Manila Standard - 2020 May 4 - Monday

DILG UPBEAT ON METRO ‘GRADUATION’ FROM ENHANCED QUARANTINE

strictions imposed on Metro Manila residents who this scenario, Metro Manila could be placed under a May 15,” Malaya said in a GMA News TV inare on lockdown to slow the spread of COVID-19 general community quarantine (GCQ), after the en- terview. “By all indications, it looks like we will hanced community quarantine (ECQ) expires. graduate to a GCQ.” THE Department of the Interior and Local Gov- might be relaxed after May 15.

DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said under “It looks like Metro Manila will ‘graduate’ by ernment (DILG) said Sunday that some of the reNext page

By Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz

ON HOLD. Several planes of the Philippine Airlines are seen parked in this file photo. PAL, Cebu Pacific and other airlines say they have complied with the order of an inter-agency task force suspending all domestic and international flights in nine airports including NAIA for seven days from May 3.

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 73 • 1 SECTION 4 PAGES • P18 • MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PH suspends int’l flights

Task force keeps NAIA, 8 other airports at bay in a bid to contain outbreak

By Vito Barcelo, Joel E. Zurbano and Darwin G. Amojelar

T

HE government suspended all commercial and international flights for seven days in nine of its airports beginning Sunday, May 3, on the request of the task force spearheading the response to the COVID-19 crisis.

National Task Force on COVID-19 suspend flights in domestic and interchief implementer Secretary Carlito national airports as part of the governGalvez requested Transportation Sec- ment’s fight to contain the spread of retary Arthur Tugade to temporarily Next page

Hospitals decry lack of test hubs

of people infected with COVID-19,

By Macon Ramos-Araneta, Rey E. Requejo, Joel E. Zurbano which stood at 9,223 as of May 3.

A Department of Health (DOH) talTHE Philippine Medical Association ly showed there were 295 new cases (PMA) on Sunday lamented the scarci- Sunday, 90 recoveries and only four ty of testing centers for the new corona- new deaths.

Next page virus, which has slowed the detection

ANOTHER TRAGEDY. Workers clean a crematory chamber at a facility in Manila on April 29, 2020. Luzon and parts of Visayas and Mindanao have been placed under quarantine to stem the outbreak of coronavirus that has infected more than 9,000 and killed 607 people. AFP

By Joel E. Zurbano, Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta

Cremation traumatizes virus-hit Filipinos

FAMILIES of coronavirus victims in the Philippines are being denied traditional death rites in favor of hurried, impersonal cremations, with virus restrictions often meaning they are forbidden a last look at their loved ones.

It is a painful and disorienting process for both the families and crematory workers that has upended the Philippines’ intimate rituals of laying the dead to rest.

Burial is the norm in the Catholicmajority nation of 108 million people,

and it usually follows a days-long display of the embalmed body at home or in a chapel.

But due to the pandemic authorities are encouraging rapid cremations—though

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), attempting to promote transparency, has started to post the list of the names of the beneficiaries of the Social Amelioration Program on the websites of its

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Infections sweep US prison

A SWEEPING wave of coronavirus infections is blasting through the world’s largest prison population in the United States even as officials begin opening up their economies, saying the disease has plateaued.

One prison in Marion, Ohio has become the most intensely infected institution across the country, with more than 80 percent of its nearly 2,500 in-

mates, and 175 staff on top of that, testing positive for COVID-19.

Coronavirus deaths are on the increase in jails and penitentiaries across the country, with officials having few options—they are unable to force adequate distancing in crowded cells and facing shortages of medical personnel and personal protective gear everywhere.

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NoKor, SoKor exchange fire at DMZ NORTH Korean troops fired multiple gunshots towards the South in the Demilitarized Zone dividing the peninsula on Sunday, prompting South Korean forces to fire back, Seoul said.

The rare exchange of gunfire comes a day after North Korean state media reported that leader Kim Jong Un had made his first public appearance in nearly three weeks

Aid recipients now online via DSWD site

following an absence that triggered intense speculation about his health and fears about the stability of the isolated nation.

A South Korean guard post was hit by several shots from the North, the joint chiefs of staff (JCS) in Seoul said in a statement, adding no casualties were reported in the South.

“Our military responded with two Next page

Former senator defies lockdown

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM MAY 3)

9,223

NUMBER OF CASES

607 DEATHS

1,214 RECOVERIES

295

NEW CASES

By Joel E. Zurbano and Macon Ramos-Araneta POLICE arrested former senator Jinggoy Estrada for alleged violation of the enhanced community quarantine protocol while distributing relief goods to residents in a barangay in San Juan City Sunday afternoon.

Mayor Francis Zamora said Estrada, a former mayor of San Juan, has been going around the city’s barangays even though he was not authorized to do so and without coordinating with the city government.

Zamora said the camp of the former senator failed to secure a certificate for their relief operations. Estrada, he added, was also not authorized to go outside his residence.

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ECQ-DEFIANT. Former Senator Jinggoy Estrada (left) is detained in a police van before being taken to a police station in San Juan City. He is accused of violating the enhanced community quarantine or lockdown protocol, according to City Mayor Francis Zamora. Lino Santos

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MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Party-list solons block POGOs

By Willie Casas, Maricel Cruz and Benjamin Chavez

Single policy requested

bias in favor of POGOs that will allow some 300,000 Chinese workers to resume working while millions of Filipino workers are still cooling their heels and waiting to be allowed to return to work,” Barbers said.

The IATF, on the recommendations of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, agreed that the POGOs should be considered business process outsourcing or call centers and their workers be exempted from the lockdown.

Rep. Robert Ace Barbers on Sunday urged the IATF to issue a single policy on the resumption of the operations of the POGOS while the COVID-19 lockdown is still being imposed.

Barbers, chairman of the House committee on dangerous drugs, said the IATF’s move was tantamount to allowing more than 300,000 Chinese POGO workers to return to work and possibly become COVID-19 transmitters.

“This is confusing. It seems there is a

The Anakpawis Party-list on Sunday slammed the IATF for allowing the partial operation of the POGOs despite the COVID-19 lockdown.

“While the government has been very strict on alleged quarantine violators, it will allow an unscrupulous online gambling activity to operate while the Filipinos go hungry,” Ariel Casilao, former representative of the Anak-

The Kilusang Mayo Uno on Sunday called Malacañang “deceitful” and “manipulative” for allowing the POGOS to operate to protect the interest of China.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said recently that the POGOs were classified as part of the Business Process Outsourcing sector, and thus should be allowed to resume operations.

“It’s very outrageous to see the lengths Malacañang would go to defend and protect the business interest of Chinese gamblers,” said KMU chairman Elmer Labog.

“Who’s more important to Malacañang? We Filipino workers or those Illegal Chinese workers in the POGO hubs?”

jumpstart domestic tourism.

“The reopening of airports in GCQ areas to commercial aviation will gradually jumpstart airline operations now hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This will plant the seeds for domestic tourism. This should seriously be considered,” Tugade said.

CAAP Director General Jim Sydiongco said airlines have already been “capable of mounting inter-island flights” to and from areas under general community quarantine.

“We want to operationalize this approach before the end of next week, but of course without compromising health and safety protocols set by the IATF and the Department of Health,” Tugade said.

Galvez said the suspension of flights to and from the country seeks to “decongest the country’s quarantine facilities.”

He added that they wanted to ensure that overseas Filipino workers are well taken care of when they arrive from abroad.

Outbound international commercial flights will be allowed after receiving approval from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Galvez assured the public the new flight restrictions are only temporary and will be implemented for one week to give the government the opportunity to decongest quarantine facilities in Metro Manila.

“We understand that said request, which we reiterate is a temporary measure, was made by the NTF to DOTr in order to allow the current system to ramp up its capacity to properly process the growing number of Filipino repatriates going back to the Philippines daily,” the DOTr said in a statement.

The government has already accommodated around 20,000 repatriates who are quarantined in Metro Manila, with an arrival rate of 2,000 per day. This measure to temporarily suspend international passenger arrivals will enable the government to decongest the processing of this number to a more manageable level, given the need to observe strict health protocols, and the fact that existing quarantine facilities are at full capacity, the department said.

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines announced on Sunday it is cancelling special passenger flights from the United States scheduled from May 4 to May 8.

“If you are previously booked on any of the canceled flights, we will endeavor to rebook you to another special flight operating after the airport closure period. All such flights are subject to government approvals,” said PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna.

The special USA-Manila flights were supposed to carry only Filipino nationals, Philippine passport holders, their foreign spouses and children, and accredited officials of foreign governments and international organizations.

But Malaya said some areas in Quezon City might remain under stricter ECQ restrictions because of the high number of COVID-19 cases there.

Meanwhile, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar announced the partial resumption of the ‘Build, Build, Build’ projects, but only workers aged 21 to 59 without pre-existing health conditions will be allowed to work in government construction sites.

“On areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), construction workers accredited by the DPWH will be allowed to work on quarantine and isolation facilities, health facilities, emergency and maintenance works,

flood control, and other disaster risk reduction and rehabilitation work,” Villar said.

“In areas under the general community quarantine, private and public construction projects will be allowed to resume following compliance to the construction safety guidelines prescribed for the implementation of infrastructure projects during the COVID-19 public health crisis,” he added.

“Prior to deployment, construction personnel shall be required to undergo COVID-19 test, as may be prescribed

by DOH, and retested as the need arises,” he said.

Construction quarantine passes will be issued to qualified personnel of concessionaires, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers, clearly stating the identification, designation, nature of

work, validity and destination, he added.

Villar said concessionaires, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers will provide for their personnel the necessary welfare facilities and amenities, such as employees’ quarters for board and lodging, ensuring compliance to social distancing and proper hygiene.

“Employees shall be housed in their respective quarters for the entire duration of the project covered by the ECQ and GCQ. Otherwise, “prior to deployment” procedures shall be conducted at every instance of re-entry,” he said.

“Errands to be conducted outside the construction site premises shall be kept to a minimum. Number of personnel running errands shall be limited and shall be properly disinfected and closely monitored for symptoms within 14 days upon re-entry,” he added.

ing for cremation were able to have one last look at their loved one before the body was consigned to the flames.

Now workers have to gently explain the regulations denying even that to distraught relatives.

“We tell them we can’t do it because it’s dangerous. We could all get infected,” 54-year old worker Romeo Uson, sweat-soaked in a protective suit at a Manila crematorium, told AFP.

“It’s also painful for us,” he added.

“We can’t let the families mourn the dead like before.”

His facility has been conducting six to seven cremations a day, double the usual number, since contagion from the virus started to take off in March.

The Philippines has detected 8,928 infections, 1,124 recoveries and officially recorded 603 deaths, though due to a limited testing capacity the num-

bers are thought to be higher.

cally at war after the Korean War ended with an armistice in 1953, and despite its name, the Demilitarized Zone is one of the most fortified places on earth, replete with minefields and barbed-wire fences.

Easing military tensions on their border was one of the agreements reached between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in at a summit in Pyongyang in September 2018.

But most of the deals have not been act-

ed on by North Korea, with Pyongyang largely cutting off contact with Seoul.

North Korea’s discussions with the United States over Pyongyang’s nuclear arsenal are also at a standstill, despite three meetings between Kim and US President Donald Trump.

The uncertainty around the process would have increased had Kim been incapacitated or dead as rumored in recent weeks. AFP

cations from the Office of the Mayor.

Estrada’s daughter Janella, who ran for mayor in the 2019 elections but lost to Zamora, posted a video on Facebook showing her father, who was wearing an orange-color personal protective equipment, inside a police station.

Estrada, for his part, said he was arrested because of “local politics.”

“This is not the time to play politics.

We are in a pandemic, we are in a crisis.

Lahat ng tao kailangan ng pagkain, at nandito kami para magbigay ng pagkain,” he said.

“No one can prevent me from helping my people in San Juan even if I have to go to jail again, if that is the price,” he added.

In a phone interview, Estrada told Manila Standard he was distributing bangus to residents of Barangay Salapan when San Juan policemen “invited” him to their headquarters.

H

OUSE Deputy Minority Leader Isagani Zarate on Sunday slammed the reopening of the Philippine offshore gaming operators despite the lockdown following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 inter-agency task force has allowed the POGOs to operate partially.

“Gambling is not a basic service and is in fact an anti-social activity that corrupts the moral fiber of our country,” Zarate said.

“Was there a strong pressure to reopen them that the IATF acceded to their request? Are the political backers of POGOs so strong that they can skirt COVID-19 regulations?

“Bayan Muna and the Makabayan bloc’S position remains the same: these POGOs should be closed with or without a pandemic. We have received numerous complaints and from residents

near POGOs expressing their strong opposition to the gaming operations.”

Hospitals...

From A1

PH suspends...

From A1

These brought the number of recoveries to 1,214 and total fatalities to 607.

PMA president Jose Santiago Jr. decried that despite the many pending applications for testing centers, there are still not enough facilities to determine the results of tests done.

At present, he said the Department of Health (DOH) has yet to approve 74 laboratories applying to be certified as testing centers for COVID-19.

He called on the DOH to speed up approval and certification of these laboratories to intensify mass testing.

As of Saturday, the DOH had certified only 20 laboratories as testing centers. From the testing capacity goal of 8,000 tests daily, the DOH recorded only 4,493 tests on Friday.

“While we have not yet reached the 8,000 per day testing output, we are happy to announce the start of the fullscale operation of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) laboratory,” said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

Vergeire also said they are waiting for the delivery of equipment at Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital by May 10. Once they arrive there will be an additional 3,000 tests to the DOH testing capacity.

“DOH is continuously working with laboratories undergoing the licensing process for COVID-19 testing,” she said.

She said the DOH is also coordinating with the private sector led by public-private task force, or the InterAgency Task Force to increase testing capacity to 30,000 tests per day by the end of May. Meanwhile, Santiago also proposed that early testing and treatment should be provided to health workers because they are exposed to the virus while on duty.

He noted that more than 30 health workers have died due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In a virtual press briefing Friday, Vergeire said the number of health care workers who tested positive for COVID-19 had climbed to 1,694 by May 1.

Based on the DOH tally, 33 health care workers died and 256 of them got well from the virus. Of the 33 deaths, Vergeire said 24 of them were doctors and seven were nurses.

COVID 19.

Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines and all other airlines have cancelled their flights in compliance with the government order.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines issued a notice to airmen “suspending all domestic and international passenger/commercial flights to and from the Philippines for one week starting on 3 May at 8 a.m.”

The CAAP said international flights wishing to land or depart must request an exemption with CAAP Operations Center at least 36 hours before the scheduled departure from the airport of origin.

The CAP said commercial flight suspensions will be imposed in the country’s international airports in Manila (Ninoy Aquino International Airport), Davao, Clark, Iloilo, Mactan-Cebu, Zamboanga, Kalibo, Laoag, and Puerto Princesa.

However, cargo flights, sweeper flights, medical flights, utility flights, and maintenance flights are exempted, it said.

Galvez’s request came after Tugade made an earlier statement ordering airport authorities to “seriously consider” reopening airports in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) to

Cremation...

From A1 quick burials are still allowed—of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 deaths.

Wakes are barred in these cases and hospitals must seal remains in plastic and send them directly to crematories or funeral homes.

Before the virus struck, families opt-

NoKor,...

From A1 rounds of gunfire and a warning announcement,” the JCS said.

The South Korean military later said the North Korean gunshots were “not deemed intentional,” according to the Yonhap news agency.

The two neighbors remain techni-

Former...

From A1 “I believe these two directives, the former senator violated. Being a former lawmaker, being a former senator, he should just follow the law,” Zamora said.

The city chief executive said all those who have been conducting relief operations in San Juan have secured certifi-

DILG...

From A1

‘Chinese mafia’

pawis Party-list, said in a statement.

“The Chinese mafia’s influence in Malacanang is more powerful than the people who demand an immediate medical solution,” Casilao said.

‘Deceitful, manipulative’

Second tragedy’ Leandro Resurreccion IV, 26, wasn’t allowed to visit his father as he was dying from the virus in hospital, and never saw his corpse—just the plastic he was wrapped in.

“I think the fact that... my family wasn’t able to say goodbye could probably be the second most tragic thing that happened after my dad’s death,” he said. AFP

Infections...

From A1 The threat to the 2.3 million-strong US prison population was seen last week in the death of Andrea Circle Bear, a 30-year-old native American woman from South Dakota.

Pregnant when she was placed in a Texas federal prison in March on drug charges, she soon became sick with the disease and was placed on a ventilator, and gave birth by C-section.

She remained on the ventilator and died weeks later.

Las Vegas scene A smattering of cars drove past the eerily quiet hotels and casinos, shuttered since mid-March, while a handful of tourists gathered by the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign to take photos.

But beneath the quiet of the world-

Pump prices mixed: Diesel down; gas, up

By Alena Mae S. Flores GASOLINE prices will likely go up by as much as P0.60 per liter this week, but diesel prices are expected to fall by P0.20 per liter, a distributor said Friday.

“Expect fuel prices to have mix movement next week [May 5 to 11],” Unioil Philippines said.

“Diesel should go down by P0.20.

Gasoline should increase by P0.60 to P0.70,” Unioil said in its weekly advisory. It said the change in prices would vary in some locations.

Oil companies adjust pump prices every Tuesday.

On April 28, the oil companies rolled back gasoline prices by P0.20 per liter, diesel by P1.80 per liter and kerosene by P2.15 per liter.

The total year-to-date price adjustments now stand at a net decrease of P15.2 per liter of gasoline, P16.89 per liter of diesel and P21.90 per liter of kerosene, according to the Energy department.

Meanwhile, the consumer advocacy group Laban Konsyumer Inc. called for a price freeze on liquefied petroleum gas after the oil companies raised the price of LPG by more than P5 per kilogram on May 1.

“Because the country is in a state of continuing national emergency, the law states that continuing measures should address the pandemic,” LKI president Vic Dimagiba said.

“When it comes to Section 6 of Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, continuing measures ensure that there is no hoarding, price manipulation or profiteering.”

Dimagiba said the price freeze for LPG and other basic necessities should continue.

“The IATF should ensure that the price freeze is continued and strictly enforced as long as there is a national crisis and a pandemic leading to an ECQ or lockdown,” he said.

Aid...

From A1 field offices.

DSWD field offices are currently preparing the list of the paid beneficiaries for posting on their websites, which the public may easily access through dswd.gov.ph.

The websites will feature the list of SAP beneficiaries in the provincial, municipal, and barangay levels.

Search and filter functions have been added so the public can easily navigate the sites, the department said in a press statement.

The publication of the list of the SAP beneficiaries will allow the public to know who have received the assistance and scrutinize whether these beneficiaries are really qualified for the aid based on the eligibility criteria contained in the guidelines of the program.

The public may report to DSWD, through its Grievance Redress System, those whom they think are unqualified based on the list.

The grievances related to the SAP implementation will be managed and monitored by the DSWD Central Office-Operations Center (OpCen) through its 24/7 hotlines: 16545, 0947482-2864, 0916-247-1194 and 0932933-3251.

The public may also send text messages to 0918-912-2813 and email at sapgrievances@dswd.gov.ph.

Taguig assessment The Taguig City government has started conducting its Online Assessment Survey for individuals who might be at-risk of the coronavirus disease. famous Strip, Sin City is in turmoil.

A tug of war has emerged between the need for safety during the coronavirus pandemic and the survival of the gambling capital’s tourism industry, which some casino operators fear will never be the same.

Nevada’s Culinary Union Local 226, which represents some 60,000 casino and hotel workers, has had 98 percent of its members laid off, according to secretarytreasurer Geoconda Arguello-Kline.

At least 12 union members have died from the COVID-19 outbreak, out of Nevada’s total death toll of 243.

Europe prepares Europe on Sunday prepared for a further cautious easing of coronavirus restrictions following signs the pandemic may be slowing, after Spaniards flocked to the streets to jog, cycle and rollerskate for the first time after 48 days of confinement. AFP

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MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Media men extolled for role in war on virus

NEWS IN BRIEF House eyeing tele-conference THE House of Representatives will amend its rules to allow members to attend sessions and committee hearings through electronic means owing to the extension of the lockdown imposed to stem the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019.

House Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said on Sunday that Speaker Alan Peter Cateyano requested that only 25 lawmakers be allowed to attend actual plenary sessions to strictly observe physical distancing when the House resumes sessions today, May 4.

Romualdez, who represents Leyte and as majority leader is the chairman of the Committee on Rules, said: “For reasons of exigency and the health and safety of our members and the public, we re going to amend our rules and limit to 25 lawmakers the physical attendees to the Session Hall and the rest will join us through video conferencing on Zoom.”

Romualdez, who also co-chairs the the Defeat COVID-19 Ad Hoc Committee with Cayetano added that the chamber will adopt a rotation system for the sets of lawmakerattendees to the succeeding sessions.

To allow the use of video conference and other social media platform for the legislative participation of lawmakers, Romualdez said the “House can adopt a resolution or the recommendations of the House Rules Rewiring Committee or we can make a motion in the Plenary to amend or to change the rules as we did in the last special session.” Maricel V. Cruz

Buy-bust: Nine suspects nabbed NINE suspects were arrested while P1.2 million worth of suspected shabu were confiscated by the police during a buy-bust operation conducted in Sta. Ana, Manila on Friday morning.

The buy-bust operation was conducted by operatives of the Sta. Ana Police Station 6 of the Manila Police District in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-National Capital Region at 11:45 a.m. at a condominium unit in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

National Capital Region Police Office chief Police Major General Debold Sinas identified the nine suspects as Renoel Suare, Richard Compa, Oliver Paglinawan, Hamsa Bahasuan, Shaly Paredes, Zenaida Paredes, Angelie Cardiño, Sheryl Mesqueriola and Gunthor Linog.

The suspects will face charges of violation of Republic Act No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002) and Republic Act No. 10591 (Illegal Possession of Firearm and Ammunition) and Presidential Decree 1829 (Obstruction of Justice).

A police officer who acted as poseurbuyer transacted with the suspects before the arrest. Willie Casas

Subic worker found dead SUBIC Bay Freeport Zone—A maintenance man from Marikina who was staying in a barracks inside the Subic Bay Freeport because of the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine was found dead in the morning of May 1, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority said.

SBMA Intelligence and Investigation Office identified the victim as Jimmy Gonzaga Ocana Jr., 40 years old.

Ocana worked for the Subic Bay Freeport Grain Terminal at the Cubi Point here.

His lifeless body was found at 5:45 a.m. by his co-workers beside his bed.

Freeport officials ruled the death as COVID-19 related as the victim did not show any symptom of the disease like fever or cough and had no history of travel or exposure.

Initial investigation by the Philippine National Police in Morong, Bataan also ruled out foul play in the death of the victim.

Ansbert B. Joaquin

Tondo imposes hard lockdown DISTRICT 1 in Tondo, Manila has started its 48-hour hard lockdown at 5 a.m. on Sunday, May 3, as ordered by Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso.

The Manila Mayor’s directive was aimed at preventing further spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as well as allow for disease surveillance, verification and rapid risk assessment.

The hard lockdown will end on Tuesday, May 5, at 5 a.m.

Tondo 1 District has been identified as the second area in Manila with the highest number of COVID-19 cases.

During hard lockdown, mass testing for COVID-19 will continue. Willie Casas

More leeway on use of SEF TO HELP schools prepare for a safe reopening this coming school year, Senator Win Gatchalian is seeking more flexibility on the use of the Special Education Fund allotted to local school boards.

According to Gatchalina, who chairs the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture, giving local school boards more leeway on the use of the SEF will provide much-needed additional resources to protect learners, teachers, and school personnel from the threat of COVID-19.

Under Section 4 of the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act (Republic Act No. 11469), Gatchalian said the President can authorize the expanded use of SEF as part of his power to adopt temporary emergency measures.

While the Department of Budget and Management has yet to issue guidelines on how the SEF may be used for schools’ COVID-19 response, he proposed that these funds be used as additional funding for localized testing of teachers, learners, and personnel. Macon Ramos-Araneta

A3

By Willie Casas

48-HOUR LOCKDOWN. A police officer points to the map showing areas in Tondo district where the 48-hour “hard lockdown” will be strictly enforced on orders of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno to pave the way for rapid mass testing of residents for possible virus infections. Last week, Moreno also imposed a hard lockdown in another thickly populated area of Sampaloc district. Norman Cruz

Solgen, Cable TV group buck ABS-CBN franchise

By Rey E. Requejo and Rio N. Araja

S

OLICITOR General Jose Calida on Sunday cautioned the National Telecommunications Commission against the issuance of provisional authorities to allow media giant ABSCBN Corporation and its affiliate, ABS-CBN Convergence, Inc., to continue with its operation despite the expiration of their franchises.

Calida’s move came even as a group of 1,000 micro, small and medium cable television operators nationwide is urging the NTC not to step into the issue of the May 4 franchise expiration of media giant ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.

Calida had opposed a proposal for the NTC to grant provisional authorities to the broadcasting company, saying only Congress has the exclusive power to grant franchises to public utilities, such as broadcasting companies, in order to operate in the country under the 1987 Constitution.

“Although this legislative power may

be delegated to administrative agencies through a law, at present, there is no such law giving the NTC or any other agency the power to grant franchises to broadcasting entities,” Calida pointed out.

ABS-CBN Convergence’s franchise expired last March 17, 2020, while ABSCBN Corporation’s franchise will end on May 4, 2020.

On February 26, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez, chair of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises, sent a letter to the NTC urging it to grant a provi-

sional authority to ABS-CBN, effective on May 4, 2020, until such time as Congress has made a decision on its franchise application.

During the hearing of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises last March 10, NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba said the commission will issue a provisional authority to ABS-CBN allowing it to operate pending its application.

Cordoba said this decision was based on an opinion of the Department of Justice allowing ABS-CBN to operate based on equity considerations.

Citing a 2014 Supreme Court decision, however, Calida outlined the steps when the NTC can issue a PA to a broadcasting company.

Based on the ruling, an entity must first secure a franchise from Congress and after it is granted one, it should apply for a Certificate of Public Convenience from the NTC before it can operate.

IN OBSERVANCE of World Press Freedom Day, Filipino journalists and media professionals were hailed as heroes in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) said in a statement on Sunday.

“As the whole world wages war against an invisible enemy, Filipinos have come to realize the importance of the role that journalists and media workers play in this time of crisis,” it said.

“Much have been done by the present administration to ensure every Filipinos’ right to freedom of expression, of opinion and of the press. The government firmly believes that a free press and media that provide accurate, fair and relevant information to the Filipino people is vital to our democracy, especially during this time of crisis.”

PTFoMS Executive Director Undersecretary Joel Egco said that the government is serious in upholding press freedom by ensuring the security of media practitioners.

Egco also said that through the continuing efforts of the task force, the government has identified and suppressed most threats against Filipino journalists and media professionals.

According to Egco, press freedom has been strengthened when President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office in 2016.

This is the reason why since 2018, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has already excluded the Philippines from the list of “Most Dangerous Countries in the World for Journalists,” he said.

In addition, Egco said the Committee to Protect Journalist has noted in its database that no journalist in the Philippines has remained in prison.

As a fitting tribute to all Filipino media workers, Egco added that PTFoMS is actively pushing for the passage of House Bill No. 2476, otherwise known as the “Media Workers’ Welfare Act.” Introduced by Rep. Nina Taduran, the bill seeks to provide better wages, benefits and conditions of work to all Filipino journalists and other media professionals. Duterte has already endorsed it as a priority bill.

Cyber experts, medics team up

By Rio N. Araja AMID the enhanced community quarantine, cyber security advocates and doctors have partnered to help those who are in need of medical attention 24/7 in an effort to avoid face-to-face consultations and help slow down the spread of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19).

Dr. Michael Aragon, League of Data Privacy and Cyber Security Advocates of the Philippines chairman, said they have launched the Digital Online Consultation for the People’s Health-Care (DOCPH) using the social media platform for those who are sick but could not go to a hospital for fear of contracting COVID-19.

The Philippine Medical Association, Private Hospital Association of the Philippines Inc., LEADCAP, Beta Sigma Fraternity Medical Group and Philippine Digital Medicine Society have joined hands to open DOCPH to address other health concerns of the people, aside from possible COVID-19 cases, starting April 20.

Concerned individuals may visit www. docph.org if they want to talk to a physician who could look into one’s medical condition and issue online prescription, said LEADCAP president and former senator Joey Lina.

The groups lauded Senator Manny Pacquiao for his endorsement of DOCPH to ease up the pain and sufferings of thousands of Filipinos who could not go out of their homes due to the lockdown or those who fear to contract COVID-19 at the hospitals.

Dr. Benito Atienza, PMA vice president, appealed to fellow physicians to join them and serve the people from the comforts of their homes.

A screenshot shows members of the National Guard deployed outside Los Llanos prison, in Guanare on May 2 after a riot.

Venezuela prison riot leaves 47 dead, 75 wounded A PRISON riot has left at least 47 dead and 75 wounded in western Venezuela, a country where NGOs and inmates’ families regularly denounce unsanitary conditions, violence and overcrowding behind bars.

The Venezuelan Prison Observatory (OVP) rights group provided the figures for the riot, which happened Friday afternoon at the Los Llanos prison center in Guanare city.

Parliamentary Deputy Maria Beatriz Martinez, who represents Portuguesa state where the prison is located, said: “At the moment we have been able to confirm 47 dead and 75 wounded.”

Martinez and the NGO said all of the dead were detainees.

According to an army report on Friday, the disruption started when inmates began destroying “the security fences around

the perimeter” in a “massive escape attempt.” It also said the prison’s director was wounded.

Martinez refuted that account, stating the uprising was staged by a group of prisoners “because they did not have access to food.”

According to OVP, guards opened fire following the incident at the facility, which has a capacity for 750 inmates but houses some 2,500.

With the coronavirus pandemic raging, visits from family and friends—who often bring food and medicine to inmates—have been greatly reduced.

“What is happening right now is because of the guards. They don’t transfer the food” brought by families to the inmates, Yessica Jimenez, who knows someone inside the prison, told AFP. The identities of those killed were veri-

fied “through the morgue, thanks to relatives who recognized the dead in photos that were shown to them on a computer,” said Carolina Giron of OVP. She added inmates’ family and friends “don’t have access to the hospital.”

According to the organization, 97 deaths occurred in Venezuelan prisons last year, 70 percent of which were due to diseases such as tuberculosis and a lack of medicine.

More than 330 cases of coronavirus, including 10 deaths, have been recorded in Venezuela, but authorities say there have been no cases in the country’s jails.

Opposition leader Juan Guaido has refuted Venezuela’s official count, accusing the government of Socialist President Nicolas Maduro of “shamelessly lying.”

The initial toll Friday from the riot was 17 dead and nine wounded. AFP

Oil-hungry Asian nations pounce on low prices to build stockpiles SOME oil-hungry Asian nations are taking advantage of the collapse in prices caused by the coronavirus pandemic to build up their crude stockpiles.

Here are some questions and answers about strategic reserves and the region’s oil supplies: What are strategic oil reserves and why do countries need them?

Strategic reserves are stockpiles of oil and other fuels held by governments in secure storage facilities to cover unexpected disruptions to energy supplies.

Major economies such as the US, China and Russia began to build up reserves after oil shocks in the 1970s, according to Ravi

Krishnaswamy, regional senior vice president for energy and environment at consultancy Frost & Sullivan.

The events that spurred them to take action were principally the 1973 Yom Kippur War between Israel and the Arab nations, and the 1979 Iranian revolution, which fuelled worries about supplies.

How big are the strategic reserves across the region?

China is believed to have the biggest in the Asia-Pacific. Beijing does not give an official estimate but analysts say it is at around 550 million barrels. In comparison, the United States’ strategic reserves currently hold around 630 million.

State-owned China National Petroleum Corporation said recently that the country’s reserves were “obviously insufficient, and have not yet reached the international standard ‘90-day safety line’”.

The International Energy Agency requires its members to hold emergency oil stocks equivalent to at least 90 days of net oil imports. China is an associate member, but not a full member.

Japan’s oil reserves were around 500 million barrels at the end of February, equivalent to national consumption for more than seven months, according to the latest official data, while South Korea had around 96 million barrels in strategic reserves as of

December 2019, enough for 89 days.

India, by contrast, has reserves with storage capacity of approximately 40 million barrels—which would last just 10 days in the country of 1.3 billion people.

How are reserves stored?

Strategic reserves are stored largely in secure underground depots like natural rock caverns. The US Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the world’s largest supply of emergency crude, is stored in huge underground salt caverns along the Gulf Coast.

But building underground storage is challenging as it needs to have the right geological formation, and countries also need to build infrastructure to pump oil in and out. AFP

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

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MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020

Business

PH poised to weather COVID-19 F

By Julito G. Rada

INANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said over the weekend the Philippines is in a better position to weather the impact of the coronavirus 2019 pandemic because of its fiscal and economic strength.

Dominguez issued the statement after the London-based international newspaper The Economist ranked the Philippines sixth among selected emerging economies in the world, and the best among those ranked from the Southeast Asia.

“This assessment shows that improving our revenue flows through our tax

reform program, being judicious with expenditures and investments, and maintaining a well-balanced debt management strategy are serving the country well,” Dominguez said.

He said the country had the confidence of the international community, which would go a long way in helping the government finance its COVID-19

response measures.

He said the same confidence would also help the country attract investments and create jobs on its road to recovery.

“While COVID-19 may be an unprecedented global crisis, the Philippines is better positioned to overcome this situation than at any other time in recent history,” he said.

He said President Rodrigo Duterte’s commitment to a conservative approach to economic policy resulted an average of 6.4 percent gross domestic product growth over the past three years and a sovereign credit rating of “BBB+,” the highest in the country’s history.

“This strong vote of confidence in the country’s fiscal and economic manage-

ment encourages the Duterte administration to continue on its path of prudent macroeconomic and fiscal management,” he said.

Dominguez added the Department of Finance would work closely with Congress to build on the success by enacting urgent tax and economic reforms to strengthen the country’s recovery efforts.

Ahead of the Philippines in The Economist’s ranking are Botswana, Taiwan, South Korea, Peru and Russia. Thailand, at seventh, was the other Southeast Asin country included in the list.

Completing the top 10 are Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh and economic powerhouse China.

IN BRIEF Stock market to trade sideways this week SHARE prices are expected to trade sideways this week on concerns about easing quarantine measures amid an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

BPI Securities president Haj Narvaez said equities market would also remain volatile on the possibility of a US market correction spilling over to the Philippine market in the coming weeks.

“If you’re taking a 6 to 18 months’ view, I still think that these levels are going to be good. That said, you have to be prepared for volatility, because the economic numbers are going to be quite grim,” Narvaez explained.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index last rose 4.3 percent to 5,700.71 as it tracked upbeat regio nal markets as some territories started to lift restrictions rela ted to COVID-19 lockdowns.

“The week’s close at 5,700.71 still highlights near-term bounce as a mere technical rebound and is not sustainable. This may see more price action towards the retest of the 5,000 levels in the near-term,” BDO Unibank Inc. chief investment strategist Jonathan Ravelas said. Jenniffer B. Austria

Toyota launching MyToyota PH tool TOYOTA Motor Philippines will launch today MyToyota PH, a digital tool that makes owning and maintaining a Toyota vehicle easier and more convenient for all customers.

The company adapted to the changing needs of customers for after-sales service, its response to a global economy that is aversely affected by the COVID-19 virus outbreak.

Toyota owners can now book their service appointments safely anytime, anywhere using the tool’s key features from their mobile phones.

Inquiries are made easier as customers can directly send messages to their dealers about their booked appointment. Job items and service cost estimates are also easily available in the tool.

To use the tool, Toyota owners can create a MyToyotaPH account on http://mytoyota. ph/ and register their Toyota vehicles. They can immediately start setting up an appointment by selecting their preferred dealers.

The tool can also be added to their mobile device’s home screen through the browser’s settings for easier access. Othel V. Campos

Over 115,000 workers receive cash grants MORE than 115,000 employees of small businesses adversely affected by the work stoppage due to the coronavirus pandemic have received their cash grants under the Small Business Wage Subsidy program as of May 1, the Department of Finance said over the weekend.

Half of these beneficiaries received their salary subsidies on April 30, or ahead of the May 1-15 payout schedule for the first tranche of this government subsidy.

A joint program of the DoF, Social Security System and Bureau of Internal Revenue, the SBWS aims to provide a monthly wage subsidy of P5,000 to P8,000 each for two months to around 3.4 million eligible employees of small businesses.

The subsidy ranges from P5,000 to P8,000 per tranche for every beneficiary, depending on the minimum wage levels in their respective regions.

Finance Assistant Secretary Antonio Lambino II said the SSS, through its partnership with the Development Bank of the Philippines, has released wage subsidies for a total of 115,782 employees of small businesses. as of May 1. Julito G. Rada

ABOITIZPOWER AID. The Aboitiz Group, through its power business units and its team members, have extended a muchneeded helping hand to aid local communities affected by the impact of COVID-19 in Mindanao. AboitizPower distribution utility Cotabato Light & Power Co. team donated medical supplies to equip the frontliners at the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center.

These donations came at a crucial time as the CRMC continues to serve as one of the region’s primary care centers amid COVID-19.

Work rules to manage transmission risks—Lopez

By Othel V. Campos TRADE Secretary Ramon Lopez assured the public that the guidelines jointly issued by the Trade and Labor and Departments allowing the private sector to operate during the Enhanced Community Quarantine and General Community Quarantine will manage the risks of COVID-19 transmission.

“More sectors will be allowed to open and operate within a controlled environment as long as they implement health protocols and standards to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We want to ensure that we don’t lose the gains we’ve achieved under the ECQ period,” Lopez said.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III

said the guidelines would ensure the safety and health of workers and enhance productivity by eliminating risks in the workplaces.

“The full cooperation between employers and workers in observing the new protocols is a necessary element in transitioning the workplaces into the new normal,” he added.

Lopez stressed it was important to reopen the economy, which can be safely done by increasing testing capacity to lower the country’s infection or transmission rate.

The guidelines will apply to all workplaces, employers and workers in the private sector. They are aligned with the objectives of the minimum health standards of the Health Department during

the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among the requirements are the wearing of face masks, the submission of a daily health symptoms questionnaire and the constant checking of temperature.

The equipment and vehicles entering operation areas should undergo disinfection process, and physical distancing must be observed in any long queues outside the office or store premises.

The guidelines also set the standard procedure for employers on what to do if a worker or employee is suspected of having COVID-19. They range from the isolation of the worker or employee, the protection of clinic personnel with personal protective equipment, the decontamination of the workplace and the PCR testing of the employee.

CLARK DONATION. Clark Development Corp., along with Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Widus Foundation Inc. and Clark CSR Association Inc., donates relief goods to the municipality of Bacolor, Pampanga. The donations were received by Mayor Eduardo Datu (fifth from right) in a simple turnover ceremony at the Clark Skills and Training Center. Leading the activity are CDC president and chief executive Noel Manankil (third from left) and (from left to right) CDC assistant vice president for administration Zoraida Camello, WFI manager Ronnel Golimlim, CDC director Nestor Villaroman Jr., municipal social welfare and development officer of Bacolor Veronica Imperial, CDC director Atty. Ana Liza Peralta, CDC vice president for administration and finance Mariza Mandocdoc and CDC assistant vice president for external affairs Rommel Narciso.

Robinsons Land launching P20-b worth of new residential projects this year

By Jenniffer B. Austria ROBINSONS Land Corp., the property unit of the Gokongwei Group, plans to launch P20 billion worth of new residential projects this year on expectations of strong demand for residential units both from domestic end-buyers and foreign investors.

Robinsons Land president Frederick Dy said in a message in the 2019 annual report the company’s bullish outlook was mainly driven by solid remittances from overseas Filipino workers, attractive lend-

ing rates and the availability of mortgage financing from banks.

The target project launches, however, could change considering the impact of the new coronavirus pandemic on the domestic economy.

Robinsons Land plans to increase the mall leasable space by three percent to 1.62 million square meters with the opening of a mall in La Union and the expansion of Robinsons Place Antipolo and Robinsons Place Dumaguete.

By 2021, the property firm will expand its mall footprint in Metro Manila by open-

ing a premium mall within Bridgetowne, and three new provincial malls in Nueva Ecija, Bataan and Batangas.

The four new developments will add nine percent to it total leasable space to 1.77 million square meters.

For the office sector, Robinsons Land plans to develop five new office projects that will increase net leasable area by 16 percent to approximately 686,000 sq. m. by the end of 2020.

It aims to complete the development of three new office projects that will expand net leasable space by 14 percent to

784,000 sq.m. in 2021.

With the country’s tourism sector booming prior to COVID-19, the Gokongweiowned property unit was looking to expand the hotel portfolio by increasing the number of rooms by 10 percent to 3,452 with the opening of Summit Hotels Naga, Go Hotels Naga and Go Hotels Tuguegarao in the next 12 months.

The company plans to add 15 percent more keys in 2021 through Westin Sonata, Summit GenSan and Go Hotels San Nicolas to end with 3,957 operational rooms.

Meralco cuts capex budget to P9.34b due to coronavirus

By Alena Mae S. Flores MANILA Electric Co., the biggest retailer of electricity, reduced its capital expenditure budget to P9.34 billion this year from P17.84 billion due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We expect network capex to be lower than budget for a number of reasons because it’s hard to get capex program going because of lockdown,” said Meralco chairman Manuel Pangilinan.

Meralco has so far utilized P2.541 billion out of the P9.34 billion capex allotted this year.

“Because of the ECQ, the design, engineering, and construction, and even procurement of our capex project have been delayed that we had to recast our budget from P17.84 billion to P9.34 billion, this only for the network side. P8.5 billion worth of capex would be carried over to next year,” said Meralco senior vice president and head of network Ronnie Aperocho.

Aperocho said the remaining budget for this year would be allotted to address customer requirements and address load growth.

Meralco’s customer count rose 4 percent to 6.9 million after adding over 251,000 new accounts.

“We have also allotted close half a billion for BBB and PPP because we expect the government for the timely completion of these projects. In fact, DOTr has already requested us to resume the pole relocation works related to four priority projects namely PNR North 1, MRT 7, LRT 1 Cavite Extension and the unified common station,” Aperocho said.

Meralco on Feb. 16 completed the relocation works on North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) Harbour Link Segment-10 (C3-R10 Section) along C3 Road and Dagat-Dagatan Avenue that facilitated the partial opening of the NLEx-Malabon Exit.

Although still ongoing, major relocation works were done on the government’s Build, Build, Build projects in PNR North 1, BGC-Ortigas Link, Skyway Stage 3, Light Rail Transit 1 (LRT 1) Cavite Extension and C5 Southlink.

Meanwhile, projects such as CaviteLaguna Expressway (CALAX), North Luzon Expressway-South Luzon Expressway (NLEx-SLEx) Connector Road, PNR North 2, Southeast Metro Manila Expressway (SEMME) C6 and Metro Rail Transit 7 (“MRT 7”) have proceeded to the design stage of the relocation works.

Aperocho said the design and engineering works on the projects had already resumed. Meralco has installed 40 poles of the MRT line 7 project and conducted span cables during the enhanced quarantine community period.

Trade clarifies jobs of offshore game operators THE Trade Department clarified over the weekend that Philippine offshore gaming operators, or POGOs, operate a form of entertainment and should be not confused as a business processing outsourcing industry.

The department said POGOs, however, “could impose the required minimum health protocol standard” once they reopen business.

“They are online gaming. There are similarities with BPOs in terms of the use of IT and online platform in their business models—not brick and mortar, no physical interaction with clients and customers,” it said.

The IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines issued a statement citing the differences between the BPO and POGOs. While BPOs and POGOs share offshoring nature, POGOs operate from the Philippines since the betting or gambling functions are restricted from their respective shores, the group said.

The two sectors operate with two separate regulators. BPOs are registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority or the Board of Investments, while POGOs are lodged with Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

BPO companies create jobs that are of much higher value, requiring a range of technical, domain and soft skills. They are very different from the game development sector, which is sometimes mistaken as IT. BPOs come to the Philippines to leverage the country’s human capital—English proficency and technical skills, customer service orientation and ability to adapt to foreign cultures.

This, in turn, has directly benefitted millions of Filipinos by providing them with better employment opportunities throughout the years.

Othel V. Campos