INFLATION STEADY AT 4.5 PERCENT IN APRIL
MANILA— Inflation in April remained unchanged from the previous month as food prices began to stabilize after rising for several months, the state statistics bureau said on Wednesday.
The consumer price index rose 4.5 percent in April similar to the 4.5 percent in March and within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' forecast of 4.2 to 5 percent.
April inflation still breached the government target of 2 to 4 percent.
"The latest outturn is consistent with expectations that inflation would remain elevated this year, owing to supply side pressures, before settling close to the midpoint of the target range in 2022," Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said in a statement.
Diokno said it could settle at 4.2 percent for the entire year before easing to 2.7 percent to 2.8 percent in 2022.
Prices, however, could be volatile in an environment where the policy rate is too far or much lower than the current inflation rate, Bank of the Philippine Islands lead economist June Neri told ANC.
The key interest rate in the Philippines is currently at its lowest level of 2 percent.
"While it could be true that inflation is transitory and therefore there is no need to hike until next year, there is also the possibility that it can persist because prior to the pandemic, the trend of inflation is already upwards," Neri said.
The COVID-19 pandemic also "continues to pose downside risks" to inflation outlook and economic growth prospects, the central bank chief said.
9 CHINESE FISHING VESSELS REMAIN IN JULIAN FELIPE REEF: SECURITY ADVISER
MANILA - Nine Chinese fishing vessels remain in Julian Felipe Reef, the country's national security adviser said Wednesday.
More than 240 Chinese ships were reported last month near the reef in the country's exclusive economic zone, forcing Manila to fire diplomatic protests against Beijing. The Southeast Asian nation has vowed to continue doing so until Beijing's ships have left the area.
"As of the latest count, meron pa ring 9 na (there are still 9) Chinese fishing vessel sa Julian Felipe Reef," National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.
Meantime, five Chinese Coast Guard vessels remain in the country's territorial waters as of April 22, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea earlier said.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin on Monday issued an expletive-laden tweet telling China to get out of its maritime territory. He has since issued an apology.
PHILIPPINES APPROVES MODERNA’S COVID-19 JAB FOR EMERGENCY USE
MANILA — The Philippines approved Wednesday the COVID-19 vaccine of United States biotech company Moderna for emergency use, making it the seventh coronavirus jab to get clearance in the country.
Food and Drug Administration Director General Eric Domingo said during a news conference that the benefits of administering the vaccine outweighs the risks.
The authorization, which was issued just nine days after local distributor Zuellig Pharma applied, clears Moderna’s jab for individuals aged 18 and older.
The emergency use authorization will only be valid within the duration of the declared public health emergency or upon the issuance of certificate of product registration.
Moderna is taken in two doses, and has reported an efficacy rate of 94%. Regulators in the US also approved it for emergency use in late 2020.
Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said Moderna has committed to deliver 200,000 doses of its vaccine by June 15.
While a supply agreement for 20 million doses was inked in March, there remains no word if this has been finalized through a procurement deal.
The tripartite deal was made between the government, the manufacturer and the private sector. Here, the government will get 13 million doses, while the private sector will get the remaining seven million for its frontline workers.
Government data showed that as of May 3, 309,385 Filipinos are already fully-vaccinated, while 1.69 million have received their first dose.
FILIPINO FISHERFOLK NOT COVERED BY CHINA'S FISHING BAN IN SOUTH CHINA SEA — TASK FORCE
MANILA — The Philippine government encouraged Filipino fishermen to go out to the West Philippine Sea, a portion of the South China Sea, amid Beijing's imposition of an annual fishing ban.
On May 1, China started its fishing ban covering the Bohai Sea, the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea and the waters north to 12 degrees north latitude of the South China Sea.
The fishing moratorium is part of Beijing's efforts "to promote sustainable marine fishery development and improve marine ecology," according to a report from Chinese state-run Xinhua.
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, meanwhile, said it has noted China's unilateral fishing ban from May 1 to August 16.
"This fishing ban does not apply to our fishermen and the NTF-WPS opposes China's imposition of the same over the areas within the territory and jurisdiction of the Philippines," the task force in a statement released Tuesday night.
"The NTF-WPS reiterates that our fisherfolk are encouraged to go out and fish in our waters in the WPS," the task force added.
Vietnam had also rejected China's unilateral fishing moratorium, stressing that it has legal rights over sea areas identified under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
WORLD BANK OKS $600 MILLION LOAN FOR PHILIPPINES
MANILA — The World Bank has approved close to $600 million worth of new projects in the Philippines to renovate state buildings in Metro Manila and scale up fish production in coastal towns.
The Washington-based multilateral has committed $300 million out of the $309.5-million Philippines Seismic Risk Reduction and Resilience Project that will improve the strength of government structures in Metro Manila to withstand earthquakes.
The project also intends to capacitate the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to better prepare for and respond to emergencies.
Based on the concept paper filed before the World Bank, the DPWH will renovate a total of 500 buildings, including hospitals and schools, under the project. Further, the agency plans to do the civil works in phases to minimize disruptions, such that structures situated in the same area will be reconstructed at different periods.
The project was granted to prepare the Philippines for the potential damage of a magnitude 7.2 earthquake in the West Valley Fault that runs through multiple cities in Metro Manila. An earthquake of that severity is estimated to result in up to 48,000 deaths and $48 billion worth of economic losses.
Likewise, the World Bank has committed $200 million for the $220-million Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency Project that will develop the management of fisheries resources and raise the value of marine production in coastal communities.
DUQUE AS HERO? LACSON SAYS ‘HILO’
MANILA — Senators disputed yesterday President Duterte’s assertion that Health Secretary Francisco Duque III was the “hero” of the country’s COVID-19 response.
“That’s his (Duterte) opinion, to me, the frontliners are the heroes,” Senate President Vicente Sotto III told reporters.
Duque has been the subject of more than a few Senate investigations into controversies and corruption at the Department of Health and Philippine Health Insurance Corp., and senators have also found him to be responsible for the spotty response to the pandemic and the sluggish rollout of vaccinations.
Sen. Grace Poe said the “real COVID-19 pandemic heroes are courageous workers risking their own lives for others.”
“With their hard work and resilience, we see people volunteering to make up for the inadequacies to the virus response,” Poe said.
“Even as we all have been humbled by this health crisis, let us not deny our frontliners the recognition that rightfully belongs to them,” she said.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said Duterte must not forget the others who contributed to the government’s response to the pandemic, including vaccine czar Carlito Galvez and National Task Force Against COVID-19 deputy chief Vince Dizon.
“This is a team effort. No one man can arrest a pandemic of this magnitude,” Gatchalian said.
Sen. Francis Pangilinan said it is only Duterte and other administration officials who believe that Duque’s performance was excellent.
“What he (Duterte) meant was ‘hilo’ (scatterbrain),” Sen. Panfilo Lacson said on Twitter.
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678 OF 744 SEQUENCED SWAB SAMPLES YIELD NEW VARIANTS
MANILA — Close to 700 more COVID-19 variant cases have been detected by the Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC) and University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH) in the country, the Department of Health (DOH) reported yesterday.
In its Biosurveillance Report, the DOH said that of the 744 positive swab samples sequenced by UP-PGC, 678 have yielded the new variants of COVID-19.
“We report the detection of additional 289 B117 (UK) variant cases, 380 B.1.351 (South Africa) variant cases and nine P.3 variant cases from the 744 samples sequenced, based on the latest whole-genome sequencing report,” the DOH noted.
The DOH, PGC and NIH reiterated that the P.3 variant, which was first found in the Philippines, is “still not identified as a variant of concern (VOC).”
The DOH added that the current data on P.3 “is insufficient to determine whether the variant will have significant public health implications.”
According to DOH, the UK variant is the “most common variant among the samples sequenced with assigned lineages.”
To date, a total of 7,167 samples have been sequenced, of which 5,917 were assigned lineages.
The report showed as of May 3, there is now a total of 2,182 new variant cases documented.
Of these, 1,075 cases are of the South Africa variant, while 948 cases are the UK variant; 157 cases are the P.3 variant and two cases are P.1 or the Brazil variant.
DOH TO RECOMMEND CHANGE IN TESTING PROTOCOL FOR ARRIVING PASSENGERS
MANILA - The Department of Health said Wednesday it would recommend that travelers who arrive in the country be tested for coronavirus on the 7th or 8th day of their quarantine.
Currently, Filipinos and foreigners who enter the country are tested on the 5th or 6th day of their isolation, said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.
"Now we have evidence to state that the viral load is still high until 7th or 8th day, that’s why we are revising again our protocol and we will be presenting to IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force against COVID-19) to adopt this kind of implementation," she told ANC's Headstart.
The Philippines does not require COVID-19 testing for its citizens who go out of the country, Vergeire said.
HARD, LONG QUARANTINE VOWED FOR TRAVELERS FROM INDIA
The Philippines will require a “hard, long and strict” quarantine for travelers who will arrive in the country from India once the travel restriction is lifted to prevent the spread of a worrying COVID-19 variant, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said yesterday.
Locsin’s warning came after he commended the Philippine Embassy in New Delhi for creating a chat group to communicate with Filipinos in India and provide assistance to its nationals.
“Great job. I must warn you, even if flights are resumed, the quarantine requirements for them will be especially hard, long and strict. We can’t afford to get the variant,” Locsin said in a message on Twitter.
Philippine Ambassador to India Ramon Batagsing Jr. said 73 Filipinos contracted the virus while two have died of the disease.
India has been grappling with a second wave of infections blamed on a new “double mutant” variant of the coronavirus, adding millions in new cases.
HOMICIDE CASES UP BY 21% – PNP
MANILA — Homicide cases in the country went up by at least 21 percent last month, according to an official of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Brig. Gen. Sterling Raymund Blanco, director of the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management, said on Monday that 95 homicides were documented across the country last April, which is higher compared to 78 cases in March, an increase of 21.79 percent.
Blanco did not give figures but said the regions with the most number of homicides are Central Luzon, Bicol, Central Visayas and Soccsksargen.
“These incidents are mostly committed through shooting, stabbing along the streets in residential areas,” he said during a press conference at Camp Crame.
According to Blanco, most of the incidents were triggered by heated arguments and personal grudges among the parties.
Other index crimes, meanwhile, went down last month. Among these are murder which decreased by 14.65 percent, from 430 to 367 cases.
Rape went down by 27.09 percent from 539 to 393 cases while robbery went down from 411 to 322 cases, a decrease of 21.65 percent.
Blanco said car thefts registered the biggest decrease at 47.83 percent from 23 to 12 cases. Motorcycle thefts, meanwhile, went down by 17.02 percent, from 2,773 to 2,301.
PINOY CHEF APOLOGIZES FOR DESCRIBING FILIPINO FOOD AS 'VERY BAD' ON NORWAY TV SHOW
MANILA — Filipino-Norwegian chef Jonathan Romano found himself at the receiving end of criticism after saying Filipino food is "very bad."
In Norway’s "4-stjerners middag" TV show, Romano said Filipino food is "very bad" food as he compared it to Thai food.
“It’s very bad food. In the eyes of a chef, there is no food art in my eyes, unfortunately. Lots of deep-fried, lots of fried-to-death stuff like casserole dishes if you can put it that way,” he said, as translated by online show NordicPinoy.
“They do not have the same taste composition as Thai food. Filipino food is more on the sour side,” he added.
As such, the Philippine embassy in Norway released a statement on their official Facebook page regarding Romano’s claim about Filipino food.
“Whoever says Philippine cuisine is 'dårlig mat' (bad food) should definitely visit the Philippines to discover and rediscover the richness, freshness, and regional variety of Filipino food,” the embassy said.
“Filipino food across the country’s 7,641 islands have different flavors and colors and influenced by the Philippines’ natural resources, culture, and history. Filipino food also reflects the sharing attitude and generosity of Filipinos. You can never leave a Filipino home without being invited to share a meal,” it added.
Romano already apologized for his statement, explaining that he only said it because his mother can’t cook.
“I apologize for the words that came out on my TV appearance lately. Everything came out of context and I am so sorry,” he said.
“I am an educated chef with long experience and was just giving my subjective opinion. Of course, I like Filipino food and would not badmouth without backing it up."
“I am born in the Philippines in Manila and pay my visit there over 30 times and of course, I love my country. However, I will admit that my mother can’t cook," he added.
TEMPERATURE IN METRO SPIKES TO 35.2 DEGREES CELSIUS
MANILA — The temperature in Metro Manila yesterday hit 35.2 degrees Celsius, the hottest recorded so far this dry season, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
The maximum or hottest temperature was registered at the PAGASA Science Garden in Quezon City at 2:50 p.m.
Metro Manila’s heat index – the temperature as felt by the human body – was recorded at 39 degrees Celsius, PAGASA weather forecaster Joey Figuracion said.
On Monday, the hottest weather was experienced in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro at 37.5 degrees Celsius.
PAGASA said the easterlies and the intertropical convergence zone would bring cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms over Eastern Visayas, Caraga, Davao region, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen and Bangsamoro in the next 24 hours.
Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rains due to the easterlies and thunderstorms.
ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE
VETERAN ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST, TV HOST RICKY LO PASSES AWAY
MANILA — Veteran showbiz columnist and TV host Ricky Lo has passed away, his family said on Tuesday. He was 75.
Lo died past 10 p.m. on Tuesday due to a stroke, according to his sister Susan Lee. He had just celebrated his birthday on April 21.
Lo was the long-time entertainment editor of The Philippine Star, where he also had his daily column, starting in 1986.
“You will be remembered, Sir Ricky,” The Philippine Star said in a statement.
“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved Entertainment editor and columnist Ricky Lo on May 4, 2021.”
Known for his exclusive interviews and showbiz scoops, Lo also became a host of showbiz talk shows on television.
For a time, he co-hosted ABS-CBN’s “The Buzz,” and GMA-7’s “Startalk.”
Lo’s career in entertainment journalism traces back to the late 1960s, with the old Manila Times, and later, Philippines Daily Express.
He also published a book, “Conversations with Ricky Lo,” which compiled 42 of his exclusive interviews with personalities, in 2001.
SPORTS
NBA SCORES MAY 3
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Magic 21-44 21 30 37 31 119
Pistons 19-46 26 22 30 34 112
SCORING LEADERS
M. Bamba ORL
22 PTS, 15 REB, 2 AST
S. Bey DET
26 PTS, 9 REB, 1 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Pacers 30-34 31 35 36 39 141
Wizards 30-35 36 46 40 32 154
SCORING LEADERS
C. LeVert IND
33 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST
R. Hachimura WAS
27 PTS, 7 REB, 2 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Warriors 33-32 39 27 29 28 123
Pelicans 29-36 21 33 26 28 108
SCORING LEADERS
S. Curry GS
41 PTS, 4 REB, 8 AST
Z. Williamson NO
32 PTS, 8 REB, 1 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Trail Blazers 36-29 31 31 33 19 114
Hawks 36-30 32 36 34 21 123
SCORING LEADERS
D. Lillard POR
33 PTS, 2 REB, 8 AST
D. Gallinari ATL
28 PTS, 8 REB, 2 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
76ers 44-21 34 26 23 23 106
Bulls 26-39 20 23 20 31 94
SCORING LEADERS
T. Harris PHI
21 PTS, 9 REB, 3 AST
C. White CHI
23 PTS, 2 REB, 5 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Knicks 37-28 25 44 28 21 118
Grizzlies 32-32 22 36 22 24 104
SCORING LEADERS
J. Randle NY
28 PTS, 6 REB, 6 AST
D. Brooks MEM
25 PTS, 1 REB, 1 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Nuggets 43-22 24 18 23 24 89
Lakers 37-28 20 25 25 23 93
SCORING LEADERS
N. Jokic DEN
32 PTS, 9 REB, 5 AST
A. Davis LAL
25 PTS, 7 REB, 1 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Spurs 31-33 22 21 29 27 99
Jazz 47-18 31 29 29 21 110
SCORING LEADERS
D. DeRozan SA
22 PTS, 1 REB, 6 AST
B. Bogdanovic UTA
25 PTS, 3 REB, 2 AST
INDICATORS
FOREX $1 = P 48.03
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine; it's lethal. - Paulo Coelho
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