P1.3 TRILLION ECONOMIC STIMULUS BILL GETS HOUSE SUPPORT

MANILA — An overwhelming majority of members of the House of Representatives

have expressed support for the proposed P1.3-trillion economic stimulus

measure to address the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

crisis on livelihood.

House economic affairs committee chair Sharon Garin revealed that 250

members or 83 percent of House members had signed up for authorship of the

proposed Philippine Economic Stimulus Act (PESA) prepared by their economic

stimulus panel.

“This is an unprecedented feat of a Congress that cares. We will set the

plenary deliberations next week,” the AAMBIS-OWA party-list representative

said yesterday.

The PESA, co-authored by Albay Rep. Joey Salceda and Marikina Rep. Stella

Quimbo, has been submitted to the chamberÂ’s Defeat COVID-19 Committee for

approval on first reading before its submission to the plenary for second

and third readings.

The proposed measure seeks to provide P155 billion to a wage subsidy program

for workers of private companies affected by the crisis, particularly by the

two-month enhanced community quarantine as well as to cash-for-work and

student loan programs.

Through the Department of Labor and Employment, the wage subsidy program

would cover payroll costs of non-essential companies severely affected by

the quarantine period through wage subsidies with a range of 25 percent to

75 percent for two months.

The bill also seeks allocation of P140 billion for zero and negative

interest loan program to be implemented by the Land Bank of the Philippines

and Development Bank of the Philippines as well as loans for micro, small

and medium enterprises through the Small Business Corp. and Philippine

Guarantee Corp.

Companies will be given a maximum loan amount equivalent to 50 percent of

their labor costs payable in three to five years.

On the other hand, P238 billion would be allotted as sectoral assistance

programs for specific industries to be implemented by the Department of

Trade and Industry, Department of Tourism, Board of Investments and

Department of Transportation.

Lastly, P50 billion will also be appropriated for capitalization to be

implemented by the National Development Corp.

The PESA bill also seeks the appropriation of P650 billion to enhance the

Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program for a period of three

years starting in 2021. The enhanced BBB is expected to create 1.5 billion

jobs.

The PESA bill also covers funding of P20 billion for mass testing

nationwide.

Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero expressed support for the proposed measure.

PHILIPPINES MAY SCALE BACK QUARANTINES TO ZONES BY JUNE: OFFICIAL

MANILA -- The Philippines may downsize community quarantines to specific

zones with COVID-19 cases by June, the chief implementer of the country's

pandemic response said Friday.

Communities may be divided into clusters and zones based on the number of

infections and the doubling rate of cases, National Task Force against

COVID-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said.

"We will have the zoning concept," he said in a virtual press briefing.

"Talagang yung area ico-cordon off or doon na lang natin ilo-lockdown sa mga

area or compound na affected," he added.

US CHOPPER SALE TO PHILIPPINES WOULD 'REWARD PAST ABUSES' — HUMAN RIGHTS

WATCH

MANILA — Watchdog Human Rights Watch (HRW) opposed the United States' sale

of attack helicopters worth almost $2 billion to the Philippines.

The organization, in a statement released Friday, called on US Congress to

"block or delay sales" until the Philippine government "adopts major reforms

to end military abuses and hold those responsible to account."

The purchase includes six Boeing multi-role combat helicopters worth $1.5

billion and six Bell attack and reconnaissance helicopters worth $450

million. All 12 helicopters come with "accompanying guided missiles,

rockets, and light cannon ammunition, as well as ongoing service contracts

for training, parts, and maintenance," according to HRW.

The organization raised concerns regarding what they called the Philippine

military's long history of violating human rights and committing war crimes

"during counter-insurgency operations against the communist New PeopleÂ’s

Army and Moro armed groups."

They listed the crimes as: the killing of civilians, extrajudicial

executions, mistreating displaced people, and random attacks. HRW added that

the Philippine military has failed to hold many of those responsible for

such abuses accountable.

Concerns over President Rodrigo Duterte's drug war were also raised by HRW

which cited the campaign's death toll of over 5,600. The organization added

that these killings have orphaned thousands of children, exposing them to

the "emotional, psychological, and economic impacts of the campaign."

DUTERTE WANTS PROBE ON ALLEGEDLY OVERPRICED COVID-19 GEAR: PALACE

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte wants an investigation into the allegedly

overpriced medical equipment and test kits bought by the government for the

COVID-19 pandemic, Malacañang said Friday.

Duterte is "bothered" over the reported difference in the prices of

equipment bought by the Department of Health and those from the private

sector, his spokesman Harry Roque said.

"Bibigyan ko po ng kumpirmasyon na nababahala ang Presidente lalung-lalo

doon sa pagkakaiba ng presyo ng testing kit," Roque said in an interview on

Teleradyo.

Senator Panfilo Lacson earlier this week questioned the Department of

Health's decision to buy COVID-19 testing machines and swabbing kits for

more than twice the price of similar equipment bought by private companies.

A private company bought nucleic acid extractors needed to process

coronavirus tests for P1.75 million each, while the DOH got the machines for

P4 million apiece, Lacson disclosed in a Senate Committee of the Whole

hearing.

“Bakit mas mahal ang bili ng government kesa bili ng private sector?” the

senator asked.

The swabbing system acquired by private sector was at $16 each, but the

DOHÂ’s purchase costs were double, according to Lacson, to which the

President agreed.

"Hindi po nga niya (Duterte) maintindihan gaya ng buong sambayanan kung

bakit ganoon kalaki ang discrepancy," Roque said.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon also flagged this week PhilHealth's

COVID-19 testing packages, saying an P8,150 bundle was "overpriced."

PhilHealth currently offers 3 packages for coronavirus testing ranging from

P2,710 to as high as P8,150, "depending on how the test kits were procured

by the accredited testing laboratories," according to the firm's website.

PhilHealth President Ricardo Morales said the price was based on data

"collected early in the pandemic" and that the incoming test kits will be

"cheaper."

Roque on Thursday said the Office of the Special Assistant to the President

would look into the issue.

PHILIPPINES LOGS 163 NEW COVID-19 CASES, TOTAL AT 13,597

MANILA — The Department of Health on Friday announced 163 new coronavirus

disease (COVID-19) cases in the Philippines, bringing the total cases in the

country to 13,597.

This is the lowest number of new cases reported in 13 days, according to the

ABS-CBN Investigative and Research Group.

Of the new cases, 91 (56%) came from the National Capital Region, 56 (34%)

from Region 7 and 16 (10%) from other regions.

While NCR has been topping the list of regions with the most COVID-19 cases,

Central Visayas has been recording a relatively high number this month

because of smaller outbreaks in Cebu City and other areas.

The Department of Health said it has been monitoring the said clusters.

Metro Manila, large parts of Central Luzon and Laguna province are under

modified enhanced community quarantine until May 31, in a bid to slow down

the spread of the respiratory disease as these areas were considered

high-risk.

Meanwhile, Cebu City and its neighboring city of Mandaue remained under ECQ.

Earlier this month, new COVID-19 cases in Central Visayas surpassed that of

the National Capital Region because of outbreaks inside jails and some

villages. While experts say NCR is still the epicenter of the epidemic, Cebu

has become a hotspot.

The DOH also announced on Friday there were 92 new patients who recovered

from COVID-19 or a total of 3,092 recoveries.

“Kasama po sa mga naitalang naka-recover ay ang mga pasyenteng naka-confine,

at mga pasyenteng may positive mild at asymptomatic cases na naka-recover

mula sa kanilang self-isolation at home quarantine,” Health Undersecretary

Maria Rosario Vergeire said during a televised briefing.

DOH also recorded 11 new COVID-related deaths — the highest in 6 days — or a

total of 857 fatalities.

This means there are 9,648 active cases (71% of total cases) remaining.

Worldwide, 5.1 million people have been infected by COVID-19 since the start

of the pandemic. Of those, 1.96 million have already recovered and 333,000

have died.

THE REST

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THREAT ON ABS-CBN STARS: MAN SURRENDERS, DISOWNS TWITTER ACCOUNT

MANILA — A man who allegedly offered a P200-million reward to anyone who

would kill several ABS-CBN actors and blow up the network's headquarters

surrendered Friday to the National Bureau of Investigation-Southeastern

Mindanao.

The 25-year-old man, a diver in the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao Del

Norte, denied that he owned the Twitter account that posted the reward and

was since deactivated.

He also surrendered his cellphone to investigators.

Actress Angel Locsin mentioned the NBI in an Instagram post that showed a

screenshot of the threat against her and fellow celebrities Kim Chiu,

Kathryn Bernardo and Coco Martin, who had protested the broadcast shutdown

of ABS-CBN.

"If Angel Locsin and other artists receive threats of physical harm or other

means sent thru the social media and they feel these threats are serious,

they have all the right to seek the assistance of the NBI so their concerns

can be appropriately addressed," the agency said earlier this week.

Locsin, 35, said she had no plans to file a complaint against internet

trolls threatening her safety.

NO MASS GATHERINGS FOR EIDÂ’L FITR

MANILA — All rites that involve mass gatherings in public places or in

mosques during the EidÂ’l Fitr are prohibited, the National Capital Region

Police Office (NCRPO) said yesterday.

“There is a marching order from the Philippine National Police to guard

mosques and implement directives from the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force)

that no gatherings would be allowed to welcome Eid’l Fitr,” NCRPO chief Maj.

Gen. Debold Sinas said in an online presser yesterday.

Sinas, citing quarantine restrictions as per the IATF, said he had already

spoken to Muslim leaders and mosque administrators to keep mosques closed

during the holiday.

Police district directors in Metro Manila have been ordered to deploy men in

traditional places where Muslims celebrate EidÂ’l Fitr like Luneta, Quirino

Grandstand and other open spaces to remind them that no gatherings should

take place.

The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) had earlier reminded

Muslim communities that mass gatherings are not allowed in areas under

modified enhanced community quarantine.

“Imams and other religious ministers are allowed to provide home religious

services, provided that proper health and safety protocols are observed,”

read the statement.

Sinas, who landed in hot water for his birthday celebration early this month

amid strict quarantine restrictions, said he trusts that Muslims would

follow the IATF directive.

President Duterte has declared May 25 as a regular holiday in observance of

EidÂ’l Fitr, celebrated by Muslims around the world for three days after the

end of Ramadan, which calls for spiritual reflection through praying,

fasting and abstaining from sinful behavior.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said employees in the private

sector who will work on May 25 would get double pay, an advisory showed

yesterday.

NATIONAL PRIVACY COMMISSION LOOKING INTO PUBLIC RELEASE OF OFWS' COVID-19

TEST RESULTS

MANILA — The National Privacy Commission is looking into an inter-agency

task groupÂ’s public release of COVID-19 test results of returning migrant

workers.

Privacy Commissioner Raymund Liboro told Philstar.com that the commission is

looking into the public release of a Google Drive link containing a

masterlist of OFWs who completed quarantine and tested negative for

COVID-19.

Liboro said the NPC “will reach out to the [Philippine Coast Guard] to find

out the purpose, necessity and balance” of the releases. “How they balanced

the benefits by this approach vis a vis the possible risks,” he added.

The Philippine Coast Guard posted a link to the masterlist on their social

media accounts.

A link posted on May 20 shows a list from the Philippine Red Cross revealing

the complete name, age, sex and COVID-19 test results of at hundreds of

returning migrant workers.

The online data drive also contains Quarantine Certificates which bear the

name of the migrant workers and their hometown and province.

PCG said the online release of quarantine clearances of OFWs who tested

negative for COVID-19 was agreed upon by their agency, the Department of

National Defense, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the Bureau

of Quarantine.

Adm. Joel Garcia, PCG commandant, issued an advisory dated May 21 on the

publication of the Quarantine Certificates issued to the OFWs on their

website and Facebook page.

"OFWs concerned may download and print or screen shot their respecive

BOQ-PCQ Quarantine Certificates, as evidence of their health condition when

returning to their respective home communities," the advisory read.   

DTI MULLS RESUMPTION OF DINE-IN

MANILA — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is studying the

possibility of allowing dine-in for restaurants in areas under general

community quarantine (GCQ).

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez in a Viber message said the agency may propose

allowing restaurants to resume their dine-in service.

He said he would make the recommendation “when we get to check and approve

the special health protocol standards for dine-in restaurants.”

He added that should the agency proceed to make its recommendation to allow

dine-in, it would be for restaurants in GCQ areas.

The government put in place quarantine restrictions to avoid transmission of

the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

These restrictions have limited the operations of restaurants.

Restaurants and other establishments involved in food preparation are only

allowed to operate for take-out and delivery under the enhanced community

quarantine and GCQ.

With limited operations, restaurant owners have called on government to

allow dine-in service.

Restaurant owners warned over half of 16,000 restaurants in the country may

fold as they struggle to cope with the impact of the pandemic.

MAGNITUDE 5.4 QUAKE ROCKS AURORA; FELT IN 5 REGIONS

MANILA — A magnitude 5.4 earthquake was registered at 10:10 a.m. Saturday in

Aurora province in Central Luzon, according to state seismology bureau

Phivolcs' latest update.

The quake's epicenter was located 16 kilometers southwest of the

municipality of San Luis, Aurora.

Intensity VI (very strong) shaking was felt in Baler, Aurora, while

Intensity V (strong) was felt in the provinceÂ’s municipalities of San Luis,

Dipaculao and Maria Aurora.

The quake was also felt in other parts of Region III (Central Luzon), the

National Capital Region (NCR), the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR),

Region I (Ilocos Region) and Region IV-A (Calabarzon).

Phivolcs said that damages and aftershocks are expected.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

‘ALAM KO MARAMING NABABAGOT’: VICE GANDA HOSTS GAME SHOW ON FACEBOOK

MANILA -- Comedy superstar Vice Ganda on Friday night hosted an interactive

online game show on Facebook amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Dubbed "Eyes Ganda", the game requires viewers to identify the person who

owns the eyes being shown on the cell phone screen.

"Alam kong maraming nabuburyong, ang daming nalulungkot, ang daming

nababagot, ang daming ang tanging ginagawa ay nag-iisip, naii-stress. Gusto

kong matanggal 'yan," Vice Ganda said.

More than 83,000 viewers joined the game show.

Vice Ganda was accompanied by fellow comedians MC and Petite.

They were also asked to guess and if they lose, they will be slapped in the

face.

"Sa mga viewers po, si MC po 'yan. Baka akalain n'yo lang si John Lapus. ...

At lalo't higit hindi po 'yan si Bongbong Marcos, si MC po 'yan. ... Ikaw

naman (Petite), Emma Mercury, ang kalaban ni Emma Watson," Vice Ganda said.

Daryl Ong, of "The Voice of the Philippines" Season 2 fame, provided the

song numbers and gave his own rendition of "Beautiful" and "Basta't Kasama

Kita."

Vice Ganda said fans can expect another game show next Friday.

Inspired by his weekend show, Gandang Gabi Vice, the comedian said he would

like to do the online show on a weekly basis.

"Para hindi tayo mawala sa katinuan, para hindi tayo mawala sa kasiyahan

every Friday night gagawin na nating regular ito via Facebook live sa fan

page ko gagawin na natin 'to, Gabing-gabi na Vice every Friday."

SPORTS

NBA: LAKERS' JAMES REPORTEDLY HOSTING PRIVATE WORKOUTS

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James is reportedly hosting "safe"

workouts with one or two teammates at a time in anticipation of the restart

of the 2019-2020 NBA season.

Stadium reported on Thursday that James was holding workouts in a "secure"

location with select teammates.

Shams Charania reported, "LeBron James has held private workouts with

one-to-two teammates at a time in a closed-off, private location, on court.

All the safety measures have been taken, I'm told, in these private

workouts. Everyone involved has been tested, everyone involved has practiced

social distancing. Everyone involved has taken the necessary steps to ensure

that they're following all the guidelines.

"The Clippers, I'm told, have had some players do the same in terms of

working out and getting together on the court. This is a way for both teams

to gain chemistry and be able to be in shape and in tune with each other as

a potential resumption of the season gets near."

Not all teams are cleared to work out in their own facilities due to varied

regulations from state-to-state in dealing with COVID-19. Even for

facilities that have been opened, only individual workouts are permitted.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said earlier this month that he hoped to have a

read on whether the league could play in the next "two to four weeks."

Reports on Wednesday indicate the league is progressing in a plan to use a

"campus environment," which Silver has referenced previously as the safest

route to a return, including links to Orlando and Disney World.

The NBA has been on hiatus since March 11 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 50.70

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

He who is too busy doing good, finds no time to be good. - Rabindranath

Tagore