MANILA STARTS TARGETED COVID-19 MASS TESTING

MANILA - The city of Manila can now conduct localized, targeted coronavirus

mass testing to slow the spread of the contagion in the Philippine capital

and allow authorities to isolate infected residents.

Six district hospitals and the Delpan quarantine facility can conduct 232

swab tests each day or 1,624 tests per week, the city's public information

office said Monday. Manila has so far conducted 934 swab tests.

Here are the health facilities capable of conducting COVID-19 test swabs:

Manila Health Department/Delpan quarantine facility - 50 tests per day

Ospital ng Maynila - 20 tests per day

Sta. Ana Hospital/Manila Infectious Disease Control Center - 30 tests per

day

Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center - 50 tests per day

Ospital ng Tondo - 17 tests per day

Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital - 17 tests per day

Ospital ng Sampaloc - 50 tests per day

The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine or the University of the

Philippines' Philippine General Hospital will process the swab tests. UP-PGH

Director Gab Legaspi said the hospital can release the results in two to

three days.

The first localized, targeting mass testing was conducted in Valenzuela City

on Saturday. The local governments of Quezon City and Pasig as well as the

province of Cavite will also conduct mass testing.

The National Task Force against COVID-19 said aggressive or targeted testing

and contact tracing of virus carriers will be the "game changer" in the

country's fight against COVID-19.

The Philippines has 4,648 confirmed COVID-19 infections with 297 deaths and

197 recoveries.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN PH RISE TO 4,648, DEATHS CLIMB TO 297

MANILA - The number of coronavirus cases in the Philippines climbed to 4,648

on Sunday, April 12.

The Department of Health (DOH) reported 220 new cases, from 4,428 on

Saturday, April 11.

Deaths due to COVID-19 also went up to 297, increasing by 50 from 247 the

previous day. It is the highest one-day death toll reported so far.

Meanwhile, 40 more patients have recovered from the virus, bringing the

number of recoveries to 197. This is the highest one-day recovery count to

date.

Health experts have estimated that the number of cases in the country may

reach anywhere between 26,000 and 75,000.

A separate study from the University of the Philippines also stated that

COVID-19 cases in the country may peak from the end of April to June, with

around 140,000 to 550,000 people infected in Metro Manila alone. (READ:

'Modified' community quarantine can be explored to flatten COVID-19 curve -

study)

The government said that starting Tuesday, April 14, there will be "massive"

testing of people who may have the virus. They aim to run 20,000 tests per

day by April 27 to enable better contact tracing based on confirmed cases.

The global coronavirus death toll has exceeded 100,000, and at least 1.7

million people worldwide have been infected.

'HIGH-RISK' PATIENTS, MEDICAL WORKERS ARE PRIORITY IN COVID-19 MASS TEST:

HEALTH DEPT

MANILA - A mass testing for COVID-19 will prioritize "high-risk" patients

and medical workers, the health department said Monday, a month into the

lockdown of millions to halt the pandemic.

High-risk patients include the elderly, pregnant women, and those with

serious symptoms or pre-existing health conditions like cancer and asthma,

said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

"Mayroon pa rin tayong prioritization dahil hindi naman infinite iyong ating

test kits," he told DZMM.

Duque said he would verify later Monday the testing backlog in 12

laboratories nationwide.

The health department eyes expanding the mass testing to authorities manning

lockdown checkpoints and groups that would help revive the economy, he said.

The Philippines as of Sunday confirmed 4,648 cases of the disease, with 297

deaths and 197 patients who recovered.

All households in Luzon, home to half of the Philippines' 100-million

population, are under quarantine until April 30 to stop the pandemic.

HEALTH WORKERS RIGHT TO TRAVEL 'TAKES BACKSEAT' TO COVID-19 EMERGENCY: POEA

MANILA - The right to travel "takes a backseat" to public welfare during the

COVID-19 pandemic, the government agency that suspended the overseas

deployment of health workers said Monday.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration over the weekend suspended

the deployment of doctors, nurses and healthcare workers abroad to

"prioritize human resource allocation."

Foreign Affairs Sec. Teodoro Locsin Jr called the POEA's directive an

"abomination," adding he would oppose it in the cabinet.

"Yan pong right to travel will take a backseat at yung general welfare po

ang mas importante lalong lalo na meron tayong state of public health

emergency," POEA administrator Bernard Olalia told DZMM.

"May option sila na magtabaho sa local at national health system

makakatanggap po sila ng hazard pay," he said.

The susension on overseas deployment covers doctors, nurses, pharmacists,

radiologic technicians, medial equipment operators and other health workers.

It will remain in effect "until COVID-19-related travel restrictions are

lifted at the destination countries," it said.

As of 4 p.m. Sunday, there are 4,648 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the

Philippines with 297 deaths and 197 recoveries.

NAVOTAS FISH PORT REOPENS AFTER CLEANING, DISINFECTION

The Navotas Fish Port Complex reopens Sunday, April 12, the Department of

Agriculture-Philippine Fisheries Development Authority says in a release,

adding it has disinfected and cleaned the halls of the complex and the roads

leading to it.

"We are happy to inform the public that they can come back to the Navotas

fish port tomorrow on Easter Sunday to resume their trading operations,"

PFDA General Manager Glen Pangapalan says in a release on Saturday.

The following protocols will be in force at the fish port:

Mandatory wearing of face masks and other personal protective equipment

Physical distancing

No smoking

The fish port was closed Saturday for cleaning and disinfection.

GOV'T MULLS HOW MUCH COVID-19 PATIENT DATA SHOULD BE PUBLIC: HEALTH DEPT

MANILA - An inter-agency task force will tackle Monday how much personal

information on COVID-19 patients should be made public to slow the

pandemic's spread, the health department said.

The disclosure is needed to trace individuals who interacted with the

patients, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Sunday. The health and civil

defense departments, he added, were directed to " enter into a data-sharing

agreement."

"Lilinawin pa ito mamaya sa IATF ano ba iyong extent ng disclosure ng

infomation patungkol sa pasyente," said Health Secretary Francisco Duque

III.

COVID-19 PATIENTS WHO REFUSE TO SHARE PERSONAL INFORMATION CAN BE PENALIZED:

NOGRALES

MANILA - Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 may be penalized if they refuse to

share needed information with the Department of Health to curb the spread of

the disease, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Monday.

Coronavirus patients who will disobey the government's order may face

charges and penalties in violation of the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable

Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, Nograles said.

"Kailangan po talaga 'yung mga pasyente mag-disclose ng accurate and

truthful information sa Department of Health and kung hindi po mag-reveal ng

information yung mga pasyente, mapapahamak po siya," Nograles, Inter-Agency

Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases

spokesperson, said in a virtual press briefing.

"Hindi po sila pwede mag-refuse to disclose ng information at kelangan

magsabi sila ng totoo," he added.

He, however, clarified that COVID-19 patients only need to share their

personal information with the health department, which may share the data

with local government units and law enforcers to enhance contact tracing

efforts.

"The DOH may ask LGUs and law enforcement agencies to help in contact

tracing. And to do that, DOH must necessarily share this information with

law enforcers," the Cabinet official said.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Monday said officials have yet to

discuss the extent of patient information disclosure.

PNP SETS NEW WORK SCHEME FOR COPS

MANILA - The Philippine National Police has implemented a 50-50 work scheme

in the wake of the increasing number of PNP personnel suspected to be

infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

PNP chief Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa issued the directive to their

personnel based at Camp Crame in Quezon City where the first batch started

working from April 6 until April 19 and the next group from April 20 to May

3.

"For office/unit with essential functions, the commander/head should

determine the work scheme applicable as long as all personnel should observe

the 14-day self-quarantine/isolation as part of PNP's health protocol," he

said in the memorandum dated April 7.

Gamboa said the scheme will ensure that personnel are available for

deployment in the event there are some among their ranks who either become

suspected or are confirmed positive for the virus.

He said their main challenge is managing their human resources to ensure the

enhanced community quarantine is strictly enforced.

"You practically lose one policeman for 14 days," he said, referring to the

quarantine.

Meanwhile, police personnel 45 years old and above have been pulled out from

security checkpoints because they are more at risk of getting the virus.

PHILIPPINES 'PREPARED FINANCIALLY' UNTIL END OF MAY, DOF CHIEF SAYS

As the government extends the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine until

end of April, Finance chief Sonny Dominguez says the Philippines is

financially prepared until the end of May.

In an interview with CNN Philippines' "The Source", Dominguez said the

second tranche of government assistance to the vulnerable sector will be

done in May.

"We are in a strong financial position to take the hit from the coronavirus

crisis," Dominguez told CNN Philippines.

NEW PROTOCOLS OUT FOR BPO WORKERS

MANILA - A month into Luzon's enhanced community quarantine, the government

yesterday announced new protocols that would make it easier for employees of

business process outsourcing (BPO) firms and export-oriented enterprises to

report for work.

Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases spokesman

Karlo Nograles said BPOs and their service providers would be allowed to

install the necessary work-from-home equipment during the quarantine period.

Export-oriented industries, meanwhile, will be allowed to deploy their

workers onsite with accommodations or near site living arrangements, or by

providing point-to-point shuttle services subject to strict social

distancing measures. The companies are also advised to conduct routine

disinfection of their facilities and vehicles.

PHILIPPINES TO IMPORT MORE PORK, CHICKEN

MANILA - The Philippines is expected to buy more pork and chicken from the

global market as African swine fever (ASF) lingers in the country, affecting

local production and supply.

In the latest monthly report of the United States Department of Agriculture

(USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service, the Philippines is seen importing

280,000 metric tons of pork this year, 26 percent higher than last year's

222,000 MT.

Domestic production will decline by 8.5 percent to 1.45 million MT from

1.585 million MT in 2019.

"Global production is forecast seven percent lower year-over-year, largely

due to reduced output in China, Vietnam and Philippines, all countries

affected by ASF," the USDA said.

The Philippine Department of Agriculture reported that a total of 251,450

pigs were killed since the outbreak started in August 2019. But the industry

is claiming that more hogs have been actually culled.

Consumption was also lowered by four percent to 1.729 million MT from 1.806

million MT as consumers shift to chicken meat.

The Philippines will also hike its chicken meat imports by one percent to

370,000 MT from last year's 366,000 MT. Local production, which will only

increase by 10 percent to 1.6 million MT, will not be able to meet

additional domestic consumption of 1.89 million MT.

This year's chicken meat import projection was lowered from the earlier

390,000 MT due to possible delays in shipments and supply disruptions from

the spread of the coronavirus disease.

The industry has reported ample stocks of imported and local chicken in cold

storage facilities due to some slowdown in demand related to COVID-19,

particularly by the fast-food chains and quick service restaurants.

DEPED CHIEF BRIONES RECOVERS FROM COVID-19

Education Secretary Leonor Briones announced that she tested negative for

coronavirus disease a week after confirming that she was infected with the

deadly virus.

In an interview with GMA News' Unang Balita Monday morning, Briones said

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III texted her that she got a negative

result.

"It seems like I had a death sentence but was pardoned at the last minute,"

Briones said in a separate interview with Dobol B sa News TV.

IATF: TEAMS TO ENFORCE SOCIAL DISTANCING IN MARKETS

The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases will form

"social distancing" teams composed of military and police personnel to

enforce physical distancing at public markets.

This comes after reports over the weekend of people flocking to public

markets over the weekend. Overcrowding increases the risk of COVID-19

transmission.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

ANGELICA, JM REPRISE ROLES AS MACE, ANTHONY IN 'THAT THING CALLED TADHANA'

SCRIPT READING

MANILA - JM de Guzman and Angelica Panganiban reprised their roles as

Anthony and Mace through a live script reading of their blockbuster film

"That Thing Called Tadhana."

It aired via Facebook Live on Sunday and also featured the movie's director

and scriptwriter Antoinette Jadaone.

Hosted by Juan Miguel Severo, the script reading was part of Lockdown Cinema

Nights, a fundraising program for the benefit of film workers who currently

have no jobs due to the lockdown imposed in Luzon to contain the spread of

the coronavirus disease.

Script in hand, they proceeded to read their lines from the scene where

Anthony and Mace were seated beside each other on a bus on the way to

Baguio.

"Yung napili kong part ng script ay yung nasa loob sila ng bus. Yung isang

eksena doon, deleted. Hindi siya nasama sa pelikula. Yun yung mahabang

litanya ni Anthony," said Jadaone.

After the script reading, Panganiban, de Guzman and Jadaone went on to

answer a few questions from netizens about the movie.

One of the questions was if they were willing to go on a spontaneous trip

with a stranger just like their characters in the film.

"Siguro kaya. Mahirap naman talaga mag-portray ng role kung hindi ka

naniniwala doon sa ginagawa ng character 'di ba? Hindi mo na alam kapag ikaw

yung nandoon sa ganung sitwasyon na sobrang heartbroken ka, gusto mo lang

'di ba may kausap ka. Talagang kahit sino puwede mong pagkuwentuhan ng

nararamdaman mo. Talagang posibleng mangyari yun," Panganiban said.

De Guzman said the same thing and explained his answer by citing a

particular scene in the movie.

"Posible [mangyari 'yun] kasi yung sa storya 'di ba yung first scene, sila

lang din yung dalawang Pinoy doon sa airport? Parang [inallow talaga] ng

circumstance tapos heartbroken siya tapos nag-connect," he said.

Meanwhile, Jadaone also talked about a possible "That Thing Called Tadhana"

sequel.

"May nagawa na akong first few sequences pero hindi ko pa siya naitutuloy.

So siguro, like kung paano namin ginawa yung una, huwag siyang pilitin," she

said.

When asked what would be the plot of the second installment, Jadaone said:

"Hindi ko alam. Feeling ko malalaman ko yun sa time na sinusulat ko na siya.

Kasi nagbabago naman ang kuwento base sa kung nasaan ka or kung ano ang

paligid mo sa time na sinusulat mo."

Regardless of its story, Panganiban and de Guzman said they are open to play

Mace and Anthony again.

LOOK: MATTEO, SARAH SPEND EASTER WITH FAMILY

MANILA - Easter Sunday is much more special for Sarah Geronimo and Matteo

Guidicelli now that they are spending it together for the first time.

On Instagram, Guidicelli's mom shared photos of their family as they painted

Easter eggs.

The other pictures also show them having an intimate family lunch at their

house in Alabang, with Geronimo and Guidicelli always beside each other.

"Happy Easter Everyone !!! Family is everything. Godspeed," the actor's

mother wrote in the caption.

Geronimo and Guidicelli tied the knot via a Christian ceremony last February

20.

They have been a couple for over six years before they got married.

WATCH: KC CONCEPCION MAKES TV COMEBACK ON 'ASAP'

KC Concepcion made her television comeback through "ASAP Natin 'To" on

Sunday.

After several years of not being visible on TV, Concepcion appeared on the

variety show to participate in a dance number dedicated to the COVID-19

frontliners.

Dubbed the "Clap and Snap" dance, Concepcion did the virtual performance

along with Maja Salvador, Kim Chiu, Enchong Dee, Inigo Pascual and Georcelle

Dapat-Sy of the G-Force.

This is Concepcion's first TV appearance since she joined Cornerstone

Entertainment.

She or her new management has yet to announce her upcoming projects.

SPORTS

PBA STILL HOPING TO PUSH THROUGH WITH ALL-STAR WEEKEND

MANILA -- The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) still hopes to push

through with its All-Star festivities, even as the COVID-19 pandemic has

thrown a wrench into the rest of its plans for the season.

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial told the league website that they still

intend to hold the All-Star weekend in Passi, Iloilo.

"Hindi basta-basta pwede tanggalin ang All-Star, because it's really for the

fans," Marcial explained. "It generates the funds that we turn to the

Players Trust Fund."

"Kung tatanggalin man namin ang All-Star, kailangan hanapan ng kapalit na

event," he added. "Pero mahirap hanapan ng kapalit 'yun."

According to the league, the All-Star festivities generate at least P1-M for

the Players Trust Fund, which is dedicated to the scholarships of the

children of the PBA players.

Only one game was played in the PBA Philippine Cup before the league

suspended all activities due to the coronavirus outbreak. Last week, Marcial

confirmed that they will have to shorten the season to possibly two

conferences, instead of the usual three.

Were the league proceeding as scheduled, fans would already be voting for

their All-Star choices. As it stands, Marcial said they just have to be

patient.

"We're even thinking of an innovative format for this year's All-Stars," he

said. "But all we can do now is to wait, just as what we do for the

resumption of Season 45."

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

You're never as good as everyone tells you when you win, and you're never as

bad as they say when you lose. - Lou Holtz