Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 9 | Thursday, March 19, 2020

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VOL.13 ISSUE 9 • THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2020

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Motorists entering Davao City undergo strict inspection at Task Force Davao checkpoint in Brgy. Lasang, Davao City. The city government of Davao will end the implementation of partial lockdown in Brgy. Lasang starting 12:01 a.m. tomorrow in time for the implementation of the regionwide lockdown. Lean Daval Jr

AVOIDING CROWDS

Muslim communities told to follow city guidelines

By MAYA M. PADILLO he Muslim communities in Davao City were told to follow guidelines issued by the City Government of Davao on the suspension of all religious activities while the city is under community quarantine.

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Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio recently signed an Executive Order (EO)

discouraging mass gatherings including religious and faith-based activities

following the declaration of a public health emergency in the entire country due to the threat of the new coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19).

“Ang instructions namin sa mga Muslims ay sumunod sa mga guidelines at gawin natin ang part natin at huwag na po dagdagan ang problema.

Maging solusyon sa problema sa paggawa ng mga nanarapat at sundin ang guidelines ng local government of Davao,” said Alim Jamal Munib, director of Madrasa Comprehensive Development and Promotion Program in Davao City in a live interview on government-owned Davao City Disaster Radio on

Wednesday.

In a statement read

by Munib, Darul Ifta of Region 11, the temporary suspension of congregational prayers in mosques within Davao region is in response to the preventive measures regarding the Covid-19 outbreak.

It also stated that due to the rapid spread of the

virus, “Salatud Dhuhr” or the fourth of the �ive daily obligatory prayers (salah) for practicing Muslims must be performed by families within their houses in replacement to the “Salatul Jumu'ah” or sermon delivered in mosques before the Friday prayer on Fridays.

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 9 • THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2020

An elderly man crosses a quiet and traffic-free San Pedro Street in Davao City on Wednesday, three days after Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio placed the city under community quarantine. Lean Daval Jr

City gov’t extends T liquor ban hours

CTOO spearheads TikTok challenge to prevent spread of coronavirus

By MAYA M. PADILLO he city government of Davao has extended the hours of liquor ban from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. beginning March 19 (Thursday) following the Davao Region Covid-19 Task Force’s implementation of a 14-day suspension of land, sea, and air travels to limit the spread of coronavirus.

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Sara Duterte-Carpio said Davao City will implement a 5 p.m. to 8 a.m liquor ban that will continue every

day until the public health emergency is lifted.

She said the City Legal Of�ice has approved for the extension of the liquor ban.

“Karon ang liquor ban sa Davao City kay 1 a.m, to 8 a.m., but starting today gipataas nato ang liquor ban from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Gihatagan sa nato ug one day nga maka-prepare ang mga bars and establishments,” Mayor Sara said.

Those establishments

32-year-old native of Lanao del Sur who is now con�ined in Cotabato City is the third con�irmed case of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Mindanao, a health of�icial said, as Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi appealed to Muslim Filipinos who joined a big religious gathering in Malaysia to undergo self-quarantine to help contain the spread of COVID-19.

Arjohn Gangoso, DOH12 health education and promotion of�icer, told MindaNews that the third case was designated by

the DOH national of�ice as PH145, or the Philippines’s 145th con�irmed case. He is now con�ined at the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center here and is now recovering, Gangoso added.

He said PH145 joined 214 other Filipino Muslim delegates in the tabligh gathering in Kuala Lumpur from February 27 to March 1 where 16,000 attended, 1,500 of them foreigners. That gathering was reportedly the source of most of Malaysia’s COVID-19 infection.

But one of those who went to the Malaysia gath-

ering died at the Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi City Tuesday.

Member of Parliament Zia Alonto Adiong, spokesperson of the provincial task force on COVID-19 in Lanao del Sur, said the patient tested positive, according to laboratory results from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Manila, which came out after his death.

The �irst COVID-19 case in Mindanao was the Philippines’s Patient No. 40, designated by the Department of Health (DOH) as PH40. He was report-

In a live interview on government-owned Davao City Disaster Radio 87.5 on Wednesday, Mayor

that will violate the extended hours of liquor ban will be penalized and face closure.

Mayor Sara said the Executive Order (EO) of the new liquor ban will follow.

On March 16, the Province of Davao de Oro implemented a province-wide curfew and liquor ban from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. that will be strictly observed in all barangays as long as the province is under partial lockdown.

edly from Lanao del Sur, went home to Lanao del Sur via the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental, admitted at the Adventist Medical Center in Iligan City, then referred to the Northern Mindanao Medical Center, where he died on March 13.

The second case is a 21-year-old female who came from the United Kingdom, admitted at the Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City and is reported to be doing well.

Mayor Sayadi, in a press brie�ing Tuesday,

Mindanao now has three confirmed COVID-19 cases

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he local government of Davao City Tourism Operations Of�ice (CTOO) is spearheading a popular TikTok challenge which aims to encourage residents in following the guidelines set by the City Government in preventing the spread of COVID-19 ( Corona Virus Disease 2019).

TikTok is a social media application which allows users to create short videos of themselves lip-syncing to songs and movie dialogues or dance to their favorite music.

“Our aim is to encourage people to stay at home, so we created an interesting activity where many can relate,” Generose Tecson, CTOO head said.

The CTOO project is in consonance with City Government issued guidelines which encourages people

to stay inside their homes and refrain from unnecessary travel.

Tecson has observed on social media, Dabawenyos doing TikTok and thought of it as a way to promote the guidelines set by the City Government.

The post by the CTOO announcing the TikTok contest garnered 2,000 shares in just 20 minutes.

“I was shocked, that in just 20 minutes we had 2,000 shares, that’s how popular TikTok is.” Tecson said.

The contest has various themes which refers to various parts of the houses, participants must create their TikTok video in the speci�ied part of the house which is the theme of the day.

For the �irst day of the contest, the theme was “Ku-

CT0O, P9

MinDA ensures food supplies reach Mindanao’s island provinces

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he Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) has initiated a monitoring system to determine the suf�iciency of food and other critical household items in Mindanao, especially in the island provinces.

In his Facebook post on Wednesday, Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the monitoring system will be handled by the Area Management Of�ices (AMO) of MinDA. “It was established following a call for help from Tawi-Tawi Governor Mang Sali in view of the prov-

ince's depleted rice supply,” he said.

He noted that the imposition of lockdowns by the different local government units has affected the movement of food supplies, especially to remote areas.

“With that, MinDA will ensure that the food needs of the remote areas and isolated islands are provided for by tapping Naval assets and commercial vessels,” Piñol added. The islands of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, including the small island communi-

MINDA, P9

VOL.13 ISSUE 9 • THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2020

NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

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IATF-EID to discuss gov’t social amelioration program

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Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio announces in a live radio broadcast on Wednesday that the city government of Davao will implement a 5PM to 8AM Liquor Ban beginning today to continue everyday until the Public Health Emergency is lifted. Lean Daval Jr

10,000 face masks mass produced for commuters

By MAYA M. PADILLO o address the shortage of face masks, the city government of Davao has mass produced 10,000 locally-designed face masks to be used by commuters as protection from coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19).

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The masks are designed by doctors from the city and manufactured locally. It will be distributed as soon as its production is completed.

“Our doctors designed a temporary mask para gam-

iton sa pag-biyahe. Gidala ang design sa mananahi ug nakapabuhat ta ug 10,000 masks para sa commuters sa Davao City. Katong mga pasahero nga walay mask hatagan nato ug mask,” said Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio

DOT welcomes lifting of outbound travel ban for OFWs, foreigners

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he Department of Tourism (DOT) has lauded the lifting of the travel ban on outbound passengers, except Filipino tourists, in line with the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.

“The Department of Tourism welcomed the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to lift the 72-hour window for individuals departing overseas.

DOT coordinated with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Labor and Employment to provide the joint guidelines for the lifting of the ban,” the department said in a statement released on Wednesday.

Upon the updated guidelines, overseas Filipino workers, balikbayans, and foreign nationals will be allowed to leave at any time during the quarantine in Luzon, provided they travel only to the airport within 24 hours of the date and time of their depar-

in an interview on government-owned Davao City Disaster radio 87.5 on Wednesday.

The design of the mask was also shared to the provincial governors in Davao Region who are expected to produce the same face mask.

The move is in line with the instructions of the medical experts for local government units (LGUs) in Davao Region to come up with a uniform health system campaigns while lock-

ing down the region for 14 days amid Covid-19 threat.

“We will be doing the same campaign materials with other LGUs,” Mayor Sara said.

The LGUs in Davao Region have uni�ied rules under the community quarantine: people should stay in their homes, come out to work, buy food or medicines, go to hospital, and take out garbage.

“All other activities are prohibited in Davao Region,” she said.

he Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases’ (IATFEID) technical working group is set to discuss a government program that would address the needs of displaced workers due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak in the country.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the IATF-EID technical working group, chaired by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), is tasked to ensure the effective implementation of the social amelioration program.

Other members of the group are the Of�ice of the President and the departments of budget, �inance, and labor, Nograles said.

“A separate IATF technical working group is hereby directed to meet for the purpose of operationalizing the social amelioration program of government,” he said.

This came after President Rodrigo Duterte placed Luzon under “enhanced” community quarantine until April 12 to stop the further spread of Covid-19 in the country.

More than 5.3 million people in Luzon can only leave their homes to access basic necessities.

Most work is suspended, except in the case of individuals who are rendering health and essential services.

Emergency employment Nograles said the IATFEID has authorized the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to accredit a skeletal staff who would facilitate the conduct of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.

The TUPAD program, a community-based package of assistance, provides emergency employment

for displaced workers, underemployed, and unemployed poor for a maximum period of one month.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said his department could offer to formal and informal workers who have been displaced due to the Covid-19 threat jobs related to the disinfection of homes and other access roads.

“Ito ang trabaho na ibibigay namin sa informal workers (This is the job that we can offer to informal workers). We also offer the same program to formal workers and we pay them the same minimum wage,” Bello said.

Quick Response Fund Duterte has placed the entire Philippines under a state of calamity for six months to allow the government to tap additional funds to contain the spread of Covid-19.

As of Tuesday, the Department of Health reported that the number of Covid-19 cases in the country has climbed to 187.

Nograles said all local government units (LGUs), as �irst responders, could now tap their respective Quick Response Funds following the declaration of the nationwide state of calamity.

He said local governments should attend to the needs of their constituents, especially those who belong to the marginalized sector.

“Yung pinaka-front line natin dito is ‘yung LGUs (LGUs are on the front line here),” Nograles said. “Kaya tayo nasa state of calamity, para maka-tap sila sa kanilang Quick Response Fund nila (We’re under a state of calamity so they could tap their Quick Response Fund).”

Duterte earlier directed village captains to distribute food to people who are living in their respective

IATF-EID, P9

ture.

Outgoing passengers are advised to provide documents of their departure, such as an electronic ticket or �light itinerary.

“Filipino citizens are strictly not allowed to take an outbound international �light to countries where travel restrictions are in place,” the DOT said.

On transportation arrangements, outbound passengers may be accompanied by only one companion or driver to and from the airport.

Their companion is advised to carry a copy of the passenger’s e-ticket or itinerary.

Assistance to tourists For tourists requiring assistance, a Tourism Airport Team is stationed at airports to provide them 24-hour service, including assistance in arranging �lights, securing bookings, transportation, meals, and

DOT, P9

Muslim women attend a gathering at Tionko Field in Davao City in this undated photo. Muslim communities in Davao City are urged to follow the guidelines issued by the City Government of Davao on the suspen-

sion of all religious activities while the city is under community quarantine. Lean Daval Jr

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 9 • THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2020

Gov’t urges deferment of utility, loan payments amid quarantine

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Cebu Pacific announces that all its flights, including flights of its subsidiary, CebGo, will be canceled from March 19 to April 14 in support of the government’s efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). Lean Daval Jr

rade Secretary Ramon Lopez has urged utility companies to postpone payments during the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.

“We are trying to work also on deferring some of the costs like payment of utility bills,” Lopez said during the Laging Handa public brie�ing on Tuesday.

He added that payment for amortization and loans shall be put off. Lowering interest rates shall also be considered.

On Monday, Manila Electric Company (Meralco) announced it will provide a 30-day payment extension for bills due from March 1 to Apr. 14, 2020.

PrimeWater, a water service provider in Bulacan, also gives payment extension for 30 days for bills due from March 17 to 31, 2020.

Lopez said the government is ready to provide regulatory relief to ease the burden of Filipinos as restrictions due to the enhanced community quarantine prevent some workers to go to their jobs and earn. A number of companies are implementing “no work, no pay” policy.

“From the economic cluster headed by Secretary (Carlos) Dominguez (III), he announced last night that there is a PHP27-billion package from government agencies to help businesses and workers affected by the Covid-19,” the trade chief said in Filipino.

President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire island of Luzon under enhanced community quarantine until Apr. 12, 2020 to further limit the movement of people. (PNA)

hilippine �inancial markets are set to re-open any day now after getting an exemption from the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.

In a joint statement released early Wednesday, the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp.

(PDEX), Philippine Depository & Trust Corp., and Philippine Securities Settlement Corp. suspended operations on Tuesday in line with government measures to counter a further rise in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases.

“In its meeting later today (Tuesday), the IATF granted the trading platforms' exemption from the enhanced quarantine measures after they assured the authorities that necessary safeguards to ensure the safety of their employees and the community they interact with are in place,” it said.

Asked when these market platforms would resume operations, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said this would depend on of�icials of these institutions.

“When they are able to,” Dominguez said in a Viber message to journalists late

Tuesday.

On March 17, the Department of Health (DOH) reported two new Covid-19 deaths, bringing the total for the country to 14.

Con�irmed cases have risen to 187 while cases of recovery reached four.

Meanwhile, the BSP, in a statement on Tuesday night, said the auction for its term deposit facility (TDF), held every Wednesday, would be suspended this week and banks' placements in the TDF that are due to mature "will be credited automatically to their respective account balances."

"The cancellation of the scheduled TDF auction is intended to ensure adequate short-term peso liquidity conditions in the �inancial system and support the smooth �low of funding to businesses and households as enhanced quarantine measures are implemented in Luzon," the BSP said.

It also assured stakeholders that the overnight lending facility "will remain available to cover (the) temporary liquidity needs of BSP counterparties."

"The RRP (reverse repurchase) and overnight deposit facilities will likewise remain open to help counterparties manage their liquidity requirements," the BSP added.

(PNA)

IATF greenlights PH financial market ops

Tourism sector to get big share from Covid-19 relief package P

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he tourism sector will receive a large chunk of the PHP27.1-billion package set by the government to cushion the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

In a statement on Tuesday, the Department of Finance (DOF) said a PHP14-billion aid from the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) has been earmarked for various programs and projects of the Department of Tourism.

It said about PHP3.1 billion, to be sourced from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Of�ice (PCSO) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), will be used to purchase test kits, among others.

Other �iscal support package includes: • PHP1.2 billion from the Social Security System (SSS) to be used as unemployment bene�its for workers from the private sector • PHP3-billion scholarship grant for the upskilling and reskilling of temporarily displaced workers to be

implemented by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) • PHP2.8 billion under the Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Credit Policy Council (DA-ACPC) for up to PHP25,000 loans at zero interest rate for smallholder farmers and �isherfolk in calamity and disaster areas • PHP1 billion for the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-Asenso (P3) Micro�inancing special loan package of the Small Business Corp. (SBC) for affected micro, small and medium enterprises • PHP2 billion initial budget by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for social protection programs for workers whose works in establishments affected by the Covid-19 pandemic Dominguez said these relief packages are de-

signed to ensure that funding is available for the efforts of the Department of Health (DOH) to contain the spread of Covid-19.

These will also provide economic relief to those whose businesses and livelihoods have been affected by the spread of the disease, he said.

“As directed by President (Rodrigo) Duterte, the government will provide targeted and direct programs to guarantee that bene�its will go to our workers and other affected sectors. We have enough but limited resources so our job is to make sure that we have suf�icient funds for programs mitigating the adverse effects of Covid-19 on our economy,” he added.

In a media statement, Dominguez attributed the large share of aid for the tourism sector to the fact that it “is the most affected sector” to date.

“Besides, our negotiations for USD1 loans for combating Covid (is) still in process,” he added.

The statement said additional support packages approved by the Economic Development Cluster (EDC) are:

• A loan program of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) intended for affected government employees and retirees; • Mobilization of funds from government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs) to assist airlines and the rest of the tourism industry; • Programs of the largest government banks to help address the impact of the health emergency, such as the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP)’s Rehabilitation Support Program on Severe Events (RESPONSE) which provides public and private institutions in areas declared under a state of calamity with low-interest loans under a simpli�ied application procedure; and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK)’ offer of restructured loan amortizations by giving longer tenor and grace periods, with the option of a �ixed interest rate under the LANDBANK Calamity Rehabilitation Support (LBP CARES); and • The grant of temporary and rediscounting relief measures for �inancial institutions, as approved by the Monetary Board (PNA)

capital adequacy, management capability, earnings, liquidity, and sensitivity; while ROCA focuses on risk management, operational controls, compliance, and asset quality.

Under SAFr, BSFIs will be checked based on their impact to the �inancial system, their risk pro�ile, and supervisory intensity.

Their impact will be assessed as low, moderate, above average or high.

Their risk pro�ile will be evaluated based on signi�icant business activities such as line of business, institution-wide process,

and their subsidiaries.

BSFIs will also be appraised for compliance and internal audit with the ratings as strong, acceptable, inadequate, and weak.

Their overall net risk will be based on their net risk assessment and assessment of the compliance and internal audit.

The memorandum said SAFr initially shall only apply to banks.

Fonacier earlier said implementation of this new risk assessment gauge is part of the central bank’s reform measure to

protect the sector from operational risks.

“It features an assessment that is business model-centric that will shape the BSP’s supervisory intervention and in�luence, the frequency of examination,” she said.

BSP tapped a major bank for SAFr’s parallel run to compare it with CAMELs. “This is reputation risk management meaning, they should be very conscious of what are the potential threats to the reputation of the bank,” Fonacier said. (PNA)

BSP sets implementation of new ratings system in July 2020

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hilippine banks’ overall health will be measured using new supervisory assessment framework (SAFr) starting July 2020 in a bid to aid �inancial institutions assess risks and prepare for it.

In a memorandum to all BSP-supervised �inancial institutions (BSFIs) dated March 5, BSP Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier said SAFr will replace existing ratings system like CAMELS and the ROCA. CAMELS refers to the international rating system that checks on banks’

PH forex, gov't securities transactions suspended

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urrency and government securities transactions have been suspended Tuesday, the �irst day of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine aimed to address the rise of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases.

This was disclosed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) citing a report from the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP).

The central bank said operating hours of the Philippine Payment and Settlement System (PhilPaSS) will only be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

According to the BSP website, PhilPaSS, which is the real-time gross settlement system owned and operated by the central bank, “automatically stops receiving electronic payment instruction messages from the participating

PH FOREX, P9

VOL.13 ISSUE 9 • THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

ECONOMY 5

Residents of Davao City rush to stock up on food and essentials as Davao Region's Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) implements regionwide lockdown starting today. Lean Daval Jr

BIR keeps April 15 T tax filing deadline

Gokongwei group readies P100M fund to help in COVID-19 fight

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he Bureau of Internal Revenue rejected Wednesday calls to extend the April 15 deadline for �iling of income tax returns (ITRs), which will come just days after the end of the COVID-19 lockdown in Luzon.

The public can �ile their ITRs through the agency’s website and pay their taxes through online channels like PayMaya and GCash before the April 15 deadline, said BIR Deputy Commissioner for Operations Arnel Guballa.

The Luzon-wide quarantine, which restricted

millions to their homes and shut most of public transport, is scheduled to end on April 13.

“Hindi po kami magbibigay ng extension, April 15 pa rin,” he said.

(We will not give an extension. It’s still April 15.)

“Ang tax po kasi, lifeblood po iyan... Mabobokya

naman po ang gobyerno natin [kung ililipat ang deadline], kailangan natin ng pondo,” he added.

(Tax is the lifeblood of the government. Our government will suffer if the deadline is moved. We need funds.)

Taxpayers may opt to pay only a partial amount before April 15, and settle the rest of their liabilities and submit documents like certi�icates from accountants before June 15, said the of�icial.

“Kahit magkano lang po muna ang pansamantala, basta makakolekta lang

po kami... Saka na po tayo magtuos,” Guballa said.

(Any amount will do temporarily, just so that we can collect funds. Let’s compute the rest of the liabilities later.)

Those who fail to meet the tax �iling deadline will pay a 25-percent surcharge, on top of a 12-percent annual interest, the BIR earlier said.

The Philippines has con�irmed 187 cases of the novel coronavirus, including 14 deaths and 6 patients who recovered as of Tuesday, said the health department.

It said the bulk of the funding would be used by client �inancial institutions so they can continue to offer trade �inancing, working capital and medium-term �inancing to private �irms struggling with disruptions in supply chains.

IFC said the funding would also help existing clients in tourism, manufacturing and other heavily affected sectors keep paying their bills, while aiding the healthcare industry as it races to meet surging demand for services, equip-

ment and drugs.

World Bank President David Malpass said the bank was committed to provide a fast and �lexible response based on the needs of developing countries.

"It’s essential that we shorten the time to recovery," Malpass said. "Support operations are already underway, and the expanded funding tools approved today will help sustain economies, companies and jobs."

More than 187,700 people have been infected

by the coronavirus in 162 countries, and 7,495 have died, according to a Reuters tally.

IFC Chief Executive Of�icer Philippe Le Houerou said the institution's goal was to help clients sustain their operations during the current health emergency phase so they could help economies recover more quickly later.

The Bank said the boards of directors of the World Bank and the IFC on Tuesday responded to

World Bank adds $2 billion to Covid-19 response funds

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he World Bank on Tuesday said it had increased to $14 billion the amount of fasttrack �inancing available to members to respond to the global coronavirus pandemic, adding $2 billion to an initial package announced on March 3.

The change will give the World Bank's International Financing Corporation (IFC) a total of $8 billion to support private companies and their employees hurt by economic impacts of the virus, the bank said.

WORLD BANK, P9

he Gokongwei group said it allotted P100 million to support health workers �ighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

The money will be allocated to hospitals �ighting the disease and communities where the conglomerate's businesses operate, the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation said in a statement.

Personal protective equipment such as surgical masks for health care frontlines and rapid test kits will be provided, it said. It also identi�ied the UP Medical Foundation and the PGH Medical Foundation Inc as among its "priority list."

Subsidiaries of the Gokongwei group have also announced efforts to extend assistance to various stakeholders, it said.

Food manufacturing arm URC will be donating ba-

sic necessities such as coffee, crackers, cup noodles, bottled water and Vitasoy drinks to health workers, it said.

Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc, through its retail stores, supermarkets, convenience stores and drugstores, have been operating continuously to serve the public while Robinsons Bank eased payment due dates for various loan products, it said.

Cebu Paci�ic gave affected passengers a chance to rebook their �lights or place ticket costs in a travel fund, the Gokongwei group said.

The SM group earlier announced P100 million in aid for public hospitals.

Tycoon Ramon Ang of San Miguel Corp is seeking government approval to distribute disinfectant made from one of its plants.

POGOs to continue operations amid enhanced community quarantine

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he Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) is allowing workers in the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) industry to report to their sites despite the enhanced community quarantine being enforced in the entire Luzon due to COVID-19 spread.

In a memorandum released Tuesday, PAGCOR directed POGO licensees and service providers to “continue the implementation of work from home

set-up.”

However, in case full enforcement of work from home set-up is not possible, 25% of the workforce per shift shall be allowed in operating sites.

This if the employees who are part of the skeletal workforce shall be shuttled from their residences to the of�ices and vice versa, without having to cross inter-city borders.

“It is urgently recommended that living accommodations be provided for

POGOS, P9

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 9 • THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2020

EDITORIAL Discipline is the key At this very stage of the coronavirus pandemic, there is nothing that can help every Filipino but self discipline.

Despite the imposition of the community quarantine in Metro Manila, there seems to be nothing that will stop people from going out of their homes and go about with their everyday routine--mostly those who are working in offices and companies that did not impose any emergency work modifications and adjustments like the work from home system. People cannot also be blamed for not going to work as being absent from their work could cost them their income, and worst, they could be fired from their jobs.

But it appears, these people do not have a choice. They need to work, otherwise their families will starve.

That’s the hard part. But that’s also the reality.

However, the risk of breaking the lockdown or the community quarantine order far outweigh the gains.

The purpose of the lockdown, which has been successful in other countries by far, is to contain the virus from spreading.

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KENNETH IRVING K. ONG ATHENA JILLIAN BRAVO NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN MEGHANN STA. INES FERINA SANTOS Lifestyle

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ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. CHRISTIAN JAY H. RAFAL DR. MAURO L. PUYOD CHA MONFORTE Layout/Cartoons Cartoonist Correspondent Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. BORBON • MARY ANN C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO DAVAL SR.,TRIA • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY Columnists: ANTONIO V.“ADI” FIGUEROA • HENRYLITO D. TACIO •B.JOHN CARLO • MUJAHID NAVARRA ••FRED C. LUMBA • DENNIS R. GORECHO ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO •“GICO” G. S. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER GREGORIO G. DELIGERO VIDA MIA VALVERDE • HAROLD CAVITE M. PEREZ

OLIVIA D. VELASCO D. MARATAS RICHARD C. EBONA OLIVIA D. VELASCO JASPERSOLANI V. BACSAL General Manager Finance Advertising Specialist VP Operations General Manager JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales

Without any host for the virus to find a home, they will eventually expire. According to experts, the coronavirus has a lifespan of 14-21 days. That is the time needed by Filipinos to stay locked inside their homes and deprive the virus of a human host.

Companies and businesses will have to make the supreme sacrifice. It will hurt in the meantime, but it has to be done.

If their concern is that they cannot afford to lose income for a few weeks, the same businesses must think the long-term effect of a feared uncontrolled infection where the impact would be catastrophic. So too the ordinary workers who must take safety and survival as their primary option.

On the part of the government, regulating the prices of commodities and appealing to private utility companies to freeze payment of charges and other mitigating actions in this extraordinary times may have to be done as an exercise of the state’s police power.

The country can weather this crisis but everyone has to be in this together.

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OFFICE MANILA MARKETING OFFICE RICHARD C. EBONA LEIZEL A. DELOSO | Marketing Manager Unit 6, Southbank Plaza Velez-YacapinProduct Sts. Development officer Cagayan de Oro City Address: No. 18 Purok 4B, Madelo Street, Lower Bicutan, Taguig City Tel: (088) 852-4894 Mobile number: +63 947 265 2969(smart); +63 916 955 8559(globe)

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 9 • THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2020

VANTAGE POINTS

7

FRED C. LUMBA SPECKS OF LIFE

ISRAEL FORGES EMERGENCY COALITION VS COVID 19 As this was being written, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – though beleaguered – has successfully reached out to his outspoken opposition rival Benny Gantz who agreed to form an emergency coalition government to confront the menacing corona virus.

In fact, the Israeli government has set aside 10B NIS (Israel currency) to support a massive intensi�ied war against CoVid 19 which has contaminated hundreds of thousands of victims from more than 100 countries around the world.

Ironically, while other feuding political leaders from elsewhere in the planet have temporarily reached a pact, here in our beloved Pearl of the Orient, the political opposition and their decreasing ilk continue to rant diatribes against the well-entrenched Duterte administration.

Netanyahu asked his countrymen to adapt to a new routine because they are not

going to treat this virus with kid gloves.

In this connection, in the same manner that Duterte has issued a new stricter compliance to community quarantine via the ECQ (Enhanced Community Quarantine), Netanyahu likewise announced that his government will destroy and conquer the socalled invisible foe.

And Israel is doing this amidst external military threats from Arab neighbors Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Iran not mention their militant proxies that incessantly harass Israel’s peace.

The handshake between Netanyahu and Gantz is commendable and we cannot help but compare our political situation here in the Philippines.

Stubborn as mules, the oppositionists belonging to the Yellow (LPs) Party, continue to �ind fault with the manner the incumbent administration has been handling the CoVid 19 menace.

As far as this corner is con-

cerned, this is not politically correct.

As the 2019 midterm polls showed, the entire eight-man senate slate of Otso Derecho, campaigning on anti-Duterte theme, was completely waylaid with no survivor, including the re-electionist Bam Aquino.

Duterte was very correct.

He stated in his last SONA that the greatest and worst enemy of the Filipinos are themselves.

Pardon me, but I see the Filipino today as a very disobedient, undisciplined and dif�icult animal to deal with.

Here is the government exercising all options to provide him protection and shield from the dreaded infectious disease but this guy keeps playing “hard to get.”

Filipinos are lucky they are living under a democratic set-up.

Why, if Xi Jin Ping and his Chinese Communist Party were to rule them, do you think they’d be brave enough to shout: “This is a violation of my freedom of expression?”

Would they even have the nerve to holler?

I don’t think so.

I have seen raw, unedited �ilm footages taken from smartphones of how the situation in Wuhan and elsewhere is being handled by Chinese authorities.

Those clips showed suspected victims being dragged out of their homes to waiting ambulances and vans; many others were being padlocked from the outside so they couldn’t leave their homes and still others are voluntarily shutting their homes completely while food is being delivered to their doors.

I am sorry to say that Filipinos fail to appreciate the good democratic lifestyle they have been enjoying for many decades of self-rule.

‘Sala sa init, sala sa lamig’, ika nga sa Tagalog.

This is very exasperating, to say the least.

Even if we are constantly haunted and stalked by poverty, misguided government practices, corruption and ille-

gal drugs, no one can say he is not free to say anything he wants under any circumstances and be jailed without due process.

This is what differentiates our lives from our counterparts in countries under autocratic rule.

Israel is showing us how a small country – a sliver of a nation of 6 million people surrounded by hostile neighbors – is able to stave off imminent danger by uniting in time to meet the exigency.

Israel political leaders are burying the hatchet while Filipinos continue to stab each other in the back.

Given these parameters and the current atmosphere, a radical suggestion to resort to a “RevGov” might be the unexplored key to achieving peace, progress and prosperity.

Politics is a poisonous potion but Filipino politicians continue to sip it. ### (Email your feedback to fredlumba@ yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

ENHANCED COMMUNITY QUARANTINE Even the rich and the famous are not spared from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In Australia, while �ilming a movie, two-time Oscar winning actor Tom Hanks caught SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. His wife, Rita Wilson, also got it. “We have COVID-19 and are in isolation so we do not spread it to anyone else,” he wrote in his Twitter. “There are those for whom it could lead to a very serious illness.”

In Spain, Francisco Garcia, a youth team football coach at Malaga-based club Atletico Portada Alta, died from COVID-19, having been suffering from a form of leukemia, according to Independent. He was only 21 years old.

In the Philippines, Senator Miguel Zubiri admitted that he was positive for COVID-19 as relayed to him by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III. “My heart sank with what he had said but I’m uplifted with the fact that I am asymptomatic and have no fever or cough nor am I weak or have any headaches,” he wrote in his social media account. “My decision to self-quarantine… was the best decision I made and could have protected my family from contamination.”

The Department of Health

has con�irmed about 142 cases with 12 deaths. “Still low,” said President Rodrigo R. Duterte in his live public address last Monday, March 16. “It is a �igure that is rising day by day. Beyond our borders, the whole world has been shaken by the spread of this disease. At �irst, it was China and the East Asian region, which is still in the midst of the crisis we speak. But now… the epicenter has shifted to Europe.”

The Philippines cannot do anything about it either. “We want to do business, we want to make money, we want to move but there is no interaction now and there is no trade to speak of and there are no �lights going out, in, and for you to do business. In other words, if you go there, you are alone and please understand that we are talking to you honestly and in good faith.”

To contain the viral disease from spreading further, Duterte placed the entire country under a State of Public Health Emergency. “And that is why mayors now can go ahead and issue executive orders to make the environment of their municipality more conducive to a healing process,” he said.

On March 11, since most of the cases were reported from Metro Manila, he declared the whole metropolis under “com-

munity quarantine.” But when the �igure of cases continued to increase and so he again placed the entire island of Luzon on March 16 under “enhanced community quarantine” until April 12, “coinciding with the entire end of Holy Week.”

Under an enhanced community quarantine, “strict home quarantine shall be implemented in all households; transportation shall be suspended; provision for food and essential services shall be regulated; and heightened presence of uniformed personnel to enforce quarantine procedure will be implemented.”

The declaration, however, is not what others thought of being a martial law. “Let me be this clear, this is not martial law,” Duterte said. “Under the Constitution, martial law is declared when there is invasion, rebellion or public safety requires it.”

But in this case, there are no such thing. “There is no invasion, no rebellion, and public safety does not – public safety requires it,” the president explained. “At this time, our enemy is COVID-19.”

Earlier, the president said, “Let us make no mistake. We are in the �ight of our lives. We are at war against a vicious and invisible enemy, one that cannot be seen by the naked eye. In

this extraordinary war, we are all soldiers.”

In this war, all Filipinos are soldiers, he said. “Young or adults, man or woman, every Filipino, whatever your status in life, can be considered a solider in this battle,” Duterte pointed out.

Duterte urged Filipinos to “stay at their homes, leaving their houses only to buy food, medicine and other basic necessary for survival in the coming days.” He added that only establishments “that provide these basic necessities and services will be opened.”

In his speech, the president assured the public there is suf�icient food supply. “I have been assured by Ramon Ang himself of San Miguel Corporation and other food conglomerates that there will be suf�icient food.

There will be no hunger in the coming weeks because we have enough supplies,” he said.

Duterte urged everyone to follow the rules and guidelines and respect authorities. “Obey the police and the military,” he said. “Do not quarrel with them and do not start ruckus that would amount to a violation because you will be arrested and brought to prison – disobedience of authority, o baka nagkamali ako, then acts of public disturbance. You can be arrested.

Sumunod na lang akyo at wala

tayong problema.”

As COVID-19 cases and deaths continued to �ile up, there is a need to develop a vaccine immediately. There is a need to “quickly develop an inexpensive and effective vaccine against the COVID-19 virus, and to distribute it very widely, free of charge, with the support of government funds,” Dr. John Scales Avery, who was part of the group that shared the 1995 Nobel Peace Prize.

“With no with certainty that if a vaccine against the COVID-19 virus is not developed quickly and distributed widely, enormous numbers of people will die,” pointed out Dr. Avery, an associate professor emeritus at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Public health experts say that if the COVID-19 pandemic is not successfully contained, it could spread to 80% of the world’s population. “With a 1% mortality rate, this would mean that 70 million people would die of the disease,” surmised Dr. Avery. “With a 2% mortality rate, the total number of deaths would be twice that number: 140 million people.

“Comparable numbers of people have died in the tragic wars and pandemics of the past. There is a serious danger that it might happen again,” warned Dr. Avery. – ###

EDGEDAVAO 8 NEWS BARMM tracks down Filipino delegates to Malaysia Avoid taking ibuprofen for tabligh for COVID-19 monitoring COVID-19 symptoms: WHO C

VOL.13 ISSUE 9 • THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2020

T

he World Health Organization recommended Tuesday that people suffering COVID-19 symptoms avoid taking ibuprofen, after French of�icials warned that anti-in�lammatory drugs could worsen effects of the virus.

The warning by French Health Minister Olivier Veran followed a recent study in The Lancet medical journal that hypothesized that an enzyme boosted by anti-in�lammatory drugs such as ibuprofen could facilitate and worsen COVID-19 infections.

Asked about the study,

WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier told reporters in Geneva the UN health agency's experts were "looking into this to give further guidance."

"In the meantime, we recommend using rather paracetamol, and do not use ibuprofen as a self-medication. That's im-

portant," he said.

He added that if ibuprofen had been "prescribed by the healthcare professionals, then, of course, that's up to them."

His comments came after Veran sent a tweet cautioning that the use of ibuprofen and similar anti-in�lammatory drugs could be "an aggravating factor" in COVID-19 infections.

"In the case of fever, take paracetamol," he wrote.

The French minister stressed that patients already being treated with anti-in�lammatory drugs should ask advice from

their doctor.

Paracetamol must be taken strictly according to the recommended dose, because too much of it can damage the liver.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which has infected around 190,000 people worldwide and killed more than 7,800, causes mild symptoms in most people, but can result in pneumonia and in some cases severe illness that can lead to multiple organ failure.

Even before the pandemic, French authorities sounded the alarm over serious "infectious compli-

the safety and well-being of our countrymen in the face of Covid-19 pandemic," said Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-ofstaff Gen. Felimon Santos, Jr., in a statement sent to reporters Tuesday.

Santos said this was brought about by the President's desire to ensure that the unimpeded delivery of government service to the people shaken by the effects of Covid-19.

"He desires that on this trying time, everyone — including the enemies of the state — works to ensure an unimpeded delivery of government services to our people distraught by uncertainty due to this worldwide af�liction," he said.

With this in mind, Santos urged everybody to heed the President’s call to do their part in this �ight against the Covid-19 threat with commitment and ded-

ication.

"By working together, we will emerge triumphant as a people and as a nation.

And you can count on your AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines to be at the forefront," he added.

In a televised address to the nation on Monday night, Duterte called for a cease�ire with the rebels and urged them to cooperate in the �ight against Covid-19. (PNA)

AVOID, P9

Ceasefire call highlights PRRD's desire to save lives, says AFP

T

he pronouncements of President Rodrigo Duterte calling for a cease�ire with New People's Army (NPA) communist rebels as the government strives to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) highlights his genuine concern for the public.

"The pronouncement of the President (calling for a cease�ire with the NPA) manifests his yearning for

otabato City (March 18, 2020)—The Bangsamoro Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on COVID-19 is tracking down the Filipino-Muslims who participated in an Islamic preachers (tabligh) gathering recently held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

This was following the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos’ (NCMF) announcement that 215 Filipinos attended the religious gathering. The said gathering was reported to be linked to the sudden spike of con�irmed COVID-19 cases in Malaysia.

The gathering, attended by over 16,000 people, was held from February 27 – March 1, in Kuala Lumpur’s Jamek Sri Petalling Mosque.

“We already have some names,” Bangsamoro IATF Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Asnin Pendatun con�irmed in a press conference on Wednesday, March 18, held here.

He said the other participants submitted themselves and are practicing self-quarantine.

Meanwhile, Minister of Health Dr. Saffrullah Dipatuan noted that they “do not have a speci�ic �igure of the percentage of how many are and not from BARMM.” He also stated that it is not clear whether all the participants from the Philippines were in attendance at the said gathering.

“Malaking challenge ito dahil karamihan ay ayaw aminin na sila ay galing sa Malaysia, at iniisip nila na kapag na-identify sila ay magkakaroon sila ng social stigma,” he said.

The BARMM IATF has been in contact with the NCMF as well as the Government of Malaysia for the names of the participants. The task force also asked those who submitted themselves to provide the names of other participants they know.

“Inabisuhan na natin

ang ating mga provincial health of�icers from different provinces under BARMM na hanapin ang address nitong mga kapatid nating ito at alamin ang status nila kung sila ay asymptomatic or not,” Dipatuan stated.

“Kasalukuyan nating ginagawa itong [paghanap sa kanila], pero wala pa tayong maiibigay na speci�ic number,” he added.

In the case of a male patient who was admitted in Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi City, the patient died as a Person Under Investigation (PUI), according to Dipatuan.

He said the results arrived earlier today, co�irming the patient to have had COVID-19.

While the said patient had a travel history in Malaysia, it was inconclusive whether he attended the religous gathering or went for personal business.

This was according to Parliament Member Zia Alonto Adiong, who also serves as the spokesperson of Lanao del Sur Provincial Anti-COVID-19 Task Force.

Meanwhile, Minister Dipatuan reported that the fatality case in Region 10, patient 40 (PH40), was indeed from Lanao del Sur. However, the patient transferred to Metro Manila after the Marawi siege and was reportedly visiting his hometown.

After arriving from the Laguindingan Airport in Cagayan de Oro City, he was admitted to Adventist Medical Center in Iligan City before being referred to Northern Mindanao Medical Center.

Adiong said PH40 attended the religious gathering in Malaysia.

As of March 18, reports from the Ministry of Health shows there is a total of 996 Persons Under Monitoring (PUM) and 43 Persons Under Investigation (PUI) in the entire Bangsamoro region. (Bureau of Public Information)

Pacquiao donates 60,000 face masks to COVID-19 frontliners

S

en. Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday donated some 600,000 face masks to front-liners �ighting against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Some 100,000 face masks were handed out to the Philippine National Police (PNP), 50,000 to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), 75,000 to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), 75,000 to the Department of Health (DOH), 75,000 to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and some 50,000 to other medical workers.

Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, deputy director for operations

of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said the lawmaker's donations are a valuable assistance to the police who are manning security throughout the metro.

Alibaba founder Jack Ma's foundation had also teamed up with Pacquiao's group to donate 50,000 COVID-19 testing kits to the Philippines.

"With everything that’s happening around the world today, there is no better time to unite and do whatever we can to help each other," he said.

As of Tuesday, the Philippines has recorded 187 cases of the novel coronavirus, with 14 fatalities and 6 recoveries.

VOL.13 ISSUE 9 • THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2020

EDGEDAVAO WOMEN

GIRL POWER!

MARCH, being International Women’s Month, celebrates the courage and determination of empowered women.

This year’s celebration involves the younger generation as more girls and young women now demonstrate high interest in public service, political engagement, and policymaking.

From 35 Grade 12 aspirants representing the different schools in Davao City, five students namely Krizandrea De Vera, Stephanie Layese, Princess Heart Abella, Laine Bridgette Bacaron, and Coleen Virtucio were awarded Top Outstanding Young Global Women Leaders (YGLOW) for their advocacies that include promoting gender equality and women’s rights.

These five students were chosen after their in-depth training in YGLOW program, initiated by Nicole Nina HaoBian, vice president for education development of the Joji Ilagan International Schools,

that aims to develop a new generation of women leaders who can communicate, participate, collaborate, construct agreements, create shared meaning, and foster learning partnerships at school, home, and in their communities.

Eighteen-year-old Bacaron, who is a student of Davao City National High School (DCNHS), wants to stop child abuse. She gets inspiration from a Netflix series entitled “The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez”, an eight -year-old boy who is being abused and tortured by his parents.

“Watching the series, I am encouraged to lead in giving justice for abused children,”

she said in an interview.

She vowed to earn a college degree and create programs for abused children.

Layese, 18 years old, from Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School (DRANHS)

dreams of establishing a business where beggars can work.

She also wants to establish programs that will provide scholarships for the street children in Davao City.

De Vera, 19, of Joji Ilagan

International School, is aspiring to end world hunger one day as her advocacy. She believes she could achieve this by studying food science and

MAYA A4

EDGED

A2 INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

LEARNING, LIVING IN

DIGITAL MINDANAO

YOUTUBER MARIE SOUSA OF COTABATO CITY started taking videos in 2015 to record her activities and special events. “I uploaded the videos on my channel, not for everyone to see, but for me to look back on those memories. I had no idea one could make a living out of vlogging!”

Five years and over 10,000 subscribers later, her YouTube channel, “It’s Pretty Marie,” covers a wide variety of topics catering to her viewers’ many interests—from makeup tutorials to “mukbang,” an online broadcast wherein a host samples food and chats with the audience.

Better connectivity has also made teaching easier for Alnadzma Tulawie and learning more engaging for her students at Sulu State College.

“With access to the Internet, my students are able to expand their research and delve deeper into their assigned topics,” said Tulawie, who teaches Master in Filipino Language at the Graduate Studies Department.

“Reading my students’ papers, I now glean greater knowledge and wider perspective…

Because they are now on the information superhighway, they

are no longer behind their citybased peers,” Tulawie added.

Sousa and Tulawie are among those whose lives have been changed for the better by access to better connectivity in Mindanao.

Helping her hometown “Youtube is a huge community to be explored. You have to know your niche and get a pulse on what your viewers are looking for; they’re your audience,” said Marie.

To get a feel of what her

viewers are interested in, Marie presented a wider variety of content. “I now also do travel vlogs, which I enjoy because not only do I get to go places, I also get to help my viewers plan their itineraries according to their budget,” she said.

But the one destination she enjoys vlogging about the most is her hometown, Cotabato City.

“I love showcasing my city and giving tips on what places to visit, what foods to try. It’s the least I could do to promote by hometown and correct nega-

tive notions about the city,” she exclaims. Ï believe that Cotabato City is one of the best places in Mindanao, where you could meet great people.”

She has also used her YouTube channel to reach out to victims of recent earthquakes in Makilala, North Cotabato.

“They say that when you help, do so quietly. Well, I decided to vlog about community service because I wanted to encourage others to lend a hand,” said Marie.

True enough, in response to

her video, offers of help poured in from everywhere. “Through the Internet, my viewers from different parts of the world were able to send help,” she shared.

Indeed, having a good internet connection has helped Marie share her experiences and build an online community.

“Behind every successful YouTube channel is a strong internet connection,” she said.

She considers her generation fortunate because everyone has access to the Internet; and she is making the most of this valuable resource to “spread positivity” through her YouTube channel.

“Thanks to the Internet, I constantly meet interesting people; I get to express my creativity, and even help change lives,” said Marie.

“With connectivity and Smart LTE in Mindanao, the possibilities are limitless. I look forward to producing more quality content,” she enthused.

Meanwhile, Tulawie’s fellow faculty members are also active online, and the Sulu State College itself now has an online presence. “Deans would make announcements online, and the

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VOL.13 ISSUE 9 • THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2020

ormation would reach faculty students via Facebook, for mple,” she said.

We hope this service would available to more people in ndanao,” she said.

With its continuous network rades across Mindanao, DT wireless subsidiary Smart mmunications, Inc. will see hat.

art LTE in Mindanao As of end-2019, Smart has raded to LTE more than towns across Mindanao, uding towns in Zamboanga Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, kidnon, Camiguin, Lanao Norte, Misamis Occidental, samis Oriental, Compostela ley, Davao del Norte, Davao Sur, Davao Occidental, vao Oriental, Cotabato, Sagani, South Cotabato, Sultan darat, Agusan del Norte, usan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, igao del Norte, Surigao del , Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Mandanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Customers in Calanogas and uiaran in Lanao del Sur, for mple, can now reach out to ir families and loved ones, ess social media, watch

ENTERTAINMENT

SAM AND YASSI TEAM UP TO UNCOVER UNSOLVABLE CASE IN IWANT’S “THE TAPES” SAM MILBY AND YASSI PRESSMAN will leave no stone unturned as they peel away layers of clues to a dark secret that haunts their town in the iWant original series “The Tapes,” which drops on March 18 (Wednesday).

Set in the 90s, the six-part series follows Sonnyboy and Alice (Sam and Yassi), two cops living in a sleepy town where nothing really happens. They are rattled out of their routines when Sonnyboy receives a series of tapes sent to him anonymously.

The tapes contain disturbing snippets of incidents related to a cold case – the talked-about disappearance of a local lass named Judy. Distrustful of their boss, Sonnyboy and Alice hide the new evidence and must skip standard procedures to find answers.

However, the more tapes they watch and the more clues they find, the more unsettling Sonnyboy’s dreams become. Visions and unknown forces start to plague both Sonnyboy and Alice, making them question whether their hometown is haunted by mere secrets or by the supernatural.

What is the truth behind Judy’s disappearance? What is the intention of the person who sent the tapes?

“The Tapes” is helmed by Bradley Liew, the Malaysian-born and Philippine-based director of the horror film “Motel Acacia,” which is now showing in cinemas and was first screened at the 32nd Tokyo International Film Festival. In 2016, his first feature film “Singing in Graveyards” premiered at the Venice International Film Festival.

The cast of the iWant original series also includes Ricky Davao,

Felix Rocco, Perry Dizon, Barbara Ruaro, and Brian Sy, with the special articipation of Cherie Gil. Discover the truth behind “The Tapes,” on the iWant app (iOs and Android) or on iwant.ph for free starting March 18 (Wednesday).

For updates, like www.facebook. com/iWant, follow @iwant on Twitter and @iwantofficial on Instagram, and subscribe to www. youtube.com/iWantPH.

“FPJ’S ANG PROBINSYANO” PACKS A PUNCH ON JEEPNEY TV STARTING THIS WEEK videos or play games on their phones using Smart’s newly fired-up LTE network in their area.

“This is part of PLDT-Smart’s mission to provide world-class connectivity and access to all Filipinos, wherever in the country they may be,” said PLDTSmart senior vice president for Network Planning and Engineering Mario G. Tamayo.

In 2019, Smart increased the number of its LTE base stations by 51% compared to end-2018 and deploying these in more areas of the country. Underpinning Smart’s network deployment is the continued expansion of PLDT’s fiber infrastructure, which grew by 32% to more than 322,400 kilometers nationwide.

This unmatched fiber infrastructure is a critical advantage for Smart.

The sustained improvement of the PLDT-Smart network has been supported by a stepped-up capital expenditures program that includes investments in network and IT systems, including investments in increased LTE coverage and capacity, expanded fiber transport and new international cable networks.

RELIVE how the Coco Martinstarrer “FJP’s Ang Probinsyano” won the hearts of millions of Filipinos as Jeepney TV airs the book one of the beloved ABS-CBN teleserye starting this week.

The first year of the action-drama saw the introduction of Cardo Dalisay (Coco) and his quest to seek justice for the death of his identical twin Ador de Leon.

It also explored Cardo’s hunt against the drug and human-trafficking empire masquerading as a philanthropic organization led by Tomas “Papa Tom” Tuazon (Albert Martinez) and PC/Insp. Joaquin Tuazon (Arjo Atayde).

Even more important, however, is how its now-iconic characters— such as Coco’s Cardo, Jaime Fabregas’ Lolo Delfin, and Susan Roces’ Lola Flora—have inspired Filipinos here and abroad, regardless of age, to always have faith that the good will always triumph despite encountering seemingly-unending adversities.

It has also imparted life lessons woven into its narrative since its earlier days of broadcast, like how Makmak’s (Awra Briguela) sexual identity did not get in the way for Cardo and his family to fully accept him, and how Lola flora demonstrated being an honorable public servant when she returned the refrigerator given by the mayor to

avoid issues.

Now on its fourth year, “Ang Probinsyano” is a known favorite among Filipino households, garnering the highest-rated pilot episode of all time when it recorded a 41.6% rating during its premiere in September 2015, as well as scoring the highest peak nationwide rating of 47.2% during its October 4, 2018 episode—both based on data from

Kantar Media.

Watch the gripping adventures of Cardo in the book one of “FJP’s Ang Probinsyano,” airing on Jeepney TV on weekdays starting Monday (March 16) at 2:30 pm.

Jeepney TV is available on ABSCBN TVplus channel 11, SKYcable channel 9, SKYdirect channel 30, Destiny Cable Analog 41 and Digital 9.

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WOMEN ARTS AND CULTURE TRAVEL TECH

EDGE DAVAO EDGE DAVAO EDGE DAVAO

VOL.12 VOL.13 ISSUE 223 ISSUE •216 WEDNESDAY, 9 • TUESDAY, THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 22, 19, VOL.12 VOL.12 ISSUE ISSUE 219 • FRIDAY,JANUARY JANUARY 14, 2020

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINENEW ELIMINATES SINGLESONY INTRODUCES GP-VPT2BT USE PLASTIC BEVERAGE BOTTLES ACROSS FLEET WIRELESS SHOOTING GRIP MAYA ON THE BLOCK A1 MAYA A1

ka weaver naga-himo,” he said. technology This is also to among equip herself the reawith why sons the proper Limonknowledge will go to Sitio in establishing Sangab to introduce a food innovation the cotton business. He believes that using weaving. cotton “I also threads want into to beDagmay an entre-as preneur well as their because embroidery you cannot will end world help sustain hunger their livelihood. without capital “Masand mudaghan money. Ipud amang NORWEGIAN Cruise dreaming order sathe Dagmay toinnovator put up if they my own will Line, food use cotton innovation threads,” business he said. in in global cruise travel BUILDING on the theLimon future,” also shesees said. the to with a 53-year history growing lineup ofneed camtapThe theand participating artisans in this schools endeavfor of breaking boundaries, eras accessories thenow or tofirst givebatch theirfor ofclients YGLOW freshwere is single-use plasdeveloped modern DCNHS, and new designs.

DRANHS, F.free Bangoy tic beverage bottle creators, Sony today National “We really High need School, tothe tap and theJoji across its fleet. has announced new Ilagan artisans International directly before Schools. man GP-VPT2BT wireless The brand announced last gud For ga-agi Bian, pa empowering ko saIdeal middle shooting grip. year that it partnered withfor girls is man since transformative wala’y action. sa many different types JUST Goods, Inc.,access which enYGLOW community,” is her hepersonal said. to replace advoof content creation abled the Cruise Line cacy Limon and she wants getstoinspiration show ranging from vlogs to all single-use plastic wateroff from the beauty her mom, of Dagmay he travel photography /leader bottles across itsbusiness 17-shipasfleet, Joji Ilagan has clients with Bian, who its are who looking believes for videography tomost simple beginning recent that investing clothes and accessories in Encore. young made women everyday use, the new ship, Norwegian leaders by theoffers Mandayas. will result He toisstronger, saidof they grip optimum The achievement one the peaceful noticed that and some stable Pasalubong communistability and comfort latest sustainable steps forward ties.Norwegian centers including Davao City’s combined with cablefor Cruise Line.

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A4 INdulge!

actor and activist Jaden Smith and family, JUST takes an innovative approach to sourcing and packaging the world’s most valued resource - water. The revolutionary company focuses on an impact model, taking into consideration both how the water is sourced and packaged.

JUST is 100% spring water in a plant-based carton. The carton is made of 82% renewable materials – the paper carton is made from trees grown in responsibly-managed forests and the each school will undergo cap and shoulder are madeindepth in developing from atraining sugarcane-based plastic. and identifying leaderIt is refillable andtheir recyclable. ship JUSTskills. has a global presence The students will undergo with bottling facilities in Glenn series of seminars andNorthern interacFalls, NY; Ballymena, tive sessions that aimAustralia, to create Ireland; and Ballarat, transformative experiences thus allowing the company toto enhance theiraround skills, broaden meet demand the world their world view, water and lead toa without shipping from ground-breaking initiatives single production source.

JUST through takes carepanels, to use mentoring the most effinetworking and workshops. cient shipping options available.

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A4 INdulge! empowered woman and a strong advocate of women leadership Aldevinco and do not empowerment,” carry DagBian may cloth. said in an interview during the graduation exercises of

the first batch of YGLOW held at JIB IMS Odeum.

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their personalities and minds to take up leadership in their communities.

For Bian, young women’s choices and opportunities define both the present and the future and young women can be powerful agents of change but they need access to opportunities and networking.

“Investing in girls has the greatest impact in building to our Sail & Sustain program strong and stable communiand believe wholeheartedly in ties, resilient, and peaceful the importance of preserving civil societies,” she said. our natural resources.

We will The YGLOW continue to striveprogram towards makchoose public schoolsconscious and each ing environmentally school will decisions tochoose benefit 10 ouryoung earth.” women leadersand from Gradeby Envisioned founded 12.

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EDGEDAVAO DAVAO EDGE

VOL.12 VOL.12 VOL.12 ISSUE ISSUE ISSUE 94 100 84 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, • SUNDAY-MONDAY, • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JULY JULY 19-20, 28-29, 5-6, 2019

UP AND LAUNDRY FURNITURE A2A1 ABOUTa silly method but for EJ and

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VOL.13 ISSUE 9 • THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2020

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The call to prayer (Azan) for the �ive obligatory prayers must be raised in all mosques within Davao Region �ive times a day and the Muazzin (Muslim of�icial) must call "Salloo Fee Buyootikum" (pray within your houses ) instead of Hayya Alassalah (rush to prayer) and Hayya alal Falah (rush to success).

Every Muslim household is advised to perform the obligatory prayers in congregation within their homes so that congregational prayer is not actually incumbent only in mosques until further declaration on the lifting of the suspension.

The statement also stated that it is Islamically incumbent upon every Muslim within the Davao Region to abide by the

rules and guidelines issued by the city government of Davao, Department of Health (DOH) and other healthcare agencies to combat the spread of Covid-19.

“Yung guidelines ng DOH dapat i-follow din.

We Muslims, we are washing our hands �ive times a day. Ang social distancing naaayon din sa teaching ng Islam para hindi makahawa. Ano man ang guidelines na binigay ng City at DOH dapat sundin natin,” Munib said.

On Monday, Mayor Sara also called out religious congregation Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) for continuing to hold religious services and activities. She said she received reports that INC still conducted its Sunday services on March 15.

sina” or kitchen, where participants had to create the TikTok videos in the kitchen. The next day’s theme is “Zumba sa Sala” where participants had create Zumba themed TikTok in the sala or living room.

Winning TikTok videos are decided by the number of reactions on Facebook.

The CTOO will choose 20 winners, their prize is a cellphone load of P50.00.

The theme is released at around 9:00 a.m., 5:00 p.m. is the deadline for entries, 8:00 p.m. is the cutoff for voting and the announcement of winners is held at 9:00 p.m.

Tecson said the �irst theme had 50 entries. “We had many entries but we disquali�ied some because

they did not follow the theme.”

She said the videos must also promote safe practices such as handwashing and social distancing.

“Looking at the TikTok videos, Dabawenyos are really creative and they are also disciplined, they follow the guidelines yet they can creatively express themselves, they make staying at home fun.” Tecson said.

She added that several local governments such as the province of Batangas and the Municipality of Socorro in Surigao del Norte is also following Davao City’s initiative by having their TikTok contests as well. (PIA XI/RG Alama)

urged those tablighs who joined the Malaysia gathering to undergo self-quarantine to help prevent the spread of the virus in their respective homes or communities.

She said she is worried that the actions now of the unchecked tablighs who refuse to submit themselves to medical checkup could bring more chaos.

“Submit yourself to mandatory self-quarantine, do not infect other people who still want to live. If you want to die, you go alone,” Sayadi said.

The mayor has sent a letter request to the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) to provide them the list of attendees for tracking purposes since most of the delegates were from Cotabato City and the Bangsamoro region.

Cotabato City has imposed on Tuesday a lockdown as enhanced

community quarantine was observed all over the country.

“You cannot blame the city government to make drastic steps to protect its people from the dreaded disease,” Sayadi said.

Curfew is now from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. from the previous 10:30 p.m. to 4 a.m., taking effect Tuesday night. The move prompted business establishments to close as early as 7 p.m.

Sayadi urged neighboring localities to establish their own isolation rooms for those who will be found positive of COVID-19 and recommended for hospital quarantine.

The city has only 16 rooms for a worst emergency scenario, she said.

As of Monday, the city has 158 persons under monitoring (PUMs). (Ferdinandh Cabrera / MindaNews)

banks at 5:45 p.m.”

Transactions covered by PhilPaSS include those of automated teller machines (ATMs), the clearinghouses namely PESONet and InstaPay, checks and urgent fund transfers requested by banks for corporates, and trading with the BSP Fi-

nancial Market Operations Sub Sector, if any.

PESONet and InstaPay are the two real-time electronic payment systems under the BSP’s National Retail Payment System (NRPS), which is put in place to increase digital payment transactions in the country. (PNA)

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ties, are the most vulnerable in case of a failure in the movement of food supplies and goods.

“These islands are mainly dependent on supplies from the mainland of Mindanao or from Sabah, which is just a few hours away from the provinces of Tawi-Tawi and Sulu,” he said.

Sabah, however, has also imposed strict measures against the spread of the 2019 coronavirus

disease.

MinDA Executive Director Janet Lopoz has been tasked to look after the needs and requirements for the different agriculture and �isheries sectors of Mindanao.

On Tuesday (March 17), Lopoz started coordinating with the Philippine Air Force for the transport of the biologics and veterinary supplies for the poultry and livestock sectors of Mindanao. (PNA)

territories.

Nograles assured that the DSWD would help the LGUs in providing food assistance to their constituents during the month-long quarantine period across Luzon.

“Kung sino yung mga marginalized, yun ang uunahin nila. Tapos from there, i-augment na lang ‘yung efforts nila through the national government, primarily ang DSWD (They should prioritize the marginalized sector. From thereon, their efforts would be augmented through the national government, primarily the DSWD),” he said.

Nograles said the IATFEID would also establish and operate an Emergency Operations Center at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Operations Center in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

He added that the

NDRRMC’s response clusters for Covid-19 at the national, regional, and local levels would be convened.

“All councils are directed to implement preventive, preparatory, responsive, and early recovery measures in anticipation of the worst-case scenario in so far as the Covid-19 health event is concerned,” Nograles said.

He said the NDRRMC’s rehabilitation and recovery cluster has also been directed to develop a resiliency and recovery plan.

Nograles likewise noted that there was a recommendation to expand the IATF-EID’s membership by including the Metro Manila Development Authority and the Of�ice of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process as ex of�icio members.

“A recommendation to the Of�ice of the President is hereby submitted for the purpose of including said agencies to the expanded membership of the IATF,” he said. (PNA)

accommodation.

The DOT is in close collaboration with the local government unit (LGU) of�icers, local airport staff, and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

In the past few days, DOT regional of�ices have been proactive in informing tourism stakeholders, such as hotels, island resorts, tour operators, and LGUs to communicate the intensi�ied travel restrictions of the enhanced community quarantine to foreign tourists in each destination, especially those in

remote islands.

“The DOT is committed to working with all stakeholders, especially the LGUs and the IATF, in ensuring that the safety and the needs of our domestic and international tourists are addressed and resolved,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.

Hotels, except for those accommodating employees and front-liners exempted in the community quarantine, are not allowed to accept new bookings. (PNA)

volved and to support the containment of the virus.

2. To safeguard the interests of the athletes and of Olympic sport."

The IOC will continue to monitor the situation 24/7. Already in mid-February, a task force was set up .

The body added any decision it takes on the staging of the Games "will not be determined by �inancial interests, because thanks to its risk management policies and insurance it will in any case be able to continue its operations and accomplish its mission to organise the Olympic Games".

A taskforce (consisting of the IOC, the World Health Organisation, the Tokyo 2020 Organising

Committee, the Japanese authorities and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government) was created in mid-February to ensure "coordinated actions by all stakeholders" and offer guidance the IOC said it would follow.

Already, the format of all the test events in March and April in Japan has been "altered to allow for the testing of essential Games elements".

"The lighting of the Olympic torch in Greece and subsequent elements of the Torch Relay in Japan are being adapted, the entire Games preparation supply chain has been analysed, and alternative plans are in place in the event of anticipated disruption," the IOC said.

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9

them in the buildings or areas where they hold of�ice,” PAGCOR said.

A POGO licensee is a �irm that operates the gambling business and taps service providers to provide technical services such as live-streaming of games to their offshore, usually Chinese, clients.

Its clients are offshore and Filipino are not allowed to bet in their online gambling.

“POGOs are BPOs (business process outsourcing).

They are the platform for offshore bets. There is no personal or physical interaction with bettors/players,” PAGCOR chairman Andrea Domingo told GMA News Online.

“Landbased gaming stations are completely closed, zero income except for the POGOs/BPOs which will be restricted to their homes and of�ices observing all protocols such as social distancing, hygiene and sanitation procedures,”

Domingo said.

PAGCOR announced Sunday that it was suspending all gaming operations in response to the efforts at preventing the spread of COVID-19.

The latest PAGCOR memo also directs POGOs to ensure that all its employees or not loitering or gathering outside their of�ices and residences.

POGOs are also ordered to emphasize to its workers the need to stay indoors, except when needed to buy medicines, basic commodities or seek medical treatment.

“POGO licensees and/ ore service providers found violating these restrictions shall be closed down,” PAGCOR said.

“Employees of these entities who are found to be in violation shall be turned over to the police. Concerned foreign employees shall also be recommended for deportation or cancellation of passports,” it said.

requests from clients and approved the addition of $2 billion in new funding on top of $6 billion made available through other IFC instruments.

The new component offers funding from the IFC's Global Trade Liquidity Program and its Critical Commodities Finance Program, both of which provide support to local banks so they

can continue to �inance companies in emerging markets.

IFC is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets and works with 2,000 business worldwide. In �iscal 2019, it delivered more than $19 billion in long-term �inancing for developing countries.

cations" linked to the use of ibuprofen, which is sold under various brands like Nurofen and Advil, and other anti-in�lammatory drugs.

A spokesperson for British pharmaceutical company Reckitt Benckiser, which makes Nurofen, said in an email statement that the company was aware of concerns raised about "the use of steroids and non-steroidal anti-in�lammatory (NSAIDs) products, including ibuprofen, for the alleviation of COVID-19 symptoms."

“Consumer safety is our number one priority," the spokesperson said, stressing that "Ibuprofen is a well-established medicine

that has been used safely as a self-care fever and pain reducer, including in viral illnesses, for more than 30 years."

"We do not currently believe there is any proven scienti�ic evidence linking over-the-counter use of ibuprofen to the aggravation of COVID-19," the statement said.

The spokesperson said Reckitt Benckiser was "engaging with the WHO, EMA (the European Medicines Agency) and other local health authorities" on the issue and would provide "any additional information or guidance necessary for the safe use of our products following any such evaluation."

journey, so we, along with the entire nation, will be rooting for her and all the other Philippine athletes in the coming 2020 summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan,” UB president Javier Herminio Bautista told the Philippine News Agency in a private message.

Magno used her nineyear experience over the 19-year-old Sumaiya Qosimova to register a one-sided 30-24, 30-24, 30-24, 3025, 30-25 victory.

Magno went to the boxoff after getting drubbed by Indian and former world champion Mary Kom in the quarter�inals that saw also the exit of world champion and top seed Petecio.

Magno came to the quali�iers with a less stellar 2019 performance as her

teammates.

In October 2019 (Amateur) International Boxing Association (AIBA), she fell to China’s Cai Zongju in the �irst round.

In the SEAG 2019 in December, she lost to Vietnam’s Thi Tam Nguyen in the women’s �lyweight �inals to settle for the silver medal. It was her second defeat to Nguyen whom she lost to in the 2018 Thailand Open.

Petecio, Paalam, and the veteran Josie Gabuco won gold medals, while the �ifth UB student Aira Villegas settled for a bronze medal.

Team Philippines won seven gold medals in the 30th SEAG edging rival Thailand which won a total of six golds. (PNA)

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10 HEALTH EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 9 • THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2020

COVID-19: A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

(First of Two Parts)

O

n March 11, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio was having a lunch meeting with Committee on Environment Senator Sherwin Gatchalian in Manila. At night, it was announced that the senator was under self-quarantine as he had an encounter with a person who tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Hearing the news, Mayor Sara agreed voluntarily to go on a self-imposed home quarantine and signed up as a person under monitoring (PUM) under the City Health Of�ice, according to the City Mayor’s Of�ice.

The lady chief executive said she decided to undergo self-quarantine in order for others to be protected “if she may be found to be sick in the next few days.” Although she was con�ined in an isolated bedroom, it was still “business as usual” as she was in constant communication with her employees through electronic mails, messaging and video tele-conferencing.

In fact, it didn’t stop her from sharing her thoughts on the viral disease that has been creating fear and confusion among Filipinos. “We are facing a public health emergency in two fronts: the COVID-19 and the limitations of our health facilities to respond to a huge segment of our population getting infected with the coronavirus,” she said in a statement.

As of this writing, the Department of Health said that the Philippines has now 187 con�irmed cases of COVID-19. A total of 12 deaths have been reported, one of whom is from Northern Mindanao.

Last Sunday, on March 15, the Davao City government issued Executive Order (EO) No. 10 declaring the entire city under a community quarantine. “We are one step away from lockdown since after community quarantine, it’s already lockdown,” said the mayor in a live interview on government-owned Davao Disaster Radio 87.5.

She said lockdown is resorted to in order to control the viral disease from spreading. Although there is still no con�irmed case, she said

if ever there’s one con�irmed case in Davao City, she would not hesitate to declare a lockdown so that the disease won’t spread and can still be controlled.

Another reason for the EO: “There are limited testing kits and results take too long to become available.”

The EO, signed by the mayor, has included some community quarantine rules. For one, people are urged to stay in their homes and may come out only to work, buy food or medicines, go to the hospital or take out garbage.

Mass gatherings and classes from kindergarten to post-graduate studies are suspended until after the State of Public Emergency declaration has been lifted. In like manner, religious activities are suspended.

Government work will not be disrupted and employees living in other parts of the region may enter the city but necessary screening procedures must be followed. Private companies, on the other hand, must prepare and implement �lexible workplan for their employees.

As much as possible people must stay at home and advised to procure and buy goods online from local suppliers. Meetings and bank transactions can also be done online.

Public transportations are still allowed and so with cargo deliveries and “all other activities that may be determined in the future to be applicable in community quarantine,” the EO said.

On February 11 the World Health Organization (WHO) gave a name to the novel coronavirus that was �irst reported in Wuhan, China: SARS-CoV-2.

The coronavirus was similar to the pathogen that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which affected 26 countries and resulted in more than 8,000 cases in 2003.

Exactly a month later, the WHO �inally declared the viral disease that has spread from China to almost all parts of the world, infecting more than 118,000 and killing more than 4,000 people as a pandemic.

“Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly,” WHO chief Tedros

Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a brie�ing in Geneva. “It is a word that, if misused, can cause unreasonable fear, or unjusti�ied acceptance that the �ight is over, leading to unnecessary suffering and death.”

Dr. Edsel Salvaña, an infectious disease specialist, molecular epidemiologist and the director of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the National Institutes of Health at the University of the Philippines, agrees.

“As far as we know, this virus seems to be less deadly than SARS and is specifically deadly to elderly, the very young and those with medical conditions.”

According to the WHO, the incubation period – the time from exposure to onset of symptoms – is about two weeks. The common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing dif�iculties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

“We are not at the mercy of this virus,” Tedros pinpointed.

“All countries must aim to stop transmission and prevent the spread of COVID-19, whether they face no cases, sporadic cases, clusters or community transmission.”

A “tsunami that has swept us all.” That was how Dr. Daniele Macchini likened the COVID-19, which has swept Italy. The WHO reported that one�ifth of Italians infected with the virus need hospital treatment which “could be enough to overwhelm healthcare systems if the epidemic spreads.”

So much so that on March 9, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte placed all of Italy and its 60 million people under lockdown in an attempt to contain SARS-Cov-2. The drastic measures, CNN reports, include “blanket travel restrictions, a ban on all public events, the closure of schools and public spaces such as movie theaters, and the suspension of religious services including funerals and weddings.”

Dr. Macchini, an intensive care unit physician, wrote in his Facebook account where, to quote the words of Ceri Parker,

the commissioning editor of Agenda, “he issued an emotional warning on the reality that could await elsewhere if complacency wins.” The physician said he understood “the need not to create panic,” but felt “the message of the danger of what is happening” was not reaching people.

“I still see people ignoring the recommendations and people who gather together complaining that they cannot go to gym or play soccer tournaments, I shiver,” he wrote. “I also understand the economic damage and I am also worried about that. After this epidemic, it will be hard to start over.”

If Filipinos won’t try to work together to defeat the virus, this thing may happen in almost all hospitals, including those in Davao City. “The cases multiply, up to a rate of 1520 hospitalizations a day all for the same reason,” Dr. Macchini wrote. “The results of the swab now come one after the other: positive, positive, positive.

Suddenly the emergency room is collapsing. Emergency provisions are issued: help is needed in the emergency room. A quick meeting to learn how to use the emergency room and a few minutes later I’m already downstairs, next to the warriors of the war front.”

“The screen of the PC with the chief complaint is always the same: fever and respiratory dif�iculty, fever and cough, respiratory insuf�iciency, etc. Exams, radiology always with the same sentence: bilateral interstitial pneumonia. All needs to be hospitalized.

Some already needs to be intubated, and goes to the intensive care unit. For others, however, it is late.”

Let’s not allow this chaos to happen. “This crisis is very, very clear,” President Rodrigo R. Duterte said when he placed Metro Manila in community quarantine last March 11.

“COVID-19 is spreading throughout (the world), including the Philippines.

“It’s a serious one. Do not belittle it. Do not minimize it, but do not kill yourself with worry… If you do not cooperate, the problem would start and it would start with you and it will end with you.”

But there’s a better way to end the disease with a good ending. And that is to “�latten the curve.” It simply means “cancel everything.” In industrialized countries, like Italy, this has been adopted.

“All the decisions by public of�icials and businesses are aimed at one goal: slowing down the spread of the virus to avoid overburdening a healthcare system that doesn’t

have the infrastructure to handle a sudden surge of tens of thousands of cases at once,” wrote Tara Haelle for Forbes magazine.

“Without mass closing, that surge is exactly what will happen.”

Mayor Sara seems to be doing this when she declared community quarantine for the city. “There is a need immediately to be aggressive and proactive on the impending spread of COVID-19 in Davao City,” the EO explained.

Now, going back to the Forbes feature: “Basically, if you assume a certain number of cases are inevitably going to occur – which epidemiologists can somewhat predict based on how the disease is behaving – continuing business-as-usual allows cases to escalate rapidly in just a few weeks, spiking so high at once that they completely overwhelm the hospitals. In such scenario, more deaths are likely because there simply aren’t enough hospital beds, enough face masks, enough IV bags, even enough healthy doctors and nurses to care for everyone at once.”

Statistics showed the Philippines has only 89,000 hospital beds for more than 109,000,000 people. The intensive care unit beds for critical cases is only 1,000. (To be concluded)

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IOC: No need for any drastic decisions on Tokyo Olympics

L

Kevin Durant and three other Brokklyn Nets teammates have tested positive for the new coronavirus.

KD tests positive

K

evin Durant is reportedly among four Brooklyn Nets players who have tested positive for the new coronavirus and are in isolation.

The injured Durant, who has yet to play for the Nets since signing for the club last year, con�irmed to The Athletic website he had tested positive for the virus.

“Everyone be careful, take care of yourself and quarantine. We’re going to get through this,” Durant was quoted as saying.

News that the 2-time NBA Finals MVP was among those who had contracted the virus came soon after the Nets con�irmed 4 players had tested positive for COVID-19.

“Four Brooklyn Nets

players have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus,” the team said in a statement. “Of the 4, one player is exhibiting symptoms while 3 are asymptomatic.

“All 4 players are presently isolated and under the care of team physicians.”

The Nets said they were notifying known contacts of the players including those from teams who played against the Nets shortly before the NBA shut down its season inde�initely on March 12.

The last team to play

Olympics-bound Magno buckles down to work early

S

o much heartened by her quali�ication to the Tokyo Olympics this July after her box-off with a young boxer from Tajikstan, Irish Magno will go back immediately to training.

“Balik training ulit po (I will be back to training again),” said Magno some 16 hours after her arrival here from Amman, Jordan where she became the second boxer, the fourth Filipino athlete and the very �irst female boxer ever to join the Olympics four months from now.

“Talagang napakasaya ko po at proud matapos mag-qualify (I’m so happy and proud after I quali�ied),” said the 28-yearold Bachelor of Science in Criminology student from the University of Baguio (UB) as she goes to the public market to buy food, wearing her Philippine Sports Commission issued jacket and jogger’s pants.

Magno and the Philippine contingent arrived Friday in Manila after a

successful campaign at Jordan, capital in the Middle East.

Magno joined fellow boxer Eumir Marcial to the Tokyo Olympics after the latter boxed his way to the �inals and later claimed the gold in the Asia-Oceana Olympic quali�iers, where fellow UB students Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam failed to secure the tickets.

“May pag-asa pa naman si Nesh (Petecio) at Carlo (There is still hope for Nesh and Carlo),” she said, referring to the Paris, France quali�ier on May 13 to 24.

“Balik ensayo rin si Nesh at nakarating na rin po dito sa Baguio (Nesh is going back to training and she has already arrived),” Magno added.

Magno’s back door entry to the Olympics was the cause of celebration to UB people led by its president.

“UB is very proud of Irish as she has worked very hard and sacri�iced a lot to achieve her goals. She is still not done with her

OLYMPICS-BOUND, P9

the Nets was the Western Conference-leading Los Angeles Lakers, who were stunned 104-102 by Brooklyn on March 10.

“All players and members of the Nets travel party are being asked to remain isolated, closely monitor their health and maintain constant communication with team medical staff,” the Nets said.

The 4 cases more than double the known number of cases of COVID-19 among NBA players.

Utah Jazz defensive standout Rudy Gobert was the �irst NBA player to test positive -- his illness triggering the NBA’s current closure.

Teammate Donovan Mitchell and Christian Wood of the Detroit Pis-

tons have also tested positive for the virus.

Woods was tested after reporting �lu-like symptoms to the Pistons medical staff.

Mitchell was tested after Gobert’s positive test, but had not experienced symptoms.

“I don’t have any symptoms,” Mitchell said in an interview broadcast by ABC television on Monday. “I could walk down the street (and) if it wasn’t public knowledge that I was sick, you wouldn’t know it. I think that’s the scariest part about this virus.

“You may seem �ine, be �ine. And you never know who you may be talking to, who they’re going home to.”

AUSANNE, Switzerland -- The International Olympic Committee said on Tuesday it was not the time for "drastic decisions" over the staging of the Tokyo Olympics, which has not yet been postponed because of the deadly coronavirus pandemic.

"The IOC remains fully committed to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, and with more than four months to go before the Games there is no need for any drastic decisions at this stage; and any speculation at this moment would be counter-productive," the IOC said in a statement after its executive board met in Lausanne.

The Tokyo Olympics are scheduled to run between July 24-August 9, but the year's biggest sporting event is as yet one of the sole sporting competitions to have survived a postponement in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak that has caused more than 7,400 deaths and infected more than 180,000 around the world.

The IOC statement fell shortly after both this summer's Euro 2020 and Copa America tournaments were postponed by one year to 2021.

US President Donald Trump has suggested the Japanese capital also postpone the Olympics for 12 months, although Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe responded by pledging his country would host the Games as planned and saying he had no immediate intention to declare a state of emergency over the virus outbreak.

"This is an unprecedented situation for the whole world, and our thoughts are with all those affected by this crisis," the IOC said.

Irish Magno beams as she proudly displays her card to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

IOC president Thomas Bach added: "The health and well-being of all those involved in the preparations for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 is our number-one concern.

"All measures are being taken to safeguard the safety and interests of athletes, coaches and support teams. We are an Olympic community; we support one another in good times and in dif�icult times. This Olympic solidarity de�ines us as a community."

The IOC acknowledged preparations for the Tokyo Games had been impacted, and encouraged all athletes to continue training "as best they can".

"The IOC has con�idence that the many measures being taken by many authorities around the world will help contain the situation of the COVID-19 virus."

- Practical adaptations One of the results of the virus outbreak has been the cancellation of quali�iers, in a number of sports, for the Tokyo Olympics.

But the IOC insisted it would work to surmount any dif�iculties that threw up.

"To date, 57 percent of the athletes are already quali�ied for the Games," it said. "For the remaining 43 percent of places, the IOC will work with the IFs (international federations) to make any necessary and practical adaptations to their respective quali�ication systems for Tokyo 2020."

The IOC vowed to "continue to act in a responsible way and have agreed the following overriding principles about the staging of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: "1. To protect the health of everyone in-

IOC, P9

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 9 • THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2020

SAFETY FIRST Arcadia Fitness Gym members (in file photo) doing the POUND class.

Arcadia Fitness Gym backs community quarantine, members advised of temporary halt

By NEILWIN JOSEPH BRAVO rcadia Fitness Gym responded in support to the community quarantine directive of the city government by temporarily closing down the facility beginning Thursday, March 19.

A

In an announcement posted on its social media page, Arcadia Fitness Gym said, "Following the recent developments and the directive for Davao City to be placed under community quarantine, Arcadia Fitness Gym will be closed in compliance with RA 11332 on March 19, 2020 until further notice."

The gym management likewise explained that while under temporary closure, all memberships will be put on hold and membership freeze fees will

be waived until the gym re-opens.

"We appreciate your continuous understanding during this time and look forward to welcoming you back soon," said the statement.

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio placed the entire city under community quarantine, a move that is one step short of locking down the area, as Davao City and many local governments expressed alarm over the panic migration of Metro Manila residents to their hometowns and setting up a likely

Arcadia Fitness Gym

nightmare of nationwide contagion of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Mayor Duterte-Carpio issued Executive Order 10 on

Sunday morning declaring “the entire Davao City under community quarantine.”

For membership inquiries and oth-

er concerns, contact Arcadia Fitness Gym members may contact (0917) 146 4304 or (082) 327 8471.

Arcadia Fitness Gym, located across

the Matina Enclaves at Emilio Escandor Street in Quimpo Boulevard, Ecoland, is the city's epicenter for �itness and healthy lifestyle.