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GoNegosyo’s Concepcion says businesses in favor of lockdown extension

Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo Founder Joey Concepcion says that, based on informal survey, more than 90% of entrepreneurs, business owners, and executives of large and medium conglomerates support the extension of a Luzon lockdown for another two weeks.

The majority of these businesses reported wanting to avoid a possible relapse and ensure a definitive flattening of the curve. The extension of the Luzon lockdown was deemed the most important recommendation in a consultative meeting between the private sector and NEDA last April 5, 2020, which was attended by NEDA Sec. Ernesto Pernia, DTI Sec. Ramon Lopez, as well as heads of conglomerates and business chambers.

“We have been on Enhanced Community Quarantine for almost three weeks,” said Concepcion. “Despite the negative economic impact, it seems that we are left with no choice but to ensure that this current lockdown is worthwhile and successful. Thus, we strongly support the government in its plans of extending the Luzon lockdown for another two weeks to avoid relapse, which may result in more damages.”

Shifting to barangay quarantines

Another recommendation put forth was a change in strategy and the implementation of an immediate shift to Barangay Quarantines after the extension of the Luzon lockdown. Concepcion recommends that mayors and barangay captains be empowered to implement a lockdown in their affected areas, while following simple and easy-to-follow guidelines set up by the National Task Force (NTF). The NTF will provide the criteria of when a targeted area should be put under lockdown and for how long.

Depending on the number and location of the confirmed cases per area, the Barangay Quarantine can be expanded to a City/Municipality Quarantine, and even a Provincial Quarantine if necessary.

“President Duterte was correct to place Luzon under lockdown immediately, because that was an emergency situation. After implementing three “resets” (three cycles of a 14-day quarantine at home), we now should consider implementing quarantines at the barangay level, moving up to City/ Municipality Quarantines and Provincial Quarantines, if many of the municipalities still experience rising numbers of cases,” Concepcion said.

With the two recommendations in place, the military and police can focus on the infected areas, while both the public and private sectors can proceed with the random testing of barangay residents to measure each community’s level of risk. The data gathered will help in the development of better mitigation plans.

BillEase offers interest-free financing on essential goods with Lazada Wallet

FDFC, the fintech company behind digital credit app BillEase, and Lazada have launched interest-free installment on all essential goods through Lazada Wallet. This effort is their bid to help consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Consumers must first create a BillEase account and can choose to fund their Lazada Wallet as a top-up option. Once triggered, the installment plan will activate along with their funds to use for purchasing.

They can then enjoy a 0% annual percentage rate (APR), a small processing fee, and a pay-later option up to three months. Not only does this ease their burdens financially, but it also encourages them to proceed with non-cash transactions, since options like Cash on Delivery (COD) have been temporarily suspended.

“We are taking extraordinary steps to alleviate consumer pain points at this difficult time,” said Georg Steiger, CEO at FDFC. “In addition to extending payment deadlines and suspending penalties, we’ve partnered with Lazada to provide customers an option to defer payments in all essential products with zero interest and encourage the use of cashless-based transactions to minimize the risk of spreading coronavirus infection and ensure the practice of physical distancing.”

The limited offer is available from April 1 to 15 only.

Duterte inclined to extend Luzon lockdown

President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Monday evening said he is inclined to extend the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon until April 30.

“We have discussed it even before this. We are inclined to extend the lockdown up to April 30. Tingnan natin (We will see),” Mr. Duterte said in a televised address on Monday evening. 

Mr. Duterte did not give details on the extension of the ECQ, but repeatedly reminded Filipinos to stay at home to prevent the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from further spreading. 

The month-long ECQ is scheduled to end on April 12. However, in recent days, business groups and government officials have backed an extension of the lockdown, which has halted most economic activities in Luzon. 

Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez earlier on Monday said he supports a two-week extension of the ECQ.

ÒNeed to see the flattening of the curve, and more health and isolation facilities. Then followed by gradual lifting of other essential and job generating sectors,” he said in a mobile message sent to reporters. 

The Philippines is currently in a state of public health emergency and calamity due to the COVID-19 outbreak. 

The Department of Health reported 11 new deaths and 414 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total deaths to 163 and cases to 3,660. At the same time, 73 patients have recovered from COVID-19.

Coronavirus cases reach 3,660; death toll at 163

THE Department of Health reported 414 more coronavirus cases on Monday, bringing the total to 3,660.

Eleven more patients died, raising the death toll to 163, it said in a bulletin. Nine more patients recovered, bringing the total of those who have gotten well to 73, it added.

Meanwhile, medical experts from Japan and South Korea will visit Manila to assess the country’s anti-COVID-19 response, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said.

This after a team of Chinese experts came here to help the government come up with policies to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

The foreign experts’ visits will be scheduled to ensure there’s enough local health personnel to accompany them, Mr. Duque told radio DZBB.

Ten Chinese medical experts arrived here on Sunday and will stay until April 19 to share their technical advice on the prevention and control of COVID-19 in the country.

The group would visit the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, San Lazaro Hospital and Lung Center of the Philippines and other quarantine facilities to train local medical professionals, the Health department said.

Mr. Duque said the Chinese experts, who have firsthand experience in dealing with the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan City where the virus was first detected, will share their knowledge on infection prevention and control measures, surveillance, treatment protocols and case management.

meanwhile, Senator Juan Edgardo M. Angara said he had recovered from the COVID-19 after testing negative for the virus and being cleared of pneumonia.

Mr. Angara said he was released on Monday after several days of being confined in the hospital.

“After several days in the emergency room and the COVID-19 wing, my doctors finally sent me home today — negative for the virus and pneumonia-free,” he said in a social media post on Monday.

He was the third senator to test positive for COVID-19 after Senators Juan Miguel F. Zubiri and Aquilino L Pimentel III.

Mr. Angara took the test on March 16 after experiencing mild fever, cough, headache, and general weakness. He got his result on March 26.

Mr. Zubiri on March 27 said he no longer had symptoms, but opted to extend his self-quarantine to 21 days or until April 1. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas and Charmaine A. Tadalan

Voyager stakeholders commit $120M in fresh capital

Current stakeholders of technology company Voyager Innovations, Inc. (Voyager) have committed up to $120 million in fresh capital to fuel its expansion through its financial technology arm PayMaya Philippines, Inc.

The fresh funding will enable PayMaya to accelerate digital and financial inclusion in the country, PLDT, Inc. said in a statement on Monday.

PLDT, China’s Tencent Holdings Ltd., US-based Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR), International Finance Corp. (IFC), and IFC Emerging Asia Fund have “signed agreements to commit up to $120 million in new funding towards the expansion efforts of Voyager,” the Pangilinan-led telecommunications and digital services provider said.


In 2018, PLDT sold more than 50% of its stake in Voyager for $215 million (about P10.91 billion) to Tencent, KKR, IFC, and IFC Emerging Asia Fund. PLDT remains the single largest shareholder in the technology firm.

In a joint statement, Voyager’s stakeholders said: “This fresh round of investment is a testament to Voyager’s success in providing Filipinos with access to convenient, relevant and inclusive digital financial services through PayMaya. This is also a recognition of the significant role that the Philippine financial technology industry can play in providing meaningful digital solutions to many of the crucial and very-human challenges that the Philippine community faces today.”

Voyager Chief Executive Officer and Founder Orlando B. Vea said: “In line with the country’s goals, we have made significant strides in spurring cashless adoption in a largely unbanked population. This funding boosts PayMaya’s ability to reach more Filipinos, especially as access to digital financial services becomes even more important.”

Voyager’s portfolio, aside from PayMaya, includes PLDT’s mobile remittance brand Smart Padala and financial technology firm FINTQnologies Corp. whose products include digital banking, digital aid and finance, and digital lending platforms.

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Senator Pimentel sued for violating quarantine protocol

A LAWYER has filed a complaint against a senator for violating quarantine protocols for the coronavirus disease 2019.

Lawyer Rico Quicho said he had electronically filed the complaint against Senator Aquilino “Koko” L. Pimentel III, who later tested positive for the virus.

The senator was accused of violating a law that required him to disclose his illness when he accompanied his pregnant wife to the Makati Medical Center.

“He blatantly violated laws, which put the lives and health of frontliners and even ordinary citizens at grave risk,” Mr. Quicho said in a social media post. “He has categorically admitted his breach without remorse. And yet because of his position, he is still not being made accountable.”

Mr. Quicho said an online petition had gathered about 200,000 signatures seeking to sue Mr. Pimentel.

“With this, I hope the Department of Justice (DoJ) will swiftly act and pursue legal actions against Senator Koko Pimentel,” he said. “We trust that DoJ will be true to its commitment to the Filipino people to uphold the rule of law without fear or favor.”

Violators of the law may be fined as much as P50,000 or jailed for six months.

Mr. Pimentel tested positive for COVID-19 on March 25, saying he got the confirmation while he was at the Makati Medical Center with his wife Kathryna, who was due to deliver their child.

The hospital rebuked the senator for being reckless and irresponsible. He has apologized, saying he did not mean to harm anyone.

Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said they would schedule a preliminary investigation “without prejudice” to the probe being conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation.

“The Justice department will apply the law fairly and uniformly, regardless of the status of the respondent, with due respect at all times to the rights of the respondent,” he said in a mobile-phone message.

Government investigators earlier said they would summon the senator once his quarantine period is over. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Holcim expects to miss sales target after plant closure

Holcim Philippines, Inc. (Holcim) is expecting to miss its production and sales targets this year with the closing of its factory in Davao for two weeks.

In a disclosure to the stock exchange on Monday, the cement manufacturer said it is shutting its Davao City Holcim plant from April 4 to 19 to comply with government orders in light of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The company had previously announced it also closed its cement factories in Bacnotan and Norzagaray, terminals in Calaca, Mabini and Manila, and dry mix factory in Parañaque due to the Luzon-wide quarantine.

“While our Lugait Plant in Misamis Oriental will continue to operate and serve the requirements of our business partners and customers in Northern Mindanao and the Visayas, the suspension of our operations of our Luzon and Davao plants will result in the company’s inability to meet our production and sales targets which may have material financial impact to the business,” it said.

To cushion the possible financial impact while complying with government directives, the company said it had started implementing cost control measures.

Some P30.89 billion of the company’s total P33.49 billion revenues in 2019 came from sales of cement and cementitious materials. 

Holcim operates cement plants in Luzon and Mindanao: two integrated cement plants, one cement grinding plant and one dry mix plant in Luzon; and two integrated cement plants in Mindanao. 

Of these, only the Lugait plant in Misamis Oriental remains operational, as all the rest are closed due to COVID-19 mitigation efforts.

The company recorded a 41% earnings growth in 2019 to P3.59 billion, driven by reduced costs due to enhanced efficiencies. Its shares at the stock exchange added 32 centavos or 2.67% to P12.30 each on Monday. — Denise A. Valdez

San Miguel says donations reach P878M into third week of quarantine

Donations from San Miguel Corp. (SMC) have reached P877.8 million on the third week of the government-imposed enhanced community quarantine period to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The amount includes a personal donation of P100 million from SMC President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon S. Ang, the listed diversified conglomerate said in a statement on Monday.

“We are reporting on our progress so that people will be assured that help is on the way, that many organizations are mobilizing and working together to support the government and our fellow Filipinos. Together, we will win this battle,” said Mr. Ang.

The company has committed to donate P500 million-worth of personal protective equipment (PPEs) to medical personnel battling the COVID-19 pandemic.

SMC also continues to donate a total of P199.4 million-worth of canned goods, meat products, biscuits, bread, coffee to various communities.

It also said it has more than doubled its initial commitment to donate 500,000 kilos of rice to poor communities.

“Ginebra San Miguel Inc. has completed retooling its facilities nationwide to produce 70% ethyl alcohol for disinfection. With this, it is now able to produce 100,000 liters of rubbing alcohol daily,” it added.

SMC, as of April 4, has donated 518,340 liters of rubbing alcohol worth P38.9 million to hospitals, the Health department, local government units, checkpoints, and other vital institutions.

SMC tollways are also toll-free for medical professionals.

“SMC Infrastructure has also provided support to the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines for the checkpoints set up along its expressways. This includes providing portalets, motorcycles and riders, passenger vehicles, generator sets, tower lights, traffic cones, barriers, tents, water, and disinfectant teams,” the company said. — Arjay L. Balinbin 

Gov’t set to announce decision on Luzon lockdown

THE government was expected to announce its decision by late Monday on whether it would extend a Luzon-wide lockdown to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

A task force made up of Cabinet officials was still assessing the health crisis, its spokesman Karlo Alexei B. Nograles told a news briefing on Monday morning.

A technical working group headed by the Department of Health was still studying data on COVID-19 cases, he added.

“You can be assured that in deciding the matter, the Inter-Agency Task Force and President Rodrigo R. Duterte will consider what the experts say,” Mr. Nograles said in Filipino.

“The President is seriously evaluating the inputs and suggestions given by various sectors of society for either the extension or the lifting of the enhanced community quarantine or lockdown,” presidential spokesman Salvador S. Panelo said in an e-mailed reply to a pool of questions.

Mr. Duterte will “take the best option that will purge us of this pandemic,” he said.

Mr. Nograles said at the weekend the task force would probably announce its recommendations to Mr. Duterte by April 6.

The technical working group is composed of officials from the National Economic and Development Authority, Philippine Institute for Development Studies, Department of Science and Technology and experts from the academe, health, economic and security sectors.

Cebu Rep. Rodrigo A. Abellanosa in a statement said the government should stagger the lifting of the so-called enhanced community quarantine for Luzon and enforce localized quarantines.

He said lockdown may be imposed per village or clusters of villages and by employment communities such as construction, food production, food processing, manufacturing, call centers, building maintenance and the like.

Mr. Abellanosa said food deliveries and public transportation may be allowed to operate but only within the local quarantines.

Authorities can persuade supermarkets, big grocery stores and food wholesalers to hire out-of-work drivers, cashiers and baggers. Standby jeepneys, trucks and buses may also be hired to set up mobile stores, while law enforcers must “actively discourage” residents from going out of their local quarantines. — Gillian M. Cortez and Genshen L. Espedido

AEV signs P10-billion loan with Metrobank 

Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. (AEV) has signed a P10-billion loan with Metropolitan Bank & Trust Corp. (Metrobank) to pay maturing bonds and support capital expenditures.

The holding firm told the stock exchange on Monday it had executed a seven-year term loan with Metrobank. Proceeds from the deal will refinance maturing bonds, finance capital expenditures and fund general corporate requirements. 

AEV previously said it was allocating P73 billion for capital expenditures this year, an increase of 37% from 2019’s spending of P53 billion. The budget will support expansion plans across AEV’s business units. 

Aboitiz Power Corp. will take P41 billion for its GNPower Dinginin plants and new businesses; Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. will have P16 billion for its water, airport and common tower ventures; AboitizLand, Inc. will get P11 billion for land banking; Pilmico Foods Corp. will have P3 billion for new businesses, expansion and upgrades; and Union Bank of the Philippines will take P2 billion for digital transformation and expansion.

AEV’s earnings in 2019 slipped 1% to P22 billion, weighed down by a double-digit profit decline in its power unit due to power outages.

Shares in the company at the stock exchange gained P5.10 or 12.78% to P45 each on Monday. — Denise A. Valdez

LGUs allowed to buy own COVID-19 test kits

LOCAL government units (LGUs) have the authority to buy their own test kits for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III.

“Pwede naman sila. Basta bilhin lang nila ‘yung approved ng FDA para meron naman silang kasiguraduhan (They can do that. As long as they buy those that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration so they are assured) as to quality and safety of those tests,” Mr. Duque said in an interview over radio DZBB on Monday.

Chairman of the Union of the Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr., in a separate interview over the same radio station, asked the national government to allow LGUs to procure their own kits to fast-track the testing of persons under investigation (PUIs) and those under monitoring (PUM).

He said current rules prohibit local governments from using public funds for the test kits.

“Kaya po ni-ri-request namin, itong public funds po na sa ngayon ay hindi pa po ina-allow ay payagan na pong ipambili nitong (That is why we are making the request, as of now it is not allowed to use public funds to buy) rapid screening test,” Mr. Velasco said.

He said it is important in managing the situation to immediately determine which ones among the PUIs and PUM are actually positive of COVID-19.

Mr. Duque, however, cautioned that LGUs should follow biosafety standards and to designate proper biosafety infrastructures and manpower to facilitate the testing.

ILOILO CITY
Iloilo City has already purchased 2,500 test kits from South Korea using a P5.5 million fund donated by local businesses.

“Here in Iloilo City, the private sector came up with the funds for us to be able to buy test kits from Korea.
Masks are also given by the private sector. Now we see a lot of private sector, working together to produce improvised personal protective equipment for medical frontliners,” Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said during an international teleconference last week.

The mayor served as one of the reactors and the representative of LGUs in the first session of a webinar entitled “Expert Dialogue on Resilience, Public Health, and Human Security” organized by the National Resilience Council in partnership with ARISE Philippines, Zuellig Family Foundation, and the Makati Business Club.

The Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City has been accredited by the Department of Health (DoH) as a testing laboratory for COVID-19.

Mr. Treñas lamented the national government’s lack of clear guidance and direction for LGUs on the COVID-19 response.

“We feel that we are isolated, no clear directions have been given to us on what should be done and what should be undertaken… There is a need for communication, for those in charge to continuously communicate the issues affecting the LGUs,” he said.

RED CROSS

Meanwhile, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is determined to have its testing center in Metro Manila operational by Wednesday, its chairman said on Monday.

“In so far as the other test centers are concerned, I’m forcing the issue, Wednesday dapat bukas na tayo (we should be open),” Senator Richard J. Gordon, chairman of PRC, said during the Laging Handa virtual press briefing.

The PRC laboratory was at stage 3 of 5 in the accreditation process as of April 6, based on the DoH report on COVID-19 laboratory capacities.

Stage 3 involves the three-day training of laboratory personnel. Under stage 4, the laboratory’s positive results are still subject to confirmatory testing by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine. Stage 5 is full operations.

The PRC center has two machines capable of testing a combined 2,000 samples per day.

Mr. Gordon said the organization is also looking at establishing more testing centers in Luzon, Central Visayas and Mindanao. — Genshen L. Espedido, Charmaine A. Tadalan, and Emme Rose S. Santiagudo

Shakey’s income up 10% as sales grow across stores

Earnings of Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures, Inc. (SPAVI) grew 10% in 2019 on the back of an 11% growth in sales across its network.

In a statement on Monday, the operator of pizza and chicken food chains said its earnings last year stood at P923 million, higher than the previous year’s P841 million.

But accounting for the impact of implementing a new accounting standard, which required accelerating the recognition of non-cash expenses, the growth in the company’s earnings is reduced to a 2% uptick to P862 million.

Systemwide sales drove the bigger bottomline last year, recording an 11% increase to P10.4 billion, which includes sales growth in company-owned and franchised stores.

Same-store sales growth, or the measure of sales growth from existing stores, stood at 1%.

SPAVI opened 18 new Shakey’s stores and seven new Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken stores in 2019, ending the year with 246 Shakey’s and 30 Peri-Peri outlets. 

At present time, the company is keeping “partial delivery and carry-out operations” in some of its stores in light of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the Luzon-wide quarantine.

“This is an extraordinary time, but we are able to manage through by prioritizing a strong cash and liquidity position, and slowly increasing delivery and carry-out accessibility,” SPAVI President and Chief Executive Officer Vicente P. Gregorio said in the statement.

SPAVI stores are on shortened hours and using limited menus, but it looks to reopen more stores in the coming weeks.

“Amidst the short-term disruptions, we are also readying ourselves to bounce back in what we believe will be a new ‘post COVID’ world where a strong brand and delivery presence is key,” Mr. Gregorio said.

“Though the full effects of COVID remain unknown, we are firmly in this business for the long run benefit of all our stakeholders, including our employees and our guests, and we believe that the structural growth story of dining out in the Philippines is still intact,” he added.

Shares in SPAVI at the stock exchange climbed six centavos or 1.24% to P4.90 each on Monday. — Denise A. Valdez

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