BusinessWeek Mindanao (March 18, 2020)

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Briefly Burial protocols THE burial of the patient who died due to Covid-19 followed Islamic traditions as well as protocols set by the health authorities, the local government assured on Sunday.

Following the Department of Health protocols, the body of Patient 40 (PH40) was disinfected and placed in multiple airtight, leak-proof sealed cadaver bags to prevent contamination.

The disinfection was done in Northern Mindanao Medical Center based in this city and was supervised by the chief epidemiologist of DOH Region 10, assistant regional director Dave Mendoza.

Senator Migz positive SENATE Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri on Monday confirmed that he tested positive for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

In a statement, Zubiri said it was Health Secretary Francisco Duque III who informed him about the positive test results for Covid-19, noting that his case was asymptomatic or showing no symptoms.

Zubiri was among the several senators who have been in self-quarantine after it was reported that a resource person who attended a recent Senate hearing tested positive for the virus.

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Wednesday|March 18, 2020

Thank you for trusting us!

By MARK FRANCISCO, Reporter

C

A G A YA N d e O ro C it y Mayor Osc ar Moreno on Monday has ordered the closure of all shopping malls in the city and imposed a dusk-todawn curfew beginning yesterday, March 17 as a preemptive measure against the worldwide pandemic COVID-19.

DISINFECTION. Personnel from the City Health Office (right photo) leads the disinfection and cleanup at Cagayan de Oro city hall while Jessie Boy P. Lentorio (left photo, branch manager of the Rural Transit Mindanao, Inc. (RTMI) Yacapin Branch, supervises the disinfection of one of their buses to prevent the spread of Coronavirus 2019 (covid-19). photos by cio and gerry lee gorit

Bus firm notes 50% decrease of passengers

Moreno said closing shopping malls is his response to c a l ls f rom ne t i z e ns demanding that Cagayan de Oro would replicate CURFEW/PAGE 11

By GERRY LEE GORIT, Reporter

CUSHIONING THE IMPACT. To mitigate the impact of corona virus pandemic to the local economy, the Cagayan de Oro City Price Coordinating Council led by co-chairman Edgardo Uy starts checking stores on the availability of basic necessities. photo by mark francisco

A SENIOR official of the bus f irm Rural Transit Mindanao, Inc. (RTMI) noted a 50-percent decrease of its passengers after President Rodrigo Duterte declared a public health emergency due to the spread of Coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19).

Jessie Boy P. Lentorio, branch manager of the Rural Transit Mindanao, Inc. (RTMI) Yacapin Branch, said only a few passengers travel nowadays after some DECREASE/PAGE 11

DESSERTED. The once crowded Agora terminal in Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City is now desserted with passengers following the tighter measures implemented for "self quarantine" and lockdown in some areas in Mindanao. photo by gerry lee gorit

Biz group calls on banks to defer loans payments

By CHE PALICTE, PNA

DAVAO City -- The Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) has called on banks to allow

deferred payment of business loans for at least two months for businesses affected by LOANS/PAGE 11

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Local 2 Moreno: Kagay-anon need not to panic C Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

WEDNESDAY|MARCH 18, 2020

AGAYAN de Oro City Mayor Oscar S. Moreno says there is no need for Kagayanons to panic despite the reported death of Patient 40 (P40) late evening of March 13 at the Northern

Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC).

Moreno also reminded the public that P40 was not a resident of Cagayan de Oro and upon contact tracing made by the Department of Health

Cagayan de Oro City Mayor, Oscar S. Moreno tells Kagay-anons that there is no need to panic despite the reported death of Patient 40 (P40) late evening of March 13 at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC).

(Vincent Philip Bautista/PIA10)

(DOH), the latter is originally a resident of Pasig City who came home directly to his residence in Lanao del Sur. P40 was immediately confined at Iligan City where he was not responding to the medicines in about four to five days stay at the facility.

The doctors suspected that he has a worst condition, so they sought help from NMMC. At the NMMC, he tested positive for COVID-19 prior to his demise.

“We are doing our best to contain the Coronavirus Disease (COVID)-19.

We are working with the DOH so that we make all the necessary precautions to avoid any infections,” Moreno said.

P40 has no direct

or close contact here upon arrival at NMMC. However, the DOH had been doing their contract tracing meticulously.

Moreno also added that “as a preventive measure, the city will be having disinfection drive to schools, churches and mosques. If the DepEd will decide to continue their exam week, we will do disinfections of the classrooms."

There is also no need for the a community quarantine or lockdown as to this moment, it will only be implemented if contact tracing fails where possible close contact or

second generation contact of a patient positive for CoViD 19 can no longer be traced by the DOH and it seems like you are in the dark by then it is the time to implement it, the mayor said.

In a separate interview, DOH-10 Regional Director Adriano Subaan confirmed that they already traced the persons P40 was with in the plane and his close contacts are now being observed. They are also tracing the second generation contact.

Moreno asked the media to help the public understand the situation and to not cause panic

amongst Kagay-anon.

He urges the public to focus on preventive measures and not to be afraid or panic.

Thus, the mayor reiterated to observe social distancing, proper coughing etiquette, proper handwashing and using alcohol or sanitizer to prevent the virus to spread.

As the city prepares to contain the threat of COVID-19, the public is urged to cooperate and heed the announcements to be released by the DOH. "Prevention is possible if we all work together," Suba-an concluded. (JAKA/ PIA10)

Expect more PUMs in CDO - CHO CITY Health Officer Dr. Lorraine Nery explained in a press conference not to be shocked as the city expects surge of Persons Under Monitoring (PUMs) following the influx of people coming from Manila and other parts

of the country via air and seaports.

She added, the city together with the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs) has been fully activated to monitor PUMs especially those coming in from

travels abroad or outside CDO. She called Kagay-anons to be cautious and to report to BHERTs if they have recently travelled or know anyone who did.

"We should not be shocked if we have increasing PUMs to do home quarantine," she said.

Rest assured that they will be monitored for any manifestitation of the disease. "We have trained personnel who will handle these cases," she clarified.

In addition, every barangay is mandated to identify barangay isolation unit per Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) advisory, she said.

PUMs who cannot do EXPECT/PAGE 11

CAGAYAN DE ORO MAIN BRANCH P & J Lim Bldg., Tiano Brothers Kalambagohan Sts., Tel. # (08822) 727-829 * Telefax # (088) 856-1947 CAMIGUIN BRANCH B. Aranas St., Poblacion, Mambajao, Camiguin Tel. # (088) 387-0491 CORRALES BRANCH Corrales Ave., Cagayan de Oro City DIVISORIA BRANCH Atty. Erasmo B. Damasing Bldg., #61 Don A. Velez St., Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 857-3631 LAPASAN BRANCH Lapasan Hi-way, Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-6739 CARMEN BRANCH Vamenta Blvd., Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-2011

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WEDNESDAY|MARCH 18, 2020

Nickel Asia posts 11% income slide

N

ICKEL ASIA Corp. reported an 11% decline in attributable net income last year to P2.68 billion after the listed miner and ore exporter recorded a drop in its share from two mining investments.

In a disclosure to the stock exchange on Friday, the company said its share of equity in the net income of Taganito HPAL Nickel Corp. and Coral Bay Nickel Corp. decreased to P10 million in 2019, or much lower than the P348 million posted a year earlier.

“Last year was another challenging year for the company.

The huge increase in nickel ore exports from Indonesia had put a dampener on ore prices for most of the year, making the company focus more on the sale of higher value saprolite ore,” said Nickel Asia President Martin Antonio G.

Zamora in a statement.

The drop in the company’s share of equity from the two entities came after a decline in the average realized price of cobalt, which fell to $16.57 per pound last year from $37.35 per pound in 2018.

Nickel Asia said it recognized a foreign exchange loss of P264 million last year, a reversal of the P363 million gain from the earlier year, because of the weaker US dollar against the peso.

The company sold a total of 18.8 million wet metric tons of nickel ore, down 2.6% from the previous year. It said it had focused more on exports of higher value saprolite ore to China, resulting in a decline in shipments during the year.

Revenues last year slipped to P17.92 billion, down 3.9% from the previous year because of the lower shipments and a less favorable

peso-dollar exchange rate. Costs grew by 5.5% to P7.91 billion. The company’s earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) fell by 13.9% to P6.54 billion.

Mr. Zamora said that the company remains optimistic amid the challenges.

“The twin-effects of the Indonesian nickel ore ban, which took place on January 1st, 2020, combined with the bright outlook for LME (London Metal Exchange)linked nickel, given the evolution of battery technology, will certainly bode well for the Company’s medium term prospects,” he said.

The company’s board of directors approved a cash dividend of P0.08 per common share, payable on April 8, 2020, for shareholders of record on March 27, 2020.

PH’s only face mask maker vows to raise production

By KRIS CRISMUNDO

MANILA – Face mask manufacturer Medtecs International Corp. has committed to further increase its production to meet surging demand brought about by the rising cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in the country.

“On masks, [we] renegotiated with lone manufacturer Medtecs to increase supply to Philippines from 1.6 million (pieces) a month to 4 million so we can increase replenishment

for the drugstores,” Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said in a text message Thursday.

Lopez said the initial volume that will be produced by Medtecs will be distributed to health workers and frontliners of the Department of Health and Red Cross.

He added the country will also source 2.5 million pieces of face masks from India which can be supplied to drugstores.

On Wednesday, the DTI held an emergency meeting with manufacturers of basic necessities and prime commodities, as well as alcohol and disinfectant producers, to give updates on the supply of these products.

In a statement of DTI Thursday, the manufacturers of basic goods said they have stocks good for one month or less. They also committed to ramp up production if the demand further increases.

“Consumers need

not worry as we have enough stocks of basic goods in the market. The DTI is working closely with the manufacturers and retailers to ensure continued flow of supply in the market and reasonableness of prices of basic goods, including disinfectants,” Lopez said.

He also ordered supermarkets and retail stores to strictly limit selling of alcohol to two bottles per transaction to prevent shortage and possible re-selling of the product for higher prices. (PNA)

2Go cancels trips to and from Manila SHIPPING and logistics provider 2Go Group, Inc. announced on Friday the cancellation of its voyages to and from Manila from March 15 in view of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s “community quarantine” directive in Metro Manila.

“For now, voyages to and from Manila from March 15 are cancelled.

We are monitoring government advisories on a daily basis and once clearance is provided, we will resume normal operations,” 2Go said in an advisory.

It said the cancellation advisory does not cover its freight and cargo services.

The company also cancelled its Cagayan de Oro-Manila and Cebu-

3

CorporateWorld

Manila trips on Friday.

“As the resumption of sailings is reviewed day to day, we encourage all passengers with trips booked on cancelled sailings March 13 onwards to monitor our announcements on resumption of service and rebook tickets accordingly at any corporate ticketing outlet or where tickets were bought,” it said.

It said surcharges like rebooking fees and fare difference will be waived.

Mr. Duterte’s order came after the code alert system for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the Philippines was raised to Code Red Sublevel 2, which means that community transmission is already evident.

At least two local airlines have cancelled their domestic flights to and from Manila from March 15 to April 14.

Land travel to and from Metro Manila will also be suspended during the said period.

The measure is subject to daily monitoring and reassessment by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

The Trade department said the President’s directive does not cover the operations of businesses.

Goods are also free to move, according to Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez.

“To be clear, and to allay the fears and apprehension of the

public, the government is essentially calling for a stricter implementation of preventive measures in order to slow down and put a halt to the further spread of COVID-19. While a total and absolute lockdown is considered by some as a valid preventive measure, current circumstances do not warrant such an extreme course of action,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo said in a statement.

“While the Duterte Administration remains resolute in combating this disease, the Palace asks affected entities and individuals for their cooperation in properly observing the foregoing adopted measures,” he added.

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Opinion

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BUSINESSWEEK MINDANAO CORPORATION Publisher DANTE M. SUDARIA President/CEO ALLAN MARIO MEDIANTE Vice President for Corporate Affairs RUFINO T. MAGBANUA Vice President for Business Development VICENTE C. DELA VICTORIA Vice President for Operations JOE FELICILDA Vice President for Administration JOHN AARON M. DEL BANDO Vice President for Events and Promotions JOE PALABAO Vice President for Marketing ROSE MARIE D. SUDARIA Vice President for Finance MIKE BAÑOS Vice President for Digital

Below is an urgent appeal from a senior doctor in a major hospital in Italy, who asked to remain anonymous because she has not been authorized to speak to the press. Sharing this despite the anonymity because it makes sense and can help many.

"I'm a doctor in a major hospital in Western Europe.

Watching you Americans (and you, Brits) in these stillearly days of the coronavirus pandemic is like watching a familiar horror movie, where the protagonists, yet again, split into pairs or decide to take a tour of a dark basement.

The real-life versions of

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Traning for parents (Pt.1) Think a minute . . . Scientific studies have shown that if you put a frog into boiling water, it will jump out immediately to save its life. But if you put that same frog into water that is normal room temperature, then raise the heat of the water very slowly, the frog will just sit there until it boils to death! Why? It gets comfortable with the water at each slightly raised temperature, so it does not realize how dangerously hot its environment has become—until it is too late.

In a similar way, our ch i l d re n’s l ive s c an b e destroyed if we do not realize how gradually they are being negativelhy influenced by their bad social environment of the wrong friends—and even by our daily bad examples as their parents. Before we know it, our kids have grown older without becoming the honest, self-controlled, loving and courageous adults we want them to be. Even though we are living with them every day, we fail to see the dangerous direction their character and friends

THINK A MINUTE

JHAN TIAFAU HURST are taking them. We need to save our kids from this destructive, increasingly “hot water” by changing our unhealthy parenting habits before it is too late.

Today and tomorrow we will talk about a few of the most important things that can help us train our kids well, so they can become the honorable adults we want them to become.

First, nagging and yelling at our children can become a bad daily habit that is actually counterproductive and does not work. An angry family is not a happy family!

We might think getting angr y will get our kids to obey; but the more we TRAINING/PAGE 11

this behavior are pretending this is just a flu; keeping schools open; following through with your holiday travel plans, and going into the office daily. This is what we did in Italy. We were so complacent that even when people with coronavirus symptoms started turning up, we wrote each off as a nasty case of the flu. We kept the economy going, pointed fingers at China and urged tourists to keep traveling.

And the majority of us told ourselves and each other: this isn't so bad. We're young, we're fit, we'll be fine even if we catch it.

Fast-forward two months, an d we are d row n i ng .

Statistically speaking— judging by the curve in China—we are not even at the peak yet, but our fatality rate is at over 6 percent, double the known global average.

Put aside statistics. Here is how it looks in practice.

Most of my childhood friends are now doctors working in north Italy. In Milan, in Bergamo, in Padua, they are having to choose between intubating a 40-year-old with two kids, a 40-year old who is fit and healthy with no comorbidities, and a 60-year-old

NUTS & BOLTS

JEROME DE LA FUENTE with high blood pressure, because they don't have enough beds. In the hallway, meanwhile, there are another APPEAL/PAGE 11

Have governance, expect real family unity

Editor-in-Chief

Motoring Editor

WEDNESDAY|MARCH 18, 2020

Italian doctor’s appeal

NELSON CONSTANTINO GILBERT Y. CHAO

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PROF. ENRIQUE SORIANO I re c e ive d a d e lu ge of frantic emails related to my previous articles (“What If You Died Tonight” and “Not h i ng Is Un c e r t ai n e xc e pt D e at h” ) . More than half of the messages came from next generation members desperately fearful of the dire consequences of suddenly losing a business leader. Additionally, most of them also felt a feeling of inadequacy and helplessness because of the patriarchal shadow enveloping their decisions.

On the other hand, the other half of the messages came from worried

senior generation leaders expressing unhappiness with the way the children have managed the business. One patriarch in his 70’s even remarked that he felt great sadness because the children (and in laws) acted as if they owned the business even though they never experienced hardships.

Summarizing my email exchanges clearly points to the twin evils of family owned businesses: The senior generation’s way of control or “patriarchal shadow” and The Next generation’s work attitude and sense of entitlement Ever y family I coach all over the world is in agreement that good family and business governance go hand in hand with sustained benefits that can last for generations. The question is how committed are family members especially the business leader in initiating real change?

In my recent engagement i n Is t a n b u l , Tu r k e y, a

business owner shared a question: “Professor, we all know the importance of governance and succession and there is no question all of us in this room aspire to be 100-year old companies someday. However, with all the issues considered urgent, how can I worr y about governance, succession and ownership transfer when I have a business to run, creditors to manage and bills to pay?

My answer is clear… always start the process with simple steps but make sure you position family governance and succession at the top of your priority list.

There is a Chinese saying, “the journey to a thousand leagues begins with one step” and it holds true in creating legacy building measures. I need to reiterate that even the best family businesses work hard at relationship building.

To jumpstart governance, family members must understand what the c o mp a ny ' s m i s s i o n i s ,

what its short-term goals are and how it rel ate s to t heir indiv idu a l j ob descriptions. They must also know their boundaries.

To determine the latter, a system that encourages open communications must be fostered by the business leader.

Trust me, communication helps build good relationships enterprisewide.

I must warn you, though – encouraging open communication has its temporary setbacks. You will expect siblings or cousins to raise memories of past hurts related to how they were treated differently and unfairly. That said, will you just sweep the issues under the rug? How would you confront these “elephants in the room”? Will you just suffer in silence and prefer temporary peace knowing that at some point, these forbidden issues can surface and create tension amongst family members? What if UNITY/PAGE 11

Make friends with dishonest wealth Very intriguing words of Christ, indeed! (cf r L k 16, 9) We need to go slow, keeping a good grip on our reflex reaction, to know what Christ really meant by them. Otherwise, we can easily misinterpret these divine words.

To be sure, Christ did not say that we should generate our wealth in a dishonest way. “No servant can serve two masters,” he said. “You cannot serve God and mammon.” We should avoid dishonesty.

What Christ really wanted to say was that since we cannot avoid dishonest wealth given our wounded and sinful condition that often leads us to be dishonest, we just have to make sure that we use that dishonest wealth properly while trying to eliminate dishonesty wherever it is found.

In another part of the gospel, he already warned his apostles, and us, about the naked reality of our life in this world. “I am sending you out like sheep

among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” (Mt 10, 16) In short, we have to learn to deal with this condition. We are not yet in Paradise.

Christ wants us to know how to cope with this ugly condition of our life here on earth, and even convert it into something that is good, purifying and redeeming.

What usually happens is that the so-called “good people,” or those who want to follow Christ or who want to be holy, get so idealistic that they would be at a loss as to how to deal with the ugly reality of our earthly sojourn.

T hu s , h e m a d e t h i s reproach: “ The sons of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the sons of light.” (Lk 16, 8) These words were spoken after Christ in a parable commended the shrewd manager who made some arrangements after he was given notice of being fired.

Of course, using

dishonest wealth properly can be done in many ways.

One could be that it has to be returned to where that wealth rightfully comes from. If that is not possible anymore for one reason or another, then it can be used to atone or to make up for whatever damage the dishonest way of acquiring may have caused.

Thus, in that episode of Christ meeting the rich chief tax collector Zaccheus, Christ again commended the rich man for what the tax collector did with those whom he may have cheated. (cfr Lk 19, 1-10) “Lord, I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount,” said Zaccheus. And Christ answered: “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Lk 19, 8-10) Or that dishonest wealth can be used to do some

HINTS AND TRACES

ROY CIMAGALA good or to promote the common good of society. In all of this, we should try our best to undo any practice, system, structure, culture or lifestyle that generates this dishonest wealth.

We have to be realistic in dealing with the actual realities of our life. This does not mean that we have to make compromises in our morality. In fact, given the unavoidable unpleasant things in life, we have to be most clear and sharp in distinguishing between what is good and evil, what is moral and immoral.

Only in this way would FRIENDS/PAGE 11

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5

Banking&Finance

Thrift banks' adherence to Covid-19 measures cited

A

N official of the Chamber of Thrift Banks (CTB) said measures are now being undertaken by their members as the government implements additional measures against the further spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

In a statement, CTB Executive Director Suzanne Feliz said they are following the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’

(BSP) directive to adopt and implement response plans and mechanisms to protect their employees and the public while providing financial services.

“Our members remain vigilant by constantly monitoring and gathering relevant information about Covid-19, both locally and globally, and continue to assess the impact of the virus outbreak on their response strategies,” she said.

PH stock market on shortened trading during MM quarantine THE Philippines’ bourse will have a shortened trading session starting March 16 up to April 14, 2020, in line with the community quarantine for Metro Manila from that started March 15.

In a memorandum issued by the Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc. dated March 15, 2020, pre-open trading for March 16 will be at 9 a.m. and the market open will be 9 a.m. Preclose will be at 12:45 p.m., run-off or trading, at last,

will be 12:50 p.m. a.m. and trading close will be at 1 p.m.

The pre-open trading and market open schedule for Monday is the same as before the government implemented the Metro Manila-wide measure against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

For the succeeding trading days until April 14, pre-open will be at 8:30 a.m.; the market open is 9 a.m.; pre-close is 12:45 MARKET/PAGE 11

Feliz said CTB members have activated their respective business continuity plan (BCP) program “depending on the announcement of the government”; have identified departments that will be operating on skeletal force and those that have personnel who will work from home; have identified alternative areas to work from once a lockdown is implemented in an area; and have established

a communication program that will handle customers' concerns and queries.

BSP Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier has urged BSP-supervised institutions and operators of payment system (OPS) to adopt response plans and measures like alternate work arrangement or remote access capabilities to ensure the safety of their personnel and the public as Covid-19 cases continue to

rise.

“The current situation warrants subject institutions to remain vigilant by constantly monitoring and gathering relevant information on this epidemic, both locally and globally, and continuously assessing the impact of their response strategies,” she said.

Fonacier said advisories and/ or guidelines issued by local health authorities should be strictly followed. (PNA)

Financial institutions urged to boost cybersecurity capabilities THAE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) urged BSP-supervised financial institutions (BSFIs) to further strengthen their cybersecurity capabilities, citing that cyber criminals are taking advantage of the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) global pandemic.

“Cyber threat actors are taking advantage of the situation by carrying out criminal activities such as ransomware, phishing,

cyber extortion and even launching cyber espionage activities,” BSP Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier said in a memorandum issued March 14, 2020.

Phishing allows cyber criminals to get unsuspecting people’s sensitive data, such as personal information, banking and credit card details, and passwords by sending out electronic mails and messages through the short

messaging system (SMS), as well as phone calls that pose as legitimate transactions.

Ransomware, in turn, is a malicious type of software designed to block an individual’s access to a computer system until he has paid a certain amount of money.

“Recent threat intelligence sources are citing that the threat actors are propagating phishing/ spear phishing campaigns

containing links to Covid-19 or coronavirusthemed malicious websites and/or attachments,” Fonacier said.

She said phishing emails initially appear to provide information on how a person can protect himself/herself from the Covid-19, while some even contain legitimate statements/advice from public officials or valid sources but loaded with BOOST/PAGE 9

BusinessWeek MINDANAO CREDIBLE

RELIABLE

Editor: GILBERT Y. CHAO

MOTORING IN-DEPTH

Wednesday|March 18, 2020

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Suzuki Philippines Unveils the All-New XL7 and All-New S-Presso

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UZUKI Philippines Inc. (SPH), the country’s pioneer compact car distributor, launches the all-new Suzuki XL7, and S-Presso. Both uniquely designed, the XL7, an SUV, and S-Presso, a compact crossover, with a modernized classic Suzuki trademark look, are now available in the country to cater to the needs of modern Filipino families and professionals as a reliable companion in witnessing new places and exciting drives!

“We have seen our customers progress over the years and it is only fitting that we in Suzuki make sure that we are able to provide them with top-notch vehicles which champion the Suzuki Way of Life! in their everyday lives. The newest addition to our SUVs which is the XL7, perfectly fuses exterior aesthetic and dynamic interior with its seating capacity that can accommodate seven passengers. The S-Presso that proudly boasts of the iconic Suzuki SUV design is perfect for our customers who appreciate compact cars that deliver excellent engine performance made to

match their needs when it comes to conquering daily challenges on the road,” says Suzuki Philippines Vice President and General Manager for Automobile Division, Mr. Keiichi Suzuki The All New XL7 boosts its performance with a K15B engine, allowing for a desirable speed to and from every destination. The XL7 delivers an output power of 103hp/6,000 rpm and torque at 138N-m/4,400rpm that will surely make road trips and even city driving a breeze.

The XL7 is Suzuki’s most dapper SUV yet with its bold face and front fenders with garnish that creates a bold and robust exterior styling.

On the inside, the XL7 is just as impressive with its dynamic interior with flexible seating arrangements where even passengers at the third row get to enjoy wide leg room.

With a 199L maximum luggage capacity, groceries, travel bags, camping equipment, and other adventure essentials won’t be a nuisance at any cost.

Advanced and sleek convenient features are available as well for the

All-New XL7. These features include rear parking sensor and rear parking camera to ensure safety in every drive, advanced multiinformation LCD display that will make viewing current conditions of the vehicle easy, automatic aircon controls and keyless push start function. A 10-inch infotainment system with Apple Carplay and Android Auto makes for an entertaining and comfortable passenger experience, not to mention ventilated cup holders to add on to daily convenience.

With its 7-seater capacity, safety is not compromised as it comes with dual airbags backed up by Anti-lock Brake

Sytem (ABS) with Electric Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Electronic Stability Program (ESP), to make the whole driving experience more secured.

The XL7 is equipped with a new generation HEARTECT platform that will make for an optimum driving experience when driving, turning, and stopping due to weight reduction. This technology will also allow for a quiet drive due to improved NVH performance.

With the new generation HEARTECT platform, cabin and luggage area are maximized with the

increased available space.

The HEARTECT platform effectively disperses energy during collision for better safety and gives the XL7 high maneuverability by its greater front wheel turning radius.

The All New XL7 is priced at an SRP of Php1,068,000.00 and comes in desirable colorways with new additions, Brave Khaki and Snow White both in pearl finish, while Magma Gray and Sunrise Orange in metallic finish for those who want a subtle but eyecatching color.

The All-New S-Presso,

a compact crossover, offers a classic look refurbished with a modern take on the iconic Suzuki SUV design, its high ground clearance makes this vehicle a sight to behold.

Its athletic profile that suits its tall and powerful stance will make head turns wherever the road it cruises. Completing this hatchback’s classic Suzuki SUV look is the distinct lamp design and signature C design tail lamps complemented by strong character lines and its muscular front grille.

The S-Presso is SUZUKI/PAGE 11

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OROBANKERS DIRECTORIES CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY

A PUBLIC SERVICE BY:

AMANAH/ISLAMIC BANK V. Neri Street Carmen, Cdoc 858988/8587965 / 722274

METRO BANK- COGON Osmeña Hayes St. Cdoc | 726438/8572057

ASIA UNITED BANK Cor.Camp Alagar Road Lapasan, Cdoc 729678 / 8568893

METRO BANK- CARMEN Max Suniel St. Carmen, Cdoc 8581722/ 8585162

BDO – VELEZ Velez-Rn Abejuela Street, Cdoc 2314246/8572075

METRO BANK- LAPASAN CM Recto Lapasan HW, Cdoc 724461/8561721

BDO – SM G/F SM City, Master Son’s Avenue Upper Carmen Cdoc | 8592623/8592637

METRO BANK- OSMEÑA Brgy Osmeña St. Cdoc | 722014 /8800924

BDO – XU XU Lib. Annex Corrales St. Cdoc 8574108 / 8573796

METRO BANK- CORRALES Corrales Avenue, Cdoc | 8572635/728731

BDO – CDO HAYES Trendline Bldg.,Hayes Street, 8568151/727405

METRO BANK- GAISANO 8561720

BDO – COGON Sky hi Bldg JR Borja St. Cogon, Cdoc 8577963/ 725209/ 725203 BDO – OSMEÑA Osmeña corner Ramon Chavez St. Cdoc 724567/8563727 BDO – LAPASAN Lapasan Highway Cdoc 8563233 /8563234 / 725178 BDO – RN- PELAEZ George Town CyberMall Rn Pelaez Blvd Kauswagan Cdoc | 8562617/729052 BDO – CARMEN Maxsuniel cor.V Neri St. Carmen, .Cdoc 8584854 /8581133 BANK OF COMMERCE- VELEZ Akut- Velez St.Cdoc | 8564371 / 726880 BANK OF COMMERCE- LAPASAN

CM Recto Ave. Lapasan, Cdoc, 8563991/727731

BPI FAMILY SAVINGS BANK RER kauswagan,HW Cdoc 8573733 /722519 BPI FAMILY SAVINGS BANK Gaston Park Cdoc | 8801518 BPI – LAPASAN Cm Recto HW Lapasan Cdoc 724076/ 8524602 BPI- VELEZ Velez-JR Borja St.Cdoc 8564213/722406 BPI – CAPISTRANO Capistrano St. Cdoc 8574264/8574263 BPI- COGON Osmeña St. Cdoc 8571297/8571298 CHINA BANK –GAISANO 745887/745880 CHINA BANK- JR BORJA JR Borja St. Cdoc 8572212/8573274 CHINA BANK- LAPASAN CM Recto Lapasan HW Cdoc 8561325 /722240 CHINA BANK – CARMEN Max Suniel, Cor. Yakal St. Cdoc 8583903/723091 CHINA BANK – DIVISORIA RN Abejuela St. Divosoria Cdoc 8575759/722641 CITY SAVINGS BANK TS Fashion Ave.Justo Ramonal Corner St.Cdoc 2316060/ 2316059 CHINATRUST Suite U&5 G/LGateway Tower Lapasan Lkk Cdoc 8521846/8521844 D’ASIAN HILLS BANK HW. Lapasan Cdoc | 8564201/ 8564201 D’ASIAN HILLS BANK Vamenta Carmen Sts. Cdoc | 8585366 DBP – CORRALES Corrales Ave., St. Cdoc | 8572087/722649 DBP – CAPISTRANO JR Borja Capistrano St. Cdoc 8567776/722819

PBCOM Tiano-HayesSt. Cdoc | 726519/8571558 PLANTERS DEVELOPMENT BANK

Tiano Bros St. Cdoc | 727083 /727082 PHILTRUST BANK Ramonal OsmeñaSt. CDO 8807234/2316694/2316695 PNB- CORRALES Corrales Avenue Cdoc | 729500 / 729723

PNB- LKK MALL NORTH CONCOURSE

LKK Mall N.Concourse Cdoc 8574149/8575682

PNB- CARMEN Elipe Bldg.Carmen, Cdoc | 8583158/ 8584203 PNB- LKK LKK Lapasan, Cdoc | 8564347/722872 PNB CDO– DIVISORIA Tiano Bros.Cruz Taal St., Cdoc 722861 /722816 PNB CDO– LAPASAN LKK Center Lapasan, Cdoc | 8564732 / 723992 PNB CDO– COGON LKK Center Lapasan, Cdoc 8571991/ 723992 PHILIPPINE POSTAL SAVINGS BANK, INC. bels_domingo@yahoo.com.ph Rizal Chavez Cdoc 8572194/725438 PS BANK Velez Corner A. Mabini St., Cdoc 8574183/725184 PHILIPPINE VETERANS BANK Tiano-Abejuela St. Cdoc 722644/8573386 QUEEN CITY DEVELOPMENT BANK, INC. Sacred Heart Mont. Cm RectoAve., Cdoc 8562390 RCBC- VELEZ Velez-Borja St. Cdoc | 8564982/8568888 RCBC- COGON Simplex Bldg. Osmeña St. Cdoc 8562888/725863/8521329 RCBC- LAPASAN Cm. Recto Lapasan HW. Cdoc 8561888/722449 RCBC- LKK Gateway, Tower 1 LkkCenter, Cdoc 8563707/722449 RCBC SAVINGS- CARMEN Walingwaling St.,Carmen St. Cdoc 8585793/ 8586248 RCBC SAVINGS- VELEZ Velez St. Cdoc | 729083/8562460 RCBC SAVINGS- AGORA 8807891/8807892 RURAL BANK OF CABADBARAN, Inc.

#58 Tiano FernandezSt.CDO 727215/ 8563552 *805

SECURITY BANK- OSMEÑA Osmeña St. Cdoc | 8563965/ 723411/728774 SECURITY BANK- LKK Limketkai | 8801258/8801625

EAST WEST BANK #5 Juan Sia Bldg. Apolinar Velez St.Cdoc 8578801/720081

SECURITY BANK- VELEZ Velez Montalvan St., Cdoc | 728334/856632

EAST WEST BANK Cogon De Oro Constraction Bldg. LKK Drive 8500339/8500331

STERLING BANK OF ASIA Tiano Velez St. CDO | 8528171/8528168

ENTERPRISE BANK INC. Centro Mariano Bldg Osmeña St. Cdoc 723869/ 3093395 FIRST CONSOLIDATED BANK CM Recto Ave., Cor.Agudo Road Cdoc 8565360/2316678 LBP – CAPISTRANO Capsitrano St. Cdoc | 8565515/727678 LBP – VELEZ LunaVelez St. | 723549/8563198 LBP – PUERTO Puerto Cdoc | 8558858 MAYBANK JR Borja Tiano Cor. Bldg. Cdoc 8574439/726060 METRO BANK- DIVISORIA Pabayo Abejuela St. Divisoria Park, Cdoc 724783/8576999 METRO BANK- VELEZ A. Velez St. Cdoc | 8561724/726054 METRO BANK- JR BORJA JR Borja St. Cdoc | 8572999/724415

UCPB BANK- LAPASAN Osmeña Corner Lkk Drive, Cdoc 85771842/ 725135 UCPB BANK- VELEZ Velez Corner C. Pacana St. CDO 8564474/8564527 UCPB BANK SAVINGS-CAPISTRANO

Capistrano Corner CruzTaal St. CDO 8524099/722695

UCPB BANK SAVINGS- OPOL Gf forever Books Bldg.Bulua National CDO 754519/8588063 UNION BANK Lapasan Cm.Recto Cdoc | 8566847/8563805 WEALTHBANK Velez Gomez St. Cdoc | 8568942/722174 1ST VALLEY BANK Vamenta Blvd. CornerLirio St. Carmen, Cdoc 8501871/ 8584146 OROBANKERS CLUB Inc. Pnb Carmen | 09151850242

Protective gear batok COVID-19, gitunol sa kapulisan

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A panghinaut nga dili unta mataptan sa sakit nga dala sa Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) ang kapulisan sa Misamis Oriental nga nahimong frontline karon sa medical attendants aron pugsanong madala sa balay-tambalanan ang gituhoang natakboyan sa nasangpit nga virus, gisiguro ni Gobernador Bambi Emano nga matunolan sa protective equipment.

Lakip sa kalihukan sa hamubo nga sinemanang pagpakayab sa

nasudnong bandila sa kapitolyo, Lunes, Marso 16, 2020, ang ceremonial turnover sa coverall-head suit, head cap, shoe cap, hand cloves, goggles, ug N95 mask.

Gidawat kini ni Philippine National Police (PNP) Region 10 chief of staff Col. Rolando Destura ug Misamis Oriental Provincial Police Director Robert Roy Bahian.

Dakung pasalamat ni Col. Bahian sa gitunol sa Gobernador.

Karon, dili na matud pa sila magduhaduha’g paduol ug hawid sa mga pasyente nga adunay

COVID-19. Samtang, nanawagan kini sa publiko nga dili mahadlok sa pag-report sa pinakaduol nga istasyon sa kapulisan kon adunay namatikdan o gusto magpakonsulta kay adunay gibati sa lawas, hilabina kon gihilantan.

Lakip mga barangay officials, municipal health officers, barangay health workers, gipanawagan niini nga makigtambayayong sa otoridad hilabina kon adunay gusto respondehan nga pasyente, hilabina niadtong mobalibad pagsunod sa protocol sa health experts.

Leverage digital technology to reduce risk of viral transmission -- GCash

FILIPINOS are now scrambling to keep their home supplies at bay, as the deadly novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has spread in various parts of the country, and a community quarantine has been ordered in certain areas of the archipelago.

In Metro Manila alone, some grocery stores have seen their shelves almost wiped out of stocks, as people stockpile their homes with food and other grocery items to prepare their families for more stringent quarantine measures.

This means that the exchange of paper money is faster than ever, and money is circulating from one hand to another without prejudice to whoever handled the banknotes before people and merchants ultimately keep them in their wallets or cash registers.

Paper money, according to various studies, can harbor the viruses and bacteria that they contract with for several days. This may include the deadly novel virus that has forced the world into a pandemic.

And in the Philippines, where cash is still king, the virus may potentially spread through the exchange of paper money, which circulates not only in one area but can go anywhere where payment is demanded.

Aside from practicing personal hygiene, the World Health Organization (WHO) has already encouraged everyone to use contactless payment solutions to avoid viral transmission via banknotes and coins.

Thus, it is high time for Filipinos to consider using frictionless payment methods such as mobile wallets. Through mobile apps, account holders may transact with a wide variety of merchants without physically touching paper money. They may also use their mobile phones to pay for bills, settle for government dues, or even support humanitarian efforts to combat the dreaded disease.

GCash, the leading mobile wallet in the Philippines, is encouraging Filipinos to adopt a more digital lifestyle, especially at times like these, when crises strike everyone the hardest.

“At this trying time, every one of us should adopt measures that will reduce our risk of contracting the virus from any surface — and that includes paper REDUCE/PAGE 9

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Valencia City under community quarantine VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon --Valencia City Mayor Azucena Huervas signed Executive Order No. 19 (EO 19) placing the entire city under community quarantine from 6 p.m.

Monday, March 16-29, amid the threat of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

This came after the mayor convened the members of Task Force Against COVID-19 for an emergency meeting with the doctors, medics, hospital administrators and medical directors in Valencia City.

“In view of limited resources of the government and private hospitals, we need to enforce rigid rules to restrict the movement of persons in order to control the rising number of Persons Under Monitoring (PUMs) and the upsurge of residents coming home from abroad or other parts of the country—especially those coming from places with recorded COVID-19 cases,” Huervas said.

EO 19 states that travelers are required to undergo health screening at designated “health checkpoints” manned by the Philippine National Police and Task Force COVID19 composite team in accordance with the protocols and guidelines of

Reduce... from page 8

m o n e y. We a t G C a s h believe that there is power in technology, and Fi lipinos cou ld b enef it from this, especially during e m e r g e n c i e s ,” G C a s h President Anthony Thomas said.

The digital economy helps lessen the risk of t r ans m i ss i on for t h o s e who leverage it, as it limits the physical interaction between people and leverages new technologies to facilitate services.

Tr a n s fe r r i ng f u n d s to loved ones in the provinces For inst ance, a man who works in quarantined Metro Manila may send money to his loved ones in Bicol via GCash. He may either send the money to their GCash wallets or even transfer funds from h i s G C a s h a c c o u nt t o their bank accounts via the Bank Transfer option in the GCash app.

The funds transferred may then be used by his family to purchase their ever yday goods, pay for services, and even pay for their bills.

No queues at p ay ment centers Speaking of paying bills, with social distancing protocols now in place, queuing at payment centers

Valencia City implements hands sanitation among its employees. (Valencia LGU)

the Department of Health (DOH).

Prior to this declaration, Huervas ordered all public and private schools to suspend classes at all levels for two weeks from March 16 to 29. Hence, EO 19 cited that classes and all school activities shall remain suspended while ensuring that students stay at home.

The order further specified that students loitering in malls or crowded areas during school hours shall be sent home.

The curfew for unaccompanied minors—

as stipulated in the City Children’s Welfare Code— that starts at 10:00 p.m. and ends at 4:00 a.m. shall be strictly implemented.

The city also urged religious leaders to temporarily suspend church service or worships involving mass gatherings, including fiesta celebrations.

In an interview, Huervas clarified that Valencia City is not under lockdown because business establishments shall remain open except recreation facilities and other entertainment and amusement sites.

Likewise, the movement of cargoes and goods to and from Valencia City shall be unhampered subject to proper screening at ‘health checkpoints’ through DOH protocols.

Huervas said there is a need to place the entire city under community quarantine to avert the spread of the virus, compel residents to stay at home and observe proper hygiene.

The mayor also urged the people to cooperate with the government and keep Valencia City free from COVID-19. (BGR/PIA10)

also increases the risk of spreading the virus.

By using the GCash Pay Bills service, anyone with a GCash account may settle their utility bills, credit card bills, cable and internet bills, insurance, real estate, and even government dues without going out of the comforts of their homes.

Get things delivered L i ke w is e, i nste a d of going to supply stores, GCash users may use t hei r G C ash w a l l et s to shop online. Through its partnership with Lazada, which has the widest arrays of goods being sold, GCash users may opt to buy their grocery items or even daily necessities via their mobile phones. The items they purchased will then be delivered to their doorsteps, reducing their risk of contact to the virus.

Pay with credit lines But if it is really necessar y to go outside and buy daily necessities from the grocer y store, GCash users may also use t heir mobi le wa l lets to purchas e go o ds via the revolutionary Scan-to-Pay (STP) via QR or STP via Barcode payment systems, which are accepted in over 70,000 merchants in the country. They may either use their available balance or tap into GCredit, a credit facility embedded in the

GC ash app, to transac t with grocery stories like Puregold.

Savings in times of emergencies GCash users with GSave savings accounts may also digitally cash out their money when emergencies arise. The money, when cashed out from the GSave account, directly goes into the GCash wallet balance, and instead of physically cashing the money out of ATMs, they may opt to use their digital wallets to transact with various merchants across the Philippines.

Not the only risk reduction measure These are just some of the services that Filipinos may benefit from during the global pandemic. But while frictionless payments reduce the risks of spreading the virus, everyone should still keep in mind that proper hygiene, as directed by the Department of Health, should be thoroughly and strictly practiced. “ We h a v e t o w o r k together as a team — albeit following social distancing protocols — to defeat this almost invisible enemy. We at GCash are exploring more ways to help the government and the private sector in m it i g at i n g t h e f u r t h e r spread of COVID-19 in the country,” Thomas said.

Boost... from page 5

hidden spyware.

“All BSFIs are therefore cautioned to stay vigilant against cyber threats that may be taking advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic. BSFIs are reminded to employ multi-layered security defense strategies against cyberattacks and continuously roll-out information security awareness campaigns to their employees, clients and other relevant stakeholders,” she said.

In another memorandum signed March 11, 2020, Fonacier urged BSFIs and operators of payment systems (OPS) to implement response plans and similar measures like alternate work arrangement or remote access capabilities to ensure the safety of their personnel and the public.

“Clear communication protocols covering all relevant internal and external stakeholders should also be implemented,” she said.

Fonacier further said the current situation warrants subject institutions to remain vigilant by constantly monitoring and gathering relevant information on the epidemic, both locally and globally, and continuously assessing the impact of their response strategies.

“Advisories and/or guidelines issued by local health authorities, such as the Department of Health, should be considered and strictly followed,” she added. (PNA)

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Suzuki... from page 6

powered by a fuel efficient 1.0L K10B engine which you can operate in five-speed manual transmission so taking the S-Presso to a long drive will be effortless as it is also designed to conquer dif ferent ter rains. The S-Presso’s spacious interior makes it able for the driver and passengers to have ample space without sacrificing the luggage capacity which can accommodate 239L luggage space. While on the road, both the driver and passengers will experience a commanding view of the vicinity with its high-seat position. Its Interior driving amenities include storage space for bottles and cup-holders, air conditioning that comes with a heater control, and front power windows that provide ease for the driving experience. The All-New S-Presso Features Suzuki’s Total Effective Control Technology, (TECT) body, which scatters collision energy across the vehicle frame to mitigate damage to the car and passengers.

Other safety features of the S-Presso include dual airbags, rear parking assist, and antibrake locking systems.

The All New S-presso i s pr i c e d at a SR P of Php518,000.00 and is available in a new colorway, Sizzle Orange. You may also enjoy the S-Presso in Fire Red, Metallic Granite Gray, and Metallic Silky Silver.

This highly-anticipated duo will be readily available in all 79 Suzuki dealerships nationwide starting March 14, 2020. You may still avail the early booking discount with Php15,000 for the S-presso, while Php 30,000 for XL7 until March 18, 2020.

Training... from page 4

yell and nag, the more our kids learn to tune us out and take us less seriously.

Then we may actually lose control and seriously hurt our children with our words, or even physical harm, to force them to obey us simply out of fear.

The healthiest, most effective way to discipline our kids is to take away their favorite possessions or privileges for a short time. This way they learn the natural consequences of their own bad choices and behavior. Then, they have only themselves to blame. That is how they learn to control themselves and change for the better.

Today you can ask Jesus to forgive you for whatever wrong, unhealthy ways you have been teaching and disciplining your kids? Only He can help you change so you do not make the same mistakes with your kids that your parents possibly made with you. Just think a minute .

Unity... from page 4

you are no longer around when tension erupts?

And if you choose to ignore these issues now,

what is the likely scenario that these problems will escalate? The risk is just too high to set aside these problems!

So if you believe these issues can compromis e family harmony and impede the operations of the business, they must be dealt with now, not later.

I know these are not easy issues to deal with, so it is in the best interest of families to rely on familybusiness experts to help family members navigate t hroug h t hes e dif f ic u lt “terrain”. Let me close with this message, “Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action”.

Friends... from page 4

w e k n ow h ow t o d e a l with dishonest and sinful practices in this life. It would be good to review the principles to guide us regarding the distinction between formal, that is, intentional cooperation in evil, on one hand, and material cooperation, on the other hand. We need to be experts in the latter, given the facts of life.

Appeal... from page 4

15 people waiting who are already hardly breathing and need oxygen.

The army is trying to bring some of them to other regions with helicopters but it's not enough: the flow is just too much, too many people are getting sick at the same time.

We are still awaiting the peak of the epidemic in Europe: probably early April for Italy, mid-April for Germany and Switzerland, somewhere around that time for the UK. In the U.S., the infection has only just begun.

But until we're past the peak, the only solution is to impose social restrictions.

And if your government is hesitating, these restrictions are up to you. Stay put. Do not travel. Cancel that family reunion, the promotion party and the big night out. This really sucks, but these are special times. Don't take risks. Do not go to places where you are more than 20 people in the same room. It's not safe and it's not worth it.

But why the urgency, if most people survive?

Here's why: fatality is the wrong yardstick. Catching the virus can mess up your life in many, many more ways than just straight-up killing you.

"We are all young"—okay.

"Even if we get the bug, we will survive"—fantastic. How about needing four months of physical therapy before you even feel human again.

Or getting scar tissue in your lungs and having your activity level restricted for the rest.

Expect... from page 2

isolation in their homes, can use the isolation provided by the barangay, she adds.

The City Health Office h e re h a s a c t i v at e d it s Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs)

and provided hotline number for each barangay.

Ner y said, "We must understand terminologies used for COVID 19." The advisory is that everyone coming from Manila shall re p or t t o B H E RTs for self-quarantine or home quarantine.

She clarifies PUMs are not the same as Persons Under Investigation (PUIs). PUMs do not have symptoms and do not manifest symptoms like that of PUIs who are contained in the hospital.

Per Department of Health (DOH) advisor y, PUMs are advised to do home quarantine for 14 days. This means, they stay home and monitor health condition.

If they develop COVID 19 symptoms, then they need to inform BHERTs so proper measures will be taken.

DOH-10 Assistant Regional Director David Mendoza said there was only one positive case for COVID 19 in Northern Mindanao, PH40, who died recently.

Me anw hi le, PUIs in Region 10 total to 35 and out of this, 17 were negative while six are pending results.

DOH advises the public not to panic. The most important thing is social distancing.

Second is personal hygiene and washing of hands. Third, observe coughing etiquette.

Finally, wearing of masks are only for patients, not just anyone without illness.

(JMOR/PIA10)

Curfew... from page 1

the community quarantine currently being implemented elsewhere.

“The goal of a community quarantine is to minimize the movement of people at a certain area. With the closure of malls, we are going to achieve that,” Moreno said, pointing out that many of the city’s 1.8 million daytime population are shopping mall goers.

“We cannot simply do a community quarantine because there are people coming from Bukidnon, people coming from Misor who need to come here because they are undergoing their regular dialysis, etcetera. Unya maglinya pa sila sa mga checkpoint?” he asked.

The mayor said that if shopping malls are closed, the flow of people loitering around the city will be minimized since only essential travel will occur.

COVID-19, a coronavirus, can be contracted through respiratory moisture from an infected person as well as touching infected surfaces and transferring it to one’s face.

Moreno said the same r at i on a l e go e s for t h e imposition of the 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. curfew.

“Kung wala nay maglaaglaag, wala nay maglakawlakaw sa dalan sa kagabhion, then we have limited the movement of people. Ang point is magpuyo sa balay,” he said.

Groceries inside these shopping malls are exempted

from the closure.

In a related development, Moreno reported that he has allowed Monday the docking of a 2Go passenger vessel at the Cagayan de Oro City port which was carrying passengers from Manila on the way to Nasipit, Agusan del Norte.

M/V St. Francis Xavier was refused entry at the Nasipit port, forcing the crew to ask authorities in Cagayan de Oro to allow her passengers to disembark.

Moreno said that for humanitarian reasons, he allowed the ship to dock at the Macabalan port provided t h at a l l d i s e m b a r k i n g passengers have their temperatures taken and be whisked away immediately to their destinations in Nasipit without any local layover.

By Monday morning, a bus company promptly transported the 491 passengers to their eastern destination.

Metro Manila is where the bulk of the more than a hundred COVID-19 cases are currently admitted.

The nation’s capital is in community quarantine since Sunday and passengers going to their hometown have been scrambling to get out of the metropolis over the weekend.

In Misamis Oriental’s Laguindingan airport – Northern Mindanao’s aerial gateway – Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. has dispatched a team monitoring arriving passengers who are Lanao del Sur residents.

Adiong said these arrivals will be logged so they could be monitored complying t h e m an d at or y 1 4 - d ay quarantine. Fourteen days is the incubation period of the COVID-19 virus.

Me anw hi le, Mis amis O r i e nt a l G ov. Ye v g e ny Vi n c e nt e E m a n o h a s pledged P1 million to Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) to be used for anticoronavirus measures.

The governor has likewise offered the use of Capitolowned buses to ferry NMMC nurses for free.

L o c ate d i n C ag ay an de Oro City, NMMC is the designated regional treatment hub for infectious diseases. As of presstime, it is currently confining six persons under investigation (PUIs) pending the result of their respective COVID-19 testing.

But NMMC chief of hospital Jose Chan assured the public that all of these PUIs are in stable condition unlike the deceased coronavirus patient who had been in critical condition since the day he was admitted there.

Also on Monday, the provincial government of Misamis Oriental donated a total of 45 sets of personal protective wear to the Police Regional Office (PRO) 10 to be used as police officers who are in the frontlines of anti-COVID measures.

The personal protective wear consists of a coverall suit, a head cap, a shoe cap, goggles and an N95 face mask.

Decrease... from page 1

local officials in nearby towns and cities implemented the "community quarantine."

But despite, Lentorio assured the riding public that the RTMI, one of the subsidiaries of the Vallacar Group of Companies, will continue to serve.

"Ang RTMI mopadayon gyud nga to ensure the riding public nga ginahimo namo ang tanan for their safety and security," said Lentorio.

He said that the RTMI is regularly conducting disinfection of its buses before and after departure.

"Our buses are wellsanitized and our drivers do always wear face mask," said the RTMI branh manager.

He said that aside from providing sanitizers to passengers, the RTMI bought a thermal scanner.

The RTMI, he added regularly work hand in hand with the Department of Health (DOH) to ensure that the needed protocol are in place, which is part of RTMI's precautionary and preemptive measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Meanwhile, Land Transporation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Region 10 (LTFRB-10) Regional Director Aminoden Guro warned transport companies that they cannot just stop their operation without prior approval from LTFRB. Guro himself admitted that Covid-19 had an adverse effect on the transport sector.

He said a big transport company has signified its intention to file a petition to temporarily stop its operation.

He warned that a transport company must first secure the approval of the LTFRB should it decides to stop or suspend its operation. " Stoppi ng op e r at i on without authority from the LTFRB will cause the revocation of franchise," warned Guro.

Loans... from page 1

the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

In an interview on Friday, DCCCII president John Carlo Tria told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that the move would cushion the adverse impacts of Covid-19 to businesses such as hotels and tourist establishments, which he said are experiencing

losses since the end of 2019.

Tria also pointed out that tourism-related businesses are still reeling from the effects of the successive earthquakes in Mindanao, causing booking cancellations. “ The call is for the establishments particularly tourism-related businesses who needed some breathing space because they have been experiencing losses,’ he said.

Tria said the businesses, especially those in the hospitality industry, are expected to incur more losses if the Covid–19 pandemic persists.

“It will help the companies to respond better. We ask for the deferment as well as the loan penalties, but this will always depend on the banks,” he said. “That’s why we come up with this statement for them to consider the deferment of payments on business loans,” he added.

DCCCIII also called on the Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Agriculture to monitor-and when necessary--impose price controls on critical commodities.

It also urged employers, employees, and the general public to cooperate with government efforts to control the spread of the disease.

(PNA)

Market... from page 5

p.m.; run-off/trading, at last, is 12:50 p.m., and market close is 1 p.m.

The memorandum said “PSE will make the appropriate announcement in case there will be further updates on the shortened trading schedule.”

It encourages stakeholders and the public to send any inquiries to investing@pse. com.ph.

Relatively, all counters in the local bourse opened Monday’s trading on the red.

As of 9:40 a.m., the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) is down by 7.14 percent, or 413.43 points, to 5,380.51 points.

All Shares is lower by 5.22 percent, or 182.35 points, to 3,311.29 points. (PNA)

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#FightCOVID19: GCash users may now support frontline health workers and hospitals via fintech platform

G

Cash, the leading mobile wallet in the Philippines, encourages Filipinos to support the #FightCOVID19 campaign, a digital donation drive that aims to assist the frontline health workers and hospitals combat the dreaded novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The donation drive, done via the GCash app, will provide GCash users with an avenue to support the ongoing collective initiative to mitigate the spread of the global pandemic in the country. By donating money via GCash, Filipinos no longer have to physically go to the offices of social groups or hospitals to support the fight against the deadly virus.

Proceeds of #FightCOVID19 will be equally divided among the seven nongovernment organization partners of GCash, namely: the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), the

Philippine Red Cross (PRC), World Vision, UP Medical Foundation, PGH Foundation, Inc., ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, and Ayala Foundation.

These organizations have been helping efforts to curb the transmission of the virus since day one. Aside from providing high-risk individuals with aid, they are also supporting health workers that are at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19 by providing them with necessary personal protective equipment such as face masks to prevent risks of contracting the virus.

“Our platform is more than just a mobile wallet. It is a conduit of good that we can use in times of great need. We are encouraging GCash users to support the donation drive to help our frontline health workers #FightCOVID19,” GCash President Anthony Thomas said.

To send support, GCash users simply have to click on the “Pay Bills” icon in their GCash apps, choose the “Others” tab, and click “FightCOVID19.” GCash users should enter their name and the amount that they are donating to confirm their donation. #FightCOVID19 is part of GCash for Good, a corporate social responsibility (CSR) program that taps into the inner generosity of people to support good causes that benefit the society.

Aside from donating, GCash also encourages Filipinos to leverage financial technology (fintech) to reduce their risk of contracting COVID-19 from potentially contaminated paper money. GCash users may use their mobile wallets to purchase goods and services both online and offline, pay bills, and settle government dues, among others.