Distancing, other protocols in malls could last until next year
SCENES of crowded malls, even during peak shopping seasons, are not likely to be back for the next couple of years as the government wants establishments to maintain health safety protocols being carried out to avoid coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmissions.
“The malls are encouraged to continue these protocols… we cannot afford to be lax,” Trade Undersecretary Ruth B. Castelo said in a virtual briefing Sunday.
Ms. Castelo said such measures as limiting foot traffic, having physical distancing markers, creating one-way flow, and wearing face masks should be practiced until the next few years even when consumers become more confident in going out.
“Probably until next year the next two years, ito pa rin ‘yung kailangan na practice natin (this will still be our practices), so kung ano ‘yung (whatever the) strict protocols that they implement now, should be the same even in December, even next year, even probably the years after,” she said.
The Department of Trade and Industry early this month issued guidelines on the operations of malls and shopping centers in areas under general community quarantine, which allows shops to operate at 50% capacity.
Gino Borromeo, vice-president for strategy development and premier malls marketing of SM Supermalls, said they will focus on communicating safe malling practices and invest in technology in preparation for when a larger volume of people are allowed inside malls.
“We will continue to invest in technology, because technology right now is the best way to keep a huge amount of people safe in a very efficient yet a very good way,” he said.
SM Supermalls, a unit of SM Prime Holdings, Inc., operates 72 malls nationwide and eight in China.
Lafayette A. Lim, chief executive officer of New City Commercial Center (NCCC) Group, said they are also boosting current health safety standards by procuring disinfection chambers with scanners, where customers and employees have to pass through.
“This will actually speed up everything dahil (because it will be) one step (for) disinfection and scanning,” he said.
NCCC is a Davao-based mall and retail firm with branches across the region and in Palawan. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas
Senator calls for PhilHealth reorganization due to overpriced COVID-19 packages
THE Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) should be reorganized pending investigations on alleged overpriced coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing kits, a senator said on Sunday.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon said it is high-time to reconstitute PhilHealth, considering other fraudulent activities within the system.
“Hindi ito first time — may ghost dialysis (This is not the first time — there’s the ghost dialysis),” Mr. Drilon said over DzBB radio Sunday.
“Bawat may widespread problem sa health at kailangan ang PhilHealth, nakakapagtaka naririnig mo ‘yung package nila ay mahigit sa pangangailangan (Every time there’s a widespread health problem and we need PhilHealth, it’s confounding to hear that their package is always higher than what’s needed).”
Mr. Drilon was referring to accusations of former employees of a private health facility that the company continued to receive PhilHealth payments for the dialysis of patients who have stopped the treatment or already died.
PhilHealth has again been under fire over its P8,150 COVID-19 test packages, which the Philippine Red Cross offers at P3,500. PhilHealth later lowered the package to P4,120.
“Ang maliwanag lang, may grupo diyan na nag-si-set ng packages, COVID-19 man o kahit anong test. ‘Yan ang tingnan at i-reorganize (What’s clear is that there’s a group within PhilHealth tasked to set packages, whether its COVID-19 or other tests. That needs to be reorganized),” Mr. Drilon said.
Moreover, the senator said he finds PhilHealth President Ricardo C. Morales and Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III “negligent” in leading the government’s response to COVID-19.
“Sa akin sila ay may pananagutan. Hindi ko alam to what extent. At the very least, mayroong negligence (To my mind, they are liable. I don’t know up to what extent, but at the very least, there’s negligence),” he said.
He also said the Health chief has been a “burden” in the government’s COVID-19 campaign.
Senators have raised concern on inaccurate information coming from Mr. Duque, particularly his recent claim that the Philippines is already experiencing the second wave of the outbreak.
Malacañang has also said President Rodrigo R. Duterte wants an investigation on the Health department’s procurement of overpriced health equipment. — Charmaine A. Tadalan
Professionals who served in COVID-19 response to get CPD points
THE Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) will grant all professionals who rendered services or volunteered in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response their needed credit units for license renewal.
PRC Resolution No. 1239 dated May 15 says all the Professional Regulatory Boards will grant continuing professional development (CPD) credit units “as a recognition of the tasks and services provided.”
“The CPD Councils have expressed their full support to the Commission in granting CPD units to all professionals providing essential services during the State of Public Health Emergency due to the COVID-19 crisis,” PRC said.
CPD units are usually obtained by attending seminars or enrolling in an additional degree. The minimum requirement is 45 units.
Those who will be granted 45 CPD credit units are health frontliners; researchers and scientists who developed testing kits; professionals who designed or constructed accommodations and other facilities used for the COVID-19 crisis; and vital goods and services providers.
Volunteer health professionals will be granted 25 CPD credit units, including those who participated in online consultations, public health education, and other activities related to their profession.
Professionals who participated in social responsibility programs and projects such as collecting and giving personal protective equipment and medical supplies as well as distributing food to frontliners will also be given 25 CPD credit units.
Professionals must submit a Certification from Institution/Agency/Entity for proof of the services done. — Gillian M. Cortez
Bill promoting digital careers filed in House
A BILL seeking to promote and develop digital careers in the country has been filed in the House of Representatives.
Deputy Speaker and Camarines Sur Representative Luis Raymund F. Villafuerte filed House Bill (HB) No. 6759, which if passed will be known as the National Digital Careers Act of 2020.
“Through this Act, the government will be able to map out strategies to promote and strengthen digital careers; institutionalize employment standards for digital career workers; and enhance the competitiveness of our digital workers through access to necessary trainings, skills development and scholarship programs,” Mr. Villafuerte said in his explanatory note.
Under the bill, the different Executive departments are tasked to create programs to ensure access to training, establish standards on wages and certifications, and set tax rates, among others.
The bill also provides incentives for digital workers including scholarships, subsidy for use of facilities and services provided by the government or private institutions, and grant-in-aid for acquisition of equipment.
HB 6759 is currently lodged in the House committee of information and communications technology. Its counterpart measure, Senate Bill No. 1469, has been filed in the Senate by Senator Juan Edgardo M. Angara. — Gillian M. Cortez, Genshen L. Espedido
JBC opens application for SC justice
THE Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) opened the applications for the Supreme Court (SC) associate justice post that will be vacated by Jose C. Reyes, Jr. who will retire on September 18 upon reaching the age of 70.
In an announcement, JBC said applicants must visit the Web site and fill out required information in the online application scheduler.
The council also opened applications for the Court of Appeals (CA) presiding justice to replace Romeo F. Barza, who will retire on August 2.
The President must appoint a justice within 90 days from the vacancy.
The JBC also released revised rules for applications, which will take effect on June 8.
Under the new rules, applicants for associate justice or chief justice position must have at least 2.5 years remaining if they have served as associate justice or presiding judge of an appellate court, court administrator, chairperson of constitutional commission, solicitor general of department secretary.
If they have not served any of the positions, they shall have five remaining years prior to retirement.
Meanwhile, an online public interview for four SC associate justice aspirants will be held on May 28 for the position vacated by Justice Andres B. Reyes, Jr. who retired on May 11.
To be interviewed are CA justices Ramon M. Bato, Jr., Priscilla J. Baltazar-Padilla, Edwin D. Sorongon, and Nina G. Antonio-Valenzuela.
Candidates whose interviews are still valid are CA justices Manuel M. Barrios, Ramon A. Cruz, Japar B. Dimaampao, Jhosep Y. Lopez, Eduardo B. Peralta, Jr., Pablito A. Perez, and Ricardo R. Rosario, Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo M. Cabotaje-Tang, and Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas
