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Stronger peso persists towards yearend as remittances pour in

THE peso appreciated further on Monday after another round of stimulus package in the US was signed into law while overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) continue to send remittances during the holidays.

The local currency ended at P48.055 per dollar on Monday, inching up by 1.5 centavos from the P48.07 close at the previous trading session on Wednesday last week, data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines showed.

Financial markets were closed on Dec. 24 and 25 for the Christmas holidays. Trading sessions resume on Monday until Tuesday before it closes again ahead of New Year’s Eve.

The peso opened the session at P48.05 a dollar. Its weakest showing was at P48.06 while peaking at P48.02 versus the greenback.

Total volume of dollars traded went down to $507.38 million on Monday from $679.2 million on Wednesday.

“The peso appreciated slightly after US President Trump finally signed the US stimulus and government funding bill despite his initial disagreements,” a trader said via e-mail on Monday.

US President Donald J. Trump signed into law on Sunday another round of stimulus package worth $2.3 trillion to help the world’s biggest economy bounce back from the economic downturn, based on a report by Reuters.

Meanwhile, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort attributed the stronger peso to the higher remittances from OFWs during Christmas Day and ahead of New Year’s Eve.

“BoP (balance of payments) surplus still among 2-year highs and also near 8-year highs also supported the latest gains of the peso exchange rate,” Mr. Ricafort said in a Viber message.

The central bank reported on Monday that the country’s overall BoP position was at a surplus of $1.47 billion last month, surging by 171% from $541 million in November 2019, but slimmer than the 10-year high surfeit worth $3.44 billion in October.

Last month’s tally brought the year-to-date surplus to $11.79 billion, up by 88% from a year ago.

The 11-month total hit a nine-year high after exceeding the $11.4-billion surplus seen in the entire 2011, based on the central bank’s historical data.

The trader expects the peso to continue appreciating on Tuesday on expectations that more dollars will be entering the country towards the end of the year.

The trader expects the peso trading between P48 and P48.10 versus the greenback on Tuesday while Mr. Ricafort gave a narrower forecast range of P48-48.07 per dollar. — Beatrice M. Laforga

Local stocks decline after extended UK travel ban

PHILIPPINE shares ended in negative territory on Monday, the start of a short trading week, as investor sentiment was dampened by the extension of travel restrictions from the United Kingdom (UK) in efforts to limit the spread of a variant of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The 30-member Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) dropped 82.13 points or 1.14% to close at 7,122.25, while the broader all shares index fell 40.18 points or 0.93% to end at 4,254.37.

Timson Securities, Inc. Head of Online Trading Darren Blaine T. Pangan said the market retreated as investors considered the Philippine government’s decision to prolong the ban on all flights from the UK for another two weeks.

“Market participants may be digesting the recent developments over the new strain of COVID-19, thus urging most of them to stay cautious,” Mr. Pangan said in a mobile phone message.

On Saturday, President Rodrigo R. Duterte extended the travel ban in an effort to prevent the spread of the new COVID-19 strain. Passengers that came from or passed by the UK and other countries where the new strain was detected, such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, and Japan are also ordered to undergo 14-day quarantine.

For AAA Southeast Equities, Inc. Research Head Christopher John Mangun, the market fell due to panic selling in anticipation of tighter lockdown restrictions as a result of the new COVID-19 strain.

“Once sellers stopped dumping at the lower prices, buyers came back in, pushing prices higher, and limiting losses for the day. It broke below its support at 7,200 and failed to recover back to this level,” Mr. Mangun said in an e-mail.

“The market’s early losses were not because of massive selling pressure, but the lack of buy posts as investors expected the drop and opted to pick up shares at lower prices,” he added.

On Monday, all sectoral indices at the PSE ended in negative territory at the end of trading day.

Financials declined 29.27 points or 1.99% to 1,438.69; holdings firms retreated 124.38 points or 1.67% to 7,323.69; industrials went down 69.21 points or 0.74% to 9,250.97; services shrank 10.16 points or 0.66% to 1,516.27; mining and oil decreased 50.16 points or 0.54% to 9,236.56; and property sank 7.94 points or 0.21% to 3,686.11.

Decliners bested advancers, 175 against 62, while 34 names ended unchanged.

Value turnover on Monday amounted to P8.14 billion with 60.55 billion issues switching hands, higher than the P6.94 billion with 29.39 billion shares during the previous trading session.

Net foreign selling declined to P98.26 million, against P695.96 million on Wednesday last week.

“Market support may be placed at 6,800, while nearest resistance may be drawn at the 7,300 level,” Mr. Pangan said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Government freezes accounts of 16 Islamic extremist groups

THE PHILIPPINE government has ordered a freeze on the bank accounts and assets of at least 16 international Islamic extremist groups it had identified as terrorists.

Covered by the Dec. 23 freeze order issued by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) were the Islamic State in Iraq, Syria and Southeast Asia; Dawlatul Islamiyah Waliyatul Masrik; Dawlatul Islamiyyah Waliyatul Mashriq; and IS East Asia Division.

Also frozen were the assets of the local Maute Group, Islamic State East Asia, Maute ISIS, Grupong ISIS, Grupo ISIS, Khilafah Islamiyah, Khilafah Islamiyah Mindanao and Ansharul Khilafah.

The regulator also ordered a freeze on the assets of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters-Bungo, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters-Abubakar, Jama’atu al-Muhajirin wal Ansar fil Filibin and Daulah Islamiyah, along with other Daesh-affiliated groups in the country.

The freezer order was based on a terror list released by the Anti-Terrorism Council.

In a separate resolution, the AMLC also issued a sanction freeze order on related bank accounts and assets of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA).

The documents were published on its website on Monday.

Covered by the freeze are property or funds fully or jointly owned or controlled by the groups, those that can be tied to a suspected terrorist act or threat, those generated from other assets they own directly or indirectly, and those controled by persons or entities acting on their behalf.

“All covered persons and institutions are mandated to submit as suspicious transaction reports all previous transactions of the herein designated persons, organizations, associations or groups of persons within five days from receipt of this sanctions freeze order,” according to the order.

The rules enforcing the country’s newly expanded Anti-Terrorism law gave the AMLC the power to freeze the assets of people and groups

The law, which took effect on July 18, considers attacks that cause death or serious injury, extensive damage to property and manufacture, possession, acquisition, transport and supply of weapons or explosives as terrorist acts.

It also allows the government to detain a suspect without a warrant for 14 days from three days previously.

More than 30 lawsuits have been filed asking the Supreme Court to void the anti-terror law, which the plaintiffs said arms the state to stifle dissent and violate human rights.

They said the right to freedom of speech and of expression, the right against warrantless arrest, due process, bail and presumption of innocence were in imminent danger of being transgressed by the vague and overbroad provisions of the law. 

They also questioned the validity of the rules, which provide that advocacy, protest, dissent and similar actions are considered “acts of terrorism” if they were “intended to cause death or serious physical harm to a person, to endanger a person’s life, or to create a serious risk to public safety.”

The plaintiffs said people or groups may suffer injury if they are classified by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) as terrorists. — Beatrice M. Laforga

FDA warns against unapproved vaccines

THE FOOD and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday cautioned against the use of unapproved coronavirus vaccines after reports that some people have been inoculated.

“The FDA has not issued any emergency use authorization to any vaccine for COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019),” FDA Director General Rolando Enrique D. Domingo said in a statement on Monday.

“Without proper authorization, there is no guarantee on the safety, quality and efficacy of said vaccine as the same has not undergone the required technical evaluation by the FDA,” he added.

The Department of Health (DoH) reported 766 coronavirus infections on Monday, bringing the total to 470,650.

The death toll rose by 15 to 9,124, while recoveries increased by 104 to 438,780, it said in a bulletin.

There were 22,746 active cases, 80% of which were mild, 10.4% did not show symptoms, 3.2% were severe and 6% were critical.

Davao City reported the highest number of new cases at 60, followed by Quezon City at 46, Benguet at 41, Laguna at 39 and Rizal at 37.

The agency said two duplicates had been removed from the tally, while one tagged as recovered was reclassified as a death.

DoH said it expects cases to fall between Dec. 24 and Jan. 4 as fewer people get tested during the holiday.

It said eight laboratories were closed on Dec. 26. Out of the 175 laboratories that were open, 27 reported zero testing.

The Philippine government expects millions of coronavirus vaccine doses to arrive next year as it continues negotiations with drug companies for supply. 

The state is in talks with British drugmaker AstraZeneca Plc for 20 million doses that will be allotted to the government, and 10 million more for the private sector, vaccine czar Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. said at the weekend.

The government was also signing a contract with Serum Institute of India Ptv. Ltd. by January, which had committed 30 million doses for the Philippines.

The state was also in talks with US drug company Pfizer, Inc., while Moderna, Inc. has agreed to ship 20 million doses. Pfizer and Moderna are frontrunners in vaccine development, both reporting more than 90% efficacy rate. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

Senate to prioritize bill vs terror, retail trade liberalization

MEASURES strengthening the country’s law against money laundering and opening up the economy to more foreign investments are among the 20 priority bills the Senate will seek to pass before it adjourns in June, according to its top leader.

Senators would try to approve changes to the Anti-Money Laundering Act and Retail Trade Liberalization Act of 2000, according to a list sent by Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III in a Viber group.

Senate Bill 1945 will strengthen the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) giving it the power to apply for a search warrant and implement targeted financial sanctions on proliferation financing.

It will also include property developers and brokers, as well as Philippine offshore gaming operators and service providers as covered persons and entities.

Meanwhile, Senate Bill 1840 will lower the minimum paid-up capital requirement for foreign retail investors to $300,000 from the $2.5 million to 7.5 million capital required now.

The priority list also includes a measure seeking to help solo parents, and another that will set up a system for both manual and automated national and local elections.

The Senate is on a month-long break and is set to resume sessions on Jan. 18. The second regular session will end on June 4.

Also on the list is a bill that will change the eight-decade-old Public Service Act, effectively allowing more foreign participation in sectors such as telecommunications, electricity, water and transportation.

The 1987 Constitution limits foreign ownership in public utilities to 40%. The law passed in the 1930s provides a list of public services and does not say what a public utility is.

The chamber will also push the creation of a Department of Overseas Filipinos, Boracay Island Development Authority and Disease Prevention and Control Authority.

Lawmakers will also work on a bill setting up an eCommerce bureau, through a proposed Internet Transactions Act, and strengthen the Presidential Drug Enforcement Agency to boost the drive against illegal drugs.

The Senate will also try to pass measures on land resource use, housing development and financing, a magna carta for village health workers and a unified pension system for the military and uniformed personnel.

Also on the list are bills that will restore the death penalty, increase the age of statutory rape, provide potable water supply for every village, boost e-governance and professional development. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

Nationwide round-up (12/28/20)

Business leader says improving trace-test system better than another lockdown

THE GOVERNMENT must be prepared to offer additional social support if it decides to implement a stricter lockdown in response to the new strain of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a business leader said.

George T. Barcelon, the private sector representative in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), said the economy would further decline if more restrictions are implemented, citing “a very obvious” expected economic contraction in the first quarter.

“The economy might slow down even further than this last quarter. This quarter the economy was buoyed up because of the December Christmas season. Next year, if that (more restrictions) were to happen, I hope that the government is prepared to extend more ayuda or social amelioration program,” he said in a phone interview.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Saturday said a return to a stricter lockdown is possible if the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) variant now spreading in the United Kingdom enters the Philippines.

The Philippines has imposed a travel ban on flights from the UK while the Health department has recommended a strict 14-day quarantine for travelers who have come from or transited through places with reported cases of the new variant.

Instead of a lockdown, Mr. Barcelon recommends expanded or “more vigilant” contact tracing and testing.

“The government must be prepared to keep a good tracking operation because of this new version of COVID-19. If this were to seep into the community quietly, before we know it, it would spread and that would force the hand of the government to have a stricter quarantine,” he said. — Jenina P. Ibañez

Immigration bureau reports 79% drop in incoming travelers

THE BUREAU of Immigration (BI) reported a 79% drop in the number of international travelers who entered the country this year as restrictions were imposed beginning mid-March due to the coronavirus outbreak.

  BI Commissioner Jaime H. Morente, in a statement on Monday, said BI data showed that more than 3.5 million passengers arrived from January to December 25, compared to the 16.7 million in 2019.

Of the total arrivals this year, 2.03 million were Filipinos while the rest were foreigners. BI Port Operations Division Chief Candy N. Tan, for her part, said 5,237 balikbayans or homecoming Filipinos arrived in the country this month after the government allowed the entry of former Filipino citizens and their foreign spouses and children.

Mr. Morente said the 13-million drop in figures is not surprising “considering the worldwide decline in international travel due to the pandemic.”

“We expect these passenger statistics to remain low perhaps until early next year,” he said. The immigration chief said arrivals may increase once coronavirus vaccines reach the country “and confidence in travel is restored.” — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Spokesperson defends Duterte’s vaccine-related statements

MALACAÑANG Spokesperson Harry L. Roque on Monday defended controversial statements relating to the coronavirus vaccines made by President Rodrigo R. Duterte in a televised talk over the weekend.

Mr. Roque, in his daily briefing, said the President’s “no vaccines, no stay here” pronouncement was just fair and not a threat to the United States.

Mr. Duterte said the Philippine government will terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with its long-time ally if the US fails to allocate at least 20 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine developed by an American firm.

“You need our territory for the VFA, okay we will give that. But if you cannot even give us a vaccine, then you should have a VFA in countries you give vaccines first,” Mr. Roque said in Filipino.

Earlier this year, the Philippine government moved to terminate its VFA with the US but suspended this in June due to the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The suspension was originally valid until end-December but was extended by the President last month, according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr.

Mr. Roque also defended the vaccination of members of the military, saying this was legal. The government has been repeatedly warning against the use of COVID-19 vaccines that are not yet registered and authorized for use in the country.

The spokesperson said getting a vaccination was a “personal choice” of the soldiers.

“The law does not prohibit anyone from receiving an unregistered vaccine. What is not allowed is the distribution and selling,” he said in Filipino.

Mr. Duterte revealed on Saturday that some members of the military were already inoculated with the COVID-19 vaccine Sinopharm made by the China National Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in a statement on Monday confirmed that members of the Presidential Security Group were the first to get vaccinated to ensure the safety of the President. — Gillian M. Cortez

Gatchalian tells DepEd to ensure implementation of COVID-19 response programs

THE Department of Education (DepEd) should ensure coronavirus response programs under its 2021 national budget are implemented, a senator said, after President Rodrigo R. Duterte canceled the resumption of face-to-face classes.

Schools in low-risk areas were supposed to return to physical classroom sessions by January, but the plan was withdrawn over the weekend in light of the new strain of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

“After battling with the coronavirus for almost a year, there are a lot of things that we still don’t know. For one, this virus can mutate into a new variant,” Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian said in a statement, Monday.

“This unknown has led our President to cancel the planned localize limited face-to-face classes and I completely understand his reason for this sudden cancellation.”

Mr. Gatchalian, who chairs the basic education, arts and culture committee, had earlier pushed for the resumption of limited physical classes in areas with no reported case of COVID-19.

“Government has to use every arsenal it has to make sure that our learners will not regress, or worse, dropout of school completely,” he said.

“We have equipped DepEd with COVID-mitigating items in the 2021 budget. They should implement those items as soon as possible.” — Charmaine A. Tadalan

Regional Updates (12/28/20)

Subsidized RT-PCR test for domestic tourists now available at PCMC    

THOSE planning to go on leisure travel within the country can now apply for a subsidized RT-PCR test for the coronavirus at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC), with the cash-out rate set at P750 per person. The Department of Tourism and the PCMC signed an agreement on Monday for the subsidy program that is intended to help encourage domestic tourism by assisting with the cost of a COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) test. A negative result is required from travelers. Under the deal, the PCMC will provide tests at a cost of P1,500 each, 50% of which will be paid for by the Tourism department through the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB). The TPB has allocated P8.7 million for the project, which will cover 11,650 qualified tourists. At the signing ceremony streamed live, TPB Chief Operating Officer Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones said the project is valid until June next year. Ms. Allones also said they are “exploring other partnerships” with government-owned hospitals outside Metro Manila for the program. The Tourism department earlier signed a similar arrangement with the UP-Philippine General Hospital in Manila. Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat noted that domestic tourism contributes about 10.8% to the country’s economy as she vowed that the department will continue “working hand-in-hand” with the industry as well government health facilities to ensure health and safety protocols are followed as the tourism sector is slowly reopened. Details on applying for the subsidy program is posted on www.tpb.gov.ph/press_releases/ph-travel-rt-pcr-test-subsidy-for-qualified-domestic-tourists-frequently-asked-questions-faqs/. — MSJ

Not all local governments can afford own vaccine purchase, says ULAP head

NOT all local government units (LGUs) have the financial capacity to have their own coronavirus vaccine procurement program, the head of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) said. “Some provinces and municipalities are challenged economically and financially which is why their pockets are not that deep,” ULAP President and Quirino Governor Dakila E. Cua said in a briefing. The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) earlier said local governments can take the initiative to buy coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines for their constituents. Mr. Cua said some localities are looking at possible fund sources such as allocations for disaster management, but this will have to be authorized by the national government. — Gillian M. Cortez

House panel reduces GUIDE bill funding for government banks

By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

FUNDING to boost lending by government financial institutions (GFIs) has been reduced to P10 billion from the original P55 billion in a committee-level decision made on House Bill (HB) No. 7749, the panel’s chairman said.

Quirino Rep. Junie E. Cua, chairman of the House Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries, told BusinessWorld Monday that HB No. 7749, or the proposed GFIs Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery (GUIDE) Act, will go to plenary in January.

The measure expands the lending capacity of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) as well as the ability of the Philippine Guarantee Corp. to issue guarantees on loans taken out by small firms in the agriculture, infrastructure, manufacturing and service industries.

Mr. Cua said the committee reduced the bill’s appropriations to P10 billion from the previous P55 billion to take into account the funding allotted by Republic Act 11494 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan II) to the Small Business Corp.

Under Bayanihan II, some P10 billion was set aside for the CARES (COVID-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises) program of the SB Corp. to lend to micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

Of the P10 billion in GUIDE funding, P2.5 billion and P7.5 billion are earmarked for the DBP and LANDBANK, respectively, for their loan assistance and rediscounting programs to qualified MSMEs.

The version in committee authorizes the DBP and LANDBANK to create a Special Holding Company to help firms facing solvency issues.

Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, Mr. Cua said MSMEs comprise 99.5% of the country’s total of 1,003,111 business establishments and employ 63% of the workforce.

“Micro enterprises constitute 88.45% with 887,272 of total MSME establishments, followed by small enterprises at 10.58% with 106,175 establishments, and medium enterprises at 0.49% with 4,895 establishments,” he said.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jose Maria Clemente S. Salceda said the changes to the new version have limited “tax incentives to transactions directly related to loans under the law.”

“The (special) holding company will limit its interventions to companies that were viable pre-COVID,” he told BusinessWorld in a Viber message Monday.

DTI looking to join new trans-Pacific deal

THE Trade department said it is once again looking into possible participation in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Trade Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo in an online briefing last week said that the Trade Secretary has asked the department to study the agreement signed in 2018 by 11 countries — Japan, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam.

The US withdrew from an earlier version of the trans-Pacific partnership in 2017.

Mr. Rodolfo said that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) starting to look at other free trade deals after the conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). The 15-country trade deal between ASEAN economies and their major trading partners was signed in November.

“For the past three years, we focused on RCEP. Now that it’s done, it gives us more resources to devote to other free trade agreements,” he said.

Since the conclusion of the RCEP, Chinese President Xi Jinping said China will consider joining the CPTPP, while Taiwan has taken steps to join.

Trade Assistant Secretary Allan B. Gepty at the same briefing said that the department will also review the Philippines’ ongoing trade deal with Japan.

“By next year, we will schedule a series of meetings on that,” he said.

He added that discussions on further liberalization measures within existing free trade deals between ASEAN and its major trade partners like China and Korea will continue in the first quarter of next year.

“On the regional level, there are possible free trade agreements in the pipeline. But it would still depend on the outcome of our talks on this, particularly talks on issues and reference papers to be covered. By next year, expect some decisions to be made.”

The DTI targets a first quarter 2021 conclusion to trade negotiations with South Korea. — Jenina P. Ibañez

ERC expands open access scheme to more retail power consumers

THE ERC (Energy Regulatory Commission) said it lowered the threshold for participating in the retail competition and open access (RCOA) scheme to users with average monthly peak demand of between 500 kW (kilowatts) and 749 kW in the past year.

In a statement Monday, the ERC said it passed a resolution allowing such customers to choose their power providers “on a voluntary basis” starting February.

Two months ago, the ERC set a timetable to fully implement the RCOA scheme within three years, by introducing more contestable customers in batches. Contestable customers are end-users who can choose their supplier of electricity.

The ERC’s disclosure of the draft resolution at the time called for consumers with average monthly peak usage of 500 to 749 kW — a category known as the Phase III threshold level — to be allowed to switch to another power provider starting Feb. 26.

According to the draft, end-users with 100 kW to 499 kW of consumption, classified as Phase IV, can also do the same starting Jan. 26, 2022 while consumers with 10 kW to 99 kW, which make up Phase V, may start on Jan. 26, 2023.

“Based on the said threshold, all qualified end-users can be considered as contestable customers under the Phase III threshold level (500 kW-749 kW) and shall be allowed to switch to the Competitive Retail Electricity Market (CREM) starting 26 February 2021,” the ERC said in its statement Monday.

The energy regulator’s decision to expand the RCOA scheme’s coverage is authorized by the Electric Power Industry Reform Act’s goal to achieve competition at the retail or end-user level, the ERC said.

“Promoting robust and fair competition among the market participants is definitely one of the significant considerations that the ERC is eyeing which can help boost further the country’s economy especially in the power industry during this trying times,” ERC Chairperson and CEO Agnes VST Devanadera said in a statement.

With the RCOA scheme, the ERC expects stronger competition and a cheaper and more reliable supply of electricity for consumers in the coming years, Ms. Devanadera added.

At present, the RCOA scheme applies to the Luzon and Visayas grids. — Angelica Y. Yang

Manila Bay rehabilitation efforts ongoing despite lockdown, DENR says

THE Manila Bay cleanup was not delayed by the public health emergency, with various activities carried out this year, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said Monday.

In a statement recapping its program for the year, the DENR said the inter-agency task force overseeing the cleanup launched a solar-powered sewage treatment plant in July; conducted regular clean ups of creeks, esteros and river systems feeding into the bay; and dredged and desilted portions of the bay.

“Our work continues despite the limitations in mobilizing people, especially for our clean-up, monitoring and enforcement activities,” DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, who chairs the Manila Bay Task Force, said.

Mr. Cimatu noted that there was a “significant decrease” in fecal coliform levels recorded in the Baywalk area, Estero de San Antonio Abad and Baseco Beach this year.

The Baywalk recorded a fecal coliform count of 2.2 million most probable number per 100 milliliters (MPN/100 mL), compared to a reading of 5.66 million MPN/100 mL taken last year.

The coliform level in Estero de San Antonio decreased to 19.07 million MPN/100 mL from 43.89 million MPN/100 mL. Meanwhile, the coliform count in Baseco Beach fell to 341,225 MPN/100 mL from 1.7 million MPN/100 mL.

The Manila Bay task force also introduced debris booms which collected floating trash, and silt curtains which kept suspended silt and sediment from entering the waterway.

Earlier this month, a project to provide portable toilets to informal settlers living along Manila Bay was also launched.

“We are optimistic that these measures will really help clean the waters of Manila Bay,” Mr. Cimatu said.

The cleanup and rehabilitation efforts of the bay are outlined in the Manila Bay Coastal Strategy (2017-2022) document and administrative order no. 16 issued by President Rodrigo R. Duterte last year.

The plan and administrative order comply with a Supreme Court order to restore Manila Bay waters to levels suited for recreational use, including swimming and diving.

In September, the DENR embarked on a P389-million beach nourishment or “white sand” project using dolomite sand.

MORE THAN 200 PROTECTED AREAS DESIGNATED
In an earlier statement Sunday, the DENR said that its Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) was able to designate 244 protected areas (PAs) and “save a dozen species from extinction” all over the country this year.

“Without the legislated and proclaimed PAs in the Cagayan and Marikina River Basin, the devastation of Typhoon Ulysses could have been worse for the wildlife and the communities dependent on these natural ecosystems,” Assistant Secretary and concurrent BMB Director Ricardo L. Calderon was quoted as saying in a statement.

Mr. Calderon also said that 12 species were no longer on the “edge of extinction,” following the BMB’s wildlife protection and enforcement efforts.

This year, the BMB conducted eight wildlife enforcement operations that led to the confiscation of 53 wild fauna and 27.36 kilograms of agarwood worth around P5.6 million. — Angelica Y. Yang

E-cigarette makers contest restrictions on flavored refills

THE Philippine E-Cigarette Industry Association (PECIA) said it objects to legislation restricting the liquid flavorings they are allowed to offer, but added that it otherwise supports the regulatory intent of the bill filed in the Senate.

Senate Bill (SB) No. 1951, or the proposed Vaporized Nicotine Products Regulation Act, sought to regulate the importation, manufacture, packaging, distribution, use and promotion of vapor products and heated tobacco products (HTPs).

The bill will impose an 18-year minimum age for the purchase, sale and use of these products, subject to verification via valid ID. Stores are also prohibited from selling vapor products within 100 meters of a school, playground and other similar facilities.

“We are supportive of the proposal filed by Senator (Ralph G.) Recto. We believe that our products should not be made available to minors,” PECIA President Joey Dulay said in a Dec. 22 e-mail.

“We also share his objectives of ensuring that proper product standards are put in place and that these are implemented by an able and impartial government regulator.”

SB 1951 requires vapor product refills, HTP consumables, devices and systems to comply with the technical standards set by the Department of Trade and Industry to ensure safety and quality.

These standards also prohibit the industry from using additives such as vitamins, caffeine and others that make the product appear to offer “health benefits” or serve as a stimulant.

“We hope that the good senator reconsiders his position on limiting the flavors available for vapor products to just tobacco and menthol,” he said, referring to Mr. Recto, the bill’s author.

“We are against flavors that are directed to and aimed at enticing the youth but there are a lot of flavors that are not attractive to kids and have been shown to help adult smokers to switch to these products,” he added, citing coffee, tea, and plain fruit flavors.

He noted that in the UK, a wide range of flavors is offered for vapor products, which nevertheless have low youth uptake rates. He said this proves that a good law and its proper implementation are key to preventing minors from accessing such products.

On top of the restrictions on the sale, packaging and promotion of the products, the bill would also impose penalties for noncompliance, starting with a fine of up to P150,000 on first offense, P250,000 on second, and P500,000 or imprisonment of up to five years or both on third offense. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

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