Davao Metro Shuttle starts serving intracity route

February 17, 2020 | 8:09 pm

THE DAVAO Metro Shuttle Bus Company has started serving an intracity route in Davao City as part of its expansion program.

“Aside from looking into the possibility of additional revenue for the company, we also see that this would also increase awareness of our presence in the city and all over the (Davao) region,” Davao Metro Shuttle President De Carlo L. Uy said in an interview during Monday’s launch of the initial two bus units that will serve the Davao-Calinan route.

The bus firm, established in 1995 with its main office in Tagum City, has been operating inter-city, inter-province and inter-regional routes.

The two new buses are part of the total franchise of 17 units originally owned by Annil Transport Services Inc., which Davao Metro Shuttle recently bought.

The franchise covers the Roxas-Bankerohan-Calinan route.

Mr. Uy said they will be assessing demand before purchasing more buses.

The bus units are Euro 5 low-entry buses, with ramps for wheelchairs. It is also equipped with CCTV cameras, Wi-Fi access, and a cashless fare collection facility.

The operating hours are still being adjusted based on “lean days and peak hours,” he said.

Mr. Uy said the company’s expansion plans are in line with the government’s transport modernization program.

With a current fleet of about 300 buses, Mr. Uy said they are looking at opportunities in other regions. — Maya M. Padillo

3,000 drivers to get training for new Davao City bus service

February 17, 2020 | 8:08 pm

THE 3,000 drivers who will be employed for the High Bus Priority System (HPBS), with priority given to existing jeepney drivers, will undergo training to get a certification from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Assistant City Administrator Tristan Dwight P. Domingo said about 300 drivers have already signified their interest in securing the TESDA National Certification III for bus and truck driving course. “This is a good sign. Many have inquired already following the HPBS implementation, and during our consultation dialogues, most of these drivers said they are interested to apply for the NC III training,” Mr. Domingo told the media last week. He added that if there are not enough passers of the certification process, those who failed could still be employed, depending on their rating. The drivers will cover the three routes — Toril, Catalunan Grande, Diversion Road — under the project’s initial phase. The training is part of the social intervention program being offered to jeepney drivers and operators who will be affected by the new public transport system.

TOR
Meanwhile, the city government is still finalizing the terms of reference (TOR) for the HPBS, but several bus companies and jeepney cooperatives have already indicated their intent to apply for the contracts. “Although there are many inquiries already, we still can’t process anything yet as of the moment as there are still no terms of reference,” Mr. Domingo said. The city plans to limit the number of HPBS operators to five. Late last year, the national government approved the implementation of the project, which will cost about P19 billion, of which P2.8 billion will come from the city government as counterpart. — Carmelito Q. Francisco

Camp Abubakar now a joint peace team barracks

February 17, 2020 | 8:07 pm

CAMP ABUBAKAR, former headquarters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), has been formally turned over to the Joint Peace and Security Committee (JPSC) and will now serve as the barracks for the first JPS Team tasked to safeguard weapons of decommissioned MILF combatants. The new barracks for the JPST — composed of decommissioned members of the MILF Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Philippine National Police — is the first of 11 that will be set up in seven provinces across Mindanao, according to a statement from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP). The other facilities will be in North Cotabato, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, Basilan, Zamboanga Sibugay, Lanao Del Norte, and Lanao del Sur. OPAPP, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is partly funding the construction of the camps. “Today’s turnover of the first of 11 JPST barracks that will be established in mutually agreed areas symbolizes our desire to ensure the implementation of the security component of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB),” OPAPP Undersecretary David B. Diciano, head of the Joint Normalization Division and chair of the government’s Peace Implementing Panel, said during the February 14 ceremony. “The decommissioned weapons you will be securing here in this camp represents the decades of armed struggle of the Bangsamoro People. And now that they have been put to rest, they will serve as a reminder to all of us of the sacrifices made by our Moro brothers and sisters in order to uplift the lives of their people,” he said. The weapons are kept in the Secured Arms and Storage Area inside the camp under the oversight of the International Decommissioning Body, which is composed of representatives from the governments of Turkey, Norway, Brunei, and local experts nominated by the Philippine government and MILF.

‘FORMER GLORY’
Camp Abubakar, also referred to by its old name Camp Iranun, “had been witness to some of the most memorable historical events of the Bangsamoro struggle’s struggle for self governance, culminating in the signing of the historic CAB,” OPAPP said. Shuaib Adam, a member of the MILF Joint Task Force on Camps Transformation, is optimistic that the camp and all the other MILF communities will be restored to their “former glory.” In January last year, the Department of Agriculture (DA) signed an agreement with a business group backed by Russian and Swiss investors to set up a banana plantation in Iranun. — Mindanao Bureau

Nationwide round-up

February 17, 2020 | 8:06 pm

Malacañang ready for court battle over VFA termination

THE PRESIDENT’s spokesperson said the Duterte administration is ready to defend the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States should legislators question the move before the Supreme Court. “As far as we are concerned in the Executive, there is no need for a concurrence in the Senate because the Constitution, if it’s clear to them, it’s also clear to us,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo said in a briefing in Malacañang on Monday. Minority Floor Leader Franklin M. Drilon was the first to make a statement that senators could bring the matter to the high court. Mr. Drilon said last Sunday that Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III will prepare the case, which is supported by several other legislators. Mr. Panelo said they are aware that at least four senators are backing the move. The VFA termination notice was received by the US Embassy in Manila on Feb. 11. Mr. Panelo earlier said the end of the military pact will take effect six months after the US government receives the notice. — Gillian M. Cortez

PEZA proposes private sector-funded military reservist program

THE PHILIPPINE Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) is proposing to institutionalize the military reservist program for ecozone workers, which can be funded by locators and the cost for training and equipment included in their tax deductible expenses. The reservists would primarily be tapped for rescue operations during calamities and terror attacks. In a statement on Monday, PEZA said it wants to issue an administrative order (AO) that would establish the trained personnel as part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reservist units. “PEZA’s unique structure with 404 operating ecozones and 4,478 locator companies, once trained, will provide 1.5 million directly and 7 million indirectly employed reservist manpower, as more than enough for the 80% Reserve component of the AFP,” said PEZA Director-General Charito B. Plaza, who met last Feb. 13 with AFP Chief of Staff Felimon T. Santos, Jr. on Feb. 13 along with industry leaders. The proposed AO would also allocate a budget for training, uniforms, and equipment. Ms. Plaza is also pushing for the establishment of “defense ecozones,” or hubs for military technology and equipment. — Jenina P. Ibañez

‘Bikoy’ posts bail

PETER JOEMEL Advincula, the man who confessed to be “Bikoy” in the video linking the President and his family to illegal drugs, has posted bail for the charge of conspiracy to commit sedition along with Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV and nine others. Lawyer Larry Gadon, legal counsel of Mr. Advincula, told reporters in a mobile phone message that his client posted the P10,000 bail before the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 138 on Monday. Mr. Gadon said Mr. Advincula, the sole witness of the police when the complaint was filed, does not want to be under the Witness Protection Program but is willing to be a state witness. Others charged are Joel Saracho, Boom Enriquez, Yolanda V. Ong, Vicente Romano III, Fr. Albert E. Alejo, Fr. Flaviano Villanueva, Jonnel P. Sangalang, Eduardo Acierto, and “a certain Monique.” Messrs. Villanueva and Alejo posted bail on Friday when the arrest warrant was issued by the court. Mr. Trillanes said he will post bail this week upon his return from an engagement abroad. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Nation at a Glance — (02/18/20)

February 17, 2020 | 8:05 pm

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.

New partnership with Transfez furthers PearlPay’s expansion into Indonesian market

February 17, 2020 | 3:10 pm

Philippine fintech PearlPay signed last January 23 a strategic partnership with Transfez, am Indonesian fintech firm focusing on cross-border payment solutions.

The partnership acknowledges a shared mission for both firms, catering to their countries’ foreign workers. According to the World Bank, the Philippines was the fourth top remittance recipient in the world in 2018, following only India, China, and Mexico.

Despite this, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas found that only one-third of households receiving remittances allocate any portion towards savings, with a majority of remittances spent on day-to-day expenses and debt payments.

With the establishment of PearlPay Hong Kong last year, the local fintech aimed to service OFWs looking for an easier way to send money home. Now, through their recent partnership with Transfez, PearlPay is hoping to do the same for Hong Kong’s Indonesian workers.

Transfez will collaborate with PearlPay in helping Hong Kong’s 150,000 Indonesian migrant workers send remittances affordably, with real-time settlement, cash pick-up, and e-wallet top-up services.

According to Uniteller’s recent Asia Survey Report, 95% of Indonesian respondents claimed that the money they received significantly improved their quality of life, while 82% stated that they were able to meet essential costs that they may have not been able to pay.

“Through this partnership, we aim to provide a better way to send money that will help address the financial needs of not just the Indonesian workers but also their families,” PearlPay shared.

Livestreaming platform Kumu expands into live audio with new podcasting feature

February 17, 2020 | 12:24 pm

Livestreaming content platform Kumu has made waves as the fastest-growing Filipino social media app, connecting talents and audiences with their suite of app-based streaming tools. Their latest feature expands their content sharing into audio, enabling social radio or live podcasts on the platform.

With the audio streaming feature integrated within the mobile app, content creators and users can now join in on relevant conversations, exchange information on relevant topics, and share KUMU diamonds (the in-app currency for the app’s users), in six settings. Developers of the app also intend to highlight exclusive functions that allow audio streamers to accommodate guests and co-hosts in ‘public’ and ‘friends only’ options; as well as ‘mute’, ‘kick’ or ‘block’ listeners.

Recognizing how netizens who want to spark discussions of topical interests would prefer audio streaming over going live on the internet, developers are keen on launching the feature within the month to give users more leverage to stream their original and interesting ideas online.

The KUMU team is also well on track with the app’s combined audio and live streaming features as both forms are now used widespread globally with over 138 countries using streaming features to broadcast nearly 16,000 events.

While livestreaming remains one of the top choices for KUMU users who want to gain a wider following online and to show more content, the new audio streaming feature should see their community grow with aspiring Filipino podcasters all over the world.

Renewed dreams after battle with leukemia

February 17, 2020 | 9:00 am

A Vietnamese patient finds hope and a new lease of life after treatment for blood cancer at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore

One of the first changes Ms. Le Ngoc Anh noticed in her body was the profuse sweating that began to happen daily. Not long after, she became pregnant. In the 12^th week of her pregnancy, she went for a maternal serum screening and discovered that the white blood cell count had skyrocketed to an alarming 201,000, way above the normal limit of 12,000. A second test at another hospital confirmed the results, and she was advised to head to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) to check for blood disease.

The diagnosis turned out to be Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML). A cancer of the white blood cells, CML is a serious and rare disease that was previously considered fatal. “Once I learned I had leukemia, I had a complete breakdown,” she recalls. Not knowing whether she can be cured, her family too suffered the emotional toll as they grappled with the uncertainties and confusion.

She sought treatment at a hospital in HCMC. However, she found the experience of sharing the room with several patients unsettling. Fearful of possible exposure to cross infection, she decided to travel to Singapore in search of better treatment conditions.

Ms. Anh chose Mount Elizabeth Hospital and sought the care of Dr. Patrick Tan, an experienced hematologist who subspecializes in bone marrow transplant and transplant immunology. He is also known as a pioneer in cord blood and stem cell transplant, having performed the world’s first successful case of unrelated blood stem cell transplant and unrelated cord blood transplant for thalassemia major, a rare inherited blood disorder. In 2004, Dr. Tan became the medical director of the Haematology and Stem Cell Transplant Centre at Mount Elizabeth Hospital. At the hospital, the level of comfort catered to overseas patients was another plus. Aside from providing international cuisines, the hospital has created a Vietnamese-themed ward to help patients like Ms. Anh feel at home. Signboards are translated into Vietnamese, and the staff can converse in basic Vietnamese. In addition, a translator is always on hand to translate the patients’ medical questions.

According to Dr. Tan, Ms. Anh stands a chance of being completely cured due to her young age and the disease being discovered at an early stage. She was suitable for treatment with oral medication, which she responded well to. Dr. Tan explains, “From my previous patients, we know that if the leukaemia becomes undetectable, she can continue the medication for another two more years and the medication can be stopped without the disease coming back. Most of my patients who have been treated this way have a 90% chance of cure.” For Dr. Tan, his hope for Ms. Anh is to cure her condition for good. He says, “She is also at child-bearing age. Should she have to continue the medication for the long term, there is no chance for her to form a family as the medication is not safe for mothers during pregnancy. The chance of having a cure and to stop the medication is a big bonus for her and she will be able to return to her normal way of life.”

Having been on a long, arduous journey to recover her health, Ms. Anh is ready to move forward and chase her dreams again. “When I first arrived at Mount Elizabeth Hospital, my gene mutation rate was about 45. Now, after two years, it has returned to 0. According to Dr. Tan’s anticipation, my rate would be back to 0 in month 18, but in reality, it already stayed at 0 by month 16. My health is better and my confidence is back,” Ms. Anh shares. “My dream was to travel around the world. So, I will visit places I like and continue doing my business.”

This article is brought to you by Mount Elizabeth Hospital. For more enquiries, please contact our Philippine office at manila.ph@parkwaypantai.com.

Police rescue four Malaysian kidnap victims in Laguna

February 17, 2020 | 1:00 am

POLICE rescued four Malaysian kidnap victims at the weekend and arrested seven of their captors working for an offshore gaming company in San Pedro, Laguna province, according to the police’s Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG).

AKG chief Brigadier General Jonnel Estomo said the victims had been rescued from a safehouse in the village of Chrysanthemum at about 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Mr. Estomo identified the victims as Tan Hang Yi, Kho Soon Chiang, Cheam Chun Keat and Jonathan Ting Zhi Haw. Seven Chinese nationals whom authorities had yet to identify face charges of kidnapping.

The victims were being kept and forced to work at the house that had been converted into an offshore gaming hub, according to AKG spokesman Major Ronaldo Lumactod.

“Our teams were able to locate the safehouse where the kidnap victims were being held,” he said in a report.

Policemen initially took into custody 17 Chinese nationals but released 10 of them after the victims failed to identify them as among their captors.

The suspects were brought to the Anti-Kidnapping Group’s main office at Camp Crame in Quezon City for investigation. — Emmanuel Tupas, Philippine Star

Lower tax collection seen in Jan.-Feb.

February 17, 2020 | 12:33 am

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said it expects lower tax collection for the first two months of the year, as the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the eruption of Taal Volcano last month disrupted company operations.

BIR Deputy Commissioner for Operations Arnel S.D. Guballa said some businesses had reported a decline in sales due to the volcanic eruption and the outbreak.

Mr. Guballa said some hotels had reported their occupancy rates plummeting to as low as 12% due to the virus scare, even after offering discounted rates.

He said the bureau’s regional offices are still assessing the potential impact on their collections, especially those from large taxpayers who account for more than half or P1.6 trillion of the BIR’s collection target of P2.576 trillion for the year.

“Actually nagsesend na ng feelers na don’t expect voluntary payments this coming month. So ’yan ang ginagawan na namin ng remedy on how to still cope (Actually, they are sending feelers not to expect voluntary payments to be good this month. So we are looking at remedies to cope),” Mr. Guballa told reporters on the sidelines of a BIR event on Friday.

The BIR official said they are now looking at alternatives to raise revenues, but they still hope the impact will not be that significant.

The BIR’s target collection this year will account for 78% of the P3.3-trillion goal for the country’s two biggest tax agencies, with the Customs bureau tasked to collect the remaining P731.235 billion.

Bureau of Customs (BoC) Commissioner Leonardo B. Guerrero has said some importers had reported delays in shipments this month, while some failed to ship goods from China to the Philippines due to lack of manpower.

Mr. Guerrero said when the news of the COVID-19 outbreak spread, there were workers in China that extended their vacation after the Chinese New Year, leaving businesses without enough workers to operate.

Even with the virus outbreak and Taal Volcano’s eruption last month expected to dent economic expansion, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III has said they are keeping this year’s growth target of 6.5-7.5% as they expect the impact to be minimal.

The BIR collected P2.172 trillion in taxes in 2019, missing its P2.33-trillion target even as its haul increased by 10.67% year on year.

Collections of the BIR and Customs make up the bulk of the country’s revenues, with other collections coming from the Bureau of the Treasury and nontax revenue from other offices, such as privatization proceeds and fees.

These revenues are meant to fund the government’s P4.1-trillion spending program this year, with other funding to come from local or foreign borrowings, as the country still operates on a budget deficit. — Beatrice M. Laforga

Dollars to shield economy from Brexit — BSP chief

February 17, 2020 | 12:32 am

DOLLAR REMITTANCES, outsourcing and tourism receipts would probably shield the Philippine economy from the short-term effects of Brexit, central bank Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said last week.

“Uncertainty that may arise from the post-Brexit transition may contribute to a short-term spike in market volatility and risk aversion, which could lead to a temporary flight to safe-haven assets,” he told reporters.

Mr. Diokno noted that after Britain voted to leave the European Union (EU) in 2016, major currencies depreciated against the dollar, a safe-haven currency.

“Following the departure and during the transition period, domestic financial markets may experience relatively similar magnitudes in volatility and asset price movements that we’ve seen in 2016,” he added.

Britain left the EU on Jan. 31 and proponents have said the exit was a dream “independence day” for a United Kingdom escaping what they cast as a doomed German-dominated project that is failing its 500 million population.

Brexit opponents say it is the worst thing to happen to Britain and Europe since World War II, adding that it will torpedo what is left of the UK’s global clout and undermine its economy.

Mr. Diokno said gross placements from the UK accounted for 0.7% of the country’s foreign direct investments from January to August last year, while foreign portfolio investments from the UK accounted for 29.7% of the total.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas chief also said British nationals accounted for only 2.7% of tourist arrivals as of November last year, making it the country’s eighth biggest tourist market.

Meanwhile, remittances from Filipino workers in the UK accounted for 5.1% of the total from January to November, he said.

Despite limited, short-term risks during the transition period, the Philippines has enough buffers to withstand uncertainties, Mr. Diokno said.

The country’s strong macroeconomic fundamentals should “mitigate the uncertainty and possible disruptions that may arise from the post-Brexit transition,” he added.

Gross international reserves have reached $86.422 billion as of end-January, equivalent to 5.3 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and four times based on residual maturity, according to central bank data.

The reserves were down by 1.61% from a month earlier but 4.77% higher than a year earlier.

Cash remittances grew by 2% to $2.372 billion in November from a year earlier, the slowest in almost five months, according to central bank data. Analysts blamed global uncertainties for the slowing growth.

Cash remittances grew by 4.4% to $27.231 billion in the 11 months through November from a year earlier, data showed. — Luz Wendy T. Noble

Duterte rejects reclamation in Manila Bay

February 17, 2020 | 12:31 am

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Saturday said he would not allow the private sector to pursue new reclamation projects in Manila Bay, saying these will put the Philippine capital environmentally in peril.

“Not during my time. I will only allow maybe plans of whatever reclamation if it is in connection with a government project. I will not allow massive reclamation for the private sector. Not now. Because if you approve one, you approve all. Ganun ’yun eh (That’s the way it is),” he said in a speech at the inauguration of the P486-million Sangley Airport Development Project (SADP).

Mr. Duterte said only government-related reclamation projects and those approved by the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) will be allowed to proceed.

“You know, when you govern… at least you try very hard to be equal and fair. But if I do that, of which I am wont to do, I will choke Manila. The entire Manila City would be environmentally at peril. So pag-aralan ninyong mabuti ’yan (You have to study that very carefully),” he said.

Mr. Duterte said the next administration should study proposed reclamation projects very carefully, “because that Manila there, that old city is an old city and it will decay if you add so many things in front of Manila Bay.”

This was not the first time Mr. Duterte expressed his opposition to reclamation projects in Manila Bay.

Last year, Mr. Duterte signed an executive order transferring the power to approve reclamation projects to the Office of the President. The PRA was previously under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board had the power to approve reclamation projects.

“That is why ’yung Reclamation Authority kinuha ko. I got it back because I heard that everybody was lobbying (for approval of their projects)… Sabi ko, no (I told them, no),” Mr. Duterte said on Saturday.

Property developers are looking to capitalize on the booming real estate market by reclaiming land along Manila Bay. There are around 25 proposed projects to reclaim 10,000 hectares from Navotas City to Cavite.

Last December, PRA General Manager Joselito Gonzales said four projects have been given the green light — the Navotas City Coastal Bay Reclamation Project, Pasay 360-hectare Reclamation Project, Pasay 265-hectare Reclamation Project, Horizon Manila 418-hectare Reclamation Project.

SM Prime Holdings last December received the official notice from the Pasay City government to proceed with its 360-hectare reclamation project within the latter’s municipal waters. The said project will be connected to the Mall of Asia Complex, which is also a joint reclamation-land project by both parties.

On the other hand, the other 265-hectare reclamation project in Pasay City is being pursued by the LGU and the Pasay Harbour Center Consortium.

The Navotas Coastal Bay Reclamation Project is being undertaken by the Navotas LGU and Argonbay Construction Company, Inc.

The Horizon Manila project is being developed by the Manila LGU and Jbros Construction Corp. — GMC