PSC setting house in order in wake of payroll fraud

July 22, 2020 | 5:14 pm

RECENTLY rocked by a payroll scam, the Philippine Sports Commission announced on Wednesday that it would employ an organizational revamp.

PSC Chairman William Ramirez, who was back at the PSC helm after a month-long leave to attend to personal matters, said the revamp was just the start of “a plan to re-stabilize the organization.”

Part of the revamp is the appointment of Atty. Guillermo Iroy, Jr. as acting Executive Director in place of Merlita Ibay, who resumes her position as Deputy Executive Director for Finance and Administrative Services, her original appointment before being tapped to take on the acting executive director role. Queenie Evangelista, meanwhile, will lead the Bureau of Coordinating Secretariat and Support Services as its acting deputy executive director.

The setting of order comes on the heels of the uncovering of fraudulent actions of one of its employees, Paul Michael Padua Ignacio of the PSC’s Personnel Department, who was arrested last week for allegedly engaging, the sports agency said, in a payroll padding scam.

According to the PSC’s letter to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Mr. Ignacio, who is in charge of preparing the payroll register of national athletes and coaches, included in the list even the names of athletes and coaches who were no longer qualified to receive their monthly allowances and channelling the allowance money to his account.

The modus was reportedly being done for the last five years and cost the government P14 million.

Mr. Ignacio is now in the custody of the NBI and said to be cooperating with authorities in the investigation.

The Land Bank of the Philippines-Century Park Hotel branch reported the questionable transactions to the PSC, prompting the latter to take action and seek the help of pertinent government agencies in the investigation.

In a statement, Mr. Ramirez said they are taking the matter seriously as it goes against everything they envision the PSC would be under their watch.

“As the highest accountable official of the agency, I take responsibility to effect changes, to make sure that there are no gaps in the organization. I feel sad, frustrated, and hurt but we all have to have composure,” said Ramirez, adding that he hopes all stakeholders and partners “are at peace with these decisions and continue to support us through this.”

The PSC is working closely with the NBI, Department of Justice and the Office of the Solicitor General to bring those accountable to justice and possibly return the money lost. – Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Minnesota Timberwolves for sale; Garnett interested

July 22, 2020 | 5:14 pm

THE Minnesota Timberwolves are for sale, and franchise icon Kevin Garnett is part of a group of investors that is “seriously interested” in buying the team, according to multiple reports Tuesday.

Sportico reported owner Glen Taylor had retained the Raine Group to sell the franchise, adding that several parties have bid on the team.

Taylor confirmed to The Athletic that he has received inquiries, including from groups who want to relocate the franchise, which is a nonstarter.

“People have inquired who are interested, but they want to move the team,” Taylor told The Athletic, adding that the WNBA’s Lynx would likely be included in any deal. “They are not a candidate. We’ve made that very clear. … Everybody’s been told it has to stay in Minnesota.”

Taylor, 79, bought the franchise in 1994 for just under $90 million and has sold off a few minority stakes in recent years. Sportico reported he is seeking at least $1.2 billion to sell the team and that a deal could be reached within a month.

Forbes pegged the franchise’s value at $1.38 billion. Taylor has a net worth of around $3 billion.

In a separate report, The Athletic detailed Garnett’s interest, saying his group is preparing a bid to submit to Taylor.

Garnett, 44, said in December 2017 that he would like to own part of the team he played for from 1995-2007 and in 2014-15 and 2015-16, but only if Taylor were to sell his stake, after the two had a falling out. According to Garnett, Taylor backed out of an arrangement with former coach Flip Saunders — in which Garnett would join the team’s front office and/or ownership group following retirement — after Saunders’ death in 2015.

In April, Garnett told The Athletic, “At this point, I don’t want any dealings with Glen Taylor or Taylor Corp. or anything that has to do with him. I’ll always have a special place for the city of Minneapolis and the state of Minnesota in my heart. But I don’t do business with snakes.

“I don’t do business with snake (expletive). I try not to do business with openly snakes or people who are snake-like.”

Garnett was named for enshrinement in the Basketball Hall of Fame this spring, and he’ll be officially enshrined when the postponed event happens in 2021.

A 15-time All-Star, Garnett earned 10 of those selections while with the Wolves and drew MVP honors after the 2003-04 season. He averaged 19.8 points, 11 rebounds and 4.3 assists during 14 seasons in Minnesota, and 17.8 points, 10 rebounds and 3.7 assists for his career.

Garnett played for the Boston Celtics from 2007-08 to 2012-13, winning his lone championship ring in 2008. He also spent 2013-14 and part of the 2014-15 season with the Brooklyn Nets.

DRAFT LOTTERY
Meanwhile, the National Basketball Association moved up its draft lottery by five days next month, according to multiple reports Tuesday.

The lottery will now be held Aug. 20 instead of Aug. 25, per reports. The draft date has not moved, as it still will be held Oct. 16.

While the NBA season’s structure has been overhauled for its return from the coronavirus pandemic, the lottery will essentially be the same, apart from being delayed more than three months.

Eight teams were not included in the restart near Orlando, already putting them in the lottery. The six teams eliminated from the restart will also join the lottery, and odds will then be assigned based on teams’ records in games before the season was paused March 11.

The lottery was originally scheduled for May 19 before being postponed. — Reuters

PFL sets up meeting with Global FC to thresh out issues lodged vs the club

July 22, 2020 | 5:13 pm

THE Philippines Football League (PFL) is set to meet officials of Global FC on Thursday to discuss recent issues being lodged against the football club.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Philippine Football Federation (PFF), which oversees the affairs of the PFL, said league commissioner, Coco Torre, will meet Global FC management to shed light on various allegations, including unpaid salaries of players and staff.

Recently, Global was spotlighted for allegedly being remiss on its financial obligations since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic started in the country.

English player John Cofie took the club to task on a social media post, claiming that Global failed to honor its contract obligations to him, particularly his signing fee and six months’ worth of salary which he has yet to receive.

Mr. Cofie’s complaint followed that of Bacolod-based graphic artist Saya Jaruda, who called out Global for its failure to pay him for the work he has done for the club.

Mr. Jaruda took to Facebook to vent his complaint, saying the club has not paid him for his services despite using his works on its various social media platforms since February.

As early as two years ago, Global players, including the likes of Anton del Rosario and Milan Nokolic , had already complained of unpaid wages during the time the club was transitioning to a new management.

Looking to be on top of the situation, the PFF and the PFL have arranged a meeting with Global to get to the bottom of things and address the issues accordingly.

“Players’ welfare is important to the growth of a professional club and of the league,” said PFF general secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes in the statement. “The club must address the issues raised.”

For Mr. Torre, it is important for the club to come clean and lay its plans moving forward, saying, “Our aim is to ascertain the current situation of the club and discuss with club management the actions they are taking.”

In a statement posted on Facebook also Tuesday, Global confirmed the scheduled meeting and it is readiness to answer the issues just as it reaffirmed its commitment to participate in the 2020 season of the PFL, with “an eye on challenging for trophies.”

Global is one of the initial eight licensed clubs of the PFL and has been competing in the league for the past three seasons. Its best finish was a runner-up finish in 2017. The club also represented the country internationally in the AFC Cup in 2017 and 2018 and the Singapore Cup in 2017 where it finished as runner-up. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Asi Taulava preparing for a strong finish to career

July 22, 2020 | 5:12 pm

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

NOW at the tail end of his illustrious Philippine Basketball Association (PBA)career, veteran Asi Taulava is setting himself up to a strong finish, making sure his body is up for it and just being prepared.

Made it known that the currently suspended PBA All-Filipino Cup would be his last as a player in the local pro league, Mr. Taulava, 47, said his journey in the league has been a blast and that there is nothing he wants more than closing it out still making a difference.

Filipino-Tongan Taulava entered the PBA in 1999 with the Mobiline Phone Pals (now TNT KaTropa) after making a name for himself in the Philippine Basketball League.

He is a one-time PBA champion (2003), the league’s most valuable player (2003) and a 17-time league All-Star.

Mr. Taulava has also represented the country several times as a member of the national team.

Currently, Mr. Taulava is playing for the NLEX Road Warriors where he is providing veteran leadership and quality minutes on the floor when called upon, something he takes pride in and grateful for to be able to do still late in his career.

The 40 Greatest PBA players list member shared in his recent session with Tiebreaker Vods’ 2OT podcast that the forced break they are having in the league because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has helped his body to stay fresh for the grind ahead.

He went on to say that given a chance he would like to play in the PBA but recognizes that such a setup is not something in his control at this stage.

“It’s whatever [NLEX] coach Yeng [Guaio] wants. Coach Yeng, at the end of the day, it’s his team. He makes the decisions, I can wish to say I’m gonna play five more years, but it’s what the man knows, what the man needs for his team,” said Mr. Taulava.

Adding, “I just gotta plug those holes. I’ve enjoyed it, I’ve enjoyed the ride, I’m not gonna lie to you, whatever coach Yeng needs I’m there.”

Winning a title with NLEX, too, he shared would be a fitting send-off if ever, especially because he has forged great relationships in the Road Warriors’ organization.

“That’s gonna be the best feeling. That’s one I would cherish… [NLEX] has been taking care of me since the latter part of my career. I’m so lucky that I ended up with these guys. They’ve been looking after me, not just me, my family, my teammates, everybody…” he said.

“We’re taking baby steps, one step at a time and hopefully this team if we can get over the hump, we can burst into the finals and see how it goes there.”

The PBA is still shut because of the pandemic but is working on a resumption of on-court team training beginning next week.

Closing ceremonies of UAAP Season 82 slated this weekend online

July 22, 2020 | 5:11 pm

SEASON 82 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) came to an abrupt end early this year because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic but the league and its partners are making sure that despite what had happened the shelved UAAP season will have proper closure.

Happening on July 25, the UAAP will officially wrap up Season 82 with a virtual closing ceremony hosted by ABS-CBN Sports, highlighting the success and hard work of the eight member schools while also putting the spotlight on the athletes who were unable to finish their season due to the cancellation of the games.

“The closing ceremonies will highlight, for one, as a community, as a nation, we are here to help everyone. And second, the athletes who were not able to play or were not able to finish their season, they are still part of Season 82,” said season president Em Fernandez of host school Ateneo de Manila University.

In April, the UAAP officially decided to scrap the remainder of Season 82 because of the growing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among affected collegiate tournaments were those of volleyball, football, baseball, softball, lawn tennis and 3×3 basketball.

In the closing ceremony, the UAAP will award the general championships for both high school and seniors divisions to the University of Santo Tomas.

Also set to receive their awards are the season most valuable players for high school and college, while selected athlete-scholars from the different universities will also be recognized. The league, however, will be unable to award an Athlete of the Year for this season.

The ceremony will also see Ateneo turn over hosting duties to De La Salle University for Season 83.

While it announced that it will be signing off at the end of August with its parent network unable to get Congress’ nod for a renewal of its franchise, ABS-CBN Sports said it is still committed to championing its partnership with the UAAP community, noting that it has always been its mission to honor and pay tribute to the work and dedication of athletes.

The UAAP’s contract with ABS-CBN Sports ended in May. The two parties were negotiating a fresh contract until the non-renewal of the franchise scuttled things.

ABS-CBN Sports has been home to the UAAP since 2000.

The special online event, which will be hosted by Mico Halili and Denice Dinsay, will go live at 4 p.m. on the ABS-CBN Sports website (sports.abs-cbn.com), Facebook, and YouTube accounts, with delayed telecast on LIGA cable sports channel at 7 p.m.

Spicing up the celebration are feature performances by ABS-CBN artists Ylona Garcia and Iñigo Pascual. Sponge Cola and Itchyworms, the Pinoy rock bands that performed the official UAAP Season 82 anthem “Ang Ating Tagumpay” at the opening ceremony, will also make a special appearance. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Citi Open in Washington canceled due to coronavirus disruption

July 22, 2020 | 5:11 pm

BENGALURU — The Citi Open in Washington, which was scheduled to restart the men’s ATP Tour after the COVID-19 shutdown, has been canceled for 2020, organizers announced on Tuesday.

The tournament was set to begin on Aug. 14 and serve as a buildup for the US Open but the organizers said concerns about travel restrictions and recent trends in the coronavirus outbreak had led to the decision to scrap the event.

“After months of tireless work by our team and close collaboration with our many stakeholders, we are heartbroken to announce that we must unfortunately postpone the 52^nd Citi Open until the summer of 2021,” tournament chairman Mark Ein said in a statement.

“There are too many unresolved external issues, including various international travel restrictions as well as troubling health and safety trends, that have forced us to make this decision now in fairness to our players, suppliers and partners, so that they can have certainty around their planning.”

The tournament’s cancellation raises doubts about this year’s US Open, which is scheduled to be played without fans in attendance from Aug. 31 to Sept. 13.

However, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) said preparations remain on track to stage the Western & Southern Open and the Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows, which are scheduled to take place back-to-back in New York, beginning on Aug. 20.

“The USTA will create a safe and controlled environment for players and everyone else involved in both tournaments that mitigates health risks,” the USTA said.

“We constantly base our decisions regarding hosting these tournaments on our three guiding principles that include safe and healthy of all involved, whether hosting these events are in the best interest in the sport of tennis and whether this decision is financially viable.

“We are confident we remain in-line with all three guiding principles.”

Tennis, apart from some exhibition events, ground to a halt in mid-March, with Wimbledon being canceled and the French Open being moved to September.

The men’s claycourt swing is scheduled to begin on Sept. 8 in Kitzbuhel, Austria, overlapping with the second week of the US Open.

Players will then be able to get more time on clay at the Madrid and Italian Opens before the French Open, which begins on Sept. 27.

The WTA Tour will resume with the women’s event staged in Palermo, Italy, from Aug. 3.

The ATP said a further update on the revised 2020 calendar will be released in the next fortnight, including the final phase of the season through to the ATP Finals in November. — Reuters

US accuses two Chinese nationals of hacking spree for COVID-19 data

July 22, 2020 | 5:00 pm

WASHINGTON — The US Justice department on Tuesday indicted two Chinese nationals over their role in what the agency called a decade-long cyber espionage campaign that targeted defense contractors, COVID researchers and hundreds of other victims worldwide.

US authorities said Li Xiaoyu and Dong Jiazhi stole terabytes of weapons designs, drug information, software source code, and personal data from targets that included dissidents and Chinese opposition figures. They were contractors for the Chinese government, rather than full-fledged spies, US officials said.

US Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Demers said at a virtual press conference the hackings showed China “is willing to turn a blind eye to prolific criminal hackers operating within its borders.”

“In this manner, China has now taken its place, alongside Russia, Iran, and North Korea, in that shameful club of nations that provides safe haven for cybercriminals in exchange for those criminals being on call for the benefit of the state.”

Messages left with several accounts registered under Li’s digital alias, oro0lxy, were not immediately returned. Contact details for Dong were not immediately available.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington referred Reuters to recent Chinese Foreign Ministry comments that “China has long been a major victim of cyber thefts and attacks” and its officials “firmly oppose and fight” such activities.

The indictment mostly did not name any companies or individual targets, but US Attorney William Hyslop, who spoke alongside Demers, cited “hundreds and hundreds of victims in the United States and worldwide.” Officials said the probe was triggered when the hackers broke into a network belonging to the Hanford Site, a decommissioned US nuclear complex in eastern Washington state, in 2015.

Li and Dong were “one of the most prolific group of hackers we’ve investigated,” said FBI Special Agent Raymond Duda, who heads the agency’s Seattle field office.

A July 7 indictment made public on Tuesday alleges that Li and Dong were contractors for China’s Ministry of State Security, or MSS, a comparable agency to the US Central Intelligence Agency. The MSS, prosecutors said, supplied the hackers with information into critical software vulnerabilities to penetrate targets and collect intelligence. Targets included Hong Kong protesters, the office of the Dalai Lama and a Chinese Christian non-profit.

As early as Jan. 27, as the coronavirus outbreak was coming into focus, the hackers were trying to steal COVID-19 vaccine research of an unidentified Massachusetts biotech firm, the indictment said.

It is unclear whether anything was stolen but one expert said the allegation shows the “extremely high value” that governments such as China placed on COVID-related research.

“It is a fundamental threat to all governments around the world and we expect information relating to treatments and vaccines to be targeted by multiple cyber espionage sponsors,” said Ben Read, a senior analyst at cybersecurity company FireEye.

He noted that the Chinese government had long relied on contractors for its cyberspying operations.

“Using these freelancers allows the government to access a wider array of talent, while also providing some deniability in conducting these operations,” Mr. Read said. — Reuters

Undiagnosed virus infections could be 27 times higher in South Korea’s Daegu city — study

July 22, 2020 | 5:00 pm

SEOUL — A small South Korean survey of people with no history of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but living in a city with the most cases, showed that roughly one in 13 had antibodies to the novel coronavirus, indicating the virus may have spread more widely than thought.

The study said based on the survey, roughly 185,290 people could have contracted the virus in Daegu city, which is the country’s fourth-largest city with a population of 2.5 million.

“It was estimated that the number of undiagnosed missing cases may be 27-fold higher than the number of confirmed cases based on PCR testing in Daegu,” the study said.

Daegu city recorded 6,886 coronavirus cases alone as of June 6, said the study published online in the Journal of Korean Medical Science on July 16, but announced by the journal on Tuesday night according to local media.

The study done between May 25 and June 5 followed 198 people in Daegu city who had never been tested for COVID-19, and found 15 of them, or 7.6%, had antibodies.

That is a much higher infection rate than that found in a survey of more than 3,000 people in South Korea that excluded Daegu, in which only one person showed neutralizing antibodies to the novel coronavirus earlier this month.

Health authorities urged caution over the study, considering the small specimen size and a use of rapid antibody test kits with 92% specificity.

“We do estimate there are more infections than the confirmed patients in Daegu. We are in talks with the city to conduct antibody tests for some 3,300 people to estimate the size,” Jeong Eun-kyeong, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director, told a briefing on Wednesday.

Antibody, or serology, tests show whether a person has been exposed to the virus. Similar studies have shown infection rates ranging from 0.1% in Tokyo to 17% in London and 5.2% in Spain nationwide.

South Korea, an early success story in containing the virus among its 51 million population after a severe outbreak in Daegu in March, has reported 13,879 cases and 297 deaths. The country is now battling small but persistent clusters of infections with 63 new cases reported on Tuesday. — Reuters

Japan approves dexamethasone as coronavirus treatment

July 22, 2020 | 5:00 pm

TOKYO — Japan’s health ministry has approved dexamethasone, a cheap and widely used steroid, as a second treatment of COVID-19 after a trial in Britain showed the drug reduced death rates in hospitalized patients.

The ministry included dexamethasone as an option for treatment along with Gilead Sciences, Inc.’s antiviral drug remdesivir in a recent revision to its handbook. The revision was widely reported by Japanese media on Wednesday and was viewed by Reuters.

Shares of Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical Co, among those that produce the drug, gained as much as 6.5% in early trade.

In results announced last month, a trial by researchers in the United Kingdom showed dexamethasone as the first drug to save lives of COVID-19 patients in what scientists said was a major breakthrough in the coronavirus pandemic.

The full results of the large randomized clinical trial released last Friday in the New England Journal of Medicine confirmed the benefits for people with advanced or moderate disease. — Reuters

BW One-on-One with Joo-Ok Lee

July 22, 2020 | 5:00 pm

The economic shock caused by COVID-19 crisis highlights the need to fast track collaboration between governments, international organizations, and the business community.

What are the lessons, so far, for the government and business leaders amid this pandemic? What is needed for the “Big Reset” both on the macro and company levels? How do the current and upcoming innovations brought by the Fourth Industrial Revolution fit in a post-COVID-19 world?

Find out from this BusinessWorld’s One-on-One exclusive interview with World Economic Forum Head of Asia-Pacific Regional Agenda Joo-Ok Lee, which premiered last July 20 on BusinessWorld’s and The Philippine STAR’s Facebook pages.

US EPA to propose first-ever airplane emissions standards, sources say

July 22, 2020 | 4:36 pm

The EPA emissions proposal covers all large passenger jets, regional jets, large turboprop airplanes, and some general aviation aircraft. Smaller turboprops, helicopters and military aircraft are not covered.

WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is set to announce on Wednesday the first proposed US emissions standards for commercial aircraft, officials briefed on the matter said.

In 2016, the UN International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) agreed on global airplane emissions standards aimed at makers of small and large planes, including Airbus SE and Boeing Co, which both backed the standards.

The EPA-proposed regulation would align the United States with the ICAO standards, officials said, and would apply to new type designs as of January 2020 and to in-production airplanes or those with amended type certificates starting in 2028. They would not apply to airplanes currently in use.

EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said in a statement to Reuters the forthcoming airplane emissions proposal—along with other emissions regulations—represented “sensible, legally defendable steps to regulate greenhouse gases, while safeguarding American jobs and the economy.”

Aircraft account for 12% of all US transportation greenhouse gas emissions and 3% of total such US emissions. They are the largest source of transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions not subject to standards.

EPA officials said it was crucial that the US adopt the standards, because countries could ban US-assembled airplanes if they do not meet ICAO standards. The EPA had said it would propose rules “at least” as stringent as the ICAO’s.

EPA is expected to finalize the rules next spring after public comments. The Federal Aviation Administration will then issue separate rules to enforce the standards, and the agency is expected to ultimately certify emissions compliance by US-manufactured airplanes.

Some environmentalists argued the 2016 ICAO rules did not go far enough.

Under President Barack Obama, the EPA in 2016 declared aircraft emissions posed a public health danger. In January, environmental groups filed a notice of intent to sue EPA for failing to regulate aircraft emissions.

Clare Lakewood, climate legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said the Trump rules are not likely to require enough improvements.

“To help ward off the worst effects of climate change, we need effective, technology-forcing standards to reduce airplane pollution,” she said.

The EPA emissions proposal covers all large passenger jets, regional jets, large turboprop airplanes, and some general aviation aircraft. Smaller turboprops, helicopters and military aircraft are not covered. — Reuters

Maynilad-De Los Santos Medical Center RT-PCR testing center inaugurated

July 22, 2020 | 4:28 pm

Maynilad Water Services, Inc., together with De Los Santos Medical Center (DLSMC), recently inaugurated the Maynilad-DLSMC RT-PCR Testing Center at the DLSMC grounds in Quezon City. The construction of the facility was a result of a Php 15-M donation by Maynilad in response to the COVID-19 pandemic which affects the lives of Filipinos nationwide. The inauguration was graced by Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan and Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings, Inc. (MPHHI) Chairman Augusto P. Palisoc, Jr.

Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez expressed gratitude for the support given by the holding company in the building of the facility. “I would like to thank MVP (Manuel V. Pangilinan) and the MVP group of hospitals for allowing Maynilad to contribute its own share in the MVP group objective of doubling the group’s COVID testing capacity. De Los Santos Medical Center is a proven reliable partner of Maynilad. We will continue to step up our health program for our employees and for the community.”

Once operational, the Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) laboratory will be capable of contributing an additional capacity of up to 200 RT-PCR confirmatory tests per day.

“We will have the ability to isolate and care for patients better and more quickly. This can significantly impact the mitigation of the spread of the virus in the community.As we face our new normal, we will continue to ensure that our patients have access to quality care and the basics they need to be healthy,” says DLSMC President and CEO Raul C. Pagdanganan.

MPIC Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan also recognized the frontliners working in the different hospitals and companies under the MPIC group. “It’s very important for us, the group, to show that despite the pandemic, we would be reporting to the office or hospital to show that we are committed in delivering the service that the people need.Part of the increased cases of the virus is due to lack of tracking and tracing that would be very important to contain the virus.My thanks to Mayniladfor this laboratory.I think that’s what this country needs.”

Both Maynilad and DLSMC are companies under Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), with DLSMC as one of 16 hospitals under Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings, Inc.