Manila Standard - 2020 May 14 - Thursday

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 82 • 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

HANDOUTS AND HELPERS.

Drivers of Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) such as Grab and Angkas gather at a gym in Fairview, Quezon City to receive P2,000 each in community quarantine assistance from the city government on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, medical technicians take swab samples from about 100 police officers in Valenzuela City to test them for the coronavirus (above inset).

Revoli Cortez and Mayor Rex Gatchalian via Twitter

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM MAY 13)

11,618

NUMBER OF CASES

772 (21 new) DEATHS

2,241 (145 new) RECOVERIES

37 ’low-risk’ areas put back under quarantine

By Vito Barcelo and Willie Casas

T

HE 37 “low-risk” provinces that were supposed to be removed from all quarantine restrictions will remain under a general community quarantine (GCQ) after all until May 31 for fear of a resurgence of COVID-19 cases there, the Palace said Wednesday.

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NEW CASES

House to grant ABS-CBN temporary permit to operate

Palace issues new protocols nationwide

By Maricel V. Cruz and Joel E. Zurbano

By Vito Barcelo, Maricel V. Cruz and Willie Casas MALACAÑANG on Wednesday released fresh guidelines for the implementation of quarantine protocols nationwide amid the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said “minimum standards” should be observed in places where enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), modified ECQ, and general community quarantine (GCQ) would be implemented beginning May 16.

Roque reminded Filipinos that they must use face masks, practice frequent sanitation and hand washing, and avoid touching their face and other surfaces to protect themselves against Covid-19.

He added that the practice of strict social distancing of at least one meter, reconfiguration of workspaces, and the putting of markers in public places must be done across the country.

On public movement, Roque said people residing in places where ECQ and modified ECQ will be enforced must “100 percent” stay at home.

Vulnerable individuals, such as senior citizens, and transmitters, such Next page

EU reopening fast, danger in US seen BRUSSELS—Europe's re-opening gathered pace Wednesday after weeks of coronavirus lockdown, while America's top infectious diseases official warned of uncontrollable new outbreaks if the process happens too quickly in the US. Austria announced its border with Germany would be unlocked following a two-month shutdown and Britons were allowed unlimited outdoor exercise, despite a global death toll closing in on 300,000.

A northeastern Chinese city has partially shut its borders, cut off transport links and Next page

The announcement amended guidelines issued just the day before that would have lifted all quarantine restrictions from the 37 provinces.

Palace spokesman Harry Roque said the decision to keep the provinces and cities with no or low Covid cases, were based on the recommendations of their local government unit leaders to the InterAgency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) for fear that the contagious COVID 19 might surge anew.

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THE House of Representatives on Wednesday convened as a committee of the whole to grant ABS-CBN the provisional authority to operate until Oct. 31, while Congress decides whether to renew its franchise, which expired May 4.

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the House granted the radio-TV broadcast network the franchise to operate for a "limited time" to allow Congress to extensively and thoroughly deliberate on several pending bills that call for the renewal of ABS-CBN franchise. Salamat po.

House Bill 6732, filed by Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and several House members, was approved on second reading Wednesday night, and was expected to be approved on third and final reading by Thursday. Once approved on third reading, the bill will be transmitted to the Senate.

The bill would effectively negate the cease-and-desist order that the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) had issued to ABS-CBN, forcing it to shut down its transmission facilities and triggering accusations that the administration was clamping down on press freedom.

Cayetano said he hoped that HB 67322

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New high in recoveries: 145

By Willie Casas and Joel Zurbano

NEW GUIDELINES. Just a day after the government announced a relaxing of

community quarantine rules, its Inter-Agency Task Force on the coronavirus pandemic on Wednesday released guidelines on how areas can ease back to the 'new normal.'

(Complete slides can be viewed online on www.manilastandard.net)

THE number of patients who have recovered from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has a new high after the Department of Health on Wednesday reported 145 new recoveries, raising the total to 2,251.

The highest single-day recoveries previously recorded was 116 on May 8.

On the other hand, the DOH reported an increase of 268 new positive cases of COVID-19 in the country, bringing the total to 11,618.

Meanwhile, total death toll was reported at 772 with 21 new fatalities.

Meanwhile, the DOH has called on more health care workers to join the battle versus COVID-19, following the announcement of the IATF for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases new guidelines for community quarantine across the nation.

In the May 12 Beat COVID-19 Virtual Presser, in honor of the International Nurses Day, Health Undersecretary Dr. Maria Rosario Vergeire spoke with the National President of the Philippine Nurses Association, Inc. Dr. Rosie De Next page

Sinas says 'sorry' over b-day gig

By Joel E. Zurbano and Willie Casas METRO Manila police director Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas on Wednesday apologized for a birthday party in which he and other police officers were seen violating a ban on mass and social gatherings and other quarantine restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

"I apologize for what transpired during my birthday that caused anxiety to the public," said Sinas, after photos of a party to mark his 55th birthday— first posted on the Facebook page of the National Capital Region Police Office

(NCRPO) and later deleted—became widely circulated on social media.

The photos showed Sinas and his guests violating a ban on mass and social gatherings, guidelines on physical distancing and a liquor ban in a celebration in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City held at 5 a.m.

In one photo, Sinas was not wearing a mask after blowing out a candle of one of three birthday cakes.

Others showed Sinas Sinas mingling at a table while others lined up at a buffet table.

Sinas claimed some of the photos that had been circulating online were "edited and grabbed from old posts." Next page

NO TIME TO PARTY. National Capital Region police chief Gen. Debold Sinas (right) receives roses from young police officers in what police officials termed a 'mañanita' (early morning serenade) on the general's 55th birthday on May 8 at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. PNP-NCRPO photo

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THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020

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News

Gov’t: P6.7b via new oil duties T

By Alena Mae S. Flores

Malacañang issued the EO on May 2 to boost the government’s income, which is expected to ease the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and launch a rehabilitation program.

The Energy department says the 10-percent tariff will result in a P0.60-

per-liter increase in the price of gasoline, P0.84 per liter of diesel and P0.55 per liter of kerosene.

The tariff will also increase the price of LPG by P1.82 per liter, jet fuel by P0.55 per liter and fuel oil by P0.66 per liter.

The government is projected to generate

revenues of P508.612 million for May, P718.27 million for June, P884 million for July, and P934.43 million every month from August to December.

Diesel is seen to generate P2.3 billion followed by LPG at P2.22 billion and gasoline at P1.1 billion.

Energy department director Rino Abad said the May revenues were computed based on the sales assumption of March and April.

“We observed that in March, sales of petroleum products went down by 50 percent and our assumption for May is the same for March and April,” Abad said.

He said June volumes were expected to go up by 30 percent, increasing by 60

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facilities.

The Palace announced that starting May 16, Metro Manila, Laguna Province, and Cebu City would transition to a modified ECQ while several other provinces will be placed under a GCQ or modified GCQ until May 31.

Under a modified ECQ, aside from essential industries, certain manufacturing and processing industries will be allowed to resume operations at half capacity, while more businesses will be allowed to reopen at 75 percent and full capacity under GCQ and modified GCQ, respectively.

Bayan Muna Rep. Eufemia Cullamat pointed out that without real mass testing and proactive contact tracing, a continued lockdown in high risk areas will not solve the pandemic.

Cullamat said those tested is just 0.1 percent of the whole Philippine population.

“How can we be sure that the virus will not spread? The hardships of the citizens have been wasted during the lockdown because of the slow medical solution. When this becomes worse, this would be a big blow especially to the poor," Cullamat said.

Eight weeks into the ECQ, a total of 131,786 individuals have been tested, according to the President's 7th report to Congress. This is out of the estimated 108 million population of the entire country.

Aside from the slow testing, the slow release of the social amelioration is also a

hardship for the poor, she said.

After two extensions of the lockdown, not even one government agency has completed the distribution of the social amelioration assistance.

About 29 percent of the farmers have not been given the relief. Some 3.7 million families have not been given the social amelioration by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the lawmaker said.

BMP President Luke Espiritu said the lack of testing made the government “virtually blind to the real extent of contamination.”

“A second wave of transmission, with the resumed mobility of the working population, will deliver the death blow to our already frail and failing health care systems,” he warned.

He also said that while most workers would support the easing of quarantine restrictions so they can work again, he urged them to exercise caution.

Also on Wednesday, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso expressed optimism after the announcement of the imposition of a modified ECQ in the city starting May 16.

“Manila will be placed under the modified ECQ. This means that we will have the opportunity to normalize businesses as well as our lives. It’s a welcome development for the city of

Manila as the center of commerce in the entire Luzon, and we are happy with the decision,” Domagoso said in Filipino during an online press briefing.

Domagoso said among the preparations being undertaken is the building of more quarantine facilities, with the goal of having a 500-bed capacity, specifically intended for persons under investigation (PUI) awaiting their swab test results.

Aside from the Del Pan quarantine facility built four weeks ago, more facilities are being built including Araullo High School, San Andres Sports Complex, Patricia Sports Complex, Tondo Sports Complex, Dapitan Sports Complex and other schools.

Domagoso is also preparing for a possible increase in PUI cases once the city is placed under a modified ECQ. Bangsamoro officials, meanwhile, were a bit upbeat by the latest resolution of the National Inter-Agency Task Force, placing the region among other low-risk areas under a modified GCQ effective May 16.

Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Asnin Pendatun of the Bangsamoro Region Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) said residents should remain cautious, vigilant and obedient to health regulations set by authorities, like wearing of face masks in public places and observing physical distancing. With PNA

franchise valid until Oct. 31, 2020 will give both the House of Representatives and the Senate [time] to hear the issues being raised for and against the renewal, and assess, with complete impartiality and fairness, whether or not the network shall be granted a franchise for another 25 years," Cayetano said in the bill.

Congressional leaders expressed support for Cayetano's position.

Deputy Speakers Roberto Puno of Antipolo City Raneo Abu of Batangas and Dan Fernandez of Laguna also echoed Cayetano’s observation that only through an impartial hearing devoid of pressure from any group can Congress reach a fair decision

on the fate of ABS-CBN’s franchise.

Fernandez, whose home province of Laguna will remain under modified enhanced community quarantine after May 16, said that the interests of Filipinos struggling to survive the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic should be the first priority of Congress at this time.

“Congress will not abandon its task of deciding on the issue of ABS-CBN’s franchise. But what we should keep in mind is that we have other more important and urgent concerns, such as addressing the impact of COVID-19 on our economy and our people, that we need to resolve first,” Fernandez said.

Puno said the House needs to attend to its job of saving lives and helping businesses survive the COVID-induced crisis, and should not be pressured by any group into diverting its attention from this responsibility.

“We are all aware that the issue of ABSCBN’s franchise is an important one that affects the future of many employees.

However, we should clearly define our priorities at this critical time--and that priority is for the House of Representatives to develop a comprehensive recovery plan that will ensure that no Filipino is left behind in our efforts to reenergize our economy and rebuild communities after COVID-19,” Puno said.

must be provided shuttle services.

Skeleton workforce in government would be allowed during the imposition of ECQ and modified ECQ, he said.

Alternative work arrangements for government employees, Roque said, would be practiced in areas under GCQ. “There will be alternative work arrangements in areas under GCQ. Employees may render 40 hours of work or avail of the four-day workweek,” he said.

Roque said school premises are still closed in areas under ECQ and GCQ. Skeleton workforce may be adopted in areas under GCQ to process students’ requirements and make preparations for graduation activities and class opening, he said.

Under Resolution 35 of the InterAgency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), Roque said the government would also declare “zoning” guidelines based on the number of COVID-19 positive cases and rate of transmission in the affected areas.

The National Capital Region, Laguna and Cebu City are under the red or critical zone, with more than 20 cases per 100,000 population. The orange or containment zone has one to 19 cases while the yellow or buffer zone has no cases but contiguous to areas with cases. The green or outside of buffer zone has no confirmed cases.

Meanwhile, an economist of the House of Representatives on Wednesday said the administration should remain vigilant despite the easing of the lockdown to be done through the determination of “risk classifications.”

“This should not lead to complacency.

Exhaustive testing and tracing remains a matter of life and death since as many as 17,000 new infections are still possible if there were no mass testing and active case isolation in place,” said Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, Committee on Ways and Means chairman and one of President Rodrigo Duterte's trusted advisers on the pandemic issue.

Salceda warned in a preliminary impact analysis of the IATF directive, that the classification of provinces “should be understood not as cues for proportionate complacency, but as varying stages of infectivity demand evolving emphases on key interventions such as testing and tracing.”

Sinas...

PNP is not exempt from strict rules on mass gathering and I am directing all unit commanders to prohibit any and all social gatherings," said PNP spokesman Bernard Banac.

The Department of Justice has also ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe Sinas for the violation of quarantine protocols.

Critics who saw the photos accused the government of double standards, since protocols were not observed during the birthday party of a high-ranking police official.

But Guevarra assured the public that they would maintain fairness in carrying out the law.

Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen denounced the insensitivity of those violating quarantine protocols.

Leonen compared the police celebration to how the Court held a retirement ceremony for SC Associate Justice Andres Reyes Jr. on May 8 in order to comply with the regulations on physical distancing.

“Parties are mass gatherings. It is insensitive to hold one. The Supreme Court held a retirement ceremony of a Justice with 40 years of service via private video conference ceremony. He deserves more but we had to do what was ethical while our people suffer.” Leonen posted on his Twitter account.

HE government will generate P6.783 billion from Executive Order 113 imposing an additional 10-percent duty on all crude and refined petroleum products, the Energy department said Wednesday.

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In the same press briefing, Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano said those areas classified as "low risk" would be put under what he called a modified GCQ after May 15.

“There were a lot of governors [and] mayors who sent petitions, requests, saying that they are not yet ready to completely remove the community quarantine,” Año said.

Año did not say what a modified GCQ would entail and said specific guidelines would be released at a later date.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III also said there was an "honest mistake" about the lifting of community quarantines.

Guidelines that established a modified enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) announced Tuesday were unchanged.

Año said a modified GCQ would allow local officials to impose restrictions to contain the spread of the virus in their respective jurisdictions, subject to guidelines that have yet to be released.

Meanwhile, the labor group Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) slammed the government’s decision to ease the ECQ in most provinces by allowing select industries to resume operations without sufficient mass testing and adequate health

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would strike a balance between the immediate needs of the people amid the COVID-19 crisis and the duty of Congress to ensure accountability to the law.

In his speech, Cayetano attacked the NTC and its commissioner, Gamaliel Cordova, for failing to live up to its commitment to Congress to issue a provisional authority to ABS-CBN, while lawmakers decide on the renewal of its franchise.

"Providing ABS-CBN with a provisional

Palace...

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as youths, are not allowed to go outside of their homes while GCQ is being implemented, he said.

Roque noted that outdoor exercise is not allowed during the ECQ period, while people from areas placed under modified ECQ can walk, jog, run, and bike so long as they observe safety protocols, such as wearing of face mask and practicing social distancing of at least two meters.

He said limited sports, such as golf and tennis, are allowed in places under GCQ. Roque said mass gatherings are still prohibited in areas under ECQ. However, he said, a gathering of a maximum of five people is allowed in areas where modified ECQ will be implemented.

Roque said a maximum of 10 people could hold a meeting in areas placed under GCQ. On transportation, Roque said the temporary stoppage of mass public transport is still in effect in areas where ECQ is imposed.

The government, however, would allow the use of shuttles for front-line workers and private vehicles for persons allowed to leave homes in areas under ECQ, he said.

“There is no public transportation in areas under ECQ,” Roque said.

For areas under modified ECQ, the government would permit the use of government company shuttle, personal vehicle, bicycle, motorcycle, electric scooter, and public shuttle, he said.

Meanwhile, all public and private transportation are allowed in areas under GCQ, but strict safe distancing and safety protocols must be followed.

Roque also said domestic flights are prohibited and international flights are limited in areas under ECQ and modified ECQ. As for work in public and private sector offices, he said there should be stricter protocols for higher risk occupations, industries, and spaces.

Roque said workers in the private sector must undergo Covid-19 tests and

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The photos, he added, did not “define the totality of what really had happened.”

But Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said the party was "a big no-no" under the rules of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and even a general community quarantine (GCQ).

The National Capital Region is now under a modified ECQ, where social and mass gatherings are still prohibited.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Archie Gamboa on Tuesday defended Sinas, saying he did not think there were any violations involved.

“First of all, there was no party, according to General Sinas,” Gamboa said in Filipino during an online press conference. “Probably there was a mañanita (a breakfast serenade) but General Sinas said they observed social distancing. Now, I don't think there was any violation.”

But Gamboa later ordered the Inspector General of the Internal Affairs Service to conduct an investigation.

"The Inspector General of the Internal Affairs Service was instructed to send an investigation team to NCRPO to initiate a formal inquiry into the incident. The

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closed schools after the emergence of a local coronavirus cluster that has fuelled fears about a second wave of infections in China.

Jilin, with a population of more than four million, suspended bus services Wednesday and said it will only allow residents to leave the city if they have tested negative for COVID-19 in the past 48 hours and complete an unspecified period of "strict self-isolation".

Curbs that have confined billions to their homes continued easing but the death toll spiked in some of the world's most populated countries, with Brazil, Russia and the US all reporting bad news.

It came as US government expert Anthony Fauci issued a stark warning to Congress about the dangers of resuming

percent in July and normalizing toward December.

Abad says the recent oil price increase excludes the additional import duty as the department wants the oil firms to first consume their previous inventory before imposing the additional tariff.

“The new products will be taxed.

Previously, it took three days for a station’s supply to be depleted, but now it takes six days,” Abad said.

He says the department is looking at a 20to 30-day window before implementing the additional tariff.

He says oil prices will be trending upward next week as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies have agreed on production cuts.

normal life too soon, saying a run of 14 days with falling cases was a vital first step.

"If a community or a state or region doesn't go by those guidelines and reopens... the consequences could be really serious," he said Tuesday.

"There is a real risk that you will trigger an outbreak that you may not be able to control."

Fauci said the true number killed by the epidemic in the US is likely greater than the official toll of over 82,000 -- the world's highest.

On Tuesday the US registered 1,894 coronavirus deaths in 24 hours, a steep rise after daily tolls fell below 1,000 on Sunday and Monday.

Fauci's cautionary message stands at odds with rhetoric from President Donald Trump, who has pressed for rapid steps to rekindle the devastated US economy before a November election. AFP

Signal No. 1 up in Samar over ‘Ambo’ THE weather bureau on Wednesday put several areas in Northern and Eastern Samar under Storm Signal No. 1 after Tropical Storm “Ambo” intensified slightly.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said "Ambo" was last tracked 410 kilometers east of Borongan City in Eastern Samar.

The storm had maximum sustained winds of up to 85 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 105 kph, and was heading north-northwest at 15 kph.

Weather specialist Meno Mendoza said the areas under Signal No. 1 were Jipapad, Maslog, Arteche, San Policarpio, Oras, Dolores, Can-avid, Taft, Sulat, San Julian and Borongan City in Eastern Samar and the towns of Lapinig, Gamay, Mapanas, Palapag, Laoang, Catubig and Las Navas in Northern Samar.

Strong to near-gale force winds will begin affecting those areas on Thursday afternoon.

"Ambo" is expected to further intensify as it approaches Eastern Visayas and may make landfall over Bicol on Friday, Mendoza said.

Officials warned that prolonged heavy rainfall could generate post-eruption lahar on the major channels draining Mayon Volcano by incorporating loose material from the thick deposits of ash from the January-March 2018 eruption. Joel E.

Zurbano and Rio N. Araja

PAL flights stay suspended until May 31

By Joel E. Zurbano PHILIPPINE Airlines announced Wednesday all domestic flights to and from its hubs in Manila, Cebu and Clark will remain suspended until May 31 this year.

The flag carrier, however, said it was considering flying international routes and/ or domestic routes to and from Davao in coordination with government authorities.

"We will announce any planned flights once these are finalized," PAL spokeswoman Cielo Villaluna said.

The travel suspension in Manila, Cebu and Clark is in compliance with the government's Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine and related local restrictions from May 16 to 31.

PAL’s management says it is planning operating a reduced number of weekly flights on most domestic routes and on selected international routes by June 1.

But that will depend on COVID-19 conditions such as the community quarantine restrictions, the travel bans imposed by various governments and their impact on passenger demand, and the public health and safety situation in each of the countries that PAL serves.

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Leon on the need for more nurses to join the national response against COVID-19.

At the same time, scientists and health advocates have demanded the need for increased COVID-19 testing capacities to know where the country really stood in its fight against the dreaded virus.

Josh Danac, a molecular biologist and a member of the Scientists Unite against COVID-19, said, during a recent webinar hosted by Citizen’s Urgent Response to End COVID-19 (CURE Covid), he was not convinced that the Philippines was finally flattening the curve.

Danac pointed out that the health department might be “reaching the ceiling” of its testing capacity.

Recently, the DOH said they have 26 accredited testing centers, 18 of which are in Metro Manila.

Danac said this could potentially present data gap at how the country was faring in its fight against the pandemic.

Danac, presenting a map of the confirmed COVID-19 cases, said the country appeared to have “uneven spread.” He asked, “are these areas considered hotspots because of the spread of COVID-19 or are they merely equipped with testing centers?”

Without mass testing and availability of more testing centers, Danac reiterated that the Philippines could not isolate and treat COVID-19 patients.

The DOH earlier said it planned to have a testing capacity of 30,000 per day by the end of May. De Leon said the nurses currently on the frontline had never been more motivated to fight against the pandemic.

She explained that the 24/7 role that nurses play went well well beyond serving the physical needs of the patients. Nurses are also a source of emotional support that help manage the anxiety and fear levels of not just patients, but also all their other coworkers in the hospital.

News

THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020

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Romualdezes lauds House action on PVB

Makati releases P364-M as cash aid for residents

By Maricel V. Cruz TWO lawmakers on Wednesday welcomed the House committee on banks and financial intermediaries’ deliberation on their proposed law seeking to ensure the future financial viability of the Philippine Veterans Bank amid the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic.

“We are grateful that the panel chaired by [Quirino] Rep. Junie Cua is giving importance and consideration to our very important piece of legislation to ensure the bank’s financial stability and security amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez said.

The Romualdez couple and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines party-list Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza filed House Bill (HB) 6375 or the proposed “Philippine Veterans Bank Act of 2020.”

“Recognizing the patriotic services of our Filipino war veterans as well as all retired military personnel, it is more fitting to provide them adequate benefits and other forms of assistance due to them. This bill proposes amendments to certain provisions of the Philippine Veterans Bank Charter,” they said.

The bill proposes to amend pertinent portions of Republic Act (RA) 3518, which created PVB, to revitalize the bank and foster the socio-economic wellbeing of Filipino war veterans and retired military personnel especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

IN BRIEF Cyber security threats new enemy—SC THE Supreme Court has considered cyber security threats as the new enemy as the judiciary transitioned to a so-called “new normal” with the use of new technologies in court proceedings and processes arising from the coronavirus pandemic.

In his speech during the virtual seminar participated by more than 6,000 judges, court personnel and other stakeholders, Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta stressed the need for all members of the judiciary to be prepared to tackle cyber security threats as it adapts the use of new technologies just to keep the wheels of justice rolling amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Peralta, the webinar was “the first event of its kind that focuses on ushering the cyber security culture in the Philippine Judiciary” during the prevailing public health emergency. Rey E. Requejo

NBI to go after those threatening Leni THE National Bureau of Investigation is now going after suspects who made threats against Vice President Leni Robredo on social media, the bureau said.

Nick Suarez, the NBI's public information office chief, confirmed that NBI agents are also going after social media users who threatened Robredo.

The case is now with the investigative and regional operations services of the NBI. The NBI investigations are in accordance with the NBI's mandate.

NBI Director Eric Distor earlier said the bureau is "serious" in carrying out this mandate.

Earlier, Distor said the bureau has the authority to look into cases involving threats to security or assaults against the persons of the president, the vice president, the Senate president, the House speaker, and the chief justice of the Supreme Court, among several other kinds of cases.

After the NBI arrested a teacher who posted on Twitter an offer of a P50-million reward to anyone who could kill President Rodrigo Duterte, netizens, with screenshots as proof, asked the NBI to also arrest social media users who appeared to threaten the vice president in their posts. Willie Casas

DAR sets protocols for ‘new normal’ AS THE coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to sweep the country, Secretary John Castriciones has set protocols for the implementation of the new normal at the Department of Agrarian Reform "to be strictly followed by the entire workforce."

COVID-19 would not stop DAR to do its task beyond the completion of the land distribution and acquisition process, he said.

"With the pandemic still in our midst and with no news yet of a cure, this scenario of abnormal working conditions will continue in the months to come," he said.

"Therefore, we at DAR have set guidelines to be followed by the officials and employees to be safe while working so we could continue helping and serving our farmers," he added.

The guideline was created to provide specific protocols for the work processes and procedures in the various offices of the DAR in the central, regional, provincial, municipal and barangay levels. Rio N. Araja

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By Joel E. Zurbano

PPE DONATION. President Simon Kuo-Fang Su of the Taiwanese Compatriot Association in the Philippines along with leaders of the said Association donated 1,000 pieces of personal protective gowns to the City of Quezon. The Honorable Mayor Joy Belmonte accepted the donation on behalf of Quezon City. Ambassador Peiyung Hsu, Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines, attended the turnover ceremony as witness.

20 areas in 5 QC villages put in ‘special concern lockdown’

By Rio N. Araja, Joel E. Zurbano and Willie Casas T LEAST 20 areas in five villages in Quezon City have been placed under a 14-day ‘special concern lockdown’ starting Wednesday at 5 a.m. due the high number of confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

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Assistant City Administrator for Operations Alberto Kimpo said the areas were initially selected by the city's health department based on the results of community-based testing conducted by the Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit.

The barangays to undergo special concern lockdown were Bahay Toro, Culiat, Sauyo, Batasan Hills and Tatalon.

To date, Bahay Toro has 21 active cases; Culiat, 37; Sauyo, 19; Batasan Hills, 29, and Tatalon, 17.

"Instead of a total lockdown in the entire barangay, we have focused on what particular areas inside the barangay's clustering of COVID-19 cases. It could be a street, a block or a compound," Kimpo said.

"One of the things we are looking at is the high-density population, wherein the proper quarantine protocols could no longer be practiced, and that there is a high possibility of transmission, therefore the area would be needed to be included in the containment. From there, we could concentrate more on

community-based testing and quarantine," he added.

He gave the affected residents the assurance that the city government would provide food and other assistance.

Dr. Rolly Cruz, head of the QC-ESU, said they would conduct intensified testing and monitoring in those areas to make sure they are COVID-free after the 14-day quarantine period ends.

"More than 200 members of the QCPD-AFP-SAF contingent will undergo training on the process of implementing quarantine rules and monitoring of confirmed and possible COVID-19 cases,” he said.

Mayor Joy Belmonte reiterated her appeal to citizens in affected areas to fully cooperate in the local government’s effort to combat COVID-19.

The city has a total of 1,597 COVID-19 cases as of May 12, 7 p.m.

THE Makati City government has released around P364 million to some 72,777 residents as financial assistance under the city's expanded Economic Relief Program.

The “MAKA-tulong 5K for 500K+ Makatizens” program will benefit 500,000 residents, regardless of economic status.

The recipients are Makati residents who are already Makatizen card holders at the time the city announced the release of P5,000 for each qualified resident.

Mayor Abigail Binay said the amount has been transferred to the corresponding GCash accounts of Makatizen card holders from the city’s 33 barangays.

The release came exactly two days after she announced the additional benefit for residents under the P2.7billion expanded economic relief program of the city.

“Those who already have a Makatizen Card with a valid Gcash account need not apply for the assistance since they will automatically receive P5,000 through e-Wallet. They can either cash out or withdraw the amount from any bank ATM or Globe partner outlet,” Binay said.

The city chief executive said to claim the cash from a payment center, the cardholder must present a text message confirming the remittance to one’s Makatizen e-Wallet and the government-issued ID disclosed in the Makatizen Card application form.

She also noted that many residents have now realized the importance of having their own Makatizen Card especially in these times that call for contactless means of distributing financial assistance.

“Last Tuesday alone, we recorded some 368,000 individuals who pushed to access the online application for the 5K for 500K+ Makatizens program,” she said.

SMC donates test kits; puts up own test lab

Tollways firm ‘brings light to dark corners’

SAN MIGUEL Corporation has teamed up with 17 local government units in Metro Manila to put up more testing booths in areas with high-density of COVID-19 cases as well as donate test kits to allow the poorest communities access to free testing.

FACING a pervasive crisis that has immobilized millions and claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, one can be so overwhelmed by a sharp sense of uncertainty—even mortality—that one may just sink into resignation—and inaction.

It is to the credit to human resilience that, instead of yielding one’s fate to an unseen enemy, people and organizations have chosen to act—and act they did.

A Call to Action.

Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation is one firm which acted promptly.

MPTC President and CEO Rodrigo Franco issued a company-wide call for collective action: “In times like this, we realize that we are all part of a broader global community whose welfare will depend on how we will work together: We must do our share.”

MPTC knows where its collective heart is: It is with the people who found themselves jobless, hungry, vulnerable to disease—and simply almost hopeless.

With a clear mind on its priorities, MPTC worked through some uncharted pathways for action. After all, no organization had prepared for a pandemic with unsettling results—hospitalizing thousands, rising number of fatalities, hopeful statistics on recoveries, widespread hunger, mounting public anger, and the ill prospects of social unrest.

“We definitely needed to improve and re-calibrate our strategies,” said Franco.

Support for MPTC Staff.

MPTC is focused on three pillars. Its first pillar—priority—is its people. Mr. Franco’s first agenda item is to assure job security for every staff member, and he did. Due to imposed lockdown and social distancing, MPTC shifted to a work-from-home policy.

MPTC has activated tele-consultation services to deal with employees’ physical or psycho-social concerns, considering the unsettling effects of the pandemic.

MPTC has caused a steady stream of important pieces of information, health advisories, and coping how-tos.

SMC president and COO Ramon S. Ang said the booths would be scattered strategically around areas in most dire need “so our local officials can easily ask people to get tested.”

This, he said, will complement the national government’s expanded testing efforts, which is focused on building “mega swabbing centers” in key, major commercial areas to test, initially, returning overseas Filipino workers.

“This is the best way we can help our local governments ramp up or expand their testing capacity—in particular, for poorer barangays and communities, even as national government takes care of building our mega swabbing centers, which for now will be focused on our returning OFWs,” said Ang. “Our aim is to help flatten the curve in our less fortunate barangays, especially in areas where there have been outbreaks. Our less-fortunate countrymen are really vulnerable, because their living conditions make it harder to observe social distancing and other preventive measures. So we want to focus our efforts on helping them,” he added.

Customer Focus. Under the second pillar, MPTC has assured its customers of seamless travel in all its tollways, a commitment and standard of service of MPTC from the very start. MPTC has reached out to vulnerable communities living alongside its tollways. It has expanded its food relief program to at least 220 barangays within the tollways’ reach. Outside Philippine shores, MPTC has extended the same benefits to the communities of its Indonesian partner, Nusantara Infrastructure of Jakarta, in the form of life essentials and hygiene packages.

In light of the pandemic, operational adjustments were made to make the expressways hygienic aside from being safe, to build confidence among motorists and riders that their safety and well-being are most important to MPTC. Measures included regular disinfection of expressway facilities, maximized use of electronic payments for toll booth transactions, and the provision of masks and PPEs to the front liners.

Also, notwithstanding significant revenue loss, MPTC waived toll fees for heath care workers who are using any of its Luzon expressways. Wherever needed, MPTC provided a shuttle service for the healthcare workers. These actions have spared the frontliners from undue delay and inconveniences. Its expressway operations have also maintained the seamless flow of essential commodities that should reach households.

The firm’s relief efforts have reached the Visayan region, where MPTC is completing the construction of the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway. MPTC has provided financial assistance and accelerated livelihood programs for the fisherfolk communities in the area.

Work with Government.

Ever watchful where MPTC is still needed. Only a few weeks ago, the Department of Public Works and Highways mentioned the need for hospital beds for a new quarantine facility in the Forum Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

MPTC promptly donated 350 hospital beds enabling DPWH to beat its deadline to have the quarantine facility within first half of April. MPTC’s business units donated relief goods, such as CCLEX’s hundreds of sacks of rice, to the local government units to augment their help to their constituents.

Service ‘Defines Us’ Solidarity has been achieved by MPTC people and its business units— NLEX Corp., MPT South Corp., CebuCordova Link Expressway Corp, Nusantara Infrastructure in Jakarta, and CII Bridges & Roads in Vietnam. Such impulse and service orientation to support people has conferred a sort of new identity to the workforce.

“What defines us in these times is the positive attitude we are taking,” recounts MPTC Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, manifested in selfless service.

Cultivating a corporate culture that revolves around its concern for others and commitment to service has expanded its people’s connections and enabled them to grow stronger roots wherever they are.

MPTC is part of the MVP Group which has other major corporations, and they are also in the midst of philanthropic, social welfare and social action programs: a chain of hospitals, a water supply firm, railway transit, power distribution, telecommunications, mining, and logistics. No doubt, the MVP Group’s corporate purpose is inextricably linked with the broader purpose of this country and in its people.

The statement of Chairman Manuel Pangilinan acquires more meaning as we consider the scale, depth and breadth of the organization’s involvements—and our resolute response to uphold our country and people.

“You have steady hands on the tiller, and the ship itself is sturdy,” Chairman Pangilinan confidently declares.

“I hope that years from today, we can all look back to this experience and be proud of ourselves. You are bearers of torches that have given light to the dark corners of our country.”

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

A4

THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020

Business

IN BRIEF Pandemic impacts most PH startup firms THE coronavirus pandemic has the potential to significantly impact the business operations of most startup companies in the Philippines, according to A survey by Isla Lipana & Co./PwC Philippines found out that 62 percent of startup respondents have cash runway of up to six months and 70 percent say they can only sustain by up to six months if the enhanced community quarantine is extended.

About 21 percent of respondents of the 2020 Philippine Startup Survey: COVID-19 Edition, however, say that COVID-19 is positively impacting their businesses, with an increasing demand for their products and services.

The 2020 Philippine Startup Survey: COVID-19 Edition is PwC’s collaboration with QBO, the Trade Department and IdeaSpace. The study follows through on a report released in February this year that maps the Philippine tech startup scene.

PwC Philippines’ chairman and senior partner Alexander Cabrera is optimistic that the Philippine startup ecosystem will survive the pandemic.

Othel V. Campos

MetroPac Hospitals ramp up virus testing

METRO Pacific Hospitals Holdings Inc., one of the member companies of listed Metro Pacific Investments Corp., is ramping up efforts to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic by increasing its laboratory testing capacity and adopting strategies to address the “new normal” such as tele-health services.

MPIC chairman Manuel Pangilinan, in a virtual press briefing last week, pushed MPHHI to “wade into this testing effort” for COVID-19 nationwide.

“I feel hospital laboratories are the key in this fight against COVID-19, and what MPHHI is doing right now is on the right track—utilizing its advantage as the top tier nationwide hospital network to back up the Philippine testing effort by helping set up these facilities, and manning them as quickly as possible,” said Pangilinan.

The Philippines hopes to conduct 30,000 COVID-19 tests a day and possibly have as many as 78 laboratories by end of May. Presently, there are 26 laboratories which have already been certified by the Department of Health to take and process COVID-19 test specimens.

Makati taps Mynt to disburse P2.7b

GLOBE Fintech Innovations Inc. (Mynt), which operates GCash, teamed up with the local government of Makati City to disburse about P2.7 billion in economic aid to 500,000 residents of the city.

Under its strengthened partnership with Makati City, GCash will provide a digital disbursement facility for the expanded Makatizen Economic Relief Program which aims to provide relief to city residents who are affected by the pandemic.

Instead of manually disbursing the financial aid through city hall employees or through physical disbursement facilities, Makati will leverage on the GCash platform to efficiently and safely provide aid to its constituents. This reduces the risk of transmission of the disease, as it limits physical contact among people.

“Makati City has always been one of the most forward-looking local governments in the Philippines, and GCash is ready to help it achieve its goal. We are happy to see our platform being used by government units to fight Covid-19 and ultimately flatten the curve. GCash provides a quick, safe and secure data-driven disbursement platform for the city,” said Luigi Reyes, GCash vice president for enterprise. Darwin G. Amojelar

SMC Global posts 10% income drop

SMC Global Power Corp., the power arm of diversified San Miguel Corp., said posted a 10-percent decline in consolidated net income in the first quarter to P3.221 billion from P3.579 billion in the same period last year amid lower revenues and lower power costs.

Consolidated revenues reached P28.298 billion in the first quarter, or 18 percent lower than last year’s P34.676 billion a year ago.

SMC Global attributed the revenue decrease to the decline in bilateral offtake volume of South Premiere Power Corp. due to lower Manila Electric Co. nominations and lower average sales prices under the new power supply agreements of SPPC and San Miguel Energy Corp. with Meralco effective Dec. 31, 2019.

Other factors were lower average sales prices of Masinloc Power Partners Co. Ltd. for its bilateral offtake volume and lower average spot prices for Luzon-based power plants moderated by higher revenues of San Miguel Consolidated Power Corp. on account of the increase in its bilateral offtake volume; and increase in spot sales volume of MPPCL and Strategic Power Devt. Corp.

Alena Mae S. Flores

PSE INDEX CLOSING Wednesday, May 12, 2020

25.42 PTS.

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES

5,626.25

422,899,054

TOTAL TRADES

79,620 4,789,895,648.41 64

DECLINES

111

UNCHANGED

48

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2020

Currency

Unit

US Dollar Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.3540

Japan

Yen

0.009329

0.4698

UK

Pound

1.227000

61.7844

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129022

6.4968

Switzerland

Franc

1.031460

51.9381

Canada

Dollar

0.710581

35.7806

Singapore

Dollar

0.705418

35.5206

Australia

Dollar

0.647500

32.6042

Bahrain

Dinar

2.645433

133.208

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266312

13.4099

Brunei

Dollar

0.702938

35.3957

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000067

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.031153

1.5687

UAE

Dirham

0.272279

13.7103

Euro

Euro

1.084800

54.6240

Korea

Won

0.000815

0.0410

China

Yuan

0.141173

7.1086

India

Rupee

0.013327

0.6711

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.231214

11.6425

New Zealand

Dollar

0.608200

30.6253

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033428

1.6832 Source: BSP

EMPLOYEE-VOLUNTEERS. Employee-volunteers of Teleperformance Philippines from 21 business sites extend bayanihan to communities needing help. Through Citizen of the World Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of Teleperformance, volunteers pool their efforts to distribute over P1 million worth of personal protective equipment and other supplies to various hospitals.

DBCC sees PH economy contracting 3.4% this year

By Julito G. Rada

T

HE government expects the economy to contract between 2 percent and 3.4 percent this year, a sharp reversal of the actual 6-percent expansion in 2019 because of the debilitating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was a significant turnaround from the forecast of 6.5-percent to 7.5-percent growth that the government made before the onset of the COVID-19.

The interagency Development Budget Coordination Committee revisited the medium-term macroeconomic assumptions and fiscal program between 2020 and 2022.

“The DBCC projects the country’s gross domestic product to contract by 2.0 to 3.4 percent in 2020. NEDA [National Economic and Development Authority] estimates suggest that the potential impact of the pandemic on the economy could reach P2 trillion or about 9.4 percent of GDP this year,” the DBCC said.

“These adjustments reflect the Duterte administration’s priorities of saving lives and protecting communities, while providing support to vulnerable groups and stimulating the economy to create jobs and support growth,” it said.

“These revised assumptions will also allow the government to operate with a more realistic and prudent fiscal stance as it flags the downside risks to the economy and the fiscal program for the rest of the year,” it said.

The gross domestic product contracted by 0.2 percent in the first quarter, a

turnaround from the 5.7- percent growth in the same period last year and 6.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019.

The DBCC expressed optimism the economy would rebound strongly in 2021.

“Timely implementation of a welltargeted recovery program, alongside efforts of the private sector, will mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Such a program will help the country regain confidence, attain higher economic growth, and restore employment rates to pre-crisis levels,” it said.

“The DBCC thus expects the country to recover by fiscal year 2021 with GDP growth of 7.1 to 8.1 percent,” it said.

It said that for 2020, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas recommended the adoption of a lower price assumption for Dubai crude of $23 to $38 per barrel following substantive weakness in global oil consumption amid the COVID-19 crisis.

TOP RATED BANK.

After emerging as the highest rated bank by Filipino clients in a recent survey, Reader’s Digest recognizes BDO Unibank Inc. with two Gold Awards in the Personal Banking and Business Banking categories and two Silver Awards in the Home Loan and Internet Banking categories during its first Quality Service Awards. Receiving the awards is BDO senior vice president for corporate banking group Manuel Locsin Jr. from Sheron White, advertising and retail sales director for Asia Pacific of Reader’s Digest.

Health expert blames smoke, not nicotine for causing deaths

MS-MAY 13 & 14, 2020

A PUBLIC health expert blames smoke, not nicotine, for causing thousands of deaths among cigarette smokers each day.

“There have been many decades of research on the health effects of cigarette smoking, and we have known since at least the 1970s that the primary cause of the cancers, heart and lung disease is the repeated inhalation of smoke,” said Prof. David T. Sweanor, chair of the advisory board of the Centre for Health Law, Policy & Ethics at the University of Ottawa.

Sweanor is a Canadian legal expert who believes that tobacco harm reduction is one of the greatest public health breakthroughs in history. He has been at the forefront of global efforts to reduce cigarette smoking for nearly four decades.

“Our bodies are simply not designed to inhale smoke. We see similar disease patterns in those who cook food over open fires with poor ventilation and in firefighters exposed long-term to smoke inhalation,” said Sweanor. He said it is the tar from combustion, and not nicotine, that contains carcinogens and toxicants.

Sweanor made the clarification to high-

light the benefits of smoke-free nicotine products such as electronic cigarettes, heat-not-burn tobacco products and oral products like Sweden’s snus as less harmful alternatives to combustible cigarettes which cause 20,000 deaths a day globally.

He said making these innovative nicotine products available to countries such as the Philippines will help millions of smokers reduce their exposure to smoke and illnesses.

He said contrary to popular belief, nicotine is not the substance causing these illnesses. “The nicotine itself is not the problem. The global health catastrophe we face is due to the way it’s delivered.

In short, for anyone wishing to tackle the global toll of 20,000 lives a day lost due to cigarette smoking, we need to remember just four words: ‘it’s the smoke, stupid’,” said Sweanor.

Sweanor said nicotine can be compared to caffeine because it is a psychoactive substance that is addictive and gives assorted benefits to many users. “By themselves, neither have significant health risks when used at normal dosage levels.

But if obtained through a toxic delivery system such as smoking, great injury can be caused,” he said.

Ayala Corp.’s profit fell 17% to P6.7b in Q1

By Jenniffer B. Austria CONGLOMERATE Ayala Corp. said first-quarter net income declined by 17 percent in the first quarter to P6.7 billion from a year ago, as the COVID-19 health crisis affected the performance of most business units.

Ayala Corp. said in a disclosure to the stock exchange core businesses Ayala Land and Bank of the Philippine Islands recorded weak results on the impact of the enhanced community quarantine protocols which took effect on March 16.

Globe and AC Energy held steady during the period, as telco and power generation continued to operate during the quarantine albeit on skeleton staffing.

AC Industrials posted a net loss on the impact of government-mandated shutdown of its facilities in China and market disruptions in the global supply chain in manufacturing.

“This unprecedented health crisis has resulted in a radical transformation of societies, economies and businesses, including the Ayala group. At the onset of the crisis, the Ayala group has prioritized the welfare of our workforce and our many stakeholders across our ecosystem. We have likewise continuously done our part in assisting the government, healthcare sector, and economically vulnerable Filipinos who have been most affected by the crisis,” Ayala Corp. president and chief operating officer Fernando Zobel de Ayala said.

“While the outlook for the business environment has fundamentally changed as a result of this crisis, we take comfort in the fact that we have always maintained a strong balance sheet that provides us with flexibility as we navigate the uncertainties,” Zobel de Ayala said.

Ayala Corp. chairman and chief executive Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala said the group put in place a health protocol to ensure the re-entry of the company’s workforce in a safe and productive way once the government allows the reopening of business operations.

Real estate firm expects rents to flatten out in 2020

By Othel V. Campos REAL estate services firm KMC Savills Inc. said it expects office space rents to flatten this year as the industry shifts amid the COVID-19 health crisis.

“I guess we kind of see the rate, the rents going sideways. They’ll be flattening out, I think, for the midterm to longer term. It’s finally become a tenants market.

For more than 10 years, it’s been a landlords market.

There’ll be a lot of supply,” said KMC managing director Michael McCullough.

He said the growth would be more for the subleasing segment as well as for BPO and POGO segments that showed high demand even during the current crisis.

“The administration is pretty pro-POGO, and many other local politicians, as well. For POGOs, it’s a mixed bag for them. Some are doing sports betting, but no sport is being played internationally, so their business is impacted.

For other POGOs, it’s so lucrative that they’ll continue to grow and expand, particularly in places where they are protected like the Philippines,” McCullogh said.

He said that for other office segments, the immediate need is “plug-and-play” type of office space.

“These opportunities are going quickly. There are those willing to sign up for five-year term leases. Again, there is also the mid-term timelines which is more of wait and see, until the situation normalizes and the longterm which seems to be bullish, but more of the collaborative spaces,” McCullough said.