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Gov’t to expand testing as cases top 40,000

THE GOVERNMENTaims to expand testing for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) even as it continues to struggle with meeting targets and the total number of positive cases in the country exceeded 40,000 on Friday.

Palace Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, in a briefing, said the government can go beyond its prioritized categories to include even those without symptoms and other frontliners following the procurement of 10 million test kits.

As of mid-June, the country had a testing capacity of 42,000 per day, based on President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s report to Congress. However, Department of Health (DoH) data showed only an average of 11,5000 were being conducted.

“Kasama na rin po ang mga asymptomatic at posibleng makasama na rin po iyong iba pang mga frontliners gaya po ng media. Iti-test din po natin iyong iba pang mga ahensya ng gobyerno na nagsisilbing mga frontliners (The asymptomatic and possibly other frontliners like the media will be included. We will also test other agencies of the government that serve as frontliners),” Mr. Roque said.

The national task force handling the COVID-19 response and the DoH will soon issue guidelines on the expanded testing, he added.

Less than 1% of the country’s total population have undergone testing so far. The DoH said it aims to test 1.5% of the population by the end of July.

Meanwhile, the DoH reported 1,513 additional cases on Friday, bringing the total to 40,336.

The DoH said the latest additional cases consisted of 688 fresh cases, or those reported in the last three days, and 843 late cases.

The fresh cases camefrom only 57 out of the 70 accredited testing labs.

An additional 400 recoveries were also reported, bringing the total to 11,073, while deaths reached 1,280 with an additional six.

PETITION
In a related development, former Social Welfare Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo led a group that filed a plea before the Supreme Court (SC) to compel the government to provide free COVID-19 testing to the public.

Ms. Taguiwalo, who heads the Citizens’ Urgent Response to End COVID-19 (CURE COVID), and 10 other petitioners said in their filing that the virus”continues to lurk and spread in communities” and it is the obligation of the government to protect Filipinos from the virus. — Gillian M. Cortez

Restrictions on salon services, other activities eased

THE GOVERNMENT has further eased restrictions in areas still under the general community quarantine (GCQ) category, including salon and travel agency operations, sports activities, and religious gatherings.

Palace Spokesperson Harry L. Roque announced Friday that the national task force handling the coronavirus crisis response has issued Resolution No. 51 containing the new guidelines.

Under the new rules, religious activities by July 10 will no longer be limited to 10 people, but 10% of the venue’s capacity

“Magkakaroon muna po tayo ng dry run na 10% itong mga darating na linggo . Pero iyong 10% po na allowed na ang lahat ay magsisimula po iyan ng (There will be a dry run of the 10% in the coming week, but that 10% will only be allowed starting) July 10,” he said.

The “dry run” is intended to ensure that minimum public health protocols are observed, such as distancing and wearing of face mask.

For travel agencies, partial operations with a skeleton workforce will be allowed for processing of refunds on cancelled bookings.

Salons and barber shops will be able to expand services from the current rule of just basic haircuts.

Mr. Roque said this will take effect after the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) issues the detailed guidelines.

In sports, professional basketball and football teams can resume practices and conditioning.

The Philippine Basketball Association and the Philippine Football Federation have submitted their respective proposals on how they will conduct training amid the continued coronavirus threat. — Gillian M. Cortez

Lapu-Lapu City mayor asks council to pass law for informant’s reward vs face mask violators

LAPU-LAPU City Mayor Junard Q. Chan has asked the local council to pass a law that will allow “citizen’s arrest” against those not wearing a face mask in public after the city recorded 86 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday.

In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Mr. Chan said his proposal does not necessarily involve actual arrests to be undertaken by private individuals, but reporting violators to the police or the local government hotline.

Informants must provide a video or photo as proof of the violation.

Half of the monetary fine set for mask violators will be given to the informant. The rates, based on a local ordinance, are currently set at P1,000 for the 1st offense and P2,000 for succeeding violations.

Other local governments have stiffer fines ranging from P5,000 to as much as P50,000.

“There are wars better fought together,” Mr. Chan said as he urged the public to follow the face mask policy to help contain local transmissions.

The mayor noted that among the 86 new cases, 12 are police officers who have been on the frontline to ensure health safety protocols are implemented, including wearing of face mask.

“For our estimated 500,000 population in the city, we only have 450 police officers, which means each cop needs to monitor 1,100 people,” he wrote in Visayan.

Lapu-Lapu, a highly urbanized city located in Mactan island in Cebu, had 775 coronavirus disease 2019 cases as of July 2.

Of the total confirmed cases, 635 are active, 115 have recovered including the mayor, and 25 died.

Cebu City in mainland Cebu is considered the new COVID-19 epicenter in the country after an outbreak in recent weeks increased cases to over 6,000, the highest among all major cities, including those in Metro Manila.

Cebu City, which serves as the provincial and regional center, has been placed under strict lockdown with additional cops and special force troopers deployed to help implement quarantine protocols. — Marifi S. Jara

P244M smuggled PPE, medical supplies seized

THE BUREAU of Customs confiscated P244 million worth of smuggled personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical supplies during the lockdown in Metro Manila, the Department of Finance (DoF) reported on Friday.

Citing a report from Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero, DoF said the items were collected from March 25 to May 31 when”unscrupulous traders”tried to take advantage of the coronavirus crisis.

“Moreover, profiling/targeting of imported shipments suspected to contain contraband and other smuggled articles were intensified. As a result a total of P244.4 million-worth of smuggled/counterfeit/unregistered PPE and medicines were seized by the Bureau,” Mr. Guerrero was quoted in the DoF statement.

He added that they also issued 10 Letters of Authority to inspect suspected people and establishments selling or storing the smuggled goods.

The seized items were taken into custody by the bureau after owners failed to present required import documents.

The seizures were made in various warehouses and shops in the cities of Manila and Pasay.

Among these are: P70 million worth of PPE and Chinese medicines not registered with the Food and Drug Administration at a warehouse in Singalong, Manila; P80 million worth of masks, gloves, goggles and medicine from a place at HK Sun Plaza along Macapagal Blvd., Pasay City; P50 million worth of medical equipment and supplies from Omnibus Biomedical Systems; P30 million worth of PPE from ELJ1 Medical Shop in Sta. Cruz, Manila; P9 million worth of protective gears from Medica Outlet in Rizal Avenue, Manila; P5 million worth of PPE, alcohol, thermal scanners, test tubes and syringes from Philmed Dynasty Supplies Corp. in Binondo, Manila; and various medicines and medical supplies from Ton Ren Tang Chinese Medication in Binondo, Manila. — Beatrice M. Laforga

Duterte off to Zamboanga to talk to military, police after Jolo incident

PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte flew to Zamboanga City Friday to help ease tension among government forces after the June 29 shooting incident in Jolo, Sulu where four army intelligence officers were killed by cops.

Palace Spokesperson Harry L. Roque said early Friday that the President will meet with the military and police forces separately.

Mr. Duterte was scheduled to talk to military troops late afternoon Friday at the Edwin Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga City.

“Pupulungin po niya separately ang kapulisan at ang kasundaluhan (He will have a separate meeting with the police and soldiers),” Mr. Roque said.

The President will also talk to the nine police officers involved in the shooting, all of whom have already been relieved from their posts and under police custody.

The police and the National Bureau of Investigation are conducting separate probes on the incident.

“Nandoon po ang Presidente para magbigay assurance na makakamit po ang katarungan (The President will be there to give assurance that justice will be served),”Mr. Roque said.

The police initially called the shooting incident a “misencounter,” but the military said their officers were “murdered” as they were unarmed while on an intelligence gathering mission relating to members of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf.

After Zamboanga, Mr. Roque said the President might head to his hometown Davao City and stay there until early next week. — Gillian M. Cortez

BDO raises P36 billion from bond offer

BDO UNIBANK, Inc. has raised P36 billion from fixed-rate bonds as part of its bid to diversify its funding sources.

The Sy-led lender said in a filing with the local bourse on Friday that the bond offer was over seven times oversubscribed versus the P5-billion program amid robust demand from individual and institutional investors.

“The latest bond issuance is part of BDO’s continuing efforts to diversify its funding sources and support its lending activities,” BDO said in a statement on Friday.

The bonds have a tenor of 1.75 years and carry a coupon rate of 3.125% per annum. Interest payment will be made quarterly, calculated on a 30/360 basis.

The offer period for the bonds began on June 15 and ended on June 26.

The bonds were exclusively offered through BDO Trust & Investments Group and BDO Private Bank Trust.

Standard Chartered Bank served as the sole lead arranger and market maker for the transaction. Meanwhile, BDO and BDO Private Bank, Inc. were the selling agents for the bonds.

In January, BDO raised P40.1 billion via bonds with a tenor of 2.5 years and a rate of 4.408% per annum. The papers were issued in February.

BDO’s net income dropped 10.2% to P8.8 billion in the first quarter from P9.8 billion a year ago as weak markets hit the bank’s investment portfolio.

BDO’s shares closed at P99.95 apiece on Friday, down by 55 centavos or 0.55% from the previous day. — LWTN

Peso surges to three-year high

The peso climbed versus the dollar on Friday to its strongest level in over three years on progress in the development of a vaccine for the coronavirus and better economic data overseas.

The local unit finished trading at P49.55 per dollar on Friday, rising by 18 centavos from the P49.73 close on Thursday, data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines showed.

Week-on-week, the currency also appreciated by 37 centavos from its P49.92 finish on June 26.

The peso opened the session at P49.70 per dollar, which was also its intraday low. Meanwhile, its best showing was at its close of P49.55.

Dollars traded rose to $758.3 million from the $615.66 million recorded on Thursday.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said the peso was supported by prospects of a vaccine for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as well as better data from the US.

“The peso exchange rate closed the strongest in more than three years or since June 14, [2017]’s close of P49.505, after stronger-than-expected US jobs data and positive developments on possible vaccine versus COVID-19 led to improved global market risk appetite,” Mr. Ricafort said in a text message.

Reuters reported that data from the US Labor Department showed non-farm payrolls climbed by 4.8 million jobs in June, a record high since the government started keeping records in 1939. This, as more restaurants and bars reopened as restrictions have been eased.

On the other hand, a trader attributed the peso’s gains to improvement in China’s services sector.

“The peso strengthened further after Chinese services data came out stronger-than-expected, spurring optimism of gradual recovery in the global economy,” the trader said in an email.

Reuters reported the Caixin/Markit services Purchasing Managers’ Index increased to 58.4, the highest reading since April 2010, from the 55 logged in May. A reading above 50 shows expansion.

China’s services sector accounts for 60% of the country’s economy and half of urban job creation. — LWTN with Reuters

Philippine non-food and industrial crop production ‘mixed’ in first quarter

PRODUCTION of four major non-food and industrial crops, namely coffee, rubber, sugarcane, and cacao, rose in the first quarter of 2020, while the output of abaca fiber, coconut, and tobacco declined, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

In its major non-food and industrial crops quarterly bulletin, the PSA said that abaca fiber production fell 5.7% year on year to 14,953 metric tons (MT) in the first quarter.

The Bicol Region was the top abaca producer, accounting for 43.2% or 6,461 MT, followed by Eastern Visayas at 15% or 2,244 MT, and the Davao Region at 12% or 1,801 MT.

Coconut production fell 5.1% year on year to 3.14 million MT.

The Davao Region led in coconut production, accounting for 15.5% or 487,292 MT, followed by Zamboanga Peninsula at 14.1% or 442,310 MT, and Northern Mindanao at 13.6% or 426,179 MT.

Tobacco production fell 0.5% year on year to 12,717 MT

The Ilocos Region was the country’s top tobacco producer, accounting for 89.2% or 11,349 MT, followed by the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) at 8.2% or 1,037 MT, and Cagayan Valley at 1.8% or 232 MT.

Meanwhile, coffee production rose 0.3% year on year to 17,220 MT.

SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Cotabato City, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City) was the top coffee producer, growing up 31.9% or 5,499 MT, followed by the Davao Region at 13.9% or 2,391 MT, and Northern Mindanao at 12.5% or 2,146 MT.

Robusta coffee was the top coffee variety at 69.2% or 11,923 MT, followed by Arabica coffee at 21.9% or 3,764 MT, and Excelsa coffee at 8.3% or 1,431 MT.

Rubber production rose 0.04% year on year to 45,754 MT.

SOCCSKSARGEN led the country’s rubber production, accounting for 40.9% or 18,700 MT, followed by the Zamboanga Peninsula at 40% or 18,295 MT, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) at 7.3% or 3,351 MT.
Sugarcane production rose 6.9% year on year to 12.52 million MT.

Western Visayas was the top sugarcane producing region, growing 52.6% or 6.59 million MT, followed by Northern Mindanao at 16.9% or 2.11 million MT, and Central Visayas at 12.4% or 1.55 million MT.

Cacao production rose 16.7% year on year to 2,011 MT.

The Davao Region led the country’s cacao production at 79.2% or 1,592 MT, followed by the Zamboanga Peninsula at 3.3% or 66.59 MT, and Northern Mindanao at 3.1% or 62.59 MT.

The PSA estimated in May that the country’s total crop production fell 2.1% year on year in the first quarter of 2020.

Despite posting a decline, the crops sector accounted for the highest share of agricultural output at 54.9%. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

RCEF farmer training programs to continue despite pandemic

TRAINING programs for farmers under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) will continue after being redesigned to minimize health risks amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

In a statement, RCEF-Rice Extension Services Program Technical Working Group chair Rosana P. Mula said that modifications in the programs’ learning approach and delivery will be implemented to optimize learning.

Ms. Mula said the Farmers’ Field School on the production of high-quality inbred rice and seeds and farm mechanization was redesigned to reduce the number of contact days while ensuring that rice production principles and practices are taught.

“The field school is complemented with radio-based education, technical briefings during seed distribution, and information materials in various formats,” Ms. Mula said.

Within six years, some 2 million farmers are projected to be taught about modern rice production using different learning platforms, while around 300,000 farmers are expected to enroll as scholars of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in the season-long Farmers’ Field School.

Meanwhile, RCEF-Rice Extension Services Program Technical Working Group vice-chair Karen Eloisa T. Barroga said the Rice Specialists Training Course will soon pilot-test a combination of online lectures and hands-on, face-to-face learning.

Ms. Barroga said the training course is geared towards helping farmers by developing technical skills such as field problems diagnostic skills.

“However, given our situation, we will now require trainees to establish techno demos right at their areas and come to the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) for only a week for their field practicum,” Ms. Barroga added.

In addition, trainers are scheduled to undergo trainer courses while some 200 to 300 graduates of previous rice production season-long training courses will be given an online refresher course made by PhilRice and the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI). The online refresher course will be accessible through ATI’s eLearning site.

The RCEF-Rice Extension Services Program is a part of Republic Act. No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law which aims to boost the capacity of rice farmers. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

IPOPHL and PIDS to conduct IP research, policy analysis

The country’s intellectual property office will work with government think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) on intellectual property research projects and policy analyses.

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) said in a press release on Friday that it signed a memorandum of understanding with PIDS to share information and resources to cooperate on research, capacity building, and policy recommendations.

The memorandum was signed by IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba and PIDS President Celia M. Reyes in an online event on June 30.

Mr. Barba said the partnership will boost Philippine intellectual property amid a need for solutions for the health crisis.

“Creating a vibrant scene for IP research will fulfill our broader goals of raising IP awareness and formulating policies that capture the current and long-term needs of businesses, innovators, and creative industries,” he said.

“With the government think tank now as our partner, we hope to generate more studies to promote greater use of the IP system which can help the country achieve its economic, scientific, cultural, and sustainable development goals.”

Ms. Reyes in turn said that the parties will combine resources and pool their experts for research.

“We hope we can jointly organize policy dialogues to further discussions on IP and innovation. In addition, PIDS has a wide network of research partners who can be tapped to further the objectives of our partnership,” she said. — Jenina P. Ibañez

Dito eyes 1,300 cell towers completed by October

Dennis A. Uy’s Dito Telecommunity Corp. is expecting to finish the construction of 1,300 cell towers — the number of towers needed to meet regulatory requirements — by October.

On Thursday, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) announced that it had approved the appeal of the telecommunications firm to extend its technical audit, which the latter said did not affect its technical runs.

“The only thing that we asked to be moved is our audit,” Dito Chief Administrative Officer Adel. A Tamano clarified to reporters in a virtual briefing on Friday.

The NTC moved Dito’s technical audit to Jan. 7 next year, from the earlier July 8 schedule.

It is stated in Dito’s certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) that in its first year of operations, it must meet a target coverage of 37% of the country’s population and a speed of 27 megabits per second (Mbps).

According to Rodolfo D. Santiago, Dito’s chief technology officer, of the 1,300 target cell sites it needs to reach the required coverage, 300 have already been completed and can run as a network, while 500 have towers erected but are yet to have support facilities installed.

These sites are self-built and are located on private properties. Mr. Santiago said the construction of the target sites can be completed by October.

Dito has already conducted some technical tests, albeit internally, since March. These tests could have been done in public if not for the lockdown, the company noted.

“We’ve already done our first phone calls and there are a number of our sites that are already live, so [these] were not affected,” Mr. Tamano said.

He said the company had conducted a series of domestic technical calls via its own network in five areas in the country, as well as some international calls to Hong Kong and Beijing.

Meanwhile, the company still has its CPCN-granted remediation periods, the time when it can rectify faults in construction and preliminary operations, despite moving its technical audit.

“The extension does not affect the number of remediation periods we have,” Mr. Tamano said.

Even if it failed to meet some of its regulatory requirements in January next year, Dito claimed it can still proceed with its commercial run.

“We are on track for our commercial launch this March 2021 and we are moving heaven and earth to make that happen,” Mr. Tamano said.

Dito has allotted P150 billion for capital expenditure to start operations as the country’s third telecommunications player. — Adam J. Ang

Robust rental business lifts Anchor Land profits by 61%

Anchor Land Holdings, Inc.’s earnings surged 61% to P205.72 million in the first quarter due to double-digit growth in its rental business.

In a regulatory filing, the upscale property developer said revenue from its rental operations jumped 80% to P304.96 million because of higher rental income from its Baylife Venue and The Centrium projects in Parañaque City.

It also saw recurring rental income from projects such as One Soler, One Logistics Center, One Shopping Center, Two Shopping Center, and commercial facilities in condominium buildings.

However, the growth in the rental segment was offset by a 54% drop in real estate sales, which stood at P578.88 million at the end of the period. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic lockdowns stopped construction work on its ongoing projects, delaying new launches.

Consolidated revenues for the three months posted a 37% year-on-year decline to P1.03 billion.

But the topline drop was tempered by the 49% decrease in costs and expenses, which stood at P729.52 million at the end of the period. This resulted in a higher bottomline for the quarter.

In a statement, Anchor Land President Digna Elizabeth Ventura said the company continues to be bullish for the rest of the year despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are committed to our property development strategies and strengthening our stronghold in Manila Chinatown and in the Bay City,” she was quoted as saying.

“Despite the disruption to economic activities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we remain prudent in our risk management and business continuity strategies,” Ms. Ventura added.

Anchor Land Vice-Chairman and CEO Steve Li also said the company’s strategy remains “geared towards sustaining our growth momentum by building our leasable portfolio.”

Shares in Anchor Land at the stock exchange gained 20 centavos or 2.30% to close at P8.89 each on Friday. — Denise A. Valdez

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