Manila Standard - 2020 May 28 - Thursday

SCHOOL ENROLLMENT BEGINS JUNE 1; ’BLENDED’ LEARNING PLATFORMS SET

By Vito Barcelo, Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta ENROLLMENT in public schools nationwide will go as planned starting June 1, 2020, Malacanang said Wednesday.

“We will proceed because we need to be prepared. It’s a month-long enrollment and we have to prepare,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an interview over dzMM Teleradyo.

He also clarified President Duterte’s remark on Monday that opening of classes

cannot be allowed until a vaccine against COVID-19 becomes available so as not to put students at risk.

But Roque said while face-to-face classes might not resume, the internet and other platforms for learning can be tapped.

“Formal learning will resume, possibly not face-to-face, but definitely blended,” he said.

From utilizing community radio and TV stations, to internet-based learning, Next page

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 94 • 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

FIRST DAY BLUES. In this file photo, parents of first-grade schoolers can't leave their kids alone as they are allowed to stay for the orientation on the first day of classes at the Dr. Alejandro Albert Elementary School in Sampaloc, Manila last year. This scenario will likely not repeat itself with social distancing measures in place amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Ordeal continues for OFWs Returning workers refused entry into hometowns; DOJ probes defiant local execs

By Rey E. Requejo, Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

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USTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday ordered the National Prosecution Service to give priority to cases involving local government officials who continue to refuse entry to repatriated overseas Filipino workers who have been cleared of Next page COVID-19.

the standard the standard the standard the standard the standard the stand

CONTRAST. A disgruntled overseas Filipino worker, one of 18 held in quarantine at a resort in Dasmarinas, Cavite since April 28 (above), flashes a placard made out of carton boxes to beg the government to allow them to go home to their own provinces after over a month in detention. In contrast, another OFW stands beside a welcome sign with a driver of an OFW Sweeper Van Team from Valenzuela City, which will take him back to his residence in the city. JR Josue and Mayor Rex Gatchalian Twitter account

Testing capacity NCR braces for GCQ without buses, jeepneys drops to 6k daily as cases top 15k THE Philippines tested less than 6,000 samples for the new coronavirus on Monday, when Malacañang said the daily testing capacity had reached 32,000 on May 20.

According to Department of Health data analyzed by the ABS-CBN Data Analytics Team, the samples tested on Sunday reached only 6,016, and on Monday only 5,914. On May 14, the number of tests conducted reached 11,123.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire blamed supply shortages, damaged equipment and limited operating

BUSES and jeepneys for public transport will still be barred in Metro Manila even when it shifts to a more relaxed general community quarantine (GCQ), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Wednesday.

Authorities will have a difficult time monitoring buses and jeepneys since these vehicles drop off and pick up passengers along the road, MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said.

Physical distancing will also be difficult to observe in such vehicles, he added.

Garcia, however, said the recommendation exempts point-topoint (P2P) bus services since these can easily be monitored by authorities. P2P buses ferry passengers straight to their destination, with no pickups en route.

“They're easy to monitor because P2P buses are not allowed to pickup and dropoff along the way,” Garcia said in Filipino.

Taxi cabs, ride-hailing services, and tricycles, may resume operations once Metro Manila is placed under GCQ, Garcia said, noting that these vehicles can

BRUSSELS—A one-trillion-euro recovery plan to get Europe back on its feet after the devastation wreaked by the coronavirus pandemic was set to be unveiled Wednesday, as badly hit Spain started 10 days of national mourning for its thousands of dead.

The massive European proposal follows other unprecedented emergency measures introduced around the world to rescue economies shattered by the disease, which has claimed nearly 350,000 lives with infections rapidly approaching 5.6 million.

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AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM MAY 27)

15,049 904 (18 new) 3,506 (94 new) 10,369 380 NUMBER OF CASES DEATHS

RECOVERIES

ACTIVE CASES NEW CASES

Virus cure hub for Chinese busted

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EU puts up trillion recovery aid plan

only ferry a limited number of passengers.

The proposal was unanimously backed by the Metro Manila Council, composed of mayors of the metropolitan region's 16 cities and lone municipality.

The council also recommended placing the capital region under GCQ by June 1.

Metro Manila is under modified enhanced community quarantine until Sunday.

“Our mayors have said that there's no perfect decision here because you really have to balance the economy and health,” Garcia said.

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COVID-19 PH

Okada Manila to lay off 1,000 employees THE billion-dollar casino resort Okada Manila said Wednesday it would lay off some 1,000 workers, citing "severe losses" from the coronavirus lockdown that shuttered its operations.

The gaming resort in Pasay City has not generated revenue since the lockdown started in March, and if left unaddressed, "the losses will pile up," it said in a memo to employees. Next page

NO CUSTOMERS. The main lobby of the Okada Manila casino resort in Parañaque City lies empty as customers stay away amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

AUTHORITIES arrested two Chinese doctors on Wednesday for illegally operating a medical facility for their compatriots who are suspected of being infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Makati City.

This came about a week after authorities arrested two Chinese nationals and ordered the full lockdown of Fontana Leisure Park inside Clark Freeport in Pampanga due to the illegal use of the

facility as a treatment hub for Chinese patients with the deadly COVID-19.

But in a related development, Malacañang said on Wednesday traditional Chinese medicine should be explored as an effective treatment for persons infected with the coronavirus.

In a report, Southern Police District (SPD) acting director, Col. Manuel Peralta, said suspects David Lai, 49, the

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New protest unsettles HK over anthem law HONG KONG—Hong Kong police cast a dragnet around the financial hub's legislature on Wednesday and fired pepper-ball rounds in the commercial district as they stamped down on protests against a bill banning insults to China's national anthem.

The latest unrest comes days after China

announced separate plans to impose a sweeping national security law on Hong Kong following last year's huge and often violent pro-democracy rallies.

That move has prompted US President Donald Trump to warn that Hong Kong might lose its status as a global financial Next page

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House set to pass CURES Act T

The committee is led by House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano “I enjoin all House members to throw their support behind this bill. I pray that through the collaborative of

all stakeholders, we can further finetune this proposal and come up with a refined version that will greatly benefit our fellow countrymen and move our country forward,” Romualdez said.

The bill was approved Tuesday morning by the DCC’s Social

Amelioration Cluster led by Deputy Speaker and Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. and Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez.

In the upper house, Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday filed Senate Bill 1542 that seeks to “establish an economic stimulus strategy for the country’s growth and development” in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga, Sotto’s party mate in the Nationalist People’s Coalition, has filed a similar measure at the House of Representatives.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, meanwhile, on said the social amelioration program’s second tranche must not be held up by liquidation reports.

Ordeal...

Dasmarinas city government had yet to comment as of presstime.

Duterte said the workers should be allowed to return home to their families and loved ones “in the name of humanity” and because it is their constitutional right to travel and go home.

The President warned LGUs not to obstruct the movement of people because they run the risk of being sued criminally.

In a radio interview Wednesday, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año advised LGUs to allow the OFWs to undergo home quarantine, instead of isolating them away from their residences.

Año said that although the returning OFWs are already negative for COVID-19 based on test results they obtained after undergoing a 14-day mandatory quarantine, LGUs may impose an additional quarantine.

This does not mean, however, that LGUs can deny the OFWs entry into their areas of jurisdiction.

DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya, meanwhile, said LGUs are encouraged to waive any fees for medical certificates being requested by stranded individuals who are already preparing to return to their hometowns or provinces.

He said rather than impose excessive fees, it would be better that LGUs issue medical certificates free of charge as a way to help the stranded individuals.

Also on Wednesday, Labor Secretary

Silvestre Bello III said he has formed a task group to help expedite the movement of OFWs from various quarantine facilities to their respective home destinations, and facilitate the speedy processing of outbound workers.

Bello said he ordered the designation of additional personnel from DOLE’s regional and attached agencies to beef up the manpower requirement of the OWWA to ensure the smooth land and air transport and monitoring of OFWs from various quarantine facilities to their respective home destinations.

The move came following a directive from President Duterte to immediately send home all OFWs who tested negative for COVID-19.

About 24,000 OFWs have been kept in government quarantine facilities since their return to the country. Only 7,500 had been sent home as of Wednesday, OWWA officials said.

Most workers had complained of the slow release of their results and clearances after weeks and even months of quarantine and tests.

In an administrative order, Bello also formed a separate task group to ease the processing of outbound land and sea-based workers whose country of destination has lifted the restrictions on the employment of foreign workers.

Bello said the government did not intend to inconvenience the returning OFWs

with their prolonged quarantine and delayed test results. “DOLE and OWWA simply had no control over the testing and issuance of clearances,” he said.

Senator Christopher Lawrence Go called on the different government agencies to assist all locally stranded individuals in Metro Manila and other parts of the country so that they can safely return to their home provinces amid the COVID-19 crisis.

He also urged them to ensure that health protocols are followed and proper coordination between national agencies and local government units are implemented when transporting these stranded people.

During the Senate committee on health hearing held on Tuesday, Go also appealed to LGUs to prepare for the return of stranded individuals, especially OFWs who wish to go back to their home provinces.

In a statement, Go said that he “sympathizes with the OFWs who are still stranded in Metro Manila and are in quarantine facilities for more than the prescribed 14-day period despite complying with health protocols and having been tested negative for COVID-19 already.”

Go added that the delay in the release of their health certifications has caused an unnecessary burden to them as some OFWs are now even experiencing depression.

public and private schools in the Philippines have to “adapt with the times” to keep classes going amid the prevailing coronavirus disease, Roque said.

Formal classes resume on August 24, but whether face-to-face classes would be allowed still depend on whether the country has reached a “new normal” when all community quarantines have been lifted and there is a lower COVID-19 infection rate, he added.

“What is certain is by August 24, formal learning will resume. Possibly

not face-to-face (F2F), but definitely blended. We will never expose our children to any form of danger,” Roque said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel.

Earlier, a coalition of private schools' groups urged the government to fund the online and distance education in both public and private schools, amid uncertainties in the resumption of classes due to COVID-19.

“Education is an essential activity, and a critically affected sector. It needs to continue. And it needs government support,” the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) said.

In another joint statement with the Federation of Associations of Private School Administrators (FAPSA), COCOPEA asked the government to allow education experts to work on various modes to deliver education amid COVID-19, while finding ways to assist them in sustaining their operations.

“Suspending school opening indefinitely until the vaccine is found, indeed, alleviates pressure on our healthcare systems on short term but certainly, this will strain and put more pressure on our already failing economy,” said COCOPEA managing director Atty.

Joseph Noel Estrada.

Estrada said the government would

save more in funding the online and distance education of students in schools than providing cash assistance to affected employees “if education is indefinitely stalled.”

Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) will seek the help of local authorities in the distribution of printed learning modules to students to facilitate distance learning amid the pandemic.

Education Undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio said distance learning can be done through printed self-learning modules and television and radio programs if a student does not have access to online learning platforms.

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according to the chief implementer and the DILG Secretary,” Roque said in an interview with the ABS-CBN News Channel.

All 17 mayors of Metro Manila on Tuesday approved the recommendation to place the National Capital Region under GCQ on June 1.

The recommendation is set to be submitted to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).

People living in areas under a modified ECQ like Metro Manila have to limit their movements to going to work and availing of essential services.

Roque said the government already knows “what is going to happen,” should it impose GCQ in Metro Manila.

Acknowledging that the implementation of GCQ would be a “big change” for Metro Manila, he reminded employers to finalize their working arrangements with their employees to ensure that the quarantine protocols set by the government would continue to be followed. Joel E. Zurbano, Vito Barcelo, PNA

Testing...

By Maricel V. Cruz, Macon Ramos-Araneta, PNA

HE House of Representatives' Defeat COVID-19 Committee is poised to approve today the P1.5trillion social amelioration program under the proposed “COVID-19 Unemployment Reduction Economic Stimulus Act of 2020."

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“The President has already given instructions to all LGUs to accept the returning 24,000 OFWs to their hometowns. If LGU officials continue to defy this directive, they may be held administratively and criminally liable for violations of the Bayanihan Act,” Guevarra said.

After reports said that the workers were languishing in isolation centers well past the 14-day quarantine period, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Department of Labor and Employment, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and other involved agencies to send the 24,000 OFWs home in a week.

One such situation played out at a resort converted into an OFWs quarantine facility in Dasmarinas, Cavite, where the disgruntled repatriates made placards out of carton boxes to beg the government to allow them to go home to their own provinces.

“Please let us go home! Please don't put us in quarantine when we go back to our provinces! We have suffered enough in here! Have pity on us LGU!” said a sign carried by Gary Santo Tomas, one of several OFWs still in the facility.

Officials of the Coast Guard, who are tasked to guard the OFWs and bring them to quarantine facilities, and the

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head doctor; and Liao Songhua, 41, the assistant doctor of the clinic, were arrested at the Goldstar Medical Clinic and Pharmacy Corp. located at Unit 501506 at New Lasema Spa Building along Sampaloc St. on Tuesday afternoon.

The suspects were arrested following an inspection conducted by the local police's Investigation and Detective Management Section and the City Health Department after confirming reports of a Chinese doctor allegedly providing treatment for suspected Covid-19 patients.

Authorities seized rapid test kits for Covid-19 and other medical paraphernalia such as swab sticks, vials, and syringes.

Also confiscated were multiple boxes of Chinese medicine that contain tablets and capsules with Chinese labels believed to be unregistered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The suspects will undergo inquest proceedings for criminal charges before the Makati City Prosecutor's Office.

Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said health experts should not discount the possibility of the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine since they were being used by an illegal hospital and clinic being operated in Pampanga and Makati, respectively.

“Although this is a violation of the law and we shut down [illegal hospitals], let us not forget that because they were treating Chinese patients, they might also have effective products),” Roque said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel. Vito Barcelo

The director for operations of MRT-3, Michael Capati, meanwhile, said the train system is ready to reopen if Metro Manila is placed under a GCQ next week.

Only 153 passengers will be carried per trip, however, far below its capacity of 1,200 people to ensure proper physical distancing, he said.

All passengers will be required to wear face masks and have their temperatures checked, he added.

Earlier, the Palace suggested Metro Manila might be downgraded to a GCQ in June.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, citing the statements of National Policy Against Covid-19 Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. and Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, raised the likelihood of imposing GCQ in Metro Manila on June 1.

“I quote both of them (Galvez and Año) that chances are, we will in fact be transitioning to GCQ in Metro Manila,

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centre if the city's freedoms and vaunted judicial independence are swept aside.

Wednesday's protests were sparked by a debate over a new law that will criminalise insults to the national anthem with up to

Earlier, Social Welfare said a condition for the release of the second installment of the SAP was the local government’s liquidation report on the first wave of the cash distribution.

Recto said this audit rule should be followed strictly in ordinary times.

“But in the midst of the pandemic, it should be relaxed and not waived, but only insofar as extending the deadline of submission and not making it a requisite for the release of the next tranche,” he said.

In Malacañang, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Wednesday the biggest bulk of the P100billion budget for the second tranche of the emergency subsidies under the SAP will be electronically distributed to indigent families.

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While the virus continues to cause havoc in Latin America, Europe has slowly started reopening businesses as outbreaks on the continent slow, but Italy and Spain—two of the hardesthit countries—lack the firepower of richer European nations to rebuild their economies.

European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen will deliver a one-trillion-euro

proposal to the European Parliament on Wednesday, aiming to help the worstaffected countries using a mix of grants and loans.

That is expected to kick off tough negotiations, as backers try to win the support of some northern EU states that are opposed to paying out aid in grants to nations already under mountains of debt—such as Italy and Spain.

The proposal comes as the continent —which has lost at least 172,000 people to COVID-19—grapples with the human tragedy and economic destruction. AFP

hours, prompting her department to require laboratories to run seven days a week.

“We had a meeting with all of our laboratories yesterday because we were seeing a downward trend,” Vergeire said at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum on Wednesday.

“One of the main issues again would be the supply,” Vergeire said, adding her department was already helping the laboratories source the supplies needed.

Contributing to the declining COVID-19 testing was the damaged exhaust system of the University of the Philippines National Institutes of Health that affected its operations.

Vergeire also said the heavy rain last week caused problems for the Philippine Red Cross’ testing operations.

“And then, we have eight private laboratories that do not operate during Sunday. Health Secretary Francisco Duque already gave instructions last night that all laboratories are not allowed to have a one day off for their operations.”

The Philippine government had promised to reach 30,000 actual tests a day by the end of May. Mark surpassed The Department of Health on Wednesday breached the 15,000 mark for reported coronavirus infections as it recorded 15,049 as the total number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines.

As of 4 p.m., the department logged 380 new cases with 94 new recoveries, bringing to 3,506 the new coronavirus patients treated. The death toll has reached 904 with 18 new deaths. Macon RamosAraneta, Vito Barcelo, Maricel V. Cruz, Rey E. Requejo, and Willie Casas

three years in jail, the latest measure activists say is eroding freedoms in the city.

Police surrounded the city's legislature with water-filled barriers and conducted widespread stop-and-search operations in a bid to deter mass gatherings.

Small flashmob rallies in the districts of Causeway Bay, Mongkok and Central, the latter broken up by officers firing crowd-control

rounds filled with a pepper-based irritant.

Police said 240 people were arrested on suspicion of holding an unlawful assembly. Live images showed many of those being led away were teenagers.

'Martial law' "It's like a de facto curfew now," Nathan Law, a prominent pro-democracy advocate told AFP. "I think the government has to

understand why people are really angry."

"You can see there are police every corner, it's like martial law in force," added a woman, who gave her nickname Bean, after she was searched.

In a statement police said they "respect the right of residents to express their views peacefully, but it must be carried out legally", adding crowds were blocking roads. AFP

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Senate pushes non-expiring franchise bill

By Macon Ramos-Araneta, Maricel V. Cruz and Willie Casas A BILL seeking to ensure the nonexpiration of franchises received unanimous support at the hearing of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision on codes on Wednesday.

Senate Bill 1530, authored by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, seeks to amend Section 18, Book VII, Chapter 3 of the Revised Administrative Code. It seeks to provide for the non-expiration of a license if the licensee has filed a timely application for renewal until a final determination by the approving agency is made.

The amendment would include the franchises granted by Congress.

In the House, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano reiterated his appeal for calm and sobriety to the critics and supporters of the ABS-CBN network.

At the joint committee hearing on whether or not ABS-CBN’s franchise should be renewed, Cayetano said it would be easier for the congressmen “to go with the flow and approve or deny the [network’s] franchise.

“What is right is we hear every side, give everyone the opportunity to speak, gather all the facts, and make a fair and an impartial decision. It is wrong to resort to bullying and making threats and insults.” he said.

PH, Vietnam talk rice supply, stronger ties PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc have committed to stronger bilateral and regional cooperation against the coronavirus pandemic.

It included the assurance of long-term rice supply for the Philippines and the mobilization of Association of Southeast Asian Nation (Asean) mechanisms to ensure critical medical supplies and equipment.

In a telephone conversation requested by the Vietnam Prime Minister on Tuesday, both leaders underscored the importance of maintaining adequate supply of staple food and critical medical equipment and supplies to successfully combat the COVID-19 disease.

Duterte thanked Phuc for guaranteeing the long-term supply of rice to the Philippines, stressing that Vietnam, as the country’s top source of rice imports, is a vital partner in food security.

Earlier in the conversation, Phuc told Duterte: “We assure you that Vietnam will continue to supply rice to the Philippines on a long-term basis at competitive prices.”

Duterte said partnership in ensuring strategic rice supply stability is one of the key aspects of the Philippines-Vietnam cooperation and “the Philippines thanks Vietnam for its kind support in assuring supply of rice.”

The Filipino leader also stressed to Phuc the need to implement key Asean initiatives to combat Covid-19, especially the Asean Response Fund and Asean Regional Reserve Medical Supplies.

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Notices of retrenchment will be issued starting June 15, Okada Manila said in a statement. Affected employees will receive separation pay in accordance with the law, it said.

"Okada Manila announces with deep regret that it will be reducing its workforce via a retrenchment program.

It is a reality that the company could not escape because of the new normal that lies ahead of us," the memo signed by its president Takashi Oya said.

The Okada group's press relations manager, Donna Manio, confirmed the memo.

The entire island of Luzon was placed under lockdown on March 17, where non-essential businesses as well as land, air and sea travel were suspended. Metro Manila remains under modified enhanced community quarantine until May 31.

Employees were informed of the retrenchment program through Facebook Messenger and email, a female Okada staff told ABS-CBN News.

The human resources department did not entertain any questions, said the employee, who requested anonymity for lack of authority to speak to the media.

“We were surprised with what the President said. We are all stressed since its very difficult if you don’t have a job and if you love your job. Prayer is our only hope while waiting for news on June 15,” she said.

Some 2.6 million Filipinos have lost their jobs due to the pandemic, according to government figures.

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New PDEA chief to implement new ‘protocol’ NEWLY-APPOINTED Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director General Wilkins Villanueva on Wednesday said he plans to implement a new protocol on the conduct of anti-illegal drug operations amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

"Una, malaking challenge sa amin kasi magkakaroon kami ng bagong [First, the big challenge is for us to have a new] protocol on how to conduct antidrug operations. Unahin muna namin 'yung walang Covid-19 [We will prioritize the areas with no Covid-19 cases]," Villanueva said in a radio interview.

He said that before conducting an operation, the agency will check first if the areas with drug personalities have Covid-19 cases.

To assure the safety of conducting an investigation, PDEA would first assess by identifying the targets.

"Delikado din mga agents, baka mamaya may positive doon [Our agents could be in danger, we don't know if there are positive cases there]," he added.

Villanueva said PDEA agents would undergo necessary training for anti-drug operations amid the 'new normal' situation.

Meanwhile, Villanueva said he already talked to his predecessor Aaron Aquino to discuss matters on the agency's operations.

Before his appointment to PDEA's top post, Villanueva served as itsregional director in Northern Mindanao and National Capital Region. He also served at the Bureau of Customs-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service.

Villanueva also warned drug personalities to stop their illegal acts especially in this time of health crisis.

Maguindanao mortar shelling probe slated

By Nash B. Maulana COTABATO CITY—Three separate investigations were set to be conducted following a mortar shelling incident which killed two minors on Eidl Fitr Sunday in Barangay Kitango, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao, the Bangsamoro government said on Wednesday.

The official information arm of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said BARMM’s Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) was closely working with the police for the probe of the incident, in which 14 others were wounded.

The BARMM Bureau of Public Information also said the Armed Forces of the Philippines’Western Mindanao Command and 6th Infantry Division and the Philippine National Police were doing “parallel investigation on the mortar shelling that killed two minors and wounded several others.”

MILG Minister Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo on Monday said he met with WestMinCom’s Major General Cirilito Sobejana and 6ID’s Major General Diosdado Carreon to plan for the investigation in order “to get to the bottom of this incident and to avoid making hasty conclusions pending the completion of the investigations.”

Sinarimbo, also the spokesperson of BARMM, assured that the Office of the Chief Minister (OCM) will take care of the needs of the victims.

“He (Chief Minister Ahod ‘Al-Haj Murad’ Ebrahim) has directed the appropriate offices in the regional autonomous government to conduct an impartial investigation to unearth the truth,” Sinarimbo said.

GOING HOME. Personnel from the Philippine Coast

Guard and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Assist overseas Filipino workers heading home to their respective provinces during a send-off at the departure area of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 on Tuesday.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier ordered that the 24,000 OFWs stuck in quarantine centers in Metro Manila and already tested negative for Covid-19 be sent home within one week. Inset photo shows hundreds of these OFWs bound for Cebu and Cagayan de Oro as they embark at M/V St. Francis Xavier after clearing their quarantine requirements, before sailing from Port Area,Manila on 27 May 2020 as part of the government's 'Balik Probinsya Program'. PNA/ Coast Guard Photo

Du30 approves nomination of ex-PDEA head as CIAC chief P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has approved the nomination of former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director general Aaron Aquino as president and chief executive officer of the Clark International Airport Corp., Malacañang said on Wednesday.

"The Office of the Executive Secretary confirms that Mr. Aaron N. Aquino has been appointed member, Board of Directors, Clark International Airport Corp. on 22 May 2020. Mr. Aquino's nomination as president/CEO of Clark International Airport Corp. has been approved by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and is now forwarded to the aforesaid corporation's Board of Directors," Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said in

a press statement.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque also confirmed Aquino's appointment.

“I can assure you this is not a case of loss of trust and confidence or anything, he (Aquino) will just be given a new assignment,” Roque said in an interview.

Roque made the clarification after PDEA spokesperson Derrick Carreon on Tuesday claimed that Aquino was

relieved and did not step down from his post.whi Roque thanked the former PDEA chief for his “immense contribution” to the administration's campaign against illegal drugs.

Aquino, meanwhile, thanked President Duterte for his stint as PDEA chief.

"I sincerely thank President Rodrigo Duterte for his trust and confidence, and for giving me the opportunity to serve our people and his administration," he said in a statement.

"I also thank the men and women of PDEA for their support to my leadership and dedication to the agency.

Thank you for the honor of serving as the sixth director general of PDEA. God bless us all on our next journey," he added.

NEW KIOSKS.

Workers rush to finish newly-designed kiosks at the Lawton area in Manila on Wednesday, May 27, 2020. The new kiosks (inset) with safety features against the spread of COVID-19 are intended for street vendors from different barangays in the city as they resume their business after the expected lifting of the modified enhanced community quarantine by end of May. Norman Cruz

Human Rights Watch slams Duterte’s drug war

By Willie Casas THOUSANDS of children in the Philippines have suffered lasting physical, emotional, and economic harm from President Rodrigo Duterte’s abusive “war on drugs,” Human Rights Watch said in a report and accompanying video released on Wednesday.

Governments at the United Nations

Human Rights Council in June 2020 should support an independent international investigation into the “drug war” killings in the Philippines, including violations against children, it said.

The 48-page report, “’Our Happy Family Is Gone’: Impact of the ‘War on Drugs’ on Children in the Philippines,” details the plight of children whose parents or guardians have been

killed. Many children have suffered psychological distress, and all experienced economic hardship made worse by the death of a family breadwinner.

The increased poverty and trauma have led many children to leave school or compelled them to work. Some children who lost a family member have faced bullying in their school and community.

Some were forced to live on the streets.

Poe backs new transport mode IN A bid to overhaul the country’s public transportation system for the eventual “new normal,” a senator on Wednesday has endorsed to the Department of Transportation the proposal of the Move as One Coalition to invest greatly in improving public transport modes and promoting active transport modes such as cycling and walking.

“We thank Senator Grace Poe for supporting our advocacy to significantly improve urban mobility in the country by endorsing our proposal. We look forward to closely collaborating with Senator Poe and the DOTr to create a future where the mobility of people is

prioritized over the mobility of private vehicles, and active transport modes are at the forefront,” said Jedd Ugay, spokesperson of #MoveAsOne Coalition and Chief Mobility Officer of AltMobility PH. Senator Grace Poe is chairperson of the Senate committee on public services.

Move as One, a broad coalition of 133 organizations and more than 10,000 individuals, has proposed a three-stage support package worth P110 billion to avoid massive potential losses in employment and mobility in the country resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Willie Casas

SEABORNE PATROL. The Philippine Coast Guard seaborne patrol along the vicinity waters off Cebu hands out relief supplies to small fishermen while ensuring the implementation of the policies concerning GCQ to promote public health and safety amid COVID-19 pandemic.

IN BRIEF Meralco urged to restore power in Caloocan area THE Presidential Commission on Urban Poor has asked the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) and Maynilad Water Services Inc. to "immediately" restore power and water in the area, respectively, in Pangarap Village, Caloocan City.

In a statement, PCUP chairperson and chief executive officer Alvin Feliciano said amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the two public utility firms must look into the sorry state of the residents of barangays 181 and 182.

Rio N. Araja

Mayor Oca welcomes back returning OFWs THE Caloocan City government on Wednesday fetched the first batch of overseas Filipino workers and brought them to their homes to be able to reunite with their families.

In compliance with the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte and the National Task Force against COVID-19, Mayor Oscar Malapitan issued the order to help in the transport of the 11 stranded OFWs. The city government was not hesitant to welcome the returning OFWs, he said.

"By checking the certification in their possession issued by the countries where they came from that showed they were already COVID19-free, so there’s no need to place them under quarantine here.

Besides, they already waited for long time while under quarantine by the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration," he said. Rio N. Araja

Solon eyes e-govt under ‘new normal’ A CONGRESSIONAL leader on Wednesday called on the Congress to expedite the approval of his proposal that mandates the development, promotion and interconnection of electronic government services and processes to ensure that the Philippines gets ahead of the curve in the “new normal” way of life under a post-coronavirus pandemic era.

Deputy Speaker and Camarines Sur Luis Raymund Villafuerte' s proposal covers all state agencies and corporations.

He said the setting up of an E-Government System as provided under House Bill 1248, "will further improve the ease of doing business—and thus sharpen the country’s global competitiveness as an investment haven—while encouraging people to keep practicing physical distancing in the post-pandemic scenario by letting them transact official business without actually having to go to the various government agencies themselves.” Maricel V. Cruz

‘Leo Marcos’ faces string of cases THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday said it has completed collecting sufficient documentary evidence to charge businessman Leo Marcos for concealment of his true name and violations of the country's Passport Law. Marcos, also known as Norman Mangusin, will also be charged for violation of Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, said NBI Cybercrime Division chief Vicente Lorenzo.

"We will charge him now with (violation of the) Passport Law and concealment of true name. We have completed collecting the documents.

We will also charge him under the Bayanihan Act for the fake news (he made)," Lorenzo told newsmen.

Lorenzo specifically noted Mangusin's claim that nothing is being done especially by the wealthy to help alleviate the poor's plight during the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

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

A4

THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2020

PSE INDEX CLOSING Wednesday, May 27, 2020

26.95 PTS. 5,523.78

TOTAL VOLUME 1,511,273,053 TOTAL TRADES 94,866 TOTAL VALUE 5,483,449,133.43 ADVANCES 99 DECLINES 78 UNCHANGED 47

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2020

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.6170

Japan

Yen

0.009301

0.4708

UK

Pound

1.233600

62.4411

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128994

6.5293

Switzerland

Franc

1.035518

52.4148

Canada

Dollar

0.725531

36.7242

Singapore

Dollar

0.706015

35.7364

Australia

Dollar

0.664400

33.6299

Bahrain

Dinar

2.651113

134.191

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266241

13.4763

Brunei

Dollar

0.703532

35.6107

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000068

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.031368

1.5878

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.7816

Euro

Euro

1.097600

55.5572

Korea

Won

0.000812

0.0411

China

Yuan

0.140135

7.0932

India

Rupee

0.013257

0.6710

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.229305

11.6067

New Zealand

Dollar

0.619500

31.3572

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033433

1.6923 Source: BSP

Ayala Land to raise P19b to refinance existing debt

Business April budget deficit hit P273.9b amid lockdown

By Julito G. Rada

T

HE government incurred a record monthly budget deficit of P273.9 billion in April as tax collection came to a halt because of the enhanced community quarantine imposed by the government to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

Data from the Bureau of Treasury showed that the April deficit was a reversal of the P86.9-billion surplus a year ago.

Revenue collection tumbled 39 percent while expenditures surged 108 percent during the month.

The April deficit brought the cumulative budget shortfall in the first four months to P347.9 billion, significantly higher than the P3.4-billion deficit in the same period last year.

“As expected, the budget deficit widened substantially as revenue collection was all but nonexistent for both BoC [Bureau of Customs] and BIR [Bureau of Internal Revenue] while expenditures understandably rose 108 percent as the government rushed to help alleviate the dire situation caused

by the pandemic,” ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa said in a report.

Mapa said cash outlays, subsidies and expenditures related to healthcare needs pushed spending to bloat. He said that timely, substantial and targeted spending could translate into a faster pickup in the gross domestic product which would help limit the widening of the budget deficit to GDP ratio as growth outpaces the increase in spending.

The Treasury said revenues amounted to P187.8 billion in April, down by 39.17 percent from last year’s P308.7 billion.

Of the total, tax collections made up 67 percent or P124.9 billion while non-tax sources contributed 33 percent or P62.8 billion. This resulted in a year-to-date revenue collection of P963 billion, lower by 3.36 percent or P33.4 billion from a year ago.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue posted a steep 61.56-percent year-on-year decrease in April collections with only P90.5 billion.

“The slower outturn was attributed to the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine, which was also implemented in other provinces, and the extension of deadlines for the filing and payment of income and other taxes due for the month amid the pandemic crisis,” the Treasury said.

BIR’s aggregate collection from January to April declined 20.5 percent to P559.3 billion from P703.7 billion a year earlier.

By Jenniffer B. Austria PROPERTY developer Ayala Land Inc. said it plans to raise up to P19 billion from a combination of debt and bond issuances to refinance outstanding obligations.

Ayala Land said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its board of directors approved the raising of up to P19 billion through the issuance of retail bonds and corporate notes to be listed with the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp.

The company is also looking to raise funds through bilateral loans.

Ayala Land recently filed an application with the Securities and Exchange Commission to issue up to P6 billion worth of fixed-rate bonds due 2022.

The company tapped BDO Capital and Investments Corp., BPI Capital Corp. and China Bank Capital as the joint lead underwriters and book runners for the offering.

The P6-billion fixed-rate bonds represent the fourth tranche of its P50billion bond shelf registration earlier approved by the SEC. Ayala Land earlier issued three tranches of the bonds worth P21 billion.

The company said proceeds from the new offerings would be used to partially finance general corporate requirements and/or capital expenditure requirements, particularly for the leasing business.

Ayala land reported a net income of P4.3 billion in the first quarter, down 41 percent from the same period last year reflecting the severe impact of the enhance community quarantine across its businesses.

First-quarter consolidated revenues declined by 28 percent to P28.4 billion as both residential and leasing businesses registered contraction in sales.

Residential revenues fell 39 percent to P13.8 billion while office-for-sale revenues dropped 68 percent to P962 million.

Commercial leasing revenues reached P8.7 billion, down 5 percent from a year ago.

Ayala Land said it waived about P2.6 billion worth of rent from tenants in its 32 shopping malls nationwide during the enhanced community quarantine period.

IN BRIEF

Gov’t taps PayMaya for PUV payments

THE government tapped PayMaya Philippines Inc. to provide additional livelihood opportunities to drivers and enable cashless payment options to drivers and operators of public utility vehicles as quarantine restrictions begin to ease in some parts of the country.

“Cashless payments particularly in taxis and TNVS vehicles is part of our new norm, and we are glad that our drivers and operators have easy and convenient options such as PayMaya so that they can quickly implement this solution for the safety and benefit of their riders,” said Martin Delgra III, chairman of Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

PayMaya is offering various taxi and transport operators and their drivers QR scan-to-pay capabilities via its mobile app, which will also give them access to a digital financial account that they can use for everyday transactions such as bills payments, airtime load reloading and sending money to friends and family.

The LTFRB recently issued guidelines mandating taxis and TNVS to adopt cashless payments such as PayMaya as a measure to help curb the further spread of the coronavirus.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Emperador’s income rose 5% to P7b in 2019

EMPERADOR Inc., the liquor unit of Alliance Global Group Inc., said it posted a recurring net income of P7 billion in 2019, up 5 percent from 2018 on double-digit growth in revenues.

Emperador said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the 2019 sales rose 10 percent to P51.6 billion on strong performance of domestic and international businesses.

“Last year’s stellar performance is a continued testament to our premiumization and globalization strategy for our renowned brandy and whisky products ranging from mainstream to luxury sold in over 100 countries,” Emperador president Winston Co said.

Co said 2019 was another excellent year for the Scotch whisky segment with the business again growing in every major region of the world.

Jenniffer B. Austria

DTI asks for review of drug price order

THE Trade Department called for a review of Executive Order No. 104 which sets the maximum retail drug price before it is enforced by June this year.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the measure, which was approved in early 2020, was crafted before the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, and had not considered the implications on the current health crisis.

“I haven’t reviewed the impact of COVID-19 on the EO. I suggested that the Health Department may need to review the pros and cons given different situation now under COVID,” he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed EO 104 to effectively reduce the price of certain drugs and medicines by 58 percent. The measure covers 87 medicines or molecules and 133 combinations or preparations. These include medicines for diseases like hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung diseases, renal disease, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis and major cancers. Othel V. Campos

BDO urges vigilance against latest scam

BDO’S SUPPORT. BDO Foundation president Mario Deriquito turns over 300 smartphones with prepaid loads and 550 power banks to Department of Science and Technology-National Capital Region regional director Jose Patalinjug III. BDO Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank Inc., supports RapidPass and ReliefAgad, two government programs designed to help frontliners and Filipinos severely affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic. BDO chairperson Teresita Sy-Coson says the RapidPass System and ReliefAgad Program are ways to make movement and transactions more efficient in communities under enhanced community quarantine and general community quarantine.

PH airlines ready to resume flights under ‘new normal’

By Darwin G Amojelar PHILIPPINE carriers are ready to resume passenger commercial flights under the “new normal” as the Air Carriers Association of the Philippines renewed their call for government support.

“The aviation industry has always been held to a higher standard for safety and risk management versus other forms of mass transportation, and as such, processes and procedures that uphold the welfare and safety of passengers and personnel have been put in place to prevent the risk of infection from viruses and other contaminants,” said Roberto Lim, executive director and vice chairman of ACAP. “While details may vary among individual members of ACAP, the new normal for flights will include minimized contact between passengers and the airline staff, increased utilization of online and digital processes for check-in

and boarding, intensified cleaning and disinfection of all aircraft and facilities, among others,” Lim said.

ACAP, comprised of AirAsia Philippines, Cebu Pacific, Cebgo, Philippine Airlines and PAL Express, were preparing for flights under “new normal” conditions once the national and local governments eased travel restrictions and quarantine requirements.

Lim said measures undertaken by ACAP members adhere to the safety protocols set by the Department of Health and Department of Transportation and globally accepted standards set by the International Air Transport Association, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, and the World Health Organization.

ACAP reiterated its appeal for government support for member-airlines to sustainably operate given the catastrophic impact of the coronavirus pan-

demic on the aviation industry.

It sought assistance under the proposed Philippine Economic Stimulus Act via long-term credit facility, working capital credit lines, credit guarantee arrangements and temporary relief from navigational and airport charges.

“To be clear, we are not asking for a bail-out or dole-out from government.

What we are asking for is a hand-up to help airlines recover. The liquidity problems faced by the Philippine aviation industry are very similar to the challenges that airlines all over the world are dealing with. Airlines all over the world are already in talks with their respective governments for relief packages and inclusion in stimuli programs, many of which have already been granted,” Lim said.

The broader Philippine aviation industry generates over 543,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Singapore firm offers to acquire P7.3-b stake in First Gen

JAPANESE DONATION. The Department of Trade and Industry Region 4-A turns over 9,000 surgical masks and 50 face shields from Japanese companies Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. and Taiheiyo Cement Corp. to Cabuyao City Mayor Rommel Gecolea. With the help of Ibiden Japan, the donations were shipped for free.

VALOROUS Asia Holdings Pte. Ltd. of Singapore offered to acquire up to 9 percent of outstanding common shares of First Gen Corp. for P7.286 billion.

Valorous is making the tender offer to acquire by way of secondary sale from existing shareholders a minimum of 215,874,870 issued and outstanding common shares representing 6 percent and up to 323,812,305 issued and outstanding common shares representing a maximum of 9 percent of the total issued and outstanding common shares of the company at a price of P22.50 per share.

Valorous Asia Holdings is a whollyowned subsidiary of KKR, a leading global investment firm that manages multiple alternative asset classes including private equity, energy, infrastructure, real estate, and credit with strategic partners that manage hedge funds.

“We greatly admire First Gen as a

preeminent company in the Philippines and have great respect for the Lopez family for building this strong, well-established company. KKR has made this Tender Offer in good faith and would welcome the opportunity to be a minority investor available to positively engage with First Gen’s management team and the Lopez family as helpful in the future,” said David Luboff, partner and head of Asia Pacific Infrastructure at KKR. It said the combination of industry knowledge, investment experience and operational expertise provides KKR with an edge in identifying and creating value in investment opportunities.

KKR has been an active investor in Southeast Asia across asset classes. In the Philippines, KKR has invested in Metro Pacific Hospitals, the country’s largest private hospitals operate and healthcare network, and in Voyager Innovations, a leading technology company. Alena Mae S. Flores

BDO Unibank Inc. said it strongly supports the call of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to stay vigilant against scammers who devised a new modus operandi by offering a huge amount of money to people who would lend their bank accounts.

Once recruited, these “money mules” allow the scammers to use their personal bank accounts to receive cash deposits or online transfers from illegal sources posing as legitimate transactions such as charity or Covid-19 donations, among others.

In the Philippines, mules can be prosecuted under Republic Act 9160 or the Anti-Money Laundering Act, with imprisonment of up to seven years and penalty of up to P3 million.

“Do not let other people use your bank account, debit card or credit card to make transactions on their behalf. Never provide your personal and account details to anyone,” BDO said in a statement.

BDO advises clients and the public to ignore suspicious calls, emails, private messages and website links offering easy cash via the use of their own bank account.

Meralco bares plan to boost generation capacity to 3,000 MW

By Alena Mae S. Flores POWER retailer Manila Electric Co. is looking at generating 3,000 megawatts in the next five years, including 1,000 MW from renewable energy.

“We are targeting around 3,000 MW within the next five years, with 1,000 MW allocated entirely to renewable energy projects,” Meralco president Ray Espinosa said in response to a query during the company’s first virtual annual stockholders’ meeting.

Meralco through MGen subsidiary MGEN Renewable Energy Inc. is pursuing mostly solar energy projects. The company expects to complete solar projects with a total capacity of 100 MW this year.

“Building Meralco’s power distribution portfolio remains a highly strategic initiative of our company as we seek to add much needed reliable and efficient power supply to support the Philippines’ growth momentum,” Espinosa said.

Meralco PowerGen started the commercial operations of the P54.3billion 455-MW San Buenaventura coal-fired power plant in Mauban, Quezon in September.

SBPL is the country’s first high efficiency, low emission, supercritical power plant.

“Looking ahead, MGen is preparing for the launch and commercial operations of another highly efficient, supercritical power plant--the 2x600MW Atimonan One Energy,” Espinosa said.

Meanwhile, Meralco said it did not violate any rules or guidelines from the Energy Regulatory Commission amid the high bills in May. Espinosa said Meralco followed the distribution services and open access rules of the commission and the different ERC advisories that were issued on April 15, May 5 and May 22.