DUTERTE URGES ASEAN COUNTERPARTS TO ACT COLLECTIVELY, SUPPORT EACH OTHER

President Rodrigo Duterte highlighted four major areas wherein ASEAN members

can support each other in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, IATF

spokesperson Karlo Nograles said.

In a virtual meeting with his Southeast Asian counterparts, Duterte

emphasized the need to boost the production and intra-ASEAN trade of medical

equipment to address shortages.

The president also highlighted cooperation on food security, vaccine

research and development, as well as preparations to be ready for future

outbreaks.

WITH DIRE RECESSION IN VIEW, WORLD ON EDGE OVER VIRUS LOCKDOWNS

WASHINGTON - The world's governments on Tuesday grappled with how and when

to lift sweeping coronavirus lockdowns that have saved lives but crippled

their economies, as experts warned of a dire once-in-a-century global

recession.

The deadly pandemic has already killed more than 120,000 people and infected

close to 2 million worldwide since it first emerged in China late last year.

It has upended lives from New York to New Delhi as nations imposed extreme

measures to contain the virus's devastating march, leaving billions largely

confined to their homes -- but millions jobless and the global economy in a

tailspin.

As the tally of deaths and new infections appears to begin to level off,

world leaders and citizens are fiercely debating when to pull the plug on

stay-at-home orders.

US President Donald Trump sparked controversy by implying he could force

state governors and city mayors to send people back to work at his command.

The White House was expected to unveil a team Tuesday tasked with reopening

the economy, as local leaders on both coasts banded together to say they

would make their own decisions.

Some shops in Austria and Italy reopened Tuesday, one day after Spain

allowed construction and factory workers to return to their jobs.

But France extended its nationwide lockdown for another month, and India

extended confinement orders for its 1.3 billion people until at least May 3.

"From the economic angle, we have paid a big price," Indian Prime Minister

Narendra Modi said.

"But the lives of the people of India are far more valuable."

Dire economic warnings poured in on Tuesday, with the International Monetary

Fund predicting the worst global downturn in a century.

The Washington-based IMF said the global economy is expected to shrink by

three percent this year and the US economy, the world's biggest, is expected

to contract by 5.9 percent.

"Much worse growth outcomes are possible and maybe even likely," according

to the IMF, which said "The Great Lockdown" could bring the worst downturn

since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

IMF chief economist Gita Gopinath said in 2020 and 2021, global GDP could

slip by three percent or about $9 trillion -- "greater than the economies of

Japan and Germany combined."

But if the virus is contained and economies can begin operating again, 2021

should see a rebound of 5.8 percent, the Fund added.

DUTERTE TO HEALTH WORKERS: STAY IN PHILIPPINES

MANILA, Philippines - While some healthcare workers with signed contracts

are now allowed to leave for abroad, President Duterte has appealed to their

sense of nationhood to persuade them to remain in the Philippines as the

country grapples with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Duterte said that while Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. thinks

that health workers with contracts cannot be prevented from leaving, he is

taking an "opposite view" because the country is facing an emergency.

"Teddy Boy said we cannot stop Filipinos (from leaving) to honor the

contracts (otherwise, it would lead to) impairment of obligation of

contracts and their right to travel... I'd like to take the opposite view,"

Duterte said in a televised address Monday night.

"During ordinary times, you cannot be prevented from leaving, accept (job

offers), sign contracts. But you know, during an emergency, other countries

like China, when China says stop, they stop. When China says open, they

open," he added.

"I'm not trying to say that it's not a democracy. It is a communist regime

and it demands total obedience. There, you can't say, 'Ah, it should not be

done this way.' You'll get caught."

The President maintained that he does not harbor any emotion about the

deployment ban and that he does not mind seeing Filipino health workers

leave while the number of COVID-19 cases in the country is rising.

"I do not blame anyone. I am not angry. I do not have emotions actually

about this. But if you Filipino nurses want to serve other countries, other

people, it's OK with me," he said.

"Just remember this when the time comes that we face difficulties. We do not

know (what will happen). (The number of COVID-19 cases) keeps on increasing.

It's just the first wave," he added.

UP EXPERTS RECOMMEND MODIFIED COMMUNITY QUARANTINE AFTER LUZON-WIDE LOCKDOWN

ENDS

MANILA - The national government should enforce localized quarantine

measures once the enhanced community quarantine of Luzon ends on April 30,

data scientists from the University of the Philippines said.

Last month, half of the country's population was ordered to stay home in a

drastic move to arrest the spread of the novel coronavirus that has infected

more than 5,200 individuals-335 of whom have died-in the country. The

quarantine of Luzon, which is extended until the end of the month, also

effectively halted business and commerce on the island, slowing economic

activity and sidelined millions of workers.

A report of the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team found that the enhanced

community quarantine of Luzon-along with other interventions-appeared

successful in containing the spread of the virus. It analyzed the trend in

the number of confirmed cases and the case fatality rate.

However, the Luzon-wide lockdown may not be sustainable if implemented over

the long run.

"Prolonged restriction on the movement of goods and services over a large

area (i.e. region-wide) can unnecessarily paralyze local economies," the

report read.

Graduated activation of ECQ

The UP data scientists suggested that areas with a very high outbreak

threshold should enforce modified community quarantine.

"Our best recourse after April 30 is to implement graduated activation of

ECQ depending on the level of risk in certain areas at a given time. Under

this set-up, provinces (or even lower-level LGUs) may be put under ECQ

depending on how close or far they are to an estimated outbreak threshold,"

the report read.

Areas with over 80% probability of outbreak should enforce general community

quarantine, while areas with over 90% probability of outbreak should still

implement enhanced community quarantine.

Localities with outbreak probability of 99% or more should declare extreme

enhanced community quarantine, similar to what is being enforced in

Pangasinan and several barangays of Quezon City.

"Soon we will have to decide when to restart economic activities and, these

localized metrics, which can be done up to barangay level may aid policy

decisions on the preservation of both lives and livelihood," the report

read.

BOUNCING CHECK PENALTIES REMAIN DURING LOCKDOWN: BANGKO SENTRAL

MANILA -- Penalties for checks with insufficient funds are not waived during

the Philippines' lockdown period, the central bank governor said Wednesday,

as he encouraged the public to transact online.

Penalties and interest for loan payments that are due within the lockdown

period are waived, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno

said.

All loans with due dates that fall within March 17 to April 30, or the

duration of the enhanced community quarantine, are given a 30-day grace

period under the Philippines' pandemic response law.

"Pinagbabawal natin yan to increase the integrity of the system," Diokno

told DZMM, when asked bout checks without adequate funds.

"Pero ngayon magandang pagakakaton para sa ekonomiya, iniincrease natin

online banking," he said.

Diokno said he would accelerate his target to bring half of all transactions

in the economy to the digital space by the end of his term in 2023.

ENHANCED COMMUNITY QUARANTINE IN LUZON

Following the reported increase in the number of vehicles traveling along

major thoroughfares in Metro Manila, the Philippine National Police will

strictly impose the policy on Authorized Persons Outside of Residence

(APOR).

Inter-Agency Task Force spokesperson Karlo Nograles said the PNP-Highway

Patrol Group was directed to inspect private vehicles to determine whether

the driver and passengers to the list of APOR or not.

If the driver or any of the passengers is unauthorized, a ticket will be

issued against private vehicles transporting unauthorized persons outside

residence.

CHINESE MEDICAL EXPERTS FIND PHILIPPINES AT RISK OF INABILITY TO CUT

COVID-19 SOURCE

MANILA - A week after arriving in the Philippines, the 12-member Chinese

medical expert team found that the country is facing a risk of being unable

to cut off the source of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

According to a report from CCTV Asia Pacific, the Chinese medical experts

came into this conclusion after visiting six hospitals in the Philippines

and held video conferences with local medical experts.

Weng Shangeng, head of the Chinese medical team, told CCTV Asia Pacific that

they suggested the Philippines should establish a "Fangcang" hospital as

soon as possible.

China's Wuhan City, where the infectious virus originated, developed

"Fangcang" shelter hospitals in response to the coronavirus pandemic. These

makeshift hospitals are intended for large-scale medical isolation.

"Because of limited beds and testing capacity in the Philippines, many of

the COVID-19 patients are still quarantined at home," Weng told CCTV Asia

Pacific.

The head of the Chinese medical team noted that establishing a makeshift

hospital for COVID-19 patients is a fundamental measure to increase recovery

rates and reduce infection rates.

"In this way, mild cases can be admitted to the hospital for observation so

as to prevent the mild cases from becoming severe cases," Weng said.

Following their visit to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine

(RITM), the Chinese team also noted the Philippines' need to improve its

virus detection capacity.

HIKING INTEREST RATES 'ILLOGICAL' FOR BANKS IN TIME OF COVID-19: BANGKO

SENTRAL

MANILA -- Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said

Wednesday it would be "illogical" at this time for banks to increase

interest rates at a time when regulators are lowering borrowing costs to

help the public cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The BSP will cut further both the benchmark interest rate, currently at 3.25

percent, and the RRR or reserve requirement ratio for banks which is at 12

percent, Diokno told DZMM.

"Illogical 'yung magtaaas ka ng interest ngayon kasi unang una, binabawasan

nga namin ang intrest rate malaki na binawas natin," the governor said, in

response to a question.

"Pababa nang pababa ang interest rates natin. It is illogical kung ikaw

isang bangko, magtataas ka ng interest rates at this time," he said.

The BSP has rolled back 1.5 basis points of the total 1.75-basis point

increase in the overnight borrowing rate from 2018, which was meant to tame

inflation at that time from 10-year highs.

"Iniisip pa namin ngayon na ibaba pa namin sa mga sususnod na araw," he

said.

The 8-point reduction in the RRR resulted in P800 billion more money

circulating in the system, he said. The RRR was cut to 12 percent from 20

percent.

IATF OKS MEDICINE GRADS' LIMITED PRACTICE FOR COVID-19

MANILA - Medicine graduates may soon join health workers in the frontlines

of the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

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

approved the interim guidelines allowing the limited practice of medicine

graduates as the country grapples with a reduced health workforce because of

the pandemic.

Cabinet Secretary and IATF spokesman Karlo Nograles said the special

authorizations "shall only be issued as a last resort."

"Any authorization shall only be effective for the duration of the state of

public health emergency in the Philippines unless earlier withdrawn by the

IATF upon recommendation of the (Department of Health)," Nograles said at a

press briefing yesterday.

Under Section 12 of Republic Act 2382 or the Medical Act of 1959, medical

students who have completed the first four years of medical course, medicine

graduates and registered nurses may be given limited and special

authorization by the health secretary to render medical services during

epidemics or national emergencies even without certificates of registration

whenever the services of duly registered physicians are not available. Such

authorization shall automatically cease when the epidemic or national

emergency is declared terminated by the health secretary.

The government has vowed to provide hospitals with enough personal

protective equipment to ensure the safety of medical frontliners.

Nograles said the DOH has also been tasked to facilitate the emergency

hiring of additional healthcare workers to assist in the local health

system, subject to evaluation of the budget department.

Meanwhile, President Duterte has vowed to run after people who discriminate

against health workers and hospitals that refuse to admit patients believed

to have contracted the virus.

Duterte ordered the police to detain and to starve people who harass health

workers, especially those who stone their houses.

MAKATI CITY MAMIMIGAY NG P500 GROCERY VOUCHERS SA MGA RESIDENTE

MAYNILA - Mamimigay ang Makati City government ng P50 milyong halaga ng

grocery voucher o P500 kada residente bilang tulong sa pinalawig na Luzon

lockdown.

Ayon kay Mayor Abby Binay, bibigyan ang lahat ng residente, kabilang ang

middle class.

Una nang namahagi ng cash aid at food packs sa mga 7,800 residenteng bahagi

ng informal sector.

Namigay din ang lokal na pamahalaan ng 8,000 food packs sa mga mag-aaral ng

mga pampublikong paaralan para mapanatili ang kanilang kalusugan.

Mayroong 177 kaso ng COVID-19 ang lungsod, ayon sa tala nitong Martes.

VICO SOTTO URGES PUBLIC: STOP COMPARING COVID-19 RESPONSE OF MAYORS

The public should refrain from pitting local chief executives against each

other as they scramble to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, Pasig Mayor Vico

Sotto said Wednesday.

The initiatives of some mayors might just have gone unnoticed, said the

30-year-old Sotto, who earlier drew praise for the swift distribution of

food packs and innovative measures to halt the disease's spread like the use

of drones for disinfection.

"Sana 'wag na pong ikumpara, lalo na po iyong negatibong comparison ng mga

mayor. Hindi po panahon para sa ganyan. Dapat nagtutulungan tayo," he told

DZMM.

Sotto said he had copied the best practices of neighboring cities like

Quezon City's coronavirus test booths.

MAKATI MED 'HEALTH HERO' AND MENTOR DIES DUE TO COVID-19

MANILA - The Philippines lost another frontliner, known cardiologist and

mentor to young doctors, Roberto Anastacio, due to COVID-19.

Makati Medical Center mourned the loss of Anastacio, a "health hero" who

stood at the frontlines in the hospital's fight against the novel

coronavirus.

"He dedicated his professional career to Cardiovascular Medicine and walked

the halls of MakatiMed with other doctors and healthcare workers for his

daily consultations and patient rounds for 30 years," MMC wrote in a

Facebook post.

"His dedication and legacy will continue to serve as an inspiration among

us, and his selfless sacrifice shall not be in vain as we all unite as one

in fighting the battle," it added.

Anastacio died on April 10 due to COVID-19, the Philippine Heart Center said

in a separate release.

PHC remembered Anastacio as the former chair of its Cardiac Graphics Section

before moving to teach at the University of Santo Tomas.

"Your mentees who are now mentors themselves. [All] remember you with

fondness and great respect for the teacher that you were," PHC said.

Anastacio is hailed as an awardee of The Outstanding Young Men of the JCI

Philippines in 1979 in Medicine.

He was also the doctor of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

SYLVIA SANCHEZ, HUSBAND NOW TEST NEGATIVE FOR COVID-19

MANILA - Screen veteran Sylvia Sanchez and her husband, Art Atayde, have

recovered from the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), with their tests

turning in negative on Tuesday.

"The results from April 9 came back and they both tested negative!" she

wrote with a heart and praying emojis. "Thank you for praying with us. Last

stretch."

Sanchez first announced that she and Atayde had tested positive for COVID-19

on March 31.

On April 8, they were both cleared of pneumonia, prompting the April 9

confirmatory test to see if they have recovered from the disease.

Prior to Sanchez, showbiz personalities who made recoveries - similarly with

tests resulting negative - include Iza Calzado and Christopher de Leon.

CANNES FILM FESTIVAL WILL NOT BE HELD THIS YEAR IN 'ITS ORIGINAL FORM':

ORGANISERS

PARIS (Reuters) - The Cannes Film Festival will not be held this year in

"its original form" due to the coronavirus, organisers said on Tuesday.

The festival will nevertheless be made "real" in 2020, "in a way or

another", they added in a statement.

The film festival, one of the largest in the world, was initially due to

take place from May 12-23.

SPORTS

BOXING: THURMAN FEELS CLOSER TO PACQUIAO REMATCH

MANILA -- Keith Thurman, the last man Manny Pacquiao beat, believes he's

going to get that rematch very soon.

The former WBA "super" welterweight champion said the COVID-19 pandemic is

playing a big part in making the rematch happen since it times the schedule

of their availability.

"Every day that nobody is allowed to do anything makes me feel like I'm one

day closer to the rematch with Manny Pacquiao," Thurman told Boxing Scene,

referring to the pandemic that put the world into a standstill.

Following his split decision loss to Pacquiao, Thurman underwent surgery to

remove bone spurs from his elbow. He expects to be fully healed by July when

Pacquiao is expected to make his ring return.

"I understood after my hand surgery that he was most likely going to step in

the ring before August," Thurman said.

"Now we're looking at a situation where we might be prepared to step in the

ring at the same time. If that's the case, the ball is in his court. But I

just don't see. someone else giving him a great fight," said Thurman.

The previously unbeaten fighter feels he deserved another shot a Pacquiao

because of his status before his loss.

"I also believe I deserve the rematch being an undefeated champion at the

time. There wasn't a (rematch clause), but that's what I'm looking forward

to. This gives me time to be prepared, to line up and be in sync with his

future date," said Thurman.

Pacquiao has previously discussed possible foes in the future, including

Errol Spence and Mikey Garcia.

INDICATORS

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow. - Audrey Hepburn