Manila Standard - 2020 March 18 - Wednesday

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LGU FEEDING PLAN

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Mayor fears 'logistical nightmare' A N ORDER by President Rodrigo Duterte to local governments to feed their constituents during the month-long quarantine of Luzon poses a “logistical nightmare”, Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said Tuesday.

He sought additional guidelines on the move to contain the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año has ordered local government units to help ferry health workers to their places of work after the government imposed travel restrictions as part of an enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.

Interior Undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya made the statement after hundreds of commuters found themselves stranded at checkpoints and terminals since the mass transportation system in Metro Manila and other areas in Luzon were suspended in compliance with quarantine guidelines.

“We are fixing the system so they will

have a shuttle service, but in the meantime, the instruction of Secretary Año to the LGUs is to help their constituents,” Malaya said in a televised briefing.

Duterte placed all households in Luzon under home quarantine until April 12 and ordered village officials to feed their constituents.

Teodoro said he understood that meant that local governments should use their quick- response fund to ensure food for residents.

Some cities like Marikina, however, have a smaller budget compared to its neighbors, and can only feed residents for a few days, Teodoro said.

“That’s a question of resources. You cannot feed a large number of people

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Philippine Stock Exchange president Ramon Monzon told traders in a memo that trading is suspended starting Tuesday “until further notice” to move in step with Duterte’s order.

Monzon said the suspension was also “to ensure the safety of employees and traders in light of the escalating cases of the coronavirus disease.”

Confirmed cases in the Philippines have jumped to 142, with 12 deaths and the government has unveiled a P27.1-billion package to fund hospitals fighting the virus and provide reprieve amid a slowdown in economic activity.

The benchmark PSE index plunged 7.9 percent during shortened trading on Monday as investors reeled from the virus’ economic impact.

The suspension order came as stock markets and oil prices went into freefall after central banks’ fresh stimulus measures failed to dampen fears of the global pandemic.

Shares in Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index dropped by as much as 3.66 percent at Tuesday’s open before recovering about 70 minutes after the opening bell.

Overnight, Wall Street indices fell in their worst day since 1987, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq dropping about 12 percent and the Dow sinking nearly 13 percent.

On Tuesday, the Securities and Exchange Commission also closed its main office in Pasay City and its extension offices and satellite offices in Luzon.

The commission said it would implement work-from-home arrangements for its employees.

To help companies affected by the COVID-19 lockdown, the SEC said it has extended the filing period for annual reports and financial statements, allowed companies to submit their reports through courier and enabled the participation of directors, trustees, stockholders, members and other persons in meetings through remote communication.

Meanwhile, the Justice department said COVID-19 patients who refuse hospital confinement or who try to escape may be held criminally liable.

“Being sick does not exempt one from criminal liability,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said.

Guevarra was reacting to reports that three confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients allegedly tried to evade hospital admission and mandatory quarantine.

“These people may be charged for noncooperation under the relevant provisions of the law on mandatory reporting of notifiable diseases and the quarantine law,” Guevarra said.

He said violating Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code covering resistance and disobedience to a person in authority and violation or evasion of quarantine, could result in prison time and a fine of up to P100,000.

A few days ago it was reported that a woman who tested positive for COVID-19 tried to escape members of the police in San Juan City by boarding her car. She was chased until she reportedly reached the parking lot of a hospital in Quezon City.

She finally agreed to have herself admitted after a two-hour negotiation with the police.

Two patients under investigation, meanwhile, left Sarangani province and proceeded to Davao to catch a flight to Manila. The police were reportedly able to track them down to a hotel in Davao on March 13.

Earlier, Guevarra said people who disobeyed the terms of the enhanced community quarantine could also be arrested and penalized. With Willie Casas

The President also issued Memorandum Circular No. 77 upholding the price freeze on emergency medicines and medical supplies as well as the suggested retail prices on basic agricultural and fishery commodities in Metro Manila.

The declaration came as the Department of Health (DOH) recorded 45 new cases, which brought to 187 the number of COVID-19 cases as of noon Tuesday. Two new deaths were reported, bringing the number of fatalities to 14.

Actor Christopher de Leon confirmed in an Instagram post that he tested positive for the disease. He did not have any known contact with any confirmed patient nor recent travel history.

The DOH also reported the recovery of a 31-year-old male, one of the repatriates from the COVID-19-stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship that was docked in Yokohama, Japan.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the bed capacity of health care facilities in Metro Manila is being surpassed by the number of patients showing signs and symptoms of the disease seeking medical attention.

“We are admitting that our hospitals especially here in Metro Manila are filling up because of the influx of people,” she said in a mix of Filipino and English.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the isolation beds in public hospitals numbering 935 will increase, after he ordered the 10 percent of beds normally given to private patients would be converted to isolation beds.

Vergeire said people who have mild symptoms or not showing any symptoms at all should undergo home quarantine and avoid flocking to hospitals.

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Meanwhile, the US government has committed more than P139 million in assistance funds to help the Philippines fight COVID-19.

The US Embassy in Manila said on Tuesday that the US government through the US Agency for International Development will collaborate with the Department of Health to establish and implement internationally-recognized infectious disease threat prevention and response strategies, and enhance infection control.

“US assistance will strengthen specimen transport systems and laboratory capacity to accurately and rapidly detect cases,” the embassy said in a statement.

“The assistance also will help protect health workers and patients by ensuring that hygiene products, masks, waste management supplies, and other necessary commodities are available, delivered, and managed appropriately,” it added.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. has donated a total of P2.5 billion to the national government to help curb the spread of COVID-19.

The amount, which was released in two

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said, as the global death toll in the pandemic soared past 7,000.

Travel ban European leaders are set to ban nonessential travel into the continent on Tuesday, the latest drastic attempt to curb the coronavirus pandemic that has upended society, battered markets and killed thousands around the world.

With French President Emmanuel Macron describing the battle against COVID-19 as a “war”, governments around the world are imposing restrictions rarely seen in peace-time, slamming borders shut and

for a long time. Perhaps it’s possible for a while, but on a long-term basis that’s a logistical nightmare for many, especially for cities like ours.

Local governments could request help from the provincial government and the Social Welfare department to feed residents, Año said in a separate interview.

Teodoro said the department did not have implementing guidelines yet as of Monday night.

Mayors in Metro Manila will hold an emergency meeting about the feeding program later Tuesday, he said.

Teodoro said he also urged the private sector and other cities to help with food provisions.

“That’s our strength as Filipinos anyway: Our empathy, communal spirit,” he said.

“We don’t want the people to go hungry.

They will panic and chaos will ensue.”

Teodoro said he had assigned a special lane for food and supply deliveries in his city after checkpoints increased the travel time for some motorists for up to five

hours late Monday.

With the mass public transport suspended during the lockdown, the mayor also urged establishments like banks and supermarkets that need to continue their operations to ferry their workers to and from their offices.

Teodoro also said lines were long in his city’s banks, markets and drugstores as his constituents prepared for the lockdown.

He said he also noticed some residents flocking to a pawnshop.

“It seems that some residents are pawning off their valuables. They could be daily wage earners preparing for the possibility that they could lose their income,” he said.

The Philippines so far has confirmed 142 cases of the novel coronavirus, including 12 deaths and three patients who recovered.

Marikina monitored some 110 people for possible infection, and of whom five were cleared by the Health department on Monday and around 40 would finish their home quarantine on Tuesday, Teodoro said.

“The risk of transmission among the population would increase if [people with] mild [symptoms or those who are] asymptomatic will also be waiting in hospitals where there are possible COVID-19 cases,” she said.

She also said the country’s testing capacity to determine whether a person is infected or not was still limited.

However, she guaranteed that more test kits are arriving from Japan and China on top of the batch that arrived from South Korea on Saturday.

Members of President Rodrigo Duterte’s family were tested for COV-19, his constant companion Senator Christopher Go said Tuesday.

Swab tests were conducted on the President’s partner Honeylet Avanceña, and his children Paolo, Sebastian, and Veronica in their hometown of Davao City, Go said.

Taguig City Mayor Lino Edgardo Cayetano on Tuesday ordered a city-wide lockdown for the safety of residents and stakeholders and to help the government effort to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Effective at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, only delivery of basic goods and supplies will be allowed to enter Taguig.

“The local government assures the people of Taguig that they will be taken care of. Supermarkets, groceries, convenience stores and banks shall remain open. We are working to help small groceries and sari-sari stores to have a working supply chain. They will be allowed to operate under strict barangay monitoring and social distancing rules,” Cayetano said.

The city government will also distribute backpack sprayers and disinfectants to all barangays for sanitation.

Taguig City will also release aid to barangay and community leaders to help them fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cayetano earlier confirmed that there were three new COVID-19 patients in Tagu-

ig bringing the total number of cases in the city to four.

“All four cases in Taguig are in hospitals where they are isolated and being treated,” he said.

An official of the House of Representatives on Tuesday confirmed that another employee of the chamber was tested positive for COVID-19.

House Secretary General Jose Luis Montales said the employee holds office at the House’s Printing Service.

“He last reported for work on March 5. He went on leave on March 6, and was admitted to the hospital on March 7,” Montales said in a statement.

“The diagnosis was dengue. The doctors later tested him for COVID-19 on March 12 and 14, and the results just came out today,” Montales added.

Earlier, an employee of the House from the same office was tested positive for the disease. He died last Sunday.

The House has suspended wok until April 12.

In a related development, Quezon City Rep. Precious Castelo appealed to airline, shipping and other transportation companies to open their offices for rebooking or cancellation of tickets or trips of people affected by the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.

Castelo made the appeal after receiving complaints from several constituents that they went to the Philippine Airlines office at Eton Centris mall early Tuesday morning only to find out that it was closed without warning.

Castelo said airline offices have a justifiable reason to open their offices to accommodate thousands of passengers affected by President Duterte’s enhanced community quarantine order.

Duque on Tuesday also said Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Nancy Binay tested negative for COVID-19.

tranches, “will be used for the procurement of personal protective equipment of health care frontliners, additional operating expenses of the Bureau of Quarantine, and support for the tests being conducted by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine,” said PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Andrea D. Domingo.

The PAGCOR chief added that the agency’s donation will help ease the funding concerns of the country’s health care sector—especially those who have inadequate supply of personal protective equipment, medicines, testing kits, among others.

The Office of the Vice President, meanwhile, will provide nine government hospitals in Metro Manila with 7,350 personal protective equipment to keep them safe from COVID-19.

“This is part of the OVP’s assistance drive, where millions have also been raised with the help of ordinary citizens, for health workers and front liners in the fight against COVID-19,” Vice President Leni Robredo said in a statement.

Recipients of the aid include San Lazaro Hospital, University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital and UP-National Institutes of Health, and Quezon City’s Lung Center of the Philippines, Philippine Heart Center,

Quirino Memorial Medical Center, Philippine Orthopedic Center, Veterans Memorial Medical Center and East Avenue Medical Center.

Also on Tuesday, Akbayan chairperson emeritus Loreta Ann Rosales urged the Department of Finance to release its P27-billion stimulus package to prioritize cash aid to affected workers due to a Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.

Rosales, a former Commission on Human Rights chairperson, said with such a budget, the Department of Social Welfare and Services could be able to continue its pro-poor programs despite the COVID-19 scare.

“Our health and welfare services down to the barangay level need to be enhanced during the implementation of the community quarantine. The people will not die because of the virus, but because of hunger. We cannot tell the people that they stay at home and just obey even if they do not have the food or money to buy medicine,” she said.

“In the P27-billion stimulus package, why is P14 billion going to the Department of Tourism? If the funding is that big, it should go to the waiters, cooks, hotel staff and other workers of the tourism industry. If not, it should go straight to our barangays to do testing and treatment for people affected of COVID-19,” she added.

forcing citizens to stay home.

The crisis is infecting every sector of the economy and Wall Street stocks sank on Monday more than 12 percent in the worst session since the crash of 1987, despite emergency interventions by central banks and governments to shore up confidence.

Capacity cut Australian airline Qantas announced Tuesday it was slashing its international capacity by 90 percent and domestic flights by 60 percent in a further coronavirus blow to the beleaguered travel industry.

Facing a growing list of travel bans around the globe and a “precipitous decline in demand”, Qantas said the cutbacks would continue until at least the end of May.

They affect both Qantas flights and those of its budget carrier Jetstar and will impact the company’s entire 30,000 staff.

20 more cases China reported on Tuesday just one new domestic coronavirus infection but found 20 more cases imported from abroad, threatening to spoil its progress against the disease.

The single case in Wuhan will boost China’s view that it has “basically curbed” the spread of a disease that is believed to have emerged in a live animal market in the central city in December.

Wuhan and its 11 million people were placed under strict quarantine on Jan. 23, with the rest of Hubei province going under lockdown in the following days. AFP

find their way to hundreds of doctors and policemen who are struggling to get their hands on the protective gear.

They’re being made by the Angel Baby company, which normally produces sleeping bags for infants and is known for its social responsibility campaigns.

“The idea came to us spontaneously as we got calls from friends asking us to sew them masks,” co-owner Desislava Yankova told AFP. “We stopped our usual production of baby sleeping bags for a week and we hope to be able to make about 3,000 masks to send to hospitals and police stations around the country,” she added.

Angel Baby’s previous campaigns have included the “Sleeping bag on a mission” -- for every baby sleeping bag sold they donated one to a maternity ward, with more than 6,000 bags given away so far.

They are also giving away the masks for free but warning users that they have not been medically certified, so must be washed daily and ironed at high temperatures.

The company says that the masks given to police and doctors are not intended for use by those in direct contact with coronavirus patients but for others who deal with large numbers of people on a daily basis. AFP

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Yes, it is better and commendable to stay at home. Not only it is for our personal safety and common good but much more we can give more time to our family,” the prelate said in a statement.

Santos urged everyone to make use of the “stay at home” directive to speak to family members about their studies, works and more about God. “Also, see what you can do at home, how you can help. See the sacrifices of your parents, see the goodness of God through what you have and enjoy in life and not deprive momentary to do,” he said.

The bishop asked all to spend time, talents to perform well for God and family members while at home.

He cautioned against using the time merely for sleeping, eating or idling.

“Do not just rest and be preoccupied with gadgets. Pray more, serve more and still study,” Santos said.

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allowed travel for a period of 72 hours” from the effectivity of the quarantine. The total lockdown started 12 am on March 17.

But Filipinos are barred from leaving the Philippines through any of the international airports in Luzon beginning Tuesday, or as soon as the quarantine takes effect.

Asked whether overseas Filipino workers are exempted from the rule, Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Libiran said Tuesday “The instruction is no Filipinos shall be allowed to leave the country.”

Only uniformed personnel transporting medical supplies, individuals carrying lab specimens, and those on humanitarian missions are allowed to travel by air.

The Bureau of Immigration on Tuesday advised all foreigners intending to leave the country before the 72-hour deadline to settle immigration obligations in any BI field offices before leaving the country.

“Outbound passengers intending to depart the Philippines from any international airport in Luzon shall be allowed only until 12mn of March 20,‫پ‬h Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said.

“Inbound passengers who are already in transit upon effectivity of the quarantine shall be allowed to enter, but will be referred to the Bureau of Quarantine if coming from countries with existing travel restrictions,” he said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday temporarily suspended consular services in Luzon after the declaration of an enhanced community quarantine over the entire island.

The department said the temporary suspension of operations covered the Office of Consular Affairs in Aseana, Parañaque City and all consular offices in Luzon.

In an advisory, the department also informed passport applicants with confirmed appointments and those seeking Authentication and Civil Registration services will be accommodated once operations resume.

On the other hand, the department’s consular offices in the Visayas and Mindanao will be operating with skeletal workforces and provide services only to individuals with urgent consular needs.

Catholic prelates in Metro Manila have suspended Holy Week activities set next month in response to the declaration of the government putting entire Luzon in an enhanced community quarantine to stop the spread of Covid-19.

In Pastoral Statement of the Bishops of Metro Manila issued Monday, the heads of the archdiocese, dioceses and Military Vicariate in the country have agreed to cancel the Holy Week activities such as Palm Sunday, Visita Iglesia, Siete Palabras, Good Friday procession and Easter Sunday ‘salubong’.

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Extend filing of income tax, DOF urged

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

ABANDONED. Some parts of the metropolis, like the Airport Skyway along Macapagal Boulevard in Parañaque City and the Nagtahan Road in Manila looked abandoned following the imposition of the enhanced community quarantine in the entire Luzon island. Lino Santos

ECQ best time to repair, maintain, LRT lines—solon

By Maricel V. Cruz A LEADER of the House of Representatives on Tuesday said now is the best time for the Department of Transportation to order a full maintenance and systems fix for the Metro Rail Transit 3 and the lines of the Light Rail Transit without compromising the health and safety of its personnel.

Samar Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, said that the Enhanced Community Quarantine which was ordered by President Duterte is a virtual “reset button” for Metro Manila’s dilapidated mass transport sector especially on the problematic rail systems.

Sarmiento said the ECQ—which required the full stoppage of the operations of the MRT and the LRT lines—presents an opportunity for the managements of these rail systems to fix all the problems that has plagued them for a very long time.

Sarmiento added that this is also the best time to set up the needed infrastructure and finalize the operational details of the proposed centralized and synchronized bus dispatch system which would somehow address the much needed bus public transportation system.

“We have to take advantage of the enhanced community quarantine as a sort of reset button of the rail systems. All the needed repair works in the past are not fully carried out because we cannot stop the operation of these rail systems. Now that the President has ordered a complete shutdown of their operation, maybe it is the best time to fix all the rolling stocks to include the railway system,” Sarmiento said.

“At least pagbalik natin sa normal na pamumuhay at muli na namang dadagsa ang mga tao sa ating mga tren eh maganda na ulit ito at hindi na ito madalas nasisira. Mas lalong maganda kung pagkatapos ng enhanced community quarantine system ay maayos na rin ang sistema natin sa EDSA. Sayang ang pagkakataon kung wala tayong gagawin para ayusin ang mga ito,” Sarmiento added.

Sarmiento added, however, that all personnel involved in the repair and maintenance works should fully observed biohazard protocols to avoid spreading the COVID-19 virus.

According to Sarmiento, ECQ should be used not only to prevent the spread of the dreaded COVID-19 virus but also as an opportunity to conduct all the work needed to make life easier and better for all Filipinos.

More ecstasy tablets sent via CMEC at NAIA seized C

By Joel Zurbano and Vito Barcelo

of the Republic Act 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. USTOMS agents at the Ninoy Aquino Only recently, a claimant was also International Airport seized another smuggled apprehended for claiming P1.8 million worth of ecstasy tablets. shipment of ecstasy tablets at Central Mail Amid the threat posed by the COExchange Center in Pasay City.

VID-19 virus, the Customs bureau The authorities also arrested Rex An- tion and discovered 2,203 ecstasy tab- maintains its commitment to protect the country’s border and prevent atdrade of Quezon City, the claimant of lets concealed in coffee packaging.

Field test conducted by the PDEA tempts to smuggle illegal goods and the ecstasy pills worth P3.7 million.

Elements of the Bureau of Customs- and Customs Anti-Illegal Drugs Task contrabands.

Authorities said ecstasy is a dangerNAIA made the seizure in close co- Force yielded positive results indicaordination with the Philippine Drug tive of ecstasy, a prohibited party ous party drug that killed five people during a rave party four years ago in Enforcement Agency and NAIA Inter- drugs.

The claimant and the seized shipment Pasay City.

Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group Aside from ecstasy, shabu and mariwere turned over to PDEA for proper last Monday.

The package came from Utrecht, custody. The suspect will be charged juana are the top three narcotics disNetherlands and was misdeclared as criminally for violating Republic Act tributed in the streets and these prohib9165, also known as Comprehensive ited substances are manufactured by “Gondoliere Coffee (Arabica).”

The authorities placed the shipment Dangerous Drugs Act, in relation to Chinese, Taiwanese and Mexican drug under 100 percent physical examina- Section 1401 (Unlawful Importation) syndicates, according to PDEA.

‘Village health workers’ role Take care of daily wage earners, Win tells gov’t critical in ECQ’ SENATOR Win Gatchalian on Tuesday called on both public and private sectors to ensure the survival of disadvantaged communities, particularly the daily wage earners.

Now that the country is in the midst of a deadly public health crisis, Gatchalian said protecting them is a shared responsibility following the declaration of an “enhanced community quarantine” in Luzon over the coronavirus pandemic.

He noted that the current condition threatens the survival of daily wage earners and members of the poor and disadvantaged communities.

The directives from the Palace calls for strict quarantine in all households, cessation of work, and regulation of food provision and essential health services.

One concern that Gatchalian raised is the adequacy of food supply.

While all local government units are expected to supply food to daily wage earners in their respective localities for the next 30 days, Gatchalian warned government resources will not be enough to feed these workers in the long term, especially in the case of a prolonged enhanced community quarantine.

Senator Francis Pangilinan, meanwhile, said that the ECQ should be

complemented by intensified delivery of goods and services especially to poor families in need of food, clean water, medicine and other essential supplies.

He said this should not be hard with adequate produce of rice, vegetables, and other agricultural products by Filipino farmers. Otherwise they will go to waste and rot away due to the lockdown.

Under the Sagip Saka Law, all government entities are mandated to directly purchase agricultural and fisheries products from local farmers and fisherfolk enterprises. Macon Ramos-Araneta

AUGMENTATION. The Regional Mobile Force Company 4A and the Provincial Mobile Force Company deployed more troops to cities and class A municipalities in Cavite as augmentation force to assist those manning different checkpoints in the province. JR Josue

Travel agencies needed in times of crisis, says PIATA exec WITH the number of coronavirus cases around the world breaching the 100,000 mark and the Philippines being placed on Public Health Emergency Code Red Sublevel 2 status, many people have started to rethink their travel plans.

Most of the time, these people have decided to cancel their flights and have requested for refunds.

With many airlines directly selling their tickets to travelers, many travelers have been forced to process the refund requests and to personally follow up on

SENATOR Francis said that given the ‘enhanced community quarantine in Luzon, Senator Francis Pangilinan called on Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez to extend the deadline for the filing of income tax returns.

Pangilinan noted that Sec. 53 of the Tax Code gives the BIR Commissioner, who is under the Department of Finance, the power to extend the period for filing returns in ‘meritorious cases’ In effect, if the time period for filing will be extended, Pangilinan said no penalty would be imposed as long as it can be filed within the extended period.

The senator said the request for at least a month-long or longer extension for the filing of income tax returns was due to the failure of accountants to report for work given the situation.

He said that accountants will be the ones who will prepare the returns are not considered employees of essential/vital industries who should report to work.

Furthermore, the finance and accounting documents of some taxpayers are in their respective offices which shut down operations due to the enhanced Luzonwide enhanced community quarantine.

“They would not have enough time to examine the documents from April 12, when the quarantine is lifted, and April 15, the deadline for the filing of tax returns,” also said Pangilinan.

them. All this hassle could have been avoided if the travelers booked their tickets through a licensed and registered travel agent.

“For the past few weeks, we have been inundated with calls for cancellations and ticket refunds and our customers are really happy that they coursed their travel requirements through us,” said Maria Paz Alberto, current President of the Philippine IATA Agents Travel Association and Ark Travel Express Inc. “Our customers tell us that

their friends who booked directly with the airlines are having a hard time getting their refunds and are being given the run around.”

While there are many online booking sites that allow customers to book their flights and hotel rooms on their own, there are still many advantages of booking your trips through a travel agent. For one, a travel agency has access to the best deals that can potentially save travelers a lot of money.

“If you book with a travel agency like

us, we will make sure that you get the best deals and that you will really enjoy your travel experience,” added Carlo Severino, vice president of PIATA. “We also have very reliable partners who will make that extra effort to make the experience very memorable.”

A travel agent will also help you come up with your ideal itinerary, saving you much time and effort. If anything should go wrong during the trip, your travel agent can be relied on to assist you.

A PARTY-LIST lawmaker on Tuesday cited the critical role of barangay health workers in the fight against COVID-19 as they are at the frontline of health care services at the barangay level.

Rep. Angelica Natasha Co of BHW Party-list hailed what she described as the heroic role of BHWs in the light of President Rodrigo Duterte’s orders for an enhanced community quarantine.

“BHWs, just like in every calamity, would be rendering assistance by monitoring the health condition of barangay folks and the possible spread of COVID-19,” Co said. BHWs would be also tapped even for food distribution, should the situation warrants it, among other services that may be needed, she added.

With the BHWs active role in the fight against COVID-19, Rep. Co urged the LGUs to ensure the safety of the BHWs. Co said BHWs are at high risk even as she called for immediate support for them. She said the workers will be distributing some much-needed personal protection paraphernalia, but it would not be sufficient.

President Duterte on Monday placed the entire island of Luzon on lockdown until April 12 as the number of COVID-19 to prevent the spread of the deadly disease.

The announcement came after the President met with members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, who recommended an “enhanced community quarantine” that includes strict home quarantine in all households, a suspension of public transportation, the regulation of food and essential health services, and the heightened presence of uniformed personnel. Maricel V. Cruz

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020

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The economic cost of Luzon’s lockdown WITH a Luzon-wide lockdown, some 48 million Filipinos on the Philippines’ main island have to return to basics. They retreated to their ultimate defense castles— their homes. It happens that the household or family is also the basic unit of society and the basic economic unit.

A Luzon lockdown will cost P543 billion but save only 214 lives.

A lockdown in Luzon, meaning a freeze in almost every economic activity in the archipelago’s richest and most productive island, is a lockdown or an insidious assault on the economy.

You freeze the population, you freeze economic activity or consumption, you stop the economy’s gears.

With a population of 109 million, there are more than 23 million households in the Philippines; 10 million of that are in Luzon, including 2.8 million in Metro Manila, the national capital.

The contribution of Luzon to the national economy is tremendous—73 of every 100 pesos of goods and services produced nationwide. The economy has two kinds of consumers—households and the government.

The economy is run by consumption—74 percent by private consumption, and 13 percent by government. If people or households, counted as private consumption, do not spend, it’s like stopping 74 percent of the economy. Government’s share of consumption, 13 percent, cannot make up for the slack.

One reason for the strength of private consumption is the huge money sent by some 12 million Filipino expats who work or stay abroad.

In 2019, remittances were a record $33.47 billion or P1.698 trillion. Much of that money is stranded, meaning it is not fun-

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

neled to something productive like capital goods or machinery, or factories, or infrastructure. Most goes to consumption—of consumer goods, appliances, cars, homes, and for simply shopping, eating, and entertainment. That is what made Henry Sy Sr and Manny Villar the richest Filipinos.

If you lock people up in their homes, in effect you hinder them from consuming goods and services.

The economy produces P18 trillion worth of goods and services a year. Of that, a whopping 73 percent is produced

by Luzon alone, or P13.21 trillion. Divide that by 365, and you get Luzon consuming/ producing P36.2 billion worth of goods and services—daily. Freeze that for one month or 30 days times P36.2 billion, and you get an economic impact of P1.08 trillion in one month.

Assuming you freeze only half of the P1 trillion for 30 days, you still get a gargantuan figure—P543 billion. Imagine the impact on wages, jobs, economic dislocation, and social inequity if that amount were withdrawn from the economy for one month. You would have mass unrest if the lockdown went beyond reasonable limits.

Per reports, at this writing, in the Philippines, 140 have fallen ill to COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus series 2019. Of that, 12 have died.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año warns that without a lockdown, COVID-19 victims could reach 75,000. I find that an outlandish figure. Even if you use the socalled exponential math.

At this writing, the global figure, per Johns Hopkins’ Center for Systems Science and Engineering is 182,407—two and a half months after coronavirus surfaced in China in late December 2019. Some 7,154 have died—3,111 in Hubei, China; 2,158 in Italy; 853 in Iran, 342 in Spain.

Of the 182,407 COVID-19 patients, China has 81,051; Italy 27,980; Iran 14,991; Spain 9,942; South Korea 8,320; and Germany 7,272.

To reach the level Año has warned about—75,000, the global total of COVID-19 victims would have to reach 98 million. This is because the global tally of COVID-19 patients is 1,300 times that of the Philippines.

Per the experience in Hubei, China, the epicenter of the outbreak, 55,987 of its 67,799 patients have recovered. That’s Turn to A5

Stock up on this

I

T IS easy to get disheartened by what is going on. The global pandemic continues to wreak havoc on many countries. It has reached home, threatening our way of life.

With the announcement Monday night of an enhanced community quarantine covering the entire Luzon, Filipinos, already reeling from fear and worry, also find themselves adjusting to the drastic situation where only limited services are available and public transportation is nonexistent.

Social distancing, which we hope results in flattening the curve of the virus' spread, has unfortunately highlighted the gaps between rich and poor Filipinos.

For example, a stark reminder of this in-

equity is an Instagram post by a socialite showing several grocery carts, all full to the brim, and a rather callous caption that said “Very good, my yayas and chef!

Need to stock up!” The post was roundly criticized, and rightly so.

But there is one commodity everybody needs to stock up on amid the crisis we now face. That commodity is gratitude.

We are thankful to health workers and volunteers, as well as other frontliners, who brave the risks posed by exposure to COVID-19 so they can continue to be of service to others. Some volunteers stay on despite an order to pull out of duty.

We are thankful that these selfless individuals' efforts are being acknowledged by some sectors of society—some send food, personal protective equipment, other basic needs they can use while on duty.

We appreciate true leaders in government who have the foresight, decisiveness and compassion as they wage battle against the virus on behalf of their constituents.

We laud the scientists who devote their expertise to propose solutions like developing test kits or formulating a vaccine.

We are thankful that utility companies have extended deadlines for payments of bills, as well as employers who make special considerations—despite their own economic losses—for the benefit of their workers.

We are grateful that we know better than believe silly ideas like bananas being able to cure COVID-19 infections, even as we remain able to find humor in our predicament without necessarily trivializing the situation.

Finally we count ourselves lucky that this whole experience is heightening our awareness of the inequities we must help address, and is encouraging us to think independently and fairly, dispensing praise and criticism where they are due, all for the common objective of uplifting the lot of our people.

Stocking up on these positive thoughts will see us through these difficult times, which we hope will end sooner than later.

The I.D.

MANY are praising the governments of Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea for the way they handled the COVID-19 epidemic.

And indeed they deserve to be emulated.

They acted fast. Their health officials knew what they were doing because they learned their lessons from previous epidemics—SARS and MERS. And through the years following these epidemics, they had enough foresight to build their defenses against such viral contagion, not taking any chances should an outbreak occur.

Even highly developed countries such as New Zealand and Israel are publicly declaring that they are looking at Taiwan as a model, a template, in their own fight to contain the disease, and Israel added, also to fight terrorism.

Two weeks ago, the Taiwan government, through its Minister of Health, Chen Shihchung announced that a Taiwanese national had traveled to the Philippines and upon his return, complained of symptoms akin to the dreaded coronavirus. He was immediately confined.

But beyond confinement and treatment, the Ministry interviewed him about his activities in the Philippines, and provided our own government the information that could help us trace the contacts he may have unwittingly infected. Luckily, he was only in Metro Manila, but for a ferry ride to Corregidor. The malls he went to, the places he visited were identified.

Contact tracing is the key to effective containment of contagion.

For the longest time, more than a month if memory serves me right, our health department reported only three persons afflicted with the new strain of virus. Now there is an explosion of contagion numbers, the latest, as I write Tuesday morning, 142.

To be fair, hindi tayo nag-iisa. Italy, Iran, all of Europe in fact have become the new epicenter of the disease after China’s contagion rate seems to have abated.

The failure to do proper and efficient contact tracing, followed by isolation and treatment, is being blamed for the widespread contagion. Not so in Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea.

And the tool that helped these governments maintain effective contact tracing

is the national I.D. Every citizen has a reference number registered in government computer systems. Every alien resident has an alien registration card or AC. The Taiwan national ID is very basic, a piece of paper as large as a calling card, which contains name, picture, date and place of birth, spouse’s name if any, parent’s names, date of issuance, present address (which you must report if you transfer), military status if any, and a unique alpha-numeric code, plus hologram and barcode. Note: paper, not plastic which will cost more. Laminate it at your expense. Nothing fancy nor expensive. But it works.

Contact tracing is the key to effective containment of contagion.

Every citizen and documented alien, such as the almost 600 million contract workers in Taiwan, are covered by their National Health Insurance system, which provides almost free health care. This is the reason why Taiwanese nationals and residents go to clinics and hospitals and consult medical professionals for even the slightest symptom of physical disorder.

They pay so little for consultation, with free basic laboratory and X-ray tests, and free medicines.

It is considered one of the best, if not the best, public healthcare system in the world.

And the manner by which they are fighting the spread of the virus is testament to that efficiency.

Yesterday, Minister Chen reported that Taiwan has five cases from Turkey while their government has reported only five cases thus far. This indicates that there are more than the Turkish government is able to acknowledge. He warned would-be travelers that there are many other countries in the world where the actual numbers may be far higher than the official figures.

Flashback: As early as when he became a senator in 2001, Ping Lacson filed a bill that would require a national reference card system, better called a national I.D. It was only in the previous Congress that his continuously re-filed bill (SB No. 1738) was passed into law in 2018 after seventeen Turn to A5

EvEryman

Appreciating FVR at 92

By Melandrew T. Velasco NOT all are privileged to work with a former Philippine president.

But for over 19 years now, I’ve had the blessing of serving alongside former President Fidel V. Ramos, who turns 92 today.

His love for our country and heart for good governance still ring a bell.

FVR, as fondly called by his peers and constituents, is known not just for his thumbs-up sign, “Kaya Natin Ito” slogan, his ears or his tobacco but also for his pushups and crunches and his programs of his administration especially with Philippines 2000.

At a very ripe age of 92, he still reports to his RPDEV office in Makati almost daily but has stopped playing golf since last year upon doctor’s advice.

Even in his nonagenarian years, he has never failed to carry on what he has started, always a good soldier who likes to say that he would rather die serving his country with his boots on than sit idly to enjoy his retirement. He continues to inspire and stimulate, stir and enthuse, define and redefine, challenge and defy.

Twenty-two years after he finished his term as President, Fidel V. Ramos, FVR or Eddie, the private citizen, refuses to be “tired even while retired.” He continues to be “a reformer despite being a former president,” and “ex” but not excess and not yet expired.

Other former chiefs of state write their memoirs and then fade into the sunset. He has written more than 30 books while in retirement and through keynote speeches, roundtable discussions, university convocations, etc., keeps reminding his successors and other leaders of the urgent things that need to be done for our country and people to achieve a better future.

Our relationship can be described as a wonderful journey that transcends beyond the books we have done together. Since 2000, FVR has commissioned me to write on the biographies of his loved ones: “Enduring Legacy,” on his father Foreign Affairs Secretary Narciso Ramos; “ In A Class of Her Own,” on his mother Angela Valdez Ramos; “Mommy: The Pillar of Social Work” on his mother-in-law Josefa Jara Martinez; “Simply Ming,” on First Lady Amelita “Ming” M. Ramos; “Uncle Sim” on Simeon Marcos Valdez; and, “Colors of Light” on his artist, poetess and ambassador's spouse auntie Lucia Mangapit Valdez.

Among the best book projects we worked and produced together are: Silver Linings, a story on the 25 Years of the 1986 Revolution, RPDEV @ 15: Our Continuing Voyage for Enduring Peace and Sustainable Development and the first volume, Teamwork for Enduring Peace and Sustainable Development chronicling 10 years of the Ramos Peace and Development Foundation, a non-profit, non-political, non-partisan non-government organization where he acts as chair.

My latest book, co-authored with PVAO Administrator Gen. Nesty Carolina and Gen. Pol Bataoil, former Congressional Chairman for Veterans Affairs and now Lingayen mayor, was supposed to be presented on his birthday celebration on March 22nd at Fairmont Hotel but has to be canceled due to COViD-19 and lockdown in Metro Manila.

It not only a singular honor and privilege writing books but I always consider it is a gift and a blessing from the Almighty and from FVR himself who has served as a constant guide, inspiration, editor and prime mover of said book projects.

The past 19 years and the several book teams formed have been a great journey

of rediscovering FVR and RPDEV. Together, we now form part of a select group called Fidelistas, ardent students of Fidel V. Ramos. Working with him has allowed the various book teams, notably the millennials, to experience some of FVR's core values and best practices such as CSW (Completed Staff Work), CSD (Caring, Sahring and Daring), and UST (Unity, Solidarity and Teamwork)—all advocated by FVR. FVR has also become my loving mentor and my second father having earlier lost my own when he succumbed to cancer in 1994.

He scolds me when he needs to especially when coming in late for our appointed meetings; reprimands me when I was not up to his high and excellent standards; and, he pats my back in times of appreciation and satisfaction on good works done.

During regular visits to his office, he personally sees to it that my team is served with his “coffee royale” laced with virgin coconut oil because according to him, it does well for the health and vitality. We all have to agree. After coffee, he treats us either with a glass of red wine or his special “FVR cocktail drink” invariably laced with soda, rum, cognac, whiskey or brandy while watching some documentaries or FVR taped interviews showcasing his milestone presidency and continuing work as senior statesman.

As for his many sorties overseas wherein I was privileged to join, he continues to be admired, respected and adulated as former President and head of state.

But there’s one unforgettable experience I had with him that showed the stuff he is really made of. I remember one incident in June 2013 when we staged the Pilipinas Roadshow with my co-book authors former DILG Secretary Rafael M. Alunan III and Gen. Reynaldo V. Velasco featuring our Turn to A5

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Opinion Learning and innovating CROSSROADS

J.A. DE LA CRUZ IT MAYBE too soon to even say, as more and more peoples are still bracing for the worst, that the damage that COVID-19 has done so far to our world has engendered in its wake a number of silver linings.

The coming together of rapid assessment teams, scientists and medical experts to work out the needed containment plans to level off the spread of the virus is one such development. One notes that the global health and medical system is, as one Nobel award winning scientist once described it, more than a snake pit. It is a jungle full of all kinds of animals ready to kill and be killed to gain the next big cure for a global pandemic like COVID-19.

Which is why we are full of stories, conspiracy or otherwise, of firms and even countries trying to outfox or devour each other. Which is why we have this running battle on Twitter between the Trumpistas, the US President’s loyalists, and their European rivals, over the alleged efforts of Trump himself thru some surrogates to buy a German biotech company which has reportedly moved ahead with a possible cure for COVID-19 for use only in the United States.

Of course there were denials all over the place but such is the fierce competition going on over the miracle cure for this latest pandemic. It is well that the scientists and the medical community have shied away from this path and moved forward as one in accelerating the process of discovery and cooperation.

Just yesterday, there was a report that the Chinese government had sent a team of experts fresh from levelling off the outbreak in Wuhan, the original COVID-19 epicenter, to Italy, the center of the new epicenter, Europe, to share the lessons from Wuhan. Together with the team was a donation of hundreds of thousands of face masks and testing kits, two key materials in combatting the virus, both of which have been getting scarce in the continent.

And what were the lessons from Wuhan?

The most basic was of course containment—limiting the spread of the disease in as fast and proper a manner as possible.

So a lockdown was imposed, complete with total ban on movements in and out of Wuhan, social distancing, no more handshakes and the like, shutting down of dirty markets and malls, suspension of classes, ban on social gatherings and good, old sanitation procedures such as washing of the hands and use of disinfectants and sanitizers.

On top of all these, there was total mobilization of resources: Medical personnel and supplies, equipping and designating COVID-19 hospitals including the building of makeshift ones, use of gyms, public halls and other places to admit patients and undertake massive testing. As of this writing, only one COVID-19 patient was recorded in Wuhan for the day. Compare that with the thousands a day when the virus was first reported in that city.

Now, China, through the government or some prominent Chinese businessmen like Jack Ma, has shared not just the lessons but the resources needed to combat the virus and level up the global pandemic to a more manageable and less fearsome presence.

Appreciating...

From A4 book “Silver Linings: 25 Years of the 1986 People Power Revolution,” and “Tagaligtas: A Documentary on the Spercial Action Force” (long before the Mamasapano massacre happened) in eight key cities in the United States to promote Filipino values and instill patriotism to the Fil-Ams in time for the Independence Day celebration.

In spite of the debilitating pain on his back and leg when he injured himself in San Diego, California while doing his usual crunch with some Fil-Ams, FVR, who was very well beyond his years, withstood the pain and committed to continue the eightcity tour to Atlanta, Georgia, Washington D.C., Virginia, New Jersey and New York without any complaints or grievance. Beyond the pain, the show must go on. Such a kindred and brave soul and he taught the Pilipinas Roadshow Team a lesson or two on pain management, mind over matter, professionalism and honoring one’s commitment.

Through the years that I’ve known him, the many young and not so old writers that have been involved with the book projects have also seen the other human side of FVR—comical, witty and a tad bit serious when needed. I recall when he shook the hands of one lady writer and FVR feigned sickness to the lady writer's great concern.

Obviously, he was just joking. Such incidents would make most of them wonder how at his age, he still continues to work and contribute to nation building with his wealth of ideas, wisdom and experience.

Unfortunately, for the many national leaders who came after him both in the executive and legislative, they didn’t seem to take the golden opportunity of tapping his vast reservoir of wisdom and experience, particularly in the areas of good governance and global diplomacy.

I believe that FVR is one of the greatest Philippine Presidents this country ever had, being a historian and eyewitness to Philippine history over the last 50 years.

Having served as 12th President of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998, FVR is best remembered for promoting the principles of people empowerment, a culture of excel-

Of course, some people and sectors continue to suggest that China, being an authoritarian state, can do all of these things in the manner it did. That should not even be an issue. What was clear from the reports of how China and, Singapore, South Korea and Japan, was the fact that their citizens came together as one at a time of great danger to the entire nation in a show of patriotism, discipline and caring. These virtues and values are embedded in peoples and nations and the form of governments they have. It is called humanity or, as my English professor said, humanness. This is the one thing which gave them the impetus to move forward as a people. And this is the one thing which is now moving peoples and countries worldwide as we all do battle against COVID-19.

On silver linings behind COVID-19 This is the one thing which moved res residents in one Italian city to call on their neighbors to get out and sing to shock the community out of the gloom; to say that there is hope, to say that it is not the end of days if only we listen to the experts, be disciplined and do our share and pray for succor and grace in these trying times. *** We are in this together and we should simply be good persons. That’s it. This is probably the one thing which also moved Francis and Heidi, the people behind the E-Commerce organic foods consolidator and delivery service HoneGrown Foods, to offer their services to the Department of Agriculture and some local government units to assist in delivering basic food items like fruits and vegetables to those who do not have the means to go out and buy some food for their families during the lockdown. I am told that aside from their regular customers who are using their app (myorganicfoods@gmail.com) they have extended their service to Mandaluyong residents through the city Social Welfare and Development Office and the Office of the Mayor. This is not only a humanitarian gesture but an innovative one.

My friend, Ferdie Pasion, has been telling me for days about an anti-viral injection discovered by two doctor brothers which may be tested as a cure to COVID-19. They call it the Fabunan anti viral injection. I have mentioned this several times over our radio program as we called on Health Secretary Francisco Duque and Senator Bong Go, Chair of the Senate Health Committee and father of the Malasakit Centers, to check this discovery. Who knows, we may just have the cure in our midst. Nothing bad to try this innovation.

There are also a number of discoveries using our traditional medical products and practices which may be useful at this time.

I am told, for example, that somewhere in the Cordilleras there is a plant which the residents use as some sort of a hot drink which prevents them from contracting the flu. These and other discoveries or practices may come handy at this point. Why don’t we try to work on them before the Big Pharma gets wind of these and lets these get stuck in the global pharma jungle?

Caring, learning and innovating are what we need during these trying times.

lence, and global competitiveness, focusing on programs to alleviate poverty and improve the lives of ordinary Filipinos. This is evident in the 229 structural/reform laws enacted by the 9th and 10th Congress during his term, achieved principally by building unity, solidarity and teamwork among government and civil society leaders.

As a soldier who served for 42 years, including stints in Korea, Vietnam and in the counter-insurgency campaign, FVR retired as a four-star General and Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces. He served as Defense Secretary from 1988 to 1991.

As President and thereafter, he is better known as a peace builder with the forging of the peace agreements with the rebel-soldiers in 1995 and with the Moro National Liberation Front in 1996.

The former President who has been in public service since beginning his career as a cadet in the U.S. Military Academy in 1946, continues to practice his distinct brand of public service through the non-government RPDEV Foundation which he and key members of his former Presidential family organized only months after they left office.

His legacy of public service before, during and after his six year presidency are unmatched: West Point honor graduate, Korea and Vietnam War veteran, AFP Vice Chief of Staff, PC-INP Chief, EDSA 1 hero, AFP Chief, Defense Secretary, Philippine President, RPDEV and Boao Forum Chairman, EDSA 2 hero and Senior Statesman.

My only prayer for him is that he lives longer and at 92, I know he still can do more for our beloved Pilipinas. Incidentally, Pilipinas Kong Mahal is his all time favorite patriotic song.

Truly, Fidel V. Ramos has left an endearing legacy to our nation and he continues to give his indelible imprints on patriotism that celebrate a milestone of life, love, learning for his people and service to our beloved Philippines.

I am sure that with the global and national crisis being experienced today with the Chinese Virus (as described by US President Trump instead of COViD 19), FVR will surely tell everyone: KAYA NATIN ITO!!!

Happy birthday FVR! Mr. Velasco is a book publisher and is the biographer of the Ramos family.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EvEryman

DIY strategy for COVID-19

By Philip S. Chua, MD HERE are some medical facts and practical DIY measures to ward off the COVID-19 infection that is now a serious pandemic.

A clean well-ventilated home is our safest sanctuary. Self-quarantine of everyone around the world will help end this pandemic much sooner. A healthy dose of rational fear and paranoia (medical vigilance) will also be beneficial for safety.

Is COVID-19 worse than the flu?

As far as the number of cases and mortality rate are concerned, COVID-19, as of March 16, 2020, 520 PM, GMT, there were 179,223 cases worldwide, with 7,067 deaths. According to the US-CDC report, “during the 2019-2020 Flu season in the USA, more than 26 million have fallen ill with the regular flu, 250,000 hospitalized, and 4,000 died.” These medical data will keep the situation in its proper perspective and prevent panic and chaos, but we must, nonetheless, be ever vigilant and not let down our guard, and adjust/modify our behavior and habits accordingly.

Why are people very scared about this pandemic?

It is normal for people to be scared of the unknown. SARS-CoV2 is a new virus we do not know and for which we do not have immunity, nor a vaccine nor a cure.

Vaccine for the flu does not work for COVID-19. Officially the infection has been designated as COVID-19, the “19” referring to the year it was first detected in Wuhan, Hubei, China. Since the virus is transmitted by respiratory droplets from sneezes and coughs of infected persons, it is easily spread to another person (within six feet), and spreads very fast. A clean well-ventilated home is our safest sanctuary. Self-quarantine of everyone around the world will help end this pandemic much sooner. A healthy dose of rational fear and paranoia (medical vigilance) will also be beneficial for safety.

Can I catch the virus from touching objects, surfaces?

The SARS-CoV2 virus is suspected to survive on surfaces between a few hours up to 9 days. According to CDC, touching packages, letters, other objects from China is safe; “transmissibility of coronaviruses from contaminated surfaces to hands were not found. However, it could be shown with influenza A virus that a contact of 5 [seconds] can transfer 31.6 percent of the viral load to the hands.” More precise data would be forthcoming as scientists learn more about this virus. Again, washing hands after touching any object with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and drying them well, is essential. If water is not available, hand sanitizers would be a good temporary option.

I have no symptoms, could I get tested?

The test is recommended for those with symptoms and those who have or may have been exposed to infected persons. Ask your physician if you should be tested. The COVID-19 testing kits are in great demand and the needs for those who are exposed or with symptoms are still hardly met, just like the masks, so we must all exercise medical wisdom and compassion for those who need the test more urgently. Hypothetically, the only fast and sure way to find out who are infected or are carriers of the virus is to test

the entire population of any city or country, but this is not medically sound nor practical, nor wise, and only a massive waste of resources, with minimal returns, because only about a small fraction of 1 percent of the almost 330 million people in the USA would test positive. Such a result we can even predict at this point with mathematical extrapolation of the current data even without the test.

Who should be quarantined?

Those who have tested positive and those who have been exposed, or if in doubt, should be quarantined. In fighting infectious diseases, isolation is effective in preventing spread, as history has proven, that is why testing is crucial. Among the non-exposed individuals, we could all practice DIY preventive measures like disciplined self-isolation (staying home, avoiding non-essential travels even in our own town), washing our hands and face often (even after touching money), not touching our face, greeting with a “Hi” instead of a handshake, not touching door knobs, handrails, counters, surfaces, with our bare hands, avoiding crowds, and distancing ourselves from people, especially those who cough or look sickly. Repeat: A clean well-ventilated home is our safest sanctuary. Self-quarantine of everyone around the world will help end this pandemic much sooner. A healthy dose of rational fear and paranoia (medical vigilance) will also be beneficial for safety.

When will the test kits be available?

Test kits are now available but still in limited quantity. President Trump, who recently declared a national emergency, has met with the leaders of the business sectors and drug companies, urging them to expedite production of the test kits, mask, respirators, etc.. The US government now has $50 billion dollars available for us to fight this pandemic and help the people in various ways amidst this crisis The test is free for all persons, when prescribed by their physician. Many drive-up locations are now performing the oral swab test, through car windows, to minimize exposure. Watch the global, national, and local news about this pandemic every day. Testing is vital to contain the spread.

Do sesame oil, coconut oil, olive oil, kill the virus?

No, there is no evidence that any of these oils or any salve, liniment, cream, or ointment kill the SARS-CoV2 virus. Vinegar (Acetic Acid, 5 percent) and alcohol (at least 60 percent) are good disinfectants for countertops, other surfaces, but not for skin application. Lysol and chlorine (bleach) solution are also effective but toxic to humans for long term use. Eating garlic, alcohol body rub (dangerously toxic), gurgling solutions of any kind do not prevent COVID-19.

Does handwashing kill the virus?

A 20-second handwash with soap and water will greatly protect people from getting infected. Handwashing frequently after waking up, going to the bathroom, before and after eating, is an essential habit to develop, even in the absence of any epidemic or pandemic. It is most important to DRY your hands after washing, because viruses, bacteria, fungus, and mold all love moisture.

Does UV light kill viruses?

The UV-C light (Not UV-A and UV-B)

The economic...

From A4 an 82 percent recovery rate. Eight of every ten people afflicted recover. So we have no reason to panic—except for seniors like me, or people with hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer. The latter group, a fourth of them would die if attacked by the virus.

However, overall, compared with previous outbreaks, COVID-19 is not that deadly. Only one percent to 3.8 percent of patients die from COVID-19. Compare that fatality rate to 10 percent for SARS, 34 percent MERS, and 50 percent Ebola. SARS and MERS are also coronaviruses. Seasonal flu has a kill rate of only 0.05 percent.

The logic behind the Luzon lockdown is to avoid the spread of coronavirus which is very aggressive in growing, exponentially, as they say. And to minimize, if not avoid, deaths.

China has a population of 1.4 billion. Only 81,051 fell victim to

The I.D. From A4 years of enduring unfounded fears from the vociferous Left who use the right to privacy as masquerade for the hide-and-seek status of their cadres and sympathizers.

Yet up to the present, even as a watered-down Philippine Identification System Act (R.A. 11055) was signed into law

by President Duterte as far back as Aug. 6, 2018, it has not been implemented.

That national I.D. is still in the realm of dreams. As far as I am told, they are still quibbling about the security features in crafting the terms of reference for bidding out the millions of cards.

We have also passed, principally authored by former Senator JV Ejercito, a Universal Health Care Law. Yet the Philippine Health Insurance System is still mired in so many internal financial problems that

is used routinely in hospitals for sterilizing empty rooms (operating room, ICU, etc.) and in medical/dental offices to sterilize instruments. UV lights in general are harmful to the skin and the eyes. UV-C SterileTote is available at steriletote@hotmail. com This zippered bag is used to sterilize CPAP mask, tubing, children’s bib, toys, cellphones, tablets, toothbrush, combs, and any item that would fit in the bag, which automatically shuts off in five minutes. It is an excellent device for homes in our battle against germs. Columbia University lab is developing a “far-UVC” lamp that is not harmful to humans and pets, which could be used anywhere, like a mosquito zapper lamp, to sterilize rooms daily (to kill viruses, bacteria, molds and fungi) even with people in them.

I heard blood transfusion helps; what is it?

While waiting for the vaccine and cure for COVID-19, Dr. Arturo Casadevall, an immunologist at Johns Hopkins, is working on a century-old serum therapy used in the 1918 flu pandemic, in the 1934 measles outbreak, and during the 2002 SARS pandemic. The principle is to collect blood from COVID-19 survivors, clean the serum, which would contain antibodies against the SARS-CoV2 virus, and inject the serum into the newly infected persons and those at high risk of contracting this infection, to boost their immunity and ability to fight COVID-19. This procedure is still being refined.

Should China be held accountable for this pandemic?

The Black Death (Bubonic plague) in Europe (1347 to 1351), which killed 25 million people, originated from China.

The SARS pandemic (November 2002) which infected 26 countries and killed 815, came from Guangdong, China. And now the COVID-19 from Wuhan. There are stories circulating on the internet that the SARS-CoV2 virus probably came from the communist-controlled bio-lab near Wuhan and that a young healthy Chinese physician who worked with the whistleblower in Wuhan, who wanted to warn the world about the nCorona virus infection, was silenced and punished by powers in that sector of China, and later suspiciously “died” of COVID-19. The weeks of delay in the official announcement of the massive epidemic in China made on December 31, 2019 (lately discovered the first case was on November 17, 2019) and China’s obvious intentional lack of transparency and cover-up, has enabled the virus to spread worldwide into a ruinous pandemic. Whether those claims are true or not, and notwithstanding their veracity, it behooves the World Health Organization and the United Nations to conduct a thorough study on China’s health system and all the issues surrounding this COVID-19 pandemic, which has so far killed almost 180,000 people, devastated businesses and national economies in 162 countries, and painfully disrupted billions of lives around the globe.

Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, a Public Health Advocate, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States.

Websites: philipSchua.com and FUN888. com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

COVID-19, with over 3,200 deaths. Divide 81,051 by 1.4 billion Chinese people, you get an affliction rate of 0.0000578. Multiply that affliction rate of 0.0000578 by 109 million (the Philippine population), you get 6,300. Use the WHO fatality ratio of 3.4 percent, you get 214 Filipinos going to die from COVID-19.

The 214 is the number of Filipinos President Duterte is trying to save by locking down and freezing economic activity in Luzon.

Divide the economic cost of P543 billion, and you get P2.53 billion worth of life for each of those 214 going to die.

Now, the average lifespan of the Filipino is 69 years. Of those 69 years, he/she is economically active for 54 years, from age 15 to age 69. The Filipino has a per capita income of P200,000 a year. Multiply that by 54 years. You get P10.8 million. This is what I would call the value of the life of one Filipino—P10.8 million.

Divide P2.53 billion by P10.8 million, you get 234.25. The government, it seems, values each death from COVID-19 at 234 times a Filipino’s useful economic life. Now, that’s malasakit or empathy of the highest order. That’s Duterte. And I admire him for that. biznewsasia@gmail.com

its newly appointed administrator is still trying to untangle.

Now the President is tasking the barangay officials, and rightly so, drawing from his long experience as a city mayor, to be vanguards in the contact tracing and self-isolation effort so essential to the war against the viral contagion.

That is not an easy task. There are barangays with tens of thousands of residents in the National Capital Region, and with no single I.D. system, the barangay chieftains have a daunting responsibility ahead of them. And time is not an ally in this fight.

Every single day, now that the contagion has been long under-reported and exploding so quickly, is a battle in this war.

In the remote areas of Luzon, some barangays are so inaccessible, and many residents may not even have birth certificates captured by our census system. The consolation is that these are also unlikely to have been reached by the contagion.

Extreme measures have had to be under-

taken by the national government in order to contain the affliction that has bedeviled the entire world save Antarctica.

Media, our legislators, and the public will surely seek answers in the near future, when the crisis has abated, from our responsible agencies as to why we were unable to respond in better and quicker fashion.

But this is not the time.

For now, it must be all hands on deck. It is time for solidarity, for discipline, for following orders and guidelines from lawful authority. Time to be a nation in the true sense of the word.

And for our President, for him to contemplate in the midst of a crisis not of his doing in the remotest way, let me quote from J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic: Frodo: “I wish it need not have happened in my time.”

Gandalf: “So do I, and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them (or us) to decide. All we have to do is decide what to do with the time that is given us.”

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LGUs

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020

Pampanga under state of calamity; PamCham calls for workers’ aid

By Jess Malabanan and Romeo Dizon SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga -Governor Dennis Pineda declared Pampanga under a state of calamity shortly after Malacanang issued a directive prohibiting the movement of people across Luzon area amid the threat of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID 19).

Pineda convened the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on Monday after Malacanang issued a memorandum calling for an enhanced community quarantine where movement through land, air and sea are restricted.

SP Resolution 6102 declaring Pampanga under state of calamity was approved by Vice Governor Lilia Pineda on the same day.

The governor was forced to declare the state of calamity to quickly respond to the needs of his constituents in terms of fund release and distribution of food and non-food aid, Pineda said in a statement.

The province has more than two million residents according to the 2015 census. It has three cities and 19 municipalities.

“By declaring the state of calamity, we can access with our calamity fund to be used in purchasing various items essential to affected families,” said Angie Blanco, executive director of the Pampanga Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO).

Meanwhile, the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PamCham) headed by businessman Rene Romero requested entrepreneurs in the province to release the 13th month pay of workers to lessen the economic impact of the presidential order to workers and their families.

NV farmers skip market trip due to virus fears

GEARING UP. A member of the Makati Health Department sanitation team assists a colleague in putting on PPE (personal protective equipment) before proceeding to areas in the city

scheduled for thorough disinfection on Tuesday as part of continuous citywide sanitation drives to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. City health workers, rescue personnel and other frontliners comprising the Makati Incident Management Team have been working round-the-clock since February, when Mayor Abby Binay placed them on high alert status in response to the global health emergency caused by the novel coronavirus.

Makati to procure 5k coronavirus test kits

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE Makati City government is planning to procure some 5,000 units of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) test kits developed by inventors at the University of the Philippines once the kits are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Mayor Abigail Binay announced this during a press conference Tuesday in connection with the measures and health protocols being imposed by the city government to prevent the spread of the deadly disease.

Binay also revealed the City of Makati is

set to receive 5,000 pieces of 3M N95 face masks from an anonymous donor, along with some test kits. She said the masks will be distributed to the city’s frontline health workers and to their counterparts at the Department of Health (DOH).

The city chief executive called on res-

Oca confirms COVID case in Caloocan

By Jun David

idents and establishments to cooperate and comply with the Resolutions and Executive Order No. 10 she and members of the City Council signed and issued to fight community transmission of the virus.

The measures include the closure of shopping malls and other establishments and the imposition of a curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. beginning Monday (March 16).

On Monday night, the Makati City police headed by its commander Rogelio Simon started conducting night patrol security checks in the different barangays to ensure that everybody follows the curfew imposed by the city government.

By Ben Moses Ebreo BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – Farmers in the province have skipped their regular marketing tie-up activities with various partners in Metro Manila due to the growing threat of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Provincial Administrator Maybelle Blossom Dumlao-Sevillena said Nueva Vizcaya farmers are supposed to travel to Metro Manila to sell their products through the Farmers to Consumers (F2C) program.

“Due to the growing number of COVID 19 cases in Metro Manila, our F2C marketing venture was cancelled,” she said.

The F2C, which was forged with the Quezon City government and its Chamber of Commerce, started in 2014 and allows Nueva Vizcaya farmers to sell their products in Quezon City.

The pact has since benefited farmers of the province, as they have also expanded in other marketing areas.

Dumlao-Sevillena said that with the cancellation, the F2C farmers are now selling their products at the provincial capitol grounds in Bayombong town.

“Let us help our farmers who are now selling their products at the Basketball court within the provincial capitol,” she appealed.

Being sold are fruits and vegetables, souvenir items and processed foods, among others.

BORACAY SAFETY. To help ensure the safety and resilience of residents and tourists on Boracay Island, PLDT-Smart Foundation and Smart Communications recently turned over to the Department of Tourism satellite phones for use of local authorities and automated hand sanitizer dispensers. The satellite phones will aid in communication among local and tourism officials. The hand sanitizers, facilitated by Makati Medical Center Foundation, will be installed at public areas to help boost community health efforts and safe travel amid COVID-19 concerns in the Philippines. Present during the turnover were representatives of the organizations led by Tourism Undersecretary Arturo Boncato, PLDT-Smart Foundation president Esther O. Santos, Smart Public Affairs Head for Visayas-Mindanao Maria Jane Paredes, and Makati Medical Center Foundation Executive Director Marge Macasaet Barro.

CALOOCAN Mayor Oscar “Oca” Malapitan confirmed Tuesday that a city government worker has been infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), but that the man “was able to recover and his health improved.”

“It came to my knowledge today according to the DOH (Department of Health) report. Our colleague last visited City Hall on March 3, 2020 or 13 days ago before showing symptoms and being diagnosed as having COVID-19,” Malapitan said in a statement.

As his situation improved, the doctors sent the worker home to help him recover, the mayor said.

“We and the local government can support such an officer and his family in their path today. We make sure our health officials maintain a strong relationship with his for his protection,” he added.

People who have had close contact with the officer have also been identified and advised to self-quarantine based on the rules implemented by the DOH, Malapitan said.

“We also ordered the immediate closure of City Hall and again disinfect the entire building. I also ordered more stringent social distancing implementations,” he said.

Ever since COVID-19 broke out in the country, Caloocan immediately put in place a strict ban on people entering City Hall, the mayor noted.

“We put alcohols in various places and conducted periodic sanitation in offices and places where people go to City Hall to ensure everyone’s safety,” he said.

Caloocan residents “are sure that your local government will continue to serve to prevent further disasters.

Local health officials will continue to provide health advisories and the city’s situation regarding the virus,” the mayor added.

Balanga dispatches disinfection teams against coronavirus BALANGA CITY—The Balanga City government has formed disinfection teams that are continuously sanitizing and disinfecting certain areas of the city as protection against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Mayor Francis Garcia and Vice May-

or Vianca Venzon-Gozon have ordered measures against the disease following the recording of the first case in the province last Friday.

The city officials immediately implemented two executive orders issued by Gov. Abet Garcia containing guidelines

to prevent the spread of the virus in the province.

The areas of St. Joseph Cathedral, Plaza Mayor de Balanga, Barangay Dona Francisca playground, city public market, city hall main building, and city hall annex have been disinfected.

Public and private educational institutions, barangay halls, daycare centers, and rural health units are continuously being sanitized.

Each of the disinfection teams is composed of personnel from the Community Environment and Natural Resources

Dentists unveil ‘oral mural’ in San Pablo City

Present at the unveiling of the first ‘oral mural’ are Philippine Dental Association President Dr. Stephen B. Almonte, Dr. Fernando See, HOD Pro Tempore; Dr. Annelyn E. Bagon, Project Chairperson; Dr. Blesilda Adriano-Reyes, City Health Office; and Dr. Angelo Glenn Mercado, Council of Past President Representative PDA SPCC. Roy Tomandao

SAN PABLO CITY—The Philippine Dental Association-San Pablo City Chapter recently unveiled the first “oral mural” led by chapter president Dr. Jeffrey M. Sumague and PDA Pro Tempore and SPCC Past President Dr. Totoy See. The mural features “Seven Guides to Correct Brushing,” “Tooth Decay Not OK,” “Sugar Away Prevent Tooth Decay,” “Say No To Fake Braces” and “#UniteForMouthHealth” the theme of World Oral Health Day on March 20.

These artworks will provide awareness of citizens’ proper guidance on what to do about their dental care, avoiding sugary foods that cause tooth decay and the harmful effects of fake braces, Sumague said.

Additionally, it encourages people to visit the dentist every six months to check the condition of their mouth and teeth.

The unveiling was attended by PDA

President Dr. Stephen B. Almonte, with the full support of Dr. Fernando See, HOD Pro Tempore; Dr. Annelyn E. Bagon, Project Chairperson; Dr. Blesilda Adriano-Reyes, City Health Office Representative, and Dr. Angelo Glenn Mercado, of the Council of Past President Representative PDA SPCC. PDA members and other dentists also went on a fun run around the lake with the theme “Running Together Towards Good Oral Health.”

According to Almonte 77 percent of Filipinos do not visit dentists, and 70 percent have periodontal disease, so they are calling for their advocacy to be made available to all.

Fake braces, the dentists warned, can cause diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis when mouths are infected. Plus, the teeth can fall out, and fake dentists can be finely punctured. Roy Tomandao

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

World

Standard

TODAY

IN BRIEF S&P cuts Boeing’s rating NEW YORK―Credit ratings agency S&P on Monday downgraded its rating for aircraft manufacturer Boeing due to the grounding of the 737 MAX and the coronavirus pandemic.

“Boeing’s cash flows for the next two years are going to be much weaker than we had expected, due to the 737 MAX grounding, resulting in worse credit ratios than we had forecast,” S&P said in a statement.

“In addition, the significant reduction in global air travel due to the coronavirus will likely result in an increase in aircraft order deferrals, further pressuring cash flows.”

It lowered its rating for the company to BBB from A-.

The MAX has been grounded for the past year after two crashes that killed 346 people, spawning numerous lawsuits and investigations.

Boeing estimates that the MAX crisis will cost it at least $18.7 billion, which caused its debt to explode to $27 billion as of December 31, 2019.

“It’s critical for any company to preserve cash in challenging periods,” Boeing Chief Executive David Calhoun wrote in a message to workers last week. AFP

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020

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CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Chile, Peru close borders, flights M ONTEVIDEO— Chile and Peru announced a total closure of their borders on Monday while Latin America’s largest airline said it was reducing operations by 70 percent as the region scrambled to stem the rapidly-spreading coronavirus pandemic.

Latin America has registered more than 800 cases and seven deaths, according to an AFP count, after the Dominican Republic became the latest nation to report a fatality.

“We’ve decided to close all our country’s terrestrial, maritime and aerial borders for the transit of foreigners,” said Chile’s President Sebastian Pinera.

The announcement came as Chile revealed on Monday its number of coronavirus cases had more than doubled since Sunday to 155.

Peru followed suit soon afterwards with President Martin Vizcarra announcing a two-week border closure from midnight, while Colombia announced it would close its borders until May 30.

Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay confirmed partial border closures.

Paraguay also imposed overnight curfews.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced late Monday that his country would enter “collective quarantine.”

Latam Airlines said it was reducing operations by 70 percent, just four days after already cutting back by 30 percent.

“If these unprecedented travel restrictions increase... we’re not ruling out being forced to decrease our operations even more,” said the airline’s vice-president Roberto Alvo.

Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador bucked the trend, saying he would not ban public gatherings or stop greeting people with “hugs” until public health officials said otherwise.

Chile rolled out a number of coronavirus control measures as the central bank slashed interest rates by 75 basis points to 1.0 percent.

The move failed to stop the Santiago stock exchange closing down 14 percent, its worst fall in three decades.

Regional stocks were battered as the Sao Paulo exchange lost almost 14 percent, Buenos Aires fell nearly 10 percent and Colombia plummeted more than 15 percent.

Brazil’s currency fell below $0.20 for the first time ever, prompting an emergency government investment of almost 150 billion reals ($27.5 billion) into the economy.

Chile’s closed borders caused a problem for a quarantined cruise ship in the country’s deep south.

More than 200 passengers and crew aboard the Silver Explorer in the remote port of Caleta Tortel are in lockdown after six people tested positive for coronavirus.

Health authorities want to evacuate the other passengers back to their home countries, but may need special permission.

Cuba said it was allowing a British cruise ship to dock despite five people on board testing positive for COVID-19 and nearly 40 others in isolation with flu-like symptoms.

“We are working around the clock to

arrange evacuation flights from Cuba to the UK as soon as possible for passengers on the Braemar cruise ship,” a British foreign ministry spokesman said.

Cuba is also sending specialist doctors to Nicaragua to help the central American country treat COVID-19 patients.

Ecuador, which has seen 58 cases and two deaths, banned tourists from the Galapagos Islands on Monday while authorities in Rio de Janeiro used megaphones to order people at the beach to go home.

Rio’s Flamengo football club, the reigning Copa Libertadores champions, revealed that their Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus is the latest sports star to have tested positive for the virus.

The city’s famous Christ the Redeemer statue was also closed to the public.

Honduras announced a week-long lockdown to prevent people from going to work, using public transport or taking part in religious activities.

The Argentine government announced work exemptions for public and private employees of non-essential sectors, as well as parents with schoolage children. AFP

50 Boko Haram jihadists killed

NIAMEY, Niger―Fifty fighters of Nigeria’s Islamist group Boko Haram were “neutralized” during an overnight clash in the southeast of neighboring Niger, the government said on Monday.

The defense ministry said “heavily armed terrorist elements of Boko Haram riding aboard around 20 vehicles” attacked a military post in Toummour, in the conflict-wracked Diffa region.

The assailants were repelled in a “spontaneous riposte”, the ministry said, giving a provisional casualty toll of one soldier wounded and 50 Boko Haram fighters killed.

Reinforcements from the Special Intervention Battalion joined the chase to the shores of Lake Chad, the statement said, adding that “several suspects” were captured along with two vehicles and many weapons.

The region abutting Nigeria and Chad has repeatedly suffered attacks since 2015 by the Boko Haram jihadist group, which has bases hidden in the vast Lake Chad area, where the borders of Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria converge.

They had subsided since late last year, but on March 7 Boko Haram fighters, also aboard around 20 vehicles, launched raided another army position, in Chetima Wango, leaving eight soldiers dead and three missing. AFP

Bank robbery suspect extradited

SINGAPORE―A suspect in a rare Singapore bank robbery is set to face charges in the Asian city-state after four years avoiding extradition to the country as he attempted to reach his native Canada, authorities said Tuesday.

Singapore police and the country’s public prosecutor said in a joint statement that David James Roach had been sent back by Britain after being detained there in 2018 en route to Canada.

His arrest followed an earlier spell in a Thailand jail on charges related to carrying stolen cash after Roach initially fled Singapore for Bangkok in 2016, the statement said.

Thai authorities refused to send him to Singapore as the countries do not have an extradition treaty.

He is scheduled to be charged in court later Tuesday with robbery and money laundering related to allegations that he stole Sg$30,000 ($22,000) from a Standard Chartered bank branch after strolling in and presenting a threatening note.

In a bid to get its extradition request approved, Singapore agreed to a demand from London that Roach not face corporal punishment if convicted.

Floggings with a heavy rattan cane, a legacy of British colonial rule, are a common punishment in Singapore, and convicted bank robbers face a minimum penalty of six strokes as well as at least two years in jail. AFP

PERFORMANCES CANCELED. A worker stands atop the roof of the Sydney Opera House in Sydney on March 17, 2020.

The management of the iconic building on March 17 announced the cancellation of all public performances until March 29, based on the latest health advice and developments in the evolving COVID-19 coronavirus situation.

AFP

PROTECTION.

Thai Muslim students wear face masks donated by a school official as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus during a ceremony at Attarkiah Islamic School in Thailand’s southern province of Narathiwat on March 17, 2020. AFP

ERRATUM

US survivalists prepped for collapse MATHIAS-The narrow, worn track in West Virginia, close to the foothills of the Appalachians, leads to a camp set back in the woods, where a group of US survivalists began preparing for the collapse of civilization long before the arrival of the new coronavirus that has brought so much of the world to a halt.

Boxes full of family-size tins of food, bags of freeze-dried victuals that can last up to 25 years, rice, flour... the survivalists did not wait for the wave of panic-buying that has emptied shelves across the country: their provisions were already neatly stacked up in a bunker made of reinforced concrete and dug a meter (yard) into the ground.

Ever-ready, they even have ample supplies of two of the most sought-after commodities in the jittery country: toilet paper and face masks.

“It’s worth a lot of money now!” joked Steve Rene, presenting the 100-acre site that he manages as though it were a holiday camp. Which it kind of is.

The Fortitude Ranch’s motto embraces both End Times and more normal times: “Prepare for the Worst... Enjoy the Present!” Members have up to two weeks each year to revel in this rural retreat, enjoying nature, hiking or trout fishing in the appropriately named Lost River.

Friendly and clear-headed, Rene, the manager of the West Virginia site―there is another branch in Colorado―tries from the outset to sweep away the cliches surrounding survivalists, also known as “preppers” for their constant Doomsday preparations.

“It’s not a bunch of crazy people with this idea that tomorrow the world ends,” he said.

“We’re not militaristic. We have no ties with militias, anything like that,” he insisted, although his past military service—he served in Operation Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf in 1991—is evident from the impeccably ironed brown shirt he wears.

Nevertheless, there are lookout posts in all four corners of the property, and there is a high-caliber rifle, capable of stopping an armored vehicle, in the ranch’s living room to convince would-be new recruits of just how seriously the members take this enterprise.

“Desperate people do desperate things,” said the manager, standing among the bare early spring trees.

More than foreign invaders, the survivalists view their main threat as fellow Americans rushing out to steal their provisions if public order collapses as a result of a nuclear or biological weapons strike, an economic implosion, a political uprising, a pandemic or a mix of any of the above. AFP

Ohio orders polls closed over virus WASHINGTON―Ohio health officials ordered the state’s polling stations closed for Tuesday’s Democratic primary, as the governor defied a court ruling and declared a health emergency over coronavirus.

“While the polls will be closed tomorrow, Secretary of State @ FrankLaRose will seek a remedy through the courts to extend voting options so that every voter who wants to vote will be granted that opportunity” at a later date, Governor Mike DeWine said late Monday on Twitter.

Ohio is one of four states-joining Florida, Illinois and Arizona-scheduled to hold primaries featuring Democratic presidential nomination front runner Joe Biden and his leftist rival Bernie Sanders.

Ohio’s emergency action is the sharpest example yet of how the pandemic is upending the US political world, causing unprecedented turmoil in an election year.

DeWine, mindful of the rapidly escalating crisis with coronavirus that has already left about 70 people dead in the United States, called Monday for postponement of the primary and said a lawsuit was filed in an effort to ensure the delay.

When an Ohio court rejected the request, DeWine and his administration stepped in and ordered the polls closed.

Holding an election under current conditions “would force poll workers and voters to place themselves at an unacceptable health risk of contracting coronavirus,” he said.

The decision came barely eight hours before polls were to open across the industrial Midwestern state.

All ballots already submitted by mail or by early voting will count whether or not the election day is switched, officials said. AFP

In the RTC-QC, Br. 101 re: ROBINSONS BANK CORPORATION, plaintiff, published on March 4, 2020 the ffg. should have read as follows and not as published.

THE CHUAN CHOW SOY & CANNING COMPANY, INC./BENITA O. CHUA/VICTOR O. CHUA/MARY O. CHUA in their personal capacities and as officers, Directors and Stockholders / MAYNARD TIMOTHY CHUA in his capacity as Director and Stockholder, Defendants.

In the Complaint: Civil Case No.: R-QZN-17-08210-CV; For Sum of Money In the Complaint: Item No. 2: “…where it may be served with summons, notices and other court processes…”

In the Complaint: Item No. 13: “Copies of the above-mentioned Promissory Notes are attached hereto as Annexes “F”, “F-1” to “F-11”.

Our apology.

Republic of the Philippines National Capital Judicial Region METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT Quezon City Branch 40 -forBranch 138 ROMEO N. MARCIAL Plaintiff, -versus-

CIVIL CASE NO. 19-07666-CV - For Damages

SPS. DANTE ROMERO MASAMOC AND SIMEONA ESPERA-MASAMOC Defendants. x----------------------------------------x

ORDER In today’s hearing of the Motion with Leave of Court to Serve Alias Summons by Publication, both plaintiff Romeo N. Marcial and his counsel Atty. Gary S. Baluyot are present in Court.

Finding said motion to be well-taken for the reason stated therein, the said Motion is hereby GRANTED. ACCORDINGLY, let an Alias Summon be issued. Plaintiff is directed to cause the service of summons by publication, together with a copy of this Order, in a newspaper of general circulation for at least two (2) consecutive weeks, at his own expense.

SO ORDERED. Given in open Court, Quezon City, 11 October 2019.

(Sgd.) KRISTINE GRACE L. SUAREZ Assisting Judge Copy Furnished: Atty. Gary S. Baluyot Baluyot Law Office Lot 2 J.P. Ramoy St., Barangay Talipapa Novaliches, 1116 Quezon City Sps. Dante Romero Masamoc and Simeona Espera-Masamoc Block 9 Lot 4 Windsor Mansions Buhay na Tubig, Imus, Cavite 4103

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT BRANCH XL (40) – QUEZON CITY ROMEO N. MARCIAL Plaintiff, -versus-

CIVIL CASE NO. 19-07666-CV SUMMONS (Ordinary Civil Case)

SPS. DANTE ROMERO MASAMOC and SIMEONA ESPERA-MASAMOC Defendant/s. x-------------------------------------------------x TO : SPS. DANTE ROMERO MASAMOC and SIMEONA ESPERA-MASAMOC --Block 9 Lot 4 Windsor Mansions Buhay Na Tubig, Imus, Cavite 4103 GREETINGS: You are hereby required to file with this Court, METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT, BRANCH XL (40), Quezon City, located at Rm. 336, 3rd Floor, Hall of Justice, Diliman, Quezon City, within FIFTEEN (15) days after service of this Summons upon you, and serve upon the plaintiff, your ANSWER to the Complaint, copy of which is attached, together with the annexes. If you fail to answer within the time fixed, the plaintiff will take judgment by default and maybe granted the relief applied for in the complaint.

WITNESS the HON. KRISTINE GRACE L. SUAREZ/Assisting Judge of this Court.

Quezon City, Metro Manila September 1, 2019.

(Sgd.) PACIENCIA C. RODRIGUEZ OIC/Clerk of Court (MStandard - Mar. 11 & 18, 2020)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor

sports@manilastandard.net

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

A8

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020

Tiger Woods

Tiger urges all to be ‘safe, smart’ LOS ANGELES—Golf superstar Tiger Woods tweeted a simple message Monday in his first public comments on the coronavirus pandemic put his Masters title defense on indefinite hold.

“There are a lot more important things in life than a golf tournament right now,” Woods said in a Twitter post.

“We need to be safe, smart and do what is best for ourselves, our loved ones and our community.”

Woods won his 15th major title at the Masters last April, ending an 11-year major drought after a marriage-ending scandal and career-threatening injuries.

But golf has been no exception as the sports world has ground to a virtual halt in the midst of the global coronavirus pandemic, and Augusta National Golf Club announced last week that the 2020 Masters would not take place April 9-12.

The US PGA Tour had already cancelled a string of tournaments leading up to the Masters.

And it looked like the sports shutdown would continue for some time after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Sunday recommended cancelling or postponing “large gatherings” of 50 or more people for eight weeks.

As the cancellations unfolded last week, Woods was already sidelined. He opted to skip the Players Championship —which was abruptly halted after one round because of coronavirus concerns —with a stiff back.

“I have to listen to my body and properly rest when needed,” Woods tweeted before the Players. “My back is simply just not ready ...” AFP

NFL cancels vegas events; draft to go on LOS ANGELES—The NFL will hold its annual draft next month as scheduled but the coronavirus outbreak has forced cancellation of public events due to take place around the three-day spectacle in Las Vegas, the league said in a statement on Monday.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the league would televise the April 23-25 draft as per usual but there would be no events for the public in Las Vegas.

The announcement came a day after several Las Vegas casinos and hotels on the city’s main strip announced they were shuttering as part of efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“This decision reflects our foremost priority – the health and safety of all fans and citizens,” said Goodell.

The NFL draft has become a major part of the American football calendar, and usually attracts hundreds of thousands of fans to the city chosen to host the event.

The draft is the latest event to fall victim to the deadly coronavirus pandemic, which has ground all major sports in the United States and Canada to a standstill.

In a separate development on Monday, the NFL and NFL Players Association announced that team pre-season activities due to get under way next month would also be delayed.

The NFL is also taking steps to protect players and team officials during the free agency period which begins on Wednesday.

DENR WARRIORS DONATE P4M PRIZE TO ENVI HEROES FOUNDATION. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources Warriors celebrate their first cham-

pionship title in the recently concluded UNTV Cup League of Public Servants, an annual charity basketball league, held on March 9 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. The Warriors donated their P4M prize to the Environmental Heroes Foundation, Inc., their chosen beneficiary. Former Chief Justice and chair of the EHFI Reynato S. Puno (second from left, front row), thanked the team for the donation which will help families and relatives of DENR heroes who lost their lives to protect the environment. Others in photo are DENR officials Undersecretary for Solid Waste Management and Local Government Units Concerns Benny D. Antiporda and Undersecretary for Attached Agencies Rodolfo C. Garcia (1st and 2nd from right, respectively), and Assistant Secretary for Enforcement Daniel Darius M. Nicer (2nd from left).

No deadline for Olympic decision, says IOC’s Coates S

YDNEY—The International Olympic Committee’s point man for the Tokyo Games has insisted there’s no deadline to call off the event and that it was still going ahead as planned.

John Coates, chairman of the Tokyo coordination commission, was speaking before his return from Switzerland to Australia, where he is facing a mandatory two-week quarantine.

The Lausanne-based IOC is set for emergency talks Tuesday as doubts grow over whether it remains feasible to hold the Games during the coronavirus emergency, with world sport largely grinding to a halt.

Senior IOC member Dick Pound suggested last month that a final call would be made by late May. But Coates, who is also president of the Australian Olympic committee, disputed the timeline.

“The IOC didn’t recognize any dates that Dick came up with and I think Dick

backed off that as well,” he told Tuesday’s Sydney Morning Herald. “It’s all proceeding to start on the 24th of July.

“It’s never been the IOC’s position. It was Dick’s idea,” he added of the apparent deadline. “There is four months to go.”

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach have repeatedly insisted preparations should continue as scheduled even as the virus scare intensifies.

The IOC’s executive board is due to meet via conference call to prepare an “information exchange” ahead of a series of talks with athletes’ representatives, National Olympic Committees and International Federations.

The issue of qualifying is expected to be a particular focus of the telephone meeting, after a long list of events were called off.

“The difficulty for those who have qualified or will qualify is they won’t get any more international competition,” admitted Coates, who said it will also be difficult to get athletes into Japan without further spreading coronavirus.

“Japan has got some restrictions on athletes but I know that the Chinese are probably the best organized,” he said.

“The Chinese are in various parts of Europe and the last I heard is they’re bringing them all together in a university in Paris where they’ll be fully contained, 600 of them.

“They will go straight from confinement there, straight into Japan. They won’t put anyone on a plane who has got coronavirus.”

Coates will go into a two weeks’ isolation on his return home after Australia imposed strict travel rules to counter the spread of the virus. AFP

Diaz to continue training in Malaysia

By Peter Atencio OLYMPIAN Hidilyn Diaz will continue training in a bid to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The three-time Olympian said this following the cancellation of a qualification event in Colombia yesterday.

The 29-year-old Diaz, who is in the thick of training in Kuala Lumpur, explained that she and her support group called off their trip to Cali, Colombia, where they were to see action in the 2020 Ibero-America Open and Open Senior Weightlifting Championships.

Because of the threats posed by the coronavirus pandemic worldwide, Colombia has issued a travel ban to foreigners traveling to the country, thereby delaying Diaz’s bid to seek more points needed to qualify for the Olympics.

Because of the global spread of the Coronavirus and travel restrictions implemented by many countries around the world, the Columbian Weightlifting Federation announced yesterday that it has decided to postpone the South American, Ibero-American & OPEN Senior Championships, that was due to be held from March 18 to 23 in Cali, Colombia.

“There are things we can’t control and we can’t do anything, the effects of COVID-19 is something unimaginable. Most of my Olympic Qualification events are postponed or cancelled, due to the travel ban, city lockdown and country lockdown,” said Diaz in a message.

The IWF said in its website that a new date of the competition will be announced as soon as possible.

“Panic, fears and frustration are controlling us right now. I was supposed to have my flight today going to Colombia to compete at the Ibero-America Open Championships 2020 for my final Olympic Qualifying competition but we didn’t

Hidilyn Diaz

push through because of the travel ban in Colombia,” said Diaz.

Diaz, who was born and raised on Zamboanga City, said this will not stop her from seeking out her goal.

“As an athlete we don’t stop when we fail once, even twice. The most important thing is we do our best and at the end of the day and we won’t regret anything,” said the 4’11” Diaz, who is seeking her fourth stint in the Olympics.

Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella said: “Hidilyn and her group will continue training in Malaysia,” while their await word from the IWF. “I will remain focused and determined to improve every single day together with #TeamHD, who prepared me and sacrificed a lot to represent God and Philippines well in Olympics,” added Diaz, who is training with Chinese mentor Kaiwen Gao and strength and condi-

tioning coach Julius Naranjo.

Diaz was supposed to compete in the Asian Championship in Kazakhstan, but the organizers begged off because of the health situation. Uzbekista also declined to host it.

Diaz is currently ranked no. 5 in in the world in the 55kg women’s category with 3,717.0982 points.

She is behind Chinese lifters in Jiang Huihua (4,667.8878), Liao Qiuyun (4,288.9622), Zhang Wangqiong (4,212.6639) and Li Yajun (4,099.0223).

Under the IWF rules, only one weightlifter per country will advance to the Tokyo Olympics, where only the top eight athletes per category will earn Olympic spots.

Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Kristel Macrohon, Rio Olympic veteran Nestor Colonia, Eileen Ando, John Ceniza and Hidilyn’s sister Mary Flor Diaz are also seeking Olympic qualifying berths.

Task force suspends 3 boxing qualifiers OFFICIALS of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines are keenly awaiting developments after the International Olympic Committee Boxing Task Force decided yesterday to suspend three Olympic qualifiers.

Among those that were called off because of the threats posed by the coronavirus pandemic are the European qualifiers that were supposed to be held in London from March 14 to 16, the Americas qualifiers between May and June in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the final world qualifiers in Paris, France.

Safeguarding the well-being of the athletes, officials and all other participants is a top priority for the BTF. “Since the preparation phase of the event, the BTF has been working in close cooperation with the Local Organizing Committee—the delivery body of the competition—as well as its stakeholders, its own medical experts and the national health authorities, to set up the necessary precautionary measures,” said the BTF in a statement.

The ABAP was hoping to send more qualifiers to Paris and after two of the six boxers it sent two weeks ago in Asian qualifiers in Amman, Jordan earned qualifications seats.

“The BTF eventually took the decision to suspend the event today, amid increasing global travel restrictions and quarantine measures, in order to allow the participants from over 60 countries to adjust their travel plans and return home,” added the IOC Task Force in their statement.

The BTF will continue to evaluate the situation daily and will seek to to complete the distribution of the remaining Tokyo 2020 boxing quota places in May and June.

The Task Force added that its priority remains the qualification of athletes on the field of play and it will inform all stakeholders as soon as more information is available.

So far, middleweight Eumir Marcial and women’s flyweight Irish Magno made it to the Tokyo Olympics, joining early qualifiers pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena and gymnast Carlos Yulo.

Marcial made it past the quarterfinals and put away Abilkhan Amankul of Kazakhstan via a split decision victory on Wednesday evening in Amman, Jordan.Peter Atencio

IN BRIEF

SEC issues rules on video meetings

THE Securities and Exchange Commission issued the guidelines that will enable companies to conduct meetings through teleconferencing, video conferencing and other remote or electronic means of communications amid the outbreak of the new coronavirus disease 2019.

The guidelines, issued through SEC Memorandum Circular No. 6, Series of 2020 on March 12, immediately took effect upon approval of the SEC en banc.

Based on the guidelines, the SEC will already allow corporations to conduct meetings through remote communication or other alternative modes only for the purpose of approving the provisions in their bylaws or internal procedures, which will govern participation in board meetings and stockholders’ and members’ meetings through remote communication or other alternative modes.

“The guidelines support the president’s declaration of a state of public health emergency throughout the Philippines to contain the outbreak of the new coronavirus disease, COVID-19,” SEC Chairperson Emilio Aquino said.

“Aside from allowing directors, trustees, stockholders or members to participate in meetings through remote communication to minimize face-to-face interactions, the commission encourages corporations to explore and implement all necessary measures to prevent the further spread of COVID-19,” he said. Jenniffer B. Austria

Business

Grab resumes delivery services

GRAB Philippines on Tuesday resumed its delivery services to serve the essential needs of the public amid the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019.

“Upon careful assessment of the situation on ground and after discussing with our regulators, we have resumed GrabFood and GrabExpress operations as of 1:30 p.m. March 17, with skeletal delivery-fleet,” Grab said in a statement.

Grab said the decision was made to support the food establishments that would continue to operate and maintain continuous flow of goods to serve the essential needs of Filipinos during these trying times.

Delivery-partners are advised to prioritize safety at all costs.

“We will continue to exercise strict safety measures such as contactless delivery, temperature checks, increased cleaning frequency of delivery-bags, and more in cooperation with our merchant-partners,” Grab said.

Grab earlier suspended its Grabcar services in compliance with the Luzon-wide community quarantine imposed by the government to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Darwin G. Amojelar

DOE freezes prices of LPG, kerosene in calamity areas THE Energy Department issued a price freeze on household liquefied petroleum gas and kerosene in areas declared under a state of calamity.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi also called for the cooperation of all government agencies and local government units to ensure the unimpeded delivery of energy services in light of President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of an enhanced quarantine throughout Luzon.

Energy products include fuels such as LPG, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, biofuels, biomass, coal, natural gas and electricity.

The department said these items are basic necessities for the continuous delivery of energy services.

“We need these energy products and services in our fight against COVID-19.

Energy provides the services required by our food, communication and medical industries,” the department said.

The price freeze for household LPG and kerosene covers Quezon City (March 13 to March 27), Las Piñas City (March 24 to March 28), San Juan City, Pasay City and Manila City (March 15 to March 29), Cavite province, Porac, Pampanga and the cities of Mandaluyong, Muntinlupa, Marikina, Makati, Pasig and Valenzuela (March 16 to March 30).

“During the price freeze, rollback of prices will be implemented while price increases are strictly prohibited within the 15-day period,” the department said.

The price freeze also covers Cebu City (March 13 to March 27), Iligan City (March 13 to March 27) and Negros province (Negros Oriental Province).

The department earlier issued a memorandum that importation and domestic transportation of fuel such as diesel, fuel oil, natural gas, coal, and lubricants should be allowed and remain unrestricted.

The memorandum stated that importation and domestic transportation of spare parts needed to build, operate and maintain energy infrastructure including energy exploration, development, generation, transmission, distribution, and energy retail should be allowed.

Alena Mae S. Flores

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020

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Moody’s reduces 2020 PH growth forecast to 5.4%

SM donates P100m for hospital frontliners

THE SM Group said it will allocate at least P100 million to help various government hospitals in their fight against the coronavirus disease 2019.

It said in a statement the amount would be used towards providing urgently needed personal protective equipment, COVID-19 test kits, alcohol and other medical supplies to the Philippine General Hospital, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and other hospitals.

This will also increase free testing capacity and ensure the safety of medical frontliners.

SM reached out to Manila Healthtek Inc., the producer of the local test kits developed by the UP-NIH team, to distribute 20,000 tests for free to government hospitals, once approved for use. SM is also working with both PGH and RITM to see how to expand laboratory testing capacity.

“As there is a local shortage of personal protective equipment―face masks, gowns, visors, hoods, gloves and shoe covers, SM is bringing these PPEs in for government hospitals who badly need them,” the group said.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor

REPUBLIC-NESTLE PARTNERSHIP. Republic Cement, a leading construction solutions provider in the country, widens its partnership with Nestlé Philippines, committing to expand plastic waste reduction in the country through their co-processing initiative. Leading the signing ceremony of the expanded partnership for Plastic Neutrality Initiative are Nestlé Philippines chairman and CEO Kais Marzouki (left) and Republic Cement president and chief executive officer Nabil Francis.

Gov’t rolls out P27.1-b economic relief package T

By Julito G. Rada

HE economic team of the Duterte administration rolled out a P27.1-billion package of priority actions to help frontliners fight the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and provide economic relief to people and sectors affected by the slowdown in economic activity.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, who chairs the Duterte Cabinet’s Economic Development Cluster, said the measures in the package were designed to ensure that funding is available for the efforts of the Department

of Health to contain the spread of COVID-19 and provide economic relief to those whose businesses and livelihoods were affected by the spread of the disease.

“As directed by President Duterte, the government will provide targeted and direct programs to guarantee that benefits will go to our workers and other affected sectors. We have enough but limited resources, so our job is to make sure that we have sufficient funds for programs mitigating the adverse effects of COVID-19 on our economy,” he said.

The fiscal support package crafted by President Duterte’s economic team includes the mobilization of an additional P3.1 billion to contribute directly to efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, including the acquisition of test kits.

The funds came from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and the Asian Development Bank.

About P2 billion represents the ini-

tial budget set aside by the Department of Labor and Employment for social protection programs for vulnerable workers, to be used for wage subsidy/ financial support to COVID-affected establishments and workers.

The Social Security System mobilized P1.2 billion to cover unemployment benefits for dislocated workers.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s scholarship programs amounting to P3 billion will support affected and temporarily displaced workers through upskilling and reskilling.

TESDA is also offering free courses for all who would like to acquire new skills in the convenience of their own homes, mobile phones and computers through the TESDA Online Program; Various programs and projects of the Department of Tourism amounting to P14 billion from the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority will support the tourism industry.

GLOBAL debt watcher Moody’s Investors Service on Tuesday cut the 2020 growth forecast for the Philippines to 5.4 percent from a previous estimate of 6.1 percent amid the supply chain disruptions caused by coronavirus disease 2019.

Moody’s said despite the reduction in growth forecast, the Philippines would remain of the strongest economies in the Asia-Pacific region, next only to the 6-percent estimate both for Vietnam and Laos and 7.6 percent for Bangladesh.

Growth estimates for other Asia-Pacific countries are Japan, 0.0 percent; Korea, 1.4 percent; Australia, 1.6 percent; Taiwan, 1.7 percent; Singapore, -0.2 percent; Hong Kong, -3.5 percent; New Zealand, 1.9 percent; China,4.8 percent; India, 5.3 percent; Indonesia, 4.8 percent; Thailand, 1.8 percent; Malaysia, 3 percent; Pakistan, 2.5 percent; Sri Lanka, 2.5 percent; Macao, -20 percent; Cambodia, 4.5 percent; and Mongolia, 1.8 percent.

Moody’s in February trimmed the gross domestic product growth forecast for the Philippines to 6.1 percent from 6.2 percent.

“Dampening of domestic consumption demand in affected countries exacerbates disruptions to supply chains and cross-border trade of goods and services; the longer the disruptions last, the greater the risk of global recession becomes.

Risks skewed to the downside,” Moody’s said in a report.

“A number of governments and central banks have announced countervailing measures, including fiscal stimulus packages, policy rate cuts and regulatory forbearance; however, the effectiveness of policy easing will be blunted by measures to contain the outbreak, and policy space is constrained for some sovereigns,” it said.

It said the new baseline assumed a pullback in consumption and ongoing disruption to production and supply chains in the first half of 2020, followed by a recovery in the second half.

“Risks remain firmly to the downside, including from a much weaker European and American economy than currently assumed. Also, rising rates of infection would drive global sentiment even lower, heightening asset price volatility, and tightening financing conditions, which could snowball into deeper economic contraction,” Moody’s said. Julito G. Rada

Aboitiz Group rosy, bares plan to spend P73b

CANON’S DONATION. In line with its corporate philosophy of Kyosei which enjoins all people to live and work together for the common good into the future, Canon’s four companies in the Philippines and its staff pledge P290,000 to the Philippine Red Cross. The donation is dedicated to Filipinos affected by the Taal volcanic eruption. Showing a replica of the check are (from left) Canon Information Technologies Philippines Inc. president Tsutomu Sazuka, Philippine Red Cross business development manager Jewel Macatangay, Canon Marketing (Philippines) Inc. president and chief executive Kazuhiro Ozawa and Canon Business Process Service Centre Philippines Inc. Moises Bilang.

Meralco, other distributors extend power bill collection by a month

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Energy Regulatory Commission ordered distribution utilities in Luzon to extend by a month the collection of customer bills falling due on March 15 to April 14 following the government’s pronouncement of an enhanced community quarantine for Luzon.

Manila Electric Co. said in response that Meralco bills due March 1 to April 14 were given a 30-day extension from due date.

Meralco also postponed maintenance activity services unless necessary to ensure continuous electricity service during the quarantine period.

ERC also asked generation companies with power supply agreements with the Luzon distribution utilities and contracts with the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, the market operator and NGCP for the transmission charges

“to extend the period of payments of Luzon DUs for 30 days from April 14 without interest and penalties.”

Meanwhile, the operations of the country’s trading floor of electricity or the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market is “business as usual,” the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines Inc. said Tuesday.

“IEMOP shall exhaust all possible effort to maintain the WESM operation with utmost consideration to the safety and security of IEMOP personnel. Should there be force majeure conditions, market intervention shall be declared in accordance with the existing WESM Rules and Procedures,” IEMOP said in a statement.

IEMOP said that in compliance with government guidelines on social distancing and minimizing exposure, it implemented limited work hours for employees, allow-

ing work from home arrangements for the non-critical operations personnel.

“Rest assured that critical functions, such as trading operations, IT, metering, billing and settlements, and financial services, will be properly manned so that WESM operations will not be affected,” IEMOP, the operator of WESM, said.

The management shall also issue Certificate of Employment as proof of the personnel’s employment in IEMOP to ensure his/her entry to Metro Manila.

IEMOP said market advisories will be provided to all trading participants and stakeholders containing status updates on the market operations.

All trading participants, stakeholders, suppliers and other visitors to IEMOP will be entertained at the 16th Floor, Robinsons Equitable Tower, ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center.

ABOITIZ Equity Ventures Inc., the holding company of the Aboitiz Group, said it earmarked P73 billion in 2020 capital expenditures to help keep the economy moving amid uncertainties over coronavirus disease 2019.

“The COVID-19 crisis created a lot of uncertainty, but we believe the Philippine economy can be shielded from further disruptions if the government and private sector focus on areas of collaboration,” AEV president and chief executive Sabin Aboitiz.

The capex represents a 37-percent increase from the P53 billion it spent in 2019.

“The Aboitiz Group will deliver on our commitment to being the best-inclass in our industries. Learning from the challenges we have been experiencing in the past year, we will continue to adhere to global standards of operational excellence,” Aboitiz said.

“We see our businesses very resilient during these times. We provide stable and affordable power to support economic activity. We provide access to capital to entrepreneurs. We participate in government infrastructure projects to help generate jobs and spur economic activity. We provide feeds to farmers and fishermen which they need to grow their livestock,” Aboitiz said.

The company said of the total amount, P41 billion was allocated for Aboitiz Power Corp., up by 17 percent from P35 billion in 2019. About 80 percent of the capex will be used for the completion of GNPower Dinginin Power Plants and other new businesses.

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Business

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020 extrastory2000@gmail.com

G7 members pledge to join forces to protect global economy

W

ASHINGTON―Leaders of the G7 industrial powerhouses pledged Monday to join forces to halt economic freefall in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, which they called “a human tragedy.”

A Lufthansa plane is landing in a front of parking planes from Staralliance and Lufthansa at the airport of Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on March 16, 2020, where air traffic slowed down due to the spread of the novel coronavirus. German airline group Lufthansa on March 16, 2020 announced further drastic cuts to its flying capacity, keeping just a fraction of its flights going as the industry grapples with an unprecedented crisis over the coronavirus pandemic. AFP

Troubled airlines worldwide face bailout or bankruptcy

By Andrew Beatty SYDNEY, Australia―Airlines worldwide face an unprecedented existential threat as the coronavirus shuts down global travel, leaving governments with controversial and costly decisions about which carriers to bail out.

A toxic mix of fear, crippling travel bans and investor panic have pummeled the sector, with demand collapsing and carriers cutting flight capacity by up to 90 percent.

One troubled airline, Britain’s Flybe, has already gone to the wall and market analysts believe many more could follow.

“By the end of May 2020, most airlines in the world will be bankrupt,” market intelligence firm CAPA has warned.

Even before US President Donald Trump effectively barred trans-Atlantic

Crude prices hover below $30 a barrel SINGAPORE―Oil rebounded Tuesday, with investors buying at bargain levels after prices plunged to four-year lows as governments worldwide ramped up measures to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

Analysts said, however, that any recovery in oil prices is likely to be shortlived as travel restrictions and other tough measures rolled out to fight the virus sap demand amid a production glut and price war.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was trading at $29.95 a barrel, up 4.36 percent, in afternoon Asian trade.

International benchmark Brent was up 2.43 percent to $30.78 after crashing more than 10 percent overnight to below $30 a barrel for the first time in four years.

“Presumably, the market is getting supported by physical bargain hunters, but those storage facilities are rapidly filling,” said AxiCorp global chief market strategist Stephen Innes.

But “if storage does fill, quashing that demand, oil prices are sure to collapse further”, he said in a note.

“The global markets will then have to hope that the dispute between Saudi Arabia and Russia is resolved before we reach that point of no return.”

Last week’s price war began after OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia pushed an informal alliance of major crude producers to slash output to combat the impact of the virus outbreak on prices.

But alliance partner and non-OPEC member Russia, the world’s second-biggest oil producer, refused―prompting Riyadh to drive through massive price cuts and pledge to boost production.

IHS Markit said rising production and slumping demand could result in the “most extreme global oil supply surplus ever recorded.”

It estimated that if the price war continues amid a global recession and the coronavirus pandemic, the surplus could range between 800 million and 1.3 billion barrels in the first six months of 2020. AFP

travel, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimated the crisis would cost the industry $113 billion, or nearly 20 percent of its revenue this year.

The true figure now looks like being much higher.

Brendan Sobie, an independent aviation analyst based in Singapore, said the global situation was “unprecedented.”

“You can compare it to things like SARS or the global financial crisis, but I think it goes beyond that. No one really knows how long it will last and what the full impact will be.”

Airlines are now sprinting to slash costs and bolster company war chests where possible―laying off staff, cutting routes, renegotiating deals with suppliers and flying smaller, cheaper-to-run planes.

Australian carrier Qantas has cut international flight capacity by 90 percent and domestic routes by 60 percent. Sim-

ilarly, British Airways is slashing capacity by 75 percent.

Meanwhile, Dutch national airline KLM plans to cut up to 2,000 jobs, the CEO of Delta Air Lines has seen his salary cut to zero, and Lufthansa suspended dividends.

In an internal memo, Malaysia Airlines admitted the company was already in a “critical situation” and urged staff to take voluntary unpaid leave.

“Many airlines are now at risk of going bankrupt and Malaysia Airlines is no different,” chief financial officer Boo Hui Yee wrote.

Enter the taxpayer?

Against this bleak backdrop, previously hushed whispers about government bailouts have become panicked screams for help.

British airlines are said to have asked the government for more than $9 billion in support. AFP

And US President Donald Trump later acknowledged the American economy “may be” headed into a recession.

As the outbreak caused more countries to shut down and brought the global economy to a screeching halt, the leaders stressed the need to join forces and move quickly to address the damage.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is a human tragedy and a global health crisis, which also poses major risks for the world economy,” a joint statement from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States said.

“We resolve to coordinate measures and do whatever it takes, using all policy tools, to achieve strong growth in the G7 economies and to safeguard against downside risks,” the leaders said in a statement following an emergency videoconference.

The measures aim to “support immediately and as much as necessary the workers, companies and sectors most affected,” the statement said.

The G7 likewise said it would work together on “border management” following the drastic curtailment of movement across borders in an effort to slow the spread of the illness.

With market selloffs triggered by mass quarantines and travel restrictions, governments in the world’s wealthiest countries are under pressure to show they can control the situation.

Trump told reporters at the White House the impact could wash through the economy by July or August or it

“could be longer than that.”

But Trump, who frequently uses the stock market as a bellwether of his presidency, said markets could see a “a tremendous surge,” once authorities gain the upper hand in the battle with the virus which he called “an invisible army.”

The G7 leaders instructed their finance ministers to consult weekly to implement policy measures and “develop further timely and effective actions.”

Health ministers will likewise talk weekly to try to coordinate information to the public and medical know-how and equipment.

The G7 leaders noted the disruption to supply chains due to transportation shutdowns, as well as the harm to families.

They called on global institutions like the IMF to “swiftly” deploy financial assistance to countries that need it.

“We are committed to working together with resolve to implement these measures to respond to this global emergency,” the leaders said.

And they added they are “determined not only to restore the level of growth anticipated before the COVID-19 pandemic but also to build the foundation for stronger future growth.”

In Washington, the White House called the videoconference “historic” and said the G7 leaders worked to “accelerate the national health and economic responses to the coronavirus pandemic in order to save lives and restore economic growth.” AFP

Asian markets fluctuate after Wall Street suffers worst day in 3 decades HONG KONG, China—Asian markets fluctuated Tuesday after Wall Street suffered its worst day in more than three decades with coronavirus panic sweeping the planet.

While governments and central banks attempt to soothe markets with massive stimulus pledges and interest rate cuts, more countries are going into lockdown to prevent the outbreak’s spread―bringing the world economy juddering to a halt.

There is a broad consensus that the disease, which has wiped trillions off market valuations, will cause a global recession, with the airline industry among the first in the firing line, leading company heads to plead for billions of dollars in state help to prevent them going under.

“Drastic measures by the Federal Reserve and other central banks have failed to appease markets, with investors still running towards the exit door of risk assets as governments step up their radical measures to contain the COVID-19 outbreak,” said National Australia Bank’s Rodrigo Catril.

The Philippines became the first country to shut down its stock market as the country goes into lockdown, and the bourse will be closed until further notice.

Sydney rose 5.8 percent, a day after crashing 9.7 percent in its worst day on record.

But after an early advance, the rest of Asia swung in and out of positive territory through the day.

Tokyo ended up 0.1 percent after a roller-coaster session, Hong Kong

added 0.4 percent in the afternoon and Mumbai rose 0.8 percent, while Bangkok was slightly higher.

But Shanghai slipped 0.3 percent, while Jakarta sank more than four percent. Seoul, Taipei and Singapore were all down.

Wellington dipped despite New Zealand becoming the latest country to announce monetary support, unveiling a US$7.3 billion package of measures.

That was followed later Tuesday by a 45 billion euro ($50 billion) aid pledge

by France for its businesses.

Wall Street indices collapsed Monday in their worst day since 1987, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq dropping about 12 percent and the Dow sinking nearly 13 percent. US futures rallied Tuesday.

“The message from markets is that

as much as monetary stimulus is a welcome move, lowering the price of borrowing and increasing liquidity are not enough,” added Catril.

“The required COVID-19 measures are hampering the global economy and with activity grinding to a halt, governments need to step in and provide support. Markets are crying out for more fiscal backing.”

Heads of the Group of Seven leading economies pledged to “do whatever it takes” to protect the economy, while US President Donald Trump acknowledged the world’s largest economy “may be” headed into recession.

However, he added that the crisis should wash through the economy by August, after which there would be a “tremendous surge in the stock market.” AFP

Las Vegas grinds to halt as several big casinos shut doors over virus

By Javier Tovar LOS ANGELES―Slot machines switched off, blackjack tables deserted... several of the biggest casinos in Las Vegas will shut their doors Tuesday to tackle the spread of the new coronavirus.

The sweeping closures will deal a heavy blow to tourists and gamblers― and many of the city’s vulnerable contract workers.

The virus claimed its first victim in Nevada on Monday, with a death reported in Clark County, which encompasses the Las Vegas Strip, a street packed with world-famous hotels and casinos.

With US authorities now recommending that mass events with 10 or more people be canceled, MGM Resorts said it would temporarily suspend operations until further notice.

“It is now apparent that this is a public health crisis that requires major collective action if we are to slow its progression,” chairman Jim Murren said in a statement.

“Accordingly, we will close all of our Las Vegas properties... for the good of our employees, guests and communities,” Murren said, adding the company intends to re-open the facilities

Wynn Resorts, another major hotel group, will also suspend operations from Tuesday, while Sands and Caesars are set to remain open on a restricted basis, local media reported.

The moves follow even more stringent measures in Atlantic City, where New Jersey governor Phil Murphy on Monday ordered all nine casinos closed.

Besides the casinos themselves, Las Vegas has also been forced to follow much of the rest of the US in canceling major events.

CinemaCon, the movie theater industry’s annual summit, is scrapped this year, while the NFL Draft will proceed without the public events that had been planned in Las Vegas.

Shows by magician David Copperfield and the Cirque du Soleil troupe are off.

While a blow to tourists and the local An exterior view shows Wynn Las Vegas as the coronavirus continues to spread across economy, the worst affected are likely the United States on March 15, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Wynn Resorts will shut down to be casino workers, the state’s biggest both Wynn Las Vegas and Encore Las Vegas on the Las Vegas Strip on Tuesday at 6 p.m. union said Monday. for at least 14 days to combat the spread of the virus. AFP The 60,000-strong Culinary Union “as soon as it is safe.”

On Monday, videos posted to social told AFP that it is negotiating to ensure The group operates casinos includ- media showed empty rooms in casinos that “all workers, regardless if they are ing the Bellagio, the MGM Grand, New which traditionally bustle with custom- under a union contract or not... should be paid during the time when business York-New York and the Luxor―in total, ers at all hours. is closed.” AFP a third of those lining the glitzy Strip.

‘Breaks my heart’

Life

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020

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Bernadette Lunas, Editor

FASHION AND BEAUTY

manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Fashionably affordable

FASHION FOR ALL. Affordable apparel and accessories outlet Surplus reopens its Mall of Asia branch, which now sports an edgy and modern design, offering a wide variety of classic and trendy pieces for men and women.

By Monica Sanchez

W

HEN it comes to fashion, not matter what others say, price doesn’t matter. Case in point: fabulous finds in thrift stores and other bargain outlets that are as good as those marked with hefty price tags.

Kazel Kinouchi looks for bags and other novelty items ideal for getaways.

One of the favorite stores in the country for affordable yet stylish apparel and accessories is Surplus. Now sporting an edgy and modern look, Surplus has recently reopened its store at the SM Mall of Asia (which we could visit after this current situation).

The store’s bright signage welcomes shoppers into a treasure trove of great fashion finds. It’s latest look signals a new identity, with curved walls and walk paths that create a seamless transition from one area to another.

As with other redesigned branches, materials and lighting used in the Mall of Asia store create an urban yet youthful ambience, while modern day graphics add excitement to the shopping experience.

A specifically designed series of touch points—store windows and a television set playing fashion videos—shows customers the coolest store finds and useful tips on how to mix and match their wardrobe essentials.

Women’s apparel available include fun and fab tops, pretty and flirty skirts, as well as coats and jackets for stylish wintry getaway. Meanwhile, the men’s section houses a wide se-

Widening fashion choices for plus-size men IN THE name of diversity, inclusivity, and sustainability, young fashion apprentices put their skills and talent to work and produced stylish garments designed for plus-size Filipino men.

The challenge was to create an ensemble that would flatter them without losing the concept of mindful fashion.

Each of the garments can fit men up to size 46 who stand 5’10 to 6 feet, or 178 to 184 centimeters.

The students from the Fashion Design and Merchandising Program of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde seamless-

ly combined and channeled creativity in “Let’s create for full-figured men!,” their latest innovation in completion of their Menswear Construction Class under the guidance of fashion designer and mentor AJ Bernabe.

Student-artists responsible for the creations include Erika Mae Ng, Beatrice Canete, Maryrose Villena, Tricie Mendoza, Pamela Madlangbayan, Miri Hwang, Bianca Arguelles, Miguel Balingit, Hazel Dizon, Sean Betco, Leo Canatoy, Anna Sadie, and Justine Torregoza.

The students conceptualized par-

Celebrities JC Alcantara, Sofia Andres, Kazel Kinouchi, and Henz Villaraiz check out the reopened store together with SM Mall of Asia’s senior assistant vice president for operations Perkins So, senior vice president of Surplus Aida Dela Cruz, and special guests Andrew Yu and Annie Garcia.

lection of versatile and trendy items such as shirts and tees and shorts and pants and more.

The store also carries a great selection of accessories and novelty items,

as well as trendy shoes and fashionable bags.

The branch is located on the second floor of South Entertainment Mall (near the cinema).

TOTE TALKS

ticular styles. They were encouraged to think outside of the box and beyond the conventional size chart, and experiment and explore various pattern techniques.

With the help of plus-size mannequins, they were able to get the proper measurements, utilized draft patterns from upcycled materials such as used and old clothes incorporated with scraps of indigenous fabrics, until they came up with the final look that is proportional.

Aside from classic menswear, some pieces were designed for androgynous clients.

American fashion label Kate Spade New York releases two totes designed in collaboration with artist and activist Cleo Wade in celebration of Women’s Day.

Kate Spade launches limited edition Women’s Day bags IN CELEBRATION of International Women’s Day, Kate Spade New York has teamed up with artist and activist Cleo Wade to launch a limited edition capsule collection for the spring 2020 season.

The capsule collection consists of two totes, each with a removable pouch, and two fold-over pouches. It was designed in partnership with the Kate Spade New York on purpose program, based in Masoro, Rwanda, which strives to transform communities by employing and empowering its primary agents of change: women.

According to the brand, “the partnership celebrates the role that selflove plays in the empowerment jourStylish garments for full-figured men made by fashion design students Maryrose Villena and Pamela Madlangbayan.

ney of women and girls.”

“This collaboration has been a dream come to life for me. I am so proud that we were able to enter into every single part of this process with such thoughtfulness and intention,” shared Wade. “These products are a reflection of endless hours of care, creativity, and consideration from the Kate Spade team in New York City, the incredible female makers at Abahizi in Rwanda, and myself. I am so excited to share them with women everywhere.”

Prices of items from the Cleo Wade collection range from $128-228 (P6,600-11,800).

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

B4

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020

GMA Artist Center introduces up-and-coming stars GMA Artist Center kicks off the month of March by welcoming a fresh addition to their talented roster of stars.

During the contract signing ceremony held at the Executive Lounge of GMA Network on March 10, winners and finalists from the reality-talent competitions The Clash Season 2 and StarStruck Season 7 – were officially welcomed by the management includingJeremiah Tiangco, Thea Astley, Radson Flores, and Kim de Leon.

The Clash Season 2 Grand Champion Jeremiah Tiangco reminisced his journey after winning in the second season of The Clash, “I feel so happy. It’s overwhelming, I miss the auditions and my journey in The Clash. Now, I feel so glad to ba an official talent of GMA.” Meanwhile, first runner-up Thea Astley attributes their success to The Clash, “ We didn’t expect that from The Clash, we would reach this far. We are thankful especially right now that we have just signed a contract with the

RISING STARS.

‘All-Out Sundays’ cast members (from left) Kim de Leon, Thea Astley, Jeremiah Tiangco, and Radson Flores are now official members of GMA Network family.

network, we wouldn’t forget the people behind The Clash, they’re the ones who guided us in our journey.”

StarStruck Season 7 Ultimate Male

Martin Nievera commends Catriona Gray as singer

Survivor Kim de Leon promises not to give our very best. We know that to disappoint everyone on his future we’re in good hands with GMA kaya projects, “We look forward to our sobrangthankful kami.” upcoming shows and we promise Fellow StarStruck alumnus Radson

Flores likewise feels overjoyed with this blessing, “Sobrang grateful kami kasi GMA gave us a chance, nakakaoverwhelm na maging part ng Kapuso family.”

At present, the four Kapuso stars are mainstays of GMA’s top-rating musical-comedy-variety show, ‘All-Out Sundays.’

GMA Artist Center Assistant Vice President and Head for Talent Imaging and Marketing Unit Simoun Ferrer expressed his excitement upon welcoming these up and coming stars, “We are glad and honored to have more rising artists hone their talents with GMA. The whole team is excited to showcase all their potentials and maximize what they have to offer.”

Present in the contract signing were GMA Artist Center Assistant Vice President and Head for Talent Imaging and Marketing Unit Simoun Ferrer, GMA Artist Center Senior Talent Manager Joy Marcelo, and Thea Astley’s co-managers Hilarion K. Verzosa IIIand Silvia B. Malupeng.

Filmmakers Christian Linaban, Joseph Abello, and Bebe Go

Qcinema grantees named

QCINEMA International Film Festival (QCinema) announces its three new feature film production grant winners for 2020.

Filmmakers Christian Linaban, Joseph Abello, and Bebe Go will each receive a grant of P1.5 million pesos each from the Quezon City government, through the Quezon City Film Development Foundation (QCFDC). These films will have their world premiere at this year’s Qcinema.

Christian Linaban’s film Mga Buwak Para in Maya is about a child cyberporn model abducted by a river monster.

This is Linaban’s third feature film after Aberya in 2012 and the pinoy stoner film Superpsychocebu made in 2016.

If You’re on Fire by Joseph Abello, an ex-teacher and now ice factory owner who hires his ex-student who ruined his teaching career. This is also Abello’s third directorial film

after What Home Feels Like (2017) and Double Twisting Double Back (2018).

Bebe Go’s film is about two girl friends navigating the world of the upper class and national elite. Gabby Silang is Bebe Go’s third film, following Alam Mo Ba ‘Yung Ganun? (2009) and the documentary film Bastes, May Anne M. (2013).

This is the seventh year the Quezon City government is awarding grants to new and seasoned filmmakers through Qcinema.

The festival, which gears up to become the premier international film festival in Southeast Asia, is slated from October 16 to 25.

For updates on QCinema, log on to its website qcinema. ph or its facebook page facebook.com/QCinemaPH/.

Martin Nievera and Catriona Gray share the stage in a recent episode of ABS-CBN’s Sunday musical variety show.

C

ONCERT King Martin Nievera is vocal in saying that 2018 Miss Universe Catriona Gray has a good singing voice.

In a recent episode of ASAP Natin ‘To!, the two performed Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s hit song “Shallow,” originally recorded for the film A Star is Born.

“You know, one would think that Catriona is a learned, trained singer,” avers Martin. “For one, her notes are not piercing. This means she doesn’t scream but sings with the right technique. She has a singer’s voice already.”

Martin advised and encouraged Cat to continue honing her talent.

“I told her to keep singing. At present, she’s not that confident yet. But the voice is there as well as the technique.

The voice quality is already there. I think Catriona is trained by teacher Annie (Quintos) of The CompanY. She did wonders to the voice of Catriona, it’s really good!”

In response, Catriona thanked Martin on her Instagram post as he guided her in their duet.

“Such an honor to share the stage in a duet with Sir @martinnievera! Thank you for the advice and for helping me calm my nerves! If you haven’t seen the performance, the link is in my IG stories! #AsapNatinTo,” her caption says. ***

Lovers from rival networks According to Vin Abrenica, it’s no big deal if he and girlfriend Sophie Albert belong to rival networks. It can be remembered that they emerged as the grand winners in the defunct TV5 reality program Artista Academy. At present, Vin is with ABS-CBN while Sophie is seen regularly on GMA. “Actually, being connected with different networks has a positive effect on our relationship. We have more freedom. Anyway, we just

SHTICKS

EXTRA INTERNATIONAL

JOSEPH PETER GONZALES

constantly update each other on the latest developments like if we have a new screen partner and we have some intimate or bed scenes. We approach it maturely and professionally,” says Vin in an interview.

The hunky actor reveals that it’s not the case before. It used to be an issue between him and his dulcinea.

“It’s a must that we inform each other if we’re doing some delicate scenes with other actors. Now, there are instances when we are not able to tell each other anymore about such thing. Sometimes, we’ll just see the intimate scenes and it’s just okay. It’s not a problem to us anymore since we know it’s just work,” he shares.

Doing intimate scenes is not new to both Vin and Sophie.

In Wildflower and Ipaglaban Mo, Vin had intimate scenes with Roxanne Barcelo and Arci Muñoz, respectively.

On her part, Sophie did similar scenes opposite Rocco Nacino and Jason Abalos in the Kapuso offerings Pamilya Roces and Bihag.

Apart from the freedom of doing things for the improvements of their own crafts, Vin reasons out that being in separate work places lets them have a more mature perspective on things.

“Yes, it’s an advantage since when she’s always physically present, you have to give all your time to her. You’re always together like in attending showbiz functions. Unlike in our present situation when we have the freedom to mingle with other friends.

“We have different worlds. She has the chance to grow in her home studio in the same manner that I also have the chance to grow in mine. Then, we can share stories. That’s the beauty of it. I learn about her network and she also learns about my home studio,” he end.

Cultural institutions like Broadway—home of the United States’ theater industry—have been shuttered.

AMERICAN students are belting out show tunes on social media to make up for high school musical performances that were called off because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Schools have closed across the United States while cultural institutions such as Broadway have been shuttered in a bid to slow the spread of the contagion.

American students banish virus blues with #SunshineSongs ACTRESS Laura Benanti sparked the Twitter trend after imploring her followers to “find some bright spots” in the public health crisis.

“If you were meant to perform in your High School musical and it was cancelled please post yourself singing,” the Broadway performer tweeted.

Hundreds of students responded to the #SunshineSongs call over the next hours with clips from rehearsals or home renditions of musical numbers from Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables and other popular theater plays.

A similar trend has taken hold in Italy, with isolated apartment-dwellers taking to their windows and singing in unison, following a series of decrees that have drastically limited movement to contain the virus.

On Friday evening in several districts of Rome, music and singing could be heard coming from people’s homes, including renditions of the national anthem, with videos of the performances racking up thousands of views online. AFP

As virus strikes festivals, red carpets happen in living rooms HOLLYWOOD directors who had their glitzy premieres cancelled due to coronavirus are finding inventive ways to build buzz for their films—including bringing the red carpet into their living rooms.

Movie festivals such as SXSW in Texas and Tribeca in New York have been scrapped in recent days as the deadly pandemic spreads.

This has shorn major titles of the publicity generated by opening night reviews and galas, and left hundreds of unsold indie films without distributors.

The makers of The Carnivores, a quirky thriller-meets-love story set to debut at SXSW, took matters into their own hands by shifting the “premiere” to the cinematographer’s Austin home.

“We have full catering, we have a red carpet, we have a photographer coming, we have local news,” said director Caleb Michael Johnson.

The red carpet will run from the front porch, through the house, and back to a taco stand— which is being catered for free by a local sponsor.

The idea emerged from a three-hour bar

conversation the day the festival was cancelled.

“It was crazy because we weren’t even that drunk! The ideas came really fast,” said cinematographer Adam Minnick.

“Our world premiere was Saturday 14th and dammit we wanted to still have our screening on Saturday 14th in Austin.”

The same tactic was employed by US actor David Arquette, whose documentary about his controversial forays into pro wrestling shifted from a SXSW premiere to his home near Hollywood within 24 hours.

Arquette and his wife flew in the director from the East Coast—and made a dash to wholesale store Costco for drinks—before guests gathered on couches and the living room floor, the Los Angeles Times reported. AFP US actor David Arquette’s documentary about his controversial forays into pro wrestling shifted from a SXSW premiere to his home near Hollywood within 24 hours.