Manila Standard - 2020 May 13 - Wednesday

AREAS TO BE PLACED UNDER MODIFIED ECQ FROM MAY 16-31 LUZON All Metro Manila cities Municipality of Pateros

VISAYAS Cebu City

AREAS TO BE PLACED UNDER GCQ FROM MAY 16-31 CAR Abra Apayao Benguet Ifugao VOL. XXXIV • NO. 81 • 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com Kalinga Mountain Province Baguio City REGION II Batanes Cagayan Isabela Nueva Vizcaya Quirino Santiago City REGION III Aurora Bataan Bulacan Nueva Ecija Pampanga Tarlac Zambales Angeles City Olongapo City REGION IV-A Cavite Quezon Rizal Batangas Lucena City

REGION VII Bohol Cebu Province Negros Oriental Siquijor Mandaue City Lapu-Lapu City REGION IX Zamboanga del Norte Zamboanga del Sur Zamboanga Sibugay Zamboanga City Isabela City REGION XI Davao City Davao de Oro Davao del Norte Davao del Sur Davao Occidental Davao Oriental CARAGA Agusan del Norte Agusan del Sur Dinagat Islands Surigao del Norte Surigao del Sur Butuan City

41 PROVINCES EXITING COMMUNITY QUARANTINE AFTER MAY 15: REGION I Ilocos Norte Ilocos Sur La Union Pangasinan REGION IV-B Marinduque Occidental Mindoro Oriental Mindoro Romblon Palawan REGION V Albay Camarines Norte Camarines Sur Catanduanes Masbate Sorsogon REGION VI Aklan Antique Capiz Guimaras Iloilo Negros Occidental

REGION VIII Biliran Eastern Samar Northern Samar Western Samar Leyte Southern Leyte REGION X Bukidnon Camiguin Lanao del Norte Misamis Occidental Misamis Oriental REGION XII North Cotabato South Cotabato Sarangani Sultan Kudarat BARMM Basilan Lanao del Sur Maguindanao Sulu Tawi-Tawi

11 CITIES EXITING COMMUNITY QUARANTINE AFTER MAY 15: Dagupan City P. Princesa City Legazpi City Naga City Iloilo City Bacolod City

Ormoc City Tacloban City Cagayan de Oro City G. Santos City Cotabato City

AREAS TO BE PLACED UNDER MODIFIED ECQ FROM MAY 16-31 VISAYAS Cebu City

LUZON All Metro Manila cities Municipality of Pateros

AREAS TO BE PLACED UNDER GCQ FROM MAY 16-31 CAR Abra Apayao Benguet Ifugao Kalinga Mountain Province Baguio City REGION II Batanes Cagayan Isabela Nueva Vizcaya Quirino Santiago City REGION III Aurora Bataan Bulacan Nueva Ecija Pampanga Tarlac Zambales Angeles City Olongapo City REGION IV-A Cavite Quezon Rizal Batangas Lucena City

REGION VII Bohol Cebu Province Negros Oriental Siquijor Mandaue City Lapu-Lapu City REGION IX Zamboanga del Norte Zamboanga del Sur Zamboanga Sibugay Zamboanga City Isabela City REGION XI Davao City Davao de Oro Davao del Norte Davao del Sur Davao Occidental Davao Oriental CARAGA Agusan del Norte Agusan del Sur Dinagat Islands Surigao del Norte Surigao del Sur Butuan City

COVID REPORT. President Rodrigo Duterte updates the nation on the government's efforts in addressing the coronavirus disease pandemic in Malacañang on Monday, with his video airing on Tuesday morning. Presidential Photo

‘Transition phase’ rolled out Modified ECQ in NCR, Laguna, Cebu City on May 16-31 COVID-19 PH

By Vito Barcelo, Joel E. Zurbano

AT A GLANCE

ETRO Manila, Laguna and Cebu City will be placed under a modified enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) until May 31, while the general community quarantine (GCQ) will be lifted in 41 provinces and 11 cities across the country on May 16, Palace spokesman Harry Roque said Tuesday.

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11,350

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2,106 (107 new)

In a televised press briefing, Roque said Metro Manila, the country’s center of economy, education and government, will still remain under ECQ but with modified guidelines that would allow some industries to reopen in a limited capacity, and will allow people to leave their homes but only to buy food and other basic necessities.

The government is still finalizing which industries will be allowed to resume operations, when the modified ECQ takes effect May 16.

“We based the decision on science.

It is still ECQ but we are opening more businesses to help the economy. But we remain under ECQ because the threat of COVID-19 is still present,” Roque said.

Roque said the modified ECQ was a "transition phase" from a strict ECQ to a relaxed general community quarantine Next page (GCQ).

Duterte warns: We are not out of the woods yet SOCIAL distancing must be accepted as the “new normal” until a vaccine that can stop the coronavirus pandemic becomes available, President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday.

This developed as the Philippines logged 264 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 11,350.

The Department of Health said that of the new cases, 165 or 63 percent are from the National Capital Region, which will be under the modified enhanced community quarantine beginning May 16.

In a taped public address aired over state-run PTV-4, Duterte stressed the importance of flattening the curve or slowing down the rate of COVID-19 Next page infections.

STORY OF 2 BOUNTIES: DU30=P50M, NPA=P2M

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RECOVERIES

264

NEW CASES

Domestic flights still banned, may resume May 16

SWARMING BACK. Quarantine officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 direct people to queues (inset) and collect the yellow health cards from 373 arriving overseas Filipino workers from Singapore and Japan on three different flights on Tuesday. Che Santos

Virus hope in US as WHO hails global progress WASHINGTON—The United States logged a second consecutive day of fewer than 900 coronavirus deaths, as the World Health Organization (WHO) hailed global progress but warned of the need for "extreme vigilance" against a second wave.

In Europe, where infection rates and death tolls have significantly tailed off, millions of people have begun emerging from lockdown.

The French were able to venture outdoors without filling in a permit for the first time in nearly eight weeks on

Monday, and some shops reopened their doors.

Spaniards revelled in being able to visit outdoor terraces and cafes after months under one of the world's toughest lockdowns, although virus hotspots such

Solons seek infra stimulus spending, file P1.5-t plan bill

Cayetano to set franchise hearing but no snap okay

By Maricel V. Cruz and Joel E. Zurbano HOUSE Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday said hearings to be conducted on the renewal of the franchise of ABS-CBN were no guarantee that the broadcast giant would win approval of its application.

"To those calling for an immediate hearing on this matter, including my colleagues in Congress, let me just be very clear—a hearing does not mean automatic renewal," Cayetano said in a Next page social media post.

Next page

Domestic commercial flights are still prohibited until May 15 owing to the coronavirus pandemic, Malacañang said Tuesday.

“Until the 15th there are no commercial flights, but I’m sure the relevant transportation authorities will come up with their guidelines by May 16,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a televised briefing.

Commercial flights have been suspended since March when President Rodrigo Duterte imposed strict confinement measures in Luzon. Other local government units followed suit.

But on April 30, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade ordered the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and other airport authorities to seriously consider the reopening of airports in areas covered by the general community quarantine to accommodate commercial aviation operations.

This developed as 373 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Singapore and Japan arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminal 1 on Tuesday on board three separate commercial flights.

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By Maricel V. Cruz BUILT IN 7 DAYS.

This 15-bed emergency quarantine facility (EQF) is turned over to The Medical City in Pasig, one of the first hospitals overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients, after just seven days of construction. This is the second EQF donated by Unity in Isolation.

See story on A3

LAWMAKERS on Tuesday filed a bill proposing a three-year, P1.5trillion stimulus program anchored on infrastructure spending, especially in the countryside, to generate more jobs following the work stoppage as a result of quarantine measures against COVID-19 which were imposed in March.

House Bill (HB) 6709 seeks to dramatically raise state spending on health, education, agriculture, local Next page

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P2m bounty set on NPA heads P

By Vito Barcelo, Willie Casas and Rey E. Requejo

He promised to give the killers of communist leaders a piece of land and a new identity to protect them, and he made the offer in a taped public address.

“If you kill or point where a commander is, tell me and you will have P2 million as

long as it’s a top commander,” Duterte said.

He told informants to make a report to either the police or the military and warned them to avoid telling local officials because some of them were communist sympathizers.

Duterte made his offer even as the National Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday announced the arrest of a 25-year old public high school teacher who posted in his Twitter account an offer to give P50 million to anyone who could kill Duterte.

Ronnel Mas was arrested Monday in North Poblacion village in Santa Cruz, Zambales. An official said he was currently teaching social studies in Taltal National High School, he had a master’s degree and was now pursuing a doctorate degree.

Mas apologized for his post, but Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the apology would not exculpate him from his criminal liability.

Duterte said a soldier or a policeman

Transition...

we don’t trip. We cannot afford a second or third wave to happen,” he said.

Amid reports of quarantine violations, he said the protocols laid out by the government to prevent the spread of COVID-19 were for their safety and protection.

Duterte said quarantine violators would not only put themselves in danger but others as well.

In the middle of his speech Monday, the President wore a face mask before warning the public not to leave their homes without wearing one.

"Do not go out of your homes without a mask. That is a must. [You] must comply," he said.

The government has made it mandatory for people to wear face masks or any protective gear in public places.

Duterte added that COVID-19 is "very lethal" as he warned the public against risking their lives with getting infected.

Nationwide, there were 11,086 confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease, including 1,999 recoveries and 726 deaths.

Of the total cases, 7,123 or over 62 percent were recorded in the National Capital Region. Cebu City G The 41 provinces where the GCQ will be lifted after May 16 are: Ilocos Norte; Ilocos Sur; La Union; Pangasinan; Marinduque; Occidental Mindoro; Oriental Mindoro; Romblon; Palawan; Albay; Camarines Norte; Camarines Sur; Catanduanes; Masbate; Sorsogon; Aklan; Antique; Capiz; Guimaras; Iloilo; Negros Occidental; Biliran; Eastern Samar; Northern Samar; Western Samar; Leyte; Southern Leyte; Bukidnon; Camiguin; Lanao del Norte; Misamis Occidental; Misamis Oriental; North Cotabato; South Cotabato; Sarangani; Sultan Kudarat; Basilan; Lanao del Sur; Magindanao; Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

The 11 cities where the GCQ will be lifted are: Dagupan City; Puerto Princesa City; Legazpi City; Naga City; Iloilo City; Bacolod City; Ormoc City; Tacloban City; Cagayan de Oro City; General Santos City

and Cotabato City.

Roque said a modified ECQ will allow the operation of selected manufacturing and processing plants with up to a maximum of 50 percent of their workforce.

Limited transporting services for essential goods and services will also be allowed under, he added. However, faceto-face classes in all schools will remain suspended.

The IATF resolution also declared a GCQ in eight areas with moderate risk of infection, namely Cagayan Valley (Region 2); Central Luzon (Region 3); Calabarzon (Region 4-A); Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR); Central Visayas (Region 7) except Cebu City; Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9); Davao Region (Region 11); and Caraga (Region 13).

Eight areas with low risk of infection will no longer be under ECQ or GCQ. These are Ilocos (Region 1); Mimaropa (Region 4-B); Bicol (Region 5); Western Visayas (Region 6); Eastern Visayas (Region 8); Northern Mindanao (Region 10); Soccsksargen (Region 12); and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the IATF resolution noted.

The IATF took into consideration the proposal of Metro Manila mayors to extend the ECQ for another 15 days, Roque said.

Provinces, highly urbanized cities, and independent component cities characterized as low, moderate, and highrisk may appeal their classification to the IATF Screening and Validation Committee not later than May 13, he added.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III is supporting the decision of the government to place Metro Manila and selected areas under modified ECQ, saying going back to the "old normal" will be reckless and expose people to the continuing threat of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, government agencies may provide transportation and accommodation for employees to ensure their safety once mobility restrictions are eased, an official of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) said Tuesday.

In a radio interview over dzBB, CSC

Commissioner Aileen Lizada said such support mechanisms allow for an easier working environment in the public sector amid the continuing threat of the pandemic.

She said agencies have the resources, such as vehicles, that can be used in transporting employees who go on a daily commute to and from work.

“We have coasters, vans, which we could use so that government workers need not compete against the commuting public," she said in Filipino.

Lizada suggested that agencies with a limited number of vehicles may hire buses, jeepneys, and vans as a shuttle service for employees if their budget allows it.

Also on Tuesday, the Joint Task Force Corona Virus Shield (JTF CV Shield) urged people who were stranded due to the ECQ not to immediately go back to their hometowns or visit their families once the ECQ is downgraded into a GCQ. JTF CV Shield commander, Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said the threat of COVID-19 remains high and that some of those eager to go home may unknowingly bring the disease to their towns and loved ones.

On Monday, Metro Manila police met with security officers of malls in Metro Manila to discuss measures when the region shifts to a modified ECQ on May 16.

In a statement Tuesday, NCRPO chief, Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas said the dialogue in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City was attended by representatives of most of the malls to establish a strategy on how to better manage the challenges brought about by the pandemic.

Among the measures proposed is an intensified implementation of social distancing protocol inside common areas.

The proposed distance guide per person is based on a "one person per two square meters floor area" policy. Mall security officers shall compute the maximum persons to be allowed entry based on this measure.

Entrance and exit points will be limited and police visibility will be intensified.

It was the first COVID-19 death of a health worker since over a week ago, bringing the total to 2,067 as of May 11, from 1,991 the day before.

Duterte made his statement even as Deputy Speaker Mujiv Hataman said that while the Philippines might not be “pandemic-proof,” it nonetheless could be “pandemic-capable.”

He said preparing for a long bout with COVID-19 should be done now by upgrading all government hospitals and other health-care facilities.

"All projections point to a rise in cases until the middle of the year, and experts say that a vaccine may be available after a year and a half,” said Hataman, who represents Basilan.

“And until a vaccine has been found against COVID-19, we should strengthen the health frontlines by increasing their capabilities to treat patients with the virus in the future.”

Duterte also reminded the public to

wear face masks to avoid being accosted by the police.

“The police will tap your shoulder.

You won’t be arrested, but it will be embarrassing if they tell you to step aside,” he said.

He also warned that the Philippines could not afford to have a second and third wave of COVID-19 infections.

“The easing of the restrictions doesn’t mean COVID no longer exists. We should do it slowly so we don’t trip. We cannot afford a second or third wave to happen,” he said.

Amid the reports of quarantine violations, Duterte said, the protocols laid out by the government to prevent the spread of COVID-19 were for the people’s safety and protection.

Quarantine violators would not only put themselves in danger but others as well.

Presidential Peace Adviser and National Policy Against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr.

emphasized the importance of balancing health and economy in deciding the fate of the enhanced community quarantine and general community quarantine.

“In the absence of a vaccine, all we can do is prevent and contain it and mitigate its impact,” Galvez said.

“The government, however, cannot endure the ECQ for an extended period of time as its resources are very limited.

Hence it has to balance between health and economy.”

On Monday, the World Health Organization said there were seven to eight "top" candidates for a vaccine to combat COVID-19, and the work on them was being accelerated.

"We have good candidates now,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

“The top ones are around seven to eight, but we have more than a hundred candidates.” Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz

The first to arrive was Jetstar Asia 3K 761 from Singapore around 9:50 a.m. carrying some 147 OFWs. Most were women, including 5 women who are expected to give birth next month and in July.

Singapore Airlines SQ 910 arrived at 12:50 p.m. carrying 194 OFWs, followed by Japan Airlines flight JAL 741 arrived 12:55 a.m. from Narita, Japan carrying 32 passengers.

The 373 OFWs underwent swab testing after the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) personnel collected yellow health card containing vital information of every passenger. They proceeded to the immigration counters for stamping of passports and waited for their transportation to a nearby hotel for more quarantine checks.

Jem Paguio, 31, of Antipolo City and a restaurant manager in Singapore, said she and here longtime boyfriend were about to get married last March 28, but due to the COVID lockdown they postponed their wedding till next year.

Roque announced in his regular press briefing that the government would lift the quarantine in 41 provinces and 11 cities across the country with low risk for COVID-19 disease transmission.

Thirty-eight provinces and 12 cities classified under moderate risk will remain under general community quarantine from May 16 to 31.

High-risk areas Metro Manila, Laguna and Cebu City will be placed under modified enhanced community quarantine also from May 16 to 31.

Che Santos

Infection rates in many countries have started to slow, the WHO noted, with weeks of lockdown paying dividends.

"The good news is that there has been a great deal of success in slowing the virus and ultimately saving lives," WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual briefing.

But the global health body warned of a second wave of transmission, with emergencies chief Michael Ryan lamenting that some governments were choosing to "drive through this blind" by not ramping up capacity to test and trace.

Swathes of the US have opened up in recent days, despite warnings that the virus is not fully under control in the world's worst-hit country.

There was some qualified good news for Americans on Monday, with a tally showing 830 deaths in 24 hours—a second consecutive day of fewer than 900.

Nevertheless, more than 80,000 people are known to have died from the disease since it hit America's shores.

The true human cost could be much higher.

In a study, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the number of dead in worst-hit New York could be around 30 percent more than the official toll. AFP

Solons..

Chosen projects should be ready for construction within 90 days after the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) certifies an actual fund release.

Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, one of the co-authors of the bill, said the new law would provide a significant stimulus for an accelerated economic recovery alongside President Duterte's flagship Build, Build, Build program, which will be further complemented by a Plant, Plant, Plant program for long-term food selfsufficiency.

In infrastructure projects under HP 6709 will be undertaken in conjuiction with the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-Asa

program that seeks to encourage people in Metro Manila to return to their home provinces by spreading development to these areas.

The CURES Fund will be available to a wide gamut of projects ranging from barangay health centers and municipal and city hospitals to digital equipment for testing, “tele-health” services and e-prescriptions to post-harvest facilities, bagsakan centers and food terminals.

The funds would also be available to infrastructure projects such as walking or bicycle lanes, bridges across creeks and irrigation canals, evacuation centers and roads going to tourist spots.

Cayetano, however, said the hearings would be the venue for an airing of all the stakeholders' sides.

"The serious concerns that have been raised can no longer be swept under the rug, and it is absolutely necessary for Congress to give this matter all the time and attention it requires," Cayetano said.

Cayetano, who has been blamed for delaying the hearings, said the process must be thorough so as to resolve the “uncertainties and doubts” surrounding the ABS-CBN franchise issue.

"Ultimately, it is only through a fair, impartial, comprehensive, and thorough presentation and appreciation of the evi-

dence that we can clear the air," he said.

"Your House of the People will put the interest of the Filipino people first, and in these extraordinary times prioritization, fairness and timing is of utmost importance," Cayetano added.

Earlier, 14 lawmakers who support the renewal of the ABS-CBN franchise asked Cayetao to facilitate the holding of hearings on their bills.

In a letter Monday, the bills’ authors and co-authors said they shared Cayetano’s “frustrations with the non-issuance of a provisional authority to the network” despite the NTC's assurances to Congress during a March 10 hearing.

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday offered a P2-million bounty to anyone who could kill or capture a top commander of the communist New People’s Army.

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The public's movement for accessing essential services and work will remain limited, while face-to-face classes will remain suspended in areas under a modified lockdown.

Local government officials can decide which high-risk barangays will remain under stringent ECQ rules.

“Curfew will still be imposed but depends on the the regulations to be implemented by their respective local leaders,” he said.

Roque said President Duterte approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for Emerging Infectious Diseases to also place Laguna and Cebu City in the Visayas under a modified ECQ to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Roque said no new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the 41 provinces that will be removed from all quarantine restrictions in the last two weeks.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire said in the same press briefing that the case doubling time, or the time it takes for newly reported cases to increase two-fold, has slowed significantly since the beginning of the outbreak-- one of the signs that the COVID-19 curve is starting to flatten.

“A second indicator that the curve is flattening is also the doubling time of the number of deaths recorded,” she said.

In areas where ECQ or GCQ would be lifted, the DOH strongly advised the public to observe proper physical distancing, sanitizing of workspaces, and identification of symptoms to inhibit the spread of COVID-19.

In a taped interview Monday night, President Dutrte warned that the Philippines could not afford to have a second and third wave of Covid-19 infections.

“Remember that the easing up of the restrictions... doesn’t mean COVID no longer exists. Just because we allowed certain people—we should do it slowly so

Duterte..

From A1

“Social distancing. This is our new life until we have a vaccine. Just follow the protocol, it’s really important,” Duterte said.

He was expected to announce the fate of the enhanced and general community quarantines but left it out of his speech.

The DOH said 74 cases or 28 percent of the new cases are from Central Visayas or Region 7 and 25 cases or 9 percent are from other regions.

The Health bulletin also recorded 107 new recovered patients or a total of 2,106 recoveries. Meanwhile, there were 25 new COVID-related deaths of a total of 751 fatalities.

The DOH also recorded 67 additional health workers with COVID-19, with one new fatality.

Virus...

From A1

as Madrid and Barcelona remain under wraps.

Shopping strips were once again populated in Greece, while in other parts of Europe—from the Netherlands to Switzerland and Croatia—youngsters headed back to the classroom after weeks at home.

In Asia, normal life was also getting back on track with trains restarting in India later Tuesday.

Shanghai Disneyland reopened at the start of the week, and many workers returned to offices in Hong Kong.

The resurgence of activity came despite a scare on Monday when China and South Korea both reported a spike in new infections. But China had no new domestic cases on Tuesday and for the 27th consecutive day there were no deaths.

Optimism was tempered by the increasingly dire economic situation, with Boeing's chief executive warning a major US airline would likely go under because of the pandemic, as jobs vanish and businesses go to the wall.

The virus has now killed more than 285,000 people, according to a tally compiled by AFP. The number of infections has surpassed 4.1 million.

From A1

roads and livelihood to blunt what the International Monetary Fund expects to be the worst global recession since the Great Depression in the 1930s.

HB 6709 or the COVID-19 Unemployment Reduction Economic Stimulus (CURES) Act of 2020 would appropriate and automatically release money from a CURES Fund equivalent to P1.5 trillion over a three-year period to bankroll infrastructure projects in the priority areas of health, education, agriculture, local roads and livelihood.

Cayetano...

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"While the deception of the NTC and the meddling of the Solicitor General adds exigency to the matter, there are still other concerns that need to be resolved," he added.

Cayetano's statement came amid calls for the chamber to immediately deliberate on the pending ABS-CBN franchise bills after the company shut down its broadcast operations following the cease and desist order from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

providing information that led to the arrest of a communist leader would share the reward.

To protect the soldier or policeman, he would be moved to another place.

“If you hail from Abra, I will transfer you to Mindanao where there are many Ilocanos. I will give you land. Stay there so they won’t kill you,” Duterte said.

He made his offer after communist rebels were reported to have conducted a series of attacks against government troops while the country was struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic.

He warned he might declare martial law if the communists continued their attacks on state troops.

’Ambo’ retains strength; LGUs told to get ready

By Rio N. Araja TROPICAL depression "Ambo" maintained its strength while remaining almost stationary over the Philippine Sea on Tuesday.

Based on its latest bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the center of "Ambo" was estimated at 385 kilometers east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte.

Packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kms per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph, "Ambo" is forecast to intensify into a tropical storm within the next 24 hours.

Its trough will bring scattered light to moderate with heavy rainshowers during thunderstorms over Mindanao.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Tuesday urged all local government units (LGUs) in flood and landslide-prone areas to take necessary precautions on the looming onslaught of "Ambo".

In a statement, NDRRMC executive director Ricardo Jalad said the Department of Social Welfare and Development has readied P179 million worth of family food packs, P780 million worth of other food and non-food items, P244 million worth of standby funds as well as P1.2 billion worth of standby resources.

All transport logistics assets for hauling of relief resources are now ready.

Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government has also disseminated warnings for LGUs that might be affected by "Ambo".

As of 10 p.m. Monday, the center of "Ambo" was spotted at 300 km east northeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 70 kph.

Domestic...

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2020

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Private schools start in August too RIVATE higher education institutions using the old academic calendar have moved the opening of classes to August, Commission on Higher Education chairman Prospero de Vera III said on Monday.

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"So, iyon 'yong (that's the) major change. And, we proposed a rolling opening so that those who can do flexible learning can open in August and those who have difficulty and will still use significant residential or face-to-face classes can open in September or later," de Vera said in a virtual public briefing.

Since the academic calendar is approved by the board of regents of the respective HEIs, de Vera said universities

and colleges are proposing to their BORs a new date for the opening of classes.

Meanwhile, for state universities, the proposed opening of classes is either in August or the first week of September.

"We are giving them the months of May and June to come up with firm plan approved by their boards. And so, this will be known by the Commission because the chair of the boards of all state universities and colleges is the Chair-

man of CHED or the designated representative," de Vera said.

In preparation for the opening of classes under a "new normal", de Vera said he would be doing online a more intensive, region-based discussion with the universities and regional directors.

After the discussions, the CHED would be rolling out a massive training program for teachers as it discusses with the universities how to establish their learning management system— both proprietary and free software.

"I have issued the memorandum asking universities that can train teachers on flexible learning, to submit proposals already to the Commission

for approval, so they could start training teachers starting late May or early June," de Vera said.

De Vera said under a flexible learning system, higher education remain accessible to all and the learning outcomes by the end of the semester are the same.

"What you will change is how you produce these outcomes, both using offline method, online method; residential or non-residential," he said.

He corrected the notion that flexible learning meant no classes in schools, which he said, is not the case especially in these times when the country is facing a pandemic. PNA

Senator blasts China program on gov’t radio

By Joel E. Zurbano SENATOR Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday expressed dismay at the airing of a radio program promoting China.

"I am very disturbed that there is a radio program called "Wow China" that airs on Radyo Pilipinas 738, a state-owned AM radio station of the Philippine Broadcasting Service under the Presidential Communications Operations Office," said Hontiveros, adding that the government must cancel the program immediately.

She said the PCOO should fulfill its mandate of helping the Filipino people with relevant and timely information especially during this COVID-19 pandemic.

"But instead, it is allowing a program that promotes China and its state ideology. Filipino taxpayers should be indignant that we are essentially paying for a radio show that promotes China's policies," the senator said.

"We have let Chinese propaganda reach our shores. Inaangkin na nga nila ang West Philippine Sea, pati ba naman ang radyo natin sa kanila na rin?"

Hontiveros said it is also very hypocritical how the Philippine government is critical of alleged foreign ownership of other Filipino-owned media entities, but is aiding and abetting this clear foreign encroachment in our own.

"Wow China' should be cancelled immediately. PCOO and PBS should likewise be made to explain to Filipino taxpayers why it allowed the airing of Chinese state propaganda in a government-owned radio station."

"For me, this is a betrayal of the Filipino people. Our state media should always place Filipinos' interests and welfare first."

“Wow China,” according to its Facebook page, is a “cultural-feature program that mainly focuses on China’s and Philippines’ tradition, culture and history and its differences and similarities.”

The segment is a collaboration between PBS and China Radio International, China’s state-owned international radio broadcaster.

BUILT in seven days, May 5 to 11, a 15-bed emergency quarantine facility (EQF), will be turned over on the 8th day, May 12, to The Medical City (TMC) Pasig, one of the first hospitals overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients.

This is the second EQF donated by Unity in Isolation (U ’n I), a charity group formed late March to construct SafeTest Isolation Tents in major hospitals across the country. The first is part of a complex for COVID patients in The Medical City South Luzon completed last week.

“Although other hospitals have shared the load, TMC PASIG still needs a SafeTest Isolation Tent to help triage and quarantine patients suspected to have Covid-19,” said Dr. Beatrice Tiongco who spearheads U ’n I. Costing half a million pesos with a footprint of 6 meters by 26 meters, the Safetest Tent jumpstarted by reinforcing the original EQF design of a Filipino firm, WTA Architecture, which uploaded schemes and specs free for anyone to use.

“Speed is indeed crucial in identifying and isolating,” said Martin Leyeza of ComWorks Inc., a major player of U ’n I. “Within a few weeks in April, hospitals reached maximum capacity. The need for field hospitals and test centers became increasingly crucial.”

A phone call and a COVID case seeded Unity in Isolation.

Axel Kornerup, Resident Entrepre-

CHR cites respect for Muslim rights

By Rio N. Araja AMID the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Commission on Human Rights on Tuesday said the government respects the religious and cultural rights of Muslim Filipinos.

Jacqueline Ann de Guia, CHR lawyer-spokesperson, said the agency recognizes the religious exemptions given by the interagency task force to Muslim COVID-19 victims, "which primarily pertain to exemptions from cremation."

"This reflects the respect accorded to their religion and culture," she noted.

"We hope that this consideration already extends to all other Muslim religious and cultural considerations such as food preference, prayer rituals, among others," she said.

She said an inclusive approach to the pandemic is essential to be able to heal as one. "The different religion, cultural groups, and regional context in our country entail specific response and considerations," she said.

"In this way, we can continue to honor the dignity and unique identities of our fellow Filipinos while protecting their health and safety," she added.

She urged the government to ensure that its citizens could exercise their religious and cultural rights to the extent possible.

She said the Muslim community is among those facing multiple vulnerabilities amid the disease.

IN BRIEF Catholics mark 103rd year of Fatima apparition ANTIVIRUS EFFORTS. One of 303 Antipolo City

residents takes a rapid diagnostic test on Tuesday, as 26 others submitted to swab collection for the COVID 19 RT-PCR based test. Meanwhile, personnel from the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) platoon of the Philippine Army disinfect the firearms and equipment of the Army Support Command (ASCOM) at the decontamination area set up at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City on Tuesday.

Antipolo City PIO with Norman Cruz

House panel OKs COVID banking resiliency bill

By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives' Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries, in a virtual meeting on Monday, approved the proposed “Philippine Banking Industry Resiliency Act Against COVID-19 Pandemic.”

House Bill 6622, also known as the proposed “Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer (FIST) Act” authored by committee chair Rep. Junie Cua of Quirino, proposes to help financial institutions in their bad debt resolution and management of their non-performing assets to cushion the adverse impact of COVID-19 pandemic on their

financial operations.

This proposed law encourages financial institutions to sell NPAs to asset management companies, created as Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer Corporations (FISTCs), that specialize in the resolution of distressed assets,” Cua said in the explanatory note of the bill.

The committee approved the bill "subject to style and amendments," said Cua. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Managing Director for Policy and Specialized Supervision Lyn Javier in a statement to the committee said that the immediate enactment of the FIST

Law, despite strong banking fundamentals, will promote investor and depositor confidence and mitigate the harmful feedback effect of a financial system crisis on the real economy.

Cua said the bill was more appropriate than simply amending Republic Act 9182 or the "The Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) Act of 2002,” which provides for similar tax incentives for SPVs. “My understanding from the inputs of the stakeholders is there is a need (for this bill) because there had been a lack of changes, policy interventions since then and now that need to be considered… It is better to have a new bill than just to revive it,” Cua said.

Unity in Isolation group turns over EQF tents built in just 7 days

By Veronica V. Wuson

A3

neur of InterVenn Biosciences Inc., called Leyeza, his partner in advocacies, “to contribute to this unprecedented crisis by providing the most impact with available resources.” InterVenn is a San Francisco based biotech company using AI (artificial intelligence) driven holistic approach to biomarkers discovery.

In the meantime Leyeza was still reeling and self-isolating after bringing his sister, Cynthia Cabrera, a COVID survivor, to the hospital mid-March. He witnessed the super heroes, collectively termed frontliners—doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants, alleviate the patients to their own detriment. Suspected cases, mostly elderlies, spilled out of hospitals’ emergency rooms. The economic divide glared in COVID testing and treating.

Moved by this heinous hospital scene, Leyeza quickly teamed up with his friend, Kornerup, and Dr. Beatrice Tiangco, CEO of Cancer Registry Philippines, to form Unity in Isolation.

Twenty four years ago, Leyeza built ComWorks which ranks consistently on the Top 500 Philippine companies in revenue. It’s one of the country’s largest wholesaler of telecommunications services and mobile network equipment.

Kornerup, a La Salle and UP alumnus, “built and ran multiple business platforms and have founded four companies, all market leaders.” He is founding director and CEO of netVoice Inc., netSolar Inc., and netNRG Inc., among others listed in his LinkedIn profile.

These two disruptors brought in

the third innovator to lead the team, Dr.Tiongco, CEO and founder of Cancer CARE Registry Philippines, a nonprofit, nongovernmental foundation, with a goal to build nationwide registries to benefit cancer patients.

Impeccably credentialed Dr. Tiongco, also a member of the board of directors of The Medical City Pasig, “is the logical choice to head the charity group for Safetest Isolation Tent since she can bridge the hospitals needs and the Unity in Isolation resources with the goal of using the tents post-pandemic,” said Maite Tarrayo, Leyeza’s daughter and wingwoman.

They tweaked the design and renamed it SafeTest Isolation Tent “since the group can provide a testing facility and testing kits should the partner hospital require.

We are not just building tents, we are in close coordination with hospital needs beyond COVID-19. The tents will be used for cancer screening programs of the hospitals in the Cancer Care network,” Tarrayo explained.

Next week’s target is Bicol, a region with one of the fastest growing COVID-19 cases. U ’n I is partnering with two Cancer Care Network partner hospitals and donors led by ComWorks. Bicol happens to be the hometown of Leyeza’s wife, Mely, who succumbed to brain cancer, glioblastoma, a few years ago.

Dr. Tiongco’s nationwide Cancer CARE Registry which was just accredited September 2019 has a network of hospitals in Luzon, Visayas, and Min-

danao to supplement government and private healthcare initiatives for the Filipino people.

“InterVenn provides various assistance, website, payment gateway setup for donations. The programmers have generously donated out of their own pockets to U ’n I,” said Kornerup.

McCormick Philippines through CEO Steven Sy, is one of the first organizations who donated to the cause. So did NetSolar, a clean energy company, through CEO/founder Paulo Concio.

The COVID-19 testing kits are purchased from Manila HealthTek Inc. of Dr. Raul Destura, the Filipino scientist who developed the low-cost kits.

BCD Pinpoint, the only full service direct marketing agency in the Philippines also an industry leader, provided concepts and strategies through founder J. Richard Soriano.

Tuason Development Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the Hijo Resources Corp., in Madaum, Tagum City, will lead efforts to network with hospitals in Mindanao.

“Unlike in Wuhan, a landlocked province in Hubei, China, a single 1000 bed quarantine facility was built.

United in Isolation together with our growing number of partners, aims to build separate 15-bed tents on COVID hotspots across our archipelago, but with a single goal of separating the infected from the uninfected in order to flatten the curve,” said Dr. Tiongco.

Checkout the FB page of Unity in Isolation.

BISHOP Roderick Pabillo of the Archdiocese of Manila, will lead a concelebrated Mass on Wednesday to commemorate the 103rd anniversary of the Fatima Apparition with an urgent plea to the Blessed Virgin Mary for her intercession to stop the spread of the pandemic coronavirus.

In an interview, Rev. Fr. Carlos V. Reyes of the Our Lady of Fatima Parish Church in Mandaluyong City, said that a concelebrated Mass will be held at the Manila Cathedral.

Co-celebrants of the Mass are the bishops from the parishes of the cities of Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasay and San Juan. The Mass will start at 12 noon.

The Mass can be viewed on live streaming on Ave Maria TV or Radio Veritas 846. Ben Cal

DENR donates groceries to poor QC residents THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources has donated P300,000 worth of grocery items to low-income communities in Quezon City to support the government’s efforts to provide assistance to those in need during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019) pandemic.

Undersecretary for Priority Programs and ACE president Jonas Leones said 300 relief goods were turned over by the agency to three Catholic parishes—Kristong Hari and Mabuting Pastol, both in Barangay Commonwealth, and Good Shepherd Cathedral in Barangay Fairview—for distribution to the first set of beneficiaries of “ComPassion Project."

The project is a three-phase COVID-19 community outreach initiative of the DENR Association of Career Executives (ACE) and the DENR Employees Union, in collaboration with the Career Executive Service Board.

“Since there are still families who have not received support from the government, the DENR under the leadership of Secretary Roy Cimatu decided to provide assistance to communities affected by the enhanced community quarantine due to COVID-19 pandemic, through our ComPassion Project,” Leones said. Rio N. Araja

BI agents bars American fugitive from entering PH IMMIGRATION officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport barred an American convicted of rape and other sexual offenses in the US from entering the country amid the pandemic.

The American, identified as Robert Joseph Binford, 61, was intercepted at the NAIA terminal 1 upon his arrival aboard a Philippine Airlines flight from Los Angeles, California.

BI-Port Operations chief Grifton Medina said Binford was denied entry and made to board the next available flight to his port of origin.

According to BI Intelligence Division Chief Fortunato Manahan, Jr., they received information from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) about Binford's offenses.

The suspect’s name was immediately included in the bureau’s blacklist of undesirable aliens. Vito Barcelo

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

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2020

Business

PSE INDEX CLOSING Tuesday, May 12, 2020

16.26 points

5,651.67

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

454,168,052 99,077 5,365,605,563.18 87 86 45

Moody’s keeps PH credit rating, outlook D

By Julito G. Rada

EBT watcher Moody’s Investors Service retained its credit rating and outlook for the Philippines at ‘Baa2 stable’ despite the impact of the coronavirus outbreak that could lead to a 2-percent economic contraction this year.

It said the credit profile of the Philippines was characterized in recent years by strong economic performance, a strengthening fiscal position and limited vulnerability to external shocks, although the global coronavirus outbreak presents

near-term challenges to these trends.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said Moody’s retention of the country’s rating and outlook was a “vote of confidence on the country’s strong macroeconomic funda-

mentals and the way the government is managing the pandemic.”

“While the economy is likely to contract this year, the contraction would be less severe compared to most economies in the world,” Diokno said. “In fact, barring a second wave of infections, I expect the economy to have a strong rebound, estimated at 7.8 percent in 2021,” Diokno said.

Moody’s expects the Philippine economy to contract 2 percent this year, a sharp reversal of the actual 6-percent expansion last year. This is a downward revision from Moody’s previous forecast of a 2.5-percent growth for the Philip-

pines announced in April.

Moody’s said in a credit opinion that the rapid and widening spread of the coronavirus outbreak, deteriorating global economic outlook, falling oil prices and financial market turmoil were creating severe and extensive economic and financial shock.

The economy contracted by 0.2 percent in the first quarter, a turnaround from the 5.7-percent growth a year ago and 6.4 percent in the first quarter.

Moody’s said the steep GDP decline in the first three months, even as the stringent containment measures under the enhanced community quarantine

only became effective over the last few weeks of the quarter.

“As the ECQ will encompass much of the second quarter, we expect highfrequency data to continue to deteriorate despite the implementation of countercyclical policy stimulus, including handouts to vulnerable, low-income households,” it said.

It said growth would also be pressured by weakening external demand. “We also expect remittances to soften substantially, reflecting not only job losses and falling income among overseas Filipinos, but also severely restricted deployment of new workers abroad,” it said.

IN BRIEF EMPC acquires Lamudi Global

EMPG, one of the leading digital classifieds groups in Asia, announced the acquisition of Lamudi Global which has businesses in the Philippines, Indonesia and Mexico.

The group said the acquisition took place before its merger with OLX Group’s businesses in Middle East, North Africa and South Asia that raised EMPG’s valuation to $1 billion.

EMPG said it also acquired Thailand’s top marketplace Kaidee in February, which along with the Lamudi Global transaction, marked a strong push into Southeast Asia for the group.

EMPG owns and operates Bayut in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, Zameen in Pakistan, Bproperty.com in Bangladesh and Mubawab in Morocco and Tunisia, alongside Kaidee. It now also owns and operates Dubizzle in the UAE, OLX Pakistan, OLX Egypt and OLX Lebanon, in addition to several other OLX platforms in the GCC. Lamudi was founded in 2013 as an online property platform focused on emerging markets.

Lamudi is currently a well-established player in the Philippines, Indonesia and Mexico.

SGCC donates face masks to Red Cross

MS-MAY 13 & 14, 2020

BUSINESS AS USUAL. Pilmico Foods Corp.’s plants, farms and meat facilities across the Philippines remain business as usual. The Aboitiz food business unit continues to implement strict biosecurity measures to ensure everyone’s safety and echoes the government’s assertion on sufficient food supply amid uncertainties brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. Pilmico president and chief executive Tristan Aboitiz says business continuity plans are in place and running, allowing the company to operate business as usual to meet the needs of stakeholders.

Ayala dismisses ‘rumors’ on buying into ABS-CBN

By Darwin G. Amojelar AYALA Corp. on Tuesday dismissed as “rumors” the possibility of acquiring the frequencies of ABSCBN Corp. which was shut down by the National Telecommunications Commission over the lack of a congressional franchise.

“As far as Ayala Corp., is concerned there is no truth to that rumor,” said Yla Patricia Alcantara, head brand reputation and management of Ayala.

“As the company reported in its recent annual stockholders’ meeting, Ayala remains focused on growing its core businesses while supporting immediate concerns of the government to fight COVID-19,” she said.

The Manila Standard reported that Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Media Inc., which is owned

by Betlehem Holdings Inc., the holding company of Globe Telecom’s group retirement fund, may be used by the Ayala Group to bid for the frequencies of ABS-CBN Channel 2, DZMM 630 AM radio and MOR 101.9 FM radio.

BEAM is a broadcast company in the Philippines that operates free-to-air Channel 31. The company’s primary focus is on UHF broadcasting, but is upgrading its DTT for use in multimedia convergence. BEAM has transmitter facilities in Davao, Cebu City, Zamboanga City, Baguio City, Naga City and Iloilo City.

Sources said earlier that once the government auctions the frequencies of ABS-CBN, BEAM is in the best position to acquire them estimated to be worth billions because it is backed by the Ayala Group.

Sources said others that may join the bidding for ABS-CBN’s frequencies are Aliw Broadcasting Corp., Manila Broadcasting Corp., Radio Mindanao Network, Bombo Radyo Holdings Inc. and Sunshine Media Network of religious leader Apollo Quiboloy.

STATE Grid Corp. of China, through State Grid International Development Co. Ltd., a shareholder of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, turned over 500,000 surgical face masks to the Philippine Red Cross.

Transmission operator NGCP also committed a donation of P1 billion in food packages and medical equipment in support of the government’s efforts to fight COVID-19.

“During these challenging times, it is important that friends [China and Philippines] fight together to stop the spread COVID-19,” SGCC Philippine Office chief representative Shan Shewu said.

PRC will distribute the PPEs to its frontliners, including blood and rapid testing facilities staff, ambulance crew, hotline volunteers and other staff in the health services sectors to combat the spread of COVID-19.

PRC secretary general Elizabeth Zavalla accepted the donation of the SGCC on behalf of PRC. Alena Mae S. Flores

Market declines on ‘modified ECQ’ THE Philippine Stock Exchange index dropped 16.26 points on Tuesday to close at 5,651.67 as investors traded cautiously following the government’s decision to place Metro Manila under “modified enhanced community quarantine” until May 31.

Luis Limlingan, managing director of Regina Capital and Development Corp., said investors were mulling over the hurdles to restart the domestic economy after Malacanang’s announcement.

Share prices of property-related stocks, including Ayala Land Inc. and SM Prime Holdings Inc., declined on Tuesday on expectations that the real estate industry would be severely affected by the pandemic.

Ayala Land declined by 4.5 percent to P31.80 while SM Prime Holdings Inc. fell 3.4 percent to P29.60. Jenniffer B. Austria

PLDT signs deal with Telco Orange PLDT Inc. teamed up with France-based Telco Orange for international voice aggregation services to deliver better services to millions of customers globally.

“We are excited to partner with a global expert who understands what we do and helps us do it better. This partnership with Orange is part of a broader PLDT Group program to improve customer experiences in and outside of the Philippines,” said Katrina Luna-Abelarde, president of PLDT Global Corporation.

“Ultimately, our goal is to consistently deliver the best call experience for overseas Filipinos and all our customers worldwide,” she said.

Orange, the preferred aggregator for voice traffic, will handle all global inbound traffic terminating on the PLDT and Smart network. Orange’s experience and expertise will be available to PLDT for the management of its global partner portfolio. Darwin G. Amojelar

Meralco sees higher power demand under modified ECQ

By Alena Mae S. Flores POWER retailer Manila Electric Co. said it expects power demand to increase in the coming days after the government placed Metro Manila under “modified enhanced community quarantine” starting May 16.

The modified ECQ will allow certain businesses to resume partial operations.

“Malacanang just announced modified ECQ for NCR. Demand will shift slowly from residential to commercial /industrial establishments that have been allowed to operate,” said Victor Emmanuel Genuino, first vice president and head of customer retail services and corporate communications at Meralco.

Power demand in Meralco’s franchise area was driven by residential customers during the

ECQ. Meralco experienced a big decline in demand from the commercial and industrial sectors since the start of the quarantine period on March 15.

Power demand went down by as much as 30 percent in Luzon.

Meralco said a significant number of transformers were overloaded because of the unusually high electricity consumption in homes during the ECQ and the high temperature.

“Given rising temperature and modified ECQ, overall demand may continue to increase so our crew remains vigilant to address outage incidences,” Genuino said.

Meralco said its personnel were working 24/7 to restore electricity in these areas soon despite limitations brought about by the ECQ and continuing threat of COVID-19 infection.