'SIGURO BINGI SILA': PALACE SLAMS CRITICS WHO SAY GOV'T LACKS COVID-19

RECOVERY PLAN

MANILA-- Malacañang dismissed Tuesday claims that the government has no

pandemic recovery roadmap after President Rodrigo Duterte's fifth State of

the Nation Address failed to detail such a plan.

Days before the SONA, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque teased the

public with a pandemic recovery program that Duterte was supposed to unveil

in his annual report.

But while Duterte discussed the COVID-19 crisis in his SONA, he did provide

any new plan, prompting critics to claim that there was no recovery roadmap.

"Hindi totoo yan. Alam po natin na sa buong daigdig, ang ating panlaban ay

testing, isolation, tracing at treatment kaya nga po pinapaigting natin,"

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Palace press briefing.

"Siguro po bingi sila pero nakita ko po iyon," Roque added.

Roque cited the President's mention of tax cuts for corporations, the

Bayanihan to Recover as One bill, and the chief executive's gratitude to his

aides and frontliners as part of the COVID-19 response program.

Lawmakers and analysts have noted that instead of tackling the government's

plan on how to recover from the COVID-19 crisis, the President used most of

his SONA for rants against opposition Sen. Franklin Drilon, and for tirades

against the Lopez family, who own shuttered broadcast network ABS-CBN.

The President even used his speech to call out telecommunication firms over

their faulty services, propose the establishment of new departments, and

spur talks of death penalty revival while the country grapples with the

pandemic.

But Roque dismissed the criticism, saying it is expected from the opposition

to find the SONA lacking in details over the government's pandemic response.

The President, according to Roque, only provided "broad strokes" of the

roadmap because Cabinet officials were supposed to discuss it in full during

Tuesday's post-SONA forum that was marred by technical glitches. The forum

was moved instead to Thursday.

7 THINGS DUTERTE WAS EXPECTED TO DISCUSS AT HIS FIFTH SONA (BUT DIDN'T)

MANILA — Rodrigo Duterte's penultimate State of the Nation Address was

supposed to bring relief to a multitude of Filipinos shaken by months of

quarantine, a ravaged economy and a worsening pandemic.

After the better part of two hours, however, some sectors were left

disappointed after the chief executive's longer address saw no mention of

any specific policy agenda for pandemic recovery and beyond.

The nation witnessed the president threatening telecoms, hitting back at his

critics, expressing apprehension in asserting the country's legal victory in

the West Philippine Sea and claiming that martial law in Mindanao ended

without abuses by the police and the military—much like his televised

late-night addresses.

Here's a brief list of what sectors expected to hear, and didn't.

1. Stimulus package and recovery roadmap

Through lengthy asides on illegal drugs and a call to reimpose death penalty

by lethal injection, the chief executive did not spend much talking about

what happens next in the wake of increasing coronavirus infections.

2. Steady hand for stranded individuals in a crowded stadium

Though he mentioned that he "issued Executive Order No. 114 to

institutionalize the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-Asa Program," the president

did spare airtime for the thousands of LSIs still waiting on the

government's Hatid Tulong program at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

3. A plan to stem underemployment and unemployment

Not renewing the franchise application of ABS-CBN Corp sealed the fate of

over 11,000 more workers and guaranteed that they, too, would be unemployed

by August.

Also, Duterte did mention micro, small to medium enterprises in his speech,

though a proper course of action was still for the most part undefined.

4. The road ahead for public transportation

Commuter woes have been the new norm ever since the government's coronavirus

task force loosened quarantine rules to general community quarantine in

June.

5. The how in blended learning

Rather than outline a plan for the students who feared they would be left

behind by the shift in education, the president asserted: "Life that is lost

is lost forever. Courses that are not substantial can be supplemented.

Education that is delayed can be recovered."

5. An explanation for signing the anti-terror bill

With backlash for the controversial bill, now a law, still resounding, the

president could have acknowledged the concerns of thousands of Filipinos

that feared the law would be used to shrink spaces for dissent.

6. An approach to environmental concerns

In a statement after the president's address, Greenpeace Country Director

Lea Guerrero said: "The COVID pandemic is happening against a backdrop of

environmental destruction and the climate crisis that has been going on long

before this pandemic, and—unless things change for the better—will persist

and worsen well into the future."

7. Accomplishments and agenda, in his own words

Instead of addressing the litany of issues facing Filipinos, the president

at one point even took the time to praise his own approach and performance

in fighting the virus, saying: "When the pandemic struck, I chose to

prioritize life over all other considerations by experts... Even if the

numbers were much lower, it would have been worth the lives saved."

Just later in his speech, the president called for the revival of the death

penalty by lethal injection.

The president also once told police to "shoot dead" any quarantine violators

holding protests.

PHILIPPINES 'DEADLIEST' COUNTRY FOR LAND, ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENDERS IN ASIA

MANILA — The Philippines was the deadliest country in Asia for environmental

and land activists in 2019, with at least 43 recorded deaths, according to

an international watchdog.

In a report released Wednesday, Global Witness said that 20% of the 212 of

the environmental activists defenders murdered last year were from the

Philippines, making it the second most dangerous nation in the world behind

Colombia and the first in Asia.

Farmers, indigenous leaders and government workers tasked with protecting

the environment were among the victims.

In 2018, the Philippines had the highest number of recorded deaths—at

30—worldwide.

Global Witness said that more than half of the deaths in the country last

were related to agribusiness. Meanwhile, 16 killings were linked to

mining—the highest globally.

“We are suffering a global pandemic expected to inflict P2.2-trillion

damages on top of at least 1.36-trillion losses from climate impacts and

natural resource plunder incurred over the past four years of the Duterte

administration,” Leon Dulce, national coordinator of Kalikasan People’s

Network for the Environment, said in a statement.

“It is alarming that Filipino environmental defenders confronting these

existential planetary crises are still increasingly criminalized and

murdered under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte,” he added.

Highly militarized regions

Nearly 90% of the killings last year took place in resource-rich Mindanao

and on Negros Island, according to the report.

Almost half of all land and environment defenders killed last year were from

Mindanao, where the military has long maintained a heavy presence.

The report put a spotlight on Talaingod-Manobo communities in Mindanao,

which is being threatened by mining projects and China-backed hydropower

dam—an example of “business at all costs” in the country.

“Large companies, influential politicians and established landowners

continue to make money with brazen disregard for the rights and wellbeing of

local communities, and the lives of activists,” Global Witness said.

A large number of activists were also killed on Negros island in Visayas,

which is also heavily militarized.

According to the Global Witness, half of the documented killings since

Duterte assumed power in 2016 were linked to the armed forces or

paramilitary groups.

The report stressed that the “relentless vilification of defenders by the

government and widespread impunity for their attackers” may be driving the

increase in killings.

Even government workers were not spared. Eight of the reported murders of

state employees responsible for protecting the environment took place in the

Philippines.

Organizations Kalikasan PNE, Save our School Network and Alyansa Tigil Mina

urged the Philippine government to conduct an independent investigation into

attacks on indigenous groups, remove military units from lands of indigenous

peoples and dismantle paramilitary groups.

They also called for the repeal of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

SENATORS SEEK SPECIAL AUDIT ON COVID-19 FUNDS

Six senators filed a resolution ruging the Commission on Audit to conduct a

special audit on COVID-19-related government spending, loans and donations.

Sens. Risa Hontiveros, Franklin Drilon, Francis Pangilinan, Leila de Lima,

Ralph Recto and Panfilo Lacson asked COA to release its findings before the

Congress deliberates on the 2021 national budget.

"Whereas, Congress is set to deliberate on the 2021 budget and, anticipating

that massive allocations will need to be made to address the health,

economic and social impacts of COVID-19, it is of critical importance that

there be audit findings to guide legislators in their exercise of the power

of the purse," the resolution read.

DUTERTE URGED: SET DEADLINE FOR MARAWI REHABILITATION

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte should set a deadline for the

rehabilitation of the southern city of Marawi that a terrorist siege left in

ruins 3 years ago, an issue that he failed to mention in his State of Nation

Address this week, a lawmaker said Wednesday.

Authorities have just finished clearing debris from the city and have yet to

start rebuilding roads, said Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman. Residents driven

away by the 2017 siege are still at temporary shelters, living with

relatives or had relocated.

Duterte, the first President from Mindanao, should have set a deadline for

the rehabilitation of Marawi in the same way that he gave telecommunication

firms an ultimatum for improving their services, said the lawmaker.

“Kung binigyan ng taning ang Globe at Smart, dapat binigyan na rin ng taning

kung kailan talaga matatapos ang Marawi rehabilitation para Myron asahan ang

ating mga kababayan sa Lanao,” Hataman told ABS-CBN’s TeleRadyo.

PALACE ON LSIS CRAMMED AT RIZAL STADIUM: THERE WERE LAPSES

Malacañang and the Department of Health said there was a failure to enforce

health standards to prevent the transmission of coronavirus disease

(COVID-19) at a baseball stadium in, where thousands of locally stranded

individuals gathered.

Thousands of stranded Filipinos who sought the government’s “Hatid Tulong”

program flocked to the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex over the weekend,

raising concerns on the failure to impose physical distancing at the

stadium.

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DOH: ICU, WARD BEDS IN NCR, REGION 4 IN ‘DANGER ZONE’ AS COVID-19 CASES

CONTINUE TO SURGE

MANILA — The Department of Health on Tuesday said that COVID-19 hospital bed

occupancy in the National Capital Region and Region IV-A or Calabarzon has

reached the “danger zone” or more than 70% occupancy.

“Manageable pa po ang national bed and mechanical ventilator occupancy natin

sapagkat nasa kalahati pa lamang po ang ating occupancy, pero umabot na po

tayo sa danger zone sa ibaÂ’t ibang klase ng beds partikular po sa dalawang

rehiyon: sa NCR at Region IV-A,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario

Vergeire said during a televised briefing.

NCR and Region IV-A are the two regions that have seen a continued increase

in COVID-19 cases, especially with the gradual opening up of the economy.

In data presented by Vergeire, intensive care unit beds have reached a 53%

occupancy nationwide but 73% for NCR and Region IV-A.

And while isolation beds have a 51% occupancy rate nationwide, for NCR the

occupancy is already at 82%. Ward beds also have 57% occupancy rate

nationwide and 86% for NCR and 71% for Region IV-A. These are beds devoted

for COVID-19 suspect, probable and confirmed patients.

The DOH uses the term “danger zone” for an occupancy rate of 70% and above,

“warning zone” for 30 to 70% and “safe” for 30% and below.

Mechanical ventilators, which critical-care patients use, have a utilization

rate of 28% nationwide although the rate is higher for NCR (46%) and Region

VII or Central Visayas (35%).

The DOH explained that of the more than 100,000 beds at health facilities

nationwide, 54% are from private hospitals and 46% are from government

hospitals. Overall, their occupancy rate for both COVID-19 and non-COVID

patients are 49.6%.

However, Vergeire pointed out that only 21.4% of public beds and 10.1% of

private hospital beds (or 15.2% of the total) are allocated for COVID-19.

“Kulang pa po ito kaya naman po pinag-uusapan ng ahensya kung paano ito

papataasin,” she said.

She said patients that do not need “higher level of care” can also be

transferred to temporary treatment and monitoring facilities.

She said they are also continuing to call on hospitals to allot more beds

for COVID-19.

ABS-CBN URGED: RESIST GOVERNMENT USE OF NETWORK FACILITIES

MANILA - A veteran journalist and press advocate voiced disappointment

Wednesday with ABS-CBN Corp.Â’s offer for government to use its transmission

facilities even after being denied a franchise by Congress and attacked anew

by President Duterte.

Vergel Santos, former member of the Center for Media Freedom and

Responsibility board of trustees, said ABS-CBN's offer was "very

disappointing" and that the network had a "poor appreciation of meekness as

a virtue."

"Does ABS-CBN really think that given the nature of this government, those

facilities would be used for proper education and not indoctrination or

brainwashing? Does ABS-CBN want to be in the end accused of complicity in

this regime?" he told ANC.

"No, this is not magnanimity, this is terror. ABS-CBN has been cowed into

that kind of meekness. From the beginning, ABS-CBN has been simply too meek

going into that hearing. I do not understand how it could stand all the

savaging it got from Congress without putting in some bold word or protest.

I canÂ’t understand. I find it even more incredible now that ABS-CBN is even

helping this government by allowing it to run its own facilities ostensibly

for education," Santos added. "The more youÂ’re meek, the more youÂ’re

trampled upon."

Santos said the network should "make it more difficult for government" to

take its facilities and "protest and resist."

"Let them take things instead of simply offering them on a silver platter

with such acquiescence and blessing," he said.

Santos said the House's denial of ABS-CBN's franchise bid goes beyond simply

granting franchises.

INTERNET CAFES, GYMS, REVIEW CENTERS TO REOPEN IN GCQ AREAS ON AUG. 1: DTI

MANILA - Internet cafes, gyms, review and tutorial centers will be allowed

to reopen on limited capacity effective Aug. 1 in areas under general

community quarantine to create more jobs and boost economic recovery, an

official said Wednesday.

Testing, tutorial and review centers, gyms, fitness centers and sports

facilities as well as internet cafes will be allowed to operate at 30

percent capacity in areas under GCQ such as Metro Manila, Trade Secretary

Ramon Lopez told Teleradyo.

"Confirmed na, decision na po ito pero effective Aug. 1...Ang mindset naman

ng buong IATF ay tulungan ang Presidente para ma-reopen ang economy tsaka

madagdagan ang mga trabaho, mga workers makabalik na," Lopez said.

Compliance with government restrictions after a few weeks could result in

increased operating capacity of up to 50 percent, Lopez said. Restaurant

dine-in capacity was recently increased while operating hours were also

extended.

As of July 28, the total COVID-19 cases in the Philippines reached 83,673.

PNP CLAIMS COPS SEIZED PLACARDS FROM MASS-GOERS ON CHURCH REQUEST

MANILA -- The Philippine National said Wednesday its officers seized

placards and other protest materials from activists during a Mass in Manila

this week "in accordance to the request of the church."

Contrary to the claim of protesters that the placards were inside their

bags, police have photos showing the protest materials displayed during a

Mass at the Quiapo Church on Monday, ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte's

State of the Nation Address, said PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa.

Church authorities asked policemen to confiscate the materials, he said.

"We just behaved in accordance to the request of the church

We donÂ’t just do things. ThatÂ’s why I donÂ’t consider that as a misbehavior,"

he told ANC.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

LOOK: MAJA SALVADOR'S BIRTHDAY MESSAGE FOR BOYFRIEND RAMBO NUNEZ

MANILA -- Actress Maja Salvador on Tuesday night shared her birthday message

for her boyfriend, businessman Rambo Nunez.

"Happy birthday to my man. Sana hindi ka magsawa sa kakulitan at pagiging

bujangjang ko. Thank you for always being there for me lalo na sa mga

panahong kailangan ko ng kasama. Thank you for loving me ng buong-buo. Mahal

kita," Salvador wrote on Instagram.

Salvador and Nunez, her ex-boyfriend from 9 years ago, have found love the

second time around.

In a recent interview with Toni Gonzaga for “I Feel U,” Salvador said she

felt home again when she reunited with Nunez.

Salvador explained that their relationship had to take the backseat since

fans then were not as open about their idols dating people who are not from

showbiz.

Several years later, Salvador believes they made the right choice by giving

their relationship a second chance.

SPORTS

BUBBLE-WRAPPED NBA READIES FOR RELAUNCH

ORLANDO -- Four months after COVID-19 sent basketball into an unprecedented

shutdown, the NBA takes a leap into the unknown on Thursday as the league

bids to resurrect its season at Disney World in Florida.

The Utah Jazz launch the rebooted campaign against the New Orleans Pelicans

before LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard go head-to-head in a heavyweight Los

Angeles derby between the Lakers and the Clippers.

The two games mark the start of a painstakingly crafted plan to stage the

remainder of the basketball season safely in the midst of an ongoing

pandemic which has already claimed around 150,000 lives in the United

States.

To mitigate the risks, the NBA is basing 22 teams within a tightly

controlled "bubble" inside Disney World's sprawling 40-square mile campus in

Orlando.

Teams will play games at three venues inside the ESPN World Wide of Sports

complex inside the park, with no fans in attendance and only a smattering of

journalists at each game.

Just over 350 players will be housed at three hotels located throughout

Disney World, with access to each location severely restricted and visits

from outsiders strictly forbidden until the playoffs start.

Players arriving in Orlando were required to spend 48 hours isolated in

their hotel rooms until they had received two negative tests for COVID-19.

Testing will continue inside the bubble but it is not known how frequently

this will take place.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 49.19

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Not being yourself is the worst form of self-disrespect. - Mokokoma

Mokhonoana