Manila Standard - 2020 March 27 - Friday

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 45 • 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

DISINFECTED.

A Filipino worker repatriated from Kuwait undergoes disinfection at a decontamination area in Bacoor, Cavite before she is allowed to enter the province on condition she goes on home quarantine. She is one of 253 distressed OFWs who came in Thursday on a humanitarian flight arranged by the Department of Foreign Affairs despite the closure of the Kuwait International Airport owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Story on A3) Norman Cruz

Two lawmakers in trouble Alleged violations of health protocol spark uproar; Palace issues warning

By Joyce Pangco Pañares, Rey E. Requejo, Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz

O

FFICIALS proven to have violated health protocols will not be spared, Malacañang said on Thursday amid the public uproar over Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr.’s violation of COVID-19 quarantine protocols that led to the exposure of at least eight medical personnel.

The Presidential Security Group is also looking into possible charges against ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Eric Go Yap for breaching protocol after he attended a meeting despite knowing that he was already considered a patient under investigation (PUI).

“The equal protection clause of the Constitution imposes equal treatment to all. Any transgressor therefore must be dealt with in accordance with law,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

“The protocols set by the government for persons under investigation or

monitoring must be strictly and absolutely observed by all people falling under the said categories, regardless of their socio-political status. They are not meant to discomfort or burden anyone. There are no exemptions for any person on these health protocols.

Those holding high positions in the government are enjoined to set an example to their constituents by strictly observing them,” Panelo said.

Pimentel, who eventually tested positive, brought his pregnant wife to the Makati Medical Center (MMC) Tuesday despite undergoing self-quarantine at home pending the Next page

Yap

Pimentel

707

Another senator tested positive; cases reach 707

45

By Macon Ramos-Araneta, Joel E. Zurbano

28

SENATOR Juan Edgardo Angara is the third senator to test positive for COVID-19, as the number of confirmed cases rose to 707, with 45 deaths and 28 recoveries.

Earlier, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senator Aquilino Pimentel III also tested positive for the new coronavirus.

In a statement, Angara said, “I regret to announce that today, March 26, I received my test result and it is positive for COVID-19.”

The senator said he has been feeling symptoms like mild fever, cough, headaches and general weakness.

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM MARCH 26) NUMBER OF CASES

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

71

NEW CASES

RITM chief, 8 other doctors virus victims

STASH SEIZED. At least P5 million worth of rubbing alcohol and face masks was seized in a raid at Muelle de Binondo on Mar. 26, 2020 by Customs and Coast Guard operatives on charges the unnamed suspects resorted to hoarding and overpricing, acts that were deemed illegal. Norman Cruz

P32-b budget sought to avoid food lack

By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE number of doctors who have died in the battle against COVID-19 rose to nine Thursday following the death of the director of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), Dr. Sally Rodriguez-Gatchalian.

The death of Gatchalian, who was president of the Philippine Pediatric Society and a consultant at Manila Doctors Hospital, was confirmed by her younger sister, TV host Ruby Rodriguez.

Last week, Rodriguez said her sister was confined at a Manila hospital and was weak but stable.

But in her latest social media post, Rodriguez wrote a farewell message to Gatchalian.

“We will only remember you with happy memories, laughing and sleeping, your johnson outfits and all... Be at peace, do not worry about us anymore. Have fun in heaven!

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LOCAL ROUNDUP

TO ENSURE the production of adequate and affordable food, the Agriculture department is requesting a P32-billion supplemental budget to implement a food security program called “Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat Kontra sa COVID-19.”

“This initiative, on top of the department’s existing programs, is aimed at averting a food short-

age, supply disruptions and unstable prices due to the adverse impact of COVID-19 on farm and fish production and the transport of basic commodities and processed food products to the urban areas, particularly Metro Manila,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said.

He said the ALPAS COVID-19 program Next page

WHO warns of school opening too soon GRATEFUL. Former Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. says

he is on self-quarantine as of Thursday March 26, 2020 and is awaiting results of medical tests after he ‘felt a little under the weather.’ Marcos in a statement paid homage to the courage and excellent work of doctors, nurses and other frontliners whom he called the ‘true heroes in these trying times. ‘

WORLD ROUNDUP

THE World Health Organi“The answer depends on zation says opening schools what countries do while and businesses too early these population-wide could cause a resurgence of the coronavirus. measures are in place,” “We understand that these countries are now Speaking on Wednesday, Tedros said: “Asking trying to assess when and how they will be able people to stay at home and shutting down poputo ease these measures,” WHO Director-General lation movement is buying time and reducing Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

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Gold sparkles in COVID-19 shadow G

OLD, prized by investors in times of crisis as a safe haven, is experiencing surging demand in the face of the coronavirus outbreak—from both commodity traders and retail buyers.

The precious metal had forged a seven-year peak on commodity markets this month as traders sought shelter from the COVID-19 pandemic and its destructive economic impact.

The commodity has also rocketed as investors seek to guard against rising inflation – with many central banks injecting immense amounts of liquidity into the financial system to counter virus fallout.

‘Phone has not stopped’ “The phone has not stopped ringing” because “demand has exploded,” said Alessandro Soldati, boss of Gold Avenue, the online retail arm of Swiss refiner and ingots producer MKS PAMP Group.

Over the last three weeks, as the new coronavirus strain spread across the globe, Gold Avenue experienced more sales than during the entire final quarter of last year.

With most orders placed online, Gold

Avenue has “all the tools” to help meet the rapid growth in demand, according to its chairman Omar Liess.

Some companies are encountering some issues meeting the sheer volume of demand.

But the main problem is logistical – because so many flights are cancelled because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Customers still however have the option of keeping their gold coins and bars in safes – because trading companies usually offer such storage solutions.

And if they do want to take physical delivery of the glamorous precious metal, then customers face the prospect of a long wait.

US-based online precious metal retailer JM Bullion has warned its customers to expect delays of more than 15 days as a result of “extreme order volumes.”

Refineries hit by lockdown Gold had already soared in value in

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the pressure on health systems. But on their own, these measures will not extinguish epidemics.

“These measures are the best way to suppress and stop transmission, so that when restrictions are lifted, the coronavirus doesn’t resurge.

result of his COVID-19 test, which he took days earlier.

He also admitted to attending two parties and a meeting during his self-quarantine period as a PUI. S&R supermarket also confirmed Thursday that Pimentel shopped for groceries at its Bonifacio Global City branch in Taguig.

The MMC publicly berated the senator for putting at risk hospital frontliners who are already overstretched with the spike in the number of COVID-19 patients.

“By being in MMC, Senator Pimentel violated his home quarantine protocol, entered the premises of the MMC-Delivery Room Complex, thus unduly exposed health care workers to possible infection.

As a result, a number of our nurses and doctors may need to be quarantined, which will further deplete the dwindling workforce of the hospital,” MMC Medical Director Saturnino Javier said.

Pimentel has since issued a public apology and appealed for understanding and compassion, which the Department of Justice was quick to give amid public demand for a criminal case to be filed against the senator.

“During abnormal times like these, when people are prone to commit mistakes or violations of the law, the DOJ will temper the rigor of the law with human compassion,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said.

He said, however, the department will still determine whether it will order a probe motu propio (on its own) or act on a complaint filed by any interested party.

The government earlier warned that quarantine violators may be arrested and charged for violating Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code which “punishes resistance and disobedience to a person in authority or the agents of such person” and Republic Act No. 11332 or

Crisis talks World leaders are to hold online crisis talks Thursday on the coronavirus pandemic that has forced three billion people into lockdown and claimed more than 21,000 lives.

With the disease tearing around the globe at a terrifying pace, warnings are multiplying over its economic consequences, with experts saying it could cause more damage than the Great Depression.

And amid squabbling between the leaders of China and the US over who is to blame, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for the world to act together to halt the menace.

Humanity at risk The coronavirus pandemic is threatening the entire human race, the United Nations warned Wednesday as it launched a humanitarian response plan featuring a $2-billion appeal for the world’s poorest people.

“COVID-19 is threatening the whole of humanity―and the whole of humanity must fight back. Global action and solidarity are crucial. Individual country responses are not going to be enough,” Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in announcing the initiative.

Just last week, as the pandemic spread to more and more countries, killing thousands and infecting many more, Guterres warned that unless the world came together to fight the virus, millions of people could die.

Seasonal cycles There is a strong chance the new coronavirus could return in seasonal cycles, a senior US scientist said Wednesday, underscoring the urgent need to find a vaccine and effective treatments.

Anthony Fauci, who leads research into infectious diseases at the National Institutes of Health, told a briefing the virus was beginning to take root in the southern hemisphere, where winter is on its way.

“What we’re starting to see now... in southern Africa and in the southern hemisphere countries, is that we’re having cases that are appearing as they go into their winter season,” he said.

“And if, in fact, they have a substantial outbreak, it will be inevitable that we need to be prepared that we’ll get a cycle around the second time.

“It totally emphasizes the need to do what we’re doing in developing a vaccine, testing it quickly and trying to get it ready so that we’ll have a vaccine available for that next cycle.” AFP

RITM...

From A1 Love you so much!” she said.

The Philippine Medical Association said Thursday a ninth doctor had died of the virus, and that health workers were not getting enough protection.

“If it were up to me, test the frontliners first and test them again after seven days. Doctors could be carriers themselves,” Benito Atienza, vice president of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) said.

the London Bullion Market to reach a December 2012 peak of $1,703.39 per ounce on March 9.

It has since fallen on modest profittaking but remains at an elevated level of about $1,600.

That has given a shot in the arm to retail prices – and demand shows no sign of abating after the global death toll from the new coronavirus strain topped 20,000 this week.

“Demand (for gold) has risen significantly in the past three to four weeks,” said Liam Sheasby, marketing chief at British online bullion firm BullionByPost.

Experts argue there is no shortage of gold at the moment, apart from for newly-minted coins – but the situation is becoming more complex.

In Switzerland, gold refining titans PAMP, Valcambi and Argor-Heraeus – which together represent one third of global production – have temporarily halted operations at the request of the government.

At the same time, South Africa on Monday imposed a three-week lockdown, as the African continent’s top gold producer grapples with COVID-19.

“The industry as a whole is affected” by lockdowns at key facilities, Omar Liess told AFP.

‘Unprecedented crisis’ The Britain-based World Gold Council industry body issued a gloomy warning about the ongoing long-term impact of coronavirus.

“We are in the midst of an unprecedented crisis,” WGC chief executive David Tait noted on Wednesday.

“I have worked at the heart of financial markets for over 30 years and thought I had seen it all: Black Monday, Asian currency crisis, the dotcom bubble bursting, and the global financial crisis. But this is different.

“We are reeling the wake of a health and economic shock which monetary and fiscal policy is ill-equipped to deal with. Like most asset classes, gold has been affected by widespread, rapid-fire asset sales and a dash for cash.

“Notwithstanding recent price volatility, I believe gold is as relevant as ever and will play an increasingly important role in investors’ portfolios in the years to come.” AFP

the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act. A group of lawyers said they were preparing to file complaints against Pimentel for violating quarantine laws, which they said was tantamount to criminal negligence.

Lawyer Rico Quicho, the former dean of the University of Makati School of Law, said Pimentel should be held liable for endangering the lives of medical workers and other individuals at the MMC. “We are already preparing the complaint based on the Revised Penal Code provisions and special laws. We cannot allow the indifference of the DOJ on this. We should strengthen the complaint,” Quicho said.

Quicho said it is clear that Pimentel violated the protocols and the law and he should not be allowed to wiggle his way out of the situation by saying he was just excited to see the birth of his daughter.

“Excitement is not a reason to expose people and medical practitioners to danger. What human compassion is he talking about?” Quicho said.

The lawyer said if ordinary people who violated the curfew imposed under the enhanced community quarantine to contain the spread of COVID-19 could be arrested, then Pimentel should be held liable for what he did.

“Thousands are being arrested on the spot for violating the enhanced community quarantine because we need social distancing. But why is it that if it’s ordinary people it’s easy to humiliate and arrest them but not for Koko [Pimentel] and the other VIPs?” he said.

Quicho also appealed to the public if they know someone at the MMC who witnessed the incident to reach out to them to help them with additional testimonies to strengthen the case against the senator.

He said lawyers and law students who also want to help are welcome.

“Law students and lawyers unite.

Let us protect our medical practitioners from this kind of people,” Quicho said.

He also called on the Philippine Medical Association to file a case against Pimentel on behalf of the MMC staff.

Quicho also called on the MMC management to release the footage taken by their close circuit television cameras of the incident.

“The MMC should release the CCTV footage so that the DOJ and the public will know what really transpired. It’s their obligation to the patients and the public. Release the CCTV as soon as possible and help us file the criminal complaints as well. It is your corporate social responsibility,” he said.

The DOJ earlier said they could not initiate an investigation on Pimentel without any formal complaint filed, a departure from past statements from Guevarra who said anyone could be arrested if they violated the protocols on the enhanced community quarantine.

PSG chief Colonel Jesus Durante III, meanwhile, said they are looking into possible charges against ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Eric Go Yap for p attending a Malacañang meeting despite having symptoms of COVID-19.

The neophyte partylist solon attended a Malacañang meeting on March 21 despite being a patient under investigation or PUI. He is the chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations.

Yap, who has tested positive for COVID-19, admitted to attending meetings at the House of Representatives and Malacañang Palace while waiting for his test results to come in.

According to reports, Yap attended a meeting at the Palace with other government officials including Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte, Senator Christopher Go, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on March 21.

“I have not been in contact with the public since taking the test last March 16,” he said as he asked for prayers from the public.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said there was no need to disinfect the Senate premises again, since none of the three senators had gone there since the last session day.

Earlier this month, the Senate building was disinfected after a resource person who attended a March 5 Senate education committee hearing tested positive for the infectious disease. The wife of the resource speaker later died from COVID-19.

Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Nancy Binay, who attended the hearing, tested negative while other senators decided to go into self-quarantine.

On Thursday, Pimentel apologized to the Makati Medical Center (MMC)

for breaching their safety protocols on COVID-19 when he accompanied his wife Tuesday night to the hospital for a scheduled caesarian operation set for 7 a.m. on Wednesday.

In his apology, Pimentel said he never meant to harm anyone and insisted he only knew the result of his COVID-19 test while he was already inside the premises of the MMC’s delivery room complex.

Pimentel has been roundly criticized on social media for endangering the health workers and other patients in the hospital by going there even though he knew he might have COVID-19.

“Once again, I would like to sincerely and profoundly apologize to the management and staff of the Makati Medical Center for this unfortunate incident.

I never intended to do any harm to anyone,” Pimentel said in a statement.

“I shall be open to any communication the MMC would want to have with me about this. I just ask for everyone’s understanding and compassion and

allow me first to recover from COVID-19,” he added.

The MMC earlier denounced Pimentel for breaching their safety protocols when he went to the hospital despite already experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and awaiting the results of a test he took on March 20.

Pimentel accompanied his wife, Kathryna to MMC around 6 to 7 p.m. on March 24.

Pimentel said at about 9 p.m., he received a call from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) to inform him he was positive for COVID-19.

“I was already inside the hospital when I got the information. I immediately informed the OB-gyne doctor assisting my wife about the result and I then left the hospital premises,” he said.

He also said he was not coughing and didn’t have a fever in the time he was in the MMC premises. He was also wearing a face mask and gloves, he said.

With Rey E.Requejo, Nickie Wang, Abe Almirol

The announcement of the doctors’ deaths heightened fears that the scale of the health crisis in the Philippines is much worse than is being officially reported.

Three large Manila hospitals announced Wednesday they had reached full capacity and would no longer accept new coronavirus cases.

Hundreds of medical staff are no longer accepting patients because they are undergoing 14-day self-quarantines after suspected exposure, the hospitals said.

Just under 2,000 people had been tested in the Philippines as of Tuesday from those with severe symptoms and

those considered most vulnerable to COVID-19, such as the elderly, those with life-threatening ailments, and pregnant women.

Dr. Dennis de Guzman, former assistant secretary general of the PMA, enumerated the names of the other doctors who fell in the line of duty.

De Guzman identified them as Dr. Israel Bactol, cardiologist at the Philippine Heart Center; Dr. Rose Pulido, oncologist at San Juan de Dios Hospital; Dr. Greg Macasaet III, anesthesiologist at Manila Doctors Hospital; Dr. Raul Jara, cardiologist at the Philippine

Heart Center; Dr. Henry Fernandez of Pangasinan Medical Society; Dr. Marcelo Jaochico of Pampanga Provincial Health Center; Dr. Raquel Seva, OBGyne in Laguna and Dr. Hector Alvarez of Novaliches District Hospital.

De Guzman said they are saddened by their doctors dying after attending to COVID-19 patients.

“They died one after another, our fellow doctors who were frontliners in the fight against COVID-19,” he said in Filipino.

He warned more doctors will die because of the lack of personal protective

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Aid for OFWs All Filipino workers abroad who have been affected by the COVID-19 global pandemic are assured of government financial assistance through the Department of Labor and Employment, an official said Thursday.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III repeated his call to employers in the private sector to apply for the department’s COVID-19 Adjustment Measure Program or CAMP, which offers a one-time, 5,000-peso financial support to the employees of companies or business establishments that have adopted flexible work arrangements or temporary closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To avail themselves of the assistance, employers must submit their company payroll for February or earlier―or before the implementation of the flexible working arrangements or temporary closures.

Assistance for private, public health workers Senator Christopher Lawrence Go says public and private health workers who are on duty during the enhanced community quarantine deserve proper financial assistance from the government.

“Private health workers, especially those who gave their lives, should be included. We seem to be like facing a war as the front liners,” he said.

RA 11469 mandates a compensation of P100,000 to public and private health workers who may be infected by the COVID-19 while on duty. Those who may die of COVID-19 will also be entitled to a compensation of P1 million.

The benefits have retroactive application beginning Feb. 1, 2020.

Dormitory open VICE President Leni Robredo and her partners from Angat Buhay have opened a dormitory for health workers and front liners this week.

She says the dormitory is in Cubao, Quezon City, and will be open for health workers, medical practitioners and other front liners such as security guards and other volunteers of programs related to the collective responses against COVID-19.

She says the initiative is in response to the requests received by the Office of the Vice President amid its ongoing assistance drive.

Emigration clearance The Bureau of Immigration said Thursday all foreigners with temporary visitor visas and had stayed in the country for less than a year would be allowed to acquire its Emigration Clearance Certificates at the international airports.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said the decision followed after Luzon was placed under the Enhanced Community Quarantine to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

An ECC is issued to temporary visitors who have stayed in the country for more than six months, and to the holders of residence, work or students visas who wish to leave the country for good.

Marine battalion deployed The Philippine Navy has deployed the 12th Marine Battalion to man the checkpoints set up to implement the 30-day enhanced community quarantine all over Luzon following the COVID-19 outbreak.

In a statement Wednesday night, Public Affairs Office Chief Maria Christina Roxas said the battalion was originally planned to be deployed to Sulu on the completion of its retraining at the end of this month.

However, due to the Covid-19 crisis, the unit was tapped to help in the government’s efforts to contain the disease.

Free bus rides The Manila International Airport Authority on Thursday started deploying its free bus service to pick up airport employees going to and from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. PNA, Vito Barcelo, Macon Ramos-Araneta, Rio N. Araja, Joel E. Zurbano and Willie Casas

equipment (PPE) in many hospitals, including “the Veterans Memorial Medical Center and nearby hospitals.”

“Even our big centers, government hospitals lack PPE, so we doctors are fighting without protection,” De Guzman said.

He said health workers are in dire need of N95 masks, hazmat suits, goggles, face masks and even surgical masks. “ PPEs are indeed needed because those hazmat suits, those should not be washed... They should be thrown immediately [after] being contaminated,” he added. AFP

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50k plus OFWs 253 distressed OFWs from Kuwait repatriated—DFA in cruise ships to come home

By Vito Barcelo MORE than 50,000 Filipino crew members on board 100 cruise ships in Europe, America and in Asia are expected to come home in the coming months after major cruise operators have stopped operations and headed towards their respective ports in USA and Europe, according to a statement issued by migrant expert Emmanuel Geslani.

Quoting a Maritime Executive magazine report, Geslani said that major cruise operators Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Holland America, Celebrity, Costa and MSC lines have stopped operations and 100 cruise ships are now at home ports or still at sea heading towards ports in the USA or Europe.

On board those cruise ships are more than 50,000 Filipino OFWs who comprise most of the time one-third of the ship crew whose jobs are now at risk due to the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) which has badly hit the cruise industry.

Repatriation of Filipino OFWs who are the frontliners on cruise ships like waiters/ waitress, bar attendants, cabin stewards, chefs and cleaners have started and will go on in the next two months.

Their principals, however, find it difficult to look for international flights that still fly to Asia into Manila and a problem too for their human resource departments on who to send home while the ships are still idling at port, Geslani said.

Many of the cruise operators had said that they don’t expect normal cruise operations to start till the middle of May while some have announced that June may be the best time to start cruising during the summer months of the Western world.

“Majority of Filipino seafarers contracts are 8-9 months so there is the Solomonic question of who they will send home or ask some of the crew to stay behind for the maintenance of the ships,” he said.

In a statement, Geslani said that Danica Crewing managing director Henrik Jensen called on ship operators to exercise caution when making crew changes during the coronavirus outbreak, and warned that seafarers face a bigger risk of catching the virus while they travel to and from their postings, adding “It is better to extend contracts where possible.”

“Some vessel operators think it is stressful for crews to stay onboard for longer.

However, for those with contract lengths of four to seven months, or less, I think it is not a problem to stay longer, rather than risk becoming infected as they transit home, or to jeopardize the health of those remaining by potentially bringing infected seafarers on to the vessel in replacement,” he added.

THE Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday said 253 distressed overseas Filipino workers from Kuwait have been repatriated as the world grapples against the spread of coronavirus pandemic.

The DFA said the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait arranged a humanitarian flight to repatriate the Filipinos from the Talha Deportation Center, the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) Expa-

triate Shelter, and the Philippine Embassy shelter.

The repatriation was made possible despite the closure of the Kuwait International Airport due to the pandemic.

In a statement, the DFA said that all the 253 Filipino repatriates underwent the appropriate medical protocols and checkup at the airport as required by the health department’s Bureau of Quarantine.

“The repatriates were reminded further to observe strict home quarantine for 14 days,” the statement said.

The OFWs were likewise provided with transportation to their destinations in Metro Manila or home provinces in Luzon.

According to the DFA, those who are not able to return to their homes due to the lockdown in Metro Manila were

provided with temporary shelter.

The over 200 Filipino repatriates were welcomed by representatives from the DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Department of Health, Department of Transportation, Bureau of Immigration, and Manila International Airport Authority.

Airlines to use 1 NAIA terminal

By Joel E. Zurbano

B

EGINNING Saturday (March 28), all airlines will operate only in one terminal of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

THIRST QUENCHER. With the imposition of a lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), buyers observe social distancing in buying watermelon fruit along the Marikina-Infanta Highway (Marilaque Highway) in Antipolo City, Rizal on Wednesday, March 25. The fruit is known to be a potent antioxidant that helps an individual ward off sickness and dehydration.

Solon seeks 6-month cash aid for laid off workers

By Maricel V. Cruz A LAWMAKER from the Visayas region on Thursday urged Congress to boost the current unemployment insurance cash payments being provided by the Social Security System to involuntarily separated workers in the private sector.

Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas made the call amid the mounting job losses due to the new coronavirus pandemic.

“Retrenched workers should ideally receive cash benefits for a period of up to six months, because studies have shown that they need the same

number of months on average to find a new job,” Gullas said.

When Congress first tackled unemployment insurance, the original submission was for the SSS to give cash assistance over a six-month period, Gullas pointed out.

“However, the proposal was finally watered down to just two months of cash support,” Gullas said.

He also called for an extra onetime “child support insurance” cash aid to be extended by the SSS to every laid off worker with at least one dependent child under 21 years old.

At present, workers covered by

the SSS and involuntarily separated from their jobs may claim benefits in the form of monthly cash payments equivalent to 50 percent of the average monthly salary credit for a maximum of two months only.

Thus, if the worker’s AMSC is P20,000, he or she may claim a cash handout of P10,000 multiplied by two, or the sum of P20,000, paid only once.

As proposed by Gullas, the same P20,000 one-time cash benefit should increase to P60,000, plus an additional P10,000 if the claimant has at least one qualified dependent child.

“As more and more air carriers suspend operations due to COVID-19, the Manila International Airport Authority is streamlining its operations concentrating remaining flights in just one terminal,” MIAA general manager Eddie Monreal said in a statement Thursday.

The following airlines - Gulf Air, Korean Airlines, Asiana Airlines, China Airlines, Hong Kong Air, Eva Air, Japan Airlines, Jeju Air, All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines and Royal Brunei - will be operating to and from NAIA Terminal 1 starting at 12:01 a.m. of March 28.

Oman Air stopped operations Thursday while Singapore Airlines and Royal Brunei have announced suspension of flights to and from Manila beginning Sunday (March 29).

Monreal made the announcement following a meeting with members and officials of the Airline Operators Council (AOC) and instructions from Transportation secretary Arthur Tugade to explore ways to minimize exposure of airport workers while ensuring continuous operations at the airport.

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines also announced suspension of international flight operations. It made their last flight out Wednesday (March 25) of their MNL-SFO (PR104) and MNL-LAX (PR102). Return flights of these two will be on Friday, March 27, 2020 in NAIA Terminal 1. After these arrivals, PAL will cease to operate for the meantime.

As of press time, the following local and foreign airlines have ceased international flight operations: Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, Air Asia, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, Qantas Airways, Turkish Airlines, Emirates Airlines, KLM, Air China, Air New Guinea, China Eastern, China Southern, Ethiopian Airlines, Jet Star Asia, Kuwait Airlines, Malaysian Airlines, Saudia Airlines, Royal Brunei Airlines, Thai Airways, Tiger Airways, Xiamen Airlines.

The airport management earlier decided to close NAIA Terminal 4 and Terminal 2 domestic wing and Terminal 3 domestic area, after the government imposed travel restrictions on domestic flights in time of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in the entire Luzon to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Munti extends RPT, Do home gardening, beat boredom biz taxes payment By Macon Ramos-Araneta

FREE RIDE. A Philippine Army truck is parked in front of the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City, offering free rides for health workers while operation of public utility vehicles is suspended due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in the country.

Suspect in broadcaster’s murder falls

By Willie Casas THE prime suspect in the murder of DXBF Prime Broadcasting Network operations manager and anchor Christopher “Chris Rapido” Lozada in October 2017 was arrested by elements of the Surigao Del Sur Police Provincial Office recently.

A report sent to the Presidential Task Force on Media Security Secretariat in Malacañang said that suspect Rolly Mahilum was arrested on March 23, 2020, 8 p.m., at P-2, Barangay San Vicente 2, Tagbina in a joint operation against a wanted person led by Bislig City Police Chief PLtCol. Wilson Corpus and RSOG-ORD PLtCol. Gil Torralba.

Earlier, warrants of arrest were issued against Mahilum by Judge Merlyn Pacaro-Canedo of the Bislig City Regional Trial Court Branch 29 under Criminal Case nos. 2020-205973 to 74-B for the murder of Lozada and frustrated murder of Honey Faith Toyco, Lozada’s companion during the shooting.

“Even at this time of national emergency, our law enforcers are still re-

lentlessly pursuing suspects in cases of violence against media workers. We commend the continuing efforts of the Philippine National Police in bringing to justice these fugitives from the law,” PTFoMS Co-Chair and Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar said.

Meanwhile, the PTFoMS Executive Director Undersecretary Joel Egco was elated, saying the continued monitoring of all media killings by the PTFoMS are now reaping more arrests and convictions of perpetrators.

“PTFoMS never sleeps on its job. Despite the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic, our partner in the Task Force, the PNP, did not allow this national state of calamity to hamper its efforts in effecting the arrest of Mahilum,” Egco said.

A Motion for Reconsideration earlier filed by Mahilum was denied by Surigao City Acting Prosecutor Joan Francis AlasEsmero who found “no cogent reason to reverse her resolution finding probable cause for the indictment of respondent for murder and frustrated murder”.

THE local government of Muntinlupa has extended the payment period on real property tax (RPT) and business taxes for locals and requested lessors to waive fees amid the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The Muntinlupa City Council recently passed ordinances providing a two-month payment extension on taxes given the strict measures implemented during the enhanced community quarantine.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi said that Real Property Tax payments and other payables to the City Government of Muntinlupa for the 1st Quarter due on March 31, 2020 can be paid not later than May 31, 2020 without penalties, surcharge, and interest through Ordinance 2020-078.

“Considering the large number of taxpayers who will converge to Muntinlupa City Hall and the risk of COVID-19 transmission, we decided to extend the payment of taxes to help our constituents,” Fresnedi said.

Deadline of payment for business taxes and fees payable to the City Government of Muntinlupa for the 2nd Quarter is also extended from April 20 to July 20, 2020 without penalties, surcharge and interests through Ordinance 2020-073.

Fresnedi has also requested lessors of commercial establishments and residential units to waive rental fees and charges of tenants and partners in Muntinlupa City amid the COVID-19 emergency.

The local chief executive has appealed to lessors to extend consideration to tenants and renters considering the huge impact of the closure of business establishments during the quarantine period. Fresnedi said he is hoping for the full support of lessors in the local government’s battle against COVID-19.

TO beat boredom and be productive while on enhanced community quarantine, Senator Cynthia Villar urged the public to do home gardening.

“No need for a big lot. You can plant in small spaces or containers and start with crop varieties that are easy to grow like pechay, sili, tomato, eggplant, okra, calamansi, among others,” said Villar.

Villar, chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture and Food and on Environment and Natural Resources, noted that work suspension and mandatory home stay created an opportunity to start worthwhile activities at home.

“Planting is something you can start alone or with your family. It’s a way of introducing agriculture to our children,” she said.

“In between monitoring the news and doing household chores, we should also take steps to boost our immune system while at home. In this aspect, the physical activity involved in gardening will also do us good,” she added.

Villar said there are tutorials accessible through the internet that can provide basic instructions on how to start your home gardening.

Urban agriculture and vertical gardening, she said, should be promoted as a way to keep people out of the streets to stop the spread of COVID-19.

The senator has always advocated for home gardening as a food security strategy and as a ready source of food, especially in periods of calamities such as typhoons, occurrence of frost, volcanic eruption and during this health emergency.

“Not only can home gardening help enhance food security, it will also help families alleviate micronutrient deficiencies by providing direct access to nutritious foods that they don’t have to buy,” Villar said.

She also urged the trainees who finished the Agricrops Production course from the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance (Villar SIPAG) Farm Schools to consider giving online tutorials to family and friends and encourage them to start planting.

REPACKING. Members of the Philippine Coast Gguard arrange sacks rice to be repacked at the DSWD warehouse in Pasay city. The rice will be distributed to 16 local government units within the National Capital Region to help people affected by the lockdown.

A4

Opinion

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Small businesses going bankrupt THERE is no scheme under the “Bayanihan Heal as One Act” to help small businesses, which make up 99 percent of all enterprises.

The small man and the small businesses. These are the two sectors most devastated by the coronavirus crisis and the ensuing 30-day lockdown government has enforced in the main island of Luzon to contain it and mitigate its impact.

Lockdown means no one could get out of his house. Every household is allowed only one nominee to get out of the house to do errands—primarily to buy food, medicine and other necessities.

Lockdown also means nearly all the small businesses will be decimated before the coronavirus crisis peaks out—which is about four to six months. They are not allowed to operate. They cannot get the supplies and spare parts needed by their shops and factories to produce a product or a service. And even if they are able to produce, they are not allowed to deliver the finished product to their customers.

One of the printers of my weekly BizNewsAsia magazine will close shop this week. It cannot get the ink, paper, and other supplies to print. His workers are not allowed to report for work because of the lockdown. And even if the printing shop can print, it cannot deliver the magazines, be-

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

cause the checkpoints do not allow him to do so. With the lockdown, the government, in effect, has created a perfect circle. You stay put in one place—point zero. Even if you go around 360 degrees, you end up at point zero. Point zero means bankruptcy.

Now you have the specter of massive hunger and massive unemployment.

Small businesses—the so-called micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) account for 99.6 percent the nearly one million businesses in the country. They employ 61.6 percent of the total number of employed.

MSMEs are vulnerable to lockdown because they have very little capital. Of total loans of the entire banking system to business, only 6 percent went to small businesses. The working capital of small businesses is good for at most, two weeks.

With the one-month lockdown in Luzon, these small businesses have no more cash. They have negative balance sheets. They cannot pay their workers. The workers have been fired. The result is massive unemployment.

NEDA estimates up to one million workers would lose their jobs with the lockdown in Luzon. The island accounts for 73 percent of the entire

The poorest of the poor

T

HE Philippines, like any other nation grappling with the deadly spread of COVID-19, is scrambling to deliver a form of assistance to a great number of population reeling from the outbreak.

Local government units are sending packages to some of their residents to alleviate their conditions amid the Luzon-wide lockdown. But sad to say, the relief goods are scanty to address the needs of a big population.

Delivering the goods and the money quickly to residents, especially those who do not have the wherewithal to buy their daily meals, is the logistical challenge faced by the government, the private sector and

charitable institutions. Failure to answer immediately the basic requirements of the population will lead to social unrest and a serious peace and order problem.

President Rodrigo Duterte, in a recent address to the nation, assured the government would extend financial assistance, especially to the marginal and vulnerable groups. It committed to provide subsidies to low-income households, implement an expanded and enhanced Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program to respond to the needs affected by the community quarantine, and ensure availability of credit to productive sectors.

How exactly these will be delivered to the jobless jeepney and tricycle drivers and the millions of workers who are paid by the day, however, is a gargantuan task. Desperate times call for creative and practical measures.

The government, perhaps, can look at what major business groups plan to do. They have raised over P1.5 billion to fund the distribution of grocery vouchers to 1 million urban poor families in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 crisis.

They aim to distribute P1,000 gift certificates to more than 1 million households in the poor communities of the Greater Manila Area.

Through conduits, the groups in compliance with social distancing guidelines will deliver door-to-door gift certificates that are redeemable for food items from accessible groceries and supermarkets.

The state and local government units must also devise creative ways to bring relief to the majority of the population. Authorities must respond to the real needs of the population to remain relevant in these trying times. They should start with the poorest of the poor.

Turn to A5

Salute to the fallen CROSSROADS

J.A. DE LA CRUZ TO ALL those who have taken to their calling, braved the onslaught of this invisible foe and stayed well into the night to care for the afflicted and the downtrodden, a well deserved salute. Your heroic deeds will be well remembered long after this COVID-19 pandemic shall have passed from the face of the earth and even after new viruses shall roam all over again. We give those who have died in the line of duty a double salute. We are certain you have ascended to your rightful place in heaven in the loving arms of God Almighty.

They dared wade into the unknown.

To the following doctors who gave their all caring for others even as they themselves were at risk our heartfelt thanks and prayers and condolences to those they left behind: Dr. Israel Bactol; Dr. Greg Macasaet; Dr. Rose Pulido; Dr. Raul Jara; Dr. Sally Gatchalian and Dr. Marcelo Jaochico. These doctors, all well-known practitioners and dedicated servants of the sick and the distressed, had all the opportunity to pass up serving in the frontlines.

They could have simply given medical advice and provided guidance from the comfort of their offices. But true to their oaths, they dared wade into the unknown and made their presence felt as if saying that wisdom and leadership were very much needed at this time.

There are many other doctors and health workers who have given their all, including possibly their lives.

Their deeds and passing may not have been reported as of this writing.

To all of them, our deepest sympa-

thies and condolences. There are also those who are now or are about to be in critical condition, themselves needing the care and comfort of their fellow workers. Let us say a little prayer for them as we all kneel down in supplication to the Almighty that He let this scourge pass by as soon as possible. The cleansing has taken a huge toll not only in terms of the dead and infected but in the very way of life of all peoples and countries which will definitely change our lives forever.

I am sure all of the doctors and other health workers have their stories to tell about the way they lived their lives until they were finally fallen by COVID-19. I am particularly touched by Dr. Jaochico's story as told by his daughter Cielo.

He was well known as a solid "Doctor to the Barrios." Cielo recounted that for nearly sixteen years her father "crossed rivers and mountains to reach far-flung barrios in Calanasan, Apayao, serving as their allaround doctor... their obstetrician, pediatrician, family doctor.”

He learned to take care of the people's health as they battled all kinds of diseases using meager resources.

After his stint in Apayao, he eventually came back to Manila and served as a consultant of the Department of Health and Mercury Drug before being lured back to serve as Pampanga's provincial health officer where he again managed to practice his calling as a "Doctor to the Barrios" even as he was able to see the province's health delivery system honored as one of the better systems in place nationwide.

When the COVID-19 public health emergency advisory was announced, Doctor Jaochico put in place the needed resources and guidance needed to get the province in shape even as he had to make do with his wife working as a nurse far away—in the United Arab Emirates. He was in the forefront of things and it was while doing so that he contracted the disease and eventually succumbed in Turn to A5

WHO: Test, test, test WHO should be on top of the global fight against the dreaded COVID-19?

It is no other than the World Health Organization (WHO), which has already adopted "Test, Test, Test" as its mantra in defeating the dreaded disease.

We're worried, however, that our very own Department of Health appears to be dragging its feet on the matter of accrediting more testing centers at the local level and procuring more test kits so that we can determine the actual number of infections, accelerate contact tracing and as experts say, ultimately flatten the curve.

We are well aware of the limitations of the DOH in so far as strengthening the health care infrastructure in the country is concerned. It's unfortunate that health seems to have never been among the top priority of every administration. Thus, health care at the municipal and barangay level is woefully inadequate. We understand that our legislators even slashed the proposed DOH for this year by so much.

We are now reaping the whirlwind of this misplaced sense of priorities

with the current lack of hospital facilities, health professionals, health care equipment and supplies such as test kits and personal protective equipment (PPEs) for those at the frontline of the frantic effort to cope with a huge public health emergency.

Alas, our Department of Health appears to be dragging its feet on the matter.

Despite its own difficulties in coping with COVID-19, the Chinese government recently donated urgently-needed medical materials consisting of 100,000 test kits, 100,000 surgical masks, 10,000 N95 masks, and 10,000 sets of personal protective equipment to the Philippines. Chi-

nese Ambassador Huang Xilian said these materials lend a helping hand to the fight of the Philippine government and people against the epidemic.

While donations have been coming in droves from both local and foreign sources, the bureaucratic gridlock at the DOH hampers the early release of the badly-needed materials to those who need them. Among those that have been asking the DOH for more PPEs and N95 masks for its personnel is the Lung Center of the Philippines.

But here's the problem. The DOH has apparently imposed too many dona documentary requirements for donations. The donors should write a letter to Health Secretary Francisco Duque indicating their intention to make a donation. They should then list down items to be donated, such as medicine (good for at least 12 months, properly labeled with English texts) and medical equipment (detailed specifications plus unit cost). They should also indicate the projected delivery date and special handling requirements, whether cold chain or warehouse storage.

Turn to A5

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Opinion Extraordinary measures during extraordinary times FOOTNOTES TRANQUIL G.S. SALVADOR III THE recent Enhanced Community Quarantine in Luzon caused by the sharp increase of COVID-19 cases has caught us by surprise. I never stopped to think that I would see a pandemic of this nature in my lifetime. To me, transmission of a disease by direct or indirect contact is a plot for movies like Contagion or Outbreak; it was fictional and not real. I was wrong. I never imagined that I would wake up one day to restricted transportation and not being allowed to leave home except to withdraw money, and purchase food or medicine.

To me, this is war; except that the enemy is not seen by the naked eye.

Though admittedly I have never been to war, I have heard a lot of stories from elderly friends, about the hellacious conditions of war. Even the pervading stories of the martial law conditions of curfew, excessive governmental restrictions, and militarization are characterizations of a regime which I heard of as a growing boy.

This COVID-19 pandemic is different. It has prompted the Philippine government to declare a state of public health emergency and impose an Enhanced Community Quarantine pursuant to Proclamation Nos. 929, 922 and Republic Act 11332. It has changed the way we work, how we deal with people, plan our lives, do business and even the way we travel. Its impact is so pronounced that most, if not all, of what we do is at a standstill.

We want everything to return to as it was before the pandemic, but everything seems uncertain at this time.

We have to work from home. For lawyers like myself who have to attend court hearings, comply with

court submissions, meet with clients, and secure government permits or approvals, this new work arrangement is unique, if not unusual.

As a result, the Philippine Supreme Court had acted swiftly when it suspended all court hearings nationwide and gave 30 calendar days of extensions for all court submissions that fall within the period of the community quarantine. Lawyering does not end there; clients here and abroad had to be briefed with the re-

This is war, except that the enemy is unseen. cent health developments as to what will happen to the pressing work assigned to us, pending issues and various applications and submissions in government agencies. We need to shift to online meetings using Zoom Outlook, and Google Meet, just to name a few of these electronic platforms. We receive separate individual calls from clients, as well as need to review and circulate work electronically in anticipation of onsite work resumption and submission of various compliance to government agencies.

Classes in all levels are suspended for the duration of the enhanced community quarantine. For primary, secondary and tertiary level education students with school calendars that end sometime in March have decided to end the school year and rely on their students’ class standing for the final grades. However, for schools with calendars ending in May, they may opt to extend their classes to the summer break in June or possibly July. For those in graduate schools such as Law or Medicine, the decisions of the school administrations will be a bit sensitive since they have to ascertain the competence and readiness of their students to hurdle the different gov-

WHO:...

From A4

After donations are accepted by the DOH, the donors are told to submit these requirements to the COVID-19 Emergency Operations Center: 1) Deed of donation; 2) Packing list; 3) Actual Date of Delivery. The DOH added that it could add more requirements as “necessary.”

But how about those who want to avail themselves of donations? Apparently, you can't just go to the DOH and request for test kits and PPEs. You have to go through the same labyrinthine process imposed by the DOH for donations. The lack of urgency on the part of the DOH leadership to facilitate the release of donations of test kits and emergency medical materials may well be one of the reasons the number of COVID-19 cases is piling up.

The same snail pace in the DOH is also apparent in its failure to approve the opening of Marikina City's own testing laboratory. Mayor Marcelino Teodoro is already furious: “The DOH should not treat Marikina as a client applying for a license to operate a laboratory like this, but it should be a partnership. This is a whole-of-government approach where local and national agencies need to help one another.” The city was set on Monday (March 23) to start its own testing but the DOH said wait, we need to evaluate the laboratory first.

Mass testing is seen as crucial in the successful efforts of countries like South Korea to stem the spread of the virus, but testing here has been scarce—even as some politicians with no symptoms of the disease have been prioritized by the DOH. The Chinese donation of 100,000 test kits has already been received by our Department of Foreign Affairs. The test kits consist of two types: nucleic acid testing, which is the primary detection method for the coronavirus in China and takes two to three hours, while the antibody

Salute...

From A4

isolation. This was a situation which only made his family and those who cared for him even sadder than ever.

As Cielo so poignantly said : "Dad, you didn’t deserve to die alone, nang di naririnig gaano ka kahalaga sa amin at gaano ka namin kamahal. Di man lang namin ikaw narinig sabihan din kami. Dad, we didn’t even get to hug each other for the final time.

ernment exams. This will only be possible if the students can continue to attend their classes with directed learning and be tested orally or in writing. At the start of the community quarantine, online classes for these students were available, accessible and prioritized by the teachers themselves. However, as the days moved and the conceivable adverse results became more apparent, the schools were left with no choice but to suspend online classes. They had to consider the imminent danger of spreading the illness to the students and their immediate household once they scout for areas with strong WiFi just to be able to attend online classes, and the reality of the intermittent signal at this time when the internet lines are flooded. Truly, extraordinary times.

Health workers like doctors, nurses, medical technologists and support staff are at the frontlines.

Just like in wars and armed conflict where they sacrifice life and limb, they sacrifice their life, health, and time with and the safety of their families as well. All because of the invisible and aggressive COVID-19.

Some hospitals and communities have even been locked down except for entries of authorized health workers and government representatives to bring basic necessities to reduce the further spread of the virus. The University of the Philippines medical interns, who are students, have selflessly volunteered to support the medical work force who are starting to feel fatigue and may be quite possibly infected with the virus.

We Filipinos have been known to be resilient and lighthearted, able to stand every time we experience natural calamities, disasters, or acts of God. In my mind, our ability to spring back when we fall, this time, should be with self-discipline, compliance with the law, and trust in those who lead us at this time of uncertainty.

testing method can screen patients within 15 minutes.

However, antibody testing cannot replace nucleic acid testing, as it can only provide an auxiliary diagnosis for the negative cases detected by nucleic acid testing.

The DOH does not want the rapid test kits to be used here under less than ideal laboratory conditions. But the two types are not mutually exclusive but actually complement each other. The lateral flow method can be the initial test, and the PCR method can be used for the second and third tests, depending on need.

Our question is: Why do the DOH, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) all fear and loathe the mass distribution of the on-site or rapid test kits produced by China and other countries and already approved for use in China, South Korea and even the European Union?

If these rapid test kits are already in wide use in other countries, why is the DOH blocking the approval of the rapid test kits while the death rate from COVID-19 continues to soar?

We know that the whole DOH and all the agencies under it are now under tremendous pressure to effectively respond to the rapid spread of the disease. While we commend the efforts of government and private health professionals and support staff to perform their jobs over and beyond the call of duty, the DOH leadership must also remove the red tape that keeps them from acting fast on urgent needs.

The clock is ticking, and every second counts in the race against time to save as many lives as possible from an unseen but deadly enemy.

The DOH must get rid of what seems to be a rigid "Wait, Wait, Wait" policy in so far as approval of rapid test kits is concerned and instead follow what the WHO prescribes: "Test, Test, Test." ernhil@yahoo.com

Uuwi ka ritong nasa kabaong na.

Ang sakit, daddy. Deserve mo magkaroon ng lamay at ng libing where all of your loved ones are there. Daddy, mahal na mahal ka namin. Kami na po ang bahala kay mommy. Ako na po ang bahala sa mga kapatid ko.

Ipapatayo ko yung bahay na pinapangarap mo para sa amin, daddy," Cielo's lament could very well be those of all the other families who lost their loved ones while they were doing their very best in a "call of duty." They died, as the truism goes,

with their boots on.

As we end our second week of enhanced community quarantine, we can only pray and express our thanks and deepest sympathies as well to all the other health workers and frontliners be these in the hospitals or in the checkpoints or in the groceries, pharmacies, delivery groups and others who in one way or the other are moving the country in whatever way possible in all the nooks and crannies of our benighted land. We say you have earned your heavenly rewards.

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Frontliners’ sacrifices will not be in vain

IN THE past two weeks as the death toll rises, we have witnessed the unbelievable devotion and utter selflessness of the frontliners in the war against novel coronavirus or COVID-19.

Specifically, they are the courageous health workers who live up to their sworn duty of serving their ailing fellowmen.

They include doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, hospital support staff, paramedics, volunteers, hospital administrative and security personnel who personify the genuine spirit of bayanihan at its best.

It's truly heartbreaking that among those who succumbed to the disease are a number of health workers themselves, including attending doctors.

According to the Department of Health (DOH), at least eight doctors have been literally "killed in action" in the war against COVID-19, among them Dr. Israel Bactol, Dr. Greg Macasaet, Dr. Rose Pulido and Dr. Raul Diaz Jara. The identities of the others were still being verified, said DOH Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire.

Meanwhile, we learned that our compatriot ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Eric Yap tested positive for COVID-19, most likely a result of his exposure to infected persons during recent congressional meetings. Our thoughts and prayers go out to our indefatigable friend for his early recovery.

President Duterte on Wednesday paid tribute to the warriors on the frontline, particularly those doctors who perished and other health workers who have likewise gotten sick, who knew we are running against time, as well as up against a formidable foe.

They knew the significance and importance of flattening the curve on the COVID-19 incidence.

If we ourselves do not appreciate this and do nothing to help, more and more people among us will con-

tract COVID-19, making the curve a steep mountain on a graph.

Health officials have warned that health care facilities are getting overwhelmed with overworked staff, not enough equipment and supplies, and not enough room to accommodate any more COVID-19 patients. Several private hospitals have announced they can no longer admit due to unavailability of space.

Let’s flatten that curve.

If we only strictly adhere to the calls for self-quarantine and social distancing, the COVID-19 curve would begin flattening on that graph.

It may not necessarily mean that fewer people get sick in the long run.

But there will be fewer people getting sick at one time.

We have to strictly enforce all the measures we have in place under the six-month national state of health emergency declared by President Duterte.

Isolate people who are sick. Trace the people whom those sick people may have had contact with. Quarantine people who may have been exposed to the virus. Keep schools closed and avoid crowds and observe social distancing.

It is outrageous that unto this time of global health crisis, some of our fellow Filipinos would rather show apathy and indifference to helping stop the spread of COVID-19.

Just as revolting is the alleged discrimination against health workers by neighbors and barangay officials.

There are instances of nurses and other health workers identified with COVID-19 facilities being ejected from their rented rooms. Such were reported occurring in Iloilo City, Cabanatuan City, Davao City, and Cagayan de Oro City.

We must all realize what great sacrifice our frontliners are doing in order to save this country from ending up like Wuhan, China or Italy where hundreds of COVID-19 patients die each day.

We owe it to them to help ensure this whole thing works, and that their sacrifices would not be in vain.

Small...

From A4

economic production of the Philippines. And that 73 percent, about P13.14 trillion worth, cannot be produced for at least a month.

So now, you have the specter of massive hunger and massive unemployment.

Government’s response is to enact the Bayanihan Heal as One Law. Aside from containing the coronavirus, its main purpose is to give cash and food rations to the poor—about 18 million of the country’s 23 million families.

Cash is P5,000 to P8,000 a month for two months, depending on the minimum wage prevailing in each of the country’s 17 regions.

An average P6,000 cash doleout per family going to 18 million families is P108 billion. Double that, it is P216 billion. That is only for two months. What happens after that?

Then, after government spending P216 billion for food for the poor, what happens to the small businesses? There is no specific amount allotted for them under the law to boost their depleted capital.

Assume a small business needs P2 million a year to operate. For two months, a small business needs P167,000. Multiply that by 996,000, you get P166 billion.

In the largest rescue package ever designed by mankind, the United States will provide an unprecedented $2 trillion to most individual Americans and their children, $500 billion to bail out big businesses, and $350 billion for small businesses.

The $350 billion for small businesses is for them to keep their workers on their payroll so they are not fired for the next four months. The $350 billion need not be paid back to the government as long as they don’t fire their workers. In other words, it’s free money. To preserve jobs.

We don’t have such a scheme for small businesses under the Bayanihan Heal as One Act. What the law provides is to empower President Duterte to order all the banks and lending institutions, that means including the pawnshops and credit cards, to postpone collecting the amortization on the loans of their borrowers, if such amortization falls due during the one-month period March 15, 2020 to April 15,2020—without interest, without penalties, without fees and other finance charges.

On foregone interest alone for one month on their loans, the banks will lose P72 billion. But since the small businesses account for only six percent of total loans, only P4.32 billion of that will benefit the SMEs. The balance of P68 billion will be enjoyed by big businesses.

“With the help of the Congress, the Duterte administration will be able to use all available state resources to slow the spread of this COVID-19 virus and cushion its adverse economic impact on marginalized and vulnerable sectors,” says Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez.

As the saying goes, “we want to see the color of your money.” biznewsasia@gmail.com

A6

Motoring

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020

SLEX priority lanes hasten delivery of goods, services SMC Tollways has assigned priority lanes at the South Luzon Expressway to ensure efficient delivery of basic goods and emergency health services to and from Metro Manila and neighboring provinces in the south.

San Miguel Corporation president and COO Ramon S. Ang said these priority lanes along SLEX will ensure the unimpeded flow of delivery trucks that carry basic goods to various areas, raw materials to production facilities as well

SMC president Ramon S. Ang

as vehicles that bring medical personnel, equipment and supplies.

“We are doing this to guarantee that essential deliveries reach their destination as smoothly and quickly as possible,”Ang said, adding that “These same lanes can also be used by emergency health vehicles to quickly get to places in need of medical attention,” he added.

For faster processing of vehicles, companies are advised to prepare the government-required cargo documents and for

delivery personnel to follow checkpoint procedures.

PNP’s inspection teams are located before the Susana Heights exit (southbound) and along the Alabang-Filinvest Interchange before SLEX Alabang northbound exit. These inspection teams, like in other areas in the country, were established to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

Earlier, SMC Tollways also announced safety measures to protect both motorists

and tollway employees. These include the availability of alcohol dispensers at all toll plazas and SMC Tollways facilities, the wearing of face masks and surgical gloves by tellers and traffic personnel, and the sanitation of toll booths and patrol vehicles before and after each shift.

To prevent contamination and hasten traffic flow, SMC Tollways is encouraging the use of RFID facility to reduce the chance of contamination and hasten traffic flow going in and out of Metro Manila.

Frontliners get Chevron’s support

Auto mega-merger in peril amid pandemic

SA AND FIAT Chrysler would create the world’s fourth-largest automaker, if they manage to merge. Will they or won’t they? On top of massive economic damage, the coronavirus pandemic now is casting doubt over the pending merger of PSA Group and Fiat Chrysler (FCA), financial sources told AFP.

P

The tie-up, announced at the end of October and due to be finalized in early 2021 at the latest, would create the world’s fourthlargest automaker, bringing under one roof brands like Peugeot, Citroen, Jeep, Alfa Romeo and Maserati.

Preparations are continuing, with legal teams working hard to get the green light from antitrust authorities, according to the sources who requested anonymity as they discussed this sensitive subject.

Meanwhile, auditors and financial advisors are working on paperwork required by the US Securities and Exchange Commission stock market regulator.

But the COVID-19 pandemic has caused global markets to tumble as it plunges the economy into recession, shutting down auto plants in Europe and the United States. That has called into question the financial terms of the merger, according to the sources

who are working on the transaction.

“The two groups need this merger in view of the heavy investments that must be made in electric cars, but they must recognize that, in view of the economic situation, for the merger to take place it will be necessary to review the initial financial terms,” one of the sources said.

Karl Brauer, and expert at Kelley Blue Book, agreed, saying: “Assumptions about valuation of the companies, revenues projections, sales for 2020 and beyond for both companies, all those mathematical assumptions that were made during the talks essentially have to be re-evaluated now.”

PSA and FCA no longer “have the level of confidence that they had even a month ago in terms of sales revenues, market shares, products mix and products planning,” he said.

Lost value

The two groups planned a merger of equals, which involves paying a dividend of 1.1 billion euros to their respective shareholders for 2019.

FCA is also expected to pay an extraordinary dividend of 5.5 billion euros, while PSA must distribute to its shareholders its 46-percent stake in French equipment manufacturer Faurecia.

But Faurecia’s market capitalization has shrunk by at least a third since the merger was announced, which means the value of PSA’s stake lost nearly 1 billion euros as of Monday.

“We will have to rebalance things between shareholders if we still want to talk about a merger of equals,” said one of the financial sources.

And an industry expert, who asked not to be named, said, “I have always found that parity is very much to Fiat’s advantage.”

With the decline in Faurecia value, “It is even more so.”

Dividends at stake The promised dividend of 1.1 billion euros is now in doubt as well, the sources said, since the companies will need to preserve their cash to cope with the coming collapse in auto sales, both in Europe, where PSA earns most of its income, and in the US, where FCA generates very large margins.

Governments are urging firms to be cautious.

French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire on Tuesday warned

“all companies, especially the largest, to exercise the utmost restraint on the payment of dividends.”

“It is a time when all the money has to be used to run businesses,” he said, especially if companies are seeking government help.

Arguing that 14 million European jobs are threatened, the European Automobile Manufacturer’s Association (ACEA) last week asked for financial support for the industry, which is facing its “worst crisis” ever experienced.

“If PSA or FCA appeal to the state, how could they justify asking taxpayers for billions and distributing billions to their shareholders at the same time?” said Gregori Volokhine of Meeschaert Financial Services.

But PSA insisted that the deal would still go ahead.

“The merger makes sense more than ever in the current day-to-day context. Our teams are continuing work with the same commitment,” PSA wrote in an emailed response to AFP. “In the context of such a health crisis, we feel it is inappropriate to speculate about any possible changes to the agreement,” the carmaker continued. “Our focus is to protect our employees and our business.”

France’s Economy Ministry, which is an indirect shareholder of PSA via the BPIFrance sovereign wealth fund’s 12.2 percent stake in the company, did not respond to AFP’s request for comment. AFP

CHEVRON companies in the country recently teamed up to donate cash and fuels amounting to almost P1 million to provide safe transportation and equipment to frontlliners and health workers in the fight against COVID-19.

Chevron Philippines Inc., marketer of the Caltex brand of fuels and lubricants, together with Chevron Holdings Inc. (CHI), donated P500,000 to the Philippine General Hospital Medical Foundation Inc. (PGHMFI) to address the shortage in medical supplies and personal protective equipment that our frontline healthcare professionals need for proper patient management. PGH is one of the designated exclusive COVID-19 hospitals in Metro Manila and the Philippines’ largest public tertiary hospital.

Caltex also teamed up with JAC Liner, one of the largest bus companies in the country, to provide fuel support amounting to P250,000 to four (4) shuttle buses servicing frontliners and health workers so that they can quickly and safely report for duty. The donation will cover the routes from Paranaque Integrated Terminal to Alabang and Ortigas to Shaw Boulevard until the first week of April.

Caltex Makati Credit Cooperative, run by Caltex employees, also donated P25,000 to Kaya Natin!

Foundation to aid its volunteers in ferrying hospital workers from various pick up and drop off points in Metro Manila. Kaya Natin! is a nonprofit and non-government organization that promotes

good governance and ethical leadership. This employee donation drive is still ongoing.

Caltex also partnered with ride-hailing platform Grab Philippines for its GrabBayanihan initiative with a Php300 daily gas voucher provided to each Grab volunteer driver-partners. Dedicated GrabBayanihan Cars are free, 24-hour transport service for healthcare workers. Each car can transport two healthcare workers at a time, in accordance with the government’s social distancing guidelines.

“Caltex is one with the Philippine nation and our frontliners and health workers in battling this global pandemic. We are actively responding to the COVID-19 outbreak and while we continue to closely monitor our operating environment, we are also supporting PGH, JAC Liner, Kaya Natin!

Foundation, and Grab Philippines in their mission to help curtail this virus. We hope this crisis will soon be over and that everyone stays safe,” shares CPI Country Chairman Louie Zhang.

Caltex stations in Luzon remain open amidst the enhanced community quarantine. In addition to raising hygiene standards in the stations, regular temperature checks, observance of 1-meter social distancing, and more frequent sanitation of areas with high human touchpoints are also implemented.

Customers are encouraged to utilize contactless payment methods and are welcome to make use of the disinfectants or hand sanitizers located at the cashiers.

Motorists assured of steady fuel supply AMID the ongoing efforts to fight off the spread of the new coronavirus, Petron Corporation has assured motorists and consumers of continuous supply of its petroleum products.

Petron President and CEO Ramon S. Ang said that the company will also make sure that there is enough fuel especially for vital industries to keep the economy running.

“So far, our entire supply chain is working overtime to ensure that enough products are produced at

our refinery. Vessels are continuously loaded so that our terminals are filled, and tank truck operations remain consistent. We are also trying our best to keep as many of our stations open and filled as possible while putting the safety and wellbeing of our employees first,” Ang said.

Petron is Philippines’ largest refiner providing nearly 30% of the country’s petroleum requirements through its 180,000 barrel-per-day Bataan refinery, 30 terminals, and

over 2,400 stations nationwide.

“Let me reiterate that there is no need to panic. We will step up and we will get through this together.

In these critical times, rest assured that basic necessities will be delivered and our brave front liners will reach their destinations,” added Ang. He emphasized that the health and safety of its people remain its top priority. Petron has widely implemented a work-from-home set-up for its Luzon-based offices.

Meanwhile, those working on the front line - its office-based skeletal force, sevice station personnel, tank truck drivers and helpers- are guided by the necessary protocols to ensure their health and safety.

The oil industry is among those granted exemption by the government from the Luzon-wide Community Quarantine.

At this point, Petron has fully activated its Business Continuity Plan, taking into consideration all possible scenarios.

World Misinformation on coronavirus fuels confusion

HONG KONG―From being duped into taking poisonous “cures”, to watching businesses crumble and avoiding lifesaving medication, people are suffering devastating real-world impacts of a deluge of online virus misinformation.

As the new coronavirus that has killed more than 20,000 people causes markets to crash and sets scientists scrambling for a solution, rumors and false claims are fueling confusion and deepening the economic misery.

The effects can be tragic -- in Iran, one of the hardest-hit countries, more than 210 people died from drinking toxic alcohol after claims circulated online that it could treat or ward off COVID-19, the official Irna news agency reported.

Dangerous fake cures debunked by AFP include consuming volcanic ash and fighting infection with UV lamps or chlorine disinfectants, which health authorities say can harm the body if used incorrectly.

Another remedy that “kills the coronavirus”, according to misleading social media posts, is drinking silver particles in liquid, known as colloidal silver.

“I am making colloidal silver now. I have asthma and does it really work... worried/stressed over virus. Does this help if I take a teaspoon a day. New to this...” said a post by a user named Michelle in a public Facebook group, alongside a photo of a jar of water with a metal rod in it.

The side effects of taking colloidal silver can include a bluish-grey skin discoloration and poor absorption of some medicines including antibiotics, according to the US National Institutes of Health.

But this has not put some people off.

An Australian man who said he regularly buys the concoction told AFP it had “sold out in my town ... but before the virus, I could always get some.” AFP

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020

Colombia goes on lockdown ONTEVIDEO―Countries across Latin America have tightened measures to halt the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus, with more lockdowns, border and school closures as well as increased aid to the region’s poorest.

M

As cases of COVID-19 continue to rise—numbering more than 7,400 and 123 deaths as of Wednesday—Bolivia and Colombia became the latest countries to impose a total lockdown, while Chile extended its school closures until the end of April.

Here are the latest measures taken in several Latin American nations: Bolivia is closing its borders and ordering a strict lockdown until April 15 starting at midnight Wednesday, President Jeanine Anez said as she declared a state of “sanitary emergency.”

The steps are designed to add teeth to a lockdown that was ordered on Sunday but has largely been ignored.

More police and soldiers have been deployed to enforce the measures, Anez said.

There would be narrow exceptions to who can cross the borders and the times at which people can be outside their homes, she added.

A three-week total lockdown began just after midnight Tuesday and is set to last until April 12.

“Stay at home, prevent the virus from spreading and save lives,” said President Ivan Duque.

Nearly 500 cases of the deadly virus have been reported in Colombia, which has a population of 48 million.

The capital city Bogota had already been on lockdown since Sunday on the

orders of the mayor.

About 1.3 million residents of Santiago—including those of the Chilean capital’s most affluent neighborhoods—will be on lockdown for least a week starting at 0100 GMT Thursday, officials said.

This follows an order by authorities to extend school closures until May. Classes were suspended on March 16, just under two weeks after the first coronavirus case was recorded.

Chile has reported more than 1,100 infections and three deaths.

Panama will allow the cruise ship Zaandam—operated by the Holland America cruise line—to sail through its canal even though there are 42 people aboard with flu-like symptoms, Health Minister Rosario Turner said Wednesday.

The vessel, with 1,800 passengers, set sail on March 7 from Buenos Aires headed for San Antonio on the central coast of Chile.

IN BRIEF French military to join fight PARIS―The French military will support public services strained by the coronavirus epidemic, President Emmanuel Macron has said, as the country’s death toll topped 1,300.

France like other nations has already imposed a nationwide ban on non-essential movement and closed schools and restaurants in a bid to stop the spread of the pandemic.

The military operation, named “Resilience,” will focus on “aiding and supporting the population, as well as helping public services face the epidemic in mainland France and overseas”, Macron said on Wednesday.

“Unity and courage will allow us to overcome this, we are only at the beginning, but we will hold out,” Macron added, declaring that France was “at war.”

The comments came after the president visited a military field hospital set up by the army in the eastern Mulhouse region which has been badly hit by the coronavirus.

“The whole nation has been mobilized” in the fight against the disease, said a masked Macron, who also promised more investment for hospitals.

Officials said on Wednesday Paris will also cut metro and train services to a minimum in the capital and its suburbs and close two of its airports as the country expands the lockdown measures.

Operators said the goal was to keep just enough trains running for health workers and others who need to get to work during the coronavirus crisis. AFP

Aid program for Jordan WASHINGTON―The IMF on Wednesday approved a $1.3 billion aid plan for Jordan, made all the more necessary by the global coronavirus pandemic.

The program was initially announced at the end of January before the novel virus rocked the world’s economy.

“Changes were made to the program to support unbudgeted spending covering emergency outlays and medical supplies and equipment,” the IMF said in a statement.

“If the impact of the outbreak is deep enough to put at risk program objectives, the program will be adapted further to the changed circumstances, upon reaching understandings with the authorities,” the statement added.

Jordan will immediately receive a first tranche of about $140 million. The rest will be dispensed over the rest of the program, subject to eight program reviews.

In addition to funds for combating the pandemic, the program also provides for structural reforms including lowering the price of electricity for businesses and facilitating youth employment.

Jordan, whose stability is considered central to that of the entire region, is one of the most important countries that receives foreign aid, including from the United States.

The Middle Eastern nation has also long benefited from IMF aid programs in exchange for reforms. AFP

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CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

CHECKPOINT. A woman has her temperature checked in an effort to contain the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus on a road in Nongchik district on the border of Thailand’s southern province of Pattani on March 26, 2020. AFP

Massive risks to world economy as battle rages LONDON―The coronavirus outbreak and resulting lockdown of billions of people threatens the global economy to the point where economists are predicting the most violent recession in recent history, perhaps even eclipsing the Great Depression.

The crash will almost certainly be accompanied by a surge in unemployment, especially in countries with weaker worker rights, such as the United States.

Ahead of Thursday’s emergency virtual G20 meeting, here are the key concerns.

“The G20 economies will experience an unprecedented shock in the first half of this year and will contract in 2020 as a whole, before picking up in 2021,” economists from the rating agency Moody’s wrote on Wednesday.

Angel Gurria, head of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, told the BBC the world economy would suffer “for years”.

The current crisis is likely to be more severe than the 2008 financial crisis crash because it affects the entire economy, with a collapse in supply due to the shuttering of factories and a similar crash in demand with billions of people in lockdown.

The transport and tourism sectors have been the first to feel the pain, although some such as pharmaceuticals, health equipment, sanitary products, food and online trade have seen a boost.

The collective GDP of the G20 countries is predicted to contract 0.5 percent,

according to Moody’s, with the US down 2.0 percent and the eurozone losing 2.2 percent.

China is expected to buck the trend and grow, but at a much-reduced rate of 3.3 percent, according to Moody’s.

Most major banks believe the US has already fallen into recession, with Goldman Sachs forecasting a contraction of 3.8 percent this year and Deutsche Bank predicting the worst US slowdown since “at least World War II”.

In Europe, where the PMI business activity studies for March were the worst ever recorded, the German economy minister warned of a contraction of “at least” 5.0 percent in 2020.

France’s economy could shrink by 1.4 percent, according to Moody’s.

Britain could fare worse, with KPMG predicting a fall of 2.6 percent, but that loss could double if the pandemic lasts until the end of the summer.

Capital Economics paints the darkest picture, warning of a possible 15 percent contraction in the second quarter, almost twice as bad as during the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Unemployment rates are expected to soar, particularly in countries where levels have recently been at historic lows, such as Britain and the US. These economies have relied heavily on the boom in jobs in the “gig economy”, such as taxi drivers and delivery workers, which offer little or no social protection. AFP

SUNSET. An airplane takes off as the sun sets in Miami on March 25, 2020. AFP

New Zealand mosque shooter changes his plea to guilty WELLINGTON―An Australian farright extremist charged with murdering 51 Muslim worshipers in last year’s mass shooting at two New Zealand mosques unexpectedly flipped his plea to guilty on Thursday.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the Muslim community expressed relief at the surprise decision, which removes the need for a lengthy trial that authorities feared would be used to spout neo-Nazi propaganda.

Self-avowed white supremacist Brenton Tarrant, 29, had previously denied 51 charges of murder, 40 of attempted murder and one of terrorism but reversed his plea in a hurriedly arranged court hearing.

“Yes, guilty,” Tarrant told Christchurch High Court via videolink from Auckland Prison as the charges were read out to him.

Tarrant, wearing a grey top, stared intently at the camera while making his confession.

Neither the former gym instructor from the Australian country town of Grafton nor his lawyers offered any explanation for the change, which makes him New Zealand’s first-ever convicted terrorist.

The South Pacific nation does not have the death penalty but Tarrant faces the prospect of spending the rest of his life behind bars.

The terror and murder charges all carry life sentences, setting a minimum non-parole period of 17 years but giving the judge power to imprison without the possibility of release.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the admission of guilt would provide some relief to the many people whose lives were shattered in the attack.

“These guilty pleas and conviction bring accountability for what happened and also save the families who lost loved ones, those who were injured, and other witnesses, the ordeal of a trial,” she said.

Asked how she reacted upon hearing the news, Ardern replied: “I let out a huge sigh of relief”.

Judge Cameron Mander recorded convictions on all charges and said Tarrant would be sentenced at a date yet to be determined. AFP

But the ship had to alter its plans when ports along the way stopped it from docking due to coronavirus fears.

Every ship that reaches Panama must present a list of sick people, “and if we suspect there are people with respiratory problems, they cannot land,” Turner said. AFP CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Republic of the Philippines National Capital Judicial Region REGIONAL TRIAL COURT Branch 84, Quezon City IN RE: PETITION FOR NATURALIZATION OF EMILY ROSE FAST, Petitioner. x--------------------------------------------x SP. PROC. NO. R-QZN-19-18790-SP

ORDER and NOTICE OF HEARING On December 18, 2019 Petitioner through counsel, filed this verified Petition praying that after due notice, publication and hearing, an order be issued granting the Petition by declaring that petitioner has all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications for acquisition of Philippine citizenship thru naturalization under C.A. 473; and issuing an order that a Naturalization Certificate be issued and that said Naturalization Certificate be registered in the appropriate civil registry.

Brieftly, the petitioner alleged that she is a Canadian Citizen, of legal age, single, born in Langley,Canada on 3 September 1996 and presently residing at No. 85B Pingkian 1, Brgy. Pasong Tamo, Tandang Sora, Quezon City; that the petitioner was a resident of 8835-213 Street, Langley, British Columbia, Canada; that she is a daughter of Pastor Michael John Fast and Eva Rose Wiebe who are residing in the Philippines for more than 23 years doing missionary works with the Baptist Conference in the Philippines; that at the age of 3, Petitioner and her family came to reside in the Philippines. They arrived in the Philippines on September 8, 1999 together with her parents who came here in pursuit of their missionary works. They landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on board Japan Airlines with Flight No. JL745 and Petitioner was carrying Passport No. VG891161 issued by the Government of Canada. Such fact is shown at the Certification issued by the Bureau of Immigration; that petitioner holds an Alien Certificate of Registration No. G1906013876TV with SSRN No. 1410EF1209234726 issued by the Philippine Government which is valid until June 25, 2020 and a holder of Canadian Passport No. HM689374 valid until November 15, 2026; that petitioner holds an Alien Certificate of Registration No. G1906013876TV with SRRN No. 1410EF4209234726 issued by the Philippine Government which is valid until June 25, 2020; that having resided in the Philippines at an early age, Petitioner started and completed her schooling in the country and which is detailed as follows: Pre-school – SEATS Preschool – 670 Edsa, Brgy. E. Rodriguez, Cubao, Quezon City; Primary – Gospel Light Christian Academy – Matahimik St., cor. V. Luna, Brgy. Malaya, Quezon City; Secondary – Gospel Light Christian Academy – Matahimik St., cor. V. Luna, Brgy. Malaya, Quezon City; Tertiary – University of the Philippines Diliman – Bachelor of Arts in Film – Magna Cum Laude (2013-2018); that presently, Petitioner is a freelance photographer, videographer and film maker. She is also is the official film maker for the Baptist General Conference of Canada and was assigned in the Philippines to assist the South East Asian Theology Schools, Inc. in filming lecture videos; that in pursuit of her missionary works, Petitioner teaches in Pingkian Kid’s Net (2013 to present). This is a weekly values class for local children from the ages of 3 up to 12 years old. Together with 9 other missionary workers, Petitioner teaches lessons, prepares the activities and cooks snacks for the kids of Pingkian 1 Central, Brgy. Pasong Tamo, Tandang Sora, Quezon City; that she is also a Leader of the Pingkian Youth Ministry (2014-present). This is a weekly gathering wherein around 30 youth of the community come together to discuss the Bible in Pingkian 1, Central, Brgy.

Pasong Tamo, Tandang Sora, Quezon City; that she acts as the Secretary of Pingkian 1 Neighbor Youth Association (PINYA) (2013-present) in Pingkian 1 Central, Brgy. Pasong Tamo, Tandang Sora, Quezon City. This is a government-recognized association that promotes community service and involvement of the youth in local events. As a member of PINYA, she is involved in different activities like organizing Christmas presentations, holding workshops, setting up garage sales, street-sweeping, and other community activities; that petitioner likewise, is a Sunday School Teacher of the Metro Manila Bible Community (MMBC) (215-present) in 19 Col. Salgado St., Brgy. West Kamias, Quezon City. This involves teaching Bible stories and values lessons to children every Sunday; that petitioner was a member of the University of the Philippines Cinema Arts Society (UP CAST) (2013-2017) and served as Secretary; that all of the foregoing activities and membership in different organizations establishes the strong tie of the Petitioner with the Filipinos and through such constant association, she can fluently speak in Pilipino/Tagalog, learned to love and embrace the Filipino culture, customs and traditions; and that she has been residing in the Philippines for more than 20 years particularly at the address stated above and has been a law-abiding resident of Barangay Pasong Tamo, Quezon City; that petitioner seeks to acquire Philippine Citizenship thru naturalization under Commonwealth Act No. 473 (C.A. 473) otherwise known as “ An Act to Provide for the Acquisition of Philippine Citizenship by Naturalization; that petitioner has complied with all the other formal and substantial requirements under C.A. 473 for the acquisition of Philippine Citizenship thru naturalization including age and years of residence in the Philippines; that she possesses all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications set forth in C.A. 473; that in the 20 years of petitioner’s stay in the Philippines, she was able to establish and maintain a good reputation among her students, peers, religious group, classmates and within the community; that petitioner has never directly or indirectly disobeyed the Philippine Constitution since she believes in the underlying principles thereof; that neither did she transgressed any laws and regulations for the period of her stay in the Philippines; that since 2013, petitioner serves as the Secretary of Pingkian I Neighbor Youth Association (PINYA) in Pingkian 1 Central, Brgy. Pasong Tamo, Tandang Sora, Quezon City; that not only moderate knowledge of conversational Pilipino Tagalog, Petitioner can speak Pilipino/Tagalog fluently having been raised and lived in the Philippines since age of 3. In fact, her accent and the way she pronounces Tagalog words will let one think or believe that one speaking is Filipina – not a foreign national.

She is likewise fluent in English; that she does not defend or teach necessity of violence, personal assault or assassination for the predominance of ideas that she is not a polygamist or believer in the practice of polygamy; that petitioner have not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude; that petitioner is not suffering from mental alienation or any incurable contagious disease; that petitioner has socially mingled with Filipinos.

Her various missionary activities and membership is different organizations establishes the strong tie of the Petitioner with the Filipinos and through such constant association, she learned to love and embrace the culture, customs, traditions and ideals of Filipinos; that petitioner is a national of Canada which country grants Filipinos the right to become a naturalized citizen or subject thereof; that she believes in the underlying principles of the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines and undertakes to preserve and protect the same; that petitioner will continue to reside in the Philippines from the date of filing of this petition up to the time of her acquisition of Philippine Citizenship; and that upon being admitted as Filipino citizen, petitioner will renounce her allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, protectorate, state or sovereignty and particularly to Canada of which she is a citizen at present.

NOTICE is hereby given that the instant petition will be heard before this Court sitting at Room 105, Hall of Justice Building, Quezon City on JULY 27, 2020 at 8:30 in the morning at which date and time, all persons interested and concerned may appear and show cause, if any, why the petition should not be granted.

Let this Order be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation to be chosen by raffle, the last publication of which shall be at least more than four (4) months before the date of hearing. Petitioner is ordered to serve a copy of the Petition upon the Office of the Solicitor General and the respondents, and to submit proof of service thereof at least ten (10) days prior to the date of scheduled hearing. The respondents and/or any interested person may file opposition thereto within fifteen (15) days from notice of this Order or from the last date of publication of this Order.

SO ORDERED. Given this 27 day of February 2020 at Quezon City, Metro Manila.

(Sgd.) HON. LUISITO G. CORTEZ Presiding Judge cc: Atty. LELAND R. LOPEZ Counsel for the Petitioner Block 5, Lot 14, Sampaguita St., Palmera Homes Phase II, Brgy. Sta. Monica, Novaliches, Quezon City EMILY ROSE FAST Petitioner No. 85B Pingkian I, Brgy. Pasong Tamo, Tandang Sora, Quezon City Office of the Solicitor General No. 134 Amorsolo Street Legaspi Village, Makati City Local Civil Registrar Quezon City National Statistics Office East Avenue, Quezon City City Prosecutor’s Office 4th Floor, Quezon City Hall of Justice Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION and DEPORTATION Port Area, Intramuros, Manila

(MStandard - Mar. 13, 20 & 27, 2020)

Sports

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

sports@manilastandard.net

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

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FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020

Belingon eager to fight inside ONE circle EVEN before the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic former ONE Bantamweight World Champion Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon has been eager to make his return to mixed martial arts competition.

He has even named a time and place for his return. Belingon wants to compete at ONE Infinity 1 to be held May 29 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

A fan favorite because of his explosive striking “The Silencer” promises to showcase his other combat skills in his next outing.

The 32-year-old Kiangan, Ifugao resident lost his last fight at ONE: Century Part II in Tokyo, Japan October 2019 after being submitted by longtime rival and the reigning bantamweight king, Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes.

The setback convinced him to work on his wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Team Lakay in Baguio City. And if everything goes according to plan he will display his newfound skills in May. “My target, hopefully, is the May event here in the Philippines. That is what I am looking at,” said Belingon.

“Now, I am focused on the ground game and my wrestling. Of course, I won’t relax on my specialty either – my striking. But then again, reviewing my match with Bibiano, I am really lacking on the ground and wrestling, so that’s what I am looking at right now.”

Belingon has his work cut out for him if he wants a crack at the world title held

by Fernandes.

The toughest contenders in the division include Chinese knockout artist “The Underdog” Li Kai Wen, Dagestani grappler Yusup “Maestro” Saadulaev, Singapore-based American Troy “Pretty Boy” Worthen, and Japanese warriors Shoko Sato and Shuya “Stealth” Kamikubo.

He says he is willing to face anyone to get closer to the ONE Bantamweight World Championship again.

“There are a lot of names in the bantamweight division. Whoever they give me, I’ll take them on,” he says.

“The most important thing is to get back to my winning ways and compete for the title once more. That’s the goal – to get back on top and get the belt.”

Wimbledon faces postponement or cancellation LONDON, United Kingdom—Wimbledon could be postponed or even cancelled after All England Club chiefs called an “emergency meeting” for next week to discuss whether to go ahead with this year’s tournament amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Wimbledon is set to start in London on June 29, but the continuing spread of the virus has caused havoc with the sporting schedule and the grass-court Grand Slam could be the next major event to be delayed.

“The AELTC can confirm that it is continuing a detailed evaluation of all scenarios for The Championships 2020, including postponement and cancellation, as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak,” an All England Club statement said on Wednesday.

“An emergency meeting of the AELTC Main Board is scheduled for next week, and in preparation we are communicating closely with the LTA, and with the ATP, WTA, ITF and the other Grand Slams.”

The French Open was the first of this year’s three remaining Grand Slams to be postponed due to the virus.

Originally scheduled to run from May 24 to June 7, the clay-court tournament was moved to September 20 by the French Tennis Federation in a move that angered some players.

The new date for Roland Garros is just one week after the US Open finishes and clashes with the Laver Cup, the popular exhibition team competition set up by Roger Federer and featuring leading players from Europe and the rest of the world.

Wimbledon, whose singles titles were won by Novak Djokovic and Simona Halep last year, is the crown jewel of the sport’s four Grand Slams.

But moving it deeper into the tennis calendar might be tricky after the outcry over the unilateral French Open switch.

Euro 2020 and the Tokyo Olympics have both been put back by a year to allow the health crisis to be resolved. AFP

Kevin Belingon (right) connects with a right hand against Bibiano Fernandes during their fight in Singapore. ONE Championship

UP CHK steps up in battle against COVID-19 pandemic

By Peter Atencio

T

HE College of Human Kinetics of University of the Philippines is stepping up in the battle to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

The CHK has taken the lead in developing technology to help in the disinfection of frontliners in public areas, and in helping student-athletes who have been stranded in campus by the ongoing enhanced community quarantine.

They are in the vanguard of the production of “sanitents” or sanitation tents to be used to disinfect health workers and others in the frontline of the battle against COVID-19.

Testing of “sanitents” are being done at the CHK gym which has been the training ground of many UP varsity teams as well as venue for some University Athletic Asso-

ciation of the Philippines events and competition.

“Nabuo na nila yung first prototype.

They are just tweaking on the diffuser system nung disinfecting agent pero tapos na yung first prototype,” said UP CHK Dean Francis “Kiko” Diaz, who is also a member of the UAAP Board of Managing Directors.

When they are done in perfecting the prototype, UP CHK will present their model to local government units.

“When they perfect it, they are planning to invite the initial LGUs (Local Government Units) that have signified their intention sa kanila to use it,” added Diaz in a statement.

Diaz also disclosed that UP College of Science and College of Engineering has also initiated another breakthrough, which is the production of facemasks through (3D) printing.

“Titignan na lang kung kaya na imass produce,” said Diaz.

UP’s Diliman campus, also had an estimated 270 dorm boarders who have been stranded by the ongoing monthlong quarantine in Luzon.

And 20 of them are student-athletes.

The student-athletes have received an outpouring of support from the alumni of the school, may it be food, vitamins, and protective gear.

“Both the UP System and UP Diliman officials really made it a point na maalagaan yung na-stranded. Yung university food service, meron silang skeletal force daily to cook the meals of dormers and for the athletes. They are receiving the right nutrition they need for their diets,” said Diaz.

Sacrifices needed for Tokyo Olympics LAUSANNE, Switzerland—International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said Wednesday (Thursday Philippine time) that the postponed Tokyo Games would require “sacrifices and compromises” from all sides to make them work.

“These postponed Olympic Games will need sacrifices, will need compromises by all of the stakeholders,” Bach told reporters in a conference call the day after the IOC decided to delay the 2020 Games because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The IOC’s role, Bach said, was “to make the Olympic dreams of athletes come true.”

He admitted that cancelling the Tokyo Games was “discussed and considered”, but said: “It was very clear from the beginning that cancellation was not something the IOC would in any way favor.”

It is the first Olympic Games in peacetime to be postponed.

Bach said the rescheduling of the Games in 2021 remained a “very challenging question”.

A taskforce, named ‘Here We Go’, had been created to examine the issue, Bach added, saying the first port of call would be with the 33 international federations, likely starting with a conference call on Thursday.

“The first step, we have to see with them, to see what the options are. We also have to take into account the sports calendar around the Olympic Games,” the German said.

A TV grab from a video released by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) shows IOC President Thomas Bach delivering a statement regarding postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. AFP

The rescheduling, he added, “is not restricted just to the summer months. All the options are on the table, before and including the summer of 2021”.

Both World Athletics and the International Swimming Federation say they are prepared to move their 2021 world championships to accommodate the rescheduled Games.

The Athletics world championships are due to be held in Eugene, Oregon on August 6-15 next year, with the swimming worlds at Fukuoka in Japan between July 16 and Aug. 1.

Beating heart of Athletes’ Village One of the many logistical headaches caused by the historic postponement of the Tokyo Olympics has been the uncertainty around the Athletes’ Village overlooking Tokyo Bay. Touted by developers as a “flagship neighborhood for urban lifestyles”, the buildings housing the 11,000 competitors were to be hastily repurposed into more than 4,000 condos with stunning city views, some carrying a price tag of 170 million yen ($1.5 million). AFP

Former UST coach succumbs to heart attack ARIC del Rosario, former head coach of the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers and the University of Perpetual Help Altas, passed away at the age of 80.

Del Rosario had a heart attack while at their home in Quezon City early Thursday morning, and succumbed while undergoing treatment at the Lung Center of the Philippines, according to his son Lester.

He is best known for coaching the Growling Tigers to the men’s basketball in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines back in 1993 via a rare 14-0 sweep.

“Tatay Aric” last handled the Altas in the National Collegiate Athletic Association from 2012 to 2015.

Among his many coaching stints included the Pampanga Dragons in the Metropolitan Basketball Associa-

tion and the national men’s team in the Southeast Asian Games in 2003.

He is the former commissioner of the NCAA (Philippines) from 20092011 and the Fr. Martin Cup. Coach Aric is survived by his wife Teresa, and his children Eric, Lester, PJ and Michelle, along with his grandchildren.

Details of his internment will be known later. Peter Atencio

Basilan coach uses long break to study other MPBL teams THE grind never stops for BasilanJumbo Plastic amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

With its Chooks-to-Go MPBL South Division Finals series against top seed Davao Occidental-Cocolife postponed indefinitely due to the pandemic, the Steel are capitalizing on the additional time to prepare for their do-or-die battle.

“From time to time, I have been watching videos of our games, doing some scouting. Because of the quarantine period, I have more time to study our opponent,” said head coach Jerson Cabiltes.

Basilan, who defeated Iloilo in the quarterfinals and Bacoor in the semis, were able to stun Davao Occidental in Game One 74-72. However, the Steel could not take advantage of their homecourt last March 11, bowing 76-81.

Game Three was supposed to take place on March 14 but the league had to postpone the games for the safety of the MPBL community.

Despite this, the Steel, headed by Allyn Bulanadi and Hessed Gabo, are keeping in shape at the comfort of their homes with the enhanced community quarantine in effect in Luzon.

“I remind my players to always stay in shape because we really don’t know when will COVID-19 end. Just giving them workouts to do at home during this quarantine period,” the youthful tactician shared.

Besides staying sharp, Cabiltes is also keeping himself busy as a frontliner against the pandemic. He is serving as a kagawad in Barangay 359 in Manila.

“Siyempre, nakakapagod dahil yun nga, I review the tapes in the morning then help in keeping our barangay safe at night,” he said.

“Pero what is happening is beyond sports and I am just doing my part in this battle against COVID-19. Yung pagod wala yun.”

Seeing first hand the long hours spent by the country’s frontliners on a daily basis, Cabiltes made sure to pay tribute to them. Moreover, he and the Steel are dedicating the rest of their campaign to them in this tournament backed

by Chooks-to-Go. “Sa ating mga doctor, nurse, sundalo, barangay officials at iba pang frontliners, kayo po ang ating bagong bayani.”

IN BRIEF

ADB governors asked to do more vs outbreak FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III asked his fellow governors at the Asian Development Bank to empower president Masatsugu Asakawa with more discretion in undertaking measures to address the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting economic fallout.

Dominguez, in a letter to his fellow ADB governors, said providing Asakawa with some leeway, “within reasonable limits,” in handling the institution’s budget and approving crisis-related initiatives would go “a long way in ensuring that timely and decisive action is taken by the bank in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic fallout that will follow.”

“Now more than ever, we, the board of dovernors of the ADB, should do our part to support the ADB management in ensuring that its avowed functions are carried out with utmost efficiency and effectiveness. I therefore call on my fellow governors to empower our trusted ADB president and the bank’s management to work alongside the governments of developing member-economies in dealing with the crisis in a highly responsive manner,” Dominguez said in his emailed letter sent to the other 67 governors of the bank.

Julito G. Rada

IATA pushes tax relief to Asia-Pacific airlines THE International Air Transport Association urged Asia-Pacific countries, including the Philippines, to provide financial assistance and tax relief to airlines as they fight for survival amid the impact of coronavirus disease 2019.

IATA said it sent letters to the heads of government of 18 states in Asia-Pacific to appeal for emergency support to airlines as they fight for survival due to the dramatic loss of air travel demand. These states include Bangladesh, India, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Thailand and Vietnam “Airlines are fighting for survival in every corner of the world. Travel restrictions and evaporating demand mean that, aside from cargo, there is almost no passenger business. For airlines, it’s apocalypse now,” IATA director general and chief executive Alexandre de Juniac said.

“And there is a small and shrinking window for governments to provide a lifeline of financial support to prevent a liquidity crisis from shuttering the industry,” he said.

De Juniac said without urgent relief, many airlines would not be around to lead the recovery stage.

Some 2.7 million airline jobs are at risk and each of those jobs supports a further 24 in the travel and tourism value chain, he said. Darwin G. Amojelar

Business

Port regulator freezes collection of added charges

By Darwin G. Amojelar STATE-RUN Philippine Ports Authority said Thursday it issued a memorandum prohibiting the imposition or collection of additional port charges and fees, including hazard fee, in the delivery of port services.

PPA general manager Jay Daniel Santiago said in a notice to all port stakeholders the agency had not granted any increase and additional port fees, cargo handling, pilotage, terminal and miscellaneous charges, including hazard fee, in its official port tariff following the Luzon-wide enforcement of the enhanced community quarantine.

The PPA gave the notice to all shipping companies, terminal operators, cargo handling operators, pilots and pilots’ associations, private ports and port service providers, port managers and other port stakeholders.

It issued the notice after the Quezon Harbor Pilots Association Inc., which is based in Lucena City, released an open letter stating that it would collect P60,000 as additional pilots’ health hazard fee for every vessel that they would assist in Quezon ports.

The pilots’ association said in a letter dated March 23 that because they are considered as “frontliners” or front line personnel in the port’s operation, they are exposed to the threat of COVID-19.

The pilots’ association said the collection of additional pilots’ health hazard fee follows the recent announcement of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte that all frontline personnel should be entitled to receive hazard pay amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The PPA clarified that neither its office nor its board granted the authority to impose additional charges or fees to any terminal operator, cargo handling operator, pilots and pilots’ associations, private port operators and port service providers including the Quezon Harbor Pilots Association.

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020

B1

BSP advances P20b in dividends T

By Julito G. Rada

he Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Thursday it remitted P20 billion worth of advanced dividends to the national government to support the state in its fight against coronavirus disease 2019.

It said in a statement the dividends constituted 87 percent of the estimated total dividends based on the BSP’s unaudited financial statements for the year 2020.

The amount was scheduled to be remitted on March 26 through direct credit to the Treasurer of the Philippines-Treasurer Single Account which is maintained with the BSP. “We are one government. We are one Filipino nation. And we, at the BSP, shall support all efforts to fight this once-in-alifetime pandemic and keep the economy afloat,” BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno

said in a statement.

“The BSP has and is ready to employ the necessary tools in its arsenal to address the impact of COVID-19 while staying true to its mandate,” Diokno said.

Under its newly amended charter, the BSP is no longer mandated to remit its dividends to the national government.

Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7653, as amended by R.A. 11211, provides that any and all declared dividends of the BSP in favor of the national government should be released and disbursed immediately for the payment of the BSP’s increase in capitalization.

“Nevertheless, considering this extraordinary time, the Monetary Board has approved to defer the application of the BSP’s dividends for 2019 to the BSP’s capital and remit P20 billion advance/ partial dividends to support the national government’s programs during this enhanced community quarantine due to COVID-19,” the BSP said.

The bank also arranged for the purchase of government securities from the Bureau of Treasury under a repurchase agreement in the amount of P300 billion, cut the reserve requirement ratio by 200 basis points to 12 percent and policy rate by 50 basis points to 3.25 percent.

It also enabled continued access to banking institutions and advocated that banks extend the greatest possible help they can to serve not just our economy, but also the Filipino people.

Early this month, the BSP said remitted P21.48 billion worth of dividends to the government in 2018, the largest it declared since it was established in 1993

when it replaced the old central bank.

The BSP handed over P4 billion in partial dividends to the government on Feb. 20 last year and recently remitted P17.48 billion to complete the turnover to the government.

The BSP transmitted more than P26.96 billion in dividends to the government under the current administration. It incurred a net loss of P95.38 billion in 2012. Prudent management trimmed that loss to P17.51 billion in 2013, P9.86 billion in 2014 and P4.42 billion in 2015.

The BSP posted a net income of P17.81 billion in 2016 and that increased to P22.845 billion in 2017.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law Republic Act No. 11211 in February 2019. The new BSP Charter embodied a package of reforms that will further align its operations with global best practices, improve the BSP’s corporate viability and enhance its capacity for crafting proactive

BIR stretches deadlines on tax payments

BDO reminds clients to use online banking

BDO Unibank said while banks remain open to service the banking needs of clients amid the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon, it encourages the heightened use of online banking to protect the public from the spread of the pandemic.

“We urge our online banking users to share and teach their family and friends how to sign up and use BDO Online Banking so they can bank safely from home,” the bank said in a statement.

BDO said it provided steps to guide customers on how to sign-up for online banking. These are found on its official website www.bdo.com.ph, official Facebook Page and BDO Youtube channel.

It said that with BDO online banking, customers could perform transactions such as send money, pay bills, reload and more.

Apart from online banking, BDO’s network of ATMs and Cash Accept Machines is available for cash withdrawal, bills payment and deposit.

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

FREE COFFEE. Amid the enhanced community quarantine, coffee brand Kopiko responds to the call to support frontliners, releasing products to initially cover six hospitals, 1,500 health workers and 25,000 military personnel in the first week of the community quarantine in Metro Manila. It also teams up with the Makati Medical Center Foundation to donate coffee and bottled water to the 25,000 police and military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines tasked to protect the citizens from the spread of the virus.

Suncity of Hong Kong gets nod to invest in PH casino

By Jenniffer B. Austria SUNCITY Group Holdings Ltd., Asia’s largest junket operator, said it obtained shareholders’ approval to invest in the Philippine casino market.

Suncity said in a disclosure to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange Thursday it received a written approval to pay an initial $200 million as provided under a co-development and lease agreement with Westside City Resorts World Inc. and Travellers International Hotel Group Inc., two companies owned by billionaire Andrew Tan. The payment will be done through Suntrust Home Developers Inc., which is 51-percent owned by Fortune Noble Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Suncity

Group.

The shareholders also approved Suntrust’s lease agreement with Westside and Travellers as lessor of the parcels of land in Parañaque.

The approval from Suncity Group stockholders was one of the conditions required to complete the co-development agreement and the lease agreement with Westside City and Travellers International.

The co-development agreement provides, among others, for the execution of the lease agreement on the project site to develop a 5-star hotel and casino establishment and the use of the project site and reimbursement of the costs incurred on the land.

The lease agreement, meanwhile, will

allow Suntrust the right to use the land where the main hotel casino will be built and operated.

The lease covers an original term until August 19, 2039, renewable automatically, subject to applicable laws, for another 25 years.

Annual rental will be in the amount of US$10,600,000, exclusive of the applicable value-added tax, and payable in two instalments or on a semi-annual basis.

The Westside City Resorts project will rise on Entertainment City, a 120-hectare parcel of reclaimed land in Metro Manila.

Entertainment City is envisioned to be Asia’s version of the Las Vegas gaming strip.

Suncity in October last year acquired a 51-percent stake in Suntrust.

FREE ACCOMMODATION. The Villar family turns over three buildings that it built and donated for the temporary use of Las Piñas General Hospital. The buildings include the Las Piñas Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center, Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines and the Provincial Board Members’ League in Barangay Ilaya, Las Piñas City. The rooms and facilities of the buildings will provide healthcare workers with a convenient temporary accommodation. The Villar family will also take care of the daily food needs of the LPGH staff.

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue said Thursday it issued various revenue issuances to help taxpayers meet the deadlines on filings in light of the enhanced community quarantine over Luzon.

BIR Commissioner Caesar Dulay said he signed several revenue memorandum circulars and a regulation in line with the Luzon quarantine from March 17 to April 13 to contain the spread of coronavirus disease 2019.

He said RR No.5-2020, as circularized by RMC No. 33-2020, extended the deadline for the availment of the tax amnesty on delinquencies from April 23 to May 23, 2020.

Meanwhile, RMC No. 322020 extended to April 30 the deadline for the filing of the certificate of residence for tax treaty relief forms pursuant to Revenue Memorandum Order No. 9-2017, without imposition of penalties.

The BIR said the directives aimed to provide relief to the deadline of filing of the same for final withholding taxes on dividends, interests, royalties paid on or before March 10, 2020.

RMC No. 31-2020 granted an extension of 30 days from date of filing to taxpayers required to respond or reply to notice for informal conference, preliminary and final assessment notice/formal letter of demand, supporting documents to support request for re-investigation, appeals and request for reconsideration to the commissioner on the final decision on disputed assessment and other similar letters and correspondences with due dates.

RMC No. 30-2020 and 282020 extended the deadline for 30 calendar days the filing/efiling and payment/e-payment/ remittance of certain tax returns, including the submission of reports and its required attachments for the period of March 20 to April 15, 2020.

Income tax (annual and quarterly), VAT, percentage tax, withholding tax, documentary stamp tax, excise tax and one time transactions were among the tax returns included in the extension.

RMC No. 27-2020 also extended the filing of VAT refund applications covering the quarter ending March 31, 2020 to April 30, 2020.

NEA: 83 electric co-ops give customers one-month extension to settle electricity bills

By Alena Mae S. Flores EIGHTY three electric cooperatives in the country announced a 30-day extension for electricity consumers to settle their power bills in the wake of the enhanced community quarantine, the National Electrification Administration said Thursday.

NEA administrator Edgardo Masongsong said implementing the 30-day payment extension to electricity consumers would help ease their financial burden, especially those impacted by the enhanced community quarantine amid the coronavi-

rus pandemic.

The NEA said while a significant number of electric cooperatives already complied with the directive—most are found in Luzon and Visayas—other power co-ops simply released public announcements on the waiver of surcharges for late payments and suspension of disconnection activities.

“My appeal to the electric cooperatives is to comply with the advisories of both the Department of Energy and the NEA since they also get reprieve from paying their obligations to their power suppliers,” Masongsong said.

The Energy Department last week called for “solidarity” by deferring payments of obligations and dues among all stakeholders in the power sector for the benefit of consumers.

It issued an advisory addressed to all private and public corporations in the power sector on deferring payments of obligations and dues for 30 days for the benefit of consumers.

The NEA also released an advisory to all 121 power coops as the coronavirus disease was expected to take a serious financial toll on many Filipino families and

industries nationwide.

It said, however, that customers who preferred to settle their bills on time could still do so by paying through electronic means, if available, for the sake of social distancing and other precautionary measures that needed to be observed.

Masongsong welcomed the steps already taken by the management of electric cooperatives to protect their employees, especially the line workers and other crews, who needed to work on the field to ensure that power distribution services would not be disrupted.

B2

Business

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market surges again; BDO jumps T HE stock market soared again Thursday along with the rest of Asia, as investors breathed a sigh of relief that US senators have finally passed a gargantuan stimulus package for the world’s top economy after being delayed by wrangling over details.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index jumped 373.82 points, or 7.4 percent, to 5,401.58 on a value turnover of P7.7 billion. Gainers overwhelmed losers, 151 to 48, with 26 issues unchanged.

BDO Unibank Inc. of the Sy Group, the biggest lender in terms of assets, advanced 15.7 percent to P115.70, while

sister unit SM Prime Holdings Inc. climbed 14.8 percent to P31.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which is into toll roads, water and electricity distribution, hospitals and infrastructure, rose 10.2 percent to P2.71, while PLDT Inc., the largest telecommunications firm, surged 9.8 percent to P1,066.

The rest of Asian markets rose. The unprecedented $2 trillion plan—described by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell as a “wartime level of investment”—helped spur a surge across global equities as panicked traders worried about the impact of the coronavirus sweeping the planet.

But another advance on Wall Street was blunted Wednesday as it emerged that four Republican senators have balked at the generous provisions agreed to in the bipartisan deal with the White House.

The bill eventually cleared the Senate by an overwhelming majority and will now head to the House of Representa-

tives before going to President Donald Trump for his signature.

The monster deal thrashed out between Republicans, Democrats and the White House includes cash payments to American taxpayers and several hundred billion dollars in grants and loans to small businesses and core industries.

It also buttresses hospitals desperately in need of medical equipment and expands unemployment benefits.

The plan, together with a huge bondbuying program by the Federal Reserve that effectively prints cash, is part of an unprecedented global response to the outbreak, which has even seen Germany put together a list of measures worth more than $1 trillion.

Asian markets mostly rose though major indexes struggled after posting hefty gains this week.

Tokyo ended down 4.5 percent after surging almost a fifth over the previous three days, while Hong Kong dipped 0.3

percent and Shanghai eased 0.2 percent.

But Sydney jumped more than two percent, Wellington and Mumbai climbed four percent and Jakarta soared almost 10 percent.

There were also healthy gains in Taipei and Bangkok.

Singapore also bounced back into positive territory, having earlier lost more than two percent. Data in the morning showed the city-state’s economy suffered its worst quarterly contraction since the financial crisis more than a decade ago, giving global investors an early insight into the economic effects of the pandemic.

Singapore is considered a bellwether for trade-reliant Asian countries.

While the US bill provides muchneeded support, observers continue to err towards caution with most now expecting the global economy to plunge into recession as countries go into lockdown, turning off the growth taps.

With AFP

Manila Standard BuSineSS daily StockS review thurSday, March 26, 2020

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

BANK PH ISLANDS BDO UNIBANK BRIGHT KINDLE CHINABANK COL FINANCIAL EAST WEST BANK MEDCO HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PB BANK PBCOM PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK SUN LIFE UNION BANK VANTAGE

56.5 101.8 0.87 21.05 15.9 7.35 0.26 36.55 0.67 7.81 17.02 19.46 179 38.95 16.98 111 1,390 53.95 0.99

61.9 115.7 0.87 21.05 15.9 7.79 0.28 37.3 0.67 7.81 17.02 20.05 179 40 17 117.7 1,390 53.95 1.15

56.5 101.4 0.54 20 15.2 7.35 0.26 36.05 0.67 7.81 17 19.42 155.1 36 16.5 107 1,390 52.4 0.99

FINANCIALS 60.5 3,488,980 115.7 4,770,410 0.6 139,000 20.95 52,300 15.2 8,800 7.6 151,600 0.27 170,000 36.1 12,644,500 0.67 3,000 7.81 100 17 1,400 19.98 141,300 172 810 38.5 1,900 17 21,200 108 1,231,260 1,390 25 52.7 14,520 1.15 2,000

210,488,793.50 515,572,562 89,720 1,072,400 134,460 1,156,475 45,350 462969130 2,010 781 23,808 2,805,867 131,264 70,660 360,298 135,978,372 34,750 765,017.50 2,140

-154,924.50 103,798,718 -352,445 10,429 -224440595.0004 -466,933 13,080 -26,975,047 -630,255.50 -

ABOITIZ POWER AC ENERGY AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS AXELUM BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CIRTEK HLDG CONCRETE B CROWN ASIA DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP EMPERADOR EUROMED FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG FRUITAS HLDG GINEBRA GREENERGY INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LIBERTY FLOUR MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO PEPSI COLA PETROENERGY PETRON PHINMA PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP RFM CORP ROXAS AND CO ROXAS HLDG SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SMC FOODANDBEV SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VULCAN INDL

26.5 1.72 6.31 0.48 0.9 2.05 0.156 1.02 11.3 6.26 59.9 1.84 3.3 4.6 7.09 5.5 7 1.91 16.2 47 1.16 28.5 0.7 3.99 0.96 100 41.95 9.35 4.85 6.57 216.6 1.35 2.95 2.15 9 9.5 18.56 3.9 4.5 1.4 1.38 0.78 5.05 49.65 8.3 0.1 0.67 99 2.11 0.81 0.57

30 1.99 6.69 0.5 0.9 2.15 0.17 1.07 12.8 7.2 59.9 1.88 3.7 4.85 7.45 6.03 7.22 2.1 16.98 47.5 1.24 31 0.81 4.33 1.05 104.5 41.95 9.58 5.1 6.82 224.8 1.4 2.95 2.28 9.38 10 19.58 4.1 4.69 1.45 1.38 0.85 5.09 53 8.3 0.11 0.73 100.5 2.11 0.94 0.61

25.95 1.72 6.31 0.48 0.9 2.05 0.156 1 11.28 6.1 59.9 1.84 3.22 4.6 7.09 5.5 6.97 1.91 16.18 46.65 1.16 28.5 0.7 3.99 0.91 99 41.95 9.16 4.79 6.33 212.6 1.26 2.95 2.13 8.95 9.01 18.4 3.9 4.28 1.27 1.38 0.77 5 47.5 8.1 0.1 0.67 98.1 2.11 0.79 0.57

INDUSTRIAL 30 2,772,300 1.94 9,121,000 6.6 106,500 0.5 140,000 0.9 14,000 2.11 831,000 0.17 1,150,000 1.05 7,541,000 12.8 676,500 6.94 6,875,500 59.9 10 1.84 13,000 3.4 131,000 4.79 3,248,000 7.1 318,400 5.5 870,200 7.22 142,800 2.01 3,825,000 16.9 1,684,600 47.05 41,400 1.22 16,990,000 30.05 8,300 0.79 1,908,000 4.27 276,000 1.02 1,026,000 102.2 3,227,240 41.95 1,100 9.16 5,408,900 4.85 1,317,000 6.42 1,113,100 216.2 513,830 1.4 368,000 2.95 3,000 2.26 3,097,000 9.38 11,800 10 357,500 18.7 376,300 4.1 4,000 4.5 88,000 1.43 1,907,000 1.38 10,000 0.83 1,621,000 5.03 663,000 49.1 252,700 8.1 215,300 0.11 900,000 0.72 73,000 99 4,540,130 2.11 21,000 0.87 14,772,000 0.6 816,000

78,127,985 17,286,190 701,789 69,500 12,600 1,758,450 179,810 7,870,330 8,446,342 46,861,647 599 24,200 442,980 15,304,740 2,297,919 4822162 1,018,058 7,699,770 27,938,128 1,954,345 20,510,560 250,605 1,471,840 1,165,150 1,007,330 329,083,270.50 46,145 50,849,798 6,466,310 7,273,695 112,142,644 468,560 8,850 6,772,400 106,090 3,486,252 7020066 16,000 379,230 2,596,240 13,800 1,321,110 3,341,070 12,578,655 1,767,940 97,400 50,110 450,739,209.50 44,310 12,408,140 481,050

2,336,270 -1,440,800 -464,027 101,320 1,154,250 5,156,576 -493,577 156,250 -6,392,590 -1,668,028 -4637602.0001 571,997 3,154,854 -848,605 368,730 3,000 22,320 -59,080 -118,382,149 -985,666 -4,849,250 -2,493,059 -19,461,142 88,460 -28,320 -1,048,650 -4623166.0001 7,800 -112,240 114,750 26,880 -2,176,610 -1,459,730 -57,602 2,200 -217,040,917 1,760 -

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANGLO PHIL HLDG ANSCOR ASIABEST GROUP ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B AYALA CORP AYALA LAND LOG COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA HLDG PRIME MEDIA SAN MIGUEL CORP SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES SOLID GROUP SYNERGY GRID TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.495 30.45 6.6 0.5 6.29 5.9 0.51 0.6 467 1.53 4.99 3.49 7.76 448 3.6 51 0.4 2.83 6.58 0.5 2.53 2.75 0.74 88.5 800 0.66 0.81 140 152.1 0.179 0.12

0.52 33.45 6.8 0.52 6.3 6.5 0.57 0.6 485.8 1.7 5.1 3.59 9.86 448 3.6 54 0.45 3 7.1 0.5 2.73 2.75 0.83 90 845 0.67 0.83 153 152.1 0.179 0.14

0.49 29.7 6.5 0.5 5.8 5.5 0.51 0.55 461 1.51 4.8 3.49 7.76 410.2 3.6 49.55 0.4 2.78 6.4 0.5 2.5 2.75 0.74 88.5 761 0.65 0.8 140 151.8 0.179 0.12

HOLDING FIRMS 0.52 8,770,000 30.85 1,738,700 6.64 5,325,700 0.51 372,000 5.98 40,700 6.28 89,700 0.56 680,000 0.6 568,000 482 975,990 1.69 742,000 4.8 402,000 3.55 9,377,000 9 8,900 419 213,670 3.6 100,000 53.75 1,940,800 0.42 50,000 3 337,000 6.88 1,040,300 0.5 10,000 2.71 63,682,000 2.75 8,000 0.75 67,000 88.8 628,670 845 780,850 0.67 49,000 0.83 140,000 150 690 152 430 0.179 360,000 0.14 780,000

4,513,950 53,874,070 35,489,768 191,020 253,993 539,874 375,700 315,800 467,900,326 1,179,890 1,973,370 33,313,480 74,078 90,544,350 360,000 101,380,385 21,450 964,160 7,026,905 5,000 169,292,700 22,000 50,320 56,196,422 636,822,200 32,350 115,380 97,730 65,334 64,440 99,630

134,600 25,803,515 655,985 275,000 -69,110,774 -611,140 -1,746,690 -43,120,192 -360,000 -11,229,960 -459,020 483,427 10,477,300 6,448,832.50 -196,609,175 -4,572 -

8990 HLDG A BROWN ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DM WENCESLAO DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL INFRADEV PHIL REALTY ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP

13 0.51 1.1 0.54 31.25 1.31 3.99 6.08 0.36 0.74 0.114 0.23 7 16.34 0.25 0.87 0.71 2.22 0.13 0.31 0.67 0.245 13 1.58 2.9

13.2 0.57 1.15 0.58 33.2 1.31 3.99 6.1 0.37 0.79 0.118 0.23 7.3 16.68 0.32 0.92 0.73 2.36 0.139 0.31 0.69 0.249 15 1.58 2.9

12.9 0.51 1.02 0.51 30.8 1.29 3.85 6.08 0.36 0.74 0.114 0.23 7 16.2 0.24 0.86 0.71 2.19 0.129 0.31 0.66 0.245 13 1.45 2.9

PROPERTY 12.9 329,000 0.55 4,408,000 1.15 248,000 0.58 610,000 32.3 17,143,400 1.31 867,000 3.99 195,000 6.1 85,600 0.37 1,340,000 0.79 65,000 0.118 20,000 0.23 10,000 7.1 71,500 16.3 338,500 0.3 520,000 0.91 17,947,000 0.73 400,000 2.32 71,974,000 0.139 6,540,000 0.31 20,000 0.69 1,173,000 0.249 330,000 14.4 3,804,200 1.57 345,000 2.9 2,000

4,269,400 2,414,350 260,860 331,090 553,662,170 1,132,240 763,190 522,100 491,500 49,100 2,320 2,300 517,310 5,542,446 158,750 16,021,190 286,000 166,977,240 884,010 6,200 794,980 80,890 52,184,230 504,820 5,800

2,550 86,775,100 994,060 -19,750 17,630 7,400 -35,950 -1,848,740 2,400 -1,907,130 45,650,530 680 -1,081,050 2,900

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND VISTAMALLS

28.25 2.2 1.2 3.46 3.35

31 2.2 1.33 3.75 3.46

27.35 1.96 1.15 3.36 3.25

31 2.15 1.18 3.36 3.37

22,578,300 1,137,000 2,596,000 4,454,000 189,000

665,785,685 2,241,870 3,162,190 15,722,460 634,450

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL ALLHOME APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CHELSEA DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD EASYCALL GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA HARBOR STAR INTL CONTAINER ISLAND INFO ISM COMM LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN METRO RETAIL METROALLIANCE A METROALLIANCE B MLA BRDCASTING NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PH RESORTS GRP PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

6.1 16.1 1.25 4.79 0.26 0.034 2.1 5.09 0.026 38.8 2.16 3 1.94 5.25 1,840 5 301.4 0.76 70.2 0.073 1.34 11.78 1.38 4.79 0.335 1.31 1.42 1.5 13.72 1.35 1.6 6.8 3.96 131 1.45 985 0.29 0.191 32.5 51.45 6 1.12 0.4 0.154 0.4 12.7

6.5 16.5 1.28 4.79 0.27 0.039 2.33 5.65 0.029 41.8 2.67 3 1.94 5.7 1,980 5.19 399.8 0.76 75.5 0.073 1.45 11.78 1.38 4.91 0.36 1.37 1.62 1.65 13.8 1.38 1.6 6.8 3.96 131 1.68 1,080 0.32 0.21 35.15 53.2 6 1.24 0.415 0.157 0.4 13.2

6 15.9 1.25 4.55 0.25 0.034 2.07 5.09 0.026 38.8 2.16 3 1.8 5.02 1,840 4.9 301.4 0.71 70 0.07 1.32 11.64 1.3 4.6 0.335 1.28 1.35 1.5 11 1.31 1.5 6.25 3.96 125 1.4 983.5 0.285 0.19 32.5 51.45 5.8 1.12 0.4 0.153 0.375 12.6

SERVICES 6 16.02 1.25 4.58 0.255 0.039 2.3 5.3 0.027 41 2.67 3 1.8 5.05 1,930 5 340 0.73 74.1 0.073 1.44 11.64 1.37 4.68 0.36 1.36 1.62 1.56 12 1.35 1.6 6.3 3.96 131 1.6 1,066 0.305 0.209 34.2 52.2 5.91 1.22 0.41 0.157 0.4 12.6

87,100 267,900 10,000 1,189,000 7,110,000 1,700,000 51,000 16,120,000 10,600,000 774,800 2,631,000 10,000 8,000 11,100 123,430 335,400 2,060 391,000 1,682,270 250,000 40,247,000 2,400 323,000 1,935,000 240,000 2,937,000 5,184,000 169,000 13,600 3,490,000 35,000 52,800 5,000 30,670 3,854,000 360,050 7,410,000 2,030,000 3,304,600 1,672,590 16,800 1,969,000 2,420,000 2,290,000 90,000 3,180,800

526,507 4,337,298 12,740 5,477,050 1,826,400 63,500 108,840 85,462,440 290,500 31606040 6,378,660 30,000 14,820 58,812 235,862,070 1,668,495 669,974 287,820 123,390,811.50 17,610 55,673,520 28,070 433,680 9,155,880 85,700 3,905,500 8,008,170 259,950 157,114 4,698,350 53,450 338,865 19,800 3,951,617 6,075,030 375,402,115 2,242,350 405,980 112,991,985 87,135,510 99,103 2,332,760 977,950 355,120 35,000 40,652,222

ABRA MINING ACE ENEXOR APEX MINING ATOK BENGUET A CENTURY PEAK COAL ASIA HLDG DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL GEOGRACE LEPANTO A LEPANTO B MARCVENTURES NICKEL ASIA NIHAO OMICO CORP ORNTL PENINSULA ORNTL PETROL A PX MINING PXP ENERGY SEMIRARA MINING

0.001 5.2 0.74 10.5 1.05 2.48 0.25 6 0.57 0.179 0.066 0.067 0.52 1.55 0.85 0.35 0.53 0.0094 2.07 3.85 10.76

0.0011 5.48 0.76 10.7 1.05 2.53 0.25 6.68 0.61 0.195 0.068 0.073 0.55 1.79 0.9 0.39 0.53 0.0094 2.07 4.2 11.18

0.001 5 0.72 10.5 1.05 2.47 0.25 6 0.57 0.179 0.063 0.067 0.52 1.53 0.84 0.35 0.46 0.0082 2.03 3.8 10.5

MINING & OIL 0.0011 35,000,000 5.28 118,300 0.74 1,111,000 10.7 14,700 1.05 7,000 2.53 169,000 0.25 50,000 6.5 10,900 0.6 3,717,000 0.183 110,000 0.064 650,000 0.073 50,000 0.52 345,000 1.63 5,630,000 0.86 31,000 0.39 60,000 0.46 110,000 0.0082 6,000,000 2.03 67,000 4.09 898,000 10.8 2,845,700

35,500 626,918 823,850 156,420 7,350 426,070 12,500 69,113 2,197,700 20,240 41,960 3,570 182,650 9,137,390 27,550 22,200 51,900 52,800 137,560 3,585,290 30,878,578

-22,258 37,350 -566,590 -3,660,760 -24,620 -72,010 -11,441,670

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2R ALCO PREF B DD PREF GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 3A PCOR PREF 3B PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B PNX PREF 4 SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

14.52 500 496 99 97.9 5 970 960 94 99.8 1,002 1,007 99 105 995 76.4 74.05 74.9 74.2 74.9 74.9

14.52 500 496 99 97.9 5 970 970 94.5 99.8 1,002 1,010 99 107 999 76.4 74.05 74.9 74.5 74.9 74.9

14 499 495 99 97.8 5 970 960 92.2 98.2 1,001 1,005 99 105 995 75.5 74.05 74.45 74.2 74.5 74.9

PREFERRED 14 194,700 499 3,000 495 650 99 1,940 97.9 40,790 5 71,400 970 200 970 260 93 4,350 98.2 1,440 1,001 300 1,005 2,235 99 1,260 105 2,910 999 250 75.5 3,010 74.05 1,001,000 74.9 2,024,700 74.2 37,210 74.5 11,000 74.9 50

2,761,480 1,499,910 321,760 192,060 3,990,262 357,000 194,000 251,190 404,857 143,098 300,520 2,250,700 124,740 307,150 249,150 227,264 74,124,050 150,745,990 2,762,736 823,500 3,745

-2,693,330 9,900 0 -

LR WARRANT

0.76

0.77

0.7

WARRANTS 0.77 65,000

49,900

ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH XURPAS

1.88 5.9 0.49

2.08 6.18 0.54

1.86 5.63 0.49

2 6.15 0.52

FIRST METRO ETF

79

82.5

78.6

USD DMPL A1

10.2

10.26

10.2

MS Trading Summary

SHARES

FINANCIAL

25,531,423

INDUSTRIAL

101,431,410

HOLDING FIRMS

102,524,570

PROPERTY

174,599,215

SERVICES

127,434,908

MINING & OIL

57,139,527

GRAND TOTAL

590,859,904

SME

502,000 147,400 1,510,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 81.5 28,790 DDS 10.26

16,670

-69,597,735 -8,669,090 -119,714 -423,210 -1,096,350 12,705,770 -17207214.9996 -1,222,350 30,000 -4,024,535 1,284,346 -2,190 1,677,240 -4,389,140 344,000 -67,520.00 41,000.00 281,439 -1,568,760 121,836,665 29,000 13,320,850 -10,949,566 -42,190 -447,500 -9,088,314

-

1,002,300 873,411 773,800

-8,120 -427,750 -

2,322,632.50

-35,674

170,361.60

-

VALUE 1,255.13 (UP) 96.33 1,481,834,547.47 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 6,245.73 (UP) 246.10 1,268,973,647.904 HOLDING FIRMS 5,255.89 (UP) 288.13 1,947,512,999.11 PROPERTY 2,916.21 (UP) 248.95 SERVICES 1,143.00 (UP) 73.97 1,669,254,533.754 MINING & OIL 4,188.02 (UP) 130.58 1,245,096,979.865 PSEI 5,401.58 (UP) 373.82 48,507,796.445 All Shares Index 3,250.82 (UP) 185.69 7,666,161,833.91 Gainers: 151; Losers: 48; Unchanged: 26; Total: 225

San Miguel gives 560,000 kilos of rice in Metro Manila

By Jenniffer B. Austria FOOD and beverage conglomerate San Miguel Corp. is donating 560,000 kilos of rice to several communities throughout Metro Manila as part of its ongoing initiative to help alleviate the impact of Covid-19 on poor families.

San Miguel president Ramon Ang said in a statement the group delivered food to some 126,000 families during the first week of Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.

“Starting this week, we will also be adding rice to our food donations. We have been able to source 560,000 kilos of rice. We plan to give 10 kilos per family and through this, we hope to be able to continue to help the most vulnerable among us—people who are out of work and families struggling to eat,” Ang said.

San Miguel to date has provided 1.1 million pieces of canned goods, 695,000 sachets of coffee, 288,000 packs of biscuits, 21,630 servings of its version of “nutribun” and 24,338 servings of pandesal. It also donated spreads, dairy milk drinks and water.

Ang said the company, through San Miguel Food and Beverage Inc., was committed to continue providing food donations to those who need it the most, as he assured the public the company has the capacity to produce enough food for the country for the next six months.

San Miguel’s food donations are being coursed through various channels, including local government units, charitable groups and church organizations. It also made direct donations to hospitals and various communities across Luzon.

Families under the care of San Miguel Better World Tondo, a food bank and learning facility established last year, were also beneficiaries of the relief effort.

“What we want is for food to be one less worry of vulnerable families, health workers, and front-liners against Covid-19.” Ang said.

The local government units that received food donations from San Miguel included Manila, Caloocan, Las Piñas, Malabon, Pateros, Mandaluyong, Navotas, Marikina, Parañaque, Makati, Pasay, Muntinlupa, Pasig, Quezon City, San Juan, Taguig and Valenzuela.

Hospital beneficiaries include the Philippine General Hospital, Medical City, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, Las Piñas General Hospital and the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center.

Work-from-home scheme becomes popular—ePLDT

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE shift of local companies toward remote working schemes has grown faster amid the enhanced community quarantine to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

“Given current circumstances, even companies that were initially resistant to the idea of work-from-home are now being compelled to allow their employees to do so. This paves the way for enterprises to rethink their business models and leverage on technology to continue their business,” said Jovy Hernandez, ePLDT president and chief executive and senior vice president and head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups.

He said PLDT Enterprise has always been in the business of trust and is harnessing best efforts to ensure its customers remain business-as-usual amid COVID-19.

“Remaining connected is critical to us now more than ever. Businesses need to harp on the capabilities of technology to persist in the current business landscape,” he added.

PLDT Enterprise leads the country in enabling the efficient work-from-home schemes of businesses through its productivity and collaboration solutions, such as Cisco Webex, ePLDT’s Microsoft Teams and GSuite powered by IPC. “We enable businesses to remain in touch with their customers online and use digital platforms in communicating with their peers especially at times like this. Our productivity tools, for instance, enable businesses to host online meetings and collaborate efficiently with their employees even at home,” said Nico Alcoseba, vice president and head of PLDT Disruptive Business Group.

PLDT Enterprise’s fixed-line, wireless, and ICT solutions—including FibrBiz, VITRO Data Center services, Smart WiFi, and postpaid services, to name a few—are still accessible to support enterprises in continuing their business amid the community quarantine in place.

5

Life YOUNG LIFE

creative initiatives that help people

Bernadette Lunas, Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020

B3

How to work more efficiently TASKS and responsibilities, once they pile up, can be overwhelming; it could feel like 24 hours are not enough. But, hey, even Bill Gates and Beyonce only get 24 hours a day. And while they could have all the help they need, we have a few tools we can use, too.

Here are five tips to get more work done in a day.

cope with COVID-19

By Bernadette Lunas

I

N TIMES of crisis and panic and uncertainty—when even some public officials, elected to serve, dismiss the calls for help and tag them “fraudulent,” “misleading,” and “fake news”—many who truly care and understand the situation step up and come up with ways to cope with the challenge.

Funds or no funds, the important element is a lot of creativity and a lot less manila paper to address the problems.

There are many ways people have done or are doing today to cope with the coronavirus disease crisis, but first, here are five of them:

Repacked seeds for distribution (Photo from Baguio CVOAS)

Pasig City's roving store (Photo from Vico Sotto/Facebook)

Baguio City’s ‘survival gardens’

Pasig City’s Mobile Palengke

While other local governments in Luzon distribute grocery packs filled with rice, canned goods, and instant noodles (props to others that include vegetables in the packs), the Baguio City thought of a sustainable way to ensure food security: by urging residents to plant vegetables to establish “survival gardens” in case the crisis lasts long.

Among the seeds distributed by the City Veterinary and Agricultural Office to the villages include lettuce, pechay, spinach, okra, pole beans, eggplant, bunching onions, and garden peas, among other vegetables that can be harvested in two months.

According to City Veterinarian Brigit Piok, the project aims to sustain the supply of vegetables in the coming months in barangays and households that have spaces or container gardens.

Piok said 16 agricultural barangays in the city have been given seeds for free since March 24, but other barangays may request upon showing proof such as picture of container or plots ready for planting.

From the city government that utilizes disinfectant drones comes another solution to the problem of social distancing in commonly crowded areas such as wet markets and groceries: roving stores or “Mobile Palengke.”

On March 24, the city government began deploying five roving stores in an effort to keep people away from public places and encourage them to stay home.

“Upang mabawasan ang dami ng tao sa Pasig Mega Market at mga talipapa, inilunsad namin ang Mobile Palengke.

Presyong palengke, mas malapit sa mamimili, at tulong na rin sa mga maninindang Pasigueño,” Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto said in a post on his official social media accounts.

Goods sold at the roving stores, such as meat, fish, and produce, are sourced from the vendors at Pasig Mega Market, the city’s main public market which Sotto said will remain open throughout the lockdown, but the number of shoppers will be limited.

Pasig’s five Mobile Palengke will cover different areas every morning; the schedule is posted on Pasig PIO’s Facebook page.

Online medical consultation The doctor is… online to answer people’s medical queries and to decongest hospitals which are now stretched to their limits and unable to receive more COVID-19 patients.

As of March 24, at least four major private hospitals in Metro Manila announced that they were no longer ready to receive more coronavirus disease patients due to overcapacity.

While many services have long been offering consultations online or through phone call, more physicians have come to the rescue to offer free services.

The Lung Center of the Philippines has volunteer doctors offering free consultations related to COVID-19. Go to Lung Center COVID Ask Force on Facebook.

The Coalition for People’s Right to Health and the Council for Health and Development offer free consultations via their COVID-19 hotline (02) 8806-1306, available from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or through Facebook Messenger.

Lung Center PH COVID Ask Force consultation schedule The MDH Pulmonology Postgraduate Course has volunteers offering free online consultation for COVID-related Many doctors are also available online to answer COVID symptoms via Facebook Messenger. or non-COVID medical questions.

Stick to a concise to-do list Having a to-do list can take a lot of stress off you. You’re less likely to forget a task when you take note of it, plus the feeling of ticking things off one-by-one can be extremely satisfying. A to-do list also lets you plan your day and set out your intentions.

It’ll be more helpful if the to-do list is in the same app you use to communicate with people at work. For instance, Viber’s new My Notes feature lets users create a to-do list right on the app. This way, you won’t have to switch between apps to jot down what’s discussed over a chat or a group call.

Do the hardest thing first If you have a really hard task for the day, do it first. You’ll extinguish a lot of stress and clear your head right away. When you do the biggest, most daunting thing before everything else, you get to do a better job of it since you haven’t used up any of your effort yet. Or as Mark Twain put it, “If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning.”

Don’t rely on your memory Sometimes, our memory fails us. When multitasking, we’re even more prone to forget things. On app features like My Notes, you can set important reminders throughout your day. This way, your phone can remind you when you need to switch to another task, send an email, make a call, or go to a meeting.

Make the most out of group chats Group chats have indeed made communicating at work a lot more efficient, especially if you’re always on the go, so it’s important to maximize its features.

For example, you can finalize meeting schedules or venues without the long and winding discussions by using a polls feature—which is also available on Viber.

The same app also allows you to make a group call so you can get everyone’s thoughts in one go or create a community with unlimited number of members so you can disseminate information to a bigger group.

Angkas offers food delivery service during ECQ.

Angkas Food Plastic water containers turned face shields (Photos from Angel of Holy Spirit Academy, John Chua)

Recycled face shields While hospitals await for more supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE), concerned groups and individuals work together to ensure availability of face shields—some make them using 3D printer, and others using recycled plastic bottles.

In a Facebook post, the nurses at The Medical City are seen wearing improvised face shields made from recycled plastic bottles donated to them by Jeanette Tolentino and Camella School teachers.

For those unable to make recycled face shields but have available water bottles, several groups and individuals collect plastic water containers, preferably the 5-, 6-, or 7-liter size, and transform them into face shields to be donated to hospitals.

To kill two birds with one stone: to offer additional food delivery service to quarantined Metro Manila and to provide its riders income while the ECQ is in place, that is the goal of Angkas when it launched on Monday its food delivery service.

The motorcycle ride-hailing firm, however, clarified that the service, Angkas Food, is only temporary and the bikers will get all the proceeds from the delivery fee. “We will not take any commission in this initiative,” Angkas said in a tweet.

Customers can place their orders from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from any Angkas Food’s list of partner restaurants. The list, admittedly few and limited, is available on Angkas website.

The restaurant will then provide the contact details to the Angkas rider. Delivery fee starts at P60 for the first three kilometers, and additional P10 for every kilometer added but only up to five kilometers.

Cashless payment to the restaurant is highly recommended, but cash on delivery is also available.

Centralize everything work-related It’s best to separate your work notes and files from the rest of your media. This will keep you from getting confused or forgetting certain files. My Notes lets users organize and sync their notes (including important messages, photos, and videos) across all platforms, making it easier to find what’s needed when it’s needed.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

B4

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020

ABS-CBN’s ‘Pantawid ng Pag-ibig’ raises P256.6 M for Filipinos affected by quarantine FILIPINOS are coming together to help families affected by the enhanced community with donations and pledges to ABSCBN’s “Pantawid ng Pag-ibig” fund-raising campaign already reaching P256,663,658 as of March 23.

After the Lopez Group of Companies’ initial P100 million donation, individuals and groups from all over the world have been placing their trust and support on the network’s drive in partnership with private companies and local governments to provide poor families in Metro Manila with food and basic necessities.

This includes the P100 million pledge of Project Ugnayan, a collaboration of 20 top business groups to raise funds in support of initiatives for the benefit of poor families. They are (in alpahabetical order): Aboitiz Group, ABSCBN/Lopez Group, Alliance Global, AY Foundation and RCBC, Ayala Corporation, Bench & Liwayway Group, Caritas Manila, Century Pacific, Concepcion Industrial Corp, DMCI, ICTSI, Jollibee, Leonio Group, Metrobank/GT

Capital, Nutri-Asia, PDRF, PLDT/Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, Puregold, San Miguel Corporation, and SM/BDO. ABS-CBN is thankful to all the donors for their generosity and kindness, and ensures that donations will reach our countrymen with the help of our partner organizations and local government units.

Millions of donations poured in in March 22’s Pantawid ng Pag-ibig: At-Home Together Concert where over 100 Kapamilya artists performed from their own homes, shared words of support and encouragement for our frontliners, and urged the public to help our less-fortunate Kapamilyas. The digital fund-raising concert was streamed on iWant and other ABS-CBN platforms online and aired live on ABS-CBN, S+A, ANC, MYX, DZMM TeleRadyo, DZMM Radyo Patrol 630, MOR 101.9, and on The Filipino Channel (TFC) for those abroad.

The funds raised by ABS-CBN through “Pantawid ng Pag-Ibig” will be used to purchase food and daily needs of families with

family members who are unable to work or continue their livelihood because of the enhanced community quarantine. The items needed include rice, canned goods, noodles, biscuits, milk, coffee, shampoo, soap, detergent, vitamins.

Distribution of relief packages already began last week, with Metro Manila mayors taking the lead in preparing and delivering the relief packages to the families in need. With more help coming in from both the public and private sectors, and the continued trust and cooperation of local government officials, ABS-CBN hopes to extend the campaign to areas beyond Metro Manila where many other Filipinos are also in need of help.

Those who would like to help may make a cash donation through ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc.-Sagip Kapamilya bank accounts BPI peso account 3051-1155-88, Metrobank peso account 636-3-63608808-1, BDO peso account 0039301-14199, ‘Pantawid ng Pag-Ibig’ proceeds will be used to purchase food and daily PNB peso account 1263-7000-4128, and needs of families with family members who are unable to work or continue their livelihood because of the enhanced community quarantine.

BDO dollar account 1039300-81622.

Bianca Umali explores passion for music Bianca Umali proves that she’s one of the multitalented stars of her generation.

Y

OUNG actress Bianca Umali has just released a single entitled “Kahit Kailan,” it is a song which doesn’t just mark the Kapuso star’s venture into music; it also gives her another means to explore another facet of her creative side.

got you into music? And why are you exploring this facet of your career?

A lot of people have always encouraged me to sing but I wasn’t really confident about it. Then, GMA Music gave me the opportunity so I didn’t even think twice about it.

Home of best-in-class stories from Korea NETFLIX has recently announced a new slate of best-in-class Korean shows - from reality to crime and scifi to romance, dramas and more.

“From K-pop and K-food, to Kzombie and K-content, we’ve seen how much people in different parts of the world love Korean cultures and stories. So we’re excited to announce these new best in class Korean stories for our members,” said Minyoung Kim, Vice President of Korean Content at Netflix.

“It’s amazing to see how these Korea films and TV resonate with audiences around the world - from Korea to South-East Asia and the Americas.

By making it easy for people to watch films and shows from other countries, we can help them build empathy and develop a shared understanding of the world,” the executive added.

In 2019, Crash Landing on You, a romance story about a couple from the two Koreas showed the popularity of K-content making the top 10 list in the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand.

This year, Netflix will have more of the best-in-class K-stories with Kingdom, which returned with its second season on March 13. The Kzombie series has again become one of the Top 10 titles in almost every Asian country, and millions of people globally have already chosen to watch its second season - including

‘My Holo Love’ starring Yoon Hyun-min and Ko Sung-hee currently streams on the popular platform.

Talking about your career, you have a new project with Dennis and Megan, what’s your character in the story?

Our working title is Legal Wives.

It’s part of GMA’s 70th anniversary offerings. I will be playing the third and youngest wife of Dennis Trillo in the series.

“Kahit Kailan,”which debuted on believes in me and in my talent. This is March 2, is composed by former Intro- my first single and the experience has voys drummer Paco Arespacochaga. It been really fun,” she said. immediately made it on Spotify’s New Currently, Bianca is gearing up for her Music Friday Philippines and OPM lead role in HBO Asia’s longest-running Workday Marathon playlists after its series Halfworlds. The thriller is directed release. It is now And without givavailable for streaming away too much, ing on Apple Music, what’s the premise Spotify, YouTube of the new show?

Music, and other The show will digital platforms showcase the beauworldwide. tiful culture of “The song has Maranaos and the a story to tell. It is Muslim. about loving someone you want to You also have a have, can’t have, or project for HBO, someone you’ve alwe heard that camready lost,” Bianca, eras start rolling in who turned 20 on January, how was March 2, told Mait working with a nila Standard in young director like an email interview Mikhail Red? before the LuzonWorking with wide community Mikhail Red is an quarantine. honor for me. He An award-winis one of the most ning actress, an The young actress with ‘Legal Wives’ co-stars (from left) Megan Young, Dennis Trillo and talented next–genamazing dancer, a Alice Dixson. eration filmmakers fashion inspiration, in Philippine cinema. I see him as a and an ardent advocate of education by acclaimed filmmaker Mikhail Red. and women empowerment, the Kapuso For GMA Network’s 70th anniver- young, smart and brilliant person who prime star has another talent everyone sary, she is one of the leading ladies in knows what he wants. has to witness. the upcoming primetime series Legal Did you audition for the role? If As she ventures into recording, she is Wives, alongside Dennis Trillo, Alice so, how does it feel that you’re given grateful for the opportunity to explore Dixson, and Megan Young. this rare opportunity? her love for music, which she reveals Yes. I auditioned for the role. she shares with her father. She is also Here’s our exclusive email interIt was a very unexpected one. Aflooking forward to perform songs that view with the young star: ter auditioning for it, I didn’t even would speak the feelings and experiences of many.

You are associated by the public as expect that I would get the part. It “I am very thankful that GMA Music an actor more than a singer, but what was after a month from the audi-

many people who’ve never tried a show like this before. And that is just the beginning.

Currently streaming are: Itaewon Class starring Park Seo-jun and Kim Da-mi; Hyena led by Kim Hye-soo and Ju Ji-hoon; Hi Bye, Mama! with Kim Tae-hee and Lee Kyu-hyung playing the lead roles; Hospital Playlist featuring an ensemble cast including Cho Jung-seok, Yoo Yeon-seok, Jung Kyung-ho, Kim Dae-Myeung, and Jeon Mi-do; Kingdom Season 2 with Ju Ji-hoon, Ryu Seung-ryong, and Bae Doona in the main cast; and My Holo Love starring Yoon Hyunmin and Ko Sung-hee.

Upcoming titles are: Rugal starring Choi Jin-hyuk and Park Sungwoong (streaming March 28 in Korea, Latin America, and all English Speaking countries, May 24 in Japan and the rest of the world; Time to Hunt with main cast Lee Je-hoon, Ahn Jae-hong, Choi Woo-shik, Park Jeong-min, and Park Hae-soo (premiering on April 10); Extracurricular topbilled by Kim Dong-hee, Jung Da-bin, and Park Joo-hyun (streaming on April 29); The King: Eternal Monarch starring Lee Minho, Kim Go-eun, Woo Do-hwan, Kim Kyung-nam, and Jung Eunchae (premiering in April); and It’s Okay to Not Be Okay with Kim Soo-hyun and Seo Ye-ji as lead stars (streaming in June).

‘The King: Eternal Monarch’ starring Lee Min ho and Kim Go-eun is a romantic fantasy drama that takes the genre to a whole new level.

What are you thankful for all the tion when I finally got a call from my manager congratulating me because things happening in your career?

I am very thankful to Papa God for I had been chosen. I was super overwhelmed by the news. I’m very excit- all the blessings. I am very grateful to GMA, to my family and friends for the ed and thankful. love and support, to my fans who are We learned that you are doing some there no matter what and to the rest of physical training for the role. What the people I have behind me that are always ready to help, guide and push me exactly do you do?

We’ve been going through fight and through everything I do. stunt training for the show. We do Arnis What else can we expect from you and sword fighting. this year? Do you have any other proHow is Sam Concepcion as a co-star? jects in the pipeline?

Well, there are a lot. I can’t spoil them Sam Concepcion is a nice person to work with and to be with. He is such a yet but there are plenty of beautiful projects happening this year. talented actor as well.