DUTERTE WANTS FDA, DOST TO INCREASE WORKFORCE, OPERATE 'DAY AND NIGHT'

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Food and Drug Administration

and the Department of Science and Technology to increase their workforce as

the country continues to battle the coronavirus outbreak.

The chief executive also wanted the two government agencies to extend their

operations to 24 hours.

“We are not operating under normal battle conditions, I said. We are

operating in a crisis,” Duterte said in a late Monday night address.

The president said the agencies should hire more medical technologists and

other healthcare personnel.

“I have authorized this both—both this—itong dalawang opisina FDA pati ‘yung

DOST to employ as much as many that would be required para magmadalian and

to enable the agencies to work day and night. Sabi ko kasi we are fighting a

war here, a crisis,” he said.

The FDA is in charge of assessing test kits and medicines to be used for the

treatment of patients with coronavirus disease.

DOST, meanwhile, is studying forms of treatment such as the virgin coconut

oil and works with scientists in developing equipment like ventilators and

telemedicine boxes.

In response to the presidentÂ’s directive, DOST Secretary Fortunato de la

Peña said the department will look into which services need more workforce.

“Gusto rin talaga naming mapabilis ang completion ng aming projects na tugon

sa COVID-19 at sa mga iba pang epidemiya na maaring dumating sa hinaharap,”

de la Peña said.

The new coronavirus has already infected 7,777 people in the Philippines. Of

the number 511 have died, while 932 have recovered.

3 LOCAL VENTILATOR PROTOTYPES BEING DEVELOPED

The Department of Science and Technology is tapping other universities to

help the University of the Philippines in the development and production of

ventilators to supply hospitals in preparation for a surge of cases in

intensive care units. Among the eight organizations that expressed interest

are the Mapua Institute of Technology and the Don Bosco Technical Institute.

Secretary Fortunato dela Peña, in a task force meeting aired Monday night,

told members of the Cabinet and President Duterte that the department's

Project Ginhawa is set to test three prototypes of ventilators with actual

patients.

Dela Peña also said the purchasing of ventilators recently became more

challenging. "The average number of ventilators in small hospitals is very,

very small fraction of what is really needed... Bigla pong humirap

mag-import ng ventilator kasi nagaagawan sa supply ng ventilator," he said.

The Duterte government has been criticized for its delays in the purchase of

essential medical equipment including PPEs, surgical masks and ventilators

right after the first reported cases of COVID-19 in January.

ANTI-BULLYING HOTLINE PARA SA FRONTLINERS, COVID-19 PATIENTS INILUNSAD SA

PASAY

MAYNILA - Naglunsad ng anti-discrimination hotline ang lokal na pamahalaan

ng Pasay para sa mga frontliners at COVID-19 patients.

Sa programang "Na-bully ka na ba?" ng Pasay City government, maaaring

tumawag sa mga sumusunod na numero ang mga health workers at sinumang

nakaranas ng diskriminasyon? ukol sa COVID-19:

0961-680-4984

0966-247-3608

0928-656-3958

0922-749-3800

0950-198-7703

Bukas ang hotline mula alas-8 ng umaga hanggang alas-5 ng hapon, ayon sa

lokal na gobyerno.

PISO FARE DEAD DUE TO COVID-19? 'SPECULATIVE,' SAYS CEBU PACIFIC

MANILA -- Cebu Pacific said Tuesday it was "speculative" at this point to

conclude that reducing the number of passengers to fight the COVID-19

pandemic would result in higher fares and the death of its P1 promo fares.

Gokongwei-led Cebu Pacific, the Philippines' largest airline, and its rivals

Philippine Airlines and AirAsia are all preparing for flight resumptions

under a "new normal" outfitting crew with protective gear, encouraging the

use of digital channels and maintaining physical distancing.

Flights will not resume until after the lockdown or enhanced community

quarantine in Metro Manila and other high-risk areas ends on May 15.

"Kaunti kasi ang nabebentang upuan, 'pag kunyari wala na talaga 'yong middle

seat, mas kaunti ang pasaherong naghahati sa cost of mounting that flight,

ang pangamba nila tataas ang pamasahe," Cebu Pacific spokeswoman Charo

Logarta-Lagamon said.

"I think medyo speculative pa siya sa ngayon, meron naman pong ways na

mapababa natin o ma-manage natin ang mga costs of the flight, hindi

necessarily tataas nang walang piso fare," she told DZMM.

Cebu Pacific can survive the lockdown, wherein all flights are grounded,

Lagamon said.

The airline earlier said some employees agreed to pay cuts to protect jobs.

HOTELS TO REOPEN IN GCQ AREAS – DTI

MANILA — Hotels will be allowed to operate in areas under general community

quarantine or GCQ, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said

yesterday.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said in a Viber message that hotels may operate

and accept bookings under general quarantine.

Hotels, resorts, tourist inns and motels are not allowed to operate during

the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), in effect since March 17 in Metro

Manila and other major urban centers deemed at “high risk” for COVID-19

contagion.The government is expected to release today the guidelines for

relaxing quarantine restrictions by April 30.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the easing of restrictions in areas

under general quarantine or those with low to moderate coronavirus risks

would be gradual.

“Tomorrow, I am sure we will make public the guidelines of the GCQ in our

press briefing. This is what we call the master plan because this will be

our strategy,” Roque said at a press briefing yesterday.

“We won’t fully open our economy yet. It will be gradual. It is important to

finalize the guidelines and the IATF (interagency task force for the

management of emerging infectious diseases) is meeting while we are holding

this press briefing,” he said.

BI TRACING OFWS EVADING 2-WEEK QUARANTINE

MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration has been tapped to help identify

returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are hiding their identities

in order to avoid the mandatory 14-day quarantine period.

In a statement, the BI said its officers at the Ninoy Aquino International

Airport (NAIA) were directed by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on

Emerging Infectious Diseases to assist in identifying returning OFWs who

should be subjected to mass testing for the coronavirus disease 2019 and

undergo the mandatory quarantine.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said the IATF requires all arriving workers to

undergo mass rapid testing at the airport before they are brought to a

designated facility for quarantine.

However, they have been receiving reports that some of these passengers do

not admit or declare that they are OFWs to avoid being quarantined.

“If they misdeclare their status during the health screening, Immigration

officers would still be able to detect it,” said Morente.

THE REST

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MERALCO TO ENSURE POWER FOR ECONOMIC RESTART, SEES 'SILVER LINING'

MANILA -- The Philippines largest power distributor, Meralco, said Tuesday

it would ensure continued supply to help the nation and the economy reboot

from the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the full tragedy of the disease has yet to unfold, Meralco saw a

"silver lining" on April 22, when demand peaked at 5,491 MW, compared to

3,500 MW to 4,300 MW during the lockdown period, Chairman Manuel Pangilinan

said.

Meralco reported to the stock exchange Tuesday that consolidated core net

income in the January to March period rose 2 percent to P5.7 billion while

consolidated reported net income was halved to P2.6 billion due to its

investment in PacificLight Power.

Consolidated energy volume sales rose 5 percent, consumer count was up 4

percent to 6.9 million while consolidated electricity revenues fell 8

percent to P67.9 billion due to lower pass-through charges, Meralco said.

"We will continue to be here to enable the restart of the economy, from

support of the BBB projects to when businesses re-open under the new

normal," Pangilinan said.

Meralco kept supply running, suspended meter readings and staggered lockdown

consumption for later payment. The lockdown or enhanced community quarantine

in Metro Manila and other high-risk areas was extended twice and will last

until May 15.

The pandemic has become the "catalyst" for Meralco's digital pivot,

Pangilinan said.

"COVID-19 is life-changing, and it calls all of us to a paradigm shift in

everything we do... Meralco will play its part, regardless of the condition

– this is the assurance we have given to our customers and the government,"

he said.

"Whilst the virus has brought unprecedented pain and sorrow into our lives,

we cannot allow it to break us; instead, we shall emerge from this broken

world into the light, stronger and wiser," he said.

MAKATI COPS FILE CHARGES VS 'DISOBEDIENT' FOREIGNER IN VIRAL DASMA VILLAGE

CLIP

MANILA — Police are filing charges against a foreign resident of a posh

Makati City village who allegedly went berserk after being accosted by

authorities over alleged quarantine violations.

In an interview with DZMM, Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, commander of

Joint Task Force Coronavirus Shield, said officials of Makati police led by

Col. Rogelio Simon went to the city prosecutor's office on Monday night to

file charges against Javier Salvador Parra.

"Kausap ko lang actually itong ating chief of police ng Makati City police

station Roger Simon, at ngayon ay nasa office of the prosecutor [sila] para

i-file 'yung kaso dito po sa foreigner," Eleazar said.

He said Parra will be charged with "disobedience to a lawful person in

authority; unjust vexation; resisting arrest; violation of city ordinance

against not wearing face mask; and violation of Republic Act 11332 in

relation to the enforcement of quarantine regulation."

Makati's City Ordinance No. 2020-089 requires residents, workers and all

other persons in the city to wear face masks and other protective equipment

while outdoors or in public places as a measure against the spread of the

novel coronavirus.

A video shared by the Joint Task Force Coronavirus Shield showed Parra, who

was not wearing a face mask, telling 2 police officers to go to Tondo or

Manila instead of his house.

Parra, however, claimed in a statement that one of the police officers

"grabbed my hands and brutally threw me to the ground and caused me physical

injury and abrasions... He continued to scuffle and keep me on the ground to

put handcuffs on me."

The police officer let go of Parra after the foreigner's wife allegedly told

him that her husband couldn't be arrested without a warrant. Parra evaded

arrest by entering his house.

He claimed that he suffered wounds on his elbows and hands. He said he also

had a prior spinal injury and that the incident caused him "immense physical

pain."

Barangay Dasmariñas chairperson Rossana Hwang meanwhile defended the

policeman, whom she said maintained an "unfazed" and "cool" attitude despite

Parra's behavior.

The policeman only reminded Parra's maid to wear a face mask, according to

Hwang.

PALACE: DEPORTATION OF CHINESE NATIONALS NABBED IN POGO RAID UP TO

IMMIGRATION

MANILA — Malacañang is leaving it to immigration officials to decide on

calls to deport the 44 Chinese nationals who were nabbed for carrying out

offshore gaming operations in Parañaque City during the enhanced community

quarantine.

Forty-four Chinese nationals and nine Filipinos believed to be working for

Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) were arrested last Friday in

the city for violating quarantine protocols.

Authorities confiscated about P1.3 million in cash, five pistols, 36 laptops

and 17 desktop computers during the operation.

Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez called for the deportation of the arrested

Chinese nationals and a probe into the possible connivance between barangay

officials and gambling operators.

"That will be addressed by the (Bureau of) Immigration and Deportation... I

know POGO operations are prohibited and if there reasons to do so, I'm sure

the (immigration bureau) will make the right decision," presidential

spokesman Harry Roque said at a press briefing Monday when asked about the

mayor's call to deport the Chinese nationals.

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS MAY SPELL PERMANENT CLOSURE FOR SOME PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Some private schools could close permanently due to income losses during the

months-long shutdown of vast swaths of the country to contain the COVID-19

pandemic, a sector leader said Tuesday.

Many schools have yet to pay the bank loans they took for facilities and

internet connection that the K-12 curriculum required, said Eleazardo

Kasilag, president of the Federation of Associations of Private School

Administrators (FAPSA).

"Lahat kami may utang... Hindi pa bayad 'yon. Anong mangyayari ngayong 7

months na lull?" he told DZMM. "Baka iyong iba sa amin, gobyerno na ang

magsara, banko na ang magsara, i-repossess na o what. Takot kami doon."

Some small private schools, he said, were also unable to pay their staff.

FAPSA will ask the education department for aid, he said.

MMDA: FRONTLINERS NOT EXEMPTED FROM BACKRIDING BAN

MANILA — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) yesterday

reminded frontliners that they are not exempted from the ban on backriding

on motorcycles during the enhanced community quarantine.

The MMDA made the statement after a motorcycle rider was issued an ordinance

violation receipt (OVR) by a traffic enforcer for transporting a nurse to

Quezon City from Bulacan.

In a post on Facebook, Michael Villanueva said he was pulled over by an MMDA

traffic enforcer along Commonwealth Avenue on Friday for transporting his

sister-in-law, who is a nurse, to a Quezon City hospital.

Villanueva said he was issued an OVR and fined P5,000 for violating social

distancing measures. He was still allowed by the enforcer to take the nurse

to the hospital.

Villanueva said he volunteered to take his sister-in-law to work because

there were no shuttle buses taking frontliners at the time.

The MMDA denied there were no shuttle buses, adding that the two sped off

after being issued the OVR without asking permission from the enforcer.

It was also VillanuevaÂ’s second offense for violating the social distancing

measure, the MMDA said.

“We want to emphasize that backriding in Metro Manila during the enhanced

community quarantine is prohibited. There are no exemptions to these

guidelines, not even frontliners,” the MMDA said.

The agency said it would also look into reports of backriding MMDA traffic

enforcers.

PSE 'ADJUSTED' TO REMOTE TRADING DURING LOCKDOWN, PRESIDENT SAYS

MANILA - The Philippine Stock Exchange has adjusted to “floor-less” trading

and shortened hours during the lockdown, its president said Tuesday.

A study is underway to determine whether traders can move to while day

trading from remote locations, PSE president Ramon Monzon told ANC.

"So far every body have adjusted to it. I donÂ’t hear any complaints. How

long weÂ’re keeping the shortened trading hours, we donÂ’t know yet," he said.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

WORLD'S BIGGEST FILM FESTIVALS UNITE FOR 10-DAY GLOBAL STREAMING EVENT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - More than 20 film festivals around the world have

joined together to stream movies free on YouTube after the coronavirus

pandemic shuttered movie theaters and forced the cancellation of annual

showcases in Cannes and New York.

The 10-day “We Are One: A Global Film Festival” will feature content curated

by the Berlin, Cannes, Venice, Sundance, Toronto and Tribeca film festivals,

among others, starting on May 29, organizers Tribeca Enterprises and YouTube

said in a statement on Monday.

The festival will showcase films, documentaries, music, comedy and

conversations. No details of the programming were announced and it was

unlikely that major new movies that generally launch at film festivals would

be included.

The cancellation of the May Cannes film festival in France and uncertainty

around festivals in Venice and Toronto in September because of the

coronavirus outbreak has robbed filmmakers and movie studios of crucial

windows to promote their new offerings to the media and the public.

The organizers of the Cannes film festival said on Monday that they were

proud to join in the YouTube event “to spotlight truly extraordinary films

and talent, allowing audiences to experience both the nuances of

storytelling from around the world and the artistic personalities of each

festival.”

Jane Rosenthal, co-founder of the Tribeca film festival in New York that

also had to be canceled, said the idea was to inspire and unite people

across borders during the pandemic.

“All of the world needs healing right now,” Rosenthal said in a statement.

Other festivals taking part include those in Jerusalem, Mumbai, Sarajevo,

Sydney, Tokyo and London.

While the festival will stream for free, viewers will be asked to donate to

the World Health OrganizationÂ’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

SPORTS

FOOTBALL: UK GOVERNMENT WANTS PREMIER LEAGUE BACK 'AS SOON AS POSSIBLE'

The U.K government's cabinet minister responsible for sport said he has been

in talks with the Premier League with the aim of getting football back on

the field as quickly as possible.

Speaking at a parliamentary questions session, Oliver Dowden, Culture, Media

and Sport Secretary, said: “I personally have been in talks with the Premier

League with a view to getting football up and running as soon as possible in

order to support the whole football community.

"But of course, any such moves would have to be consistent with public

health guidance," he said.

The Premier League, which has been on hold since March 13, remains suspended

until at least April 30 while lockdown measures are in place in the United

Kingdom until May 7, when the government is set to review the current

restrictions in place.

But three London clubs, Arsenal, West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur, along with

Brighton, have already re-opened their training grounds, allowing limited

return to training while observing social distancing protocols.

Those clubs say that players will only be using outdoor field facilities for

individual work and will not take part in team activities.

Premier League clubs will hold their latest conference call on Friday as

they continue to evaluate various options for finishing the season but a

re-start of matches is not expected until June at the earliest.

Last week the league said it was "working through complex planning

scenarios" and there are a number of practical hurdles that they face.

With the ban on mass public gatherings likely to be one of the last

restrictions to be removed, rescheduled games could be held behind closed

doors, possibly at neutral venues.

English cricketÂ’s governing body, the ECB, has been given the leading role

for all sport in the country, including soccer, in examining how to create

‘bio-secure’ venues, with the focus on stadiums with hotel facilities

connected or nearby -- to limit the need for extensive travel.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 50.69

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The task of the leader is to get their people from where they are to where

they have not been. - Henry Kissinge