3 April 2020 – The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) has called for APEC leadership and cooperation to fight the challenges to health and economies posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Saving lives is obviously what matters most right now,” said ABAC Chair Dato Rohana Tan Sri Mahmood. “That demands collaboration across the region on the knowledge and the tools we need to combat the health impacts and mitigate the most severe consequences in the short term, she added.
The Council has written to APEC Trade and Foreign Ministers to ensure free flow of essential goods and tools critical to address the health emergency, including medical equipment, medicines and basic items such as disinfectants and personal protective equipment. Specifically, economies should facilitate trade by simplifying and expediting border procedures, and relaxing the rules for ease of movement of essential workers and medical professionals across borders where they are most needed.
Dato Rohana however, stressed the need to lay the groundwork for rapid economic recovery when the worst of the impact of COVID-19 begins to wane. “This is rapidly becoming a financial and economic crisis too,” she added. “The impact on workers, businesses and supply chains are already severe. We are especially concerned about small business, the self-employed and those in the informal economy, who are ill-equipped to withstand these impacts,” said the ABAC Chair.
ABAC also called on APEC economies to make the fullest possible use of digital technologies and connectivity, and work together effectively across economies and enable a level of economic activity to continue. “There is no precedent for the global shutdown we are now experiencing and no guidebook to assist us as we recover,” said Dato Rohana, “so it is critical that APEC economies work collaboratively to address the immediate challenges and to plan for reopening of our borders as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, the Philippines expeditiously passed the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act,” laying the government’s policy and emergency measures to address the COVID-19 situation in the Philippines. This include allocating budget and resources to facilitate testing by public and private health institutions, directing establishments to serve as quarantine areas, relief distribution centers, and providing expanded subsidies to low-income households.
ABAC Philippines welcomes the collective response from the government and other stakeholders in addressing the COVID-19 situation in the country. Member Guillermo Luz notes how the private sector responds and complements the current COVID-19 measures. Companies have adopted work-from-home and other flexible work arrangements, and provided financial and relief assistance to their workers. Utility companies and banking institutions have offered reprieve from late payments while ensuring continued services to their clients. Malls have likewise given rental holiday for their tenants during the mandatory closure period.
“While COVID-19 has critically disrupted business operations across the country, this situation has shown that Philippine businesses are ready to step up and find ways to mitigate the impact especially for entrepreneurs and ordinary workers,” Mr. Luz said. He cited the joint initiative of the private-sector led Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) and religious organization Caritas Manila called Project Ugnayan, which provides unconditional emergency cash transfers to the poorest of the poor in Greater Metro Manila area. According to Mr. Luz who is also PDRF’s chief resilience officer, “In times of crisis, Filipinos always rise to the occasion to help fellow Filipinos (and non-Filipinos) in need.” Ugnayan aims to feed 1 to 1.5 million families with P1,000 per family in the form of gift certificates or grocery vouchers which are redeemable in supermarkets.
For ABAC Philippines Chair Tomas Alcantara, “It is important to have an efficient and concerted strategy by the public and private sector to address urgent health emergencies, on the one hand, and immediate and longer-term social and economic recovery, on the other.” “Our preparations for the worst includes being able to quickly bounce back from the COVID-19 situation, so we can nurture a healthy Filipino population and rebuild a competitive Philippines again,” he added.
Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship, Chatri Sityodtong hosted a Facebook Live Q&A on Thursday as fans were invited to send in questions on a variety of topics ranging from potential signings to The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition.
During the candid session which lasted almost 40 minutes, Sityodtong was asked to reveal his ‘dream match-up for women’s mixed martial arts.’ His reply described what would certainly be the biggest fight in the history of Asian MMA and a landmark moment for the sport’s growth in China.
‘For women’s mixed martial arts I would love to see Jingnan Xiong vs Weili Zhang. I think Jingnan is the one to beat Weili Zhang.’
Both competitors have taken part in some of the most iconic fights in the history of women’s MMA in recent times. Weili Zhang defended her UFC Women’s Strawweight belt in an exceptional display of grit and high-level striking against Joanna Jedrzejczyk in March. The fight was an instant classic.
Jingnan Xiong, meanwhile, continued her epic rivalry with ONE Atomweight champion Angela Lee back in October. In a follow-up to her memorable win against Lee in Japan in 2019, ‘The Panda’ lost via submission in the dying seconds of a pulsating affair to tie-up their rivalry at 1-1.
Before that loss to Lee, Jingnan was on incredible 9-fight winning streak, establishing herself as one of the very best in the world.
Incidentally, Lee was another name put forward by the ONE boss when considering dream match-ups.
‘I think Angela Lee VS any Atomweight in the world. Angela Lee is incredible. I’ve seen her in training. I’ve seen her go into a bout with pneumonia with doctor’s advice not to compete and I’ve tried my best to stop the fight. Angela Lee’s an absolute warrior and she’s just a genius on the ground.’
Lee is one of the biggest stars in women’s MMA and is likely to be back in action defending her Atomweight crown against Filipino challenger Denice Zamboanga in the near future.
The other name mentioned by Sityodtong was the supremely-talented Stamp Fairtex. The Thai became a double champion in ONE Championship by the time she was just 22 years-old, winning world titles in Muay Thai and Kickboxing.
Despite losing her Kickboxing belt to Janet Todd in February, Stamp has her sights set on winning MMA gold before too long, and showed off the rapid evolution of her ground game with a submission victory over India’s Asha Roka last year.
‘I think Stamp Fairtex could beat Weili Zhang as well. Stamp Fairtex against any female striker in the world or any female MMA fighter in the world. Even though she’s only 4-0 in MMA she’s a complete beast.’
While a cross-promotion with the UFC remains unlikely, we have seen big promotions collaborate in recent times with Rizin and Bellator co-promoting a show together in 2019 and Sityodtong made it clear that he’s open to the concept.
‘I would definitely like to see the best of the East vs the best of the West. UFC vs ONE Championship I think would be phenomenal, I think the whole entire world would watch it. And I’d love to see world champions vs world champions so definitely, for sure, I’m open to it.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in coordination with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the Department of Finance (DOF), and the Department of Agriculture (DA), among others, agreed to create a policy that will decongest the ports of Manila and help bring food, medicine, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) into the country during the COVID-19 quarantine.
The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases had earlier ordered the PPA to clear the ports of overstaying containers in order to make way for incoming cargoes needed by the government in its campaign against the coronavirus.
"We have discussed this in previous IATF meetings and will soon issue a resolution on this. We are currently finalizing a Joint Administrative Order with PPA, BOC, DOF, DA, and other involved agencies to expedite the withdrawal of overstaying containers,” said Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez.
In the proposed JAO, all overstaying cargoes that remain beyond thirty (30) days from discharge are required to be withdrawn within five (5) days from the effectivity date of the administrative order. Otherwise, cargoes will be considered abandoned.
Priority processing shall also be given to arriving cargoes, particularly food, medicine, medical and basic necessities. Containers scheduled to arrive after the issuance of the JAO must be withdrawn within ten (10) days from discharge. Otherwise, they shall also be declared abandoned.
Furthermore, appropriate penalties shall be imposed by the PPA to ensure that consignees and importers withdraw the cargo within the window provided. All refrigerated containers must be pulled out within seven (7) days, except chilled cargoes which are given five (5) days from the issuance of the JAO. Unclaimed reefers are granted a three-day grace period, and after which are declared as abandoned goods.
Upon publication, the JAO shall remain in effect until the state of public health emergency is lifted, subject to changes as may be instructed by the Office of the President.
“This is very important because port congestion creates disruptions in our supply chain. It will hinder the flow of goods and cause delays in the delivery of cargo, which will then affect the prices of goods in the market. It creates a domino effect,” Sec. Lopez explained.
“We also need to free up space in our container yards to accommodate the arrival of cargoes containing food items, medicines, and protective equipment for our front liners,” he added.
PPA General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago earlier warned of a possible shutdown of the Port of Manila if cargo owners and consignees ignored calls to withdraw cleared, ready-for-delivery, and overstaying cargoes.
“We have repeatedly reminded consignees and importers to pullout their cargoes to lessen the congestion in our ports,” said Sec. Lopez.
At present, the yard utilization at the Manila international ports, composed of the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) and the Manila South Harbor, are almost at maximum capacity due to the idle movement of cleared cargoes containing perishables such as food, medicines, and other essentials following the declaration of the Luzon-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine.
The PPA has temporarily authorized the immediate and accelerated transfer of all overstaying foreign containers cleared for delivery or withdrawal to maintain the efficiency and productivity of the MICT.
