved by Congress under previous stimulus measures.

While the amount had been released to agencies, the amount obliged by the agencies stood at P77.5 billion, he said, citing a report by the Budget department to the Senate in February.

About P38 billion of the P77.5 billion had been disbursed, he said.

“What we need are not new Republic Acts, but for the people in government to get their act together,” Mr. Villanueva said. “But if there are gaps that would require congressional action and approval, then let us do it.” — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Regional Updates (04/07/21)

NBI to probe ‘human smuggling’

JUSTICE Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra on Wednesday said he would order the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe the illegal transport of people who have not been tested for the coronavirus into the capital region and nearby provinces.

“I’ll direct the NBI to look into these alleged incidents of ‘human smuggling’ and conduct a full-blown investigation if there is any indication that the practice is widespread,” Mr. Guevarra said in a Viber group message.

Transport Secretary Arthur P. Tugade earlier called on law enforcers and local governments to help end the “COVID-19 smuggling” involving trucking companies and vans that allegedly transport untested people in exchange for cash.

A viral video had been circulating on social media showing a truck being opened, revealing people inside who were mostly not wearing face shields and masks. The video showed the people in the truck being instructed to ride separate vans that would take them to Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Mr. Guevarra said suspects would be charged with violating local ordinances on quarantine and other health regulations. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago

Government to hire more contact-tracers

THE DEPARTMENT of Labor and Employment said it would allot more than P200 million to hire contact-tracers in Metro Manila and nearby provinces as part of its emergency employment program.

The hiring would start next week, Karen Perida-Trayvilla, director of the Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns, told an online news briefing on Wednesday.

The government should  lengthen the work period to three months from the usual 10 days so it doesn’t have to keep training people for the job, she said.

A 30-day work period means the program could accommodate about 12,000 contact tracers, she added. — Gillian M. Cortez

US, Korea partner for development

THE UNITED States and South Korea on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding to advance development cooperation in the Philippines, the US Embassy said in a statement.

The memo aims to strengthen the US-Korean partnership “to foster sustainable development,” it said.

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) and Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) programs will cover poverty reduction in rural areas, empowerment of women and girls, water resource management, community rehabilitation in Marawi and climate resilience.

“Under the MOU, USAID and KOICA will explore additional areas of cooperation in these and other sectors in the Philippines,” according to the statement. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Pag-asa Island now has free internet

RESIDENTS of Pag-asa Island in the South China Sea now have free internet as part of a government program to provide connectivity in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas across the country, according to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

“Residents of Pag-asa Island in the municipality of Kalayaan, Palawan can now access free internet connectivity through the DICT’s VSAT installation,” it said in an e-mailed statement on Wednesday. — ALB

Nuggets pound Pistons for sixth consecutive victory

NIKOLA Jokić scored 27 points on 13-of-16 shooting from the floor and dished out 11 assists to lead the Denver Nuggets to their sixth straight win, a 134-119 rout of the visiting Detroit Pistons on Tuesday.

Denver remained one of the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) hottest teams, earning its 15th victory in the past 18 games.

The Nuggets took control early, closing the first quarter on a 9-0 run that proved decisive. The burst carried over into the second period, ultimately extending to 14-0 before the Pistons ended a 4:15 scoring drought.

The Nuggets dominated the second quarter with a 37-point eruption and took a 20-point lead into half time. Denver extended its advantage to 28 points in the third quarter.

Michael Porter, Jr. and Will Barton scored 25 and 24 points, respectively, for Denver. Paul Millsap added 12 points, and Monte Morris chipped in 10 points.

Jokić grabbed eight rebounds and Porter had seven to contribute to the Nuggets’ 44-30 advantage on the glass. Barton pulled in six rebounds, handed out four assists and made two steals.

Porter and Barton both knocked down three 3-pointers as the Nuggets made 14 of 31 as a team from beyond the arc. Denver shot 59.6% from the floor overall.

Jerami Grant led Detroit in his return to Denver, where he played in the 2019-20 season, posting 29 points, five rebounds and four assists. Saddiq Bey, who finished with 25 points, shot 6 of 12 from 3-point range to lead Detroit’s 15-of-35 shooting from outside.

Frank Jackson came off the bench to score 11 points for the Pistons, who have alternated losses and wins over the past seven games.

The Pistons’ effective 3-point shooting was not enough to combat the Nuggets’ dominance on the interior. Denver outscored Detroit (62-48) in the paint.

In addition to Jokić’s 11 assists, Nuggets reserves PJ Dozier and Facundo Campazzo contributed five apiece.

HAMSTRING STRAIN SIDELINES HARDEN
Meanwhile, Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden was diagnosed with a right hamstring strain after undergoing an MRI, the team announced on Tuesday.

The Nets said Harden will be reevaluated after approximately 10 days.

Harden returned from a two-game absence on Monday; however, he made what resulted in a cameo appearance after aggravating a previous injury in Brooklyn’s 114-112 victory over the New York Knicks. He lasted just four minutes before missing the remainder of the contest.

Harden, 31, is averaging 25.4 points, 11 assists and 8.7 rebounds in 34 games with the Nets this season. The team traded for the nine-time All-Star in mid-January. — Reuters

Filipino tennis wunderkind Alex Eala impressive in W60 tournament debut

FILIPINO tennis ace Alex Eala was impressive in her maiden $60,000 tournament, dispatching Margot Yerolymos of France in straight sets (7-6 (6), 6-2) on Tuesday night in Bellinzona, Switzerland.

Playing in her first W60 tournament, Ms. Eala, 15, started shaky in the opening set, going down 1-3 early, but found her footing as the match progressed, tying the count at 3-3, before holding tough the rest of the set to book the 1-0 lead.

Ms. Eala, a Rafa Nadal Academy scholar and long-time Globe ambassador, then turned the tables on her opponent in the second set, racing to a 3-0 lead and never looked back after to finish the contest in two hours and two minutes.

While happy with the debut win, Ms. Eala shared it did come easy, made tougher by the elements.

“Tough play today with windy conditions, but happy to have won my first W60k match here in Bellinzona, Switzerland…” wrote the 715th Women’s Tennis Association-ranked player on a post over Facebook.

In the same post, 15-year-old Eala expressed her concern over the pandemic conditions in the Philippines and that she is praying “that everyone keeps safe.”

Next for Ms. Eala in Bellinzona is a familiar foe in 12th seed Laura Ioana Paar of Romania, who the Filipino was set face later on Wednesday.

The two have already clashed before, in the first round of the W25 Grenoble back in February where Ms. Eala won (6-3, 4-6, 6-4).

In Bellinzona, Ms. Eala qualified as a junior exempt being the third-ranked juniors player in the world. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

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