Taal remains swollen and may erupt again — Phivolcs

January 21, 2020 | 8:05 pm

TAAL Volcano remained swollen with gas and magma, a sign that it could erupt again, state seismologists said on Tuesday.

“There is a seeming weakening of the activities but it doesn’t mean the danger is over,” Ma. Antonia V. Bornas, chief science research specialist at the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), said at a briefing.

Taal Volcano in Batangas province forced thousands of residents to flee after it emitted a thick ash column on Jan. 12. The ashfall covered cities near the capital, forcing financial markets to suspend trading and the Manila airport to close.

More than 68,000 families in Batangas, Quezon, Laguna and Cavite were affected by the volcano’s eruption, according to the local disaster agency.

Almost 40,000 families were taking temporary shelter in 497 evacuation centers while 22,217 families were being served outside the centers, it said in a 6 a.m. report.

The second-highest alert level remained hoisted over Taal, meaning “hazardous explosive eruption is possible within hours to days,” Phivolcs said in an 8 a.m. bulletin.

Phivolcs recorded “weak steam emission” from the volcano, producing ash plumes that went as high as 600 meters.

Volcanic earthquakes have become more infrequent, Ms. Bornas said, adding that there are still magma movements underground.

Phivolcs has recorded 718 volcanic earthquakes since Jan. 12, 176 of which were felt at Intensities 1 to 5.

“We have ground deformation parameters that the volcano is still inflated and is still inflating,” Ms. Bornas said. “The magma is already there and the volcano can easily erupt.”

These earthquakes signified “continuous magmatic intrusion beneath the Taal edifice” that could lead to further eruptions, the agency said.

Also yesterday, Albay Rep. Jose Maria Clemente S. Salceda filed a bill seeking to create a Taal Commission that will serve as the primary agency for Taal’s rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian filed a resolution seeking to extend calamity loans or impose a one-year moratorium on loan payments of workers affected by Taal’s eruption.

Under Senate Resolution 289 members of the Government Service Insurance System, Social Security System and Home Development Mutual Fund will be allowed to defer payments for a year.

It will “greatly alleviate the suffering brought about by the Taal volcano eruption and will help them out during their times of need,” he said.

Mr. Gatchalian also proposed that affected businesses be allowed to delay payments of real property taxes and business permit renewal fees. — Genshen L. Espedido and Charmaine A. Tadalan

Boy in Cebu tests positive for coronavirus

January 21, 2020 | 8:03 pm

A CHINESE boy traveling to Cebu City in central Philippines tested positive for coronavirus, days after Japan and Thailand confirmed their first case of infection from a new strain that originated in Wuhan, China, the Philippine Health department said on Tuesday.

The five-year-old boy from Wuhan was found to have symptoms of fever, throat infection and cough and had been hospitalized, Health Secretary Francisco H. Duque III said at a briefing.

The virus, in the same family as the deadly severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), has killed at least six patients and sickened dozens in China.

The boy tested positive for coronavirus but was negative for SARS and MERS, the Health department said.

Samples from the patient were sent to Australia for further testing to determine the strain of coronavirus he was infected with.

World Health Organization (WHO) Philippines Country Representative Rabinda Abeyasinghe said they were working with authorities in China,, where majority of the more than 200 cases occurred, to monitor the new virus strain.

While coronavirus cases are normally transmitted from animals to humans, the new strain was said to have been transmitted between humans.

“This is a premature situation and we still need to understand better the mode of transmission and what needs to be done physically to manage it,” Mr. Abeyasinghe said at the same briefing.

Health authorities advised the public to observe proper hygiene and cough etiquette, including covering the mouth when one coughs or sneezes.

The Philippines is working with airport authorities to monitor cases involving arriving tourists, Health officials said. — Gillian M. Cortez

News website says ban undermines free press

January 21, 2020 | 8:03 pm

AN ONLINE news website critical of the Duterte administration said the Executive branch should not be allowed to “undermine the rights of the free press” after it was barred from covering events attended by President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

In a pleading submitted to the Supreme Court, Rappler said the Constitution guarantees that the press “will remain free and independent of the government.”

“It has rights guaranteed by the Constitution that the Executive branch cannot take away,” it added.

The news website said Malacañang’s coverage ban had diluted the rights of the free press. “Doing so violates the Constitution’s promise of independence,” it added.

The Solicitor General earlier said the coverage ban had nothing to do with free press and the presidential palace could rightly impose accreditation requirements.

The government lawyer also said media accreditation is pursuant to two executive orders and the by-laws of the Malacañang Press Corps.

Rappler belied the government’s claim that Rappler was not engaged in the business of mass media.

“This again forgets that membership in the free press is not dependent on a license, a business or a building permit,” it said.

The high court has “recognized petitioner Rappler as a nontraditional member of the press with rights to news coverage and dissemination in two instances,” it added.

Rappler in April asked the high court to stop the palace’s coverage ban.

Mr. Duterte ordered the ban in March, accusing the website of twisting his statements.

Before this, Malacañang barred Rappler’s reporter from entering the palace. The ban was later extended to all its reporters including provincial correspondents. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

3 Chinese quarantined from Kalibo airport already cleared

January 21, 2020 | 8:02 pm

THE THREE Chinese nationals quarantined after showing signs of high body temperature upon arrival at the Kalibo International Airport in Aklan have all been cleared and released. Nonetheless, Western Visayas Regional Epidemiologist Jessie Glen L. Alonsabe of the Department of Health-Center for Health Development said blood samples and swabs from the three, who arrived on different dates, have been sent to the headquarters in Manila for testing. “They were showing signs of fever as detected by the thermal scanner of the airport. It is part of the standard operating procedures,” he said. Cornelio V. Cuachon Jr., head of the Aklan Provincial Health Office, said the first quarantined passenger was a 29-year-old female who arrived Jan. 17, and discharged from hospital the next day as she no longer had a fever. “She has no fever and so we just discharged her from the hospital and we allowed her to go to Boracay,” he said. The two others, a three-year-old girl who arrived Jan. 18 and a 65-year-old male on Jan. 20, showed signs of fever and colds. The child was discharged after being diagnosed with a respiratory tract infection, while the senior male was treated as an outpatient after observations indicated that he has already recovered from fever. “They undergone thorough examination and their medical history were reviewed,” Mr. Alonsabe said as he assured the public that authorities have tightened monitoring and response measures amid the spread of the new strain of coronavirus in China. — Emme Rose S. Santiagudo

One-stop-shop proposed for ‘Creative City’ Cebu designs

January 21, 2020 | 8:02 pm

TO CAPITALIZE on Cebu’s position as a UNESCO Creative City for design, a one-stop-shop showcasing products of local designers is being eyed. “We need a home to feature our designs, from furnishing, finishing, fashion, paintings, and jewelry all in one place to showcase Cebuano creativity, featuring internationally known designers,” said leasing broker for commercial spaces Eppie Acusar. Internationally acclaimed brands like those of Kenneth Cobonpue, Nature’s Legacy, award-winning fashion accessories, among others, should be featured prominently in a “designers’ home” in Cebu, she said. Cebu City officially joined the UNESCO Creative Cities International Network under the design category on Oct. 30, 2019. UNESCO Creative Cities are laboratories of ideas and innovative practices that bring a tangible contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through innovative thinking and action. — The Freeman

Hasten recovery plan to access P5B fund, Cotabato governor orders

January 21, 2020 | 8:01 pm

COTABATO GOVERNOR Nancy A. Catamco has ordered local government units (LGUs) and the Provincial Rehabilitation Task Force to fast-track the completion of data on affected families and damages from the series of earthquakes last year to pave the way for the recovery program’s implementation. In a statement on Tuesday, Ms. Catamco said the validated data is necessary to access the P5 billion fund allocated by the national government for the rehabilitation of earthquake-hit areas in the regions of Davao and South Cotabato-Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Sarangani-General Santos City (Soccsksargen). Among the most affected areas are Makilala town in Cotabato and Matanao in Davao del Sur. “The provincial government wants to begin with the recovery and rehabilitation phase in Makilala but we have to complete and submit the correct data,” the governor said following a coordination meeting on Jna. 20 held at the office of Makilala Mayor Armando M. Quibod.

DEADLINE
“(The) National Housing Authority gave us the deadline to complete all the data needed before January 27… specifically the list and names of affected households and other damage reports, so that we can finalize our rehabilitation and recovery plan and proceed with this much delayed intervention,” she said. She also warned that “if LGUs could not complete and submit the data needed on prescribed timeline, it is impossible for them to receive any assistance from national line agencies.” Data from the national disaster management council as of January 10 show over 150,000 families composed of more than 700,000 people in the different regions have been affected by the earthquakes that struck Mindanao from October to December. — MSJ

Environmental groups call for stricter waste segregation policy in Davao City

January 21, 2020 | 8:00 pm

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS have called for a stricter implementation of waste management laws in Davao City as the local government is poised to undertake a waste-to-energy (WTE) project with the sanitary landfill about to reach full capacity. Non-government organization Interface Development Interventions (IDIS) and Ecoteneo, the Ateneo de Davao University’s ecology advocacy, have expressed opposition to the WTE and cited alternative solutions to the city’s growing waste management problem. Kim Fabular, program officer of Ecoteneo, said what actually goes into the landfill are more biodegradable wastes because of a poor segregation practices. “The more problematic issue… hindi po tayo nag (We do not) segregate… there is a clear mismanagement in our wastes because it is not segregated,” she said at the Kapehan sa Davao media forum. Ruel Kenneth A. Felices of IDIS cited data from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) indicating that single-use plastics and other residual wastes make up 29% of the city’s garbage. Mr. Felices also said that only five out of the 182 barangays have complied with the ordinance requiring the establishment of a material recovery facility in every community. He said while there are households, private establishments, and educational institutions implementing their own waste management systems, the city government needs to improve its program. “If solid waste management is enforced, the city won’t be needing the WTE,” he said. — Maya M. Padillo

Nationwide round-up

January 21, 2020 | 7:59 pm

House committee targets assembly by May for new constitutional change proposals

THE HOUSE committee on constitutional amendments will recall the approved report on the resolution seeking to amend economic and political provisions of the 1987 Constitution, and will review new proposals that will be presented to the plenary by May. “The committee report that we have approved, which you have complained to be secretive, will be recalled because there is now a new entry of these proposals and we believe that these are also good proposals to study before we send these constitutional amendments to the Senate,” Cagayan de Oro 2^nd District Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez, chair of the committee, told reporters on Tuesday. Mr. Rodriguez also said that a Constitutional Assembly will be held by May to discuss the amendments. “We are sure that by March, before we adjourn on March 11, we have already heard the proposals of the Inter-Agency and also the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) and by March we should be able to approve it so that when we resume in May, it will be already in the plenary Constitutional Assembly,” he said. The hearing will be open to the public, he added. Among the proposed amendments involve the share of local government units in the national fund, strengthening the authority of regional development councils, and tandem voting for the president and vice president positions. — Genshen L. Espedido

De Lima asks SC to appoint new judge

DETAINED SENATOR Leila M. de Lima has asked for the appointment of a new judge handling one of her cases to replace the one relieved from designation. In a letter addressed to Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez, Ms. De Lima cited that the judge who will temporarily replace Judge Gener Gito of Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 256 would be Judge Antonietta Media of Branch 276, who has “already inhibited twice from my other pending RTC cases.” Ms. De Lima, a staunch critic of the administration’s war on drugs, noted that since her arraignment last July 28, 2018, only five out of 54 prosecution witnesses have been called to testify. “In view of the foregoing developments, we fervently hope that your good office would act earnestly and immediately on the matter of appointing a presiding judge to hear Criminal Case No. 176-167 pending before RTC Muntinlupa Branch 256,” she said. Ms. De Lima has been detained since February 2017 over charges for conspiring to commit illegal drug trading in prison when she was Justice secretary. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Nation at a Glance — (01/22/20)

January 21, 2020 | 7:53 pm

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

Skateboarding should get the attention it deserves — De Lange

January 21, 2020 | 7:32 pm

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

FOLLOWING the successful showing of the Philippine skateboarding team in last month’s 30^th Southeast Asian Games (SEA), gold medal-winning downhill skater Jaime De Lange hopes that the gains they got in the biennial sporting meet be sustained so as to get the sport the attention it deserves here in the country.

Competed in the men’s downhill skateboard event held in Maragondon, Cavite, Mr. De Lange, a product of De La Salle University, led the Philippine longboard team to a 1-2 finish, with him taking the gold and teammate Duke Pandeagua finishing second.

It was a showing that they are very proud of as they made history in skateboarding’s debut in SEA Games and at the same time they were able to show the sport as something that can be picked up by Filipinos and, in turn, excel in it.

“It feels amazing to make history with skateboarding making its debut in the SEA Games. And we walked away with 11 medals and skateboarding was one of the better-performing sports. And the skate community in the Philippines is very happy about it,” said Mr. De Lange in an interview last week as he was introduced as one of the latest ambassadors of Chooks-to-Go.

Mr. De Lange further said with skateboarding proving itself as a sport that can be organized in a legitimate manner, now is the time to throw support behind it.

“Usually you see it being done on the streets. But now that skateboarding has proven itself as something worth doing now in the Philippines, now is the time to have more skate parks, skate schools and skate clinics not only for streets but also longboard. It can be a big part of our culture if we are open to it,” he said.

And having companies like Chooks-to-Go recognizing what they do, Mr. De Lange said, is a step in the right direction for the further acceptance of the sport.

“Just to recognize me and the sport in general, it’s wonderful. To be put in the mainstream like this and back and support us with all our goals, it puts skateboarding to its proper light that it deserves. I feel really good about it,” he said.

Apart from Mr. De Lange, also added to the Chooks-to-Go family was SEA Games gold medal-winning surfer and hero Roger Casogay. They join the likes of Kobe Paras (basketball) and Nico Huelgas (triathlon).

Moving forward, Mr. De Lange said they are targeting to be able to compete in the Asian Games and, hopefully, the Olympics down the line.

“Our next goal is the Asian Games because that is coming sooner and skateboarding is already there and the Olympics, but just not our category yet. As a sport (downhill skating) we are still pushing to make it to the Olympics. The SEA Games was the first time we were recognized by a sub-Olympic committee as a legit sport because downhill skating is not the regular skateboarding. But we are hopeful,” he said.

Nadal dominates Dellien to reach Australian Open second round

January 21, 2020 | 7:31 pm

MELBOURNE — Rafael Nadal hit the ground running at the Australian Open on Tuesday by hammering unseeded Bolivian Hugo Dellien 6-2, 6-3, 6-0 to reach the second round.

The top seeded Spaniard has never lost to a player ranked as low as world number 72 Dellien at the year’s first Grand Slam and was never in danger on a sunbathed afternoon at Rod Laver Arena.

Bidding for his second title at Melbourne Park, and 20^th Grand Slam trophy to match his great rival Roger Federer, Nadal was broken twice by the hard-working Dellien.

But the 33-year-old Mallorcan was virtually flawless in the final set and sealed the match with a crushing forehand winner to set up a second-round clash with either Federico Delbonis or Joao Sousa.

SHARAPOVA VANQUISHED BY VEKIC IN FIRST ROUND
Former champion Maria Sharapova put up a mid-match fight before bowing out of the Australian Open at the first hurdle on Tuesday, beaten 6-3, 6-4 by Croatian Donna Vekic on Rod Laver Arena.

The 32-year-old Russian was clearly still hampered by the shoulder injury that had restricted her to one previous competitive outing since her opening-round exit at last year’s US Open.

Vekic proved a formidable opponent on the court where Sharapova won the title in 2008 and the 19^th seed raced to a 5-1 lead in the opening set before the former world number one found a way to get back into the contest.

Sharapova made Vekic work hard to close out the set and took a 4-1 lead in the second but was unable to maintain her momentum, losing the last five games to make her earliest exit from Melbourne Park since 2010.

BRITISH NUMBER ONE KONTA FELLED BY JABEUR
British number one Johanna Konta tumbled out in the first round of the Australian Open on Tuesday with a comprehensive 6-4, 6-2 defeat at the hands of Tunisia’s world number 78 Ons Jabeur.

The 12^th seed, clearly not yet match fit on her return from a knee injury that cut short her 2019 season, went down in just over an hour on number one court in a match washed out on Monday by rain.

A semifinalist at Melbourne Park four years ago and Roland Garros last year, Konta sprayed 19 unforced errors and struggled to hold her serve throughout the contest.

Jabeur, who beat Konta in two sets at Eastbourne last year, secured her fourth break of serve to win the contest when the Briton overcooked a backhand return.

The Tunisian will next face Madison Brengle or Caroline Garcia. — Reuters

FIBA 3×3 World Tour makes stop in the Philippines for its second leg

January 21, 2020 | 7:31 pm

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

THE FIBA 3×3 World Tour unfurls its ninth edition in April and is set to make a stop for one of its legs in the Philippines after five years.

Announced by the world basketball governing body on Monday, the flagship competition of the FIBA 3×3 professional season will open in Doha, Qatar, on April 2-3 and will have 12 other stops in between before culminating with the finals to happen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in November.

The Philippines will be the venue for the second leg of the tour on May 2-3 and will be staged with support from long-time 3×3 hoops backer Chooks-to-Go.

It will mark the first time after five years that the country will host a leg tour after 2015 whose significance was not lost to FIBA, which underscored how the Manila event, held in a mall, did a lot in showing the flexibility of 3×3 and the concept of bringing the sport to the people.

Chooks-to-Go said that the May 3×3 competition will be held at the SM Megamall Fashion Hall.

“2020 is a big year for 3×3 and we’re excited to see our number one competition — the FIBA 3×3 World Tour — continue to expand so quickly. We’re proud to attract new amazing cities like Riyadh for the Final and — at the same time — to return after many years to exceptional cities where World Tour history was made like Abu Dhabi and Manila,” said FIBA 3×3 Managing Director Alex Sanchez.

Now a 14-leg tour, up from 12 last year, the prize money has also expanded, now reaching a total of $2.8 million from $2.1 million in 2019.

The yearly World Tour has teams representing cities from around the world qualify for 13 Masters and a Final through a worldwide network of qualifying tournaments, such as the Challengers, and via the FIBA 3×3 Team Ranking.

Expected to compete in the event are some of the world’s best 3×3 clubs, including Liman, Novi Sad, Riga Ghetto, and NY Harlem.

Serving as the qualifier for local teams is the upcoming 2020 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 President’s Cup which begins next month.

Five Masters will be held before July 25 — Doha, Manila, Chengdu (China), Mexico City (Mexico) and Utsunomiya (Japan) — when 3×3 will make its Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Action resumes after the Games with stops in Prague (Czech Republic), Lausanne (Switzerland), Debrecen (Hungary), Montreal (Canada), Los Angeles (USA), China (city to be announced), Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), and Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates).

The top 12 teams in the World Tour standings after the last Masters earn a ticket to the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Final.