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Country should not rely on private sector for COVID-19 tests — Garin

THE Philippines should not rely on the private sector to cover mass testing and vaccines for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), House Senior Deputy Minority Leader and former Health Secretary Janette Garin said.

“Government should spend on this. It should not be passed on to the business sector because the business sector is already suffering much,” Ms. Garin said in a Go Negosyo webinar on Friday.

“If you keep on passing all medical and healthcare costs to the business sector, then you end up [with business] terminating employees.”

Ms. Garin is pushing for House Bill No. 6707 or the Crushing COVID ACT, which would have the government cover the real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test for asymptomatic Filipinos returning to work or returning from abroad.

She added that vaccines, when they are developed, should be made available and accessible by the government.

“Vaccination is not just a right. It’s the government’s obligation. You cannot let the businesses absorb this,” she said, adding that businesses must invest in health measures for employees.

Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Chairman and CEO of Ayala Corp., said that the private sector “fills a vacuum” in the short term, saying that there will be more dialogue between private and public sectors on how they will take on the needed health measures.

“The business community basically rose to the occasion; they tried to fill a vacuum in equipment that was needed. We tried to be helpful as much as possible. But then, as the situation begins to normalize and both the government and the private sector begin to understand the new cost-structure around getting us effectively through this pandemic, then there has to be a decision made on who takes on more responsibilities,” he said.

He said the private sector worked on short-term solutions to make sure employees can safely return to work.

Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey A. Concepcion said that he believed that quarantine gave the private sector the time to boost its testing capacity.

“We will have to regularly test our employees to create that vigilance,” he said.

Mr. Concepcion spearheaded Project ARK (Antibody Rapid test Kits), a private sector-led project to increase COVID-19 testing that has acquired 1.2 million rapid test kits so far. — Jenina P. Ibañez

22,522 inmates released through video conference hearings — Supreme Court

THE Supreme Court said that 22,522 inmates have been released through videoconferencing hearings.

In a press release on Friday, the Supreme Court said that in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, it had provided some 1,000 trial courts in key cities nationwide with official Philippine Judiciary 365 accounts. These accounts have enabled courts nationwide to receive pleadings electronically, and select courts in key cities to conduct video conferencing hearings.

Supreme Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez said that these 1,000 trial courts were initially authorized to pilot-test the conduct of videoconferencing hearings on urgent matters in criminal cases involving people deprived of liberty (PDLs).

The Court eventually expanded the coverage of videoconference hearings to “all matters pending before (the courts), in both criminal and civil cases, whether newly filed or pending, and regardless of the stage of trial.”

Meanwhile, some 350 more courts were also authorized to conduct hearings via video conferencing, bringing the total number to 1,350 courts.

Mr. Marquez said that while parts of the country were still on lockdown, 3,201 video conference hearings had been conducted. He also said that 22,522 inmates have been released since the lockdown, either through bail or on their own recognizance, or after serving the minimum imposable penalty for the crime with which they were charged.

“All told, the new normal (makes) justice accessible to everyone at all times. We just have to embrace enabling technologies that are reliable, malware-free and COVID-free,” he said.

In March this year, Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta issued Administrative Circular 31-2020 ordering all 2,630 courts nationwide to drastically reduce their operations and to maintain only the necessary skeleton-staff to immediately act on urgent matters brought before them. He however emphasized that the Constitution and the laws were not suspended, and that the “courts are not shutting down in times of emergencies.”

The Supreme Court said that courts all over the country are utilizing videoconferencing technology to eliminate the “safety, security and health risks posed by the personal appearance of PDLs who are considered to be high-risk or afflicted with highly contagious diseases.”

“Such risk is not only posed on the accused but also to judges, court personnel, and the public in general. This will also guarantee the accused’s rights to be present and confront witnesses against them and to ensure the continuity of proceedings in criminal cases,” it said. — Genshen L. Espedido

House OKs bill to spur economic growth in Eastern Visayas

ON THURSDAY evening, the House of Representatives approved on second reading House Bill 6869 which seeks to create the Eastern Visayas Development Authority (EVDA) which is meant to spearhead investment promotion and implement economic development strategies in Region 8.

“With EVDA, we can ensure that our investment priorities and promotion strategies are in sync with our development needs and our regional strengths such as our geographical location, our skilled human resources, and our immense tourism potentials,” Tingog party-list Representative Yedda Marie K. Romualdez and House Majority Leader and Leyte Representative Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, the primary authors of the bill, said in a joint statement on Friday.

By providing an integrated and coordinated direction to agricultural, industrial, economic and social development, the two lawmakers said EVDA will serve as the lead agency tasked to “steer the sound and balanced industrial, economic and social growth of Eastern Visayas and carry on with the speedy rehabilitation in the aftermath of typhoon Haiyan.”

In 2013, Typhoon Haiyan (known in the Philippines as Typhoon Yolanda), one of the strongest typhoons in recorded human history, flattened parts of Eastern Visayas resulting in great loss of life, livelihood, and property.

Ms. and Mr. Romualdez said that even before Typhoon Haiyan struck, the incidence of poverty in the region had already been worsening.

“While the nation’s overall economic situation has been improving on the average, poverty in the region worsened from 2006 to 2012. In 2014, poverty incidence was at 54.9%; more than half of the region’s population of 4.10 million is now extremely poor and unable to earn the minimum amount necessary to address their basic needs,” they said.

Ms. and Mr. Romualdez said that EVDA will be able to address these issues through its programs and projects that will “increase trade, tourism and investments in the region, encourage private enterprise and advance efforts towards progress and development.”

“Once the promise of a resilient economy is fulfilled, the right economic and social conditions will be realized — one that will provide jobs to the people, especially those in rural areas, increase their productivity and their individual and family income, and thereby improve the level and quality of their living conditions,” the lawmakers added.

The bill seeks P1 billion to cover the initial operating costs of the agency. This will be charged against the unexpended contingency funds of the Office of the President.

The measure will have to go through a third reading before it hurdles the lower chamber. It will be transmitted to the Senate for its own deliberations. — Genshen L. Espedido

Courts in full operation starting June 1

ALL judicial courts will be in “full operation” starting June 1, following the easing of lockdown restrictions in most parts of the country.

“All courts and offices of the courts nationwide beginning 1 June 2020 shall be in full operation from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the National Capital Judicial Region, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Regions 1 to 12, Monday to Friday,” Supreme Court Circular No. 41-2020 read.

Considering that mass transportation is not yet in full operation, the courts may continue to function with a skeleton-staff if necessary.

All inquiries on cases and transactions, including requests for documents and services, will be initially processed only through hotline numbers, e-mail, and/or social media accounts of the courts. No walk-in requests will be entertained by any branches.

Raffling of cases will also proceed regularly. Meanwhile, the raffling of cases through videoconferencing will no longer be conducted.

Hearings of cases, regardless of the stage of the trial, will all be held in-court, except cases involving persons deprived of liberty (PDL) who will continue to appear remotely from their detention facility.

In-court hearings should strictly follow hygiene protocols such as the wearing of masks, thermal scanning, and social distancing. In the case of videoconferenced hearings, justices or judges will preside from the courtrooms or their chambers at all times.

There will be no extensions in the filing of petitions, appeals, complaints, motions, pleadings and other court submissions that will fall due beginning June 1. In addition, periods for court actions with prescribed periods beginning June 1 will not be extended.

The Supreme Court earlier ordered all courts nationwide to “physically close” starting March 23 due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. — Genshen L. Espedido

Sanofi says will have COVID-19 vaccine in 18-24 months

PHARMACEUTICAL firm Sanofi Pasteur, Inc. said that developing a vaccine against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) could take 18 to 24 months.

“We can be confident enough in saying that within 18 to 24 months, we should have a vaccine ready for registration,” said Sanofi Philippines Country Manager Jean-Antoine ZinsouIn in an online briefing on Friday.

But he cautioned that COVID-19 is still being studied by researchers and scientists worldwide.

“A vaccine is dealing with biologicals. It means we are dealing with living materials which are viruses. Yes, we can project some timelines but there is no guarantee because we don’t know how the virus will react. When you develop a vaccine, there is always a risk of failure,” he said.

He added that even though developing a vaccine against the virus is urgent, Sanofi will still practice vigilance and follow the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Mr. Zinsou said they began the early stages of vaccine development a few months ago. At the moment, they are doing candidate specification of the vaccine.

Sanofi has partnered with international pharmaceutical firm GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). If they are successful in developing a working vaccine, they will need to produce around 600 million to 1 billion doses every year.

The WHO earlier said that it would take at least 12 to 18 months before a vaccine can be released to the public. — Gillian M. Cortez

COVID-19 test machine distributor denies allegations of overpricing, monopoly

OMNIBUS Bio-Medical Systems Inc. has denied allegations that it has hoarded and sold overpriced coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing equipment and kits to the national government.

“There is no truth to the reports that the company directly sold Sansure Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machines and test kits to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Central Office Bids and Awards Committee-Department of Health (DoH), and PhilHealth,” the company said in a statement.

Omnibus, the local distributor of medical equipment from China-based company Sansure Biotech Inc., said the confusion over the prices of COVID-19 testing machines happened when general statements were made.

“The allegations failed to note that the company was actually offering packages with different inclusions for clients,” the company said.

Omnibus said that when it facilitated the sale of a Sansure machine for Go Negosyo’s Project Ark, the price was $35,000 or around P1.75 million.

“This was done via a free on board or FOB arrangement. Go Negosyo was the one who paid the additional costs for air transport, destination charges, storage, and warehousing,” the company said.

Omnibus said it offered a similar machine to the DBM’s procurement service on April 23.

The ready-to-use package, priced at P4.3 million, included 25,000 NATCH consumables, which are the plastics used to carry out the ribonucleic acid (RNA) extraction.

“It also included costs such as air transport, destination charges, storage, warehousing, local delivery fees, and warranties, among others,” the company said.

Omnibus said it offered another package to the DBM on May 6.

The offer, which was a promotional letter, amounted to P4 million and included marketing materials for budgetary and reference quotations.

“It was a slightly lower price because the machine and NATCH consumables were priced separately. That was the only difference. All other additional costs were included,” the company said.

The company said it was operating within a difficult delivery scenario and was rushing to accomplish everything in a short delivery period.

Taking into account all the challenges, the company said costs added up to P4.3 million for the machine with PCR consumables, and P4 million for the machine only.

“We stand by our statement that we offered a fair price for both packages mentioned,” the company said.

Meanwhile, Omnibus also denied allegations of monopolizing PCR machines and COVID-19 testing equipment and kits.

“Anyone can easily confirm that they only distribute one of the brands available in the market. Omnibus is the exclusive distributor for the Sansure brand only,” the company said.

According to Omnibus, the Food and Drug Administration has confirmed that there are around 45 approved brands for PCR-based testing.

Even with the claimed exclusive distributorship of Sansure products, Omnibus said there are at least three other companies selling similarly branded products in the Philippines.

In addition, Omnibus said that it lost the bid for the COVID-19 test kits and does not have an existing business transaction with the DBM, DoH, and PhilHealth with regard to test kits and medical equipment.

“We value our customers and will never engage in profiteering, hoarding, or blackmailing. We stand on two decades of hard work and service commitment to our stakeholders through the selfless dedication of our employees,” the company said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Pag-asa seaport set to open in June

THE seaport project in the heavily contested Pag-asa Island is slated to commence operations on June 12, the Department of Transportation reported late on Thursday.

In 2017, the Philippine Congress allotted P450 million to the department for the construction of a port within Kalayaan, Palawan, also called the Spratly Islands, located in the West Philippines Sea.

Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade told President Rodrigo R. Duterte during the meeting of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) that there will be no formal ceremony to open the port.

“Sabi ko wala nang inaugurate-inaugurate. Mahigit 10 ‘yan. Sabi ko, operate na lang (I said, there will be no inauguration. There might be more than 10 people to attend. I said, just operate it),” Mr. Tugade said.

On May 13, the Philippine Navy was able to dock a vessel at Pag-asa for the first time as construction of the port was about 90% complete. The ship’s visit was part of its rotation and reprovisioning mission through various detachments among the Kalayaan islands.

A beaching ramp and a 1.3-kilometer airstrip project by the Department of Defense are also nearing completion. These are meant to expedite the delivery of construction materials to the island.

In 2017, President Duterte ordered the reinforcement of Pag-asa. Less than 400 residents reside on the remote island, which has one elementary school and a five-bed clinic.

It was reported that China has militarized seven reefs in Kalayaan which the Philippines has also been claiming. The government established the island town in 1978.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration affirmed the Philippines’ exclusive sovereign rights over the disputed islands in the West Philippine Sea.

Meanwhile, also at the IATF-EID meeting, Mr. Tugade said an electronic ticketing system for maritime transportation is set to run by December.

“By December, pwede nang umpisahan (the ticketing system can start). Ngayon, nasa test run (it is currently undergoing a test run). May ticket na pag sumakay ka ng maritime vessels (There will be tickets now when you travel via maritime vessels),” the Transportation official said.

He said the ticketing system, which is currently employed in train and aviation platforms, would eliminate tickets reselling and overloading of ships. — Adam J. Ang

Duterte calls for staggered tuition payments

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte is calling on schools to accept staggered tuition payments to address difficulties of parents in paying for their child’s education amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.

During the meeting of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) on Thursday night, Mr. Duterte said, “I hope that you’d allow a staggered payment or installments lang sa mga eskwelahan (in the schools).”

Widespread quarantines have been imposed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, with classes in all levels being suspended, and much economic activity grounding to a halt. More than 2 million employees have been displaced since Mr. Duterte first imposed a Luzon-wide lockdown on March 17, according to the Labor department. Many other areas in the country were subsequently also locked down.

Mr. Duterte said parents who don’t have the financial means to settle tuition fees can choose to avail of loans from the state-owned Land Bank of the Philippines.

“We have the Land Bank and kindly listen to the rules kasi itong Land Bank bubuksan namin (because Land Bank will be opened by us) and you can borrow money to finance the education of your children,” he said.

Enrolment is scheduled to begin next month. The Department of Education (DepEd) is pushing for a remote enrolment scheme to avoid physical interaction as much as possible.

Classes will begin on Aug. 24, but Mr. Duterte said in a speech last week that he is not comfortable with students going to schools while there is still no vaccine against the COVID-19 virus. — Gillian M. Cortez

SWS says: more Pinoys used wages for daily expenses than cash aid

A NEW survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed that when it came to paying for their daily needs, nearly half of those surveyed spent their wages rather than cash aid.

In a statement released on Friday, SWS said that based on its special Covid-19 Mobile Phone Survey conducted earlier this month, “45% of Filipino families use money earned from a job for their daily household expenses, 39% use money that was given (money amelioration), 21% use their personal savings, and 6% use money that was lent (money-loan).”

The non-commissioned survey had 4,010 respondents across the country who were contacted through mobile phone and computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI). The sampling error margin is ±2% for national percentages and ±6% for Metro Manila, ±2% for Balance Luzon, ±3% Visayas, and ±3% in Mindanao.

According to SWS, the source of money used by Filipinos to spend on daily necessities differed per region, with 41% of respondents in Metro Manila saying they used money amelioration for their expenditures while 33% use their salaries.

For the rest of the regions, most Filipinos relied on their wages for their daily needs: 51% in the Visayas, 49% in Mindanao, and 43% in Balance Luzon.

The study comes as the Philippines has been locked down in an effort to control the spread of the SARS-Cov-2 virus which causes COVID-19. The government has allocated funds for its social amelioration program (SAP) which aims to help 18 million of the poorest households.

Metro Manila contributes most to the country’s GDP and has the highest minimum daily wage (P537) out of all the regions. — Gillian M. Cortez

PHL to open up economy as lockdown eases

By Jenina P. Ibañez and Genshen L. Espedido, Reporters
and Adam J. Ang

THE Philippines will allow nearly all economic sectors to resume operations, as the country relaxes one of the world’s longest and strictest lockdown restrictions on June 1.

The government on Thursday night said it will place under general community quarantine (GCQ) the National Capital Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, the provinces of Pangasinan, and Albay, and Davao City. The rest of the country will be under a modified GCQ.

Most businesses will be allowed to operate at 50% up to full capacity in areas under GCQ, a move that the government hopes will jumpstart the economy’s recovery as it faces a recession.

“Practically, almost all industries, all sectors will be open except for the few exception(s),” Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said in a television interview on Friday.

Under Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) guidelines, industries including utilities, agri-fishery and forestry, food manufacturing and supply chain, groceries, food take-out and delivery, logistics, health, information technology and telecommunications, and media may operate at full capacity under the GCQ.

Some industries can operate between 50% to full capacity, including mining and manufacturing, e-commerce, delivery, repair, and housing and office services.

Industries that can operate at 50% capacity include financial services, legal and accounting, auditing, professional, scientific, and technical services, non-leisure establishments, as well as wholesale and retail establishments.

Companies under these industries may continue to have work-from-home and other alternative work arrangements.

Shopping malls may have limited operations, excluding leisure establishments and services.

Some public transportation, including road, rail, maritime, and aviation may operate at limited capacities, with one-meter distance between passengers.

The Transportation department said trains, point-to-point buses, shuttle services, taxis, tricycles, bicycles and transport network vehicle services (TNVS) can operate during Phase 1 covering June 1-21. No provincial buses will be allowed to enter Metro Manila. For Phase 2 that starts June 22, public utility buses, modern public utility vehicles and UV Express will be allowed to operate.

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) and budget airline Philippines AirAsia, Inc. said they will resume commercial operations on June 1. They are currently coordinating with the government regarding its guidelines in allowing air travel and reopening of airports.

“We are currently checking with aviation authorities and respective LGUs (local government units) for their own guidelines regarding the opening of local airports, as some may still be closed in June,” AirAsia said in an advisory, Friday.

“PAL is closely coordinating with local and national government authorities on the necessary implementing rules and arrangements to finalize our routes and flight schedules,” PAL said on Wednesday.

The Transportation department also said it will reopen the international gateways in Clark, Cebu, and Davao to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Airports in Zamboanga, Iloilo, Bacolod, and Bohol are also eyed for reopening.

Domestic flights will only be allowed between areas under GCQ.

SOME RESTRICTIONS REMAIN
However, amusement, gaming and fitness establishments as well as industries catering to children and tourism may still not operate under GCQ. Concerts, sporting events, community assemblies, and non-essential work gatherings are not allowed.

Hotels may operate only if they are accommodating existing bookings from foreigners as of March 17, 2020 for Luzon and May 1 for others, guests with existing long-term bookings, repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFW), stranded Filipinos or foreign nationals, non-OFWs that are required to be in quarantine, healthcare workers and employees from operating establishments.

Only basic accommodation services in hotels will be allowed to operate, while added services like gyms and spas may not operate.

RESTAURANTS TO REOPEN?
Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Friday recommended a gradual reopening of restaurants with dine-in services in areas under GCQ.

Trade and Industry Undersecretary Ruth B. Castelo said Mr. Lopez is recommending the gradual reopening of restaurants during the GCQ, but “only those who can comply with the DTI-issued protocols can resume operations.”

In a presentation before the House committee on trade and industry, Ms. Castelo said DTI-issued protocols include the enforcement of a “no mask, no entry” policy, social distancing protocols, regular sanitation, availability of non-contact modes of payment, and mandatory wearing of personal protective equipment for employees, among others.

While dine-services are recommended, Ms. Castelo said that the DTI “highly discourages” buffets and salad bars.

She added that all operations are subject to post-audit from the DTI, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Tourism and respective local government health offices.

“We can do random inspections, as we normally do and we will recommend the closure of business establishments that do not comply with health protocols imposed by the government,” Ms. Castelo said.

FURTHER EASING UNDER MGCQ
As the rest of the country shifts to a modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), all industries will be allowed to operate. Only some service-oriented sectors will continue operating at a limited capacity.

“Sa GCQ, they (service sector) are not yet allowed but we’re finding ways especially if they are able to strengthen ‘yung minimum health protocol that they can institute to limit the transmission (of COVID-19)… kailangan ma-address ‘yung concerns na ‘yun so that we can consider reopening them earlier, even under GCQ,” Mr. Lopez said.

“We want to really bring back more jobs back to work,” he added.

Mr. Lopez said that barbershops, gyms, cinemas, and personal care services may operate with 50% capacity under the MGCQ.

The MGCQ is the most relaxed form of the lockdown designed to address the coronavirus outbreak.

When the areas shift to MGCQ, places of worship like churches may also operate up to 50% capacity. Other businesses that will be reopened at limited capacity under this relaxed lockdown measure include sports facilities, theaters, bars, libraries, museums, tourist destinations, and travel agencies.

PHL gets $1.25-billion worth of loans for coronavirus response

THE Philippine government secured two loans worth a total of $1.25 billion (P63.28 billion) from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and World Bank to help in its fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

China-backed AIIB said in a statement its board approved the $750-million (P38 billion) loan, which the Philippine government will use for programs to expand testing, enhance quarantine measures, boost social protection and livelihood support, extend relief to small businesses, as well as support agriculture and other affected sectors.

The policy-based loan will be drawn from AIIB’s $10 billion COVID-10 Crisis Recovery Facility which aimed to help the public and private sector cope with the pandemic.

“The focus of our efforts is to help the government tackle the immediate health and economic challenges posed by the pandemic. AIIB’s support will contribute to building economic resilience and ensuring quick recovery,” AIIB Vice President for Investment Operations D.J. Pandian was quoted as saying.

The Beijing-based multilateral lender said it does not have a regular facility for policy-based financing but it extended the financial support “on an exceptional basis” via projects co-financed with the Asian Development Bank and World Bank.

At the same time, the World Bank said it gave the green light for a $500-million (P25 billion) loan to the Philippines to fund efforts mitigating the impact of COVID-10 pandemic on the most vulnerable sectors and provide financial aid to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III was quoted as saying the “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.”

The $500-million loan from the World Bank will mature in 29 years and has a grace period of 10 and a half years.

“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,” Achim Fock, World Bank Acting Country Director for Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand said in a statement yesterday.

Washington-based World Bank said the loan will partially fund the government’s P200-million subsidy program to 18 million poor families affected by the lockdown, as well as the P50-billion wage subsidy program for employees of SMEs.

The new funding will also support other state interventions that will extend financial relief to affected businesses through deferrals of tax payments and credit guarantee schemes.

Citing data from the surveys conducted by the government, the World Bank said the majority of small companies in affected areas in the country had to shut down temporarily due to the enhanced community quarantine imposed in Luzon and some parts of the country in mid-March.

Metro Manila will transition into a general enhanced community quarantine on June 1.

The loans from AIIB and WB will add to the $4.858 billion (P246 billion) that the government has borrowed for pandemic relief efforts as of May 14, based on Finance department data.

In April, World Bank has approved a total of $600 million (P30 billion) of loans for the Philippines’ response to the pandemic — a $100 million (P5 billion) loan on April 23 for the COVID-19 Emergency Response Project and the $500-million (P25 billion) Third Disaster Risk Management Development Policy loan on April 9.

The ADB also approved last month $1.5 billion (P76 billion) worth of loans for the country’s COVID-19 fight and another $200 million (P61 billion) to support the government’s social protection program. — Beatrice M. Laforga

PEZA approves P13.1B in new investments amid lockdown

THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said it approved P13.1 billion worth of committed investments for the months of April and May, which are expected to generate nearly 20,000 new jobs.

In a statement, the investment promotion agency said it approved 26 new projects on May 21, its first meeting since the Luzon-wide lockdown began in mid-March.

The projects are estimated to employ 19,894 workers. PEZA said 68.5% of investors are foreign, including American, Japanese, Taiwanese, and Chinese.

This brought PEZA-approved investments to a total of P29.6 billion for 113 projects in the first five months of 2020. The agency did not give comparative figures.

PEZA’s approved investments in the first quarter slumped 28% to P16.5 billion from P22.9 billion in the same period last year after its board failed to meet during the lockdown.

The number of approved projects in the first quarter fell by 32% to 87 from 128 a year ago.

“Being the top investment promotion agency in the country that contributes to export income, employment and investment for the Filipino nation, PEZA is glad to share positive news amidst the pandemic,” PEZA Director General Charito B. Plaza said.

“The approval of new investments or projects is the agency’s positive action to support the Philippine economy in our endeavor to maintain our competitiveness for investments despite the impact of COVID.”

PEZA oversees 408 economic zones with 4542 locator companies employing 1.6 million workers.

Among PEZA-registered companies, 1,701 or 64.58% are operating as of May 25. They are operating at full, minimized, and work-from-home capacities. The rest have suspended operations.

Ms. Plaza said that the Philippines should be able to continue to attract new and expanded investments.

“This can be done by enhancing PEZA’s internationally renowned one-stop-shop, tried and tested tax incentives, ease of doing business, quality human resource and natural resources, despite the underdeveloped factors the country have in terms of infrastructure, logistics facilities, and supply chain.”

PEZA continues to support the “status quo” on tax incentives even amid new proposals to immediately cut corporate income tax and lengthen the sunset period for existing fiscal incentives.

Ms. Plaza has said that she’ll “leave it to the senators (because) they’re the ones who will vote.” — Jenina P. Ibañez

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