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Luzon-wide transport ban hurts the poor, subverts public health

Kailangan ng taong pumunta sa palengke para bumili ng pagkain, sa botika para bumili ng gamot, at sa ospital para magpa-check-up o magpa-opera. Paano makararating sa ospital ang buntis para manganak at si lola para magpa-dialysis kung walang pampublikong transportasyon? (People need to go to the market to buy food, to the drugstore to buy medicine, to the hospital for a check-up or an operation. How can the pregnant women get to the hospital to give birth or the grandmother for her dialysis if there is no public transportation?)

In an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, the island of Luzon has been placed under “enhanced community quarantine,” which includes a total ban on public transport. This means that while essential trips — such as those related to healthcare and food — are allowed, there are no trains, buses, jeepneys, utility vehicles, and tricycles, except for those identified as shuttle services for frontliners and the occasional ordinary citizen.

While the health objectives of the quarantine are understandable, this blanket policy must be relaxed to allow limited public transport operations that can serve all essential trips of frontline workers and ordinary citizens (e.g., for food, healthcare, medicine).

First, a ban that allows only private cars, bicycles, or walking does not consider the reality of our city. A 2015 study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency found that only 12% of Metro Manila households have a car. Currently, there is no need for a study to see that Metro Manila is ill-equipped for cyclists and pedestrians.

Second, government-operated shuttles for frontline workers — while commendable efforts — are insufficient and do not provide direct access to their homes. Beyond trunkline services, many are left without proper first and last mile connections.

Third, the ban fails to consider citizens who cannot walk and who, additionally, may need access to regular healthcare services. While hospitals typically have ambulances to transport patients that need urgent attention, these vehicles are not enough to serve all citizens that require access to services such as pregnancy checkups, chemotherapy, or dialysis. Practically speaking, ambulances may also be too wide to pass through some neighborhoods.

Fourth, it should be noted that many other cities dealing with COVID-19 have kept public transport operational. In Singapore, public transport workers are considered as frontline staff, together with healthcare workers, civil servants, and cleaning staff. In Daegu, South Korea, the capacity of public transport was increased to avoid crowding and to allow people to observe social distancing measures. In Europe, while the European Commission has proposed the restriction of non-essential travel to the European Union for 30 days, the mobility sector was not brought to a halt — fast lanes were even designated to give priority to essential travel. In China, while mass transit was suspended in Wuhan, the original epicenter of the pandemic, other major cities such as Shenzhen kept public transport operating at reduced capacity.

The suspension of mass transit in Luzon has led to grave consequences for our fellow Filipinos. Expectant mothers are left with no means to go to the hospital. Cancer and dialysis patients are forced to walk for hours to access essential treatments. Healthcare workers with no access to shuttle services or alternative transport modes are compelled to walk home after their 24-hour shifts. Ordinary citizens have limited access to basic needs such as food and healthcare.

With the onset of the dry season, walking several kilometers under the heat of the sun becomes more difficult, especially for patients, persons with disability, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups, and this may negatively impact their immune system against COVID-19 and other illnesses. For the less able, these barriers make access to basic needs extremely difficult, if not downright Impossible.

In order to provide essential mobility for all while observing necessary health protocols to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) must allow local government units to:

1. Identify skeletal public transport routes necessary to serve essential trips for frontliners, healthcare workers, and even ordinary citizens within their locality, provided that safety measures are strictly observed. These public transport services may include buses and jeepneys, and should serve main transit corridors.

2. Permit tricycle operations at limited capacity, provided that safety measures are strictly observed. Tricycles can provide a point-to-point transport option for the 88% who do not have cars to take necessary trips, similar to how car owners are able to access necessities while practicing social distancing.

In his Memorandum dated March 16, Executive Secretary Medialdea noted that establishments providing basic necessities related to food, medicine, banking, energy, water, telecommunications, and media, shall remain operational, along with the skeletal workforce of export-oriented companies.

Based on the July 2019 Labor Force Survey, the National Capital Region has an estimated 5.4 million labor force. On a high-level analysis, it is estimated that 11.8% of this work in the services mentioned above. This equates to around 637,200 people who need transport options to enable them to continue working for the establishments. If we are to serve 50% of this daily demand (~320,000 daily trips), and assuming that each trip of a bus and a tricycle will be limited to 20 passengers and one passenger each, respectively, then a high-level analysis shows that we need to provide:

1. 1,000 buses doing 10 trips per day = 200,000 person-trips; and,

2. 6,000 tricycles doing 20 trips per day = 120,000 person-trips.

These must be deployed in various critical routes identified by the LGUs and the IATF-EID to sufficiently serve the necessary work.

Moreover, normal citizens that need to access food and healthcare must be provided public transport services so that their families can remain healthy. According to the PSA 2016 Household Population Survey, Metro Manila has an estimated 3.1 million households. Assuming that these households each take one necessary trip per week, then it is estimated that around 440,000 trips need to be done per day. To serve 50% of this demand (~220,000 daily trips) and assuming the same passenger capacities as above, government is recommended to provide an additional:

1. 500 buses doing 10 trips per day = 100,000 person-trips; and,

2. 6,000 tricycles doing 20 trips per day = 120,000 person-trips

Safety measures must of course be observed for all transport operations. This should include, but not be limited to: providing protective equipment to drivers; restricting passengers per trip to half of the vehicle capacity for PUVs (e.g., 20 people for buses), and to one passenger for tricycles; installing physical barriers between the driver and passenger/s; limiting human contact when giving cash payments; observing social distancing even while queueing; providing regular disinfection services to all operational vehicles; and regulating the number and service hours of PUVs and tricycles on the road.

Public transport is a public health issue. By making necessary or unavoidable trips inconvenient and unsafe for frontline workers and ordinary citizens, we are exposing our people to unnecessary risks during an already difficult time. We need to provide our people with clean, efficient, and safe public transport for essential, unavoidable trips. Without these safe options, we are putting our people at risk of getting unnecessarily tired, going hungry, and ultimately being more vulnerable to contracting COVID-19.

 

Sarah Arrojado, Regina Mora, and Jedd Ugay are members of AltMobility PH, a group of urban transport experts advocating for sensible and humane transport policies. AltMobility PH is a partner of Action for Economic Reforms.

Keeping your distance

By Tony Samson

MAYBE what’s uncomfortable about quarantines and lockdowns of borders of whole cities and countries, aside from the obvious impeding of the freedom of movement, is that there seems to be no difference between authoritarian regimes and democracies in addressing the contagion risk. Even the scenes of empty streets and masked stragglers come from the same horror movie. What the government decrees is automatically imposed and followed, yes, for the good of the community. Maybe the democracies moved a little bit more slowly fearing resistance from the governed. But they followed the early movers anyway.

True, the democracies are openly accosted by both traditional and social media. Freedom of speech still distinguishes the type of government in place. So opinions are given free rein. But even these normally vociferous bystanders (including critics in chat groups) questioning political motives and the clumsy delivery of messages and services are hushed into silence by their peers — let’s just trust our leaders and cooperate. Any questioning of controls on what is allowed or forbidden is dismissed as dysfunctional behavior apt to spread the contagion even faster, referring to the virus. Can we just flatten the curve?

Staying home, not always necessarily working from it, gives rise to “cabin fever,” associated with isolation in confined quarters in the wilderness causing restlessness and unusual sleep patterns. Ironically, the same phrase for cruise ships caught at sea has a literal meaning. The imposed quarantine and its disruption of routine opens up new preoccupations especially the latest contagion count. Idleness somehow drives us to find out what is happening out there, and when the prison gates of home might open.

Social distancing has become a common phrase. Even weeks before the strict quarantine, when Wuhan was just part of the international news, people have half-jokingly already dispensed with the air kiss and the handshake, preferring the fist bump or just locking eyes and raising eyebrows.

Has the admonition of keeping your distance resulted in distancing from one another? Social rules have been upended from a lack of physical contact and switching now to chats. It seems to be a social decree to stick to only one topic of conversation, the plague. Posts have to do with news on the latest head count of infections, deaths and cures. Related topics include affliction of friends and neighbors, possible cures, community hot spots, available delivery services and helpful tips (put the clothes you wore outside in a separate plastic bag for the wash). Any deviation from the topic of the month is punished by indifference — as I was saying.

Given the preeminence of the health hazard, even discussions of the impact on the economy from a prolonged shutdown especially for daily wage earners, retailers, and other unnecessary businesses like malls, restaurants, and hotels, is dismissed — are you willing to sacrifice your mother? The trivialization of everything else that used to matter is almost automatic.

Spirituality is on the rise. The call for prayers and generally storming heaven for help is invoked by even the most unlikely chat mates. Religion is becoming the refuge not just of sinners but those fearful of joining the saints tomorrow.

Heroism is extolled. The quiet work of front-liners in the hospitals has been hailed. Not all who “go to work so you can stay home” get the same accolades, like those in barong and face masks in the midst of many tables facing an elevated podium hoisting the same slogan. (Sorry, you need to wear scrubs too.) Working on the expansion of more draconian measures and the opening of the public purse for more than loose change are greeted with mixed reactions. It’s the relief of successfully stopping the blurring of the public and private sector that elicited applause.

Many look forward to the normalization of business and the return of social proximity. Then perhaps we can once again pursue other topics that Alice mentions like “shoes and ships, and sealing wax and cabbages and kings”.

It is from the trivial and irrelevant that we find solace against the world’s horrors. Social distancing is a temporary obligation. But even then, it has not broken human contact and the desire to reach out. The circle has just widened. And as for the other contagion of fellow feeling and sense of community, may it continue to spread… once we distance ourselves from this plague.

343 cases added; budget for volunteers vowed

THE DEPARTMENT of Health (DoH) reported 343 coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) infections on Sunday — a record daily increase — bringing the total to 1,418.

Three more patients — all Filipinos aged 70, 71 and 78 — died, raising the death toll to 71, DoH said in an e-mailed bulletin. The three had underlying conditions such as asthma, hypertension, heart and kidney diseases and diabetes.

Seven more patients aged 13 to 44 have recovered from the virus, bringing the total of those who have gotten well to 42, it said.

Meanwhile, congressmen are willing to allot a budget for wages of volunteer health workers equivalent to what their newly hired counterparts in the government receive, Party-list Rep. Eric G. Yap said on Sunday, as the country fights the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are willing to give them that,” Mr. Yap, who heads the House committee on appropriations, told the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) in Filipino on Sunday.

He said Congress has empowered President Rodrigo R. Duterte to realign as much as P275 billion of the national budget so the government could better fight the pandemic.

“We can try to find more funds if needed,” Mr. Yap said. “That is what we want to suggest to the Executive so our frontliners will be paid well.”

The congressman said he would discuss with Speaker Alan Peter S. Cayetano how to increase the budget for volunteer health workers. Lawmakers would also meet with budget officials to discuss the appropriations, he added.

The Department of Health (DoH) earlier apologized for offering P500 in daily pay to volunteer doctors and nurses during their “month-long contribution,” a rate criticized by some sectors.

Volunteer doctors should be hired and paid at least P50,000 a month, which is the entry-level salary grade for government-hired physicians, while nurses should receive at least P22,000, according to Dr. Geneve Reyes, secretary-general of Health Action for Human Rights.

The government should also shoulder their pay during the 14-day quarantine after their tour of duty, she told ANC yesterday.

“They sacrifice their live for us,” Mr. Yap said, adding that it’s only fitting that they get paid enough.

As of Sunday, almost 700 “health care warriors” have signed up to be assigned at three government hospitals that will exclusively treat COVID-19 patients, DoH said in a statement, adding that the initial rate it had offered was “provisional.”

Mr. Yap also said minimum wage workers would receive a total subsidy of P8,000 per family.

Local government units will identify the families living on minimum wage while the Department of Social Welfare and Development will distribute the funds, he said.

Meanwhile, Albay Rep. Jose Maria Clemente S. Salceda urged the government to broaden the coverage of the emergency subsidy program.

Mr. Salceda, who heads the House ways and means committee, said village officials including secretaries, treasurers and village police officers should also become eligible for frontliner benefits.

“There are serious issues of duplication, because we are using multiple government lists with different members of the same family in each,” the congressman said in a letter to President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

“Of course, when one family gets more than what it has to, another family is getting less or none. It could potentially deprive the underserved, unlisted informal sector,” Mr. Salceda said. “And in the bigger picture, that compromises our quarantine efforts because they will look for livelihood,” Mr. Salceda added. — Genshen L. Espedido

China denies it donated defective COVID-19 kits

CHINA on Sunday denied donating defective COVID-19 test kits that the Department of Health (DoH) found to be only 40% accurate.

The kits it donated to the Philippines were at par with those provided by the World Health Organization, the Chinese Embassy said in a statement, citing DoH.

The defective test kits cited by DoH had not been tested by the Philippines’ Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and were different from those given by the Chinese government, it said.

The virus has sickened more than 1,418 people in the Philippines, killing at least 71. Before March, there were only three confirmed cases in the Philippines — all Chinese nationals — and health authorities have traced the recent increase to faster testing by local laboratories.

Worldwide, about 665,000 people have been infected, with almost 31,000 deaths.

China’s donation included 2,000 RT-PCR test kits — which use the so-called reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction technique — from BGI and 100,000 similar kits from Sansure Biotech, Inc. China has also committed to send medical experts to help the Philippines fight the novel coronavirus outbreak.

“The Chinese Embassy firmly rejects any irresponsible remarks and any attempts to undermine our cooperation in this regard,” it said.

In a social media post, the embassy also cited a message from Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque to Ambassador Huang Xilian attesting to the effectiveness of the donated kits.

“There is nothing wrong with the real time-polymerase chain reaction machine, which is used for generating positive or negative result as the case may be,” the agency quoted Mr. Duque as saying.

“Again, your test kits from BGI and Sansure Biotechnology are very good and up to the standards as those which were donated by WHO and approved by our RITM.”

Meanwhile, the Singapore government has donated 40,000 COVID-19 test kits and two ventilators, on top of the 3,000 test kits and PCR machine it gave the Philippines earlier. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

Gov’t troops to fight back amid COVID-19 cease-fire

THE presidential palace on Sunday said government soldiers would fight back as it accused Maoist rebels of violating their unilateral cease-fire pledge amid a novel coronavirus outbreak.

On Saturday, communist rebels attacked government troops doing community work in connection with the outbreak in the village of Puray in Rodriguez, Rizal province, killing one soldier and hurting two others, presidential spokesman Salvador S. Panelo said in a statement. A communist rebel was also killed.

“This armed attack by the New People’s Army against our soldiers exposes the insincerity of the former in declaring a cease-fire as well as their blatant disregard of the welfare of the Filipino people they claim to fight for,” he said.

The United Nations earlier called for a global armistice in the wake of the global fight against the coronavirus disease 2019.

The botched attack against military personnel was part of the rebels’ attempt to project relevance and power on their 51st founding anniversary on March 29, state-run Philippine News Agency reported, citing a statement from the military.

“They were planning to celebrate their anniversary on March 29 with a bang,” Armed Forces chief of staff Felimon Santos, Jr. said in the statement. — Gillian M. Cortez

#COVID-19 Regional Updates (03/30/20)

LUZON

Police to be stricter in arresting curfew violators

THE PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) will be stricter in the arrest and detention of curfew violators during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) period in Luzon, with a holding period of up to 12 hours for those caught. Police Lieutenant General Guillermo L. Eleazar said the Joint Task Force Coronavirus Shield (JTF CV Shield) has been lenient in its initial implementation, with violators being allowed to go home instead of being detained. “Based on our assessment, the number of curfew violators will just continue to rise if we become lenient on them,” Mr. Eleazar, who heads the JTF CV Shield, said in a statement Sunday. He noted that based on local government unit reports, a total of 42,826 were apprehended from March 17 to March 27, with 12,094 from Metro Manila. President Rodrigo R. Duterte placed the entire Luzon under ECQ until April 13. “If the curfew violators will be released over a decision that the regular filing of the case will be done after the ECQ, curfew violators must be held for a maximum of 12 hours while being admonished so as to deter them from repeating the offense,” he said.- — Charmaine A. Tadalan

VISAYAS

250 negative results out of 272 tested for COVID-19 at VSMMC; 25 cases in Central Visayas

THE VICENTE Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) in Cebu City, the designated sub-national laboratory for COVID-19 testing in the Visayas, reported 250 negative results out of the 272 it conducted in its first four days of operations starting middle of last week. The Department of Health regional office (DoH-7), in a statement late Saturday, said Central Visayas had 25 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of March 28, with 18 in Cebu City. Two are in Lapu-Lapu City and another two, who have both died, were in Negros Oriental. There is one each in Bohol, who has already recovered, Mandaue City, and Cebu province. “One person can undergo more than one test if warranted,” DoH-7 Regional Director Jaime S. Bernadas said in the statement. “We again call on all our citizens to remain calm and follow existing measures currently set in place local authorities. We understand the disruption this has caused our lives but let us remember that measures will only work if we all strictly and conscientiously follow containment and preventive measures,” he said.

WESTERN/EASTERN VISYAS
In Western Visayas, there were 16 confirmed COVID-19 patients as of Saturday afternoon. These are in the following areas based on patient’s residence: Bacolod with 5; Iloilo province, 4; Iloilo City, 2; Aklan, 3; Capiz, 1; and Negros Occidental, 1. The Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City is being readied as a COVID-19 testing facility. In Eastern Visayas, the confirmed case remains at one with 379 patients under investigation.

MINDANAO

SPMC advertises for 60 nurses, 40 house keeping aides; Davao Region COVID-19 cases up to 30

THE SOUTHERN Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao City, one of the designated COVID-19 referral hospitals in the Davao Region, is hiring 60 licensed nurses and 40 administrative aides under the housekeeping division as it tends to patients alongside ensuring the welfare of its frontline health workers. As of Saturday evening, Davao Region had 30 people confirmed with the COVID-19, of which 20 are admitted at SPMC. Two others are at the Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City, while four have recovered and four have died. Based on latest data from the Department of Health regional office, there are over 70 persons under investigation (PUI) admitted in the hospitals and over 7,000 persons under monitoring (PUM). SPMC, which has suspended outpatient services since March 23, has already started carrying out tests as the satellite laboratory for “diagnosis and identification” of suspected COVID-19 patients in Mindanao. The SPMC and its Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine have also launched a phone helpline service for its frontline workers, their families as well as patients.

PUI CENTER
Meanwhile, the Davao City government is preparing five quarantine centers for PUIs, or those exhibiting symptoms of the disease. Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said the PUI centers will help in managing SPMC’s capacity. “There are PUIs who insist on staying in hospitals. As a PUI, if you are not sure that you are positive of COVID-19 but you exhibit symptoms, you are better off in the centers than in the hospitals which have patients with positive cases,” Ms. Duterte-Carpio said Friday as she inspected the planned sites. Among those being readied are the drug rehabilitation center and nearby Bureau of Fire Protection office in Malagos, the Alternative Learning School beside People’s Park, La Vida Inn, and the Queensland Hotel. EMCOR Inc., a distributor of appliances and various other products, has also offered to convert container vans PUI facilities. — Carmelito Q. Francisco and Maya M. Padillo

Nationwide round-up

DTI recommends ‘seniors only’ shopping hour, other measures

THE DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry (DTI) urged supermarkets and pharmacies to adopt measures that will further ease the shopping process as well as improve health protection for senior citizens amid the COVID-19 outbreak. In an advisory, DTI recommended allocating a “seniors only” shopping hour, exclusive entry to avoid the queue when entering establishments, and an express lane in addition to the existing senior citizens lane for those buying 25 items or less. Under Philippine law, senior citizens are those aged at least 60. Interior Secretary Eduardo M. Año last week said senior citizens who live alone should be given quarantine passes following reports that some local government units deny them the passes. — Jenina P. Ibañez

More PPEs needed by private hospitals

DESPITE NUMEROUS donations of personal protective equipment (PPEs) from both foreign and local entities, private hospitals have called for help for sourcing more supply amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. In a radio interview Sunday, Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PHAPi) President Rustico A. Jimenez said private hospitals still need more PPEs since donations are primarily directed to public hospitals. “Meron nakakarating pero kulang at kulang pa rin kasi napakaraming pasyente (We have received some, but this is still very insufficient because there are so many patients),” he said. “Iniiwasan namin na merong namamatay kasi ang latest count ay 12 na ang namatay (We are avoiding deaths because the latest count is that 12 [doctors] have already passed away,” Mr. Jimenez said. — Gillian M. Cortez

370 Filipinos in Italy repatriated

THE DEPARTMENT of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has repatriated 370 Filipinos from three cruise ships docked in Italy, who all arrived on Saturday evening. “The group of repatriates is composed of 248 Filipinos from MV Costa Luminosa from Milan, and a combined number of 122 Filipinos from MV Grandiosa and MV Opera docked in Rome,” DFA said in a statement on Sunday. None of the repatriates were showing symptoms of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but they will still undergo a 14-day facility-based quarantine under the supervision of the Bureau of Quarantine. DFA also reported extending assistance in sending back home more than 700 foreign nationals who were affected by the government’s travel restrictions and flight cancellations by airlines. “More repatriation flights for foreign nationals in the pipeline,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Brigido D. Dulay said in a separate post early Sunday. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

Labor federation reports ‘unjust practices’ by 160 companies amid COVID-19 outbreak

MORE THAN 300 reports of unjust labor practices by 160 companies were recorded by a labor federation through a survey conducted March 19–22 amid the community quarantine measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The Solidarity of Unions in the Philippines for Empowerment and Reforms (SUPER) said it “gathered 318 reports of unjust employer practices of 160 companies.” “These reports include companies that are allegedly using the crisis to justify illegal termination of its workers (11 companies), workers made to work under the “no work, no pay” scheme but without transport being provided; (81 companies), flexible work arrangements but with reduced pay (28 companies), suspension of work without pay (98 companies) coupled with refusal to apply for the financial assistance programs being offered by the Department of Labor and Employment (56 companies),” the federation said. The list of the companies has been sent to the Labor Department and local government units. SUPER is conducting another survey from March 27 to April 5. — Gillian M. Cortez

Nation at a Glance — (03/30/20)

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.

Nation at a Glance — (03/30/20)

Formula One could race into January if necessary

LONDON — Formula One could shorten grand prix weekends and race into January if that helps salvage a season ravaged by the coronavirus, according to Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto.

The opening race in Australia on March 15 was cancelled and the showcase Monaco Grand Prix in May has also been scrapped, the first time since 1954 that it has not featured on the championship calendar.

A further six rounds have been postponed, and more look likely to follow with countries in lockdown, but Formula One bosses have said they hope to get back on track some time in the European summer with a reduced season of 15 to 18 races.

Binotto told Sky Sports Italia that the teams had given the Formula One powers-that-be complete freedom to do what was necessary to have a championship.

“We are in constant dialogue,” he said. “I have felt, along with the other team principals, that these are decisive moments.

“We’ve decided to give complete freedom to (Formula One chairman Chase) Carey and the FIA to put together as soon as possible a timetable for us to get racing again, we are willing on our side.

“We’re assessing various ideas; races closer together, maybe doing two or three races in January, considering also the option of cancelling (Friday) practice.”

Formula One needs a minimum of eight races for a valid championship and the 2020 season is currently due to end in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 29.

The sport normally has a break until launches and pre-season testing in February but, with cars now remaining the same in 2021 with major rule changes deferred a year to save money, there would be little need for that anyway.

“If this allows us to guarantee a more complete 2020 world championship, with the following season not starting until March, there is great availability for that,” said Binotto.

The 2020 championship was originally meant to have a record 22 races, with Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton hoping to equal Michael Schumacher’s record seven titles and surpass the Ferrari great’s unprecedented 91 wins. Hamilton so far has 84 wins.

The Briton could be kept waiting on both accounts if the sport is unable to put together enough races.

Former commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone told Reuters on Friday that he would be very surprised if the sport managed to put together even a reduced season of 15–18 races. — Reuters

Decision on who covers cost of postponing Tokyo Olympic Games seen a ‘challenge’

TOKYO 2020 Olympics organizing committee president Yoshiro Mori has told international federations that deciding who foots the bill for postponing the Games to 2021 will be a “major challenge,” Olympic news Web site insidethegames reported on Saturday.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Japanese organizers last week postponed the July 24-Aug. 9 event due to the coronavirus pandemic — the first such delay in the modern Games’ 124-year history.

Japan invested $12 billion in the run-up to the Games and IOC President Thomas Bach had warned that the price tag will rise further.

“The extra cost that will arise from this postponement is inevitable,” Mori wrote in a letter addressed to the 33 international federations of sports that make up the Tokyo Games program.

“Deciding who will bear these costs and how it will be done will be a major challenge.”

Mori also issued a rallying cry to deliver the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 next year and show that humans had “triumphed over the coronavirus.”

The Tokyo 2020 organizing committee launched a task force to resolve issues linked to the postponement, such as reviewing dates for the Games and securing venues.

The Olympics is one of many major sporting events which have been postponed, suspended or cancelled due to the coronavirus. — Reuters

Local sports agency monitoring condition of national athletes

THE coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has put sporting affairs in the country on hold but it has not stopped the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) from dispensing its duties, particularly in securing the safety and wellness of the country’s national athletes.

In a situation update shared to Radyo Pilipinas 2 late last week, PSC National Training Director Mark Velasco said the agency is on top of things three weeks since the government’s declaration of a state of public health emergency and calling for enhanced community quarantine as the country battles the spread of COVID-19.

Mr. Velasco said that they are taking care of some 30 athletes and coaches in their facility at the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City.

Food is being provided to them while they are also being checked on regularly to see if they are in good health.

The PSC official said that some have complained of occasional headaches and minor ailments but thankfully none has shown any symptoms of COVID-19 by the time the update was shared.

The PSC has also made resources available to give continued service and assistance to national athletes be it online or through phone calls, providing the latter an avenue to share their concerns to sports psychologists and pertinent personnel. Medical doctors, Mr. Velasco said, are also on standby in case the need arises.

Mr. Velasco also said their monitoring extends as well to Filipino athletes training abroad, including Olympians EJ Obiena (pole vault) and Hidilyn Diaz (weightlifting).

Currently in Italy for training, Mr. Obiena is safe, Mr. Velasco said.

But monitoring of his condition is keenly done with Italy among the hardest hit by COVID-19 in the world.

Olympic silver medallist Ms. Diaz, meanwhile, is in Malaysia with her team. Like Mr. Obiena, Ms. Diaz is doing well and keeping herself safe.

Mr. Velasco said that Mr. Obiena and Ms. Diaz should ask to be returned to the country they will be ready to make arrangements for it.

Meanwhile, with the 2020 Olympics deferred to next year as COVID-19 rages on, Mr. Velasco said the country’s preparation is ongoing.

“We are in constant contact with CDM Nonong Araneta as to our moves moving forward,” said Mr. Velasco, referring to Philippine chef de mission to the Tokyo Olympics Mariano Araneta.

Last week the International Olympic Committee and the Japanese government agreed to postpone the Tokyo Games to no later than the summer of 2021 so as the world could focus on the battle against COVID-19, which has affected more than 600,000 people worldwide to date.

In the Philippines, as of this writing, there are now 1,075 confirmed cases of the disease. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

PBA players use esports to lend a hand in COVID-19 fight

WITH the Philippine Basketball Association season suspended indefinitely because of the ongoing concern on the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), league players are channelling their attention to their other passions to remain preoccupied with some using these as platforms to lend a hand during these uncertain times.

Veteran Magnolia forward Mark Pingris and six-time PBA most valuable player June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel are among those tapping on their passion for esports to help in their own way in the battle locally against COVID-19.

The two are part of the “Lockdown Games” which aims to raise P1 million to help the UP Medical Foundation iin its push to help stop the spread of the new coronavirus in the country.

The Lockdown Games is being done on the lead of esports organization Mineski.

The tournament began on March 24 with Marvel Super War games which were played until March 26.

Mr. Pingris shared that by the end of the Marvel Super War games nearly P400,000 had already been raised.

Next to be played from March 30 to April 2 is Call of Duty. On April 5, DOTA 2 is the tournament to be played.

On April 6, Messrs. Pingris and Fajardo will be competing in the DOTA 2 Showmatch along with fellow PBA players and esports enthusiasts Kiefer Ravena of NLEX and Japeth Aguilar of Barangay Ginebra.

The match will be broadcast over MineskiTV beginning at 5 p.m.

Mr. Pingris encouraged the gaming community to support the Lockdown Games and pledge their support to the fund-raising campaign to sustain the fight against COVID-19.

For information on how to support and donate to the Lockdown Games, check out MineskiTV’s Facebook page.

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