JET DISINFECTION, FACE MASKS: AIRLINES RAMP UP DEFENSE VS CHINA VIRUSMANILA — Airlines in the Philippines stepped up defenses against a newSARS-like virus from China, introducing jet disinfection, protectiveequipment and health checks, representatives said Thursday, as authoritiesmoved to head off a billowing regional health crisis.The new pathogen Novel Coronavirus has killed 17, stricken more than 500 andreached other countries like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and theUS.Cebu Pacific is disinfecting all its jets after every international flight,including the one that supposedly carried 4 relatives of a Chinese man inHong Kong who tested positive for the new coronavirus, said Charo LogartaLagamon, spokesperson of the Philippines' largest carrier.The Chinese man's family and all other passengers of the flight that landedin Manila on Wednesday did not show any fever or flu symptoms, she said."Wala pong konkretong ebidensya, wala pong any sign na mayroon ponginfection," she told radio DZMM.Cebu Pacific is nonetheless "still reaching out to Hong Kong authorities toverify information and get additional details" and has advised allpassengers to consult a doctor if they feel sick, she said.AirAsia Philippines, meanwhile, gave face masks to all its employees, whowould also be briefed on safety procedures on Thursday, said airlinepresident Ricky Isla.Cebu Pacific will study whether or not to require its cabin crew to wearface masks, too, said Lagamon.Philippine Airlines urges China-bound travelers to wear face masks, drinklots of water and avoid crowded places to avoid getting sick, said itsspokesperson Cielo Villaluna.The carrier also urges its passengers to cooperate with thermal scans uponlanding at Philippine airports, she said.Passengers who have fever or flu will be brought to isolation areas forfurther checks, said Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippinesspokesperson Eric Apolinario.PHILIPPINES AWAITS WHO GUIDANCE ON CHINA TRAVEL RESTRICTION AS NEW VIRUSSPREADSMANILA — The Philippines is waiting for guidance from the World HealthOrganization on possibly restricting travel to and from China to prevent thespread of a deadly new virus.The WHO is holding emergency talks about the new coronavirus that has spreadacross China and beyond, with 17 people killed and more than 500 infected."Mataas iyan sa kanilang usapin: kung magkakaroon ng travel restriction,"Health Secretary Francisco Duque told radio DZMM."Tingin ko, kung may travel restriction, mangunguna dapat siguro ang Chinana sila mismo ang pagpipigil sa paglabas ng kanilang mga mamamayan," headded.Countries do not usually impose travel restriction unilaterally because itis "an international decision" that has "many repercussions" on trade andlabor, Health Secretary Eric Domingo earlier said.Quarantine officers and thermal scanners have been deployed to all ports andairports in the country to screen passengers for fever and flu symptoms,said Duque.China has already halted flights and trains out of Wuhan, the city of 11million people at the center of a deadly SARS-like virus outbreak, as the UNextended emergency talks on the disease.ECONOMY SEEN GROWING FASTER AT 6.3% THIS YEARThe pace of the country’s economic growth is expected to accelerate to 6.3percent this year on the back of robust private consumption and animprovement in public spending, according to ATR Asset Management (ATRAM).Ivan Ante, global multi-asset portfolio manager at ATRAM, said the country’sgross domestic product (GDP) growth is expected to improve to 6.3 percentthis year, although still lower than the government’s 6.5 to 7.5 percenttarget range.“Last year, GDP disappointed because government did not spent. But thisyear, we think all the unspent budget last year will be spent this year. Atthe same time, the new budget will be also spent,” Ante said during InsularLife’s forum on the 2020 Economic Outlook yesterday.“We expect GDP to grow by 6.3 percent this year. Where will it come? Fromrobust consumption, which is the first pillar of growth. And the second isthe comeback of government expenditure,” he said.The delay in the passage of the 2019 budget last year pushed back governmentdisbursements, which put a dent on the country’s GDP growth.Ante also said ATRAM expects the peso-dollar exchange rate to weaken to arange of 51.5 to 52 versus $1 this year.“For policy rates, we think they (BSP) are going to cut again two times or50 basis points this year. We also think they are going to cut the reserverequirement ratio by two percentage points. That’s additional liquidity tothe system most importantly for growth,” Ante said.The economy expanded by six percent in the third quarter of last year, thesame as the six percent recorded in the same quarter of 2018 and higher thanthe 5.5 percent in the previous quarter.Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno earlier said thecountry’s GDP likely expanded between 6.4 and 6.5 percent in the fourthquarter of 2019, bringing the full-year growth to six percent.DUTERTE SIGNS LAW RAISING TAXES ON ALCOHOL, E-CIGARETTESMANILA- President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law increasing taxes onalcohol, heated tobacco and vapor products, his spokesman Salvador Paneloconfirmed Thursday.Duterte in November last year certified the measure as urgent, saying taxadjustments would "address the urgent need" to fund Universal Health Care.Malacañang however has yet to release a copy of the new law.In July last year, the President also signed a law raising excise taxes oncigarettes by P45 per pack by 2020, P50 per pack by 2021, P55 per pack by2022, and P60 per pack by 2023.MANILA ROAD CLOSURES, ROUTES ON JANUARY 24-25 FOR CHINESE NEW YEARMANILA — Ahead of the Chinese New Year celebration on Saturday, considered aspecial non-working holiday, the Manila District Traffic Enforcement Unitissued a traffic advisory announcing several Manila City roads closed onJanuary 24 and 25.A stop-and-go traffic scheme will also be implemented on roads that will beaffected by the Chinese New Year 2020 Grand Parade on Saturday."STOP AND GO traffic scheme will be implemented during the Parade, closingand opening of street shall be based on actual traffic conditions and stillsubject to changes," the advisory read.US CANCELS BATO’S VISADela Rosa: For role as PNP chief in war on drugsMANILA — Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa confirmed yesterday that the UnitedStates government has cancelled his visa, and he believes it is connected tothe Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs, which was launched duringhis stint as Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.In a letter last December, Dela Rosa said he inquired with the US embassyabout the status of his visa.“The reply was dated Dec. 27, but we received the official answer the daybefore my birthday, Jan. 20,” Dela Rosa told reporters.He said the US embassy did not specify when the visa was cancelled or why.Dela Rosa said he was informed that he could still apply for a new visa.“Basta mag-apply lang daw ako ulit kung gusto ko kasi the present visa wascancelled,” he said.Last December, it was reported that Dela Rosa had been banned from enteringthe US.Dela Rosa believed the revocation of his 10-year visa was connected toallegations of extrajudicial killings perpetrated when he was PNP chief.He said he has no intention of asking for an explanation from the USgovernment.“I’m disappointed. We are just human. I’ve been helping my counterparts fromthe US government, the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), CIA (CentralIntelligence Agency) and other agencies. We have worked together, and nowthey cancelled my visa?” the senator said. “Who’s gonna be happy? I won’t beable to go there.”Dela Rosa said he would still apply for a visa if and when President Duterteaccepts the invitation of US President Donald Trump to attend the specialsummit in the US.SENATORS URGE DUTERTE TO ATTEND MEET IN USMANILA — President Duterte’s attendance at the special summit in the UnitedStates with other leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) could be helpful for the Philippines, senators said yesterday.Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who chairs the Senate committee on national defense andsecurity, said being an active and prominent member of the ASEAN, thePhilippines must maintain its status in the international community.“The President may be well advised to attend the US summit, the Philippinesbeing a prominent and senior member in the Southeast Asian region,” Lacsonsaid.“Since he was officially invited by (US) President (Donald) Trump, Dutertewill be accorded the necessary diplomatic immunity and courtesy befitting ahead of state. So there should be no apprehension on how he will be treatedwhile in the US territory,” Lacson added.He said Duterte’s presence at the summit can also serve as an opportunity toclarify whatever issues are being raised, especially on human rights and theadministration’s campaign against illegal drugs as well as the country’sjudicial system and due process brought by the resolution filed by some USsenators in relation to the Magnitsky Act.Asked about Trump’s invitation to Duterte, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa pointed outthat the US president was a Republican, who apparently knows the realsituation in the country better than the “gullible Democrats.”“The more friends the better. He is being invited by a Republican USpresident, not by those gullible Democrat US senators who knew nothing aboutthe real situation in the Philippines. So I think it’s OK. Such act willshow to the whole world that our independent foreign policy is real,” DelaRosa told reporters.Sen. Richard Gordon said it would be Duterte who will make the finaldecision on the matter.“Certainly when a nation, let’s say America, China or Russia (invites you)you should go, it’s always good to know each other very well for goodunderstanding,” Gordon said.BONG GO TO CHECK US VISA STATUS, DENIES POLITICAL PERSECUTION VS DE LIMAMANILA - Sen. Bong Go on Thursday said he will check on the status of his USvisa after the travel permit of his ally, Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, wascanceled.Dela Rosa, an ally of President Rodrigo Duterte, backed moves to detain Sen.Leila De Lima after drug convicts accused her of alleged involvement in theproduction and sale of narcotics in the national penitentiary during herstint as Justice secretary."I can only infer that maybe this is pursuant to the US 2020 federal budgetwhich includes a provision banning entry to the US of certain Philippinegovernment officials involved in the detention of Sen. Leila de Lima," Gosaid in a statement."If it is, I have said this many times before and I am saying this again. DeLima's detention is in obedience to a lawful order of the trial court. DeLima and her lawyer/s were given their day in open court," he said."Walang political persecution sa kaso ni de Lima."Go said he will check the status of his US visa as soon as Duterte decidesto attend the US-ASEAN summit in Las Vegas in March."Mamaya ko na check kung meron na sked going sa USA. So far wala pa," hesaid, noting that he has been looking forward to travel to the US for thefirst time."Excited pa naman ako makapunta first time sa USA sa US-ASEAN Summit pero dinaman sigurado," he told ABS-CBN News in a text message.Despite the cancellation of his ally's visa, Go said he is still willing totravel to the US for leisure should Duterte decide to decline US PresidentDonald Trump's invitation to join the Nevada conference."I recognize that the issuance of a visa is an exclusive exercise ofsovereignty of the country issuing it. There is no question about that," hesaid."Maybe pag pasok na Lakers sa finals, hopefully makapunta. If not, sa TV nalang ako manonood," he said.TRAFFIC JAMS SEEN AS SKYWAY EXTENSION PROJECT RESUMESMANILA — The construction of the Skyway Extension’s southbound section willstart on Feb. 16, San Miguel Corp. (SMC) announced yesterday.In a statement, SMC president Ramon Ang apologized for the traffic problemthe upcoming construction project may create.“This project is for your benefit, it will solve our long-standing trafficproblem on SLEX and in Alabang. Let’s give our engineers and workers thechance to do what they need to finish the project,” Ang said, referring tothe South Luzon Expressway.Bored piling and column installation will be done in the area and Ang saidit is expected to be completed in six weeks.CLASSES RESUME IN COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES OUTSIDE TAAL DANGER ZONENo classes in primary, secondary schoolsMANILA — The provincial government of Batangas declared that classes willresume in colleges and universities outside the 14-kilometer danger zone ofTaal Volcano Thursday.In a memo released Wednesday, Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas said thePhilippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has given clearance toresume classes for all students under the Commission on Higher Education.This covers all colleges, universities and Technical Education and SkillsDevelopment Authority schools outside the danger zone.However, classes in primary and secondary schools will remain suspendedwhile Alert Level 4 is raised."Announcement will be made when the classes in the primary and secondarylevels will be resumed," Mandanas said.DICT, PLDT ROLL OUT MORE WI-FI SERVICESMANILA — More free public Wi-Fi services are being rolled out across thecountry to bring connectivity to more people.PLDT Enterprise has teamed up with the local government of Cagayan De Oro(CDO) to roll out fast and free public Wi-Fi service across high foottraffic areas, including the Port of CDO.“As the country’s leading ICT and digital services provider, we believeourselves to be in the business of nation-building, which is why we remainkeen on partnering with the public sector to improve the lives and welfareof our countrymen,” Smart president and PLDT chief revenue officer AlPanlilio said.“We are thankful to be joining hands with the local government of Cagayan deOro and we hope that the deployment of our services will help further spureconomic activity in the region” Panlilio said.The local government of CDO now joins the growing number of partners in thepublic sector which have Smart Wi-Fi services in place.Meanwhile, the Department of Information and Communications Technology(DICT) is also set to provide free internet access points in the province ofZambales through the government’s Free Wi-Fi for All program.WITH 3 WORDS, NADINE LUSTRE CLEARED ISSA PRESSMAN IN HER BREAKUP. HERE’SWHAT WE KNOW ABOUT HER.With three words, Nadine Lustre cleared Issa Pressman in her controversialbreakup with James Reid, amid accusations tagging the model and artist as asupposed third party in the relationship.“Love you both,” went Nadine’s comment on the Instagram post of fellowactress Yassi Pressman defending her younger sister against the allegations.Nadine tagging both Yassi and Issa’s accounts in that reply, at least to herfollowers, was an indication that the actress has no ill feelings toward thewoman whom some fans believed was the cause of “JaDine’s” separation.Nadine has time and again identified Yassi, a fellow Viva talent and herformer movie co-star, as one of her closest friends in showbiz. Issa is alsounder Viva Artists Agency, and has been seen in the same circle of friendsas Nadine and James.Like Yassi, Issa is also a dancer. The two performed together on ABS-CBN’s“ASAP Natin ‘To” in May 2017. For a time, Issa would also share dance coverson her YouTube channel “Issavibe.”Whereas Yassi has fully embraced showbiz and acting — currently, the olderPressman stars in the long-running “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” — Issa has madeconscious steps away from that kind of celebrity.She has said she wants to be known “more as an artist than an actualcelebrity.” Aside from being a makeup artist, Issa is a talented painter whorecently launched an Instagram page dedicated to her works.Despite shying away from mainstream showbiz, Issa has found herself sharingpersonal aspects of her life.In November 2018, Issa made headlines when she introduced her girlfriend,singer Marga Bermudez, and identifying as bisexual. The two are reportedlyno longer together.On numerous occasions, Issa would also collaborate with her sister, leadingto interviews that touch on their relationship and family.Yassi and Issa are the only two children of Ronnie, who is British, andBelcy, a Filipino. Both were born in Hong Kong, and moved to the Philippineswhen they were children.In a September 2017 interview, a tearful Issa promised her older sister shewould do good on their father’s advice — “to be happy in everything that youdo.”Issa credited her older sister as her source of guidance, pointing out thatYassi matured early due to the absence of their mother, who had been workingoverseas.Issa’s description of Yassi as “motherly” rang true on Wednesday, as thelatter came to her defense and said she can’t stand idly by, as hurtfulwords continue to be hurled at her sister.TAGUIG COURT JUNKS KRIS AQUINO’S ESTAFA COMPLAINT VS. NICKO FALCISMANILA — A Taguig court junked on Monday an estafa complaint filed byactress Kris Aquino against her former business partner Nicko Falcis.Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 117 dismissed the case after Aquino’sconsecutive non-appearance at its hearings, noting the previous settlementshe had reached with Falcis’ camp, PEP.ph reported.The decision, signed by presiding judge Ma. Victoria Padilla-Awid, reads:“There is a Joint Motion to Dismiss however, the private complainant isagain not present, she was already given several opportunities to come toCourt to validate, affirm and confirm the Joint Motion to Dismiss sheco-executed and her Affidavit of Desistance. Hence, the Court will now acton the instant Joint Motion to Dismiss.”The dismissal of this case leaves only one more for Falcis to face: a credit