Manila Standard - 2020 April 24 - Friday

Task force eyes partial easing of transport ban ‘Limited operations’ subject to ECQ rules FINAL RITES. A Catholic priest sprinkles holy water on the body of a probable COVID-19 victim in the presence of workers wearing protective suits before it is cremated at a facility in Manila on April 23, 2020. At least 462 virus victims in the Philippines have died since the outbreak. AFP

By Macon Ramos-Araneta HE Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has ordered the Department of Transportation and other concerned agencies to craft protocols for the possible partial lifting of the public transport ban amid the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

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President Duterte was supposed to address the nation on the fate of the ECQ Thursday evening but decided to postpone it to today, according to his spokesman Harry Roque.

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 65 • 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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‘New infections waning, but PH far from target’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

Authorities inspect a 500-bed capacity quarantine facility (left) at the World Trade Center in Pasay City on April 23. It is one of several facilities to house mild cases of COVID-19 and will be managed by military medical personnel. On another front, Special Action Force policemen aboard an armored multi-purpose vehicle patrol areas of Blumentritt Market in Manila to ensure that market-goers observe social distancing and other protocols to curb the spread of virus while the enhanced community quarantine remains in effect until April 30. Norman Cruz with AFP

World Bank kicks in P5-b loan for DOH

By Julito G. Rada THE World Bank has approved a $100-million (P5-billion) loan for the Philippines’ COVID-19 Emergency Response Project to help it meet urgent health care needs in the wake of the pandemic and boost its public health preparedness.

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COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM APRIL 23)

6,981

NUMBER OF CASES

462 DEATHS

722

RECOVERIES

271

NEW CASES

500 Pinoys join virus cure tests

By Macon Ramos-Araneta, Rey E. Requejo and Maricel V.Cruz

ized by the Geneva-based World Health Organization to develop an effective cure for COVID-19, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.

She said trials would be conducted THE Philippines, battling against the rampaging pandemic, may now join over in 20 hospitals nationwide, including at Next page 100 nations in collaborative efforts organ-

New York cats tested positive TWO cats in New York have become the first pets in the United States to test positive for the new coronavirus.

The cats live in separate areas of New York state, America’s COVID-19 epicenter, the Department of Agriculture and the Centers Next page

THE Philippines has yet to flatten the curve of new coronavirus (COVID-19) infections, even though there are signs that the increase in new cases has started to decline, the Department of Health said Thursday.

In the last nine days, the number

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DOJ chief: It’s a crime to misuse gov’t subsidy

By Rey E. Requejo, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

given by the government—such as using it to buy drugs or to gamble--would be disqualified from receiving further financial help from the state.

The government has given fiJUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Thursday warned that recipi- nancial subsidy to families and ents who misused the financial subsidy individuals classified as low-

income earners to help them buy their essentials such as food and medicine since they are unable to work because of the lockdown imposed by government to stop the spread of the coronav i r u s disease 2019 (COVID-19).

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Duterte urges Muslims: Help foster unity

By Vito Barcelo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte urged Filipino Muslims to foster unity and solidarity “regardless of faith or creed” as he joined the Muslim community in observance of the holy month of Ramadan which starts Friday, despite the pandemic coronavirus.

In his message, President Duterte Next page

This undated file photo shows Filipino Muslims taking part in morning prayers, back when social distancing wasn’t the new norm, backdropped by the majestic Pink Mosque in Maguindanao province. Muslims worldwide begin fasting with the onset of Ramadan, one of the five pillars of Islam.

ABC’s of virus on Sesame Street CNN is partnering with Sesame Street for a special town hall Saturday at 9 a.m. ET about coronavirus, focused on kids and parents.

“The ABC’s of COVID-19: A CNN/Sesame Next page

WHO warns: We still have a long way to go THE global coronavirus crisis will not end any time soon, with many countries still in the early stages of the fight, health experts have warned as researchers revealed the first US deaths from the disease came weeks before the alarm was raised there.

The COVID-19 pandemic has killed more than 180,000 people and infected more than 2.6 million, and Next page

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Army joins probe of soldier’s slay

By Rio N. Araja and Willie Casas

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RMY authorities have ordered an investigation of the shooting death of a retired military personnel by a Quezon City police, which the PNP leadership immediately defended but condemned by other sectors.

Army said the probe would be conducted by the Army Judge Advocate in coordination with the Philippine National Police to give justice to Ragos’ death.

The Army confirmed Ragos was diagnosed with a mental disorder. Earlier reports said Ragos› last assignment in the military was in Marawi.

But PNP chief Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa defended Florendo’s action, saying “When you are confronted with a person armed with a pistol, its equivalent is also a pistol,» Gamboa said on ANC, insisting the policeman involved was under threat by the suspect.

Gamboa said due to previous incidents in which policemen were confronted with armed suspects, he had instructed the police not to give suspects

a chance to hurt them in any way.

At the same time, ACT Teachers Representative France Castro blasted the shooting of Ragos, saying “We condemn this new incident of human rights violations of citizens during this trying time of COVID-19.

“They did not just kill without reason and due process retired Col. Winston Ragos, they also brought terror and heavy-handed tactics to the people at the community in Pasong Putik, Quezon City,” said Castro.

Castro said law enforcement authorities were conveniently forgetting the PNP Operations Manual that forbade excessive use of force and to subdue suspects only where there was clear and imminent danger.

Army commanding general Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay ordered the investigation after a policeman, identified as M/Sgt. Daniel Florendo Jr. shot Tuesday retired PFC Winston Ragos near a quarantine checkpoint along Maligaya Drive in Barangay Pasong Putik, Quezon City.

The Commission on Human Rights also stepped into the picture, noting that Ragos was a former soldier “who served

heroically in Marawi and was said to be suffering from a mental condition because of fulfilling his duty.”

CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said: “We note that the leadership of the QCPD has already ordered a criminal and administrative investigation of the incident and, in a statement, said that what Florendo did was a judgment call.”

In a statement Thursday, the Philippine

DOJ...

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GSIS provides additional life insurance to frontliners

“The cash assistance given by the government to households in dire need may be viewed as a donation subject to a condition; i.e., the condition that the cash assistance should be used to buy food and other essentials to tide the recipient over during the calamity,” Guevarra said, in a text message.

“When the recipient violates this condition and spends the money for something else, or worse, for something illegal, the donation is forfeited and he becomes morally obligated to return the money given. In addition, he makes himself ineligible to receive any further act of generosity from the giver,” he added.

Aside from being ineligible from receiving further subsidy, these individuals might also face criminal liability such as violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, depending on the offense they committed.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Thursday urged local government units to implement best practices in distributing cash aid to families affected by the Enhanced Community Quarantine.

Año said he still prefers the houseto-house distribution of cash assistance to ensure that people will not leave their homes.

However, if LGUs decide to set up distribution points, marked chairs can be used to ensure that physical distancing is strictly implemented.

“Even if there is no ECQ for the rest of the year, while there is no vaccine, this will be our new life,” Año said in a radio interview.

He said LGUs are continuously monitored.

Año also asked LGUs to allow the passage of vehicles ferrying returning overseas Filipino workers on their way to designated quarantine areas.

Residents or LGUs must not block them because the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases had earlier issued a resolution stating that the passage of overseas workers must be unhampered, Año said.

Some OFWs from three countries were prevented from going to their designated quarantine facilities in Batangas.

500 Pinoys...

From A1

THE Government Service Insurance System will provide additional life insurance coverage to a total of 27,682 frontline workers of the government nationwide who are putting their lives at risk in the fight against COVID-19.

Rolando Ledesma Macasaet, president and general manager of the state pension fund, said: “The GSIS Board of Trustees, headed by our Chairman, former Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin, recently approved the establishment of the Bayanihan Fund for Frontliners, which entitles the survivors of government frontliners who died of COVID-19 to receive an additional P500,000 in insurance benefits.”

This is on top of the P1-million death benefit to be provided by the government under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Law and the regular life insurance benefit from GSIS, Macasaet said.

As GSIS members, government frontline workers are automatically covered by the Enhanced Life Program of GSIS which, upon the member’s demise, entitles his or her legal heirs to an insurance benefit equivalent to 150 percent of the annual salary of the member. In addition to this, the same survivors will also receive P500,000 under the BFF program.

“For instance, the legal heirs of a government nurse who earns P30,000

a month will receive P540,000 [150 percent of the member’s annual salary] in insurance benefits from GSIS upon his or her death. On top of this, the BFF program will pay his or her survivors an additional amount of P500,000 for a total of P1.04 million,” Macasaet explained.

“This is to show our appreciation for the courage, heroism and selfless dedication of our frontline workers in government. We hope that this will somewhat help assuage the grief felt by the families left behind by these heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country,” Macasaet said.

Task force...

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ing the resumption of operations of the Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2, Metro Rail Transit Line 3, and the Philippine National Railways but only at 30-percent capacity.

To decongest checkpoints amid the lockdown, Roque said the police and military will soon apply the RapidPass system, a virtual identification system that makes use of QR code technology.

Qualified entities and individuals may apply for a RapidPass. Once the application is verified and approved, a QR code will be sent which will be presented to checkpoint personnel to facilitate faster travel.

President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to announce his decision on whether to extend, lift, or modify the Luzonwide enhanced community quarantine aimed at controlling further transmission of the coronavirus.

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go earlier said he is in favor of a modified lockdown, with Metro Manila placed under

extended ECQ for another two weeks.

“I am in favor of extending the enhanced community quarantine in NCR because it is here where we have a high volume of cases,” he said.

“In other provinces outside Metro Manila, we can implement a modified quarantine since we still need to check who can be allowed to go outside and for what reasons that should be considered as essential,” Go added.

Dr. Tony Leachon, a special adviser to the IATF, offered the same proposal for the extension of the lockdown in Metro Manila until May 15 to pave the way for mass testing.

“I would recommend extension in Metro Manila, National Capital Region from May 1 to 15, basically to increase the healthcare capacity— the testing centers, procure more test kits, improve the hospital facilities, and see the figures go down,” he said in a television interview.

“Mass testing is the game-changer

“The DOTr, along with the departments of Interior, Health and Tourism, and the Bureau of Quarantine, have been directed to study and recommend protocols on the possible resumption of transportation via air, land, and sea travel as modes of transportation subject to existing protocols and guidelines on social distancing, isolation, and quarantine,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Thursday.

Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade said a partial lifting of the public transport ban is being eyed for personnel of industries considered as essential services.

Tugade said the possibility of limited operation of public utility buses and trains in certain areas is backed by studies conducted by the National Economic and Development Authority.

He said the task force is also eye-

World Bank...

From A1 In a statement Thursday, the bank said the project will be implemented by the Health department, and it will help strengthen the health-care delivery system for critical medical services in the face of increased demand in the coming months.

“Boosting the country’s capacity to respond to COVID-19 will save lives,” Achim Fock, the World Bank’s acting country director for Brunei, Malaysia,

the Philippines and Thailand, said.

“The government has taken quick and decisive action in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and the World Bank is proud to support its efforts. Right now, no other investment offers greater return.”

The project will focus on providing personal protective equipment such as goggles, gloves and gowns; drugs such as antivirals, antibiotics and essential medicines; and medical supplies such as intensive-care-unit equipment and devices such as mechanical ventilators, cardiac monitors and portable x-ray

machines, laboratory equipment and test kits.

The project will also support the necessary logistics and supply chains to help ensure that the equipment will reach front-line health facilities without delays.

The project will also support the Health department in preparing guidance on standard design for hospital isolation and treatment centers to manage Severe Acute Respiratory Infections patients, which will be used in health facilities across the country to ensure standards and the quality of COVID-19 health care services.

P10-m presidential award

the most prosperous countries spend on R&D to see why we are among the laggards,” said Lacson.

“Even if we bump up the percentage to 1 or 2 percent of the national budget, it would make a major difference,” he added.

combination of two drugs, lopinavir and ritonavir, the two drugs plus interferon beta, and chloroquine --and will compare their effectiveness to what is called standard of care, that is, the regular support hospitals treating COVID-19 patients use now.

Vergeire said the study was in line with WHO’s rapid global search for drugs that could treat the novel coronavirus that has infected more than 2.5 million globally.

The DOH will provide information

by Saturday if the Philippines had completed the necessary documents to start the clinical trials.

Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte offered P10-million reward to any Filipino who would discover a vaccine against SARS CoV-2 or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Senator Panfilo Lacson noted this offer would mean much more if the government invested more on research and development than the token annual average share of 0.4 percent from the General Appropriations Act. “We only need to look at how much

be ill with COVID-19.

“The virus may have been transmitted to this cat by mildly ill or asymptomatic household members or through contact with an infected person outside its home,” said the statement.

Another cat in the same house has not shown signs of having the illness, the press release added.

The departments stressed that while public health officials are still studying COVID-19’s impact on animals “there is no evidence that pets play a role in spreading the virus in the United States.”

Health officials recommend that cats

and dogs socially isolate while they learn more about how the virus infects pets.

The CDC advises that cats be kept indoors when possible to avoid them interacting with other animals or humans.

It says that dogs should be kept on a leash while outside and should avoid busy areas such as dog parks.

The CDC also advises people who might have COVID-19 to avoid physical contact with their pet.

Earlier this month, a tiger at New York’s Bronx Zoo was confirmed to have been infected by a caretaker who was asymptomatic at the time. AFP

The 90-minute town hall will feature experts and Sesame Street characters-including Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Rosita and Grover-- answering questions subStreet Town Hall for Kids and Parents” mitted by families. will tackle issues including education, Big Bird will join CNN chief medianxiety, screen time and playdates. cal correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta and

CNN anchor and national correspondent Erica Hill to moderate the event.

The town hall will air on CNN, CNN International and CNN en Español. It will stream live on CNN.com’s homepage and across mobile devices via CNN’s apps, without requiring a cable log-in.

least 500 patients.

She said the Department of Health received a go signal from the Single Joint Research Ethics Board, the unit organized by the DOH to conduct a harmonized review of health-related research protocols, on April 17 to participate in the clinical trial for treatment of the novel coronavirus.

The clinical trial will test four different drugs or combinations—remdesivir, a

New York cats...

From A1 for Disease Control and Prevention said in a joint statement.

“Both had mild respiratory illness and are expected to make a full recovery,” they said.

The owner of one of the cats had earlier tested positive for the virus before their feline pet started showing symptoms, according to the officials.

The other cat lives in a household where no members were confirmed to

ABC’s of virus...

From A1

Plasma donations Meanwhile, Philippine General Hospital spokesperson Dr. Jonas del Rosario renewed his appeal to COVID-19 survivors for plasma donations. With Jess Malabanan and Benjamin Chavez

Duterte...

From A1 asked Filipino Muslims to “further lead a life of purity and clarity” and hoped their devotion and sacrifices would reaffirm their commitment to foster unity and solidarity with their fellowmen.

“Let this occasion give us peace amidst the adversity and challenges we face each day,” he said.

Ramadan is considered one of the most blessed months in Islam.

“As you embody the religious insights and epiphanies you have gleaned from this undertaking, may you be moved to advance our collective resolve to eschew misguided ideologies so that we may achieve a truly progressive and inclusive society,” he added.

In his message, Duterte said: “I likewise hope that your devotion and

‘New infections...

From A1 ofpatients recovering from the disease has surpassed the number of deaths.

As of 4 p.m. of April 23, there were 29 recoveries and 16 new deaths, bringing the total to 722 patients who recovered and 462 who died.

The DOH reported 271 new confirmed cases, bringing the total to 6,981.

Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire noted that the doubling time was lengthening, a sign that the transmission of COVID-19 could be slowing.

Where as the number of cases doubled every three days, this was up to five days now, Vergeire said.

“Experts said if we can attain a 30day case doubling time or more, we can say that we are really onto that direction of flattening the curve. But it’s still a long way to go--but at least this is good news for all of us,» she said.

Meanwhile, Vergeire said, the DOH plans to shorten the shifts of health care professionals to allow them to build up their resistance against the disease by providing them more hours of rest. She said this would also minimize their exposure to the disease.

“We are looking at these recommendations from Chinese experts.

One of their recommendations is we should be able to shorten the shifts of our workers,” she said, referring to a medical team from China to provide technical assistance to the Philippines.

The Chinese team said health frontliners should be on duty for only four hours.

Based on the latest DOH data, Vergeire said 1,062 health care workers have contracted COVID-19, Twenty six have since died. Nineteen of the 26 casualties were doctors.

She added that 422 of those infected are doctors, 386 are nurses, 30 are medical technologists, 21 are X-ray technologists, 51 are nursing assistants, and 152 are administrative workers and barangay health workers.

WHO warns:...

From A1 nations are struggling to check its spread with social distancing measures and lockdowns, while trying to repair their virus-ravaged economies.

Some have started to slowly ease restrictions as pressure mounts on governments to find ways to reopen their societies after tens of millions of jobs were wiped out.

But World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday cautioned that the struggle is far from over.

Resurgence in cases “Make no mistake: We have a long way to go. This virus will be with us for a long time,” he said.

“Most countries are still in the early stages of their epidemics. And some that were affected early in the pandemic are now starting to see a resurgence in cases.”

The comments came after the director of the US Centers for Disease Control asked Americans to prepare for a second, possibly more devastating, wave of coronavirus infections.

The United States is the hardest-hit country on the planet, with more than 46,500 coronavirus deaths and nearly 840,000 infections.

Vaccine trials The WHO and other health experts have warned that strict containment measures like lockdowns should remain until there is a viable treatment or vaccine for the coronavirus.

There was a ray of hope on that front in Europe, where Germany announced Wednesday that human trials for a vaccine will start by next week.

It is only the fifth such effort to have been authorized worldwide, and is a significant step in making a vaccine “available as soon as possible,” Germany’s regulatory body said. AFP sacrifices will reaffirm your commitment to foster unity and solidarity among your fellowmen regardless of faith or creed” Meanwhile, Ustadz Abuhalil Upam, an Islamic preacher based in Cotabato City, said Islamic scholars believed this year’s fasting required more sacrifices due to the pandemic.

Fasting, one of the five pillars of Islam and obligatory for Muslims worldwide, is also one of the most important festivals in the Islamic calendar.

Muslim leaders have canceled all Islamic religious gatherings, including the temporary suspension of the congregational “Taraweeh” prayers in mosques due to the COVID-19 onslaught.

The Ramadan observance is seen as more challenging this year with the whole country and the rest of the world fighting the pandemic, resulting in lockdown measures that have severely restricted the movement of people.

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FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

China draws flak for ‘hostile action’

IN BRIEF Taal stays at Alert Level 1--Phivolcs

By Francisco Tuyay

ALERT Level 1 has been maintained at Taal Volcano in Batangas, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. “(The) Department of Science and Technology-PHIVOLCS reminds the public that at Alert Level 1, sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ash fall and lethal accumulations or expulsion of volcanic gas can occur and threaten areas within the Taal Volcano island,” it said.

At least 23 earthquakes struck the towns of Bauan, Mabini, Lemery, Agoncillo and San Nicolas in Batangas on April 22.

Taal Volcano erupted three months ago, displacing over 300,000 families in Batangas, Cavite and other nearby provinces. Rio N. Araja

Police shoots dead 3 drug dealers in Taguig THREE suspected drug traffickers were killed in a shootout with police Wednesday afternoon in Taguig City.

Killed in the exchanged gunfire were Adam Kamid Chiongbian, Ronaldo Jarumay Villanueva alias ‘Kuntil’, and Edward Dagwayan Galleposo alias ‘Edong’.

Investigators said that the encounter happened at the 3rd floor of a house located along Dela Paz Street, Ibayo Napindan around 4 p.m.

Citing a Taguig City police station report, Southern Police District spokesperson and chief information officer Maj. Jaybee Bayani said aside from illegal drug trade, the three suspects were also involved in other criminal activities like theft and robberies.

She said elements of the Taguig PoliceIntelligence Section led by its chief Arnaldo Pacleb conducted the police operation in the area after a confidential agent informed them the presence of an armed group in Baranga Ibayo Tipas. Joel E. Zurbano

Go says gov’t must adopt ‘balik probinsiya’ scheme SENATOR Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go appealed to the national government to prepare ‘balik probinsiya’ programs by providing incentives and livelihood opportunities to Filipinos who wish to relocate to the provinces after the state of public health emergency and the Enhanced Community Quarantine measures are lifted.

“Let us prepare for a ‘new normal’ and one of the most important measures is the relocation of people to the provinces,” he said.

He said that efforts to decongest Metro Manila have become relevant now more than ever as the country struggles to contain the further spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Hs pointed out that the high density of communities in Metro Manila amplifies the spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and also slows down the efficiency of the government to provide assistance to all affected constituents. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Bar exams results available at SC website THE Supreme Court’s Office of the Bar Confidant on Thursday said the results of the 2019 Bar Examinations will be uploaded at the Court’s website next Wednesday, April 29, instead of the usual announcement at the Court’s premises, due to the prevailing Enhanced Community Quarantine arising from coronavirus disease pandemic.

Rosita Nacional, SC deputy clerk of court and Bar Confidant, said the results of the Bar exams held last year will be posted online at SC website after the Court’s En Banc session.

According to OBC, they would not allow visitors to enter the SC premises due to the lockdown imposed by the government to control the spread of COVID-19.

“In light of the government’s call for social distancing to prevent the spread of the COVID-19, everyone is advised to stay in their respective homes and check the results online. No visitor shall be allowed to enter the Supreme Court compound on said date and the list of bar passers will not be displayed in the premises,” Nacional said in a statement.

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SM DONATION. Through the SM Foundation, and in coordination with the Department of Health, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong (shown in photo) and test kit producer Manila Healthtek, Baguio General Hospital is one of the first recipients of local GenAmplify PCR test kits, and is among the hospitals SM is donating P30 million worth of test kits, equivalent to 20,000 tests.

Inset photo shows two of several frontliners working at the Baguio General Hospital.

DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has directed the Philippine Navy to submit a full detailed incident report of China’s hostile act against a Philippine ship while on a territorial patrol at the West Philippine Sea last Feb. 17, preceding the filing of a diplomatic protest.

“I have instructed the Philippine Navy to give me a detailed briefing on the incident. As announced by Secretary Teodoro Locsin, the Department of Foreign Affairs filed a diplomatic protest which was received by the Chinese embassy today 22 April,” Lorenzana said.

The Western Command confirmed that the incident happened on Feb. 17 through a report received from the Joint Task Force West and as revealed by the Commanding Officer of BRP Conrado Yap (PS39).

Based on the report by Wescom, PS39 departed its homeport in Puerto Princesa City last Feb. 15 to conduct territorial defense operations and sovereignty patrol at Malampaya Natural Gas to Power Project and the Kalayaan Island Group in the WPS. Wescom said that while PS 39 is underway to Rizal Reef Detachment on said date, BRP Conrado Yap detected a radar contact of a gray colored vessel.

The Philippine Navy vessel first issued a radio challenge to which the vessel responded identifying it as a Chinese vessel.

“The Chinese government has imputable sovereignty over the South China Sea, its islands and its adjacent waters,” was the Chinese response as reported by the Wescom.

Troopers kill 6 ASG militants

By Francisco Tuyay

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ESPITE the loss of lives of dozens of soldiers in an earlier encounter against Abu Sayyaf terrorists, government troopers’ morale remained high, as it scored against the same group, killing six of them in renewed offensives in Sulu.

The Joint Task Force Sulu said that while troops of the 45th Infantry Battalion were on combat operations, they encountered a number of ASG terrorists in Barangay Latih, Patikul, Sulu at about 6 p.m. Wednesday.

The ensuing 34-minute firefight

forced the terrorists to escape to different directions.

The soldiers pursued the fleeing militants and later recovered three dead bodies and discovered several bloodstains in the scene of the firefight.

The ASG fatalities were identified

as Guro Khalid, Udal Muhamadar Said and a certain Budah.

JTF Sulu Commander Maj. Gen. Corleto Vinluan said that based on reports, three more unidentified ASG rebels were killed and several others were wounded.

Vinluan added that the fighting has also resulted in the wounding of eight soldiers who were immediately extricated from the battle site and sent to the Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital and later transferred to Camp Navarro General Hospital for medical attention.

“We are sustaining our focused mili-

tary operations in Sulu to finish the Abu Sayyaf Group and bring about peace in the said province,” said Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Western Mindanao Command.

“Please continue to pray for the safety of our soldiers while rendering unselfish service to win the peace as we also equip ourselves for our protection against COVID-19,” he added.

Last week, massive operations against the ASG unfortunately claimed the lives of 12 army soldiers during a bloody fighting in Patikul, Sulu. With Mark Navales

Avail of milk banks, DOH urges moms

By Macon Ramos-Araneta AMID the ongoing Enhanced Community Quarantine, Department of Health Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire on Monday said that local government units should help families with infants needing milk, be it through facilitating formula milk donations or sourcing from milk banks.

If a mother cannot breastfeed her child, Vergeire said that milk from a milk bank would be the best substitute that should be given to babies.

She said the pasteurized milk stored by the banks are from local breastfeeding support groups who undergo strict screening.

The strict screening ensures that the pasteurized donor milk is clean, appropriate and safe for infants.

At present, there are 16 human milk banks operated by the DOH and LGUs in the National Capital Region alone. The

Human Milk Bank website lists down the locations and contact details of the milk banks nationwide: https://hmb.ph/milkBankLocation.php.

Vergeire added that LGUs should coordinate with local health and nutrition offices to access the milk banks and learn the proper way of transporting the pasteurized milk.

She also said families should not go there directly because of the Enhanced Community Quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Instead, she said LGUs should deliver the donated pasteurized milk to families, who must be properly instructed how to prepare it.

Since COVID-19 is a public health emergency, Vergeire cited the need to ensure that local government units know that they can procure supplies (of milk) for nonbreastfeeding families.

50k Pinoy cruise ship crewmen to lose jobs

By Vito Barcelo

CURBING THE OUTBREAK. All 192 barangay in Sampaloc, Manila will be on a total lockdown for 48 hours after posting the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the capital. Norman Cruz

MORE than 50,000 Filipino cruise ship crew will be “jobless” till the end of 2020 as more than 200 cruise ships all over the world will not sail until the end of 2020, a recruitment and migrant expert said.

Migrant expert Emmanuel Geslani said major cruise operators have canceled most of their schedules till the last quarter of the year while some will start only in 2021.

In a statement, Geslani said another 12,000 Filipino seafarers are expected to arrive in Manila starting this week and May from major cruise lines Royal Caribbean, P & O Australia, Carnival, Celebrity, Costa, Holland and Princess.

“All these ships are carrying Filipino and Indonesian crews sailing to Manila from Asia, Australia, Europe and the USA and the OFWs will disembark at the Port of Manila,” he said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has repatriated more than 14,000 Filipinos from various cruise ships through chartered flights arranged by the government and their respective manning agencies from many parts of the world including the USA and Europe since last week.

A handout photo from the Joint Task Force Sulu shows slain Abu Sayyaf members Guro Khalid, Udal Muhamadar Said, and a certain alias Budah who engaged troops of the 45th Infantry Battalion in Patikul, Sulu Mark Navales

Makati City to use e-money for aid

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Makati City government will employ electronic money transfer system for its second tranche of financial assistance for 8,376 tricycle, jeepney and pedicab drivers to avoid physical contact and ensure fast delivery of benefits.

Mayor Abigail Binay announced this on Thursday, saying the financial aid of P2,000 for the city’s transport sector will be released through the Makatizen Card and GCash.

The City of Makati is the first local government to adopt contactless methods in disbursing aid to sectors displaced by the Enhanced Community Quarantine.

For drivers who are already Makatizen cardholders, the financial assistance will be credited to their e-Wallets. Those who are not Makatizen cardholders can receive their cash grant through GCash.

The city government earlier asked drivers without Makatizen Cards to fill out application forms. The city would then create a GCash account for them using their mobile numbers.

Binay said 1,826 registered jeepney drivers, 5,952 tricycle drivers, and 598 pedicab drivers will benefit from the financial assistance.

The city chief executive said beneficiaries may cash out or withdraw the financial assistance through GCash Cash In/Cash Out agents by presenting a government-issued ID and a text message confirming the remittance of the cash assistance to their Makatizen card or GCash e-Wallet.

“You can also use the amount credited to your Makatizen card or GCash e-Wallet to buy food and other products, pay bills, or send money to relatives in the provinces through the GCash app,” she explained.

A4

Opinion

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Foolish and premature CROSSROADS

J.A. DE LA CRUZ AS I write this piece, President Duterte has yet to announce his decision on what to do with the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon, due to end on April 30. Will he extend it for, say, another month or so, this time under stricter controls as most people expect given our continuing inability to level up to the internationally acceptable standards under which a lockdown can be eased? Or will he give in to the entreaties of many in the business sector, which has been urging a modified ECQ, whatever that means?

My guess is he will extend the ECQ. For good reason.

It will be foolish and premature for us to consider any other option at this point. We do not need a rush to open up only to lockdown in the event COVID-19 cases spike all over again. Which is definitely going to happen given, as I said, the fragile situation we are still in. No matter that we have somehow succeeded in ramping up our defenses and slowed down, if we go by the DoH figures, the transmission and ill effects of the virus.

The numbers have yet to be such that we can already "tweak," as some sectors are arguing parts of our existing frame. As Congressman Joey Salceda, Chair of the House COVID-19 Oversight Committee, noted in a well written piece on the subject, we are "...far from a point of justified confidence.."

The numbers do not justify a lifting.

Said Salceda: "As of April 20, we have only conducted around 46,000 tests with possibly another 80,000 coming by April 30. Thus, with only 130,000 tests or 0.1 percent of the population, we are most possibly missing many positive, specially asymptomatic, cases that are undetected and at large.

As of April 16, out of 5,600 confirmed cases, only 3,238 were assessed, out of 7,496 possible close contacts. Dou-

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

bling time for infections hovers at just about 12 days..Thus, lifting the ECQ amounts to carelessly exposing the entire population to infection."

And we are talking here of just two metrics—testing and transmission rates—although these are the most basic. What about the others?

Rushing to lift the lockdown will have grave consequences.

Today, we have barely improved to a level of "justified confidence" even as the number of infections are on a downward trend and we are ramping up our testing operations. In fact, there is general agreement that as we do more testing we will have a spike in the numbers as those previously undetected cases will most probably be exposed and isolated and considered infected.

That ramping up has to be sustained to ensure that we are able to get a good number of the population specially in the country's epicenter—Metro Manila—under strict surveillance. That cannot be done if we rush to lift no matter how strict our implementation of the protocols will be.

In any event, those are not the only metrics we should be looking at as we move closer to an understanding of the measures we have to put in place as we move out of ECQ. Is our health and medical care system adequately prepared to handle COVID cases? Do we have the isolation areas for suspected cases before any of those get into the hospitals? Do we have personnel to ramp up the testing and produce fast results? Do we have the facilities for such an undertaking? Once we get people tested and isolated, do we have enough hospitals to take in the seriously ill and cannot be obliged anymore to go on self-quarantine? How many hospital beds do we have? Do we have the equipment to handle such cases? Do we have the medical personnel to do

Unwanted commodity O IL, once the most precious commodity on Earth, is now being dumped in the international market.

International traders do not want to lay their finger on the commodity nowadays, even if it is sold for free.

The negative prices meant international traders were forced to pay their buyers to have the crude taken off their hands. The depressed demand has resulted in a huge inventory, with stockpile facilities across the globe close to full.

The lockdown in many countries, including the Philippines, has virtually stopped air, water and land transportation. The strict quarantine measures also grounded airlines and led to the closure of many offices, factories, restaurants, hotels and other small companies.

With little economic activities, the demand for oil, which is mainly used to fuel factories and transportation, has significantly gone down. Oil importing nations found no need to bolster their petroleum stockpile.

The global economy is heading for a deep recession that could last for months. The pandemic has paralyzed

Oil prices in the international market early this week crashed to below zero, an unimaginable scenario since 1973 when members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries declared an embargo that led to a 400-percent increase in the commodity's price.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and low demand, US crude oil for delivery in May plummeted to an unprecedented low of negative $40.32 per barrel.

the US, China, Japan, Great Britain and the other economic powerhouses in Europe.

Meanwhile, the depressed price of oil, which slightly recovered above zero, will present a big fiscal challenge to Arab nations and other producers. With much lower oil revenues, Arab producers, specifically Saudi Arabia, will further scale down their expenditures and trim their infrastructure budget.

The reduced spending means labor layoffs and less hiring of foreign workers. The overseas employment outlook, thus, is pessimistic for the Philippines, which has over one million workers deployed in Saudi Arabia alone.

The new coronavirus pandemic is wreaking havoc on all economies.

Policymakers must find ways to identify alternative jobs lost in the virus conundrum.

Turn to A5

Ten things about the coronavirus ONE, the world’s Public Enemy No. 1, the greatest and deadliest in the last 100 years, is the coronavirus, otherwise known as the SARS-Cov-2. It causes the disease called COVID-19—for coronavirus infectious disease 2019.

You and I, most of us, are going to survive the coronavirus. Sure, some of us will get sick, but we will recover—mainly by staying at home.

It has brought the world to its knees, caused the most severe recession in history, locked down three billion people in 213 countries, crashed the price of crude oil to below zero, so far sickened more than 2.629 million people and killed 183,454. Daily, up to 70,000 people around the world are infected with COVID-19. And up to 5,000 die daily.

Two, in the Philippines, the virus has triggered the lockdown of the whole island of Luzon, the Philippines’ largest, most productive, and most populated island. With a population of more than 50 million, Luzon contributes 73 percent of the total output of goods and services, what you call GDP or Gross Domestic Product. GDP nationwide is P18 trillion. So 73 percent of that is P13.14 trillion. Divide that by 365 days, the coronavirus’ impact on the econo-

my is P36.71 billion a day.

We are now on 39th day of the lockdown, a.k.a Enhanced Community Quarantine or ECQ, so the Philippine economy has lost P1.43 trillion worth of production. More than 90 percent of industries are shut down, more than 25 million are jobless, and 55 million Filipinos now wallow in poverty.

In Metro Manila alone, more than five million workers cannot go to work.

They include the best, brightest and most strategic of our workers: 596,000 in manufacturing; 557,745 in accommodation and food services, 550,000 in BPO; 308,655 in public administration and defense; 151,620 in information and communications; 124,545 in finance and insurance; 113,715 in human health and social work; 11,625 in selected supermarkets; and 5,415 in water supply and sewerage.

The Philippines is 40th in the world in number of COVID-19 cases with 6,710 as of April 23, 2020, with 446 deaths. The Philippines is No. 3 in ASEAN in cases, behind Singapore, 10,141; and Indonesia, 7,135. In number of COVID-19 deaths, the Philippines is No. 2 in ASEAN, with 446 deaths, behind Indonesia’s 635 as of April 23.

Three, you and I, most of us, are going to survive the coronavirus. Sure, some of us will get sick, but we will recover—mainly by staying at home.

At worst, based on the experience of other countries, assuming all 110 million Filipinos were infected, only some .0001 percent of the population will probably die. That’s about 11,000 deaths.

Note, however, that New York state in America, has a population of less than 20 million and it has had so far 14,828 deaths. The Philippines is five and half times the population of New York state and so far, our deaths from COVID-19, are only 446.

Turn to A5

Overkill?

WHAT did President Rodrigo Duterte tell authorities in the aftermath of a protest rally by a handful of urban poor residents in Quezon City in the early days of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Metro Manila that was promptly dispersed by the police and those arrested were charged in court for illegal assembly?

Here's what he said: "If they make trouble, shoot them dead!"

We were told by his mouthpiece then that this statement should not be taken literally, as it was, presumably, nothing more than a figure of speech.

It appears now that the police on the ground have taken the President's words quite literally.

News reports say police manning a checkpoint in Fairview, Quezon City accosted a former army corporal named Winston Ragos for violating quarantine restrictions. They asked him to put his hands up, which he did for around two minutes, even as passersby asked them to spare him as he had mental problems.

When they asked him to kneel on the sidewalk, he turned around and that's when he seemed to be getting something out of his sling bag. That was the moment when a cop shot him twice, and he died later on the way to hospital. It appears that Ragos suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, after his tour of duty in the Marawi siege in 2017. Witnesses said he did not have a firearm at all, just ID cards and quaran-

tine passes in his sling bag, but the police claim they recovered a .38 caliber pistol from the retired soldier.

Then there's another news report that a motorcycle rider ignored three COVID-19 checkpoints in a separate incident somewhere. While the details are sketchy since no mention was made that he engaged the lawmen in a firefight, it

Thermal scanners have been replaced with high-powered firearms meant to intimidate people into staying at home. is fair to assume that he met the same fate that befell Ragos simply for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

What's ironic in these instances is that checkpoints intended to keep people off the streets to prevent the spread of a highly infectious disease should spell the end of life of those out in the

streets precisely wanting to continue to survive harsh times—and live.

We distinctly recall that in the first days of the lockdown, cops were checking the temperatures with thermal scanners. That was the proper approach, we think, to a public health crisis.

Now, it seems, the thermal scanners have been replaced with high-powered firearms meant to intimidate people into staying at home.

The newspaper front page photo of a SWAT member holding what looked like a 50-caliber machine gun atop an armored personnel carrier deployed in the vicinity of a public market in Manila is likely to be carried by newspapers in other parts of the world.

It's not going to be a flattering reflection at all of how this country is managing a public health emergency where the primordial goal should be to save lives.

We really doubt if Duterte's directive to the police and the military to shoot dead the troublemakers in checkpoints is what's needed to stop COVID-19.

It's not what the doctor ordered, so to speak, and goes against the constitutional injunction that the State should uphold the right to life of the citizenry.

We can learn from Taiwan's experience vs. COVID-19 Just how far is Taiwan from mainland China? The broad outlines of the Turn to A5

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Opinion To reopen or not FOOTNOTES TRANQUIL G.S. SALVADOR III THE entire Luzon has been under Enhanced Community Quarantine for the last four weeks, and extended for another two weeks. Everyone has been gearing to return to their normal lives. Is it returning to normal or are we just being readied for the “new normal”?

It bothers me terribly when some people blabber about ending our ECQ as if it were just a choice between yes or no, true or false, or switching the on or off button with the flick of a finger.

Others comment that those who test-ed COVID-19 positive and its casu-alties are just numbers or statistics, but this is being insensitive. Worse, we tend to make unnecessary suppositions to figure out the impact of the pandemic. Politicians and nitpickers should stop answering questions or nibbling ideas of this sort without a holistic understanding of the entire situation and acting independent of the guidelines of the IATF—obviously this would mislead or misinform the public.

As much as we want to go our usual ways, we have to accept that times have indeed changed. It does not mean that we will be idle; we just have to accept that there is a new normal until a vaccine or medication has been discovered. To reopen the economy without a careful study is a knee-jerk reaction. The process of reopening the economy should not be abrupt and sudden; it must be a gradual and calibrated transition to normalcy. Like a patient recovering from a serious illness, he takes small bites and little steps until he is confident that he can eat and take a stride. This is the very essence of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act or otherwise known as Republic Act No. 11469.

Ending the school year earlier is an option to slow down, if not arrest, the spread of COVID-19. Based on the data released by the Department of Education, at the start of the school year 2019-2020, there are 27.2 mil-

Ten things...

From A4

Four, the coronavirus has hurt us where it matters to us, businessmen and professionals—in our pockets.

They are now empty and riddled with holes. I am sure, majority of you have now negative bank balances. You have more debts than your income to pay for them. But don’t be embarrassed about it. Everybody is in the same financial rut. Everybody has no money.

Five, money is available for you, in case you become penniless. Pending in Congress are bills which will bail out big companies, which will provide cheap loans to small businesses in return for keeping their workers in their payroll, and allocate loans to services and industries considered essential or strategic to the economy and national security.

Even without those bills, however, the banking system is awash with money. Your banks have plenty of money.

As of the first semester of 2019, the Philippine banking system had a total loan portfolio of P10,083 billion. That’s 10 trillion pesos. That 10 trillion is only

Foolish...

From A4

the work? We note, for example, that we have the highest number of infected medical personnel and, sadly, also those who succumbed among the countries in ASEAN. These and other concerns have to be addressed truthfully and responsibly before we can even talk of lifting of any form specially in Metro Manila.

We can appreciate the economic reasons mentioned by those arguing for a modified lifting. Even if we have P1.4 trillion to fund our anti-COVID operations, this cannot sustain us for another six months or even a year which is the period being considered by the WHO and other health experts as the time frame for us globally to have a better handle of the situation.

There must be a point between now

lion students across the Philippines.

Although there is no readily available data on the number of students in Metro Manila, it will be safe to assume that at least 10 percent of the students for this school year are from Metro Manila. To restrict the movement of these students and keep them in their homes coupled with physical distancing will hopefully decrease the level of transmission of the virus.

The Ateneo de Manila University,

Patience, self-discipline, and selflessness are key to keeping our nation afloat.

Loyola Schools, has in fact shortened its school year to until May 8, 2020. However, an important area of concern is the salaries or compensation of teachers and professors in the event of a premature termination of the school year. Will the government be ready to provide social amelioration or subsidies to the teachers who will be displaced?

Not similarly situated are students who need to qualify and pass government examinations for them to practice their respective professions.

These graduate schools and universities are not expected to end their semester since they have to equip and adequately prepare their students for the forthcoming government board or bar exams. Despite these, the decisions of these universities may change or will be affected by the decision of those administering the government examinations to move the examinations to a later date because of the pandemic.

To allow manufacturing and construction industries to reopen is another option subject to the following: (a) their employees and workers will have to test negative for COVID-19 before returning to work; (b) they should be provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) in the workplace; and (c) they should not be allowed to return home but be provided with a quarantine area by the employ-

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Do or die’ on the frontlines

ers. If these suggested measures are not observed and they are allowed to return home then they may spread the virus further, and all advances by reason of the ECQ will be put to waste.

The manufacturing sector should also strongly consider investing on equipment that will automate part of or the entire production process.

Opening the malls or department stores is not a sound option since people will tend to stay away from the potentially crowded areas and, except for grocery stores, drugstores, hardware stores and banks in those establishments, there will be unnecessary consumption of energy for light, water, and air conditioning for unutilized areas. More restaurants should be opened, but on a take-out or take away basis only. The problem is how consumers will purchase products if public transport continues to be suspended. There is some middle ground here, that is, the government may consider allowing the LRT and MRT to operate on a subsidized or reduced fare during the ECQ period. Buses may also be allowed to operate, observing physical distancing; but we should avoid jeepney and tricycle operations for the time being.

This will make it easier for the law enforcement operatives to monitor compliance with the physical distancing regulation.

The rest of the industries and service providers will have to be carefully studied by the government to ascertain if work from home arrangements are still viable, understanding the nature of their work and the services they provide. Large gatherings like professional games, sports activities, networking conventions, and sales and marketing conferences should remain prohibited.

To reopen the economy is not as easy as it is made to appear by some who, with ulterior motives and much lobbying, want to capitalize on the pandemic. It may be a gradual change from an enhanced to a modified quarantine before the government is convinced that COVID-19 is contained, and the quarantine is lifted. Patience, self-discipline, and selflessness are key to keeping our nation afloat.

58.5 percent of the banking system’s total resources of P17.23 billion.

Deduct P10 trillion from P17.23 trillion and you find the banking system still has P7.23 trillion of other assets.

Included in those other assets are P4.07 trillion other loans and P2.359 trillion cash due from other banks.

Remember that the economic loss so far from the coronavirus is P1.43 trillion. So the banking system by itself has plenty of firepower—so to speak, to support those without cash, without working capital, without capex to restart their businesses.

Six, small businesses have so far gotten the short end of the bargain from the banks in terms of loans. Under Republic Act 6977, banks are required to allocate a certain amount of their loans to MSMEs—micro, small and medium enterprises.

As of end-June 2019, the banks have provided only P503.7 billion in total credit to MSMEs. That is below the P574.8 billion loans they gave to MSMEs as of end-2018.

Banks are supposed to provide 15 percent of their loans to agriculture.

Their compliance is only 12.6 percent.

The banks are supposed to provide 10

percent of their loans to agrarian reform credit. Their compliance is only 1.1 percent.

Based on total loanable funds of P5,292.5 billion, 15 percent is P793.87 billion—the amount—of bank loans that should have gone to agricultural credit. The banks provided only P666.6 billion, leaving P127.27 billion unused loans for agri credit.

The banks should have provided 10 percent of P5,292.5 billion or P529 billion for agrarian reform credit. They provided only P59.5 billion—leaving P469.5 billion unused for agrarian reform credit.

Add P127.27 billion to P469.5 billion, you get P596.77 billion. That is the idle money—P597 billion—that you as businessmen should get from the banks in rescue loans to restart your businesses and keep the jobs of your workers.

This is even without thinking of stimulus package loans under bills pending in Congress. The Bangko Sentral should redeploy that idle money as rescue loans to businesses, big and small.

and December during which we will have to open up. But then again, that will depend on the numbers, the factors we mentioned and which the experts are banking on for the confidence necessary to do so.

I repeat—rushing to lift the lockdown will have even graver consequences.

There are talks of a calibrated lifting where certain areas, cities and provinces, can gradually ease some restrictions as their infections have more or less hit a plateau to a level which can be handled. In fact, there are at least 22 provinces, almost half of which in Luzon, which have seen a flattening of their infection curve. For them, calibrated lifting can probably be considered. That will require a determination of what that kind of lifting will look like. Probably, people can be allowed to move around under strict health protocols (wearing of masks,

social distancing, hand washing, etc) and economic activities (transport, agriculture, mining, construction, etc) relaxed specially those where working arrangements already comprise some kind of distancing. No large social gatherings or conglomeration of people like schools, sports events, parties, malls, restaurants and the like should be allowed.

So, as we await with bated breath what President Duterte will finally decide, it is best we already come up with suggestions on how best we can improve our situation and get our defenses against this invisible enemy, not only in place but sustain it for the foreseeable future. Rushing things will only result in more unimaginable consequences.

This is just as New York Governor Andrew Cuomo noted: "This is not the time to do stupid things."

biznewsasia@gmail.com To be continued

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte would have already declared another extension of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Luzon by the time this column sees print. We, a nation of 102 million Filipinos, are simply not ready for the “new normal.”

Pulling the trigger was a judgment call on the part of the Quezon City cop.

I have full trust and confidence in the President’s wisdom that the guidelines or implementing rules of a continued lockdown through the month of May would be more balanced and fair to all in terms of restricting people’s movement against resuscitating the economy.

In making its recommendation to the President, the major factors that have been considered by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for emerging infectious diseases must include what appears a slowdown in the doubling of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 and the increased capacity of the government’s testing centers.

Although it’s too premature to conclude a flattening of the epidemiological curve according to Department of Health authorities, this is a welcome development to appease fears that the escalating COVID-19 cases would eventually overwhelm the inadequate healthcare system.

The anticipated announcement of an ECQ extension also comes on the heels of unfortunate incidents that dramatize the social, economic and security conflicts, the other main considerations in either lifting or continuing the lockdown.

Following a confrontation at a checkpoint, a Quezon City policeman shot to death a mentally deranged man who turned out to be a former Philippine Army corporal with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The cop allegedly appeared to be pulling a gun from his sling bag, although witnesses claimed the ex-soldier was unarmed. Police later reportedly said a .38 caliber revolver was found in the man's sling bag.

Overkill?

From A4

outermost island in the South China Sea that's part of Taiwan can be seen from the coast of Xiamen city in Fujian province. In fact, those in Xiamen can discern the Taiwanese flag fluttering in the wind from a high point in nearby Kinmen island.

Despite Taiwan's proximity to China, the original epicenter of COVID-19 that has since ravaged the rest of the world, it did not waste a second longer when they became aware of the emergence of the coronavirus in Wuhan city in the mainland.

Dr. Chen Shih-chung, Minister of Health and Welfare, said in a recent article, "Global Health Security—A Call for Taiwan’s Inclusion," that since Taiwan successfully dealt with the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak of 2003, it has been "in a state of constant readiness to the threat of emerging infectious disease."

Dr. Chen shared that when information on the pneumonia outbreak was first confirmed on Dec. 31, 2019, Taiwan began implementing onboard quarantine of direct flights from Wuhan that same day. Two days later, the government established a response team for the disease and activated the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC), which was able to effectively integrate resources from various ministries and involve itself fully in the containment of the epidemic.

As of April 9, Taiwan had tested a total of 42,315 persons showing 380 confirmed cases, of which 54 have been indigenous, 326 imported and five deaths; 80 people had been released from hospital after testing negative.

Despite its proximity to China, Taiwan now ranks 123rd among 183 countries in terms of confirmed cases per million people. "This reflects Taiwan's aggressive efforts to control the epidemic are working," Dr. Chen said.

Cognizant that disease knows no borders, Taiwan implemented plans concerning border quarantine measures, including board quarantine, fever screening, health declarations, and a 14-day home quarantine for passengers

It was a judgment call on the part of P/MSgt Daniel Florendo who did what he was trained to do, according to Philippine National Police deputy chief for operations P/Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar.

Although the case is pending investigation, Eleazar pointed out that Florendo repeatedly gave verbal warnings to the fatality Winston Ragos, 34, who suddenly turned while pulling an object inside his sling bag, prompting the policeman to shoot him twice.

Ragos hurled his sling bag over the steel fence and stood motionless before collapsing on the ground, as shown on the viral video.

PNP spokesperson P/Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac echoed Eleazar’s statement that it was indeed Florendo’s judgment call and that it was an instinctive reaction in the face of danger.

“Had he erred in his judgment, he could be the cadaver in the body bag instead,” Banac said.

In other words, it’s a “do or die” situation that our PNP frontliners face out there at any given point in time.

At least two policemen have died from COVID-19. There have been 14 confirmed cases of infection.

Meanwhile, the PNP said nearly 150,000 violators of the Bayanihan To Heal As One Law provisions on ECQ have been apprehended.

PNP Chief General Archie Gamboa also said there will no longer be warning issue. Instead, ECQ violators will be charged accordingly for resistance and disobedience to a person in authority.

In this connection, the Department of the Interior and Local Government gave at least 29 barangay chairmen 48 hours to explain why they have failed to strictly enforce the ECQ rules as directed by the IATF. In Matina, Davao City, people who gathered for a cockfight are being blamed for the transmission of COVID-19, resulting in at least six of nine deaths in the city.

Violation of the social distancing rule is also being blamed for the COVID-19 epidemic in Sitio Zapatera, Cebu City.

As we pointed out repeatedly, the role of the barangay officials, as well as the local government unit executives, cannot be overemphasized.

It occurred to me that if these barangay captains are too negligent or too incompetent to enforce the ECQ rules in their respective communities, how can they be entrusted with a million pesos or hundreds of thousands of pesos cash in Social Amelioration Program assistance to distribute to their constituents?

arriving from certain countries.

Moreover, Taiwan established an electronic system for entry quarantine, which allows passengers with a local mobile phone number to fill in health information via mobile phone. A health declaration pass would then be sent to them via a text message. This is connected to the community care support management system, which allows government agencies to provide care services and medical assistance.

For those undergoing home quarantine or isolation, the government worked with telecom operators to allow GPS tracking of their locations. Quarantine offenders are subject to fines or mandatory placement according to relevant laws and regulations, to prevent transmission.

Taiwan has also increased laboratory testing capacity, expanded the scope of its surveillance and inspections based on trends of the COVID-19 epidemic, and retested people with higher risk who had already tested negative, including patients with symptoms of severe influenza, community cases with upper respiratory tract infections who were already being monitored, and cluster cases of upper respiratory tract infections, to identify suspected cases and perform treatment in isolation wards.

Meanwhile, Taiwan has designated 50 regional hospitals and medical centers and 167 community hospitals and clinics to create a tiered system for testing. These hospitals and clinics are required to set up special wards or areas; in principle, COVID-19 patients are isolated and treated individually in these wards and areas to prevent more infections. All this holds lessons for other countries, including ours, on how to deal with the pandemic.

Chief of these, our leaders should understand, is that a public health crisis should be fought with adequate and timely health interventions, first and foremost.

From what we've read, Taiwan's success in containing the coronavirus did not entail the deployment of its 290,000-strong armed forces or even an infinitesimal part of it to wield guns in the war against COVID-19. ernhil@yahoo.com

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World

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020

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Iran launches satellite into orbit after Trump threat IRAN said it put its first military satellite into orbit Wednesday, making it an emerging “world power”, as the US issued new threats amid rising naval tensions in the Gulf.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps hailed the launch as a milestone, in the face of intense US pressure and Washington’s allegations that the space programme is a cover to develop ballistic missiles.

“Today, we are looking at the Earth from the sky, and it is the beginning of the formation of a world power,” the elite unit’s commander Hossein Salami said, quoted by Fars news agency.

Tensions between the United States and Iran escalated again last week with Washington accusing its arch-foe of harassing its ships in the Gulf.

US President Donald Trump took to Twitter on Wednesday to say he had “instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea.”

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the satellite launch proved US charges that Iran’s space programme was for military rather than commercial purposes.

“I think Iran needs to be held accountable for what they’ve done,” Pompeo told reporters in Washington.

Iran maintains it has no intention of acquiring nuclear weapons, and says its aerospace activities are peaceful and comply with a UN Security Council resolution.

Sepahnews, the Revolutionary Guards’ website, said the satellite dubbed the Nour—meaning “light” in Persian—had been launched from the Markazi desert, a vast expanse in Iran’s central plateau.

The satellite “orbited the Earth at 425 kilometres (264 miles)” above sea level, said Sepahnews.

Iran’s regional rival Israel said it “strongly condemns” what it called Iran’s “attempt” to launch a military satellite.

It urged more international sanctions over what it called “a facade” for Iran’s continued development of advanced missiles, including ones that could deliver a nuclear warhead. AFP

IN BRIEF Boeing to lay off 10% of workers BOEING plans to reduce the workforce in its civil aviation unit by 10 percent to cut costs as the coronavirus causes a crisis for airlines, two sources familiar with the matter told AFP. The layoffs would impact the unit manufacturing the troubled 737 MAX, which has been grounded for more than a year after two deadly crashes, as well as the 787 and 777 long-haul aircraft, the sources said.

The job cuts could affect up to 7,000 workers. Boeing employs more than 160,000 people worldwide, including 70,000 in Washington state, where most of its civilian aircraft are assembled.

The plant in South Carolina produces only part of the 787.

The news comes just a day after the company slowly resumed production at its Puget Sound facility in Washington, with new measures to keep workers sixfeet apart along with health checks and hand-washing stations.

Chief Executive David Calhoun wants to resolve the downsizing plan before Boeing embarks on complex and sensitive negotiations with the US Treasury to win in federal support for the industrial giant, the sources said. AFP

Iranian state media broadcast footage showed the satellite launch. AFP

HK political crisis deepens amid pandemic, protest lull A

CTIVISTS have accused Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s government of taking advantage of the world being distracted by the coronavirus pandemic

A roundup of Hong Kong pro-democracy activists and a row over the powers of Beijing’s office in the city have deepened the political crisis engulfing the financial hub even as a coronavirus lockdown prevents large-scale protests.

The mass demonstrations that convulsed the semi-autonomous Chinese city for seven straight months last year have dissipated during the COVID-19 crisis as cautious residents stick to social distancing.

But over the past week, political tensions have soared once more, threatening to upend the calm in a city still ruptured by ideological divides and where many fear China’s strengthening grip is eroding their freedoms.

There is a “new, gritty nastiness emerging”, risk management consultants Steve Vickers Associates warned in a note this week, and with neither Beijing nor the democracy camp willing to make compromises, future unrest was near inevitable.

On Saturday, police arrested 15 prominent activists on charges linked to last year’s demonstrations.

Those detained were not masked protesters who often violently clashed with police, but rather some of the city’s bestknown moderates—including former lawmakers, academics and a media tycoon.

Among them was 81-year-old barrister Martin Lee, who in the 1980s helped draft the “Basic Law”—the city’s miniconstitution that grants liberties and a high degree of autonomy unseen on the Chinese mainland.

The police swoop came during a row over whether Beijing was reinterpreting a key part of that document.

Constitutional row The spat began when the Liaison Office—which represents China’s central government—issued a statement condemning pro-democracy lawmakers for filibustering in the legislature.

The office suggested the politicians had breached their oath of office and

‘No choice’

Carrie Lam

could be prosecuted.

That sparked accusations that Beijing had crossed a line.

While China’s control over Hong Kong’s foreign policy and defence is undisputed, Article 22 of the Basic Law forbids Beijing departments from “interfering” in areas where the city governs itself—such as its legislature and separate judicial system.

As criticism mounted, the Liaison Office made a landmark announcement: it was not governed by the provision -- even though documents previously submitted to Hong Kong’s legislature stated it was.

Instead, it argued it had a “distinctive” role and could exercise a “supervisory power” over the city.

Hong Kong’s government deepened the confusion when it issued a statement initially saying the Liaison Office was governed

by Article 22, only to retract it hours later and issue two more corrected versions.

The cabinet member whose office provided the advice for the initial statement was moved to a new position in a reshuffle on Wednesday, although city leader Carrie Lam denied it was linked to the furore.

Critics seized on the move as the latest attempt by Beijing to increase control over Hong Kong’s politics.

The Progressive Lawyers Group called it “brazen in its intention to tighten

Prominent activist Joshua Wong told AFP he believed China’s leaders were taking advantage of the world being distracted by the pandemic.

“Beijing in the upcoming future will just strengthen and enhance interference in Hong Kong local affairs,” he said.

Others disputed the idea that the Liaison Office crossed a legal rubicon.

“Merely commenting and expressing one’s view on a matter of public interest would not count as intervention,” Simon Young, a law professor at the University of Hong Kong, told AFP. Jasper Tsang, a former president of Hong Kong’s legislature and a proBeijing heavyweight, said the Liaison Office felt it had “no choice” but to wade into the paralysis in the legislature, which had left a dozen bills languishing for months.

Opponents are filibustering to delay a bill outlawing insults to the Chinese national anthem—a serious provocation to Beijing.

Tsang said the Liaison Office would likely be more confrontational in future.

“How can you stop it?” he said.

Expectations are now rising that last year’s unrest will return, especially with legislative elections due in September, when the pro-democracy camp is hoping to score large gains.

Beijing has also made it clear it wants Hong Kong to have a new national security law—a proposal that sparked huge protests in 2003.

Now, some dissidents have started calling for a protest on July 1 even if social distancing measures against the virus are still in place.

“Businesses should prepare for further civil unrest, as the threat from the virus recedes and friction rises,” said Steve Vickers Associates. AFP

JOAN Pons Laplana is a senior digital charge nurse working on the frontline in an intensive care unit treating coronavirus patients at Sheffield Teaching Hospital in the north of England.

Like many of his colleagues in the state-run National Health Service (NHS), the 45-year-old medic is not British.

The Spanish national works alongside people from Germany, Italy, Portugal, Philippines and India, as well as those from the UK. "Sometimes the most difficult accents to understand are the British ones," Laplana, who has lived in the UK for 20 years, told AFP. The international mix of staff at Sheffield is far from untypical in British hospitals.

Parliamentary figures published last July show that some 153,000 workers out of 1.2 million NHS staff are non-British.

"This is 13.1 percent of all staff for whom a nationality is known, or just over one in eight," it reported.

"Between them, these staff hold 200 different non-British nationalities.

Around 65,000 are nationals of other European Union countries—5.5 percent of NHS staff in England. Around 52,000 staff are Asian nationals, according tot the parliamentary figures.

Among the most common 16 nationalities of people working for the NHS were Indian (21,207), Nigerians (6,770) and Zimbabweans (4,049).

In addition, the health service think tank the King's Fund, calculates that beyond the NHS, around one in six of the 1.5 million people working in adult social care, in the private sector, are from overseas.

"The NHS depends on the important contribution that they (overseas workers) make," said Alex Baylis, assistant director of policy at King's.

"This has come into sharp focus in recent weeks, as all NHS staff have gone above and beyond the call of duty to look after patients who are ill with coronavirus." AFP

Digital video game spending hits record high

'Too much oil, too little space' THE oil market, rocked by crisis this week as prices plunged below zero on rampant oversupply and demand-destroying coronavir us, faces the critical problem of where to store sur plus cr ude.

"To put it simply, there is too much oil with too little space to store it," said TS Lombard economist Konstantinos Venetis.

In recent weeks and months, prices crashed as the COVID-19 pandemic brings the global economy to its knees —and sends crude demand falling off a cliff, with the world on lockdown and oil-dependent sectors paralysed.

That has left the world awash with plentiful supplies of so-called black gold.

"Storage demand accelerated from the second week of March onwards," said Ernie Barsamian, head of specialist brokerage The Tank Tiger.

Sub-zero oil In a fresh twist this week, New York's light sweet crude turned negative on Monday for the first time in history.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for May delivery collapsed to an unprecedented low of minus $40.32 per barrel as traders scrambled to sell before the contract expired Tuesday. AFP

Beijing’s grip on the city by unconstitutionally expanding the powers of the Liaison Office.”

And the Bar Association published a legal analysis concluding there was “no question” Beijing’s offices in the city were bound by the non-interference clause.

Coronavirus highlights role of foreign staff in British hospitals

With many bricks-and-mortar stores shut under coronavirus lockdowns, gamers have turned to digital downloads to keep themselves entertained. AFP

SPENDING on digital video games hit a record high $10 billion in March as people stuck at home under coronavirus lockdowns turned to gaming, market tracker SuperData reported on Thursday.

Money spent on major console games leapt to $1.5 billion in March from $883 million in February, while spending on games played on high-performance personal computers climbed 56 percent to $567 mil-

lion in the same comparison.

Console and PC games tend to be popular in Europe and North America where restrictions on going out were ramped up in March due to the pandemic.

“Individuals are turning to games as a reliable entertainment option during the COVID-19 crisis and are using online multiplayer to keep in touch with others,” SuperData said in a blog post.

Overall revenue from digital

video games for the month was up 11 percent year-on-year, according to the industry tracker.

Nintendo sold five million copies of its family friendly “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” in March, setting a sales record for the most units of a digital console game sold in a single month, SuperData said.

The closing of real-world stores due to the pandemic was cited as a factor in gamers purchasing more titles as

digital downloads.

Spending rose 15 percent on mobile games, a lot of them played on smartphones, reaching $5.7 billion in March, SuperData reported.

Among other leading titles, “Pokemon Go” saw revenue for the mobile game grow 18 percent in March after maker Niantic modified features to make it easier to play without needing to be out and about, according to SuperData. AFP

Female-centric ‘Star Wars’ series bared A NEW female-centric “Star Wars” television series is being developed for the Disney+ streaming platform, according to Hollywood trade reports.

The show from Leslye Headland, co-creator of Netflix drama “Russian Doll,” would be Disney’s latest bid to expand the blockbuster sci-fi franchise on the small screen after the runaway success of “The Mandalorian.”

Disney did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Deadline Hollywood said the series would be a “femaledriven action thriller with martial arts elements and set in an alternate timeline from the usual ‘Star Wars’ universe.”

The Hollywood Reporter said the new show would be live-action.

Disney has prioritized television for “Star Wars” over the next few years.

“The Mandalorian,” featuring the viral internet sensation Baby Yoda, was the flagship launch show for

Disney’s on-demand platform last year, proving a hit with critics and audiences.

A third season is already in development.

In addition, two other new live-action “Star Wars” television series are in the works for Disney+, including the return of Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi, and a prequel to movie spin-off “Rogue One.” In February, then-CEO Bob Iger hinted at potential spinoffs for “The Mandalorian,” which could include “taking those characters in their own direction in terms of series.”

Meanwhile, Disney has slowed down the release of its upcoming “Star Wars” films, with its recently concluded trilogy seeing diminishing box office returns and mixed reviews.

Efforts to introduce more female and minority lead characters into the franchise have also proven divisive among some fans.

The recent film trilogy saw women and characters of color like Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Finn (John Boyega)

take center stage—angering a vocal, toxic minority.

Asian-American actress Kelly Marie Tran, who became the franchise’s first leading actress of color in 2017’s “The Last Jedi,” was hounded off social media by racist and sexist abuse. AFP

Business

A7

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market gains; SM Investments up T HE stock market rose Thursday, boosted by a rally in oil prices, but investors continued to fret over the uncertain economic outlook despite the coronavirus pandemic showing signs of slowing.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 25.80 points, or 0.5 percent, to 5,599.55 on a value turnover of P4.4 billion. Gainers beat losers, 114 to 66, with 49 issues unchanged.

SM Investments Corp. of the Sy Group climbed 3.3 percent to P845, while Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the second-biggest lender in terms of assets, advanced 2.5 percent to P39.

Conglomerate Ayala Corp., however, fell 5.1 percent to P563, while Manila

Electric Co., the largest retailer of electricity, declined 4.3 percent to P258.40.

Oil prices, meanwhile, rallied Thursday, helping boost equity markets.

With devastation wrought on economies around the world, some governments are turning their attention to easing tough restrictions that have been imposed on billions of people for the past weeks.

But observers say the route out of the crisis remains uncertain, while the head of the World Health Organization warned the end was still a long way off.

“Make no mistake: we have a long way to go. This virus will be with us for a long time,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual press conference.

Wall Street jumped Wednesday, tracking a surge in oil prices that saw WTI for June delivery jump 19 percent.

The commodity extended gains in Asian trade, with WTI climbing more

the oil crisis.

With demand for the commodity almost non-existent and facilities close to full, expectations are for more volatility to come.

Still, Asian markets enjoyed a welcome advance. Tokyo, Mumbai and Jakarta were all more than one percent higher, while Seoul put on one percent and Hong Kong gained 0.5 percent.

Taipei, Singapore, Bangkok and Wellington were also higher, though Shanghai and Sydney both slipped slightly.

Global markets had been enjoying a healthy rally in recent weeks, thanks to trillions of dollars of stimulus and signs of slowing in the disease that had allowed leaders to consider easing lockdowns.

But the oil crisis and concerns about the length of the global economic recovery have brought dealers back to Earth following weeks of big gains. With AFP

than 14 percent at one point and Brent adding almost 12 percent before easing slightly.

The surge came after a tough week on oil markets, with WTI for May delivery crashing below $0.00.

Phillip Futures cited “heightened risk in the Middle East” after US President Donald Trump said on Twitter he had “instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea.”

Iran, meanwhile, said it put its first military satellite into orbit. Washington alleges the space program is a cover to develop ballistic missiles.

The tensions offset news of another surge in US stockpiles, including at the Cushing, Oklahoma hub where analysts say there is little remaining space.

Phillip Futures, however, said the Trump tweet was likely a move to boost prices as US shale had been badly hit by

Manila Standard BuSineSS daily StockS review thurSday, april 23, 2020

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

48.2 60.4 101.5 0.88 19.88 15.8 7.82 2.9 0.89 0.29 39 8.4 18 23.6 163 116.9 41.1 17.98 104 54.8

48.7 60.85 104.9 0.88 19.96 16.1 8.02 3.06 0.95 0.3 39.8 8.65 18 24.5 163 116.9 41.1 17.98 106.8 54.8

48.1 59.85 100 0.88 19.82 15.6 7.82 2.8 0.89 0.29 38.6 8.4 18 23.05 162 115.8 40.7 17.94 103.5 54

FINANCIALS 48.7 3,900 60 1,662,580 100 2,285,400 0.88 1,000 19.92 126,500 16.1 73,400 7.94 280,700 2.99 52,000 0.95 6,000 0.295 350,000 39 2,713,500 8.5 27,500 18 100 23.4 255,800 162.5 120 115.8 890 40.7 13,100 17.94 400 105 1,152,170 54.2 10,580

188,860 99,929,926 232,922,096 880 2,519,310 1,170,620 2,222,392 152,220 5,400 102,350 106,474,720 233,779 1,800 6,041,025 19,470 103,427 535,580 7,180 121,688,505 573,231

ABOITIZ POWER AC ENERGY AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT AXELUM BASIC ENERGY BOGO MEDELLIN CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A CONCRETE B 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 MABUHAY VINYL 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 VITARICH VULCAN INDL

27.35 2.43 7.7 0.5 2.67 0.185 75.45 1.02 13.92 120.6 9.15 12.66 25 54 60 1.78 5 3.5 5.46 8.1 5.32 7.97 2.7 18 55.5 1.47 32.2 1.15 11.02 6.23 1.14 137 3.4 10.86 6.29 6.96 268 1.83 2.56 3.21 8.8 10.1 18.52 4.22 4.5 1.42 1.39 1.08 5.85 59.3 7.99 0.108 0.76 122 0.81 0.68

27.4 2.44 7.8 0.52 2.75 0.185 75.45 1.04 14 140.3 9.25 13.28 25 64 69.8 1.8 5 3.78 5.7 8.2 5.4 7.98 2.95 18.6 57 1.53 33.15 1.18 11.4 6.23 1.16 140 3.56 11.08 6.3 7.16 268 1.91 2.63 3.29 8.8 12 19 4.23 4.5 1.53 1.39 1.08 6.07 59.5 7.99 0.118 0.84 123.4 0.85 0.72

26.7 2.3 7.6 0.5 2.61 0.18 75.45 1.02 13.92 120.6 8.64 12.64 25 54 60 1.68 5 3.27 5.46 8 5.18 7.91 2.65 18 55.5 1.43 32 1.12 11.02 5.83 1.11 135.5 3.4 10.84 6.06 6.88 258.4 1.83 2.5 3.15 8.8 10.1 18.52 4.19 4.5 1.42 1.39 1.03 5.85 58 7.5 0.108 0.76 118 0.81 0.68

INDUSTRIAL 27 1,063,200 2.3 14,044,000 7.68 292,500 0.51 1,305,000 2.61 3,976,000 0.18 50,000 75.45 350 1.03 3,092,000 13.98 267,400 140.3 210 8.71 4,953,100 13.28 10,300 25 600 59.95 680 69.8 420 1.79 677,000 5 1,000 3.5 31,000 5.6 2,903,200 8 1,333,000 5.24 3,028,900 7.98 2,516,700 2.88 4,536,000 18.56 769,200 56.95 66,670 1.44 35,818,000 33.15 2,800 1.17 4,212,000 11.36 303,600 5.95 839,200 1.14 238,000 136 2,547,870 3.55 59,000 10.86 2,410,500 6.09 541,800 6.98 790,300 258.4 263,280 1.91 3,057,000 2.5 50,000 3.18 3,253,000 8.8 300 12 873,300 18.8 583,600 4.2 174,000 4.5 5,000 1.48 1,637,000 1.39 7,000 1.04 1,018,000 6.02 998,200 58.4 291,300 7.96 115,700 0.115 440,000 0.79 308,000 118 606,370 0.82 2,984,000 0.7 472,000

28,707,880 33,025,190 2,248,279 665,430 10,553,400 9,080 26,407.50 3,185,120 3,741,544 28,958 44,431,497 131,394 15,000 40,845.50 25,298 1,164,100 5,000 110,660 16,305,341 10,669,713 15,892,401 20,057,647 12,686,010 14,190,444 3,732,665 53,017,840 90,165 4,883,520 3,439,778 5,000,636 268,260 349,137,851 204,380 26,306,546 3,344,156 5,549,423 68,763,244 5,689,220 126,630 10,457,700 2,640 9,245,828 11,022,830 732,510 22,500 2,422,680 9,730 1,060,910 5,997,422 17,049,970.50 905,529 51,590 246,730 72,910,404 2,462,950 331,900

-12,225,555 -1,795,930 3,942 -3,146,230 -1,185,580 -154,342 2,806 207,308 -14,400 -10,598,710 84,363 -3,791,723 -19,925,000 -122,420 -143,020 1,360,385.50 -837,260 -301,200 -749,810 -496,882 -5,800 104,530,166 -11,783,800 115,708 -2,375,842 -18,419,912 1,792,070 -74,190 -727,234 -3,455,788 -681,930 12,480 1,117,412 12,640,349.50 -364,387 -23,431,302 -27,980 -

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

0.6 43.9 6.48 0.53 6 7.1 0.455 0.5 590 1.63 4.78 4.21 8.04 2.91 461 3.94 51.6 0.455 2.75 7.59 2.64 0.82 98.5 828 0.98 166 146.9 0.197 0.143

0.61 43.9 6.5 0.56 6 7.29 0.54 0.52 590 1.68 4.94 4.4 8.6 2.91 464 3.94 52 0.465 2.78 7.78 2.69 0.88 98.5 850 0.98 168 146.9 0.197 0.15

0.57 43.2 6.4 0.53 6 7.06 0.455 0.5 563 1.63 4.78 4.21 8.04 2.91 449.8 3.94 50.25 0.45 2.73 7.5 2.64 0.8 97 818.5 0.98 165 141 0.178 0.143

HOLDING FIRMS 0.6 4,754,000 43.5 365,400 6.45 8,594,700 4,000 0.56 6 33,700 7.12 6,800 0.53 10,130,000 0.52 1,350,000 563 344,940 1.68 2,452,000 4.9 866,000 4.25 2,846,000 8.6 600 2.91 2,000 450.8 297,320 3.94 1,000 50.6 583,070 0.46 80,000 2.73 619,000 7.52 724,800 2.66 12,999,000 0.8 1,047,000 97.75 287,370 845 358,220 0.98 5,000 165 170 144.8 460 0.195 320,000 0.15 1,580,000

2,798,110 15,898,715 55,415,754 2,150 202,200 48,477 5,026,250 682,400 197,092,685 4,079,780 4,242,050 12,161,810 5,048 5,820 134,470,256 3,940 29,610,731.5 ( 36,300 1,695,700 5,448,765 34,718,990 875,640 28,039,964.50 300,104,630 4,900 28,330 66,622 58,660 235,630

-233,680 -981,905 -22,933,452 178,200 494,800 -47,394,705 465,520 -3,930,040 -97,622,404 3,940 15,137,050.5) -341,710 -4,322,912 189,570 -31,980.00 162,186 10,302,840 31,856 -

11.5 0.53 1.04 0.55 30.2 1.3 3.98 5.9 0.355 0.74 0.134 6.95 15.9 0.29 0.92 0.79 2.67 0.162 0.3 0.79 0.23 1.53 15.3

PROPERTY 11.5 9,300 0.55 1,671,000 1.04 54,000 0.57 732,000 30.2 5,184,700 1.31 119,000 4.02 376,000 5.99 65,200 0.36 5,310,000 0.74 12,000 0.134 10,000 7.15 11,800 16.08 58,300 0.29 90,000 0.94 2,236,000 0.83 444,000 2.67 8,556,000 0.165 17,690,000 0.325 1,010,000 0.8 1,112,000 0.241 320,000 1.65 32,000 15.6 2,365,700

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

11.56 0.54 1.08 0.56 30.6 1.31 4 5.9 0.355 0.75 0.134 6.98 16 0.29 0.93 0.8 2.74 0.171 0.33 0.8 0.231 1.68 15.32

11.56 0.57 1.08 0.57 31.15 1.34 4.02 6 0.36 0.75 0.134 7.15 16.1 0.29 0.94 0.87 2.77 0.171 0.33 0.83 0.248 1.68 15.8

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

NAME

179,170 -57,030,375 -54,293,584 -1,089,390 -15,600 -122,724 9,169,095 -2,763,405 12,960 1,798 52,423,391 -489,968

NAME

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND VISTAMALLS

1.51 2.7 30.2 1.89 1.23 4.1 4.19

1.56 2.71 30.45 1.89 1.26 4.17 4.5

1.51 2.65 30.05 1.85 1.18 4.06 3.87

1.53 2.65 30.25 1.85 1.2 4.08 4.1

266,000 43,000 8,418,700 35,000 1,893,000 3,564,000 300,000

410,950 115,420 254,802,130 65,430 2,310,870 14,550,680 1,233,160

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ALLHOME APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR CHELSEA DFNN INC DITO CME HLDG EASYCALL GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL INTL CONTAINER ISLAND INFO LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN 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

6.5 16.82 5.99 0.29 0.039 15.22 2.25 5.76 0.032 47.85 6.25 3.12 3 2.34 7.12 2,200 4.99 320 0.89 1.45 81 0.083 13 1.48 0.75 4.71 0.365 1.65 1.74 1.8 1.85 1.7 7.1 2.1 3.08 135.4 2.6 1,176 0.305 0.244 46.55 61.35 1.22 0.355 0.18 0.45 14.64

9.24 17 6 0.32 0.039 16.86 2.25 5.85 0.032 49.3 6.25 3.69 3 2.45 8.75 2,220 4.99 320 0.96 1.45 83.45 0.083 13 1.53 0.79 4.83 0.365 1.75 2.35 2.38 1.94 1.74 7.32 2.1 3.15 137.9 2.71 1,208 0.32 0.246 47.2 61.95 1.27 0.355 0.2 0.45 14.8

6.5 16.66 5.75 0.29 0.039 15.22 2.15 5.69 0.029 47.05 6.25 3.1 3 2.26 7.11 2,174 4.88 320 0.88 1.45 80 0.082 13 1.48 0.75 4.6 0.36 1.65 1.74 1.8 1.85 1.67 7 2.1 3.08 135 2.55 1,142 0.305 0.232 46.4 60.95 1.19 0.34 0.18 0.4 14.04

SERVICES 9.24 16.66 5.95 0.32 0.039 15.5 2.25 5.7 0.029 47.05 6.25 3.46 3 2.28 7.65 2,200 4.88 320 0.92 1.45 82.2 0.082 13 1.51 0.79 4.66 0.36 1.72 2.17 2.14 1.9 1.74 7.28 2.1 3.14 137.9 2.62 1,163 0.315 0.235 46.65 61.3 1.21 0.345 0.195 0.43 14.04

727,200 73,400 2,921,400 620,000 500,000 1,000 203,000 8,920,900 14,800,000 306,700 10,500 4,397,000 26,000 101,074,000 1,174,400 47,735 83,000 100 1,700,000 15,000 1,161,310 270,000 100 216,000 5,000 3,908,000 30,000 4,257,000 13,687,000 349,000 4,392,000 112,000 90,000 5,000 11,000 280 3,073,000 293,650 3,820,000 6,250,000 4,188,100 467,930 2,701,000 13,220,000 16,930,000 7,030,000 1,236,600

5,814,747 1,232,500 17,122,020 190,850 19,500 16,124 450,650 51,298,101 434,800 14,649,235 65,625 15,265,760 78,000 239,574,580 9,508,800 ( 104,967,430 408,330 32,000 1,564,460 21,750 95,146,779.50 22,380 1,300 325,960 3,910 18,371,420 10,900 7,353,120 28,047,370 723,290 8,375,010 189,820 655,310 10,500 34,310 37,952 8,075,490 344,010,735 1,195,600 1,476,260 195,387,140 28,680,731 3,326,860 4,596,950 3,227,690 2,899,800 17,520,182

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

0.001 7.23 0.92 1.9 10.7 2.7 0.201 6.6 0.73 0.195 0.081 0.084 0.0066 0.0071 0.56 1.65 0.95 0.5 0.0085 0.0085 2.29 4.45 12 0.004

0.0011 7.23 1.03 1.9 10.7 2.74 0.201 6.69 0.75 0.197 0.081 0.087 0.0066 0.0071 0.56 1.67 0.96 0.52 0.0085 0.0095 2.4 4.59 12.2 0.004

0.001 6.86 0.92 1.9 10.7 2.7 0.2 6.56 0.73 0.195 0.077 0.081 0.0066 0.0071 0.54 1.61 0.9 0.495 0.0085 0.0085 2.29 4.42 11.96 0.004

MINING & OIL 0.0011 72,000,000 7.18 324,600 1.02 4,685,000 1.9 8,000 10.7 1,700 2.73 326,000 0.2 530,000 6.69 1,200 0.74 913,000 0.195 380,000 0.077 6,450,000 0.081 600,000 0.0066 2,000,000 0.0071 3,000,000 0.56 212,000 1.61 5,912,000 0.96 3,000 0.495 221,000 0.0085 1,000,000 0.0095 12,000,000 2.31 945,000 4.46 1,819,000 12 1,960,600 0.004 92,000,000

77,300 2,255,613 4,666,430 15,200 18,190 886,240 106,080 7,908 676,350 74,120 502,450 50,400 13,200 21,300 116,710 9,662,360 2,810 110,295 8,500 108,000 2,222,300 8,152,520 23,533,846 368,000

-60,000 613,540 669 16,280 -1,747,820 35,000 -649,130 370,950 -10,246,912 -

AC PREF B2R CPG PREF A DD PREF GMA HLDG PDR MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 3A PCOR PREF 3B PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 4 SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

498 99.5 97.85 4.88 100.5 1,000 1,010 99.2 1,000 76.2 74.2 74.9 75.5 75.05 74.05 75.5

498 99.5 100 4.9 100.5 1,000 1,020 99.5 1,000 76.4 74.2 75 75.5 75.05 74.05 75.5

498 99.5 97.85 4.88 100.1 1,000 1,010 99.2 1,000 76.2 74.2 74.9 75.5 75 74 75

PREFERRED 498 20 99.5 2,000 100 28,960 4.89 51,000 100.1 150 1,000 13,000 1,020 300 99.5 1,010 1,000 13,760 76.4 1,850 74.2 33,860 75 27,000 75.5 70,500 75 15,030 74 6,560 75 68,700

9,960 199,000 2,885,935.50 249,350 15,043 13,000,000 304,000 100,492 13,760,000 141,334 2,512,412 2,024,773 5,322,750 1,127,251.50 485,690 5,185,850

199,000 195,590 -1,000,000 -485,690 -

LR WARRANT

0.79

0.79

0.79

WARRANTS 0.79 1,000

790

ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH XURPAS

2.35 7.34 0.65

2.45 7.49 0.69

2.22 6.8 0.65

2.27 7.25 0.65

FIRST METRO ETF

86

87

85.5

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2

9.7 9.7

9.7 9.7

9.7 9.7

MS 106,956 914,090 56,200 407,710 158,624,895 156,140 1,509,300 390,563 1,901,700 8,890 1,340 83,813 935,424 26,100 2,077,880 361,010 23,250,880 2,934,970 320,500 892,740 75,780 49,650 36,701,108

-11,500 -32,247,860 -37,400 -598,040 307,287 8,140 -8,393 265,320.00 -99,170 -9,651,510 2,888,486

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

OPEN

Trading Summary FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL

SHARES 9,823,607

109,867,859

HOLDING FIRMS

50,996,457

PROPERTY

64,071,289

SERVICES

225,498,155

MINING & OIL

208,196,899

GRAND TOTAL

697,100,927

SME

21,180,000 221,100 7,227,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 85.5 14,650 9.7 9.7

DDS

4,060 240

49,609,450 1,572,878 4,759,840 1,263,001.50 39,382 2,328

-26,420 -63,074,950 -522,650 68,956 8,129,495 11,548,825 -19,200 -9,407,580 65,625 184,420 -3,557,880 235,479.9997) 15,535,330 21,053,784 -1,300 -3,546,940 887,360 -230,290 -6,770 -238,260 3,170,055 160,000 -16,917,025 -27,485,701 -2,263,390 -1,609,050 -12,690 -47,400 -2,706,140

815,910 28,130 253,337.50 -

VALUE 1,195.13 (up) 5.53 622,921,814.43 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 7,267.07 (down) 10.56 911,763,503.01 HOLDING FIRMS 5,541.92 (up) 31.01 890,357,315.88 PROPERTY 2,839.59 (up) 25.93 1,298.31 (up) 2.98 567,571,999.051 SERVICES MINING & OIL 4,609.44 (up) 55.12 1,265,450,556.068 PSEI 5,599.55 (up) 25.80 53,666,022.98 All Shares Index 3,408.81 (up) 20.64 4,368,943,653.22 Gainers: 114; Losers: 66; Unchanged: 49; Total: 229

SEC issues desist order vs. four online lending firms

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Securities and Exchange Commission issued a cease-and-desist order against four online lending companies that are allegedly operating without a license from the corporate regulator.

The SEC issued the order on April 14 against CashAB, CashOcean, KwikPeso and Little Cash, along with their owners, CashAB Lending Co., Mimosa Credit Ltd. and Zamoya Credit Ltd. The SEC also directed the online lending operators, their agents, representatives and promoters, as well as the owners of their hosting sites to immediately stop or face contempt.

The SEC ordered the online lending operators to cease from offering and advertising their lending business through the internet and remove their promotional presentations and offerings, including their lending apps.

CashAB, CashOcean, KwikPeso and Little Cash, according to the SEC, offered and provided loans to the public without a valid certificate of incorporation and certificate of authority to operate as a lending or financing company from the regulator.

Section 4 of Republic Act No. 9474, or the Lending Company Regulation Act of 2007, requires that a lending company be established only as a corporation. It further provides that no lending company should conduct business unless it has an authority to operate from the SEC. Any person who engages in the business of lending without an authority to operate from the SEC may face a fine ranging from P10,000 to P50,000, or imprisonment of six months to 10 years or both, under Section 12 of the Lending Company Regulation Act. Aside operating without the necessary licenses to operate, the online lending operators failed to disclose certain information in their advertisements and online platforms as mandated by SEC Memorandum Circular No. 19, Series of 2019.

The online lending operators also employ abusive collection practices. After gaining access to the personal information stored in the borrowers’ mobile phones, including social media accounts, contact numbers and email addresses, through their mobile applications, the online lending operators then use such information to exact prompt payment.

ICTSI donates P350m to fight virus outbreak INTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services Inc. has contributed about P350 million to national and local government agencies, immediate communities, employees and port stakeholders in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Aside from being a health crisis, the pandemic is causing a toll on the economic and social condition of most everyone. Through our individual and collaborative efforts, we hope to somehow reduce and limit the economic and health impact of the virus on our local communities and employees,” said ICTSI chairman and president Enrique Razon Jr. He said ICTSI ensures the safety and protection of employees who keep the ports open and running so that food, medical supplies and equipment along with basic necessities are delivered unhampered.

Following strict protocols and measures dictated by the World Health Organization, International Maritime Organization and local governments, terminals are sanitized and disinfected to make for a safe working environment.

ICTSI said it provided all employees with PPEs and health and food aid, aside from their expanded wage and bonus programs, adding that Rapid COVID-19 test kitswere deployed at a number of large facilities.

ICTSI across its portfolio said it donated personal protective equipment, ventilators and test kits to private and government healthcare facilities, disinfectants to healthcare workers, and food and other critical supplies to truckers, other stakeholders, and vulnerable communities.

The company provided logistical support to hospitals as well as psychological support for those in need of it.

ICTSI was among the first to respond to the call of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, of which it is a member, for the business community to band together for Project Ugnayan, a feeding program for the economically vulnerable in the Philippine capital and neighboring provinces, with a P100-million donation.

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

A8

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020

Business

IN BRIEF SMC donates P150-m worth of poultry items

CONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. allocated P150 million worth of poultry products from its inventory for poor communities, mostly in areas where it operates.

The latest donation increased the company’s total contribution to help address challenges brought about by the pandemic to P1.147 billion to date.

San Miguel in a statement said it continued to expand its response to the crisis by leveraging its portfolio, capabilities and resources to bring immediate tangible assistance to the most affected communities, businesses and those on the frontline of the fight.

“With the resources that we have, we are in a position to help and provide essential relief, especially to our neighbors, in these difficult times. To use these resources well and put them to good use is the right and responsible thing to do,” San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said.

San Miguel’s most recent effort to distribute fresh poultry products to disadvantaged communities mostly in areas surrounding its facilities pushed the company’s total food donations to about P390.7 million consisting of canned goods, fresh meats, biscuits, breads, coffee, milk and flour. Jenniffer B. Austria

AGG extends P603-m help to fight COVID-19

ALLIANCE Global Group Inc. of businessman Andrew Tan has donated P603 million to various efforts in the country’s fight against the novel coronavirus pandemic since the start of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine on March 17.

The Alliance Group along with subsidiaries instituted projects to help both government and other organizations in protecting Filipinos from the spread of the virus. It donated P100million to Project Ugnayan, which was used to distribute food vouchers to thousands of urban poor families in Metro Manila.

It also donated P250 million worth of disinfectant alcohol to various hospitals, local government units, government agencies and organizations throughout the country.

Property unit Megaworld Corp. contributed P60 million to Philippine Red Cross for the purchase of four brand new COVID-19 test laboratories that can conduct around 10,000 tests per day. Jenniffer B. Austria

BDO warns against fake websites, scams

BDO Unibank Inc. warned the public against fake websites and provided tips on how to avoid being a victim of scammers.

“For the banking public, the importance of online banking is more pronounced in today’s social distancing-mandated reality. With all the convenience of banking from home, however, we need to be also aware of the lurking online adversary—scammers who lure their victims to fake websites, steal their bank information and then eventually their money,” the bank said.

The bank said the public should be wary of messages from a “concerned client” who drives away clients from using the bank’s mobile banking facility (especially from the BDO Mobile app) to a channel where scammers can better exploit their would-be victims and lure them to fake websites through the latter’s personal computer.

“Banks never call its clients to advise them on what to use or not to use. To be sure, check with the bank first for any official advisory and announcement, and refrain from sharing unverified news you have received via email or text,” BDO said.

BDO also advised clients not to click on links on e-mail from scammers.

BSP eases rules on asset cover of banks’ FCDUs THE Monetary Board, the policymaking body of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, eased the asset cover requirement on banks with expanded/ foreign currency deposit units to provide them with greater flexibility to manage their foreign currency exposures.

Existing regulations require banks to maintain a 100-percent asset cover for their foreign currency liabilities in the E/ FCDUs at all times to ensure they have sufficient foreign currency-denominated assets to service withdrawals of deposits and meet payments denominated in foreign currency.

“Under the new rules, banks shall be allowed to offset any deficiency in the asset cover incurred on one or more days of the week with the excess cover that they may hold on other days of the same week and the immediately succeeding week,” the BSP said Thursday.

“This provides the banks greater leeway in managing their foreign currency exposures in accordance with their risk tolerance and internal policies,” it said.

The board also approved the alignment of the licensing process for applications for E/FCDU authority with the risk-based licensing framework being implemented by the BSP pursuant to Circular No. 1031, which was issued in February 2019.

The operation of an E/FCDU is considered as a Type A permissible activity under the framework. The attendant requirements have been streamlined in order to promote the ease of doing business.

The BSP said the changes in the E/ FCDU regulations constitute the first phase of reforms to the longstanding rules implementing R.A. No. 6426 or the “Foreign Currency Deposit Act of the Philippines.” Julito G. Rada

LOCAL PPES. The Inter-Agency Task Force against Emerging Infectious Diseases, through the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Health and the Confederation of Wearable Exporters of the Philippines, turns over to the Philippine General Hospital the first 10,000 of the 300,000 locally-manufactured personal protective equipment coveralls. Leading the turnover ceremony are (from left) Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Health Secretary Francisco Duque, NTF COVID-19 chief implementor Secretary Carlito Galvez and PGH director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi.

Gov’t outlines business protocol after quarantine T

By Othel V. Campos

RADE Secretary Ramon Lopez said Thursday companies should adopt hygiene and health measures as the new protocol in business operations as the country prepares for the postEnhanced Community Quarantine scenario.

“Minimum health standards such as strict social distancing, wearing of face masks, presence of sanitation stations, taking of body temperature, and provision of vitamins must always be observed in work and public places,” Lopez said in a statement.

“Likewise, the conduct of COVID-19 tests, provision of nearby accommo-

dations and shuttle services, allowing more work-from-home arrangements, and healthcare preparedness and insurance from enterprises, should be the new normal as we ease into the new way of doing business,” he said.

Lopez said these measures should be strictly imposed to minimize the health risk among workers as essential enterprises restart operations.

“We need to have a new way of doing business to ensure that our significant gains during the ECQ and the collective efforts in flattening the curve will not be put to waste once ECQ is fully lifted,” the trade secretary said.

He said while health should be prioritized over the economy, “there is no dichotomy between the two if we take precautionary health measures when we do business and work with other people to minimize any health risk in a postECQ environment.”

The department cited industries and sectors for their notable interventions in protecting the safety and well-be-

ing of their employees, as well as in providing them with extensive health benefits.

Among these are leading export-oriented manufacturing industries, which provided additional health benefits such as near-site accommodation and shuttle services, hiring from local communities, provision of vitamins and medicines and regular check-ups and healthcare in the workplace.

These companies also provided face masks and digital thermometers to employees at no cost, and set up ambulances, isolation tents and clinics in their facilities.

The Trade Department said it was working with the Health and Labor Departments on a new set of guidelines to ensure minimum health protocols in all business operations.

Lopez acknowledged the importance of continuing working-from-home arrangements where possible to help mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

BPI’s net profit down 5% in Q1 on higher loan loss provisions

By Julito G. Rada BANK of the Philippine Islands, the third-largest lender in terms of assets, said Thursday net income declined 5 percent in the first quarter to P6.39 billion from P6.72 billion a year ago on higher provisions for loan losses amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

BPI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it booked P4.23 billion in provisions for loan losses in the first quarter as the COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a difficult period for consumers and businesses that could lead to potentially higher non-performing loans.

“This provision is 2.4 times more than the P1.80 billion set aside during the same period in 2019. This resulted in a net income of P6.39 billion for first quarter 2020, a decline of 5 percent from P6.72 billion registered in the same period last year,” it said.

The bank said total revenues increased by 10.9 percent in the first quarter to P25.26 billion while net interest income grew by 13 percent to P18.14 billion.

Net interest margin was 3.63 percent, up by 24 basis points from 3.39 percent in the first quarter of 2019 as lower asset yields were offset by lower cost of funds. Non-interest income increased 5.8 percent to P7.12 billion on higher securities trading gains.

Operating expenses in the first quarter went up by 3.8 percent to P12.53 billion. Cost-to-income ratio eased to 49.6 percent from 53 percent a year earlier.

BPI said total loans rose 7.3 percent to P1.45 trillion, with growth recorded in microfinance, small and medium enterprises, consumer and corporate loan segments at 66.6 percent, 14.2 percent, 9.5 percent, and 6.7 percent, respectively.

Total deposits increased 4.3 percent to P1.68 trillion. The bank’s current and savings account ratio settled at 73.5 percent, while the loan-to-deposit ratio was 86.3 percent.

The bank’s indicative NPL coverage ratio increased to 109.02 percent in March compared to 92.55 percent as of March 2019. NPL ratio stood at 1.82 percent as of the end of the first quarter 2020.

BPI’s total assets climbed 5.1 percent to reached P2.19 trillion as of end-March. Total securities position was at P338.13 billion, of which 73.5 percent was in hold-to-collect, therefore less sensitive to market risk.

Total equity amounted to P272.70 billion, with an indicative common equity Tier 1 ratio of 15.19 percent and a capital adequacy ratio of 16.08 percent, both above regulatory requirements.

2GO Group waives P35-m fee for use of 2 ships as health facilities

By Darwin G. Amojelar 2GO Group Inc. said Thursday it will no longer charge the government for the use of two vessels as quarantine facilities.

2GO chairman Dennis Uy said in a statement the actual cost to operate the two vessels as quarantine facilities could reach P260 million, which it would shoulder as donation.

“The P35 million was an offer made by the DOTr [Department of Transportation], for which we had no plans of accepting. Even if the government offers to pay the P35 million, we in 2Go, in good conscience, have no intentions of

accepting their offer,” Uy said.

“As chairman of 2Go, I have conferred with other shareholders and have given explicit instructions to waive the P35-million expected payment from the government; and if necessary make good the said amount out of my own funds to cover for the expected expenses to operate the said ships,” he said.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade welcomed the decision of Uy for publicly announcing the waiving of rental fees for the two vessels that were mobilized as quarantine facilities.

“We take pride in this shared endeavor of the DOTr and 2Go, both of which recognized the urgency to put

up the ‘quarantine ships’ to augment the need for quarantine facilities,” Tugade said.

“It must be emphasized that the initial rate quoted was P120 million. From P120 million, the negotiating panel was able to arrive at a P35 million rental fee concession for the two vessels for a twomonth term, taking into consideration vessel operating expenditures such as its fuel, electricity, water, maintenance, supplies and actual salaries of manpower of the crew and hotel staff to effectively run the ship, and equating it with bed space usage,” he said.

The two vessels, which will be used as “quarantine ships” can serve 1,500

patients.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases gave the DOTr and the PCG the green light to implement the operation of “quarantine ships” as temporary facilities for persons under monitoring or those who have traveled to COVID-19 affected areas and those who show symptoms but have no history of exposure.

The project will be implemented in close coordination with the Department of Health and the Bureau of Quarantine. This is also expected to unburden hospitals that are now operating at full capacity.

China Telecom’s potential US ban seen as another setback for DITO THE United States Department of Justice and other federal agencies asked the Federal Communications Commission to terminate China Telecom’s authorization to operate in the US, a development that could deal another blow to China-backed DITO Telecommunity’s rollout in the Philippines.

China Telecom owns 40 percent of DITO, which is in the midst of building network infrastructure in the Philippines in an attempt to become the country’s third major telecoms operator.

The US agencies, including the Department of Justice and the State Department, are calling for the revocation of China Telecom’s license to carry out international telecommunications services to and from the US. They are concerned that state-owned China Telecom is “vulnerable to exploitation, influence and control” by the Chinese government.

“Today, more than ever, the life of the nation and its people runs on our telecommunications networks,” said John Demers, assistant attorney general for national security.

The American federal agencies laid out several issues they had with China Telecom including the “evolving na-

tional security environment since 2007” and “increased knowledge of the People’s Republic of China’s role in malicious cyber activity targeting the United States.”

The agencies said that China Telecom is “vulnerable to exploitation, influence and control by the PRC government”.

DITO Telecommunity chief administrative officer Adel Tamano said they are relying significantly on their consortium partner China Telecom for technology needed to challenge incumbents Globe Telecom and PLDT. “They are our technology partner and we are leaning heavily on them for that. Sila ang expert dyan [They are the experts],” Tamano said.

DITO experienced several setbacks in their network rollout which forced them to push their commercial launch back to March 2021. The telco’s franchise agreement requires them to put up at least 1,600 towers by July of this year, but only 600 structures are under construction at present.

Company officials admitted that the remaining 1,000 towers may face further delays as the COVID-19 outbreak disrupted manufacturing and shipments of steel and fiber optic cables from China.

AMWAY’S DONATION.

Direct selling industry leader Amway Philippines pledges more than P3 million in cash, products and personal protective equipment, including its marketing budget, for the benefit of various groups in the frontlines during the fight against coronavirus disease 2019. Leading the turnover of the products are Amway Philippines country manager Leni Olmedo (left) and Ria Rivera, chapter administrator of Philippine Red Cross-Rizal.

Sports

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

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020

B1

Amanda pulls out of May 9 UFC fight

By Reuel Vidal

In this file photo UFC two-division champion Amanda Nunes (left) pounds challenger Germaine de Randamie during their title bout December 14, 2019 won

by Nunes. AFP

MPBL staff receive goods from Family’s Brand Sardines CANNED sardines are one of the most basic relief items amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

That’s why ZamboangaFamily’s Brand Sardines, gave relief to some 150 staff members and referees of the Chooks-toGo Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League during this trying time.

“That is what family is for.

We don’t just show our compassion in good times, but more during difficult times. We treat MPBL as a family too,” said Family’s Brand Sardines head of marketing Tonet Roque, who is also in charge of the Alvin Pasaol-led Zamboanga’s dayto-day operations.

“We are representing the City of Zamboanga, and as the sardines capital of the Philippines, we felt the need to support the staff of the MPBL, yung mga tunay nating Manok ng Bayan.”

Family’s Brand Sardines gave one box of different Universal Canning Incorporated (UCI) products per staff and referee.

Each box contains 48 cans.

The goods were picked up by two MPBL personnel at UCI’s plant in Malabon, who then distributed the boxes to the staff.

Just as their brand name says, Roque reminds everyone to look after one’s family in this on-going coronavirus pandemic.

“Mga ka-Liga, in this time of crisis, nothing matters most than our family. Whatever happens or however long this will take, we will get by with the help of our family,” she stressed.

“Remember, there is one name that will surely not run out of supply to help us through, Family’s Brand Sardines!”

Players back Federer over tennis merger P

ARIS, France—WTA founder Billie Jean King and Rafael Nadal led a wave of support on Thursday for Roger Federer’s suggestion that “now is the time” to merge the men’s and women’s governing bodies, while tennis is at a standstill because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Federer, winner of a record 20 men’s Grand Slam crowns, said a merger of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and the men’s Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) “probably should have happened a long time ago” in a series of tweets.

The Swiss great’s idea for one “stronger body” received an enthusiastic response from King, Nadal and leading women’s players such as former Wimbledon champions Simona Halep, Petra Kvitova and Garbine Muguruza, but controversial Australian Nick Kyrgios expressed reservations.

“Just wondering... am I the only one thinking that now is the time for men’s

and women’s tennis to be united and come together as one?” Federer posed to his 12.7 million Twitter followers.

Trailblazer King, who was instrumental in establishing the WTA in 1973, said such a merger “has long been my vision for tennis”.

“I agree, and have been saying so since the early 1970s. One voice, women and men together... Let’s make it happen,” she tweeted.

Nadal, who has 19 Grand Slam titles, posted: “I completely agree that it would be great to get out of this world crisis with the union of men’s and women’s tennis in one only organization.”

Federer and Nadal argued that a

merger could help tennis recover from the coronavirus shutdown, which has seen Wimbledon cancelled for the first time since World War II and the French Open postponed from May to the end of September.

“It probably should have happened a long time ago, but maybe now is really the time,” Federer wrote.

“These are tough times in every sport and we can come out of this with 2 weakened bodies or 1 stronger body.”

‘How is it good for us?’

He said the current system was “too confusing for the fans when there are different ranking systems, different logos, different websites, different tournament categories”.

World number two and reigning Wimbledon champion Halep agreed, tweeting that Federer was “not the only one” thinking along those lines, while Muguruza added, “Yes, would be a good idea.” AFP

DLSU, Ateneo student-athletes help frontliners

By Peter Atencio STUDENT athletes from de La Salle University and Ateneo de Manila continue to step up with their efforts to raise funds to help frontliners and those in need.

There’s La Salle Lady Shuttlers team captain Iyah Sevilla, who is leading a donation drive called “Stronger Together” as the country deals with the coronavirus pandemic.

Sevilla is now seeking the help of other captains of La Salle’s different varsity teams.

“Because we’ve been seeing news from TV and social media that DLSU and CSB have opened their gates for the individuals and families affected by Covid-19,” said Sevilla, who steered La Salle to a runner up finish in the UAAP Season 82 Women’s Badminton Tournament.

She now has Lady Tanker Ace Agustin and Lady Fencers Pat Eusebio and Nicole Alcaraz on her side.

Eusebio and Alcaraz were part of the foil team that won gold in Season 82 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines women’s fencing competition.

“We were lucky cause several other

DLSU Lady Shuttlers team captain Iyah Sevilla lunges forward to execute a forehand underarm stroke during a UAAP game. UAAP Photo

athletes volunteered to help us with the process like making the pubs and arranging the in-kind donations,” said Agustin.

Agustin said this activity was made possible with the support of Office of Sports Development, now headed by Joy Lanting-Cenarosa.

So far, the group has raised P10,400,

and this was sent directly to the Arnold Janssen Kalinga Center.

The fund will also support De La Salle University and College of Saint Benilde, which opened the Razon Sports Complex and covered courts to needy individuals.

There are now over a hundred people residing in both venues.

AMANDA Nunes will not be fighting Felicia Spencer on May 9 at UFC 249 but it does not necessarily mean the two won’t be fighting sometime soon.

Nunes revealed this through an interview with Brian Campbell of CBS Sports.

“Actually, I’m not fighting May 9.

I’m going to fight. I don’t know yet.

I don’t think this is the right time for me right now to fight. Let this coronavirus pass a little bit so I can at least have a full camp. We can maybe see around June. Let’s see what is going to happen. But I’m not fighting (May 9),” said Nunes.

The two were supposed to headline UFC 250 at Sao Paulo, Brazil. But the venue was converted into a temporary hospital for victims of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The fight was then scheduled to coheadline the May 9 card with the UFC Lightweight match between Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje. But that plan has apparently been scrubbed after Nunes’ pronouncement.

Spencer was likewise hopeful that the fight will still push through, probably at a later date. She told ESPN that UFC instructed her to be ready for a fight in June.

Nunes will be protecting a five-year undefeated streak. She will defend her Featherweight title for the first time when she faces Spencer. She claimed the title by knocking out Cris Cyborg in the first round of UFC 232 on December 29, 2018.

Spencer said she was bitterly disappointed that she won’t be fighting Nunes on May 9.

“In my head, I was preparing to fight in three weeks. We’ve been jumping through hoops to be ready, doing things on my own. I was ready to get the fight done and go along my way. It was disappointing that it would be extended,” Spencer told BJPENN.com.

Italy’s sports minister will decide future of football MILAN, Italy—Italy’s sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora warned on Wednesday (Thursday Philippine time) caution was needed as he promised a decision “in the coming days” on whether Italian football clubs can return to training amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Spadafora held a two-hour videoconference with representatives of Italian football, including federation chiefs, professional and amateurs leagues, players and doctors.

“I listened with great attention to the various positions that emerged and in the next few days, after a discussion with the Minister of Health and the Technical Scientific Committee, we will issue the updated provisions regarding the possibility and the procedures for a return to training,” said Spadafora.

All sport in Italy has been suspended for the past six weeks as the country grapples with the COVID-19 crisis which has killed over 25,000 people.

“I can assure you that maintaining a profile of extreme prudence, as I am doing, is the most unpopular position imaginable,” Spadafora later said in a post on Facebook.

“But we have the duty and responsibility to ensure that the whole country, obviously including the world of sport, can soon emerge from this health crisis.

“I am also a fan who misses following my team. AFP

Woods, Mickelson join charity golf match LOS ANGELES, United States— Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and NFL quarterback legends Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are planning a charity golf match for May, the US media reported on Wednesday (Thursday Philippine time).

The event would be held without spectators in Florida, airing live on TV with the proceeds going to help battle the COVID-19 pandemic, American broadcaster ESPN reported.

Turner Sports said one possible date is Memorial Day weekend May 23-25.

Manning, now retired, told a Denver radio station on Wednesday that there had been talks about such an event anyway. “And now, to have a chance to have a major fundraising event for COVID-19 relief, almost like a telethon if you will... if that can take place, I’m all in for that.”

The Action Network reported that it is likely Woods and Manning will compete against Mickelson and Brady.

Florida’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis recently expressed support for the event featuring golf superstars and football icons.

“I’d like to see Woods and Mickelson do the golf, or whatever, because that’s social distance,” DeSantis said last week.

“You wouldn’t have a gallery there. You wouldn’t have crowds.

But to put that on TV, I think people have been starved for content.”

The PGA Tour said it hasn’t officially endorsed the event but is evaluating health and safety concerns.

One location said to be considered is Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Florida, located just north of Woods’ home in Jupiter.

The PGA Tour has suspended play since the first round of The

Players Championship on March 12.

The Tour’s revised schedule released last Thursday would begin with a tournament June 11-14 in Fort Worth, Texas.

In addition to the Fort Worth event, the other June tournaments currently slated to be held without fans are the RBC Heritage and the Travelers Championship. AFP Caption Woods: In this file photo taken on April 14, 2019, Tiger Woods prepares to play a shot on the fifth hole alongside caddie Joe LaCava during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. AFP

In this file photo, Tiger Woods of the US checks the line on the 5th hole green during the first round of the Zozo Championship golf tournament at the Narashino Country Club in Inzai, Chiba prefecture on October 24, 2019. AFP

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

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FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020

Entertainment The cast and director of ‘Wanted Male Boarders,’ one of the hit plays during Virgin Labfest’s 15th edition at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

VIRGIN AT 16 GOES ON VIRTUAL STAGE T

HE annual Virgin Labfest braves a new front and adjusts to new realities as the playwrights, directors and actors take a further leap of faith to bring the annual festival of untried, untested and unstaged works on a virtual stage.

In response to the COVID 19 crisis, the theater festival will have its lockdown edition, slated on June 10 to 28.

Dubbed “”VLF 2020 KAPIT: Lab in the Time of Covid (A Virtual Labfest Lockdown Edition),” the 16th edition features nine new works, three revisited works, and six staged readings.

The nine main performances are: Doggy by Dustin Celestino, directed

by Roobak Valle; Pilot Episode by Floyd Scott Tiogangco, directed by Giancarlo Abrahan; Dapithapon by Jay Crisostomo IV, directed by Sigmund Roy Pecho; Papaano Turuan ang Babae Humawak ng Baril by Daryl Pasion, directed by Erika Estacio; BlackPink by Tyron Casumpang, di-rected by Jethro Tenorio; Multiverse

by Juliene Mendoza, directed by Fitz Edward Bitana; Titser Kit by Job-ert Grey Landeza, directed by Adrienne Vergara; Mayang Bubot sa Tag-araw

by Mark Norma Boquiren, di-

Dapithapon follows the story of three boys in their senior high school years who have to confront their greatest fears in a single day: flunking out of school, impossible parental expectations, and an unhealthy infatuation with a teacher.

Returning home from an encounter against the NPA, a man reunites with his pregnant wife in Papaano Turuan ang Babae Humawak ng Baril. The sweet homecoming turns out to be the complete opposite when the wife is confronted with her husband’s impossible request.

In BlackPink, a father discovers that his youngest son who is a staunch fan of Blackpink was prohibited by his school

nk i P ck a l B

The cast of BlackPink, one of the participating plays in the Virgin Labfest 2020 lockdown edition.

rected by Mark Mirando; and, Gin Bilog by Luisito Nario, directed by James Harvey Estrada.

In Doggy, a man’s fiancee’s sexual peculiarity becomes his source of repressed anger.

Frustrations surface after a game of “Never Ever Have I Ever,” when he learns that his fiancee was more sexually adventurous with her previous lovers.

Pilot Episode shows a young gay man who just quit his job through a text message, and how his parents attempt to de-escalate his extreme manic-depressive episode.

principal to dance “Kill This Love” in their Family Day talent contest, and the only way for him to join the competition is if he finds other male students to dance with him.

Multiverse reunites two estranged brothers - a writer and a recovering al-

coholic. The two reconnect through their mutual love of comic books. As they discuss the concept of alternate realities and dimensions prevalent in most comic book stories, they imagine how much better their relationship would have been in another reality.

When a young student gets into trouble in his new school and becomes what punishment the Principal might sanction him with, he hides inside a dilapidated storage room. He feels safe until “Titser Kit” finds him there.

Mayang Bubot sa Tag-araw is a painful tale of two Ayta children whose friendship is tested as they choose different paths. One follows her mother as she seeks the American dream, never thinking of who is hurt along the way.

The other remains with their people, working always against oppression.

In Gin Bilog, old issues are rehashed in a drinking session of family and friends.

There will be a VLF Playwright’s Fair, one of the components of the theater festival.

A collaboration of the CCP Intertextual Division, the VLF Team and The Writers’ Bloc’s Rody Vera, the fair features Filipino writers.

There will be online discussion and digital marketing platform for the expertise, services, publications and other products of writers of theatrical productions.

The VLF Playwrights Fair is free and open to public. It will be held online every 7:00 p.m. during the VLF 2020.

Check the FB page of VLF 2020 for the complete line up of speakers and activities.

“The Virgin Labfest is here, and it remains strong and able to adjust to new realities. The festival has a firm fan base which has filled the CCP theaters year in and year out. Let’s continue to tell our stories on the virtual stage,” said festival director JK Anicoche.

Established in 2005, the Virgin Labfest is co-presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, its resident theater company Tanghalang Pilipino and the playwrights’ group Writer’s Bloc Inc. For more details, visit the CCP website and official social media accounts, and the VLF Facebook account.

The cast of Gin Bilog, one of the featured plays in the Virgin Labfest 2020 lockdown edition during an online rehearsal.

Italian MovieMov to hold first-ever online filmfest THE Philippine Italian Association will bring the fifth edition of Italian MovieMov to the Philippines through its first ever online film festival.

In its fifth year of collaborating with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) under its Film Cultural Exchange Program (FCEP), Italian MovieMov will partner with My Movies to organize a virtual cinema until Sunday, April 26, that can accomodate 300 online attendees under the banner MovieMov Goes Online.

This year’s edition of Italian MovieMov will screen six contemporary Italian films and an Italian classic.

Laura Chiossone’s Genitori Quasi Perfetti opens the festival on April 21 and will be followed by the screenings of Lontano Lontano, La Dea Fortuna, Il Testimone Invisible, Fiore Gemello, and Il Colpo Del Cane.

The festival will conclude with the classic Federico Fellini film, La Dolce Vita. Chosen as this year’s cornerstone film, La Dolce Vita, is Fellini’s satirical drama depicting the hedonistic lives of the post-world war 2 Italian upper-class. La Dolce Vita won the Palme d’Or for the Cannes

Film Festival upon its release in 1960 and claimed the Best Foreign Film in that year’s Academy Awards. Since then, it has become a classic of world cinema, and is often considered fixture of Fellini’s ouvre and one of his many masterpieces.

La Dolce Vita will screen under the festival’s Fellini 100 section which will conclude the online festival by celebrating the acclaimed Italian director’s 100th birth anniversary.

With 300 online attendees, the Film Festival will allow for more people beyond the 100 person capacity of the Cinematheque Centre Manila where it is usually held.

Through Italian MovieMov, the Philippine Italian Association aims to build a platform for the cultural and commercial promotion of contemporary Italian cinema in the Philippine market and establish a “continuous dialogue with local realities.” It was established by Goffredo Betini in 2016 in partnership with FDCP and screened at Cinematheque Centre Manila.

See the official list of films here: http://www.fdcp.ph/media/italianmoviemov-hold-its-first-ever-onlinefilm-festival

‘La Dolce Vita,’ which closes Italian MovieMov, is a 1960 comedy-drama film directed and co-written by Federico Fellini.

Training the spotlight on COVID-19 heroes

‘Heroes in the Hot Zone’ shows the impact of the global pandemic in the lives of Filipinos through the stories of three Filipino doctors in the frontline of the country’s battle against COVID-19.

HOW do warriors fight a powerful enemy that they cannot see? What are their struggles when they are deep in the trenches of a deadly war zone?

These are the questions that ABSCBN DocuCentral’s timely documentary titled Heroes in the Hot Zone answers this Sunday, April 26 at 9:00 p.m. on ABS-CBN. In the documentary, journalist Raphael Bosano shows the impact of the global pandemic in the lives of Filipinos through the stories of three Filipino doctors in the frontline of the country’s battle against COVID-19.

The first doctor takes viewers inside the war zone, from the triage tent where COVID-19 tests are conducted, into the madness in the emergency room, and the chilling wards where patients have to endure their battle against the disease in isolation.

Heroes in the Hot Zone also tells the story of a doctor who succumbed to the disease after logging in long work shifts and sacrificing time with family, emphasizing the importance

of protecting health workers with sufficient safety gear and proper care for their wellbeing.

Meanwhile, another doctor that was infected with the disease shares his journey to recovery, giving viewers a better grasp of what’s it like to be at the mercy of the virus---and beating it.

The COVID-19 pandemic has put the entire world in war mode, where the “soldiers” being deployed are brave health workers. Each battle day is long and exhausting. Each patient they treat puts them at high risk of contracting and dying from COVID-19. But they continue to fight and remain hopeful in order to save more lives.

In the country, the statistics are alarming as the Department of Health (DOH) reported that over 700 health workers have been infected by the coronavirus. And among the casualties are Filipino doctors and nurses, the real heroes in the frontlines who went above and beyond their call of duty.

I

Life

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020

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Bernadette Lunas, Editor

Ray-Ban in the movies N

While some brands manufacture the same designs—the Aviator developed by Bausch and Lomb and the Wayfarer by Raymond Stegeman who also worked for the former—these classics remain Ray-

O OTHER eyewear style is much more popular and recognizable than the Aviator and the Wayfarer.

Ban’s. Eyewear turned icons thanks to popular culture.

Here are some of the films that made the brand’s classic styles popular across different generations.

The Aviator Top Gun (1986) Lt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, played

by Tom Cruise, flies high aptly wearing a pair of Aviator sunglasses whose design intends to prevent as much light as possible from entering the eyes from any angle—just what a pilot needs. This romantic action film is loaded with quotable quotes and thrilling aerial fight scenes.

Its long-awaited sequel is expected to premiere December this year.

Image courtesy of Paramount Pictures

The Hangover (2009) As Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms), and Alan (Zach Galifianakis) power through a killer hangover and retrace their drunken steps to find the whereabouts of their friend Doug (Justin Bartha) aka the missing groom, the viewers join the boys in finding out “What the hell happened last night?” A pair of sunglasses with huge lenses is the ideal choice to wear while soldiering through a hangover, right?

Image courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.

17 Again (2009) A chance accident gives 37-year-old Mike O’Donnell (Matthew Perry) a chance to become his 17-year-old self (Zac Efron) again. As he gets another taste of what it’s like to be important, he also gets a chance to get things right in his life. On top of its heartwarming story, it comes with that unforgettable scene where Mike (Efron) reemerges as a hot new student in his black leather jacket and Aviators.

Image courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.

The Wayfarer Risky Business (1983) Tom Cruise, in his first starring role as Joel Goodsen, rocking his pair of Wayfarer and dancing around in his living room in his skivvies, charmed the hell out of audiences in the ‘80s. This comingof-age comedy film bravely explores all the good—and the bad—that can result from breaking the rules.

Image courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.

Easy A (2010) When Olive Penderghast (Emma Stone) embraced her “dirty skank” identity, she is seen rocking a corset with a red letter A stitched onto it, tight pants, and this classic eyewear to complete that “I don’t give a damn” ensemble.

As the film’s audience follows Olive’s high school misadventures, they also learn much about gender norms, stereotypes, and inequalities.

Image courtesy of Screen Gems, Inc.

The Breakfast Club (1985) A true teen classic, it features five teenagers who embody the most common high school stereotypes—the brain, the athlete, the basket case, the princess, and the criminal. Forced to spend together in detention, this John Hughes movie unwraps the person behind each persona. The geek, Brian Johnson (played by Anthony Michael Hall) shows his cool side wearing a pair of Wayfarer.

Image courtesy of Universal Pictures

The Clubmaster

The Outdoorsman

The Predator

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) This classic teen comedy follows stylish, Ferrari-driving, Clubmaster-wearing Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) as he fakes illness to skip school, and drags his best friend and girlfriend along for a day of adventures around the city. Ferris’ antics ultimately get one important message across: Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

Image courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Neighbors (2014) Seth Rogen (as Mac Radner), Dave Franco (as Pete Regazolli), and Zac Efron (as Teddy Sanders with his cool pair of Outdoorsman) bring on the laughs in this unapologetically vulgar but unexpectedly heartwarming story of how new parents cope with having a whole fraternity move in next door, and just how far they are willing to go for some much needed peace and quiet.

Image courtesy of Universal Pictures

Men in Black (1997) This out-of-this-world movie is a treat complete with cool duo Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith, alien refugees, black suits, and cool sunglasses. Agent K and Agent J police aliens and protect the earth from extraterrestrial threats while looking good in this ‘90s hit that no neuralyzer could make fans forget it.

Image courtesy of Columbia Pictures

PSA

Business school Globis University offers students looking to pursue professional development free access to its platform in the whole month of April.

Globis offers free business classes JAPAN’S leading business school Globis University offers free unlimited access to its microlearning platform for those who wish to pursue professional development while at home.

Launched in November 2019, the service was first provided for free to corporate users to help support online training and overseas business. Over 1,100 companies use Globis Unlimited.

More than just MBA basics, the Globis Unlimited curriculum includes unique content reflective of the institution’s specialties.

The Globis Unlimited is available free of charge for the whole month of April. Interested participants need to sign up on or before April 24 at www. globis.ac.jp/unlimited-offer/ to avail of the free classes.

Landing a job straight from college A COLLEGE diploma does not guarantee employment.

According to unemployment data from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), 27.9 percent of about 2 million unemployed Filipinos are college graduates.

The high rate, the NEDA said, was due to job mismatch between what the schools produce and what the market requires.

The STI Education Services Group, Inc. (STIESG) addresses issues in job-mismatch among college graduates by aiding students on their career choices through integration of a career plan within the school curriculum.

“As early as senior high school, we are maximizing every opportunity to ensure that incoming students are enrolling in their preferred program course that matches their skills and interests,” said STI vice president for academics Aisa Q. Hipolito.

The institution leverages on its holistic approach to education and on the application of its innovative, student-oriented tools and programs to guide college and senior high students in making informed decisions in regard to their educational and professional paths.

One recent application is the STI SCOPE or Student’s Career Opportunity and Personality Evaluator. The unique computerized program guides students in choosing what course to take in college by showing them possible career options based on the results.

It assesses the student’s personality type and then matches it to career opportunities, which are aligned to specific college programs or senior high school tracks and specializations.

“By showing the different academic programs that best suit a student’s personality type, and the possible career choices they can pursue along with it, we make the decision easier for even the most unsure and indecisive students,” said Hipolito.

To complement the SCOPE Program, STI also offers STI Career Camp to Grades 10 and 12 students. The free workshop

Incoming senior high school and college students can explore possible career options through STI's hands-on modules.

The STI SCOPE helps students choose which course to take in college by assessing their personality types.

gives incoming SHS and college students the opportunity to explore their possible career options through different hands-on modules such as the Entrepreneurs Camp, Bakers Camp, Mobile Photography Camp, and Game Developers Camp.

The SCOPE test can be taken at any nearby STI campus or through the STI SCOPE app available on the Google Play Store.

Life

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE

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YOUNG LIFE

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020

The dream reception that never was

By Ayunan G. Gunting-Al-Hadj

W

HEN restaurateur Cheska Fernandez-Palmares was a child, she envisioned a garden wedding and dancing with her husband under the stars. It would have come true for the 27-year-old bride were it not for the interference of nature.

January 12 seemed like an ordinary Sunday in Nuvali. Cheska was finally getting married to her fiancé of seven years, Joaquin Palmares, an executive of a food conglomerate. The couple met in Ateneo de Manila when they were both majors in Communication Arts. She was the only girlfriend he had.

The couple, the entourage, family members, and close friends had booked at Seda hotel in Nuvali which was close to the wedding venue, Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Dressed by designer Francis Libiran, Cheska and Joaquin looked like Barbie and Ken. After exchanging vows, the atmosphere turned ominous. Suddenly guests were startled by rumbling sounds from the sky and rainfall. Nevertheless, the couple and the guests maintained their composure, paying attention to the prayers.

After the ceremony, the crowd became anxious. Aside from rain, ash had fallen on their cars and on the church grounds. While the newlyweds were being photographed, Cheska’s mother was informed that the Taal Volcano was erupting. Phivolcs had raised the alert to level 4 and people, who lived close to the lake and volcano, were told to evacuate.

Despite the anxiety, the couple had accomplished making their vows at the time of the eruption.

“We did it! Look at our rings,” said Cheska after the ceremony.

The reception, which was set at Angel Field’s in Tagaytay, was cancelled. The ebullient Cheska kept her spirits high, assuring the guests that things were going to be fine.

The force of nature didn’t stop the couple from celebrating their special day.

“As long as there is water and food, we’re fine,” she declared.

To make up for the reception, Cheska’s mother invited guests for dinner at Misto, Seda’s signature restaurant. However, the bride’s parents decided to rush back to Manila for safety and skipped the dinner.

The couple requested their food suppliers to donate the dishes to evacuees. (One evacuation center was surprised to receive 200 packs of lechon as Cheska found out later.)

Cheska’s sister, Jena Fernandez, and friends surprised the couple with an impromptu program.

They borrowed a speaker system from the hotel for the traditional toasts and speeches.

In a tearful speech, Jena expressed her disappointment that her sister’s dream reception didn’t come true. “What comforted me was her reaction.

Ate Cheska was calm,” she said.

A cake was ordered from the restaurant to maintain the custom of the husband and wife sharing the sweet moment. Despite the tiny space, Cheska and Joaquin managed to show their wedding dance which they had practiced.

After the party, close friends went to the couple’s room and watched the red lightning and the fumes from the volcano. When they drank margaritas and mojitos from their bar supplier, they discovered bits of ashes at the bottom of their glasses.

“We realized that some ash had fallen on the rim of the big container,” recalled Cheska.

The couple managed to sleep through the night despite two dozen tremors that shook the hotel.

JUST IN TIME. Joaquin and Cheska FernandezPalmares never imagined their wedding day would be the same day the Taal Volcano would erupt. But just as the volcano spewed ashes, the two vowed to love each other forever.

The next day, Nuvali looked like an ash-laden ghost town.

Cheska may have missed dancing with her father on her wedding day at her garden reception.

In Angel Fields, she had set up a tent filled with tivoli lights on the ceiling to evoke the atmosphere of dancing under the stars. But the volatile Taal and the ashfall had botched her dream.

But as Jena had declared in her speech, “This is God’s way of saying that you may not have the perfect reception but you have the perfect partner—and each other.”

5 tips to keep work-from-home employees engaged and productive Experts say allowing flexibility while maintaining a clear work list boosts employees' morale and helps reduce stress levels.

AS THE spread of coronavirus forced several businesses to adapt work from home arrangements, a new challenge arises.

Managing remote teams can be challenging even for the best managers in large organizations.

To help businesses rise up to this challenge, Refinitiv, a global provider of financial markets data and infrastructure, recently hosted a virtual talk on best leadership practices amid the quarantine.

Entitled “LeadHer Talk: How Leaders Can Keep Remote Employees Engaged and Productive During Tumultuous Times,” the discussion was led by the Refinitiv Women Network – Manila, in collaboration with non-profit Women Inter-industry Network.

With over 200 participants worldwide, the online session featured guest speakers Grace Dang, Refinitiv head of technical implementations; Benjamin Quinlan, chief executive and managing partner of Quinlan Associates; and Love Del Rosario, senior solutions consultant at Google Philippines.

Here are five collective tips speak-

ers said were effective across virtual team management:

Observe prompt and visible action Decision-making is crucial in crisis, especially if it involves public health and safety. It should be made fast enough to address concerns efficiently, but never too quick to compromise decision value. Businesses need to ensure that these actions provide employees with assurance and support both personally and professionally. Prompt implementation of mitigation plans, safety procedures, work compensation process, and other crucial actions should be top priorities.

Foster honest and consistent communication Establish various communication channels both for the team and clients.

Apart from email, creating group chats on social media and messaging platforms could help facilitate quick connections. Daily check-ins, regular updates, and meetings are likewise highly encouraged to ensure aligned communication.

Define work-life boundaries People respond differently to difficult situations. Allowing work flexibility while maintaining a clear work list boosts employees’ morale and helps reduce stress levels. A great work-life balance also helps build trust and commitment in the workplace, and even increases employees’ productivity.

Create shared experiences Planning online activities that foster bonding is a powerful tool in motivating employees. Simple activities such as curating a group playlist, sharing work-from-home set-ups, encouraging fun contests, or even sharing journal entries go a long way in inspiring the team.

Lead with empathy At the core of leadership is understanding and addressing the needs of others. By understanding employee’s emotional needs and creating an avenue for them to voice out their opinions, leaders create a culture of trust, collaboration, transparency, and a greater sense of purpose for their people.