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High tribunal asked to void Luzon lockdown

A LAWYER has asked the Supreme Court to annul a law giving President Rodrigo R. Duterte special powers to fight a coronavirus pandemic, and a couple of proclamations declaring a public health emergency and imposing a lockdown on the entire Luzon island.

In a nine-page pleading, lawyer Jaime O. Ibañez said the law, which took effect on March 24, gave the President excessive powers in responding to the health crisis.

He also accused Mr. Duterte of usurping legislative power when he locked down Luzon in mid-March by suspending work, classes and public transportation to contain the pandemic.

The lockdown in much of the country including Manila, the capital and nearby cities has since been relaxed, with some businesses allowed to reopen with limited workforce.

“The President is merely tasked to execute the law,” Mr. Ibañez said. “Hence it is an undue delegation of legislative power and usurpation of the same when the President issued Proclamation Nos. 929 and 922,” he added.

Proclamation 929 placed the country under state of calamity and locked down Luzon, while Proclamation 922 declared a state of public health emergency.

The plaintiff also asked the tribunal to stop an inter-agency task made up of Cabinet secretaries from enforcing community quarantines “for being invalid delegated legislative authority.”

Mr. Ibañez said the enhanced community quarantine had “wrought havoc on the socioeconomic equilibrium,” forcing millions of Filipinos to starve and lose their jobs.

He also said that the guidelines violated the equal protection clause when everybody was quarantined, including healthy people. The quarantine violated people’s right to liberty and property, he added.

“Putting this country into community quarantine poses a continuing threat to one’s right to life (including the right to work), to liberty and to property,” according to a copy of the petition. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Senate says anti-terror bill ‘good as passed’ but House still deliberating

THE proposed law that expands the definition of terrorist acts is as good as passed after President Rodrigo R. Duterte certified the bill as an urgent measure, senators said on Tuesday.

The bill was approved by the Senate in February and is pending second reading at the House of Representatives.

“It’s as good as passed,” Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III told reporters over phone message on Tuesday.

The President’s certification will allow the House to dispense with the three-day interval in passing bills on second and third reading.

House representatives, however, were still steeped in plenary debate as of Tuesday evening for the second reading.

Congress’ first regular session closes on June 3. It will reopen on July 27, with the President delivering his 5th State of the Nation Address.

“Once the House of Representatives approves the adopted Senate version of the Anti-Terror bill on third and final reading, they will transmit it to us for enrollment and subsequent submission to the President,” Senator Panfilo M. Lacson said in a statement.

OPPOSITION
Albay Rep. Edcel C. Lagman warned that the expanded definition of terrorism encompasses perceived and suspected terror acts, which may include political dissent.

“Redefining the crime of terrorism by removing the inculpatory purpose of terrorism ‘to coerce the government to give in to an unlawful demand,’ thus making prosecution and conviction easier,” he said in a statement.

The proposed law will also allow the military to access data and information as well as intercept private communications of suspects under surveillance and detain them for 14 days without warrant.

The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers also reiterated its opposition and called on lawmakers to stop the bill’s passage saying it will serve only the “climate of impunity,” validate attacks against activists and ordinary citizens.

In a statement, the lawyers’ group said the bill “unduly expands” the definition of terrorism,” and potentially criminalizes as “terrorist” the exercises of free speech.

“This proposed law, we pointed out, would undermine our democracy and either threaten, restrain or discourage the people’s right to organize, criticize the government, protest and demand for a redress of their grievances,” the group said.

“The bill, should it become law, will only serve to worsen the climate of impunity that has made the Philippines fertile ground for extra-judicial killings, illegal arrests, and crackdowns against activists and progressive organizations and even ordinary citizens,” they said.

The Concerned Lawyers for Civil Liberties also said the bill will be used by the administration “to eliminate dissent and opposition, at whatever cost and manner,” adding that it contains unconstitutional provisions.

Mr. Lacson, on the other hand, said the bill has enough safeguards for human rights.

The bill, as passed by the Senate, expands the coverage of terror acts to include attacks that cause death or serious injury, extensive damage to property and manufacture, possession, acquisition, transport and supply of weapons or explosives.

The law only penalizes the commission of the actual terrorism, conspiracy to commit terrorism, being an accomplice and accessory to the crime.

The presidential palace also defended the bill saying it is “not draconian” and is patterned after legislation in other countries.

“Wala naman draconian na provision diyan, lahat po ng provision diyan ay ibinase rin natin sa mga batas na mga iba’t ibang bansa na mas epektibo po ang kanilang pagtrato dito sa mga terorista (There are no draconian provisions there, all the provisions there are based on laws in various countries with more effective ways of dealing with terrorists),” Palace Spokesperson Harry L. Roque said in a briefing on Tuesday.

He also said the administration won’t intervene with lawmakers on the bill’s passage.–Charmaine A. Tadalan, Genshen L. Espedido, Vann Marlo M. Villegas and Gillian M. Cortez

#COVID-19 Regional Updates (06/02/20)

Senators demand clearer public transport plan as lockdown eases

SENATORS on Tuesday asked the Department of Transportation (DoTr) to provide clearer plans for the public after the easing of quarantine restrictions on June 1 left commuters in the capital in a crisis. Senator Ma. Lourdes Nancy S. Binay slammed the DoTr for failing to plan accordingly for the expected number of people reporting back to work. “DoTr knew that Metro Manila and the rest of the regions will soon be transitioning to the new normal. They knew that 30% of those in NCR (National Capital Region) will start going to work by June 1,” she said in a statement. She also hit the department for deploying a truck as free transport for commuters stuck on the road, which compromised health and distancing protocols. Senator Risa N. Hontiveros-Baraquel, for her part, recommended that the government adopt a service contracting program in partnership with the private transportation sector. “Wala ring magagawa ang pag-limit sa pasahero sa mga tren at bus, kung sa kalsada pa lang ay exposed na sila sa health risks habang sila ay nasa mahaba, dikit-dikit at matao na pila (Limiting passengers in trains and buses would be pointless if people are exposed to the risks while waiting on the road, or in line),” Ms. Baraquel pointed out. Under the service contracting scheme, the government will pay operators and drivers per kilometer of their routes to transport people. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

Davao Oriental hospital doctor positive for COVID-19; 58 nurses, medical staff quarantined

A DOCTOR at the Davao Oriental Provincial Medical Center is the latest coronavirus case in the province, and 58 of the hospital staff, mostly nurses, have been identified among his direct contacts and been placed under quarantine. In a statement, the provincial government said the 32-year old doctor for internal medicine was also rendering duty at a dialysis facility in Davao City. He has previously tested negative for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) based on a May 14 result, but was subsequently subjected to another round of testing following protocols set by the province for all frontline workers. Apart from the medical staff under quarantine, seven patients who have received direct care from the doctor have also been isolated at the hospital. Contact tracing is ongoing for another seven of his patients who have been discharged. “(T)he contacts of the COVID-19 positive case will be swab tested between June 2-4, 2020, given that the seventh to tenth day from the last exposure is the ideal time to get more accurate results. However, those who are already exhibiting symptoms have to be swabbed immediately,” the provincial government said. The hospital has also undergone disinfection measures. Davao Oriental had three cases, all of whom recovered, until May 28. It recorded 12 new cases on May 29, with eight returning overseas workers and four locally-stranded residents.

BAGUIO
Baguio, meanwhile, reported on Tuesday that a nurse at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center tested positive for the disease, the city’s 35th active case. The 38-year old nurse is now at the hospital’s isolation facility and contact tracing as well as disinfection protocols are being undertaken, according to the city officials. Of the total confirmed cases, 29 have recovered. — MSJ

Nationwide round-up

Over P14B spent so far on medical supplies; actual testing still under 9,000 daily

THE government has so far spent over P14 billion in medical supplies to address the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Based on President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s 10th report to Congress submitted Monday, the Department of Health (DoH) used the fund on personal protective equipment, testing kits, and other medical equipment. “The DOH has procured 6,062,019 PPE sets for PhP12.1 billion… Nine different types of PCR test kits have also been procured for PhP1.6 billion with delivery expected by July 2020. Ten units of Automated Nuclelic Acid Extraction Machines have also been procured and awarded through the S-DBM for PhP400 million,” the administration reported. The Department of Science and Technology will also be producing 10,000 reusable masks a week, with a 50,000 target by the end of June. The report also indicated that there are already 43 accredited testing laboratories as of May 27, lower than the government’s target of 66 by end-May. A total of 315,363 tests have been conducted as of May 26, covering 289,732 people.

TESTING CAPACITY
Palace Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, in a briefing Tuesday, said daily testing capacity has reached 34,000, surpassing the initial goal of 30,000 by end-May.

However, actual daily tests conducted are averaging just between 8,000 to 9,000, according to the DoH. Health Undersecretary Mario Rosario S. Vergeire, in a separate briefing, said the laboratories are now recovering from operational as well as supply issues encountered the past weeks. “But hopefully dito sa pagpasok nitong mga dadating na araw, masa-stabilize na natin ang supplies, maraming tumutulong especially mga private (Hopefully in the coming days, we will stabilize our supplies and many are helping, including the private sector), we can be able to ramp up these capacities already,” she said in a virtual briefing. She noted that the laboratories in Bicol, the University of the Philippines-National Institute for Health, and the Lung Center of the Philippines suspended testing operations last week due to supply issues. Ms. Vergeire said there are now 49 licensed laboratories and pop-up labs are being set up. “So hopefully ito lahat ay makakatulong sa pagtaas ng capacity ng labs natin (all these will help increase the testing capacity of our laboratories),” she said. The DoH spokesperson also reported that testing backlogs are at 1,691 as of 6 p.m. Monday. — Gillian M. Cortez and Vann Marlo M. Villegas

DTI to review rules on purchase limits


AS the country eases lockdown restrictions, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will review the imposition of purchase limits on certain products to prevent hoarding. In a Handa briefing on Tuesday, Trade Undersecretary Ruth B. Castelo said, “We have been receiving requests from the manufacturers and the retailers na i-lift ‘yung ating (to lift our) anti-hoarding and anti-panic buying circular.” The DTI released a memorandum on anti-hoarding and panic buying last March 19, a few days after President Rodrigo R. Duterte declared a strict lockdown in the entire Luzon island. The guidelines were issued following reports of people panic buying on basic goods and hygiene products. The DTI said hoarding goods will result in an artificial shortage. Ms. Castelo said supplies of these goods have become stable a few weeks into the lockdown. — Gillian M. Cortez

Gov’t still assessing when dine-in service will be allowed nationwide

THE presidential palace on Monday said it is still assessing when dine-in service in restaurants will be allowed to resume in parts of the country that are still under the general community quarantine category. Under the GCQ, restrictions have been eased with more industries allowed to reopen. The GCQ areas include Metro Manila and other major cities such as Cebu and Davao. “Naghihintay tayo kung kailan pwede magkaroon ng dine-in sa mga areas na ito (We are still waiting when dine-in will be allowed in these areas), Palace Spokesperson Harry L. Roque said. The government already released on Sunday protocols for dine-in services, which is allowed in most parts of the country under the “modified GCQ” policy. — Gillian M. Cortez

MWSS maintains water allocation until end-June

WATER ALLOCATION for Metro Manila households will remain at 48 cubic meters per second until the end of June, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System announced Tuesday. In a statement, MWSS Administrator Emmanuel B. Salamat said they asked the National Water Resources Board to sustain the current allocation to ensure ample supply as sanitary measures are crucial to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019. “The request to maintain allocation is also to sustain the current water system demands that are at an all-time high due to higher than normal temperatures for this time of year,” Mr. Salamat said. Last May 14, allocation was increased to 48 cms from 46 cms to reduce rotational service interruptions being implemented by the capital’s two distributors. “At 48 cms, almost 100% of customers in the East Zone enjoy 24/7 water supply. In the West Zone, 80-90% of customers have 24-hour supply, and daily rotational water service interruptions are isolated only during off-peak hours in ‘high demand’ and elevated areas,” the MWSS said. MWSS said the water level in Angat Dam, Metro Manila’s main source, is expected to remain sustainable based on projections by weather bureau PAGASA. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Philguarantee targets 12,000 MSMEs for credit guarantees

STATE-RUN Philippine Guarantee Corp. (Philguarantee) hopes to provide 50% guarantee cover on loans taken out by at least 12,000 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) affected by the coronavirus crisis.

In a statement Tuesday, the Department of Finance (DoF) said the Philguarantee governing board has approved the credit guarantee scheme valued at around P120 billion, which will offer guarantees to encourage institutions to lend to small businesses seeking working capital.

Philguarantee will charge a 1% annual guarantee fee while waiving origination fees.

Eligible lenders include universal, commercial, thrift and rural banks as well as other financial institutions supervised by the central bank.

“The program is intended to support those businesses who are facing economic difficulties as a result of the crisis. The guarantee program will also complement access to lending as it encourages more banks to provide assistance loans to MSMEs,” Philguarantee President and CEO Alberto E. Pascual was quoted as saying in the statement.

Philguarantee also waived all penalties incurred between March 16 and May 31 related to its housing programs, which is expected to benefit over 28,000 clients.

“The various relief and guarantee support mechanisms instituted beginning March 16, 2020 remain available for the agricultural, housing and MSME clients, accounts and partner lending institutions,” Philguarantee said.

It also provided a two-month moratorium on monthly amortization payments for long- and short-term rentals as well as those covered by joint venture agreements. — Beatrice M. Laforga

Spike in urban poverty temporary, real problems are in countryside — NEDA

THE Increase in urban poverty as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is not expected to last, but the countryside represents longer-term problems, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Acting Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua said.

“While we may see a temporary increase in poverty in urban areas, we do not see it to be a prolonged problem. The bulk of poverty is elsewhere, in the farmlands, in the less-developed provinces… the areas that are hardly affected by the virus. Therefore, we do not see a significant effect because the majority of the areas where the poor are have not been affected as much,” he said during a virtual hearing of the House committee on sustainable development goals Tuesday.

Mr. Chua said that based on the survey NEDA conducted in the countryside, two thirds of farmers reported that they continue to plant and are able to sell, while the remaining one-third were unable to sell not because of the virus or the lockdown, but because gaps in the supply chain made it difficult to sell their produce.

According to the 2018 Family Income and Expenditure Survey, the poor population in the National Capital Region accounts for 1.8% of the total. This is significantly lower than the rest of Luzon with 30.1%, the Visayas with 23%, and Mindanao with 45.1%.

In its Addressing the Social and Economic Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic report, NEDA said the impact of the crisis appears to involve a “class dimension.”

“At the onset, the upper- and middle-income classes were the ones directly infected, because they are the ones who travel or are acquainted with ones who have travelled. Currently, the impact on the lower-income classes is mainly through the response measures being undertaken,” it said.

Mr. Chua said the impact of the pandemic on the poor is reflected in the inflation rate.

“If we see inflation spiking significantly, that would show some effect on poverty or on food, and that is the most important for the poor (but) inflation has been very low and stable,” he said.

April inflation eased to 2.2%, against 2.5% in March, and 3% in April 2019, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported. May inflation is expected to be released in the succeeding weeks.

Mr. Chua said that the government implemented the Social Amelioration Program under the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act or Republic Act 11469 to immediately cover the basic needs of the poor.

“The first thing we did in the Bayanihan (Act) is to provide the poorest 18 million families their P5,000 to P8,000 to fully cover their basic needs. That is really the amount for basic needs of the lowest three-fourths of the population,” he said.

Aside from the emergency subsidy program, Mr. Chua said the government is also exploring programs

allowing for voluntary reductions in wages, unemployment insurance, and a pension portability system.

“Over the medium term, what we would like is to push a policy wherein we protect employment, not necessarily the job because jobs can come and go. The crisis will affect the labor market, but if we ensure that workers can be employable immediately (through) skills retooling and other support, then that will actually help labor,” he said. — Genshen L. Espedido

Rent grace period set at 30 days after firms reopen

BUSINESSES have been granted a 30-day grace period on rent payments counting from the date businesses are permitted to operate, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

In memorandum circular 20-29 signed on June 2, commercial lessees will start their 30-day grace period from the date their category of business was allowed to operate, whether or not the business has resumed operations.

Rent owed by businesses that are not yet allowed to operate is deferred by 30 days after the lockdown is lifted or after the date they are allowed to resume operations, whichever comes first.

These guidelines revise DTI’s April 4 circular granting a 30-day deferral from the last due date within the lockdown.

The businesses will not incur interest, penalties, or fees from deferred rent. The total rent that fell due within the lockdown is to be amortized over six months after the grace period.

Lessors must submit a signed promissory note to avail of the six month concession, or rent may be demanded from them at the end of the 30 days.

Most industries are allowed to operate at 50-100% capacity in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ), with the exception of amusement, gaming, fitness, and tourism establishments, as well as industries that cater to children. Concerts and sporting events are also not allowed.

All industries are allowed to operate in areas under modified GCQ.

Residential rent is also deferred for lessees who have lost income or whose employers or businesses were not allowed to operate during the lockdown. They are granted a grace period of 30 days from the lifting of the quarantine or from the resumption of employment or business operations.

Lessees may not be evicted for failure to pay rent within the lockdown until the end of the grace period.

Lessors who fail to follow the guidelines may be held criminally, civilly, or administratively liable.

Information on violations of the guidelines may be brought to the DTI. Violations may be endorsed to the Department of Justice, subject to the filing of a complaint affidavit by the lessee or lessor.

DTI said that lessors may also consider waiving or offering discounts for commercial rent or renegotiating lease term agreements for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.

Lessors are not obligated to refund rent payments made during the lockdown. — Jenina P. Ibañez

Bill to make gov’t procurement ‘green’ approved by House committee

THE House Committee on Sustainable Development Goals approved Tuesday a substitute bill to House Bill 6526 which seeks to establish a sustainable public procurement program for all agencies.

The proposed Green Public Procurement Act requires all government offices to procure based partly on the lowest life-cycle cost of products and services and to categorize procured items to facilitate waste recycling and reuse.

Life-cycle cost considers all costs to be incurred during the lifetime of a product or service, plus “externalities,” which are unreckoned at the time of purchase, such as the cleanup costs for land used by a power plant. Current government procurement rules are typically based on least cost at the time of purchase.

The measure also seeks to include sustainability criteria in public tenders; to establish the specifications and requirements for products or services to be considered sustainably advantageous; and to develop programs for suppliers of sustainable products and services.

“As both public and private organizations become increasingly aware of the need to reduce the impact of products, goods, as well as services to the environment, government procurement carries the potential of stimulating the market for the production of ecologically friendlier products by setting an example as responsible consumer,” House Deputy Speaker and Camarines Sur Representative Luis Raymund F. Villafuerte said in his explanatory note.

The bill also directs the Government Procurement Policy Board to appoint a third-party verifier of claims of sustainability of products and services while establishing capacity-building programs for all government agencies.

Before the substitute bill was approved, Lanao del Norte Rep. Mohamad Khalid Q. Dimaporo proposed that local government units’ capacity-building activities under the sustainable procurement program should be fully funded by the national government.

“When we do capacity building, it requires a budget. That is where it is still a little bit in the grey area as far as the substitute bill is concerned. I want to make sure that in the IRR (implementing rules and regulations) they do not charge capacity building to the local government units. If there is a capacity building for the purpose of Green Procurement, the budget should emanate from the national government,” he said during the virtual hearing.

Committee chairwoman and ALONA Party-List Rep. Anna Marie Villaraza-Suarez said that the measure will be taken up at the plenary sometime in August.

The bill will have to go through second and third readings before hurdling the lower chamber. Its counterpart measure, Senate Bill 1371 which is filed by Senator Pia S. Cayetano, is still pending at the committee level. — Genshen L. Espedido

PEZA calls for status quo on incentives in CREATE bill

THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said it wants to retain the “status quo” on incentives for export-oriented companies, posing another potential delay to the bill reducing corporate income tax and rationalizing incentives.

PEZA Director-General Charito B. Plaza said in a statement Monday that its board intends to propose amendments to the legislation in order to retain current investors and attract new business.

“Our appeal is an institutional decision to oppose specific provisions of the CITIRA/CREATE (bill) because of its adverse effects on PEZA-registered enterprises and the Philippine economy in general,” she said.

Representative Jose Ma. Clemente S. Salceda of Albay’s second district said PEZA is effectively delaying tax reform and backed the passage of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act (CREATE), which accelerates reductions in corporate income tax (CIT) to 25% from 30% by July.

Ms. Plaza said in a mobile message that PEZA proposes that CREATE be applied to domestic enterprises, saying that export companies and economic zone developers under PEZA and other investment promotion agencies should retain their current incentives.

“CREATE will be for domestic enterprises/MSMES (micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises) as they’ll benefit from a reduced CIT and first-time incentives from government so, their production, manufacturing , export capability will be maximized and completing the supply chain utilization and development of our idle lands will be realized to make our country self reliant, self-sustaining and resource-generating,” she said.

PEZA in the statement said that business groups like the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation, Inc. (SEIPI), Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines, Confederation of Wearable Exporters of the Philippines, Philippine Ecozones Association, and the Joint Foreign Chambers support the status quo on incentives.

These groups had earlier written to Senator Pilar Juliana S. Cayetano, who chairs the committee on ways and means, to express their support for the reduction of corporate income tax by July.

But the groups also asked that companies that continue to meet conditions like exporting 90% of output and employing at least 10,000 people be eligible to keep the 5% tax on gross income earned (GIE) in lieu of national and local taxes.

“SEIPI agrees with PEZA’s position to retain investors’ incentives as long as they are meeting performance criteria,” SEIPI President Danilo C. Lachica said in a mobile message.

Economists from various universities have proposed amendments to CREATE, saying that it constitutes tax relief for corporations but leaves out small businesses. They also said that export zones will suffer after the 5% GIE expires.

“PEZA enterprises and foreign investors do not welcome this change from rules to discretion, which is fraught with risk and uncertainty. And we simply cannot afford to add more uncertainty during this fragile recovery period from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The economists, which include Ateneo School of Government Dean Ronald U. Mendoza and De La Salle University School of Economics Dean Marites M. Tiongco, proposed that CREATE be unbundled into three separate bills addressing corporate tax reform, fiscal and investment incentives, and PEZA. They added that PEZA must maintain its incentives pending a consolidated incentive act. — Jenina P. Ibañez

Last phase of TPLEx to open this month

THE final phase of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx) project is set to open this month, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said.

DPWH “Build, Build, Build” Committee Chairperson Anna Mae Y. Lamentillo told BusinessWorld in a phone message Tuesday that the 11.45-kilometer Pozorrubio, Pangasinan to Rosario, La Union segment of TPLEx will “open this month.”

She added that the formal opening of the Pozorrubio-Rosario segment may take place “by the last week” of the month.

Private Infra Dev Corp., a San Miguel-controlled company, holds the concession for TPLEx, an 88.85-kilometer toll road that links Northern Luzon to Metro Manila.

The toll road, according to San Miguel Corp., is designed “to integrate with other major toll roads” such as North Luzon Expressway and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.

TPLEx is composed of eight segments: La Paz, Tarlac to Victoria (Segment 1); Victoria to Gerona (Segment 2); Gerona to Paniqui (Segment 3); Paniqui to Moncada (Segment 4); Moncada to Carmen (Segment 5); Carmen to Urdaneta (Segment 6); Urdaneta to Pozorrubio (Segment 7); and Pozorrubio to Rosario (Segment 8).

Ms. Lamentillo said the Segment 8 was supposed to be formally opened in April, but was delayed by the coronavirus lockdown.

The DPWH has said that upon full completion, TPLEx will reduce travel time from Tarlac to Rosario, La Union from 3.5 hours to just an hour, with an average usage of about 20,000 vehicles per day. — Arjay L. Balinbin

PSC vows to continue working amid the pandemic

DIFFICULT and challenging the conditions may be under the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) vowed to continue working and looking after the welfare of athletes and other stakeholders.

Speaking at the first-ever online session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday, PSC Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez shared that times are tough for their organization just like any entity amid COVID-19 but they are trying their best to find ways to dispense their duties.

Mr. Ramirez said they have been busy since COVID-19 started to make its presence felt more in March and along the way they have made some tough, but necessary, decisions.

Among them is cancelling all sports activities under its watch for the remainder of the year to safeguard the health of participants, and rebooting their thrusts and programs.

Affected events include the Philippine National Games and Philippine Youth Games-Batang Pinoy. Also cancelled was the ASEAN Para Games which the country was supposed to host this year.

The PSC also moved to take part in the fight against COVID-19, offering, among other things, its facilities in Manila (Rizal Memorial Sports Complex), Pasig (PhilSports Complex) and Baguio as quarantine areas for COVID-19 cases to be used by the government.

Mr. Ramirez further said that how they conduct training for athletes and their affairs has changed, tapping on the digital platform more, which has been a work in progress but is steadily bearing favorable results.

“It has been difficult for us but as we get better understanding of things it provides us different lessons which we can use moving forward,” said the PSC chief.

Recently, the PSC’s state of funding was spotlighted after its decision to slash by half the monthly stipend of national athletes beginning this month.

Following a board meeting last week, the PSC said it decided to reduce the allowances of athletes as the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF), where budget for the stipend comes, has been greatly depleted with priority given more to the fight against COVID-19.

The NSDF draws its funding from the income of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), which is mandated by law to channel 5% of its earnings to the PSC.

But with casino operations currently on hold, Pagcor remittances have not been as high as hoped.

Mr. Ramirez admitted it was a tough decision to make but they vowed to have the allowances back to their usual amount once the NSDF returns to its normal level.

Citing another development, Mr. Ramirez said they welcome the recently released regulation granting a 20% discount on the purchase of goods and services by national athletes and coaches.

The PSC chairman said the regulation is long overdue and comes at a good time in light with the situation with the pandemic.

The agency is currently in the process of preparing the necessary requirements like identification cards and booklets for those qualified for them to fully enjoy the incentive.

“The [PSC] board is working. The PSC is working and will continue to look after the welfare of the athletes. If they (athletes) have concerns, they just go to us and we will help them,” Mr. Ramirez said. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

MPBL makes tough decision, postpones 2020–21 season

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

FEELING the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in more ways than one, the fledgling Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League moved on Monday to postpone its 2020–2021 season.

In a memorandum sent to the 31 member teams, MPBL Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes said the league had decided to postpone the next MPBL season to next year as the situation with COVID-19 remains to be a going concern.

The memo also cited as reasons for the postponement the status of currently shut ABS-CBN S+A, which broadcasts MPBL matches, as well as contact sports not being allowed still despite the country’s transition to general community quarantine.

Mr. Duremdes said the decision to postpone was sad and tough to make, and something they carefully thought about with stakeholders, including team owners and MPBL founder and owner Manny Pacquiao.

“It really saddens us to make this decision. We all know how basketball is popular here, how Filipinos are passionate about it. But there are bigger priorities at the moment. With COVID-19 health is our concern,” said Mr. Duremdes in an interview with BusinessWorld.

“The league is just following the protocols in place and the developments in the fight against COVID-19, and after discussions with the team owners over Viber the consensus was to postpone until there is a vaccine for COVID-19, which hopefully happens by the end of the year,” he added.

The MPBL memo also says that the currently halted Chooks-to-Go MPBL Lakan Cup playoffs would resume once conditions permit it to do so.

Games involved are those between defending champions San Juan Go-For-Gold and Makati Super Crunch in the North Division Finals and Davao Occidental Tigers and Basilan Steel in the South Division Finals. Both best-of-three series are split with one game apiece.

The league, as per the memo, is also open to holding a protracted preseason tournament in preparation for the 2021–2022 season as soon as the government allows contact sports to be played.

The MPBL also said that no teams will be allowed to take a leave of absence during the 2021–2022 season just as it advised them to give 20% of the players’ salary during the course of the cancelled season.

“It’s really heavy to the heart but hopefully the teams and players would use the postponement as an opportunity to get better and prepare themselves for the next year,” said Mr. Duremdes.

The MPBL commissioner went on to say that they are confident that when next season comes they would be ready to roll again and their supporters back to support the league.

“Next year will be challenging but we are confident of coming back stronger. We will continue to improve as a group and we believe that fans will continue to support us once we resume, especially after not having such form of entertainment for a long time,” Mr. Duremdes said.

The 2020–2021 season of the MPBL was supposed to start on June 12 but was initially moved to a later date in a memorandum released in April until it was postponed altogether.

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