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Bataan-Cavite bridge reviewed amid ‘implementability’ doubts

THE National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said it is reassessing the costing needed for the proposed Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge due to uncertainty over the project’s “implementability.”

The economic planning agency “is continuing to study the implementability of the project particularly because… we have to revalidate the demand for possible traffic on that bridge given the effects of COVID-19,” NEDA Undersecretary Jonathan L. Uy said at a briefing Thursday, when asked about the status of the project.

Mr. Uy, who also heads the agency’s investment programming group, added that the P175.66-billion project entails large costs relative to the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which will be the main implementing agency.

“The cost of the project is quite huge relative to the budget envelope that public works (DPWH) has, so we are coordinating with the flagship committee together with public works on how we can fast-track the implementation of the project, notwithstanding these immediate concerns,” he said.

Asked for clarification, NEDA said the project remains in the pipeline of infrastructure projects of the government, though it has lost place on the “flagship project” list. The approach of 2022, when the government is due to step down, has led officials to identify “shovel-ready” projects as priorities, possibly raising the completion rate before the administration’s term ends.

The DPWH had not responded to requests for comment at deadline time.

The Asian Development Bank has said it will provide a loan of $1 billion to support construction of the bridge next year.

In January 2020, the NEDA Board, which reviews big-ticket projects, approved the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge, citing its potential to reduce road congestion in Metro Manila.

The bridge as proposed is a 32.15-km, four-lane span over Manila Bay connecting Mariveles, Bataan and Naic, Cavite.

The DPWH signed late last year a P3.03-billion contract for the detailed engineering design of the bridge. The agency expects this to be completed by early 2022.

The bridge is expected to reduce travel time between Cavite and Bataan to 20 to 30 minutes from five hours currently. — Beatrice M. Laforga

Gov’t lists eligible uses of healthcare funds by LGUs

REUTERS

THE National Government has outlined eligible health services and projects that can be financed by local government units (LGUs) from the Special Health Fund (SHF), a component of the Universal Health Care (UHC) program.

The eligible spending items include measures taken by LGUs to deal with public health emergencies, with their usage subject to reporting requirements and tracked in real time.

The Departments of Health (DoH), Budget and Management, Finance and Interior and Local Government, along with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) issued Joint Memorandum Circular 2021-0001 dated Jan. 13 to serve as the guidelines on how the SHF will be allocated, used and monitored by LGUs.

“The SHF shall be used to augment LGU funds for health for the following expenditure items as determined and approved by the P/CHB (provincial or city health boards),” according to the circular listing the supported activities.

Republic Act No. 11223 or the UHC Act authorized a special fund from the pooled income of provincial and city health systems, into which PhilHealth payments will also go. The funds will be managed by provincial and city health boards for LGUs to improve their health systems.

The fund will support health services for populations and individuals, heath system operating costs, investment, and salaries and incentives for healthcare workers.

The circular identified the population-based health services eligible for SHF funding as environmental health services, water quality and sanitation, health promotion programs or campaigns, epidemiology and disease surveillance, disease eradication, and preparedness measures for public health emergencies.

Ambulatory and inpatient care, medicine, and laboratory tests and procedures were classified among the eligible individual-based health services.

The DoH is authorized to add population- or individual-based health services in the future that are eligible for special-fund support.

Operating costs of health systems that may be funded through the SHF are those that supporting the management of such facilities, including the operations of P/CWHS, health boards as well as fuel for ambulances and vehicles used to transport patients, health services, health products and diagnostic specimens.

Fees to accredit and license the facilities and training, capacity-building activities, seminars or conferences conducted to streamline delivery of health services are also supportable by the special fund.

Capital investment eligible for funding must be contained in the LGUs’ health facility development plan and should fall under the category of: health infrastructure, equipment and instruments; information technology and tools for health facilities; ambulances and other vehicles for patient transport; and mobile clinics.

The SHF can support the salaries of additional health workers employed by local health units “until such time that the LGUs have implemented incremental creation of plantilla positions to hire the required number of healthcare workers.” Salaries will be determined based on current law and should not exceed the rates adopted by LGUs.

The fund may also be tapped for health worker incentives, including barangay health workers and barangay nutrition scholars.

Local health boards have been tasked with creating the three-year public investment plan for health to improve LGUs’ health service delivery, as well as the annual operational plan identifying programs for short-term implementation.

The boards will also report the SHF-supported items to the DoH and PhilHealth for monitoring.

The DoH and PhilHealth will create an SHF utilization tracking system enabling real-time collection, consolidation and analysis of how the funds are being used.

The circular will take effect in mid-February or 15 days after its publication Wednesday.

The UHC Act was signed in 2019. — Beatrice M. Laforga

Palace approves two more months of no disconnection for poor power consumers

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte expressed his support for a plan floated by the Department of Energy (DoE) to extend the “no-disconnection policy” for poor electricity consumers by two more months, a Cabinet official said.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei B. Nograles added in an online briefing Thursday that the President backs the extension of so-called “lifeline rates” — basically a subsidy for poor households — until 2051, as contemplated by Congress, which is currently preparing lifeline rate legislation.

“In the cabinet meeting yesterday, the DoE recommended to the President that this ‘no disconnection policy for lifeliners’ be continued… And the president readily agreed given that electricity is a basic necessity our countrymen cannot live without…. Hindi po kayo mapuputulan ng kuryente (Power connections won’t be cut),” Mr. Nograles said.

“Ngayon po ang hinihingi ng ating pangulo sa kongreso ay muli i-extend po ang lifeliners’ benefits from 2021 to 2051. Meron pong mga pending legislation ngayon na nasa House of Representatives at sa Senado at alam naman po natin na itong benefits na ‘to ay mag-e-expire in mid-2021. Kaya kami po ay nakikiusap sa Kongreso na pabilisin na po ang pagpasa ang panukalang batas na ma-extend po ito from 2021 to 2051 (Our president is asking Congress to extend once more lifeliners’ benefits up to 2051. There is pending legislation in the House of Representatives and Senate, and we know that these benefits will expire in the middle of 2021. We are asking Congress to expedite the passage of the law extending these benefits until 2051),” he added.

Two weeks earlier, a measure which sought to extend the lifeline power rate subsidy to low-income consumers was approved by the Senate on third and final reading.

In a statement Thursday, the DoE said Mr. Duterte also backed other measures to assist lifeline consumers, such as an energy efficiency and conservation program, quick restoration of power services, and tapping foreign assistance funds such as the Green Energy Fund and Energy Transition Fund.

“All recommendations brought forth by the Department were approved by the President,” the DoE said in a statement.

Manila Electric Co. Vice-President and Head of Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga said Thursday that the utility will “comply with the government’s directive and will wait for the specific guidelines from the DoE.”

“We would like to assure our customers that we will continue to assist all of them in addressing their billing issues,” he said in a statement issued via Viber.

Last month, Meralco said that it has started serving disconnection notices to users who were falling behind on their payments. Mr. Zaldarriaga said the company will be asking households consuming 201 kilowatt-hours (kWh) or more to settle their arrears in January, while giving those consuming 200 kWh and below until the end of the month to pay.

Meralco’s no-disconnection policy on typical households that consume less than 200 kWh was due to end on Dec. 31, but was extended until the end of January.

Meralco’s controlling stakeholder, Beacon Electric Asset Holdings, Inc., is partly owned by PLDT, Inc., Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has an interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Angelica Y. Yang

OECD cuts PHL growth forecast to 5.9% on weak consumption

THE Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) expects the Philippines to post only a “partial recovery” in 2021, with growth of 5.9%, citing still-weak consumption.

The OECD’s previous forecast for the year was 6.2%, issued in November.

The new forecast was made in its “Economic Outlook for Southeast Asia, China and India 2021: Reallocating Resources for Digitalisation” report released Thursday.

After a record contraction of 9.5% last year, the steepest decline in Southeast Asia, Philippine growth this year is expected to be carried by public investment, while reflecting year-on-year base effects, it said.

“Public investment and net exports are expected to support a partial economic recovery in 2021 (+5.9%), although rising debt costs, declining remittances and the capacity of the government to service debt remain major downside risks to the outlook,” it said.

The OECD said private consumption will continue to be weak this year, since the unemployment rate will likely remain high while remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), which fuel household spending, will remain subdued.

Private consumption was one of the main drags on the economy last year, with the indicator falling 8%. OFW remittances were down 0.8% at the end of November.

Compared to the other large regional economies, known collectively as the ASEAN-5, the Philippines’ projected growth this year is in the middle of the pack. The growth leaders are expected to be Vietnam and Malaysia, which are both projected to grow in the 7% range this year, while Thailand and Indonesia are at bottom with projected growth of 4% and 4.5%, respectively.

The OECD’s Philippine GDP (gross domestic product) estimate for 2021 is below the average of 7.4% for Emerging Asia but higher than the 5.1% projected for all 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, known as the ASEAN 10.

“In many countries in Emerging Asia, an uncertain situation on the health front and limited policy space hinder recovery prospects for 2021,” the OECD said.

It said the Philippines’ second fiscal stimulus law worth P165.5 billion will help mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic for the short term.

However, possible delays in spending and program implementation pose downside risk, as seen in the slow distribution of cash handouts at the height of the lockdown in April.

“The ‘Build, Build, Build’ public and private infrastructure investment program is still perceived as the main driver of economic recovery,” the OECD said.

The government allocated P1.2 trillion for infrastructure programs in its P4.5-trillion budget this year to generate jobs and fast-track the completion of big-ticket projects before the administration ends its six-year term in mid-2022.

The OECD flagged the rising cost of debt and the government’s ability to handle maturing debt as a downside risk to its outlook.

However, it said sovereign risk has been mitigated because the debt portfolio is largely composed of domestic loans and the majority consists of long-term debt.

The National Government’s outstanding debt hit P9.8 trillion at the end of 2020, equivalent to 54.5% of GDP. The breakdown is 68% domestic and 32% foreign debt.

“The fiscal situation is likely to remain challenging in Emerging Asian countries. Concerns over the ability of governments to restore sustainable public finances over the medium to long term are likely to persist. Increasing debt-to-GDP ratios suggest that sufficiently large primary surpluses need to be created and then maintained by governments over an extended period to put the debt ratio on a decreasing track,” it said.

The OECD expects the Philippines’ general government fiscal deficit to ease to 7.8% of GDP this year from the estimated 8.2% ratio last year and 0.1% in 2019.

Meanwhile, the current account is expected to post a deficit equivalent to 1.2% of GDP this year, from the estimated 0.1% surplus in 2020. — Beatrice M. Laforga

NREB confirms higher quota for contracted RE power

THE National Renewable Energy Board (NREB) confirmed Thursday that it recommended an increase the minimum level of electricity contracted from renewable energy (RE) developers to 2.5% from the current 1%.

“Yes. NREB has made that recommendation to the DoE (Department of Energy) as part of our proposed 2021-2040 NREP (National Renewable Energy Program),” NREB Chairperson Monalisa C. Dimalanta told BusinessWorld via mobile message.

Earlier, AC Energy Corp. President and Chief Executive Officer Eric T. Francia told reporters at a briefing that the NREB “had already made their position known about the increase of the renewable portfolio standards (RPS) increment to 2.5%.”

“Based on our estimates, the RPS will enable around 2 gigawatts of renewables starting in 2023… I think NREB has already made its position known — which we fully support — that (regarding) the RPS, the increment of 1% would need to be increased to 2.5%.” Mr. Francia said Monday.

The RPS program requires distribution utilities to source an agreed portion of their supply from qualified RE facilities.      

Ms. Dimalanta added that the department hopes to release the updated NREP during the first quarter, adding that a public consultation is scheduled this month.

The NREP outlines the framework and building blocks needed to help the country achieve its RE goals as required under the Renewable Energy Act of 2008.

In July, Ms. Dimalanta said that the NREB assigned a team monitoring the implementation of the RPS program to discuss the increase of the RE share, citing the need for an increase if the Philippines is to hit its RE target by 2030.

AC Energy’s Mr. Francia has said that AC Energy is preparing for the green energy auction which is scheduled to happen in June.

“We’re gearing up for the auction that DoE is preparing,” he said, adding that the upcoming auction will support the implementation of RPS.

In July, the DoE released a circular on how the green energy auction will be conducted, to help power providers comply with the RPS.

Biomass, wind, solar, hydro, ocean, geothermal, and waste-to-energy plants in on-grid areas are eligible for the auction if they are covered by the RPS rules and were commercially operating since the RE Act of 2008 took effect.

Energy Assistant Secretary Redentor E. Delola has said that the department is still in the process of determining the volume that distribution utilities are planning to buy at auction. — Angelica Y. Yang

MRT-7 North Ave. to Sacred Heart, Caloocan seen running by Dec.

THE Transportation department said the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7), which is being built by San Miguel Corp. (SMC), is expected to be ready for partial operations between North Avenue Station in Quezon City and Sacred Heart Station in Caloocan City by December.

“Partial operations by Dec. 2021: North Avenue Station to Sacred Heart Station,” Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope O. Libiran told BusinessWorld by phone message Thursday.

MRT-7’s depot along Quirino Highway in Barangay Lagro, Quezon City is also expected to be operational by December, she added.

According to its website, the Public-Private Partnership Center (PPP Center) said the P63-billion project involves the financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance of the 23-kilometer elevated railway line, with 14 stations between San Jose del Monte, Bulacan and MRT-3 North Avenue in Quezon City.

It also covers the construction of a 22-kilometer road from the Bocaue Interchange of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) to the intermodal terminal in Tala, Quezon City.

“The road component will divert northern provincial buses operation to San Jose del Monte, thereby decongesting EDSA,” the PPP Center said.

SMC announced in December that it had injected P147.81 million more in its infrastructure unit to support the project.

SMC Mass Rail Transit 7, Inc. is undertaking the project along with the Transportation department.

SMC shares closed 0.70% higher at P128.90 Thursday. — Arjay L. Balinbin

PCC clears semiconductor firms’ merger

THE Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has approved the merger of two US semiconductor makers after Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) acquired Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. (Maxim).

The merger will be done through Magneto Corp. (Magneto), a wholly-owned subsidiary of ADI, and Maxim. Maxim will emerge from the merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of ADI, the PCC said in a statement Thursday.

The commission found that the transaction does not result in a substantial reduction of competition in semiconductors, due to the deal’s global nature.

“PCC found that the parties’ subsidiaries in the Philippines have limited business presence in the local market, where they export all their output to their respective parent entities and affiliates outside the country.”

Maxim shareholders will receive 0.630 of a share of ADI common stock for each share of Maxim common stock held before the closing of the transaction. ADI shareholders will own around 69% of the merged entity, while Maxim shareholders will own 31%.

The transaction values Maxim at around $21 billion, based on its fully diluted shares outstanding and ADI’s share price as of July 10.

ADI and Maxim operations in the Philippines include fabrication, testing, and assembly for export. Both are listed on the NASDAQ. — Jenina P. Ibañez

PHL 5G speed gains vs 4G among world’s largest

THE Philippines posted the second-largest gain globally in terms of 5G download speeds relative to 4G in the fourth quarter, according to UK mobile analytics company Opensignal Ltd.

“Emerging markets see some of the biggest jumps in mobile experience with 5G. In Thailand, our mobile users see 5G download speed 13.4 times faster than the 4G download speed — the greatest increase in the world — with the Philippines second with 10.1 times and Saudi Arabia third,” Opensignal said in a report issued Wednesday.

Opensignal’s download speed measure represents the average speed using an active 5G connection.

The Philippines had the largest gains in terms of 5G video experience, which topped 4G equivalents by about 40%.

Thailand, whose 5G video experience was 29% better than its 4G video experience, was second, followed by Hong Kong, which posted a 14% improvement.

Fitch Ratings has said emerging markets in the Asia-Pacific region like the Philippines are “likely to pace 5G investments over the next few years to support cash flow, and enable investments to meet proven demand.”

Fitch expects operating cash flow to significantly “lag behind 5G investments, keeping free cash flow (FCF) constrained over the next three years.”

The near-term boost from 5G revenue is unlikely to be significant, it said, citing a lack of “compelling” applications that differentiate 5G services from 4G.

PLDT, Inc. Chief Revenue Officer Alfredo S. Panlilio said at a briefing in October that the telco might set a higher budget for 5G in 2021.

PLDT’s wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc. launched its 5G service commercially in July last year.

Globe Telecom, Inc. is also rolling out more 5G-covered areas this year. Globe’s 5G is currently available in 1,045 areas across the country.

PLDT’s 5G network is available in Makati City, New Clark City in Pampanga, and the Araneta district of Quezon City.

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Arjay L. Balinbin

 

Top 10 5G economies

IP regulator calls for stronger protections to drive innovation

THE Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) said legislators preparing the Intellectual Property Code must increase protections for IP in order to provide a favorable environment for innovation, including the development of startups.

In a hearing at the House of Representatives Thursday, IPOPHL Director-General Rowel S. Barba asked legislators to “create an enabling environment that will promote and steer creativity, innovation, and development for not only large companies but also for micro, small, medium enterprises, including startups.”

The House Committee on Trade and Industry was evaluating House Bills No. 1597 and 8062 at the hearing.

The bills call for the amendment of intellectual property law, which Mr. Barba said is needed to shorten the Philippine economy’s digitization transition.

“The international legal framework, norms, standards and best practices are also changing and a robust, effective, modern, and forward-looking intellectual property legal system will make the Philippines a more attractive investment destination, valuing intellectual property creation, utilization, and commercialization,” he said.

IPOPHL said it supports increased penalties for trademark and copyright infringement to deter piracy and other forms of IP theft.

Both bills call for the extension of the renewal period for trademark registration to 15 years from 10, which IPOPHL did not support.

“It will be more practical for stakeholders, local and foreign, to remember only one period,” he said, adding that most countries allow 10 years to protect trademarks. — Gillian M. Cortez

Manila considering ending visa privilege for Chinese nationals

MANILA is considering ending a program giving Chinese nationals a visa upon arrival in Manila due to health and human trafficking concerns, according to a Philippine envoy.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is against this particular scheme,” Assistant Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro told senators at a  hearing on Thursday. “We want to terminate it as soon as the appropriate time comes.”

The government suspended the automatic visa program in January last year amid a coronavirus pandemic.

The Senate foreign relations committee is investigating the automatic visa policy after reports that some Chinese were being trafficked to work at online gaming companies in the Philippines.

Several Immigration officials had also been suspended after they were found to have profited from the scheme.

The Philippines last month filed a diplomatic protest against China after it passed a law allowing its coast guard to fire at foreign vessels in the South China Sea.

The presidential palace has said the use of force is prohibited under international law.

Presidential spokesman Harry L. Roque had said President Rodrigo R. Duterte wanted claimants to disputed areas in the South China Sea to finish a proposed code of conduct and adhere to it to ease tensions.

The Philippine Coast Guard would probably request for more surveillance ships, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei B. Nograles told a televised news briefing on Thursday.

Senator Risa N. Hontiveros-Baraquel, one of the lawmakers who exposed the corruption at the country’s airports, said she would seek to end the visa upon arrival program after her women committee finishes its own separate probe.

“I will recommend that we scrap the visa upon arrival program so Chinese nationals won’t get special treatment,” she said in Filipino at Thursday’s hearing. She also said “undesirable aliens” had managed to come in through the program.

The visa upon arrival program started in 2017 under a circular issued by then Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime H. Morente said the circular, issued in consultation with former Tourism Secretary Wanda T. Teo, was meant to promote local tourism. Filipinos don’t enjoy the privilege in China.

Ms. Baraquel has filed a resolution seeking to ban offshore gambling operators in the Philippines after the companies — most of them Chinese-owned and employ their own citizens — allegedly failed to pay taxes.

The lawmaker said President Rodrigo R. Duterte, who has sought closer trade and investment ties with China, should think of ways to address joblessness instead of allowing the gaming operators to reopen.

Ms. Baraquel earlier said about 70,000 Chinese nationals were illegally employed by these gaming companies.

HELICOPTERS
Meanwhile, the Philippine military will buy 15 more Black Hawk helicopters — lower than the original target of 55 units — to help patrol its islands amid a coronavirus pandemic, according to the presidential palace.

“That number has been managed and reduced to 15 owing to the challenges brought by the pandemic,” Mr. Nograles told an online news briefing.

The 15 units were only “indicative” and could change depending on the availability of funds, he added.

The helicopters would address the deficiency in heavy-lift helicopters, Mr. Nograles said, noting that the military had required 76 units.

Black Hawk helicopters, which are considered as a troop carrier and logistical support aircraft, are made by American manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., according to the ArmyTechnology website.

The helicopter can also be used in carrying out executive transport missions such as medical evacuation, command and control, search and rescue, armed escort, and electronic warfare, it said.

Mr. Duterte ordered the decommissioning of all Huey helicopters in the Philippine Air Force inventory due to their frequent involvement in deadly crashes, he said.

An Air Force Huey crashed last month in the mountains of Bukidnon province, killing five soldiers and two members of the local militia.

“It was the fourth such crash since July and the President wants to end all these tragic deaths,” Mr. Nograles said. “Our servicemen and their families deserve better.”

He said a supply agreement was expected to be signed before Mr. Duterte’s six-year term ends in 2022.

The military in November took delivery of 16 Black Hawk helicopters from a Polish unit of US defense and security company Lockheed Martin.

The choppers would be used to transport military personnel and cargo, and for emergency evacuation and disaster relief operations and aerial reconnaissance. — Charmaine A. Tadalan and Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Janssen clinical trials may start this week — DoST

JANSSEN Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson will start clinical trials of its coronavirus vaccine in the Philippines this week, according to the Department of Science and Technology (DoST).

“It looks like Janssen will be first and it will start within this week,” DoST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña told a televised news briefing in mixed English and Filipino on Thursday.

The local Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Janssen’s clinical trial application in December.

A clinical trial seeks to strengthen drugmakers’ data-gathering on the efficacy of their vaccines and is considered as the final step for mass rollout.

Mr. de la Peña said the clinical trials for vaccines developed by Chinese drug makers Sinovac Biotech Ltd. and Clover Biopharmaceuticals would start either this month or in March.

The DoST earlier said the clinical trials of Janssen vaccines would be held in Makati City, Laguna, Iloilo City and Bacolod City.

Clover will hold its clinical trials in Quezon City, Makati, Manila, Taguig, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Calamba, Laguna and Dasmariñas in Cavite province, it said. Sinovac will hold trials in Quezon City, Marikina, Pasay and Laguna.

The Department of Health (DoH) reported 1,590 cases on Thursday, bringing the total to 531,699. The death toll rose by 55 to 10,997, while recoveries climbed by 249 to 487,927, it said in a bulletin.

There were 32,775 active cases, 88.9% of which were mild, 5.9% did not show symptoms, 2.4% were critical, 2.3% were severe and 0.53% were moderate.

DoH said nine duplicates had been removed from the tally, while 41 recovered cases were reclassified as deaths. Two laboratories failed to submit their data on Feb. 3.

About 7.5 million Filipinos have been tested for the coronavirus as of Feb. 2, according to DoH’s tracker website.

The coronavirus has sickened about 104.9 million and killed about 2.3 million people worldwide, according to the Worldometers website, citing various sources including data from the World Health Organization (WHO).

About 76.7 million people have recovered, it said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it would consider a plan for the Philippines to join a global push to suspend intellectual property rules to ensure access to coronavirus vaccines.

The proposal seeks to waive provisions on copyright, patents and the protection of undisclosed information under the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights.

“I’ll think about it but right now, I will not instinctively join,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. told a Senate hearing on Thursday.

He said the agency would first study whether drug makers or governments were hindering access to vaccines.

“Are governments compelling the manufacturers under their jurisdiction to reserve the vast output of their manufacturing capacity for their own population?” He asked. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas, Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza and Charmaine A. Tadalan

Gov’t told to address underspending amid COVID-19 pandemic

THE GOVERNMENT should look at underspending issues before it starts talks of a third stimulus package to help sectors hit by a coronavirus pandemic, according to a senator.

“The government should look at the first step in spending the funds,” Senator Francis N. Pangilinan told an online news briefing in Filipino on Thursday.

The senator noted that the Agriculture department had only spent a quarter of its P24-billion budget under the government’s second stimulus package as of December.

The law, which granted up to P165 billion worth of assistance to various sectors, expired on December 19. Congress later extended the law for six more months until June 30.

A third stimulus package has been filed in both Houses of Congress seeking an additional P485 billion in assistance.

Mr. Pangilinan said he would file a resolution seeking to look into the underspending of government funds, particularly those meant to help the government fight the pandemic.

He also urged the Executive branch to form an inter-agency committee that will monitor underspending and come up with plans to hasten expenditure.

“We intend to file a separate resolution to look at the spending,” he said. “What can be done to hasten the spending? What targets should be put in place?”

The Budget Department earlier said it had released P109.15 billion under the second stimulus package as of Dec. 29. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

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