Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 203 | Tuesday, December 8, 2020 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

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VOL.13 ISSUE 203 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2020

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A patient transport vehicle is stationed outside the isolation center of Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), which is 24/7 ready to pick-up Covid-19 patients. A One Hospital Command Center (OHCC) has been set up at SPMC that will also facilitate medical transport and patient pick-up arrangements, provide health system capacity data analytics and risk communications, and optimize the use of critical care services of every hospital in the area. Edge Davao

INTENSIFIED One Hospital Command set up at SPMC for Covid-19 response STORY ON PAGE 2

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VOL.13 ISSUE 203 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2020

PRRD: Work 'far from over' in boosting human rights

INTENSIFIED Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) OIC medical center head Dr. Ricardo B. Audan announces that the institution is augmenting nurses and doctors for the One Hospital Command Center (OHCC). Edge Davao

resident Rodrigo Duterte said Monday that the work was "far from over" in boosting human rights. Speaking at a human rights summit led by the justice department, Duterte said he was "proud" that the Philippines signed many of the world’s core human rights treaties. "This affirms our serious commitment in honoring and fulfilling our treaty obligations and prioritizing the human rights agenda as a means to achieve our country’s sustainable development goals," the President said in a taped speech. "Let me however stress that our work is far from over. I urge everyone to strengthen the multi-sectoral engagement that would foster a healthy human rights environment for all," he added. Last Friday, Duterte said rights groups were "preoccupied" with the health and life of suspected criminals, thousands of whom have been killed in his anti-narcotics drive. He also told law enforcers and prosecutors to "never waver" in the drug war.

Duterte last month said 167 million Filipinos were addicted to drugs, more than the 100-million population of the country. Roque said this was a "typo error" and that the President meant 1.67 million drug users. A United Nations report in June said tens of thousands of people in the Philippines may have been killed in the war on drugs with "near impunity" for police and incitement to violence by top officials since mid-2016. Government has many times said those slain in anti-drug operations had violently resisted arrest, prompting operatives to open fire and defend themselves. The Philippines will "fully cooperate" with the UN on human rights issues after the international body pledged "technical assistance" to help the Duterte government probe killings, Malacañang recently said. While campaigning to be president, Duterte had vowed to end the drug scourge in 3 to 6 months, but later admitted he was wrong in promising such timeline as he noted the magnitude of the problem.

he Mati Incident Management Team is bracing for a possible surge on cases of Covid-19 infection as the holiday season starts. Mati IMT head Dr. Ben Hur Catbagan Jr. said that they expect an increase in the number of travelers from outside Mati to be coming in and celebrate Christmas and New Year here. He said that with the holiday season, parties and gatherings are also expected to happen thus increasing the chances of

infection. “We are preparing for the possible increase in cases especially during holidays — increasing numbers of incoming travellers, increase number of events, parties. Let's continue to be vigilant, avoid risky behaviors that will further expose us to the virus. We can always celebrate the holidays in a safe secure way with our immediate family, so we can go on New Normal the following year, helping one another

One Hospital Command set up at SPMC for Covid-19 response T By MAYA M. PADILLO he war against Covid-19 in Davao City has just intensified. But first, the headquarters.

Dr. Ricardo B. Audan, Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) officer in charge, announced in a virtual presser that the hospital is augmenting nurses and doctors for the One Hospital Command

Center (OHCC) which has been set up at SPMC. The OHCC will facilitate a comprehensive and coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring effective and efficient health facility referral

Peace housing project due for completion this month

ith hands of the police and the soldiers working at it, the Peace Housing Project in Sitio Tibucag in Barangay Dagohoy in Talaingod is due for completion this Christmas month of December. Davao del Norte Provincial Governor Edwin I. Jubahib told the Philippine Information Agency that regional and police forces of the Philippine National Police and troopers of the 56th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine have been deployed to fast track the construction of some 120 housing units prioritized for those who have come back from Haran. Jubahib expected Secretary Carlito Galvez of the Office of the Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process (OPAPP) to come back and inaugurate the project. Galvez was first flown to the hinterlands of Sitio Tibucag in September to attend the ground-breaking

ceremony of the project. As the funding source, OPAPP calls such project as Peace Housing Project but Jubahib calls it “Kaagapay sa bagong panimala para sa kahapsay ug kalinaw. (Support to Building of New Homes for Peace and Development)." “Padayon nga nagbayanihan ang atong mga kasundaluhan ug kapulisan ug nakita nato ang diwa sa pagtinabangay,” he said referring to united efforts of the provincial and municipal governments with the police and the military to complete the project. Police Col. Ranie Hachuela of Davao del Norte Provincial Police Office (DNPPO) runs the management of police personnel from various provinces deployed for the housing construction in sitio Tibucag, Jubahib said. Jubahib is also expecting the housing project completion in Sitio Mondol

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not only in Davao City but the entire Davao Region. Health Undersecretary Dr. Leopoldo Vega, who heads the One Hospital Command, assured that the OHCC will ultimately reduce the waiting time of patients by referring them to the appropriate health facility that could best provide for the level of care they require.

The OHCC will also facilitate medical transport and patient pick-up arrangements, provide health system capacity data analytics and risk communications, and optimize the use of critical care services of every hospital in the area. The setting up of the OHCC is timely as ICU (in-

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Mati IMT braces for possible surge during the holidays

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Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) make star-shaped lanterns inside the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-Davao City Jail in Ma-a, Davao City. The meticulously handcrafted star-shaped lanterns can be seen in the city’s main thoroughfares. Contributed photo

VOL.13 ISSUE 203 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2020

NEWS 3

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President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday that the work was “far from over” in boosting human rights during a human rights summit led by the justice department. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

NCCC brands embrace online retail in response to Covid-19 C

Lone bettor bags P265-M Super Lotto 6/49 jackpot

By MAYA M. PADILLO omegrown retail brands NCCC Supermarket and HB1 Pharmacy are turning the pandemic into an opportunity to rethink how they serve retail tenants and consumers by introducing innovative shopping options.

So far so good. The brands have made grocery and basic health supply purchases and services easier and safer for everyone. Lafayette Lim, president and CEO of NCCC Group of Companies, said NCCC has significantly adopted the omnichannel approach to address the needs of its shoppers especially for household essentials and in healthcare medicine at this time and for the foreseeable future. He said with this strategy, NCCC presents holistic and convenient ways for all its shoppers with over 80 offline or physical stores and four online channels. “When the restrictions were eased, increase in frequency for shopping in physical stores was observed. However, it is predicted that online shopping will increased more even after the pandemic due to convenience that this has brought to households,” Lim said. NCCC recently launched its official shopping website www.mynccc. ph which offers a wide range of products from different

business units of NCCC namely NCCC Supermarket and HB1 Pharmacy, where shoppers can get their grocery needs and basic health requirements all in one website. “With our official website, it’s like going to a mall but online,” Lim said. The program is currently available for Davao City customers with free delivery until December 31, 2020, and will soon expand in Davao Del Norte and Palawan. Lim said myNCCCC. ph’s aims to serve shoppers’ needs to shop for their essentials while they stay at home. “What differentiates myNCCC. ph from other sites is that it features 4 companies of NCCC where customers can buy what they need and want and pay for one shipping fee,” he said. Lim added that NCCC’s physical stores cater both end consumers and wholesalers and nyNCCC. ph features products mostly for end consumers such as big packs, premium items, and other essentials intended for household consump-

tions. With online platform, shoppers tend to buy in bulk and purchase big sizes to save on shipping or delivery charges. He said 70 percent of e-commerce is done in mobile phones so consumers spend less time shopping as compared to shopping in store. “Shopping for grocery essentials online is still a novelty for most shoppers. This was because brick and mortar stores are still accessible except during the enforced quarantine during this pandemic when the surge for online shopping shoots up,” he said. On the other hand, NCCC Supermarket has a Chat2Shop service that enable consumers to shop through Messenger and by simply messaging NCCC Supermarket Online Store Facebook Messenger, shopped items will be delivered to their homes. With such service option, shoppers have their very own Online Personal Shopping Assistant to assist them in completing their shopping via chat. This also gives consumers real time access and updates from the store as they get to chat with a store associate. Chat2Shop is available in Davao City, Tagum City, and Palawan. Also both NCCC Supermarket and HB1 Pharmacy offer text/call and deliver program where consumers

can call through hot lines of various branches from Davao City, Tagum City and Palawan and arrange for either pick up or delivery. The service also caters to bulk orders for wholesale or resellers to ensure that shoppers can have access to their daily needs. Also NCCC Supermarket also provides customers a convenient and hassle-free way to shop offline with online booking service that enables consumers to book their store visits online at their chosen time for P49 only. The service also permits instant entry to NCCC Supermarket stores where customers can skip the long queue of customers going in, exclusive sanitized cart and basket, a personal shopping assistant, and a special counter for easy payment transactions. “This is best for the holiday season because a lot of customers are flocking into our store for their holiday shopping and we have to consider capacity limits in accordance to local executive orders,” Lim added. To address the requests for payment options, NCCC has offered more choices for payments via GCASH Scan to Pay, Credit Cards or Debit Cards via Paymaya, online bank transfers or cash on delivery. “We are committed to provide our customers the

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hristmas came early for a lone bettor who bagged the PHP265-million jackpot prize on Sunday night's draw of the Super Lotto 6/49, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) said Monday. PCSO General Manager Royina Garma said the lucky bettor guessed the winning combination 06-12-18-20-3241with a jackpot of exactly PHP265,353,489.60. She congratulated the new millionaire, saying Christmas will surely be merry for the winner. The lucky ticket was purchased in the City of Manila. To claim the cheque, the bettor must go to PCSO's main office in Mandaluyong City and present two IDs. Also, he/she should bring the winning ticket.

Some 53 bettors who guessed five correct numbers won second prize and will receive PHP50,000 each. The 6/49 Super Lotto is drawn every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Garma urged the public to keep on patronizing the products of PCSO as a large chunk of its revenue goes to charity programs. The PCSO serves as the principal government agency for raising and providing funds for health programs, medical assistance and services, and charities of national character. One of its key programs is the Medical Access Program, which is designed to augment the medical needs of Filipinos nationwide, particularly hospital confinement, chemotherapy, dialysis, and post-trans-

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Gov't filing diplomatic protests vs China's patrols in West PH Sea 'almost every week'

he Philippines continues to assert its claims in the West Philippine Sea amid reports of China's brazen increase in patrols in disputed waters despite the pandemic, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon said on Sunday. The official said that the country has been filing these protests "almost every week." Hermogenes added that he views the report of Washington-based think tank Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative that China is continuing to bolster its presence in the disputed waters as a "factual state-

ment." There was an almost 80% increase in the presence of Chinese coast guard in Scarborough Shoal compared to last year, the AMTI said. It flagged that Chinese forces conducted patrols at Scarborough Shoal, also known as Panatag, for a total of 287 days from Dec. 1, 2019. At least one Chinese Coast Guard ship, often two, would broadcast Automatic Identification System data from Scarborough Shoal during this period, the AMTI said, analyzing information collected by the tracking service

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 203 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2020

Fresh tilapia stocks caught in Lake Buluan are traded at the fish port in Lutayan, Sultan Kudarat on Sunday morning, 6 December 2020. MIndaNews photo by BONG S. SARMIENTO

Over 21,000 jobs to be offered in DOLE’s online jobs fair this week S

Smart wins Best Crisis Response at the 2020 Asia Communication Awards

ver 21,000 jobs, both local and overseas, will be offered in an online Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) jobs fair later this week. According to the DOLE, the job fair will include vacancies from 600 domestic companies as well as 15 licensed recruitment agencies connected with Bahrain, the Falkland Islands, Germany, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Micronesia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Palau, Qatar, Singapore, Taiwan, and

Turks and Caicos. Most of the jobs are for factory workers, nurses, nursing aides, care workers, engineers, CAD operators, telecommunications rigging technicians, maintenance technicians, carpenters, foremen, laborers, and building cleaning workers. Also to be offered are vacancies for supervisors, physical fitness coaches,

cake decorators, cooks, food servers, restaurant workers, waiters, waitresses, counter service staff, and service staff. Dubbed as the Balik-trabaho e-jobs and online jobs fair, the program is mounted by the Bureau of Local Employment and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and will be held on Thursday and Friday, December 10 and 11, 2020, coinciding with the DOLE’s anniversary on December 08, 2020. Job seekers are advised to be ready with the digital copies of their resume or

er celebrations -- could be held online due to community quarantine measures meant to halt the spread of COVID-19. The commission added that telco companies should observe a “heightened level” of emergency preparations from December 7 until January 8, 2021, “to ensure minimal disruption and downtime.” “You are hereby directed to fast-track your

maintenance efforts, increase internet/broadband capacities, and ensure that business continuity and disaster recovery protocols are in place and functioning, 24/7,” the NTC said. President Rodrigo Duterte during his 5th State of the Nation Address in July told telcos to "improve the services before December." "I want to call Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, bet-

curriculum vitae and other application requirements such as a certificate of employment for those formerly employed, diploma, and transcript of records. Applicants may visit the POEA website to access the job fair. Job-seekers should log-in their credentials via e-registration, and recommended jobs will be matched to their preference. Just last week, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported an 8.7% unemployment rate in October, equivalent to 3.8 million adult individuals.

NTC to telcos: Improve services in anticipation of internet traffic surge during holidays

he National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has directed telecommunications companies to improve services and fast-track maintenance operations as the agency expects internet traffic to surge during the holidays. In a memorandum dated December 4, the NTC said many holiday activities -- including Christmas parties, gatherings, reunions, and oth-

ter have that line cleared... If you are not ready to improve, I might just as well close all of you and we revert back to the line telephone at kukunin ko yan (I will take that) expropriate ko sa gobyerno (to the government)," Duterte said. Telcos, the President had said, should report to his Cabinet officials the local government units hampering the building of cell sites in the country.

mart Communications, Inc. (Smart) bagged the Best Crisis Response Award at the 2020 Asia Communication Awards (ACA), along with a joint citation with network partner Ericsson under the Network Automation category. The wireless subsidiary of the Philippines’ largest integrated telecommunications company PLDT Inc. (PLDT) was lauded for its #StaySmart COVID-19 Response Program. “The company thoroughly impressed ACA judges with its efforts to keep Filipinos connected under the banner of the #StaySmart initiative,” Harry Baldock of Total Telecom said during the virtual announcement. “Crisis Response is a very competitive category, with so many entrants going above and beyond to help their customers during this very difficult time,” Baldock added. Under the #StaySmart COVID-19 Response Program, Smart ramped up efforts to keep customers, partners and frontliners safe and connected. The company worked with local government units to roll out mobile stores in areas affected by community quarantines at the onset of the pandemic. This allowed prepaid mobile and broadband customers to stay connected amid the health crisis. The service likewise provided sustained livelihood opportunities for Smart’s sales partners.

To help ease the financial burden of its customers during the COVID crisis, Smart implemented a sixmonth interest and penalty-free installment payment program for the outstanding monthly bills of its postpaid mobile users. Smart also provided cashless and contactless self-care channels, to keep the public safe from the virus. Customers were also given access to online payment services which allowed them to purchase products and devices, and to pay bills, at their convenience. “By providing reliable and relevant digital services, Smart helped Filipinos keep in touch, stay informed, protected and productive, whether they are at home, at work, or at the frontlines amid this health crisis,” said Smart Chief Executive Officer Alfredo S. Panlilio, who was also shortlisted under ACA’s CEO of the Year category. Smart was nominated in all four categories that it entered, including Best Social Contribution for Digital Farmers Program and Best Network Transformation Initiative. Smart was also jointly awarded with Ericsson under the Network Automation Category, for deploying the ICT service provider's Site Analytics support services on a large scale. With easy-to-use mobile applications that collect and cor-

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ECONOMY 5 Shopee Launches 12.12 Big Christmas Sale, Celebrates 5 Years of Digital Acceleration in the Region

Local baker cooks bread using a makeshift oven in Barangay Union, Dapa town, Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte on Saturday, December 5, 2020. He sells the bread at five pesos per piece. MindaNews photo by ROEL N. CATOTO

Agusan Norte farmers see hope in cassava production

pland farmers in Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte are now starting to reap the fruits of their labor in venturing into another agricultural endeavor to earn additional income. Believing that monocropping is not enough to sustain the needs of their families, the farmers realized that the agricultural enterprise they ventured in last January could help them survive the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. “Cassava farming will help us survive from this pandemic and will ensure additional income to our families,” Roberto Calapre of Barangay Lingayao, Las Nieves told the Philippine News Agency on Saturday. Calapre heads the Lingayao Kahayagan Cassava Farmers Association (LKCFA), a group with about 48 members who partnered with the local government unit of Las Nieves and the Department of Agriculture in Caraga Region (DA-13) for the propagation of cassava.

The association started planting inside the 30-hectare farmland in Lingayao, an area designated for cassava production under the Cassava Cluster Development Plan for 2020-2025 of Las Nieves. “The planting operations were hindered during the start of the pandemic in March and the imposition of travel restrictions in the following months. But we continued planting cassava in the area by following the protocols,” Calapre said. He thanked Las Nieves Mayor Avelina S. Rosales for allowing the group to utilize the units of tractors owned by the LGU. “The tractors helped us fast-track the land preparations in the 30-hectare area. By March, we were already planting despite the pandemic,” Calapre said. Harvesting started in the

last week of November and until now, association members are focusing their efforts on completing the task before the year ends, he added. “The machineries provided to us by the DA in Caraga helped us in moving forward with the harvesting. The DA provided us with two units of cassava chippers and two units of cassava granulators,” Calapre said. Aside from the tools for harvesting, the association was also provided by DA-13 (Caraga) with a digger, vacuum pack sealer, corn sheller and corn planter. Calapre said their group last week delivered four tons of cassava granules to their buyer in Esperanza, Agusan del Sur. “With the machineries provided by DA, we can now process our cassava products into dried granules,” he noted. He added that their group will deliver more cassava granules to their partner-buyer in Agusan del Sur in the weeks to come. Leonito C. Pasquito, the Municipal Agricultural Of-

ficer of Las Nieves, said the LGU and DA-13 previously linked the group of Calapre to a farmer’s association in Esperanza that has an existing contract to sell cassava granules to big companies. “The market is not a problem for processed cassava. The group of Mr. Calapre has an assured market and they had already made their first delivery at PHP11 per kilo,” Pasquito said. He added that their office will encourage more corn farmers in the town to venture into cassava farming and production because of its profitability. “Mayor Rosales has assured our farmers of the government’s full support in their endeavors especially in agricultural production. Most of our farmers here are engaged in upland farming and corn production,” Pasquito said. He added that Mayor Rosales targets around 200 hectares of land to be developed as cassava production sites under the Cassava Cluster Development Plan of the municipality. (PNA)

lished on Friday. Pornhub denied the allegations. "Any assertion that we allow CSAM (child sexual abuse material) is irresponsible and flagrantly untrue," it said in a statement emailed to Reuters. Mastercard told Reuters in a statement that it was investigating the allegations with Pornhub's parent MindGeek's bank. "If the claims are substantiated, we will take immediate action," Mastercard said. Billionaire investor Bill Ackman called on Mastercard and Visa Inc to temporarily withhold payments to Pornhub following the newspaper column.

Ackman also asked American Express Co to take action, though the company's cards aren't accepted on the site. Visa did not immediately respond to a request for comment. American Express said it has a longstanding global policy that prohibits acceptance of its cards on digital adult content websites. Ackman suggested it should be made illegal for porn sites to post videos before they are reviewed by a monitor, and until the ages and consent of participants have been validated. In its response, Pornhub said it has a vast team of human moderators who

manually review "every single upload," as well as automated detection technologies. It did not say how many people were part of its review team. Kristof's column also drew reactions from politicians including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who said his government was working with police and security officials to address the issues it raised. In the United States, Senator Josh Hawley said he will introduce legislation to create a federal right to sue for every person "coerced or trafficked or exploited by sites like Pornhub."

Mastercard to investigate allegations vs. Pornhub

astercard Inc said on Sunday it was investigating allegations against Pornhub. com following a newspaper column which said many videos posted on the adult website depicted child abuse. The New York Times column, written by Nicholas Kristof, described videos on Pornhub that the author said were recordings of assaults on unconscious women and girls. "The issue is not pornography but rape. Let's agree that promoting assaults on children or on anyone without consent is unconscionable," Kristof wrote in the column pub-

hopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, wraps up the year-end sales season and marks its fifth birthday by launching its annual 12.12 Big Christmas Sale. Its recent 9.9, 10.10, and 11.11 shopping events set new records and signified the changing landscape and potential of e-commerce in the region. This 12.12, Shopee celebrates five years of digital acceleration in the region and highlights three key trends that have shaped and will continue to drive the growth of e-commerce: Social, Personalization, and Integration. Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “Shopee was born with the vision of making online shopping accessible, easy, and enjoyable. We built Shopee from the ground up, listening to people’s specific needs in each of our markets and turning our understanding into well-executed localized strategies that make Shopee what it is today. This year’s 12.12 Big Christmas Sale has added significance as we celebrate our fifth birthday and come together with our brand partners, sellers, and shoppers to support one another through a challenging year. As we look back on our journey, we are proud to have adapted quickly to serve the needs of our local communities.” This 12.12, Shopee highlights three key trends that will continue to power the growth of e-commerce in 2021 and beyond. 1. Social: Bringing the human touch to online shopping Advancements in technology, coupled with changing shopper habits, have resulted in online shopping evolving from a transactional experience. Today’s users are more social than ever, and they demand a more engaging online shopping experience with rich and unique content. In 2016, Shopee was one of the first e-commerce platforms in the region to launch a live chat function, Shopee Live Chat, enabling direct conversations between buyers and sellers. Today, an average of 30 million messages are exchanged daily on Shopee Live Chat. Through the years, Shopee has continuously improved on and introduced new in-app engagement features such as Shopee Games, Shopee Feed, and Shopee Live to make the online shopping experience more social. Shopee anticipates that this trend will stay, with e-commerce increasingly becoming a platform through which people can connect and enjoy shared experiences. Shopee will continue to drive this trend through unique initiatives like Shopee Mom’s Club, which provides like-minded consumers

with one-stop exclusive access to baby product deals and parenting content. There’s also a Book Club for a new generation of digital readers in Vietnam and a “Pawrents” club to meet the growing online demand for pet products in Singapore. 2. Personalization: Catering to the ‘Me’ economy Personalization is critical in e-commerce today. A highly personalized experience makes online shopping more efficient, enjoyable, and unique for consumers, while also helping brands and sellers drive traffic and growth. Shopee takes a hyper-localized approach by running seven different apps in each of its markets and localizing in-app features. Shopee also continually refines its recommendation engines to offer more customized and relevant shopping suggestions to fit consumers’ needs. For brands and sellers, offering personalized recommendations to shoppers helps increase overall awareness and conversions. Businesses that use Shopee’s in-app advertisements generate 65% more sales activity than those that do not. This is powered by Shopee’s own AI capabilities, which ensure that advertisements are delivered to the right users. As the industry progresses further into the ‘me’ economy, businesses need to innovate in order to improve the online customer journey. In the coming year, Shopee also expects to see the rise of smart shoppers, a new demographic of young, tech-savvy individuals who expect a highly personalized online shopping experience. 3. Integration: Creating a seamless customer journey As retailers adapt to the new normal, they must deliver a seamless customer journey across all touchpoints. Shopee helps brands and sellers of all sizes by providing fundamental operational support through integrated payments and logistics, while creating innovative experiences that value-add to the overall customer journey. • Delivering an experiential home shopping experience with P&G: Together with P&G , Shopee introduced its first-ever experiential online Show Me My Home initiative, which allowed shoppers to discover and shop for P&G’s popular household items in a simulated household environment. This brought greater convenience for stay-at-home consumers, while mimicking the offline experience of walking in a store. Yu closed, “2020 has been a transformative year. It has shown us the importance of technology and its ability to not only connect people and meet

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6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 203 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2020

On the augmentation of nurses and doctors for the One Hospital Command Center (OHCC) which has been set up at SPMC:

We are expecting another batch coming from Cebu pero wala pa niabot. Other than this, nag-augment na pud ang local government of Davao. These are some of the updates and also for the One Hospital Command Center based in SPMC... However, everything has been managed well and we are trying our best to really contain and manage the patients.” Dr. Ricardo B. Audan

Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) officer in charge

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VOL.13 ISSUE 203 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2020

VANTAGE POINTS

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

WHY YOU SHOULD TELL THE TRUTH “Truth is always strong, no matter how weak it looks, and falsehood is always weak, no matter how strong it looks.” – Phillips Brooks *** In The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde commented, “The truth is rarely pure and never simple.” To which Alexander Solzhenitsyn contends, “We do not err because truth is difficult to see. It is visible at a glance. We err because this is more comfortable.” “Truth is tough,” pointed out Oliver Wendell Holmes in The Professor at the Breakfast Table. “It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch, nay, you may kick it all about all day like a football, and it will be round and full in the evening.” In his book, Reminiscences, General Douglas MacArthur – known in the Philippines for his famous quote, “I shall return!” – recalled a classroom experience he had as a West Point cadet. His class was studying the time-space relationship, which the great genius Albert Einstein later called his “Theory of Relativity.” The text was very complicated and Cadet MacArthur could not figure out what it

was all about. So, he just memorized the pages concerned. When he was called upon to recite, he dutifully reeled off almost word for word what the book said. The instructor looked at him in a puzzled sort of way and inquired, “Do you understand his theory?” It was a bad moment for the young cadet, but he stood up straight and answered bravely, “No, sir.” Hearing his answer, everyone in the class seemed to stop breathing. You could have heard a pin drop. The young MacArthur braced himself and waited. Then, the instructor said very slowly, “Neither do I, Cadet MacArthur. The class is dismissed.” “Truth is generally the best vindication against slander,” wrote American president Abraham in a letter to Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. To which one sage added, “Truth is not always popular, but it is always right.” There is also truth to this statement by Arthur Schopenhauer: “All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” “So, what was it then exactly this truth-telling?” asked

Graham Swift in Mothering Sunday. “It was about being true to the very stuff of life, it was about trying to capture, though you never could, the very feel of being alive. It was about finding a language. And it was about being true to the fact, the one thing only followed from the other, that many things in life – of so many more than we think – can never be explained at all.” “Truth exists,” someone once said, “only falsehood has to be invented.” After all, “Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened,” dismissed Sir Winston Churchill. And Filipinos should listen to the words of Edith Sitwell: “The public will believe anything, so long as it is not founded on truth.” According to Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Truth is beautiful, without doubt; but so are lies.” “Telling the truth isn’t always easy; that’s one of the reasons people lie – it’s easier at that moment than telling the truth,” wrote Bill Vossler in his article, “12 Reasons to Tell the Truth.” I am sure you have not heard of it and so allow me to share some passages from

Vossler’s article: 1. Truth is always right. “Lying is wrong,” he said. “It’s that simple. Every culture and religious system recognizes and teaches this moral truth.” 2. Lies will come back to haunt you. “You can’t hide from your lies; you can sweep them under the rug for a while, but in an hour, a day, a month or a year, they will wiggle back out on the floor into daylight for everyone to see.” 3. Lies weigh you down. If you lie to someone, you feel bad. You wonder what he knows and whether he’ll confront you or not. “In a way, you become a fugitive, running from the lie you told.” 4. Lies prevent you from developing as a person. “You might easily spend time, energy and worry on lies instead of concentrating on friendship, learning, joy and having fun.” 5. Truth enhances your reputation. “If you work hard at telling the truth, other people will notice. They will also respect you for it, because they know how difficult telling the truth can sometimes be.” 6. Truth will make true friends for you. “Friendship is built in shared interests caring for each other, and honesty, or telling the truth, among other

things.” 7. In truth, you will feel better about yourself. “Truth is a gentle, healing sponge that keeps your conscience clean and spotless, and you happy.” 8. Truth makes you a better person. “If you choose to tell lies, then you will probably begin to choose other wrong directions in life.” 9. One truth-telling makes the next one easier. “Telling the truth requires practice. Each truth-telling strengthens you for doing the right and truthful thing the next time.” 10. Your truth makes it easier for others to tell the truth. “Your being truthful makes it easier for others to be truthful with you, and it is through knowing these truths that you can make changes to accomplish many of the things you want to accomplish in life.” 11. You’ll be different. “Truth-tellers are few and far between.” 12. You have to live with yourself. “Because of being human, everyone falls short of always telling the truth. But if you try hard, and are gentle and kind and caring when telling the truth, you’ll gain friends, fame, and riches in your personal life that you can’t now imagine.”

FRED C. LUMBA SPECKS OF LIFE

WAKING UP WITH A PURPOSE Focus on the important task rather than the routine so that the flow of things to do becomes smooth and satisfactory. This appears to be a sane approach to right living, isn’t it? Most successful company and business executives who lead large corporations have this creed tattooed in their mindset and they wake up in the morning ready to face any circumstances that come their way. Many of us who are intimidated by the urgency and the toughness of the tasks before us usually take on the easy ones first because they are convenient and seem like second nature. And then they are suddenly stopped cold in their tracks when the harder and tougher stuff come to challenge them. Students or examinees taking professional exams for their license to practice are usually taught this way. Because one can always go back to harder questions that were not yet answered, the easy questions are the first being tackled and penciled in. But in the business world the tougher assignments are usually the more important and

the first to be completed because they mean much more in terms of ROIs to the company. That is why executives get the highest salaries, compensation and perks, better than the middle managers and supervisors who usually take on the preliminary routine of checking the meticulous details but leave to the higher authority – the vice –president, SVP, EVP, COO or CEO – the heavier task of decision-making. Because the purpose of the whole exercise actually is about making the final decision. Whether to push through or not, the decision is only recommendatory from the middle managers and supervisors but the final say is left with the guys up there seated in their leather swivel chairs inside their cool and cozy executive rooms, sipping hot fresh brewed coffee served by their pretty and intelligent executive assistants. Oh, don’t forget the donuts please. Perhaps, and I must say this with finality and dogmatic stance, government officials (Cabinet members particularly) must possess this kind of executive class because we the citizen-

ry expect them to be extraordinary since they are appointed by the President who is the highest appointing authority in the land. Unfortunately, we the people see that not all but perhaps half of those presidential appointees not really of executive class. One can easily size them up the way they speak when interviewed by the media. Many stammer and cannot talk impromptu without scripts. Some even ask for prior questions before agreeing to be interviewed live on air. Are these Cabinet secretaries capable or just half-incapable? Because many do not understand that living is not merely breathing air and exhaling it. It is a creative existence that separates the intelligent from the moron, the extraordinary from the ordinary, the rich from the poor, the executive from the clerk and so forth and so on. Hey, life has a purpose. One has to have a reason for living, the right reason for pursuing a dream and achieving your ambition. If the government is managed by executives who possess

the right skills for the position, the right reasons for the right purposes, we can say the people are in good hands. In this case, the government should be in fact in very good hands. Conversely, if the executives appointed to Cabinet positions do not possess the right skills and attitude, how can they even muster to have the right reasons and the right purposes? I know you will agree that there are Cabinet members who are ill-equipped. You’ve seen them come and go, no legacy to be remembered for during their stint. But you know that some are so quiet because they do not want to stir a hornet’s nest during their incumbency. This reminds me of Henry Ford who said: “Most people spend more time and energy going around problems than in trying to solve them.” Isn’t this a very appropriate description of government officials? Take the environmental sanitation and health problems Boracay was encountering before the President ordered a thorough clean-up of the world’s

favorite beach haven. Several DENR secretaries have come and gone but the Boracay problem went unresolved until Duterte came along. Why does it have to take the President to holler before anything gets done decisively? Without a purpose, how can a man keep his sanity? Without a purpose, how can the government satisfactorily serve its constituency? Surely, it is time we all woke up with a purpose. The citizens have their own share of responsibilities by just being law-abiding. Government officials have heavier responsibilities and accountabilities by performing their executive duties and doing them in an A-one manner. No ifs and buts. Those who cannot perform above par should resign. They need not be prodded by the Senate nor by the media nor by the President to tender their resignations. They know they are incompetent. They are purpose-less. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

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LIFESTYLE

EXTRAORDINARY GIFTS FOR EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN CHRISTMAS is just around the corner and the time to shop is now. Here are some extraordinary gift ideas for equally extraordinary gentlemen. For the Hardworking Cinephile With movies and work this year moving from outside to the home, the cinephile needs the best in-home movie and work experience he can get and this is with the new BRAVIA X8007H and X9507H large screen series that Sony Philippines made for both entertainment and business activities. The latest BRAVIA TVs is perfect for both worlds with supreme resolution and immersive sound to further enjoy movies and music, while the bigger screens are the next big thing as it allows better communication at work. For your virtual meetings, conferences, or online engagements, you can freely connect your laptops on these TV models for a bigger, better, and more exciting experience. This prompts for an easier online session compared to the previous ones wherein everything is

compressed in a small screen. Also, with tight schedules, these models make everything easy and accessible for you because of its compatibility with Google Assistant, Google Home, Alexa, Apple Airplay/ Apple HomeKit for seamless hands-free control. For the Go-Getter One of the newest members of Lenovo’s commercial Think brand, the ThinkBook line is the ideal gift to young professionals. Designed for business with user convenience in mind and fresh style to boot, this line of devices helps them accomplish

Lenovo ThinkBook

Sony BRAVIA X9507H ing musicians. Among the JBL CLUB Series high-end features include its High Res certified graphene drives, True Adaptive Noise Cancellation (ANC), and SilentNow things in their to-do lists. listening capaOld Spice Festive pack ThinkBook devices are bilities which makes packed with powerful Dies, the audio experience features like the Smart Power spices a hundred times better On, fingerprint reader, and up the JBL CLUB One than normal over-ear and onThinkShield security that enholidays with their ear headphones. able users to do business with limited edition Old On top of these, the JBL efficiency, confidence, and Spice Festive packs. CLUB Series also has Google style. With scent technology that Assistant services and is the The ThinkBook line is lasts eight-hours, Old Spice first line of headphones to available in the Philippines in keeps you smelling great while carry Harman’s Personi-Fi three variants: ThinkBook 13s, working hard to make you technology which allows users ThinkBook 14, and ThinkBook confident and feel awesome. to customise and calibrate the 15 The limited edition Old Spice headphones according to their Festive pack is a legendary gift preferences. For the Debonaire for legendary men. These Bluetooth headphones While the debonaire may can also be used with their have everything they may ever For the Audiophile package-included 1.2m audio want, the smell of “legendary” First announced at this cable and microphone. For is one that elevates ordinary year’s Consumer Electronics utmost ergonomics and pregentlemen to extraordinary. Show (CES), the JBL CLUB mium-looking aesthetics, the This Christmas season Old series is the first line of JBL JBL CLUB Series comes clad in Spice, #TheSmellThatNeverheadphones inspired by toursleek black leather.

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Meals with VCO could weaken COVID-19 symptoms By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

fficially, it has been confirmed. Virgin coconut oil (VCO) – which has been found to be rich in lauric acid, a powerful biochemical that helps boost the immune system – could diminish symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Results of the joint study headed by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) have shown that VCO could be used as a supplement to probable and suspect cases of COVID-19. As an adjunct supplement, “VCO could prevent probable and suspect COVID-19 cases from becoming severe,” said Science Secretary Fortunato dela Pena during the presentation of the findings of the study that was disclosed to the media in a virtual conference. The study team evaluated the effects of VCO given to suspect and probable cases of COVID-19 quarantined at the Santa Rosa Community Quarantine Facility and at the Santa Rosa Community Hospital, both in Santa Rosa City, Laguna. Investigators randomly assigned the volunteers into either the Intervention or VCO Group or the Control Group. The intervention lasted for 28 days and involved 57 suspect and probable COVID-19

patients. There were 29 cases who were in the VCO Group and 28 in the Control Group. Among the criteria used for the exclusion of patients in the study were: considered suspect or probable COVID-19 case, 20 years and older, has been admitted in the quarantine facility three days or less at the time of baseline data collection, willing to participate, with controlled hypertension and maintenance drugs and with normal liver enzyme tests. Excluded from the study were those patients with history of heart ailment, taking statins or medications for heart disease, has history of hyperlipidemia or high cholesterol levels, asymptomatic, and pregnant. Participants in the Intervention or VCO Group were given standardized meals mixed with VCO developed by DOST-FNRI. The Control Group also received the usual standardized meals but without VCO. Meals were cooked by a contracted catering ser-

vice in the area, while the precise amount of VCO was mixed on-site by registered nutritionist-dietitians hired specifically for the study. Meals were served free of charge and delivered in the quarantine facilities during the participants’ confinement, and later at their respective homes after being already discharged. An initial dose of 0.6 milliliters of VCO per kilogram of body weight was mixed with the standard breakfast meals of the VCO Group on the first three days of the trial. The dose was increased to 1.2 milliliters of VCO per kilogram of body weight mixed with the standard breakfast and lunch of the VCO Group from Day 4 to 28. Study participants in the VCO Group with reported VCO intolerance were given computed amounts of VCO per kilogram of body weight in their standard breakfast, lunch and dinner meals. COVID-19 symptoms like cough, colds, body aches, headache, loss of taste and smell, and fever were monitored daily during the whole course of the study. Here are some of the findings of the study: · Immediate effects of the VCO intervention were observed among five of the 29 patients in the VCO Group who experienced decreasing signs and

symptoms of COVID-19 as early as Day 2, while only one patient from the Control Group showed similar improvement. · The VCO Group experienced no more symptoms at Day 18, while the Control Group exhibited no symptoms only at Day 23. · The diminishing signs and symptoms of COVID-19 in the VCO Group was supported by the decreasing levels of C-Reactive Protein (CRP) of the participants. A CRP – a quantitative marker used in monitoring inflammation or infections – equal or less than 5 milligrams per liter signifies recovery from inflammation or in-

fection. · Mean CRP levels of the VCO Group normalized to 5 milligrams per liter or less as early as Day 14 and continuously decreased until Day 18, · Normalization of CRP levels in the Control Group was also evident from Day 1 to Day 14, but this remained at the borderline of 5 milligrams per liter from Day 14 until the end of the intervention. With these findings, “VCO could be used as an adjunct supplement to probable and suspect COVID-19 cases,” said Dela Pena. Although he admitted that more studies are still needed “to determine the effectiveness of VCO

as adjunct therapy for COVID-19 patients and with other co-morbidities.” Among the people involved in the study were Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa, Mario V. Capanzana, Jacus S. Nacis, Carl Vincent D. Cabanilla, Fabian Antonio M. Dayrit, and Jaime Montoya. Aside from FNRI and the local government unit of the City of Santa Rosa, other government agencies involved with the study were Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, the DOST of CALABARZON, and the Ateneo de Manila University.

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tensive care unit) beds at SPMC are alredy at critical level with 93 percent occupied beds while the isolation wards are also in critical level with 81.87 percent occupied with Covid-19 confirmed patients. As of December 3, 2020, there are 40 positive Covid-19 patients admitted at SPMC. “However, everything has been managed well

and we are trying our best to really contain and manage the patients,” Audan said. SPMC, which is the biggest government hospital in the country with 1,500 beds, is considered as the ground zero for Covid-19 treatment not only in Davao City but Davao Region and Mindanao as well thus maximizing its manpower and resources and streamlining its Covid-19

response. There are an average of 800 to 1,000 patients a day being tested for Covid-19 at SPMC. As of October 31, 2020, the hospital has tested a total of 91,728 patients. Audan disclosed that SPMC is augmenting nurses and medical workers coming from other places like the 29 workers composed of doctors and data encoders; and 20 nurses

coming from National Capital Region, and 15 from Cagayan de Oro, which is composed of13 nurses and two medtechs. “We are expecting another batch coming from Cebu pero wala pa niabot. Other than this, nag-augment na pud ang local government of Davao. These are some of the updates and also for the One Hospital Command Center based in SPMC,” he said.

in reviving our economy,” Catbagan said. The City of Mati has an average of 200 ROFs and LSIs arrivals every month. This excludes the thousands of tourists visiting the city every weekend. Catbagan said that this despite Mati having opened its doors to tourism the past several months now, the Mati IMT was able to “beat Covid for

every wave”. “Every time there was a possible surge of cases, we responded by enforcing minimum health standards, tested and isolated cases, traced contacts and quarantined them, and we were able to cut transmission every time in a matter of days, leading to a sense of normalcy in our city. We have beaten COVID for every wave in

the past months so far, but there is still no assurance that we will not be having a surge of cases again soon,” Catbagan said. The Mati IMT head the continuing success in their management of the virus is also a proof “that the people have cooperated and we should thank them and continue to encourage them to practice masking up, distancing,

hand hygiene, avoiding crowds to protect them and their families.” “With God's blessings , let's continue to save lives and livelihood,” Catbagan ended. As of today, December 7, the City of Mati has registered a total of 127 confirmed cases of which 122 have recovered, 3 have died, and only 2 remained active. (CIO MATI)

MarineTraffic. According to data released by the AMTI, China patrolled Scarborough Shoal more than any other contested feature included in its monitoring. The Philippines lost control over Scarborough Shoal, located west of Zambales, after a controversial standoff with China in 2012. This prompted the

country to file a case for international arbitration. An arbitral tribunal in The Hague recognized the Philippines’ sovereign rights in areas within its exclusive economic zone that China contests, and said Beijing violated Filipinos’ rights in blocking fishermen from Scarborough Shoal, a traditional fishing ground.

China continues to reject the landmark ruling. Second Thomas Shoal, which the Philippines calls Ayungin, saw patrols for 232 days. Meanwhile, the Chinese Coast Guard spent 279 days on another South China Sea feature — the Luconia Shoals. It forms part of Malaysia’s continental shelf

but is disputed by China. China may have done an even higher number of patrols at Scarborough, Second Thomas, Luconia, and Vanguard, the AMTI said, noting that ships may not be broadcasting AIS signals consistently as required by the International Maritime Organization.

their basic needs, but also to entertain and engage. We are just at the beginning of our digital journey and looking ahead, we believe e-commerce will have an even more profound impact on businesses and consumers, creating new ways of living, working, and engaging. As we wrap up the year with the 12.12 Big Christmas Sale, let’s continue to look out for one another, uplift those in need, and welcome the new year on a high note.” 12.12 Big Christmas Sale From November 18 to December 12, users can

enjoy free shipping with ₱0 minimum spend, 20% cashback, and ₱1 deals at the Shopee 12.12 Big Christmas Sale. Key highlights of Shopee 12.12 Big Christmas Sale: • Amazing promotions and big rewards with ShopeePay: From December 3 to December 11, shoppers who use ShopeePay can look forward to free shipping, discount vouchers, and a chance to win cash prizes. • #MyShopeeWish TikTok Challenge: Join the #MyShopeeWish TikTok Challenge to win prizes.

The #MyShopeeWish TikTok Challenge is from December 7 to 30. Winners will be announced on January 15, 2021 on Shopee’s official social media accounts. For more information, head over to https:// shopee.ph/m/my-shopeewish. • Big discounts from leading brands: Shoppers can enjoy up to 50% off from leading brands on Shopee Mall, including L’Oreal Paris, P&G Beauty, Abbott, Unilever Home and Food, Havaianas, Nestle, Huawei, Vivo, Pampers, RB Enfagrow, and Infinix. Additionally, brands

such as Unilever, MASS Appliances, Soundcore by Anker, Platinum Karaoke, Union Appliances, Amazfit, Kyowa, PULUZ, Pedigree, Bio-Science, Organic Skin, Shigetsu, Mikana, Organic Official, INSPI, GSK, Tigernu, MetroSunnies, New Balance, Colgate-Palmolive, Haylou, Alaska, and Fila also offer amazing discounts. For more information about Shopee 12.12 Big Christmas Sale, visit https://shopee.ph/m/ christmas-sale. Download Shopee for free on the App Store or Google Play Store.

To ensure product quality and compliance to Philippine National Standards, the VCO used in the study were strictly analyzed by the Laboratory Services Division of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA). VCO – the purest form of coconut oil, essentially water-clear or colorless – can be prepared at home. It can be produced with or without the use of heat, without undergoing chemical refining, bleaching or deodorizing, and which does not lead to the alteration of the nature of the soil. According to PCA, there are two ways of preparing VCO: fresh-dry or fresh-wet. It is considered fresh-dry when VCO is obtained directly from fresh coconut meat. Drying of fresh comminuted kernels (ground, grated or milled) is required before extract-

ing the VCO. Fresh-wet is used when VCO is obtained from fresh coconut milk. Coconut milk is extracted either mechanically or manually, with or without addition of water. The late National Scientist Dr. Conrado S. Dayrit was touted to be the Father of VCO. His book, The Truth About Coconut Oil, published in 2005, became a bestseller and elevated coconut oil from folk medicine to a scientific therapy. He was a cardiologist and professor of pharmacology at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine. “Today, people are returning to natural diets in order to live healthier and happier lives – the hallmarks of ‘wellness’ – and science has been validating the benefits,” Dayrit wrote in the prologue of Coconut Oil: From Diet to Therapy

which he co-authored with his son, Fabian. “One of the natural foods being rediscovered is coconut. Although vilified as a cause of heart disease, coconut oil has always shown itself to be a healthy and curative oil. Numerous studies using the tools of modern science are finally revealing – and validating – the beneficial effects of coconut oil.” Several studies show VCO is rich in lauric acid, a medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) that is converted to monolaurin by the human body. “Fifty percent of coconut oil is lauric acid, a compound found in human breast milk, which makes it one of the best food sources for this nutrient available,” Ty Bollinger, a best-selling author, medical researcher, and health freedom advocate. The Philippines is the second largest coconut

producing country in the world, after Indonesia. Of the 12 million hectares total agricultural land, 3.5 million hectares are dedicated to coconut production, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reports. The Philippines introduced VCO to the world in 2000-2001 and remains to be the world's number one VCO exporter. In 2015, VCO was exported to 46 countries, the United Coconut Association of the Philippines said. The top importers were the United States, the Netherlands, Canada, Germany, and Japan. Other destinations were Belgium, the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Australia. Smaller volumes went to Malaysia, Brazil, Taiwan, South Africa, France, China, Singapore and Czechoslovakia. (Photos sourced from the net)

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PH eyes vaccination by March '21 in 'best case scenario' -- Duque

he Philippines may start inoculating its citizens with the vaccine against COVID-19 around March or April next year, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Monday. "We’ve done some scenario analysis under the leadership of Sec. (Carlito Jr) Galvez and I think the best case scenario would be about the end of the first quarter of 2021 or about the start of second quarter of next year," he said when asked when the inoculation may begin. "A lot of factors will have to be taken into consideration to be able to more definitively set schedules for actual distribution, deployment, and inoculation of our people within our prior-

ity list," he said. Duque said government is looking to build a portfolio of different vaccines, depending on the availability and evaluation of a panel of experts. He said in the list are those from Sinovac, Gamaleya, AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, and Johnson & Johnson. Vaccines from these companies "require a much less sophisticated and a bit higher cold storage temperature." P f i z e r - B i o N Te c h' s vaccine demands -70 degrees celsius storage, which the Philippines does not have at the moment, said Duque. However, he said he heard from Galvez that the company "might be willing to provide" the storage facility to ensure the vaccine's effectivity.

(Barangay Gupitan in the Municipality of Kapalong) where the Tapayanon community is due to transfer from the foot of Pantaron Range at the borders of the provinces of Davao del Norte, Agusan del Sur and Bukidnon. The Provincial Engineering Office of Davao del Norte and the Municipal Engineering Office of Talaingod have also been sent to meet due schedules to open up the housing projects. Jubahid noted that for so long a time, indigenous

peoples especially in farflung hinterland communities have been sleeping on tree barks and on tree branches but he said they will soon be sleeping on marine plywood with metaplas roofings “Grabe ang ilang kalipay. (They are overjoyed),” he said while also noting the positive impact of housing projects in IP communities to the campaign of the national government to end the local communist armed conflict (ELCAC). (PIA XI/ Jeanevive Duron Abangan)

best of ways to help them during this pandemic as what NCCC has always done for the past 40 years,” Lim said. Meanwhile, HB+ Pharmacy launched HB1 TeleClinic, a mobile app which offers Davao Region residents a safer, convenient and é¢conomical way for medical consultations. HB1 TeleClinic provides a unique way of integrating teleconsulation and telepharmacy, thus providing patients seamless access to online medical consultation and convenience in obtaining their duly prescribed medications. Dabawenyos just need to download and regis-

ter the app and set an appointment with a doctor of choice online. Diagnosis will be done in a telecon or video call with the practitioner. HB1 Pharmacy’s assistant vice president Corazon Wee said HB1 TeleClinic provides patients the safest and easiest access to seek medical consultation. She said it is 100 percent riskfree of virus transmission as compared to an actual clinic visit, protecting both patients and health care providers. The pharmacy will also be partnering with Fetch Mobile App scan to provide consumers more access to its quality health products.

plant medicines. The program is fund-

ed by revenues from PCSO games nationwide. (PNA)

relate real-time network data, field technicians can work remotely and independently, while making faster informed decisions. "Smart and Ericsson's Network Automation Award is for an AI-powered site analytics solution that enables the operator to effectively isolate, predict, and prevent network issues. This solution allows a shift in network operations from reactive to preemptive, resulting in a 20% decrease in the number of monthly site visits," Baldock described.

Launched in 2011 by London-based industry publication Total Telecom, ACA recognizes the region's leading communication service providers and telecom operators. Smart's previous ACA wins include Best Social Contribution for School-in-a-Bag, Best Digital Services Provider, and Best Brand Campaign for Welcome Change, which communicated Smart’s digital pivot anchored on a $1-billion digital transformation program with parent company PLDT.

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Japan to host 2021 FIFA Club World Cup

AD’s $190M new Lakers deal sparked by injury worries

nthony Davis signed a new fiveyear deal this week.

Lakers fans were understandably wary of Anthony Davis’ injury history when he was traded to Los Angeles from the Pelicans in July 2019. Apparently, Davis was too. When the time came to re-sign with the Lakers, Davis said he aimed to lock down the lengthiest contract he possibly could in case a career-threatening injury should arise. The seven-time All-Star inked a five-year, $190 million deal

Thursday. “That could have been a two-year, three-year deal,” Davis told reporters on a video conference call Friday. “[But] I have to think about, also, the reality of things, too. I do have a little history with injuries, and a two-year deal, you kind of bet on yourself. … God forbid, knock on wood, something happens.” The Lakers dominated during the 2019-20 season behind Davis and LeBron James, who also

Olympic medalists automatically nominated to Sports Hall of Fame

ilipino athletes who win medals in the Olympic games will receive automatic nominations to the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame (PSHOF). The PSHOF Review Committee adopted a resolution to this effect during a virtual meeting last week. William "Butch" Ramirez, the PSHOF 2020 Chairperson and the chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission, supported the inclusion of the "very few" medalists of the country in the Games. "Achieving a medal from the most prestigious Games in history is something worth recognizing for a lifetime. They deserve it even without the process of someone voluntarily proving it for them," he said of the committee's decision. Akiko Thomson Guevara, representing the Philippine Olympian Association in the Review Committee, volunteered to produce the names of all the country's Olympic medalists in the next meeting. Only ten Filipinos

have won medals in the Summer Olympics. Teofilo Yldefonso, the only athlete to win a backto-back Olympic medal in 1928 and 1932, holds the record to date. The PSHOF Review Committee seeks to have the Olympic medalists honored to ensure that they are never forgotten. Among the members of the committee are Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Chairman Abraham Mitra, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Secretary-General Atty. Edwin Gastanes, Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines Secretary-General Atty. Avelino Sumagui, and University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Executive Director Atty. Rene Saguisag Jr. Following the signing of Republic Act No. 8757 or the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame Act, the highest sports award-giving body has enshrined Filipino athletes, coaches, and trainers who made a valuable contribution in Philippine sports since its first induction in 2010.

re-upped with the team. Davis, 27, managed to stay relatively healthy, despite shoulder and tailbone injuries, and played in 62 of the Lakers’ 71 games last season – including all 21 of the Lakers’ postseason games on the way to the championship. However, Davis told ESPN after Game 6 of the NBA Finals that he played through an ankle injury that required significant treatment leading up to tip-off. The 6-foot-10 Davis was injury-prone in his first seven seasons in the NBA with the Pelicans. He missed 108 of a possible

574 regular-season games due to a myriad of injuries. “I want to secure the most amount of years possible and be here long term with this team, so I thought the five-year deal was best for me in my situation,” he said. Davis has a player option on the final year of his deal, the 2024-25 season. If he doesn’t pick up the option and opts to re-enter free agency, Davis would be eligible to sign another five-year max extension and avoid the “over-38” rule that prevents players from signing long-term deals beyond the age of 38, according to ESPN.

IFA named Japan as the host nation for the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup on Friday, with an undisclosed date during late winter. “Following the postponement of the revamped FIFA Club World Cup, initially planned to take place in 2021 in the slot previously reserved for the FIFA Confederations Cup, the Council decided that a Club World Cup, in the current format with seven teams, be organized for late 2021 and the hosting rights for this competition be awarded to Japan,” FIFA said in a statement. Japan is the eight-time Club World Cup host, last being in 2016. In 2019, FIFA said the Confederations Cup would be abolished for an enlarged Club World Cup. China was due to host the tournament next summer with a revamped 24-

team format but the play was postponed because of fixture congestions caused by the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. In March, the virus forced football confederations in Europe and South America to delay the UEFA EURO 2020 and Copa America. Those competitions will be held in June and July. The year 2021 will see two FIFA Club World Cup tournaments -- a rare occurrence for FIFA -- as Qatar is set to host the 2020 edition in February and Japan will organize the 2021 edition next winter. The original date for the Club World Cup was December but FIFA had to pick another date amid the pandemic. Last month FIFA said the 2020 edition of the Club World Cup will be held Feb. 1-11 in Qatar. (ANADOLU)

James Harden is reportedly pushing for a move from Houston.Source: AFP

Harden asking for trade: report J ames Harden is reportedly pushing for a move from Houston. Rockets star James Harden didn’t participate in the team’s first training camp practice Sunday because of the NBA’s COVID-19 protocols after posting pictures and vid-

eos on Instagram over the weekend at rapper Lil Baby’s birthday party without a mask. Head coach Stephen Silas told reporters Harden was expected to have an individual workout at the Toyota Center on Sunday evening. However, the

first-year coach said he hasn’t had any communication with the eight-time All-Star. “I’m not exactly sure what hoops he has to jump through in order to practice with the team,” Silas said. “I would just say I want him here, and I

want him to be a big part of what we’re doing. I’m excited to coach him and have him be a part of what we just had out there with a good practice, with a bunch of guys who are working hard on both ends of the floor and had a good vibe about them.”

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VOL.13 ISSUE 203 â&#x20AC;˘ TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2020

Ginebra just a cusp away from title

arangay Ginebra moved to within a win from clinching the Philippine Basketball Association title after taking down TNT Tropang Giga, 98-88, in Game 4 of the finals at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center in Pampanga on Sunday.

POWER SLAM. Ginebra's Japeth Aguilar is all alone for a slam dunk during the first half of Game 4 of the PBA Finals on Sunday (Dec. 6, 2020) at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center. Barangay Ginebra moved to within a win from clinching the PBA title after taking down TNT Tropang Giga, 98-88. (Photo courtesy of PBA Images)

LA Tenorio came alive in crunch time, burying back-to-back triples that saved the Barangay from an RR Pogoy-led comeback bid by the Tropang Giga from 18 points down. Tenorio also scored the dagger layup that completed Ginebra's survival. Tenorio and Japeth Aguilar each scored 22 points for the Barangay, who can clinch the bestof-seven series in Game 5 on Wednesday night. Scottie Thompson played super sub this time but still flirted with a tri-

ple-double after tallying 11 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists. Pogoy finished with 34 points, four rebounds, six assists, and four steals for the Tropang Giga, but the explosion came up short as they are still reeling from the absence of the injured Ray-Ray Parks. Worse, Jayson Castro injured himself as well early into the third quarter. Poy Erram added 19 points, 16 rebounds, one assist, and two blocks. (PNA)