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Virus cases top 307,000; lockdown basis changed

THE Department of Health (DoH) reported 3,073 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections on Monday, bringing the total to 307,288.

The death toll rose by 37 to 5,381, while recoveries increased by 163 to 252,665, it said in a bulletin. There were 49,242 active cases, 86.4% of which were mild, 8.7% did not show symptoms, 1.5% were severe and 3.4% were critical, the agency said.

Metro Manila reported the highest number of cases with 1,158, followed by Cavite with 225, Laguna with 203, Rizal with 173 and Batangas with 169.

Of the new deaths, 21 came from Western Visayas, eight from Metro Manila, four from the Calabarzon region and two from Soccsksargen.

Central Luzon and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) reported one death each.

More than 3.4 million individuals have been tested for the coronavirus, DoH said.

The coronavirus death rate was at 1.75%, lower than 2.99% globally. The infection rate was at 10.32%, higher than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) less than 5% benchmark, it added.

The reproduction number of the virus was at 1.001, which means one person can infect another. It takes 11.36 days for cases to double and 16.22 days for deaths to double, DoH said.

Meanwhile, DoH said it would reclassify community quarantines based on a so-called two-week attack rate of the virus. It used to recommend lockdown restrictions based on the doubling rate of cases and deaths.

Under the new setup, the growth rate will be determined by comparing cases every two weeks, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire told an online news briefing. “This is more sensitive because we see a true picture of the community.”

Meanwhile, Health authorities said the public should continue practicing health standards despite the slowing trend in infections.

The weekly average has gone down by as many as 1,200 cases, Ms. Vergeire said. Some areas of the country were still experiencing a surge, she added.

“We can’t be complacent at this point,” she said. “We still need to be vigilant.”

Ms. Vergeire traced the slowing trend to the creation of a hospital command center that strengthened the referral network of hospitals, and a program that encouraged people who tested positive to stay at quarantine facilities.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte kept Metro Manila under a general community quarantine until the end of the month, along with the provinces of Bulacan and Batangas and the cities of Tacloban and Bacolod amid the pandemic.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, the head of the national task force had said the Philippines was seeking to flatten the curve by the end of September.

In epidemiology, the idea of slowing a virus spread so that fewer people need to seek treatment at a time is known as flattening the curve.

The curve researchers are talking about refers to the projected number of people who will get infected over time.

The coronavirus has sickened 33.3 million and killed more than a million people worldwide, according to the Worldometers website, citing various sources including data from the World Health Organization (WHO).

About 25 million people have recovered from the virus, it said. It added that active cases stood at 7.7 million, 1% of which or 65,005 were either serious or critical, according to the website.

The United States had the most infections at 7.3 million, followed by India with 6.1 million and Brazil with 4.7 million. The US also had the most deaths at 209,453, Brazil had 141,776 and India had 95,574. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas and Gillian M. Cortez

NBI, Immigration officials in airport scheme indicted

GOVERNMENT prosecutors have indicted a couple of officials from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Bureau of Immigration (BI) for corruption in connection with the illegal entry of foreign nationals for a fee.

In a resolution, the Justice department charged the brothers — one was an NBI legal assistance chief and the other an employee of the Immigration bureau — for graft and extortion.

The agency filed the charges in a Manila trial court on Friday, Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Anthony D. Fadullon said in a statement. The cases are bailable, he added.

A bail of P100,000 each was set for the extortion charge and P90,000 each for graft. The brothers were arrested last week and the complaints were filed by government agents on Wednesday.

The two were accused of accepting bribes from other officials tagged in the money-making scheme involving foreigners at the international airport in Manila.

State agents early this month filed a corruption complaint against 19 Immigration officials and employees involved in the scheme that allowed foreigners to enter the country even without the required documents.

Senator Risa N. Hontiveros-Baraquel at the height of the Senate investigation this year showed a video of incoming Chinese nationals being escorted to an office at the international airport in Manila.

She also showed screenshots of Viber messages among Immigration officers discussing the bribery scheme, as well as a worksheet containing the P10,000 paid by each of the tourists.

An immigration officer earlier told a Senate committee some blacklisted foreigners had been granted entry for as much as P200,000.

The Immigration bureau earlier asked the Justice department and NBI to probe corrupt practices at the airport, including human trafficking and escort services.

Immigration officials have denied knowledge of the illegal scheme.

Ms. Baraquel had urged the government of President Rodrigo R. Duterte to deport Chinese criminals with links to offshore gaming companies here and who bribed their way into the country.

She cited reports that $447 million (P22.68 billion) had entered the country from September last year to February, half of which was traced to Chinese nationals.

Senator Richard J. Gordon earlier claimed Chinese nationals had brought in more than $160 million in cash into the country since December, and raised the possibility of money laundering activities.

He said Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) were probably being used as fronts for Chinese spies.

The Immigration bureau earlier said it had revamped workers at Terminals 1 to 3 of the international airport in Manila after the “recent resurgence of unauthorized activities and irregularities” there.

The agency relieved 19 officials and employees allegedly involved in a bribery scheme that allowed the illegal entry of Chinese nationals who end up working in offshore gaming companies here. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Palace: Duterte not interested in term extension

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte is not interested in a term extension, which could only be done with a change in the 1987 Constitution, his spokesman said on Monday.

“The President is not interested in extending his term,” presidential spokesman Harry L. Roque told an online news briefing. “He leaves it to the Filipino people, the sovereign people to decide if they want to amend the Constitution to postpone the elections.”

Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel M. Arroyo asked election officials last week to consider deferring the national elections less than two years from now, which effectively extends President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s six-year term, if the coronavirus pandemic drags on.

Mr. Arroyo, son of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who is an ally of Mr. Duterte, told a House of Representatives budget hearing that coronavirus fears might affect voter turnout.

Commission on Elections Chairman Sheriff M. Abas told the same briefing there were no plans to postpone the 2022 elections since preparations were under way. Health protocols would be imposed and candidates may file their certificates of candidacy online, he added. The six-year term of Mr. Duterte, who is barred by law from seeking reelection, will end in 2022.

Mr. Duterte in past speeches said he was looking forward to the end of his term in 2022.

Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas earlier said she and other minority lawmakers would oppose any moves to postpone the elections.

The 1987 Constitution, the fruit of an uprising that ended the dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos’s two-decade rule, bars term extensions, she said. — Gillian M. Cortez

Anti-child porn efforts hampered by conflicts in law — PLDT

PLDT, Inc. and its wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc. on Monday said conflicting laws prevent them from doing more to protect children on the internet.

“Some provisions in the Anti-Child Pornography Law are holding us back because they encroach on the rights of citizens and contradict existing laws,” Roy Cecil D. Ibay, Smart vice president for Legal and Regulatory Affairs, said in a statement.

He cited Republic Act 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and RA 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Law.

The law mandates internet service providers to actively monitor and block any material that promotes child pornography passing through their servers, the companies said. It also orders them to install software that will filter out these illicit content.

But it noted in a position paper submitted to the Justice department that this contradicts clause that says “Nothing in this section may be construed to require an ISP to engage in the monitoring of any user, subscriber or customer or the content of any communication of any such person.”

The PLDT group said information about a message’s origin, destination, route and size are “considered property, thus they should be protected against unreasonable searches and seizures under the Bill of Rights.”

“Likewise, the Constitution also guarantees privacy of communication,” it added.

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

Regional Updates (09/28/20)

Abu Sayyaf leader’s right-hand man arrested in Zamboanga City

THE RIGHT-HAND man of the local terrorist group Abu Sayyaf’s leader was arrested Sunday in Zamboanga City, the police reported. Police chief Lt. Gen. Camilo P. Cascolan, in a briefing Monday, said Hashim Saripada, assistant of Abu Sayyaf leader Mundi Sawadjaan, was caught following monitoring of his movements from the island province of Sulu, the group’s known stronghold. Mr. Saripada plays a key role in planning and operations as well as a trained bomb-maker. The police chief said they see the Abu Sayyaf’s terror activities now significantly hampered. “This will be a very big blow on him (Sawadjaan)… Most of his planned activities will no longer push through, and he knows that he is being monitored by all intelligence and anti-terrorism units,” Mr. Cascolan said. He added that local government leaders and community members are closely working with security forces by providing leads and other information. The Abu Sayyaf, which first became notorious for kidnap-for-ranson activities, pledged allegiance to the extremist Islamic State and has since been involved in terror activities such as bombings. The latest was carried out on August 24 by two women suicide bombers in Sulu’s capital Jolo, leaving 14 fatalities including soldiers, police, and civilians. Another 75 were wounded. — MSJ

Mati City fish port gets regional council nod, but 5-ha reclamation must meet requirements

THE PROPOSED fish port project in Mati City has been endorsed by the Davao Regional Development Council, but the reclamation component must pass requirements to ensure the protection of Pujada Bay where it will be located. The council, in a statement, said the endorsement was approved during the quarterly meeting held September 16, and will be submitted to the  Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) “subject to the submission of all required documents.” Pujada Bay was declared a marine protected area in 1994, and was validated earlier this year by the Most Beautiful Bays in the World Association as part of its list. Any reclamation activity in the bay must pass conditions under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) law. The council also cited requirements by the Philippine Reclamation Authority. Local officials met with the PFDA in July to discuss the possible funding of the port’s construction, estimated to cost P150-million.

Nationwide round-up

Early voting for senior citizens, PWDs pushed

A PROPOSED law that will allow senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWD) to cast their ballots earlier than the scheduled voting day is being pushed for approval before the next elections in 2022.

“The committee on suffrage has already approved our substitute bill and is now at the appropriations committee for its budgetary provision. We hope that Congress could approve the bill in time for its implementation for the next combined presidential-congressional-local elections in May 2022,” Cagayan De Oro Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez said.

Under House Bill 2839, seniors, or those 60 years old and above, and PWDs can avail of early voting privileges through accessible establishments to be set up by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) within seven working days before the actual election day.

Other agencies such as the National Council on Disability Affairs, Commission on Human Rights, Department of Health, Department of Interior and Local Government, and local government units will also be mandated to create a registration system “that shall allow senior citizens and PWDs to register and opt for early voting in order to improve their voting experience.”

Comelec Commissioner Rene V. Sarmiento earlier said that they support legislative measures on early voting.

Meanwhile, 250,000 voter registrations have so far been recorded since the September 1 reopening, according to Comelec Spokesperson James B. Jimenez.

In a briefing on Monday, Mr. Jimenez said this turnout is lower than in previous registration periods due to continued mobility restrictions nationwide.

“(T)hat’s expected kasi sa kasagsagan pa tayo ng pandemya (because we are still at the height of a pandemic). In the last three to four weeks, umabot tayo sa (we reached) 250,000 transactions processed nationwide,” he said, noting that number would have just covered the National Capital Region (NCR) in past registration periods.

He added that they expect the number to pick up slowly.

Voter registration for the 2022 elections began last January but was suspended mid-March following lockdowns. Voter registration will be open until September 30, 2021. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza and Gillian M. Cortez 

Lawmaker appeals to banks, e-payment firms to defer online transaction fees

A LAWMAKER on Monday appealed to the country’s biggest banks and financial technology companies to defer imposing fees for online fund transfers “at least until the end of the year.”

“The pandemic is not yet over and a lot of people are still suffering from its effects, thus it is only proper for these banks to continue providing relief to their distressed clients by extending their waiver of fees for online fund transfers,” Bagong Henerasyon Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy said in a statement on Monday.

According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), only eight banks have agreed to suspend the fees for the use of their Instapay and PESONet digital channels until the end of the year, while 10 other banks, mostly the biggest in the country, are waiving fees only until September 30 as previously announced.

The fees were waived starting mid-March as lockdowns and other mobility restrictions were imposed by government to mitigate the coronavirus outbreak.

The financial institutions resuming online transaction fees by October 1 are BDO Unibank Inc., Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co., Bank of the Philippine Islands, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., China Banking Corp., China Bank Savings, Bank of Commerce, Robinsons Bank, Philippine Savings Bank, and Philippine National Bank.

Mobile wallet GCASH has also announced that it will start charging its users P15 per bank transfer starting Oct. 1.

“If smaller banks can afford to forgo income from fund transfer fees, I don’t see any reason why large banks could not do the same,” Ms. Herrera said. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Duterte wants to see violators of ease of doing business punished, says Zubiri

PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte wants public officials immediately punished for obstructing or failing to implement the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) law, a senator said on Monday.

“I think he wants to see more punitive actions. I think the President wants to see more cases, more people suspended,” Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri told the Trade department.

“The way it was told to us by the senate president is, wala siyang nakikitang nangyayare sa batas (he doesn’t see the law being implemented).”

The EoDB, contained under Republic Act 11032, is intended to streamline and speed up government services.

Mr. Duterte recently consulted Congress leaders for possible amendments to the law to further streamline processes in securing documents amid the coronavirus pandemic.

This prompted senators to file a bill granting Mr. Duterte special powers to expedite permit processing, which will be tackled on Tuesday at the committee on civil service committee.

“The President complained about the EoDB problem in the Philippines. I’m sure there were several complaints that reached his desk,” Mr. Zubiri said.

Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, on the other hand, said they are not aware of such complaints and that the Department of Trade and Industry has filed cases against agencies that failed to improve their systems.

“We were not made aware of those complaints that reached the President,” Mr. Lopez said.

Those found to have failed in implementing the “required improvement,” he added, are facing charges. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

DTI’s Lopez backs foreign ownership limits for small construction firms

TRADE Secretary Ramon M. Lopez is seeking to retain restrictions on foreign ownership for smaller businesses in the construction sector.

A recent Supreme Court ruling reduced restrictions on foreign entities in the construction industry, voiding the nationality requirements in contractor licensing rules set by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB).

The case was based on the board’s denial of Manila Water Co.’s application to accredit its foreign contractors.

Mr. Lopez, who chairs the board of the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines, said the ruling would encourage more foreign investment.

However, he said contracting businesses with capital of less than P100 million should be reserved for Filipino ownership.

For micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, “we can still hopefully give a certain level (reserved) for Filipinos,” he said at a Senate budget hearing Monday.

“But the large (businesses) obviously will be open to more competition and allow more foreign players… the other concern… is also guaranteeing the work and having traceability and we can run after the contractor (if there are problems),” he added.

Persons licensed with the PCAB would be able to practice construction contracting in the Philippines, regardless of citizenship or nationality, under House Bill (HB) No. 7337.

HB 7337 seeks to amend Republic Act (RA) 4556 or the Contractors’ License Law.

The Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 4556 limits construction industry business ownership to Filipinos, approving licenses to contractors that are either Filipino sole proprietorships or 60% Filipino-owned.

House Committee on Trade and Industry Chair and Valenzuela representative Weslie T. Gatchalian in his sponsorship speech for HB 7337 said that the implementing rules do not promote competition, creating barriers for foreign contractors.

But Minority Leader Bienvenido M. Abante, Jr. said that the unregulated entry of foreign contractors would hurt small and medium-sized Filipino contractors, and could lead to a decline in job opportunities for Filipinos.

The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) in a statement on Sept. 15 supported the Supreme Court ruling.

“With the regulatory barrier struck down, competition among contractors should fall squarely on merit and not based on undue advantage based on nationality alone,” the commission said.

The decision could encourage the entry of more contractors that price their products competitively and offer more options to consumers, PCC added.

Mr. Lopez said that the private sector is working on an appeal for reconsideration of the Supreme Court ruling. — Jenina P. Ibañez

Legislator backs more budget support for failing, closed small businesses

A MINORITY legislator said Monday she supports measures within the national budget providing credit access to help revive faltering or closed small businesses, in the interest of minimizing job losses.

Marikina Representative Stella Luz A. Quimbo, speaking in a plenary session on the proposed P4.5-trillion budget for 2021, said she backs more credit mediation services for micro, small, and medium enterprises.

“We should use our borrowings for businesses which have shut down, to help them start all over again. We should use borrowing for our declining businesses, to avoid job losses” she said in English and Filipino.

Ms. Quimbo said the government must take advantage of the country’s credit rating to borrow funds for stimulus programs, especially for businesses.

Moody’s Investors Service affirmed the country’s BAA2 credit rating in July with a stable outlook.

The country needs to return to pre-pandemic levels of performance by next year, with businesses resuming full operations, Ms. Quimbo said.

Meanwhile, House Ways and Means Chairman and Albay Representative Jose Ma. Clemente S. Salceda backed a further set of recovery programs similar to Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan II), or Republic Act No. 11494.

He said, however, that it is a “judgement call” whether to borrow more for stimulus programs, saying that the Philippines can only go as far as borrowing the equivalent of 9% of gross domestic product (GDP).

“It is a judgment call for the Duterte government. The bottom line: it is a judgement call,” he said.

Mr. Salceda said increased investment in infrastructure under the proposed 2021 budget, which he described as “unprecedented,” will have multiplier effects that can make the economy more productive.

The Build, Build, Build program is poised to receive P1.107 trillion under the proposed budget, which is equivalent to 5.4% of GDP. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

MSMEs say operations still limited despite easing lockdowns

REUTERS

MOST MICRO, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) reported that they remain unable to fully reopen or are still closed even after lockdown restrictions were eased, citing weak demand, mobility issues and lack of funds, according to a survey by the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Philippine office.

In its second MSME Value Chain Rapid Response survey, the UNDP said 49% of MSMEs remain closed while 38% others are at reduced capacity, out of 285 respondents surveyed between June 13 and July 23, or about two to six weeks after the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) was lifted in Metro Manila and other key areas.

Around 4% had shut down their businesses permanently, 5% reported normal capacity operations, while 4% expanded.

“The persistently sluggish demand from consumers, shortage in transportation and logistics issues, as well as lack of financing were reported as the primary hurdles in resuming business operations,” according to the report, which was released Monday.

The UNDP said micro and small enterprises reported the lowest share of firms still operating at reduced capacity and the highest share of closures, whether temporary or permanent. No medium-sized or large companies said they closed permanently but many are operating at a lower capacity.

“This suggested that some enterprises, due to relatively smaller operations, were not able to survive the adverse impacts of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) and unlike medium and large enterprises, micro and small enterprises may not have had the capacity to continue operation at a decreased capacity, thereby opting for temporary closure of their businesses,” it said.

The most affected businesses were those in the accommodation sector after all MSMEs surveyed in the industry reported declines in average monthly earnings.

Some 26% started laying off employees while 36% managed to keep all workers and pay full salaries.

MSMEs have embraced digital platforms at a rate of 62%, while 35% said they diversified their product and service offerings, 31% adopted cashless payments and 29% resorted to remote work.

It said most businesses reported the need for assistance and 60% say they have received none. They said access to credit, tax breaks, and deferred loan payments would help them the most.

“We are in the middle of a once-in-a-lifetime emergency. I know you are worried about your health, scared to open your businesses. But for the sake of our families and ourselves, we have to take that step and reopen while maintaining safety standards. We have to find a way to keep going as long as we need to,” Butch Meily, president of Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation was quoted as saying in a statement Monday.

The second survey follows an earlier study in which the UNDP asked 315 respondents in the first half of May about their status during ECQ.

Around 72% of respondents in the latest survey were micro enterprises, 18% were small businesses, 7% were medium-sized while 3% were large companies.

Most of the country was placed under ECQ from mid-March to May, but lockdown restrictions have been gradually eased.

“One of the most evident impacts of COVID-19 that cut across all business sectors was the lack of demand from consumers,” the UNDP said.

It said the weak demand can be addressed through a stronger pandemic response from the government, inclusion of MSMEs in public sector procurement, and a balanced mix of monetary and fiscal policies to boost spending of both the government and households.

“Further analysis of the survey results showed that while there were general concerns shared by most MSMEs, there were also issues specific to each sector. As such, the government should facilitate MSMEs’ sector representation in policy dialogues and program planning to come up with a better, targeted approach to prevent further closure of MSMEs,” it said. — Beatrice M. Laforga

Fisheries sector seen requiring more cold storage, better supply chain

THE fisheries sector needs more cold storage and improved supply chains to survive the adverse effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, an advocacy group said.

In a virtual briefing Monday, Tugon Kabuhayan convenor Asis G. Perez said ice plants are critical to help fishing communities preserve their catch and cut down on waste.

“Unlike rice which you can store, fishery products need refrigeration and good cold storage facilities. Around 1.5 kilograms of ice is required to properly store one kilogram of fish,” Mr. Perez said.

Mr. Perez, a former Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources National Director, said the government should also protect fishing grounds to help fishing communities that depend on wild catch.

He added that enforcing closed seasons will let fish populations recuperate during their spawning period.

Mr. Perez also encouraged more domestic consumption of tuna and salmon due to the disruption of supply chains, particularly those meant for export, as a result of the pandemic.

Mr. Perez said fisheries exports, particularly high-end products, are transported via plane and many must be delivered within 48 hours from harvest to preserve quality, adding that the supply chain disruptions over the past months brought the price of tuna to P140 to P150 per kilogram from P200.

He said that since transportation has become irregular due to the pandemic, a viable solution is to increase domestic consumption.

“Some of the country’s fisheries exports are sent to Japan and Europe. Since the supply route is affected by the pandemic, we urge stronger local consumption of fisheries produce,” Mr. Perez said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Bids sought for connector road to New Clark City Airport

THE Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has started soliciting bids for the construction of a connector road from MacArthur Highway to New Clark City Airport Road located at the Clark Freeport Zone.

In an invitation to bid announcement published in a newspaper Monday, the BCDA said it started selling bid documents for the project on Sept. 21. It will be accepting bid submissions until Oct. 28.

In its announcement, the BCDA said it “intends to apply the sum of P479,999,379.61 inclusive of all applicable taxes and fees, being the approved budget for the contract, for the construction” of the road project.

It said the bidding is restricted to Filipinos; and partnerships, corporations, organizations or joint ventures with at least 60% interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

A set of bid documents is available for P50,000, the BCDA said. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Japan remains top source of ODA with over $10 billion in first half

JAPAN remained the Philippines’ top source of foreign aid in the first half, with $10.03 billion as of June, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

Active foreign funding from the Japanese government hit $10.082 billion in the first half with $10.03 billion in loans and $51.91 million in grants, according to NEDA. Japan accounts for 38.49% of official development assistance (ODA) received by the Philippines.

The Philippines’ active ODA portfolio was $26.193 billion, with $24.552 billion in the form of loans and $1.641 billion in grants.

Japan was also the biggest source of ODA funding as of March and also in 2019.

The Asian Development Bank was the second-largest source of foreign aid, accounting for 26.97% or $7.064 billion, followed by the World Bank with 18.9% or $4.951 billion.

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) became the fourth-biggest source of ODA as of June from ninth place as of March. AIIB funding amounted to $957.6 million, or 3.66% of the total.

Others in the top 10 were South Korea with ODA worth $631 million (2.4%); China $590 million (2.25%); the US $578 million (2.21%); France $422 million (1.61%); the United Nations $349 million (1.33%); and Australia $290 million (1.45%).

Other partners were the European Union ($138 million); Germany ($43.05 million); Italy ($39.86 million); the OPEC Fund for International Development ($30 million); Canada ($14 million); Spain ($9.8 million); and New Zealand ($3.89 million).

Meanwhile, the usage rate for ODA loans improved to 41.45% in the first half from the 35.55% a year earlier.

Drawdowns amounted to $10.176 billion out of total commitments worth $24.552 billion in the six months to June, after a 51% increase in total loans from $16.208 billion a year earlier. — Beatrice M. Laforga

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