8 PERISH AS TOKYO-BOUND PLANE CATCHES FIRE AT NAIA

MANILA — An aircraft caught on fire at the Ninoy Aquino International

Airport late Sunday as it was about to take off, killing eight people, the

Manila International Airport Authority confirmed.

According to a source, Lionair RPC5880 had eight people on board: Six

Filipino crew members and two passengers. The passengers were a Canadian and

an American.

The aircraft—according to its registration number, an IAI 1124A Westwind

II—was headed to Tokyo International Airport on a medevac flight.

The MIAA, in an advisory to reporters, has confirmed the accident, which it

said happened at the end of the airport's Runway 24.

"Immediately after the incident, the MIAA Fire and Rescue team were

dispatched to the site to douse the flames with chemical foam," MIAA said in

its advisory.

"Unfortunately, no passenger survived the accident."

According to the Lionair website, its Westwind II can accommodate seven

passengers in executive seats. It can also be configured as an air

ambulance, with space for a patient, two or three members of a medical team,

and one or two relatives.

NAIA RUNWAY REOPENS HOURS AFTER MEDEVAC PLANE ACCIDENT

MANILA — The runway of Manila’s international airport reopened early Monday,

hours after a Tokyo-bound aircraft caught fire at 8 p.m. of Sunday, March

29.

News5 quoted Civil Aviation Authority Spokesperson Eric Apolonio as saying

in a radio interview that the airportÂ’s runway was re-opened at 5 a.m. and

normal operations have since resumed.

This was after authorities have cleared debris of Lionair RPC5880 that

caught fire as it was about to take off on a medical evacuation flight,

killing eight people onboard.

The MIAA, in an advisory to reporters, has confirmed the accident, which it

said happened at the end of the airport's Runway 24.

The runway closure affected a Korean Airlines flight that was diverted to

Clark International Airport.

Investigation is ongoing. “We’re still trying to determine what [caused] the

accident, it will take some time to complete it,” Apolinario was also quoted

as saying.

MWSS: WATER FREE FROM NEW CORONAVIRUS, SAFE FOR CONSUMPTION

MANILA — Water supply within its concession areas is safe for domestic

consumption even as the new coronavirus continues to spread in the country,

the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage Systems Regulatory Office said

Monday.

In a statement, the agency said the water supply maintained in the

distribution systems up to the customersÂ’ taps has been disinfected with

chlorine as prescribed by the Department of Health.

“Our water is therefore free from bacteria and viruses (including the

COVID-19 virus) and is safe for domestic consumption,” MWSS Chief Regulator

Patrick Lester Ty said.

The wastewater discharged from sewages and septage treatment plants into

receiving bodies of water has also been disinfected with chlorine.

Currently, there is no evidence about the survival of the new coronavirus in

drinking water or sewage, the World Health Organization said.

“The COVID-19 virus is an enveloped virus with a fragile outer membrane.

Generally, enveloped viruses are less stable in the environment and are more

susceptible to oxidants such as chlorine,” WHO said in an interim guidance

for water, sanitation, hygiene and waste management for COVID-19 on March

19.

COVID-19 can spread from person to person through small droplets from the

nose or mouth which are spread when an infected person coughs or exhales.

The virus can also be caught by a people when they touch the objects or

surfaces where droplets land then touch their eyes, nose or mouth.

The DOH on Sunday reported 343 new COVID-19 cases, marking the countryÂ’s

largest daily increase in infections. This brought the nationÂ’s total to

1,418.

PHILIPPINES TRIPLES COVID-19 TESTING CAPACITY WITH NEW KITS

The recent arrival of additional screening kits for the novel coronavirus

has allowed the Philippines to run 1,000 tests a day from the previous daily

average of 300, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said Monday.

"Dahil nga tumaas ang capacity, iyong testing kits dumami at nakakapag-1,000

[tests a day na], asahan natin tataas pa ang bilang ng ating COVID-positive

cases," he told DZMM.

"Huwag po natin asahan na dahil nag-lockdown tayo ante mano, kaagad-agad e

babagsak na ang kaso ng COVID," he added.

The Philippines as of Sunday confirmed 71 deaths or about a 5-percent

fatality rate out of its total 1,418 cases of the disease.

‘TEST KITS FROM CHINA AT PAR WITH WHO’

MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday clarified that coronavirus

disease 2019 (COVID-19) test kits donated to the country by China are “at

par” with those from the World Health Organization (WHO).

The DOH said the 2,000 BGI-RT-PCR test kits and the 100,000 Sansure RT-PCR

test kits donated by the Chinese government have been assessed by the

Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and found to be at par with

the test kits donated by the WHO after parallel testing was conducted.

“Sansure test kits contain all required reagents to run the test

successfully. This means that no other reagents will need to be separately

procured by the Philippine government to use the test kits,” the DOH said in

a statement.

It added that the test kits with 40 percent accuracy, as mentioned in the

press briefing, referred to another test kit proposed to be donated by a

private foundation.

It was agreed that BGI and Sansure RT-PCR tests kits will be used to

minimize the need to validate the test to be done, according to the agency.

The DOH apologized for the confusion that previously issued statements have

caused.

DILG ISSUES GUIDELINES ON COVID FATALITIES

MANILA — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has

issued guidelines for local government units (LGUs) on the management of

human remains involving confirmed and suspected COVID-19 cases.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año signed memorandum circular 2020-063 on

Saturday, which provided the interim guidelines on the management of human

remains for COVID-19 patients and persons under investigation.

The 11-page memorandum noted that each situation should balance the rights

of the family to the body, as well as minimize the risk of exposure to

infection by funeral personnel.

The cadaver bag, with an attached biohazard tag for either a suspected or

positive COVID-19 case, shall not be unzipped at any instance or have the

body removed from the bag.

LGUs have been directed to designate and commission reputable funeral

parlors and crematoriums to handle the remains of COVID-19 cases and provide

financial assistance to transfer and transport the remains.

Funeral parlors and crematoriums that refuse to provide logistics and

transport of COVID-19 cases shall be penalized.

Local executives have been empowered to release issuances or ordinances that

will put a price cap or freeze on funeral services within their

jurisdiction.

All funeral personnel, who have been granted exemptions from the lockdown,

shall be required to wear personal protective equipment while handling the

bodies.

Burial and cremation shall be done within 12 hours after the death of the

confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case, but as much as possible be in

accordance with the wish and religious protocols of the deceased or their

family.

Special consideration should also be given to religious and cultural

practices, notably for Muslim Filipinos who shall not be restricted from

being buried in an identified Muslim cemetery.

Foreign nationals deemed COVID-19 cases shall be immediately reported to the

Department of Health-Bureau of International Cooperation and the Department

of Foreign Affairs.

DOH DENOUNCES ATTACKS AGAINST HEALTH WORKERS

The Department of Health denounced reports of health workers around the

country being attacked physically and being refused access to basic

services, blocked and fined at checkpoints and evicted from their homes.

"These acts cannot be tolerated," the DOH said in a statement released

Sunday night.

The health department said it is mobilizing its own team to get more details

and hold perpetrators of attacks against health workers liable. They will

also report the incidents to the Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19 for

proper investigation and resolution.

“We appeal to the public to extend understanding and compassion to our

healthcare workers. Our healthcare workers have responded to our countryÂ’s

need with dedication, courage and selflessness. This is not the time for us

to turn our backs on them,” DOH said.

It added: “It is not enough that we thank them. We need to protect them

too.”

At least 690 medical professionals have volunteered to work for two weeks in

government hospitals after the DOH called for volunteers.

COPS ON EDGE OVER COVID, UNCOOPERATIVE CITIZENS

MANILA — Police officers on the frontlines of controlling the coronavirus

disease 2019 pandemic are on edge, fearing infection and needing to deal

with people who defy the governmentÂ’s COVID-19 quarantine measures.

Police personnel have been deployed since President Duterte placed the

entire Luzon, including Metro Manila, under enhanced community quarantine on

March 17, patrolling the streets to ensure that people comply with

government guidelines to stay at home.

Spending days away from their families, and the risk of COVID-19 infection

are taking a toll on the police personnel manning security quarantine

control points in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon, according to police

commanders who spoke to The STAR over the weekend on condition of anonymity.

One of the officials supervising security checkpoints in Metro Manila said

the fear of getting infected by the virus is prevalent among their

personnel.

The official clarified that they have enough sets of personal protective

equipment (PPE) coming from the PNP and private organizations but the fear

of contracting COVID-19 is always there due to people who continue to defy

the administrationÂ’s quarantine guidelines.

“There are always people going out. You don’t know if they are already

carriers,” the official said in Filipino.

The official cited as an example some residents of San Juan and Mandaluyong

trying to cross a security checkpoint separating the two cities.

DOH DENIES BARRING CHINESE DOCTORS FROM COMING TO PH

MANILA - The Department of Health denied Monday that it had barred Chinese

doctors from helping the Philippines contain the novel coronavirus pandemic,

as claimed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr.

The agency is preparing the hotel accommodations and translators for the 12

Chinese doctors who will share their experience in Wuhan, the central

Chinese metropolis where COVID-19 emerged late last year, said Health

Secretary Francisco Duque III.

Locsin said this weekend he sought the help of Chinese Ambassador to the

Philippines Huang Xilian to bring in the doctors.

"DOH is blocking their arrival. DON'T PISS ME OFF. LET THEM IN," he wrote on

Twitter.

Locsin took down this tweet after hearing the health department's

explanation, said Duque.

690 HEALTH WORKERS JOIN GOVERNMENT FRONTLINERS

MANILA — Hundreds of healthcare workers have answered the call for

volunteers in government hospitals to help in the fight against the

coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

As of noon yesterday, 690 healthcare volunteers had enlisted to work for 14

days in government hospitals.

In a press briefing Saturday night, Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire of

the Department of Health (DOH) said they launched the volunteer initiative

“to make sure that we have enough healthcare workforces to attend to COVID-19

patients.”

“For every two-week duty of the health care volunteer, he or she will need

to undergo a two-week quarantine period afterwards,” Vergeire said.

The volunteers will be deployed to the three designated COVID-19 referral

centers: the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City, Philippine

General Hospital in Manila and Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital in

Caloocan City.

VICO SEES SABOTAGE IN PASIG RELIEF DISTRIBUTION

MANILA — Chaos marred Pasig City’s relief operations after residents mobbed

city hall employees who were distributing food packs in Nagpayong, Barangay

Pinagbuhatan on Saturday, Mayor Vico Sotto said yesterday.

Sotto expressed suspicion that the commotion was intended to sabotage the

relief efforts of the local government.

He said the distribution of food packs was orderly at first until a resident

called his neighbors who were not yet scheduled to receive relief goods.

“There was one person who spread the wrong information that everyone could

get their share. So the residents rushed toward our team,” Sotto said.

He said the person responsible for the commotion made a scene by screaming

while filming the crowd.

“It saddens me that there are still people who cause disorder amid the

crisis we are facing,” Sotto said.

He apologized to the residents for the incident.

As of yesterday, Pasig recorded 33 cases of coronavirus disease 2019

(COVID-19) with three deaths.

BANKS TOLD: KEEP INTEREST RATES 'REASONABLE' TO AID COVID-19 FIGHT

MANILA -- Philippine banks must keep lending rates "reasonable" to help the

country power through the coronavirus pandemic, the head of an industry

association said Monday.

Banks must "do their utmost" to maintain interest rates "as close as

possible" to those before the Luzon lockdown, which is scheduled to end on

April 12, said Cezar Consing, president of the Banker's Association of the

Philippines and Bank of the Philippine Islands.

Consing said the Bangko Sentral had cut both the policy rate and the reserve

requirement ratio for banks and eased some regulatory burden.

"As we move into week 3 of the ECQ (enhanced community quarantine), the

impact of the crisis on the economy, including our corporate and consumer

borrowers, is becoming more apparent," he said, addressing BAP members.

Aside from keeping interest rates steady, Consing said banks must maintain a

physical presence to accommodate transactions that can't be done digitally,

keep electronic channels open, ensure cash availability in branches and ATMs

and contribute to market stability and liquidity.

P5,000 CASH AID: LABOR CHIEF SAYS PROOF OF PAYROLL NEEDED

MANILA - Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello on Monday urged employers to avail

of financial assistance for workers affected by the COVID-19 lockdown.

All companies in the formal sector, regardless of size, can request for cash

assistance, Bello told DZMM. A proof of payroll is needed, he said.

The Department of Labor and Employment can provide a one-time cash

assistance of P5,000 per employee who was out of work because of the

lockdown, he said.

"Mismong employer nila ang magpapadala ng payroll. Tapos magpapadala kami ng

pera sa employer para sa mga empleyado na hindi nakapasok dahil sa

quarantine," Bello said.

"Pag hindi nakapasok eh talagang tulungan din natin basta ang empleyado ay

hindi nakapasok dahil sa quarantine ay kasama sa cash assistance ng DOLE,"

he added.

Businesses and public transport were ordered shut until April 12 during the

lockdown of Luzon, home to the half of the country's 100 million population.

The government earlier offered disinfection jobs to displaced informal

workers who will be paid minimum wage.

Overseas Filipinos workers who lost their jobs due to COVID-19 are also

entitled to a $200 cash assistance, approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force,

pending the approval and the release of funds by the Department of Budget

and Management, Bello said.

METRO MANILA RECORDS HOTTEST TEMPERATURE IN FIRST QUARTER OF 2020

MANILA - Metro Manila on Sunday recorded its hottest temperature for 2020 at

35.5 degrees Celsius, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

The temperature was recorded in PAGASA's Science Garden in Quezon City.

Despite the hot weather, the country is expected to experience cloudy

weather with possible rain showers and thunderstorm in the afternoon or

evening Monday, PAGASA said.

Last year, Metro Manila's hottest temperature was recorded on April 21 at

36.6 degrees Celsius.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

KAPAMILYA ARTISTS COME TOGETHER FOR MOVING MUSIC VIDEO OF 'ILILIGTAS KA

NIYA'

The music video of the song “Ililigtas Ka Niya” premiered on “ASAP Natin

‘To” on Sunday.

It opened with a prayer led by Gary Valenciano, followed by verses of the

song performed by various Kapamilya artists.

The track was originally composed by Jonathan Manalo.

As seen in the music video, the faith-based tune is dedicated to every

Filipino as the Philippines is one with the world in battling the COVID-19

pandemic.

SPORTS

POSTPONING OLYMPICS SAVES ATHLETES FROM MENTAL TURMOIL: COE

LONDON -- World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said Sunday that the

decision to postpone this year's Tokyo Olympics because of the coronavirus

has saved athletes from "mental turmoil".

Former Olympic champion Coe supported the move to push the Games back to

2021 and said competitors would have been placed in an impossible position

if the event had been left to start on July 24 as originally scheduled.

They would have been tempted to continue training despite large parts of the

world being in lockdown due the COVID-19 pandemic, which has now killed more

than 31,000 people.

"We didn't want to have the athletes in a position where they were

countering government advice, maybe even breaking the law," Coe told

TalkSport on Sunday.

"And of course in the back of their minds was always that concern, it wasn't

just their own training programme, but that they ran the risk of effectively

infecting themselves, their families, their kids, grandparents or parents,

and we just wanted to take them out of that mental turmoil as quickly as we

possibly could.

"We're no different from everyone else out there but I think we just

concluded that sport, on this occasion, had to take a back seat."

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Only the weak are corrupted by power. The strong judiciously use it as a

tool in service to others. - Jeffrey Fry