BARANGAY HEADS TOLD: ENFORCE PROTOCOLS, OR ELSE…

MANILA — President Duterte warned village chiefs that they would be held liable if they fail to enforce COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

“As barangay captain, you are called upon and will be held liable for the failure of implementing the law in your territory. You have to enforce the law, the barangay captains, within your area. You are the person in authority,” Duterte said during a meeting of the government’s pandemic task force on Monday.

“But you know, the guidance and everything, direction, should be followed by the persons in authority. That’s what the law means here,” he added, noting that people who defy authorities would face charges.

Duterte, nevertheless, said he is satisfied with the implementation of the law.

The Caloocan City local government yesterday filed a complaint against Barangay 171 chairman Romeo Rivera after the Mother’s Day mass gathering at Gubat sa Ciudad resort in the city.

City health officer Dr. Evelyn Cuevas and business permits and licensing office head Emmanuel Vergara said Rivera violated the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) guidelines banning the operation of theme parks, swimming pools and other leisure centers.

The resort operated at “full capacity” on Sunday with 500 guests, including senior citizens and minors who are not allowed outside during the lockdown.

Resort-goers were photographed not wearing face masks and did not follow social distancing protocols, raising fears that the gathering could be a “COVID-19 super spreader event.”

City officials said Rivera should be preventively suspended for at least 60 days pending investigation, while government ordered contact tracing procedures for resort guests.

In a dzBB interview yesterday, Rivera denied he neglected his duties, but admitted he was out of the city for a Mother’s Day mass with family. Rivera blamed the resort management for allowing guests as early as April 20.

GOVERNMENT TO INOCULATE 25 MILLION PEOPLE BY CHRISTMAS

MANILA — The government aims to inoculate at least 25 million people within the third quarter as part of its goal to achieve a “better Christmas” this year.

National Task Force against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said the 25 million would come from the most vulnerable sectors – health care workers, senior citizens and people with comorbidities.

“Our target is we should have a better Christmas this year. So our strategy is to achieve the 25 million, the most vulnerable. According to WHO (World Health Organization), this is what we call burden of disease, burden of death and burden of hospitalization,” Galvez said during a meeting of the government’s pandemic task force last Monday.

“If we (vaccinate) them, we can contain death and the fatalities. We have low and high targets, wherein once we achieve the 25 million, at least we will have what is called the initial herd containment,” he added.

The government’s high target for herd containment is inoculating 50 million people by September, according to Galvez’s report.

For herd immunity, the low target is vaccinating 58 million people while the high target is administering COVID-19 shots to 70 million people by November.

Herd immunity was defined by the WHO as indirect protection from an infectious disease that happens when a population is immune through vaccination.

The government is hopeful that COVID-19 would be eliminated by the second quarter of next year. It expects 110 million Filipinos to have been immunized against the disease by that time.

BIDEN: NEARLY HALF OF WORLD LEADERS ASKING US FOR COVID VACCINE HELP

President Joe Biden said Tuesday that almost half the world's leaders have contacted him, asking for US help in obtaining COVID-19 vaccines.

"Every country in the world is now looking at us to provide for their lack of capacity to produce and/or have vaccines," Biden said in a virtual meeting with US state governors.

"I literally have, virtually 40 percent of the world leaders calling and asking, can we help them," Biden said. "We're going to try."

The US leader did not say which countries he was referring to. However, there is a growing international clamor for sharing the enormous US surplus in vaccines, including in hard-hit India.

Biden pledged last month to distribute 60 million AstraZeneca doses, with India expected to be a recipient. Earlier, the White House said it was loaning four million AstraZeneca doses to neighboring Mexico and Canada.

However, Washington has come under growing pressure to release more vaccines, given a surplus expected to amount to hundreds of millions of doses.

Biden repeated his position that he is prioritizing getting Americans inoculated but said "we are going to be working with other countries, because there are going to be a lot of variants."

"I think we can produce a whole hell of a lot more vaccines that we can make available," he said.

INDIAN COVID-19 VARIANT FOUND IN 44 COUNTRIES, ALL REGIONS: WHO

GENEVA, Switzerland - The World Health Organization said Wednesday that a variant of COVID-19 behind the acceleration of India's explosive outbreak has been found in dozens of countries all over the world.

The UN health agency said the B.1.617 variant of COVID-19, first found in India in October, had been detected in more than 4,500 samples uploaded to an open-access database "from 44 countries in all six WHO regions".

"And WHO has received reports of detections from five additional countries," it said in its weekly epidemiological update on the pandemic.

Outside of India, it said that Britain had reported the largest number of COVID-19 cases caused by the variant.

DUQUE TO RECOMMEND STRICT TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ON TRAVELERS FROM MIDDLE EAST

MANILA — Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Wednesday he will recommend strict travel restrictions on passengers arriving from the Middle East following the detection of cases of a coronavirus variant first identified in India.

Two seafarers who returned in April tested positive for the B.1.617 variant, the DOH reported. One arrived from Oman, while the other came from the United Arab Emirates.

“I will recommend that certainly. But I’m in touch with our World Health Organization country representative in the same manner we have expanded our travel ban beyond India,” Duque said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.

“Rest assured I will make that recommendation,” he added.

Currently, the government is prohibiting the entry of travelers from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka until May 14. Authorities also approved the recommendation that inbound passengers be tested for COVID-19 on the seventh day of their quarantine.

The WHO classified B.1.617—which is said to be driving the acceleration of India’s alarming COVID-19 outbreak—as a “variant of concern at the global level.” It said the variant had been detected in 44 countries.

Duque said he needs to consult with Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO representative to the Philippines, if more stringent border control should cover other countries that have already reported the presence of the variant.

“What is important is we were able to implement an intensified border control, and quarantine and isolation protocols have been followed. That is why we were able to detected these cases plus of course our heightened biosurveillance and improved genomic sequencing,” he said.

Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega, who is also treatment czar, said the implementation of travel restrictions on travelers returning from India came too late.

LOCSIN SAYS DFA SHOULD HANDLE CHINA ISSUE AMID ROQUE REMARKS

MANILA - Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. asserted his authority to speak for the President on matters related to China and the West Philippine Sea after Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that Julian Felipe Reef is not part of the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone.

“There is only one voice on what’s ours: mine. Period. Not even the military has any say. I speak for the President on this subject,” Locsin tweeted.

He added he is “the only expert on the subject” and the issue should be left to the DFA, reacting to Roque’s statement that it was “not okay" for China to continue its militarization of the West Philippine Sea, but asked what the Philippines could do about this.

“What can we do? Let’s try this: drop the subject and leave it entirely to the Department of Foreign Affairs under ME, the only expert on the subject bar none. I’ve known China since 1967; Chito Sta. Ramona along with me. Even the military has nothing to do with foreign affairs,” Locsin said.

SHOW-CAUSE ORDER ISSUED TO FDA OVER ALLEGED PHARMA EXTORTION

MANILA — The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) has issued a show-cause order to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its alleged inaction on over 600 applications filed by pharmaceutical companies despite having complete requirements.

The FDA Center for Drug Regulation and Research has 7 days to respond to the show-cause order, ARTA director-general Jeremiah Belgica said Wednesday.

Should it fail to answer to the order, the FDA center's officials and workers could face administrative complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman, according to Belgica.

"Hindi na ito science, burokrasya na ang nagpapatagal dito," he told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.

"Nanawagan po kami kay FDA director-general Eric Domingo at (Health) Secretary Duque na linisin na po natin, tanggalin na po natin ang mga nagpapahirap sa atin d'yan."

Belgica said drugmaker applications should have been granted "automatic renewal," as companies only have 3 requirements: application form, proof that the company has paid fees, and an affidavit stating they have not changed the formulation.

"Ako po'y hindi doktor pero nakita ko pong ang iba po d'yan ay talagang matagal nang ginagamit," he said.

" 'Yung iba sinasabi, 'Hindi ba delikado 'yan kasi minamadali natin?' Ang sagot po d'yan, hindi ho delikado 'yan dahil ayon sa rules nila 'pag ang isang gamot ay ginagamit na matagal na at for renewal lamang ng registration, 3 simpleng dokumento lang po ang kinakailangan nila para automatically ma-renew."

In a separate interview on TeleRadyo on Wednesday, Domingo said his agency would cooperate with the investigation.

“FDA will cooperate fully with the authorities sa pag investigate dito para makita natin kung meron ngang problema,” he said.

GOVERNMENT ALLOWS ‘UNLI’ DEPLOYMENT OF NURSES TO UK

MANILA — The Philippine government has allowed the deployment of an unlimited number of nurses to the United Kingdom.

In an interview with “The Chiefs” on One News/TV5 on Monday night, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the government has exempted the UK from the 5,000 deployment cap for health care workers abroad.

“We granted the request of UK to be exempted,” Bello said, adding that the UK government is requesting to hire between 2,000 and 3,000 nurses a month.

The 5,000 deployment cap for nurses this year will stay and only UK has been granted an exemption, according to Bello.

He said Filipino nurses and other health workers are highly in demand not only in the UK but also in other countries amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In fact, the government of Germany has expressed its desire to hire about 15,000 Filipino nurses,” Bello said.

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DUTERTE APPEALS FOR MINDANAO PEACE

MANILA — Saying he cannot wage a war against his fellow Filipinos, President Duterte yesterday appealed to concerned sectors in Mindanao to work for peace as he condemned the recent attack perpetrated by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Datu Paglas town, Maguindanao.

Speaking to soldiers, police and local officials at Camp Siongco in Cotabato City, Duterte said he could not afford to bring war in the region, as it will result in bloodshed and killing of many innocent lives.

“It’s painful for me too see... I am moved to tears to see what really is happening now. It’s pure carnage. The ultimate beneficiaries of the violence created here are the civilians,” Duterte said.

He said he is seeking a peaceful solution to avoid an all-out offensive by the government.

Duterte flew to Cotabato yesterday to personally reach out to the people, following Saturday’s occupation by some 100 BIFF bandits of the public market in Datu Paglas.

PAL SAYS UNDERGOING 'RESTRUCTURING' AMID REPORTS IT WOULD FILE FOR CHAPTER 11 IN US

MANILA - Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is working on a comprehensive restructuring plan that will allow it to emerge financially stronger from the current global crisis, the airline said on Tuesday following reports that it is seeking court protection from creditors in the United States.

PAL issued the statement after aviation industry website FlightGlobal said the company informed its lessors that it was planning to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US by the end of May.

Flight Global said 3 people with knowledge of the matter told airline industry data provider Cirium.

The Lucio Tan-led flag carrier has been reported to be seeking court protection as early as November last year.

PAL, meanwhile, declined to give specifics about its restructuring.

“As the work is ongoing, we will make the necessary disclosures at the proper time, once details are finalized,” PAL said in a statement.

PAL Holdings Inc, the operator of the airline, disclosed in November last year that it had incurred over P28.85 billion in net losses in the first three quarters of 2020 alone.

This followed a net loss of over P10.31 billion for the whole of 2019, and a net loss of P4.33 billion for the whole of 2018.

PAL Holdings has yet to disclose its full-year financial results for 2020.

A Chapter 11 filing does not mean that PAL is shutting down, but instead will be allowed to reorganize to keep its business alive and pay creditors over a period of time.

The company also said its operations will not be affected “in any restructuring.”

MAGNITUDE 5.8 QUAKE JOLTS OCCIDENTAL MINDORO, FELT IN METRO MANILA

MANILA - A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Occidental Mindoro and was felt in nearby areas, including Metro Manila on Wednesday morning, Phivolcs said.

The tremor, which occurred 11 kilometers northeast of Abra de Ilog town at 9:09 a.m., was tectonic in origin and had a depth of 110 kilometers, according to Phivolcs.

The tremor was not expected to cause damage but will spawn aftershocks, state seismologists said.

"Wala pong pangamba sa tsunami at so far ang mga naka-experience ng lindol ay nagrereport ng Intensity 4. Kung ganun lang po hindi tayo nageexpect ng damage," Phivolcs officer-in-charge Renato Solidum told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.

"Posible naman po ang aftershock pero dahil nga po malalim hindi ito magiging damaging."

PORK PRODUCERS SEEK INDEMNIFICATION FOR ASF-STRICKEN HOGS

MANILA - A group of pork producers on Wednesday sought P10,000 indemnification per head of hogs culled for African Swine Fever (ASF).

The Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines (ProPork) welcomes President Rodrigo Duterte's declaration of state of calamity, said Nicanor Briones, ProPork vice president for Luzon.

"Ang pinakamahalaga wala d'yan, 'yung sinasabi nating indemnification fund na P10,000 kada ulo ng baboy," he told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.

The declaration also lacks the amendment for Executive Order No. 128 and the implementation of the Food Safety Act, said Briones.

The Senate and government's economic team earlier agreed on a compromise to adjust the tariff rates of pork imports to10 percent in-quota and 20 percent for out-quota for the first 3 months, and 15 percent and 25 percent, respectively, for the remaining 9 months.

Agriculture group Samahan ng Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) also filed an administrative complaint against Agriculture Secretary William Dar for failing to inspect pork imports which is required under the Food Safety Act, according to Briones.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

TOM CRUISE RETURNS AWARDS; SCARLETT JOHANSSON, STARS PROTEST VS GOLDEN GLOBES

HOLLYWOOD — The future of the Golden Globes was plunged into jeopardy Monday as NBC canceled its broadcast of next year's prestigious awards, while major Hollywood studios and stars such as Tom Cruise and Scarlett Johansson slammed the organizers' record on diversity and transparency.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, comprised of some 90 journalists who vote for Tinseltown's second-biggest annual film and television awards, has been under fire for months following widespread allegations of racism, sexism, bullying and corruption among its ranks.

Last week, the group approved a raft of reforms to become "more inclusive and diverse" by an "overwhelming" margin, hoping to draw a line under months of negative publicity.

But the backlash from Hollywood has been fierce, with A-listers such as Johansson and Mark Ruffalo and powerful executives lining up to condemn the changes as too slow, lacking in specifics and failing to address some of the industry's most fundamental grievances.

Tom Cruise on Monday returned his three Golden Globes to the HFPA in protest, according to multiple Hollywood trade outlets.

"We continue to believe that the HFPA is committed to meaningful reform. However, change of this magnitude takes time and work, and we feel strongly that the HFPA needs time to do it right," the awards' longstanding broadcaster NBC said in a statement.

"As such, NBC will not air the 2022 Golden Globes. Assuming the organization executes on its plan, we are hopeful we will be in a position to air the show in January 2023."

SPORTS

NBA SCORES MAY 10

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

Pacers32-36     27        26        26        32        111

Cavaliers21-48  28        32        17        25        102

SCORING LEADERS

            K. Martin IND

25 PTS 7 REB

            C. Sexton CLE

25 PTS 5 REB 8 AST

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

Wizards32-37    32        30        17        45        124

Hawks38-31      34        27        35        29        125

SCORING LEADERS

R. Westbrook WAS

28 PTS 13 REB 21 AST

T. Young ATL

36 PTS 6 REB 9 AST

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

Pelicans31-38   31        28        29        22        110

Grizzlies35-33   36        35        15        29        115

SCORING LEADERS

N. Alexander-Walker NO

18 PTS 3 REB 6 AST

D. Brooks MEM

23 PTS 4 REB 2 AST

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

Bucks43-25       36        28        29        32        125

Spurs33-35       45        42        26        33        146

SCORING LEADERS

G. Antetokounmpo MIL

28 PTS 3 REB 4 AST

D. DeRozan SA

23 PTS 3 REB 3 AST

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

Rockets16-53    33        30        37        29        129

Trail Blazers40-29         50        29        32        29        140

SCORING LEADERS

K. Olynyk HOU

21 PTS 8 REB 6 AST

D. Lillard POR

34 PTS 9 REB 6 AST

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

Jazz50-19         30        19        26        41        116

Warriors36-33   31        23        35        30        119

SCORING LEADERS

J. Clarkson UTA

41 PTS 7 REBS. Curry GS

36 PTS 4 REB 6 AST

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 47.81

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future. - John F. Kennedy