WITH WORLD BUSY FIGHTING CORONAVIRUS, CHINA QUIETLY BUILDS INSTALLATIONS ON PHILIPPINE-CLAIMED REEFS

MANILA — While the rest of the world is busy battling the coronavirus

pandemic, China, where the virus originated, has taken advantage of the

countriesÂ’ preoccupation by building new facilities on Philippine-claimed

territories in West Philippine Sea.

On Friday, government-funded Chinese Academy of Sciences launched two

research stations on Fiery Cross (Kagitingan) and Subi Reefs in Spratly

Islands to “help scientists expand their research into deep sea ecology,

geology, environment, material sciences and marine energy,” state-run Xinhua

reported.

“They also play a part in monitoring ecological and seismic changes in key

regions of the South China Sea,” it added.

As it is, the state-sponsored think tank running the new installments has a

research center based on Mischief Reef, which the July 2016 international

arbitral award ruled to be part of the Philippines.

While Subi Reef and Fiery Cross are different territories not subject of the

ruling, Manila is also laying claim on the islands located closer to the

country, sitting around 100 km and 24 km off Palawan, respectively.

COVID-19: PHILIPPINES INFECTED COUNT HITS 552

MANILA — The number of confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases

in the country has exceeded 500 after the Department of Health (DOH)

recorded 90 new cases yesterday.

Based on the latest bulletin of the DOH, 90 more individuals were found

afflicted with the disease, bringing the total to 552.

Two new patients, however, recovered, raising the total number of recoveries

to 20.

One of those who recovered is a 21-year-old Filipino female (PH130) from

Davao de Oro, who has travel history to the United Kingdom and Qatar, and

had bronchial asthma. She was confirmed positive on March 15 and was

discharged eight days later.

The other is a 76-year-old Filipino female (PH87) from Quezon City, whose

sisters, aged 75 and 70 (PH41 and PH44, respectively) and another relative,

a 41-year-old male relative (PH112), also got infected. PH87, who is

hypertensive and diabetic, was discharged last Sunday.

The death toll rose to 35 following the demise of two patients.

DUTERTE THANKS CONGRESS, PRAISES FRONTLINERS IN NATIONAL ADDRESS

MANILA — President Duterte on Tuesday thanked Congress for passing a bill

that will give him additional powers to contain the 2019 coronavirus disease

(COVID-19) and expressed optimism that the "resilient" Filipino spirit would

overcome the pandemic.

Duterte said the 'Bayanihan to Heal As One' bill would allow the executive

branch to "move, decide and act freely for the best interest of the Filipino

people during this health crisis."

"I especially thank Congress for granting the executive department with

special powers through the...Bayanihan to Heal...as One Act to effectively

respond to the challenges caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic," the

President said in a televised address.

"To the members of both houses of Congress who sponsored and voted for this

measure, I express my sincerest gratitude to all of you for granting our

most urgent requests," he added.

The House of Representatives and the Senate approved separately on Tuesday

the Bayanihan to Heal As One bill to boost state efforts to combat the

COVID-19, which has infected more than 500 persons in the country and has

left more than 30 others dead.

The House agreed to adopt the Senate's version of the bill, a move that

allowed lawmakers to do away with the convening of a bicameral conference

committee and to directly transmit the measure to the President for his

signature. Duterte did not say in his address whether he has already signed

the measure.

The measure permits Duterte to "reprogram, reallocate, and realign any

appropriation" in the 2020 budget to support COVID-19 response measures.

DUTERTE SIGNS LAW ON ADDITIONAL POWERS FOR COVID-19 RESPONSE

MANILA- President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law early Wednesday a bill

that gives him additional powers to strengthen governmentÂ’s response to the

coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic after Congress urgently

deliberated and passed the measure within a day.

For a limited time, Duterte, under the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act” will

have more powers that includes the authority to reallocate government

savings to coronavirus-related programs, control private businesses under

special circumstances, and grant exemptions from procurement laws.

Malacañang on Tuesday said the law is a response to the “urgent need” to

secure the “success of the measures established by the national government

in eradicating the threat to our national survival.”

Congress held a special session on the measure on Monday.

“There is an urgent need to implement measures that will help address the

health scare brought about by the spread of COVID-19 in our land,”

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

The new law also states that a subsidy will be provided to low-income

households hit by the work stoppage due to the virus threat.

NO TAKEOVER OF TELCOS,HOSPITALS, TRANSPORT

MANILA — There will be no takeover of telecommunications facilities,

hospitals or transport companies once President Duterte begins using his

“authorized powers” approved by Congress in a special session to help the

government contain the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 pandemic.

The authorized powers were enumerated in the declaration of a state of

national emergency – dubbed the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act” – passed

overwhelmingly by the Senate and the House of Representatives in a special

session that stretched from Monday to early yesterday.

Malacañang stressed the measure has provisions to counter abuse. “The

Filipino people are assured that the powers granted the President shall be

enforced strictly in accordance with the Constitution. The grant of powers

is for a limited period and subject to the restrictions contained therein,”

presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

“Once again, we urge our countrymen to be wary of rumors and false news

designed to create panic and confusion propagated by the enemies of peace

and order,” he said.

Under Section 4(8) of the declaration, the President is authorized to

“direct the operation of any privately owned hospitals and medical and

health facilities including passenger vessels and other establishments, to

house health workers, serve as quarantine areas, quarantine centers, medical

relief and aid distribution locations or other temporary medical facilities;

and public transportation to ferry health, emergency and frontline personnel

and other persons.”

The section stated the management and operation of the enterprises, however,

shall be retained by their owners, who shall render a full accounting to the

President of the operations of the utility or business as basis for

appropriate compensation.

It gave assurance of reasonable compensation for any additional damage or

costs incurred by the owner or operators of these sectors, “after the

situation has stabilized or at the soonest time practicable.”

The measure provided a justification for the government to take over if the

concerned enterprises or utilities “unjustifiably refuse or signify that

they are no longer capable of operating their enterprises for the purpose

stated herein.”

“The President may take over their operations subject to the limits and

safeguards enshrined in the Constitution,” the declaration read.

REDS DECLARE TRUCE AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC

MANILA - The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Tuesday declared a

ceasefire with government forces amid the coronavirus disease 2019

(COVID-19) pandemic raging across the country.

The ceasefire will last from the midnight of March 26 to April 15, 2020

following the recommendation of the National Democratic Front of the

Philippines (NDFP), which represents the communist rebels in peace

negotiations with the Philippine government.

The CPP ordered its armed wing, the New People's Army (NPA), and its

"people's militias" to "cease and desist from carrying out offensive

military operations against the armed units and personnel of the Armed

Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and

other paramilitary and armed groups attached to the GRP (Government of the

Philippines)."

"The purpose of this unilateral ceasefire is to ensure and facilitate

necessary, unhampered and immediate medical, health and economic assistance,

support and movement of the people brought about by the exigencies of the

current COVID-19 worldwide pandemic that has affected a growing number of

Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike," CCP said in a statement.

However, the NDFP negotiating panel cautioned the NPA and the people's

militia to remain on their toes against any hostile actions.

"As in the past, the Duterte government cannot be trusted in any mutual or

unilateral ceasefire agreements, as the bombings of communities, harassment,

abductions and killings perpetrated by its armed forces continue unabated,"

NDFP peace panel chairperson Fidel Agcaoili said in a statement.

'HUWAG MATIGAS ANG ULO': DUTERTE TELLS FILIPINOS TO STAY AT HOME AMID

COVID-19 CRISIS

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte once again called on Filipinos to stay at

home after cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the

Philippines rose past 500 on Tuesday.

"I now call on every Filipino to participate in this war by following the

guidelines set by the national government and your local officials. Nothing

is more important [now] than your cooperation," Duterte said in a national

address.

"I repeat: Stay at home. Huwag matigas ang ulo (Don't be stubborn). The

outcome of this war depends largely on you as well," he added.

Duterte said supplies of food, water and other necessities will be provided

for families severely affected by the "enhanced community quarantine" in

Luzon.

"Financial assistance will also be extended especially to those in the

margins and the vulnerable groups. Halos lahat ho makatanggap (Almost

everyone will be able to receive)," he said.

"Gagawin namin ang lahat (We will do everthing). Hindi namin kayo pababayaan

(We won't abandon you)."

CAYETANO DENIES COMPARING SELF TO FRONTLINERS

MANILA — After drawing criticism and ridicule for what many believed was an

attempt to portray himself and other officials as frontliners in the fight

against COVID-19, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said yesterday he has nothing

to apologize for and denied he was comparing himself to doctors, nurses and

hospital personnel.

“Frontliners are risking their lives every single second, that’s why we’re

not to be compared to them. We’re just extending the message to stay home,”

he explained in a midnight Facebook live video.

He was reacting to the furor sparked by his and other officialsÂ’ showing up

at the plenary hall before the start of special session on Monday holding

banners that read: “Together with doctors and frontliners, we went to work

for you, so please stay at home for us.”

Photos of the incident went viral, inspiring a slew of satirical memes from

netizens.

“For us congressmen, there’s no doubt about this: whatever happens, it is

our job to go here. This building may be on fire but if we need to hold a

session, weÂ’d be here... If you ask me to hold up a sign again, and even if

the sign (backfires on) me but it gets people to read and gets people to

stay home, I will do it again and again and again,” he stressed.

“We meant well. Now if people will criticize us for meaning well, as long as

we know what we did is right, then that’s OK,” the Taguig-Pateros

representative stressed.

On the sidelines of the special session on Monday, Cayetano also engaged

Sen. Risa Hontiveros in a social media word war.

“’It’s not time to do politics,’ said a certain someone who did a photo-op

and compared himself to the frontliners dahil lang pumasok siya (just

because he reported for work) today,” read her post on her official Twitter

account.

Hontiveros was apparently referring to CayetanoÂ’s media blitz at the plenary

hall.

INSTANT DOCTORS? PMA REJECTS AUTOMATIC LICENSES FOR PHYSICIAN BOARD

EXAMINEES

MANILA - The Philippine Medical Association rejected Wednesday a proposal to

automatically give out the licenses of about 1,500 physician board examinees

to help in the fight against the novel coronavirus.

According to the Medical Act of 1959, a doctor can be licensed only if they

have passed the board exam, Dr. Benito Atienza told DZMM.

"Mayroon tayong batas na sinusunod nga, diba 'yong Medical Act. Nakasaad

doon na bago ka tawaging licensed doctor, dapat talaga naipasa mo at dapat

nagtetraining pa rin. Pagkatapos naming maging isang doktor, mayroon tayong

tinatawag na training. Mayroon tayong special training. 'Yong kaalaman nila

ay dapat nagpapatuloy," he said.

Atienza said the PMA has around 83,000 doctors, enough to accommodate every

Filipino in the country. This does not include doctors outside of their

organization.

Aspiring doctors can still help in their respective hospitals with a signed

waiver and proper training, he said.

PAL EYES APRIL 15 RESUMPTION OF FLIGHTS, LAST INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURE MARCH

25

MANILA -- Philippine Airlines said its last international flight would

depart Manila for the US on Wednesday before it suspends operations until

April 14, as the country rides out a lockdown due to the coronavirus

pandemic.

The flag carrier set an April 15 target to resume operations. The last

departing flight PR 104 is bound for San Francisco. Incoming flights from

New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco will arrive from Thursday until

Friday, PAL spokeswoman Cielo Villaluna said.

"Whether it will be a full-blown resumption or a calibrated resumption, that

will be subject to announcement," Villaluna told DZMM.

Domestic flights were suspended from March 17, the start of the enhanced

quarantine in Luzon, Villaluna said.

Luzon, home to half the country's 100 million people, is on lockdown until

April 12, during which people are required to stay at home and most

businesses are shut except banks, groceries and pharmacies. Public transport

is also suspended.

COVID-19 CASES IN MANILA MORE THAN DOUBLE IN ONE DAY: ISKO

MANILA - Cases of the novel coronavirus more than doubled in the capital

city of Manila in just 24 hours, Mayor Isko Moreno said Wednesday as

authorities scrambled to distribute aid to hundreds of thousands of families

under lockdown.

The confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Manila stood at 30 Tuesday night, up from

13 the day before.

"As of mga alas-8 kagabi, lumago po kami ng 100-plus percent," Moreno told

radio DZMM.

The tally included 2 fatalities and one patient who recovered: a 23-year-old

woman, said the mayor.

"Talagang may pag-asang gumaling," he said.

"Meron din naman talaga sigurong mahina ang pangangatawan lalo na iyong may

edad kaya ang panawagan namin, alagaan nila iyong kanilang nanay na may edad

na, lolo't lola kasi sila ang most vulnerable," he added.

The Philippines as of Tuesday confirmed 35 deaths and 20 patients who

recovered out of its total 552 cases of the respiratory disease.

The tally is expected to spike with the recent arrival of additional test

kits, said the health department.

TAGLE TO LEAD ‘HEALING ROSARY FOR THE WORLD’

MANILA — Former Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle will lead the

praying of the “healing rosary for the world” in Rome tonight as part of the

Catholic ChurchÂ’s efforts to storm the heavens with prayers to stem the

spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

On its Facebook page, the Archdiocese of Manila said the overwhelming

response of the Filipino faithful who joined in the worldwide praying of the

rosary last week prompted the Catholic Church in the Philippines to initiate

a healing prayer every Wednesday.

The archdiocese said that Tagle, the prefect of the Congregation for the

Evangelization of Peoples, will lead prayers “for healing and protection for

the world” at 9 p.m. from the Pontificio Collegio Filippino. The event will

be livestreamed on Facebook.

Before initiating the healing prayer, the Catholic BishopsÂ’ Conference of

the Philippines (CBCP) affirmed on Monday its participation in the call of

Pope Francis to join in the “Lord’s prayer” in response to the COVID-19

pandemic.

“Our mission chaplains are personally coordinating with them. That’s why I

told them to conduct door-to-door assistance and itÂ’s good for us because

our mission chaplains are also living in the slums and they know the

situation there,” he said.

In another development, David apologized to the families of the COVID-19

patients whose names he posted on Facebook after their death, asking for

prayers for them.

“I apologize for the discomfort my previous post may have brought to some of

the families concerned,” David said.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

NEW ROMANCE? ANGELICA PANGANIBAN STIRS SPECULATION WITH SWEET PHOTO

MANILA — Angelica Panganiban appears to be missing someone amid calls for

physical distancing, going by an Instagram post that has stirred speculation

about her love life.

Panganiban, who has been open about her string of heartbreaks, shared on

Sunday a photo of her atop the Dubai skyscraper Burj Khalifa, notably with a

man beside her.

Panganiban was only recently in Dubai, where she filmed scenes for "Love or

Money" co-starring Coco Martin, before the Luzon-wide lockdown.

"At the top," she wrote in the photo's in the caption, with a heart eyes cat

emoji. "Kakamiss!"

Panganiban did not include any indication of the man's identity. His back

was also turned to the camera.

In the photo's comments, known close friends of Panganiban had teasing

remarks, with several including heart emojis.

Those reactions to the photo were taken as a hint by Panganiban's followers

that she may have started a new romance, with many wishing the actress well.

Panganiban, 33, has made no secret of her yearning to settle down and have a

family of her own, after going through heartbreaks that unfolded before the

public eye.

SPORTS

THE 2020 TOKYO OLYMPICS HAVE BEEN POSTPONED

The 2020 Summer Olympic Games, scheduled to open in Tokyo on July 24th, have

been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The games will be rescheduled

to 2021, according to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. ItÂ’s the first

time in their 124-year modern history that the Olympics have been moved or

delayed during peacetime.

“We have agreed that the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics will be held by the

summer of 2021 at the latest,” Abe said.

On Tuesday, March 24th, Abe spoke with IOC president Thomas Bach and other

officials, who decided the games would not take place in 2020, according to

a joint statement issued by the IOC and Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee.

“The leaders agreed that the Olympic Games in Tokyo could stand as a beacon

of hope to the world during these troubled times and that the Olympic flame

could become the light at the end of the tunnel in which the world finds

itself at present,” the statement says. “Therefore, it was agreed that the

Olympic flame will stay in Japan.”

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Adversity is a friendship's truest test. - Jedi Proverb