DUTERTE WANTS SPECIAL POWERS EXTENDED

MANILA, — President Duterte will certify as urgent the proposal to extend

the effectivity of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, which gives him special

powers to address the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Senate

Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said yesterday.

The senator made the announcement at the joint hearing of the Senate

committees on finance and economic affairs, which tackled yesterday his bill

seeking to extend the validity of Republic Act 11469 for three more months.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon asked whether there was still time

for Congress to approve the extension, given that the law was “very

complicated,” and if prolonging the special powers would be constitutional.

“I was just told that – while the minority leader was discussing this, I

called up our contacts in the Palace – I was told that they will issue a

certification on the measure. TheyÂ’re just waiting for the committee report

from the chairman (Sen. Sonny Angara),” Zubiri told the hearing via video

conference.

“They (Malacañang) want to see the version that we passed in the committee

level,” he added.

Congress is expected to adjourn sine die on June 5.

WORLD BANK APPROVES $500-MILLION LOAN TO BOOST PH'S PANDEMIC RESPONSE

MANILA--The World Bank said Friday it approved a $500 million (P22 billion)

loan to help the Philippines mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The fund will help the vulnerable households and will provide financial

assistance to small and medium enterprises, the World Bank said in a

statement.

“This new financing can help with the delivery of financial support for

struggling families and communities while the country is ramping up efforts

to contain the pandemic and reduce its economic impact," said Achim Fock,

World Bank acting country director for Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines and

Thailand.

The Philippines Emergency COVID-19 Response Development Policy Loan supports

the governments cash aid for the poorest 18 million families, the 4.3

million beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps),

expatriated overseas workers, and other programs, the bank said.

It will also help small and medium enterprises currently assisted by the

government's P51 billion wage subsidy program, it said.

"This swift loan approval underlines the strong international confidence in

the government's capability to meet the massive financial requirements of

containing this global health emergency," Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez

III said.

The World Bank previously approved several financial packages to help the

country in its coronavirus response. The group will deploy more than $160

billion in financial support over the next few months to help countries

protect the poor, support businesses and boost economic recovery, it said.

DOH: ONLY 20% OF RECORD 539 CORONAVIRUS CASES WERE NEWLY-VALIDATED

MANILA, — Only 20% of the record-high 539 coronavirus infections reported

Thursday were “fresh” cases, while the remaining were reported late, the

Department of Health said.

The Philippines saw 539 additional COVID-19 cases Thursday—the biggest

increase in a single day since the outbreak took off in March. But Health

Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that only 109 of those cases were

newly-validated.

“109 out of 539 cases are those that were reported in the past three days,”

Vergeire said in a press briefing Friday.

The remaining 430 were classified “late” cases whose results came out last

week but were only submitted to the agencyÂ’s epidemiology bureau yesterday.

The reporting of some fatalities related to COVID-19 also came late.

Seventeen additional deaths were registered Thursday but DOH said that some

of the deaths actually happened last month and even in March.

The department earlier said the reporting lag was due to the delays in

submission of results by laboratories and the manual verification process.

Vergeire said increase in new cases is expected in the coming days with the

hiring of more disease surveillance officers who encode and validate cases

and the rollout of a fully-automated platform.

She added the department will now change the way it reports COVID-19 cases.

“Simula po ngayon ay hahatiin po namin ang mga numero upang ipakita kung

alin sa mga numero na ito ay fresh or newly validated case sa araw at ilan

ang na late or delayed lamang,” the health official said.

The number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines stood at 15,588 Thursday,

with 921 deaths and 3,598 recoveries. FridayÂ’s tally is expected to be

released at 8 p.m.

DUTERTE TO LGUS: HELP, DONÂ’T DENY COVID PATIENTS

MANILA, — Saying no one should be left behind, President Duterte has called

on mayors to provide assistance to their constituents or anyone infected

with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in their area even as he

offered to shoulder their hospital bills.

“Help anyone... Filipinos, foreigners who are in your place and who go to

you... to seek help,” the President said in his public address on Thursday

night.

“That is really an order of the national government to local governments.

Help, do not deny. You must expedite the hospitalization until he is cured.

No problem about payment. I will pay. Just bill me and I will pay,” he

added.

The President said he has no quarrel with local government officials, citing

Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez who expressed concern over the lack of

coordination on the return of stranded residents.

Duterte stressed that residents, especially overseas Filipino workers,

(OFWs) should be allowed to return to their homes.

”Kawawa naman kasi... They have a constitutional right. There’s really no

reason why you should not accept them with open arms,” the President said.

IATF OKS GRADUAL REOPENING OF BARBERSHOPS, SALONS IN AREAS UNDER EASED

QUARANTINE

MANILA - The Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19 response has approved the

gradual reopening of barbershops and salons in areas under general community

quarantine (GCQ), Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Saturday.

In a text message to ABS-CBN News, Lopez said the IATF finally gave the go

signal on Friday.

He said these establishments would start operating at 30 percent capacity

beginning June 7 in GCQ areas, and at 50 percent capacity in areas under

modified GCQ, which cover most of the country.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, meanwhile, said salons and

barbershops in GCQ areas will be allowed to increase operations to 50

percent after two weeks from resumption, and those in MGCQ areas to 100

percent after three weeks.

Lopez said these establishments should follow first the minimum health

protocol standards set by the government to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

To streamline the reopening process, government will do away with

accreditation, Lopez said, though the establishments will be checked for

compliance with COVID-19 prevention protocol.

“There will be no need for accreditation to remove any bureaucracy in

opening, but there will operations audit to be done, and non-compliant shops

will be closed down until they correct the deficiencies,” he added.

Roque said services allowed will be limited to haircuts.

PAL TO RESUME LIMITED INTERNATIONAL, DOMESTIC FLIGHTS STARTING JUNE 1

MANILA - Philippine Airlines will resume international and domestic flights

on limited capacity starting Monday, June 1, as the country shifts to eased

COVID-19 quarantine, the flag carrier said.

In an advisory, PAL said it was set to "resume operating scheduled flights

on selected international and domestic routes" on Monday.

International destinations include the United States, Canada, Guam, mainland

China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taipei, Singapore, Japan,

United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

"We are evaluating the possibility of operating selected services to London

and Sydney during June 2020," said PAL.

Flights to the following destinations, however, will remain suspended in all

of June: Auckland, Bali, Bangkok, Beijing, Brisbane, Busan, Fukuoka,

Guangzhou, Hanoi, Macau, Melbourne, Phnom Penh, Perth, Port Moresby,

Quanzhou (Jinjiang), Sapporo, Seoul (Incheon) and Shanghai.

Meanwhile, there will be a "reduced number of domestic flights" to and from

Manila, the airline said.

Destinations covered are Basco, Laoag, Legazpi, Puerto Princesa, Busuanga,

Bacolod, Cebu, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Kalibo, Caticlan, Roxas, Tacloban,

Tagbilaran, Butuan, Cotabato, Cagayan de Oro, Dipolog, Davao, General

Santos, Ozamiz, Pagadian and Zamboanga.

The flight from Cebu to Davao and back will also resume on June 8, the

airline said.

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PNP SET TO CONDUCT MORE MOBILE CHECKPOINTS

MANILA, — The Philippine National Police (PNP) will conduct more mobile

checkpoints next week as Metro Manila transitions to a more lenient general

community quarantine (GCQ) by June 1.

Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, commander of the joint task force COVID shield,

said the PNP would continue the checks to ensure that only authorized

persons would be traveling under the GCQ.

During the Laging Handa briefing yesterday, he said the PNP expects heavier

vehicular and foot traffic as more industries and establishments are allowed

to resume operations.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said the PNP had prepared for the adjustment

to modified checkpoints to ease traffic flow in GCQ areas.

“We will transition to modified checkpoints… We will have random, mobile

checkpoints while the fixed checkpoints will be placed at strategic

stations,” he said in Filipino.

P1.3 BILLION WORTH OF FAKE CIGARETTES, MACHINES SEIZED IN ISABELA

MANILA – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized some P1.3 billion in fake

cigarettes, raw tobacco materials and cigarette packing machines in a raid

earlier this week in Naguilian town, Isabela, authorities said.

On the strength of a letter of authority, operatives of the Bureau of

Customs Enforcement and Security Service (BOC-ESS) on Thursday stormed the

warehouse in Barangay Palattao that allegedly manufactured the counterfeit

products.

Some 2,000 master cases of assorted cigarettes, 10 units of cigarette-making

machines, 12 units of cigarette packing machines and 300 boxes of tobacco

raw materials were found inside the warehouse.

“The said goods were immediately intercepted by Customs for lack of permit

and violation of Customs laws, rules and regulations,” the agency said in a

statement.

Local officials, police and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) were also

part of the raid.

IMMIGRATION BUREAU SAYS INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS AT NAIA STILL RESTRICTED EVEN

IN GCQ

MANILA, — Even with the easing of lockdown protocols in Metro Manila next

month, international flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport will

remain restricted, the Bureau of Immigration said Friday.

President Rodrigo Duterte announced on Thursday night that Metro Manila will

graduate to general community auarantine after 11 weeks of stringent

lockdown protocols.

But Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente noted that travel restrictions

which existed under the enhanced community quarantine and modified ECQ

remain.

“As a consequence, our operations at the NAIA are still downscaled and our

personnel there are still on skeletal and rotational deployment,” he said in

a statement.

International flights also remain suspended, BI added.

Foreign nationals can board their flights, but Filipinos are not allowed to

depart the country “unless they are [Overseas Filipino Workers], permanent

residents or holders of student visa in their country of destination.”

BI Acting Ports Operations chief Grifton Medina said the NAIA is currently

averaging only 20 to 30 flights daily. A third of these are special flights

for transporting medical supplies and other kinds of cargo.

Passenger flights, meanwhile, are “mostly repatriation flights” for

returning OFWs and chartered sweeper flights for stranded foreigners in the

Philippines.

BI also reminded that under Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious

Diseases' guidelines, only OFWs; Filipino citizens and their spouses and

dependents; permanent residents; and foreign diplomats are allowed to enter

the Philippines.

300 BUSES TO PLY EDSA NEXT WEEK

MANILA, — Only around 300 buses will initially be allowed to ply EDSA once

Metro Manila is put under general community quarantine starting on June 1,

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said yesterday.

These buses will be deployed to augment the limited capacity of the Metro

Rail Transit Line 3 have specific pickup and dropoff points along the route

of the MRT-3, he said.

Año said that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) will gradually allow

more buses to ply EDSA.

Under the first phase of the GCQ, from June 1 to June 21, the DOTr will

allow only trains, point-to-point buses, taxis, transport network vehicle

units and bicycles in Metro Manila.

In the second phase, only then will other buses, modern jeepneys and UV

Express units be allowed to operate.

BUS FIRM READIES FOR 'NEW NORMAL' WITH 'INDEPENDENT-SEATER' CONCEPT

MANILA - A bus company has launched its "new normal plan" ahead of the shift

to eased restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, coming up with

reconfigured seating for spacing requirements for the safety of passengers.

DLTB Bus Co, whose fleet plies routes across the country, has designed

altered seating inside its buses: from the traditional arrangement of one

aisle with two passengers side by side on either sides, to three rows with

two aisles.

“Ito po ay individual, independent seater… 3 rows, dalawang aisle,” said

DLTB chairman and CEO Narciso Morales.

In an interview on ABS-CBN's Teleradyo, Morales said he hopes that their

recommendation would be approved by government when the country shifts to

the new normal.

“Sana aprubahan ng gobyerno para maumpisahan na namin,” said Morales.

Their proposal was already submitted to the Department of Transportation and

other agencies related to transportation.

Morales said the reconfigured DLTB bus, equipped with air and HEPA (High

Efficiency Particulate Air) filters, can accommodate 36 passengers. It will

also employ a non-contact payment system as passengers would only need to

buy a card for the fare.

“Mas compliant ito kesa sa plano nilang i-convert 'yung 2x2 tapos gagawin

nilang 50-percent capacity lamang,” he said.

This would mean restricting a 12-meter bus with 50-seat capacity to just

having 25 passengers, which would incur losses for the bus operator, said

Morales.

“Magrereklamo ang mga bus operators dahil kulang po talaga 'yun. Short po

iyon at malulugi ang operator,” he said.

The reconfigured bus is designed to discourage overloading and standing on

aisles - a normal occurrence in public transport before the pandemic.

“Halos naka-cubicle ang pasahero, no touch, pati driver may cubicle.

Pinaka-safe sa lahat, pinaka-moderno sa mundo,” he said.

LGUS: WEAR MASKS EVEN DURING GCQ

MANILA, — Local government units in Metro Manila yesterday reminded

residents that wearing face masks in public places is still mandatory once

Metro Manila shifts to general community quarantine (GCQ) starting next

week.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte directed law enforcers and local officials to

strictly enforce the order mandating residents to wear face masks in public

places to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In April, Belmonte issued an executive order requiring residents to wear any

form of covering for the nose and mouth in all public places.

She said those caught not wearing masks in public places in the city would

be penalized for violating a provision of Republic Act 11332 regarding

non-cooperation of persons and entities affected by a health event of public

concern.

Caloocan Mayor Oscar Malapitan yesterday said mandatory wearing of face

masks is the “new normal” in the city.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

JADINE BACK TOGETHER? FAN'S 'EVIDENCE' GOES VIRAL

MANILA — Are James Reid and Nadine Lustre back together?

Fans of the tandem known as "JaDine" believe so, going by a viral post

showing "evidence" that the two were recently together.

In the Facebook post from one Ericka Landingin, screenshots of social media

posts from the stars, both past and recent, are shown side by side.

Two past posts from Reid show what appears to be his living room, and the

actor lounging on a red couch.

One recent post from Lustre — an Instagram Stories update uploaded only on

Thursday — is a selfie of the actress, with two familiar textures in the

background: the red of Reid's couch, and the design of a carpet as seen in

the actor's posts.

"Huli pero 'di kulong! My JaDine heart!" the screenshots were captioned,

with a heart emoji.

As of writing, the Facebook post already had nearly 18,000 reactions, over

17,000 shares, and some 6,000 comments, many of which expressed excitement

over the possibility of Lustre and Reid getting back together.

Reid and Lustre were a couple of nearly four years until they announced

their breakup in January this year.

For most of their relationship, they were reported to have shared a home in

Quezon City. In February, that house was put on sale — at the time dashing

fans' hopes of a reconciliation.

However, early this month, Lustre stoked those hopes anew when she posted an

old photo of her with Reid, captioned with a sapling emoji — a hint, at

least for fans, that the throwback symbolized the start of something new.

Neither of the stars has gone on record to confirm they've reconciled.

A "reliable source," however, has said the two have indeed gotten back

together, according to showbiz host DJ Jhai Ho. He mentioned the couple in

the May 29 episode of "4TS: Top Ten Trending Topics."

SPORTS

NBA PLANS JULY 31 RETURN

MANILA, — After months of uncertainty on the fate of the 2019-20 NBA season,

details of a return plan are starting to take shape.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver is reportedly considering a July 31 return date

for the league, more than four months after the season was suspended due to

the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, Silver and the NBA Board of Governors

discussed four possible play scenarios once the season returns.

One of the options is taking the top eight teams in both conferences and

going straight to the playoffs.

Other scenarios include inviting over more than 16 teams for group/stage

play to determine playoff seeding.

An option to invite all 30 teams to finish a 72-game regular season was also

mulled over.

Earlier reports have pinned Disney World in Orlando, Florida as a venue to

finish the season.

The resort will serve as an "NBA campus" where the teams will play, train

and live during the duration of the season.

The NBA has been on hiatus since March 11 after Utah Jazz big man Rudy

Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus.

A handful of other NBA players, including Brooklyn's Kevin Durant, Boston's

Marcus Smart and Gobert's teammate Donovan Mitchell, also contracted the

virus and have fully recovered.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 50.69

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Not what we have, but what we use; Not what we see, but what we chooseÂ…. -

Joseph Fort Newton