Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube
Home Blog Page 8293

Duterte to be tested for novel coronavirus

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte will be tested for the novel coronavirus amid rising cases of infection in Metro Manila, the presidential palace said on Thursday.

Mr. Duterte and his former aide, Senator Christopher Lawrence T. Go, will take the test to ensure they are fit, his spokesman Salvador S. Panelo told reporters.

“They have opted to undergo the test to ensure that they are fit and healthy to perform their duties as government workers,” Mr. Panelo said.

Both had been advised by health officials to take the test because they had been in contact with Cabinet officials, some of whom opted to undergo self-quarantine after being exposed to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, Mr. Panelo said.

Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, Finance Secretary Arthur G. Dominguez III, Education Secretary Leonor M. Briones, Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar, Socioeconomic Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia, and central bank Governor Benjamin E. Diokno were also under self-quarantine.

All had attended events where some patients who later tested positive for COVID-19 were also present.

Mr. Duterte’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, was also on self-quarantine.

Mr. Duterte on Wednesday received Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian during a call at the palace. On Wednesday evening, Mr. Duterte shook hands and welcomed newly appointed officials from the Armed Forces and Philippine National Police during a ceremony.

But Mr. Duterte’s scheduled visit to Boracay island was canceled on Thursday amid COVID-19 fears.

The World Health Organization has said older people who have underlying conditions were more at risk. — Gillian M. Cortez

Pinaglabanan Bridge reopens

THE HISTORIC Pinaglabanan Bridge that connects Old Sta. Mesa Road in Manila and N. Domingo Street in San Juan has been reopened after undergoing reconstruction works, San Miguel Corp. (SMC) announced on Thursday. In a statement e-mailed to reporters, SMC said that its infrastructure unit made a “new and stronger San Juan River bridge.” The bridge was closed Sept. 15 last year “following realignment of the Skyway Stage 3 project over the San Juan River.” SMC President Ramon S. Ang said, “We would like to thank motorists for their patience while we carried out a very important work.” The Skyway Stage 3 is an 18-kilometer elevated toll road that will connect Gil Puyat Ave. in Makati City to the North Luzon Expressway toll plaza in Balintawak, Quezon City. Last month, a portion of the elevated expressway project collapsed from a fire at a nearby warehouse, forcing SMC to delay the opening of the skyway project by three months to July. — Arjay L. Balinbin

COVID-19 Regional Updates: Visayas

1st COVID-19 case in Visayas is man who travelled to NCR; contact tracing on

BODY TEMPERATURE check for those coming into the Negros Oriental provincial capitol building. — @LGU.NEGORA

THE NEGROS Oriental provincial government has assured that contact tracing was immediately launched Wednesday night upon confirmation of a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patient in the capital Dumaguete City. In a live-streamed press conference, Provincial Public Information Officer Bimbo Miraflor said “contact tracing may have started tonight (March 11) with the Rural Health Unit of the LGU (local government unit) where he comes from.” He added that the provincial police, along with officers of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, will be tapped to assist in getting in touch with those who came into contact with the 62-year old male patient currently being treated at the Siliman University Medical Center (SUMC). The patient, according to details from the provincial government, traveled to the National Capital Region on February 28 for a convention and also visited Greenhills in San Juan City, where there are two confirmed cases. He flew back to Dumaguete City on March 1 on an 8:30 a.m. Philippine Airlines. Mr. Miraflor said they already have a copy of the flight manifest. “We urge the public not to panic. The provincial government is on top of the situation,” he said. Meanwhile, the SUMC, in a statement on March 11 before the COVID-19 case confirmation was announced, said the patient was already placed in isolation at an intensive care unit. “We are making sure that the rest of the Hospital functions normally as we are aware of the critical medical and health services that people in our community need,” SUMC said. On Wednesday morning, Governor Roel R. Degamo issued an order prohibiting “convergence of people in public events and gatherings” in any part of Negros Oriental. The executive order specifies that a large gathering consists of more than 100 people. For “small events” of 20–100 people, individuals showing any symptom of the respiratory disease “are not allowed to attend.”

Almost 100 Korean workers in Jalaur Dam project under monitoring for coronavirus symptoms

KOREAN NATIONALS working at the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project (JRMP) II in Calinog, Iloilo are under strict monitoring by the local government amid concerns over the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Calinog Mayor Francisco L. Calvo said he has directed the municipal health office and the police force to monitor the workers, particularly the almost 100 employees of Daewoo Engineering and Construction Co. Ltd., the project contractor. “We directed them to check the Koreans who arrive here so that we can prevent the entry of the virus,” he said in a press conference. Mr. Calvo also said a local task force focusing on COVID-19 has been formed. The groundbreaking ceremony for the Jalaur project was held last February 27. The dam, a flagship project of the National Irrigation Authority, is the first large-scale reservoir outside Luzon and is scheduled to be completed by 2022. — Emme Rose S. Santiagudo

COVID-19 Regional Updates: Mindanao

Coronavirus patient in CdO hospital “improving”

THE 54-year old coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patient at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) in Cagayan de Oro City is “improving,” according to Chief of Hospital Jose Chan. “He’s improving… We’re treating him as a case of pneumonia… but pneumonia of COVID-19 will be longer, three to six weeks,” Mr. Chan said in a media briefing streamed on the city government’s social media page. The male patient, the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Mindanao, has no recent travel abroad but previously worked in Pasig City, where there are nine confirmed cases as of March 11. He first showed symptoms of the disease in late February and was first admitted to a hospital in Iligan City. He was transferred to the NMMC on March 7. Department of Health-Northern Mindanao Regional Director Adriano P. Suba-an said contact tracing is underway. “The DoH is conducting contact tracing and heightened surveillance through the barangay health emergency response teams… hospital, local disaster risk reduction and management councils, and the rest of the government is ready to respond,” Mr. Suba-an said in the same briefing. He added that they will be implementing new or other protocols based on directives from the national agencies. Mayor Oscar S. Moreno, for his part, called for calm as he stressed that the city and other local governments in the region have been actively taking steps to address the coronavirus threat. “We have actually been doing the work to ensure the prevention, preparation, etc. since early January… Every morning we do briefings (on the COVID-19), we know that this is not an ordinary time… things have changed (with the confirmed case in the region) and we have to respond. We’re confident we can overcome this.”

Davao City mayor on self-quarantine after Manila trip, meeting with Gatchalian

@MAYOR’S FB PAGE/DR.APLICADOR (DJPRH)

DAVAO CITY Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is undergoing self-quarantine after returning from an official trip on Wednesday in Metro Manila, where she also had lunch with Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian. Mr. Gatchalian has also gone into isolation for having come into contact with a patient confirmed to have the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during a Senate hearing. In a press statement released by the City Information Office Thursday, Ms. Carpio said she met with Mr. Gatchalian to discuss “important matters.” “While Mayor Sara has not suffered from flu-like symptoms, she chose to undergo self-quarantine to protect others if she may be found to be sick in the next few days. She is now confined in an isolated bedroom at her residence and will continue to work through emails, messaging, and videotelecon,” the statement said. It added that an employee of the mayor has been placed as a person under monitoring by the City Health Office after “being unwell last night.” — Carmelito Q. Francisco

Screening tent

GENERAL SANTOS City Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera has clarified that the tent set up outside a medical facility serves as a screening facility, not a quarantine area, for persons exhibiting symptoms of the coronavirus disease. He made the statement on Wednesday to counter “fake news” circulating on social media. “This is where our screening process will take place. All suspected cases will be further investigated here before declaring them as PUI (person under investigation) or PUM (monitoring). This is to make sure that there will be no suspected cases, PUM or PUI, entering the Emergency Room of our city hospital,” he said. The mayor also noted that the tent was installed early February.

Nationwide round-up

Supreme Court suspends all court hearings March 13–18

BW FILE PHOTO

THE SUPREME Court has ordered the suspension of hearings nationwide on March 13-18. Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta on Thursday directed all justices and judges to reset hearings, inform the parties of the new schedule, organize the disinfection of court premises, pen orders and decisions, and act on pending matters in their jurisdiction. Court personnel will also continue to report for work, said Public Information Chief Brian Keith F. Hosaka. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Bill expanding RITM filed

A MEASURE institutionalizing the Research Institute for Tropical Medicines (RITM) and expand it to other regions for better response to infectious diseases has been filed in the Senate. Senate Bill No. 1407, or the proposed “RITM Act,” will institutionalize RITM, which was created in 1981 to conduct research in the diagnosis, control and prevention of tropical diseases. Senator Imee R. Marcos, who authored the bill, said on Wednesday that she is proposing to have at least three to five RITM regional branches. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

House ready to hold special sessions for COVID-19 response

THE HOUSE of Representatives is willing to hold special sessions during its coming nearly two-month break, amid growing concerns over the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, Speaker Alan Peter S. Cayetano said in a speech Wednesday evening. After discussing several preventive measures against COVID-19, Mr. Cayetano said lawmakers agreed that “it’s better to continue talking to the Executive, to the health experts, to look into the budget…rather than do constituency work (during the break).” Congress will go on recess March 14–May 3. — Genshen L. Espedido

Government officials under self-quarantine

Nation at a Glance — (03/13/20)

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.

Nation at a Glance — (03/13/20)

Dennis Uy on the lookout for the first Philippine unicorn

Tech startups looking to close their next round of funding might want to add Dennis Uy on their list of potential investors. The billionaire tycoon recently announced his interest in supporting tech firms positioned to grow into the nation’s first unicorns—startups with at least a billion dollars in valuation.

Some of the more popular U.S.-based unicorns include home-sharing giant Airbnb and technology-driven brokerage firm Robinhood. To date, no company has achieved unicorn status in the Philippines.

The eldest and the only boy among four children of an entrepreneurial family, Uy has a track record of building businesses to profit and growth. His corporation, Udenna, currently has stakes in industries such as oil, gas, and retail; shipping and logistics; education; food; gaming and tourism; property development and management; and infrastructure development. “We will always look for opportunities to grow,” he told STARweek in a July 2017 interview with them.

With a net worth of US $660 million, Uy is ranked 22nd inon the Forbes’ list of the 50 richest Filipinos.

Uy bared his sentiments about this biggest business hurdle in The Manila Times business forum last March 3. He said that while the future is in tech, startups encounter fundraising problems that make it hard for them to reach their full potential.

“The biggest hurdle is access to capital,” Uy said. “You may have the best ideas, brilliant, but if you don’t have access to capital, up to a certain level, then you won’t be able to grow the business. I dream of a time when brilliant entrepreneurs have better access to funding and are not forced to sell. Those companies can land in the top 20 in the country.”

Although he mentioned the possibility of financing promising startups “maybe in the next decade” or when he retires, he also clarified that he is not faulting creditors, as the system of requiring a borrower to pledge a property to secure a loan has been “that way for the longest time.”

“I hope our capital coming from fellow business people will be [braver], so they can face more risk and invest in the young entrepreneurs who have good ideas and scale up,” Uy said.

Google launches MSME Caravan to digitize small businesses nationwide

Google Philippines, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), officially launched their MSME Caravan campaign last February 26. The project is under the banner of their Grow With Google program, which aims to make MSMEs more competitive through education on digital marketing.

The caravan has already trained more than 2,780 business owners through workshops across eight regions nationwide, in cities such as Makati, Tacloban, and Puerto Princesa. Aside from learning about the latest developments on the Filipino consumer, the participants are briefed on Primer, Google’s app that teaches digital marketing skills for free. They also set up their own websites through Google My Business, a free online listing that allows them to be visible on Google Maps.

Through this service, Michelle Mariano was able to expand Qmansi, her calamansi business based in Quirino Province. It helped her gain her first customers in Manila and a new partnership with a Korean businessman.

“We are humbled that Qmansi has gone places because of Google My Business. We are also proud at the same time that because of our products, more people now recognize the province of Quirino,” said Mariano.

Google MSME Caravan will run for the duration of the year and hopes to reach more cities and regions.

“Filipino MSMEs have the drive, the passion, and the dedication to succeed. Combine that with the new tools and opportunities of the internet, and there is no limit on what’s possible for them,” said Bernadette Nacario, Country Director of Google Philippines. “We hope that the MSME Caravan will help bring on board more trainees, visit more communities, and give more business owners the digital skills they need.”

Women 2020 explores why PH is the best place to be a female founder

With the Philippines ranking 8th out of 54 countries in the Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs 2017, Filipina entrepreneurs are well represented in the local business environment. While many factors go into this healthy representation, these fertile grounds for female ventures have much to do with the robust support systems the community offers women in business.

Among these is GoNegosyo’s Filipina Entrepreneurship Summit, an annual event focused on reinforcing the entrepreneurial spirit of the Filipina and recognizing their capacity to be agents of change and progress. This year’s iteration, Women 2020, was designed to be the biggest and most inclusive women entrepreneurship summit organized by the ASEAN Business Advisory Council Philippines, in partnership with Go Negosyo.

“Majority of the… micro and small entrepreneurs are women. They are natural-born entrepreneurs. We are proud to honor their passion and perseverance that greatly contributed to the country’s growth towards prosperity for all,” said Joey Concepcion, presidential adviser for entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder.

Women 2020 dove into exploring the role and identity of women in the global business landscape, as well as how they could unleash their potential for creating impact in the world, thereby producing sustainable economic growth and prosperity for all regions. The highlights of the event included a plenary where ASEAN speakers discussed various opportunities for women to participate in economic activities, an awarding ceremony that recognized exceptional ASEAN women entrepreneurs, and a livestream simulcast in select regions across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Multifaceted women

The discussions at the summit also tackled the how’s of the following topics:

  • Women of impact – how women are making a meaningful and relevant impact on their society.
  • Women of legacy – how women can create legacies that will stand the test of time
  • Women of style and substance – how best to define beauty for women
  • Women of the earth – how women can help to produce sustainable food and crops
  • Women of the world – how women can navigate and lead in tourism
  • Women of the future – how women can equip themselves to be future-ready

The Philippines topped Grant Thornton International’s 2020 Women in Business report with the most number of women occupying senior management positions. Notwithstanding the formidable barriers that challenge all business owners like lack of funding and institutional inefficiencies, with strong support from the local community, the country is currently one of the best countries to be a female in business.

BusinessWorld Insights: Safe Banking: Data Security on Online Payment Services

Join BusinessWorld Insights, “Safe Banking: Data Security on Online Payment Services”, a discussion on how security issues in digital finance are being addressed and how consumers can ensure that they are safely doing financial transactions online with speakers Philip Casanova, principal, Technology Consulting of SGV & Co.; Sparky Perreras, CEO and co-founder of PearlPay; Paulo del Puerto, chief marketing officer of Secuna; and moderator Arjay Balinbin.

#BUSINESSWORLDINSIGHTS​‘ Safe Banking Special is presented by Security Bank with the support of Olern and The Philippine STAR.

PHL seen ‘insulated’ from virus fallout

THE PHILIPPINES is still relatively more “insulated” to risks arising from the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) compared with its regional peers, despite a recent spike in the number of local transmission cases, according to S&P Global Ratings.

In an online webcast, S&P Senior Economist Vincent Conti said the Philippines may likely most feel the impact of the virus from the investment side but will be able to withstand its impact.

“At least within the region, the Philippines is… at least relatively more insulated than the likes of say, Vietnam or Thailand,” Mr. Conti said on Wednesday.

“And the reason for that is foreign direct investment (FDI) is a small part of overall investment in the Philippines, in nominal terms, as the share of inward FDI is only about 3% of total,” he added.

Latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed that FDI net inflows fell by 23.1% to $7.647 billion in 2019, from the $9.949 billion in 2018.

The FDI inflows exceeded the downgraded $6.8-billion target set by the central bank in November last year.

“Chinese inward FDI, in general, in most years is less than 3% of it,” Mr. Conti said.

Analysts had blamed global trade uncertainty, unclear path for the local tax reform and some regulatory risks as culprits for the weaker investor sentiment in 2019.

“Most of the impact (of the COVID-19) we will see from the investment growth side, which will be slower despite government efforts to keep up the infrastructure build, that’s because of the supply chain disruption [due to the virus],” Mr. Conti said.

According to the S&P senior economist, other experts’ research showed the virus outbreak will peak or last until the second quarter, possibly June.

While tourism is taking a beating from COVID-19, Mr. Conti said the Philippines is less reliant on the sector compared to other Asian countries.

“Compared with the likes of Thailand, for instance, and even Korea and Singapore, the Philippines tourism industry is not as important as the percentage of overall GDP (gross domestic product),” he said.

Estimates from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) indicated a possible 1.42-million decline in foreign tourist arrivals this year, as its two biggest source markets China and South Korea are the most affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. NEDA estimated foregone gross value added for the tourism industry to hit around P93 to P187 billion this year.

Mr. Conti said the outbreak also has a “knock-on effect” on consumption and consumer confidence.

S&P last week downgraded its GDP growth projection for the country to 5.8% last week from the 6.2% it originally penciled in December. If realized, this would be slower than the 5.9% growth seen in 2019.

Earlier this week, NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie G. Edillon said that they are now looking at a 5.5-6.5% GDP growth in 2020 due to the outbreak, from a previous target of 6.5 to 7.5%.

The Department of Health reported late Wednesday afternoon an additional 16 positive COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 49.

RELIEF FOR BUSINESSES
Meanwhile, tax-collecting agencies are mulling possible relief measures for businesses affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, officials said.

Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Caesar R. Dulay said the government’s largest tax-collecting agency is considering “targeted relief” for businesses reeling from the impact of COVID-19.

“Will consider but haven’t decided on how or when,” Mr. Dulay said in a mobile phone message. He did not elaborate.

For the Bureau of Customs (BoC), the country’s second-biggest tax-collecting body, its top officials will on Monday discuss possible measures for affected businesses, according to BoC Assistant Commissioner and Spokesperson Vincent Philip C. Maronilla.

However, Mr. Maronilla admitted that “limited din kasi ’yung relief na pwede namin ibigay (the relief measures we can give are limited) in terms of financial charges due to the government, but we are looking into some.”

Asked if the Department of Finance (DoF) has discussed any relief in terms of levies for affected sectors, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said he “never mentioned tax relief.”

Instead, Mr. Dominguez has instructed the Department of Tourism (DoT) and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) to “creatively use their available funds” worth over P14 billion to support the tourism and travel sector, which has been battered the most due to travel bans, virus fears and canceled events.

“I never mentioned tax relief. We have asked DoT/TIEZA to creatively use their available funds (P14 billion) to support the tourism industry,” Mr. Dominguez told reporters in a Viber message.

At the same time, BIR Assistant Commissioner Elenita B. Quimosing said there are no plans to extend the April 15 deadline for filing of income tax returns, despite the rise in the number of COVID-19 cases.

“The commissioners really do not recommend extending the deadline for filing… We are saying that as early as now we have to do it early… It’s our obligation to file and pay taxes,” Ms. Quimosing said during a Palace briefing.

Meanwhile, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia urged trade-related agencies to “ease implementation of some regulations that will allow firms to manage costs and provide financing or loan restructuring to micro and small enterprises whose operations may have already been affected.”

Finance Undersecretary Antonette C. Tionko earlier said various government agencies to continue to monitor affected sectors and companies to see how the state could “give them relief, in the event that this COVID-19 becomes very widespread.” — Luz Wendy T. Noble and Beatrice M. Laforga with G.M.Cortez

1...8,2928,2938,294...12,768Page 8,293 of 12,768
© 2024 BusinessWorld Publishing.
All rights reserved.
Read our privacy guidelines
Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube