Manila Standard - 2020 April 15 - Wednesday

Duterte calls on ASEAN for common front vs. virus

By Rey E. Requejo and Vito Barcelo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday urged leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations to implement a four-point “effective and strategic” response to defeat the coronavirus disease pandemic.

In his address during the virtual special summit of the ASEAN on COVID-19, President Duterte, speaking from Manila, underlined that the Southeast Asian nations should discuss strategies to defeat the COVID-19 that has afflicted thousands of people and caused economic disruption worldwide.

“To effectively overcome the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, ASEAN must collaborate and coordinate within our region and beyond,” Duterte said, emphasizing “four main areas where we can act collectively and support each other.”

Duterte added: “We have to be ready for future outbreaks. We, therefore, have to improve and expand existing Asean’s mechanisms to cover public health emergencies, increase cooperation against the health crisis, cooperation on health and medical equipment, food security, research efforts, and future preparedness.”

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM APRIL 14)

5,223

REGIONAL CONCERNS. In this video grab supplied by Malacañang, President Rodrigo Duterte (center) raises his concerns on the coronavirus pandemic with his fellow Southeast Asian leaders in an online summit, as they all warned Tuesday of the crippling economic cost of COVID-19. Presidential Photo

NUMBER OF CASES

335 (20 new) DEATHS

295 (53 new) RECOVERIES

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291

Nationwide lockdown ruled out

NEW CASES VOL. XXXIV • NO. 57 • 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Gov't help for small biz the standard the stand th firms, workers okayed the standard the stand th

By Jimbo Gulle, Vito Barcelo, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Othel V. Campos

THE government on Tuesday ruled out the expansion of the Luzon-wide lockdown to the entire country in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The implementation of community quarantines in Mindanao and the Visayas has been good. There’s no possibility that we will lock down the entire Mindanao or the whole of the Visayas,” COVID-19 reponse chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. told radio dzMM. Galvez’s assurance came as experts at the University of the Philippines warned that while the Luzon-wide lockdown has achieved “relative success,” there could still be outbreaks in Metro Manila and 15 provinces.

The Philippines currently has the most number of COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia with 5,223 as of Tuesday, the study by the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team said.

“Based on these trends, one can estimate about 9,000 to 44,000 possible cases reported by the end of April 2020,” the report said.

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Carlos Dominguez

Dominguez vows PH to pay, honor debt obligations

Middle-class aid plan covers P1.6m SMEs, 3.4m labor force

By Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz

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Nograles, spokesman for the InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, said tax-compliant small business will get P5,000 to P8,000 under the program in two tranches in May. Nograles said the program aims to help around 3.4 million workers employed by small businesses that are affected by the lockdown.

Priority will be given to business that pay their contributions to the Social Security System and paying taxes to the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

“This is our response to the appeal for help for middle-income workers... Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez estimates the program will cover 1.6 million small businesses that have ceased to operate due to the enhanced community quarantine or those who are on skeleton workforce Next page

By Julito G. Rada THE Philippines will honor its debt obligations despite the spread of the coronavirus disease because it is a “responsible borrower”―and doing so will ensure its capacity to recover once the pandemic is over, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said Tuesday.

Dominguez says the Philippines has not and will not consider a moratorium on the national government’s debt payments.

“Debt moratorium has not crossed our mind. It was never entertained or will ever be a part of our crisis response measures.”

Dominguez said this was his reaction to what he called “narrowsighted” suggestions that the Next page

Highest recoveries in a day set at 53

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has approved the “Small Business Wage Subsidy Program” to help millions of middle-class families affected by the Luzon-wide lockdown imposed to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Tuesday.

By Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

TESTING BEGINS. Residents of Manila line up to be swabbed by medical workers at a mass testing center near city hall on Tuesday. JR Josue

WITH mass testing for the novel coronavirus starting Tuesday, the Department of Health announced the highest number of new recoveries from COVID-19 for one day at 53, which resulted in a total of 295 recoveries as of April 14.

The new confirmed cases of 291 brought total coronavirus cases in the Philippines to 5,223. The DOH has yet to announce the first batch of data from those undergoing the mass testing at 10 approved centers across the country.

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World fears second wave of infections Healthcare givers with contracts can take posts abroad

WASHINGTON—Coronavirus deaths in the hard-hit United States were flat for a second consecutive day, with New York’s governor saying the “worst is over” as many countries weigh a gradual reopening of their shattered economies.

Since emerging late last year, the coronavirus pandemic has killed around 120,000 and infected nearly two million, tipping the world towards a fierce economic recession as more than half of the globe hunkers down at home.

As countries reach different stages of the coronavirus curve, debate is raging over whether to return to normal life and possibly risk a second wave of infections.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told his 1.3 billion citizens their By Vito Barcelo lockdown would remain in effect until and Rey E. Requejo May 3 at least and France’s President Emmanuel Macron extended his tight THE Philippine government has given the measures by another month. go-ahead to Filipino healthcare workers But Italy and Austria are reopening with existing overseas employment Next page contracts to leave for their posts, ending anxious days for OFWs stranded at home at COVID-19.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles FRONTLINERS said Tuesday the Duterte administration AT WORK. was exempting those with prevailing (Clockwise from commitments in other countries from an upper left) Policemen line up to ongoing deployment ban. donate part of their All Filipino healthcare workers salaries toward with perfected and signed overseas coronavirus relief employment contracts as of March 8, efforts, as volunteers will be allowed to depart the country from the Manila Police District and the as agreed on by the government's interagency task force on the coronavirus Redemptorist Church response, Nograles said. give out relief Departing healthcare workers just bags, and traffic have to sign a declaration signifying enforcers of Manila carry sacks of rice for their knowledge of the risks involved in redistribution to the traveling overseas, Nograles added. city's poorest districts.

The development followed complaints Norman Cruz about a memorandum issued by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration suspending the deployment of doctors, Next page

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2020

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US grills WHO on China cover-up

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

committee on oversight and reform is investigating the Chinese government’s in exacerbating the COVID-19 IAGARA, Canada—Following concerns of a pos- role pandemic, including its “large-scale sible coverup by Beijing, a US Congress committee propaganda campaign” in which the WHO is allegedly involved. has asked World Health Organization director“Despite the WHO’s purported general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to provide “all docu- mission to operate as an apolitical international institution within the United ments and communications” between the institution and Nations, recent media reports suggest that the WHO helped Beijing disseminate China from August 2019 on the real figures of an asymppropaganda, downplayed the extent of the tomatic, infected and deceased person. disease, and possibly delayed ordering a public health emergency,” the US In a four-page letter to Ghebreyesus, and transcripts” between the WHO and congress wrote in the letter dated April which was signed by 14 US Congress Taiwan from August 2019 and up to 9 and addressed to Ghebreyesus, which representatives, the committee also asked present. was obtained by the Manila Standard. the WHO to provide them “all documents The US House Representatives Given the actions and statement of WHO

officials on the COVID-19 pandemic in the past few months, the US representatives expressed concern that the health institution is “no longer serving the needs of the world and is instead taking its cue from China.”

They cited several incidents of the alleged “bias” of the WHO for China since the health crisis started spreading last year, and where the health institution had “shied away from placing any blame on the Chinese government.”

“You, as a leader of the WHO, even went so far as to praise the Chinese government’s ‘transparency’ during the crisis, when, in fact, the regime has consistently lied to the world by underreporting their actual infection and death statistics,” the US State house representative said in the letter.

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considered free from the virus to slowly come back to life while ensuring that the contagion is contained and isolated only in cities and municipalities that are still considered hotspots.

“This modified system basically means that we will have areas that would remain under ECQ but we will also have areas that will be allowed to open businesses and allow their residents to go back to their normal lives. These areas will maintain a closed border and continue to observe social distancing as extra precaution,” Sarmiento said.

President Duterte’s third weekly report to Congress said the national government has released P132 billion to fund the country’s efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Duterte said the funds were taken from the pooled savings amounting to P189.82 billion from discontinued government programs, projects, and activities under the 2019 and 2020 national budgets.

The allotments and cash allocations were released to the following departments to cover their COVID-19 response activities: the Department of Social Welfare and Development at P100 billion for its social amelioration program; and Department of Labor and Employment at P1.5 billion for displaced workers.

Around P30.82 billion has been allotted to provide funding assistance to cities and municipalities under the “Bayanihan Grant to Cities and Municipalities” program.

Meanwhile, Duterte said the Land Bank of the Philippines has remitted cash balances from various government agencies amounting to P63.6 billion to the Bureau of the Treasury.

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office has donated P290 million to COVID-19 referral hospitals and approved the release of P447 million worth of financial assistance to 81 government hospitals, which shall be chargeable against its charity fund.

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in order to stay afloat. We estimate that 3.4 million workers will benefit from this program,” he said.

However, Nograles said that eligible workers must be employed as of March 1 this year and have not received their pay for that month. Retrenched workers, those who resigned or are on leave and employees who have availed of unemployment benefits are not qualified for the program.

Those eligible to receive help through the “Small Business Wage Subsidy Program” will receive the cash aid through their SSS UMID cards, their bank accounts, or e-wallets. The financial assistance will be given in two tranches: Between May 1 to 15 and May 16 to 30.

Earlier, Dominguez said the government would allocate up to P50 billion to support millions of affected employees in the micro, small and medium enterprises sector, but the source of funding remains unclear.

Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua said the department will use the data from the Social Security System and the Bureau of Internal Revenue to identify the list of beneficiaries. “‘The 2.6 million who are in the BIR alpha list--meaning the employers who complied with the BIR submissions--they will be the ones we will help,” Chua said.

At least 40 percent of the country’s population belong to the middle income class, according to a 2018 study by government think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies.

It categorized the middle class as those who have a monthly family income of between P19,040 and P114,240 at 2017 prices.

The House of Representatives’ Defeat COVID-19 ad hoc committee on Tuesday

started tackling the proposal of the Department of Finance to seek additional loans amounting to almost P300 billion to tide the government over the crippling economic downturn caused by the Luzonwide lockdown.

Representatives of the department led by Dominguez III said additional borrowings of up to P288 billion are being considered to reinforce resources that have been allotted to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

This developed as Deputy Speaker for Finance and Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte and Albay Rep. Joey Salceda backed the government program to provide wage subsidies for two months to around 3.4 million employees in small businesses suffering from the economic impact of the Luzon-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine that has been in place for a month now to stop the further spread of COVID-19.

After providing economic relief in the form of cash grants to some 18 million poor households, Villafuerte said the government is on the right track in following this up with wage subsidies for those belonging to the lower and medium middle class whose salaries are just enough for them to meet their families’ daily needs.

“President Duterte is right to approve the recommendation of the Department of Finance… to throw a lifeline to workers employed in small business enterprises,” Villafuerte said.

Villafuerte said even if owners of small businesses would want to pay the wages of their workers, most of them are constrained by their lack of resources to do so, given that they still have to attend to rental dues, amortizations, and other capital expenses that they still have to pay once the ECQ is over.

Salceda, chairman of the House committee on ways and means, also thanked President Rodrigo Duterte

for announcing the payroll protection program for the middle class.

At the same time, he said he would continue to work with economic managers and House leaders on how to help selfemployed workers.

During the House’s technical working group meeting for the economic stimulus package, Finance officials said the department is planning to seek additional loans from the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

The Philippines can borrow at “high levels” due to its investment grade rating and strong fiscal management, officials said.

The House led by Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano called the cluster’s meeting with the economic managers two weeks before the end of the extended lockdown.

Before the meeting, House Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez told the attendees that the economic downturn caused by the lockdown has prompted the Congress and the economic managers to plan what must be done to mitigate the damage wrought by the COVID 19 virus.

“There is no denying the fact that this unprecedented public health crisis will slow down our economic growth this year with most of the contraction in the economy occurring now in the second quarter when Luzon is on Enhanced Community Quarantine,” Romualdez said.

“We need to step up and identify all other programs and projects needed to fill the gaps that we found in the implementation of the Social Amelioration Program. We have to cast a wider net so that more families will benefit from other social programs that we need to implement,” he added.

Meanwhile, a congressman pushed for a modified ECQ after April 30.

Samar Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento, the chairman of the House committee on transportation, said this would allow economic activities in the areas that are

Duterte...

Highest...

the people in charge, Secretary Carlito Galvez. And they can proceed to buy it immediately,” President Duterte said in a late Monday night meeting.

The IATF for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease said that the laboratory-based PCR will remain the “gold standard” of testing.

National Task Force against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. said the government will need to purchase 900,000 polymerase chain reaction-based kits to confirm the validity of results obtained from the use of rapid test kits.

Galvez said PCR-based kits are expected to cost around P3.2 billion as the government is eyeing to buy twomillion rapid test kits.

The DOH earlier said it does not recommend the use of rapid test kits because they can produce false positives and false negatives.

Rapid test kits can only detect the antibodies produced by the body to

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Duterte identified these as the vital and concrete measures that we can do in a collective manner, as reiterated his call for stronger ASEAN cooperation against COVID-19.

“These immediate responses, while necessary, could drive our societies and the larger international community further apart. And yet, an effective, strategic response requires that we come together and cooperate even more.

“ASEAN must remain open for trade.

Crisis or no crisis, as no country can stand alone. Let us, therefore ensure the supply chain connectivity and the smooth flow of goods within our region.

“Let us, therefore, ensure the supply chain connectivity and the smooth flow of goods within our region.”

He admitted the world and the ASEAN countries faced what he described as “an unfolding catastrophe—unprecedented in scale and devastating in impact for all.”

Duterte stressed “an effective, strategic response requires that we come together and cooperate even more.”

He said: “We face a new and different kind of enemy. In the most visceral way, COVID-19 is upending the totality of our way of life. And this virus threatens to exact the highest tolls—on our peoples and our economies.

“We are forced to impose drastic measures to address this pandemic. We asked our people to distance from each other and stay home.

“We reduced socioeconomic activities to the barest minimum. And we closed our borders, creating barriers for mobility and trade.”

Duterte also proposed that Southeast Asian countries should continue to boost production and facilitate intra-Asean trade of life-saving necessities such as medicines and medical equipment and supplies.

The President also sought the establishment of an early warning system for pandemics in the region and backed Thailand’s proposal to create a COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund.

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As 20 more patients lost their battle to COVID-19, the death toll from the disease climbed to 335.

This developed as President Rodrigo Duterte, to enable the government to conduct more COVID-19 tests, has approved the purchase of rapid test kits, polymerase chain reaction machines and consumables, automatic extracting machines, and biomedical freezers.

Inter-Agency Task Force spokesman Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said that while the DOH cannot directly procure the rapid test kits due to the absence of approval from the Health Technology Assessment Council, the government could bypass the restrictions by ordering the Office of Civil Defense to make the purchase.

“I’m clearing the way. I will ask Secretary Francisco Duque to talk to

Healthcare...

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nurses, and healthcare workers abroad in the hope of preserving the local frontline force against the pandemic.

President Rodrigo Duterte has partly blamed the United States for the shortage of medical and health workers in the country, saying Washington is persuading hundreds of Filipino nurses to work there by easing visa requirements to help Americans fight the deadly virus.

In his late night speech, President Duterte said despite a deployment ban against overseas Filipino health workers, hundreds of Filipino nurses were seeking higher pay and preferring to work abroad amid the coronavirus outbreak.

In a related development, Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Tuesday said the government would allow nurses and other medical workers with existing contracts to work abroad to leave.

Locsin made the statement after the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration earlier issued a directive imposing a deployment ban on health care workers abroad amid the

Dominguez...

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Philippines request a moratorium on its debt payments and use its interest payments to partly finance the Philippines’ COVID-19 response.

“The strongest pillar of the Philippines’ standing in the global economic

combat the disease and are prone to false negatives or false positives even if these can produce results faster than PCR-based kits, he said.

Galvez said the DOH needs to test about 15,000 people for possible coronavirus infection.

He noted that of the 15,000 potential COVID-19 “suspects,” about 5,000 to 8,000 are in Metro Manila.

The Health department defines a COVID-19 “suspect” as someone who has symptoms of the respiratory disease and travel or residence in a hotspot of the disease or exposure to a confirmed or probable carrier.

The country has 102,000 test kits and the government plans to buy some one million more units, Galvez said.

Meanwhile, Senator Nancy Binay yesterday said the IATF should immediately address the lack of clear protocol in handling COVID-related fatalities, including cadaver management, storage, cremation and assistance to families.

pandemic.

"Done. Nurses, other health workers with existing contracts of work abroad can leave," Locsin said, in a Twitter post.

"Future applications frozen until further notice provided all our 450,000+ nurses—exceeding by 250,000 ideal WHO ratio of people-to-nurses—must be given employment," the country’s top diplomat added.

Duterte said he could not blame Filipino nurses for leaving the Philippines to seek better pay for their work, but requested them to stay in the country to help treat the increasing number of coronavirus cases.

According to latest official figures, the number of confirmed cases had risen to 5,223; dead 335; and recovered 295.

The figures contrast with the number worldwide: 1,920,918 confirmed cases; 119,686 dead; and 453,289 recovered.

“This is the problem now. America is part of the problem of the Filipinos now. Because there are many of them infected by the virus, and many of them are dying, they need nurses. They are convincing Filipino medical workers and nurses to go to embassy, process their visa in one day and fly the following day,” the President said.

community is that the country honors its financial obligations and, for that reason, investor confidence in our economy is broad and deep,” Dominguez said.

“Integral to our country’s remarkable turnaround story is how credible and responsible a borrower it has become since 1986. Back then, our total debt-toGDP [gross domestic product] ratio hit as high as 78.3 percent. By 1991, this ratio

had gone down to 65.2 percent.”

The Philippines’ debt-to-GDP ratio stood at 44.2 percent in 2019, the product of decades of sound fiscal stewardship across administrations.

The actual debt-to-GDP ratio, which excludes guarantees, was down to 41.5 percent in 2019.

Dominguez says the Philippines “cannot wish away our obligations at this critical time

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While the country looks to restarting the economy, the government should also prepare for outbreaks in 13 areas in Luzon, two provinces in the Visayas and one in Mindanao, the UP study said.

Based on the group’s mathematical model, these provinces registered a probability of more than 90 percent that they would experience a COVID-19 outbreak, said Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, UP executive vice president and co-leader of the study group, in an interview with ABS-CBN News.

Aside from Metro Manila, the study identified the provinces as: Aklan, Bataan, Batangas, Benguet, Bulacan, Cavite, Cebu, Davao Del Sur, Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quezon, Rizal, and Tarlac.

One option, the UP group said, is to continue the enhanced community quarantine in high-risk areas, and implement stricter measures in those with an even higher probability of an outbreak.

Others with “80 to less than 90-percent probability” of an outbreak may be covered by a less stringent “general community quarantine.”

“Successful as it may seem, an Enhanced Community Quarantine covering a wide area may not be sustainable over the long run,” the UP study said.

“Our best recourse after April 30 is to implement graduated activation of Enhanced Community Quarantine depending on the level of risk in certain areas at a given time.”

On Tuesday, the President said he would lift the ECQ over Luzon only if a vaccine, antibody or medicine to cure COVID-19 is available to Filipinos.

In a televised address during a meeting with select Cabinet members, President Rodrigo Duterte insisted that Filipinos stay at home during the quarantine because the country would still need to endure two to three waves of the epidemic before they would see the end of the lockdown entering its fifth week.

“There’s no end in sight. When will it end, we have no clue. And our numbers are increasing,” the President said while reading the latest tally of COVID-19 infections.

“At this time, we need to treat the sick, we need to feed our people,” he said, as he admonished hospitals for turning away potential COVID-19 patients.

His remarks were made on the eve of government-led mass testing for coronavirus infections, which official Department of Health numbers put at just under 5,000 on Monday.

The President also discussed the utility of the National ID system to identify those who would need government aid, the distribution of aid to 18 million families most affected by the quarantine, observing social distancing, the United States “being part of the problem,” and the temporary travel ban on medical professionals and frontline workers from leaving the country.

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some shops and Spain is restarting construction and factory work while powerhouse Germany weighs restarting Europe’s top economy.

In Washington, Trump stunned reporters by playing a campaign-style self-congratulatory video and bashing the media during a briefing in which he claimed to have saved “tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of lives.”

The US death toll has hit 23,200— by far the worst-affected country—but the president said: “It looks like we’re plateauing, and maybe even in many cases coming down.”

He has repeatedly stressed he wants to open the world’s largest economy as swiftly as possible and is expected to announce a plan this week on how to jump-start stalled business.

The US president appeared to be supported by the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University showing 1,509 deaths in the country over the past 24 hours— almost identical to the previous day.

In New York, where the virus has killed more than 10,000 people and seen unclaimed victims buried in unmarked mass graves, Governor Andrew Cuomo said the nightmare might be coming to an end.

“The worst is over if we continue to be smart going forward. I believe we can now start on the path to normalcy,” Cuomo told reporters, as Trump said only the president had “the ultimate authority” to reopen businesses.

The economic impact in the US and elsewhere could be seen as officials in the southern city of Houston wrapped food in plastic bags and threw them into cars.

“We went to the stores and they are closed. Yes, we had problems to buy food,” said sales assistant Catalina Mendoza Cabrera. AFP when the reliability of our word secures our economy’s capacity to bounce back once the COVID-19 pandemic is over.”

He says more favorable options are available for financing the government’s emergency and recovery programs. Losing the Philippines’ credibility among international lenders would mean losing the ability to gain access to low-interest, concessional financing for its recovery and stimulus programs.

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UNCOLLECTED. Sackloads of garbage are left uncollected along Salinas St. in Bacoor, Cavite as the Luzon-wide lockdown is extended until the end of April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ey Acasio

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(at manilastandard.net) Analyst: China still aggressive in WPS DENR to guard against forest fires Solons: Free inmates vulnerable to COVID

IN BRIEF DOJ starts probe on Pimentel case THE Department of Justice has tentatively set its preliminary investigation on the criminal complaint filed against Senator Aquilino Pimentel III for his alleged violation of public health protocols and quarantine laws on May 20.

Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento said they will send the subpoena and a copy of the complaint to Pimentel on Tuesday.

Lawyer Rico Quicho, who filed the complaint against Pimentel, confirmed that he has received an order from the DOJ to file a hard copy of the complaint and to swear under oath within five days from the lifting of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine, which was extended to April 30. It was original set to end midnight of April 13.

In his complaint, Quicho accused Pimentel of violating Republic Act No. 11332 and regulations from the Department of Health after the lawmaker accompanied his wife to a hospital despite supposedly being under quarantine for a then-suspected COVID-19 infection.

The “non-cooperation of persons or entities that should report and/or respond to notifiable diseases or health events of public concern,” and the “non-cooperation of persons who have been identified as having the notifiable disease, or those affected by the health event of public and the “non-cooperation of persons who have been identified as having the notifiable disease, or those affected by the health event of public concern” are penalized by RA 11332. Rey E. Requejo

CWR appeals for more PPEs for health workers THE COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacts women. Seven out of 10 of health-care jobs in the Philippines comprise of women. During this pandemic, most of those who are on the frontlines of patient interactions make up of female health workers. With no vaccine yet, the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing kits make their health more vulnerable as frontliners.

The Center for Women’s Resources said it has joined the call of the medical frontliners to provide them expeditiously with PPE. Health-care workers need to be equipped with protective gear to prevent infection. We have already heard of tragic deaths among health-care professionals due to lack of protective gears like N95 respirator masks when dealing with patients with COVID-19.

As of April8, there have been 12,000 sets of PPEs distributed in 20 hospitals across Luzon. If one hospital uses up to 200 to 500 PPE per day, the distributed equipment will only last for a day or two.

According to the Health Alliance for Democracy, health workers still buy their own masks or use the donated improvised PPE from individuals and non-governmental organizations.

Mayors warned on ‘distancing’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

AYORS who do not implement social distancing measures in their respective cities during the Luzonwide Enhanced Community Quarantine may face

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arrest.

In a televised meeting with members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) on Monday night, President Rodrigo Duterte made this warning amid reports over overcrowding in markets.

“Kayong mga mayors, huwag kayong maglaro kasi ang ayaw ninyo mag-social distancing mapipilitan ako puntahan kita at arestuhin kita (You mayors, don’t play because if you don’t want to implement social distancing, I’ll be forced to face you and arrest you),” he said.

Duterte observed that there seems to be “a lack of uniformity” in enforcing the

social distancing rule.

If social distancing measures were not strictly observed, he said the rate of infection would not slow down and the second wave of infection could happen.

Duterte also urged the public to wear “durable” face masks. The use of face masks when leaving their homes is now mandatory for residents in areas placed under ECQ. Meanwhile, Duterte also enjoined barangay officials to keep a record of COVID-19 related deaths as part of efforts to keep their constituents safe.

Meanwhile, the Department of the

Interior and Local Government on Tuesday said local government units should ensure that the remains of confirmed and suspected COVID-19 cases in their localities are cremated or buried within 12 hours after death.

“The remains of persons who died of communicable diseases such as COVID-19 are potentially infectious and standard precautions should be implemented for every case. Kaya dapat siguruhin ng mga local governments na may nakatalagang funeral parlor at crematorium sa kanilang lugar na mamamahala sa mga labi ng namatay sa (This is why local government should ensure that there are designated funeral parlors and crematoriums in their areas that will handle the remains of those who died due to) C-19,” DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said in a news release.

He pointed out that while cremation is preferred, the same cannot apply to Muslims because it is forbidden in their religion.

“Hence, all remains of our Muslim brothers cannot be cremated but must be buried in the nearest Muslim cemetery within 12 hours from death,” he said.

In places where there are no crematoriums, the standard burial process within 12 hours should apply.

Año also urged LGUs to provide possible financial assistance to cover the logistics, fuel, salary and other expenses that will be incurred in the process which include transfer or transport of human remains.

Meanwhile, DILG spokesperson, Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said that funeral services staff and personnel may also be considered among the frontliners amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that funeral workers are granted exemptions from the Enhanced Community Quarantine to be able to freely move and travel to ensure that the remains of deceased individuals will be given proper funeral services.

Rejecting COVID-19 bodies no-no in QC

By Rio N. Araja THE 37-member Quezon City council has passed an ordinance sanctioning funeral parlors and crematoriums that would reject cadavers of victims of the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) or charge higher service fees from the families of the deceased.

“Under this ordinance, funeral homes and crematoriums cannot reject remains of deceased COVID-19 patients due to fear of infection or other unjustifiable reasons,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

The measure also prohibits funeral homes and crematoriums from increasing service fees compared to their prices prior to the declaration of the community quarantine on March 12.

“This is to protect grieving families of deceased COVID-19 victims from unscrupulous funeral parlors or crematoriums that may take advantage of the situation,” Belmonte said.

Funeral parlors and crematoriums that would violate the ordinance could face a maximum fine of P5,000 per violation and subsequent revocation of their business permit.

The ordinance mandates local hospitals and health care facilities within Quezon City to observe the mandatory cremation of COVID-19 patients within 12 hours from time of death so as to avoid the spread of the virus, among others.

P’que taps security guards for curfew duty

By Joel E. Zurbano PARAÑAQUE City Mayor Edwin Olivarez has imposed a 24-hour curfew, and ordered the deployment of private detectives and security personnel as force multipliers of the police to enforce the policy in the entire city.

Olivarez signed Executive Order 30, placing all agencies operating and conducting business of private detective, watchmen and security guards within the jurisdiction of the city under the direct order of the City Chief of Police for assistance in the enforcement of the enhanced community quarantine.

Citing Section 12 of Republic Act No. 5487 otherwise known as “the Private Security Agency Law”, Olivarez said that it provides that in case of emergency or in times of disaster or calamities, the city mayor can incorporate the services of licensed security agencies to help maintain peace and order.

Du30 laments absence of nat’l ID

By Vito Barcelo

QUARANTINE PHOTOS. At left, Cong. Camille Villar leads the distribution of grocery packs to families in the 20 barangays in Las Piñas. Meanwhile, right photo shows a representative from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. turned over an additional P6 billion to the Socio-Civic Funds Project of the Office of the President. Pagcor recently remitted a total of P20.5 billion to government coffers in response to the country’s fight against the coronavirus. The recent remittance brings PAGCOR’s total contribution to the OP alone at P14.5 billion.

Below, shown are two of ten emergency quarantine facilities are being built by San Miguel Corp. together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines in military camps nationwide, to help ease pressure on health facilities. The SOLCOM facility in Lucena (left) is 90 complete while the construction of the NOLCOM facility (right) in Tarlac is progressing well.

Makati to shoulder cost of cremations

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Makati City government announced on Tuesday it will shoulder the expenses for the cremation of residents who died due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Mayor Abigail Binay said her administration has signed an agreement with NewLife Techwin Inc., which will provide two crematory machines to the city.

“In these trying times, the city government wishes to show its support and compassion for the family of the deceased by shouldering the cremation expenses.

This is the least we could do to console them,” said Binay, adding the cremation of remains will cost P18,300 per person.

As of April 13, the city has recorded 177 confirmed cases of Covid-19, 495

persons under investigation (PUI), 312 persons under monitoring, 18 deaths, and 30 persons who have recovered from the infectious and deadly disease.

Binay also assured residents that the cremation process is safe, adding it has passed the protocols set by the Department of Health.

Under the memorandum of agreement, the partner-company will manage crematory procedures for one year. NewLife will also help the city in building a temporary crematorium at the Makati Park and Garden where the city has designated an area for the said facility.

On Monday, the city chief executive announced the ongoing construction of four emergency quarantine facilities for Covid-19 patients and PUIs.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said the implementation of the national ID system would have been the game-changer in the distribution of the government’s emergency cash distribution amid the continuing enhanced community quarantine brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In his address late Monday night, Duterte said the government’s social amelioration program for low-income families had been delayed due to issues including discrepancies in the lists of beneficiaries of the national government and the local government units.

He said that with the national ID system, there could have been order and equal distribution of aid to millions of families affected by the crisis, as he blamed the leftist group for blocking the way for its implementation.

The President said the public should not blame the government because leftist groups stood in the way for the execution of the national ID system.

“The national ID could have helped but the left did not like the idea, that’s why we don’t have an ID system until now. We wanted to have an ID, if you believe in the leftist groups, the communists, it’s up to you, that’s the problem,” Duterte said.

“If we have the ID system we could have avoided these delays. All we need to do is to ask the DILG, Barangays and they can submit the list, show their IDs and we will give,” he said.

He said that many Filipinos don’t want to be listed, because they are not residents of a particular barangay when the census came, and were not included.

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘We are not going back to normal’ CROSSROADS JONATHAN DE LA CRUZ THIRTY days into the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Luzon, also known as the Luzon-wide lockdown, we are witness to a whole range of changes in individuals, families and communities, not to mention the entire country and the world.

Here’s Mr. Gideon Lichfield, in his own words.

The enormous grief which this global public health crisis has brought about in terms of deaths, patients under medical care, weighed down by shortages in the system, not to mention the danger facing health care providers and, of course, to the millions out there either ' shut-in' or out-onthe-streets wondering where the next meal will come from, is beyond compare. That is the most telling change which will forever be etched in our memory.

Even as we get to gradually lift this quarantine hoping to get back to our normal lives, we will surely be shocked to realize that such will never be the case. The social, economic and, yes, psychological, costs of the lockdown will take years to recover from. If at all. We are not yet talking here of the huge political costs which the crisis has brought to light. At this point, we can only imagine how we can repair the obvious problem of the widening inequality in almost all countries, even in China which has been brought to light as a result.

But no matter how much grief this pandemic has occasioned across the entire spectrum, it has at the same time given life to the best in each of us.

Generosity, humanity and soli-

darity have become the buzzwords of people-helping-people, countries sharing best practices, public health and medical experts coming around to fast-track the discovery of vaccines and cure to this invisible enemy. This early, our very own experts and pundits have come out with their own prognostications of what comes next in terms of scenarios and solutions to our own world back on its feet, rediscover its better self and rebuild an obviously fractured earth.

Talks of depopulating the metropolitan areas, dispersing populations and industries, creating regional centers, re-imagining work environments and similar coping measures are being bruited about in a bid to avoid the inestimable trauma of another pandemic.

But things will definitely no longer be the same. The year 2020 is the end of the world as we know it.

As Gideon Lichfield noted in a very incisive article in the MIT Technology Review, entitled "We Are Not Going Back To Normal," the pandemic has upended our way of life, in some ways forever.

In a bid to provide our readers, our planners and administrators a kind of road map as we endeavor to move on, I have decided to reprint the article in full. Here's Lichfield's piece: "To stop coronavirus we will need to radically change almost everything we do: how we work, exercise, socialize, shop, manage our health, educate our kids, take care of family members.

We all want things to go back to normal quickly. But what most of us have probably not yet realized—yet will soon—is that things won’t go back to normal after a few weeks, or even a few months. Some things never will.

It’s now widely agreed (even by Britain, finally) that every country needs to “flatten the curve”: impose social distancing to slow the spread of the virus so that the number of

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

No class act

T

HE government’s Social Amelioration Program aims to help poor Filipinos during the Enhanced Community Quarantine period, as the nation grapples with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The lockdown, which has been extended to April 30 and which the President says will not be lifted until there is an available cure to the disease, has disrupted economic activity and consequently the livelihood of millions.

In theory, aid to the poor is a just and commendable undertaking, assuming it is implemented well and that the help reaches all intended beneficiaries.

On social media, unfortunately, the issue had bred gross misrepresentation, generalization, exaggeration and undue acrimony between the middle class and the poor and destitute.

According to the Philippine Institute of Development Studies, “middle class” is a broad spectrum that covers families that earn between P19,000 and P114,000 every month.

Within this category, a family can either be lower middle class (P19,040 to P38,080), middle middle class (P38,080 to P66,640) or upper middle

class (P66,640 to P114,240).

Other organizations have slightly different reckonings, but the general range is similar.

The assumption is that members of the middle class are gainfully employed, can provide for the family’s basic needs, and, most importantly, are conscientious taxpayers.

Those immensely better off than the middle class cough up a relatively smaller portion of their wealth to the government in taxes, if they even pay correctly in the first place. Those who earn less than the middle class most likely do not pay any taxes, being part of the underground economy if they even have jobs to begin with.

It is on this premise that some taxpayers begrudge the help given to the poor, or at least wonder why they don’t also get the same assistance from the government—using the very funds they contribute—when they work very hard and risk their health and safety just to earn a living.

On social media, they say the poor are indolent and content to be mendicants, used to not working for anything and yet demanding much from the government.

Meanwhile, taxpayers are depicted as selfish, quick to judge and lacking in compassion, just because they are able to enjoy a few more comforts that others cannot.

This binary, simplistic thinking

will not do anybody any good—not during ordinary times, and most certainly not during a medical and economic emergency. Such talk only fuels division and resentment.

It is true that those working in the formal economy are hardworking and goal-oriented. They want to help those less fortunate. They know it is their right to scrutinize where their taxes go and expect the government to be working in their interest—just as it is also true that some are conspicuous in their consumption, blind (nay, foolish) in their privilege, and indifferent to the plight of others.

On the other hand, many poor Filipinos are born into poverty without the advantages and opportunities enjoyed by the middle class. They have to break insurmountable barriers just to be able to get a fair chance at success.

It is true that some have unfortunately come to rely on external help to get by—but this is likely a personal quality, not the behavior of a class. Many more want to advance in life through self-improvement and hard work.

The enemy is not the other class.

The enemy is a virus that is deadly however unseen. We should not fall into the trap of obsessing over what we are not getting and resenting others who have it. Instead we should focus on ensuring that everyone has enough as we sit out these trying times.

Turn to A5

Magalong of Baguio

THE people of Baguio could not have chosen a better chief executive in last year’s elections than Benjamin Magalong.

I have been a frequent visitor of the summer capital since I was a toddler.

Later, in my sophomore high school year, I began an annual December trip to Baguio for a Student Catholic Action leadership program at St. Louis University on the upper part of Session Road, which was then such a delightful street to stroll on. I have since made it a point to be in Baguio and the highlands every December, up to the time my kids finished grade school.

I had planned to retire in Baguio, and so as early as the 80s, I bought a small lot in Dominican Hill where I dreamed of eventually building an A-frame cottage with a rear balcony where on a clear day I could see glimpses of the sea off La Union.

I haven’t built it, and have moved my retirement dreams toward other places.

I have been a depressed witness to how the city has deteriorated, from the commercialization of the once-lovely Burnham Park, to the monstrosity that is the SM shopping mall built atop the hill where once stood the Pines Hotel, to the decay of Session Road and the death of little quaint eateries surrendering to fastfood joints with no local character, plus the horrendous traffic and the proliferation of hillside slums.

And I make no apologies for observing that the people of Baguio have always elected mayors who do not know how to run, let alone pre-

serve their city as the nation’s summer capital.

Up until they elected Benjie Magalong mayor in May of 2019.

The first-time politician has proven himself not only equal to the task. In my book, he has excelled over every other local executive in these trying days of a health pandemic that has terrorized this country like no other, save perhaps the Second World War when I was not yet in existence.

The mayor is a systems thinker, a rarity among our politicians whose capacity for right thinking is almost too often outranked by their capability to talk nonsense.

Magalong makes Baguio proud, and after the crisis abates, will no doubt resurrect his city from the ruins of disrepair that have worsened over years and years of neglect by unworthy political leadership.

Having been a decorated police officer, retiring as chief of the CIDG, and a product of the premier military academy located in his city, Magalong is a systems thinker, a rarity among our politicians whose capacity for right thinking is almost too often outranked by their capability to talk nonsense.

Before any other city mayor thought of quarantining his jurisdiction from the oncoming invasion of disease, Magalong canceled the yearly hegira of domestic tourism—the flower festival called Panagbenga, to the immediate consternation of city residents and businessmen whose bread Turn to A5

EvEryman

The reality of God’s existence

By Ernesto G. Banawis MOST of us believe in God. We may not belong to any religion. Yet we all accept that there is Someone who created us and is watching us every minute as we go on our journey on earth.

Some individuals who are lucky for having been gifted with high intelligence or are simply endowed with restless minds question or doubt the existence of God. Not a few claim,

with bated breath and a naughty wink, that God does not exist. They are invariably called atheists, agnostics, heretics, or pagans. They live a life of wild abandon; aimless, restless, and lost.

The circumstances, cultural milieu, and settings of our birth sharpened the disparities of our spiritual beliefs. This explains why many religions exist. Each religion has its own concept of who is God and why they

worship Him. Through the years, religious wars have claimed millions of victims. They fought with fierce and abiding faith in the righteousness of their beliefs. Christianity and Mohammedanism have waged wars against each other yet both also have come to terms with each other in many countries, particularly in our country, the Philippines.

Ironically, both believe there is Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www. manilastandard.net

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2020

Duterte takes action

Statement in response to the false accusations by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus THE Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines deeply regrets the baseless accusations against the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) made by World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on April 8, 2020.

Dr. Tedros’ groundless accusations regarding personal attacks on him from Taiwan are seriously misleading to the international community.

The government of Taiwan demands that the Director-General immediately correct his trumpedup claims, issue a clarification and apologize to the people of Taiwan.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen in a statement on Facebook mentioned that Taiwan has always opposed all

forms of discrimination. For years, Taiwan has been excluded from international organizations, including the WHO, and knows better than anyone else what it feels like to be discriminated against and isolated.

The invaluable lessons learned from the 2003 SARS pandemic prompted Taiwan to very quickly take effective preventive and proactive response measures against COVID-19, including treatment, tracking, quarantine and mitigation. Thus, Taiwan created a widely recognized Taiwan Model that the international community hopes to learn from.

On 9 April 2020, Taiwan announced the donation of six million medical masks to partner countries under Taiwan’s New South-

Magalong...

From A4

and butter is tourism. This was in early February, when Wuhan’s virus had yet to darken our country clouds.

Thereafter, he closed the city from visitors entering or from residents leaving, even before the national government declared a lockdown.

His health officials began testing, using rapid test kits donated by two businessmen friends, and CT scan analyzers to detect whether a COVID-suspect person had damaged lungs, cognizant that the virus kills through respiratory system damage. Magalong adopted a new diagnostic system by Huawei to screen probable COVID-19 cases. Via Huawei Cloud, CT scans were cross-analyzed with the data base of similarly-afflicted patients in China to determine the extent of damage to the respiratory system. Thereafter, nasal and throat swabs using the PCR kits were made for confirmation.

Having preliminary diagnoses, they had basis for extensive contact tracing. The mayor explained to the patients the need to shed their right to privacy, to help in effective tracking. Relying on instincts and knowledge honed in his previous life as a police officer, Magalong taught health professionals investigator’s skills.

“These are abnormal times, so we have to use out-ofthe-box solutions,” explained the mayor to a broadcast journalist who marveled that as of Holy Week, the city has had no new infections for 13 days, a feat no other major population center in the country had achieved.

Tracing was so effective that, for instance, as many as 67 contacts had been traced to their 15th case. If our DOH had tested early on, and used the LGUs and the police machinery to trace thereafter, imagine how many thousands upon thousands it could have tracked. As it happened, even placing purchase orders for test kits and PPEs were done by our DOH only after the similarly action-challenged WHO declared a pandemic. By this time the whole world was scrambling for the same, and supplies had become hard to come by.

Thank God Mayor Magalong does not always listen to the DOH, and uses both common sense and systematic thinking to get things done. *** Finally, the IATF on Easter Sunday has decided to make it mandatory to publicize the identities of COVID-19 afflicted persons in order to strengthen contact tracing efforts.

I made a suggestion to a high government official last March 23 via a text message, hoping that it would be considered by the IATF. There is, after all, no stigma that should attach to an unfortunate victim of the novel coro-

The reality...

From A4

only one God. Our faith in God is shaken every time we are confronted with unbearable problems. We seek God’s help.

We pray for deliverance from the crisis which visits us even at our most difficult times. The Four Horsemen of Apocalypse have been visiting us almost every one hundred years. But God gave us the courage to overcome the ravages of wars, pestilence and death. We survived.

The third Horseman is in our midst. Its ferocity is terrifying. But we are confident we will overcome this pandemic. God loves mankind as He created him in His own image.

It is in the midst of this crisis brought by the coronavirus that we hear voices of despair and resignation. Not a few are desperately demanding that God intervene and stop this pestilence. A number are wondering why God is not answering their prayers. They are anxious to

bound Policy and other friendly nations. The Philippines will receive 300,000 medical masks.

We hereby urge WHO to invite Taiwan to fully participate in all WHO meetings and mechanisms regarding the fight against COVID-19, and restore Taiwan’s observer status in the World Health Assembly. Taiwan being granted full involvement in WHO would allow us to share our successful experience with the world more effectively, and put an end to the pandemic as quickly as possible.

Health for all, Taiwan can help and Taiwan is helping.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines Makati, April 13, 2020

navirus, and public identification would alert all those who may have had contact with the person, enough to come forward and have himself tested.

Not having gotten any reaction after several days, I relayed the same suggestion to Senator Ping Lacson who came out with a statement on March 28 asking COVID-19 patients to have themselves identified so that even at the barangay level, their contacts may be easily traced. Some congressmen likewise supported the move. Thereafter, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the Philippine Medical Association came out with a joint statement supporting the lifting of the privacy rights of patients, in the interest of the greater community good.

Thank God for little mercies. *** And just before submitting this article, I got a summary of the late-night-until-past-midnight remarks of the President before some members of his cabinet, where he approved, despite the intransigence of DOH-FDA, the procurement and use of rapid test kits for use together with Duque’s “gold standard”—the polymerase chain reaction test which takes much longer to produce results.

The President’s instructions were quite clear, and Secretary Carlito Galvez’s statement after mentioned 900,000 rapid test kits on top of the 900,000 PCR test kits already ordered.

Finally, logic overrules stubborn intransigence bereft of reason. Better late than never, though at what cost?

This writer, among many others, has been wondering what elixir prevents the DOH-FDA from approving of the use of rapid instruments ideal for mass testing despite their preponderant use in other countries far more advanced in medical science than ours.

Just a warning, though: we should use those kits which test IgG and IgM, and not some earlier inferior products, some of which have even been endorsed by the PROC Embassy. IgM is the first antibody that reacts to fight the virus that enters the patient, the body’s first line of defense. After a certain period, the presence of the IgG antibody would indicate that the virus has been neutralized, and therefore the patient can go back to normal life, immune as he has become to the virus. This is how I understand the very instructive video prepared by Dr. Minguita Padilla of the UP-PGH and St. Luke’s BGC that she has uploaded and is now viral.

We should thank Secretary Sonny Dominguez and Joey Concepcion, who despite not being medical professionals, are more logical thinkers than the jurassics in our health system, and who realize that unless we act with urgency, our economy will be doomed, and the suffering of our people prolonged needlessly. Somehow they got through to the President who then acted in spite of the medical dinosaurs.

hear His voice and to be relieved of their deepening despair.

Someone wrote a lengthy treatise on God’s existence. He quoted the insights of most of the world’s philosophers and seers. He defined the different and conflicting attitudes and beliefs of those who doubt or even deny the existence of God. I found the article illogical and amusing.

It strengthened my deep and abiding faith in God and in the reality of His existence. I promised to invent one for him.

The life of Jesus Christ; the celestial circumstances of his birth; his startling wisdom as a young boy and while growing up; the miracles he performed, the certitude of his short sojourn on earth, how he will be condemned as a Jewish outcast, how he will be crucified and will die on the cross and how he will rise again from the grave and return to God, the father as told by his disciples and previously predicted in the Old Testament could not certainly be works of fiction.

My faith in Jesus and my belief in His being the Son of God remains unshaken. Other religions may have their own saviors and saints and certainly their own concept and belief in the existence of a Supreme Being, in someone they call God. God is with us every second of every minute, in every hour and every day.

You hear God in the first shrill cry of a baby. You see God in the graceful unfolding of a beautiful flower.

You must have felt God inside you every time you regain your senses from a serious illness. You will feel and embrace God when He summons you to join him to live in paradise. It is in near death, at the last seconds of your existence, at the faltering cadence of your heartbeat that you come to terms with yourself and entrust your life to God. To deny that God exists is to deny your own being. This is the reality of God’s existence.

Ernesto Banawis is the former general manager of the Philippine News Agency.

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PRESIDENT Duterte met Monday (April 13) in Malacañang with the members of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Coronavirus Crisis.

Many interesting things came up and were decided upon.

Addressing the group extemporaneously and looking hale, hearty, and rather ebullient, the President sounded frustrated and disappointed.

First, he admitted, there is no end in sight to the current coronavirus crisis.

A vaccine should be the cure but it will be a long time coming.

Second, he wants to dispense cash to the 18 million target poor families. But it cannot be done right away despite the availability of cash (P205 billion) because there is no reliable list of 18 million poor families. These families do not have IDs because they did not enlist in the National Identification Program. There are Comelec voters’ lists but they are peppered with flying voters whose addresses cannot be pinned down.

The result is that poor Filipinos are getting hungry but the cash and food cannot reach them immediately. Still, Duterte assured the people: “I don’t want a single Filipino to die of hunger.” He asked the Department of Social Welfare and Development (which is under a retired general, Rolando Bautista) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (which is under a retired general, Eduardo Año) to coordinate and “divide the territory.”

Third, COVID-19 cases and deaths are not being reported by households, because their families want to hold a wake or are embarrassed by the stigma.

“You are putting the country in jeopardy,” Duterte hollered in Pilipino, indirectly admitting government data on cases and deaths are understated.

He instructed the barangay captains to retrieve the bodies forcefully, if need be, and cremate them at government cost. He also told all government hospitals in the nation to accept, not refuse, any and all COVID-19 patients. Failure, he warned, means suspension or ouster of the hospital chief.

He also advised the blabbing Left: “if you have a better way of dealing with the problem, tell us please.” He ordered the mayors to impose social distancing in public markets, saying he did not want to imprison people violating the six-feet physical distance protocol.

As an aside, Duterte feels bad that the United States is now trying to entice Filipino health workers to go to America which is nearing 600,000 COVID-19 cases and 25,000 deaths.

He noted that the US Embassy has promised to process visas for Filipino nurses in one day. “You could have relied on your own human resource,” the President suggested to the Americans.

The Philippines is in dire need of those nurses, too. The country is now tops in ASEAN in number of COVID-19 cases, 5,223, and second in number of deaths in the region, 335.

“We are not coming down (in numbers),” the President said.

He revealed that pharmaceutical giants are developing an antibody to the coronavirus, coming not from humans.

Duterte then turned to his presiden-

‘We are...

From A4

people sick at once doesn’t cause the health-care system to collapse, as it is threatening to do in Italy right now.

That means the pandemic needs to last, at a low level, until either enough people have had COVID-19 to leave most immune (assuming immunity lasts for years, which we don’t know) or there’s a vaccine.

How long would that take, and how draconian do social restrictions need to be? Yesterday President Donald Trump, announcing new guidelines such as a 10-person limit on gatherings, said that “with several weeks of focused action, we can turn the corner and turn it quickly.” In China, six weeks of lockdown are beginning to ease now that new cases have fallen to a trickle.

tial adviser on entrepreneurship, Joey Concepcion. The businessman said now is the time to plan the gradual revival of the economy.

“In the end, social amelioration cannot last forever. We have to bring back the jobs,” Concepcion stressed. To have the confidence to bring back jobs, however, the number of infected people must taper off and go down. Those numbers are not coming down yet.

Poor Filipinos are getting hungry but the cash and food cannot reach them immediately.

Duterte promised to study Concepcion’s revival plan which lacks details.

Anyway, the President has plenty of time and is literally, under house arrest, by his live-in partner.

For his part, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez disclosed he met with the World Bank a few days ago. “They said your decisiveness in first, reducing the number of people coming into the Philippines in February and the lockdown in March probably saved 100,000 lives,” he gushed without explaining how that extravagant figure was arrived at.

Sonny then called on his deputy, Karl Kendrick Chua, who used to be with the World Bank and now is the DOF’s chief economist and strategist.

Chua revealed a game plan to help the so-called middle class, with P51 billion in cash, on top of the P205 billion for the poor.

The Luzon lockdown, Chua said, hurt 1.6 million small businesses in the informal sector—436,000 were forced to shut down, another one million are maintaining just a skeletal force, and 117,000 have been allowed to operate to provide food, trucking and other essential goods and services.

The shutdown affected or displaced 3.4 million workers, “these are the middle class, low-middle class, or medium middle class.” Of these, 2.6 million workers are with the so-called Alpha List of the Bureau of Internal Revenue because they comply with BIR submissions. They will be the first to be assisted, Chua said.

The remaining 800,000 workers have a problem. Their employers do not comply with BIR submissions, meaning they don’t file returns nor pay income tax. These workers will be second priority for assistance.

On another front, Dominguez promised to fund the government’s purchase of two million rapid test kits and 900,000 PCR test kits. The rapid test kit uses detection of antibodies in the blood or serology. It takes as little as 15 minutes to get results.

PCR uses polymerase chain reaction using swab or sputum sample to detect the coronavirus RNA. It takes at least three days to get results allowing anybody with the virus to roam around and infect other people while waiting for his/her test results.

Per Wikipedia, antibody tests show how many people have had the disease, including those whose symptoms were minor or who were asymptomatic. An accurate mortality rate of the disease and the level of herd immunity in the population can be determined from the results of this test. biznewsasia@gmail.com

But it won’t end there. As long as someone in the world has the virus, breakouts can and will keep recurring without stringent controls to contain them. In a report yesterday (pdf), researchers at Imperial College London proposed a way of doing this: impose more extreme social distancing measures every time admissions to intensive care units (ICUs) start to spike, and relax them each time admissions fall.

Each time they rise above a threshold—say, 100 per week—the country would close all schools and most universities and adopt social distancing.

When they drop below 50, those measures would be lifted, but people with symptoms or whose family members have symptoms would still be confined at home.

(Full version at www.manilastandard.net)

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World

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IMF approves debt relief for 25 poor countries T

HE International Monetary Fund on Monday announced immediate debt relief for 25 poor countries to help them free up funds to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

"This provides grants to our poorest and most vulnerable members to cover their IMF debt obligations for an initial phase over the next six months and will help them channel more of their scarce financial resources towards vital emergency medical and other relief efforts," IMF Managing

Director Kristalina Georgieva said in a statement.

The IMF board approved the debt relief for the countries, nearly all in Africa, but also Afghanistan, Yemen, Nepal and Haiti.

The fund together with the World Bank have called for rich nations to

stop collecting debt payments from poor countries from May 1 through June 2021.

The debt relief will be funded by the IMF's Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust (CCRT), which was first set up to combat the West Africa Ebola outbreak in 2015 and has been repurposed to help countries fend off COVID-19.

The fund currently has $500 million, with Japan, Britain, China and the Netherlands among its

main contributors.

"I urge other donors to help us replenish the trust's resources and boost further our ability to provide additional debt service relief for a full two years to our poorest member countries," Georgieva said.

Last week, the World bank said it would roll out $160 billion in emergency aid over 15 months to help countries stricken by the virus, including $14 billion in debt repayments from 76 poor countries to other governments. AFP

Tornadoes bring death, destruction in southern US TORNADOES ripped through the southern United States, killing at least 32 people and leaving behind splintered buildings and downed powerlines, officials and US media said Monday.

Twisters caused catastrophic damage Easter Sunday and early Monday morning as storms moved through a region stretching from Texas to Georgia, prompting the National Weather Service to issue its highest level of tornado alert.

Images showed lines of smashed, roofless houses where tornadoes had blasted through, many homes just piles of rubble sitting atop foundations.

Aircraft parked at a regional airport in Monroe, Louisiana were piled on top of each other.

"By the grace of God, early reports show only a few minor injuries," Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo said on Twitter, and the city's account later posted pictures of downed power lines.

In neighboring Mississippi, however, at least 11 people were killed, according to the state's emergency management agency.

The Weather Channel said at least 32 people had died across the region, combining local tolls.

There were nine people who died in South Carolina, the outlet reported, citing the state's governor Henry McMaster, and they reported one death in North Carolina.

Seven people were reported to have been killed when tornadoes hit a mobile home park near the Georgia-Tennessee border.

"There's been loss of life, there's been significant loss of property," Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said Monday,

DAMAGE. This handout photo obtained April 13, 2020 courtesy of the City of Monroe, Louisiana shows the aftermath of storm damage. AFP according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

The National Weather Service in the state found damage caused by winds estimated to be up to 145 miles (235 kilometers) per hour.

The Weather Channel reported one person in Arkansas was killed when a tree fell on a house, plus two other deaths in Alabama.

‘Horrible, destructive power’ US President Donald Trump offered his "warmest condolences" to those affected.

"My administration will do everything possible to help those communities get back on their feet," he said, promising that the Federal Emergency Management As-

sociation was already offering assistance.

"It's a tough deal," he said. "It was a bad grouping of tornadoes—something incredible, the horrible, destructive power."

Over 1.3 million electricity customers were without power after thestorms went through, reported PowerOutage.US. The governors of Mississippi and Louisiana declared states of emergency.

"The damage is devastating," Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said on Twitter.

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves tweeted that he had declared a state of emergency "to protect the health and safety of Mississippians in response to the

severe tornadoes and storms hitting across the state."

"We are mobilizing all resources available to protect our people and their property," Reeves said, telling residents "you are not alone."

Earlier on Sunday, Reeves urged residents to take the "severe storms very seriously."

"Please take precautions to keep your family safe."

He later retweeted a message from the state disaster agency reminding people to cover their noses and mouths and practice social distancing to prevent the spread of coronavirus if they had to go to public storm shelters. AFP

North Korea fires multiple suspected cruise missiles North Korea fired several suspected cruise missiles Tuesday towards the sea, according to the South's military, with analysts saying Pyongyang was demonstrating the breadth of its arsenal.

The "multiple projectiles" fired from Munchon in the east of the country were believed to be "short-range cruise missiles", the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

The test comes a day before the South holds parliamentary elections, and at a time when the world's attention has been largely focused on the coronavirus pandemic, which Pyongyang insists it has so far escaped.

It also comes the day before the nuclear-armed North marks the 108th anniversary of the birth of founder Kim Il Sung, grandfather of the current leader Kim Jong Un. In recent years Pyongyang has repeatedly tested ballistic missiles, which are propelled high above the Earth—often into space—before descending towards their targets at high speed by the force of gravity.

The North's arsenal includes intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of reaching the entire US mainland.

In contrast, cruise missiles travel at low altitudes—sometimes just a few metres (feet) above the surface, making them hard to detect—and are powered throughout their flight.

Frequently highly manoeuvrable, they need sophisticated guidance systems to bring them to their targets.

Tuesday's missiles travelled over the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea, before coming down in the water, the JCS said.

The North also flew multiple Sukhoivariant and MiG fighter jets above the eastern coastal city of Wonsan, which fired multiple air-to-ground rockets, a spokesman added.

"South Korea and US intelligence authorities are closely analysing related issues," the statement said.

Pyongyang was demonstrating that it had "various options" when it came to weapons delivery systems, said Cha DuHyeogn, senior researcher at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. AFP

Sanders endorses ex-rival Biden for US president

Hospitals are increasingly relying on robots in their war against the Coronavirus

Robots may become frontline heroes in war on coronavirus LONG maligned as job-stealers and aspiring overlords, robots are being increasingly relied on as fast, efficient, contagion-proof champions in the war against the deadly coronavirus.

One team of robots temporarily cared for patients in a makeshift hospital in Wuhan, the Chinese city where the COVID-19 outbreak began.

Meals were served, temperatures taken and communications handled by machines, one of them named "Cloud Ginger" by its maker CloudMinds, which has operations in Beijing and California.

"It provided useful information, conve sational engagement, entertainment with dancing, and even led patients through stretching exercises," CloudMinds president Karl Zhao said of the humanoid robot.

"The smart field hospital was completely run by robots."

A small medical team remotely controlled the field hospital robots. Patients wore wristbands that gathered blood pressure and other vital data.

The smart clinic only handled patients for a few days, but it foreshadowed a future in which robots tend to patients with contagious diseases while health care workers manage from safe distances.

Checkup and check out Patients in hospitals in Thailand, Israel and elsewhere meet with robots for con-

sultations done by doctors via videoconference. Some consultation robots even tend to the classic checkup task of listening to patients' lungs as they breathe.

Alexandra Hospital in Singapore will use a robot called BeamPro to deliver medicine and meals to patients diagnosed with COVID-19 or those suspected to be infected with the virus in its isolation wards.

Doctors and nurses can control the robot by using a computer from outside the room, and can hold conversations with the patient via the screen and camera.

The robot reduces the number of "touch points" with patients who are isolated, thereby reducing risk for healthcare workers, the hospital's health innovation director Alexander Yip told local news channel CNA. Robotic machines can also be sent to scan for the presence of the virus, such as when the Diamond Princess cruise ship cabins were checked for safety weeks after infected passengers were evacuated, according to the US Centers for Disease Control.

Additionally, hospitals are turning to robots to tirelessly rid room, halls and door handles of viruses and bacteria.

US firm Xenex has seen a surge in demand for its robots that disinfect rooms, according to director of media relations Melinda Hart. AFP

FORMER White House candidate Bernie Sanders on Monday endorsed onetime rival Joe Biden for president, saying it was time to unite in the effort to defeat Donald Trump in November.

The two veteran politicians, who each spent the past year battling for the Democratic nomination, appeared together by split-screen on Biden's livecast.

"Today I am asking all Americans— I'm asking every Democrat, I'm asking every independent, I'm asking a lot of Republicans—to come together in this campaign to support your candidacy which I endorse," Sanders said.

The swift backing marked a notable change from 2016, when Sanders lost the presidential nomination race to Hillary Clinton but delayed endorsing her candidacy.

That wait was seen as deeply damaging in that it exposed a divide within the Democratic Party.

Sanders struck a unifying tone on Monday, telling viewers "it's imperative that all of us work together."

The 78-year-old independent leftist senator from Vermont exited the 2020 race last week after losing almost all of the primary contests following a strong start, leaving Biden as the party's presumptive nominee.

The deadly coronavirus pandemic has forced a suspension of all in-person political campaigning, as most of the nation remains

Former White House hopeful Senator Bernie Sanders (left) has endorsed his onetime rival Joe Biden for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination

under stay-at-home orders—including Biden and Sanders, who appeared online from their homes.

Sanders on Monday signaled it was crucial to unite around Biden's campaign to defeat Trump, whom Sanders branded "the most dangerous president in the modern history of this country."

Biden v. Trump Biden said he was "deeply grateful" for the endorsement—one of many that have come from former campaign rivals including Senator Kamala Harris, Senator Amy Klobuchar and former congressman Beto O'Rourke.

"You've been the most powerful voice for a fair and more just America," he told Sanders.

"You've put the interests of this nation and the need to beat Donald Trump above all else," Biden added.

"As you say, 'not me, us.'"

Biden, who at 77 is mounting his third presidential run, also appealed to Sanders supporters.

"I see you, I hear you, I understand the urgency of what it is that we have to get done in this country, and I hope you'll join us," Biden said.

"I'm going to need you badly." AFP

Hunger for ‘good news’ grows as pandemic woes deepen BATTERED by grim headlines, horrifying statistics and deep uncertainty over the coronavirus pandemic, many people worldwide are trying to lift their spirits by seeking out "good news."

Sites specializing in upbeat news have seen a surge in growth in recent weeks.

And Google searches for "good news" have jumped fivefold since the start of the year.

The Good News Network, created in the late 1990s, has seen traffic triple in the past month with more than 10 million visitors, according to founder and editor Geri Weis-Corbley.

"People are sending us links of positive, inspiring things happening in their neighborhoods, in their cities, in their states, so we have so much good news to pass along," said WeisCorbley, who also observed spikes in interest after the September 11 attacks and the global financial crisis of a decade ago.

"We think that people now are experiencing a yearning for good news that will continue."

Other websites including The Guardian, Fox News, HuffPost, MSN and Yahoo have their own pages dedicated to uplifting stories.

A CNN newsletter, "The Good Stuff,"

created last year, has seen a 50 percent jump in subscriptions over the past month, a network spokesperson said.

"Our editorial team saw growing interest in the stories that made our audience smile, with fascinating discoveries, everyday heroes, inspiring movements and great things happening all over the world," the spokesperson said.

Actor John Krasinski joined the effort with his own weekly YouTube video show, "Some Good News," from March 29, which mimics a traditional news broadcast, but focusing on uplifting stories. AFP

Business

A7

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2020 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks extend rally; Jollibee up S TOCKS rallied for the second straight day Tuesday as better than expected Chinese trade data suggested a rebound from the economic devastation wrought by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index jumped 169.90 points, or 3 percent, to 5,780.88 on a value turnover of P7.4 billion. Gainers overwhelmed losers, 158 to 53, with 32 issues unchanged.

Jollibee Foods Corp., the biggest fast-food chain, surged 8.5 percent to P146.50, while conglomerate Ayala Corp. advanced 8.3 percent to P550.

International Container Terminal Services Inc., the largest port operator and owned by tycoon Enrique Razon Jr.,

climbed 8.2 percent to P80.90, while GT Capital Holdings Inc. of the Ty Group rose 7.5 percent to P430.

The rest of Asian markets posted gains.

China has largely brought the disease under control within its borders since the COVID-19 outbreak first emerged in the city of Wuhan late last year.

But it came at the cost of drastic measures that shuttered much of the economy and cordoned off tens of millions of people at the epicenter of the outbreak.

With much of the country returning to work and travel restrictions eased across industrial hub Wuhan, Tuesday’s data beat market expectations.

Exports fell 6.6 percent and imports dropped 0.9 percent in March on a yearly basis, according to Customs figures— falls that were well below the 10 percent or more forecast by a Bloomberg survey of economists.

But Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital

Economics warned “the worst is still to come” for China’s export businesses, with more economic headwinds likely in the months ahead as the world battles the coronavirus outbreak.

Investors will now await the release of quarterly GDP figures on Friday, with forecasters predicting a 6.2 percent contraction.

Regional bourses had already moved into positive territory before the results were announced.

Tokyo was up 1.9 percent, Shanghai climbed 0.7 percent and Hong Kong returned from a four day break to rise 0.6 percent in morning trade.

Sydney was up 1.0 percent despite the forecast doubling of Australia’s unemployment rate to 10 percent in the second quarter and a National Australia Bank survey showing record low business confidence.

The Australian dollar has also rallied from last month’s 18-year lows with a

slowdown in new coronavirus infections and signs of returning industrial activity in China, said AxiCorp chief market strategist Stephen Innes.

“The combination of early containment and quality health care system put Australia head and shoulders above many,” he added.

Investors shook off a negative lead from Wall Street overnight ahead of earnings reports from major US banks.

That data will be among the first to show the effects of the near-overnight economic shutdown in the country worst affected by the pandemic.

Nearly 600,000 people have tested positive for the disease and more than 23,500 have died across the US. Some market watchers say the US economy could bounce back relatively quickly once the coronavirus situation is managed, but others warn of a more protracted slowdown due to the risk of second-wave outbreaks. With AFP

Manila Standard BuSineSS daily StockS review tueSday, april 14, 2020

OPEN

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LOW

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

47.8 58.7 100 0.6 19.9 16.02 7.92 0.57 0.95 0.3 37.5 0.63 8.65 16.02 21.1 170 102.9 43 17.7 103 1,650 53.7

48 61 102.5 0.6 20 16.02 7.92 0.57 0.95 0.3 39.15 0.66 8.65 16.02 23.3 170 102.9 43 17.98 107 1,650 56.75

47.7 58.45 97.85 0.6 19.8 15.22 7.64 0.57 0.95 0.28 37.25 0.61 8.65 16 21.1 160 102.9 42.95 17.5 101.1 1,650 53.7

FINANCIALS 48 6,200 61 2,879,820 102.5 5,707,600 0.6 10,000 19.9 358,800 15.3 39,600 7.75 838,500 0.57 2,000 0.95 10,000 0.28 460,000 38.85 7,986,700 0.61 20,000 8.65 24,100 16 5,000 22.85 699,400 162.1 1,320 102.9 80 43 1,600 17.5 20,100 101.1 1,641,050 1,650 10 55.65 4,010

296,560 173,361,807.50 576,585,845 6,000 7,120,836 609,510 6,491,477 1,140 9,500 129,300 308,591,515 12,550 208,465 80,020 15,838,310 213,995 8,232 68,780 354,966 170,909,590 16,500 219,103.50

ABOITIZ POWER AC ENERGY AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS AXELUM BASIC ENERGY BOGO MEDELLIN CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A CROWN ASIA DAVINCI CAPITAL DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP EMPERADOR EUROMED FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG FRUITAS HLDG GINEBRA GREENERGY HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LIBERTY FLOUR LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL MACAY HLDG 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 VIVANT VULCAN INDL

28 2.02 6.93 0.51 0.94 2.51 0.166 84.95 1.06 14.2 5.87 13.2 28.85 50 1.9 4 3.8 5.6 7.6 5.4 7.98 2.18 17.9 52.5 1.4 31.05 0.8 12.18 4.6 0.99 139.9 35 4.6 3.12 5.75 10.88 5.49 6.81 267 1.8 2.4 2.86 8.7 10.18 18.08 4.77 4.5 1.39 1.49 0.82 5.46 55.5 7.95 0.109 0.67 126 2.65 0.8 13.1 0.6

28.05 2.12 6.99 0.55 0.98 2.57 0.189 84.95 1.14 14.78 6.09 13.2 28.85 52 1.9 4 3.8 6.23 7.8 5.63 7.98 2.33 18.5 53.55 1.42 32 0.94 12.2 4.69 0.99 148 35 4.6 3.31 5.75 11.7 6.4 7.51 277 1.8 2.5 3.1 8.95 10.4 18.54 4.77 4.54 1.49 1.55 0.92 5.79 58.2 8.05 0.109 0.73 132 2.65 0.81 15.08 0.72

27.5 1.98 6.8 0.51 0.93 2.5 0.166 84.95 1.06 14.2 5.81 13.2 28.5 50 1.83 4 3.5 5.6 7.45 5.4 7.9 2.15 17.6 52.2 1.4 31.05 0.8 11.7 4.55 0.95 139.8 35 4.6 3.12 5.32 10.88 5.33 6.81 260.8 1.76 2.4 2.86 8.7 9.55 18.04 4.6 4.4 1.37 1.49 0.82 5.4 55.5 7.95 0.103 0.66 125.8 2.33 0.78 13.1 0.6

INDUSTRIAL 27.7 1,923,300 2.09 42,012,000 6.86 515,100 0.53 1,415,000 0.97 138,000 2.5 1,189,000 0.188 1,180,000 84.95 200 1.13 8,598,000 14.6 180,600 6.08 975,900 13.2 600 28.5 1,300 50 2,000 1.89 28,000 4 4,000 3.65 46,000 5.88 3,025,000 7.7 75,100 5.55 1,537,200 7.97 5,649,600 2.29 5,533,000 18.5 1,275,100 53.1 11,580 1.41 10,119,000 32 20,400 0.94 4,193,000 12 595,300 4.6 268,000 0.99 378,000 146.5 3,519,200 35 100 4.6 8,000 3.31 4,000 5.5 2,300 11.6 6,196,600 6.25 7,866,500 7.3 2,318,600 268 361,770 1.8 407,000 2.5 36,000 3 5,710,000 8.95 2,100 10.4 44,600 18.26 1,339,300 4.6 3,000 4.51 38,000 1.46 2,060,000 1.5 24,000 0.91 1,005,000 5.58 11,906,000 57.1 338,420 8.05 87,500 0.109 290,000 0.69 140,000 132 907,100 2.35 45,000 0.81 6,796,000 15.08 300 0.67 2,191,000

53,299,410 85,951,620 3,550,840 748,730 132,370 3,008,220 201,970 16,990 9,472,500 2,637,648 5,861,313 7,920 37,260 100,400 51,730 16,000 164,550 18,113,503 578,142 8,535,729 45,079,026 12,417,690 23,425,252 612,881.50 14,279,600 651,990 3,633,320 7,117,500 1,233,920 368,110 512,847,946 3,500 36,800 12,670 12,340 71,243,582 47,074,140 16,748,281 97,698,324 731,760 89,620 17,206,370 18,670 458,453 24,574,968 14,070 168,840 2,989,500 37,040 902,590 66,871,283 19,391,177 701,689 31,210 94,120 117,866,768 106,620 5,441,780 4,130 1,462,830

4,533,980 864,100.00 -373,181 -53,000 7,440 163,070 -379,210 124,812 142,442 542,905 -46,757 -299,907 -43,888,404 166,260 4,411,076.00 -85,425 662,730.00 -249,700 -3,847,558 469,200 51,534,352 -37,186,092 -12,198,091 4,635,284 8,927,656 656,260 -1,443,470 894.9999 -4,026,416 56,850 79,690 -37,392,571 4,912,777 19,155,952 133,880 -

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

0.53 43 6.94 0.54 6.1 5.98 0.44 521.5 1.57 4.9 4.18 9 4 405.2 3.61 54.65 6.29 0.455 2.83 7.4 0.46 2.52 0.72 96 877.5 0.68 0.9 161 149.5 0.2 0.125

0.6 44.9 7.05 0.55 6.1 7 0.45 550 1.57 5.3 4.35 9 4 438.8 3.9 55.9 6.29 0.52 2.87 7.61 0.49 2.63 0.79 100 884 0.69 0.94 170 150.3 0.206 0.133

0.53 42.85 6.82 0.52 6 5.65 0.43 513.5 1.52 4.9 4.18 8.4 3.89 405.2 3.61 53.5 6.29 0.455 2.81 7.36 0.455 2.52 0.72 94.9 851.5 0.63 0.9 161 147.7 0.2 0.123

HOLDING FIRMS 0.59 18,656,000 44.9 941,800 6.98 3,668,400 0.54 297,000 6.1 15,000 6.78 57,000 0.45 2,340,000 550 915,550 1.52 3,510,000 5 4,036,000 4.29 7,324,000 8.9 16,000 3.89 5,000 430 274,670 3.82 154,000 55 2,530,130 6.29 100 0.465 70,000 2.85 1,188,000 7.55 7,205,300 0.49 80,000 2.61 72,361,000 0.77 35,000 95 1,015,430 868 253,750 0.68 71,000 0.94 11,000 170 5,310 150.3 8,380 0.206 350,000 0.126 690,000

10,552,180 41,328,530 25,587,243 158,620 90,750 362,823 1,028,100 486,632,205 5,397,470 20,405,360 31,372,800 137,546 19,790 117,530,206 588,290 139,020,512 629 33,850 3,368,300 54,031,928 37,000 187,629,980 25,880 97,580,385.50 220,512,810 47,400 10,220 879,880 1,248,205 70,060 86,600

27,660 -24,132,395 -9,052,329 60,250 60,503,220 -3,651,780 -5,101,540 890 5,361,860 -488,800 -51,986,589 -2,647,320 2,654,825 -31,318,910 22,987,561 -62,256,625 -898,636 8,610

11.54 0.54 8 1.05 0.55 32.7 1.37 3.71 6.04 0.365 0.74 0.73 0.12 0.27 7 15.96 0.31 0.91 0.82 2.78 0.141 0.315

PROPERTY 11.6 85,500 0.58 2,921,000 9 2,100 1.1 69,000 0.56 1,406,000 33.75 12,660,700 1.41 110,000 3.79 590,000 6.04 9,700 0.375 7,230,000 0.74 1,000 0.73 14,000 0.13 150,000 0.27 200,000 7.24 75,600 16.08 230,800 0.31 60,000 0.95 22,607,000 0.84 1,332,000 2.89 39,312,000 0.142 3,870,000 0.32 280,000

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

11.6 0.54 9.2 1.1 0.57 33.55 1.37 3.8 6.04 0.365 0.74 0.74 0.12 0.27 7 16 0.31 0.91 0.82 2.8 0.147 0.315

11.66 0.6 9.2 1.13 0.57 33.75 1.41 3.8 6.04 0.38 0.74 0.74 0.132 0.27 7.3 16.16 0.31 0.97 0.87 2.89 0.147 0.32

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

NAME

291,760 -36,597,416.50 -118,381,846.50 -1,901,714.00 -305,580 -5,289,731 -124,447,650 -3,335,615 8,110.00 -5,155,397 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

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VOLUME

VALUE

PHIL INFRADEV PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND VISTAMALLS

0.76 0.245 1.74 13.86 1.53 2.74 30.1 1.94 1.17 3.95 3.5

0.79 0.26 1.75 15 1.54 2.74 30.9 1.95 1.27 4.13 3.5

0.72 0.232 1.74 13.84 1.52 2.67 29.65 1.89 1.16 3.95 3.45

0.79 0.26 1.75 14.92 1.54 2.67 30.9 1.93 1.17 4.04 3.5

1,703,000 320,000 20,000 3,198,200 17,000 144,000 7,110,900 81,000 2,100,000 2,536,000 87,000

1,323,980 79,840 34,900 46,412,144 25,990 385,850 216,878,950 155,210 2,501,010 10,275,920 304,250

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ALLHOME APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR CHELSEA DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD DITO CME HLDG EASYCALL FAR EASTERN U GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA HARBOR STAR INTL CONTAINER ISLAND INFO LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN MANILA JOCKEY METRO RETAIL METROALLIANCE A METROALLIANCE B NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PAXYS PH RESORTS GRP PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

6.14 17.12 5.05 0.29 0.038 16.98 2.4 5.84 0.029 50 6.74 2.78 3.26 1.84 1.88 4.85 830 2,220 4.99 360 0.77 75.2 0.086 12.18 1.39 0.68 4.55 0.375 2 1.55 1.46 1.57 1.67 1.75 7 2.04 3.75 135 2.4 1,130 0.3 0.212 44.1 61.5 1.22 0.38 0.163 0.4 12.6

6.14 18.12 5.74 0.35 0.041 16.98 2.45 6.2 0.03 51.5 6.74 2.85 3.26 1.84 2.01 5.3 830 2,258 5.1 360 0.78 84 0.088 12.18 1.44 0.68 5.4 0.375 2 1.56 1.53 1.57 1.78 1.79 7.1 2.08 3.75 135 2.57 1,170 0.315 0.215 46.95 64.1 1.39 0.38 0.17 0.42 13.14

6 17.12 5.05 0.29 0.038 16.98 2.25 5.84 0.029 50 6.74 2.75 3.26 1.84 1.87 4.85 830 2,200 4.98 304 0.74 75.2 0.082 10.8 1.36 0.68 4.55 0.35 2 1.49 1.36 1.57 1.66 1.72 6.9 2.04 3.25 129.5 2.4 1,129 0.295 0.202 44.1 59.8 1.21 0.365 0.155 0.4 12.6

SERVICES 6.06 17.6 5.54 0.3 0.041 16.98 2.35 6 0.029 50.6 6.74 2.84 3.26 1.84 1.97 5.29 830 2,230 5 336 0.78 80.9 0.082 10.8 1.42 0.68 5.18 0.36 2 1.52 1.48 1.57 1.72 1.72 7 2.08 3.63 130.5 2.52 1,170 0.31 0.21 46.95 64 1.39 0.375 0.17 0.42 13

55,100 319,100 6,587,000 1,440,000 11,100,000 500 129,000 8,801,400 8,200,000 463,700 200 1,729,000 1,000 1,000 87,311,000 15,000 30 117,540 338,000 710 790,000 2,157,080 2,160,000 4,100 327,000 10,000 12,395,000 790,000 91,000 4,373,000 2,175,000 5,000 4,329,000 121,000 24,300 36,000 179,000 50,190 6,544,000 117,650 14,740,000 3,000,000 6,223,500 327,200 4,490,000 16,070,000 4,490,000 100,000 14,122,500

334,680 5,667,248 35,348,970 459,500 448,800 8,490 300,980 53,264,746 240,100 23,489,290 1,348 4,869,850 3,260 1,840 170,199,380 77,610 24,900 262,024,360 1,689,930 237,500 608,520 174,166,567.50 184,860 45,178 460,540 6,800 63,453,220 281,150 182,000 6,662,530 3,185,290 7,850 7,441,380 210,950 169,830 73,700 604,840 6,518,580 16,278,520 136,640,010 4,518,800 620,960 286,666,890 20,697,895.50 5,941,630 6,018,050 736,890 41,000 181,622,724

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

0.001 5.24 0.86 1.9 10.86 1.1 2.6 0.22 6.5 0.74 0.19 0.076 0.081 0.0065 0.56 1.69 0.95 0.355 0.46 0.0087 0.0086 2.12 3.92 12.38

0.0011 5.43 0.99 1.9 10.86 1.17 2.7 0.22 6.9 0.76 0.192 0.08 0.089 0.0066 0.58 1.73 0.97 0.355 0.47 0.0087 0.0089 2.25 4.3 12.8

0.001 5.14 0.85 1.9 10.86 1 2.6 0.21 6.35 0.69 0.19 0.076 0.081 0.0065 0.53 1.67 0.92 0.355 0.455 0.0084 0.0086 2.12 3.92 12.36

MINING & OIL 0.001 140,000,000 5.42 103,100 0.94 3,779,000 1.9 11,000 10.86 4,600 1.14 61,000 2.7 759,000 0.219 500,000 6.5 13,500 0.74 11,144,000 0.192 20,000 0.078 8,580,000 0.088 150,000 0.0066 70,000,000 0.57 335,000 1.7 12,943,000 0.94 94,000 0.355 10,000 0.465 180,000 0.0084 6,000,000 0.0088 14,000,000 2.2 770,000 4.3 3,807,000 12.4 2,300,400

140,600 554,403 3,571,210 20,900 49,956 68,440 2,008,870 107,200 88,935 8,158,820 3,820 674,100 13,090 455,600 185,350 22,041,690 89,170 3,550 83,900 51,900 121,700 1,691,460 15,758,310 28,709,664

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

16 500 92.85 97.7 107 495 4.9 985 95 99.35 995 98.85 995 76.4 75 74.95 74.75

16.2 500 92.85 98 108 500 4.9 990 98.8 99.5 995 99 998 76.5 75 75 74.75

15.68 500 91.6 97 107 495 4.9 985 95 99.35 995 98.85 993.5 76.2 75 74.95 74.75

PREFERRED 16.2 128,200 500 1,000 91.6 500 97.5 47,760 108 1,000 500 6,980 4.9 56,000 990 1,570 98.8 590 99.5 1,880 995 265 99 830 998 1,460 76.4 14,760 75 145,210 75 26,700 74.75 200

2,063,244 500,000 45,977.50 4,654,050 107,896 3,488,872 274,400 1,549,950 56,392 186,868.50 263,675 82,092 1,453,945 1,127,779 10,890,750 2,002,451.50 14,950

LR WARRANT

0.93

0.94

0.93

WARRANTS 0.94 24,000

22,430

MS 990,876 1,690,550 17,940 76,120 784,320 423,334,595 151,770 2,216,080 58,588 2,731,050 740 10,230 19,120 54,000 538,708 3,709,390 18,600 21,442,370 1,120,860 112,161,060 554,920 89,300

608,860 35,780 11,200 17,360 -43,902,120 38,400 1,122,200 46,508 740 730 95,019 1,287,488 -2,297,270 -29,268,260 -

ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH XURPAS

1.53 5.7 0.54

1.63 6.2 0.55

1.45 5.7 0.52

FIRST METRO ETF

86

88.5

86

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2

9.6 9.7

Trading Summary

9.6 9.7

SHARES

FINANCIAL

21,612,464

INDUSTRIAL

197,876,314

HOLDING FIRMS

128,553,122

PROPERTY

114,642,907

SERVICES

227,292,904

MINING & OIL

275,945,455

GRAND TOTAL

979,022,083

9.6 9.7

1.59 6.14 0.54

SME

10,432,000 80,300 2,552,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 87.9 30,200 9.6 9.7

DDS

910 3,260

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP 780 4,900 -3,500 -7,999,122 133,960 -26,077,845 -7,600 -4,017,450 -168,170 7,110,080 8,490 7,745,283 -2,732,500 -138,000 11,967,670 -148,796,430 -2,760,457 -21,436,590 -22,000 -1,816,000 618,610 91,000 -51,000 -420,035 481,340 13,205,240 310,000 33,697,485 -4,485,867.50 -1,481,670 -5,528,550 34,230 -70,053,966 60,000 91,860 529,650 -1,852,850 -11,830,760 -915,800 -210,560 3,701,202 -274,400 -

16,406,130 481,355 1,367,990

176,400 55,000

2,641,479

623,415

8,736 31,622

-

VALUE 1,206.04 (up) 44.05 1,350,301,970.75 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 7,655.60 (up) 319.71 1,869,282,794.20 HOLDING FIRMS 5,664.59 (up) 131.03 1,597,674,929.92 PROPERTY 2,992.82 (up) 62.43 1,306.04 (up) 54.01 973,361,019.02 SERVICES MINING & OIL 4,660.79 (up) 165.77 1,488,795,771.09 PSEI 5,780.88 (up) 169.90 84,670,214.54 All Shares Index 3,468.95 (up) 88.32 7,384,990,173.11 Gainers: 158; Losers: 53; Unchanged: 32; Total: 243

Aboitiz Power bonds worth P9.55b obtain higher rating

By Alena Mae S. Flores PHILIPPINE Rating Services Corp. assigned a credit rating of “PRS Aaa” on the proposed P9.55 billion worth of fixed retail bonds of Aboitiz Power Corp.

PhilRatings issued the credit rating of PRS Aaa with a stable outlook. The bonds have an oversubscription option of up to P 4.55 billion.

Aboitiz Power’s bonds may have one to three series with tenors that may range from two, five, and seven year to be issued in the second or third quarter.

PhilRatings also maintained a credit rating of PRS Aaa and a stable outlook on Aboitiz Power’s outstanding P30.45 billion of bond issue.

“Obligations rated PRS Aaa are of the highest quality with minimal credit risk. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong,” Philratings said in a statement.

PRS Aaa is the highest rating assigned by PhilRatings. The outlook is an indication of the possible direction of any rating change within a one-year period. It serves as a further refinement to the assigned credit rating for the guidance of investors, regulators and the general public.

A stable outlook means the rating is likely to be maintained or remain unchanged in the next 12 months.

PhilRatings assigned grade due to Aboitiz Power’s significant levels of cash flows and financial flexibility in relation to debt service requirements.

The rater cited the company’s adequate capital structure, supported by the healthy increase in retained earnings, diversified portfolio, with good growth prospects, and its experienced management team.

PhilRatings said its ratings were based on available information and projections at the time it conducted the review.

“PhilRatings shall continuously monitor developments relating to Aboitiz Power and may change the rating at any time, should circumstances warrant a change,” it said.

This will be the fourth issuance of Aboitiz Power in relation to its three-year shelf registration of up to P 30 billion.

ABS-CBN says Facebook page gets 20m likes

By Darwin G. Amojelar ABS-CBN Corp. said its Facebook page received over 20 million likes and the YouTube channel followed by more than 26 million, making both the most followed local accounts on the respective platforms.

ABS-CBN’s Facebook is the first page by any Filipino media network or personality to achieve the 20-million milestone on the popular social media platform. On the ABS-CBN Facebook page, fans get their updates and engage in conversations about the network’s programs, project announcements and biggest stars.

More Filipinos on the platform also turn to ABS-CBN for their news updates as ABS-CBN News is the most liked local news account on Facebook with 18 million likes.

ABS-CBN’s undisputed online reach also stretches to YouTube, where it boasts 26.3 million subscribers and 35.1 billion lifetime views, making it the most subscribed and most viewed Filipino channel on the site. Moreover, the channel placed 13th in the most viewed YouTube channels globally in terms of watch hours in February this year, after finishing 2019 in 10th place.

ABS-CBN Entertainment offers rich and constantly updated content that includes episode highlights from its television programs, trailers, behindthe-scenes features, performances and exclusive interviews.

More than 40 of the channels owned or managed by ABS-CBN have also been awarded with Gold and Silver YouTube Creator Awards, which are given by YouTube to channels that have gained one million and 100,000 subscribers, respectively.

Its most subscribed YouTube channels include ABS-CBN News, which has 8.9 million subscribers with 5.9 billion views, Star Music (4.9 million subscribers), “Pinoy Big Brother” (3.4 million), Star Cinema (2.6 million), “The Voice Kids Philippines” (2.38 million) and The Gold Squad (2 million).

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

A8

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2020

Business

IMF cuts PH growth forecast to 0.6%

By Julito G. Rada

T

HE International Monetary Fund downgraded its 2020 growth forecast for the Philippines to 0.6 percent from a previous estimate of 6.3 percent after the debilitating impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 on the economy.

IMF resident representative to the Philippines Yongzheng Yang, however, said economic growth would likely rebound strongly to 7.6 percent next year.

“Real GDP growth in 2020 is project-

ed to slow down to 0.6 percent, before it rebounds to 7.6 percent in 2021. The downward revision of the 2020 growth forecast is mostly attributable to supply disruptions related to COVID-19 and weaker demand in the Philippines’ major trading partners,” Yang said in an email when asked on the outlook for the Philippines following the release of the World Economic Outlook in April 2020.

“Tighter global financial conditions, weaker public confidence and lower remittances are also expected to weigh on private consumption and investment,” Yang said.

Yang, however, said the negative impacts of Covid-19 19 were “expected to be partially offset by policy support.”

He said the outbreak was assumed to peak in the second quarter, leading to a gradual recovery in the second half of

the year. He said stemming the spread of the disease was of utmost importance.

“Policies at the moment should focus on both protecting public health and putting people back to work, but getting the virus under control is, if anything, a prerequisite to saving livelihoods,” Yang said.

“We welcome the authorities’ fiscal and monetary policy responses to the impact of COVID-19. Owing to prudent macroeconomic management, the Philippines has built considerable policy buffers in recent years,” Yang said.

Yang said in a briefing in February that the Covi9d-19 outbreak would heavily impact the tourism industry, which is one of the pillars of the domestic economy. He said China was one of the largest sources of tourists in the country.

Yang said one of the measures that would counter the impact of the disease

to the economy was the move of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to cut the benchmark policy interest rates.

The BSP cut the benchmark interest rates by 50 basis points to 3.25 percent last month to provide monetary stimulus to counter the impending economic slowdown aid the onslaught of the pandemic.

A few days after that, the BSP cut the reserve requirement ratios of universal and commercial banks by 200 basis points or 2 percent to 12 percent, a move seen to boost domestic liquidity. The 200-bps cut could translate to around P180 billion to P200 billion in additional liquidity into the financial system.

The April WEO Report also projected global growth in 2020 to fall to -3 percent, a downgrade of 6.3 percentage points from January 2020, which is a major revision over a very short period.

Razon says Bloomberry to invest in other areas

By Jenniffer B. Austria BLOOMBERRY Resorts Corp. on Tuesday announced plans to broaden its portfolio by investing in gaming, hospitality and other non-gaming assets.

Bloomberry made the announcement despite the current uncertainties in the global and domestic economy brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

“Bloomberry Resorts announces its intent to make additional future investments in the interest of enhancing shareholder value,” the company in a disclosure to the stock exchange said.

The company said future investments would be considered within a broader universe of possible opportunities, which include gaming, hospitality and other non-gaming assets.

It said it would consider various opportunities in light of their potential to create additional value for shareholders.

“At this time, the company does not have any particular investments or acquisitions that are under imminent consideration and therefore will not make any investment-related announcements in the near-term,” the company said.

Bloomberry is currently operating Solaire Resort & Casino within the government sponsored Pagcor Entertainment City. It also owns and operates Jeju Sun Hotel & Casino in South Korea.

Bloombery is also building Solaire North in Vertis North, Quezon City.

The project is scheduled for completion by 2023.

The company’s gaming floor at Solaire Resort & Casino has been closed since March 16 upon the instructions of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and in compliance with the government’s enhanced community quarantine initiative.

The share price of Bloomberry rose 3.81 percent Tuesday to P6.

Bloomberry reported a consolidated net income of P9.9 billion in 2019, up 38 percent from P7.2 billion in 2018 on strong gaming revenues. Consolidated gross gaming revenue at Solaire rose 17 percent to P59.8 billion from P51 billion the previous year.

SM Group contributes P100m vs COVID-19 SM has contributed P100 million to a multisector COVID-19 poverty relief initiative called Project Ugnayan. The amount is in addition to P170 million in medical supply donations to over 50 hospitals nationwide that helped equip health workers in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic.

Project Ugnayan aims to bring much-needed support to over 1.5 million families (or 7.6 million persons) affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.

The project is an assembly of local corporations, the government and the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation to fund aid to urban poor residents in Greater Metro Manila and nearby provinces. The project has raised over P1.6 billion in pledges from more than 30 participating corporations.

Project Ugnayan has mainly tapped into Caritas Manila’s Project Damayan for the distribution of supermarket vouchers to underprivileged families and ABS-CBN’s Pantawid ng Pag-ibig, as well as the Asian Development Bank and the Government’s Bayan, Bayanihan Project for the distribution of food packages.

San Miguel building 10 quarantine hubs DIVERSIFIED conglomerate San Miguel Corp. said it will construct 10 emergency quarantine facilities near military hospitals to house personnel who have tested positive for the new coronavirus (COVID-19).

San Miguel said in a statement Tuesday the planned 10 quarantine facilities would house personnel with mild or no symptoms in a bid to help ease the pressure on health facilities flooded by patients needing intensive medical treatment.

“We are thankful to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for giving us the opportunity to collaborate with them on this initiative. This is one way we can help our hospitals efficiently attend to Covid-19 patients with severe symptoms as well those suffering from other lifethreatening conditions,” said SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang. The 10 facilities will have 15 beds each.

They will be erected beside NOLCOM Hospital in Tarlac, SOLCOM Hospital in Lucena City, Eastmincom Hospital in Davao City, CENTCOM Hospital in Cebu City, Westmincom Hospital in Zamboanga City, Veterans Memorial Center, CJVAB Hospital in Pasay City, Naval Air Group in Cavite City and WESCOM Hospital in Palawan. Jenniffer B. Austria

ING sees strong PH economic recovery

ATM ON WHEELS. BDO Unibank deploys roving ATM on Wheels to provide bank services in areas covered by the prevailing enhanced community quarantine. With the roving ATM on Wheels, BDO clients are still able to perform various transactions, such as balance inquiry, cash withdrawal, cash advance, BDO cash card reload, prepaid mobile reload, fund transfer, donation, activation of online banking enrolment and third party fund transfer and pin change. The ATM on Wheels, which is available from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., accepts both local and international cards.

Firm behind Kumu raises $5m from local, Asian investors

By Darwin G. Amojelar KUMU Holdings Pte. Ltd., the company that owns the technology behind Philippine live streaming app Kumu, said it raised $5 million to roll out new features and scale up operations.

The Series A funding round comes at a time when quarantines and social distancing measures are keeping people at home at an unprecedented scale, increasing the usage of apps in the media and entertainment categories.

The Series A was led by Openspace Ventures, one of the largest venture capital companies in Singapore known for leading the Series A round of Indonesian unicorn Go-Jek in 2015. This marks Openspace’s second portfolio company from the Philippines after it invested in fashion e-commerce platform BeautyMNL. “As the rise of global interactive platforms such as Tik Tok and live streaming apps gain acceptance with the younger generation, there remains a significant gap for local content and hyper-local networks,” said Hian Goh, co-founder and partner at Openspace Ventures.

“The Philippines, with 103 million citizens and a young, internet-savvy population, have found Kumu to be a compelling addition to the media landscape, and the Filipino leadership of Roland and his co-founders have created a unique network which we think will dominate the media landscape in the country in the coming years,” he said.

The funding round attracted unprecedented participation from Kickstart Ventures, the corporate VC firm of Globe Telecom and ABS-CBN Corp., the country’s largest media and entertainment company. It was also joined by Gobi Core Philippine Fund, a local partnership with Gobi Partners, an international investment firm which also manages the Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund.

“Filipinos are spending more and more time online to consume content and to find and connect with like-minded people, and Kumu has created a path for Pinoys to do these things in a way that uniquely captures the Pinoy spirit of community,” said Kickstart Ventures vice president for investments Joan Cybil Yao. “With a focus on positivity, safety,

and acceptance, Kumu enables its users, content creators, and businesses to interact with one another in authentic and engaging ways. We’re excited to be supporting Kumu’s mission of empowering and connecting Filipinos around the world,” she said.

ABS-CBN head of business development Luis Paolo Pineda expressed his elation regarding Kumu’s Series A round completion.

“We at ABS-CBN have witnessed the progressive evolution of the media industry, and are impressed with the innovations that Kumu has pioneered.

With this app, we envision a new era for our shows, game shows, and ABS-CBN talents, wherein fresh ideas and live interaction can serve our audience best,” he said.

Summit Media and Philippine-based VC Foxmont Capital Partners also followed on from a previous $1.2-million seed round of funding.

Summit Media president and chief executive Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng noted the bright prospects with her company’s partnership with Kumu which has been established since 2018.

Gov’t set to subsidize salaries of 3.4m middle-class employees of small firms THE government will provide some 3.4 million employees in small businesses with a wage subsidy of P5,000 to P8,000 per eligible worker affected by the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon and other parts of the country, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said Tuesday.

He said the wage subsidy program would benefit 2.6 million workers whose employers were compliant with the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Social Security System regulations and, thus, could be easily identified and automatically processed for coverage if they are eligible.

The program will also support another 800,000 workers whose employers were not fully compliant with the SSS or BIR as the government understands that the non-compliance may have been caused by inadvertent mistakes on the part of the employer.

These workers who belong to the lowto medium-middle class are employed

IN BRIEF

in some 1.6 million small businesses in the formal sector that are affected by the ECQ. Dominguez and Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua presented the wage subsidy program during a televised meeting presided by President Duterte late Monday night.

Dominguez said that while the ECQ affected most workers in both the formal and informal sectors, the president’s swift decision to implement it to contain the spread of COVID-19 had probably saved 100,000 Filipino lives, according to World Bank estimates.

“I had a meeting with the World Bank a few days ago, and they said that your decisiveness in first reducing the number of people coming into the Philippines in February and in March, followed by the lockdown, probably saved 100,000 lives in the Philippines,” Dominguez said.

ABOITIZ DONATION. Philippine Ports Authority acting department manager for administrative services Eric Dimaculangan (right) and executive assistant to the general manager Kelvin Angeles receive 1,500 face masks from the Aboitiz Group. The Aboitiz Group has donated medical equipment, protective gear and other related items to government, military frontliners and government hospitals in recognition of their hard work and valuable presence amid the coronavirus disease 2019 crisis.

AN ECONOMIST of the local unit of the Dutch financial giant ING Bank expects a strong recovery for the Philippine economy once the coronavirus 2019 pandemic is over.

“We have likened COVID-19 to kryptonite to our once superhuman economy and we expect a deep drop off in performance as the virus knocks out the economy’s greatest strengths.

Some analysts are bracing for the worst, with remittances likely curtailed with OFs sent home, investment activity delayed due to frozen cash flows and uncertainty holding back overall economic activity,” said ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa in a report Tuesday.

“We however hold off for a sharp recovery by the Philippines, with the economy returning to superhuman form once COVID-19 is beaten back. The Philippines still enjoys its demographic dividend, Filipinos will be consumption and fad frenzied and remittances will flow again,” he said.

Mapa said it will be crucial for the government to “hold the fort” while the rest of the economic squad is in sick bay. Julito G. Rada

SEC strengthens rules on sale of company assets

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Securities and Exchange Commission issued stricter rules on the sale of corporate assets to safeguard minority investors’ interests.

It said in a statement the new rules would require the approval of shareholders on the sale or disposal of properties and assets amounting to at least 51 percent of a corporation’s total assets.

Under the rules issued through SEC Memorandum Circular No. 12 Series of 2020, the approval of the stockholders representing at least two-thirds of the outstanding capital stock in a meeting duly called for the purpose would be required prior to the execution of the sale transaction.

It said in aggregate sale transactions, shareholder approval would be required on those breaching the 51-percent corporate asset threshold.

“The newly issued rules reinforce the protection afforded to minority investors by enabling them to better participate in the decision-making and promoting transparency to reduce the risk of abuse,” SEC chairperson Emilio Aquino said.

“We will continue spearheading corporate governance reforms, as part of our commitment to contribute to the inclusive development of the country’s economy through the introduction of reforms that protect minority investors,” Aquino said.

The determination of whether or not the sale breaches the threshold will be based on the total assets of the corporation as shown in its latest audited financial statements. The computation may also be based on the latest quarterly financial statement or a special purpose report prepared in connection with the execution of the transaction.

Sports Gilas Pilipinas, represented here by Kiefer Ravena, will have more time to get ready for the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup.

Kobe Bryant remembered on anniversary of NBA farewell LOS ANGELES—The anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s 60-point NBA finale was recalled by his widow, Vanessa, on Monday in an Instagram post remembering the late Los Angeles Lakers legend.

“My husband worked his ass off for 20 years,” Vanessa Bryant wrote of her superstar husband, who died in a January 26 helicopter crash with daughter Gianna and seven others.

“Gave it his all. All he wanted was to spend time with our girls and me to make up for lost time. He wanted to be there for every single milestone and special moment in our girls lives.”

The post included a video featuring highlights from the Lakers’ 101-96 victory over the Utah Jazz on April 13, 2016.

Bryant scored 60 points in that, his final game in a 20-year NBA career that included five championships.

The video includes a moment showing Bryant with his family at courtside, hugging Vanessa and kissing daughters Natalia and Gianna.

The couple’s third daughter, Bianka was born in December of 2016 and their fourth, Capri, was born last June.

“He only got to enjoy 3 years and 9 months of retirement,” Vanessa Bryant wrote. “We had 2 more daughters, he won an Oscar, he opened Granity studios, he became a 5x best selling author and coached Gianna’s basketball team in that time. She worked hard and gave her all 7 days a week just like her daddy ... This is just senseless.”

Kobe Bryant

Gilas PH gets more time to prepare for FIBA meet

By Peter Atencio

T

HE Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team will get more time to prepare for the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup.

That’s because the tournament has been adjusted by two weeks, from the original schedule of August 3 to 15 to August 17 to 29.

Team Pilipinas was supposed to start its stint with with a home game against Thailand in the qualifiers on Feb. 20.

But the encounter was postponed for a later date.

After Gilas Pilipinas beat Indonesia last Feb. 23 in Jakarta and its next matches had to be called off because of the coronavirus threat.

Because of this, the next dates of

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2020

B1

McIlroy hoping schedule change leads to Masters breakthrough LONDON—Rory McIlroy is hoping the rescheduling of the 2020 golf calendar can help him complete a career grand slam at the Masters in November.

All four of golf’s majors have been affected by strict government restrictions to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The Open Championship has been cancelled and the three American majors rescheduled for the second half of the year.

Rather than its usual position as the first major of the year, The Masters will round off a hectic four months that is also scheduled to include the PGA Championship, US Open and Ryder Cup. “The Masters means so much. Obviously it’s the last major for me to win but putting that aside, it is such a special place, so many great memories already,” McIlroy said in an Instagram Live with Nike Golf.

“I always feel there’s this bit of anticipation going into Augusta, the first big event of the year. There’s all this hype.

“I don’t think it will feel like that this year, it will feel different but it’s something I’m looking forward to.

“It’s going to be a different Masters this year but personally, maybe selfishly, that’s what I need to get the jacket.”

The Northern Irishman is also hoping to get the chance to represent Europe in the Ryder Cup, which has so far retained its original dates from September 25-27 at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.

However, European captain Padraig Harrington believes the biennial event will be postponed if fans cannot attend due to social distancing measures.

“I think for us, that the Ryder Cup is the biggest and most intense atmosphere you can play under,” McIlroy added.

“You’re not just playing for yourself, you’re playing for your team-mates, you’re playing for your country, you’re playing for a lot of different people.”

Meanwhile, the PGA of America donated $5 million to launch the Golf Emergency Relief fund on Monday, aiming to provide support for the golf industry during the coronavirus pandemic. AFP

Bolt goes viral with ‘social distancing’ photo WASHINGTON—Retired track star Usain Bolt showed he’s still a few steps ahead when he posted an AFP picture of him outstripping his rivals at the Beijing Olympics with the cheeky caption: “social distancing.”

Bolt’s post, featuring a picture by AFP photographer Nicolas Asfouri of the 2008 Olympics 100m final, blew up on social media, drawing more than half a million likes and 90,000 retweets.

It showed the Jamaican crossing the finish line at the Bird’s Nest stadium in a then-world record time of 9.69sec, glancing round from lane four as his despairing competitors trail two paces behind.

“Savage”, commented one Twitter user, while New York Times journalist Christopher Clarey posted another picture of Bolt out in front

Westbrook donates 650 computers to needy kids LOS ANGELES—Houston Rockets star guard Russell Westbrook has donated 650 computers to children who need the devices with schools shut down because of COVID-19.

Westbrook’s Why Not? Foundation teamed with non-profit Comp-U-Dopt to provide computers to children who might other not have access to them.

“The generous gift from the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation will allow us to significantly increase our inventory and ensure we can to continue to close the gap for Houston families most in need,” Colin Dempsey of Comp-U-Dopt said.

“One in 3 economically disadvantaged students in the Houston area lack access to a computer at home. With the outbreak of COVID19, and the closure of schools, there is an immediate need to get more computers to students and

their games will have to be determined.

The FIBA executive committee finalized the date of the Asia Cup, along with many international meets following a meeting last week.

The new schedule of the FIBA Asia Cup was agreed upon to avoid conflict with the Olympic Games in Tokyo, which has been moved a year and will now be played from July 23 to August 8.

“The outcome is a calendar of FIBA major events which remain very attractive for our fans, with a balanced dis-

tribution of top events, keeping always in mind the welfare and availability of players,” said FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis in a statement.

The FIBA Central Board also confirmed the suspension of all FIBA competitions on March 13, while also asking the FIBA Executive Committee to make any necessary adjustments to the FIBA calendar.

FIBA confirmed the confirmation of the revised dates for Tokyo 2020, from July 23 to August 8, 2021.

“I’m very pleased that, in a very challenging period, FIBA has been able to conduct an internal consultation process so fast and confirm an updated calendar for our senior tournaments within almost two weeks from the IOC’s announcement of the new dates for the Olympic Games,” he added.

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

families without access at home.”

Comp-U-Dopt has given almost 1,000 computers to families in Houston since March 18 through a computer drivethrough.

Families register for a lottery for a chance to get one of the machines.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner’s office said that 83 percent of students given computers live in households earning less than $35,000 a year.

Meanwhile, Jacqueline Towns, mother of Minnesota Timberwolves center KarlAnthony Towns, died Monday of complications of the coronavirus, the NBA team announced.

“Jackie, as she was affectionately known among family and friends, had been battling the virus for more than a month when she succumbed on April 13th,” the Timberwolves said in a statement released on Monday. AFP

on his own, captioned “self isolation.”

Bolt’s chest-thumping celebration in Beijing added to a legend that grew further when he won the 200m in another world-record time. He retired in 2017 with eight Olympic gold medals and the current 100m mark of 9.58sec, set in 2009.

Bolt, 33, has been encouraging Jamaicans to self-isolate during the coronavirus pandemic, posting videos of himself exercising at home and juggling footballs with a friend.

He also helped promote a major fundraiser, Telethon Jamaica.

After retiring from athletics, Bolt, a Manchester United fan, attempted to launch a career in football, and had a trial with Australia’s Central Coast Mariners before contract talks failed. AFP

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt crosses the finish line to win the men’s 100m final at the National stadium as part of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The sprint legend stayed ahead of the field for coronavirus tweets when he posted a photo on April 13, 2020 captioned “social distancing.” AFP

Ban-Eg: One of Team Lakay’s unsung heroes WHEN it comes to mixed martial arts in the Philippines, Team Lakay’s success is second to none.

In ONE Championship alone the team has produced five World Champions: Eduard “Landslide” Folayang, Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon, Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio, Honorio “The Rock” Banario, and ONE Strawweight World Champion Joshua “The Passion” Pacio.

Outside The Home Of Martial Arts, the team is also well represented, winning belts in other promotions in Asia and in North America.

But behind the team’s success are unsung heroes who play a huge role in developing these athletes—one of them is their trainer Jaybe Ban-Eg. “I am one of the trainers and coaches of Team Lakay,” Ban-Eg said. “This is a blessing for me because this is my passion and I get to work with

very respectful, disciplined, and hard-working individuals.”

“Sometimes their matches overlap each other, so I am usually the one that coach (Mark Sangiao) sends overseas to guide and train our athletes who will be competing.”

Ban-Eg started as a competitor on Team Lakay back in November 2015 and took part in amateur tournaments.

Somewhere along the way, the 25-year-old fell in love with teaching and coach Mark Sangiao made him an official coach and trainer in January 2018.

“I am happy to share my knowledge in martial arts,” Ban-Eg said, “but at the same time, I’ve been learning more from the team, especially coach Mark along the way.”

“Aside from the fact that I love what I do, I am also becoming a better coach and trainer for the team, and as a human being because of the respectful

and passionate athletes and coaches I work with.”

Ban-Eg’s role may be far from the spotlight—in fact the only time he gets airtime is when the camera pans toward the corner in between breaks and after the match—but he is always happy to help the team.

“I always make sure they follow their respective programs, and at the same time, I guide them through their game plans,” Ban-Eg said.

“I am happy with where I am now. I am growing as a fan of the sport and as a person. Working with coach Mark, I’ve learned a lot of things, particularly with how he really values his work.

“People expect the best from me in doing my role to help the team as they look to get more wins in their next matches.”

Catch all the ONE Championship action live and for free by downloading the ONE Super App.

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2020

Entertainment

GMA Public Affairs now a digital powerhouse GMA Public Affairs, widely regarded as home of the it garnered a total of one billion views.

In 2019, GMA Public Affairs’ YouTube channel recountry’s best documentary, docudrama, news magazine, and lifestyle TV programming, has successfully estab- corded over 2.77 billion views. The number continues lished itself as a digital powerhouse as it recently reached to increase. As of this writing, it is close to reaching six billion views.

10 million subscribKapuso Mo, Jesers on YouTube. sica Soho’s segThe feat makes ment on “Dalaga media conglomersa Davao, bakit tila ate GMA Network hindi tumatanda?” the first Philippine was named as the network to have Philippines’ top two Diamond Creatrending video on tor Awards for havYouTube for 2019 ing two YouTube after garnering channels with 10 more than 17.7 milmillion subscriblion views. Meaners. GMA›s enwhile, the Watertainment changas episode titled nel reached the 10 “Woman gets million-subscriber impregnated by a mark last year. tikbalang” remains GMA Public as the mostAffairs’ YouTube watched video channel recorded its on GMA Public first million-view in Affairs based on November 2015 via watch time. an episode of awardAcross all sowinning news magcial media platazine show Kapuso forms, GMA PubMo, Jessica Soho. lic Affairs prides In October 2016, it itself of having surpassed 100,000 GMA Public Affairs reaches 10 million subscribers on more than 44 milsubscribers and was YouTube making GMA-7 the first Philippine network to have two lion followers. The given a Silver Play channels achieving this milestone. number is expected Button plaque by to grow further as YouTube.

Then in April 2018, GMA Public Affairs received the social media team of GMA Public Affairs continthe Gold Play Button from YouTube after its channel ues to produce innovative and trendsetting content for gained one million subscribers. Around the same time, all Kapuso worldwide.

Original Pinoy animated series launched ‘Jet and the Pet Rangers’ aims to use entertainment as a tool to instill values such as empathy, teamwork, and respect.

PARENTS can turn their kids’ downtime into an educational and fun-filled experience by making them watch Jet and the Pet Rangers, iWant’s first-ever original animated series streaming for free.

The brand new Tagalog cartoon series follows the adventures of a kid named Jet, who, together with his pets Liksi the dog, Tiyang Manok the hen, and Gigi the goldfish, transform into superheroes with the help of a magic star. When an animal in the neighborhood encounters trouble, Jet and his Pet Rangers speedily locate them and come to their rescue.

The show, designed for children ages five and up, aims to use entertainment as a tool to instill values such as empathy, teamwork, and respect. It also aims to hone its young viewers’ imagination and problem-solving skills, and encourage them to express themselves through the interactions of the show’s characters.

In its first episode, Baryo Mahayop faces a hideous monster caused by the stench of a cat named Kenken, who neglects his hygiene. In episode two, Jet and the Pet Rangers rebuild the destroyed home of a handicapped dog named Potpot in the hopes of lifting his deeply dampened spirit.

The team aids a ridiculed pig named Vicky, who was born thin and light compared to other pigs in town, in episode three. The bunch then meets Anton the firefly who is determined to fulfill an orphan’s wish in episode four.

Meanwhile, Jet and the Rangers will have to make a blast out of Pinoy games to help jealous twin puppies reconcile in episode five, and answer a duckling’s cry for help after turning black and greasy because of a polluted pond in episode six.

In the final episode, Jet is out to prove that the old belief about black cats bringing misfortune is false. While the gang investigates the true intentions of a shunned black kitten named Pawpaw, they will have to face a bigger disaster threatening Baryo Mahayop.

Pet Rangers is directed by Patrick Apura and produced

by Studio Nonego. It features the voices of JM Canlas as Jet, Hazel Hernan-Tabulinar as Tiyang Manok, Dylan Ray Talon as Liksi, and Jewel Milag as Gigi.

The animated series is part of iWant’s Kids World, a new section on the platform that features shows and movies that facilitate learning and fun.

Faces to watch after lockdown

This year, Asterisk plans to produce concerts and fan meetings of international artists. Its first offering is the second fan meeting of Thai actors Off Tumcial and Gun Atthapan happening sometime after the lockdown when situation around the region gets better.

The agency, with its digital head Nicole Din, is focusing on creating digital content. And with Asterisk DTV head Ma. Theresa Clift, the agency has secured a total of five television series lined-up to be aired on TV5.

“Our main thrust is to give chance to all aspiring actors and performers.

We want to help them realize their dreams,” Kabigting adds.

This year, Asterisk Artist Management signed up 30 exclusive artists.

Let’s meet some of them:

A

STERISK Artist Management head Kristian G. Kabigting explains the story behind the name of his agency that manages fresh faces and up-and-coming artists.

The talent manager says that he was trying to think of an image or a character similar to a star.

“We were brainstorming, and we couldn’t find any character that’s similar to a star except for an asterisk. We’re a very new talent management agency, but we’re aggressive in terms of our effort to make our talents succeed in the business,” Kabigting stresses.

Asterisk is ready to become a gamechanger in the entertainment industry with the launch of its roster of young and fresh talents.

Axel Torres

Kamille Filoteo

Hillary Tan

A former Pinoy Big Brother All In housemate, Axel has done several films and TV shows after his PBB stint. Among the projects that he was part of were Oh My G! , Banana Sundae, La Luna Sangre, Finally Found Someone, Vince and Kath and James, Wansapanataym, lpaglaban Mo, MMK, and The Break Up Playlist.

The towering heartthrob is one of the lead stars in the upcoming TV series, A Kiss To Remember and Boys Next Door on TV5.

She was part of Pinoy Big Brother 737 Teen Edition. A former member of It’s Showtime’s Girl Trend, Kamille is co-managed by Viva Artist Agency and Asterisk Artist Management. She is set to star in two TV series on TV5, My Extra-Ordinary and Boys Next Door.

She has done several TV series, movies, and commercials. Some of her unforgettable acting experiences are in Kapamilya shows Be Careful With My Heart, We Will Survive and Since I Found You. This year, Hillary will be part of the TV series, Boys Next Door and an online show, The Eat Girls on Asterisk Digital TV YouTube channel.

Enzo Santiago His first acting experienced was in the LGBTQ themed web series entitled, Young Love.

This 19 -ye a r- ol d newbie has snatched the lead in two TV series on TV5, My Extra- Ordinary and A Kiss To Remember.

Nico Nicolas A Regal Baby, he has starred in numerous films such as Love You To Death, Walwal, My Rebound Girl, Our Mighty Yaya, and Ang Sikreto ng Piso. This year, this Mr. Pogi winner is joining his fellow Asterisk artists in Boys Next Door.

Completing its roster of talents are Z Mejia, Darwin Yu, Miguel Diokno, Christine Lim, Sam Cafranca, Hillary Tan, Nina Flores, Carl Saliente, Karissa Toliongco, Ronan Bearis, Ayumi Takezawa, Princess Manaloto, and Hannah Balahadia.

Life

FASHION AND BEAUTY

Bernadette Lunas, Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2020

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SEWING HOPE

Fashion design students, educators produce PPEs A GROUP of fashion design students, educators, and alumni joins the industry’s efforts to create personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontliners in the fight against coronavirus disease.

The team of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s Fashion Design and Merchandising Program has so far finished over 100 jumpsuits, which will be delivered to small public and private hospitals that do not have immediate access to PPEs and cannot meet the minimum quantity requirements of suppliers.

For the washable jumpsuits, the group utilized water-repellent fabrics such as ripstop provided by The Leather Collection and nylon taffeta raised from the goodwill of industry professionals, associates, and the public.

The team also produced disposable gown sets complete with head and foot covers and masks, made from donated 40 GSM non-woven fabrics.

The designs follow standards provided by the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Textile Research Institute, which works closely with the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH).

The suits adhere to the requirements plotted by the Manila Sewing Club’s Open Source Design based from an actual sample from the office of Vice President Leni Robredo and output from experts in the US. Interested donors and volunteers may send an email to mischellemaxim.felix@benilde.edu.ph or visit @BenildeFDM on Facebook.

Meanwhile, the young student-artists from the Mark of Designers Alliance (MoDA), the official fashion organization of the college, likewise started their own cause.

The aspiring fashion designers are currently producing 4,000 additional face shields made from acetate, clear plastic sheet, garter, and foam to be donated to hospitals including the PGH, Las Piñas Doctors Hospital, Ospital ng Makati, Ospital ng Maynila, UP Diliman Health Service, and Unihealth Parañaque Hospital and Medical Center.

MoDA accepts donations both in cash and in kind for materials such as fabric, garter, Velcro, ballpoint needles, and polyester and nylon threads.

Volunteers who wish to help in the production and delivery are also welcome. Contact bithiaysabel.reyes@benilde.edu.ph or andreaionica. abrahan@benilde.edu.ph or go to @DLSCSBMODA on Facebook.

GLOW FOR IT. An effective skin care regimen that works as hard as you do can help brighten skin exposed to harmful blue light from devices used while working from home.

Work from home skin care regimen Moisturizing toner

By Monica Sanchez

Bring back the skin’s moisture with the help of a toner with, not just one, not two, but three forms of hyaluronic acid—the low, medium, and high molecular weights.

AHC’s Aqualuronic Toner gently seeps into the skin to refine its texture. It also comes with a special moisture solution that contains ceramide and French sea water to fortify the skin barrier.

Each bottle is powered with niacinamide that cools down skin temperature.

How to use: Gently apply the refreshing toner over the face and neck then lightly pat for one minute or until the product is fully absorbed.

F

OR those who wear makeup to work, the chance to fulfill their tasks from home due to the quarantine is a great opportunity to let their skin breathe and minimize exposure to sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.

But working from home, in front of a computer screen for a long period, means exposure to skin-damaging blue light.

This high-energy visible light which the sun and electronic devices emit is said to quickly darken skin by two shades and reduce skin barrier recovery rate up to 40 percent, thereby resulting in redness, chapping, and irritation.

A Korean skin care brand shares a regimen to help protect skin while achieving a glowing and youthful appearance while we’re currently working from home.

Brightening serum and spot corrector Dehydration, poor diet, and stress can easily take a toll on the skin and make it look dull. Exposure to blue light also causes hyperpigmentation. Brightening products help rejuvenate the skin and achieve that youthful glow.

Using pink peony flowers clinically proven to brighten skin in four weeks, the Peony Bright line also has niacinamide that protects skin to prevent spots, dryness, and other signs of premature skin aging.

The Peony Bright Luminous Serum clarifies and brightens skin tone with vitamin C derivatives and palmaria palmata extract. The serum is quickly absorbed without leaving a sticky residue.

How to use: After using the toner, get an appropriate amount and gently apply along the contours of the skin, then lightly dab for the skin to fully absorb the serum.

Works to fade pigmentations, the Peony Bright Spot Corrector comes in a rich cream formula and boasts superior non-sticky absorption. To effectively fight dark spots, it’s formulated with three botanical ingredients.

How to use: Apply small amounts of the spot corrector to treat problem areas.

Peony Bright line

Aqualuronic Toner

Hydrating facial mask Pamper skin with AHC’s Natural Essential Mask line that consists of Aqua Brightening, Aqua Nourishing, Aqua Lifting, and Aqua Calming.

Aside from aqua ceramide and essence made with 93 percent natural ingredients, each Natural Essential Mask line of these hydrating facial masks comes with specific benefits for the skin.

The Aqua Brightening has niacinamide and berry extracts that give a healthy glow and help even out the skin tone in four weeks. Aqua Nourishing’s soy and hydrolyzed vegetable proteins help smooth skin by 11 percent in two weeks.

For more resilient skin, the Aqua Lifting mask has sunflower seed oil to improve elasticity. While, the Aqua Calming, which is made with Centella asiatica, is ideal for soothing skin.

How to use: With the mask on, gently massage the face with fingertips and leave for 10-20 minutes. Afterwards, massage the face again to help skin absorb the remaining essence. For best results, refrigerate the mask before use until the thermometer sticker on the back of the pack turns green.

PPE suits made by Benilde’s Fashion Design and Merchandising Program students, educators, and alumni.

PVH pledges $1 million for COVID-19 relief efforts AMERICAN clothing company PVH Corp., through its foundation, has committed $1 million towards COVID-19 relief efforts.

Part of the million-dollar pledge of the global apparel firm, whose brands include, among others, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, and Van Heusen, is a $100,000 donation to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund created by the UN Foundation and Swiss Philanthropy Foundation, benefitting the World Health Organization and other partners.

“We will make additional contributions to organizations that are addressing the needs of our global supply chain workforce, as well as resiliency grants to local partners and community foundations addressing the needs of our communities seeing some of the biggest impacts,” PVH said in a statement.

According to the multi-billion dollar company, it has started shipping over two million sets of personal protective equipment that include isolation gowns, masks, and face shields to the Montefiore Health System in New York.

In addition to its $1-million commitment, PVH had also made a 2 million RMB (≈ $275,000 USD) contribution to the Chinese Society of the Red Cross as well as a $50,000 contribution to A Common Thread, the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund initiative to provide support for those in the American fashion community who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Global apparel company PVH Corporation supports coronavirus relief efforts.

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor

B4

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2020

Motoring Hyundai extends auto warranty

A mechanical ventilator being developed by Spanish automobile manufacturer SEAT at the company’s Martorell factory using a windscreen wiper motor

RACE AGAINST TIME Car industry rushing to make ventilators amid virus crisis

HE automotive industry is offering its expertise and manpower to the hospital sector as it gears up to build mechanical ventilators during the coronavirus pandemic, an initiative that is being met with some skepticism.

T

American auto manufacturers General Motors and Ford, French car companies PSA and Renault, Germany’s Volkswagen group and Formula 1 engineers have joined the ranks in response to a massive global shortage of the vital piece of medical equipment.

As hospitals around the world face a surge of patients with breathing difficulties from COVID-19, the scarcity of ventilators has forced doctors to make life-or-death decisions.

Repurposing car factories for emergency production has drawn comparisons to World War II, when they were used to build tanks and fighter planes.

But some experts say that in this situation, building critical care ventilators will require different techniques and procedures from what a car factory normally sees.

US President Donald Trump used wartime economy analogies to justify his appeal to the automobile industry as the country grapples with a mounting number of coronavirus cases. He ultimately used a 1950s law concerning defence production to force one of GM’s plants to make ventilators.

In France, meanwhile, a consortium of industrial companies has been created—including PSA and automotive equipment supplier Valeo—to manufacture “10,000 ventilators by mid-May”, President Emmanuel Macron announced Tuesday.

In Spain, Volkswagen’s Seat brand has switched to producing ventilators at its Martorell plant near Barcelona.

The proposed model, which uses the adapted motor of a windscreen wiper, is already undergoing testing with the hopes of gaining formal approval from health authorities, Seat said in a statement.

For its part, Mercedes has asked its Formula 1 team, which was idle due to postponed or cancelled Grand Prix races, to get to work.

The six-time world champion team built a less-invasive respiratory device in order to reserve ventilators -- which require breathing tubes and sedation -- for the most severely affected patients.

The team says it could manufacture some 1,000 units a day with the help of six other UK-based F1 teams which have committed to help build the devices.

A version of the device—which increases air and oxygen flow into the lungs and is often used to treat sleep apnea—has already been used in hospitals in Italy and China to help COVID-19 patients.

The “Project Pitlane” mission takes advantage of “the core skills of the F1

THE official distributor of Hyundai vehicles in the Philippines, Hyundai Asia Resources Inc, said it will extend the coverage of all Hyundai passenger car owners whose warranties lapsed within the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) period until May 31, 2020.

Hyundai vehicle owners currently enjoy an industry-first 5-year UNLImited mileage warranty.

“The well-being and safety of our employees and customers are our highest priority. We understand that our customers have no access to vehicle servicing during these extraordinary times. We wish to set their minds at ease by extending their warranty coverage,” HARI President and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo said.

Worldwide, Hyundai Motor Company has extended the warranty coverage of an estimated 1.2 million vehicles.

In a related development, the company said it was mobilizing support for our front liners with an initial donation of 2,500 personal protective equipment (PPEs) to a leading public hospital. This will be followed by the distribution of PPEs to other public health facilities, and schools and churches where front liners are housed.

“We are closely monitoring COVID developments and we are one with the nation in fighting this epidemic. We are in awe and are grateful to our medical workers who are tirelessly working to protect and care for all their patients. Mabuhay kayo,” Agudo said.

industry: rapid design, prototype manufacture, test and skilled assembly,” Formula 1 said in a statement.

Dependent on suppliers Some look sceptically on the car industry’s entry into the world of medical equipment, however.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a non-profit organisation founded after the creation of the atomic bomb and which is known for its symbolic “Doomsday Clock”, said in a recent article that car manufacturers are not best placed for assembling medical equipment.

“Ventilators might resemble the pumps and air conditioners used in automobiles, but few automakers build their own—they buy them from specialised producers,” the group pointed out.

While carmakers have under-utilised production capacity at the moment, they are still dependent on suppliers who are often overseas, at a moment when supply chains have nearly ground to a halt, it said in its report.

“Facile images of Ford assembly lines building World War II bombers can only get us so far in solving the ventilator problems of today,” the group said.

F O L But car manufacturers say they are up to the L O W task.

ING up on Renault has put its “technocentre” outside its March 27 of Paris, its largest research and developlend-out of Isument centre in France, to work on develzu D-Max, Isuzu oping a prototype using state-of-the-art mu-X and Isuzu equipment such as 3D printers PUVs as frontline In the world race to get ahead of transport vehicles in the coronavirus, time is of the esBiñan and Sta. Rosa sence.

Laguna, Isuzu Philippines For Formula 1 and UniverCorporation provided an sity College London engiadditional unit of Isuzu NLR neers, “it took fewer than and another unit of Isuzu QKR 100 hours from the initial modernized public utility vehicle meeting to production efficient to the Department of Transporta- vehicles, we can help them fight the virus more efficientof the first device,” the ly and effectively.” tion’s FREE BUS SERVICE for team said.

The two PUVs from IPC would then be turned over front line workers.

This may be a speci to authorized operators for their deployment to 19 speciNow servicing 19 routes in Luzon , typical lead time com fied routes in Luzon, where the extended enhanced comthe free bus service is meant for the counin motor racing, munity quarantine has been enforced until April 30. try’s healthcare and frontline workers in but not necIn addition, IPC’s dealerships have also provided their their fight to stem the spread of the Coronaessarily in own Isuzu vehicles. Isuzu Inteco lent their PUV vehicles 2019. virus disease other inIPC President Hajime Koso said: “With this to transport healthcare workers and frontliners in the dustries. additional vehicle support, we at IPC hope that our vicinity of Caloocan and Quezon City for free, IsuzuAFP dedicated and enduring heroes in the hospitals would BMD Motors provided relief goods, while Isuzu Iloilo find comfort and safety in their transport. Through our provided a D-MAX for the city hospital’s use.

O IPC, dealers join forces vs COVID-19

Free rides for frontline workers

Euro 4 AC Class II PUVs to be deployed in Metro Manila for free shuttle service

FREE shuttle services for health workers and frontliners are now operational in Metro Manila through a partnership with Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Hino Motors Philippines.

Since the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine for Luzon, public transportation has been suspended in the entire Luzon island. To ease the commute of these modern-day heroes, free PUV rides have been made operational daily until from 8AM to 5PM. The commuters only have to present their IDs for proper identification.

The shuttle services prioritize health workers and frontliners, but citizens of the city who need to go

to the hospital or other establishments for basic necessities may also ride the shuttle as long as they present their quarantine pass.

To comply with the enhanced community quarantine guidelines, preventive measures against COVID-19 are implemented inside the PUVs such as social distancing, basic alcohol sanitization and free face masks for passengers. The PUV units also undergo disinfection before and after deployment.

Hino and DOTr recognize the important contribution of healthcare professionals in battling COVID-19. “We thank and sympathize with our health workers and frontliners. We stand-by our corpo-

rate mission of making the world a better place to live - by helping people and goods get where they need to go―safely, economically and with environmental responsibility. Through this simple effort, we hope that our frontliners would know that they are not alone in this fight—that we from Hino and the DOTr are with them,” shares Hino Chairman Vicente T. Mills Jr. In line with the company’s mission of mobilizing innovations to promote the best interest and wellbeing of its stakeholders, Hino is continuously working with DOTr to provide safe and reliable transportation support to the most vulnerable.