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Bond market expansion slows in first quarter

THE bond market expanded in the first quarter of 2020 but at a slower rate compared to a year earlier, with both government and corporate bonds posting growth, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said.

According to the June issue of ADB’s Asia Bond Monitor report released Thursday, peso bonds expanded 7.9% year on year to P7.106 trillion in the first three months while growing 6.9% quarter on quarter.

In both cases, growth rates were below the year-earlier rates of 17.8% year on year and 8% quarter on quarter.

Across emerging East Asia, the Philippine bond market was the second-fastest growing on a quarter-on-quarter basis, behind Vietnam’s 9.5% and ahead of China’s 4.9%. The sub-region consists of China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.

“The region’s bond market growth was tempered by the risk-off sentiment affecting emerging markets, which was brought about by the slowdown in the global economy and the onset of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) during the quarter,” the ADB said.

The sub-region’s bond market grew 14% year on year to $16.3 trillion and expanded 4.2% from a quarter earlier.

The peso bond market consists of 77.8% government bonds and 22.2% corporate bonds.

ADB said the Philippines was among the countries that were most active in issuing government debt paper during the first quarter, alongside China, Indonesia, South Korea and Malaysia.

“(This is) due mostly to frontloading policies and increased financing needs to fund stimulus packages and recovery efforts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” it said.

Outstanding government securities issued as of the end of March totaled P5.526 trillion, up 6.2% year on year and 7.5% from a quarter earlier. Corresponding year-earlier growth rates were 16.2% year on year and 8.8% quarter on quarter.

The ADB noted that the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) borrowed more in the first quarter, with a retail treasury bond issue conducted in February.

In the three months to March, the ADB said the government issued debt paper worth P718.2 billion, more than double the P272.2 billion issued a quarter earlier.

“The increased borrowing was programmed to take advantage of liquidity in the local market as a result of the reserve requirement ratio cuts in Q4 2019 by the BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas), as well as of lower interest rates,” the ADB said.

It said the BTr can tap strong domestic demand for government debt paper especially the short-term issues as liquidity remains robust.

Corporate bond growth rates also eased in the first quarter to 14% year on year and 5% quarter on quarter. The corresponding year-earlier growth rates were 24.4% and 5.4%, respectively.

“The issuance growth came on the back of strong economic prospects prior to the outbreak of COVID-19 as corporates sought to capitalize on investor optimism by tapping the bond market,” it said. — Beatrice M. Laforga

DA says fertilizer auctions brought retail prices down

THE DEPARTMENT of Agriculture (DA) said its centralized bidding system for fertilizer procurement helped bring retail prices for urea fertilizer below P1,000 per 50-kilogram bag.

“The downward trend of prices of urea shows that we are on the right track in centralizing the bidding process, thus providing our farmers nationwide with affordable and reasonably-priced fertilizer,” Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said in a statement Thursday.

The DA said the price of urea fertilizer exceeded P1,100 per bag in recent months, noting that the national average price of urea fertilizer between February and April was P1,051 per bag, according to the Fertilizer Pesticide Authority and the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Fertilizer procurers were authorized to spend about P1,000 per bag, leading allegations that the DA overpaid after some regional prices were shown to be less than P1,000.

According to the DA, bidders that submitted proposals below P1,000 were considered as long as they complied with the legal, technical, and financial requirements.

Mr. Dar said the procured fertilizer will be distributed to farmers participating in the DA’s Rice Resiliency Project on a buy two, take two basis for those using certified inbred seed and ‘buy two, take three’ for those using hybrid seed.

The DA said two companies won the first two fertilizer auctions and were awarded contracts to supply 1.8 million bags. La Filipina Uy Gongco Corp. and Atlas Fertilizer made offers of around P900 to P995 per bag.

“The volume awarded to them comprised four of the original 16 lots,” the DA said.

The companies will distribute fertilizer directly to municipalities identified for the Rice Resiliency Project in Central Luzon, CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon), Western Visayas, and Central Visayas.

The unawarded 12 lots have been repackaged into 26 smaller lots to attract more bidders. The bid announcement was published on May 28.

On June 17, four suppliers submitted bids and three qualified, with the disqualified bidder ruled out due to incomplete requirements.

The three qualified suppliers bid for eight lots out of the 26 and are currently being evaluated by the bids and awards committee’s technical working group.

The qualified suppliers are Goldman’s Supply Corp., which is seeking to supply North Cotabato, First Planters Agri Solution for La Union, Ilocos Sur, and Pangasinan, and Universal Harvester, Inc. for Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino.

The committee is expected to complete the bid evaluation and award the lots by July 9.

Bid winners must deliver 50% of the lot not later than July 15, with the other half expected by July 31. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

NCR construction materials retail price growth accelerates

THE growth in retail prices of construction materials in the National Capital Region (NCR) picked up in May, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Thursday.

The PSA reported that the NCR construction materials retail price index (CMRPI), which measures changes in the average retail prices of construction materials in the region, rose 1% year on year in May, picking up from 0.8% in April.

The May result was driven by faster growth in carpentry materials (1% from 0.9% in April), and tinsmithry materials (1.4% from 1%).

The year-on-year growth in other commodities remained unchanged when compared with the previous month: painting materials and related compounds (1.5%) electrical materials (0.7%), miscellaneous construction materials (0.5%), and plumbing materials (0.4%).

Only the growth in retail prices of masonry materials showed a slowdown at 0.6% from 0.7% previously.

“The slight growth can be traced to the slight increase in construction activity after the quarantine conditions were eased. I see it as a lukewarm response to the restoration of more economic and business activities,” said University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) School of Economics Senior Economist Cid L. Terosa in an e-mail.

ING Bank N.V. Manila Senior Economist Nicholas Antonio T. Mapa added: “Supply conditions may have also forced prices to tiptoe higher with imports slowing due to logistics constraints linked to community quarantine measures,” he said in an e-mail.

The government started moving to more permissive forms of lockdown in Metro Manila on May 16 after more than two months of strict quarantine. The “modified” lockdown was eased further to a “general” lockdown on June 1 and is expected to be lifted by the end of the month.

“Demand may still be quite limited to government projects and prices will be determined in large part by the supply of materials likely imported from abroad. If logistics chains are restored, we could see CMRPI cool a bit next month,” ING’s Mr. Mapa said.

UA&P’s Mr. Terosa added: “I expect to see a moderate increase in the months to come.” — Lourdes O. Pilar

Gov’t completes 14 port projects; 22 more due

THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said Tuesday that they completed 14 port projects so far, including some that were inaugurated virtually during the coronavirus crisis.

“To date, the DoTr and the PPA have completed 14 port projects, amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and we are hoping to finish 22 more by the end of the year,” they said in a joint statement.

The projects consist of “new ports and improvements” to existing ports.

Some of the completed projects had to be “virtually inaugurated,” as mounting the traditional launch ceremony was difficult in lockdown conditions, they said.

The projects are ports in Coron, Palawan; Boac, Marinduque; Estancia, Iloilo; Iligan, Lanao del Norte; Jagna, Bohol; Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro; Ozamiz, Misamis Occidental; El Nido, Palawan; Tagbilaran, Bohol; Malalag, Davao del Sur; Currimao, Ilocos Sur; and Masao, Agusan del Norte. There are also two separate projects for the Iloilo Commercial Port Complex.

The government expects the newly-completed port projects “to bolster the operational capability of the current ports, specifically in inter-island travel and movement of essential goods across regions.”

22 MORE PORT PROJECTS
The DoTr and PPA said they target to complete 22 more port projects by December.

The projects include the Pier 18 rehabilitation and upgrade in Vitas, Tondo, Manila; the construction of a port operations building in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro; the Balanacan Port expansion project in Marinduque; the construction of the RC Pier and Ro-Ro ramp at the Port of Bansud, Oriental Mindoro; the construction of a back-up area at the Port of Bulalacao also in Oriental Mindoro; the construction of a Ro-Ro ramp and expansion project at the Port of Bulan, Sorsogon; and the construction of the Coastal Access Road project at the Port of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro.

Also expected to be finished by the end of the year are the expansion of the Port of Capinpin, Bataan; the reconstruction of the Carmen Port in San Agustin, Romblon; the Cobo Port construction project in Cobo, Catanduanes; and the construction of port operations buildings at the ports of Coron, Currimao, Masbate, Mauban, Quezon, and Talaga in Mabini, Batangas.

The port rehabilitation and upgrading of RC wharf at the Port of Legazpi; the port expansion projects in Matnog, Puerto Princesa, Salomague, Ilocos Sur, Tablas, Romblon, and TMO Pasig; and the rehabilitation of the Port of Tabaco, Albay are also targeted for completion by the end of 2020. — Arjay L. Balinbin

ADB rated most transparent major aid agency

THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) said it was ranked the top major aid donor organization in terms of transparency by the Aid Transparency Index (ATI) report.

In a statement Thursday, the ADB said the bank’s sovereign portfolio was awarded a score of 98 in transparency, placing it in the top or “very good” category of the 2020 ATI report by Publish What You Fund, a British non-government organization.

“I take great pride in ADB’s first position in an index that is playing a key role in helping to promote greater transparency and openness among international agencies,” ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa was quoted as saying.

The bank said it was the second time ADB topped the ATI, which started in 2011.

“ADB has continuously worked to improve the disclosure of its aid data in terms of quality and scope. Our top ranking reflects the dedication of staff, across the organization, to ensure adherence to aid transparency standards,” Mr. Asakawa added.

Of the 47 organizations ranked in the study, the other leading aid agencies were the World Bank-International Development Association with a score of 97.1, followed the United Nations Development Programme (96.6), the African Development Bank-Sovereign portfolio (95.5), the Inter-American Development Bank (95.4), the United Nations Children’s Fund (92.9), and the US Millennium Challenge Corp. (92.1).

The 2020 ATI covers data collected between December and April.

The 2020 ATI said transparency improved overall, with donors reporting more and higher-quality data.

The five categories are very good, good, fair, poor and very poor.

Bringing up the rear in the “very poor category” were China’s Ministry of Commerce with a score of 1.2, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (6.3), Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (16.3), and the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs (17.7). — Beatrice M. Laforga

A verdict against the right to know

Unless reversed by a higher court, the conviction for cyber libel of Rappler’s Maria Ressa and its former researcher Reynaldo Santos, Jr. will further shrink not only the democratic space for free expression and press freedom but also the people’s right to be informed on matters relevant to their lives as citizens and as human beings.

An information crisis has long frustrated the realization of that right. It is not a recent development and has been part of the Philippine reality for decades despite the heroic efforts of responsible journalists and media organizations to accurately report what is happening in this rumored democracy, and to provide the analyses needed so it may be understood.

Vast segments of the Philippine population are either without the information they need to make the decisions on public issues worthy of a free people, or are burdened by the deadweight of mis- and disinformation. What is worse is that the problem is growing due to the threats and harassments, the persecution and the killing of journalists as well as ordinary folk who express their views on public issues through such means as protests and demonstrations as well as social media posts.

Despite their liberating potential, however, the latter have also become part of the problem. It is not only because of the bought-and-paid-for trolls and hate mongers; too many Netizens also unknowingly share false and harmful information. But the epidemic of ignorance and sub-literacy in online blogs and on Facebook and Twitter is only one indicator that there is a crisis in information that makes fact-based discourse on even the most important public issues limited to only a few and rare among the many.

Also in evidence are the findings of the public opinion polling firms, in which most of the respondents habitually rate as “very good” some of the worst politicians on the planet. The majority also glowingly approve of such currently problematic institutions as the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Supreme Court, while they rate as poor those few officials who, despite political persecution and limited resources, are trying their best to do the tasks they have been elected for.

And then there are the appalling results of this country’s elections. These exercises are decided not by the dominant political blocs’ platforms — they don’t have any -— or by a candidate’s track record but by money, intimidation, bribery, and warlord command votes. Regarded by many as only benignly idiotic, equally subversive of democratic governance is the electorate’s perennial habit of electing to office clowns, imbeciles, and even mass murderers on the basis of how well

they sing and dance on stage, and by how much their bad jokes during the circuses they call political rallies match the sexism, machismo, and bloodlust of their benighted audiences.

Already thus denied reliable intelligence on some of the most crucial issues that should concern them because of their impact on their lives, the citizens of this country are likely to be further swamped by a tidal wave of false information that will make rational and democratic discourse even more impossible.

That is likely to be the most frightening and most destructive consequence of the conviction of Ressa and Santos.

The verdict convicting and sentencing them to a six-month to six-year prison term on the basis of a news report Rappler published before the 2012 Cyber Crime Prevention Act was passed in effect accepts the argument that online libel is a continuing offense.

The court thereby virtually declared the Act an ex-post facto law, which punishes an offense prior to the passage of any bill making it illegal that the Constitution explicitly prohibits. The verdict also validates the government’s extending the application of the statute of limitations on the Act to 12 years.

Anyone who uses the Internet or any other means of computer-based communication can thus be sued for libel or any other offense named in the Act even if the alleged offense was committed 12 years earlier or before the Act was passed. If convicted they can be imprisoned for as long as 10 years. It can also lead to the passing of other laws of retroactive application, under the terms of which an act committed before it became illegal can still be subject to prosecution.

By terrorizing the media into silence, the verdict, if upheld, will further constrict their capacity to discharge their fundamental responsibility of monitoring and holding the government to account and disseminating their findings and views to the public they are mandated to serve. It is the worst attack so far on the very foundations of the free, responsible, and engaged journalism that the citizens of this alleged democracy need to be informed about and to understand the issues that concern them.

Regardless of their personal, political, business and other interests, in the face of the Ressa and Santos conviction for cyber-libel, every journalist and media organization, as well as human rights defenders, civil society groups and communication academics must ramp up their support for press freedom, free expression, and the Filipino people’s inalienable right to information.

Rappler’s cause is the entire media community’s own, and it must continue to push the envelope in the exercise of its Constitutionally protected mandate to report the truth in the furtherance not only of everyone’s right to know, but also in the defense of the human right to free expression.

Some of this is already happening, but there is now greater urgency in strengthening media and civil society solidarity. Without it, the verdict on Ressa and Santos is likely to instill fear among many journalists, civil society and cause-oriented groups, and ordinary folk because of the message it is sending that every truth-teller in this digital age is at risk of imprisonment not only under the terms of the 88-year-old libel law criminalizing libel committed in print, but also those of the 2012 Cyber Crime Prevention Act.

Never since the Marcos martial law regime has the threat to free expression and the right of the press to probe into and report matters of public concern been as pronounced as today. The verdict on Ressa and Santos may have occurred in the context of the continuing assaults on, and harassment of, not only of journalists but also reformers, dissenters, political activists, and human rights defenders. But the impact of the verdict is unprecedented for the extent to which it will undermine the essential task of truth-telling.

The legal community, civil society, academics, the media, and the mass organizations must closely follow the conduct and progress of Rappler’s appeal and rigorously report on it to the public and their constituencies to make sure and to insist that due process and the rule of law are observed. At stake is nothing less than everyone’s right to the dissemination and acquisition of the information they need to make sense of what’s going on around them, hence the urgency of mobilizing in the defense of those rights every Filipino who values the truth.

The usual suspects who despise truth-tellers dismiss protests against the Rappler verdict as just another instance of media self-interest. They are wrong. The issue is not just about press freedom and free expression. It is also about everyone.

 

Luis V. Teodoro is on Facebook and Twitter (@luisteodoro).

www.luisteodoro.com

Uncertainty and economic recovery

In a lecture before the Peterson Institute for International Economics on Jan. 17, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said that if she had to identify a theme at the outset of the new decade, “it would be increasing uncertainty.”

Georgieva affirmed the reality of uncertainty in the fast evolving global scenario. We all recall that uncertainty is one of the four attributes of the post-Cold War world, the other three being volatility, complexity, and ambiguity. Such a VUCA world can be traced to a 33-year-old leadership theory by Warren Bennis and Burt Nanus (Leaders: The Strategies for Taking Charge) introduced in the US Army War College.

Uncertainty makes companies less willing to invest in land and capital and hire workers. During the housing bubble of 2005-06, homeowners were forced to walk away from their mortgages. And for the first time in their economic history, during the Global Financial Crisis of 2008-2009, Americans started saving rather than spending their future income. No one had job security. While saving was generally good for US society, consumption expenditure withered and an economic recession took hold of the US for nearly two years.

It is tragic when uncertainty feeds into the psyche of businessmen and consumers and perpetuates a freeze in economic activities. More tragic too when uncertainty is fueled and increased by political strife, threats of war in sensitive regions of the world and climate change.

To get a good handle on the role of uncertainty in economic growth, the IMF constructed a quarterly measure of uncertainty. The World Uncertainty Index covers 143 countries with populations of 2 million or more. The list includes the Philippines, the rest of ASEAN, as well as other advanced and emerging economies. Data was drawn by text mining Economist Intelligence Unit country reports. The index captures uncertainty triggered by economic and political events that have both short- and long-term consequences.

The first chart (Uncertain Times) shows “highs” of the last 20 years. In 2003, the world grappled with the Iraqi War and SARS outbreak. The US recession, 9/11, and the Global Financial Crisis of 2008-09 did not even come close to the high ushered in by both the European sovereign debt crisis, the US fiscal cliff, and the lingering effects of the European debt crisis. The US-China trade tension pushed the 2019-2020 high.

While driving factors originated in specific countries, their impact was global. According to the Fund, global factors are assuming more prominent roles in generating uncertainty across borders.

The data also shows synchronization of uncertainty. Advanced economies tend to move together, experiencing uncertainty almost at the same time. In this country grouping, the strongest synchronization is within the Euro area. Stronger trade and financial linkages explain the large extent of synchronized uncertainty.

Compared to emerging economies and advanced economies, an average level of uncertainty is more greatly felt in low-income countries. Low-income countries are reported to experience more domestic issues like coups, revolutions, and wars. They are also more prone to natural disasters and epidemics.

The Fund also found a U-shaped relationship between uncertainty and democracy. Uncertainty is increased in nations governed by authoritarianism. It declines where there is greater democracy.

Finally, the study found that greater uncertainty foreshadows output decline. The magnitude of the decline is greater in countries with weaker institutions and capacities.

What other factors could push world uncertainty?

Promptly responding to present challenges, the IMF released the World Pandemic Uncertainty Index (WPUI) on April 4.

This chart links various diseases with uncertainty as indicated by discussions about them. The chart has two lines that are both based on “discussions.” One line represents the number of times the pandemic is mentioned. Another line captures the general use of the word “uncertainty.” The relationship shows co-movement.

The diseases included in the study are: SARS (2002-03), Avian flu (2003-09), Swine flu (2009-2010), Ebola (2014-16), and COVID-19 (2020).

On the first measure: “mention of epidemics” within the ASEAN 6, the Philippines is second highest behind Thailand. On the second measure: “mention of uncertainty,” the Philippines is third highest behind Singapore and Thailand.

It is interesting that this finding jives with the theory of how uncertainty has a significant economic impact as illustrated by last April’s World Economic Outlook. The April report predicts Thailand and Singapore to be ASEAN 6’s lowest performing economies. With its more active and vocal press, the Philippines is more “uncertain” with an expected economic performance better than Malaysia’s and Indonesia’s. For some reason, both Malaysia and Indonesia did not show “uncertainty” for the first measure.

It would also be useful to know that a recent working paper by Scott R. Baker, Nicholas Bloom, Stephen J. Davis, and Stephen J. Terry entitled, “COVID-Induced Economic Uncertainty” published by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) in Cambridge, Massachusetts complements this IMF study.

The NBER working paper focuses on three indicators: 1.) stock market volatility; 2.) newspaper-based economic uncertainty; and, 3.) subjective uncertainty in business expectation surveys.

After feeding COVID-19-induced immediate and uncertainty shocks into an estimated model of disaster, the study predicted that by the fourth quarter of this year, US output would decline by 11% to as much as 20%. Half of this projected decline is attributable to COVID-19-induced uncertainty!

While model-generated, this is not a simple foreshadowing of economic contraction. In varying degrees and depending too on country-specific circumstances, COVID-19-induced uncertainty can indeed impinge on economic recovery and growth.

This issue about uncertainty becomes more relevant in the light of the Fund’s June 2020 World Economic Outlook update. The Fund emphasized that “in the absence of a medical solution, the strength of the recovery is highly uncertain and the impact on sectors and countries uneven.”

The update warns of a deeper recession in 2020 and a slower recovery in 2021. Globally, output is expected to drop by 4.9% with a partial recovery of 5.4% in 2021. The loss is expected to accumulate to over $12 trillion.

This means that the global economy will be less hospitable to exports; resumption of economic activities will be more uneven; and the labor market will remain seriously impaired with a negative impact on income inequality and poverty.

Like never before, carefully designed fiscal policy support and monetary action will become more critical.

Lest it be lost on us and our policy makers, the Fund also carefully reminded us that in mitigating uncertainty, “priority is to manage health risks even as countries reopen.”

 

Diwa C. Guinigundo is the former Deputy Governor for the Monetary and Economics Sector, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). He served the BSP for 41 years. In 2001-2003, he was Alternate Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund in Washington, DC. He is the senior pastor of the Fullness of Christ International Ministries in Mandaluyong.

‘Better Normal’ is just totalitarianism. Say no to it

“Gaslighting” means trying to manipulate a person, arranging circumstances, such that the latter begins to question his or her own sanity, self-esteem, judgment, and memory. The purpose, at least politically, is to establish control over people.

Now some politicians, having tasted absolute power for the last three months, are unabashedly resorting to gaslighting just so they could extend their unquestioned control over ordinary Filipinos.

This while scientific consensus is solidifying that lockdowns, as a response to this pandemic, is inutile.

To seriously damage the economy and shatter people’s lives for a coronavirus that seriously attacks a quite defined demographic (i.e., 60 years old and above, and those with underlying health conditions), is mild or asymptomatic 97.5%-99.5% of the time, and has an Infection Fatality Rate somewhere around 0.2% (a little above that of the flu), is a fool’s exchange.

Admittedly, caution would have perhaps justified it in the pandemic’s first month when data was scarce, but to extend it once, twice, or more was utterly unwise.

Assuming the Department of Health’s data is accurate, the more pessimistically inclined point to the 1,103 deaths (as of June 16, marking the third month of the lockdown) as justifying locking-up otherwise healthy people and closing schools. That’s tantamount to 367 deaths a month or roughly 12 deaths a day (June 3-16 saw around 15 deaths daily).

Yet compare that to the monthly average of 300 Filipino deaths by suicide, 1,000 from car crashes, 5,000 stroke, 5,333 cancer, 6,333 pneumonia and flu, and 7,000 heart disease. That’s around 10 Filipinos dying every day by suicide, 33 from car crashes, 167 stroke, 178 cancer, 211 pneumonia and flu, and 233 heart disease. This is despite having vaccines for pneumonia and flu, and cures for heart disease.

Between Jan. 1 and Oct. 19, 2019, there were 371,717 dengue cases, with 1,407 deaths, reported through the health department’s routine surveillance system, with a Case Fatality Rate of 0.38%. Of the deaths, 535 were children five to nine years old. We didn’t shut the economy then and neither were schools.

Compare that with the present pandemic: Of the total 1,103 coronavirus-related deaths in the Philippines, 25 were from 0-19 age group, 45 from 0-29 age group.

And yet we’re practically shutting down or severely depreciating learning for 53% of our population, from kinder to college age (0-24 years old), 53.8 million young Filipinos.

Our country was founded on the ideals of human rights and government by, for, and of the people. Yet many Filipinos, so pumped with fear by news media, public officials, and irresponsible “experts” are now presently willing to being kept under perpetual government control, what journalist Helen Andrews calls the “indefinite period in a twilight zone of half-freedom where lockdown orders have been lifted but aggressive safety measures remain — a ‘new normal’,” and attack those who dare speak up for our freedoms.

In this environment of uncertainty, with a citizenry softened up by porn panic and extended lockdowns, comes HB No. 6864, the “Better Normal Bill,” ostensibly to “ensure that pandemic recovery will lead to a greener, resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future;” and “give importance to other aspects of well-being of the people based on the Gross National Happiness indicators.”

Seemingly all benign. But details is key.

“Better Normal” in the context of a pandemic recovery planned for three years, “refers to transformative behaviors and interventions.” That transformation and interventions are to be effected by none other than through comprehensive additional government regulation.

Every aspect of our existence, from gathering, studying, eating, travel, work — would all require government permission, usually through the local government issued “Better Normal Permit.”

Private businesses and areas normally protected under the constitutional rights to property and contract now need government’s leave and monitoring to operate.

Before conducting business, one must submit to government details of the business’ property, personnel, procurement and work policies, and even a “management plan.” This within a Philippine regulatory environment that the 2020 World Bank’s Doing Business Report revealed it takes 13 government steps and 33 days just to start a business.

Want to attend a lecture? Have Mass or spiritual retreats? Bury a loved one? Play basketball? Watch a movie? Have a family party? You need government permission.

Regulations even apply to “privately organized gathering[s].”

Disobey the Better Normal, then you’re fined or go to jail.

All this with Filipino lives already under the immense powers of the presidency, as granted by the still effective (as of this writing) Bayanihan Act, including the monitoring and regulating of speech.

People also need to remember RA 11313 (the “Safe Spaces Act”), which holds everyone liable for not subscribing to gender fluidity and transgenderism, without exemption made for religious beliefs or academic freedom.

Then there’s the inevitable Anti-Terrorism Bill.

Filipinos were so concerned with Martial Law they failed to see totalitarian control creeping over them by other means.

That total government control goes by the name of “Better Normal.”

 

Jemy Gatdula is a Senior Fellow of the Philippine Council for Foreign Relations and a Philippine Judicial Academy law lecturer for constitutional philosophy and jurisprudence.

https://www.facebook.com/jigatdula/

Twitter @jemygatdula

‘Smart Lockdowns’ are the future in Europe

By Ferdinando Giugliano

EU COUNTRIES are experimenting with new ways of dealing with the coronavirus. Germany, Portugal and Italy have all enforced selective or “smart” lockdowns, shutting down smaller regions in response to new outbreaks as opposed to bringing their entire countries to a halt.

This approach is the only hope of returning to a more normal life as we wait for a vaccine. However, it also puts a much larger onus on the public sector compared to generalized lockdowns. Health officials have to ensure small outbreaks do not get out of control and force the need for harsher measures.

Germany has seen a number of outbreaks in abattoirs, leading local governments to declare new lockdowns, such as in the municipality of Guetersloh, and enforce partial lockdowns, such as in the nearby town of Warendorf. Over the past few months, Italy has managed to contain some small flare-ups, including one in the tiny region of Molise and one in Rome, without having to impose additional restrictions. But the southern region of Calabria has recently imposed quarantine on an area of the seaside town of Palmi, after a handful of cases were reported. And after a worrying new spike in cases, Portugal has ordered stores in parts of the Lisbon region to shut down early, among other restrictions.

Some of these cases show striking similarities. For example, many of these new outbreaks originated in migrant communities facing overcrowded living quarters or unsafe working conditions. This was true of one meat processing plant owned by the Toennies Group in Germany, where more than a thousand employees, most of them migrants from Eastern Europe, came down with COVID-19. This was also the case of the much smaller outbreak in Italy’s central region of Marche. It was similar in Portugal: At the end of May, an outbreak emerged in Lisbon’s Jamaica neighborhood, which was already struggling with a housing crisis. Health-care facilities are another potential source of contagion, as was the case for the recent flare-up in Rome.

So far, the authorities have managed to contain these outbreaks. In Italy, the number of new infections has been stable in the low hundreds for the past few weeks, despite a substantial reopening of the economy. In Germany, the reproduction rate “R” of the coronavirus, which measures how many people a virus carrier infects on average, shot up to nearly three last weekend — well above the level of one needed to believe the outbreak is under control. Fortunately, this factor has begun to decline. According to the country’s Robert Koch Institute, it also does not appear to be too alarming since the overall number of cases remains relatively low.

This tailored approach to lockdowns is in no way a repudiation of the more draconian measures most European countries enforced earlier. In fact, the current strategy can only work because Europe has largely brought new infections under control. It doesn’t look as feasible for countries such as the US and Brazil, where new infections are still on the rise in many areas.

Smart lockdowns require the collaboration of citizens: Wearing masks and maintaining social distancing are two ways to reduce the risk of a new surge in cases. However, much of the burden falls on governments. They have to identify new cases early through rapid testing and contact tracing in order to circumscribe contagion. Getting more people to download contact-tracing apps would help on this front (not enough have done so in France and Italy), but the authorities will also have to ensure local health-care systems have enough staff to trace infections effectively. Finally, they’ll need to manage the process of reopening borders carefully, especially when it comes to countries that have not yet kept the virus in check.

Of course, all of this may not be enough. A few “superspreader events” or even individual “superspreaders” could prove particularly challenging to manage. But if Europe is successful in this new phase of its fight against the pandemic, the economic and social benefits could be huge. Only a vaccine or a benign mutation will ensure that the COVID-19 threat is over. Until then, smart lockdowns are the best hope we have.

BLOOMBERG OPINION

Grand Slams plan ahead to avoid Djokovic fate

MUMBAI/MELBOURNE — Days after a handful of the world’s leading tennis players hugged and high-fived on court in front of packed stands and partied together in carefree fashion some — including world number one Novak Djokovic — were struck down by the COVID-19 virus.

As a cautionary tale, it could hardly be more stark.

For while the images from the Adria Tour exhibition tournament in Serbia and Croatia were no doubt a fillip for some fans starved of top-flight tennis action, the organizers also tempted fate with the lack of precautions.

Though the players were not breaking government protocols during the tournament, which was organized by Djokovic, it highlighted the risks of athletes from different countries mingling without adhering to what have become social distancing norms.

Few were, therefore, surprised when Djokovic contracted the virus with Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, Croatia’s Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki having already tested positive after playing in his Balkan event.

Hindsight offers clarity, but organizers of the world’s biggest tournaments say they will not make the same mistakes as they reopen the sport and seek to keep the players safe.

“There were a fair few learnings that have come out of that (Adria Tour),” Tennis Australia’s (TA) Chief Operating Officer Tom Larner told Reuters.

“And whilst, certainly the whole event was actually really well-intentioned in terms of raising money for charity, the execution was clearly not great, as were the processes in place.”

Australia had successfully curbed the virus spread but a double-digit increase in new cases recently has triggered fear of another wave due to apparent community transmission.

TA gave a glimpse of the biosecurity protocols that could be in place for next year’s Australian Open while announcing measures for the domestic UTR Pro Tennis Series, which will be played at closed stadiums.

Players would have to bring their own towels and will be encouraged to shower off-site. On-court personnel would be limited to an umpire, minimal line judges with no ball-kids.

NO SPECTATORS
First up, though, will be the US Open, scheduled to be held in New York from Aug. 31. Organizers have come under fire, including from Djokovic, who initially called their measures “extreme.” They will now feel vindicated.

“This situation is exactly why we have created a comprehensive health and medical plan… that was approved by New York State,” USTA spokesman Chris Widmaier told Reuters.

“The creation of a controlled US Open environment, including official hotels, transportation, food, medical and safety protocols, enables us to mitigate potential risk, and appropriately respond to any issues.”

The US Open will have no spectators, there will be limitations on players’ entourage and everyone must wear masks when onsite unless practising or competing. Testing will be conducted before traveling to the United States and at least once per week along with daily temperature checks.

New York City has witnessed an easing of lockdown restrictions in recent days but residents have been asked to follow social distancing norms and cover faces in public.

Restaurants and bars began offering outdoor service and many retailers started to allow patrons back into their stores.

Serbia introduced a state of emergency soon after the pandemic broke out, including daily curfews for 12 hours, but gradual easing of measures saw 25,000 fans flock to a soccer derby between Belgrade rivals Red Star and Partizan on June 10.

A sellout crowd of 4,000 attended both days of the Belgrade leg of Djokovic’s tournament, staged at his tennis center by the Danube River.

Croatia, where the tournament’s second leg was held in Zadar, still had social distancing norms in place and the Visnjik tennis complex, with a capacity of 9,000, hosted half as many spectators.

It did not stop Djokovic and his fellow players from playing basketball there, images of which were jarring to many as the majority of the world continued to battle the virus.

Djokovic, who heads the players council of the men’s ATP Tour, said he was wrong and “deeply sorry.” — Reuters

Veteran footballer James Younghusband calls it a career

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

JAMES YOUNGHUSBAND is following his brother Phil to retirement after the former announced on Thursday that he was hanging up his boots.

In a post on Instagram, Mr. Younghusband, 33, said that it was “Time to say goodbye” to the game where he built a solid career as a player, including being part of the renewed interest in local football in the last decade as a member of the Philippine Azkals.

“Thank you for the amazing memories. I have loved playing this game,” the post further read.

Mr. Younghusband, who was born to a British father and Filipino mother, went on to thank his family, bosses, managers, coaches, teammates, opponents and supporters who he said made his football journey in the country something to remember for the rest of his life.

He made his way to the country from England by way of the sport in 2005 as a member of the Under-23 squad that saw action at the Southeast Asian Games that year.

From there, he and his brother Phil, who retired last year, became steady fixtures in the national squad.

He played a key part in the Azkals’ groundbreaking showing on the road to the main draw of the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup in Vietnam and in the tournament itself, which many credited to have started a “renaissance” in Philippine football.

Mr. Younghusband played for the national team in 101 games, scoring 12 goals.

Club-wise, he was part of San Beda FC, Meralco Manila, Davao Aguilas and Ceres-Negros FC.

With Ceres last year he was part of the team that won the Philippines Football League title and Copa Paulino Alcantara.

After news of Mr. Younghusband’s retirement came out, the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) paid tribute to him, highlighting his contributions to the country’s football thrust.

“We thank James Younghusband for his valuable contributions to the growth of the sport in the country,” said PFF President Mariano Araneta in a statement.

“May his influence on and off the pitch inspire all young players who aspire to play for the country,” Atty. Edwin Gastanes, PFF general secretary, for his part, said.

Mr. Younghusband did not say what his next journey would be but in a recent guesting on the Usapang Football webcast of Rick Olivares he shared that he intends to stay in football and is open to dipping his hands in coaching, maybe even handling the Azkals down the line.

TNT KaTropa throw an assist to Mandaluyong fire survivors

PHILIPPINE Basketball Association team TNT KaTropa came to the aid of those in need, recently providing financial assistance and helping in the distribution of hot meals and grocery packs to families affected by a fire in Mandaluyong City.

Through the PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF), players Kib Montalbo, Jjay Alejandro and Gryann Mendoza, coaches Mark Dickel and Bong Ravena, and team officials Gabby Cui and Miguel Fernandez lend support to relief efforts for the fire victims that hit a residential area in the city at the Nueve De Febrero Elementary School and other evacuation centers in Barangay Addition Hills.

“We hope that through this relief effort, we are able to bring some joy and comfort to the families whose lives are forever changed by this tragedy. A big thanks to the PLDT-Smart Foundation for giving us an opportunity to be part of this activity,” said Mr. Cui, who is also PLDT-Smart Assistant Vice President.

The recent Mandaluyong fire reportedly left 600 families homeless.

“Our hearts are with the families affected by this tragedy. As they try to move forward with their lives amid the pandemic, we hope that our gesture enables them to cling to hope especially during this difficult time,” said PSF President Esther Santos, for her part, said.

The PSF organized the relief activity in partnership with Your 200 Pesos, an initiative that aims to feed families affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. It is led by former volleyball star, TV personality and beauty queen Michele Gumabao and Strength and Conditioning Coach Aldo Panlilio.

The group hopes that through this partnership it can widen its reach to provide hope and help to more people in need amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

BALDWIN REPORTEDLY OUT OF TNT
Meanwhile in league news, reports on Thursday had TNT assistant coach and consultant Tab Baldwin on his way out of the KaTropa camp, coming on the heels of his stirring comments that the PBA deemed detrimental to the league.

During his recent session with Tiebreaker Vods’ Coaches Unfiltered podcast, Mr. Baldwin, also the coach of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines champions Ateneo Blue Eagles and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas official, spoke his mind and made comments on the PBA’s format, officiating (particularly towards imports) and how local coaches were “tactically immature,” among others, which did not sit well with PBA officials and other local hoops stakeholders.

He was later suspended by the league for three games and fined P75,000. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

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