Manila Standard - 2020 May 16 - Saturday

AMBO’S ONSLAUGHT. A church building bears the brunt of typhoon Ambo’s fury in Arteche town Eastern Samar on May 15, a day after the storm dumped heavy rains and destroyed houses as it roared ashore with thousands of vulnerable people (lower photo) in its path. AFP

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 84 • 1 SECTION 4 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Ambo’ hits land 7 times; 140,000 flee

By Ronald O. Reyes and Rio N. Araja

pandemic.

The powerful typhoon has dumped heavy rains since it roared ashore on Thursday, with hundreds of MORE than 140,000 people were forced into cramped shelters as Typhoon “Ambo” (international name thousands of vulnerable people in its path on the coast Vongfong) hammered the Philippines on Friday, com- or in flimsy homes.

Next page pounding the country’s battle with the coronavirus

Workers’ return triggers warning Solon fears new cases with 14m back to work

By Maricel V. Cruz, Willie Casas, Vito Barcelo and Rio N. Araja

W

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM MAY 15)

12,091

215

806

16

2,460

123

TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

NEW

NEW

NEW

Duterte bent on doling out cash to 23m

By Vito Barcelo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is seeking Congress’ help to look for funds to give 23 million low-income families in the lockdown areas financial aid from the second tranche of the government’s cash subsidy, Malacañang said Friday.

“This is on top of the 18 million Next page

WORLD ROUNDUP

ITH 14 million workers returning to work and the easing of quarantine rules today, the country could see 2,500 new cases of COVID-19 in the last half of May, a lawmaker said, even as the Department of Health reported 215 new cases Friday, bringing to total to 12,091 infections.

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Street vendors alive again with modified ECQ

• World economy may lose $8.8T • Trump threatens to cut China ties THE coronavirus pandemic could cut up to 9.7 percent off the global economy, the Asian Development Bank said Friday, doubling its previous estimate as the virus stifles trade and leaves millions jobless.

The estimated impact would cost as much as $8.8 trillion based on a range of scenarios, but ADB said government interventions could help offset the losses inflicted by the crisis.

Up to 242 million jobs will be lost due to the virus, more than seven times higher than the employment losses seen during the global financial crisis a decade ago. Foregone labor income could top $1.8 trillion.

“These will be difficult to recoup,” the Manila-based lender said, warning it could not discount the possibility of a financial crisis if the pandemic was not contained quickly enough to prevent defaults and bankruptcies.

To stem the economic losses, governments have announced a range of

The department also reported 16 new deaths, bringing the total fatalities to 806, while 123 new recoveries brought the number of patients who survived COVID-19 to 2,460.

Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, chairman of the committee on ways and means, said the decision to ease the

BACK IN BUSINESS. Golf is allowed in GCQ areas while street vendors peddling balut and taho can ply their trade in MECQ areas provided social distancing and other protocols are observed, according to Malacañang.

TAHO and balut vendors may resume work today as modified enhanced community quarantine measures take effect, but provided they continue to observe social distancing, the Palace said Friday.

The easing of quarantine measures is mainly to allow industries to resume operations—although on a reduced workforce and still in strict Next page

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New normal dining, the German way A GERMAN restaurant, in a stunt to encourage social distancing and as an appetizer upon its reopening, gave its diners hats with pool noodles.

Cafe & Konditorei Rothe in Schwerin, Germany reopened last week Next page

DOJ nullifies teacher’s arrest

By Rey E. Requejo and Willie Casas THE Justice department has declared as invalid the warrantless arrest of a teacher over a tweet offering a P50-million reward to anyone who would kill President Rodrigo Duterte, but will proceed with his indictment for sedition.

In an inquest resolution, Assistant

State Prosecutor Jeanette Dacpano invalidated the warrantless arrest of Ronnel Mas by the National Bureau of Investigation.

Mas was arrested in Zambales and brought to Manila for an inquest. He is now in NBI custody.

“It is undeniable that the arrest of Ronnel Mas made by the NBI-Dagupan Next page

Criminal raps filed vs Sinas EMBATTLED Metro Manila police chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas and 18 subordinates were charged Friday for staging a birthday blowout exactly a week earlier despite strict quarantine rules during the nearly two-month lockdown, the Philippine National PoNext page

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News

SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2020

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Kids must get immunized: experts S

AYING the country could not afford an outbreak within a pandemic, the Department of Health and medical experts underscored the need for immunization from vaccinepreventable diseases to continue amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

and protecting our health workers against COVID. The position of the DOH when the COVID crisis was at its height was to offer immunization services when feasible,” Silva said.

One of the vaccine-preventable diseases, pneumonia, remains the number one killer disease among children 5 years old and below. The tender for the child pneumococcal vaccine—between PCV10 and PCV13 – is currently being reviewed by the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) for comparability and cost effectiveness.

Asked on the new evidence presented by the WHO saying that the two PCVs in the market are equally effective in protecting the children from pneumonia, Silva said: “When we did the cost effectiveness analysis, they are both cost effective. The price of PCV10 and

PCV13, they fall on that range na cost effective sila pareho. But, of course, there is another benefit when we chose the PCV13 because it contains three serotypes that are not found in PCV10 before. But now with the new evidence, this was now presented to National Immunization Committee and then it was brought up to the HTAC for further review and we are waiting for the review.”

The PCV tender is massive, which is even bigger than that of the controversial Dengvaxia procurement.

“Currently, there is only one available pneumococcal conjugate vaccine available in the market (PCV13). It is a very expensive vaccine and its eating up more than 60% of the budget of the national immunization program. Mahal talaga pag isang produkto lang ang nasa merkado,” Silva said.

hanced communtiy quarantine (GCQ) starting May 16, law enforcement agencies will continue to enforce the appropriate quarantine restrictions.

Palace spokesman Harry Roque said the IATF placed Metro Manila and two other high-risk areas under MECQ while it placed several moderate-risk places under GCQ from May 16 to May 31 to help contain the spread of the coronavirus Eight regions, 37 provinces, 11 cities, including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) areas with low risk of coronavirus infection were placed under “modified general community quarantine (MGCQ)” instead being removed from the lockdown rule starting May 16.

The local government executives will have guidelines on how to implement the modified GCQ so they will have the authority to contain the spread of the virus. If there is no quarantine, we expect there might be second or third wave (of infection),” he said.

Under the MECQ, some businesses will partially open to boost economy.

To avoid being stopped in checkpoints, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año urged workers to bring their IDs and certificates of employment when traveling. However, since public transport remains suspended, he said companies should provide shuttle service for their employees.

“We have no area in the entire Philippines that is not under community quarantine at different levels. These low-risk areas will be under modified general community quarantine and we will have guidelines that will be followed by the local government units,” Año said.

Roque said public transport is still prohibited under the MECQ. No domestic flights and only limited international flights will be allowed. Inbound travel of overseas Filipino workers and returning Filipinos will be controlled.

Public shuttles, on the other hand, are allowed under all quarantine zones but it will only be available for frontliners under the ECQ. Personal vehicles can be used under the MECQ by persons or workers in permitted sectors or activities but only two passengers are allowed per row.

Police said officers would be deployed in malls starting Saturday to ensure social distancing is observed.

In a statement, Joint Task Force Coronavirus Shield (JTF CV Shield) commander, Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, said these police officers would assist the security personnel of malls in implementing basic protocols against COVID-19, such as physical distancing and the wearing of face masks.

“With some of the shops inside the malls now allowed to open, we expect an influx of people in these areas so we want to make the police presence felt there in order to ensure that they will strictly follow the rules for their safety from the coronavirus,” Eleazar said.

In other developments: • IATF is still evaluating the appeal of several provincial governments to place their respective localities under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), Malacañang said on Friday. Various provincial governments have appealed to the IATF to consider the reclassification of their community quarantines from GCQ to MECQ beginning May 16 for fear that a sudden relaxation of restrictions could bring about a new spate of infections.

• At least 102 employees from the Department of Agrarian Reform have been tapped to assist in mega swabbing centers for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing. Primo Lara, DAR’s administrative service director, said the personnel would assist as encoders or bar coders in the four mega swabbing centers to be set up in Greater Manila Area and Bulacan to boost the country’s capability and capacity for mass testing for COVID-19.

• A lawmaker on Friday urged government and private banks to launch a special lending program for millions of small and medium-scale businesses in the country that are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Deputy Majority Leader and Quezon City Rep. Precious Castelo filed the “Loan Program Assistance for SMEs affected by COVID-19 Act” mandating big private universal banks to lend to small businesses.

Deputy Majority Leader and Bagong Henerasyon Rep. Bernandette Herrera, meanwhile, appealed to banks and other financial institutions to “go the extra mile” in helping pandemic-hit businesses by extending their loan maturities by at least one year.

after the government started to ease some restrictions after protocols were imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The restaurant posted a photo of its diners on Facebook, showing them in

straw hats with colorful pool noodles pointing in three different directions to encourage social distancing from all sides.

“In these difficult times it’s a pleasure to make others smile,” the New York Post quoted restaurant owner Jacqueline Rothe as saying.

Last week, Chancellor Angela Mer-

kel announced shops could reopen and students could return to school, but the government is still recommending the use of face masks and social distancing.

The photo appears to underline efforts of the government to continue with the strategy to prevent COVID-19 from spreading among customers, employees and students.

in his own Twitter account.”

She said there was probable cause to indict Mas for sedition.

The case will be filed before a Zambales court next week, according to Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento.

Mas, a teacher from Santa Cruz, Zambales, was arrested on May 11 after he allegedly posted on Twitter via the account “@RonPrince” the message he would give P50 million to anyone who would kill President Rodrigo Duterte.

The Justice department is recommending bail of P72,000 for his provisional liberty.

In Malay, Aklan, police arrested a construction worker over a Facebook post in which he allegedly offered P100-million to anyone who could kill Duterte.

In Agusan del Norte, police also arrested a salesman who made a supposedly “libelous” statement against the President and his ally and former top aide, Senator Bong Go, on social media.

But Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani

Zarate and Bayan Muna chairman Neri Colmenares on Friday condemned the arrest of salesman Reynaldo Orcullo for calling President Rodrigo Duterte “gago” or stupid in his social media account, and then criticized the police for arresting those who disagreed with him while allowing the President and his supporters to vilify dissenters.

“We condemn in the strongest terms the arrest of salesman Reynaldo Orcullo as well as other netizens critical of President Rodrigo Duterte in the inter-

This position is strongly aligned with the statements released by the World Health Organization and UNICEF which also highlighted the importance of continuing vaccination at this challenging time.

“Don’t be afraid because children must get immunized. They are at higher risk of getting measles, polio, pneumonia and other vaccine-preventable diseases,” said Dr. Lulu Bravo, executive director of the Philippine Center for Vaccination.

“Let us all be reminded that first, if children and other vulnerable sectors

are not vaccinated, they can get sick and can die from these vaccine-preventable diseases,” she added.

Meanwhile, Dr. Wilda Silva, National Immunization Program Director of the DOH, said that the government recognizes immunization as a core health service that should be prioritized even at this time of the COVID pandemic.

“But we also accept the fact that we need to protect our healthcare workers and our community as well. We must strike that balance between giving that life-saving vaccine, protecting children against vaccine-preventable diseases,

‘Ambo’...

From A1

Worker’s...

From A1

The storm hit as tens of millions of Filipinos are hunkered down at home against COVID-19, but at least 141,700 have had to flee because of the powerful storm, disaster officials said.

“We have to wear masks and apply distancing at all times,” local police official Carlito Abriz said. “It’s difficult to enforce because they (the evacuees) are stressed. But we are doing our best.”

Authorities have said they will run shelters at half of capacity, provide masks to people who don’t have them and try to keep families grouped together.

However, many spaces normally used as storm shelters have been converted into quarantine sites for people suspected of being infected with coronavirus.

The central region where the storm struck first is not one of the hotspots of the outbreak, which has seen more than 11,800 infected and 790 dead.

In Tacloban, more than 12,000 people were evacuated and hundreds of houses were damaged as Ambo barreled through densely populated and mostly poor communities in three provinces of Samar Island on Thursday afternoon.

Four people were injured in Canavid, Eastern Samar.

As of 2 p.m. Friday, 232 persons and 110 vehicles were stranded in Allen port, Northern Samar.

A total of 546 evacuation centers were also established across the Eastern Visayas region, with 136 in Northern Samar, 47 in Samar, 23 in Eastern Samar, 282 in Leyte, and 58 in Biliran.

The total number of evacuated persons reached 12,805, mostly in Northern Samar, 10,726, and Samar, 2,079.

Earlier, Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone said the whole province has no electricity.

The towns of Dolores, Oras, Arteche, Jipapad, and San Policarpo, where the typhoon made a landfall, have no communications.

Some houses, especially those made of light materials, and several fishing boats were also damaged.

Damage to houses and infrastructure were also reported in the towns of Arteche, San Policarpo, Jipapad and Oras, while a gymnasium in Maslog, Eastern Samar was destroyed.

On Friday morning, at least 48 municipalities were without electricity, with four in Eastern Samar, 24 in Northern Samar, 18 in Samar, and two in Biliran.

lockdown was “economically near-optimal” – balancing the need of workers to resume working and the need to keep the volume of infections under control – but warned that outbreaks are still possible without testing and tracing.

“From an economic optimization standpoint, this means that for fewer new cases (2,535), the new regime will release more workers (14,605,000 newly allowed to go to work) and more economic activity (as much as 10.7 percent of quarterly gross domestic product, or about 2.7 percent of annual GDP), than if, say high-density areas such as Metro Manila or Cebu City were placed under significantly less strict regimes.”

“The 2,500 new cases within two weeks once the quarantine is lifted in some areas, will have to decline every week with testing and tracing. The initial recommendation is for 40,000 tests a day,” he said.

“In terms of the employment impact of Covid-19, we estimate that some 1.09 million Filipino workers have already lost their jobs, with more job losses to come as the full impact of the pandemic on the financial position of companies are quantified. Under the new regime, some 14.6 million workers will be allowed to go to work on-site, on top of the 27.4 million currently allowed to work. This would result in some 34.1 million being allowed to work, with only some 700,000 workers still not allowed to go to work on-site.”

“For the second quarter, we expect to have lost as much as 1.09 million jobs, with about 0.96 million seasonal jobs lost, and some 126,000 permanent job losses. For perspective, to create an equivalent number of jobs in the infrastructure sector, one would need a P94 billion investment,” Salceda added.

The recently announced changes in community quarantine regimes will result in across-the-board increases in mobility, he said.

The Palace on Friday reminded the public that while the government relaxed the guidelines on areas placed under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) and general en-

DOJ...

From A1 operatives does not fall within the ambit of warrantless arrest contemplated by the law,” Dacpano said.

But Dacpano ruled that the defect of the warrantless arrest was “ultimately cured” when the teacher extrajudicially admitted to the media that “he indeed personally posted the provocative text

Criminal...

From A1 lice said.

The PNP’s Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) filed criminal charges before the Taguig City Prosecutor’s Office against Sinas and his colleagues, who surprised him with a “mañanita” feast – also called early morning serenade – on May 8 to honor the National Capital Region Police Office chief.

Malacañang said the possible suspension or even dismissal from service of Sinas, third-level officer and considered a presidential appointee, would be

New normal...

From A1

decided once an administrative case had been lodged against him.

“The decision to relieve him (Sinas), to suspend him, or to dismiss him is part of the administrative case,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a television interview.

The accused are charged with not following quarantine rules under Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act. The PNP-IAS said the “mañanita” was a tradition in the national police command which would fall under mass gathering, banned in the national capital region because of the coronavirus pandemic.

World...

From A1 stimulus measures such as payroll support to keep jobs, cash transfers and tax breaks.

“These helped counteract some of the adverse economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” ADB said.

Trump threatens to cut China ties

US President Donald Trump threatened to cut ties with China over its role in the spread of the coronavirus.

The United States has registered almost 86,000 deaths linked to COVID-19

– the highest toll of any nation, with a third of all known global infections.

In an interview aired Thursday, Trump again accused Beijing of concealing the true scale of the problem after the virus emerged in Wuhan late last year.

“I’m very disappointed in China. I will tell you that right now,” he said.

Asked how the United States might choose to retaliate against what he has dubbed the “Plague from China,” Trump said: “We could cut off the whole relationship.”

The US and China are the world’s two largest economies, doing hundreds of billions of dollars of mutually beneficial trade every year.

Street...

From A1 observance of social distancing, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.

He said Metro Manila’s residents may also go for a walk or jog outside beginning today.

“We have announced that in modified ECQ, jogging, running outside and walking are now allowed,” Roque told ANC’s Headstart via Zoom.

Outdoor exercises will be allowed but safety protocols such as physical distancing and the wearing of face masks must still be observed.

“Now we can all exercise outside.

We can run and we can bike, and we can walk,” Roque said.

Across the country, in areas where general community quarantine measures take effect today, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said noncontact sports such as tennis, golf and biking would be allowed.

Lorenzana, head of the national task force on the government’s COVID-19 response, said only those sports where physical distancing could be observed would be permitted.

“The sports that are authorized now are non-contact sports like biking, tennis and golf because they can distance themselves from each other,” Lorenzana said in a virtual presser.

He said contact sports such as boxing, wrestling and basketball would remain prohibited, but he hoped that collision or contact sports would eventually be allowed once the situation improved.

Gyms, fitness studios and sport facilities will also remain closed.

Trips to tourist destinations, sectors such as travel agencies, tour operators, reservation services and sports facilities are still banned.

Also banned are cinemas, theaters, karaoke bars, libraries, archives, museums, cultural centers, massage parlors and saunas.

Barber shops and salons are also banned, but the ban on these sectors is still being reviewed by the Department of Trade and Industry.

Duterte...

From A1 low-income families that will be given P5,000 to 8,000 in financial assistance for two months under a P200-billion budget in the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a television interview.

He said the President also ordered the Budget department to look into funds that could be realigned to cover all poor households in the emergency subsidy.

Roque said the government needed an additional P50 billion in cash aid for the millions of families that were left out of the social amelioration program amid the coronavirus pandemic.

He said Duterte was considering selling government assets to help finance the financial assistance program.

Duterte also ordered Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado to look for more funds to increase the beneficiaries of the second tranche of the government’s emergency subsidies.

He gave the order to ensure that all 23 million poor families would be included in the list of eligible beneficiaries of the Social Amelioration Program, Roque said.

Around 23 million SAP beneficiaries are expected to get the first tranche of the emergency cash subsidies from the national government.

The original number of SAP recipients was 18 million.

Duterte, however, wants five million more poor families to also receive cash assistance to help them cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Roque said Duterte’s latest order was to realign funds to make sure that all 23 million beneficiaries would benefit from the second phase of the SAP. He said Duterte might ask Congress to grant his administration an additional P50-billion budget for the SAP implementation in case the Budget department failed to reallocate funds for the distribution of emergency subsidies.

COVID-related childhood illness

US health authorities issued an alert over a rare but sometimes deadly autoimmune condition among children that is believed to be linked to COVID-19.

The illness, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), was first reported in Britain in late April.

“Healthcare providers who have cared or are caring for patients younger than 21 years of age meeting MIS-C criteria should report suspected cases to their local, state, or territorial health department,” said the CDC. AFP

News

SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

House leaders vow to observe due process in ABS-CBN case THE leaders of the House of Representatives on Friday assured the public that radio-broadcast network ABS-CBN will have its day in court, and that the House will observe due process in tackling the TV network’s application for the renewal of its 25-year franchise to operate.

“I would like to assure everyone that we will follow due process. We will, as much as possible, hear everybody’s side,’ Deputy Speaker and Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte said during the ABS-CBN public affairs program Headstart on ANC. “That we can assure to the public.”

“What is important at this point is that ABS-CBN and other sectors should be given due process. The House will decide as a collegial body,” he said.

The House as a Committee of the Whole passed last Wednesday House Bill (HB) 6732 granting the TV network a provisional franchise to broadcast till October 31, to give lawmakers enough time to hear its application for renewal.

The House is expected to pass HB 6732 on third and final reading when it resumes session on May 18.

One of the seven HB 6732 co-authors of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, Villafuerte noted that Cayetano has given the assurance that the House will take up this issue—to quote the Speaker—with “complete impartiality and fairness, whether or not the network shall be granted a franchise for another 25 years.”

Deputy Speaker and Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales II, co-author of HB 6732, added that as assured by the Speaker, the ABS-CBN will be given an opportunity to answer all the allegations against it. In the same vein, those who oppose the franchise will also be given time to air their opposition as well, Gonzales added.

“I urge ABS CBN then to prepare and ready its answers for all the charges and allegations being raised against the network.

Being mindful that the Committee on Franchise is really the proper forum to answer all of this,” Gonzales said.

Villafuerte said that House members wouldn’t have enough time to tackle ABSCBN’s renewal application till the Congress’ sine die adjournment on June 5, given (1) the multi-faceted ABS-CBN issues that need to be taken up thoroughly, and (2) the need for legislators to devote their time over the next two weeks to pending measures whose passage are crucial for the country to deal with the global health emergency induced by the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Maricel V. Cruz

IN BRIEF End to child porn on socmed sought

NO LETUP. Unfazed by the heavy rains induced by typhoon ‘Ambo’, policemen at a checkpoint in Imus, Cavite do their task of inspecting motorists before giving the go-ahead. JR JOSUE

Meralco asked to explain unusual power bills surge

By Maricel V. Cruz

A

PARTY-LIST lawmaker on Friday asked the Manila Electric Company to provide the House Committee on Energy a detailed explanation on the unusual spike in the electric bills of their consumers, many of them complaining that their bill has tripled during the Enhanced Community Quarantine.

In the virtual hearing held by the House Committee on Energy on the response of the energy sector in relation to the COVID-19 crisis, Rep. Jericho Nograles of Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) and House Committee on Energy vice chairman, said that Meralco has been flooded with complaints by netizens for the sudden and suspicious spike in their electric bills.

In many cases, Nograles said that electric bills have tripled.

Nograles said that although it is expected that electric consumption would definitely increase because more people are using gadgets and appliances while on home quarantine, he finds it ridiculous that power cost would even triple.

According to Nograles, Meralco needs to properly explain in detail what prompted the spike as he noted that power cost should even go down at this point because of the continued decrease of oil prices in the world market.

“There’s a brewing concern that’s been hot in the internet regarding issues and complaints on the spiking reading and billings, I would like to advise you to send our information to the committee as well as to the public to answer these comments and at least you can address that, “Nograles said.

“We are faced with a difficult situation; this situation, we have to be more sensitive to a more sensitive public,” he added.

For his part, Rep. Godofredo Guya of RECODOBA party-list group, a member of the minority bloc of the House Committee on Energy, said Meralco should present a comparative analysis and simple presentation or a simulation to justify their claim using the prior months and the current month.

“They have to prove that consumption will really increase during the ECQ and during this summer time. Let us look at their numbers. And for then to published their Schedule of Rates used in calculating the said billing month,” Guya said.

Nograles also urged all other distribution utilities to ramp up their information drives in order to address foreseeable consumer concerns.

During the same hearing, Nograles thanked the National Power Corporation (NPC) for donating P4 Billion to the government’s “Bayanihan Fund” which was set up by Congress as a platform to fund relief efforts for those who were economically displaced because of the COVID crisis.

QC lifts liquor ban; Parañaque urges residents to ‘grin, bear it’

By Rio N. Araja and Joel E. Zurbano QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Friday issued Executive Order 31, allowing the sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

But while Quezon City has allowed the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages, the City of Paranaque said it has decided to extend the liquor ban until May 31, 2020.

Belmonte said the consumption of any liquor, wine, beer, or any other alcoholic or intoxicating beverage will only be allowed within private residences for the duration of the modified enhanced community quarantine.

Only persons, entities or establishments with valid Liquor License and Regulatory Board licenses are allowed sell or distribute liquor, wine, beer, or any other alcoholic or intoxicating beverages, the mayor’s order read.

On March 26, Belmonte issued Executive Order No. 24, prohibiting the sale and distribution of such products.

Supermarkets, groceries, liquor stores and other high volume retailers were directed to limit the daily purchases of alcoholic bever-

ages intended for personal consumption per person, such as a one-liter bottle of beer could be sold in five cases.

For example, variety stores, kiosks or other low-volume retailers are only allowed to sell a one-liter bottle of beer in 12 bottles.

A retailer must require a purchaser to present a valid government-issued identification card, a valid Business Permits and Licensing Department-issued business permit or a photocopy for purchases intended for resale or redistribution.

According to Belmonte, any person, entity or establishment found to be in violation of provisions of her order shall be meted sanctions, including but not limited to closure, suspension or revocation of its permit or license.

In the case of unlawful consumption, the violator will face possible arrest and the filing of criminal charges under Republic Act 11332 or any other applicable law or ordinance, she said.

Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez, meanwhile, said appealed to his consituents to endure a little longer as following his decision to extend the liquor ban.

met during the COVID-19 crisis. She also asked stakeholders for their proposals and suggested amendments to RA 10821.

In a presentation, Clifford Cyril Riveral of the Social Welfare and Development admitted that the applicability of RA 10821 to other programs, specifically the emergency foster care guidelines, is not clear for the duration of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). He added that there exists a complexity in implementing the Comprehensive Emergency Program for Children (CEPC) on the issues concerning street children and homeless families, during ECQ. Among DWSD’s recommendations on RA 10821 are the following: 1) activation of child protection desks in local government units to provide assistance during ECQ for the purpose of family tracing and reunification, psychosocial support, and reporting of child abuse cases; 2) stronger penalties for LGUs without a localized CEPC; and

SENATOR Risa Hontiveros has asked the National Bureau of Investigation to put a stop to online pages of Facebook that sexually exploit children.

“Dear NBI, please help put a stop to Facebook and online pages that sexually exploit children,” said Hontiveros in an open letter posted on the Senate website and Facebook, which was written in Pilipino.

“My office received information that there were Facebook pages where a lot of pornographic images of female children were posted. These Facebook pages have been around for a long time but these posts and groups are still active,” she said.

Hontiveros said another one they saw was a Facebook page named “Mahilig sa Bata.”

“It was very painful to see them, especially for me as a mother and as a woman,” she said.

“We need to be more vigilant and make sure our children are safe and secure, online and offline. I call on the Bureau to investigate and immediately take down these Facebook pages. The NBI also needs to know who are running it. The criminals behind these Facebook pages and online content must be held accountable and jailed,” she said. Willie Casas

Lanao allots P10m to hospital upgrade COTABATO CITY—The Lanao del Sur provincial government has earmarked P10 million for the upgrading of the Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi City through the procurement of COVID-19 testing machines and kits as well as additional medical supplies, Governor Mamintal Bombit Alonto Adiong Jr. said Friday.

Adiong handed over a P10 Million check for the hospital upgrading program to Dr. Shalimar Pinky Sani-Rakiin, the medical center’s head, in a simple ceremony in Marawi City on Friday.

He said the Provincial Board has also allocated funds for the second tranche of the Provincial Capitol’s Ligtas COVID-19 Relief Assistance Operation for Lanao del Sur. Adiong said officials and the people of Lanao del Sur were delighted by the good news that COVID-19 curves were flattened in the province during the first two weeks of the month. Nash B. Maulana

Health workers’ reserve force eyed SENATOR Pia Cayetano is pushing a measure aim at establishing a national reserve force of health workers who can be immediately deployed in times of disasters and public health emergencies.

The senator filed Senate Bill No. 1527, or the Medical Reserve Corps Act, which shall establish a Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) specifically trained to supplement the country’s human health resources in delivering urgent services to areas affected by disasters and health emergencies.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the weaknesses of the country’s healthcare system, among them is the inability to cope with the surge of patients needing medical care due to lack of medically-trained personnel,” Cayetano pointed out.

“Like a highly-skilled reserve force that has been trained to assist the standing and regular military force as needed, the country can likewise benefit from a similar reserve force for our healthcare system,” she added. Joel E. Zurbano

BARMM sets up hand-wash hubs

LIVELIHOOD. Residents eke out a living by catching fish or harvesting water spinach (kangkong) in the Marikina river at the boundary of Marikina City and San Mateo, Rizal. The province of Rizal is one of the areas that will be placed under the more liberal general community quarantine due to COVID-19 pandemic from May 16 to 31, 2020. JOEY RAZON

Romualdez takes up anti-virus shield for kids THE House of Representatives’ Committee on the Welfare of Children, chaired by Partylist Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez of Tingog party-list group, has started deliberation of the provision of children’s needs and their protection during the lockdowns imposed to control the spread of Coronavirus Disease-19.

In an online meeting, the panel tackled the efficiency of the implementation of Republic Act 10821 or the Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act in relation to the implementation of strict measures to contain Covid-19.

Romualdez said implementors of the government’s drive against the easily transmissible disease should always have in mind the needs and safety of children especially during the pandemic.

She said House members want to know if the said law is being obeyed in the rush to contain the spread of the virus, and if the needs and protection of children are being

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3) prioritizing rescued children for health screening and testing prior to admission to residential care facilities.

Center for the Welfare of Children Undersecretary Mitch Cajayon recommended that concerns of children be included and considered in the formulation and implementation of future programs of the government in response to the “new normal” and the Balik Probinsiya Program.

PLAN International Philippines said that CEPCs are not mainstreamed and institutionalized in LGUs’ plans, which hinders successful implementation and leads to low prioritization and lack of resource allocation.

Camille Padis of PLAN likewise proposed amendments to RA 10821 to strengthen the role of the Department of Internal and Local Government in monitoring LGUs to ensure incorporation of CEPC programs aimed for the capacity building of families to support their children in the time of emergencies.

BARMM CENTER, Cotabato City- As the nation prepares for the new normal after the COVID19 pandemic, Ministry of Transportation and Communications of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has initiated the installation of a strategic handwashing station right inside, after the gate of BARMM center yesterday 14 May 2020.

In a meeting of BARMM-IATF Council last Monday, MOTC Minister Dickson P. Hermoso announced that “manufactured hand washing stations will be installed strategically in all airports, seaports, bus and PUV terminals within BARMM provinces and cities.”

“This project is in partnership with Metro Cotabato Water District (MCWD) which will supply ample of water to each hand washing station in the city and MOTC will provide the detergents needed.” Minister Hermoso added. Mark Navales

Tessie Aquino-Oreta, ex-senator, passes away, 75; lawmakers mourn

By Joel E. Zurbano FORMER senator Maria Teresa “Tessie” Aquino-Oreta passed away, her son Malabon City Mayor Antolin-Oreta said on Wednesday.

Mayor Oreta said his mother died at 10:48 p.m. Thursday.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Mayor Oreta described the 75-year old former lawmaker as “a public servant who devoted her life to the country and her adopted hometown of Malabon.”

“She was a loving grandmother, mother, and wife and a friend to those whose lives she touched,” he said. “We ask for your prayers for mom. Thank you.”

Senators were saddened by Aquino-Oreta’s passing.

“It is with profound sadness that my wife, Kate, and I join the country in

mourning the loss of Senator Tessie Aquino-Oreta. The country lost a dedicated public servant who was also an advocate of education and employment,” said Senator Richard Gordon.

“Not only did we share the same passion for promoting the welfare of our country’s teachers because of our belief that having good teachers is the key to a better future for our country, but Tessie was also a very close friend to us,” he added.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III also mourned the passing of Aquino-Oreta whom he had worked with at the Upper House.

“My family and I are so saddened by her demise. She was very close to me and Sec. Greg (Honasan),” he said.

Sotto said his wife, actress Helen Gamboa, was also saddened by AquinoOreta’s passing.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

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SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2020

Business

ABS-CBN unit furloughs employees IN BRIEF ATI’s earnings fell 57% in three months ASIAN Terminals Inc. said Friday net income fell by 57.5 percent in the first quarter amid the global economic slowdown triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The port operator led by businessman Eusebio Tanco said it earned P472.5 million from January to March, down from P1.1 billion in the same period last year.

Revenues went down 28.9 percent in the first quarter to P2.6 billion from P3.6 billion in the same period last year on account of lower container volumes resulting from the negative impact of COVID-19.

Manila South Harbor handled over 250,000 TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units) of international boxes while the Batangas Container Terminal handled over 61,000 TEUs, down by 20.8 percent and 18.8 percent, respectively as global and regional markets temporarily shuttered to mitigate the spread of the contagious virus.

ATI’s gateway ports remained operational 24/7, joining frontline industries and supporting government agencies in ensuring the unhampered flow of food, medicines, medical supplies and other vital commodities in the supply-chain. Darwin G. Amojelar

By Darwin G Amojelar

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BS-CBN Corp. announced Friday the furlough or temporary layoff of employees of subsidiary Kidzania Manila—an interactive entertainment center for children in Taguig City amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

The media conglomerate said Kidzania Manila, which provides learning experience for children ages 4 to 17, had been closed since March 11, 2020 before the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine as part of safety measures to prevent the virus spread.

ABS-CBN said the play city would also remain closed following the new declaration of modified enhanced community quarantine in the National Capital Region starting May 16.

It said that with the eventual shift

to general community quarantine, KidZania Manila would also open during this period, as current GCQ guidelines issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force still prohibit those in the kids industry from operating; ban entertainment-related mass gatherings; and forbid children from leaving their homes “The successive extensions of the quarantine have adversely affected the company,” ABS-CBN said.

“After serious discernment, Play Inno-

vations Inc., the franchisee of KidZania Manila, has decided to file a temporary suspension of operations with the Department of Labor and Employment effective June 16 to Aug. 15, 2020, to manage and mitigate further losses to the business while exploring new revenue solutions,” ABS-CBN said.

It said that while Kidzania’s operations were suspended, the company would “assist the employees who will be in furlough by providing them financial assistance and health insurance benefits.”

The company did not provide the number of employees that would be affected.

“We thank our employees, industry partners and Kals for their patience and understanding,” ABS-CBN said.

Kidzania generated P351 million in revenues with 214,000 visitors as of endNovember 2019. ABS-CBN invested P1.16 billion to construct Kidzania Manila in Fort Bonifacio.

2GO offers easy rebooking options SHIPPING company 2GO Travel said passengers with cancelled trips for the period of March 16 to May 15 can now conveniently rebook without going to the retail outlets or authorized agents.

It said that apart from waived rebooking fee and fare difference, tickets have validity of 12 months from original date of travel.

“Until May 31, 2020, 2GO is extending special options to affected travelers by availing any of the following: a) free accommodation upgrade up to cabin, b) reroute their ticket to any 2GO Travel Destination, c) transfer their ticket to another person or d) avail of 20% discount on your next travel at the time of rebooking,” the company said.

Travelers are advised to take note of their original travel details and reservation number when rebooking.

Singapore firm invests in GMI IKHLAS Capital Singapore Pte. Ltd. said it signed an agreement to invest $18 million in Glacier Megafridge Inc., an integrated cold chain logistics service provider in the Philippines.

GMI, founded in 2005, operates eight major facilities in Metro Manila and key provinces, with over an aggregate pallet capacity of over 50,000. All facilities are built to international standards, earning industry certifications, such as HACCP and ISO 22000. GMI is owned by businessmen William Tieng and Arturo Yan. The investment would fund GMI’s plans to scale-up capacity in providing end-to-end service and to extend geographic coverage nationwide.

“This investment is an important milestone as we embark on our expansion plans.

At GMI, we believe in mindful growth through strategic and synergistic partnerships. Together with the strong local and regional network of Ikhlas, we can enhance our value proposition, both in terms of location coverage and service quality. We will work non-stop towards becoming the top cold chain player in the country,” said GMI co-founder and president Arturo Yan. “We are excited to be a part of GMI’s growth story, as we believe that the company has a strong competitive edge with its state-of-the-art facilities and highly experienced management team,” said Dato’ Sri Nazir Razak, chairman of Ikhlas.

112.75 points 5,541.95

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

660,425,701 77,187 4,528,729,074.51 70 103 46

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.3720

Japan

Yen

0.009327

0.4698

UK

Pound

1.223400

61.6251

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129002

6.4981

Switzerland

Franc

1.028278

51.7964

Canada

Dollar

0.712149

35.8724

Singapore

Dollar

0.702741

35.3985

Australia

Dollar

0.646300

32.5554

Bahrain

Dinar

2.649568

133.464

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266276

13.4129

Brunei

Dollar

0.700280

35.2745

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000067

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.031143

1.5687

UAE

Dirham

0.272264

13.7145

Euro

Euro

1.080900

54.4471

Korea

Won

0.000815

0.0411

China

Yuan

0.140964

7.1006

India

Rupee

0.013249

0.6674

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.230521

11.6118

New Zealand

Dollar

0.600300

30.2383

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033474

1.6862 Source: BSP

SM Prime keeps P80-b capex budget for 2020

By Jenniffer B. Austria PROPERTY developer SM Prime Holdings Inc. said Friday it will maintain its 2020 capital expenditures at P80 billion despite recording lower first-quarter net income given the disruption caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

SM Prime said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it would continue to focus on projects that would deliver sustainable returns in the long term. It will also continue to explore opportunistic acquisitions and/or investments.

“We believe that in crisis like this, flight to quality will be the driver for consumers and buyers, and SM has the solution and right product,” said SM Prime chairman Henry Sy Jr. SM Prime booked a net income of P8.3 billion in the first quarter, down 5 percent from P8.8 billion in the same period last year as consolidated revenues declined 3 percent to P25.8 billion from P26.5 billion.

“The company’s first-quarter results reflect the business disruption impact of the quarantine measures implemented last March 16 which affected primarily our leasing businesses,” SM Prime president Jeffrey Lim said.

“The residential segment has still shown strong growth in the first three months, abating the effect of revenue losses in the malls segment. The balance between our recurring and developmental income streams sustains our healthy financial position during this pandemic,” Lim said.

SM Prime closed down its shopping malls, except for stores that offer essential products and services, during the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine in the country.

It also waived P8.8 billion in mall rent from March 16 to May 15.

The company said that as a result, malls revenues declined by 16 percent to P11.3 billion in the first three months.

China mall business, which reported closure on Jan. 25 because of the spread of COVID-19 in the region, now has all seven malls running at 80-percent capacity, with foot traffic gradually going back to normal since its gradual reopening from Feb. 10 to March 11 when lockdowns in China were being lifted.

2 1600 TESTING BOOTHS. San Miguel Corp. starts the delivery of COVID-19 testing booths to the cities of Mandaluyong, Pasig and Manila to help boost the testing capacities of Metro Manila local government units. SMC is also donating PCR test kits to all LGUs, equivalent to 34,000 tests. Shown is San Miguel Foundation trustee Cecille Ang leading the turnover of the booths to Mandaluyong City Mayor Carmelita Abalos.

Metro Manila shopping malls prepare for reopening SHOPPING mall operators SM Prime Holdings Inc. and Megaworld Lifestyle Malls vowed to implement strict safety and sanitation measures once they reopen their facilities to customers on Saturday.

The two companies made the commitment after the government allowed the reopening of non-leisure shops at shopping malls on May 16 when Metro Manila, Laguna and Cebu City would be placed under the modified enhanced community quarantine.

Under the modified ECQ, the government will the reopening of malls and commercial centers for non-leisure activities, delivery and takeout services of restaurants, hardware stores, clothing and accessories stores, mall-based government frontline services, bookstores and school and office supplies stores, baby care supplies stores, pet food and pet care supplies stores, electronic equipment stores, toy stores and other shops.

SM Prime said in a statement all its malls were being thoroughly cleaned and disinfected prior to the opening of malls and throughout mall house especially in areas with heavy customer contact.

Mall entrances would be equipped with temperature checks and disinfecting foot mats while alcohol dispensers would be provided at mall entrances and restrooms. Mall goers will also be required to wear face masks at all times.

SM Prime said it would also promote the importance of physical distancing.

The company said it would disable free Wi-Fi access to customers while leisure establishments would remain closed.

SM Prime also agreed to conduct COVID-19 antibody rapid testing for all employees and agency front liners, including janitors and security guards.

Meanwhile, Megaworld said heightened safety measures including the strict implementation of social distancing,

mandatory thermal checks, compulsory wearing of facemasks and cashless transactions are among the new safeguards that would be part of the ‘new normal’ in its lifestyle malls and commercial properties across the country.

The company said it would intensify existing mall sanitation and safety protocols including the introduction of brand new and state-of-the-art disinfection chambers, which would be stationed at different mall entrances to help mitigate the spread of the viral disease.

Contactless purchases including the use of mobile or cashless transactions at select stores and the establishment of designated pick-up counters and drive-thru stations for online takeout orders and deliveries are also among the new additional measures to be implemented to protect and give shoppers more options when it comes to buying food and other essentials safely.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Lucio Tan’s holding company reported 40% growth in first-quarter net income LT GROUP Inc., the listed holding company of tycoon Lucio Tan, said Friday net income climbed 40.5 percent in the first quarter to P6.21 billion from P4.42 billion in the same period last year on the back of strong contribution from the tobacco business.

LT Group said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the strong first-quarter income was led by better operating results of the tobacco and property development segments which offset the lower net incomes of the banking, distilled spirits and beverage segments.

Philippine National Bank contributed P761 million or 12 percent of total attributable income while the tobacco business accounted for P5 billion or 80 percent.

Tanduay Distillers Inc. accounted for P199 million, followed by Eton Properties Philippines Inc. which added P168 million and Asia Brewery Inc. with P74 million.

The company’s 30.9-percent stake in Victorias Milling Company Inc. also contributed P91 million to total revenues.

Consolidated revenues increased 15 percent in the first quarter to P25.2 billion from P21.9 billion a year ago on account of the higher revenues in the banking, distilled spirits and beverage

PSE INDEX

Friday, May 15, 2020

segments.

Cost of sales and services increased 2.5 percent to P11 billion, on higher excise taxes on goods sold by the distilled spirits segment.

The tobacco segment’s net income rose 72.4 percent to P5 billion on account of the increase in equity in net earnings from PMFTC and price increases implemented in August 2019.

Volume, however, declined by 9 percent in the first quarter.

Philippine National Bank’s income fell 30 percent to P1.37 billion, because of the P3.36-billion provisions for credit losses that the bank booked in the first three months amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tanduay’s bottom line went down by 15 percent in the first three months to P199 million because of lower margins from higher alcohol costs.

Eton Properties’ net income rose 13 percent in the first quarter to P169 million on higher rental income and the improvement in the gross profit margin of real estate sales.

Eton Properties had a leasing portfolio of 181,000 square meters of office space and over 43,000 square meters of retail space as of end-March.

Jenniffer B. Austria

MAPFRE’S DONATION.

Fundación MAPFRE delivers P10.4 million worth of medical and health protection equipment to the Philippine General Hospital to better protect the population against the coronavirus and help the most seriously ill. The donation turnover ceremony is led by Spain Ambassador to the Philippines Jorge Moragas, economic counselor Pedro Pascual, Spanish Official Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation in the Philippines director Bárbara Apariz and president Peter Hager.

BSP expects remittances to rise 2% in 2020 despite pandemic

By Julito G. Rada

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas expects remittances from Filipinos working overseas to still grow 2 percent this year despite the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on working conditions globally.

“Our pre-COVID-19 pandemic forecast was that remittances will grow by 3 percent over last year’s level. Last March, with the emergence of the global health crisis, the BSP staff projects that

OFW remittances would shrink by 0.2 to 0.8 percent from the original 3-percent growth forecast, hence the revised forecast is a range of 2.2 to 2.8 percent or a midpoint of 2.5 percent,” BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said Friday after the release of the February remittance data.

Diokno said the BSP adopted an amended growth forecast of 2 percent to be on the conservative side.

“That’s BSP’s latest forecast. As you know the government has now allowed Filipino overseas workers to leave the

country, except health workers, who are most needed at home,” Diokno said.

Remittances grew 2.5 percent in February to $2.36 billion from $2.301 billion a year ago while countries were bracing for the global impact of the pandemic.

The February expansion was slower than the 6.6-percent growth posted in January.

This brought the total cash remittances in the first two months to $5.006 billion, up 4.6 percent from $4.784 billion in the same period last year.