METRO MANILA STREETS STIR BACK TO LIFE AS MODIFIED LOCKDOWN STARTS

MANILA – Several streets around Metro Manila slowly started coming back to

life on Saturday as the Philippine capital shifted to a modified enhanced

community quarantine after two months under lockdown.

Dozens of mask-wearing market-goers shopped for fresh produce in

Blumentritt, Manila.

In nearby Rizal province, several residents in San Mateo also went out to

buy at some stores that were allowed to resume business following the

extended lockdown imposed to curb the transmission of COVID-19.

On Saturday, Metro Manila, Laguna, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga,

Zambales and Angeles City shifted to the modified lockdown, where government

sought to restart an economy stricken by transport and work restrictions

because of the pandemic.

The cities of Cebu and Mandaue in the Visayas remain under enhanced

community quarantine, while other parts of the country are now under general

community quarantine, with loosened restrictions.

Under a modified lockdown, select businesses are allowed to operate at

50-percent capacity.

Among those included are malls and commercial centers, restaurants, hardware

stores, clothing and accessories shops, and electronic commerce companies,

which were long shut during the strict quarantine.

“Bagama’t nabago ang pangalan, 'yan ay modified or general, tayo’y

naka-community quarantine pa rin. Habang wala pang bakuna, habang wala pang

gamot sa COVID-19, nandiyan pa rin po ang banta,” presidential spokesperson

Harry Roque said at a Laging Handa press briefing.

RESPECT HOUSE DISCRETION ON ABS-CBN FRANCHISE BILL — SPEAKER

MANILA — Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has asked senators to respect the

discretion and actions of the House of Representatives on the franchise

renewal application of broadcast giant ABS-CBN.

“We want to work with you, to build our nation, but respect our timing and

manner of holding our hearings. In other words, letÂ’s all play nice and not

just pretend to be nice,” Cayetano stressed before the weekend.

“Allow us to do our jobs. Remember it is always easier to get 24 people to

agree than 300. Remember we represent specific constituencies and sectors

and that is why the Constitution provides that franchise bills will

exclusively emanate from the House,” he told senators.

The Speaker made the appeal as several senators questioned the bill passed

by the House allowing the network to return on air by granting a provisional

franchise until October while Congress deliberates on its franchise renewal

application.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III questioned why House Bill 6732 provided a

franchise for only five months when legislative franchise is supposed to be

valid for 25 years, while Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri wanted the

provisional franchise extended to one year.

However, this was addressed by Cayetano in his sponsorship speech, saying

the five-month period is the time the chamber plans to devote to hear and

deliberate on the ABS-CBN franchise renewal bills.

The House leadership also defended the legality of the approval of the bill,

which was questioned by opposition Sen. Francis Pangilinan who alleged that

the same-day approval on first and second reading last Wednesday violated

the Constitution.

CEBU CITY, MANDAUE CITY REVERTED TO ECQ AS 5 PROVINCES PLACED UNDER MECQ

MANILA — The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging

Infectious Diseases has placed two cities in Cebu under enhanced community

quarantine and five Central Luzon (Region III) provinces under modified

enhanced community quarantine.

Mandaue City in Cebu was initially set to be placed under general community

quarantine while Cebu City would have extended its lockdown with

modifications in protocols. Both are now under ECQ until May 31, according

to the IATF's Resolution 37 dated Friday.

Meanwhile, the “transitioning high-risk” provinces of Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva

Ecija, Pampanga and Zambales along with the highly urbanized Angeles City —

which would have shifted to GCQ today based on the task forceÂ’s Resolution

35 dated Monday — will instead see MECQ until the end of the month.

The National Capital Region along with Laguna province in Calabarzon (Region

IV-A) will remain under MECQ.

All other provinces, highly urbanized cities and independent component

cities will be placed under GCQ until May 31.

“After validation by the IATF Sub-TWG on Data Analytics, with updated case

numbers and health systems capacity data, and in consideration of the

appeals of the local government units...the final recommendations of the

IATF Screening and Validation are approved,” read the resolution, which

adjusted the quarantine protocols in the affected areas based on their

latest risk level.

Under MECQ, some forms of private transportation will be allowed as long as

they observe safety protocols. Shuttle services provided by the government

to frontliners are the only allowed mode of public transportation.

Private transportation allowed under MECQ are company shuttles but only half

of their capacity should be filled; personal vehicles for workers in

permitted sectors and activities (two persons per row), bicycle (one person

only), motorcycle (one person only), and E-Scooter (one person only).

In areas under GCQ, there would be limited movement to services and work

within the so-called buffer zone and outside buffer zone. Operation of

government offices and industries would have a maximum of 75% workforce.

Transporting services will also be limited to support government and private

operations. Learning arrangements will also be flexible and would have to

operate at limited capacities to cater to students.

As of Friday, the Philippines has 12,091 total COVID-19 cases (8,825

active).

Of which, Cebu City has 1,544 cases (1,505 active) and Mandaue City has 100

(95 active) according to the Department of HealthÂ’s live case tracker.

Metro Manila cities still collectively account for the majority of

infections at 7,779 total cases (5,466 active).

COURTS TO OPEN PHYSICALLY IN GENERAL QUARANTINE AREAS STARTING MONDAY

MANILA - Courts in areas under general community quarantine or GCQ will open

physically starting Monday, while those under modified lockdown will remain

closed, the Supreme Court said.

From Monday until May 29, the presiding judge of every court under GCQ will

determine a skeleton staff who will report to work on a rotation basis,

according to SC guidelines.

May 29 falls on a Friday the last working day before May 31, the last day of

new quarantine areas that took effect Saturday. The GCQ is one step below

the ECQ or enhanced community quarantine, which has more restrictions.

Courts in areas under a modified lockdown or modified ECQ will remain

physically closed, the SC said. Metro Manila is under modified ECQ alongside

Laguna, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Zambales and Angeles City.

Night courts and Saturday courts remain suspended in all areas, the SC said.

All tribunals can reached by phone, email or Facebook. A list of court

hotlines and email is available on the Supreme Court website.

Under the new guidelines, courts both under MECQ and GCQ can continue

receiving complaints online and raffle of cases electronically. Only courts

under MECQ can raffle cases through videoconference. Non-eCourt stations

under GCQ can hold physical raffles with only the raffle committee present.

Videoconference hearing are now being used in the Court of Tax Appeals,

Sandiganbayan and the Court of Appeals. Regional trial courts, family courts

and first level courts can hold videoconference hearings for all kinds of

cases, regardless of the stage of trial.

Among areas under MECQ, all courts in Metro Manila, Cebu City and San Pablo

City and Calamba in Laguna are authorized to hold videoconference hearings.

The other courts in Laguna may only hold in-court hearings in urgent cases,

subject to health hygiene protocols and other public medical standards like

wearing of face masks.

However, judges and justices under the GCQ are required to be in the

courtroom or in their chambers when holding videoconference hearings except

for justices, judges and court personnel with medical conditions who will be

allowed to work from home.

QUEZON CITY CORONAVIRUS DISEASE CASES BREACH 1,800

The number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Quezon City

breached 1,800 mark on Friday, according to the health department's data,

the city government said.

The city now has 1,804 cases of the said disease.

Of the number, 1,646 have addresses in the city while 1,453 were validated

by the QC Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit and District Health Offices.

There are still 840 active cases in the city, the local government unit

said.

One fatality was recorded Friday, bringing the total to 147 while 20 more

recovered having a total of 466.

Barangay Batasan Hills still has the highest number of COVID-19 cases with

77, followed by Bahay Toro with 55, and Matandang Balara and Pasong Tamo

with 49 cases each.

Due to the high rate of cases of the disease in the areas, the LGU placed

barangays Bahay Toro, Culiat, Sauyo, Batasan Hills, and Tatalon under 14-day

special concern lockdown since Wednesday.

Meanwhile, 34 barangay are still under extreme enhanced community quarantine

in an effort to contain the virus.

The liquor ban has been lifted in the city, but purchasing alcoholic

beverages is only allowed from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Malacañang on Tuesday said that Metro Manila, Laguna and Cebu City will

shift to a modified lockdown until the end of the month while the rest of

the country will have fewer restrictions as the enhanced community

quarantine lapses on Friday.

The health department said that the Philippines has more 12,091 cases, with

806 deaths and 2,460 recoveries so far.

'AMBO' SLIGHTLY WEAKENS, REMAINS OVER ILOCOS COAST

MANILA — Tropical storm Ambo (international name: Vongfong) has slightly

weakened late Saturday morning, PAGASA said.

It has maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and

gustiness of up to 100 kph, according to state weather bureau PAGASA's 11:00

a.m. severe weather bulletin today.

This marks a continued decrease from its strength hours before with 75 kph

wind speed and 125 kph gustiness as of the 8:00 a.m. severe weather

bulletin.

"This is in the lower limit of the tropical storm category as of now...we

are expecting it to further weaken in the coming hours," said weather

specialist Loriedin de la Cruz in Filipino during PAGASA's 11:00 a.m. press

briefing on Saturday.

Tropical storms are cyclones with a maximum wind speed of 62 to 88 kph or 34

to 47 knots (nautical miles per hour), with the lower classification of

tropical depressions having maximum wind speeds of up to 61 kph or less than

33 knots.

The storm's center was estimated 40 km northwest of Sinait in Ilocos Sur,

moving northwest at 25 kph.

Moderate to heavy rains are forecast over Cagayan Valley, while light to

moderate with at times heavy rains are expected in Ilocos Region, Cordillera

Administrative Region and the northern portions of Aurora and Zambales.

“Flooding and rain-induced landslides may occur in highly to very highly

susceptible areas during heavy or prolonged rainfall,” PAGASA said in its

bulletin.

It advised affected residents to take appropriate measures, coordinate with

local disaster risk reduction and management offices and monitor for updates

on local rainfall or thunderstorm advisories, as well as heavy rainfall

warnings from PAGASA Regional Services Divisions.

“Ambo” — the first tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines this year — is

expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday.

Forecast positions

24 hour (Sunday morning): 115 km west-northwest of Calayan, Cagayan

48 hour (Monday morning):470 km northeast of Basco, Batanes

72 hour (Tuesday morning): 1,970 km northeast of Basco, Batanes (outside

PAR)

THE REST

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1 DEAD IN QUEZON; 2 EASTERN SAMAR TOWNS ISOLATED DUE TO AMBO

MANILA - Local officials on Saturday said one person was killed in a town in

Quezon province, while thousands were displaced, power lines were cut, and

some areas were isolated by floods in Eastern Samar, in the wake of the

devastation of Tropical Storm Ambo, the first to hit the country this year.

A woman was killed inside her home in the town of Catanauan, Quezon when she

was struck by hollow blocks toppled by strong winds, the local disaster

response office said.

One person in Buenavista was brought to the hospital after being hit by a

tree felled by strong winds on Friday. Two others from Gumaca and Lucena

City sustained minor injuries in still unknown circumstances related to the

storm.

Some 7,000 families were evacuated because of the typhoon, said Suarez. The

storm passed through the province on Friday, bringing strong winds and heavy

rains.

Families brought to evacuation centers are expected to return to their homes

this weekend.

Ambo's winds cut power lines, leaving 30 towns without electricity. Power

remains on in 11 other towns in the province, the official said.

In Eastern Samar, the towns of Jipapad and Maslog have been cut off from the

rest of the province due to Ambo, Governor Ben Evardone said.

Evardone said the town of Jipapad was inundated with floodwaters, while the

storm's powerful winds tore off roofs from houses and uprooted some trees

after its landfall as a typhoon on Thursday. It has since weakened.

As of 8 a.m. Saturday, Tropical Storm Ambo maintained its strength and is

now over the coastal waters of Santa Cruz, Ilocos Sur. It was packing

maximum sustained winds of up to 75 kilometers per hour near the center,

with gustiness of up to 125 kph.

It is expected to bring moderate to heavy rains over Ilocos Region,

Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley and the northern portions

of Aurora and Zambales on Saturday.

The state weather bureau said Ambo is expected to exit the Philippine area

of responsibility by Monday.

RELIGIOUS GATHERINGS OF UP TO 10 PEOPLE ALLOWED IN GENERAL QUARANTINE AREAS

- IATF

MANILA - Most parts of the country that are under general community

quarantine (GCQ), the least stringent form of coronavirus lockdown, will

allow religious gatherings of up to 10 people from Saturday, government's

inter-agency task force on pandemic response said.

"While adhering to the prescribed minimum health standards, religious

gatherings are not encouraged but in any case should be not more than 10

persons," read the guidelines by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on

Emerging Infectious Diseases.

This means religious services with a 10-person cap may be held in GCQ areas,

or places across the country other than high-risk areas still under enhanced

and modified lockdowns.

Metro Manila, Laguna province and several other "transitioning high-risk"

areas in Central Luzon were placed under modified lockdown Saturday

following two months of strict restrictions, restarting the economy by

allowing almost all industries to operate up to 75 percent.

Cebu and Mandaue cities in the Visayas will, meanwhile, stay under the

strictest lockdown or enhanced community quarantine, said the IATF.

Areas under the modified lockdown will allow "highly restricted" religious

gatherings "limited to not more than 5 persons," said the IATF.

Religious gatherings remain prohibited under ECQ.

The strictest lockdown, however, will allow the movement of pastors,

priests, rabbis, imams and other religious ministers who will lead

necrological or funeral rites.

Leisure activities such as movie screenings, concerts, sports events and

other entertainment-related activities are still barred in all lockdown

levels.

DOT LAUNCHES ONLINE SURVEY TO HELP DEFINE ‘NEW NORMAL’ IN TRAVEL

MANILA — The Department of Tourism on Friday launched an online survey to

help determine the "new normal" of travel and tourism industry.

“As we plan the future of tourism in our country, we need to listen to your

sentiments and concerns. Sparing at least 10 minutes to answer this survey

is a huge support to our endeavor,” the DOT said.

“The results of this survey will give valuable insights for tourism

enterprises on how to better prepare, respond, and serve you again once the

COVID-19 pandemic ends and travel restrictions are lifted,” it added.

It said the survey was crafted by the Guide to the Philippines and Asian

Institute of ManagementÂ’s Dr. Andrew L. Tan Center for Tourism.

The DOT would publish the summary and analysis of this survey, which would

be available to all tourism enterprises.

The tourism agencyÂ’s survey came days after the Inter-Agency Task Force for

the Management of. Emerging Infectious Disease issued the guidelines for the

modified enhanced community quarantine and the general community quarantine

wherein under its Category IV, the public is still prohibited from visiting

tourist destinations such as water parks, beaches and resorts.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

NADINE LUSTRE EMERGES AS A STRONGER WOMAN AFTER LOCKDOWN

MANILA — The enhanced community quarantine due to coronavirus pandemic has

taught actress Nadine Lustre to be stronger.

Lustre shared her lockdown story in a live online interview on radio station

Monster RX93.1 on Friday, saying that she learned to be tough while on

self-isolation.

“I’ve always been scared of being sad. I’ve always been scared of being

alone, of being angry, of being anxious but I felt all of that because of

the lockdown and I learned to handle all of it. Now, I can really say that

IÂ’m a stronger person now. Harder challenges are going to come but IÂ’m not

scared,” Lustre said.

She admitted that before she "would just run away from all these things" but

this time, she was able to face all of them. She also said she is happy with

what she has become, noting that "this is only the beginning.”

“That’s the message for everyone as well. I want that to be my message for

everyone as well. Just hang on. Stop doubting yourself... Just enjoy life,

live life, feel everything. You can be sad right now, you can be anxious,

you can be afraid, you can be like angry at something. But thatÂ’s what I

realized din kasi because of the lockdown... everything IÂ’ve been feeling is

valid and let yourself feel it kasi that is what life is all about,” Lustre

added.

When asked for her message to all her fans, Lustre said: “You guys are

crazy, I love you all. I hope everyone is okay. IÂ’ve said this so many times

like I super appreciate them. TheyÂ’re like out of this world. They are like,

they are all crazy. Like they just know and I love them so much kasi theyÂ’ve

always been there like 24/7.”

LustreÂ’s guesting on the radio show was one of the top trending topics on

Twitter on Friday.

Earlier this week, she also trended on Twitter after she posted a throwback

photo of her and former boyfriend James Reid.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 50.76

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is. - German Proverb