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Dining In/Out (11/19/20)

The Burger King Plant-Based Whopper is here

ON NOV. 16, Burger King Philippines officially joined the plant-based movement through the launch of Plant-Based Whopper — a burger that’s mainly made with soy proteins, but tastes like smokey, flame-grilled beef. The plant-based patty was made through the partnership with Australia’s V2Food. “What we are offering our customers is an option. Filipinos are such huge meat-eaters, and the insight for this local roll-out is to provide them with an affordable alternative to reduce meat intake with an equally satisfying product,” said Allan Tan, Marketing Director for Burger King Philippines, in a statement. “We’ve seen more developed markets making the shift earlier on, and locally, we see the Plant-Based Whopper as a game-changer, a revolutionary product. We wanted to be at the forefront of that shift here.” The Burger King Plant-Based Whopper is now available in all Burger King Metro Manila branches, and will be coming soon nationwide. It is available through Dine-in, Take-out, Drive-through, and Delivery (#2-22-22/GrabFood/Foodpanda/Lalafood). Prices start at ₱89 for the junior size.

Kuya J opens first new restaurant in new normal

KUYA J has opened its newest branch in Fisher Mall Malabon. The new branch is a milestone as it is the first Kuya J concept store to open since the country implemented the lockdown, making it one of the few restaurants in the Philippines to do so. The opening aims to help boost the Philippine economy by generating income and providing employment as the country pivots into the new normal. “We decided to push through with the opening of this restaurant, despite the ongoing pandemic because we need to help rebuild our economy by generating jobs and encouraging everyone to fully pivot to the new normal,” said Ton Gatmaitan, marketing director of Kuya J Group, in a statement. “Moreover, as we move closer to Christmas, we want to give families in Malabon better access to Kuya J treats which they can enjoy with their families during the Christmas season.” The new store will serve Kuya J’s best-sellers such as Crispy Pata, Lechon Baka, Beef Kare-Kare, and Caldereta. To ensure the wellbeing of the customers, health measures and safety protocols are strictly implemented in the store. The restaurant is at Second Floor, Fisher Mall, C4 Road, cor. Dagat-Dagatan Ave, Longos, Malabon, Metro Manila.

Discovery employees offer gifts through Facebook

AS  MEMBERS of the hospitality community continue to band together and innovate ways to uplift each other, the teams behind award-winning destinations Discovery Shores Boracay, Club Paradise Palawan, Discovery Suites Ortigas, and Discovery Primea Makati opened Delightful Discoveries, a new hub for unique finds. Spearheaded by the properties’ management company Discovery Hospitality Corp., the Facebook group aims to provide an avenue for staff to share the small businesses and projects they started during the pandemic including food items, household items, handcrafted products, and other essentials. The group makes it easy (and safe) to shop for thoughtful gifts, while also showing support for the hospitality industry. Transactions are done directly with the sellers, who share their contact details in the group. “It’s our business to care, and we want to show our support to our dedicated employees who have done nothing but care for our guests, the company, and each other throughout these trying times,” said Discovery World Corp. President and Discovery Hospitality Corporation COO Jose C. Parreño. “We’re pleased that we can extend this platform to them and hope that this helps boost their business.” Visit www.facebook.com/groups/delightfuldiscoveries.

Starbucks launches Mobile Order and Pay in the PHL

AS STARBUCKS Philippines navigates through the new normal, the company announced the nationwide availability of Mobile Order and Pay on iOS and Android devices, a new feature of its mobile app that allows customers to place and pay for their order in advance and pick it up at any Starbucks store. Following the successful launch of the new Starbucks Rewards program, mobile ordering is the company’s latest digital innovation providing Starbucks Rewards members a contactless alternative for getting their beverages. Starbucks Rewards members can redeem rewards and collect Stars through Mobile Order & Pay. Starbucks Rewards members can also join the Starbucks Christmas Traditions promotion, earning e-stickers on eligible mobile orders. E-stickers will be credited to their Starbucks Rewards account, which they can use to redeem the 2021 Starbucks Planners & Organizers. Download the Starbucks PH app (via App Store  or Google Play) and sign up for Rewards to order on-the-go.

Shake Shack offers truffle flavored items

SHAKE SHACK is now offering the Truffle Trio: the Black Truffle Burger (P315), made of 100% Angus beef with Swiss cheese, crispy ale-marinated shallots, black truffle mayo, and arugula; Black Truffle Chick’n Shack (P285), crispy chicken breast with black truffle mayo, pickled shallots and arugula; and Black Truffle Fries (P205), crinkle-cut fries topped with black truffle mayo, crispy ale-marinated shallots and scallions. The Truffle Trio is available for a limited time only at the three Shake Shack branches. They can also be ordered via Grab and foodpanda.

The Art of Italian Apertivo on Saturday

THE PHILIPPINE Italian Association, The Tasting Club Manila, and the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines will be holding a virtual tasting, The Art of Italian Aperitivo, on Nov. 21 via Zoom. Each participant will receive a tasting kit featuring everything they need to enjoy this culinary experience in the comforts of our own home. To reserve a tasting kit and join the virtual tasting, register at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfWr22xopLRvg5CmpTCLOGPvMpfyej-Hlfzme4168efgtzOFA/viewform. For details, visit https://philippineitalianassociation.org/events/2020/11/21/the-art-of-italian-aperitivo.

Nobu Manila reopens

ALONG with its three hotels, City of Dreams Manila has reopened its signature restaurants at 50% capacity, following government guidelines. The latest to reopen is Nobu Manila, which opens only for dinner, on Wednesday to Sunday from 5 p.m. It serves its signature dishes such as Black Cod Miso, New Style Sashimi, Rock Shrimp Tempura, Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeño, and Beef Tobanyaki, among others. Nobu Manila also highlights new dishes on its menu including two that infuse Filipino flavors: Nobu Manila Style Kurobuta Pork Sisig, and Green Tea Leche Flan with homemade mochi pearls, azuki beans and goma tuile. Tofu Sliders, Nori Tacos, and Tomato Matsuhisa Salad, are among the other new dishes. There are also new sushi and sashimi specialties made with sustainably sourced seafood. Nobu’s eight-course Signature Omakase, specialty tempura, toban yaki (Nobu roast specialties), yakimono (grille items), brick oven dishes, kushiyaki (grilled skewers), soup and noodle dishes, and a broad selection of sushi, sashimi and sushi rolls, salads and soups complete the extensive menu. Nobu Manila will be serving dinner guests until 10 p.m., and until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The other signature restaurants of City of Dreams that have also reopened are Crystal Dragon, Red Ginger, Jing Ting, and Wave, all operating at 50% capacity in observance of physical distancing. For inquiries and reservations, call 8800-8080 or e-mail guestservices@cod-manila.com or visit www.cityofdreamsmanila.com.

How about a book and wine for Christmas?

KNOW anyone who loves a good book and loves to drink wine? Receive one bottle of Prosecco sparkling wine (from Ralph’s wines and spirits) when you buy with the art book Diosdado Magno Lorenzo: Art Rebel to Legend by Alice Guillermo. The book was published by the Philippine Italian Association (PIA) and Tantoco-Rustia Foundations in 2009. The bundle is available at the PIA’s E-Shop https://philippineitalianassociation.org/e-shop/diosdado-magno-lorenzo-art-rebel-to-legend.

Hong Kong MX Pastries’ holiday gifts

THIS SEASON, Hong Kong MX, iconic makers of traditional gourmet pastries, offers a unique selection of treats in gift boxes, everything from Egg Rolls and Hearty Butter Pastries, to Mille-Feuilles and Cookies. All treats are made using the purest of butter minus preservatives, shortening, margarine, or additives. There is HKMX’s flagship product, the Original Eggrolls Gift Box (32 pieces), packaged in a classic tin box. The newly-launched 15-piece Eggroll Set (P450), has the treats tucked inside dainty paper boxes. Then there is the Assorted Petite Eggrolls Gift Box (P800) — 36 pieces in coconut, chocolate, matcha, and original flavors. The Hearty Butter Pastries Gift Set comes in original, maple syrup, hazelnut, and coconut flavors. HKMX’s Mille-Feuille Gift Set (P950) offers 192 layers of finely crafted puff pastry set on a bed of almonds that comes in a sophisticated gift box. These and many more treats can be ordered via Facebook (facebook.com/HongkongMXMooncakesPhilippines), Instagram (@hkmxproductsph), and the official website (doubledownimportexportinc.storehub.me). They are also available through Lazada (DD Hong Kong MX Products), Shopee (DD Hong Kong MX Products), GrabMart (Double Down PH–Cabatuan), FoodPanda’s PandaMart (Double Down Import and Export, Inc.), and select Rustan’s Supermarket and Robinsons Supermarket Branches. Hong Kong MX will also have pop-up stores at SM Mall of Asia from Nov. 21 to Jan 21, 2020, and at Eastwood Mall from Nov. 25 to Jan 25, 2020. There is also a limited time Official Website Order Promo with free delivery for minimum purchases.

SaladStop! opens cloud kitchen

ENJOYING SaladStop! at home is easier with its wider delivery coverage through the SaladStop! Kitchen and its newest offering of delivering subscription-based meal plans up to seven days a week. The SaladStop! Kitchen, located along Chino Roces Ave., Makati, is the brand’s first cloud kitchen in the Philippines, with a similar menu as the other SaladStop! Branches. Look for the SaladStop! Kitchen — Chino Roces (cloud kitchen) pin on your preferred app — GrabFood, Foodpanda, and LalaFood — and check if the location is within the delivery radius. The SaladStop! Kitchen is also available for long distance delivery through GrabFood and Lalafood. For curbside pick-ups (personal or via courier service), call the SaladStop! Kitchen at 0917-506-2494. SaladStop! is offering 10% off for those who avail of their first seven-day subscription, 15% off on a three consecutive week seven-day subscription, and 15% off on a four consecutive week five-day subscription. Corporate orders are also welcome.

Thanksgiving Feast To Go

The Grand Hyatt Manila is offering Thanksgiving meals to enjoy at home. The hotel’s Thanksgiving menu boasts of traditional turkey large enough to serve eight people, accompanied by giblet gravy, homemade cranberry sauce, roast potatoes and buttered brussels sprouts. Maple and cinnamon-glazed ham, Roast Mulwarra rib eye, and The Grand Kitchen’s popular Roast porchetta are also available. One can choose to take this feast home or have it specially delivered. To place an order online, visit bit.ly/DineAtHomeGHM. For bulk orders and inquiries, call 8838-1234 or e-mail manila.grand@hyatt.com.

How PSEi member stocks performed — November 18, 2020

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Wednesday, November 18, 2020.

Philippines falls further in english proficiency ranking

Philippines falls further in english proficiency ranking

Peso climbs vs dollar on US data

THE PESO rebounded against the dollar on Wednesday as drug firms in the United States race to launch vaccines against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and after US retail sales grew slower than expected in October.

The local unit closed at P48.22 against the greenback on Wednesday, rising by two centavos from its P48.24 finish on Tuesday, data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines showed.

The peso opened Wednesday’s session at P48.28 per dollar. Its weakest showing was at P48.29 against the greenback while its closing level was its intraday high.

Dollars traded declined to $635.8 million on Wednesday from $705.82 million on the previous day.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said the peso climbed versus the dollar as investor sentiment continues to improve with the results of tests of possible COVID-19 vaccines.

Johnson & Johnson’s chief scientist said the drug maker is recruiting over 1,000 people per day for the late-stage trial of its experimental COVID-19 vaccine and expects to have all the data needed to seek US authorization by February or earlier, Reuters reported.

The Phase III trial of the single-dose vaccine started in late September. The company paused the trial in October because of a serious medical event in one participant and resumed after getting the green light from an independent safety panel.

J&J lags some of its rivals in the global race to develop a safe and effective vaccine against the virus that has killed over 1.3 million people worldwide and roiled the global economy.

Rival Moderna on Monday said its experimental vaccine was 94.5% effective in preventing COVID-19 based on interim data from a late-stage clinical trial, following similar results from Pfizer last week.

Both Pfizer’s and Moderna’s vaccines use a new technology known as messenger RNA, or mRNA. By contrast, J&J’s vaccine uses a common cold virus known as adenovirus type 26 to introduce coronavirus proteins into cells in the body and trigger the body’s immune system.

J&J’s candidate is a single-dose vaccine, whereas the vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer and another under development by AstraZeneca all require two shots separated by several weeks.

Meanwhile, a trader said the peso rose following the release of data on US retail sales showing slower-than-expected consumer spending in October.

US retail sales increased less than expected in October and could slow further, restrained by spiraling new COVID-19 infections and declining household income as millions of unemployed Americans lose government financial support, Reuters reported.

While other data on Tuesday showed production at factories accelerating last month, output remained well below its pre-pandemic level and the uncontrolled coronavirus outbreak could disrupt production. The public health crisis and frail economy are major challenges confronting President-elect Joe Biden when he takes over from US President Donald Trump in January.

Mr. Biden on Monday urged a divided Congress to come together and pass another pandemic relief package.

Retail sales rose 0.3% last month, the smallest gain since the recovery started in May, after increasing 1.6% in September, the Commerce department said. They account for the goods component of consumer spending, with services such as healthcare and hotel accommodation making up the other portion.

Sales were supported by Amazon.com’s “Prime Day” event, with online receipts surging 3.1%. “Prime Day” is normally in July and some economists said this could have thrown off the model that the government uses to strip seasonal fluctuations from the data, leading to the modest sales gain.

Consumers bought motor vehicles at a much slower pace than in previous months. There were increases in sales of electronics and appliances, as well as building materials and garden equipment. But households cut back spending on sporting goods and hobbies, clothing, furniture, drinking and dining out.

Stocks on Wall Street were mostly lower. The dollar slipped against a basket of currencies. US Treasury prices rose.

Daily new coronavirus cases have been exceeding 100,000 since early this month, pushing the number of infections in the United States above 11 million, according to a Reuters tally.

For today, Mr. Ricafort sees the peso moving from P48.16 to P48.26 versus the dollar, while the trader expects a range of P48.10 to P48.30. — KKTJ with Reuters

PSEi returns to 7,000 level on investor optimism

By Denise A. Valdez, Senior Reporter

THE MAIN INDEX returned to 7,000 territory on Wednesday on sustained investor optimism backed by an improvement in remittances in September.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) rose 92.64 points or 1.33% to end the session at 7,051.78. The wider all shares index also grew 41.13 points or one percent to close at 4,144.87.

“The local bourse ended on green territory as last-minute buying of shares pushed the index above the 7,000 mark. Locally, market sentiment may have been affected positively by the recent news that remittances for the month of September grew 9.3% from the year ago,” Timson Securities, Inc. trader Darren T. Pangan said in a text message.

The PSEi was moving flattish until the last hour of Wednesday’s trading. It opened at 6,971.9 and dipped to an intraday low of 6,970.49, before jumping in the last minute to close at its highest level for the session.

Cash remittances coursed through banks jumped by 9.3% to $2.601 billion in September from $2.379 billion a year ago, data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on Monday showed. This was the quickest growth in remittance inflows since 12.7% in April 2018.

Month on month, cash remittances also rose by 4.8% from $2.483 billion in August, when these dropped by an annual 4.1%.

Remittance inflows in the first nine months of the year reached $21.886 billion, slipping by 1.4% from $22.187 billion a year ago. The decline is slower than the 2% drop in remittances expected by the BSP this year.

“Investors remain optimistic that the economy will see a massive rebound in the fourth quarter. Several issues are now at their 2020 highs or higher as the sentiment on equities continues to improve,” AAA Southeast Equities, Inc. Research Head Christopher John Mangun said in an e-mail.

“We may see some profit-taking toward the end of the week and maintain our forecast that the trend will continue sideways,” Mr. Mangun said.

Nearly all sectoral indices recorded gains at the end of Wednesday’s trading. Holding firms rose 139.23 points or 1.93% to 7,320.66; financials climbed 25.83 points or 1.92% to 1,369.44; property improved 32.46 points or 0.92% to 3,545.57; services added 8.14 points or 0.52% to 1,551.75; and industrials increased 27.98 points or 0.3% to 9,167.72. Mining and oil was the sole declining index, giving up 89.02 points or 1.08% to 8,081.75 at the end of session.

Some 12.34 billion issues valued at P10.93 billion switched hands on Wednesday, growing from the previous day’s 2.49 billion issues worth P10.25 billion.

Advancers bested decliners, 126 against 86, while 55 names ended unchanged.

Net outflows continued for a fourth straight day but declined to P375.18 million on Wednesday against P723.78 million the day prior.

Duterte asked to quicken vaccine approvals

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

THE HEALTH department asked President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Tuesday night to issue an order that will fast-track the approval process for coronavirus vaccines.

“We are respectfully requesting that you consider the issuance of an executive order for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to grant an emergency use authorization for the various vaccines that will enter the country,” he told the President at a televised meeting.

The executive order would cut the processing time to 21 days from six months, Mr. Duque said.

The recommendation came as countries around the globe race to develop a vaccine against the virus that has sickened 56 million and killed 1.3 million people worldwide. The Philippines is preparing orders for the vaccines that may come next quarter.

Mr. Duque said the emergency use authorization could only be used if there is a medical health emergency or a life-threatening disease, and there is proof that a drug could prevent, diagnose, or treat it.

At the same meeting, vaccine czar Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. said the private sector would help fund the vaccines through a public-private tripartite agreement.

Under the deal, companies will buy the vaccines directly from the drug maker and will then donate these to the government, which will be the one to choose the beneficiaries, he said.

The Lucio Tan Group, San Miguel Corp. and Go Negosyo have pledged to donate vaccine doses, Mr. Galvez said. Business tycoon Enrique K. Razon also committed to donate 300,000 doses, he added.

The government is planning to buy as many as 50 million doses of coronavirus vaccines once these become available.

The Department of Health (DoH) reported 1,383 coronavirus infections on Wednesday, bringing the total to 412,097.

The death toll rose to 7,957 after 95 more patients died, while recoveries increased by 143 to 374,666, it said in a bulletin.

There were 29,474 active cases, 83.8% of which were mild, 8.3% did not show symptoms, 4.9% were critical, 2.7% were severe and 0.22% were moderate.

Cavite reported the highest number of cases at 81, followed by Laguna at 74, Batangas at 71, Quezon City at 69 and Rizal at 67.

The agency said four duplicates had been removed from the tally, while 18 cases previously tagged as recovered were reclassified as deaths. Seventeen laboratories failed to submit their data on Nov 17, the agency said.

The coronavirus has sickened about 55.9 million and killed 1.3 million people worldwide, according to the Worldometers website, citing various sources including data from the World Health Organization.

About 39 million people have recovered, it said.

CLINICAL TRIALS
Meanwhile, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire said the lack of clinical trials in the country would not affect government orders of COVID-19 vaccines.

“If the manufacturer will not conduct a clinical trial here in the country, this won’t affect our decision to order the vaccine,” she told an online news briefing in mixed English and Filipino.

Moderna, Inc. had informed Science and Technology officials that it does not plan to hold clinical trials here for a coronavirus vaccine it was developing, Ms. Vergeire said. The company claims the drug is 94.5% effective.

Pfizer, claims its vaccine is 90% effective, also does not plan to conduct clinical trials in the Philippines, she said.

Ms. Vergeire said a drug only needs to go through the regulatory process.

China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd.’s application for clinical trials had been approved by an expert panel from the Science and Technology department. A separate ethics board must also approve the application before Sinovac can apply for approval from the local Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

President Rodrigo R. Duterte last month said the government had funds to buy coronavirus vaccines, but it needs more so the entire population of more than 100 million could be inoculated.

Mr. Duterte said he had spoken with outgoing Russian Ambassador Igor A. Khovaev and was told that Russia intends to set up a pharmaceutical company in the Philippines that will make the vaccines available here.

Meanwhile, vaccine maker Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. has authorized Faberco Life Sciences, Inc. to represent the Philippines for the supply of coronavirus vaccines it is developing with US biotechnology company Novavax, Inc.

Fabreco has partnered with the Indian drug maker for key vaccine programs such as inactivated polio, rotavirus, pneumococcal conjugate and COVID-19 vaccines.

“The President himself has expressed doubts if the Philippines will get vaccines being developed in the West,” Luningning Villa, a medical director at Faberco, said in a statement. “If and when the vaccine becomes available, SII and Faberco hope to bring a pleasant surprise.”

Fabreco is a distributor of specialized healthcare products.

Serum Institution in August signed a license agreement with Novavax for the development and commercialization of a coronavirus vaccine.

Serum also joined the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access co-led by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and the World Health Organization,  which aims to ensure availability of COVID-19 vaccines to all countries.

Novavax is set to start phase 3 clinical trials in the US this month and was given a “fast-track status” by the US Food and Drug Administration. A late-stage study of the vaccine was conducted in the United Kingdom, it said.

Ms. Villa told BusinessWorld in a phone call the vaccine was targeted to be available by June 2021. Its availability will depend on the result of the clinical trials.

Its availability in the Philippines will depend on the local registration process. Ms. Villa also said the vaccine is expected to be “logistically manageable” in terms of cold chain requirements because it does not require deep freezing during storage and transport.

At least 300 million doses have been committed to other countries, she said, adding that some may be allocated to the Philippines if there is an advanced negotiation.

The company had informed government agencies about the potential vaccine, she said.

Duterte places Luzon island under state of calamity after floods

PHILSTAR/MICHAEL VARCAS

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Tuesday night placed Luzon island under a state of calamity after it was battered by typhoons in the past three weeks, the last one of which caused some serious flooding.

The President said at a televised briefing he had approved the recommendation of the local disaster agency to sign a proclamation for the purpose. This will give local governments easier access to calamity funds.

Typhoon Vamco, the 21st typhoon to hit the country this year, brought rainfall ranging from 271 millimeters to 356 millimeters, far below the 455 millimeters of rainfall brought by Tropical Storm Ketsana, locally named Ondoy, in 2009.

But it submerged some parts of Luzon, with some lawmakers blaming the release of water from major dams for the floods.

Vamco, locally named Ulysses, was the fifth typhoon to hit the country in less than three weeks, killing at least 73 people after submerging many parts of Luzon island and leaving half-a-million people without electricity.

The storm made landfall in Quezon province on Nov. 11 and crossed Central Luzon, according to the local weather bureau. It weakened into a severe tropical storm over the South China Sea, but strengthened into a typhoon just as it left the Philippine area of responsibility.

Mr. Duterte issued the proclamation days after he flew to the Cagayan Valley region, where many were forced to go to their rooftops to escape the floods.

Meanwhile, private think tank Stratbase ADRi urged the government to fast-track the expansion of free internet networks to help save more lives during disasters.

“The extensive connectivity that has been provided by mobile telecommunication services and social media has greatly prevented casualties in disasters such as the recent string of strong typhoons that have ravaged the country,” Victor Andres Manhit, president of the think tank, said in a statement.

He said free access to alert systems both through mobile networks and social media also allows agencies and groups to coordinate disaster relief, issue calls for assistance and monitor rescue operations.

“As almost every household has a mobile phone, it is crucial that there is both government and private sector investment in strengthening and expanding the country’s digital infrastructure,” Mr. Manhit said. “This would give a strategic advantage in addressing the risks brought by the frequent natural calamities the country faces.” — G.M. Cortez

Illegal wildlife trade blamed for diseases brought by animals

THE ENVIRONMENT department would continue efforts to stem the illegal wildlife trade to prevent the spread of microbial infections from animals to humans, an official said on Wednesday.

“To help prevent the infection of people by microbes from animals, we have been cracking down hard on illegal trafficking of wildlife,” Environment Undersecretary Jonas R. Leones told an online news briefing.

He also said the agency supports the World Health Organization (WHO) in trying to cut cases of antimicrobial resistance, which happens when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites resist drugs.

Man-made activities that destroy the environment increase contact between humans and animals and may result in more diseases caused by germs from animals, according to an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Regional Trends report released this month.

“Environmental damage through deforestation, logging and mining increases our exposure to diseases by increasing human-to-animal contact,” it said. 

Citing an earlier study by Stanford University, APEC said increased interactions between animals and humans due to deforestation could cause the spread of new diseases such as the coronavirus.

“The study finds that about 60% of infectious diseases have zoonotic origins, that is, they are caused by the crossover of pathogens from animals to humans,” according to the report.

“The frequency of such occurrences is likely to continue increasing as people destroy more habitats through unsustainable practices,” it added.

In July, Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu cited the need for heavier penalties to curb the illegal wildlife trade. — Angelica Y. Yang

Nationwide round-up (11/18/20)

Senator pushes for creation of water management agency

A SENATOR on Wednesday pushed for the creation of an integrated water resource management agency that will oversee water-related operations to prevent a repeat of severe flooding such as those recently experienced in parts of Luzon. The agency will be tasked to create a long-term and coordinated plan on the use and control of water resources, Senator Francis N. Pangilinan said. “So it’s an integrated approach to managing our water to address the critical need for potable water, irrigation, to address power, and to address flooding,” he said over ABS-CBN News Channel. The proposed agency will consolidate the functions currently performed by the Department of Public Works and Highways, National Irrigation Administration, Local Water Utilities Administration, and Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System. Also on Wednesday, a resolution seeking to conduct an inquiry on “man-made” disaster that may have worsened the impact of Typhoon Ulysses (international name: Vamco) was filed anew in the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri said during Wednesday’s session that the Senate committee on environment and natural resources will conduct the hearing  “for sure next week.” The typhoon left at least 73 people dead, 24 injured and 19 missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). — Charmaine A. Tadalan

Robredo asks Supreme Court to probe possible SolGen-Marcos collusion

VICE President Maria Leonor G. Robredo’s lawyers on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to probe a possible collusion between the Office of the Solicitor General (SolGen) and losing vice presidential candidate Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. relating to the latter’s electoral protest. The SolGen and Mr. Marcos filed on the same day separate motions for the inhibition of Associate Justice Mario Victor F. Leonen who is in charge of the case, citing bias. The high court, sitting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal, on Tuesday denied both pleadings for the inhibition of Mr. Leonen. It also asked Solicitor General Jose C. Calida and the reporter whose articles were cited by the two to explain why they should not be cited in contempt. Ms. Robredo, in the motion, said the state counsel or any of the agencies it represents are not a party to the case, noting that an election protest is a private suit. They also said that the motions filed by Mr. Marcos and the SolGen were “eerily similar.” Ms. Robredo also noted that Mr. Calida “openly, actively and rabidly” campaigned for Mr. Marcos’ bid in the 2016 elections. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Makabayan bloc files resolution for national academic break

THE SIX-MAN Makabayan bloc filed a resolution on Wednesday calling for a declaration of a “national academic break” following the series of typhoons that affected several parts of Luzon. “As the country reels from a global health crisis, its economic impacts, and now from natural calamities, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Briones, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Commissioner Popoy De Vera, and President Rodrigo Duterte should immediately take action now more than ever to assist students and teachers,” the resolution read. The proposed break could also be used as an assessment of the current education set-up, the progressive lawmakers said. Bagong Henerasyon Party-list Bernadette Herrera-Dy, on the other hand, said the continuation of classes amid a state of calamity is “still healthy (for students) than not doing anything at all.” CHED earlier thumbed down calls to declare an academic break. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

364,00 informal sector workers get emergency employment

A total of 364,00 informal sector workers have been processed for emergency employment assistance, a Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) official said on Wednesday. DoLE-National Capital Region Director Sarah Buena S. Mirasol said over P100 million has been allocated for the beneficiaries. “More than P100 million are for implementation in different local government units,” she said in a mix of Filipino and English during a briefing. The beneficiaries will be paid the daily minimum wage rate of Metro Manila. — Gillian M. Cortez 

On Duterte’s rant: Robredo says public service not a ‘competition’

THE PRESIDENT should not treat public service as a “competition,” Vice President Maria Leonor G. Robredo said Wednesday after the country’s leader ranted on her typhoon relief and recovery efforts during a televised address Tuesday night. President Rodrigo R. Duterte lashed at Ms. Robredo, who heads the opposition party, for allegedly telling lies regarding his management of the emergency response and overstepping her authority. “The President was fed with wrong information. On my part, I never sought for his whereabouts during the crisis and even if (he) checks on my recent statements, posts, he would not see that I was asking for his whereabouts,” Ms. Robredo told reporters. “The President should go after the one who is feeding him wrong information. I was removed from the Cabinet also based on a false information… and it’s happening again now,” she added. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Regional Updates (11/18/20)

Occidental Mindoro’s first-aid bikes

Occidental Mindoro has acquired motorbikes customized with a first-aid kit that will be used by quick response teams of the provincial disaster management office. “These Rescue Motorcycles… are intended to deliver immediate emergency treatment, especially in areas inaccessible to four-wheel vehicles,” Governor Eduardo B. Gadiaono said in a statement in Filipino posted on the provincial government’s Facebook page. The motorbikes will also be used during disaster response operations. Occidental Mindoro, located off the southwestern side of Luzon, was among the provinces inundated by the recent typhoons Quinta (international name: Molave) and Ulysses (Vamco).

Australia commits another P28.5-M aid to typhoon-hit Bicol

THE Australian government has committed an additional P28.52 million for response measures on the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Rolly (international name: Goni) in the Bicol Region. “This commitment will contribute to the collective response from the humanitarian community in the Philippines and will directly assist 23,345 affected people including 2,990 women and girls including the pregnant and nursing mothers,” the Australian Embassy said in a statement on Wednesday. Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steven J. Robinson said the support is “even more critical following Typhoon Ulysses (Vamco) that caused further hardship for the people in the Bicol Region.” In the immediate aftermath of Typhoon Rolly, which first made landfall on Nov. 1, Australia sent prepositioned humanitarian supplies through the Philippine Red Cross and the United National Population Fund worth about P6.48 million.

BTA passes resolution supporting extension of Bangsamoro transition to 2025

THE Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) has formalized its support to the call for an extension of the regional government’s transition period by another three years to end in 2025. In a resolution adopted on Nov. 17, the BTA asked both chambers of Congress to pass a law extending the transition, which started in 2019 and is supposed to conclude by 2022, in time for the national and local elections. Member of Parliament (MP) Jose I. Lorena, one of the principal authors of the resolution, said the extension will give the BTA sufficient time to carry out its mandate and programs under the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Mr. Lorena, a former undersecretary at the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, noted in the resolution that the extension is not for the term of parliament members but the transition period. MP Mohagher Iqbal, also the region’s education minister, said the extension is crucial for ensuring the successful implementation of the normalization process under the peace agreement. “I beg to disagree, (with some) observation, that this is self-serving for our part… This is for our people,” Mr. Iqbal said. The resolution was passed during BTA’s regular session on Tuesday wherein Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim also led the ceremonial signing of the Bangsamoro Administrative Code. “Just the other week we have inaugurated our blueprint for the future of the Bangsamoro, today, we are letting everyone know we have the very governance mechanism that will put into operation everything we have planned to undertake,” Bangsamoro Parliament Speaker  Pangalian M. Balindong said in his speech. — MSJ

31 areas still without power supply

ELECTRICITY has been restored in 300 cities and municipalities while 142 areas already have partial supply, and 31 are still awaiting the completion of repair works, according to the National Electrification Administration’s (NEA) report issued on Tuesday evening. Restoration works for the distribution lines of electric cooperatives have been ongoing in areas affected by Typhoon Ulysses (international name: Vamco). These include parts of the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, and Bicol. NEA also said electric cooperatives in the flood-stricken province of Cagayan have so far fully restored distribution services to Tuguegarao City, the capital, and 21 of the 28 towns. — Angelica Y. Yang

‘Food Basket for Metro Manila’ project launched

THE DEPARTMENT of Agriculture (DA) launched a P2.5-million project in Rizal that aims to increase the supply of vegetables and other agricultural commodities to Metro Manila. Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said the “Food Basket for Metro Manila” project that will be initially implemented in 110 hectares of rice and vegetables farm areas in the town of San Mateo. “This latest DA project will also cover other appropriate cities and municipalities in Rizal, including other nearby provinces in CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon), surrounding Metro Manila,” Mr. Dar said. He added that San Mateo can later serve as a model production area for Metro Manila, where farm technologies can be introduced with focus on high-value products. DA-CALABARZON Regional Director Arnel V. de Mesa has been directed to immediately get the project rolling so that the first harvest will come in time for the December holidays. Meanwhile, Mr. Dar said that after the devastation brought by typhoons in major production areas across Luzon, farmers should focus on planting fast-harvesting crops on tillable lands. The DA also distributed P807,000 worth of agricultural interventions to typhoon affected farmers in San Mateo, including farm inputs and tools. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

TNT beats Phoenix in series-opener

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

THE TNT Tropang Giga took an early lead in their best-of-five PBA Philippine Cup semifinal affair with the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters after winning the series-opener, 95-92, on Wednesday at the Angeles University Foundation Arena in Pampanga.

TNT bucked a slow start before riding the late heroics of veteran Jayson Castro to get their semifinal push in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) All-Filipino on a winning note.

Jason Perkins got the attack of Phoenix going in the opening quarter, towing his team to an early 8-2 lead.

The Fuel Masters used it as a springboard to go on and secure a 24-16 advantage after the first 12 minutes.

In the second quarter, TNT began to claw its way back, levelling the count at 28-all by the 6:44 mark.

The teams jostled after with Phoenix eventually managing to squeeze in a one-point cushion, 37-36, at the break.

Roger Pogoy got it going at the start of the third canto, accounting for eight of the team’s 11 points in the first four minutes to push his team to a 47-39 lead.

The Tropang Giga extended their advantage further to 54-42 by the midway point of the frame.

Phoenix tried to regain some ground but still found itself down, 67-61, heading into the final quarter.

But the Fuel Masters were unrelenting in its charge back, outscoring the Tropang Giga, 9-3, on the lead of RJ Jazul, to tie the score at 70-all with 9:27 remaining.

The game stayed tight after with the teams still knotted at 81-all at the 4:29 mark.

TNT then strung four straight points in the next 30 seconds to go up, 85-81.

It would stay ahead, 85-83, entering the last two minutes before Ray Parks Jr. hit another basket to make it 87-83 with 1:45 to go.

Calvin Abueva, however, got an and-1 play to push Phoenix to within one point, 87-86, after 13 seconds.

But Mr. Castro got the three points back when he drained a three-pointer with 1:14 left to give TNT more breathing space, 90-86. 

Off a timeout, the Fuel Masters went once again to Mr. Abueva, who scored a deuce with 54 ticks left to make it a 90-88 affair.

Mr. Castro rose to the challenge anew, draining a basket in the paint to extend their lead back to four, 92-88, with 26 seconds remaining.

Phoenix sued for time after to set up a play.

Mr. Jazul pushed his team to within a point, 92-91, with a triple with 20 seconds left on the clock.

The Fuel Masters then fouled guard Simon Enciso off a TNT timeout.

Mr. Enciso split his charities to still open the door for Phoenix, 93-91, with 19 seconds to go.

Off the rebound, the Fuel Masters attacked the basket with Mr. Perkins getting fouled with seven seconds left.

Unfortunately, the Phoenix big man was not able to tie the count as he went 1-of-2 from the foul line, leaving his team still down by one, 93-92.

The Fuel Masters then fouled Mr. Castro, who coolly sank his free throws to make it a three-point lead for TNT, 95-91, with five ticks left.

Alex Mallari tried to tie the score for Phoenix but his desperation trey did not connect, preserving the win for TNT.

Mr. Castro top-scored for the Tropang Giga, finishing with 20 points, to go along with six rebounds and six assists.

Mr. Parks ended up with 17 points while Mr. Pogoy had 16.

For Phoenix, it was Mr. Jazul who showed the way with 21 markers.

The Fuel Masters played much of the contest without leading scorer Matthew Wright, who hurt his ankle in the first quarter.

Game Two of the semifinal series is on Friday at 6:30 p.m.

NEDA sees less severe drop in overseas worker remittances

THE National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said the contraction in overseas Filipino worker remittances this year could be “much lower” than previously forecast after strong inflows in September.

NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie G. Edillon said the agency is taking the view that the drop in remittances could be less than the 2% assumption adopted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Remittance inflows rose 9.3% year on year to $2.601 billion in September, reversing the 4.1% decline seen the month before. On a month-on-month basis, remittances grew 4.8%.

In the nine months to September, remittance inflows fell 1.4% to $21.886 billion.

The BSP’s projection of a 2% drop is itself an upgrade over an earlier forecast of a 5% contraction.

“We think it will be much lower than (the BSP’s forecast) because it has actually turned positive… So overall, we’re probably looking at less than 2% contraction (this year),” Ms. Edillon said at an online briefing Wednesday.

She said health workers overseas are expected to retain their jobs during the pandemic as they are deemed essential to their host countries’ economies.

Remittances are typically counted on to drive household spending in the Philippines but layoffs and business closures overseas at the height of the pandemic had raised the possibility that remittances could drop off severely.

The steepest declines were reported in April and May, when inflows declined 16% and 19% year on year, respectively.

“Right now, we are seeing a reversal in the trend in terms of our remittances,” Ms. Edillon said. — Beatrice M. Laforga

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