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Cashing in on e-payments to flatten the COVID-19 curve

By Sarah Daway-Ducanes, Nicole Gutierrez, and Geoffrey Ducanes

THE World Health Organization is encouraging countries to take advantage of e-payment systems as an alternative to cash-based transactions. This is to limit the use of cash in making transactions, since cash itself is a potential agent of transfer of the COVID-19 virus. Accordingly, several central banks, including the Bank of England, the Bank of Korea and the US Federal Reserve, have resorted to burning cash or at least mandating banks to sanitize their cash holdings and place them in quarantine for 14 days.

According to the World Bank’s Global Findex Database, 25% of the adult population in the Philippines (at least 15 years old) used an e-payment instrument in 2017. This is up from about 20% in 2014, but is still very low. Except for Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, the rest of Southeast Asia, China, Hong Kong and India have higher e-payment utilization rates than the Philippines, ranging from 28.7% in India to 90% in Singapore and 95% in Japan. Even in nearby Indonesia, the utilization rate is 10 percentage points higher at 35%. Using the e-payments system includes the use of e-cash, debit card, credit card, or the use of either a mobile phone or internet-based system to make a transaction.

The e-payment system appears to be a crucial element in flattening the COVID-19 curve. The existence of e-payment systems can especially facilitate social distancing and staying at home among Filipinos by enabling the virtually contactless door-to-door delivery of groceries, medicines, etc. bought or sold online; payment of utilities and other recurring bills; and, remittance of money to loved ones and/or other households in need. This alternative form of payment moreover minimizes the exposure of the elderly and other persons, who are identified as high-risk of contracting COVID-19. At this time when enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) allows only one designated household member aged 18 to 60 years old to leave the house during scheduled hours, accomplishing as many transactions online as possible will minimize the need for this designated household member to leave the house. This also minimizes the probability of exposure to the COVID-19 virus of the elderly and other household members identified as high risk in the event that the designated member is exposed to the virus.

A 2016 survey conducted by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) e-Peso Program shows that 79% of the 1,200 respondents (age 15-74 years old, 300 respondents each from Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao) know at least one e-payment instrument. However, only 25% (as in the Global Findex dataset) used an e-payment instrument in the last 12 months. Although the rate is relatively high in Metro Manila at 49%, it is only at 28% in the rest of Luzon and a paltry 13% and 9%, respectively, in Mindanao and Visayas. E-payment utilization is particularly low at only 15% for those earning below P15,000 per month, and 31% for those earning from P15,000 to less than P40,000, compared to 73% for those earning higher. And although those in older age groups do not compare unfavorably with the younger age groups, still, only 26% of those belonging to the 50-74 age group — arguably the group most vulnerable to COVID-19 infection — utilize e-payment.

The use of e-cash, or the use of digital money rather than actual cash to pay for goods and services, is even lower. In the same USAID survey, only 5.5% of the respondents used e-cash in the last 12 months, although this number should have already increased due to the recent more aggressive advertising of Fintech companies and banks. An enabling factor for this increase is the now more widespread ownership of mobile phones. The rate of e-payment utilization for mobile phone owners is almost 2.5 times that of non-mobile phone owners. Similarly, the use of e-cash for mobile phone users is four times that of non-mobile phone owners. In Metro Manila, 84% of respondents reported owning a mobile phone, 76% in the rest of Luzon, 67% in Visayas, and 61% in Mindanao. As expected, mobile phone ownership is related to income, 64% of respondents earning less than P15,000 owned a mobile phone compared to 84% among those who earn more than P15,000, and even 100% among those who earn more than P80,000. Some e-payment schemes may be accessed through short message service (SMS) keywords or unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) menus available in any type of mobile phone. For feature phone and smartphone users, the availability of app-based payment systems opens up more online payment options. This is especially promising as smartphone penetration in the country was already at 65% as of January 2019.

Indeed, the United Nations Better Than Cash Alliance Report shows that in 2013, the monthly share of e-payments in the total volume of monthly payments (estimated at around 2.5 billion) was around 1%. By 2018, this share increased to 10%, making up 20% of the monthly value of e-payments.

Utilizing and further developing the e-payment system is also crucial at this time when the government is exploring ways to bring help and relief to the highly vulnerable sectors of society. (This is also in line with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ National Strategy for Financial Inclusion and its commitment to significantly raise the utilization of e-payments in the Philippines.) In Thailand, for instance, the government is channeling part of 100 billion baht in government liquidity support via its e-payment system. In a similar manner, the Philippine government may then use the e-payment system, particularly e-cash, to transfer cash grants not only to the most vulnerable households, but also to small and medium businesses affected by the COVID-19 closures as provided for in the COVID-19 Adjusted Measures Program (CAMP). Doing so would enable contactless cash transfers, minimizing mass gatherings and long queues at disbursements centers. Moreover, coursing relief cash grants through the e-payment system would help ease the logistical cost and requirements of government relief programs, freeing up resources for other pressing needs.

In operationalizing this, the Philippine government across national and local levels can partner with Fintech players, such as GCash and PayMaya, to enable fund transfers to targeted beneficiaries in their respective jurisdictions. The national government, primarily through the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) can take stock of which cities and municipalities have already existing partnerships with current Fintech players, and perhaps, use these as patterns for developing protocols. Some examples are Makati, which has partnered with GCash; and Valenzuela with PayMaya. Both Fintech players have a similar setup with these local governments:

• Eligible beneficiaries of the local government are identified.

• Identified beneficiaries are each given a prepaid card, which may be activated through SMS in any type of mobile phone or a mobile money application, available on feature phones and smartphones to set up a mobile money account.

• E-cash transfers can then be made to the beneficiaries’ mobile money accounts.

There are obstacles that need to be hurdled at the onset, mainly transactional and psychic costs, as well as concerns regarding account safety and security. Costs should be minimized to the extent possible and security concerns should be allayed by utilizing more secure methods, such as multi-factor authentication mechanisms, for example. The benefits far outweigh the costs, more so at this time, when lives and overall well-being are at stake.

 

Sources:

• https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerhuang/2020/03/09/who-encourages-use-of-digital-payments due-to-covid-19/#79ef8f3641eb.

• https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/south-korea-central-bank-burns-quarantines-cash-covid19-12509920.

• https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2019-philippines.

• https://www.betterthancash.org/tools-research/case-studies/country-diagnostic-the-philippines-2019-edition

• See www.bangkokpost.com

 

Sarah Daway-Ducanes and Nicole Gutierrez are with the University of the Philippines School of Economics, and Geoffrey Ducanes is with the Ateneo de Manila University Department of Economics

PSEi rebounds on China data, Trump comments

By Denise A. Valdez, Reporter

LOCAL SHARES bounced back yesterday as investors gained confidence from positive developments in China and the United States.

The 30-member Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) climbed 190.07 points or 3.70% to end at 5,321.23 on Tuesday. The broader all shares index likewise increased 93.46 points or 2.97% to 3,237.77.

“(The) local market moved up as regional markets were mostly up after manufacturing data from China showed expansion from a contraction in previous data,” Diversified Securities, Inc. Equity Trader Aniceto K. Pangan said in a text message.

Factory activity in China unexpectedly expanded in March from a collapse the month before, but analysts caution that a durable near-term recovery is far from assured as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis knocks foreign demand and threatens a steep economic slump.

China’s official Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 52 in March from a plunge to a record low of 35.7 in February, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Tuesday, above the 50-point mark that separates monthly growth from contraction, Reuters reported.

The unexpected expansion was received well by investors, as evidenced by the growth in Chinese markets yesterday: the Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 and Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite indices climbed 0.33% and 0.11%, respectively.

For Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan, the higher close of the Philippine market is also attributable to comments of President Donald Trump that he is willing to strengthen measures to temper the spread of COVID-19 in the US.

Reuters reported that Mr. Trump said he may “(toughen) up a little bit” the social distancing guidelines to slow down the mounting cases of COVID-19 infections in US. Johns Hopkins University reported more than 164,600 confirmed cases in US as of yesterday afternoon, the highest all over the world.

“Philippine stocks closed higher today, building on a strong rally from last week as the US extended measures to contain the coronavirus outbreak,” Mr. Limlingan said via text.

Sectoral indices at the local bourse all improved at Tuesday’s close. Holding firms surged 249.48 points or five percent to 5,233.52; industrials rose 290.08 points or 4.77% to 6,361.71; financials picked up 47.19 points or 4.01% to 1,223.64; mining and oil gained 114.35 points or 2.82% to 4,161.90; services added 22.41 points or 1.91% to 1,192.04; and property increased 26.73 points or 0.98% to 2,748.30.

Value turnover stood at P7.42 billion on Tuesday with 546.31 million issues switching hands, up from Monday’s P5.33-billion worth of 535.84 million issues.

Advancers beat decliners, 132 against 53, while 41 names ended unchanged. Net foreign selling was trimmed to P634.52 million yesterday from P887.40 million on Monday. — with Reuters

Peso ends higher vs dollar on oil prices, China PMI

dollars
THE PESO exchange rate closed stronger after global crude oil prices declined anew to linger among the lowest levels in 18 years — Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort. — PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

THE PESO closed stronger versus the greenback on Tuesday on the back of positive market sentiment due to lower oil prices, as well as an unexpected rebound in China’s factory activity.

The local unit ended trading at P50.68 against the dollar yesterday, appreciating by 28 centavos from its P50.96 close on Monday, according to data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines.

The peso opened the session at P50.85 per dollar. Its weakest was at P50.89, while its strongest showing for the day was its close of P50.68 against the greenback.

Volume of dollars traded inched up to $363.1 million yesterday from $315.35 million on Monday.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort attributed the peso’s strength to the decline in oil prices.

“The peso exchange rate closed stronger after global crude oil prices declined anew to linger among the lowest levels in 18 years,” Mr. Ricafort said in a text message.

Oil prices inched up slightly on Tuesday, although still near 18-year low levels, with world leaders agreeing to discuss energy market stabilization amid the falling demand due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.

Reuters reported that Brent crude inched up by 0.8% or 19 centavos to $22.95 per barrel as of 0051 GMT from a $22.76 close in the previous session. Meanwhile, US crude increased by 59 centavos to $20.68 per barrel from $20.09 in its previous close.

In a phone call on Monday, US President Donald J. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to let their top energy officials to discuss stabilizing oil markets, the Kremlin said on Monday.

Meanwhile, a trader said the local unit was powered by better international data.

“The peso appreciated after the strong rebound in the Chinese manufacturing activity back to expansion levels,” the trader said in an e-mail.

Reuters reported on Tuesday that factory activity in China saw unexpected recovery in March, although analysts were cautious that the near-term rebound is far from an assurance that COVID-19 will not take a toll on foreign demand.

According to China’s National Bureau of Statistics, China’s official Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 52 in March, above the 50-point mark that separates monthly growth from contraction. This came after the 35.7 seen in February.

For today, Mr. Ricafort gave a forecast range of P50.55 to P50.85, while the trader expects the peso to move around the P50.65 to P50.85 levels. — L.W.T. Noble with Reuters

Duterte considers floating quarantine hospitals

By Gillian M. Cortez
and Vann Marlo M. Villegas
Reporters

THE government is looking at using “floating quarantine hospitals” on ships in different parts of the country to house persons under monitoring for the novel coronavirus and help unburden hospitals already at their full capacities, the presidential palace said in a March 30 report to Congress.

The Department of Transportation might deploy these to house patients who have recently traveled overseas and those who exhibit symptoms but have no history of exposure.

The Department of Health (DoH) on Tuesday reported 538 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total to 2,084.

Ten more patients aged 51 to 89 years died, raising the death toll to 88, while seven more people aged 39 to 77 recovered, bringing the total of those who have gotten well to 49, it said in a bulletin.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire traced the spike — a record daily increase — to expanded testing capacities of local laboratories.

DoH said it had amended the criteria on who qualifies for the coronavirus disease 2019 testing, now including health workers who experience symptoms among the vulnerable population.

This comes after a hospital barred a health worker exposed to the COVID-19 virus and who showed symptoms from being tested, Ms. Vergeire said.

In its report, Malacañang said the Public Works department was leading the conversion and use of several public buildings and evacuation centers as health facilities and emergency operation centers or food hubs, according to the report.

A task force created by the agency has prepared the conversion of 110 evacuation centers, 19 of which were being used as health facilities and 15 were used as emergency operation centers or food hubs.

“lt is also looking into the conversion of public buildings and open spaces to establish treatment facilities and isolation centers, and the installation of prototype tents for such purpose,” it said.

These were among the measures taken by President Rodrigo R. Duterte since Congress passed a bill giving him special powers to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak, the palace said.

“All but two of the powers granted to the President under the said Act have been delegated to specific officials, clearly laying down their responsibilities,” according to the report.

Mr. Duterte had “given them their marching orders, emphasizing the need for expediency and giving them sufficient authority, so that they do not have to go back to the Office of the President and ask for clearance for each and every action they will take,” it added.

The President had reserved two powers that have the “gravest potential impact on the private sector.”

One is the power to direct the operation of some private establishments or to take over their operations in very specific conditions. The other is the power to require businesses to prioritize contracts for materials and services needed during the health crisis.

“The President will exercise these powers only when absolutely necessary,” Malacañang said.

Also yesterday, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei B. Nograles said a technical working group headed by the Department of Health (DoH) will decide whether to extend or lift the Luzon lockdown after it expires on April 12.

The group will meet and “finalize the parameters for deciding on the eventual total or partial lifting of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon, the possible extension of its duration, or its expansion to other areas outside the contained area,” he said at a briefing.

The Inter-Agency Task Force made up of Cabinet secretaries may approve or change the recommendations, he said.

“In this discussion, science is in charge,” Mr. Nograles said.

Bongbong Marcos tests positive for novel coronavirus

FORMER Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. has tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but his condition has started to improve, his spokesman said on Tuesday.

The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine released his test result on March 28, his spokesman Victor Rodriguez said in an e-mailed statement.

His sister Senator Imee Marcos earlier said he had taken the coronavirus test after he got sick.

Mr. Marcos was undergoing treatment at an “isolation area,” his spokesperson said.

Mr. Marcos had come from Spain, where tens of thousands had been infected with the virus.

He went to a hospital on March 14 after experiencing chest pains but went home because too many patients were waiting in line.

Mr. Rodriguez said the former senator was rushed to the emergency room of an undisclosed hospital on March 22 after having difficulty breathing.

He was then tested for the COVID-19 virus and was told to undergo self-quarantine.

Also yesterday, medical equipment imported by the United Nations for coronavirus testing in the Philippines may get delayed due to tax issues, according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr.

Mr. Locsin said the virus detection machine and mobile X-ray had been provided by the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) did not arrive on Monday because of the tax problem.

“It must pay taxes or declare it a donation,” Mr. Locsin said in a social media post, on Monday night. “But IAEA does not donate,” he added.

He said the consignee for the shipment must be changed to the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to do away with the tax dues.

He added that his agency would still ask for tax exemption for IAEA.

“I will ask for tax exemption for COVID-19-related equipment given by IAEA to the Philippines,” he said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs had been helping facilitate donations in kind from four foreign governments, one international organization and 12 private companies, individuals and civil society, according to a presidential palace report to Congress dated March 30.

DFA was also coordinating with the Department of Information and Communications Technology in developing a website that will provide information on international humanitarian assistance amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The website would promote transparency and speed up “acceptance and distribution of donations,” it said.

The Bureau of Customs earlier said it had quickened the release of six ventilators, 48 cartons of personal protective equipment from Xiamen Boson Biotech, 40,000 test kits from Temasek Foundation and 57,600 kits from the Alibaba Foundation. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

Exporters unable to move goods close shop amid lockdown

SOME exporters have temporarily stopped operations after struggling to move goods and house employees amid a Luzon-wide lockdown.

The companies have been unable to process their payroll because their accountants could not go to work, Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis, Jr., president of the Phiilppine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (Philexport) said by telephone on Tuesday.

A number of companies including food processors also could not provide accommodations to employees within their premises, he said.

“The skeletal workforce is supposed to be housed in the compound, but not all have facilities for that, so they don’t work anymore,” Mr. Ortiz-Luis said.

Export-oriented businesses may operate during the lockdown as long as they can offer employees temporary shelter.

The Department of Trade and Industry has issued a circular saying cargoes may pass unhampered through checkpoints.

“Up to now, many supplies still cannot pass through some local government checkpoints,” Mr. Ortiz-Luis said, adding that delivery workers end up being quarantined in Batangas province after coming from Metro Manila.

Companies may resume operations as government system improve even if the lockdown is extended, Mr. Ortiz-Luis said.

“The companies cannot afford to stop for so long,” he said, adding that small and micro-businesses need simplified access to government support.

The export sector could lose P4.9-P9.8 billion in gross value added this year if some of the country’s top exports to China and Hong Kong fell by 11% to 100% for a month, according to the National Economic and Development Authority. China is the Philippines’ largest trading partner.

Mr. Ortiz-Luis said the industry might later catch up with global demand once the health crisis is over.

He said local exporters might recover their lost markets “If we are more efficient and come back quickly.” — Jenina P. Ibañez

#COVID-19 Regional Updates (03/31/20)

5-year-old is 15th confirmed case in Cagayan Valley

A FIVE-year-old female is the latest patient in Cagayan Valley confirmed to have the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), bringing the region’s total cases to 15. In a report on Tuesday, the Department of Health (DoH) regional office said of the total, eight are from Cagayan province, four from Isabela and three from Nueva Vizcaya, including one who died. There are no reported recoveries so far while 12 are admitted in hospital and two under home quarantine. As of March 30, the region had 262 persons under investigation as they have symptoms of the disease, and 40,103 under monitoring, or those without symptoms but have relevant travel history or exposure to a COVID-19 patient.

Prosecutors’ offices in Laguna, Parañaque temporarily closed

TWO prosecutors’ offices have been temporarily closed due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an official of the Department of Justice (DoJ) said. The Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Laguna was closed last March 15 after one prosecutor tested positive for the disease, Undersecretary Markk L. Perete told reporters in a mobile-phone message. The city prosecutor’s office in Parañaque will also be closed until next week as the entire Hall of Justice building is being disinfected after a report that a litigant died of COVID-19. “However, even with these closures, the NPS (National Prosecution Service) maintained a skeletal force to perform its basic function. Inquest of cases were re-assigned to a nearby jurisdiction,” Mr. Perete said. The DoJ has also allowed the use of the online platform e-inquest for those caught pursuant to warrantless arrests. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

No new COVID-19 cases in Central Visayas as of Monday’s test results


THE NUMBER of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the Central Visayas Region remained at 30 as of the March 30 test results released by the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center Sub-National Laboratory (VSMMC SNL). Of the total, 20 are from Cebu City, including three deaths. Four others, with two deaths, are from Negros Oriental. There are two each from Lapu-Lapu City and Cebu province, and one in Mandaue City. The lone confirmed case in Bohol, a Chinese tourist, has recovered. Department of Health (DoH) Regional Director Jaime S. Bernadas, in a statement Monday afternoon, stressed that the “absence of a new case for today should not cause us to be complacent.” He added, “This does not reflect a decrease in cases or an absence of ongoing transmission in the community. Contact tracing and implementation of quarantine protocols with strict monitoring reduce the risk of further transmission.” All provinces and independent cities in Central Visayas have been implementing community quarantine measures, including banning the entry and exit of non-residents except for identified “essential” sectors such as health workers.

EASTERN VISAYAS
In Eastern Visayas, results from the VSMMC SNL confirmed one new case, the second in the region. The patient is a 68-year old male from Calbayog City with history of travel to Manila. “A surveillance team was dispatched already to do an extensive contact tracing,” DoH Regional Director Minerva P. Molon said in a statement on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the first COVID-19 patient, who is from Northern Samar, had a negative result in the second testing. Ms. Molon said the patient is “in stable condition and is ready for discharge,” but will still be required on home quarantine for 14 days. — Marifi S. Jara

Curfew violators

@STOTOMASMIO

IN STO. TOMAS, Davao del Norte, where a 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew is in effect, apprehended violators will spend the night at the town’s Recreation and Cultural Center where two empty coffins have been set up as a reminder of the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The first batch of violators caught Sunday night was a group of young men who were “under the influence of alcohol” when apprehended. “If the public keeps on violating our protocols on COVID-19, death is imminent for all of us,” said Mart D. Sambalud, municipal information officer. He added that this is “a serious move of the local government to innovate our campaign.” The municipal government said criminal charges will also be filed against violators.

Davao Region COVID-19 cases reach 50

PATIENTS confirmed with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Davao Region has reached 50 as of March 30, the Department of Health regional office reported yesterday. This is the biggest cluster of COVID-19 cases outside Luzon. Of the total, 41 are residents of Davao City, four of whom have recovered while six died. Four patients are from Davao del Norte, and two each from Davao Oriental and Davao del Sur. The lone patient from Davao de Oro, the region’s first recorded case, has recovered.

MORATORIUM
Meanwhile, local government units in the region have joined the business sector’s call for financial institutions to provide reprieve to borrowers amid the COVID-19 outbreak. In a resolution on March 27, the Regional COVID-19 Task Force, joined by the Regional Development and Peace and Order Councils, asked “government and private banking and financial institutions to extend the loan payments for one year for all their clients in Davao Region with outstanding loans and falling due not earlier than March 2020.” The resolution states that a moratorium on loan payments is necessary as measures that have been implemented to stop the spread of the virus “have caused massive disruptions in jobs, businesses, transportation, work, school and leisure among the residents” of the region. The resolution also urged public utilities like power, water, telecommunications, and internet service providers to extend their due dates for three months for bills not earlier than March 2020. The business sector, which earlier sought reprieve on loan payments, welcomed the joint move of the task force and the councils. Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry President John Carlo B. Tria, in a message to BusinessWorld, said “any reprieve from payments will help many businesses that have to deal with the uncertainties brought by COVID-19.” — Carmelito Q. Francisco

Nationwide round-up

Validation result of COVID-19 test kits by UP NIH expected by April 1

THE VALIDATION result of the test kit developed by the University of the Philippines National Institutes for Health (UP NHI) will be submitted by Wednesday, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director General Rolando Enrique D. Domingo said. If approved by the FDA, UP NHI will be allowed to circulate the test kits in the market. “Kung makita natin na ‘yung performance nung (when we see that the performance of the) test kit is at par, as good as the other test kits that are circulating now, then mabibigyan na po natin sila ng (they will be given) permission to market it more widely,” Mr. Domingo said in a radio interview Tuesday. The FDA approved on March 10 the test kit developed by local scientists and issued a Certificate of Exemption to the SARS CoV-2 PCR Detection Kit. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Distribution of cash aid for low-income households being readied


THE DEPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Finance (DoF) are now working on the database of low-income households who will benefit from the Emergency Subsidy Program (ESP) as part of response measures for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. “DoF and DSWD are now finalizing their database,” Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III told reporters by phone message Tuesday. Mr. Sotto was citing Malacañang’s full report early Tuesday evening, a week after Congress approved the measure granting President Rodrigo R. Duterte special powers to address the COVID-19 impact. Under the ESP, low-income households are expected to receive between P5,000 to P8,000 cash assistance, depending on the region, per month for two months. House Speaker Alan Peter S. Cayetano said ESP beneficiaries will need to fill up social amelioration cards. He said aside from the 4.4 million families under the existing 4Ps cash transfer program, DSWD identified another 4.6 million households classified as poor. — Charmaine A. Tadalan and Genshen L. Espedido

SC greenlights filing of complaint, bail via e-mail

THE SUPREME Court has directed trial courts to accept the online filing of complaints and information, and of bail to limit the movement by court users amid the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In Administrative Circular No. 33-2020 issued on March 31, Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta outlines procedures that should be adopted with the online filing system, which will be through “electronic transmission or email.” The executive judges are also ordered to submit a weekly report on their respective court activities to the Office of the Court Administrator, who shall submit regular reports or recommendations to the Court en banc. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

PHL joins UN call for global ceasefire as countries battle COVID-19

THE PHILIPPINES joined 52 other United Nations member states in calling for an immediate global ceasefire amid efforts to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The Philippine Mission to UN in New York said it is concerned on women, children, and all civilians, including the displaced and marginalized, affected by armed conflicts. “These populations are already impacted disproportionately by armed conflict,” the Philippine Mission said in a statement on Monday, NY time. “An immediate global ceasefire would markedly reduce these impacts, allow for much-needed humanitarian assistance and protection, and hopefully diminish the spread of COVID-19.” President Rodrigo R. Duterte had earlier sought a unilateral ceasefire with local communist rebels after he placed the entire Luzon island under an enhanced community quarantine. Communist leaders responded only after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for a global ceasefire. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

New Olympic dateGames now happening from July 23 to Aug. 8, 2021

TOKYO — The postponed Olympic Games will now begin on July 23 next year and run until Aug. 8, the head of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee said on Monday, as the coronavirus pandemic made it impossible to plan and prepare for them properly this year.

The Games were postponed last week — the first such delay in the 124-year history of the modern Olympics. The move was a huge blow for Japan, which invested $13 billion in the run-up to the event and raised $3 billion from domestic sponsors.

Yoshiro Mori, the head of the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee, confirmed the new dates after he made the decision with the International Olympic Committee. Mori said the Paralympic Games would run from Aug. 24–Sept. 5.

“The Tokyo Olympics Games and the successful delivery of these Games will be how we overcome all the problems that the world is facing and that the Olympics could be a symbol for this,” Mori said. “These Games are going to have great historical significance.”

Earlier on Monday, the Games’ chief executive, Toshiro Muto, said the committee was moving “in the direction” of honoring tickets bought for the 2020 Games at the rescheduled event, or providing refunds in case of scheduling changes.

“We want to honor the hopes of all those who purchased the tickets amid high demand,” Muto told a news conference.

It was too early to say what the additional costs of the delay would be, Muto said.

The IOC and Japanese government succumbed to intense pressure from athletes and sporting bodies around the world last Tuesday by agreeing to push back the Games because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The pandemic had already led to many sporting events around the world being delayed or canceled. After weeks of insisting the Olympics would go ahead, organizers bowed to what many said was the inevitable and delayed what is the world’s premier sporting gathering.

Sporting bodies including the World Athletics association, the International Triathlon Union, and FINA, the international swimming federation, all followed up with statements of support for the delay.

The postponement “gives our athletes the time they need to get back into training and competition,” World Athletics said. The association is also working on new dates in 2022 for the World Athletics Championships, it said.

The Athletics and Swimming world championships were scheduled to take place next summer around the new Olympics dates, presenting organizers with potential clashes in timing.

And problems have already arisen in planning for venues for next year, although organizers have yet to be told that they cannot use any facilities, Muto said at the news conference announcing the new date.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics must acknowledge the coronavirus crisis which forced their postponement and incorporate it into next year’s opening ceremony, executive producer Marco Balich told Reuters from his home in Milan.

More than 720,000 people have been infected around the world with about 34,000 deaths and governments are taking ever tougher measures such as lockdowns to try to halt the outbreak and support overburdened medical infrastructure. — Reuters

Mark Magsayo excited to turn a new leaf with MP Promotions

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

HAD HIS flourishing boxing career halted at one point for a year and a half because of contract dispute with his former handlers, undefeated Filipino boxer Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo is now excited to turn a new leaf after signing a deal to be part of MP Promotions last month.

Mr. Magsayo, 24, and a native of Tagbilaran, Bohol, is now girding to have his career humming anew, banking on the leverage that his newly inked partnership with boxing legend Manny Pacquiao and his group would provide.

“I am really excited and thankful for this opportunity that was given to me by my idol Manny (Pacquiao) and sir Sean Gibbons. I want to prove I am worthy of this chance. I will do my best,” said Mr. Magsayo (20-0) in an online correspondence.

Under his deal with MP Promotions, Mr. Magsayo gets to secure fights in the United States with top promoters, including Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions promotion which also handles Mr. Pacquiao’s fights.

He hopes that through it his goal of being a world champion is fast-tracked.

Formerly an ALA Promotions stalwart who held World Boxing Organization and International Boxing Federation titles, Mr. Magsayo said he considered other promotions to be part in after his falling out with ALA but decided to go with MP Promotions, seeing the latter as providing better opportunities for him.

Mr. Magsayo made his return to the ring in April last year following a year-and-a-half hiatus stemming from his contract dispute with ALA.

He defeated Indonesian fighter Erick Deztroyer by way of a fourth-round knockout in said fight before winning over Thai Panya Uthok by unanimous decision in August in Bohol to bag the WBC Asia featherweight championship.

“Me and my team considered other promotions as this time we want the best for me and we wanted to be careful with the terms of the contract. It is a big factor especially I look up to Senator Manny a lot since I started boxing. Having several world champions under his wing as well, I wanted to be one of them. That is my dream. I trust idol Manny and sir Sean can lead me to that,” said Mr. Magsayo, who joins world champions Jerwin Ancajas (IBF Super Flyweight World Champion), John Riel Casimero (WBO Bantamweight World Champion) and Pedro Taduran (IBF Minimumweight World Champion) in MP Promotions.

His first fight with his new group was supposedly on May 16 but because of the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) it had been moved along with other preparations for it.

“I was supposed to be back in LA (Los Angeles) for camp but now I am running two days on one day off like what Coach Freddie (Roach) told me before I went back here. I do shadow-boxing, skipping rope and sit-ups,” said Mr. Magsayo, who was at the Wild Card Gym in LA early this year.

“I am also careful with my food to make sure my weight doesn’t go up that much,” he added.

The Filipino fighter went on to say that what he had gone through in the last few years is helping him in this time of lull because of COVID-19.

“Mentally, honestly the things that happened to me before are helping me during this time of COVID-19 because I learned how to adapt to situations like this. I just have to keep my focus and my discipline to keep training,” he said.

Mr. Magsayo also encouraged his fellow athletes not to lose hope and keep the faith that everything about COVID-19 will soon end and stay with their training regimen despite the obstacles at hand.

“Make the best out of this situation. Train at home and just keep moving. This is only a trial for us and we can beat it together.”

NBA planning players-only NBA 2K tourney

THE NATIONAL Basketball Association has plans for a players-only NBA 2K video game tournament to be shown on ESPN, Yahoo Sports reported Monday evening.

Per the report, the league hopes to launch the event Friday and involve some big-name players. Each team is expected to have a representative, the report added.

The NBA regular season was suspended on March 11 after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19. Almost every other sport in the United States — and many across the world — have been shut down and are expected to remained shut down for some time.

Various esports have continued across the United States, with many moving planned live events into a virtual format. The NBA 2K League — which features 23 teams, including 22 who are affiliated with NBA franchises — has postponed its own season, which was scheduled to start March 24.

The Lakers’ Anthony Davis was chosen for the cover of the latest edition of the game, NBA 2K20, after Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo was on the cover for 2K19. Other recent cover athletes include Kyrie Irving, Paul George, Stephen Curry, James Harden, Kevin Durant and LeBron James.

Making its presence felt

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has effectively shuttered all sporting activities in the country but the sports community is finding ways to make its presence felt, stepping up and doing its share in the fight against the pandemic.

Three weeks since the government saw the need to call for an enhanced community quarantine to limit the spread of COVID-19 and declare a state of public health emergency, various sectors in the country have been chipping in to help alleviate the effects of the respiratory disease, including the land’s sportsmen and women.

Local sports body Philippine Sports Commission, for one, has been very active in the fight against COVID-19, harnessing its resources to help in its own way.

Apart from continuing in its duty of looking after the safety and welfare of the country’s national athletes, the PSC recently offered to open its Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and PhilSports Complex facilities in Manila and Pasig, respectively, to house COVID-19-hit individuals for quarantine to somehow ease congestion in different hospitals.

It also provided more than 200 mattresses for different health facilities in the country to help accommodate more patients.

Collegiate leagues University Athletic Association of the Philippines and National Collegiate Athletic Association have also been active with member schools opening their doors and providing temporary shelter to the homeless amid the ongoing battle with COVID-19.

UAAP and NCAA athletes, too, have been doing their share in providing food packs for their respective schools’ surrounding areas.

Bounty Agro Ventures Inc., parent of Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League supporter and local 3×3 basketball proponent Chooks-to-Go, meanwhile, has been throwing aid to the country’s frontliners — medical workers, law enforcement personnel and other volunteers — by way of food packs.

And it is not only organized sporting bodies which are making things happen as individual athletes themselves have taken their own initiatives, using their celebrity and influence, to help.

Volleyball star Jia Morado, who plays for Creamline in the Premier Volleyball League, auctioned off her jerseys to raise funds in support of the frontliners.

Joining Morado in her cause are Ara Galang (F2 Logistics) and members of the Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors in the Philippine Superliga and collegiate stars Eya Laure and Imee Hernandez of the University of Santo Tomas.

Former Ateneo stars Bea De Leon and Matt and Mike Nieto have thrown assists to their respective communities of Marikina and Cainta with various relief goods that people could use.

The Philippine women’s softball team, for its part, has donated relief goods and food to our frontliners.

In the Philippine Basketball Association, Alaska coach Jeff Cariaso led a fund-raising to help cushion the effects of the COVID-19-induced community quarantine on the livelihood of game-day personnel of the league.

A number of PBA players have contributed to the gathering of funds. This is apart from what the PBA is doing to help its workers.

Some PBA players, too, have used their other passions to make a difference.

Esports enthusiasts June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel, Marc Pingris of Magnolia, Kiefer Ravena of NLEX and Japeth Aguilar of Barangay Ginebra are taking part in a tournament organized by Mineski to raise funds for the UP Medical Foundation in its push against COVID-19.

Other support from the sporting community is coming in the form of words of encouragement and support for the frontliners and the country in general through various social media platforms.

In a battle like the one currently being waged against COVID-19, any support will go a long way and to see the sporting community come on board is truly a welcome sight.

The buzz in sporting arenas and other venues is temporarily put in the back seat, and rightfully so as the bigger noise of fighting the pandemic deserves all the attention right now.

Salute to the local sporting community for what it has done to date and will still be doing. May this push be sustained. Stay strong, Philippines!

 

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

msmurillo@bworldonline.com

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