Mindanao Times, April 6, 2020

Lifestyle:

Opinion: Interventions harsher than punishment

Lilli Arellano

BY VIC N. SUMALINOG

keeping fit and active in time of ECQ

PAGE 6 VOL. 74

NO. 095

MONDAY, APRIL 06, 2020

DAVAO CITY - PHILIPPINES

16 PAGES

P10.00

PAGE 8

Comply or else

A PATROL CAR partially blocks the road as authorities conduct a checkpoint on Saturday evening in front of a shopping mall in Lanang as part of the enhanced community quarantine, which takes effect at 9 p.m. on April 4.. BING GONZALES

• DOLE XI warns private sector against CAMP defiance

BY NICOLE BURLAS

PRIVATE companies that refuse to submit the names of qualified employees for the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) may be penalized once the community quarantine is lifted.

In a phone interview Labor and Employment said that workers can file with TIMES, Eduardo (DOLE) Region XI labor their complaint at their Monreal, Department of communications officer, office.

The regional labor office will then request the company to explain its noncompliance. He pointed out that some companies might not have the capacity to

BY WARREN ELIJAH E. VALDEZ

community quarantine.

Mayor Sara Duterte, in her radio interview with the Davao City Disaster Radio on Saturday, said

that they will still assess the initial implementation of ECQ before making further changes. “If we see that there

w w w. m i n d a n a o t i m e s . c o m . p h

are still many people going out even though they do not have the (FM) pass, we will demand for (

Mindanao Times

to penalize them.

However, the inspection would have to be deferred after the home quarantine period since ( / COMPLY / 5)

24/7 liquor ban to begin today

No need to present FM pass to buy goods for now - Sara FOR NOW, Davaoenos do not need to present their food and medicine pass to supermarkets and grocery stores during the enhanced

comply with CAMP, so the evaluation would be on an individual basis.

Inspectors will then be sent to the company to determine if there is due cause

/ NO / 5)

DAVAO CITY will be implementing a 24/7 liquor ban starting today until the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) is lifted.

The measure adopted the 24-hour liquor ban or-

@mindanaotimes

der from the Regional Task Force for COVID-19, said Mayor Sara Duterte on Saturday.

In her radio broadcast interview with the Davao ( / LIQUOR BAN / 5) mindanaotimes

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News

MINDANAO TIMES

MONDAY, APRIL 06, 2020

A DRIVER shows his ID to a police officer manning the checkpoint in front of a shopping mall in J.P. Laurel Avenue on Saturday night. The enhanced community quarantine prohibits anyone from going out without the food and medicine pass and a valid ID. BING GONZALES

Tagum City now on lockdown 2 PUIs, including infant, die while awaiting result

KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews) — Two more persons under investigation (PUIs), including a three-month-old baby, died in South Cotabato while awaiting the results of laboratory tests for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The announcement on

the new PUI deaths came hours after South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo, Jr. extended the lockdown for another 10 days effective Saturday, April 4, to prevent the spread of the virus.

Tamayo said the decision to extend the lockdown until April 14 was based on

the recommendation of the South Cotabato Integrated Provincial Health Office and the Philippine Medical Society South Cotabato chapter.

The provincial government first imposed the lockdown for 14 days from March 21 to April 4. (

/ 2 PUIS, / 14)

BY WARREN ELIJAH E. VALDEZ

TAGUM CITY implemented a city-wide lockdown with the suspension of operations of mass transportation after Davao del Norte was placed under enhanced community quarantine beginning April 5.

In a statement released and private vehicles will no critical infrastructure or on Saturday, the city gov- longer be allowed to enter emergency vehicles proernment said it will soon be or exit Tagum City starting vided that the personnel releasing the official execu- 12:01 a.m. of April 6 until will present valid IDs. tive order on the measure. 11:59 of April 20, 2020.

Cargo and delivery During the city-wide Only allowed to pass trucks, meanwhile, are allockdown, all vehicles through or travel are the lowed to enter the city with passing through Tagum COVID-19 Crisis Manage- the condition that drivers City will be escorted by ment and Response Team, and helpers will not be authorities from 12:01 a.m. medical/health workers, allowed to leave their veto 11:59 a.m. of April 5. Philippine National Police, hicles.

Valid ID will also be asked Armed Forces of the PhilThe drivers and pasby authorities. ippines, delivery/supply sengers of the vehicles givMeanwhile, all public trucks, service vehicles of ( / TAGUM / 14)

CDO mayor nixes calls for ECQ C A G AYA N D E O R O CITY – Mayor Oscar Moreno has rejected calls for more stringent quarantine measures, saying he favors a calibrated approach in containing the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-2019) in accordance with the guidelines set by the national government.

Responding to an undated letter-petition signed by less than a hundred residents, Moreno said Friday he was bound by the guidelines of the InterAgency Task Force for the Management of the Emerging Infectious Diseases

(IATF-EID)-- the primary body tasked with the government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The petition, which included several local physicians as signatories, called on Moreno to raise the current quarantine level into enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) that would enforce severe restrictions on the movement of people and the suspension of public transport.

Under the IATF guidelines, the mayor noted that an ECQ would also mean strict home quarantine would be imposed in all households, provision of

food and health services would be regulated, and the rules would be enforced by uniformed government personnel.

While he did not rule out imposing ECQ at some point, Moreno said there was no need for such drastic measures as these would only unnecessarily "paralyze the city."

Calls to suspend public transport but exempt private vehicles on the road, he said, would discriminate against the poor and reeks of "class legislation."

Even if he wanted to elevate the current quarantine measures, Moreno

pointed out that he would have to defer to the "directives of the Department of Health and the Department of Interior and Local Government."

“It’s not as if you are the local chief executive you can do anything you want. You have to look at the total picture,” he said during Friday's daily briefing on the city's Covid-19 response.

“Will that (ECQ) address the issue of the spread of the virus?” the mayor rhetorically asked, even as he reiterated that one of the best ways to prevent (

/ CDO / 5)

List of alleged COVID-19 patients online fake: DOH

BY WARREN ELIJAH E. VALDEZ

The DEPARTMENT of Health (DOH) has denied the information circulating online containing the alleged list of COVID-19 positive individuals who are subject for contact tracing in the Davao Region.

In its statement released on Saturday evening, the DOH-Davao said the events and circumstances surrounding the issue on COVID-19 “have

brought so much panic and anxiety due to the unverified news circulating in different media outlets and social media platforms.”

“DOH Davao Center for Health Development strictly upholds its ethical responsibility to the patients’ right to privacy and confidentiality of their information,” DOHDavao said. ( / LIST / 14)

National

MONDAY, APRIL 06, 2020

MINDANAO TIMES

3

Gov’t scales up policies to help economy adjust

MANILA – Policies are now being identified to help the country’s economy adjust to the “new normal,” the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said.

“The Inter-agency Task Force Technical Working Group for Anticipatory and Forward Planning (IATF-TWG-AFP), chaired

by NEDA, is currently preparing to provide recommendations to rebuild confidence and adjust to the new normal,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said in a press release Sunday.

“We are doing this even while the government accelerates the implementation of measures to slow down the spread of the Covid-19 virus,” he added.

The group was created through the IATF-Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases Resolution

DOTr, firm partner to operate quarantine vessels MANILA – To rule out possible spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) infection for returning seafarers and other overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are

(

/ DOTR, / 14)

No. 16 on March 27.

Members of the IATFTWG-AFP include the Departments of Science and Technology, Trade and Industry, Education, Health, Budget and Management, Finance, Agriculture, Tourism, and Information and Communications Technology; National Intelligence Coordinating Agency; Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas; and University of the Philippines Resilience Institute. Other individuals or institutions from both the private sector and academe are invited as resource persons.

“As this pandemic affects various sectors, it is important for us to be able

Presidential yacht eyed as medical ship for virus

to characterize what this new normal would mean to each and every segment of the population. We are currently crowdsourcing for inputs on how the whole of government can address the challenges the country is facing,” Pernia said.

The TWG will recommend programs and strategies to promote confidence in the country’s health systems through data analytics, recommend programs and strategies to rebuild consumer and business confidence, and recommend policies and programs to adapt to a “new normal” state of economic activities. (

MANILA – The Philippine Chief Rodrigo Duterte's Navy (PN) announced that desire to utilize the ship, it had come up with a plan BRP Ang Pangulo (ACSto convert BRP Ang Pan- 25), as a floating Covid-19 gulo (ACS-25), presidential quarantine facility, the PN yacht, into a floating facil- devised a feasible plan of ity for coronavirus disease converting the Presidential (Covid-19) patients.

Yacht into a floating quarThis came following antine facility dedicated President Rodrigo R. Du- for coronavirus patients," terte's order for the PN to Navy public affairs office convert the vessel into a chief, Lt. Commander Mamedical ship following the ria Christina Roxas, said in Covid-19 outbreak in the a statement late Saturday. country.

The ship is currently Ad (8x5.5in).pdf 1 1/29/2020 3:06:14 PM "Prompted

by Presi- deployed in Naval Forces dent and Commander-in- Eastern Mindanao to aug- (

ment the Davao operational base of the Presidential Security Group.

"Initially, plans are made to ensure that the ship is prepared to accommodate persons that are now under monitoring and investigation (PUM/PUI) due to Covid-19," Roxas said.

She added that a total of 28 patients can be accommodated aboard the ship with five medical personnel. / PRESIDENTIAL / 14)

/ GOV'T / 14)

Senator welcomes start of mass-testing for coronavirus-19 "MASS testing will save lives. By moving towards mass testing for COVID-19, we now have a better chance of defeating COVID-19 and of protecting the lives of countless Filipinos."

This was how Sena-

tor Risa Hontiveros today welcomed government's announcement that it will soon commence mass testing for the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19), as part of efforts to stop the spread of the disease in the ( / SENATOR / 15)

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Roman Catholic priest Pepe Quitorio riding on a tricycle and wearing a face mask blesses the faithfuls holding coconut leaves during Palm Sunday event in Borongan town, Eastern Samar as part of the Easter observance. Church authorities have asked the catholic faithful not to go to churches for the Palm Sunday blessing, but instead to stay in front of their houses as priests will go around their communities for the blessing, to observe social distancing as part of the government efforts to combat COVID 19 pandemic. AFP PHOTO

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Business

MINDANAO TIMES

MONDAY, APRIL 06, 2020

Exec: Programs launched to mitigate impact of virus

More delivery services noted amid pandemic THE demand for delivery services has increased in the city due to the community quarantine brought about by COVID-19 pandemic, and online retailers have been trying to respond to the demand.

In a press statement, Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) President John Carlo Tria said: “A number of delivery and courier service providers like Errands Davao have

told us that they are facing is the shortage of riders due to the overwhelming demand from customers, or are limiting their services since they cannot cater to the large demand.”

Tria said the situation has also created an opportunity for farmers to profit from the rising demand and for motorcycle drivers to have a source of income during the community quarantine.

“This is good for our

farmers as we enter the harvest season. They will have steady customers as demand continues to rise to meet supply, and good for our restaurants,” he said. “We encourage those who own motorcycles to take advantage of this opportunity to apply for jobs in these companies.”

He acknowledged the importance of markets during the time of the pandemic since they pro(

/ MORE / 15)

BY NICOLE BURLAS

BANKS are offering financial products to help businesses and individuals cope with the financial setbacks brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, an official of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) said.

In a press statement, offers Calamity Rehabilita- partner financial instituDCCCII President John tion Support (CARES Pro- tions.

Carlo Tria said he had an gram) which now provides Development Bank online meeting with repre- financial support to sectors of the Philippines (DBP) sentatives of local financial that are severely affected also offers Rehabilitation institutions discuss the fi- by natural and man-made Support Program on Senancial products that they calamities for individual vere Events program (REwill offer to businesses and small farmers and fishers, SPONSE) which aims to individuals. livestock raisers, large agri- provide rehabilitation finanThe Small Business enterprises (LAEs), sala- cial support to DBP and nonCorporation (SB Corp.) ried workers, and academic DBP borrowers, both public launched a P1 billion En- institutions, along with the and private institutions, terprise Rehabilitation Fi- initial list of beneficiaries who have been affected by nancing facility under the of the program which are calamities and/or events Pondo sa Pagbabago at the local government units, arising from the occurrence Pag-Asenso named COV- disaster-affected home- of such calamities.

ID-19 P3-ERF in response owners, small and medium Finally, the Rizal Comto the proposal. enterprises (SMEs), coop- mercial Banking CorpoAside from that, Land eratives, non-government ration (RCBC) offers a Bank of the Philippines also organizations (NGOs), and ( / EXEC / 15)

Rules on tax deadline extensions issued GDP growth to slide FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has issued the revenue regulations extending the deadlines for filing of tax returns, submission of documents, and the payment of taxes, pursuant to Republic Act (RA) No. 11469, otherwise known as “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.” According to Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 7-2020 dated March 30, 2020, the extension aims to relieve Filipino taxpayers who will not be able to prepare, let alone file, the necessary documents under the Tax Code because of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and other restrictions on personal

Biz urged: Be more vigilant AS MOST businesses adopt work from home arrangements in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, most employees are now settling into a routine of working remotely while staying productive, connected and #SafeAtHome.

Working from home entails employees to use their own devices outside office premises which in turn, can lead to unauthorized access to confidential company data and business operating systems. ( / BIZ / 15)

movement being implemented by the national and local governments to prevent community transmission of the coronavirus disease.

Section 4(z) of the Bayanihan Act, which placed the Philippines in a state of national emergency, grants the President the authority to “move statutory deadlines and timelines for the filing and submission of any document, the payment of taxes, fees, and other charges required by law.”

“By moving the statutory and regulatory deadlines for tax compliance, we ensure that taxpayers would be able to fulfill their patriotic duty of pay-

ing taxes without any risk to their health and safety,” Dominguez explained.

RR No. 7-2020 extends the deadline for filing and payment of the annual income tax returns (ITRs) for calendar year 2019 from April 15, 2020 to May 15, 2020.

RR No. 7-2020 also generally extended the deadlines for electronic and non-electronic filing and payment of quarterly ITRs, monthly and quarterly value-added tax (VAT) declarations, documentary stamp taxes (DST), percentage tax on winnings and prizes withheld by race track operators, withholding taxes on compensation,

and creditable and final withholding taxes, as well as monthly excise tax declarations, which fall within the period of national emergency, by 30 days from the original deadline.

If the deadline falls on a weekend, the deadline shall be the next business day.

The submission of the quarterly summary lists of sales and purchases, sworn statement of manufacturers or importers of excisable products, financial statements for the year 2019, inventory lists, e-Sales reports, summary lists of machines, list of medical practitioners, and certifi(

/ RULES / 15)

due to virus: ADB

MANILA -- The Philippines’ economic growth will slow significantly this year before a strong rebound in 2021, with expansionary fiscal and monetary policies partly offsetting slower domestic demand and disruptions in tourism, trade, and manufacturing, according to a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) report released Friday.

In its annual flagship economic publication, Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2020, ADB projects the Philippines’ gross domestic product (GDP) to grow at 2.0 per-

cent in 2020 following an enhanced community quarantine imposed by the government in March to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in the country.

But ADB expects a strong recovery to 6.5 percent GDP growth in 2021, assuming that Covid-19 infections in the country are curbed by June this year.

“This unprecedented and extraordinary public health emergency brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic will substantially slow down economic (

/ GDP / 15)

Firms reallocate P500,000 for local frontliners TWO Davao-based units of AboitizPower pooled their resources to supply the immediate needs of the frontliners of their host communities.

Together with Aboitiz Foundation, Hedcor and Therma South extended their assistance to the Local Government Units (LGUs) in the Municipality of Sta Cruz, the Province of Davao del Sur including Digos City and Davao City.

To ease the burden of the frontliners of its host communities who may find it difficult to get food, these AboitizPower local generating companies

turned over some 100 sacks of rice to the offices of its partner LGUs.The sacks of rice also came with readyto-eat goods and some essential supplies.

In response to the assistance, Municipal Mayor of Sta Cruz Jaime Lao, Jr said, “Dako kaayo ning tabang nga gikan sa Aboitiz Group sa atong mga kaigsoonang frontliners. Ilabi na sa karon nga lisod kaayo ang kahimtang kay aduna pay mga na dugang nga kaso sa COVID-19”.

On top of these relief efforts, the Department of Energy recently announced that these LGUs can also (

/ FIRMS / 15)

HEDCOR and Therma South together with the Aboitiz Foundation are first to respond to the needs of the frontliners of its host communities.

MINDANAO TIMES

MONDAY, APRIL 06, 2020

COMPLY...

(from front page)

the priority right now is to process all the applications for CAMP. In this way, the qualified workers would receive their P5,000 financial aid without delay.

At present, the government has received 7,900 applications for evaluation and they have already released around P9.9 million to 130 establishments, which should help 1,989 workers.

As of April 2, another batch was approved and DOLE is preparing the P38-million payroll for 7,770 workers of 498 establishments.

But he assured that the agency will be holding erring companies accountable once the outbreak is over.

So far, they only received five complaints and these have forwarded to the suboffices for assessment and

CDO...

action.

In a previous statement, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said they received reports about the refusal of some establishments to submit the names of the affected workers.

“I, therefore, appeal again to companies that, for the sake of your employees and workers, submit your reports so that we may be able to extend them their most needed assistance,” he said.

The labor department has monitored 630,000 workers who were displaced by the health andd security measures implemented by the government and private sector. More than 15,000 establishments have either temporarily closed shops or resorted to work-from-home arrangements.

(from page 2)

Covid-19 from spreading is to ensure that people stay home.

Moreno declared a general community quarantine on March 19, imposing restrictions on the movement of people and limiting business and government activity in the city.

As of Friday, the City Health Office said the city only has one confirmed Covid-19 patient who has already

recovered.

On Thursday, Dr. Lorraine Nery, acting city health officer, also noted the decreasing trend in the number of persons showing symptoms of the Covid-19.

Nery said 23 of the city's 35 patients under investigation (PUIs) have already completed the mandatory 14-day quarantine, while three are still in isolation. (PNA)

NO...

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(from front page)

the food and medicine pass.

For now, we still do not have that. We will have to first see the compliance of the public,” she said.

But Duterte appreciated how some establishments are taking the initiative of requiring the FM pass for any transaction starting on Tuesday next week.

Last Friday, City Hall postponed the implementation of the FM pass from April 4 to April 7 to give time to the barangay officials to distribute the IDs tot heir constituents.

Duterte also said wet markets should have a system to make sure that customers do not have direct contacts with other buyers.

LIQUOR...

“We are trying to avoid close contact with other people as they might still be potential carriers of the virus,” she said.

She also said that it would be the new normal for Davao City even after the community quarantine is lifted. Some countries like Singapore, which believed that it already contained the virus, have suffered a second wave of infection when they relaxed their quarantine measures.

Market Schedule Meanwhile, to minimize the number of buyers, wet markets will operate on a new schedule, which would be determined by the barangays.

Each village official

will come up with a rotation schedule for people to buy from the public market.

“There is already a schedule (from barangay captains), they have already made plans. One example is in Calinan and they intend to implement this to lessen the usual number of people visiting the market,” she added.

Employees ID Meanwhile, she said that the employee ID would not be a substitute for the FM pass.

“If you are going to the grocery and they (security) will ask for your FM pass, you cannot buy your needs if you only have your employee’s ID,” she said.

The city mayor sug-

gested to family members to list the working employee on the FM pass.

“Because if you are going to expose the two members of your family, apart from the one who is working, there will be a number of household members likely to already be a carrier of the virus inside your homes,” Duterte said.

“If you understand, every time you go out of the house you are already exposing yourself to the possibility of carrying the virus,” she added.

She also appealed to everybody to cooperate since it will only extend the duration of the enhanced community quarantine.

ready recovered.

Currently, the region has a total of 21 patients to have recovered from the disease, while 11 individuals were previously reported to have expired due to the infection.

All of the 11 fatalities are COVID-19 positive cases in Davao City.

As of Saturday, the DOH-Davao had reported no fatalities due to COVID-19 in the different provinces of Davao Region.

Meanwhile, Davao del Norte remains to have nine COVID-19 positive patients

being treated; Davao Oriental has three patients positive of the virus, two of which have already recovered; Davao del Sur remains to have two positive cases; Davao de Oro with one COVID-19 case; and Davao Occidental still recorded zero cases of the deadly disease.

Mayor Sara Duterte has already placed Davao City under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) at 9 p.m. on Saturday due to the increasing number of individuals infected by COVID-19.

By Warren Elijah E. Valdez

(from front page)

City Disaster Radio, the city mayor said they are currently fine-tuning Executive Order No.23 to formally declare the order to the public on Monday.

The new order will be an amendment on the previously issued Executive Order No.14 last March 19, prohibiting the buying and selling of liquor from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m.

“We need to reflect on our ... adoption of the 24hour liquor ban from the RTF order for the duration of the ECQ,” Duterte said.

62 positive cases Meanwhile, Davao City now a total of 62 COVID-19 positive cases, based on the data from the Department of Health-Davao Center for Health Development (DCHD).

As of 8 p.m. on Saturday, the DOH-DCHD reported that there are four new confirmed cases in the city bringing the total to 77 COVID-19 cases in Davao Region.

Of the 62 COVID-19 cases in the city, 17 patients were reported to have al-

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MINDANAO TIMES

MONDAY, APRIL 06, 2020

Interventions harsher than punishment

Extravagant love for Jesus DO YOU know the love that knows no bounds? As Jesus dines with his beloved friends, Mary does something which only love can do. She took the most precious thing she had and spent it all on Jesus. Her love was not calculated but extravagant. Mary’s action was motivated by one thing, and one thing only, namely, her love for Jesus and her gratitude for God’s mercy. She did something, however, a Jewish woman would never do in public. She loosed her hair and anointed Jesus with her tears. It was customary for a woman on her wedding day to bound her hair.

REFLECTION For a married woman to loosen her hair in public was a sign of grave immodesty. Mary was oblivious to all around her, except for Jesus. She took no thought for what others would think, but what would please her Lord. In humility she stooped to anoint Jesus’ feet and to dry them with her hair. How do you anoint the Lord’s feet and show him your love and gratitude?

Love unbounded and poured out in gratitude The Gospel of John records that the whole house was filled with the perfume of the ointment. What Mary had done brought sweetness not only in the physical sense, but the spiritual sense as well. Her lovely deed shows the extravagance of love - a love that we cannot outmatch. The Lord Jesus showed us the extravagance of his love in giving the best he had by pouring out his own blood for our sake and by anointing us with his Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul says that nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Do you allow the love of Christ to rule in all your thoughts and intentions, and in all your words and deeds?

The cost to the giver shows the true beauty and goodness of a heart filled with love and gratitude Why was Judas critical of Mary’s lovely deed? Judas viewed

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her act as extravagant wastefulness because of greed. A person will view others according to what is inside their heart, mind, and soul - the inner core of their being. Judas was an embittered man and had a warped sense of what was precious and valuable, especially to God. Jesus had put Judas in charge of their common purse, very likely because he was gifted in financial matters. The greatest temptation we can face will often come in the area of our greatest strength or gifting. Judas used money entrusted to him for wrong and hurtful purposes. He allowed greed and personal gain to corrupt his heart and to warp his view of things. He was critical towards Mary because he imputed unworthy motives. Do you examine your heart correctly when you impute wrong or unworthy motives towards others?

“Give us, Lord, a lively faith, a firm hope, a fervent charity, a love of you. Take from us all lukewarmness in meditation, dullness in prayer. Give us fervor and delight in thinking of you and your grace, your tender compassion towards me. The things we pray for, good Lord, give us grace to labor for: through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Prayer of Sir Thomas More, 16th century). (c) 2020 Servants of the Word, source: www.dailyscripture.net, author Don Schwager

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YESTERDAY was supposed to be the commemoration of Palm Sunday, the day when Jesus Christ was jubilantly welcomed by the people of Jerusalem shortly before he was crucified.

But yesterday’s commemoration was one without the attendant pomp of a religious celebration by the Christian world; no masses in churches, no procession with attendees carrying palms for the priest’s blessing. Of course it was the first day of the week of the Lent which is the recollection of the persecution and crucifixion of the Lord Jesus just to save the people from the wages of sin. But yesterday in Davao City was also the start of the more extreme sacrifices of God’s people here as a consequence of the prevalence of the very deadly Corona Virus Disease 2019 or CoViD. We have no doubt that the global health pandemic is God’s way of making us pay for our sins having deviated from the way God wants us to follow. He made us feel the pain of His Son Jesus’ persecution by us, the very people he was sent by the Father to redeem on earth.

And just like what happened during the time when the Christ still walked with us in this world when the people questioned His wisdom, we in this generation have become too trusting in our acquired knowledge. We question the occurrence of the CoViD outside the realm of our faith in God. That is why the learned among us – the modern day Pharisees – are doing human interventions based mostly on science alone. God is somehow temporarily sidelined and replaced by science-borne theories and analysis.

This is probably the reason why governments and its leaders are adopting policies to combat the further spread of the CoViD 19 using the recommendations of people who are acknowledged or even self-declared authorities in health management.

That is why we now have total lockdowns, mandatory stay at home, wearing of mask wherever one is, banning of mass gathering, social or physical distancing among people in places where convergence is allowed for more urgent reasons, and worst, the consequent near total closure of economic activities.

Yes, if the health pandemic is God’s punishment to us His people gone out of the way He has charted, the human interventions, specifically by governments and its leaders supposedly intended to tide down the emergency, have become an even more severe punishment that we have to bear. It has become so extreme that we are deprived the opportunity to live sans the shadow of dying hungry more than that of the CoViD 19.

Under the extreme community quarantine we now live imprisoned with all the restrictions serving as our virtual cells. And it is in the desire of the government to protect us from sure death due to massive CoViD infection.

Tracing history we somehow see the present situation as a repeat of the events during Jesus’ time in this world.

There were a people who did not believe in one Supreme Being but instead acted as if they were God. Christ was sent to help them go back to the ways of the Father but the non-believers persecuted him.

Today the non-believers of Christ still remain and in fact are increasing in number. Even among the believers that include many of us his people, may have unknowingly gone the way not desired by God for us to follow. All could possibly be because our faith in God is wanting; that we become more trusting in our acquired knowledge and our own interpretations of things that transpired on earth.

And in the many instances that we believe so much in ourselves and went beyond God’s commandments divine punishment happened. That is why we had in the past destructive wars among nations, pestilence, and famine. But apparently we seem unable to learn our lessons. We did not make amends but instead continue with our sinful ways.

Because of all these we could not help but relate the coming of the CoViD as another of God’s punishment and reminder that we have for the nth time gone astray.

And what a coincidence that the pandemic comes at the season of Lent, the very time of the persecution and sacrifices of Jesus Christ as the means of redeeming the sinful us! ( / ROUGH / 15)

MINDANAO TIMES

MONDAY, APRIL 06, 2020

Water shortage amid crisis WITH historically low river flows and reservoirs running dry due to drought, people in BY GIOVANNA FLEITAS central Chile have found themselves particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus pandemic.

Years of resource exploitation and lax legislation have allowed most reservoirs in that part of the country to run dry.

"There are now 400,000 families, nearly 1.5 million people approximately, whose supply of 50 liters of water a day depends on tankers," Rodrigo Mundaca, spokesman for the Movement for the Defense of Water, the Earth and the Protection of the Environment, told AFP. One of the main pieces of advice to protect people against coronavirus is to wash your hands regularly.

"Living without water is awful," said Dilma Castillo, who lives with her children on one of the hills around El Melon, a town of 22,000 close to the seaside resort of Valparaiso whose river has dried up.

"The worst thing is that there's no awareness, even among the people here. I'm very distressed because it's humiliating to live in these conditions."

In the greater Santiago area and in Valparaiso, rainfall last year was almost 80 percent below the previous record low. In the northern region of Coquimbo it was down 90 percent.

Water tankers serve many homes, whose inhabitants come out to fill drums.

The virus pandemic is highlighting "once more that where there is a model of the private appropriation of water ... this condition does not guarantee people's human right to water and further weakens communities," said Mundaca.

Chilean law states that water is a resource for public use, but it turned over almost the entirety of the right to exploit the resource to the private sector.

In the Penuelas lake, an hour from Santiago, much of its bed appears cracked by the sun.

"I've been coming here to fish for 20 years. At first we used to catch a lot ... now we don't catch anything," Tomas Ruiz told AFP from the banks of what was left of the lake.

- Residents angered Matias Asun, the director of Greenpeace-Chile, said this week that the government of President Sebastian Pinera must "guarantee that there are no second-class citizens without the basics to protect themselves from COVID-19."

"Having soap is useless if there's not enough water to wash with it," he said.

Chile has reported more than 3,700 coronavirus cases and 22 deaths.

Private exploitation of water wasn't a problem in times of abundance, as was the case until recently.

But the drought has brought a furious reaction from communities that have run out of water in a country that saw an outbreak of social unrest in October that only subsided when social distancing measures were imposed.

Around 100 residents of El Melon occupied a well managed by the Anglo-American mining company, one of many multinationals exploiting Chile's vast copper reserves.

The occupiers are demanding that the well be used to provide water to people living in the region rather than for mining activity, said Fabian Villarroel, 26, one of the activists.

Anglo-American sent a statement to AFP saying it was committed to the well-being of people living near its sites and was collaborating in the search for "solutions that allow for inhabitants in the area to rely on a permanent supply of potable water."

- The water commodity "The 1981 water code separates the ownership of water from the dominion of the land," said Mundaca.

In Chile, "water is bought, sold or leased."

The general director of Waters, Oscar Cristi, says the water rights have been delivered to private companies, but the state controls those rights and can limit the amount of water kept in reservoirs.

However, the state has never exercised that right and if it did, it would have to compensate the private firms affected.

"The problem has to do with how those rights are distributed and what conditions are imposed," said Andrei Jouravlev, a member of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. AFP

ANALYSIS

7

Year of living desperately IN THIS YEAR of living dangerously, desperately, oftentimes despairingly, during these times of the deadly, unseen foe let us continue to find out how people are coping.

First we have a Dabawenyo, born and raised in Malita, who now lives in San Francisco, California - and who is putting his distinctive artistic mark in that city.

LOCAL ARTIST MAKES GOOD IN CALIFORNIA Ole Johnson, our featured Dabawenyo visual artist now is making waves in the creative city of San Francisco, California. But he is one of ours, he even exhibited with us at Felcris Centrale last year in the exhibit: “SAVING DAVAO GULF” Ole (ole, ole, ole on FB) is a member of the Johnson clan of Malita and Davao Occidental. One uncle (Jimmy) was known as CLAVILAZ, a professional boxing champion in the 60›s.

Another Johnson was a town mayor, an AdD HS classmate of PRRD and Sec. Sonny Dominguez.

Here is Ole›s story - in his own words: Ole was born in South Lamidan, Don Marcelino, Davao Occidental bt moved to SF in 2007. He went to Holy Cross Malita from GS to HS. Here - in his own words - is Ole›s art journey: “Being a Filipino Artist is challenging, but it›s more challenging being an Artist in the US. In 2015, I decided to to start focusing on my God-given talent, which is making art. I started sculpting and drawing all my ideas that laid dormant for almost 10 yrs. I kept myself busy by creating art in my tiny room in San Francisco.

Ever since I was a kid, drawing and sculpting have always been something I was good at. I was always the one tasked to do art and other creative projects in school. I stopped making art after high school after my mother discouraged me from studying Fine Arts in college. I threw away my dream of becoming an artist and, just like most people, decided to choose a more secure path.

In 2016, after a year of making art, I produced enough art to build my portfolio. I started joining art submissions in San Francisco. I became a member of the Artist Guild of San Francisco, an art group founded in 1961 and composed of urban artists who exhibit their work in outdoor sites across San Francisco. I actively participated in weekend art exhibits and sold my art to people of different nationalities. Several of my artworks were chosen to be part of month long group art shows in the office of Senator Scott Weiner at the California State Building. I exhibited my work in the “Art Saves Lives” gallery in downtown San Francisco. The University of California San Francisco (UCSF) hospital, bought one of my abstract art and is now a part of their permanen collection in one of their new buildings dedicated for Cancer research. It was a very exciting year for me and i decided to pursue this as a my full-time job.

My art is a product of experimenting with new materials in

an attempt to come up with an original piece of art. Most of my art are Abstract pieces and some 3D surrealism. On my last vacation in Davao, I took classes on oil painting at Art de Triumph under the mentorship of Rhodney Yap. So lately, I’ve been practicing how to paint the traditional way. My goal is to learn all the disciplines in the Arts.

My most recent painting is a 30x40 oil on canvas. Titled the “Devourer” , which depicts a human devouring all the animals and causing detrimental effects. A rather timely representation of the current predicament that the human race is currently battling with.”

As for this Señor, the writer, this lockdown has had some POSITIVE effects: first, FAMILY BONDING - forced-to-good for practically 24 hours so you do your best to distance socially, not because of CV but so you don›t get in each other’s hair! As an artist, it allows me to concentrate on my paintings. I›m able to create new artworks or to improve old ones. As a book-lover, no - make that as a lover of PRINTED materials - books, magazines, newspapers (sadly, NONE due to the lockdown), I have plenty of time to sit or lie down and READ, READ, READ. I have a library that I am re-arranging so I can find titles more readily. Now, I also have time to listen to my CD and DVD collection of movies, concerts, and music of the 50/60›s and beyond. And thank goodness for the INTERNET - the best ally of locked-down beings - which allows us to have virtual conversations with friend and to access music and news. I know that this LOCK DOWN which may last another 60 days has its downsides - plenty! But we need to find the positive - creative, interesting ways to do with our time, with our life.

You know this home lockdown gives me time to re-listen and view my favorite CDs and DVDs and to recall the first time I saw some of the performances on TV. I always watch the GRAMMYS. 2 of the most memorable were the duet of Natalie Cole, live on stage, with her father Nat “King” singing on video.

“UNFORGETTABLE” the song and album of the 1992 Grammys (5 million sales!). But the one I truly treasure is the 1980 Grammy when Barbara Streisand on stage started singing the first lines of the “YOU DON›T BRING ME FLOWERS” a song nominated as a SINGLE. Then unannounced (and surprise!), a solitary figure could be seen walking down the aisle from the back - NEIL DIAMOND singing the next few lines, then both singing DUET! Brought the house down, people cheering, one of the most memorable moments indeed.

From my experience, very few performers can have that effect. One of them was ELVIS PRESLEY. I remember Sonny Pamintuan, Walter Lin and I flew in from SF to Las Vegas in 1972 for Elvis’s opening concert at the International Hotel.

People were lined-up snaked around the gambling tables, waiting to get in like us (we already had tickets).

One can see this concert on DVD (or on YouTube) titled “THAT’S THE WAY IT IS”. Go see it - it›s great.

Virus exacerbates US inequality JUST three weeks ago, Miguel Rodriguez The COVID-19 pandemic has was enjoying a pleasant life, working as pushed the global economy into recesa waiter in a Maryland restaurant in a job sion and the downturn "will exacerbate he held for 20 years. inequality," said Gregory Daco, chief

BY DELPHINE TOUITOU The American economy was going economist at Oxford Economics. strong and he had a comfortable living Nearly 10 million workers filed for situation. unemployment insurance in the final two weeks of March, and Everything changed overnight when La Ferme, a French those "sudden job losses are concentrated in the low-income restaurant in the upscale Chevy Chase suburb of Washington, service sectors" in a country with few social safety nets and an was forced to close amid statewide shutdowns to try to contain extremely low savings rate of around eight percent. the coronavirus outbreak.

- Little savings – His wife, a waitress at another restaurant, also lost her job.

Rodriguez, 55, is saddened to have to rely on unemployThe pandemic instantly threw millions of US workers off ment benefits for the first time since arriving in the United States the payroll and into poverty, in a crisis that is revealing and in 1983 from El Salvador. further exacerbating inequalities in the world's largest economy.

And he worries payments, which do not take into account Low-income and middle-class households will be the first tips, which make up the majority of his earnings, will not be and hardest hit, and they have little in the way of savings. enough to provide for his three children.

"This is an extraordinary blow to millions of Americans "I have some savings now but I can survive for a couple who had barely recovered from the 2008 financial crisis," said of months," Rodriguez told AFP. Edward Alden, an expert at the Council on Foreign Relations.

He is not alone: half of all Americans do not have emerReal wages took eight years to recover after the crisis, and gency savings to deal with unforeseen financial difficulties, had only accelerated for lower-paid workers in the past two according to a survey by Oxford Economics. years, he said.

In the lowest-income households the situation is more dire, Wages in 2019 rose at the fastest rate in 20 years partly as three-quarters lack a financial cushion. thanks to some states increasing the minimum wage.

"So it's the people who need it most who have the least," "This crisis, with the huge increase it is bringing in unem- Daco said. ployment, will erase those gains," Alden said.

And as the coronavirus continues to spread, it remains A decade of employment gains came to an abrupt halt in unclear how long the economic shutdown will last.

March, as the economy jettisoned 701,000 jobs and the unemBradley Hardy, professor at American University, cauployment rate posted the biggest increase in 45 years, rising to tioned that "we must brace for impacts on employment and 4.4 percent. wages that would last into at least early 2021."

President Donald Trump, who is running for re-election in "Given low savings rates and high levels of installment November, regularly touts the record low unemployment among debt, many US households do not have the needed cushion Hispanics and blacks. to push through the economic headwinds that have arrived," But the jobless rate for both groups surged last month. he said.

Even during years of economic growth, inequalities have - 'Enormous vulnerability' continued to widen between wealthiest Americans -- who acJust like the 2008 global financial crisis, Alden said, cumulated substantial gains on Wall Street -- and the bottom "this one has highlighted the enormous vulnerability of many 90 percent.

ANALYSIS

(

/ ANALYIS / 15)

12 8 12

MINDANAO TIMES MONDAY, APRIL 06, 2020

FOR someone who is used to an active regimen teaching others to dance, choreographer and dance studio owner Lilli Arellano is finding it challenging to spend the whole day at home.

So we asked her what she misses most during this time of community quarantine.

In answer to the question, Lilli says “In truth, no one truly wants to be quarantined at home, but honestly I miss all my various regular activities lined up weekly such as my Thursday Dancersize with the Forever Young ladies of Ladislawa Garden Village, my thrice a week BNP spiritual schedules, my Wednesday Lector schedule at the Redemptorist Church, my Dancesport training and meetings, as well as my dance teaching at my own Studio L, not to mention the household chores of doing the grocery and shopping, our lunch or dinner or just coffee or tea with my close friends and especially my dance classes.

And since we really do not have much choice now, we continued asking her what keeps her busy while staying home.

Her reply was “What better way to spend the day than indulge myself in our regular prayer warrior group to pray the Rosary and the daily masses on livestream? More time to check

on the social media news and updates and group chat exchanges with my family and friends. I also now am able to focus on my new online trading to muster the skills, so to speak. Lately, I already started my dance exercises with walking as my warm-up just around my Studio L. And yes, since the newest term in our vocabulary since Covid 19 caused us to be in Enhanced Community Quarantine. is the word ‘frontliners’, we were curious to know if she is helping frontliners, or if there are there any frontliners in her family. She answers us saying “Through social media, I share some positive posts and give my comments to boost the morale of our frontliners. My youngest daughter happens to work with the government at the DSWD and works hard to address the needs of our local citizenry although she does office work.

In concluding our exchange of questions and answers. Lilli shares her thoughts about Covid 19. “I believe that in this uncertain times now of the COVID 19, I sense a spiritual purpose behind all that is happening and many realizations in our lives.”

“First and foremost, it reminds us now that everyone in this world is born equal, regardless of our culture, our religion, occupation, our financial condition we are in or even who we are in the status of our society. Because Covid19 is not selective, no choices and treats everyone equally, it actually infects anyone, men and women, young and old, rich and poor alike. Likewise, we are reminded to be conscious of our health, how precious it is and not take things for granted. We are also reminded that perhaps these are trials, the Lord Almighty’s way to make us see the difference in this world, like families are now bonded and have more than enough time to be together, the environment is clear of pollution, our patience is tested and our concern for each one is more profound. And yes, lastly, we now become closer to God and thus feel HIS presence more in our hearts and mind as we praise HIM now every day in our renewed life.

Ligaya “Lilli” de Claro-Arellano is a choreographer, dance trainor and dancesport coach. She is also an event organizer and coordinator, the president of the Regional Dancesport Council of Davao, Inc., proprietor and owner of Studio L Dance Studio and head coach of the Studio L Dancesport Club. She is a member of the International Dance Organization (IDO) -Phildance Federation in Region Xl. Photo credits: Lilli Arellano.

MINDANAO TIMES MONDAY, APRIL 06, 2020

13 9

YOU don't need to be physically present in meetings and even reunions with apps like Zoom and Facebook Messenger (Photo: Zoom)

HAVE you finally reached the apex of your boredom due to the community quarantine? Well, guess what? We have, at least, 15 more days to spoil ourselves in doing, well, nothing.

After rummaging the Internet for engaging online resources that we can kill our time with, I ran across a list suggested by PLDT Home and then some, made especially for those working - or studying - at home.

Yes, we don’t need to be in one place to hold meetings, and it's not just because we can't but because we can. These days, some companies use software and apps, like Google Hangouts, Zoom, Facetime, GoToMeeting, Slack, ReadyTalk, and Facebook Messenger, which now has options to do video, virtual presentation, and file-sharing for virtual meetings.

Speaking of file-sharing, aside from Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, WeTransfer, and Dropbox, there's also AirDroid, Superbeam, Pushbullet, Portal, Xender, BitTorrent Shoot and Infinit, which can conveniently and safely transfer files from your phone to your desktop or laptop.

If you want to learn a new skill or two, YouTube is the best place to start, with hundreds of videos available on tutorials for anything you want to learn about. For kids on homeschooling, Amazon-owned Audible is now offering free-to-listen catalogue of children’s stories, and a lot more for pre-schoolers, elementary, tweens, and teens, available in six different languages.

Kids can explore the world with apps that take them to places without leaving their rooms (Photo: Unsplash)

Parents can also take their kids on a journey around the world from the comfort of their home with apps like Google Street View and Google Earth.

Want to take them to museums? The National Museum of the Philippines offers a 360-degree virtual tour on their website.

To help you in organizing files, schedule and time more effectively, you can also make use of various free apps for notetaking (Keep My Notes, EverNote), and calendar, timers, and to-do lists (Google Tasks, To Do Reminder) that you can conveniently sync data among your gadgets.

While at home, you might as well keep yourselves abreast with the latest news on Covid-19, with sites, such as Department of Health (doh.gov.ph), World Health Organization (who.int), Covid-19 Tracker (ncovtracker.doh.gov.ph), National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (ndrrmc.gov.ph), Philippine Information Agency (pia.gov.ph), the local government's Facebook page (facebook.com/davaocitygov/), and news outlets, like Mindanao Times (mindanaotimes.com.ph.)

The leader in providing WiFi Prepaid and volume-based plans, PLDT Home suggests that "we can do more than just watching videos" by using apps and software that make things work with efficiency and use our Wi-Fi wisely.

Utilizing these apps and websites will surely help us stay more focused at work and lead a productive and balanced lifestyle for our family at home. Ah, the beauty of the Internet!

TELECOMMUTING allows families to stay together while working from home (Photo: PLDT Home)

MONDAY, APRIL 2020 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31,06, 2016

DAVAO GEVIN PAWNSHOP, INC. All pawned items that expired during the month All pawned items that expired during the of JANUARY 2020, if not renewed or redeemed on month MAY, 14, 2015 notberenewed reor beforeof MARCH 2020ifwill sold to theorpublic deemed on or before JULY 14, 2015 will be on MARCH 16, 2020 at 9:00a.m. at our pawnshop sold to the public on JULY 16, 2015 at 9:00 premises.

a.m. at our pawnshop premises.

Gipahibalo ang tanan na ang FIRST COLOR PAWNSHOP magasubasta sa tanan nga nag-expired Gipahibalo na prenda ang FIRST sa bulan sa ENEROang 2020.tanan Ang tanan ibaligya COLOR PAWNSHOP magasubasta sa 9:00 tanansa sa publiko karong MARSO 16, 2020 sa alas buntag. nga nag-expired sa bulan sa MAYO 2015.

DAVAO FIRST COLOR

Ang tanan prenda ibaligya sa publiko karong HULYO 16 sa alas 9:00 sa buntag.

PAWNSHOP

#47 Lao St., Toril, Davao City Tel. No. 295-2460

Anino Bldg., Prk 28 Villafuerte Street, Calinan, Davao City

Tel. No. 295-0751

NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE

All pawned items that expired during the month of FEBRUARY 2020, must renewed or redeemed two (2) days prior the Auction Schedule stated below. If not renewed or redeemed it will sold to the public on its respective auction schedule and premises @ 9:00am.

Gipahibalo ang tanan nga ang DAVAO GEVIN PAWNSHOP, INC., maga-subasta sa tanan nga nagexpired sa bulan sa PEBRERO 2020. Ang tanang prenda ibaligya sa publiko sa mga petsa nga nakabutang sa ubos, sa oras nga 9:00 sa buntag.

BRANCHES

AUCTION DATE

TEL. NOS.

CALINAN, Villafuerte (Main) APRIL 03, 2020

295-0751

MINTAL, Sampaguita St.

233-0712

APRIL 03, 2020

All pawned items that expired during the month of JANUARY 2020, must renewed or redeemed two (2) days prior the Auction Schedule stated below. If not renewed or redeemed it will sold to the public on its respective auction schedule and premises @ 9:00am.

Gipahibalo ang tanan nga ang GOLDVALUE PAWNSHOP, INC., maga-subasta sa tanan nga nag-expired sa bulan sa ENERO 2020. Ang tanang prenda ibaligya sa publiko sa mga petsa nga nakabutang sa ubos, sa oras nga 9:00 sa buntag.

BRANCHES AUCTION DATE TEL. NOS. BAJADA MARCH 03, 2020 321-8705 (Beside NBI Office) BABAK SAMAL MARCH 24, 2020 301-4019 SAN PEDRO MARCH 6, 2020 227-6772 CABAGUIO MARCH 27, 2020 321-6223 TIBUNGCO MARCH 30, 2020 222-2494 (OPENING)

NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE

NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE

All pawned items that expired during the month of JANUARY 2020, must renewed or redeemed two (2) days prior to the Auction Schedule stated below. If not renewed or redeemed, it will be sold to the public on its respective auction schedule and premises @ 9:00 a.m.

Gipahibalo ang tanan nga ang NARDING PAWNSHOP, INC., maga-subasta sa tanan nga nag-expired sa bulan sa ENERO 2020.

Ang tanan prenda ibaligya sa publiko sa mga petsa nga nakabutang sa ubos, sa oras nga 9:00 sa buntag.

BRANCHES Lapu-lapu, Agdao Matina Crossing Tibungco

AUCTION DATE MARCH 10, 2020 MARCH 24, 2020 MARCH 17, 2020

TEL. NOS. (082) 222-3524 (082) 297-5786 (082) 296-4130

PANABO’S PAWNSHOP, INC. Panabo (Main) MARCH 16, 2020 (084) 628-8418 Panabo (Branch) MARCH 16, 2020 (084) 628-842

9GEMS Pawnshop Inc. Egger Bldg., Matina Crossing Davao City Tel. No. (082) 285-7069

NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE All pawned items that expired during the month of JANUARY 2020, must be renewed or redeemed on or before MARCH 07, 2020. If not redeemed or renewed, it will be sold to the public on MARCH 10, 2020 at our pawnshop premises from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM.

All pawned items that expired during the month of JANUARY 2020 must be renewed or redeemed two (2) days before the Auction Schedule stated below. If not renewed or redeemed, it will be sold to public on its respective auction schedule and premises @ 9:00 A.M. Gipahibalo ang tanan na ang DIAGOLD PAWNSHOP INC., magasubasta sa tanan nga nag-expired sa bulan ENERO 2020. Ang tanang prenda ibaligya sa publiko sa mga petsa na nakabutang sa ubos, sa oras nga 9:00 sa buntag.

BRANCHES

All pawned items that expired during the month of DECEMBER 2019, if not renewed or redeemed on or before FEBRUARY 15, 2020 will be sold to the public on FEBRUARY 17, 2020 at 9:00a.m. at our pawnshop premises.

Gipahibalo ang tanan na ang AL-JOS PAWNSHOP magasubasta sa tanan nga nag-expired sa bulan sa DISYEMBRE 2019. Ang tanan prenda ibaligya sa publiko karong PEBRERO 17, 2020 sa alas 9:00 sa buntag.

AUCTION DATE TEL. NOS.

Agdao MARCH 12, 2020 (Toy Bldg., Lapu-lapu St.)

284-9017

ROSEGOLD PAWNSHOP & JEWELLER Main – San Pedro Cor. Anda Street Davao City Tel. Nos. (082) 221-1477; (082) 221-0355; (082)222-5039 Accepts: Jewelry, Appliances, Watches, CellPhones and Any Valuable Items Highest Appraisal and Low Interest Rates at 3% Wholesaler and Retailers on all kinds of jewelry Rosegold Pawnshop Lapu-lapu Street, Agdao Davao City Tel. No. (082) 225-3637

Rosegold Pawnshop Ilustre St., Davao City (Fronting Limso Hospital) Tel. No. (082) 222-2104

Rosegold Pawnshop Ilustre Street, Davao City (Beside NCCC Hardwaremaxx) Tel. No. (082) 295-6199

Rosegold Pawnshop KM6 Crossing Buhangin, Div. Road, Davao City Tel. No. (082) 241-2355

NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE All Jewelry and other articles pawned at Rosegold Pawnshop San Pedro-Main, Rosegold Pawnshop Ilustre, Rosegold Pawnshop Bolton, Rosegold Pawnshop, Agdao and Rosegold Pawnshop Buhangin from SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 to OCTOBER 15, 2019. If not redeemed or renewed on or before MARCH 13, 2020 will be sold to the Public Auction on MARCH 16, 2020 at Rosegold Pawnshop San Pedro-Main from 9:00am to 6:00pm.

GOLDSTANDARD PAWNSHOP

San Pedro street, Davao City (Fronting Queen Bank) Tel. No. (082) 222-1561 ; (082) 321-0128 Accepts: Jewelry, Appliances, Watches, Cellphones and any valuable items Highest Appraisal and Low Interest Rates at 3% Wholesaler and Retailers on all Kinds of Jewelry

NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE

All jewelry and other articles pawned at Goldstandard Pawnshop San Pedro, Goldstandard Pawnshop Ilustre from SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 to OCTOBER 15, 2019 if not redeemed or renewed on MARCH 13, 2020 will be sold to the Public Auction on MARCH 16, 2020 at our Pawnshop premises from 9:00am to 6:00pm.

MONDAY, APRIL 06, 2020

NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE All pawned items at METRO GOLDBRILL PAWNSHOP that expired during the month of JANUARY 2020, if not renewed or redeemed on or before MARCH 13, 2020 will be sold to the public on MARCH 17, 2020 at 9:00 A.M. Ginapahibalo ang tanan na ang METRO GOLDBRILL PAWNSHOP magasubasta sa tanan nga nag-expired sa bulan sa ENERO 2020. Ang tanan prenda ibaligya sa publiko karong MARSO 17, 2020 sa alas 9:00 sa buntag.

2nd Level, Gaisano Mall of Davao, J.P. Laurel Ave., Davao City Tel. No.: (082) 221-3355 • (082) 305-9496 2nd Level, SM Lanang Premier, J.P. Laurel Ave., Davao City Tel. No.: (082) 295-1505 • (082) 321-0525 email: jrosejewels@yahoo.com • www.jrosejewels.ph

PAWNS NOT REDEEMED/RENEWED WITHIN FIVE (5) DAYS AFTER EXPIRY DATES WILL BE AUCTIONED ON MARCH 16, 2020 AT 10:00 A.M. AT THE RESPECTIVE PAWNSHOPS WHERE THE ITEMS WERE PAWNED.

DAVAO GOLDWIN PAWNSHOP, INC All pawned items of GOLDVISION PAWNSHOP, INC. that expired during the month of JANUARY 2020, if not renewed or redeemed it will be sold to the public on its respective auction schedule and premises at 9:00 a.m.

Gipahibalo ang tanan na ang GOLDVISION PAWNSHOP, INC. maga-subasta sa tanan nga nag-expire sa bulan sa ENERO 2020. Ang tanan prenda ibaligya sa publiko sa mga petsa nga nakabutang sa ubos, sa oras nga 9:00 sa buntag.

BRANCHES

AUCTION DATE

General Lao, Toril

MARCH MARCH MARCH MARCH MARCH MARCH MARCH

Agton. Toril Buhangin Magallanes Tagum Saavedra, Toril Agdao

17, 2020 17, 2020 13, 2020 10, 2020 26, 2020 17, 2020 19, 2020

TEL. NO. 291-2406 291-2952 241-0223 224-3138 216-3425 291-1349 327-2348

NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE All pawned items that expired during the month of JANUARY 2020 must be renewed or redeemed two (2) days prior to the Auction Schedule stated below. If not renewed or redeemed, it will be sold to the public on its respective auction schedule and premises @ 9:00A.M. BRANCHES

AUCTION DATE

TEL. NO.

C.M. RECTO (MAIN) LANANG BRANCH 1 SAN PEDRO

MARCH 17, 2020 297-8081 MARCH 17, 2020 235-3473 MARCH 17, 2020 327-8832

GABBY’S BRILLIANT PAWNSHOP INC. / GABBY’S INFINITE PAWNSHOP INC. TEL NO.: 321-2185 / 234-4844

All pawned items that expire during the month of JANUARY 2020 must be renewed or redeemed two (2) days prior the Auction Schedule stated below. If not renewed or redeemed it will be sold to public on its respective auction schedule and premises @9:00a.m.

Gipahibalo ang tanan nga ang GABBY’S INFINITE PAWNSHOP INC. magasubasta sa tanan nga nag expire sa bulan sa ENERO 2020. Ang tanang prenda ibaligya sa publiko sa mga petsa nga nakabutang sa ubos, sa oras nga 9:00 sa buntag.

BRANCHES

AUCTION DATE

TEL. NOS.

SAN PEDRO

MARCH 16, 2020

321-2185

ILUSTRE

MARCH 02, 2020

234-4844

MARCH 13, 2020

All pawned items from SEPTEMBER 2019 – OCTOBER 2019

MONDAY, APRIL 31, 06,2016 2020 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST

MONDAY, APRIL 2020 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31,06, 2016

DAVAO 3 SURE PAWNSHOP, INC. NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE All pawned items that expire during the month of JANUARY 2020 must be renewed or redeemed two (2) days prior the Auction Schedule stated below. If not renewed or redeemed it will be sold to public on its respective auction schedule and premises @ 9:00 a.m.

Gipahibalo ang tanan nga ang DAVAO 3 SURE PAWNSHOP, INC., maga-subasta sa tanan nga nag expire sa bulan sa ENERO 2020. Ang tanang prenda ibaligya sa publiko sa mga petsa nga nakabutang sa ubos, sa oras nga 9:00 sa buntag.

BRANCHES

AUCTION DATE

TEL. NOS

SAN PEDRO BUHANGIN

MARCH 10, 2020 MARCH 17, 2020

225-0033 241-1071

Davao Ros-Ver Pawnshop, Incorporated Ilustre St., Davao City Tel # 224-1204; 222-6086

AUCTION SALE! The DAVAO ROS-VER PAWNSHOP, INC. and NEW PAG-ASA PAWNSHOP will be having its JOINT AUCTION on all unredeemed pawned items left during the month of November 2019. The said items will be sold to the public at the following VENUE AND DATE. Gipahibalo ang publiko na ang DAVAO ROS-VER PAWNSHOP, INC. og ang NEW PAG-ASA PAWNSHOP; magsubasta sa tanang prenda nga naremata atong Nobyembre 2019. Ang tanang prenda dungan nga ibaligya sa publiko sa mga sumusunod nga dapit og petsa:

DAVAO CITY Digos Rizal Digos Luna Digos Magsaysay Tagum Rizal Tagum Roxas Tagum Pioneer Tagum Public Market Tagum Quezon Santo Tomas Nabunturan Davao Branches Mati Burgos Kidapawan Panabo

Tel.#234-2268/cell#09078756193 ask for Ram and Jen between 8am-5pm

FOR RENT OFFICE SPACES Along University Ave., Juna Subd Matina, Davao City Call

(0932) 372 7799

Digos Magsaysay March 6, 2020 At 9:30am

Venue and Date

Tagum Pioneer – GRAND AUCTION March 6-7, 2020 At 9:30am Santo Tomas March 11, 2020 At 9:30am Nabunturan March 14, 2020 At 9:30am Ilustre – GRAND AUCTION March 19-21, 2020 At 9:30am Mati Burgos March 21, 2020 At 9:30am Kidapawan March 25,2020 At 9:30am Panabo – GRAND AUCTION March 30-31

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MINDANAO TIMES

2 PUIS,...

LIST...

(from page 2)

Arjohn Gangoso, Department of Health –Region 12 (DOH-12) health education and promotion officer, said on Saturday morning that the two new PUI deaths in the region came from South Cotabato.

The three-month-old male died last March 31 due to “respiratory failure secondary to respiration pneumonia acute gastroenteritis with moderate to severe dehydration.” He had no travel history to places with confirmed COVID-19 cases.

The other was a 74-year-old female who died also on March 31 due to “community-acquired pneumonia IV high risk with hypoxia, acute myocardial infarction.” She also had no travel history to places with confirmed COVID-19 cases.

So far, there is only

TAGUM...

MONDAY, APRIL 06, 2020

one confirmed COVID-19 case in South Cotabato, PH 2173, a 52-year-old male from T’boli town with a recent travel history to Metro Manila. The patient is in stable condition and under strict home quarantine.

Based on the latest data from the Department of Health –Region 12 (DOH12), a total of nine PUIs have died in the entire region so far.

One tested positive for COVID-19, PH 600 from Sultan Kudarat province, five had negative results while three are awaiting results as of 5 p.m. on April 3.

Gangoso said specimens in Region 12 or Soccsksargen are now being sent to the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao City, instead of the Research Institute for Tropical Medi-

cine in Manila. The SPMC is the sub-national laboratory in Mindanao for COVID-19 and has started processing the specimens in Mindanao since the test kits arrived two weeks ago.

At least 51 PUIs in the region have been discharged from various hospitals, 24 still admitted and 107 under home quarantine, DOH-12 data showed.

Tamayo appealed to his constituents to heed the precautionary measures put in place by the province such as the curfew.

He stressed that transport of food and other consumer goods will be accorded unhampered access in the duration of the extended lockdown, which bars non-residents from entering the province.

(Bong S. Sarmiento / MindaNews)

ecutive Order No. 13 declaring the entire province of Davao del Norte, except the Island Garden City of Samal, under enhanced community quarantine.

The executive order included provisions mandating “extreme precautionary measures” to be strictly imposed in Tagum City, Panabo City, and the Municipality of Carmen.

As of April 4, Davao del Norte already has nine positive COVID-19 cases.

Eight of these are from Tagum City, while one confirmed case is recorded in Panabo City. Currently, the province has 20 persons under investigation (PUIs) admitted at the Davao Regional Medical Center and a total of 239 persons under monitoring (PUMs).

(from page 2)

en an exemption to travel and pass through during the enhanced community quarantine and city-wide lockdown will still be subject for COVID-19 precautionary measures, such as the temperature check, at the designated surveillance stations of the city.

Last Thursday, April 3, Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Juhabib issued Ex-

(from page 2)

The department said it did not release the names and details of those subject for contact tracing.

It also said that the Department, together with the intelligence community, has started the investigation and is now tracking the people behind the release

GOV'T...

and the DOH have asked the help of the intelligence community to enhance its contact tracing. For now, they are tracking some 400 people who attended the derby in New Matina Galleria before Davao City was put on community quarantine on March 15.

lens,” Pernia said.

A progress report from the group is expected to be submitted to the IATF for Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on April 7 and the final report

by April 13, 2020.

The group is currently conducting two surveys for business owners and

consumers.

The surveys can be accessed at: www.dof.gov.ph/ iatf-afp-msme-survey/ and www.neda.gov.ph/consumer-rapid-assessment/.

These will be followed by two more surveys: one for industry and services, and another for agriculture and fisheries.

(from page 3)

“The whole of government will also be ready to adjust plans and implement the necessary interventions as the air of uncertainty is expected to remain with us for some time. We aim for these strategies to cover the most pressing issues and build from there with forward planning as our

PRESIDENTIAL...

(from page 3)

"There are three exclusive compartments that will be prepared for the patients with a temporary division in place. A three-meter distance will be strictly observed between patients.

Different entry points will be made for the patients and medical staff," Roxas said.

She added that the ship’s crew will remain aboard even if it is used as a quarantine station as entry points to the crew's billeting area and other compartments from the area of the

DOTR...

of the alleged list of names of the COVID-19 positive individuals.

The DOH said persons who will be found guilty “will be dealt with accordingly and be penalized to the fullest extent of the law.”

The city government

patients will be sealed off.

"The ACS-25 commanding officer, Commander Marissa Arlene Andres-Martinez is already coordinating with the local AFP (Armed Forces Philippines) units and government hospitals in Davao to support the medical equipment and other essential requirements needed for this floating quarantine facility," Roxas said.

She added the PN is fully committed to support the Bayanihan to Heal as

One (Republic Act 11469) initiative by devoting its personnel and resources as it explores all possible means to contain and defeat the spread of the coronavirus disease in the country.

BRP Ang Pangulo was acquired by the Philippine government in 1959. The yacht was first used by President Carlos P. Garcia.

It was built in Japan as part of that country’s war reparations to the Philippines. (PNA)

nahong ito — mapa-gobyerno, mapa-pribadong sektor, kailangang magtulungan para sa bayan (It is very important that we cooperate during this time – whether you are in government or private sector, we need to work together for the country). We must always be prepared to face worst-case scenarios,” DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

“Most hospitals in Metro Manila have already pleaded for help in attending to Covid-19 patients. Some of them can no longer accept more patients due to overcapacity. And that is what we are trying to address here. We will deploy these ‘quarantine ships’ to help our hospitals, our health workers, and our countrymen. Malaking tulong ito sa mga kababayan natin (This is a great help to our countrymen),” he added.

The PCG will also make sure that there will be unhampered and orderly operations of quarantine ships, and that the delivery of effective onboard health care, subject to standard environment controls, hygiene protocols, as well as maritime safety and security regulations, are observed.

“We are grateful for the support and partnership we had with 2GO. Negotiations with them went well and so, two ships are now awaiting their deployment to serve our people. With this mean-

ingful cause, we are setting an example for other nations how to combat this pandemic,” PCG Commandant Admiral Joel Garcia said.

Meanwhile, DOTr officer-in-charge, Undersecretary for Administrative Service and IATF official representative Artemio U. Tuazon Jr. said the efforts of the DOTr to reach out to various shipping companies have resulted in more shipping companies expressing their intention to join the project.

“The DOTr has been continuously reaching out to various shipping companies to seek their support for the project. A lot of them have already signified their intent to make use of their ships as floating quarantine facilities.

We are grateful that more of them are expressing their willingness to cooperate with government during this very critical situation,” Tuazon said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Ports Authority will perform support functions to ensure smooth administrative and logistics operations.

As part of safety protocols to mitigate the spread of the virus, the capacity of each ship will be limited in order to observe proper physical distancing. The ships will also be subjected to inspection by the DOH to ensure their compliance with other health requirements.

(from page 3)

required to undergo 14-day quarantine, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) partnered with 2Go Shipping to turn passenger vessels into ‘quarantine ships.’

As proposed by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on March 22, private passenger ships will be converted into temporary quarantine facilities as authorities expect more repatriates to return to the country.

Currently, 2GO Shipping has agreed to convert two of their ships into ‘quarantine ships’ that can serve 1,500 patients and will be operational by next week.

The Inter Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), in a meeting on March 30, gave the DOTr and PCG the green light to implement the operation of ‘quarantine ships’ as temporary facilities for persons under monitoring (PUMs) or those who have traveled to Covid-19 affected areas and those who show symptoms but have no history of exposure.

The project will be implemented in close coordination with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ).

This is also expected to unburden hospitals that are now operating at their full capacity.

“Importante talaga na mag-bayanihan tayo sa pa-

MINDANAO TIMES

MONDAY, APRIL 06, 2020

SENATOR...

(from page 3)

country.

“I am glad that the government has listened to the demands of the public and finally acted on this muchneeded initiative. Matagal nang kailangan ito, at sana ay agad itong maipatupad para masiguro natin ang kalusugan ng lahat” she said.

Hontiveros made her statement after Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the national task force on the COVID-19 pandemic, disclosed that government will begin mass testing starting April 14, 2020, and that nine hospitals have already been accredited to conduct the tests, with more on the way.

This is following previous announcements by the Department of Health that they have received 108,000 testing kits from South Korea, China and Singapore.

"We need to urgently expand the number of Filipinos tested for COVID-19 every day, with priority testing provided for frontliners such as health workers, those considered at-risk such as the elderly and the immunocompromised, and those exhibiting symptoms.

This is the only way we will be able to track and iso-

EXEC...

late cases, and respond in timely fashion to the treatment and care of patients," she said.

The senator then urged government to speed up the acquisition and distribution of testing kits, and invest in increasing the country's capacity to locally produce testing kits, citing the kits developed by scientists from the University of the Philippines as "promising examples."

Hontiveros said that the government should improve the capacity of testing centers by coordinating a network of hospital-based and stand-alone laboratories to help speed up and increase the number of tests conducted daily. The Senator likewise emphasized that testing should be free or fully covered by PhilHealth.

"We have to do everything we can to make mass testing of Filipinos a reality at the earliest time possible. Early detection of COVID-19 cases allows us not only to stop the spread of the virus, but also bring lifesaving treatment to those who need it.

Tandaan natin, buhay ng mga kababayan natin ang nakataya dito," she said

(from page 4)

program called Rizal Biz Access Line that intends to bridge account receivables/ business short term expenditures, inventory build-up, funding of OPEX, and similar purposes.

These programs were the responses of the local

MORE...

financial institutions to the plea of the business group for them to provide relief to businesses and individuals by allowing delayed payment of loans, and a 60day payment moratorium and restructure on all loan payments.

(from page 4)

vide the surging demand for basic needs and prime commodities of the people that is why they should continue running.

For these businesses, one way of responding to the rising demands is by utilizing social media or any online platform for delivery services as said in the advisory of DCCCII posted on their Facebook page.

DCCCII encouraged businesses to make use of

ANALYSIS...

the technology in their operations amid the pandemic by using social media, online channels, and delivery services.

One of the businesses that heeded to their call is the New City Commercial Center (NCCC) supermarket which will be having their groceries delivered to their customer’s houses to provide convenience and safety while providing services. by Nicole Burlas

(from page 7)

Americans."

Lower-income individuals are woefully unprepared for retirement, and many Americans into their 70s and 80s likely will have to continue to work.

The Saint Louis branch of the Federal Reserve found that among those who lack a high school diploma, only 22 percent have a retirement savings plan. And even when they do, the median balance is only $35,000.

But Hardy said "this recession will have negative

impacts across the income distribution, including for some ostensibly well-off households."

"Any threat to their income flow would therefore be quite dangerous for these families" he said, and "this is disproportionately true for black middle class households."

Rodriguez is trying to remain hopeful even though he has a mortgage and a car loan to pay.

"I think as soon as we sort it out the economy will come back stronger." AFP

FIRMS...

use its ER1-94 funds under Reforestation, Watershed Management, and Health & Environment Enhancement Fund (RWMHEEF) to help the needs of the LGUs for the procurement of medical supplies to aid COVID-19 crisis.

The RWMHEEF is from the generation shares of Hedcor and Therma South.

Moreover, Hedcor and Therma South ensured to help heighten the communities’ preventive measures against infection. As such, hand soaps and bottles of bleach were turned over to help communities constantly disinfect themselves and their facilities. 300 units of digital thermometers have also been turned over to the local government of Davao.

Additional medical equipment such as alcohol, and units of infrared and digital thermometers will also be handed over

GDP...

BIZ...

(from page 4)

to selected partner local government units as soon as supplies are available.

Other items, such as folding beds were also turned over to improve temporary shelters in the community.

“The Aboitiz Group is one with the government and our brave medical and security frontliners who are working hard to defeat COVID-19. We are committed to supporting the COVID-19 frontliners for the long term,” said Sabin Aboitiz Group president and CEO. Through these efforts, both AP business units are able to help sustain the needs of their host communities in this trying time.

This is an embodiment of Hedcor and Therma South’s bigger promise of Advancing Business and Communities.

(from page 4)

growth this year, with most of the contraction in the economy occurring in the second quarter. We are anticipating a bounce-back starting in the second half of this year, supported by the government’s stimulus spending and easier monetary policies,” ADB Country Director for the Philippines Kelly Bird said in a statement.

Bird said the ADB has been working closely with the Philippine government in its fight to ease the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Filipinos.

“We have provided two grants totaling $8 million to assist the government and we are now in advanced stages of preparing larger and comprehensive assistance to help alleviate the impacts of the pandemic on communities’ well-being and support fiscal stimulus,” he added.

On March 14, ADB approved a $3 million grant to help the government deliver much-needed emergency medical supplies and equipment, including a new laboratory to enhance the country’s capacity to conduct more Covid-19 tests.

This week, ADB launched a $5-million project to provide critical food supplies for poor families in Metro Manila.

ROUGH...

The quarantine measures have shut down schools and most government offices and private establishments in Metro Manila and the entire Luzon island, which accounts for over half of the country’s total population and generates more than two-thirds of the country’s overall GDP. The report says sustained public investment—especially in priority projects under the government’s “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) infrastructure development program—and a rebound in private consumption will drive economic growth in 2021.

The economy will also benefit from the government’s large-scale fiscal spending to boost the delivery of relief measures to vulnerable sectors affected by the pandemic.

Inflation is expected to reach 2.2 percent this year and 2.4 percent in 2021, with further downside pressure from lower global oil prices.

With inflation projected to remain within the central bank’s target range of 2.0 percent to 4.0 percent, authorities have room for further monetary policy expansion to cushion any lingering effects of the pandemic on the economy.

(from page 6)

Ironically though, God’s punishment has become even worst. What with government’s intervention in tiding over the spread of the deadly disease apparently much harsher than the punishment itself.

We can only hope that the other human interventions, the science-based efforts to discover a medical cure of the CoViD 19, will not take long. Our medical professionals and other frontliners are getting sick with CoViD; they are quarantined and some are unlucky, they died even before appropriate medicines can be administered on them.

Now, isn’t there an old saying that “For what use is the grass when the horses are dead?”

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(from page 4)

To mitigate these data security risks, Globe Business recommends requiring multi-factor authentication, device encryption, employee training on the best cybersecurity practices, and ensuring that cybersecurity compliance remains up-to-date.

Aside from common efforts such as installing computer firewalls or ensuring that devices have antivirus programs, Globe Business strongly suggests both employees and employers remain vigilant and continuously practice cybersecurity measures to keep threats at bay. This is because global data prove that human error remains the biggest factor in opening the floodgates to cyberattacks.

"Cyber threats, when left unchecked, can lead to serious consequences that are more difficult to address at a time in which there is limited access to IT support,” said Peter Maquera, Senior Vice President for Globe Business. “Cybersecurity attacks can come in many forms, most often appealing to the emotions and lack of digital knowledge of employees, which is why we aim to raise awareness on and enable our clients

RULES...

and partners with the most advanced solutions and measures to combat potential threats and attacks.”

To provide these necessary added layers to cybersecurity, Globe Business is giving customers free subscription to Check Point SandBlast Agent and/or Check Point SandBlast Mobile for 30 days. Check Point SandBlast Mobile guards corporate data on employee mobile devices against malicious applications, OS exploits, and network-based threats.

Check Point SandBlast Agent, on the other hand, prevents and automatically remediates evasive cyberattacks on endpoint devices, protects user credentials, and provides actionable insights concerning malicious cyber activities.

Amid the increasing need of working from home, businesses can scale protection to all employees regardless of location.

With the participation of employees paired with the right cybersecurity solutions, companies can safely keep their operations running through digital means and focus on initiatives to help their communities rise from any situation.

(from page 4)

cates of residence for tax treaty relief, as well as the registration of computerized books of accounts and other accounting records, which deadlines fall within the period of national emergency, shall also be generally extended by 30 days.

The deadline for VAT refund applications covering the quarter ending March 31, 2018 is extended from March 31, 2020 to April 30, 2020, while the tax amnesty on delinquencies returns shall be accepted until May 23, 2020.

Additionally, settlement of one-time transactions, submission of assessment-related documents, and other filings and submissions not enumerated in the revenue regulations are given a 30-day extension, counted from the original due date.

Aside from moving the deadlines for tax compliance, RR No. 7-2020 also suspends the running of the statute of limitations on assessment notices, warrants of distraint and/ or levy, and warrants of garnishment, by 60 days from the lifting of the declaration of a state of national emergency.

“The extension of deadlines under RR No. 7-2020 applies nationwide while the country is in a state of national emergency,” Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Caesar Dulay said.

The revenue regula-

tions also provide that the new deadlines may also be further extended if the circumstances warrant such extension.

The regulations shall take effect immediately after its publication.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) previously issued Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 28-2020 extending the deadline for the filing and payment of the 2019 Annual ITRs by a month, and RMC Nos. 29-2020 and 30-2020 extending the deadline for the filing and payment of withholding taxes, VAT, and one-time transactions, as well as the submission of documents.

Despite the deadline extensions, Dominguez reiterated his appeal to those who are able to file within the deadline or at the earliest possible time to do so through mechanisms that have been made available by the BIR, including online filing and payment platforms.

He pointed out that such tax payments ahead of the new deadlines are crucial for the government to fund extremely urgent social protection and emergency health measures in the face of this lethal virus known as COVID-19, as well as to sustain state investments needed to help Filipino families regain stable and reliable sources of income as soon as the pandemic is over.

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