DUTERTE ORDERS DBM TO PRUNE OTHER BUDGETARY ITEMS TO FUND SAP - ROQUE

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the budget department to

prune budgetary items that can be realigned to fund the social amelioration

program to poor families in areas still under lockdown, Presidential

Spokesperson Harry Roque said Friday.

Speaking to ANC's Headstart, Roque said the government needs an additional

P50 billion cash aid for millions of families that were left out of the

social amelioration program amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"The President has ordered the [Budget] Secretary to find ways and means to

give social amelioration to everyone in the second tranche. We're not sure

this will happen because the President said number 1, ask Secretary [Wendel]

Avisado to find out if we could realign funds, and if we cannot realign

funds, ask congressional leaders to help him find the financing because this

is a staggering P50 billion if we were to give social amelioration to all 23

million beneficiaries of SAP on the second tranche," he said.

The President's spokesman said Congress allotted P205-billion fund to

government to provide emergency subsidies ranging from P5,000 to P8,000 to

over 18 million poor families for April to May.

Duterte, however, decided to extend the cash aid to 5 million more

beneficiaries, said Roque.

Several local government units are urging the national government to still

place them under the enhanced community quarantine but the Inter-Agency Task

Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases appeal's committee has yet to rule on

the issue.

Aside from the case doubling rate and critical care capacity in areas

appealing to change their quarantine status, Roque said another important

thing that the IATF is considering is if government could still afford to

give social amelioration to more people who want to remain under modified

ECQ.

"There will be ramification because the decision of the IATF is to limit

already the amount of social amelioration, the second tranche of which

should be limited only to areas under ECQ for the month of May. We're still

not sure where to get the amelioration for the third tranche of ayuda for

areas remaining under modified ECQ," he said.

Roque said modified lockdown would allow the slow restart of the economy.

However, only select industries can operate up to a maximum of 50 percent

capacity.

Non-essentials such barbers and salons will remain closed, he said.

Mass transportation is likewise still not allowed to operate under MECQ.

"Although we have allowed substantial business to operate they have to

provide shuttle services to employees. Many of them already have their buses

so that's no problem. But for those who will be riding buses they will have

to get special permits from the LTFRB," he said.

PHILIPPINES EYES CORPORATE TAX CUT, STIMULUS VS COVID-19

MANILA -- The Philippines is considering an across the board cut in

corporate income tax and a stimulus of up to P160 billion to save the

economy from the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said.

The corporate income tax will be cut to 25 percent from 30 percent

"immediately" based on the proposal, Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary

Karl Kendrick Chua told an online forum

"For new investors, we will actively seek them out and ask them what they

would need as incentives to contribute to job creation in the Philippines,"

Chua said.

Finance Sec. Carlos Dominguez told the same forum that he was proposing a

stimulus package of P130 billion or P160 billion.

The government is repackaging the second tranche of tax reforms aimed at

companies, as part of a post-pandemic recovery plan, Chua said.

The economy shrank by 0.2 percent in the first quarter, the first

contraction in 22 years as the lockdown that started on March 17 shut

businesses and forced people to stay at home. The government revised its

growth forecast for 2020 to a contraction of 2 to 3.4 percent.

The economy lost up to 1.5 million jobs permanently or temporarily because

of the pandemic, Dominguez said on May 12, as he unveiled a 5-point plan to

restart the economy.

6 AREAS IN LUZON UNDER SIGNAL NO. 3 AS 'AMBO' CRASHES INTO LAND FOR SIXTH

TIME

MANILA - Typhoon Ambo (international name: Vongfong) made its sixth landfall

over southern Quezon with violent winds and heavy rains, weather forecasters

said Friday morning.

The typhoon-the first to hit the Philippines this year-forced tens of

thousands to flee their homes, complicating the government's response to the

growing threat of the novel coronavirus.

PAGASA said "Ambo" crashed into San Andres town in Quezon at 7:45 a.m. It

previously made landfalls over San Policarpio in Eastern Samar, Dalupiri

Island and Capul Island in Northern Samar, and Ticao Island and Burias

Island in Masbate.

The eyewall of the typhoon-a powerful part of a tropical cyclone-is bringing

"destructive winds and heavy to intense rainfall" over Bondoc Peninsula in

Southern Quezon and Burias Island.

"Ambo" was last seen over the coastal waters of San Andres, Quezon bearing

peak winds of 125 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 165 kph. It is

moving northwest at 15kph.

Weather forecasters said moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over

will be experienced Bicol region, Quezon, Aurora and Marinduque, Laguna,

Rizal, Metro Manila, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino today.

By Saturday, residents of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region,

Aurora and Nueva Ecija will have moderate to heavy with at times intense

rains.

PAGASA warned that flooding and rain-induced landslide may happen in highly

to very highly susceptible areas during heavy or prolonged rainfall.

Storm surge with height of up to two meters may be experienced over the

coastal areas of Bicol region, Quezon and Aurora in the next 24 hours. Storm

surge may result in "potentially life-threatening coastal inundation."

Forecast positions

Saturday morning: In the vicinity of Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya

Sunday morning: 50 km west southwest of Basco, Batanes

Monday morning: 435 km northeast of Basco, Batanes

Tuesday morning: 1,470 km northeast of extreme Northern Luzon (outside

Philippine Area of Responsibility)

TYPHOON FORCES 140,000 FROM HOMES IN VIRUS-HIT PHILIPPINES

MANILA - Over 140,000 people were forced into cramped shelters as a powerful

typhoon hammered the Philippines on Friday, compounding the nation's battle

with the coronavirus pandemic. Strong winds and heavy rains sent tens of

thousands to evacuation centers while observing pandemic protocols and

authorities scrambled for funds.

The storm hit as tens of millions of Filipinos are hunkered down at home

against the coronavirus, but at least 141,700 have had to flee because of

the powerful storm, disaster officials said.

The first storm of the year made landfall 6 times between Thursday afternoon

and early Friday in Eastern Samar, Dalupiri and Capul islands in Northern

Samar, Ticao and Burias islands in Masbate, and Quezon.

Authorities have said they will run shelters at half of capacity, provide

masks to people who don't have them and try to keep families grouped

together.

However, many spaces normally used as storm shelters have been converted

into quarantine sites for people suspected of being infected with

coronavirus.

Fortunately the central region where the storm struck first is not one of

the hotspots of the Philippines' outbreak, which has seen more than 11,800

infected and 790 dead.

Churches, he said, hosted evacuees who were asked to sleep one bench apart

to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The health department requires a

one-meter distance between evacuees.

Many who fled from the storm carried relief relief goods that Albay

authorities earlier distributed for the coronavirus lockdown of Luzon, Daep

said.

"Ang resources na ginagamit namin iyong pang-COVID din po," he told DZMM.

OFWS ALLOWED TO FLY OUT

Roque said overseas Filipino workers are now allowed to leave for overseas

employment, except for healthcare workers.

"We have allowed kababayans to seek employment abroad and for this purpose,

also the employment agency that will be needed to process their papers are

also now allowed to operate but the POEA ban on deployment of health workers

remain," he said.

It can be recalled that only Filipino healthcare workers with perfected and

signed overseas employment contracts as of March 8, 2020 were allowed to

leave the country last month.

"The primary consideration is the health and safety of our frontliners going

to most dangerous places as far as COVID-19 is concerned. No amount of

waiver will compensate for the fact that the government will be remiss in

its obligation to protect the health of its citizens if it were to allow

health workers to go to the most dangerous places for COVID-19," he said.

He added, "Those who already had their papers processed could leave, but new

processing will not be allowed. I don't think anyone with an existing

contract is covered by the ban."

THE REST

========

LIST: BUSINESSES, ACTIVITIES ALLOWED IN ALL QUARANTINE AREAS STARTING MAY 16

MANILA - With the easing of quarantine guidelines over parts of the

Philippines starting Saturday, we will begin to see the return of some

industries in our "new normal" lives.

Even areas that will be covered by a modified enhanced community quarantine

(MECQ), namely Metro Manila, Cebu City, and Laguna, will witness select

businesses reintroduced.

Based on the National Action Plan released Wednesday, here's a list of

businesses and activities you can expect to find in your area allowed to

operate with safety protocols.

Category I: Allowed in ECQ, MECQ, GCQ areas

Agriculture, forestry and fisheries

Manufacturing of essential goods: food and beverages (non-alcoholic),

hygiene (including soap, detergent, disinfectant), medicines and vitamins,

medical products (including masks), and pet food, feeds and fertilizers

Hospitals and clinics (including dermatological, dental, optometric and eye,

ear, nose and throat)

Essential retail (including groceries, markets, drug stores)

Laundry shops (including self-service)

Food preparation and water-refilling (take-out and delivery only)

Logistics service providers (including cargo handling, warehousing, trucking

and shipping line)

Delivery services

Utilities: power, energy, water, telecom, aircon, water collection/supply;

waste management, sewerage (except septic tank emptying, but including pest

control and garbage collection)

Repair and installation of machinery and equipment

Telecommunication companies (including internet service providers, cable

providers and telco third-party contractors)

Energy companies (including third-party contractors) across transmission,

distribution, maintenance, retail, exploration, operations, trading and

delivery of raw materials (including refineries and depots)

Gasoline stations

DPWH-accredited construction workers (facilities for healthcare and risk

reduction)

Manufacturing companies and suppliers or products necessary for construction

Media establishments (partially allowed under ECQ)

Category II: Allowed in MECQ, GCQ areas

Other manufacturing (partially allowed under MECQ): beverages (including

alcoholic), electrical machinery, wood products and furniture, non-metallic

products, textiles and wearing apparels*, tobacco products, paper and paper

products, rubber and plastic products, coke and refined petroleum products,

other non-metallic mineral products, computer; electronic and optical

products*, electrical equipment*, machinery and equipment, motor vehicles,

trailers and semi-trailers, other transport equipment and others [* if

high-employment gain, high fiscal revenue gain and low health risk]

Cement and steel

Mining and quarrying

Electronic commerce companies

Postal, courier and delivery services

Export-oriented companies

Real estate activities (only leasing partially allowed under MECQ)

Public and private construction projects that are essential (excluding

small-scale projects, partially allowed under MECQ): sewerage, water

services facilities, digital works and health facilities

Public and private construction projects that are a priority (excluding

small-scale projects, partially allowed under MECQ): food production,

agriculture, energy, housing, communication, water facilities, manufacturing

and BPO

Repair of computers and personal/household goods

Housing service activities

Office administrative and office support (partially allowed under MECQ):

photocopying, billing, etc.

Special purpose accommodation for healthcare workers, OFWs, workers in

permitted sectors and non-OFWs with mandated quarantine

Accommodation for guests partially allowed under MECQ and GCQ, but only for

existing long-term bookings (high employment gain, high fiscal revenue gain,

low health risk) or Luzon bookings as of May 1

Funeral and embalming services (except funeral parlors, partially allowed

under MECQ): Wake allowed under GCQ

Veterinary clinics (partially allowed under MECQ)

Security and investigation activities (partially allowed under MECQ)

BPO: work-from-home, on-site or near-site accommodation or point-to-point

shuttles

Banks, money transfer services, microfinance institutions, pawnshops

(excluding those not performing money transfer), credit cooperatives (all

must have high employment gain, high fiscal revenue gain, low health risk)

Capital markets (high employment gain, high fiscal revenue gain, low health

risk): BSP, SEC, PDEC, PDTC, etc.

Other financial services (partially allowed under MECQ): Money exchange,

insurance, reinsurance and non-compulsory pension funding

Legal and accounting (partially allowed under MECQ)

Management consultancy activities (partially allowed under MECQ)

Architecture/engineering activities and technical testing/analysis

(partially allowed under MECQ) with high employment gain, high fiscal

revenue gain, low health risk

Scientific and research development (partially allowed under MECQ)

Category III: Partially allowed in MECQ areas, allowed in GCQ areas

Advertising and market research

Computer programming (including writing code and designing computer systems)

and information service activities (including data processing)

Publishing (including newspapers and books) and printing (including on

textiles and glass) activities

Film, music and television production

Other activities: photography, fashion, industrial, graphic and interior

design

Wholesale and retail trade of motor vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles,

including parts and components

Repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles (including vulcanizing

shops, battery repair shops and auto repair shops)

Malls and commercial centers (non-leisure only)

Dining and restaurants (partially allowed in MECQ with no dine-in option and

GCQ undergoing review)

Hardware stores

Clothing and accessories

Mall-based government frontline services

Hardware stores

Bookstores and school/office supplies stores

Pet food and pet care supplies

IT, communications and electronic equipment

Flower, jewelry, novelty, antique, perfume shops

Toy stores (playground/amusement areas closed)

Rental and leasing other than real estate (allowed in MECQ): vehicles and

equipment for permitted sectors

Employment activities (allowed in MECQ): recruitment and placement for

permitted sectors

Category IV: Not allowed anywhere

Gyms/fitness studios and sports facilities

Entertainment industries (including cinemas, theaters and karaoke bars)

Kid amusement industries (including playrooms and rides)

Libraries, archives, museums and cultural centers

Tourist destinations (including water parks, beaches and resorts)

Travel agencies, tour operators, reservation service and related activities

Personal care services (including massage parlors, sauna, facial care and

waxing. Barbershops and salons were originally under Category III, but are

still not allowed everywhere pending review from Department of Trade and

Industry)

COVID-19 INFECTIONS IN PHILIPPINES HIT 11,876

The Department of Health reported 258 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the

national tally to 11,876.

There are 86 new recoveries and 18 new fatalities.

VICO SOTTO INKS DEAL TO EMPLOY 500 TRICYCLE DRIVERS FOR FOOD DELIVERY

MANILA (As released) - To help and support thousands of tricycle drivers and

their families in Metro Manila who lost their means of livelihood during the

novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, tech company Foodpanda

recently expanded its pandaTODA project in Pasig City in partnership with

the city government to provide jobs to at least 500 Pasig City tricycle

drivers.

"As we all know, we are in a health crisis right now and a lot of our

'kababayans' are having a really hard time. One of the sectors that are

really affected by this crisis is our tricycle drivers. In Pasig we have

over 13,000 tricycle drivers. All of them have been hit by this crisis and a

lot of them don't know where to get their next meal from. With the help of

foodpanda, we will be able to help hundreds of tricycle drivers who have no

source of income right now." said Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto.

SUBDUED PMA GRADUATION DUE TO COVID-19

Members of the Philippine Military Academy graduating class of 2020 will

receive their diplomas without their very proud parents or their loved ones

on May 22.

Worse, not even the commander-in-chief, President Rodrigo Duterte, is sure

to award outstanding PMA graduates and declare them second lieutenants or

ensigns.

There is nothing final yet on who will be the guest of honor and speaker,

says Capt. Cherryl Tindog, PMA spokesperson.

Normally, the president as the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces awards

the Presidential Saber to the class topnotcher, the vice president awards

the Vice President's Saber to the Number 2 graduating cadet while commanders

of the major service commands-Army, Philippine Air Force and Navy-award the

Major Service Sabers to graduates topping the Army, Air Force and Navy

courses.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

DAWN ZULUETA, JUDY ANN SANTOS EMBRACE THEIR GRAY HAIR DURING LOCKDOWN

MANILA - Actresses Dawn Zulueta and Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo took to social

media to share how they are embracing their gray hair while in lockdown.

Metro Manila and other provinces are still under enhanced community

quarantine due to the coronavirus pandemic and salons are prohibited from

operating.

In an Instagram post, Zulueta, who turned 51 in March, posted a selfie

revealing strands of gray hair.

"Well, there it is... how home schooling can make your hair turn white.

Kidding! Almost 3 inches of my silver hair is visible now..= I'm challenging

myself not to do hair color while under #quarantine #lockdown Let's see how

long I can bear it," Zulueta wrote in the caption.

Santos-Agoncillo similarly shared her no make-up selfie and silver hair.

"Reality bites ngayong ECQ... naglabasan na mga uban ko. 'Yung iba kakatubo

pa lang, puti na agad? Sorry guys, hindi kayo dumaan sa adolescent stage.

Labasan na lang ng mga uban! Sino sasali?" wrote Santos-Agoncillo, who just

turned 42 last May 11.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 50.44

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Anything worth doing is worth doing slowly. - Mae West