FIRST SINCE 1998: PHILIPPINES GDP SHRINKS DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC

MANILA - The Philippine economy shrank in the January to March period, for

the first time since 1998, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting

lockdown, officials said Thursday.

Gross domestic product contracted by 0.2 percent, compared the 2.9 percent

median growth forecast of economists in a Bloomberg poll. Economic growth

was at 6.7 percent in the fourth quarter and 5.7 percent in the first

quarter of 2019.

An economic recovery plan is being worked out to put the Philippines "back

on track" to pre-pandemic levels, said Acting Socioeconomic Planning

Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua. The Taal Volcano eruption in January also

contributed to the contraction, he said.

"Saving hundreds and thousands of lives has come at a great cost to the

Philippine economy... Our priorities are clear: to protect the lives and

health of our people," Chua said.

The world economy is facing its worst challenge since the Great Depression,

he said.

"These are extraordinarily trying times and the road ahead is uncertain...

This crisis shall also pass since we are working together as a nation," he

said.

Analysts and government officials had said that the economy could contract

in the second and third quarters, meeting the technical definition of a

recession, before a rebound in the fourth quarter.

Due to the second lockdown extension to May 15, the economy could contract

by 0.8 percent for the full year before recovering in 2021, when growth may

hit as high as 7.8 percent, said Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor

Benjamin Diokno.

The recovery from the lockdown will be "very slow," said Asuncion. A vaccine

and a cure are key to restoring consumer confidence in the economy, he said.

US COMMITS P298 MILLION MORE AID TO PH COVID-19 FIGHT

MANILA - The US has committed P298 million more aid to the Philippines in

its battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, its embassy in Manila said

Thursday.

The fund will support local governments to ensure food supply, aid local

business recovery, set up public handwashing facilities, and strengthen the

capacity of local response centers, the US embassy said in a statement.

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) will also partner with

18 local governments hardest-hit by the virus to "promote effective crisis

management and implement response plans," it added.

"This latest assistance builds on our long-standing relationships with local

government units across the Philippines, and represents our continued

commitment to our Filipino friends, partners, and allies in this time of

crisis," US ambassador Sung Kim said.

This is the third tranche of aid that the US has pledged to the Philippines,

bringing the total to P768 million, according to the embassy.

It said the additional fund includes P44 million from the US Department of

StateÂ’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration for the International

Committee of the Red Cross.

The funds would be used to increase stocks of medical supplies, expand

hospital capacity, prevent the spread of disease in detention centers, and

support resilience for vulnerable people and communities.

As of Wednesday, the Philippines has recorded 10,004 cases of COVID-19, with

1,506 recoveries and 658 deaths.

CALIDA PRESSED NTC TO ISSUE CEASE AND DESIST ORDER VS ABS-CBN, DOCUMENT

SHOWS

MANILA – It was Solicitor General Jose Calida who pressured the National

Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to issue a cease and desist order

against ABS-CBN Corp. and ABS-CBN Convergence, Inc. instead of granting

provisional authority, eventually leading to the network's sign-off Tuesday

night.

In a letter dated April 30, 2020, a copy of which was obtained by ABS-CBN

News, Calida said the commission should stop ABS-CBN's broadcast operations

instead of issuing provisional authority, as its officials had vowed under

oath in a legislative hearing.

The letter came to light Wednesday, the same day Calida said Congress, not

the NTC, should be blamed for ABS-CBN's shutdown. Over two months earlier,

he asked the Supreme Court to nullify ABS-CBN's then expiring franchise.

“With an expired franchise and a failure to renew the franchise, the NTC

should, instead of entertaining the thought of issuing a PA, with or without

hearing, issue a show cause or recall order requiring ABS-CBN Corporation to

explain why the broadcasting frequency assigned to it should not be recalled

or otherwise forfeited,” he said in a letter dated April 30, 2020, a copy of

which was obtained by ABS-CBN News.

The 14-page letter was addressed to NTC Gamaliel Cordoba and Deputy

Commissioners Delilah Deles and Edgardo Cabarios, and signed by Calida and

six assistant solicitors general.

“At the same time, the NTC should issue a cease and desist order against

ABS-CBN Corporation from continuing its broadcasting operations,” he added.

And so the NTC did on May 5, forcing ABS-CBN to go off the air for the first

time since the Marcos dictatorship.

Calida's letter is on top of a statement he released on May 3, the eve of

the ABS-CBN franchise expiration, where he warned the NTC against issuing

provisional authority.

DUTERTE INSTITUTIONALIZES ‘BALIK-PROBINSYA’ PROGRAM

MANILA — President Duterte has signed Executive Order 114, which seeks to

institutionalize the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-Asa program as “a pillar of

balanced regional development.”

The EO aims to decongest Metro Manila amid the coronavirus disease 2019

(COVID-19) crisis and bring people back to their home provinces to allow

them to sustain their livelihoods outside the metropolis.

“The uncontrolled upsurge of population in the National Capital Region (NCR)

brings to fore the longstanding issues on the lack of viable and sustainable

employment opportunities in the countryside, unbalanced regional development

and unequal distribution of wealth,” a portion of EO 114 states.

Malacañang released last night the copy of the order aimed at balancing

regional development and distribution of wealth, resources and opportunities

through policies and programs.

“Reversed migration to the NCR and other congested metropolises to attain

rural prosperity are needed to foster socially cohesive, resilient and

sustainable rural communities,” the order says.

Duterte also called for the creation of a council, headed by the Executive

Secretary, to ensure a whole-of-government action on the implementation of

the program.

DUTERTE NEUTRAL ON FRANCHISE ROW – PALACE

MANILA — President Duterte is neutral on the franchise renewal of broadcast

network ABS-CBN and wants members of the House of Representatives to vote

“as their conscience dictates,” a Palace official said yesterday.

“He will not take it against them if the franchise bill is passed by

Congress or not. He is completely neutral on the issue. Vote as your

conscience dictates,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.

“For as long as there is no constitutional infirmity, then he will not

object to the law,” Roque said.

He said the President has no authority to extend or delay the renewal of the

networkÂ’s franchise.

Roque stressed that Duterte did not intervene with the opinions of Solicitor

General Jose Calida and Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, who have

different views on the ABS-CBN franchise.

Roque said the President could not influence the decision of the National

Telecommunications Commission, which is a quasi-judicial body under the

executive branch.

Roque insisted that even if Duterte wanted to approve the franchise renewal,

the “President’s hands are tied.”

Malacañang officials defended the President after critics insinuated that

the network’s shutdown has “shades of a political vendetta.”

Roque said Duterte accepted the public apology of ABS-CBN president Carlo

Katigbak a few months ago.

Since he was elected president in 2016, Duterte has been threatening ABS-CBN

with closure. He branded its owners as oligarchs.

JACK MA TO DONATE 50,000 MORE COVID-19 TEST KITS TO PHILIPPINES, SAYS

PACQUIAO

MANILA - Chinese billionaire Jack Ma will give 50,000 more COVID-19 test

kits to the Philippines, Sen. Manny Pacquiao said Thursday.

The tycoon earlier pledged to donate 500,000 face masks and 50,000 COVID-19

testing kits.

"Good thing na si Jack Ma magbibigay pa ulit ng mga 50,000 na testing kits.

Magbibigay pa siya ulit ng additional," Pacquiao told ANC.

The senator, however, said he has yet to be informed when the donations

would arrive in Manila.

THE REST

========

SENATORS TO FILE RESOLUTION URGING NTC TO RECONSIDER CEASE AND DESIST ORDER

VS ABS-CBN

MANILA - At least 8 senators have signed a resolution urging the National

Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to reconsider its cease and desist order

against the broadcast operations of ABS-CBN, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said

Thursday.

The resolution will be filed later in the day after other senators respond

to invitations to sign the measure, Hontiveros told reporters in an online

press conference.

"Nilagay sa panganib ng cease and desist order na inihain laban sa ABS-CBN

ang trabaho ng mga mangagagawa na puwede rin i-consider na frotnliners sa

pandemic ngayon," she said.

The new resolution is a "reiteration" of the previous sense of the Senate -

adopted in March - telling NTC officials that ABS-CBN should be allowed to

operate while Congress continues to tackle its franchise renewal bid.

"Silent 'yung aming resolution tungkol sa House pero... in a way, it's a

reiteration. May pagdidiin lang sa pagrereconsider ng NTC," she said.

PACQUIAO PRAYS DUTERTE WILL ORDER NTC TO ALLOW ABS-CBN TO OPERATE

MANILA - Sen. Manny Pacquiao said Thursday he hopes President Rodrigo

Duterte would order the National Telecommuni

"IÂ’m hoping, I'm praying na hipuin ng Panginoon ang Pangulo na tulungan at

kausapin ang NTC na bigyan ng provisional authority to operate while the

pending renewal bill is dinidinig ng lower House at Senate," Pacquiao told

ANC.

"Dito sa pago-operate ng ABS-CBN, may mgagawa naman ang Pangulo. Dito sa

pagsasara di naman natin pwede sisihin ang Pangulo sa naging desisyon ng

NTC."

The shutdown of the country's largest broadcast company was a big loss to

the Filipinos, especially overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), Pacquiao said.

"Malaking kawalan sa ating mga Pilipino. Alalahanin natin, sa ibang bansa

kasi especially TFC (The Filipino Channel), lahat ng OFW laging nanonood ng

TFC para 'yung lungkot nila sa ibang bansa, pag nakanood sila ng TFC parang

andito sila sa Pilipinas," he said.

"'Pag ako nasa ibang bansa nagte-training, pag nanonoood ako ng TFC para

akong nasa Pilipinas din."

The senator said he was surprised by the NTC's cease-and-desist order

against ABS-CBN, citing other media companies that were allowed to operate

as Congress deliberated on their franchise renewal.

"We donÂ’t need division, we need unity and compassion especially in solving

the pandemic problem," he said.

"I am not saying na hindi na natin i-implement 'yung law pero dapat siguro

with consideration and proper implementation, not in this crisis na maraming

nangangailangan ng tulong, maraming nagugutom."

Pacquiao said a joint congressional resolution has been filed at the Senate

that would grant ABS-CBN a temporary franchise until June 2022. A similar

measure has been filed at the House of Representatives.

BLINDSIDED BY NTC ORDER, POE SAYS ABS-CBN SHUTDOWN A WAKE-UP CALL TO

LAWMAKERS

MANILA - Senator Grace Poe on Thursday said they were blindsided by the

National Telecommunications Commission's cease and desist order against

ABS-CBN after the agency already agree to provide a provisional authority

after the network's franchise expired.

"We were all blindsided by the order of the National Telecommunications

Commission because it was against their pronouncement when they were in the

Senate. At that time, it was quite clear that based on precedence and based

also on what the Department of Justice had said, meaning there should be

equity in the gap of the law, that the NTC can really go ahead and give a

provisional authority to operate," Poe said on ANC's Headstart.

Poe said the NTC had issued provisional authorities to other companies whose

franchises have expired but have had their renewal lodged in either Congress

or the Senate.

"Clearly, it confuses us why now is the NTC having this position? Either,

they were duplicitous and deceitful in the hearings or they were pressured

by the letter of SolGen [Jose] Calida," she said.

"I, myself canÂ’t understand why the Solicitor General who is supposed to be

defending a government agency is in fact the one pressuring a government

agency and threatening a case against it," said Poe.

CASH AID DISTRIBUTION DEADLINE TO GET SECOND EXTENSION: DILG

MANILA - Thursday's deadline for local governments to complete the

distribution of cash aid that will help the poorest Filipinos cope with the

COVID-19 pandemic will be extended for the second time, the Department of

the Interior and Local Government said.

As of Wednesday night, about 77.51 percent or 985 out of 1,634 local

governments have finished distributing the first tranche of aid for 18

million of the most vulnerable families, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said,

some 8 weeks into the lockdown of Metro Manila and other high-risk areas to

contain the respiratory disease.

"For Metro Manila, I'll be extending the deadline up to May 10. For some

other areas, it depends on their effort," he told ANC.

The National Capital Region, home to some 12 million people, encountered

delays in the aid distribution due to the availability of cash in banks and

difficulty in ensuring physical distancing during payout, he said.

"Metro Manila is really a populous region and we have to give them some

additional days," said the official.

COVID-19 INFECTIONS IN PHILIPPINES HIT 10,000-MARK

The Department of Health reported 320 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the

total number of confirmed cases to 10,004.

There are 98 new recoveries and 21 new deaths, the Health department added.

40 MORE MEDICAL FRONTLINERS IN PHILIPPINES FALL ILL IN COVID-19 FIGHT

Forty more individuals on the frontline of the countryÂ’s fights against the

new coronavirus have contracted the infection, the Department of Health said

Wednesday.

This brought to 1,859 the number of healthcare workers infected with

COVID-19 in the Philippines.

NEARLY 500 SEAFARERS TESTED FOR COVID-19

Government agencies are conducting RT-PCR testing on 455 members of the

crews of M/V Pacific Explorer and M/V Costa Venezia, which are among the

cruise ships in Manila Bay waiting to offload their Filipino seafarers.

If they test negative, they will be given quarantine clearances and will be

transported to their home provinces or cities.

Those who test positive will be brought to a COVID-19 referral hospital.

MT. HALCON NOT A VOLVANO

MANILA — Mt. Halcon in Mindoro is not a volcano and will not erupt.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) issued the

clarification after photos of the supposed eruption of the highest peak in

the Central Mindoro Range circulated on social media.

The photos show an illuminated cloud that appears to come from its peak.

State seismologists said the volcano remains at Alert Level 1, which means

it is still in abnormal condition.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

MUSIC ICONS SHARON, REGINE, SARAH BACK ABS-CBN AMID FORCED SHUTDOWN

MANILA — Sharon Cuneta, Regine Velasquez, and Sarah Geronimo — music icons

from different generations — were among the stars who expressed support for

ABS-CBN as the network was forced to halt its broadcast operations on

Tuesday.

The three singers, all current artists of ABS-CBN, each shared their

statement backing their professional home through social media.

Cuneta brought up the employees of ABS-CBN — an estimated 11,000 — whose

livelihood have been put in jeopardy because of the government-imposed

closure.

"Iniisip at inaalala naming artists ng aming tahanan, ang ABS-CBN, ang

ilampung-libong empleyadong lumaki nang kasama ko, at ang mga batang bagong

empleyado pa lamang ng aming istasyon... You are all in my heart and

prayers. We love our home. And some people have made us homeless now... May

God bless us all," she wrote on Instagram.

Cuneta, 54, is dubbed local showbiz's "Megastar" and has been a Kapamilya

for a greater part of her 42-year career. She has been vocal of considering

her colleagues as her own family.

"Sa gitna ng aming kalungkutan at mga luha, nais lamang po naming ipaalam sa

inyo na kami ay mananatiling inyong nagmamahal na Kapamilya... hanggang dulo

mamahalin namin kayo. Maraming, maraming salamat po sa inyong pagmamahal sa

aming pamilya sa loob ng 67 na taon," she said.

Velasquez, 50, similarly showed solidarity with ABS-CBN through successive

posts sharing the network's logo against a black background and its official

statement.

"Para sa #MalayangPamamahayag. Hanggang sa muli, Kapamilya," she wrote in

separate tweets.

Dubbed "Asia's Songbird," Velasquez was a Kapamilya in the late '80s with

the musical programs "Teen Pan Alley" and "Triple Treat." She returned to

the network in 2018 after decades with rival station GMA-7.

Velasquez's ward, Geronimo, meanwhile broke her usual inactivity on social

media with a message of support for ABS-CBN.

"Praying for my ABS-CBN family," the 31-year-old hitmaker said in a rare

personal update on her Instagram page.

SPORTS

FOOTBALL: BUNDESLIGA TO RESTART ON MAY 15 AFTER MERKEL GIVES GO-AHEAD

BERLIN, Germany -- The Bundesliga will resume on May 15, the German league

confirmed Wednesday, after Chancellor Angela Merkel and state leaders gave

the green light to restart behind closed doors following weeks of shutdown

imposed to control the spread of the coronavirus.

The German Football League (DFL) confirmed the restart date to AFP

subsidiary SID on Wednesday night.

"After weighing up all the arguments, the DFL Executive Committee decided

today... to resume play in the Bundesliga and 2nd Bundesliga from 15 May

2020," the DFL said in a statement to magazine Kicker.

Germany's top-flight will become the first of Europe's major leagues to

return to the field.

"Matches will be allowed under the approved rules," said Merkel at a press

conference in Berlin.

Germany's top politicians approved a plan for the Bundesliga to resume in

stadiums without spectators and with players regularly tested.

Permission was granted on condition that strict guidelines are followed --

with a hygiene officer appointed to each team -- to prevent contagion of the

virus.

Bayern Munich and Germany captain Manuel Neuer said the players now had an

"enormous responsibility" to be role models and follow the hygiene

guidelines.

Representatives from the 36 clubs in the country's top two divisions will

finalise details in a videoconference on Thursday.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 50.46

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

This world, after all our science and sciences, is still a miracle;

wonderful, inscrutable, magical and more, to whosoever will think of it. -

Thomas Carlyle