US PLEDGES ADDITIONAL P201 MILLION COVID-19 AID FOR MINDANAO

MANILA — The United States will provide an additional P201 million ($4

million) worth of assistance for communities in Mindanao to help against the

COVID-19 pandemic. This brings the total US pandemic assistance to the

Philippines to over P978 million ($19.5 million).

According to the US Embassy, the additional fund in humanitarian assistance

will allow USAID to provide 100,000 persons with essential hygiene supplies,

handwashing stations, hygiene promotion to reduce transmission risk and help

communities reopen in Mindanao.

"With the additional $4 million in humanitarian assistance, USAID will

protect vulnerable populations — those displaced by conflict and the recent

earthquakes in Mindanao — from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic," the US

Embassy said in a statement.

CONGRESS TO GO ON BREAK WITH STIMULUS IN LIMBO, ANTI-TERRORISM BILL

PRIORITIZED

MANILA — Legislators are starting their 50 day-long break on Friday with

their priorities put into question after a Congress dominated by President

Rodrigo DuterteÂ’s allies passed a controversial anti-terrorism bill, while

leaving much-needed economic stimulus in limbo.

A key difference among the bills is a certification from Duterte that the

measures need to be enacted quickly. While Duterte certified House Bill 6875

or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 urgent, Senate Bill 1564 or the Bayanihan

to Recover as One Act was not, preventing senators to pass the bill on their

last session day.

DuterteÂ’s order was critical. By telling lawmakers that HB 6875 is needed

urgently, the Lower House dispensed of the billÂ’s second and third readings

in two succeeding days, instead of waiting for three days after the second

reading to pass it. As of this posting, the Senate has adjourned its

session, while the Lower House is still deliberating on some bills.

Senators already passed a counterpart bill for HB 6875, but since June 3,

they were waiting for the same certification for another measure, SB 1564.

However, it appeared the Palace has no intention to press for the measure,

at least for now.

“We wish to announce that Malacañang will not certify as urgent the

extension of the Bayanihan We Heal as One Act, for now,” presidential

spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.

DUTERTE QUESTIONS DELAY IN COMPENSATION OF HEALTH WORKERS INFECTED WITH

COVID-19, SETS JUNE 9 AS DEADLINE

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte is giving authorities until Tuesday, June

9 to give the law-mandated benefits for health workers who died or got

infected with coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Malacañang said Thursday.

The order comes after the President was informed that no health worker has

availed of the cash benefit yet, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said.

"Hanggang Martes lang po ang ibinigay ng Presidente para sa lahat ng

kinauukulan na ibigay ang mga compensation benefits sa mga healthworkers na

nagkasakit ng COVID-19 in the line of duty at sa pamilya ng mga namatay na

health workers," he said in a Palace press briefing.

Roque said the President was "frustrated" to find out that qualified health

workers and their families have yet to receive the benefit.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III blamed Thursday his staff for the delay

in the release of the law-mandated benefits for health workers who died or

were infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Duque, in a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte in Davao City, said his

staff at the Department of Health had no sense of urgency over the matter.

"Nakakahiya talaga, sir eh. Namatayan na nga tapos nagpaka wardy-wardy 'yung

mga tao ko na parang walang sense of urgency," Duque said.

"Iyon ang talagang ang sama-sama po ng loob ko, Mr. President," he added.

The health chief assured the President that the health department could meet

the June 9 deadline for the distribution of monetary benefits.

"We will comply, Mr. President, with your deadline," Duque said, noting that

beneficiaries were already identified.

Under Republic Act No. 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act, public and

private health workers who contract severe COVID-19 infection while in the

line of duty will receive a compensation of P100,000 and those who die

“while fighting the COVID-19 pandemic” will be compensated with P1 million.

It was only on Thursday when the health department announced that it has

approved the guidelines for the release of the monetary benefits.

To address the delay, the President ordered Duque to form a new team to take

over the distribution of cash benefits.

There are currently 32 health workers — 4 nurses, 26 were doctors and 2

non-medical staff — who died due to COVID-19, the health department said.

DUTERTE PRAISES 'LAW-ABIDING' FILIPINOS, EXPRESSES DISMAY OVER US PROTESTS

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte praised Friday Filipinos' adherence to

the law as he expressed dismay over the mass protests in the United States.

Duterte, in a public address, said he is thankful that there are no riots in

the Philippines like the ones occurring in some American cities.

"ThereÂ’s a riot going on all over and it seems to me that is no end in

sight. Mabuti na lang hindi tayo ganun at natimingan naman that the

Filipinos are really law-abiding," he said.

"Imagine if Amerika ‘to, how can you enforce the lockdown and the

sequestration --- ah itong quarantine? Buti’t na lang ganun ‘yon so we have

to respond to the problem besetting the distribution of assistance to them,"

he added.

Protests have been going on in the US for days, sparked by the May 25

killing of George Floyd, a black man who suffocated beneath the knee of a

white police officer, and whose agonizing death was filmed by bystanders.

The demonstrations have mostly been peaceful, but some have degenerated into

violence and looting in some American cities.

OVER 1,000 OFWS TEST POSITIVE UPON RETURN

MANILA — Over 1,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who returned home from

various countries have tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019

(COVID-19), according to the Department of Health.

DOH data showed that 1,028 of the 50,175 returning OFWs were confirmed

positive for COVID as of June 2. Of the number, 480 have been admitted to

hospital.

A COVID-related death was also reported among the returning OFWs, while 125

of them had recovered from the infection.

Based on DOH records, 37,026 of the OFWs were sea-based while land-based

workers accounted for 13,149. Of those infected, 799 were land-based.

Meanwhile, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire reiterated that the

DOH allows testing for asymptomatic persons who have exposure to COVID

positive patients.

“Our expanded testing protocol includes those asymptomatic with exposure.

The protocol also states that once we already have laboratory capacity, we

may include asymptomatic even without exposure in our target testing,”

Vergeire said.

JOBLESS FILIPINOS BALLOON TO 7.3 MILLION IN APRIL AS UNEMPLOYMENT SOARS IN

LOCKDOWN

MANILA - The Philippines' unemployment rate jumped to a record 17.7 percent

during the coronavirus lockdown, official data released Friday showed, as

the government moved to resuscitate the economy and stop further job losses.

The jobless rate in April translates to a total 7.3 million unemployed

Filipinos, National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa said, adding it

reflected the "effect of the economic shutdown."

The unemployment rate last topped 10 percent in January 2005, when it was

recorded at 11.3 percent, according to Bloomberg data. The labor force

participation rate, which covers those 15 years and older, likewise fell to

a record 55.6 percent, the lowest since 1987, Mapa said.

"Unfortunately, this is going to get worse, given that this is for the

quarter ending April and of course the lockdown lasted more than that,"

Nomura Securities senior economist for ASEAN Euben Paracuelles told ANC.

Implementation of various measures to fight the pandemic is a challenge for

government, said BDO Unibank chief investment strategist Jonas Ravelas.

"One of the things weÂ’ve done as a country is that the government was able

to do its rapid response they were able to do the Bayanihan. Right now the

challenge of trying to deploy these things is a herculean task," Ravelas

said.

Inflation eased to 2.1 percent in May from 2.2 percent in the previous

month, the PSA also said on Friday. It was the lowest in 6 months, according

to ABS-CBN Data Analytics.

The Department of Labor and Employment said Thursday it was seeking P20

billion to help small and medium employers cover 25 to 50 percent of their

payroll costs.

The country's biggest business groups also urged lawmakers to speed up

deliberations on a P1.3 trillion stimulus and a bill that will slash the

corporate income tax rate to 25 percent from 30 percent.

'IHULOG SA PASIG RIVER': DUTERTE WARNS ONLINE SELLERS BEHIND FACE MASK SCAMS

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday told the public to be wary of

online scams for face masks, adding that dishonest sellers should be "dumped

into the Pasig River" amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Philippines has been grappling with a face mask shortage, with the

government purchasing most of the supply for the public health sector.

Filipinos are required to wear face masks as well whenever they are out in

public.

"Do not go for that kind of s**t 'yung magbili-bili kayo online, mask, tapos

ka-text ninyo [na seller] is from Pampanga, from Abra. Saan man sila magkuha

ng mask doon? Wala nga sa Maynila," Duterte said in a press conference.

"Dito kayo sa Maynila, sa mga holdaper, puwede pa. Puwede kayong bumili,

mayroon pa yang p******** stock [ng mask] iyang mga animal na iyan," he

added.

The public should inspect the face masks they ordered before paying online

sellers, the President said.

"Do not fall for that thing na online-online. It has never been perfected

and all of the scams that man could think of, that they can perpetrate on

the innocent public, pinag-aaralan nila 'yan (they are studying that),"

Duterte said.

Scammers "take advantage of the misery of people," he said.

"Ang iyo d'yan is i-deliver mo, papasukin mo sa loob iyong nagdala ng mask,

talian mo. 'Pag gabi, maghanap ka ng sasakyan, ihulog mo sa Pasig River.

Maraming tulay d'yan, alas-3 ng madaling-araw, wala nang dumadaan d'yan,

maski anong ihulog mo wala nang makialam d'yan," Duterte said.

"Kung ako, iyan ang gawin ko sa inyo: talian ko iyong paa ninyo, pati kamay

ninyo, saksakan ko iyong bunganga ninyo ng medyas niyong mabaho, 5 araw na

walang laba tapos talian ko ng panyo. Ihulog kita sa Pasig," he said.

Duterte gave his remark 5 days into the relaxed coronavirus lockdown of

Metro Manila and other urban centers.

The Philippines as of Thursday confirmed 20,382 cases of the respiratory

disease that emerged in China late last year.

THE REST

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5-MINUTE PRAYERS, 10-PERSON MASS: QUIAPO CHURCH REOPENS WITH NEW PANDEMIC

PROTOCOLS

MANILA — Quiapo Church in Manila, home to the Black Nazarene statue that

draws millions of miracle-seekers in its yearly procession, will reopen

Friday with new protocols to keep parishioners safe from the coronavirus

pandemic, a priest said.

Only 10 people will be allowed inside the church during Masses, which meets

an inter-agency task force's cap on attendees of religious gatherings, said

vicar Fr. Douglas Badong.

During the communion, parishioners will no longer line up but will instead

be approached by lay ministers, he told TeleRadyo.

When there is no Mass, up to 50 people can enter the church to pray for

about 5 minutes. Floor markings outside the church will guide them on where

to line up as they wait for their turn, he said.

Parishioners should also wear masks, pass through a disinfection tent and a

check by medical officers before they enter the church, he said.

Pews that can fit 8 people will only seat up to 2 parishioners, said Badong.

"Dapat maintain pa rin nila iyong social distancing. Matuto silang

maghintay. Pero dapat iyong iba rin, be sensitive na mayroong gustong

makasulyap, gustong makapagdasal din," he said in a TeleRadyo interview.

HOW PAL WILL IMPLEMENT SOCIAL DISTANCING IN FLIGHTS

MANILA — Philippine Airlines said Friday it would implement social

distancing in flights after an expected rush in travelers due to the

loosening of virus lockdowns in the capital and other urban centers.

The flag carrier will identify areas in aircraft that will serve as "rows

for social distancing" where passengers can be transferred if they

experience cough or respiratory problems mid-flight, said PAL spokesperson

Cielo Villaluna.

"Eventually, 'pag mag-ease up, mag-normalize na ang flow of passengers —

iyong mga essential passengers nailipad na natin, mga OFWs, mga locally

stranded individuals — we may be able to implement social distancing with

regularity," she told TeleRadyo.

After the nearly 80-day lockdown of Metro Manila grounded airlines, PAL will

restart 24 domestic routes and 21 international routes in June, she said.

"Slow but sure, gradual and calibrated is our approach," she said.

Locally stranded passengers should present their travel authority and

medical certificate from local officials at flight check-in counters, said

Villaluna.

Repatriated migrant workers who were quarantined in Metro Manila will be

brought to the airport by authorities and only need to present their health

certificate, she said.

Journalists, health workers, authorities and other people authorized to

leave their residence should present their company or inter-agency task

force ID, she said.

'MAHIRAP MAG GAMBLE': BAN ON MOTORCYCLE BACKRIDES STAYS, EVEN FOR COUPLES -

DILG

MANILA-- The Department of the Interior and Local Government stood firm on

its ban against motorcycle back-riding, even for couples, despite the

limited public transportation due to prevailing community quarantines.

During a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte, Interior Secretary Eduardo

Año said it is difficult to "gamble" the lifting of the prohibition on

back-riding since physical distancing would be difficult to implement.

"Mahirap na mag gamble na como mag-asawa, pwede sila magdikit sila sa

publiko. Sa bahay, wala tayong magagawa. Pero sa publiko, kailangan ipatupad

'yung physical distancing," Año said.

The government requires the public to stay at least a meter apart from each

other to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

While motorcycle back-riding may be cheaper, Año said there is a bigger

health risk since it violates physical distancing measures.

"Pagka nahawa iyung isa eh mahawa 'yung isa. It is costlier kung mamamatay

sila," he added.s

PASAY COP SACKED FOR EVICTING TENANTS

MANILA — A police officer from Pasay City was relieved from his post

yesterday after he was caught in a viral video threatening and forcibly

evicting a family from his property after they were unable to pay rent for

two months.

M/Sgt. Alexander Makarunay reportedly evicted the tenants during the

enhanced community quarantine in April.

Makarunay was sacked from his post pending results of the investigation,

Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, spokesman for the Philippine National Police

(PNP), said.

MAGKAPATID, 14 AT 10, PATAY SA LANDSLIDE SA DIGOS

DIGOS, Davao Del Sur — Patay ang magkapatid, edad 10 at 14, dahil sa

landslide sa lungsod na ito, Huwebes ng gabi.

Natutulog ang magkapatid na sina Ronnel at Roxel Laguna nang mabaon sa lupa

ang harapan ng kanilang bahay sa Barangay Binaton, ayon sa pulisya.

Ito'y matapos anila ang ilang mahihinang lindol sa Davao Del Sur at mga

karatig-lugar na sinundan ng malakas na ulan, dahilan para lumambot ang

lupa.

Nakaranas din ng pagguho ng lupa ang kalapit na Barangay Kapatagan.

Nagsasagawa pa rin ng clearing operation sa mga daang natabunan ng lupa,

Biyernes ng umaga.

HALOS 100 BALIKBAYAN STRANDED PA RIN SA NAIA, TUTULUNGANG MAKAUWI

Stranded pa rin sa NAIA ang halos 100 overseas Filipino worker na umuwi sa

bansa at naabutan ng coronavirus lockdown na nagsuspinde sa mga flight,

sinabi ng airport police, Biyernes.

Kabilang sa grupo ang nag-quarantine sa bahay ng kanilang mga kaanak sa

Metro Manila bago umuwi sa Visayas o Mindanao, o kaya naman ay hindi natuloy

magtrabaho sa ibang bansa, sabi ni Overseas Workers Welfare Administration

chief Hans Leo Cacdac.

"Tutulungan po natin sila magkaroon ng flight pauwi," sabi niya sa panayam

ng TeleRadyo.

Idadaan din aniya ang grupo sa coronavirus swab test.

Iuulat aniya ng kaniyang ahensya sa labor department ang mga recruitment

agency ng mga OFW "para mabigyan ng kaukulang disiplina at aksyon."

"Dapat hindi sila (OFWs) binibitawan ng kanilang recruitment agency at sa

halip ay i-arrange ang kanilang flight pabalik," paliwanang niya.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

HEART EVANGELISTA TO GIVE AWAY FREE TABLETS TO STUDENTS FOR ONLINE CLASSES

MANILA -- Heart Evangelista is giving away free tablets to enable some

Filipino students to study online while schools remain closed.

The actress made the announcement this Thursday, asking her fans to message

her on Instagram if they want to avail of the gadget.

Evangelista cited concerns from poorer families that their children might

not have access to education, as schools shift to online learning due to the

COVID-19 pandemic.

Physical classes have been discouraged to avoid exposing students, teachers

and other school personnel to the virus.

The school year is scheduled to start on August 24.

SPORTS

NBAÂ’S BACK! TEAM GOVERNORS APPROVE RETURN-TO-PLAY PLAN

The NBA's board of governors approved a return-to-play plan on Thursday,

paving the way for the league to resume in Florida following a three-month

coronavirus shutdown.

ESPN and The Athletic reported that a proposal put to the league's board

which will see 22 teams based at a single location had passed comfortably.

Twenty-nine teams voted in favour of the return-to-play plan, with Portland

the lone vote against.

Under the NBA's proposals, the league would resume on July 31 with 22 teams

based at Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando to minimise

the threat of COVID-19.

Playoffs would take place in August, with the NBA Finals set to be completed

by October 12.

The league has also pencilled in a provisional December 1 start date for the

2020-2021 season.

The NBA suspended its season on March 11 as the COVID-19 pandemic erupted,

leaving professional sport in North America at a standstill.

Sixteen teams occupying the playoff berths in the Western and Eastern

Conferences will be joined by six more teams to determine the final playoff

line-up.

Each of the 22 teams will play eight regular-season games for seeding

purposes for the postseason.

The league plans for teams to start training camps in their home cities on

June 30 before travelling to Orlando on July 7.

The league wants to have daily testing and if a player tests positive he

would be isolated and quarantined.

The others would carry on playing while still being tested on a daily basis.

So far, less than a dozen NBA players have been confirmed as testing

positive for the coronavirus although not all have been identified.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 50.00

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

How much time he saves who does not look to see what his neighbor says or

does or thinks. - Marcus Aurelius