Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Friday, July 16, 2021.

READ: 'PH can be Asean top creative hub'

The Philippines has the potential to become the top creative economy in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) by 2030. Rep. Christopher de Venecia, chairman of the House Committee on Creative Industry and Performing Arts, made the bold prediction during The Manila Times Creative Industries Forum on Thursday. Citing the presentation of Department of Trade Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba, de Venecia said the country's creative industry has been a "fast-growing, high-value contributor to the Philippine economy, with potential to become an important driver of more inclusive and resilient growth." The country ranked 10th in creative goods exports in 2020, fifth in total creative exports in Asean, and first in creative services exports in Asean. De Venecia said the Philippines' overall competitiveness in the creative fields needs improvement. Estimates from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines and the World Intellectual Property Organization showed that the creative industries generated around P661 billion or 7.34 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2014. De Venecia said while this is significant, the country still lags behind Thailand's 10 percent.

READ: Future looks bright for Filipino creativity

The Filipino's creativity goes beyond music. In today's international arena, there are Filipinos getting the credit for a huge, animated blockbuster, a global advertising slogan, or a new and highly technical computer program. The guest speakers at Thursday's The Manila Times Online Forum agreed that Filipino creativity, if nurtured and provided guidance, can be a major driver of economic growth. Streamed over The Manila Times' Facebook Page, the forum, "The new economy is creative: Harnessing Filipino talents" brought together Pangasinan Rep. Christopher de Venecia, chairman of the Committee on Creative Industry and Performing Arts; Trade and Industry Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba; renowned Filipino industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue; advertising maven Merlee Cruz-Jayme, chief creative officer of Dentsu International for APAC; Warner Music Philippines Managing Director Ian Monsod; and Wilcon senior executive vice president and chief operating officer, Rosemarie Bosch-Ong, to explore what lies ahead for the creative industry. Aldaba, using a collaborative 2010 study between the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines and the World Intellectual Property Organization, noted that the creative industry contributed P689 billion to the country's economy, roughly 6.5 percent of the gross domestic product.

READ: 1.15M AstraZeneca doses for private sector shipped

In other news, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Maria "Joey" Concepcion 3rd said the private sector will receive the first batch of AstraZeneca vaccine it ordered to assist the government in its intensified inoculation efforts. Concepcion, the founder of Go Negosyo, said 1.15 million doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) will arrive on Friday, July 16. The same number of doses will also be shipped in August.

READ: Quarantine restrictions for Metro Manila eased

President Rodrigo Duterte has downgraded the quarantine status for the National Capital Region (NCR) to normal general community quarantine (GCQ) from GCQ "with some restrictions," Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said on Thursday. The new classification also applies to Bulacan, Rizal and Cavite. Laguna, which is also part of the NCR Plus, will remain under GCQ "with heightened restrictions." READ: NPC eyes coalition with Aksyon party THE Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), led by Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto 3rd, is considering merging with Aksyon Demokratiko (Aksyon), whose members include his nephew, Pasig Mayor Victor Ma. Regis "Vico" Sotto. The older Sotto raised this possibility when asked whether the NPC plans to coalesce with Aksyon after he met with the latter's officers on Wednesday night.

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READ: Isolation facilities ready for Delta variant – DoH

HEALTH Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd said on Thursday the country has enough quarantine and isolation facilities to contain a possible spike in the Covid-19 that may be triggered by the Delta variant. Duque gave the assurance amid concerns that the country may not be able to contain a possible spread of the variant, said to be more infectious and can reduce the efficacy of vaccines. Delta is being blamed for the rise in infections in India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. Duque said during a briefing the ban on travelers from Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the United Arab Emirates and Oman until July 31 as well as the so-called "7-10-4" quarantine formula had been effective in keeping Delta at bay so far.

BUSINESS: BSP approves new P540-B loan for govt


Topping business, the government has been granted a new P540 billion zero-interest loan by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for budgetary support. BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said the central bank's policymaking Monetary Board approved the government's proposal for the funding last week. The loan would give the government with an immediate cash infusion to help it respond to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. The transaction was allowed under Republic Act 7653, or the "New Central Bank Act." The government must pay it back first before requesting a new one.

SPORTS: 3 games usher in PBA season 46


In sports, 6 teams led by the Meralco Bolts, last year's semifinalist in the bubble tournament, will take center stage on Friday's triple-header opener of the PBA Season 46 at the Ynares Arena in Pasig City. The Bolts, who fell a game short of reaching the championship round after losing the series to Barangay Ginebra on Scottie Thompson's buzzer-beating trey last year, will take the floor anew at 6 p.m. as they face the new and improved NorthPort Batang Pier in the main game. Meralco made some key additions in the off season, trading Baser Amer to get marquee forward Mac Belo to strengthen its front court. The team also picked stocky forward Alvin Pasaol in the rookie draft and will bank on the return of Michael Canete and Noy Baclao. NorthPort, on the other hand, is one of the busiest teams in the off season as the Batang Pier traded Christian Standhardinger, the 2014 top overall draft pick, to get seven-foot slotman Greg Slaughter from Ginebra. In the 2021 Rookie Draft, the Batang Pier secured 6-foot-6 Jamie Malonzo at No.2 overall and 6-foot-8 Troy Rike at No. 11. The team also acquired Jerrick Balanza from Barangay Ginebra via trade and will have the return of premier guard Robert Bolick. NLEX and Rain or Shine collide at 3 p.m. while Alaska and Blackwater open hostilities at 12:30 p.m.

READ: Opinion and editorial



Rigoberto Tiglao and Ruben Torres are today's front page columnists. Tiglao claims the previous administration deployed a so-called "fake news" mechanism on the West Philippine Sea, while Torres discusses Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd's no board exam scheme.

Today's editorial talks about the global fight against hunger. Read a full version on the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.

For more news and information, get a copy of The Manila Times on print, subscribe to its digital edition or log on to www.manilatimes.net. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and Keep Up With The Times.

On behalf of The Manila Times, this is Aric John Sy Cua reporting. Have a safe Friday ahead.