PHILIPPINES SENDS HOME 4,000 STRANDED OFWS

MANILA - A government plan to bring home 24,000 repatriated migrant workers

to their home provinces met half of its daily target on the first day, the

labor department said Tuesday.

Some 4,000 overseas Filipino workers — who were quarantined for at least 14

days and had tested negative for the novel coronavirus — went home to their

provinces on Monday, said Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III.

The government aims to send home 8,000 OFWs daily from Monday to Wednesday,

he earlier said.

"Medyo kinapos kami. Unang-una kinapos kami ng bus," Bello told DZMM. "Alam

mo naman social distancing."

Physical distancing measures require the public to stay at least 1 meter

apart to avoid virus transmission.

The 4,000 OFWs on Monday went home on board 21 bus trips and 18 chartered

flights.

Authorities will double the buses on Tuesday, said Bello. They will also

start using ships, said Interior Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday gave agencies 1 week to bring home some

24,000 OFWs, following reports that some of them have been quarantined in

Metro Manila for 2 months.

Some 300,000 OFWs are expected to return to the Philippines this year as

lockdowns meant to curb the coronavirus pandemic left many businesses

struggling to survive, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said.

Cash remittances from OFWS hit a record $30 billion (P1.5 trillion) in 2019,

helping drive consumption and strengthening the peso against the dollar.

COVID-19 CASES CLIMB TO 14,319

The number of people who have contracted the coronavirus disease in the

Philippines climbed to 14,319 Monday, the Department of Health said.

But five more people succumbed to the illness, bringing the death toll to

873.

Of the 284 newly-reported infections, 60% were from Metro Manila. Some 25%

of the additional cases were from Central Visayas, while 15% were reported

elsewhere in the country.

DUTERTE NOT IN FAVOR OF OPENING CLASSES UNTIL VACCINE IS AVAILABLE

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte is not inclined to have classes resumed

unless a vaccine for COVID-19 is already made available to the public.

In an address aired Monday night, Duterte noted that social distancing will

be difficult to implement in schools, making it likely for the virus to

spread.

"I will not allow the opening of classes na mag dikit-dikit ang mga bata.

Bahala na hindi makatapos, for this generation wala ng matapos na doctor of

engineer," he said during a televised meeting of the Inter-Agency Task Force

on Emerging Infectious Diseases.

"Wala nang aral, laro nalang. Unless I am sure that they are really safe,"

he added. He did not comment on how such a policy would affect employment

and schools.

It was not immediately clear, however, whether Duterte's preference will be

adopted as state policy. Education Secretary Leonor Briones announced

earlier this month that school year 2020-2021 will formally open on August

24, either through physical or virtual classes.

Briones stressed the need for the educational process to continue while

ensuring the safety and health of learners and teachers.

PHILIPPINES TO STOP USING HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE FOR CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS

MANILA - The Department of Health on Tuesday said it will follow the advice

of the World Health Organization (WHO) to halt the use of off-label drug

hydroxychloroquine after a study said that it can increase the chances of

death.

The WHO on Monday announced that it was temporarily suspending the use of

hydroxychloroquine in its multi-country Solidarity Trial. The drug,

originally made to treat malaria, is one of the drug and drug combinations

being studied by various countries as treatment for COVID-19.

While it was initially said to be promising, a study published in The Lancet

indicated that the drug may put patients at risk of dying.

We follow WHO guidelines on this because this is the WHO solidarity Trial,”

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said during a briefing with

media on Tuesday morning.

“In fact, this morning nagpalabas na po ng sulat ang ating proponent at

pinadala sa aking opisina na sinasabi na po nila na we are pulling out and

we are stopping from giving this hydroxychloroquine to our patients because

of WHO’s advice,” she added.

Vergeire said they cannot release yet the results of the Philippines' study

since it is still in the clinical trial phase.

The WHO emphasized that the other arms of the solidarity trial will proceed.

The other drugs included in the trial are remdesivir, ritonavir-lopinavir,

and ritonavir-lopinavir with interferon beta.

PHILIPPINES TESTS RESTAURANT, SALON PROTOCOLS UNDER GENERAL QUARANTINE

MANILA - The Department of Trade and Industry said Tuesday it was testing

coronavirus protocols for reopening salons, barbershops and restaurant

dine-in services in areas under general community quarantine or GCQ.

Some of these establishments on Sunday made a demo of the protocols which

include the following, said DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez:

- hand sanitizers and temperature checks at entrances;

- limited entry of customers through queuing numbers;

- non-cash payment through GCash and PayMaya;

- disinfection of grooming tools; and

- disinfection of seats after every customer.

The DTI will submit the proposed protocols to an inter-agency task force on

COVID-19. Once the guidelines are approved, business establishments might

take 1 or 2 weeks to prepare for reopening, he said.

"Ito pong ginagawa natin, it's an attempt na iyong ibang masasabi nilang

ready na sila, baka puwedeng mapagbigyan para makapag-umpisa lang ng

hanapbuhay iyong mga nasa industriyang ito," Lopez told DZMM.

"Assuming mag-GCQ na tayo, siguro ho mga around June 7, bago hopefully

mag-June 15, papayagan na sila," he added.

DUTERTE ASKS NBI TO LOOK INTO COUPLE WHO OFFERED OVERPRICED COVID-19

EQUIPMENT TO GOVERNMENT

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte asked the National Bureau of

Investigation to look into a couple who allegedly offered to sell overpriced

medical equipment to the government.

In a public address aired late Monday night, the president asked his Cabinet

officials about a certain "Co" couple who sought the government to sell

equipment at a higher price.

“The NBI should study the matter very, very carefully because you know these

sons of bitches businessmen whether itÂ’s really an issue of humanity and

their greed, their hoarding,” the president said in a mix of English and

Filipino.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III denied knowing the couple.

Budget Underscretary Lloyd Lao, meanwhile, explained that the couple are

owners of Omnibus Bio-Medical Systems, a distributor of Sansure in the

Philippines.

SOLICITOR GENERAL CALIDA TO SKIP HOUSE HEARING ON ABS-CBN FRANCHISE

MANILA — Solicitor General Jose Calida, who had challenged ABS-CBN Corp

before the high court and regulators, said he would skip Tuesday's hearing

in Congress on bills seeking a fresh 25-year franchise for the network.

The government's chief lawyer told the House franchise committee in a letter

that he had filed in February a quo warranto petition that sought to nullify

ABS-CBN's franchise due to alleged abuses like foreign ownership and illegal

pay-per-view.

The country's largest media and entertainment company denied Calida's

allegations in various fora.

Calida said his office also represents the National Telecommunications

Office, which forced ABS-CBN off air last May 5, a day after its franchise

expired.

Calida said the "sub judice" rule, which restricts comments that might

influence the court, "prohibits [him] from sharing views and

recommendations" with the House in relation to the quo warranto petition and

the NTC's cease-and-desist order against ABS-CBN.

"This rule aims to immunize the court from every extraneous influence and to

maintain the dignity and authority of the court in the administration of

impartial justice," he said.

The House last week stopped deliberations for a provisional license for

ABS-CBN and instead opted to start hearings on bills seeking a 25-year

franchise.

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the House would be "ready to decide" on the

bills by August, the same month that the network said it might "consider"

retrenchment of its 11,000-strong workforce.

MORE THAN 500 INMATES IN BJMP FACILITIES TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

MANILA — More than 500 inmates in Bureau of Jail and Management Facilities

across the nation tested positive for the new coronavirus, President Rodrigo

Duterte reported to the Congress.

In his latest report, the president told lawmakers that as of May 19, BJMP

identified 517 confirmed COVID-19 cases in ten of its facilities. There are

703 suspected and 86 probable cases in ten BJMP facilities.

The report did not identify where the COVID-19 patients are detained.

“The PDLs who have been found positive are currently being treated in

various isolation facilities established by the BJMP,” Duterte said.

Penal and detention facilities across the country are known to be

overcrowded, where social distancing and proper hygiene—practices meant to

deter spread of the novel coronavirus—are practically impossible for

inmates.

The FREEMAN reported last May 22 that 372 persons deprived of liberty in its

facility tested positive for COVID-19.

To address the rising COVID-19 cases in Cebu City Jail, the president said

that BJMP conducted swab testing of PDLs and its personnel. Isolation

centers have also been established and the bureau also intensified its

contact tracing.

Duterte also noted that the Board of Pardons and Parole—under the Department

of Justice—started processing applications under the “Interim Rules on

Parole and Executive Clemency.”

THE REST

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SECOND TRANCHE OF CASH AID FOR POOR FAMILIES EYED BY END-MAY: DSWD

MANILA - The Department of Social Welfare and Development aims to deliver

the second tranche of cash aid to poor families by end of May, its

spokesperson said Tuesday.

The distribution can already begin as government will employ electronic

means for the subsidy system, Malacañang said Monday.

The DSWD is validating the list of beneficiaries as it awaits guidelines

from government's technical working group on social amelioration program,

its spokesperson Irene Dumlao said.

"Kinakailangan may judicious spending of our resources para may ma-cover

tayong iba," she told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.

"Ang objective o goal ng DSWD, bago matapos ang buwan ng Mayo ay

makapagpahatid na tayo."

The second round of subsidies will include 5 million more poor families and

12 million others who benefited from the first tranche, Malacañang said.

Beneficiaries will receive cash aid ranging between P5,000 and P8,000 based

on minimum wage rates in the region.

PRIVATE HOSPITALS ASK DUTERTE TO FIRE DUQUE

MANILA — An umbrella group of private hospitals asked President Duterte on

Monday for a “replacement” to embattled Health Secretary Francisco Duque III

who is in hot water over his leadership of the governmentÂ’s coronavirus

response.

“The PHAPi, an association of 744 member private hospitals, now respectfully

requests for the replacement of Dr. Francisco T. Duque III as DOH secretary

and chairman of PhilHealth and appoint someone who can deliver the goods

better in addressing the health concerns of the country,” said Dr. Rustico

Jimenez, president of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines

Inc. (PHAPi) in a letter to Duterte.

The letter, a copy of which was sent to reporters, comes after The STAR

quoted anonymous sources on its report as saying the president has begun

searching for a substitute to Duque, whose handling of the coronavirus

pandemic came under heavy public scrutiny anew last week. This time, over

his controversial statement that said the Philippines is already in the

second wave of the disease.

NCR MAYORS INCLINED TO SHIFT TO GCQ ON JUNE 1

Fourteen of the 17 mayors of Metro Manila agree to a shift to a general

community quarantine by June 1, the scheduled end of the Modified Enhanced

Community Quarantine, The STAR reports, quoting Parañaque Mayor Edwin

Olivarez.

Olivarez is also chairperson of the policy-making Metro Manila Council.

The STAR also reports that, aside from Olivarez, Valenzuela Mayor Rex

Gatchalian and Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco also favor a shift to GCQ.

'MATIGAS KASI ULO NG TAO': CAVITE TO FORMULATE LIQUOR POLICY BEFORE LIFTING

PROHIBITION - REMULLA

MANILA - The province of Cavite is set to come up with a new policy on the

sale of alcoholic drinks this week before lifting the liquor ban, Gov.

Jonvic Remulla said on Tuesday.

“What we're doing is formulating a liquor policy for the province that is

sensible for everyone,” Remulla said on ANC’s Headstart.

Cavite is among the areas placed under a general community quarantine on May

16. However, the city has decided to let the ban stay.

“Matigas kasi ulo ng tao dito,” he said.

The ban on liquor, he said, has resulted in less public disturbance. But an

underground economy has also developed because of the ban, with people

paying double or triple the price of alcohol drinks.

“It is akin to the prohibition in the US in the 1920s when the underground

economy became larger than the above ground economy. We will try to taper it

off and allow liquor to be sold legally, but in a rational way,” he said.

He added that four people in his province died consuming fake lambanog from

Quezon province.

“They were drinking together. They drank fake lambanog sold to them by

unscrupulous sellers and 4 of them died."

“They thought it was safe. They brought it with them when they traveled and

it turned out very toxic,” he said.

Remulla said they have to rationalize the policy to let the people know that

they are serious.

“We have agreed on certain terms like a maximum of 1 liter of hard drinks

can be bought and 6 cans of beers can be bought in one day. It can only be

bought at a certain time and it can only be bought by Q-pass holders,” he

said.

Likewise, drinking will not be allowed in public, as well as parties, or

gatherings of more than 5.

“These are things that were going to enforce but it has to be done very

rationally. It has to be explained to the people,” he said.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

5 FILIPINO FILMS TO MAKE NETFLIX PREMIERE IN JUNE

MANILA -- Five films will be added to Netflix's roster of Filipino movies

this June in celebration of Independence Day.

The streaming service has partnered with the local production studios Viva,

ERJ Found Films, Black Cap Pictures, and Changhe Films to introduce

subscribers across the globe to Filipino content.

"We are constantly amazed by the creativity of storytellers and the quality

of talent coming out of the Philippines," said Raphael Phang, manager of

content acquisition at Netflix. "Filipinos are avid entertainment fans, so

at Netflix we are committed to bringing the best stories locally and from

around the world to our members here."

Liza Diño, chairperson and CEO of the Film Development Council of the

Philippines, for her part said: "With the world's inevitable shift to

digital platforms for content, it is reassuring that Netflix gives us a

showcase of Filipino titles for more audiences and markets to have access

to."

"This growing slate of Filipino content on Netflix is a true reflection of

the diversity of what Philippine cinema has to offer. And Netflix giving

space to more Filipino films is an affirmation that the Philippines has the

potential of globalizing its local market," she added.

Check out the five Filipino films that will make their Netflix premiere in

June:

PINOY SUNDAY (Changhe Films Ltd)

Synopsis: Inspired by a 1958 Roman Polanski short, this lighthearted

examination of modern life in Taipei follows two Filipino immigrants, Manuel

and Dado, during their day off from work, when the chance discovery of a

discarded couch leads to adventure.

Director: Widing Ho

Cast: Bayani Agbayani, Jeffrey Quizon, Nor Domingo, Dave Ronald Chang,

Meryll Soriano, Alessandra de Rossi

Release date: June 5, 2020

SUNOD (Black Cap Pictures Inc)

Synopsis: As the medical expenses for her daughter stack up, a mother takes

a demanding call center job where the building's sinister secrets begin to

haunt her.

Director: Carlo Ledesma

Cast: Carmina Villarroel, Mylene Dizon, JC Santos, Kate Alejandrino, Krystal

Brimner, Rhed Bustamante, Susan Africa

Release date: June 14, 2020

LOLA IGNA (ERJ Found Film Production Co.)

Synopsis: An elderly woman finds her life disrupted when her family and

village realize she has a chance at a world record for being the oldest

grandmother alive.

Director: Eduardo W. Roy Jr.

Cast: Angie Ferro, Yves Flores, Meryll Soriano, Maria Isabel Lopez, Royce

Cabrera, Jojo Riguerra, Armando A. Reyes

Release date: June 18, 2020

UNTRUE (Viva Communications, Inc.)

Synopsis: Mara moves from the Philippines to the country of Georgia, where

she meets a mysterious man, Joachim. They develop feelings for one another,

until Joachim claims to hear peculiar sounds and see visions of a strange

woman.

Director: Sigrid Andrea Bernardo

Cast: Cristine Reyes, Xian Lim

Release date: June 22, 2020

ORDINARY PEOPLE (ERJ Found Film Production Co.)

Synopsis: Barely making a living as pickpockets, a teenage couple in Manila

resort to desperate measures when their one-month-old child is kidnapped.

Director: Eduardo W. Roy Jr.

Cast: Ronwaldo Martin, Hasmine Kilip, Maria Isabel Lopez, Sue Prado, Ruby

Ruiz, Raymon Lee, Karl Medina, Erlina Villalobos, Menggie Cobrarrubias

Release date: To be announced

SPORTS

EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL SEASON CANCELLED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS

PARIS, France -- This season's EuroLeague has been cancelled because of the

coronavirus pandemic, Europe's top basketball competition announced on

Monday.

"Having explored every possible option, the Executive Board has made the

decision to cancel the 2019-20 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague," the

organisation said in a statement.

The EuroLeague said that no team would be declared winners of the 2019-20

competition.

It cited "local authorities imposing differing restrictions on the movements

of their citizens" and medical protocols that require self-isolation for any

player, coach or referee who catches COVID-19 as some of the reasons for

cancelling the season.

"Without a doubt, this is the most difficult decision we have had to take in

our 20-year history. Due to reasons beyond our control, we have been forced

to cut short the most successful and exciting season in European basketball

history," said EuroLeague President and CEO Jordi Bertomeu.

EuroLeague said the 2020-21 season would begin on October 1 and feature the

same 18 teams who took part in the curtailed competition.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 50.70

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

How unfortunate and how narrowing a thing it is for a man to have wealth who

makes a god of it instead of a servant. - Mark Twain