Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 207 | Saturday, December 12, 2020 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

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VOL.13 ISSUE 207 • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2020

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City looking for companies with Covid-19 vaccine

A rider and his passengers, who fail to follow any of the health protocols maybe because they are not properly informed about the dangers of Covid-19 due to the distance of their community from the city proper, wait for their turn to pass a muddy road in Calinan, Davao City on Friday. Edge Davao

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 207 • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte shares his misting machine for sanitation with outgoing South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong-man who paid a farewell call on the President at the Malacañang Palace onThursday. Malacañang has assured that the President will carefully review the P4.506-trillion national budget for 2021. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

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Duterte to carefully review 2021 nat’l budget: Palace

City looking for companies with Covid-19 vaccine By MAYA M. PADILLO he city government of Davao is looking at companies that already developed Covid-19 vaccine.

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said in a live broadcast interview on Friday, the city has nothing to lose in reaching out to these companies to access their vaccines. “If they say no, walay mawala sa atoa because we are already in this pandemic. That is why I am trying to reach out and talk and ask for the possibilities na available for the LGU,” she said. In last week’s interview, the mayor mentioned that the city has approached one company for its vaccine, however, was informed that the said company will only

sell its vaccine to the Department of Health (DOH). “Nagduol ta ug isa ka kompanya asking them if in the event na mahatagan sila ug papers by the Philippine govenrment mubaligya ba sila sa atoa. Ang ilahang official reply base sa exchange of letters sa ilahang kompanya and the city government of Davao, is they are not for profit and they will only sell to the Department of Health,” the mayor said. Also an official of a company from another country has made representations to the city through emails. According to the mayor this

one is very positive as the company is allowed by its country to sell to whoever is the buyer. “However they do not know if we need the permission of the DOH to buy from them. Naa pa ta sa ingon ani nga discussion,” the mayor said. The mayor said for the city to access the vaccine from another company is for Davao City to participate in its clinical trials. Currently there is no document yet allowing vaccine brands for emergency use authorization (EUA) in the Philippines. “Ang advise sa atoa is to write a letter and request that Davao City will be included in a clinical trial so that maka-access ta ug ba-

kuna for our plans of voluntary vaccinations,” the mayor said. Safety and efficacy of the vaccine Mayor Sara emphasized that the safety and effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccines are measured by studies and clinical tests. “And sa pag-issue sa Food and Drug Administration ug permit sa iyaha ug pinaagi sa emergency use authorization, these are things na mao ang atoang measure because it is allowed by government , it went through clinical trials and there are studies for its clinical safe and effective, “ she said. She advised the public to read the information

Duterte-Carpio said she will really sue someone who attempts to use bogus documents just to make pass on the airport authorities while the pandemic is going on. She confirmed the arrest of a person at the Davao International Airport who tried to enter the city using a bogus document. “One person was arrested at the Davao International Airport using a

fake RT-PCR result,” Duterte-Carpio said. She also said that going out of the city may not require travel authority for local government units which do not require them. However, Duterte-Carpio clarified that travel authority may be issued when going out Davao City if the LGUs would require them. She also said that bared that she had an effort to buy vaccines for Davao

City. Duterte-Carpio said that one firm bared they would only sell to the Department of Health. She said she is negotiating another firm if they are willing to do a phase III clinical trial in Davao City for voluntary testing. Duterte-Carpio said it will be a lengthy process, but she has to seek approval from the national government. (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

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Travelers to Davao urged not to use fake documents

ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio warned travelers not to use bogus documents in going to Davao City. Speaking in the Davao City Disaster Radio, she stressed even if they are in a hurry, they have the choice to have a certified true copy of their RT-PCR test before boarding the plane or undergo an RTPCR swab test before going out at the Davao International Airport.

alacañang on Thursday said the early passage of the proposed PHP4.506-trillion national budget for 2021 in Congress would give President Rodrigo Duterte ample time to thoroughly review it. In a news briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the Palace will “take all steps necessary” to enact the 2021 General Appropriations Bill on time to avert a reenacted budget scenario amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. “Ang bibigyan po natin ng kasiguraduhan eh bibilisan naman po ng Palasyo ang pagsusuri sa budget para malaman kung mayroong mga specific line item na ibi-veto ang Presidente. Pero siyempre po lahat iyan mangyari ngayon na dahil kinakailangan magkaroon tayo ng budget pagdating ng a-uno ng Enero (What we assure is the Palace will fast-track the scrutiny of the budget to know if there is specific line item that the President will veto. But of course, it will happen now because we need to have budget before January 1),” Roque said. Roque assured that Duterte will still exercise his power of review and his power of

line veto. “Pero hindi po isasakripisyo o isu-surrender ng Palasyo, ng Presidente, ‘yung kanyang kapangyarihan na pag-aralan ang budget at siguraduhin na walang dapat na item ng appropriation na dapat ma-veto (The Palace, the President will not sacrifice or surrender his power to study the budget and make sure to exercise his power of line veto),” he said. Both chambers of Congress ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the 2021 budget, which will support the country’s calamity and coronavirus responses, including PHP72.5 billion for the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines. Earlier, budget deliberations were stalled due to the speakership tussle between then-Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and his successor, Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco. Under the term-sharing deal brokered by Duterte, Cayetano would serve as the House Speaker for the first 15 months, or until October 2020, while Velasco would take over and assume the position for the remaining 21 months or until the 18th Congress ends in 2022. (PNA)

VOL.13 ISSUE 207 • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 3

PH lowest out of 58 countries in 4thgrade math, science -- int’l study

TFD chief Colonel Consolito Yecla discloses that the Safe Davao QR (DQR) implementation recorded a three-day streak of 99 percent compliance from December 6 to

December 8, 2020 in all of the Task Force Davao (TFD) checkpoints in the city. Edge Davao

he Philippines was ranked last out of 58 countries in terms of performance in fourthgrade mathematics and science by an international education cooperative in a study released Tuesday. Filipino fourth graders scored “significantly lower” than other countries with scores of 297 in math and 249 in science in the 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). The study’s benchmarks were 625 for “advanced,” 550 for “high,” 475 for “intermediate,” and 400 for “low.” The last time that the Philippines participated in the TIMSS, in 2003, the country scored 358 in math and 332 in science. The International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement, which conducts the study every four years, said 92 percent of countries scored low in math and science in 2019. Meanwhile, the top-performing students came from the Philippines' neighbors Singapore, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong, with Singaporeans scoring 625 in math and 595 in science. Joining the Philippines in the bottom five countries were Morocco, Kuwait, South Africa, and Pakistan.

Benchmarks The advanced benchmark in math means students “apply their understanding and knowledge in a variety of relatively complex situations and explain their reasoning,” while a high score means students “apply conceptual understanding to solve problems.” Only 1 percent of Filipino students reached the high benchmark in math. The intermediate benchmark means students “apply basic mathematical knowledge in simple situations” and a low score means students “have some basic mathematical knowledge.” Six percent of Filipino fourth graders got an intermediate score, while 19 percent were in the low benchmark in math. An advanced score in science means “students communicate their understanding of life, physical, and Earth sciences and demonstrate some knowledge of the scientific process of inquiry” while the high benchmark means students “communicate and apply knowledge of life, physical, and Earth sciences.” Only 1 percent of Filipino students achieved a high score in science. The intermediate benchmark means “stu-

dents show knowledge and understanding of some aspects of science” and a low score means “students show limited understanding of scientific concepts and limited knowledge of foundational science facts.” Five percent of fourthgrade Filipino students made it to the intermediate benchmark while 13 percent were ranked low. Factors affecting achievement The study said students from homes with more educational resources like books, internet connection, and parents with higher levels of educational attainment performed better in math and science. Similarly, students who attended schools with fewer resource shortages had higher average achievement in math and science. TIMSS also linked students’ early educational activities to higher achievement in their primary years of schooling. “Fourth grade students had higher achievement, on average, when their parents had engaged them in literacy and numeracy activities at an early age in the home, when the students had attended pre-primary education, or when they had literacy and numeracy skills upon entering prima-

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PH to get Covid-19 vaccines City conducts geo-tagging to from three manufacturers determine legitimate beneficiaries P By MAYA M. PADILLO

he city govenrment of Davao is conducting a geo-tagging activity to determine rightful beneficiaries of the city’s assistance in times of disasters and other calamities. Tagged Intelligent Community-based Monitoring System (ICBMS) is a household survey initiated by the city government of Davao to generate baseline information on the following areas: health and nutrition, sanitation, education, housing, income and livelihood, and community participation. Ivan Chin Cortez, officer-in -incharge of the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), said the main purpose of ICBMS is

to enable the city through all of its frontline agencies to have a direct and purposive delivery of government services to the households in need because it involves geo tagging, which mean faster identification of rightful beneficiaries against those who are constantly taking advantage of the city in times of disasters and calamities faster. “Because through this survey, we will be able to determine right away how many are affected in certain

incidences and who are actually affected,”Cortez said. ICBMS is so named as the data gathering is already digitized. It is backed up by the city government server and the tool for data gathering is a smart tablet. The system will generate good data quality, speedy and efficient processing of the inputs. This will also allow the mapping of the household done through the geo-tagging. The city government of Davao conducted Climate and Disaster Risk Assessment and identified the different areas that are at risk to different hazards. The following high risk barangays are Brgys. 1-A, 2-A, 5-A, 8-A,19-B, 21-C, 22-C, 23-C, 27-C, and 31-D;

Bago Aplaya, Bucana, Catalunan Pequeno, Ma-a, Matina Aplaya, Matina Crossing, Talomo, Calinan, Los Amigos, Mintal, Tugbok, Centro Agdao, Leon Garcia, Sasa, Tigatto, Waan, Bunawan, Ilang, Lasang, Panacan, Tibungco, Binugao, and Sirawan. There are 114,785 households that have been surveyed. With this, there was 372,038 individuals that have been listed. Cortez said more than 50 percent of the total number of households within the 34 high risk barangays have been geo -tagged and surveyed as of first week of December. He said the city is targeting to finish the survey on March 30,2021.

who were denied entry to Davao City,” Yecla said. The highest DQR compliance rate came after the 98 percent recorded on December 2 to December 5; 97 percent on November 29 to December 1; 98 percent on November 27 and 28; 94 percent on November 25 and 26; and 68 percent on November 24 when it was first implemented. Meanwhile, a total of 744 individuals between November 18 to December 8 were barred from enter-

ing the city for non-compliance with Executive Orders (EOs) 62 (An Order Providing For The Guidelines On Enforcement Of The Prohibition On Non-Essential Travel in Davao City) and 63 (An Order Providing For The Guidelines of Davao City As A Restricted Local Government Unit). November 20 registered the most number of non-compliant travelers with 144 while November 25 and 26 each recorded five. The first eight days of December 2020 had a total

of 95 violators. City Human Resources Management Office (HRMO) head Lemuel Ortonio earlier said invalid DQRs were those that were secured during the pilot testing period. He also said that those with invalid DQR codes will have to register again. The Davao City Police Office (DCPO), for its part, installed 21 fully operational community quarantine checkpoints (QCPs) enforcing DQR scanning. CIO

City logs 3-day streak of 99% DQR compliance

he Safe Davao QR (DQR) implementation recorded a threeday streak of 99 percent compliance from December 6 to December 8, 2020 in all of the Task Force Davao (TFD) checkpoints in the city. TFD chief Colonel Consolito Yecla said of the 154,107 travelers who entered Davao City on December 8, which was a special non-working holiday, a total of 152,620 presented their respective DQRs. “We have 33 persons

residential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday said the Philippines will be getting its supply of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine starting next year from three manufacturers -- Sinovac Biotech, Oxford-AstraZeneca, and Pfizer-BioNTech. Roque said the earliest possible inoculation program in the country is expected to use China's Sinovac vaccine, while Pfizer-BioNTech's shots will come in the second or third quarter of 2021. "The target remains that Sinovac will be the first that we can use to vaccinate our people and it will be in the first quarter of next year," he said in a virtual Palace briefing. Despite previous bribery allegations against Sinovac, Roque said Malacañang is confident Filipino officials will not get involved in a similar controversy concerning the eventual entry of coronavirus vaccines. He said the country remains consistent that only "safe" and "effective" vaccines could secure approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). "Buong-buo po ang tiwala ni Presidente kay (FDA director general) Dr. (Eric) Domingo, so pagdating po diyan sa mga allegations, allegations on bribery, tingin ko po ay hindi mangyayari iyan sa

Pilipinas (The President has full trust in Dr. Domingo, so I think those allegations on bribery won't occur in the Philippines)," he said. For the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 jabs, the country has secured some 2.6 million doses via a tripartite agreement with the private sector and the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company last month. "(For Pfizer's vaccine) we are also sure because the agreement with Pfizer was brokered by the DFA, no less than (Foreign Affairs) Secretary (Teodoro) Locsin (Jr.) and (US) Secretary (of State Mike) Pompeo. But Pfizer will come in the second and the third quarter," Roque said. As wealthier nations secure enough doses to vaccinate their entire population, Roque recognized that supply could potentially become an issue, especially for developing countries. "Pero mayroon naman tayong mga pamamaraan. At hindi naman po katanggap-tanggap kay Presidente na hindi tayo magkakabakuna dahil siya nga iyong parang kauna-unahang lider sa buong daigdig na sinasabing nandiyan na ang bakuna at matatapos na itong pandemyang ito (But we have our ways. The President will not al-

FPH TO GET, P10

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 207 • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2020

Growth of telco industry in private sector’s hand

he development of telecommunication services is better left in the care of the private sector as the latter could allow more space for adjustments in this rapid-changing world of technology, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said on Thursday. A national broadband project is now on the pipeline, and Roque is confident that the issues that hounded a similar program in the past will not occur under the current administration. But Roque said he has "serious questions" about whether the government leading the industry is the solution amid the fastpaced technological advancements. "Dahil nga po sa bilis ng pagbago ng teknolohiya, mas mabuting nasa kamay nga po ng mga pribadong

A telecommunication cell site towers over a residential area in downtown Davao City. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque says due to fast change of technology, it is better if broadband network is handled by private sector because they can adjust. Edge Davao

Investments in PEZA zones reach P3.9-T in 25 years

he Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has approved a total of PHP3.9 trillion worth of investments for the past 25 years as of November 2020. During the PEZA’s silver anniversary celebration and Investors’ Recognition Day Thursday, PEZA Director General Charito Plaza said these investments came from 4,605 companies operating in PEZA-registered economic zones nationwide. The number of companies registered with PEZA has grown from only 331 firms 25 years ago, she added. Plaza said PEZA ecozones continue to increase from 16 ecozones 25 years ago to 410 ecozones as of last month. From manufactur-

ing ecozones, PEZA now offers different types of ecozones for activities such as export of information technology-enabled services, agro-industrial, tourism, medical tourism, knowledge, science and technology hubs, and the proposed defense-industrial complex. As incentives in PEZA are biased to firms exporting their products and services, Plaza said PEZA-registered firms have contributed USD839 billion on export revenues since 1995. From 2007 to 2019 alone, exports from PEZA ecozones constituted 67

percent of the country’s merchandise export. In 2019, PEZA firms’ share of the gross domestic product (GDP) reached 15.5 percent or USD54.6 billion. Jobs generated in PEZA zones reached more than 1.47 million as of June this year. Despite the disruption in operations amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Plaza said operations in PEZA zones are gradually returning to full capacity. Meanwhile, as the Senate approved on third reading the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) bill last week of November, Plaza said the best version of the new law will come out in the implementing rules and regulations (IRR).

“The best CREATE law will still come out once we have the IRR,” Plaza said. PEZA has been asking lawmakers to spare the investment promotion agency from the new incentives regime, or bargaining to at least maintain the current incentives regime for existing PEZA locators. From previous statements of the PEZA chief, the incentive that existing PEZA firms do not want to lose is the perpetual 5-percent gross income (GIE) earned in lieu of all national and local taxes. When the CREATE is enacted into law, the government will give 10 years of 5-percent special corporate income tax (SCIT) in lieu of all national and local taxes for 10 years. (PNA)

waiting for the final structure of incentives under the CREATE bill, he added. “Our MSMEs will benefit the most from CREATE, as it provides for an immediate 10-percent reduction in the CIT (corporate income tax) rate, bringing it down to 20 percent from 30 percent at present,” Lopez said during the Manufacturing Summit 2020. He added that the CREATE would also give income tax holiday of four to seven years to export and domestic enterprises in activities classified as critical industries and a 5-percent special corporate income tax rate (SCIT) based on gross income earned, in lieu of all

national and local taxes for 10 years. In the same virtual event, DTI Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo echoed that Senate Bill 1357 has removed the nationality and export bias of giving tax perks to investors. Under Executive Order 226, the Board of Investments (BOI) is not allowed to provide incentives to foreign companies investing here to manufacture products to be sold to the domestic market. “We should be able to incentivize those who are going to locate their facilities here regardless of ownership as long as (the) value add and the employment will be here in the

Philippines,” Rodolfo said. The CREATE, once enacted into law, will help in developing local supply chain networks, he added. The CREATE will give incentives for companies that source their raw materials locally that would help to develop the local micro, small, and medium enterprises rather than importing the cheapest price of input components from any other place in the world. Rodolfo added that coupled with Bayanihan to Recover as One or the Bayanihan 2, the administration’s tax reform program will help in the economic recovery amid the Covid-19 pandemic. (PNA)

sectoritong broadband network, dahil sila ay makaka-adjust. Samantalang kapag gobyerno ang naglagay niyan static (Due to fast change of technology, it is better if broadband network is handled by private sector because they can adjust. While if government, it’s static)," he said in a Palace briefing. He also noted that there is a policy giving the private sector the freedom to lead the sector. "Mayroon po tayong polisiya na pinasa ng kongreso na nagsasabi na talagang ang pag-unlad ng telecoms industry ay inilagay natin sa kamay ng mga pribadong kumpanya dahil tayo nga po ay nag-liberalized hindi lang po sa kuryente, kung hindi pati na rin sa telecoms (We have policy submitted

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DITO taps retired colonel to beef up cybersecurity

ITO Telecommunity, the country's third telco player, has hired a retired military official to help strengthen its security systems against cyber attacks. This, amid concerns about the involvement of a Chinese state-run firm in the consortium while Manila and Beijing remain locked in a dispute over the West Philippine Sea. DITO Chief Technology Officer Rodolfo Santiago said the former colonel is an expert in cybersecurity. The company has hired at least 9 retired military officers who are helping the company's operations, Santiago said. "Hindi pa uso ang cybersecurity noon, nag-aaral na ng cybersecurity yun. We also have to ensure that our network will not be utilized to threaten national security," Santiago said in a press briefing. (Cybersecurity wasn't that big yet and this military official was already studying cybersecurity.) Accounting firm RG Manabat & Co. (KPMG Philippines) will conduct a

technical audit on DITO in January next year, ahead of its March schedule for commercial launch. Adel Tamano, DITO Chief Administrative Officer, for his part said they are planning to invite Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Services, other government officials and the media to be a part of their second testing of the network. Unlike other telcos, the government required DITO to provide a cybersecurity plan, which the latter took into account, saying it is investing heavily in security systems. DITO said despite their limited coverage compared with other big telco players, they hope they can make up for it with better services. The company has enough towers and fiber cables to meet their commitments to the government by March, it added. DITO earlier committed to provide at least 27 mbps in internet speed to 37 percent or some 7,425 barangays in its first year of service.

FDI inflows post doubleEnacting CREATE into law to help PH economy recover digit drop in September

rade officials believe that the enactment of the CREATE bill into law will usher the country’s economic recovery next year. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said that as the government will continue to implement its recovery plan next year, signing the CREATE bill into law is vital as this defines the country's future incentive regime. On Wednesday, Lopez said the DTI believes that the CREATE law is a “big boost to attract foreign investors in the country”. Many foreign investors have put their investment plans on hold as they are

et inflows of foreign direct investments (FDIs) contracted by 12.3% in September after four consecutive months of double-digit year-on-year growth, data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed. Central bank data showed that the FDI inflows—investments by foreign companies or individuals in the Philippines—fell to $523 million in September versus $596 million the same month last year, and $637 million in August. "The two-week Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) in Metro Manila and surrounding areas in the first half of August may have dampened investor sentiment on

prospects of the economy’s re-opening," the BSP said in an accompanying statement. There was 14.3% drop in non-residents' net investments in debt instruments to $362 million from $423 million last year, while reinvestment of earnings fell 19.7% to $62 million from $77 million. Meanwhile, non-residents' net investments in equity capital rose 2.5% to $99 million from $96 million, with a slower decrease in placements of equity capital at 8.6% to $114 million versus the 46.5% drop in withdrawals to $15 million. Equity capital infusions during the month came

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VOL.13 ISSUE 207 • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2020

ECONOMY 5

EDGEDAVAO

Fishermen in General Luna, Siargao Island prepare to release their makeshift warning device early eveningTuesday (8 December 2020). Made of kerosene lamps placed inside wine bottles on an improvised floater of wood and Styrofoam balls, this device will remind approaching boats of the fishing net’s location so it won’t get damaged. MindaNews photo by ROEL N. CATOTO

Country’s overall food supply sufficient until yearend -- DA T

BSP launches Credit Risk Database for SMEs

October and November, our [food] supply is enough),” he said. Cayanan presented data from the Rice Supply Outlook that showed a projection that the country’s food supply would last for more than 80 days or almost three months after 2020. “May 85 to 88 days pa po tayo pag [tapos] nitong taon na ito which is good kasi nagsisimula na ang dry season [season for planting], aani na po tayo sa

katapusan ng Pebrero (According to our projections, we still have 85 to 88 days after this year ends. This is good because the dry season has already started and we are expecting to harvest by end of February),” Cayanan said. The DA also tackled that the pork supply took a dip forecasting a seven-day deficit for December 2020. Agriculture Undersecretary for livestock William Medrano earlier said there is usually a contraction of supply on agricultural commodities, which results in higher prices of goods toward the end of the year. Pork products, particularly ham, are among the most consumed during the period.

Meanwhile, the Broiler Supply Outlook of the DA saw a significant projection with an 86-day forecast of supply of poultry products to last after the end of 2020. “Manageable po ang supply, maitatawid tayo (The supply is manageable),” Cayanan said. The fishery sector, on the other hand, reflected low output due to closed fishing season orders but the latest data showed no negative projection on fish supply. He also noted the price hike on several vegetable produce due to low supply after the typhoons devastated farmlands yielding common crops such as chili, onion, and garlic. (PNA)

he Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Thursday launched the Credit Risk Database (CRD) aiming to provide a statistical credit scoring of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which can predict the probability of default in the long run. A joint program with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the CRD aims to improve access to finance among SMEs by promoting riskbased lending and lessening the dependence of banks on collaterals during credit evaluation. "The CRD project is a tangible step in building a sustainable financing ecosystem for SMEs, the backbone of our economy and the driver of the country's inclusive economic growth," BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said during the

said in a supplement to its Asian Development Outlook report, short of its earlier estimate of a 0.7 percent decline. This year's expected decline would be the region's first in nearly six decades. For 2021, the region is still forecast to recover and grow 6.8 percent, the ADB said, as Asian economies gradually recover from the COVID-19 pandemic that has infected nearly 68

million people and killed more than 1.5 million. Developing Asia's subregions are forecast to contract this year, except for East Asia, which is expected to grow 1.6 percent, higher than earlier projected, supported by faster-than-expected recoveries in China and Taipei. China, where the coronavirus surfaced in December, is projected to grow 2.1 percent this

year, faster than the ADB's September estimate of 1.8 percent. The ADB kept its 7.7 percent growth forecast for the world's second largest economy for 2021. "A prolonged pandemic remains the primary risk, but recent developments on the vaccine front are tempering this," said ADB Chief Economist Yasuyuki Sawada. The ADB still expects India's economy to bounce back with growth of 8.0

percent next year, emerging from a projected contraction of 8.0 percent this year, less than the 9.0 percent decline previously forecast. Southeast Asia remains under pressure, as virus outbreaks and restrictions continue in countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, prompting the ADB to downgrade its 2020 and 2021 growth forecasts for the sub-re-

he country has enough food supply until yearend despite the series of typhoons that affected agricultural areas, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Thursday. DA Undersecretary Ariel Cayanan, who represented the agency in the weekly discussion of offices in the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), said in a virtual presser there is continuous food productivity and price stability in the market. “Bagamat dinaanan po tayo ng malalakas na bagyo noong Oktubre at Nobyembre, sapat po ang supply natin(Though we’ve experienced strong typhoons in

launch. The virtual launch was participated by representatives from JICA, the Chamber of Thrift Banks, the Bankers Association of the Philippines, and the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines, as well as representatives from the 17 pioneer participating banks. Participating banks are the Land Bank of the Philippines (including the Overseas Filipino Bank), the Development Bank of the Philippines, Security Bank Corp., Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., Philippine Business Bank, Sterling Bank of Asia, China Bank Savings, Malayan Bank, Philippine Savings Bank, UCPB Savings Bank, Producers Savings Bank, Queen City Development Bank, Wealthbank, Sun Savings Bank, AllBank CARD SME Bank, and First Consolidated Bank.

Developing Asia's projected '20 contraction to be less severe than expected, ADB says

eveloping Asia is on course to contract this year, but probably less than previously thought as China recovers faster than expected, although the prolonged pandemic remains a risk to the outlook, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said on Thursday. Economic output in developing Asia, a group of 45 nations in the Asia-Pacific, is seen to shrink 0.4 percent this year, the ADB

gion. Southeast Asia faces a bleaker outlook with this year's economic output seen to suffer a deeper slump of 4.4 percent, before growing 5.2 percent next year, down from an earlier forecast for 5.5 percent growth. Regional inflation this year is expected to ease marginally to 2.8 percent from a prior estimate of 2.9 percent and slow further to 1.9 percent in 2021.

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 207 • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2020

On the availability of Covid-19 vaccine and reaching out to companies who have developed them: If they say no, walay mawala sa atoa because we are already in this pandemic. That is why I am trying to reach out and talk and ask for the possibilities na available for the LGU ... Nagduol ta ug isa ka kompanya asking them if in the event na mahatagan sila ug papers by the Philippine govenrment mubaligya ba sila sa atoa. Ang ilahang official reply base sa exchange of letters sa ilahang kompanya and the city government of Davao, is they are not for profit and they will only sell to the Department of Health.”

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio

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VOL.13 ISSUE 207 • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2020

VANTAGE POINTS

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

A WORLD WITHOUT CERVICAL CANCER A world without cervical cancer is possible, according to the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO). “Eliminating any cancer would have once seemed an impossible dream, but we now have the cost-effective, evidence-based tools to make that dream a reality,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “But we can only eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem if we match the power of the tools we have with unrelenting determination to scale up their use globally.” Cervical cancer is a preventable disease. It is also curable if detected early and adequately treated. Yet it is the fourth most common cancer among women globally, the WHO points out. “Without taking additional action, the annual number of new cases of cervical cancer is expected to increase from 570,000 to 700,000 between 2018 and 2030, while the annual number of deaths is projected to rise from 311,000 to 400,000,” the WHO says in a statement released during the launching of the Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer last November 17. In low- and middle-income countries, the WHO adds, the incidence of cervical cancer is nearly twice as high and its death rates three times as high as those in high-income countries. “The huge burden of mortality related to cervical cancer is a consequence of decades of neglect by the global health community. However, the script can be rewrit-

ten,” says Dr. Princess Nothemba (Nono) Simelela, WHO Assistant Director-General. “Critical developments include the availability of prophylactic vaccines; lowcost approaches to screening and treating cervical cancer precursors; and novel approaches to surgical training.” She said that through a shared global commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and leaving no-one behind, the countries of the world are forging a new path to ending cervical cancer. “Today’s development represents a historic milestone because it marks the first time that 194 countries commit to eliminating cancer - following adoption of a resolution at this year’s World Health Assembly,” WHO says. Meeting the following targets by 2030 will place all countries on the path toward elimination: 90% of girls fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by 15 years of age; 70% of women screened using a high-performance test by age 35 and again by 45; and 90% of women identified with cervical disease receive treatment (90% of women with pre-cancer treated and 90% of women with invasive cancer managed). The United Nations health agency is recommending vaccination to those between the ages of 9 and 14. Prevention of cervical cancer should start early – before girls are exposed to human papillomavirus (HPV). “The vaccine provides up to 95% coverage against cervical cancer,” Dr. Chia Yin Nin, a gyneco-

logic oncologist practicing at Gleneagles Hospital in Singapore, told Business World. Cervical cancer is the second leading cancer site among Filipino women, the Department of Health (DOH) reports. Every year, an estimated 7,277 new cases are reported with 3,087 deaths. In recent years, however, more cases and more deaths are being reported. The cervix is part of the female reproductive system located at the junction of the vagina and the uterus (womb). It is often called the neck of the womb. “Generally, all women who have had sexual intercourse are at risk of cervical cancer,” DOH states. “However, rare types of cervical cancer can occur even in women who never had any sexual intercourse in their life.” In recent years, however, there had been overwhelming evidence that HPV causes cancer of the cervix. HPV takes several forms, which are referred to by number. “There are about 100 types of HPV that generally infect people in various parts of the body but there are only 13 types that can cause cancer in the cervix,” wrote Dr. Cecilia Ladines-Llave in a paper presented at the Global Conference on Low-Resource Setting Cervical Cancer Prevention held at the Johns Hopkins University. The most common causes of cervical cancer are HPV Types 16 and 18. These two types are responsible for 70 percent of cervical cancer around the world. HPV Type 16 also causes oropharyn-

geal cancer. Condoms do not fully protect against infection because the virus can exist throughout the genital area and around the anus. “We realize that, although HPV is sexually transmitted, it is not a sexually transmitted disease,” Dr. Nin explained. “It can be acquired through personal contact like fondling, petting and sexual intercourse.” The following had been established as possible causes of cervical cancer: have had multiple sexual partners, have had sexual partners (regular or casual) who themselves had several sexual partners, have had sexual partner who is infected with HPV, and had first sexual intercourse at a very early age, possibly 15 or 16 years old. The risk of developing cervical cancer is increased by the following: smoking, long-term use of oral contraceptives, a weakened immune system, and a family history of cancer, especially cervical cancer. HPV is so prevalent in the community, almost all women can have it. However, there are many forms of HPV, and many do not cause problems. “HPV infections usually clear up without any intervention within a few months after acquisition, and about 90% clear within 2 years,” the United Nations health agency says. A small proportion of infections with certain types of HPV can persist and progress to cervical cancer. Dr. Llave, who is the director of Cervical Cancer Prevention Network, was quoted as saying by Philippine News Agency (PNA)

that 99.7% of the cervical cancer are caused by HPV. It takes 10 to 30 years of incubation before HPV infection becomes symptomatic. “There are no signs and symptoms about 18% of the time,” Dr. Llave stated. “Most women don’t go to the health centers unless they’re bleeding profusely and they experience too much pain. For about 20% of the women who are infected with HPV, cervical cancer may develop. “It is only when the cancer develops that you experience the signs like bleeding during intercourse, bleeding between menstrual periods, or bleeding after menopause,” Dr. Nin said. “The patient can also experience other symptoms like back pain, cough and swelling in the abdomen or limbs if the cancer has spread.” When detected early, cervical cancer, however, is curable. However, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, so goes a saying. Currently, there are 3 vaccines protecting against both HPV 16 and 18, which are known to cause at least 70% of cervical cancers. The third vaccine protects against three additional HPV types, which cause a further 20% of cervical cancers. “The fight against cervical cancer is also a fight for women’s rights: the unnecessary suffering caused by this preventable disease reflects the injustices that uniquely affect women’s health around the world,” says Dr. Princess Nothemba Simelela. “Together, we can make history to ensure a cervical cancer-free future.”

DENNIS R. GORECHO PINOY MARINO RIGHTS

FILIPINOS SEAFARERS AND THE “GOOD SAMARITAN AT SEA” DOCTRINE The recent story of American sailor who was rescued by Filipino seafarers may aptly be an application of the “Good Samaritan at Sea” doctrine or the obligation to render assistance at sea. The 63-year-old sailor Stuart Bee was missing at sea for nearly two days after his boat capsized on the Atlantic Ocean. He was found by Filipino seafarers on board the vessel “Angeles” last November 29 adrift in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean while clinging to his boat 86 miles from the shore of Port Canaveral, Florida. “The story of Stuart is no different from others who are pleading for help today; in this time of pandemic. You don’t need to sail out in the ocean to rescue and serve your purpose. There maybe too many Stuarts who happen to be your neighbor, a friend, or just like the Stuart we came to know, a stranger that needs help. Help in any way you can, whenever the opportunity to help is present,” Filipino

seafarer Lacruiser Relativo said in his facebook post. For centuries, the “Good Samaritan” maritime rescue doctrine encourages seafarers to go to the aid of life and property in distress. Life as a seafarer involves obligations that are unlike almost any other occupation as they have long understood that a moral, if not legal, obligation is upon them to render assistance to persons in peril at sea. The biblical anecdote of the Good Samaritan pertains to the traveler who, for no other reason than a desire to help a fellow human being, stopped on the road to Jericho to help a man who had been beaten and bloodied by robbers. The Samaritan bandaged the victim’s wounds, and took him to an inn to recover, which was a gratuitous act for which no reward was sought and by his actions the man was saved. In most cases, a person reacts to save another person as result of compassion or instinct,

or both. While seafarers will have the same compassion and instinct as other professionals, they have a legislated obligation to render assistance. The duty to render assistance is a general reflection of customary international maritime law. Whether vessels sailing under their flag operate in either a private or public capacity, the requirements incumbent upon the masters of the vessels are the same. This obligation comes from various legal sources, most from notably international conventions of the United Nations (UN) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 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. The Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) says “the master of a ship at sea which is in a position to be able to provide assistance, on receiving a signal from any source that persons are in distress at sea, is bound to proceed with all speed to their assistance, if possible informing them or the search and rescue service that the ship is doing so.” The International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue 1979 (SAR) also mandates this principle “regardless of the nationality or status of such a person or the circumstances in which that person is found.” The Salvage Convention of 1989, although primarily directed at addressing the salvage of property and the prevention of marine pollution, nonetheless repeats the SOLAS obligation on

the master to render assistance to any person in danger of being lost at sea. States, both signatories and non-signatories to the conventions, are duty bound to ensure those in distress at sea are rendered assistance on a non-discriminatory basis. However, there are some jurisdictions where the law has developed that those who undertake to render assistance must exercise reasonable care and acceptable seamanship in doing so, or else suffer liability for the aggravation or excess harm that they cause to the individuals or property. They are expected to exercise reasonable care to avoid negligent conduct that worsens the position of the victims and to avoid reckless and wanton conduct in performing the rescue. 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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Stop soil erosion now -- or else! E By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

rosion – the removal of the most fertile top layer of soil from the land surface – makes news only if and when there are people involved. “Erosion blocks the road amid heavy rains,” the headline said. “Man killed when erosion pushes truck off road,” said another. Still another: “Soil erosion forces evacuation of 9 families.” Unfortunately, soil erosion does not merit some attention when it comes to food production. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that as much as 95% of food eaten by humans is directly or indirectly produced on soils. “Healthy soils are the key to food security and our sustainable future,” the United Nations food agency points out. “They help sustain food production, mitigate and adapt to climate change, filter water, improve resilience to floods and droughts and so much more.” Yet, soil is not given much importance. “Today, the equivalent of one soccer pitch of soil is eroded every five seconds, and the planet is on a path that could lead to the degradation of more than 90% of all the Earth’s soils by 2050,” Maria Helena Semedo, FAO deputy director-general for climate and natural resources, says in a statement. Here in the Philippines, Filipinos are not paying attention to this serious threat to the sustainability of agricultural systems. “Soil erosion is an enemy to any nation — far worse than any external enemy coming into a country and conquering it because erosion is an enemy you cannot see vividly,” pointed out Harold R. Watson, former director of the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) Foundation, Inc. in Kinuskusan, Bansalan, Davao del Sur. “It’s a slow creeping enemy that soon possesses the land.” Watson said those words when he received the Ramon Magsaysay Award – Asia’s Nobel Prize – for international understanding in 1985. He knew what he was talking about; he came to the Philippines in the 1970s and left the country when he retired in 1997. “Soil is made by God and put here for man to use, not for one generation but forever,” he pointed out. It takes about 1,000 years to form one centimeter of topsoil. “This means that we won’t be able to produce more soil within our lifetime,” the FAO stresses. “What we see is all there is. Yet, soils are facing even more pressure from soil erosion.”

Despite decades of focused scientific research and societal concern, soil erosion continues to be a major threat in many regions of the world. Soil erosion was judged to be the number one threat to soil functions in five of seven regions, namely Africa, Asia, Latin America, Near East and North Africa. “In the first four of these regions, the trend for erosion was deteriorating,” FAO deplores. In a position paper in 1991, then environment official Victor O. Ramos said that denuded forest land experienced 100 tons of soil loss per hectare in contrast to less than 8 tons per hectare per year from natural forests. Slash-and-burn farming, which most uplanders practice, has an erosion rate of 300-400 tons per hectare per year. Once the topsoil is lost, it is lost forever. “No other soil phenomenon is more destructive than is soil erosion,” wrote Nyle C. Brady in his book, The Nature and Properties of Soil. “It involves losing water and plant nutrients at rates far higher than those occurring through leaching. More tragically, however, it can result in the loss of the entire soil. Erosion is serious in all climates, since wind as well as water can be the agent of removal.” Actually, soil erosion occurs naturally. But unsustainable human activities have accelerated the rate up to 1,000 times. “Erosion, triggered by intensive agriculture, tillage, mono-cropping, overgrazing, urban sprawl, deforestation and industrial and mining activities, all contribute to accelerating soil erosion,” Semedo says. According to FAO, human-induced erosion is mainly caused by the removal of vegetative cover, down-slope tillage, overgrazing, deforestation, land leveling, and improper land-use changes. Soil erosion, whether natural or man-induced, is nothing new. Archaeological sites of civilizations, studies showed, were undermined by soil erosion. “Societies in the past had collapsed or disappeared because of soil problems,” wrote Tim Radford, science editor at The Guardian. Quoting Ward Chesworth of the University of Guelph, Ontario, Radford further wrote: “Easter Island in the Pacific was a famous example. Ninety per cent of the people died because of

deforestation, erosion and soil depletion. Society ended up in cannibalism, the government was overthrown and people began pulling down each other’s statues, so that is pretty serious.” The Philippines is considered an agricultural country. That’s where the problem lies. Its population continues to grow (currently it is home to 107 million people) and its productive lands are being degraded by soil erosion. Soil scientists claim 58% of the country’s total land area of 30 million hectares are susceptible to erosion. “For one, the magnitude of soil erosion in cultivated sloping areas has reached an alarming proportion,” deplored Angel C. Alcala, former secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Without healthy soils, there would be less crop

production. In their report, Soil Erosion: Quiet Crisis in the World Economy, Lester R. Brown and Edward C. Wolf explain it in these words: “The loss of topsoil affects the ability to grow food in two ways. It reduces the inherent productivity of land, both through the loss of nutrients and degradation of the physical structure. “It also increases the costs of food production,” the two authors further elaborate, “When farmers lose topsoil, they may increase land productivity by substituting energy in the form of fertilizer. Hence, farmers losing topsoil may experience either a loss in land productivity or a rise in costs of agricultural inputs. And if the productivity drops too low or agricultural costs rise too high, farmers are forced to abandon their land.” The seriousness of

the soil erosion problem has caught the attention of the United Nations. That’s why it launched in 2013 the World Soil Day, which is being observed every December 5. This year’s theme was: “Keep soil alive, protect soil biodiversity.” It was chosen as such because it has been that there are more organisms in one gram of healthy soil than there are people on Earth. In last year’s celebration, the unified message of the key officials of the government officials was to stop soil erosion altogether to save the country’s future. “We encourage everyone to do their part in soil conservation,” said Agriculture Undersecretary Cheryl Marie Natividad-Caballero. “We will vigorously develop and implement soil and water resources programs and technologies that will ensure the sustainability and viabil-

ity of our resources,” she added. The FAO echoed the same concern. “The negative impacts of soil erosion are ever more evident and the need to work jointly is ever more urgent,” Semedo says. “We have solutions. Preventing soil erosion through education, advocacy and concrete actions in the field are the best way to maintain healthy soils and help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.” Vegetation cover – including shrubs, trees, resistant grasses, cover crops and stubble – can reduce wind erosion by more than 80% and also enhance water absorption capacity, mitigating soil compaction and impeding the creation of rills and gullies that impede agricultural work. Reduced or no-till practices are also effective. – (Photos courtesy of FAO)

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IN THE MARKET... FROM2

about the various vaccines developed such as the vaccine being developed by China, Pfizer, and Moderna. “Basahon nila ang clinical trials and if dili sila conversant sa mga ginasulat sa reports they should join forums about sa vaccine. Mao pud na dapat buhaton sa

mga tao before sila mu-decide na magpabakuna. Lisod kung ang gamiton nato na basehan nga muingon ta nga safe ang isa ka bakuna kung nagpabakuna ang inyong mayor. It is incorrect nga notion sa pag explain sa mga tao nga safe ang bakuna, “ she said.

ry school,” it said. The study also underscored that teachers reported a “sizable gap” between their professional development needs and the professional development opportunities recently made available to them. “About 70 percent [of students] had teachers who reported needing future professional development” when it comes to integrating technology into instruction and honing students’ critical thinking

skills, TIMSS said. The Philippines shifted to distance learning modalities this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, with many students attending class online or learning at home through printed modules. Last month, the country dropped seven spots to the 27th ranking in the 2020 English Proficiency Index. In 2018, the Philippines was also ranked lowest out of 79 countries in reading comprehension.

low the Philippines to miss out since he himself assured that vaccine is coming)," he said, In terms of financing, Roque said the PHP72.5 billion appropriated for Covid-19 vaccines would be enough to purchase necessary doses. The government is aiming to inoculate 60 to 70 million Filipinos within three to five years.

Roque added that Manila could easily tap both the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank's loan facilities for vaccine. "EU will also have a lending facility, iyan nga po iyong tinatawag nating mga (that’s what we call) bilateral agreements with the lending institutions from the countries that manufacture the vaccines," he said. (PNA)

to Congress which states that progress of telecoms industry is in the hands of private companies because we have liberalized not only power, but telecoms)," he said. On government participation, Roque said he will leave the decision to the lawmakers. The Senate had recently increased the government's first-ever planned spending on telco infrastructure to PHP5.9 billion. Senator Grace Poe, chair of the Senate commit-

tee on public services, said the move is to speed up the rollout of services in underprivileged areas "now that connectivity has become a basic necessity". According to National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) data, the Vietnamese government has invested USD820 million for internet development, Malaysia has invested USD233.6 million, Thailand has spent USD343 million, and Singapore has invested USD1.7 billion. (PNA)

mostly from Japan, the United States, and Singapore, channeled into manufacturing, real estate, and financial and insurance industries. Year-to-date, FDI net inflows fell 8.6% to $4.8 billion from $5.3 billion in the comparable period last year. "The decline in FDI inflows reflected the worldwide cautious investment climate, following the con-

tinued effects of the prolonged COVID-19 health crisis on the global economic outlook," the BSP said. Bulk of the equity capital placements during the nine-month period came mostly from Japan, the Netherlands, the United States, and Singapore, and were directed mostly to manufacturing, real estate, and financial and insurance industries.

He stressed it wasn't as easy as it looked like with their dominant run from topping the elims then sustaining the drive through the playoffs versus Rain or Shine, Meralco and TNT. The multi-champ coach said it took the cooperation, dedication, resilience and courage of the players and the big help from his assistant coaches, trainers and the support staff to pull off the bubble triumph. "There was so much out-

of-the-box thinking that had to go into being successful here. I think you really had to think out of the box here, the experience is so different from the other championships you have," he said. "It's so unique, when we get back to Manila, and we look back at this one, we will just be amazed at how this all evolved and how it came together and how we actually ended up winning a championship," he added. (PBA)

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BDO MALL-BASED BRANCHES, NOW OPEN ON SATURDAYS. Following the bank’s move to open all branches nationwide to aid in the gradual economic recovery, BDO Unibank Inc. has re-opened its mall-based branches

for Saturday banking until 4:00pm, since December 5. In the photo is the BDO branch inside SM Mall of Asia A.

Reported allergic reactions to COVID-19 vaccines not a cause for fear — expert

ecent reports of allergic reactions among people who have received Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) should not be a reason to fear vaccination, an expert said Thursday. According to the report of Lei Alviz on “24 Oras”, the Philippine Society of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (PSAAI) assured the public that the COVID-19 vaccines were made by reputable pharmaceutical companies and underwent strict evaluations.

“Let us not be scared about vaccines in general. These vaccines are the ones that have saved many of our lives for decades and the risk of these adverse reactions are very much smaller compared to the benefits that this can give,” Dr. Marysia Recto said. The United Kingdom earlier warned people with a history of serious allergic reactions to vaccines against getting Pfizer-BioNTech jabs after two adverse reactions were reported on the first day of its rollout. “Ang anaphylaxis is a

severe allergic reaction na it can affect many organs at the same time… So kung minsan, nagkakaroon ng sabay sabay na inflammation na nangyayari because of the allergic reaction and kaya itong si anaphylaxis, medyo life-threatening,” Recto said. She stressed that this was why vaccines must only be administered by medical professionals. “Kailangan ma-recognize ‘tong maaga,” she said. “Actually, any vaccine or any product that is injected in the body or even ingested, may risk talaga ng ana-

phylaxis.” The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for its part, vowed that COVID-19 vaccines that will be rolled out in the Philippines will follow the highest standards of safety, efficacy, and quality. “Tayo po, ‘pag nagbigay tayo ng bakuna, ipapaliwanag natin nang ayos sa ating community kung ano po ang advantages nito at kung ano naman po ang adverse effects… hihingi tayo ng informed consent,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.

coalition of anti-hunger advocates called for the passage of laws that they said would ensure the implementation of the government's priority concern to fight poverty in the country. "We want to help the nation’s leaders push the right policies regarding [hunger and poverty]," said Aurea Miclat-Teves, president and convener of the National Food Coalition. She said "actions must be taken" to implement the government's National Food Policy (NFP) that is supposed to address the priority concerns of hunger and poverty in the country. Last week, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger has concluded a series of consultations with stakeholders in government and in the private sector on the NFP. Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, who heads the task force, said the fivepart consultation sought for inputs, comments, and suggestions on the government's NFP, which was launched on Oct. 16. Representatives from the academe, non-governmental and religious organizations, civil society groups, and local government units joined the con-

sultation. "We conducted the consultations thoroughly with as many partners as possible because we wanted a comprehensive and doable set of solutions," said Nograles. "We also wanted all stakeholders to actively participate in enforcing the NFP based on their own inputs,” he said. Miclat-Teves said that even as the government has established the task force, "there is a need for legislation to make the national food policy sustainable." She said a law upholding the right to food and nutrition or RTFN can compel the government "to provide adequate food for all Filipinos at all times." "This could also serve as a legal back-up to any economic and social program on hunger and poverty," said Miclat-Teves. She noted that the right to food and nutrition "is not yet explicitly recognized in the Philippine Constitution," unlike political rights and civil liberties. "Various laws pertaining to food are non-complementary, inadequately and improperly implemented, incoherent and sometimes in conflict with each other," she said.

"We earnestly request the Duterte administration to certify as urgent the Right to Adequate Food Framework Bill, or the Zero Hunger Bill, now pending in the House and the Senate," said Miclat-Teves. The bill defines the right to food as a legal right and seek to end hunger progressively in ten years. It also rationalizes all food-related measures already existing in the country. Miclat-Teves said there is also a need to pass a new agrarian reform law that will respect the rights of indigenous peoples while ensuring the modernization of the country's agriculture and fisheries sectors. She noted that rights of indigenous peoples are "disrespected" as big mining companies violate ancestral domains and destroy tribal lands, resulting in the dislocation of peoples. "The twin goals of achieving equity and productivity have been sidelined, leaving our marginalized sectors, especially our indigenous peoples, farmers and fisherfolk, still hungry and impoverished," said Miclat-Teves. Another "doable thing" is proper disaster risk reduction, said Miclat-Teves,

adding that "poverty is magnified or exacerbated by disasters." "This is often tragically dramatized by the slow flow of emergency aid to the poor who suffer the most from any disaster," she noted. "In embarking on disaster risk reduction, the Philippine government should consider climate change mitigation from a more comprehensive right to food perspective," she added. "We believe taking concrete steps to fulfil these three major concerns will make a strong headway toward addressing poverty and hunger," Miclat-Teves said. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the country's estimated poverty rate was 16.6% in 2018 and 17.6 million people faced extreme poverty. Hunger is one of the critical problems stemming from poverty in the Philippines, with 64% of the population suffering from chronic food insecurity. According to the World Food Program, factors such as climate issues and political challenges have contributed to the food insecurity that Filipinos continuously face.

But Harden, 31, reportedly said he doesn't see Houston as a contender for an NBA title. The Bucks made multiple moves in the offseason and parted with significant draft capital to land point guard Jrue Holiday. The team faces a Dec. 21 deadline to sign Giannis Ante-

tokounmpo to a five-year supermax deal or risk the 26-year-old entering free agency next summer. Antetokounmpo said recently he'd welcome the arrival of another star player, and Harden would feasibly qualify as a former MVP and three-time scoring champion.

The Heat surprised last season as Eastern Conference champions, and with Pat Riley at the controls, making a run at star players is always a consideration. Miami could offer a blend of young players and draft picks to entice the Rockets, but the Heat are

also thought to be holding their cash and assets for a chance to land Antetokounmpo. Harden unquestionably could fill a role as a volume scorer with either team. His style of play isn't a precise fit for Miami, which has a swing offense predicated on ball movement and thrives on defense.

Non-government group calls for legislation to fight hunger, poverty

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George signs four-year, $190-M Clippers contract extension

Paul George's contract was extended for an additional four years at $190 million.

OS ANGELES — Paul George wants to retire with the Los Angeles Clippers, and he took a step in that direction by signing a multiyear contract extension Thursday (Friday, Manila time).

POC chief fixes mess between grappling orgs

hilippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino mediated to solve the situation between the Wrestling Association of the Philippines and the Jiu-Jitsu Federation of the Philippines. On Wednesday, Tolentino summoned wrestling chief Alvin Aguilar and jiu-jitsu head Ramon “Choy” Cojuangco at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel to finally settle the score. Aguilar and Cojuangco agreed to lay the issue, which stemmed from the scheduling of separate grappling events, to rest, although Cojuangco said the issue was not that big. “We’re happy we already settled what needed to be settled. Our federation is open to any clubs and we’re not barring our members to participate with them or their members to join us, including

those who want to qualify for the national team,” Cojuangco said. In response, Aguilar, who also owns the renowned mixed martial arts promotion Universal Reality Combat Championship, said, “Jiu-jitsu under the JJIF (Jiu-jitsu International Federation) and grappling under the UWW (United World Wrestling) will co-exist in our country the way it does all over the world.” After seeing both Aguilar and Cojuangco "virtually shaking hands," Tolentino said, "Harmonious and united they are now. This is good for the athletes." The fixing of the situation between the two organizations clears the path for national wrestling and jiu-jitsu athletes to begin their buildup for the Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games in Bangkok from May 2130, 2021. (PNA)

The sixtime All-Star could have become a free agent after the upcoming season. I n s te a d , the team locked down his services, ensuring George will remain not far from where he grew up in Palmdale. “This is a childhood dream being fulfilled. It’s just priceless, regardless of what this deal was for,” he said on a video call. “Being in front of my family and my friends and leaving my mark on a

place I grew up.” Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but ESPN reported George’s contract was extended for an additional four years at $190 million, in addition to the $35.4 million guaranteed him for the 202021 season. George’s player option for the 2021-22 season will be replaced with the four-year extension, which includes a new player option for the 2024-25 season. George averaged 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and shot a career-high 41% from 3-point range in his first season with the Clippers. It ended in disappointment, however, with the

team blowing a 3-1 lead against Denver and losing in the second round of the playoffs. The early exit, George said, only served to motivate him for the season that begins Dec. 22, when he and Kawhi Leonard will be playing for new coach Tyronn Lue. “I owe them a trophy. That’s what I owe the organization,” George said. “My commitment and job is to try to bring a title here.” Paul George sees no need for Clippers to shake up roster after playoff debacle George’s acquisition from Oklahoma City in July 2019 paved the way for Leonard to join the team as a free agent, giving the Clippers a pair of star players to build around in pursuit of the franchise’s first NBA championship. George’s extension is “a really significant mo-

ment” for the franchise, said Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations. “It’s one thing to acquire a great player like Paul, it’s another to retain him,” he said. “We also believe the best is yet to come, both for Paul and the team.” The Clippers next will turn their attention to re-signing Leonard, who could become a free agent after the upcoming season. George was eligible for a contract extension; Leonard is not. “What I would love is to play with him for the rest of my contract or the rest of his contract. I guess I got to work on that when it comes down to his time,” said George, who spoke to Leonard before signing his extension. “Hopefully, it’s a mutual bond. We both enjoy playing with one another. Hopefully me showing my commitment sticks out.”

J.J Barea was released by the Mavericks on Friday but not after rewarding him with a $2.6M deal

Bucks, Heat reportedly added Mavs reward Barea with $2.6M deal before letting him go he Dallas Mavericks “I want to make sure ing career is over. Puerto Rico native did at to Harden's trade wishlist released J.J. Barea on everybody knows I want to Barea played a crucial Northeastern before mak-

ames Harden added optional paths to his exit strategy out of Houston. The Athletic reported Thursday that Harden officially made a trade demand and the Rockets' All-Star included the Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat on a new list of destinations he'd prefer. Harden previously informed the Rockets through his agent that he was willing to accept a trade to the Brooklyn Nets or Philadelphia 76ers. The Rockets, under new management with team president Daryl Morey and head coach Mike

D'Antoni gone, are expecting a major haul in return for the eight-time All-Star, The Athletic reported. Harden became uncertain of his future with the Rockets after another playoff exit was followed by D'Antoni stepping down and Morey leaving for the same post in Philadelphia. Houston, under new general manager Rafael Stone and head coach Stephen Silas, traded Russell Westbrook to the Washington Wizards for John Wall and signed free agents Christian Wood and DeMarcus Cousins.

FBUCKS, P10

Thursday (Friday, Manila time), turning loose the last piece of the franchise’s 2011 championship team to give the veteran guard a chance to continue his playing career. While Barea’s virtual meeting with reporters was a sometimes emotional farewell, the 36-year-old didn’t rule out a return to the Mavericks based on the uncertainty of the upcoming season over COVID-19 issues. Barea said he had heard from other organizations since news of his release broke, but declined to be specific.

play,” Barea said. “Anything could happen this year, with the COVID, injuries. I might be back here in Dallas playing. I’ve seen it all in the NBA. I’ve seen some crazy stuff.” President of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said the Mavericks signed Barea knowing he probably wouldn’t make the 15-man roster because they wanted to reward him for his contributions to the franchise. The 14-year veteran got $2.6 million guaranteed in the one-year deal. Nelson said the Mavericks want to bring Barea back in another capacity when his play-

role in beating Miami in the 2011 NBA Finals, getting the call to start Game 4 from coach Rick Carlisle as the Mavericks went on to win three straight games for the title. “He was a huge part of that championship,” Nelson said. “I think it was really more of an appreciation of J.J. and the amazing things he’s done throughout his career is why we brought him back as the 16th player on the roster and gave him a thank you of sorts.” Nelson remembered meeting Barea as a 17-yearold looking to earn a college scholarship, which the

ing the Dallas roster as an undrafted free agent in 2006. “It’s a tough day,” said Barea, who has averaged 8.9 points and 3.9 assists in 831 games. “It still hasn’t hit me. It’s been an amazing time here in Dallas. I wouldn’t change anything. This city saw me as a kid. This city saw me grow up.” Barea earned his biggest contract right after the Mavericks won the championship, signing a $16 million, four-year deal with Minnesota. The Timberwolves bought him out after three years, and Barea returned to Dallas.

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 207 â&#x20AC;˘ SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2020

KINGS OF THE BUBBLE

Ginebra proud to reign in extraordinary times

t was a long, long time in the making, with Barangay Ginebra taking over a decade to end a drought in the league's centerpiece tourney. In the end, there's no distinct feeling of it being the most coveted PBA crown jewel, though. But, yes, it's distinct, even radiating a far greater charm, magic and power, with it coming from a unique, special tournament amidst the pandemic. More than being the Philippine Cup champs, they would be remembered as the Bubble Kings. They're the last team standing in the PBA comeback tourney played in a virtual sprint race in isolation. Coach Tim Cone and his Gin Kings claimed the bubble crown as they put the finishing touches in a wondrous job in the Clark tourney with an 82-78 decision over wounded rival TNT Tropang Giga to cap a 4-1 series win Wednesday night. Minus their dreaded "Sixth Man" in their be-

loved diehards, the Kings delivered, topping them all in the tournament like no other. They would not be remembered for being a never-say-die team in this one. They're going down in history as the bubble's best. "It's so unique - this championship. There's only one. It's in a bubble," said Cone. "This is one that is going to be remembered. We went through a full conference. It wasn't like a mini-tournament which we talked about at first. That's why it's amazing. We went through a whole elimination period, went through a whole playoff and still was able to pull it out and win a championship. That's amazing. I think it's going to be remembered forever," Cone added.

FKINGS, P10

The Ginebra Gin Kings take a championship 'selfie.' PBA