Manila Standard - 2020 June 6 - Saturday

7.3m Filipinos go jobless

DOLE: Lockdowns bloat unemployment rate to 17.7%, highest since 1998

By Vito Barcelo, Julito G. Rada and Maricel V. Cuz

A

T LEAST 7.3 million Filipino workers lost their jobs due to the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the highest since 1998, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Friday.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the would suffer, given the extent to employment situation was vibrant, ex- which the health crisis crippled most panding at 4 percent or 1.6 million net economic activity. jobs created, the department said.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III It said it expected employment Next page

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 102 • 1 SECTION 4 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

WORLD ROUNDUP

• Vaccine plan gets $8.8b booster shot • LasVegas casinos roll the dice again GOVERNMENTS around the world have pledged $8.8 billion for global vaccines alliance Gavi to help immunization programs disrupted by coronavirus, prompting calls for global cooperation to ensure a potential Next page

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM JUNE 5)

20,626 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

987

244 NEW

168 FRESH

3

DEATHS

NEW

4,330

82

RECOVERIES

NEW

JOBSEEKERS. Droves of job applicants try their luck at last year’s Freedom Day job fair in Manila as shown in this file photo. At least 7.3 million workers have been displaced by the prolonged community quarantine the government has imposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) that has infected 20,626 Filipinos and killed 987. Lino Santos

Health chief blames underlings for delay in frontliners’ perks At a briefing with President Rodrigo DuDuque said he had instructed his people

By Vito Barcelo, Joel Zurbano and terte in Davao City, Duque said the delay in not to go home until the claims are received Willie Casas HEALTH Secretary Francisco Duque III on Friday blamed his subordinates for the delay in the release of the financial assistance to health workers stricken with COVID-19.

the processing of benefits for health workers who died while fighting the outbreak was unacceptable.

“It is really shameful,” he told the President in Filipino. “They lost their lives and my people act as if there’s no sense of urgency. I really feel so upset, Mr. President.”

by the beneficiaries.

Duterte earlier gave the DOH until June 9 to implement the provision of the Bayanihan law, which mandates a P100,000 benefit for health workers with severe cases of COVID-19 and P1 million for those who died from Next page

Rody vows to dump drug dealers into Pasig TOUGH TALK. President Duterte, during a meeting with an inter-agency task force in Davao City, orders the renewed crackdown on illegal drugs following the arrest of a big-time drug maker and sets an ultimatum for the Health department to speed up the processing of benefits due the frontline health workers who died from COVID-19. Presidential Photo

By Vito Barcelo and Jess Malabanan PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday vowed to go after big-time drug traffickers even during the coronavirus pandemic, saying he would dump them into the Pasig river.

Duterte said he was surprised when police seized P5.1 billion worth of shabu in Bulacan.

Next page

US kicks in P200m for anti-virus campaign

By Rey Requejo, Maricel Cruz said the latest assistance brings the total to convey the US assistance for the efamount of US pandemic assistance to forts to combat the pandemic. and Joel Zurbano THE United States government has extended an additional P201 million to help support vulnerable populations in Mindanao in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The US Embassy in the Philippines

the Philippines to P978 million.

Ambassador Sung Kim met virtually Anger over SAP with Bangsamoro Autonomous Region A party-list lawmaker slammed the in Muslim Mindanao officials, led by Department of Social Welfare and DeChief Minister Ahod ‘Al Haj Murad’ velopment for its alleged failure to alEbrahim, who also leads the BARMM low senior citizens to download copies Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19, Next page

Cirque du Soleil walks a tightrope ITS shows canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an already heavily indebted Cirque du Soleil’s fight for survival has invited an intense backstage battle to try to save the Canadian cultural icon.

High on a list of potential suitors is former fire eater Guy Laliberte, who founded the acrobatic Next page

‘No vaccine, no school,’ Rody insists

ADJOURNED. House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez (center), Defeat Covid19 co-

By Vito Barcelo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday repeated his stand that “no vaccine, no school,” saying he doubted the Philippines was ready to hold online classes as an alternative mode of learning while it battled the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said Education Secretary Leonor Briones had a good program to let students continue their education while Next page

chairman, and several Deputy Speakers and Deputy Majority Leaders, express support to Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano who delivers his address via Zoom before the lower chamber adjourned. Cayetano says Congress may hold a special session to take up the ‘Bayanihan 2’ bill although the President did not certify it as urgent. Ver Noveno

Businesses junk anti-terror bill

By Othel Campos, Willie Casas bill approved by the Senate in February 2020 against terrorism. and Benjamin Chavez

They were the Bishops-BusinessBUSINESS groups on Friday slammed men’s Conference for Human Develthe approval of House Bill 6875 by the opment, Information Technology and House of Representatives and a similar Next page

A2

News

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Review water deals—Duterte

By Vito Barcelo

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte says he is “okay” with signing water concession agreements with Manila Water Co. and Maynilad Water Services as long as they return the money they owe their customers.

He made the statement during a Cabinet meeting in Davao city Thursday night, saying he would review the recommendations on the water concession agreements of both groups.

“Starting tomorrow—I think the papers are with me now—I will review the contracts proposed by the government panel to the Ayala and Pangilinan consortiums,” Duterte said.

“I’m good so long as the people’s money is returned, even in installments.

But you have to make some amends.”

Duterte, meanwhile, warned government officials, including his Cabinet, against people dropping his name for any project or transaction, saying they should just turn them away.

“If your business is legal, why would you use my name?”

Rody...

From A1

7.3m...

From A1

The President again threatened to kill those who want to destroy the country with illegal drugs.

“If you destroy my country distributing P5.1 billion [worth] of shabu all throughout the country, I will kill you,” Duterte said.

Duterte said the country has become a transshipment point of illegal drugs, citing the involvement of the Sinaloa drug cartel. Many police officers have already died in the government’s “journey to fight drugs,” he added.

Around 756 kilos of suspected shabu with an estimated worth of P5.1 billion were seized by members of the Philippine National Police- Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-DEG) in Marilao, Bulacan recently.

Authorities discovered the suspected contraband concealed in 63 biscuit cans after a test-buy operation.

Three dr ug suspects, Chinese national Yuwen Cai and Filipinos identif ied as Angela Miole Tulio and Ma. Lyn Miole Tulio were arrested.

PNP chief Police General Archie Gamboa said they had been monitoring a drug syndicate that led them to the safehouse in Bulacan, which served as the group’s warehouse.

Gamboa said they believe the suspected shabu came from overseas and could have been distributed already as far as Visayas and Mindanao.

said the imposition of a Luzon-wide lockdown meant hundreds of thousands of establishments resorted to temporary closures or flexible work arrangements, affecting millions of workers both at home and overseas.

The 17.7 percent unemployment rate, which translates to 7.3 million people unemployed, is at the highest, surpassing the 10.3 percent unemployment rate in the 1998 recession.

“We also recognize the huge drop in the labor force participation rate at 55.6 percent, the lowest in the history of the Philippine labor market. The lockdown during the community quarantine from March to May, which is supposed to be the period for job hunting of our fresh graduates, has put the labor force in a standstill as two-thirds of the economy is shut down,” he said.

He said he is hopeful, however, that the labor market will recover as the economy opens gradually.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said the employment rate in April 2020 fell to 82.3 percent from 94.7 percent in January 2020. In April 2019, it was 94.9 percent.

This translates to 33.8 million employed persons in April 2020 from 41.8 million in April 2019.

In the House, lawmakers approved the P1.5 trillion COVID-19 Unemployment Reduction Economic Stimulus (CURES) Act of 2020.

House Bill 6920 authorizes the government to release P500 billion annu-

World...

From A1 COVID-19 vaccine is available to all.

The online meeting beat a target to raise $7.4 million to provide vaccines at a much reduced cost to 300 million children worldwide over the next five years.

More than 50 countries took part as well as individuals such as billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates, whose foundation pledged $1.6 billion.

Gavi also launched a new initiative to purchase potential COVID-19 vaccines, scale-up production and support delivery to developing nations, which raised $567 million in seed money.

“Together, we rise to fulfil the greatest shared endeavor of our lifetimes – the triumph of humanity over disease,”

Businesses...

From A1 Business Process Association of the Philippines, Investment House Association of the Philippines, Judicial Reform Initiative, Management Association of the Philippines, Makati Business Club, Philippine Business for Education and Subdivision, and Housing Developers Association Inc. They say they find the bill unnecessary particularly following the

US...

From A1

Duterte said he needed to be calm because, “whether I like it or not, water is very important in our lives.

“So I have to be okay with that, but the money taken from the people has to be paid back—whether in installments over a period of years.

“Just give us a contract that is fair and return the money of the people.”

Manila Water is a subsidiary of Ayala Corp., while Pangilinan’s Metro Pacific Investments Corp. owns a controlling stake in Maynilad.

Duterte had ordered the crafting of new concession deals with the two water companies after describing the current agreements with them as “disadvantageous” to Filipinos.

He said should the water firms reject the new contracts without the “onerous” provisions, the government would take over the distribution of water.

Duterte last year warned he would take the two water concessionaires to court for their allegedly onerous agreements with the government.

His tiff with Ayala and Pangilinan began after the Permanent Court of Arbitration in Singapore, in separate rulings, compelled the Philippines to pay P7.39 billion and P3.4 billion, respectively, to Manila Water and Maynilad for the supposed losses and damage suffered by the two firms.

But Ayala and Pangilinan have since expressed readiness to cooperate with the government.

ally for the next three years to fund infrastructure projects in five sectors, namely health, education, agriculture, local roads and livelihood, considered most affected by COVID-19. The bill’s approval came as Congress adjourned sine die.

House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez said such infrastructure projects would include barangay health centers, municipal and city hospitals, digital equipment for COVID-19 testing, telemedicine services, post-harvest facilities, trading centers, and farm-to-market roads.

One of the bill’s authors, Deputy Speaker and Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, said the measure will set the stalled economy back on its high-growth path and would boost President Duterte’s new initiative to decongest Metro Manila by creating a lot more infrastructure jobs in the countryside.

“This measure aims to blunt the impact of what the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects to be the worst global recession since the Great Depression in the 1930s by stimulating economic activity and creating so many jobs in the countryside,” Villafuerte said. “In so doing, CURES will at the same time boost President Duterte’s Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-Asa program by encouraging city dwellers to return to their home provinces amid the prospects of more employment and livelihood opportunities in the regions outside the national capital.”

The stimulus program is anchored on infrastructure spending outside Metro Manila to reset the economy and and generate jobs following the

sudden work stoppage set off by the quarantine measures that were effected in mid-March to hold back the COVID-19 pandemic.

The House of Representatives’ ways and means committee chairman and Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda warned of “potentially deep troubles ahead” if the government is unable to pass a meaningful stimulus plan and the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act early within the next half.

Salceda made the statement as he reiterated his appeal to President Duterte to call for a special session of Congress to get these bills passed.

“Although the jobless figures say you have 5 million more unemployed workers, the problems could actually be bigger, as you had almost 8 million fewer workers who were employed in April 2020 compared to April 2019. Most of them were in the services sector,” Salceda said, citing Philippine Statistics Authority data that shows that there were 5.34 million fewer employed persons in the services sector.

“Much of the figures in the services sector, of course, are attributable to the enhanced community quarantine. Many small businesses were unable to open, so their workers were also unable to go to work. We should see some uptick from this month’s figures to May and June figures,” Salceda added. “These are warning signs of deep troubles ahead unless we can create new jobs, and not just protect the ones that exist. The best job creator, infrastructure, will be extremely critical in getting our people back to work,” he added.

Patients with high blood pressure admitted to hospital with coronavirus infections are twice as likely to die as those without the condition, researchers said on Friday.

downtown roulette wheels and slot machines whirring to life minutes after midnight.

Large crowds flocked immediately to casinos such as The D, which had flown in gamblers from across the country on hundreds of free flights to boost the occasion.

The Bellagio’s fountains were switched back on shortly before its sprawling casino floors reopened, as dozens of curious locals and excited tourists lined up to enter at 10 am.

The reopening is a major boost for the badly-hit Las Vegas economy, which depends heavily on tourism and has seen unemployment shoot as high as Las Vegas casinos reopen 33.5 percent in April.

Las Vegas casinos threw open their “Vegas is still Vegas,” MGM Resorts doors Thursday after 11 weeks of CEO William Hornbuckle said. “Over closure due to the coronavirus, with time, we’ll get fully back.” AFP

global crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In these trying times of the COVID-19 pandemic, what we need is national unity. We are all suffering and fighting for survival: businesses are closing down, people are losing their jobs, those who still have jobs find it impossible to find safe transportation to work, our children are going hungry and the continuity of their education is under threat,” the groups said in a statement.

“We need to come together, united

around a set of relief and recovery measures that will help us come out of this pandemic a stronger and more resilient nation.”

The business groups say they find the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 as highly divisive, arguing it poses a clear and present danger to human rights at a time the nation needs to come together as one.

“We strongly urge our national leaders and the private sector to be focused fully at this time on what really matters, developing policies that

for essential travels, the Joint Task Force COVID Shield said Friday.

Philippine National Police Chief Archie Gamboa gave the permission to the officers to issue the travel authority.

It is expected to make travel between provinces and regions easier for stranded people provided they comply with the medical certificate requirement given by the city or municipality they come from.

whelmed after stranded individuals came to it in groups.

It appeared that those stranded had a leader who told them to proceed to NAIA Terminal 2 because there was a f light that would bring them home to various parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.

said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who hosted the summit.

“Today we make the choice to unite, to forge a path of global cooperation.”

Scientists around the world are racing to develop and test a coronavirus vaccine and United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said it must be available to everyone.

“A vaccine must be seen as a global public good – a people’s vaccine, which a growing number of world leaders are calling for,” he said in a video message.

Patients with high blood twice likely to die

of the Social Amelioration Program, forcing them to leave their homes and risk their lives.

In a privilege speech, Senior Citizens party-list Rep. Francisco Datol Jr. said several senior citizens fainted and some even died while lining up for financial help and awaiting health assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Confirm your flights He addressed his complaint to General manager Eddie Monreal of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and House Majority Floor Leader Mar- the Manila International Airport Authority appealed to stranded passengers tin Romualdez. desperate to go back to their provinces Travel authority not to proceed to the airport unless they The chiefs of police and station com- have confirmed flights. manders are now allowed to issue travel He made the appeal after the Ninoy authority to stranded individuals and Aquino International Airport was over-

For in-patients with the virus who had stopped taking medication for high blood pressure, the risk of dying doubled again, they reported in the European Heart Journal.

“It is important that patients with high blood pressure realize that they are at increased risk of dying from COVID-19,” said senior author Fei Li, a cardiologist at Xijing Hospital in Xian, China.

For the study, researchers in China and Ireland retroactively examined cases admitted to Huoshenshan Hospital in Wuhan between February 5 and March 15.

Bicycle lanes welcome The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on Friday welcomed the establishment of pop-up and elevated bicycle lanes that promote the use of the bicycle as a mode of transportation in the metropolis.

But the agency reminded bikers there were precautions for the safety of all road users. It said close coordination with the MMDA and local government units was important in using the designated lanes.

will address multiple socio-economic shocks resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, strengthening our health systems, improving the investment climate to create more jobs especially given many thousands of returning Filipino workers. These are what our country needs to pull us out of our crisis and get back on our feet,” the groups said in their statement.

Human Rights Watch also slammed the anti-terrorism bill that President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to sign into law.

Cirque...

From A1 troupe in 1984 but later sold it.

“Its revival will have to be done at the right price. And not at all costs,” said the 60-year-old, determined not to see his creation sold to private interests.

The billionaire clown said after “careful consideration,” he decided “with a great team” to pursue a bid, but offered no details.

Under his leadership, the Cirque had set up big tops in more than 300 cities around the world, delighting audiences with enchanting contemporary circus acts set to music but without the usual trappings of lions, elephants and bears.

Then the pandemic hit, forcing the company in March to cancel 44 shows worldwide, from Las Vegas to Tel Aviv,

Health...

From A1 the disease.

He also suggested that Duque might lose his job.

“If we have to move fast, I will sacrifice you even if you are not really a laggard,” he said.

“There are so many well-intentioned and well-meaning Filipinos, doctors and all, who would want to serve [the] government to contribute to humanity.

And we do not have to suffer.”

Also during the briefing, the President directed Duque to form a new team that will manage the distribution of cash assistance to COVID-19-hit health workers.

He said Duque should tap “persons of known honesty” who will “take care of these funds which ought to be in the hands of the intended beneficiaries by this time.”

This was not the first time that Duque blamed his subordinates for his department’s shortcomings.

In the early days of the pandemic, he blamed his subordinates for the slow pace of contact tracing that could have limited the spread of the virus.

During a Senate hearing, senators noted that none of the 32 health workers who had died of COVID-19 had received compensation provided under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act. The President said it was “totally unacceptable” that the health workers infected with COVID-19 have yet to be compensated.

A critic of Duque, Senator Panfilo Lacson, had two words for him: “Just go.”

“Many of us are starting to wonder what amulet Secretary Duque has to deserve such special treatment,” Lacson said.

“While I do not and cannot question the presidential prerogative to hire and fire his Cabinet secretaries and other political appointees not protected by the civil service law, it is kind of boring to see Secretary Duque pointing fingers at his subordinates and other people for his pattern of failures in running the DOH--and getting away with it each time.”

“Now, he even blames his inadequacies and neglect on those who have not received the compensation allowances, by claiming that some of them

‘No vaccine,...

From A1 staying at home, but he doubted if the Philippines was ready to implement it.

Millions of children were supposed to return to school on Aug. 24 after classes for more than 25 million primary and secondary students were shut down in March due to COVID 19.

The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases approved the proposal of the Department of Education to move the opening of classes for basic education to Aug. 24, with the school year ending on April 30 next year.

But Duterte said if the technology to fight the pandemic was there and the government could afford it, the Department of Education could proceed with its plan.

“Secretary Briones is insisting there should be an alternative and she has a very good program for that. It’s like teleconferencing,” Duterte said.

“The technology is good, but I don’t know if we’re ready for that. Meaning to say, if we have enough of those for the whole Philippines.

“We’re talking students. Does she have the technology already? If she has, if we can afford it, we’ll buy it and she can proceed with her novel idea on how the children will continue their education.”

Duterte said he could not allow students to go back to school unless a vaccine or cure for COVID-19 was there.

“We really have to wait for the vaccine. No vaccine, no schooling,” he said.

Moscow to Melbourne, and lay off 4,679 acrobats and technicians, or 95 percent of its workforce.

Hurtling toward bankruptcy, the global entertainment giant and pride of Canada commissioned a bank in early May to examine its options, including a possible sale.

Meanwhile, shareholders ponied up $50 million in bridge financing for its “short-term liquidity needs.”

Laliberte, the first clown to rocket to the International Space Station in 2009, ceded control of the Cirque for $1 billion in 2015.

It has since fallen into the hands of American investment firm TPG Capital (55 percent stake) and China’s Fosun (25 percent), which also owns Club Med and Thomas Cook travel. The Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ) retains the last 20 percent. AFP

News IN BRIEF 21 nabbed for ECQ violation AUTHORITIES arrested at least 21 residents of Paranaque City for violating the 89-hour calibrated lockdown imposed by the local government in two populated streets in Barangay San Dionisio.

Parañaque PNP Chief Police Col. Robin King Sarmiento said the violators were taken to designated facilities in the barangay for booking procedures.

He said the first offenders would serve a 24-hour community service in the entire barangay.

Sarmiento said some of the arrested individuals would be charged for violations of Republic Act 11332 or non-cooperation during a health crisis, disobedience to persons in authority as well as local ordinances on curfew and the mandatory wearing of face masks.

Tramo I and Tramo II in Barangay San Dionisio were placed under the 89-hour hard lockdown at 6 a.m. on Thursday, until midnight of Saturday, as ordered by Mayor Edwin Olivarez to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.

As of Friday, Barangay San Dionisio has a total of 117 cases of COVID-19 with 40 active cases and 75 recoveries while two fatalities. Joel Zurbano

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Cop in ex-soldier slay charged

By Willie Casas

HE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed a murder complaint against the police officer accused of shooting dead a former soldier near a checkpoint in Quezon City last April.

T

The NBI’s death investigation division filed complaints for murder, perjury, and planting of evidence against Police Master Sergeant Daniel Florendo after he shot dead Winston

Ragos, a Marawi war veteran, NBI spokesman Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin had confirmed.

According to Lavin, the complaint was filed before the Quezon City

Prosecutor’s Office.

He said the complaint also named as respondents the police trainees manning the checkpoint.

Florendo fatally shot Ragos near a control point in Fairview, Quezon City last April 22 after the former soldier allegedly attempted to pull out a gun on officers who had told him to go home to observe COVID-19 quarantine measures.

The victim’s family said he was unarmed. Police allegedly found a caliber .38 revolver loaded with ammunition in

Cyclists grateful for bicycle lane MANY cyclists thanked the government for the Laguna Lake Highway bike lane project, which provides them a worry-free biking experience.

Enrique Tija, a 43-year-old resident of Barangay Napindan, Taguig City, said the newly designated bike lane was a great help for him and his friends.

“Every Sunday, they would bike here to practice… Some people who also pass through here going to work avoid getting sideswiped by motorcycles and cars,” Tija said.

He said before roads were safe for bikers, one of his children lost two fingers in an accident while on a bike. A jeepney ran over his fingers after he propped it on the road to avoid falling flat on the ground.

From Pasig, jeepney driver Reymond Banaba, 49, comes to Laguna Lake Highway to bike: “Taguig has been the best because it has this protected area where we can bike for fitness. Before, this really wasn’t a great place to bike but after it was developed, the bike lane is now entirely separated from the main road thus giving bikes protection from speeding vehicles.” Joel Zurbano

Navotas to resume educational assistance THE City Government of Navotas will resume distribution of educational assistance to high school students on Monday, June 8.

Some 383 junior high students from Tanza National High School and Kaunlaran High School will receive P5,000 each.

“When I was still in Congress, we allotted P5.5 million for the educational assistance of 1,100 indigent learners. Some of the funds have already been distributed last year and before the COVID-19 pandemic happened,” Mayor Toby Tiangco said.

“Our schools are now accepting enrollees and we expect classes to start in August. We hope the cash assistance will somehow help our students and their families, especially as they adjust to the blended learning approach of our education sector,” he added.

his sling bag.

Ragos served in the military for seven years before being discharged in January 2017 after he was diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder.

The police and the Ragos family earlier filed a homicide complaint against Florendo.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the complaint was set for preliminary investigation this month.

The preliminary investigation is where prosecutors determine whether or not there is basis to charge a person in court.

DOJ orders NBI: Probe ambush

By Rey E. Requejo

HSUD lauds Marawi rehab THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development on Friday lauded its attached agencies for Lanao del Sur’s Marawi City rehabilitation.

“The Marawi City rehabilitation is on target,” Secretary Eduardo del Rosario said.

He said national and regional directors from various government agencies had committed to complete their projects within the Dec. 21 deadline set by Task Force Bangon Marawi for all infrastructure projects inside the most affected area.

He told the implementing agencies to target an earlier completion date.

“Work double time with your respective projects, coordinate among yourselves to ensure that all projects are synchronized and will go full blast by next month,” he said.

“If you have to work 12 hours a day, do it,” he added.

In a statement, Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra said all projects being undertaken by the local government unit are well within the Dec. 2021 target date. Rio N. Araja

A3

VENDING STALLS. Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso inspects the new vending stalls for street vendors in Ylaya street in the capital’s Divisoria district. The stalls were built using donations to the city government by different unidentified donors. Norman Cruz

Authorities nab 8 for illegal quarrying

By Willie Casas OPERATIVES of the National Bureau of Investigation-Environmental Crime Division (NBI-EnCD) arrested eight persons and seized equipment and minerals worth almost P4 million, for illegal quarrying in Tarlac City.

The NBI said the operations were in line with the continuing effort of the NBI against environmental crimes.

NBI Officer-In-Charge (OIC) Eric Distor identified the suspects as Rene Santiago, Joseph Acuña, Norman Ibasco, Jeovy Mojello, Raul Laxamana, Ernesto Torres, Reynaldo Balajadia, and Ryan Santos.

One suspect identified as Mark John M. Gopez is currently at large.

Charges for violation of Section 3 of R.A. 7942 (Philippine Mining Act of 1995) were filed before the Office of the Prosecutor General, Department of Justice, against the eight arrested suspects,

and one at-large suspect.

NBI agents seized heavy equipment and minerals found at the quarry site with a total value of P3,942,000.00.

Suspects were arrested in an operation which stemmed from an information that a quarry operation and processing of minerals in Brgy. Telabanca, Concepcion, Tarlac was operating without the necessary permit from the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board of the Province of Tarlac and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region III (DENRMGB Region III).

Surveillance operation was conducted at the quarry area and vibro plant, and thereat, operatives observed several trucks coming in and out of the quarry site.

Trucks coming in the quarry site were going out loaded with minerals.

Also seen in the area were equipment being used in the extraction, disposition and processing of minerals. Operatives

also witnessed several stockpiles of sand and mineral products (vibro sand) present in the quarry site which clearly manifests that there was an ongoing mining operation.

Based on the updated List of Quarry Permits as of January 28, 2020 provided by the Office of the Governor, Province of Tarlac, there are no issued quarry permits in Brgy. Telabanca, Concepcion, Tarlac.

In another certification of MGB-Region III, there are only two mining tenements (Industrial Sand and Gravel Permit) issued in the province of Tarlac.

On June 2, 2020, NBI-EnCD operatives, together with personnel from the DENR-MGB Region III, conducted the operation against the illegal quarry operation at J2KAT Vibro Sand Trading in Brgy. Telabanca, Concepcion, Tarlac.

Upon arriving at the area, operatives immediately noticed a vibro plant currently operating and backhoe equipment extracting minerals from the area.

THE Department of Justice on Friday ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to probe the circumstances surrounding the recent ambush of a witness in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre that resulted in the death of his security aide.

In Department Order 143 dated June 4 but released to the media only Friday, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra required the NBI to conduct an investigation and case build-up on the ambush of Mohammad Sangki, a witness in the Maguindanao massacre case and who has been admitted into the Department’s Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Program.

The ambush resulted in the killing of Richard Escobilla, an intelligence and security officer, in Tantangan, South Cotabato.

Guevarra instructed NBI Officer-InCharge Eric Distor to submit reports on the progress of its investigation and case build-up within 10 days.

Reports indicated that Sangki was traveling aboard a motor vehicle from Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat to the airport in General Santos City to catch a flight to Metro Manila when he got ambushed in Barangay Bukaypait.

This is the second ambush against Sangki this year after the March 17 attack in Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao.

Guevarra stressed that Sangki was a vital witness in the continuing trial of the Maguindanao massacre case.

The DOJ expressed belief that Sangki’s ambush last June 3 “had something to do with the horrible case.”

Last December 19, Judge Jocelyn Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 221 promulgated a decision which found guilty beyond reasonable doubt 28 persons including members of the Ampatuan clan for 57 counts of murder.

On the other hand, the court has yet to conclude the trial of a number of the accused, some of whom remain at large.

DV Boer founder ‘harasses ex-employees with bogus raps’ FORMER employees of DV Boer Farm International Corp. (DV Boer) have cried foul against the “made-up” charges filed by company founder Dexter Villamin, who they said “named and shamed” selected individuals on his social media accounts.

In a statement, the ex-employees said such cases were filed to intimidate whistle blowers from the company who had filed statements regarding DV Boer’s “paiwi” system, which they said was riddled with controversy due to delays of return on investments and allegations of corruption and misuse of company funds by Villamin himself.

The paiwi system is DV Boer’s goat

farm program, which ventures in animal raising—often with imported cattle—that was marketed as a profitable investment for OFWs and small business enthusiasts in the country.

Villamin has filed cases of qualified theft against former employees Krizza Joy Peracho, DV Boer’s former vice president of operations, along with Abraham Aguilar (operations manager), Randy Macalindol (finance comptroller), and audit staff Alvin Andulan, Carlo Tejada, and Junior Gacula.

Lawyer Argel Cabatbat, the company’s former legal adviser, was also included in the list.

“Said individuals are staff members who

had direct knowledge of company operations, finance and liquidity, and disbursement of investments directed to the company,” the group said.

They are also the key witnesses to syndicated estafa cases filed against Villamin by overseas Filipino workers and small investors who claim that they were swindled by DV Boer, and that Villamin has spent their investments on personal expenses.

To date, there are nine cases filed against DV Boer and Villamin in the cities of Makati (3 counts), Taguig, Mandaluyong, Pasig, Tarlac, and San Pedro, Laguna.

Villamin countered by filing qualified theft and syndicated estafa charges against

Cabatbat and the ex-employees before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office last March.

The former DV Boer workers said Villamin’s filing of cases against key witnesses “is nothing but a show of force meant to threaten them from speaking the truth and exposing the corruption in the program.”

Numerous investors have come out on national and local media channels to expose the real conditions of their investment, the group said.

In April 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) flagged the Paiwi system, as DV Boer did not have the proper licenses to sell the investment.

Service providers under tight watch

POP UP BIKE LANES. The San Juan City government has put up “pop up bike lanes” along Ortigas Avenue and other parts of the city on Friday. The lanes are the local government’s initiative to encourage biking amid the limited operations of public transportation under the general community quarantine.

OFFSHORE gaming service providers are closely monitored by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and other regulatory agencies to ensure full compliance with government directives, lawyer Margarita Gutierrez said.

“From the start of the lockdown, PAGCOR has been aggressive—with the help of local government units and other regulatory agencies—to ensure all foreign and Filipino employees of POGO Service Providers are following the rules and guidelines set by the government,” Gutierrez, spokesperson of the Accredited Service Providers of PAGCOR, said in a statement.

She said the Department of Labor and Employment and the Bureau of Immigration have been doing checks to ensure that foreign employees of PSPs have valid documents and work permits.

“PAGCOR also conducts random

inspection, together with the LGU, to make sure that nobody is working (during the lockdown) in their office sites, which service providers have declared as part of the requirements for their operation,” she added.

Gutierrez addedthe PSPs themselves were implementing the protocols, as well as disciplinary measures, not only for everyone’s safety but also to maintain harmony within the community where they belong.

“These companies are very strict that their employees follow health and safety protocols, such as social distancing and refraining from congregating (in areas accessible to the public)—particularly foreign employees—in houses or condominiums,” Gutierrez said.

While there were some reports that foreign employees were uncooperative, Gutierrez said the PSPs were already addressing this issue.

She also clarified that though PSPs have been allowed to start limited work, majority of their members are still complying with the conditions set by the administration, particularly in securing the clearance from the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

ASPAP members had vowed to settle their tax obligation as a precondition for the resumption of operations. However, Gutierrez explained that they are currently in talks with the BIR about the taxes levied against them.

Gutierrez reiterated that the industry can largely contribute to the government coffers in funding critical COVID-19 response programs.

“We have always said that we are ready and willing to help the government fight COVID-19 and that is why we are requesting to resume our operations so we can help through the remittances that we can contribute,” she said.

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

A4

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020

Business

URC buys Roxas’ La Carlota assets IN BRIEF R

By Jenniffer B. Austria

AllDay Supermarket opens 2 new stores

ALLDAY Supermarket, the supermarket chain under AllValue Holdings Inc. of the Villar Group, continues to expand its presence in the country amid coronavirus as it opened two new stores in May. AllDay Supermarket said in a statement Friday it opened a new store in Imus on May 20 to complement the group’s one-stop shop home improvement store AllHome along Aguinaldo Highway.

The second AllDay Supermarket store opened in Salawag, Dasmarinas on May 30, boosting the group’s retail offering in the area, which already has an AllBuilders store.

“The opening of the two AllDay supermarkets was in response to the demand that we saw in the area which was highlighted during the Community Lockdown,” said Camille Villar, president of AllValue Holdings.

AllDay Supermarket to date now has 21 stores. Jenniffer B. Austria

Malampaya restricts supply of natural gas

OXAS Holdings Inc., the country’s largest integrated sugar producer, is selling its mill and ethanol plant in Negros Occidental province to Universal Robina Corp. for an undisclosed amount.

Roxas Holdings said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Friday the company and wholly-owned subsidiaries Central Azucarera De La Carlota Inc. and Roxol Bioenergy Corp. reached an agreement with URC on the sale of the sugar mill, ethanol plant and other investment properties in La Carlota City.

The consummation of the sale transaction is subject to the approval of the Philippine Competition Commission and creditor banks, in addition to the satisfactory completion of other closing conditions.

“We are hopeful that we can get the necessary approvals before the start of

the next crop year,” Roxas Holdings chairman Pedro Roxas said.

“We believe that this sale transaction should raise significant competition concerns as there are many players in Negros, considering that the province is the country’s sugar capital,” he added.

This is the second time that Roxas Holdings signed an agreement with URC on the sale of its sugar milling assets.

The first was in 2018 when Roxas Holdings agreed to sell its sugar milling facility in Nasugbu, Batangas. The deal, however, did not proceed as the transaction was blocked by the PCC, the government’s anti-trust body.

Roxas Holdings president Hubert Tubio said the sale of La Carlota assets would enable the company to refocus resources on rebuilding its Nasugbu sugar milling and refining facilities.

“Over the years, demand for quality Central Azucarera Don Pedro (CADP) refined sugar has not wanted even with the influx of imports. Industrial customers still prefer sourcing their requirements from CADP considering its proximity to the National Capital Region,” he said.

Roxas Holdings, without disclosing the acquisition price, said the amount represented a fair market value of the plant and equipment, as well as the building and land, and investment shares.

Roxas Holdings executive vice president and chief finance officer Celso Dimaruct said the sale transaction was considered following the aggressive stance of the company to reduce the levels of debt to lesses business risk.

THE Energy Department said Friday the Malampaya gas field in northwest Palawan operated by Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. is restricting supply to natural gas-fired power plants to normalize pressure in the pipeline.

“The high level of coal-fired power plant outages in the past couple of months contributed to the continuous operations of natural gas-fired power plants, increasing demand for Malampaya gas,” the department said in a statement.

The situation has drastically reduced landing pressure in the 504-kilometer line pack from the off-shore gas supply facility in Palawan to the Batangas on-shore facility. The Malampaya gas supply restrictions have resulted in up to 520 megawatts of restricted capacity.

The Malampaya project supplies to natural gas to power plants in Batangas with a combined capacity of 3,000 MW. Alena Mae S. Flores

SMC extends period of DOTR fuel support SAN Miguel Corp. extended its free fuel support to the government’s “Libreng Sakay” program after the modified enhanced community quarantine period, or up to June 15, bringing its total fuel donation for the benefit of medical front liners to P6.2 million.

SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said Friday cited limitations on transportation options for commuters, especially essential medical workers.

“That is why the company chose to continue helping the Department of Transportation, which has been deploying shuttle buses to give free rides to medical front liners since the ECQ,” he said.

“It will be a period of adjustment for everyone, particularly those who are commuting to and from work. As the threat of the pandemic is still here, medical front liners still need to care for patients, particularly those afflicted with Covid-19. We have to make sure that they have reliable and safe transportation going to their places of work everyday, “Ang said.

CITY SAVINGS SUPPORTS DEPED. City Savings Bank donates safety and sanitation essentials to one of its initial Brigada Eskwela beneficiaries, Department of Education-Eastern Visayas. Regional director Ramir Uytico (fourth from left). To ensure a safe opening of classes, DepEd called for support from stakeholders in the implementation of its Basic Education-Learning Continuity Plan. Guided by the Aboitiz Group’s purpose to drive change for a better world, CitySavings pledged its support to DepEd under the government’s BE-LCP.

PAL booked P10.7-b loss in the first quarter of 2020

By Darwin G. Amojelar PAL Holdings Inc., operator of Philippine Airlines and PAL Express, said on Friday losses in the first quarter of the year as operations were severely affected by worldwide travel restrictions due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

The Lucio Tan-led airline said total comprehensive loss amounted to P10.72 billion in the January-to-March period, up 17,525 percent from a loss of P60.81 million year-on-year.

The company blamed the huge increase in losses to “worldwide travel restrictions due to coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.”

PAL Group operations were halted since March 15 after the government implemented an enhanced community quarantine to contain the spread of

COVID-19.

Consolidated revenues in the first quarter amounted to P32.07 billion, down 18.3 percent from P39.24 billion a year ago.

The company attributed the lower revenues to the 21.4-percent drop in passenger revenues as a result of flight cancellations in March due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Passenger revenue amounted to P27.01 billion in the first quarter of the year, down from P34.37 billion a year ago.

Cargo revenues also declined to P1.89 billion, down 14 precent from P2.20 billon.

Consolidated operating expenses increased to P38.63 billion, up 5.2 percent from last year’s P36.71 billion, mainly due to the increase in flying operation expenses, especially fuel expenses as a result of hedging losses.

The increased expenses were offset by the decrease in other group’s operating expenses due to reduced flight operations during the quarter.

Total other charges fell to P2.73 billion mainly due to lower financing charges as a result of payment of loans.

PAL Holdings last year recorded a net loss of P10.31 billion, up 138 percent from a P4.33-billion net loss in 2018.

The company also posted a net loss of P7.33 billion in 2017.

PAL and PAL Express expect to resume limited domestic and international operations this month.

The flag carrier operates from four hub airports (Manila, Cebu, Clark and Davao) in the Philippines to an inclusive total of 32 domestic destinations and 41 points in Asia, Australia/Oceania, the Middle East, Europe and North America.

Peso climbs to 3-year high of 49.80 against US dollar on heavy trading THE peso pierced through the P49-pergreenback boundary and strengthened to nearly three-year high on the back of improving global market risk appetite that resulted in gains in emerging markets.

The local currency gained 20 centavos to close at 49.80 from 50 flat on Thursday. It was its strongest level since it closed at 49.63 against the greenback on June 15, 2017. Total volume traded stood at $1.011 billion, up significantly from $602 million in the previous day.

Michael Ricafort, chief economist of the Economics and Industry Research Division of the Yuchengco-led Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., said in a report the stronger close of the peso happened “amid the continued decline in the US dollar versus major global currencies… ” He also said the improved global market risk appetite led to “gains in emerging markets such as the Philippines, on some optimism recently about a quicker economic recovery as more countries around the world further reopen their respective economies.”

Friday, June 5, 2020

52.36 points 6,465.13

TOTAL VOLUME 946,665,161 TOTAL TRADES 154,911 TOTAL VALUE 9,111,898,138.56 ADVANCES 118 DECLINES 77 UNCHANGED 43

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2020

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

49.9820

Japan

Yen

0.009166

0.4581

UK

Pound

1.259400

62.9473

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129034

6.4494

Switzerland

Franc

1.047230

52.3426

Canada

Dollar

0.740631

37.0182

Singapore

Dollar

0.715564

35.7653

Australia

Dollar

0.693900

34.6825

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655196

132.712

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266454

13.3179

Brunei

Dollar

0.713012

35.6378

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000071

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.031656

1.5822

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.6087

Euro

Euro

1.133800

56.6696

Korea

Won

0.000822

0.0411

China

Yuan

0.140588

7.0269

India

Rupee

0.013256

0.6626

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.234192

11.7054

New Zealand

Dollar

0.645500

32.2634

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033509

1.6748 Source: BSP

May inflation rate declined to 2.1% due to low demand

By Julito G. Rada INFLATION in May slowed to a sixmonth low of 2.1 percent from 2.2 percent a month ago, pulled down mainly by the decline in the indices of transport, food and non-alcoholic beverages.

The Philippine Statistics Authority on Friday attributed the lower prices to the subdued demand amid the lockdowns implemented by the government to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The May inflation was significantly slower than 3.2 percent a year ago and brought the average in the first five months to 2.5 percent, well within the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said the May inflation was within the BSP’s forecast range of 1.9 percent to 2.7 percent for the month.

“Inflation has monotonically dropped from 2.9 percent in January to 2.6 percent in February to 2.5 percent in March to 2.2 percent in April and now to 2.1 percent in May. The latest inflation number is consistent with the prevailing assessment by the BSP that inflation is expected to remain benign over the policy horizon due largely to the adverse impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the domestic and global economy,” Diokno said in a statement following the release of the May print. “… The volatility of oil prices remains a source of inflation risk.

Meanwhile, global rice prices continue to increase owing to lower output among major rice producers in the Asean region amid the ongoing drought in the Mekong Delta,” he said.

The PSA said the slowdown in the headline inflation in May was mainly driven by the 5.6-percent annual drop in the transport index. The downtrend in the headline inflation was also brought about by the deceleration in the annual increments recorded in the indices of food and non-alocholic beverages, 2.9 percent; clothing and footwear, 2.4 percent; furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house, 4.1 percent; and recreation and culture, 1.4 percent.

2 1600

Fruitas raised profit last year to P125m

FRUITAS Holdings Inc., a leading food and beverage kiosk operator, said net income in 2019 rose 34 percent to P125 million from P94 million in 2018 on the back of double-digit growth in revenues.

Fruitas said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Friday 2019 revenues jumped 23 percent to P1.95 billion compared to P1.58 billion in 2018.

The growth in revenues was driven by expansion of its store network to 1,068 stores as of end 2019 from 930 in 2018 and strong same store sales growth.

Reported net income, which includes one time expenses, amounted to P121 million in 2019, still up 20 percent from P100 million in 2018.

“We are pleased with our 2019 results, with sales and net income increasing above 20 percent. Our acquisitions and investments in store network development contributed positively,” said Fruitas president and chief executive Lester Yu. Jenniffer B. Austria

PSE INDEX CLOSING

Ricafort cited the further easing of COVID-19 new cases and deaths in the United States, some European countries and in some Asian countries.

Earlier, amid the onslaught of the pandemic, the interagency Development Budget Coordinating Committee maintained the assumptions for the foreign exchange rate for 2020 to 2022 at P50 to P54 against the US dollar.

The Department of Finance said in previous report the peso remained firm and almost steady from its 2019 year-end level against the greenback despite the rising risks in the global economy, heightened by the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 and the collapse of global stock markets.

In an economic bulletin, the DoF said as of April 15, 2020, the Philippine peso ranked third among the three currencies in Southeast Asia that maintained their value against the US dollar.

“The main reasons for the peso’s growing strength and stability are the country’s strong balance-of-payments position and rising gross international reserves,” the DoF said. Julito G. Rada

CLARK AIRPORT TESTS.

Clark International Airport Corp. employees observe social distancing as they wait for their turn to give a sample of their blood during the Anti-Bodies Rapid Test on Thursday at the CIAC Corporate Offices.

Results are expected within 24 hours. CIAC conducted a rapid testing of its 113 staff on June 4 prior to the implementation of the agency’s return-to-work order on its skeletal force this month.

PH, ADB sign $400-m loan to boost domestic capital markets THE government and the Manila-based Asian Development Bank signed a $400-million loan agreement that aims to support the government’s efforts to strengthen domestic capital markets as the country recovers from the economic fallout triggered by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The loan for the Support to Capital Market Generated Infrastructure Financing, Subprogram 1 (SCMGIF1) is set for accelerated disbursement this month to help support the immediate financing requirements of the government arising

from the negative impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said Friday.

Dominguez and ADB country director for the Philippines Kelly Bird signed the loan agreement on Thursday.

The DOF said the loan was a budget-support package to assist the government’s external financing requirements for this year.

The loan is expected to boost the domestic capital markets’ capability to increase the supply of long-term finance to support investments by allowing the gov-

ernment to fund infrastructure projects at lower relative costs, and enabling the private sector to fund infrastructure through the capital markets.

“We again thank the ADB for its continued strong support to the Philippines as it grapples with the coronavirus scourge, this time by extending financial assistance to strengthen domestic capital markets as the country clears the path to a quick recovery from the havoc wrought on the global economy by this lethal virus,” Dominguez said. Julito G. Rada