Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 223 | Wednesday, January 6, 2021

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Intensified surveillance in churches recommended after priests, seminarian tested positive of Covid-19 STORY ON PAGE 2

A curious passerby googles at a pet fish that is being sold at roadside stall in Brgy. Calinan, Davao City on Tuesday. Edge Davao

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 223 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2021

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte speaks with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari during a meeting at the Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City on Monday night. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

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Duterte orders deferment of PhilHealth contribution hike

Intensified surveillance in churches recommended after priests, seminarian tested positive of Covid-19

By MAYA M. PADILLO ntensified surveillance in churches has been recommended after three priests and a seminarian of the St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Barangay Ma-a in Davao City tested positive for Covid-19.

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Dr. Ashley Lopez, focal person of Davao City Health Covid-19, said in a text message that intensified surveillance and proper case investigation as well as contact tracing must be implemented to

control transmission in other churches in Davao City.

“Wala man nagkulang ang city government of reminding everyone on the minimum health standards to follow. On-

set of signs and exposure to a probable confirmed case magpahibalo dayon para ma-test,” Lopez said.

Upon the recommendation of the City Health Office (CHO), St. Francis of Assisi Parish- Maa is currently suspending all its operation including all liturgical celebration beginning January 2, 2021, until further notice.

In August last year, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has lifted the ban on all religious activ-

faction of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) on Monday claimed responsibility for the ambush on the convoy of Mayor Reynalbert Insular on Sunday afternoon, which resulted in the death of an individual and the wounding of four others.

This developed as the violence in Barangay Itaw has been blamed for the death of an 86-year-old grandmother, who allegedly died due to cardiac arrest because of the series of attacks waged by the BIFF members in their community.

Abu Misry Mama, spokesperson of the BIFF’s Bungos faction, said the group ambushed Insular in Barangay Pandan for al-

legedly provoking the villagers involved in the land conflict with the BIFF supporters.

Insular and his convoy came from Barangay Itaw, where they conducted relief and medical mission in the last two days, en route to the town center when their convoy was ambushed in Barangay Pandan.

The mayor survived the ambush, the third slay attempt on his life since 2016.

Mama said that BIFF supporters sought the help of the group to reclaim some 500 hectares of land that were allegedly grabbed from them by armed Christian settlers in the 1970s.

The BIFF members first

harassed Barangay Itaw on December 2, but the attacks worsened towards Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Insular denied the claim of Mama that he was provoking the villagers, saying the local government has been working to pacify the tension and for the return of villagers displaced by the harassments in Barangay Itaw.

Lt. Col, Jonathan Pondanera, 57th Infantry Battalion commander, said that 30 to 50 heavily armed BIFF fighters stormed Barangay Itaw on New Year’s Day. He said that soldiers and militiamen belonging to the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit repulsed the attempt of the

ities on Sundays to further eased restrictions under an extended modified general community quarantine (MGCQ). The Section 19 of Executive Order 47 stated that attendance in all religious activities must not exceed 50 percent of the seating capacity of the place of worship.

It also requires church-goers to wear masks and observe one meter apart from each other.

BIFF fighters to occupy the village center.

The armed men retreated after burning at least 13 houses, MindaNews learned.

Due to the escalation of hostilities, 86-year-old Kungan Diwan died allegedly “due to cardiac arrest after she became nervous.”

Ignatio Diwan said the harassment and the loud bursts of gunfire made her mother nervous, who later on collapsed but was not revived.

Her cadaver was left and was given a decent burial only after troops secured the area, the son said.

The BIFF splintered from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in 2010 due

BIFF claims responsibility for ambush on Maguindanao town mayor’s convoy

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resident Rodrigo Duterte on Monday ordered the deferment of the scheduled increase this year of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation's (PhilHealth) contribution rate for members.

Duterte, in a public briefing, told PhilHealth chief Dante Gierran to suspend the monthly premium hike amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Huwag muna ngayon (Not right now). No increase in contributions. I will look for the money to fill it up," he said.

Under the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act, the state insurer's monthly rates will rise to 3.5 percent in January 2021 from 3 percent last year, raising minimum contributions to P350 from the current P300.

The law also adjusts the income ceiling to P70,000 from P60,000, increasing monthly contributions to P2,450 from P1,800.

His former aide Sen. Christopher "Bong" Go ear-

lier said lawmakers have to pass legislation to push back the rate hike, and Duterte would sign this into law.

Duterte is also willing to approve additional funds for PhilHealth, according to the senator.

PhilHealth senior manager Rey Balena earlier said that rate adjustment is expected to yield "close to P90 billion" revenues from collections in 2021. Direct contributions in the agency in 2020 generated P77 billion in revenues.

The rate hike led to public uproar, earning the ire of many netizens and officials, reminding the agency of allegations of its former leaders pocketing P15 billion in state funds, approving overpriced projects, and releasing funds to supposedly favored hospitals.

The state insurer's debt to the Philippine Red Cross also earlier forced the humanitarian organization to halt its PhilHealth-funded tests for the novel coronavirus.

PRRD reiterates military, cops should get vaccinated first

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resident Rodrigo Duterte has again insisted that the military and the police will be first in line to get COVID-19 vaccines in the country, even though the government's own priority list places them after health workers and senior citizens.

In an hour-long televised briefing on Monday night that was mostly taken up by his rant against a proposed Senate inquiry into the Presidential Security

Group's use of unregistered vaccines, Duterte repeated his assertion that uniformed personnel will be the first to be inoculated against the coronavirus.

"At even if talagang nauna [ang PSG], mauna talaga ang military," he said. "Ang military at ang pulis ang mauna, kasi pag mawalan tayo ng pulis pati military, out of control ang bayan."

Then he added, "Una

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VOL.13 ISSUE 223 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2021

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 3

City to establish PPE center

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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he city government of Davao will be setting up a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) center.

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said the center will give Dabawenyos access for face masks and

face shields for free.

“We need to set up a public distribution of masks and face shields.

Para kadtong mga tao nga naa sa gawas unya walay mask or katong kinahanglan na og bag ong mga masks, maka-access sila og mask and face shields,” she said in a live broadcast interview on Monday.

The move is in re-

sponse to the need to strengthen the enforcement of health protocols such as wearing of face masks and face shields in public places.

Mayor Sara added that the designated centers are set to provide masks and

It’s back to work for farmer Domat Belinario of Purok 12 in Barangay Cabanogoy, Asuncion, Davao del Norte on Saturday, 02 January 2021. MindaNews photo by GREGORIO C. BUENO

face shields for the general public during the pandemic.

“To make sure ang mga tao makatultol sila kung asa sila makakuha og masks and face shields, we need to establish those murag centers, PPE centers for the general public.

When we say PPEs, face masks and face shields,” she said.

The mayor said the city has already allotted a budget for the public distribution of masks and face shields.

“Kaniadto naa na man gyud ta’y allotment every month para sa kanang mga masks na ginapanghatag nato, and it will still be the same for this year. Maghatag gihapon ta sa base sa budget nato from the city government of davao sa masks. Sa face shield, we will exhaust first ang kadtong gi-donate sa atoa na face shields, before ta maggasto sa kaugalingon natong kwarta sa paghatag of face shields,” the mayor said.

It can be recalled that in March last year, the city government of Davao has mass produced 10,000 locally-designed face masks to be used by commuters as protection from Covid-19. The move was in line with the instructions of the

medical experts for local government units (LGUs) in Davao Region to come up with a uniform health system campaigns while locking down the region for 14 days amid Covid-19 threat.

On the other hand, Mayor Sara signed Executive Order 65-A, also known as An Order Consolidating All The Issuances On The Use of Face Shields on December 2, 2020 citing the need to create a guide for Davao City residents on the mandatory use of face shields as health safety and protection against Covid-19.

The mandatory use of face shield with a face mask is also mandatory for people visiting city government offices and buildings, including the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), its camps and police stations.

The mayor reminded Dabawenyos to strictly adhere to the protocols set against Covid-19 such as staying at home, wearing a face mask and face shield, frequently wash hands with soap and water, and social distancing.

She added that the city has also developed new materials for the “rekorida” to strengthen the campaign on observing the health protocols.

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 223 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2021

Manufacturing index slides in Dec. but biz confidence up

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A vendor sprinkles the fish with water to make her product look fresh at a makeshift stall outside the main building of Bankerohan Public Market in Davao City on Tuesday. Edge Davao

he country’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) shed in the last month of 2020, but business confidence was the highest in 10 months, IHS Markit reported Monday.

Philippines manufacturing PMI in December 2020 declined to 49.2 from 49.9 in November 2020.

“Firms registered a modest contraction in output volumes amid ongoing restrictions implemented to curb the surge in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases,” IHS Markit said.

The survey attributed further deterioration of the local manufacturing sector to job shedding while new orders were broadly unchanged.

Scores below 50 show deterioration of the sector while above the neutral score reflect improvement.

Ongoing lockdown restrictions and poor weather conditions contributed to output volume decline last month.

“Job shedding persisted at a strong rate which firms linked to restructuring efforts and voluntary resignations,” the IHS Markit survey added.

On the other hand, the report said demand for exports continued to expand, rising for four straight months in December 2020.

"That said, positives can be drawn from the latest survey findings; new orders neared stability and sentiment recovered to levels seen before the start of the pandemic.

At the same time, case numbers have moderated with expectations that restrictions will ease over the coming months,” IHS Markit economist Shreeya Praya said.

Business sentiments continue to improve in the last month of 2020, posting the highest confidence since February last year.

The survey said the improvement in business sentiments was fueled by higher hopes of manufacturers to see greater demand for this year. (PNA)

Further quarantine easing, vaccine to boost PH growth Public opposition seen slowing

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ontinued easing of quarantine measures, along with the deployment of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines, are expected to boost domestic growth to within-target levels this year.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) chief economist Michael Ricafort forecasts a growth, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), of between 6 to 7 percent for the Philippine economy this year, close to the 6.5-7.5 percent target of economic managers.

He said the timely approval of the PHP4.5-trillion national budget for this year is also a plus since it will ensure that infra-

structure programs will be financed.

He also projects the passage of priority reform bills like the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE), which will reduce corporate income tax (CIT); and the Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer (FIST) bill early this year.

Further cut in banks’ reserve requirement ratio (RRR), which has been reduced by as much as 200

basis points last year, is also seen as a boost to the domestic economy as this will further lower borrowing costs.

Ricafort, however, cited risks to domestic growth including the continued increase of Covid-19 cases in the US, and the possible impact of continued mutation of the Covid-19, which will complicate measures that need to be implemented to address the pandemic.

Ricafort forecasts an uptick in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) key policy rates to as much as 2.5 percent this year after being slashed off by 200 basis points to record low of 2 percent for the overnight reverse repurchase (RRP) rate last year.

The aggressive cuts in the BSP’s key rates were aimed at encouraging lending to boost economic activities and help address the pandemic.

Inflation is also expected to post a faster but within-target level of between 2.8-3.3 percent this year as the economy recovers.

The government’s inflation target until 2024 is between 2 to 4 percent.

As of end-November last year, inflation rate averaged at 2.6 percent amid the uptick to 3.3 percent in the 11th month this year from month-ago’s 2.5 percent. which authorities point to the impact of the strong typhoons that hit Luzon during the month.

(PNA)

banking system loans.

“This is a significant decline from the 12.4% and 8.3% share to total enterprise and bank loans in 2014, respectively. Yearon-year, loans to MSMEs have declined from 7.6% in 2014 to 1.9% in 2019,” the central bank chief said.

“These figures reflect the longstanding access to finance challenge confronting MSMEs,” Diokno said.

BSP's chief attributed the difficulty faced by MSMEs to obtain bank loans to the general view of lenders that the sector is “unbankable” due to limited information on their market operations and viability leading to perception of high risk and MSMEs’ unfamiliarity are getting “intimidated” by bank requirements.

“Limited understanding of the MSME market hinders banks from performing adequate credit risk assessments and customizing products and services for MSMEs,” Diokno said.

“MSMEs are less likely

to get bank financing due to lack of acceptable collaterals and credit histories,” he added.

To address the challenges faced by MSMEs in accessing formal finance, the BSP “will develop a standard business loan application form to improve the application process for micro, small and medium enterprises.”

Diokno noted that the development of a standard business loan application form will enable the banking industry to meet MSMEs’ preference for borrower-friendly and simplified processes.

Also, the initiative is aimed at improving banks’ risk assessment and speeding up turnaround time for loan applications, the central bank chief said.

Apart from developing a standard loan application form, the BSP will also conduct a nationwide survey aimed at “bridging the information gap by generating new insights and more granular data on MSME financing.”

Results of the survey will support evidence-based policymaking and give support to financial service providers in tailor fitting products and services for the sector.

Moreover, the BSP will roll out a study on supply chain finance (SCF), an innovative approach whereby lenders can use MSMEs’ receivables and inventory flows to finance MSMEs, which usually encounter difficulties in acquiring formal loans under traditional financing approaches.

“The BSP recognizes that the long-standing access to finance challenge stems from a number of interlinked factors from both the demand-side or the MSMEs, and the supply-side or the banks as lenders,” Diokno said.

“These include information asymmetry, unfit MSME financing products and processes, and MSMEs’ lack of acceptable collaterals and credit histories,” he added.

According to him, the

DTI to impose safeguard duties on auto vehicles

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he Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on Friday made known its plan to develop a standard loan application form for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) next year, in a bid to boost the sector’s access to formal finance.

“MSMEs are drivers of economic growth. The sector, however, has been constrained with access to formal finance,” BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said in a virtual press chat.

MSMEs account for 99% of business enterprises in the country. The sector also accounts for more than 60% of the Philippines' total employment.

Citing data from the World Bank, Diokno said a “significant number” of Filipino enterprises are financed internally about 81.2%, while only 10.1% are financed by banks.

Latest BSP data also showed that, as of fourth quarter of 2019, MSME loans account for only 8..8% of the total businesses loans and 6.1% of total

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coal power growth rate in PH

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Fitch Group unit sees a slower growth rate for coal-fired power projects in the Philippines post-2026 amid the increasing public call to shift away from coal dependence for power generation that led to the government’s issuance of a moratorium on endorsements for greenfield coal power plants.

Fitch Solutions forecasts coal power projects to grow at an annual average of 5.2 percent between 2020 and 2029, generating 93.6 terawatt-hours (TWh) by 2029.

This, however, is “at a much slower rate” than the research group's previous forecast.

“Our forecast revisions result from the moratorium on coal power projects that was announced by the government in October 2020, which will limit the amount of new coal capacity coming online towards the back end of our forecasts after those in the current project pipeline progress,” Fitch Solutions said in a report released Monday.

Citing government sources, Fitch Solutions said the moratorium will halt about 8 gigawatts of pre-permitted coal projects.

“Our forecasts are subjected to significant downside risks as coal projects continue to face very strong and increasing public opposition, including the involvement of several religious associations,” Fitch Solutions added.

Among the initiatives of civil society groups, including several religious associations, to express their opposition to coal power projects include the nationwide protest in September 2019 urging President Rodrigo Duterte to impose a ban on new coal-fired power plants.

More than 42 organiza-

tions in May 2020 also announced they are divesting USD1.4 billion from fossil fuels.

Church leaders and civil society groups launched the Eco-Convergence, which also urged local banks to stop funding new coal-fired power projects.

These moves from the public sector gained positive reactions from the government and industry players.

In June 2020, the House of Representatives Committee on Climate Change approved a resolution that includes the end of permitting new coal power projects.

Major industry players, such as AC Energy and Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), have also signaled intentions to invest more in cleaner sources of power.

And last October, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi declared a moratorium on endorsements for greenfield coal power plants to accommodate the entry of new, cleaner, and indigenous energy sources. “(W)e still expect a significant amount of coal capacity to be commissioned over the coming decade, with the impact felt only on a much longer term,” Fitch Solutions said.

By 2029, Fitch Solutions sees coal share to power mix at 59 percent.

It added coal remains the cheaper and more reliable option to meet the country’s power demand, especially with the depletion of the Malampaya gas field and infrastructural headwinds to liquefied natural gas.

Based on Fitch Solutions data, nearly 20 GW of coal power projects are in the pre-completion stage as of end-2020. This accounts for 39 percent of the total capacity in the pipeline.

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ECONOMY 5

EDGEDAVAO

Business owners troop to the seven satellite one-stop-shop set up by the city government of Davao to avoid crowding, and to ensure that physical distancing is observed during the first day of business permit renewal on Monday. CIO

T-bill rates slip on hopes for slower Dec. 2020 inflation T

Land bank releases P231.7-B loans to 2.6M farmers, fisherfolk

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xpectations for a slower domestic inflation rate last December resulted in the across-the-board decline of Treasury bill (T-bill) rates Monday.

Average rate of the 91day paper slid to 0.987 percent, the 182-day to 1.369 percent, and the 364-day to 1.614 percent.

These were at 1.022 percent, 1.400 percent, and 1.686 percent for the three-, six-, and 12-month paper in the last auction in 2020 or last Dec. 14.

National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon said the auction committee “welcome(s) strong market

(appetite) for (the) first auction in 2021.”

“Rates decline ahead of tomorrow’s December CPI (consumer price index) report (wherein markets are) expecting easing of inflation last month,” she said in a Viber message.

Rate of prices increases last November surged to 3.3 percent, its highest after the 3.8 percent in February 2019, due to several typhoons that hit

Luzon, affecting prices of some agricultural products.

For December 2020, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) projects inflation to range between 2.9 to 3.7 percent.

Bids were also huge, resulting in the doubling of the award for non-competitive bids for both the three- and six-month papers, and the opening of the tap facility for the oneyear tenor.

The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) offered both the 91-day and 182day T-bills for PHP5 billion but total awards for each

ing provisions is the sunset period for registered enterprises.

In the House of Representatives version, the Corporate Income Tax and Incentives Rationalization Act (CITIRA), wants shorter transition period for firms enjoying the 5 percent gross income earned (GIE).

From CITIRA’s transition period of two to seven years, CREATE adjusted the sunset provision to a minimum of four years up to nine years.

Rodolfo said most enterprises are preparing for their fiscal report and tax filing in February, and if CREATE would be

passed and enacted into law this month, firms would enjoy lower CIT of 25 percent from July 1, 2020.

Under the CREATE, the proposed 25 percent CIT will be applied retroactively to July 1, 2020.

However, if CREATE is not yet enacted into law when firms already filed for their income tax return, they will pay the current CIT rate of 30 percent, which cannot be invoked, Rodolfo said.

He added that the CREATE bill goes hand in hand with the Bayanihan 2 in helping businesses bounce back from the impacts of the pandemic.

tenor is PHP7 billion.

Total bids for the threemonth paper amounted to PHP19.413 billion while it is PHP21.17 billion for the six-month tenor.

Bids for the oneyear paper amounted to PHP43.055 billion, more than four times the PHP10-billion offer.

The auction committee made a full award and opened the tap facility window to offer this tenor also for PHP10 billion.

De Leon attributed the volume of bids partly to the PHP21 billion worth of maturing T-bills this week.

(PNA)

Lower biz tax rate if CREATE enacted into law this month

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usinesses would pay lower corporate income tax (CIT) once the proposed Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) is enacted into law this month, an official of the Department of Trade and Industry said.

In a recent interview with reporters, DTI Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo expressed confidence the lawmakers would pass the bill this month even as the Senate and House of Representatives are set to reconcile conflicting versions in a bicameral conference.

One of the disagree-

“The legislators all see the importance of providing some tax reprieve,” Rodolfo said.

In Bayanihan 2, net operating losses carry over is extended from three years to five years.

This means that if an enterprise incurred losses in 2020 and 2021, the losses can be charged in its tax calculation for the next five years instead of three years.

“These (CREATE and Bayanihan 2) are good combination for tax reprieve at this time,” Rodolfo said. “We’re still optimistic that by January, they can pass the CREATE.” (PNA)

he Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) released an additional PHP1.44 billion in loans for the agriculture sector in November 2020, bringing the total credit extended to farmers, agribusiness enterprises, and other beneficiaries as of that month to PHP231.67 billion.

In a statement Monday, Landbank president-chief executive officer Cecilia Borromeo said the additional loans in November propped up the accomplishment of the institution to 94.5 percent of its target of PHP245 billion in agricultural lending for 2020.

The loans extended in October reached PHP230.23 billion, or 94 percent of the goal for this year.

A report to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III also showed that from 2,502,640 farmers and fishers assisted by the Landbank as of October, another 85,987, representing a 3-percent increase, benefited from the assistance package provided by the state lender in the form of soft loans, subsidies, and training programs as of end-November.

The total of 2,588,627 assisted farmers and fisherfolk as of November translates into a 129-percent accomplishment rate over the 2-million target for 2020 set by the bank, Borromeo said in her report to Dominguez, who chairs the Landbank Board.

Of the loan releases of PHP231.67 billion, about two-thirds or PHP144.13 billion went to small, me-

dium, and large agribusinesses enterprises.

The remaining third (PHP87.54 billion) went to small farmers and fisherfolk (PHP37.38 billion) and the agri-aqua related projects of local government units (LGUs) and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) (PHP50.16 billion), Borromeo said.

Small farmers and fishers borrowed a total of PHP1.34 billion through direct lending, while conduits such as cooperatives and farmers’ associations, rural financial institutions, and other lending mechanisms received loans amounting to another PHP36.04 billion, she added.

As of November 2020, Borromeo said the Landbank also provided PHP8.31 billion in loans through programs it has been administering for the Department of Agriculture (DA), such as those under the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF), the Socialized Credit Program under the Sugarcane Industry Development Act (SIDA), the Expanded Rice Credit Assistance (ERCA) under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), and the Survival and Recovery Assistance (SUREAid) for rice farmers.

For programs it has been administering for the Department of Agrarian Reform, the Landbank has provided PHP65 million as of November, she said.

Of the 2,588,627 farmers and fisherfolk assisted

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6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 223 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2021

On the response for intensified surveillance in churches after three priests turned positive results for Covid1-19:

Wala man nagkulang ang city government of reminding everyone on the minimum health standards to follow. Onset of signs and exposure to a probable confirmed case magpahibalo dayon para ma-test.”

Dr. Ashley Lopez Focal Person, Davao City Health Covid-19

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VOL.13 ISSUE 223 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2021

VANTAGE POINTS

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HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

GET READY FOR THE NEXT PANDEMIC “In any outbreak or emergency, some factors will always be beyond human control and unique to the event,” said the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) in a statement. “What is certain, however, is that careful preparedness and rapid response can limit loss of life, societal disruption and economic losses.”

In his book Connections, James Burke wrote: “Why should we look to the past in order to prepare for the future?

Because there is nowhere else to look.” To which American statesman Benjamin Franklin added, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

It’s not only for natural disasters that the world should be prepared – even for epidemics. For the first time in history, the world is observing the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness last December 27. It was called for by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate the importance of the prevention of, preparedness for and partner-

ship against epidemics.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of investing in systems to prevent, detect and respond to infectious disease outbreaks,” the WHO said of the coronavirus disease 2019 that is wreaking havoc around the globe.

“With COVID-19 having now killed more than 1.7 million people, devastated economies, upended societies and exposed the world’s vulnerabilities in the starkest ways, the value of health emergency preparedness has hit home like never before,” said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

“As we strive to control and recover from the current pandemic, we must think about the next,” he continued.

“Unfortunately, it is easy to imagine a virus just as infectious but even more lethal.”

In a press statement, Guterres said the world can already draw many lessons from the experiences of the past.

“Preparedness is a sound

investment, costing far less than emergency expenditures,” he pointed out. “Societies need stronger health systems, including universal health coverage. People and families need more social protection. Communities on the frontlines need timely support.”

The UN official suggested that “more effective technical cooperation” among countries is needed. “And we need to pay greater attention to the encroachment of people and livestock into animal habitats; 75% of new and emerging human infectious diseases are zoonotic.”

All these must be done in a scientific manner, he pointed out. “Across this work, science must be our guide,” Guterres stressed. “Solidarity and coordination are crucial, within and among countries; no one is safe unless all of us are safe.”

It is but fitting to raise awareness on epidemics on a certain day of every year.

“In the event of the absence of international atten-

tion, future epidemics could surpass previous outbreaks in terms of intensity and gravity,” the WHO said in a statement.

“There is great need of raising awareness, the exchange of information, scientific knowledge and best practices, quality education, and advocacy programs on epidemics at the local, national, regional and global levels as effective measures to prevent and respond to epidemics.”

The International Day of Epidemic Preparedness falls on the birthdate of Louis Pasteur, the French biologist for ground-breaking work on vaccinations.

“In honoring his work, I salute today’s medical professionals, front-line personnel and essential workers who have carried the world through this emergency with such remarkable commitment,” Guterres said. “As we recover from the pandemic, let us resolve to build up our prevention capacities so that we are ready when the world faces the next outbreak.”

Meanwhile, a new strain of COVID-19 – which is potentially 70% more contagious than earlier ones – has been reported. On December 14, British authorities told the WHO that a new variant had been identified.

The WHO, regarding the United Kingdom strain, issued this statement: “There is not enough information at present at present to determine if this variant is associated with any change in (the) severity of clinical disease, antibody response or vaccine efficacy.”

Among the countries where the mutated virus has been reported include Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia.

Another COVID-19 variant, different from the one unearthed in the UK, was reported in South Africa.

Because of this new development, President Rodrigo R. Duterte approved the extension of the travel ban for flights from the UK for another two weeks; the ban is originally set to expire on December 31.

DENNIS R. GORECHO PINOY MARINO RIGHTS

STARTING 2021 WITH A COLLISION The year 2021 for me started with a bang, literally, due to a car accident.

On my way home from the grocery evening of January 1, my car was hit along C5 extension in Las Pinas City by a speeding Lalamove motorcycle driver.

After my car safely turned left in an intersection, the motorcycle directly rammed on the right side of my car causing heavy dents on the front door and shattering the window.

Fortunately, I did not suffer the common injuries from side-impact crashes that include head concussion or traumatic brain injury, neck or back injuries, herniated discs, whiplash, nerve damage, spinal cord damage, and paralysis.

I only had minor cuts due to the splintered glasses.

It is classified as a T-bone accident wherein the front of one vehicle strikes the side of another at an intersection, forming the shape of a “T” at the point of impact .

I have nothing against motorcycle drivers but they should bear in mind that they are not the kings of the road as their carelessness may lead to damages, injuries and worse, fatalities.

In 2019, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority documented 31,279 motorcycle accidents in Metro Manila—or an average of 86 incidents a day, with 394 deaths making them the main killer on the road.

If the road rules are to motorists, the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972 (COLREGs) are to mariners.

COLREGs are published by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and set out, among other things, the “rules of the road” or navigation rules to be followed by ships and other vessels at sea to prevent collisions between two or more vessels.

Causes of any ship collision may include blatant human error as well as any technical malfunction.

The COLREGs were adopted as a convention on October 20, 1972 and entered into force on July 15, 1977 with 160 ratifying parties as of August 1, 2020.

Under the convention, every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper lookout by sight and hearing as well as by all available means so as to make a full appraisal of the

situation and of the risk of collision.

It added that every vessel shall at all times proceed at a safe speed so that it can take proper and effective action to avoid collision and be stopped within a distance.

Any action taken to avoid collision shall be made in ample time and with due regard to the observance of good seamanship.

Under the “give way” rule, when two power driven vessels are crossing so as to involve risk of collision the vessel which has the other on her starboard side shall keep out of the way and shall if the circumstances of the case permit avoid crossing ahead of the other vessel.

If necessary to avoid collision or allow more time to assess the situation, a vessel shall slacken its speed or take all way off by stopping or reversing her means of propulsion.

Adverse effects of a collision include injury or death of life to passengers or crew, the environmental impact moreso if one of the vessels is carrying any harmful material dangerous for marine life, and financial losses to the owners of the vessels.

The sinking of the passenger vessel MV Dona Paz on December 20, 1987 was considered as one of the worst peacetime disaster and the worst in the 20th century.

At around 10:30 p.m., MV Dona Paz collided with a motor tanker, MT Vector, near Dumali Point between the provinces of Marinduque and Oriental Mindoro.

With only 25 survivors, MV Dona Paz was even named the Asia’s Titanic as the collision resulted to the death of 4,341 passengers.

The vessel was overcrowded, with at least 2,000 passengers not listed on the manifest.

The maritime profession has always been identified as a perilous job on board vessels that cross ocean boundaries and replete with health and safety hazards, in relation to the risks of accidents, illnesses and mortality.

The job of a seafarer is, indeed, not exactly a walk in the park.

The European Maritime Safety Agency declared in a report that there were 745 work-related fatalities among maritime workers and nearly 9,000 persons injured be-

tween 2011 and 2020, among other tragic statistics of this sector.

For centuries, the “Good Samaritan” maritime rescue doctrine encourages seafarers to go to the aid of life and property in distress, including those involved in collisions.

Regardless of who is at fault in a collision incident at the high seas, vessels that sustained minimal or no damage are obliged to rescue mariners distressed or shipwrecked by the mishap.

The United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea says that every signatory to the convention must require the master of a ship flying its flag to render assistance to any person found at sea in danger of being lost and to proceed to the rescue of persons in distress.

The exemption is when the assisting vessel, the crew or the passengers on board would be seriously endangered as a result of rendering assistance to those in distress.

Atty. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, email info@sapalovelez. com, or call 09175025808 or 09088665786)

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Earn 200T per hectare from bamboo

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

F

ilipino farmers could earn a net income of “as much as P200,000 per hectare” by planting giant bamboo.

That’s what Secretary Emmanuel Piñol of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) found out when he visited the Bukidnon Giant Bamboo Resourced Corporation recently.

“Farmer can make a profit of P200,000 per hectare per year, year after year with minimal maintenance cost (no replanting, fertilizer, etc.),” said the prospectus released

by Mindanao’s first bamboo processing facility.

Several bamboo species grow in the Philippines but giant bamboo (known in the science world as Dendrocalamus asper) is the most preferred commercially.

Other important species are kauayan-tinik, kauayan-kiling, bayog, botong, bolo, anos, and buho.

“What makes bamboo a versatile crop is its regenerative characteristic where several shoots grow to replace a harvested pole,” said Rod Bioco, the corporation’s president who sets up the bamboo processing facility in Malaybalay City.

Among the end products the corporation produced are treated and dried bamboo slats (intermediate raw material), laminated bamboo lumber/beams and boards, and finished products (like doors, jambs, mouldings and furniture).

“Most of these materials are now manufactured in China and imported by construction supply companies,” said Piñol in a statement he posted in his Facebook.

Thus, growing giant bamboo is a profitable venture. The development cost up to three years of rearing is P50,000 per hectare (100 to 150 clumps). According to the prospectus, initial harvest can be started after 5-6 years but commercial harvesting starts in the seventh year. Poles should be 3-5 years old.

Farmers get a net income of P90-P120 per pole. The yield is 120-150 poles per hectare per year or around 120-150 metric tons per hectare per year.

Some farms get 1,500 to 2,000 poles per hectare per year (15-20 poles per clump).

The prospectus said harvesting crew get P50-P80 per pole, depending on the terrain,

thus generating an income of more than P8,000 per 16-metric truckload per 4-5 days per crew of 6-7 people.

Ideally, the supply is within 30-kilometer radius to control trucking cost (less than P50 per pole or P0.50 per kilogram). The plant capacity is 60,000 metric tons per year (two shifts) or 600,000 poles per year, which can be supplied from just 600 hectares of giant bamboo.

The buying price is P2.50 per kilogram on delivered/unloaded basis.

The production capacity, when finished, is 200 metric tons per day or 2,000 of fresh poles (3-5 years old at 40%mc) yielding 24,000 board feet per day. The investment is P150 million.

For dried, treated slats, they spent P55 per board feet and export them at P65 per board feet. “We sell engineered bamboo lumber or beams for P100 per board feet and panel boards for P120 per board feet,” Bioco said. “If we process them further into mouldings, floor panels, doors or jambs, we can sell for P180-P250 per board feet, while furniture can fetch P300-P500 per board feet.”

Bioco said they are hoping to sell more locally.

“Every board foot of engineered bamboo is a board foot of a tree not being cut,” he pointed out.

In China, bamboo is one of the four noblest plants. The others are orchid, the plum tree, and of course the chrysanthemum. Bamboo plantations are so vast that they cover mountainous terrain.

All parts of the bamboo are utilized to produce sub-products such as foods, charcoal, bamboo fiber, and even bamboo beer. Thailand is one of its main buyers of bamboo charcoal while Japan purchases huge volumes of bamboo shoots.

The bamboo industry in the Philippines has the potential to grow “but it needs proper research and government support for it to prosper,” said Leonardo Avila III, when

he was still alive and was the officer-in-charge of the Davao City Agriculture Office. “The bamboo industry can be another good source of livelihood to our local farmers in the next few years.”

Jethro P. Adang, the director of the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) Foundation, Inc. in Kinuskusan, Bansalan, Davao del Sur, agrees.

“We have an abundance of bamboo but we don’t know what to do with it,” he says. “It is so common that we ignore its potential. Other countries have already seen not only the beauty but the potentials of bamboo.”

Renowned furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue from Cebu has seen that, too. In fact, he designed “Phoenix,” the world’s first and only car made from bamboo and rattan, which was showcased in a furniture fair in Milan recently.

The car, which looked like a bird about to take flight, was created in just 10 days with the use of bamboo, rattan, steel, and nylon. According to Inhabitat, an environmental web blog, “Phoenix” is designed to last the average length of time a person keeps a car – about five to 20 years.

There are so many potentials from bamboo.

Furniture makers and wood craftsmen who shift from wood to bamboo are expected to share in the huge export bonanza expected from a growing demand for bamboo furniture and bamboo handicrafts in the global market.

“We’re not talking here

of raw bamboo for export, but finished products made from bamboo. From roots to tip, you can make soap, medicines, cosmetics, furniture, bricks, clothing, paper, floor tiles, wall panels, drinks, vegetables – even surf boards from bamboo,” said an official from the Department of Trade and Industry.

There are a million uses of bamboo. According to an article, which appeared in Reader’s Digest, bamboo “is delicate enough to be used in phonograph needles, yet strong enough to be used in bridge construction.” As such, bamboo can replace or indirectly decrease consumption of three critically scarce resources: wood, metal, and oil.

Already, bamboo is being used as scaffolding and concrete reinforcement in the construction of buildings. In Bangladesh, where 73% of the population lives in bamboo houses, bamboo provides pillars, walls, window frames, rafters, room separators, ceilings and roofs. Throughout rural Asia it is used for building bridges, from the sophisticated technology of suspension bridges to the simpler pontoon bridges.

In the Philippines, bamboo is also indispensable in the fishing and banana industry. Fishermen likewise use bamboo as material for making rafts, fishing rods, outriggers for bancas, and for fishpens. In salt-water areas, bamboo is used as stakes in the culture of mussels and oysters.

Bamboo is also used

in the manufacture of musical instruments like horns, clarinets, saxophones, flutes, piccolos, xylophones, and drums.

In Java, Indonesia, 20 different musical instruments have been fashioned out of bamboo. The world-famous bamboo organ at the Roman Catholic Church of Las Piñas is a historic example of the importance of bamboo.

There are also sophisticated uses of bamboo – charcoal for electric batteries, liquid diesel fuel obtained by distillation, and enzymes and media for shoot extracts used for culturing disease-causing bacteria. The white powder produced on the outer space of young culms for the isolation of a crystalline compound is medically useful.

The young shoots are a good source of vitamins and minerals. Nutritionists claim that bamboo shoot is low in carbohydrates and crude fat, and it has plenty of crude fiber, making it an ideal vegetable for people who want to lose weight. Eighteen amino acids are reportedly present in bamboo shoots.

Just a health warning: shoots of some species contain toxins that need to be leached or boiled out before they can be eaten safely.

Bamboo is a superb reforestation species due to its varied utility and importance in controlling soil erosion and stabilizing riverbanks. There are three main reasons why bamboo is a superb crop for cogonal areas: both bamboo and cogon belong to the same plant

family and so are compatible; bamboo grows faster and taller than cogon, and can quickly shade out the later; and bamboo is not killed when the cogonal area is burned accidentally or deliberately.

The bamboo business is labor intensive, more so during the first two years of operation. Studies have shown that labor alone eats around 90 percent of the total production cost.

But the beauty of bamboo growing lies in passing the first two critical growing years.

“If the bamboo survives, you are assured of money for the next 30 to 50 years,” says a bamboo grower.

Another good thing: the price of bamboo does not suffer from severe fluctuations unlike pork and chicken. In fact, they are priced depending on the diameter, volume and distance traveled.

In the Philippines, bamboo grows anywhere.

Often, it will grow on marginal farm areas not much good for anything else.

“It is a pity that we have neglected this important crop for so long,” deplores Alimoane.

Unknown to many, bamboo is not a tree but a grass. It is a perennial grass belonging to the family “Gramineae.”

It is considered near-relatives of rice, corn, wheat, oats, and barley. There are 75 genera and over 1,250 species in the tropical, sub-tropical and mild temperate regions of the world. In the Philippines, there are 12 bamboo genera consisting of 49 species. – (Photos courtesy of BGB Resources)

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kayo sabay sa military. Sabay-sabay kayo, yung mga mahirap nasa listahan ng—we will follow the list provided by the DSWD." The President lashed out at those criticizing the PSG's use of unauthorized vaccines.

“Sabi nitong mga ugok, ‘Sabi ninyo una ang tao.’ Ang unang bakuna para sa tao, ‘yang tinatrabaho ni General [Carlito] Galvez.

Kung totoo man itong sa PSG, hindi ito para sa inyo,” Duterte said.

“Kung anuman ang in-injection nila diyan… hindi na kayo kasali nito. Ako nga hindi ko alam eh. Alam ko, tapos na,” he added.

The Department of Health earlier released its priority list for COVID-19 vaccination, which places frontline health workers at the

top of the list, followed by indigent senior citizens; the remaining senior citizen population; and the remaining indigent population.

Uniformed personnel are fifth on the list.

The priority list covers nearly 25 million Filipinos. The Philippines' vaccination plan aims to inoculate 60 to 70 million people in three to five years. The country has an estimated population of 110 million.

On Dec. 27, Duterte said that some members of the military had already been administered a COVID-19 vaccine developed by Sinopharm.

The Chinese company only received regulatory approval from its own country on Dec. 31.

Among the ongoing coal-fired power projects, which the government identified having national significance, are the 1,336-megawatts Dinginin clean-coal fired

power plant in Bataan that will be completed by 2021 and the 1,200MW Atimonan power plant that will be commissioned by 2024.

(PNA)

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to ideological differences.

The BIFF has since split into

three subgroups—the Bungos, Karialan and Turaife factions,

according to the military. (Ferdinandh B. Cabrera / MindaNews)

BSP is also working on ongoing initiatives like the Credit Surety Fund, Credit Risk Database and the Agriculture Value Chain Financing pilot project.

Moreover, the central bank supports the implementation of

the Personal Property Security Act, the passage of the warehouse receipts bill, and the enhancement of the country’s credit information system and guarantee programs, according to Diokno.

“In 2021, the BSP will again

have a busy year in terms of widening the access of small businesses to needed funding. These initiatives are seen to support economic recovery and strengthen MSMEs’ role as a growth driver in the New Economy,” he said.

as of November, 717,241 small farmers were assisted through the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) and Financial Subsidy to Rice Farmers (FSRF) programs of the DA. Through the Landbank Countryside Development Foundation, the institution trained 98,639 farmers in unbanked municipalities to help improve their

financial literacy, Borromeo said.

In terms of economic activity, the support to the agriculture sector through loans for the construction of irrigation systems and post-harvest facilities accounted for PHP104.19 billion, or 45 percent of the PHP231.67 billion in lending support to this sector.

The PHP71.53-billion as-

sistance extended to finance agri-processing and trading activities; PHP36.69 billion was provided to the livestock subsector, and the PHP17.59 billion and PHP1.67 billion that went to the crops and fisheries subsectors, respectively, complete the breakdown of the PHP231.67 billion in total agricultural loans as of November 2020. (PR)

seven points to start the fourth before Houston opened the quarter with an 8-1 run to tie it with about 10 minutes remaining. Eric Gordon made three free throws to get things going and Sterling Brown had a 3-pointer that tied it.

Dallas had a 16-point lead after a three-point play by Doncic with about eight minutes left in the third quarter. The Rockets then scored the next 14 points to get within 72-70 four minutes later.

Harden had a step back 3-pointer in that stretch and Jae’Sean Tate capped it with six straight points.

Doncic struggled during that time, turning the ball over three times and receiving a technical foul.

The Mavericks finally ended a scoring drought with a 3-pointer

by Hardaway with less than three minutes left in the quarter.

Another 3-pointer by Hardaway later in the third extended the lead to six points before Gordon hit a 3 for Houston. But Doncic scored the last four points of the quarter to put the Mavericks up 84-77 entering the fourth.

DeMarcus Cousins was ejected

after receiving two technical fouls in about three minutes in the second quarter. The first one came when he and Cauley-Stein both got one after jawing at each other after fighting for a rebound.

Cousins was ejected when he yelled at an official after not getting a foul call after a layup with about nine minutes left in the first half. Silas was clearly unhappy with the call and stood inches away from a referee pointing and arguing about it for a couple of minutes before he was pushed away by Harden.

holding it physically at the Robinson's Place Manila atrium, regardless of whether Metro Manila will stay under general community quarantine (GCQ) or be finally

placed under modified GCQ that month.

However, the possibility of holding a physical combine right before draft day remains, con-

sidering the success of the Women's National Basketball League's physical draft combine at Victoria Sports in Quezon City last month.

(PNA)

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EDGEDAVAO

FOOD

LIKE K-POP and Kdrama’s popularity among Filipino audience, nobody can resist another Korean fave Samgyupsal.

Literally meaning “threelayer meat,” Samgyupsal is a Korean BBQ dish and became very popular among Dabawenyo foodies.

It’s a fun dish to eat because the cooking, the preparation of the wraps using all of the different vegetables and toppings that normally go with it and the eating is done at the table.

It is the very reason five young entrepreneurs and Korean food lovers opened Premier The Samgyupsal Davao on December 19, 2020 at the ground level of the Aeon Towers along J.P. Laurel Avenue.

Frachisees/business partners Nino Mendrado Canusa VI, Marie Melissa Canusa, Mendrado Canusa V, Ralphtrin Gel Hermosisima and Louise Prieto decided that it is time for Dabawenyos to experience authentic premier Korean dishes.

“We looked for several properties at ang Aeon Towers ang nakita namin na pinaka strategic

PREMIER SAMGYUPSAL AT AEON TOWERS na location and swak din siya sa Premier na brand because Aeon boasts of a premier building and branding,” said Mendrado Canusa V in an interview.

The restaurant boasts of wide selection of unlimited pork,

beef, and chicken and unlimited sides as well as side sauces such as ssamjang (soy bean paste and chili gochujang) and gireumjang (sesame oil, salt, and pepper).

Shabu-shabu, a hotpot dish of thinly sliced meat and vegetables boiled in water, is also perfect with the all-you-can-eat samgyupsal.

He assured Premier The Sam-

gyupsal Davao is serving aged samgyupsal and USDA certified imported Beef.

Another reason every Dabawenyo will look forward to is that the restaurant’s food choices are affordable. It will literally not break ones budget while enjoying and satisfying your samgyupsal cravings. It is offering the following sets for samgyupsal session:

unlimited pork and chicken for only P458; unlimited mix of pork, chicken, and beef for P538; unlimited shabu-shabu for only P538; and unlimited mix plus shabu-shabu for only P738.

All sets include unlimited side dishes, unlimited steamed egg, unlimited kimchi jjigae, unlimited doenjang jjigae, and unlimited iced tea.

Filling to the stomach but light on the budget is what Premier The Samgyupsal brand is known for. It is a popular Manila-based chain of Korean restaurants with 15 outlets in Metro Manila and one in Cebu. Premier The Samgyupsal Davao is the first branch in Mindanao, which will definitely become every Dabawenyo’s happy place.

Just a friendly reminder, make sure you come hungry because definitely you will leave happy.

The restaurant is open from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. from Monday to Saturday.

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Petecio confident of making it D abawenya Olympic boxing hopeful Nesthy Petecio tries to get back in tip top shape in time for the final qualifying tournament for the Tokyo Olympic Games later this year.

The Davao del Sur native, a world champion in 2019, squandered an opportunity to secure her ticket to Tokyo when she bowed out in the quarterfinals of the Asian qualifiers last March 2020. She has one more opportunity, however, in the final world Olympic qualifier scheduled for June in Paris. “’Yun pa din po ‘yung nasa isipan ko lagi,” Petecio said of the final qualifying tournament during an appearance on “The Chasedown” over the weekend.

“Siyempre Paris ‘yan, isa sa bucket list ko puntahan eh. So nakaka-excite po,” she added.

As excited as she is, Petecio is also aware that she has a lot of work to do before she competes in Paris.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 28-year-old boxer’s training skidded to a halt for several months before she found a local gym in her hometown of Digos, Davao del Sur. There, she resumed

her training program while also attending virtual sessions with her teammates and coaches in the national team. But her plans hit a snag again when the gym closed for the holidays, putting her preparations to a halt once more.

“Kung tuloy-tuloy lang po sana ang training ko by last year… sobrang laking tulong na po. Kaso lang, na-stop din po ako ng ilang months eh, so six months din po ako walang training,” Petecio explained.

Petecio is thus looking forward to reuniting with the national team in their training camp at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna, where other Olympic hopefuls will train in a “bubble.” She is expected to fly to Manila next week to join the national boxing team.

“Nakaka-excite po kasi finally, ‘yung mga taba ko na naipon halos isang taon, mababawasan,” said Petecio, who admitted that she put on plenty of weight

over the past year.

Losing the excess pounds is just the first phase of her challenge once she reunites with her coaches, she added.

“Una po talaga ang concern sa akin ‘yung paglaki ko po talaga, ‘yun po kaagad. ‘Yun po talaga ang pinuna ni coach,” said Petecio, who competes in the featherweight division.

“Kahit ako naman po, ‘yun po ang napuna ko sa sarili ko.”

While she anticipates a rough stretch ahead as she tries to lose weight and regain her physical fitness, Petecio said she is ready for the challenge and is not backing down.

“Kung sa training po, alam naman po ni coach kung paano ako mag-focus sa training. So ‘yung timbang na lang po talaga,” she said. “Wala pong problema sa training… Basta ‘pag nasa training ako, training po talaga. Alam po ng mga coaches po ‘yun.”

“Gusto kong makuha ang slot na ‘to, gusto kong makapasok dito (sa Olympics),” Petecio also said. “Kaya kung kailangan maging triple sa training, gagawin ko po talaga para makuha ko po ‘yung kundisyon ko po.”

Petecio is looking to join Eumir Marcial and Irish Magno as Filipino boxers who have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics.

Marcial won the gold in the Asia-Oceania qualifiers in March, while Magno won the Olympic box-off in the flyweight division to secure her berth.

Two other Filipinos -gymnast Carlos Yulo and pole-vaulter EJ Obiena -are also assured of spots in the Tokyo Olympics which will take place from July 23 to August 8.

Nesthy Petecio is trying to get back into shape in time for the Olympic boxing trials.

Bucks assert mastery over Pistons

G

Against the Houston Rockets, Luka Doncic had 33 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists.

Doncic’s triple double lifts Mavs past Rockets

H

OUSTON — Luka Doncic had 33 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists, and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 30 off the bench as the Dallas Mavericks used a big fourth quarter run to pull away in a 113-100 win over the Houston Rockets on Monday night (Tuesday, Manila time).

Dallas was on top by three points with about seven minutes remaining before using a 14-3 spurt, with seven points from Hardaway, to extend the lead to 106-92 with about 2-½ minutes remaining.

Houston couldn’t get anything going as the Mavericks took over. The Rockets missed five shots and had two turnovers in that span.

Hardaway, who made 8 of 10 3-point attempts, added another 3-pointer down the stretch to put the game out of reach.

Dallas coach Rick Carlisle changed his starting lineup to get more size against the Rockets and moved Willie Cauley-Stein, who is 7 feet tall, in for Hardaway for the first time this season.

Carlisle heaped praise upon Hardaway for the way he played off the bench.

“It was a really strong character performance by Tim,” he said. “He was great at both ends of the floor...

Tim Hardaway showed what class and professionalism is in responding to a lineup change.”

Hardaway didn’t feel

like the move was that big of a deal.

“You’ve got to be a pro,” he said. “I’m here to help this team out any way I can.

I just had to make sure I was ready when I got in the game to make an impact.”

Christian Wood had 23 points to lead the Rockets and James Harden added 21.

“We were way too stagnant, didn’t move the ball enough to put pressure on them and make it hard on them,” coach Stephen Silas said.

Both Doncic and Harden were back after sitting out in their team’s last game with injuries. Doncic returned after missing Sunday’s loss to Chicago with a bruised quadriceps. Harden played

after sitting out on Saturday against the Kings because of a sprained ankle.

Carlisle was impressed that his team was able to slow Harden down and limit the Rockets to just 100 points.

“Defensively is where we’re going to make our ground this year,” he said.

“That’s just how it’s going to be. We’ve got to build on this somehow.”

Houston made just 11 of 40 3-pointers and Harden was 3 of 11 from long-range and 5 of 17 overall.

“I’m really just disappointed in our offensive effort tonight because that’s not the game that I envisioned us playing,” Silas said.

The Mavericks led by

FDONCIC, P9

iannis Antetokounmpo scored 43 points and the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Detroit Pistons, 125-115, on Monday night (Tuesday, Manila time) to move above the .500 mark for the first time this season.

The reigning two-time MVP scored 30 points by halftime, shot 17 of 24 from the floor overall and finished with nine rebounds.

The Bucks (4-3) have won their last eight regular-season meetings with the Pistons, which represents the longest streak for either team in the history of the series.

Detroit (1-6) played without two of its top three scorers in Blake Griffin and Josh Jackson.

The Pistons opted to rest Griffin and protect his surgically repaired left knee after he played 29 minutes a night earlier in a 122-120 loss to Boston. Jackson has a sprained right ankle.

Jerami Grant and Derrick Rose led the Pistons with 24 points each. Sekou Doumbouya, Wayne Ellington and Svi Mykhailiuk added 13 apiece.

Khris Middleton scored 19 points, Jrue Holiday had 15 and D.J. Augustin 11 for the Bucks. Bryn Forbes and Bobby Portis added 10 each.

Milwaukee went ahead for good midway through the first quarter and led by as much as 18, though Detroit cut the margin to single digits in the fourth quarter.

The Bucks led 118-110 with just over two minutes left when Doumbouya drove into the lane and had his shot blocked by Antetokounmpo. The star forward followed that up with a putback on the other end to give Milwaukee a 10-point edge with 1:39 remaining.

Detroit never threatened again.

he Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) will be holding its major preseason activities online due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

The league will be doing its awards night and the rookie draft through video conferencing, shying away from a physical version of them due to the quarantine restrictions imposed in Metro Manila.

The "special" awards night will take place on January 17.

Unlike the usual Leo Awards, only the Best Player of the Conference

and not the Most Valuable Player of the season will be handed out.

Also to be presented are the Outstanding Rookie and the "Special Team" instead of the Rookie of the Year and the Mythical Selection, respectively.

Three staples in the Leos, the Most Improved Player, All-Defensive Team, and the Samboy Lim Sportsmanship Award, will be handed out during the special awards night.

Meanwhile, the March 14 draft will take place at the virtual realm instead of

PBA to hold virtual awards night, draft

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