Weekend Balita (Los Angeles edition) September 12, 2020

LOS ANGELES EDITION

Frontliners lauded as PH flattens Covid-19 curve PAGE 19 VOL. XXIX NO. 37

September 12-18, 2020

THE LEADING SOURCE OF NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR FELLOW FILIPINO-AMERICANS

2 CITY MAYORS CALL fOR “RAMPeD UP PARTICIPATION” IN CeNSUS 2020

By ABNER GALINO

TWO mayors of cities with huge Filipino American and Latino populations jointly called community leaders and constituents to “ramp up participation” in the 2020 Census ahead of the government program’s deadline on September 30.

In an online press conference attended by Weekend Balita/US Asian Post, Mayor Eric Garcetti and San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo both stressed the importance of an accurate count in the 2020 Census to the social and political development of the people, particularly immigrant and communities of color.

“Everybody counts, and we have just three weeks to complete a full and accurate tally of every person in our cities and nation,” said Mayor Garcetti.

“What’s at stake is nothing less than fair representation in Washington D.C. and billions of dollars

of investments in the health, welfare, and safety of our communities. We must answer the Trump Administration’s unprecedented obstacles to participation with action to finish our Census forms, increase response rates, and lay the groundwork for our long-term prosperity.”

Garcetti said the City of Los Angeles has been losing millions of dollars of social welfare funds every year because of the inaccurate count that happened 10 years ago.

The mayor said that the city’s current Census count, which is still below 60 percent, could expo2 CITY MAYORS

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Los Angeles City Public Works Commissioner Jessica Caloza joins a mother and a child in appreciating an artwork by artist Alex Cabalu that calls for participation in the 2020 Census.

County, city leaders launch COVID-19 contact tracing program SafePass COUNTY and City leaders converged at the L.A. City Hall on Wednesday to announce a partnership with SafePass, a mobile application that provides contact tracing capabilities for individuals throughout Los Angeles County.

The county and city officials

included Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, County Department of Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek, and Citizen CEO Andrew Frame.

SafePass will allow users to self-report their symptoms for COVID-19 and receive notifications and alerts directly from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. All contact tracing data is anonymous, private, encrypted, and deleted after 30 days by COUNTY

Hontiveros urges IATF to lift deployment ban for health workers FILE photo of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and other public officials during the launch of the “LA Lights the Way” competition late last year in front of the LA County Museum.

Photo by Abner Galino

Garcetti announces winner of streetlight design contest

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ayor Eric Garcetti recently announced that Project Room, a Los Angeles-based design studio, has been selected as the winner of L.A. Lights the Way — a first-of-its kind competition to design and create a new standard streetlight for our city.

“Los A ngeles is a place where the world comes to inspire and innovate, where we infuse everything with our trademark creativity, and where we always seek to invent new ways for government to be a force for good in people’s lives,” said Mayor Garcetti. “Project GARCETTI

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MANILA (Mabuhay) — Sen- tedious training process and ator Risa Hontiveros has expenses of those aspiring to asked the Inter-Agency Task work abroad for their families Force for the Management of would not be put to waste.

Emerging Infec"Hi nd i la ng tious Diseases to oras ang inilaan lift the overseas ng at ing mga deployment ban kababayan para for health care lang makapagworkers amid abroad. Marami the COVID-19 ang nangutang, pandemic. nagbenta ng In a letter sent ari-arian para to IATF chairlang masuporperson and tahan ang panSENATOR RISA HONTIVERO Health Secretary garap. They must Francisco Duque III and IATF be allowed to leave," Hontico-chairperson Karlo Nograles veros said in a statement. on Tuesday, the opposition She said the government senator emphasized that lifting should instead offer better the ban would ensure that the salaries to health workers to HONTIVEROS

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TOP STORIES Global News AFP ready to aid BuCor on Pemberton release 8  Supreme Court junks petition vs. renaming of MIA as NAIA 8  Manila churches to open for confessions soon 9  Eleazar: Abuse by cops of social media monitoring disallowed 9  Solon urges PSA to postpone census to January 2021 10  Cascolan orders another revamp of police officials 10  DOJ reopens probe on Pimentel quarantine breach case 12  Metro Manila Subway will be flood resilient — DOTr’s Tugade 12  80% of senior citizens have no mandatory pension — Diokno 12 

Sections

BUSINESS. Consumer confidence to pick up if infections go down — Concepcion 13  ENTERTAINMENT. Liza Soberano vows to support retrenched Star Magic staff 14  HEALTH & FAMILY. COVID-19 vaccine availability depends on gov’t negotiations with developers — PCHRD 18  FEATURE. Baking helps family survive Covid-19 lockdown 16 

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ABNER GALINO, Fil-Am News Editor

Fil-Am

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APOPGLA helps Persons “No going back”: presents evidence of structural racism; platform for change With Disabilities

Quezon, City, Philippines — As an offshoot of the joint Emerald Lantern Group and Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA’s fund-raising dinner dance in October 2019, the Alpha Phi Omega (Philippines) of Greater Los Angeles (APOPGLA), Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA, Arizona-based Lichauco Heritage Foundation and APO Gamma Kappa (Ateneo) Alumni Assn., picked up the pieces and joined forces to initiate the Operation Gabay in Barangay Sangandaan,

bottom of our heart, we the Gabay members would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to everyone.

Gabay founder Henry Sadang who is now based in Southern California also expressed his pleasure for the successful implementation of this humanitarian program. He provided refreshments and snacks to the recipients and volunteers.

Rosemarie de Vera-Javier, former Mutya ng Pilipinas and a Board member of

Quezon City, Philippines.

APOPGLA appointed its implementing arm on the ground, the Manila-based APO Gamma Kappa in the distribution of goods like diapers, wipes, alcohol, vitamins, powdered milk, five kilos of rice and cash of PHP 1,000 each child for their medications who belong to 21 families of GABAY GROUP on Aug. 30.

These were received by the parents of Gabay kids as the children were prohibited to roam outside of their homes due to Covid-19 restrictions . The goods were also distributed from house to house for some families who could not receive their stuff in person.

GABAY is a group of parents of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) that helps in promoting social awareness of rare medical conditions such as cerebral palsy, autism, down syndrome and epilepsy.

The distribution was held with members of Gabay Group, APO-Gamma Kappa Alumni President Pete Cunag and Service Project Chairman Richard Agbayani and Barangay Sangandaan officials led by Kagawad Edwin Vidad.

Gabay coordinator Sonia Sadang-Angeles in her summary report said that the volunteers managed to talk to the parents to fully understand their situation.

“Rest assured that safety precautionary measures were followed such as social distancing, no physical contact and everyone wore face shields and masks to help flatten the curve.”

Sadang-Angeles thanked the various sponsors for providing the funds and goods that made the distribution possible and successful. She enthused, “From the

Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA and CEO of Emerald Lantern Group who introduced the Gabay Group to APOPGLA remarked, “Thank you APOPGLA. Through your initiative, many angels are rejoicing and you made our Almighty Father smile.”

The nine APOPGLA board members who initiated this service project in the Philippines are Dan E. Nino (CEO/COB), Mar Garchitorena (corporate secretary), Irma H. Almazan (treasurer), Ferdie Yambot (auditor), Ofelia V. Amon (assistant auditor), Mac Lichauco, Betta M. David, Raul David and Alex Almazan.

Due to the remarkable and positive response of this humanitarian program benefiting the disadvantaged children in Quezon City, APOPGLA’s Board Chairman Dan E. Nino said that it will reprise again on Dec. 16 this year to coincide with the 95th founding anniversary of Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity in Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania.

“The joy of life is in giving, nurturing and uplifting the underprivileged,” he pointed out.

Alpha Phi Omega (Philippines) of Greater Los Angeles is a 501 C-3 public benefit and charitable non-profit organization whose mission is to “foster the tenets of Leadership, Friendship & Service amongst the youth and the disadvantaged.

Among other on-going charitable program of APOPGLA are providing Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs) and free meals to Covid-19 frontliners at the Philippine General Hospital and providing basic school equipment and supplies to Lorenzo High School in Manila dubbed “Brigada Eskwela.”

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n a report issued today, No Going Back: Together for an Equitable and Inclusive Los Angeles, the Committee for Greater LA is proposing a sweeping regional agenda for system change. Rooted in new data and analysis, the report attacks systemic racism at the root, identifying the policies and institutions that were designed to oppress, exclude and marginalize people of color for centuries and lays out a roadmap for transformation centered in racial equity.

The independent report, a collaboration of the Committee for Greater LA, USC’s Equity Research Institute and UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs and funded by philanthropy, includes 10 guiding principles addressing areas from housing, economic justice and mental and physical health to youth voice, immigration, and the role of the nonprofit sector.

Those accompany dozens of major policy recommendations ranging from establishing high-speed internet as a civil right; promoting “California citizenship” to ensure equal access to services for all residents, regardless of immigration status; and a regional Housing-for-All strategy to end homelessness in Los Angeles, among many more.

In addition to No Going Back’s stark moral charge to repair an unequal society, its practical dimensions serve as a radical economic development plan that would restore the more than $300+ billion in annual GDP that Los Angeles loses every year due to systemic racial disparities, as calculated by the Equity Research Institute at USC. “Many of us have spent our careers enabling broken, racist systems, and this moment calls us to create something better,” said Miguel Santana, chair of the Committee for Greater LA. “This committee’s research clearly illustrates that the old status quo was failing millions of Angelenos in terms of health and housing, education and employment, jails and policing, with the disparities falling along clear racial lines. We can’t go back to the way things were before. We need a more inclusive and equitable new normal.”

The USC/UCLA research team’s key findings illuminate the legacy of decades of intentional policies that have excluded and marginalized communities of color, especially Black people: Inequality where we work. Nearly half of whites hold lower-risk jobs not classified as essential that require less contact with people, while Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islanders are especially over-concentrated in high-contact jobs, as are Black and Latino workers. The intersection of COVID with these disparities led to a Black death rate double that of white people and a Latino death rate now higher, and the highest for Asian Pacific Islanders at three times that of white people.

Inequality where we learn. 39% and 37% of Latino & Black school-age children, respectively, lack computer and high-speed internet at home — just one metric of inequality in a system where African-American, American Indian, and Latino students have the lowest graduation rates, the highest dropout rates, and the highest representation among foster children, English Language Learners, student with disabilities and experiencing homelessness, and chronic absenteeism.

Inequality because of our origins. Eighteen percent of L.A. County residents are either undocumented or living with a family member who is. About 200,000 children have mixed-status parents, making them ineligi-

ble for federal relief through COVID stimulus programs.

No Going Back is filled with similar findings, ranging from gaps in health, income, wealth and housing, to disparities in the justice system that affect Black and Latino people harshly and people experiencing homelessness even more.

“We can’t let our sense of what’s possible be limited to what we’ve been able to do so far,” said committee member Fred Ali, president and CEO of the Weingart Foundation.

“Philanthropy can be the laboratory for an agenda to overturn racial injustice, challenge white supremacy and nurture equity. It can also build support for new funding streams and new governance structures. Making real change requires courage. But going back to the policies that got us to this point is not an option.”

The 10 guiding principles that structure that agenda are:  Address anti-Black racism in all its forms  Build an economy that centers those who have been left behind and excluded in future strategies  Enhance the physical and mental health systems that can support communities and individuals living with the trauma of systemic neglect and oppression  Create housing for all and end unsheltered homelessness  Ensure access, mobility, and voice for immigrants regardless of status  Support education access for all children and all communities  Celebrate and support youth leadership and empowerment  Strengthen the non-profit sector as a key part of civil society  Develop both community power and accompanying metrics to hold systems accountable  Promote leadership and alignment for equity across business, community, philanthropy, and multiple levels of government Personal stories drawn from focus group discussions with a wide range of Los Angeles County residents run through No Going Back, illustrating those principles and the policy recommendations that follow them.

No Going Back was written by Manuel Pastor of USC and Gary Segura of UCLA. The findings in the report synthesize new research with preexisting data to illuminate the hidden structures of how Los Angeles fails so many communities. The solutions it offers will advance racial equity, increase accountability, and spark a broad civic conversation about L.A.’s future.

“The COVID-19 disease has revealed our underlying illness: too many are at risk because of structural racism, income inequality, and our broken immigration system,” said Pastor, the director of the USC Equity Research Institute.

“The current crisis has reminded us of a basic public health principle – to protect ourselves, we need to protect everyone – and that should be our policy guide going forward. The good news: Los Angeles, at long last, is ready to attack these issues head-on and grassroots community organizations are ready to lead, shape, and sustain the change we need.”

“This is uncharted territory,” said Segura, Dean of the Luskin School of Public Affairs at UCLA. “We can’t use the structures of the past as a basis for the future. We need new systems, better accountability, and a clear vision of the

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gARCeTTI... fROM PAge 1 Room’s design illuminates a future that does more than brighten public spaces — it brings smarter design to our neighborhoods, helps us combat climate change, and promotes equity across our city.”

Led by the Mayor’s Office and the Bureau of Street Lighting (BSL), the competition asked applicants to consider how streetlights can incorporate new technology, include space for text on each pole, and provide shade to help ease the impacts of the climate crisis.

The entries were judged by a panel of six experts in design, lighting, and public infrastructure.

Project Room will receive $70,000 for winning the competition. The design will not impact the standing of historic streetlights already in place across Los Angeles. Instead,

it will gradually replace the roughly 180,000 standard streetlights currently dispersed citywide. BSL installs 1,000 to 2,000 standard streetlights each year.

“We are incredibly honored that our design was selected by the City of L.A. and the Bureau of Street Lighting,” said Sandy Yum, Project Room co-founder. “L.A. Lights the Way challenged us to create a new streetlight for Los Angeles that would connect to our city's design history and culture, incorporate new technology, and still reflect L.A.'s diversity. We are delighted that the City of LA took this historic opportunity to reimagine its core systems as a symbol of this diversity, rather than an expression of ordered uniformity. In this way it can truly become an icon of the city of Los Angeles. At a time of

great cultural and civic transformation, the streetlight is an ever-changeable monument to an ever-changing city."

Project Room’s winning design reimagines the traditional lamp post as a bundle of tubes where each service — roadway light, pedestrian light, and telecommunications equipment — is assigned a dedicated tube fabricated of steel or aluminum. The design allows for additional features, such as 5G equipment, shade fixtures, and even a bench, to be added as needed.

“The City of Los Angeles has more than 223,000 streetlights that reflect our history through their beautiful designs,'' said BSL Executive Director Norma Isahakian. “I am so excited that L.A. Lights the Way will allow our basic standard streetlight to be designed

to reflect who we are as Angelenos and carry us into the future.”

“The Project Room design was the clear standout for the members of the jury,” said Christopher Hawthorne, Chief Design Officer for the City of Los Angeles. “What’s most impressive about it is that it’s not a single, fixed design but instead a family of forms that can be reconfigured in nearly endless ways. That adaptability will serve to future-proof the design, giving it flexibility in accommodating new technology as it arrives.”

Mayor Garcetti also announced winners from the professional student (college-age) and student (high school-age) competition during the event. More information on the entire competition, student winners, and other details can be found at LALightstheWay.org.

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PPEs to Homeless Veterans from the United Specialist Healthcare Foundation

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utpouring of global support for those affected by the growing COVID-19 pandemic has been overwhelming as communities continue to face unprecedented challenges from the virus outbreak.

“This year, because of the coronavirus pandemic,” said board member Lucy Babaran, the “United Specialist Healthcare Foundation has provided PPEs, personal protective equipment, and personal hygiene kits to homeless veterans in San Fernando Valley, Calif., on August 5, 2020.”

Chris Crowley and Adrianne Beasley received PPE donations on behalf of the veterans, witnessed by Dr. Babaran and USHF board members Lucy Babaran, Emily Roberts, Annie Cho, and Johnny Feldman.

“PPEs are used every day by healthcare personnel (HCP),” Lucy continued, “to protect themselves, their patients, and others when providing care.

PPEs help protect HCP from many hazards encountered in healthcare facilities.

“The greatly increased need for PPE,” she added, “caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has caused PPE shortages, posing a tremendous challenge to the U.S. healthcare system.

Healthcare facilities are having difficulty accessing the needed PPEs and are having to identify alternate ways to provide patient care.”

The veterans are homeless, according to Lucy, “because they don’t have income as they are unemployed due to their physical disabilities and are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) due to stressors in a war zone and in military duties. Most of the homeless veterans are elderly and have underlying health conditions so they are the ones most vulnerable to corona virus. There are Filipino veterans who are homeless as the small amount of subsidy they receive from the US government is not even enough to pay for a small apartment. They also want to send their small subsidy to their families in the Philippines; thus, nothing is left for their subsistence in the U.S. USHF’s assistance for the homeless veterans will be an ongoing project during the pandemic and post Covid-19 pandemic.”

The United Specialist Healthcare Foundation was approved as a 501(c) (3) nonprofit, public charity organiza-

HEADED by President Joselito Babaran, MD (leftmost), USHF members are of diverse nationalities including FilAms, Americans, and Koreans. tion on September 9, 2014. The Board is composed of members with different specialties and professions including a lawyer, an MD, RNs, Public Health workers, Pharmaceuticals, and other specialties.

Its mission is to save lives, promoting health and wellness. Its vision is to inspire hope and build a better future for USHF beneficiaries globally particularly the underserved and underprivileged in the U.S. and the Philippines.

Various fundraising activities were done through the years and beneficiaries of USHF include two Orphanages in the Philippines, providing financial assistance and tools for livelihood for Indigenous Tribes in Central Luzon (Aetas), Puerto Prinsesa (Batak Village) and Benguet, Cordillera, in partnership with Ambassador Leo and Madam Fides Herrera-Lim. USHF has also provided financial assistance to Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, and City of Hope in Duarte, California.

USHF is reaching out to individuals as well as organizations for help to raise funds to provide needs of homeless veterans in California.

As of 2018 data, there are 10, 838 homeless veterans in California out of a total of 37, 000

Filipino Migrant Center holds 10th Anniversary Virtual Gala

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n September 5th, 2020, over 135 people attended Bayanihan: 10 Years of Justice, Struggle, and Solidarity, the Filipino Migrant Center’s (FMC) 10th year anniversary gala celebrating its work in Southern California.

Due to COVID-19 concerns, the gala was held virtually through Zoom so participants could celebrate from the safety of their own homes. The theme of the event was “Bayanihan”, which in Filipino culture means the spirit of a community uniting and working together to meet a common goal. The organization exceeded its $20,000 fundraising goal, which will be used to sustain its operations and programming for the community.

The program began with a message from FMC’s Executive Director, Romeo Hebron, who spoke about the organization’s free programs and services to assist low-wage

workers, labor trafficking survivors, youth, and senior citizens over the last 10 years.

Hebron emphasized the importance of community organizing as the solution to the issues faced by people and explained how many of FMC’s program participants have used the skills they learned to launch their own organizations for workers and youth.

“FMC celebrates that. It is truly a victory for the people to see them organizing themselves and demonstrating their own collective power,” Hebron stated.

The program also included several awards for outstanding Filipino community members. Staff member Joselle de los Reyes presented the “Service Award” to Bebot Community Kitchen and Chef AC Boral for their partnership in cooking more than 3,000 meals to distribute to food insecure Filipino

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homeless veterans nationwide.

For those who may want to donate, please contact Lucy Babaran at 818-395-9348. Your donation is tax deductible as allowed by IRS.

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11TH hour eviction save for renters is not permanent solution: Assemblyman David Chiu

By SUNITA SOHRABJI EMS Contributing Editor AB 3088, an emergency bill to stave off evictions for 4.3 million California renters, was passed at the 11th hour Aug. 31 by the state Legislature.

But Assemblyman David Chiu, chair of the Housing and Community Development Committee, who headed up the effort to get a bill passed before the Legislature went into recess, said the measure is a temporary fix to the long-standing crisis of affordable housing in the state.

“This is not the bill that I had wanted to pass,” said Chiu at a Sept. 2 briefing organized by Ethnic Media Services. Chiu had introduced AB 1436 in June, and said his original bill offered much more significant set of solutions for tenants.

“There was much more that I wanted in the final bill, much more that I fought for at the negotiation table, and so much more that is needed to protect tenants.

But the choice we were faced with wasn't between AB 3088 and a stronger version, but between the bill that we just passed versus nothing. The consequences of doing nothing are just too dire to comprehend,” said the

Assemblyman, who represents San Francisco.

Chiu noted that the economic hit of the pandemic has disproportionately impacted people of color: three quarters of those facing evictions are Black or Latinx, he said.

“AB 3088 is an imperfect but necessary solution to a colossal problem, but it is not the ultimate solution to covid-19 evictions,” said Chiu, stating it was a temporary fix until the Legislature comes up with a more permanent solution, and perhaps one that includes a new White House administration.

“Our hope is that in late January, we may have a new federal Administration that could provide financial relief to struggling landlords and tenants,” he said, noting that the Trump Administration has not engaged with Congress on the critical issue.

AB 3088 was signed into law Aug. 31 by California Governor Gavin Newsom. The bill protects tenants who faced eviction beginning Sept. 2, the day after the California Judicial Council’s statewide moratorium on evictions expired.

The Council had stated it would not renew the moratorium, leaving the state Legislature scram-

bling to come up with a solution before they went into recess Aug. 31.

A B 1436 gave tenants a 12-month grace period to pay back rent which had accrued during the emergency period.

Tenants could not be evicted from their homes during that period, which stretched out to April of 2022.

The bill also protected small landlords with four or fewer units from being foreclosed upon for a year. AB 1436 passed through the Senate Judiciary committee Aug. 18 and then cleared the Senate Appropriations committee two days later.

But the California Apartment Association — which vehemently opposed the bill, saying it would allow even those who could pay their rent to skip payments — negotiated heavily with members of the Senate and the Governor’s office, to get a more landlord-friendly bill passed.

AB 3088 was introduced on Aug. 28. The bill extends the state’s eviction moratorium to Jan. 31, 2021. Tenants must sign a declaration under penalty of perjury showing proof of economic hardship related to COVID-19.

The declaration must be signed

before Oct. 5. Chiu clarified at the briefing that a tenant’s savings would not be taken into account for determining hardship.

Tenants must also pay at least 25 percent of their rent during the grace period which began Sept. 2. If a tenant is unable to come up with 25 percent of their rent for one month, they would still be protected if — by Jan. 31, 2021 — they had managed to pay off 25 percent for all five months.

The remaining rent, plus rent owed before the bill passed, would be converted into a civil liability.

Landlords can take their tenants to small claims court beginning Feb. 1, 2021, but they cannot evict them for past due rent.

The bill would also enact the COVID-19 Small Landlord and Homeowner Relief Act of 2020 which mandates that mortgage servicers must work with small landlords and property owners to ward off foreclosures.

A short while after Chiu’s briefing with EMS, Newsom, at his daily noon press briefings, announced his “Housing is Key” initiative, aimed at providing resources to renters and landlords experiencing economic hardship due to COVID-19. The campaign will be run by the Business, Consumer Services and Hous-

ing Agency and can be viewed at housingiskey.com.

“Having a home is fundamental to all that we do,” said BCSH Secretary Lourdes Castro Ramírez, during the governor’s press briefing.

The governor also updated reporters on the status of Project Roomkey, which provided shelter to homeless people during the pandemic. Thus far, 22,000 people have been moved into 16,400 rooms at 344 hotels or motels, announced Newsom. 55 counties and three Native American tribes have been served.

The state has allocated $1.25 billion in aid for housing in this year’s budget. $600 million of that will be given over to Project Homekey, an initiative allowing the state to purchase motels, hotels, and similar structures to convert them into permanent housing.

“Shelters only solve sleep.

Housing provides stability,” said Newsom, adding: “COVID has allowed to create a necessary manifest on housing and self-sufficiency.”

138 applications have already been approved. The state expects to buy up those properties by the end of the year at market or below market rates.

2 CITY MAYORS... from Page 1 nentially increase if concerned city constituents would start relaying the message to at least five of their friends and then their friends doing the same thing for the cause.

For his part, San Jose Mayor Liccardo said: “The Census determines the just allocation of billions of dollars of federal funding for education, housing, heath, and other critical services; there’s not a city in the nation that can afford to treat it lightly. In San Jose — and under our Constitution — everyone counts.”

“I proudly stand with mayors nationwide to ensure that we reach out to every family and individual in every community to press for a complete Census.”

Liccardo explained that cities and towns lost an estimated $2,000 per year for every person not counted.

“Representation in Congress is determined based on Census count,” Liccardo said, adding that participating in the Census is also a matter of principle, as enshrined in the US Constitution, that each one of us counts.

The two mayors were joined in the said

online press conference by actor and activist Jaime Camil; Executive Director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights Los Angeles (CHIRLA) Angelica Salas; and the Executive Director for the Central City Neighborhood Partners (CCNP), Margarita Gomez.

In a press release provided to the media shortly after the press conference, the Office of the LA Mayor reported that “many large cities have response rates under 60% — well below the 66.5% national response rate achieved in the 2010 Census. The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) will work with cities to amplify the need for an accurate count.”

“The U.S. Conference of Mayors is committed to making sure that there is a full, fair, and accurate count for the 2020 Census as billions in federal funds for cities are dependent on it,” said Tom Cochran, CEO and Executive Director of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

“Now, more than ever, as cities are shouldering the devastating impact of COVID-19 and the economic recession left in its wake, these funds will play an

Members of the Filipino American community, from government and non-government organizations, pose around a Philippine jeepney owned by the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) at the LA Downtown Medical Center on September 5. The community held a Census 2020 outreach and COVID-19 testing events.

even greater role in helping mayors provide essential services to their communities.”

“The Census is mandated by the U.S. Constitution to take place every ten years.

Census data is used to help determine how many representatives are sent to Congress from each district and state over the next decade — and how much federal funding will return to local governments to support critical programs like education, health care, transportation, infrastructure, and more. As the country continues to confront COVID-19 and plan for a strong recovery, the Census will dictate resources received by cities to support their economic revival.”

“CCNP serves the Westlake/Pico-Union area, and the demographics in this area have changed tremendously in the last 10 years,” said Margarita Alvarez Gomez, Executive Director of Central City Neighborhood Partners.

“For this reason, we know how important it is to reach those communities that have historically not answered the Census due to fear. We have engaged women leaders of the community (promotoras) to work in those areas, in order to diminish some of those fears. By doing this, we hope to reach more of those hard to count communities."

“As the largest city in the hardest-tocount county in the nation, there are

billions of dollars on the line with L.A.’s Census response. Yet its current response rate is 56.5%. Mayor Garcetti has made Census action a top priority across City government.”

“In 2017, he hired his Census Director, Maria Garcia, and signed an executive directive establishing Census Liaisons in nearly every City department to coordinate with the Mayor’s Office and ensure an accurate count in Los Angeles.”

“His team also developed the Census Goodwill Ambassador initiative, which trained community members to become Census experts and leaders in their neighborhoods. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the City Census team adapted its plans to ensure safe outreach efforts, launching virtual phone banks on March 31, 2020 to safely outreach to historically undercounted communities in L.A. — to date, over 98,000 calls have been made thanks to strong partnerships with community groups. The team also increased their digital outreach, and has distributed over 345,000 census collateral materials such as flyers, door hangers, and postcards to food banks, churches, and community organizations” For more information about the City’s census work, please visit census.lacity.org.

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Are cancer-causing "Dolomites" included in the new Department of Natural Resources (DENR) funding back home?

J

ust recently this writer was made aware of that cancer-causing Dolomites are included on the new funding of DENR in the Philippines.

By William Webster's definition, "Dolomites" consist of Calcium Magnesium Carbonate found in crystals and in extensive beds of compact limestone. According to e Mining Engineer friend and Geologist, Nonoy Gamboa, if "dolomite" dust is inhaled, overtime, it can cause "Silicosis," which can possibly lead to Cancer once swallowed.

Fur ther, he said that "Dolomites" can also "cause allergic reactions such as rashes, hives and diarrhea."

"Silicosis," on the other hand is a Lung Dolomite (mineral) fibroid caused by inhalation of dust containing "silica” which are tiny crystals found in sand, rock or mineral ores like quartz. Thus, they are dust buildup in people's Lungs. Overtime, 'silica' can build up in a person's Lungs and breathing passages, which leads to scarring that allows people to have difficulty in breathing. Most people who get "Silicosis" work from the following industries: Mining, Steel Industry, Plaster or Drywall Installations, Construction, Glass Manufacturing, Road Repair, Sandblasting, Masonry and Roofing.

Early symptoms of "Silicosis" include: nagging cough, Phelgm, trouble breathing and progressive shortness of breath. As the scarring continues to worsen, the first real sign of problem maybe an abnormal Chest X-ray. Lat-

er symptoms include: Fatigue, Weight Loss, Chest Pain, Fever that comes suddenly, Progressive shortness of breath, Swollen Legs and Blue Lips.

There are three types of "Silicosis”: Acute symptoms happen a few weeks up to two years after exposure to large amounts of 'silica’; Chronic, may not show up until decades of mild symptoms which slowly worsens; Accelerated - is when after 5 to 10 years exposure makes it worst.

The disease can be diagnosed through: Chest X-ray or CT scan, Lung Biopsy or Sputum test.

"Silicosis" can be prevented if people can limit their exposure to 'Silica,' and they wear a mask or protective clothing while working or using proper ventilation, using wet methods to cut, chip or grind materials, Using Respirators that protect workers from inhaling 'Silica,' washing hands and face before eating and shower and change clothes after work. Because this disease affects the immune system, "Silicosis': patients are vulnerable to developing Lung Cancer, Tuberculosis, COPD and

California creates $100M hiring tax credit for small businesses

SACRAMENTO – On September 9th, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1447 into law.

This bill, authored jointly by Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena), Senator Anna Caballero (D-Salinas), and Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes (D-Corona), expands California’s assistance programs for small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic by establishing a new $100 million small businesses hiring tax credit program.

“For months, I have been working with my colleagues to champion small business relief and I am very proud SB 1447 has been signed into law,” said Senator Bradford.

“This bill will help small businesses that are working hard to persist despite COVID-19 by supporting them as they hire or re-hire employees. Small businesses are critical employers and engines of equitable job growth.

This is particularly true for Minority, Women, Disabled Veteran, and LGBT business enterprises. This bill will help bring back jobs that were lost in our communities and support small businesses during this difficult period.

I am proud to have worked with my legislative colleagues and the Governor on this effort.”

“During this unprecedented economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the State of California must help small business owners to rebuild,” said Senator Caballero.

“Small businesses make up the backbone of our economy, and can be a great engine to decrease statewide record unemployment. SB 1447 will put people back to work and allow small businesses that have suffered declining revenues to start hiring again.”

“California small businesses and their workers are among the hardest hit in the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Assemblymember Cervantes, who chairs the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy.

“Research shows that between March and April of this year, private employment in the US fell by 15.2%. For small firms, however,

they experienced a 21.5% loss of jobs, while businesses with over 1,000 employees experienced the fewest job losses (13.3%). As Chair of the Assembly Jobs Committee, I am proud to have worked with my legislative colleagues on this important measure.

Addressing employment losses among small businesses is crucial to the state’s economic recovery.”

Specifically, SB 1447 allows businesses with 100 or fewer employees to receive a tax credit of $1,000 per net new hire after July 1, 2020, compared to their workforce in the second quarter of 2020. This credit can be applied against personal and corporate income tax liabilities or sales and use tax liabilities for the 2020 tax year. Eligible small businesses must have experienced a 50% decline in gross receipts between 2020 and 2019 (second quarter), and must reserve tax credits beginning December 1, 2020, and before January 15, 2021, with the California Department of Tax & Fee Administration.

Total credits to an individual business are capped at $100,000 in maximum credit, and the program total for this tax credit is $100 million.

McKinsey & Company estimate that between 1.4 million and 2.1 million of Californian businesses could close permanently as a result of the disruption experienced in just the first four months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During these unprecedented crises, the State has prioritized supporting small businesses and the individuals that those businesses employ.

Other recovery programs already created by the State of California to support small businesses include a one-year, zero-interest extension on sales and use tax liabilities of up to $50,000, as well as a $150 million expansion of the loan guarantee programs administered by the California Infrastructure & Economic Development Bank (I-Bank), as approved by the Legislature in the 2020 Budget Act.

Kidney disease.

In conclusion, depositing tons of these carcinogenic "Dolomites" will affect the lives of hundreds of thousands of our kababayans who will be exposed to it. "Dolomite" dusts which could float in the air and be inhaled, can now result in Lung Cancer and other Respiratory diseases.

It makes NO SENSE in beautifying the Roxas Boulevard coast at the expense of the health and

lives of thousands, if not millions of our kababayans now and in the succeeding generations ahead.

Let us all assume that the DENR and the government as a whole meant well in this project and that no hanky-panky is involved.

Therefore, the DENR cannot be allowed to proceed with such an IRRESPONSIBLE project! The health and lives of our Filipino citizens MUST be PROTECTED ALWAYS!

REMINDER: Please MAIL in your CENSUS 2020 forms for our Filipino community to be counted!

DEADLINE: Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020

Census supporter Yodel Powers

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Buying a home now in this Pandemic?

The coronavirus pandemic threw a wrench into just about everyone’s plans. Vacations were canceled, lesson plans were turned upside down and millions of Americans were suddenly out of a job.

If you were planning to buy a house in the near future, you might be questioning whether you should put that idea on pause, too.

COVID-pandemic has definitely created special circumstances for homebuyers. With numerous industries shuttered due to quarantine, the economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic forced many people to put their homebuying plans on hold. On the other hand, mortgage rates are at rock bottom. Plus, many homebuilders and developers are enticing buyers with special deals, such as discounted prices, waived closing costs, appliance upgrades, mortgage modifications and more, Those in the market for a new home have a unique opportunity to take advantage of these opportunities during this time, that is if they can find something ? Home inventory is still very anemic.

Mortgage Rates Are At All-Time Lows

The Federal Reserve cut its federal funds interest rate in early March by 0.5 percentage points to a range of 1% to 1.25% in response to the pandemic’s effect on our economy. Two

weeks later, it made another emergency rate cut of 1 percentage point to a range of 0% to 0.25% ― the lowest level since the Great Recession.

EVERYTHING YOU SHOULD HAVE LEARNED IN SCHOOL BUT DIDN’T

Learn how to save money, refinanced your current mortgage and you should be able to free up at least 2-300 dollars if not more on your mortgage payments due to these outrageous low rates.. Whether you’re looking to buy or refinance, these low rates can help lower your monthly payment and save you thousands of dollars over the life of your mortgage loan, making this a good time to buy.

The number of newly listed homes in April dropped 44% compared with the same month a year ago, according to Realtor.com’s April Housing Trends report. Combined with widespread delistings, U.S. housing inventory reached a new April low — and historically, April is one of the busiest months for residential real estate.

It also took longer for homes to sell: an average of 62 days in April, four days slower than in the same month last year. During the week ending April 25, homes spent an average of nine days more on the market than in the same week in 2019.

As home sellers take a step back

to see whether economic conditions will improve, social distancing measures are making viewing homes a tricky proposition for potential buyers. At the same time, stricter lending requirements are making qualifying for a mortgage more difficult: If you recently deferred any bill, mortgage or credit card payments, for example, that may work against you when you apply for a home loan, Woroch said. All of these factors are likely contributing to the extended amount of time properties sit on the market.

The Biggest Homebuying Opportunities Are Yet To Come

Real estate values are considered a lagging indicator of market shocks, according to Emile L’Eplattenier, chief real estate analyst and managing editor for TheClose.com. “Think of it like a tsunami that follows an earthquake: Even with massive damage to the stock market and dozens of industries all but collapsing, we won’t start to see the effects play out on real estate pricing for a few months at least,” he said.

Further, the government has take several measures to stimulate the economy and protect consumers who can’t afford their bills. But that won’t go on forever. Over the next few months, the government will eventually put the brakes on printing money. Eviction and foreclosure moratoriums will cease in many markets. And we [will] start to see thousands of businesses go under.

This is when the real estate market is going to really start to wobble and fall. Thirty million-plus Americans unemployed is going to equal a lot of unpaid leases and mortgages, ultimately leading to foreclosures and a market downturn. Per an analyst, lets hope this does not happen.

What that means is that if you can hold out on purchasing for the next 12 months or so, there will be an op-

portunity to buy at a large discount compared to now. Of course, you don’t want to swoop in and prey on the misfortune of your neighbors.

But the truth is that if you’re going to buy, it’s better to wait until prices bottom out rather than spending tens of thousands more than necessary. The correction is coming, and with it [will] come some opportunities for those prepared, by another think tank analyst.

Should You Buy A House During A Pandemic?

Rock-bottom rates make homebuying an attractive option, but there are still many unknowns and challenges when it comes to assessing how the pandemic will affect the market and consumers’ financial lives.

As of April, more than 30 million Americans had filed for unemployment. Some states have begun to reopen businesses slowly, but there’s no telling what kind of ripple effect the shutdown will have on employment for months to come.

Buying a home when your job stability is uncertain is a risky prospect.

The next year might present once-ina-lifetime opportunities to buy, but that doesn’t mean you should go for it if you aren’t prepared.

No one can ever predict the market, and I am a strong believer that the right time to buy is when you are financially ready to.

The good news for prospective homebuyers with stable income and plenty of cash on hand is that if massive layoffs continue, we may see a lot of inventory coming up in the next few months at discounted prices, making it a buyer’s market.

Thanks for your inquiries, please call Ken Go of 1st Innovative Finance Group at 562-508-7048 or write to kennethgo@verizon.net CABREA 01021223 NMLS 238636.

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Filing Bankruptcy Due To Credit Card Debt Most people don’t talk about their credit card debt because they find it embarrassing. They can talk to their friends and family about everything else but when it comes to the subject of how much debt they are carrying, most people would not divulge any information.

It makes them very uncomfortable.

So, what happens is that most people struggle silently on their own, sometimes for years, until one day their situation becomes a financial emergency. And even then, a lot of these people continue to live in denial as they pretend that their debt problems don’t exist. They hesitate to even see an attorney to get help. Don’t let this happen to you or someone you love.

The other day, a lady came to my office crying about her situation.

For the last 5 years, her debts have spiraled out of control as she continued to charge more on her credit cards than she paid off every month. By now, her debts have skyrocketed to more than $60,000. She told me that at first, she was able to at least make minimum payments continued on page 7

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Family Law Issues during the COVID-19 Pandemic The COVID-19 Pandemic has changed our lives almost overnight. Not only has it changed our lives in terms of our daily routine, jobs, lifestyle, but also our relationship with our family members under the Stay at Home orders in place in major cities such as Los Angeles,

Divorce caused by Financial and Emotional Stress

China is a few months ahead of the US in terms of the impact of this pandemic on families. Statistics show that the number of couples filing for divorce in China is reportedly way up after long periods of COVID 19-related confinement.

This gives us a glimpse of the months to come after the stay at home order has been lifted.

The rapid spread of the corona virus has destabilized every household particularly those of parents. The closure of schools and child-care facilities has created challenges for scores of parents who must figure out how to keep their children safe while continuing to work from home. The current situation has posed significant challenge to parents with existing custody orders. Many parents are attempting to renegotiate the terms of the existing custody orders at a moment when emotions run high and the Courts are closed for most hearings.

Most families have roles to play for each member of the household such as the parents getting up and going to work or the child being in school. When these roles are radically changed in a time that we’re all feeling incredibly stretched emotionally creates major stress on families. As a result of this stress, marriages may fracture and may result to divorce because the coronavirus crisis is causing many families to experience job loss from the massive layoffs caused by the shutdown of the economy. Financial stress is always one of the big stressors that lead to divorce. Parents are trying to figure out how they can support an entire family.

Effect of COVID-19 “Stay at Home Order” on Custody Orders

The stay at home order issued by both the City of Los Angeles and later the State of California has stirred a lot of confusion among divorced parents who share custody of their children. Stay at home orders have required California residents to remain at home, except if they need to go out for essential needs such as for groceries, medication or health care ap-

pointments. People can’t go into work unless they are in certain essential jobs.

The stay-home orders restrict travel for unapproved purposes. As a result, divorced parents didn’t know if they were allowed to travel to bring their children back and forth to the other parent during visitation schedules. There is confusion about whether the stay-at-home order trumped the custody order or whether the court order trumped the stay-at-home order.

Custody and visitation orders are not affected by stay at home orders or other order restricting movement issued by a governmental entity that arises from the COVID-19 pandemic. The stay at home order does not change the existing parent-child custody orders that may be in place. Just the fear of pandemic is not enough to warrant keeping a child from seeing the other parent. If there is an actual threat of harm to the child, the Los Angeles Superior Court is available for ex parte emergency RFO to address these issues. However, parents should attempt to work together first to come up with some kind of temporary agreement that works for both the parents and for the kids that accommodates the problems caused by the pandemic and modify temporarily the existing custody orders as a solution to the current environment. For example, if exercising the father’s alternate weekend visitation exposes the child to other members of the father’s new household, perhaps the parents can temporarily agree to a virtual visitations such as zoom video conferencing, face time, and other apps available that allows the father to see the child and interact the child without exposing the child to the risk of contagion. The Los Angeles Superior Court has been continuing most hearings except for emergency hearings.

It would serve the parties best to co-parent and work out a temporary custody

Minding YouR FinanceS… FRoM page 6 on her credit cards by taking money from other credit cards. So, for a short while, she was in denial that her debt problem was getting worse although she could see her credit card balances going up every time she received her credit card statements.

Of course, it didn’t take very long before her credit cards were maxed out and she couldn’t take any more money out of them to pay her other credit cards. So, from there she started falling behind on some of her debt payments. Her breaking point came recently when she got served a lawsuit by one of her creditors. So, she panicked and called our office to get help.

If you are reading this article and you can relate to the story I shared above, let me ask you these questions: What about you? Are you in denial or in control of your credit card spending? Sometimes when I ask people how much they owe, they can’t even tell me because they say that they have lost track of the amounts. If this is you, this may be a danger sign of debt trouble.

A lot of people wonder why no matter how hard they work, they are always broke every payday. The reason is that they don’t even know or realize how much of their paycheck goes to just paying debts every month. They have “black holes” in their monthly budget that they can’t explain because they just can’t see where their money is being wasted.

NOTE: Due to COVID-19 concerns, I am offering free consultations

BY PHONE OR VIDEO to anyone who needs help in dealing with their debt problems.

(None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped over 5,000 clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call RJB Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1-866-477-7772).

agreement which can be turned into a temporary court order.

Domestic Violence during Stay at Home Order

Many domestic violence victims live with their abusers and are now being forced to isolate with their abusers. Victims may have also lost their source of income and are having a harder time connecting with their support systems such as the victim’s family. Leaving their situation is much more difficult during the pandemic. COVID-19 stay at home order in Los Angeles means victims might be stuck with their abusers. Victims might also be losing their job and income. For the most vulnerable people in the community, stay at home order is the same as putting them in a cage with a dangerous creature. Even though there may be an increase in domestic violence during this period, neither law enforcement nor the family courts may hear about the domestic violence and abuse because it is usually the community that reports these incidents when children go to school, when people see their friends, when people are in a situation where other people see what's going on.

Now, teachers, childcare providers and, friends are physically cut off from the people and children they normally are in contact with daily.

In addition, seeing businesses shuttered and paychecks halted has put intense pressure and hardship on a growing number of people and families who are becoming increasingly depressed.

Many are self-medicating at home with drugs and alcohol. Add to that scenario the school closures and children and spouses sheltering together at home can create an extremely hostile, even dangerous, environment for many families. It is therefore important for victims to call the police or avail of the Family Courts by filing an application for a restraining order and a kick out order against the perpetrator. The Los Angeles Superior Court is available during this pandemic to issue such emergency orders to protect the victims of domestic violence.

Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice.

The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APLC. This article is not a solicitation.

Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, APLC is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com. Visit our website at Kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com.

Pilipino po tayo!

LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH U. REYES, P.C. ATTORNEY-AT-LAW

*Certified Family Law Specialist The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization - Certified Family Law Specialist - Certified Public Accountant (Inactive) -J.D Southwestern University Law School Los Angeles, CA - B.S Accounting California State University, San Bernardino, CA

CALL OR E-MAIL FOR AN APPOINTMENT 213-204-6366 or

kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com

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Facility Caregivers: Are you paid at least $456 a day when working a 24-hour shift?

CAREGIVERS working in Residential Care Facilities provide an important ser vice to elderly and disabled individuals, as well as their families.

These caregivers often work up to 24 hours per day, providing necessary care and supervision to ensure the health and safety of each facility resident. However, many facility caregivers are grossly underpaid for the services they provide.

For t u nately, Ca l i for n ia law protects caregivers who work in licensed Residential Care Facilities from wage theft. Specifically, all facility caregivers are entitled to receive at least minimum wage for every hour they work, including all hours they are required to be present at the facility. The current minimum wage rate in California is $12.00 per hour for employers with 25 employees or less, and $13.00 per hour for employers with 26 or more employees. Additionally, with some exceptions, facility caregivers are also entitled to overtime compensation for all hours worked in excess of 8 per day or 40 per week, and double time compensation for all hours worked in excess of 12 per day.

In light of these requirements, facility caregivers who work 24-hour shifts must be paid at least $456 per day to comply with California’s minimum wage laws. That includes 8 hours of pay at the minimum wage rate of $12.00/ hour ($96), four hours of pay at the overtime rate of $18.00/hour ($72), and 12 hours of pay at the double time rate of $24/hour ($288).

In lieu of paying overtime and double time wages, many employers pay facility caregivers a fixed salary, regardless of the actual number of hours they work each day. However, paying an employee a daily, weekly or monthly salary does not disqualify that employee from the minimum wage or overtime compensation requirements. In actuality, under California law, payment of a fixed salary to a non-exempt employee only compensates that employee for their regular, non-overtime hours worked. This means that a non-exempt facility caregiver who receives a fixed salary has probably not been compensated for any hours he or she worked in excess of 8 per

day or 40 per week. Furthermore, those uncompensated hours are considered overtime and double time hours, compensable at a rate one-and-one half times or two times the facility caregiver’s regular rate of pay.

If you are a facility caregiver receiving a fixed salary for working 24-hour shifts, you may have a substantial unpaid overtime claim.

For purposes of illustration, below is an example of how wage and hour claims are calculated for facility caregivers under California law: Tony is a facility caregiver. He works 24 hours per day and is not allowed to leave the care facility at any time during his scheduled shifts.

Tony’s employer also requires him to sleep in the facility at night and the residents frequently wake him asking for assistance. Tony receives a daily salary of $100 each day he works.

This makes Tony’s regular rate of pay $12.50 per hour ($100/8 hours per day).

Subject to that calculation, Tony’s overtime rate is $18.75 per hour and his double-time rate is $25 per hour, respectively. Because Tony’s daily salary of $100 does not compensate him for any overtime hours worked, Tony’s employer owes him $375.00 per day in unpaid wages: 4 overtime hours x $18.75 (Tony’s overtime rate), plus 12 double time hours x $25.00 (Tony’s double time rate). If Tony works 5 days per week, he is owed $1,875 per week, which equals $97,500 each year he works. If Tony brings a claim against his employer for these unpaid wages, he can seek unpaid wages going back three to four years, along with interest, attorney’s fees and costs, liquidated damages and penalties.

Caregivers work hard to provide support and assistance to our loved ones, and they should be paid in accordance with California law for their invaluable services. If you are a caregiver working in licensed Residential Care Facility and you are not being paid according to California law, we would like to help. Please contact our firm at (818)807-4168 for a free and confidential consultation. We love helping caregivers get the overtime compensation that they deserve.

This article is an attorney advertisement written by Lauren J. Peterson, employment law attorney at Chaleff Rehwald Peterson in Woodland Hills. Our examples are of a general nature and are not a guarantee regarding the outcome of your individual matter. The law firm focuses on caregiver rights. Please call us at (818) 807-4168 for a free and confidential consultation. Or visit us at www.caregiverovertime.com to learn more about caregiver overtime law. We offer a 24-hour chat line on our website.

AFP ready to aid BuCor on Pemberton release MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is more than willing to provide any form of assistance to the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) in facilitating the release of US Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton, its spokesperson said Wednesday.

PEMBERTON "Sa part ng AFP, wala kaming ginagawang preparasyon. BuCor naman kasi ang in charge sa detention, processing, and actual release sa preso nila (On the AFP's part, we are not doing any preparation because BuCor is in charge of Pemberton's detention, processing, and actual release)," Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said in a message to reporters.

Arevalo was responding to queries on whether the military is making any preparation for Pemberton's release.

"Sa ngayon, wala pa naman silang request sa AFP (For now, they [BuCor] have yet to request assistance from the AFP)," he said.

Arevalo earlier said Pemberton is at the AFP Custodial Facility only under a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the AFP and BuCor. "The MOA provides that the former will make available the detention facility while the latter retains the management and administration of the convicted detainees," he said.

Pemberton was convicted of homicide and sentenced to six to 10 years imprisonment by the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 74 in December 2015 for killing Filipino transgender Jennifer Laude inside a bathroom of a motel on Oct. 11, 2014.

Olongapo RTC Branch 74 Presiding Judge Roline Ginez-Jabalde, in a decision issued on September 1, ruled that Pemberton has a total accumulated time served with an entitlement of Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) of 10 years, one month, and 10 days.

In a public address on Monday night, President Rodrigo Duterte said he granted Pemberton absolute pardon because he believed that he was not treated “fairly” while detained because his GCTA credits were not recorded by the Philippine authorities.

The President may grant reprieves, commutations, and pardons under Article VII, Section 19 of the 1987 Constitution. (MNS)

Supreme Court junks petition vs. renaming of MIA as NAIA MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Supreme Court (SC) has unanimously denied the petition seeking to nullify the law that renamed the Manila International Airport as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

SC spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka said Wednesday that the court en banc denied the petition, filed by lawyer Lorenzo Gadon, for "lack of merit" during its Tuesday session.

Gadon had asked the court to nullify Republic Act No. 6639, which changed the name of MIA to NAIA in 1987, four years after former senator Ninoy Aquino was assassinated on the airport's tarmac.

He claimed that the law violated the National Historical Commission of the Philippines' (NHCP) guidelines on the naming of streets, public schools, plazas, building, bridges

and other public structures.

The guidelines were approved in 2007, 20 years after the law was enacted.

Gadon claimed that RA 6639 violated the guidelines because it renamed the airport in 1987, four years after Aquino's death when the rules say that renaming could not be done within 10 years of the person's death except for "highly exceptional reasons."

Some of such "exceptional reasons," according to the guidelines, are death due to "assassination in the service of the country" or giving "exceptional service to the nation."

Gadon also claimed that Aquino was "never declared a hero and as such does not deser ve t hat an airport be named

after him."

Republic Act No. 9256 declares August 21 of every year Ninoy Aquino Day, a national non-working holiday, "in order to commemorate" Aquino's death anniversary.

Gadon is known as one of the personalities who initiated an impeachment complaint against former chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. Sereno was removed from her post in 2018 not due to impeachment, but through a quo warranto petition voted on by the SC. Gadon ran for the Senate in the 2019 elections and lost. (MNS)

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Eleazar: Abuse by cops of social media monitoring disallowed

LIEUTENANT GENERAL GUILLERMO ELEAZAR

MANILA (Mabuhay) — Amid concerns on the police's monitoring of quarantine violations through social media, Joint Task Force COVID Shield commander Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar on Wednesday assured the public that cops abuse under the measure would not be tolerated.

"We will see to it, wala kaming aabusuhin at kung mayroon mang magaabuso, mananagot sa amin," Eleazar said.

Eleazar reiterated that this measure would empower ordinary citizens to report those who are in power and in position but violates quarantine measures.

"Kayo ang mabibigyan ng pagkakataon na makapag-report ng impormasyon and just like what I've said, PNP leadership will not tolerate any abuse. Iparating niyo lang po sa atin," Eleazar said.

He also said Philippine National Police chief Police Gen-

Villar: DA should keep hands off ACEF meant for loans, scholarships MANILA (Mabuhay) — Senator Cynthia Villar on Tuesday said the Department of Agriculture should no longer be disbursed with the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) due to the multi-billion "bad loans" it allegedly incurred when it previously handled the fund.

ACEF is generated through duties collected from the importation of all agricultural product, except rice, under the minimum access volume, Villar said in a Senate hearing, noting that this is different from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund.

"The 80% of the (ACEF) fund will be used to support the increased productivity and fisherfolk by providing necessary credit to them and their cooperatives," Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform, said.

The maximum amount of loan that can be lent to an individual farmer through the ACEF is P1 million while a cooperative may borrow up to P5 million.

Another 10% of the ACEF is allocated for research and development on agricultural and fishery products of state universities and colleges (SUCs); the remaining 10% is for scholarship grants for agriculture, forestry, fishery, and veterinary medicine education.

The Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), SUCs, and the Commission on Higher Education are the only implementing agencies, Villar said.

This is why she wondered why P4.16 billion under the new ACEF from June 2018 to June 2020 still passed through the DA before being remitted to the LBP, as reported by LBP First Vice President Emelie Tamayo.

"Under the new ACEF it will not pass through DA. It will go direct to you from Bureau of Treasury. Wala nang dadaan sa DA kasi 'pag dumadaan sa DA lalong gumugulo. I don't understand why it is being transferred by DA," Villar said.

"I wrote the law. Why is it coming from DA?" she added.

'Mismanaged loans' Villar said the DA was not able to manage the old ACEF well and that there were apparent irregularities in the past. "'Yung unang implementation of ACEF didn't go to the small farmers and their coop. Noong reviewhin namin it went to big companies and the minimum that t hey lent was P15 million and the biggest was P100 million," she said. "P8 billion we lost to the old ACEF because the borrowers did not pay... kasi sinabi talaga ng mga borrower, kaya ayaw nilang magbayad, naglagay sila."

"'Yung scholarship kaya hindi mabayaran, dumaan sa DA. Ayaw ibigay ng DA sa CHED," she added.

The Department of Budget and Management said it was disbursing the ACEF to the DA because these were "collections pertaining to prior years."

"As far as we are concerned, the process has to be like this," DBM chief budget and management specialist Loida Wy said.

"No, no, no. I wrote the law and all the problems that came with ACEF [was] because it was given to DA. When we re-enacted the law, inalis namin sa DA. Dinala namin sa Land Bank... Walang dadaan sa DA because DA lost the money," Villar answered.

"You change that. You tell [Budget Secretary] Wendel Avisado to change that because that is the intent of the law, that it should go direct to Land Bank, it should not pass through DA," she added.

Villar said she already referred the issue on bad loans in the old ACEF to the Office of the Solicitor General and said her goal is to prevent similar dilemmas from happening by ensuring that ACEF is properly disbursed to the implementing agencies.

"That's why we're having this hearing. Hanggang ngayon sumusulat pa 'yung mga bata na hanggang ngayon 'di nababayaran ang tuition nila. My God! Sobra naman 'yan," Villar said.

"Can we ask a commitment from DA na huwag na nila pakikialaman ang ACEF?" she asked.

Agriculture Undersecretary Evelyn Laviña, representing the DA in the hearing, did not discuss the alleged previous irregularities with the old ACEF but answered Villar's question in the affirmative.

"That's what we really wanted. Yes po," Laviña said.

The Bureau of Treasury and the DBM also committed to make the necessary coordination to rectify the disbursement process.

According to Villar, ACEF was first instituted through the Agricultural Tariffication Act in 1996. Its implement at ion ha s been extende d t w ic e i n 2008 and 2016. ACEF will expire in 2022 unless it is extended once again.

(MNS)

eral Camilo Pancratius Cascolan wants to regain the public's trust and confidence in the police force.

Earlier, Eleazar vowed that the social media "surveillance" measure would be done with utmost respect for the right to privacy.

Eleazar had urged police commanders and their personnel to regularly monitor social media for violations of quarantine measures, a plan which is being supported by Interior Secretary Eduardo Año.

The police official said netizens have been posting complaints about some violations of minimum health safety standard protocols, including mass gatherings despite the pandemic.

The Palace has said there is nothing illegal with social media monitoring, especially if one's post is public. (MNS)

Manila churches to open for confessions soon M A N IL A ( Mabu hay) — The Archdiocese of Manila is opening its churches for the faithful who would like to avail of the sacrament of confession.

In a pastoral instruction released on Tuesday, Manila Apostolic Administrator Broderick Pabillo said it is about time to let the public to make a confession as there are safety precautions in place in churches.

“Because of the continuing threat of the (coronav irus disease 2019), there are still people who are hesitant to come to church, much more to come to confession. But we should not allow fear to dictate on our actions,” he said.

“We always have to take necessary precautions,

The public is asked to make an appointment at the office of the parish for confession.

“Each one may also make an appointment in the parish office for confession and the priests will readily accommodate you. Confession cannot be done online.

It has to be done personally. So I invite all to take time to receive this sacrament in the coming weeks,” the Catholic prelate added.

In the past severa l months, church activities particularly the holding public masses are only allowed online.

Religious gatherings are now allowed at 10 percent seating capacity under the general community quarantine.

(MNS)

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but there are important matters of our life that we have to attend to even with the presence of Covid-19, and confession is one of them.”

He said parishes have been directed to provide time and identify areas where the confessions can be conducted that are both safe for the priest and the parishioner.

“So I inv ite a ll the faithful to come to avail of the great mercy of God that is poured on us by the sacrament of reconciliation. The parish are instructed to set aside time for confession and to make provisions for places for confessions that are hygienically safe for both the priest and the penitent,” Pabillo added.

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Saturday-Friday || September September 12 12 -- 18 18,, 2020 Saturday-Friday

Solon urges PSA to postpone census to January 2021 MANILA (Mabuhay) — A lawmaker at the House of Representatives on Tuesday urged the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to postpone its 2020 population and housing census to January next year amid concerns over the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

In filing House Resolution No. 1186, Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said while the PSA has given assurances that its personnel have been trained to follow strict health protocols, there are still risks not only for the interviewees but interviewers and data enumerators as well.

He noted that while the population survey results would guide development planning and policymaking at the national and local levels, particularly in reducing poverty, conducting the census this year amid the health crisis is “not worth the risk people and PSA workers would be exposed to”.

“But this period when we are battling a pandemic is not the most appropriate time to conduct the census. We are still getting daily positive cases in the thousands, though the Department of Health is reporting that the numbers are going down,” he said.

He argued that delaying the census for a few months or even until there is a vaccine against the new coronavirus would not adversely affect development planning and policymaking by the national government and local government units.

“They can in the meantime rely on historical data with some adjustments,” he said.

He said that the PSA’s warning to the public that refusal to participate in the census bears the punishment of oneyear imprisonment and a fine of PHP100,000 is “uncalled for and inappropriate”.

“What we need is, as far as practicable, fewer people in the streets and outside their homes to help contain the spread of Covid-19,” he said.

(MNS)

REP. RUFUS RODRIGUEZ

80% of senior citizens have no mandatory pension — Diokno MANILA (Mabuhay) — A huge majority of elderly Filipinos have no pension or retirement fund, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said Tuesday.

“Based on the latest report of the Philippine Statistics Authority, the Philippines has around 7.6 million Filipinos aged 60 years old and above,” Diokno said during the virtual launch of the digital Personal Equity Retirement Account (PERA), an investment tool for retirement.

“Of this group, only 20% are covered by either SSS (Social Security System) or GSIS (Government Service Insurance System), leaving 80% of senior citizens with no mandatory pension at all,” he added.

T he cent ra l ba n k ch ief said retirees, who are fortunate enough to be covered by state-sponsored retirement systems, receive an average monthly pension of P5,123 for SSS and P18,525 for GSIS. “Depending on the lifestyle you would like to have in your

senior years, this pension may or may not be enough to meet all your needs,” Diokno said.

To address the issue of majority of Filipino lacking pension or retirement fund, Republic Act No. 9505 or the PERA law was enacted to provide tax benefits while instilling the discipline of saving money by making annual contributions to their own account.

However, its implementation was delayed due to taxation and regulatory issues. The BSP first launched PERA in 2016.

The investment tool still was underutilized, according to Diokno. Thus, the creation of a digital platform to entice younger generations and bring it closer to Filipinos.

“According to a recent survey, we Filipinos tend not to prepare for their own retirement. Specifically, Filipinos only set aside 3.6 months’ worth of income for retirement — way below the regional average of 2.9 years,” the BSP chief said.

“In terms of expectation, Filipinos believe that savings equivalent to 2.1 years’ worth of personal income would be enough for retirement,” he said, adding this is the lowest expectation in Asia compared with the regional average of 12 years.

“PSA reported that the share of social security benefits to Gross Domestic Product also

remained relatively low at around 2.0% from 2012 to 2017,” Diokno said.

Security benefits include retirement and survivorship pensions, sickness, disability, death, and other related allowances or benefits.

“As such, voluntary retirement savings plans such as PERA are crucial in supplementing the state-based pension plans to meet retirement needs,” the BSP chief said.

Unlike existing national or corporate pension schemes, PERA does not require a deduction from one’s salary to accumulate funds.

The new investment tool relies on an individual’s decision to invest up to P100,000 annually to prepare for retirement, according to the BSP. The PERA law allows individuals to open up to five PERA accounts and these can be invested in specific PERA-accredited product lines.

Overseas Filipino workers are provided the additional benefit of being able to invest up to P200,000 annually which is twice the normal limit.

“We at the BSP support the twin objectives of PERA, which are: first, complementing existing pension and retirement benefits, and second, promoting capital market development,” Diokno said. (MNS)

Cascolan orders another revamp of police officials MANILA (Mabuhay) — Barely a week since assuming as the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Gen. Camilo Cascolan ordered a third reshuffle of police officials to various units.

In an order released on Tuesday, Cascolan reassigned Brig.

Gen. Bernard Banac, current PNP spokesperson, to lead the PNP Training Service.

Replacing Banac as acting PNP spokesperson and Public Information Office (PIO) chief is Col. Ysmael Yu, his batchmate in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1992. The PIO is under the Directorate for Police Community Relations.

Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Celso Pestaño was designated as head of the Directorate for Information and Communication Technology Management (DICTM) after his stint as Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (DIPO)-Southern Luzon chief.

Brig. Gen Jonnel Estomo, formerly director of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) was named director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7), replacing Brig. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro, who will now head the DIPO-Southern Luzon.

Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Joseph Ulysses Gohel will take over as chief of the AKG while Brig. Gen. Edgar Monsalve will now head the PNP Intelligence Group (IG).

Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Alex Sintin Jr. was named acting director of the National Police Training Institute (NPTI) while Brig. Gen. Jimili Macaraeg was designated as director of the Logistic Support Service (LSS). Brig. Gen. Pascual Muñoz will now be the Regional Director of PRO 4-B (Mimaropa).

Brig. Gen. Rhoderick Armamento, deputy director for administration of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) was reassigned to the Office of the Chief PNP. Taking over Armamento's post is Brig. Gen. Sterling Raymund Blanco.

Meanwhile, three police colonels were designated to new positions -- Col. Leo Francisco, who was assigned at PRO 3 (Central Luzon); Col. Roel Acidre, acting Deputy Regional Director for Administration of the PRO Caraga; and Col. Celso Bael as acting executive officer of the Directorate for Intelligence.

The reshuffle will take effect on Wednesday. (MNS)

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LOS ANGELES EDITION

Kumusta!

2020 Census taker po ako.

Ang aking responsibilidad ay gawing safe at simple ang pagtugon sa 2020 Census.

Importante ang trabaho ko ngayong taon! Bumibisita ako para makatulong sa 2020 Census habang nakasuot ng mask para sumunod sa patnubay ng pamahalaan para sa ikabubuti ng lahat. Kada sampung taon, layunin naming makakuha ng isang buo at tumpak na bilang ng lahat ng naninirahan sa bansa. Ang mga numerong ito ay nagbibigay ng mas mahusay na pag-unawa sa mga pangangailangan ng bawat komunidad.

Napakaimportante na lahat sumagot. Pwede kayong sumagot online, sa telepono o mail o sa isa naming kasamahang census takers.

Kumpletuhin ang census sa

2020CENSUS.GOV/tl o tumawag sa 844-478-2020 Paid for by U.S. Census Bureau

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PH, SoKor to continue working together vs.

Covid-19, terrorism

MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Philippines and South Korea will continue working together in responding to various challenges and threats, Philippine Army (PA) commander Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said on Wednesday.

“Our love for our countries, families, ways of life, and democracy will keep the lessons of the Korean War contemporary.

Against Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), terrorism, or even calamities, our great veterans will remind us to be resilient, and win together with other members of the community of nations,” Sobejana said during the commemoration of the 21st Korean War Veterans of the Philippines Memorial Day and the 46th anniversary of the Philippine Expeditionary Forc e to Korea (PEFTOK) Veterans' Association, Inc. T he o c casion was obser ved through a wreath-laying ceremony at the Korean War Memorial Pylon, Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Army spokesperson Col. Ramon Zagala said in a statement.

Sobejana led the commemoration honoring the PEFTOK's gallantry and service in the Korean War in 1950 where five battalion combat teams fought in a foreign land alongside United Nations forces to aid South Korea against invading communist forces.

Meanwhile, South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong-man expressed Seoul's gratitude to the contribution and sacrifices of the Filipino veterans whose service led to the freedom of the Republic of Korea.

“Korea will not enjoy democracy without the contribution and sacrifice of Filipino and Korean veterans. Today, on Remembrance Day, we remember their sacrifice, valor, dedication, devotion, and contribution for the freedom of Korea and the world,” he said.

Han also shared the message of President Rodrigo Duterte to South Korean President Moon Jae-in, saying the Philippines will forever stand with Korea to defend freedom.

Sobejana also acknowledged and extended his gratitude to the Filipino veterans of the Korean War for their bravery that led to their victory in the battles of Yultong and Eerie Hill.

“Today, we are again given the privilege to honor the deeds of our predecessors, savor their continuing tradition of valor, and celebrate freedom with our South Korean ally. To our veterans, your courage earned not only the admiration of many nations but raised the pride of our own. Your triumph in the Battle of Yultong somehow reminds us that we have already been a world-class Army all along," he added. (MNS)

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Saturday-Friday | September 12 - 18, 2020

DNA confirms bombers in Jolo twin blasts were Asians — police MANILA (Mabuhay) — The suicide bombers who had caused the August 24 deadly explosions in Jolo, Sulu were two female Asians, a police official said on Thursday.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Kris Conrad Gutierrez, spokesperson of the special investigation task group looking into the blasts, said that the results of the DNA tests did not determine whether the bombers were Filipinos. "'Yung result po ng DNA doon sa dalawang accordingly na suicide bombers ay both Asian female. Ang DNA po kasi ay nagbabased sa evidence, 'yung evidence po na nakalap natin based on the Crime Lab ay sila po ay Asian female," Gutierrez said in a phone interview.

"Hindi po madetermine ng Crime Lab natin kasi race lang po ang puwede nating madetermine. It's either Asian o Caucasian, 'yun ang puwede nating madetermine," he added.

Gutierrez further said the age of the suicide bombers were also not determined by the Crime Laboratory.

It was also found out that the bombers in the recent explosions have no blood relation with the perpetrators of the Jolo Cathedral bombing last January 27, 2019, the police official noted.

"According din naman po sa kanila, mayroon silang standard, 'yung nangyari doon sa Cathedral, there is no blood relation between doon sa nangyari sa recent bombing and doon sa Cathedral bombers. Ibig sabihin, hindi po sila magkamag-anak o magkapatid," Gutierrez said.

Earlier, Western Mindanao Command chief Major General Corleto Vinluan Jr. said the suicide bombers were Tausugs

based on the accounts of witnesses.

Philippine Army chief Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana said one of the suspected suicide bombers was the wife of Norman Lasuca, the first Filipino suicide bomber, while the other one was possibly the wife of Abu Talha, an ISIS liaison to the Abu Sayyaf Group.

Meanwhile, Gutierrez said pipe bombs were used in the explosions that claimed the lives of 15 individuals and wounded more than 70 others.

"Based on the statement na binigay naman po ng mga investigator at 'yun pong sa Crime Lab, we found out na ang composition na may IED o improvised explosive device is ammonium nitrate fuel oil... 'yung type po ng IED is pipe bomb..." Gutierrez said.

Raps filed According to Gutierrez, crim-

inal complaints have already been lodged against at least 20 individuals for supposedly perpetrating the two bomb attacks. He, however, refused to disclose their names as operations are still ongoing to locate the suspects.

"We filed cases [before] the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor last September 4. We filed 15 cases sa first blast and then 14 cases sa second blast. Unfortunately, we cannot divulge the names of the suspects because of the ongoing follow-up operations against them," Gutierrez said.

Without naming the suspects, Gutierrez said most of those slapped with raps are members of the Abu Sayyaf Group while for the others, police are still checking their affiliations.

"Definitely, some of them are ASG members pero tinitingnan pa rin po natin 'yung affiliation ng ibang personalities," Gutier-

rez said.

"Kung ganito kadami, hindi lang namin malaman, baka iisa rin lang naman 'to. Sila-sila lang din ang nagplano, maybe 15 personality, sila lang 'yung nagplano ng una, ng pangalawa," he added.

Gutierrez also said a tricycle driver, who allegedly transported one of the suicide bombers to the site of explosion, is now being considered as a person of interest.

"Nagvoluntary surrender po itong ating tricycle driver at iniimbestigahan na po ng Jolo MPS. Inaalam pa po natin kung siya ba ay wala talagang kinalaman..." Gutierrez said.

The military had said Mundi Sawadjaan was the mastermind of the twin bombings as well as the previous attacks in Sulu province. Contrary to reports that he is in Zamboanga province, Vinluan has said he is still in Patikul. (MNS)

DOJ reopens probe on Pimentel quarantine breach case

MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Department

of Justice (DOJ) has reopened the case against Senator Aquino "Koko" Pimentel III arising from an alleged violation of quarantine rules in March.

In an order dated Sept. 9 and released on Thursday, Assistant State Prosecutor Wendell Bendoval asked Pimentel and the complainant in the case, lawyer Rico Paolo R. Quicho to submit a comment on the report of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on the incident by Sept. 21.

The NBI memorandum report dated August 24 was received by prosecutors on Sept. 4 and included a copy of the incident report by Dr. Saturnino Javier of the Makati Medical Center (MMC).

Bendoval, in reopening the case, said it was needed in line with the DOJ's "policy

of admitting all evidence that could assist in the judicious resolution of complaints."

Last July, the case against Pimentel was already up for resolution by prosecutors after the parties completed the submission of their respective pleadings.

In his counter-affidavit, Pimentel said the complaint against him "is fatally defective" and "is based principally on news reports.

"Considering (complainant) Atty. (Rico) Quicho's lack of personal knowledge, I am being charged based on mere hearsay," the lawmaker added, referring to the copies of online news reports attached by Quicho in his complaint.

The DOJ is evaluating the complaint filed by Quicho against Pimentel for alleged violation of Republic Act 11332 or

the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act and three Department of Health issuances -- Memorandum Circular No. 2020-0090, Advisory No. 2 and DOH Circular No. 2020-0080, concerning quarantine measures implemented due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

The MMC earlier said Pimentel breached its infection and containment protocols when he went to the hospital with his wife who was about to give birth through cesarean section.

The hospital said Pimentel's visit "unduly exposed healthcare workers to possible infection" after it was found out that he tested positive for Covid-19 on March 25.

(MNS)

HONTIVEROS... from Page 1 encourage them to stay for local employment.

Citing data from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Hontiveros said the salary for entry level nurses in the Philippines ranges from P8,000 to P13,500.

"Hindi pwedeng pipigilan natin silang umalis, pero hindi natin sila bibigyan ng dahilan para mag-stay," Hontiveros said.

"Kung naaalagaan ang kapakanan nila, hindi na kailangan ng deployment ban sa mga susunod na taon. Mas mapapalakas din natin ang ating

pampublikong kalusugan dahil mas maraming health workers ang pipiliing manatili sa bansa," she added.

Last July 17, the DBM issued Budget Circular 2020-4, upgrading the entry level salaries of government nurses from Salary Grade 11 to Salary Grade 15—amounting to around P32,000.

Hontiveros further said that the P13.5 billion allocated for the hiring of additional health workers and provision of additional benefits for them under the Bayanihan 2 bill shall not

be used as a justification for the Philippine government to hinder the deployment of those who opt to work abroad.

Earlier this month, seven nurses bound for UK had reportedly been prevented from leaving the country because their visas were issued after March 8, though their contracts were signed before that date.

The Bureau of Immigration later cleared them for departure after consulting with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) over an "ambiguity" in its advisory on

exemptions to a deployment ban of overseas healthcare workers.

According to POEA's Advisory No. 47-A issued June 2, the following healthcare workers are allowed to leave for their overseas employment: returning workers with OEC exemption certificates, new hires with contracts signed before March 8 and with OECs, and seafarers who were previously hired as doctors and nurses and will be deployed by the same licensed manning agency.

Senator Joel Villanueva, chairperson of the Senate

committee on labor, said misunderstandings like this should immediately be clarified by the DOLE. Like Senator Nancy Binay, he is also for the lifting of the deployment ban on healthcare workers, stressing the need to balance the regulation with realities on the ground.

On Tuesday, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said he is looking on the possibility of also exempting nurses who have completed their requirements as of August 21 from the overseas deployment ban. (MNS)

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Consumer confidence to pick up if infections go down — Concepcion

PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP JOEY CONCEPCION

MANILA (Mabuhay) — Consumer confidence can be restored if people see a continuing decrease in the number of COVID-19 infections, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion said Wednesday.

Concepcion underscored the need to continue measures aimed at preventing the spread of the virus such as aggressive testing and localized lockdowns.

“Confidence will come back only if the people see that the infection goes down. But if the infection continues to rise, then what do you expect? Maski ako hindi ako lalabas kasi delikado,” he said.

“If they are seeing na ‘yung infection natin nag-iimprove, they have to spend.

Kasi kung hindi sila gagastos, they will not buy products, they will not eat in

restaurants, then the economy cannot the cooperation of the general public in also move.” following the minimum public health An expert from the University of the standards. It also urged the people not Philippines earlier said Metro Manila to be complacent. and Calabarzon had flattened the curve “The enemy that is COVID-19 is still after the reproduction number in the two in our midst, and unless a cure or vacregions dropped below 1. cine has been made available, we must The reproduction number refers to continue to remain vigilant and observe the average number of people that one health protocols, such as wearing of COVID-19 patient can infect. masks/face shields, washing of hands President Rodrigo Duterte also ac- and maintaining a physical distance,” knowledged the development, telling presidential spokesperson Harry Roque the nation on Monday that “there's a Jr. said. (MNS) flattening of cases.”

Malacañang, No fund for COVID-19 cash aid under meanwhile, thanked the medproposed 2021 budget — DBM chief Avisado ica l f ront l i ners, MANILA (Mabuhay) — There around 18 million households private sector, and will be no appropriations for earlier this year, and another

DOF chief Dominguez expects P2.5T gov't revenues this year amid COVID-19 pandemic MANILA (Mabuhay) — Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III on Wednesday said the government projects a total of P2.5 trillion revenue collection this year, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

During a Senate budget hearing, Dominguez said the revenue collection from January to July 2020 amounted to 1.69 trillion.

The total government tax and non-tax revenue projection of P2.5 trillion for 2020, equivalent to 13.4% of the country's gross domestic product, is lower than the P3.1 trillion collected in 2019.

Dominguez said this is expected to slightly pick up to P2.7 trillion in 2021 as the economy starts to recover.

Government revenues are projected to further increase in 2022, pegged at P3 trillion.

Dominguez said the drop in revenues in 2020 and increase

in government spending to meet the challenges posed by the pandemic "pushed the fiscal deficit to P700.6 million" which was six times higher than what was incurred during the same period in 2019, he added.

"Our deficit to GDP ratio is projected to reach 9.6% at the end of 2020 as the government spends more to beef up our health system and provide relief," he told senators.

The deficit to GDP ratio is seen to improve to 8.5% in 2021 and 7.2% in 2022.

"We aim to keep our deficit below or at the median of our ASEAN neighbors and credit rating peers so that we can continue to access financing on highly concessional terms on behalf of the Filipino people," he added.

Dominguez maintained that the strong fiscal position with

FINANCE SECRETARY CARLOS DOMINGUEZ III which the Philippines entered 2020 has made it better prepared than at any point in recent history for difficult times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The effects of this pandemic would have been much worse had it caught us in a weak fiscal position. Fortunately, when it hit us, we had sufficient means to fight the battle and ramp up public spending," he said. (MNS)

the social amelioration program (SAP) or more commonly known as "ayuda" under the proposed P4.5 trillion national budget for 2021, Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado said Wednesday.

During a Senate budget hearing, Minority Leader Franklin Drilon asked why there is no allocation for the emergency cash aid when the number of Filipino families that would go under the poverty line is seen to increase because of the COV ID-19 pandemic.

"For 2021, we only have regular programs for the DSWD," Avisado said.

"We're looking at the improvement in the economy and the opportunity for people to be able to work already and we still have the regular programs, the 4Ps that will be continued," he added.

He said the P200 billion budget for SAP under the Bayanihan 1 law to benefit

P6 billion under the proposed Bayanihan 2 were provided because of the lockdowns that hampered many Filipinos from working.

"For next year, we're hoping that we can go back to the regular programs of DSWD. That is the reason why there is no provision for SAP for next year," Avisado said.

Further, he said the government is also investing in infrastructure projects which have "multiplier effect" in generating jobs and would facilitate more sustainable interventions to uplift the economic situation of Filipinos.

He added that this is better than merely giving dole-outs.

In response, Drilon said he would further scrutinize the DSWD budget.

Under the proposed budget for 2021, t he DSW D gets P171.2 billion while P667.3 billion was earmarked for the Department of Public Works and Highways. (MNS)

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Liza Soberano vows to support retrenched Star Magic staff

K

apamilya star Liza Soberano vowed to support the future endeavours of retrenched staff of Star Magic, the talent management arm of ABS-CBN. "First of all I just want to say thank you so much. Thank you for the friendship, for the guidance, for everything that you have done for the Star Magic family, for me and for Mr. M (Johnny Manahan) and Tita Mariole (Alberto). I know a lot of you guys are going through a really hard time right now and it just breaks my heart to think about it.

But I just want you guys to know that there's always a rainbow after the storm as cliche as it may sound. It's true and this may all be part of God's big plan for all of us.

And I just want to wish you guys nothing but the best,"

LIZA SOBERANO Soberano said in a video message was shared by Star Magic executive Thess Gubi on Instagram.

"If you guys ever need support, I'm here to give it in any way or form. If you guys have new businesses that you guys are planning on opening up or new ventures that you guys are looking into, I want to show my 100% support all the way through just please let me know how to," she said.

Soberano also said that she is not losing hope that ABS-CBN will make a comeback.

"I don't believe this is the end for all of us. I believe that ABS-CBN will one day come back stronger and better than ever and I believe that all of us will be together again," Soberano said.

Aside from Soberano, her fellow Star Magic artists Zanjoe Marudo and Enchong Dee also shared their messages for laid off employees of Star Magic.

Last Friday, August 28, thousands of employees spent their last day in ABS-CBN as a result of the company's retrenchment program, after its franchise application was killed by 70 lawmakers despite several government agencies clearing the network of supposed violations. (MNS)

JOSHUA GARCIA STILL HOPES TO CLEAR THE AIR WITH GERALD ANDERSON MANILA (Mabuhay) — If there is someone he would want to have a no holds barred conversation with, Joshua Garcia said it would have to be Gerald Anderson.

“Siguro si Kuya Gerald, pero hindi online. Hindi ko kailangang i-online. Siya.

Kasi na-realize ko nung quarantine, nung nag-lockdown, ang hirap, ang liit ng industriya namin. Ang hirap nung may ka-awkward-an,” he said.

According to Garcia, he already reached out to Anderson but the latter has yet to reply to him.

“Ang ginawa ko, tinext ko siya, sabi ko, ‘Bro, Joshua ito. Gusto ko lang maging honest, lahat.’ Tinext ko siya ng ganun, pero hindi pa siya nagre-reply,” he said.

Explaining why he wants to talk to him, Garcia said: “Para ma-clear lang 'yung air sa lahat ng nangyari.”

“Nahihirapan akong gumalaw, parang ganun 'yung feeling. 'Yun 'yung isa sa na-realize ko nung quarantine, nung lockdown. Ang hirap nung may ka-awkward-an ka. Nagka-issue kayo, ganyan,” he added.

Saying he has no more issues with Anderson, Garcia said he considers him his older brother especially because they have the same handler.

GERALD ANDERSON

JOSHUA GARCIA

“I'm being honest lang ha, kasi ako wala naman akong kaso sa kanya. Ako, sobrang cool na ako sa kanya. Ako, okay na ako sa kanya,” he said.

Garcia used to be in a relationship with Julia Barretto until they broke up mid-2019.

Later that year, Barretto was rumored to be the third party in Anderson’s relationship with Bea Alonzo, a matter which Anderson has already denied.

(MNS)

Bailey May marks third year with pop group Now United MANILA (Mabuhay) — Bailey May is celebrating his third anniversary as a member of global pop group Now United.

The former "Pinoy Big Brother" housemate on Tuesday took to Instagram to express his gratitude for being part of the group, which was formed by Simon Fuller, who famously created the reality TV

BAILEY MAY phenomenon "American Idol" and managed the career of the Spice Girls.

"The best 3 years of my life so far. I am so

grateful for everything thats happened in the past 3 years," May wrote in the caption.

"Thank you to Simon Fuller for giving me this amazing opportunity and most of all so grateful to you guys for your kindness, love and unconditional support. I’m very proud to be representing my country in Now United. The best is yet to come," May added.

Now United is an "interactive pop group for the new generation" composed of "incredible young performers from all over the world."

May, who is half-British, first became known on the Internet after covering OPM songs. (MNS)

Melai Cantiveros on marriage with Jason Francisco: 'Iwo-work out niyo talaga every day'

MELAI & JASON MANILA (Mabuhay) — Melai Cantiveros revealed her marriage with Jason Francisco is going strong although they also go through some bumps just like any other couple.

In fact, Cantiveros said that they had a big fight at the beginning of the lockdown that left them not talking to each other for days.

Sharing what happened, the TV host said: “Nung unang month kasi, hindi kami naggo-grocery sa amin. Sa loob lang talaga kami ng bahay. Ang nago-grocery sa amin, 'yung guard namin, pinapakiusapan namin. Para safe talaga kami.”

“Dumating 'yung time na kailangan talaga niyang asikasuhin 'yung mga [bagay] and pwede na lumabas. Ako takot ako kasi hindi ka pa marunong. Kapag lumabas ka, dapat alcohol ka bago ka humawak sa mata. Napunta na sa trust issue. So ako naman, kapag dadaldal na siya, magwo-walk out na ako,” she added.

Cantiveros said their fight was aggravated when Francisco told her that he would be needing the help of his personal assistant to settle some work matters.

“Nagalit ako. ‘Huwag ka na personal assistant kasi papapasukin pa dito.’

'Yung personal assistant niya, kaibigan niya din. Nagtampo siya. Ako naman, pakinggan mo ako kasi para sa kabutihan [natin ito]. Grabe ang sigawan dito,” she said.

Despite this, Cantiveros said both of them came around and that’s when they talked about their misunderstanding.

“Tahimik kami mga one week, hindi kami nag-iimikan. Hanggang sa bigla na lang siyang may kailangan sa akin tapos bigla din akong may kailangan sa kanya. Nag-usap na lang kami. Doon na kami nag-usap after one week na, wala na kaming galit sa isa’t isa. Nung nag-usap na kami, okay na,” she said.

Cantiveros said it is important for every couple to always choose to put their family as their top priority.

“Iwo-work out niyo talaga every day.

Magkakaroon kayo ng understanding.

I-choose niyo talaga ang isa’t isa kasi alam mong kailangan ng mga bata,” she said.

“Hindi ka na sarili mo lang ang iisipin mo. Kasi nung kayong dalawa pa lang, ‘Ayaw ko, ayaw ko.’ Pero ngayon, lagi mong iisipin ang mga bata kasi kapag nag-away kayo, maghahanap sa papa nila. Ito pa namang dalawa, papa’s girl,” she said.

Having said this, Cantiveros is certain she and Francisco can overcome any obstacles that may come their way. (MNS)

Saturday-Friday | September 12 - 18, 2020

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Settle down? KC Concepcion focuses on working on herself first nlike her mother and grandmother, KC Concepcion revealed she can never Uimagine herself as a politician’s wife.

Concepcion said she’s having trouble thinking that she would be settling with someone in politics because that’s not the life she wants for herself.

“I have trouble thinking that I would be with a politician and be a politician’s wife. I have trouble with that. I don’t know if that’s the life that I want. But I’m sure it’s a wonderful life. My mother is a politician’s wife. My grandmother is a politician’s wife. I think that’s wonderful for the women that are in it. I just don’t know that’s it for me,” she said.

Saying she would love a “very global life,” Concepcion shared what she’s actually looking for in a partner.

“I see myself as a global Filipina. I’m still very much Filipina.

Fluent ako sa Tagalog, fluent din ako sa English. Mahal ko

din 'yung culture natin but at the same time… I would like to be with someone na hindi lang Pilipinas ang mundo niya. Or maybe hindi nga siya taga-dito baka taga ibang bansa pa,” she said.

For Concepcion, it is ideal to have somebody that “helps me build at the same time that he’s building, somebody that will help me also explore and see the world.”

Despite saying this, Concepcion made it clear that her current focus is working on herself first.

“I was never ready in my 20s to really settle down talaga.

Hindi talaga 'yun ang hanap ko. I thought when I hit 30 that I would be ready. That I would be ‘Okay, Aly (Borromeo) is it’ nung time na 'yun. I thought everyone

was it ‘di ba? And then parang mare-realize mo na ako pala 'yung hindi ready din,” she said.

Concepcion said she is really trying to be “independent outside of all the relationships I’ve been with.”

“It’s fun to make your life and your days revolve around a guy.

But at the end of the day, the guy will only want to be with you however interesting your life is,” she said.

“Wherever, however happy you are with your life will be what he gets. More than ‘I want this or I want that. I don’t want this, I don’t want that.’ No. What kind of life do I want? What kind of life do I want to share? So that when the guy enters frame, maganda 'yung eksena na papasukan niya,” she added. (MNS)

McCoy de Leon signs up with Viva MANILA (Mabuhay) — Actor McCoy de Leon is the latest ABSCBN artist to make a career move amid the crisis besetting the network.

De Leon, 25, was a Star Magic artist for almost a decade. He announced on Friday that he is now under contract with Viva Artists Agency.

“Na-realize ko na hindi lahat nabibigyan ng opportunity,” de Leon said during the media conference welcoming him as a Viva talent. “Wala naman masama kung i-grab ko ‘yung opportunity.”

Signing up with Viva, de Leon clarified, doesn’t necessarily mean leaving ABS-CBN. It is possible he will still be seen in more projects with the Kapamilya network.

“ABS-CBN will always be my home. That will remain with me for the rest of my life,” de Leon said.

Under Star Magic, de Leon

McCOY DE LEON appeared in several TV series, notably “The Good Son” wherein he was among the lead stars. He was also part of the dance group Hashtags on “It’s Showtime,” and formed half of the “McLisse” tandem with Elisse Joson.

The love team starred in the 2019 film “Sakaling Maging Tayo.”

De Leon was most recently seen on the big screen via Star Cinema’s “Block Z.”

“Family,” was de Leon’s answer, when asked what he will miss most about being part of Star Magic. In fact, his handlers in the talent agency understood his decision to transfer to Viva.

“Sabi lang nila sa akin na, ‘Sige lang, mag-grow ka lang soar high,’” de Leon said.

With ABS-CBN no longer able to broadcast on free television, Star Magic is looking to expand its reach by having talents star in projects outside the network.

Formerly, Star Magic artists were exclusive to ABS-CBN. “I guess this is also the time for everyone to connect with one another since we’re doing the same thing – to entertain the people, make them happy, and at the same time to have work,” de Leon said.

Noting that he is currently filming an ABS-CBN series, de Leon said he is open to the possibility of also working in other networks.

(MNS)

KC CONCEPCION

KIM CHIU TO STAY A KAPAMILYA MANILA (Mabuhay) — Kim Chiu will remain a Kapamilya.

She was asked about whether she’s considering options outside ABS-CBN with her drama, “Love Thy Woman,” about to conclude.

“Sa ngayon, nasa Kapamilya network pa naman ako. …May ibinigay sa aking project that, of course, I am very happy to do. Still, Kapamilya,” the actress said, in a press conference for the finale week of “Love Thy Woman” held online.

The question hinged on the recent announcement of Star Magic head Johnny Manahan, who has encouraged their talents to explore opportunities elsewhere, after ABS-CBN was denied a franchise. This included possible work for rival networks GMA-7 and TV5.

Chiu said that she understands the jobs in their industry are limited at the

moment, given also the pandemic. “Binibigyan lang din kami ng chance kasi ‘yung iba wala namang work. On my side, sobrang lucky ako that ABS still [gives] me projects para manatili sa Kapamilya network.”

KIM CHIU She begged off detailing her next project, though she said that one of them will be with Xian Lim. “Malapit na rin kaming magsimula so it’s a surprise to all our solid supporters,” she teased.

Chiu and Lim are part of “Love Thy Woman,” which is set to conclude this week.

(MNS)

Julia Barretto wants to play mistress in Ina Raymundo's daughter Pinoy version of 'World of Married Couple' Erika Rae to join showbiz, MANILA (Mabuhay) — Actress Julia Barretto said that she wants to play the role of Yeo Da Kyung, the mistress turned wife, if ever they do a Filipino version of the hit South Korean series "A World of Married Couple."

In a television interview, Barretto admitted that she's a fan of "everything Korean." "'A World of the Married Couple.' If you guys have seen that. It’s one of the best in the world. I want do something like that,” Barretto said.

“But I want to be Da Kyung, the young girl. If you've seen it you would know.

She's the young girl there, she's so pretty," she added.

Da Kyung was portrayed by Korean actress Han So-hee.

Aside from Korean dramas, Barretto also revealed that she's a fan of the K-pop group BLACKPINK. (MNS)

signs with Cornerstone

JULIA BARRETTO

MANILA (Mabuhay) — Erika Rae, the daughter of actress Ina Raymundo, is set to join show business.

Ta lent management agency Cornerstone Entertainment Inc. welcomed Erika Rae as its newest artist.

Er i k a is t he eldest daughter of Raymundo and her husband Brian Poturnak.

On Instagram, Raymundo expressed support to her daughter as she shared ERIKA RAE the post of Cornerstone welcoming Erika Rae. In a previous interview, Raymundo said that she won't stop her daughter from joining showbiz.

Erika has been widely praised for her beauty and sensual appeal. (MNS)

www.Balita.com 20 16Visit Weekend BALITA

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Saturday-Friday | September 12 - 18, 2020

Baking helps family survive Covid-19 lockdown

“NO GOING BACK”... from Page 2

Los Angeles that we want to become.”

Finally, No Going Back includes a 15-chapter policy report. The dozens For adver tising, call (818) 552-4503 • email: adver tising@balita.comof policy recommendations within provide policymakers, community-based hen the going gets tough, organizations and engaged residents CAREGIVERS CAREGIVERS CAREGIVERS CAREGIVERS CAREGIVERS the tough get going. For with a comprehensive platform for replacing a broken system with a just couple Myro and Jhoy FerRN CAREGIVER CAREGIVER NEEDED MALE CAREGIVER LIVE-IN CAREGIVER CAREGIVERS society at every level of government.

Asap. Boarding care facility, papers Needed in Board & Care in Woodland Board & Care in North Hollywood is F“The helped them Female RN edu relievernandez, live-in w/ baking o r etime l d e r lis y now f a c i to l i t y.

M u slip t bsere forego papers, live-in preferred, salary Hills. Call 818-288-5406. looking for a caring & responsible vice to equality and policies rooted in meals. Care for wife 240/day xtra or w/o go through the tough times ¿QJHUSULQWHG :LOO WUDLQ LI QHFHVVDU\ part-time caregiver. No experience inequality,” said Jacqueline Waggoner, sleep, res time over time & holiday negotiable. W/ or w/o experience, we Callpresident 760-680-7755. can the train. coronavirus Call 909-354-2271. necessary. Call 818-982-6518. by the CA impact vice and Southern California pays. brought Located at Anaheim area. of market leader of Enterprise Commu310-480-9716 Paul.2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. disease nity Partners. “There are encouraging Balita Weekend Balita, Sat. - Fri., September 1 - 8, 2018 signs of greater awareness and wideFortunately, the couple from Barangay Muzon in spread willingness to confront the racMalabon did not have to start from scratch in their ism embedded in our systems. There baking business as the two already had their "M.S. is a new understanding of how income Baked Goods" up and running for some time, usually inequality and racial discrimination catering to family and friends craving for some homethreatens the health and well-being made cookies, cakes, and pies during the holidays. of our communities, and there are But with their funds running low as Myro's job as courageous, talented leaders emerging from community-based organizaa teacher at a nearby private school was affected by • Boulevard Apparel is in need of Office tions guiding us forward. The No Gothe pandemic, Jhoy said they decided to bake and sell Personnel with knowledge on ecommerce FULL TIME 6 DAYS WEEK IN WEST ingABack blueprint equipsHILLS us to create "pandesal", "ube pandesal", "Spanish bread", "putok" For advertising, call (818) 552-4503 email: ad (i.e, Amazon, Overstock, Ebay).

BAKING BUSINESS. Couple Myro and Jhoy Fernandez from Malabon bakes “ensaysolutions for a greater LA that•includes PART TIME ALSO AVAILABLE and "ensaymada" to the community. mada” andhow othertokinds of bread marketing and pastries to make ends meet. Many Filipinos everyone.”

• Knows construct Elderly Filipino Couple in Sun Valley, CA NIGHT SHIFT NEEDED "Paubos na kasi yung income tapos wala nang pu- have shifted to engaging in the food business, among others, amid the coronavirus To realize such a massive overhaul of campaigns. mapasokfemale kaya hindi namin alam kung kailan mag- disease Seeking companion/caregiver (NEAR CANOGA PARKthe AND WOODLAND AREA!) next 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. (Photo courtesy of Jhoy Fernandez). status quo, theHILLS Committee’s kaka-work ulit si Utoy3-5 (Myro's nickname) kaya kahit • Quickbooks and photoshop skills are a plus. phase includes: Preferably in home, Days/Week ayaw sana namin kasi delikado kasi madalas lalabas their baked goods were received shifted to selling other items as a Building awareness and consenTel.#friends, and means to earn additional income Please leavengyour contacttapos info at: sus, by engaging dozens of stakeholders para bumili ingredients mag deliver. Wala Eugene warmlyKaplan by family, in conversation about the report and ROOM FOR RENT sales@blvapparel.com (818) 773-0869 naman kaming choice, ayaw naman namin i-asa Email: their neighbors. during the quarantine period. CALL BETWEEN (PLEASE 9 AM. AND 5 PM. the need for systemic outcome-driven kay Nanay lahat ng gastos. Kaya iyon dasal nalang Right now, their average sales "Bukod sa tinapay, nag-aalok na Lake Balboa. Preferably female. No change; at tiwala na makakaya namin kahit may pandemic range from PHP700 PHP9,000. ako ng ibang paninda na kakids, notopets.

Near to all.din $550/Mo. Research and prioritizing policies, (We are slowly running out of funds out since no one "Hindi pare-pareho yung nag- hit maliit lang yung maging tubo, including additional analysis to idenincludepinaka utilities, maliit cable, internet.

Share was able to work during the lockdown and also, we ing benta, PHP700 pwede na din pag madami naman tify which recommendations to take on is seeking for an Administrative Assistant that have no idea on when 'Utoy' will be called to report naWTD benta tapos PHP9,000 bumili818lumalaki na din yung maliit bathroom.

Call pina818-997-9770; first, estimated costs, and who has the is driven,panahon enthusiastic, self-motivated and able to naman parating may power to enact them; to work again. Initially, we are scared to bake as it ka-malaki lang ng pan- kasi hindi 438-9866.

Advocacy for change, by developing do multi-tasking various administrative tasks, to order ng madaming would mean we will be out often buying ingredients demic yan (Salesofaren't uniform, benta or may strategies and investing in an organiprovide support for the activities of the Executive for our baking business and delivering lowest was PHP700 while tinapay (Aside from bread, I also for DD items to the our needed rs zational infrastructure; ive reg Ca le Management Team • Must have pleasant attitude and is Ma & customers.

We have no choice as we don't want to get le our biggest sale was PHP9,000, now selling other items even if the • Fema Amplifying and supporting commuCA. 'Nanay' (mom). And thanks this a team player • Must be proficient in Microsoft Outlook, living took place during the strictprofits are small, that could go up Anaheim,from s in expenses cilitie Faour nity-based movements; and s. se nu Bo l tia ten Word and Excel and other computer software • Office po & Almighty, we managed est phase of the lockdown for the if there are more orders, and beand to God benefits vetrust Moving hearts and minds to build s sick lea ferprayers • Ofto al dicinterview Mean is located in La California, office sides hours sales is fromor orders of bread are #. in to survive the pandemic)," said pandemic," sheMirada, added.

With SS c Jhoy eti community empathy and the will for erg en & ong str Balita Weekend Balita, Sat. Fri., September 1 8, 2018 be st • Mu to Friday on Monday.

Aside fromMonday fresh bread and08:00-17:30 other not always high,)" she added. change, through artistic expression. le.

Desirab grouand Back The Committee invites the entire Jhoy, mother of two, was also pleased to note that baked products, Jhoyyour saidresume she also (PNA) Please email to Camille community, including policy makers at camille@wtdus.com Please call and candidates for elected offices to join us in making the #NoGoingBackLA promise--a commitment to build a FILIPINO... from Page 3 more equitable and inclusive Los Anfamilies in Long Beach and Carson through purpose in life but to be stronger, to go abroad what age.” geles--by552-4503 signing up at nogoingback.la.

For adver tising, call (818) • email: ad the Bayanihan Community Response (BCR) and try to support my family.” When talking Performances include Sophia Reyes, a youth The Committee for Greater LA comnetwork. about why she decided to speak out against her program alumni, who sang “Ang Mahalaga” a prises a diverse group of civic and FMC partnered with the National Alliance for trafficker she said, “Don’t be afraid, just fightRENT song about justice and peace, originally per- community leaders and a joint USC/ FOR SALE Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) to create multi- for your life.” formed by the Filipino band, Asin.

UCLA research team, backed by local ple BCR networks across Southern California, Through FMC, labor trafficking survivors are The last song was a surprise rap performance philanthropy, who came together to ROOM to FOR by RENT which was part of NAFCON’s nationwide BCR educated on their rights and are empowered FMC staff detailing the ten years of Filipino address the racial disparities that the Lake Balboa.

Preferably female.

No campaign to respond to the COVID-19 pandem- seek justice against their traffickers and also Migrant Center’s organizing and social jus- COVID pandemic exposed. kids, pets.

Near totice all.work. $550/Mo. ic by providing groceries and meals, education connect with legal resources for no their cases.

Attendees also participated in an In the wake of the murders of Ahutilities, cable,interactive internet. Share about workers’ health and rights, and social Over the last decade, FMC include has helped over activity where they shared which maud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and bathroom.

Call 818-997-9770; support for families isolated in their homes.

50 Filipino trafficking survivors with various words they818associated with FMC. Some of the George Floyd, and the subsequent na438-9866.amount most common were Justice, Power, Hope, and tionwide protests, its focus expanded Several “Bayanihan Awards” were given to services and also helped a significant key volunteers in the different BCR networks. reunite with their families after years of sep- Community. to encompass a broader understandAwardees included Katherine Chua (Los An- aration.

Emcees Angelica Tan and Lester Ramos, en- ing of systemic racism. Over the past geles), Kathleen Porras (Long Beach/Carson), The last awardee of the day was Cherlin Ong- couraged all the attendees to embody FMC’s five months, drawing on new research Bayanihan Kollective (Orange County), and keko, who received the Outstanding Volunteer mission for justice, power, and hope by con- and personal testimony, the CommitJessica May Barcelona (San Diego). Other key Award for her contribution to FMC’s Census tinuing to volunteer for FMC’s programs, be- tee assembled a comprehensive picture BCR partners include API Forward Movement, outreach efforts, the Kapwa Kids program for coming a member, hosting future fundraisers, of the massive racial disparities and Romeo Chocolates, and Island Pacific Super- young children, and also her participation in and supporting campaigns to fight for workers economic disparities that pervade the market. the Kabataan Unite social justice youth lead- and migrants’ rights. region’s interconnected social systems, In keeping tradition with most Filipino par- and a vision of a comprehensive policy The “Courage Award” was given to two Fili- ership program. pino labor trafficking survivors from Los AnSpeaking about her volunteer experience, ties, the celebration ended with a virtual dance agenda to build a more equitable Los geles who were brought to America and were Ongkeko stated, “I wanted to get in touch with party where attendees danced & celebrated on Angeles for all. exploited, underpaid, and threatened by their my Filipino roots and support the community screen together.

No Going Back is online at nogoingemployers. Both of the survivors’ cases in court as much as I could. While volunteering with The Filipino Migrant Center will continue ed- back.la and on social media on Twitare currently ongoing, but they had the cour- children through seniors in FMC’s programs, ucating, organizing, and mobilizing the Filipino ter (@nogoingbackla) and Facebook age to share their stories. One of the survivors I learned the spirit of ‘Bayanihan’ is about con- community of Southern California for their (https://www.facebook.com/nogoingshared, “I am a single mom, I have no other necting and empowering people, no matter rights and welfare for years to come. backLA).

W

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COUNTY... from Page 1 wearing masks to keeping our distance to ARE YOU READY TO avoiding large gatherings –– and contact tracing is an absolutely essential part of our GIVE UP USING PLASTIC effort to track this virus and save lives,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.

STRAWS? “The Citizen SafePass app puts the power

Citizen. Officials encouraged residents to download the app to expand local efforts to track COVID-19 for L.A. County’s 10 million residents.

“The County’s partnership with SafePass is a valuable tool to help slow the spread of COVID-19 throughout our region,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

“The success of the SafePass app relies on a continued sense of community impact among our residents by asking individuals to do their part to protect themselves and their neighbors.”

“Contact tracing relies on residents sharing with us key information to identify close contacts, and today we are adding additional capacity for our program through SafePass,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health.

“This new tool allows everyone to share responsibility for protecting each other, and I want to thank Citizen for their innovation and commitment to helping us slow the spread of COVID-19.”

“We have to deploy every tool at our dis-

posal to halt the spread of COVID-19 –– from

of public health in the palms of our hands, equipping us with another way to expand our tracing programs, bend the COVID curve in the right direction, protect our families and friends, and build on recent progress against this deadly pandemic.”

“We must continue to use all available resources, data, and technology to fight COVID-19,” said Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia.

“In addition to our face coverings and physical distancing, contact tracing is an important part of beating this global health crisis.”

“COVID-19 knows no City boundaries, so we are thankful to have such strong partnerships with our neighboring Cities and the County to better serve our community,” said City of Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek.

“This app is another tool that our residents

SAVE OUR OCEANS AND MARINE LIFE!

can use to empower themselves to best take to potential exposures. Any users who have care of their health, and the health of those meaningful contact with another user who later tests positive for COVID-19 will receive around them.”

“It's promising to hear one of the greatest a notification to get tested. cities in America is embracing technology The app also offers immediate access to to fight this epidemic,” said Citizen CEO eligible users for a free at-home testing kit Andrew Frame. for those who have been notified of exposure “With a possible second wave on the ho- through the app and provides up to date inrizon, it's critical we prepare now for the formation about all active testing sites in future. The way to contain the virus until the Los Angeles County (terms and conditions vaccine arrives is to do our part by wearing apply see https://citizen.com/tracing/tests). masks, social distancing, contact tracing, All location data is anonymized and deand to get tested frequently through the free leted after 30 days. To learn more about testing resources provided by theweekendbalita.com City of SafePass, visit citizen.com/safepass.

Los Angeles."

The County of Los Angeles and City of Los The Citizen SafePass mobile app comple- Angeles have tested more than two million ments the existing local COVID-19 response people since the start of the pandemic at efforts in Los Angeles County by introducing testing sites located across the region. an innovative tool that ramps up the critiSimilarly, over 2,600 County and City cal contact tracing process. Following three workers have been deployed by the L.A. months of testing with more than 700,000 County Public Health Department to conusers, SafePass was recently made available duct critical contact tracing services. to users across the United States.

For more information about available Using Bluetooth technology and an- testing in Los Angeles, visit https://covid19. onymized data, SafePass tracks any close lacounty.gov/testing/ or coronavirus.lacity. contacts with other users, and alerts them org/testing.

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(A person must pray this for three consecutive days without stating his wish. After the 3rd day the wish will be granted, no matter how GLI¿FXOW LW PD\ EH 3URPLVH WR SXEOLVK WKLV DV VRRQ DV \RXU IDYRU KDV been granted. Grateful Thanks) - God bless - ATE VIV

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Health & Family Health Family

Saturday-Friday Saturday-Friday || September September 12 12 -- 18 18,, 2020

COVID-19 vaccine availability depends on gov't negotiations with developers — PCHRD MANILA (Mabuhay) — The availability of an effective COVID-19 vaccine to the Philippines will depend on the negotiations between the government and the vaccine developer, even if the country is a participant in clinical trials, the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PHCRD) said Wednesday.

PCHRD executive director Dr. Jaime Montoya made the remark during the House panel deliberations on the proposed budget of the Department of Science and Technology for 2021.

During the hearing, House appropriations panel vice chair Ruffy Biazon asked if the Philippines' participation in clinical trials will allow it to get priority in the distribution of these COVID-19 vaccines once they are proven effective.

Montoya, in response, assured that

an effective COVID-19 vaccine will be available to Filipinos, but there is no assurance on when this will be available.

"Basta ang isang vaccine developer ay naggawa ng clinical trial sa isang bansa, they will make that vaccine available. Ang tanong lang is kaagad ba? Alam natin na itong panahon ng COVID-19, lahat ng bansa ay nag-uunahan na makakuha ng bakuna," he said.

"Ang kasiguraduhan lang po niyan, sigurado magkakaroon tayo. Depende na sa negosasyon na maaaring gagawin ng ating pamahalaan sa mga vaccine ng developer ng mga bakuna na magiging successful kung paano tayo mauuna sa pila," he added.

Back in May, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) approved the DOST's recommendation

that the Philippines participate in the clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccines.

The collaborating organizations for the clinical trials include the Adimmune Corporation, Acedemia Sinica, the Chinese Academy of Science Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health, and SinoPharma - Wuhan Institute of Biological Products and Beijing Institute.

The Philippines also joined the upcoming Phase 3 clinical trials for Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V running from October 2020 to March 2021, with Russia expected to shoulder the costs.

But even if the country is a participant of these clinical trials, DOST Secretary Fortunato Dela Peña said it does not mean that the Philippines is committing to purchase vaccines from these developers.

"Kung ang bakuna na ito ay okay,

'yung isang bakuna ay okay din, hindi naman tayo puwedeng patali habang nagki-clinical trials," he said.

"Kung bibili tayo sa kanila, obligado sila dahil dito nila ginawa 'yung trials. Pero hindi tayo magco-commit na bibili tayo sa kanila kahit dito ginawa trial. Dahil tayo ay magko-compare pa rin. Dadaan 'yan sa procurement process," he added.

Dela Peña said the IATF has already approved the DOST's recommendation to create a sub-technical working group (TWG) for vaccine procurement.

"Doon sa vaccine procurement, DBM (Department of Budget and Management) na ang magche-chair ng sub-TWG at pitong ahensya ang kasali. Pero magsasabi pa rin kung ilan at alin ang bibilhin ay DOH (Department of Health)," he added.

(MNS)

Task force vs. COVID-19 eyes prohibiting public from going to cemeteries during Undas

DOH backs ban on home quarantine to prevent community transmission MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Department of Health has backed the National Task Force’s proposal for prohibition on home quarantine for COVID-19 patients and their close contacts to prevent community transmission.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire made the announcement a day after Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said that the government is eyeing a ban on home quarantine and that such measure will be enforced within a week.

“Based on observations of the National Task Force, marami ang naka-home quarantine at preferred ito ng mga tao, at nagkakaroon ng community transmission. Kaya ayon po sa proposal ng National Task Force, mas preferred na po ng gobyerno na iyong mga symptomatic at mga close contact [ng COVID-19 patients] ay ma-isolate sa TTMF instead of home quarantine," Vergeire said in an online briefing.

The health official said as of September 5, which is the latest available data , 84.9% of 1,742 clusters of COVID-19 cases in the country are due to community transmission.

Meanwhile, as of September 6, at least 41% of the 167,000 beds in state-run quarantine facilities are occupied.

The highest occupancy rate at 59% is recorded in Metro Manila where the bulk of COVID-19 cases are, followed by Region 5 at 56%, and Region 2 at 51%.

The Cordillera Administrative Region, Region 3, and Region 4, on the other hand, did not meet the minimum standard of having one bed in a quarantine facility per 2,500 of the population.

In an interview on Unang Hirit, Año said 50,000 more contact tracers will be hired in the coming days in addition to the 238,000 that were already recruited. The additional contact tracers to be hired can be deployed in areas where workforce for contacting is really needed.

He said 20,000 contact tracers will be deployed to Luzon; 15,000 to the Visayas; and another 15,000 to Mindanao. (MNS)

MANILA (Mabuhay) — The National Task Force against COVID-19 will recommend that the public be prohibited to go to cemeteries during the Undas holidays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an official said Wednesday.

At a press briefing, deputy chief implementer of the national policy against COVID-19 and testing czar Vince Dizon said nothing is final yet as this will still be discussed by concerned agencies. "'Yung specifics kung ano 'y ung g uidelines, 'di ko pa masasabi ngayon. Definitely, ang irerekomenda ng NTF is 'yung ating kinagawian na pagpupunta ng maraming tao sa sementeryo, hindi natin 'yan puwedeng gawin ngayong 2020 dahil sa COVID-19," Dizon said.

"Ngayon, kung ano 'yung ma-

giging guidelines, kung sarado ba ang sementeryo, 'yan po ay idi-discuss pa," he added.

This came a day after Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno said that public and private cemeteries in the city would be closed from October 31 to November 3.

Moreno said this measure could further prevent the transmission of COVID-19.

The mayor said he made an early announcement so that the public could still have time to visit their deceased loved ones.

Meanwhile, Dizon said the NTF against COVID-19 respects and admires the move of Moreno.

"Sa City of Manila, nirerespeto natin at hinahangaan natin ang desisyon, ang matapang na desisyon ni Mayor Isko para sa City of Manila," Dizon said. (MNS)

BALITA 19 Health & Family Health Family Frontliners lauded as PH flattens Covid-19 curve

Saturday-Friday | September 12 - 18, 18 ,2020 2020

MANILA (Mabuhay) — Testing czar and National Policy Against Covid-19 deputy chief implementer Secretary Vince Dizon lauded medical doctors, nurses, and other frontliners for their work and sacrifices which greatly contributed to the flattening of the Covid-19 curve in the country.

During the Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (CODE) team visit in Taguig on Tuesday together with the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATFEID), Dizon encouraged front-liners to just continue with what they are doing.

Dizon acknowledged the important role being played by the frontliners in the fight against the pandemic as he stressed that the government will not be effective in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic without them as they are the ones directly dealing and taking care of Covid-19 positive patients.

“Never get tired from doing what you have been doing all this time and please just continue,” Dizon said in a mix of English and Filipino.

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Dizon also stressed the important role of the local government units (LGUs) and the cooperation of the whole community in following protocols enforced by the LGUs. Citing the report made by the University of the Philippines OCTA Research Team that “the curve has already flattened”, Dizon said the country's Covid-19 fight is still far

DOH clarifies: Process of crushing of dolomite hazardous to health MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Department of Health clarified Tuesday that the process of crushing dolomite was harmful and not the product itself.

The agency had earlier warned that crushed dolomite may cause respiratory issues as the environment department began dumping artificial white sand in Manila Bay. "Ito pong proseso ng pagka-crush ng dolomite, dun po tayo nagkakaroon ng hazardous event or effects sa katawan.

As long as it is processed already, hindi na po ganun ang kaniyang epekto sa mga population o sa mga tao," DOH Undersecretary and spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said.

"Sinisiguro naman po ng DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) na ito po ay will not harm the environment nor the population. Hindi naman po yan bibigyan ng clearance ng DENR kung ito ay makakasama sa kalusugan ng ating mga kababayan."

Wearing of face masks will also

prevent possible harmful effects to a person's respiratory system, Vergeire added.

"Tayo po ay nagpapatupad ng minimum health standard. Tayo po ay nakamask kung sakali there would be this kind of effect to our respiratory system, by using the mask we can be able to prevent that," she said.

The DENR's move to dump synthetic white sand nearby Manila Bay has received criticism, with environmental groups saying it violated several laws.

(MNS)

from over.

“While it is true that the easiest thing to do is to claim that we have won, but the truth is, this war is not yet over and it is still far from being over. This virus is a traitor because just when we start being at ease and not wear a mask or no longer wash our hands frequently or do not observe physical distancing anymore, the vi-

Weekend

rus will hit us, consistency is the key, let us not stop in our efforts,” he said.

Meanwhile, NTF special adviser Dr. Ted Herbosa shared their experiences in visiting other LGUs in the country and discussed the best practices of Cebu City and Navotas.

He said Cebu City once became the epicenter of Covid-19 in the country because they found out that barangay officials themselves do not implement the imposed health safety protocols in their areas.

Cebu City has contained Covid-19 through the help of the national government and that now, Bacolod has become a hotspot.

“This fight is in the communities and the role of the local chief executives and the head of the barangay is very important,” he said.

Dizon assured Taguig City officials that the national government will continue to support them.

The team also delivered face masks courtesy of the national government, the DOH, and the IATF, to be given to residents of Taguig as he promised that they will also provide the city government test kits for their new laboratory. (MNS)

Philippines will go for cheapest COVID-19 vaccine — Duterte MANILA (Mabuhay) — Given the country's scarce funds, President Rodrigo Duterte said the Philippines will buy the cheapest COVID-19 vaccine that will be available in the market, saying all vaccines have the same effect.

"It's there. I think it's Moderna, it is a US company, I think they are ready

by September. . . . Sinovac, China is also ready," he said in a taped address aired nationwide Monday.

"Kung sino magbigay ng mura dun tayo pupunta. We know we don’t have much money, kung mahal masyado, we will go for the less expensive ones," Duterte added.

Under the proposed Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, which is awaiting Duterte's signature, a P10 billion standby fund for COVID-19 vaccines and for testing has been set aside.

Duterte earlier said the Philippine government will pay for the vaccines that would be made available to Filipinos to fight COVID-19.

He also added that he will be asking the Russian and Chinese governments for loans for the vaccines due to the “economic hemorrhage” the country is facing.

In his message, Duterte declared that the Philippines has "flattened the curve" in its campaign against the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

"We had obedience and people followed that meant a lot and contributed to what is happening now that there's a flattening of cases," he said.

"Yung local government also played a vital role in the [enforcement] of anti-virus measures. I salute you for doing your duty very well," he added.

He called on the people to remain vigilant despite the positive development, adding this does not mean that COVID-19 is gone but remains "floating." (MNS)

ONE HOSPITAL COMMAND CENTER REPORTS 90% SUCCESS RATE MANILA (Mabuhay) — The The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday reported that the One Hospital Command Center (OHCC), a health care referral network linked with service providers such as hospitals, quarantine facilities, and medical transportation, has successfully closed 2,202 out of 2,447 cases to date, indicating a 90 percent success rate in its ability to quickly connect Filipinos needing medical attention.

Part of the nation’s response to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), or the Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate framework, the OHCC is a centralized system that Filipinos can call prior to seeking medical assistance so that they are guaranteed a slot at an available and appropriate healthcare facility.

“The high success rate in closing cases is also attributed to the increasing C o v i d-19 b e d capacities in d i f ferent hospitals and facilities across t h e count r y , with the OHCC ensuring that the demand for beds and facilities

HEALTH SECRETARY FRANCISCO T. DUQUE III

is appropriately and adequately met,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said.

He said the OHCC continues to work with hospitals and health facilities to meet the prescribed Covid-19 bed allocation of 30 percent for public beds and 20 percent for private beds asset by Administrative Order 2020-0016.

“According to the latest health system capacity report as of September 6, there was an overall increase in the number of dedicated beds from 20,620 last September 2 to 20,888 on September 6,” he added.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire said the government through the help of local governments will build OHCC in different regions.

“Magkakaroon narin po tayo ng ganitong center sa iba't-ibang region natin to coordinate our referral system sa ating overall response. Sa bawat hakbang laban sa Covid-19, patuloy po nating bibigyan ng emphasis ang people-centered care (We will have this kind of center in different regions to coordinate our referral system for our overall response. In every step of our fight against Covid-19, we will continue to give emphasis on the people-center care),” Vergerie said in a media forum.

Vergeire added that the OHCC was created not only to help provide patients with quicker access to medical services, but also to help relieve the burden on the health care system by ensuring that cases are referred to facilities where there is still capacity.

She noted that it will help prevent overloading of hospitals, as well as healthcare workers.

According to OHCC Operations Manager, Dr. Bernadett Velasco, OHCC provides patients with 24/7 access to

healthcare referral through its off-site center.

Agents at that command center are able to check availability of medical staff at the different healthcare facilities in the network, and can even check for available beds at both private and private hospitals as well as the temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMF) through the DOH’s bed tracker.

It takes about three to five minutes for an agent to gather information from a stable patient, including symptoms, location, Covid-19 status, and whether the patient prefers to be admitted to a private or public health center.

Callers are then given feedback on how to proceed to an available facility, and in the case that they need assistance with transportation, the OHCC also helps arrange transportation through one of the partners, such as Bureau of Fire Protection, the Philippine Red Cross, and the local government units.

For emergency cases that require urgent attention, Velasco said patients are usually transported to a facility within the day.

“Unti-unti po nating ini-improve ang ating serbisyo sa One Hospital Command Center at unti-unti rin po tayo naga-augment ng mga manpower natin dahil kailangan po natin sila i-train para sumagot ng mga medical inquiries at mag-facilitate pong coordination to different facilities (Let us gradually improve our services at One Hospital Command Center and slowly augment our manpower because we need to train them how to answer medical inquiries and facilitate coordination to different facilities,” Velasco said.

The center can be accessed in three different ways: by downloading the free Pure Force Citizens application, through the dedicated hotlin es;02-886-505-00,0915-777-7777 and 0919-977-3333, and by scanning its Quick Response (QR) code. (MNS)

20

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Driving People Happy

SUBARU OF GLENDALE 1308 S Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91204 www.SubaruofGlendale.net

855-230-1547 Andrew Marilla Christian Marilla Sales & Leasing Finance Manager

Enzo Patnongon Sale & Leasing Consultant

Subaru, Forester, Outback, Tribeca, Legacy, Impreza, WRX, STI, and SUBARU BOXER are registered trademarks. Purchase or lease any new (previously untitled) Subaru and receive a complimentary factory scheduled maintainance plan for 2 years or 24,000 miles (whichever comes first).

See Subaru Added Security Maintenance Plan for intervals, coverage and limitations. Customer must take delivery before 12-31-20 and reside within the promotional area. At participating dealers only. See dealer for program details and eligibility.